ODE TO THE MEN IN MY LIFE

There are 2 types of men in my life : the one in my personal life and the ones in my professional one.

Yes ladies and germs I am considered a professional.

The first time I was called this was at the bank when I asked for a loan ( in other words a lot of money ) when the bank manager asked me what I did for a living I said I was a teacher.

He replies : Aaah, a professional.

I asked him how many months I had to live because I thought he was saying I had a terminal illness or something.

Bottom line, the more student loans you have to pay back, the more you are a professional.

The 2 most important men in my personal life are: of course the love of my life : Pierre.

Don`t get the barf bag, I`ll stop here.

The second is my son : Félix-Antoine.

As much I would like to exchange him for a case a beer sometimes because he drives me nuts, I love him to death.

The other three are : Paul Lachance, Frank Brisson and yep, HIM again,Pierre.

When I grow up I`m gonna be just like them :

devoted, very passionate, untiring quest for quality to name a few .

Frank Brisson is a mentor for me. He`s a model. He`s smart, very sly ( I like that in a person )and original. He`s witty, creative, FUNNY and a great human being with a big heart. I often go to him when I have to deal with a serious professional problem . When I encounter little problems, I often ask myself : What would Frank do ? and then give it a try. Usually works.

He loves his job and gets discouraged at times but he never gives up. He`s very realistic yet he`s not cynical. I tend to be cynical with age and it`s not pretty.

It is a professional challenge at the moment. I still love the students, don`t get me wrong, it`s the machine outside the classroom that`s driving me nuts- but that`s a whole different blog altogether.

Then there`s my pal Paul. He`s my office neighbour, a co-worker, someone I love to make laugh and he`s not an easy audience. He likes my jokes most of the time and he can have a wicked sense of humor himself. I made him choke on his water today at lunch with a joke and that cracked me up.When I can make Paul laugh, I`m darn good.

He is very intellectual but not stiff, he likes to dress nicely, he`s very knowledgeable but not snotty, curious and interesting.

We can talk about anything and it`s never dull.

I personally loooove history and when I have a question ( literature and history are often related) I go to him. Not only will I get a straight answer but pictures, dvd support, maps and posters to go with it.

This dude is thorough, intense and mega-qualified.

Who can make history come alive besides Paul seriously ?

He also has great judgement and is always willing to assist.

Do you want the top ten reasons I admire these men or the whole list ?

I`m not done.

Then there`s Pierre.

I know I know, I hear ya say, of course he`s your husband.

Excuse me, I am a professional so I can make an objective judgement.

# 1- He`s cute.

#2- He`s very devoted and does not count the hours invested in his school projects : after school, weekends, weeknights.

#3- He`s very creative and original.

#4- Doesn`t like routine

#5- Loves his work: says it and it transpires.

#6- Loves his students.

We could complain about our students at home after work but it`s something we never do: bad habit which doesn`t amount to anything anyway.

He always talks about his students in a positive way.

I admire that.

I also wish to mention my dear dear friend Patrick Bernier : the whiz kid.

He`s always there to help out when I need technological help and that always for free and with a smile.

He does this on his own time so while he`s working on my stuff requiring technical talents, he`s not correcting.

Ironically, as I am writing this blog, he just called me because he`s working on our new English Concentration logo. It`s 8:17p.m.

But I surely do not appreciate him just for his technological talents, he`s a good buddy too.

So on that, here are a few pics of La Semaine Des Arts and pics of my pets : It was my Sec.2`s homework today.

Here goes : The students first then the pets.

Tata,

Annie

Sec.5 and 4 Intensive English: The Band

Aren`t they cute ?

Rosie and Snow : he is 16 years old with one green eye and a blue eye.

Rose, Baileys

Filou, Baileys

MUSTANG FEVER

I love horses.
With a motor.
Mustangs are in my opinion the best looking car on the planet.
For some it`s Miatas or Beetles.
To them I say: Get a real car !
I like the new models but adore the old ones.
How are they different ?
Do you have an hour ?
I am certainly no expert in Mustangs.
I do know their history by heart and certainly have a weak spot for the Shelby Mustangs.
My wallet is too weak to own one unfortunately.
Freedom, youth and power.
That`s what it represents.
A time when I was young and the old people ( people who were my age now ) drove them with a smile.
My daughter likes them because of the horsie on the front grill.
I love its sound.
You know one is coming just by the sound. Like a Harley Davidson.
Ironically I can NOT stand the sound of a straightpipe Harley !
It drives me nuts and invites me to smack the driver.
So why do I spend a lot of my money restoring a 1973 Mustang ?
Why do I NOT mind when Pierre spends a day in the garage under the hood ?
Because it`s beautiful.
Like the saying goes : Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
There are lots of beholders who agree with me.
A few minutes ago as I was writing this blog, Pierre started the Mustang in the garage.
It`s 9:00 pm, the kids are sleeping and I almost fell down the stairs to run to the garage.
Mind you I haven`t heard her motor in 3 months...an ETERNITY.
She has a new starter and new parts I can not spell.
She needs a new battery and lots of other expensive tender love and care but what the hey, she needs to be up and running in 3 months.
Are we May yet ?
It`s not just the car, it`s the feeling of the car.
Hey, I give up, I can not explain it and to sum it up reasonably and logically would just take away the magic, the oumph of it.
No I did not forget my medication nor have I taken a double dose .
We all have a passion right ?
You know that little something in your life that is illogical and only you can appreciate.
Well you and other nuts like you who share the same illness/passion.
I`m lucky, I have 2 passions, besides my kids of course.
Books and Mustangs and drummers.
Make that 3 then.
Drummers are special. Funny Pierre was not a drummer when I married him....
Books, I love their smell, love to touch them, read them and reread them.
Favorite book of all time ?
The Summon by John Grisham.
He kept me up in the wee hours of the night.
I would go to work sleeping standing up because of that book.
After I`d read it, I wish I hadn`t so I could reread it again for the first time.
Yes it was thaaaaat good.

Coming back to Mustangs, if I could do a Doctor`s degree on the subject, I would.
Ummmm now that`s an idea.
But seriously, I don`t wanna sound like a t.v commercial but once you `ve driven one you`re hooked.
And to think I wanted a 1967 Chevy Impala....What was I thinking ?
You wanna know how it feels, write me a note and I`ll take you for a spin.
The key words are : Mustangs Rock.
That`s all you`ll need to say and you `ve got yourself a free ride.
Except on the day of the prom.
Yep I`ll be driving someone from Sec.5 Intensive to his / her prom in the Mustang: from home to school and from school to the MS Jacques Cartier.
Torture me I won`t tell.
Does the person know ?
Why of course he/she knows already.

On that, I `ll go pet my metallicar in the garage and Pierre too while I`m at it.
He`s turning out to be a real grease monkey thanks to Metallicar.
Grease Monkey : someone who works in mechanics as a job or hobby.
Pierre the Grease Monkey, ummmm sounds like a children`s book or a dirty movie.
Anyway, have a great week.
See ya in 5 days.
Tata,
Annie XXxx

MARCH BREAK

Hey guys, just a few words ( I can do that ) to ask you what are you guys
doing during the March break ?
Will you do family activities ?
Are you leaving the country ?
Do you plan staying home in your p.j`s all week ?
What are you up to ?
Send your feedback and let me know in writing or verbally in person .
The break is just a few days away in case you didn`t know......
In the meantime, put more shoulder into the school work, we`re almost there.

Tata,
Annie

BAD BAD TEACHER

I usually use this expresion with my dog when she`s doing bad stuff like chewing on my kids underwear : " Bad bad doggie "
So why the title ?
Because that`s how I feel about my teaching for the last 2 weeks.
Is it the winter blues ?
I don`t get that.
Is it PMS ?
Probably.
Is it my students ?
They are not better or worse than usual and even if they were worse it`s not an excuse, I am a professional right ?
Well I don`t feel professional lately.
I`ve been putting too many things as priority one and the plate is full.
I promise myself every start of the year not to handle too many things at once and to say " NO "and then forget to say it.
What happens is this teacher tries to juggle and solve too many things at once.
The result is lack of sleep, way too many things to do, lunch on the go, projects to handle and way too many things on the daily to-do list and correction piling up!
Add 2 needy kids at home and a husband and you get one irritated and impatient teacher.
The smile and patience go out the window and little things become out of proportion and you lose it.
Next thing you know you`re raising your voice in class while you`re saying to yourself : Is that me yelling ? "
What do you do when that happens ?
You take a day off to get rid of the migraines you`ve been having all week and sleep it off.
You think and do other stuff that isn`t remotely connected to the teaching profession.
You reorganize your list of priorities.
You remind youself that Rome wasn`t built in one day and trust yourself enough to believe you can do a great job.
You try to forget your bosses who expect solutions and results and keep in mind that they are usually very supportive.
You keep in mind that you have ALWAYS worked on your projects thoroughly and nothing has been overlooked : being thorough is a quality but perfectionism is a death sentence.
You then call your sister in Ottawa , and listen to her sound advice.

I then look at my kids who like me, are irritable, cranky and cry for nothing .
March Break here we come, take us away !

So bear with me people, I bark but I don`t bite.
I`m working hard on getting rid of the cranky teacher and letting the normal one find her way back in the classroom.
How sick was I of my job this week ?
I was seriously considering applying at Wal-Mart !
I`m not kidding.
Then I had a reality check and took a nap.
Besides, I can`t work at Wal-Mart, I`d spend my paycheck there
and then who would pay the bills ?

On that, I`m off doing anything that isn`t connected to school.
This blog is very therapeutic by the way, it takes some of the pressure off and lessens the drama.

Do you hear that ?
Well if it isn`t my personal trainer coming ?
Yep, here she comes, my chocolate Labrador, she`s in the mood for a loooong walk and so am I.

Tata y`all
Annie

SO YOU WANNA GO TO BOSTON ?

I wanna thank my lovely students for the grrrreat day I spent in Montréal Wednesday February 20th.
You guys were cheerful, giddy, polite, interested and just plain pleasant.
I love you guys!
Thank you also for showing up the next morning ( with small eyes but there ).
I also wish to thank my lovely co-workers : Katherine and Paul ( he was supposed to be off that afternoon by the way ).
They were there, helpful and as always, great company.
I can`t wait for the next day, you`ll love it I am positive and you won`t forget it either I guarantee it !!

Some other students are sooo disappointed because we `re not going to Boston ( could you get over yourself already? ) that I made an extra for you.
Actually 2 extras :

1- I called the mayor of Boston just a few minutes ago and he told me you CAN visit Boston even if I am NOT there to go along with you.
I swear this is true!
You can actually go without Ecole Secondaire Jean Nicolet as a regular tourist.
The mayor promised me the city will welcome you anyways.
Isn`t that wonderful ?

2- I called my husband`s aunt ( matante Cécile ) who works for Voyage à Rabais in Trois-Rivières and she will organize the whole trip for you and your loved ones.
She promised me she would include the same tourist attractions we would have visited if you had gone there with the Intensive program.

So now, you have no more reason to say you can`t go to Boston, I have arranged everything.
You can leave tomorrow if you want.
So have a grrreat trip and I won`t even charge you for the long distance call to the Mayor`s office.
Bon Voyage.


PS : You look less like an ass when you act your age NOT your shoe size.
Spread the word.

Suck it up buttercup...
Tata
Annie xx

HAMSTER IN A WHEEL

Some of you came to see me at school and asked when I will post
my next entry.
Very soon.
I know I`m posting at the moment but this woman, momma, teacher needs a bit of time to get a breather, a break, some down time, some R and R .

Besides there is so much stuff I need to write about-and time seems to be a luxury lately.
But I shall be back with a vengeance !!

When I stop acting like a hamster in a wheel, I`ll be back.

PS: Sylar, you`re looking good my man, keep it up.

Annie

SECONDAIRE EN SPECTACLE = TOO SWELL

Actually, swell is quite an understatement, great, fantastic, terrific evening for lack of better words.

It could easily put Canadian or American idol to shame.

I knew the school had talent, but I was still quite amazingly surprised this year.



Originally, I was supposed to show up at around 7:15 due to a prior appointment( hairdresser )but was informed by René-Olivier Coté and Joël Chassé that they were early in the evening`s line-up and I should be there on time if I didn`t want to miss them.
Didn`t want to miss the boys so I was on a mision: make it on time- do or die !

I wasn`t late but barely made it.

I got to school at 7:02, my hair totally wet ( had to convince my hairdresser NOT to dry my hair because I didn`t want to be late).
6:45 -I`m in Trois-rivières, jump in my truck, gear it on 4x4, put Remedy by Seether on and floor it.
Don`t worry, I totally respected the road code and maximum speed ( I am a mom and don`t want to orphan my kids ).
7:01 I am in the school`s parking lot and literally jump out of the truck and run in the school ( last time I ran in the school I injured myself but it will surely be worth it if I do ) .
I felt like I was on an episode of Starsky and Hutch while I was running with a 5 dollar bill in hand.
Then I see Fred Hamel and Lysandre Désilets next to the auditorium`s door.
During my sprint towards her, Lysandre yells at me : " Annie, Chick and Swell are coming on !"
Without any hesitation, I threw my 5 dollar bill at Fred and yell : " I`ll be back for the change ."
I finally made it for their act in the nick of time.
I`m wet, out of breath ,look stupid but I`m there and ready for the show.
Or so I thought.....
Their bit was funnier than I anticipated- these boys crack me up on a daily basis and they`re not even trying to be funny so imagine when they do.
Thanks Dany Jutras, René-Olivier, Joël for the great laugh.
It was sooooooo worth it !!
René-Olivier is back with a song he wrote " La Nuit Sans Les Etoiles ".
I don`t know who he wrote this song for but she`s a lucky girl.
Just great.
One very pleasant surprise was seeing and hearing Karianne St.Cyr , one of my kids in Sec.4 singing Evangéline.
Sweet voice. I had no ideea she could sing, let alone sing so well.
Then came " Valse Des Bois " played by Alexis Chassé, Marc-Antoine Fleurant and Loriane Richard.
That was no surprise, these kids love and breathe music.
I often see Lorianne with her her violin case- they`re inseparable.

Next up was an act I was totally unprepared for.
" Une Histoire Frappante "
Set up :
piano : Etienne Bergeron
Intro : Fannie Bourdages : Announces right off the bat that this a true story . She wrote the act .
As I am writing I have goose bumps remembering the act.
Elisabeth Provencher on the violin
Etienne Thibault : guitar- wrote the music score.
Joël Chassé and Amélie Lemire Champagne standing front stage .
The music begins and Joël and Amélie interpret ( act and dance ) the vicious circle of violence.
Abuse, violence, family violence, conjugal violence, verbal abuse or violence, it was all there and NOT ONE WORD WAS SPOKEN.
It didn`t need any, it was that powerful.
I stopped breathing ( literally ) 30 seconds in the act and wept my eyes out.
I could not stop weeping.
I totally was gone for 5 minutes . it got hold of me llike there was no tomorrow.
Last thing I know, it`s over, I catch my breath, wipe my eyes and remember I`m in the school auditorium.
Oh my god.
After that, I left.
I had to go back home because Pierre needed to go to Trois-Rivières but I would have left anyway, I was upset and just wanted to go home to hug my kids and husband.
It was that good.
I get home, Pierrre is waiting for me in the garage and I`m still weeping.
Pierre thinks something bad happened to me.
I reassure him but it takes me a while to catch my bearings and explain what I had just witnessed.
Pierre leaves.
I go hug and kiss my kids, jump in my pyjamas, sip a cup of herbal tea and questions come to mind:
How can a 16 year-old come up with something so powerful without using a single syllable and be able get such a message across ?
How can this young man and woman interpret such a powerful emotion that is being a victim of violence or being an abuser without having lived it personally ? Have they ? If not how could they interpret it so truthfully ?
And why is it that an hour later, I`m still upset with what I saw ?
They so hit the nail on the head here. They also hit a nerve. A sensitive one.

I got to know who the winners were first thing the next morning.
Georges and I discuss the evening and how we enjoyed it again this year.
He asks me if I`m going to see the finals in April in Vicoriaville.
Sure I am, I wouldn`t miss this for the world.
So it`s official I will be there. I`ll be on the bus organized by Capt.Georges so go buy your tickets and be prepared to be dazzled.

SNOW DAY
February 7th was our annual Snow Day.
Since Pierre was going to Bromont and coming back late, I stayed at school in order to pick up my kids after school.
I did go bowling with the students who stayed at school.
Who came with me : no other than my favorite French teacher : Katherine Bourgeois.
My supermodel tall Katou and I can not, shouldn`t , can not sit together at serious meetings on Ped.Days because we just giggle all the time.
We instantly turn 5 years old.
But on a snow day, there`s no stopping us !
We had more fun than the students.
My supermodel tall buddy has style, she`s got grace.
And the girl can bowl.
Me on the other hand....
Katherine had to remind me in the middle of our second game : " Annie, aren`t you left-handed because you`re bowling with the right one ? "
"AAAAh that`s why I suck out loud at this sport ! "
I changed hand and sucked even more.
Hey, I`m an intellectual ! I`m not manual.
I don`t cook ( Katherine likes to remind me of this EVERYDAY lately ).
I can`t even nail a nail on the wall but I have so many other talents.
I make a mean cheesecake though.
Katou, I love you.
I had a great day thanks to you.
Thanks for the supermodel Reitman poses you do so well in the school corridor.

Speaking of, here`s an example of how good I am manually:
One fine Sunday afternoon, I decide to hang ballet ornaments in Rose`s room.
I come in her bedroom with nails and hammer in hand and mentally ready to accomplish the task at hand.
" Mommy, what are you doing ? " she says.
" I `m gonna hang your ballet decorations once and for all Rose, it`s way due ."
Rosie : " You can do that mom ? "
Not-Too-Convincing Mom : " Sure I can do this Rosie !! "
Rosie : " Where`s dad ?"
Baffled Mom: " Daddy`s downstairs, why ? "
Rosie : " I think he should do it, I don`t think you can mom "
Pissed- off Mom : " Sure I can- Watch me "
Mom starts hammering the nail and the daughter witnesses the nail going totally through the wall- in the wall-the nail disappears.
Rosie : " Daddy, I think you should come here and help mom !! "
Pierre hung the decorations finally.
I swear to God this is a true story.
My six-year-old already knows I am a total loser when it comes to fixing things and knows I am so much better at breaking stuff.
So what- who does she run to when it`s time to bake cookies - when she`s hurt- her heart is breaking-she needs a hug and a kiss- to tuck her in at night ?
Momma.
So mamma is no Martha Stewart- so what.

On that,
TaTA
Annie