My Kansas City Crew*

As I am sure you know I have been in KC this week at the SkillsUSA National competition. These are a couple pictures from Tuesday's Opening Ceremonies. Each state usually has an item that they were that singles them out as being from that state - this year it was the neon fedora.

As you can see we rocked them!!

*However, as you can see there is only three of us and we are really missing two people - first Mr. Holladay who well we all know as Bruce - but he was there teacher before I stepped in - in March. And also Mrs. Strohm, who is just as big a part of this as anyone. She hustled so much to help us raise all the money we needed.

SkillsUSA

Well I'm in Kansas City and let me tell you one thing - it's hot. Today we went downtown for a our meetings with the students. I felt bad for them because they were in their full uniforms for competition. However, tonight will be worse because we will be in our full dress uniforms - which include a wool blazer. However, they will also include this very very awesome hat, that I was sporting last night during the meeting. You can just call me Jennie "International Video Teacher of Mystery" Holladay.

Tonight we head over to Kemper Arena for the opening ceremonies. Right now, I am catching up on the blog - I am hoping to post some more European pictures. Which I will start working on immediately (Mary.)

Kansas City - Here We Come
(at least 3 of us)

It's been a pretty exhausting couple of weeks, but in a good way. The last weekend in April was the annual SkillsUSA State Conference in Lansing. This was a strange year because I left St. Clair TEC in early March (so I still felt really close to the students competing from there) but I was bringing Students from Lapeer County Ed-Tech. If you know me than you know that I have said in my past that the best race would be if everybody tied.

So that being said, I told my students from St. Clair and Lapeer, that I would be proud if they did their best. And well their best was the best. Yes, the Lapeer Video Team came in first - which means they will be heading to Kansas City. And in audio - St. Clair TEC came in first and second, with Lapeer coming in third.

It was a different kind of trip being an advisor at Lapeer. First is that we can take the students in our cars - so that meant that I could leave early on Friday and plan other activities in Lansing. The first activity was visiting the campus of Lansing Community College. We toured the campus then we headed over to their Digital Media program. Were we got to see the RED camera. It's a newer digital cinema camera that was used to film movies like King Kong. The kids were really impressed.





After LCC it was on to Impressions 5 - the Science Center in downtown Lansing. That is where the video competition was going to take place. So we had the opportunity to get a sneak peek at what they would havd to face in the morning.




Then we headed over to the Banks of the Red Cedar (Michigan State University's Campus) for lunch and a chance to see what a bigger campus looked like. Needless to say there were five high school boys in the car and they had one focus - all the ladies. It was funny.

Friday night we went to the opening ceremony and then after going over some last minute strategies (with both St. Clair and Lapeer) we headed to bed. For an early rise.

This year I helped organize both the video and the audio competition. Which means I helped design the contest and run it, by helping find a location, getting judges, making sure the information gets up on the website for all the other schools. It's fun - but it can be stressful, because I do my best (with Bruce) to make it as fair as possible.

This year with audio, I got the students up and running and then left it to the judges. With video, I went over after they were set up, everything was going well until --- yes until. Well a storm poppped up half way through the day and well the museum we were at lost power. Yes, right during the editing portion. Bruce was in mid-sentence saying, "you should probably sss...." (the word was save - as the power went off. We decided to wait it out for a half hour before we figured out what to do. Well in the mean time it was really raining and we were in the basement and there was a door that you could walk out of - and well the water was all draining there on the outside and soon that water started coming in. Needless to say - we were crammed in there to begin with and now a room full of high schoolers and editing equipment (power cords etc.) was now starting to fill with water. Thankfully it subsidded quickly - but I had images of students floating away on folding chairs and tables.

After 45 minutes passed and still no power - the judges had arrived. Three of my fabulous friends from Local 4 - Olive, Angie and John. Which I then had to sweet talk into sticking around - much longer than expected. Because now we were boarding a bus and headed to the West LCC campus to start editing again. Once we got there - the students had 1 hour left to edit.

Then judging began. This year - it was an open judging. Which meant that advisors and contestants could watch while the judges judged. I think it helped make - because in the morning when there was a small snafu - everyone seemed pretty open to the fix.

What a snafu - well to be honest my team did not go to the podium for gold. No they were silver. Somehow one of the teams that was disqualified for time, made it through judging without it being caught. So they were awarded first place. Well after the awards ceremony - there advisor notified us of the mistake and it was corrected, which put Lapeer with the gold and the bronze.

Regardless of the results. It was a great weekend. On Saturday night, I had dinner with my Lapeer students and my St. Clair Students. They all got along smashingly. We had a great time.
I was really proud on Sunday to watch all my students do so well. I can hardly take credit for Lapeer - that should go to Bruce. But after the award ceremony it was great the St. Clair Students found me to give me their advisor pins. I felt really special. They said that they wouldn't have made it without my help. It made me melt.

As for Kansas City - I am now trying to raise funds to get my Lapeer Students to KC. So if you need your car washed or lawn mowed give me a call because I will be pimping myself out until June. Or better yet if you want to just donate to help the youth of America - you can let me know that to - I'll let you know where to send the check.

My Boys Win Silver!!!

I must admit that I am beaming!!! I am so proud of Josiah & Matt. This is the first time Michigan has competed in this competition and we come home with a medal! When we came out here I said to them, what was most important to me was that they produced something they were proud of - after the competition they both said they were pleased with the final result. So the fact that they got on stage is just gravy. Well I am exhausted and looking forward to a little sleep on the Chicago flight!

This is Josiah & Matt. They two of my former students (yes they both successfully graduated.) They are also the Audio Production Contestants from Michigan competing in the SkillsUSA National contest. This picture was take right after our contest meeting - with both of them looking dapper in their contest attire.

Here is a shot of Bartle Hall (the convention center in KC.)

Kansas City Here We Come!!!

So I am doing laundry tonight - what can I say I am out of control on Friday nights - none-the-less it's a chore that needs to be done. Bruce and I leave on Monday to head for the city of Fountains aka Kansas City, Missouri. Now we leave at different times from different airports because we are going with our SkillsUSA clubs from each of our schools. However the good news, we are saving our schools money by sharing a room - which as a married couple will be nice.

I am excited as always to head back to KC. Mainly because well I love to eat and Kansas City has great food. Plus it is fun for me to relive my days in KC. Places I will have to hit: Saigon 39 - it's an awesome Vietnamese Restaurant on 39th st, that has killer spring rolls with peanut sauce yum. Then there is Gate's BBQ - they literally yell - "Hi, may I help you" the minute you walk in the door - which you immediately yell back (if you are me) "ham on bun on bread side of bb" - as long as you do that you will be happy. I am also a sucker for the Cheesecake Factory - I know what you are thinking that's a chain, yes but a chain that they do not have in Michigan. Another chain we will hit is Sonic!! Now there is one in Michigan now, but it just arrived in Southgate and I hear there is always a wait and Southgate is a long way to drive from Attica (as I think of it Kansas City maybe closer) - at Sonic in KC I am sure there will be no wait. There is also Murray's Ice Cream and Cookies in Westport that make the best homemade ice cream. Yum. If I have a chance this year I will hit the Grand Cafe' for lunch (while the kids are competing) it's a little price but they have Bree Fondue as an appetizer and it is freaking delicious. So those are my favorites and that means regardless if anyone else wants to go - we will go. Why? Well I have this edge - called I know where I am going and everyone follows me.

In other news, our house sitter came over tonight to learn the ropes - she is going to house sit for us while we are in Europe. She is a great girl - one of Bruce's former students, but I had to give her the smoking lecture. One moment as I stand on soapbox - I can't believe all the kids starting to smoke. I have tons of my students who do it too. I mean really I know this makes me sound old - I can't believe all the kids smoking these days - but really what is the attraction. There are volumes of research about it's negative effects, it is super addictive, it is super expensive, it can lead to things like yellow teeth and wrinkles and you smell bad, but they do it and don't care. I know at that age you think you are invincible, but I just don't get why they start in the first place. I give them the lecture and I am sure it doesn't help but I just want to shake them and say - STOP IT!!!! Ok, I am back off the soapbox.

And the Award Goes to...

Today was my favorite day of the year at St. Clair TEC - Awards Day. They put a big white tent on the front lawn of the school and we all head outside to honor the students. Awards are given for perfect attendance, Academic Achievement (All A's), Overall Outstanding Student and Most Improved Student. The first two awards are easy - it's just the numbers, but the second two are much harder to pick. Why? Well I have a special spot for all of my students (not all of the time - but all of my students.) So it's hard to pick one over another - this year in my morning class - I relied on grades to pick my overall outstanding - which meant I had three - three seniors who got all A's all year. Then there is my most improved - this student has come a long way. I better say we have come a long way. At the beginning of the year - we didn't see eye to eye at all - everything was a battle - but he is a smart kid that had a lot of ambition. Then towards the end of the year - with a little help from SkillsUSA (our student organization) we finally met on the right page. I look forward to him coming through my doors every morning.

In the afternoon - my overall student was a bright junior girl who too had all A's this year. She was a dead ringer for the award - most of the students had picked her - so why disappoint. My most improved student is a senior - who last year won my in class - Church Mouse Award (more in class awards to be discussed shortly.) She was so shy - she would run away from me when I talked with her. This year, she is talking to me more and getting a little sassy.

So now on to my in class awards. I am one of those people who likes to honor everyone for outstanding achievement in my classroom. We have a lot of fun through the year - so this is my chance to reflect with my class.

For instance I give out an AM and PM version of the Bathroom Pass Super User - yes the kid with the most bathroom passes for the year. Then there is Nutrition award for the student that eats the most junk, The Armenian of the Year (well because he's Armenian and I'm Armenian so we celebrate) there is the Save Early Save Often Award - for the girl that lost everything in a competition because well she didn't save - Least Likely to Get in Trouble - The Front Row Award (for my shortest kid in class) - The Negotiator - The Instigator - The Honorary Holladay Award and the list goes on and on. Believe it or not it takes me a long time to come up with an award for everyone - I put a lot of thought into it. I print them out on official certificate paper with a gold star. The students usually enjoy them - maybe I enjoy them the most. But I had one kid ask if he could put it in his portfolio - I said go ahead. Overall it's a really fun day at St. Clair TEC - but it makes me a little sad - we are getting to the end of the year and I will have to say goodbye to another group of seniors. And it turns out after two years and two and half hours a day - you get to know these kids pretty well and like they too (and have them trained) but my juniors will become seniors next year and then I will start all over again with the training.

Kansas City Here We Come!!!

So I got a call yesterday, well a message, I don't get calls during class. I checked the message and it was Tammy Brown, the Michigan state SkillsUSA director. She called to let me know that my second place audio production team was going to nationals in Kansas City. The first place team opted out and then that opens it up to the second place team. I would like to say that my students really deserve this opportunity because well they only lost first place by one point.

I am so excited for my students - who by the way are thrilled. Which is really cool, they are both seniors and they are great kids, who I enjoy. I am not going to lie, I had already talked myself into being excited for Bruce but excited for me to have a week to myself to clean my house and relax. I also had retired from my position as SkillsUSA coordinator after lots of work for the state competition. However, that was just a momentary thing, I am now just as excited as my students. Plus I get to hang out with Bruce in my favorite city: Kansas City! And this year the Michigan group gets to say in a nice hotel near all the coolest places.

I took this on Sunday morning with my camera phone. It was the creation of one of my students. She did it on Saturday night after her SkillsUSA competition. She and her partner placed 4th in audio (it was really cool because she didn't even know she was going until Thursday because the other partner had to drop at the last minute.) Two of my seniors came in 2nd in the audio production competition! And I had another team come in 4th place in video production. I am so proud of all my kids. They really shine during SkillsUSA weekend. They are not only talented students, but they are great people. I enjoy hanging around them (I might enjoy it more than they do.) I did embarrass them slightly when I broke out the robot at the SkillsUSA dance. But hey, what can I say, a dance that good needs to be shared with many.

Bruce's kids did really well they came in 1st and 3rd in video production, that means they will be headed to nationals in Kansas City at the end of June. I must admit I am a little envious because I had such a fun time with my students last year. I know that Bruce will have just as much fun with his students.

Champions at Work

This weekend, I am traveling on a charter bus filled with 57 kids to Lansing. Well actually it's a chartered bus and a minivan. It's the SkillsUSA state competition. Now I am excited because it is really cool as a teacher to see your students step up and compete, however to be doing it the weekend after getting you got back from Europe - makes it a little exhausting. Yes Bruce and I don't do anything at half-speed, well I would but I married Bruce and he does nothing at half-speed. So right now I am waiting for laundry to finish so I can pack and frankly I am fading fast.

For me the SkillsUSA competition is a love hate relationship. I am one of two coordinators for our building. Which means I arrange the registration and hotel for the entire school. I am also the advisor for me students, which means I help prepare them for their individual contests. And then I am coordinator for the Television Production contest which means I help set the standards for the contests and find the judges. (Thank you so much Olive & Angie! Next fruity drink night the first round is all me.)All in all, I think I sometimes bite off more than I can chew. To be honest it always seems like a good idea at the time, but its on nights like this that I wonder what I did in a past life that makes me prone to self-punishment.

In other news as much as it sounds like I am whining right now, I really am not. I was just thinking about how lucky I am to have my job. I really really love working with high school students. Yes, I will admit they can be huge pains in my side, but in the end I am really grow to love my students. (Even the ones that hate me.) It's now my third year at this job and I am still enjoying it. I know I will have a great weekend, however, I am sure that Monday morning will require a large Tim Horton's coffee on the way to work.

Up Without an Alarm

I woke up this morning at 5:40 am without my alarm. If you don't know by now, I am not a morning person. I sleep until noon on weekends if possible. So this time change back from Europe is changing my morning routine for now, like I am showered, dressed and ready to go and I still have time to blog. Usually I leave no time to do anything but shower, dress and leave, which in turns lets me snooze exactly twice with the alarm.

I went back to school yesterday. My classes seemed to have lots of energy, maybe they were revived from the break. Well I take it back my morning class seemed just as quiet and tired as usually, however, my afternoon class is always pure energy. So it looks like the break gave me time to forget.

My students enjoyed my pictures and stories about my trip. Well at least they pretended too, mainly because it was show and tell instead of work.

However, I am still kicking myself because in Frankfurt they were offering 600 Euro cash to be bumped off the flight. That is $960. Enough to pay for the entire trip. But I kept thinking I have so much to do this week, especially since this weekend is the State SkillsUSA competition which I am in charge of organizing for our school. But the kicker was when I was talking to my boss yesterday about the flight situation and he said, oh you should have done it, you had comp time. I was like doh - was he just giving me permission. Well note to self for next time, but I highly doubt there will be a next time. I had never heard of an airline offering cash to miss the flight instead of a voucher. Well I guess I should stop thinking about it, because me thinking about it won't get me $960.

It is nice to be home, however, I have so much to do (laundry) before I leave Friday morning for a weekend with 100's of high schoolers competing in the SkillsUSA competition. Ahhhhh! It will be fun, but I have a feeling it may be like three weeks before I recover from this Jet Lag. Don't worry, I have more from the trip including pictures, but they are on Bruce's computer so you will have to wait. Maybe tonight.

New Glasses

Now I hope that these are acceptable glasses. I had to get them in a pinch and it was such short notice that I felt that I could not even call my official eyeglass stylist (Olive) to help me. So Olive, I hope you approve. I took these wonderful photos with my isight on my computer - while I should be working on my homework. The second strange photo is so you can see the color of the glasses. These are a little darker than my last by they are still pinkish red.

Speaking of pink, I had the entire welding class convinced today that our SkillsUSA shirts for the state competition would be a nice color of Salmon with Seafoam Green embroridering. When they looked at me with concern , I said something like this, "You are man enough to wear pink - right?" I guess that it was the talk of the welding lab. They are still horrified.

Friday = Jennie/Auto Show+G. Love

G. Love is coming to Michigan tomorrow night, however, I will not be waiting outside the Royal Oak Music Theatre to be the first in line because I will be a the Auto Show Charity Preview.

I will be working for Channel 4 (aka Olive & Jamie) as a field producer at the auto show. This is my fourth year of working the charity preview. I have had a lot of fun. The first year it was the celebrity trifecta with Tony Danza, Veronica Webb and Jeff Daniels. The second year I was up in the GM loft so we only GM big wigs like Rick Wagner. Then last year, we were back on the floor but we were by the fire exit - I did meet AJ Calloway from Extra - he was the nicest celeb that I have ever meet at one of these things.

Also with the Auto Show - the Auto Show charity preview outfit will re-emerge. I love the pink top and I have really no where to wear it, except the Auto Show Charity Preview - so it will be back again. The picture to the left is not the best picture but it shows the whole outfit.

Then that outfit that I only wear to Auto Show Charity preview will become my next G. Love concert outfit. Yes, as I mentioned before G. Love and Special Sauce is coming to the Royal Oak Music Theatre. Olive will be chained to the preview, but after the shoot is over, I will be meeting Angie in all my Auto Show get-up.

I wonder how the show will be from the back? Well I am sure it will be great. But I hope that it won't be too crazy long, because I have to get up bright and early the next day for the local SkillsUSA competition at my school. I hope this year we will not repeat last years episode of the vomit comet.

Also why I am catching up with the blogging - it's time to talk TiVo. I caught up on Project Runway and I have some complaints. Ok so last week, Kevin was kicked off - after one bad showing. Then this week it was Kit. But my question is why is Ricky still there. Every week he's been in the bottom skating by because someone manages to out worse him, yes I said out worse. And this week was another week - yes he was Kit's partner and Kit was the leader, but overall Kit's stuff has been consistently good. I am not saying this outfit was good, it wasn't but it wasn't like Ricky has done anything amazing: EVER. So just like last week when I was upset, I am going to say it again - Ricky needs to go. I am done with his weepy crying drama and the crappy designs. So who will win, my money is on Christian - the high volume 21 year-old with a lot of confidence and spunk.

My Champions!

So we are back home, but we had a great time in Kansas City! Megan & Erik had such an awesome showing! They didn't make the podium but they were so close: they finished in 4th place in the nation! They were just one percentage point away from 3rd place. It was such an awesome performance! I feel like such a proud teacher! Kansas City was so much fun, I have to admit I am exhausted. I just don't have the energy that these kids have! We were pretty much out the door everyday by 7 am and didn't get to bed until after 11 pm. And I couldn't be the last one up because as it turns out I am the teacher who needs to be responsible.

We had such a great group of students from St. Clair TEC. It was great. We had one student win the gold. He now gets an all expensed paid trip to Switzerland! He is pictured to the left with his advisor, please make your best guess at which won is the student! Here's a hint he is wearing the medal and has all his hair. I am sure if you looked at your face, you couldn't tell who is happier! It was so cool to see him up there on the stage! I hope my use of exclamation points conveys my excitement!

When the students had a break from all their competing we were able to hit my favorite spots. We also got to go on a tour of my old station KCTV5. My great friend Andrew so graciously gave us a tour. I think it was cool for the students to see what a different market television station is like. It was cool because the McEntee Fam came down to cheer Megan on, so we they got to come too. We toured the station and sat -in on the noon newscast. It was fun for me to catch up with my old friends. It's strange to see how things have changed, but somehow it felt so familiar despite the fact that I haven't worked there in 5 1/2 years. There is a picture of my friend Andrew and I. When I worked in television, I found that the people you work with really because like your family. You go through so much together, so it was really nice to come home (I feel the same way when I visit channel 4 in Detroit.) So thanks again Andrew, all my students, their family and I really appreciated you taking time (staying late) to give us a tour!

So now I am home, coming down from the week high! It was such a cool expereience, i am sure my writing is not so fresh, but with the lack of sleep my creativity is little or nothing! So maybe I will revisit this post later the next week.

SkillsUSA - Kansas City

Tonight was opening ceremonies. It was really a rockin' time. There was load music and the kids even though they complained about their red coats endlessly didn't seem to mind wearing them when you are in an auditorium with thousands of people in red coats. Michigan brought these crazy light up swords. We had fun dancing to the music, I certainly embarrassed the students, but hey that's what they pay me for.

Earlier today we spent trading pins with people from all over the country. My students got into the fun, they don't have the dorky pin collection like me but they really got into the spirit. We had a lot of fun. It got to the point where we were seeking out the "cool" pins and trading other states for them because we were out of the Michigan pin. Megan got a really cool Oklahoma pin, Erik scored this sweet Washington pin and I got a highly coveted Alaska pin. It's a lot of fun because you talk to all these people that you really wouldn't have a reason to talk to.

Tomorrow is D-Day for my students, the competition starts. I am nervous for them, but I know they will do well. I keep telling them that I am so proud of them, because I am. I said regardless of how you place here, just produce a video that you are proud of. They are such great kids.

So as for being here in KC, it's so nice to back here. When I moved away I didn't realize how much I would miss this town. I am really enjoying dragging these 8 high schoolers and two advisors to all my favorite food places. We went to a KC tradition tonight Gates BBQ, let's say I loved it, everyone else didn't see the charm. Well, oh well. Tomorrow night the girls are ditching the boys for some q-t on the Plaza. Two Words: Cheesecake Factory!

Kansas City Here We Come

So it's a big weekend, why, well I get ready for a big week in KC. Yes, the SkillsUSA National Leadership Conference and Competition is next week. As you may remember my students won the state competition so we will be headed down to KC for the National Competition. I am very excited for a couple of reasons: first I hear it is a great time (from those who went last year) and secondly because I used to live in KC. I am hoping that I will get a chance to catch up with a couple of my friends (Andrew, Carolyn, Gary, Streeter & Andre) at KCTV and my old anchor Jeff Vaughn who is now at the NBC affiliate.

As I look at the weather I realize that it will be just like I remember in Missouri at this time of year, that's right miserable. I love the city, but I don't miss the heat. It will be in the upper 80's and humid all week. Bruce will be be holding down the homestead in Attica.

On side note today was the last day of work for my friend Dave Hickman, he has decided to leave education and rejoin the real world of work. He taught Information Technology, Dave can be a royal pain in my butt, we have a brother/sister type relationship, and gosh darnit, I am going to miss him. Yes, at work you can always count on Dave to help organize the golf event (hence my new found love for golf,) he will always come down to your room to steal the good candy with caramel preferably, he has a quick wit that will leave you rolling and his sharp tongue is the best, unless you are on the receiving end, which I must add is always (ok most of the time) in good fun. So Dave you big LOSER, (pictured to the right with me.) I can't believe you are leaving us, but I guess I understand, so have fun, but you better come back to golf, because I bought NEW clubs.

But now that I think about it maybe Brad Baker from Grand Valley via the Junction Bouy, can take your spot, hmmmm I wonder if he knows anything about computers, I am sure he has a myspace? Gale what you do you think? Oh I make myself giggle.

SkillsUSA Weekend

This weekend, I attended the Michigan SkillsUSA State Championship Conference. (Wow that's a mouthful!) As I had mentioned earlier, my students compete in SkillsUSA. In January, I held the local competition on a Saturday, then I made them square off again in February for a regional competition, that all led to the State Championship this past weekend in Lansing.

So Friday morning we boarded a bus and headed to Lansing with 48 students and 12 chaperons. For me it was exciting because I know the potential my students have, but it was also stressful because I was in charge of booking the hotel and the registration. Once we got settled in the hotel on Friday night it was time for opening ceremonies. In the past opening ceremonies were well dry, boring and had a tendency to drag on and on. This year however that was not the case at all. The opening ceremonies was finished in record time, it moved, it was fun (there was a dj), light show and everything. It was dare I say: kinda cool. Then we headed back upstairs and let the kids unwind a little. The next thing you know we were putting them to bed, because they all had an early Saturday morning.

Saturday is the big competition day, we rise in the 5am hour and head off to the Lansing Community College Campus. Kids competed in everything from auto to welding. My students did, well television production. This year I was my second year as a member of the technical committee. The technical committee organizes the competition, everything from the design of the problem to finding judges. I tend to get too involved and then stress myself out. Oh well. It's not about me, it's about making a great competition for the students, I know what you are thinking, super cheesy and yes it is, but it's true. And you should know by now I am cheesy.

So when we got to the site, the students set up their computers, took a video production test and then headed out for two hours to get video of the state competition. The kids were assigned a one minute promotional video on the SkillsUSA state competition. Then we took a short break for lunch. After lunch is when the pressure cooker starts. The students have 2 hours to edit. They are all piled into two classrooms and after about 15 minutes you can cut the stress and tension with a knife. The students have to work through all kinds of problems, including computer and equipment failure. The worst part is when I give them the 15 minute call. That's when you see the panic and fear in their eyes. The students got 2 points off for every minute they were late. It can cause major anxiety, how do I know this, well I was feeling it up there just checking in the tapes. I wanted everyone, not just my teams to get their tapes in, after all they had been working so hard.

My teams did well, not without some tribulation. One team turned in a tape only to be disqualified because we could not find anything on the physical tape. Another team was 14 minutes late, which meant they started off with a -28. I had one team that had little problems. But I am proud of them all, they finished with integrity and professionalism. More on how they did at the award ceremony.

I sat through the judging, I must thank the judges because they really treated this like a big deal, which it is, but they are professionals in the business that took their Saturday to come out and judge more than 20 videos and 3 plus hours of their day was swallowed up by this. But they gave each video very thoughtful consideration. So thanks again... you guys are great.

I came back to the hotel after dinner on Saturday night, my students had been calling me every 10 minutes asking me to come back and hurry, that they had something for me. Low and behold, when I got back they had a card of appreciation and cookies for me. It touched me so much that I cried. I know I am a sap but truly it was awesome. It's one of those moments in my life that I will tuck away and look back. It just made me feel so good especially after a really really long day. I have great students.

So back to the results, being there while the judging took place, I actually knew where my students finished. They finished in FIRST PLACE. Yes at that moment I could have jumped out of my chair I was so excited, it took away some of the excitement from the actual awards ceremony, but it was still great. However, I did have to try to keep it a secret, which for those of you who know me, know that I am not great at that skill. I got a chance to call the Megan's parents, who I was pretty sure weren't planning on coming, I left the message saying, I thought that if they didn't have plans they might want to consider driving the two hours to Lansing. I was pretty sure Erik's parents were coming.

At the awards ceremony, I felt the excitement all over again. To see how excited they were, it was truly amazing. Also their classmates were so proud of them. When they called second place we just stood up and cheered because that put them on top. (and remember the rest of them were surprised) I am so proud of them all of them. But now Megan & Erik head to Kansas City in June (with me) for the National Competition. They will be representing the state of Michigan. It is so cool.

Also on a side note, Bruce's students who were in the same competition placed 3rd. Which was really cool considering that they didn't study video this year. I am really happy for him too.

Today, I must admit I was completely exhausted it is 7:40 pm and I am about to call it a night. Getting up this morning for work was a struggle, but when they kids came in (more so in the afternoon) they were so excited. I just wished I could bottle that energy for next year when I talk about joining SkillsUSA. They talked about the fun they had, the new friends they made, I could have cried all over again, but I didn't come people I may be a sap but I know when to hold it together. Even during break they branched out and sat with their new friends from the other classes that they spent the weekend with at SkillsUSA. It was cool experience.

On a side note, my team was not the only team to do well, in fact we swept two competitions, computer maintenance (way to go Dave, two years in a row to nationals and now a sweep, pretty sweet.) and metal machining (good job Duane even though you will never read this.)
Also we have one team of crime scene investigators going and one student for criminal justice (all taught by the talented Richard.) It will be a great time in KC.

The Attica Trifecta

Tonight I had a rare but special visit from my folks. Yes Ma & Pa Sahakian don't make it up to Attica that much so we rolled out the red carpet. We grilled steaks for dinner at the Lake Pleasant Estate. (OK my Dad ended up manning the grill while watching the dogs outside, but we supplied the meat.) We also took a walk into downtown Attica to see the latest and greatest. Yes the booming Township of Attica has just had two new business (technically three but only two for me which means only three with food) making it a Trifecta. You have the Attica Mall a.k.a Rowley's Grocery Store and the newest additions are the Pleasant Soul Cafe', a coffee shop and eatery, and the Chilly Cow which serves ice cream which is udderly fantastic. (ha ha, yes I have fallen in line with their marketing.) Daisy got to hang out with Nina and they had fun chasing each other around the yard. (Daisy is my dog, Nina belongs to my folks.) We had ice cream for dessert and the dogs even got their own free cones. So I am going to constantly promote these shops so that they stay in business and I may in fact get free ice cream and coffee... Really when it comes to me what could be better, I love coffee and I love ice cream.

So what inspired this rare Thursday night visit. They were generously dropping off their mini-van from Bruce to drive it to SkillsUSA in Lansing this weekend. Yes Bruce and I are both going to the SkillsUSA competition. His students actually compete against mine. It's a friendly rivalry. However I do joke that I tell my kids, "Just do your best and BEAT Lapeer!" However, it is a joke. I swear, I am not competitive, really. This year Bruce and I were both on the technical committee for Television Production. I have put a lot of time into the contest and did my best to try to find prizes for our competition, I thought I had failed, but Specs Howard is coming through with some swag. Why prizes? Well in all the other competitions the kids that win first prize walk away with full tool sets, scholarships, and more. Our kids get well a medal, which is great but I wanted more for them. I was really trying to get Video Ipods however apparently I don't know who to ask and how to ask them. So if anyone has suggestions for next year they would be very welcome.

Being on the technical committee along with trying to get prizes I was also in charge of judges. I convinced two great friends from Local 4 to sacrifice their Saturday to be judges. The talented and fabulous Olive and John. (Can you tell I am sucking up to them, because I am.) Thank you, thank you, thank you: SO MUCH. I owe you, yes I will pay in cocktails if necessary. And the high school rep from Specs Howard is coming to judge on very short notice I had her out to talk with my class last week and mentioned something and she committed on the spot to serving as a judge. How fantastic is that?

On top of being on the technical committee and being advisor to my students, I am also the co-coordinator for the entire schools, which meant, I was booking the hotel, making sure that permission slips went out, making sure kids paid, getting transportation, getting the shirts for everyone, which I wanted to get in pink and sea-foam green, but due to the fact that there are 8 women and 50-some-odd men, I got black with red and white lettering. However, I did tell them it was pink for the last three weeks just to scare them, the advisors were relieved when they saw the shirts today. But really what would have been better than welders, metal machinist, auto technicians and construction students all in pink. I should have done it that would have actually secured me not being allowed to be a coordinator again. I would have gotten my PINK slip. Can you tell this has been a stressful ordeal? I am just actually excited to go and I think I will be more excited when I am back home on Sunday with everything a success (cross your fingers!)

America's Next Top Model Recaps
& T-1 Day until SkillsUSA

First things first, ANTM. It was the mid-season recap show. Helping those without TiVo catch up on the season. I on the other hand enjoy the new footage that is shown only during this show. It can be very revealing to the different dynamics on the show. This was one of the better show, but really in a way I feel that it is cheating and I am looking forward to next week when we have another elimination! I still don't have a good feeling about who the winner will be, hmmmm. Stay tuned. This has been a very busy week, with not much time for TiVo, too be honest, I skipped the gym tonight to catch up with good ole TiVo and because I am freaking tired.

Why have I been so busy? Well SkillsUSA is the answer to that question. I am heading to Lansing this weekend with 48 students from St. Clair TEC for the SkillsUSA state competition, these 11th & 12th graders will be competing in everything from auto body, automotive technology to television production (my students) and welding. It's a lot of fun and its a great to see the students take their skills to the next level. The winners of the state competition head to nationals in Lansing this June. Last year was my first experience I have a lot of fun, it gives you a chance to see the kids outside of the classroom and we teachers can let our hair down a little.