I haven't posted since May?

Ok, I'm determined (again) to keep up with my blog. I miss having a blog. Yet - I spend too much time playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook and not nearly enough time blogging. And I have found that my blog will not write itself.

I don't actually know what to write today. I'm in my C block class at the high school, and my students are managing to work on their own for the moment. Ok, as soon as I typed that I had to help a student figure out something called a "Box and Whiskers" problem on a calculator. But now they are being self-sufficient again.

My list today is going to be totally random. I don't have a topic in mind of which I can form an entire list. I have no concentration, no focus. Just, well, randomness.

1. There is a serious lack of Zhu Zhu pets in my life. I want to get a Zhu Zhu pet for Halle for Chanukah. And really, part of the reason is so that I can play with the Zhu Zhu pet. I think they look fun. Well, they look fun if you spend $100 dollars or more and get the habitrail and hamster ball and car. And yes, I want them all. My sister and I were in line at Toys R Us for hours at the midnight Black Friday sale. We were about 1000 people back and the first 100 people got tickets for Zhu Zhu pets. We were exponentially not even close to getting one. Sigh.
A few days later Toys R Us was making the Zhu Zhu pets available to the first 50 people in the store. They opened at 7:00, I showed up at 8:00 and I was about 45 minutes late. My sister, who did know about the Zhu Zhu pets but didn't tell me until 7:55 am that very same morning, got an email about them. I wasn't dressed, my teeth weren't brushed, and I had Buckwheat hair. I was kind of surprised they didn't just give me one because they felt bad for me. I was a hot mess. Alas, they claimed they had none.
There are Zhu Zhu pets online. But I'm having trouble spending upwards of $50 for a toy that retails for $10. I'm not saying I won't. I haven't yet. But I can't rule out the possibility.

2. I am going to be in serious trouble if I don't get my homework done. My class ended on November 12th. It was a very strange class schedule - I had class from 4:00 pm to 10:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursday. But only for a month. And because the class was so compressed, our professor, who I love, gave us until the first week of December to finish all of our work. I have definitely made progress. But I'm not finished. I still have to find the middle school where my professor works during the day and get an article from her. I still have to contact my advisor at my graduate program to find out how to log into the computer system that we use to hand in work. And there's quite a bit of homework to be finished. I think once I get the other stuff - the article, the log in information, etc. - out of the way I'll be better able to finish the actual school work. Well, I hope so anyway. I have to get a B in the class or I won't get reimbursed. And grad classes are expensive. AND I didn't even pay for the class, my mom did. So I have to get reimbursed for sure. How mortifying would it be to get a poor grade! My transcript, so full of good grades, would suffer. I really have to get a move on.

3. Chanukah is coming rapidly - nine days until the first candlelighting. Can that be true? I knew after Thanksgiving we'd have a short time to get ready. But I feel like Chanukah has totally snuck up on me. I have to go through the secret present closet and wrap everything and get a list of what I have. Then I can make a list of what I need. I know I need stuff for my nephews, and my parents. I have two small things for my sister and need something else. But she's so easy to buy for. I need to get some stuff for my friends in MI, I always send them some toys at the holidays. They are easy to buy for too. I love buying stuff for kids.
I'm a little irritated that my school planned their Holiday party on the first night of Chanukah. I have gone the past few years and I always like going. This year it's at someone's house, instead of the country club where they usually have it. So, it could be a bit more relaxed and fun. But I can't miss the first night of Chanukah with my family. For awhile I thought I may have my family Chanukah party on that Friday as well, but we managed to move it to Saturday. The week after that is busy too - bookgroup, the department holiday party, etc.
It's funny - there is a lot of talk about not celebrating holidays at the school, not having decorations in the school, etc. Obviously the reason is because it's a public building, and there are students of many different faiths and backgrounds. Yet, the fact that we're not supposed to have trees and decorations makes people grouchy. And I feel like they are grouchy at the Jews and Muslims because the rules were made to be inclusive to us minority groups. I can't tell you how much grumbling I hear about rules about candy canes and stuff. It's annoying. And I think it all comes from the rules that are supposed to make the religious holidays a non-issue.
Last night I went to aqua aerobics and the whole workout was done to Xmas music. I always liked a lot of Christmas music, which horrifies Rich. He hates all Xmas music. There are a few wintery songs he can stand. But not many. After living with him for 15 years, I thought I may start to hate it too. And when I'm with him, I do sort of cringe when we're at the mall and we hear Xmas music. Because he gets all squinty and mad. But last night, I have to say, I enjoyed working out to some cool holiday tunes. And Rich wasn't there to be squinty, all the more enjoyable for me!

Wow - a list of three. Not very impressive. But, it's a list nonetheless. And I haven't blogged since May. This is definitely a step in the right direction. Now I have to go ponder the Elusive Elf (much like a secret santa) sign up sheet and decide if I want to participate. Finding good $10 gifts and smaller gifts for teachers I don't know that well isn't easy. But it is fun...