The Movie Theater's Most Recent Scam--3D Movies

Okay, what is the deal with all the movies coming out in 3D? I think that there a few movies that do benefit from the 3D experience....Avatar being the most recent. But please tell me....what purpose does it serve to have Shrek 4 or Toy Story 3 be in 3D? Are you telling me that there are action sequences between Donkey and Shrek or Woody and Buzz that can only be understood and/or appreciated with 3D? I think not.


I have a theory.....I think that the movie industry is just trying to fleece us for two more dollars per ticket. And then...the audacity!!!! They ask you to recycle to your glasses as you leave the theater. I'm thinking....um..hello? Didn't I just pay $2 for my glasses and $2 for Raelynn's glasses? You want me to recycle them? I don't think so! I refuse to think that they need the extra money to make the movie. If you want to earn my trust, Mr. Big and Mighty Movie Companies, offer a reduced rate for those who come to the movies with their glasses from the last 3D movie we got fleeced at. That's what's I call recycling....not wearing a pair of glasses that someone else has already worn before me. That's not recycling....that's just gross.


Does anyone else get a headache from the 3D stuff? I can remember going to see "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" (another worthless 3D movie) with Raelynn and wishing I could leave the theater because my head hurt so badly. I think that a 3D movie with lots of action could also make me feel sick to my stomach (motion sickness) but so far they haven't made any movies like that, so we'll never know. To me, I feel like I'm already paying an arm and a leg to go to the movies, I don't want the expensive experience leaving me feeling sick. Who pays to feel sick? Stupid question....I guess I do....since I can't seem to not go to the movies.


You know, if the movie companies want to impress me, they could make movies that include scents. I'm thinking that if I could experience that during a movie, I'd pay the extra few dollars. For example, "Eclipse" is being released next week. The book talks about how Edward (he's a vampire) smells so unique to Bella (she's a human.) And as you may know, Bella's scent drives Edward crazy and he has to keep himself from killing her everyday. That's a scent that I think would enhance my movie experience. If they can do all this fancy stuff with animation and special effects and 3D stuff, surely they can make a movie that smells. I'm just saying.......


So having said all that, I'm debating whether I should take Raelynn to go see Toy Story 3. I heard it was really good. Fortunately for me, the theater here offers the movie in 2D and 3D. Guess which one I'm going to see? That's right....the 2D one....I'm going to stand up for my principles....and use the extra money to buy popcorn. At least the popcorn will smell good and that's worth the extra money.

Over the hill? What hill? I don't remember any hill!

Hello dear and faithful readers (all 2 of you)-


It's been a little while since I've updated my blog. There are many reasons and excuses for this. Instead of giving you the sorry excuses, I'll just tell you that I've spent my time since school got out packing my classroom and enjoying summer. For those of you that are faithful readers, you'll be shocked to know that I ended up having 135 boxes o'crap from my classroom. That's right readers....I keep everything. And most often, I can find it if I need it. The problem seems to be remembering what I have. But that's another blog for another day.


Over the past week or two, I'd be out doing this or that and I'd think to myself, "That would be a great topic for a blog post." And then, of course, I get home and I'm doing a million other necessary things and I forget the brilliant idea I had earlier. So, just know that this post may include lots of tidbits about stuff, but it's not because I'm ADD, it's because I'm sure you're dying to get caught up on all the exciting events of my life.


Topic 1-Classroom packing

As I've said earlier, I packed 135 boxes of stuff. The last month of so, I've enjoyed a little game I like to call "Find the liquor store boxes before anyone else does." This game takes lots of talent and lots of cargo room in your vehicle. I have a moderate amount of both. I ended up getting lots of boxes and have lots of them left over. The teachers at my school are scheduled to start moving their stuff at the end of this month. I figure that if it took my two weeks to pack up, it'll take the rest of the summer to sort through it all and put it away. You'll be happy to know that while I was packing, I numbered and inventoried all the boxes so I would know what is in each one. We'll see if this helps me. Unless I packed a bunch of moving company workers, I'm thinking it'll be slow going. And of course, I'm assuming that I'll be the one that has to move all the boxes. I could be wrong on this, but again, that'll be something I'll find out later. I'm tired of packing and I'm glad that's over.


Topic 2- Extreme Logger

David's dad hauls logs and cuts and sells firewood for a living. Not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination. David asked me to go and help him and his dad awhile back but each time we tried, things got in the way. This past Tuesday, I saw that there was no getting away from it. So I went. I lived to tell about it....but barely. I don't think there's any way that I could express how hot and tired I was when it was all over. Probably the worst part was that I got hit a couple of times with logs, as well as dropping them on my foot, etc. I wasn't feeling so great when I left, but I can wear my scars with pride. David likes to watch this show about extreme loggers on the Discovery Channel, and I felt like I was in my own personal episode. Let's just say that if I ever wondered if a job outside was a calling I missed, I now know for sure that it isn't. Education is the name of the game people. Unless you want to work hard and get hot and sweaty, you should go to school and get as much education as you can. This gives you many more options. That's all I'm going to say about that.


Topic 3 My New Toy

Starting in May, every two weeks we have a celebration in our house. First there's Mother's Day and then two weeks later is David's birthday, followed by my birthday two weeks later, and then followed by Father's Day a week later. David is very low key and practical. He doesn't like a big fuss made over him and doesn't want any presents. Really. Me.....I'm not that great of a person. I like a little attention and a gift is nice. David always asks me what I want and I never know what to tell him. This year I was ready. What I've been wanting is an iPod. In my mind, I'm going to start walking/running and it would be nice to have some music. David asked if I wanted one that plays video. Video? I hadn't thought of that. I ended up getting an iTouch. I love it. My friend Wendy gave me an iTunes gift card and helped me get it set up. I'm enjoying it.


Topic 4 Getting Older


So today is my birthday. Lots of people have wished me a happy birthday on facebook....that's always nice. You want to think that people think of you...and with facebook that's possible. I'm not happy about getting older. In my mind, I'm not that old. I don't feel old.....mentally. Physically it all depends on what I'm doing and how long I'm doing it for. A friend on facebook said to not be sad that I'm aging, but to think of it as getting better. And that's what I'm going to do....I'm going to get better.


You know really....many people die everyday. I've been fortunate in that my parents are both alive, my husband and daughter are doing well, and my brother and his family are great. But someday that won't be so. I should cherish and relish the fact that God has given me another year on Earth. Another year to spread His love. Another year to learn more about myself. Another year to love others. Another year to speak life to those around me.

And that's what I plan to do....after all, I'm not getting older, I'm getting better.


Have a great one......life your life with passion....this moment won't come again!!!!! (And tell your friends about my blog....I'd love to expand my readers...)

87 is a magical number

Today's marathon of box packing was productive. I took many trips to the dumpster, so for those of you that think I'm a hoarder, think again. I know 87 is a lot of boxes. All I can say is that many of the boxes were small. I'm packing boxes as if I'm going to be the one that is carrying them. And in all reality, I will be moving them with the help of my husband. There were things that surprised me today....I have about 20 boxes of construction paper, card stock, and copy paper. That's a lot.


There were some things that I threw out. Yes, I threw them out. Curious about some of those items? Here are some of them, in no particular order.

*green cherry tomato baskets
*colored art sand
*colored stones
*beads
*markers
*pencils
*cotton balls
*vinegar
*vegetable oil
*calculator that looks like a bar of chocolate
*notebooks
*Christmas decorations
*felt
*faux fur
*paper cups
*broken plastic baskets
*paint
*folders
*toothpicks
*chalk
*magazines
*plastic shoe boxes
*paper bags
*fold down sandwich bags
*aluminum foil
*wax paper
*plastic wrap
*soda bottles

Yes, that's quite a list. And that's just part of it. More work to do tomorrow. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

Blah

I'm tired of packing boxes. It's starting to make me feel overwhelmed. The end of the year is always bittersweet. I'm so glad to not have the everyday pressure of teaching, grading, test scores, etc. but my social connection to my teacher friends is hard to maintain outside of school. One of my dearest friends is moving to Kentucky. She was the first person that I met at school and the first person I ran into at Walmart that knew me. That's how I knew I was becoming a part of the community. When she told me she was moving a couple of weeks ago, I felt like I had been sucker punched in the stomach. I still can't believe she's leaving. It's very hard to say good-bye to someone that is instrumental in my day to day saneness.Anyway, I'm feeling sorta blah.....I'm hoping that tomorrow's marathon box packing adventures snaps me out of it. I'm afraid to say that things couldn't get worse. As some of you know, things can always get worse. In the meantime, I'm going to keep packing.

If MacGyver Was a School Teacher, He'd Look A Lot Like Me

Does anyone remember the TV show, "MacGyver?" I think it was from the 80's. I don't remember it, but looking at this guy's mullet hairdo, I'm thinking I got the decade correct. Anyway, for those of you that may not know about this show, it was an action-type show and the star, MacGyver, could get out of any jam he was in with simple household items. Crazy stuff like he could build a bomb out of paperclips, glue, and a hairnet. Now that takes talent.

I mention this show because I am the self-proclaimed MacGyver of my school. See, I'm moving classrooms this summer and I've started packing up all my stuff. I've been teaching for 17 years at a total of two schools and a total of 3 classrooms. I've not had many opportunities to weed out my stuff. And I have a lot of it. I joke that I'm like MacGyver, because if you need something...no matter how odd it may be, I'm sure I have it. And I'm usually really good about loaning my stuff.

Please don't confuse the amount of stuff I have with the qualities of being a "hoarder." This is now a show on TV and I've watched it in horror. It's one of those shows you can't stop watching. I don't live in filth and I can throw things out. I'd say that I'm not a hoarder, but I keep more things than the average person and/or teacher. It's not a sickness worthy of an intervention...yet.

If you aren't a teacher, you may not know what kind of stuff can accumulate. Yes, I have the regular stuff like markers, glue, and scissors, but I also have some more rare and unusual items as well. What kind of things, you ask? Let me lay it out for you.....

Here are some things that I've found as I've started cleaning out my room: (Note that I have a hard time parting with any of this stuff so I guess that means I'll have lots of boxes to move.)

*glue: bottles of white glue, rubber cement, and glue sticks. Lots of glue sticks.

*scissors: kid scissors (at least a class set), fancy pinking shear-type scissors, large handled grown up scissors (at least 5 pair)

*string type things that bind: fishing line, twine, pink string, white string, clothes line, yarn in 18 different colors

*green cherry tomato baskets you get at the grocery department

*35mm film cannisters-many of these

*glitter: big bottles, little bottles, in pen form, in glue form

*measuring cups: at least 3 different types (including cups and individual plastic cups with the marks on them showing the different measurements

*vinegar

*vegetable oil

*wax paper

*aluminum foil

*plastic wrap

*rulers: clear and wooden (I have a class set of each) as well as a class set of Master Rulers, and laminated paper rulers that have the different measurements marked on the lines

*dice: white, red, green, as well as blank number cubes with the stickers you put on them. I also have overhead dice and large foam dice. I have a large container that holds all them.

*dried beans-about three different kinds stored in gallon size baggies

*baggies: snack size, quart size, sandwich size, gallon size, two gallon size, and the kind that don't have a zipper (which I hate)

*several large wooden dowels

*yard sticks and meter sticks-there are several of both in both wood and metal

*9 different sets of playing cards

*scales: balance, gram, spring

*folders: a multitue (and I'm talking MANY) in various colors: red, blue, green, yellow, orange, purple, orange in both paper and plastic...also with and without clips and/or pockets

*magnets

*pH paper

*food coloring

*funnels-about 8

*stopwatches-about 9

*rubber bands-many in various sizes and colors

*empty soda/water bottles: 2 liter, 1 liter, pint, quart, gallon

*fabric scraps

*ribbons

*blank Christmas greeting cards

*calculators-a class set

*overhead clock/calculator

*overhead manipulatives: money, place value pieces, fraction tiles, ruler, spinners, thermometer

*dominos

*paper: construction, tissue, tracing, handwriting, lined notebook, copy, colored, drawing paper, card stock

*Tennis balls

*tape: masking, packing, painters, duct

*extension cords-about 9

*guinea pig stuff: empty cage, tubs of food, play castle, treats, play yard fence, food bowl, water bottles (2)--note that there is no guinea pig in my classroom or at my house

*cotton balls

*popsicle sticks

*Q-tips

*toothpicks

*pattern blocks (plastic and wood)

*clocks: wall, plastic Judy clock, class set of wooden mini-Judy clocks

*straws-about 800

*envelopes

*pens, markers, pencils (more than I can count of each)

*books, books, books

*file folders

*dividers

*plastic sheet protectors

*paperclips in various sizes

And all of this emcompasses about 3 shelves in one of my cabinets.....get the picture? If you need it, I've probably got it. But....can I find it? That, my friends, is the question....I don't have the answer for you but I can tell you that MacGyver (me) will keep looking.

Box Hunting Adventures

So today I introduced some of my friends to my most recent obsession. For those of you just joining us, the obsession I'm referring to is the acquisition of boxes. See....I'm moving classrooms. I'm also a pack rat. If you take the fact that I've been teaching for 17 years and I don't throw anything out, you can imagine how much stuff I have to pack. I'm trying to clean stuff out as I pack, but so far, I've mostly packed books. Throwing out a book is very hard for me. I think most teachers feel the same way. I haven't gotten to the other stuff like film canisters and fishing line. Those things will be easier to chunk. (I have plenty of those items that need chunking.)


Let's just put it this way....I've currently got 34 boxes packed and it doesn't look like I've even started packing. So you can imagine how many boxes I'm going to need. Which leads me to explain my extended drives to and from work.


If you've ever moved, you know that liquor boxes are great. They aren't too big, so that means that you won't pack them so full that you can't pick it up later, and the boxes are pretty thick since most of them hold multiple glass bottles. Our town, as best I can figure, has 5 liquor stores that I know of. Note that I said know of ....not, know. Three of them are on the main highway through town, and the other two are off the main drag. I've found myself driving the long way past as many of these stores as possible in the hopes that I'll come across some boxes. There was one time this week that I was going to swing through Krystal's for some breakfast, but I thought that instead I'd use some of that time looking for boxes, since I've never looked for them in the morning. I ended up being thrilled because I scored 13 boxes that morning!!!!


Just so you know, this new obsession means that I've got lots of boxes stacked up in my classroom. If you add to this that I've got a dear friend that owns two businesses and receives shipments daily and she's saving those boxes for me, then it's no surprise to know that I'm not "box poor." So my compulsion to look for liquor boxes hasn't been as keen over the last few days.


So imagine my thrill today when I'm going to lunch with some teacher friends and all three of them started complaining that they needed more boxes. I suggested that we swing by the liquor stores on the way back and maybe we'd get lucky. The only thing better than finding boxes for myself is finding boxes for others. So we swung by four of the stores and got 18 boxes. Score!!!! The only thing to dampen my spirits is that it was totally pouring rain and we all got soaked as we ran around getting the boxes in the car. We filled her trunk and each of us had two or three boxes in our laps. It ended up great though...each of my friends got 6 boxes and I got to indulge in my latest obsession once more. It was fun.


Don't think for a moment that I won't indulge my obsession again soon....after all, I still have about 1,006 more boxes to pack..... That means I still have many liquor store trips to make. You'll know it's me....I'll be driving around, slowly looking for the perfect box....which in this case means that it's cardboard. The rest is negotiable.

Chum is to Sharks as Boxes are to Teachers That Are Moving

Boxes, boxes, boxes on the brain. I hate moving. I hate packing. I hate worrying about whether I'll find enough boxes. I've driven by some of the liquor stores in the hopes that they'd have boxes....so far I've only scored three. With the help of friends and family, I have acquired some boxes and I've been packing up my classroom for about a week now. Even though I have 15 or 16 boxes packed, I now realize I will need a ton of boxes. I've been doing well with my inventory. I pack each box carefully, then inventory the contents on a master list, label and number the box, then stack them by my teacher desk. I'm hoping this will help me know if anything is missing. And with the number of boxes I know I'll have, that's a distinct possibility.


In the meantime, I'll be cruising around town, looking everywhere for boxes I can use. And if I get bored, I think I'll use them like the people in the picture on this post. Now that sounds like fun!