So! Lawn Mower King has a job interview on Saturday.
In Virginia.
For a job that starts next month.
Holy mother of pearl.
The banquet is Sunday so we'll be huffing it back home Saturday night in order to make it to the banquet. I'm thinking of renting a car since it will only cost me $70 for the weekend. It's hard to beat that price. Plus, it would save all that wear and tear on our car.
Oh my god...we're going to Virginia tomorrow. Is it weird that it will be like going home?
Ms. Boomerang hasn't been seen since Saturday morning.
Cats and kittens are always disappearing around here, but I really miss her. I haven't seen Skittish or Gilligan in a few weeks either. I'm making LMK take me to the Humane Society today to see if someone picked them up and took them there. Otherwise, I am choosing to believe someone picked them up and took them home.
Yesterday, my cousin spent the day removing all the fence posts around the farm. Sunday was spent cutting down the apple trees. It's really a wonder I haven't had a breakdown. Anyway, Molly pops on IM this morning to tell me the following story. Everything in ( ) are our comments.
Her husband (my cousin) was pulling fence posts and taking down fence yesterday... and this lady pulls up and stops in the road and rolls down her window.
The crazy woman (CW) says, "What are you doing?" (really cocky).
He says, "Taking down fence" (duh)
CW: "What are you taking down the fence for?"
Cousin: "Because I don't need the fence anymore"
CW: "Well, we are NOT going to let YOU ruin THIS side of the road like you ruined the other side. So, you can just stop what you are doing right now"
My cousin just ignores her.
CW: "Are you taking down that fence so they can dig over here? Because we will put a stop to it and what you are doing - Just like we put a stop to you trying to put the asphalt plant up"
Me (to Molly): Call the cops...we got a crazy on the loose
By this point - he has lost all patience and says "No, don't worry, they aren't going to dig over here. Someone from Michigan is planning on putting a NASCAR track in here, so you don't need to worry" and went and got back in the skid loader to continue pulling posts.
Hello, police station? We've got a crazy on the loose!
Have I mentioned they're putting in an asphalt plant? Yeah. Great.
They had a big town meeting about it last month. My dad, uncle, and cousin all went. Lawn Mower King stayed home, because frankly, he's a former mining engineer - he knew what was going to happen. He's been to these things before. Anyway, he and I are figuring they'll have another one of these "appease the community" meetings and then they'll build the plant. They don't care.
However, at the meeting there were several people with facts (ok, ok, they printed their "facts" from the internet) and most of the community is against the plant. They went around and had people sign petitions. They sent out flyers about it. Here's the thing. We (my aunt and uncle, my parents, and Molly) haven't seen anything about these petitions or flyers. Nothing.
I can understand my parents and my uncle - they are the ones that leased the land to them (not the land for the plant, mind you). But LMK and I? We're not part of this. In fact, my grandfather was really against it. His house and the land it sits on are not part of the lease. We're not on the quarry's "take". If they want a huge supporter, HELLO! MY life is changing. MY home is changing. They shine 4 - 1,000 watt bulbs in MY front window until 11 o'clock at night.
But anyway...now we're somewhat worried about nails being put in our driveways and such, because frankly, that woman sounds cray-zeeeee.
I love my grandmother's side of the family. I really do. Well...except for the fact that they reproduce like bunnies so there's always a bunch of new babies to oogle and I reallllllly want one of my own.
We walked into the party, greeted my uncle, wished him Happy Birthday and moved out of the way so others could come in. My mom's favorite cousins came over. Everyone hugs. There are no handshakes. Everyone knows Lawn Mower King, yet none of them have actually met him before. (I swear they have flashcards and study up) LMK spent a half hour talking to my cousin from Minnesota. Her son (a month younger than me) plays soccer and had dreams of playing MLS. So they talked soccer for a while...while my eyes glazed over.
And I didn't sneak off with any babies. Don't get me wrong. I tried.
We are off to northwest Ohio for my great uncle's 90th birthday party. Surprise birthday party. Boy, I hope no one yells "surprise!" That could make for a really, um...eventful birthday.
It will be fun to see all the family we never get to see from all over the state/country. I plan to take lots of pictures, but not so many that I turn into mom's least favorite cousin who annoys the stuffing out of everyone. Haha, get it stuffing? Thanksigiving? Sorry. Couldn't resist.
It will be my first big family function with the Lawn Mower King (believe me, he is oh-so excited about the whole event). It will also be my first big family function with a digital camera. I'll probably end up taking only a few pictures because I don't want to be that obnoxious fat woman snapping pictures all night.
Now. If I could only lose about 150 pounds on the car ride up I would be thrilled.
Tonight we are headed to my aunt and uncle's for pizza and Thanksmas.
Since they are leaving tomorrow from the party, they're having "Christmas" with the grandkids and family here. It's become a tradition since they spend most of the winter in Arizona. It ought to be really....special. My cousin's son, also my cousin, who is a teenager and totally greedy asked last night why we weren't having homemade ice cream along with his favorite pizza and pie. Did I mention he didn't even want to get his grandparents a gift, but expected BIG gifts from them? Such a brat.
We don't give gifts (except every once and a while, like this year, to my aunt and uncle) because we'll have regular old Christmas at Christmas time.
As for the recipes yesterday, the sweet potato casserole recipe is a keeper. The broccoli one is not. I don't know if it was the fact that I had to use brown rice and that ruined it or the fact that I found it way to salty (and I added no salt). It could be my loss of appetite. I didn't eat a whole lot yesterday and even skipped pie in the evening. Perhaps I've turned over a new leaf? Nah. Either way, I have no desire to make the broccoli casserole again.
Everyone wants the recipe for the "lime frozen dessert thing" I made, too. Must share.
Happy Thanksgiving!
We're going next door for dinner and I'm bringing two new recipes. Woohoo! They both looked good last night when I was getting them ready. Hopefully they will taste good today, too!
I've applied to a few jobs in NC, so has LMK. I've been told to be picky about the schools, so I am trying. I have a general area I am interested in and I am looking for jobs in that area.
LMK says we'll move as soon as one of us has a job (i.e. me). I say, "pffffft."
I'm torn. Part of me wants to move - RIGHT NOW. Another part of me wants to finish out my year of subbing and move in time for a new school year. In my mind, it's because we would have almost a year to try to save money toward a move and pack. Of course, we're barely making enough money to pay the bills we have, so how we'll save money too, I have no idea. Plus, moving in time for a new school year would give me more ways to try and figure out how to break the news to my mother.
LMK told his dad about moving to NC last night. His dad's response, "Well, you were never going to make any money in college coaching anyway."
LMK is kind of upset by it, but hey - his dad is right. He wasn't going to make the kind of money he would make in engineering in college soccer. We know that. However, having a job he loves is worth all the potential luxuries we may or may not be giving up. I've told LMK, I don't need to be rich. I just need to be able to pay our bills each month and not worry every solitary second about money and how we're going to pay our next bill. Besides, NC is just another step in the road to getting him a college coaching job.
I'm adamant about things now. We'll do what is best for US. The decisions we make affect US. If we ask for your opinion, we want your opinion, but we may not do what you think is best. If you don't like or agree with our decisions, I'm very sorry. However, they are still OUR decisions. We are going to make mistakes, but we need to do that together so we can learn from them. Part of this move is taking their "say" out of our lives. If they're giving us money, I feel like they should have some sort of "say" in what we do. When we both have full-time jobs - that will end.
We're moving!
I think.
After several long discussions and asking a lot of questions, Lawn Mower King and I have decided to start preparing for a move to North Carolina.
Even though I've got a list of pros and cons, here are the things I feel are hurting me here in Ohio.
- No one is hiring teachers. No one. If anything, they're cutting teachers. I'm terrified of getting labelled as a "great substitute" and then never getting hired because they don't want to lose a good substitute.
- LMK is struggling to get a foot in the door, coachingwise, because he doesn't have a master's degree or advanced coaching licenses.
Everyone I've talked to tells me not only can I get a teaching job in North Carolina, I can pick my job, due to the fact that I have a teaching license AND I have my master's. Furthermore, LMK can get a teaching job, too. While he teaches he can go back to school and get his masters. I've also been told if he's willing to coach a sport, he'll be even more marketable.
As a two income family we could start paying off our college loans, save money for the future, pay off our cars, TAKE vacations!
If the thought of FINALLY being a two income family weren't enough, then someone told me about North Carolina's healthcare system for state employees (i.e. teachers).
I swear to you, I stopped listening after that point. My eyes all but glazed over.
Two full-time jobs.
LMK getting his masters degree and any extra coaching licenses he can get.
HEALTHCARE!
That's a trifecta.
We're moving.
Now.
How do I tell my mother?
Ha, you probably thought this was going to be about that new show, Heroes. While LMK and I do watch and enjoy the show...
I fooled you. I worked for the Title I teacher today and got to see a presentation by an Ohio author. Rick Sowash, author of Heroes of Ohio, came today and talked about his book.
He was wonderful! He really is a great story teller and a wonderful author, but the program itself was genius. He had a bunch of the 4th grade students from the elementary school dress up as the "Heroes of Ohio" listed in his book. Then as he went through the timeline in his book he would have a little "interview" with each character.
The gymnasium was packed to capacity with the entire school and the other six fourth grade classes in the district - yet you could hear every word. The kid's listening barely moved throughout the entire program (that lasted 50 minutes). It was wonderful.
I'm only sad that I didn't get to purchase a book that he had signed. I finally reasoned that I may not be an Ohio teacher much longer, so have a children's book allllll about Ohio is probably not necessary.
More on other decisions being made, later.
This news and this news made my day. I own the first three books and can't wait for the fourth to come out. It's almost as exciting as the release of the last Harry Potter book or another Princess Diaries book.
I collect all the Harry Potter books in hard cover (including the first four in British "adult" versions), the Princess Diaries books, the Stephanie Plum books (just started), and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books.
What books/series of books do you collect?
So. About that school?
Let me preface this whole thing with a description of the schools I grew up in/work in currently.
They're old. They are by no means unusable, but they were all built around the 1900s. In first grade, my classroom was moved to the cafeteria because they had to put a new roof on the building. Our room to keep our coats was an old dark and dingy locker room. It was icky. My high school? My mother went to my high school. They've added new parts onto it, but the whole place is drafty and there isn't nearly enough space.
The schools I work in at District #1 are all older schools except my mom's former school that was built in the 70s (it's still 36 years old). In all of them, the heat doesn't work right (or they do weird stuff like cranking it way up in the morning and then turning it off). There will be hot air billowing out in mid-May while everyone swelters. Air conditioning is just a warm memory as students and teachers stick to their chairs. We freeze in the winter and bake in the spring/summer.
Alma mater school has 2 (TWO!) brand never elementary schools. A primary school for kindergarten through 2nd grade and an intermediate school for 3rd - 5th grade. I walked in this school yesterday and I swear, I wanted to kiss the floor. It was beautiful! It has a lot of similarities to the new middle school in Blacksburg (which was modeled after another middle school around here). First and foremost - AIR CONDITIONING! Not that it did me any good in November, but I know it's there!
Each grade level is a color. Third grade is blue (I LOVE blue). Fourth is green. I'm thinking that fifth is purple, but I'm not sure. I haven't actually seen a fifth grade room yet. Anyway! The walls are a pretty pale blue color and the furniture is a darker blue. The carpet is blue and the desks are blue. Did I mention I love blue? They also have the coolest chairs. While I don't actually want to sit on them (they make me nervous) they're great for kids. The desks have indentations for pencils on the sides instead of the front.
The teacher's desk - OH the teacher's desk. It was beautiful. She has her own computer and LASER printer. There is a closet behind the desk for coats and such. The children have cubbies for their bookbags and coats. They have an extra set of boxes on top so that each child has their own square cubby for their supply tub or their lunch. Each room has a sink and a row of cupboards along the sink. There are two classes in one room. The teacher I was in team teaches with the woman she shares a room with. However, there is a divider that can be pulled if teacher's want their own classroom. Let me tell you, 50 kids in a room is a heck of a lot.
Instead of a bell, they have a bing bong noise that plays over the public address system. The bathroom lights? They turn off if no one is in there! They have a school messaging system that shows little messages all day long. So and so is celebrating a birthday. Recess is outside today. Conferences are next Monday.
However the things I'm truly interested in are the technological aspects of the school. Not only do they have a computer lab (instead of four computers in each room - which serve little to no purpose) but the classroom I was in also had a Smart Board! I am fascinated by Smart Boards. I got to use one a little while I was at Tech (in that classroom waaaaaaaay at the top of War Memorial where just about all of our graduate courses were held).
All in all, I can't wait to go back. Even though the teacher's in this district get paid less than in District #1. I think working in a new school DEFINITELY has it's benefits.
Today was the first day I have substituted for my alma mater. After some serious problems getting on the list (they always gave me a hard time about it), I finally got on their sub list this year.
Um. Have I mentioned the elementary schools are new. BRAND new.
Oh I love them. I want to go there every day.
Too tired to actually describe them now - but tomorrow look out.
Anyone else too excited that Top Model is in Spain? It's probably because I've been to Spain. Although, I was hoping they'd be in Madrid or somewhere I'd actually gotten to see. Instead of Barcelona where all we got to see was the airport. However, I was shouting to LMK last night that I knew that airport! I did know it! I even rocognized the steps we booked it down after our flight landed to try and make our flight to Sevilla. I could even tell LMK where the bathroom was that we all ran to (hey - I hadn't peed in 9 hours, it was the highlight of Barcelona, let me tell you.)
I've also decided I'm a CariDee fan. I couldn't stand her in tryouts, but now? Love her. Never cared for Miss Melissa Rose.
~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ I've also decided I'm a CariDee fan. I couldn't stand her in tryouts, but now? Love her. Never cared for Miss Melissa Rose.
Lawn Mower King called his parents last night. His dad wasn't home, so he got to catch up on all the family news. My favorite piece of news? Three of his cousins (all sisters) are pregnant - including the one that "stole" my baby name. Soooo upsetting.
Then his mom asked the question she asks every year at this time, "What do you guys want for Christmas?"
Ohhhhh, uh. LMK honestly has no idea. He's like me - the thing he really wants is too expensive. He would like to take the course to get his next coaching license which costs $800. Yeah, we can't afford that, nor can his parents or my parents.
Me? I want:
- a treadmill
- a better digital camera (to take pictures at LMK's games)
- an iPod
Everything I want is way too expensive, thus I am not asking for anything. The only thing I could think of that may not be too expensive was a vacuum cleaner. We need a new one so I can give my mother back hers.
Me: Well, I need a vacuum cleaner.
LMK: Great! I want a vacuum cleaner.
Me: Hey! Wait! You stole mine!
LMK: Mooowahahahaha!
~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~ * ( ) * ~
I really have nothing of substance to say. Imagine that. I've been debating what to post for almost an hour now. I have what I think, is a hilarious video of some of the referee's from Lawn Mower King's last game, but I vowed to myself I wouldn't put anything remotely identifiable on this website. So I can't put that up - though I giggle everytime I see it.
I've taken no new pictures. I haven't even tried any interesting recipes. I'd tell the story Hillary wants to hear - but trust me, it's pathetic.
Here's what I've come up with:
If you could change one thing about yourself (personality, disposition, physical characteristics, etc) what would you change? No cheating and saying you can't choose and you would change two things or everything. If I have to choose, gosh darnit, so do you.
When I first thought of this question, I thought, of course, I'd change my weight.
Nah. That's too easy. That's a simple fix to a complex problem. That's a cop out. I want to have the satisfaction of losing weight for myself - not just having it magically disappear.
No, if I could change one thing about myself, I would give myself more self confidence. I'd like to be able to walk into anything and know that no matter what I do, I am not going to give up until I succeed.. I feel like I've given up a lot lately. From the little things to the big things.
"I'm never going to be able to keep this house clean for more than a day, why bother?"
"I'm never going to get a teaching job. Why bother?"
"I'm never going to lose weight, why bother?"
The past three and a half years have beaten me down, I admit it. (Are you happy, dear, I admitted it!) LMK tries to build me up, but there's only so much he can do. I'm lucky to have someone in my corner telling me he believes in me and supports me. I tell myself how lucky I am frequently. It doesn't help. I've got this constant negative dialog running through my head. Constant. It's like there is a negative/positive switch on in my head and it's stuck on negative. But the negative switch only affects me.
For example, I have no doubt that LMK will get a head coaching position. No. doubt.
I doubt I will ever see my own classroom.
Ever.
As I said yesterday, I hate goats. Anyone who knows me might be shocked by that statement. I love all most animals (okay...creepy crawlies aren't high on the list).
Goats are the exception.
One of my first memories is of Billy. Billy was my cousin's goat. Billy was mean. I was around three or four years old and Billy loved to terrorize me. He'd headbutt me (like goat's do) and generally traumatize me. I have a distinct memory of him cornering me in the cow barn, knocking me down in the filth, headbutting and kicking me until I somehow escaped and ran to Grandma's house. I had many a bruise from Billy.
My parents did what they could to protect me but all they could do was refuse to let me play outside. That wasn't fun. My cousin (and her family) thought it was funny how Billy seemed to have a vendetta against me. "Haha," they would chortle, "isn't it cute how Billy chases Erin around?"
"Oh, Billy likes you, Erin."
Meanwhile, Erin is running for all her little legs are worth to escape from this goat. I can still remember the fear I felt when I saw that goat coming. I tried hiding behind my parents or my grandfather but Billy just would not give up.
Billy made a quick and swift exit after the day he turned on my cousin. Evidently, it was ok to terrorize me, but one slip where she was concerned and that goat is history. (Yes, I'm still a little bitter about it.)
So I am not looking forward to Middle Cousin's Wife brining her goats. My only highlight is that I am now bigger (MUCH bigger than a goat). They better not mess with me. I'll..... I'll....sit on it.
Who's laughing now, Goat? Who's laughing now!
As I stated yesterday, the farm has been sold.
While I'm not really surprised since my cousin, Molly, my aunt, and my uncle are moving to Missouri in the spring, I'm still sad. My aunt and uncle's middle son and his wife will basically be "trading" houses. Middle Cousin (the one that had cancer) will move here and my aunt and uncle will move to their place in Missouri. I haven't heard good things about his wife (I've spent a total of 5 minutes with the woman, total) but I'm hoping she won't be a problem.
The farm has been sold to another farmer who is going to use it for storage and the fields for crops. So while it won't technically look different, it will be completely and totally different. Our home sits on a half acre lot on the farm. That means everything beside and behind us will now belong to someone else.
The uncertainty of what that will mean is what bothers me. What about the barn cats? Are they still allowed to live on the farm or will they have to find somewhere on our property to sleep? Can LMK and I go kitten hunting in the spring/summer or will we be considered tresspassing? Will they continue to harvest the fruit bushes and trees behind our house? If they don't, am I allowed to go over and pick what is edible? Will anything be edible? What are they going to do with Molly and Cousin's trailer? The one right, behind our house. I'm going to have a BIG problem with strangers living that close to me (and being able to look in my windows from their living room). Do I still need to mow Molly's yard? Will they want me to mow all the farm? Can we still use the tennis court? Will they keep the tennis court?
Did I mention Middle Cousin's Wife has goats? I hate goats. Goats are evil. Goats are mean.
Why? Well, I'm glad you asked...but that's a story for another day.
I was talking to Molly the other day and we've always had an agreement that we should go into business together. We'd be perfect business partners. She's great with numbers and people...and I'm...fully willing to be partners with someone like that!
Anyway...she is a dog lover. She pets every dog she comes across (after asking permission of course). I'm a cat lover. She's basically me except skinny and with dogs. I'm one of the few people that "gets" it.
The other day she told me the perfect business plan (teaching is great...but it's just not cutting it for me currently). A pet rescue. If she and I were to buy the farm she could put kennels in the big buildings (there are probably about 3) for dogs. I could use the milkhouse and milking parlor for cat pens. Put an exercise pen for the cats back where the pig pen/calf room used to be and use the fields for dog exercise.
It's perfect! Molly and Erin's Pet Rescue.
Too bad they sold the farm and Molly is moving to Missouri in May. It's going to be a sad spring `round here.
What would your dream job be?
Bullying is a serious problem in today's schools. All over the country children are being emotionally traumatized and even physically assaulted by bullying. As a teacher, I feel pretty helpless to stop this. Afterall, if I intervene then often the bullying intensifies. I can't just turn away from it. I was bullied and teased in school. I understand the pain. However, I can't protect children every hour of every day.
The feeling of helplessness is awful. I can't imagine what it must feel like for a parent.
So when I see this game being advertised on television it just makes my blood boil.
I am going to kill a cow.
The bull will not SHUT UP! He is supremely pissed off and it sounds like he is standing right outside my window. Creeepy. Here...you listen. Turn your speakers up. He's at the beginning and the end.
Remember that movie with Ashley Judd? Someone Like You? He needs some New Cow. Good gravy! I swear...I'm having steak tomorrow! Diet be damned!
So...when I'm in jail for -- cowicide, visit me.
Mm-kay?
Wednesday night we went to dinner with my aunt and uncle for my mother's birthday. While waiting for our food my father starts discussing the new shopping center coming to Growing City. Evidently it is supposed to contain 13 (13!) new restaurants.
My father says, "How are they going to find 13 restaurants that they don't already have in Growing City?"
We've definitely got all the restaurants one could ever want, right? I mean there's a BW3's, several Chinese places, Dairy Queen, a few pizza places, KFC, Wendy's, a Mexican restaurant, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, a steakhouse, Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts, Cici's Pizza, Applebee's, Bob Evans, Perkins, sports grill/bar, Eat and Park, McDonald's, Burger King, Quizno's, Steak N Shake, and Ruby Tuesdays.
I want a Sonic, an Olive Garden, a Jimmy John's, a Panera, and a few more of the places my brother has in Toledo. Heck! Let ME pick the new restaurants. Now that would be great!
Loved, loved, LOVED ER tonight.
So refreshing to see a person with DID portrayed "normally" as a person with feelings. Not some freak for entertainment.
Just for the record, I caught on right away - LMK took a loooooooooooooooot longer.
And they say it takes one to know one. Maybe I just know what to look for as the person always on the outside, looking in?
Lawn Mower King is downloading soccer games from the video camera to the computer. I am hoping to compile the season into one dvd - keep your fingers crossed that this happens.
Anyway...as I surf the internet I can listen/watch to the game. That doesn't mean I do, but I could.
During this particular game the men's team came out to support the women. They always sit on the opposite side of the stadium as me and I hear some of their comments, but not most of them. They are hilarious. I swear, they're half the reason I go to the game.
Favorite quote so far:
"Let's boo at number 9...........................BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
Morons. At least they're entertaining.
Have you seen the new Visa Check Card commercial?
The one with the snappy music in the corporate lunch room. Everyone is happily beboping through the lunch line. Step up to cashier, swip card, move on. Then the guy with the cash steps up and the whole line crashes behind him.
Am I the only one who gets really angry at that commercial? With all the credit card debt (and yes, I know it's a check card) in this country, it's supposed to be wrong to pay with cash? The guy paying cash and living within his means should be APPLAUDED. (Can you tell I don't have a credit card? Won't be getting one in the near future either...I don't trust myself to use it correctly, yet.)
I usually enjoy Visa commercials, but sorry Visa - I hate this one.
FINALLY! I am so sick and tired of the political ads.
How many times have you read/heard that today? I'm willing to bet anyone who reads blogs or communicates with people has heard this today.
I watched the national evening news a few weeks ago where they talked about how one party is taking advantage of the president's low approval to really sock it to the other party in their state. Then they showed a few examples of the type of ads they were talking about.
HA! There was one from Ohio. Mike De.wine and Sherr.od Brown have really gotten into this mudslinging thing. It's so ridiculously petty. I'd love not to vote for either, but there's no one else to vote for. Unless I do what the Lawn Mower King did and write himself in as Senator. Heh. Not funny...........much.
Do like the Lawn Mower King suggests - "Vote early, vote often!"
I returned to the first grade classroom where I spent a week in mid-October today. I was in for one of the two catty teachers in the building. They've been nothing but nice....to my face. However, they're the type that you just know are talking about you behind your back. This is based on things they've said about the kids, the parents, and other teachers.
Anyway.
While I was in for a week, nothing shady happened. Everyone was polite. It wasn't suddenly Absent Teacher's turn for week-long playground duty. It was generally a good week.
Today was also nice. I dressed warm figuring that it would be my day for playground duty - coincidentally of course. When I got to school I saw that, yep - I had playground duty. No biggie since I had music right after. I would get my pee break. Hooray!
However, upon my maneuvering in the classroom, I stumbled upon this year's duty schedule for the first grade teachers. Well, well, well. According to the schedule - it was Catty Teacher #2's day, not mine. Amazing how it worked out to be my day.
When I doubled checked with her - just to be sure, she explained to me that everyone has a set day during the week and Mondays and Fridays they take turns. "It just happened to be Absent Teacher's day!" she said sweetly.
Yeah. Sure it did.
Call me obsessive compulsive but I am addicted to free samples.
I mean, they're FREE. Free!
For example, each day, I faithfully check the evil store's free sample site. I sign up for anything new that I haven't already requested a sample for. I've received samples of coffee (which I don't drink) and other products I currently don't use.
Once I receive my samples, do I use them? Nope. I save them for a special occasion. Much like the Lawn Mower King saved the champagne the hotel gave us on our wedding night for a special occasion.
I'm addicted to free samples AND I'm a saver. Not a good combo.
I'm having a dilema currently though. Currently, this is a free sample. Each day I have to talk myself out of requesting a sample. I don't smoke! No one I know smokes....but...it's free!
Thursday I went back for my three month check with my doctor. Let me just take this moment to say, again, I love my doctor. Even though she had to reschedule this appointment twice due to emergencies. Even though she kept me waiting 45 minutes. (In all fairness, it sounds like she has a sick baby at home, so I be understanding.)
In terms of healthiness, I've gone the other way. Weight is up. (17 pounds - which I find hard to believe if not ALARMING) Blood pressure was way up (160/100). My A1C has gone up .6 - it's still below 7, but not it's a whole lot closer to 7 instead of being closer to 6 like it was. The only good news is my cholesterol looks good.
Well, yipee.
Luckily, my doctor is great. She knows that I know things are good. She doesn't yell at me or reprimand me - which would only cause me to be afraid of her and never return. All she said was, "in terms of your diabetes, you've started going in the wrong direction. You know what you need to do. I know you'll handle it." Didn't I mention how great she is?
Anyway, I'm using this appointment as a jump start/shock to get me back on track. Enough is enough. No more waiting until soccer season is over. It's over! No more, "oh I'll start on Sunday." That's it. Everyday from now on. I love my mother, but since she's retired and started cleaning out her recipe box she's not been very diet friendly. I refuse to continue to eat things I shouldn't just to "use it up." She doesn't need the sweets. My dad doesn't need the sweets. LMK and I don't need the sweets. I have no problem making them and sending them to someone else, but no more making them for no reason.
I've talked it over with LMK and he's agreed to help me. Until I develop a little willpower of my own, I need him to be strong for me. For a while, I need a food cop - so does he. (In fact, I wrestled a piece of caramel out of his hands Thursday night and threw it away. He got the message.) Today we are going to The College so LMK can meet with a recruit and after that, we're stopping at the produce stand I've been oogling since he started working at The College. I've found "diets" don't work for me. Lifestyle changes do. So I will be creating my own South Beach/Fat Smash Diet. Eliminating whole tiers of the food pyramid doesn't sound healthy - but I am definitely going to start watching what I eat. Making good food choices and recording every single cotton pickin' thing that enters my mouth. Just because I don't record it doesn't mean it doesn't count.
I'm even taking my before pictures. That ought to scare the hell out of a lot of people.
Today is a new day!
Some of my former readers may remember Gilligan. At our garage sale in September, Gilligan found a home. He went home with a nice family with two children old enough to love and care for him. They lived on the road adjacent to ours so Gill wouldn't be too far away. I couldn't have been happier. Yes, I was a little sad that he wouldn't be around everyday, but I was thrilled that he would have a good home. He was way too friendly to be a barn cat (although, I don't know how he got that friendly - mwahahahaha).
I would often think of Gilligan and wonder how he was doing in his new home. Were the children fawning over him still? Did he miss me or even remember me?
Two weeks ago, a few days before the team dinner, Lawn Mower King came home from work late. He came to the front door instead of coming in through the garage like always. When he knocked, I went to the door and opened it to let him in - cuddled in his arms was a black cat. She looked cold and a little scared.
Me being me, I immediately took the kat (not a kitten, but not full grown yet) into my arms and petted her gently. We brought her in out of the bitter wind and LMK told me how he had been driving down our road and almost hit this little girl. She had been sitting in the middle of the road. She purred and shivered as I petted her and I knew she was going to stay here. She would have to be a barn cat, but she'd at least be fed and hopefully warm. We set her up with some food and a towel - though I was dying to keep her inside and warm. The next morning we showed her the hay barn where she could sleep and be warm. We also warned her about the big B, Mokey.
Each evening when we went out to feed the barn cats, there she was. Then one evening I was driving home from school and the thought hit me...that new kat looks JUST like Gilligan. I wonder...
I told LMK of my suspicions and he informed me that it couldn't be Gilligan because this kat was a girl. Huh. Good point. Another day went by and the thought still stuck in my head. She was the exact same size as Skittish, Gilligan's sister. How many stray cats come running when they hear my voice? Just like Gill. How many have the EXACT coloring of Gilligan? How many "talk" to me the same way Gill did?
The next time I saw the new kat, I did a little checking of my own. She was in fact a HE. I was convinced it was Gilligan. I called Molly* and she started checking things out too. She's convinced it is Gilligan too.
Now the part that bothers me.
I don't think Gilligan made a Homeward Bound-esque return. He'd been gone over a month. He acts like a cat that was an indoor/outdoor cat. He runs to the door and yowls to be let in whenever he sees/hears us come home. He ran in the door when the team came over for dinner. He was quite at home with all the people - unlike my scaredy cats who hid.
I honestly think this woman or her husband dropped him off and didn't tell anyone. I think when LMK found Gilligan he was trying to find his way back to his new home - not his old home. The idea of them just dropping him off and not telling anyone makes me so angry I want to hit something. If you can't give him a good home, that's fine. Bring him back. I told them they could bring him back - for any reason, no questions asked. However, dropping him off in the middle of the night is just wrong.
I guess not everyone can be as responsible as Sarah was when she decided she couldn't give Penny a good home. Thank goodness for responsible people.
Once again, I am a day (or two) late and a dollar short. I missed the cut off to sign up for NaBloPoMo officially. However, I'm with Hillary. Who needs to be official!? I'm going to post every day for the month of November. I've been doing pretty well so far in posting at least three times a week, but I figured, why not up the ante.
Maybe Hillary and I can create our own following of NaBloPoMo rejects. Mwahahahahaha.
Last week, two days before the team dinner, my dryer started making a really weird/awful noise. I emptied the clothes out of it and found the Lawn Mower King's wallet. Not to worry, it was nice and clean after being run through the washer AND the dryer. His id for The College was missing as well as his driver's license. We looked all around in the dryer, but couldn't find it. I had the Lawn Mower King call the repair service and promptly put it out of my mind.
A week later, we finally got the repairman out to fix the dryer. He turned on the dryer, listened for a second, and turned it off proclaiming he knew what it's problem was - even though it had stopped making the horrible noise at that time. Then he pushed a magical sequence of buttons and my washer lit up like a Christmas tree. Every light was on and it was spinning! It was pretty damn cool. If only I knew what buttons he pressed.
After he left, and we still hadn't found LMK's license he went down to the basement to check the dryer vent. Maybe it had some out there.
Oh, it came out there all right. Here is what is left of his driver's license.
Speaking of his driver's license, when we went to get his replacement license yesterday we were asked a classic stupid question.
DMV woman: You know you're just going to have to renew this again in February.
LMK: Yeah.
Me: Can he use that license until February?
DMV Woman: Well...no.
Welcome to my new digs!
I will now be known as:
The Lawn Mower Queen (It's all I could think of!)
Glad to see everyone!
While I taught first grade for a week, I dealt with runny noses, upset tummies, and one barfer I was thrilled when I made it to Friday without even a hint of a sniffle. Ha ha! Score one for me!
Monday, two days before the team dinner, I felt a cold coming on strong. I took A.irborne faithfully and actually felt the cold symptoms going away. By Wednesday I was symptom free and off the A.irborne. Whoopie!
Thursday, I was sick. Sore throat, coughing, congestion - just plain ick. I made it through my two days of teaching last week hopped up on D.ayquil and sugar. When I'm sick I don't want to be touched or looked at. Just leave. me. alone. Lawn Mower King is really good about this. He brings me tissues and sleeps in the spare bedroom. I couldn't ask for more.
Finally, yesterday, I was starting to feel better. Minimal hacking and blowing my nose makes me happy. Last night, after I made chicken enchiladas I told LMK that I wanted some ice cream. Off we went to the store! On our way home he stated he was tired and would probably come home and take a bath.
Me (jokingly): Maybe it's mono, honey.
LMK (rolling his eyes): No, it's not mono.
Me (alluding to the lack of...uh...action lately): You're right, there's no way you could have caught mono in the past few weeks.
LMK: Gee thanks! The first thing I did when I got home was give you a kiss.
Me: Yeah! On the cheek! That's not how mono is spread.
LMK: Well, I did sleep in bed last night...maybe I caught it from the runoffs of your drool pillow.
Me: ...................shut up.