Time Out

I'm taking a personal TO from my Saturday "to-do" list (see below) to blog about my desires for the school year...

• Lesson Plans
• Grading (who's the crazy one that had something due on Friday to grade over the weekend??)
• Church nursery training (two & three yr olds, here I come)
• Sonic Happy Hour (yep, was really on the list)
• Spend some quiet time with God (necessary after this week of school)
• Send emails/phone friends
• Run (did it!)
• Watch last week's Project Runway (it's important to put fun things on the list)

Since school has started back up (sigh) I feel like my life now consists of waking up early and thinking for 150+ students all day long, praying for patience and love for these kids, that they'll leave my classroom in May different than they came in August.  Different in the sense of maturity and self-confidence.  Different in the fact that they'll see their true potential and truly desire to rise to the occasion.  Different in how they treat one another and themselves, how they view life and see the world around them.  For some, their world is so small and it breaks my heart....I have to remind myself of this when I want to thump them on the head by the end of the day.  I guess I just want to make a difference.

I'm sure I'll need to remind myself of this post frequently throughout the school year as I begin to be ruled by content and State Assessment prep...but Lord, help me make a difference.

Keepin' it Classy...Roller Derby Style

Looking for something to do on a Saturday night?  Well, you should have joined Jessica, myself, and others for Wichita's Roller Derby Girls Double Header.  That's right...and thanks to Groupon, we enjoyed this hilarious event at half price!  Honestly, I probably would have even paid the full $12 for this prime people-watching opportunity.  Now, I realize some of you might be asking, "What exactly is roller derby?"  I'd imagine it's a pretty select group of people that follow it closely, so allow me to fill you in. 

First of all, it's not a match or a game, but a bout. That was clue #1 that this was going to be good!  Five girls from each team are out on the "track" (a piece of cement marked with hot pink tape) at a time.  The purpose is for the girl with the star on her helmet (the jammer) to get through all the blockers and ahead of the pack to score a point for every person she passes on the opposite team.  You should have seen Jessica and I trying to figure this out as I'm busy taking pictures to capture the moment for the blog. 

As previously mentioned, this was a PRIME place for people-watching.  We decided we were missing our tattoos and cigarettes to truly fit in.  Here's a pic of the team ready to go!  I've never known a sport where the uniform required fish-net pantyhose. (might have to look closely)



Making their game plan.  The gold sparkly hat is the coach.

 My favorite girl was #6462 (clearly they could make up any number they wanted), Jackie O'Jaw, (as well as their name) My favorite name was a toss up between Ham Slamwich and Beatrix Beatdown.   Jackie was the best jammer out there.  Once she got through the blockers, as she always did, she'd pull up this handkerchief over her face like a bandit.  Go Jackie O'Jaw!  Here are some action shots.

This lady with the sassy boots was the announcer.  Again, all about class.

Here's a video so you can check out some live action!  This is Jackie O'Jaw herself scoring some big points.

They are still looking to recruit girls to be a part of the roller derby team and I'm considering.  I've just got to email Dogpile Diva and they'll provide the gear if I provide the guts.  I'm taking any and all nominations for what my Roller name should be. 

DIY Project

Knock, knock, knock...Who is it?  REALITY.  I reported back to school on Wednesday and somehow when you get up before 9am the days seem very long. Seventh graders don't come until the 17th, so I've still got some time to do some finishing touches on things. 

Earlier I mentioned a DIY project that I shouldn't have done myself.....here it goes.  I got very excited this summer at the thought of starting up a classroom library and randomly came across a nice bookshelf for $10 at a garage sale.  I also got a box of books with the shelf for fifty cents a piece!  Jessica and I were going to try to use our Dave Ramsey tip of haggling and get it for cheaper, but we I chickened out.  So I paid the price, loaded it all up and headed home.  I was already picturing how fun this project would be for me.  I'd get some spray paint and in no time this bookshelf would look brand new!  (I had no idea this was easier said than done at this point.)


Here's a Before

 The first step was to hammer some nails in the back to strengthen it.  Jessica graciously did this for me while I was in KC.  She knows me well enough to decide I wouldn't be the best for that job.  Next came the spray paint.  I went with "Rich Plum" and originally got just one can.  Needless to say, I made 3 more trips to Wal-Mart buying 1 more can at a time.  Clearly I had no idea what I was getting myself into here.  I learned my lesson of consulting an expert (anyone who has at least spray painted something in their lifetime) before starting.  Of course, I learned this lesson a little too late and already had thick runs of paint EVERYWHERE.  Might I add I was getting up early to do this before the heat wave would strike and was hoping that it would only take one early morning to knock this out.  Again, easier said than done. 

I was told to sand down my thick runs and paint over it.  Which I'm sure would have turned out great for anyone else.  However, I was left with a two-tone project and lots of frustration.  It looked like this at one point....

Yep...and this was on about day three of getting up early.  Now Gentry is really cranky and is vowing never to use spray paint again.  Luckily, with the help of Wal-Mart employees and good friends who were willing to talk me through it (I really wanted to be able to say I did this myself....and it's quite obvious that I did) I now have a completed bookshelf stacked full of books organized with stickers (thanks, Mom).

Honestly, with all the books on it, it looks pretty darn good.  Ok little seventh graders, get ready to do some reading!

Friendship

friend·ship (n). A person of understanding  and support.

Synonyms 1. comrade, chum, confidant. 2. backer, advocate. 

This sums up how I feel about the gals of The BP.  Over the last two years we've had the chance to laugh together (a lot), send each other off on dates, come home and blab about the dates, enjoy Thanksgiving dinners, have Christmas gift exchanges, live life together, and so much more. 

 

We gathered for a roomie dinner earlier this week to celebrate Chris heading off to Africa to do mission work. We're sad to see you leave, but so excited for you!

 

 

I've waited so long to post this that I can't remember all the hilarious conversations we shared, but a definite topic was grilling Danae on married life (so naturally, she no longer lives at the BP), and laughing about all sorts of things.

 

Tracie had the brilliant idea of getting a pair of TOMS for Chris because they are so her style & they send a pair of shoes to kids in Africa.  They also had African animal prints inside. Perfect!  We got a good laugh out of Danae sharing she couldn't understand Tracie over the phone and thought she said, "We're going to get Chris red thongs....do you know what those are?" Hilarious.

 

 

Here's a pic of our meal that everyone contributed towards. (My delicious homemade boxed brownies didn't make the pic) I'm posting this in hopes to redeem our hamburger and BBQ sauce meal posted earlier.

Best Ever.

My mom and dad have officially entered the "empty-nest" stage of life as "Back-to-School Barbie", (Makenzie), left for Stillwater yesterday.  I was lucky enough to have my best.ever.mom stay with me on her way back through to the bend. I was fully prepared to dry eyes and give hugs.  To reassure her that The Kid is now a big kid and will be fine, but honestly, she did quite well! 

We hit up Orange Leaf (a personal fave of mine), because it just didn't seem right to miss a day of not having ice cream.  Seriously, I'm on a roll this summer. Between McDonald's $1 hot fudge sundaes and trips to the new Yogurt Xplosion, where you get it free when you guess the exact weight (I'm two for two...yep) I've had my fair share of dairy products.  Today we filled the day with time spent in my classroom.  My wonderful mom has spent a day helping me in my room for the past three years.  Between her attention to detail, knack for decor, and hard-working spirit, she's a GREAT help! I was so mad when I got all the way to school without my camera. So here's an end of the day shot.  (Not that I would have looked any better at the beginning of the day, hello, I'm wearing a hat.)

We worked, ate Mexican food, and shopped.  Doesn't get much better than that.  Thanks, mom for all your help! 
(Future posts to look forward to:  Fun evening with the women of the BP & a DIY project that I shouldn't have done myself) :)

Dinner at the BP

As previously mentioned in my About Me post, making meals is not really my thing.  Now don't get me wrong, I've got my staple, go-to items (Chicken Enchiladas, spaghetti, frozen dinners, sandwiches) What? Those last two don't count?? So meal planning is reason #4,599 why living with three other girls is so great!  There have been a few several times when I've had the glorious privilege of walking downstairs to hear that someone else has made something oh-so tasty that contained ingredients I've never even heard of, let alone would think to buy and then have a lifetime supply of.  Tell me you know what I mean...I've contemplated buying poppy seeds more than once, but can never get myself to spend $4.50 on something that I'll probably never use after the one time I make poppy seed chicken.

Anyway, long story short, I usually have the least to offer when it comes to food or meals around here (I remind them that I supply the comic relief) However, the tables turned tonight.....

Meet Jessica, a great friend and fellow BP resident.  She has allowed me to mooch off of her meals numerous times, but with both of us being gone so much this summer, when dinner time rolled around this is what we could come up with.

Feast your eyes on some hamburger meat dipped in BBQ sauce, BBQ chips and four month old pita chips. Yum :)  If you're in the neighborhood, drop in and join us for a well-balanced and nutrional meal.