Hey Readers!
We have returned from our NYC trip!! And better for it too!!
I'm working on the "NYC Part 3" post, but as soon as we got back we started to tackle the very last third of the garage that we didn't get to finish last summer. And let me tell ya, when my hubby is ready to help me with my creative space in the garage, I don't hesitate to accept!
So, please stayed turned for stories, photos and all the scoop on New York City, the studio, our movie reviews and our summer plans. :o)
Love,
Melle
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
NYC Trip Part 2
Okay, so now you are up to date, right?
(If you are not "up to date" please read the last post before reading this one.)
Well, Scott's friend Patrick and Beata are getting married this Saturday and Scott and I are going to New York City! (The girls get to stay at "Camp Grandma"; with some Aunt Lisa thrown it :).)
So, while we are there.....tomorrow night is a Yankees vs. Red Sox game - woopwoop!!
And Friday night Scott will be busy at the bachelor party, sooooo, Melle gets to go to the Lion King
with the really talented, really smart, really sweet former second grade student of mine, Khristian!
I can't wait!
I do wish I could avoid the plane ride!
But otherwise, I can't wait!
We are not taking a laptop, so I might have to post Part III when we return.....
so stay tuned!
Melle
(If you are not "up to date" please read the last post before reading this one.)
Well, Scott's friend Patrick and Beata are getting married this Saturday and Scott and I are going to New York City! (The girls get to stay at "Camp Grandma"; with some Aunt Lisa thrown it :).)
So, while we are there.....tomorrow night is a Yankees vs. Red Sox game - woopwoop!!
And Friday night Scott will be busy at the bachelor party, sooooo, Melle gets to go to the Lion King
with the really talented, really smart, really sweet former second grade student of mine, Khristian!I can't wait!
I do wish I could avoid the plane ride!
But otherwise, I can't wait!
We are not taking a laptop, so I might have to post Part III when we return.....
so stay tuned!
Melle
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
NYC story part 1 (really long)
sub story 1
Scott (my husband) and Patrick(his good friend) were in school together every year until eighth grade. Patrick would live with his grandmother during the school year and return to New York during the summer to live with his mom. That is until 9th grade when Patrick went to high school in New York . That's when Scott and Patrick lost touch. Over the years they ran into each other, once even being at The Magic Kingdom in Disney World, but they never exchanged phone numbers. This of course was before cell phones. What did we ever do w/o them? This was also before social networking. Jump forward now to about four years ago and the two fellas are young men, more mature and both with a Facebook account.....a lifelong friendship was renewed! Turns out, Patrick would return to Florida every year around the holidays and thankfully we have been added to his list of friends and family to visit. Two Christmas ago, he brought with him a lovely young lady named Beata. We liked her a lot! Then this past Christmas they shared with us their plans to get married this summer and wanted us to come to the wedding in New York City!
sub story 2
Seventeen years ago I became a teacher. My very first class was a group of 2nd graders. I believe a teacher's first class is always very special and very memorable. It was a class of about 24 students. I had some challenging boys AND some challenging girls. It was a class with some very sweet girls and some very sweet boys. It was a class with some generous parents AND some challenging parents. And it had parents I never met at all. I had moments where we stuck our hands in vegetable shortening to simulate what whale blubber would be like. We built a cave around the entrance of our doorway when we studied dinosaurs. I witnessed light bulbs when one young man discovered the joy of reading chapter books. And on the last week of school, we used baking soda and ginger ale to make our volcanoes erupt. Yep, a pretty memorable class.
But this class also had, one very special young man.
One who I would always describe him as "he came that way". He was so smart, and so friendly. He was so thoughtful, helpful and kind. He taught ME so much everyday. I also would always say, "he's great, but not because of anything I did." Well over the years, Khristian would come by to visit me. And every time, I'd tell him, "ya know, if you give me an invitation to your high school graduation, I'll be there." When he was in middle school, he began to play the trumpet with the middle school band. They would visit our elementary school. By then I was certain he was too old (and certainly was way too cool) but he'd wave at this former second grade teacher and it would make my day. Well, eventually I left Emerald Shores Elementary and of course I lost touch with Khristian. However, I kept tack of what year he would be graduating and if he stayed in the same high school, I knew what day their graduation was on......so I went. I couldn't imagine how I would find him, or if he'd even recognize me, but I went. Well, it certainly was easy to find him; he was Valedictorian! I was so happy for him. And so, I still couldn't imagine that he'd recognize me, or what would I say. After the ceremony Khristian was up at the podium so his family could take pictures; I waited.
Soon, he was giving hugs to friends and family; I still waited. But then, HE spotted me and now this huge, handsome and tall, young man picked me up, spun me around and said "you came, you came". He seemed really happy I was there!! Hee, hee!
Let me tell ya, at that time in my life, that was the best teacher booster event ever. I sure needed it!
Well, time passed, and more time passed until about 4 years ago, and just like Scott I too, started a Facebook account. And as was common when one started a FB account, you start searching for people who you wondered what happened to them. And low and behold, Khristian had a Facebook account too. Connecting with him again, was just as rewarding as before. He wrote me the nicest letter giving me credit for sparking his love of learning. Wow! Ain't that cool?!
So as I watched his posts on FB I knew he finished his degree at University of Florida, a Gator through and through! He then traveled to Europe that summer and finally accepting a position with Wells Fargo and now lives and works in Manhattan in New York City!
Scott (my husband) and Patrick(his good friend) were in school together every year until eighth grade. Patrick would live with his grandmother during the school year and return to New York during the summer to live with his mom. That is until 9th grade when Patrick went to high school in New York . That's when Scott and Patrick lost touch. Over the years they ran into each other, once even being at The Magic Kingdom in Disney World, but they never exchanged phone numbers. This of course was before cell phones. What did we ever do w/o them? This was also before social networking. Jump forward now to about four years ago and the two fellas are young men, more mature and both with a Facebook account.....a lifelong friendship was renewed! Turns out, Patrick would return to Florida every year around the holidays and thankfully we have been added to his list of friends and family to visit. Two Christmas ago, he brought with him a lovely young lady named Beata. We liked her a lot! Then this past Christmas they shared with us their plans to get married this summer and wanted us to come to the wedding in New York City!
sub story 2
Seventeen years ago I became a teacher. My very first class was a group of 2nd graders. I believe a teacher's first class is always very special and very memorable. It was a class of about 24 students. I had some challenging boys AND some challenging girls. It was a class with some very sweet girls and some very sweet boys. It was a class with some generous parents AND some challenging parents. And it had parents I never met at all. I had moments where we stuck our hands in vegetable shortening to simulate what whale blubber would be like. We built a cave around the entrance of our doorway when we studied dinosaurs. I witnessed light bulbs when one young man discovered the joy of reading chapter books. And on the last week of school, we used baking soda and ginger ale to make our volcanoes erupt. Yep, a pretty memorable class.
But this class also had, one very special young man.
One who I would always describe him as "he came that way". He was so smart, and so friendly. He was so thoughtful, helpful and kind. He taught ME so much everyday. I also would always say, "he's great, but not because of anything I did." Well over the years, Khristian would come by to visit me. And every time, I'd tell him, "ya know, if you give me an invitation to your high school graduation, I'll be there." When he was in middle school, he began to play the trumpet with the middle school band. They would visit our elementary school. By then I was certain he was too old (and certainly was way too cool) but he'd wave at this former second grade teacher and it would make my day. Well, eventually I left Emerald Shores Elementary and of course I lost touch with Khristian. However, I kept tack of what year he would be graduating and if he stayed in the same high school, I knew what day their graduation was on......so I went. I couldn't imagine how I would find him, or if he'd even recognize me, but I went. Well, it certainly was easy to find him; he was Valedictorian! I was so happy for him. And so, I still couldn't imagine that he'd recognize me, or what would I say. After the ceremony Khristian was up at the podium so his family could take pictures; I waited.
Soon, he was giving hugs to friends and family; I still waited. But then, HE spotted me and now this huge, handsome and tall, young man picked me up, spun me around and said "you came, you came". He seemed really happy I was there!! Hee, hee!
Let me tell ya, at that time in my life, that was the best teacher booster event ever. I sure needed it!
Well, time passed, and more time passed until about 4 years ago, and just like Scott I too, started a Facebook account. And as was common when one started a FB account, you start searching for people who you wondered what happened to them. And low and behold, Khristian had a Facebook account too. Connecting with him again, was just as rewarding as before. He wrote me the nicest letter giving me credit for sparking his love of learning. Wow! Ain't that cool?!
So as I watched his posts on FB I knew he finished his degree at University of Florida, a Gator through and through! He then traveled to Europe that summer and finally accepting a position with Wells Fargo and now lives and works in Manhattan in New York City!
Pre NYC story...
Alright my faithful blog readers, I want to blog so badly 'cuz it is OFFICIALLY my first day of summer vacation, but I have so much to do because in TWO days, Scott and I leave for NYC!
("summer vacation" and "have so much to do" should NOT be in the same sentence)
And, I can't leave for NYC w/o telling you how it all came to be.
I think I'll have to tell it in about two parts.
So stay tuned; check back; and hopefully I'll have Part I posted by tonight.
("summer vacation" and "have so much to do" should NOT be in the same sentence)
And, I can't leave for NYC w/o telling you how it all came to be.
I think I'll have to tell it in about two parts.
So stay tuned; check back; and hopefully I'll have Part I posted by tonight.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Reflection
I've reached the age of 40.....something, and I am here to admit that I don't think I've truly every really appreciated what Memorial Day means.
I mean, I know it is a day set aside for us to honor those who have fallen for our country.
But I have never really appreciated what that means, until.....
There have been several small things I've read or heard over the last 24hrs and then I just saw Pioneer Woman's Memorial Day post.
Then, I understood what it means.
Yesterday someone posted on Facebook:
"Freedom is not free."
that stuck with me
This morning a new song on the radio had the lyrics:
"Have we forgotten how to be Americans?"
that bugged me
The song also mentioned the familiar phrase:
"The home of the free and the brave."
That made me swell with pride, but I quickly reminded myself that I am not brave, not in the least.
Then that brought me back to,
"Freedom is not free."
"Freedom is not free and please click on this link to see photos: thepioneerwoman.com
I am so grateful I live in this country.
I am so grateful to have spent yesterday with ones that I love.
And I am so grateful for the men and women who have and continue to serve
the home of the free and the brave.
Amen.
I mean, I know it is a day set aside for us to honor those who have fallen for our country.
But I have never really appreciated what that means, until.....
There have been several small things I've read or heard over the last 24hrs and then I just saw Pioneer Woman's Memorial Day post.
Then, I understood what it means.
Yesterday someone posted on Facebook:
"Freedom is not free."
that stuck with me
This morning a new song on the radio had the lyrics:
"Have we forgotten how to be Americans?"
that bugged me
The song also mentioned the familiar phrase:
"The home of the free and the brave."
That made me swell with pride, but I quickly reminded myself that I am not brave, not in the least.
Then that brought me back to,
"Freedom is not free."
"Freedom is not free and please click on this link to see photos: thepioneerwoman.com
I am so grateful I live in this country.
I am so grateful to have spent yesterday with ones that I love.
And I am so grateful for the men and women who have and continue to serve
the home of the free and the brave.
Amen.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
It's {almost} summertime!!!!!
It's that glorious time of year when the girls are all done and I have just a few work days left.....school's out and let summertime begin!
(quick note: I clearly have fallen right into this "got nothin' else to do" state of mind, 'cuz I have spent hours and hours trying to redesign the blog. I've spent hours looking for photos to create a new banner and can't find them. ARGH! Frustrating. I hope I don't piddle away the rest of my summer like this.)
My grandpa liked tell the story of the first time I said grace at a table of some, apparently very important people. He would say that he was so proud when I was done, that when he sat up he "popped a button right off of his shirt".
Well, I don't remember that moment that way, I was scared to death and certainly don't remember any flying buttons!
But as a parent I can relate to feeling so very, very proud of her young-ins this week that I could just burst!
Our high school only invites underclassmen to awards ceremonies if they are receiving an award...fortunately this is Andrea's second year of high school and her second award. Last year she received an award from her science teacher. This year, an award from her art teacher! Scott had to work, but he was quick to text back "fixed, rigged" when I texted him the news! :0) teehee.
(Sorry, this pic was taken on my cell phone, but I like the blur....sort of expresses the excitement in the room.)
Grandma and Grandpa could be there and we are grateful.
That was Monday night.
Thursday was McKenna's awards, of which every student gets something, but oh my little one; she got some biggies...
Citizenship all year; A/B Honor Roll all year; Principal's List all year and Perfect Attendance!
Watch out, buttons might fly!
Grandpa had to work this time, but daddy could be there and we are grateful.
However, the girls weren't quite done with their accolades; Andrea won a candy bar wrapper design contest and came home with a gift card for $15 to our local ice cream store. McKenna comes home with not one but two letters. The first one is inviting her to participate in a new Video Production Club and her second letter was from the Rotary Club letting her know that they have awarded her with a $50 savings bond for her Principal's List and Perfect Attendance!
And finally, on Florida's FCAT testing, we know Andrea received a 5 in writing (6 is the highest possible score) and we are still very anxiously waiting for Andrea's reading and math scores. In the meantime, we do know that McKenna received a 4 in Reading and a 5 in math. (5 is the highest possible score.)
On the last day, McKenna took one final gift to her classroom teacher Mrs. Rohn and one to her aftercare teacher, who was phenomenal, Mrs. Spencer. We filled a summer beach pale with sunscreen, flip-flops, a magazine, a cool new cup to drink from, some favorite candy and a Beach Boys CD. I thought they turned out cute.
And so, on this long Memorial weekend, I have crafted some, slept some and blogged some. We swim tomorrow and hopefully begin to look like a Floridian instead of an Eskimo with my white skin!
Have a wonderful Holiday everyone.
And here's to one wonderful summer with you!!!!!!!
Love Melle
(quick note: I clearly have fallen right into this "got nothin' else to do" state of mind, 'cuz I have spent hours and hours trying to redesign the blog. I've spent hours looking for photos to create a new banner and can't find them. ARGH! Frustrating. I hope I don't piddle away the rest of my summer like this.)
My grandpa liked tell the story of the first time I said grace at a table of some, apparently very important people. He would say that he was so proud when I was done, that when he sat up he "popped a button right off of his shirt".
Well, I don't remember that moment that way, I was scared to death and certainly don't remember any flying buttons!
But as a parent I can relate to feeling so very, very proud of her young-ins this week that I could just burst!
Our high school only invites underclassmen to awards ceremonies if they are receiving an award...fortunately this is Andrea's second year of high school and her second award. Last year she received an award from her science teacher. This year, an award from her art teacher! Scott had to work, but he was quick to text back "fixed, rigged" when I texted him the news! :0) teehee.
(Sorry, this pic was taken on my cell phone, but I like the blur....sort of expresses the excitement in the room.)
Grandma and Grandpa could be there and we are grateful.That was Monday night.
Thursday was McKenna's awards, of which every student gets something, but oh my little one; she got some biggies...
Citizenship all year; A/B Honor Roll all year; Principal's List all year and Perfect Attendance!
Watch out, buttons might fly!
Grandpa had to work this time, but daddy could be there and we are grateful.However, the girls weren't quite done with their accolades; Andrea won a candy bar wrapper design contest and came home with a gift card for $15 to our local ice cream store. McKenna comes home with not one but two letters. The first one is inviting her to participate in a new Video Production Club and her second letter was from the Rotary Club letting her know that they have awarded her with a $50 savings bond for her Principal's List and Perfect Attendance!
And finally, on Florida's FCAT testing, we know Andrea received a 5 in writing (6 is the highest possible score) and we are still very anxiously waiting for Andrea's reading and math scores. In the meantime, we do know that McKenna received a 4 in Reading and a 5 in math. (5 is the highest possible score.)
On the last day, McKenna took one final gift to her classroom teacher Mrs. Rohn and one to her aftercare teacher, who was phenomenal, Mrs. Spencer. We filled a summer beach pale with sunscreen, flip-flops, a magazine, a cool new cup to drink from, some favorite candy and a Beach Boys CD. I thought they turned out cute.
And so, on this long Memorial weekend, I have crafted some, slept some and blogged some. We swim tomorrow and hopefully begin to look like a Floridian instead of an Eskimo with my white skin!Have a wonderful Holiday everyone.
And here's to one wonderful summer with you!!!!!!!
Love Melle
Monday, May 16, 2011
Things are lookin' up.....
Well, you know it's been a recent philosophy of mine; it is difficult to appreciate the good without goin' through a little bad.....
So if the last week I posted about was Heavenly, you can fill in the blanks and know that I mean the week I just finished was He--!
As mentioned, the yearbooks had arrived and all in all, their arrival (and box opening) wasn't as stomach wrenching as I thought it would be......however, the delivering and distribution of 500+ yearbooks was. For the sake of this post, it doesn't matter why (although I will keep good notes to myself and make major improvements for next year).
Wednesday was to be the day books were delivered to teachers and Thursday the books would go home with students.
Well, Wicked Wednesday was wicked because our school sprayed some pesticide for snakes!!
It's not the snakes that upset me; it was the PESTICIDE. Oh my word, the smell was so very strong. It was so very strong in our special area building! I had a headache w/in about 10 minutes and the kids were beginning to have reactions; nose bleed, difficulty breathing and dizziness......
Well, of course we went outside......but.......but......I only had 3 lessons left with these students......I was hellbent on watercolor painting......move a class of students suddenly outside.....outside and do what......well, lots of creative things......but not watercolor painting......not spur of the moment anyway.......
Anyway, I managed with pencils and paper and we "sketched" for about 30 seconds and then it was "Mrs. Broaderick, I need my pencil sharpened." "Mrs. Broaderick, I have to pee." "Mrs. Broaderick, save me I have a spider on my paper" (a spider that took a microscope to see).......we then moved on to sidewalk chalk drawing and that engaged them for about 60 seconds more.....my classes are an hour long.........
It was a rough morning.
Then, my precious planning time on Wednesday was meant for moving yearbooks from my Primary building to the Intermediate building only I hadn't been in my room during the morning to arrange for custodial help.......
You can see how this was going......
Well, books got to the Intermediate center that day and they got delivered to the teachers.....once with teachers.....well, that was another circus.....again, for the sake of this post I won't explain here.....but oh the notes I will write to myself for next year.......I was in my toxic classroom until almost 6pm taking care of "yearbook issues" and then I finally went home......I even wanted a beer with dinner but was paranoid of the adverse effects the alcohol might have with the pesticide chemicals that were in my system.....crazy I know......but it was a traumatic day.
Well, the title of this post did say, "things were lookin' up" and they were, finally, by the weekend. I never slept very well the rest of that week, so I really was grateful to sleep in Saturday. I also played in the studio and went to the movies.....you know how I love to escape at the movies.......
Lookin' up even more, I had time to work in the studio again on Sunday and worked on one more page in my Inspiration Journal. Scott and I also went to the movies again, this time for a spontaneous "date night".
Can't remember if I've mentioned Christy Tomlinson's blog that I came across but I so enjoy her "style" and her latest post inspired me on my Saturday morning.
(sorry for the color quality.....I took them on my cell phone......)
I've got a few other ideas in my head.....perhaps they will be the art on the front of note cards? Not sure, doesn't really matter for now, I just got to play and it was wonderful.
Love you much!
Melle
So if the last week I posted about was Heavenly, you can fill in the blanks and know that I mean the week I just finished was He--!
As mentioned, the yearbooks had arrived and all in all, their arrival (and box opening) wasn't as stomach wrenching as I thought it would be......however, the delivering and distribution of 500+ yearbooks was. For the sake of this post, it doesn't matter why (although I will keep good notes to myself and make major improvements for next year).
Wednesday was to be the day books were delivered to teachers and Thursday the books would go home with students.
Well, Wicked Wednesday was wicked because our school sprayed some pesticide for snakes!!
It's not the snakes that upset me; it was the PESTICIDE. Oh my word, the smell was so very strong. It was so very strong in our special area building! I had a headache w/in about 10 minutes and the kids were beginning to have reactions; nose bleed, difficulty breathing and dizziness......
Well, of course we went outside......but.......but......I only had 3 lessons left with these students......I was hellbent on watercolor painting......move a class of students suddenly outside.....outside and do what......well, lots of creative things......but not watercolor painting......not spur of the moment anyway.......
Anyway, I managed with pencils and paper and we "sketched" for about 30 seconds and then it was "Mrs. Broaderick, I need my pencil sharpened." "Mrs. Broaderick, I have to pee." "Mrs. Broaderick, save me I have a spider on my paper" (a spider that took a microscope to see).......we then moved on to sidewalk chalk drawing and that engaged them for about 60 seconds more.....my classes are an hour long.........
It was a rough morning.
Then, my precious planning time on Wednesday was meant for moving yearbooks from my Primary building to the Intermediate building only I hadn't been in my room during the morning to arrange for custodial help.......
You can see how this was going......
Well, books got to the Intermediate center that day and they got delivered to the teachers.....once with teachers.....well, that was another circus.....again, for the sake of this post I won't explain here.....but oh the notes I will write to myself for next year.......I was in my toxic classroom until almost 6pm taking care of "yearbook issues" and then I finally went home......I even wanted a beer with dinner but was paranoid of the adverse effects the alcohol might have with the pesticide chemicals that were in my system.....crazy I know......but it was a traumatic day.
Well, the title of this post did say, "things were lookin' up" and they were, finally, by the weekend. I never slept very well the rest of that week, so I really was grateful to sleep in Saturday. I also played in the studio and went to the movies.....you know how I love to escape at the movies.......
Lookin' up even more, I had time to work in the studio again on Sunday and worked on one more page in my Inspiration Journal. Scott and I also went to the movies again, this time for a spontaneous "date night".
Can't remember if I've mentioned Christy Tomlinson's blog that I came across but I so enjoy her "style" and her latest post inspired me on my Saturday morning.
(sorry for the color quality.....I took them on my cell phone......)I've got a few other ideas in my head.....perhaps they will be the art on the front of note cards? Not sure, doesn't really matter for now, I just got to play and it was wonderful.
Love you much!
Melle
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