Sick siblings

Joi (one of my students) comes to see me during recess.

"I'm not riding the bus today. I'm riding in a car."

"Really?"

"Yeah, when my little sister is sick, I ride in a car."

"Oh, she's sick?"

"Yeah, she's got the chicken pops. But my mom gave her some pink lotion to dry up those pops."

Facing Fears

To my readers who may not know me so well: I do NOT do well with scary things like suspenseful movies... or cockroaches. For example after being "forced" to see The Ring, for months I couldn't stand to be alone in a room with a TV. I just knew someone was going to crawl out of it. Just thought you might need to know that to be fully impressed with the following story.

So my friend Lisa found out about a corn maze in Enoree. She even found coupons online and had us over for dinner before the event. Well, I was pretty sure I had clarified with the girls (Heidi, Katie, and Lisa) that it wasn't haunted...and that I could have a personal chaperone the entire time. Half of that was right.

As we were eating dinner safely in the daylight, I asked again (for reassurance): "Now this trail isn't haunted, right?" An uncomfortable silence fell on my three friends as they all looked away. "Well, it may have some spooks." Turns out it WAS haunted. As fear settled in my heart, all appetite for my barbeque sandwich dissipated. What could I do? I had to go. There was no choice.

Upon arrival, we learned that there are 2 trails - one with no spooks and one with. Guess which one I voted for:). As a compromise, we did the no-spook trail first - it took us over an hour to complete. After getting over the eerieness of a cornfield at night, I actually started enjoying it. And then we finished.

Time for the spook trail. Well, I kept telling myself they were just kids from a local church's youth group - but my eyes told me they were monsters, witches, and serial killers with weed whackers. The part I really didn't care for was when they would walk behind you quietly until you turned around and saw them. True to their word though, my friends stood by me (or was it that I had a death grip on their sweatshirts?). I had to keep reminding myself that no one really dies in a corn maze. But do they go crazy? - I found myself wondering. The smart maze planners made the spook side only about 20 minutes instead of the hour non-spook trail. All of a sudden we were finished - alive, untouched, sane, victorious! To celebrate our near brush with death, we took a picture to forever engrain the moment in our minds. Although I do not ever plan on going on another haunted trail, I do feel stronger and braver for having faced that fear. Thanks girls, for pushing me to do what I never would have done on my own!

Note to any future maze goers: Shining a flashlight directly into a monster's eyes is very effective for making him/her leave you alone.

Country Relief

Nancy (my good friend and fellow teacher) and I were chosen to be the "suffering" attendees for a Math conference in Myrtle Beach on Thursday and Friday. The weather was absolutely gorgeous and made for a relaxing few days for the mind and body. Oh, we learned a few things too:).

On our way back to Greenville, we took an emergency bathroom break on a solitary exit at a gas station surrounded by rolling countryside and open space.

Upon arrival, we couldn't help but notice the pick-up trucks that filled the parking lot and the sign taped to the glass doors which stated: NO DOGS (or other animals) ALLOWED IN THE STORE. Hmm. Has this been a problem in the past? Next we notice that everyone in the gas station is wearing camoflauge something (hat, pants, etc.). We began to feel a little out of place being that we were in a Honda with no animals or camoflauge. Nevertheless, we remained true to our mission.

Into the bathroom. Now please let me encourage you to read further - I promise to use discretion;). Upon first entering, you almost walk into a toilet. There are two other toilets with stalls for privacy if that is what you prefer. Well, Nancy and I wimped out and opted for the enclosed areas.

In surveying my surroundings, I observed a beautiful golden twirly item hanging from the ceiling. As I looked more closely, I saw that many a fly had met its demise in that golden goo. Who knew a fly strip could be so aesthetically pleasing?

Being the sanitary person I am, I then go to wash my hands with ....Dawn? Yes, dish detergent was the soap of choice at this fine establishment - a little drop'll do ya.

Hmmm. A handle for the faucet? Apparently overated because all that was left was a needle sized stick to carefully move up for water and down to turn it back off.

After successfully washing our hands and feeling much relieved, we left that memorable little gas station full of joy and sweet memories.

Fishy materials

Today was the last day my students presented their habitat projects and reports on an animal of their choice. They all did such a great job! I never cease to be amazed at the creativity of each new group...and that of their parents.

After a brief presentation of their project, the presenter takes three questions from the captivated audience. The most popular question by far is "Where did you get the _______ that you used in your habitat?"

Common answers include: Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, oh, and one Dollar General Tree.

However, when Vincent was asked where he got the materials for his project, I was unprepared for his reply:

"Well, I got them from Long John. Uh, Long John something. Oh, it was Long John Silver's."

Who knew they sold materials for Science projects? And all this time I thought they just sold fish!

Circulatory Lesson

So Erika (one of my students) plops down on the bench next to me at Recess.

I ask, "Did you need a break?"

"Yeah, my heart is beeping too fast."

"Really? How do you know your heart is beeping?"

"I touched it and it feels like a baby is under there trying to get out."

Apparently, our unit on body systems will be particularly informative, perhaps a bit disappointing, to this blooming cardiologist.