Killing Time!

No song lyrics or quotes to start the post today!

Really, I'm just killing time in between my two shifts at the country club today.

One of the biggest things I have to say about the Delta, and living here in Arkansas, is that people truly are beyond nice about everything.  I have had one crazy week.  Definitely not one of my best.  One of those weeks where the hits just keep on coming, buttttt, aside from that, I've really couldn't appreciate the help that I'm getting from everyone, and things can only go up. (At least that's what I'm hoping, with my horrible luck!)

To my Mom and Dad- constantly talking to me and giving me advice and telling me it will get better and will work out!

My friends back home- just because I really miss you all, and I have loved being able to catch up this week =)

And of course to Will- constantly driving me around and constantly saying he doesn't mind... Cooking for me most every night, and be super willing to help me figure out where to go, whether it be to look at new cars or get my jeep fixed... I certainly couldn't have met a better person.  Oh! And on the bright side, we get to go to a play in Memphis on Friday night at the (yes I will misspell this) Orpheum Theatre to see Mary Poppins! So that will at least be a nice little break from the horrible week I have had!

And lastly, as crazy as my school can be, the other teachers have been beyond nice with offering and driving me around as well- and the other people at The Country Club have been wonderful too (and certainly the extra money will be helpful!)

Funny Kid Quotes:

Ms. Mackay- your hair be lookin nappy today.

Me- Does anyone know what day Valentine's Day is?
Student- it's that day you get all that candy! Ima be eatin it all up!

Not funny, but makes ya laugh scenario/quote-

So I had a meeting to go to for school this week. A training session, if you will.  It was from 9am until 3pm, so I was only at school until 830am. Before leaving for the meeting I had a big talk with my students about how they better act or they will personally be escorted to the office with me to call their mom and dad to tell them how they couldn't behave.  I get back the next morning to see 5 children that misbehaved. I walke them down to the office, and of course only 1 of the numbers worked, so the others didn't have to call. (2 had checked out before this could happen) Of course the little girl who did get to call was crying her eyes out, and one of the other little girls was just crying because she was in trouble, and the little boy wasn't at all. We all walk back to the room and the other students look at them and one goes "well why isn't ______ crying?!"  I had to turn my back to not laugh.

The other big adventure for the week was our power was not working at school, which also meant no heat. We had kids until 1230, and we were required to stay the remainder of the day even after they left! It was a cold, dark day!!

Anyhow, that's about it =)

Andddd the Roller Coaster Continues!

"Transition. It's a real tough thing, especially when it's for the first time."  -Kenny Chesney


Transition. Or transitions, rather. That is exactly what my first year living here in Arkansas has been all about!  A whole lot of them.  And they certainly have been TOUGH!  Above is actually not a song, just a very fitting quote for me.

Now, I am well into my second semester of my first year of teaching (which is crazy hard to believe!). I feel like some days I am doing all I can to get through the day while others I feel like I am a pro and have everything together.  That's. first year for ya, on top of the fact I feel like mine started out crazy to begin with.  I say all of this, not because it's a bad thing, but because I think I am getting one of the best experiences possible, considering the circumstances!  I try really hard to find the positive in everything I do, even though I do have my emotional moments took

I'm beyond proud of my students, and everyday I hear things about them, get compliments for them, or even hear them say things that make me proud.  Just the other day another teacher told my assistant how impressed she was by how polite my students were when they came to her computer class, and that they always say please and thank you.  Even at lunch my kids try and day things like "may you open this ketchup please Miss Mackay?"  I am so proud of them when I hear them using manners, and when I see how well they CAN (because we have our bad days too) act in the hall compared to other classes all through the school!

I'm learning a lot from them, and my excitement and anger and love and frustration for education grows daily.  I still do a lot of thinking when it comes to potentially being a principal in a school; though that's still a ways a way, if I choose to do that.

Now to change subjects- my reign of bad luck, and doing what I'm doing down here in spite of all the curve balls I keep getting, is still going strong... =(. These past two weeks I had the unfortunate luck of getting some kind of cold!  We all know how much I HATE going to the doctor, but I did break down and go Friday because my ear had finally started bothering me so much.  I got three different prescriptions and spent a lovely $60+ dollars between meds/copay.  I alsooooo decided this last Monday to get my oil changed, tires rotated, and my tires aligned, another 109.00.... (Boo!). ONLYYYYY to have my Jeep decide it was time to not move on with me =(. My transmission is a goner now, along with the fact I'm now not driving myself anywhere! I'm not looking forward to the repair cost/ or a possible new car... Neither were in the budget, butttttt I knew it would happen at some point.  Obviously I will figure it out and make something work- though it figured this would happen! Of course every possible thing that can go wrong with moving away from everyone you know has happened to me!!! You would think whoever keeps giving me all this bad luck would realize I'm not going anywhere!!!


On the bright side of things, and saving the best for last, I really have met some wonderful people down.  You've all heard about some of the friends I've made, and that I get along pretty well with everyone at my school. Soooo that had worked out in my favor for all this craziness!  I also mentioned a while back that a guy had asked me to dinner.  That guy, Will, has turned out to be pretty wonderful as well!  He has been more than supportive and helpful this weekend with my mess of a self, and aside from that, is just pretty great period.  I know Grandma, you're waiting on a picture!  I really did take one this weekend, but it didn't turn out good, so I will get another one for you soon!

Hope you're all doing well! Miss you!!

Back To School- Semester 2!

"There's always gonna be another mountain
I'm always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I'm gonna have to lose
Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waitin' on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No I'm not breaking
I may not know it, but
These are the moments that
I'm gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep goin',
And I, I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on..."

-Miley Cyrus, The Climb

Yes, I know, I know- a Miley Cyrus song... but it has good lyrics!  Anyhow- back to the grind I go... school has started back up and the third semester is rolling.  We actually started school last Thursday, and this week has pretty much been pre-tests for everything coming up.

Last week the kiddos we're sooooo quiet... it was quite strange, because my bunch... well they are never the quiet kids....  I'm pretty sure they were also not ready to be back.

To break for just a moment- I had a WONDERFUL break back home in North Carolina, even if it was only a week!  It was much needed, and even though it may not have been the most restful trip, it was only because I attempted to use every minute to see friends and family!  If I didn't see you for whatever reason... well believe me, you will be seen next time I am home! =)  I did eat at a couple of places I've missed, walked through a Harris Teeter, (yes... I'm odd- but only having a Walmart and a VERY tiny grocery store is just not the same.... Oh and of course Harris Teeter has those wonderful free cookies, and all kinds of samples!)  I visited TARGET!!!!, saw a movie for the first time in MONTHS, went to a mall, saw the super exciting Christmas lights, saw some of my old Bruster's favorites actually skadoodle for me, (a random slide I made them do every night before they left- the pride and joy of my evening ritual!) and of course went in a million other stores, and ate lots of good food! 

I should tell you that OF COURSE... there would be a bit of bad luck, because who I, if not the princess of bad luck?!  Of course I rented a car to come home, and drove all the way back to Greensboro from Helena... well of course, getting up on Christmas Eve morning to do ALL of my Christmas shopping (as there aren't many places to get gifts here...) I walk outside to a flat tire and a rim missing.  Yes, yet another rental car to let me down!  My dad followed me up to put air in the tire, just to listen to it leak right back out. (of course.)  We went up to Enterpise and they sent us to Firestone to have it fixed.  I spent the good part of my morning waiting on that to be fixed, BUT Enterprise was wonderful about it.  They ended up giving me a discount on my total rental price, apologized so many times, and I was not responsible for any repairs, as it wasn't my fault.  So- I can't be too mad, just another bad-luck, but funny story to add!

Back to school-  This week my students have been back to themselves completely.  I've heard so many more good kid quotes, and sure there are more to come... Let me share:

One kid:  "Mi Mukay- it's cold in hereeee!"

Me:  "Yeah, you'll warm up though, just rub your arms for a minute!"

Kid:  "Nah, look I can put 'em in my shirt! It be hot in here!"  (kid proceeds to tuck his arms into his shirt..) 

One morning before school:  (and get ready for this, because I certainly wasn't and it makes me cringe..) Older sister of one of my students:  "Ms. Mackay, ________ won't be here for a while, just so you know.)

Me:  "Oh no!  Why not?  We will miss him!"

Sister:  "He's having his circumsision."

Me: "Oh, okay, thanks for letting me know...."  (awkwardly moving on to the next thing on my to-do list now...)

I have some more, but I'll save them for another day!! 

I miss you all!

Live the Difference

"I want to live to love, I want to live to fight....."
"I'm gonna live the difference.  I'm gonna pay the price.  'Cause it's all or nothing, no compromise.  I'm gonna live the difference- put my life on the line, 'cause this is my generation, and I'm gonna fight, it's time."

Merry ALMOST Christmas!!  That's certainly something to jump up and down about!!  It's been a long, exciting, draining, motivating, moving time for me, and all things aside I do love it!  This month, and just these last two weeks in particular have probably been my most difficult.  I think mostly because a much needed (and deserved!) break is right around the corner, and there are so many things I'm learning down here that as mad as they make me, make me glad I'm here too. 

Of course, you all have most certainly heard what happened in Connecticut, and I'm sure you have even heard and seen more about it than I have... But from what I have heard, it's horrible to think such things can and are happening.  I know I thought about it as I am a kindergarten teacher and thought about what that would have felt like if that had happened at my school or to any of my kids... And it's not like the situation is unlikely to happen at all.

Obviously that's a sad topic and one no one wants to think of ever happening to anyone they know.  I think daily about what my little ones go through at home, and the things I already know they are going through... Soo I felt like it was a good time to share some funny stories!

It's the end of the second nine weeks! Yippee! Also the end of my first semester teaching in a very intense place, super horrah!! (Yeah... Not sure if I spelled that right!) We're winding down and have done our nine weeks tests.. Social Studies- my all-time favorite test to give because the answers I get are always entertaining! Apparently, according to a 5 year old little girl in my room- the stars on the flag stand for Obama... Another little boy understands his personal needs and wants in life, so long as they involve food- he NEEDS apples and bananas and grapes, but when asked what he wants, he responded- "I won't me sum steak an' sum rice an' some potatoes Mi' Muhkay!" (at least he understand healthy eating habits? Haha.  I have started getting self portraits of myself... In one I have black hair, and I asked the little girl why I did.  In her most sincere voice she says "well we all have black hair, so now you do too." (not sure how to take that, but I'm gonna assume they love me the same! Haha). 

It's also pertinent for you to know that when wearing purple nail polish, "you be lookin' fly". That the Pledge of Allegiance most certainly goes " I pledge legiance to merca, and to the public it stands under god, visible with liberty for all." and that no matter what you may not be a "pencil hog or ms Kay finna mooove yo clip down two times!" And to always always always "tuck yo shirt in (insert any kid's name being yelled by another when coming out of the bathroom) 'cause ms muh-Kay can't see your purdy belt!!" and of course anyyyyy time a student gets their computer screen changed accidentally or not to something besides the activity they should be working on... That EVERYONE KNOWS  "_________be own Facebook mi kay!"

(yes, I am constantly called Ms. Mackay, Ms. Kay, Mi' Kay, Mi' Muhkay.) (I answer to them all)

We are also having our Christmas play Monday morning at 9:30am... Should be entertaining.  I will have it videoed!

Anddd I have 14 fake guitar to make for that as well as a million cookies and truffles and fudge to make for two different work parties.

In other news I ate deer chili for the first time this week, and it was good! 

Now, I must leave to go shower for work! 

Those of you I do see that read this, thanks for being around =). Those of you I don't see, I'll be seeing you next weekend and can't wait!!!!! Love you from the Delta and back!!

Also- 2,100 views? 

I'm feeling a little special =)

Especially since I don't have much time to frequently update anymore. 

Thanks for reading =)

Yes, I'm goin' to (North) Carolina in my mind-

"In my mind I’m goin’ to carolina
Can’t you see the sunshine
Can’t you just feel the moonshine
Maybe just like a friend of mine
It hit me from behind
Yes I’m goin’ to carolina in my mind"

-James Taylor, Carolina In My Mind

Hello!  North Carolina, I'm missing you this week. =)  The song is appropriate.  However, I am definitely enjoying my break regardless.  Between working over the weekend, and having a smaller check due to meetings one weekend, it just wasn't realistically feasible for me to make it home...  HOWEVER, look out Christmas Break because I AM coming home.  I can't wait =)  It's a little hard to believe this is the first holiday I won't be with all of you, but I'll be thinking about you for sure!  Mom, I will certainly be missing ALLLLLLL of your food. 

I did work this past weekend, and was able to sleep in yesterday and today, and plan on doing just that the rest of this week!!!  I know a few people that are here through Wednesday so I haven't been completely alone, and I met another new person this weekend, so he and I have had dinner a couple of nights as well.  (He comes into the country club sometimes, and I have met him previously, serving tables obviously.) 

Yesterday I drove out to South Haven, Mississippi to walk through Target, even though I bought nothing, andddd I may have stopped at Bruster's since I finally found it and got a brownie sundae with chocolate raspberry truffle ice cream.  I have been CRAVING some Bruster's ice cream for quite some time, so it hit the spot, and was a nice little mini-reward to finally making it to Thanksgiving break!

I also had the joy of being taken to dinner in downtown Clarksdale last night at a place called Oxbow, and trying fish tacos... I have heard about fish tacos before, buttttt have never tried them.  Everyone knows I will try most anything, and don't really dislike anything... but I definitely give them two thumbs up.  I now know why they are so popular.  I should have taken a picture.  Oops. Oh well.

Today I went to my school and my classroom is SOOOOOO much cleaner now.  It's still not organized the way I would like it, but it is certainly clean now!  I have been dying to have time to clean it and we really don't have time after school or before school, nor is the school ever open on any weekends.  I never did post a picture of my Thanksgiving door. I'm pretty pleased with it, even though my kids like to make fun of my turkey because he has no feet.  They always make fun of my drawings.  I don't blame them... I know you always enjoyed my "artwork" too, Mom... hahhaha   Anyhow, here it is:

I really wish I could put some pictures of my kids up here because they really have won my heart, even though they also make me want to rip my hair out sometimes....

Alright, I guess that's all for now.  Happy Thanksgiving, I miss you, and I love you all! =)

State of Grace, State of Grades, State of Mississippi

"This is a state of grace

This is a worth while fight"

-Taylor Swift, State of Grace

Hellllllo!   It has been quite some time since I have had a chance to write.  Yes, I am alive.  Yes, I am still sane.  Yes, I'm still glad I'm here.  No, I still don't know what the heck I'm doing some times.  No, I still don't understand why a kid cries every two minutes over the silly things like not having a purple crayon or the extra clothespin in his/her center bag.  No, I still don't know why the chicken crossed the road.  (hahaha.. get it-- because the joke always has a different answer!  Okay, so maybe me and my corny jokes have just never liked that particular joke.)  Either way, I'm back to update quickly, as usual.

I'm four days shy of having a week-long break.  Let me just say for a minute that it is absolutley superkalafragilistic expealidocious!  I absolutley can not WAIT.  I know several of you are waiting to know if I am coming home.  I know it is short notice, but until I know what is on my country club check Friday- I don't know whether or not I'll be home.  Unfortunately this is my last month, hopefully, of playing catch-up on moving expenses before starting an actual savings account again, along with Christmas and the traveling that will come with that as well.

On another note-I'm getting the kindergarten lifestyle down a little more each day.  I've discovered the wonderful world of the white lies...like secret spy cameras, and the spectacular sticker craze that every child posseses.  ESPECIALLY when it comes to the "special stickers."  hahaha... they work wonders. 

I should have a million things to say, but I am honestly just keeping one thing in my mind-and that is my break coming up in four days... ha.  We haven't had a day off of school since Labor Day and started school much earlier than schools in North Carolina.. August 6th. Soooo this break is all that I'm thinking of until it gets here.

I'm still in between about the decision to apply to work at Institute this summer or to be off for the summer, while keeping my job at the Country Club.  Both have wonderful things about the them, so we will see.

The above lyrics are of course coming from my favorite person ever- Taylor Swift.  They are from one of her new songs on her new album.  "This is a state of grace, this is a worth while fight."  I absolutely couldn't put what I'm doing into words any better.  Anyone can look at where I'm teaching, what I'm teaching, or who I am teaching and say good and bad things, but all it really comes down to is the fact that it's a "fight" every day.  Yet, in each of these kids is the need to be loved, cared about, and taught something.  So many of them carry a burden of things some of us have never had to deal with and cover themselves up with a hard cover.  Uncovering that, even in my little kids is my goal.  They need to know they are worth it, that they too can be anything they want, and can go anywhere and do anything.  I spend a good chunk of my mornings giving out hugs and asking the same questions every day. "How are you?" "Did you have a good night?" "You ready to learn today?" "What are your grades like?" "How about that attitude?"  So many times they aren't even my students, and so many times there are a million and two other things I could be doing with that time in the morning.  Then, I remember that, hey, Amy, take a minute and give it away, that question may be the one thing they need.  Maybe not, but for some reason they keep coming back to hear it.  So long story short- this is a worth while fight.

I think it helps that I have come from a background of different things too.  I worked through college, and even after college didn't do what I went to school for.  I think having that to look back on helps me realize that I am where I need to be.  As much as I hated some of those long days of school followed by a long night of work, I think it has given me the drive and experience to share with the people I'm meeting down here.  I can relate, and show that things are possible, so long as you want what you are after. 

I'm in the right place for now, struggles or not.  I hope to talk to you all soon! 

Oh and I think I mentioned it on Facebook- but a continual thank you goes out to everyone.  Your thoughts, prayers, letters, postcards, packages, and support continue to make me smile and make my days better.  THANK YOU =)