Living Auntie Mame

Today is my 32nd birthday, which is weird for so many reasons. What does 32 feel like? I don't actually know because I feel the same as I did yesterday. 32 sounds so old; in my head I think I'm still 17.

I like things like birthdays because I like feeling like there's a special day on the calendar where I can hit reset if I need to. And right now, I really need to. I need to regroup and gather myself, and there's no better day to start again than a birthday. If my birthday is the start of a yoga class, I really need to set my intention for the year, just like I would on my mat.

I was giving this some thought the other day, and I realized exactly what I want my intention for this year to be. And that is -- I want to be Auntie Mame. I've talked about my desire for this on my blog before, but it's time to take it from a fun wish to reality. But I realize that I need accountability in order to make that happen. Because it's really easy to talk about being fun and free spirited like Mame until you're getting unkind emails from students' parents or an issue with a student comes up and I'm stressed to the max.

One of the teachers I take class from (Valerie) frequently starts class with a thought from a book she reads called A Year of Living Your Yoga. That title mixed with my Auntie Mame desire in my mind and gave me the idea of blogging A Year of Living Auntie Mame.  In a lot of ways, I feel like this is the six month check up of my 2016 theme.

To tell you the truth, I really don't even know what this means exactly, but I think I'm going to figure it out along the way. I can tell you that today is off to a good start because of the people who know and love me.

Allow me to explain.

As previously mentioned today is my birthday. I was fortunate enough to receive some really nice gifts from some really great friends and family. But after I assembled them in one group, I realized ... I am already a quirky weirdo, which, I believe, is the first step to being truly eccentric like Mame. 

Please look at this haul:

Let's start in the top left.

This shirt was a gift from my friend Sarah. I feel like this requires no explanation, as Sarah knows my heart and, therefore, knows champagne is my love language. :) I think this is my new life motto. Auntie Mame-approved.

Next is this great glitter fish wallflower from Colleen. The closest sea animal to a shark that Bath and Body Works sells, and, you know, glitter.

The next is this flat iron that I've been needing to get for about a year. My parents got me this after my mom did a lot of research on which was the best one. Watch out world, I'm coming with my beach waves.

Next is the Alfred Hitchcock artwork. I am a Hitchcock fan from way back, and if you are, too, then you are already geeking out about how cool this is. I just sat here, mouth open, for like three whole minutes after I opened it. My only dilemma is -- home or classroom? I don't know where Erin got this, but -- wow.

Let me tell you all about these two middle gifts here. My sister Emma got me some sea salt hair spray (best. ever.) and the newest Monkees CD. If you don't know about my history with The Monkees, I will have to tell you about it some other time because I don't have the space to do it justice here. Suffice it to say I'm their biggest fan. I'm actually listening to this CD as I type right now. It's as good as I hoped. :) Here's why Emma's gifts are so great: Emma asked me what I wanted for my birthday. In so many words I said "sea salt hair spray and the newest Monkees CD." Bam. Delivered. There's something to be said for someone who literally gets you exactly what you asked for.

I'm going to group the last two items together because I feel like they were the last two pieces of the puzzle I was waiting for in order to completely lose myself in the world of Jane Austen (I could link some previous blog posts here, but I don't have that kind of time. There are too many). I was teetering on the ledge a bit, but I've fully fallen now. The first thing, in case you can't tell, is one of those old-fashioned was seal letter sealer things. Some months back, upon viewing Pride and Prejudice or Emma or whatever for the blue millionth time, I texted Erin and was like you know what would be cool to have? One of those wax seal letter sealer things. She was like yeah I guess that would be cool. WELL HERE IT IS. Who even knew you could get one? I mean PLEASE LOOK AT THIS:

Is this not the coolest thing  YOU HAVE EVER SEEN EVER?! If I know your address, be prepared to receive a lot of mail from me in the near future. As I was practicing using this for the first time, I truly thought that Mr. Knightley may come and ask me to take a turn about the garden with him.

The book Say It Like Miss Austen is a gift from the woman who's been my second mom my entire life, Patrice. I've spent years saying things about Jane Austen, and now I can just say them like Jane Austen! For example, it's unkind to call someone a moron, but what if I said, "What a picture of intellectual poverty!" instead? I mean, I'm still saying you're an idiot, but I sound so fancy doing it!

I truly think that this may be the most eclectic mix of gifts ever given. But I feel like I've done something right in my life if my friends and family thing of me as a champagne drinking, glitter loving, wavy hair sporting, Alfred Hitchcock- and Monkees-obsessed person who lives 50% of her life in the world of Jane Austen.

If that's not enough, please note that I am currently writing this sitting in a donut-with-a-bite-taken-out pool inner tube that's not inflated because I don't have enough air. (Final gift from Erin.)

Auntie Mame - Day 1. We're off to the races.

Story, Sarah, Postage Stamps, Humphrey Bogart, Colleen, and the Oscars

Okay, I don't say this often -- really I don't say this at all -- but I'm willing to say it now, so here you go:

The past two weekend have just been really nice.

I mean, honestly, when people at school ask me on Monday how my weekend was, I'm usually just like, "It was fine, thanks." But last Monday, and I know tomorrow, I am all like, "You know what? It was really, really good."

Last weekend started with seeing my BFF Story in a play. (Okay, technically it was Thursday night, but that was just getting the weekend started early.) Friday brought a nice casual wine night in with  my dear friend Sarah (more about her later!). On Saturday I spent the gorgeous, unseasonably warm 70 degree day running around Huntington for my aforementioned friend Sarah and her fiancee Drew, who were doing a video shoot for their upcoming wedding. I also went to mass and had dinner with my parents that night. Last Sunday I got to go to Target to get a shower gift for Sarah and then took myself on a date to see The Maltese Falcon in the theatre. Man, what a great weekend!

Not a pic of Story and me at "Mauritius" but at her last show, "Ah Wilderness!"

This weekend was just as good, which is so amazing. On Friday night, I saw Story's play again (and now consider some of her castmates my new friends in that I am a theatre hanger on, or "appreciator of the arts" as Sarah would say :), and I think they are amazing and awesome. This time Sarah went with me to the show! Yesterday I helped man The Divine Intervention's Winter Warmth Drive (I'm on the board), and we collected so many things from our generous donors to help keep some of our neighbors warm this winter. Yesterday evening/night, I went to two parties for Sarah: a wedding shower and then a bachelorette party. Both were so much fun! I met some of her friends I haven't met before and just had an awesome time having fun. (Incidentally, now that I read this, I have done an awful lot of things with Sarah lately, which is so awesome. Love you Sarah!) Today I went to mass and the grocery store, did some chores and some homework (lame), but now I am live texting the Oscars with my best friend Colleen, who loves awards shows more than any other person on earth. (And who is hilarious.)

Me at the Winter Warmth Drive. I usually am the one taking all the photos, so this time Dave and Kim made me get in some, too. :)

I mean, amazing, right? Sometimes I'm not very good at sitting back and reflecting on how lucky I am to know the people I know. But I have been making a more conscious effort lately to say yes to things and love people. And it's not always easy, but I have been especially fortunate these last couple of weekends.

Bachelorette party fun with Sarah, Candace, Cindy, Becca, Lexi, Melinda, Lauren, and Carlie. Such great girls! (And, incidentally, doesn't everything look better in black and white?!)

 It just reminds me that we, as people, are made for relationships and human connection (as Amy has said a lot), and we need to value that and nurture it when we can. And if you have a choice, always choose people! So my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has made these last couple of weekends awesome!

An Epic Day of Filming

Today was one of those rare beautiful days that occurs in the middle of winter when it's 70 degrees, sunny, and breezy out. The kind of day that makes you think God actually does love you and wants you to be happy and, in fact, remembers that the great majority of us do not thrive on gray, cold, and snow (my friend Sarah Walling and my mom as the only (massively insane) exemptions to this).

I am super lucky because I got to spend the WHOLE DAY outside literally running around Huntington. My friends Sarah Hayes and Drew Navy are getting married in March, and they invited a bunch of their friends to participate in a video shoot today that they are going to show at their wedding reception. I don't want to give too much of it away, but I can say we ran all over downtown Huntington and the Marshall campus dressed in awesome costumes. I only knew one other person there, so I also made a bunch of new friends today! It was an amazing way to spend this beautiful day. Honestly, there is nothing else I could have done today that would have put me outside from 9 a.m until 2:30 p.m., and I am so grateful Drew and Sarah picked today for their shoot!

If you are going to Sarah and Drew's wedding, get ready for an awesome video! If not, I'm sure they'll post it on social media for all to see (and be impressed by!) after their wedding.

A little sneak peak:

"We Took Lunch Count and Attendance"

For the past five weeks, I've spent Thursdays at a local high school for my clinical for grad school. (Don't ask. That's a story for another day, but if you are a praying person, please pray for me.) There is another teacher at my school that handles my homeroom for me when I am not there on Thursdays. I always leave a sheet of paper on my desk for her that allows her to take attendance and lunch count.

In case I've never said it before, my homeroom is eighth grade. There are 11 boys and 1 girl in that class, and this is the second year I've had them. They are a rambunctious bunch, but I dearly (DEARLY) love them because they are my people, you know?

So, I get back to Fatima today around 2:55, just in time to see my kids before they leave for the day. I walk into my classroom and look at the white board to find several notes and funny things written on there by my students. For example, I always do a "thought of the day" on my board, but it was blank today since I wasn't there. Well, I mean I left it blank. When I got there there was a quote on there. It said:

It's a good day when nobody dies. 

I was cracking. up. Because ... true, right?

But what made me laugh even harder was not only did my students write me notes, they also used improper apostrophes in their notes -- and even added improper apostrophes to some things I'd already had written on the board -- just because they knew it'd drive me crazy. For example, what that thought of the day actually said was:

It's a good day when nobody die's. 

AAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH.

HAHA.

They came in the room to get their backpacks at just the moment I was standing there laughing. That's when they told me the amazing news -- apparently the teacher who covers for me on Thursdays wasn't able to get there this morning, so the kids were left there alone. YIKES! But guess what they told me they did?

"Well, Miss Lafferre, C found that paper on your desk, so M took lunch count and attendance."

YOU SAT THERE AND DID LUNCH COUNT AND ATTENDANCE?!?

I mean, really?

They did. Also, they PUT IT IN THE DOOR BOX so the school secretary could pick it up. WHAT?!

I said, "And everyone stood for prayer and did the pledge?"

"Yeah, we did."

I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE THESE KIDS.

Now, granted, apparently my class clown, G, ordered himself two lunches and a milk today and got called to the office to explain himself later, but in the grand scheme of things how terrible was that really?

I mean these kids took attendance and lunch count today, stood for the prayer and the pledge, took down all the chairs off the desks (where we put them so the custodian can sweep), and stayed until 8:05 when the first period bell rang.

They also left me many funny board decorations.

Maybe they do like me after all.

I Promised Him That No One Would Ever Eat Him.

Man, I have not posted in a hot minute. Summer wrapped up with yet another Praxis test, I started teaching, and then my graduate classes began. I have several post ideas, mainly concerning teaching and how much I love it, but I decided my first post back should be something a little more light.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Just kidding.

Let me tell you about the State of the Apartment over here at the Anna/Snicks compound. Otherwise entitled "The Great Flea Saga of 2015."

You heard me. Fleas.

Now, this time yesterday I would have never, ever posted anything about fleas. I told my mom that I was just going to tell people Snicks had a "skin issue" because I didn't "want people to think we are dirty and never clean." It took Kathy (and Melissa) a while, but they finally made me realize that fleas are a thing that happens.

Let me start from the beginning.

This past weekend I noticed that Snicks had a little bald spot on the back of his neck. I investigated further and saw that he had this scaly white patch that was flaky. Oh no! So I did what any sane person does, and I Googled his symptoms. I decided that he may have mites since he seemed to have all the symptoms of it. Unfortunately, I had graduate classes both Monday and Tuesday nights (they were located IN HELL, but that's for another day) so I couldn't take him till Wednesday. We go to the Best Vet Ever and they basically let me choose my day and time.

Prior to us finding out what the problem really was.

So, Wednesday rolls around and I pack Snickers up after school and take him to the vet. Our appointment is scheduled for 4 p.m. When we get there, it is standing room only. And, let's face it, Snickers is super cute and somewhat of a novelty, so many people wanted to talk to me. I had spent 14 hours the previous day around people, and I had been around people all day till that point, so I was on people overload, which is a introvert's nightmare. I honestly had to tell myself DON'T CRY because I just could not handle it. Around 4:45 we get called back to a room. Two vet techs and the vet come in because, no joke, Snicks is super popular around those parts. (If it's not already obvious why, it's because not only is he cute, he's very calm and well behaved.)

The vet looks at his skin problem and at first isn't sure what it is.

Then she goes, "Do you see this black spot?"

Yes.

"He has fleas."

WHAT the WHAT.

Like how does this even happen? He practically lives in a bubble.

I am not kidding you when I say I sat down and started crying. The vet was like "Are you getting upset?" They were so nice and trying to tell me this is not a big deal, but I was just so overwhelmed and the dam broke. They told me that this is the animal equivalent of a skinned knee. They told me they see so much worse every day. They told me that I caught it super early because I watch him so closely. And they did so much for me. They talked me off the ledge, they told me what to do at my house, they treated Snicks with medicine and combed him, and they told me to drop him off the following day (today) where he could stay all day while I bombed my house.

These people are the real deal.

So I came home last night and refrained from burning my house down. Seriously.

It's a long story, but I don't teach on Thursdays because here in a couple weeks I have to start student teaching (yet another story for another day). God blessed me because today is obviously Thursday and I was able to take half a personal day without requiring my school to get a sub. I got Snicks all packed up, complete with a bagged lunch with his name on it (yep), and dropped him off at the vet at 8 a.m. I then went to the store and got the flea bomb and some flea spray.

There were three bombs in that package, so I used all three. I'm not messing around here. I decided to bomb the hell out of my house. Go big or go home.

I'm not sure what I thought the bomb was going to look like. I think maybe this?

Minus the fairy tale characters and trip to the Enchanted Forest.

Alas, it looked like spray. I hightailed it out of there as per the directions.

I worked the rest of the day, then went home to vacuum before picking up Snickers. I'm not sure what I assumed my house would look like -- I think I was imaging some sort of post-apocalyptic scene with dead bodies everywhere. Or like that scene in "The Craft" where all those bugs are all over the shower? That scene haunts me to this day. (I would have posted it for you here, but I can't find it, so it's your lucky day.)

In reality, it looked like my apartment, just hotter because the air/fans had been off all day.

I did my vacuuming and went to pick up Snickers, where the vet charged me NO DOLLARS for taking care of him all day. I love these people.

I brought him back home -- flea free (please God) -- and proceeded to spend the subsequent four hours cleaning everything. Vacuuming, washing, bleaching. The positive here is that my house has never been so clean. It's usually clean, but this is like for real clean, like sweeping under the couch and stuff. The biggest pain in the rear has been washing so much stuff. Washers go faster than dryers because they are from the devil, and that helps no one.

In the event this ever happens to you, you really only need two supplies to help yourself out. The first is a package of flea bombs. The second is alcohol. No, not the rubbing kind. The drinking kind. That part's for you. That's how we handle fleas in this house.

Also, I feel pretty terrible because the only real promise I ever made Baby S is that no one is trying to eat him. Whoops.

This is the face of someone who has suffered so many indignities over the past couple of days he may never bounce back.

At any rate, I've been ordered to vacuum twice a day and put flea treatment on Snicks monthly. Done and done. I just pray to the dear Lord God in Heaven that this never happens again. I cannot even deal.

So, I hope you have enjoyed my transparency and honesty about what is going on up in herrr. I hope this never happens to you, but if it does, know that I am here to offer moral support. I'll bring the wine.

And please remember that if you think you've had a bad day, Snicks has had fleas pooping on his head for who knows how long. Puts things into perspective doesn't it?

Missy Be Puttin' It Down. Holllllla.

Unless you have literally been living under some sort of rock for a couple of days, then you are firmly aware that Missy Elliott brought the house down with her Super Bowl Halftime Show performance Sunday night. What? you say. I thought Katy Perry had that gig?

I am here to tell you you are wrong.

That show was owned by Missy Elliott. The same Missy Elliott that owned TRL, the radio, and every college party I attended in the 2002-2003 school year.

My friend and coworker Jessica put this up on her Facebook yesterday, and, short of actually having a photo of myself when Ms. Misdemeanor came out, this is the best I can do to show you how I looked:

My mom, dad, and I were sitting there in various stages of snacking and chatting when the halftime show started. Here comes Katy Perry, lalala, riding some sort of mechanical zoo animal and singing one of her many hits. I don't hate Katy Perry; I've been known to download a song of hers every now and then. And as she performed I was like -- cool. She's doing just fine.

But then.

BUT. THEN.

The clouds parted and the sky opened up and there was Missy Elliott, minus the track suit, but still looking good as ever. My parents were like, "Who?" And I was like, "IT'S MISSSYYYYY ELLIOOTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT EEEEEEEE!E!E!E!E!E!E!!E!E!E!E!!!!!!" or something along those lines. (And frankly, at that point, I just wanted Katy Perry to shut it.)

I put up a Facebook status shortly after, and in about 24 hours I had 80 likes. Which is honestly more likes than I've gotten on anything in quite a while. So I started thinking about why. (Other than the general greatness of the Supa Dupa Fly which is Missy Elliott.)

Here's what I think:

Hearing Missy Elliott rap "Work It" brought us all back to being in college. Back when we were young, wore cute clothes, and our biggest worry was getting to the store to buy beer because we didn't have class on Fridays. This was back before we had to worry about things like retirement savings, vitamins, health insurance, and kids. (Which I still don't have to worry about, but the aforementioned Jessica does, so -- solidarity.) Missy Elliott is the soundtrack to driving with the windows rolled down in the sunshine on the way to the mall at 1 p.m. because it's Tuesday afternoon and no one had anywhere to be again till 9 a.m. the next morning.

Somehow we all aged from 20 to 30 in the blink of an eye, but in our hearts we're still those 21-year-old kids who could be motivated solely by the words "DJ, please pick up your phone, I'm on the request line" because we knew exactly what was coming next and the answer is Yes. It is worth it, so let's work it.

The only logical conclusion I can draw here is that the class of 2002 is in DESPERATE need of an all-out dance party, Natty Light included. And we all know what song will be first on that playlist.

So, Missy Elliott, thanks for reminding us who we were. It could not have come a moment too soon.


(Oh, and for good measure, I'm sure everyone remembers when Missy Elliott rocked that trash bag, right?)

London Calling. (Please Answer the Phone, Emma.)

My sister Emma, who is super cool and laid back FYI, is planning on spending next spring, 2016, studying abroad. We really wanted Sydney, but it's super expensive to get there, and you really need to stay at least two weeks if you are visiting, which is hard when you are a teacher and school is in session. So we have now set our sights on London.

You may or may not have picked up on this already, but this is totally partly about me. I love, love, love, love to travel, and I have not been anywhere overseas since I returned from Prague in 2007. That is like a lifetime ago, and if you do not think my soul dies a little bit every. single. day. then you do not know me. Not at all. At all.

So Emma is working out all the details for studying abroad, whilst (check it!) I am planning what I am going to wear. (Lest you think I am not helpful, I do check in with Emma from time to time in really considerate ways, such as texts that read "Knock knock, who's there, I'm interested, I'm interested who, I'm interested in finding out where we are studying abroad!") I have had this picture of myself wearing a yellow jacket in London, so I went on a Google image hunt for the one I have in my mind.

This one really stood out:

... so imagine my shock when I clicked on it and realized it's Burberry London! Ugh. So meant to be.

I got these shoes for Christmas:

... and totally see myself trotting about London in them and leggings.

As London is rainy, and I have frizzy hair, I believe I will need a hat. Something like this perhaps:

... which I bet my sister Erin can make for me! (Right, Erin?)

I shall also be bringing along my faux leather boots, purchased from Payless of all places:

Naturally I will also be packing my Chanel heels (bought in a little out of the way place nobody goes in Maine, long story for another day) as well as my patent leather nude heels in the event I am invited to the palace by my BFF Kate Middleton.

Oh, and I'll need my Wellies too, I'll bet! Don't want to be unprepared!

So, clearly, I am pretty much ready to go, all I need now is a plane ticket, someplace to stay, instructions on how to make my phone work overseas .............. and Emma to confirm we are going.

Details.

SHUT UP ELSA

Well, folks, the inevitable finally happened, and it happened in a big way.

I totally, TOTALLY dropped the ball.

Ugh.

As I've mentioned before, I'm taking one in-person class and one online class this semester. Every other Tuesday since the beginning of the semester I've had two things due for my online class: a post on the class discussion board (and a response to two other students' posts) and some sort of combination research/reflection/opinion paper on a variety of topics that I upload to Blackboard.

It's in my day planner, highlighted, what's due every other Tuesday. Because this is the kind of person that I am.

So, about a week and a half ago, knowing I'd have my discussion post and reflection/research paper due Tuesday, Oct. 21 I logged onto Blackboard to get my work done. I found out my topic for the paper was to read certain chapters in the text and write some guidelines/ideas for a middle school advisory program. Although I don't love reading textbooks, it was good information and I enjoyed coming up with my ideas. Then I saw my discussion post question was to write about the building in which I attended middle school, how it was laid out, and what my schedule was like. An opinion question -- awesome! Done and done. I logged on over the weekend in hopes I could respond to a couple of the other students' posts and get it out of the way in plenty of time for Tuesday. No dice. So I logged back on on Monday. Still no posts to respond to. When I logged back in Tuesday during the day (everything is due at midnight) there were still no posts. I absolutely could not figure it out since there were usually at least one or two others who posted early like me, but I was super busy teaching and doing some other things last week so I let it go.

WELL FORGET YOU ELSA BECAUSE I SHOULD NOT HAVE LET IT GO! I should have seen it for the (bright, bright, bright, bright, bright) red flag it was.

Anna. ANNA. The discussion post is not due till Tuesday, NOVEMBER 4.

(Do you see where I'm going with this?)

Following that line of thinking one is forced to wonder THEN WHAT ELSE WAS DUE LAST WEEK?

So glad you asked. The answer is -- a second paper I did not do.

UGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. For whatever reason our teacher had decided to do two papers last week and no discussion post. And I have no idea how I missed it. The dates were right there on the list.

Needless to say I spent an hour doing it tonight and then uploaded it to Blackboard. I also emailed my teacher telling her I was super embarrassed, explained my mistake, and let her know I completely understood that I would receive only partial -- or no -- credit. I think God was with me at least somewhat, however, as I realized after checking the syllabus that late work is accepted for partial credit, but work over a week late will not be accepted at all. And a week late would be midnight tonight. I really only logged on to check what was due next week, and I have no idea how I got around to realizing what I had done -- or failed to do as the case may be.

I am now one of those students that does not turn their work in. I want to die. I have never, ever not turned something in! A big part of me wants to call my mom and let her know that I have a missing assignment and my grade will be lower than expected. (Kathy, I hope you are reading this.)

I am seriously about to go put my own name on the clipboard.