Where Have I Been

Well, hello all. Long time no write. But I'm still around. I haven't felt the need to write on my blogs lately (lately being the last 3 months) and I am not sure why. Seasons change and my mood changes with them. Activities change (such as returning to work) and priorities change.

But thank the heavens, there is one thing that never changes. That would be that we all have angels around us. Let me tell you why this is my thought process today.

A friend (and in just a minute, she will know who she is) recently had a pretty bad car accident. The minute I saw the email about it, I called her to let her know I was glad she was okay. She related the accident scenario to me and one part stuck out.

After she had done two 360's with the wheels on the road, the car hit the median, flipped up and fell over on the passenger side. She didn't land in oncoming traffic. She didn't fall off the bridge into the highway traffic below. She was able to climb out of the car with a smidge of help from someone who stopped.

Another person had stopped as well. She had been on her way to pay a bill and now her car was totalled. The second person stayed with her while emergency crews arrived. And gave her $100 for her to pay her bill and then disappeared. I think that person was probably an angel in disguise.

Despite her bruises and aches, she is okay. I'm happy and thankful she has an angel watching out for her.

So Much to Talk about

Where do I begin? The road trip we took (the puppies first long car trip) to New Madrid to see the Earthquake Museum? And we drive 2.5 hours and it is closed? Talk about feeling like the Griswolds!

Then there was the big trip planned the following day to the mall with my mom, to a mall we hadn't been to in awhile. Out of the entire mall, MAYBE 10% had open stores.

I could talk about the day the internet went out at home. Seems that Laclede Gas was in the neighborhood digging and the 1-800-digrite people had come out and marked the existing underground utilities. They just had the DSL line 4 foot off.

There's also my new facebook addiction to a game called Sorority Life. Yes, I am probably a bit old for that but I do so enjoy the clothes, cars, and shopping :)

We also squeezed in a trip to the vet for the final puppy shots for both of them. It seems the little one (who is now almost the big one) STILL isn't 4 months and hasn't lost a single tooth. And the vet mentions, "he could be part Great Dane."

I had my niece stay the night. She was great but stayed up till midnight. Then, because I have been wearing glasses lately (and obviously don't sleep in them), we got up at what I THOUGHT was 9:45. It was really only 5:45. Did I mention she is not quite 4?

Finally, on the first day of school I'm getting ready, taking a shower. Forgot to close the bathroom door. Rio the puppy ended up in the shower before I even knew what was happening, and of course he is SOAKED and soapy. That's what happens when you sleep/stand in the shower.

But tomorrow is Saturday. We are staying home, I am sleeping late and not showering, I'll make the puppies stay awake all night so they don't grow and I will enjoy my fixed internet cable :) and play Sorority Life!

More on the Puppies

Yes, it's been awhile.

I don't have much suitable for publishing on the internet to talk about. Unless you want to hear about . . .

puppies who fight over a dead bird in the yard and have to have their mouths washed out with soap (which they actually like) because they stink so bad from the dead bird.

a puppy who decides it ISN'T time to sleep and proceeds to chew a 1" hole in the carpet.

a puppy (same one) who pukes on the carpet, which wouldn't normally be a problem to clean up but the food is red, the carpet is off white, and the stain is rather large.

puppies who poop is filled with gravel, rocks, bark and wood because they ate everything they found in the yard after the storm.

puppies who are cooped up all day inside because of the muddy mess in the yard made by a horrendous storm.

But they sure are fun when they are sleeping :)

Addition - this page has been edited to include the following additional content:

Yes, puppies can and do and will swim in ornamental fish ponds, regardless of how many times you tell them no. They just seem to accidentally fall in on purpose.

The up side to this is that if you have any dead fish, they will bring them out for you to play fetch with.

Eyeball Milestones

In my life, because I am "sight challenged" there have been a few moments that were milestones.

I will go backwards.

Today, it became official that I needed bifocal contacts. This presents a problem because they don't make the blue ones in bifocals. So you know what I did. No, I don't even have to tell you. I stuck with the ones I have and will use "reading glasses" at least for the next year. I just couldn't give up the bright blue.

I suspected I might have some vision difficulties earlier this summer. I went to trim one of my nails and had to move it away to see what I was doing. Needless to say, it hit me like a ton of bricks when it happened. I was yelling, running around the house.

So now, let's go back to way back, when I first knew I needed glasses (or something to help me see). I would visit my mom, who lived out in the country. I kept running over turtles. Of course, each time it happened I felt horrendously horrible. So after the third turtle funeral, I headed to the eye doctor.

I sure hope I am done with all these eyeball milestones. I can't take another one.

Looks Like We Made It

That song just came in to my mind. By Billy Joel I think. And yes, I think we might have made it through. Through the constant fighting, clawing, and biting. No, not me and hubby. The puppies.

We ran upstairs to get a snack and left them sleeping down in the living room last night. When we returned, Raleigh had climbed up with Rio and they were snuggled in the chair together, sleeping.

Earlier today when I laid out a bit, they actually both walked over to visit on several occasions, together, and NOT one dragging the other by an ear, a tail, or a hunk of skin.

This is good. :)

The Boys, Pills, and Apple Pie

When we got Rio, he had kennel cough and we have been treating him for it with antibiotics. He really does NOT like things shoved down his throat. He won't eat regular people food, so forget sneaky into a piece of cheese, ham, etc. (We learned that the hard way - he spit it out and the other one got his pill one night.)

Anyway, so since the vet visit, they are both taking a different antibiotic for this to clear it up. We are on day three. Day one (which was actually day 5 for Rio of having pills crammed down his neck) was a nightmare. At 25 pounds, he can be a handful to hold and honestly can clamp his mouth shut and you can't open it.

Then "mommy" (that would be me) had a brainstorm. We don't want him to be funny about his mouth and ruin him for looking at his teeth so I had to come up with something. We had already tried dog treats, little reg. nibbles of food - nothing. Then I spy a lone cup of applesauce in the back of the fridge.

I mashed up the pills, put a teaspoon of applesauce in, mixed in a bit of water, warmed them in the microwave for seconds and "walla!" All pills going down "lickety split." (Pun intended :) They both LOVE it, so now we call it "Apple Pie Time."

Dogs are Going Back

No, we aren't tired of them. We love them. But we figure this is a conversation they had last night about 2am.

Raleigh: Dang, don't these two ever sleep?

Rio: Yeah, I know. It's late. Talk about idiots.

Raleigh: And what's with all that banging and loud music? Do they really think they are cool or in a band or something? What a couple of dorks.

Rio: Huh, yeah, and I heard that blonde chick sings sometimes when they do this. I just don't think I can handle this. The pound was so much quieter, at least at night.

Raleigh: Yeah, it would get a bit stinky but I could sleep through that, but this? I'm with ya. Let's go back.

Rio: Maybe they will accidentally leave the gate open tomorrow and we can sneak out. Are you with me? We'll head back to the pound and get some much needed rest.

Raleigh: I'm there dude. Ready to head back to peace and quiet.

The Hellhounds

They love to fight.

Wow, the two puppies are keeping us hopping. Rio loves to walk through plants and such. More like plow through, and he pretends to not hear us when we tell him no. Thank goodness his papa is bigger and much more strong willed or this little guy would turn out to be a terror.

He (Rio, not hubby) is also still having trouble with the laws of physics and hasn't quite figured out he can't walk on walls yet . . . I know, it's a long story and too confusing to try and even explain.

We made our first trip to the vet the other day - took two hours. But they were little angels. Really. Hubby and I were both shocked and wondered just who's dogs they were because they sure weren't the two we have had at home . . .

Raleigh is hilarious - he hides his bones in corners and nuzzles pretend dirt over them - in the house! He is also a stealer - anything Rio has, he wants. We also have a garden walkway that Raleigh had decided must either be a river or a lava flow - when playing and running he jumps over it every time.

Rio learned/taught himself a new trick - the big tub for water is big enough to get in and dig in. No lie, he is digging in water.

We just keep laughing at them. :)

We have also added middle names to them. Raleigh Ying and Rio Yang (we think yang is the bad element).

Meet Raleigh, puppy #2

This is Raleigh. He's 5 1/2 months, curious, smart and likes to jump. This is maybe why he was a stray - he's eyed the fence a couple times already. Hence, he doesn't go out alone - at least not for a while till he is happy and comfortable here.

He plays great with Rio and is patient. Rio, on the other hand, is not nice, patient or kind. He is the one always attacking and raising his fur, but he's a bit smaller and just really doesn't like that he is overpowered.

Raleigh walked UP the waterfall this morning and Rio, trying to get to him, went around the top of the waterfall and into the flower garden and promptly fell off the retaining wall. Then a bit later Raleigh ended up with his front feet in the little pond and somehow managed to get himself out. Both boys are really good about staying away from the big pond, at least for now, which means Biguns is still hanging out on the dock.

Rawhide is working wonders for keeping them from playing/fighting inside. My house couldn't take the roughness they get into outside.

Meet Rio, Puppy #1

This little guy is a handful! He is just shy of three months, but that is the only thing shy about him. He is courageous, fearless, and just wants to be in your lap or near you, chewing on his toy. We picked him up from the animal control center yesterday. Believe it or not, he was a stray. Now how on earth someone would loose a tiny puppy like him is crazy. He was found with a collar on.

You might have noticed he has a number, 1. That's because puppy #2 comes home this afternoon. He was also a stray there and they seemed to get along okay, but Raleigh (puppy #2) is a bit older (5 1/2 months). He's a super smart puppy (already knows "sit") and very calm and eager to please.

This way we will both have a puppy and they will have each other.

The Muny

Unfortunately, these are not my pictures. One is from pectonyte's photostream on flicker and the other had no one listed to credit.

What is it about the Muny that makes it so special?

First off, for those of you not from here, I better explain what it is. Way back when, 1904 exactly, St. Louis had a World's Fair, which was partially held in a place called Forest Park. The park is now home to the History Museum, the Art Museum, the Science Museum, the St. Louis Zoo, Steinberg Ice Skating rink, the Jewel Box (a large glass greenhouse) and countless other things for fun.

Not too long after the fair, (1916) they created an area for an outdoor theatre in Forest Park. This place is fabulous, and it's called the Muny (for short).

It's one of the few (if not only, not sure about that) outdoor theatres and obviously, they only run shows in the summer. With the plus of being outside, they are able to incorporate tons of things that you just can't see at an indoor theatre, such as fireworks, real helicopters flying overhead (for Miss Saigon), etc.

Last night, "Meet Me in St. Louis" was the show. It was great. We had perfect weather, fireworks, and a real trolley that turned on the turntable stage.

If you ever get the chance to go, I would really recommend doing so. Tickets are a variety of prices and there is even a free section in the back (yes, still). Often you can purchase tickets the night of the show at the main box office there, which is ornate and has fountains on both sides.

It's almost like stepping back in time :)

http://www.muny.org/

Easy Cap and VHS tapes

About a year ago I bought this little gadget called EasyCap. It was $30 on ebay, brand new.
Unfortunately, it came with very little direction. They didn't include pictures for hook up, much less written directions.

But, I decided the other day that I was going to win and make it work somehow, which was actually quite the ordeal.

Hubby (thankfully) hooked up the tv and vcr and cables properly for me so all I had to do was plug in the little gizmo to the computer. Having done that, I should be able to save all my vhs tapes onto the computer and likewise be able to burn them to cds or dvds. (Which I felt I really needed to do as I have a box of home movies on Super 8mm film that I need to convert but finding a projector is not the easiest thing and they are super expensive on ebay and I only want to use the thing to transfer video, that's it)

Anyway, two hours later and I am still trying to get a movie onto the computer. I don't have the capture button they are talking about, I'm not sure the software is installed right, etc.
YOUTUBE to the rescue!!!!

There were several videos on how to do this whole process with the gadget. And I finally realized that I didn't have the correct software. I paid all that and didn't even get the right software with it?????

So, thankfully, I found a website where I could get the correct software. It wasn't cheap, but they offered a 30 day trial, which would be great for me cause once I get this done, I'm never doing it again.

I still wasn't able to get it working until I realized I had to change some of the capture settings so it would know where to get the "capture" from. I'll tell ya, this is not a project for the faint of heart or the easily frustrated.

Four hours later (it was a lengthy download) I have managed to get my first movie onto the computer.

In the second attempt, I ran out of computer space.

Then I had to start saving the items to the external hard drive, which will hold 150gb (thank goodness I bought such a large one!!)

Of course then I had the bright idea to burn them directly to a cd. But I had no DVD+r cds in the house. Hubby picked some up for me the next day and I have successfully transfered one from the external hard drive to a dvd. YEAH!!!!

Honestly, I just don't know why the software to make it work wasn't included (the people on youtube said theirs WAS included!) And I just don't understand why there are so few directions. It could have been way easier than it was.

I now have my wedding, some other silly stuff, my first scuba dive, and my trip up Dunn's River Falls in video files on my ex. hard drive. YEAH FOR ME!!!!

Here is the link to my first ever scuba dive, before I was even certified! I'm the one in the yellow headband looking like I don't have a clue :)
Part 1 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbPHAJfapQ4
Part 2 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOJP0qe4K5Q

The Diagonals

I don't know what to call them - they are katy corner or catty corner or kity corner from us. They are across the street and up one house. Well, whatever.

They are an older couple, in their 70's I would guess. Maybe older. He met her in Germany during the war (WWII) and married her and sent her back here to live until he came home.

They are a riot.

She walks every day, at least twice a day, sometimes more. She still has a thick German accent. As she walks, she picks up trash in the neighborhood, puts people's newspapers up on their porches, and picks up limbs out of streets. She's quite entertaining to watch. She walks in all kinds of weather, so sometimes she wears a shower cap and other times she just carries an umbrella. If you pass her while you are driving, she ignores you completely. She must be in her own world.

In the meantime, her husband likes to take naps. He has locked her out of the house while she is walking on MANY occasions. And then he can't hear her when he is sleeping to wake up and let her in. So now she has taken to carrying a key. But it doesn't always help. The last time he locked the screen door. She ended up scaling her fence (mind you, she's a bit older) (because of course the gate to the back yard has a lock on it too) to get to the basement door which didn't have a screen door.

He is a grass cutting fool. If someone is out cutting their grass, he has to cut his. Even if he just did it two days ago. It's funny.

All in all though, they are very dear people. Good neighbors to have. They help the couple with 7 children by taking care of their dog. Even when they are home. They feed it scraps and give it water. The poor dog has a very sad life - never goes inside, is never played with, etc.

So now you've met the Diagonals.

Neighbors Across the Street

Long ago I made a post about ideas to write about. Neighbors was one of the topics. Something happened this week to bring that idea to the top of the list.

I love our subdivision. It's just regular middle class, a lot of homeowners who are the original purchasers of the house. But some of the houses, like the one across from us, are rented out. Now, with that said, I don't think renters are bad or rental houses, either.

Second, before I start, I want you to know that I RARELY talk bad about people. I'm not the gossipy type (which you should have noticed from all my previous posts).

But this just takes the cake and I have to share it with everyone.

The couple across the street have 7 children. Or I should say the WOMAN has seven children. There are 4 different fathers involved. The kids range in age from 19 to a set of twins that are just over a year old. (And by the way, the twins are NOT the "dad's" kids. They split up for a bit and she got pregnant)

All this is really fine by me. It has nothing to do with me. She/They can live their life however.

Before they split up a couple years ago, they fought constantly. Now how would I know? Because they fought outside in the front yard, up and down the street screaming obscenities at each other. The police came many times (although we never called). It really was embarassing when we would have people over and they would start their fighting. Sometimes at night it would even wake us up.

But all this is just background info.

So this week has been really hot out. Great sunny weather, perfect for tanning.

This woman has decided to make her front yard her "sunbathing" spot. She's laying out front, slathering on the oil, in a skimpy bikini in the front yard!!! Okay, I do all those things BUT the front yard part. That's just a little over the top. Hubby was laughing and telling me about it the other day, how she was walking around the front yard as she oiled up, wiping her body everywhere, etc. His reenactment of this had me rolling on the floor laughing.

I then got to see it for myself and was just mortified.

So a message to all those out in cyberworld. The front yard just really isn't a place to layout in your bikini. Your neighbors will laugh at you and write about you in their blog.

Tune in next time to get the story of the NEXT DOOR neighbor. And I really should do the katycorner neighbors too.

I wonder what they think about us? LOL

Coupons in a Bad Economy

I said I had a lot to say and was going to lump it all together and then I got so excited when the embedded video worked, I forgot to say everything else I wanted to say!

I got a coupon in the mail a couple days ago, from Bed Bath and Beyond. It's a great store and has all kinds of gadgets and gizmos that you really don't need but absolutely love. Plus they always seem to have exactly what you are looking for, even it you can't afford it. So the coupon in the mail, advertising 20% off a single item was enticing!

Until I read the small print at the bottom. And I mean really small. Like get to the store and they point it out and your like, "What? That's writing down there?"

So here is what the fine print said. Limit one per customer (okay, that's normal). No copies please (Another normal statement on a coupon) Coupon must be surrendered at time of purchase (Okay, I won't be wanting to put it in the scrapbook anyway). Coupon valid through dates listed above (the last normal thing written in the fine print.) The next sentence lists 44 (yes, 44 - two fours) different BRANDS that the coupon CANNOT be used for. I have never seen a coupon like this before. I could see maybe one or two, but 44? And of course, they are all the good brands of stuff that you would actually want to BUY at Bed Bath and Beyond.

So at this point, I am wondering what on earth the coupon COULD be used for, aside from the suckers they sell in the checkout lanes.

I showed this to hubby. We agreed this was a really good marketing ploy. The old bait the customer. For example, dyson is on the list that isn't 20% off.

So you go to BB and Beyond thinking "Great I'm gonna get that new vacuum at 20% off. I can just see myself using it! I'm going to LOVE it." (I use a vacuum simply because I have a love affair with my own and can relate to this scenario.)

You get to the check out lane and hand them the coupon. They explain to you it isn't 20% off and show you the fine print with a magnifying glass. You're embarassed, let down, and there are screaming kids and ancy husbands in line behind you. So, you pay full price for it, because you had planned on getting it and the pressure in the line is enormous.

Hence, they have won. They got you to buy a full price vacuum cleaner.

So be careful out there - read the fine print, especially these days.

So Much to Say

I have so much to blog about today and so little time. I'll probably just end up doing a bunch of stuff all together.
First, my students in summer school have been doing wonders!
I'm going to try to embed one of their videos here (hope it works). This one was really sweet and inspirational, plus he used some really choice vocab words :)



I think this ended up working :) Yeah for me! I love it when I try to do something new and it works!

The Sun Came Out

I am WAY better today/tonight. The sun was out in full force, the pool was great. I have missed all that so terribly much lately.

My dearest friend who lost her husband earlier this year also came over for a visit on Monday night. She's staying quite busy and I am really amazed at her strength - but then again, not really.

So now to the confession about how I am the absolute worst friend ever. She came over on Monday evening for dinner. Tuesday was her birthday. And I forgot. Totally forgot the next day was her birthday. Totally forgot her birthday was even in June until she casually mentioned she was going out to dinner with her son the next night.

I felt so absolutely horrible. I don't even know how it happened, except for the fact that the calendar was still on May. Sigh.

A Wordle Inspired by a comment and the weather

Okay - here is my wordle for the day. I really don't know how to do this all fancy. This will have to do.

Here is the link to see more and make your own: http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/940532/Untitled

Here is the link where the idea came from (a fellow blogger): http://mylastshredsofsanity.blogspot.com/

I'm Whining

Sis, please come home soon and get back to work so someone reads my blog.

Weather, please please pretty please, let the sun come out. I miss it. This has been the longest winter ever. I feel my brain shrinking from lack of vitamin D.

Dear Dentist, I am so sorry it has been four years since you put me in so much pain. Yes, I see your little reminder card that makes me laugh with the cute picture on front. It's all a sham. You don't make me laugh.

Sun, I miss you. I'm cold all the time. Anything 80 or above would be nice. Do what you can.

Work, while I am enjoying my part-time summer school job, I miss you terribly. I confess, I am a workaholic and can't wait to start back in the fall (provided Sun and Weather cooperate and I have a great tan by the first day of school).

Thank You Computer Gods

I got the red screen of death the other day. No lie. Just like in a movie. Then big letters in the middle of the screen "physical boot dump begins now."

I screamed and did what any sane person would do. I turned it off. I couldn't stop it.

So that day I call the IT help desk. They can see my computer on Monday morning at 6:30. I was thankful. Even though I had to go a whole entire weekend without it.

And for those of you who have read long ago posts, yes, I was cuddling with my pink external hard drive all weekend long.

I had backed up over spring break and was pretty happy to have done that. I had also backed up my book. EXCEPT for the last 100 pages. Okay. I wrote it once, I can do it again.

So I drop off my baby at the doctor bright and early and head off to summer school. Yes, the summer school computer teacher shows up on the first day of school without her computer. Ironic huh?

So after that, I head to MY school to get all the disks for picture editing, the scanner, the document camera, etc.

And you knew it had to be in here somewhere - yes, I made a LIST of all the websites I might have lost from the favorites section and a list of countless other things that needed to be reinstalled.

As I walked out of my school, I grabbed the phone to call the computer doctor and check in on my little one. I could come pick it up!

I have to admit I was a bit worried, but mostly about how much time it was going to take me to reinstall and refind everything.

All worrying was for naught. I DIDN'T LOOSE A THING!!!! I don't know how it happened or why.

The doc said he "ran a couple programs and it started working." I was elated!!!!!! I walked out of the office hoisting it up over my head in joyous triumph. For once, it all worked out.

Summer Lemons

Ah, just when you thought I was finally growing some brains . . .

At the dollar store yesterday I was looking for a "smelly" for my car. I passed by the cleaning aisle and was overcome with lemon - it was fabulous. I had to have one for my car.

I picked it up. It said, and I quote, "Bowl Cleaner AND Air Freshener" I thought it was interesting that something would do double duty, but it really did smell nice and clean.

I got to the car and saw it was a toilet "smelly" - okay, I kind of thought it was. But then I read the fine details "cleans the bowl and freshens the air with every flush" Hmm, not a lot of flushing going on in the car. So now I am hoping the dog gone thing doesn't melt and become a gooey mess all over my car.

I'm not taking it out. It still smells good. :)

Topiary

I think topiary is one of the neatest arts. I like the idea of shaping something to look like something it isn't.

Alas, I will never be mistaken for Edward Scissorhands though. I just can't do it.

The photo on the left is my attempt at a whale with water coming out of his blowspout. I have been working on this one for about 3 years. I'm sure you can see the resemblance.

The photo on the right is my spiral cut. I even started out with this one already done for me.

There are some things I just can't do.

The Pitfalls (or rather, just the pits) of Wrought Iron

I was all set to write about something else. Even took pictures of my injury to share with you. I will explain that later, but this is first. (And yes, it is my foot. )

I just got off the phone with my mom. I'm sitting out on the deck. In my swimsuit (pool is full but too cold). I'm in a wrought iron chair. You know, the kind with the little diamond weave pattern.

Before I get too far, I have to tell you I love wrought iron. It holds up so well, it's durable, if it's powder coated you don't have to paint it for a while, you can have large friends sit on it and not break it, etc.

The one and only thing I don't like about it is that it is a fat sucker, meaning, it sucks the fat of my butt down into the holes. Making it extremely painful to get up. Yes, I have pads but with all the rain lately, they are hanging on the chairs by one tie (they seem to dry faster that way). Hence, the pitfalls of wrought iron.

So what did I do today you may ask. Well, I got beat with a stick.

We had a pile of brush as high as me that needed to be cut down so it could either be put in bags or burned in the fire pit. A lot of it was from an overgrown willow (willowy littler stinker).

I cut all the tiny branches off, but not all the way down to the main branch, therefore making it like some medieval weapon with spikes all over it. Of course, this particular stick fell and punctured my toe. So I did what anyone does when a stick attacks and I threw it out in the yard behind me to deal with later.

Later . . .

Not looking where I was going, I backed in to the dog gone thing and it whipped around and stabbed me in the heel. I wear the blood as a badge of honor. The stick will be burned tonight amidst much gaeity and celebration. I will win.

Will I Jinx it?

Today was a glorious sun filled day.

We are in the middle of filling the pool. YEAH!!!!

We laid out for a while, working on not being so pasty white and sickly looking. (Days upon days of rain tends to make you look a bit sickly anyway - kinda scaly and you start to get these creases on your neck, you know, like gills.)

I feel asleep on the back deck reading a book - how delicious is that???? Until some stupid dog in the neighborhood started barking.

I ate TWO Reese's Peanut butter cups. Talk about indulging!

We ate dinner out on the deck, in shorts and tank tops, rather than sweaters and pants.

It's almost starting to feel like summer! Just might have to go in for a game of washers tomorrow! Can't wait till we are playing ping pong in the pool! (I'll have to fill you in on that another time - it's a blast)

The Dress Returns

I went shopping with Mom today. We had a great time. Went to the mall. Haven't been in ages. Lots to see. We were like the robot in that movie with "Steph fan ie" The robot who loves input.

But I digress.

I wore "the dress" today. You know, the one I wrote about 2 posts ago. The amazing dress. The miracle boob dress.

Anyway, OH Lawrd! I got compliments left and right. Mom was frrreeeaakking out. She was amazed. And it wasn't me they would compliment. It was the DRESS!

I had one lady screech it across the front of the Cabela's entrance. "I LOVE THAT DRESS!

I did the best I could. I smiled and said thanks. (The dress can't talk ya know.)

Mom told hubby she wished she would have counted. There was just too much input :)

Super Glue Stories

The world is going to come crashing down to a stand still. The yellow drum broke. Cracked. The hard plastic part. Guess we'll be super gluing. Get out the nail polish remover. I always stick my fingers together.

Along the lines of super glue, I have to tell you folks. It isn't an urban myth. One of the sweet ladies I work with? Her daughter (who is about my age, not some young teenager) actually put super glue in her eye one night, thinking it was eye drops. Needless to say, it was a horrific ordeal.

I don't keep the two anywhere near each other just because of this. Why would you have super glue on your bedside table anyway??? It goes in that mess of a junk drawer, so you have to dig and find it when you need it the most. But of course you can't find it when you need it. And if you do, it's all froze up because it didn't get shut right and you have to go buy more, use it once, then throw it out three months later, and the cycle goes on and on.

So the tip for the day? Don't put super glue in your eye. And don't play Rockband like you're auditioning for Megadeath.

The Latest News

School's out.

I'm getting ready to build an Ark or something that will float.

I finally ventured onto to facebook to find family and friends and see where they lurk.

I'm regretting putting away the winter clothing. Webster is going to have to redefine summer soon. Sorry folks but bring on the global warming!

I'm taking pics and uploading pics (except to facebook, which I seem to have broke after uploading a profile pic - that gives me a warm fuzzy feeling about how I look)

I'm writing a bunch - forget house work and such, dog gone it, I'm on vacation!

I'm wondering how long I can stay at the house without getting in the car - I might try to beat my record of 5 days 0 how glorious would that be??

I am working on the "hard" level guitar on Rock Band, as I am sure this will help me somehow later in life and attribute to my success.

I played poker the other night for the first time in ages. I still got it, but somehow NOT enough to help attribute to my success later in life.

I played Marble Madness the other night for the first time in months. I still got that too. Never know when one of the kids in class will want to challenge me and I will need a wicked bank shot to win.

I debated for 5 minutes, literally standing there last night, as to which book I should read before I went to sleep. I settled for War of the Worlds. The words and language put me right out, they are so dog gone fancy. (I'll let you figure out what my other choice was.)

I watched 3 bunnies play in the yard last night - so cute! (of course it was out the window because it was raining again)

What I haven't done is anything dumb lately. Surprise! It's only a matter of time.

Computers

What a nightmare.

The other night I was close to tears (and that really doesn't happen much). I came home early (skipped a meeting which I NEVER do) and put on my swimsuit to go out and enjoy the sun (which we haven't had much of during this month).

After that, hubby informed me that the new modem had come (we have been having major connectivity issues). I dreaded it but knew I couldn't get on without tackling this problem.

So, dressed in my swimsuit (I guess at that point I was still optimistic) I headed down into the dungeon to work on the main computer for the house. It was cold and dark and sunless. Yuck!

I spent the next three hours talking to the At&t people on the phone and the linksys people. What a damn nightmare. And yes that was a cuss word and I could use a lot more.

I finally got it hooked up where the computer would work, but none of the laptops would work and when I went through the router, the main computer couldn't get online either.

At that point, I called my sister, begging and about to cry because I was so frustrated. (Of course the directions they sent to change out the modem were only a 1/4 page, 10 lines long and it should have worked, but NOOOOO, nothing can ever be that simple)

Anyway, my dear sister spent another hour and a half on the phone with me and then had to get off without getting it working. But she had gotten me to a point where I could retry the directions the linksys people had given me. I did - and it worked.

IT ONLY TOOK SIX HOURS!!!!!!

Needless to say, I was exhausted and my brain was fried. What an absolute mess. I took off my swimsuit and went to bed.

The Power of a New Dress

I had an unusually long day yesterday - the kids had the violin concert in the evening. Rather than come home and fight traffic back, I stayed in the area. I went shopping to my most favorite store, Steinmart.

For those of you who don't know, I consider Steinmart the home to everything that glitters. It is full of all kinds of flashy and fun clothes and costume jewelry and purses and shoes. It's my kind of place.

I ended up buying the cutest pair of plaid madras long shorts (is that an oxymoron????) that are adorable. And then I found a dress.

It's unique. It was made, then printed on, so it has striped areas where the print didn't get, much like tye dye. The material is a flowy polyester and it is brightly colored in some wild designs that are very 70's. Needless to say, I absolutely fell in love with it, even on the hanger.

Then, a miracle occured. I put it on. And I had boobs. I don't know where they came from or how they got there. They just appeared when I put the dress on. And then, when I took it off, they were gone.

Of course Mr. Daisy loves this dress as much as I do. I keep hoping he will be like Gomez and tell me, "Morticia Daisy, never take that dress off," and I won't. (Cause you know sometimes he DOES call me Morticia, like when I forget to water or to throw out the dead flowers in the vase)

Anyway, I got completely side tracked. Back to the dress . . .

So I bought it then headed to the violin concert, then home. I thought about it the whole way home and couldn't wait to wear it today. I thought about it all night and kept thinking, "I get to wear my new dress tomorrow!" Then as I went to bed, I thought, "I get to wear my new dress tomorrow!"

And of course, when I woke up this morning (which is something I absolutely hate doing) I thought, "I get to wear my new dress today!"

It kinda made it all better. It's funny what a new dress can do for you.

Date Differences

So a few posts back I did one about things you don't want to hear on a date. This one is a twist on that idea, stemming from something hubby said the other night.

Things A Guy Does Want to Hear on a Date
1. I'm getting drunk.
2. You smell good.
3. Have another beer! I'll buy!
4. That made me dizzy.
5. I'm ready to leave.

Things A Girl DOESN'T Want to Hear on a Date
1. I'm getting drunk.
2. You smell, uh, good.
3. Have another beer!
4. That made me dizzy (as you walk back from the dance floor after a fast dance without him)
5. I'm ready to leave.

Funny huh?

Do Yourself

Here it is folks. Just what you all wanted to hear. Things hubby might say to let you know you've let yourself go a bit too long and it's time to do something.

1. Are you going back to brown hair?
2. I am assuming with those toe nails that you are entering the tree climbing contest.
3. Do you need me to buy you some razors?
4. Is the tanning place only open during the times you work?
5. Did your curling iron break? (you can also substitute clothes iron, hot rollers, and hair dryer)
6. That makeup you're using must be getting old.
7. The pedicure place is under new management. I saw the sign. Want me to make you an appointement? Also along the same lines, With those feet, it's a good thing the satin sheets aren't on, huh?
8. Could that hair under your chin be attached there?

I have to admit, these are things he hasn't said. But I am feeling he is probably thinking them. Guess that's what I'm doing this weekend.
And if you thought I was gonna post another picture of my feet, forget it!

Happy Cinco de Mayo

Donde esta la cerveza? hehe

(I hope I just asked where my beer was and wasn't asking something else!)

How bout this little funny for the day -

One of my students was writing about his condition, known to him as "lactoesentalerants."

Happy Birthday to Me (a couple days late)

41. Sounds kinda not so young any more. But I still feel pretty young. Well, not pretty, but young. And not young so much as NOT old. Except on days when I FEEL old, achy and decrepit. Like when I don't get enough sleep, I push my body too hard, or well, add another cork to the collection.

Things I still like even though I probably shouldn't
1. trying to shoot out the star at the carnival
2. mini skirts and high heels
3. bikinis
4. long hair
5. loud music
6. riding rides at the carnival
7. making up games
8. having people sing happy birthday to me
9. my birthday
10. Corvettes
11. presents
12. birthday decorations

Things I should like more (but probably won't) that are better for my age
1. sensible shoes
2. old lady clothes
3. better coverage make up and wrinkle cream
4. cooking (that's just an absolute won't)
5. elevator music
6. quiet nights

:)

I have so much to say and absolutely no time - gotta go enjoy my birthday presents! Yeah!!!!!

A Room Wish List

Kathy over at The Junk Drawer http://www.junkdrawerblog.com/ often has me in stitches. Today she wrote about houses and it got me to thinking of the perfect house for me.

I would have rooms for:

1. one room completely dedicated to wrapping presents/gifts, with organized hanging sheets of colored tissue paper, bags of assorted sizes hung on nails, by occasion of course, a ribbon holder similar to a thread spool holder, scissors attached to heavy chain (so they couldn't run off and be used for other things by other people!!!)

2. a library - I am in desparate need of one - we have books in EVERY room in the house. Of course the library would have to have one of those chase loungers (settee?? - I don't know exactly what they are called) and a fire place, lots of sunlight, and my favorite blanket

3. a crafting room with all the different crafts stored neatly in their rubbermaid boxes and a super large table for getting it all out and leaving it whenever I felt like (of course this room must come with a lock on the door so no one else could see it)

4. a room large enough for ballet/karate with exercise equipment to make it look pretty (hehe) - and a whole wall of mirrors so I can see how stupid I REALLY look

5. a really good acoustic room for music, again, with LOTS of chairs

6. a greenhouse room, to keep indoor plants and me alive during the cold dreary winter months

7. a room lined with shelves for shoes, organized by color, then heel height - wouldn't that just be dreamy???

So honey, get the hammer and saw and get building! HA!

Live a Little

Last night, after 4 months of kind and patient emails, I met up with a few people I had gone to college with. VERY uncharacterstic for me. I love being home and hate being away from hubby. (I even invited him to come along)

I was a bit nervous - but it was so fabulous! We laughed and chatted about now, what we do, and about then, what we did! OMG! We remembered places and people. When I left, I felt very young again. We hadn't seen each other in almost 20 years.

The personalities were still the same. The fun, the silliness. I am so glad I went.

Yesterday morning I wondered why I had agreed to go. I didn't know and didn't have an answer for my hubby. Why would I want to see people I hadn't seen in so long? Today I still don't have an answer, but have a refresher of that part of my life (which is actuallly kinda hazy anyway- it WAS college!)

And besides, it felt good to get out of my routine and stretch myself. And remember myself.

What REALLY Happened

Okay, so this morning was NOT my problem. I was up - about a billion times last night. Couldn't sleep. I'll tell you why.

My loving, grieving husband invited my dog's spirit in the house after he died (the dog). (Where else would he go? Dogs aren't in heaven so I've been told.)

So last night was my first night in the house alone. With the ghost dog.

He huffed, and sniffed and tap, tap tapped on the floor.

Needless to say, I was scared s word less (see previous post).

I was GLAD to go to work today. (which I always am, but I am also a homebody and love being at home piddling)

So now I know we gotta fix the fan on the furnace, need to get some limbs away from the house, and ask the neighbor NOT to start his weed eater after dark. But in the dark, things can sound awfully different.

I told everyone at work about my harrowing night. As I left, I explained that if I didn't show up to work tomorrow, it meant I died of fright. So at least now I have a good reason to be late to work tomorrow besides "I had to make my lunch AND the coffee."

A Bunch of Tidbits

Of course, in list form.

1. I have to make my own coffee tomorrow and pack my own lunch. I have to get myself out of bed on my own. I'm just so not good at these things.

2. Tomorrow one of my pictures, along with a prompt, will be at this site for creative writing. I'm excited and nervous. I don't even know what picture it will be! I will check it in the morning to see if I can use it with my students. You can check it too :)

3. I am knee deep in writing a book, and loving every minute of it. I love my characters, I love the story. It's why I have been so "absent" from here lately.

4. I am teaching about poetry to my students. I am tired of hearing about puppies and rainbows. They (not the puppies, the students) are banned from writing acrostic poems. I told them that poems didn't have to be "pretty." They could be ugly, painful, and nasty. One of the kids pipes up, "Can we say blood?" I said, "No" and someone cut me off, saying, "It still has to be appropriate." And I continued, "Yes, appropriate." Another little guy, Mr. Perfect Student, adds, "Yeah, you just can't use the s word or the f word." Well, what do I say to that???? I just said, "Yes. Right."

So, in honor of my Mr. Perfect Student, I will write a poem about what I HOPE doesn't happen tomorrow morning.

S word! No alarm?
It was set. On.
AM? PM! F WORD!
S word of a B word -
Run. Faster. Yep, clean there, move on.
A 3 car accident? I'll never make it.
F wording S word! Where's my F wording coffee?
I'm guessing that isn't blood running down the windshield.

Things You Don't Want to Hear

Things you don't want to hear your date say

That's the topic of the blog today, largely due to last night being "date night" for hubby and I. I set aside one weekend each month and then he picks the night for our "date." He has my complete and undivided attention (which is actually pretty hard for me because of the whole attention thing).

So last night, for date night, we decided to get the ACDC rockband CD and play all night long. (Yeah, easy, cheap date, but we knew we would have fun)

After one particularly difficult song on the drums, I commented, "That got me sweating."

Of course, hubby came back with the sarcastic line, "That's what you want to hear from a date. Very romantic." We had a great laugh, and then I got to thinking what else you wouldn't want to hear from your date.

1. Watch my scab. Careful.
2. I had a spider in my ear once.
3. Can you do this with your toes?
4. Do you smell that?
5. I need to shave my back.

Okay - add to it folks :)

A Real Pain in the Eyes

I'm here today to talk about my eyes. I'm getting ready to go crazy.

Off and on for the last three weeks I have been coughing. Ok. Fine. I can deal with it. But what I absolutely cannot deal with is stuff coming out my eyes that looks like it should be coming out my nose. It's so attractive in the morning.

Now I have a new symptom. The evil red eyes. I had them one day about a week and half ago. They were REALLY bad, but they didn't bother me.

Today, well, I'll make a list of all the things that they felt like all day long.

1. Someone splashed fingernail polish remover in them.

2. I ran through cedar trees with my eyes open (yep, did that one in real life so have something to compare it to)

3. Every time I blinked, someone who thought they were funny, rubbed sandpaper on my eyeballs.

4. Like I opened the little pop up lid of the toilet cleaner and it spouted into my eye at 2 in the morning (yep, that happened in real life too, and the memory is pretty vivid)

5. The cat tried to claw my eyes out while I was sleeping (I don't own a cat)

6. Like I swam 5 miles underwater in a heavy cholorinated pool, being pushed by a motor boat going 60 mph.

7. After staring at the sun for 11 hours, the eclipse finally happened.

8. The mascara I have had bacteria in it and it is eating my eyelids away (another true one, although my eyelids stayed intact) (And no, I just bought new mascara about a month ago.)

I'm getting ready to go pirate. Arg. Where's me patch?

And yes, they really hurt that bad. How will I read about Bella and Edward tonight before I go to sleep?

A Teacher Who Doesn't Teach

That was me today. What a messed up day.

I had a meeting at 8 am (30 minutes before school starts) that lasted until 9:20. I got back to my room just in time to take the kids to library and drop them off for another 30 minutes. They came back in at 10 and for a wonderfully glorious 30 minutes, I got to teach. I read to them and we talked about the story and they wrote about it.

At 10:30, all but 4 of my students left to go to violin. They returned at 11:20. We continued to talk about the book and I gave them some time to read their own reading books ( and they are reading some really good ones - historical fiction :)

At 11:55, I took them to lunch and then picked them up at 12:25. At 12:30 we headed off to an afternoon presentation about bullying. It lasted until 2:45, and I don't even know how it went because at 2, I had to leave for another meeting and didn't get out until 3:30. (30 minutes after school ended)

I hate days like this. I LOVE teaching, not meetings. And I have to say, I am pretty selfish. I want to teach my own students, not let other people teach them. It's almost like I didn't even see them today :(

Do I think that everything they did is important? Yes. But that isn't the point. The point is, well, I guess I need to go back to kindergarten and learn how to share.

What a Refreshingly Nice Day

First - talked with another friend who had lost her husband seven years ago to cancer, as to how to "act" and what to do with my newly widowed friend. A very heartful, endearing conversation.

Second - Arrived back in my room to find this little surprise (see picture) on my desk - how perfectly pretty and delicious - from one of the aide's who helps in my room.

Third - MAP testing is OVER! It was a somewhat normal day and the kids were SO wonderfully perfect all day.

Fourth - Had another deep conversation with another friend/teacher about love, caring, etc.

Fifth - Did I mention the kids were wonderful today?

Sixth - We helped out another teacher (my class counted push ups for first grade :)

Seventh - Another friend/teacher asked for some support and help in a delicate situation. I felt honored that she trusted me so much.

Eigthth - We had a "party" to end MAP testing - popcorn and social studies videos about pioneer life (the kids sure are glad they live in THIS time!)

Ninth - everyone wished everyone a Happy Easter/Passover and left thinking about food, Easter bunnies, and more great food.

I just felt really loved today. Very surprising and unusual for me on a Good Friday. I usually have pretty rotten ones.

On to Something Not so Sad

Really, just bear with me for a minute while I set up the background.

My dear friend's husband's memorial service was today. As we got there, we all piled in and the line to see her was long. But I couldn't go up. I couldn't do that to her - I cried the moment I walked in the church and couldn't stop for about 20 minutes. And she was being so strong.

Later in the service, the pastor had a "moment" when everyone could hug, kiss, greet, etc (peace be with you and all). I had gained my composure and headed up to see her.

I got there and hung back but she seemed a bit tired of whomever was monopolizing her at the moment. She finally reached over and just grabbed my hand and pulled me over. Hugs, love, all the good stuff. Then she smiled at me and said, "Did you see my shoes?" I had to tell the truth. OF COURSE I HAD! And right there in the middle of her husband's memorial service - we giggled.

Ahh, girlfriends. And I knew her husband HAD to be smiling down too.

But back to the "moment" of greeting. Obviously, the poor pastor had never turned the room loose to a bunch of teachers before. We are SO worse than our students. He tried clearing his voice (yeah, right), making hand signals like he was rounding up a herd (we were more like a stampede) and finally had the organist play a chord. That poor organist played the same chord over and over for at least 5 minutes trying to get everyone back in their seats. When it all settled down, his first comment was something about teachers (I couldn't hear as others were STILL chattering, but I did hear "teachers") and everyone laughed.

It's nice to have a friend that is so loved by so many.

Another Horrificly Sad Story

I stayed late tonight to go to the PTO meeting at school. I got to see the head custodian (he works nights).

I checked with him to see if he had heard about my friend's sorrow, as he had known her when she worked at our school. He replied, "Yeah, I heard. We had a tragedy in our own family."

It seems his daughter and son in law had taken their family on vacation in Arizona. They had a great time and were packing up to come home this last Friday. In the midst of all the packing and loading up the car, the three year old got out of the room and ran off. They found the baby in the motel swimming pool.

This poor grandpa was in so much pain. You could see it so plainly as he spoke.

My heart ached. And still does.

And you may wonder why I have chosen to share this story.
1. It helps me cope with things when I write.
2. Just to put the story out there, in case it helps save someone else so much heartache and pain.

I really am just done with these freak, tragic accidents.

A Sad Day

A very sad day indeed.

I spoke about a very dear friend of mine awhile back in a post. (click here) She is the subject of that first paragraph.

It seems her husband (of about 30 years I would guess, I'm not exactly sure) was working on the van on Saturday. She was out, probably running some do-gooder errands like taking sick people bowls of chicken soup and such.

She returned home to find her husband crushed under the van. He had already passed away.


The love of her life. The man who STILL took her on "dates" and out dancing. The man she exchanged perfume with every Valentine's Day. They already had their vacation to Hawaii planned for when school ends in May.

Not too long ago, she told me how she dealt with being "upset" with him. He would ask "What's wrong?" She would say, "Nothing." He would say, "Your awfully quiet. Something's wrong." She would answer, "I'm meditating."

Of course when she shared this I was in a fit of laughter. Because that is what she has always been best at - helping other people feel good.

Her catch phrase has always been, "Spread the Joy." One year for her birthday I gave her a wooden purse and painted "Joy" on it. She carried it to our Art Museum outing. The sales lady in the gift shop kept calling her Joy. We just giggled.

About 5 years ago, she lost her younger brother suddenly - heart attack. Almost exactly a year later, her mother passed away. She took both extremely hard but you would never have known it to see her.

I called today and another friend was at the house fielding phone calls. Actually, my friend was out 'making arrangements.' Of course I asked what I could do and offered to pick up family members at the airport, since I live close by.

Amazingly, she took me up on the offer. I picked up her husband's sister and drove her to my friend's home.

As I drove home, it occured to me that my services weren't really needed. She probably just let me do it so I would feel like I had helped. So I could feel better.

I didn't stay long at her house. She had family and more were expected.

We hugged. I told her I loved her. She told me to keep the joy. I told her to hang in there.

Someone so beautiful inside and out shouldn't have so much pain. I am angry.

Self Help Group

I am thinking of starting a new group at school. Teachers and students alike would be welcome. The Twilight group. We are just such a mess! Half of fifth grade is reading it and there are a couple teachers who are just about where I am as far as being insane.

Today I finished a really long read aloud to my kids. They were five minutes late to lunch because they wouldn't let me stop and we were so close to the end of the book. I had read it last summer after our social studies coordinator had given them out. It's about a young girl living in Missouri during the start of the Civil War. The kids were totally hooked, as I started it to kick off our historical fiction unit. You can learn more about it by clicking on the link.
A Voice From the Border
While it was from a girl's perspective, there was plenty of guns and battles to keep the boys interested too.

The most wonderful part had to be the intimacy our class shared as we read/heard. We all would gasp or suck in air loud at the same points of the story. It was so funny! And at points, I would stop and ask how they were feeling about the book. Several commented "It's why I came to school today!" and that made us all laugh. I also asked them if they would have every chosen the book (after I read them the summary). All of them admitted they wouldn't have. So I would like to think that this has opened a new door for them.

I absolutely LOVE historical fiction and Avi (the author) seems to do it best. I think I have read all those books. Yet, I failed American History in high school. Yes. It's time I owned up to that scandal.

I had American History as a requirement my junior year. I passed the second semester, but not the first. It was first hour and just SO boring! So when I failed, I had to change my report card. Not once. I had to do it for two years.

That may sound impossible, but let me continue.

So, all second semester, I had to change the grade from first semester because it still showed up on my report card. And what grade did I give myself? Well, a B of course. It matched closest to the letter F. The were computer print outs and a bit of smudging made it look exactly real.

Over the summer my parents received something in the mail about me having to meet the requirement of American History. (I hadn't planned on something like this coming!) I quickly explained it away, saying I was chosen to be in an ADVANCED class of American History. Of course my parents believed me because I always got A's and B's. I had recently just written a speech and won a bond for writing about war and American society. They had no reason NOT to believe me.

So, Senior year comes and here I am in a class with juniors, retaking a semester that I had failed. And what did I do at report card time? Well, the grade actually was a B (because the teacher was OUTSTANDING), but the course listing was MOD AM HIST. (You would think I would have gotten an A since I was actually repeating but it just goes to show how much I DIDN'T get out of the first class.)

I changed it to ADV AM HIST. This was a bit trickier but my report cards always seemed to get wet or sweaty or something, and of course they were highly smudged. And of course, I had to do it the whole year because the first semester was included on the second semester report card.

Okay. I feel way better now. And my mom already knows the story, so it's okay if she reads it. :) The whole thing was just so unfair - I should have never failed in the first place if I had had a good teacher. I don't care how early it was. And I can say this because I strive NOT to be THAT teacher.

I think my kids are in to history. I LOVE math and writing. And I adore science, although it isn't my greatest subject. Reading, well, what isn't there to like.

Yes, I am a teacher and yes, I failed a class in high school. Oh well. Thank goodness I didn't let affect my life.

My Birthday List

Obviously, this post is for my mom and sister. :)

I will try not to make the list too long - I am guessing we ARE doing birthdays this year since we didn't do Christmas???!!!!!

1. Twilight - the movie on DVD (yes, I have seen it but only in 10 minute increments off of youtube.)

2. New Moon (book) (This is the second book in the Twilight series and the only one I don't own. I would like to have it - paperback or hardcover are both fine)

3. A foam floatie (The purple one I inherited from Weena is starting to get a funky smell to it and I absolutely LOVE that floatie)

4. I need some perfume. "Black" of course. Or else "Beyond Paradise"

5. Money on a music download account (this would be right up Weena's alley. I don't have one anywhere so she could even set it up for me - just not itunes)

If more things come up, I'll be sure to let you know :)
PS NO CAKE - we are all dieting!

Edit - Addition to the birthday list
6. AC/DC (playstation 2) for RockBand CD
7. Rockband 2 (for playstation 2) CD only
8. Track Pack 2 (we have #1) for RockBand (playstation 2)
or anything else Rock Band related :)

I'm Hoping

I feel I reached the turning point last night. This morning was pretty rough again but overall I feel better and seem to have improved throughout the day. Maybe cause I didn't have to expend much energy today teaching because it "MAP testing" season.

We started today. I hate it. It is so boring for me. I would much rather spend my day teaching than watching the kids chew their pencils and okay trips to the bathroom.

I don't look good though. My eyes are a lovely shade of pinkish red (where they should be white). They are pretty slitty too. And I didn't have enough energy this morning to curl my hair. And no kidding - two people told me I looked pretty today. ?? So when I spend an hour and a half getting ready I don't??? Are reddish eyes in fashion - maybe because of Twilight??? I just found it absolutely hilarious. But I thanked them all the same (and inside I rolled my eyes and thought maybe they needed to really look first, then say)

I'm off to write - I haven't checked out today's creativity portal prompt and I am pretty excited to see what it is and write. I've just been in that mood.

One Eared and Going Blind

It is amazing how pain can turn something nice and fun into such a sourpuss mood.

I had a wonderfully written review of my job performance today. All I had to do was go in and talk about what I wanted to do next. And I was so dog gone cranky I ruined the whole conversation. Hopefully my principal will forgive me - someday.

I am in so much pain. I think it is all just sinus pressure. My ears hurt. Last night I went deaf in the left and then it cleared up. This afternoon it is the right and still hasn't cleared. My eyes have crap coming out of them that looks like I blew my nose. My head feels like someone put concrete in it. And then began mashing down.

Scuba diving to 118' NEVER gave me this many ear problems or pains. It's funny cause I think if I DID go dive right now, it would probably help - push it all back the other way!

It even hurts to burp. I guess air comes out your ears when you do that.

I'm miserable so no sense in making you that way too. Then I will be hoping that some day you can forgive me too. I'm outta here.

Now I can Enjoy my Addiction

I'm better today.

I finished the 12 chapters online of Midnight Sun earlier today. Of course that made me happy. And sad. What do I do now??

Well, for all you Twilight/New Moon etc fans, I made some photos you are welcome to use :) For the rest of you, sorry the pictures scared you :) hehehe

I don't know what I will do next. I'll find something.

It was nice to not have to work on paperwork today. It's been awhile. Now I just have some menial things to do. I am already dreaming up my next project. I think I might make another blog. Responses to writing prompts.

The Glitch

There's always something. But usually it is little and doesn't involve a breech in morals and beliefs.

I hadn't signed my video releases. I didn't want to. It said something about they could use my video for assessment (of me, which I totally expected - no problem) but then it went on to say "professional development, RESEARCH, and" basically anything else they wanted to.

I kinda had a problem with that. A big problem with that.

Yes it's true I got all of the forms back from the parents stating that was fine. But I wonder if they even read it. They were probably like, "Oh, Mrs. Daisy needs this so lets get it back to her." because that is how my parents of my students are. They are wonderful.

So I look at myself as the last line of defense against anything that may harm my students. And I tend to take a lot of stances that err on the side of caution.

So my mentor (being the patient soul) suggested calling National Board and asking them if they had another form, or if something could be marked out, etc. (The strictness of this is amazing so it we knew better than to just cross stuff out because it COULD mean they wouldn't score the entire section).

The lady I spoke with there was very unhelpful - well, unhelpful in that she just wouldn't see my point or my side.

I have (no, I am not exaggerating) exactly half of my students that receive some kind of help for something - special needs. I tend to be even MORE protective of them. And they are wanting me to sign away that they can use those videos of those kids for anything they want??

Yes, they are respectable and all but still, I just really didn't want to do that. Nowadays there are so many horror stories.

So my options?
sign OR
reimburse my district and the state $3000 AND have wasted 2 years of work on something that I didn't turn in.

Not good choices. So I signed them and cried as I did it. What should have been a joyous occasion is now tainted with going against my beliefs, and strong ones at that.

I asked my mentor if anyone else had ever had a problem with these releases. She said no and I was floored. But then she did say she had never had anyone with so many special needs students either.

I called my teammate on my way home. She could understand my reluctance, which made me feel better. But still, it's my signature.

I hate that rock and hard place place. Especially when it comes to standing up and fighting for what you believe.

At this point I can only hope they will be responsible and kind, assess my teaching and then be done with the videos.

The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow :)

Here it is, the eve of my mailing date. The entries are all edited and revised (finally - only took 3 people plus me working non-stop to get entry 1 down to 12 pages - ick)

Only a few minor things to do. Write the contextual information section (small) about my school and district. Put my number on all the pages. Order them and paper clip them and put them in the right envelopes. Then seal up the box. Now there is a pleasant thought.

Two years of work going through the mail. That causes sweaty palms and head spasms. Why just the other day when the FedEx plane burst into flames I was pleased that I had gotten my 2 class computers back the day before. (not that they went any where near China, but still)

You hear stories about mailmen, I mean "mailpeople" dying and then they find all this mail in their garage. Maybe an urban myth? But still, who HASN'T ever had a piece of mail lost??? And insurance??? Forget it. You better have a receipt and then some. What kind of receipt would I give them for 60 pieces of paper and 2 CDs that have taken two years to compile?

Receipt - one arm or leg, whichever you choose. Throw in one fried brain. We might come out even.

It's funny. I haven't let the packet out of my sight for days - I cart it everywhere (and yes it's heavy). My poor 'puter is so backed up that it is probably insulted. And here I am getting ready to mail it.

It has to be like letting your child go off of to college. No, more like letting your baby go off to college because my poor box won't be able to speak up or fend for itself either.

But all of this wasn't the purpose of the post. The sun WILL come out tomorrow. I am sure I will be relieved and happy and have a weight lifted off. And I know for a FACT that the Midnight Sun will shine tomorrow, as I just found out that there are 12 CHAPTERS online at Wikipedia. I am saving that reading (Edwards point of view of Twilight) for celebrating tomorrow :) - if I can.

So tomorrow I say, Go Forth, Baby Box, and go straight and true to your destination. Beware of vampires lurking, mailpeople garages and fiery planes. Amen.

And the Torture Continues

Wasn't I just here with all these mounds? Did I ever leave? Have I progressed at all?

And in the back of my mind, Edward and Bella and Jacob and the whole rest of the bunch are still lurking . . . If I can just get this stuff done, then I can enjoy :)

Sorry, just had to take a break and say hi to y'all :)

Oh Yeah

Member how I said I wasn't gonna watch the movie? Well, I did. It was on youtube. I also found the first chapter to the next book on Stephenie Meyers website and read that. I am such a nut.

I am Surrounded

By mountains of paperwork. Everywhere I look, every spare spot on the table. Covered in papers.

I am feeling more than a little nerdy and bookish. How 'bout crazed??? Tomorrow is my last final hurrah for my National Board stuff. I have the day off tomorrow to finish everything that isn't and redo everything that is done.

I changed my mail off date with my mentor to Friday. I still have papers/entries out being edited and revised to, of all people, the principal and assistant principal. He probably took one look at it and laughed. Oh well. I've got to edit out 4 pages of the one he is checking out - cut it down to twelve. I seriously need help with that. I could probably do 2 myself, but that would be pushing it. Writing shouldn't be limited or made to be a minimum amount. You should just say what you gotta say and that's enough. Or if it's over, that's fine too.

Guess I'd better get started. But I can't leave without severely editing THIS post. Here it is in a nutshell.

See pic x 3. Tons -- paperwork. National Board. CRAZY! Mail Friday. Edit exhaustively. Say what you need to say. Bye.

Sunday Sunday Sunday!

I am LOVING the colors in my new blog header!!!

Anyway, we celebrated St. Patricks Day last night (a bit late but when you are Irish, it really doesn't matter - you can celebrate all the time :)) It was soo good to see all my cousins that I so dearly adore!

For the biggest laugh in the world, you HAVE to check out my photoblog ( http://photodaisy.blogspot.com/ ) to see a picture of my niece "cutting loose." Its got to be her rendition of Riverdance. I was laughing so hard I was crying when I got home and saw I had caught that picture.

Well, tomorrow is back to work. I'm not sure I'm ready but it doesn't really matter. It's coming anyway so I better make the best of it.

I am still addicted to the Twilight stuff. I made a playlist that takes me through all 4 books (by mood and words in the songs, etc.) Of course hubby thinks that is insane, but I think it is a great way to keep reliving the fantasy and save the magic :)

Oh, and as I part, I will leave you with some words from hubby last night as I was getting ready to go see all my family and cousins (he didn't go this year).

I was putting on perfume. He said, "What's that for? You inbred." (like I wanted to attract family members) It was absolutely hilarious!

Hippity Hoppity Here Comes Peter Cottontail

No, really. The real bunnies. It seems they have come out of hibernation or something and they are all over.

I just took some adorable pictures of the little monsters. One was at the basement window looking in and I was looking out - I guess it looked like a mirror to him.

And yes, while I love them and their adorable little selves, they ARE monsters. At least to my newly sprouted snap peas, lettuce and spinach. (which were planted on Valentine's Day) My poor little babies are about 2" tall and those bunnies think, well, I guess they think I planted them just for them as a "Welcome to Spring" homecoming banquet.

I have dealt with this frustration before. I finally found something that works and I will share my secret with you :)

Put 1 tablespoon of red pepper seed (like the kind you find at some pizza places) in SUPER HOT water (about a quart) and put it in a spray bottle. SPRAY EVERYTHING YOU DON'T WANT THE BUNNIES TO EAT and spray the ground around the plants too.

Now granted, during the wet season, this needs to be repeated quite a bit. But it so works and is environmentally safe :) Well, unless of course you happen to have a drippy squirt bottle and it leaks onto your hand and then you wipe your eye cause you forgot it had gotten wet. Or if you wipe your lips. Or if you wipe your face. (You get the idea - and yes I've done it. Of course! It wouldn't be me if something dumb hadn't happened.)

Don't I sound so normal today?? You would think that I had finished the entire Twilight series around 2 am or something. And was pleased with the ending that I wasn't going to read.

I am so lucky. I married my very own Edward. Okay. I think I am done :)

Heading out to find the leaky spray bottle in the garage!

Getting Close

I have finished National Board Entry 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a few more things and I am DONE :)

Addiction

Geez. I am a mess. I can't think about anything besides these books.

There has been an upside to them that I hadn't expected or planned on. They are incredibly - hmm - romantic. (Don't want Weena to say TMI :) Magical.

I refuse to go on and on about them - I am sure no one wants to hear it. I don't even want to hear it.

So let's see. . .
Ah, It's Thursday. THAT has me a bit down. I am past the halfway mark on spring break. I always get so wrapped up in being at home over the long breaks. I have to force myself to go out. And I LOVE my job. I can't even imagine what going back to work must feel like for people who are less than thrilled with their job. And there are a few positives to going back for me. 21 to be exact. :) Probably way more than regular people with regular jobs.

And all in all, I would have to say I am a work-a-holic (another addiction). (I just wish school would start around 11am rather than 8 :) That is probably the worst thing about my job - but I can live with that.

I guess I am feeling rather lucky and content at the same time. Except I am not funny now. Other people make me see humor in life. (Unless of course I do something stupid, which actually occurs fairly often, just not this week:) So for all of you looking for a good laugh, I guess you will just have to wait until - no that's not true. Something rolling on the floor funny happened last night.

We were playing Rockband :) (addiction #99?) I am the permanent drummer now and hubby is the guitar player. About halfway through the song, the dog gone sound/stereo receiver turned off. We kept playing. The banging noises I was making to try to stay with the notes on the screen was absolutely hilarious. I sounded like a monkey with a pair of sticks beating around. Anyway, it was funny enough to have hubby CRYING! I guess I am capable of doing dumb things anywhere :)