Triple Falls

This is a picture of Shay and me in front of the middle part of Triple Falls in the Dupont State Forest right outside of Flat Rock, NC. :-D It was beautiful!! The picture above is one I cropped so that you can see Shay and me better. The picture below is the full shot where you can see the falls. You should definitely go there...it's awesome!!

This quiz is sponsored by Nick Owens, who took it from maxismeg who posted it on his site and who I henceforth stole it from (through Nick)...and since Nick had me listed as one of the two people he wanted to see take this quiz, I decided I'd oblige him and do so...

2 names I go by
1. Libby
2. Miss McNeill

2 Parts of Your Heritage
1. Scottish
2. English

2 Things that Scare You
1. balloons
2. people in masks

2 of your everyday essentials
1. the keys to my classroom
2. my cell phone

2 Things You are Wearing Right Now
1. my "Clemson Girls...Best in the World" long-sleeved Tee
2. my fave jeans ever from GAP

2 of Your Favorite Bands or Musical Artists
1. Toby Keith
2. Hootie and the Blowfish

2 of Your Favorite Songs (at the moment)
1. "Photograph" by Nickleback
2. that "I tear my heart open, I sew myself shut" song by Papa Roach

2 Things You Want in a Relationship (Other than Real Love)
1. honesty
2. trust

2 Truths
1. I tell long, pointless stories.
2. I love to laugh.

2 Physical Things that Appeal to You (In the Opposite Sex)
1. strong shoulders/chest
2. smile

2 of Your Favorite Hobbies
1. blogging
2. reading

2 Things You want Really Badly
1. a ring
2. an mp3 player

2 Places You Want to Go on Vacation
1. back to Montana
2. Hawaii

2 Things You Want to Do Before you Die
1. write a book
2. spoil grandkids

2 Ways You are Stereotypically a Dude/Chick
1. I cry alot
2. I like Reese Witherspoon movies

2 Things You are Thinking About Right Now
1. Sawyer on LOST
2. about the conversation I'm having with Weston and Vickie

2 Stores You Shop At
1. New York & Company
2. GAP

2 People I would like to see take this quiz
(need I say?)
1. Mandy
2. Terence

Shay can be pretty funny sometimes

If you are reading this, then you more than likely know how much I run my mouth. And how my stories often ramble on and on. And you've probably gotten a really long-ass voice mail from me. Well, tonight at dinner, I was asking Shay about 3 million questions about his business trip to Connecticutt that he leaves for tomorrow. Well, about question 2,764,851, he rolls his eyes in frustration of my battery of interrogatives. We laughed and I said, "I'm asking too many questions, aren't I?" (Keep in mind that these questions were in no way 'nagging'--it was more like I was just asking to know). Anyway, this is what followed...

Shay: It's a good thing talk isn't a pollutant...
Me: Why's that?
Shay: 'Cuz you'd have a permant hole in the ozone layer above your head.

I was rolling! I thought it was so cute and so funny! (And so true!)

I'm really glad talk isn't a pollutant!!

This is getting out of hand

Okay, don't get me wrong. I love pop-culture. As a matter of fact, I could sit and watch E! True Hollywood Story ALL day. Except for 9:00 pm on Wednesday nights, of course. (LOST). BUT, I'm getting SICK and TIRED of the stupid nick-names. While Benifer was *kinda* cute, Benifer II is not. And this whole TomKat shit with Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. Puh-lease. That is just ridiculous. ALMOST as ridiculous as their relationship to begin with.

LiLo is another one that I don't like. I LOVE Lindsey Lohan, and I have done so ever since the new version of The Parent Trap. I like her portrayal of the twins better than Hayley Mills'. But I digress. LiLo is the name of a stupid-ass little blue surfing alien dude from yet another lack-luster Disney animated film. Everything past The Lion King has been crap. (Even though I kinda do like Pocahontas a little bit. And I have the soundtrack on CD in my car. Guilty pleasure.) Lindsey Lohan should go by Lindsey Lohan.

And forget nicknames! What's with all the REAL names that stars are naming their kids? Apple? CoCo?? I know I'm over a year old with this, but they still keep a'coming! I'm just glad that fruitcake Britney Spears didn't name her kid something outlandish. I was actually impressed with Sean or Preston or whatever it is she decided on. (Okay, as much as I love pop-culture, I actually haven't gotten as much Entertainment Tonight in as I would've liked to.)

But anyway, what's going to be really hilarious is when the current starbabies grow up and start dating. I just hope Tom and Katie don't name their kid Pie or Puffs or something...Gwyneth and Courteney might not like their daughters' married names if either of them marry the Cruise kid!

And think of all the divorces and remarriages in Hollywood...
Ten bucks says that there's a kid in about 40 years named CoCo Fruity Pebbles Apple Pie A La Mode.



BTW...this rant comes from the fact that as I was reading the headlines on MSN.com, I noticed they refer to the former Joey Potter and the former Maverick as "TomKat." I was like, "What. The. Hell. That's the last straw."

Television Classic Reminder

"It's the Great Pumkin, Charlie Brown" will air on Tuesday, October 25 at 8:00 EST/7:00 Central on ABC!

This has got to be my second-favorite Charlie Brown holiday cartoon of all time. First-favorite Charlie Brown holiday cartoon of all time is, of course, "Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!"

I quit putting my candy apples in the refrigerator a loooong time ago...

Okay, so you know how I decided to only go to the McDonald's at the interstate from here on out? Well, last night on my way home from Greenville, the craving for a cone of Mickey D's ice cream hit. I went the extra mile to the next exit to get to the "right" and "good" McDonalds only to be told, "I'm sorry, Ma'am. Our ice cream machine is down." Not entirely atypical of a McDonald's restaurant, but ironic considering I was the one who was running that same machine just this past Wednesday night. Coincidence? You decide!

I went to Fall for Greenville with Shay on Saturday. It was pretty doggone cool. I finally got my funnel cake that I've been craving since everyone started talking about all these fairs goin' on. It was delicious. Everything I dreamed it would be. What can I say...I heart funnel cakes. (And the River Park on the Reedy is really awesome, too. Greenville's hidden treasure, if you ask me.)

Terence and I are soulmates. Not like "meant for each other" soulmates. But like, "we should've been borne from the same womb" and "we're practically twins" soulmates. We have way a lot in common. Of course, there is one major difference: our opinions of how to eat an apple on a stick. Terence says covered in red hard candy. I say covered in yummy caramel. Neither one of us say cold, though. We both have sensitive teeth. Hence the title, quoted from Terence.

Eric needs a new post. Again. If he keeps this up, we're banning him from the Blog world.
YOU HEAR THAT ERIC?!? WE'RE ON TO YOU!!

Mandy is a porn star.
Like for real though.

Okay. Maybe not for real, but definitely check out her BlogIsTheNewBlack (link to your right).


I LOVE THIS WEATHER!! The only thing that could make it even better is if I were in Montana. Fly-fishing. With Brad Pitt. Okay, maybe just watching Brad Pitt do the fly-fishing. Shirtless. Him--not me.

For our fall festival on Thursday, each teacher has to decorate a pumpkin to sell as a fundraiser in a silent auction. My pumpkin is so going to kick ass in the auction. I'm taking a picture of it at school tomorrow. I'll post it this week sometime. It's a pirate pumpkin. Or a pumpkin pirate. Whichever. It rocks my face off. As a matter of fact, if I could award my pumpkin YouRockMyFaceOff points, it would get 20.

Speaking of YouRockMyFaceOff points, many of you are seriously slacking. I'm afraid it's because you're intimidated by Terence's 85 points. You may feel as if you could never catch up to, let alone exceed, his total. Well, he is being taken out of the running for one week. That means that until 11:59 PM on Monday, October 24, 2005, Terence Polk is ineligible to accumulate any YouRockMyFaceOff points. So Jen, Nick, Adam, and everyone else: you're still in the game. You can do it!! Just remember...you're trying to win something cool you don't even know about!! A competition is only worth winning if competition exists. 85 to 50 is not quite a competition. However, it must be said, that if NO ONE--that means not a single soul--earns any YouRockMyFaceOff points before Terence is re-entered into regulation play, he will automatically be awarded the final 15 points, defaulting him as Winner and Grand Champion of Libby's YouRockMyFaceOff Points Challenge. Please don't let him win by default. Make him earn it.

FOUND

I found my cell phone at school today. I had dropped it down in my teacher bag when I turned it off yesterday morning instead of down in my purse. Coincidentally, I didn't bring my teacher bag home from school last night since I knew I'd be at McDonald's for three hours and wouldn't do any work. BUT, after I used my planning to tear apart my desk drawers, search through Bailey's car with a fine-toothed comb, and notify the secretary of my missing cellular device, I finally found it in the teacher tote. I feel like I've been welcomed back into normal society again!!

Just thought you'd like to know! ;)

I really wish they had smiley-face graphics on here.

I was going to be going to Helen, GA this weekend to celebrate Lisa's birthday at her parents' campground, but the trip/celebration/drunken debauchery has been postponed due to Lisa's coming down with an unfortunate viral illness. I really wish she wasn't sick and that we could go, but I am also kind of glad. The mountains are way better when the leaves have changed. But, thanks to the perpetual summer and dry season we've had here in the South until last week, the trees don't know it's supposed to be Fall now. And oh, how I wish they would realize it. Autumn is the kick-ass-est season of them all. Too bad South Carolina's four seasons are Almost Summer, Summer, Still Summer, and Christmas.

Speaking of Christmas, though, I've totally been whistling "Jingle Bells" and singing "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas" for the past 2 weeks. No clue as to why, though. It's not even Halloween yet. I think I must still be brainwashed from working at Hallmark for 2.5 years: Keepsake Ornaments premiere in July of each year.

Anyway, I digress. Since I won't be in las montañas de Georgia this weekend, it means I might actually catch up on some work. We'll see, though. But Lisa...I don't care when we go, but I'm still going to Helen to get some Apple Fritters with you!! Get Well Soon!!!

Since I thought I was going to be out of town this weekend, Shay came to Clinton tonight and brought with him the first four episodes of Season 2 of LOST!! Does he rock or what?! We only watched the first two, though, because he did have to drive back to Greenville tonight, and I will now get a chance this weekend to watch the 3rd and 4th. I'm just so excited that I'll be able to watch it for real on Wednesday with every other LOST fan!! Me? A nerd? Yeah, pretty much! ;)

And speaking of nerdiness, I have this really awesome quote-a-day tear-away desk calendar at work with quotes that are about or that relate to teaching. One of the quotes from this month has been:

"You musn't let the things that matter most be at the mercy of the things that matter least."

I find that quote rather enlightening and refreshing. Especially because it can apply to so many situations. Regarding the Big Picture, though, the quote is pretty much my life philosophy. I want to make every minute count. So if I have the opportunity to spend time with a loved one, help out a child, participate in a learning experience, go somewhere I've never been before, etc. when I have work to do, I will always find a way to do one of the former activities. I think that's why I am a "procrastinator at heart." What needs to be done always gets done. Maybe not ahead of time, but it's never late. Well. It's hardly ever late. But anyway, why should I stress myself over the "things that matter least" when they're not really that big of a deal in the whole scheme of things? I'd much rather do the things that matter most. Wouldn't you?! Ya gotta live your life!!

As promised...

My shool picture. Very teacherific, huh?!

Miss Libby McNeill, Fifth Grade

Would you like fries with that?

Okay. So. I've been working since I was 17. Six and a half years. I've done several different things and worked several different places: Shirley's Hallmark, 2.5 years. Clemson University Orientation Ambassador, 2 years. Greeter at the Information Desk in the admissions building at Clemson University, 1.5 years. TCBY, 3 months. 6th grade teacher, 1 year. Fifth grade teacher, 3 months. But never have I ever had to work in a fast food restaurant. Most cliché-ly, McDonald's.

Until tonight.

That's right, Ladies and Gentlemen. Tonight, from 5:00-8:00 PM at the McDonald's at I-26 in Clinton, the Joanna Woodson Elementary School Faculty participated in McTeachers' Night. I wore a hat. I fixed sodas. I made McFlurry's. I made ice cream cones. I made sundaes. Milkshakes. I reckon my TCBY background helped me out there, huh. But anyway, it was quite interesting. But my FAVORITE part of the night was the Super Genius Milkshake Machine!!

Now, we've all noticed that they have soda machines where you hit the size of the cup you need, and the machine automatically knows when to stop filling it up. WELL, the Super Genius Milkshake Machine is even SMARTER!!

All you have to do is push the button for the flavor requested. Then stick the cup (any size) in the little claw thing that holds the cup under the spout. Then pull down on the milkshake release lever. Just by holding the cup in the little claw thing, the machine automatically knows what size cup it is!!! Which means it STOPS when it's supposed to. AUTOMATICALLY. It was the neatest thing EVER. Like, for real though.


I also learned several other things:

1. McFlurry's are pretty dern hard to make without making Oreo fly EVERYWHERE. The machine and I 'bout had to take it outside.

2. Don't eat Mickey D's fries made by teachers. They are not NEARLY as good as the McDonald's Professionals' fries. I couldn't tell if they were cooked too long, or not quite long enough.

3. The sweet tea is almost as popular as Coke. (The soft drink, not the drug.)

4. McDonald's employees kick ass. Especially the ones that work at the one in Clinton at the interstate. We have two...one is right downtown. But that one sucks. A lot of laziness works there. From now on, whenever I crave a McChicken or a McFlurry (death to Oreo crumbs, I'm going M&M), I'm goin' out to the one we worked at tonight. The employees there were so very awesome!! I definitely have a MUCH greater respect for McDonald's workers.

5. Kids apparently LOVE to see their teachers working at McDonald's.

6. Paper McDonald's hats have an adhesive strip inside the rim so that it'll stick to your head.


All in all, it was a fairly pleasant evening. Working the fountain machines was even much better than being a greeter. AND, Joanna-Woodson gets a percentage of the profits we made tonight between 5 and 8! :-D So go us!! We'll probably find out tomorrow what that amount is...but I have a feeling it's going to be a nice little amount! :-D Yay for community involvement!


In other news:

1. I am now an official member of the Clinton Branch of the Joanna Lions Club, but when our Clinton Branch makes 20 members, we will charter a Clinton Lions Club. And yours truly will be on the charter for an indefinite amount of time. How cool is that.

2. I have misplaced my cell phone. I remember putting it in my purse this morning. And it is turned off. That means that it definitely made it to school this morning. Now, the question is: when and where did it fall out of my purse? Hopefully, in my desk drawer. We shall find out in the morning. If you need me before then, please IM me at TigerBelle113. Thanks.

3. I am missing LOST tonight. But it is only because Shay wants me to watch episodes 1-3 from this season before I see tonight's. Which means I hope he somehow downloads all four of them so that I can watch them all before next Wednesday night. I chose this hour to blog so it would keep my mind off of missing it. Sigh. It's an addiction. It really is.

4. Tomorrow is my last "real day" this week!!! The kids don't come on Friday, AND it's only a half day for us...I'll be done @ 11 AM on Friday!! The only trade-off is that I have to stay until 6:00 PM tomorrow night. Conference days. Oh well. The kids have been very rowdy--I think it must be a full moon.

5. I got my school pictures back yesterday. I'll scan them and post one up on here a little later.


Well, I think that's it. Peace out, homeslices.

If you're not LOST, you better lose yourself...

Okay. So. The past 36 hours of my life has included watching Season 1 of LOST in its entirety. As of 11 AM yesterday, I had not seen a single second of the show, and it's already in its second season by 3 episodes. But since Shay is the LOST fan that he is, he wanted me to watch it so that I could talk about it with him.

Well. I'm hooked. Absolutely-100%-this-show-rocks-my-face-off-more-than-any-show-in-a-really-damn-long-time hooked.

There's just one problem.

Well, two.

Problemo Numero Uno: I have no way to watch shows 1-3 of this season before #4 airs on Wednesday night. So...if anyone can help a girl out....it'd be much appreciated.

Problemo Numero Dos: Since pretty much every second of every waking hour since 11 AM yesterday has involved me becoming completely involved with the show, it doesn't feel like a weekly television show. It feels real. And since the last episode ended in Walt [omitted as to not spoil anything for those who are not currently LOST fans, but who will be in due time] and the [omitted] being opened just in time for the viewers to NOT see what's inside, I'm very likely to have dreams/nightmares about this. Talk about leavin' a girl hangin'...

But anyway, if you are like I was prior to yesterday, and you have not jumped on the LOST bandwagon, you definitely should. Right now is the most opportune time, because you only have one season and 3 shows to catch up on. And it's REALLY helpful to have the background and the story from the beginning.

So yeah. Watch LOST.


And so, with only 45 minutes left in her weekend, Libby sits down to do her weekly lesson plans, which are due at 7:40 in the morning. Ta-ta!!

EURGHHH

Okay. So I totally had one of those picture surveys going as a post. Well, for some reason or another, very much UNLIKE Mandy and Beth's, my pictures and words were all whoppy-jawed, and I could NOT get it formatted like I wanted it!! Sometimes Blogger annoys me to no end. Kind of like last night when maintenance was supposed to be over at 5 PM PST (8 PM EST) and it WASN'T!!!!!! URGH!!!

Anyway. After teaching fifth graders for four days this week, my patience has worn fairly thin. So I just deleted that post and if/when I feel like giving it another go, I will.