Communication Mishaps

#1.

"Mrs. Hartman, you have a new student. Meet Patel."

Ok...raise your hand if you would have thought that you're new student's name is Patel. Well, after saying the name "Patel" over and over and repeating "Nice to meet you, Patel" twice, I saw on the boy's class schedule that at the very top it said 'Patel, Meet'. Poor kid...I don't know if he was more embarrassed or me. In the next five minutes I found that Meet is actually a great English speaker who just moved to Memphis from India. Glad I could make his first day interesting.

#2.

I think I mentioned a student who doesn't speak any English at all and only Chinese. Well the students were making portfolios to carry and store their artwork and I had a demonstration on the board for the students using the name "Maddie" to show a right and wrong way of writing their name. The boy started out doing everything exactly right for his portfolio...his border looked the best out of all of them...Unfortunately when I walked by his desk five minutes later I saw that he had written in the biggest, best-written block letters the name "Maddie".

I then wasted a piece of posterboard to write his name big in the center, took it to his desk, and then saw a big smile go across his face as he ferociously erased the name "Maddie" from his portfolio.

#3.

This weekend I got a text message saying "Hey, so I think we're gonna go running about 1 o'clock and then watch a movie later if you're interested". I responded that I would go running but probably not the movie. A couple of hours later, I show up at the friend's house in my running gear, no makeup, and the lovely elastic headband that takes care of my bangs but accentuates my too-large forehead. As I walked in the door I saw all of my friends all dressed in cute sundresses and such, hair done with makeup. I give the confused look and then they explain that instead of physically running, they were in fact running around...like errands and shopping. Could I be any more stupid? Yes....when I went back and looked at the text there was the @ symbol before the "running around" and the "1 o'clock".

Obviously I need to pay more attention when communicating with people these days!

Cars, Kittens, and Babies

Sneaking my way out of school at 4:05 on Friday, Randy and I got on the interstate and drove to Nashville. We got there in time for some Mazatlan with my mom and then lay on the couch the rest of the evening. Saturday was spent eating omelets and then to work...Randy and my dad worked on his car- brake pads, oil, etc. (the main reason we went) and I helped Kelsa sew baby blankets for her soon-to-be nephew at the house. At one point I was on the phone with Phyllis and Randy was of course with my dad and my mom thought it was funny that we were both learning from the in-laws. Anyways, Kelsa and I made two baby blankets made of fleece with satin trim. I would say we did all right, I still have a lot of room for improvement. The most important thing is that they were made with love for Keeley and her little baby boy, and I also got to spend some girl time....then....

What do you do on a beautiful Saturday afternoon?

We decided to get kittens. Well, not us but my parents did- we just highly encouraged it. My mom and dad have been toying with the idea for a while now and Randy and I selfishly talked them into getting them this weekend so we could be there. My dad was too "emotionally involved" with all of them on Craigslist and the sympathetic vocabulary got to him a little too much so he left us with the decision. In barely no time, my mom, Randy and I got in the car, drove to Pegram, and picked up Maximus and Rosie from a litter of 5 orange males and 3 calico females. There isn't anything cuter than kittens, even if you aren't a cat lover. They are about six weeks old and already have great personalities. Maximus was the biggest of the litter and most playful (name chosen by my father), Rosie was the smallest and most sassy (name chosen by my mother).

They gave Randy and I quite a scare when they hid for hours, but seem to fit in well at the Tucker home.

Later that evening, I went with Kelsa and Michelle to a much needed dinner at Rumba and then back to chat at the cabin. On Sunday we mostly watched the kittens wrestle and we also ate an absurdly large lunch of pork chops, fried apples, corn, and green beans...and ice cream with chocolate bars.

To top off our weekend we got to see Rob, Jen, and our little nephew Grayden who is so grown up! We had to wake him up from a nap which wasn't too fun, but he livened up quick. The little guy was singing "God is so good" and eating blueberries and cheese during our visit. We didn't hear him say too many other words, but he did wave to us as we left. It was so good to see both him and his parents and at the same time made us sad that we don't see them more often!

Also, last week we had round two of trivia and while our team did worse, I got the art question right this time...pheww!

Now on to week 3 of school and another study week for Randall.

I hope to...

So the first week with my students I always ask them to write down one or more art goal that they hope to accomplish during the year. I have the students the complete year so I have lots of time to try and fit in as many things as possible. Being (big) kids, I got some pretty funny answers. I don't know how I'm going to do some of these...

"I hope to learn how to write in a hardcore lettering. Like on a Heavy Metal CD."

"I want to make a large cup with a built-in straw."

"My goal is to draw the '3' the exactly same way as Mercedes-Benz within two months."

"I really want to get better as a designer because one of my goals in life is to become a famous car designer so if you could help me out some I'd love that."

"I want to help fill the recycling bin more full than the big trash can."

"I'd like to draw me my own vet to work at when I grow up!"

"I want to make a sculpture of myself."

"I would like to make a life size deer out of clay."

"I want to draw Michael Jackson."

"I want to use clay. I want it to be something big like a rollercoaster."

"My goal is to make a vase for my mom since she just got out of the hospital."

"I want to design a life size sculpture of Lamborghini."

"I don't like art but I want to learn."

"I hate to draw flowers."

"I wish that I can become better at the art part of art."

"I want to use shrinky-dinks."

(I couldn't bare to copy the original spelling but did try to keep the original grammar)

Sounds like I've got lots to keep me occupied this year, huh?

Julie & Julia

Well, I just went to see the movie Julie & Julia with some friends whose husbands are also locked away studying this entire weekend. If you haven't yet seen the movie I would definitely recommend it...maybe I just enjoy cooking as of late, but I also thought the cast was pretty amazing. The movie fueled my desire to become a better cook, and some of you know that this summer I had big dreams for myself (notice I said "dreams"). If Randy ever gets out of dental school and we are able to get out of debt, I would love, love, LOVE to go to culinary school. There actually is one in Memphis but seeing as I'm an art teacher and that is what is paying the bills, my little urge to become "Chef Lynsi" has to wait. Plus, even though I like to cook, I don't think I would like being the chef of a restaurant, owning my own bakery, or even having my own cooking show should I ever become that famous, haha. I simply want to be a great cook for my family and friends. My mom is a great cook, and so thankfully she has shared some fail-proof recipes with me. I found what I believe is the best Kroger in Memphis this weekend so that is another step in the right direction. Randy and I watched the Cake Boss last night so I could show him how much ART is in cooking and baking. Maybe one day I can combine the two and have some impressive culinary skills under my belt. For now, I just enjoy experimenting from the several cookbooks I do have...and try not to cook too much since I cannot resist cooking without eating, which can be a problem when I cook for 10 but only 2 are sitting at the table!

Here are some things I've cooked lately: (these are the recipe names, not my description)

Killer Chicken Mole

Oreo Truffles

Chocolate Crinkles

Fried Mozzarella

Fresh Pesto and Mozzarella Pizza

Spicy Chicken and Chorizo Pizza

Spicy Three Meat Meatloaf

Serrano Pepper Polenta

Did I mention my husband loves HOT food?

Round Two

Summer has officially ended and although it is just as hot, school is in session. For me, this is my second round of teaching art at the middle school level in Shelby County, and I also like to think of it as a second chance. If I could sum up my teaching motto last year in one word it would be survival....hopefully this year I will get past simply surviving and actually do what I know I am good at doing. (That would be teaching)

Last year I questioned myself a lot, but this year I am prepared. I know the schools, the administration, the faculty, the crazy schedule of being at two different schools and sharing classes with another art teacher, and I also know the type of student I am dealing with. I saw some familiar faces this week and was happy about seeing most, scared about seeing a few. I had to learn names like Charlesiah, Jochebed, and Schaffer. (to name a few)

I was sad to hear I will not get to keep one of my favorite students from last year (one with cerebral palsy who lost her hair, ability to talk and ability to walk, but was the first person to remember the name of my cat and that my husband was going to be a dentist)...But found that this year I will get to teach a younger student with the exact same condition. There is something about teaching students with special needs and seeing them smile that I find to be more rewarding than anything else. And one thing I will be learning how to handle this year is a student who knows NO english. None. It is beyond me why a sixth grader who speaks only chinese is in a class with 26 students...he actually came to my class twice. Since I couldn't communicate with him, he stayed. I still don't know which name is his first and which is his last...I guess I'll learn.

Cheer squad was interesting. These girls mean business. Every girl has a back handspring down (apparently it is required) and most can do back tucks. They pay something close to $3,000 a year to be on the squad because of all of the competition costs...like Florida for Nationals...Disney World included. They cannot under any circumstance wear their hair down, or even have bangs down, even at practice. All this is under the coaching of a professional cheerleader-man (no, he is not gay...he is engaged and extremely nice). And then there I am just watching and trying to figure out the littlest bit I can about this strange world of "professional, competitive, obsessive" cheerleading. The girls treat me as though we will become best friends...which could either be a good thing or a very bad thing.

All in all, I am ready for the year and all that it will bring me...

Well, not everything, I'm sure.

Give Me a 'G', Give Me an 'O'...

GOOO Bobcats!  

Well, although I might be an energetic person, I have never, ever in my life been a cheerleader.  At the ripe, old age of 24, however, I am becoming one.  Actually my title is only "cheer sponsor" and I am splitting the job with another coach and only committing to two practices a week.  I not only feel it is my "civil duty" to the school, but I think it sounds like a little bit of fun.  Sure, I will complain some nights when I get home at 7 o'clock and Randy and Jack are lounging on the couch, but all in all, I think it will be good for me.  I feel a little bit as though I have 'sold my soul to the devil' because if you think about all the drama of middle school...and multiply it times a million... you have middle school cheerleaders.  It will make for good posts I'm sure, and probably enough drama to fill an issue of Star magazine.  More to come on this whole cheer business...

But for now, we must talk about TRIVIA.  Last night, some dental students and wives got together at Swanky's Taco Shop in Germantown for a night of trivia.  I had never really been a part of something like this, and boy was it packed.  We got to chow down on some Mexican food while playing which was a definite perk.  The boys decided on a name that I still do not know the meaning of, but it is supposedly a dental term...thus 'Furcation Invasion' became our team name.  Two of my favorite team names of the night were 'I Poked Your Mom on Facebook' and 'Fat Kids Win in Seesaw'.  

Let the games begin...

We started out doing really well...We went into half time at tenth place out of about 28 teams.  After halftime we found out a category would be art...(I had told the team that the only two areas I could contribute to were art and food, so I started feeling some pressure).  We wagered the full 9 points on the question about which famous artist made VanGogh cut off his left ear.  Well, I immediately wrote my answer and had the first name right but the last name WRONG!  I failed my teammates and my many years of art history.  Good thing I don't have to teach it in middle school.  Anyways, after several other questions like "Name 4 out of the 5 hosts of Family Feud" and such, it was time for the final question.  We wagered the full 20 points on our final answer, got it right, and the game came to an end.  Team Furcation Invasion did not win but did get FIFTH place!!  Out of 28!!  We decided that on weeks that the boys don't have a test we will be back to Swanky's and eventually win.  The prize?  $75 dollars to spend at the restaurant...which split 8 ways is less than $10 dollars a person.  But we do it for the sheer satisfaction of knowing random trivia.

Here are some pictures:

Back Pain & Back-to-School Pain

Well, Randy has been slaving away in the dental lab working on a set of dentures and it has taken a toll on the poor guy.  He has been having lots of problems with his back lately, which apparently is the number one reason for dentists to go into early retirement or stop practicing.  When Randy got his brother, Doctor Danny, on the phone, his prescription was for me to give him a 10-15 minute back massage DAILY!!  Great prescription, huh?  Luckily it's been getting a little better... probably due to my awesome massages.

I have been experiencing pains of my own....the pains of knowing it is almost time to go back to school!  Seeing the stupid "back to school" commercials on TV about what cute outfit your child will wear, etc. make it sound like such a fun thing....but I have thoroughly enjoyed my summer and not quite ready for it to end.  I start inservice tomorrow (it lasts a complete week... waaaay too long if you ask me) and then on August 10th will welcome my little students (actually, not little....some are twice my size).  It could be an interesting year, too.  The school is on my case to help sponsor cheerleading.  They think just because I'm young and under 150 lbs that I was a cheerleader...quite the contrary.  Anyways, it would have some perks: possible job security at the school I would like to be at full time, some extra money, and a free week of substitutes while I went to Florida for Nationals and Disney World with the team.  There is a lot to consider before I commit to it, and I would like to not have the responsibility while my time is spent at two schools...but, who knows?  

To end on a good note, while the Hartmans are experiencing pain, the Wileys are celebrating promotions!! Congrats to Matthew and Jodi BOTH who have gotten recognized for all their hard work and many, many hours they put into their jobs.  And watch out for some awesome new additions to Kirklands in the future since Jodi gets to start putting her good taste to work!