Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Aggravation

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Between students lying, coaches thinking winning is more important than a test, and my dogs getting out and running around the neighborhood, I had a very aggravating day yesterday.

First of all, a student told his parents that I am never in my classroom during class. That just pisses me off, since I am probably one of only teachers who never leaves their students in the classroom by themselves. If I have to go to the restroom, I wait until we are between classes. Once I get into my room in the morning, I rarely leave it except for break and lunch. The only time that I am not in my room is during my planning period because I am usually running off tests or other such errands.

The next thing was that one of our coaches took nearly half of my class to “practice” before they left for their game. Who has practice before leaving for an away game? I wouldn’t have minded as much, if I was not giving a major test. Was I asked if I had something important going on? No! Did I complain to our principal? Yes! Did anything get done about it? No! All of the students in the class got a reprieve and the test will be today because I did not want the students who did take the test to be able to tell those not there what was on it. They think they got an advantage, but they’re not smarter than me, no matter what they think. Since most of them weren’t listening when I was lecturing, an extra day will not do them any good. There is no way to pass this test if you had not listened in class.

The last thing was the dogs. I have a large fenced in backyard. For some reason the dogs decided to break through the fence. I spent nearly three hours fixing fences and corralling dogs back through the gate. Four times they got out, four times they found a new way out. Finally, I fixed all of the escape routes (fingers crossed, anyway). I was ready to kill them before it was over. Poor dogs, they had no idea how aggravated I already was today.

Sorry, but sometimes I just feel the need to bitch and gripe. I hope you guys don’t mind too much.


Relief

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Yesterday did provide some relief, but all of the dread I was feeling gave me a terrible migraine. I’m sure all of you have heard of functioning alcoholics; well, I’m a functioning migraine sufferer. Some people who have migraines have to go to bed in a dark place. It’s what I always want to do when I have a migraine, but I rarely have that luxury. I did not have at luxury yesterday. I had to keep going and do what I needed to do. Since I had the day off, I went ahead and ran some errands after my “ordeal.”

When I got home, I cooked supper. I had promised my aunt that I would fry some okra for her. She told me that since I had a migraine, I shouldn’t have tried to cook, but I did anyway. I braised a London broil that was on sale at the grocery store, cooked some collard greens and fried some cornbread. It was quite delicious, but I didn’t have much of an appetite because migraines tend to make me slightly nauseous. After supper, I went to bed. Luckily, I can always count on HRH to bring me some comfort. She curled up on top of me after I laid down, and we called it an early night.

By the way, with my triskaidekaphobia* I’m dreading today, just a little bit. However, since it’s my mothers birthday, I probably shouldn’t see it as bad luck.

*Triskaidekaphobia (from Greek tris meaning “3”, kai meaning “and”, deka meaning “10” and phobos meaning “fear” or “morbid fear”) is fear of the number 13 and avoidance to use it; it is a superstition and related to a specific fear of Friday the 13th, called paraskevidekatriaphobia (from Παρασκευή Paraskevi, Greek for Friday) or friggatriskaidekaphobia (after Frigg, the Norse goddess Friday is named after in English).


Blue Days

imageI think we all have those days when we just feel a bit blue, down in the dumps, or just plain melancholy. Yesterday was one of those days, and I suspect today will be as well. Many times, there is just no good reason for these moods, and on other days, there is a very good reason. Yesterday was one of those days with a reason. The thing is, I’m off work today; something that should make me happy. However, I’m off work today because I have something I have to do today that I don’t want to do. I really don’t want to go into an explanation of what I have to do today, but it’s going to be uncomfortable. I know that when it is over, a great weight will be lifted off my shoulders. It’s still something I wish I didn’t have to do, but I really don’t have a choice.

I know I’m being cryptic about what this is all about, but I can’t help it. I promise you guys that it is nothing really bad, but this is just something I have to face the facts about. I felt the need to write about my feelings in hopes that it will bring me some comfort. Sometimes it helps to just let the stream of consciousness flow, and after writing this, maybe I do feel a little better. I’d still much rather just stay in bed today and hide.


Early Morning

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I had to get up about an hour early this morning to be at school extra early. I am not a morning person, which is the reason I usually write my posts the night before and schedule them for the next day. However, since I have to get up early and I’ve been busy making out a test for most of the evening, this is going to be a short post.

You probably know by now that this blog is a bit eclectic, so you never know what you will get. Silvereagle called my blog “a very varied site” yesterday, and that’s true, especially since I’m trying to open up more about myself and be a bit more personal, like the last two posts. The only problem is that sometimes, actually most of the time, my life is pretty boring. The more personal posts seem to resonate with my wonderful readers more, so I’m trying. So just a quick survey and you can post your answers to this question in the comments section below: what type of post do you most prefer from me? Or, do you just like to be surprised?


TGIF

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It’s the end of the second week of school. So far things seem to be going well, and the students are responding well with my new “I’m not taking any of your crap” attitude. So tonight, I plan on getting my drink on with friends. The question is: should I drink Vodka or Beer? I will probably go for beer, but I haven’t totally decided, vodka goes down too smoothly, especially when it’s mixed with something and I might have too much. I always stick to only one type of drink a night, so that I don’t get a hangover or get sick. No matter what I drink, I plan on having a good time.


I’ve Got Nothing

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I racked my brain all night last night trying to come up with a post for today. I came up with nothing, but this nice picture. I remember thinking yesterday morning that I had come up with a great idea for a post, but for the life of me, I can’t remember what it was. I guess it must not have been that great. Oh, well…I hope you guys have a wonderful Monday. I’m hoping that mine will go well. My computer at school has died (apparently, the motherboard went bad), so hopefully I can get another one soon, even if it is just a temporary fix until the school can get me something else.


National Underwear Day

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In an effort to publicly shine light on “unmentionables,” Freshpair founded National Underwear Day on August 5th, 2003. Over the last 10 years they’ve celebrated underwear by hosting New York City model events, massive underwear giveaways, a pop-up shop in Columbus Circle, and a Times Square runway show.

Throughout the years, thousands of people have written Freshpair and shared acts of confidence. They’ve heard from cancer survivors struggling to regain their lives, men and women suffering with poor body image, and young and old embracing their sexuality. This year National Underwear Day is about EVERYONE.

As the founder of National Underwear Day, Freshpair understands that confidence is the byproduct of believing in one’s self. And this year they want more people to do just that. That’s why they’re inviting everyone who has ever doubted themselves to join them in attempting to break a Guinness World Record in Times Square. All you need to bring is your underwear.

There are a few rules:

Record Breaking Rules

Freshpair encourages you to show your individuality and confidence by wearing your favorite undies, but in order to break the Guinness World Record everyone must adhere to the following guidelines.

1. Men must be wearing underpants, boxers, boxer briefs or briefs. They cannot be wearing shirts, undershirts, or jock straps.
2. Women must wear underpants, thongs (not too revealing; allowed on a case-by-case basis), shapewear or boyshorts (that are clearly underwear). Shirts or full coverage bras are also permitted.
4. All participants can wear socks and shoes.
4. If it rains, ponchos are not permitted but umbrellas are.

Event Etiquette

1. Remember that, although the National Underwear Day event is 18+ years of age, Times Square is a family-friendly location. Be courteous, but have fun. Wear fun undies, but keep in mind revealing items may be offensive to some.
2. Nudity is strictly prohibited. Although it’s not illegal to go topless in NYC, Times Square is a family-friendly location so we should all be considerate of non-NUD participants, passers-by, and tourists.
3. National Underwear Day is all about public displays of confidence (#PDC) but public displays of affection, towards any participants, are discouraged.

I’d love to witness National Underwear Day in Times Square, but since it’s not possible for me to be there, I plan to spend as much of today as possible in just my underwear. Why don’t you join me? Be confident, be proud!


Pain

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I tend to have a high tolerance for pain. Mainly, it’s because I’ve suffered with headaches my entire life. Rarely does a day go by when I don’t have a headache at some point. I’ve learned to deal with it and suffer through the pain. Most of the time a pain reliever helps; sometimes nothing does. I’ve have taken numerous medicines throughout my life to try and prevent having headaches, but nothing has ever been effective. Some have had bad aide effects, such as when a doctor prescribed Elavil (amitriptyline). It gave me night terrors. Another was Ativan (lorazepam) is supposed to be a short term drug; usually its recommended that someone should not for longer than 3-6 months. If used for long periods of time, it causes severe depression. I was a teenager when I took this drug and was on it for over a year. Some of the severe side effects include confusion, depressed mood, thoughts of suicide or hurting yourself;. Not only did it not help my headaches, but it also caused severe depression. Combine the side effects of Ativan and a teenager confused about his sexuality, and you have a dangerous mix. It was during this time that I attempted suicide. I was 16 at the time.

I’m writing this because I was thinking last night of my problems with headaches. Sinus headaches, tension headaches, cluster headaches, and migraines all have afflicted me through my life. What I take for my headaches depends on what type it is. Sometimes nothing helps. Medicine may lessen the pain, but not make it go away. Beginning Wednesday night before I went to bed, my head began to hurt. I took something and went to sleep. I woke with a headache the next morning, and I knew it would be a bad one. It was one of those that hurt all over, especially behind my eyes and the back of my head. This was also a headache that came with nausea, photophobia, phonophobia, and lightheadedness. Thankfully, these types of headaches, which is generally a mixture of migraine and tension headaches, only happen 2-3 days out of a year. However, when they do occur, they are quite incapacitating. I stayed in bed most of the day yesterday and took the strongest pain medicine I had. It barely fazed it.

HRH, my cat, gave me some comfort. She lay beside me and kept patting my head with her paw. After 15 years, she knows when I have a headache. I’m sure there is a mixture of genetic, physical, and psychological reasons for my headaches. I’ve had them for as long as I can remember. Maybe one day, they will either stop or they will find some kind of preventive measure that works. I hope each of you are some of the blessed people who never suffer from headaches, and if you do suffer from headaches, I hope that it is infrequently. I assume that most people who have some type of chronic condition learns to deal with it in the best way they can, as I have learned to deal with my headaches.


EAT! DRINK! BE MARY!: TMI Questions from Sean

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I am not a huge drinker. I am a social drinker more than anything, but my friends tend to consume two or three drinks for each of mine. I especially don’t drink around people who I’m not out to or feel comfortable around because I tend to lose my inhibitions and am a lot gayer. However, when I saw this post from Sean at Just A Jeep Guy, I couldn’t resist adding my two cents. I love these TMI questions when it’s something I can relate to. So here goes:

1. Cocktails at brunch: Bloody Mary or Mimosa? Bloody Mary during cold weather, and Mimosas if it is hot outside. Both are pretty fantastic drinks if made right, but too cheap of a champagne can ruin a Mimosa and its easy to make a bad Bloody Mary if you don’t know what you’re doing.

2. Do you have a favorite food/drink pairing? A good Pinot Grigio with Veal Scallopini (or Scaloppini al Vino) or linguini with clams in a white wine sauce. Of course, you can never go wrong with beer and pizza. Also a favorite is Lazy Magnolia’s (a Mississippi brewery) Southern Pecan Nut Brown Ale with pecan crusted chicken is a great pairing.

3. Beer? Wine? or Cocktails? Why? Beer or Mike’s Hard Lemonade on a hot day hanging out with friends. White wine when it’s a more formal event. Cocktails, particularly a margarita or cape cod when out at a bar, unless I don’t want to spend much money, then it’s Bud Light.

4. Red wine or white wine? White wine. I can’t stand red wine.

5. Tell me about the hard stuff. Nothing beats Tito’s Handmade Vodka. It’s a wonderful smooth tasting vodka, and it always gives me lovely dreams.

6. Cigars? No, I’ve tried to smoke them, but I hate them for two reasons: 1) they smell like burning dog shit, and 2) I can’t get the taste out of my mouth the next day.

7. When was the last time you were hungover? Worst hangover? It’s been several months since I’ve had a hangover, but the worst lasted about 3 days. I do my best not to drink enough to have a hangover. It was due to mixing alcohols. I keep with one type of alcohol a night, so that I want get sick. I can’t mix liquor and beer or change the beer I am drinking or drink more than one type of liquor.

8. Best hangover cure. Before I go to bed, I take three-four ibuprofen (depending on how much I had to drink) and a full glass of water. I usually don’t have a hangover if I do this.

9. Craziest/baddest thing you did when you had too much? Did you remember it or did your friends inform you? Make it a fun one! Ok, this might break some illusions some of you have about me, but several years ago, I got really drunk in New Orleans and gave a go-go dancer a blowjob while he was dancing on the bar. I remember it quite well. I am cursed/blessed with remembering everything when I’ve been drinking. It was slutty and a hell of a lot of fun at the time. And yes, I’d do it again if given the chance, lol.

BONUS
Are you a cheap date? How many drinks does it take you get you into bed? Yep, I’m probably a cheap date, especially if tequila is involved. Tequila makes me horny, and I am not one to drink a whole lot, so yeah, I’m a cheap date. If on a date I am unlikely to drink more than two or three drinks. If out with friends, I rarely drink more than the equivalent to a six pack of beer.

So there you have it. My TMI questions about booze.


A Collection of Thoughts


There were several topics that I wanted to blog about today, but couldn’t decide on only one, so I just thought this would be a random post of a collection of my thoughts.  So, here we go.

First of all, I was watching Julie & Julia last night for the first time.  It is quite a delightful movie, and when Julie Powell found out that Julia Child was not fond of her blog, I began to think about blogging.  Personally, I have had wonderful experiences blogging.  Yes, there have been times when people have left somewhat hateful, or at least disheartening comments on my blog, but for the most part, my comments are positive.  I have met and corresponded with some wonderful people and made a few delightful new friends who have been an inspiration in my life.  Also, unlike Julie Powell, my favorite author, Mark Childress, once commented on my blog when I wrote about what an admirer I was of his writing.  It was truly a thrill.  I’ve had authors and poets write to me, and I have always enjoyed reading what they send me. I am currently reading one of those books right now,  Shirts and Skins by Jeffrey Luscombe, The Gay Groom.  And what a delightful book it is.  I can’t wait to finish it and review it for all of you.

Next on my list of thoughts is to answer a few comments from my post yesterday “Jesus Was a Capricorn.” For the Anonymous commenter who said he or she was one of those “ Conservative Republicans” I described, I wanted to say that I agree with you completely that I too am “concerned that so many of the beliefs on BOTH sides of the aisle (conservative and liberal) have more to do with following the crowd lined up behind their banner vs. seeking, listening and discerning what the truth is and forming their own views and opinions based on that.”  I honestly think that for the majority of Americans, neither the Republican nor Democratic Party represent our beliefs anymore.  They both have some very loud voices that drown out the moderates of America.  I firmly believe that we should treat others as we want to be treated and neither party really takes that into consideration.  They are far too concerned about what they don’t like and what everyone else is doing wrong than to have any helpful solutions.  We need more positive politics.  The recent party conventions were more about negative politics than positive politics.

And to Silvereagle, I want to thank you for your encouraging words.  Jay, I know that I am preaching to the choir, but I also think that if we know our arguments better and and more informed about the truth, then we are better prepared to give rebuttals to those who fight against us. Will, I think that instead of thinking of them as 2,000 year old prejudices, we should think of them as morals that have been handed down through history from the beginning of mankind.  Since the first people decided to believe in an afterlife, we have placed human morals, those basic fundamentals of the laws of nature and nature’s God, as the basic tenements of reaching a peaceful afterlife.  And, GP, you are absolutely correct about the Apocrypha, but many of those early writings cannot be traced to the first century and are often from the 3rd, 4th, or 5th centuries.  While some of them possibly should have been included, there is not enough of those books that have survived to add to the Biblical cannon.  When we reach the afterlife, our questions will be answered.
I also wanted to remind you guys that I do have jewelry for sale on Etsy.com.  If there is something that you like and would like somewhat differently from what is described in the listings, then let me know, and I can custom make something for you.  I have also added a few new items to my listings, so check it out, and get to buying, LOL.
Finally, I wanted to say, “It’s finally here.”  The fall season has made it.  We had our first mild day in what seems like forever.  It was very nice to finally walk outside and not break out into a sweat because of the heat and humidity.  It was actually pleasant.  Fall is still officially a couple of weeks away, but at least we are getting a small respite from the heat.  It may not last long, but I can at least hold out hope.
So there are my random thoughts for today.
P.S. The picture above has nothing to do with anything in this post but is merely another piece of randomness.  I just thought the picture was so cute and wanted to share it with you.