We've got crabs.

About a month or so into the school year, I had a student ask if she could bring in 2 hermit crabs to be our class pets. I told her that she could, and soon Kitty and Batman the hermit crabs (appropriately named for the painting on their shell) joined Sandy the Leopard Gecko in our class zoo. The boys in the class were excited about having a Batman hermit cram. Batman- mind you- has migrated into a new shell with a kitty cat painted on it, so he is now quite girly. The boys were not amused.

So yesterday afternoon I noticed that Batman hadn't moved in like 2 days. I picked him up, He didnt move. Poked him, he didn't respond. He just did nothing and I SWEAR to you he was staring at me. So I talked to another teacher who has a crab and she thought he might just be molting. Apparently Hermit crabs do that? So she came in to check him out. Picked him up, he didn't move. Poked him, he didn't respond. So at around 4pm on January 21, 2009, Batman was pronounced dead. I put him back in the tank, mostly because I wasn't sure what to do with him, and left for the day.

So last night, I decided that the kids might take the loss of the crab more easily if I bought a replacement. I even though about just telling them he had moved into a new shell, but then I decided that they're old enough to hear the truth, and I shouldn't lie to the kids in my class at a CHRISTIAN school. I bought 2 new ones to replace it to cushion the blow to the kids. One has a cool bump on its shell that the shell artist decided to turn into a nose, and it is painted like a pirate with an eye patch, bandana and the whole shebang. The other is in a Spiderman shell (I thought it appropriate to replace one comic book crab with another) and he is a BEAST. I'm talking SCARY big.

I get them here today and put them in the tank with Kitty and Batman's corpse. I changed the water, put in some fresh food, shifted some sand around, and all of a sudden I look over and Batman is VERY MUCH alive. He's out of his shell, not walking around or anything, but his antenna are going every which way, and he's just as perky as can be. APPARENTLY HE'S NOT DEAD?!?! So we now have FOUR class hermit crabs. F-O-U-R. Its a crab party in there. I think they could be having more fun, but they're hermits, so they kind of keep to themselves....

Dropping the ball...

oops. Just realized I haven't been blogging in quite a while. Having a real job and being a grown up takes a lot of time out of your day... AND- i'm blogging for my class now- check it out! http://mskelley08.blogspot.com.

AAAHHH!!!

I am SO excited. I got a call on Wednesday from the school where I subbed all last year and interviewed to teach and they offered me a position, so yay! Its a small private school at my church that I love. I can't wait! I'm not sure what grade yet, but I'm very very excited (and relieved- Job hunting was not something I was looking forward to!) So I'll be sure to keep you posted!

Now What?

I have nothing to do. I have no classes to attend, no job to go to, my sister went back to school and the boyfriend is gone for a week. All of the "me" time has me thinking. There are so many things that need changing in me and all this time I've been concentrating on how bored I am, how frustrated I am. Now I wish there were more time in the day, and have realized that my frustration is keeping me from being who I need to be. I need to be more productive. I need to break myself down and build myself back up. I want to get back to the girl who was busy all the time. Back to spending all of my spare time helping whoever I can. I need to squash my bad attitude that I had tucked away for so long and not let it get in the way of growth. I need to turn EVERY negative though I have into something positive. I am so blessed and I need to start living the life of someone who recognizes that they are blessed with gratitude and thanks, instead of just being glad I am blessed. Is it going to be easy? Heck no. And I could not be more excited.

buy one get one free?

I realized on Wednesday that I hadn't yet turned in my application for graduation (and the due date was Friday). I had already filled out the application and there was a copy in my file, but I never took the original to my adviser (the final step in the process). So I picked up a copy and took it to the advising office. I have about 150 credits which is not surprising after almost six years and 3 different majors. The lady asked me "is this the only degree you're applying for?" and sarcastically I answered "yes, unless you can dig through my transcript and find a minor in something." So she starts digging.... and a couple minutes later she tells me I didn't earn any minors, but I did actually complete TWO DEGREES- Communications AND Arts and Humanities. All this time I was double majoring and didn't even know it!! So now I will be graduating at the end of June with TWO degrees!! WOO HOO!!! I called my parents to tell them- My dad's response "Thats funny, because it felt like I was paying for two degrees...." oh goodness.

Anyone seen Peter Pan?

Tuesday is my last REAL day of college. I have to take Spanish 2 over the summer but for some reason I don't count that. Probably because at this point its like the last 10 minutes of a yoga class where you just lay there and become one with the floor or whatever. I really am having a hard time figuring out if I'm excited or sad. I SOOOOO don't want to be a grown up, but I've had about enough of higher education for the time being....

After 6 years of college, Two schools, 3 majors, good friends, sucky roomates, suckeir roomates, about 90 trips back and forth to Tallahassee, countless pointless classes, some that have been awesome, weird professors, rude professors, and a few that I would LOVE to keep learning from forever, I will be done with College.

WHAT NOW?!?! I will have a degree in Public Communication. I know, sounds like a cop out. Totally wasn't. My brain was feeling a little dead for a while when I was majoring in "Recreation and Leisure Services Administration" (aka event coordination and planning) and Elementary Ed, but I've actually felt it growing over the last 2 years-ish. I've take classes that have required everything from research papers and essays to weekend 23 mile kayaking trips around Cumberland Island, GA and Political rallies. If you were to look at my transcript you would probably have a good laugh. As a matter of fact, I think i'll give you some of the highlights:

Race and Ethnicity in US History- Prof looked EXACTLY like Rob Thomas
Survey of Special Events- seriously? how did I get a B in this?
Outdoor Adventure Education- How to pitch a tent, cook on a campfire, etc. not kidding.
Intro to New Testament- One of my favorites by far, bc of the awesome teacher, not just the fact that i loves me some Jesus.
World Religions- see blog "My Teacher Ate His Dad"
Astronomy- NOTE: NOT ASTROLOGY LIKE I ANTICIPATED.
Rock & Roll in American Society- Crazy Russian Teacher "You like Beatles? ya?"
Environmental Issues in the Atmosphere- Can we say TREE HUGGING 101?
Education in a Multicultural Soceity- Prof had a son who was a Greek Rastafarian- her stories were awesome. "STAVROS, you're Greek. If a real rasta saw your pathetic excuse for dread locks they would smoke YOU instead of their ganga."
Music for Elementary Educators- Kid you not- most of our grade depended on our ability to play the recorder

So yea. No idea what to do with my life starting June. Will probably get a Florida Teaching Certificate and try that route if all else fails. I would LOVE to do event planning for fund raising for a non-profit or get into ad/marketing. Any ideas? Suggestions? Job Leads? Anyone wanna pay me to just hang out and watch FRIENDS dvd's all day?

Oh- and ALSO!

Me and a couple of friends are starting a business that you will DEFINITELY want to check out! More on that later... :)