WHAT month did you say it was?

I'm not as busy as I could be. I think I must be innately lazy in nature because I think of my life as busy, but have been watching an unnatural amount of television lately, telling myself the whole time that I am too tired to do anything else when I come home from work. But I really am tired. To the point where I fall asleep almost upon my rear making contact with the couch. Tuesday nights (for the third year) I am a tutor after school for a make-up program for students who are retaking classes on-line. (I do get paid, so I'm not looking for a well-done pat on the bum) until 5. And now I am taking an graduate level ESL class through the school district on Thursdays until 7. Saturdays are "catch up on on the shopping, visiting, auntieing, and various miscellany that you can't get done weektimes because your bum is making a sleepy contact with the couch after work" day, Sunday is church half the day, and everything else needs to fall in on Mondays and Wednesdays but never quite seems to.

The past few weeks have been busy though. It started with my friend Laura's wedding weekend - September 12. After that, homecoming week. Homecoming came early this year, and I participate in a lot of the activities there whether I am supposed to or not because I am on the homecoming committee and my friend in the English department is over student government and I volunteer my services to her. My involvement was truncated this year from what it usually is, but it was still a busy week for me. I chaperoned the Athena Club (of which I am advisor) service project to weed the courtyard flower beds that have been neglected for years, the homecoming dance, the senior activity of whitewashing the 'C' on Cedar Mountain, Spirit Night, and the game of course. Throw in the Back-to-School night parent-teacher meet 'n mingle and the SUU Creative Writing Conference on Friday and Saturday and you've rounded off that week.
My roommate of 4 years finally got herself hitched.

My favorite decorations from this year. The chief's head is a mural done by a student.

I tilled all of the plots when the girls were done weeding. In flipflops. I would not recommend this - weeding, tilling or doing it in flipflops. Both tilling and doing it in flipflops lead to intense body aches for at least 4 days.


The seniors have whitewashed the 'C' since the beginning of 'C'dom. And I've gone up with them every year since I started teaching. Then they get sprayed by the city water truck when they are posed for a picture - after all these years, they are somehow still surprised by this. Dummy's.

The snake dance. This used to be done through the streets of the city. Now it is restricted to the football field, but it's still fun.

It took a long time to get my nephew Mikey to paint his face. Three tries, actually. And in stages. First, I had to get it done. He wouldn't. Then he decided he really liked mine, so he got the red C on his cheek, but I had to paint it. Then we sat down again and he wanted the other colors that I had on my cheek. At that point he let the student in charge paint it on. And he looked so cute! I'm happy to have him mistaken as my son by the students anytime.
Mikey loved the halftime fireworks show... and the pizza, hotdogs, chips, and soda.

Touchdown! Students let go of the balloons given them before the game after the first one. Mikey was in the bathroom, but I let his go. He was very concerned. I was just glad he and Rori didn't have anything to fight over anymore or to hit the head of the man in front of us with.
Cedar High really does have a beautiful stadium view. If there's nothing on the field to attract your attention, at least the scenery is nice!

Then take a week off from extra-curricular chaperoning. But now hopelessly behind on grading.

Then insert parent-teacher conferences last week after school. And me getting sick for two days (my first since I started teaching). Salt Lake City for a wedding, my brother Mark visiting and Mikey's birthday. And now I'm REALLY hopelessly behind on grading. So much so that I dread even starting. So sometimes I don't. And I'm still tired. But the doctor at the Insta-Care said it wasn't the Swine because I didn't have a fever.
The most recently dedicated Oquirrh Mountain LDS Temple in South Jordan, Utah.
We are a lovely bunch, aren't we?

I love these two cherub faces! Happy 3rd birthday, Mikey!

My life isn't totally procrastinations ridden, though. For example, I will not procrastinate watching my favorite television program on Thursday night. Jim and Pam are getting married on The Office tomorrow. So ya see, there is ALWAYS something to look forward to! Now where did I leave that bag with all the grading in it...?

This is the half - yes, HALF - of my grading pile that I have at home. So who wants to be a procrastinating English teacher...anyone?...anyone? (WARNING: When looking at the quarter through a rear view mirror, the stack may appear smaller and further away than it actually is. Approach with caution. )