Looking Forward, Naps, and Entertainment Gluttony!

I wasn’t originally planning on posting today because it’s been a rough day! I wanted to still pop in for a little update, though. Last night’s concert was amazing. I wanted to do a full-length post on it, but I think this will have to do. I don’t have too terribly many pictures, but I do have a few that I would love to share. And there are even a couple more on Brittany's camera that I can't wait to get from her! It was so awesome to hang out with everyone last night, and it was great to get out of the apartment. The show was really fun, but definitely not what I was expecting. I was having a cranky night after leaving school and it was hard to be excited for the show, but when we got to the venue and the opener was on, Janelle Monae, it was easy to get excited. Shortly thereafter, though, I started to get REALLY tired and about halfway through the show I was ready to go home. They were amazing, but I just couldn’t get into it as much as I would have liked!!

School, today, was pretty awful. I didn’t even want to go. Getting four hours of sleep is NOT conducive to a productive/tolerant day at West High. I mostly: checked email, prepared assignments, and graded papers. Holly pretty much did everything else, which I was really thankful for. I am almost ready to just shut down with this student teaching gig. It’s really difficult to stay positive/enthusiastic. I really cannot explain the dread that overcomes me some mornings when my alarm goes off. I can’t tell if this means that teaching isn’t for me, or if this is just the wrong setting for me. I’m going to stick it out, because I have to, but I am certainly not enjoying it.  Oh, well. Only 12 weeks left! At least today one of my students told me I was having a good hair day, that was nice! 

As soon as I got home from school and having my eyebrows waxed, Nick and I hit the pillow immediately - for a three hour nap! I needed it after last night. Nick so graciously took the day off of work for me (not really, but I like to think so ;) ). Tonight marks the premier of the new season of Hell’s Kitchen, mine and Nick’s favorite show. We’re watching (slash blogging) as it’s on now, and then the new episode of Weeds! Can’t wait! 

Later this week or weekend, check back for collaborative posts here and over at Blackbird Fly! All about my favorite teas and Morgan's prized mug collection. :) See you guys tomorrow!! xo Stephanie

Tonight: of Montreal!

Tonight, tonight! Is the night!! I am stuck here at school until 7, impatiently awaiting the clock to strike the magic hour. Seven means I can rush to my car, speed, race, tear, drive calmly home to get ready for the show I have been waiting to see since we bought tickets one whole month ago. That’s right, kids. Tonight, as I said before, is THE night. of Montreal at Madison Theatre (BLECH) at 8 pm. Come one, come all!! I cannot wait. Nick, Lynzie, Kas, Brittany, HOPEFULLY Richele and Deqah will all be there, and I hope more of you join us :) As I posted before, I have seen them one other time at Bonnaroo 2009, and since I was plagued with the devil’s disease (vertigo) I hated every minute of the show, and hated them even more when they ended their show with broken instruments and splintered drumsticks. Since then, Nick has patiently and wisely taught me. Taught me to love, love, love this band. They are amazing. I urge you all to listen to this playlist over and OVER again!

I had a really nice conversation with my mom this afternoon. I asked her if she had seen this blog, and she said yes. And then she told me that I she is a proud of me and that I am an very intelligent person. It was so sweet! (Thanks, Mom! <3 <3 )


In other news, I had a really terrible, stupid, awful nice visit from my supervisor at school during second bell. He seemed to think that I looked terrible, as this is the first thing he said to me this morning. Granted, I emailed him about 18 hours late with my lesson plan yesterday, but I felt pretty good this morning! He was pretty offended that we are reading aloud in most of my bells, but I reasoned with him. He said a few nice things, but not really in a nice way, so I left the meeting feeling a bit discouraged. Holly reassured me, though, and I am hoping that she is right and he is wrong, although I think her opinion might matter a little less than his.

I also had OGT tutoring today, and although only one girl came, she did fantastically. I was so proud of her! We worked on a few pages in our book, and when the practice test came, she got every one right. I am so happy that this tutoring is working for some. On the other hand, since I began this, my first and only student (for a while) has stopped coming every day, and has become more and more disruptive in class, and has also stopped turning in work. It is sad to see this, and I hardly ever know when to assume that there are problems at home, as there so often are, or whether he is just acting out because he is a teenage boy. I suppose these are problems that I will forever be confronted with.

Since tutoring and this lovely supervisor visit, I have been urging the day to go quicker, and the end is almost here! Only one and a half hours before I can leave!

Also: Thank you EVERYONE for stopping by yesterday. I had so many visits to my page, and I am SO thankful. Don't forget to follow!!

xoxo

of Montreal

So, I just thought everyone should know that one week from tomorrow, I, along with Nick, Cassidy, Lynzie, Brittany, Deqah, and many others will be seeing these lovely, lovely folks at the Madison Theatre. Please, help restrain me.

Color me EXTREMELY excited.

P.S. My friend Morgan has a pretty fantastic blog that you can check out by clicking here and I know that she would love your company. <3

xoxo, sweet dreams!

A few of my favorite things...

Since I haven’t posted a music entry yet, and it’s such an important part of my life, I thought I would introduce a few of my favorite bands right now!

The first one I want to feature is of Montreal. They are fantastic, an indie pop band that is full of wacky lyrics and fun euphemisms. I am actually seeing them on September 21 with Nick and a couple of our friends, plus his sister, Lynzie. I have seen these guys once, last year at Bonnaroo 2009, but at the time I was fighting a serious case of vertigo, and didn't really enjoy the show. In fact, they kind of irritated me. But, since then, Nick has gotten me hooked on them and I can't get enough.

Next is She & Him. First of all, I have a giant girl crush on Zooey Deschanel, and I love almost anything she does. Her partnership with M. Ward in this American folk-y duet is no different! She is also fantastic in 500 Days of Summer, which I recently rented and then purchased, she was so great in it! (Plus, it’s just a really fantastic movie all around). I have seen these two twice this summer, and I was only introduced to them back in January of this year. I saw them once at Bonnaroo 2010, and they had a huge, huge crowd. I saw them again at Forecastle, a music festival in Louisville, KY, that Nick surprised me with tickets for our anniversary. They had a small crowd the second time around, and it seemed like only a handful of people were familiar with them. It was a fantastic show.

Also, if you're interested in seeing her in one of my favoritest movies, click here for a peek at the trailer ;)

Next up, The Decemberists. One of my all time, favorite indie rock bands. They have lots of upbeat songs, and also tons of slow ballads that use accordions, organs, and an upright bass. Very fun. I have only seen these guys once, during the same trip to Bonnaroo 2009 and on the same day that I had the aforementioned vertigo, but I really enjoyed them. They didn't play anything that I was familiar with at that show, even though I have been a fan for a few years. They played most of their newest album, Hazards of Love, which is FANTASTIC, and in my opinion, should be listened to from beginning to end with no interruptions. It's like an epic, terribly sad and beautiful novel that you can't tear yourself away from.

Anyway, there you have a few of my favorite tunes. Lastly, I thought I would leave you with a picture of my pretty little puppy being cute, per usual.