What is happening to me???

Today I decided to brave shopping for the last few things right after school. I got about 2 minutes down the road and abandoned my plans to go into the city. Traffic was maddening. SO I came home and enjoyed a bubble bath instead. It has been a long week... even though in reality it should be a short week. Last night I went to woolworths to buy candy canes for my kids. I went there because someone told me I could get them there, and I thought I would get my kids a treat while I was there... it was a usual disaster. I spent at least 15 minutes crawling around the parking lot hoping even for the most remote parking spot. Finally I stalked someone who was coming out, and parked in that most remote parking spot I was talking about. So I made my way into Woolworths dodging cars determined that it would be a quick trip. It was not. I went right to the Christmas section where I was certain there would be candy canes... and found... none. Right before Christmas in shops is really depressing. I went up and down the disheveled isles in hopes of spotting the peppermint treats. I did end up picking up a bunch of random things,and decided that I needed a cart... and so I went back to the door, put my arm load of things down under the watchful eye of the greeter (who was probably thinking to himself-- I am going to have restock all of that when she bolts) and went in search of a cart... Usually they are kept outside of stores here, so I went out, and looked all around the entrance... no carts... so I asked someone where they got their trolley (using the word cart here usually doesn't get a response) and they said they snagged it from Tesco's the grocery store only slightly farther away than my parking spot. I decided that I didn't need one that badly, and went back to debate the future of my load of stuff sitting inside the doorway. Basically the cart really deterred my shopping... I decided that I ought to at least ask about the candy canes before I left, and so I went to the Christmas stocker and tried to explain what I was looking for. He took me to a lonely package of 6 princess candy canes and a feeble display of spearmint rounds (round candy canes). I opted for the rounds and headed for the checkout. There stood a woman dressed like Mrs. Claus, and I thought to myself -- does she hate her job, as much as I have hated this shopping experience... I managed a smile, so she probably hates her job more. Anyway.. an hour and half later I had made a trip to the grocery store and was heading home- -- with a little less Christmas spirit than I had come with. Today, rather than braving downtown I opted to go to my local shopping center with a couple of stores similar to CVS and a grocery... I had about as much luck as I had yesterday... But with a lot less hassle. As I was checking out, the guy at the checkout line said don't we know each other. I said I don't think so, I don't have many acquaintances here. He said aren't you Claire from Bangor... Now this is where I thought things were weird... I had said a complete sentence to him, and he still thought that I was from Northern Ireland. I have noticed that it takes people a lot longer now to say you're not from around here are you. I sound the same to me, but I suppose that you can't tell yourself... Maybe it is just my acquisition of their vocabulary that is throwing everyone off?? Strange! Oh yeah, and at the local semi-chem, they had candy canes... could have saved a little holiday spirit had I have known!

finished at last...

Today was the final show of our school Christmas play. I have to say, I am so glad that it is all over. I miss having my kids in class, a normal schedule. And some control over my life. It is amazing how it rules the school. It did turn out quite nicely, but I had many days when I was just praying for the end. And alas.. It is here. I was in charge of seating parents today, which is quite possibly the worst job of the play. There were over 300 adults trying to cram into a small PE hall, with less chairs than people. I felt like an usher at a sold out movie. It is amazing how parents get about their children, it is like natural instinct when it comes to their kids... even when it is getting the best seats to see the show. I can understand if I was trying to eat their children in the wild, but asking them to move down a seat so some little old lady with a leg problem didn't have to crawl over them...is there any reason to get snippy? I just kept smiling and walking away quickly, and felt badly when I had to tell 20 odd parents that there was no room... fitting since it was a nativity play. Anyway, I was glad when the play finally started, and even more glad when it finished! We had a lovely reception in the canteen for all of the important people connected to the school, and it was nice to not think about the pplay. AND, I had my first introduction to Christmas Crackers. I am sure that these must be somewhere in the states, but I have had no prior experience with them. All this time I thought there were actual crackers inside... I was wrong, there are prizes, and jokes, and crowns! Fantastic! So the remaining staff and myself pulled them all (like thanksgiving wish-bones) and the winner get the prize inside. It was a good laugh. Which was nice since the majority of the staff is stressed out about Monday. One thing then the next. I guess on Monday perspective parents come school shopping and the are allowed to wonder around in and out of classrooms... sounds like lots of fun to me. So our classrooms have been in a constant state of chaos for weeks now, and then people are coming in to see the school. I know that I should be more stressed for them, but those of you that know me,.... well you know me. So I stayed and cleaned up my room from the play, but I just can get anything more done, so it is what it is. School will go on, and that will be that. I think that I will be so relieved to have a normal schedule when I get back from break. Speaking of break... I am really excited that i will be home in 1 week. That is so strange. Time here has absolutely flown by - So a few more gifts and I will be home!

hot stuff

So today I truly learned the meaning of scundered. Up until now, I used it in passing but had never felt the utter mortification that the word suggests... now, I can use the word and have an entirely different perspective on the word. I have to give a little bit of background for you to understand my embarrassment. Tomorrow night is our staff 'do' and we are celebrating the music teachers upcoming wedding as well. So, several of the teachers are planning a little performance for her. Everyone had a little thing to get, and I was asked to pick up a big bra. So I went to primark and found a relatively cheap bra. I brought it into school for Julie another P2 teacher to decorate. Which she did. We got a good laugh at the bra when she returned it to me, and she asked me to take it home and stuff it. I set the bag by my classroom computer before leaving that night, and promptly forgot it. I am sure that you can see where this is heading... unfortunately I could not. I said goodbye to James who was preparing for the P7 (roughly 5th graders) confirmation meeting in the PE hall, and headed for home --- thinking nothing of the bra until this morning when I entered my classroom noticing that people had clearly been in my classroom last night. The Christmas chains were down, and chairs were scattered about... I didn't put 2 and 2 together until I asked Maureen a nearby teacher if she had people in her classroom as well... she hadn't but she walked to my classroom with me -- as we surveyed the classroom my eyes landed on the primark bag and the computer with 2 new chairs and the keyboard put up.. ( not the way I had left it). This is when all of the pieces started to come together in my mind and the look of sheer horror fell upon my face... the P7 students (which I work with at least once a week) had been using my classroom the night before while their parents had been in the confirmation meeting... and at least 1 child had been sitting next to the primark bag with the decorated bra that had orange pom poms and the words Hot Stuff glittered across the cups of the bra. Knowing the class that was in my room I have little doubt that they would have looked in the bag, as they had moved things all over the classroom. I stood in utter disbelief.. thinking.. UGHHHHH.... I have been working so hard to connect with these kids... and this is going to be really awkward.. I have to wonder what they would possibly think... I talked to Martina.. and all of the staff had a good laugh in the staff lounge before school. I collected my class and let it go. Around 10:00 we were practicing our Christmas play, and Martina needed someone to cover her class for a few minutes... so I went up to the classroom... a little afraid that some 11 year old boy was going to make some under his breathe comment about hot stuff.. but thankfully none of them acted strangely... I actually don't think that they could keep it to themselves if they had seen it -- they are kind of a bold class... So 11 year old boys aren't making any comments... but you can bet that the teachers will be calling me hot stuff for quite a long time to come. Ah, the memories of this grand adventure... now you can all be scundered for me!

old actors

I have gotten several comments from people about the untimely updates to my blog, and it makes me feel rather like an aging actress -- desperately trying for a movie that will keep me current, hold my public. Alas -- i have had several moments in the last weeks that I've thought I should definitely blog about that, but I have been really busy, and I am happy to say that Belfast is feeling much like my home. Ah, where to start, thanksgiving, flattening my tire (tyre), the word tyre -- my friday night --- ah so much to tell, but I am sure that I will not get to it all. I'll start with Thanksgiving. I had a wonderful time with my friends here.. it actually kept me from missing home. I invited the people that have been significant in my time here, and 8 people showed. That was a perfect turn-out, but it made me realize how few people that I know here, and that I need to get out and meet people. I do go out and about and I have met people, but they are all either middle aged or use creepy pick-up lines like... would you like some male company... or worse BOTH! Anyway, Thanksgiving. I made turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, and pumpkin pie. My guest brought the potatoes, extra dessert (I don't think that they had high hopes for the pumpkin pie) appetizers and drinks. It was quite a spread. The pumpkin pie had about a 50% success rate with all that tried it. I think that it is the texture that threw people off, and the fact that they all were expecting something savory... ughh... savory pumpkin pie... sounds gross to me! We ate until everyone was full, and there were just enough leftovers for me to enjoy the next day, and then we played silly party games. We were playing what would normally equate to a drinking game, but many of us were to full (or driving) to indulge in alcohol, and most of those games need some incentive to try and think quickly. The remedy to the situation was the ready whip spray whipped cream. It was sad but everyone here thought it was minging. I rather like spray whipped cream, so it didn't provide me with the same motivation as the others. If you missed your turn you got a spray of whipped cream in the mouth. Like I said, I didn't mind, but it really did spark some laughter and quick thinking. My friends really wanted to avoid it! I have to say it was quite an enjoyable day. I meant to take a picture, but of course I forgot... that would have been nice for my scrapbook. Oh well, I am really not good at remembering to take pictures, I must work on that. Not only will allow me to look back in my later years, but it also makes my blog much more visually appealing. I hope you will continue to read it in the absence of pictures -- and I will make an effort to write about my tire/tyre tomorrow. Goodnight.

Word of the day --

Since it is Sunday night, and the dread of Monday is looming overhead, I thought today's word of the day would be appropriate.
Skive, v. to avoid something especially work.
It is used quite often here, but I am having a hard time making up a sentence. Feel free to post your own today.