The Happiest Place on Earth

So, after teaching special education for half the year, substitute teaching Kindergarten through 5th grade the other half, and teaching a K-1 Special Education class this summer (lots of whining, tantrums, snot and bad food), let's just say...I'm feeling a little burnt and looking forward to a few weeks off before school starts back up in August. What am I going to do?

I'm going to Disneyland! Vacation destination for millions of screaming, crying, drooling, whining...but happy...children! Yeah for me!

I think Erik is right. I AM insane.

Random

Here's a picture taken in October 2005 in San Francisco. Yes, that is a skier. Some people thought it would be fun to dump a bunch of snow on Fillmore Street and have famous skiers and snowboarders do their thing. Only in San Francisco. (photo by Erik)

Sometimes, Mother Doesn't Know Best

I've done my best...I really have...to expose Erik to a world beyond Nintendo, sports and Guitar Hero. Trips to art and science museums, educational walks in nature, travel and visits to national landmarks. For some reason, he has become quite bored lately with these efforts to expand his mind. He does love music, though, and he's been playing the bass guitar for a year 1/2. He can listen to a song, pick out the bass notes and play without me needing ear plugs. The other day, he came home late (Erik is a "better to ask for forgiveness, than permission" sort of guy) because he decided to stop at the Guitar Center and buy himself an electric guitar. So, the kid likes music.

What better way to develop this love than to enroll him in a music camp? This has been met with great resistance. I just knew, if he gave it a try, he would like it. Wrong.

"How was camp today, honey?"

"Mom, I am never going back."

"What do you mean, honey? What did you do?"

"We clapped...in a circle. We had to draw a picture about how we felt after listening to Beethoven. We had snack! We had Nilla wafers for snack. And, I'm, like, the oldest kid there. My partner is 8 years old and into Pokemon."

I couldn't help myself, but I burst out laughing to the point of tears. Erik is 5'10, 140 pounds and needs to shave.

He continued, "All I could think was 'My mom is INsane!' I looked out the window, and my friends were playing dodgeball in the Strength & Conditioning class and I'm sitting with 8 year olds eating Nilla wafers."

Needless to say, Erik will be switching to the Strength & Conditioning camp tomorrow.

Motivation vs. Procrastination

What I lack in motivation, I more than make up for in procrastination. These two are in constant battle and it can be quite exhausting at times...which is why I usually give up and take a nap hoping that I can start over-a little more motivated- upon waking. This cycle repeats itself every weekend. Really, it's amazing I get anything done at all.

...and I Quote:

Seeing ourselves as others see us would probably confirm our worst suspicions about them.

~Franklin P. Adams

Flare for the Camera

I really, REALLY don't want to go to work today. What is up with that?

Procrastination

I don't want to go to work today. Plain and simple. I want to sit around naked, combing my hair while blogging. Actually, I want to play with my new Wacom tablet.

I did this piece by spreading loose graphite all over the paper, then drawing with the eraser...using a bit of charcoal here and there. It's a copy from another work and for the life of me, I can't remember the original artist. Some artist I am! Caroline? Anyone?