This is the third school year that I have done these type of posts, and they are probably my favorite to write! My students are hilarious. The stuff they spend time thinking about seriously astounds me, and sometimes scares me a little :) But here it is, the first edition of "My Students on an Average Day" for the 2013-2014 school year!
"He's like a German Canadian! Eh?"
Student: "Mrs. Reynolds, I have a serious question, but I don't want you to kick me out of class for it. Do you wear a cup with a jockstrap or what? How does that work?"
My response: Um....I wouldn't know, I've never worn one. (class laughs)
"He's choking and it sounds like a chihuahua coughing!"
"Wasn't there more than one Benedict Arnold?"
"No"
"Did we kill him?"
"No."
"Darn."
"This class never gets old. There is more mean and evil added every day."
"What if my laptop gets stomped by an elephant and I can't turn in my work?"
"I know how to say burrito in Spanish now! Burrrrrito!"
"I speak three languages now...English, Spanish, and Boston!"
"They aren't the brightest lightbulbs in the box."
"You know, lightbulbs aren't bright until you screw them in."
"I am the LED over here. I am the beam."
"There is a woman who goes around eating rocks because she thinks they have minerals."
"There was a lady who ate her husband's ashes!"
"Mrs. Reynolds, she licked her paper!"
"::Student name::, don't lick your paper!"
"Onesies! I want a onesie!"
That's it for now...I will try to do another one soon! There is no shortage of stuff these kids say!
Friday, September 27, 2013
Monday, August 12, 2013
The Sisters
As most of you know, my aunt Wanda passed away Friday morning. Although she had not been in great health for the last couple of years, her death was still a lot sooner than I think any of us could have imagined, and it was a bit of a shock.
Over the last several days, many people have asked me about my aunt, and were curious if it was my mother's sister or father's sister. When I corrected them, and told them it was actually my grandmother's sister that passed away, they always look at me kind-of funny, like, "what's the big deal? She's just your great-aunt."
I get that a lot about our family. People just don't understand. They don't have what we have. And the older I get, the more I start understanding how very blessed we are. And I feel so sad for people who don't have what we have. Our family is super close. And not just our immediate family...our extended family. Although we don't always get together outside of major holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas), we all share an extremely special bond.
My grandmother, who I call Nanny, is the middle of five children. There are four girls and a boy. My Uncle Jerry is the oldest, followed by Doris, Sue (my Nanny), Wanda, and Margie. We call the girls "the sisters" (actually, everyone who knows the family calls them that). They all started this. My mom is my Nanny's middle child. Between them, the sisters and Jerry have thirteen children. Those thirteen children, in turn, had over thirty children (that's my generation). There are currently six great-grandchildren, with two more due in September. I can list every single one of them (and most of their middle names) :) We love each other. We aren't perfect. We have our share of disagreements. But the point is, we can count on each other. And we don't just say that...we mean it.
As I'm sitting her typing this, I can't even figure out how to convey our family bond. But if you come by and see us, you will get it. You can feel it, even if you aren't a part of it.
The Sisters are a force to be reckoned with. What they say goes. They are the collective bosses, of the entire family. And if we are all honest with ourselves, we are scared to death of them. But it's because we respect and love them. They are the glue of this family. They created this family, and our traditions. They have expectations of their children and grandchildren, and they want them to toe the line. They have all made a point to be a part of all of our lives, and I love them for it. I have spent a significant amount of time with each of the Sisters, not just my grandmother. They have each taught me things about life, and about myself. I remember specifically that Aunt Wanda taught me how to wrap a present. That seems so trivial, but my lines are perfect on my wrapping paper, and my tape always in the perfect spot, because she taught me that. I remember the day she taught me, in the living room floor of her house. She was smoking a cigarette, drinking a coke, and had red lipstick on.
I don't even really know why I'm writing this blog post, other than to convey to others how important my family is to me. And how, if you don't have this with your family, you should try to build it. Because everyone deserves this. And I don't know what I did to deserve this family, but I need to thank God more often for allowing me to be a part of it.
So what's the big deal about my grandmother's sister passing away? It's a really big deal. Our family has lost a second part of the four that makes up our glue. We have lost a guiding light in our lives. It hurts. But the other great thing about our family is that we all know Jesus, and have been raised that way, and one day, we'll get to continue our family traditions together in Heaven.
Over the last several days, many people have asked me about my aunt, and were curious if it was my mother's sister or father's sister. When I corrected them, and told them it was actually my grandmother's sister that passed away, they always look at me kind-of funny, like, "what's the big deal? She's just your great-aunt."
I get that a lot about our family. People just don't understand. They don't have what we have. And the older I get, the more I start understanding how very blessed we are. And I feel so sad for people who don't have what we have. Our family is super close. And not just our immediate family...our extended family. Although we don't always get together outside of major holidays (Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas), we all share an extremely special bond.
My grandmother, who I call Nanny, is the middle of five children. There are four girls and a boy. My Uncle Jerry is the oldest, followed by Doris, Sue (my Nanny), Wanda, and Margie. We call the girls "the sisters" (actually, everyone who knows the family calls them that). They all started this. My mom is my Nanny's middle child. Between them, the sisters and Jerry have thirteen children. Those thirteen children, in turn, had over thirty children (that's my generation). There are currently six great-grandchildren, with two more due in September. I can list every single one of them (and most of their middle names) :) We love each other. We aren't perfect. We have our share of disagreements. But the point is, we can count on each other. And we don't just say that...we mean it.
As I'm sitting her typing this, I can't even figure out how to convey our family bond. But if you come by and see us, you will get it. You can feel it, even if you aren't a part of it.
The Sisters are a force to be reckoned with. What they say goes. They are the collective bosses, of the entire family. And if we are all honest with ourselves, we are scared to death of them. But it's because we respect and love them. They are the glue of this family. They created this family, and our traditions. They have expectations of their children and grandchildren, and they want them to toe the line. They have all made a point to be a part of all of our lives, and I love them for it. I have spent a significant amount of time with each of the Sisters, not just my grandmother. They have each taught me things about life, and about myself. I remember specifically that Aunt Wanda taught me how to wrap a present. That seems so trivial, but my lines are perfect on my wrapping paper, and my tape always in the perfect spot, because she taught me that. I remember the day she taught me, in the living room floor of her house. She was smoking a cigarette, drinking a coke, and had red lipstick on.
I don't even really know why I'm writing this blog post, other than to convey to others how important my family is to me. And how, if you don't have this with your family, you should try to build it. Because everyone deserves this. And I don't know what I did to deserve this family, but I need to thank God more often for allowing me to be a part of it.
So what's the big deal about my grandmother's sister passing away? It's a really big deal. Our family has lost a second part of the four that makes up our glue. We have lost a guiding light in our lives. It hurts. But the other great thing about our family is that we all know Jesus, and have been raised that way, and one day, we'll get to continue our family traditions together in Heaven.
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Bucket List
About two years ago, I started a bucket list. I made it in a word document on my computer. I am one of those people who believes in having goals, something to work towards and look forward to as time passes. I am also a list-maker. There is nothing more satisfying than having a to-do list, and being able to cross those things off as they are completed.
I think of bucket lists as being extremely personal. Everyone has different goals in life, and views life in different ways. Not included on my list are things such as bungee jumping or sky diving. No thank you. I do not want to risk my life for those types of things. That type of rush is not something I'm after.
Without further ado, here is my current bucket list.
Some of these probably warrant some explanation. I want to live to be old because my parents didn't get to. I want to be able to pass on wisdom I acquire as I live to those who come after me. I am currently working on my masters degree, and I will graduate May 2014! I have never been called for jury duty, which kills me because I am a Civics teacher, and I want that hands-on, real-life experience so I can tell my students about it. I can't hit a golf ball to save my life (it's truly something I am embarrassed about, because I'm decently athletic). I want to cook my own Thanksgiving Dinner like they feature in Homes & Garden magazine. I want it to be glorious, gourmet, and all made by me.
The bolded items are things I have already done since making the list. The list is always subject to be added to. I don't take things off because at some point, I thought that goal or accomplishment was important to me. Some are rather trivial. Some are things I will work towards my whole life. Some are out of my control, many are things I can make happen.
I'm curious...what's on your bucket list? I am always searching for new ideas and goals, and I love hearing what other people want to accomplish. Feel free to share in the comments, or directly on my Facebook page. I'm excited to hear what your bucket list consists of (and if I can steal some ideas for my own!).
I think of bucket lists as being extremely personal. Everyone has different goals in life, and views life in different ways. Not included on my list are things such as bungee jumping or sky diving. No thank you. I do not want to risk my life for those types of things. That type of rush is not something I'm after.
Without further ado, here is my current bucket list.
Bucket List
1.
Live to be old
2.
Travel around the entire United States (including
Hawaii and Alaska)
3.
Travel to Italy,
Australia, Ireland
4.
Have kids
5.
Buy a really nice red convertible (like a 69
Mustang)
6. Donate hair to Breast Cancer Patients
7.
Run a 5-K
8.
Get a Master’s Degree
9.
Start my own bakery/sandwich shop
10.
Write a book
11.
Get the book published
12.
Win the lottery (play the lottery)
13.
Go on a cruise
14.
Learn to sew, knit, and crochet
15.
Build our dream home
16.
Help a kid in need
17.
Learn Spanish
18.
Go watch a Carolina Tar Heels basketball game
19.
Sit on a jury
20.
Learn to play the piano
21.
Plant a garden
22.
Research my ancestry
23.
Take off on a last-minute trip
24.
Learn to play golf
25.
Completely understand football
26.
Go deep sea fishing
27. Shoot a gun
28.
Go skiing
29.
Learn sign language
30.
Drive 150 mph
31.
Become a school principal
32.
Meet a President
33.
Become well-off
34.
Own a beach house
35.
Hold my grandchildren
36.
Renew my wedding vows after 50 years
37.
Go to Times Square on New Years Eve
38.
Cook my own Thanksgiving Dinner
39.
Be distinguished in my hometown
Some of these probably warrant some explanation. I want to live to be old because my parents didn't get to. I want to be able to pass on wisdom I acquire as I live to those who come after me. I am currently working on my masters degree, and I will graduate May 2014! I have never been called for jury duty, which kills me because I am a Civics teacher, and I want that hands-on, real-life experience so I can tell my students about it. I can't hit a golf ball to save my life (it's truly something I am embarrassed about, because I'm decently athletic). I want to cook my own Thanksgiving Dinner like they feature in Homes & Garden magazine. I want it to be glorious, gourmet, and all made by me.
The bolded items are things I have already done since making the list. The list is always subject to be added to. I don't take things off because at some point, I thought that goal or accomplishment was important to me. Some are rather trivial. Some are things I will work towards my whole life. Some are out of my control, many are things I can make happen.
I'm curious...what's on your bucket list? I am always searching for new ideas and goals, and I love hearing what other people want to accomplish. Feel free to share in the comments, or directly on my Facebook page. I'm excited to hear what your bucket list consists of (and if I can steal some ideas for my own!).
Thursday, April 11, 2013
My Students, On an Average Day, Part 2 (2012-2013)
"I don't know what corn stalks look like, so I'm just going to color it all yellow."
"Jesus spoke to me while I was drawing my poster."
"I don't like feeling other people's body heat."
"Pocahontas was beautiful!"
"Pocahontas was built like a piano mover."
"There's a ship, and it has a Dorito for a sail."
"Doritos are delicious, especially when they are sails!"
"There's land available. And if you're a redneck, you love land."
"Are you tired of those city folks who run you down with their buggies?"
"They were gentlemen. They were gentle, but they weren't men."
"When was peanut butter and jelly invented?
"They told me North Korea had unicorns, and I said they do because of all the nuclear testing they've been doing."
From a boy: "I know you are interested in my cleavage...you can't have it."
"I wonder how many squirrels have been in that tree?"
A student I have said he was going to come as Jesus for culture day. The next day, he came in, and he wasn't dressed up. Another student asked him where his Jesus outfit was. And he replied, serious as a heart attack, in the country-est accent I have ever heard, "My mama wouldn't let me leave the house looking like Jesus. She said that's sacrilegious."
"Jesus spoke to me while I was drawing my poster."
"I don't like feeling other people's body heat."
"Pocahontas was beautiful!"
"Pocahontas was built like a piano mover."
"There's a ship, and it has a Dorito for a sail."
"Doritos are delicious, especially when they are sails!"
"There's land available. And if you're a redneck, you love land."
"Are you tired of those city folks who run you down with their buggies?"
"They were gentlemen. They were gentle, but they weren't men."
"When was peanut butter and jelly invented?
"They told me North Korea had unicorns, and I said they do because of all the nuclear testing they've been doing."
From a boy: "I know you are interested in my cleavage...you can't have it."
"I wonder how many squirrels have been in that tree?"
A student I have said he was going to come as Jesus for culture day. The next day, he came in, and he wasn't dressed up. Another student asked him where his Jesus outfit was. And he replied, serious as a heart attack, in the country-est accent I have ever heard, "My mama wouldn't let me leave the house looking like Jesus. She said that's sacrilegious."
Monday, January 21, 2013
Lost Keys
Over the last week or two, Katie and Kacie have had a hard time keeping up with their keys. This could be because they don't hang them up on the key hanger...they just lay them wherever. On the island in the kitchen, the bookshelf in the living room, the bathroom counter, etc. It's annoying because they are always looking for their keys. In fact, last week, Kacie's keys stayed lost for several hours. Mark finally found them buried in the couch in the living room (where Kacie and Tommy both swore they had looked several times). A couple of days later, Katie couldn't even drive to school because her keys were lost.
Of course, due to all this losing of the keys going on recently, I have lectured Katie and Kacie about putting their keys in the same spot every time they come in the door so they always know where they are. Cue the eye rolls and the "I know Meghan's." But karma has a funny way of getting you...
I am a creature of habit. I do everything the same, all the time. In fact, when I don't, I get a little perturbed. When I get up the morning, I go to the bathroom, then immediately fix myself a cup of coffee. When I get to school, I set my laptop down, then go put my lunch in the fridge. When I walk in the door at my house, the first thing I do is hang my keys on the key hanger by the door.
Last Tuesday afternoon, I was preparing to leave work to head home. It was 3:30, and time to go. I start packing my laptop up, and I put my jacket on, and go to grab my keys...and they're not there. I always sit my keys on the left-hand side of my desk. Always. Period. They are never anywhere else. At first, I was confused. Where are my keys? I check my coat pocket. Not there. I check my laptop bag. Not there. I look in my drawer on my desk. Nope. I start moving papers around, lift up some things, and look around. No keys. Where are the damn keys?
Then I start thinking...I let one of my students (who we will call Tara for our purposes) use my keys that day. I was busy in class, and she needed to get into the storage room to get some "products." I didn't want to leave class, unlock the door, and go back to class. So I told her where my keys were, told her she could use them, and to put them back exactly where she got them. No biggie, I do it all the time.
So when I couldn't find my keys Tuesday afternoon, I realize she probably, accidentally, stuck them in her pocket and forgot about them. So I call Mark's niece who is friends with this girl, so I can get her cell phone number. This is our conversation.
Me: Hey Tara, it's Mrs. Reynolds.
Tara: Hey...Mrs. Reynolds.
Me: So, remember when you borrowed my keys earlier today? Where did you set them down when you were finished?
Tara: I put them on your desk, where I got them.
Me: Well, they're not there.
Tara: Oh gosh. I swear, Mrs. Reynolds, I put them on your desk.
Me: Ok, I believe you, but can you do me a favor? Can you please check your stuff and make sure you didn't accidentally stick them in your bookbag or something? I know you say you put them on my desk, but I just want to be sure.
Tara: Yeah, I'll check. Oh, I'm so sorry. I hope you find them. But I'll check.
Me: Thank you. Call me if you find them.
Pheeeew. Where are the keys? So I decide to expand my search. I go look in the storage room, where Tara was. No luck. I go search the bathroom, same thing. I check the desk in my classroom, and the podium, to make sure they didn't somehow end up in there. I check through some empty lockers, I look all through the lobby. I recruit another teacher to go through my stuff and make sure I haven't missed them. Another teacher joins me and we check our secretary's office, just in case someone turned in some lost keys. We check the teacher's lounge, and other teacher's desks. No keys. Needless to say, I'm getting a little frustrated. So I call Tara back.
Me: Hey Tara, it's Mrs. Reynolds again. Did you find my keys?
Tara: No, I didn't. But I looked, I promise! I feel so bad.
Me: It's ok. Let's walk through what you did after you picked my keys up. Where did you go?
Tara: I went to the storage room, and I couldn't find the "products." So then, I went and asked Mrs. R where the "products" were, and we went into the teacher's workroom and they were in the cubicle. Then I put your keys on your desk. Mrs. R saw me.
Me: Ok, thank you. If you do happen to find the keys, please let me know.
Tara: I will. I'm so sorry Mrs. Reynolds. I hope you find them.
Me: Me too.
Tara: Can you let me know if you do find them so I don't worry?
Me: Sure thing.
Okay, next up, I call Mrs. R. She confirms Tara's story, and says she is sure Tara put the keys on my desk. So if the keys were on my flippin' desk, what the heck happened to them?
At this point, I'm seriously wanting to start cussing out loud, and not just in my head. The only thing I know to do is to start asking everyone if they may have accidentally picked the keys up off my desk. There are few times other people are in my cubicle, but it's not unheard of, and one of them could have thought it was their keys and picked them up. I ask all the teachers who are still at school if they have seen them or anything. No. I then get my laptop back out, and pull up our faculty contact information. I'm gonna call everyone. The keys have to be somewhere, right?
The first person I call is Mrs. P. This is our conversation:
Mrs. P: Hello?
Me: Hey Mrs. P, it's Meghan. I...
Mrs. P: Well, heeeey Meghan. How ya doin' girl?
Me: I'm fine, thanks. Mrs. P, I am going crazy here. I have lost my keys and can't find them anywhere. I was wondering if maybe you might have accidentally picked them up?
Mrs. P: No, honey, the only keys I've got are mine.
Me: Well, okay. I was just wondering. I'm calling everyone. The keys have mysteriously disappeared after I let Tara borrowed them today. I'm desperate, so I thought I would ask everybody.
Mrs. P: Well, let me check here in my pocketbook...oh! Do they say "My Lowe's" on them?
Me: Yes! Yes! Those are it! Oh thank goodness.
Mrs. P: Well, do you want to just come on and get them? Or I can meet you somewhere.
Me: Yes, I would, but I can't. I can't leave because you have my keys.
Mrs. P: Oh, yes. Well, honey, I will run them our there right away. I'm so sorry.
Me: It's okay. I'm just glad you have them!
So, I got my keys back. I'm not sure what made me think to call other teachers, other than desperation (and maybe Jesus wanting me to stop mumbling cuss words). I finally got home at 5:00, after wanting to leave school at 3:30.
Moral of the story? Keys are sacred :)
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Best Homemade Barbeque
I love barbeque, particularly barbeque pork. It is one of my favorite things to eat. It can be done a lot of different ways. Tangy, spicy, saucy, sweet, vinegary...you name it, I've tried it. I. love. it. I have experimented with making some of my own barbeque sauce, but I haven't tried it again in a while. This is mostly because I love Sweet Baby Ray's barbeque sauce, that you can buy in a bottle at the store. Yum. Not gourmet, but it really is delicious.
My favorite barbeque recipe, and one that my family raves over, is done in the slow cooker. Anytime I've cooked this for my friends, they absolutely love it. So, I thought I would share this recipe with you, just in case you would like to try it!
1 4-5 pound Boston Butt Pork Roast
1 medium onion
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 cup ketchup
3 tablespoons dijon mustard
1 tablespoon course mustard (if you like)
1 large clove of garlic, pressed or minced
1 tsp. liquid smoke
1/2 cup of water
Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce
Slice the onion and put into the bottom of the crock pot. Place the roast on top of the onions. Add the remaining ingredients. Cook on low for 7-8 hours (you can probably cook it on high for 4 hours, but I don't think it gets as tender). Remove the roast, and then the onions, and all but about one cup of the liquid. Shred the meat, and place back into the slow cooker. Add the Sweet Baby Ray's sauce, to your liking, and mix thoroughly. Let it sit on low for 10-30 minutes, so the flavor of the sauce can infuse into the meat. Serve on steamed sesame seed buns, or whatever buns you like, with a little extra Sweet Baby Ray's on the side. DELICIOUS!
Sunday, December 30, 2012
New Year's Resolution
Ah yes, it's that time of year again. When we all say we're going to lose a bunch of weight, or spend more time relaxing, or blah, blah, blah. And typically, within a few weeks, we've all forgotten or given up on our resolutions, and say we are going to try again next year. However, I think New Year's Resolutions can be a very positive thing. By making a resolution, I set a goal for myself for the coming year. A new year that is filled with hope. It's a time of renewal. I think goals are important, and they are especially important to write down. So, as cliched as it is, I do make New Year's resolutions.
Last year, I made two resolutions. They were to lose 20 pounds, and to find a new church. Although I only lost 15 pounds (which is a huge deal for me), I am happy to say that I made a great amount of progress on these two resolutions. I have found a church I love attending, and I feel better about myself.
I started thinking about my 2013 resolutions a couple of months ago. I like to include things that I truly want to learn, or work on. I actually have three resolutions for 2013...
My first is to start learning how to sew like my Nanny. Those of you that know her know that she is an amazing seamstress. She can fix anything that needs altering, or she can create something brand new. She has more business that she can keep up with, and I would like to be able to help her out with that.
My second is to learn to play the piano. This has truly been a lifelong goal (and one that is on my bucket list). My mom was a very talented piano player, and I love that she could just sit down and play. I miss hearing the songs she used to play, and I want to help keep her memory alive by learning to play those songs myself. Plus, I love music, and I think it is a travesty that I am nearly 27 years old, and I have yet to learn to play an instrument.
My third resolution is to continue to live a healthier lifestyle, and lose another 20 pounds. I think 20 pounds is very reasonable, and I think that it is very doable. Really, that's just over 1 pound a month. Could I lose more? Yes, and I hope I do. But with my weight loss struggles over the last 4 years, I think 20 pounds is a solid goal for me.
I'm interested to know, what are your New Year's Resolutions? Please feel free to share in the comments section!
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