Give Peas A Chance

Dear September,

2007-02-25T16:10:00.000-06:00

I suppose I could just send e-mails to you as you seem to be the only one reading. ha... Thank you for the post comment. I'm doing homework today. My classes are going well - I've finished Math and Kinesiology (passed each one w/ a 99 average) - and am now taking New Testament Principles (LeTU requires three Bible courses for their program). I've only had one week of this class, but so far it's the hardest one I've had. There is a test every week and a huge homework assignment which, this week, I've put off and now only have two days to finish it. A paper is due week 5 and I MUST NOT PROCRASTINATE! It will take mucho discipline for me because it's the way I've always operated in the past - however, it doesn't work well for me and I know that - but have trouble breaking the really bad habit. Speaking of which - I need to stop procrastinating and get back to my homework. I hope to post pictures next time. My girls are getting so grown up!!! 12 weeks to Meg's graduation! :(

my bad

2007-02-15T18:45:00.000-06:00

never mind. i found it.

Hey! Where'd my photo go???

2007-02-15T18:42:00.000-06:00

My lovely photo has disappeared since I "Upgraded" to the "new" blogger. :( What a pain.

The single life ... :/

2007-02-13T18:22:00.000-06:00

Idol comes on tonight and I'll have to record it for the rest of my family. One is at a basketball game, one is working and the other is at a choir fundraiser for her upcoming trip to NY....I'm here all alone and had cereal for supper. Reminds me of the old days. :) It is cold here!!! I wanted a fire in the fireplace tonight, went outside to bring in some wood and found only ONE stick! Not quite enough to render the roaring blaze I wanted. Too bad for me. What does one have for dessert when cereal is the 'main course'??? I am Cold cold cold.... Is it warm anywhere? :)

If you have a 'large blog ... lol

2007-02-10T12:10:00.000-06:00

I was just making a slight edit to my profile and when saving settings the message was: "This may take a few minutes if you have a large blog". I don't know why I found that amusing, but it tickled me. I don't think I have a large blog, but I haven't looked in the mirror today, so maybe I do. :) What a goofball.... This is my (at least) weekly post to my blog - a new 'resolution' - although I don't really make resolutions, so I guess we'll just call it 'something I hope to be better about'. I also hope to be better about not dangling prepositions, but one thing at a time, ok? My daughter is writing an English theme - a character analysis on any character in her Lit book. We found "A Good Man Is Hard To Find" by Flannery O'Connor. She chose the grandmother for her theme's character. I recall reading the short story when I was in Senior English and remember that my friends and I thought it was hysterical while the rest of the class thought it sad and dark. See? A goofball even then... I need to change my roadkill personality photo... Will see if I have any others - deer, raccoons, ... :D Hi to all who take the time to read. If my computer wasn't so extremely slow, I'd post more pictures and 'decorative' stuff but it takes too long and patience is not a virtue with which I have been blessed.

The Mummy Returns!

2007-02-05T22:39:00.000-06:00

My daughter set me up a myspace awhile back and in my very limited spurts of time spent on the computer, I have looked at it a few times and have 14 'friends', a few pictures and have done some fun surveys sent by the kids -- BUT -- I realized that people have to have a myspace account in order to be able to be a 'friend', and I know several people who aren't comfortable with the myspace environment .... so I will try to be better with my blog account and stay in touch with friends. I've had my job at the Jr. High for six months and I still love it. I've had some discouragement and disappointments -- and some anger and some irritation and even some altercations .... but still I love it. I love it so much I am returning to school to get teacher certification. Some days I come home and wonder what the heck I'm thinking - but other days I can't wait to have a classroom of kids. The TAKS test is looming (Texas' rendition of the standardized testing that plagues our country's public schools) and the stress is at the ridiculous level already ... teachers and students. It's stressful at home too because when we had the mock TAKS a few weeks ago my own child failed the math test, so now she's having to lose one of her electives and take a math improvement test. Ugh!!!! Battery on the laptop is going low. Have to leave for now.... me.

2006-09-23T13:22:00.000-05:00

I'm tagged

2006-08-22T18:52:00.000-05:00

I've been tagged by JOLENE! 1. If you could build a house anywhere, where would it be? Even more remote than this house - someplace where I could look north, south, east and west and not see any one else's property. 2. What's your favorite article of clothing? Flannel jammy pants & a sweatshirt or t-shirt (depending on the level of chill in the house) 3. Favorite physical feature of the opposite sex? a happy face 4. What's the last CD that you bought? I think it was Rascal Flatts ~ 'My Gang' ? 5. Where's your favorite place to be? My house 6. Where's your least favorite place to be? Where people are attempting to have a "meeting" but nobody is prepared, nobody is listening to anybody else and nothing constructive is happening - I feel like it's a huge waste of time. 7. What's your favorite place to be massaged? Back/neck/shoulders 8. Strong in mind or strong in body? Mind 9. What time do you wake up in the morning? The alarm goes off at 5:15 during the school year. I generally get up around 5:30. I WAKE up about 9:30 ... (I'm already two hours into my work day by then...ha) 10. What is your favorite kitchen appliance? I'm not sure I have a favorite. I dislike them all equally. 11. What makes you really angry? The deterioration of the educational system. Lies. Someone telling me they know what I think. 12. If you could play any instrument what would it be? I'd love to be able to play the piano without music -- just sit down and play 13. Favorite color? Today? Red. Ask me again tomorrow. :) 14. Sports car or SUV? SUV - I like being up higher - not three inches from the ground. 15. Do you believe in an afterlife? I believe in eternity for all...heaven for those who have accepted Christ as their savior and hell for those who have rejected Him. 16. Favorite children's book? Little kids' book: "Baby Bear and the Long Sleep" - I used to love reading this to my pre-school story hour when I worked at the library. It's so funny. Older kids' book: "The Spy Lady and the Muffin Man". 17. What's your favorite season? FALL! Football. Leaves. Cool weather. That "fall" smell. Campfires. 18. What is your least favorite household chore? This would indicate that I have a favorite household chore ... and I do not. Like kitchen appliances, they are all equally odious to me. 19. If you could have one super-power, what would it be? I would be able to transport myself to wherever I needed to be in an instant.... Never being late again. 20. If you have a tattoo what is it? I have no 'man-made' tattoos - but I do have an interesting vein running up my leg that looks rather like a vine - I might have some leaves tattoed onto it. 21. Can you juggle? Yes. I was raised by carnival folk. (that's a lie. I can't juggle.) 22. The one person from your past that you wish you could go back and talk to? Keith. I'd like to know what he's up to - how he is - what kind of person he turned out to be. 23. What's your favorite day? Very soon my favorite "day" will be Friday nights ... HS Football starts September First! 24. What's in the trunk of your car? Someone's sweater. One red and white pom-pom from last year's Van/Canton football game. My red stadium seat. An empty Walmart sack. 25. Which do you prefer-sushi or hamburger? Hamburger. The thought of sushi makes me gag. I'm tagging Meghan & Molly. :o)

Junior High

2006-08-16T20:28:00.000-05:00

It's a whole new world!!! When people find out I work at the Junior High they give me a look and say, "Have you lost your mind?" or something along those lines. I tell them it's quite possible that I have, but has nothing to do with where I work. :) We've been in school for three full days now & I'm starting to get into the routine & identify some of the kids I'll probably be spending alot of time with over the next nine months. Molly has been so sweet - not acting like she doesn't know me or that she's embarrassed she has a mother. She even came up to me today in front of other kids and a teacher and gave me a big hug! And she's THIRTEEN! It made my day! :) Oh - and just to put my own mind at ease - I am making a (somewhat) public apology to the teachers from my own Jr. High years. Bless you!

I created a Slide Show! Check it out!

2006-08-13T18:39:00.000-05:00

My mission statement

2006-08-12T10:26:00.000-05:00

I started my new job on Monday of this past week. I am an educational aide at the local Jr. Hi and will assist in the classroom with those identified as struggling learners. This week was meetings and workshops, orientations and organization. Monday - the kids come. I've done pretty good getting up on time, but next week I'll have to be there by 7:30 and it will be a challenge for me - the Perpetually Tardy, but I am resolved to be on time. I'm looking forward to working with the kids and making connections with them in their learning. Some see that as idealism from not having worked in public education before - but I see it as a mission field. I'm not 'idealistic' in my expectations of what can happen - but I do intend to do everything within my power to reach the ones who struggle, so that they can be proud of themselves. I know there are those who don't care - my mission will be to help them care. I know there are those who think they can't learn, but would like to - my mission will be to help them see their own learning potential. I know there are those who think all are 'against' them - my mission is to be 'for' them. If these are idealistic goals - then color me Idealist. I'm on a mission.

this isn't 'it'

2006-08-01T19:41:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was the last day at my church office job. Next Monday I start work at the junior high with a week of 'staff development' days, then on the 14th school starts and I'll be an educational aide. For what subjects, I don't know yet - but I guess they'll let me know what I need to know next week. I feel like riding my bicycle, but it's so hot I think I'd pass out before I got to the end of the driveway. There are lots of sad things going on with several of my friends right now .... it's odd how situations that other people are dealing with can trickle down and affect other families. I've just been sort of somber the last few days thinking about friends who are: spending the last few days with a parent diagnosed with cancer -- undergoing biopsy procedures -- feeling alone and sad for different reasons -- going through divorce or separation -- dealing with children who are making bad choices -- hurting because of illness or accidents. I believe in eternity and I'm glad I do -- otherwise, this would be a pretty miserable existence we have. In an odd way, it's comforting to know this isn't "it" - even though it's all we know now and it seems sad and scary to think of leaving here in whatever way we end up leaving ... I'm glad to know there's a heaven and I'm going there. Doesn't make it any easier to watch the sadness around here - and sometimes I do wish I had a little insight into 'the big picture', but I think that's me wanting control that isn't mine to have. Just have to give it up and know, as my friend Sandy says, "God is bigger..."

Random Movie Thoughts and One Weird Photo

2006-07-20T11:09:00.000-05:00

I got to go see Pirates on the day it opened with my girls. Loved it. Went again two days later w/ some different people in tow who hadn't seen it. Loved it again. There's just something about that Captain Jack character that I like. ha... Last Sunday the girls were gone to camp, Kev wasn't going to be here that afternoon and I was being a lazy bum - so I lay on the couch w/ the remote and looked for a movie. I came across a scene with someone in it that looked a bit familiar ... It was Johnny Depp. Blonde. I've never been a Depp fan - in fact, have never seen him in anything except Pirates. I was intrigued with the new character, accent, hair -- got into the movie (I had only missed about 20 minutes of it) and it was "Blow". What a misguided life and just a torrent of bad choices! It was haunting - and strange to feel a sense of compassion for this person who was instrumental in bringing drugs to the US and whose life was so against everything I believe. Anyway - I enjoyed seeing JD in a different role. Too sad it was a true story. Sharon & I met between our two towns (we live about 1.5 hours away from each other, but there's a decent town half-way between us so when we're short on time, we just meet there) earlier this week and had a picnic and she showed me the pictures and stuff from the cruise they just took. And brought me Key Lime cookies. And a "Dive Cozumel" t-shirt. :) It was too freakin' hot to do much of anything else, so we went to the movie & saw "The Devil Wears Prada" -- It was a cute, summer movie. After that, she was driving me back to where we'd parked my car and we came up behind this scene.... Naturally I had to snap a picture. It was just too hilarious. We have this thing about taking road kill photos when we are on a trip. And while technically not 'road kill' - it is on the road - and most definitely dead. The kicker was the bread truck in front of it though, and the combination of the two just about sent us off in the ditch laughing.

2006-07-15T10:27:00.000-05:00

We want a new post.... haha.... Good one. I saw the last date I posted was June 19 .. that seems about right. Things have been sort of crazy ever since then...Not a lot of down time. I've been working at the church and the girls have been getting ready for youth camp and to host our NY exchange kid who was here this past week. She was a doll - so sweet and a perfect guest. She has gone now, and my girls are on their way to Chicago for UrbanConnexx youth camp. They left on the church bus at 8:30 yesterday morning and Molly just called and said they're about 125 miles from Chicago. I sure hope they get a good night's sleep tonight. I've accepted a job at the local Jr. High school as Inclusion Aide. I'm only vaguely knowledgeable about what that really means as far as daily duties, but everybody says I'll like it and I'm looking forward to finishing my degree in the next year and starting to work on my MLS. In the meantime, Molly has said she will help me shop for appropriate school clothes as I'll be working in her school and she doesn't want me looking "lame". Can't wait for that shopping day! lol ... Meg starts Sr. year in a month and I'm not ready for that experience! They asked the other day after we'd been to a wedding where, I admit, I shed a tear or two - if I was going to cry at Meg's graduation. Oh yeah ... I'll cry. I'll probably bawl like a baby. Get ready! ha... It's very quiet without the girls here, but I have a long list of things I want to accomplish while they're gone, so it's back to the coffeepot and the LIST for me. Buenos Dias!

We're Goin' to the Drive In! :)

2006-06-19T09:27:00.000-05:00

What fun! We have found a Drive-In theatre near us (well, within two hours) and the girls and I are meeting some friends there tonight to see Cars (and maybe x-men 3 if we can stay awake that long - the first feature doesn't even start til 9:00). I'm excited -- and then I'm thinking maybe I'm too nostalgic about the "old" days of the drive in and it will be disappointing .... hot, bugs, bad sound .... naah. It's gonna be fun. :) I need to tan. Don't really know what that has to do with anything, but just caught a glimpse of my own, very white ankle and thought I'd share. Working in my front yard today - I haven't done that in a long long time and it is in desperate need of attention. It could also use a few hundred $ invested in it for plants and some bordering, but I don't have that right now, so will have to settle for the basic unkempt & wild look it has achieved under my neglect but with a little bit of "i mean for it to look this way" added. No pictures...it's too embarrassing. Off to cup #2, make up the bed, change clothes and to head out into the already blazing heat. No point in showering now - I'll need one when I come in from the yard. TTFN

Door County Book finished!

2006-06-14T08:40:00.000-05:00

and only four years after the trip there! I swear - I am horrible at finishing projects. My friend, Sharon, and I went to Door Co. Wisconsin in July 2002. Last night (note the date - I'm too embarrassed to write it down here) I put the final pages in the trip album. It's sort of funny how my scrapbooking style has changed since I first started the book - hopefully I'll be the only one who notices that and people won't look at it and automatically think I'm schizophrenic, or worse - uncreative. lol... Of course last night it was all about slapping it on some cardstock, trimming around it and putting it on the page and I admit the last two pages are very lame - but they are completed. I even decorated an envelope and put our memorabilia & extra photos in there at the back. Kev asked if I was having fun reliving the trip and I said no - I didn't even care anymore - I just wanted to finish the d--- book. I guess sometimes it's not about the memories.... ha. Now I have a pantry to de-clutter (and scrub with lysol and sweep the spilled spaghetti and dust bunnies). Don't envy me. I'm sure you can find the same joy in whatever you undertake today. :)

Vampires or snake bite??

2006-06-09T13:56:00.000-05:00

I got a double whammy injection in my neck today that looks like I was either bit by a large snake, or a vampire got to me. It was one of those epidural cortisone injections for my back, neck and left arm pain - and I hope it works ... so far, nothin - but it's been a whole five hours since I had it done.... Guess I need to be patient? I've never had anything like this before. I am going to attempt to post pictures of M's colorful room. I wrote a rather sappy piece the other night about my now seventeen year old Meg, then attempted to put a picture on there to go with it and the whole thing shut down, so I've been 'mad' at my blog and haven't played with it in awhile. I'm giving it another chance but it's very frustrating to try to do things one is supposed to be able to do on here and have them not work. grr.... It worked! yea! She has a dormer off her room that will be painted the same green that's in her quilt on the bottom bunk and we still need to find something to put on the top bunk that matches. I'm waiting for that same bedding to go on sale at Dillard's again so I can get the twin quilt that goes w/ it. I've priced fabric to make her something that goes and it will be just as expensive and take too much time, so we'll just keep our eyes open and try to find it already made - but on sale. :) On the purple and blue walls, she has moved some of her furniture into place and hung one framed scrapbook page on each wall, but has some other things to add later when the whole room is painted. We think she did a great job of choosing the colors, even though at first I was doubtful! :)

June 2nd Nineteen eighty nine

2006-06-01T22:53:00.000-05:00

HEY! I wrote this on the night of June first before Meg's birthday the next day. I thought it got lost, but I just found it in "drafts"! I'm such a baby-blogger - no idea what I'm doing. Anyway - here it is and I had tried to post a pic in there, but it wouldn't load, so I will try again .... Nope - picture isn't loading. Here's the post anyway..... * Seventeen years ago tomorrow I had my first daughter. Which means that seventeen years ago tonight was the last night I wasn't a mother. You know that e-mail that goes around about all moms feel? It's like using a seed to describe a forest ... way too inadequate to say all that is felt when you have a child. When I look at those blue eyes & that freckled face and I watch her growing into a young woman -- well, sometimes I just see her and I can't believe she's mine and she's so wonderful! Happy Birthday to Meg! Your mom is a big ole mush pot of snot and tears now. :)

Blah blah blah

2006-05-31T11:40:00.000-05:00

Nothing much to report - just checking in. After a day at the city pool w/ her friends, Molly is sunburned even though she swears "I wore a 35spf all day!" Yeah, right. She looks like a red hot! Meg has been camping w/ friends in Oklahoma this week and will be home tonight. We've missed her. Molly and I painted in her bedroom .... she's gone for a multi-colored thing .... each wall a different color. When you think about it, it sort of gives you a headache, but when you see it with her comforter and the pictures and things she's done around the walls - it actually looks very much like her and not so wild as you'd expect. The wall colors are: purple, blue (like caribbean blue), pink and green. Just imagine! :)

Summertime!

2006-05-25T23:45:00.000-05:00

My girls are both out of school! Graduation was tonight, so I told Meghan now that the seniors of '06 have graduated, she is officially a Senior now (Good grief! How did THAT happen????)and Molly is an 8th grader!!! I swear - wasn't I just in 8th grade!?!? Today went to the school assembly and after that Molly had early dismissal. Meghan took her Spanish final exam, then went swimming at a friend's. Both girls went to graduation tonight. I went to a Stampin' Up class & Kevin had the house to himself, but I don't think he was in it much because the yard had been mowed when I got home. :) It still feels strange for the girls to get in a car and drive away without one of us with them .... They're supposed to be playing in the Little Tykes car....loading up their baby dolls in the back of it and "driving" them around the house. Sigh.....

I still don't know why....but I think it's worth it

2006-05-22T09:35:00.000-05:00

The program was last night and the kids did an amazing job! It seems they just try to make me insane before the play, then when it's time for them to do what we've worked on all year - they just shine! What a great group of kids they are! And the parents - they pitch in and help decorate and then clean up and I got a movie pass book and a gift card to any one of about five restaurants (my choice). My girls both passed their TAKS except for Math. Not bad. Garage sale was a success, but now I'm peeling from being out in the sun all that day. I have a house to reclaim after last week's frenzy of decorations and costumes. Plus my family might enjoy a real meal for a change. :) Thanks for checking in. Wish I had a photo to post, but I didn't have a chance to take any pictures last night ... maybe one of the moms will share w/ me.

Why do I do it...?

2006-05-15T08:31:00.000-05:00

I blame it on the lady who directed our children's and youth choir when I was a kid .... She would put together these amazing productions with costumes and sets and just made it all so ... BIG. It was wonderful, although I do remember making fun at the time and sometimes hating that we had rehearsals, but all in all it made good memories. Now I direct the children's choir at my church and our spring musical is next weekend...and all I want to do is throw my hands in the air and skip out on the whole thing. I want it GOOD and for the kids to be proud of what they've done and have memories of being in these plays that teach them great lessons about God and scriptures ... and in the weeks before the presentation, it always seems like nobody cares. I don't even know what number this is in my resume' of children's choir presentations ... I've lost count and it's probably a good thing. Some people think I'm crazy for doing it. Some of the people who see me in action think I'm crazy in HOW I do it...it's a little chaotic and so much of it stays in my head until the week before the play so that nobody else can see what I "see" when a bunch of kids are standing around a hymnal on the floor where, next week, there will be a "massive rock" in the middle of the cafe' ... or the card table that, next week, will be transformed into a diner's kitchen .... People are tired of hearing my response, "It's all in my head" .... I know they are, but it's how I work and the end result is (much of the time) a good thing. In the meantime, I'm an insane woman and people are mostly staying out of my way. I have to go transform a pile of cardboard and tape into a jukebox....

School Day

2006-05-11T21:52:00.000-05:00

Today I subbed at the high school. What a zoo! My sister is having a garage sale this weekend and we're selling some things so my house is a wreck. Boxes and bags everywhere, but it's going to be nice when it's all cleared out of here...then I want to PAINT! Kids get their TAKS test results tomorrow....hope they both passed at least part of the stupid test. It's a real sore spot with me.

2006-05-10T08:59:00.000-05:00

This is one of my favorite places to go relax. Not up ON it - just near it - by the Guadalupe River with this tower in sight. I spent last weekend there w/ my friend Sharon. I'm still learning how to use this blog thingy and am happy to just have posted a photo at all. Yea me.

Test Post

2006-02-25T10:54:00.000-06:00

It's gray & rainy this morning - lots of puddles in the driveway. MK left her scooter out in the rain. ugh. Beans cooking on the stove for the afternoon - they smell good... lots of garlic. :) This should be enough to start off with.