Dear 2010

Dear 2010,

I mean this is the kindest way:

Don't let the door hit you on your way out.

There, I've said it.  'Cause you know, I've dealt with:

• Daddy having a mini-stroke at 4 a.m.
• 3 snow days (aka not leaving the house for 3 days)
• One close friend losing her grandfather to Alzheimer's
• The same friend losing her father to cancer two weeks later
• One friend's father lost a toe
• A friend losing their home
• The possibility of losing my job
• An ice storm
• Stomach virus
• The flu
• Bronchitis

And that's just December.  I'm not going to recount what happened the other 11 months.  December alone has been brutal.

And as I type this, there are still nine days left in the year.  I honestly can't remember when I've seen a year that was filled with so many trials.  And it wasn't just for me, it was for everyone.  I can honestly think of two people who would classify 2010 as a "good" year.

So I will not be sad to see you go.  In fact, ushering you out may be the best part of the entire year.  And because I feel a song comin' on, here are my final words to you, 2010.  Take heed.  Pay close, attention.

Sincerely,
Robin

     

Now Let Me Clear My Throat

Okay, I'm not too proud to admit that as recently as two weeks ago I thought I ran my life. 

You see, Christmas break was coming up, and here were my plans:

1. Sleep late-every single day.
2. Catch up with friends.
3. Go into my classroom and get some stuff done.
4. Be proactive and get some planning done for the new year once I returned.

There were various sundry items on this list as well.  But last and certainly not least:

• Hit up the after Christmas sales in a major way.

My class was supposed to have their Winter Party on Thursday, December 17th.  Due to a large amount of snow and ice, school was canceled  Thursday and Friday.  I did not leave the house (except for a very embarrassing attempt at shoveling the driveway) from Wednesday until Saturday. 

Sunday I went with my parents to Sam's Club about 20 miles away and was fine.  Monday I woke up with a headache but thought nothing of it.  (First mistake.)  I went into my classroom and worked like a little busy bee, bringing home a ton of stuff with me to do over the next 14 days.  

By Monday night, I was sick with the flu.  And I mean sick.  Like, today marks day 10 with it.  And over the past ten days, I have finished off three bottles of cough syrup, three Kleenex boxes, three bags of cough drops, and one Mucinex tablet box. 

And because I waited until Sunday to seek medical attention, the doctor told me I would just have to tough it out.  Which means all my grand intentions for this break have been just that.

But all is not lost.  I've gotten caught up on my twilight sleep.  Which means I saw an ad for this. 

Doesn't it remind you of that episode of "30 Rock" with the Pajamarals? 

Random Thoughts: The Television Edition

Soo...last Monday I went to my friendly family physician, feeling perfectly well.  While there, I procured for myself a flu shot.  From the last vial they had in the office.  I was feeling pretty smug about it, because I had seriously procrastinated this errand.  (And you're probably wondering what this has to do with a post that has television in its title.  Just wander with me for a moment.)

As I was skipping out the door, the very kind nurse informed me that it would take 14 days for this vaccine to take effect. 

So the countdown began. I figured those two weeks would just fly by, and since I'd already had a stomach virus at the beginning of the month (one that had me throwing up for 15 hours straight and made me miss a field trip), I figured I'd suffered enough and could make it through 14 days unscathed.

Nope.

With 6 days remaining until I would be flu free, I got the flu.  Yuck. 

And because I have the flu, I've spent more time watching tv since I don't know when.  So here are my random thoughts about television:

• Stacey London:  You make your living by telling women to buy $300 tops and $500 pants.  When I see your shampoo commercials and you're telling us to spend our money wisely, I can't help but think that's the pot calling the kettle black.  (But then again, you'd get mad at me 'cause I'm the woman who walks into The Limited and rarely buys stuff from the full price racks.  Love those clearance racks!)
•  Triple A Lady:  Really?  You are being interviewed for the evening news.  Your sole task is to give us, the battered consumers, the 411 on how to obtain the cheapest fuel possible.  And what wisdom leaves your lips?  "My advice is to look around and see who has the cheapest gas.  If one station has cheap gas, then chances are the stations around them will try to keep the same price."  Really?  Um...I already knew that.  I could also go one step further and tell you that gas is cheaper right off the interstate than it is 30 miles away from the interstate.  How come I'm not on the news.  Really?
• Saturday Night Live:  Okay, so I spent two hours of my life last night (or the night before?-this is all starting to take a toll on me) watching the SNL Christmas special.  While there were lots of funny moments, the sketch I really wanted to see was the very end. And they cut it short!  The one with Mary Katherine Gallagher, Whitney Houston, Penny Marshall, and Rosie O'Donnell all practicing for the high school Christmas concert is hysterical.  However, because they showed so many other sketches (and had to fill up way too much time with Gilly-yuck) they didn't show the complete sketch.  Which should be a crime, because Molly Shannon and Whitney Houston competing to be the queen bee of the choir is Simply. The. Best.
• Godiva:  Seriously?  You're pouting at us because we only eat your chocolates on special occasions?  Um, are you aware there is a recession currently happening?  Do you know the rate of joblessness in America?  (I know in Kentucky it's about 10%, so that ain't good.)  And you're hocking eight pieces of chocolate for $14?  Do you know much chocolate that will buy at Wal-Mart or Kroger?   (Granted, it's not as good, but still...)  Y'all need to come to terms with reality.  And lower your prices.  Then I will feast on Godiva every day of the week.  Promise.

And because I said "Really?" a couple of times earlier, and think Seth Myers is super cute, and this post needs a little something to make it funny:

A Social Media Christmas

This video gave me chills.

Dear Mother Nature

Dear Mother Nature,
I would like to point out that I always thought we were friends.  I always spoke well of you.  Never bad mouthed you.  And always celebrated those snow days you sent us. 

But now you've made me wonder what is going on.

I will admit, I LOVED the snow day Monday.  I mean, who doesn't love a three day weekend?  The two hour delay Tuesday was so considerate as well.  You were a little bit (read: month) ahead of schedule, but with the holidays and all, I understand a girl gets confused.

Then Wednesday came.  And we heard about your impending wrath on Thursday.  Do you know what it's like to have over 20 kids who firmly believe they will not be going to school the next day?  All day long, I heard, "We don't need to study for our spelling test-there's going to be no school.  What are we going to do about our party tomorrow? There's going to be no school!"

And then they were right.  No school, for two days.  Which means I have not been anywhere for two days.  And I am going a little stir crazy.

Girl, what is up with you?  Just let me know and we can work something out.  I'm getting desperate.

Sincerely,
Robin

A Reminder

Okay, so I don't have permission to reprint this, but I am giving credit to the author, so I hope I don't get in trouble.

If you haven't read Roy Lessin's thoughts on our greatest need, please see below.  He sums everything up so eloquently:


Our Greatest Need

If our greatest need had been education,
God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
So God sent us a Saviour.

*You can read more of Roy Lessin's wonderful devotions on his blog: Meet Me In The Meadow .

Why Winter is Good?

So it's been unseasonably cold here the last couple of days.  It snowed (not even for the first time) on Friday, and the predicted high today was 22 degrees.

You read that right.  The high temp was 22 degrees.  In Kentucky.  In early December.

Which brings me to this post. 

In the midst of turning into a popsicle, I am trying to remind myself why winter is good.  So here goes:

1. Christmas:  How can one hate the decorations, the hustle and bustle, the smells, the exchanging of cards, the parties and the fellowship? Not to mention the music and special episodes of your favorite television shows with Christmas themes. 
2. Hot Chocolate.  The best recipe is on the side of the Hershey's box.  That, with whipped cream, makes me stomach winter better.
3. Snow Days: Now that I work for the public school system, I can appreciate snow again.  (At UK, we never got out for snow.)
4. Basketball Season: we know when there is a nip in the air, the Cats will be running.  And we can't wait. 

What do you like about winter?

Hallelujah!

And He shall reign forever and ever!

Is That Humble Pie? Pass Me A Slice, Please!

I would like to point out I have not taken a sick day in three months.  While I don't have the constitution of an ox, I do generally make it to work, well or ill. 

And that brings us to what has been the last 27 hours of my life.

It all started yesterday morning when I saw my friend Melanie walking to her son's classroom.  We caught up about Thanksgiving, and she mentioned she had strep.  And I made the famous pronouncement around 9:30, "I can handle just about anything but strep."

Famous last words.

We switched for math at 10:00 as usual, and I was fine.  By 11:00, when math was finished, my head was beginning to ache.  Like the familiar pains of a migraine.  And I couldn't understand why. 

By noon, I was miserable.  At 1:30, I escorted my class to the program in the gym and my super sweet team mates watched them so I could die in peace.  In all seriousness, I did throw up three times and then take a blanket and lie down in my teammate's room until the program was over,  I made sure everyone got home.
Then I went home.

I can honestly say I have not been that sick in years.  I threw up for 15 hours.  At 1:30 a.m. it occurred to me the big pronouncement I had made to Melanie, in full earshot of other people.

I'm taking it back.  After 15 hours of not being able to keep down water or mulitple doses of Phenergan, sore throats aren't the only thing to take me out.  A nasty migraine will also take me down quickly, too.

But all is not lost.  For my birthday, my best friend Laura Faye got me these beautiful serving pieces:

So while I'm eating my humble pie, at least I'll be serving it in style.