Tribute to the Michaels

It has come to my attention that my life is suddenly full of Michaels. There seems to be an abundance of them. While they all share the same name, they are all very different and amazing in their own ways. I have decided to pay tribute to three of them.

1. Michael aka Mike: a rainman, for he comes from the great state of Washington and has a contagious laugh that we all love. Thank you for sharing your insane internet videos and laughter.

2. Michael aka Parker: an endearing soul to be sure, he abides at the Black Pearl and always has annonymously great comments to leave on my blog. Thank you for being a true Fauf fan! (and here is the mention you have been watching for. May you rest in peace--not in the earth of course!)

3. Michael aka Dahling: an amazing boyfriend, he is my dear lovah who makes life one exciting adventure. Thank you for being so uniquely you and for encouraging me to be the best Fauf I can be! Sappiness is happiness--hooray for us!

4. Michaels around the globe: if you are a Michael and were not mentioned above, then here is a quick tribute to you: may you live in such a way as to be worthy of your name, for there are some amazing Michaels out there in the world. Don't soil the name!

Ponder, Ponder, Ponder

So I'm sitting here wondering about life and all that it encompasses. And I'm wondering what other people wonder about life. If you are a person who wonders about life frequently or rarely, then you qualify to take the following survey:

1. Do you believe in soul mates?

2. Do you have wildest dreams about life?

3. If someone was constantly video taping your life, what kind of TV show would it be?

4. Do you walk through life without leaving any footprints?

5. Is this blog too invasive?

Singing September

Believe it or not, this month is quickly coming to a close. How can that be? It was just Labor Day, for cryin' out loud! (What a funny expression? I think we need to bring back some of these old expressions, such as shucks and so forth!) Anyways, as September grows old, I must reflect on this month and pay homage to the things that made this month so memorable:

Friends: including those that live in Santa Maria, Redlands, and Central Perk.

Paper: from junk mail to spelling tests. I'm not one to campaign for saving the trees, but honestly, let's not go crazy with wasting paper like junk mail and spelling tests!

The Office: "Please stop popping my cast."

Chicken and rice: hot or cold, makes no difference. But I think I am over eating it for dinner and lunch.

Good Monsters: the new Jars of Clay is really good, of course. "Carry me, I'm just a dead man lyin' on the carpet, can't find a heartbeat..." That's me at times.

Sore voice and feet: getting back into teaching takes alot out of you. My voice has finally adapted to talking lots more (you think I talked alot before, just come watch me in my classroom!) And my feet are SO sore after being on them ALL day in not so comfortable (but VERY cute) shoes. God help us!

September, we bid thee farewell soon!

Giggles

Now that I have just finished my third week of being around these 26 children a ridiculous number of hours in those three weeks, I am getting to know them better--the good and the bad. They have also made me laugh more because their personalities and other idiosyncracies are emerging to the surface--again the good and bad. Pause with me and lets share a few giggles at them:

"I told Shanelle she's not the darn boss of me!"--Colin

Question: if you had a treasure, what would it be and where would you hide it?
Jonah's written response: my treasure would be a penguin and I'd keep him in Antarctica.

CRASH! Chloe is on the floor pinned beneath her chair.
Me: Chloe, are you okay? Please get up.
Chloe: I can't, Miss Drazin, I'm kinda stuck!

Themes

I am a very analytical thinker, and I like to view my life in categories and themes. Perhaps that's one reason I am a teacher, because my life is all about graphic organizers, lists, plans, and thematical units. This can be a good thing and sometimes a bad thing. For example, I never double-book myself. But then I have neuroligical arrest when someone asks me "How are you doing?" What do they mean, how am I doing? In what category of my life? I usually answer by telling them how I am doing in each category and the themes that are dominating that category in my life at the moment.

Teaching: pleasant. When I close my eyes I see ridiculously good-looking children and a ridiculous amount of paperwork.

Church: uplifting. I am feeling a sense of belonging there and excitement for God's plan there.

Friends: water to the soul. I am enjoying my roomie and am bonding with some new ones.

Relationship: lovely. I adore Michael and adore spending time with him.