A berry good day

This particular TGIF takes on a whole new meaning. It has been a very crazy and super busy week around here. The week started off slow, with only not much going on. I spent most of the day applying for jobs and such. Tuesday and Wednesday I ran errands and took the kids to their classes and going to the park and/or library. Wednesday-Friday morning I went to three interviews in a row, so that was a bit nerve-wracking. On Thursday after my interview, I went to the pharmacy to pick up something for hubby, went to my MIL's to pick up some things from her, went to a friend's house to let their dog out (they were gone camping), and then finally made it home to pick up the kids at the sitter's. When I arrived home, I found a bunch of ants crawling all over my living room floor. They had come in with some dog food bags that had been left outside for a short time. Anyway, I spent the next several hours getting rid of them and cleaning up my downstairs. Anyone who knows me well can attest to my neorosis about ants. Hubby often jokes that if he wants the house clean, he just has to mention ants and it sends me into a cleaning frenzy. The bright side is that my downstairs looks far better than before and the dog food is safe once more.


On another note, I have also been dealing with stressors regarding another weekend's plans that seems to be hitting every roadblock possible in our efforts to arrange it. This whole other blog, so we'll leave it at that for now. Then today after my last interview, I changed clothes and picked up the kids. While we were out and about, I got another dreaded rejection call, but the silver lining was that I was their second choice (yet again) and they wanted to invite me back to interview for another position that had just opened up. Will try for it, but not holding my breath...but I digress.

Anyway, at this point I was feeling a bit low and discouraged as I had actually thought I might get this job. I took a moment to just breathe. Then I decided to take the day off from all the stress drove out to a local berry farm with my kids. I'd never actually gone berry-picking before and neither had they, so it was a lot of fun for all of us. I was thoroughly impressed with how careful the kids were. K in particular had a keen eye when it came to picking out just the right ones. N did really well too, he was just having more fun scanning the rows and humming along to himself, then getting in there to grab them off of the vine. They've both helped my MIL in her garden a lot, so they already kind of knew what to do. We talked about the differences in color and ripeness, concepts they quickly caught onto. After we filled our three buckets with both raspberries and marionberries, we decided it was time to go eat lunch and get of the hot sun.

We let my friend's dog out again and ran a quick errand. Then the kids voted on having Arby's. It'd been ages since my last time eating there, so it was especially yummy. The kids had ham and cheese sandwiches, I had their signature french dip, and we all had some seasoned curly fries. After our bellies thanked us for filling them up, we started to head home. However, the kids happened to see the county fair and pleaded with me to stop in. I was tired, but got a second wind after lunch, so I agreed to go there for a little bit. I warned them we were only staying for a short while. Well, you can probably guess that notion went out the window the minute they saw the rides. The kids rode the big and little roller coasters, slid down the super slide, drove bumper cars, whirled around in the swings, and raced on carousel horses. We skipped the carnival booths, but we caught a wild west rope trickster show as the kids enjoyed snow cones. I also had them sit down with a caricaturist for a keepsake picture. We made a quick pass through the animals section to look at the draft horses, cattle, sheep, and alpacas. On our way out, we had to walk by the 4-H pig show and wow was that a powerful odor.

By the time we made it home, it was dinnertime already. Hubby was out with his buddy to go see The Dark Knight, so we were on our own for the evening. I was in no mood to cook, so it was a cereal night (lunch was plentiful enough). I washed all the berries and dished up some for the kids with a little sugar sprinkled on top for their dessert. All in all it was a really amazing day we had. I love having times cherish like this with them, which is why I love being home with them in the summertime. They were so tired, they crashed early and I am not far behind. My legs are jello from all the walking, so I am ready to prop them up and go lay in bed with a good book or watch some TV. I'm gonna go enjoy a few berries myself first and go from there. As Strawberry Shortcake herself would say, we had a berry good day!

Clutterbug Be Gone

A disorganized household has always been my nemesis. Some of you know exactly what this feels like. I've always envied those moms that are totally together and run their home like a well-oiled machine and everything has its place. I aspire to that sort of greatness. I generally keep things clean, but I am such a clutterbug that it tends to overwhelm me at times. I try to keep up on keeping the kids' rooms fairly organized and other areas that are easily messed up. Every couple of months, I do a clean sweep of various areas of the house to get rid of and sort through clutter.

The areas where I am a repeat offender include the laundry and important papers. It's not that I mind doing laundry, it's just that I can't keep up with it. We're only a family of four, so I couldn't imagine what larger families go through. This is why I know I was done after two children. As much as I'd love another baby, I would drown in the laundry pile alone. I have a basket next to my bed that holds the umpteen thousand single pairs of socks. Once in a blue moon, I dump it onto my bed in hopes of reuniting long lost pairs and do so with some success. This is when I make the executive decision to let go of the singles that have wiled away their final hours alone for far too long. Then as soon as I do that, I usually find their twin. It never fails.

The other area that I am really bad at organizing is our papers. We have a file cabinet that was organized at one time, but is dire need of rearranging. It's amazing how hard I work to keep my files in order when I am on the job, but can't at home to save my life. Now I am trying to bring that anal-retentive nature home so that I might magically get our stuff sorted out. My coffee and kitchen tables have become vortexes that until now I just turned a blind eye too. The other night I got fed up with the mess and just piled every random paper or piece of mail into one pile on the floor. I figured if I could see the wood again, I could start from scratch. When it is all spread out, it's too much for me. When it is in a stack, I can go through each item and discard or keep. It's the ongoing keep pile that I need to actually stick into the file cabinet and get that organized as well. It's a haphazard system that I am trying to perfect, so it's a when I'm really-in-the-mood kind of project.

I found a great website that gives some valuable tips on how to get organized. While I don't plan to use them all, some of them were really useful. Go to http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/how-to-get-organized. Ever since I was pregnant with my firstborn, I've learned to be content with accomplishing at least one great task a day and working towards the next one another day. Today I finally made a bunch of phone calls to make appointments for the dentist, the car, and such. Now I think I'll tackle the dog hair that has accumulated on the stairs. Maybe I'll make a huge checklist of what I'd like to accomplish and that way I can enjoy the feeling of crossing items off of it. Will keep you posted on my progress.

The Colors of Costco

This is gonna sound really strange, but read on. As I was sitting with my kids in the food court at Costco, waiting for hubby to bring us our hot dogs, something very wonderful struck me. My kids were jabbering away as I glanced at the many families surrounding us. I first noticed the family next to us. There was a black man with his white wife and their two beautiful toddler boys. Then my eyes wandered around and saw an elderly white gentleman in a suit, learning how to say some words in Spanish from the Latino family sitting at the table next to him. Next, I saw about three or four families of varying Asian descents. About four tables over, I noticed another interracial family. The husband was white and the wife appeared to be Filipino and they were busy admiring the cute kids of the first family I mentioned. Across several more tables, I saw one of my former Latino students with his family, who spoke only minimal English. He had moved here with them when he was a 3rd grader. Why does any of this matter? It matters only because Martin Luther King, Jr. suddenly popped into my head as I sat there people-watching. His dream was for people of all creeds and colors to be okay with one another and this day was an example that dream finally coming to fruition. Maybe it was a naive observation on my part and I don't know if other people notice things like this, but it definitely put a smile on my face. I pointed it out to my husband and he thought it was pretty cool too. We got to talking how it would've been amazing if MLK had lived to see such a thing. At least his wife, Coretta, was able too. It's especially poignant considering his first grandbaby was born earlier this year. Anyhow, I guess it was just one of those profound moments when you take time to smell the roses and take it all in. And that's a good thing in my book.

Freedom Writers

Awhile back, I got a great deal on some DVD's at a nearby video store. It was a buy two get two free deal. I picked up Dreamer and The Last Mimzy for the kids, while I got Ocean's Thirteen and Freedom Writers for hubby and I. It took me forever to finally sit down and watch Freedom Writers. I had heard so many wonderful things about this movie and was expecting greatness. I knew it would be intense, so I had to be in the mood to watch it. Finally, I did see it the other night. It truly lived up to the hype and is really an inspirational film. It follows the story of Erin Gruwell, a first-time teacher that finds herself teaching language arts to a newly integrated high school in the heart of LA in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict. The LA riots left the city in ruins and the kids reeling from racial tensions. Erin, in all her enthusiasm and idealism, sets out to buck an uncaring system and make a real difference in these kids lives. She takes Luanne Johnson's methods from Dangerous Minds to a whole new level. She works two extra jobs to pay for incredible field trips and to provide unique learning opportunities for her students in and out of the classroom. She is met with resistance from her students at first, but soon they realize this class is the place where they can truly become a family. Erin Gruwell give them an opportunity to give a voice to their experiences. This film was based on a true story and told from the students' perspectives from The Freedom Writers' Diary. I was impressed, inspired, and appalled at what these children lived through. Anyhow, it is definitely a must-see film and will move you. As a teacher, this is the kind of movie I love for obvious reasons, but also because it helps me aspire to be as good as Erin.

Around the Bend

We had a long and busy weekend as I drove the kids and myself to Bend for a visit. Hubby had to work, so he didn't go. Just outside of Sandy was a traveling exhibit for veterans. It was a ton of American flags planted in the ground, just waving in the wind. We stopped and paid our respects as both my grandfathers' fought in WWII. IT was truly an amazing sight and you could feel the history behind the flags.

We stayed for about five days with my folks, since we hadn't seen the whole family since Christmastime. We tried to drive through Warm Springs, but got detoured about an hour out of the way (up through Maupin to hwy 97) due to a fire burning over the ridge above town. The smoke was pretty thick and you could even see the flames. Made for a longer trip, but exciting I suppose. The kids were very tired by the time we arrived though. We were supposed to go to Munch 'n Music (concerts in the park) with my folks in downtown Bend, but ended up missing that due to the detour.

Friday was fairly eventful. My dad took the kids and I to the park to feed the ducks and explore a little bit. They always have a grand time when we go to Drake Park. It is quite expansive and reknowned for the duck, geese, and the occasional swan that inhabit Mirror Pond (for which Mirror Pond Pale Ale is named). We also had lunch at Dairy Queen. The kids each had their first Dilly Bar. =)

Then my cousin Tereasa drove us (they were trying to help me conserve gas for the trip home) to their (my cousin Ron too) place to see the progress on their home they've been building for almost year. The kids got to ride their horses bareback. It was K's first time ever on a horse and Nicky's second time. Tereasa led K around the corale (sp?) and N's horse just followed along like they were on any old trail. They were so cute and had such a great time with that. I think it was the highlight of the trip for them. Tereasa was fearless as she stomped through manure and antpiles in her sandals to lead the horses around. The kids were enjoying themselves so much and didn't wanna leave.

On Saturday, my mom and I got up very early to go to the Sisters Outdoor Quiltshow. It's an annual event that my mom has been going to for years, but it was my first time. We got there in time to get a shady spot right in town. Guess my mom gets that same spot pretty much every year. As the day wore on, people had to park way out of town and walk quite a ways, so we were lucky. We immediately went to find my mom's quilt submission entitled, "Moon Over Mountain." Her quilt pattern was simple and beautiful. I loved the colors and fabrics she selected. It really stood out in a good way in the sea of more traditional pinwheels, rings, and such. We ate hot dogs for lunch and soon called it a day. After about 3 or 4 hours of walking around, we were both tired. Since we still had to go to a birthday party that afternoon, we decided to go to Walmart to kill some time.

That afternoon, we went to a park in Redmond for my cousin Val's daughter's one year birthday celebration. Her husband, Isaac, arrived to find that their reserved spot was occupied. Since he paid for the spot, he was entitled to ask them to move. Let's just say that the other people were not budging for anything or anyone. Val arrived with the paperwork to prove it was reserved and the police had to come to get the other party to move to another location. It was crazy and just plain drama as these people raised a big stink about it all. I felt so sorry for Isaac as he was not feeling well to begin with and just wanted his daughter's birthday to be fun. Anyway, the party finally got under way and a good time was had by all. Both sides of Val and Isaac's family were there, so we were well-fed. We ate good BBQ and cupcakes for desert. My mom left early due to her not feeling well either. After spending all day in the sun, I was feeling a little baked (not in the herbal way) and just wanted to go vege at the house.

By Sunday, I was feeling very mellow and tired. We had planned to go up to the lake to swim, but that didn't work out. I wanted to do something fun for the kids, but couldn't decide on what. Finally, my dad took us downtown to the summer festival. The kids played in the hands-on children's museum booths, ate lunch, and waded in the river. N kept climbing on the rocks and tempting the current. It has a bad undertow and since didn't have a life jacket, he wasn't allowed to swim. He wouldn't listen to my warnings to stay near the shore and be careful. Just as I was about to take him out of the water, he slipped and fell. He wasn't hurt, just got his clothes all wet. I couldn't help but laugh and tell him "I told you so." Not very nice of me, but he got over it pretty quickly. He definitely learned his lesson the hard way and didn't like the feeling of wet underwear. We BBQ'd that night (yes I felt like I was Od'ing on BBQ) and visited with more family.

On Monday, we packed up to leave. I agreed to drive my niece, M, home to her mom's. First though, we met my best friend from high school at a nearby park. We hadn't seen each other in years (not since N was under 2) and so it was great to catch up. The kids played together and it was great catching up with Jen. Poor M waited around for us to gab for about an hour. I made it up to her later though. We finally go on our way, only for the kids to complain about needing to go potty in the middle of nowhere. Well, we stopped at lovely viewpoint of the Three Sisters Mountains and tried to get K to squat in the brush. That didn't work out, but N was successful. Yes, not at all classy, but when you gotta go you gotta go. We finally got to Sisters and K did her business at last. We made a pitstop at the Candy Bin (much to M's delight) to stock up on a few goodies for the trip back. I dropped her off in Salem with her mom and then made it home.

It was another crazy busy time, but made more memories that will need scrapbooking. I also got a phone call from a school district that wants to interview me, so it put a smile on my face for the remainder of the drive home. I am now home and facing mounds of housework and projects that need to get underway. It's amazing how fast the summer days go by. I was in awe that Target is already stocking up for back to school supplies. Where does the time go?

Ahoy Matey!

I can now officially cross something off of my bucket list. Thanks to my best friend and her father, I was able to swim with dolphins at long last and go on a sea cruise to boot. I've been home for a bit now and feel caught up with my family, so I thought I'd blog about the trip for those of you who care. :)

Tuesday

I dropped the kids off with their Grandma Jeanne on Tuesday night. It was easier than scrambling around with them the next day and was one less thing to do. They were ecstatic to stay with her and I knew they'd be so busy with her that they'd have plenty to keep them happy. Hubby picked me up and we spent the evening together. It was nice having it just be us.

Wednesday

Early Wednesday morning, Hubby drove me to the airport as it is fairly close to his work. It was nice not having to take the train for once. We said our goodbyes and I was off to Texas. The plane ride was pretty smooth all the way to Houston.

Once I touched down in Houston, Shelley and her dad picked me up at the airport. We then proceeded to drive the scenic route (as my dad likes to call it) to Outback for dinner. For some reason, we had a lot of trouble finding it and Shelley's husband had the patience of a saint as he waited for us at the restaurant for us. It was worth the wait though as dinner was GOOD. Shelley and I stayed up visiting for awhile, but then decided to get some rest as we had a long day ahead of us.

Thursday

Shelley's dad picked us up and took us to breakfast at Denny's on our way down to Galveston. We made a pitstop at Target for some last minute supplies and then finally we off to the port. We bid farewell to Shelley's dad and thanked him for his many kindnesses. Then we spent the next few hours "getting processed" and boarded the cruise ship Carnival Ecstasy. They were busy cleaning staterooms, so we had to wait on the Lido Deck (so very Love Boat) as we took in our home for the next four days. Shelley and I got sick of that area so we found a nook on the side of the ship and just sat there for a long time as we waited to leave port. We marveled at the the polluted water and oil rigs across the bay from us. It was really cool when we finally pulled out of Galveston and were at sea at last. As we made our way into the Gulf of Mexico, the water became a vibrant blue and we knew our vacation had a officially started.

We explored the ship and unpacked our stuff in our stateroom. We also discovered that our seating time for dinner wasn't until 8:15, so we went to the early revue show. This consisted of dancers, singers, and a band in the Blue Sapphire lounge. I grew to love the sparkly curtain in this place for some off reason. When we finally sat down for dinner, we were famished. We met two of our tablemates and learned that they were on there celebrating an anniversary and were from the same area as Shelley. After a disastrous time learning how to order properly and from whom to do this, I dug into a really delicious meal. I had Cornfed Chicken, veggies, and chocolate melting cake (sinful treat). After dinner, we went up to the deck and looked out the blackness of the night at sea. It was soooooo windy! We decided to make it a nightly ritual so that we took time to appreciate everything around us. The day had been long and so we retired to our stateroom.

Friday

Since we were at sea all day, we found a host activities to keep us busy. The day began with Shelley and I splurging for mini-massages and facials at the spa. The only appointments available were at 8am, so we rolled out of bed and enjoyed a lovely morning treat. It was my first ever facial, so that was extra nice. We grabbed some breakfast and returned to our room to sleep a bit more as were both fatigued. I was still recovering from a lingering cold and Shelley was starting to drag (turned out she was starting to get the early stages of a cold). After some rest, we checked out a number on board games and activities. We enjoyed Name That Tune and even won the Digital Scavenger Hunt. The latter was when you had to take pictures of a bunch of items on a list and the things were scattered around the ship. We won golden plastic ship trophies and were very proud of this. Hey, not much to do aboard a ship. =)

After running amok the ship for the scavenger hunt, we realized we how tired we'd gotten. Since there was plenty of time before dinner, we thought we'd rest a little bit. It was elegant night, so we had to dress up for dinner. Again, we caught the early revue before heading to dinner. This meal went much more smoothly and our waiters seemed to be loosening up a bit. Sadly, I can't remember all that we did after that, but enjoyed an R-rated comedy show at midnight with Roman. I think we decided to come back to our room early. We knew that the next day was going to be a big one, so we hit the hay.

Saturday

I woke up pretty early as I just was too wound up to sleep. We docked in Cozumel at 9:30ish. There was a big crunch of people as we left the ship and waited for our shore excursion group to depart. Once we arrived in separate taxis at the Dolphinaris. It was almost a two hour process from the time we left our spot to the time we actually got in the water, which only made the anticipation all the more great. During our wait time, we got to know an awesome young girl named Kinzey and her stepmom. Kinsey dreamed of being a dolphin trainer someday, so it was cool to see the experience through her eyes as well. Her stepmom wasn't going in the water, so Kinsey stuck close to Shelley and I throughout.

Once we got in the water, we were on cloud nine. We got to learn different hand signals to encourage the dolphins to do little tricks such as wave and stuff. They allowed us to hold out our hands so that the two dolphins in our group could swim by and we could feel their bodies. Then we took turns getting to shake hands and receive dolphin kisses for photo opps. Then we each got a little ride on the dolphin's bellies. The finale was getting to watch our dolphins do several leaps into the air and do a little dance. It was amazing time that went way too fast. I would so do it again in a heartbeat. This experience was the highlight of the whole trip.

Shelley and I spent the rest of our time in Cozumel exploring the streets and shopping for souvenirs. We ate at a great little open-air cafe. We were even serenaded. While everyone else in town was living it up at Senor Frog's, we opted to keep it low key, though we did take a few obligatory photos with Senor Frog himself. It was terribly difficult to tear ourselves away from the myriad of shops as I kept finding last minute bargains along the way. With about 10 minutes to spare, we made it back to the ship, though we had to wait on the gangway for another half hour just to get through security. We were fried in every sense of the word. We skipped the formal dinner and just grabbed a quick bite on the Lido deck. We decided to sing a little karaoke as well. Shelley and I did a wonderful rendition of 9 to 5 (at least it was music to our ears anyway).

Sunday

This was another day spent at sea. We did a variety of activities on this final full day aboard the ship. We each bought a Carribbean-themed scrapbook and Shelley cleaned up at clearance sale in the gift shop. We enjoyed one final revue and dinner with our tablemates. I dragged an exhausted Shelley to another evening of karaoke (just listened this time) and comedy. This comedy show brought me to tears, I laughed that hard. Shelley was really starting to feel the effects of her cold and was a real trooper for going to all these things with me. We made sure to say good night to the sea one last time before turning in for the night. Had to get our luggage packed and set outside our rooms before midnight, so that reduced the clutter in our room.

Monday

Monday morning was spent primarily waiting to get off the ship and waiting in lines to get through customs. Shelley and I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and reminisced about the memories we'd just made. When we finally left port, Shelley's husband picked us up. We made a pitstop at Sonic for some chow. I'm sorry, but Sonic has the best onion rings and milkshake, except for maybe Burgerville. :)

When we finally made it back to Shelley's place, we decided to take a break and nap before heading back out. At about 5 o'clock, Shelley and I went to our little beignet cafe, known as Crescent City Diner. We each had some red beans and rice with beignets for dessert. We then went to see Sex in the City. That movie was so worth the wait and I am definitely getting it on video! Shelley and I were both pretty exhausted and a little on the snippy side, so we suffered through and survived our first-ever fight. Neither of us slept too well that night.

Tuesday

We both got up at the butt crack of dawn to make my plane. We said our goodbyes and that was that. I ate a quick breakfast at one of the airport cafes and waited to board the plane. The great thing about traveling back through the time difference, is that I got back pretty early. In fact, my husband decided at the last minute to pick me up at the airport and take me to lunch (something we rarely get to do together on a workday) at a TexMex restaurant of all places (oh the irony). It felt so good to see him again. I was pretty emotional, so he was really my rock as I pulled myself together. He dropped me off at the train station and I rode it back to Beaverton where my MIL met me with the kids. I then drove the kids the rest of the way home. We got home just in time to turn around and head over to his art class that started at 3pm. It was a busy day to say the least.

As it turns out, seeing Shelley is always a carthartic experience in everyway. With the exception of that one blip, we had a fantastic voyage! Shelley made my dream of swimming with dolphins come true and I will forever be grateful to her for just being the most amazing friend a person could have. She knows how much I love her and I am proud to say that I am the lucky one to have her in my life. I will try to post additional pictures soon, including those from the dolphin swim!

Treading Water

So I finally finished work and think the decompression process has begun. I am feeling some distance between the craziness of last week and the business of getting ready for the cruise with my best friend. In approximately two days we'll be at sea at this time. In the interim, I will need to finish a lot of laundry and packing. I accept that the house will just not be ship-shape as there just isn't enough time, but I can at least make an attempt to get some things in order.

Today was very productive and odd. I started out the morning by getting some pictures ordered through Costco, but never got around to picking up...so that's on tomorrow's agenda. Then I drove downtown to take N to his art class. I got some bad directions and ended up walking about 5 blocks extra to get to the right building. So we practically run to get there in time only to find out that the class had been canceled due to not enough participants. If they called to tell me, I never got the message. The were having some admin issues, so they redirected me to the local pool where I had orignially signed N up for his class. So we walk the 5 blocks back to the car and drive over to the pool. The front desk people spent the next 15 minutes trying to figure out how to straighten everything out and get N into another class. Finally, we got the matter settled and had to fork more moolah for the new class til the city fathers refund the original amount.

Then we went over to the library to check out some books for the kids to read and to play at the nearby park. Next, we went over to the nail place so I could get my nails done. I've been having solar overlay own nails for the last few months (as opposed to fake add-ons) and I'm gonna go back to my own next month (too spendy on the upkeep)...but I digress. So after that, I dropped the kids off at the babysitter's so I could get ready for a job interview. I drove out to McMinnville, which is about 45 minutes from where I live. The interview went well and so I treated myself to some curly fries from Arby's on the way home. I picked up the kids and plopped in my chair to blog about all this. Tedious details about my day, but at least I'm finally blogging more consistently!

I feel as though I've gone from diving into the deep end of the pool (first year of teaching), feeling like I'm drowning (again...first year of teaching), to floating (figuring things out), to simply treading water (waiting for the trip to begin). Now I'm gonna be setting sail...okay this metaphor is wearing out...I think you get my point though. Though I have to gush though about how excited I am for this trip of a lifetime with my best friend. She is treating me to a cruise to Cozumel so that I can swim with the dolphins, a dream of mine. Will miss the kids and hubby, but I truly can't wait for this adventure to begin! I'll post some pics after I get back.

Need to count sheep now

Okay, I think I must be losing it. After a very busy final few weeks of work, my job has finally ended. In addition to packing up my classroom, I completed report cards, CIM and CUM files, finished the-end-of-year slideshow, volunteered for the closing gala and country fair carnival, and took care of a ton of graduation and final field trip activities for my graduating 6th graders. That final day of seeing my baby birds leave the nest for middle school was emotional enough. Oh, and did I mention I did all of this while nursing a cold? I may be a lot of things, but a slacker is not one of them. Though I guess could change a little now that summer is upon us. Why do I mention all of this? Well, read on...

The hardest part of all of this during the last couple of weeks hasn't been so much the workload, but the lack of sleep. I get a case of insomnia almost every night. I slept like a rock last night since I took some medication for this cold. Tonight I forgot to and here I am blogging at 5am. I am stressing over whether or not I should return some items that I purchased yesterday. It seems to be a clear cut case of shopper's remorse. I need the items, but I don't. It's that simple. Also, I rememembered that a certain student of mine needed something mailed out with his report card, so I emailed the school secretary about it since I am officially no longer employed there. My one year temporary status as a teacher is now on hiatus until I find another job. I went out to lunch with a coworker/friend and we commiserated on the past year. We agreed to keep in touch.

This is all why I think I'm losing it. I feel as though I am absorbing too much stress and it is taking a toll on my dreams. I dream about the oddest things. In one, I was wandering aimlessly through the halls of a nearby high school as I searched in vain for a restroom to use. Never did find it. Another time, I dreamed about watching circular chicken-like hamburgers on a conveyer belt like an old sushi bar I once ate at. Make any sense? Didn't to me at the time either. I guess that's what the mind and our subconscious are good at. If there are hidden meanings or more layers to these thoughts and dreams, I haven't figured them out yet.

My guess is that I just haven't fully decompressed from the whole experience. To those of you who know me well, know that this job was tough from the getgo for a variety of reasons that I will not bore you with now. Suffice it say though that I won't miss everyone or everything about the school. The cloud of negativity will hopefully follow certain people and free us all of their gloominess. However, I did make some really nice friendships and connections with some amazing staff and children though and that is what I will miss and treasure. The school will be torn down and that is bittersweet. It's an old, rundown building that holds a lot of memories for a lot of people. The new school can start fresh and has brand new everything. It will be interesting to see how the next school year unfolds as the new school gets its legs and starts to grow.

In the meantime, I am hopeful that the upcoming trip with my best friend to Cozumel will rejuvenate me in every way so that I can be at 100% once more. I want to let the stress and petty things roll off of my back more and a dose of my Shelley is always a surefire cure of any blues I might have. Somehow, I will find a way to sleep. I just hope my body clock stops waking me up at dawn. Seriously, I wake up almost every morning between 4 and 5am. I am super happy though that my own kids and I will get to spend a lot more time together now. A fellow teacher reminded me of something yesterday that really gave me pause to think. She said that even though I learned to teach 6th grade pretty well in the end, she asked at what cost to my own family? She said that I had given so much of myself to my students that I wasn't able to devote some of that energy to my little ones. It really hit me that she was so right.

My students are definitely in the "have not" category, so I think tried to go above and beyond for them whenever possible. While that's good that I cared deeply for my students and made some positive connections with them, I also believe now that I am meant to move onto something less consuming. I often felt like their mom and nurtured them as such. Teaching is challenging and rewarding, but I don't want to let it take over my life. I need to remember that my kids need their mother as well. N and K have a summer full of fun activities ahead of them and we'll be making many more memories in the coming months. I did get to bring my daughter with me to work one day and she got to see what mommy does all day. They also came after school on occasion, so they at least there on some level. Anyhow, I need to stop rambling and get back to sleep. Can't wait for summer to seep into my soul and I can get on with the business of living life and all that good stuff.

The Good, the Bad, and the Sunny

So I'm experiencing deja vu...of last year at this time. I am in the midst of the everlasting job search. It is tough, time-consuming, and draining. I keep a pretty good attitude about it most days, but it does get hard sometimes. I hate the ongoing pity party when people ask you "have you found a job yet?" and I smile and say "not yet." Their faces kind of contort into a mixture of sympathy and confusion. I reassure them that something will pan out eventually and it's not big deal. I find it odd that I am comforting them so they don't keep that look of concern on their face. I know that people mean well and just curious, it just gets frustrating not to have good news to share. Anyhow, I'm just in a mopey mood, so don't mind me.

This was actually a pretty productive week. I've been dealing with some catty coworkers recently that just need to have the stick surgicallly removed from their ass. Since most staff are actually pretty nice, I'm learning to pick my battles and let their "stuff" roll off my back. I've kept myself out of most things, but sometimes you can't stay out fo the line of fire. They tend to target a new person each week. Other than that, all has been well at work. I am very busy with end of the year student file paperwork, grading, packing up my room. Also, I finally completed the memory book for the 6th graders and will next tackle the end of the year slideshow, prepare awards, and a graduation address. Personally speaking, I finally got my passport expedited and am waiting for that to arrive so I can go on a cruise with my best friend in June. Now I gotta finish my daughter's kindergarten enrollment paperwork, sign the kids up for summer activities, and wrap up my osn's baseball season. Oh, did I mention I'm still job hunting?

There is only three weeks left of school, so I think I will loopy up until then. I am gonna really miss my students. They were a challenging group some days, but overall I think there were some real breakthroughs with them. It has been nutty and a real rollercoaster. Can't wait for summertime! I am sooooooo looking forward to that time when my best gal pal and can just lounge poolside in the sun and not think of any stressful stuff. Better yet, it will be awesome to swim with the dolphins! Cozumel here we come!

Changes

I'm forcing myself to write this blog so that I can get back into the habit of keeping it regularly updated. I've been a total slacker with it these past months. The reality of it all is that I just don't usually have any energy left. Things are starting to wind down at school. I've been packing up stuff little by little. I even got a jumpstart on grades, so I'm proud of myself for that. It's a good feeling to finally be on top of things for once, instead of playing constant catch-up. Today we had a our final staff meeting and everyone was very sad. Since the school is closing down and also being torn down, it's a bittersweet process for sure. I'm lucky that I've only been there for a year, so I'm not as attached as some of the veteran staff.



I did realize though how much I'll miss my students. They're like my own kids and as we prep them for graduation, it's even more emotional. I'm actually trying to detach myself a bit now so it's easier to let them go. My 6th graders are my first class of my very own, so they hold a special place in my heart. I enjoyed Outdoor School with them so much, that it's so hard to say goodbye.



I've also been keeping very busy with N's baseball games. He gets better with every game. We haven't missed a single one and he starting to pay more attention and in longer spurts. I love that they let the kids play different positions, instead of just sticking them in the same spot everytime. It really lets them try out their different strengths. I am hopeful that he continues to grow. It's unbelieveable to me how much he's changing. He's almost in 2nd grade and K is almost a Kindergartener. It's crazy. Okay, that's all for now. I wanna see the results on American Idol. :)

Getting back to nature

Okay, I officially feel bad about neglecting this blog. I used to be so good at writing at least once a week or more, but in recent months have just avoided it. To be honest, I just haven't felt like it or had something else I wanted to do. So at the vehement request of my dear friend, I decided to update it. It's the least I can do after all the fabulous things she does for me. Since it is already past my bedtime and I gotta get up early, I am not going to recap the last two months. However, I will touch on the highlights.

Over spring break, my husband got me into playing a game called World of Warcraft. For anyone who knows me, realizes that I am not a amer in anyway. However, this particular has sucked me into it's CGI world of night elves, orcs, and mages. It has become a strange bonding experience for hubby and I. He is so delighted that he finally reeled me into his addictive world of gaming. I told him I draw the line at just playing WOW and I will not add to it. He knows better than to push it...:) Anyhow, it is a nice distraction at times and is likely the result of some of the nights I opted not to blog. There, I said it...blame it on the evil trolls!

Anyway, life has progressed in an interesting way. My job never seems to slow down with what needs to be done. I just have grown calmer and more organized. There is so much to do and absolutely not enough time to do it, so I'm grappling with the best approach. As the school year winds down, I have to prepare for conferences, our big egg drop science day, parent conferences, cum folders, 6th grade graduation and all the celebrations that go with it, just to name a few. However, we did just complete one of the coolest parts of the year. Both 6th grade classes went to outdoor school for 3 days. It was so awesome! As a kid, I went to outdoor school for a weeklong day camp, but not overnight. This program my students and I went to was amazing. We had such a blast at Cedar Ridge near Vernonia. Wish I had known about this place when I got married. It would've been perfect for a rustic, outdoor wedding...but I digress. All teachers and staff went by camp names. Had to change my name to "Flipper" for the duration and my teaching partner became "Buttercup." We both were so relaxed and got a along really well. My students got to shine and really explore science in innovative way in the great outdoors. The camp site was really beautiful and peaceful. I want to go back! It made me truly appreciate why I love Oregon so much. I

Well, that's it for now. Not much, but it's a start. I'll try to be back again soon!

Tagged

Tag, I'm it!
I've been tagged by Shelley at Toadally Talking, which by the way is a wonderful blog. This is a good thing since it's been forever since I last updated. Here are some ground rules for tagging, though I don't really know enough bloggers to tag them.

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Ok, so here ya go. Seven random/weird facts about me:

1. I am totally into American Idol. I can be a total armchair critic of the contesant's chances in the music industry.

2. I love the fairy figurines from Faerie Glen.

3. I've developed a thing for quiche this past year.

4. Costco Churros are soooo bad for you, but taste so good.

5. My husband got me into playing World of Warcraft, but at least I can walk away. Some people really can't for hours on end.

6. Law and Order: SVU is one my favorite shows. I love to watch Elliot and Olivia interact.

7. I'm still on the hunt for the perfect spring shoe. I am ultra picky about my shoes.

Blink of an Eye

So today was a complete case study in how a day can start out one way and do a complete 180 just like that. Hubby woke up with a migraine and called in sick to work. That meant I didn't have to get my daughter up and saved me some precious time. I wanted to get right out the door, so I scooted N right off. Instead of eating at home, I treated N to some hot chocolate and a scone from a little coffee stand I frequent. Ironically, I can't stand coffee so I too had hot chocolate and a blueberry muffin. We sat outside his school and ate our breakfast. It was a fun way to start the day. I was worried about Kevin, but getting the extra time to hang out with N just made us both really happy. I got to work in a really good mood and earlier than usual for a change. Some of my coworker noticed how sunny my mood was and one even commented about "the extra spring in my step" as they called it...:) I had that song by The Brady Bunch, "Sunshine Day", stuck in my head all morning.

Then, I got a call from N's teacher at lunchtime. His school suspected he had pink eye and he needed to be picked up. They also said he couldn't return until he had a doctor's note. So after making a series of phone calls, I finally arranged to have my babysitter pick him up and take him home (Kevin had no carseats). I tried to focus on teaching literacy to small groups and the formal observation being done by my principal. I suddenly couldn't concentrate and struggled for the remainder of the afternoon. I left right after school and took N to the doctor. Then I ran some errands and returned to the school to make arrangements for a sub. I realized that I was ill-prepared for one, so I had some catch up to do, so N and I were there for quite some time. Then we needed groceries, so we had to go to the store. Luckily, N was keeping up his energy just fine, but was hungry. We grabbed something from the deli and made it home just in time for American Idol. I gave him his eyedrops to treat the infection, but he had a tough time with it. He's very sensitive to any sort of pain and his eyes were really bothering him. I let the kids stay up a little bit to watch TV and then tucked 'em both in. K wasn't feeling too good either, so I'm glad I'll be home to take care of them both tomorrow. Now I'm sitting here watching The Karate Kid and updating my blog. It was certainly a long day's journey into night...

Catching up

Alrighty, so I've been too lazy to blog lately. I'll admit to that. At school, the students were going through state testing and I've been dealing with a myriad of things such as fundraisers, job hunting, and the regular pile of stress that comes with a typical day of teaching 6th graders. Report cards are due in just a few weeks, so I have that to look forward to on the horizon. What I am pleased as punch about this term is that I have been so much calmer this time around. Last fall, everything was simply overwhelming and I lacked the confidence I needed. I think I've conquered that problem for the most part and feel so much more at ease. During one of our recent fundraisers, my students helped run the concession stands for a family night sock hop. Imagine the amount of work that went into that whole process. Even though my teaching partner and I worked from 7:30am-8:30pm, we had a blast being able to hang out with our students in a more relaxed setting and be playful. I even did the twist with several of them. They got such a kick out of that.

On another note, hubby and I weren't able to go out for Valentine's day, but we arranged to go out the following night (Friday). We opted to go to Macaroni Grill. In addition to their delicious bread, I had their fabulous fettucini alfredo with chicken. Hubby had a portabello muchroom chicken dish. Afterwards, we walked around the outdoor mall nearby and splurged on some gelotto for dessert. Yummy! We have been making a concerted effort to go out at least once a month as we tend to neglect that part of our relationship. I guess that happens to a lot of couples once you add family responsibilities. We've learned the hard way not to let that happen again. It was a wonderful date. The next one will hopefully be at a movie as it's been ages since we've been to one together. I think it's been about a year.

All in all, it's been a pretty nice February. I am grateful that things have been going well at work for the most part. Since the school is closing and there are extenuating circumstances, there is a negative energy throughout the school that is understandable for the most part. Though I have fallen victim to this dark cloud myself at times, I am learning to find balance. For part of our recent China unit in Social Studies, I invited a guest speaker from the Portland Classical Chinese Garden to give a special presentation to our students in honor of the Chinese New Year. One of the things she shares is the special significance of bamboo in Chinese gardening and art. She explains that bamboo often bends, but doesn't break easily. I've literally taken that to heart. Now my mantra has become "Bend like bamboo..." It is a pearl of wisdom that has begun to help on those not so sunny days. I am excited for some of the personal and professional changes on the horizon, but also anxious at the same time. I'll do my best to blog as things happen. There is so much that I just don't have time to include here, but I'm trying. Maybe next time, I will include some recent photos of the kids and do an update on them...:)

Memo Lane

At the halfway point in my first year of teaching, I got to reflecting on my checkered past of professions and that of others I know. People in my life have had some major highs and lows that I have extended an ear to listen or a hug to celebrate. For instance, my best friend has had a string of scary job experiences in the last year as she continues her search for that elusive happy "work" place. However, she has managed to grow from each one. As for me, I have worked in a number of environments that have been both positive and negative experiences. Though I do think that some workplaces are truly on one end of the sanity spectrum while others are at the complete and utterly opposite end. When I was getting my sea legs in the labor force, I babysat, washed dishes, pumped gas, filed stuff, rented movies out, and performed a myriad of other entry level tasks to earn a paycheck. In all those jobs, I'd say it was my tour of the video store circuit that provided me with some of the more entertaining moments. From tyrannical bosses to creepy co-workers, I've seen it all. However, some of my fondest memories also took place while rocking out to endless reruns of Tommy Boy (one clerk played it constantly).

Anyhow, it was when I got out of college that I really experienced the professional world with new eyes. Armed with my handy-dandy degree, new doors suddenly opened for me. On average, I held my next three jobs for approximately 2-3 years apiece. It seemed to me at the time that I was a loyal staffer at my jobs. It took a lot for me to motivate me to move onto new positions. I learned a great deal in the field of social services while working with tramatically brain-injured survivors, troubled youth in residential treatment, and parenting teens. Just when I felt I was finally hitting my stride with my chosen path, I get the crazy notion to switch careers. For reasons I'm still sorting out, I decided to enter the field of education.

Looking back, I was definitely at a crossroads in my life. To be certain I was making the right choice, I opted to work as an instructional assistant at a middle school with behaviorally-challenged youth. It appeared to be an easy segue into this new realm. How could I know just how hard that year would be both personally and professionally? Did I mention that the teacher quit just before school began...the program was in its pilot year and so no structure was set up...and the new teacher had almost no experience? Did I forget to add that both of my grandfathers had cancer and passed away in a space of three months? I will spare you the rest of the story, but suffice it say it was a year of tremendous growth and soul-searching. In a nutshell, all of it messed with my head and took me to the edge. However, I found what I had been searching for...my reason to pursue teaching. I took such joy in working with the kids and it just felt right.


I switched schools and found true happiness in my next position. The Kinders that I taught were so little and loveable! Also, I began work on my masters. Life began looking up and while the road to graduation was a rocky one, I am so glad that I did it. The one thing that has been difficult, is how many job changes I've had in the last three or four years. I had to quit my job with the Kinders to complete my student teaching and that was a tough job to leave. To supplement my income, I subbed whenever possible. You feel like a ghost and not really part of any staff. What's worse, my first teaching assignment was for a school that will close at the end of the academic year. Needless to say, the morale there is quite low and so it can be a challenge to be around all that negative energy. However, I am taking each day as it comes and getting the most I can out of this experience. I realize that it is a waste of time and energy to worry over things that I cannot change. I pray that my next work experience will be somewhere I can finally lay down some roots. Whatever direction the pendulum swings for me, I hope that I learn something valuable along the way and get to smile every now and again.

The Bucket List

Okay, I haven't seen the movie yet, but I get the general concept of The Bucket List. Basically, it's about two old guys who realize their time is running out and so they decide to fulfill their lifelong "to do" wish list. Things such as jumping out of an airplane and taking an African safari are on the agenda. So ever since I first saw the previews for this movie, it got me thinking about how we all need to live life in such a way that we don't just expect there will always be more time to get everything done. We all get complacent like that. I know I do. Ever since my brother died at a very young age (at 22), I have wanted to get on with the business of living life in a manner that embraces life to the fullest. My brother was that way towards the end and strangely enough, it was one his parting gifts to me in a heart-to-heart we had just months before his life was cut short. As a result, I probably seem a bit offbeat in some people's eyes. I've always looked at life through a movie lens...it can be as romantic and crazy as you want it to be...if you are willing to be that way yourself. Maybe that's why I have made some of the choices that I have. We don't live forever, so we need to enjoy this ride while we can.

So it is very ironic that my best friend calls to tell she wants to stop talking about doing things and start doing things. So in typical Shelley fashion, she sprung the idea of taking a Carribbean cruise with her down to Cozumel to swim with the dolphins...a major dream of mine! I was literally speechless, which is rare. Just that morning I had mentioned this goal to my husband and within the day my best friend in the world bestows this wonderful gift. I can't wait to go on this amazing adventure with my Shellers!

Hubby Time

So after a very long and tiring day for us both at work, hubby and I went out for a date to celebrate our 9 year dating anniversary. I had packed an overnight bag and sent the kids off with their grandma earlier, so we were all set for some alone time. Since we were both starving, we opted to eat somewhere nearby. So we went to this little sports bar and grill that was connected to a bowling alley. Yes, I'm easy to please and don't need the fancy stuff to have a good time. While we were waiting for our food, we both had some Coronas with a twist of lime to relax a little bit. On an empty stomach, it didn't take much to get a buzz on. I don't enjoy being drunk, so I know my limit pretty well by now. Anyhow, we both ordered a french dip and some potato skins for appetizers. I had two of those things and that coulda been my whole meal right there. They sure tasted good though...thank you Shelley for introducing me to yet another sinful yet delightful treat...:)

After we finished dinner, we walked next door to the adjoining bowling alley. We found out it was league night, so that was out of the question. Next, we drove a block or two (it was freezing outside) to a pool hall. We played about three rounds and I won two of them. That was actually a lotta fun for us both. Kevin indulged me for a bit longer and watched me play a game of Ms. Pac Man in their mini-arcade. It's my favorite video game from the early days of arcades. We were both feeling pretty tired at that point, so we went home. There were two beers left in the fridge (it's rare to have beer in our house) from new years, so we both had one. That last one strengthed my buzz. Hubby's headache had progressed to a migraine and he was battling a sore throat. His voice was scratchy, but oh he was so adorable and sweet right then. He opened the door for me to the car earlier that night. When he's chivalrous like that, I love him even more for the extra effort to court me. So then I got online to surf a bit while he watched the Sci Fi Channel. Both of us were suddenly hit with exhaustion and turned in early to sleep. How sad are we? We both said this morning how old we felt for ending the night so young. I've woken up with a slight headache of my own, but don't think I'll have any Coronas for awhile, they aren't good for a diet. I may've gained a half pound back yesterday, but I wouldn't change a thing 'cause I had a fabulous night out with hubby that was much needed. Nine years and counting!

Cloud Nine

The title sounded cute considering the milestone I'm celebrating today. Hubby and I have been together for nine whole years, married for almost six. My MIL offered to keep the kids overnight tomorrow (Friday) so that we could have a night out alone. It's rare when we get a date night, so we're nabbing it, especially for this occasion. Those near and dear to us, know what an incredibly rocky road it has been, but I am grateful for all of it as it has helped shape me for the better in many ways. I am stronger and more patient then ever. Hubby challenges me and loves me at the same time. In a nutshell, we were together for about a year when I got pregnant with our son. Instead of breaking up or rushing off to elope in Vegas (which we almost did), we opted to let time take its course naturally. We didn't want to live according to anyone else's agenda and decided that if and when we got married, it would be because it was right for us. So about 2 and 1/2 years later, Hubby and tied the knot in a beautiful service at a rustic old church. So today I dedicate this blog to the love of my life and the bane of my existence (our affectionate references), Kevin. After all this time, the spark is still alive and better than ever. Even with the obstacles, love certainly worked its magic for us. As my favorite poet, Robert Frost, wrote..."we took a road less traveled and that has made all the difference."

Concrete Angel

Okay, two blogs in one day...doin pretty good on the writing front I guess. My last entry was pretty lighthearted and fun. This one isn't so much. As is the standard for most blogs, I write whatever is on my mind at the time. So I was watching various videos on youtube and came across an old song by Martina McBride called "Concrete Angel." It had been awhile since I'd last listened to it and I'd forgotten just how sad the content truly was until I saw the video for it. If you've ever had a child or even simply loved a child, you won't be able to watch it without a tear by the end of it. It makes you wanna hug your own children close to your heart and thank your lucky stars for them. There is an old saying that I forget who it's by, but it goes something like this..."So often we worry about who a child will become that we forget that they are already somebody today." Love 'em and treat 'em like gold is what we should do. Here is the link for the video clip if you wanna see the video for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLwwy-g2wkc

"And her dreams give her wings and she flies to a place where she's loved..."

Boy, is it getting hot in here!

Okay, dare I confess that certain celebrity men get me all hot and bothered? Or is that just too much information? Well, it's my blog so I choose to share...:) I've thought about devoting a blog to the hotties of the entertainment world for some time now, but just never got around to it. Now I'm not talking about every Johnny-come-lately. I'm referring to the ones that just glance and make their fans melt. I do not claim to be writing a Pulitzer Prize-winning entry here. Nope, it's just a little ode to some lovely men of industry. My personal choices are eclectic to be sure, but some dear friends share these same thoughts so peruse the mini-gallery below and enjoy!

Will Smith...OMG! A man just doesn't get any better than the former fresh prince. His charisma, charm, sense of humor, and rock hard body are more than enough to raise the temperature of any room he's in or burn up any silver screen he's on. What really sets him apart is the simple fact of how devoted he is to his wife and family. That alone makes him incredibly sexy!

Tim McGraw...Does Faith have any idea just how lucky she is? I mean does it really seem fair that she literally has it all? Honestly, there is nary a woman alive that doesn't find this man fine. He rocks with his stage presence and melts many a heart with his gifted voice and amazing songs. It doesn't hurt that he has a derriere that just makes a girl go mmmmmm.

Matthew McConaughey...Those abs, that hair, his eyes, and oh hell yeah that voice! Thankfully, there is more to this adonis than just eye candy...the boy can act. That sexy southern twang gets me everytime. Though you just can't get away from that body of his. He knows what he has and works it to the hilt. Whether he is going for the clean-shaven, all-American boy look or the scruffy, scraggly vagabond...either way he wears it well.

Viggo Mortenson...He is an unlikely choice, but he just does something to me everytime he's onscreen. For me, it is the intensity of his voice and that piercing gaze in his eyes. When he played Aragorn in LOTR trilogy, he really sealed his fate as a leading man. Of all the men I've listed here, he perhaps has the most raw dramatic talent. He can morph into characters like a chameleon can change its colors.

Keith Urban...Okay, I will admit right here that I tend to go for the more rugged-looking guys, so a five o'clock shadow is never a problem for me. While this country crooner is very easy on the eyes and is married to a very beautiful woman in her own right (Nicole Kidman), I believe that it's his vocal chops that make him so sexy. He is an awesome songwriter and has such a gentle delivery that is so endearing. I can't get enough of his music and love just about everything he puts out there.

Brad Pitt...What hottie list would be complete without the epitome of male beauty? He is lucky to have the kind of look that just gets better with time. He started out as the ultimate pinup, but in recent years he has broadened his appeal through his humanitarian efforts. His leading lady has had a positive influence on his soul and that has only enhanced his sex appeal. Though he is very talented in the acting department, he is blessed with a voice that undresses a woman simply by speaking. Okay, enough already! We all know he's hot.

Yes, I know I know...there are many more out there. These are just the initial guys that came to mind and I have to get going. If you have suggestions, feel free to leave a comment and scold me for omitting other hotties that may've slipped my mind. Shallow, yes? Waste of time, I don't think so. Oh well...it's just a blog, don't overanalyze it, just enjoy it...:) Hi ho hi ho, it's off to Costco I go!

A New Addition

With all the hills and valleys I've experienced over the last few years and even in the last months, I must say that I received some news this week that threw me for another loop, but it a good way. It has has been a long time coming though. My parents have been locked in a custody dispute over my one of my nephews in recent years. To resolve this issue, all parties agreed to a special arrangement. My parents have officially adopted my nephew, Tyler. I am so glad for him to finally have some stability in his life. It is bittersweet news as it makes me sad to think of the things he has had to endure to find the home all kids are entitled to. He has always been more like a little brother to me anyway, but now I can actually say it and mean it. We always laugh when we get together and I love that about him. Though I must admit that it felt a little odd when my mom mentioned that I was no longer the only girl (the story of my sister is a whole other blog) and now am no longer the baby of the family. Both were a part of my family identity since birth, but both of those things have changed considerably. I couldn't be happier for my nephew/lil brother, but part of me wishes he never had to walk this path. Those of you who know me well, know the story. I don't want to rehash it all here in this blog, but suffice it say that I am thrilled for Tyler and my parents. He is a very special young man and deserves every happiness. He has a huge place in my heart.

Weekly doins

Well, I survived the first week back to school. It felt longer than usual since I had grown accustomed to being at home. In my down time, I had a little too much time to let my mind wander, but it was good to feel very rested. Though being back to work has been good for me and has kept me very busy. I can never complain of being bored, that's for sure since there is always something more to be done. I enjoy teaching very much, but I must say that I am grateful for the weekends. Dealing with 24 eleven-year olds can get to be a bit much after awhile. Though they are fairly independent for the most part. Part of me keeps wondering if I should go back for my middle school endorsement in English and Social Studies so that I can specialize. High school seems like it would be a bit too much to take on, but I will keep at what I'm doing at the elementary level for now and just see what happens in the coming months.

This weekend was interesting. I took the kids over to the home of some good friends, Brian and Rosie, to spend some quality time. I also got to see another dear friend, Mo, for the first time in almost six months! Hubby opted to stay home and hang out with a friend of his. I wished he had come with me, but it was a fun evening nonetheless. Rosie, Mo, and I got to play cards and it felt like old times. Poor Brian was outnumbered by the amount of estrogen in the room, but he eventually joined in for a game of Monopoly. The kids and I look forward to Saturdays as it is the one day of the week where we get to hang out with good friends. Sundays are usually our family days or just a time to catch up on home projects. My daughter and I made a trip to Costco and shared a churro. We don't often get to spend just girl time alone. I better get off the computer now. She's asking me to read a book, so hope all who read this enjoy their week. Take care!

All good things...

...must come to an end, eh? Well, that's what's happening today. My winter break is officially over after today. Maybe it's not the end of good things, but rather just a change in what those good things will be. It's back to school and the daily grind of teaching 6th grade. I woke up this morning and began to immediately worry over how I was going to teach all the geography concepts in the format we currently have. There are a lot of little things that I had planned to do over the vacation, but just couldn't bring myself to even stress over them. My best guess is that I had been needing this time out for so badly due to all long hours leading up to it, that I just collapsed. I know that it didn't help me get ahead, but I'll just have to prioritize really well. At least my heart and mind are feeling less cluttered.

It has been an interesting winter break to say the least. We kept really busy with holiday activities and spending time with family and friends. The highlight of the last two weeks had to be the joint decision hubby and I made to focus on losing weight together. We are both feeling very focused. This is a remarkable thing for my hubby, so I want to support him all the way. I want to lost about 15-20 more pounds, which should take me down to 125-130. Crossing my fingers that we'll both have the will power to maintain this goal, but if we keep our ultimate goal in sight it should happen. I am very proud of my hubby for working so hard. Well, that's it for today. Gotta go to bed at a decent hour for once so I can get the kids off to school and childcare. I'll miss staying up late and sleeping in...:( It's back to going to bed early and up before the sun rises...:)

SVU

I think we all have a show that we get addicted to. Well, my current obsession is Law and Order: SVU. It is a show I relate to in many ways for reasons I don't wish to disclose here. My husband thinks it is too depressing to watch. While I'll concede that the subject matter is often sad, it has so many great things about it. It might be a morbid fascination to a certain extent, but I truly love this show. The cast is pretty awesome too. The lead detectives in particular, Olivia and Elliot are great to watch. There is this chemistry between them that is intense. It goes deeper than just a physcial attraction for them, they seem to really connect on every level. They go through crazy and dangerous stuff day in and day out on the job, so they are bound to be close. I doubt they will ever truly hook up or that could ruin that "what if" scenario that so many shows utilize. Anyhow, it's an addictive hour of television that I look forward to each week. I am thankful to cable so I can catch up on the early episodes that I never saw.

A Passionate Life

This first day of the new year kind of threw me for a loop. It is always a time for renewal as we say goodbye to the old and embrace the new. I got to thinking that there are certain things that we all need in life. I'm not talking about the basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. I am referring to the things inside of us that make us pulse with energy and feel truly alive. And I am not talking about simply breathing. For some, it is the need for an adrenaline rush. Those are the people that take risks or maybe participate in extreme sports. For some, it is intellectual stimulation. Those are the people that might read a lot or seek out higher education. For some, it is spirituality. Those are the people that find comfort in their faith and believe in a higher power. For some it is ambition, that need to succeed. Those are the people that are very career savvy and maybe climb the corporate ladder. For some it is artistic expression, that something that ignites a creative spark within. For some, it is the family stone. Those are the ties that bind them to their loved ones and keep them close to home. For some it is passion, that desire to connect with someone on every level, whether it is with the heart or the body. Whatever it is that you need in your life, it is best to take steps to make sure that you have what you need to thrive. For me, I need a variety of the things mentioned, though I don't want to climb any corporate ladders. However, I do love to read, must have a creative outlet, am finding my faith, couldn't live without my family, and passion is certainly something I crave. Most of all, I just need love in my life...that is what makes it all worth living.

Ringin in the New Year

Happy New Year! Well, here we are in 2008 already. It seems like just yesterday when the millenium crept up on us. We had a fabulous New Year's Eve ourselves. Hubby, the kids, and I spent the evening with some great friends at their home. We enjoyed good music, good finger foods, and great company. The children got to play and watch tons of movies, while the adults played games...though hubby and his buddy Brian played the computer kind while Rosie and I played the card kind...:) For those of you who know me well, you know that I rarely drink. Not so much because I dislike it and such, but simply because I don't really have an opportunity to do so. I'm not big on alchohol in general, but will knock back a Corona or two (with lime). If I'm gonna have hard licquor, the taste must be disguised by a fruity drink of some kind. Yep, I'm a wimp, gotta have my tooty fruity drinks that way. Anyhow, I digress...to sum up...we had a wonderful time hanging out with friends as we watched the ball drop in time square. These same friends will be coming over to our place today to spend more quality time which is nice. The great thing about winter break is that we can do more of what we want when we want.

I did enjoy this past year for the most part. It was crazy busy to say the least. In fact, instead of recapping the high points, I'm gonna borrow an idea from my best friend's blog. She took the first sentence from the first entry of each month to form one paragraph. I doubt it will make much sense taken out of context, but here goes...

Alright, I will finally adhere to common sense and turn in early. I entered the classroom today and got quite the surprise. Last night, as I grew bored with the results show on American Idol, I channel-surfed and landed on PBS. (Blog Title: Blow it out your glass)...Kinda catchy I thought...:) Okay, there have been a slew of frivolous lawsuits filed over the years.
It always feels good to get away, even if only for a little while. Whew! This week was a true whirlwind of events and emotions. I just finished reading my best friend's blog, lawfrogtx.blogspot.com, and came to an intersting realization. Alright, it's not quite Doomsday, but that's how it feels at least. I am starting to feel the drain on my energy. So I got the kids all dressed up for Halloween this year. Well, it's been so long since my last post that I just don't even know where to begin.

So that is the year in a nutshell...not so much, eh? It doesn't exactly put the year in review, but that's okay. I know what happened and if you really care that much about my year, you can always look back over my archives. Anyhow, I want to wish everyone an excellent new year and may all your wishes come true. Happy 2008!!!