Ah How I Love the 3rd Grade...

Hanging out with Ryan...

Been A While Crocodile....

Well not much new has happened to me lately other than being burried in work, but that is nothing new. I've been dating someone new, that is always fun. It's been a good change from you know who. His name I will leave annonymous, don't want to jinx anything. Anyhow great guy.

School is going well, parent teacher conferences next week, gag. I hate doing those because I always think that the parents will think I'm an idiot. It never turns out that way, but it will be a long week next week. Not looking forward to it.

I'm just finishing up the class I'm in right now for my masters degree and so glad, it has been a tough one. I don't know what I was thinking getting my degree and teaching and working a second job all at the same time. I wish I was rich and could just take off two years to get my degree done, but I can' afford it.

Well that is it for now! Happy Weekend everyone, and yeah for Obama!

We will miss you Cody Cooper...

Last night I attended the wake for Cody Cooper, a dear friend. Cody was an amazing person, and decided to take his own life Saturday night. It was a shock and something I wish never happened. Cody was one of the best snowboarders, and such a creative guy. He always had a smile on his face and loved a challenge. He took up sky diving and absolutely loved it. The one thing I remember about Cody is that he always called me by my full name.... "What's up Annie Cain?" was a common phrase. I will truly miss his carisma and love for people. Cody was alway kind to everyone that surrounded him. I hope that he is in a better place, and I hope he knows how much he will be missed and loved. Keep smilin' Cody, we love you!

Another Monday...

This is Alex and I... he's the sushi chef... and usually not this hairy!

Man the weekends seem to go by really fast! Today was productive though, we got a lot accomplished. My students seem to be getting used to our routine. I only gave out three bandaids today, a record!!! We finished watching a bugs life today. It's always good to have a movie at the end of the day, because that way you can threaten the kids with it all day if they misbehave! Not much exciting happened today. Oh we did learn how to write an i and t in curive. The kids find this to be really fun, I on the other hand am bored with it. I suck at cursive. I haven't written in cursive since, well the third grade. It is a lost art and a useless one at that.

My weekend was lame-0, except for sushi on Friday and brunch with Michelle on Sunday. On Friday Anji and I went to sushi at Sushi Maru! My good friend Alex works there, and totally hooked it up, it was awesome. Plus he's pretty cute to look at. We ate a lot of good stuff and I can't wait to go again. On Sunday G and I ate at Citrus, and she treated! What a doll. We had fun and of course we brought the little bug with us, G's daughter. I love her, them.

Well until next time....
Pants

Guns in School WTF...

So my third grader Brady decided he would threaten another student! He told my other student that his army cousin was going to bring his guns to school and kill him... Seriously. How old are these kids... 9 and 10. I thought I was done with this drama.... third graders are not any easier than sixth graders... argh.... But don't worry, by the end of the day, they were friends again. The beauty of being a child and not holding grudges.

Changin' up the Blog...

Well now that I'm past that whole alcoholic thing I am going to focus more on school. From here on out I'm just going to write about the funny and annoying things that happen to me at school. Everyday is an adventure! Here are some funny things that have happened since I started teaching third grade...

1. Itgel (my little russian student) decided he wanted attention like that girl that had a cast on her arm the first day of school. He apparently broke his ankle somewhere between recess and lunch, so he could only walk by dragging his foot. I asked him what was wrong and he told me that it was broken. I said lets get a bandaid and see how it is after lunch. Apparently he heals fast because he was running around at recess again.

2. I've already gone through one box of bandaids. No blood was involved mind you!

3. Boogers must taste really good because my students just can't get enough of them.

4. When your bathroom punch pass runs out, you are required to hold your crotch and do the potty dance so that Ms. Cain will let you go. (Sometimes I don't let them and the dance stops, and they forget that they had to go.

5. Three of my electric expensive pencil sharpeners motors' have burned out. New rule: If you break your pencil you will be writing with a crayon!

6. Third graders don't know what a paragraph is, let alone a sentence... I'm in trouble.

Anyhow, those are a few things that made me smile so far this year,,, let's hope it gets a little better.

Here's to a fun filled year!

Court was Kind to me...

Well I had court this morning and I am relieved to say it went a lot better than I expected. It was for a ticket that I was cited. The ticket was for "driving with any measurable amount.." Which isn't harsh like a DUI, but when it is your second offense like me, it can be pretty bad. Luckily my lawyer Fred Metos is amazing, and was able to bargain with the prosecuter. I have to pay a fine of 750.00, finish my therapy at A/D Phsycotherapy, and meet with my probation officer. I thought I would have jail time, and I am so glad I didn't loose my license. I don't think I could handle that again.

School is going well, and very busy. I finsished my masters class, and have a 29 day break before my next class. This will take away some stress hopefully. Pierre is leaving to Michigan tomorrow to visit his little Joey. I know he is so excited. It will be a good birthday present for him!

Well I'm into my third week of teaching third grade, and let me tell you, it is so different. They are very talkative, and sometimes I feel like my head is going to explode, but they are very sweet, and learning a lot.

Tonight I "Coin Out" from my program. I'm very excited, and look forward to trying to be sober.

Peace Out...
Annie

Coining Out...

Well hello everyone. Sorry I haven't written for a while. I've been busy, and haven't really found the time to blog. Well I'm still sober, and working hard at it. It is a lot harder than I thought. I'm finishing up my intensive out patient program on Tuesday September 9, 2008. It has been a rough six weeks, but I know I have done the right thing. I'm looking forward to my coining out. That is when the group tells me what they think of my progress so far, and I tell them how they have influenced me. It will be great, and I'm glad that I will have my Mon, Tues, and Thurs nights free again. Not that I don't enjoy my group, it just takes up a lot of time. I am getting my masters degree, working a second job, and teaching school, oh yeah and being dumped by the love of my life. Ah shit happens. I still love him dearly, but I think he needs to find his own way and figure out what he wants. I know exactly what I want and I think that it scares him. What can I do, force feed him love.. nah.. well.. no kidding. Well life is looking up, and I'm slowly starting to enjoy the third grade although it has been a major shock to my system so far.

Bored... and More Bored...

Well still 32 days sober.. yeah for me... whatever... it's boring. I am sticking with it, but whatever. I've become obsessed with Nick Swardson, and Demetir Martin.. extreme comic relief if you don't mind the F word.. which if you do, seriously get over it. No one cares! Anyhow, I don't have much to say. In group today we watched "Happy Valley," it's all about the F'd up Mormans that are addicted to pain pills.. Maybe bishops should start doing U/A tests... or at least do a background check on them... not good.. poor Provo!

Anyhow, still bitter and sober!

XOXO Pants

IOP (Intensive Out Patient) ME!

18 Days... yahoo. Today was the second day of my intensive recovery. I absolutely love it, and would recommend it to anyone who has an addiction. My counselor Tammy is the coolest chick! She has been sober for 23 years and is my inspiration. We have a lot in common, and she knows where I'm coming from. So I meet with my group three times a week for three hours or so. We meditate a lot and have some really great discussions. I leave there not wanting to party or be entertained by alcohol, but wanting to do more with my life, and make a positive impact on those around me instead of a negative hurtful impact. I can't worry about yesterday, or tomorrow, but only what decisions I make today! I love you all, and you the most..(you know who you are!)

AA

Well I recieved my first chip today. In AA you are given chips that are different colors to represent the length of your sobriety. The chip that I got was a white one which is the Serenity Chip. I have been sober for 15 days now. It is hard and kind of boring. The meetings that I have been attending are good, and I feel like I have a lot of support there. On monday I will start an Intensive Out Patient Therapy. I am going to A/D Phsycotherapy and looking forward to it. The counselor there is super awesome and I can't wait to work with her. Not much else is going on with me except I don't feel good today, flu or something. Well I will keep ya posted on my progress and recovery.

Still Sober...

To anyone who even reads this blog, I am STILL SOBER, granted it's only been 10 days, I feel good! I actually went to my school today and started the long process of setting up my classroom! I'm a little overwhelmed because I've never set up a 3rd grade class before, but it will be an adventure and hopefully fun! Can't wait to update you on the progress, summer is almost over.. one more month.. ahhhh. Time flies when you get to my age, but slower when you're sober for sure! XOXO Loves!

Treatment

I've decided to check myself into an intensive out-patient program for eight weeks. It was a hard decision because it is summer time for me, and this will take up the rest of it, but I want my life back, and the freedom to be a decent person. The program I'm entering is called Recovery Works, and it is up at the University of Utah Hospital. It is out patient which means I still get to work, and do whatever, but they take blood samples weekly, and you will be kicked out if tested positive. Some of you may think that this is too intense, but I am a funtioning alcoholic, who doesn't know when to say no. I want to stay young and active as long as I can, and I know at the rate I've been acting, it won't be possible. Maybe I drink more than some, maybe less, but I know I've woken up with bloody noses for no reason, or woken up in a weird place, even with good friends, I know this isn't who I am. I live for the outdoors, teaching, reading, loving, caring, and being me. I hope anyone who reads this understands, can relate, or knows how truly sorry I am for any hurt I've caused. This will be a long road, but I know it's the right thing to do.

P.S. If anyone feels the way I do, and needs the number to Recovery Works.... it is 587-3235 Up at the UNI!

Life is getting BETTER....

Okay, I will start here... I'm going to dedicate my blog to my sobriety. I've made a promise to myself and God that I will not drink anymore because I have ruined my life, and hurt many people around me. I recently had a wake up call, okay, more like 50 wake up calls over the past year. It's about time I did something about it. I really doubt anyone is reading my blog, but it's good therapy for me to be writing in it. I took my last drink on the fourth of July, how patriotic, but I looked around at my surroundings and realized that I wasn't happy. I felt more sad than happy, and I don't like that feeling anymore. The only person that can change that feeling is me. Before I can be happy I have to realize that there is something I am powerless over, and that is Alcohol, my good little buddy. I have no power over alcohol, but I do have the power to not be around it anymore, and start making positive changes in my life. Seriously, with what I have spent on alcohol, I could buy a cute little house, go on a vacation, and not be dealing with car problems anymore. If I didn't drink I might still have a boyfriend, I might still have my family's trust and respect, I might not have a wreckless driving ticket on my record, I might actually be happy. So on the fourth of July that is where it ended. This blog is my journey towards sobriety, and if anyone wants to join me I encourage you to...

P.S. I bought a new awesome camera, so I will be documenting my life as a sober person. I'm determined to find other things to do then party my life away... I am almost 30 arrghh.

Schools Our for the Summer....

I can't tell you how happy I am to not be teaching right now, especially in this 90 degree weather.. yuck. School isn't completely out though, I am still going to school to get my masters degree.

Well to catch you up on the past few months since I last blogged...

I am dating someone new... yes.. someone new. His name is Pierre, and is fabulous. He is a tattoo artist, so if you need some work, check out his shop called Edison Street Tattoo. I have been dating him for about three months. So far so good, but who knows what the future holds!!! I enjoy him very much. He has a son who is three years old, but doesn't live in Utah :(

So far I have biked a lot this summer, and started working at Mikado. I love Sushi, and I just can't seem to stay away from it. I work there three days a week, and at a tanning/hair salon four days a week. It is fun, but I always feel like I'm at work! And I still manage to be broke. eh, take the good times, and the bad I suppose.

I plan on traveling a lot this summer, and hiking, biking, and climbing. No more nonsense... I'm sick of not remembering good times! So here is to the positive and good clean fun... Let it be summer!!!!

Easter Sunday

I just wanted to say that yesterday was one of the best days of this year so far. I spent the day with my family. We went to church, and learned about prayer, and repentence. Two of our close family friends Terry and Clair Dickson taught our lessons. I wasn't feeling too good, but I'm really glad that I stayed to hear the wonderful message. Later that evening, my friend Dave came over, and joined us at my Aunt Ruthie's for Easter dinner. I was super happy all day long. It was so nice to see family, and introduce them to Dave.. he is pretty cute. Yesterday made me realize how much I enjoy my family, and how much I appreciate everything they do. I hope to have many more days like this..

My Very Cool Class...

My students recently partook in the school play. This was cast 2. My students had four of the lead parts. Mostly because they are rad and talented. The play was a success.