This and That

1. Tomorrow is the first day of school.  It's my 22nd first day of school, and I still get nervous and excited.  I hope that never goes away.  One of the best parts of teaching ninth graders is that I know that they're so much more nervous than I am, so I try to exploit that and scare them into thinking my class is going to be way harder than it actually is.  Classy, huh?  I can't wait to meet my new kiddies tomorrow morning!
2. Matt's been gone all weekend visiting his friend Drew in Virginia.  Initially, I was less than thrilled about him leaving me for a whole weekend (because I'm a loser and I never want him to go anywhere without me).  When he told me that during his weekend with Drew he'd be doing fantasy football drafts, though, I couldn't get him out the door fast enough.  I HATE sitting around while Matt does fantasy football drafts, and I always get a little bitchy about how long and drawn out they are.  (Also, he hogs the computer to do them.)  So, really, I believe that Matt's having gone away for the weekend is good for our marriage. 
3. As much as looking at my toothbrush sitting there all alone in the holder can bum me out, this weekend has actually been pretty great.  I gave our kitchen a little makeover (pictures to come), I got an amazing package in the mail (pictures to come), I watched season 8 of Friends (for the hundredth time), I cleaned, I listened to music and podcasts, and, whattayaknow?. . . I participated in a fantasy football draft of my own. 
4. My reasons for joining the fantasy football league were threefold. 
1. I really like the people who are in the league, and since it seems that my Savannah friends all move away, I need to be more outgoing. 
2. I could possibly win money.
3. Most importantly, there's a chance that I could win in my league and Matt would lose in his.  I am a bad wife.
5. Today I bought the Goody spiral bobby pin thing, and I'm completely in love.  I can basically make my hair look like it's in a fancy up-do with no work at all.  Go buy them.  I think you'll agree.

Well, I'm off to pack my lunch for my first day of school.  Wish me luck!

More Ranting about Avatar

When the Golden Globes aired last week, Matty and I were enjoying our last night in tropical paradise, and I was forcing myself to puke after having eaten too much bar food. (Not a new diet, just a negative consequence of being a fatass.)

At least, I thought I puked because of the nachos, wings, burger, margaritas, and chocolate cheesecake. . .

Perhaps, though, my body sensed what was about the happen during the awards show. F'ing Avatar and its pain in the ass creator won best picture. Really, Golden Globe voting people? Really? Best picture?

What really made the puking commence, though, was probably James Cameron speaking in Na'vi.
I didn't even watch the awards show, and it sickens me. In fact, I might puke again. Damn you, psychic stomach full of junk food! Damn you James Cameron, you crazy bastard!

Anyway, a few weeks back, Matt's buddy Drew sent us a link to a HILARIOUS article about Avatar. Now, I don't yet have it translated into Na'vi, but hopefully you'll retain your English skills for a bit longer. The article discusses how many moviegoers slipped into deep depression after watching Avatar, because life on earth just can't compare to the beauty of life on Pandora. Seriously, that's what it's about.

Here are some of my favorite excerpts:

"Ever since I went to see 'Avatar' I have been depressed. Watching the wonderful world of Pandora and all the Na'vi made me want to be one of them. I can't stop thinking about all the things that happened in the film and all of the tears and shivers I got from it," Mike posted. "I even contemplate suicide thinking that if I do it I will be rebirthed in a world similar to Pandora and the everything is the same as in 'Avatar.' "

"One can say my depression was twofold: I was depressed because I really wanted to live in Pandora, which seemed like such a perfect place, but I was also depressed and disgusted with the sight of our world, what we have done to Earth. I so much wanted to escape reality."

Within the fan community, suggestions for battling feelings of depression after seeing the movie include things like playing "Avatar" video games or downloading the movie soundtrack, in addition to encouraging members to relate to other people outside the virtual realm and to seek out positive and constructive activities.

Discuss. Did you experience negative or suicidal feelings after watching Avatar? Were they because of how bad the movie was, or because your dream to live on Pandora will never come to fruition? Have you downloaded the Avatar sountrack or joined a support group to cope with these feelings? Will you ever rebound?

Talk amongst yourselves.

(p.s. I wrote this entire post from bed. I love the new computer!)