She Came Into My Life For a Reason

WARNING: don't read this post if you don't want to be bummed out.

Tragedy struck this weekend. She was a beautiful little pup named Blueberry. She left as quickly as she came into my life. She changed me forever.

I remember when she was just born. Her mother left her in a deep crevice and my brother and I literally had to dig to get her and her sisters out. I'm not a dog person by any means, but this pup was the cutest dog ever. EVER. She was so lovable and a bit naughty.

I finally see why people love dogs. I never thought I would've seen the day I would actually be open to loving a dog-until she came into my life. Since she lived up north, we only saw her about every three months. She was part Blue Heeler and would nip at your heels wherever you walked. Where ever you walked she was there, like a little side kick. I was never afraid to walk in the dark because I knew she was always there.

She passed away this weekend. The one pup that changed my outlook on dogs. It's probably not a big deal for someone that doesn't understand, but that's okay. Although her life was short, she lived a happy happy life.

My Biggest Regrets in Life

A student posed this question to me today. What is your biggest regret in life.
I said without hesitation, "Not playing the Tic-Tac-Toe chicken at Trump 29 Casino."
True story.

I'm not one to live with regrets, but this...I regret! My sister and I went to Venice beach for the weekend and on the way home we stopped at the (then) Trump 29 Casino. I wanted to stop ever since I saw the "Beat the Tic-Tac-Toe Chicken" sign. (No, I wouldn't let it go until we stopped there)

We arrived at dusk because we got sidetracked people watching. I remember bragging about how quickly I would beat the chicken (because as you know, I am the Tic-Tac-Toe master). I was so excited. We got there and to my horror, there was a long long line. I waited a bit, but got bored and started to wander. I looked through the window and saw it was getting darker, so I suggested we leave and come back next month because we had a +5 hour drive ahead of us.

We left and never returned. Where the heck did Trump 29 Casino go anyway?
My dreams were destroyed as I went back later..to nothing. No chicken, no million dollars...nothing.

Oh, P.S. The second thing I regret is eating a 2 pound bag full o gummi bears when I was 20 years old. I was so sick after I didn't eat for three days and I had a migraine the whole time! I can't even look a gummi bear straight in the beady eye after this incident.

0_o

It's getting colder and colder. :(

I hate the cold weather.

Zombies and the Future Ones Zombified

Today I was asked, yet again, if I received my H1N1 shot.

"Nope," I replied.

"That's SILLY, Dawn!" another teacher spoke.

"Why's that silly?" I asked.

"Because you work with students and they're like germ breeders! I get sick all the time from them," she said.

"Nope," I replied again.

"You're just asking for it," she says menacingly.

I say, "Me? You're the one that's going to turn into a zombie. Be zombified!"

"What are you talking about?" the future zombie says.

I say, "Don't you think it's weird how these "free" shots are given out of nowhere? Literally, one day they're just like, "Hey, got some thing for you. No questions.""

I go on to say, "Mark my words, in about a year, you'll turn. You'll start with a craving that you can't pin point..."

"But Dawn.." she trails off.

"No buts, then you can't borrow my supplies and electrical pencil sharpener anymore," I warn.

"You're nuts!" the future zombie says.

"Am I? Do you even know what's IN that shot? How do you even know it's for the H1N1? Hmm?" I question.

"Well..the lady...she..wait. I guess I don't know..for sure..sure," I hear her state out her zombified mouth.

"Exactly." I say. "And don't let me catch you around my classroom looking for a pencil sharpener...and brains!"

Random Facts

1. I am terrified of walking over grates on the ground.
I will actually go out of my way not to walk over one. I try to save my husband from walking over them, but he's a fearless grate walker.

2. I collect sea water.
I have water from: Maui, Niagara Falls, Florida, California, Seattle, the Mississippi River, and some others I forgot.

3. I collect action figures. Let me rephrase that, horror action figures.
I have some signed and my goal one day is to have a room dedicated to my collections.

4. I'm almost completely blind without my contacts.
If I don't have them in, I see in shades. I can't even see the outlines, just shades. It's like looking through a slightly tinted plastic bag. But, with my contacts, I can see better than most people.

*Just random facts. My students play 20 questions with me

What The Heck Is Up With This?

I was coming home yesterday and as I was driving up, I saw an older man and a young girl at the door. I approached and they waved at me like pals do. I thought they were neighbors or something, but boy was I wrong.

I said, "Hello." The first sentence out of the man's mouth was, "My friend, have you accepted Jesus into your life?" I said, "Um, no" (as in 'no thanks'). He said, "Well, let me tell you.." I said, "Sorry friend, let me rephrase that, I'm not interested, but thank you."

You should've seen the look on his face, almost like a slap in the face. He says in a sassy way, "JESUS LOVES YOU!" I said, "Thanks."

I walked to through them to open my door and he shouts, "JESUS STILL LOVES YOU!"


I'm really miffed he didn't reciprocate my hello with a "Hi" back, what's up with that?

Halloween 2009

Last year we scared the crap out of seven people. These people were literally running away from our door yelling. As you can see, Halloween is my favorite holiday*.

This year my goal was to up the ante to 10 people. (Children under 5 yrs aren't included) It gave me so much pleasure to see people scared. We went as far as setting up a smoke machine, strobe lights, and using half a gallon of realistic-fake blood for my costume. We prepared last year. Our Black Friday is the day after Halloween, not Thanksgiving. We stock up for next year the day after Halloween.

Cookie, our master, didn't want to dress up, due to attitude, so he decided to play gargoyle on the balcony instead.

We had so much fun.

* Side note, Halloween is not celebrated in most schools. Not even kitty ears or hats, sad.

Things Married People Should Tell You

As a recent bride, I have a question to other married people. How did you deal with your new identity. I know this sounds weird, and probably petty, but I'm having issues with it.

When I came back to work people would call me by my new name. At first I was taken aback and actually said, "Who?" when being referred to as "Mrs. Dentz." Then it happened. The jokes started, Mrs. Double D, Mrs. Dense, yadda, yadda..

We went to the SS office and I was given a book (basically a book) to read and sign to change my name. I tossed it aside and said, "later." I went to the DMV and they told me I needed a fee, new pic, and other crap I can't remember. The school district require all kinds of paperwork also-to change a name. to change a NAME.

Married people should warn you of this hassle.

It's so weird to be called a name you aren't use to, like your identity is lost.

I was going to hyphenate, but I was sent a lenghty email stating I couldn't because it wouldn't fit on my new email. (Who would've thought?)

Now, I'm in limbo and don't know what to do.
(I think we should both change our names to Deitz)