'Cause Everybody Cries, And Everybody Hurts Sometimes. So Hold On.

~I tried so hard. I tried so hard while they were here to not be sad in front of them. Of course, it didn't help that I hadn't been able to see any of them since Uncle David's passing. So when I was able to see some of them, it was difficult to hold it together. But I knew that they were trying their best to deal with their own grief. I didn't need to add to that. However, the night of Sugarland, it all came crashing down. It probably didn't help that the opener was somewhat of a downer, but the emotion just overtook me. I'm grateful to Autumn, who snapped this shot of Katie leaning over to hug me. It should have been the other way around. But it shows that life's pictures aren't always going to be happy smiling poses. I love you, KatieJo.

~I like the snot to run a little, the tears to accumulate a bit before reaching for the handkerchief. Then I know I'm really crying. Crying just isn't crying unless it's messy. ~Terri Guillemets

**Blog title from R.E.M Everybody Hurts**

*You and Me, Baby, We're Stuck Like Glue*

~It's that time of year again. The annual SUGARLAND trip. Of course, every year is never the same. There's some people that have attended every year, and then we have some newcomers. Everyone is always welcome to attend this event. We had 7 this year!

~Megan couldn't come (neither Clark nor Fraser), so since Katie was here visiting she took Megan (Clark's) ticket and Kim took Megan (Fraser's) ticket. I was sad that neither Megan could come, but was glad that Katie and Kim were able to! Maybe next year everyone will. :)


~We decided this year that since the concert fell on Labor Day weekend, that we would truly make it a weekend event. Autumn, Stephi, Katie and I headed down to NH on Saturday. We had a blast mini golfing, swimming, and just spending time together and having a good time. Atleast, I did. haha. These first few pictures are from Pirate's Cove. We voted and we decided hands down that our Pirate's Cove is better. Yay Bar Harbor!






~This is my best pirate impression. It's quite scary, I know. And Stephi's the happy pirate. She actually stole this eye patch from the treasure chest. I suppose she thought she was entitled to this specialty item. I wish I had only been as smart. An eye patch would've really pulled my pirate act together.








~Many of these photos look fake. It's quite bizarre. This is one of them. I actually think these two would be perfect on the 5th Pirates of the Caribbean movie. Ahoy!












~Cousies! Yay!















~Me and Autumn waiting for the others to arrive so we can head out to the concert!

















~So glad Katie joined us! It wouldn't have been the same if we'd have left her at home and I'm glad that we were able to spend that time together over the weekend.











~We had taken a 'normal' picture and Kim said 'How many pictures do you guys have like that?'...I said 'NOT ENOUGH!' and proceeded to make this a really normal picture. I must say, we don't have many pictures that look like this. I'd say that's probably a good thing. However, there's nothing quite like a good squnch.









~My sweet mesquite. ;)













~Pretty awesome crew if you ask me. And even if you didn't ask me, I'll tell you. Love dese girls.













~Kim is up to no good! This was in the first stages of 'Bob'. You're so crazy, Kim! We love and embrace your craziness, though!












~Inside on the lawn hanging out before the show!














~This one cracks me up!















~There's Jennifer singing 'Incredible Machine'. Woohoo!













~The End!











**Blog Title from Sugarland Stuck Like Glue**

We Are Family.

~Towards the end of summer, Auntie Janet, Dan and Katie came for a visit. It was great to see them and have them around for a little while. Here are some snapshots of their time here with all the family.~

Myself and Dan. This was our 3rd take. And it still isn't that great. Figures.

Katie and Auntie Janet.


This is a pretty typical picture for Uncle Frank and I. I think it explains a lot. Or not. You be the judge!

Nana and Kayla having a moment. I think that's a pretty big yawn for a baby girl. Nana loves her.

Stephi, Grampy and I. And Uncle Frank's head protruding out of Grampy's. Weird.
Katie showing Grampy pictures and a video of Uncle David (Katie's dad) when they were here in July.

Dan and Katie picked up a guitar while they were here so they'd have one on the island to play. I still have yet to hear them play. Someday, I hope! Dan was wondering why I kept taking so many pictures, but I can't help it. And I like this one a lot.


I love this picture. It's at sunset, and I think it's just lovely. Beautiful cousin!


Mum and Dan about to put the boat in the water. With assistance. Smiles now!


They made it!

This is just one of my favorite pictures that I took while they were here and I was around them. Something was clearly very funny. I was so far out of the loop I couldn't even tell it was a loop! :)

Get Up and Shake the Glitter Off Your Clothes Now!

So Shelly and I were having the Vegas itch. And after last year's trip with her, Mandi and I, we decided we'd go back. Mandi couldn't go this time, but hopefully next!

This is us waiting for the shuttle that will take us to Hooters, which was our home for 4 days. This is at approximately 12AM Vegas time. That means 3AM Maine time. We were slightly tired, but excited!

When we finally got to Hoots, of course we weren't tired at all...sooo, we decided we'd go downstairs and mosey around the casino. We ate at the Mad Onion, and this was where we ate breakfast every morning. The food was great and very reasonably priced. I recommend the French Toast. Yum! This picture was taken at approximately 2AM Vegas time...I know, we're rebels!

This is outside by the pool area. A place that we went every day after breakfast, and enjoyed immensely! It was nice to go to Vegas and just enjoy time reading, talking, swimming and sunbathing. And above all, relaxing! Knowing our mornings would start off by the pool just made vacation that much more enjoyable.








South in Vegas speak to me means Southern Highlands. South in Vegas to me means Seeley. I made lots of good memories there, and I'm glad to have had that opportunity. Going to Mount Charleston with Uncle David, Auntie Janet, Jon, Jen, Rachel, Adam, Emma, Anna and Katie (I think she was there!). Katie taking me on the Big Shot for the first, and last, time in my life. Going to Mamma Mia! at Mandalay Bay with Jen and Katie. Buying my car Roxy! Mum and CaroleAnn coming out to visit while I was there and Auntie Janet was sick. I cherish those times I had in the Seeley Southern Vegas household. :)


After our long trek we needed to take from Hoots to the strip, we sure were thirsty. So, Fat Tuesdays became our 'go to' thirst quenching area. Here we are at the MGM Fat Tuesday's location. Gotta love that Mango freeze!









Of course, you know there is no way I go to Vegas and not stop once or twice or more times at M&Ms World. Hardly going to miss THAT stop. Of course, the movie wasn't working this year, I Lost My M In Vegas. But, that's okay. We still found ways to entertain ourselves. Here we are sporting the latest M&M wear, complete down to the head piece. They should really have a beauty prize.













Last year, we went to PF Chang's. We knew this year that would be a stop. This year's stop was way different than last year's PF Chang's experience. First, we decided to sit at the bar, where we got the Happy Hour Deals. Thank you, PF Chang's for cheap drinks and even cheaper fried green beans and spring rolls. Also, for bartender Mike, who I text the other day to catch up. haha
~This picture shows us with our friend David. He is from Italy, and is a true Italian. It was convenient since Shelly and I were both reading Eat. Pray. Love.

Here we are with our friend Don. He was alone and waiting for his friends to arrive in the city that night. Don was a lot of fun and taught us how to play craps at the new City Center place. A very neat place, even if it's VERY easy to get lost. Oy, new Vegas casinos confuse me. But, it was a good walk around the area.






We sort of missed the Fountains at Bellagio last year. I say sort of, 'cause we actually saw the tail end of it through a plastic wall. That was not nearly good enough for me. I basically pouted about it for an entire year. Kidding....sort of. So, this year, we had a coupon for 2 for 1 Eiffel Tower Experience. We used this and watched the fountain show from there! It was gorgeous. And I couldn't believe you could actually hear the music from all the way up there. YAY fountain show!




Okay. This guy seriously makes me giggle. A lot. When I say that I nearly peed my pants on the plane back home when we were looking at these, I'm not kidding. He just looks so glum, and I don't mean to laugh at his rough life, if that's what he's going through, but how can you not? He lives at the Rainforest Cafe, so I guess I could see his dismay. Millions of people ogling at you through the glass, not understanding your conundrum of being trapped with nothing to do but go around and around. I like him.



I seriously don't know what's funnier. The fish. Or Shelly's impression of the fish. Both make me laugh. I'll go with this. Thanks, Shelly, for your ability to imitate underwater creatures. :)










You may be wondering where all the 'scenic' pictures from Vegas are. Well. I've been to Vegas alot. And we've all seen 'scenic' Vegas pictures. So, I've spared you. What I can't bear to spare you is this photo. We are at the Roundtable Buffet at Excalibur (a place I never spent much time), and as I'm going to get a drink refill, I overhear a man say to a buffet worker 'Are these carrot cakes?' And yes, he had a cherry pie IN HIS HAND. No sir, this here is a cherry pie. That there in the back...with the carrot on it. That, my friend, is a carrot cake. Wow. I can't believe these people exist.

I'll just leave this as the last photo. For many reasons. I think this just explains a lot about us, as friends. hahaha. Our trip was excellent. It was short, but not too short. We went to see Menopause: The Musical. Which was HILLAAARIOUS. We ate lots of good food and probably walked most of it off, which is good! I think next time there will have to be another Lake Las Vegas trip, so we shall see. Vivaaaaa, lost wages, thanks for having us again!

A TootyTa, A TootyTa, A TootyTaTa...

Oh, how 6 years and 3 months really does go so fast. I mean, the weeks sometimes go by so slow, and you wonder if Friday will EVER get here. I mean, can treasure day just get here so I can go home and relax for two whole days???? Or, will treasure day get here so I can go off galavanting with friends and/or family???? And now, I don't WANT Friday to ever get here.

There. I said it. For once in my life, I don't want a Friday. This Friday means saying goodbye. Goodbye to a classroom. Classroom D. Yes, it's exciting. But how do you bottle up these feelings? And I'm talking about the good moments. Which are in these pictures. I'm talking about the moments of TootyTa with CaitieLou. My nearest and dearest. She's since gone and she'll be starting 2nd(?) grade this year. Maybe 3rd, I don't know. All I know is that I've been at CFO long enough to not remember what grade my old kids are going into.

I'm talking about those moments when you have twinnies in your classroom, and you think 'Oh dear Lord, have mercy on my soul'...but then, they turn out to be two of the most wonderful kids on the planet. What about when you come to work and you can make an absolute fool out of yourself and no one notices. And when someone does notice, they only laugh at you (or with you) and expect you to act like this.
What about when you GRIPE about winter, and the snowpants, coats, hats, mittens, scarves, wet and snowy boots...WILL IT EVER END?!?!?! How could it possibly be snowing again??? How did I even MAKE it to work in this wretched snowstorm??? How will I POSSIBLY make it HOME IN THIS!?!??! And then, when you're actually at work, you have a blast sledding with the kids, and laugh at them when they bail out of their sleds, or when they ignore the fire alarm that's going off and you have to trudge to the bottom of the hill in your winter gear and haul them up and out, only for Larry to say 'All set!'...NO WE ARE NOT ALL SET LARRY!!!!!!! Of course, I didn't laugh about this right away. But I can laugh about it now. Thank you Thomas Hilton the 31st.
And when you think winter will indeed never end, there's that first awesome 'spring' day. You know the one. Oh, the snow is melting. The sun is out! I can wear my snowpants but NOT my coat. But let's make sure the kids still wear their hats. It's not THAT warm yet. And then, the mud comes. Hey there, mud. The kids love you. And okay, I'll jump in, too.
What about the friends you make while you're at work? Especially the ones you knew in high school, but you were never close with. Until now. What about when you wear the same shirts? You just feel that much more connected to them. I made some great friends at CFO. Most of them have left me, but I still stay connected, and feel that we'll always be there for each other. The people that you can dance with, laugh with, throw birthday parties with. And going away parties. And baby showers. And any other kind of party just because.

As I think back on my time in Classroom D, I am now focusing only on the good times. Of course, there were bad times. Like when the bead got stuck in the water table and we couldn't empty it anymore except by bailing out the water. Or the time that we had to throw away the Theraputty. Of course, there were sad times when I cried. Like when CaitieLou left for kindergarten. And when Judith left me for kindergarten. Or that time that I was just overwhelmed.

But what about the happy times? The times we laughed so hard we cried. These are the days that I try to focus on as I say goodbye. The time of the mistaken fire drill. The time Judith flashed her skivvies at dancing circle. When Kate got into the tunnel and stood up. My kitchen chats with Kathy. The kids singing pop songs. Christmas parties. Pat's pizza dates. Jessicaaaaaaaaa. Jecissa. Jessa.
And as much as I am absolutely terrified to leave my classroom. Yes, my classroom. I claim it as mine. I was there when it first opened, and I'll be there when it's closed. I feel some relief knowing that I've been there for both ends. Opening it was fun. And it will be at the new school. I'm excited to organize and decorate and have people there that I love working with. I just need to take a deep breath and it will be fine. Hello, Knowlton School. I'm Jessica. I miss Room D, but will you be my friend? There's just one more thing to say. Bottoms out. Tongue out. Eyes shut. A Tooty Ta.