School Is Here. Need I Say More?
Wow! You guys are the best. I loved reading all your fears. That’s right I just said your fears were madly entertaining. It did worry me though how many of them (and I mean like 99.9%) I agreed with. Maybe some of us would have shorter lists if we listed what we WEREN’T afraid of. BUT due to the big comment turnout, I picked three winners instead of two. And by picked, I mean, I used my handy dandy random number generator I got off the information super highway. The winners of Just Between You and Me are:
1. Lauren
2. Tammy (seriously–who said she felt this was her lucky day–I totally did not rig that!!!)
3. Katherine B.
Ladies, just email me (jen at jennybjones dot com) your mailing addys. I don’t have the books yet, so you’ll receive them in 3-5 weeks or so.
Quite a few of you mentioned being afraid of your first day back at school, whether it be junior high/high school or college. Let me unplug from the sass for a moment and tell you that you have been prayed for today. I can’t imagine how hard it is to be the new kid. I never moved growing up, so I was one of those intimidating people you had to meet. But as an adult, I am constantly so jealous of the people skills movers have vs. those of us who inherited our friends because we all grew up in the same town. I have few “getting to know you” skills. And believe me, walking up to someone and just staring is not effective. So for those of you who have had to move one or more times, I think this is one of the best things that could happen to you. You get skills that you are gonna totally need later in life. And for those of you who encounter newbies at your school, make an effort to reach out to the new folk. And not just the cute boy new folk. (Though by all means, you must extend your kindness to them as well, burden though it will be.) I wasn’t Miss Kindness to newbies (or to a whole list of others, but that is a boring collection of information), and I regret that as well. As a teacher, my heart always goes out to those who don’t have buddies. Y’all don’t want to be thirty something and regret snubbing people in high school. That’s a wasted regret. A more worthwhile regret? Not eating chocolate mini donuts in mass quantities when your metabolism was still touched by angels.
There was once this girl who came to our school when I was in the seventh grade. She was so different. Not like the rest of us who were like fourth generation attenders of this junior high. And because no one–like me–talked to her, she had to sit at lunch by herself. Well, not exactly by herself. She would talk to the salt and pepper shakers. (Kids, once upon a time, the school trusted students with salt and pepper shakers and they were left on the table. Ketchup bottles could also be found. They were free, happy times.) When she moved on to conversing with the napkin holders, her reputation was sunk. Or was it? I personally had nothing to do with her. Her behavior was…unique. And I was of perfectly sound mind. Flash forward two years later, and due to constantly being thrown together and bonding over some really horrible band uniforms, a flare for homemade jokes, and dad stories, we were really good friends. She’s still one of my BFFs. And I remember being shocked at all we had in common. Those commonalities never included an inclination to talk to tableware, but whatever. Just goes to show you can’t always judge someone by first impressions. Or by their affinity to Morton table salt.
Thanks to friend and fellow writer Danica Favorite and her Twittery tweets, I have discovered Dave Crowder’s Rockumentaries. It’s a great way to spend a Sunday night when you’re supposed to be writing, reading, preparing for school, spending quiet/reflective time with the Lord, perfecting my downward dog, or watching a Desperate Housewives rerun.
Here’s Episode III. I’ve watched them all, and I have to say Jack is my absolute favorite band member. He totally needs his own show. Or to at least a starring role on The Big Bang Theory.
Everyone seems to be joining Twitter these days. And sounding off about it.
Even Louie Giglio.
And I think we all know I would agree with Giglio about boring Tweets. They drive me nuts. I read one last month that read “I am buying shampoo.” I couldn’t hardly go to sleep that night because I was hanging over the cliff of “what could possibly come next?” by my very fingernails. I never got a conditioner selection update, which was a huge letdown.
Today I have real school. Not inservice. Not a meeting. But students. And their parents. It’s funny (and when I say funny, I mean maddening to the point I sprout a vein in my forehead), but parents can be the worst audience members. We have this back to school day where parents go to class alllll day with their kids. So I talk briefly about my class, tell them my most important rule (students must bring me cash daily I don’t accept late work/zeroes are written in my gradebook in blood), and then we do an ice breaker game. And what are some parents doing while I’m talking? Taking calls, texting, speaking loudly to someone next to them. I’m SURE they are just helping out by modeling what NOT to do, but it really makes my hand itch for a taser. The one I keep hidden in the back of my top desk drawer in a box labeled “extra markers.”
So let’s do another book giveaway. This is for a copy of the soon-to-be released Just Between You and Me. In the book, Maggie Montgomery always has candy on hand–Jolly Ranchers, SweetTarts, chocolate. What is a product you are dependent on? For example, I love L’oreal Extra Volume Collagen mascara. I used to be a die-hard Voluminous user, but after finding this stuff–I’m sold. And I have used Cetaphil soap to wash my face forever. My mom is a fan too. I always have some Burts Bees lip stuff on hand. Any products you swear by? Leave a comment and tell me all about it, and you’ll be entered to win a copy of the new book. And just a reminder, this is not a YA book. It’s appropriate for teens, but Maggie? She’s the ripe old age of 3-0. Ancient, right? ; ) You have until Thursday night to leave a comment. I’ll announce the winner Friday. If I have any strength left to blog. After my return to teaching and all.
Pray for me, y’all. I gotta be an educator today.
And wear heels.
JEN
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32 Comments so far
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Oh my goodness!!! I won!!! I told you it was my lucky day
Im so excited now! This just made my day.
anyways I dont want to be entered for the contest but I just wanted to tell you what I always have to have on hand. And that would be my hairbrush. I have to have it. I cant stand when I have messy hair or when its tangled. it needs to be brushed.lol I also always have to my cell phone. anyways have a great school week!
I don’t get my students until Wednesday, but I plan to be especially nice to any new students
I’d hate for them to have to go the ol’ salt and pepper shaker route of fitting in (it sounds to me like maybe that girl was a creative genius or something)..
And if those new students were to look in my purse they would see that I too am a slave to Burt’s Bees lip balm..and Eclipse gum, in peppermint or spearmint. Have a great first week!
good luck in school today!
always use St.Ives apricot scrub, my face would fall off without it. i promise.
i bathe in Johnsons Melt Away Stress Lotion. i donno if it really does what it says but it makes me feel better so i suppose it does…
do tweezers count as a product? i get hostile without a pair of tweezers handy.
and that Simply juice, the Raspberry Lemonade…mmmmmm…
Good luck with those heels, and students! And by no means mix the two up accidentally and try to wear students on your feet. I think that would make the rest of your year super awkward.
Stuff I always have? Lady Speed Stick, watermelon scented. I think we’re going on close to 8 years together now? I always try to buy a different scent, but it just never smells as good. Miss Vickies chips, Sweet Chili and Sour Cream flavour. I could eat a bag in one sitting!
Congrats to the winners. I love reading this blog.
My one thing I need is Diet Coke! (not Pepsi). When they lay my human body to rest, they will have to leave me a 24 pack of Diet Coke. I get up in the morning, I have one. If I do not have one, I get headaches (yes I know this is not good). I am caffine dependant, I just do not get it from coffee.
Enjoy school Jen, my kids do not go back til the 2nd.(a second grader and a sixth grader) My college student goes back on the 31st.
Chocolate. I must always have chocolate on hand. It (almost) doesn’t matter what kind or in what form…and yes, Tootsie Rolls will count in times of desperation.
And I am apparently lost without my trusty Pilot Precise V5 Extra Fine pens–usually in any color but red (too many drafts of too many pieces have bled that color off their pages). They are in my purse, in my car, in my bedroom, office, laptop bag, coat and pants pockets, and yes…even my overnight bathroom bag. No idea on that last one. Guess I’m ready for inspiration to strike anywhere.
Good luck on the students and the heels!
Tammy, I don’t like to be without my cell either. Makes me nervous. A meteor could crash on me car. And I’d have no one to call.
Sheila, that girl was pretty intelligent. Like MENSA or something. . .You might’ve met her back in the day. Enjoy your first day back this week!!!!
Colene, I’ve heard about that scrub for years, but never tried it. I really should. And I am just getting over a nasty Simply Juice orange juice (with tons of pulp) addiction. I haven’t had it for a week. And it’s killing me. I LOVE that stuff. And the lemonade is good too! It tastes a lot like Chick-fil-A, but cheaper!
Robyn, I love Miss Vickies!!! Those are some dang good chips. Very crunchy!
Sherry, I’m also getting over a Diet Coke/Dr. Pepper/Pepsi addiction (two months!! woo!) and it’s very rude to wave that under my nose. Because when I die, I can’t have it with me in the coffin. We’ve parted ways forever.
Carra, I meant to go back and add my favorite pens too–The Pilot V5 Extra Fine!!!! I have them all over the place. And I’m with you–anything but red. I hate the red one. My favorite is green, followed by turquoise and pink. Purple is good too. I like the lighter colors more than the primary ones. Target has the fun ones while WalMart just has the boring ones around here.
My hips (which don’t lie) depend on Twizzlers to maintain their shape. I mean, they HAVE to have them. I also need wireless. I don’t know if that counts.
I was constantly the new kid in school. Eleven times, I think. I’m glad it’s over (at least high school wise), but it’s definitely character building. You learn to figure out people and social hierarchies really fast. You realize the importance of friends (not just making them, but keeping the ones you have) and, in my case, a whole eleven times, I got to go late for every class (Okay, twenty-two. I did it twice.) and act all ignorant and “What? You mean when the bell rings, I have to come INSIDE?”
You can also totally pretend not to understand the language. This totally impresses boys.
Good luck back at school, Jenny!
Praying you have a good Monday (is that an oxymoron or is it just me?). I like your “zeros are written in blood” rule.
The things I cannot live without are G2 Pilot pens, fine tips (oh my gosh, they are about five dollars for two, but I will not write with any other pen); Garnier Fructis conditioner (the only one that makes my hair look semi-normal); and college ruled notebooks (I buy about two a month, even if I haven’t filled the others. By now I have the equivalent of War and Peace in random scribblings.)
Blessings at school!
Heels? Since when did heels become necessary to walk into the classroom? I shudder. Thank God I don’t teach anymore. And it wasn’t the students that soured me on teaching (much), it was the piles and piles of paperwork. Ugh…don’t miss that in the least. (I taught special ed.)
And if I had to wear heels…well, you might as well fire me before the interview.
LOL. Enter me in the contest. I WANT that book. Puleeeze.
lynetteeason{at}lynetteeason.com
Plain M&M’s. Not only are they a candy that melts in your mouth and not in your hand, but they double as excellent tools to chuck at those obnoxious parents as they’re texting and talking on their cell phones. It’s a win-win food!
Okay, I have super curly hair and it’s really, really, really, thick. Like so thick I think I could have been born in the 80′s and I wouldn’t have had to use hairspray, because it gets so poofy. [[And I know the 80's were about big hair, that's why I said that.]] Anyways, to tame my mane, I use Tousle Me Softly conditioner by Herbal Essences. That stuff if amazing! Poofy hair no longer exists! [[Well, maybe a little, because it's just like impossible to get rid of! But, it's wayyyyyyy less poofy than before.]] It also makes my curls all soft and pretty. I love it! = D
Good luck with school-I hope this year goes well!
We just got a Tivo, so I’m pretty addicted and my life has changed. I love it and I even named it Lola.
I second the St. Ives Apricot face wash-love that stuff! And I really like makeup by Two Faced-they have a mineral bronzer that I’ve been wearing all summer-it’s the only mineral makeup that I like.
I love (almost) all things Dove (except for the shampoo – can’t stand that stuff). Face lotion, soap, deodorant, doesn’t matter. And I also think it’s not a coincidence that there is chocolate called Dove too. heehee Anyway, Neutrogena ranks a close second.
I am also now addicted to Coke Zero. I am all about Chick-Fil-A just because they have it (and the chicken isn’t bad either). The movie theater has it now too! WOO-HOO!
PARENT DAY?????!!!!!!! I’d have to impale myself on a dull pencil. From where did the powers that be drum this up?
Just wanted to say that my “Just Between You and Me” came today! I’m going to read it asap! Whoot!
Garnier Fructis makeup remover wipes. I found them a couple years ago…they’re like face wipes that take off makeup. Totally non-greasy. They’re a must. I pretty much swear by my Jimi wallet – it pops open and fits like four credit-card sized objects (since I do not have four actual credit cards), and a few bills. It’s minimalist. And purple.
I report back to school tomarrow,(wedensday), so I’m going to tell something I always have on hand at school. I get a Binder every year, well make that about 2 or 3, i usually wear them out pretty quickly. Actually, I don’t wear them out, kids in my 7th hour english class tore it to shreds last year. Who knows who will do it this year. My mom has jokes- she says maybe a leprachan will come turn it green and fill it with plastic gold coins, THAT would be awesome. I just don’t my 7th hour tearing up my other ones so hard to belive… not as unbelivable as greedy leprachans anyway. But another one of my must haves this school year is that book. THE book. my soon-to-be-mine book. enter me in the drawing please!!!
I know this sounds stupid, but I can’t survive without Chex Mix!!!!!!! I know… sad isn’t it?!?!?! I love salty food, so it’s like salty heaven just sitting in a bag, waiting for me to eat it. Oh and I also can’t live without Hershey Milk Chocolate bars. I’ve even gone so far as to hide the special bars in cupboards when guests arrive. I’m hopeless….
Products I just can’t live with out would be Starbucks Coffee… Sprite Zero… and I cant really think of anything else…
One Product that I love is those Post-it note highlighters with the tabs at the end for marking down any page. So handy to carry around AND they make you look smart!
I’m stuck on Full N’ Soft Maybelline mascara, Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmers in Rhubarb, and York Peppermint Patties! Please enter me, thanks.
Oh, and I forgot to mention MECHANICAL PENCILS! I know they might not be a product but I absolutely love them!
No need to sharpen them.
Also if I don’t win the book I am definitely buying it.
For years I’ve been devoted to Ulta eye shadow. They have a gazillion colors, the tins last forever (even with daily use), and the ingredients don’t make my eyelids itchy like other brands do. More often than not they’re on sale for half price or BOGO (reg. $6.50). I like their eyeliners and lip liners too. I have to go out of my way for the store in my area, but it’s totally worth it.
Jen,
How did you go about breaking your soda addiction?? I honestly need to do that, not only for the health reasons, but just because it is not good to have to “have” something. Thanks again for this blog. I enjoy each entry.
I love Carmex. Its really great and best of all it’s cheep! I also love the smell. I also love sharpies. I always have them with me and use them for everything- except eye liner, but I have thought about it.
Sarah, Twizzlers are so addictive. It’s like eating air. Surely they can’t be full of sugar and calories!
Hannah, I live and die by one subject notebooks myself. I like wide ruled because it makes me feel like I’ve written more. I plan every book with a one subj. notebook. And donuts.
Lynette, that was probably misleading. They didn’t make us wear heels. I made me wear heels. And then I hated myself for most of that day. And part of the next one. And SPED teachers and English teachers have UNREAL amts of paper work. It’s out of control.
Heather, obviously plain M&Ms have uses I haven’t even thought about. good tip.
Cassidy, I also have curly hair, and L’oreal used to make the BEST spray gel…and then one day they just didn’t. And I bought up all eBay had. And now…nothing. And L’oreal doesn’t even care. I know–I emailed them. Multiple times. ; )
Sarah, I may have to check out this bronzer. I’m whitey white and bronzer just looks stupid on me. I’ve yet to find one that looked…bronze. More orange.
Amy K, Dove chocolates are the best. and inspirational too. That’s the only reason I eat them…
Christa, as bad as it sounds, we like it. We get to tell the parents some stuff their kids “forget” to.
Carman, hope you enjoy Just Between You and Me.
Maddee–both items…intriguing. I must check them out. You could stuff a small child in my wallet.
Katie, next time someone attacks your binder, you HIT THEM WITH IT. (though I did not tell you that.)
Katie P, I LOVE Hershey chocolate bars. So simple…yet so not. Just perfect.
Catrina, Starbucks is tasty. Love me some frappachinos!
Alli, I love mechanical pencils. I just write better with them.
Natasha, where do you get Ulta eyeshadow?
Mary, Burt’s Bees lip shimmers are so great. Everyone in my family wears them. Except the men. Well, at least most of them don’t.
Sherry, this time I pretty much went cold turkey. I’ve tried a million times to quit, but this is it. HOpefully. I do cheat and have regular Pepsi or Dr. pepper. It’s SOOOO not the same, but it will do for those foods that REQUIRE a carbonated, throat-burning beverage like Mexican food, pizza, or pop corn. I started having weird symptoms, researched it, and that scared me enough to let it go. I would love to see what my health would look like if I had never started the stuff 18 years ago.
Lizzie, Carmex does have a scent like no other. And it’s always for sale in really convenient places. Like next to the chips at the store in the checkout line.
Re: Ulta. There are Ulta stores (http://stores.ulta.com/store/), but you can also shop online (http://www.ulta.com/ulta/).
I love LOVE love John Frieda Sheer Blonde products. Big Lots always seems to carry it for 1/3 of the price, so you know I stock up every few months!
I also use BareMinerals make-up and it is seriously the most natural-looking, yet still has good coverage kind of makeup.
And also Teva flip-flops, because they make my feet happy, and that’s really saying something!
Natasha, I gotta find out where the nearest one is. Thanks for the tip.
Ashley, BareMinerals makes me look paler than I already am. Like there is no coverage for this white girl. But I LIVE for my Teva flip flops. I wish they came in plain brown so I could vary it up. But as our flip flop privileges got taken away at work, I will not be donning mine tomorrow. I’m not bitter though. Just because I have NO IDEA what to wear on caz Friday. No biggee. I had to have a talk tonight with my flops and break it to them that they wouldn’t be joining me at work. Ever. It was hard. Be both cried.
Dependent on?
Two words: toilet paper
Could we really live without it? Not me.
And there are multiple Ulta stores in Tulsa!
I cannot start my day without coffee! If I do, my students (and I) will be miserable ALL day! I could drink it all day too (but I don’t). I’m trying to be healthier, though I’m not sure if I’m successful!
PS- Just read So Not Happening last night and loved it! Was doing that instead of lesson planning!