Kids Say the Darndest Things

So one of my FAVORITE things about elementary school are the little kids. They are so stinkin' cute.

This is an older story, but I love it so much I have to share it. It was Thanksgiving and I was doing an observation in a kindergarten class. One teacher was reading the story of Thanksgiving to her kids and she got to the part about how the pilgrims were being persecuted for their religions beliefs. The story spoke of how the king put the pilgrims in jail just because of what they believed. In an effort to try to get the kids to make personal connections, she tried to ask the kids how they'd feel if someone threw them in jail just for being them. Well this cute little kid in the back started waving his hands like crazy, "Ms. Fernandez! Ms. Fernandez!!!" When the teacher sort of ignored him, he blurted out loud as you can be: "My dad's in jail!" Ha! Poor Mrs. Fernandez said, "Thank you for sharing." Well, this little one wasn't done and proceeded to tell all about how his father landed in jail in front of the whole class. Ah, precious!

Recently I got this story from a counselor at mine. Recently she had this conversation: "How was your weekend?" The response, "Oh grandma kicked daddy out."
Counselor: Oh, why did daddy get kicked out?
Student: Cuz Grandma got sick
Counselor: Oh no! Is grandma ok?
Student: Yeah, Daddy was stealing her pills to sell weed.
Counselor: Weed?
Student: You know, what adults smoke to feel good.
(The child is in 1st grade)
Ha! Precocious.

And then the reason I wanted to write this post. Today I was just wandering around, not doing work although I have a mountain (really, I do). I went into a kindergarten class and this little boy came running up to me, reaching up like little kids do when they want to get picked up. Well he's way too old to get picked up, so I kinda went like he wanted a hug, but then he said, "Ms. W! Ms. W! I want to get tested!!!" Ha! So apparently getting tested for special education is the latest thing. I never knew sped could be so popular! (Although considering I'm getting initial referrals at a rate of 1 per day - which is totally ridiculous - there might be some truth to this statement)

You know, he's not the first to tell me this. I had a kid throw a temper tantrum - hard core, under my table, on the floor, wailing her little eyes out - when I tried to bring her back to her Head Start preschool after I finished testing her. Then she gave me the most long winded story about how her mother didn't bring her the right blanket and she didn't want to go back to school to nap.

As I'm walking out of the kindergarten class, a little girl follows me out. I turn around and scold her, "Go back to class!"
She gives me this big hug and while not letting me go she says, "Take me with you!"
Me: "I can't, I have to go back to work."
Her: "I want to live with you?"
Me internally (What the heck???)
Me: "Uh, Go back to class."
Her: "But I love you!"
Me internally (Kiddo, I barely know you.)
Me: "Oh! So sweet! I love you too."
Me internally (Did I just tell a random 5 year old I love her?)
Her: "I want you to be my mommy!"
Me internally (@($@*(%^????)
Me: "Oh I'm sure your real mommy loves you very very much."

Kids are awesome...it's too bad the adults aren't.

Hawaiian Kine Professional Attire

I still remember when I first started working at Ilima and everyone told me that I wouldn't be dressing the same the following year...well I still dress the same :) I even managed to move down to elementary school and keep the same wardrobe. Granted, I don't work hands on with the little ones that often, but still I consider myself a professional dresser even by mainland standards.

When Chris and I really started getting serious, I'd get a lot of comments about how he dressed since he was pretty infamous for being casual, but he can clean up if he needs to. Now, he's got a pretty standard attire of a t-shirt and khaki pants or jeans. Wednesdays he's started wearing a tie and dress shirt just for fun.

So that's us...but what about the rest of Hawaii's working educators?

This past January I went to a professional development. I won't name what it was, but it was a training that involved district resource teachers, administration, fellow teachers, etc. This particular session I arrived early and as I gathered my stuff, my jaw just about hit the ground at what I saw. At first I figured, maybe I mistook what I saw, but then my admin joined me at the table and before she put her bag down, I saw her jaw just about hit the ground too and I knew without looking at it what she was seeing.

Now, a little caveat: yes, dressing in Hawaii can be viewed as somewhat less casual than mainland attire. However, this outfit was pretty...interesting. Judge for yourself:


Several people were pretty scandalized by this particular individual's choice of attire. I can't, for the life of me, figure out why someone would dress like this to a professional function...the best I can figure is that she had a really good night and had to do a walk of shame to work. But she sure wasn't acting shamed since she just walked all around with her head held high...and her shorts pretty high too!

Regardless, my eyeballs and my brain had a field day with this one. SO SCANDALOUS! And of course while I might be pleading scandal and shock, I am obviously not mature enough to just judge her and let it go. So when I saw her at the bank, I had to capture the moment. I suppose if being in education doesn't work, there's always the paparazzi for me!

Still though...I mean, come on people...I have underwear that's longer than her shorts! :) And it's the Big Island. Can you blame me? This kind of nonsense is the spice of my life now!!!

Chris vs. Cow

I'm sure some of you have heard about Chris' latest....misadventure. I am trying to figure out how to upload the video, but in case you hadn't heard - Chris had a run in with a cow - literally.

After spending this morning in the emergency room, I am very happy to report that he is fine. He is just bruised and banged up, but nothing is broken. The doctor's verdict that in the case of Chris vs. the Cow, Callisto takes the title. (I have no idea that our HMSA co-pay covers male ego-boosting!)

More to come...

They'd Pay Money for It???

Hilo is a pretty small town and apparently there aren't many cake bakers. Me and my big mouth talking about my cake decorating apparently led people to believe that I had a business and in just the past week, I got asked to make two cakes (one of which is to feed 100 people - YIKES!). It's hard to believe that people would actually pay for my cakes considering I just do it for fun.

My first (and pretty major) dilemma is figuring out how much to CHARGE for a cake. Decorating cakes are pretty labor intensive, even if you eliminate the baking part. The local supermarket, KTA charges $100 for a basic sheet cake that feeds 75 and $500 for a 3-tiered, basically decorated wedding cake. I guess I have to do some research on what's the going rate around here :)

Just for fun I put all my bestest cakes on a little flier. The only one I'm missing is Abby's beach ball because I don't have a great picture of it.

Just out of curiosity, how much would YOU pay for a decorated cake?

Running of the Bulls

This blog is long overdue, but we were hoping someone who got photos would send them to us....

I've always had a curiosity about the running of the bulls in Pamplona. It seemed like a very dangerous and exciting thing to do. Well after February 20, 201 I can safely say that I am not curious anymore. Chris and I spent today at the Panaewa Rodeo. It was a hot day of roping, barrel running and mutton busting.

Chris decided to enter in the spectators' event: The Bull Run. We hadn't seen this before at the Waimea rodeo, but the premise is pretty simple. Basically they let loose two bulls and both have a blue ribbon on them. One of the ribbons is a $500 winner, all you have to do is get it off the bull. Doesn't sound TOO bad right?

I have to figure out how to upload the video (sans my commentary - which apparently people love, but I do not). For now you'll have to see some pictures:

THE BEGINNING...

OF A VERY...

VERY PAINFUL...

CLOSE ENCOUNTER WITH A BULL!

NOW CHRIS WILL TELL YOU HE'S SPRAWLING (WRESTLING)...
I WILL TELL YOU HE'S GETTING HIS BUTT KICKED

DOING THE SMART THING AND TRYING TO GET AWAY

What you see is actually the SECOND time Chris get attacked by the bull. The first time, the bull hit him head on and Chris actually rode the bull's head for a few seconds. I was too busy freaking out to actually get that on video though.

No one won the $500, but thankfully Chris has learned his lesson and has no desire to wrangle bulls anytime soon. And neither of us are curious any longer to experience Pamplona's running of the bulls!

Lest you are worried, Chris is just bruised and banged up. We spent the next morning in the ER and after X-Rays, blood work and a CAT scan the doctor pronounced that he had "abs of steel" since"all the organs were where they were supposed to be." (Can you tell the doctor was a male doctor?!?!)

Before anyone starts asking how could I LET him do this...I don't let Chris do anything...He's his own totally stupid 30+ year old self. I am not taking any responsibility for his dumb decisions. As a teacher I merely say, "natural consequence" and let that stand on it's own.

:)

So THAT'S why it's called Mt. View!

So you'd think that after the last few months I'd realize WHY my school was called Mt. View...well just last week I realized it when I looked out the door of my office and saw this:


Not a bad view huh? It's hard to see, but there's snow on the top of Mauna Kea. There's actually been a lot of snow on Mauna Kea - even more than what you might be able to make out in this picture. You can drive up and see the snow if you have 4WD and go really early. I know, hard to believe, but yes, we actually get snow in Hawai'i. Lately there's been snow on Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and Haleakala on Maui. If you step just outside my office door you can also see Mauna Loa. Mauna Loa has just a dusting of snow on top of it.

Every morning when we drive up the highway to school, Chris and I have some amazing views of the mountain. On really clear days you can see the observatories on the top! Someday soon Chris and I will have to take a snow day in Hawai'i and head on up!

The Following Post is Rated NC

So I know I probably shouldn't share this - especially since this is the inaugural blog post of the new year - but I really can't resist. For my birthday (January 3rd) I went shopping at the local mall. Every Christmas Victoria's Secret has a great sale where their normally ridiculous prices for bras become somewhat reasonable.

I was hunting in the sales bin when some lady made a comment. At first I ignored her because if ever there is a time not to strike up conversation with a stranger it's over unmentionables. But she said it again and waggled a bra in my face. I looked up and could not believe my eyeballs. I include a photo below...so I'm giving you fair warning...This is not for small eyes.

Keep scrolling...






















Ok I warned you ....

GAHHH!

Yes...your eyes are not deceiving you. It is indeed a brassiere with BUILT-IN NIPPLES!!!! Ok, call me conservative, but I thought the whole point of bras was to first, shape and support and second, camouflage the nipples (Or as my precocious friend Makaela might call them: blueberries hahaha). Why on earth with anyone want to walk around with high-beams is completely beyond me. So of COURSE I tried it on. And yes, they are as ridiculous as they look...since they also have about 5 inches of padding. These are clearly bras for a different type of woman than myself.

Now I'm hoping this is the last bra post I ever do, lest those of you faithful readers who actually read my boring blog entries that unfortunately lack cute kid antics to entertain begin to believe that I am booby obsessed :)