Currently It's February! (Note: Some Lying Involved!)

Yesterday I was reflecting on how the weather in February has felt a lot like spring in California. Actually, January felt like spring too!

I like February. It's a short month with holidays and chocolate!

I have been waiting for a long time to use this Christina Bainbridge font and this dotty paper by Surfin' through Second! And then I got to thinking: I don't think I ever completed a "Currently" for February!

The Olympics have been "on" in the background for days. I look up from the computer now and then, but I'm usually not sure who is competing. Those Olympic "coveralls" have left me completely confused!

I'm enjoying being away from school for two extra days--but I have a LOT to accomplish. I did well yesterday. Today... not quite as successful. I don't know about you, but I am always searching for  a balance between feeling like I had time off and feeling like I got things done.

I think working four days a week would be a good fit for me! I could work four days, plan/grade/mull/create for a day or two, and then still have time to be a "real" person for a few hours. How about you? People are often critical of the "short hours" that teachers work. I wonder if they know we never really stop working at all. Seems like I am almost always working. Even when I am not physically doing school stuff, a corner of my mind is still planing, reviewing, analyzing, wondering...

Now for the Truth or Dare part... I'm not sure what the dare will be. Hmmm... How about: I dare you to find the truth?

As you can see, I went with a bit of a Olympic theme for this event. Here you go..
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1. While I have never been skiing, I have ridden the chair-lift up and then mountain-biked down (straight down!) Mammoth Mountain in California along the ski runs (Okay, it's a twist on the Olympics?!) Bumpy, twisty, fast... and scary. I got a t-shirt to commemorate my survival.

2. I traveled to the training center in Canada (site of the Olympics in 1988) where I sledded down the luge track just like the real deal. Icy, slippery, fast... and scary... like a rocket! Somewhere there are pictures!

3. Since it is quite close to where I live, I ran half of the marathon course through Los Angeles (site of the Olympics in 1984) one year in early spring. Slow... really slow... and still scary (unless you do not value breathing)! The best part was the ice cream at the end.


                                         Okay...

                                                      Which ones are true?

                                                                                        And which one is a lie?

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The Real Truth: The fact that I did ANY of these things still surprises me! And yet...

Tale #1: Yes, I biked down Mammoth Mountain. Yes, I did fall. And my t-shirt says: "Help! I've fallen and I can't get up." I can't say I want to do that again any time soon.

Tale #2: Yes, I did slide down the luge course. Yes, I stayed on my sled. Yes, I felt like a human rocket. And, yes, I LOVED it!

Tale #3: No... I've never been on the marathon course in Los Angeles. I don't run. Never have. Never will. Unless you count jogging to the car on Friday afternoons. But the ice cream part could absolutely be true!

WOW. This has been an intriguing Currently installment, don't you think? If you haven't linked up, there are still lots of days of February. I should know. My little purple square is usually near the end of the collection! Time to click on over to Farley's and check out some other bloggers' contributions!

I hope that your February will be filled with lots of love and good things. And now I think I need to check on the cake. I am STILL hearing my name...

PS Those are Moo and Puppy digital papers featured above... HERE on Etsy!

Currently... For a Few More Hours!

Ahhhhhhh. February.
The  month with the fewest days... and a month with TWO no-school days.
Best of all, February is a month that just shouts that it is a good idea to eat chocolate!

Graphics by Zip-A-Dee-Do-Dah, Surfin' Through Second and Creative Clips... all on TpT!

Each month, I look forward to Farley's Currently link-up. It reminds me to turn the page on my calendar and to check in with the other bloggers who, like me, adore Farley and her plan to keep us connected and "in the know" about each other.

I have to post this one quickly because it is the last day of February--and in a few hours, it will be MARCH! In all honesty, I wrote my Currently in early February, it just never made it to the blog. A short month does have its drawbacks, I guess.

As I read over these items, I am starting to worry a bit. I think my life changes very little from month to month--and it's all documented in a series of Currently postings. I could hop on over to Farley's tomorrow and it will be March. And my Currently could say almost the exact same thing. Especially the part about tardy slips. Anyone else suffering from a barrage of chronically late students?

I've reworked that sentiment above with a positive spin: I have my life so organized, that I don't have to worry about a lot of big changes that disrupt the orderliness. Hmmmmm. That's not particularly true, but it does have a better ring to it. Maybe I will just look for something unique to celebrate in March!

This time I am almost certain that I will be the last entry in Farley's Currently gathering. (If you're in an investigative mood, you can click below to find out--or maybe you just want to read about some friends who were on time for the party!) My goal is to be in the first one hundred for March...

I hope that your February was filled with love and chocolate and lots of good things, and that March will bring you even more wonderfulness!

Linking Up... Twice!

Oh My!  This afternoon we had a budget meeting.  The financial picture in California has been dismal, but I wasn't expecting this!  Like teachers in most places, teachers in our district have dealt with furlough days, salary cuts, lay-offs, and the increasing costs of medical benefits.  We have minimal supplies, limits to copying, and no field trips or other "extras."  And we have taken each new cut, working harder than ever before to make the most of our limited resources.

This afternoon, we heard about the proposed class sizes for next year... An average of 31 kids in grades K to 3 (with a cap likely at 34) and an average of 35 kids in grades 4 to 6 (with a cap likely at 40).  While it may all be part of a bargaining move, I just can''t imagine working any harder than I am now... with even more kids!

I skipped my technology training and came home for a "beverage"!  I'm still in state of shock, but I was delighted to join the Link Up brigade to take my mind of our budget woes. Thankfully, Farley's "Currently" template was ready and waiting.  While I was at it, I decided to join up with Kimberly at Funky First Grade Fun for her "What Do You Love?" linky party too!

You should link up too!  It's always so much fun to read the other "Currently" comments. Click on the button and head back to Oh Boy Fourth Grade and say Hi to Farley while you are there.  She needs a little extra love... a  new rule says no more flip-flops at her school. (Some administrators really know how to break a teacher's heart!)

While I was at it, I decided to join up with Kimberly at Funky First Grade Fun for her "What Do You Love?" linky party too! (Of course, I couldn't resist a purple template!)

Why not link back and link up at Funky First Grade Fun?  There are lots of fun commentaries to read. And that purple template is just so cute!