Wednesday, December 05, 2007

WNBP In A Winter Wonderland

We seem to be having a little bit of difficulty getting past the "snow" portion of the weather this week.  No major storms or anything like that.  Just a general overcast feel to the days and the occasional burst of flurries to remind us that winter came a little early this year.  And the cold?  I can't even talk about it without having to rush off to the kitchen in order that I might procure a cup of hot chocolate.  At this rate, I'll be adding another layer to The Thanksgiving Stuffing Girth in no time at all.  

So, to distract myself a little bit, here's your Wednesday Night Bullets:

*I already mentioned the cold so we don't need to go there again.   

*I almost jumped out of my skin this morning while I was scraping a layer of ice off the truck before starting the morning commute.  The end of my hand crocheted scarf fell from my neck  (it was very artfully arranged if I do say so myself) and fluttered a bit in the breeze.  I was convinced that the movement I saw out of the corner of my eye was one of those early morning zombies that I worry about so much.

*Give me a break.  It was dark.  Things lurking over your shoulder in the dark are generally not good.  It is a rare day that someone says, "There was this thing lurking over my shoulder in the dark and it turned out to be a  handsome fellow who wanted to share some pleasant conversation and peanut butter cups..."  Seriously.  Have you ever once heard someone say that?

*My Christmas tree is still a bit on the "light deficient" end of the scale.  I'm planning to go light shopping tomorrow after school.  That one sad little string that represents the only working lights in the whole bunch is just not doing it for me.  

*Actual conversation from my classroom today:

Ms. Sheep: (through a mouthful of salt and carbohydrates)  Oh my god...why am I eating pretzels??  How did this start???  I can't have pretzels on the Post Thanksgiving/Pre Christmas Self Loathing Diet!!!

Cheerful Teaching Assistant:  Well, as I recall, you were over by the cabinet and announced that you get to have pretzels because you have almost finished your teacher recertification paperwork.  I have to admit, I found it a little odd.

Ms. S:  OK...I do recall being by the cabinet.  And I also remember mentioning something about pretzels.  But, half a bag is missing!!!!  This isn't registering with me at all!!!  I've got Pretzel Amnesia!!!

Student Who Is New To The Classroom And Isn't Really Sure If  We Are For Real:  Do you guys talk like this all the time?


*For the record, we pretty much do talk like that all the time.

*I also ate two apples for lunch today.  That is really a very healthy thing to do, but doesn't celebrate the first time in almost twenty years that I have not only started, but almost finished, my teacher recertification requirements within the first year of the five year cycle.  I usually do it during the last ten minutes or so.  

*Even a four row repeat on a simple scarf can be a challenge when you forget a yarnover.  Yarnovers mean you have the right number of stitches and this is a good thing if you are trying to follow a "pattern."  

*The scarf is fixed and only one stitch was dropped in the process.  This was accomplished while riding my little exercise bike. 

*Which means that I dealt with the pretzel poundage, the dropped stitch and my recertification paperwork all in one day.

*That's a lot for me.  I am very tired now.  

*I could have added "zombie dispatching" to the day's list of accomplishments had it not turned out to be my artfully arranged scarf attacking me this morning.

*The same student who was witness to my Pretzel Paranoia today has been sent on a mission to find out what the scoop be with the holiday party in his classroom.  All my students come to me from other classes so, if I want to score some sweet stuff on paper plates, I'm going to have to crash a few homeroom parties.  I prepped him for this mission like we were in the CIA.  

*He did his teacher proud and came back with some amazing intelligence on the Party Situation.  More on that another day.  I get a little misty eyed when I think about it.  I couldn't be prouder of him if he were my own son.  

*Mommy's Little Mole...

*I've been a little remiss with the Hanukkah wishes this year.  So Happy Hanukkah you guys!!!  Have a latke for me, 'kay?  I love those things...but they are probably worse than pretzels for my waistline so I'll just enjoy them vicariously.  

And so ends another Wednesday.  I hope that yours was a good one and that your trudge towards the weekend is all downhill!  And free from attacking zombie scarves...

SA

18 comments:

Emma said...

I'm so gld it wasn't one of those sneaky early-morning zombies! Also, congrats on dealing so efficiently and effectively with all your various challenges. Really very admirable.

Mel said...

Everybody knows that zombies really like to attack in the middle of the night. This is because they prefer people who are working the graveyard shift all by themselves. By the time you're up and about, there are likely neighbors up and about, as well, and it's a little harder for them to be as terrifying when there's potential of a rescue. That is, until they've killed everyone else off and you're trapped in a mall (or pub, perhaps - just rewatched Shaun of the Dead last weekend) with a ragtag band of survivors.

So really, I'm at much greater risk.

mehitabel said...

Well, if you can drive off zombies with your artfully-arranged Scarf of Zombie Repellant, maybe you need to make one for Mel too! He's right that he's at much greater risk--although, since he's a vet, his patients are much less likely to be zombies. Unlike a certain SoCal resident who was fighting 80-degree temps, hot devil winds, and Allergies from Hell today!

Denise said...

Is two apples all you had for lunch? I agree that apples are a good part of a healthy lunch but I'm not sure they really constitute 'lunch' on their own.

No wonder you had short term snacknesia. You were hungry!
(end of nagging)

Oh? And latkes? much worse than pretzels. Not only are they made of potatoes (which according to several nutritional books enter your bloodstream as glucose faster than pure sugar), they're cooked in lots of oil and served with sour cream and applesauce. mmmm.

Ronni said...

I'm so glad to know it was only a scarf zombie and not the flesh eating kind. And congrats on the spy training success.

Unknown said...

Ack, snow! We had actual flurries today, so the kids spent the whole day trying to get to a window...

Anonymous said...

Loved the scarf/zombie story! Can we see more snow pictures? With or without zombies - whichever you prefer.

Marianne said...

Sheepie Sheepie Sheepie.... I've been waiting for the evening when I read your post and wet my pants from laughing so hard... got **VERY** close tonight!
Pretzelnesia... and I have to agree, it WOULD be a rare day that someone would say... well, you know, the lurker over your shoulder in the dark turning out to be handsome with peanut butter cups... AND pleasant conversation?

Anonymous said...

Sounds like your classroom is a very entertaining place to be. Somehow, I'm not surprised that you actually talk that most of the time ;-)

Good job training your little mole.

Anonymous said...

You should not have guilt over a half bag of pretzels. If it was say a half pound of peanut butter cups you forgot eating then I'd be concerned.
Good job with the mole.
Karen
http://nothingbutknit.blog-city.com/

sheep#100 said...

When Zombie Scarfs Attack: A Documentary of the Life and Times of a Knitting Sheep.

Coming soon to a theatre near you.

Cathy said...

http://www.twosheep.com/blog/

I immediately thought of you. Okay. I thought of you first.

Susan Pandorf said...

I think I need a tutorial on kniting while pedaling. Then I could burn MORE than 102 calories an hour.(See yesterday's post if you haven't been keeping up...)

Blessings!

Mia said...

oh silly girl... pretzels are fat free... no guilt involved. Um.. even if there IS a half bag missing ::snicker::

but now that you mention it.. pretzels Do sound pretty good...

The Kelly Green Rogue said...

Om my gosh I'm so glad you weren't attacked by one of those zombies! it was way too early to have to keep your brain from being eaten! LOL

Cursing Mama said...

If I was a half decent knitter I'd be working on a zombie design this very second. But, lets not kid ourselves - thats a project better left to someone who can knit & purl consistently.

knitseashore said...

Lights are from the Anti-Santa fringe group of the holiday. May I suggest CVS and their $3.99 special for 100 light strings? I had to make the annual pilgrimage there myself. I don't fight it anymore, I just plan on it.

Can you really be full on 2 apples for lunch? If you say yes, I might try it. Except they are cold, and I have trouble eating cold things this time of year. My teapot never really cools down from October to May...

Knitting Linguist said...

So very glad to hear that it was only your scarf attacking you, and that it was easily dispatched. Hope the party swag is good! :)