Super Productive Afternoon of Power

School got out 3 hours early today due to snow. The drive home was livable and I decided to spend the afternoon tearing through my curriculum and creating some new review lessons. All we have been doing lately is review, and thankfully the kids take their big test very soon. . .although I hope we don't have school tomorrow so the girls and I can go see "Bride Wars." If we do have school, I am sure there will be many bitter students and staff. Nothing can describe the joy of getting that phonecall and knowing you get to sleep in as late as you want!

Tim and I hit up trivia with Maggie and Ken last evening for the first time in a long time. We have decided to make trivia a monthly thing - trivia girl is still the most annoying know-it-all on the planet. We lost by 2 points but felt proud of our solid showing and totally obscure pick for next week's grab bag. I almost didn't go because I felt so drained from the day, but some nights you have to drag your butt out for a good laugh to get yourself out of a funk.

Here's hoping for a funk-free rest of the week . . .

Long time, no post.

Well, it's a new year and it's a whole new ballgame here at my house. New table, new drapes, new tricks for cleaning efficiently, and a new roomie! Sarah is living with me while she attends community college, and so far we are loving it. We have the house looking absolutely adorable, I am getting in to one of my favorite shows, "Flight of the Conchords," and we opened a Netflix account together so we can watch movies on nights at home. I also FINALLY started watching "Big Bang Theory" and "How I Met Your Mother" - both shows are fantastic. James and Megan were completely right about them. . .

. . .and some things never change. That dang squirrel (I have now named is Houdini because he comes and goes mysteriously) should be vacating the attic this week if the contractor can finally figure out exactly how he is sneaking in to party all night. Work is still as crazy as ever, with drama mounting each day. At least the gym is also a constant - nothing blows off frustration like a good workout and a little tv at the end of the school day.

And I have decided that since my Patriots are out of it this year, I am changing up the usual chant. For all of my friends and neighbors here, I am now saying "Go Ravens!" Don't worry, it is only temporary. . .

End of Year Pop Culture Quiz

I found this on IMDB.com today, and I thought it was worth sharing. I DID find one type-o in their questions, and I didn't bother to fix it, so see if you can figure it out. Answers are posted on their site - enjoy!!!

1. What are the names of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie's twin babies?

a. Emme and Max

b. Vivienne and Knox

c. Maddox and Shiloh

d. Bill and Ben

2. Who directed Angelina Jolie in Changeling?

a. Sean Penn

b. James Cameron

c. Clint Eastwood

d. Martin Scorsese

3. Which actor did Scarlett Johansson marry in 2008?

a. Ryan Reynolds

b. Ryan O'Neal

c. Josh Hartnett

d. Josh Duhamel

4. Which movie won the 2008 Oscar for Best Motion Picture?

a. Atonement

b. Juno

c. No Country for Old Men

d. There Will Be Blood

5. Which celebrity welcomed a baby boy called Levi?

a. Matthew McConaughey

b. Jessica Alba

c. Nicole Kidman

d. Halle Berry

6. Which teen sensation stars as Hannah Montana?

a. Dakota Fanning

b. Miley Cyrus

c. Hilary Duff

d. Jamie Lynn Spears

7. Which supermodel was ordered to complete 200 hours of community service after spitting at a police officer?

a. Heidi Klum

b. Cindy Crawford

c. Naomi Campbell

d. Tyra Banks

8. Which of the following celebrities have not entered rehab in 2008?

a. Heather Locklear

b. David Duchovny

c. Eva Mendes

d. Ben Affleck

9. Who played Batman in this year's hit movie Batman Returns?

a. George Clooney

b. Christian Bale

c. Heath Ledger

d. Michael Keaton

10. He played an old school American footballer in Leatherheads and an agent in Burn After Reading. Name the actor.

a. Brad Pitt

b. George Clooney

c. Johnny Depp

d. John Malkovich

11. Who leant their voice to an animated Panda?

a. Jack Nicholson

b. Will Smith

c. Jack Black

d. Ben Stiller

12. Who became a new mum and was voted Esquire magazine's Sexiest Woman in 2008?

a. Salma Hayek

b. Jessica Alba

c. Jennifer Lopez

d. Halle Berry

13. Name the Quantum of Solace Bond Girl

a. Olga Kurylenko

b. Izabella Scorupco

c. Famke Janssen

d. Teri Hatcher

14. And what's the name of the new Bond theme song recorded by Jack White and Alicia Keys?

a. Quantum Leap

b. Die Another Day

c. Another Way To Die

d. I Die, You Die

15. She played the Hulk's girlfriend and a victim in The Strangers. Name the actress

a. Liv Tyler

b. Naomi Watts

c. Nicole Kidman

d. Renee Zellweger

16. Name the two stars of Appaloosa

a. George Clooney and Brad Pitt

b. Johnny Depp and Keith Richards

c. The Coen Brothers

d. Ed Harris and Viggo Mortensen

17. Which actress lost a lucrative modelling contract in the Far East for claiming the devastating earthquake in China was "karma" for the nation's atrocities in Tibet?

a. Renee Zellweger

b. Julia Roberts

c. Angelina Jolie

d. Sharon Stone

18. Name the two stars of Body Of Lies

a. Russell Crowe and Leonardo DiCaprio

b. Matthew McConaughey and Owen Wilson

c. Tom Cruise and Will Smith

d. Sean Penn and Clint Eastwood

19. And what was their first film together?

a. Open Range

b. The Quick and the Dead

c. Proof of Life

d. The Island

20. Who won the 2008 Oscar for Best Supporting Actress?

a. Keira Knightley

b. Cate Blanchett

c. Tilda Swinton

d. Ruby Dee

21. Spiderman's arch enemy played a stoner in Pineapple Express. Name the actor

a. James Caan

b. James Marsden

c. James Franco

d. James Gandolfini

22. And who played his sidekick in the hit comedy?

a. Seth Rogen

b. Seth Green

c. Jack Black

d. Jason Segel

23. What's the name of Wall-e's girlfriend?

a. Ava

b. Emily

c. Eva Longoria Parker

d. Eve

24. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro teamed up for the first time since Heat in which cop thriller?

a. Hancock

b. Righteous Kill

c. Body of Lies

d. No Country For Old Men

25. And which rapper played the movie's bad guy?

a. 50 Cent

b. Lil Wayne

c. Eminem

d. Diddy

26. What's the name of High School Musical 3's basketball team?

a. Cougars

b. Bobcats

c. Titans

d. Wildcats

27. Which former 007 hit the high notes in Mamma Mia!?

a. Sean Connery

b. Timothy Dalton

c. Pierce Brosnan

d. Daniel Craig

28. Who was named People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in November?

a. Brad Pitt

b. Johnny Depp

c. Matt Damon

d. Hugh Jackman

29. Who won the 2008 Oscar for Best Actor?

a. Daniel Day-Lewis

b. Johnny Depp

c. Tommy Lee Jones

d. Viggo Mortensen

30. Name the two love-bitten stars of vampire romance Twilight

a. Rob Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

b. Robert Downey Jr. and Kirsten Dunst

c. Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens

d. Pierce Brosnan and Meryl Streep

31. And what's the name of their characters?

a. Edward + Bella

b. Belle + Sebastian

c. Edward + Penelope

d. Rhett + Scarlett

32. Sarah Jessica Parker made her long awaited debut to the big screen as Carrie Bradshaw in which 2008 hit movie?

a. Sex in the City: The Movie

b. Sexy Beast: The Musical

c. Sex in New York

d. Sex and the City: The Movie

33. This Eagle Eye-d star played Indiana Jones' son and almost lost his hand in a car accident. Name the actor

a. Shia Labeouf

b. Leonardo DiCaprio

c. Tobey Maguire

d. Zac Efron

34. Which two actors played onscreen lovers for the third time in Nights in Rodanthe?

a. Richard Gere and Julia Roberts

b. Richard Gere and Diane Lane

c. Josh Brolin and Diane Lane

d. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan

35. Which actress announced her pregnancy on a Us late night TV chat show? Her baby, Henry Story, was born on 5 September.

a. Nicole Kidman

b. Halle Berry

c. Jennifer Garner

d. Minnie Driver

36. Which real-life lovers were co-stars in Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona?

a. Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

b. Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz

c. Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony

d. Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

37. And which newlywed joined them for the quirky film?

a. Scarlett Johansson

b. Jessica Alba

c. Nicole Kidman

d. Julianne Moore

38. Katie Holmes made her Broadway debut in which Arthur Miller play?

a. All My Daughters

b. All My Sons

c. Dawson's Creek

d. Hairspray

39. And who took Holmes' place as Batman's love interest?

a. Chloe Sevigny

b. Zooey Deschanel

c. Maggie Gyllenhaal

d. Rosario Dawson

40. Which lesbian couple exchanged vows in California?

a. Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi

b. Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche

c. Melissa Etheridge and Tammy Lynn Michaels

d. Rosie O'Donnell and Kelli Carpenter

Pictures in case you care.

We went to NYC last weekend. Beyond the usual Christmas lights and musical (this year it was "Mary Poppins," which was fantastic!), we stopped at the Charmin bathroom. I promise you there is no potty cleaner in the city.

So I have one more week with my students and their midterm is behind them. The next few days get to be education for the fun of it. I love this time of year!

I came, I saw, I conquered.

Thanksgiving was fantastic - I spent the day with Tim's family, Lisa and Matt, and some old friends. I have a couple of pictures that I will post when my brain is a little more functional. . .

Right after dinner, we hopped in the car and shopped until we almost literally dropped. We started at the Leesburg Outlets at 11, then headed to Macy's at 5 a.m. I then swung by Best Buy on my way home, passed out for a few hours, and just returned from attacking the mall one last time. I snagged some awesome deals and got almost everyone on my list checked off.

Now I am sitting in my den listening to Christmas music. My lights are up, my decorations are all in place, and my tiny little tree is lighting up the front window. Time to drink a Red Bull and get a little grad work done.

. . .and for those who are interested, I HIGHTLY recommend Kristin Chenowith's new Christmas album. Her voice is amazing!

Reasons to give thanks.

In less than three days, I will be celebrating Thanksgiving with dear friends and practically family. As you can probably tell from my lack of blogging, I have been a little stressed lately by work, grad class, and life's uncertainties.

Things have not always gone my way, but even on my worst day of self-pity I have it much better than so many others. I know kids whose parents beat them, women who are facing breast cancer, and families who are making ends meet with two out-of-work parents. I have everyone and everything I need around me, and for that I am overwhelmed and thankful.

The long-awaited Halloween picture.

Enjoy.