(that title is for you, Marie and Kathleen.)

Here’s another good school story for your enjoyment. And my amazement/embarrassment. I’ll tell you what- my kids are TURNING OUT the one liners these days. It’s like they’ve been influenced by a genius comedienne on a daily basis for approximately 20 weeks. Strange.

This story involves 2 students and moi. (The names have been changed to protect the employee in the situation… that being me. I could probably get fired for really using the kids’ names.)

Student #1- Meg. Long brown hair, tan year round, sweet with a hint of sass. Giver.

Student #2- Kate. African-American girl, short braids, sass with a hint of sweet. Pretty much my assistant- aka “runs my life”. Organizes my desk, gets my lunch for the teacher workroom, answers questions like, “Kate, where did I put that sticker?”. She’s good. Real good.

Both awesome girls.

During recess, the girls were sitting near me because it is TOO COLD OUTSIDE to play. [We prefer contained chaos in our classrooms to frozen buns on the playground.]

Meg brought a piece of cake, much like this one. I was eating my snack, checking my email, and I looked over my shoulder and noticed the cake. Duh. So, jokingly, I say to Meg, “You gonna share or what?”

She pinches off a piece of cake from the exact spot that her nose was digging in moments before [yuck] and offers it to me.

Kate steps in and puts her hand over Meg’s and slowly lowers it to the desk. Then, with a glimpse in my direction Kate says, “Ms. Downs, I’ll take care of this.”

With a stone cold serious face, she looked Meg in the eyes and said,

“Ms. Downs wouldn’t be interested. She’s on a Weight Watchers program.”

Uh. Thanks.

And that is the point that I erupted into laughter, doubled over on the desk, and then ran next door and said, “KATE JUST WROTE MY BLOG FOR TONIGHT!!”

It’s just not fair.

My younger sister Tatum and I both got haircuts this week. I’m going to let you see the pictures and you can decide who gave the hairdresser a high five and who gave her a one finger salute.

Still not sure? Ok, that offends me a little bit, but maybe this picture will help.

Yep. Poor Tay-tay. Got the ole “I love acute angles” cut. I’m a math teacher and I’m telling you, that’s about a 42 degree angle. (Tatum says it’s obtuse. Angles are in the eye of the beholder, I guess.) Honestly, I don’t think it is that bad, but she doesn’t love it. I told her she’s lucky; there are people all over the world who wish they had that much hair. Example numero uno- our father. But I’m not sure Dad would trade his quasi-baldness for this math masterpiece. Tatum, I start teaching geometry in March- will you come to my class?

I thought it would be an AWESOME idea to take a picture of myself this morning pre-haircut. Truly, I think of you at 5:45am. It’s sick. And it was an awesome idea until I saw what a picture of me at 5:45am looks like. But I figure if Tatum gets to look that rad, I can put up a mildly scary blonde picture.

That’s really the joy of this haircut. The color. Brown is all the rage. [Because if there is one thing that I am, it is fashion forward.] Notice I’m also wearing my favorite fleece. This, my friends, was no accident.

Please excuse my sleepy eyes in the pre-cut picture. The time I have to rise is bad for my health, I’m convinced.

And because life is hilarious, Tatum just muttered to herself as she walked out of my room, “Oh, this haircut is the bane of my existence. I bought Mane ‘n Tail. It’s not just for horses. There are human directions, too. It makes your hair grow faster. I googled it last night, what to do when you get a bad hair cut.”

So through my uncontrollable laughter, I asked to see this Mane ‘n Tail.

The best tip on the back?

“KEEP OUT OF EYES AND MUCOUS MEMBRANES.”

Remember that, Tatum. You’d hate to have rapid hair growth in your mucous membranes.

*and before anyone poops a brick, Tatum has edited this before I posted it. Listen, we’re not in middle… ahem… high school anymore.*

click on the photos or the links to see the blogs.

Mercy Me’s blog.

And because I show no favoritism, except towards Mac….

Third Day’s blog.

I don’t know if you know this, but Heather is what some might call an Atlanta aficionado; meaning that if something rad is going down in the ATL, H is there and dragging us with her. You also could call her my preferred social coordinator, but that seems somewhat demeaning. The fact of the matter is that she finds cool stuff to go to.

As was the case Friday night. Here’s how things play out- Heather finds the cool places, people and things. She sends an email. I usually jump at the chance with the hopes of being a percent cooler than I was prior to said event.

Fine example- Travel Writing Class at Emory University last spring. [I tried to go back and link for you a blog post I wrote about it, but apparently I was so busy travel writing (or "vacation journalism" as it was deemed), that I forgot to blog about it. Sorry. But it looks like Ryan blogged ... though somewhat cryptically. We did have a fine time.]

Anyways, so when she sent an email saying that the Theatrical Outfit on Lucky Street would have a one man play about C.S. Lewis I was ALL OVER IT. In the play, one dude would be portraying C.S. Lewis and reading from some of his different books, like The Great Divorce, Surprised by Joy, and The Screwtape Letters.

We went on Friday.

Here are some reasons, in no particular order, why you should go, provided you live in the metro Atlanta area:

#1- It starts at 7:30 and is over by 9:00pm. That’s called “we are considerate of your time”.

#2- They recycle the programs and have those low flush toilets that conserve water. That’s called “we are considerate of your earth.” My new friend [who doesn't know I exist] Hank Green would be thrilled.

#3- The main actor, Tom Key, is a genius. Totally. I mean, he is capable of acting over 10 different parts by himself on stage and I believed him every time. The scene never changes, the set never changes, the costumes don’t change. Just C.S. Lewis, talking to the crowd, reading from his books, acting out scenes from books. It was awesome.

#4- It’s one thing to read a person’s words. It’s another to have that person (or someone acting like him) say the words to you.

#5- It’s honestly not that much more expensive than a movie. Ok, maybe 2 movies and some snacks, but totally worth it.

#6- Activities like this are like crossword puzzles. They keep your mind working on all cylinders. They keep you alive on the inside. That’s worth 2 movies and some snacks for sure.

#7- C.S Lewis was a real dude with real problems and Tom Key doesn’t hide from that. I appreciate that this play wasn’t a worship service to Lewis, but a true memoir based on life events.

#8- It made me want to read more of his work. Our book club read The Great Divorce but I was pretty sure that even if I read it again and again, I was too dumb to grasp the full meaning. But I think he is more real (and less perfect) than I pictured him, making his writing seem more readable. Of course, I’m not referring to The Chronicles of Narnia. I love them. I mean the big boy books.

#9- It is entertaining, spiritual, and educational. That’s called “the perfect storm”, people.

So, all I’m saying is that this show only runs until Sunday! THIS Sunday the 20th. Seriously, I think you should go. I’ve known you long enough that you can trust me, I know the things you enjoy attending. This is one of those. Go.

H, what’s next?

Shannon was right. She always is.

I registered for the Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference. Booyah.

Of course, I DO NOT KNOW A ONE PERSON attending, so…. that should be neat.

More on that as it gets closer. For now, PLEASE pray that I have the words and the time to write all the things I need to take with me.

Speaking of time… maybe I should explain the grad school thing.

It’s just not how I want to spend my time. I want to be a writer. And hang out with my friends and family in Marietta.

[That is officially the shortest explanation I've given to anyone at any point in this entire process.]

But that says it all. So there you go. And I don’t think Mt. Hermon needs explaining. Moving on…..

I feel like shaking off. You know, like when some sort of creepy crawly passes your foot on the ground and you are more than certain it instantly got into your shirt? You give one good shake just to ensure it falls off? I have felt so serious the last few days that it has become a bug in my shirt. I am NOT a serious person and all this seriousness creeps me out.

Here’s a good joke from school today. [Sharing a funny story is the blog version of a shake, I guess.]

I got observed by my assistant principal today. It went fine. The kids were AWESOME. I was blown away. After she left, one of my favorites came over and said, “Ms. Downs, can I ask you a question? How did I do?”

[insert explanation here: I tell the kids that the principal is coming to watch THEM to see if they are ready for 5th grade. It's all part of the master web of deception that I weave throughout the year.]

I told him he was awesome. He said, “Yeah Downs, I could tell you were a little nervous. But she looked happy when she left. I don’t think you are going to lose your job.”

Huh. Okay. Well, that’s good to know. And another day passes that the 10 year olds of the world do not have to be concerned with my job security.

Maybe I should quit saying, “IF Y’ALL DON’T GET QUIET I AM SERIOUSLY GOING TO GET FIRED!”

It is apparently affecting them more than I realized. But it sure doesn’t make them shut up.

Well, we’ve had a long week. You’ve been a trooper. You deserve a good dance-off video courtesy of Dave Barnes. Happy Friday!

I quit grad school.

My blog title, that is. Have I ever explained where it came from? I don’t think so. And tonight is a quite appropriate time to share.

The dream? To be a writer. To be a creator. To glorify God in the words that I write so that somehow the reader feels braver and bolder than the author ever will be.

July 7, 2006. My 26th birthday. We are eating dinner at my FAVORITE restaurant, Winchester’s. Can I just tell you about the macaroni and cheese? Is there a word limit on these post things?!? I wish I could articulate the beauty of this meal to you. So much cheesy noodle goodness.

[When one could write paragraphs of praise about specific food items, that's called an "issue". Let's just be clear about that. The first step to recovery is admitting you have an addiction.]

Anyways, my dad hands me an envelope and tells me to open it. Everyone at the table is quite anticipatory about the envelope. So I’m betting it’s something rather special. Like the keys to a brand new….

Yeah right.

But when I open it, it’s a gift and a note from Daddy, his signature handwriting, inked by the same pen he’s used in every card he’s given me since birth. Through tear-blurred eyes [shocker] I read,

“Hopefully this will help you step towards your dream.“

The gift was great, but what remains with me is the fact that my family supports my desire to be a writer. I framed the letter the next day.

And the day I created this blog, I was sitting at my desk, staring at the wall wondering what in the world kind of title was I going to use. Catchy and deep. That key combination of words that really makes you believe the writer has a pool of wisdom to splash in. [So I was looking to deceive you, is what I'm trying to say.] And sitting on my desk was the framed letter. I reread the entire thing (as I do most days).

I remember thinking, “Yeah, a blog is taking a step towards my dream.”

And Voila! Here we are. Maybe not so catchy and deep, but no words are truer for me when it comes to writing.

And for the past 3 months, the Lord has been gently moving me. You may have noticed, if you are an astute blog reader, that my title has morphed a bit.

It was “Step Towards Your Dream”.

And it’s recently been “take a step. towards your dream.”

Tonight, I’ve changed it to give you a better idea of where I’m at and what God is doing. Because in the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some steps I’m taking.

This is a front row seat to what could be a glorious masterpiece or a bang-up disaster. Both are possible.

Question: “Annie, why in the WORLD are you putting this on your blog?”

Answer: Because I want you see God showing up for me, a girl who despises change and cuddles with comfort, and I want you to see Him taking me deeper and making me braver. And meeting my heart’s desires.

BECAUSE HE WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU.

Even if I fail, it is time to be brave. To take steps instead of just write about them. And honestly, the failure comes in staying still. My heart feels victorious in just taking a step.

My life, it seems, is like a play. I’ve told the Lord many times that I’m willing for my hoorays and heartbreaks to be lived out on any stage before any audience IF (and only if!) He would be glorified in it. If somehow people would see Him and know Him. And love Him.

So take your seats. Intermission is over. The curtain for the next scene is about to rise.

After Nov. 2007, I said I would attempt to post every day except Sunday; insert poor attempt at good blogging here.

So “the trade” has been made. I know you were really concerned.

Ahhh… much better. Now, I will say that it feels like a Fisher-Price toy. Nothing is automatic. Everything is manual, from the locks to the air conditioning to the side view mirrors. They are hilarious. I feel like I could unhook the doors from the hinges and rehook them somewhere else. Or climb in through the window and propel the vehicle with foot power. Sorta like…. this.

Practically car twins.

[By the way, have I ever told you about the time that my friend Jonathan, better known as "Speve", took the doors off his car and drove us around Athens? It was awesome. I think I screamed and laughed the entire time. And I remember thinking about clouds. That's weird.]

So, back to the topic, this is a better car for me and, I’m not exaggerating, ONE TENTH the price of the babymini.

I’m much more satisfied with my current rental vehicle. Thank you very much.

Dear Annie,
Please write about something besides rental cars tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Everyone who reads this blog

Dear blog readers,
You aren’t the boss of me.
Sincerely,
Annie

So, remember back in November when I got in a wreck? Today is the day that I finally got to put my car in the shop to get it repaired. This is what I drive- a 2003 Toyota Camry. And no, that’s not me behind the wheel. That’s my bodyguard. I don’t trust him with my camera- just my car. And my life.

So anyways, during school today I got on the phone to [unnamed car rental place] to secure a vehicle for the next few days.

“And what kind of car would you like, Ms. Downs?”

“Um… something cheap. I’m thinking something sorta like my camry. Maybe a bit smaller. Do you have that today?”

“Yes, ma’am. Just come on up here and we’ll get it for you.”

“And you DO have something in that price range, correct?“

“Yes ma’am.”

Fast forward to arriving at [unnamed car rental place].

“Hi Ms. Downs. We’ve got your vehicle ready for you.”

And then THIS drives around the corner.

Uh, I’m sorry… but did my Mom’s minivan get pregnant and birth THIS? It’s a baby minivan! That’s not a car. That’s certainly not smaller than my Camry. I don’t even think it’s an SUV. Did someone think I said “Caravan” instead of “Camry”? Possibly. And I’ll be honest, this is a very flattering picture. You are very photogenic, Kia Rondo. Cause you ain’t that purdy in real life.

And no, this babymini is not exactly in my price range. Nor my age bracket.

So, I called the store and I’m trading babymini in tomorrow.

But only after I go through a few carpool lines, stop by the grocery store for some apple juice boxes and gummy snacks, and load the kids up for their soccer games.

One of my favorite blogs to read [of people I don't know] is The Secret Life of Kat. And she had a really smart and kind idea today. So, if it is okay with her, I will steal that smart and kind idea.

Now I know how you are, you don’t love required participation, so this isn’t that.

BUT, if you read my blog and have your own blog and I don’t have you linked in “My Blogmies”, please let me know so I can add your link to our list. Now, many of you are either a) already linked or b) blog stalkers like Molly, so no worries.

You may be saying to yourself, “Hey, I don’t even know if I WANT to be one of Annie’s blogmies.”

If that is a worry, let me clear it up for you. A blogmie is nothing more than a blog homie. And who doesn’t need more homies? Am I right or am I right?

And, as my blogmie:
1) I will not ask you for money.
2) I will not ask you to defend me against anyone else’s homies.
3) I will read your blog.
4) I will possibly discuss your blog using statements like, “Yeah, the other day my friend said…” instead of confessing that I read it on your blog.

So if you’d like to be linked over here on the right, just let me know. Join in the fun! The more the merrier!