Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Nobody likes me, everybody hates me...give me some worms!
I found this paper in my classroom today:
I do not know who wrote it, but I have an idea. I sat the whole class down and told them what I had found. I asked them all to share if they hated anything about me. Nobody had anything to say. I explained them that if they have a problem with somebody, the best way to solve it is to approach the person and let them know. I said that it didn't just apply to me but to their fellow students, as well. A few students asked to see the handwriting so they could tell me who it was. I told them that it didn't matter who it was. What matters is that someone got their feelings hurt (me) and if the person who did write it wanted to apologize, there would be no punishment. I encouraged them all to be open and share what they think would cause someone to write it. Not a single one of them had a thing to say. Hmmm. That was the most quiet 10 minutes I have experienced in that classroom in over five weeks of teaching that class. Finally, one little girl raised her hand and said, "Mrs. Hayes, I didn't write that because I love you." Then they all raised their hands to tell me that they loved me.
I guess it is not such a bad thing that one of them hates me. I am pretty sure that means I am doing my job. I am not there to be loved. I am there to enrich their little minds with knowledge. If they hate me for that, so be it.
But, I still want to cry. The funny thing is that one of my students cried today because someone hurt her feelings. I told her to not care about what that person thinks. I also told her that crying would only make them feel like they had won in that situation. Yet here I am, wanting to cry because of what a seven year old thinks of me as a teacher. Boo hoo.
Man, I can't wait to see what high school students have in store for me.
--Amy
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Thorn in my side....
Current mood:boastful, yet humbled
Category: Religion and Philosophy
I posted this as a bulletin, but then I was instructed by a blog savvy friend that I should post it as a blog. So, here it is. :)
Well, I was having a great day until I went to Church. Not that I am blaming the horrible last hour of my life on Church, but it just fits! The first half of the service was worship songs and prayer requests. Then the sermon started. The pastor was reading out of 2 Corinthians 12. As soon as he started speaking about how we all have thorns that God won't remove, I felt like someone stuck a big thorn in my side. It feels like it is still there. Yup, pretty sure it is kidney stones. It's about time for another. :( But, then on my way home, while I was trying not to run over any mopeds while coping with my pain, I realized my gas light had been on for some time. Now, I can't just pull over anywhere and get gas. I have to get it on base. I barely coasted, 15 kilometers below the speed limit, from the gate to the gas station. I put 7 dollars and change worth of gas in because I just wanted to go home and find some pain killers. As I was driving up the steep hill to my home, the car started shaking and wouldn't accelerate. It made really loud metal on metal grinding noises that drew stares from pedestrians. I finally got into the parking lot without the car exploding. I looked at the receipt and learned that I had just wasted 7+ dollars on diesel gasoline! Grrrrr! As I started cursing to myself...I started to think about the lesson in purity I should have learned at church this evening.
This is me boasting about my weaknesses. If we didn't have things like this happen to us, God wouldn't be a powerful and perfect God. We are separated from him by our weaknesses, yet his grace is sufficient for us. Instead of thinking He is punishing me for being impure, I have decided to think this is just His way of telling me that I am human. I make silly mistakes (to err IS human afterall), and that reminds me to try harder to be more Christlike in the things I can control.
Seriously, it is hard for me not to curse out loud when I am in severe pain and I have just pumped a bunch of diesel gas into my car...but I didn't. Yay. Boast, boast, boast...I am weak.
-Amy
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Things I learned in Sydney...
Current mood:enlightened
Category: Travel and Places
I learned that the toilet water really does flush in the opposite direction when you are south of the equator.
I learned that a baby koala's first solid meal is it's mother's stool. Gross, I know, but it provides the baby with the bacteria needed to be able to digest the tough eucalyptus leaves that it will be eating for the rest of it's life.
I learned that "Aussies" is actually pronounced "Ozzies".
I learned that I shouldn't expect an English speaking cab driver in Sydney any more than I would in Tokyo.
I learned that Kangaroo meat is pretty tasty.
I learned that hardly anyone really dresses up for the opera. Whatever, we looked good!
I learned that it is freaking expensive to live in Sydney! A ticket to the movies is $15.50. I am used to $3 at the base theater here! After popcorn and drinks it costs at least $70 for two people to go to the movies. (Brad and I saw 3 movies while we were there).
I learned that Australia has their own version of the movie "To Wong Fu, Thanks for everything, Julie Newmar." It's actually the original, and it's called "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert." Melynda and I saw it as a live musical at the casino and it was hilarious!
I learned that Aussies like our music much more than we like theirs! Sorry Kylie.
I learned that I cannot tell the difference between a British accent and an Australian accent.
I also learned that Australians cannot tell the difference between Americans and Canadians, so I didn't feel so bad about the British/Australian thing.
I learned that my husband missed me more than I thought he did.
I learned that climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge was not worth $172 per person! Can you say monsoon?
I learned that I am capable of blowing a couple grand in just a few days...Oh wait, I already knew that!!!!!
Stay tuned for "Things I learned in Hong Kong..."
-Amy
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Tagged...
Current mood:pregnant: sleepy and barfy
Category: Blogging
Here are the rules to the game -- once you have been tagged, you must write a blog with ten weird, random things, little known facts or habits about yourself. At the end choose at least 5 people to be tagged, list their names and why you picked them. Don't forget to leave a comment that says 'you've been tagged' and tell them to read your latest blog.
1. I like to brush my teeth with hot water.
2. Unlike Kylie, I have never had a cavity. :) *editor's note* This has changed as of 2 months ago. :(
3. I own over 50 pair of heels that are 4" or higher, 10 of which I packed to come to the states for only 2 weeks.
4. I love my husband more than he thinks I do and I secretly feel sorry for every married woman I meet because my husband is better than theirs!
5. My toenails grow unusually fast and I have to trim them twice a week.
6. I still want to be a back up dancer for Britney Spears.
7. If I had a terminal illness and the 'Make a Wish Foundation' was going to honor my dying wish, I would want to host Saturday Night Live.
8. Just yesterday I lost a bet to my sister because I thought Ronald Reagan was still alive even though he died over 3 years ago.
9. I am in shock that I am leaving number 8 as it is because it is extremely embarrassing for me to admit that I was wrong about something bearing that level of national importance.
10. I have lost 5 pounds since becoming pregnant.
I am tagging Jen D because I think she will actually do this and because I want to see if she will actually list anything that I don't already know.
I am tagging Kharisa out of curiosity because I think there is a lot more that I don't know about her.
I am tagging Amy number 1 because I feel like it...and I miss her.
I am tagging Erika because I am hoping she has some secrets that she wants to share with the world! Plus, she is a witty gal.
I am tagging Amanda because I think of her everytime I see my default photo and I am looking at it right now. haha.
-Amy
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Ultrasound
Current mood: ecstatic
Category: Life
I had my first pre-natal exam today. I could have had it earlier, I just really wanted Brad to be able to come for the first ultrasound(for those who don't know, Brad's back for a couple weeks). Anyway, we went in for the exam and he told me he was uncomfortable because had never witnessed a pap smear before. Great! I mean, it's a good thing he hasn't witnessed any other pap smears, but if that makes him 'uncomfortable,' then how is he going to feel when I am pushing a baby out of my vagina!!! I guess we will see.
We finally got to the ultrasound part of the appointment and he got really excited with a big grin on his face as soon as our baby came up on the screen. The baby looked like it was dancing. I kept laughing. When I would laugh the picture on the screen would disappear. I kept trying not to laugh, but you know how that goes. Then the doctor turned the sound on and we could hear the heartbeat. I started laughing again and it made a loud, awful sound on the doppler, so the doctor turned the sound off. I do not know why I couldn't control my laughing. It's not like it was funny. I was just so happy and excited that laughter was the result.
Well, I am healthy and the baby is healthy, so we are happy! Oh, and I got a new due date...April 1st, seriously. :)
-Amy(and Brad and the Baby)
Saturday, November 03, 2007
You dog!
Current mood: exhausted
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes
I spent quite a bit of money at Babies'R'Us.com today. I purchased registry items for 4 expectant mothers...and then of course updated my own registry(hint*hint). Anyway, they give you the option of sending a free greeting with the items. It's not a card or anything. It actually shows up on the packing slip. It's free, though, so why not? I typed in messages for the first three orders without a hitch. Then I went to my sister Jodi's registry. I selected the things I wanted to get her and added them to my "cart." When I got to the message part, I typed in the following:
"Team Serrano, You lucky dogs. Brad and I are so jealous that you are having twins. Congratulations. With all our love, Team Hayes"
When I hit the 'submit' button, the website responded as follows:
"We cannot process you order. Your greeting contains foul language."
I was like... "Wha..?"
I didn't know what was foul about it. Dogs? Jealous? Twins? I guess "ALL our love" could be taken out of context. Seriously, though... what if I had said, "I hope little Susie likes books about dogs." or, "Johnny, Your parents wouldn't let me get you the puppy dogs that you wanted, so enjoy this crappy toy from Toys'R'us." Oh wait, crappy is probably considered foul...especially when using it to describe the product you are about to purchase from their website.
If I wanted to relay a foul message to someone...I wouldn't be buying them stuff online. I feel that my freedom of speech has been violated here. Who do they think they are? What if I had a really funny inside joke that I wanted to express on a package like this? They shouldn't be able to take that away from me.
I guess they haven't robbed me of my freedoms altogether. Tomorrow, I am going to mail Jodi and Dean a post card that says "DOGS" all over it. At least the U.S. Postal Service knows better than to tell me what I am free, and not free to say!!!! I won't let Babies 'R' us get me down.
-Amy
Hmmm. I used to keep my blogs much shorter. Maybe I should try that again. Someday. :)
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