Lolcat of the Week

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Hahaha! I just love that cat's expression. And speaking of census, did you guys see Betty White on SNL a few weeks back? She did a skit on the census that was hee-lar-ious. But don't take my word for it. See it for yourself!

Hope you have a great Monday! :)

Week in Review

The first half of this week kind of sucked in that I still had the cold from hell. But the second half was great. :D

Monday, I spent all day with my boyf, thankful I had the day off from work so I could recuperate some more. Most of it was spent in bed, reading.

Tuesday, I wrapped up the book The Five People You Meet in Heaven with my juniors, which was bittersweet. I hope to reread the book again next year with my future students. On Tuesday, Ricky and I also saw the movie "Whisper of the Heart" from Studio Ghibli which I loved. Amazing, amazing film.

Wednesday, I began giving my seniors their final exams, which was also bittersweet. I can't believe they're graduating! :*) On Wednesday, I also found out I'm definitely rehired for next year, plus I'm teaching freshmen English and SAT/ACT Verbal Prep. -- no AP English because the numbers were too low. I'm kind of sad because I will miss teaching AP, but at the same time, it's a bit of a relief knowing I won't have to grade all those essays next year! I also found out they are relocating me to the main building (my school is comprised of two buildings: the original, or "old" building and the main, or "new" building). So I will have to start moving my stuff -- and soon!

Thursday was the day I finally felt like myself again -- I wasn't as congested and throat-achey as before. On Thursday, I also went to a luncheon celebrating the retirement of one of the most beloved teachers at my school, Mrs. Palmore. It was a great time -- she will be missed next year.

Friday, I gave my last group of seniors their finals and spent the afternoon reading their dedications in my yearbook ... and crying my silly little eyes out. After work, Ricky took me to The Pub where we had beer and shared some fried pickles and a plate of fish and chips. Yum! Then we went to Barnes & Nobles where we bought the newly re-published books by J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter Schoolbooks: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them/Quidditch Through the Ages. (Both came in a box set.) They are a must-have if you are a fan!

Saturday, I slept in late and graded some finals, and then Ricky and I went to Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza for some of their amazing pizza before going to pick up Ricky's dad at the airport -- he spent a week in Haiti helping the sick and injured with other doctors from his center. He showed us the pictures he took during his stay, and it was so sad to see how devastated Haiti still is after the earthquake. They are still badly in need of our help. I'm planning on donating more money. I think anyone who can should do the same. It's going to take a lot of work -- and money -- for Haiti to get back on its feet.

Today I just plan on relaxing, maybe reorganizing my closet. Next week is my last week of work, and since I'm spending only the first three days with my kids, the last two picking up my classroom (and moving to my new one!), I can put all my work clothes to the back of the closet now. Until August anyway! :D

Here are my posts from this week in case you missed any:

Lolcat of the Week

10 Confessions [the work version]

{Bloggy Award!} Ten Things I Love

Leave a message at the sound of the beep...

Happy Friday!

Crybaby.

picture via we heart it

I hope you're having a relaxing weekend, bloggy readers! :)

Crybaby.

I've been in the mood to watch  eternal sunshine of the spotless mind again. I just love that movie. Normally, I don't like Jim Carrey's acting all that much, but he is amazing in this film. And Kate Winslet is always wonderful. Always. As is this film. Here is one of my favorite parts:

I always cry at the end of this movie. Then again, I'm such a softy, I've been known to cry during especially pathos-laden commercials. Like the one with Sarah McLachlan and all those abused animals. It gets me every.single.time. *tear*

Lest I scare you away from watching this film, please know that is one of my absolute favorite films ever. It is romantic, uplifting, funny, and yes, heartbreaking, all in one. Watch it tonight if you want to watch a thought-provoking film. And then come back and tell me what you thought of it.

Do you cry during movies, too? Or am I just a big crybaby... :*)

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday!

Today was the last Friday of the school year -- which is just insane. This school year FLEW! As did this week. I'm so happy it's Friday. Next week, we still have three days of school left, but they're all half days -- which is just awesome!

I plan on relaxing this weekend (in between grading some final exams) and maybe putting some work into my thesis so my committee leader doesn't kill me. Tonight the boyf. and I just plan on hanging out, maybe catch a happy hour somewhere. I kind of want to go out because I've been sick all week and I'm finally feeling like myself again. :D

Before I close, here are my answers to Lauren's fill in the blank for this week. Make sure to link back to her post if you want to play along, too!

1.  My dream vacation would be  a trip that takes me all over Europe -- especially France, England, Spain, and Italy -- for at least six months .

2.  The best trip I've ever taken was  when I went to Tokyo, Japan in 2008 with le boyf. It was a totally last minute trip, literally planned days before we left -- and it was the best trip of my life.

3.  The most important items to take on a road trip are water, snacks, music, and a good traveling buddy .

4.  The next trip I'm looking forward to is  my upcoming trip with le boyf. to Islands of Adventure in Orlando for the new Harry Potter section .

5.  If I had to pick one CD to listen to for a long road trip it would be a mixtape that includes Arcade Fire, Interpol, Grizzly Bear, plus some show tunes thrown in for good measure  .

6.  The biggest disaster I've ever encountered while traveling  was  not a disaster per se, but it involved a small commuter plane on the way back from the Bahamas and a bad rainstorm. I thought I was going to die for sure, but thankfully, I arrived in one piece. Other than that, I really haven't had traveling disasters (thank goodness).

7.  My favorite traveling memory is  the first time I went on a road trip with le boyf. We went to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios, and I rode my first real roller coaster -- and was promptly sick afterward -- but le boyf. was amazing and took care of me. And now I love roller coasters. And him .

 picture via we heart it

So what are you doing this weekend, bloggy readers? Anything interesting? Let me know in the comments!

Leave a message at the sound of the beep...

I'm not here today, bloggy readers, I'm over at Eyes of Amber, guest-blogging for her Eclipse book discussion. I was lucky enough to get the dramatic 25th chapter, "Mirror," which features the enigmatic new character Bree (who is getting her own book, soon to be published by Stephenie Meyer).

If you'd like to read my guest-post, just click on the banner below! :-D

Are you a fan of the Twilight series? Do you plan on reading Stephenie Meyer's new book on Bree? I'm kind of on the fence about this... Tell me your thoughts in the comments and maybe you'll help me decide! :)

{Bloggy Award!} Ten Things I Love

One of my bestest bloggy friends, kg, gifted me with this splendiferous bloggy award:

Yay! Thanks, kg! I love your blog, too.  Apparently now I'm supposed to thank the Academy. Just kidding. What I am supposed to do is list ten things I love and pass on the bloggy award to ten awesome bloggers. So away we go...


my faves
1. le boyf. (Need I say more? :D)
2. my iPhone. (I can't -- and won't -- leave the house without it.)
3. Starbucks. (Where they really DO know me by name.)
4. my cats. (Love my furbabies.)
5. my DS lite. (Video games, only portable. Genius!)
6. frozen yogurt.(Good for the lips AND the hips. Love.)
7. Harry Potter. (Bit of an obsession, really.)
8. Twilight. (Shut up.)
9. naps. (Especially on rainy afternoons.)
10. books. (They're great company, wonderful bedfellows, and never fail to inspire me.)

my fave bloggers
1. cutie @ super secret twilight blog
2. diana @ our.city.lights
3. danielle @ dinosaur toes
4. rasha @ and this is what she said
5. chelsea rebecca @ TRIUMPHS and blunders of a KOOKY gal
6. lauren @ the little things we do...
7. jenny @ Little Jenny, Big World
8. april @ Mistress of Well Intentioned Indecision
9. micaela @ Dolce Vita
10. hannah @ Pink Chucks

 picture via we heart it

If you've been tagged above, make sure to post the ten things/bloggers you love and comment here with the link so I can read it! :D

10 Confessions [the work version]

Until last year, every job I've ever had never lasted longer than three years.

My first job was when I was still in high school. It was for a record store at my local mall. I was so happy when I was hired on the spot. I had this romanticized idea, you see, that it would be like the movie "Empire Records." When I realized my job was nothing like my expectations, shortly after beginning my first shift, I quit on the spot. (Yeah, I'm not proud of this, but at least I didn't stay and suffer!)

My second job was much better -- I was a copy girl at an automobile insurance company. I got to listen to middle aged women complain about their sex lives all day while I was 18 and still very much a virgin. Let's just say I learned a lot that summer.

My third job was working for the Spanish airline Iberia in Miami International Airport. I was a passenger assistant. My boss was a snooty Spanish lady who chastised me because I was Cuban and didn't speak "proper" Spanish.

My fourth job was working for a much better company in Miami International Airport, Club America. This was a lounge for VIP passengers. My job required me to announce flights, serve snacks and drinks, answer phones, and basically look pretty. This job was also a safe haven for me as I finished up my bachelor's degree in English -- I wrote a lot of essays during my downtime working there!

My fifth job was working for a private attorney who called himself a Christian man. This same man also tried to get me to stop being Catholic, telling me that praying to the Virgin Mary was just a "spiritual stop sign" keeping me from Christ. Needless to say, this job was short-lived.

My sixth job was working as a Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science teacher for grades 4-8 at a private Catholic K-8 school. I thought the private, religious atmosphere would ensure good kids. Yet I had things stolen from my classroom and a student threatened to light me on fire during my first year there.

As vicious as some of the kids at that Catholic school were, the teachers were just as bad. When they weren't "teaching" (aka asking their students to massage their shoulders or brush their hair), they were gossiping about each other and surfing the net.

My seventh and current job is working as a Language Arts teacher for grades 11-12 at a public high school. To date, it's been my best job. I've been working there for four years now, breaking my three year curse, and I hope to stay there many years more. :)

However, if I could have any job in the world, any job at all, I'd love to be a writer. Then I could stay at home all day in my jammies and do what I love best  -- what I love even more than teaching -- write.

 

 picture via we heart it

Do you have any confessions you feel brave enough to share? (Doesn't have to be work related!)