Plug for Allie

Aren't my sister and her hubby the best photographers in the world? We weren't the most experienced models nor would we be anybody's first choice. But they managed to make even Adam and me look half decent. Happy New Year. It's amazing the difference a year makes.

A Little Christmas Montage

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Mandy's -ING Quiz

Reading: Smithsonian magazine, recent edition
Drinking: Mike's Hard Pomegranate Lemonade
Listening: Dad, Chris and Adam playing Tiger Woods Wii Golf
Feeling: Slightly sleepy
Watching: Allie try to juggle
Snacking: Salt and Vinegar potato chips
Humming: T.I.'s Live the Life (Can you hum a rap song?)
Wearing: My fave jeans, black shirt and white short sleeved sweater
Cooking: Jenn's famous sausage and grits casserole
Paying: Off credit cards
Dreaming: This break would last longer.
Smelling: Pizza in the oven
Loving: My family and Adam
Anticipating: Santa's arrival tonight (one day late)

Quick Trip to Knoxville

...to visit my favorite nephews!! I love spending time with the Clantons! And aren't Hudson and Will just adorable?

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The Answers

1. Gone With the Wind
2. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
3. Sense and Sensibility
4. Gladiator
5. The Count of Monte Cristo
6. Batman Begins
7. Sleepless in Seattle
8. Remember the Titans
9. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
10. Pride and Prejudice

Your Turn!

Go ahead and try to guess ten of my favorite quotes from ten of my favorite movies. It was hard narrowing it down to only one per movie. No cheating allowed! (Thanks, Lauren, for the idea!)

1. "Why don't you say it, you coward? You're afraid to marry me. You'd rather live with that silly little fool who can't open her mouth except to say 'Yes' and 'No' and raise a passel of mealy-mouthed brats just like her!"

2. "And to think I had to go halfway around the world to find out the perfect guy for me lived right next door."

3. "There's some blue sky; let us chase it!"

4. "Three weeks from now I will be harvesting my crops. Imagine where you will be and it will be so. Hold the line. Stay with me. If you find yourself alone riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled, for you are in Elesium, and you are already dead! Alas, what we do in life echoes in eternity."

5. "Why not just kill them? I'll do it! I'll run up to Paris - bam, bam, bam, bam. I'm back before week's end. We spend the treasure. How is this a bad plan?"

6. "It's what you do that defines you."

7. (Sung) "Horses! Horses! Horses! Horses!"

8. "Only kin's allowed in here."
"Alice, are you blind? Don't you see the family resemblance? That's my brother."

9. "Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy."

10. "And those are the words of a gentleman. From the first moment I met you, your arrogance and conceit, your selfish disdain for the feelings of others made me realize that you were the last man in the world I could ever be prevailed upon to marry."

All My Boys

You may remember a few of them from last year...

The Santa Shop

Our attendance clerk at school organized a Santa Shop for our underprivileged students at school. She contacted people around the community who donated items for the shop. Students were given an invitation and allowed to come at a certain time. They were given bags and could shop for their loved ones. Most were amazed and couldn't believe they could do this for free. They chose their gifts carefully, and at the end visited the wrapping station and wrapped all of their presents. I couldn't stay in there; it was too emotional for me. In a good way. These kids were so proud they could actually give presents to the special people in their life. Sometimes I take so much for granted. Below are a few pictures of the Santa Shop. As you can see, the community did an amazing job bringing in gifts!

A Forceful Marriage

A friend of mine teaches eighth grade. She said she overheard the most interesting comment during homeroom.

One of my favorites, Howard, apparently blurted out (totally unsolicited) in homeroom, "If I was forced to marry any teacher in this school, it'd be Miss Pollitz."

I cracked up laughing. It's always lovely for the girl to know there must be force involved.

Later, Howard came to my office. I told him, rather sarcastically, that I was offended he'd have to be forced to marry me. The two other students in the office wanted to know what in the world I was talking about. I looked at Howard and asked him to explain.

"I just think she's the marrying type. Plus, she's cool; she eats peanut butter out of a jar with a spoon."

There you have it. The final word from an eighth grader on what makes the perfect marriage partner.

Spread some cheer

Over a week ago I posted about sponsoring my students at school for Christmas. I didn't get any responses, so I figure everyone is already helping a needy family this Christmas. However, this is a plea for help, and I am not above begging.

In the past two days, the school social worker and I have come across a few more families who will not be able to provide Christmas for their children. All of our corporate sponsors have been used, and it breaks our hearts to turn these families away.

If any of you are willing to take on an additional sponsorship, please let me know. Or if you're one of those people who thought that everyone else reading would take care of it, maybe you're realizing now that it didn't happen and you'd like to pitch in. Please email me at faith1408@gmail.com and let me know.

What would it look like?

You email me.
I email you back and tell you some of our needs.
You decide if you want to donate money or purchase the gifts yourself.
I'll meet you anywhere/anytime to pick up your donations.

Today was an emotional one for me. We spent the day delivering to families who didn't have the means to pick up the presents at our school. All of these families had multiple children living in single-wide trailers or temporary stay lodging. All the parents were overwhelmed to tears at the generosity of strangers. One man pointed to an unwrapped small CD player under his Charlie Brown Christmas tree and said that it had been a birthday present for one of his three sons; the son left it under the tree so he would have something to get on Christmas morning. It is the most beautiful thing to give. Please consider it.

Jenn's Birthday Bash

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A Horse of a Different Color...

Tanya's second baby is four weeks old. She keeps calling the second baby by the first child's name. Looking at our friend who has three boys aged six, four and two, she asks, "Jenn, will I ever get my children's names right again?"

Jenn, "Nope. Not even when they're different colors."

A Country Club Christmas

Last night we had our school's faculty Christmas party at the Cartersville Country Club. It was a nice venue, and a great time was had by all. We had a delicious dinner, and I even got to dance! To top the night off, the three amigos did a little karaoke for us. Good times.

Below: My friend Beth and me

Beth and her husband, Jason.

My friend Melissa and me.Melissa and me again...Melissa and her husband, EricAdam waiting to karaokeA great version of "You Don't Have to Call me Darlin', Darlin'"

Another Car Conversation

Another car conversation. This time with a friend on the way to grad. school.

Her: I was so embarrassed the other night. I had WAY too much to drink at a Thrashers game. Several margaritas. Apparently, I was being obnoxiously loud and telling everyone they had to scream as loud as possible. The person in front of me turned around, obviously annoyed, and it was the technology specialist at my school! She's such a prune!

Me: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha! Don't you mean prude?

Her: Yeah, I always get those two words mixed up.

I Need Africa More than Africa Needs Me

Last Monday I posted about why I need Africa more than Africa needs me. You can read about it here. Today, I have more information for you! I hope that you will comment back on my site, or even visit the official Mocha Club site.

When I think of Africa, the following images immediately come to mind: Starvation. AIDS. Child soldiers. Genocide. Sex slaves. Orphans. From there, my thoughts naturally turn to how I can help, how I can make a difference. “I am needed here,” I think. “They have so little, and I have so much.” It’s true, there are great tragedies playing out in Africa everyday. There is often a level of suffering here that is unimaginable until you have seen it, and even then it is difficult to believe. But what is even harder is reconciling the challenges that many Africans face with the joy I see in the people. It’s a joy that comes from somewhere I cannot fathom, not within the framework that has been my life to this day. [read more]