Today....

...you are not going to get the post that I want to post.  If I do that I will most assuredly say something that ought not to be out on the Internet and would definitely hurt someone's feelings.  Suffice it to say that I  made a decision that I regret but can't change.

Sigh.

Just so you know, the Biggest Loser is on right now yet I am blogging.  I was reprimanded by the little brother yesterday for going so long between posts, so here I am.

Sigh.

I feel like I should be on the Biggest Loser right now.  The Wii made snarky, rude comments to me when I (finally) got on it last week.  Okay, maybe not, but it felt like it.

Sigh.

Anyway.  I did have an A-mazing weekend.  I got to do something that I have wanted to do for a long time!  Want to know what I did?  Well then, look at this:

Yes!  I went to a NASCAR race!  Does that surprise you?  I like football, NASCAR, AND shopping!  Why am I not married?!?! 

Here's some more pics:

Hmmmm.....I hope this is the right video....

It was an incredible experience and one I hope I get the chance to repeat sometime. My driver (Tony Stewart) didn't win but I still had fun.  Next on my list of things I would love to do is go to an NFL game, preferably a Cowboys game and one that they win.  Not that I am greedy like that or anything. ;)

Are you happy now, little brother? ;)

Ten Things Tuesday...

Sorry, I think I gave you my ten things Tuesday yesterday, so you don't get one today.

: 0P

I'm tired today, both physically and mentally.  I am physically tired because I have been exercising every day.  Well, except the weekend, but still.  And not just for a few mintues.  Most days I am exercising for a minimum of twenty minutes, usually 40-50.  Look at me and my bad self. ;)

I am mentally tired, exhausted from today.  I went to the homegoing service for my friend who passed away.  It was happy and sad all at the same time.  It was happy because I know that he is in a better place and that he isn't suffering anymore.  It was sad because I am going to miss him and because it made me think of my mom.  I cried alot and that made my eyes and my head hurt.  We took some of our students with us and I am so glad that we did.  They knew him either as a teacher or a coach or both and they are going to miss him, also.  They did very well, not that I am surprised. 

The Biggest Loser starts tonight and I am very excited.  I love that show!  I am hoping that I can stay up long enough to watch the whole thing.

Tomorrow is wordless Wednesday and I am kind of glad.  I am running out of things to say......

;)

Ways to know that you are old....

1.  You have muscles you didn't know existed revolting against you.

2.  You have to take Advil PM in order to go to sleep because of said muscles conspiring against you.

3.  You think that 9PM on a Saturday night is FAR too late to be out.

4.  You sound like your mother when you talk to students.

5.  You realize that the student you are talking to (in which you sound JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER) was born AFTER you graduated...from COLLEGE.

6.  While you are sitting on the couch, cursing your darned muscles that are conspiring against you, you decide that it is far too much work to get up and go to the bathroom.  You will wait until there are a few other things that you can do in order to prevent getting up more than once.

7.  One cup of coffee in the morning is laughable.  You need at least two.  At least.

8.  Reaching for the bottle of water on the coffee table in front of you presents you with a choice.  Get it and be in pain or thirst.  You opt for thirst.

9.  You keep hoping that 10PM will get here soon so that you can go to bed and tell yourself you aren't THAT old.

10.  You can't remember number ten because, well, you are OLD.


Oh. My. Word.

I am sore.  Sore beyond words.  It is like all of my muscles decide to revolt against me and it isn't fair.  All I am doing is trying to help them and they are TICKED OFF.  Seriously...I wasn't even kidding on number six.  I am really going to wait until I have a few more things to do because I can't even tell you how painful it is to stand up and sit down right now.

I did exercise with my new game yesterday.  I enjoyed it.  Really.  I promise.  I enjoyed it so much that, although my thighs HATE me at the moment, I used the game again today.  Apparently, the game was SO impressed with the fact that I came back for a second day that it bumped me up to level FOUR in the cardio boxing. 

Go ahead, laugh with me.  You know you want to.  I don't mind.

Cardio boxing kicked my butt.  And perhaps that is why it, too, is SORE BEYOND WORDS.  Sigh.  I wish I loved exercise as much as I love food.  And coffee.

I went to my box at work today and look what I found:

Awwwwww!!!!!  Thank you, BFF!!  I love Hoops and YoYo and the card even talks to me!  miss raven doesn't like it so much, but that's ok.  It isn't for her. ;)  BTW--BFF did you send it to school on purpose or because you don't have my addy?  Let me know.  :)

What's that?  The yarn in the corner?  Pay no attention to the yarn in the corner of the picture....(it really helps if you say that out loud in the Wizard of Oz-ish voice, trust me.)  Anyway....this:

was the yarn I told you about yesterday.  Sorry the color didn't come through so well.  Trust me...it is a GORGEOUS pink.  I can't wait to work with it.  I have to finish my current project first, though.

And now, number six is coming after me with a vengeance, so.....

laters!! :)

Ahhhhhhhh, the weekend...

I was very, very much looking forward to this weekend.  School has become somewhat....stressful, and I really need the downtime of the weekend to unwind and gear up for the following week.

I didn't have specific plans for this weekend and I ended up doing some old things and some new things.  Both were equally fun. :)

I ended up in across the river and found myself at my new favorite (and expensive) yarn store.  I now understand why some women, once they have felt the good stuff never want to go back to the "cheap" yarn.  I got some yummy hot pink wool that I can't wait to ball up and use to work into a winter hat.  I still have some orange organic cotton left that I think I am going to use to make a flower to go on the hat.  Add a button in the middle of the flower and there you go.

**I am currently watching football.  My team sucks out loud.  This does NOT make me happy.**

I got a new "game" for my Wii.  It is a boxing game that I hope makes me shed large amounts of poundage.  It would help if I stopped eating everything that looks remotely tasty.  I wish I didn't love food so much.  Sigh.  In the interest of full disclosure, I am sucking down a Iced Pumpkin Spice Latte and I just scarfed down a pumpkin whoopie pie.  I am such a loser.  And not in a good way.

Anyway.

The game came with weighted gloves.  I sense sore shoulders in my very near future.  Like, today even.  Seeing as how my team SUCKS OUT LOUD.

I am not the only one scarfing down food, although I am fairly sure that mine tasted WAY better.  miss raven is inhaling some of her crunchies.  I cut back on the amount of wet food I am giving her at night in the hopes that she will eat more of the crunchies thereby keeping her teeth somewhat cleaner and her breath somewhat fresher.  Here's hoping.

Speaking of eating....because I was.  I ate lunch yesterday at a Greek restaurant.  Oompah!  I discovered a few things about Greek food....I love hummus now more than ever.  I do not like moussaka.  It has eggplant in it.  I did like the lemony, rice-y, chicken-y soup.  The spanikopita has a bit more oregano than I like.  All in all it was a good lunch and, I feel this must be said, the waitstaff was AMAZINGLY polite.  No, seriously.  They weren't all that busy when I went and I sat in the garden.  Every time I walked through the dining room, any of the waiters that were sitting STOOD UP.  I am totally not kidding.  I thought that was so cool and very unusual.  Every one of them told me to enjoy my meal and they were always making sure I had enough coffee and water without being annoying.  I was very impressed and I would definitely go back.  It's proximity to the yarn store is also in it's favor.  Me being a yarn ho and all.

;)

:(

I'm sorry I haven't blogged for a few days.  I got some news yesterday that really sucks and didn't feel like blogging.

A friend of mine, actually the person who had my job before me, was rushed to the ER on Tuesday morning because his wife discovered him unconscious when she woke up.  Long story short, he had a brain aneurysm that ruptured and, as far as I know, passed away this afternoon.

Mr. K. was diagnosed with prostate cancer I guess about a year and a half ago.  Through it all he remained upbeat.  He always had a smile for everyone and he was always so positive about the outcome of what he was going though.  Even through what was obvious pain, and radiation, and chemo, he remained positive.  He was always so thankful and so overwhelmingly touched by all the people that remembered him and contacted him to help.  He touched so, so many lives.

When I took over the position that I have now at school, he made sure that I knew I could always talk to him and he would be there to give me advice.  I so appreciated that and I took him up on that offer many times.  He never acted impatient or put-off that I asked a bazillion questions.  He was always willing to talk and give me advice.

He is going to be so missed.  Not just by his family, but also by the many people who he touched and made an impact on.  There are so many students who are mourning him right now.  I can only hope that I have made half the impact with my students that he made with his.

Always when I need it...

The weekend always seems to get here right when I need it.  I know that sounds rather silly because the weekend gets here at the same time every week, but somehow it seems that, just when I really need it...there it is.

It is a little chilly today...for me at least.  I think just about everyone else I know is beyond thrilled with the weather today.  Whoop-de-doo for them.  I have to fight being sad about weather like today because it makes me remember that winter is almost here.  Doesn't it seem like it was just here?  Does it have to come back so soon?  Sigh.

Remember my fall?  Yeah, well, my foot still hurts.  Kind of badly.  I am hoping I didn't break anything.  It doesn't seem swollen but it really hurts.

There is football on today.  Currently I am watching Ohio State kick the crap out of Miami.  I don't really care for either team, quite frankly.  OSU already beat Florida State.  Tonight the Longhorns are playing Wyoming.  HOOK 'EM HORNS!!!! :)

Tomorrow is even better, for tomorrow, my dear bloggy friends, is...

FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA!!!!!!!!!

Words can not even begin to describe my utter joy and happiness at knowing that, all day long, I can watch NFL football.  Please, let us all pause while I wipe a happy tear from my eye.....

Thank you.

miss raven had a bad morning.  She woke me up at four-thirty this morning with a gurgly tummy.  We had to go outside twice in fifteen minutes and then she spent an hour under my t-shirt, skin to skin.  That seemed to help some and I was able to go back to sleep around six-ish for another hour and a half.  She woke me up at seven-thirty with more gurgly tummy.  I feel so bad for her because, no matter what she does, she can't seem to get comfortable.  I finally had to just put her down and get on with my day because I was going out with a friend.  Freddie to the rescue!!!!  She brought my girlie some Pepcid.  Half a pill and some peanut butter later, and my girlie is as good as new.  She wolfed her dinner and both treats right down, along with some crunchies.  I am so glad she is felling better.  I hate it when she is uncomfortable.  Freddie, you are miss raven's she-ro! ;)

Happy FOOTBALL Sunday!!!!!!!!  (BFF, please keep your rude remarks to yourself and out of my comments.  Thank you. ;) )

The land of IfIcouldjust......

I really had a MUCH different post planned for today.  This is not it.  And believe me when I say, this is probably as deep a post as you will ever get from me...

I was sitting in my office today playing solitaire working really hard when I saw a beach scene, complete with palm trees and beautiful sand, on the deck of cards desktop, and thought to myself "If I could just live at the beach, I would be so happy!"

Then I started thinking about how often I say "If I could just _________, I would be so happy."  I must confess, I say it a lot.  If I could just....get married, I would be so happy.  If I could just.....be a mommy, I would be so happy.  If I could just.....have a lot more money, I would be so happy.  If I could just....have no more problems at work, I would be so happy.

And then, I felt guilty.  I keep wanting more and more and am obviously not satisfied with what I have.  As I sat in my chair pondering my attitude, one of my teachers came to talk to me.  At first, I will confess, I was a little annoyed.  I had asked for, and had gotten permission, to leave a little early.  I had some things I wanted to get done this afternoon, including purchasing a small, but yummy, treat for my teachers for tomorrow morning.  I knew that there was no way I was going to be able to leave early now that this teacher was coming to talk to me.

I put my annoyance aside as she came in.  She needed to talk to me about a few classroom related things and then she wanted to speak to me concerning a faculty/staff meeting that we had this morning.  We got some news that we weren't totally expecting that is going to affect all of us financially.  Most of us are living from paycheck to paycheck so this news was not welcome.  Those of you that have been following me for a while know how stressed out I can get over things that are out of my control.  This morning, however, was a little different.  Although this is going to be tough on me monetarily, I am, at this time, not worried.  After all that I have been through over the last year between work issues and personal issues, I have come to realize that God has taken care of me even when I didn't know what was going to happen.  This became especially clear to me during the whole housing crisis I had at the beginning of the year.

Anyway--the teacher was asking me about the news that we got and was genuinely watching my reaction.  I told her how I felt and she looked at me and said "Wow, you are really different.  What's changed since the beginning of the year?"  I told her how I felt and how God had really shown me that He will take care of me through the things I had been through lately.  I have been trying to encourage her anyway because of some personal things she is going through and I was so glad that I had kept up my encouragement.  I wasn't putting on a show for her; I really meant what I was telling her.

As I was talking to her, I kept thinking about my "If I could just..."  I have decided that I am going to work on being more content.  That is not an easy thing for me to say.  There are some things that I would like to have...more along the lines of wishful thinking.  If I could just....live at the beach.  Ok.  I know that isn't going to happen, but I love the beach, so it is nice to think about it.  I don't pine over it though like I do some of those other things.  I have decided, though, to work on putting my money where my mouth is, so to speak, and be more content with what I have.  I have a home that, while it is not HUGE, it is perfect for me and miss raven and I love, love, LOVE my kitchen.  I have a job that, while it still will always have its ups and downs, I genuinely enjoy.  I love the kids I work with and most of the people I work with.  I have enough money to cover all of my needs, even though sometimes it is tight.  I may not be able to buy everything I WANT, but that's ok.  I have a wonderful family, fantastic friends, and a snugglie little puppy that is trying mightly to stay awake on my lap as I type.

I need to start living in the land of Countingmyblessings and less in the land of IfIcouldjust.  How about you?

It's the most wonderful time of the year...

wait.  Did I say the most wonderful?  Tsk, tsk.  Silly me.  What on earth was I thinking?

This:

does not make me happy.

This:

means that fall is here. 

There is a chill in the air in the mornings when I let her:

out to go potty.  Soon I will be able to see my breath and that, my dear bloggy friends, does NOT make me happy. (BTW--isn't that the most adorable picture of my girlie?  I think so. :) )

Right now, as I blog, I am sitting on the couch.  My left foot is propped up and I am giving serious consideration to popping a few more ibuprofen.  Sigh.  I fell at school today.  The good thing?  None of my students saw.  The bad thing?  I'm not as young as I used to be and I hurt something fierce.  I don't even want to think about how sore I am going to be tomorrow.  My foot hurts, my hip hurts, my back hurts.  I. AM. OLD.  Hush, BFF.  You can deny it all you want.  I am a realist.

I have not built up enough courage to go to the yarn store gathering thingie tomorrow night.  I'm working on it, though, so maybe next week.  I'll keep you posted.

On the food front:  I have done well the last two days.  I am hoping that my willpower has finally found it's way home again.  Yesterday morning, when I tried to put on a pair of pants that fit me well at the end of the school year and then felt like I was in that Subway commercial where the pant's buttons go flying off to the tune of the 1812 Oveture.....yeah, that didn't make me feel so good.  So, I have been very diligent the last two days in making sure that I watch my portions and don't inhale everything when I get home.  I wish I didn't love food so much.  Or at least not want it so much when I need comfort.  Boo on you, emotional eating.  Boo and hiss.

Oh and do I have an exciting post for tomorrow.  Wait for it.....wait.....

;)

Ooooooohhhhhhh Heaven is a place on earth......

(My apologies for my absence.  I had plans to blog last week.  I wanted to blog last week.  I did not, however, blog last week.  Sorry about that.)

I will do my best to bring you up to speed.  LOLOL!!!!  Doesn't that make me sound so interesting??  Contrary to what my BFF posted in my comments from the last post, I am rather, um, boring.

So, let's not take the time to go through the whole of last week.  After all, it is always the weekend that is WAY more interesting anyway.  :)

My plans changed slightly this weekend and I remained home.  Not a problem.  I decided to make the best of it and try to find something interesting to do.  I pretty much just stayed around the house on Saturday.  I had some things I needed to get done, you know, laundry, cleaning, chillaxing on the couch.  On Sunday I decided to ,um, try something new....again.  Go me!  I went over into Virginia for brunch.  I found the most A-mazing little Tex-Mex place.  I had scrambled eggs, bacon, and cornmeal pancakes.  OMG!  They were wonderful.  The pancakes came with pecan butter and they were all warm and the butter melted all over the place.  It was fantastic!  Definetly worth going again.  And again.  And maybe, well...you get the picture. ;)

After brunch, and, in order to walk off some of the calories...I walked around Old Town for a little while.  I am so glad I did because I found HEAVEN.  Ok, it was a yarn store.  Yes, Freddie, I am a yarn ho.  I was in heaven!  And the best part is, while there is alot of knitting in there, they also cater to crocheters like me!  Whoo-hoo!  I am, though, seriously considering taking a knitting class there.  You know how much I want to be able to knit a pair of socks.  I am so excited about this place and, since it is easy to get to, I can see myself visiting there frequently.  They even have one night a week where you can go and hang out in their lounge and knit and crochet and meet people.  I am thinking about doing that.  Maybe.  I have to get over my fear of...well, people in general.  We'll see.

:)