HAVING THREE DOGS IN ONE HOUSE: 6
If there were two, and they were Murphy and Dakota, or even Maggie and Dakota, this rating would be several points higher. However, when you’ve got these three all together in one house, it’s CRAZY.
First, you’ve got Murphy and Maggie chasing each other around, with Maggie’s high pitched puppy yelping, literally one yelp per step (so imagine her sprinting, taking about 3 steps a second).
Then, add food in the mix and you’ve got two puggles, with killer instincts when it comes to food, about to draw blood.
Luckily Maggie and Dakota continue their love affair, which is both adorable and convenient. Except when Maggie insists on following Dakota around everywhere and humping his legs. Nice one Maggie.
However, the rating is still above a five, as I love dogs, I love my dogs even more, and I LOVE the motivator to walk 6 miles every day (yes, my parents are insane- one 3 mile walk, or even 2 1.5 mile walks are just not enough. We took TWO 3 mile walks every day I was home).
RETURNING HOME WITH TWO THOROUGHLY POOPED PUPPIES: 10
SCRATCH BEGINNINGS: 9
Another reason I love holidays is the free time to actually read a book or two. While I headed home with Manhunt in tow, a recommendation of a student as it follows the entire story of John Wilkes Booth and the Lincoln assassination, I ended up reading a new book I recently discovered called Scratch Beginnings. The concept is interesting, and I must admit I went into the read with mixed feelings, yet open minded to what I would find.
The author, Adam Shepard, decides to take off from Raleigh NC and head to Charleston SC with $25, a train ticket and a sleeping bag. His goal is to prove that the American dream is still alive and well by making $2,500, furnishing an apartment and buying a car by the end of a year.
The book is mostly spent telling the stories of those he encounters along the way, and how he ended up making it happen within 8 months. The epilogue talks a bit about the bigger issues of poverty in America, and what this social experiment means for the American dream and how we begin to address the problems that are preventing some from getting there and causing others to stand still where they are.
While I’m not sure I agree (yet) with all issues and opinions presented, it was a pretty great instigator for Thanksgiving conversation among my family, and has given me a much needed reason to reflect on my own thoughts. I find I spend so much time thinking about day-to-day survival in the world of teaching that I forget about the things that brought me here (and back) in the first place. I’m going back to reread Nickel and Dimed now, which was part of the inspiration for Scratch Beginnings, and I think I’ll have a more solid grasp of my thoughts at the end. In the meantime, it comes as a highly recommended read 
THANKSGIVING DINNER: 9
I’m pretty lucky to have a mom who supports whatever my eating habits are (as they’ve grown progressively more restrictive over time). This year she had the added challenge of creating a vegan Thanksgiving dinner. I will note that this is a challenge created by her, as I insisted that PB & J was good enough for this vegan.
Despite that, I must admit I’m grateful for the effort as I enjoyed Thanksgiving dinner as much as everyone else Mashed potatoes (with fake butter and soy milk), corn, pumpkin rolls and stuffing not actually stuffed inside the turkey… A. MA. ZING.
You probably won’t be surprised to hear that a point must be subtracted for the sickness I caused by eating too much. Not unusual, not unfamiliar, but nonetheless pretty miserable.
This year was a small Thanksgiving, as it was just the immediate family and Ned, a blind man my mom met through the Blind Association and has now become a family friend over the past 7 (?) years.
2010 CHRISTMAS CARD PHOTO: 8
Posing with 3 dogs is not easy. Why we insist on including all three, I’m not quite sure. It does, however, provide some entertainment.
So considering the fact that we had to get all three dogs to look at the camera, while also catching all of us with our eyes open, I’d say we did pretty good
-2 for my decision (or lack of awareness really) to wear a shirt with reflective tape on it. Oops… turns out it’s nothing a little iPhoto editing can’t fix
CELL PHONE HEADSETS: 8
While a 5 hour drive is definitely not bad, and I actually really appreciate the alone time to listen to incredible music, sing along, and brainstorm brilliant ideas for the classroom (or atleast ideas I think are brilliant ), it’s also nice to use the time to catch up with people I don’t talk to nearly enough. And people I already spend too much time talking to. Either way, the “company” is great, and without a headset I’d be way more of a hazard on the road.
-1 for the difficulty it can sometimes cause hearing, or making me sound like I’m in a wind tunnel.
-1 for the hazard of attempting to plug in the headset, and get each ear piece in the right ear, during the 15 seconds I have while my phone is ringing. Why don’t I just leave it plugged in, you wonder? Sadly my phone doesn’t actually ring if I leave it in, meaning I have to unplug and replug each time. Not cool…
RETURNING TO GASTON: 5
This rating is not an indication of my love of my kids, or my love for teaching, but instead my extroverted self sad at leaving people again. Sometimes I love living alone, don’t get me wrong, but it’s always an adjustment for me to leave a house full of people and animals for my house in Gaston where it’s just me and the pups. Thank goodness for the pups
The GREAT news is that these next three weeks may possibly be my favorite three weeks of the year. I love holiday season more than anything, and tonight I’m planning to put on Elf and put up the tree… followed by three weeks of good friends, great holiday parties (including the first ever hosted at my Gaston house!) and Secret Santa wonderfulness at school. I CANNOT WAIT! I’m even thinking of attempting Christmas lights on my house (and/or fence) this year…
Until next time, just living for the tens
