It's Just What I Do

Random Thoughts

2009-07-14T13:57:00.002-05:00

Well, I thought today was Wednesday, so I was going to find a great trip picture for Wordless Wednesday, but obviously that will have to wait until tomorrow. So you're stuck with my rambling thoughts. Course, I probably only have one reader left (hi Momma!!) since I haven't posted regularly in so long.
I am teaching summer school for my last school district for 6 more days. I like to take the back roads because they are so peaceful (well, as peaceful as you can get with Seether's Careless Whisper blaring). On the way there I usually drive with my windows down, but not this week as it's already 85 degrees when I leave the house. I love to look at the houses and think that someday I'll have one out in the country like that (course, by the time I get one, I'll be too old to take care of it). It's not too flat, and no traffic. On the way home today I was so busy daydreaming that I missed my turn. No problem, I went down a big block and explored that street of houses. This morning I saw a turtle, the second one I've seen, and a few weeks ago, I saw a tarantula. Wish I had had my camera for that one!

Trip to N. Carolina

2009-07-13T15:05:00.003-05:00

Here we all are at the North Carolina Zoo, me and A, my sister and nephews.

This is my precious nephew! All he wanted to do was ride the train. When we got there, after about 1579 requests, I said "Are you happy now!?" As you can see, he's happy now.

We also swam in the pool. My sister has really big guns from catching the little guy for about an hour. He heard my son say "CANNON BALL," so prior to each of his jumps he would say "Tanne Ba!" It reminded me of Oh Christmas Tree in German. Oh Tannenbaum, oh Tannenbaum....

Here's my handsome nephew ready for the pool!

We had a great time. We didn't get to stay long, but it was nice to at least be able to go. My two-year-old nephew as we were driving in the car said "Look, a hot air balloon!" Did my speech-language therapists heart proud!

My sister has an iPhone, which is evil. I could get into some serious trouble with that thing! My littlest nephew knows how to find the app he wants and play a game. Wow.

It was back to work today for the last two weeks of teaching summer school, then, we're off to California!

Huh

2009-06-29T08:44:00.000-05:00

"The budget should be balanced, the Treasury should be refilled, public debt should be reduced, the arrogance of officialdom should be tempered and controlled, and the assistance to foreign lands should be curtailed lest Rome become bankrupt. People must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance." --- Cicero, 55 BC

Not Too Much Longer

2009-06-28T12:32:00.004-05:00

This has been my life for the past three weeks. I still have three more days of class. I am finishing up a test and my class project this weekend, and then will have one more test. I've only gotten one grade back so far. It's been an extremely challenging class, but I think I'm doing OK. So, another week and hopefully we'll be back to our regularly scheduled blog entries!

Here's a couple of pictures of the house, we planted some Caladiums and Periwinkles in the beds out front.

Here's the porch. We had a fun Housewarming party last weekend and my momma got to come! Another dear friend gave us that "Howdy" sign above the door...how cute is that!?

The living room.

The kitchen with all the Hard Rick Cafe glasses....you can't really see very well. Hope you all are well!! See you soon!

First Exam

2009-06-17T08:10:00.000-05:00

99% !! Woo-Hoo!!

You Know It's Bad When...

2009-06-12T07:18:00.003-05:00

About four years ago while waiting for a show to start at Disneyworld, a bird pooped on my head. Yesterday on the walk to class, I'm minding my own business and yep, you guessed it, another perfect hit~he must have had good aim. At least last time I was stationary. Twice!? What is the likelihood!?
Hubby and I went out for dinner last night and we sat at the same table we sat in last time at that restaurant. I said, I wonder what the statistical probability is for us getting the exact same table we got last time!? Then when the waitress came over, he wasn't ready to order. He said I'm not ready because I'm going to get something different. I said, Yep! You're the variable and I'm the constant! (I always get the same thing. I am comforted by consistency.) Statistics is infiltrating my brain.
And I'm thinking of doing a study on how many people have gotten pooped on by birds, cuz really!?

We're off to Relay for Life tonight. Just what I need, a sleepless night. It'll be fun, though, and a good cause.

Statistics

2009-06-08T19:43:00.003-05:00

Hi all....I survived my first statistics class. Partly because I had already read the material, so that was good. The class is 5 hours a day and then we have homework assignments, so I have a feeling that I'm not going to be updating my blog very much for the next month. Not that I have been much lately anyway, this move and now class is eating my lunch!
I'll be thinking of you all even if I don't get to read ya!

Before and After

2009-06-02T13:19:00.003-05:00

This is my son's room before. You can't tell, but it's sponge painted a light pink.
We made a black stripe around the top and the rest is blue. Add a black fan, and it's perfect. his room actually turned out the best. His sheets are the same blue and his comforter is black, so he's all coordinating now. He likes it.Here's the kitchen/dining room area, it was all white.

We used a dark tan color in the kitchen, which we also used in the entry way. The living room is a linen color now, you can't tell in the picture.

This is the main bath. It was already this color and we liked it so we left it!

We have all the furniture in now, so of course it all looks different, but we also still have lots of boxes and no pictures hung, so those will have to wait.

I also got bit by one of my students today. Wowza.

I'm Back!

2009-06-01T19:44:00.002-05:00

Whew! It's been quite a few days! We finally got the last things moved to our new house today. We had the phone and Internet turned on Friday, but the Internet didn't work. Long story short, it's finally working now.
We painted everything we wanted to paint, A's room rocks! We're figuring out all the ins and outs of the house, and we worked for a couple of hours in the yard this afternoon. It looks really nice.
I also started teaching ESY today. I start my stats class next Monday. The teacher posted the notes, so I'll start looking over those tomorrow. And try not to cry.
We're still waiting for our refrigerator. A mix-up, and it should be delivered tomorrow. I'll be happy to have iced tea again, and ice for that matter. And I can cook at home. Enough eating out for awhile. We've been living out of the coolers since Thursday.
Hope you're all still out there and enjoying summer!

Painting

2009-05-24T21:33:00.002-05:00

We finished painting today. Everything looks great. I got a drop of paint in my eye! It was like the movie 28 Days Later when the guy is looking up at the bird and a drop of blood falls in his eye....I may turn into a zombie in a month or so. I'll have pictures of the paint jobs (before and after) as soon as all the dust settles.
We've been moving and unpacking as many boxes as we can each time we go, but the fridge isn't going to be delivered until Thursday, so we can't start staying there until then. We met some of the neighbors today, they seem nice.
So, off to bed to start again tomorrow! I'll be catching up on blog reading when all the dust settles, too. I haven't forgotten you.

House

2009-05-22T08:19:00.001-05:00

We're off to close on our new to us house!! Then I'm off to check out at school and then back to the house to paint. A especially doesn't want a pink room. He chose a fade of black to blue, I'm doing the guest/craft room a light Mocha color and the living room will be Linen. We also get to get a new refrigerator and dishwasher.

Woeful Wednesday

2009-05-20T13:07:00.003-05:00

I've been packing. And packing. I am reminded why it is so lovely to have the Navy move you. They would have this time except we are "breaking our lease," even though they told us we could move out whenever. Who knows. (I'm sure all you other military wives are just shaking your heads...I know.)
I am also packing up my classroom. It is always a sad thing, but again, we're usually moving because of the Navy, and this time it's by choice. A choice that is logical and best, but difficult nonetheless. I haven't told many of my co-workers or kids, but the word is getting around. I've been at this school in this classroom for three years, so it's been a lot of weeding out what's mine and what belongs to the school. Each book, folder, or game brings back memories of when I read it or played it....
Hubby's been out of town, his grandmother passed away. He'll be back tonight, and then crunch time begins. We close on our new house Friday!

Special Olympics, Part Deux

2009-05-17T12:06:00.004-05:00

Well, we survived! Three days of keeping track of 14 Special Olympians, miles of walking, and a sunburned face and neck later, we're home.
We had a fabulous time!! We arrived on Wednesday and some of our kiddos did their events and then we were off to Mexico Joe's for dinner. That evening, we attended the Opening Ceremonies.

Our group was seated pretty high up in the arena, and one of our little guys was scared, so we got to move to the floor. How about this guy's ride, huh?

True to Oklahoma weather, we had to move to the lobby (we were up too high) due to severe weather. They told us we could go back in, but it was more trouble than it was worth.

Thursday morning it rained on us a bit, but then cleared up for the races. Everyone completed their events and got their medals and ribbons. Very exciting. Then we were off to Hideaway Pizza for dinner! Yum...

Couldn't forget the ice cream at Marble Slab. We watched Wall-E, which the kids all loved.

Friday we got up, packed, cleaned, and headed to Eskimo Joe's. All our friends back home got to see us on the web cam. I think everyone was happy to get home. We had a great time, and the OSU campus was beautiful!

Special Olympics

2009-05-12T12:56:00.002-05:00

Hi all! I'm off to Special Olympics in Stillwater tomorrow through Friday. Should be a great time, I think we're going to have to change the events to slip and slide and mud wrestling if the rain doesn't stop.

I get quotes in my email everyday and here's the one I got today. Kind of thought provoking.
The soul attracts that which it secretly harbors; that which it loves, and also that which it
fears. ~James Allen

Have a great rest of the week, hopefully I'll have some pictures with no people to show you!

Happy Mother's Day!

2009-05-09T20:39:00.005-05:00

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." - Tenneva Jordan

I have a lot of special women in my life. Some I see infrequently, some rarely. None enough. Some are gone to receive the jewels in their crowns. Here are a few:

Grandmargaret~my maternal grandmother, she's home. I always thought she was pretty, even with that gap between her front teeth. I cannot think of a time I saw her angry. She was patient, she gave me my first sewing lessons. I remember making mud pies and huge Thanksgiving meals with all the family. The best thing was "Goody Bags" on Christmas. She would buy random things like band-aids, olives, and calenders all year long and the shopping bag full of stuff was your Christmas gift. It was awesome. I think I'll do it for my grand kids. Hopefully that won't be for a long time.

Nano~my paternal grandmother, she's home, too. She kept us every summer for what seemed like months. She would take us places and make us things. She always had cheese toast, chocolate cake, and coconut pie. She taught me how to crochet and embroider. She got me hooked on wrestling when it was the Von Erichs.

Momma~She lives in San Antonio. She suffered through my pink hair, choir concerts, and called me every Monday night my Freshman year of college. She sent me packages for everything, and last year sent me 40 different birthday present wrapped in 40 different wrapping papers for my 40th birthday. She has been known to say "I'm not the one that has to wear it." She has a great laugh and sense of humor, she's always happy. She took us to plays and ballets and the zoo. She taught me how to cook, she's great at it! Momma...Milky Way cake and Lasagna, please?

Grandma Jill~grandma to my kids, friend to me, she's a Yankee now, originally from England (she taught my children to say bahhth for bath). She took me in as her own. She helped me raise my children when I was working two jobs. She was always supportive no matter what my latest craziest idea was. She helped me realize I could be strong on my own. She gave me my last sewing lessons, and would not accept anything less than perfect. I could use your help right now with this pair of pants and a dress, and several other unfinished projects lurking around!

Marlene~My step-mom. She lives in North Carolina. She rocks! She doesn't put up with any poop, she always listens and wants to know what's going on in your life. She put up with me during those sulky teenage years when I was thinking I don't like you just because I'm not supposed to like you. Even though she treated us like her own. She has great advice on raising children, and excellent style! I know, I've driven all over town with her looking for the exact right coffee table.

I love these women and so many more. Thank you.
Happy Mothers day to everyone, mom, friend, teacher, sister, whomever you may be today!

"Mothers are all slightly insane." - J.D. Salinger

Thoughtful Thursday

2009-05-07T10:19:00.002-05:00

The question isn't who is going to let me;
it's who is going to stop me.
~Ayn Rand

Happy Mexican Fencing Day!

2009-05-05T11:06:00.003-05:00

A few years ago when my sister and brother-in-law lived up north, their friend needed his fence rebuilt. He told all his friends that Cinco de Mayo was Mexican Fencing Day and that everyone was to go the person's house that needed a fence or who's fence needed repair. They had a big party with food and drink and he got his fence fixed. I don't know if he ever told them the truth.

Remember Them?

2009-04-30T08:37:00.003-05:00

Have you seen the "'Memba Them" photos on AOL? I usually am not one to keep up with the stars, but a few weeks ago one of these caught my attention. It was probably someone from a TV show or a movie I watched in my youth so I clicked on it and proceeded through the pictures. Each click of the mouse making me more and more depressed.....I mean, wow! Do *I* look that terrible? Every once in awhile there's someone who is just as beautiful or moreso than they were. I guess that's all I can hope for, but considering I don't have unlimited funds for plastic surgery or a personal trainer, I'm going to have to come to terms with saggy skin and wrinkles. Just an average Joe. Sigh.....

Wordless Wednesday

2009-04-29T08:19:00.002-05:00

A Week!?

2009-04-28T08:32:00.003-05:00

Well, wow, I didn't realize it had been over a week since I last posted. I've been feeling draggy....slept a lot of the weekend, took Friday off and slept all day. I had some blood drawn yesterday to check my thyroid and everything else. I'm scared to see my cholesterol.
My son's last track meet was on Thursday. His relay team won third place on the mile relay! On his leg he passed up three other people. Go A!
We close on our house in little under four weeks and we are getting very excited!!
Off to class tonight. One more presentation and I'm finit with that class (until she gives our rough drafts back and I have to correct).

Trip Down Memory Lane

2009-04-20T20:30:00.004-05:00

Hubby got me a musical card for my birthday with Molly Ringwald from Sixteen Candles on it (it plays "True," by Gary Kemp).

He didn't know me then, but he's heard all the stories. I was known as Molly. Everyone said I looked like Molly. I was cool with that. The above picture is of the skinny me before Senior Prom, circa 1986...

I even got the Molly Ringwald Award in choir. Good times.

House

2009-04-18T21:20:00.003-05:00

I really want to complain, but instead here are a couple of pictures of our new house. Hubs went out the other day for the inspection, so far, so good. Yee-haw! (It's the Texan in me, sorry!)

Reflections of Tulsa

2009-04-15T21:17:00.002-05:00

My son took this picture.

We Need Your Help!

2009-04-15T08:49:00.004-05:00

We have a Relay for Life team that we are a part of this year. My grandmother died of cancer, as well as a very dear friend a couple of years ago. I know all of us have had our lives touched in one way or another by cancer. I hope you are involved in your area's Relay.

We are trying to achieve our monetary goal, and you can help us out in one of three ways

1. We are raffling off (2), count 'em, TWO! Scentsy baskets. One will have a large warmer and the other will have a plug in. If you would like to enter this drawing, the tickets are $1 each! What a bargain!

2. We have made some of these adorable coloring bags. They include a coloring book and the crayons. All yours for only $10!

3. Or, you can simply make a donation. And include us in your prayers.

If you are interested in contributing or purchasing these items, go to my profile and email me and I'll get back to you soon.

Thanks in advance for your help!

Birthday Fun

2009-04-13T07:23:00.002-05:00

We went to Ft. Worth this weekend for Easter. My in-laws always have a huge Easter egg hunting bash. On the way, I met my friend and her family for lunch. I taught with her many moons ago. It was so nice to meet her precious kids and get re-acquainted. She got her district's Teacher of the Year this year! I'm so proud of her! Way to go Tanya!

And here is the card and cake my in-laws got me. The running joke since my sister was old enough to complain was that I always got cute cakes. Her birthday is November 24th. I would get cute rabbit cakes and she would get turkey cakes. Now why was she complaining!?

I've gotten lots of money to buy books for my Kindle...or to get the new house inspected! ha