A Little Maintenance...

Beginning tomorrow, December 01, look forward a little overhaul on my blog.

I'm changing the way I do things...

Rather than just writing about what's going on in my life, which only a few people seem to care about, I will start blogging about things that interest me or annoy me, depending on my mood on any given day. Plus, that way, I can tell myself and those who agree with my more negative rants to "shut up and have a good time"... :-)

Looking back at my previous blog entries, I find it sort of sad that this is my thirty-fourth entry. I began this blog in July and only have thirty-four entries... How sad is that?!

Things will change tomorrow. I'm not saying that I'll blog everyday, but it'll certainly be more frequently than I have been. I've been letting my blog slip under the radar too much; it is now becoming a top priority of mine.

Enjoy the last day of November!

Time is NOT on My Side

Seriously? It's already November? Holy crap... Where does the time go?

There has been so much that I would've loved to blog about; however, I never seem to find the time. I even try to stay up with bloggers who post regularly, but that doesn't always go to plan either. Between work, Graduate school, and life in general, time is not my side.

I have finished my first Graduate course, and I received an A. Now, I know how the online Graduate program works, so I'm anxious to continue. It took a lot of adjusting to completing the assignments on my own time without attending lectures also. It's certainly a new challenge, but I really enjoyed it, so bring on the next course!

Being that it's November, it's that time of the year: The time for cooler weather, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Academy Award-caliber movies! I must say, it's my favorite time of the year!

The cooler weather thing cracks me up. I live in South Florida, so it rarely gets cold here. When I lived in Tallahassee, I'd wake up and see that it was 35 degrees outside. I would rejoice because I never had that experience living down here. I certainly do miss the coldness of North Florida... Plus, we've only had ONE cold front so far this year. Really?!

Thanksgiving and Christmas are two of my favorite holidays. Being that I'm older now, the presents and all of the excitement that they bring doesn't even matter to me anymore. I just enjoy spending time with my loved ones. Each day, I realize that I am one of the luckiest people in the world because I've been blessed with such a wonderful family and a terrific group of friends. The issue is... There never seems to be enough time to see them or visit with them. (Notice a trend? TIME! I told you... It's NOT on my side!) Therefore, Thanksgiving and Christmas allow me to take advantage of all of the missed opportunities of spending quality time with my family and friends.

Finally, the Academy Award-caliber movies are released during this time of year. Woo Hoo! Rhiannon and I spend a lot of time at the movie theater in November and December, especially, because we have, or take, the time off of work. Last year, for example, over one week of my Christmas Break, we saw 13 movies. I hope to top that this year between Thanksgiving Break and Christmas Break. We've certainly got a lot to see. Here is a quick list of what I'm anticipating to be Academy Award nominees in some way:

November Releases: Precious, The Messenger, Broken Embraces, The Road, and The Private Lives of Pippa Lee. (There are other movies that I want to see in November, but I don't foresee them garnering any major award nominations, such as 2012, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Blind Side, Me and Orson Welles, Old Dogs, The Princess and The Frog, and The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Don't get wrong: If they were to receive nominations, that's fantastic!)

December Releases: Everybody's Fine, The Last Station, Up in The Air, Invictus, The Lovely Bones, A Single Man, Avatar, The Young Victoria, and It's Complicated. (Once again, there are others that I want to see: Brothers, Serious Moonlight, Did You Hear About The Morgans?, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, Sherlock Holmes, and The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond.)

So much to see... So little time... I'll try to keep you posted on what I see and my thoughts, of course. It's definitely going to be an interesting awards season, so stay tuned!

Now, before my Sunday is over, I have to use my remaining time finishing laundry and ironing my clothes for the upcoming week. Then, if I have any time left over before dinner, I'd love to work towards finishing my reading from my Graduate course. (You read that correctly... My course is over, but I skipped some of the reading. So... Being the way that I am, I'm reading it now, so I can say that I actually did read it, even if it was after the assignment passed. Whatev!)

Enjoy the rest of your night, and use your time wisely!

Don't mind me... I'm going to shut up and have a good time!

Are You a GLEEK, Like Me?

While I have been enjoying several new shows this season, which I may blog about in the future, there is one that sticks out more than all of the others and deserves to be the first to be blogged about: Glee.


If you haven't heard of this show, you're certainly living under a rock. It has become a phenomenon! From the quirkiness of the characters and storylines to the fantastic musical numbers, this show has hit it big! It certainly deserves all of the attention that it's getting, too. It's wonderful!

Here's a little about the show, taken from its official site, for those who have never seen an episode:

The series follows an optimistic teacher, Will Schuester (Matthew Morrison), who, against all odds and a malicious cheerleading coach, attempts to save McKinley High's Glee Club from obscurity, while helping a group of aspiring underdogs realize their true star potential. It's a tall order when the biggest stars of the group include Kurt (Chris Colfer), a soprano who hits a high note in fashion, Mercedes (Amber Riley), a larger-than-life diva with a voice to match, Artie (Kevin McHale), a geeky guitarist who rocks and rolls, and Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz), a punk rocker who hides behind her stutter and blue hair extensions.

Mr. Schuester's only hope lies with two true talents: Rachel Berry (Lea Michele), a self-proclaimed star who is convinced that MySpace and show choir are her tickets to fame, and Finn Hudson (Cory Monteith), the popular high school quarterback with movie star looks who must protect his reputation from his holier-than-thou girlfriend and "Cheerios" head cheerleader, Quinn (Dianna Argon), and his arrogant football teammate, Puck (Mark Salling).

Mr. Scheuster is determined to do whatever it takes to make Glee Club great again, but his only ally is fellow teacher and germaphobe Emma Pillsbury (Jayma Mays). Everyone else around him thinks he's nuts, from his tough-as-nails wife Terri Scheuster (Jessalyn Gilsig) to McKinley High's scheming cheerleading coach Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), but he's out to prove them wrong.

That's the gist of the series... The actors are fantastic, especially Jane Lynch. She certainly deserves an Emmy nomination next year; she even deserves to win! Her comedic timing and delivery is flawless!



As I mentioned earlier, included in each episode are fantastic musical numbers! What's great is that each night after the episode airs, the songs are available in their entirety on iTunes. There has been a few occasions where I rush to my computer to download certain songs...

The music has become so big, in fact, that on November 03, 'Glee: The Music - Volume 01' is being released. Eighteen songs from the first part of the first season are included. Here is the track list, taken from iTunes:

01. "Don't Stop Believin'"
02. "Can't Fight This Feeling"
03. "Gold Digger"
04. "Take a Bow"
05. "Bust Your Windows"
06. "Taking Chances"
07. "Alone" (with Kristin Chenoweth)
08. "Maybe This Time" (with Kristin Chenoweth)
09. "Somebody to Love"
10. "Hate on Me"
11. "No Air"
12. "You Keep Me Hangin' on"
13. "Keep Holding on"
14. "Bust a Move"
15. "Sweet Caroline"
16. "Dancing with Myself"
17. "Defying Gravity"
18. "I Say a Little Prayer"

As you can see, the music ranges from classics to current hits. From Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" to Heart's "Alone" and Kanye West's "Gold Digger" to Celine Dion's "Taking Chances", this show covers it all. I look forward to the musical numbers in each episode; they're certainly a huge highlight.

If you haven't watched this show, do yourself a favor... TiVo it, watch it live, or watch it online the next day. You won't be disappointed! It airs on Wednesday nights at 09:00 on FOX.

Here are a few of my favorite moments from Glee:

Kristin Chenoweth appeared in 'The Rhodes Not Taken' as a former Glee Club member, April Rhodes, and performed three songs. This was my favorite: "Alone" with Matthew Morrison. (Download the full version on iTunes; it's fantastic!)


In one of the episodes, the boys and girls were split up and challenged to create their own "mash-ups" of two songs.

Here's the boys' mash-up of "It's My Life" and "Confessions: Part II".


Here's the girls' mash-up of "Halo" and "Walking on Sunshine".

One last thing... I read recently that the beginning stages of a Glee tour have commenced. I will certainly be attending, if they choose to come to South Florida. :-)

Time Certainly Does Fly...

Is it really already October? Where does the time go? It'll be December, which means the craziness of the holidays, very soon... That's insane!

Now, onto what I want to say.

I can't lie. I seriously contemplated getting rid of my blog altogether. I haven't posted in two weeks, I think. Plus, when I do post, it's only once a week, and the entry consists of what's going on in my busy life. That's not too exciting to read... I went from posting everyday about random things to just a quick update once a week. I didn't like that, so I thought my time in blogging had come to an end.

After thinking about it, I finally decided that I wouldn't discard my blog. I mean, after all, I promised myself and whoever reads what I have say that I would keep it going no matter what occurs in my life. I can't let work, school, and other things stop me from achieving a personal goal. I said in my very first entry that I seem to never follow through with anything...

I couldn't let this fall in that category, so here's my shot at keeping it going. Wish me luck!

I'll leave you with a picture from last week's Spirit Week at work. The day's theme was Movie Day, and the entire faculty and staff dressed as Dalmatians, complete with dog collars and special nicknames, to correlate with Becky's Cruella DeVil. We're awesome like that!

What a Week!

Last week was certainly an interesting week in all aspects...

First off, I was completely exhausted throughout the entire week. I could barely keep my eyes open when I got off of work everyday. I prayed that I wasn't in the beginning stages of getting sick... So far, I've been good. I made sure to get plenty of rest this weekend to prepare for next week.

At the beginning of the week, I found out that I'd be adding Science to my teaching regime. Last year and up until now, there was a separate teacher for Fifth Grade Science. Rather than go through all of the details, I'll just say that I'll be teaching Science from now on. I'm split about this... Half of me is really excited about developing a love for Science through teaching it, as well as a fantastic salary increase, which really comes in handy as Rhiannon and I plan our wedding. On the other hand, I'm a little nervous because I've never been the best at Science. My grades in school were always average, and I have limited experience teaching it. Hopefully, after a week or two, I'll really get into a groove and enjoy it. Above all of that, I want my students to enjoy themselves! Science is four times a week, so I will spend two days going over the material using textbooks and workbooks and the other two days conducting experiments/labs and participating in interactive games/activities on the SmartBoard. I'll keep you posted on how it all goes... Wish me luck, and pray for me!

Even before all of this occurred, I watched The Emmys on Sunday night. I must say that I enjoyed them overall, but was completely shocked at many of the winners. Rather than go through each category AGAIN, here is a rundown of my thoughts:

• I loved Neil Patrick Harris as the host. He was very entertaining and kept the show running smoothly.
• I'm wondering if they read my blog because the show was split into five sections, as were my entries regarding the nominees. Hmm... :-)
• I'm happy that Grey Gardens received a lot of Emmys, but still upset that Jessica Lange beat Drew Barrymore!
• I'm still in a state a shock that Jon Cryer (Two and a Half Men), Michael Emerson (Lost), Kristin Chenoweth (Pushing Daisies), and Cherry Jones (24) won.
• I absolutely LOVED that Glenn Close (Damages) and Alec Baldwin (30 Rock) won two years in a row! So deserving!
• I'm a little bummed that Family Guy didn't pull an upset and win Outstanding Comedy Series...

The new season of television shows has begun! Some of the new shows that I highly recommend are Community (NBC), Cougar Town (ABC), Glee (FOX), Modern Family (ABC), and Eastwick (ABC). If you haven't seen those shows, do yourself a favor: Set your TiVo! You'll love 'em!

Until next weekend... Have a great week!

Quick Update...

I have just a few minutes for a quick update...

Things are super busy in my life right now. Between work and school, I feel like I don't have a lot of time for other activities. (I do always seem to squeeze in one of my favorite things, TiVo!)

Work is fantastic! My students continue to grow scholastically and socially, and I continue to enjoy waking up each day and going to work. I look forward to spending the day with them, which is certainly a good thing.

School is keeping me busy outside of work. I'm reading, watching segments on the DVD from my course, and completing a few assignments a week. My first grades have been good, so I'm excited about that. (I haven't lost my touch of being a good student. HaHa!)

Tonight is one of my favorite events: The Emmy Awards! I hope to be able to blog about the winners this week after comparing them with my previous entry, where I picked who I wanted to win in each category.

Well... Dinner's ready, and The Emmys will be starting in less than hour. Goodnight!

Altering My Goals...

So... This past week has made me realize that I need to alter my goals when it comes to this blog. Originally, I wanted to write an entry everyday about various things. That was certainly logical over the summer when I wasn't working.

Now, I'm back to work. Every afternoon, I come home with papers to grade, TiVo to catch up on, and dinner to sometimes make and always eat. (After all, I'm not one to miss a meal!) By the time that I'm done with all of that, I'm too pooped to blog.

This past week added something else to my already-busy schedule... I began working towards my Masters degree. I've been accepted to Walden University, an online Graduate school, and my focus is on Elementary Reading and Literacy. So... Expect lots of blogging about the ups and downs of "attending" Graduate school online.

So far, it's been great, but pretty busy. I have lots to read and several assignments to complete each week. My first course, Teacher As Professional, is an eight-week course. After that, I'm done for the semester and will take another course in January. That way, I won't become too overwhelmed. By taking only one course a semester, it will take me four years to obtain my Masters degree. What's the rush, though... Right?

On top of ALL of that, my foot has been giving me some issues this week. It began hurting a while ago, and I ignored it, thinking that it'd go away. Well... It didn't. I went to the doctor, who requested some x. rays from the hospital. I did that on Wednesday morning and found out on Thursday that the x. rays came back negative: No breaks or fractures. While that's fantastic news, I still have no idea why my foot is still hurtin' like hell. We'll see what happens this week.

As you can see, I've had quite a busy week. This is exactly why my goals for this blog have changed. Rather than attempt to post everyday, I will blog once a week, at least. If I find the time to blog more than that, I certainly will. :-)

Take a Tour of My Classroom

As you know, I teach Fifth Grade at a private school in my hometown of Boynton Beach, Florida. I finally took pictures of my classroom to share with you, my readers.

When you enter the classroom, this is your first glimpse:

Hanging above the desks are three strings of yarn with this title: "We Are a Tee-rrific Class!"

During the first week of school, I have my students create poster board shirts that represent them. They have certain directions to follow, including what to put on each sleeve. The students present their shirts to the class on Friday, and I hang them up with clothespins for the month of September. (Thanks to Kristi, my supervising teacher from my internship, for introducing this activity to me. I pretty much stole it from her!)

To the left of the desks, you'll see various items, including cabinets, mailboxes, and trays where my students turn in their classwork. Also, notice the map of the United States and the row of Presidents on the wall. (Those were certainly fun to hang... HaHa!)

If you were to look straight ahead when you walk in, you'd be looking at the items in the next picture. There's an overhead projector, which last year's class named Neil, some bulletin boards, and other random things...

Once you begin walking into my classroom, you'll notice the amazing technology! I've been blessed to have a SmartBoard. The school only has a handful of 'em, and my classroom is one of the lucky ones to have access! In order to use a SmartBoard, it must be hooked up to a computer and a projector.

Last year, I had it hooked up to my main computer. It was really awkward to use because the students had to sit on the floor in front of it, and I didn't particularly care for that. Rhiannon stepped in and bought me a laptop for Christmas to use strictly for the SmartBoard. It works perfectly now; the students can stay in their desks when we use it. :-)

When I was in Fifth Grade, my teacher created a bulletin board that had all of our names in a crossword puzzle. I've never forgotten it, so I decided to make it a tradition for me by doing it in my own classroom.

The back part of my classroom is used for small group instruction, including the use of Eggspert, which is an interactive game where the students buzz in their answers. I use Eggspert every week when I review for a quiz from the current section of the novel that we're reading. The students LOVE it!

In the back of the classroom, I also have an amazing classroom library. Thanks to donations, gifts, and my own spending, it is well-stocked, and I feel like I have one of the best classroom libraries on campus.

Plus, I have to represent my college, Florida State University, by displaying some memorabilia! (And... If you look closely, you'll see a poster of Bette Midler with her children's book, The Saga of Baby Divine. My classroom wouldn't be complete without The Divine Miss M.!)

Every classroom needs a job chart, and mine is no exception! I use a money system in my classroom, so I "pay" my students to complete their jobs each week. The students love it! (The money system also came from Kristi... She's the best; what can I say?!)

Accelerated Reader (AR) is vital in schools today. (I didn't have it when I went to school!) Students must obtain a certain amount of points each quarter by reading novels and taking comprehension tests. This is where I keep track of my students' progress.

Finally, I'm blessed yet again to have a bathroom in my classroom. I don't have the craziness of having to send students out of the classroom to use the restroom.

I take advantage of the space by hanging up my students' acolyte robes and blazers that they wear for Chapel on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.

So... There you have it! You've just toured my Fifth Grade classroom without even coming to Boynton Beach!

I love my classroom, and I'm so proud of how it looks. I'm glad that I could show it to you all. :-)

One Week Down...

What a fantastic first week of school/work! I really enjoyed getting to know my new students and their parents, as well as getting a sneak peek at what this year will bring.

First off, my students' parents seem to be very supportive. This is such an important aspect of a classroom, I've come to learn. I have four really helpful and great Room Parents, and I also have a handful of parents who have offered their services whenever needed. I'm just so lucky to have a group of parents who are willing to help out in any way, shape, or form. (Thank you!)

The students are also a great group. I have 17 students. Only one of them is new this year; I knew the other 16 pretty well last year. That made for an easy transition for all of us.

We had a fun and busy week that was full of introducing the routines and procedures of my classroom. I'm a very organized and anal person, so I expect things to be done in a certain way. My students learned that this week. :-)

Next week, we will delve into our curriculum and actually begin Fifth Grade. I can't wait!

With that being said, I want to state some things that I have learned from college, my internship with my fantastic supervising teacher who I am still good friends with, and from my first year of teaching that I feel are important for all teachers and aspiring teachers to know:

• There are challenges in each classroom, which is what makes the job of teaching so rewarding. It may seem like you'll die from how hard a student is making your life, but you're truly making a difference in both of your lives by being there for him or her.
  
• Your co-workers are the best support group that you'll ever have! Find another teacher on your campus that has been teaching for a long time and has seen it all. They will listen, give advice if asked, and always be there for you. (Luckily, my mentor from last year, Audrey, became one of my closest friends at work. She is still mentoring me and will hopefully continue throughout my career because she's such a great role model and friend.)
• Don't get me wrong... Your family and friends are great support groups, as well. :-)
  
• You will have days where it seems like nothing is going your way. Do not fear... Everyone in every profession has days like this. Just get through it as best as you can by praying and asking God for strength!
  

That's enough for now... I'm not a seasoned/veteran teacher by any means, but I have learned a lot in the past three and a half years: Two years in the College of Education with a semester of interning, substitute teaching for a semester, and my first year of teaching.

I'm eagerly anticipating the second week of school! I can't wait to start teaching and showing my students how fun and exciting learning is! :-)

"I'm Like The Ringleader; I Call The Shots..."

On Wednesday, September 02, Rhiannon, Sarah, and I headed down to Miami to see The Circus: Starring Britney Spears for the second time this year. (We went to her show in March, as well, which is where the above advertisement is from.) I had read that she was "revamping" the show with new costumes, new dance routines, and adding a new song, "Mannequin", so we bought tickets.

Plus, the three of us just heart us some Britney Spears, so we would've gone even if it was the exact same show from March...

The show began with THREE opening acts... Kristinia DeBarge, One Call, and Jordin Sparks. After suffering through the first two, I really enjoyed Jordin Sparks. (I love "Battlefield" and "Tattoo"!) The opening acts finished up a little after 08:30 PM.

Then, a countdown clock appeared on the screens, telling us that The Circus would start in twenty-two minutes...

When the twenty-two minutes were up, The Big Apple Circus performed for what seemed like an eternity. I can only stand to watch acrobatics for so long without becoming extremely bored. (Couldn't they have performed during the twenty-two-minute period?)

Yes... They are amazing.

Yes... I could never do any of the stunts if my life depended on it.

However... I didn't come to see them; I came to see Britney Spears!

After they finished up, the show started. Perez Hilton, who I'm not a fan of at all, welcomed the audience in a video dressed as Queen Elizabeth. Enough said...

Here's the set list from Wednesday night, which is broken up into four main sections. I tried to find a picture from each section, so that you could see some of her outfits... Enjoy!

Act I: The Circus

• Welcome to The Circus (Video Introduction)
• "Circus"
• "Piece of Me"
• "Radar"

Act II: House of Fun (Anything Goes)

• "Ooh, Ooh, Baby"/"Hot As Ice"
• "Boys"
• "If U Seek Amy"
• "Me Against The Music" (Bollywood Remix)
• "Everytime"

Act III: Freakshow/Peepshow

• "Freakshow"
• "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)"
• "Breathe on Me"

Act IV: Electro Circ

• "Do Somethin'"
• "I'm a Slave 04 U"
• "Toxic"
• "...Baby, One More Time"

Encore: "Womanizer"

Now, it's time for my thoughts... Let me preface this by saying that I'm a HUGE fan of Britney Spears. I think that she's had some really rough times in the past, but I truly feel that she's on the mend. This "comeback" tour for her "comeback" album really proved that she is a gifted entertainer. (By the way, if you don't own 'Circus', you should. It's a fantastic album!)

Okay... Here we go...

My Thoughts:

• The fact that she lip-syncs throughout the entire show, except for "Everytime", doesn't really bother me. It's because she performs so well, and there's so much to see onstage. This is truly a show and not a concert.
  
• With 'Circus' being such a wonderful album, I was a bit disappointed that only the "singles" were performed: "Womanizer", "Circus", "If U Seek Amy", and "Radar". The album is full of other great tracks, including "Kill The Lights", "Shattered Glass", and "Unusual You".
• One of the reasons that Rhiannon, Sarah, and I wanted to see the show again was to see her perform "Mannequin", another great track off of 'Circus'. For some unknown reason, it wasn't performed...
• "Touch of My Hand" was also missing from the set list, which she did perform in March. (This didn't bother us at all because we're not fans of that song!)
• The beginning of the show is spectacular with "Circus" and "Piece of Me" being performed back-to-back. Those are two of my favorite songs, and the performances are fantastic.
• In my opinion, the show hits a bit of a lull during the Freakshow/Peepshow segment. Besides "Get Naked (I Got a Plan)", I don't care for the other songs... Luckily, once again, the performances are enough to keep you engaged.
• I'm glad that she touched upon some of her older hits, like "Me Against The Music", "I'm a Slave 04 U", and "Toxic".
• Speaking of "Me Against The Music", the Bollywood theme is fantastic!
  
• "Everytime" is performed live, and she does a wonderful job. (In March, she sat on an umbrella that floated above the stage while singing this song. On Wednesday, she told the audience that some of her stage was "down", so she stood center stage and sang. It was a neat moment because there wasn't any glitz or glam; it was just her.)

All in all, it's a terrific show that I highly recommend. If she's coming to your area, get tickets. You won't be disappointed!

Upcoming Entries

Do not fear!

I have not abandoned my blog!

This week has been extremely busy... It was the first week of the 2009-2010 school year, as you know, so I have been swamped with beginning-of-the-year paperwork and such.

Besides that, Rhiannon, Sarah, and I saw Britney Spears in Miami on Wednesday night. It was a fantastic show! However, I still haven't completely recovered from the four hours of sleep that I barely got on Wednesday night. HaHa!

I'll fill you all in over the three-day Labor Day weekend. Look forward to the following entries:

• A complete review of Britney Spears' show in Miami, including a set list.
• A rundown of the first week of school: What went well, what didn't, etc.
• Pictures of my classroom!

I can barely keep my eyes open, so I'm off to catch some shuteye. Goodnight!

The First Day of School

Today, September 01, was the first day of the 2009-2010 school year. I was super excited to start working again because I love being in front of a class full of eager students who are ready to learn and are actually excited to be there. Luckily, I have 17 students who seemed happy to be sitting in my classroom today.

The day began with an introductory Chapel service and Prayer Walk. Before the Prayer Walk started, I was responsible for hoisting the new American flag that was flown above the Capitol in Washington, D.C. and graciously donated to the school by Congressman Allen Boyd. Being that I took my class to Washington, D.C. last year, this responsibility fell to me. I recruited two former students to assist me this morning.

I was a nervous wreck of sorts... I found out recently an American flag needs to be burned if it touches the ground. This, of course, caused my uncontrollable nervousness. I could just imagine this happening while the entire school and lots of parents are standing around watching us. (Just the fact that all of those people's eyes were on me was frightening enough!)

In short, the American flag raising/hoisting went extremely well! My former students helped a ton, and I was so glad to be apart of that experience. It really meant a lot!

The Prayer Walk began after the Pledge of Allegiance. You may be asking what a Prayer Walk is... At the beginning of each school year, the entire school walks around the campus and prays for each building/center and the faculty and staff that are housed in each. It's a neat way to start the year; however, it was so incredibly hot today that I could've had a heat stroke...

After the Prayer Walk, we headed back to the Church to conclude our Chapel service. Once we got back to the classroom, I spent the day going through the routines and procedures that are used in Fifth Grade. (What can I say? I'm extremely anal and organized, and I expect my students to follow in my footsteps. HaHa!)

Rather than go through my entire day, I'll summarize and say that it went so good! My students seem fantastic, and I look forward to a wonderful year. Each year, as I'm learning, is full of challenges and obstacles to overcome. I gladly welcome these because they all help me become a better teacher.

By the way, I took pictures of my classroom this morning and will post them in a future entry. I'm just too tired to upload them from my digital camera to my computer...

I'm not lazy; I'm just exhausted! Those of you who aren't teachers may not understand how tiring this profession can be... :-)

"Going to The Chapel..."

Late this afternoon, Rhiannon and I met with the Pastor from the Church where we'd like to get married. Rhiannon is a member of the Church, and her parents were married there. Being that the Church that my family has been affiliated with for so long has changed drastically over the years, and not necessarily for the better, it was a no-brainer to me that we'd get married at Rhiannon's Church.

I was anxious going into this meeting because, obviously, I've never done this before. Luckily, the Pastor is so kind and warm that I felt extremely comfortable.

Today's meeting was pretty brief. We filled out a registration sheet of sorts with information about who would be attending the ceremony from our immediate families, who we've chosen to be on our sides, and other details. (He was even surprised at how organized we are and how much we've planned already! Obviously, he doesn't know us that well. HaHa!)

AND... The date is official! We will be getting married on June 26, 2010!

The part of the meeting that really made things sink in was when he began to describe the wedding ceremony. He went through everything that he's going to say... He talked about our vows, the exchanging of the rings, what we will be repeating back to him, lighting of the Unity candle, etc.

An amazing feeling came over me while this was going on...

I couldn't believe that this was really happening. It made me see how blessed I am to have Rhiannon in my life and how excited I am to marry her!

The meeting went by very quickly, and he asked us to call and schedule another one in January to talk about our relationship. He wants to know how we met, how we fell in love, what we fight/argue about, etc.

That's the part that's going to make me nervous... It's so weird to talk about all of that stuff. HaHa!

I can't believe how everything is falling into place. Wow! :-)

"Once Upon a Time, in Nazi-Occupied France..."

Last night, Rhiannon and I saw Quentin Tarantino's latest movie, Inglourious Basterds. We had heard many positive things, so we were very excited about seeing it. In all honesty, we both went into it knowing very little. We had only seen the trailer and the previews on TV, so we didn't really know the entire plot of the movie.

Here's a quick synopsis of the movie, taken from its official site...

In the first year of the German occupation of France, Shosanna Dreyfus (Melanie Laurent) witnesses the execution of her family at the hand of Nazi Colonel Hans Landa (Christoph Waltz). Shosanna narrowly escapes and flees to Paris where she forges a new identity as the owner and operator of a cinema.

Elsewhere in Europe, Lieutenant Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) organizes a group of Jewish American soldiers to perform swift, shocking acts of retribution. Later known to their enemy as "The Basterds", this squad joins a German actress and undercover agent, Bridget Von Hammersmark (Diane Kruger), on a mission to take down the leaders of the Third Reich.

Fates converge under a cinema marquis, where Shosanna Dreyfus is poised to carry out a revenge plan of her own...

Employing pulp and propaganda in equal measure, Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds weaves together the infamous, oppressed, real, and larger-than-life stories of WWII.

Here's the trailer for your enjoyment:



My Thoughts on Inglourious Basterds:

• The performances are spectacular, especially from Christoph Waltz and Melanie Laurent. I'm thinking that some Academy Award nominations are deserved. (I read that Christoph Waltz won the Best Actor prize at the Cannes Film Festival, so you never know where that could lead...)
  
• Brad Pitt is terrific, as always. However, I was surprised that he wasn't the main protagonist and didn't have as substantial of a part as I had thought from seeing the trailer and previews on TV.
• I really enjoyed Mike Myers' cameo as General Ed Fenech. He is a great dramatic actor, so I'm glad to see when he gets the chance to show off his skills.
  
• Quentin Tarantino's script and direction are flawless. This is a fantastic piece of work!
  
• Even with that being said, the movie did feel a tad long at 152 minutes... (That's literally the ONLY downside to the movie.)
  
• The final showdown is extremely well done! (If only that occurred in real life and was written in our history textbooks...)

OVERALL RATING (Out of 05): 04/05

I truly think that this is a wonderful movie. In order to receive a perfect rating from me, I must LOVE every aspect of it. Being that it felt a little long to me, I can't possibly give it a perfect rating.

However, do yourself a favor... SEE THIS MOVIE!

Teacher Orientation Week

This past week, I went back to work for Teacher Orientation Week. If you don't know, I teach Fifth Grade at a private school that I absolutely LOVE! The administration, faculty, and staff as a whole are the nicest, most caring, and most supportive group of people that I have ever had the pleasure of working with in a school setting.

Throughout the week, I worked in my classroom and got things ready for last Friday's Orientation and next Tuesday, which is the first day of school. Over the summer, I worked in my classroom a lot, so my copies, laminating, bulletin boards, lesson plans for the first week, etc. were already finished. (I can't help it... I'm anal, and I like to get things done before the last minute.) So... Last week, I did some "little" stuff like fill out my gradebook, write my students' names on things, etc.

When I wasn't working in my classroom, I was helping my fellow co-workers with various tasks. I love being able to help with whatever I can, no matter what it may entail. (This is the main reason why I'm so glad that I finished the bulk of everything that I needed to do over the summer. I was being pulled all over that campus all week long, so nothing would've gotten done. HaHa!)

On Friday of last week, there was an Orientation for new and returning families to our school. Around 10:00 AM, the teachers opened their classrooms and welcomed in students and their parents to introduce themselves, show off their classrooms, and chit-chat about their curriculum and the upcoming school year. I had quite a crowd come to my classroom, and I loved visiting with each and every student and parent. I'm really looking forward to working together with the parents this year to make sure that their child has a successful year in Fifth Grade.

The highlight of Friday, I must say, was seeing some of my former students and parents. (It's so weird to think that I already have former students... I can't believe that I have one year of teaching under my belt.) The fact that they took the time out of their Orientation to visit me meant a lot. I was blessed to have such an amazing "first class" last year; I will miss each and every student and parent so much. In the same breath, I think that this year's class of students and their parents will be fantastic, as well. The ones who I spoke with and got to know seem wonderful. (Luckily, by working at a private school, I knew all of my students from seeing them around campus last year. I also know most of the parents from interacting with them at school functions.)

All in all, it was a wonderful week! I feel 100% prepared for the first day of my second year of teaching on Tuesday. I have many goals set for the year, including:

• To learn and grow as a teacher.
• Be a great role model to my students.
• Show my students that I enjoy teaching and enjoy being with them everyday.
• Ensure that my students know that I will not tolerate inappropriate or negative behavior.
• Communicate effectively with the parents.
• Be a team player with my co-workers.
  

I will, of course, write many blog entries about my job as a Fifth Grade teacher. There are certainly ups and downs, as in any profession, but teaching truly is a rewarding line of work. I absolutely love going to work everyday, and I can't wait for Tuesday!

The Emmys: Part V - Variety Series and Specials

You may be asking what I'm writing about after reading the title... Check out my previous blog entries regarding The Emmys to find out!

It's time for the categories dedicated to variety series and specials...

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Series

• Late Show with David Letterman
  
• Real Time with Bill Maher
  
• Saturday Night Live
  
• The Colbert Report
  
• The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
  

I'm not avid watchers of any of these shows. In fact, I've never seen Real Time with Bill Maher. If I had to choose one, which I do for the sake of this blog entry, I'd probably go with Saturday Night Live. It's still very funny, and the cast members are extremely talented.

Who Should Win: Saturday Night Live
Last Year's Winner: The Daily Show with Jon Stewart

Outstanding Variety, Music, or Comedy Special

• Chris Rock: Kill The Messenger
  
• Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch
  
• Ricky Gervais: Out of England - The Stand-Up Special
  
• The Kennedy Center Honors
  
• Will Ferrell: You're Welcome, America: A Final Night with George W. Bush
  

I've only seen Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch, which was absolutely hysterical. I'm really pulling for her to win because she's a talented comedienne who deserves all of the accolades that she's received. Plus, her show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on The D. List, is one of my faves! (I must say, too, that I love Will Ferrell. Unfortunately, I don't get HBO, so I haven't seen his special, which, I'm sure, is hilarious!)

Who Should Win: Kathy Griffin: She'll Cut a Bitch
Last Year's Winner: Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project

Well... There you have it! Five blog entries dedicated to The Emmys... I can't wait to watch 'em and see how I did with my choices.

Thanks for reading!

The Emmys: Part IV - Mini-Series and Movies

You may be asking what I'm writing about after reading the title... Check out my previous blog entries regarding The Emmys to find out!

It's time for the categories dedicated to mini-series and movies...

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Mini-Series or a Movie

• Kiefer Sutherland - 24: Redemption
• Kevin Kline - Cyrano De Bergerac (Great Performances)
  
• Brendan Gleeson - Into The Storm
  
• Ian McKellen - King Lear (Great Performances)
  
• Kevin Bacon - Taking Chance
  
• Kenneth Branagh - Wallander: One Step Behind
  

I haven't seen the performances from Kiefer Sutherland, Brendan Gleeson, Ian McKellen, or Kenneth Branagh. Kevin Kline is always fantastic, and he's extremely funny in Cyrano De Bergerac. However, I am rooting wholeheartedly for Kevin Bacon. His performance was fantastic in Taking Chance. Plus, he doesn't get a lot of acting accolades, and this one he actually deserves.

Who Should Win: Kevin Bacon (Taking Chance)
Last Year's Winner: Paul Giamatti (John Adams)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Mini-Series or a Movie

• Chandra Wilson - Accidental Friendship
  
• Shirley MacLaine - Coco Chanel
• Drew Barrymore - Grey Gardens
• Jessica Lange - Grey Gardens
• Sigourney Weaver - Prayers For Bobby

I haven't seen Accidental Friendship, but I can imagine how great Chandra Wilson is in it! Shirley MacLaine, as always, was wonderful in Coco Chanel, except I don't understand why she didn't have a French accent... Jessica Lange and Drew Barrymore were BRILLIANT in Grey Gardens, and Sigourney Weaver was exceptional in Prayers For Bobby. This is such a strong category; I wish that all of them could win. However, I think that this category belongs to Drew Barrymore. Her performance is beyond fantastic. As you watch Grey Gardens, you see that she IS Edith 'Little Edie' Bouvier Beale. If she doesn't win, I'm going to be EXTREMELY upset!

Who Should Win: Drew Barrymore (Grey Gardens)
Last Year's Winner: Laura Linney (John Adams)

Outstanding Made For Television Movie

• Coco Chanel
  
• Grey Gardens
• Into The Storm
• Prayers For Bobby
• Taking Chance

I didn't get to see Into The Storm; I'm still waiting for it to be released on DVD. The other four are great movies, with Coco Chanel being my least favorite, but not by far. Grey Gardens, Prayers For Bobby, and Taking Chance are fantastic! I'd love it if all three could be awarded the Emmy. I feel, though, that Grey Gardens takes the cake. It's SO good!

Who Should Win: Grey Gardens
Last Year's Winner: Recount

Outstanding Mini-Series

• Generation Kill
• Little Dorrit

Okay... Umm... I haven't seen either one. I can't really make a decision in all fairness.

Who Should Win: N/A
Last Year's Winner: John Adams

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Mini-Series or a Movie

• Ken Howard - Grey Gardens
• Len Cariou - Into The Storm
• Tom Courtenay - Little Dorrit
• Andy Serkis - Little Dorrit
• Bob Newhart - The Librarian: Curse of The Judas Chalice

I've only seen Ken Howard's performance, and, in all honesty, it doesn't deserve an Emmy. Once again, out of fairness, I can't possibly pick my choice to win.

Who Should Win: N/A
Last Year's Winner: Tom Wilkinson (John Adams)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Mini-Series or a Movie

• Jeanne Tripplehorn - Grey Gardens
• Shohreh Aghdashloo - House of Saddam
• Janet McTeer - Into The Storm
• Cicely Tyson - Relative Stranger
• Marcia Gay Harden - The Courageous Heart of Irena Sendler

Like the previous category, I've only seen one performance, Jeanne Tripplehorn in Grey Gardens, and she doesn't deserve the Emmy either. I hate to say it, but I can't fairly pick my choice once again.

Who Should Win: N/A
Last Year's Winner: Eileen Atkins (Cranford)

Wow... Out of six categories, I can only pick my choices for three of them. I want to be fair... I'd love to just pick a name, but I can't if I haven't seen the performance or the movie.

If you take anything away from what I've said about these categories, please see Grey Gardens. You won't regret it!

Taking a Break...

I'm taking a break from my blog entries regarding The Emmys to do something else...

I'm going to post trailers to six upcoming movies that I'm really excited about seeing. I'll include some information about each one, as well, including the release date. (This will be a recurring thing, so look forward to future entries with plenty of movie trailers!)

Sit back, watch these trailers, and enjoy yourself!

These are in no particular order...

It's Complicated


Release Date: December 25, 2009
Director: Nancy Meyers
Cast: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, and Alec Baldwin (Need I say more?!)

The Blind Side


Release Date: November 20, 2009
Director: John Lee Hancock
Cast: Sandra Bullock, Kathy Bates, and Tim McGraw

The Lovely Bones


Release Date: December 11, 2009
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon, and Stanley Tucci

Nine


Release Date: November 25, 2009
Director: Rob Marshall
Cast: Daniel Day-Lewis, Marion Cotillard, Penelope Cruz, Judi Dench, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Stophia Loren, and Stacey Ferguson (Out of those eight, six have won Academy Awards. That's reason enough to see this movie: The amazing and talented cast!)

I Can Do Bad All By Myself


Release Date: September 11, 2009
Director: Tyler Perry
Cast: Taraji P. Henson, Mary J. Blige, Gladys Knight, and Tyler Perry

Alice in Wonderland


Release Date: March 05, 2010
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, and Anne Hathaway

I hope that you enjoyed this! If you hadn't seen these trailers before, I'm glad that I could be the first to show them to you.

What are your thoughts on these six movies?

The Emmys: Part III - Reality

You may be asking what I'm writing about after reading the title... Check out my previous blog entries regarding The Emmys to find out!

It's time for the reality-related categories... (As you know, I'm not a huge reality fan, so this ought to be interesting!)

Outstanding Host For a Reality or Reality-Competition Program

• Ryan Seacrest - American Idol
  
• Tom Bergeron - Dancing with The Stars
  
• Heidi Klum - Project Runway
  
• Jeff Probst - Survivor
  
• Phil Keoghan - The Amazing Race
  
• Padma Lakshmi and Tom Colicchio - Top Chef
  

I've never seen Top Chef, and I saw a few episodes of Survivor and The Amazing Race way back in the day. I've just started watching Project Runway, and I've seen a handful of episodes of American Idol. Dancing with The Stars is one of my favorite shows, as you know, so my vote is for Tom Bergeron! He's hilarious and quite entertaining throughout the show. Plus, he's hosted countless other shows, including Hollywood Squares and America's Funniest Home Videos. He deserves this Emmy!

Who Should Win: Tom Bergeron (Dancing with The Stars)
Last Year's Winner: Jeff Probst (Survivor)

Outstanding Reality-Competition Program

• American Idol
  
• Dancing with The Stars
• Project Runway
• The Amazing Race
• Top Chef

Rather than be redundant, I'm just going to say that I want Dancing with The Stars to win this year because it's a highly entertaining show! (For more of an explanation, please see my previous blog entry dedicated to this year's line-up of celebrities, as well as what I wrote above.)

Who Should Win: Dancing with The Stars
Last Year's Winner: The Amazing Race

Whew! That was easy! I'm glad that those are the only two categories because, in my opinion, reality shows shouldn't be garnering a lot of award attention anyway. HaHa!

The Emmys: Part II - Drama

You may be asking what I'm writing about after reading the title... Check out my previous blog entry regarding The Emmys to find out!

It's time for the drama-related categories...

Outstanding Drama Series

• Big Love
  
• Breaking Bad
  
• Damages
• Dexter
  
• House
• Lost
• Mad Men
  

This isn't a good category for me because I haven't seen Big Love, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Lost, or Mad Men, and I've only seen one episode of House. No matter what, I'm rooting wholeheartedly for Damages, which is one of the best shows on television! If you've never seen it, do yourself a favor and rent the DVD's.

Who Should Win: Damages
Last Year's Winner: Mad Men

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series

• Bryan Cranston - Breaking Bad
  
• Michael C. Hall - Dexter
• Hugh Laurie - House
• Gabriel Byrne - In Treatment
• Jon Hamm - Mad Men
• Simon Baker - The Mentalist

Another hard category... I haven't seen any of these shows, except for the one episode of House. With that being said, I would love to see Hugh Laurie win because he's fantastic on that show. (That's not just from the one episode either; I've seen many clips.) However, I think that someone else, like Jon Hamm, will win.

Who Should Win: Hugh Laurie (House)
Last Year's Winner: Bryan Cranston (Breaking Bad)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series

• Sally Field - Brothers & Sisters
• Glenn Close - Damages
• Mariska Hargitay - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• Elisabeth Moss - Mad Men
• Holly Hunter - Saving Grace
• Kyra Sedgwick - The Closer

I haven't seen Mad Men, Saving Grace, or The Closer. The other three are actresses on three of my favorite shows! Glenn Close won last year, but I would love for her to win again. She wows audiences each week as the vicious Patty Hewes on Damages. In the same breath, Sally Field is amazing as Nora Walker on Brothers & Sisters, and Mariska Hargitay is great as Detective Olivia Benson. It's a tough choice, but I'm staying with Glenn Close...

Who Should Win: Glenn Close (Damages)
Last Year's Winner: Glenn Close (Damages)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series

• William Shatner - Boston Legal
• Christian Clemenson - Boston Legal
• Aaron Paul - Breaking Bad
• William Hurt - Damages
• Michael Emerson - Lost
• John Slattery - Mad Men

I'm split evenly again... I haven't seen Breaking Bad or Mad Men, but I love Boston Legal and Damages. (I'm so upset that Boston Legal was canceled, by the way...) I thought that William Hurt did an excellent job as Daniel Purcell on Damages, and I love William Shatner and Christian Clemenson on Boston Legal. It's hard for me to choose in this category for some reason. I'm stuck between William Hurt and William Shatner. I'll go with William Shatner because he won't get another chance to win... (I'm pretty sure that he already won an Emmy in the past for portraying Denny Crane on Boston Legal. Oh, well...)

Who Should Win: William Shatner (Boston Legal)
Last Year's Winner: Zeljko Ivanek (Damages)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series

• Cherry Jones - 24
• Rose Byrne - Damages
• Sandra Oh - Grey's Anatomy
• Chandra Wilson - Grey's Anatomy
• Dianne Wiest - In Treatment
• Hope Davis - In Treatment

I've never seen 24 or In Treatment... You already know how much I love Damages, and Rose Byrne is terrific as Ellen Parsons. I'm also a huge fan of Grey's Anatomy and would love it if either Sandra Oh or Chandra Wilson won. Being that Chandra Wilson has won a Screen Actors Guild Award for her portrayal of Dr. Miranda Bailey, I'm going to choose Sandra Oh for her brilliant portrayal of Dr. Cristina Yang because I don't think that she's won before, and she should be rewarded!

Who Should Win: Sandra Oh (Grey's Anatomy)
Last Year's Winner: Dianne Wiest (In Treatment)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series

• Edward Asner - CSI: NY ('Yahrzeit')
• Ted Danson - Damages ('They Had to Tweeze That Out of My Kidney')
• Jimmy Smits - Dexter ('Go Your Own Way')
• Ernest Borgnine - ER ('And, in The End')
• Michael J. Fox - Rescue Me ('Sheila')

Being that I've only seen Ted Danson as Arthur Frobisher in Damages, I have to choose him to be fair. However, if I had seen the other performances, I'd probably still choose Mr. Danson because I was bummed that he didn't win last year's Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

Who Should Win: Ted Danson (Damages)
Last Year's Winner: Glynn Turman (In Treatment)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series

• Sharon Lawrence - Grey's Anatomy ('No Good At Saying Sorry (One More Chance)')
• Ellen Burstyn - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ('Swing')
• Brenda Blethyn - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ('Persona')
• Carol Burnett - Law & Order: Special Victims Unit ('Ballerina')
• CCH Pounder - The No. 01 Ladies' Detective Agency ('The Boy with The African Heart')

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see the performances from Brenda Blethyn or CCH Pounder. Sharon Lawrence was wonderful as Robbie Stevens, as was Ellen Burstyn as Bernadette Stabler. However, this category belongs to Carol Burnett's absolutely marvelous performance as Birdie Sulloway. She was so good, and it's a role that you've never seen her do. I will be shocked if she doesn't win...

Who Should Win: Carol Burnett (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
Last Year's Winner: Cynthia Nixon (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)

Wow... Looking back, I can see that I saw almost NOTHING when it comes to the nominated dramas. Where was I on that?!

The Emmys: Part I - Comedy

As you know, I'm a huge fan of television. What you may not know is I'm also a huge fan of award shows. In preparation for most award shows, I try to become familiar with as many nominees as possible. This makes watching the award show more enjoyable because I can honestly see whether or not a winner deserved to win or if the politics of Hollywood prevailed.

The Emmys is one of my favorite award shows to watch, since it's an award show dedicated to television! Two of my favorite things! :-)

This year's nominees were announced over the summer, and I've been trying to watch as many television episodes, made-for-television movies, etc. as I can to look at each category in a fair way rather than just rooting on my favorite celebrities, which I tend to do anyway. HaHa!

(Just to let you know, I do not subscribe to HBO or Showtime, so I miss out on a lot of great television! I'm trying to save money... The sacrifices one makes! HaHa!)

I'll be utilizing my blog as a means of laying out my thoughts on the nominees, as well as disclosing who I think should win. I don't like to pick who I think will win because I don't want to jinx anybody. Plus, I haven't seen everything, so my choice wouldn't be 100% accurate.

Let's begin with all of the categories related to comedy...

Outstanding Comedy Series

• 30 Rock
• Entourage
• Family Guy
• Flight of The Conchords
  
• How I Met Your Mother
• The Office
• Weeds

Okay... Let me preface my thoughts on this category by saying that I've never seen an episode of Entourage, Flight of The Conchords, or Weeds, and I've only seen two episodes of How I Met Your Mother, which were the ones with Britney Spears. With that being said, I'm a HUGE fan of 30 Rock, Family Guy, and The Office. To be honest, any of the three could win, and I'd be happy, but I'm really pulling for Family Guy. The only other animated series to be nominated in this category was The Flintstones in 1961. I think that it's a very clever and hilarious show, and I would love if it made history by winning. However, I can see this nomination as just a way of showing that the voters want to be seen as more hip this year... Something else, I'm sure, will win.

Who Should Win: Family Guy
Last Year's Winner: 30 Rock

Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series

• Alec Baldwin - 30 Rock
• Jemaine Clement - Flight of The Conchords
• Tony Shalhoub - Monk
• Jim Parsons - The Big Bang Theory
• Steve Carell - The Office
• Charlie Sheen - Two and a Half Men

I've never watched Flight of The Conchords, as you know, as well as Monk, The Big Bang Theory, or Two and a Half Men. Therefore, I'm only familiar with Alec Baldwin and Steve Carell, who I think are brilliant in their roles on their shows. Mr. Baldwin won last year, so I think that it's Mr. Carell's turn. He's hilarious on The Office and hasn't been rewarded like he should be! Perhaps, the voters will agree...

Who Should Win: Steve Carell (The Office)
Last Year's Winner: Alec Baldwin (30 Rock)

Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series

• Tina Fey - 30 Rock
• Christina Applegate - Samantha Who?
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus - The New Adventures of Old Christine
• Sarah Silverman - The Sarah Silverman Program
• Toni Collette - United States of Tara
• Mary-Louise Parker - Weeds

I've never seen The Sarah Silverman Program, United States of Tara, or Weeds, as you know. I absolutely love the other three shows. Tina Fey won last year, so I don't think that she'll win again. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has previously won for The New Adventures of Old Christine. Personally, I'd LOVE to see Christina Applegate win because Samantha Who?, unfortunately, has been canceled. She was wonderful in the show, and it would be a great way to close that chapter in her autobiography. HaHa! (Even without seeing United States of Tara, I think that Toni Collette could sneak in and win because she portrays a woman with multiple personalities, and she's a brilliant actress anyway!)

Who Should Win: Christina Applegate (Samantha Who?)
Last Year's Winner: Tina Fey (30 Rock)

Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series

• Tracy Morgan - 30 Rock
• Jack McBrayer - 30 Rock
• Kevin Dillon - Entourage
• Neil Patrick Harris - How I Met Your Mother
• Rainn Wilson - The Office
• Jon Cryer - Two and a Half Men

As a reminder, I haven't seen Entourage or Two and a Half Men, and I've only seen two episodes of How I Met Your Mother. (Could Neil Patrick Harris win? He is hosting the show, so you never know!) Based on that, I honestly think that it's going to come between Tracy Morgan and Jack McBrayer because 30 Rock has proven to be an Emmy favorite. Both are hilarious on 30 Rock; however, my vote is for Jack McBrayer who is priceless as Kenneth Parcell. (I must say that it's interesting to see Jeremy Piven's name missing from this list. He has won for Entourage many times, so it shocked me to see that he wasn't even nominated this year!)

Who Should Win: Jack McBrayer (30 Rock)
Last Year's Winner: Jeremy Piven (Entourage)

Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series

• Jane Krakowski - 30 Rock
• Kristin Chenoweth - Pushing Daisies
• Amy Poehler - Saturday Night Live
• Kristin Wiig - Saturday Night Live
• Vanessa Williams - Ugly Betty
• Elizabeth Perkins - Weeds

I've never seen Pushing Daisies or Weeds, and I'm not an avid watcher of Saturday Night Live. I am familiar with the work of Amy Poehler and Kristin Wiig on the show, though. Both are hilarious, and Kristin Wiig could certainly win in the future. Once again, 30 Rock could prevail and award Jane Krakowski for her hilarious portrayal of Jenna Maroney. However, I have wanted Vanessa Williams to win ever since Ugly Betty premiered. She is absolutely fantastic and deliciously evil as Wilhelmina Slater!

Who Should Win: Vanessa Williams (Ugly Betty)
Last Year's Winner: Jean Smart (Samantha Who?)

Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

• Steve Martin - 30 Rock ('Gavin Volure')
• Jon Hamm - 30 Rock ('The Bubble')
• Alan Alda - 30 Rock ('Mama Mia')
• Beau Bridges - Desperate Housewives ('The Best Thing That Ever Could Have Happened')
• Justin Timberlake - Saturday Night Live ('Justin Timberlake')

Unfortunately, I didn't get to see Justin Timberlake as host and musical guest on Saturday Night Live, which stinks because his past appearances have been hilarious! All of the men who guest starred on 30 Rock were hilarious, and Beau Bridges was so touching on that special episode of Desperate Housewives. It's hard to choose because I enjoy all of the nominees... However, I'm going to go with one of my faves!

Who Should Win: Steve Martin (30 Rock)
Last Year's Winner: Tim Conway (30 Rock)

Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series

• Jennifer Aniston - 30 Rock ('The One with The Cast of Night Court')
• Elaine Stritch - 30 Rock ('Christmas Special')
• Gena Rowlands - Monk ('Mr. Monk and The Lady Next Door')
• Betty White - My Name is Earl ('Witch Lady')
• Tina Fey - Saturday Night Live ('Presidential Bash 2008')
• Christina Baranski - The Big Bang Theory ('The Maternal Capacitance')

I didn't see the episodes from Monk, My Name is Earl, and The Big Bang Theory. I only saw a few clips of Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live, so I'm glad that I saw how brilliantly funny she was as Sarah Palin. It wouldn't surprise one bit if she won! (Plus, the voters could reward her for this and allow someone else to win Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.) I really wish that I would've seen Betty White's performance because she's one of my faves! Elaine Stritch is always hilarious on her recurring role as Colleen Donaghy, and Jennifer Aniston was hilarious as Claire Harper. Still, after all is said and done, I laughed the most at Tina Fey spoofing Sarah Palin. Even if you're a supporter of Sarah Palin, you have to admit that Tina Fey was hilarious!

Who Should Win: Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live)
Last Year's Winner: Kathryn Joosten (Desperate Housewives)

There you have it! Those are my thoughts on the comedy-related categories of The Emmys. Look for future entries on categories relating to drama, reality, mini-series and movies, and variety series and specials.