OH, THE EXCITEMENT!

It's Thursday.  Phil's going to be home from ball ANY MINUTE NOW.  BUTTERFLIES!!!  The Bachelorette starts in FOUR DAYS!  Survivor finale is on Sunday.  Britney Spears is going to be a judge on the X-Factor.  Three more weeks until exams.  NYC SOON!  HOME SOON TOO!  YIPPEE-YA-HOOOOOOO!!!!!!

YES, INDEED!

THE PANIC ROOM.

Yesterday I stayed late at school to play a bit of catch up.  I emailed parents, marked some papers, planned some lessons, and made a study guide for our upcoming test.

One would think this would be good karma, YES?

Nodda.

Phil was going to be at basketball until 6ish and so I decided to take a cab home when I was done at 5:30.  I said goodbye to Phil and went to exit the school at the back gate.  Well, at this gate there is a little booth you must exit through if the main gate is closed.  I entered it.  Opened the first door.  Walked two steps.  Went to open the next door......

LOCKED.

Turned around to open the first door.....

LOCKED.

Turned back around to double check the other door was locked....

YEP.  LOCKED.

Turned around once again to double check the OTHER door was locked....

YEP.  LOCKED.

You know what "being a good teacher" got me?!  THIRTY MINUTES in a JAIL-LIKE SETTING.  First I laughed.  Then I hollered for a guard to come save me.  Then I "body-checked" the doors in an attempt to escape.  Then the room got stuffy.  And I felt really hot.  And my heart started to pound.  And I knew I was doomed.

TWENTY-FIVE minutes of PURE PANIC ensued with phone calls to Phil, Steve, Emily, Cathy......(or anyone who could possibly contact a guard to get me out of there)!!!  No one was around.  NO ONE.  The guards were MIA and everyone else had done the SMART thing and left school on time!  Bah.  It was NOT NICE.  I can only hope that the security tapes are burned to ashes.

Anyways, the GOOD NEWS is that my cries were finally heard and I was released!  Phil and I cabbed home together and we laughed with the neighbours about how HILARIOUS the story is to those who aren't the main character.  Which is true.

GOSH.  I hope I never get thrown in the slammer......

My cell mates may just earn themselves a LIFE SENTENCE.  That's how long you get for murder, right?  BAHA.    

THIS and THAT.

1)  "Relaxon" is my new best friend.  My neck pain has been manageable because of it!

2)  I hate to admit it, but I'm sorta, kinda, a wee bit starting to like astronomy.....

3)  Wearing a dress is fun.  Especially when it's one that twirls out when you spin around!

4)  At the end of the day, you should really just FOLLOW YOUR HEART.

5)  The four seasons are NOT winter, spring, summer and ATOM.  And so......my lesson on "seasons" may be extended.....

6)  Today someone hollered at me to tell me how "built" my calves are.  YEP, I was referred to as "BUILT" for the first time EVER today!  WOOT, WOOT.  (Thanks Dad!  Those calves are 100% HOIT!)

7)  The man sitting beside me is a DREAMBOAT.  I am so thankful and LUCKY to have him. XOXO

I Dream Hard.

This is RANDOM.  Last night, just before midnight, I was having a bad dream.  I was hiding in this little cranny (not sure from who) and was about to be spotted.  So.........I did what any lady in hiding would do.....I "ducked" a little bit further to keep myself from being found!   

And then it happened. (DUN, DUN, DUN!!!!!)

Out of nowhere, it felt like someone was wringing out my neck with the world's toughest hand-washing hands.  AHHHHHH!!!  I woke up instantly and learned that it wasn't just a dream.  This was some authentic "ouch" and it didn't seem to be going away anytime soon.  I started to cry (naturally) and Phil woke up in a panic.  I was in too much pain to explain what was going on but his super-husband skills deciphered it was my neck and he ran to microwave a gel pack and grab some water to swallow an Advil or two.  I tried to get back to sleep but I was quite uncomfortable and so I told Phil to move to the other room if he counted on any sleep at all.  Luckily, I did manage to pass out at some hour and wasn't without some Zzzzz's today!

Despite wanting to call in sick, I braved the journey to school and showed off some sweet full-body movements in class.  Every "MISS!" was reciprocated with a swift 180 from head to toe.  Neck turning was off limits, as was hole-punching and writing on the board.  Haha - I couldn't do ANYTHING!  Thank goodness I had planned a scavenger hunt that required the students to take over the lesson :)

So here we are now.  I've made a pretty hilarious home neck brace (pictured above) to ease my pain and I was advised to take a muscle relaxant to stop these spasms of mine.  Inshallah, they go away SOON!

Anyways, such is my story of a dream injury becoming a real one.

CHEERIO! <---- neck brace shaped!

The "Surprise" Evening.

Last night we were picked up at 5:45 for an unknown outing with our friend Scott.  Huffho's and Emily were also in attendance for this curious soiree, which had all of our hearts racing in the start.  We really weren't too sure what to expect.  I contemplated packing a backpack with water, Dettol wipes, sunscreen, etc. but Phil convinced me that I was being a little extreme.  And perhaps I was.

The first stop was at a restaurant that serves wee little burgers called "sliders".  There were so many kinds to choose from and I was brave enough to try meat that was NOT cooked by a man in my life.  Impressive, right?!  The food was actually really delicious and although we were seated outside in the extreme heat, it was a very comfortable temperature once the sun went down.

The next stop was at a bowling alley that you would NEVER EVER in your life expect to find or visit.  I happen to hate bowling (Grade 11 P.E. did that to me), but I actually had a lot of fun with our crew!  You should have seen Ian's bowling talent in action!  He scored over 150 and amazed us all!  Phil had some pretty silly moves to show off and we learned that Emily belonged to a traveling bowling team in Wawa.  Haha.  It was SUPER FUN.  Here are some pictures of our wild night out (ha!):

The entire night I was trying to get a strike!  Alas, NO LUCK!

In fact, I asked for my name to be "STRIKER".  Check out what was entered instead!

Here's Floppy.  She has one MEAN game face!!!!

Today

....would be a REALLY nice day to be at home.  Tayls, Joycie, and Scott are there - making more great memories with Nana and Grandpa!

Have fun at Camp Hoit you three!
XOXO

D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S.

It all started at a little cafe beside Big Ben.  I was starving (as usual) and needed to get a quick snack before our walking tour of the Westminster area.  There was no time for salads or wraps or soups and so I opted for the only kind of muffin they had - Lemon Poppy Seed.

Fast forward a few days later.  We're at Wimbledon.  Our tour is about to start and once again I'm on the verge of getting the shakes.  We "pop" (haha) into the restaurant to find a to-go item that could tide us over.  The winner?  Lemon Poppy Seed loaf.

Fast forward to this week.  Phil brings home a large plate of cake from the student he tutors.  On it, are several slices of Lemon Poppy Seed cake.  What goes with tea?!  IT DOES!  Haha.

I've become a fanatic!  I wonder if Tim Horton's serves muffins of this variety........

I KNOW, I KNOW!

It's been DAYS.  I am aware.  Forgive me, please.

So....what's new?

School was somewhat stressful this week.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm experiencing my very first "Middle School May" or if it's a division-less fatigue that everyone gets this time of year.  Nonetheless, the kids were WOUND UP and I wasn't embracing their enthusiasm with very open arms.  I think students and teachers alike are eager for June 20th to get here...........AS FAST AS POSSIBLE!   
Last night we were invited to the Huffho's for a "games night".  Despite falling asleep on the couch around dinner time, Phil poured me a few cups of a coffee and we both showed up with travel mugs and a fierce determination to stay awake for a couple more hours.  Well, you'd be proud guys.  We made it all the way until 10 PM - after hours of euchre, charades, kitten-admiring (LOOMI was there!), and pizza-eating.  It was SO MUCH FUN.  Those Huffho's really do know how to stage an event ;)

This morning Phil took me on a "date" to the mall.  We hadn't gone together in a long while and with Friday being the most blissful time to shop, you could bet we were standing outside the Gap when the store opened!  It seemed to be my lucky day - one of the ones where everything seems to fit pretty good!  I purchased some new work and summer clothes and came home to the house EXTRAORDINARILY happy :)  THANK YOU, PHIL! xo

Since getting home from the mall, we've indulged in some wonderful reality television - the Amazing Race (BOO to BOPPER & MARK being eliminated) and some good ole Real Housewives of NYC.  Yep, Phil's hooked too.  The thought of watching the other editions of the show THRILL ME.  Gah - I love bad tv.  TOO, TOO MUCH.

Tonight we are headed out to be social once again.  (You must be REALLY PROUD of us now)!  Our friend Scott is taking us out and the whole thing is a surprise.  All we know is that he's picking us up at 5:45 and we are to wear sneakers.  Hmmm........

I suppose it's time to put the coffee pot back on.  With two weekend outings, I'm sure we're off the hook for next weekend....and the weekend after...and the weekend after......haha!

LOVE Y'ALL!
xo

HAPPY MAY!

The best thing about this month?  June comes right after it!

We will be home before you know it!!!