Hollywood Comes to My Neighborhood

I've created a new daily blog specifically dedicated to classroom organization and management. Please visit me there at: The Clutter-Free Classroom

We went to get the pool water tested this weekend. On the way home I looked out the window of our oh-so-cool minivan and spotted this sign.

In case you can't read the fine print (since it isn't illuminated in all of it's neon glory in the photo) it reads, "Classy Rick's Bacon & Leggs."

Here...let's get a closer look.

And, because if wake up one morning and find yourself at that place in life when you are riding in a minivan with your 3 kids in the back it is pretty much required that you be offended by such a thing.

I blurted out a shocked, "Are you kidding me?"

To which my son replied with an inquisitive, "What mommy?"

And I had to quickly think up some lie on the fly...because while I view the sign as morally offensive it appears that I have no problem lying to my child so as to distract him from looking out the window to the right. Whatever.

Anyhow, although this fine establishment has always been a strip club, it was sort of set back off the road and didn't stand out. This sign changed that. I questioned my husband, "How can they get away with that? There is something very wrong about it."

We tossed in the pool chemicals and I wanted to have it retested before having people over for the 4th so I once again ventured to the pool store. It should have been a quick trip because it was 2:00 pm on a Wednesday and those poor fools who weren't smart enough to check off the "Elementary Education" box on the college application in response to "Intended Major" are all at work while I am stopping at the pool store on my way home from the beach. As we pulled out of said pool store, we found ourselves in bumper-to-bumper traffic. It barely moved. However as we slowly progressed down the one way-nowhere to turn off road-I realized the

hold up was at "Classy Rick's Bacon and Leggs." And there were police officers out front.

I pondered if there were people picketing the new sign.

I wondered if there were really THAT many people eating Bacon and Eggs at 2 pm on a Wednesday that they needed a police detail.

Alas, we made our way in front and I discovered the real cause was none other than Adam Sandler. It seems that the new and improved sign on what it normally known as the elegant "Cabaret Lounge" is just staging for a movie he is filming there.

With Vanilla Ice by the way.

Who doesn't love a little, "Ice, Ice Baby?"

OK so perhaps I'm alone on that one.

Adam Sandler and I go way back. I first saw him perform at the University of Central Florida back in the day when I was young and fun.

Around that same time I "starred" in one of his films.

Maybe "starred" was a bit of a stretch, but I did appear in one of his films.

Did you see the Waterboy? I was one of the screaming fans on the crowd at the Citrus Bowl. I basically sat here wearing an orange shirt with thousands of other people sitting there in orange shirts.

You're probably thinking, "Doh! That's where I know her from." :)

Two summers ago Mr. Sandler thwarted my dinner plans by filming GrownUps at the restaurant that we were taking my dad to dinner at for Father's Day. The place was shut down for days. My dad refuses to watch any of his movies because of it.

And so it goes that the offensive sign will be taken down in a few days. Due to the bumper to bumper traffic today though my 6 year old son was able to get a good long look at it.

More upsetting than the sign however is the fact that the movie they are filming placed Adam Sandler in the role of some guy's father. The premise is that Sandler moves in with his son and his son's fiance. That would mean that Adam Sandler is old enough to play the father of someone who is old enough to get married. And that my friends makes me feel older than my reaction to the sign made me feel.

I just might join my father in the boycotting of his films. Make that all his FUTURE films because it's not possible for my remote to stumble upon Billy Madison or the Wedding Singer without watching the rest of it.

Doobiddy Doo

The end of the year is bittersweet.

I mean, let's be honest, we're all psyched for a hiatus in the sun and surf. But, it also means the closing of a chapter.

As crazy and chaotic as it can be, there is something awesome about this time of year. The atmosphere is relaxed and, with the stress of testing behind us, we simply enjoy creative projects and activities.

I had to laugh when one of my kids randomly came out with, "Mrs. D What are you going to do without us next year? We're like your little Oompa Loompas. We're cute. We're funny. And we work for you without getting paid."

I love third graders.www.cfclassroom.com

Countdown to Summer Sale - 10 Days = 10%

When I posted the first Countdown to Summer Sale five days ago temps were in the 90s.

Here we are less than a week later.

And temps are in the 50s.

Gotta love New England weather.

I'm not going to lie, and I apologize if this makes me a bad person, but I'm happy about it.

If I'm not able to enjoy all that summer has to offer and am going to spend my days in an (unairconditioned) classroom then I'm quite content with a drizzly 56 degree day. It also helps create the illusion that we are still knee-deep in the academic year and not on the brink of singing, "no more pencils, no more books." The kids are much more focused on cool, rainy days then on the days that the classroom smells of sunscreen.

Which is good because we still have ten days left.

TEN.

DAYS.

LEFT.

In honor of the countdown I'm throwing a "Countdown to Summer Sale!" For the next 24 hours, I've marked everything in my store down by 10%.

This includes my Clutter-Free Classroom Guide, my plan book and grade book as well as all of my classroom theme kits.

There had been some problems at TPT with my new Frog Themed Classroom Kit as well as my Bee Themed Classroom Kit. Buyers were letting me know that they could place the product in their cart, but it would disappear when they went to check out. Both seem to be working now. Thanks to those of you who let me know and thanks to TPT for fixing it.

Some Lunch

Today was the day I dread each year.

Charlotte died.

I know it's coming, and yet it chokes me up every time.

And just when I start to recover, the next chapter comes along and talks about Fern growing up and it tugs at my mama-side and stabs me in the heart again.

The kids always take it hard too.

So we finish the book and the mood is quiet, but luckily it was time for lunch.

The routine is that my class lines up and I walk them down to the door near the playground. An aide meets us there and I go into the teacher's room for lunch. The routine has also become that they ask me what I brought for lunch that day.

9 times out of 10 the answer is some variation of pasta or chicken.

But not today.

Today went something like this:

Class: "So what's for lunch today Mrs. D?"

Me: "My husband cooked last night so I have leftover potatoes, carrots and pork chops."

Class: Collective gasp of horror and a few, "How could yous?" Followed by, "Mrs. D, first Charlotte died and now you're eating Wilbur!?!?"

Needless to say I did not enjoy my lunch today.www.cfclassroom.com

My Pain is Your Gain

It was in the 90s here today.

It's supposed to be close to 100 tomorrow.

The pool is open. The beach is open.

Oh, yeah...and school is still open.

And will be for another 15 days.

I've decided to throw a "Countdown to Summer Sale!" For the next 24 hours, I've marked everything in my store down by 15%.

This includes my Clutter-Free Classroom Guide, my plan book and grade book as well as all of my classroom theme kits.

I'm also throwing a contest over at my new blog. Check it out if you haven't stopped by yet. :)