Today, actually, has been very nice and very relaxing. I did some laundry (and it's all done! yea!!!), made a HUGE pot of broccoli soup (yum!), and some oatmeal-chocolate chip muffins (i wish you could smell them, they smell that good!). I have continued working on my new project and spent time snuggling with miss raven. And I haven't worried a bit about where I am going to be living in a month. Well, maybe a little bit, but not too much.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Snowy Sunday
Today, actually, has been very nice and very relaxing. I did some laundry (and it's all done! yea!!!), made a HUGE pot of broccoli soup (yum!), and some oatmeal-chocolate chip muffins (i wish you could smell them, they smell that good!). I have continued working on my new project and spent time snuggling with miss raven. And I haven't worried a bit about where I am going to be living in a month. Well, maybe a little bit, but not too much.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Snow Day?
You don't need to see pictures of what happened next. That is private. ;) She was very happy to go back inside:
Upon removal of her sweater and necklace (that's what we call the leash. it sounds nicer.) she ran directly into the bedroom, jumped up on the bed, and burrowed under the covers. When I got into the room I got the "I can't believe you did that to me!" look. I can guarantee that it will be quite some time before she needs to go back outside. :)
Here is the latest project I finished:
I didn't take a full-out picture because it was rather long and I wouldn't have gotten a good one. The yarn was really soft and surprisingly easy to work with. The pattern calls this a scarf, but I chose to use a thicker yarn so that it would be a shawl. I didn't make it as long as the pattern calls for because again, it was a thicker yarn. The pattern called for six rows of edging but I only completed three because I was almost out of yarn. It turn out really well, was super easy once the pattern was established, and the recipient loves it. :)
I wanted to start on a pair of socks next and I actually did attempt them. I had to put them away, though, because I was getting frustrated by them. Instead I started yet another shawl. I love the yarn--it's a dark pink, and I love the pattern. No recipient in mind....yet. :)
Friday, January 29, 2010
Hello...is anyone out there?
I got a big bombshell dropped on me today that I am trying very hard not to stress out about. I was told that I need to find a new place to live immediately. I love where I live. Not only is it convenient to where I work, but it is probably the best place I have lived since moving here sixteen years ago. I have ZERO desire to move. After conferring with my roommate, my father, and my very good friend from work, I called a realtor who gave me some VERY good advice, eased my panic about having to move immediately, and is already working to help me out.
Other than that, my day was pretty good. Not too stressful and that even includes the trip to the grocery store the night before a potential snowstorm. You know, the snowstorm that didn't come in time for me to not have to work today. Anyway. The grocery store wasn't crowded AT ALL, which is very surprising because in this neck of the woods the mere mention of snow sends people into an all out, full blown panic. They rush to the supermarket and buy all the milk, bread, and toilet paper they can get their hands on. Tonight, however, I managed to get everything I needed and not have to wait in line. It was so nice.
Oh--on the way to the grocery store I did have a OMG! moment. So I was driving along, adhereing to the speed limit (REALLY--I WAS!) and ahead of me I spy a state trooper. I wasn't worried at all because I wasn't speeding. So the trooper slowed down, moved over into the turn lane and let me pass. Again, I wasn't worried because I thought he was turning to go the other way. To my great surprise, and utter HORROR, he pulled right behind me and turned on his lights. I have NEVER, EVER been stopped before. EVER. I was FREAKING OUT. It seemed like an eternity before he came over to my vehicle and told me that he just got called to another stop and he was letting me go but my headlight was out. (At this point my heart started beating again. That's helpful for living and all.) No ticket! I stressed all the way home, though, because it was dark and I had to have my lights on and I kept praying that I wouldn't be stopped again. Guess what I am going to get to do on Monday?? :)
So--please, please pray that everything works out for my roommate and me. My wish is that things work out so that I can buy the place and we can continue to live here and not have to worry about moving again. I am trying to remain calm and not stress about it. I know that it will work out eventually. Right? RIGHT??
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Thankful Thursday
Tomorrow is Open-Mic Friday for those of you who care to participate. Ask me anything and I will answer it. Only two rules: You must post your question in my comments and you can't ask my middle name. Well, you can ask but I won't tell. ;)
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
(not-so) wordless wednesday
update: the dance was C.A.N.C.E.L.L.E.D. and NOT because of the weather. because of the lack of interest from the *ahem* darling children i work with. please pardon me while i take some deep cleansing breaths and find my happy place.........
ok. thanks. i am not even going to bother to vent about my feelings about the dancethatwasn't. i'm over it. i think. at least, i am trying to be over it.
i did not wii tonight. i pulled a calf muscle yesterday doing the last exercise so i decided to take a night off and give myself a chance to recover. i did go for a walk today with a friend from work. that counts as exercise, especially since i make her walk faster than she normally would. at least, that's what i tell myself.
OMG!!! my BFF may come to visit at the end of next month. can you even guess at how excited i am about that?!?!?!?! just a girls weekend! ohpleaseohpleaseohplease let it be so!!!!! :)
i realized today that i am not just a facebook addict, i am a SERIOUS facebook addict. i was annoyed by the fact that my favorite game wasn't working. who gets upset about things like that? really? i mean, there are many more things in this world to be annoyed about. just look at my list from yesterday! ;)
miss raven is currently sleeping under the bed. i know you were wondering and i don't want to keep you in suspense. she is annoyed because i am blogging and not paying attention to her.
i am in a crafting funk. i finished the project that i was making and i really, really, really, want to make a pair of socks. the directions are confusing me, though, and that also annoys me. i have the prettiest yarn, too. i looked on etsy today to see how much it would cost me to buy a pair of hand knit socks. sigh. pricey, but oh-so-worth it.
oh hey--can YOU figure this out? it is supposed to be the name of a candy:
"Blithe Artificially Flavored Masticating Substance"
a reward if you can. seriously. :)
UPDATE (yes, again) we have a winner! the answer is......(insert drum roll here)........................
carefree (sugarless gum)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
10 Things Tuesday
1. mushy apples--blech!
2. parents who think their children are perfect
3. people who drive slow in the left lane
4. winter--except when i desperately want a snow day
5. children who break rules and then blame me
6. spilling my coffee in the morning
7. people who lie and swear they aren't lying when you KNOW that they are
8. arrogance in authority
9. people who don't say what they mean and just hint about it
10. running out of ingredients when i am baking something
miss raven, however, does not annoy me. she now has her very own mii! granted, it doesn't look like her at all, except that it's black and grey like she is, but she still has one. Oh! and the wii didn't complain when i stepped on it today! :)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
some random thoughts.....
what is the matter with children these days? where has the sense of entitlement come from? do i blame the kids or do i blame the parents that have raised them to act the way they do? i managed, though much giving and begging, to get the powers that be to agree to a DANCE for our high school students. now mind you, in the approximately 45 year history of our school, there has NEVER, EVER been a DANCE. EVER. NEVER EVER. ok. i think you get my point. anyway. now there is a dance. and......are you ready for this? THE STUDENTS ARE COMPLAINING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i think my head may spin around completely and fly off. really. if anyone can explain this to me, i would be eternally grateful. seriously.
it may snow friday. i am rather hoping it does. if it snows on friday, along with possibly not having school, all homecoming festivities will be moved to saturday thus cancelling the dance. is it bad that my evil side hopes that happens so the dance gets cancelled?
i exercised for an hour tonight. i'm not sure how much it really counts when you exercise on a wii, but i had fun. and i realized how little rhythm i have. but i had fun and that's all that counts, right? and now my legs are sore.
i have gained 13 pounds since october. do you know how depressing it is to get on the wii balance board and hear it go "oooooohhhhhh". like it is really thinking "GET OFF ME YOU BIG FAT COW!!!!!" when my mii porked out after it weighed me i wanted to cry. really. when a machine complains about you it is sad. that's why i exercised for an hour this afternoon.
although i was REALLY frustrated by the COMPLAINERS this afternoon, i did not spiral into an eateverythingavaliable frenzy as i am sometimes wont to do. and i did have a bag of sugar-free chocolate covered almonds in my desk drawer. i REALLY, REALLY wanted to eat them. ALL of them. i was THAT frustrated/depressed/irritated/sad/angry. but i didn't. thank you BFF and roommate. they talked me off the ledge. i am grateful. very grateful.
miss raven doesn't like the wii. when i am on the wii she hides in the bedroom. where she to be out in the living room, i am confident that she would laugh at me. especially when i am doing the hula hoop game. although i am a calorie incinerator at that game. the wii told me so.
i found out last night that i can get facebook on my tv. hehehehehe!!!!!!!! i {heart} facebook. i spent time last night looking through my photo albums. large screen pictures of miss raven. awwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she appreciated seeing herself on tv. i think.
i have discovered the joys of hulu! now i can catch up on 24. now THERE is one freaking confusing show! and really. how many more days like that can jack bauer have? seriously.
i must now go put a load of towels into the dryer. if you have read this far, you deserve some sort of prize. really.
:)
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Grrrrrr..............
My job can be very frustrating at times. Between problems with students, parents, and teachers, I have my hands full on a daily basis. There are times when I think that maybe I should move on...the grass always seems greener somewhere else.
As much as my job, and yes, sometimes my co-workers, frustrate me, though, I still LOVE where I work. I wouldn't have stayed for SIXTEEN years (sheesh, even seeing that "in print" still doesn't make it seem real!) if Ididn't love it.
That being said, it bugs me to no end when someone runs my school down. It's kind of like a sibling relationship. I can call my brother a moron if I want to, heck, I look at it as a God-given right as the oldest child (love ya, Matt!!!), but seriously, God help the person who messes with him. They WILL answer to me and I promise it WON'T be nice. No one messes with my family. I feel the same way about my school and the people I work with and the students that I teach.
Recently we went through some painful times at school. Changes were made and things are looking better and we are THANKFUL for that. Today, while I was on Facebook (because yes, I am a Facebook-a-holic, aren't you??) a former co-worker (and by former I mean left-the-school-over-TEN-years-ago) decided that it would be appropriate to sarcastically mock MY school publicly. I took offense to that and felt that I needed to stick up for MY school. So I did. I tried very hard to not be offensive, because really, I HATE controversy and conflict, but I just couldn't let it slide. Dude, yes, things happened that shouldn't have happened, but the people that did it aren't even there anymore! Are you happy being bitter? How is mocking the school making you feel any better, really? The thing is, the person that is doing this isn't a "bad" person. I like them and their family. But I am not going to put up with someone "messing" with my school.
There is no perfect workplace. I wish there was. I think. Although, it might be boring. Really. And it could be worse. I could have clients who deposit bags of dead lice on my desk. But then again, I don't work in a law firm in Ohio. ;)
I need ideas for future posts. Hey you--you five followers out there--got any ideas? miss raven and I would like to know. We have inquiring minds.
Oh! Almost forgot! Guess who wanted to talk to me today????
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
A Fairy Tale
Skoolandia had gone through some changes that left some people feeling a bit unsettled. The Leader that they had come to respect and love had left, sadly in the midst of some controversy. Skoolanians were a hardy people though, and they rallied around each other, supporting each other until a new Leader could be found.
After much searching, someone was brought forth as the new Leader. This person seemed to be ready to meet the challenge of leading the Skoolandians. The new Leader said all the right things and made all the right promises. Visions of new buildings and growth were put forth and the people of Skoolandia were excited about the future.
Sadly, it didn't take long before the true nature of the new Leader was revealed to some. Arrogance and pride reared their ugly heads until there were some in Skoolandia that were physically ill because of the tension. Some Skoolandians began to wonder if they would have to leave their beloved land forever. Other Skoolandians were terrified that they would be banished from the land that they loved. A darkness began to creep across Skoolandia and the fear and sadness was palpable. There was no more smiling in Skoolandia.
Finally, the Wise Ones came together. They discussed what was happening in Skoolandia. They wondered what could be done. Should the leader be given more time? Surely such a young leader could be counted on to heed advice from ones wiser, to change and become more like the Skoolandians. But the leader wasn't from Skoolandia and didn't truly understand the Skoolandians. The leader had an agenda all his own and wanted the Skoolandians to become more like him. The Wise Ones, for they were indeed wise, saw this and made a tough decision. They would tell the Leader that he must leave Skoolandia and not come back.
The news of this change brought great happiness and rejoicing to the people of Skoolandia. The dark cloud was lifted and the fear was gone. The people trusted the Wise Ones and knew that the future of Skoolandia was once again bright. There was smiling in Skoolandia once more.
:)
Saturday, January 9, 2010
BONUS POST!
As you might be able to surmise from the above jubilation, I have yet another reason to celebrate this weekend. ;)
miss raven is happy, too. You know, in case you were wondering.
HOW 'BOUT THEM COWBOYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Next on the request list....
Ice cream sandwich.
Chocolate chip cookies, no nuts.
A stack of Oreos, regular AND double-stuff. :)
And one more for good measure...
A cute little strawberry.
So, what do you think?? The kids loved them and loved playing with them. There are more patterns in the book that I have yet to try, and some of the ones I have done I can adapt. The ice cream drumstick can be made into a regular ice cream cone and I can change the flavors. The pop tart possibilities and the pizza possibilities are also endless. And because I am the auntie....I don't have to have a reason to send a present! :)
oh...you didn't think you were going to get a post without a picture of her, did you?
BTW--this is my 100th post!! :) Sadly, no confetti floated down from the ceiling when I hit "publish post." Maybe that comes after the 1,000th post. Hmmmmmm......
Friday, January 8, 2010
It's a BEE-YOU-TI-FUL day in the neighborhood!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
ELATION! or... I feel like I should have little birdies singing around my head.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Frustration
Awwwww.....she missed you, too! :)
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Did you get what you wanted for Christmas?
Friday, January 1, 2010
A New Year
Don't get me wrong. It isn't that I had a bad vacation. I so did not. I actually had a wonderful vacation, truth be told. It's just that, at this time of the year, you tend to start thinking about things better left, well..un-thunk. (yes. I made up a word. I can do that because it's my blog, not yours.)
I am about to almost be close to middle age in a few months. I am not liking that at all. In fact, it quite depresses me because my life didn't turn out like I had planned. Isn't that a funny statement? I mean, who gets to have a planned-out life, anyway? Stupid type-A personality that I am...I expected that my life would follow the plan that I had for it. and...wait for it....POW! Right there is my whole up-bringing slapping me in the face. I don't get to plan my life. Ok. I can deal with that (as my nervous tic begins tic-ing). You know what really ticks me off, though? Glad you asked...happy to tell you.
Why is it that some people get to do whatever they want and still come out on top? They could fall into a pile of, well, you know, and still come out smelling like a rose. Then there are those people who do everything they are supposed to. And I do mean everything. Shouldn't those people get something that they want? Notice that I said something, not everything.
Those who know me know what I want and I don't think I am asking for too much. I really don't. I know all the right answers and all the right little sayings. By now, though, they are trite. By now they sound like platitudes that people say because they don't want to say anything to "offend".
Sometimes I want to just say "screw it" and do whatever I want. I pretty much don't, though, and it isn't always for the "right" reasons. Fear is a powerful tool and it does much to keep me in line. Fear of losing my job, fear of disappointing the people I love, fear of pushing just a little too much. Fear is a powerful motivator for a type-A.
So, a new year. We'll see.
Oh--and lest you think I sound bitter...well, maybe just a little. Generally not much. Sometimes. Like tonight. But not so much bitter as just sad.