Stressed Out #2 (aka BEYOND FRUSTRATED)

I don't even know what to say besides that I am beyond frustrated. It is currently 3:30 in the afternoon and the temperature is 62 (yes... that's right it is 62 degrees on January 30) and I am stuck inside working on my stupid curriculum mapping. I know that this is a necessity for the accreditation process but I just feel that it is busy work to keep me from enjoying the weather or my husband (he's at home relaxing-This is one of the first weekends we haven't had anything planned and I'm stuck at school). I crave to be outside but I'm afraid if I give in I'll never finish and then I'll feel like I have let down the school and my boss - which would be AWFUL!
The other reason I'm frustrated is that I only worked out once this week (Monday) and I can say that I really do miss it. I finally thought I would get a chance earlier this week and I started feeling yucky. I still don't feel very good. I love that I haven't been sick all year and the now A WEEK BEFORE ACCREDITATION my body decided to give in and feel like crap.
I know I gripping and moaning and complaining but I need to get it out of my system. Maybe if I do it now I won't take it out on other people. I am so ready for all of this to be over. Basically at this point I am really looking forward to Valentine's Day because that will mean all this is over and I will get to spend the weekend with my husband. I really don't care what we do I just want it to be US and NO ONE ELSE! I feel like I've barely seen him and when I do he is doing something for me (really it is for the school but same difference). I feel terrible but he believes in this school and says he doesn't mind. I am pretty thankful for the fact that he doesn't mind helping me. I know I take my frustration out on him and most the time he really could care less... So to say that I'm lucky is an understatement at this particular time. He's been pretty wonderful over the last week or so.
Well... I need to get back to work on curriculum mapping (my own form of personal torture!). Hope everyone enjoys the beautiful weather and enjoys the Super Bowl tomorrow!
Jamie

Stressed Out!!!

To say that I am stressed out right now certainly is an understatement! I am currently amazed by the fact that I am still somewhat sane. I have been sooo busy that I am losing track of what I have done in the several days. I have to look at my calendar to remember what I have been up to.

The next two weeks are going to be extremely stressful. This week is Catholic Schools Week. Which means that we are going to be busy everyday with extra stuff to do (make things for parents, going to the movie, doing something for the community, etc.) This cuts down majorly on my teaching time but we'll make it through. The thing that I am the most stressed out about is next week.... We have our Accreditation Teams coming on Thursday and Friday. They will come into our classrooms and observe us teach. At the end of the day on Thursday they will interview all of the teachers. Friday they will go to Mass with us and let us know how we have done on our accredidation. I am so ready for the next two weeks to be over it isn't even funny. I am hoping to find some enjoyment in the next two weeks just so that I can make it through.

With everything that I have to do in the next two weeks I don't know how much working out I'll be able to do. I had been doing sooo good since I started on January 2nd. At this point I don't even know when I am going to find time in the next couple of weeks. I am started to get a little disappointed because of the fact that I have only lost eight pounds and I have worked out 16 days since the 2nd. I know that I've missed quite a few but I just thought I would be getting better results. Right now I feel extremely disappointed with it and frustrated.... I want more results but I feel like giving up. We'll see what happens.

Time Flies

I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. I am such a slacker! :)

I guess I need to give you some updates - The Spoofhounds went to Fair Grove and beat them and ended up going to the dome last weekend. They played Clark County at the done. Unfortunately they lost 10 to 7 but it was one heck of a game. I was rather impressed with the game considering it was high school. Normally high school games are pretty slow moving and it was actually a quick game. The boys really played hard it just wasn't their day. :(

As for my BEARCATS... Well they're on a roll. They beat Abilene Christan two weeks ago and just yesterday they beat North Alabama... What does this mean for the 'Cats - THEY ARE HEADED BACK TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FOURTH YEAR IN A ROW!!! What does that mean for my husband and I - We're headed to Alabama on Friday through Sunday. I am not looking forward to the drive. It is about a TWELVE hour drive! That part will not be fun but it will be worth it to watch the 'Cats in the championship. I really hope we win. We have lost the three years in a row. Each year it is extremely painful because we just barely lose. One year by three points, another by four points, and last year by five points. I really think this is our year though. Our senior boys are determined because they have been for three years and still haven't won! So I am hoping for the best!

I am pretty excited that I don't have school tomorrow! Tomorrow is the Feast of the Immaculate Conception so we don't have school (gotta love teaching in a Catholic school on days like these!) I have a feeling that it won't feel like a day off but at least I won't have to be teaching since I don't feel very good. I think I have a sinus infection. I am pretty sure it is from sitting out in the cold game yesterday. I think I am going to try to get into the doctor in the morning so hopefully I will feel better before we leave for the game. I am also going to work on some school stuff - including my lesson plans for Friday since we're going to the game.

Oh and I decided to start my Master's in Reading this coming Summer (Summer 2009). I am pretty lucky because I don't have to take the GRE, which I am extremely excited about. Instead I have to read and article and write about it. It is basically an assessment to make sure that I am ready for their program. I went to talk to Dr. Drew (the professor in charge of the Master's in Reading program) and somehow she convinced me to take this writing test TOMORROW at 2:00 p.m. I can't say no to Dr. Drew. So tonight and tomorrow I will be reading some articles to prepare myself! I hope I do well on this... I am pretty nervous but Dr. Drew assures me that I me that I am going to be fine! I'll keep you updated on how it all goes!

Well I better go and get to work on my reading and writing!

Thankful for the Quick Week

I am sooo thankful right now that this week has gone by so quickly. I really needed it to! I will admit it... I am one of those crazy Twilight fans! I can't wait until Friday for the movie to come out. I am going to watch it with three of my teacher friends. I am going to basically sprint out of school tomorrow in order to buy tickets for the show and I am planning on getting to the theatre early to get good seats! I just have to make it through today in order to get to the show!
Today is going to be busy but shouldn't be too difficult. I am going to St. Joe this morning on a field trip with my students. We are going to Bishop LeBlond to watch the play Oz. (It's supposed to be similar to the Wizard of Oz but it's cheaper to do because they don't have to pay so much to put it on!) Then we get back at lunch and then they go to computers. They will come back to the room and do math then recess and then reading (since we can't do it in the morning). So it should be a piece of cake day - if you will notice I did say should... something can always go wrong so I am going to pray for a peaceful day. After that I am running home to help Michael pull seven or eight pork butts. My staff at school is doing a service project for Christmas. We are serving at the Shepherd's Kitchen that is run by another church. We are donating the food and our time to serve these people a meal. The Shepherd's kitchen is like a local soup kitchen. So I am doing that from 4:30 to 7:00 tonight. Then GREY'S!!
Like I said, make it through today and I will be floating on air tomorrow.
Saturday we are going to the Bearcats playoff game. I am probably going to freeze but it will be worth it to see Pitt State come here on our home turf! I am really hoping we win and I hope the Spoofhounds do too. They are traveling south for their game this weekend.
Sunday is a shopping trip with my staff from school! (This is why I titled the blog - The Crazy Life of the Casteel's - because it is always crazy around here! )

Trip to Joe Town

This evening Michael and I headed to Joe town. I was in need for some fleece. I am going to make my niece and nephew tie blankets for Christmas. Our Wal-Mart just doesn't have much of a selection. I had my mom go check out Jo-Ann's fabric in St. Joe and it just so happened that they had all of there non-licensed fleece 50%!!! I was pretty stoked about that. So Michael and made plans to go to St. Joe tonight before the sale ended.

On Monday night Michael went to Spoofhound game... It was freezing so I bailed. It's not my idea of fun to sit in the cold rain all night. They spoofers ended up beating Trenton and have a game this Saturday vs. Carrollton.

Tuesday I had a basketball game I had to go to. My cheerleaders were cheering during the boys game. Michael came for the end of the girls game and stayed during the boys game. He had off for Veteran's day so he helped his dad. At school we had a VERY nice Veteran's day service.

Now... It is time to get caught up on school stuff... and then off to bed!

Another Exciting Weekend!

We had another GREAT weekend. Our weekend started out the weekend with an exciting Halloween! We had about 35 to 40 trick-or-treaters. I had all of my students except for one which I thought was pretty good. We also had a lot of our friends' children. We even had a little pumpkin that was only two weeks old. Little Mr. William McCollough was the cutest little baby pumpkin EVER!

Our neice and newphew even came down this weekend for Michael's dad's birthday. Once Neal and Paige had come trick-or-treating we decided to turn off our light and hang out with Michael's family. We were over there for about a couple of hours and then we headed home to sleep!

Saturday morning it was up early to get ready for the football game. We baked cookies, and got a couple of things to go tail-gating. We got over to Beaver's house at little after 11 and ate. We hung out over there until right before the game and then we headed to the game. The 'Cats beat Emporia 56 to 7. It was nice that we won and that we haven't lost any games in the conference! After the game we headed to the South room at the housing to celebrate Michael's dad's birthday. His mom had made a turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, stuffing, etc. After we were done eating we headed to Michael's parents' house to play games. We played Apples to Apples and Urban Myth. We left and stopped by a Halloween Party. Several of my friends were having a "VERY" good time... We left and came home and went to bed!

Sunday was a beautiful day. We went to church and everyone sat together as a family. Afterwards everyone ate at the Mandrian and then we all headed to Bedford, IA. We went to the Lake of the Three Fires and went for a walk around part of the lake. It was such a beautiful day for a walk and to hang out with the family! I took A LOT of pictures and a couple turned out pretty well! I've posted some of them below. I hope you enjoy!

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Wow! I have a huge sense of accomplishment this evening. I have just finished my parent-teacher conferences! I'm telling you they are the one thing I dread the most the whole year. It doesn't matter if I am telling parents all good news I still dread them. I am hoping that this feeling will subside after a few years! I know I felt a little better than the first time I had conferences!

Now for our busy weekend...
Michael got home on Friday night. We were supposed to go to my parents house that night and help them with their tile. Michael decided that he was too tired after his busy week of being gone to his conference! So we ended up staying at home that night.
We got up the next morning and headed to St. Joe. We helped my parents for a little bit and then it was off to Topeka, KS for the NWMSU game vs. Washburn. It was a really close game and it wasn't the 'Cats best but they ended up winning 24 to 21. We went back to St. Joe and helped some more on the tile.
Sunday rolled around and we worked at my parents house until about 12:30 and then headed back to the 'Ville. Once we were back in the ville we went over to a friends house and helped her paint and do this thing with tissue paper on her walls. We were at her house from 2 until 7:15 or so.
So basically I spent my whole weekend doing home improvements for other people. This of course made me want a house even more than I already did. I just wish we could go buy one or build one but as my father says, "Money doesn't grow on trees." I'll just have to wait and be patient. Our time will come and I just have to have faith that God has a plan for us!
As for tonight... I will be home most of the evening by myself so I am thinking about watching Fiddler on the Roof. I think that might be an enjoyable evening. Tomorrow at school will be a little hectic but tomorrow evening I have nothing planned and that is kind of nice. I am really excited about Thursday though... the Hangar (movie theatre in town) is showing Ghost Busters for $5.00 and Michael and I are going to see it. Then Friday is HALLOWEEN. I love trick-or-treaters and HALLOWEEN. Michael's sister and her family are going to be in town so that makes it even better and it is Micheal's father's birthday! So it is a busy but enjoyable week. :-)