Tag, I'm It

My cousin tagged me for Crazy Eight. So I'll give it a shot.

8 shows I love to watch:
Good Eats
House Hunters
Football with Mike (but only with Mike)
Mythbusters
Um...cheesy old movies
The Office (with Kimmi)
How it's made or Made in America
The fireplace channel (Oh wait, that's really a fireplace)

8 places I love to eat:
Carrabbas
Olive Garden
Cheesecake Factory
Little America coffee shop
Applebees
Sonic
Our house when Mike barbecues
Guilty pleasure - Big Macs at McDonalds

8 things I did yesterday:
medicated a cat
gave gifts to 21 fifth graders
drove home in a snowstorm
had a nice nap in a big chair
cooked omelets for 5 people
helped shovel out Norma
used a glue gun
wore glitter home on my face

8 things I'm looking forward to:
Spring
remodeling our bathrooms
the boys moving out
ANYONE moving out ;)
Mike and I moving out - to Oregon or ???
Mike's retirement
the end of emints classes
reading for pleasure while on vacation

8 things I love about fall:
cool air
leaves underfoot
school supply sales
goofy Halloween stuff
Thanksgiving food
meeting a new class
taking out the window AC
my birthday

8 things on my wish list:
clean air
clean water
starry skies
time to enjoy my family
enough money to retire someday
good health
happy children
peace on earth

8 favorite eye candy
Mike
Tom Selleck
Pierce Brosnan
Johnny Depp
George Clooney
Harrison Ford
Kevin Klein
Jim Carrey (really - but only when he's serious)

8 people I'm tagging:
Nope, not tagging anyone. I don't really have anyone to tag.

More Tales from the Credit Union

My friend, Becky, teaches second grade. Her students were showing off their loot after receiving gifts from the credit union yesterday. One child, Becky thought, appeared less excited than she should have been under the circumstances. When Becky asked her what was wrong the girl said she was grateful for the presents, but all she really wanted was a book. Another child piped up that he, too, had asked for a book and not received one. Across the room a third little boy pulled two Dr. Seuss books out of his gift bag and gave them to his two classmates. Yup, they do sometimes listen when you explain about giving being better than receiving.

Credit Union Day

Every year at Lincoln five hundred little miracles happen. A local credit union takes the names and wishes of every one of our students. They fill a tree with ornaments listing what the children want, then they and their customers adopt each child and buy gifts from their wish lists. On the day before we leave for Christmas break they bring all the gifts over to the school and we have a giant opening party. Each grade goes into the gym where presents are passed out and opened. There's lots of squealing, lots of paper tearing, lots of mess, and lots of joy. I've had children ask for everything from roller blades to baby dolls. The ones that break your heart are the kids who ask for blankets, or coats, shoes and socks. Sometimes they will ask for something to share with a baby brother or sister. One child in my friend's class asked for a bed. Really. The family had no furniture. They were literally sleeping on the hard floor with just a blanket. We found a bed for them and realized when it was delivered just how incredibly poor they were. For some of these kids the things they got today will be the only things they get. Well, excuse me now, I feel like adding to my "I'm Thankful" list. At least I have a bed, a blanket, and food on the table.

Merry Christmas, Friends.