My Thoughts...

Have you ever wondered what the heck is going on in your life today? Well, although today isn't one of those days for me, I am wondering what the heck is going on around me. Let's see, I work in a school that does not even acknowledge Black History Month (I've ranted about this all month long), we had 7 inches of snow, Shaddean and I need friends nearer to our own age in Nacogdoches, and I'm growing extremely bored in East Texas!

First off, I work in a school where Black History Month is not even acknowledged. I mean, there are no Black History facts read over the morning announcements; and when I ask my students what are they learning about Black History, they reply, "nothing". How is this even possible in the 21st century?! I've emailed my boss (the principal) about this, asking her to please announce Black History facts (instead of the normal boring facts that are announced every day) in the morning and I even gave her like 5 websites that she could get facts from...she still hasn't responded or acknowledged my email. The kids say that their teachers say they are going to have a Black History Program at the end of the month, but they haven't learned or went over anything pertaining to this program. Apparently, this is the norm for this school. And I ask myself, "would I truly send my kids to a school where they can't even learn about their own history?" My response: a resounding HELL NO!

I asked my coworker (the previously mentioned one) and his respeonse was, "I think that should be studied in social studies. It takes too much time out of my lesson to teach that." He's a math teacher. My response, "It's not my job to teach TAKS vocabulary, but I do it any way. I'm a college prep teacher, my kids are supposed to be learning about jobs and college. It's the core teacher's jobs to teach TAKS. Besides, it won't take more than a minute or two to read off one Black History fact a day!" He then responds, "Well, what about white history, when should we learn about that?" My reply, "We learn wbout white history every day!"

Am I asking for too much? I mean honestly, I believe that kids should know about all cultures. I believe that if there is even one kid of a different race, we should be teaching about their history too so that we can better understand our fellow neighbors/students. History in school is so one sided! Ugh, the positive thing about working in the schools is that whenever I have kids I now know what I'm looking for in a school and what I'm not looking for.

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WE GOT 7 INCHES OF SNOW!!! That was freaking awesome! I was off for three blissful days, and I made my very first snowman! My husband and I made mini snowmen too! We made snowballs (no snowball fighting, playing in the cold is enough for me, no need to actually get snow on my bare skin!) and took pictures...it was sooo much fun! It was like a white winter wonderland. It stayed around for two days and then melted, but boy! what a nice two days!

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My husband and I seriously need some friends (in Nacogdoches) closer to our age. We do nothing out here (there is nothing to do!). We don't even know many people. The people we do know are our co-workers, and we can't envision spending time outside of work with them because we have nothing in common! Boredom is really beginning to set in. We go to work , we go home, we eat, and then we sleep. Occasionally, we get out and go to Lufkin, and once we went to Longview; but other than that there is absolutely nothing to do out here! No mall, no good movie theater, no skating rink, no shopping centers, hell there isn't even a Target! Just nothing! Oh there's cold weather (if you know me you know this isn't good).

Our neighbors constantly throw their little college parties complete with loud noise (which we've had to call the cops out for) and beer bottles strewn all over the walkway of the apartment complex. Plus, their company takes all of the good parking spots leaving us to park in the back. The new people downstairs are smokers and think nothing of leaving their nasty cigarette butts all over the ground. Now, I'm by no means Ms. Clean America, and I don't care about a few butts; however, this is more than a few butts. We're talking at least 50 butts all over the ground in one area! I don't want to see that as I walk up the stairs. Disgusting! I hate cancer sticks!

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On the good news front!

My husband's best friend's wife (yeah I know, lol!) and I didn't exactly get off on the right foot. I mean when we first met, we were cool; but some things happened on both ends that needless to say caused a lot of drama (plus some things that I don't think she knows that I know). We were not each other's fans that for sure. However, once my hubby and I weathered our storms, I began to make a concentrated effort to make nice and be friends with her (I don't say names in order to respect people's privacy).

I felt that it could be pretty uncomfortable for my husband and his best friend if their wives couldn't stand each other, and I felt it would place them in a tough spot having to defend their spouses. Plus, I'm a grown woman and so is she; and grudges are something that are for kids. We're two mature ladies who should be able to put aside past differences and move on, right? So, I sent a peace offering email to work some of the diffiult akwardness out.

It was slow going, but eventually I was able to feel, if not like BFFs then at least not like mortal enemies. Still, when the birth of their first child (a beautiful little girl) came the day before our wedding, I still didn't feel as though all was okay. They named my husband the godfather and he's an honaray uncle. I didn't feel like an honrary aunt however. It was weird. I was like they'll call my hubby Uncle So and So and I would just be Ms. Alicia.

I never felt like I was part of that circle of friendship (my hubby's best friend's wife is also really good friends with my hubby). It was...weird. Well, they're preggers again (another little girl) and I decided to crochet a baby blanket for the newest edition (yeah that's a whole 'nother story). I facebooked the wife and told her about it, plus I asked how everything was going and what not. Well, her reply was not what I expected. It was very warm and responsive. I mean we weren't at each other's throat or anything, but I kinda expected a short reply that just had facts and no other stuff. It was long and very warm, plus she said that no matter how long it took for the blanket to be finished that the baby would be proud (I think that was the word) to have a blanket made by her aunty Alicia. Finally, I felt a connection to her and her family! For the first time, I actually felt like an aunty. It was a great feeling. She then went on to tell me how she was doing and how the latest edition was doing (well, inside the womb that is).

Anywho, I finally felt as though we were on the road to being friends. It was a good feeling. Well, my class is coming in and I gotta get off my butt and do my thang!

Alicia