Return to one little word

Today I went out with my girlfriend, Marybeth. She has a calming effect on me. She's a Christian, down to earth, honest, and a happy, loving person. She's one of those people whom you wish you could be just a bit more like. I guess I also like that she's a very optimistic person too. She always sees the good in things even if things seem not so great. She's always supportive and caring. She always gives more than she takes, and I enjoy spening time with her and her family.

Well after I came home from our little scrapbook shopping trip, I could have been a bit more like her and did my work. Marybeth you did do your bookkeeping work today right??? Well I came home and had another quiet afternoon. Brian slept until after 2, when I actually woke him up, and Don slept until almost 5.

I worked on a CD calendar with images from my Baltic Cruise vacation from last summer with my mom. I'm all ready to print them and trip them up. Couldn't finish because you'll never guess where my paper trimmer is...that's right Marybeth's house!

Later we went to see a decorated house Brian had told us about and then stopped by the mall to see the lights that were in sync with Trans Syberian Orchestra. The tree in the center of the mall and snowflakes on the outsides of the stores were flashing on and off to the music. It was a bit short, but it was fun to see.

Then I came home and worked on some knitting. As I was about to go to bed (yes it was before this blog post actually,) I got beat into the bathroom by my son, then my husband. I decided to check my facebook and saw someone else had posted about their word of the year. Well I've mentioned this before and it made me come to my blog, look up my list and go to look up the meanings of the words. I've got the appropriate definitions written, I've looked at the synonymns for the words and they keep leading me back into a circle because they all seem to have some similarities. Anyway the list is narrowed to:

Harmony, Serenity, Restore, and Balance. I did have simplicity on there, but when I read that it means the absence of luxury I decided no. I'm able to splurge and have a bit of luxury in my life. I take care of 22 students, 2 children, 1 husband, 2 dogs, and a fish. I'm the only girl in my house and if I want to pamper myself with a bit of luxury like a pedicure then I can't choose the word simplicity. Simplicity in other areas will lead to harmony, serenity, restore, and balance.

I will review the definitions again tomorrow and of course think and pray about the word I should choose.

Until next time...Ciao!

Vacation: Week 1

This first week of vacation has been quite busy and crazy. It first started with my personal snow day last Friday. Then on Saturday, we celebrated Christmas with my family. We had a fun day, a good meal, and good company. It was quite different than most of our previous Christmases because my parents are now divorced. We also decided to draw names instead of buying for everyone. It was nice to not spend so much money, but it was just different than usual.

Then on Sunday, the bottom fell out in the weather department. I was hoping to go to church, then go shopping for the rest of my gifts. But when the windchill was in the -20-30 range, shopping and walking through the outdoor mall and to and from the parking lots at stores like Target and Walmart seems a bit ridiculous. So I just did a bunch of nothing. Sat, relaxed, watched tv, goofed around on the computer.

Monday came and the weather was still frightful, but I bucked up, bundled up, and decided that since the sun was out it was a fine day to shop. I also went scrapbooking with my friend Marybeth. We discussed that maybe we would scrapbook everyday over our vacations. We've done pretty well with that so far. So far I was able to accomplish finishing the Christmas journal I started 2.5 years ago. I finished the "believe" book. I also finished 2 more monogram letters that I want to display on a shelf that needs put up in my livin room.

I then started working on the cow album again. Each of the 2 days I've been working on it again, I've set goals of 6 pages for each day. On day 1 I accomplished 5 pages and on day 2 (yesterday) I accomplished 6 more pages. The number of photos I need to finish is probably about 20 more. I've got some ideas, but I'm finding that my letter/number stickers are dwindling. I have a lot of them still, but I'm finding the nicer ones, or the ones I want to use are running out. My goal has been to use up my supplies because they are becoming outdated and not used because I have been digital scrapbooking.

I also want to try to finish my Texas mini-album from my trip to visit Helen. I also have my Oprah's favorite things album that needs finished. I also want to work on my Baltic Cruise vacation photo carousel. I need to finish editing all those photos too. Wallgreens is having 10 cent photo developing and I should send some for printing.

Well today I've been a bit of a lazy daisy. I have played a bit of Wii. I read one of Kate DiCamillo's Mercy Watson books. I've been trying to decide if I should work on a calendar or start knitting a sweater. Both need done and I want to do both.

Well as you can see, there has been a lot going on over vacation so far. Doug left today to go watch Northern Illinois University play in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, LA. He went with 3 other guys from school. I'm a bit nervous for him driving all that way. They left this morning at 3:30 am. I just hope they make it safely, act wisely, and return home safely. I know they are going to have fun, but as a mom, I worry from the time they leave until the time they walk back in the door home safely. If you could, please say a prayer for their safe arrival there and home and for safe and sound judgements while there.

I still have a week and a day left on vacation. I want to make the most of it and get things finished. I know that next Sunday evening I'll probably grade papers and get back into the swing of school. I'll be back soon with a few Christmas photos.

Enjoy your last week of December/first week of January! Happy New Year!

Snow Day....My Way

Well it wasn't an official snow day for my school district. See my district never calls a snow day unless Chicago Public Schools do. Seems crazy that our administrators won't make a decision that looks out for the well-being of their staff that needs to travel so far, especially considering the superintendent lives further west and south than I do. Anyway, my policy on snowdays is this...If I will have to leave over 2 hours early to make it on time, if the schools in my area close, and the majority of schools on my route to work close, then the roads are probably too bad for me to try to trudge along at 15 miles an hour. So today was my unofficial snow day.

What did I do on my snowday? Not so much; and it felt great! Made a phone call to the college, made chicken, noodles, and mashed potatoes for dinner, took a shower, scrapped up some dirty dishes, clogged the sink with potato skins, and that's about all. I do need to make some Jello-Pretzel salad for dinner tomorrow and wrap all the gifts for our family Christmas tomorrow.

I should also be finishing Christmas cards, I have about 10 left. I need to make cookies. I also need to balance my checking account. I just have little things to do over winter break, unless you consider decorating for Christmas and finishing shopping little things.

This weekend is going to be busy, but what else do you expect hearing from my blog. I guess I don't know what to do unless I'm super booked and busy. I'm really out of sorts when I don't have plans. That is what I need to learn to work on.

YIKES!!! I just remembered I have a knitting project that I need to finish by tomorrow too! That's it, I'm done, that project MUST be done!

Adios!

A wedding and a narrowing of the list

This weekend I went to my cousin's wedding in Columbus. He was in from Virginia to get married to his high school sweetheart. It was great to see him and finally meet her. I've been around but never met Lacey. Matt is my cousin who I continually brag about as he was the one who played football for the Naval Academy.






I haven't had time to edit these photos, sorry. You can see a few more from the photographer on Heather Claypool's blog.


Also, after considering what I want for my life next year, I've been narrowing down the list. Here is what I'm down to:

Harmony
Serenity
Compromise
Restore
Breathe
Balance
Simplicity

I'm also thinking of removing breathe and compromise. I need to breathe every minute. It's something I don't want to have to stop and do. I'm also tired of compromising. I've compromised a lot this year and it's not about me compromising anymore. It's about taking my life back into my own hands and taking care of myself, mentally, physically, and emotionally.

So now I've narrowed it down just a bit, it helps to sit and type things out so when you reread it you see it right in your face.

Hope you are having a wonderful week. There are only 3 more wake-ups left until break! YAHOO!!!! Considering that yesterday morning I drove to work on ice and tonight it took amost 2 hours to drive home through the snow, I'm in a pretty ok mood. Of course there are a few children at school whose neck I'd like to wring, I'll try to get a few things done and then maybe I'll feel better. Tomorrow is a looooooooonnnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggg day with a meeting during my planning period, an after school meeting, 2 assemblies we are performing in during the day and the evening performance for families. So I'll say another prayer to get through another day.

Ciao!

Almost that "one little word" time

Last January, I posted on my other blog that my one little word was BELIEVE. I needed to do a lot of believing. Believe it or not, it was a good word, especially over the summer. It took me quite a while to pick that word. I've been just now starting to think about my word for 2009. I've actually just been talking to my good friend, Marybeth about it.

I've come up with a list that will need to start narrowing down. Here it is:
Harmony
Serenity
Compromise
Stop
Restore
Breathe
Shed
Less
Balance
Simplicity
Prioritize

I usually look up each word in the dictionary and make sure what I need is in that definition. Sometimes I even use the thesaurus to find what I'm looking for. Then I'll start looking or making things that will be around to help me remember.

Are you picking one little word to help you next year?

Ufo in Texas

I saw it with my own 2 eyes. I snuck into it and my friend Helen didn't get out of the car. So after snapping a few pictures of it, I saw Helen had found a bit of information about it so I started looking into it too.




Now here are a few links that will explain about this UFO.
Here are a few photos.



This one has an interesting video.

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving. There is so much in my life I have to be thankful for. I've got a great husband and two wonderful sons. I have two adorable dogs who greet me everyday at the door. I even "have" a cat I guess. My husband has started feeding the stray outside. I have a great family. I'm lucky to have a job that isn't affected by the economic downturn in the stockmarket. I also am grateful to have a second job that helps pay the bills also.

I have some really great friends. My friend Marybeth and I are supposed to spend our black Friday in our own little scrapfest. I can't wait.

I also have a wonderful friend Helen, who lives in Texas. When she knew my life was a bit stressful, she offers me a free ticket to come down to visit. He opened her home and her heart to give me a weekend of fun and a bit less stress. The weather was beautiful. Meeting her kids was a lot of fun. Her husband fixed a great dinner on Sunday of homemade BBQ pulled beef brisquet. Her house is new and beautiful. She's got a wonderful space that she's working on turning into a scrapbook room that when finished will be so inspiring and cozy.

Helen, I can't thank you enough for the wonderful weekend you gave me. She also sent me home with some delicious minty, chocolatey Austrailian cookies. I was nice and shared with my lunch group at school. They thought they very much tasted like Girl Scout Cookies.

I know there are so many things I have to be thankful for. There is so much God has provided for us and so often it is simply an afterthought. God has blessed us with such a great life and great friends. If we fail to thank him for his bountiful blessings, then we forget the whole meaning of Thanksgiving.

Thanks be to God for the wonders he continually provides.

So again, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. It should be something we actually remember to celebrate each and every day.

Next projects

I'm a never ending source of next projects. I'm horrible about starting something and not ever totally finishing it. Like now, my hat, made with yarn from Finland is sitting 95% complete. I only need to finish those i-cords. That is if I truly feel I want them on there. I must think I do because I keep wanting to finish them.

I also have a sweater in process. I've lost interest in that for now; partially because I'm having problems getting the sleeves started and I don't know 100% how to connect them or that I'm sizing things correctly. I'm seriously considering taking another knitting class about sizing things properly and reading patterns.

For now, I've also got 2 new projects sitting on the back burners. One is this sweater. It's called the Amhurst cardigan. I also have yarn from Finland for this. It's all knitting so it should really go fast. I just am not sure which size to make it in. I think I'll take my yarn, and buy the pattern online, and take it to the knitting shop for a bit of help. I've been trying to find a knitting group but I just haven't yet found the right one for me.

I've also got this in mind too. This one was made by Lisa McGarvey at 2 peas in a bucket. I had a difficult time deciding what size I wanted mine in. 7 Gypsies first created a 2x3 altered trading card size (which is what the photo was) and now they have a 4x6 size. The 4x6 was more expensive by $10.00 but It would give me more room. I don't intend on using the photo sleves, just putting on the photos and the pages and the journaling. I've taken over 600 photos on my cruise and I want to squeeze as many of those puppies on as possible.

But until my Christmas journal is finished, I can't really start on either project. I'm having an all day scrapfest with my friend Marybeth on Black Friday! I'm so excited I just can't wait. I'm excited about all the time off in the upcoming future. I just want to sit and be creative. I guess I'll need to budget in the cost of printing all of my photos too. Maybe I'll start small just do one country at a time.

Until then, I've got Christmas shopping to do. I did accomplish getting 3 gifts today. I've got other ideas and that's the best part, I'll just be able to accumulate the money and make a big shopping swoop. I'm actually getting excited about also putting up some Christmas decorations. It will be simple again, but I can't wait to get the icicle lights up in the living room and warm up the cold, dark nights.

Well I've got pumpkin bread half made and now Don brought me the veggie oil I ran out of. I can get it made and in the oven so I can hopefully get to bed at a half way decent time tonight.

Not such a downer

Lately most of my blog posts, to me have been such downers. My life lately has been in a state of influx or turmoil, but althought today I was a bit lazy, it felt good to be lazy.

School is still school. Each day is difficult. God doesn't let me sit down on the job, especially on Fridays with no planning period, he continually pushes me to be better and be on my toes. I admit it, I have an extremely difficult class. I have a handful of great ones, they're all great in their own way, just sometimes I have a difficult time seeing the good for the bad. I have some difficult ones, and then there are some really difficult ones. The difficult ones are really quite needy.

I got a new boy last week. I thought he was slacking off, making excuses. I called mom and she told the secretary that he is lazy. Well the word lazy didn't translate well because she meant slow. She graciously came in the next available afternoon and we had a 30 minute meeting. Through a bilingual teacher I found out that he was involved in an underwater accident that involved him being revived. He's got a brain injury from lack of oxygen. So now I've found myself trying to help another child who needs more than I can truly give. I know I can help him, but with 5 discipline issues and other low students there isn't enough of me to go around. I don't have the special education background I need to help way too many of my students. So I know God has put him with me for a reason, maybe to test my patience, or push me to be better at modifying and differentiation. Maybe because I have the littlest bit of knowledge about special education and the fact that he needs it and I'm the one to finally help him and his parents. I don't know, I just know that working with this boy is going to make each day a bit harder.

Anyway, I mentioned this post wasn't going to be such a downer. I have to say I'm trying to say "no" a bit more often and "yes" to myself more. Like today, I could have stayed home all day, wrote bills, laundry, graded papers, cleaned my room, and a bunch of other things, but I went out and ran a few errands, that weren't too tedious (like buying 6 yards of fleece for a school Christmas project and a trip to Archivers.) Picked Don up, went and ate a quick bite at Wendys and went to the grocery store. For as long as it's been since we've been to the store and it being a Saturday, we were there, back, and had it put away in about an hour and a half.

I've also been putzing around on the computer for a while tonight. But when I got online, I gathered up my bills and put through some online payments. then I decided to throw in a bit of laundry so I don't have to do it tomorrow. I also bought some songs from Itunes with some leftover money from a giftcard I had. Don was out with friends for dinner and he came home and heard I was poking around on Itunes and realized I was bored. Yep, bored is right. I don't want to sit and watch television, or grade papers. I want to sit and scrapbook the Christmas journal from a Christmas past so it gets done. I want to start on another project. The photos from my European trip. I figured I can grade papers tomorrow night. I also could sit and knit on some i-cords for my hat. I think knitting is why my little finger hurts a lot and it's really just starting to feel better. I know that's an excuse.

So I have a bit of time before I will go to bed. Have to wait for Brian to get home and then I'll turn into a pumpkin.

So on that note, I hope you can see that I'm a bit more positive and then there are a few things I'm just not dealing with much related to Brian so that relieves a lot of stress and pressure from me.

I should try to get a few things put on Craig's list tomorrow. I'm sure someone might like to buy the 3 coats I'm going to try to put up. They're in really nice shape. Cross your fingers!

I long for Copenhagen

I was just finishing reading my last post and looked up at my header photo. Oh how relaxing it would be just to pop into Copenhagen and just chill out. I'm sure it would be a real chill considering they are much further north and it's mid November. Can you believe it's really Mid November already? I can't. We picked grab bag names last night while at my mom's for her birthday. A bit early for her day, but it was the only open weekend for most of us.

On another happy note...I'm headed to Texas in a little over a week to see my friend Helen! I'm so excited to go. I hope the weather is a bit warmer than it is here and definetly a bit cooperative so I don't get stuck anywhere. I found a really cool project I'd like to work on but it would involve having a lot of stuff (as in scrapbooking) around and all my pictures from Europe edited. I know that isn't really going to happen. It's something I can keep in the works. I'm really not supposed to do any other projects until I get my Christmas Journal finished. That's according to Marybeth!

Speaking of my friend, Marybeth, I went to have a few hours of scrapbooking with her yesterday. I accomplished 2 things. One I finished a frame my sister asked me to make for my nephew. Second I accomplished one page in the Christmas journal. I know it doesn't sound like much but we sat and gabbed a lot about politics at the beginning. Then after getting one project done, we had a snack. I brought some banana bread I baked and a delicious Honey Crisp apple. Then we goofed around when we started discussing my new bra. We also set the date for our next scrapbook day. We'll be scrapbooking all day the day after Thanksgiving! I'm so excited, I just can't wait. I don't know if I'm more excited about scrapbooking, spending the day with Marybeth, or just being off for 5 days in a row! Anyway it's all good.

I've also found a new organizational tool for me. I found a desk divider that has 3 drawers, two mail slots and a top area. I've gotten my bills mostly organized into it along with stamps, calculator, and other odds and ends I need to write bills. Before now, they were just stacked in a pile on the corner of the dining room table or on the chest in the dining room. I have also been trying to file right after I finish writing the bills. I still have a couple of smaller piles I need to work though but it's slowly becoming an organizational tool that is working for me. Since I took over the bills, I found that if I write bills and pay them online once a week that I manage better. It was a disorganized mess when I took them over. I'm so glad that I got worked through the stuff while I was off over the summer because it makes things a bit less stressful during the school year.

So any big plans for Thanksgiving? We're not sure what we'll be doing. I'm sure we'll be doing something with my mom. My sister will I'm sure do something with her husband's family, my brother and sil will be in Florida, and that leaves us, mom and my dad. I'm not sure what he'll be doing though either. Doug will be home probably the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. NIU is playing Navy on that Tuesday. A big ESPN2 televised game and he'll take his free student ticket and go. Both teams are close to his heart. I'm sure now that he'd prefer NIU to win because that's his school, and my cousin no longer plays for Navy.

Have you got things in order for Christmas? We drew grab bag names last night at my mom's birthday. I got someone and Don got someone, but we didn't get one another. That was against the rules since we will already buy for our spouses. We should be getting lists out by the 15th. I've already started my list for what I think I might want to buy for Don and the boys. I've got ideas for my younger nephew, and sure my older nephew will want a gift card to somewhere. Trying to think of something fun to make for a friend at school as we always exchange something small or homemade. Anyone have any cute and fun little ideas?

Ok, I have to blame this on Marybeth yesterday. I've started listening to Christmas CD's. They are relaxing to me and I thought it might help me relax a bit. The radio station WLIT will start playing Christmas music 24-7 on November 20th. They even have a countdown clock on their homepage!

Ok, I've chatted about a lot of different topics. Can you tell I'm trying to avoid sitting and writing a final test for a book for the college students? As much as I like that class, it's getting difficult because it started with 8 students and now we're down to 7 and if they don't all show up, it's just a really small group that is hard to keep focused and teach. They are learning but it's hard to do groups or partners.

So here's hoping you have a great week, and I am able to get some work done, things done at school and get rid of some stress. It's been bad this weekend, it's going down my back where it usually stops at my shoulders. I need to find someone who can get me in for a massage.

Toodles peeps!

I can tell I'm still stressed

Do you know when you are under stress? What is your typical response to stress? Well mine is junk food, mostly candy. So mix being under way too much stress and Halloween candy and you have a true problem. I've been eating way too much chocolate candy. I've also been drinking hot chocolate and eating chocolate frosted long john doughnuts. I feel totally out of sorts with my diet.

This was another stressful week. I go to work, my class has a lot of stressful students, I go to the college and that is another bit of stress because I worry am I really teaching the students useful reading strategies, then I was observed this week. Then I come home to my family. Although this week has been a bit better, with no yelling, we have my mom's dog while she's in Paris. I also have college tuition hanging over my head. We also had another IEP meeting and did get a few things cleared up with that. I hope things are on the downslide of stress.

One great thing that has come about is that my good friend Helen McCain is willing to host a stressed out friend for a long weekend. I've never been to Texas, other than a lay over at a Texas airport, so she's invited me to stay with her. She actually said, "stay as long as you want," but I really think that if I just permanently moved in and camped out on the couch for months would wear out my welcome! LOL! I'm so excited to go and tour around the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. I really just want to bum around and avoid as much stress and thinking as possible. I hope the ticket issue will work out for when I'd like to go.

Another bit of a stressful situation is the fact that report cards are due on Monday by 9:00 am. I'm so far away from getting those finished that I'll probably be working on laundry, bills, and grading & report cards for most of the day tomorrow.

I really just want to go hang out with my friends and do anything that avoids thinking. That is not really a good thing, the avoiding thinking, but I know that I'm exhausted and trying to avoid anything that is stressful. It is probably a mechanism my body is using because I'm either depressed or I'm trying to avoid being depressed. I'm hoping a good long weekend away will help me snap out of it. I'm truly anxious for Thanksgiving and that long 2 weeks of winter break. It can't come soon enough. But having that come means more stress of the holiday season and shopping.

Well that's not worth thinking about tonight. Tonight is for trying to get my things done and changing clocks. Maybe that extra hour of sleep will help snap me out of my funk.

Sending hugs to my friends and family.
Ciao!

More changes

When I typed up the issues from this week's bad week, I forgot to mention that because my schedule is so hectic I made a very hard decision to leave my creative team position with Chirpi. I knew I couldn't give away more of myself right now, there just isn't much more to give. I also knew that my committment to her wasn't being fulfilled. I wasn't helping her business. I wasn't not scrapbooking on purpose, it's just something that gets pushed to the side when I am under way too much stress and pressure. I try for mindless, easy to complete projects and scrapbooking takes way too much time and thought.

I'm really sad to have to let my creative team position go, but I'm also finding that I truly don't like posting to online galleries too much anymore either. People only comment on layouts if you comment on theirs, or if you have a "big name" in the industry anymore it seems.

I do know that if you're looking for a great digital, creative team that Chirpi is looking for a few new Chirpi Chicks. You can check it out here on her blog!

One BAD week

I know this blog has been full of downers lately. I think it feels that is a lot of how my life feels. About a week and a half ago I posted about my parents' divorce and my son being out of control. Well that went from bad to worse and I had lots to deal with last week. In a nutshell, Brian went with my dad for a week. We've called for a review of his IEP, and Brian knows that if things don't change, there will be a change in his permenant placement at both school and home.

He came home last night after several long conversations. Things are far from perfect, but he's at least a bit more respectful. Also, last week, he turned in all homework assignments.

We are taking things around here a day at a time.

While we were dealing with those issues, Don was in the middle of mid-terms, and we had our family birthday gathering. I am so behind with school. I know a lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm dealing with behavior issues with about 5 different students and I feel I'm dealing more with that than I'm teaching. When I came back from a couple of days off from dealing with family issues, I had to deal with new behavior issues. It's just never ending. Now I read in an email that I have to be observed by the university too.

So for as bad as last week was, there are things I need to deal with this week that are also going to be difficult. It is the end of the quarter and report cards need to be done. A week from Tuesday is parent-teacher conferences and that is dealing with many other issues to be dealt with. This has been just one difficult start of the year. I'll be glad for a few days off at Thanksgiving, and 2 weeks off at Christmas.

I just want to sit and do mindless things like watching tv, playing games online, knitting and crafting, and petting the dogs. I know it is because I've got so much going on, it's an escape from the problems.

So I keep going, and going, and going. It sounds like the Energizer Bunny but I don't feel like I have that kind of energy.

So I'm hoping for a bit of an easier week. If you can see it in your heart, please say a prayer for our family.

Columbus Day, Hubby's Birthday, Divorce, and child out of control

As you can see from my title, many important issues have been happening. Thankfully today is Columbus Day and it's an extra day off for me. I've been a bit productive this weekend. I've got my candy corn hat, that Don wanted, half way done. I've gotten huge dust bunnies up and out. I have to clarify that with two black cocker spaniels, the volume of shedded hair is tremendous. I have black dust bunnies, or tumbleweeds as we call them all over. I can sweep or swiffer daily and they reappear within minutes. It's become a family joke that there is enough hair shedded for 3 dogs and we tease the dogs that they've invited their friend "Hairy" over for the day and he's left the black, hairy balls. I've also been doing laundry and and catching up on college class stuff. Tomorrow the students come for a 15 minute conference.

Tomorrow is also my hubby's 43rd birthday. He is just coming into the prime of his life but he hates birthdays. I'll probably pick up a pumpkin pie or cheesecake tomorrow after class and surprise him when he gets home from class himself. The candy corn hat is also a present for him. He saw the pattern and hinted he'd like to have one.



Tomorrow is also the day my parents finally go to court and officially get divorced. The splitting of assets took forever. They also stayed married until they both could get onto social security and then the medicare issue. So basically their divorce has been in the works for almost 3 and a half years. This has been a really rotten time for family get togethers. I almost completely dread family gatherings anymore and now I can finally say my parents are divorced. I wonder if this means that my dad's girlfriend will be coming to the parties now? She had nothing to do with the divorce and it is a long story that is finally coming to an end, but it is going to be odd to have my mom, dad, and his girlfriend all at the same place.

The last part of my title has to do with my youngest son. He's way out of control and has lack of respect for either his father or I. He left last night after he was an hour late for his time to be home and then came home an hour after the town's curfew. We see his therapist this week, but we are certainly looking towards alternative schooling. I'm ready to beat him with a frying pan and give up my parental rights to him, but I can't give up on him. It's unfortunate that a really smart kid is completely failing 5 classes in school and doesn't care about it. I think I'm just going to stick by the homework requirements we've set and if he chooses to fail then he'll have to suffer the consequences. I'm getting really tired of always being the "bad mom" for caring and being his advocate when he doesn't care about his own success.

Well enough of my downer blog post, but just getting some of it off my chest is my own form of therapy. I hope you all enjoy your Columbus Day and have a super week. I'll be busy and doubt I'll be back again this week.

Hey, thanks for stopping by.

Another week has passed

already! During the week the week seems to go by so slowly. On the weekend, it seems to just fly by. Why couldn't they make weekends 4 days long and the work week 3 days long? I think my way would be much more fun and relaxing.

I've got about 3 different projects I need to get finished before the end of the month. I still have apples to deal with.

The major problem with Brian has only seemed to escalate. CALGON take me away!

I've got papers to grade. I also have tests and assignments to post for the college students. I just got the call Friday night that I was asked to teach another class next semester. Just a week and a half ago, I was told 5 of us were not going to teach due to class needs. Well I guess things changed and they need another class.

The weather here has been cool. There have been problems with our cable, thankfully not the internet. I've turned on the heat. Some mornings it's been in the 40's.

Ok, laundry almost done, no idea what's for dinner. Yikes again, the weekend's way to short!

Is it really Sunday already?

Wow the weeks seem to be flying by. Before I know it, it's going to be Christmas. Yikes, no way I'm not ready for Christmas and really cold weather.

With it being Sunday, it also means laundry, lesson plans, grading papers and trying to get some things ready for next week. Unfortunately it is going to be an even crazier week due to the fact that a car we are borrowing from a friend won't start and it's something with the fuel filter or fuel pump. Now we are down to one car again.

Doug came home and was here for about 24 hours. He picked up his glasses that were replaced and has a trial pair of contacts. He has an appointment next Sunday again to have them checked. So we'll get to see him for a short amount of time next weekend again.

Brian, he's having difficulties in school. I had to take off a day from work to go to the school for a meeting. Based upon the meeting has forced me to play my hand and create a homework requirement rules. They are strict and to the point. They lay out the law and it makes the rules and Brian responsible and the consequences are laid out in stone. No arguements, no discussions. It will be, "What do the rules say?"

In school on Friday I got told that a student would be transfered into my class. Ok, that's fine, it's normal for the most part but this new child doesn't speak English or Spanish (not that I speak Spanish, but she would have been placed accordingly if she did) She speaks Arabic. Don't even ask me if I speak Arabic!

Yesterday we went apple picking right in our own backyard! Although we didn't spray the apples, many are consumable. I've eaten a few, I'll be making applesauce and some are good enough for apple pies. I wanted to get those done today but I'm just not too sure.

Well this post was just meant to be a short update. I don't really have any new pictures to post or much else to say. If you drop by please say a prayer that things with the borrowed car work out.

have a good week everyone!

Feeling horribly sad

I just read on my friend Susanna's blog that there was another school shooting in Finland. Oh my that just brings back the feelings I felt during the shooting at my son's university last February. I feel so horrible for those students and the families. I just don't understand why people think there is just something "wonderful" about opening fire on innocent people, let alone students going about their own business at the school.

This just saddens me to no end.

My prayers go out to those people.

Although I do not know any of them and I've never heard of that town, I just feel a bit more connected to the Finnish people after visiting and seeing how wonderfully beautiful they are as well as their country.

Homecoming Weekend

Another willllllllllldddd and crrrrrrraaaaazzzzzzy (said in my very best Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd voices) week. Long week, 2 jobs, picture day, lots of papers to grade, still no set schedule, and homecoming week.

Brian went to the dance today with his girlfriend. They looked cute, but teenage boys are still in that awkward stage where they don't quite fill out the dress pants and the shirts, they aren't used to a tie or dress shoes, and they try to pull off the dressed-up look with their long shaggy hair. At least my son did.

The picture plans changed so I went early and snapped a few then took myself down to the nail salon for a pedicure. Then I walked next door to Dairy Queen for a little ice cream treat.

Here are a few pictures of Brian and his girlfriend.

What a week

The days of the week seem to slowly pass. Things are not normal here yet. Who am I kidding, things have never been known to be "normal" at my house.

I'm still working on organizing my classroom. Each day it gets a little better. I'm about to finish organizing my classroom library and let kids start checking out books. We played Scrabble with our 100 most commonly used words. Thanks to Linda, a teacher I adore working with, she drew up our own classroom version of the board. I wasn't ready to let the kids loose with the real boards and tiles. Not yet, maybe not for a few more times.

I got 2 new students last week, lost 2 students on Friday, and found out that I've just become the classroom with the second ESL cluster of students. We cluster so that they students can be serviced together by the ESL teacher. That's Linda, the ESL teacher; so I'm hoping that we'll be able to work together again. Things will hopefully pan out by Friday and then the "normalicy" will start with the schedule. Of course these students are coming out of transitional so they're used to 50% of their curriculum & day being taught in Spanish. I guess I don't know what I'll be expecting. We'll soon find out.

I've not been taking any pictures lately. I've not been doing any digital scrapbooking lately. I've not knitted much but have my yarn and needles for a hat I'm going to make. I did actually have it started before a couple stitches fell off the double pointed needles (dpn) and I decided to frog it so I could start over.

I did go hang out with my friend Marybeth and did some scrapbooking with real paper and scissors. OMG for those who know how into digital I am. I did 3 more pages in my Christmas Journal. Yes, that is the journal that I started almost 2 Christmas's ago and still aren't finished. Marybeth has forbidden me to do any other projects (that doesn't include digital or knitting) until I finish this dumb book. Woops...did I just call my project dumb? Well let's just say I'm quite tired of it and would love to move onto another project. So with all the rain we had yesterday and today... I decided to get my supplies back out and head to the LSS (local scrapbook store) and continue to work on it again. I got another 3 pages finished. 6 pages completed in the weekend. There are 35 different prompts and I've got over 20 finished. I'm trying to be postive about getting it finished. When it's finished I've got to find the album for it. That will be another big issue. I know what I want, but really haven't been able to find it.

Well it is really late here. Way past my bedtime actually and I didn't leave Marybeth's house until 2:00 am this morning. I've got a big week and I have to come home tomorrow and make up a quiz for my tuesday night class.

Here's hoping you have a good week.

It's been a while

since I blogged. I can say that I have been busy. I know, that's the typical response, but it is truly my excuse. I guess I knew having my full-time teaching job was a lot, but when I undertook teaching night school I figured it wouldn't be so much of a big deal. It really is like preparing to teach just like I do during the day. I realize that my least favorite part of teaching is grading papers and maintaining the grade book.

Another thing I've been working on is trying to get my room at school organized. When I asked to change rooms, I knew I would have to pack up the old room and move and unpack. That I knew, I was prepared for that. What I wasn't prepared for was how many things were still in the room. I've been cleaning out and donating things to a bunch of new teachers. It feels good to start making this room my own, but I also felt really great being able to give things to new teachers.

I'm trying to employ the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid)method and the OHIO (Only Handle It Once) method together at school. Right now neither are going too well. I've changed files from two file drawers once already, now I've got to do it again. But when you combining 2 classrooms of things down into one, I've got to pair things down and truly decide...do I need that? Have I used it? Will I use it..if so when? Is this book above my students' reading level? Is this in my curriculum?

By keeping this in mind I've been able to start to weed a bunch of stuff out and donate it.

In other family happenings, Doug is at school just as happy as a clam. Don is trying to find study times and get his homework schedule fixed so he'll be able to keep things flowing smoothly. Brian has started school and had his first behind the wheel day in drivers ed. We've been letting him drive and hopefully he felt comfortable when he had to drive in the big honkin car with the teacher.

The dogs are shaggy beasts and are in desperate need of grooming. The extra expense of grooming 2 dogs stinks. Right now that's not in the budget. Any ideas how to groom dogs yourself?

Well laundry and grading papers and placement tests is screaming for some attention. If I get it done, I'll be free for the rest of the weekend.

Toodles people!

Breathe Deep

It all begins and now the schedules change. We won't have a set schedule for a couple weeks until Don's 12 week classes start. But we will have to get something set up with getting him to work and me getting home early so he can get to school.

Last week was hectic but not unbearable. Training for me was interesting. Lots of things about how the brain remembers and learns. Remember this was very teacherish, brain research talk. We talked about how the brain craves novelty. How the cooperative structures we use are novel, but then there are so many different learning structures that are so common to one another is because it also loves repetition. We also talked about that you can only hold 10 things in your working memory and they need cleared out/moved into other memory to remember them and learn more. We also learned that you remember episodes best and that is your episodic memory. The brain also remembers the first & last things best.

We also used a mnemotic device to remember 10 things our partner told us. It was a visualization thing but we both remembered 10 things each without seeing one another's list.

We learned about the 4 different types of memory too. We also learned 3-4 new structures for use with out students. Also about the aymegdale and how it can cause kids to be anxious and fearful. If it fires then you have a more difficult time remembering and learning things. The goal is to keep kids happy, fearless, and calm so they can learn more. If they are relaxed and not in a state of fear/anxiety they should be able to learn more.

I can see that if I can remember all of this when 25ish new personalities all come into a new environment. Not that the environment is conducive to learning just yet. That was what I worked on Friday, unpacking my class. I rechecked and had 84 boxes. Over 50 of them were larger boxes and were put up on the new counters. They were stacked 4 high and they needed moved. So I moved them all and opened them all and sorted them. They are now on the longer counter, 2 high, and sorted by contents. So when I get to work in my room tomorrow I can keep going. My desk is I'd say 90% complete. I need to work on bulletin boards, covering an old, yucky, green chalkboard, and before I can put away tons in the closet I need to clean out what the retired teacher left. She is a wonderful lady, but yikes she left a lot. I guess after 19 years in 1 school you acquire a lot.

Brief mention about a few other events of last week. We got Doug moved back to school. You could just see that he was back in his element. Everyone say a prayer that he finds a job.

Don worked 3 days last week as a produce guy at one of the local supermarkets. He also started college. He took his first math class. I could tell before we left that he was freaking out. I could tell that everything was good when he got done because he said, "I'm the teacher's pet." He chatted with the instructor for about 15 minutes after class then came by my class. Then on the way home he was talking, talking, talking. Chatty Cathy there, he was non-stop. More than he'd talk about something in a long time. We bought 2 of his books yesterday. Yikes 2 books, one used was almost $200. Books are such a rip-off.

For my class, I can't believe I only have 7 students. That is like an ideal scenario, but for book discussions it doesn't work as well as I'd like. Hey, deal with what we are given and I can help these 7 become better readers.

This next week Brian heads back to school. YIPEE!

I hate this time of year because there are so many expenses. I know asking for money to grow on trees is a bit much, but could my tree in the back just sprout about five 100 bills? Just enough to get Don's car fixed? I know the extra money would just make things a little less stressful around here. I'll keep praying and I know God will take care of us, but just not as quickly as I'd like. I know it's on God's time, not my time.

As things change and start falling into place, I know I just need to remember to stop and breathe. Some deep breaths and remembering to pray will get me through.

To all of you...breathe deep. You'll make it through too.

By this time next week...

all the Henager's will be back in school. That's right I said all! Big D, who is my oldest son, who is a sophomore goes back to NIU (Go Huskies!) on Wednesday after I get home from training. He's paying the extra to go back a day early, and let me tell you, it is soooo much less hectic and well worth the $50 to take him and move him in a day early.

Mr. B, which is Brian starts his junior year of high school next Monday. I registered him today. You wouldn't believe how expensive high school registration is! So much for a free and public education.

Last but not least, Don registered for college today. Luckily things were filling up so fast, and were already full, he got into all the classes we wanted him to be in. Two are 12 week classes which start in about a month, 1 is a class where the classes are done at home, and 2 are on campus in the evenings. He's got about 15 semester hours, so he truly is a full time student.

Then there is me. I have part-time college faculty meetings tomorrow afternoon. On Wednesday & Thursday I have my full-time training. Next Monday and Tuesday are teachers' inservice days at my full-time job, then kids come on Wednesday. The college kids come this Thursday.

So when you see all four of us together and you ask how's school, you may just get a response from all of us.

2nd Place

My oldest son plays on the church softball team. They play in a church league all summer. Well near the end of August is the league tournament which determines the winner of the league. Doug's had a lot of fun and a few injuries playing. I have to admit, it is a much more laid back team and it has been great being able to go and watch. As much as I don't miss the scheduled practices, 3 or more games a week, tournament after tournament, being the taxi mom to the fields, I do miss watching him play.


This is his life. He wants to play and coach sports. He loves it so much that he's determined that being a P.E. teacher is a way to take what he loves and help others find it meaningful too. I give him credit, I think we all need to find what we absolutely love and do it. Whether or not we make it our career, we all need to love something fun. I know I need to follow in his footsteps just a bit.

Well the tournament was yesterday. Don and I didn't get to watch the first game in the morning, although we did get to watch him hit. We had to drop some stuff off at the field before heading out to the college for Don to take some tests.
With 4 or so hours in between their first and second game, we were able to finish testing and get back to watch the final 2 games.

The outcome of the tournament was pretty good. There was 1 or 2 bad calls by the ump against us, which could have meant the game went the other way, but they came in 2nd. Pretty good considering the 1st place team only lost 2 games all year.

Well here's to the 2nd place team. They're all good sports and really nice people, so it's nice to be able to congratulate them here.

All the time in the world

As if! If you read my to-do list, no where do I think it said to finish a scrapbook page. I was going to sit down and to the tentative class assignment list but read a creative team board and remembered I should do a challenge page for the new challenges over at the Chirpi blog. Use the link to check it out, there are some amazing prizes!



Well now I really must go and get work done!

So much to do - so little time

Yikes, summer is flying by. August is flying by is more like it. Oh yikes, it felt like I had so much time off from the time I left for my cruise until school started again. Around mid-July I met with a co-worker to work on a project for school this year. Also in the midst of some stressful situations here at home, I was also thinking it was about time to get back on a schedule and get back to school. Then I applied to teach part-time at the local college along with my 4th grade position and now I've got so much to do and so little time.

I've got to go check out new phones and get a new phone plan. (Tomorrow I think)

I've got to get a tooth pulled a week from next Tuesday.

Help Don get registered for school.

Register Brian for school next Monday.

Take Doug back to school next Wednesday

Tonight is a paid discussion group about snack food. Thankfully it's a paying gig!

Doug has a softball tourney on Saturday.

I have a part-time faculty gathering at the college on Tuesday.

Next Wednesday & Thursday I have 2 days of training at my school.

I start teaching at COD next Thursday.

I have to finish my syllabus and send to the printer at the college. Hopefully by today or tomorrow.

Oh and how can I forget that there is a classroom that needs to have at least 75 boxes unpacked and set up. The office staff just got into the school yesterday and they don't have phones or computers. The principal has no idea how soon they'll be able to let us in the building. I guess I'm expecting that I can maybe get a few boxes unpacked the first couple days when teachers have meetings. Unfortunately that Tuesday before the kids come back on Wednesday I have to have a tooth pulled at 2:00 and then go teach at the college that evening.

Like I said, I've just got way too much to do. I know I have blocks of time where I have nothing planned, like today, until tonight. I think I need to do a bit of laundry, some work for school, and hopefully get a turkey cleaned and prepped because I'm going to be cooking it on the grill. That will free me up for 3 dinners this week and next week with leftovers.

I hope that you are able to sit back and enjoy the last few days of summer. I know many moms are ready for the school bell to ring and the kids aren't. The summer here has been tremendous. The humidity hasn't been unbearable and the temps lately have been in the mid to high 70's. We've had the airconditioning off for at least a week.

Make sure you get out and do something fun this weekend before the summer slips away.
Ciao!

I got the job!

At today's interview, I was offered and accepted a position as a part-time adjunct professor at College of DuPage. I'm still in a bit of shock because it all happened so fast. I've lugged home a bunch of textbooks because I have to pick my textbooks to use for the course. The class starts 2 weeks from tonight! EGADS!


Also for more good news, Don got the part-time position at the grocery store. He'll be working part time and hopefully we'll be able to afford for him to start taking classes too.

I'll leave you with a couple of new scrapbook pages I've recently done.


full credits here




full credits here

Yikes what might I have gotten myself into???

I know things here over the summer have been hectic. I officially have about 20 days left of vacation and in that time I have to get my hair cut, doctor's appointment, get a root canal, register my youngest for high school, take my oldest back to college, and at some point try to see if I'll be able to go unpack my new room at school. The last is very doubtful.

But on top of all of this, I've been looking for ways to subsidize the college tuition payments, especially since Don is still unemployed. Well I've been praying to God daily about the financial situation. I'd come up with a list of things I could do extra at school. Those seemed like good ideas. I've been trying to get Don to find a part-time job to supplement the unemployment. I also considered trying for a liason position for the new reading cohort through the school district. Then one morning I woke up and thought about something my girlfriend and I joke about, teaching at the community college. One of my professors I had during my masters program mentioned it. At the time my friend, Chris and I said yeah, we teach kindergarten and 4th grade, who would want us to teach college kids? It's just been an ongoing joke. That is until last week the idea popped into my head to try to find the professor's email and ask her if she was serious about us teaching at the community college.

She got back to me almost right away, she wasn't joking in the least bit. Well to make a long story short, I sent her my resume, which she forwarded on to the head of the department. They were actually looking for someone to teach a reading class, and that afternoon, while Doug and I were driving back from NIU, the head of the department called me. She said she'd love to talk more to me about the position but couldn't unless I had a job application on file. We detoured to the college and got the application. I was going to fill it out over the weekend but was too busy. I worked on it Tuesday morning and was going to take it back out Tuesday afternoon. In the mean time, I get an email saying they are wanting to set up an interview, could I make it today, meaning Tuesday. I could have easily except I had to bring a copy of my college transcript with my most recent degree. I didn't have one so I made the interview for Thursday and headed into work to get that copy yesterday.

So tomorrow, Thursday, I have an interview with the head of the department at College of DuPage about a part-time adjunct position. I've been thinking to myself, "what ever did I get myself into?" I asked my former professor what she thinks I'll be asked about, she told me some things, thankfully, and I've been rereading a bit of college textbooks. I've got 24 hours to prepare. The silly thing is that I wasn't nervous until I went out for a pedicure today with my friend.

She's under the impression that this job has my name written all over it. I made one email and somehow it snowballed into them calling me, emailing me, and setting up an interview; all without my application being in. This crazy idea popped into my head and the funny thing is...I didn't chicken out on writing the email! It's almost like God has known how many hoops I've been jumping though lately with our financial situation that his one is kind of being just handed to me. It's like he's managing all of this without much of my help. I know that is how he works sometimes, but it just really seems ironic that 3 years ago, I thought of this as just a joke, and it has been a running joke between Chris and I, but now it could become reality. I've never wanted to teach junior high/middle schoolers or high schoolers, but I could soon be the teacher of college students.

If things work out, I won't be leaving my grade school position, but I'll be adding college into my schedule. That last part really sounded funny. I've been going to school 7 out of the past 10 years. Now I could be going to college but not having to study, but prepare the lessons for others to study. Frankly, I could be teaching kids my oldest son's age. I could be teaching people my age, or I could be teaching my husband if he decides that he really wants to go back to college. YIKES, see what I mean...what might I have gotten myself into????

I love writing to authors

I've written to authors of books I've enjoyed a couple of times. Each time I think, "nahhhh, they'll never write back." But each time they have. Today I wrote to Ellen Klages. Ellen is the author of the book I just finished.



So I've been trying to find a book with a strong girl main character. This does, it actually has two, but this is about things I know my kids have no background knowledge about; WWII and the building of the atomic bombs. I am hesitant to do it as a read aloud and I emailed the author explaining to her the make up of my class and the issues to get her feedback on doing it as a read aloud.

She was kind and gave me her feedback and that of what she's heard from others. I'm just not sure about the read aloud. I just don't know if I can expel that type of energy in conversations each and every day about the short amount of time we get to read.

I just want to say try writing to an author of a book you read lately, especially if you loved it. Tell them why, ask them questions about the book. Really, I had my students write to an author. They all asked about the questions the author left them hanging with. She not only answered all their questions, she sent her own photos of the town that inspired the book.

I'd really love to write to Kate DiCamillo. I LOVE her books!

Hello...is anyone here?

I know I'm not one of those ultra exclusive, gotta visit kind of blogs but hey a girl needs a bit of love.

If you stop by, please leave a comment. I'd really love to know who stops by.

I'm trying to determine if I should put a sign up for an update thing on the sidebar, or if it will be a complete waste of time.

Do you watch your favorite movie over and over?

I don't think I've ever blogged about favorite movies. I do have a list of my all time favorite movies. But I find that although I own most of my favorites on DVD, I usually find them somewhere on cable and watch them there. There are some movies I fixate on and will watch over and over and over. Most of my favorite movies are older movies. Some are from high school. Isn't that really when you really start getting into movies and start marking milestones? Oh I was a junior when that song was popular, or I saw that 3 times with friends my sophomore year. Don and I so that a lot. Well what has really inspired this blog post is one of my favorite movies...Remember the Titans.



The first time we saw this movie it was in the theater with both boys. I was so moved and emotionally upset by the movie that I had to stay in the dark theater through all the credits and still walking to the car, the boys kept saying, "What's wrong mom, why are you crying?" I still cry every time I watch this movie. Every time!

Don and the boys are used to it by now, but others I'm sure are wondering if this movie makes you cry every time, why do you consider it one of your favorites? Well it's an awesome, true story of how an African-American coach is put into one of the first segregated high schools in Alexandria, Virginia. The football team is given a new head coach, and becomes integrated. The white football team is forced to deal with new players, new coaches, and has to face race issues head on. I love it when the characters Gerry Burtier and Julius Campbell go head to head trying to learn about one another, in a not so positive fashion. Julius stands up to Gerry, the team captain, and tells him he's out for himself because the captain is the leader and he isn't leading. By the end of football camp away at college these two are begining to bond and a true friendship is starting to form. Gerry wants Julius to come meet his mom and stay for dinner. Julius is met in Gerry's neighborhood by the police. Julius thinks he'll be in trouble for being black in a white neighborhood, but in the end, the officer tells him he played a heck of a good game last night.

You know it is a true friendship when after coming together and winning the game, Gerry's girlfriend says why are you down here with "them" meaning the black guys and he chooses his "black" friends over his girlfriend.

This team comes together to pull out the state championship after facing the adversity of race and a tragic accident that paralyzes Gerry.

I absolutely love how the community supports this team after they begin to see if these boys can see one another as just people and not just by the color of their skin. I love how even the "dumb jock" raises himself up with the help of others to be successful. I love the relationship between Gerry and Julius. I love when Julius hugs Gerry's mother and she finally comes around. Even though I know this movie like the back of my hand, I cry like a big wus. If you know me well enough, I am just a big bag of emotions and this movie gets me every time.

Today I said to Don and Doug, "You know, this is the kind of movie that all people should be made to watch." If people can see how this team makes it through the difficulties and the adversity dealt to them, then the most of the world could too. It makes me hopeful that at some point the world can be a much better place. I almost see it starting to happen with Barack Obama and the potential of the first African-American president in U.S. history.

If you've never watched Remember the Titans find it on cable, borrow it from the library, put it in your Netflix cue, or rent it from the video store. It's the kind of movie that will make you laugh, smile, cry, and think. Take my advice on this one. You might find it's one of your favorites too.

Heck, I didn't even mention Denzel Washington is in it. I usually like his movies.

The Beach Boys with John Stamos

Tonight we, Don and I, met my dad and his girlfriend at Ravinia to see the Beach Boys. We had lawn seats so we couldn't see the stage without moving forward towards the pavilion but we could hear perfectally. The lawn seats were sold out but the pavilion wasn't. As the Beach Boys start, they sing a song or two then they start talking. You know when some concerts are soooooo loud you can barely make out what they are saying, well even being outside of the pavilion it wasn't like that at all here. While they talk, they start discussing something, then all of a sudden they start talking about John Stamos Well low and behold, who walks out and then ends up playing with the Beach Boys most of the night.

I figure he's either got the summer off and has nothing to do or ER is filming in Chicago and he came out to play a gig with them. Wouldn't ya just know it that I was in a big hurry to try to get out of the house and I forgot my camera. My zoom could have had a couple nice shots; oh well.

Now I've got the hicups for the second time tonight and I'm really pretty tired. I no longer can keep those late hours any longer. Old age is setting in I guess.

Jammies Day

Ever have those, a day where you stay completely in your jammies? That's today for me. I know if I decide to go to the softball game to watch, I'll have to get dressed that's for sure. I've been trying to get some things done I've been avoiding, like laundry. I know I've got to wash some rugs still and want to throw the shower curtain but that means shower first!

It's hot and humid outside. I have no real desire to go out. I should really bring the dogs in. I know they enjoy it outside but they're black and absorb the heat faster than other dogs.

Doug went to the theater and tried to pick up hours. The kitchen manager wanted him back desperately, but the facility manager who was originally the thorn in his side said they are rediculously overstaffed. I told him he's going to have to get mighty creative to make money the last few weeks of vacation.

Other than that, Don's gone and that car he was driving broke down a second time. Seems to be a huge suggestion that someone wasn't supposed to go on this trip.
I'm also thinking about taking the spiritual gifts class again. It is a 2 part class that starts on Sunday. I think Brian will be away next week also.

Enjoying summer and the decisions I can make to either do something or not do something. How about you, what do you have planned this weekend?

Another new scrapbook page

Credits Here

I've done another scrapbook page today. I had it almost finished then things came up that I had to leave and go deal with. Today started calm, relaxing, the kind of day I thought I'd have all day then around 2 things got crazy. By the time I'd gotten home, it was after 5:30 and I said to Doug, "Is it really 5:30?"

Fixed dinner, took Doug to finally register to vote, and got home just before a horrible line of storms. Doug left with my car...whaaaa...then the hail started. Thankfully pea sized and stopped really fast.

Brian called into work and had to go work. Glad he's someplace safe during this storm too. He gets off at 9:00ish.

Ok, I think that's all for now. I will shut down the computer, although I think the storm is just about passed, and sit and knit for a while.

Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!

Cross another thing off my summer To Do List

I can officially cross something else off my Summer to do list. I make a list of things I want to try to accomplish every summer. This entry has been on the last 3 To-Do Lists, and has not been crossed off. Actually the two big things that have been carry-overs have been crossed off.

The first I finally got crossed off was to have a garage sale. Here's the proof!



The second big thing off my list was to make jelly. I've grown up with homemade strawberry jelly. It is really the only jelly I will eat. If I run out over the winter, I'll force myself to eat store bought strawberry jelly but really hate it. My kids love this jelly too. It makes the BEST peanut butter and jelly sandwiches!


Credits here

So now that two of the biggies are done, I'll have to start wittling down the list by trying to get done the little things. I'm waiting for a rainy day to backup all my photos onto DVD's. I've got a lot of scrapbooking projects on the list to get finished too. I think I need to give my girlfriend a little jingle to see if she's home and wants to get together and scrapbook so I can finish a Christmas journal she tells me I have to finish first before moving on to any other projects. Hear that Marybeth, I'm ready to tackle the Christmas journal!

New blog header

Here is my new header. It is one of my favorite memories from Copenhagen. I couldn't believe how many bikes there were in the city. You didn't smell exhaust, see smog or feel like you were breathing in polluted air. Everyone rode bicycles. People had child seats and baskets. You'd see men biking to work in suits. Women would be in longer dresses, pants suits, or short mini-skirts with tights. Age wasn't an issue either. Young and old, everyone biked. I loved that they were the old fashioned looking bikes too. Rarely did you see the 15-speed mountain bikes. It would first appear that they didn't lock their bikes either, but after looking further, they have a unique locking device that would be back where a rear brake would grasp the tire, except it was a lock that went through the back tire.

One other observation I made in Copenhagen, most people I saw were in great shape and looked very healthy. I should take note of their exercise advice, ride a bike!

What a coincidence that the G-8 summit signed an agreement to lower greenhouse gas emmissions by 50% and I'm blogging about bicycles. What is so unfortunate is that the agreement won't be enforced until 2050, 42 years away. I guess that more people should visit Copenhagen to see how great it is not to have to deal with exhaust, smog, and car emmissions to understand why we should not wait another 42 years.

Happy 4th of July

I'm glad to be home on the 4th of July. I think it would just feel a bit odd to be away from home on America's Independence day.

Not that we have any spectactular plans or anything. Right now, Doug's at work. Brian works from noon until close, which is 6 pm I think. Don is going to a car show with his hearse. I guess I can either go and sit at the car show ::::yawn:::
or I can stay home and do laundry. Super choices don't you think? Laundry is important because I'm just about out of summer clothes and definately underwear. This is what I dread, I hate being home alone on a perfect day. I love being up alone in the morning while it's quiet while everyone else sleeps, but I hate being home alone with nothing to do.

It is beautiful here today. Super blue skies, a little breeze, and temps that are in the 70's. I think this is PERFECT summer weather. Not too cool to sit outside and read and get some sun to try to keep up what little bit of tan I have started, and not too hot to cook yourself until you're a pool of sweat.

So I guess I'll end this post before it starts to have that "feel sorry for me that I don't have anything to do on the 4th of July" kinda feel. I hope you have a fantastic Independence Day. Lots of fun, food, friends, and fireworks!

Ok...I'm home, tired, and now have lots 'o laundry

Monday night, around 10:00 pm the luggage was finally delivered. I have to say it was 100% in tact. Nothing lost, nothing damaged. It was just a good feeling to finally know you had all your stuff back. The kids & Don got their little souviners yesterday. We tried this candy my friend Susanna gave me as a little Welcome to Finland gift. I can't remember the name but it is a salty licorice. Well it must be an acquired taste or something you must eat from a very young age but we all got that look on our faces. You know that look...the one where you are shocked at the taste and you really don't like it. Well it was that one!

My in-laws made it into town yesterday and we got them to the airport for their flight on time. Unfortunately, their flight was delayed several hours after a storm passed through the area. They are safe in Las Vegas now.

Today I am getting a hair cut. I tried at the last minute before I left but she was booked. Today, I'll be a bit lighter on top. I'm sure it's going to be short and sassy. I'm to the point where I can't really stand taking the time to worry about my hair.

Trying to decide what to do on the 4th. We don't have any major plans. We've talked about where to watch fireworks that is about all.

I've downloaded all my photos but haven't done any editing on them.
But I'll include a few in this post for you to see where I went on my fantastic trip.

Technically I'm still not home

that is according to Don. He said that since my luggage is still not here...3:17 pm on Tuesday and I arrived home Sunday at 6:15 pm that I'm not fully home.

So does this mean that I'm still on vacation??? I think not. Let me tell you why.
I've been on the phone with India, ummmm, I mean United Airlines at least 6 times because they can't get their act together and get me my freaking luggage. I never once had to call India, I mean United on vacation. Also, I didn't have to take any child to the ER on vacation. I was the child on vacation and my mother didn't even have to take me to the ER on vacation. Heck I didn't even hardly think about children on vacation! Then today a quick request from my mom "show me how to work the weed wacker" somehow turned into cutting/mowing/raking thistles and ground cover out of a huge garden plot. Loads of work and a sunburn too.

So I think it is plain to see that I am most certainly NOT still on vacation. Although I am not technically at school I feel that I'm not on vacation anymore either.

So if you are United reading this.... DELIEVER MY STINKING LUGGAGE THAT HAS BEEN IN CHICAGO SINCE LAST NIGHT AND NO ONE CAN FIGURE OUT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF IT. EITHER THAT OR GET ME THE STINKING NUMBER TO THE LOST LUGGAGE CLAIMS DESK AT O'HARE AND I'LL PICK IT UP MYSELF!

Rant over...maybe

4:40 a.m. and I'm wide awake

I am really tired, yawning a bit, but I have to jolt myself back into "real" time. Chicago time, central time that is. I've been through so many time changes in the past 12 days that I don't really know one from the other right now. It does feel a lot like Copenhagen time, which is 7 hours ahead of central time, so it feels like 11:40 a.m. to my body.

I got home last night and I swear the flight from Heathrow was the longest 7 hours, which turned into more like 8 to 8.5 hours. They lost one of my bags. Of course it was the one with all the souvineers in it and Doug kept saying "what did you get me?"
The boys are at the age where it is so hard to buy souvineers for. A tee-shirt is always good, but when the price gets converted to US dollars, paying $50ish for a tee-shirt is rediculous.

Well I'm cutting this post short. I seem really hungry or thirsty and I'm going to try to head back to bed to get back to the regular time things.

I'll update on the trip in the near future. Until then, please cross your fingers that my bag arrives today!

Hello from Copenhagen

A quick hello from Copenhagen. It is 12:45 pm here and barely 5:45 am on the 19th in the US. We, my mom and I are nearly ready to head to the cruise ship. We got in on time and were exhausted. We did visit the trendy shopping spot Strøget. Unfortunately all the stores were closed. Things I have noticed close early here. I'm most impressed by all the bicycles and that it is pretty clean here. All the taxi's I've seen are Mercedes. Shocking to me, nothing like that in the least bit in Chicago. The airport was so Ikeaesque. Now there's a new word for you. The keyboard on this computer is also a bit different. Where the apostrophe is, is the ø.

I think I should end this as we are probably looking for a short jaunt (maybe) then grab our luggage out of holding, grab a taxi and head for the cruise.

BTW - the new fashion accessory is summer scarves! I'm on the lookout.

Bon Voyage

In less than 24 hours I'll be leaving for my trip to anywhere in the world. You may remember that 3 years ago my mom gave me a wonderful Christmas present. She gave my sister and I a trip to anywhere in the world. They could be together or seperate. Well They are seperate, my sister went to Banff, Canada. I'm going on a Northern European/Russian cruise.


Not only will I get to see 7 magnificent cities, I'll get to meet my good friend Susanna. We've been online friends for quite a while now. We met at 2Peas and connected with a bunch of other ladies whose goal was to have pages published in scrapbook magazines. I've met a bunch of great people this way who I feel have all become best friends to me.

So I'm 99% sure that I won't be updating the blog until I get back. Then, I'll have a ton of pictures and stories to tell.

Until then...bon voyage!