Wedding World

And I can honestly say, it has felt like "Wedding World". JoAnna got married in August, and then Victoria in December, and my good friend Karina in early January . . . three bridesmaid dresses, three beautiful brides, three cute couples, in 6 months. It's been fun- and a little crazy.

Victoria followed the Neeley girl pattern so far of getting married in the Washington DC Temple on one day, having a luncheon that afternoon and a reception the following night. Besides the fact that we were FREEZING during the pictures, it was all "real nass" as my dad would say in his Tennessee accent.

Lu (that's Victoria's family nickname, in case of confusion) and Justin

I told you it was cold. I mean SOOO cold. Shockingly cold.

(I accidentally just typed "shockingly gold", instead of cold. There was no gold. But that would have been nice. Real nass.)

So we decorated the cultural hall at the church building. A Neeley wedding first.

There were definitely some pros and cons:

Pros - free

Cons - a lot of work for setup and tear-down

Stevie, JoAnna, me and Eleanor

The M's are for Mitterling. Victoria Mitterling.

We all got closer from this event.

(Josh- JoAnna's husband, Robbie and Stevie)

Once I got my baby-sister married off, I had to hop a flight to Cali for Karina's wedding.

Karina and I met in China while we were volunteering - my life has never been the same.

(sigh)

"Christian Louboutin" shoes - Fabulous!

Bridesmaid Buds: Lyndsee and Natalie

Alan and Karina

Now, I would never rank one wedding over another, however, in ranking weather

I think this picture outside the hotel in Santa Barbara speaks or itself . . .

Oh, Wedding World . . . perhaps I may visit again soon.

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Target . . .

So, like I said, I was on my way to Target. I was getting out of my car and suddenly, the car door next to me swung open. I didn't knock me over or anything, it just scared me a bit. I yelped and the car-door-swinger began to say sorry before they even got out of the car. "Oh, don't worry, it's fine! It just scared me," I courteously replied. And as the potential assailant stepped out of the dirty, white, Dodge Ram I became face to face with the tallest, biggest drag queen I have ever seen. (And I live in Boys Town and have participated in Pride Parade twice- I've seen my fair share of drag queens.) I don't know what startled me more, the sudden surprise emergence of the wig and exquisite make-up or the door swinging in my face. I guess I wouldn't be able to see who I was opening my car door into either if I had 4 inch fake eyelashes and a fabulous beehive wig.

Picture something like this:

And, that's not all. One more thing . . .
Yesterday at lunch, one of my favorite (I mean, if I had favorites) students came over to me very seriously:
"Mrs. Culp, is the world going to end in 2012?"
"No."
"Whew!" With her hand over her heart, "I was really worried."

First of all, this is funny because this girl obvious thought that ridiculously dramatic movie was a documentary . . . and also this is funny because my word is apparently good enough to calm all her fears of an Apocalypse. What if I would have said yes? Would she have gone crazy? I didn't even have to back it up. I wish all my students took what I said that seriously. That would be nice.


Oh! And don't think I forgot about wedding world! (Yes, Allison, it is a real place. Where you ride rides and get your hair done and eat cake all day long! We can go sometime.) It's coming . . .

SNOW

We've had quite a bit lately. Quite a bit.

My Mom called me on the way to work yesterday and she asked if we had school off because of the all the snow. "Ahahahaha!" was of course, my reply because they have never, and will never have a snow day for Chicago Public Schools. Never. (Well, there is an urban legend about a possible school cancellation about 25 years ago, but it remains to be verified.) I read online that one particular snowy day in the 90's they cancelled all the buses, BUT still held school. Which means if you are a teacher you have to get your booty to school no matter what, or take a sick day (which I guess is your own version of a snow day).

We are a city "warming center" technically, and must remain open during regular hours, no matter what. Also, many students in the city attend a school that is not necessarily the closest to their home. On days of really bad weather, they are instructed to just go to the closest school. Any school at all. Just head on in there. So we do sometimes get kids that are just here for the day. "Hey, what's up? I know I'm not your teacher and don't know what you are studying right now and have no materials for you and am a glorified babysitter for the day . . . but come on down, little friend!" Seriously.

Anyway. It's cold. It's snowy.
It's not quite to this point yet (which I DID see first hand in Russia- true story)

But it's still a winter wonderland . . . a winter wonderland with no hope of a "snow day"- But with lots of traffic delays and un-plowed roads.

Boo hoo.

P.S. Although I am griping about snow and cold . . . I do have some coming attractions: Wedding World with my sister Victoria and good friend Karina soon to come. I know the world is waiting!

Better Late Than Never . . .

So, I realize that Christmas is over . . . but I think that Christmas cheer never gets old. Right? I mean look at my little choir! They are adorable. I don't think we'll win any Grammy's, but we went from "I don't know jingle bells!" and "Why do we have to sing things more than once?" and "Do we have to stand when we sing?" to this:

In addition to that spectacle of fine musicianship, my fifth grade class sang and dance in the school's Christmas Assembly, also. Here is just a sample of the "raw dance moves" these guys rocked out. (And by the way, I had to remind the girls of no booty poppin' several times before this masterpiece was stage ready.)

All in all . . . it was a successful Christmas spectacular.