Oh The Pilgrimage Home is Always Good!

It is nice to be home. I feel very lucky to have made it to Rhinelander last night. My flight out of Salt Lake City was actually delayed by an hour and a half and I was cutting it real close to get my connection in Minneapolis. I ran across the airport and luckily had just enough time to hit the bathroom before catching the flight. Isn't that a pretty picture that I took from thousands of feet above the ground? The skies were pretty friendly yesterday! Oh and I didn't have to be groped by security or go through the body scanner...I found that to be a good thing!

I set up my parents manger this morning because I reminded my parents that we can't have Christmas without Christ. Please remember the true meaning for the season. I think we often get too caught up in the giving and receiving of presents that we forget the biggest gift we have all been given. The little babe that was born in Bethlehem is the best gift of all. I am very grateful to know that my Savior was born to make it possible for me to return to my Heavenly Father. Knowing that I do not have to be perfect and that Jesus not only died for me but was born to live a life full of love and great example is truly the most comforting thing that I know to be true. My life is blessed everyday because of Jesus' sacrifice. Please take time to reflect on that sometime during your celebrations in the next few days! May the Peace of Christmas be with each of you!

I also bought some clothes today. I think it was very clever to have decided to pack light and not pay luggage fees. You can but a lot of clothes with 100 dollars. Not that I bought 100 dollars worth of clothes but I could for what I would pay to have a full bag go both ways on Delta. Stupid luggage fees!

Today we drove to Green Bay. My dad thought it was silly that I was taking a picture of the road while he was driving. He said: "What are you taking a picture of now?" I told him I was taking a picture of Wisconsin. Isn't the winter wonderland here pretty? I think so.

I like the new shirt I bought today. I may have stared at it in the mirror for a few minutes. I often check myself out in the mirror these days. It is fun. I looked good today! :) (and no I don't think Carley Simon was singing about me, either!)

I drove past Lambeau Field on the way to eat at Kroll's. I had a yummy butter cheese burger with bacon. It was fabulous. Just as fabulous as my eggnog shake from McDonald's I had on the way here. What an evil and yummy bunch of food I partook of today. My mom actually said to me today: "You really do like food, don't you?," after I said something about the Port Wine Cheese Spread that I put on a few of the crackers I ate at lunch. I really do have a love affair with food!

It was fun to have dinner with my cousin, Shannon, my Grandma, my Aunt Jeanie, and my mom. It was nice to have conversation with them. I have a great family. It will be fun to be here in Green Bay the next few days and catch up with everybody. Life is good and I love mine.

Cheers!

Fun school day!

Tuesday was a fun day. The half day of school before Christmas Break is always one of my favorite days at work. This year it snowed a ton the night before. It was pretty but driving to work was challenging. I went sideways as I tried to stop for the stoplight near my house and some idiot pedestrians jaywalked right in front of me. Sillies.

I helped mop up the mess from snow covered shoes, so the kids wouldn't slip as they came in the door. We also did our traditional cheer for each kid as they came in. Their faces of confusion are always one of my favorite things.

We did the usual writing of Christmas letters to former students who are now serving in the military. It was fun to be able to write to my former students. I am very proud of them. We then had games down in the gym. I was in charge of running a three on three basketball tournament and it was a hit and very fun. The day really went fast.

We then had our work Christmas party at Magelby's. It was a blast with an ugly sweater contest(Matt pictured above won fair and square!!!) We also had a white elephant exchange and I was sorely disappointed that I did not get a new elephant. ha ha. I loved my present though...an original painting by one of our instructional assistants. I picked it because I thought the wrapping with left-handed writing was hilarious.

Later, Jane, Janette, and I went and delivered our turkeys that the school district gave us to three of our students' families. (What are single people to do with a turkey anyway!) It was fun to give in this way and I hope the three families we gave the food to use it to have a good holiday this weekend! We saw that really tall and cool snowman while out and about.

I also received my lifetime membership at Weight Watchers. You can read about it here. It was fun to make this big goal and I am proud of my journey.

Later that night, I had a date after much picking on by my friends and leaders at the WW meeting. I love those sillies.

It was the best date I have been on in years. I won't give you too much detail here because I don't want to jinx anything and really I don't think this is the venue for it. Just know I had a great time and hope to hang out with the nice man another time next week! The END.

Let's hope Monday starts better than Friday did...

World English Dictionary
racism or racialism (ˈreɪsɪzəm, ˈreɪʃəˌlɪzəm)

— n
1. the belief that races have distinctive cultural characteristics determined by hereditary factors and that this endows some races with an intrinsic superiority over others
2. abusive or aggressive behaviour towards members of another race on the basis of such a belief

*Definition found at dictionary.com

I do not practice racism. I do practice idiotism. If you are an idiot, or are acting like one, I may call you on it. Within thirty minutes of class on Friday, one of my students was accusing me of racism. This was because the two girls, who were kicked out of my class for using the f-word while talking at me, are Latinas. If I were a racist, I am pretty sure I would not teach at a school that seems to have a majority of minorities, don't ya think?

Here is how it went down. One of said girls decided to sit out of playing in PE class for about five minutes. I did not call her on it because any time I do call her on her inactivity, she gets very upset and ends up yelling at me. I just let it go and took away participation points. She then eventually came into the dodgeball game that was already going on, and threw a dodgeball at a girl on the other team. Apparently, the girl "did not try hard enough" to dodge the ball so said angry girl disrespectfully told the other student she wasn't trying hard enough. I then stepped in and told angry girl to worry about herself. She was okay for about one minute and then would not let the issue go. I then pointed out that she probably shouldn't be accusing others of not participating when she had herself just sat out for five minutes. This turned into an argument about the other girls in class not ever trying which apparently, in today's teen mind, means your own behavior doesn't matter and that your teacher is racist against you. This caused angry girl's friend, also a Latina, to get into the argument and she really went off. I couldn't even talk or get a word in and when they started to use vulgarity, I told them to leave. So maybe I am a vulgarist.

I am really tired of racism and people using it still today as a crutch to be idiots. People who continue to practice "reverse racism"(the term I use for minorities continuing to make racism exist because they falsely accuse people of being racists, which actually makes people, who aren't racist, almost change their minds. This also refers to the racism that exists now towards the white people because minorities still think that ALL white people are bringing them down even when it isn't true!) I hate that people continue to blame their bad behavior on some contrived idea that is in their mind.

I was angry for more than four hours on Friday because of this. I do not look forward to dealing with these young ladies during class tomorrow. I will try to be adult and deal with them fairly and nicely but inside I probably will still be very angry. The end.

P.S. The girls who didn't get kicked out of class did happen to be white. I do not favor them because of the color of their skin, I may favor them on occasion because they do what the are supposed to be doing. I am a participationist. The End for Real!

I struggle...

I really wanted to have a new layout for Christmas, but I am totally Macbook challenged and have no clue how to make this all pretty and festive. So please, enjoy the festivity of my Christmas tree very little on the top of my blog. Don't you feel the holiday spirit already? Oh and off to the sidebar, there is a manger picture. I bet you are feeling much more Christmas ready, aren't you?

I don't need nice backgrounds and pictures to feel festive. I have it in my heart. Who needs a fancy, schmancy background? Not this kid!

A letter to Santa

Today I had my 4th hour Leadership class write letters to Santa. They thought I was crazy but some of them really got real and were honest about what they really want in their lives. It was fun. I also wrote one and read it to them. They were so cute and even supported me when I got emotional at parts. I feel like it really helped them bond a little with me. Here is my letter:

Dear Santa,
I haven't written you in a while. Some people think that it is silly to do this, but I believe it is important to check in sometimes.

I'd like a few things for Christmas, even thought I feel like I already have more than enough for what I need. I really wish for the good feelings that I have right now to continue thought this whole holiday season. I wish for the opportunity to see many family and friends during the holiday and that the weather will be good for travel so I can have a special lady's night dinner with my 85 year old grandma, some aunts, and a few cousins! I also wish that I'll get to see my sister and even though it is a stretch, I'd love to see my brother. It's been way too long! And if I don't get to see him, please help that he and his family will have a very happy Christmas and that they know I love them!

I also wish that my students will have a great break. Help them to get the desire to pass more classes and to be graduates in 2013! Help them to have peace in their hearts and much happiness in their lives!

I really do have all the material goods I need. I guess iTunes gift cards or some blu-ray discs would be nice. But I don't really NEED them! And if you'd help the Packers make the playoffs, I'd be thrilled!

I'm so luck and blessed in my life. I have great friends and an awesome family. I'm also thankful for all the new babies in my life that remind me of big love!!!

Oh, you could bring some tall, handsome man into my life. I wouldn't complain about that. I'm totally ready to be swept off my feet! I'm just sayin'!

Good luck on your journey this Christmas Eve and thanks for all you do to make this world a happier and better place.

Love,
Alice

P.S. World peace would be nice too and the world needs it now more than ever!!! Cheers!