its not just me

How Will I know?

2012-02-11T20:22:00.000-06:00

So sad. I admit it. I loved Whitney Houston. I may have been more "alternative" in my demeanor back in the 80's but I loved to jam out to Whitney. I can't quite wrap my head around the fact that she's gone. Dang. Time marches on and we all get older. In what seems like a blink of an eye, I've gone from dancing to "How will I know," wishing I could be Whitney with her perfect skin, cool flippy hair and her long legs to now, grey hair and hearing she's gone. Where does the time go and can't we just start over?

Ever have one of the years?

2012-02-07T07:07:00.000-06:00

When you feel like you can't stop screwing up at work? That is what I'm doing- I took two days off last week to, eegads, take care of myself and now I am on day two off this week to take care of youngest and her anxiety. We've had appointments yesterday and this morning to deal and figure out a plan since I got a call from her teacher last week when I was home sick...she's not been doing her usual outstanding work at school- in fact, she failed a math test and hasn't been turning things in and she's not herself and on and on. So two days this week. The doctors want to see her back every few weeks for a while so that's some more time off from work and I also have some mediation time and court time ahead as the divorce becomes finalized. I feel awful about the time off and I'm sure the teachers/principal does too. I have warned them about what's coming but still.

So next year it will be subbing for me. I don't think I can continue to juggle my children, school (the study at kind) with full time responsibility at the work at kind of school. I've looked at renewing my sub license and have talked to other subs in the district and they assure me there are many hours available. There's another district 7 miles north that I know needs subs so leap of faith here I come.

tears of...

2012-01-31T05:15:00.001-06:00

I don't know what you call them when they are just forced out of your ducts because your head is so stuffed up with snot...tears of no control? Well, whatever they are they're coming out of my eyes right now. I'm up and out of bed because I had to let some of this crap drain down to where ever it drains down to. And to call in, AGAIN. But calling in in 2011 means going to a website and filling out your issue and sending it off to sub-land in the ether. I kind of miss calling the lady who used to handle it all, at least you felt like she cared. She might say something like, "take care" or "hope you feel better" but the website merely shows you a judgmental "unapproved" and "unfilled" until the principal okays it and sub takes it. And then there's the status-how many days you've called in. ugh. This year has been a bad one. I'm thinking next year I may need to be a sub just to manage my school (the study at kind, not the work at kind) better. But that feels like a really big leap of faith. What if nobody gets sick next year? what if they finally cure the common cold?- which would have helped me right now- so I don't know what I'll do. Maybe I'll just cry big salt-water tears of congestion.

home with my cold

2012-01-30T08:39:00.000-06:00

After a night of waking several times to my own snoring and dreams of being in a car with my youngest driving like a bat out of hell as my head ached and I begged her to stop for Tylenol...which she refused to do and only yelled, "Why am I driving?!" I awoke with a head full of snot and eyes bulging out of their sockets or at least they feel that way; I decided to stay home.

Now that I am upright, I am not snoring but I am feeling the post nasal drip that makes you say, "eww" and I am contemplating returning to bed to feel less comfortable but perhaps eek out a tad more sleep.

The fetal position can be so relaxing sometimes

2012-01-28T09:10:00.002-06:00

Thursday was a bad day. I hit a wall with each and every kid I worked with that day. It was frustrating at the best of it and gut wrenching at the worst. By the end of the day I was feeling sad, mad, ineffective and my attitude towards the teaching profession? Let's just say that I dared not go near my classes for fear of proclaiming that I no longer wanted to be a teacher. Instead I did what any normal person would do. I curled up on the couch in the fetal position and stared out the window. My kids both had friends over so they ignored me for the most part. I watched as the sky began to turn from bright grey to dusky blue and yelled out, "I'm not driving anyone home so anyone who doesn't live here better get on their merry way!" They must have known that the shrimp-shaped woman on the couch was serious because there was a flurry of activity and the sound of the door closing.

Finally, after another good hour of staring I began to feel better. I actually got up and did some school work. Not as much as I needed to but I at least plugged in and let them know I was still around.

Friday was a better day. I made some good strides with two students and one girl told me I was pretty. Bless her near-sighted self; she had no idea how much that shallow compliment meant to me. I feel more connected to my studies again and I credit it all to a few hours of curled up nothingness. Try it sometime.

Baby Steps.

2012-01-21T10:35:00.000-06:00

That's how life goes with two kids with anxiety disorders. We take it sometimes one little minute at a time. Yesterday was MELTDOWN MADNESS. What I've noticed is that when they go crazy, they would like me to join them, yelling and screaming and throwing things. They also want me to enact the worst possible punishment on the other sibling who is wishing the same right back at them. Every breathe, blink, subtle pulse of my skin is proof positive that I have taken the other one's side. And in case you didn't know, that makes me a horrible mom, the worst ever made.

Now for the baby step. After a very long drawn out tantrum, oldest asked for a hug. That tells me she had some idea that maybe she might have stepped out of line. I'll take it.

really funny

2012-01-19T18:36:00.002-06:00

Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.

the morning after

2012-01-16T09:41:00.001-06:00

They were determined to stay up until 2am. And they did. They ran screaming through the house all night, eating pizza, chips, ice-cream and guzzling grape soda. They turned the living room into a dance floor, they dressed up in nearly all of Ingrid's clothes so they could look fat. They pretended to be old ladies, they played Radio Disney really loud. They screamed, they laughed, they woke up at freakin' 7am to get back at it. I stumbled out of bed to "supervise" or at least be awake while they continued their systematic destruction of our home. Cereal was not good enough- I had to make waffles - now, I really had to because youngest was threatening that they would make pancakes all by themselves...I had to make waffles. No way those two will come close to sharp, shiny objects and hot things.

Now I'm just waiting to determine when the magic moment is when I can say, "Pack up your stuff, time to go home!"

Livin' the dream...

2012-01-15T16:36:00.000-06:00

I've agreed to a sleepover for this evening. Youngest and her friend make a dangerously silly combination. Not sure if I'm ready but 6:30 is the appointed time of mass destruction. I still need to run out for hotdogs and ~~cognac~~ root-beer for the little imps. I'm hoping they'll both be super silly for an hour and wear themselves out. The ~~cognac~~ root-beer might help since it has no caffeine.

What makes it more fun is thinking about doing my coursework while the house shakes from the thundering children and shudders from their high pitched squealing laughter.

Warning: this is a friend who has made my daughter laugh so hard she wet'em.

She is not to be underestimated or trifled with.

Why?

2012-01-06T23:23:00.002-06:00

Why don't I live the dream life I dream of...like, I'm a quiet, introverted tea drinker who does Tai'chi in the morning and then drinks some tea and then reads poetry and then takes the dog for a walk through a meadow or a snow covered glen and then warms up by the fire with some more tea and then makes a lovely from scratch meal for my lovely daughters and then retires to my well kept bedroom to listen to music and do some yoga and journaling before I go to bed with a carafe of water and a matching glass on my nightstand, only to awaken to do it all again?

Why isn't that me?

What is me?

I wake up and sort through the clothes baskets for something to wear- sometimes they are clean clothes baskets and sometimes they are dirty- I grab my anti-anxiety meds and my birth control pills (not used for birth control but for clear skin since I developed middle age acne) and swig them down with strong coffee while I race down the hall to flip on lights in the girls' bedrooms and begin the nagging that goes on for at least a half hour no matter when I wake them-then I race around to find my work badge and rummage through the fridge and the cupboards for something resembling lunch and throw it in my little bag from the Alzheimer's/dementia conference and then I remember to brush my teeth before I remember that I haven't had breakfast so I choke down a piece of toast and return to the bathroom to scrub the crumbs off my teeth before realizing that I don't know where I dropped my keys and I haven't let the dog out and he doesn't have any water and the cats are crying out for food and they don't have any water and then I'm finally out the door late but then I realize it is garbage day and have to haul that crap to the curb and then I can't find a parking spot and by the time the day is over I get home and fall over on the couch and while I'd like to have coffee I'm too lazy to make it so I just have diet coke and then I see that there are some leftovers in the fridge so I tell the girls "It's Grazing Night! Whoo-eee!" and I have every intention of exercising but then I trip into my bed and awaken to start the whole thing over again.

Happy new Year!

2012-01-01T21:35:00.002-06:00

What a great first day of this new year. I took the girlies up to my folks where I made a large pot of Hoppin' John. I'm just a southern girl at heart- really, I was born in Chattanooga, TN so black-eyed peas are part of every New Year's Day.

Soon I will return to school...both the work-at kind and the study-at kind. Work-at kind begins again Tuesday and let me tell you, it is going to be at least ten shades of ugly in our home that morning. I have not been getting up until NINE FREAKIN' AM- the girls have both been sleeping at least that late too. Six AM will be one giant heartache. There will be tears.

The study-at kind begins in a week. Truth alert! I have already begun reading for one class. I also will begin a second book tonight for another class. Really, that should be a geek alert.

Speaking of being a geek...I maintained my 4.0 this past semester!! There was some cause for concern or so I thought but all courses turned out A. Can I do it again? We shall see...I do feel optimistic about spring semester since the days get longer, I only have three classes as opposed to four this fall and the girls are...well...the girls are still a challenge but I think they are getting used to crazy world with Mom.

In other spine-tingling news; I ruthlessly purged my spice drawer/cabinet. Now I just have a cabinet. And a utensil drawer. And no big jar of utensils on my counters. Its a good thing.

New year, new me?

2011-12-31T18:19:00.001-06:00

My body has been craving some healthy stuff the past few days. I can't claim responsibility for this, left to my own devices I would make casseroles out of m&ms and cream of mushroom soup. Which of course makes that M&M&M hotdish.

Tonight I made Red Beans & Rice burgers. They turned out pretty good and I scarfed it down in short order- on a whole wheat bun, no less.

The girls and I have discussed becoming weekday vegetarians so I've gathered some easy recipes to get us started. Oldest is not happy. She says she likes her beef and chicken. Not pork though. She is morally opposed to eating pig. Must be residue from Charlotte's Web. Youngest likes the burgers. Oldest is napping- yes, napping at 6:17pm. She's nearly a teenager now. I'll let you know if she actually tries the burgers. I think I will tweak the recipe by using sushi rice instead of the brown rice. While the taste is excellent, the texture is somewhat crumbly. Hopefully, the sticky rice will help hold it together.

What are you doin' New Year's Eve?

2011-12-30T17:36:00.003-06:00

I don't think we're doing a darn thing. My oldest has realized that NYE is really quite lame and since I was the world's greatest Mom last night and let BOTH girls have a sleepover HERE, with pizza and Doritos...I don't think I have to go nuts tomorrow night. We'll see if that is still the feeling tomorrow.

Oldest went to stay with her dad tonight. Youngest and I are going to whoop it up tonight- I just ordered Chinese for me and she'll be having McD's. This is living.

Update: The Singapore Rice Noodles were delicious. Loads of shrimp and chicken and green and yellow onions... I am clinging to the hope that I won't go get the rest of them out of the fridge and eat them all...hope is losing. They are healthy, right? I know that I have a huge food hangover - the thought of chocolate and cookies makes me nauseated and I am going through glasses of water like...like...water. I went to get groceries and eyed a mango protein juice drink and snatched that up- drank it down in mere seconds. I am craving Kefir but our local grocer doesn't carry it. May need to make a trip to the big city.

So, I returned to the store today, and looked a little harder for my beloved Kefir and lo' it was there...next to the egg beaters...two kinds- blueberry and pomegranate - the pomegranate was 50 cents less so I picked that. I just slorped a cup full (its thick- it really doesn't pour) and drank it down (in more than a few seconds- it is thick) and now I'm devouring a large navel orange. Another splurge but well worth it.

The total of my handiwork...

2011-12-26T03:19:00.000-06:00

Here are all the birdies I made over the past week. I gave them out to my kids, parents, brother and sister-in-law, niece and nephew. Here is another view of them...

OMG! Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T20:51:00.000-06:00

It is a lovely tradition that every year with my kids, I truly and honestly believe that THIS Christmas is the best one ever. And once again, my brain and my heart have told me its true. This was the best ever.

My girls are growing up and turning into lovely young ladies. Of course, youngest was still clinging to Santa and her main focus was on her own presents but both girls surprised me and delighted me with how they behaved and treated each other and our extended family.

I showered them with clothing this year- they were both in desperate need of new clothes and since my finances are tight I blew it all on new clothes. Thank goodness for black Friday deals from stores they like. I managed to provide a ton of stuff and they loved it all. They did get some nice toys/supplies from Santa- Ingrid got a table and chair set for her dolls and Sonja was loaded down with cool drawing supplies from Muji which thrilled her because they come from Japan.

We had a great Christmas Eve at my folks and I can't even begin to thank my brother for the generous gifts he gave to my girls- Sonja will be going to Concordia Language Camp (Japanese) for a week this coming summer- the look on her face when she read the card was overwhelming to me and even though I didn't take a photo, I will remember it always. Ingrid will be spending a week learning violin at MacPhail Music Center - which she misread as Memphis but was thrilled at the thought of going to Memphis...but somewhat relieved when we explained that it really said, "MacPhail" Words cannot describe how significant these opportunities are for my girls. I have the greatest brother and the girls have the greatest Uncle ever made.

Why I hate hate hate the Zales Christmas ads...

2011-12-22T17:56:00.002-06:00

So it may be a rather silly thing to focus on but have you paid attention to the ads that company has put out this year? A trail of clothing and a Zales box? As if that weren't enough the song lyrics playing in the background of the "girl finds a zales box under her napkin at the restaurant" ad is "Its nice to be with you...its nice to see you... in my bed" followed with the girl giving this annoying lip quiver too when she opens the box...all that is left is for her to service him to say THANKS for the shiny object!!! I really hate those ads. I won't even get the youtube to show them- I find them too insulting...I'm raising two girls for Pete's sake- how are they supposed to fend off slutty magpie messages like that? If a guy gives you something shiny then you must sleep with him. ugh.

Two days more

2011-12-21T06:48:00.000-06:00

until we get 11 days off...The life of a special ed. para or teacher is difficult in times like this- our students are over excited and sometimes they are dreading the break from school- school offers and safe and consistent structure and home sometimes means chaos. This week has been a doozy (we don't use that word nearly enough) and I will certainly earn my break but for those kids, they would rather we just stay put.

I am quite excited for break- I started my end of year purging last night by finally finding a good home for our big brown sectional. I helped the guy load it and remembered just how heavy that stupid thing is...glad its gone- nothing left but the piles of crumbs, wrappers, small toys and markers that lived underneath it. We will be clearing those treasures this evening- I had no desire to pick through it last night- there's probably some spare change buried in the mess...every penny counts.

My oldest had her first middle school choir concert on Monday and I was so proud of her- she looked lovely and the choir sounded great- it was a combined concert with the high school so there was a wonderful progression of ability as the choirs got older- it is nice to see such a great program still exists in our schools with so many districts cutting music to make ends meet. I look forward to her future concerts. Youngest watched and said she will do choir too.

Here she is- she refused to pose for pictures so this was what I could get- isn't she lovely?

Lookie what she can do!

2011-12-17T23:21:00.000-06:00

Okay, I've been a busy little bee around here...Christmas is bustin' out all over.
I fell for these cookies on Bakerella and since I've always wanted try to decorate cookies all fancy with royal icing...(I have to admit this is the first time I've ever done it and being a somewhat crafty person, this is a tough one to confess...) I did it.

Here's the results- when you go to Bakerella you'll see how cute the snowmen are but mine took a decidedly sinister if not demented turn. But, again, first time with Royal Icing...I can only improve from here.

I've also been inspired by the scads of leftover sequins I have to create my own felt ornaments this year. I came up with a bird design and now I'm making them for everyone in my family. Here's the three I've done so far...well, the brown one is not quite done.

I got your guilt right here

2011-12-14T09:38:00.000-06:00

I'm home today with youngest- she's been fending off a cold this week- I've convinced her each day to suck it up and head off to school but this morning she was sobbing when I tried that same routine...I really need to NOT stay home from work since I don't get paid when I don't go but what do you do when your kid is sobbing over getting dressed...you call in. And you feel guilty for not going but perhaps less guilty than if you'd forced your little angel to suck it up again. pleh.

Last night I had the strangest dream...

2011-12-10T10:00:00.000-06:00

while I didn't sail away to China, I did fight bad guys in a futuristic asylum while trying to crack codes to break into a meeting so I could free myself and the other downtrodden masses that were dull-eyed and useless... what does THAT mean?

At least I wasn't wearing a high rise leotard and heels and dancing on a stage to this...

Friday is my day

2011-12-09T06:58:00.000-06:00

to spend an obscene amount of money on my car. Yes, all I want for Christmas is a new exhaust system and a tune up!! Oh car, you disappoint me. I guess there goes another chunk of that student loan cash I get in January. I doubt Santa's elves make parts for a 94 Explorer.

This week is very strange...I have yet to feel like I'm done with school. I'm such a praise whore that until I see my grades, I won't feel complete. I obsessively check and add and divide to see where I'm at...Two out of the four classes are A's so I'm happy and all but there are two more...tremble, tremble.

I did make a list of cookies I'd like to think I'll have the energy to bake before Christmas. Usually it is just the list that gets made. Maybe this year I'll actually do something.

We put our tree up and that was something else. I have accepted for many years, a very short tree- they call them 6 feet but the last foot is just one long branch that you have to fold over anyway and it ends up being about 5'7" like me. Well, July is a good month to find a Christmas tree on Craigslist- I picked up this 9 footer for 40 bucks. It took well over an hour to assemble and fluff but it is lovely.
Photos will come but I can't find the memory card...didn't I say somewhere that I was going to get organized?

I go to school with amazing people...

2011-12-05T07:56:00.000-06:00

This video was made by a fellow BSU student who is just finishing up the coursework and ready to student teach this spring- she wrote the song, performed it and produced this video in Alexandria, MN and regardless of how you feel about the wars we are involved in, this message is universal...we were all blown away this weekend at our face2face meeting when she presented this video and we all agreed to do our part to get this out there- her talent deserves some serious recognition. Pass it on.

its all over now, baby blue...

2011-12-05T07:19:00.000-06:00

Well, at least this semester is over. Whew- I had a heck of a weekend and slept the sleep of the dead last night but I'm awake and trying to shake that feeling of academic urgency I've had for so long. I get to have 5 weeks to feel unfettered by schoolwork. Then its back to it until the end of April.

So the things I can't wait to do are number one- CLEAN THIS DAMN HOUSE- geez, who lives here? Templeton the rat? Oscar the grouch? I can't get over how messy and dirty it is. I don't think I dusted since August. (but NEXT semester will be different...oh yeah, I'll be organized and this won't be allowed!ha ha ha ha...oh I crack myself up)

I'm also planning on making some cookies and putting up festoons for the holidays - youngest dug out some decor last night- the things that make noise. I had to stop her before she piled Christmas on top of the mess that is everything since August.

She (youngest) awoke with a sore throat and a slight fever...she and I will be home today and though I'm not happy she's sick, I'm fine with the day to catch up.

Why, it must be Christmas!

2011-11-27T06:53:00.002-06:00

I'm drinking my morning coffee out of my fat Santa mug.

I used a stock photo of my mug since after drinking several cups of coffee there are brown drips and sludge adhered to Santa's hat...

gettin' ready

2011-11-25T14:55:00.001-06:00

The girls are getting ready to go spend the night with their dad and I'm getting ready to enjoy a quiet night where I can hopefully motivate myself to finish up some coursework. My finals are a week away. I'd like to feel ready for them. Getting ready and feeling ready are not as close together as you might think.

frickin' snow.

2011-11-19T21:27:00.003-06:00

It came down from the sky today. I think it might still be coming down but the joke's on the snow...the weatherman promised 52 by Wednesday. Don't let me down, weatherman, don't let me down.

When will it end?!

2011-11-14T07:16:00.002-06:00

This semester is gnawing at me...I want it done but then I have so many to-dos yet to-do that I don't want the end to come. When I catch myself looking forward to Thanksgiving I feel a sick feeling rising and I realize that I have several projects that must be turned in by then so I mentally slap myself and say, "How dare you wish for Thanksgiving!!" Then I might think about putting up the Christmas tree and then I have that same sick feeling because that will be when finals are done and I'm not ready for finals yet so "stop thinking about it and study, dummy!!" How's that for indecision?

I did manage to complete all my recorder videos- yes, me playing the recorder. I got the last one turned in yesterday. "Big City Polka" - a fast moving little son of a bugger piece that took far too long to get a clean take but finally I did and off it went. Once I'm graded I will delete all videos from my computer and never think of it again. No Oscar for my portrayal of a gifted recorderist as I toot away on my blue plastic instrument. For the first couple videos I made an attempt to look presentable but yesterday I was still in my jammies with hair all askew and my less than glamorous Sara Palin type glasses- I won't wear them out in public- I use my old cool glasses to do that but the large frameless glasses are best for studying- not for looking cute. My professor is probably going to blanch at the decline of my appearance over the course of the semester. Too bad.

I got older

2011-11-10T21:35:00.000-06:00

I've certainly been resting on those party photo laurels, haven't I? So what has happened since? I got older. But prior to that, I had to endure the holy house of horror - both girls got hit with a BAAAAADDDDDD! stomach bug- youngest took last Friday and Saturday- we had some good times on Sunday and then wouldn't you know it, oldest had to do what her sister did and do it better- show her up by upchucking more and for a longer duration...even the dog and both cats threw up over the weekend!

After youngest let the first one fly, I ceased all coffee consumption and made lots of rice- I ate nothing but rice in hopes of staving it off and it seemed to work. I did have to miss two days of work (unpaid- I have NO sick time left) and my birthday, which was on Monday and happened to be a day off from school, was spent chasing after oldest with sanitizing wipes and Clorox solution.

So no cake this year.

The Party or, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

2011-10-29T20:00:00.001-05:00

Here's what I did today- all the food was made today, by my selfish hands for my darling cherubs- the oldest little angel announced half way into the party that she was just going to go to bed. I can't even believe how rude that little sweet baboo can be!! But old selfish me, I told her she needed to remain awake while her guests were here - they all leave at nine so you can see how mean I am to make a 12 year old stay awake until that time of night!!
Anyway- there is a lot of food - we had some no shows so I could have done with a bit less...I've opted out of making popcorn for their movie and have ordered them to consume nothing but sweets- I can handle savory leftovers but all that sugar needs to go!!!! Enjoy the photos...

Dead Finger cookies- before...

Mummy dogs in the making...

Monster eyes- chillin' and waiting for the oven

Dead finger cookies after...

Cupcakes and s'mores on a stick...

The sort of spiderwebby entry with helim balloons...(see previous post)

The mummy dogs and monster eyes ready to be consumed...

OMG Margaret!! I got drenched in lake crazy AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

2011-10-29T18:39:00.000-05:00

You know how you spend a morning having coffee with some friends and you talk about the perils of raising girls and you build each other up about how "we're NOT bad moms- they're crazy!" and you promise not to let them pull you into and under the swirling dark waters of Lake Crazy? AND THEN you go home and make cookies and shit for a Halloween party and then decide instead of having their dad drive them home you'll just meet up at the party store so you can pick up a bunch of helium balloons (because you are, after all, a selfish person) and then your oldest goes jumping off the deep end, holding on to your shirt and down you go...Oldest decided that it wasn't enough that I'd spent close to 150 bucks I didn't really have to create this amazing party, not to mention the man hours spent making several halloween themed creations...nope, not enough, suddenly the child who ASSURED me she was not dressing up and did not need a costume- needs a costume. So she gets her dad to agree to buy it and while I spent 20 minutes getting balloons and waiting in a massive line...she was busy NOT deciding. As it was getting close to three, I really needed to get going- I gave her two minutes but she couldn't make a decision so I said, "sorry, if there's going to be a party, we need to go now." That didn't sit well with her and I got an ear full in the car- so what does any sane mom do? Throw off the clothes and dive right in!! I think my exact words, as I was floundering in the deepest part of Lake Crazy, were, "Take it!! Take it all!!!!!! (throwing my purse at her) You won't be happy until every dime I make is spent on YOU!!!!!!" I may even have mentioned that she wouldn't be happy until I opened a vein and bled dry for her...great parenting moments, eh? So, she sulked- threatened to cancel the party via text message...told me I was a mean and selfish person...and then called her dad, sweet talked him into going back to the party store, sending photos of all the costumes until she found one she liked and then he drove it down to her - 20 miles. Who is the good parent in this story?
right- I am still selfish and mean and dad got a big thank you- I was told she was going to just stay on the computer and ignore the party...

So, fast forward...the party is going on and is she wearing the costume that was so hard won? nope. That wouldn't be cool!! But she is having fun so I don't have to worry about that! Whew!!

October miracle

2011-10-26T06:40:00.000-05:00

My youngest took the dyson to her room to vacuum and I warned her it wasn't working...she ran it and came out to say that it did work. Wha? I quickly jumped into action and tested it on the livingroom floor and Lo' did it work!! Not only was it working but it was sucking like...like...what's that thing that sucks really good? anyway, it works. Whatever I did to it must have knocked something free because that sucker sucks. Whew!! My procrastination paid off big time! I am so glad I didn't buy a cheap vacuum. Hooray for lazy.

But with the happy there is always a sad...I got some jeans from Lands End- I've been buying them from Old Navy but the low rise is problematic for me at school so I thought I'd give the Lands End traditional fit a test- the jeans were only 14 bucks- when they arrived they looked okay and I wore them to school yesterday. The waist is soooooooooo high I felt like I had a corset on all day!! These are some Mom jeans on steroids- the pockets are so deep that when I got in the car and went to grab the keys from my pocket I couldn't get to them. When I hit the bottom of a pocket I'm almost up to my elbow. Gads. I know I wore them this way in the 80's but my body was skinny then and I hadn't been wearing low rise for several years prior. This was the most disturbing feeling I've had in a long time! Definitely not tucking jeans unless my girls are really nasty and I decide to meet them at school in front of their friends...they'd be scarred for life. Oh well, 14 bucks was a small price to pay for a lesson learned.

And in case you were wondering...

2011-10-22T21:17:00.000-05:00

I have not done anything about a vacuum. I think we'll just take our chances with the dust bunnies- when I open the door and get a good breeze in the house, the dog hair does tend to clump in the corners. Once they get knee high I'll be able to easily scoop them into a bag and take them outside.

Where do I get the energy?

2011-10-22T21:15:00.000-05:00

No, really, I'm asking, where do I get the energy to live my life? I've tried coffee, diet coke and too much food and none of those seem to work.

Today was a great day of lots of things all stuffed into the hours that have passed since I woke. Not only did I manage a pancake breakfast after early morning reading in bed with my youngest...I managed to complete my dreaded P.E. lesson plan that I can't tell you how I've agonized over. Just trust me on this- the class is driving me batty and this lesson was a monkey on my back, an albatross around my neck...you get the idea. That done and uploaded I made my way through two papers for music and two lovely recordings of moi playing the recorder that I then uploaded for my professor to endure. I moved on to art and finished up a power point and got that uploaded. It feels like I've been uploading all day!

But that is not all I did, no!! I took my two girls to ye olde pumpkin patch where they searched high and low for the perfect pumpkin to grace our front stoop. Actually, this didn't take long at all- somethings get easier as they get older- we were there and on our way in less than 25 minutes. Seems that pumpkins aren't as mesmerizing when you're 12. They are still in the back of the car, see how meaningful they are to my girls? Lets just see how long it takes before they are removed...if they are...that could be awful! I'll get them out of there in the morning.

We picked up lunch at Subway, thanks to a recently found, long forgotten gift card I got from a student last year. Thank you so and so!! The subs were great!

I continued my massive school work binge by continuing to track my music use for the day...one assignment is to carefully track and describe any and all music we experience during a 24 hour period. I'm happy to say I'm nearly done with that. I started my clock at 7am so I can just go to bed and cruise through the end of it. Then, upload it and feel the joy.

Tomorrow is catch up in Art class day- a day I will devote at least the mid-day hours to creating an impressionist painting and writing up a short paper on Lakota Souix's Winter Counts and the use of symbols and logos. Sound like fun?

ahh, sweet MEA...

2011-10-20T17:50:00.001-05:00

It is the first day of MEA- whoop whoop whoop. I was sooooo ready for a break from work. So far, I've managed to loaf around but still accomplish a lesson plan that needed to be turned in. No housework really, but who cares...I've got three more days to do it.

Speaking of housework...My Dyson is sick and I can't find the cause. It won't suck from the bottom anymore and I've been through all the parts that connect it to the can and no blockage. The hose still works but the point of a vacuum is to get the whole floor and the dust attachment won't do much on carpet and I've lost the crevice tool but I doubt it would really be the hero of the story either. So, after removing the wound up hair (three girls in the this house- we all have long hair- makes for very gross beater bars) and dismantling the various tube sections, I'm at a loss. I thought Dysons never lost suction but this one sure did. I've had it for over five years so maybe I'm expecting too much from it. I hate trying to find a new vacuum. The cheaper ones never last and the expensive ones are out of my league right now. wyahhhh.

So if I do nothing, we will soon suffocate under the ever growing pet hair bunnies. If I do something, I have no money. hmm. death by dust or being broke. Since I'm well acquainted with the sensation of being broke, I opt to go with that. I just can't see dying over a vacuum. So, which cheap vacuum to waste money on this weekend? any suggestions? I'm looking to spend no more than 100 bucks.

Ich!!

2011-10-12T20:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, I have to amend my Poe-only decree. I'm almost done with Legend of Sleepy Hollow- forget how fun that book is. Also- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle writes some tales of horror but they are far more detailed than Poe- more like a Sherlock Holmes' Halloween Special. Poe has a a better way with suspense and Doyle is great at facts and detail. But both deserve the October reading list. And ol' Ichabod is worth the time.

Thank goodness I got that straightened out!! I'd have lost sleep if I'd lead to you focus only on Poe!! Heavens.

Saturday, already?

2011-10-08T09:37:00.000-05:00

What a nice realization at 4am...I wouldn't be hearing the alarm in two hours! I managed to sleep in until 7:45!!! Youngest came and woke me due to the horrifyingly scary noise coming from the kitchen..."you go check, Mom!!" It was the fancy new cat water fountain protesting the low level of water, nothing more.

The big cat was prescribed this 'spensive water hole by the vet to help us get her urine less concentrated. Pets. There's always one trying to sink the ship. This time it's Fruff's turn. She's stressed. (Who isn't?)

She is a 17 pounder. She's not fat! Just big boned! (no, really she's big boned but fat too- another thing the vet said needs to be addressed...along with the tartar on her teeth- (I'm not brushing them- sorry Fruff!)
Here she is- dwarfing the platter from Southern living- that is a platter worthy of a thanksgiving turkey. Which she would certainly eat were it there.
At any rate, she made the trip to the vet rather costly- she had to be tested for various ailments like diabetes which THANKFULLY she did not have. The other cat was assessed this way, "Muffin is a good cat." Really, that's it. Fruff required a half page of findings and suggestions.
For shame, Fruff. For shame.

Dirait-on

2011-10-02T20:06:00.000-05:00

Morten Lauridsen is a genius. I had not heard this piece in a long time and heard it while driving. I've been playing it over and over...

October should last longer

2011-10-02T08:28:00.002-05:00

October is the best month of the year and there is never enough time in it to accomplish all the stuff that makes it great- but I'm trying this year.

I have heard Mussorgsky's "Night on Bald Mountain" but would still like to hear it at least once a week until the month is over. As well as The Sorcerer's Apprentice by Dukas.

I'm reading a-Poe-a-Night- one should ALWAYS fill up October with Poe. I did read "The House of Dr. Edwardes" by Frances Beeding. This is a great story set in an asylum in France which is always good for October. It was also the basis for Hitchcock's "Spellbound" which would make the list for movies as well. It is also advised to read outside in the morning with a strong cup of coffee and a warm blanket.

One must also make all manner of apple and pumpkin things- breads, cakes, soups, cookies, crumbles and pies...I've made a apple crisp but I still need to get on with the rest.

Chilly, early morning walks with the dog should be followed up with an early evening stroll with that same dog. I got one of those in yesterday.

One should only watch black and white movies- preferably Hitchcock and all those old horror films- even a good Film Noir is okay. The exception to this rule is that you need to watch "Hocus Pocus" and "Nightmare before Christmas" with your kids.

Stay, October, stay this year.

another lovely Saturday

2011-10-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

and boy did I need it!! Long week and not enough time spent on school work- guess what I'm doing today? school work. After I see the girls off that is. Then I'm hoping to catch up on my reading and get all this week's papers and assignments organized. Reading and typing and typing and reading.

I've just cleaned my room so as to make it inviting to do these sorts of activities...I'm thinking that baking an apple cake might also make those activities more inviting and maybe if I get all my laundry done and even clean out the garage...

I am a wizard at procrastination.

I've come to a conclusion that all single people should have a hired driver/errand runner to make life easier. For instance, yesterday afternoon I got to the store to find I'd left my wallet at home. When I got home to grab it, my neighbor stopped by to see if we'd come visit her and her adorable 2 year old and how could I say no because we are the headquarters for this child's fan club. We spent a lovely hour sitting outside, I got to chat and the girls got to play with the sweetie-pie. As we were preparing to go home I realized how much I needed to get done and yet I still needed to go grocery shopping- I glared at my 12 year old and said, "Why can't you drive yet?!" She's as tall as I am so it throws me sometimes- it would seem she should be capable of the skill and yet I still must wait 3 1/2 more years before I can order her to take her sister to dance or go fetch me things from the store. I think the government should subsidize the hired driver for all middle aged women- think of the stimulus to the economy! We could put people back to work driving errands for overworked parents.

This is exactly why I am a delivery whore- if I can just click on it or call and you'll bring it to me...I'll buy. I hate errands. Time suckers that's all they are.

I am alright, don't nobody worry 'bout me.

2011-09-28T21:10:00.000-05:00

I survived a clothes shopping escapade with my two girls this evening. I couldn't believe that it only took us 20 minutes to locate two outfits for them to wear to a wedding this weekend. utter shock and amazement. But true to form, I wasn't able to get the light bulbs on my list because a sister fight began to erupt near the children's department and I opted to just head to the checkout instead. I sent each one to locate their favorite Sobe water while I unloaded the cart and then we were gone. I don't think this has ever happened, ever. I'm still pinching myself.

okay...

2011-09-24T14:38:00.000-05:00

So perhaps you've caught on but in case you haven't...I am going through a divorce. He moved out in May and I'm here with the girls and the pets. The long story short is that it was a long decline and now here I am. Overall, the tone is amicable, now. I initiated this so no need to pass sympathy to me- I'm happy, the kids are happy and I think he might be happy too but that is his concern now.

Whining alert*** Beware!!!

The one thing that I realize you don't have when you are on your own is that there is NO one there to make your day easier. Truth be told, I didn't have that before but it seemed like it should have been. Now I know I don't have anyone but little old me. And some days, that sucks.

Like today- He decided to offer a day with the kids even though it wasn't his weekend. I am really honestly wanting them to spend time with him but the girls are not good with sudden changes in plans and I spent a solid two hours fighting with them this morning. One wanted to go, one didn't. Even when they were told that was fine -there was still more fighting because the one that wanted to go, wanted the other one to go too. round and round and round we go.

This is how my Saturdays have gone as of late. Today I told him there must be a pretty firm schedule and if he wants to change it - ask me first, not the kids. I also want him to pick them up from school on Friday instead of waiting until Saturday morning- then it is really not my problem to get them in the car. I think he'll do it but all I know is that again, I spent a whole lot of time on problems that don't get solved and my school work is suffering because of it.

Whining is over* Proceed as normal***

You knew there would be a bright side, right? I got my new printer and I made my day easier by following the instructions and it works great. whew. I also managed to hook up the new wii without incident. Who knows, maybe the money vacuum decided to move on. After all, there really is nothing left here.

Lord.

2011-09-24T07:57:00.000-05:00

I spent more than half the day yesterday dealing with stupid issues that left me right where I began the day, no working printer, no working camera and still no school work done. I hate days like that. Both girls were home with that stinkin' cold and I figured I could get all caught up with school but instead I wasted hours on tedious problems that refused to be solved without MORE MONEY...I swear there is a money sucking vacuum above my home right now.

On the bright side, since I am the eternal optimist...I did have to focus on those projects that require no camera, no printing and I got pretty far on my artist bio project- I decided to do Ezra Jack Keats of "A Snowy Day" fame. Many of us early el.ed. types are selecting illustrators so I picked one of my favorites.

Today will bring many packages...the replacement Wii and a new printer and some backup ink. Until then it is Pa pier-mache day- We have to create a mask that speaks to some kind of mystery...being the smart-ass I am, I chose for my mystery that age old question, "What's for dinner?" I've got BIG plans for this mask-I'll share when I'm done. Suffice to say, there will be paste and there will be Modge-podge!!

don't you hate it when...

2011-09-23T13:19:00.002-05:00

You finally think you can afford to replace the broken Wii for your sweet little angels and once it has shipped and is on its way...your printer breaks for good and the second printer doesn't want to work either. (oh and you spent 25 bucks on replacement ink to find out it isn't the ink.)

coughing and sweating and not in a good way

2011-09-21T10:01:00.001-05:00

I hope this is the final wallop from this stupid cold- I'm spending the day at home as it is now in my chest and I can't stop the stupid coughing and I'm a little feverish so I'm sweating as well- stupid, stupid, stupid. We can put a man on the moon...

quick!

2011-09-18T08:04:00.000-05:00

1. Never suggest to a friend that she host a garage sale at her house because in the end, you will have no time to actually find much to bring because of school and work.

2. Do show up to help that garage sale and bring coffee and donuts and a few bits of things to sell to cover the cost of the donuts.

3. Have a great time sitting with friends outside in the cold and even earn a few bucks.

4. Promise never to suggest it again as you load up everyone's leftovers and make the run to goodwill.

5. This is very important- when the kid at school who is dying to show you something keeps poking your shoulder...NEVER turn too quickly because they just might end up sticking one of their germ covered digits straight up your nose as they shove the lego creation towards you...and never think that putting hand sanitizer up said nose will be a good idea.

6. Always remember that three days after a student's dirty index finger finds it's way to your delicate nasal membranes, you will come down with a cold.

7. Always order spicy Chinese food to counteract the cold- even if it doesn't really help.

have I mentioned

2011-09-16T06:46:00.002-05:00

that there is always a reason to be thankful?
take yesterday for instance...I knocked over a plant while cleaning the kitchen- bad luck- I asked oldest get the vacuum from the lower level- she screams when she gets down there and I have to go running..."go running" becomes important because when I reached the bottom of the stairs I was hit with the overwhelming, body-doubling, stomach wrenching stench of dog doo...seems big dog had "gone running" all over the floor in the unfinished bedroom downstairs. I ran off the list of items I would need and oldest ran, with her shirt pulled up over her nose, to gather them. I filled a bucket and began to prepare for the horrendous task in front of me. In the end, an innocent dust pan, a mop head, and a half a roll of paper towels were sacrificed for the cause. The only reason I didn't vomit was because I kept telling myself that the only thing worse than cleaning up what I was cleaning, was cleaning that with my own sick on top.

So fast forward - I've taken the bag of nasty out- not touching anything- oldest came to open doors and garbage lids and even started my shower...I'm clean and daughter has offered to make dinner since my stomach is a tad queasy yet- I walk out into the kitchen and look at the spilled dirt from the plant that started all this- the annoyance over spilling it seemed silly now- I was thankful to clean up dry dirt with a vacuum -see?

Rip Van Winkle

2011-09-14T07:38:00.000-05:00

I go to bed and wake up and find that three of my blogger buddies who NEVER post went ahead and posted- wah? Was I asleep for 20 years? I urge you to check out the fine folk on my blog roll-they may not post again for months.

I'm tired.
I have a large "blemish" on my chin and a small one nearby.
It is picture day at school and I have to get one taken too.
Why can't I take a good photo even now?

Taking a little teeny tiny break

2011-09-13T21:12:00.000-05:00

from studying. Not really studying so much as desperately trying to complete some assignments. Doesn't feel like trying to learn new information so much as trying to bullshit through those things I missed this week...I'll let you know how it all turns out.

You know those expensive hip-hop shoes I bought over the weekend? YUP- wrong kind. I have to return those and we ordered through the studio last night- guess what?! The ones she needs are more expensive! Yea, me.

Today was also haircut day for the two darling little angels of mine. Having two girls means never paying once for anything...one kid needs a pair of shoes? Be prepared to fork out like and kind for the other- one actually needs a haircut? The other wants one too. Oh and this would be for school picture day tomorrow which of course, means two sets of equal value. I think if I'd had one boy they just wouldn't care I could order the cheap set but not for girls!! No chance.

Tomorrow is Wednesday. As of right now, I have no reason to spend a dime tomorrow. NOT ONE. Thursday either and Friday could mean three days with no harm coming to my bank balance. Let us just see if that can actually come true. I'm so sick of swiping and writing checks...last night was another round of school fees for this and that...roller skate rental, school pictures, and book orders.

Youngest JUST walked in and announced the following, "Mom, I am going to NEED some more hand-sanitizer."

Woop-there it goes!

2011-09-10T21:07:00.000-05:00

Money. Yup, it went. Hip-hop shoes are quite the pricey item! 50 bucks pricey. Yeah. And then we had to get some jazz pants and there was SUCH A CUTE shirt and a shimmery hair scrunchie that tied the whole look together. I finally gathered the strength to say no to a dance bag. She is thrilled with it all and while the shirt and hair kabob weren't really necessary they are cute. How could I say no? Who needs electricity and food when you can have cute dance-wear? right?

I have managed to get some school work done. It was hard to get started but I feel very good about where I'm at after today. Youngest garnered an invite to a fun day at the amusement park and I will have most of the afternoon to work on the two papers. Oldest won't be back until around 6pm and probably youngest will be home about then too. Thank you to the folks who are entertaining my darlings this weekend!!!

We made it

2011-09-10T09:14:00.000-05:00

to Saturday. Whew!! After I bathe my brain in caffeine, youngest and I will be off to locate a pair of hip-hop shoes since dance starts Monday night. Nothing like long range planning and preparation...we have to drive far since I didn't manage a trip to the studio (7 miles away) during the week. GO MOM!! - go drive many miles to find shoes.

Oldest went on a trip with her girl scout troop- they were off to Duluth at 8am- wait...that's not true- they left around 8:20 because MY daughter realized a block away from the drop off site that she had forgotten her swimsuit...this after she remembered she needed her hiking boots when we had just pulled out of the drive way and then didn't hear me yell, "Socks, socks, socks!!" so yes, we were good and late and the two women who lead the troop gave me that weak smile that says, "We fully expected YOU to be late" - they should have told me we needed to be there at 7:30 since the look on their faces told me they knew this would happen. Oh well, I lost their favor a long time ago- I'd hate to impress them now and change our lovely dynamic.

I have penciled in a melt-down for oldest tomorrow night since she didn't listen to me last night and get her homework done. They don't get back until around 6pm- she will be tired and mad at me because she has work to do when she should certainly be allowed to relax after her trip.

I have a paper to write this weekend. Make that two. Will I get to lay around and relax? computer says, "no."

This week wins.

2011-09-07T23:06:00.000-05:00

I think I'm ready to cry uncle. Back to school...schmack to schmool. It has kicked me in the butt and I'm ready for the weekend. Trying to juggle work, school, and the woes of the new junior high student are crazy. The new junior high student HATES it there and has been at me to let her do on-line school since I got home Tuesday...try studying Pedagogy with that in your ear...not happening.

The laundry will soon march itself to the washer- okay by me so long as something clean is in my drawers to put on tomorrow.

The kitchen is piling up with dishes, papers from school - think of the trees, people!! - and dirty socks. Seems that the kitchen is THE place to remove your sweaty socks when you get home.

I think I can see light at the end of the week- I really thought tomorrow was Wednesday but lo' it's Thursday- one day closer to being able to catch up on reading and filth removal. woo- eee.

ONE DAY LEFT

2011-09-05T07:10:00.001-05:00

The girls had to stay up late last night "just cuz they could." Even though it was suggested to them by their very smart Mama to get to bed a little earlier since Tuesday is going to be a rude awakening...they told me they knew better and if you have one more night you CAN stay up late, then you stay up late. Of course.

I got myself one of those funky neoprene lunch bags- cute kind with the zipper and the handles...yeah, a far cry from the metal lunch boxes of my youth. I also got a fancy soup container. It comes with a fold up spoon in the lid. Oldest got one too and I think we'll take bets on who loses the spoon faster.

In other, less exciting news...I spent yesterday morning dealing with the horribly overgrown bed in the front of the house...the girls "helped"- that is, they caught a woolly bear and made it a habitat in the large container garden by the door. I ripped out the large globe arborvitae that had split and was smothering all around it. Well, ripped out is a misnomer, I sawed and chopped and rendered it stumplike. Oldest did get the large rusty garden shears open- a feat I had been unable to do- and I attacked the juniper bushes that were consuming the day lilies. I ripped out many chive plants and in retrospect, I would have been smart to begin with that task as I ended up smelling very oniony after stomping and kneeling on them while killing the arborvitae. I finally uprooted any plants that had made their way outside the confines of the boarder- I don't like doing that, feels wrong but the cone-flowers and orange day lilies had sent many little plants out and once I got over the guilt it did look much better once it all was inside the borders. I had to sacrifice a salvia that had withered down to nothing under the shadow of one of the junipers...overall it was a load of work but I think it looks presentable again- albeit with a giant hole in the middle where the arborvitae used to be- my quick thinking girls moved a table and chair in that spot and I took a 10 minute cat nap there once I was done.

Some sad news, my parents called Saturday after leaving the vet- Lucy, their dog and our sometimes dog, was put to sleep after they woke up with her coughing out blood- the cancer had taken over her lungs. It was very sad to hear it happened so fast. The girls were devastated- they really loved her. Saturday was a lost cause- we did a lot of crying and hugging. We watched "Up" because the dog, Doug, makes us laugh (Oldest's idea) but we ended up crying off and on. Lucy will be missed- she was a great dog.

How to amuse you tonight...

2011-08-30T20:46:00.001-05:00

Sometimes, but certainly not all the times, my bestest posts come from starting to type when I have absolutely nothing to say. Like now. Let's all just see where this ends up, shall we?

Fourth day of coursework and I think I've managed to keep on top of things...that should change anytime now. Probably during the course of this little whatever this is.

My kids are staying with my folks tonight. I have to get on a bu-uh-uh-uh-us bright and early tomorrow morning. All staff are hitting the road to someplace I never knew existed outside of downtown Minneapolis...that is, Nicollet. Yes, there is a town with that name, not just an avenue. So it seems to be about 45 minutes from here. We're there all day. We'll be listening to a speaker and then holding staff meetings there. Not sure why we're doing it there but we are. When Oldest said, "Mooommmmmm...we'll be fine at home, I mean, what could happen?" I realized I didn't want to know what could happen when I'm stuck on the whole school's schedule. Picture this, "um...could the bus drive me back early? seems my house is on fire." So off they went. As long as the dog doesn't start smoking, all will be well.

For some unknown reason my Schwans delivery window is 9pm-11pm. I have to get that changed because I was ready for bed at 7 and now I have to wait up for my roasted sweet potatoes and grilled onions and mushrooms. I know what you're thinking- when you're poor, Schwans should be the first thing to go- but seriously, all I get are the roasted sweet potatoes and the onion/mushroom mix because there is nothing like them in the grocery store. I made the mistake of ordering ice-cream once this summer and it was expensive and gone in less than 24 hours. Okay, we also sometimes get tortellini but the kids have to do some excessive work to get that. And after tonight we'll be cutting back to once a month. And hopefully, an earlier delivery time- it might have to just get cut because I won't be able to make it to 9pm once I'm back to work.

It's so nice of you to tag along on my little decision process there.

Why is it that your kids drive you crazy when they are around and the silence drives you mad when they are gone? explain that to me.

Things

2011-08-28T20:21:00.000-05:00

I'm back from my face to face classes that start my fall semester. I had a great weekend. The rigor of this program is somewhat overwhelming and I have to remind myself to take a breath, calm down, and realize that many people have gone through this and I can too. My pedagogy class will be the most labor intensive...loads of reading and work. I also have art, music and p.e. for elementary students. All those are going to be some work but different, fun...but in each and every class their is a great deal of work on knowing the standards and how to reach them.

All will require papers, observations, and weekly discussions...art will have 3 fun art projects, music will involve learning a recorder (something I never did because I was in NY during fourth grade and had already been a year in orchestra there) so this will be fun. Youngest will be in fourth grade and will be learning the recorder as well. We'll play duets. Seriously, the prof. said if I submit a duet it will be worth some extra credit. We have to make videos and submit them every other week. P.E. is going to involve some much needed and very welcome personal fitness requirements.

Other things- Youngest's birthday was great- the princess torte from Wuollet was so good. Get one sometime if you live near Minneapolis.

Looking forward to starting work tomorrow. It is like I went from 0 to 60 since last week...school, job, kids going back- busy.

WH-to the frickin' EW!!!!!!!

2011-08-26T19:29:00.003-05:00

The stars were aligned because I got a call this morning from my principal telling me a full time position was mine if I wanted it. I did. I really, really, did. I freaked the heck out of my poor children by belting out an operatic "AHHHHHHHH" which I held for nearly a full minute. I explained to their poor jumping bodies that what they heard was the sound of massive stress leaving my body. Life is good. Now I don't have to borrow so much in student loan money and I may have the cash to buy my kids some new shoes. Wow. The kids were relieved that I will no longer be googling medical experiments to sell them to. And that we won't have to eat the cats for Thanksgiving. It's the little things like knowing you don't have to eat your pets that make life worth living.

My first attempt

2011-08-26T07:55:00.002-05:00

I networked the hell out of myself yesterday over one of the full time positions. I spent most of the day emailing everyone and anyone I thought might help me. I researched the teacher on Facebook and found some mutual friends and bugged them. Whew- I don't know if this is really how it's done but I did it. It was exhausting. I've never really done this before but desperate times call for such things. Whew. Now I know why I'm not a high rolling hedge fund manager...

You know, I could be funnier...

2011-08-24T06:34:00.000-05:00

if I didn't have to stress over work so much. Two full time positions have been posted but the frustrating part is that they don't post these internally first...so I'll find myself in the pot with a bunch of people again. Pleh.

The stress over hours is getting me into a funk. Hard to be happy, peppy, and bursting with love when I'm counting every penny. I did try and cut the cable/phone/internet bill down but met with massive resistance from the kids- HUGE fight. In fact, I was told that I was horrible for actually buying a bag of chips when that money could have gone for cable. That was not just said but SCREAMED at me.

Their anger is misplaced...the cable company deserves their wrath, not me. They make it impossible to cut your bill down at all unless you get rid of everything and even then, you still have to pay a ton just to have internet and local channels and no phone...In the end the girls won that round. While I would have liked to have saved the 30 bucks that change would have given me, it seemed like I would pay dearly with them-- far more than the 30 dollars would ever be worth. Kudos, Disney Channel; You have brainwashed my darlings into thinking you are the air they breathe and they'd sooner live in a box (with cable) then live without you.

cool nights and warm afternoons

2011-08-21T18:59:00.000-05:00

I wish this weather would just settle down and stay here for good. I love leaving the windows open all night and waking around 3 am to find another blanket. I love that the mornings are chilly enough for socks and sweats and then I love that the mid-day gets warm enough to feel like summer isn't really over. No need for A/C because just when the temperature gets warm enough, the sun goes down and then you cool off quickly.

I made chicken stock this afternoon- I'm almost in soup mode. This batch will most likely go in the freezer since we're not really in soup weather just yet. But it's coming!!

Another thing that is on its way is youngest's birthday...it is this Thursday, in case you missed the billboards or sky writing. This kid LOVES birthdays- especially her own and really most of August is spent on celebrating this one day at the end. She wore me down with the constant countdown (thanks, Google). She has already gotten some gifts and there are a few yet to give on the actual day. Luckily, Oldest seems to enjoy being in on the gift giving/wrapping etc. She also manages to get a gift for herself each year- but that is not something that occurs in reverse come March...this year Oldest convinced youngest to take her old DSi and let Oldest get the 3DSi instead. Youngest went for it- their Dad agreed and I still can't believe how Oldest always manages to do this. Watch out Donald Trump.

Thursday will bring a trip to Minneapolis downtown to bring my Dad's dog back to him, stop at Woullet Bakery to pick up a Princess Torte and then back to my folks place to celebrate for the last time. Whew.

I am lousy

2011-08-20T07:52:00.001-05:00

with dogs. No, that doesn't mean that I am not good with them, quite the opposite. I seem to attract dogs and babies. Always get along with those two demographic groups. I mean, the other kind of lousy...the kind that means I am overrun with the creatures. I have shared that my Dad's dog is staying with us and will be until next Thursday. So that equals two in my house. I'm also caring for three dogs this weekend while the owners are on vacation. I also went to visit a friend yesterday and met her very spunky, very large 8 month old German shepherd dog...loads of energy, kisses and hair. My nose can't rid itself of dog smells right now. And my clothes look more like a dog suit than tees and shorts. I do love dogs but there are just so many in my life at this moment...I'll be the first to admit that I'm looking forward to next Friday when I will be down to one big giant 110 pound shedding machine. The easy life.

MG's wish is my command...

2011-08-17T20:44:00.002-05:00

Here's the before...dog (my Dad's dog, Lucy, likes to have her photo taken) and my oldest daughter's converse all star...

I decided to class it up and cleared the dog and the shoe and lit the candles...

Now I KNOW I've spent too much time on this purchase. Thanks for your interest!! Next week we'll document my groceries!

It works!

2011-08-17T07:33:00.001-05:00

The coffee table is great for setting a cup of coffee on! Who knew?! It is a medium sized square table with a parquet top- the parquet squares are about 5x5. I questioned the aesthetic but now that it has slept here, I think it will work and I think it has a sort of Scandinavian quality about it. I chose it because it was the cheapest one they had and because it also lacked the scratches that the others did have. More than you wanted to know about my second hand furniture acquisition? Of course it is.

I think...

2011-08-16T19:55:00.002-05:00

I'm really excited to get back to school- both work and study. This summer has been not very summery and by the time I had time to do any kind of playing it was too damn hot and then by the time the weather cooled off I had no time again. damn. So let's get on with this structured time that school brings. I love it. Feels productive and I like that too.

I rearranged the furniture today in hopes of creating a more cozy fall like feel (jumping the gun a bit but I'm over this summer) I stopped by our local thrift store and found a cheap coffee table and decided to leave the comfy but very ugly chair there after considering it seriously for several moments. Hopefully they'll have some new stuff next time. Something that is just waiting to live in my house. Meanwhile, I celebrate the new coffee table- not with coffee yet but with my laptop and a cold beverage.

The girls have had a 24 hour bickering bug that may have just passed. It left me with a massive headache. They have vomited out nothing but insults to one another since this time last night and anything in their hands, including drinks, were fair game to hurl at one another. I really hope it is over and we don't have any relapses any time soon. They are downstairs watching, "My Neighbor, Totoro" and I hear laughing. Thanks, Netflix.

So you know when...

2011-08-15T08:04:00.000-05:00

your newborn actually sleeps through the night and you wake up after a full night's sleep and you totally freak out because you feel like you missed something? That was my reaction this morning when the alarm woke me instead of the dog. We made it through the night. I think my oldest was up late and may have let her out around 1 am but still- big change from the past few nights. I will continue the rice treatment because it seems to have helped the side-effects from the prednisone. Whew- I wasn't planning on being well rested today but there you go.

What does this foggy feeling remind me of?

2011-08-14T11:14:00.000-05:00

I barely slept last night- my Dad's dog is staying with us and she has recently been diagnosed with Lymphoma. She's here because my Dad just had surgery for a tumor in his large intestine. All is well with him and he's recovering but we'll be keeping the dog another week or so before he's ready to deal with her outdoor needs. And unfortunately, those needs have been seriously messed with this past week.

She started on prednisone and it has been making her need to "go walkies" about every 90 minutes through the night. My dog decided to have sympathetic gastro-intestinal distress about every 90 minutes but on the opposite 45 of Lucy. So I got maybe a 35 minute nap before the clicking and whining and barking would wake me and I'd stumble out to let out one of them. After 3am I started cat napping on the couch while they were out and then I even considered sleeping outside on the deck so I could let them go at will. I might do that tonight. It was chilly though and I wasn't sure I'd feel that great but my fatigue today may override and I may just bring extra blankets. She's been on this for four days so I'm in that foggy sensation that only new parents can relate to.

The big difference is that this baby is only 6 years old and will probably not make it through the fall. My girls and I love this dog like our own so it is very sad to see her decline. Hopefully, the prednisone will help her make it a little longer and let her get back with my parents for some good time with them. We will all miss her. I think my pets are aware that something is different. Even our little cat who is normally a one dog girl has been grooming Lucy- she cleans her face and Lucy just closes her eyes and soaks in the attention. I just wish we could all get some good sleep. I've made a load of rice today in hopes of controlling the issue tonight.

when was this summer relaxation thing supposed to start?

2011-08-12T22:45:00.000-05:00

I am about two weeks from starting my fall semester and another week before I start back to work at school and the next week my kids do. Wh.. wha? I can't even fathom where it all went. And I've barely done anything summery at all.

Tomorrow is mammogram day...yup. What fun!! I'll probably cheer myself up after with a new coffee mug- I'll be near TJ Maxx tomorrow- I never get there and I will probably take a quick spin through their clearance isle. Then I'll be off to purchase five notebooks, folders and a combination lock for the new middle school girl. That is a bright side to this- no crayons, pencil boxes, community kleenex and such. Very short sweet list of supplies. She also informed me that she will not be needing a winter coat this year (great, because I just bought her one last year...) because she doesn't really plan on wearing one. She's too cool, of course. I just said, "Oh." and penciled in that fight for mid October.

this is where I pretend not to have sour grapes...

2011-08-10T08:05:00.000-05:00

I did not get the job. I will be ironing tees for the foreseeable future. sigh. I do hope that something full-time will come up- I could really use the extra money. Meanwhile, I will continue to hone the budget- yesterday I managed some savings on insurance and garbage collection. I'm still working on cable and internet...can't decide if I'm ready to give up the land-line for good since that is really the only way to make a dent in the bill and even then it really doesn't amount to a lot. I have to work those numbers because I will have to up my cell coverage if I do and that may mean a wash or worse. I really do hate that there is just no real option for these things- cable or dish...pain in my tookus. The fact that you have to threaten to leave a service in order to get their best deal is such a dumb game. But play it I will. My current cable plan ends the 23rd of this month so I have until then to make my plan. pleh.

On the upside of this not getting a second interview...my current para wardrobe will continue to work and I don't have to practice my "strengths and weaknesses" monologue today. That is the annoyingest question in every interview and I rehearse it and rehearse it until my brain frazzles.

ever iron a tee shirt?

2011-08-09T15:23:00.000-05:00

I did today. I picked out my nicest knit shirt and not only ironed it (after I ironed my khaki pants) but I spray starched it too so it seemed like a new shirt. My one button down shirt was not a good choice for today so I had to look for something else to make me presentable. I don't know if it worked or not but the interview is done. It was interesting. We came in a group and had nine minutes with each hiring committee member. It turned out okay. I think I had a good time with each person. There were quite a few applicants and only two positions so we'll have to see what comes...a phone call if I get another interview or an email if I don't. It will be happening fast - tonight or tomorrow morning since they've planned the interviews for Thursday. Knock on wood.

If I get this job I will have money to purchase some new clothes so I won't have to iron tee shirts for much longer. That would be great.

job interview alert...

2011-08-08T22:22:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow is job interview day. I have to say that this interview is going to be a first. I'll be group interviewing with all the candidates and we'll be divided up into small groups that will travel to each hiring committee member where we'll answer questions. I've never experienced this kind of thing. I admit that it has added some stress- the idea of being paired with a big talker and a young fresh faced stick-figure are daunting. Maybe that is part of what they want to see- how we handle something odd like this but I have to say, it will be hard not to be making my own comparisons during the process and that just feels like a big stress ball waiting to happen. Anyone else ever experienced something like this?

Lest you think I've gone all serious...I did allow the stress to eat me up to the point that I actually dyed my hair. I have a lot of grey by my ears and a bit scattered throughout. Now, did I go to a salon? Nope. I got a box and then set my 12 year old loose with the gloves. Did she listen to me when I repeated the mantra- get those greys by my ears really good and keep going back over them? Nope- so now I have a dark golden brown head of hair with grey by my ears as opposed to the almost black head of hair with greys scattered and lots of grey by my ears. Wow! What a change!! 12 year old felt bad that she was so timid about the stuff I wanted but what can be done now? I am what I am.

How to pat yourself on the back

2011-08-07T23:14:00.001-05:00

Last year I took both girls out to school shop and you can relive all that joy here. 112 dollars worth of JOY JOY JOY. This year I decided to just do it myself. I was wandering through Target (which I have returned to after last year's boycott) and there was the supply list for youngest, right there, really! Since I was alone I calmly made my way down the list and got each and every necessary item (sorry, Rose Art glue sticks were only 20 cents and Elmer wanted twice that...I know the list said Elmer but have you checked the economy lately?) including Kleenex (generic) for $30.99----yup. HUGE pat on my back. Huge!

I also explained to oldest that her five notebooks and folders would come from the 50 cent stack as well. Five bucks for the new middle school child. Oh- we do have to get a lock for her gym locker. She is horrified that she has to change in front of girls this fall. And she was equally horrified when I told her we'd be covering her books with paper sacks and not purchasing premade book covers.

haircuts are the new investment in your future

2011-08-04T16:48:00.001-05:00

Seeing as I have precious little money with which to invest, I chose to invest 20 bucks in a good haircut today. I'm hoping to garner an interview for a full time position at school next week and I want to look like a grown-up not a student with grey hair. I can't help my wardrobe but I will iron the one button down shirt I own and my khaki pants. I'm hoping that my personality will outshine my lack of finery. I'm also planning on being smartly confident as well as confidently smart. It would also be wonderful to have my gentle readers doing a hiring dance in my honor.

Fried Green Tomatoes

2011-08-02T19:54:00.000-05:00

We made them tonight. The girls were eager little production line workers and we produced four tomatoes worth. It was a first for me. We have a very large tomato plant in our garden this year that is producing some sizable tomatoes- not to mention a great quantity so we plucked and sliced and dredged and fried. We tried some with buttermilk and some with plain milk- I preferred the buttermilk. Overall they are really tasty but very rich- we have a bunch leftover. I doubt they keep so lesson learned. Next time we could do with half the quantity or less. Or we could take the leftovers out and make a Fried Green Tomato Stand. hmm.

how to get yourself all worked up

2011-08-02T19:40:00.001-05:00

Try and explain global economics to a 12 year old and then drift into the villianization of unions which then leads to the pay gap between CEO's and blue collar workers and then get really pissed off when you google average CEO pay (11.4 million) to give them an idea and find that CEO's pay has increased by 23% during 2010 (and I'm sure it will grow at that rate or more this year) and begin to rant and lose the 12 year old but continue to mutter and grumble (loudly) about how unfair it all is...yeah, that is the perfect way to get all worked up.

Then the 12 year old says with a smile, "You're so annoying!"

Twas the night before my yearly exam...

2011-08-01T22:51:00.003-05:00

You know, the yearly exam is such an anxiety producing event and the reality is that it goes fast and is never as bad as I anticipate. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying its good - there is little that is "good" about it. Certainly any event that opens with a scale is pretty low on my fun meter. I know that I'm not in the best shape and I hate going and being told that I need to do better. That is probably the crux of the matter right there, I don't want to be told what to do. Stirrups? whatever, just DON'T tell me something I already know.

Update- this year's exam is over and I survived. Of course, she told me to take time to exercise..."Yup, yup, yup..." said I.

He's back and he brought a friend...

2011-07-28T23:25:00.000-05:00

I thought that spiders were more solitary...is there hanky-panky afoot?

why was I never told

2011-07-24T21:14:00.001-05:00

about grilled cheese and pickle sandwiches? I just got my new Bon Appetit and there it was...page 70...full page, full color; a stack of grilled cheese and pickle sandwiches. I couldn't believe it. I made one for dinner and I am in love with it. My new favorite food. Has everyone else had one of these? I can't believe I've missed this. Here is the photo from the magazine...see what I mean?

Upon further inspection of the actual recipe, I learned that their version had ham and bread and butter pickles. While I like the bread and butter pickles on their own, I am not fond of them in sandwiches. I made my version with kosher dills (very sour) and processed cheese- the good kind. A cheaper version but really tasty. The addition of ham could make me swoon.

I am a praise junkie...

2011-07-23T10:07:00.001-05:00

I've finished my blog project for my two math courses. PLEASE go check it out- I'm quite proud of it but my positive feelings must be validated by lots and lots of praise. You can see it here or click on the By the Numbers link on the blogroll. Come on, Mama needs approval...

I'm on the edge...

2011-07-22T14:50:00.001-05:00

of several days by myself. The girls are going to the lake with my folks tomorrow and I will remain behind to nanny and finish my coursework. We're meeting up in Minneapolis tomorrow and get to try out the new Japanese restaurant near my folk's place. I'm VERY excited. I hear they have really good tonkatsu which is a big favorite of mine. Of course, I'll convince one of the girls to order that while I order something like tempura or something else they won't like and then I'll steal from them. It is just the way it is.

I'll also be borrowing my Dad's big ladder so I can tempt fate and perch myself high above the staircase to finish some painting that has been undone for three years now. I think one should always add an element of danger to a weekend alone, don't you?

ever on the edge.

spidey update

2011-07-21T07:21:00.001-05:00

He has moved away and left no forwarding address.

It's hot!!

2011-07-18T07:45:00.000-05:00

I finished my summer school work thing last Thursday and don't have to be back on the nanny train until Wednesday so what to do with all these days off? SIT INSIDE- yes, it's hot out and so we'll be hiding inside today and tomorrow. We did manage to head out into it on Saturday for the town festival - youngest was in the parade. She got to throw candy with the girl scouts and unfortunately, she didn't get any candy for herself. A point I got to hear about for a long time after.

While it was humid it was mercifully cloudy which kept the heat at bay for the parade. Not so for the carnival after- the sun came out and the little world heated up, smells swirled and the carnival experience was complete. Actually, I need to back it up a little so you can truly enjoy...the back story- the night before we had rain and lots of it. In fact here's a photo of the walking path under the highway...

You can imagine the mud that was created then which not only makes the carnival that much grosser but when the sun comes out and the humidity is high it makes a smell all its own...that's what I'm describing- that and grease and sugar and the sweat of a thousand little children and adults all milling around...whew! Can you feel it? I know I did and it took me a long time and some serious scrubbing to remove the carnival scum from my body when we got home. Oh and I forgot to mention that special feeling when you realize just how much money you spent to have this level of fun. That is the cherry on top.

But its over and so that must mean that summer is hitting the half-way point. The apple orchard we like has opened its doors- they only sell candy, pies and caramel apples right now. Even though we won't stop there until they have apples at the end of August, it just feels like fall is letting us know that we'd better enjoy this heat wave while it lasts. Easier to do when you realize that you don't have to shovel heat.

SPIDER!!

2011-07-15T22:41:00.000-05:00

EEK! A new pet? no, just a new resident on our deck. Youngest Offspring noticed him last night and FREAKED THE HECK OUT - in the light of day she was certain he had moved on to other webs but I just let the dog out and there he was again- dancing on his web. He is a large one by Minnesota standards, those long cold winters do help us control the size of our creepy-crawlers so this one is alarming at one inch or so. We haven't managed to identify him completely - probably a garden spider but that just doesn't sound sexy enough- not like a black widow or brown recluse. Garden Spider- it just sounds too happy and quaint. We think he is rather foreboding. Don't you?

Coffee mugs are my weakness

2011-07-09T16:56:00.002-05:00

Whenever life gets me down, a coffee mug is my drug of choice. I usually buy a new mug every few months. My go-to store is Homegoods for a good mugging but last night it was just too far and I went to Target. They have really adjusted the merchandise in the last year and the dishes have taken a downsizing for sure. There were not more than a few choices and many I'd seen there for a long time. I settled on a this:

And it is a good one. Microwave safe- that's a huge thing for me since I usually reheat the leftover morning coffee in the afternoon - gross, I know, but have you seen the price of Joe lately?! Even the crappy stuff is over $10 a can- I should know, I've become that woman who buys the can of crappy coffee. Caribou and Starbucks and gourmet beans have just exceeded my financial reach. To make up for it- I spend 2 bucks on a new mug every season change. It does seem to elevate my mood- I spent last night powering through my math projects and homework whilst sipping cheap java out of my new cuppa.

I told you it was bad.

Here's some photos of the rest of my mugs...(I know, I know, too much time on my hands but I really did get a lot of my coursework done last night)

I got this last fall and it is a huge cup- great for studying since it doesn't require constant refills.

This was spring 2010 - I love dots and while I like this cup it has a scalloped rim that is not my favorite.

This is my spring 2011 purchase for finals week. It is a square-ish cup and again, large so great for studying.

These are my favorite mugs- from Southern Living at Home- I save them for company, usually, that way I can look all put together and organized. My only complaint is they are smaller than I'd like.

An oldie but a goodie...my brother brought this back 30 years ago. He was doing a semester abroad in England during the big wedding. Here's the other side...

This is the one my oldest made for me when we went to one of those paint your own pottery places- the inside is a sunburst...


This is one my niece made- she's only just graduated high school but has shown tremendous advance in ceramics-

thankfully, she shares!

There's a not so brief look into my coffee cupboard. There's more cups to be sure and more cups in my future. My holy grail will be a large pedestal mug the shape of the rooster one but red with black polka-dots...I've been looking and looking and haven't found it yet.

Sum...

2011-07-05T22:52:00.000-05:00

I wish that would just end, "mer" but really my summer is more sums and theorems and postulates and angles and polygons and number lines and blah blah blah than summer. I am feeling a bit down on the math stuff but my procrastination protest can only last a few hours since my classes end the 25th of the month. I've hit the math wall- this week is is tessellations and absolute values. (Two different classes) And while I really enjoy Escher and all things tessellated, I don't really enjoy learning how to create and evaluate them mathematically. Boy, somebody sure is cranky! Yeah, I hear you, but this is MY pity party and I'll whine if I want to. My kids are sick of me claiming I have to study (often they come in and find me deep in 4 suit spider solitaire...) and for that matter, I'm tired of claiming I have to study. I'd rather be riding my bike and having water fights with them. "soon, soon" I hear you say but it just isn't happening fast enough and I have this pile of math assignments, projects and discussions to master before I can just wile away the hours at the pool reading crappy summer literature.

Okay, I feel much better now. thanks for letting me get that off my chest. Back to studying. (read: solitaire)

signs of growth

2011-07-03T07:31:00.003-05:00

There are moments in motherhood when you are blown away by the progress your children make; first steps, first words but nothing prepares you for this. You know, the time you find your oldest child still awake at 3am. Not that she hasn't been up that late before but when you say, in your sleepy and somewhat annoyed mom voice, "Geez! It's 3 in the morning! Go to bed already!" she sits down on the couch and pouts. Then after a brief pause she says, "Go out in the kitchen." I shake my recently sleeping head to remove the haze and pad out to the kitchen- it is spotless. Then I notice that the living room I just left is also spotless. And the kitchen table...clean too. Blown away. completely.

I still made her go to bed. After I chased her around the room and hugged her.

Heat miser...

2011-07-01T10:03:00.001-05:00

needs to get a new hobby! It's bleepin' hot here in our fair state where we are more acclimated to piles and piles of snow and frozen bananas to drive nails with. I am worrying and fretting over the a/c since at 10am it is struggling to maintain 80 degrees in here. My poor little laptop is having fan fits and the fridge is all soggy inside. All this equals me being REALLY happy to double my electric bill just to be this miserable. Thankfully, I made sure to get popsicles and fudgecicles but since the fridge has the vapors that may just mean they are all puddled in their freezer paper wrappers.

I have the day off as well as Monday so I got up bright and early and started cleaning. While I had hoped to sleep past now, my house required some serious attention- the dog hair was looking like wall to wall carpet and the kitchen was more like the city dump than a place you'd want to prepare food. I've tidied it all up and now I will just focus on my math classes until I pass out from heat stroke. At least I have a plan.

jumpy

2011-06-28T23:08:00.003-05:00

Here's what else happened today. I'll try and get it down to one photo a day but there was the mattress slide and then there was this...perfect summer day at the pool, enjoyed by Youngest Offspring...

Slidey

2011-06-28T21:56:00.001-05:00

Here's the photo of the day...I made Oldest and her friend take a mattress downstairs. They took it to the bottom and then spent the next half hour sliding down it.

Demo day!!

2011-06-26T08:28:00.003-05:00

While yesterday just HAD to be mowing day and therefore a complete pain, today begins a new project that starts with demolition. oooooo....demo day. I will be ripping out the vinyl flooring in the entry and preparing the sub floor for new ~~marble~~ ~~travertine~~ ~~hardwood~~ vinyl. Nothing fancy just new vinyl that will match the rest. I've hired a handy man to put down the new underlayment and vinyl but I will be doing the demo. I figure I would have wasted enough material to exceed the cost of hiring someone to do it right the first time. And isn't the demo the fun part anyway? Now, where's my crowbar?

And I am pondering this Project 365 thing and I'm daring you to give it a try. Thanks to Susan for the idea.

Okay- I began the project at 8:30...fast forward to 11:15 and find me done, showered and happily awaiting a trip to Lowe's to gather the flooring. Whew! I can certainly be one strong and determined so and so. I've taken Tylenol in anticipation of the back pain that will certainly ensue. Here's my photo- the lovely end of my demo- I call it "sub-floor with rug and shoes."

Regret

2011-06-24T07:31:00.000-05:00

You never miss the printer paper until it's gone.

happy to be back

2011-06-21T07:07:00.000-05:00

I had my first day of preschool yesterday and I did fine. I didn't miss my mommy at all. No, that's not right! I was the assistant not the student! I got to see most of my little buddies from the school year and it was so cool to get hugs and giggles and all that. I missed all those little guys. We had a fun day and it went quickly. Four weeks of this makes me a happy girl.

I have a new blog! It is part of my math courses and it is right here...By the numbers. No smart-ass comments though, it is a big part of my grade. I'm having an okay time with the course- definitely hard to get into it with summer stuff to distract me. I'm plugging along and doing the ~~best~~ most I can. l really need to dedicate some time to it...starting....NOW!

That damn landscape fabric...

2011-06-19T13:21:00.001-05:00

is all down and covered with cypress mulch. So was I. After two hours of laying fabric, placing bricks and spreading mulch the front bed and along the walk to the drive are done. Next weekend will bring the same activity but along the south side of the house. 15 bags of mulch today- at least that many next weekend. Someday, when all the perennials go on sale...I'll add some plants. For now it is a sea of tan and that's okay by me.

Those damn thistles...

2011-06-18T12:33:00.004-05:00

are out of the ground as well as the stumps from the mugo pines that I removed last year. I fought the remaining two stumps and twisted my ankle in the process but the bed by the door is EMPTY. The 12 year old neighbor girl asked if she could get rid of the thistles. I think when your daughter's friends are finding it hard to look at your landscaping then it must be just about time to do something.

I had just enough landscape cloth in the garage to cover less than half the area I'm working on. So, it looks about like one of my projects. Heaven forbids me from actually finishing a project the same day/week/month/year I start it.

strange request

2011-06-17T07:54:00.001-05:00

Oldest daughter woke up early, woke me up to complain about allergies..."take an allergy pill" said, I. She did and then crawled in next to me. As I drifted back to sleep she said, "I'm going back to my room- your bed is uncomfortable." "Go ahead" said, I. Then angry cat climbed up to meow at me. I gave up. I got up. I let the dog out. I heard, "MOM!" Oldest daughter needed kleenex. (poor dear, her allergies must be affecting her legs too) I went to the loo and then heard, "MOM!" Oldest daughter asked this, "Mom I'm going back to sleep, when I'm really asleep will you come and listen and let me know how loud I snore?" "Sure." said, I.

almost there...

2011-06-15T07:40:00.001-05:00

My first week of summer work is half way through. I will not be working Friday this week. Next week will be me back at the preschool classroom for four weeks. I saw one of my preschool friends at the park yesterday but as for most youngins' seeing a teacher away from school is worlds colliding and he got very shy. I've seen some of the kids from school and some of them look at me with big eyes and some are like, 'Oh, Hi Mrs! Look at me on the Monkey bars!!" It is all very entertaining to me.

I'm trying to ride my bike this summer instead of driving. Sadly, my bike is old and not in the best condition. But my Dad and Mom are bringing me a lovely cruiser from the lake next week. They have an abundance of bikes that sit unused so we will be the lucky recipients of three bikes. I'm very excited about the cruiser- if I remember right it has a basket- whoo whoo! I may need to add some faux daisies to the basket to make it exceptionally girlie. It isn't an electra daisy but I'll make it as close as I can. Maybe I can stencil some daisies on it too...hmm.

It is going to be interesting

2011-06-14T07:33:00.000-05:00

This summer will certainly be that. Yesterday was the first day of the nanny gig. I spent time at the park, riding bikes, watching a water fight and observing art being made on the driveway. Not bad. But balancing the various personalities involved will prove tricky.

another Sunday

2011-06-12T07:45:00.001-05:00

and thankfully, I mowed the blessed yard yesterday. So, there's very little to fret over. Tomorrow I begin my nanny gig- should be interesting. Youngest will be going along with me but I've also allowed her to chill at home until 10 or so and then bike over. Oldest will probably just be waking up when I return at 2.

The math classes are going okay...I think. I am trying to believe in myself and my math ability but I am still a bit tentative over the actual math that I'm having to do..."The perimeter of a room is 94. It takes 522 tiles to cover the room- the tiles are 1 sq. foot. What are the dimensions of the room?" It is so hard not to act like my 13 year old self did and seize up just before I panic. I also wish I hadn't flushed away all that good learnin' I did last year before I took the MTLE. Silly brain! Now you have to learn it all over again!!

I have to take a picture later to prove that I finally have peonies!! I transplanted a peony four years ago and have had bupkiss from it until now. And it is HUGE- I was ready to give up on it and it's tiny little set of red shoots this spring but I'm so glad I didn't. Photos to come soon of my lovely pink peonies. Oh, Look! here the photos are now...the bush is probably about 3feet by 4 feet- so big! And please, overlook the weeds and dandelions, this bed is nasty overgrown and a work in progress...

My lettuce is looking good! I have two rows of this...pretty good for not being a gardner.

This is angry big cat...we don't let her out because she is part ragdoll- that means she doesn't fight and defend herself so she can't be an outdoor cat but she really, really wants to be and complains miserably when someone comes in from the backyard.

why can't this be?

2011-06-09T12:53:00.000-05:00

Summer vacation should only be for the adults who work at school. The kids should still have to get up early and get out of the house for the day. Really now, what could they do in school unsupervised? Would it really be that bad? I vote for unsupervised summer school for kids.

Seriously, it is DAY ONE and they have been fighting with each other and generally being grumpy and too silly and in and out the damn door over a thousand times. "We are going to the park!" says youngest offspring and her friend. Two minutes later, "We are back from the park!" - They just ride there and return home right away. How dare they get my hopes up and then dash them on the rocks like that. And so the door goes open shut open shut open shut all day.

what's up with me?

2011-06-09T05:37:00.000-05:00

Most nocturnal animals, I would gather. So the nanny gig will not start until Monday- that gives me a couple days of vacation and what do I do with the very first one? Wake up BEFORE 5am. Don't ask me why...I haven't a clue.

Summertime and the livin' is NOT easy

2011-06-08T06:44:00.000-05:00

Excessive heat has melted what little brain capacity I have for organization and time management!! I can't believe how busy I got and am about to get. I started my classes Monday- realized that I did not order the text but only the on-line access to the study guides...I realized this last night very late but thanks to Amazon giving me a Prime account because they are so nice to students...I will have the text tomorrow.

Today is the last day of school and there was a mad dash to the store last night to secure appropriate clothing for all three of us...Oldest has the 6th grade graduation assembly this morning and we all are attending a grad party Sunday so it was dresses for them and a little shirt/pants number for me.

Lest you think tomorrow will be an easy breezy sleep-in first day of vacation kind of thing, I start my nanny gig and will be doing so Thursday and Friday. I will have Tuesdays off all summer- that is until my summer school para job starts towards the end of June. So, lazy days will wait until Tuesdays in late July and August.

Late July and most of August will be my favorite part of summer since all my schoolin' (both paid and learnin') will be done. Learnin' school starts the last week of August and paid school starts the week after. Then I'll be busy again.

Somewhere in all this I need to make time to have a garage sale.

I keep dreaming of floating down a river on an inner tube. Maybe one of those Tuesdays down the line I'll just do that.

reunited and it feels so good

2011-06-05T20:16:00.000-05:00

My laptop has returned from the hospital- I can't believe how happy this little machine makes me. And my girls know that they are NOT ALLOWED on it ever, ever, never, ever again. I packed those girls in the car and tore to Best Buy to retrieve it- we got dinner on the way home- me, chipotle and the girls got White Castle. Now I'm trying to reteach this little laptop what it needs to know as it's memory had to be completely wiped out. It's back to it's factory settings so I'm trying to remember what I need to make school work...it starts tomorrow. And I'm not really ready. Have I mentioned that? But summer classes are easy right?

Jump the gun

2011-06-05T17:16:00.002-05:00

I turned on the A/C...I know, I know, it's only June 5. But I've been lazy all day about cleaning and once I forced myself to start I was dripping in my own melt. Hate that. Plus nothing ever feels really clean when the windows are open and the humidity is high. Yeah, that's it. I'm on to something.

Extra dog is here this weekend. She is a bozo of the highest order. She's a tad on the portly side and yesterday she entertained me by attempting to tip herself up on the bed- she got her front paws up on the bed and then just leaned forward, head on the bed as if the big behind would just come along on its own. It didn't. She eventually jumped on the bed only to find that since I was not only wanting to take a nap but I was the only one home I most certainly needed her protection from every blessed noise that came through the windows. This dog barks like no other dog I've met before. So whenever a child jumped on a trampoline down the block or a bird sang or a squirrel sniffled a mile away, I was shocked out of my drowsy state like a prisoner undergoing sleep deprivation. I finally gave up and then she looked up thankfully before passing out on the floor- protecting me is hard work and she really needed a nap.

Tomorrow starts a new set of classes. Teaching Math to Elementary Students. Two classes- both on the same topic. Should be interesting. Even more so because my laptop decided to crash yesterday and is currently at the Geek Squad hospital undergoing a full lobotomy and bionic reconstruction. I will have to pick it up after work tomorrow and make excuses to the prof. already. I may be able to finesse my way through the first day but we'll see. My textbook hasn't showed up so it may be that day two will be the difficult day to deal with.

My kids rubbed the sample of Sean John cologne from the Kohls catalog all over the dogs and inadvertently all over this computer desk. I can't stop smelling it. I think I must retreat to less smelly regions.