Christmas was wonderful.
My family came over Sunday and I made a scrumptious dinner (have to add that to my resume-->can cook good food)
I made Bobby's darn pagoda gingerbread house. It took hours and it collapsed because he overloaded it with Twizzlers. I had to try hard not to boil over I was so angry. After days of arguing and he wouldn't budge. I GAVE IN (which is actually a huge deal for me, losing) and then he had fun making it collapse. I wanted to cry.
The Christmas Eve service went well. My mom, sis and I sang a trio and busted up laughing at the end of the second verse. Marg and I were laughing so hard we just went and sat down. Apparently the entire church family loved our comedy routine. At least the two verses we did sing before bursting into giggles sounded really nice!
I got a pretty chess set and books for Christmas. I made "Pa packages" for my parents and my dad loved his recliner. (more on the packages later)

And today...I have become hopelessly addicted to the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I had the first book and read it today. Then we had Christmas dinner and I drank a lot of coffee. We came home, we watched Santa Clause 3 and then I downloaded the second book from the library and just finished the second book. I was distracted all day by it, thinking about what could happen in the next book. Now I'm exhausted and need to sleep. I had intended on going home tonight so that I could wrap presents for friends and come back but all I can think of right now is sleeping so that I can get up tomorrow and go buy the third book. I have always been rather addicted to reading once I get started. I really have to think about starting to think about school but I'm so distracted by my books. I figure, if I can just read the ones that are distracting me in a day, then after that I will have no more cravings and I can focus on my work. I put off work for a day to get my fill of literature and then I can fully focus on my work!

The Culprits...man...no wonder I'm tired. Between the two I must have read about a thousand pages today among my other activities. But seriously, I think I was reading so ravenously that I was skimming. Crazy...I caught myself doing it but i couldn't help it. I wanted to know what happened.

Reflection: Wow...I feel like the character in the book. Only, I'm not ravenous over vampires or humans, but ravenous in my hunger for the book! freaky...

I'm ready for an adventure. I should have gone to bed hours ago. School got out Tuesday and yesterday and today I've been baking most of the day. Yes, 3 pies, 8 dozen decorated sugar cookies and 9 dozen gingerbread men later I've decided that visions of sugar-plums are the last thing I want to add to the procession of sweets dancing in my head.

Today Bobby and I got Margie and Kev Christmas presents and then designed our gingerbread house. After hours of fighting over what house to make I finally gave in. Bobby can be so stubborn sometimes. We're doing a pagoda. But of course, that just means that I have to figure out how to make a pagoda out of gingerbread and he just gets to decorate it. I'll let you know how it turns out. I watched Thomas for a bit for Camille. I actually quite enjoyed it. He's such an adorable little guy. I also got my baby fix for a while.

But then after making pies and cookies I came home and my mom and sister and I sang. It was great. We're going to do a trio for Christmas Eve so we had to find a song. I convinced Margie to play through a whole bunch of songs for me so that I could hear how they went. Then Mom joined us at the piano and we harmonized for an hour or so. I think my dad enjoyed it. He came out in the living room and just sat in his recliner and listened. I enjoyed it too. Our voices blend really well.

But everyone has gone to bed (except Bobby and the love of his life, his Xbox 360) and we've got the last Christmas presents to get tomorrow, Mom is taking us to an amazing antique shop, and then I have to go home and finish some projects (and 3 dozen chocolate chip, 2 dozen brownies and 1 pie)...so I should sleep.

But I can't.

So instead I went back in time and read through some old blog entries. This past year has been an emotional roller-coaster. Since this weekend I've been thinking about choices I've made. I had such a wonderful weekend. Good friends, good times. Beka and Lindsey and I woke up Saturday morning and just sat around the kitchen table drinking tea. After the conversations with them this weekend I've been wondering if I made the right choice about moving back to Washington. I love seeing my family and I love my church family. I love my job (yes, I do...I just get very tired) but I still wonder if it is enough. My friends are what got me through college. I can survive a crappy job if I have friends around. But I'm scared to leave my job because I'm nearing a permanent contract and I really do have an amazing job and if I left I wouldn't get to teach compgov.

It was probably a good choice. I needed to leave Newberg. I needed seperation and to move on with my life, make a break with past and start a new future. But now I feel as if I'm in this holding pattern, that I've started a new future but the things that I still value the most are in my past. Granted, most of my friends have moved away from our college town, but many are still in the area (though they don't all see each other all that much)...but I dunno.

I wonder if I made an emotional deciison that only ended up making my life harder, even with the good job and being near family. I don't think I can handle any more big things to add to my life, especially as I start US Govt again...but I just don't want to have regrets. On nights when I can actually get sleep, I want to sleep...

Reflection: I don't actually regret this past year. It has been very rewarding and I do feel that I've been able to do great things. I just hope in this next year I recapture some of that happiness that I miss from college memories. I need an adventure and for some reason it's hard for me to have an adventure here.

Well my blog has not been updated in a long time. My life has gotten much too hectic lately. Thankfully I was out of town this weekend and had an absolutely amazing weekend. I really needed it. I got to spend lots of good, quality time with friends and got to see a lot of people I hadn't seen in a long time. Sooo good.

But, that is not why I'm posting. I have a lot of catching up to do but tonight I just have to share what my students and I did on the last day of class before break. I must say, this wasn't my idea. I just adapted it. But, it was PERFECT!

Yesterday I wanted something fun to do but I also wanted to review information a bit and so I assigned this: You have 2o minutes to write a creative holiday song with compgov lyrics. Use vocab words, themes, important individuals, current events, etc. You will perform your song for the class and the song voted best CompGov holiday song receives a prize. Important Disclaimer!! Songs will be disqualified if deemed inappropriate by Ms. Burdick!

I laughed so hard both periods. All the way through! The kids were all giggling and laughing writing their songs and then when they performed them the class laughed so hard. Each was wonderful and each was received with rousing applause. I want to share some of them with you.


The Dictator Medly (excerpt included from youtube below)
(to the tune of Dreadle, Dreadle, Dreadle) Putin, Putin, Putin, We Support you all the way.
O Putin, Putin, Putin, O we hope you stay.
(to the tune of O Christmas Tree) Ahmadinejad Ahmadinejad, You think we're the Great Satan!
Your nukes are for clean energy. Don't let inspectors come an see.
So, hide your nukes, so hide your nukes, O Ahmadinejaaaad.
(to the tune of Jingle Bells) Chairman Mao, Chairman Mao, Your revol-uu-tion, turned the young against the old in a charismatic way-hey!
(to the tuen of Deck the Halls) Now you all try to remember, these leaders and their crazy names. Use it in the essay section, Fa la la la la...la la la la!

China, the big red nation (a very comparative song) to the tune of Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
China the big red nation - nation
Had a communistic political culture - like with Stalin!
and Mao Zedong led the nation-nation
with his charismatic charm! -like Khomeini

All of the other nations-nations
Envy their economy - like America!
Due to their oppressive nature- nature
Poverty's a big concern!- like in Mexico!

Then one polluted afternoon the Olympic Committee came to say--cough, cough, cough
China will you host the games? Just make sure your air is clean!

So desperate to gain publicity--on DrudgeReport!
to improve their economy--like Iran!
China agreed to these terms
We'll just have to wait and see--like with Putin!

(to the tune of White Christmas)
I'm dreaming of a democratic Russia,
Just like the UK and our own!
Charisma won't cut it
Rational-legal is legitimate,
Corruption will be quickly on the go!

I'm dreaming of a democratic China!
Without corrupt communism
May elections be just and fair
and the chairman and his cadre beware!

Mao Zedong is coming to village (included via youtube below) tune--Santa Clause is Coming To Town
You better watch out, you'd better not cry. You better not protest I'm telling you why.
Mao Zedong is coming to village
He sees you when you're sleeping, he knows when you don't work.
Then your farm will be collectivized and you'll think that Mao's a jerk!

Oh you better make steel, in your backyard, backyard industries were really hard!
You should've been making food so you don't starve!

Now Chiina makes, all of our stuff
They last a long time because they're really tough
But make sure you don't eat-them cuz you might die.

You better watch out, you better socialize,
Switch to capitalism and ignore the red book
Mao Zedong has leeeft the village!

and because I know you're getting tired of these, only two more. The winners of 6th and 7th periods!!

Disillusioned Land (to the tune of Walking in a Winter Wonderland)
Putin, how are ya doing?
Did you know your country's failing?
You think you're so hot
People like you a lot
Walking in a disillusioned land!

Bridge--We don't know whaat you are gonna do
Prime Minister or maybe President
Either way, the country really needs you
Otherwise the economy will be screwed!

Russia, do you have some oil?
Here's a plan to ease your toil.
Befriend the US
You'll be a success
Walking in a disillusioned land!

and my personal favorite

Iran/Mexico (to the tune of Jingle Bells, starting with Dashing...)
We don't have that bomb. Stop accusing me.
We enrich uranium, making energy.
Ah-ma-di-ne-jad, is our president
voted by the people but he don't represent. Ay!

Sharia, Sharia
that's what we follow
Everyday and everywhere the ayatollah goes! Hey!
Sharia, Sharia,
that's what we follow
Guardian Council, Assembly of Experts, oh so powerful!

Coke and heroin, is what we're smokin'
thanks to the US and N-A-F-T-A
Corporatism's here.
Farmers beware.
Everywhere we go we see Vicente everywhere!

I was going to write a post about everything that is wonderful about Thanksgiving. I hope I will eventually get to that. Maybe tomorrow while I'm procrastinating...but tonight I can't sleep. I think my mind is restless. I've had a wonderful break. I spent the entire time here in Auburn with my family and it has been full of playing Christmas music with my sister and brother (looking for the perfect Christmas Eve song to start practicing), spending time with loved ones on Thanksgiving Day, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, my first Thanksgiving Dinner contribution, some shopping, coffee with my mom, relaxation...and just, really quality time with my family. Tonight the thought that this was my 'last night' just sortof...I dunno...really just made me restless.

I need to sleep so that I can get up early tomorrow to work. I'm so behind on grading that it's just...bad...but I'm starting a new unit Monday and I have nothing planned and haven't done the background reading yet. Now that I think about it I will probably be ok...if all else fails I can do the same crap I did last year...and then I can spend tomorrow reading up on things to put into the crap. So it will be second generation crap. Actually, I feel better now...I still won't get much grading done...but hey...I can do this. Oh...except Foundations. Shoot...

But more than that...I just hate the thought of having to go back to Bellevue. I think that's why I can't sleep. I've mentioned the roommate thing before and I really don't want to complain about it but maybe if I just talk to myself about it I will be able to sleep. I didn't need to move to Bellevue. My apartment in Renton was in a place I felt more comfortable (even with the vandalism), I was closer to family and friends, and the rent was good. I moved to Bellevue to cut down on the commute...and to split rent. But in reality, I didn't need to split the rent. Instead I really moved so that i would have a roommate. But I don't. Ever since she started dating her boyfriend I have not had a roommate. I literally, hardly ever see her. She gets up and is gone way before me (which is crazy since I get up around 5 AM) and comes in after I'm in bed. So when I get home from work I may have a bigger apartment, but I am still all alone AND this time I'm too far away from home to drive home when I need to not be by myself again. I don't know where she goes...whether she is always with Mike or whether it is that she sometimes goes home and I'm jealous. I'm jealous that she has someone to do things with. I'm jealous that she is closer to home so that she can visit more. And I hate going home because I'm always by myself. So more and more I've been staying with my parents all weekend, even Sunday if I can. Because I'm by myself all week and I just...I just don't want to go home and be by myself more.

So as if to extend my weekend, I've been sitting here trying to find something to do online. But, I've checked all the blogs, I've checked email, looked on facebook...and I just...I don't know. It's like I'm looking for some kind of connection to someone somwhere before I go to bed and wake up to the reality that the work week will return. It's a good thing I like my job.

Reflection: I think everyone has those times where the mind is restless. We all have wonderful things about our lives and, I think, all have those areas that we wish there could be more. I love my job and my students, and wonderful things happen there...but my life is not perfect. I'm still missing a piece. What piece are you missing? I hope that you find it.