Hair for charity

Here are pictures of before and after and with Cindy right after.

Today a bunch of us cut our hair to give to make wigs for those who have lost their hair due to cancer. It's something I had started thinking more about since my Grandma Billie found out she had breast cancer. I wanted to find a way to help and give, but I couldn't think of anything until I remembered that a friend of mine and Dave's from college (Margie) had given her beautiful hair to something like locks of love. So I talked with my friend at school, Cindy (she's the other one in the picture) and she said she'd like to do it as well! We wanted to get more people involved, so Cindy talked to the Kids Care Club on campus and they started getting the word out a bit. So today was the day (finally) to cut our hair. To be honest, it didn't go the way we'd hoped, but our hair is cut and donated, so that's the point. Plus, it was kinda fun...she cut my hair and I cut her hair! Holy cow, it's tough to cut hair! I just started praying that our hair would bless someone!

Knott's Berry Farm

Yesterday (Friday) we were chaperones on an 8th grade field trip to Knott's. It was not the best day for the weather, but we still had a good time and so did the kids. We went on a bunch of the rides and ate funnel cake (yummy!) and had fun with some of our teacher friends. It was fun to see the kids having such a fun time, despite the random spurts of drizzle.

Messing with a teacher at our school!

Our anniversary

Dave and I celebrated our 4th anniversary on Friday. As most of you know, Dave is the most amazing man! He had such a wonderful day planned for me...

First, he gave me a lovely card and the movie "P.S. I Love You" (such a great movie, but have a huge box of kleenex if you watch it).

When we got to school, I was working at my desk before school started and our friend, Cameron, came in with a sign that said "I". During first period our principal came in with a sign that said "will". My kids started getting excited and I told them that it was our anniversary and that got them even more excited. Then, a student walked in with a vase. He walked across the room and set the vase on the front table and walked out (very smooth). All my kids looked around and we kinds stood there in wonderment. Then, the door opened and all of Dave's students filed in with roses. They filled the vase with 24 roses and walked out. It was so amazing!

When second period rolled around, two of our principals came in with signs that said "love" and "you". I put all the signs on the board. Then the door opened again and some girls came in and brought a bucket that had signs on it that read "All my hugs", "All my kisses", "All my life". The girls said that I had to keep the bucket with me all day. Then more of Dave's students came in and brought handfuls of Hershey's Hugs to put in the bucket. They also brought signs about our anniversary and one that read "All my hugs". Of-course I had to share with my kids! They were trying to guess what the rest of the signs would say. (My 1st and 2nd periods are the same group of kids and then they leave and I get a new set of kids for 3rd and 4th).

When 3rd period rolled around, my new set of kids had to be updated because there were signs on the board and all around the room and a vase of flowers and a bucket of candy. At the start of the period Mr. Bell (a friend of ours at school) brought in another sign that read "till". Then Dave's students came in with a couple of signs that read like a newspaper "Extra, Extra, read all about it" and "Mr. Ludi loves you" and they brought handfuls of Extra gum for the bucket.

4th period came and I wondered what Dave would do because he has his prep 4th and doesn't have kids. But I guess a couple of the girls stayed after and brought in a huge banner poster that had flowers that had been individually colored and cut out and glued onto the paper. Each petal of the flowers had things written on them describing me. How special! Mrs. Bell came in and delivered a sign that read "the". By this point the kids were going crazy trying to figure out what the signs would say when they came in.

After lunch I went up to Mr. Kerman's room (he and I teach 5th and 7th together in his room). I explained what I was doing with this bucket of candy in my hand. After the kids got seated (some are his kids and some are mine, so a few already knew what was going on-we explained it to the rest) he walked over and grabbed a sign that said "end". It was the final sign of the message. It read "I will love you till the end." These are lyrics from a song from "P.S. I Love You". Then, a group of Dave's kids came up and delivered Hershey's Kisses and more signs wishing us a happy anniversary and one that said "All my kisses".

Now, 6th period is my prep and I wasn't sure how that was going to work. But while I was in Mr. Kerman's room Dave brought his kids up and they delivered Lifesavers and a sign that said "All my life". By this time my bucket was almost overflowing!

The final period of the day my kids came in wondering what had happened the rest of the day since they had last seen me, so I updated them. As we were correcting their timed tests, one of Dave's students came in with a vase and a rose. She set it on the front table and walked out as the rest of the class came in with 3 dozen roses. It was such a beautiful boquet!

I can't even tell you what a special day it was for me and how special I felt. Plus, it is a nice thing for our students to experience. They don't all have loving home lives and don't always see positive relationships that work, so for them to be a part of something like this is really great.

It was definitley a wonderful anniversary! What a loving man.

Water War!

Forgot to mention, this last Friday, right after school, we had a water war at our school. It was the staff versus 100 students. It was fun, the students were randomly selected from our whole campus. It was reward for showing up and doing well with our state tests. The students had water balloons, while the teachers had balloons and water guns. It was great, though in the end people resorted to tossing buckets of water on each other. Good times. Later

The Go-Go teachers

At school we had a talent show and several of us teachers decided to do a lip sync to the Go-Go's "We got the beat". So, we dressed up in our best '80s garb and teased our hair (two wore wigs) and pretended to sing and dance and play guitars. Oh my gosh, I forgot how dorky we were with our pegged pants and huge belts and large hair. Not to mention our bright make-up! We had a good time and may even come back again next year...

Ludi: 0 Ground: 1

Well yesterday was a bit of a day....we got up early and decided to go on a bike ride on our new mountain bikes. We ended up going about 10 miles but the real interesting part happened on the way back from a park. We were riding along a road when I decided to get up on the sidewalk. I apparently did not pay attention and went through some water, and below the water was a nice slick piece of algae. I had turned to sharply, road on the edge of my tire and slipped on the algae. Basically the bike slipped out right from under me and I bit it. At least I had long sleeves on, which protected me some, but I have a nice road rash on my elbow. I also have some nice road rash on my right leg. I will have some pictures up on the site pretty soon. I got up, and made sure the bike was all good. Some people stopped by to make sure I hadn't really hurt myself, which I didn't. I got home and had to clean up. Gab was great, especially since she slowed down enough to not run into me, she is that good!

After the bike ride, I had to go down to San Bernardino to take my Geometry CSET. Its the first time I had taken this one and I actually studied. It took me longer than I thought it would, but that was a good sign. I knew most of the information and I pray that I passed it. I feel pretty good about it. If I pass this one, I still need to pass the Algebra one, which I plan to take in July. In the evening we went over to the Smart's and watched their dogs. The Smart's were down the hill on their anniversary weekend.

On Sunday we went down the hill and had a belated mother's day brunch with Lynda, and hung out for just a bit. On the way back we stopped at REI and purchased some bike supplies: gloves, replacement tires, repair kit and some water bottles. I guess I should have gotten the gloves earlier, which would have helped with skinning my hands. A little late I guess.

We have 7 days left of school, 4 this week, and then 3 the week after. This Friday we are going with the 8th graders to Knott's Berry Farm, and then we have Monday off. I also have to pack up my room, the plan is for me to change schools. I was one of the last hires at our school so I am surplus so I get to move schools. Fun for me, but hey its just the way it is....

Well I am pretty pooped, which is the opposite of what I should be. We should be rested, but maybe that will happen when school is over.

Come Monday It Will Be Allright

Last Monday was a great day, we pranked a fellow teacher and got to see the results. I had worked on a great video to show his students as well as mine. This video declared our freedom! It was a cool lesson, and it showed me I really do want to teach social studies somewhere down the road.

The rest of the week went pretty smoothly, though I went over to the same teacher's room to work on another prank, nothing vicious, but something fun and a friend of mine noticed a bunch of toilet paper tucked away (i am talking 24 roles). It doesn't take a mad scientist to put 2 and 2 together (that's 4 by the way) and realize that this teacher is planning on toilet papering one of our rooms. So I gathered the troops and we used his supplies to make a mess of his room. I have some pictures as well. It was a great time had by all, except for the teacher who got to see his room the next day. He was not to happy about it but we were good sports and decided to help him clean it up. Good times....

This last weekend we went down to REI and bought a couple of mountain bikes. We need them for the Muddy Buddy (in November), but wanted them now so we could go riding. It was a good day topped off by having some dinner with some friends.

This morning was pretty good, a friend of ours got baptised at church. It was emotional for his family and a good site to see. Well got to go do school work. :)

Sunday should last forever

Hey Peeps,

Well not much to say, but wanted to recap the Bunko fundraiser from last night. It was fun, lots of people, and some cool prizes. The sad things was, that neither Gab nor I took anything home. Some friends won, but not us. Both of us had the same record, 13-11. Not good enough for anything, and I never even got a Bunko. Talk about loaded dice.

We were going to have Tim and Sarah over for dinner, but I guess that Tim is not feeling well so they had to reschedule. Other than that, I finished my video for our prank on another teacher. I need to find a way to put it up on this. Well, gotta run, going to make nachos.

Ludi

Finally Friday

Heya peoples, hope you are all doing well. Well it's Friday and we are glad to be done, for the week at least. Gab and I are both kinda sick (a cold) and we are trying to get over it. I kinda had the day off, at least from teaching. I was involved with a group that rearranged our curriculum for one of our Algebra classes. I had Sarah sub for me, though we did get done early, so I was able to send her home early. I guess it went fast, except for one class period.

Another story, we have a teacher at our school who teaches Social Studies, currently he is teaching Manifest Destiny. Well he is getting his classes to take over part of the school and trying to expand his reach. Well some classes are not liking this (not really a major deal, but kinda fun). He hasn't bothered me yet, but he has attacked a few a my colleagues and the administration. So I went the administration this morning and let them know of my plans and asked for protection for me, my friends, and any others that are interested in joining. They said no problem and so I went along with my plan. Throughout the day I had proctors (campus security) and the custodians let me know that they are interested in helping me and willing to join my side, which is nice, because help is always appreciated. So this afternoon I, along with a select few others, raided his classroom after most of the teachers left. We removed all chairs, desks and the like to make his room look bare. We also spelled out S.O.S. in the middle of his room. We found his flags (he had his class makes flags to represent themselves) and put them upside down throughout his room. This weekend I am making a universal flag representing all the people that he has attacked and we will place it in his room. Another teacher, Mr. Bell, is having his students make a Declaration of Independence for this teacher's class. I also am going to make a DVD for them that states our positions and our intentions. Kinda fun, and a loud proclamation that you don't mess with Ludi. I think Matt Will would be proud. Well I will get you some pictures pretty quick to show you what it all looks like!

Also this weekend my beautiful wife and I are participating in a Bunco fundraiser. I have never played and don't expect to win, but it would be nice! No worries though, its for a good cause. (I should find out what the cause is :)

Well that is all, going to do some stuff and chillax. Later gators!