haha

Hi Kim,
Here is my newest blog

Sincerely,
Jules

My Four Legged Amigo

Well last night was a close call with Lo-Lo and the sock. Well I wouldn't call it a sock, it was one of those bottie nylon things that I wear with flats or heels. Well he dropped it for a treat, but then picked it up with the treat and swallowed them both.

Fantastic...

Thank goodness there are numbers to call. Apparently giving a dog a little bit of hydrogen peroxide will induce vomiting. He of course wouldn't drink it, and found it all very suspect. Then Dad suggested soaking something he loves (ie, anything) and then feeding him the food. Hello bread! He ate like half of the bread, and then it started. He vomited like 7-10 times. I completely lost count. The sock (and all of his dinner) came up in try number one. Yes I rinsed the sock and threw it in the washer. But then he kept going, and going. He looked absolutely miserable. We were outside so while he was puking I was rinsing down the front walk and driveway. By 830p it was all over and he was wiped out.


Well I learned that hydrogen peroxide will make my dog puke, and that one should be ready because by the end there will be nothing left.


In other news, he (we) have been attending dog classes. He is now topping the scales at 71 pounds (probably just under after yesterday's puking). We have had three classes so far. He already knew sit, and would occasionally lay down. He is working on wait, drop it, and down. In class he does well when the other dogs aren't being distracting. There are two that just bark constantly, and then the dog he plays with all of the time, SweetPea. One thing I knew wouldn't be a problem was the whole "will work for food" part of class. He will do anything for a snack.

Back to Books

Before I start this blog, my dog has gone crazy. He is currently under the bed making a multitude of odd noises-from a low growl, to this like higher pitched my tummy hurts growl. It is a little ridiculous, and ridiculously cute.


okay focus, reading...

I just finished reading Kathy Griffin's book, "For Your Consideration." I loved it! I thought it was going to be laugh out loud hysterical, but it wasn't. It does have several funny moments, but plenty of serious ones that show just how hard she has worked for her craft. I have seen her live here in Indianapolis, and it was a really really good show. If you don't like vulgar language/stories or stories about celebrities then do not go see her. Her book is not as vulgar as her standup. Then I also read most of "Sh*t My Dad Says." FANTASTICALLY FUNNY BOOK!!!

Clearly by the title you can probably infer that this is not a book for everyone. I found the quotes to be really really funny. Laugh out loud funny, and share to your family and friends funny. If your family and friends do not find quotes from a 74 year old man with no filter (seriously no filter) funny then they will just be offended by the book. I would suggest you get new friends and family, because this shit is funny. It is a mix of just quotes, and then short little stories. They are things that I would imagine you would THINK about saying to your kid, but then would probably never say them. If you want a preview of the quotes here is the twitter page http://twitter.com/shitmydadsays


I have yet to start "Love is a Mix Tape" by Rob Sheffield, but it is sitting here. I am not quite ready for a sad book. However because I can't keep myself from looking at amazon.com I have found some books to add to the list of soon to buys:

1. "Anthropology of an American Girl" this one is like 600 pages so it is clearly an investment of my time.
2. "The Surgeon" by Tess Gerritsen, cop book that is the basis for the new TNT show "Rizzoili and Isles" I love a good murder/cop book, just like I love those shows.


okay well I guess that is my entire list. For some reason I thought it was going to be a longer list...

Changes

Well it is almost August, which for me always seems to signal a new year. My life has seemed to revolve around the school year, and now I just consider it my personal start to a new year. I was blessed to find a job in Indianapolis working at a charter school. I had faith that I would find a job because well I just wouldn't let myself believe anything else. So now in true Juli form everything is somewhat rushed. I start a week from Monday. Akkk! But the perk to moving back to Indy is that I can live with Mom and Dad while moving out of my old place, and then being able to find an apartment that I want to live in. This time Kim is moving in, and I know some of you (okay well the 4 that read this) may doubt us sisters living together I have a solution. 2 bedroom 2 bath. I am hoping to be moved by October.

I am excited to be moving back to a place that has more things to do. Like getting Loki signed up for dog training (I mean owner training) classes. Plus being able to go to dog parks.

Last week I was camping at White Water Memorial State Park. It was a lot of fun. We got rained on a lot (the tent flooded a few times), played a lot of games, and went horseback riding. It was hot and humid, and really really buggy. I got stung by a baby bumble bee. It was in my hair, and when I went to tighten my ponytail I was attacked! Full stinger in my finger. Luckily it was easily removed, and cured with baking soda paste. We played a lot of cornhole, which I am terrible at, and ate way to much food. One day we had Thanksgiving dinner, and it was delicious!

Alright well I need so see what kind of trouble Loki is getting himself into...

Reading Dry Spell

I've been having a reading dry spell. It has been going on for about a month if not longer. I want to read, but I cannot find anything I want to read. I haven't read the fifth Percy Jackson book, but I don't want to read it.

I bought "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" but again I don't want to read it. I got 14 pages in, and haven't moved any further. This really annoys me. Like really really really irritates me. So in response I went book shopping.

I found two books. Thank you Amazon for making suggestions! The first book is called, "Love Is a Mix Tape: Life and Loss, One Song at a Time" by Rob Sheffield. I thought it was fiction, but it is apparently nonfiction. I am excited to read it. Then I also ordered "Sh*t My Day Says" by Justin Halpern. Also nonfiction, but the little bit I read was hilarious. I am hoping that they arrive before I go camping next week...

Looking back on the past year

A year ago I was graduating college and applying for jobs. Well here we are again... applying for jobs at least. With the exception of the drama of my some of my "colleagues" I had a really great first year of teaching. More laughs than tears (which didn't come until March the tears I mean), more smiles than frowns, and health insurance that stays in effect until August 31, 2010!!

I found the most difficult part of my year was laughing at things that I should not be laughing at...quite a few correctly used "that's what she said" moments. Reading parts of different stories aloud that when read aloud are rather sexual. And I of course start to giggle because sometimes I cannot stop myself.

Discovery Education has a great online streaming selection for different standards or activities. I fell in love with a grammar series called "Dark Marker." It covers the basics, but most of my students needed a refresher. There is one episode about pronouns and the sentence ended up being "Buzz rode (insert noun/pronoun). Hilarity!

My students are really honest with me, which is okay. More often then not I hear things that I don't want to hear. Most came from my male students. Some examples:

"I know he is all man." Said by a male student in reference to another male student.

"I need to take a dump."

"Both of my nuts are fully functioning."

"That book has blow jobs in it!" (my response, "Let's just call blow jobs sex")

I hope I can land another job to have another excellent year with teenagers!

Book Review: Percy Jackson Series

I started reading the Percy Jackson series back in mid March I think. I LOVED THEM!! If you like greek mythology (or kinda liked it) I would suggest these books. The Gods are all there, and they got a make over. The author does a good job justifying why they are in the U.S. and not Europe.

At first I was worried that the books were going to very Harry Potter-esque. They aren't. I think they are better. First of all there are only 5 books, and they are not very long. And the main characters are very different. I enjoy Percy's sense of humor over Harry's lack there of.. also the supporting characters are much more interesting, and have their own subplots.

Like most YA books there are some predictable plot twists, but there are a lot of surprises.

The movie is being released at the end of June. I didn't see the movie, and I heard that a lot of changes were made. Don't they always make a lot of changes?

Front Page of the Peru Tribune....

While I guess it is time for people to know (well the 4 readers that I have). I have resigned from my current teaching job. It wasn't something that I desired to do, but was forced to do. It isn't lady like for me to dish out the details here, but it happened at the end of March. While I know it is best for me to leave the school (there are some shady things going on by non-teachers) it breaks my heart.

I have poured my heart and soul into this job, and now I have to go. I want to live some place and start to establish a life... not feel like I am constantly moving. I have made great friends that I don't want to leave, but this is not the town for me.

But allow me to explain my title...

This past Monday the school approved the RIFing, non-renewals, retirements and resignations for the next school year. The local paper decided to put all of our names on the front page. Most of these things occurred at the secondary level-which honestly is total crap, and none were administration jobs or pay cuts. But the paper made sure to state that myself and Lukas (the other resignation) were making it possible for others to keep their job. Call it what you will we got fired (well expect for the one person that retired). I might be a nice person, but I did not resign so someone else can keep their job. Come on this is the real world!

I know that there are many schools going through this, but what I don't understand is the newspaper's desire to publish our names. It sucks enough, but to see it in print when I walked in to get my morning Diet Coke from the gas station really caught me off guard. Not only was it on the front page, but it was above the fold. Awesome. However unlike a certain higher up at my school the paper spelled my first AND last name correctly.

So now I am back to where I was a year ago. Applying for jobs and going on interviews. I know that there are many in the same boat. And that I have to do what I need to do. So now I am starting to wade my way back into the "market." There is no market everyone is cutting teachers left and right. I understand the whole paying us thing, and people cutting money, but at the end of the day the ones that are getting royally screwed over are our kids.

I know, I know everyone says this. And while I don't want this to be a political debate or anything, but great teachers are getting fired (or RIF'ed). Most of us are new teachers fresh out of school. Our first introduction to education is, "Pour your heart and soul into this job, and well we are going to get rid of you.."

Most of my students are pissed about what has happened, and were great today. I told them I was upset and why. They were supportive and worked. Then the class that never works and fights me everyday shocked me. They started a petition for me to get my job back. While it is too late and I tried to explain that they would not back down. I am sure this will come back and bite me in the butt. I will be told that I need to tell them to stop. Um I tried. 14 year olds are very stubborn, and hey it is their education. It is their lives that are going to most effected by budget cuts.

In other news (well mostly Loki news). He has been a good puppy. I weighed him this weekend. He is at 57/58 pounds. Lately we have been going to the park with my friend Emmy and her 2 toddlers, and their dog Ruby. Loki just loves the kids. He is really good with them. There is no need for him to jump because he is eye-to-eye with both of them. He actually does good (for the most part) not jumping on people and will sit. Honestly if I didn't have him around these past few months I don't know how I would have handled everything. He howls whenever sirens go past the apartment, or as my parents found out the car. He really loves squeaky toys and rawhides. And doggie ice cream. There is an ice cream place I go to here in town that has doggie dishes. It is a small serving of soft serve vanilla with doggie bones. He LOVES IT!

Well that is all for now. The first LOR movie is on.

It might be spring time

Finally the winter blues might be starting to melt away. Winter flew by for me thankfully. I am sitting in my living room with my balcony door open. The other day I took Loki for a two mile walk. It was awesome. On Monday I am signing up for the Y's version of the biggest loser. I am excited/nervous. Nervous because well it's working out and my students like live at the Y... oh well it will be fun. I am doing with Mandi (the head coach and high school English teacher).

Today I have pretty much done nothing. Which I will pay for tomorrow. I need to do laundry and go grocery shopping. Icky. I did make dinner. http://www.kraftrecipes.com/delicious-ideas/pages/Delicious-Ideas-RecipeDetail.aspx?recipe_id=115344 it was really good! It was a little on the gingery side, but it was still yummy. And it really only took me 30 minutes to make the whole thing that includes the prep work. Tomorrow I am going to make cookies for staff. They are like peanut butter blossoms, but they are made with Special K cereal, and they do not have to be baked. Super yummy!

About a month ago I got a really bad cold, and it appears that I am getting it again. I have had an icky cough, and even my ears feel plugged up.

This week at school the students completed the first part of ISTEP. This week focused on writing and short answers for math and language arts, and the 7th grade had to take a social studies test on top of that. It was an interesting week to say the least.

Last night I went with work friends to the boys' sectional game, unfortunately they lost. Monday marks my last basketball game! Yay!

Well I am spending my night clearing off my DVR!

tootles!

Migraine

I know that not that many people have suffered a migraine, and I hope that if you haven't that you never do.

Recently I have been getting migraines. Like the horrible I am going to vomit at minute-someone knock me unconscious until it goes away-can't get comfortable anywhere-brain pounding kind. I have been getting migraines since high school. I am on a daily med to help me sleep, because that was my main trigger lack of sleep. Well one thing that I can't control is the weather.

I know what you are thinking, "How does weather cause migraines?" Well I have no idea, but for me it does. Indiana weather's bipolar tendencies when the seasons are changing triggers them every time. Or if there is too much rain. It is annoying, and unfortunately there is no way for me to stop them that I have figured out yet.

Today I believe it was a combination of stress and the weather. I felt it starting, but didn't take my meds because I am an idiot. By the time I got home I wanted nothing more than to dig a hole and hide out until it went away, but I have a puppy who doesn't understand these things. Thankfully he took pity on me and let me lay down for a little bit with my ice pack. It cleared up three hours after it started with the help of a pill and an ice pack or two.

What I hate the most is that There is not much more I can do besides those things to get it go away. It's very debilitating.

Then there are those that have never had one that like to give me their two cents....

Well that mac and cheese I made last week was delicious! This week I am making an Asian Beef and veggies dish. The recipe calls for bok choy, but I changed it to broccoli and asparagus. The asparagus was on sale so I figured why not give it a go. I am also hoping to try out an easy beef stew slow cooker recipe.

Last week ended up feeling very rushed for me. I only had one basketball game, it was a tourney game. We lost which made my weekend much more enjoyable by not having to return to Tippy Valley at 7am on Saturday. My car broke down on Monday-got that fixed ASAP. I also went to two varsity basketball games this week. One at North Miami and the other at Hamilton Heights High School. The boys varsity team at Peru has won the conference and sectionals start Friday. I am pretty excited to see them play. Friday I went to the game with Stacey and Lukas, hilarity on the car ride home. I haven't laughed that long in awhile.

This weekend was mostly spent sleeping. Yesterday I did much of nothing, and it was wonderful. Today I went into work and got my desk cleaned out. I had lots of things piling up. Tuesday we are starting ISTEP. Students and teachers are going to be exhausted. I am glad that when I was taking the ISTEP it didn't really make that big of deal how the school did or didn't do.

I have no idea how well the kids are going to do. I think most of them just don't care, and there really isn't much that I can do about that. I can't force anyone to care about anything. I had several parent meetings last week where we had to tell them that we would most likely be holding their child back if their grades/ISTEP score did not show improvement. Some of those parent meetings involved students that were held back for half of the year. I am not sure why they were advanced when they were not passing the repeated classes first semester, but none of the teachers know the answer to that question.

I haven't really been reading lately-no time. Basketball ends on the 8th, and we started academic super bowl last week. I like to call it nerd herd.

I bought some tulips last week to help bring in some spring time to my apartment. They did the job and then died...I think I am going to buy a couple of flower pots and plant some flowers on my balcony. I want to get a spider plant or something for my classroom.

Tootles!!

New Recipe

So I have been trying to make new things. Lately I have of course been leaning towards things that are easy, and that involve like two (three at the max) pans. Tonight I made http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/super-cheesy-baked-macaroni-55459.aspx It is the super cheesy baked macaroni. It smells delicious and I have not yet taken a bite-it's cooling down. But I did modify the recipe slightly. Instead of adding bacon (I don't care for bacon flavor) I added tuna, and for crunch on top I added Italian bread crumbs. I also used the four cheese kraft mac and cheese. I think this recipe is going to be a keeper, and it was really easy to make.

I am really looking forward to seeing the new Alice in Wonderland movie. I love Tim Burton, and of course Johnny Depp, and Anne Hathaway.

Hope everyone has a great work week!

Wednesdays

Yay the week is half way over!

I have been trying to make something (dinner, desserts, etc.) new each week. A couple of weeks ago it was peanut-butter cookies, then a pot roast, and today it was a taco pizza. I never come up with the recipes on my own. I have a couple go-to places like annieeats (the link is on the side of my blog), and my cookbooks. I got the pot roast from campbellssoup.com and the pizza from kraft.com

I bring in my baked goods to work because my newest theory has been improving morale one baked good at a time. Tuesday I had quite a few fellow teachers asking me where the goods were. Friday I will try to bring something in. Maybe brownies, from a box I am not making those from scratch.

This past week I actually had time to read 2 different books. Both were gifts that Kim got for Christmas. They were awesome! I am currently reading the third one at night before I go to bed. I have missed reading.

This past weekend I was home, and we literally spent the weekend playing rockband, and beatles rock band. I LOVE THOSE GAMES! I am addicting and currently in withdrawal. \

Well Loki is off getting into trouble so I must go.

Tata for now!

Waiting for dinner

Well my work week is finally over. I know you are thinking what?! She had two snow days. It has been very exhausting at work lately. I am not very good at "playing the game," and I get annoyed by it. But if I must...

The state has cut funding to schools causing layoffs galore! Our school is already at a bare bones staffing, but I can be bumped out by a teacher at the high school with better seniority. I am sitting at number 1 for the lowest in seniority. Currently the government is trying to pass a bill that will allow schools to move money around to help save jobs. I hope it passes so I can keep my job. This continues to add to stress throughout my day...

Loki is doing well. Last night he decided to pee and poop in my room...wonderful odors. It is really difficult to keep a puppy from being active, and his staples were a little irritated yesterday. We are heading to my parents' house this weekend. Hopefully he doesn't go nuts chasing Jake.

Well I just got my text telling to me meet up for dinner. Los Tres (Mexican) my fav!

Have a great weekend everyone! Mine is a three day weekend yay!

Wordless Wednesday

Snow days

Well today was a snow day, as was yesterday. I am not really sure why we had one yesterday, but oh well. Yesterday I was productive and went the grocery store, made cookies, and a roast in my slow cooker. And I read a book. I am one of those people that will sit down, and read an entire book in one sitting. Thankfully Loki is still on his doggie downers to help keep him calm which allowed me to read. Yesterday I also slipped and fell flat on my back on the ice. Today I am feeling it for sure.

Quick Loki update. 5 days until the staples come out, and I have only had one infection scare. When I got home Monday after school his incision looked off. I called my vet who told me to get him to a vet when I could. I found a great vet up here that saw me right away. He said it was just irritated, and needed a steroid cream. He hasn't been licking at it too much so he doesn't wear the cone unless he is in his crate. He weighed in at 47 lbs. He has also developed some different sleeping habits, such as sleeping under my bed, under the heater in my bathroom, or under my pillows...

Today I have been lazy. I took a two hour nap, and that's about it. I have been watching SVU on my bluray player because Wednesdays always turn out to be crappy TV days.

The book I read yesterday is called "Murder 101." It is a book Kim got for Christmas that I swiped when I was at home this past weekend. I wasn't expecting much, but it held my attention all day. There were also some funny lines throughout the novel. I am hopefully going to take the second one from her when I go home this weekend. So far there are four books in this series. I don't know how Kim heard about this books, but I am glad she got them for Christmas!

This up coming weekend I am getting together with my best friend, Megan. We try to meet up when we can, but I haven't been able to see here since Thanksgiving Weekend. We are doing a Christmas gift exchange. I have no idea what I am getting her, but I have narrowed it down.

What a day!

The incision:

Sorry for the like 2 month abandonment of the blog. Most of my time has been consumed with coaching 8th grade girl's basketball. Today was an eventful day...

It all started on Monday. Loki has a penchant for putting everything in his mouth, much like a small child. He swallowed one of my dress socks whole-like one would eat spaghetti. I waited because this has happened before, and about 12 hours later he pukes them up. I waited until about Tuesday night and I was a little worried that it had not yet come out of either end...Wednesday I started calling vets. (I had also already two basketball games this week with a third scheduled for night, and I have been fighting a nasty cold since Sunday.) I have not yet found a vet up here. I called an area vet who said as long as he continues to eat and go the bathroom (and not vomit) normally I should just be on the lookout....

Which brings me to today.

330a I hear the tell-tale signs of Loki puking. It is not a gagging sound, but a loud thumping-it's bizarre. At this point I knew that the sock was not going to come out naturally. I tried calling the vet up here to get their emergency numbers, and their message cut off before it got that far, I will be calling to inform them tomorrow. Then my internet was down, so I could do is call my vet in Indy that does have 24 hour emergency care. They told me that I better come down. So I attempted to pull myself together, and clean up the 4 pukes that occurred between 330a and 340a (no joke). After he puked he was running around and playing. Then when he heard my car keys he got really excited. I make it to Indy before 6. Excellent timing.

I get to the vet they see me immediately, took the xrays and then told me what I already knew. Surgery. Then they went through the awful cost, but I don't have much of a choice. I was told that he would be in surgery by 930. Then there would be at least a 2 day hospital stay. By 630a I have left my baby at the vet, and gone to Mom and Dad's. They were actually the third phone call I made, and I am grateful they answered, and didn't sound too pissed about the 330a wake up call. Dad greeted me with a giant hug. Then I ate and actually managed to fall back asleep.

Next thing I know Kim is waking up to let me know it was 1030a, and she was leaving for work. I called the vet to get a status update on Loki. No surgery until sometime between 12p and 1p. Ugh. I just wanted done and over so he could start recovery, and I could get back up to my place to repuppy-proof my apartment. They started surgery right before 1, and thankfully he was done by 220p.

I go in to see him around 3p. He was still very groggy, but walking. He came in walked around for 3o seconds and collapsed on the floor. My poor baby. His incision is pretty big. (pictured above. Including two pics one 30 minutes after surgery, and then 4-5 hours after surgery) I stayed for about 30 minutes, and then forced myself to leave so he could get some sleep.

The whole day my dad was very worried about me and the pup. If they had cots at the vet Dad would probably spend the night right by Loki. Well Dad stopped in after work, and called me. Loki is a little bit peppier. And very clingy. Loki is normally not a very clingy puppy, but when he doesn't feel good he does. Much like myself. Loki was already back to getting into trouble and getting into the plant they have in their waiting room. Dad did stay and nap a little bit with Loki. I wish I could be there too, but I know that the fam is going to go in a see him quite a bit until I can get back down there.

In other puppy news, at just under 6 months old Loki is beastfully weighing in at 46 pounds, has lost all of his puppy teeth, and has been graduated to full dog chow. And of course has quite the war wound from the damn sock, which was found half way through his intestine, and the sock was fully intact.