Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Mental Spaghetti

So my dad said I need to do another blog entry.

I’m not sure if I’m quite sold on this blog thing. I mean, I love reading my friends’ and family’s blogs…when I find time and an internet connection. But that’s an incredibly rare occasion at this point in my life.

I often have thoughts or difficulties or triumphs that I’d love to share with people, but I just never think to write them in a blog. I feel like it needs to be something profound or touching or extremely funny to be blogging-worthy. I mean, who wants to read the mundane happenings of my simple life, or read my verbal stream-of-consciousness? Sometimes even I wish I could escape from the mess of mental spaghetti that’s going on in my mind! (Everything all jumbled up together, thinking of everything at once. And very messy. Red sauce stains are buggers to get out.) Why put someone else through that mess? I think it comes from my perfectionism. I don’t want people reading something that might show an imperfect, dull Lori.

Isn’t that just silly?!

Oh, and I feel like if people are going to take the time to read my blog, I should obligatorily read theirs. And, as we've established--I simply don't.

So I’m not sure what I am supposed to be writing this blog entry about. The funny things my students say usually go in my Facebook statuses. (I think the word “status” needs a cool plural, like “stati” or something. Don’t you?) My small (and large) triumphs get told to my parents. And the tough stuff…well, it either gets unloaded on one of two dear friends, occasionally to my parents, or I just keep it inside of me until it eventually fades out. Eventually. That being a very relative word, said with a lot of faith.

But we'll try it.

Snow Day in the Life of a Teacher

So what to write about? Here are some “interesting” things from today:

-The exciting news of today? I got a snow day. With less than ½ inch of snow on the ground. I know, right? I guess I’d call it a “cold day”. It hovered around 0 degrees Fahrenheit today, give or take 5 degrees. But there was a constant nasty wind all day. Right now (8:35 pm) it’s currently -11 outside, and with windchill it’s -37. And how is my car supposed to start in the morning??

-The superintendent from our district resigned yesterday. I think this is the 3rd, 4th, or 5th one they’ve gone through in the recent past (meaning the past 5 years). We’re a very “special” district. I feel rather guilty that when I heard the rumors about this yesterday afternoon, my first thought was a panicked, “Wait, who’s gonna call our snow day tomorrow?!”

-After my gross 2 hour run on the treadmill today, all I wanted was a shower. I turned on the shower and was scalded by the burning water coming out of the facet. I tried to turn it down…and down…and down, but it never got colder. I turned it all the way down to COLD--and nothing came out. I realized the cold water pipe in my shower was frozen. Awesome. I knew I needed to call the office so they could do whatever they needed to to keep the pipe from bursting. But I really, really wanted to bathe first.

So I rocked it pioneer style. Well, opposite pioneer style. I filled up the bathtub from the facet (scalding hot water, remember?) while filling up a mixing bowl with cold water from the sink and dumping it into the bathtub. A little oldschool, but it worked great.

Later, the first maintenance guy came. He took the fixture around the facet off so the warm air could get in there and defrost the pipe. He turned on the cold full-blast so when it melted the water could get moving. So far so good, right?

About 4 hours later, the 2nd maintenance guy came with a spaceheater. He set it up in my bathtub and turned it on high, pointed right at the facet, to try to melt the frozen pipe. I sat there and started smiling, trying not to laugh. He said, “When it finally melts, you’ll hear the water pouring out, and then you can just let us know and we’ll come fix everything back up.” I just smile and nod.

Remember, the space heater is sitting in my bathtub, plugged in, running. And water is supposed to come gushing out of the facet at any time. He finally realizes what I’d already realized and said, “And—oh—um—I should get something to put this on…”

So I have a spaceheater sitting in my bathtub on a 9X13 baking pan. Real safe. I feel really good about this.

And looks like no brownies for Lori tonight.

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Wisdom from Fledgelings

I'm really struggling with one of my 7th grade choirs this semester. In a class of about 25, I can't get anyone to open their mouth and sing. And I've tried EVERY tactic, every angle of attack possible--being gentle and kind, being silly and jumping on chairs, laughing, being serious, scaring it out of them, bringing the 8th graders in to sing with them and convince them choir is "cool", talking about why they are in this class...and dozens more. Seriously.

Anyway, a few weeks ago it was a hopeless class period where they were not putting forth any effort. So instead of getting angry and lecturing them, I just had them get out a piece of paper and answer the following questions:

1. Tell me about something in you life that was hard to do, but you did it anyway. Was it worth it? Why or why not? What did it take to accomplish it?
2. Why do you think you can do hard things? What does it take to do hard things? Why is it worth it?

I was impressed with several responses, but this one just spoke with wisdom beyond her years, and I wanted to share it with ya'll:

"Life wasn't made to be easy, God didn't intend us to get through things without a struggle. Physically and mentally our bodies were made to do hard things and to get them. Yet, in the end it's all worth it. To start off, I can do hard things because very rarely I don't strive to succeed. Most people have that quality like me, when they don't take no for an answer and they always need to overcome the hard tasks. Which is exactly what it takes to aquire those hard tasks. If your mind is always to it and your head is held high anyone can achieve anything. In the end it's always worth it because we feel accomplished and it motivates us to do even more hard things."

Wow. How does a 7th grader KNOW that kind of stuff?!

This is why, in spite of the punks my kids can be, I love my job.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Breaking things...

So...this one time, I came home to see my adorable...err, "manly"...little brother perform in a student-directed version of the Disney musical Newsies (a personal favorite of mine).

I got home right as he was getting into his costume and leaving to go help finish the set before their opening performance. I looked up at him, smiled real big, and said, "Break a..... PAH HAH HAH!" and dissolved into a fit of hysterical laughter.

For any thespians out there, you understand the importance of uttering that phrase and none other before a performance. This is serious business, folks.

But it just sounds WRONG when the role your brother is playing is none other than the token gimp of the show, Crutchy.

Break a leg, lil' bro!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Proud to be a Canadian-made American

(So I wrote the above-showing title before writing this actual post, and I realized the double-entendre contained therein. I am a real-live "Canadian-made American." Cute!)

But that's not what this post is about.

One of my kids brought in a CD today for a project we are presenting in my 6th grade Intro to Music class. They are supposed to write a paragraph about their favorite song--where they first heard it, why they like it, when they listen to it, and talk about 3 "elements of music" (application of vocab) in relation to the song. They then share it and the song with the class.

One cute little boy played for us "Battle Hymn of the Republic". He talked about how it made him feel patriotic. It was sweet.

But in the middle of his presentation, I was putting in his CD and laughed outloud--really loud, in the middle of him talking--as I read the CD face. It was called "Spirit of America" and had an American flag waving proudly against a light blue sky.

In small print, it clearly said, "Made in Canada".

Sunday, January 3, 2010

A Characterically-Colorado Run

I walked out into the fresh Colorado air yesterday and was pleasantly surprised to be met with a warm 45 degree temperature and a strange sensation I felt through my sleeves…what was that…warmth? From the sun??

I raced back into my apartment and quickly found my lime green running shorts. I threw them on, eager to take advantage of those Vitamin D enriching rays from the sun gods, and almost giddy with excitement as I envisioned coming home my run without having to wait 20 minutes for my face to thaw out before I tried to use my facial muscles to speak again coherently.

I hopped down the stairs and began running. I felt that warming sun absorbed by my black shirt, warming my whole body, and just smiled. What a simple sensation I so often take for granted. Having lived in below-freezing temperatures for the past month or so, it felt like heaven. I rolled up my long sleeves and skipped happily along, basking in the simple glory of nature’s miracles.

For about 20 minutes. I then happened to look up right as these thick, dark grey clouds suddenly overshadowed my sun. Ugh! Well, at least I’d gotten in 20 minutes of sunshine.

I kept on running in the cooling air, very aware of the rapid change of temperature—I’m used to running in cold weather, no big deal.

But 20 minutes later, I couldn’t do anything but begrudgingly laugh as I saw these tiny bits of styrofoam being tossed down all around me from those ugly, grey clouds. Yep, it was snowing.

So I ran my last 20 minutes home in the steadily falling snow. In my shorts. And waited 10 minutes to talk until my face had successfully thawed. Thank you, Colorado.

Friday, December 25, 2009

Thankful Bag 2009

This is such a long post I wasn't sure if I should put it on. I heard "long blog posts" are neither favorable nor inviting to readers. But I think my dad wanted it online, so feel free to peruse. For an explanation of what in the world this is, see last year's post on the same.

Chris

The Priesthood

The Scriptures

The chance to repent and do better every day

Music

Cookies

A free country

Teachers

New friends

The opportunity to serve a mission

Assurances that the Lord is pleased with your efforts

AP classes

Rainy days

Italian food

Heavenly Father’s Plan of Happiness

Central heating

Dreamland BBQ Sauce

The comfort, guidance, teaching, and instruction of the Holy Ghost

The Atonement

The Scriptures

Jay and Jen

Sons- and daughters-in-law

Grandchildren

NSLC (National Student Leadership Conference)

Chocolate

Letters

Family

“Enough”

A good mind

My Trailer-Park Kingdom

Sister Graves

MUSICALS!

Sons

The BEST parents EVER

Crazy neighbors

Health

My Mac

Grandparents and cousins

Good running shoes

Freckles

Prayer—and that we can go to Him anywhere, at anytime, about anything

Preach My Gospel

My voice

Sweet neighbors

Friends

Piano

Parents

The Restoration of the Gospel

Steak

Ice cream

Sunrises/sunsets

Snow

Jason/Kellie/Sandy/Chris/Scott/Jen/Snapper/Ian/Audrey (no middle child…surprise, surprise)

A job

Music

MUSIC

Dad

Sister Kuttler

My job

The Holy Ghost

Pretty girls

Friends

Seminary to start off the day

Phones

Unlimited texting

Temple

Sons and daughters

Sunny days

Mountains

President and Sister Thomas and Bethany

Cookout shakes—Yum!

Meat

Kellie, Scott, Audrey, and Ian

The Atonement

Life

August in the mountains

Planes

School

Internet

Smiles

Eternal perspective

The Waxhaw Ward

My sweetheart

Daughters

Laughter

Patriarchal blessings

French friees

Modern medicine

Soft breezes

Mail delivery

Lori

The Atonement

Airsoft

Family

Gentle breezes

Old friends

The enabling power of the Atonement

Missionaries

Small miracles (and big ones, too!)

Family (Thanks for all your love and support!)

Macs

My sweet wife

Caring doctors and nurses

Trees

Rivers

Mountains

A Heavenly Father who listens to my problems

Aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, parents, sibling, blah, blah, blah

Commandments

A Savior’s love

Ice cream

Intelligence

North Carolina

A loving Father in Heaven

Sunshine

My students

Talents

Music

Home

Cars

The Gospel

Tithing

Lori

Oceans

Email

My own apartment

Warriors who defend our freedom

Music

Jesus Christ

Stars

Servicemen and women

Healthy body

Callings

A missionary sister

Pets

The Priesthood

Mom

The temple

Repentance

Good wards

Oceans

Cars

Living prophets

Scriptures

The Plan of Salvation

Hot rolls