Friday Foto Finish 2.27.09

Today's fx4 is a lovely one taken of my new fish tank.  I had to get rid of my other 5 gallon tank because it would have cost more to fix the broken filtration system than buying a new tank.  I don't know why I like this photo so much, I think it is the dew like appearance of the air bubble on the plant.  The new tank now houses my little puffer fish, Mr. Green jeans.  

Make sure to play along over at Candid Carries place.  Always a good stop for a Friday!

Monday..... Again.....

I don't know what my problem has been lately, but I am sick of Mondays. They seem like the worst day of the week. I really wish we could just start our week on Tuesday. Here's how my Monday went:

Slept through alarm the first time it went off, then hit snooze about 4 times.

That put me late leaving for work and I got stuck behind several semi trucks going 10+ under the speed limit on the highway.

I was late to work (from my sleeping in), therefore late for the Monday morning meeting I host EVERY Monday morning at 8:00. Mind you, this is not my choice.

Teaching was actually the highlight of my day. Classes went well, even the one I subbed for. Some of the kiddos got on my nerves, but that isn't unusual in middle school. I'll explain my "little man syndrome" one of these days.

During my prep period I was working on sped paperwork. Got my current academic performance page done, hit save (it is a web program) and the computer locked up on me and I lost an hours worth of work. I cried a little at my desk..... in the dark..... because the motion sensors in my room are wonky and the lights don't stay on when I sit at my desk for more than 10 minutes with nobody else in the room.

After school I almost had to break up a fight.

After school a former student of mine brought in her 3 month old baby to brag to me about him. Oh yeah, she's a sophomore in high school. Oh yeah, and she walked him to school in his carrier when it was only 27 degrees outside.

I was thinking through a problem in my head and missed my normal exit home from work... I am such an idiot sometimes.

Once home I realized I left my grad class book on my desk at work, so I couldn't write my 5 essays tonight. They are due Wed. so at least I have some time.....




I can at least look at it in a semi positive light. Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday and we are doing a constant food fest in the teacher's lounge.

I wonder if I can get away with wearing sweat pants.....

Friday Foto Finish 2.20.09

Kids crack me up.  Especially when doing a research paper and they can't figure out how to write a thesis statement.

This one is awesome.  Can you feel the frustration this poor guy was suffering from?  

Make sure to stop by Candid Carrie's place and play along.

Also, if you would like to enter in my creepy cute Friday the 13th contest click here to find out how.

Friday the 13th Contest/ Giveaway

I am a huge horror movie/horror story buff. I love anything that will scare the pants off of you. I'm not into the gore, but the fright. I love it.

I am also a very crafty person. If I set my mind to it, I can figure out how to create most anything. I absolutely love to make jewelry, but my true passion is working with yarn. I love the way it feels slipping through your fingers as you create something new. Most recently I taught myself to crochet.

My true inspiration for crochet came from my mother in laws find of this book.

She immediately thought of me when this came through the library. It is chalk full of all kinds of creepy creations. They are so much fun to make I thought I should share them with others.

With that said.....

Would you like to win a zombie?

How about the Nosferatu?

Maybe a Vampire Queen perchance?

Or how about the dreaded Chuthulu?

I will be giving away one of each of these creations on Friday March 13th. I have only had a chance to create the zombie, the others are pictures from the book. Once I complete them the photos of the actual creations will be posted instead of their pictures.

So, how do you enter?!?

1. Leave a comment telling me which creation you would like. =1 entry

2. Post about the contest and then e-mail me at jen72175atgmaildotcom. =1 entry

3. Create a post with a scary story in which your creation choice is somehow involved. =2 entries. Then e-mail me your entry and it will be linked at the bottom of this post. An example is provided below for the Zombie. That way others can read your creative story.

4. Bonus point entry for the first 3 people who can tell me something about Chuthulu. I am a huge horror buff, so I am well versed on the Chuthulu stories.

Winners will be chosen at random on March 12th and announced on the 13th.

I truly look forward to your creativity! Good luck and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Zombie Posts:

Two Knit Monkeys Example Post - Friday the 13th Scare

Nosferatu Posts:

Vampire Queen Posts:

Chuthulu Posts:

Creative Juices a flowing... Friday the 13th Style

I have been sick these past few days.  The icky cold type symptoms with lots of Kleenex, nose blowing, cough, you name it.  So, I needed something to do.  What better than to teach myself to crochet.  I have been in love with the Amigurumi crochet style for quite some time and I just had to figure it out.  Plus, my mother-in-law got me this awesome book to inspire me.

Being the sick twisted horror movie buff I am, this book was all it took.  I had to make a zombie with blood coming out of his mouth.  I have to make a vampire queen, the grim reaper and the devil.  Why?  I say why not!

This guy is called corporate zombie.  Look at his little tie.  Isn't he just perfect?!?  Here are a few shots horror movie style.

Brains.....

Must have brains....

How intimidating!  A 3" high zombie.  He will make a nice addition to my desk at work.  Maybe I will gain some street cred with the kiddos at work!

Before I attempted the zombie I had to do a practice creature.  A friend of mine at work collects frogs.  He was really good to practice on because he used all kinds of wacky stitches.  I sure home she likes him!

This photo isn't the greatest, but I wanted to show you the whole frog as he is wedged in the crevice of the couch.  (I think my shutter is slowly dying on my camera, so all the pics lately have been very fuzzy.  It is 9+ years old)

Make sure to check back on Wednesday.  I have a Super Awesome creepy Friday the 13th giveaway/ contest for March.  

Creative Juices = a pretty cool teddy bear!

I have been so busy lately I haven't had a chance to do much blogging.  I am taking an online graduate course which is kicking my butt.  Work has been kicking my ass.  Students are taking the Iowa Test of Basic Skills next week and scheduling has become such a headache I have been having dreams of ITBS... wait they are more like nightmares.  

I decided I need some crafty time to center myself.  One of the businesses I sell jewelry at is having an open house so I went into crafting mode by making 100+ earrings and some malas and necklaces, but that just wasn't doing it for me...

So, when a bloggy friend, mama dawg, asked about a knit animal for her daughters birthday I got a little giddy.  I haven't knit for a while so I was up to the challenge.  I found an awesome teddy bear pattern and went to town.  This is what I came up with.

I absolutely love him/her.  It was so quick and easy I may have to make myself one.  But, what would the monkeys think about that?

A much needed day off

I have been so busy with paperwork, reading books and articles on tape for the kiddos to use for their research papers, getting ready for ITBS and grad class nightmares that I needed a day off!

It just so happened that the guitarist and bass player of Cracker were playing an acoustic concert last night at the Redstone Room.  We knew about it for a while and decided to make a go of it.  I took a personal day today just in case we didn't get home until late.

In a word the concert was awesome.  The sound was great, the setting small and intimate.  We were surrounded by aging hipsters and former college hippies.  We had the best time.  I took a short video clip of one of their more famous songs Low.

I was surprised at how reasonably priced things were too.  $15 for tickets and $15 each for drinks and tip.   Guiness for $3.50, AWESOME!  We are definately going to be looking for more concerts there in the future.

And happy early b-day to the hubby.  Last night was all my treat.