EYE CANDY FOR YOU

After weeks of fruitless attempts, here are the pics of our two logo contest winners.

The official winner of our $50.00 gift certificate is Alexandra Allie from Sec.4.

Our runner-up is Marilie Coté from Sec.1 who got a $25.00 gift certificate.

Congratulations to both of you.

I wish to thank all of you who took part in the contest.

You made our job difficult.

Choosing one was not an easy task hence the extra winner.

On another note, I`ve posted pics from our Oktoberfest in January which took place last week, January 18th.

Both the food and company were great.

Thank you.

Spoiler : The logo is being used at the moment and is in the process of being printed on ..*&*(?%%47&*%(.

Oops, just can`t seem to finish my sentence !

You`ll just have to wait and see .......around the month of May....

Torture me I can say no more.

On that, here are the pics in question.

ENJOY.

PS : Etienne T or Mr. T , Mr.Dion and Louis-Philippe are not winners nor did they even participate in the contest.

Then why are they even on the pictures ?

Because they like to cuddle their favorite teachers that`s why !

PS Again :

The logo is unavailable right now but the minute I get it back from printing I`ll post the final version .

Thanks to Mr.B ( Pat Bernier ) for doing a great job and a tedious one cleaning up the logo on his computer so we could use it for official printing .

You made us save a lot of money and time and MONEY .

I owe you one darling.

Aaaaah the Fröhlich charm....

Enough silliness,

signing out,

Tata,

Annie

MY METALLICAR

Gotta be totally honest, I did not come up with this cool name for my car.
Actually, her original name is : Filou`s RoseRoyce.
Named after my kids.
Being too long I was looking for something a tad shorter for my baby.
The real Metallicar is a 1967 Chevy Impala that stars in my favorite show.
The fans of the show came up with the name, I didn`t .
I think it`s the coolest name in the world for a car therefore I stole-well borrowed it.
My baby just so happens to be metallic grey-how appropriate.

Why is it that muscle cars ( mostly Mustangs ) make Pierre and I go completely gaga with a capital G ?
I wish I knew.
Then I could explain it to my friends and family who stare-no gawk really, every time we look,touch, talk about her.
We would look less stupid when sitting among friends and family while Pierre and I watch her ( for the millionth time ) on our giant screen looking , listening to her on the speakers really loudly- loud-really loud.
Why DO I get goosebumps every time I see her or hear her on the screen ?
My theory is that Pierre and I both suffer from a mental illness and fortunately, my kids are likely to get it.
Which is a good thing since they will inherit it when we leave this place.
If there is medication for this type of mental illness, I don`t wanna know.

The thing about this car is its representation more than what it actually is.
Yes people I do make an effort to analyze therefore comprehend this strange phenomena.

What it represents most of all is, and Pierre might disagree with me,but what the heck :

First : freedom. You are no longer a parent, a teacher once you`ve settled your buns in the black leather interior. You are an invidual,period. Schedules, deadlines, bills, kids, students,responsiblities simply disappear.
The only goal is acquiring pure pleasure from driving, smelling and listening to her.
What a treat. For a few hours, minutes, every thing else dissipates and it`s all about you and her.
Even buying milk at the corner store is an adventure.
Being an old car, she sounds differently, you pay attention to any abnormal creaks or peeps should might make. You wanna make sure she sounds alright-healthy.
You get to talk to people at stop signs, headlights because people ask a lot of questions and if I believed every stranger I`ve spoken to , they ALL owned a Mustang at one point in their lives.
What`s the model, year, motor, original colour are the most frequently asked questions to name just a few: 1973 Mustang Coupe 302, 2 venturi,automatic transmission ( her only flaw ), bright green( Mustang 2 B ), black leather interior.
This car simply makes you feel like you can be and do anything for a while.
Until you park in the driveway, you are young, wild and free. ( Styx song in my head again....)

Second, its history.
If this car could speak, I`m sure I `d have to censor most of it to put it up on my blog.
I just hope all her prior owners treated her well and with respect.
But no matter what, she`s in good hands now.
So she doesn`t smell like all the other new cars, you know the smell I`m talking about.
She has her own unique " I have a history " smell.
I call it the Metallicar smell.
I wish I could bottle it, I`d make millions I`m sure.

Third, it`s a project for both Pierre and me.
We talk about her, we look at her together. We inspect her together ( there`s not one inch we haven`t inpected with this car). We discuss and negotiate future accessories we want to buy for her, repairs and improvements together.
We talk about her with pride and passion knowing very well no one else can understand ( except the other fanatics- I know who you are ! ) this illness.
It brings us even closer since we share the same passion.

Finally, it really is a token of our love for our kids.
Is it because it tells my kids that even if it`s old it`s still very alive and kicking?
Or that things and people have more value when you invest time and love into them ? Probably.
Or that we always took care of it with them in mind ? Guilty.

The funny thing about this is that our kids LOVE the Metallilcar simply because of how we feel about this car. It`s more than just a set of tires with big doors and a cool sound.

Now if you think we are crazy, then I invite you to one of the auto shows we like to go across our great province.
There are Mustang fanatics out there with big wallets and lots of money to splurge on their baby or babIES. We`re not THAT mental after all.
Mustang owners at these auto shows are, quite honestly the coolest, most generous bunch of strangers I`ve ever met.
When you own an old car, EBAY, Google and other Mustang owners become your allies.
You need them to get the job done sometimes.
They make you save a lot of money and time.
Some are QUITE interesting too if you know what I mean...

So without further ado, here are a few pics of our Metallicar.





Just 2 months before she gets out of the garage !

TaTa,

Annie.

OKTOBERFEST FOOD AND FUN

Sure it was cold Friday night but our dinner and evening was warm and cozy.
Who was there ?
Pierre, Paul ,Karine our winner, Fannie, Maryna ( one of our chefs )Marie-Luce, my over-excited kids and myself.
My kids were so happy to see my guests . They know Karine because she is Félix-Antoine`s Taekwan Do model .
Karine is a 16- year- old black belt who can smash wooden planks. He`s totally in love with her.
Marie-Luce babysits my kids once in a while and I don`t know what she does to them but literally see her in their soup.I`m even a little jealous.
Marie-Luce was a bit late because she had an emergency appointment at the dentist`s due to infection after having her wisdom teeth removed last week.
We knew she`d be late and promised to cuddle and spoil her. We did.

Maryna ( our tall German exchange student ) showed me the ropes for our German meal while Pierre was responsible of our piece of meat ( main course ) and the thick gravy that accompanied it. Mission accomplished , it was delicious.
I had prepared the dessert the night before and was a bit disappointed with the look of my Bavarian apple cheesecake torte.
Turned out tasting delicious despite its look.
I also had a choux à la crème chocolate wreath which just blew everyone away.
I still dream about it.
My objective was to fill everyone up with great food till they had a stomach ache.
Mission accomplished.
We left the table at around midnight.
We talked about lots of different and crazy stuff then moved to the glasshouse, tea in hand and chatted some more.
By this time, Marie-Luce who was on strong antibiotics was happy and high as a kite.
We talked about their upcoming prom, their potential dates, prom dresses etc.
Before the girls left, I asked if I could take a group picture in my Metallicar ( Mustang ) .
Pierre took the pictures despite our goofing off and laughing. Half an hour later we had tons of great and funny pictures.
Karine and Fannie took off in their car while I drove both Maryna and Marie-Luce home.
When driving Maryna back home she asked me if I could go shopping for her prom dress with her and with tears in my eyes, I accepted and promised.
What an honour.
These kids are like kids to me and that just proves it a little bit more.
I also pomised Karine and Fannie homemade caramel for their snow day in Ottawa next week.
I had given Fannie a jar before Christmas for help she had offered and obviously enjoyed it.
She calls it Annie`s Orgasmic caramel ( baptized by a certain Science teacher who helped Fannie eat the caramel ).
I promised and offered to add a homemade loaf of bread to go with it.
How I love these kids, let me count the ways as a certain poet once wrote....

Again ( I know I wrote this before ) , I`ll try to post pictures of our evening.
I think I `ll need the assistance of another well-known Science teacher because computers and me do not always get along. What should normally take a few minutes always takes forever .
I`ll ask my favorite short cut to assist me.

Finally a big HELLO to Karine, Maryna, Fannie and Marie-Luce.
You guys did win a dinner at my place but quite honestly I turned out to be the real winner in all this . I had a fun and especially a very memorable evening.
Thank you.

Félix-Antoine`s quote of the evening : imagine my son whispering in my ear in the kitchen just the two of us.
" Mommy, I like it when you have guests and all but I really find it difficult because you `re not concentrating on me enough while they are here. " And that was while I was running around serving my guests and my kids who were halfway through their meal when I hadn`t had one bite yet.
I took a small breath, smiled and told him I totally understood and that I would make it up to him Saturday and Sunday.
I seriously consider cloning myself sometimes.

On this,
Tata
Annie

3 FRIENDS + 3 DAYS GRACE

As I mentioned in my last entry, I was a tad bored and needed action.
Adrenaline junkie. At my age, totally guilty.

I got a bit more than I bargained for.
It all started a few days before the holidays.
My lovely, sassy co-worker Katherine Bourgeois asks me if I wished to see 3 Days Grace in Montreal. Luc Bélanger is interested in going too and ask Pierre if he wants to join in the fun.
We needed at least one sane person in the group.
The next day, it`s all settled, we`re going : January 14.
It`s a Monday night but as Styx sings so well: we`re wild, young and free.
Not quite, I must get my favorite babysitter : my sister.
Now momma can go out without a worry.

So D-day finally arrives and it`s snowing snowmen outside but aboard a 4x 4, life is safer. Easy does it.

There were actually three shows that night : Econoline Crush, Seether and 3 Days Grace.
Pierre looks forward to Econoline Crush. I look forward to Seether and Luc and Kat basically look forward to all of the above but mostly 3 Days Grace.

Poor Pierre,because of lack of parking we got to the Metropolis late and we only got to hear the last 3 notes of Econoline Crush. He was a bit crushed ( pardon the pun-too easy ).
But life is good, our kids are in good hands and on with the show already.
Seether lived up to my expectations. They were great.
As for 3 Days Grace they were simply fantastic and I`m not talking about the household cleaner.
Kat sang along the whole show while I was jumping up and down.
Pierre was mostly down: sitting down due to back problems since November.

I had a free show between Seether and 3 Days Grace when I went outside a few minutes during intermission.
The Metropolis is located on Ste.Catherine Blvd. in downtown Montreal. Just that, I should have known.
I was outside 2 minutes and within those minutes, a fight broke out just beside me while a homeless old man asks me for loose change. The bouncer, or should I say the Berlin wall working at the door starts yelling at the poor homeless old man . I`m telling Jabba the Hut that everything is cool, he`s harmless. Poor man runs away scared and the huge bounceer tells me : " Don`t worry little lady, I will protect you. " Protect me from what ? He`s a little old homeless guy shorter than me by the way. He couldn`t have hurt me, he was too weak probably from lack of food.
And that ladies and germs is why I will never live in a big city.

Back inside and the show must go on. 3 Days Grace come on and it`s simply divine.


The show ends and and we finally find the truck. One last stop before we hit the road for good. It`s 1:o5 A.M.
We`re all working tomorrow morning but who cares, the show was terrific.
2:30AM.: Are we there yet ? Maybe I`ll take the morning off says one while another agrees, knowing very well we`ll all be at work in the morning since work needs to be done right ?
We`re professionals, we`re wild, young and free.
Well we didn`t look all that young this Tuesadaymorning .
I looked like roadkill ( dead animal on the side of the highway ) so did Pierre. Luc looked fine ( young gun so...) but Katherine looked radiant with her thick curly hair bouncing on her shoulders. Her pinkish hue on her cheeks that matched her wool sweater. She glowed.
While she was all pink and cute, I was green and green with envy.
Did you see the question mark hanging over my head all day today : Will I make it through the day ?
I did and actually had fun today.
To tops things off, I literally had people lining up at my door today for different reasons but I survived without injuring myself or other people. Praise the Lord !

Tomorrow we reward our 2 logo winners. FINALLY.
I know who the winner`s name is now. I eventually clicked.
I`m happy for both of them.

Our bookdrive ends this Friday so I can redistribute them in the schools next week.
Thanks guys.

Encounters with Canada got a few students interested in going to vist the big capital city.
You`ll enjoy your week , I guarantee it.
you`ll thank me later.
I even applied as a monitor for next year.
I enjoyed it that much.

Special mention to Patrick Bernier who dropped by my classroom last period today while I was teaching my kids in Sec.2.
He caused a commotion and left me picking up the pieces with the students.
I owe you Mr.B.
When you least expect it, expect it.
But it was a little funny though.
I don`t know what he had for lunch today, most probably chocolate.
Thanks for the special errand though.
I might not take my revenge after all.


On that, good night everyone,
Annie

OKTOBERFEST IN JANUARY FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Why Oktoberfest in January ?
I`m not late or early but right on schedule actually.
Every year the school organizes an auction where prizes are offered by the teachers or put for auction for the students.
There are usually around 35 prizes in all.
Students buy a 25 cent ticket for a chance to win a prize of their choice.
I had put for auction a typical German meal at my house with Pierre, my bud Paul ( history teacher ) and myself.
The winner could bring a friend.
It so happens that a student from Intensive English won. I taught her in Sec.2 and 4 and is now in Sec.5.
So Karine won and she is bringing Fannie ( another very familiar face from Intensive).
The date is set for Friday January 18th, 5: 00 p.m.
This Friday.
As I`m writing, I`m listening to German drinking music and am thirsty all of a sudden...
Anyway, back to the subject.
We have at school an exchange student this year in Intensive.
Her name`s Marina.
Where is she from : Germany!
Guess who`s coming to dinner too ?
Actually, she`ll help me because as you know, I can not, will not, would never ever cook.
Then why for the love of God did I put a meal up for auction ?
The cause: all the proceeds went to charity. At Jean Nicolet School : we care.
And I relied totally on Pierre as my cook who had no idea I had put this up for auction in the first place.
Hey, I like to live dangerously.
So Maryna will help me out with the meal .
What`s on the menu : paté de foie gras, bagette,pumpernickel bread, pork with a very heavy gravy, something I can not pronounce nor spell ( where`s Marina when you need her ? ), apple pancakes and apple cheesecake torte ( I`ll make it myself the night before ) as dessert. Etc...
Sorry, no beer or German wine.
German WHINE I can do though .
Rosie ( my daughter ) just yelled I should have listened to THIS music today ( German beer drinking music ).
I was house cleaning all day and I need LOUD music to get the job done. Funny how German drinking music never popped up as a music of choice for cleaning.
I would have taken way too many breaks .....
Anyways, you can`t air guitar to this kind of music. It has one purpose : make people drink.

Is it just me or is it too quiet after the Christmas holiday? I`m bored.
I miss the action, the fun, people, the food, the ... everything.
I`m so bored I`m actually considering going shopping as a distraction tomorrow. You heard me.
Am I bored or what . I`ll bring Rosie along, it`s never boring with her . And SHE likes shopping.
It`ll probably end like the last time : didn`t buy a thing for myself because there were way too many people but bought loads of stuff for the kids.
That`s shopping when you have kids.

So on this, I`ll try to go entertain myself by knitting ( I don`t knit ) or reading or better, my favorite pastime : bug the living daylights out of Pierre.
Hey, I like to live dangerously....

Countdown : 3 months before the Mustang finally gets out of the garage .
Oh I forgot to mention she has a name now : Metallicar. She`s silver.
I know, I forgot to take my meds again.
Jean Coutu, here I come.

Maybe I could wash her again since I have so much time on my hands at the moment.

Tata,
Annie

A CHALET AND A PROJECT

What a joy to see all of you back all rested ( some not ) and glowing.

I found out most of you had a great holiday, were very spoiled and enjoyed being with your loved ones.

It`s good to know that even though you are teenagers you still enjoy being with your family ( parents included) . There`s hope for my kids. I figured when they hit 14-16 years old the last thing they`ll want is being with mom and dad therefore planning on enjoying the next 8 next Christmases. Wrong, you guys had quite a family holiday and were all smiles when talking about it. That really impressed me. You guys are great.

Our Jean Nicolet School tradition was just fun this year. For those not attending the school, the tradition consists of the whole school ( staff and students ) skipping period 1 to get together in the central corridor for free juice and doughnuts and lots of mingling between the teachers and students.

I had the chance to speak to my kids and to those I had last year now in Sec.5.

One told me she is going to study Language Arts to become an English teacher ( the new generation woohoo ) and told her our profession needs passionate and energetic teachers and she fit that profile.

I then chatted with an other student to fix our dinner date. Karine won the typical German meal I had offered for the school`s Christmas auction and she won. January 18 is the official date and surprises are already in the works.Can`t wait.



By 9:30 I had had 3 cups of java and was pumped. Along with the all the hugs and kisses from my kids I was bouncing off the walls so much I was bubbly. By noon I was ready to go back home and take a nap while thinking : " But I`m only 35, what will it be when I`m 50 ?"

Ahem.

So I quit the coffee and switched to water. I still had the whole afternoon to do and didn`t want to scare my kids by talking 100 miles an hour.

Before I went to heat up my lunch ( I was meeting a certain sec.5 student for a secret project )I meet another sec.5 student waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs.

" Annie " he tells me, " Remember the homemade caramel you gave me the last day before the holidays ? Well I dropped the jar and it broke so I never got to eat it ! "

Etienne has the cutest puppy eyes after my son`s so what do you think happened ?

" Etienne, what a coincidence I have a brand new jar upstairs in my office in the fridge and a little something you might like with it , just follow me "

And to my office we went.

I hand him the jar in question and freshly homemade bread done last Sunday night. Actually my bread machine made it but it`s a real treat.

Of course there was a bunch of teachers in the office and enjoyed telling me I spoil my kids too much and asked what THEY should do to get the same star treatment ?

Etienne and I just ignored them.

Why do I spoil them so much ?

I don`t think I do really.

I just give a little of what they give me.
They feed me and I feed them caramel.

I taught these kids 2 years and unconsciously spoiled me rotten by being interested, interesting, so sweet and authentic, always giving their best, trying new stuff ( risk ) and they`re cute.

How many teachers on God`s green earth can boast about that ? Honestly.

They give me a lot so once in a while, I give back.

My kids in Sec.2 and 4 this year : SAME THING.

Etienne : enjoy darling.



By now you`re wondering about the title of today`s blog and when I`ll get to the point.

Well, for the past ten years ( Nadia correct me if I`m wrong ) my sisters and I reunite at this chalet ( log cabin ) way up in the mountains in the middle of nowhere where we gather together with our husbands ( NO KIDS ) for 3 days and basically do a lot of things : A lot of eating, dancing, playing poker, eating and not a lot of sleep.

We try to stop time for a few days : no phone, no tv and lots lots of talking and laughing.

This year after a few years of absence , our baby brother ( he`s 30 ) joined us with his fiancée.

It was her first time at the chalet and I hope to God we didn`t scare her.

My sisters ( we are three girls and a baby brother ) my brother and I have tons of fun together. We become kids again- pesky even ( you`ll have to check pesky in the dictionary kids ).

Always respectful and in good taste but pesky. We turn 5.

We figure the spouses are the only adults in the chalet and that`s not a reference sometimes.

Unfortunately my brother had brought a karaoke this year.

Bad idea.

We loved the darn thing but we had no talent.

You should have heard Caroline singing Scarborough Fair( Now titled : A Caro Scare ) or Nadia, Caroline and I with Lady Marmelade ( Now titled: 3 filles malades )

Bad, nasty even.

We thought we were great.

It`s only the next day when we viewed the video ( because we like to film our stupidities )

did we blush. We finally understood why our two dogs were howling so much.And our spouses too as a matter of fact !

Have you ever laughed so much you cried. Well that`s life up on the mountain in the chalet- for three days.

Now do you understand why I miss it so ?

But seriously next year, Karaoke : no way !

Unless my brother accidently packs it........



Ok Annie, enough -what about the project ? I need your help.

Actually there are two ;



Number One :

January 27 is the international literacy day ( the quality or state of being literate, esp. the ability to read and write. )
Lots of elementary schools within our school board need books.
Kids like books in general but if they are good and not too outdated. And what better way to encourage elementary kids to read than with " new " books. Not new , right out of the store new, but in the sense never been seen book. Understand ?
I am sure you have old books at home somewhere you haven`t touched for a while and do not know where to store them anymore .
Why not give it to teachers who have books so old that they are actually as old or older than me. Imagine.
So you have till January 18 to hand in your books that I will redistribute across the school board in your name.

Number Two :
For my own personal research I need your input.
Answer the following question on a loose leaf ( it shouldn`t be long ) and hand it in for January 18 also. Bonus points for anyone participating.
The question :
In all your years as a full-time student, aside from the subject they taught, what have teachers taught you over the years?
For example, take your grade 6 teacher, aside from math, French etc.what did you learn from him or her ?
I do not want any names, keep it anonymous but do write yours on the loose leaf so I can give you your bonus points.

On that,
Tata,
Annie

HAPPY NEW YEAR !

What do you do when 2007 was so great you don`t want it to end an a new year is just around the corner ?
You deal with it while savoring each little moments of 2007 to the last drop.
Every year I like to remember the year,month by month and look back on the special highlights.
I`m still grateful I can remember because sometimes ( more often ) I do not even remember what I had for breakfast.
I will spare you all the details but let me say : rarely can you say you had the opportunity to fulfill a lifetime dream and I had the privilege to realize 3-THREE of my dreams in just one year.
Here goes:
#1- Bought my " new " 1973 Mustang.
Named it after my two kids : Filou and Rose ( Filou`s Rose Royce ) . Do ya get it ?

#2- Went to Fenway Park in Boston again but this time saw a game ( they won too ).

#3- Had a role in a short and professional movie. What an experience !!

So after a grrreat year, what more could a girl want you say ?
New dreams of course.
I don`t have any for now except going back to Fenway Park but this time with my husband and kids. Can`t wait.
As for the others, they should float around in my head soon. They usually come when I`m brushing my teeth. I don`t know why. It usually starts with " Wouldn`t it be just grrreat if...."
Then I take action. I believe taking action attaining the objective is just as fun and rewarding as the dream itself. The ultimate goal is great too, don`t get me wrong. You should have seen me at Fenway Park last May.....And when I got my Mustang....Nuts, I simply went nuts .

So today was the first day back at work after almost 3 weeks off.
Waking up with the alarm clock was so brutal, a shock to the system.
Now usually the free coffee at work helps to get in the swing of things but it didn`t.
I basically woke up at around 11:00 a.m, the problem was that I came in at 8:30.
Where was my brain all that time? Still on vacation. I felt like Homer Simpson : " Ummm donuts ..." Except for me it was more : " Ummm,pyjamas, my kids, reading, falling asleep on the couch..." Yep, the lights were on but nobody was home .
When the buckets of coffee finally kicked in though - I was very productive.
Selected the winning logo for the contest with Karyna and Dany . There was no name behind the logo so Karyna and I have no idea who won . It`s great.
Prepared lots of stuff and made a list of all the things I have to do and panicked.
I should have rested more during the holidays. I should have gone to bed earlier, I should have relaxed more shoulda shoulda shoulda.
Well it`s too late for now honey. Your vacation is over and the proof is right in that list . Stop whining and get organized girl.
Why did I have to be a teacher ?
Why not work at Wal-Mart and greet clients at the door ? " Hello, happy shopping . "
Why not work in an office where if you make mistakes it doesn`t really matter ?
Why can`t I be a stay-at-home mom? ( Because I would be so miserable and bored I would kill my kids that`s why ! ).
Because it`s never boring.
Because I need the action.
Because there are never 2 days the same.
Because I`m hyper-active.
Because I love the people I work with ( my kids and co-workers ).
Maybe one day when I grow up I could do a boring job, but for now although I find it difficult to get back in the hamster wheel, I`ve decided to take it one step at a time.
That`s my resolution for 2008.
In my opinion,resolutions are made to be broken but this time I intend to stick to it.

Tomorrow it`s officially the start of the rest of the year and honestly, I can`t wait to see my students. Thank God you guys are great because it would make it even harder to leave my kids and pyjamas behind .
On that, happy new year : love,health and fun. The rest is extra.
Work hard but most of all,play hard.

TaTa,
Annie xx

PS : if you have something really important to tell me tomorrow, I recommend you wait till after 11:00a.m. Just in case....