G: Well "E", It's that time of year again. The last few days of summer break are quickly passing us by (boo hoo!), and on Monday you will have a new slew of kids sitting in your classroom anxiously waiting to find out what they're in for on their first day of school this year.

G: Let's see - I bet they're soooo happy summer is over and it's time to start learning again. NO REALLY. *g* I predict that they will be sitting up nice and straight, pencils in hands, notebooks open, quite as can be, ready to write down every word you say.

E: Huh? You do remember I teach MIDDLE school? Here are MY predictions. Let's see...

* Someone will throw-up from nervousness before period 1 (and of course a custodian will clean it up with that bizzare powdery sustance).

* There will be food thrown across the cafeteria in period 3.

* The building will smell like milk by period 6.

* There will be a minor fight over something someone posted on facebook during period 8 (usually over a girl).
 
* A cell phone will ring in my classroom period 10 (big no-no!)

* And during last period (period 11) someone will fart in class and think it's the funniest thing ever.

G: Ewwww!!! 

E: Oh yeah, lets not forget that I also predict that at least a dozen kids will be standing in a line at the office with a slightly bewildered look on their faces calling their parents to come pick them up because they missed the bus. WELCOME to the Middle School. :)

G: Sheesh! But even with all that, I can tell you're ready to go back.

E: Yeah, I am!. There is a lot of energy at the middle school. You never know what might happen from day to day, and believe me something always does. Now don't get me wrong, It's been an amazing summer (best ever) with the release of THE LOST HEIR and it's success. We did so many activities, spent time with so many great people, visited some really cool places, but, yeah, I guess i'm ready, it's time. I bet you're looking forward to having ME out of your hair!

G: NO COMMENT (smiles). Do you get nervous having to talk in front of all those students in your class? I would be! Are YOU going to be the one throwing-up by period 1? hehe

E: Nah, I've been doing this too long to get nervous. I guess i'm feeling just excited. I usually have some trouble sleeping the night before. I'm sure some of our visitors can relate. BUTTERFLIES ANYONE?

G: Perhaps you have some advice for middle schoolers who might be feeling a little nervous about the first day of school?

E: Hmm, let's see... Ok, guys, first off, go to bed earlier each night, starting tonight! 

Get your body used to getting up earlier so you are not totally in shock when the alarm goes off at 5:00am on the first day of school.

G: Whoa, I haven't seen 5:00am in years! Is it even light out?

E: Sure, rub it in. Grrr!

E: Also, make sure you are fully ready the night before. That means supplies, bookbag packed, any forms filled out, clothes ironed and ready, etc. Don't scramble in the morning! That makes for a bad day. You want to be relaxed.

G: Who irons anymore? You're so 1985 Dear.

E: Funny! Oh yeah, and boys, shave off the freaky mustache that you have been growing all summer long. Trust me, no 13 year old looks good with a "Trash-Stash." No exceptions! Shave it! Go! Right now!

G: I have too agree with that one. Boys, "E" is spot on. Every guy looks much better without it, and my husband is speaking from experience. I think that's why I never see any pictures of him from High School. SAD. Ha ha! Don't worry, "E" I'll never mention your secret teenage attempts at a moustache. I think you had like, what, eight, nine hairs going there? LOLOL. 

E:  :/

G: Aww, ya know I love ya. *g* What about the girls. Any advice for them?

E: Girls, use some common sense in the footwear department, would ya please? If you have been wearing flip-flops all summer, what do you THINK is going to happen if you wear 4 inch heels to the first day of school?

G: HUH? Hey, I hardly ever wear 4 inch heels and I'm GROWN. Girls, wear flats as long as you possibly can in life. BE FREE. Well, since I ribbed "E" for the Trash Stash, this is where I speak from idiotic experience. I'm terrible with shoes. I buy beautiful shoes then never wear them because once I take them out of the store and want to wear them for real, they magically turn into torture devices. Usually at a wedding or a party or some event I had long anticipated. So I finally get to go, and within half an hour, I've got blisters on my feet, trying to hide the fact that I'm limping and in so much pain that all I want to do is scream. Not fun!!! 
 
G: Anything else for Day 1?

E: Couple of more things. Bring a pencil with you. Sheeesh! Face facts, people, summer is over, and you will need to write some things down while you are at school. I can't tell you how many students on the FIRST day of school over the years have asked me to borrow a pencil. That makes YOU look like a scatterbrain. Not a good first impression. In-fact, bring 2 pencils!

And, by the way, if you are lost or confused about anything on the first day, don't be shy, just ask a teacher for help. We want to help you! It's in our nature.

G: That's good stuff "E". While we are on the topic, any sort of general Middle School tips? Not necessarily just about the first day.

E: Just a couple of things come to mind. Make a commitment to yourself to avoid GOSSIP right from the beginning of the school year. Nothing good comes from gossip, EVER! Try to get involved in something. Whether it be band, sports, student council, etc.... And DON'T do the whole boyfriend/girlfriend thing. You're too young. No dating till you are at
least 16. Ugh!

G: You sound like my Dad!! That was the rule in our family, too - for me and my 3 sisters.

E: Now, I may be biased on this one, but you should ALWAYS have a book with you. There is usually some time in the day (for example study hall or homeroom) where you are expected to just sit there and not talk. For some of you who are hyper like me, it can be torture. It feels like you are in prison. Time just creeps along. A good book will save you. You will actually start to look forward to the down time in your day so you can get back to your book. May I make a reccommendation? How about THE LOST HEIR by E.G. Foley! Trust me you'll love it:)

G: Pretty slick there, "E." He's right, though. Lots of good books to choose from!

E: Also, it's a great idea to keep a DayPlanner handy at all times. Write down all of the important things that must get done and when they are due. I don't know any successful people that don't have some type of DayPlanner.

E: Most of all, STOP worrying about what other kids think of you. Who cares! Not everyone is going to like you. So what! That's true for every single person on this earth, not just you, so don't feel bad. It's normal to come across people now and then that we don't really click with. It's ok, don't get bogged down in it. Just move on. Focus on the kids who do like you and forget about those that don't. Remember: Your AWESOME! 

Just watch Andysun below and he'll tell you all the reasons why!!! (funny!!) Enjoy...

Let us know how you're first week of school went. Anything unusual happen that you would like to share? See you next Friday, and Good Luck!

"E" & "G" Foley

The 1970's was the heyday for the American lunchbox. An era of lunchbox exceptionalism. A time when a kid didn't merely HAVE a lunchbox to transport food. Nay, nay! That would be too simple. A lunchbox was a symbol of adolescent individuality and a commitment to personal freedom. A lunchbox spoke volumes about who you were as an 8-year-old. The right lunch box could either make or break the 3rd grade. That's a lot of PRESSURE on a kid!

My lunch box was Star Wars. I remember it well. I loved Star Wars. THE ORIGINAL! None of the sequal movies could compare in my opinion. I collected all 12 of the original action figures. My brother and I even had blow-up light-sabres that we would hit each other with. Yes, I can still make a Wookie sound:/ So, what sort of a "statement" is an 8-year-old in 1977 making with a Star Wars lunchbox. Hmmm? It said that I liked action. That I sought out adventure. That I was a young boy, like Luke Skywalker that could achieve anything in life, even though I was from a humble beginning. That perhaps I could some day, if I drank all of my Tang, ate my Wheaties every morning like decathalon champ Bruce Jenner (aka Kim Kardashian's dad), and spent the 10 cents to get the secrets of how to look like Atlas and not get sand kicked in my face, that I could get the girl and save the world from turning to the DARK side. OR who knows, maybe It was just the only lunchbox they had left at Woolworth's.

The inspiration for this blog came from The Lunchbox Museum in Columbus GA.

Adults: do you remember being a part of the lunchbox heyday. Which one did you have? Which one do you wish you had? What does it say about you?

Kids: Do you or did you have a lunchbox? Or if all this is before your time, which lunchbox would have picked if you went to school with us in the Groovy 70's?

Have a great week everyone!

"E"

Hi Everyone! Happy Friday again!

We had the chance this week to go to the NUMBER ONE rated amusement park for children in America, IdleWild Park. Ever been there? We went with several family members including my 5 year old nephew and 8 year old niece. Neither "E" nor "G" had ever been there before. We got to go on all kinds of death-defying rides (not really that scary) and eat funnel cake. Yuuuuummm!

As you pull up to IdleWild, the first thing you notice is how the amusement park is so well laid out, it's all nestled in among the hills and trees of western Pennsylvania. You feel like you are at a camp ground and not a major tourist attraction. Perfect! My kind of adventure!

It's a fairly large park with exciting rides for kids of all ages (Even kids in their 40's). The park is broken up into different attractions. There's Olde IdleWild (basic thrill rides), SoakZone (water slides and water rides), Racoon Lagoon (rides for the little ones), Mr. Rogers Neighborhood Of Make-Believe ("G" is a fan but "E" always found him a little creepy!! - sorry:)), Hootin' Holler (old-school type rides - rides that freaked your grandparents out but seem rather low key and tame in todays world), Jumpin' Jungle (rope climbing and swinging), and Story Book Forest (the wee ones get to meet all of their favorite characters from nursery rhymes and traditional children's tales).

Come ride the old timey wooden rollercoast with us below...you don't even have to wait in line for an hour...

Aside from the 100 year old wooden roller coaster (vidoe above) where I had to hold my nephew down from flying away (no really!), and the funnel cake, I think Story Book Forest was our favorite.

You enter Story Book Forest by walking through a giant book! I don't know who those people are??

Then you get to meet all kinds of fairytale characters. It was a blast! Come on - we got to meet the Old Woman who lives in a shoe, Mother Goose, and The Big Bad Wolf who is hiding in grandmothers house. There he is now! Shhhhh!!!

Then of course there was The Good Ship Lollypop, Jack and the Beanstalk, Peter Peter Pumkin Eater, Jack & Jill, Snow White, and many more. Oh yeah, and let's not forget about Little Miss Muffet sitting on a tuffet, who only wishes she had some funnel cake (curds and whey - yuck! At least give her some oatbran or something.)

It was a unique and entertaining experience. My 5 year old nephew particularly liked the dragon & the giant Jack in the Box. Boys!!!

If you're ever out this way, make sure you plan some time for IdleWild Park. Did I mention that they even have funnel cake:)