It was, oh, it was! Finally, we are seeing some progress. I wasn't so sure earlier, especially last week. Yes, Hubs went to meet with Kevin. So that was something. But he hadn't remembered to call the doctor to make his appointment. Then he did it. And he went. And he came home with Lexapro.
I know all is not healed with anti-depressants. But he also has an appointment with a counselor on Monday afternoon. And this morning, he told me that he is committed to finding out what is causing "this" and fixing it. Or at least figuring out what it is so that I can see it coming. Yay! This is 7 years in the making. I am so thankful that he has decided this is something important. It has been taking its toll on our marriage.
It has also affected the children. Cheeseman asked me the other day why daddy is always so mean. Why he yells all the time. And I had to try to explain in 4-year-old words that it's not Daddy's fault. He's just sad. Luckily, and this sounds bad, Hubs' grandmother had just passed, so Cheeseman thought I meant sad because Grama died. Well, it made sense to him, so I let it go. But it really hit home. He had noticed a change in his dad, and he wanted to know what was going on. I also had to emphasize that Daddy loves him very much, even if he seems mad sometimes. It nearly broke my heart.
But today, today was good. Hubs and I have been walking/running in the mornings, before the heat really kicks in. We all went to the grocery store together, which is always an adventure. I don't think we came home with anything NOT on the list, which is a miracle. We stopped at McD's for the kids to get Happy Meals. New Surf's Up toys! We tried to have naptime, but neither Cheeseman nor Bman was having that. I did my Bible study while they had "quiet" time. (HA!)
This afternoon, we went to the mall to buy Hubs some new swim trunks for VACATION!! We also bought him a grill for Father's Day. Unfortunately, it won't be here till the 29th, but he can dream about it until then. We've already started planning our first party.
I cooked dinner tonight, Tuna Noodle Casserole, the WW way. It was YUMMY, and only 6 points. Then we all went for a walk together around the block. The boys desperately need a bath, but it's such a pain! Hubs has gone to a movie with my little brother and our bro-in-law. Boys night and all that. Weenie. Left me to bathe the chilrens. Oh, well.
It was still an awesome day!!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Saturday, June 02, 2007
I Mean Really!
How hard is it to push some toys out of the middle of the floor?
If you are four and two, obviously it is very hard. Especially if your daddy doesn't make you.
If you are the daddy, VERY, VERY HARD, because you'd rather sit on your lazy ass and not do anything. When I got home from work (back at the bookstore, yay!), the living room was a mess. It immediately irritated me. Hubs was asleep on the couch, as usual. I woke him up and he apologized for the mess. He always apologizes. If I wanted an apology, I would ask for one. Instead, I asked for him to just push the mess out of the way. He says he "meant" to clean it up, and just sat down to rest for a minute. That's why he was LAYING down. He obviously didn't notice when he fell over asleep.
And the kids didn't get a bath either, even though they'd been over playing at a friend's house for the afternoon.
My God! Do I have to do everything around here?
And now he's gone back to sleep on the couch. Mess is still there. As usual. I'll be the one to clean it up, because I have no patience for this bullshit.
I mean, really. Seriously. This is about ridiculous!
If you are four and two, obviously it is very hard. Especially if your daddy doesn't make you.
If you are the daddy, VERY, VERY HARD, because you'd rather sit on your lazy ass and not do anything. When I got home from work (back at the bookstore, yay!), the living room was a mess. It immediately irritated me. Hubs was asleep on the couch, as usual. I woke him up and he apologized for the mess. He always apologizes. If I wanted an apology, I would ask for one. Instead, I asked for him to just push the mess out of the way. He says he "meant" to clean it up, and just sat down to rest for a minute. That's why he was LAYING down. He obviously didn't notice when he fell over asleep.
And the kids didn't get a bath either, even though they'd been over playing at a friend's house for the afternoon.
My God! Do I have to do everything around here?
And now he's gone back to sleep on the couch. Mess is still there. As usual. I'll be the one to clean it up, because I have no patience for this bullshit.
I mean, really. Seriously. This is about ridiculous!
Friday, June 01, 2007
Better day?
Today was a better day, vacation-wise. I got to go for a walk this morning. I only ran for 8 minutes today, but I walked for an additional 30 "briskly" so that was good. Then Cheeseman and I went to Wal-Mart to get a present for his buddy. He's going to the party tomorrow afternoon, so it was a good thing. And we picked out some more flowers for the front of the house. Hubs wanted to hang them tonight (the flowers), but we didn't have any hooks. Oh well, maybe later this week.
Cheeseman didn't want to eat much at lunch today, barely half his grilled cheese. Which is usually his favorite. He did eat a lot of Doritos though. That's his new thing - Doritos. Whatever! This afternoon, Cheeseman, Hubs, and I went to Baskin Robbins. Yes, I know, the diet. But it's okay! Sugar Free ice cream is the way to go. All the taste, with not near as much fat! Yippee! Only 4 points.
Then we went to the grocery store. Doesn't sound to exciting, but it was fun. Hubs pushed the racecar cart, and I did the navigating. We are trying to eat healthier. Most of the cart was filled with fruits, veggies, and whole wheat selections. Yay us! Tonight, we had salmon and the most awesome pesto rotini ever! It was seriously yummy! We even went for a walk together as a family after dinner. And the kids went straight to bed, not too much fussing. Usually, Bman gets up once or twice trying to escape bedtime. Only opened his door once. Turns out he just wanted Mommy to come in and sing to him. Such a sweetie!
Hubs went and met with our pastor today. He (Hubs) has suffered from depression at times. When we first got married, we didn't live in the same place for the first six months. I was here teaching, and he was finishing his last semester of school. At least, that was what he was supposed to be doing. Instead, he was going to movies, driving around aimlessly, basically just wasting days. When he finally sat down and told me, it was frightening. He went on an antidepressant and had some counselling. Then he moved down here with me, and everything was fine.
This spring, unbeknownst to me, this depression came back. I had noticed some off behavior, sleeping on the couch every night, and I asked him about it. He said nothing was wrong. Then, a couple of days later, he confessed. He hadn't been to class in a week. That was in April. Evidently, there were other times when he just couldn't get himself to go. His grades were not good. He was already on probation academically, and the seminary told him to take a year off. To get help and get straightened out.
It has been frightening. Again. And this time, there are two other little people to think about. It has not been a good time around here. Every day, I asked him how his classes were. Many times, he lied to me and made up stuff. I feel so betrayed! How can I believe anything that he says? I feel like I need to check up after him, make sure he's done what he's telling me. Like calling the doctor. Like going to talk to Kevin. But I'm not his mom! That is not what marriage is about, keeping watch like a hawk. It's supposed to be about trust and respect and love. I'm not really feeling those things on my end.
And I'm concerned about him continuing on this path. He's got an appointment to be a part-time pastor at a church about an hour and a half from here. Basically, we go up there on weekends, and he does his thing. The district office is okay with him going on and doing this. I have some reserve feelings. How can he pastor others if he can't even take care of himself? Doesn't he need to focus on him, and getting himself better?
And yes, truth be told, I don't really want to leave our church. Not at all. But I'm mostly thinking of him. He says that this is just what he needs to see if this pastoring thing is his calling. Isn't there another way? Wouldn't the failing grades and lack of motivation be an indicator?
Also, I'm pissed. Mad at him for lieing to me. Mad at me for not seeing it. Mad at him, because I've been working my ass off all year. And for what? For him to dick around and not go to class? I think not! I have neglected my children and not put them to bed for 3 nights, not even seen them for 72 hours, so he can skip class?! That makes me angry. AND, now that he has added at least one, if not two, more years to his schooling, that is more time that I have to spend in hell. Teaching. How could he do that to me?
But it's not all about me. It should be about him. About getting him better. About fixing this thing that's wrong. But I'm still allowed to feel these things, right? I can still be angry, and hurt, about what has happened. I just can't say anything about it.
Cheeseman didn't want to eat much at lunch today, barely half his grilled cheese. Which is usually his favorite. He did eat a lot of Doritos though. That's his new thing - Doritos. Whatever! This afternoon, Cheeseman, Hubs, and I went to Baskin Robbins. Yes, I know, the diet. But it's okay! Sugar Free ice cream is the way to go. All the taste, with not near as much fat! Yippee! Only 4 points.
Then we went to the grocery store. Doesn't sound to exciting, but it was fun. Hubs pushed the racecar cart, and I did the navigating. We are trying to eat healthier. Most of the cart was filled with fruits, veggies, and whole wheat selections. Yay us! Tonight, we had salmon and the most awesome pesto rotini ever! It was seriously yummy! We even went for a walk together as a family after dinner. And the kids went straight to bed, not too much fussing. Usually, Bman gets up once or twice trying to escape bedtime. Only opened his door once. Turns out he just wanted Mommy to come in and sing to him. Such a sweetie!
Hubs went and met with our pastor today. He (Hubs) has suffered from depression at times. When we first got married, we didn't live in the same place for the first six months. I was here teaching, and he was finishing his last semester of school. At least, that was what he was supposed to be doing. Instead, he was going to movies, driving around aimlessly, basically just wasting days. When he finally sat down and told me, it was frightening. He went on an antidepressant and had some counselling. Then he moved down here with me, and everything was fine.
This spring, unbeknownst to me, this depression came back. I had noticed some off behavior, sleeping on the couch every night, and I asked him about it. He said nothing was wrong. Then, a couple of days later, he confessed. He hadn't been to class in a week. That was in April. Evidently, there were other times when he just couldn't get himself to go. His grades were not good. He was already on probation academically, and the seminary told him to take a year off. To get help and get straightened out.
It has been frightening. Again. And this time, there are two other little people to think about. It has not been a good time around here. Every day, I asked him how his classes were. Many times, he lied to me and made up stuff. I feel so betrayed! How can I believe anything that he says? I feel like I need to check up after him, make sure he's done what he's telling me. Like calling the doctor. Like going to talk to Kevin. But I'm not his mom! That is not what marriage is about, keeping watch like a hawk. It's supposed to be about trust and respect and love. I'm not really feeling those things on my end.
And I'm concerned about him continuing on this path. He's got an appointment to be a part-time pastor at a church about an hour and a half from here. Basically, we go up there on weekends, and he does his thing. The district office is okay with him going on and doing this. I have some reserve feelings. How can he pastor others if he can't even take care of himself? Doesn't he need to focus on him, and getting himself better?
And yes, truth be told, I don't really want to leave our church. Not at all. But I'm mostly thinking of him. He says that this is just what he needs to see if this pastoring thing is his calling. Isn't there another way? Wouldn't the failing grades and lack of motivation be an indicator?
Also, I'm pissed. Mad at him for lieing to me. Mad at me for not seeing it. Mad at him, because I've been working my ass off all year. And for what? For him to dick around and not go to class? I think not! I have neglected my children and not put them to bed for 3 nights, not even seen them for 72 hours, so he can skip class?! That makes me angry. AND, now that he has added at least one, if not two, more years to his schooling, that is more time that I have to spend in hell. Teaching. How could he do that to me?
But it's not all about me. It should be about him. About getting him better. About fixing this thing that's wrong. But I'm still allowed to feel these things, right? I can still be angry, and hurt, about what has happened. I just can't say anything about it.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
What a Week!
Finally, I am staring Friday in the face. It could not have come fast enough. You'd think that with school out, it would be less stressful. But it's like the stress waited until it could just knock me over to come.
Cheeseman is doing better. He is still not eating much, at least not consistently. He'll eat some days really well, like at McD's the other day. Then other times, like tonight at dinner, he'll barely touch his food. And he likes chicken nuggets and macaroni. Those are two of his favorite foods! It doesn't make any sense. I'm keeping an eye on him, just in case.
Bman is doing okay. BabyNet came by today to do a speech eval on him. Mrs. Deborah had called them to take a look at him through the daycare. And some guy came to the house today to do the official look over. Evidently, they think Bman may be speech delayed. I know a lot of people can't understand all of what he says, but I can! Of course, Hubs says that's just because we're used to it. And we understand his special grunts and when he points. And when he screams at stuff that he wants. And when he just gives up because we don't understand. Evidently, that also is a problem. He's supposed to get frustrated that we don't understand. But Bman is just really laid back. He's very self-sufficient. He'll sit and play by himself all the time. So, should I feel guilty for not reading to him enough?
All year, we've been so preoccupied with Cheeseman's medical stuff, in and out of hospitals with doctors and all, we haven't had time to do as much with Bman as we did with the first one. Is he suffering now because I didn't make the time? Well, I guess I wouldn't say he's suffering, exactly. He's still going with the flow. And luckily, BabyNet is free. They will provide whatever speech therapy he needs for FREE until he turns three. (in October) Then they will turn him over to the local school district. Which I happen to work for. Which Aunt Nikki also teaches in, at the elementary school that serves our neighborhood. Where Bman would probably go for speech. Yay! I guess it could be worse.
That's all I'm going to write about today. Another day, probably tomorrow, I will share the story of Hubs. I'm not sure I can write about it yet, because it's still pretty fresh. But I will share. Because when I read about this in a few years, I want to always remember what we went through, and how it made us stronger.
Cheeseman is doing better. He is still not eating much, at least not consistently. He'll eat some days really well, like at McD's the other day. Then other times, like tonight at dinner, he'll barely touch his food. And he likes chicken nuggets and macaroni. Those are two of his favorite foods! It doesn't make any sense. I'm keeping an eye on him, just in case.
Bman is doing okay. BabyNet came by today to do a speech eval on him. Mrs. Deborah had called them to take a look at him through the daycare. And some guy came to the house today to do the official look over. Evidently, they think Bman may be speech delayed. I know a lot of people can't understand all of what he says, but I can! Of course, Hubs says that's just because we're used to it. And we understand his special grunts and when he points. And when he screams at stuff that he wants. And when he just gives up because we don't understand. Evidently, that also is a problem. He's supposed to get frustrated that we don't understand. But Bman is just really laid back. He's very self-sufficient. He'll sit and play by himself all the time. So, should I feel guilty for not reading to him enough?
All year, we've been so preoccupied with Cheeseman's medical stuff, in and out of hospitals with doctors and all, we haven't had time to do as much with Bman as we did with the first one. Is he suffering now because I didn't make the time? Well, I guess I wouldn't say he's suffering, exactly. He's still going with the flow. And luckily, BabyNet is free. They will provide whatever speech therapy he needs for FREE until he turns three. (in October) Then they will turn him over to the local school district. Which I happen to work for. Which Aunt Nikki also teaches in, at the elementary school that serves our neighborhood. Where Bman would probably go for speech. Yay! I guess it could be worse.
That's all I'm going to write about today. Another day, probably tomorrow, I will share the story of Hubs. I'm not sure I can write about it yet, because it's still pretty fresh. But I will share. Because when I read about this in a few years, I want to always remember what we went through, and how it made us stronger.
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Doing Weight Watchers
I joined Weight Watchers on April 20. Originally, it was to take off some weight to look good in the bridesmaid's dress for my brother's wedding in July. And it was also a little because my pastor mentioned that he did it, and they were running a free week special. I figured if a GUY could stay on it, surely it couldn't be that hard.
The first week, I lost two pounds. It didn't seem like much, and my clothes were still tight. The next week, it was three. I had lost five pounds! That was exciting. The clothes were fitting better.
In the last three weeks, I've lost 6 more pounds. Bringing my total to 11! Wow! My new capris that I bought at Old Navy in April: too big. I put a pair on today to go to church and I had to belt them really close. I didn't want them to fall off when I was singing. It felt good. Even Hubs said that he could really tell I'd been losing when he looked at me in the mirror the other morning. I tend to stand around in my underwear while I'm doing my hair and makeup.
It has improved my life. I want to go shopping to buy some new clothes, but I'm going to wait. I don't want to buy a bunch of stuff now, then have it not fit in another month. As much as I love to shop, we just don't have the money for that kind of thing.
Also, I'm feeling much better about me. I've always had self-esteem issues. Since I was a teen. I know that, and I've tried to work through them. I'll be doing really well, then gain weight and feel bad again. The thing is, that doesn't just affect me, it also affects my marriage. When I feel bad about me, I don't want Hubs to want me. I feel like he can't possibly want to have sex with me when I'm looking (in my mind) fat. Then he feels rejected because I don't want to sleep with him, and it's an ugly cycle. We've been doing it ever since Cheeseman was born.
Now, though, I'm liking my body a bit more. And I want him to notice me. It's improving our marriage. Yay! Thank you, Weight Watchers, for helping my marriage!
The first week, I lost two pounds. It didn't seem like much, and my clothes were still tight. The next week, it was three. I had lost five pounds! That was exciting. The clothes were fitting better.
In the last three weeks, I've lost 6 more pounds. Bringing my total to 11! Wow! My new capris that I bought at Old Navy in April: too big. I put a pair on today to go to church and I had to belt them really close. I didn't want them to fall off when I was singing. It felt good. Even Hubs said that he could really tell I'd been losing when he looked at me in the mirror the other morning. I tend to stand around in my underwear while I'm doing my hair and makeup.
It has improved my life. I want to go shopping to buy some new clothes, but I'm going to wait. I don't want to buy a bunch of stuff now, then have it not fit in another month. As much as I love to shop, we just don't have the money for that kind of thing.
Also, I'm feeling much better about me. I've always had self-esteem issues. Since I was a teen. I know that, and I've tried to work through them. I'll be doing really well, then gain weight and feel bad again. The thing is, that doesn't just affect me, it also affects my marriage. When I feel bad about me, I don't want Hubs to want me. I feel like he can't possibly want to have sex with me when I'm looking (in my mind) fat. Then he feels rejected because I don't want to sleep with him, and it's an ugly cycle. We've been doing it ever since Cheeseman was born.
Now, though, I'm liking my body a bit more. And I want him to notice me. It's improving our marriage. Yay! Thank you, Weight Watchers, for helping my marriage!
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Summer vacation begins
School is out and it is my summer vacation yet again. This year, we get twelve full weeks of summer, thanks to the powers that be in the state house and congress. Whatever. I am (somewhat) looking forward to spending time with my little guys. If only Cheeseman would quit whining every five seconds about Bman hitting him/throwing something at him/looking at him. Those two!
Hubs is on his way to O'burg tonight. He got a call from his aunt saying that Gramma is not doing so well. She has Alzheimers, and has been going downhill pretty rapidly. They think she may not make the night. Poor hubs. I know this has been hard for all of them. Especially Aunt, because she lives right there in town and does most of the taking care of stuff.
I've lost 11 lbs. using Weight Watchers. Yay! It's been 5 weeks. I fully intend to keep it off, and even lose some more. If only I could stop eating those damn brownies!
And I can't find my cell. Where the hell is it? I've tried calling it, and I can't even hear it ringing. That is not good.
Hubs is on his way to O'burg tonight. He got a call from his aunt saying that Gramma is not doing so well. She has Alzheimers, and has been going downhill pretty rapidly. They think she may not make the night. Poor hubs. I know this has been hard for all of them. Especially Aunt, because she lives right there in town and does most of the taking care of stuff.
I've lost 11 lbs. using Weight Watchers. Yay! It's been 5 weeks. I fully intend to keep it off, and even lose some more. If only I could stop eating those damn brownies!
And I can't find my cell. Where the hell is it? I've tried calling it, and I can't even hear it ringing. That is not good.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Published laughing jewelry
I am a published author. I am so excited about this! I have been writing in some form or another since second grade: diaries, journals, poetry, memoirs, short fiction. This is the first time I've ever had something really in print.
Where can you go to read my moving piece?
Shine! The literary magazine of the middle school where I teach.
Man, when I opened up the mag, I was so excited! I turned to the page, and there it was. In it's black and white glory. With my name on it and everything. I think I squealed.
What's fun about it is that some of my students have read it too. Wow! Actual people, reading my stuff. Well, if you consider middle schoolers to be people. Which I mostly do.
Funny from today. We were having too much immature fun in class today (Apollo has many duties [doodies][hee hee]) and one of the kids says "You are so immature!"
I answered "If you spent all day with middle schoolers, you'd be immature too!"
She replied "I DO!"
"And there you go."
Okay, looking at that makes it less funny. But if you could see the look on her face, it was all worth it. Right there.
In unrelated news, I think I am addicted to jewelry. I love it. I must have more. I went to another jewelry party tonight, and bought a bracelet, necklace, and ring. Must stop.
Where can you go to read my moving piece?
Shine! The literary magazine of the middle school where I teach.
Man, when I opened up the mag, I was so excited! I turned to the page, and there it was. In it's black and white glory. With my name on it and everything. I think I squealed.
What's fun about it is that some of my students have read it too. Wow! Actual people, reading my stuff. Well, if you consider middle schoolers to be people. Which I mostly do.
Funny from today. We were having too much immature fun in class today (Apollo has many duties [doodies][hee hee]) and one of the kids says "You are so immature!"
I answered "If you spent all day with middle schoolers, you'd be immature too!"
She replied "I DO!"
"And there you go."
Okay, looking at that makes it less funny. But if you could see the look on her face, it was all worth it. Right there.
In unrelated news, I think I am addicted to jewelry. I love it. I must have more. I went to another jewelry party tonight, and bought a bracelet, necklace, and ring. Must stop.
Friday, May 04, 2007
My dirty little secret
If I write it, it will be real. I told Shannon tonight, because I really just need someone to talk to. I have no one. I'm here, I'm all alone. I have no one to talk to. I told Shannon.
Hubs has been sleeping on the couch all week. Not because I made him. Because he doesn't come to bed because he's "not tired." Then he falls asleep. T
he one time I woke him up to come to bed, he tossed and turned for 45 minutes then went back and slept on the couch.
Every morning, I wake up to the living room light on. The TV on. Sometimes a kitchen light on. Sometimes the front door still unlocked.
I feel like my marriage is in trouble. He doesn't see it. He doesn't see that I am bothered by this. I'm scared to say anything to him, because I don't want to get into another fight.
He won't even be home tonight at all. He's off with the youth group on a Lock Out. Then he has to work the lunch shift at the restaurant. So he'll be home (maybe) to shower before 10, then not again until after 4. Then he'll sleep and sleep and sleep. Bet he'll sleep in the bed then.
Do we need counselling? I wouldn't even know where to look. Should I talk to my pastor again? He knows that Hubs and I are having issues. He keeps saying 'I've got to talk to him' but he hasn't yet. I don't know what to do. I'm so embarrassed.
Am I so repulsive that he can't stand to be in the same room as me? He hasn't tried to touch me in almost 2 weeks. He's never been like that! What is going on?
I cry on the way to work sometimes, I'm so depressed. What do I do?
Hubs has been sleeping on the couch all week. Not because I made him. Because he doesn't come to bed because he's "not tired." Then he falls asleep. T
he one time I woke him up to come to bed, he tossed and turned for 45 minutes then went back and slept on the couch.
Every morning, I wake up to the living room light on. The TV on. Sometimes a kitchen light on. Sometimes the front door still unlocked.
I feel like my marriage is in trouble. He doesn't see it. He doesn't see that I am bothered by this. I'm scared to say anything to him, because I don't want to get into another fight.
He won't even be home tonight at all. He's off with the youth group on a Lock Out. Then he has to work the lunch shift at the restaurant. So he'll be home (maybe) to shower before 10, then not again until after 4. Then he'll sleep and sleep and sleep. Bet he'll sleep in the bed then.
Do we need counselling? I wouldn't even know where to look. Should I talk to my pastor again? He knows that Hubs and I are having issues. He keeps saying 'I've got to talk to him' but he hasn't yet. I don't know what to do. I'm so embarrassed.
Am I so repulsive that he can't stand to be in the same room as me? He hasn't tried to touch me in almost 2 weeks. He's never been like that! What is going on?
I cry on the way to work sometimes, I'm so depressed. What do I do?
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Did Ya Miss Me?
I've been away for far too long. I have felt unhappy, lethargic, and downright nasty. It must be because I haven't been writing. Even if no one reads this, it makes me feel better. I write because I must. If I don't, I will shrivel up and die.
This is my out. This is my way to tell myself that everything can't be as bad as it seems. Even when it is just as bad as it seems. It's my way to let out the drama that is inside me.
This week has been rough. It's my own fault, really. I waited until the last minute to make my final exams. I waited until the night before it's due (tonight) to work on my paper for my class. Oops. I'm a procrastinator. I'll admit it. But my paper is good. And it's done. All I have to do is copy some extra stuff, and I'll be ready to go.
Exams start tomorrow. Tomorrow, the torture begins. They have to translate. It's not great on a good day, let alone when they are nervous. Then Friday is the grammar. Hee, hee, hee. I've been practicing my evil laugh. The tests are all multiple choice. I don't do that to be nice to the devils. I do that because I have very little time to grade these things, and m.c. is easy to grade. And I can get Hubs to help out. Even he can read the letters. Don't have to know Latin for that!
Tomorrow after school I have 3 places to be. 1) homebound instruction. Guess I'll have to call and cancel that. Maybe she can meet on Friday. 2) Class. So I can turn in my paper. We're supposed to be having dinner/appetizers. That sounds like way more fun than... 3) meeting. We have to talk about 8th grade graduation. And summer staff development. Fun.
I've started Weight Watchers. The first week I lost 3 pounds. This week, not so much. In fact, not at all. I've not been very good this week. It's got to be the stress. I can't lose weight when I've got all this stuff on my mind. (it just took me three tries to type m-i-n-d. Geez!) Must stop the stress. Must stop the stress.
This is my out. This is my way to tell myself that everything can't be as bad as it seems. Even when it is just as bad as it seems. It's my way to let out the drama that is inside me.
This week has been rough. It's my own fault, really. I waited until the last minute to make my final exams. I waited until the night before it's due (tonight) to work on my paper for my class. Oops. I'm a procrastinator. I'll admit it. But my paper is good. And it's done. All I have to do is copy some extra stuff, and I'll be ready to go.
Exams start tomorrow. Tomorrow, the torture begins. They have to translate. It's not great on a good day, let alone when they are nervous. Then Friday is the grammar. Hee, hee, hee. I've been practicing my evil laugh. The tests are all multiple choice. I don't do that to be nice to the devils. I do that because I have very little time to grade these things, and m.c. is easy to grade. And I can get Hubs to help out. Even he can read the letters. Don't have to know Latin for that!
Tomorrow after school I have 3 places to be. 1) homebound instruction. Guess I'll have to call and cancel that. Maybe she can meet on Friday. 2) Class. So I can turn in my paper. We're supposed to be having dinner/appetizers. That sounds like way more fun than... 3) meeting. We have to talk about 8th grade graduation. And summer staff development. Fun.
I've started Weight Watchers. The first week I lost 3 pounds. This week, not so much. In fact, not at all. I've not been very good this week. It's got to be the stress. I can't lose weight when I've got all this stuff on my mind. (it just took me three tries to type m-i-n-d. Geez!) Must stop the stress. Must stop the stress.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Spring Break - Day 1
What a lovely start!
I got up at 5:30 this morning. Drove 2 hours to MUSC so that Cheeseman could get his rectum dialated. I did get to see him after he drank his "silly juice". He is a funny drunk. The doc says that his rectum looked exactly as he'd hoped it would. It's a bit looser, so we'll maybe only have one more procedure.
Once done, we headed home. We stopped at "old McDonalds" so that he could get the latest TMNT toy in his happy meal. Then he watched TMNT all the way home on the DVD. We stopped off at the bookstore (where Mommy used to work) to get him a treat for being such a brave boy. He picked out TWO new Spiderman 3 books. We also got a book for B-man and one for me. Daddy didn't get a book. He's a student, he has enough to read.
We played Candy Land once we got home. I haven't played that in AGES! He beat me the first game. But I won the second game. Then Cheeseman refused to play again. He's not used to losing. He doesn't like it. Must work on gracefully losing.
The whole family went out to dinner tonight at Hubs' place of business. It was ... well, it was. The boys wanted quarters for the game room, and Hubs watched all the Sportscenter on the TV. I wasn't really hungry, since I'd had the big McD's for lunch, and B-man ended up eating half my quesadilla anyway! It was nice to eat all together as a family, though.
A little girl smiled at B-man while he was running around. He came up to me and growled in his 2-year-old way, "She smile at me, Mommy!" Then he pointed at her and gave her his best scary "RRRRAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHH!" It was cute. Guess he is NOT interested in the opposite sex at all. Yay! I want my boys to stay little and innocent forever. I know it won't happen, but I can hope.
Watched Dancing with the Stars tonight. Loved Ian and Cheryl and Joey and Kym. Used up all my votes. I'm so glad Hubs lets me watch that on Mondays.
I got up at 5:30 this morning. Drove 2 hours to MUSC so that Cheeseman could get his rectum dialated. I did get to see him after he drank his "silly juice". He is a funny drunk. The doc says that his rectum looked exactly as he'd hoped it would. It's a bit looser, so we'll maybe only have one more procedure.
Once done, we headed home. We stopped at "old McDonalds" so that he could get the latest TMNT toy in his happy meal. Then he watched TMNT all the way home on the DVD. We stopped off at the bookstore (where Mommy used to work) to get him a treat for being such a brave boy. He picked out TWO new Spiderman 3 books. We also got a book for B-man and one for me. Daddy didn't get a book. He's a student, he has enough to read.
We played Candy Land once we got home. I haven't played that in AGES! He beat me the first game. But I won the second game. Then Cheeseman refused to play again. He's not used to losing. He doesn't like it. Must work on gracefully losing.
The whole family went out to dinner tonight at Hubs' place of business. It was ... well, it was. The boys wanted quarters for the game room, and Hubs watched all the Sportscenter on the TV. I wasn't really hungry, since I'd had the big McD's for lunch, and B-man ended up eating half my quesadilla anyway! It was nice to eat all together as a family, though.
A little girl smiled at B-man while he was running around. He came up to me and growled in his 2-year-old way, "She smile at me, Mommy!" Then he pointed at her and gave her his best scary "RRRRAAAAUUUUUUUUUGGGGGHHHH!" It was cute. Guess he is NOT interested in the opposite sex at all. Yay! I want my boys to stay little and innocent forever. I know it won't happen, but I can hope.
Watched Dancing with the Stars tonight. Loved Ian and Cheryl and Joey and Kym. Used up all my votes. I'm so glad Hubs lets me watch that on Mondays.
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Easter Eve
It's the day before the celebration of the resurrection of Our Lord. Tomorrow, the celebration of Christ's rising from the dead. His triumph, for our sake, over death.
Today, another egg hunt.
We went to Zachary's house. I think we were just invited because I'm the only person who has boys. All the other little ones there were girls. That's beside the point. Zachary's mom teaches kindergarten with my sister, and will be Cheeseman's teacher in a couple of years. We hope.
We went over around 2:00. The boys all played together. Everyone shared. They have a nice, new house. Really nice. We could have fit our entire house into 3/4 of their downstairs. Sigh. Maybe someday. Anyway, about 45 minutes later, the kids finally got to "hunt" for eggs. They were mostly out in the open, so there wasn't much hunting going on.
Cheeseman and B-man both got LOTS of eggs. The girls were all going after the pink and purple eggs. My boys just picked up whatever they came across. Then they got sidetracked by the play area. It came complete with a lizard! They jumped a bit on the trampoline, but it was cold outside. So that didn't last too long. The parents couldn't stand being out in the cold any longer.
Such a change from last weekend, when we were all in shorts. Today, I had on jeans, a long sleeve tee, and a sweater. And I was still cold. Crazy. I'm not even sure I can wear my pretty new Easter dress tomorrow, because the high is only supposed to be in the mid-50s!
Hubs is at work. He worked last night too, so I got to watch the Devil Wears Prada. It was cute. Pretty predictable. But something I wouldn't have gotten to see if he'd been home. Now I'm out of movies though. I'll have Pirates of the Caribbean for next weekend though. Looking forward to that one! I've never seen the first one, just the second. I thought it was the first one while I was watching it, then Hubs informed me that it was actually the second one. I was like, why did you let me watch it then!? He shrugged and couldn't believe I hadn't seen the first one. What? When would I have had time to do that?
Well, gotta go stuff eggs for the morning. Have a Happy Easter! Praise the Lord!
Today, another egg hunt.
We went to Zachary's house. I think we were just invited because I'm the only person who has boys. All the other little ones there were girls. That's beside the point. Zachary's mom teaches kindergarten with my sister, and will be Cheeseman's teacher in a couple of years. We hope.
We went over around 2:00. The boys all played together. Everyone shared. They have a nice, new house. Really nice. We could have fit our entire house into 3/4 of their downstairs. Sigh. Maybe someday. Anyway, about 45 minutes later, the kids finally got to "hunt" for eggs. They were mostly out in the open, so there wasn't much hunting going on.
Cheeseman and B-man both got LOTS of eggs. The girls were all going after the pink and purple eggs. My boys just picked up whatever they came across. Then they got sidetracked by the play area. It came complete with a lizard! They jumped a bit on the trampoline, but it was cold outside. So that didn't last too long. The parents couldn't stand being out in the cold any longer.
Such a change from last weekend, when we were all in shorts. Today, I had on jeans, a long sleeve tee, and a sweater. And I was still cold. Crazy. I'm not even sure I can wear my pretty new Easter dress tomorrow, because the high is only supposed to be in the mid-50s!
Hubs is at work. He worked last night too, so I got to watch the Devil Wears Prada. It was cute. Pretty predictable. But something I wouldn't have gotten to see if he'd been home. Now I'm out of movies though. I'll have Pirates of the Caribbean for next weekend though. Looking forward to that one! I've never seen the first one, just the second. I thought it was the first one while I was watching it, then Hubs informed me that it was actually the second one. I was like, why did you let me watch it then!? He shrugged and couldn't believe I hadn't seen the first one. What? When would I have had time to do that?
Well, gotta go stuff eggs for the morning. Have a Happy Easter! Praise the Lord!
Friday, April 06, 2007
Spring Break
My brother recommeds this movie. In fact, he has proclaimed to his fiancee that he is going to see it on opening night. I watched the trailer. Judge for yourself.
Spring Break begins today.
I have no plans.
Except to take Cheeseman to get a rod stuck up his ass. No, really. In order to get his rectum ready for the colostomy reversal, they have to dialate. The surgeon knocks him out, then sticks a rod up his butt. Lovely.
I got to see the actual rods. The ones they were sticking in my son's butt. I probably could have done without that.
Anyway, that's the most exciting thing I'm doing this spring break. Anyone else got better plans?
I'll be starting the end of school countdown soon. Yippee!
Spring Break begins today.
I have no plans.
Except to take Cheeseman to get a rod stuck up his ass. No, really. In order to get his rectum ready for the colostomy reversal, they have to dialate. The surgeon knocks him out, then sticks a rod up his butt. Lovely.
I got to see the actual rods. The ones they were sticking in my son's butt. I probably could have done without that.
Anyway, that's the most exciting thing I'm doing this spring break. Anyone else got better plans?
I'll be starting the end of school countdown soon. Yippee!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
What an awesome day! Got the boys up and ready for church. They are so cute! I'll have to post pictures later. Anyway, Cheeseman sang in our Children's Choir this morning! Argh! And he even played a bell! I couldn't believe it. I thought for sure he would chicken out. He's not big on the whole performing thing. But he stood up there, in front of the whole congregation (about 200 people) and sang with about 12 other kids. He's the youngest in the group, but he did a great job. And he managed to make silly faces at Hubs and I. What a clown!
This afternoon we went to John and Shannon's house. Their neighborhood was having an Easter egg hunt, so they invited us to bring the boys. Cheeseman and B-man had a GREAT time! Cheeseman even found some eggs with money in them. What kind of Easter bunny do they have? I need some of that!
After the egg hunt, the kids got to play outside some more. There's a trampoline, which Cheeseman loves. B-man was partial to the ride-on mini-car things. They have one that looks like a jeep. Man, he did NOT want to get out of that thing. He is not a good driver however. He kept running into trees. I think he's not getting a license until he's about 30!
Cheeseman and B-man were driving along. They came to the pole of the swingset/fort thing. They decide to drive UP the pole. They managed to flip the jeep over. With them in it. I was watching it, and the world seemed to slow down. Like slo-mo. It was awful! Hubs ran over there and picked up the jeep. They were fine. They crawled away, as Hubs put it back down. Then B-man climbed back in, ready to go again! I nearly had a heart attack.
I am so glad that the boys are making such good friends. B-man, by the way, is betrothed. There's a little girl at church who has decided that she is going to marry him. She's 3. He's 2 and 1/2. I don't see it lasting. But, her daddy is some kind of doctor. He could do worse.
And we found out today that Cheeseman has another girlfriend. Shalee. He's already got Mrs. Julia (his nurse from the hospital last summer), Ms. Suzanne (a doctor assistant), Mrs. Johnson (a teacher at his school), and now Shalee! What can I say? He's a chick magnet! Please keep in mind that the youngest of these women (except Shalee, who's 4) is about 25. Well out of age range. And they are mostly married as well.
Cheeseman doesn't understand the whole girlfriend thing yet. So glad for that. He's only 4! He doesn't need to know. I'm impressed he can keep up with all of them at the same time though. Most boys have trouble keeping up with just one!
This afternoon we went to John and Shannon's house. Their neighborhood was having an Easter egg hunt, so they invited us to bring the boys. Cheeseman and B-man had a GREAT time! Cheeseman even found some eggs with money in them. What kind of Easter bunny do they have? I need some of that!
After the egg hunt, the kids got to play outside some more. There's a trampoline, which Cheeseman loves. B-man was partial to the ride-on mini-car things. They have one that looks like a jeep. Man, he did NOT want to get out of that thing. He is not a good driver however. He kept running into trees. I think he's not getting a license until he's about 30!
Cheeseman and B-man were driving along. They came to the pole of the swingset/fort thing. They decide to drive UP the pole. They managed to flip the jeep over. With them in it. I was watching it, and the world seemed to slow down. Like slo-mo. It was awful! Hubs ran over there and picked up the jeep. They were fine. They crawled away, as Hubs put it back down. Then B-man climbed back in, ready to go again! I nearly had a heart attack.
I am so glad that the boys are making such good friends. B-man, by the way, is betrothed. There's a little girl at church who has decided that she is going to marry him. She's 3. He's 2 and 1/2. I don't see it lasting. But, her daddy is some kind of doctor. He could do worse.
And we found out today that Cheeseman has another girlfriend. Shalee. He's already got Mrs. Julia (his nurse from the hospital last summer), Ms. Suzanne (a doctor assistant), Mrs. Johnson (a teacher at his school), and now Shalee! What can I say? He's a chick magnet! Please keep in mind that the youngest of these women (except Shalee, who's 4) is about 25. Well out of age range. And they are mostly married as well.
Cheeseman doesn't understand the whole girlfriend thing yet. So glad for that. He's only 4! He doesn't need to know. I'm impressed he can keep up with all of them at the same time though. Most boys have trouble keeping up with just one!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Vote for Melanie!
Help Melanie in Orygun win the great honor and privilege of getting paid to blog. Click on the lovely box below and vote for her.
I am sure she will be most appreciative.
I am sure she will be most appreciative.
ch-ch-ch-changes
I'm trying so hard not to think. When I think, I feel. And when I feel, I cry. It's like something has dropped out of me. Like my chest is hollow, but still full of something. Something big and heavy. And it hurts me.
What is giong on? Last night, he was in tears wondering if being a pastor iswhat he really wants to do. He hadn't been to classesin nearly a week. Skipping because he felt overwhelmed. Like he was too far behind and wouldn't ever be able to get caught up again. He didn't wantto tell me. He'd flat out lied to me about it the other day. I knew something was wrong, and I kept asking him and asking hem, but he said it was nothing. Turns out it was something.
It's the depression again, I'm almost sure ofit. He feelsdisconnected from the churhc. Disconnected from us, his family. Disconnected from God. We haven't been worshipping together in a few months because of his internship assignment. He's had to go somewhere else every week for church. It's been hard. On all of us. Even Cheeseman wants to know why Daddy isn't going to church with us.
The breakdown came last night. He told me right before we left for Holy Grounds. Said he hasn't been going to classes all week. He wonders if this is really what he is supposed to be doing. Wonders if maybe he should not do the MDiv for ordination. That's fine. As long as he finishes the semester. We've put so much into this. He was going to talk to his professors about getting caught up. He was going to talk to Pastor Kevin about his calling.
Instead, our DS (the local head pastor guy) calls this morning offerring a student pastorship of a church about an hour from our house. It comes with a parsonage. Hubs has an hour to decide. He calls me, and my first instinct is to say no. It's too far, I can't commute that far every morning at 6:30 to be at work on time. Hubs tells him it is just not feasible right now. I can't commute, can't quit my job, it's not gonna happen.
So the DS calls back later in the day and offers him a student pastorship of a church which (I think) is even farther away. In some town I've never even heard of, and I've lived in this area for 16 years now. He'll have to do services on Sundays, and be available Saturdays and for funerals and stuff. I told him to do whatever he wanted.
What a mistake.
He said yes.
Now, I have to leave my home church. My friends. My singing. The kids Sunday school classes and friends. And it makes me want to die inside.
I know that as a pastor's wife, this is my life. Every few years, some DS is going to call us up and say it's time to move on. But you're never really ready for it. And I thought I had a couple more years until it was time. That I could mentally prepare. Extract myself from stuff so it wouldn't be so bad.
Who was I kidding? I don't want to ever leave our church. That is our family! And I know, consciously that God is everywhere, and we will meet perfectly nice people somewhere else, maybe in that new church, but it doesn't make the hurt stop.
It would be different if we were picking up and leaving. Really moving. Then we wouldn't have to still see people. Still drive past the church. Still feel the emptiness. We could make a clean break. I didn't do so well with this the last time, when we went to that church in Camden. I still wanted to be with my old friends. And being with them made the not being there hurt that much worse.
What am I going to do?
What is giong on? Last night, he was in tears wondering if being a pastor iswhat he really wants to do. He hadn't been to classesin nearly a week. Skipping because he felt overwhelmed. Like he was too far behind and wouldn't ever be able to get caught up again. He didn't wantto tell me. He'd flat out lied to me about it the other day. I knew something was wrong, and I kept asking him and asking hem, but he said it was nothing. Turns out it was something.
It's the depression again, I'm almost sure ofit. He feelsdisconnected from the churhc. Disconnected from us, his family. Disconnected from God. We haven't been worshipping together in a few months because of his internship assignment. He's had to go somewhere else every week for church. It's been hard. On all of us. Even Cheeseman wants to know why Daddy isn't going to church with us.
The breakdown came last night. He told me right before we left for Holy Grounds. Said he hasn't been going to classes all week. He wonders if this is really what he is supposed to be doing. Wonders if maybe he should not do the MDiv for ordination. That's fine. As long as he finishes the semester. We've put so much into this. He was going to talk to his professors about getting caught up. He was going to talk to Pastor Kevin about his calling.
Instead, our DS (the local head pastor guy) calls this morning offerring a student pastorship of a church about an hour from our house. It comes with a parsonage. Hubs has an hour to decide. He calls me, and my first instinct is to say no. It's too far, I can't commute that far every morning at 6:30 to be at work on time. Hubs tells him it is just not feasible right now. I can't commute, can't quit my job, it's not gonna happen.
So the DS calls back later in the day and offers him a student pastorship of a church which (I think) is even farther away. In some town I've never even heard of, and I've lived in this area for 16 years now. He'll have to do services on Sundays, and be available Saturdays and for funerals and stuff. I told him to do whatever he wanted.
What a mistake.
He said yes.
Now, I have to leave my home church. My friends. My singing. The kids Sunday school classes and friends. And it makes me want to die inside.
I know that as a pastor's wife, this is my life. Every few years, some DS is going to call us up and say it's time to move on. But you're never really ready for it. And I thought I had a couple more years until it was time. That I could mentally prepare. Extract myself from stuff so it wouldn't be so bad.
Who was I kidding? I don't want to ever leave our church. That is our family! And I know, consciously that God is everywhere, and we will meet perfectly nice people somewhere else, maybe in that new church, but it doesn't make the hurt stop.
It would be different if we were picking up and leaving. Really moving. Then we wouldn't have to still see people. Still drive past the church. Still feel the emptiness. We could make a clean break. I didn't do so well with this the last time, when we went to that church in Camden. I still wanted to be with my old friends. And being with them made the not being there hurt that much worse.
What am I going to do?
Sunday, March 18, 2007
I'm a Winner!
After much deliberation and background research, I made my choices. It was a well-thought-out game plan. I checked and double-checked my choices. Then, finally, I submitted my entry for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, Baxter Championship group.
Yeah, right.
My brother sent out an email to the family inviting us all to join a bracket pool. This was Tuesday during school. Tuesday after school, I spent about 5 minutes seeing who had the most wins. Or which school had a better mascot. Or which school I'd even heard of! And I submitted my brackets!
And I'm winning!
Will wonders never cease?
I must point out that I don't pay any attention to basketball season, except for my Duke Blue Devils for whom I have an unholy love. My brother, husband, brother-in-law, and father love the game and watch it a lot. It's ironic that I'm now beating them all. Hee hee hee!
Yeah, right.
My brother sent out an email to the family inviting us all to join a bracket pool. This was Tuesday during school. Tuesday after school, I spent about 5 minutes seeing who had the most wins. Or which school had a better mascot. Or which school I'd even heard of! And I submitted my brackets!
And I'm winning!
Will wonders never cease?
I must point out that I don't pay any attention to basketball season, except for my Duke Blue Devils for whom I have an unholy love. My brother, husband, brother-in-law, and father love the game and watch it a lot. It's ironic that I'm now beating them all. Hee hee hee!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Wonderings
I am sitting here at the computer, finished uploading Cheeseman's latest soccer pictures (2 goals!), and I grabbed a book that Hubs has sitting next to the bed. I had picked it up before and read just the first chapter, but I wasn't really paying attention. It was just surface reading, ya know. But I'm bored and not quite tired enough to go to sleep. So I'm reading this book, Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, and it's "nonreligious thoughts on Christian spirituality." Which intrigues me, now that I'm paying attention to it. I want to know what that means, so now I'm paying attention.
I get to the third chapter, where he's talking about magic. And the elements of a story. It seems kind of unrelated like that, but it all ties together nicely when you read it.
So there's this quote: "I liked the idea of Jesus becoming man, so that we would be able to trust Him..."
Because we don't generally trust people that we don't know. Why would we want to believe in a god whom we could never see. One who just said - hey, come follow me! Worship me! Believe in me, because I will make you whole.
Seriously? Not gonna happen.
But instead, our God became man. He walked among us, doing good and healing others. Loving everyone regardless of who they were or what they had done. He came to us so that we could see Him, hear Him, touch Him, see what He is all about. He gave us a blueprint, a map of sorts, to follow so that we could be like Him.
What better way to help people believe than to come and live among us?
And what do we do? Are we loving others? Are we doing good? I know you can't earn your way to heaven, but we are supposed to strive to be more like Christ. By believing in Him, and trying to follow His example, it's supposed to make us want to do better. To want to BE better.
What have I done to be more like Christ?
I get to the third chapter, where he's talking about magic. And the elements of a story. It seems kind of unrelated like that, but it all ties together nicely when you read it.
So there's this quote: "I liked the idea of Jesus becoming man, so that we would be able to trust Him..."
Because we don't generally trust people that we don't know. Why would we want to believe in a god whom we could never see. One who just said - hey, come follow me! Worship me! Believe in me, because I will make you whole.
Seriously? Not gonna happen.
But instead, our God became man. He walked among us, doing good and healing others. Loving everyone regardless of who they were or what they had done. He came to us so that we could see Him, hear Him, touch Him, see what He is all about. He gave us a blueprint, a map of sorts, to follow so that we could be like Him.
What better way to help people believe than to come and live among us?
And what do we do? Are we loving others? Are we doing good? I know you can't earn your way to heaven, but we are supposed to strive to be more like Christ. By believing in Him, and trying to follow His example, it's supposed to make us want to do better. To want to BE better.
What have I done to be more like Christ?
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Reading List
Cherrye over at My Bella Vita got this book meme from somewhere else. It just so happened that I had seen it elsewhere and was frantically trying to find it again, since I liked it but did not have time to do anything with it the first time. You know, not having any time to myself. So away we go!
Instructions: In the list of books below,
Bold the ones you’ve read
Italicize the ones you want to read
Mark in RED the ones you won’t touch with a ten-foot pole
Put a cross (+) in front of the ones on your book shelf
Mark an asterisk (*) beside the ones you’ve never heard of
1. +The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. +To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. *A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. +Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. +Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. +Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. *Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. +Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. +The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. *The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. +Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. +Bible (darn near all of it anyway)
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. *The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. +Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. *The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. *The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. *Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. +The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. *The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. *The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. *Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. *Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. *The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. *Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. *In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. +The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. *A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)
Now, I did work in a bookstore for a few months, so I've heard of most of these books. I can even describe the titles of most of them. I'm pretty proud that I've read almost a third of these books. I don't know that they are all great literature, but most of the ones I read took me somewhere else. And isn't that what reading is all about?
And yes, I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan. I cannot wait until the final installment comes out: July 21 at 12:01 am.
Instructions: In the list of books below,
Bold the ones you’ve read
Italicize the ones you want to read
Mark in RED the ones you won’t touch with a ten-foot pole
Put a cross (+) in front of the ones on your book shelf
Mark an asterisk (*) beside the ones you’ve never heard of
1. +The Da Vinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. +To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (Tolkien)
7. The Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (Tolkien)
8. Anne of Green Gables (L.M. Montgomery)
9. Outlander (Diana Gabaldon)
10. *A Fine Balance (Rohinton Mistry)
11. +Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Rowling)
12. Angels and Demons (Dan Brown)
13. +Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (Rowling)
14. A Prayer for Owen Meany (John Irving)
15. Memoirs of a Geisha (Arthur Golden)
16. +Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (Rowling)
17. *Fall on Your Knees (Ann-Marie MacDonald)
18. The Stand (Stephen King)
19. +Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
20. Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
21. The Hobbit (Tolkien)
22. The Catcher in the Rye (J.D. Salinger)
23. Little Women (Louisa May Alcott)
24. The Lovely Bones (Alice Sebold)
25. Life of Pi (Yann Martel)
26. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas Adams)
27. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte)
28. +The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (C. S. Lewis)
29. East of Eden (John Steinbeck)
30. Tuesdays with Morrie (Mitch Albom)
31. Dune (Frank Herbert)
32. The Notebook (Nicholas Sparks)
33. Atlas Shrugged (Ayn Rand)
34. 1984 (Orwell)
35. The Mists of Avalon (Marion Zimmer Bradley)
36. The Pillars of the Earth (Ken Follett)
37. *The Power of One (Bryce Courtenay)
38. I Know This Much is True (Wally Lamb)
39. The Red Tent (Anita Diamant)
40. The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho)
41. The Clan of the Cave Bear (Jean M. Auel)
42. The Kite Runner (Khaled Hosseini)
43. +Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
44. The Five People You Meet In Heaven (Mitch Albom)
45. +Bible (darn near all of it anyway)
46. Anna Karenina (Tolstoy)
47. The Count of Monte Cristo (Alexandre Dumas)
48. Angela’s Ashes (Frank McCourt)
49. The Grapes of Wrath (John Steinbeck)
50. She’s Come Undone (Wally Lamb)
51. The Poisonwood Bible (Barbara Kingsolver)
52. A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
53. Ender’s Game (Orson Scott Card)
54. Great Expectations (Dickens)
55. The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald)
56. *The Stone Angel (Margaret Laurence)
57. +Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
58. The Thorn Birds (Colleen McCullough)
59. *The Handmaid’s Tale (Margaret Atwood)
60. *The Time Traveller’s Wife (Audrew Niffenegger)
61. Crime and Punishment (Fyodor Dostoyevsky)
62. The Fountainhead (Ayn Rand)
63. War and Peace (Tolstoy)
64. Interview With The Vampire (Anne Rice)
65. *Fifth Business (Robertson Davis)
66. One Hundred Years Of Solitude (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
67. +The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants (Ann Brashares)
68. Catch-22 (Joseph Heller)
69. Les Miserables (Hugo)
70. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)
71. Bridget Jones’ Diary (Fielding)
72. Love in the Time of Cholera (Marquez)
73. Shogun (James Clavell)
74. The English Patient (Michael Ondaatje)
75. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
76. *The Summer Tree (Guy Gavriel Kay)
77. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn (Betty Smith)
78. The World According To Garp (John Irving)
79. *The Diviners (Margaret Laurence)
80. Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White)
81. *Not Wanted On The Voyage (Timothy Findley)
82. Of Mice And Men (Steinbeck)
83. Rebecca (Daphne DuMaurier)
84. *Wizard’s First Rule (Terry Goodkind)
85. Emma (Jane Austen)
86. Watership Down (Richard Adams)
87. Brave New World (Aldous Huxley)
88. *The Stone Diaries (Carol Shields)
89. *Blindness (Jose Saramago)
90. Kane and Abel (Jeffrey Archer)
91. *In The Skin Of A Lion (Ondaatje)
92. Lord of the Flies (Golding)
93. The Good Earth (Pearl S. Buck)
94. +The Secret Life of Bees (Sue Monk Kidd)
95. The Bourne Identity (Robert Ludlum)
96. The Outsiders (S.E. Hinton)
97. White Oleander (Janet Fitch)
98. *A Woman of Substance (Barbara Taylor Bradford)
99. The Celestine Prophecy (James Redfield)
100. Ulysses (James Joyce)
Now, I did work in a bookstore for a few months, so I've heard of most of these books. I can even describe the titles of most of them. I'm pretty proud that I've read almost a third of these books. I don't know that they are all great literature, but most of the ones I read took me somewhere else. And isn't that what reading is all about?
And yes, I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan. I cannot wait until the final installment comes out: July 21 at 12:01 am.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Living Between the Trees
I went to Holy Grounds last week. It's our mid-week "worship" service at our church. There's coffee, tea, cookies, some music and a message. Often the message is a discussion. About how Christ fits into life today, and how we grow in our faith and show it day to day. It's really fun and inspiring. Definitely gives you a lift.
Last week, we had a small discussion then watched a short video. It was by a guy named Rob Bell. Check him out. He's got such a gift for teaching and living God's Word.
Anyway, he was talking about our role on earth. It started in Genesis, when God created man and woman. There was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It ends in Revelation, where there is a Tree of Life. And we are here, living now, between the Trees.
He talked about not just being here, waiting for the end of our life so that we can get to the next. It's not about just being here, taking up space, waiting for the end. It's about working to make this world that we live in a better place. It's about making our world as much like the Kingdom as we can in the time we have. It's about helping others, planting trees, making disciples, making ourselves better.
It's not like we have to earn what we're getting, God has graciously given it to us. This whole big world, with all its niceties and craziness. What a gift!
What do you think? I know I haven't explained it very well. I wish I could find the DVD and see it again. Maybe I should ask Fred.
Last week, we had a small discussion then watched a short video. It was by a guy named Rob Bell. Check him out. He's got such a gift for teaching and living God's Word.
Anyway, he was talking about our role on earth. It started in Genesis, when God created man and woman. There was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It ends in Revelation, where there is a Tree of Life. And we are here, living now, between the Trees.
He talked about not just being here, waiting for the end of our life so that we can get to the next. It's not about just being here, taking up space, waiting for the end. It's about working to make this world that we live in a better place. It's about making our world as much like the Kingdom as we can in the time we have. It's about helping others, planting trees, making disciples, making ourselves better.
It's not like we have to earn what we're getting, God has graciously given it to us. This whole big world, with all its niceties and craziness. What a gift!
What do you think? I know I haven't explained it very well. I wish I could find the DVD and see it again. Maybe I should ask Fred.
Friday, March 09, 2007
Visual DNA
Thanks to Cherrye over at My Bella Vita for showing this to me. If you want to know me, this is truly it!
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
More sick...
If you are visiting from the Ultimate Blog Party, my party post is here. Otherwise, keep reading. Well, keep reading anyway.
Last week, Bennett was sick. He was sick Monday night, stayed home with Hubs on Tuesday. Was fine all day. And Wednesday. Got sick again Wed. night. Stayed home with Hubs on Thursday. Was fine all day. Ate lots and is all better.
Cheeseman got sick this morning. Thank God I was already at work. He had to stay home with Hubs today. Hubs missed classes. Oops. But I'm being the good little wifey and staying home tomorrow.
It is such a pain in the tush to get a sub for school! I had to make idiot-proof lesson plans, find my roll sheets, make copies, lock up all my personal stuff. Ugh! Just so that I can stay home with a sick baby.
Who is feeling fine and asking for ice cream, by the way. I say NO WAY!
My mom came and got Bennett for the evening. She took him out to her house to walk Chico (her new Chihuahua?) (how the hell do you spell that anyway?) Then to San Jose for dinner. Because if he gets the stomach bug again, I want to see Mexican food come back up. Geez!
Hubs is at the restaurant, waiting tables. Did I mention they've "trained" him to work the bar? It's all about the perfect head on a beer. And the correct amount of wine in a glass. That's all they sell as far as bar items. It took him THREE HOURS to train on Saturday. I could do that in 10 minutes! Oh, well. He was getting paid.
Anyway, my throat hurts, nose is stuffy, I'm coughing. I'm going to eat some Oreo ice cream to make it all better. I should probably do my Bible study while I'm at it. It's a Beth Moore study. If you haven't tried her, she is AWESOME!
Last week, Bennett was sick. He was sick Monday night, stayed home with Hubs on Tuesday. Was fine all day. And Wednesday. Got sick again Wed. night. Stayed home with Hubs on Thursday. Was fine all day. Ate lots and is all better.
Cheeseman got sick this morning. Thank God I was already at work. He had to stay home with Hubs today. Hubs missed classes. Oops. But I'm being the good little wifey and staying home tomorrow.
It is such a pain in the tush to get a sub for school! I had to make idiot-proof lesson plans, find my roll sheets, make copies, lock up all my personal stuff. Ugh! Just so that I can stay home with a sick baby.
Who is feeling fine and asking for ice cream, by the way. I say NO WAY!
My mom came and got Bennett for the evening. She took him out to her house to walk Chico (her new Chihuahua?) (how the hell do you spell that anyway?) Then to San Jose for dinner. Because if he gets the stomach bug again, I want to see Mexican food come back up. Geez!
Hubs is at the restaurant, waiting tables. Did I mention they've "trained" him to work the bar? It's all about the perfect head on a beer. And the correct amount of wine in a glass. That's all they sell as far as bar items. It took him THREE HOURS to train on Saturday. I could do that in 10 minutes! Oh, well. He was getting paid.
Anyway, my throat hurts, nose is stuffy, I'm coughing. I'm going to eat some Oreo ice cream to make it all better. I should probably do my Bible study while I'm at it. It's a Beth Moore study. If you haven't tried her, she is AWESOME!
Saturday, March 03, 2007
3 Goals!!!
Cheeseman scored three goals! THREE GOALS!!! He was the star of the team!!! And the grin on his face.... OH MAN! I am one proud momma! He's such an awesome kid!!! I am talking and thinking in exclamations!! Yay Cheeseman!!
I'll post pics once I get them off the camera which is in the diaper bag which is with the in-laws who came to the game then took the kids for the afternoon.
As a side note, Hubs will soon be a bartender at local eatery where he's been waiting tables. Yes, a future pastor serving alcohol. Does anyone else find this funny? He wants to "contribute more" to the household. Such a guy!
First week of homebound went well. I made $80 in only 4 hours. And I tucked my babies into bed 6 nights in a row! Yippee!!!
edited: Check out my boy playing soccer!!
I'll post pics once I get them off the camera which is in the diaper bag which is with the in-laws who came to the game then took the kids for the afternoon.
As a side note, Hubs will soon be a bartender at local eatery where he's been waiting tables. Yes, a future pastor serving alcohol. Does anyone else find this funny? He wants to "contribute more" to the household. Such a guy!
First week of homebound went well. I made $80 in only 4 hours. And I tucked my babies into bed 6 nights in a row! Yippee!!!
edited: Check out my boy playing soccer!!
Friday, March 02, 2007
Ultimate Blog Party
Welcome!
I'm not much of a partier anymore, but this seems like my kind of thing.
I can visit anyone's place, at any time.
I don't have to stay up till all hours of the night, but if I want to I can.
I don't have to clean up and worry about what other people will think of my place.
I don't have to get all dressed up.
I can meet new people!
These people will not judge me!
Yay!
This is perfect for shy folks like me. Thanks to Janice and Susan for being such gracious hosts of the Ultimate Blog Party.
I'm got wine, sliced cheese, and saltines. Sorry, I'll go to the store tomorrow and get better party fare. (This was kind of last minute!) Please sign the comments before you go!
And remember, friends don't let friends drive drunk!
Added 3/3: About me: I am wife to my Hubs who is a seminary student. Mom to Cheeseman (4) and Bennett (2). I teach Latin in middle school. I sing with our Praise Band at church. I love to read, write, and sing, not necessarily in that order. Right now, I'm on a my-son-scored-three-goals-in-his-soccer-game HIGH! I am so proud! Thanks for stopping by!
I'm not much of a partier anymore, but this seems like my kind of thing.
I can visit anyone's place, at any time.
I don't have to stay up till all hours of the night, but if I want to I can.
I don't have to clean up and worry about what other people will think of my place.
I don't have to get all dressed up.
I can meet new people!
These people will not judge me!
Yay!
This is perfect for shy folks like me. Thanks to Janice and Susan for being such gracious hosts of the Ultimate Blog Party.
I'm got wine, sliced cheese, and saltines. Sorry, I'll go to the store tomorrow and get better party fare. (This was kind of last minute!) Please sign the comments before you go!
And remember, friends don't let friends drive drunk!
Added 3/3: About me: I am wife to my Hubs who is a seminary student. Mom to Cheeseman (4) and Bennett (2). I teach Latin in middle school. I sing with our Praise Band at church. I love to read, write, and sing, not necessarily in that order. Right now, I'm on a my-son-scored-three-goals-in-his-soccer-game HIGH! I am so proud! Thanks for stopping by!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
HE SCORES!
My Cheeseman played in his first soccer game this weekend. He scored a GOALLLLLLL! If you click the link on his name, you can watch his score. He was so excited. It's all he talked about all weekend. He's a natural. He gets it from me!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
And so it is done...
The bookseller era. I did it. Today. I called and told Tom that I'm through. I just can't take the hours anymore. And not seeing the boys for three straight days. And being bone tired every day of the week. Never being able to catch up on my sleep. Not grading papers for a week.
Well, that will probably still continue.
When I told Josh last night, the first thing he did was offer me more money to stay. But I think he realized it was hopeless when I told him that I could cut my hours in half and still make enough doing homebound. I did tell Tom to keep me on the books for the summer. I'd hate to never be able to come back.
I still feel like a little part of me is dead. I really loved working at that bookstore. I liked working with all those weird people. People who are smart and funny and not afraid to be different. It was such a melting pot. Do you know, in all the jobs I've had, all the places I've worked, I've never before worked in an environment where I truly liked all the people I've worked with. Just there.
I will truly miss being there. Thank you, bookstore. For everything.
Well, that will probably still continue.
When I told Josh last night, the first thing he did was offer me more money to stay. But I think he realized it was hopeless when I told him that I could cut my hours in half and still make enough doing homebound. I did tell Tom to keep me on the books for the summer. I'd hate to never be able to come back.
I still feel like a little part of me is dead. I really loved working at that bookstore. I liked working with all those weird people. People who are smart and funny and not afraid to be different. It was such a melting pot. Do you know, in all the jobs I've had, all the places I've worked, I've never before worked in an environment where I truly liked all the people I've worked with. Just there.
I will truly miss being there. Thank you, bookstore. For everything.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Ramblings of a Tired Mom
They don't tell you it's going to be like this. This constant frustration. The compelling need to hit someone, something. Like you're going to explode if you don't get it out. No one talks about this.
How sometimes, you just want to scream. Or run away. Somewhere the little demons can't find you. You get so fed up.
You lock yourself in your room with the lights off. You can hear them in the other room, playing. Hitting each other. You hear one scream, but then it stops. He's okay. You hear banging, but figure if they aren't screaming it's okay.
You just can't take it.
How long can I go on like this? Working three days a week after school until 10 pm. Then getting up at 5 am the next morning and teaching all day. Something's gotta give.
I've been looking at doing homebound instruction. You know, helping kids who can't - for whatever reason - make it to school each day. We are bound, by law, to provide services for them. It pays $20 an hour. Which is almost 3 times what I make at the bookstore. Which means I could do this 6 hours total a week and make what I'm working my ass off for now. It makes sense. Why would I not do this?
Because I love being at the store. I really like the people I'm working with. And I'm scared I won't know enough. What if I have to instruct some kid in Calculus? Chemistry? Physics? French? I don't know that stuff. I would be worthless. At the bookstore, I'm never worthless. I know most of the answers. I'm hot stuff there. I'm the one they turn to when they need their card percentages up. Stick me on a register and let me go.
Why can't I give it up?
And now I'm home. The demons are finally in bed. I'm drinking wine. It tastes good. I need to relax. I'd take a bath, but I'm afraid I'll fall asleep. Maybe I'll just read. From the large stack of books next to the bed. I do work at a bookstore you know.
How sometimes, you just want to scream. Or run away. Somewhere the little demons can't find you. You get so fed up.
You lock yourself in your room with the lights off. You can hear them in the other room, playing. Hitting each other. You hear one scream, but then it stops. He's okay. You hear banging, but figure if they aren't screaming it's okay.
You just can't take it.
How long can I go on like this? Working three days a week after school until 10 pm. Then getting up at 5 am the next morning and teaching all day. Something's gotta give.
I've been looking at doing homebound instruction. You know, helping kids who can't - for whatever reason - make it to school each day. We are bound, by law, to provide services for them. It pays $20 an hour. Which is almost 3 times what I make at the bookstore. Which means I could do this 6 hours total a week and make what I'm working my ass off for now. It makes sense. Why would I not do this?
Because I love being at the store. I really like the people I'm working with. And I'm scared I won't know enough. What if I have to instruct some kid in Calculus? Chemistry? Physics? French? I don't know that stuff. I would be worthless. At the bookstore, I'm never worthless. I know most of the answers. I'm hot stuff there. I'm the one they turn to when they need their card percentages up. Stick me on a register and let me go.
Why can't I give it up?
And now I'm home. The demons are finally in bed. I'm drinking wine. It tastes good. I need to relax. I'd take a bath, but I'm afraid I'll fall asleep. Maybe I'll just read. From the large stack of books next to the bed. I do work at a bookstore you know.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Getting Ready for summer
Can you believe it? Only 15 more weeks until the end of school! Am I counting???
Anyway, my little bro is getting married this summer. And our WHOLE family is coming from Illinois for the wedding. And they want to stay for an extra week afterward at the beach so we can spend some quality time together. However, some people can only stay a few days. And some people say that all the houses we've found are too expensive. Do they not realize that the beach in SC is expensive in the summer? Oh man! We have been round and round about the cost. Really, I was thinking that $200 a person isn't too bad. For a week at Myrtle? That's nothing! And it was beachfront!
I don't know what to do. I don't want to be in charge of this project. Now they're saying they want to stay in Hilton Head. Um, hello! Way more expensive! Whatever. I'll just keep finding places. Even if it ends up just being me, sis, and Dad's families. NBD.
Anyway, my little bro is getting married this summer. And our WHOLE family is coming from Illinois for the wedding. And they want to stay for an extra week afterward at the beach so we can spend some quality time together. However, some people can only stay a few days. And some people say that all the houses we've found are too expensive. Do they not realize that the beach in SC is expensive in the summer? Oh man! We have been round and round about the cost. Really, I was thinking that $200 a person isn't too bad. For a week at Myrtle? That's nothing! And it was beachfront!
I don't know what to do. I don't want to be in charge of this project. Now they're saying they want to stay in Hilton Head. Um, hello! Way more expensive! Whatever. I'll just keep finding places. Even if it ends up just being me, sis, and Dad's families. NBD.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
I knew it all along...
| You scored as Sleeping Beauty. Your alter ego is Princess Aurora, a.k.a. Sleeping Beauty! You are beautiful and enchanting, and as sweet as ever.
Which Disney Character is your Alter Ego? created with QuizFarm.com |
Friday, January 05, 2007
No Good, Very Bad Day
I feel sick. This can't be happening.
I saw the story on the news this morning about a plane losing radar contact last night. It was foggy around the airport. The local boys were out looking for the plane, they thought it went down. They found it once the fog lifted, only a mile from the airport. It was on it's final descent toward the runway. And it crashed.
It happens all the time, plane crashes. But it doesn't always crash on my friends. Derek, my buddy, my pal. When I was pregnant with B, he would come up to me every Sunday and rub my belly. He gave the greatest hugs! He wasn't a big guy, just portly. But he would HUG you. And he had the softest leather jacket.
His wife, Lisa, is one of my best friends. We sing together in the Praise band at church. She just took over as the worship leader last week. She is so sweet and caring. She was one of the first people I told when I was pregnant with B. She'll watch my kids at the drop of a hat, and loves them like they were hers too.
Her kids are good buddies with my two. Henry and Cheeseman are in the same Sunday school class. They're only 9 months apart in age. Emma is such a sweetheart. She's almost 8 now, and such a girl. She's not real frilly, but she's so funny! I sat next to her at dinner a couple weeks ago, and she cracked me up!
I can't believe he's gone. How is it possible? How could God take that wonderful man from his family? I don't understand. He was the breadwinner, the spiritual head, the daddy. It just doesn't make sense.
I know he's with Jesus. Derek was such a strong Christian. He and Lisa started a non-profit last year to bring beautiful art to those least able to have it. He taught a pottery class up at the church. They taught Sunday school together! Maybe he was just so good, God needed him up there to show the rest of us the way.
I will miss Derek so much. If he can read this, I hope he knows that I love him and will never forget him.
I saw the story on the news this morning about a plane losing radar contact last night. It was foggy around the airport. The local boys were out looking for the plane, they thought it went down. They found it once the fog lifted, only a mile from the airport. It was on it's final descent toward the runway. And it crashed.
It happens all the time, plane crashes. But it doesn't always crash on my friends. Derek, my buddy, my pal. When I was pregnant with B, he would come up to me every Sunday and rub my belly. He gave the greatest hugs! He wasn't a big guy, just portly. But he would HUG you. And he had the softest leather jacket.
His wife, Lisa, is one of my best friends. We sing together in the Praise band at church. She just took over as the worship leader last week. She is so sweet and caring. She was one of the first people I told when I was pregnant with B. She'll watch my kids at the drop of a hat, and loves them like they were hers too.
Her kids are good buddies with my two. Henry and Cheeseman are in the same Sunday school class. They're only 9 months apart in age. Emma is such a sweetheart. She's almost 8 now, and such a girl. She's not real frilly, but she's so funny! I sat next to her at dinner a couple weeks ago, and she cracked me up!
I can't believe he's gone. How is it possible? How could God take that wonderful man from his family? I don't understand. He was the breadwinner, the spiritual head, the daddy. It just doesn't make sense.
I know he's with Jesus. Derek was such a strong Christian. He and Lisa started a non-profit last year to bring beautiful art to those least able to have it. He taught a pottery class up at the church. They taught Sunday school together! Maybe he was just so good, God needed him up there to show the rest of us the way.
I will miss Derek so much. If he can read this, I hope he knows that I love him and will never forget him.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Eye Candy, dammit
| Gummy Bears |
 You may be smooshie and taste unnatural, but you're so darn cute. |
Okay, I thought that since I have been eating so much candy today, I should find out what kind I am. Cute, huh? Smooshie and cute, all at the same time. No wonder my Hubs... um, I'll stop now.
Anyway, I am out of school for the holidays! Yay! The students have been absolutely worthless since their exams last week. I have NEVER been so glad to get out of there. And a lot of the teachers are moving to new classrooms over the break, due to the opening of the NEW BUILDING. So I spent the afternoon packing up my office and moving boxes and crates to my new classroom. Yes, they have people who will do that, but crates. They are open on top. I don't want stuff getting messed up. And I mostly wanted to make sure it all went to the right room. Because face it, some of the people who move us can't read properly. I needed to know that my stuff was where I needed it in January. Of course, they haven't moved the previous teacher completely out yet, so it's still possible that they'll move my stuff with hers. That would suck. It is labelled though. Ahh, literacy.
I am just so glad to be done. At least for the next two weeks. I feel relieved. It will be nice to just work one job for a little while. I thought it was funny when people would tell me to "Enjoy your break!" Break? What's that? I'll be at the bookstore nearly every day. No break for me. That's okay. It's still better than being at school!
Sunday, December 17, 2006
More blessings, and more
I wanted everyone to know that I've added more Christmas pictures to the Tour. Sorry about the delay.
Also, there have been even more blessings since Friday afternoon. That night, a friend of mine came by the bookstore to visit for a few minutes. She brought a small gift with her. It was gift cards to the movies. We had talked at church the previous Sunday about how Hubs and I always go to the movies for our birthdays. She knows that his bday is this week, so she and her husband decided to help us continue our bday tradition. And she even offered to watch the boys!
This morning at church, there was another mysterious envelope waiting for us. Inside was note that said someone wanted to help us out and "it isn't much." Just a Target gift card worth $150! Hubs and I are completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from this congregation. Obviously, the Spirit of God has moved into our congregation and is moving them this holiday. I am so greatful to all the wonderful people who have helped make this Christmas so special for us!
And so you know, Hubs and I are planning on writing a Thank You to our special Christmas angels and putting it in the church bulletin next Sunday. Even though we don't know who they are, we want them to know how much their gifts are appreciated.
In an unrelated note, my sister passed her National Board Certification for kindergarten! Yay! Now she gets a HUGE pay raise and mucho respect. She and her husgand are talking about having a second child now that they can pay for daycare. I am so excited! I hope they decide to have LOTS of babies! Yippee!
Also, there have been even more blessings since Friday afternoon. That night, a friend of mine came by the bookstore to visit for a few minutes. She brought a small gift with her. It was gift cards to the movies. We had talked at church the previous Sunday about how Hubs and I always go to the movies for our birthdays. She knows that his bday is this week, so she and her husband decided to help us continue our bday tradition. And she even offered to watch the boys!
This morning at church, there was another mysterious envelope waiting for us. Inside was note that said someone wanted to help us out and "it isn't much." Just a Target gift card worth $150! Hubs and I are completely overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from this congregation. Obviously, the Spirit of God has moved into our congregation and is moving them this holiday. I am so greatful to all the wonderful people who have helped make this Christmas so special for us!
And so you know, Hubs and I are planning on writing a Thank You to our special Christmas angels and putting it in the church bulletin next Sunday. Even though we don't know who they are, we want them to know how much their gifts are appreciated.
In an unrelated note, my sister passed her National Board Certification for kindergarten! Yay! Now she gets a HUGE pay raise and mucho respect. She and her husgand are talking about having a second child now that they can pay for daycare. I am so excited! I hope they decide to have LOTS of babies! Yippee!
Friday, December 15, 2006
Christmas Blessings
I don't have much time, as I'm leaving for work in about 40 minutes. But I'm feeling particularly blessed today, so I thought I would share some blessings with you.
These Christmas Pooh's are the first things you see when you come through our front door. I collected them back when I worked at the Disney Store in college. Some are limited edition.
Give me a break! I am working two jobs right now. I'll post more pics when we can actually put presents under the tree.
Hubs and I are well loved. We have some awesome friends! In the mail this week, we received an anonymous Christmas card from someone at church. Enclosed was a $100 Wal-Mart gift card. Yesterday, also at church, Hubs received another anonymous card. Enclosed was a check for $300. Today, I got a card from the other teachers in the magnet program where I teach. Enclosed were 2-$100 gift cards from "Santa" for my boys.
I guess I shouldn't be amazed any more by how the Lord takes care of His own. I know that there are some truly wonderful Christmas angels out there. I wish I could thank them all by name, but I will have to settle for saying a generic "Thanks and God Bless" instead.
I leave you with some scenes from our Christmas tree.
The boys in front of the Christmas tree.
These Christmas Pooh's are the first things you see when you come through our front door. I collected them back when I worked at the Disney Store in college. Some are limited edition.
This scene is on top of the entertainment center. We keep our Christmas cards in the snowman at the left. The Santa was a gift, and he's really cool. Note also the wedding photos on the wall.
This is our mantle. LOVE our stockings. Thanks, LL Bean! The nativity is made of olive wood from Isreal. Hubs and I bought it our first married Christmas. (We had to glue a wise man back on this year though. Oops!)
Be sure to visit BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes to see some real holiday cheer:
Give me a break! I am working two jobs right now. I'll post more pics when we can actually put presents under the tree.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Tis the Season
Come join in BooMama's Christmas Tour of Homes on December 15. I'll be up from having to work half the night, so it won't be a problem for me. That is, if we can get the decorations up before then. The plan is for Saturday. We should make it in plenty of time for the 15th.
BTW, Hubs got a job!!! Yay!!! He's waiting tables at a local family sports pub. No, seriously, that's what it's called. A Family. Sports. Pub. I try not to think about it. Anyhoo, he started training tonight, so hopefully he'll be on his own next week and making the big tips! It's usually pretty full, especially on football Sundays. Unfortunately, because of the whole "pastor-in-training" thing, he won't be working during the big game days. Oh well. There's still Friday and Saturday night.
And have I mentioned that I'm working at a bookstore. And I LOVE IT!!!! It is the best time! I would love to make that a full-time gig. Hmmm... retail management....
Monday, November 27, 2006
Happy Turkeys
I am so frustrated. Honestly. You'd think I wasn't working two jobs, doing laundry, cleaning the kitchen, and taking care of two kids. I'd love to sit around a library all day, or in class, learning. Taking notes. Learning. What a concept! If we could switch, that would be awesome.
I'm not asking for much. Just fold the clothes when you do the laundry. Don't just dump them on the lounger and let them sit for 3 days. Empty the garbage when it's full. Put your cereal bowl in the dishwasher! Geez! You're 28 years old! You know how to open the damn dishwasher. I am not your mom!
Who, by the way, decided to clean the kitchen when she came for Thanksgiving. Hubs asked her TWICE to stop wiping up the counters and sink - WITH. A. SPONGE. of all things - but she said she didn't have anything else to do. Um, try playing with your grandsons, you old cow! Good Lord! I even sent the boys outside so that she would get out of the house and let Hubs cook in peace. But NOOOOOOOO!!!! I thought I was going to lose it. Really.
There. I said it. And yes, in my previous post, I remarked about how I am greatful for such generous in-laws. And I am. I really am. But I need her to NOT clean my counters. with a sponge. Did I mention she used a sponge???? The nastiest germ-carrying option. Does she not watch Oprah? NO. She's too busy cleaning my kitchen!
Okay, I'm done.
And tonight my mom was on my case about wanting to make sure that Cheeseboy goes to Sunday School every week. Does she not get that Hubs is studying to be a pastor? And that we are VERY involved in our church? And that my child's walk with Christ is the most important thing in his young life? She was actually giving me a hard time. And accusing me of accusing HER of being a bad grandma. I said no such thing. Nothing!
But does she not remember skipping church A LOT when I was young? We hardly ever went. She thinks this is all Hubs' doing. "You sound like your husband!" she says. Like it's a bad thing that God is important to us. You'd think a parent would be proud that her daughter is so committed to walking with the Lord.
Whatever. I have more things to rant about, but I have a ton of papers to grade that are leftover from my Thanksgiving "break" from school that wasn't really a "break" because I was working 40 hours at my other part-time job that I have because Hubs is in school and incapable of working. Did I mention that my mom is on his case for that too? It's been a fun week.
I'm not asking for much. Just fold the clothes when you do the laundry. Don't just dump them on the lounger and let them sit for 3 days. Empty the garbage when it's full. Put your cereal bowl in the dishwasher! Geez! You're 28 years old! You know how to open the damn dishwasher. I am not your mom!
Who, by the way, decided to clean the kitchen when she came for Thanksgiving. Hubs asked her TWICE to stop wiping up the counters and sink - WITH. A. SPONGE. of all things - but she said she didn't have anything else to do. Um, try playing with your grandsons, you old cow! Good Lord! I even sent the boys outside so that she would get out of the house and let Hubs cook in peace. But NOOOOOOOO!!!! I thought I was going to lose it. Really.
There. I said it. And yes, in my previous post, I remarked about how I am greatful for such generous in-laws. And I am. I really am. But I need her to NOT clean my counters. with a sponge. Did I mention she used a sponge???? The nastiest germ-carrying option. Does she not watch Oprah? NO. She's too busy cleaning my kitchen!
Okay, I'm done.
And tonight my mom was on my case about wanting to make sure that Cheeseboy goes to Sunday School every week. Does she not get that Hubs is studying to be a pastor? And that we are VERY involved in our church? And that my child's walk with Christ is the most important thing in his young life? She was actually giving me a hard time. And accusing me of accusing HER of being a bad grandma. I said no such thing. Nothing!
But does she not remember skipping church A LOT when I was young? We hardly ever went. She thinks this is all Hubs' doing. "You sound like your husband!" she says. Like it's a bad thing that God is important to us. You'd think a parent would be proud that her daughter is so committed to walking with the Lord.
Whatever. I have more things to rant about, but I have a ton of papers to grade that are leftover from my Thanksgiving "break" from school that wasn't really a "break" because I was working 40 hours at my other part-time job that I have because Hubs is in school and incapable of working. Did I mention that my mom is on his case for that too? It's been a fun week.
Monday, November 13, 2006
Getting Into the Spirit
Having been sent over by BooMama to A Broad In Athens, I was inspired to make a list of the 20 things I'm most thankful for (in no particular order):
1. I'm thankful for those two sweet little boys who still like to cuddle on the couch with their mom.
2. I'm thankful for my job, even if I don't always like it.
3. I'm thankful for my students, especially when they have an "a-ha" moment.
4. I'm thankful that my car is still running.
5. I'm thankful that the Hubs didn't have a complete breakdown during his last depressed episode.
6. I'm thankful that my mom lives nearby and is willing to watch my kids almost any time I need her.
7. I'm thankful that my sister, her husband, and my niece live close enough that the boys can get to know their cousin.
8. I'm thankful that for the most part, Colby is doing a great job at school and is learning so much!
9. I am thankful that we found such an awesome in-home daycare for Bennett, and that it is right up the street!
10. I am thankful that I get to be surrounded by books at my "other" job in the bookstore. How blessed am I!
11. I am thankful that my dad cares enough about his grandsons that he is willing to drive 6 hours to come visit for a day.
12. I'm thankful that my cousin was admitted to the bar in SC. This may prompt his mom (my fave aunt) to come live here. She is DREAM with the kids!
13. I'm thankful for the new friends I'm making at church.
14. I'm thankful that these new friends have kids almost the exact same ages as Colby and Bennett. Built in play dates!
15. I'm thankful that every Sunday, I get to help lead the congregation in worshipping the Lord. Every Sunday!
16. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who has the courage to follow his call and become a pastor.
17. I am thankful for the Internet, without which I would not have such a great relationship to my extended family. Thanks be to God for myfamily.com!
18. I am thankful that I will be getting my very own classroom again in January! Patience pays off!
19. I'm thankful for my in-laws (there, I said it), who are willing to write a check to their son and daughter-in-law because we are in financial difficulties.
20. I am thankful for my mom's partner who is so generous, that she buys us groceries. She also loves me, and my kids, like we were born of her own flesh. Sometimes, I think she loves us more than my mom does.
So, what are you thankful for?
1. I'm thankful for those two sweet little boys who still like to cuddle on the couch with their mom.
2. I'm thankful for my job, even if I don't always like it.
3. I'm thankful for my students, especially when they have an "a-ha" moment.
4. I'm thankful that my car is still running.
5. I'm thankful that the Hubs didn't have a complete breakdown during his last depressed episode.
6. I'm thankful that my mom lives nearby and is willing to watch my kids almost any time I need her.
7. I'm thankful that my sister, her husband, and my niece live close enough that the boys can get to know their cousin.
8. I'm thankful that for the most part, Colby is doing a great job at school and is learning so much!
9. I am thankful that we found such an awesome in-home daycare for Bennett, and that it is right up the street!
10. I am thankful that I get to be surrounded by books at my "other" job in the bookstore. How blessed am I!
11. I am thankful that my dad cares enough about his grandsons that he is willing to drive 6 hours to come visit for a day.
12. I'm thankful that my cousin was admitted to the bar in SC. This may prompt his mom (my fave aunt) to come live here. She is DREAM with the kids!
13. I'm thankful for the new friends I'm making at church.
14. I'm thankful that these new friends have kids almost the exact same ages as Colby and Bennett. Built in play dates!
15. I'm thankful that every Sunday, I get to help lead the congregation in worshipping the Lord. Every Sunday!
16. I am thankful for my wonderful husband who has the courage to follow his call and become a pastor.
17. I am thankful for the Internet, without which I would not have such a great relationship to my extended family. Thanks be to God for myfamily.com!
18. I am thankful that I will be getting my very own classroom again in January! Patience pays off!
19. I'm thankful for my in-laws (there, I said it), who are willing to write a check to their son and daughter-in-law because we are in financial difficulties.
20. I am thankful for my mom's partner who is so generous, that she buys us groceries. She also loves me, and my kids, like we were born of her own flesh. Sometimes, I think she loves us more than my mom does.
So, what are you thankful for?
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Every Day, Like the One Before
The pictures from Halloween are still on the camera. There is still candy in the kids' buckets. Spiderman is well and good. The little elephant is too.
I have been working my ass off this week. (not literally, unfortunately) As I've mentioned, I have started a new job at a local bookseller. Fun! I love books! Well, I USED to love books. Now, I think that Stephen King needs to get a life already! Please, somebody, make him stop writing!! If for no other reason than I'm tired of shelving his damn books! There's, like, a million of them! Anyway, this bookseller is getting ready to open a new store near my home. Sooooo, we've been getting everything ready for the grand opening. It's been pretty interesting. It went from totally empty but for the shelves, to being completely full of books in about 24 hours. So cool!
I've met some really neat people this week. Really, it takes all kinds, right? There's a couple of us teachers, some college kids, and some people for whom part-time is a way of life. And the managers! Yowza! One of them is brilliant. No really, she is. She speaks like 9 languages, fluently. Including Latin! Odd but true. She could be anything. And she chooses this? To each their own!
This week in kid news has not been terrible. Well, except for the red card for Colby yesterday. Because of the other kid's bloody nose. Yes. Bloody nose. They were playing "monster", and there was a ball involved. I don't think Colby meant to hurt the other kid. I hope not anyway. But either way, the ball was thrown. The other kid ended up in the nurse's office with a bloody nose. I was SHOCKED. And MORTIFIED. I just wanted the earth to open up so that I could JUMP into the crack and stay there forever.
Wit's end. I'm at my wit's end.
Bennett won't eat. He doesn't like hot dogs, chicken nuggets, spaghetti, green beans, mac'n'cheese, nothing. He used to LOVE those foods. Now, nothing. We can't get him to sit still long enough to ingest anything. And he's not exactly the world's chunkiest kid to begin with either. In fact, my sons are known for their skinniness. (is that a word?) They are tiny things, with no tummy or bottom to speak of. Poor Bennett is just wasting away! Well, not really, but he's not putting on weight. He's always been pretty small, but still! He did eat some of the spaghetti SAUCE tonight at dinner, so that's something.
That's about all for now. I'll have to write some other time when I can just ramble. Oh wait. That's what I'm doing now. Whatever.
I have been working my ass off this week. (not literally, unfortunately) As I've mentioned, I have started a new job at a local bookseller. Fun! I love books! Well, I USED to love books. Now, I think that Stephen King needs to get a life already! Please, somebody, make him stop writing!! If for no other reason than I'm tired of shelving his damn books! There's, like, a million of them! Anyway, this bookseller is getting ready to open a new store near my home. Sooooo, we've been getting everything ready for the grand opening. It's been pretty interesting. It went from totally empty but for the shelves, to being completely full of books in about 24 hours. So cool!
I've met some really neat people this week. Really, it takes all kinds, right? There's a couple of us teachers, some college kids, and some people for whom part-time is a way of life. And the managers! Yowza! One of them is brilliant. No really, she is. She speaks like 9 languages, fluently. Including Latin! Odd but true. She could be anything. And she chooses this? To each their own!
This week in kid news has not been terrible. Well, except for the red card for Colby yesterday. Because of the other kid's bloody nose. Yes. Bloody nose. They were playing "monster", and there was a ball involved. I don't think Colby meant to hurt the other kid. I hope not anyway. But either way, the ball was thrown. The other kid ended up in the nurse's office with a bloody nose. I was SHOCKED. And MORTIFIED. I just wanted the earth to open up so that I could JUMP into the crack and stay there forever.
Wit's end. I'm at my wit's end.
Bennett won't eat. He doesn't like hot dogs, chicken nuggets, spaghetti, green beans, mac'n'cheese, nothing. He used to LOVE those foods. Now, nothing. We can't get him to sit still long enough to ingest anything. And he's not exactly the world's chunkiest kid to begin with either. In fact, my sons are known for their skinniness. (is that a word?) They are tiny things, with no tummy or bottom to speak of. Poor Bennett is just wasting away! Well, not really, but he's not putting on weight. He's always been pretty small, but still! He did eat some of the spaghetti SAUCE tonight at dinner, so that's something.
That's about all for now. I'll have to write some other time when I can just ramble. Oh wait. That's what I'm doing now. Whatever.
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