Too!!! Much!!! Coffee!!! [Crash]

Owwww.

Made every* hot Starbucks beverage today.

Was then force-fed instructed to taste each drink.

4 1/2 hours of work + 15 espresso drinks = OVERDOSE.

Could actually feel my heart pumping as I drove home.

Should I be blinking this much?

Tapped my foot, bounced, twitched, jumped, wiggled, thrashed, had full body spasms, and generally fidgeted throughout the two hours of TiVo'ed So You Think You Can Dance I watched.

Crashed hard core.

Woke up at 7:30pm craving Chinese food like a crazy person. (No explanation.)

Lesson learned.

*Yeah, maybe I didn't make every single drink, but for you Starbucks freaks, here's my new "completed" drinks list: Americanno, latte, mocha, white chocolate mocha, caramel macchiato, skinny vanilla latte, vanilla steamer, hot chocolate, caramel apple spice, chai tea latte, earl gray latte, green tea latte, awake tea latte, vanilla rooibus latte, and other combinations of syrups and espresso (ex. hazelnut latte).

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Biggest Loser Won Me Over

While home in February, Mom got me hooked on yet another TV show - The Biggest Loser. I initially watched one episode halfheartedly with her; 3/4 of the way in, I was a goner. Hooked (line and sinker). Now let's not be coy - I watch a lot of television - a LOT. Reality shows make up a good percentage of that viewing. So I could not figure out why another reality show grabbed me so quickly and so forcefully.

The Biggest Loser - or BL as TWP lovingly calls it - immediately went on my TiVo when I got back to Washington, and I've been following the participants' progress as if I knew them personally. Mom and I've dissected the episodes and drama (can you believe how off the reservation the black team went when they got the 24 hours of relaxation?!?), and as I was watching tonight's episode, I was trying to figure out why the show is so appealing...

1. It's voyeuristic. Be honest - watching overnourished people sweat is captivating. It's like those TLC specials about the 1/2 ton man. You know you shouldn't watch, you know you shouldn't stare in at this person's life and problems, but you can't turn away. The only times I've physically closed my eyes during the show is when Ron takes off his shirt to be weighed (the flapping man boobs are too much to take while eating).

2. It's inspiring. Unlike most reality shows, these contestants are actually working towards something realistic. America's Next Top Model is fun, but c'mon - have you ever seen any of the winners doing actual modeling after their win? No. But, BL participants walk away thinner, healthier, more confident, and hopefully with a new drive to live a healthy life.

3. The host and trainers aren't annoying. Allison Sweeny can get a little repetitive during the weigh-ins (does she need to remind us 83 times just how much weight so-and-so needs to lose?), but she at least means well, and doesn't try and steal the spotlight from the contestants. Jillian and Bob (the trainers) are priceless. Jillian is this hard-nosed bitch who would probably kill your dog and/or grandmother if it meant you could lose another pound; Bob is also tough, but brings a refreshing willingness to cry over anything and everything.

4. Probably the biggest reason for the show's appeal is the contestants. They're completely relate able. They look like many of us. They have families and lives and genuine fears about their health and ability to continue the weight loss after the show is over. They crave chips. And they're truly supportive of each other. Unlike Survivor or Big Brother or countless other shows, the contestants are not out to backstab each other. They're happy when people are successful. Of course, it's a game, and they're all trying to win - but they get it. They realize what the big picture is, and they focus on that. Refreshing.

Let's call this a guide for future television producers - if you can find a mix of voyeurism, inspiration, captivating personalities, and genuine goals - you've got yourself a TV goldmine. (If not, I'll still probably watch whatever crap you come up with.)

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The Story of Us

Last Saturday, NavyGuy and I reached a milestone - our 5 year anniversary. I was in Wisconsin for the actual day, and with our impending wedding costs, we kept it pretty low key this year. However, I thought I'd mark the occasion with a little trip down memory lane... the story of how NavyGuy and I became "us."

The credit (and blame) falls on my college roommie. Miss A and I met as freshmen when we were assigned as roommates. She was outgoing, I was reserved; she was confident, I was anxious; she was ready to conquer the world; I was ready to spend four years hiding in my room. Bless her heart, Miss A realized if getting me out of the room was going to be messy, then she'd bring the world to our room. And that's how NavyGuy and I met; Miss A and he had a class together, and (so the legend goes) she "brought him home" to our room one day.

I can't say I have a vidid memory of meeting NavyGuy (sorry sweetie!). Much of our first months together were spent hanging out with Miss A in the dorm room discussing everything under the sun. I do remember being intimidated by his strong political convictions (boy knows what he believes and has no qualms about sharing), not to mention his 6'4" height and flaming red hair. He lived on the floor above ours and more often than not we found ourselves going to dinner as a group, hanging out, just generally getting to know one another better.

By sophomore year, NavyGuy, Miss A, and I were a tight trio. However, Miss A found herself another man to spend some time with, so NavyGuy and I were left to spend a lot of Saturday nights missing our third musketeer. But life goes on... guys and gals came and went in both our lives. NavyGuy had a serious girlfriend for much of college, and I had a string of boys who "liked" me, but who I found flaws in and therefore dissed (Miss A kindly described me as having high standards). Regardless, throughout college, NavyGuy and I remained close; when his girlfriend couldn't accompany him to his fraternity formal, who stepped up to the plate? Oh yes, kids - here's one of our first shots together.

(Oh if only we'd known then...)

I'd be willing to bet than many around us were wondering why we didn't just cut the baloney and make it official, but it wasn't yet meant to be. Not until February of our senior year did the stars align. NavyGuy was finally single, I had finally realized how I felt, and Miss A had finally gotten sick of the two of us coming to her about the other one. Through some intense negotiations (and drinks at our college bar), Miss A convinced me to approach NavyGuy at a party that evening.

A few minutes of talking, a quick first nervous peck, and it's been smooth sailing ever since ;) (Ha!) NavyGuy and I walked around campus that night talking and pinching ourselves to see if this was really happening. The following morning, NavyGuy called my room and asked me to stop by. I was convinced that he had changed his mind or had second thoughts. Lo and behold - he feared the same of me! Apparently, because I had had a wee bit of, ahem, "liquid courage" the previous night, he was worried that I wouldn't even remember what happened! I quickly reassured him that 1) I did indeed recall the events of the previous evening, and 2) I did still want to try dating. With that settled, our dating relationship commenced, and we've celebrated that day five times since :)

(Who knew five years later we'd be taking engagement photos!?!)

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Subbing Challenge

Yesterday I subbed for the a sixth grade class. I've been in their room once before, and they remember me as the "name lady" because I'm excellent at learning names quickly (I'll share my secrets some other time). It's getting to the time of the school year when kids are the worst. They are irritated with everyone in their class, they've gotten super comfortable with the teacher, they're stir crazy from the winter weather, and they're just generally nutty. Spring break cannot come soon enough.

The students weren't terrible in the morning. I worked with three different classes (the sixth graders have a "homeroom" but switch between three different teachers for their core classes), and each did fairly well with the social studies lesson on Neolithic societies. We learned about the city of Ur (think Mesopotamia, Tigris and Euphrates rivers - essentially modern day Iraq). The kids were quite amused by the word "ziggurat" (a large temple), but I think they got the point of the lesson which was the impact of irrigation on civilizations.

I swear they must have been mainlining sugar during lunch though, because they came back to the classroom resembling rabid dogs (I kid you not, I think one of them was foaming at the mouth.) Thank god for nice weather; they all went outside for recess. I've started to realize that as a sub, I'm going to have to lower my expectations slightly.

As a regular classroom teacher, I really never had problems with classroom management. I might be jinxing myself by admitting this, but it's true. It's something my principal always marveled over, especially considering my small stature and youth. Once another young teacher actually came to me saying the principal had suggested she talk to me to see how I handled unruly students. I realize now that so much of classroom management is based on respect, clear procedures and rules, and follow through.

When I sub for a class though, I don't have any of those things on my side. The students and I have not developed a relationship, so there's little trust or earned respect. It's someone else's classroom, so they've established the procedures and rules; if those are more lax, I likely can't impose more order in one day. And as a sub, I have little power to follow through with consequences or long-term solutions to any behavioral problems. That doesn't mean I can't try my best when I am in the room, but I'm going to have to accept that the classroom is not going to be just like mine when I'm only subbing for one day.

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100 Days

We're at the 100 day mark. 100 days until the wedding. 100 days to complete 109 items on theknot checklist. It seems ominous to have more items to-do than days in which to do them.



Wait. Whoa. 100 days until I get married....

Holy whoa.

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