Have you heard the urban legend about the poison dress? I saw Elizabeth where one of her ladies in waiting dies from a dress meant for her.
When we moved into the new house, LMK's mom brought their old sheets for us. They just redid their bedroom and the sheets don't fit their bed anymore. She always gets really expensive sheets with high thread counts. Me, I'm a cheap sheet kinda gal. The cheaper, the better. Anyway, she made our bed with their old sheets when we moved in. We've just been using those sheets. I've washed them several times and just put them back on our bed.
However, I think she's brainwashing/poisoning me with these sheets!
Because last night, I found myself in the basement, IRONING SHEETS!
I hate ironing. I don't iron unless I have to and by have to, I mean gun-to-my-head, have to.
I must admit, I've been anti-Rach.ael R.ay. Everythis is JUST! SO! WONDERFUL!
Gag.
Anyway, I put her obnoxiousness aside last week and watched a show where she made a Reuben Loaf. I love reubens and I've been dying for a good one! After watching, I found myself thinking, I could totally make that. The only problem was LMK doesn't like saurkraut and there isn't really a way to make half the loaf sans-kraut. Then it occured to me that I could just make two mini-loaves instead of one big loaf. I didn't go all out and make her special "slaw" and dressing, but I just made a regular old reuben.
It worked out wonderfully! Not only were the reuben loaves delicious, there was enough for us to have it for two nights. Go us!
Last night, I stuck the half loaves in the oven for about 15 minutes at 350. They were even better than the first night. Mmmm...crusty bread. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
It occurs to me that I haven't really talked much about LMK's new job. I haven't mentioned the irony in my engineer turned soccer coach husband getting a teaching job before me - you know, the one with an actual degree...IN TEACHING! But that's another story...
First, I love, love, love the school. Love it. Everyone who works there has been so helpful and kind. I hear all the time, "The School is just like a big family, we look out for one another." This is definitely an environment where I can thrive. We've attended three basketball games (2 high school, 1 middle) and have seen the head of the school and his wife at 2 of them. I'm kind of looking forward to football and soccer games in the fall. Wait...did I mention girl's soccer is a spring sport around here? Games start around the first of March. It better be warmer here than in Ohio in March, otherwise, I'm gonna freeze!
Right now, it looks like LMK will be the assistant girl's coach this spring. Then starting in the new school year, he will switch with the boy's head coach - assist for the boy's team in the fall and be the head coach of the girl's in the spring. (Make sense?) It's not exactly what we were hoping for, but it's still coaching and he is thrilled.
All along, I've been extremely lucky to have a husband that, while he didn't always "get" teaching, he didn't belittle it. He knows what a tough job it is. Afterall, the man had a teacher mother. My mom and I would come home with hilarious (to everyone but those who had lived them) "school stories" to tell at dinner. The summer he worked at The Club, he got yet another taste of teaching. Believe me, the stories he came home with were hilarious - to us. Since living with not only his teacher mother, but also living with me near my teacher mother he's learned a lot, second hand, about teaching.
But sometimes, I forget that he has no formal teacher training. I assume he knows certain things about teaching - and you know what happens when you assume. For example:
He decided that the semester final should not hurt his students' grades. They've had a rough semester (more teachers than quarters) and most of them are really worried about their grades. He cleared his idea with the academic dean and proceeded to administer his tests. However, his one mistake was showing students who had taken the test early in the week their grade (with the exam not hurting their grade). Word spread like wildfire and by the third day of exams, he had kids not bothering to complete most of their test because they knew it wouldn't affect their grade. They sat in the back of the class and goofed off. Seriously, if you work two hours on a test - complete only a few problems and get a 30% (with a 9 percentage point curve) there is something wrong.
Teacher Lesson Learned: If you're going to be a nice guy, wait until everyone has finished the exam to let them know you're being a nice guy. Otherwise, they take advantage.
As for classes, I don't understand 99% of what he's teaching. He's basically teaching the math that he helped me squeak through at Tech. So, I know he knows what he's talking about. I've been the student. Now, if only I could get a teaching job, we'd be set.
I do believe I've topped this summer's *duh, Erin* comment*.
Today, LMK hands me his copy of the evening duty calendar. I immediately started scanning the boxes for the days he is on duty, since I know I won't see him until 9PM those nights. So, on one of the days he has duty, it says:
Scott **
Smith **
Before I can stop myself, I say to LMK, "why do they have your name down as Scott?"
(pause, while LMK starts laughing)
"Oh....you and Ms. Scott have duty on that day. Got it."
Mental head slap.
* This summer, I was looking over the camp roster that LMK got when he was working the soccer camp for The College. It had the coach's name, then the kid's information. Before I could stop myself, I said, "Boy there sure are a lot of (LMK's first name)'s at this camp."
He's still laughing about that one.
** Names changed to protect the innocent.
Is it important to be amused by the little things, thus entertained frequently throughout life or is it better to only laugh at "really funny things"? Is it good to be amused by the little things? I don't know.
However, I'm incredibly entertained by our "new" (to us) refrigerator. I feel like I've seen a number of fridges in my day, but NONE with the handy dandy door within a door.
Right now, we're putting drinks in that compartment because it's really easy to reach in and grab a bottle of water instead of a can of pop.
Go to my flickr page to see what magnets I have on the fridge.
After LMK was diagnosed with a mental illness, I spent a lot of time learning about the different types of illnesses people deal with every day. There are the "classics" like OCD and d.epression, but there are also less spoken about illnesses like sc.hizophrenia, borderline pe.rsonality disorder, and PTSD (post-traumatic stress syndrome).
To date, I have not experienced much mental illness. I have bouts of depression, like most folks, but for the most part - I am lucky. However, after the incident with the rat a little over a week ago I began to experience some PTPSD symptoms.
Three symptoms of PTSD are:
- Re-living the event - Sometimes, if I close my eyes, I can see the whole scene play out again. I can see the thin tail that looked snake-like, until I realized what it was.
- Avoiding reminders - This one was tricky. Since I have a bladder the size a pea, avoiding the "scene of the crime" was incredibly difficult. I found myself running upstairs instead of going back to the downstairs bathroom.
- Being on guard - This one was the more difficult. Most women know what a "hover-er" is. I have never been a hover-er. Now? I perch on my own toilet seat...terrified that a rat is going to sneak up
behind...beneath...belowon me and bite my tush. I mean, my mother always said, "if you see one mouse, you can bet he has 9 more friends." So logically, I've got 9 more rats to find before I can safely pee in peace.
* Post Traumatic Potty Stress Disorder
I've heard several people talk about trips to C.ostCo. I've never nearby one. We've always had the other club place nearby.
So, to all you expert shoppers, is the $50 membership going to be worth it for our small family of 2?
We don't have a lot of fridge or freezer space (we had a huge stand alone freezer in Ohio), but we have a good size fridge and freezer. Should we hold off a while before getting a membership? Would getting one now save us money?
What do YOU think?
P.S. Gotta love this...
P.P.S. When did this start? I went to one game while at Tech - one when we used to suck. It was nothing like this. I get goose bumps every time I watch this. How long `til football season? Now I want to go to a game!
NoVA Observation
#7 - Evidently, no shoes and no shirt are a problem `round here.
Everywhere I go there are BIG, BOLD signs proclaiming "No shoes, no shirt, no service." They are not old signs with peeling paint or letters. They're new signs and usually prominently displayed. In Ohio, it's a rule but I can't remember seeing a sign for it in the last few years. It's not on the doors of the Target or the grocery stores we used frequently.
Check out observations #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, and #6.
NoVA Observation
#6 - When people say "soda", they actually are talking about "pop".
This isn't really shocking to me, but I had forgotten about this little tidbit since my time at Tech. Head Coach calls everything "soda" (in a great Boston accent) and it makes me giggle every time. This change in lingo doesn't usually cause a giggle fit these days, but it did cause me to spend several minutes at the grocery store last night searching the store directory for the pop aisle. By the time I got to the S's it occured to me that I wanted the soda aisle, not the pop aisle.
Duh.
Check out observations #1, #2, #3, #4, and #5.
#5 - My days of ordering unsweetened ice tea at restaurants are over.
First, most of the fast food joints don't have unsweetened tea. They all say "Sweet" on them. What!?
I love iced tea, however I do not like sweetened iced tea. We grew up drinking unsweet tea and water. We seldom had pop in the house and we never had Kool-Aid. Therefore, I don't care for Kool-Aid (but pop is a whole other issue). Even now, when I am in a restaurant (both times) and I order unsweetened ice tea the waitresses look at me like I'm crazy and generally have to go see if they have the stuff. Oy vey.
Check out observations #1, #2, #3, and #4.
Ollie had a little porch party Saturday evening. LMK told me about a huge black and white persian he'd seen around our house one morning last week. We've counted about 6 different cats that walk through our yard throughout the day, but I hadn't seen this persian. Seeing as I LOVEpersians, LMK was excited to tell me about this new one that looked like Ollie with Socks' colors.
Well Saturday evening we were watching a movie and I looked out the sliding glass door to see none other than the black and white persian sitting at our window. Ollie was sleeping next to me so I gently put him down on the floor and nudged him toward the window. First, I got the typical crabby face...but then he spotted his new friend. Pretty soon, all we could see was Ollie cat butt.
I couldn't use my flash, so the pictures are blurry, but you get the idea. That is one pretty cat!
The Good
LMK and I went to Large City on Saturday to celebrate his first week of work with dinner at Olive Garden.
Ok. Okay, I'll be honest. We were celebrating, but I wanted to go to Olive Garden, not him. He's a good sport though. The OG in Large City must be new. It's totally different than any I've ever been in before and let me tell you, I've hit a LOT.
It didn't have the rolling chairs with the arms that I hate. It had high vaulted ceilings and a fire place! It was gorgeous! And the food? Superb!
The Great
Then we came home and let the boys out into the sun porch. They had a ball - once the big scaredy cats actually went outside. I can't wait for spring/summer so we can sit out there and enjoy the evening. I'm already planning flowers in my head. ME! Flowers!
The Ew!
We've been having some drainage problems, but since the maintenence men have been here things have been pretty uneventful. After we had gotten everyone inside off the porch, I decided I needed to piddle. So off I went to the downstairs bathroom. As I walked in, I noticed something in the toilet. My first thought was, "great, what did the cats knock into the toilet." Then the "object" registered. It was a rat. A rat!
Ewewewewewewewewew
LMK swears it was dead - at least, I think that's what he was saying as I ran screaming up the stairs with Ollie leading the way.
I pride myself on not being a girly girl. I don't like snakes, but I can handle seeing them. Mice don't bother me either - Hokie loves to catch mice. Spiders? I don't like to crunch them but I'm pretty big and bad when I have a vacuum in my hands.
Rats however, nah uh. No way, no how.
Note to self: If you don't want to run into LMK's students in town, DO NOT go into town on a Friday night. Good gravy!
It's quite weird hearing kids calling him sir. I love it. Mwahahahaha.
Also, I might have forgot to mention yesterday that I have my FIRST Virginia job interview on Thursday. I know I've said this a lot lately, but - "Fingers crossed!"
One last thing, I finally found one of my favorite episodes of Friends on YouTube. Unfortunately the cut the end right in the middle of the best part.
I always end up singing, "Mornings hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee" for days after I see it.
So the basketball games weren't that bad. Of course, I remember now why I don't care for basketball.
#1 - There's nothing to cheer about. Ideally, one team scores then bam, the other team scores. In sports like soccer, scoring doesn't happen all that often.
Well, except for that one game last season, remember that one, LMK?
#2 - Squeaky shoes. Oh, how I hate squeaky shoes. And please, tell me why some players insist on licking their hands and wiping off the bottom of their shoes. EWW! I don't care if you're able to stick to the ceiling after you've done that - it's gross!
We...well, I also met several of LMK's colleagues/big wig's at the school. Everyone was incredibly nice and friendly. It really does feel like a huge extended family. Personally, I really like a working environment like that. Yes, families have squabbles from time to time, but for the most part, everyone pulls together and takes care of one another. That's how I was raised and I do well in that type of environment. It was definitely NOT the type of working environment LMK and Head Coach had/have at The College. I think even LMK would agree while we miss the girls and Head Coach, we do not miss the working environment.
This afternoon I'm running my application to the town schools. I'm hoping to finish the year out at least subbing (long term subbing would be even better) and then get something permanent for next year. Whether it be here a in Larger City. I'm almost leaning toward Larger City with it's half hour commute because they're getting a new elementary school and I'd LOVE to work in a new school.
We'll see!
P.S. Did everyone see that David Beckham has signed with the L.A. Galaxy, a MLS team? Hopefully this will jumpstart soccer in the U.S. Common........Women's MLS!
Well, I've avoided it for two weeks. Today my time hiding from LMK's new colleagues and students is over. Tonight there are basketball games and since going to these things is part of LMK's job, I'm tagging along too. Oh boy.
Honestly, I'm not totally dreading it. Everyone that we've met has been really nice and friendly. Is it wrong that part of me is just waiting for our new-ness to wear off and for them to get not nice and friendly? I mean, seriously, this job and working environment HAS to be too good to be true. Great things like this just don't happen to us. Our lives for the past few years have done but teach me that.
Oh well, I'm going to embrace this new opportunity as a positive one for as long as I can. Otherwise, I'm just a Negative Nellie and who wants to be known as that?
Wish me luck!
I really should not watch this while I'm hungry. It doesn't help that they replay all the episodes on Wednesday's before the new episode.
Lots of the things that they make I know I wouldn't like, but some of them sound so good. I've even gone and downloaded some of the recipes.
I'm thinking since money is tight for a while that instead of planning all these elaborate meals, I will try one new recipe a week. I think that's fair. It lets me feel creative while not breaking the budget.
Suggestions for next week's new recipe?
The woman that LMK replaced also lived in this house before we did.
So far, I'm not impressed. I won't even consider her teaching "style" (if you can call passing out worksheets and not actually teaching a style).
First, she told the administration that she had just filled the oil heat tank at the cost of $300. When we arrived it was in the 40s so we kept turning up the heat. Finally, when we were all shivering we called maintenence. The head maintenence man (HMM) came out and discovered we had no heat. As in, there was no oil in our tank.
Greeeeeeeeeeeat.
HMM called the oil company that the school uses (all the building's heating systems are oil based) and they informed him that it was against policy to bring us oil after closing time (5 pm). HMM then called the president of the school.
Bet me we had heat within 45 minutes. I love the president of the school - he seems so nice.
Also, since we've moved in we've had issues with the utility sink in the basement. When I do laundry it drains really slowly (filling all the way up sometimes). Same when we use the dishwasher, flush the downstairs toilet, and new today - shower. LMK put in a work order and the maintenence men showed up today. According to them they snaked 100 feet of.....stuff out of our lines into the main sewer line. All I can say, is ew. Not only that...the basement smells.
Awful.
LMK doesn't know it yet, but we're going out to dinner. I can't eat in this house if it smells like...well...you know. Plus, it will give the place a chance to air out (once I open a window, which I plan to do). Also, must buy Febreeze and 10 gallons of Chlorox.
NoVA Observation
#4 - When that light turns green, you better move your ass through the light - NOW!
Never in my life have I heard so much honking! If you aren't moving through the light, you better believe someone is going to bring it to your attention. RIGHT NOW!
That being said, I've never seen so many STUPID drivers especially ones talking on their cell phones while driving. I now remember LMK and I saying NoVA drivers were insance while we were at Tech. Half of the people who get honked at are yammering on their cell phones and distracted from driving. Of course, it makes me very anxious at stop lights because I want to jam my foot on the gas as soon as the light turns green. So far, no one has honked at me, but it's only a matter of time. At that time it will take everything I've got to flip them the bird.
Sorry Mom, it's an instinct.
Check out observations #1, #2, and #3.
Woohoo! It's National De-Lurking Week again. So if you're out there, lemme know - I'd love to come read you if I don't already.
Thanks to Cyli for letting me know!
#3 - People take their dogs everywhere.
Don't get me wrong, people did this in Ohio. However, I have now seen several dogs tied to benches or poles outside public buildings waiting for their masters. Seriously, couldn't Fluffy stay home while you get those few things you need from Big Lots? Wouldn't Fluffy be happier at home, or even in the car?
I always feel sorry for the dogs waiting pathetically for their masters. They always look so sad.
Check out observations #1 and #2.
#2 - Ladies and gentlemen, I've found Marlboro Country.
Maybe the new "Smoke Free Ohio" law spoiled me before we left, but smoker's are everywhere down here!
They're smoking in their car in the parking lot, they're smoking as they walk up to stores, they're plotting ways to sneak smoke breaks after they make my lunch, they're smoking outside the store before they go in, and they're lighting up before they even fully exit a building. I'm shocked that all of Northern Virginia isn't covered by the haze of cigarette smoke.
Haven't you heard, people? Smoking is no longer cool. Please stop. My lungs thank you.
See observation #1.
#1 - Fellow Hokie sightings are no longer few and far between. Hokies are everywhere!
For the first few days after we arrived, I would excitedly grab Lawn Mower King's arm and exclaim, "Look! A Hokie!" Just as I had done while we lived in Northeast Ohio. Then he would patiently remind me that we are in Virginia now and Hokies are everywhere.
Hmm... good point.
Where to begin? I don't have very many interesting moving stories, so I suppose I will start with the one I think is best.
Socks is our baby. We got him the summer after we moved to Ohio. He was a barn cat rescue and had always lived at the farm. Hokie and Ollie have moved several times and are somewhat used to it. They don't like it, but they adjust quickly.
So we packed the cats up in their carriers, put them in the car, and took off for Virginia. They were very good on the 6 hour trip down. Socks mewed pitifully several times, but he seemed to settle down and go to sleep. We arrived at our new home uneventfully (thank goodness).
Before we unpacked we brought the boys into the downstairs bathroom and closed the door. The door doesn't latch from the outside so we didn't let them out of the carriers quite yet. For the next two and a half hours we unpacked the truck. Finally, we had enough and decided to stop for the night. Lawn Mower King got a little box and some food and water set up and we opened the doors to the carriers. Hokie shot out to investigate - slinking around corners and generally being nosey (he's just like me). Ollie took a few minutes to actually get out of the carrier, but soon he was off investigating too.
Socks wasn't coming out of his carrier. No way. No how. Everyone can kiss his hairy butt.
Finally at 11 o'clock at night, I forced him out of the carrier and he took off to find somewhere new to hide.
In the morning we had a few more things to unpack so I went into the bathroom with the boys and shut the door. They were still pretty skittish so I opened the cupboard doors for them to explore. Socks spent the rest of the day under the sink in the bathroom. He was not amused by this moving stuff.
Don't worry though. He's adjusting quite well. He's found out that there are squirrels that will laugh at him here as well as in Ohio. And did we mention there are D-O-Gs next door? We must keep an eye on them.
Oh thank you, Lord.
I thought I was going to go off the deep end.
Modem mailed late, but arrived today! I'm back.
We're moved in and virtually unpacked. The cats are adjusting, even poor Socks, who was severely traumatized by the move.
I'm off to catch up with all of you. You've been busy!
Stories to come! I'm missed you all.
P.S. Hi Mom!
Instead of a true New Year's resolutions, I've decided to challenge myself to read 52 books this year.
That really doesn't sound too hard since I love to read and have a book with me at all times. I'm fully expecting this statement to come back and bite me in the tush. Sometimes I go through periods where I don't want to read and therefore, don't. Plus, with the hopes of starting a new job in a new area, I could be otherwise occupied. I am limiting this list of books to actual novels. Chick lit, teen lit, whatever - but no H.arlequin romance novels. The book must have at least 200 pages (I'm trying to stick to this rule). Drat.
We'll see just how attainable this goal is.
I will keep track of the books I've read here as well as on the sidebar of my blog.
To view my current list of books visit me here.