December By The Numbers

Her goes, the monthly "Numbers" Post.

44 - Number of blog postings (yes, an all time high for SJ).

0 - Number of days missed for posting a blog also the number of times I rode the motorcycle.

1 - The number of trips to Florida I took this month.

2 - The number of trips to Humarock I took, also the number of Snow Days.

474 - Number to cell phone minutes used.

608 - Number of blog page loads.

36 - Number of post comments.

Enjoy ~SJ

I Did It!

I survived NaBloPoMo! Sorry to my regular readers for some of the less exciting posts.

Enjoy ~SJ

Feet Mosaic

Now you can make a digital mosaic of any picture that you can upload to this website. Very cool way to waste more time on the internet.
Enjoy ~SJ

Seven Part II

A few days I started a post on Seven Thing You Might Not Know About Me. I ran out of time in the day and had only come up with 5 things, but due to the NaBloPoMo thing I had to post the partial post. Here are the remaining two things you might not know about me (I know my regular readers have been sitting on the edge of their seat for these).

6) I knit. I have been a knitter for a few years now, I haven't ever made anything bigger than a hat. I'm not a really well accomplished knitter, but I can get by. I would have to say that it is one of my favorite hobbies when I have free time, right up there with reading.

7) I pick up rocks or shells almost everywhere I go. The Music Man gave me a beautiful new vase for Christmas to display some of my finds in. Pick up rocks, take pictures of feet, that's SJ. When you can do both all in one, then it is a really good day.

Enjoy ~SJ

College Level

Movie Reviews

If you click on the image above it will bring you to a fun little website where you can check the reading level of your blog. Not sure how reliable this is, but fun none the less.

Enjoy ~SJ

Seven

Thanks "Other SJ" for the blog topic idea for today (still running dry on my own material, only a few more days!) The Other SJ posted Seven Things You Might Not Know About Me, and then tagged seven people. Well, she didn't officially tag people, she just said if you have less than 7 letters in your name you were tagged. Well I'm it.

1) I don't really like winter coats. Yea, they have their purpose when it is really cold out and you are going to be outside doing nothing for extended periods of time. Most of the winter I wear down vests. Might not be super fashionable, but it works for me.

2) I really don't like oranges, or orange juice. Never really have, never really will. I will eat clementines and tangerines, I enjoy those. But their big brother, the orange, this SJ just isn't a fan.

3) I have this dream of wearing only socks that I knit myself. I have a thing for socks, I like to wear neat socks. People often comment on my nice socks, and I think it would be fun to say back "Why thank you, I knit them myself".

4) I never thought I would be a math teacher and like it. When I first was hired for the job that I have now I taught science and math. I only took the job because I really needed one and I was getting short on days before school started. A few months into it and I was hooked on teaching math. Now I no longer teach any science.

5) I only speak one language. I tried really hard at Spanish in high school and college, but when it comes to languages my brain is like teflon.

Numbers 6 and 7 to come tomorrow.

Enjoy ~SJ

Five More!

Only five more National Blog A Day posts!

(Sorry a little thin on ideas today)

Enjoy ~SJ

Merry Christmas

The day has been filled with friends, family and food.

Enjoy ~SJ

Official Nice Ranking!

This official word just in!

The Official "Naughty or Nice" Ranking

for Sj: Nice (B+)

Dated this Wednesday, December 24, 2008
At The North Pole

Merry Christmas Sj!

Way to go Sj! Your halo may be a little bit crooked but you're definitely on Santa's "Nice List"! Mrs. Claus and the elves sure do look forward to hearing how you're doing!

Keep up the great work, Sj!

Merry Christmas!

Important Notice: A certified copy of this "Naughty or Nice" ranking has been placed in a special high-security vault in the offices of Santa's accounting firm of "Elf, Elf & Galoshes" and another has been sent directly to Santa's sleigh. Merry Christmas!

If you would like to find out where you stand on the official "Naughty or Nice" ranking simply click here.

Enjoy ~SJ

Snowman and Math

Sorry, another teaching post.

I don't know who thought it would be a good idea for us to have school this Monday and Tuesday. Mother Nature had other plans for us on Monday, but had nothing up her sleeve for Tuesday. So this morning I got up like I do every other day for work dreading this potentially crazy day. I knew the students would be too excited for Christmas and vacation to get any work done. Planning for today was going to take some real teaching magic. I some how came up with these crazy directions that required students to cut out three circles with varying diameters. Yup, you guessed it, this math teacher came up with a math lesson having students create a snowman while incorporating a lesson on circles. Amazingly this lesson was a hit and my day went as smooth as anyone could hope for.

Enjoy ~SJ

Snow Days

For all of you non-teachers out there you must think that teachers have it pretty good. Yes, we get part of June and all of July and August off. Yes we get time off for all of the major holidays, and week long vacations in February and April. And I'm sure the part that you are the most envious about is the fact that when the weather is too bad we just don't have to go to work. Well, yea, you're right, it isn't too bad of a gig (there is a lot more to it than just a schedule, but I still love it!)

I would like to know, in what other occupation are you supposed to call up your colleagues before 5:00 a.m. and let them know that you don't have to go to work? Yes folks, the phone call for no school came in at 4:11 a.m. That was the hour that I was woken up today, spoke to a colleague, and the if I were not the last person on the list I would call someone else. Usually when you call someone at 4:11 a.m. it is not good news, but not for us teachers. When we hear the phone ring at that hour we know that it is good news.

Enjoy ~SJ

In The Spirit Of Christmas, Kind Of

Today's Close To Home comic reminded me of the last time My Mother, Grandmother and I went shopping on Black Friday.


We all decided that we wanted to go and check out the amazing deals at the Christmas Tree Shop. I dropped of My Mother and Grandmother at the front door and went in search of a parking space. I knew from looking at the parking lot that find a spot was going to take some skill and maybe a blessing from the Parking Space God. After a few laps around the lot I decided to cut to the chase and stock someone coming out of the store. I drove to the front of the store and waited from someone to come up, and then I just followed her to her car. I was in luck, the first lady that I followed had a prime spot right near the front! She walked with her overflowing cart and I crept slowly behind her. She got to her SUV (also overflowing with bags) and proceeded to put in her bags, I waited. Once she got all of the bags into the car I thought I was all set ready to get the car parked and on with my shopping. But no, this SUV driving overflowing bags lady had another thing planned. She began to WRAP (in the beautiful new gift bags she just got in the Christmas Tree Shop) her presents! Yes folks, you read that right, here she is in a parking lot brimming with people looking for spaces, and she takes her time and wraps presents! Well, to say the least I was a little ticked off. I was tempted to roll down the window and ask her if she wanted help addressing her Christmas cards as well, but I decided to not say anything at all. Back to the front door I went to start the whole routine again. The second time I found a man coming out of the store (again, shopping cart overflowing), I followed him to his vehicle and waited. Once he was done loading his car he yelled over to me "I'm going to leave my cart here for you, there are none inside!" He left and I pulled into the spot. The simple act of this man being kind wiped the slate clean of the SUV Woman's rude behavior. Once I finally got into the store My Mother and Grandmother had been wondering what took me so long, and informed me that they couldn't find a cart. I re-told the whole story, and we were all thankful for the nice man who not only let me have his spot, but also the cart.

Enjoy ~SJ

"I Like To Think Of Him As Mistletoe With Webbed Feet"

Miss Piggy was on The Today Show last week (My Mother told me about it, no cable for SJ). I decided this evening to check out this clip that she keeps telling me that I needed to see. The title of this blog is my favorite Miss Piggy line form the clip, and notice the awe on these well accomplished news anchors. I have heard that when people work with a Muppet they forget that it is a puppet and feel as though it is a real person, check it out

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Enjoy ~SJ

L Is For....

Lobster!

The Music Man and I have been enjoying our share of lobster lately. With prices being at historic lows, and the lobster men begging people to buy them. We have been trying to do our part to support the local lobster men.

The Year Of The Pajamas

When My Mother and I are together for Christmas we typically open one present each the night before Christmas. We each pick out the present that the other should open, taking great pride in the selection. A few years back, when I was going to college in Boston and My Mother was the owner of the Shamrock, we sat down around the tree on the night before Christmas and gave each other the one present to open. I could tell before opening mine that it was going to be some sort of clothing item, I opened it excitedly hoping they might be new pajamas. They were red flannel pajama bottoms and little dachshunds on them. I started to chuckle and encouraged Mom to open her present. Well, low and behold we had gotten each other the same pair of pajamas, matching mother-daughter pajamas to sleep in the night before Christmas! You have to understand that My Mother and I would wear our pajamas all the time if it was socially acceptable. My Mother has even been known to host a Christmas or two outfitted in her most fashionable pajamas, and no one even knew. Maybe the most ironic part of this whole story is when we opened the rest of the presents the next morning we discovered that we had also purchased the same set of nesting bowls for each other. Odd, I would have to say yes.

When I saw My Mother last weekend in Florida for our early holiday celebration (the difference in ticket prices between last week and Christmas was crazy!), she gave all of use matching pajamas. Of course we posed for the photo-opt. Note that Gretal the dachshund is right there with us.

Enjoy ~SJ

Skywatch!

This picture was taken in October during a motorcycle ride around Webb Lake with The Music Man.

~SJ

Christmas Edition Of Getting To Know Your Firends and Family

I received this in my email a few weeks ago and have been meaning to post my reply to it via my blog. Feel free to play along in your own blog post.

Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your family and friends.

Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be a SCROOGE!!!

Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you......Tis the Season to be NICE! (Ok, so I posted it on my blog.... minor change)

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? For regular shaped gifts I use paper, for the odd shaped ones I use bags. The previous owner of my house (My Mother) left me well stocked for all of my gift wrapping needs.

2. Real tree or Artificial? I have to admit that I don't put a tree up - cats, no one comes over, it is a lot of work. But I do have a very cute Charlie Brown artificial tree.

3. When do you put up the tree? Never before my birthday.

4. When do you take the tree down? When I have the time

5. Do you like eggnog? Love it, and drink it year round when I can find it.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My Mother always went over the top finding very special and unique toys for me. I always got a pile of new favorite books.

7. Hardest person to buy for? The Uncles

8. Easiest person to buy for? Mom

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Christmas cards? Did you not see my last post? I never get them out on time and gave up this year and did a Christmas Blog.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Whoever thought cream was a good color on SJ?

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I start seeing things that fit for the people on my list. I am all done for this year, but other years I still shop after the holiday.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Isn't that what the gifts you don't like are for?

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Meat pies

16. Lights on the tree? Is there an option not to?

17. Favorite Christmas song? I don't think that I have one.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Lately I have been traveling.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Yup! And I didn't even have to Google it!

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Miss Piggy dressed as an angle.

21. Presents on Christmas Eve or morning? One on Christmas Eve and the rest Christmas morning

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? That the Christmas stuff starts before Halloween...Thanksgiving is a holiday too!!

23. Favorite Ornament theme or color? What, isn't Christmas enough of a theme?

24. Favorite for Christmas dinner? Steamed chocolate pudding with this sweet sauce on

top. Maybe I will post the recipe later, it is an old family one.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? It is something that Santa can't bring..... I promise that I have been good!

26. Who is most likely to respond to this? Rach

27. Who is least like ly to respond to this? Those mystery people out there in the blogosphere that I don't even know read me.

Enjoy ~SJ

It's All About The Stats

In this stats crazed nation it is nice to know that Google Reader can give you stats on your favorite blog. By simply clicking on the "show details" button you too can be filled with more stats than you ever needed. Here are the stats on my blog. I still only have 7 subscribers, but my posts per week average has been climbing from a low this summer of 4, to a high of 8.6 today! This is great news for SJ!

Enjoy ~SJ

Pooch And Wikipedia

I know that there is a lot of controversy about about Wikipedia and how accurate it is, but if you are a regular reader of my blog you know that I quote it all of the time. I will spare you the details of why I think Wikipedia is ok for blog research. The Pooch Cafe blog announced today that the comic strip is now one of the thousands of articles that Wikipedia covers. Now only does the article describe the background information on the comic strip, but it also goes into detail about each of the central characters. I think that my character description is Fish.

Trapped in a world 12 inches wide, Fish is often a moral compass and dispenser of sage advice for Poncho, being surprisingly well-versed in Zen philosophy, theology, and cat lingo.

Enjoy ~SJ

Happy Holidays!

As a child My Mother prided herself on the amazingly witty holiday newsletters that she sent out. Every year I say to myself that I am going to write one as well, it hasn't happened yet. I also think that those nice holiday photo cards people send out are great, also I have never managed to send one out. I heard on the news that I missed the deadline to get holiday cards out in the traditional mail. I decided to try my hand at making a holiday collage of pictures that I have taken this year.

Enjoy ~SJ