Gadzooks and Spooks!

Being that today is Halloween complete with bewitching weather, a phrase popped into my head this morning (see title above). This expression is from a very old movie called the Court Jester with Danny Kay. It's one of my all-time favorite movies (and if anyone ever comes across a copy of it on DVD, please let me know). Anyways, Danny Kay plays this cowardly man who works for the infamous outlaw the Black Fox, who strives to put the true king on the throne. Danny Kay likes to go around dressed as the Black Fox, pretending he is as brave as him. And this is the ridiculous song he sings about the Fox. Enjoy!

Only the sharpest eye
The keenest nose
The quickest deer
And the fleetest toes
Can ever outfox the Fox

Only the stoutest arm
The bravest heart
With a magic charm
And a good head start
Can ever outfox the Fox

Those who try to tangle with my daring do
Wind up at an angle that herring do

Only a sprightly sprite
The nimblest elf
The wickedest witch
Or the devil himself
Can ever outfox the Fox

My enemies say “Gadzooks and Spooks!”
Shivering in their sox
They know they’ll never
I’m far too clever
To ever outfox the Fox

TAXES! TAXES! TAXES!

I feel like TAXES is the theme of my life right now. This may be shocking to you since indeed the deadline for paying taxes is way past, and we still have a few months until we have to pay them again. But there are other forms of taxes in my life at present. Mainly my brain has been over-taxed--it's been so preoccupied with organization, planning, and learning new things that I have hadn't anything left for leisure.

Work: I've realized that while my job is stress-free and way fun, it is very mentally exhausting. I have to constantly keep track of what grade I'm teaching each hour, what lesson they're learning, and what supplies I need for that lesson. Now remember Fauf is uber-organized: I have lists and lists, but it still takes alot of mental capacity to keep it all straight.

New Job: I'm taking on a new part time job with the independent studies program with Orcutt district. It won't be alot of work, but initially it is b/c I'm learning how to do it. Again it takes lots of organization and mental work. I also have to meet four times a week with different students and try to cram them into my full schedule. I need a bigger day planner!

Loans: While nothing definite is decided with officially pursuing buying a house, I am learning all the loan and home-buying jibberish: mortgage insurance, property tax, house insurance, points, interest rates, 30-year fixes. And lets not forget the random information I have to give: address of your landlord, husband's social security number, old job's address...WHAT?! Who remembers all that?

So indeed I am over taxed (I must be an American), and while Bush's next tax rebate gift will be a Godsend (if we get it), it won't help with lowering the taxes on my brain!

The Shaw Report

Like any season, autumn has some fun movies to watch. You know, there are just some movies better suited to be viewed at different times of the year. The Christmas movies are a no-brainer, and even some of the autumn movies. But did you know that there are also good spring movies and summer movies? Now this is just based on popular consensus and Shaw reasoning. You may want to assemble your own list of seasonal movies. Here's our list to help you jump-start that (and keep in mind any movies not listed are good anytime.)

Autumn: think Halloween and Spooks
Hocus Pocus
Adams Family
Adams Family Values
The Worst Witch
CLUE

Christmas: think snow and children's delight
Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both versions)
Home Alone
Home Alone 2 (but never Home Alone 3)
A Christmas Story
Hook

Spring: think rainy England and romance
Finding Neverland
Pride and Prejudice
13 Going On 30

Summer: think high seas and trilogies
Pirates of the Carribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl
Pirates: Dead Man's Chest
Pirates: At World's End
Ocean's Eleven
Ocean's Twelve
Ocean's Thirteen
Harry Potter collection
Batman Begins
Dark Knight

Year-Long: think multi-seasons
You've Got Mail
Devil Wears Prada

My Wish List

I'm very excited about Christmas coming...and yes, it is. I know it's hard to believe with these blazing temperatures, and all the Halloween propaganda, and a few calendar pages left to go. But it is coming, and now that the Shaw/Sullivan/Ahlgren family has picked names for secret Santa ( or secret Shaw/Sullivan/Ahlgren), I feel that Christmas is officially coming! Last year we chose names and bought for just that one person. We used the Family Wish List online to post what we wanted. And for the first time since that Christmas when I was six and got the baby doll Hannah I wanted, I actually got everything and only what I wanted! What a concept! Santa finally got my wish list and followed it to the letter --Santa being Lisa Ahlgren last year! Anyways, I'm looking forward to hopefully another year of rewarded expectations and close reading of my wish list (::cough, cough:: This is a silent shout-out to whoever picked me for this year's secret Santa!) No pressure, of course. I'm just excited to spend my first Shaw Christmas ever this year!