Stream of Consciousness...

I haven't posted a new blog in a while. I have wanted to write for a few days now, but I haven't had a moment to do so. Not having accessible Internet at home makes it difficult, because I am limited to writing at school. Since I have a room full of 7 year olds who demand 100% of my attention 99.78% of the time, I don't usually have much availability in my schedule to write during the day. And when school is over, the last thing I want to do is remain in my room for longer than I must. But today is different. I am staying after school to blog because I have only been in my classroom for approximately and hour of the day. I'm willing to hang out and write a little bit... Aren't you so glad?!
Today my class took a field trip to the Downtown Aquarium. I had 10 parent volunteers and 12 out of 13 students go (poor Isabelle was sick...), which made my day so stress-free it wasn't even funny! I got to ride to the aquarium with one of my favorite moms. She is one of those parents who waited until she was older to have kids. She works for a national drug company and basically lobbies for it all over the country. She is quite relaxed, has a wonderful sense of humor, and understands that I am a poor, single, teacher. She treats me as a friend and never ceases to show me how much she and her family appreciate me. That, for one, made my day spectacular. I explored the aquarium with her, her daughter Julia, and my little favorite (don't tell anyone I said that!!) Izzy. Honestly, if I could have a daughter like Izzy someday, I would be so very happy! She is so friendly, kind, intelligent, patient, well-behaved, inquisitive, funny, and all-around lovely. Plus, she held my hand through the shark exhibit part. That made me feel much better about being around those horrible creatures...
I think Izzy thought I was kidding about being afraid of sharks. I sure wasn't... I'm just glad the aquarium doesn't have any sick ones like great whites. They only have nurse sharks (which aren't so bad) and some other yucky giant ones with bad teeth. Really, what scares me more than sharks, I have come to realize, is the deep, deep water they have to live in. I am starting to feel a bit panicked just thinking about it! I would not make a good deep-sea diver. I think I could snorkel in very clear, shallow, bright, clean water. But anything beyond that is not for me... In fact, I learned some amazing things about coral and reefs and the life that lives therein, and I think I would really like to explore a coral reef someday. I would also like to have a sting ray for a pet. The aquarium has a big pool of different kinds of rays that people can feed and touch. I am pretty sure those are some of the most incredible creatures ever created!! They just glide through that water so effortlessly! Their mouths are incredible things that suck the fishies right out of the feeder's fingers. They are so soft and a little bit slimy. A little yellow one and I made fast friends. I would totally swim with rays... They might even be cooler than dolphins, I'm pretty sure.
Since this blog is titled "Stream of Consciousness", I must continue being random and write whatever else comes to mind. It's kind of liberating, actually. I have a lot of thoughts bouncing around in my head all day. I never said they were interesting...well, sometimes they are...at least to me...though I would agree that none of them are really note worthy. You can stop reading now if you haven't already. I might, if I weren't the writer. Of course, maybe I wouldn't...I am one of those people who love to snoop. Jenn's coworker Meredeth and I are "voyeurs". We like to stick our noses in other people's lives, regardless of how lame they might be... Told you I was random.........
Oh man! I love American Idol!!! I'm pretty excited about this season finally getting underway as far as the performances go. I don't have any particular favorites yet. I don't start voting until the final 12 are selected. I figure, by then the people who actually have a chance at winning are there for a while. Why grow attached to someone before they are actually in it to win it? I don't even know what each one is capable of, so I can't pick just one just yet. All I know is that the stupid Puerto Rican girl Tatiana needs to not be around anymore. She is insane. I have a feeling the producers are going to make an executive decision and keep her somehow, but I don't think that's a good idea. She can sing, but her personality is all over the map. When she's crazy, she's REALLY crazy. When she's demure, she's too boring and even snobbish. And what's with that stupid accent that comes around only when she is reminded of being Puerto Rican? Lame. Anyway, I don't really know her, so I shouldn't be so mean. All that aside, American Idol Season 8 is going to be fabulous! I am looking forward to every episode!
I think I need to go home now. I told a mom of a student from last year that I'd watch her daughter for a couple of hours tonight...and I need to get some grading done before I go. Ugh. Back to reality...It was quite fun letting my mind go for a few minutes. Maybe I should do this more often...
Last random thought for the day: I miss my brother. I want to go to Texas and visit for a few reasons, Mike being only one (and the most important!!). Maybe I'll write about another reason for going another day. I have to figure out exactly what it is I'm thinking and why I'm thinking it before I make it any more public than to Jenn once in a while.

Love,
me<3