Wordless Wednesday

Time Flies

Wow!!

I have been out of the blogging world for a little while.

I did a couple easy posts last week, but I STILL have to write about LAST weekend. And now this weekend. Whew!!

Where do I start? Last weekend we left on Saturday morning to drive about 8 hours to a convention that Kenny was involved in. I was thinking it was a vacation more or less, and the place we were staying was actually a resort complete with an indoor water park! Because we were there for the convention, our rooms (normally $300 a night) were free, along with free passes to the water park. Yipeee!! The resort also had an african safari theme to it, so everywhere you turn there is animal print....talk about wild! Here is a picture of us in the lobby. We kinda felt like we were in the jungle........

Kenny loved the convention and had a great time socializing, and I had a great time chillin out and EATING! The food was great, and I even stayed on the low carb thing. It wasn't that hard. There were some extra sweets involved though....why not, right?

We actually got a caracature done! I've been wanting one forever, and finally got Kenny to agree to it. Before we left home, I got my hair done, the usual highlights and trim. I decided to use the flat iron because you can see the highlights so much better when my hair is straight. I normally am too lazy in the mornings to take the time to straighten my hair, and it takes a lot because it's naturally curly, so I'm not even used to seeing myself wth straight hair. When we say the caracature, neither of us recognized me, mostly because of my straight hair! Of all the times to get this caracature done!!

We had a nice long visit with my aunt and uncle who only live about an hour from the resort. They met us in our lobby on Sunday evening for dinner, and Kenny had to go listen to some other people speak, so I had my aunt and uncle to myself and we just chatted and chatted away. Before we knew it, it was 10pm and they had to go to work in the morning!

I had taken Monday off, so Monday morning we got up and attended a couple more conferences, had an amazingly yummy lunch complete with CAKE (the best ever!) and then got on the road around 2pm. Because I have this HUGE paper due soon, I had to work on it on the way home in the truck. With Kenny singing LOUDLY to the radio and trying to talk to me. I had to make him be quiet for 45 minute intervals so I could work on my paper, and then at the end of each 45 minute block of time, I gave him 5 minutes of talk time, and then back to the paper. Can you believe it? It actually worked. I got a ton of work done. Who would have ever thought I would be able to work like that in the truck?

When I got back to work on Tuesday morning, I was pleasantly surprised to find my classroom in top shape. Everything was in its place, and I was greeted with a note from the sub that started with: "Dear Ms. L, Your students were little angels!" I was SO HAPPY! I know I have a good class this year, but everything changes when there's a sub in the room. It was just so COMFORTING to come back to that kind of note.

The rest of the week was ultra stressful. Coming back to stress is so hard. I'm still not caught up yet. This past weekend I went home to work on my paper some more where I had very few distractions. I finished the writing part (whew!) and then had my dad edit it today before I came home. My parents only live a few miles from each other, so I stayed with my mom Saturday night and went over to my dad's this afternoon. He is EXCELLENT with English and grammar, so I completely trust him to edit my big ole paper that's almost done. I have to make the corrections and some last minute changes, and I'm hoping to be done on Wednesday. Then maybe I can get back to my normal blogging, which I MISS SO MUCH!! I feel like I'm neglecting all my blogging friends. I haven't been able to read and comment and enjoy being part of everyone's blog lives in the last week or so. I can't wait to get back into the normal routine after this stinkin paper is done!

Here is a cute picture of my mom plowing the driveway this morning.

And here is her new kitty, Zeke. He's so fun! My mom actually trained him to ring that bell to go out or to come into the house. A CAT!! I can't believe a cat will do that, but he really does!!

Check out the rest of my pictures at flickr.

Thirteen Things I Need To Do Before We Move!!

1. Finish my thesis paper (and I WON'T be graduating when I'm done).

2. Pack?

3. Throw some things away. A LOT of things.

4. Stash my scrapbooking supplies, photo albums, and college crap at a friend's house until after we move so nothing happens to them.

5. Change our address EVERYWHERE.

6. Get home owners set up.

7. Start & finish a quilt for a charity....when I promised, I had no idea we were moving.

8. Take a day (or more) off work.

9. Lose 10 more pounds (no reason other than to give myself another small goal).

10. Pick out paint & carpet.

11. Turn in lesson plans for the rest of the trimester so I don't have to think about it!

12. Pray.

13. Relax.

I was tagged by Tasha to do this one!!

I'm supposed to go through my archives and link the post that best fits the words listed.

FUNNY

Called out by kids....

SERIOUS

Nano

UGLY

Sick

(This one was really hard to find a post for, but think of it as UGLY in the not-feeling-good sense!)

ALL ABOUT ME

100 Things

Wordless Wednesday

Okay, well, not a great picture, but as you can see, it's an empty elevator. To be exact, it's an empty elevator from the student center/bookstore next to the dorms I lived in my first year of college. When I say EMPTY, I am referring to the carpet. Where did it go? I can't imagine whose computer desk it sits under now......or who took it......

Good times, good times!

Wanna see something.........

Here ya go:

It's the wild man himself. This was taken 4 1/2 years ago, after about 3 weeks of dating. Can you imagine what I was thinking about him at this point?? There was some alcohol involved (it was a cousin's wedding), but I do remember thinking exactly that........HE'S WILD!

And he's still that way now, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE him for it. Talk about adding spice to my life! There is NEVER a dull moment around here. Ever.

Ironically, this morning he complained that I didn't talk about him enough on my blog. I had no idea......I think I talk about him too much! But this catagory is PERFECT in every way to talk about Kenny.

------------------------------------

In other news, I'm drowning with this thesis paper. I HAVE to finish it before we move, because that's just too much stress on a person while they're moving. But here I sit, yet again, on an evening when we could be out having a great time (you know the feeling, right Amy??) with some friends. And I'm getting no where.....fast. I've learned that when I get to the point where my mind isn't producing anything worthy of a good grade, I maximize the internet window and OOPPPS there's a blog or 2 to read, a few emails to catch up on, and before I know it, an hour has passed and maybe, just maybe, I can attempt to work on the paper with a fresh mind. That's my excuse for posting tonight. I need a break.

And speaking of breaks, we are headed out of town for a convention that Kenny is attending. We are staying at an amazing resort, kinda like heaven almost, at least that's what the website looks like! There's an inside theme park, shopping, pools and hot tubs galore, and lots of other stuff. It's work for Kenny, and it's a vacation for me. The only bad thing is, I'll probably be thinking about how much work I SHOULD be doing on my paper. Who cares though, right?? What's going 3 more days unfinished anyway? I'm sure in this fab resort place we're staying at, there will be internet, so I'll check back when we're settled Saturday afternoon. And until we leave in the morning, I'll be here, at my computer, trying to make a 40-60 page paper from the 10 that I have already done.

Thirteen Ways To Relax..........For FREE!

1. Take a bubble bath with the lights out.

2. Light a few soft scented candles.

3. Make something for yourself or someone else.

4. Post on your blog.

5. Read others' blogs.

6. Make cookies (only if you ENJOY it!).

7. Soak your feet.

8. Drink a cup of tea.

9. Email a good friend you haven't seen in a while.

10. Rub your entire body with sweet smelling lotion.

11. Read a magazine you love from cover to cover (PEOPLE is my favorite!)

12. Watch TV and zone out.

13. Write a letter (a real one!).

Now, if I could only take my own advice!

Wordless Wednesday

Monday Monday

I'm not a work today, thanks to MLK Jr, and I'm lovin' that. But I'm not lovin' what I'm doing instead!! This long ass paper is still looming over me. I did what I could do last night until I could do no more, at least not until I got a new ink cartridge for the printer. I'm one of those people who needs to print things out while they are creating something. I can't NOT print it out and do a good job, so I had to stop around 9pm last night. Conincidental that it was the same time that Desperate Housewives came on? Not even close......smirk smirk......

But I think I'm halfway there!! I really do feel much better about it. One of my new blog friends, Lori, who I met through Lindsay, said the hard part is getting started. And it really was! I've done a lot of writing....in fact, it's ALL been writing.... for these masters classes, but nothing has been as lengthy as this one. I promise I'll quit bitchin' about it soon. Just as soon as I'm done:)

So my priorities today? Working out, filling the ink cartridges (Rapid Refill Ink) and then the paper. Doesn't seem like anything fun, does it?? Well, maybe filling the ink cartridges will be. At this point, I'll take anything! It's still a form of retail therapy/shopping, right? Kenny says spending money in general makes me happy, so that should make me happy. Hmph.

I'll be back at the end of the day to check out everyone's Monday posts and lose my mind in something fun!

Busy Girl

Well, I posted a to-do list (sort of) yesterday, and I can happily say that quite a few items can be crossed off. The biggest pain in the butt, the 40-page paper, is not done. However, I know it's going to take MUCH longer than 1 day to complete, especially since it's an action research paper and I actually have to present it (....groan.....) to my peers at work and then finish the paper. I'm thinking maybe in a week or so I can do that, and finish it, and hand it in, and pray to pass. Whoever decided that requiring a professional to do this kind of research WHILE reporting to work every day was crazy....stupid....idiotic....I could say much worse, but I won't.

I sat down last night after attending to my to-do list all day, and started in on the paper. I think I have a handle on it now. I was having some anxiety about just starting it, and that was keeping me completely UNMOTIVATED. Now that I've started it, I'm slowing becoming more motivated to work on it a little more, and also realizing that if I just do it, it can possibly get done so I can remove it from THE LIST of unfinished things.

The crack of dawn is when I woke up this morning, partly because SOMEONE had stolen all the covers and I didn't feel like trying to pry them from underneath his sleeping body, and partly because my body is so used to getting up that early. Either way, there was no more sleep to be had. I jumped on the computer and did about an hour of work, then decided to get coffee (the good kind that I can't make) and read the paper at the coffee shop across the street. How relaxing!!! I mixed hazelnut with frensh vanilla (someone suggested it) and it was yummy. Now I am waiting for a couple of stores to open so I can finish up the weekend errands and get back to this computer. That's the only reason I'm blogging today. I swear. I just want to let you all know how proud I am of myself for STARTING this bloody paper. Oh yeah, and to show you what my desk looked like this morning........

And also to show you the result of my retail therapy session yesterday.....

We are moving, so it's time for a new bedspread/sheets/sham/bed skirt combo. This is the comforter, and it looks a little bit more pinky in the picture than it really is, but it's soooooooooooo pretty. My tastes have really changed lately. I still love purples, but this deep red is my new favorite, at least this year. What do you think??

Week wrap-up

Haven't posted in a few days after being so good at posting daily since January 1st. Oh well, I already got over it. This week has been a monster. Here's the short of it:

• Still battling allergies because it's not cold enough to freeze the nasty allergins away
• Nose has been "blown" raw since Wednesday, hence the travel size vaseline jar in my purse
• Involved in WAY TOO MANY projects/committee/responsibilities at work and paying dearly for it now
• 40-60 page paper deadline slowly creeping closer
• Still no packing even started (we're moving in Feb)
• LOADS of papers to grade
• LOADS of laundry to do
• Got a massage Friday after work and promptly fell asleep (ahhhhh...)
• Quilt for charity auction to START
• Charity auction planning (for my own school)
• Cleaning to be done (how much do I really have to do when we're moving so soon?)
• Grocery shopping needs to be done
• I dragged myself to work every day while in an allergy daze
• Sat through 7 hours of professional development only because I had a crossword puzzle hidden in my notebook (sneaky, I know)
• Attempted to do the Saturday Scavenger Hunt this morning, couldn't find pictures to match the theme, and didn't have energy to take one

So how sad am I? I swear I'm not looking for sympathy, but I feel like I'm drowning and I have so much to do. I decided to make my list of things to do based on priorities. So today, I'm working out first, cleaning up second, and then starting some laundry while I work on this awful paper that's due soon. I feel like when that paper is done, I can enjoy the rest of the things I need to do. And the paper won't be done today, but maybe the guilt of it NOT being done will subside, just a little. The next post I PROMISE won't be so sad and dramatic. I promise. Happy Saturday to all. Now pass the vaseline.

I got tagged!

Memes are so much fun!

1. Do you like the looks and the content of your blog?

Duh, YES!! Check out what else this amazing chickee did...

2. Does your family know about your blog?

Yes, some of them do, although I don’t know who because NO ONE EVER COMMENTS!!

3. Can you tell your friends about your blog?

Yes, they all know, but lots of them DON’T COMMENT!! (I’ve leaving hints all over!)

4. Do you just read the blogs of those who comment on your blog?

Of course and I try to be faithful to all my favorite daily reads too!

5. Did your blog positively affect your mind?

Yup! It’s an outlet for all those thoughts....

6. What does the number of visitors to your blog mean?

Not too much...I hardly ever look at it because most of them aren’t linked to blogs.

7. Do you imagine what other bloggers look like?

YES! And like so many other bloggers, I LOVE it when they post with pictures or have a flickr or photobucket account!

8. Do you think blogging has any real benefit?

Yes, it connects you with other people in similar situations and even those who are not. But it really gives you perspectives from complete strangers who can become your efriends!

9.Do you think that the blogosphere is a stand alone community separated from the real world?

Yes and no. It can be stand alone, or it can be a way to meet people, and the beauty of it is you can have it any way you want.

10.Do some political blogs scare you? Do you avoid them?

Most of them, but I don’t read them if I can help it.

11.Do you think that criticizing your blog is useful?

No unless it has to do with editing!!

12.Have you ever thought about what would happen to your blog in case you died?

NEVER!! But I’m thinking about it now!!

13.Which blogger had the greatest impression on you?

Redneck Mommy: I'm learning to appreciate what I have while I have it.

14.Which blogger do you think is the most similar to you?

That’s a toss up between Tasha, Lindsay, and Tee!!

15.Name a song you want to listen to?

AC/DC
Shook Me All Night Long
(reminds me of Kenny...he loves it!)

I will tag.....
Niki, Bethany, and TEE

The worst.......

It happened this morning. There's been many MANY close calls, so close in fact that I swore I would never let it go that far again and plan WAY ahead. And I knew on Saturday that I needed to take action before Monday morning, but with all the Build-A-Bear hype, I lost track of time, and forgot to get to the store. And then, I woke up, got in the shower, got dressed and dryed my hair and then....

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

HHHHHHHHHHH

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII

TTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!

I ran out of the magic potion I put in my hair after I dry it so it doesn't frizz!!!!

What could I do? It was too late to straighten my hair, it was already dry. I didn't have time to start over, and a ponytail was out of the question with my outfit.

I did the only thing I could.....I called N, who was on her way out the door to my place because we carpool to work. I asked her (pleaded) to stop at the 24 hour Rite-Aid and pick up the anti-frizz juice so I could go to work, cause at this point, I wasn't going ANYWHERE WITH FRIZZ HEAD!

So, being the awesome friend that N is, she stopped and picked up the magic potion (Citre Shine Anti-Frizz Serum) at Rite-Aid before getting to my place!

I was happy. No frizzy hair:)

Guess what I did today????????

BUILD-A-BEAR!!!!!!!!

The girls and I try to make a yearly tradition of Build-A-Bear every January. I know it's slightly childish, but it's super fun if you can find the time and the dollars, and I'll tell you it's not cheap!

Here's the process.....

We have been getting together more often because B is moving down south this week. It's hard to say goodbye to best friend, knowing that the times you will be seeing her will be limited to a couple times a year at best. We're trying to keep our traditions going, even if we're far apart.

To see the rest of the Build-A-Bear pics, click here. Happy Sunday!

Saturday Photo Hunt

MEMORIES..........



There are so many to write about. It’s hard to choose!



I was only 1 in this picture.....





And in this one, I was about 4, trying to teach my dog, Snoopy, to ride my pony, Sally.





I MISS the farm! But I have the memories forever.



To read about the Photo Hunt, go here.

Happy Birthday Niki!!

The ladies and I celebrated her birthday last night, but today is officially her 28th birthday....you are finally as old as I am, once again!

Since I posted new pictures of us yesterday, I decided, in honor of your day, to post an ancient picture today. I'm sure you will thank me for it later!

These was circa 1996.....junior year in high school I believe.

Niki is on the right in this picture.

And since I'm addicted to photos, here's a 2nd one....Niki's 2nd from the left . Yes, we were ALL band geeks. But it was fun! (I am 2nd from the right, in case you couldn't tell)

Happy Birthday Nik! Enjoy the evening with your man!

Thirteen Things Discussed At Dinner

With The Girls.......

1. Purses

2. Work

3. Significant others

4. Houses

5. Sex (how dare I day it)

6. High school memories

7. Camping trips

8. Drinking (a long time ago)

9. Drinking (on New Years)

10. Drinking (lack of recently)

11. Co-workers

12. Their myspace blogs (ugh) and my REAL blog (sorry ladies!)

13. Babies

There were PLENTY of other topics discussed, but I'm only allowed 13 to report on.

So there you have it. Happy Almost Friday!

Oh yeah, here's a picture of us tonight....

B, N, D & Me

Back to work....

The 3 most dreaded words to so many people....

As tired as I was when that damn alarm clock rang this morning, and as grumpy as I was when the water hit my face before 5am, and as pissy as I was when I parked my car in the parking lot around 7am, I wasn't prepared for how I would feel when the kids poured in my room just after 8 o'clock....

HAPPY TO SEE THEM!

I really was, too! I couldn't believe how much I had missed them! On the first day of vacation, I missed them, but then, they were gone !!POOF!! And I didn't think about it again until I heard the first knock at the door this morning. I have such a good group of kids this year and they were all bursting at the seams to tell me about their vacation and new toys that Santa brought them. They all had so much to say that I made it their journal entry assignment this morning to write about their vacation. So write about it, they did!

The author of the following entry cracks me up EVERY day. I guess you could consider him the class clown, in a positive way. He makes me laugh. You'll see why when you read the last line he wrote. It's not funny 'till the last line:

(6 year-old writing translated: On New Years I went to a restaurant. Also I play with my guitar. And I play with my game boy. And I play my drum. And I went over to my grandma's house. And I did my homework. Also I did flips.)

It's the 'Also I did flips' part that makes me laugh!! He talks exactly the way he writes....randomly!!

All in all my first day back was good. My desk ended up heaped with stuff at the end of the day. I'm never sure how that happens. This is what it looked like at noon:

And this is what it was at the end of the day after I threw a bunch of unnecessary stuff away:

Much better! Now, for day #2 post vacation....do I really have to go back to work again tomorrow?

Happy New Year!!

We had a great time last night. It was a fun start for 2007, and I hope that the rest of the year keeps the same tone. Good food, folks, and fun! Here are some pictures...if you slide the mouse over the pictures, you'll see a caption on most.