The Things I've Done For Like

It is Monday and the Seahawks are the new champions of the world, or just of football for one year.

The photos above are of the fine folks I watched the game with.  Laura and Adam are some of my dear friends from all the way back in college.  Adam is from Seattle and turned 30 yesterday.  Pretty much the best day of his life, other than getting engaged to Laura.

Well friends this weekend marked some very important things, Lunar New Year, Super Bowl, The Month of Love (ya know cause of Valentine's Day), my momma's birthday.  It is seriously a busy month y'all.

I want to preface this month of love and love related posts by letting you know where I stand on this whole relationship situation.  I am single and I am honestly happy.  My students think otherwise.  Whenever a topic turns to relationships, it happens a lot in Psychology class, they say things like "Don't worry Ms. T.  Someone will love you."  Kids these days!

Last week I was teaching my Psychology class about love and how the brain responds to love.  I said something about how we do stupid things because we are in love.  Then I said "heck I've done stupid things for like!" Which totally intrigued my class and caused about a minute derail as I told them one of the stories that I will share here right now!

 

Drove to Rialto 

Now if you are not from Southern California this means little to you.  If you are from Southern California, I think you know that driving to Rialto for a boy is silly.  His neighborhood was so sketch that I had to call him when I was close to his house so he could meet me on the sidewalk and walk me to his apartment safely.  He was managing an apartment building there which was why he lived there.   He wasn't scary, just unable to come to my house to hang out.  This was during college. I am pretty sure that I would never even consider a relationship if I had to drive 45 minutes to see a guy in the ghetto.

Let a boy wear my UGGS

A few years back a guy I liked and maybe went on a date with asked me if he could borrow my UGG boots for a silly costume party.  I grew up as an only child and I am not used to people wearing my clothes or shoes.  I also do not shop at thrift stores because it just creeps me out.  I let go of my neuroses and gladly handed over my boots.  We quit hanging out shortly after this party and I could never wear the boots again.

Quit being a vegetarian 

For about two years I was a vegetarian.  I have never loved meat and I only eat it like 3 times a week.  I started to date a guy at church and he knew that I was a vegetarian.  He invited me to his parent's house for dinner and I accepted.  I arrived at their home and was given my dinner: Chicken tacos.  My date's mom really did not make anything else.  No beans or rice or anything else I could fill the tortilla with just chicken.  When I explained that I did not eat meat a battle broke out.  I am the least confrontational person and to make some peace I just ate the chicken.

Used a product he was pushing 

No I didn't do drugs!  I liked a boy in college who started to sell some skin care product with his sister.  It was like Avon but not Avon.  Anyway, after class one day he asked me if I could do a favor for him.  Of course I said yes and followed him to his car to retrieve what I would need to do the favor.  It was try out some face wash and then see if I wanted to order it.  I already knew I didn't want it though.  I have really sensitive skin and only a few things do not make me break out.  Long story short I tried it, and had a face full of pimples to prove it.  I am pretty sure that helped him like me more, not!

I know that there are plenty more things I have done that are even more ridiculous or silly, but that is all I can think of right now.  Perhaps a part two will be in order one day.

What are some things you have done for like or love?  I am sure you have some juicy stories to share.

Sunday Funday

Welcome to the first ever Sunday Funday link up!

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fI you are enjoying your Superbowl parties and both teams win.  Just kidding I hope the Seahawks win just because I am going to a friend's birthday party and he is a Seahawks fan so his party could be a real bummer otherwise.

I will have seen a grand total of three hours and five minutes of football this season after the Super Bowl. That is of course if the game is three hours long.  I only watched the end of last week's Seahawks 49ers game and Richard Sherman became my favorite human ever.

This meme was probably made for me.

I figure that regardless of who wins or loses  we could all use something to break the football coma that we will all be in we could use a little pick me up and what better to do that than a baby monkey riding on a pig?

 

Now link-up your Sunday Funday posts

*Follow your hosts

*Write a post that makes you smile, laugh, cry from laughing etc.

*Add your link to the bottom of this post.

*Read other posts and make new blog friends.

 

Next week We will have the lovely Nina from The Grand Advenutures of Me Co-Hosting the link up.  You can add your link on my blog or hers.

Be sure to pop over and say hi to Nina. She is a delightful blogger and makes me laugh on the regular!

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.ericajacquline.com" title="The Grand Adventure of Me"><img src="http://i1356.photobucket.com/albums/q738/ericajt/2932304f-476a-46ad-8fb0-a8d50fd5caaa_zps6b282e46.png?t=1391305783" alt="The Grand Adventure of Me" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Merry Christmas From The Kids Table

So I am currently at my mom's house watching the Hobbit and trying to teach Penny to be a lady of decorum.  So far she isn't taking to my instruction, but she is cute.  She looks like a little doll today and I love it.



We were at my aunt and uncle's house tonight for Christmas Eve.  My family is quite small, but on my aunt's side there re a lot of people.  I do not quite fit into to any of the age/life stages that are represented at this family gathering.  My favorite people to talk to are my uncle, my mom, my aunt's sister and her daughter.  Really it is fun to talk to my mom and dousing, they are both counselor and make the holiday conversation so light.  Tonight's topic, sex offenders.

After we have exhausted the counselor talk I usually end up with the dogs or the children.  They are just way more fun than everyone else.  They do not get drunk, or care about a football score,or have life issues.  They are just so happy it is Christmas and want to share that joy.

Tonight I played with two sweet little kids and it was wonderful.  Scout, my cousin's dog even joined the fun and it was perfect.  I then drove home to get Penny to go to my mom's house.  I cranked up the radio and sang Christmas songs all the way home.  Think Meg Ryan in Sleepless in Seattle, "horses, horses, horses!"

I love that there are ways to find joy in each day.  I hope you can find a way to be happy and enjoy the wonder of Christmas. Sit at the Kids Table if you need a little refresher on how love Christmas!

So Merry Christmas from the bottom of my heart!  I hope you are all singing Feliz Navidad now!

Its Getting A LIttle Christmas Crazy Up In Here

I really and truly love Christmas time.  It is such a beautiful season and hopefully one that is full of joy and love.  

One of the things i love most about Christmas is that I can enthusiastically buy silly things and use them in my life and no one can say a darn thing cause it is Christmas! 

Below are some of the things I have gone a little Christmas crazy about this year. 

Dog Sweaters

Yes I bought my dog a little reindeer sweater.  No I never thought I would be that person.  Yes she is too dang cute. 

Ninja Gingerbread Men

I had my official teaching review this week.  I told my class if they were their charming selves and I got a great review I would bring them a treat.  While looking at Target for what to make I found the best thing ever.  Gingerbread men in the shape of ninjas.  I have never been more happy!

PicMonkey Christmas Themes 

I made this super cute invite for my Psychology Class's Christmas Part with PicMonkey's Christmas goodness.  I am pretty much addicted and only want to make photos Christmassy. 

Cash Money

Ok so this one is not so much about Christmas greatness as much as it is about your chance to win some money for this holiday season.  Enter away for your chance to win $100 Paypal Cash! The winner must be a US resident.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fall Family Fun

This weekend was full of all the great things that make me love fall: pumpkins, Friday night lights, sweaters, and boots.

This weekend May invited some friends over to the house to carve pumpkins.  All of the kids are international students from China and had never participated in this tradition.  Clearly we needed to get some pumpkins and go to town on these bad boys.

Below are a lot of pictures from the day because those can be more fun than a long post of words.

I love getting messy!

May's pumpkin.

This kid is so skinny, but eats like a fatty.  Love it!

Crazy girl, crazy pumpkin.

Karen!

May's first pumpkin

E for Erica.  May had to draw it on there so I could cut it. I am NOT artistic at all.

Brother/ Sister combo team.

The whole gang.

I also felt the need to share May's outfit with you.  She really wanted to look like the baby on her shirt I am pretty sure she succeeded.

I also went to the schools football murder game.  Our boys try hard, but football and Asian students do not usually go together.  At halftime they were down 64 to 8.  They tried, but man those Friday Night Lights were a little dim this week

Be Careful!

I was reading a post over on Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Blog about the value of being a goofball and I loved it. Claire Danes was quoted as saying “One of the lessons of her adulthood, Danes has said, was ‘that there is real honor in being a total goofball.’ I personally was so happy to read that someone in the public eye was so open about how great it is to be totally and utterly silly from time to time. I have been called silly or goofy from time to time.  While I think some people do not mean it in a nice or positive way I for one am happy to be identified in this manner.  I know I am smart and capable of deep conversation and it does not belittle my intelligence that others see my more fun loving side.  This weekend I had the opportunity to relish this side of myself.  I went to dinner at Olive Garden with a friend of mine.  I wanted a huge salad and it seemed like the place to go.  While we were there we paid way too much attention to our server, Jordan.  Jordan was by far the most attractive server I have ever seen in my life. Any way we were watching him grate cheese over people's dinners and then he accidentally turned the cheese grater and the block of cheese fell out.  The wait staff didn't realize what happened and they kept on doing their job.  I wanted to tell dear Jordan that he dropped the cheese but, I feel that would have immediately made me see silly.  Instead I wrote him a note.  I warned him of the impending doom that lay under the the table across from us.   Below is the cheese and the note I wrote.  The note reads, "Be careful!  There is a block of cheese on the floor under that table!" xoxo Erica.

The epic cheese to the left and my amazing note on the right.

Clearly this was not the most silly thing I have ever done, but it was fun and I laughed and laughed about it for awhile.  I actually just yelled "Be careful!" to my friend and she yelled back, "There's cheese on the floor."  We are just plain awesome!  If you get the chance take the time to be a little goofy.  It will make your life happier and possibly others too.  I encourage you to embrace your goofy side and have a little fun today!

Lies I Tell My Students

After I wrote my post Lies I Tell on Facebook I realized there are so many other places I like to lie.  One of them is my classroom.  I know it is terrible to do this but, you have to have a little fun sometimes right, keep the kids on their toes ya know.

I get by with a lot of things as long as I say it with confidence. In other words, my students do not question the absurdity of the things that come from my mouth as long as I sound like I mean it.

Below are a list of my top ten favorite lies I have told classes of students over my 6 years as a teacher.

With Two of my students on their mock interview day.  Oh and they buy cameras that make your photos fuzzy so you look prettier. HA!

With two/three in the back of my students during Spirit Week this year.

10. I pronounce words wrong.

I am a smart lady. However, sometimes I have a little bit of a difficulty with phonics.  In fact I had to have a phonics tutor when I was in first grade.  I do not remember anything from those tutoring sessions except how to write in cursive. Mom, you might want to get a refund.
  I don't mean to pronounce words wrong it just happens sometimes.  If you say it with confidence they will never know.

9. I live on the roof of the school. 

While I was teaching elementary summer school I found great joy in the first grade class.  They were cute, funny, and believed everything.  One hot, summer day I told a boy that I lived on the roof of the school.  He asked why and I told him it was so I wouldn't have to drive far to get to work.  That was enough of a reason for him and from them on in his mind I lived on the roof.

I actually slept in my classroom one night after grad night.  I had 2 hours before work and it was the best option.

8.  There is a secret teacher swimming pool on the roof of the gym.

I don't know why but it seems that a few of my lies involve the roof of the school.  Probably because they will never make it up there.  I told a group of students that even though I do not make much money one of the benefits of working at the school is a private swimming pool reserved for staff.  All the teachers go there at the end of the day and hang out. 

7.  I love all the books/stories we read. 

There are just some things we have to do in class that I could care less about.  I am so good at acting though that the kids think I  love Beowulf and all that Old English junk we muddle through.  I don't.

6. I am friends with Tyra Banks.

I told a class of students I was BFFs with Tyra.  They weren't quite buying it so to prove it I gave them "her phone number."  I just wrote a random phone number on a piece of paper.  (I felt bad about this one so I came clean the next day.)

5.  I am a model outside the school and make 5 million dollars a year.  I love teaching so I volunteer my time during the school year to educate the future leaders of America.

No one said that there was no way that could be true.  These sweet teenagers actually think I am a model.  God bless them.

4.  Yes, I am in love with every man that works here.

I cannot tell you how many times these kids ask me if I am dating certain coworkers of mine.  Married ones, single ones, fat ones, skinny ones, tall ones, short ones, Asian ones, white ones, you name it I am in love with it... according to them.  I have just quit trying to stop the rumors and agree every time they ask.  It makes life more interesting at least.

3. I changed my last name from Samsung.

Yes, I am Korean.  Yes, I am worth a few billion dollars.  Yes, I could just chill in the most beautiful places in the world like Paris Hilton, but I don't.  I changed my last name so I could have a normal life.  I don't want someone to try and marry me because I am rich.  I believe in love for love's sake. 

2. One of the teachers that I work with straightens his hair every day.

This one is one of my favorites because I built up a whole back story.  He is an Asian man born in America.  I told the students that he was born with a freak, genetic mutation that caused his hair to be curly.  Having curly hair in Asian American circles is looked at as a sign of shame and disgrace (in my made up world).  In order to fit into his culture and society he straightens his hair every morning. 

I have had a few kids question me on this one.  The will ask things like,"But he always looks like he just rolled out of bed and didn't do his hair."

My answer, "He works hard to make it look like that.  Like Ted on How I Met Your Mother."

When they really don't believe me I tell them to think back to camp.  Did Mr. Tang ever get in the lake or the pool?  NO!  because his hair would be curly again.  BAM! case closed. 

1. Whenever I miss a few days for vacation I tell the kids I went to China.

I am not sure why but they totally eat it up.  I look up weather conditions where I "went" and tell them a few cultural points.  Last weekend when I went to Stagecoach I was in Beijing, it was lovely this time of year. 

After making this list I kind of felt bad.  It is a little like when Jim went through all the pranks he pulled on Dwight over the years.  At the time they were awesome, but when you add them all up it kind of sounds mean.  But like Jim I will continue to have fun and keep myself entertained.

love! Erica