Horses and Snow. Hate and Love.

When I was younger, I went to a friend's horseback riding birthday party.  As we rode along the trail that went along the road, a car drove past, spooked the horses and BAM.  I, along with everyone else, was thrown from the horses. This was a traumatic experience. I swore horses off for the rest of my life.

Well, until summer 2006 when I was a 17 year old, almost college freshman. PC was offering trips for incoming freshman to get together and meet. Well, I had two options for this trip. Horses or water. Two things I hate a lot. I chose what I thought would be the lesser of two evils, horses. That was the last time I rode a horse. Summer 2006.

This past weekend, Chrissy, mom and I met my aunt, uncle and Blake at HHI. Well, we took Blake to the stables. Luckily for me, the adult horseback riding was ALLLL booked up. See pictures. So few of me and the horses.

 As you can see from the picture to the left, I was a little scared. Blake tried to coach me into it, but I still screamed whenever the horse got close. I literally could not have been happier than when the woman told us the rides were all booked up.

 I LOVE snow. I think it is so pretty. Well, we have been lucky enough to already have 2 substantial snows this winter. Here are some pics of this one.

The view of the deck.

Max HATES the snow.

View out front.

Another view out front.

Where's Max?

Dedicated to Molly Kent

Tomorrow will be exactly one month since updating my blog.. I would like to say it is my New Year's Resolution to write in it more frequently, but while I will try harder, it was not my resolution. However, some slack should be cut for me, I did just have my tonsils taken out. Let me recap a few highlights of the month of December.

I had completely forgotten about this story, because it is so like many other of my days at school, but I told a story to my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin while at his birthday party. While they were here for Christmas, Blake kept requesting that I tell the "Pantie Story." So, for Blake, here it is. One afternoon, the K3 teacher had to leave school early for an emergency. Because my class' after-school teacher was in my room, I went to K3 to help get the kids ready to leave school. While in there, one of the kids was telling me that his dad takes off his drawers before getting in bed. He then said to a girl, "Miss Laskowski has on some drawers." Well, she responded to him, "No, Miss L wears PANTIES!!!"

Like I mentioned before, I had my tonsils taken out. This is the worst thing I have ever experienced in my life. First, I would like to say, nurses talk too much. I do not care about your life while you are inserting and IV into my hand. I do not want to know about the 80 yr old woman in the room next to mine while you are pumping IV bags of liquid in my body. And I definitely do NOT want to be compared to a burrito as you wrap up my whole body so I cant move on the operating table. All that aside, after drinking only sips of water, pain medicine, and throwing most of that up, I was dehydrated and went to the ER the following week. What a way to spend your Christmas Eve's Eve. I ate my first bite of food at Christmas Eve dinner. It was noodles with no sauce, for those interested. I am still sore and still cannot eat a bagel, but I have recovered well.

On Christmas Eve, Chrissy slept in my room with me. Before we fell asleep, we said a prayer that Santa would bring us some David Yurman. Blake woke us up at a bright 6:30am, we opened all of our presents, and last, but certainly not least, Dad hands us two different size boxes. Inside, we both had a gorgeous David Yurman bracelet! YAY. Christmas was amazing this year, even though I was drugged up and in pain. My cousins, Aunt, and Uncle were here!

The next week, I went to Atlanta for New Year's Eve to stay with J.Crew. My first night there, I got to see a bunch of friends from school. It was amazing. But, mostly that night I was so excited to see Molly. Molly is leaving to go to Italy (JEALOUS) for the semester. On NYE, J.Crew and I met Brooke (an old friend from school) and her friend Lyndsey. It was the most fun I have ever had on NYE! Bottles were popping, balloons was dropping, and we were still able to watch Snooki drop in the balls. We danced the whole night. It was a great way to ring in the new year.

Fire Trucks, Karate, and Lego Building

It's crazy how time flies.

This time last year I was in a car with my two roommates on our way to Frankie's Fun Park, counting to 10, and screaming in the car, $100 or $30 on a Sigma Nu boy at the pledge auction, studying for exams/doing projects, and rocking my tacky Christmas sweater. This year.. none of that. I am writing lesson plans, stringing jingle bells with 4yr olds, going to 7yr old's karate parties, and preparing to have my tonsils taken out.

This weekend, Mom and I went to NC for my cousin's 7th birthday party. This reminded me of why I should not have children for a very very very very long time. With 11 kids doing karate, I was just fine when I left alone. I mastered 2 lego ships, 2 monster trucks, and beat a 7 yr old with my monster truck. I'd call the trip a success. Especially because it included fire alarms, cops, and an ambulance all at once. Let me explain. Mom and I were curled up in our hotel beds (don't worry, mom checked for bed bugs), watching a little SVU (Criminal Minds wasn't on..), and ERRR ERRR ERRRR. (Insert fire alarm here) We get our shoes on and head into the hall. The 17 yr old looking front desk girl was running up the stairs and she told us to go outside because "I don't know where it's coming from!" We go down the stairs, people peeking out their rooms and going back into them, and head outside. To our amazement, with the fire alarm blaring, there is not a fire truck as you would have thought, but an ambulance and 2 cop cars. As a few hotel customers gather, in walk the paramedics. One looks to the other and says "Why are these alarms going off?" hmmm. You're there for a reason unrelated to the fire alarm? Interesting.

In closing, I will leave you with a picture.

Not Fair!!

Well, the big news of my day: I got a reimbursement check from school today. Spent it all on itunes. Glee to be exact.

It had been a while since I had updated and I had some complaints from my faithful readers (mom) so I thought I would write today.

Last week, I was asked by one of my kids, "Miss Skowski(can't pronounce it correctly!), is Santa real?" Well, of course I said yes. So, I guess feeling that my answered hadn't satisfied, another kid said to him, "DUH! you can go see him at the mall!" Whew, got away with that one. But then, I got to thinking. Why do parents lie about Santa, the Easter bunny, the tooth fairy, etc? Why would you spend hundreds of dollars a year and lie and pretend it wasn't you who bought it. Your kids think Santa is cooler than you. That just doesn't work for me. Santa isn't paying for your new drum set. Santa didn't buy you that Easy Bake Oven. Santa didn't put your new bike together. (or in Chrissy's case, your new treadmill) So, why do people do it? Santa didn't work a day in his life, and here I'll be slaving for my teaching salary to give the credit to a fat creeper in a red suit. In the words of my class, "NOT FAIR!"

Do You Have a Real Name?

After a recent girl-talk session with Hillary (hey, Hill), I came to a conclusion about guys that I am attracted to. After talking about the recent males in my life, I realized that they all have nicknames.

How do you trust a guy that doesn't even go by his real name? Not even his last name either. Just some sort of an abbreviation of it. Your mother named you something for a reason. Your father gave you a last name for a reason.

It is one thing for your friends, teammates, or frat brothers to call you something funny/dumb/embarrassing/shorter than your real name, but for a girl that you are trying to impress? Lets stick with your birth name (unless it is something completely dumb).

So, these boys with nicknames haven't worked for me yet. Now, as I continue with my life, if you are a Tric, Dubb, or PrettyNose turn around. But, if you are a Christopher, Brayden, or Robert then Hello, My name is Juliane.

Recap.

By golly. First, I must apologize to all of my devoted blog readers.. I have neglected you, and I am sorry. I won't promise to not do it again, because I am never good with promises. But, I can do my best to not go 20 days without writing.

I'll start from 20 days ago. The last time I wrote, I had just gotten back from PC's recruitment. After that, I was back to PC for homecoming. This was something I hadn't experienced since my junior year because senior year homecoming was literally that. I was home in Greenville. However, luckily for me and my friends, this year's celebration included no knifes, holes in walls, doors being busted in, screaming, futon throwing, neighbors calling, and cops coming. This year included 4 Loko (please don't ban it, SC), Senor Garcias, rashes, air mattresses, A1 crammed into Molly's dorm room, break-ups, make-ups, KFC chicken legs, and another PC loss. Also, there was a beautiful explosion of BLUE.

My best friends at the game.

That was 2 weeks ago. Let me tell you, those have been some busy 2 weeks. I found out I am getting my tonsils removed, my dad is moving away for a year, I have to have a fake Christmas tree, I was observed (officially), and so much more.

Some may think it sucks I have to get my tonsils taken out over Christmas break. I actually think it is wonderful. I don't eat the food anyway, so now I get to load up on my addiction, Marble Slab. I get to miss 2 days of work. AND I WON'T GET STREP OR TONSIL STONES ANYMORE!!!!

Also, in the last 20 days, the best thing happened. PC broke its 20 game losing streak!!!!!!!! They defeated Gardner Webb 26-24. Way to go, HOSE.

Now, onto more wonderful tales: (I do teach kindergarten)
1) While playing with plastic dolls (they are dresses as occupations, teacher, mailman, etc.), a boy in my class holds up a girl doll with blond hair. "This is Miss Laskowski." He puts her into the house we built. He then holds up a man, with a tire, and a mustache. "This is Miss Laskowski's husband." He puts the man in my house. He then proceeds to have the 2 dolls make out. Very inappropriate.

2) Halloween is coming very soon. This has been the conversation daily for my kids. Everything goes back to costumes, candy, and craziness. My kids were laying down for rest time and I was working on paper work. Chass looks up at me and she says, "Miss L, I know what I am going to be for Halloween." Knowing she had already told me she was going to be a vampire, I asked her what it was. She said, "I am going to be YOU!" I laughed and said, "oh really, so you want to be a teacher." She said, "No, I just want to be you. I'm not going to work when I grow up." So, I am not sure if she thinks dressing up like me is cool, like dressing up as Snooki is. Or if she thinks dressing up as me is scary, like dressing up as a vampire. I am going with cool.

3) I have been busy doing report cards. Nothing says, Hey Jules, you really did graduate and you really are a teacher, more than report cards do. I never want to do them again. Lucky for me, I get to do them 4 times a year for the rest of my life.

And The World Keeps Spinning Around..

This week has been so long. And crazy. And tiring. And just plain blah. Where to start?

1. I went to PC for recruitment. We got 20 new girls! Amazzzing, new girls. It brought me back to my college days (oh, those were the days) of no sleep, sleepovers, and fast food. I left exhausted, sick to my stomach, sore, and with a cold. I haven't been so happy in a while.
2. I had one child suspended. A four year old. Suspended. Yes. For the 2nd time. This was his 4th write up. You may be asking yourself how we got to this point.. Well, first was poking someone in the eye on purpose to get on the computer. Second, was biting a child through his pants and leaving swelling, blood, and bite marks. Third, biting someone else, not as severely, but still, biting is biting. (insert suspension #1) And fourth, giving a girl an Indian burn on her arm, rubbing it raw. (insert 2 day suspension)
3. My class went to the Peace Center on a field trip. We saw Strega Nona. It was just a bubbling hour of songs and pasta. Exciting.
4. I put a bra on Max. 
5. J Crew told me she wanted to be "Auntie J Crew."
6. I was observed. This was an informal one, just to give me a copy of the evaluation form. Don't worry, I'm an excellent teacher. :) The form said so.
7. A girl in my class brought in a Black and Mild. I don't know what was funniest about this situation. The fact that it happened during religion, the fact that a boy started yelling "I DONT BELIEVE IT!! A CIGAR! A CIGAR!" or hearing my parents aged co-worker call her mom and use the term "a black" because that's what I had called it.
8. Expulsion. Refer back to #2 for back story. He came back to school today, after a 2 day suspension. He punched a child (#5). I found out today that we don't play.

So, now it is Friday night. I am sitting on my couch. Max next to me. House to myself. You may think I am a loser. However, there is nothing I would rather do on a Friday night than what I am doing right now.