.....almoooooooost........

I know I know.......almost only counts in horsehoes and hand grenades........

...but I am almost done with this school year...........the giddiness is creeping in.........the weather is nice.......popsicles need to be eaten with kindergarten classes..............my reports are written..........field day is coming........they yearbooks will be delivered on Monday.....soon I will kill my alarm clock....

I had an amazing day on priceline.............got a cheap hotel for the baseball weekend and it's one of our favorites from back in the days of dance.........I pressed my luck and pricelined a rental car for our Chicago trip.......woot.......it's just money, right?

I surprised the principal, asst principal, and counselor today with DQ blizzards.........it seems like no one ever surprises them with treats.......they are always bringing in Sonic drinks or donuts or candy minis.............it was fun to turn it around.........of I course I got one out of the deal too...........let's just say it was lunch today...........I'll aim for a sensible dinner.........

today my speech kiddos got to spend their "speech bucks" at the "speech store"......I don't do treasure box or stickers at each session........they earn a speech buck each time and save up for the store which is open twice a year.........they are so serious about their shopping......mechanical pencils are a hot item......and my kids stuffed animals they never touched that I have sneaked into work......they keep their bucks in a pocket on the wall that has their photo on it........so after they shop....I take down the picture and it goes home with them too......the empty wall is sad.....some of them have said they will move....some of them won't need me next year......some of them will be gone without a trace......we're a military district so we're used to hellos and goodbyes......that doesn't mean we're good at it......
Good Luck my Speech Monkeys.......

.....choir concert.......

....my daughter had her last jr. high concert last night.........she blows me away.......that girl can sing.....she didn't get it from me......it's all her.......I wonder if the high school has any idea what is coming their way......I hope they use her wisely........I wish I had input into the musicals they choose for the next four years........Hairspray, Annie Get Your Gun, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Hello Dolly, My Fair Lady, Wicked.........they did The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee this year.......if I'd known I'd have asked if a rising 8th grade star could audition......she did I Speak Six Languages as a solo in competition so she could have walked on for that part..........and yes.......I know I want it all.........it's just that she really has something special...........I cannot wait.......
I sometimes wonder if her birth family deserves to know how talented she is..........but then I remember they had their chance.....they could have stepped up and had her at any time but didn't.....

Part of the foster/adopt program is returning to a training to tell your story (happy or sad).......I took my beautiful two-year-old daughter to a training and needless to say........everyone was smitten.....my message to the newbies was simple.........don't make a choice based on paperwork...........Abby was not an easy sell.....mixed race, Dandy Walker Cyst with a shunt.....2 neuro surgeries before she was even 3 months old......late with motor/balance skills........endless therapy that turned into dance for 10 years.......incarcerated birth parents.....tons of siblings placed all around........I didn't know any of that....I just knew that a round-faced baby was pounding her fists on the desk in the waiting room of my workplace......she pounded until I looked at her ........and then she gave me a twinkling smile.......she was tucked under the arm of her foster mother (a nurse) and was only along for the ride...another foster child in the home had therapy........that's all it took........I asked.....I got........I'm not forgetting all of the roadblocks and tears ...just not focused on them unless I'm telling someone the dangers of foster/adopt........I have a happy ending.......I got....she's mine.....that can't change.....

I guess I should not snap at her when she pounds/taps on every surface when she's bored or antsy......it worked magic once....why wouldn't she keep pounding those fists?......

......mothers' day weekend...

..here it comes..........it's my weekend.........no baseball as of 9pm tonight.......of course coach threw in a practice at the batting cage late tonight............oh well.........I'll get the grocery shopping over with then............
I would really like the weather to clear so we can work on the yard.......the grass is greening up ...but so are the weeds..............this is the weekend we always plant flowers.......which means I plant flowers and the kids come out later and say "did you plant flowers"...........I am a lazy gardener.........I start off with a bang but it grows tiresome..........some time in the summer I have to wrestle the rose bush.........it grows like wildfire...........my mom had a rose bush smack in the middle of the yard........it got mowed weekly.......and she would squawk and squawk........"who ran over my rose bush?".........well.........in  my defense, it was hard to see it once it was run over weekly.............she also had purple irises..........and lilacs..........and now I know I'm allergic to lilacs.........so that was pretty mean of her to have those bushes everywhere.............we used to take a branch of blooming lilacs with the stem wrapped in a wet paper towel and aluminum foil to our teachers..........did they even like that?
Teacher Appreciation Week is coming to a close.............PTO bought us bbq today.........I wasn't at that school today and I don't love bbq so it's all good.......there was a Hershey bar in my mailbox.....woot.....
my dog has been sleeping through the night this week..........I suppose that will end now that I have two days with no alarm clock.........oy........now I'm already annoyed with her.........I could use some Zzzzzzz's

....softball.......

...I've activated the sequence for coaching softball at one of our jr. high schools.........that means I've asked the SPED director if it's possible for me to leave early for those 8 weeks...........we'll see........
being around the high school softball team has made for an explosion of my glory days and those feelings...........dang, I was good............I miss it...........I missed part of my junior year season after surgery (kidney removed to share with my brother).........that was recruiting year......probably kept me from playing college ball.....hmmm...........no regrets though....he lived another 25+ years because of it...........I played community and tournament ball until Jackson learned to walk and wouldn't sit in a stroller in the dugout........recently there has been rumbling of getting our team back together.........I think it would be safer to coach........I don't think I'd handle tournament recovery as I head into AARP land..........

Abby got new cleats last night..........and of course I tried them on...........cleats have come a long way since I bought my last pair........I guess I knew that from Jackson's team........they are totally Boombah......I've always been a Nike girl so that's what Abby got..........if she makes the team in the fall I promised her we'd look into custom Nike ID cleats...........I'm a sucker for the costuming in sports.........that's not a secret........

it's raining.......that makes me tired.............only two weeks left of my diet soda addiction..........do your magic super double big gulp.....

......high school.......

I'm adjusting well to the thought of my daughter going to high school in three months.........what I'm not handling is thinking of my baby going in two years......I don't know why that freaks me out more......I just had a meeting with a parent whose son is probably going to need support the rest of his life.........he's also heading to high school where he will learn to count change, ride the city bus to a job where is is supervised constantly by Goodwill Industries.......
...that is sobering..........and I'm pleased that my kids aren't headed in that direction......and then I realize that no one is going to drive them to work, budget their money, or supervise their work further than a yearly evaluation...........Can there please be a middle ground?
phew.......I've pulled myself back into the now......Abby has a nanny job lined up for the summer......2.5 days a week with two sweet little girls.........she's got a line on a hostess job at a restaurant my friend owns....and she's playing softball with the high school team this summer.....I remember those summers.........I lived for softball........I think I started getting ready at 2 for a 7:30 game...........of course, back in the day there was nothing on TV during the day but game shows and soap operas...........

Mother's Day Weekend coming up and we have no baseball.........I'm hoping to work in the yard.....it's usually flower planting weekend.........hate doing the work but love the results...........my kids are finally a helpful age.....and they are strong.....I forget that........there is no reason they can't haul the dumpster......I've just always done the heavy work.........times they are a changing.......Abby is a tough nugget and Jackson loves doing the power work or using power tools..........I'm getting closer and closer to being a porch princess....

...air freshener............

when in doubt...........use the air freshener in the staff bathroom.......other than the obvious (making me hold my breath while I'm in there).......there is also the problem of my exit...........when it still stinks, the next staff member thinks it was me..........it TOTALLY wasn't............I don't defecate in public restrooms.......even a hotel room bathroom is pushing it.......so I guarantee it wasn't me.......

as long as I'm on a disgusting topic........the baseball fields were in the boonies this weekend..........nice brick buildings with State Park toilets inside...........basically a metal frame over a hole full of other peoples' business..........I'm thinking those holes need to be deeper.......when I was a kid.....our church hall had those kind of bathrooms.......I was always afraid of falling in......I'm guessing my mother telling my sister to "go with her and hold onto her so she doesn't fall in" may have been the crux of that issue.........my biggest fear now is that my phone will fall in......big girls are not at risk for falling into those holes........maybe that's why it's hard to lose weight.....maybe if I were skinny I'd have to worry about falling into dung holes...........

okay..........today is clearly interrupt me by walking through my office day..............I've been at risk all year for this but people must have decided my stink eye isn't scary anymore.........a fifth grade teacher trouped her whole stinkin' class through this morning..........the story is "the other door to that room was locked"..........I'm sure it was.........so send one person through to open it for the rest...........that would be the considerate thing to do.......I wonder how the teachers would feel if I walked my speech groups through their classrooms every half hour.........you know.........that might be fun to do........it'll take some creativity to write that into a lesson plan but I think it might be worth it.....

on a side note...baseball is going well.........our team is awesome and everyone is valued........we are ranked 3rd in the state for 12AAA

.......published............

..not that anyone wants to hear my whining..........but I'm out of control busy right now........today I sent the Elementary yearbook to the publisher............that opened a tiny air hole to breathe..........not completely until I see the proof on Monday.........but for now, that's all I can do........

I am still at work...it's 5:30pm...........my kids don't remember me.........I have MANY eval reports to write.........with my beloved Mother of the Baseball Player weekends........working at home is not an option...........I will live........in a few weeks I will have no work alarm clock, no meal plans, no dress code.........nothing to do but water the grass and then mow it..........it's the life...........I always thought I wouldn't like working in the schools because I'd be a total crank arse in August when the fun was coming to an end.........turns out......I can handle it.....the years go by soo sooooo fast.........we rarely work 5 day weeks..........and when we do......we have no endurance for it...........

It's close to the clean out the fridge and buy better food time..........my daughter has been on a health kick and is doing great...........busy doesn't usually mean I'm packing fabulous lunches with healthy options.........my kids had the treat of pizza from a box last night since I was cramming to get the yearbook ready to roll..........box pizza is pretty gross unless you're starving .....or I suppose drunk......gone are the days...........

Maybe my mini-goal is to pack a loverly cooler for baseball weekend...........I'll take fitness kick Abby with me shopping during baseball practice tomorrow night........that's  win win for all.......

.......flakes.....

I work with some flakes..............and big fat flakes of snow keep coming down today.........and my son spilled frosted flakes all over the kitchen ......my dog will be enjoying a sugar buzz now.....

I've decided that on Tuesdays I get to go out for lunch for the rest of the year............cuz the meetings I have to endure on Tuesdays make me crazy......today was Subway............now that I've met Jimmy Johns I don't love Subway anymore..........I'd be in big trouble if they opened a Jimmy Johns closer.......for now it's a 20 min drive at least...

Is SmartFood popcorn really that smart.........I guess better than movie theater popcorn.........I wish they would sell it at movie theaters.....or pirates booty.......it's really hard not to eat junk in a movie......I have sneaked in carrots and apple slices before but it's just not the same......

I need healthy snack ideas........time to research and make time for shopping.....sadly, fruits and veggies aren't major cravings for me...........diet coke and salty crunchy....that's the ticket.......I'm starting to think I've had my fill of pizza in a box ...it is pretty disgusting..........

my niece put a picture on facebook of me as a bridesmaid in a stunning fuscia dress.......she is so gonna get it...........brat

........zzzzzzzzzip....

Days are flying by people......I don't know what I'll do when the chaos comes to a screeching halt.......I bet I will fail at retirement........I was booking flights with Frontier Airlines and the agent told me they were hiring if I would be willing to drive to Denver.........they were a no-go for summers only but she said they hire a lot of retired teachers..........what  a fun retirement job that would be..........I will also work as an SLP if my district needs contract people.........big money for two days a week.....and then I'll dabble with Frontier and fly for free..........I have big plans now...........Jackson will need to go to college somewhere warm........so momma will fly in to visit....for free..........Abby could be on Broadway......so momma will be flying in for shows...........sounds good to me.....
You should all buy a yearbook from my school.........it's so awesome.......explosions of colors and happy faces........I'll make you a deal.....
Baseball was a happy day.........Champions.........we particularly like winning.............the championship game was crazy since we thought we had lost until we won the argument that there is no time limit in the finals............we finished the game as winners...........those were some smily, happy........and smelly boys..........we have a 1.5 hour commute home usually.......and I have a live goat sitting in the front seat with odor pouring off of him.........I love that kid........
My daughter has become a baseball fan..........she cheers herself hoarse for her brother and his friends......warms my heart.......and drives me nuts............she keeps ruining her money maker.......I'll bet her choir teacher is ticked at me today..........she has two solos in the Spring concert........perhaps she will have to miss the tournament the weekend before that performance...........I'm excited for the concert though.........bittersweet..........last one in jr. high...........she's in a foursome doing Amazing Grace a capella.................and a soloist in Rolling in the Deep..........she will rock them both.........my baby has a gift!

...photographs......

I love photos...........love love love photos............since going digital I miss the thrill of picking up the pack of pictures developed from a roll of film..........I used to take 3 rolls of 24 in the hopes of getting the perfect Christmas card........when the kids were 1 and 3.5 things were rough.......finally, the winner was of them in the bathtub with soap bubble Santa beards......
this year I'm the yearbook creator at school.........I get paid to take pictures and put them into a book to commemorate 2012-13 for our elementary........I just showed a mom a pic that I took during the Parade of Presidents........her son was part of the secret service...dark suit, glasses, and earpiece........he looked awesome.........she burst into tears...that's how cute he was..........I think she might buy 10-12 yearbooks.......or she can just ask me for the digital picture.....
I scrapbook......I used to sell Creative Memories stuff just to get it at cost........teachers loved getting it at cost too..........I did not have parties.....just a dealer I guess.....or supplier.........I am 11+ years behind in both of my kids scrapbooks.......when I work on them I fall in love with them all over again........so it's a great thing to do when they've been driving me crazy......
I have pictures of my first two foster daughters.........it's been almost 15 years and I still can't work on them.......I wonder all the time if they are okay......\maybe someday I'll be able to put them in a book.......for now...looking at the pix makes me remember how sweet they were.........and how much it hurt to give them back to their birth mother....that wound has a scab.....it doesn't heal........one rip and the pain is raw all over again............sending happy thoughts to Brittney and Adrianna........can you imagine me without a little boy?........I can't ............everything happens for a reason.....

...April Day

Today....my district is closed for no reason.....we don't question...we just love.....last year I bought a car....my son's love of baseball was costing us a mortgage in gasoline....the old Exploder sits in the garage.....the new Honda is what we take almost everywhere.......maybe today it gets a bday wash......38 mpg.....it's been hit twice and we weren't hurt.....I should write a commercial.....I won't....because I'm from a long line of Ford people.....my family doesn't embrace my choice.....
this April day....we're catching up on rest....it was a wild baseball weekend...early mornings, high winds, cold temps......and excellent games....our boys almost pulled off the impossible.....somehow we ended up playing the number one seeded team in our fourth game....they were from Montana....twelve-year-olds in Montana look like college freshmen......maybe when they are off the grid they don't have a birth certificate....maybe they just count teeth or something.....any way.....we lost 10-9......jaw clencher until the end....My son would have been the winning run but he was left stranded at second....still an excellent game...
we grabbed his bestie and went to see 42......I knew that it would be heart wrenching......I wasn't ready for them to both cry.....I think it might have been their first exposure to racial slurs....the N word is not a pretty word....doors with WHITE ONLY written on them.....I hope they no longer exist.....I won't say more...just go see the movie....

....wild Friday night....

Boy is at practice, girl went to watch the talent show ......I went to Sams Club......we can't get enough of this party life......three day weekend.....that tastes good coming off my tongue....
We had a snow day....I wasted it.....good times.....Jack really was sick so he went to school every other day this week......forgot his meds today so that was a bust.....his teachers earned their three day more than most.....
My car is a year old......I thought I'd hate driving low to the ground after an SUV but not so......the exploder sits in the garage for the most part....that's a weird phrase....for the most part...that can't be proper....
An SLP friend corrected a teacher for saying ”ek specially” today.....rock on!
I said Ying Yang once......I'll never try to say it again....

......Monday mornings.....

....for the first time in his life, Jackson asked if he could stay home from school......I don't blame him....he's exhausted from the baseball weekend......I said no......there's nothing worse than making up all the work you've missed when you're absent......I did tell him that I might let him tomorrow since we have a pretty major blizzard warning tonight.....we'll see
....a snow day would be fabulous but I know better than to hope.....I have so much to do around the house that I didn't get to during break when I was fixin' to die of coughing...
The rest of the world went out to buy milk and bread.....blizzard food I guess.....we have onions and rainbow sherbet and Gummi bears.....we'll be fine...
My friend adopted a dog that was found injured on the train tracks today....lucky doggy.....lucky people.....everyone should have a doggy to love.....even if they get you up all night so they can go outside and sniff the air......
Oooooh .....it's getting windy.....

....coaches.....

I once read an article that a man wrote after witnessing some horrible parenting..........at the check out of a grocery store is probably one of the worst places to have a little one with you.........candy....money....waiting.....cart wheels.....parents say some pretty thoughtless things in that setting......the author's response to them is "Congratulations......you just broke your baby"........breaking one of their bones might be a better choice than having them hear the nastiness that can come out of a parent's mouth........."knock it off, how many times have I told you?, why did I bring you with me?......

...I'm paying close attention to what my son is told by his coaches.........sports outside of school always have a daddyball component.......a coach's child will play....the end......a coach's child will also get ridden harder than the others.........recently I heard a coach say to his son "you have to be the one.....what good are you?" 

What an ugly thing to say to anyone!...........I'm afraid a twelve-year-old boy hears the word WORTHLESS ringing through his brain ....what does that teach him?   ...and really.......the useless coaching annoys me to.........."gotta have those"......"hit the ball".............we have a parent whose cheer is "I believe in you"...............that.........is beautiful.....

......lunch.......

Today..........we went to SS Subs...........the worker is Asian and I'm not proud of it, but that is an accent I have significant trouble understanding..........I guess she was asking if I wanted vinegar and oil on my sub.........I said yes.........I would never have said yes if I knew what what going on.......turns out it was delicious...........I'm going to assume those were healthy oils and I need them...........really delicious.....

I'm officially the old lady that cannot believe how fast time flies.......6-7 weeks of school left for this year.......part of what is making it fly is I have a lot to do before the last day of school......yearbook, sock monkeys for the silent auction, IEPs, kindergarten transitions.........and we are full force in baseball which makes for late nights and busy weekends.......I wouldn't trade any of it.....but boy my head is spinning............

I'm hooked on a stupid phone game..........Candy Crush Saga........it's redonkulous that I love it.............it's soo sooo stupid........and frustrating.........and I can't stop........luckily you have to wait 30 min for a new life so it keeps me from playing nonstop.............I also like Ruzzle but you have to have others challenge you...........or accept your challenge..............it's Boggle on the phone..............good times..........so enjoy ........I'm weak........it's not a secret...........we have a Wii because I'm a video game sucker too.....

....goodNESS....

That was a rough week........Spring Break was a bust this year..........sick the whole time......I finally forced myself to take Abby to a movie yesterday....my kids were such good sports about it being a lame week........I guess it's a very good thing that we didn't have a fun trip planned....I would have been so mad if I were sick in a hotel or on the beach....phew.....dodged that bullet.......even baseball was cancelled because we had cold crappy weather.....

So I saw The Host........bizarre.........and I think I'm over movie theatre popcorn in bulk.....it did nothing for me.......I did not get a giant soda since they don't have a diet caffeine free choice.....I am off caffeine after this week...for the most part........I really should keep it that way....except for maybe on Tuesdays.....when we have baseball far far away until 9 at night and then the long drive home.....truth be told.....in my jammies and in bed by 9 if at all possible.....I guess I need some baseball-watching and driving pajamas......

Mucinex is definitely an appetite suppressant for me..........too bad it also makes me feel like crap.....found a new restaurant with fabulous hot wings.........man....I do love some hot wings......Abby is lined up to start working there this summer as a hostess.....hopefully that will turn into experience that can transfer to waitressing ......which she considers one of her career goals.......we just talked about careers versus jobs but she doesn't agree.......I say waitressing is a job.......not a career.........a career is what you would do even if you weren't making a living at it...........she's not buying it.......and sadly, she doesn't have a career choice beyond performing or being a vocalist of some sort........I asked if she'd teach music and got a "heck to the no".  Growing up may come as a surprise to her......
In her defense, she'll make a good waitress as long as she doesn't roll her eyes until she gets back to the drink station.....

Mucus.....

Ya know what you shouldn't do.....use mucinex, nasal spray, and alka seltzer night time cold medicine all at once.....today is detox day.....yikes......
Now four days have gone by.....the only room we have tackled is the downstairs family room.....who knows if it's still habitable since I am not really managing the household right now....
Tomorrow....I have to recover.....Ortho and baseball practice.....I'm charging the kindle cuz that's a lot of time quarantined to the car.....that's the secret to being a baseball mom......practice is for cleaning out your purse, wallet, glove compartment, console, trunk, and back seat.  There's knitting too....but that's when there is a warm indoor place to sit......that reminds me.....I haven't rhinestoned my new team hat or my chair with Jackson's number......it won't be as fun when I  can't smell the E6000 glue

Breaking of the Spring

.....finally....a real day off......I'm relocated to the couch so I can squeak orders to my son......I can't call the furnace guy until he picks up the basement.....and I have no voice....he feels the need to entertain while he does it.....or perhaps he's stalling....when he was younger it made me help him.....I'm over that...
We're trying to sort through old DVDs......oy .....I didn't like the Pippi Longstocking movie when it was age appropriate.....and now they're clinging to it like it's Oscar worthy.....really?!?.....it can go.....so can TMNT....and Thomas......
Now I needed to figure out how to squeak into the phone to call the furnace guy....that should be fun....

.....wow....a Saturday...

This is new....a Saturday post.....mobile blogger.....
I'm not gonna lie.....I'm bedridden....I could probably get up and do simple tasks.....but I don't wanna....I took mucinex all day yesterday to stop chest congestion.....it worked...but I don't handle that drug well

And now I'm officially my mother....talking about illness.....

I wish I liked TV......it's pretty boring to lay around all day.....Diogi agrees
...she does her best to get me up every two hours.....

Needless to say.....the great declutter hasn't begun.....I watched HGTV for a bit....does that count?

I'm calling this an energy conservation day.....tomorrow will be better because of it.....

.....Spring Break Eve....

...you know you're tired when even the floor under your desk starts to look comfy........I am so ready for this break...........baseball has been cancelled on both weekends so I have no excuse.....I need to be productive.......and make/encourage my kids to be the same..........I'm more tired thinking about that now.....maybe I'll take the Wii in to get fixed.......that would be fun to have working when we have cleared out the family room............a week from now it should be clear with an air hockey table added..........and Just Dance 4 on the Wii.........par tay....

...it's also time for caffeine weaning......I bought Diet Rite soda for my transition drink........I'm also good with Fresca........anybody remember Tab cola.........that was some nasty stuff.......pretty sure it was battery acid in a glass bottle...........we had it in the house for my diabetic brother and weight watchers mother......I bet if I had that in the house no one would steal my soda.....

I love the name Enzo......I think if we ever get a puppy that I'll be naming him Enzo.........and that in no way, shape, or form means we're getting a puppy......no cute little puppies......

...mobile....test test....

Taking it on the road......truth be told that means I'm on my phone in bed with Abby blasting her lungs to a episode of Glee....

I'm getting sick.....a chest cold...how perfect of me to wait until spring break.....I'm an ideal employee...

I guess that explains why I'm  almost asleep.....

I added some gadgets....can you spot the differences?

......appliances.......

.......I hate maintenance for appliances............really......the furnace is dying and I realize that........I'm keeping it comfortable for now but it's not doing the same for us........if it would only make it to Spring Break.........I don't want to take a day off to have it checked and/or replaced.......nice of Spring to send bitter cold weather for this weekend......I guess we'll see what we're made of.....it's also annoying that my year-old refrigerator has forgotten that I like it to make ice consistently..........do you supposed the furnace guy can fix that also.........and if he could wall mount the new TV....that would be awesome.........make him beautiful..............frosting....

...today is the day that our teachers find out what grade they are teaching next year.....or if they still have a job at all......I wisely went out to Subway for lunch so that I could miss the PTSD going on......while at Subway I remembered that I like eating sandwiches with mega produce......and that will be back on my shopping list......it's also soon to be Jimmy John's season.....best sammy to take to baseball tournaments......

 How fun to hear everyone's Spring Break plans..........we're supposed to go to smelly ol' Greeley for a tourney.......smells like dead meat I'm told.........butchering, packing, blood boiling factories there.........mmmmm...mmmmmmm....weather predicted is 28 degrees and snow....that, my friends, is not baseball weather.............the rest of the break I plan to Feng Shui my happy a** off......and we all know that means declutter for me...........woot.......goodbye junk......

....mermaids.....

....a song popped into my head today...........and it's stuck.......but at least it's cheery.........."If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life"........."somethin' somethin' somethin' something some thing"....from Mermaids...........I love when they are bopping around the kitchen having a great time with Cher mommy............that scene is exactly why Santa brought me an under cabinet CD/Radio stereo..........good times ...and a must for someone who doesn't love any kitchen duties.........

still mad at baseball........hoping for changes after a meeting with the coach tonight.......be warned......I'm a vicious mama bear........I could give Leigh Anne Tuohy (Blind Side) chills.....

It's cool to be a pilot....right?.......I'm a total Pile-it...........horizontal surfaces are not safe around me.....I knew a coffee table would be risky..........fortunately? I have a cat who will pee on any clothing that is lying on it...........we learned quickly to keep it clear.......

that is probably the only cat I've ever had that I don't really like.......it's Abby's...it's warped......he sasses her which is uber funny.........I think he hates her.......he also hates the sound effects with Ruzzle.......a game on my phone which is basically boggle...........and you should know that I totally rock at it.... if you're name is Pappy you don't think I'm all that great at it......but I have beat her several times............and that's next to impossible..........I am Sparticus.....

.....whoa

...my bouncing baby boy is 12 today.........he asks for so little.........he isn't really the party type so we got out of that.........we went out to Elephant Bar last night.......his homeland........he has always referred to Africa as his homeland.....he was more than disappointed to see his birth certificate that states our city as his place of birth.........sorry, Charlie......America it is........he chose a new hat  for his gift.........St. Louis Cardinals flat bill.....the new Diamond Series batting practice hat.......35 smackers......seems ridiculous for a hat........especially when it's not his only hat........boys are weird

baseball was a downer yesterday.........that's all I had better say about that......

I went one whole day without caffeine....not really on purpose......I paid dearly for that mistake.....huge headache by 6.....asleep by 8.........on the upside, that was a lot of sleep in one night for me.........I should have pushed through it today and I'd be almost to the point of not needing it........this morning I had to make 3 trips to get us all to school with everything we needed....all while the car was in desparate need of gas.....I made it....no idea how.........the dash said I had 0 miles left for at least two miles.......and it filled with exactly 11.0 gallons of gas.....there must have been just a squirt left in the hose for me to have made it........that really is a risky little game to play....allow me to refer to last night's headache........I couldn't make myself stop for gas........

Jackson has gotten some birthday cash and will be getting some gift cards............oy........he's going to be badgering me to take him places..........

.....Beware the Ides of March.....

...I love Shakespeare........it's not rubbing off on my children at all..........the town near our cabin has a great outdoor theatre that does Shakespeare each  summer.......they won't go......they also won't stay in the cabin alone....brats......

During undergrad, I enrolled in the Theatre in London program...........a group from the Univ of Minnesota went to London for 12 weeks.....I was paying out of state tuition anyway so this was not more expensive...........basically......we had a few hours of class each week and were tourists the rest of the time.......I learned quickly that it's dirt cheap with a student ID to get a ticket to any show at the last minute.....they sell the tickets that no one picks up at will call right before the curtain lifts.......usually front row center......FANTASTIC......I saw Evita three times in one week..........Cats.....Blood Brothers.....something with Rex Harrison.....hog heaven, people.....that was the life......I loved riding the Tube....loved walking to the theatre district......and I got straight A's I'm sure....weekend trips to Scotland, Ireland, and the Southern Coast of England.....I slept in castles..I also added a month to the trip and Eurail Passed my way around Europe......Paris (ick), Nice, Venice, Heidelberg, Auschwitz, Switzerland.............and the land of Von Trapps.......woot.....Austria rocks.....

Abby does love musicals so maybe she can learn to love Shakespeare.....Jack liked Wicked but says he's done.....done with stages..........

.......warning.....

I am not feeling cheery today...........I'm pretty sick of people who think they are entitled to everything their heart desires......ask a superstar or a millionaire.......that is not true happiness........I believe in living simply so that all can simply live..............

yes, I wear the same clothes all the time......I wash them ....and then I wear them again.....until they wear out........none of them say Limited or Aeropostale or Ann Taylor.....my shoes are high quality because you get what you pay for in footwear.......I know children who have 42 Hollister shirts............want Coach purses.......a selection of Uggs.......really?!?!?!?

I challenge you all to find complete joy in something simple.......my friend who has been struggling is caught up on utility bills........she gets it......she knows true joy in the moment......

I had a beanie baby obsession....before I had kids...........yes, I had a twelve-year-old's collection when I was 30.........I kept a checklist.....I wanted them all...........now....I give them to my speech students for working hard.......the one I give them is probably the only one they'll ever have ....and they love it to pieces.......and they'll probably remember me for that.........not for any speech goals they met......

I'm working hard to purge my house of nonsense I don't need........Goodwill drop off is my friend.......then maybe I can truly tackle taking control of my food intake and exercise output......there's not really a reason for me to wait but the thought of doing both overwhelms me.......Spring Break is coming..........I have big plans...........an empty, clean house.........a farmer's market schedule so we always have healthy and fun food choices.........it will happen.....join me, won't you!

.....mornin'

...trying to squeeze a blurb in before school......staff meeting this morning........I had better not say a word.......I am not a fan of meetings of any sort.........

the weather continues to ruin baseball's life around here.....snow on the fields in Denver so we might have another tournament cancelled this weekend...........now....if I used my unexpected time wisely I might not be so put out with it...........

today is a paperwork day.....I'm going to put my zombie eye to the test.......I'm sure eye strain played a part in the explosion......it's also yearbook day.....which means more computer time.........but at least that is fun stuff......it's like scrapbooking......but I get paid.......

so....after spring break.....I'm thinking of stopping the caffeine.......I usually wait until summer but it's such a waste of money.........and if I stop at 7-11......you know the Swedish Fish start making a ruckus until I buy them.....oy.....

....what time is it?????

....if only we weren't governed by timepieces.......I have a love/hate relationship with the time change today........I love the evenings with sunlight.........I hate the alarm going off in pitch black.......I wasn't hungry at lunch time.......I'm tired now that school is out.........I will struggle to stay awake until bedtime tonight...........BUT.........I'm alive, healthy, and so close to summer vacation........I still have a bloody eye.........I told my kids it must be from yelling at them......they were surprisingly well behaved after that news.......I don't really know what happened.........so creepy.....

My fabulous St. Louis Cardinals were on ESPN at lunchtime today..........I live in a city with AAA Rockies baseball and the Cards AAA is here every other year.......Lots of the AAA babies have made it to the big time and are starters this year..........Jackson has autographs from lots of them......not many people are sitting on the Cardinals/Redbirds side of the stadium and even fewer are hanging over the fence for autographs.......so Jackson has a pretty cool souvenir........I really really hope we know where it is.......

Jackson's birthday is coming up.......my baby will be 12........he doesn't know what he wants for his birthday..........we all know what that means.........spoiled thing has everything he can think of.......I guess we've reached the gift card years..........he needs longer pants and bigger shoes but that doesn't seem like something to wrap.....maybe he can keep sagging until it's shorts season.......I wonder if he wants some flip flops?............

...eyeball....

so....I'm early for the Teaching Learning Cycle workshop....I don't know why I always get excited for these days when there are no students.......usually mega-uber-boring training for me.....

I've got a freaking bloody eye......why on earth do those happen?....very disturbing to look at ....and it's a little sore ...but only when I blink.....so....no biggie......

We have a blizzard warning.........and an outdoor baseball tournament......I honestly would pray harder for a snow cancellation for this than for a school snowday......my son is not meant for cold weather......I can't imagine him trying to have any skills while the snow whips by......

dangit......the training is starting ...and it hurts to roll my eyes......how is this going to work?
 Since I was early....one of the trainers asked me to see if youtube worked at this site......I am officially the old lady that pulled up my daughter's solo from when she was 10 and made him watch it.....it's still a favorite.....if you want to see all of her solos......search RockyMtnJane .....on youtube.....

.....poking the past.....

....while working with a group today........the topic of kite flying came up.........not one of them had ever flown kite.........I wanted to feel sad for them but then a bit of my childhood flashed before my eyes......I assebmbled a diamond-shaped kite....( hate that they teach that as rhombus now).....two flimsy sticks and a sheet of thin plastic.........it was a piece of junk but it was mine and I built it.......Illinois gets windy.......I was instantly afraid of my kite hitting the ground and shattering, the kite string unraveling all the way off the roll,  the string burning my fingers as it whizzed through my hand, crossing my kite string with my brother's, and worst of all........my string breaking......kite flying is STRESSFUL.....maybe those kids are lucky they haven't had to do it.........

Spring Break is almost here........many people are packing up and flying out..............we'll be mounting new TVs, hooking up blu-ray players, setting up air hockey...........all Christmas gifts that are sitting in boxes.......people........this is why I have proclaimed next year is vacation year........no gifts........or maybe it's new furnace year.........for now the noisy furnace is chugging away keeping us warm enough....fingers crossed that we make it to the off-season to have it worked on or replaced....

* I'm wearing capris and sandals today.......instant mood elevator............let's not discuss the Winter Storm Watch for this weekend during the USSSA March Madness Baseball Tournament in Denver.......eek!

......teachers' lounge.......

....there is no other place quite like a teachers' lounge.....today was trivia Wednesday because the local paper has a quiz........two support staff we're amazing us with correct answers until we noticed they had their own copy open to the answers........now here's the thing........I was answering a physiology question without the benefit of free answers...........and THEY ARGUED WITH ME.......you know I googled to prove my answer was right..........haven't we already established that I like to be right........and I usually am..........well, lesson learned for those two............

still testing around the joint today.......we must walk on tiptoes and shush ourselves......quite a trick for the PE and Music teachers..........they are business as usual...........which means noise......

it's also stay after school and work on the yearbook Wednesday.......I am gleeful that there are only 10sih weeks for school left..........I am panicked that the yearbook has to be finished, printed, and handed out in less than 10ish weeks.........I feel some all nighters coming on........it would be weird to put my kids' pictures in it when they don't go to school here....right???

Attention weather forecasters......I am not impressed.......your happy sunny days are not showing up and you think I want to see snow in my baseball weekend prediction.........not cool.....

.....cheerless......

...my daughter is quitting cheerleading.......she had an "aha" moment when she couldn't perform her vocal solo this weekend up to her capability......and it was because she lost her voice cheerleading.....again......my kid is not a quitter and knew that was going to be an issue for us......I'm taking the hit and her choir director kindly said she'd share the blame......the coach will be told we forced her to make a choice........vocal music or obnoxious shreaky cheer..........no bias noted.....

it would seem that Flanigans are better people when there is no homework........my kids were happy kids last night......Abby danced while cooking in the kitchen ( I highly recommend an under the cabinet kitchen stereo).....Jackson didn't growl at anyone........I went out for dinner with a friend and no one whined about me leaving.......there is a school district in town that does not send any homework....I wonder if that whole part of town is happier than the rest......the are also known for witchcraft.....so that's weird.......and probably skews any research on the topic.....

Tomorrow we're going to have sandals weather........that, my friends, is a happy day!

.....TCAP.....

It's TCAP time in Colorado.........I'm not supposed to talk about it so now I probably have to kill anyone who just read that.........for once, no one took my room from me for testing........maybe because I'm next to the music room which is louder than loud........the counselor is sharing my space because she lost her office........I can't decide if I'm more productive because someone sees what I'm doing......or less....because we keep talking.........either way......it's a nice change of pace....

I guess I took the weekend off from blogging again.......we had a baseball scrimmage tournament.......who are we kidding.......we kept score and everything ...it was for real.....I do love our team....we're going to rock this year......I forgot to give Jackson his medicine....oops........once again, I learned that he does indeed NEED the medicine......when he's delightful in the morning, I forget.......and he loves baseball, so he's excited and delightful when he's getting ready to go.......I guess I'll just have to tape it to his forehead the night before........

yesterday........we did nothing........and I mean nothing.......I got up and took a shower and then was back in bed.........imagine my hair drying on the pillow..........the pizza guy got a real treat when I opened the door with my up-do going on..........so yes...nothing included not cooking.......Jack slept until 4pm..........ridiculous.........really .......he still went to bed at 9 (as far as I know).......

So...no homework during TCAP........best two weeks of our school year coming up..........woot!

...TGIF.....

Friday....delicious Friday...........my craziest day of the week since we have to zip to Falcon after school for baseball conditioning.........okay, so my job is basically sitting and being able to tell time....but still....trust me..it's crazy.......

It's been a while....but some swedish fish made it into my world today.....I cannot figure out the attraction....I don't really like gummi stuff otherwise....maybe it's the red dye I love......it's certainly not the fishy shape.....I hate seafood...........HATE IT...........I leave the lounge if someone is having tuna for lunch .....of couse my mom loves a big sloppy tuna sub from Subway....hoooooork.......I would rather eat cheese with mold on it......I think.....once my cousin, Colleen, and I had a sleepover at our grandma's......she had a cookie jar and we were pigging out on the chocolate cookies with white icing.......we discovered mold on the bottom ones......grandma said "oh, a little penicillin never hurt anyone"......really?!?!??

Abby sings at Solo and Ensemble Contest tomorrow....of course she cheered herself hoarse last night at the game..... maybe just maybe she'll figure out that the two are contra-indicated......doubtful....but hopeful......

So.....baseball and Fa La La this weekend......currently, the schedules will never work for me to get to both.......crossing my fingers that something changes.....baseball has changed 3 times in 3 days so I'm not even going to work on getting him a ride until that is finalized.....I could use another licensed driver in the house this weekend..........remind me I said that in 20 months when I really have one.....

....day off.....

yesterday.......I took a day off...........from life.......and by life I don't mean from breathing or doing laundry or grocery shopping........

Today I'm back full force......Abby cheers for boys' basketball afterschool....Jackson is a player buddy for Special Olympics basketball tonight.......I have great memories of basketball....sitting on the bleacher footrest with the seat as a desk......running around under the bleachers during games......the smell of popcorn......my dad won a free throw contest during one of my brother's games in high school.....I swear to pinochle that he shot the ball underhand....started the ball at his knees and twirled it to the basket.... old school.....the guys in my class started to give me grief.....until he didn't miss a basket ...and won.....I think the prize was a backboard and hoop.........not sure.....it was cool though.....before the contest, he had me show him how to shoot from the chest......it didn't work...he was 95% accurate with old style.......memories are such a special thing.....don't forget to keep making them .....

I like to think I have memories from age 3.....in reality, there is video footage from my Uncle Bill and photos from my grandma......she had the old polaroid that you have to wait two minutes before you peeled the film......good thing she thought I was photogenic......there might have been no photos of child number 4 otherwise........anywho....my memories are of going to the Rose Parade in Pasadena when I was 3......my cousin Billy caught a stuffed Pooh Bear and gave it to me..well, Aunt Mary made him give it to me....I don't think he loved the idea.... I still have it somewhere.....my Uncle Andy bought me a periscope so that I could see....even on my dad's shoulders it was hard to be short at that parade......that periscope was a cardboard box with mirrors angled on the ends.....but it worked.....

yep..I'll be the lady that rambles in the nursing home........and probably the one who bites annoying people......

....meetings...blech....

Tuesdays are not my favorite........I am sitting sitting sitting at meetings all day..........I am not a good sitter......don't get me wrong....I can plop on a couch....I just can't sit at a meeting and look interested for long periods of time.......when the hospital used to send me to conferences, I always picked by location....not topic.......I either went to Chicago so I had a free trip home........or I went to San Diego to stay with friends.............why oh why did I think I could sit inside for 8 hours when beaches and palm trees were visible.........I never made it........ditched as soon as the last sign in sheet was out for the day.........I probaby should have kept that to myself.....

Snowing again...........ta da........they said a dusting so of course it's coming down cats and dogs........I will totally embrace a late start tomorrow....bring it......

I am such a dork when people are talking about current tv programs......I watch nothing really....I'm content to watch my reruns on TV Land.............I am better about seeing movies since Abby is a cinema freak........Jack and I saw the new Bruce Willis flick.....good stuff........he's aging well........

gray skies make me sleepy.....

............10......

Ten more Monday wake ups for me.........one of them is Jackson's bday so that really shouldn't count....I should take that day off and let him do the same......he probably has TCAP so we would be frowned upon...

Smooth morning at my house........Abby wanted to eat breakfast at school and Jack wanted taquitos from 7-11.........Abby does NOT know we dropped her and then had our trashy breakfast......if he's wise, he'll keep that to himself.....

Diogi is showing her age........she's sleeping a lot.....I've had enough false alarms with her to hope it's just winter blahs....she's almost 14 .....I'd like her to make it to Spring and have a nice sunny nap in the yard.......but if it's time soon we'll deal with that.......I told her she has to let me know when it's time......I have a love/hate relationship with the book The Art of Racing in the Rain.......it's a must read for dog people.......

I've decided to paint my kitchen navy blue.......I was thinking of doing only one wall...........but after listening to myself yesterday.....I want the whole room painted......I hate painting so we'll see how long it takes me to actually do it.......lawd knows it needs painted.....the builder white theme has not held up in there.......let us not forget the tortilla soup accents from Jackson's semester at home.....yeesh......

Jammie Day

...we had a fake blizzard today so everything was cancelled.....no baseball practice....no dodgeball.....so I mopped, and did laundry......clean sheets make me happy.....

I read an article today about people's habit of comparing themselves and their things and homes to everyone around them......and it's not a good thing......my new feng shui mind wants to make my home the most efficient and comfortable it can be....not make it like all the others.....my house is very me.....not very many people have the main floor tiled.....for the most part......it's a good idea with kids and pets.......it doesn't work well with glass though......and I love clear glass.....I'm not a fan of drinking out of plastic.......

roast beast for lunches this week....yay.....

a lot of Roseanne in my day....many hate her..............but I tell you what....she's freaking funny....and I can identify with her mouthy 14 year old getting into power struggles with momma.......that Rosie....she should write a parenting manual with me.....last week Abby asked me why Jack got to eat a Power Bar in the car when we're not supposed to be eating in there.....I told her I loved him more....she doesn't like whatever answer I give her so I just threw that out there.......

.

...Blogless Week......oops

...what in the world............a whole week has gone by.............and there was a holiday and a snow day in there so I really don't have an excuse.....I can't explain how much I hate typing on the Kindle though......no more chances for that thing.....

Work is getting wild............the storm before the calm.....TCAP is actually slow season for me and it's just around the bend..........I can't believe it's almost March.......that means.........baseball, Spring Break, more baseball and almost summer...which has a bit of baseball.....

Tonight I finally cleared the rest of the driveway..........they say a blizzard is coming tomorrow.........when they warn us it's usually no biggie......if I count on it being no biggie, it will dump on us............I have a Dodgeball tournament tomorrow..........people.........what could be  more fun?.....maybe Kickball......

Tomorrow is also cooking/prepping day so we can make it through the week.....roast in the crockpot brings me great joy.....not because it will be delish with mashed taters tomorrow...........but because I love a cold roast beast sandwich in my lunch.......since I was a kid......cold roast beast (lightly salted) on white bread...wrapped in a waxed paper bag...in my Blondie lunchbox.....happiness.....do they still make those bags.....I don't know why they would.....for nostalgic old farts like me I guess......

taco bell

gross.....that's all i have to say about taco bell.....

we're at the  point where I need to grocery shop badly.....and i don't want to.....so meals some creative thinking......soup and garlic biscuits sound good to anyone?

thought tomorrow was going to be an easy day.....last minute invite to a birthday party ....I'm the driver....maybe I can shop during laser tag

gave  the kindle another chance...no can do

...into thin air

This blogging thing is nothing like facebook..........for all I know I'm writing to myself.........I haven't really followed other blogs so I don't know if people comment regularly.......maybe I'm doing it all wrong.........oh well, it makes me happy.....

I love a happy Friday...........I'm having a paperwork day....productive and all but I have to get up often to find someone to amuse me........I was never much of a homework in the library kind of person......I like people around........I even don't mind cleaning if someone is there visiting with me.........of course, that's tricky....cuz I don't want anyone to visit before I've cleaned......vicious circle that is.........

I made it through another Singles' Awareness Day.....I gave Jackson some Canoe cologne (win/win for all of us)......and a Juilliard Music Dept hoodie for Abby.......I can't afford to send her there but I have learned to spell it.........

Looking forward to a long weekend.......I scheduled doctor and ortho appointment for Monday morning.......stupid stupid stupid...........but too late now

Baseball pictures tomorrow for the team banner......I think it looks ridiculous when the boys where a cup in the pictures and stand sideways like tough guys.........I guess I don't want my kid to be the one without a cup though......that would be worse.......now I have to  make sure I have all the pieces of his costume ready.....

Widefield School District # 3

My Ass. Principal made all the staff members heart-shaped cookies frosted with our names on them........don't mind my chewing while I tell you a story about my workplace......

Today.........every parent brought treats for parties and needed to get into classrooms before school......it's allowed...it's festive.......we let it happen.....( I wonder if sickos know that there are days they can easily get through school security).........anyway...........a dad and his toddler tried to drop off homemade heart-shaped cupcakes.......a unnamed staff member stopped him and made a stink....she even foolishly made the decision to manually push the toddler out the door........the dad went all Blind Side Mama on her and said "get your hands off my son"...........who wouldn't have, really?

Now here comes the Widefield part...........more than half of the people who work in this district grew up here, graduated from WHS, and now work in the district they love and believe in......I am not one of these but my children probably will be so people accept me............it's a very small world here......

So......I got an email from a staff member asking who fit the description of the teacher who had promoted herself to security......CLICK.....I instantly knew which dad had been involved.......police officer, staff member's husband, fabulous guy............and the toddler........a very special little boy.....don't mess with him or his daddy...........and most of all....don't mess with that Mama Bear....She has all of Widefield behind her, fo' sho'

The staff member...........new, from out-of-town, power tripping... doesn't stand a chance.......
Okay.........maybe not such a huge deal and everyone survived.......but someone is bound to learn a valuable lesson or flee......or get pulled over while driving home tonight

A day in my life..........and all while I'm being observed with my tiny people.............good times......

.......the cookie was delish.....and worth it

VALENTIME's Day

Usually I think kids who talk funny are adorable............this mistake makes me crazy........ValenTIME's.....really??   I can't imagine my underlying hatred for the holiday makes it bother me more than any other error........pupcakes for your birthday....adorable........put it in my packpack.....adorable......I need my swimsoup and sunscream for the pool.....adorable......but ValenTIME's.....that's just stupid.....

The assistant principal is going to observe me today with my cute little kindergarteners.......one of my little guys loves trains........if anyone accidentally says a train word my lesson is sunk..........

So I'm guessing there will be sugar cookies with frosting throughout the building today.........my favorite...............I'm going to have to employ my "they've been touched by bugar fingers" tactic today......

Some may be thinking I should have just called in sick today.........I never do............I plan and plan a wonderful day where I drop the kids at school and stay home all day just feng shui-ing  my butt off.....it always falls through because I just cannot do it...........I have so many sick days saved I can probably take the year off right before I retire......for sure I can take off the next 11 Mondays before Summer break............here I go again........like I'll really do it.....

Wish me luck.......and don't say train....or choo choo.....or all aboard....around 9am......

Naughty

Okay....many forms of naughty right now..............I'm blogging at work......in my defense, I have no where to work.........every nook and cranny is occupado.........my signal is fading in and out because my laptop is perched on a corner of the desk in the counselors' office.........so...therefore.....it's okay to blog for a quick minute......

I made no-bake cookies........naughty again.......they have oatmeal in them so fine for breakfast....they fit in a zip loc so fine for lunches.........they're in the freezer, so fine for an afterschool snack.......then there will be none left.....so...not a problem.....

fire drill.......stampeded of ripe 6th-8th graders.......glad to be a part of that

Abby forgot her packet to register for high school......nice.....I reminded her that they offer 8th grade again next year so that will be fine..........

It took my typing that out to realize I should have gone home to get the packet during this time that I can't do anything..............wait........I'm gonna go............toodles

New followers!!!!!

how exciting.....I have new peeps....
still plugging away at the packing lunches and eating at home thing....abby hates it the most......
yesterday....jackson surprised me by going to school without medicine.....distress call from the counselor.....he got to spend the afternoon with mommy....here's a fact....without meds, he's ravenous.....give away that he skipped meds when he ordered a bacon double cheeseburger add a route 44 cherry limeade.....i ordered only a drink.....winning!!!

my son will someday be the life of the party.....Dear University Administration....sorry in advance....

fyi....hate writing on the kindle...

Brrrrrrrrr...........it's Winter

.....Once again, I dared to think my district might have a late start..............it will never happen and deep down I know that..........I dare to dream....
Do you miss me on the weekends.........I just don't get on the computer........I guess I could learn to  blog from my kindle..........

I cleaned out the fridge this weekend......amazing what gets shoved to the back and completely forgotten......it seems so much easier to pack lunches when the fridge is clean.......that might not make sense......but it's true.......I'm dabbling in the feng shui and I think I'd like it............the book I am reading is adamant that you declutter before you try to work on the flow............so there we have it....my least favorite thing to do is my starting point......I have a hard time letting go of things........I have fabric that is aging, craft kits that would be fun (well, not for my sassy teenager anymore) but for someone, TONS of scrapbooking stuff, and a lot of things I always thought I'd sell on eBay.....yes that includes a giant bag of dance shoes..........so.....Goodwill or ARC should really just stop by.....I could make their day..........

For now........I can feng shui my fridge.......pure joy........and that is part of the posterity/wealth corner of my home............so ....bring on my riches......

I have a Swedish Fish problem...........last year I had a cracked tooth so I never ate them..........the tooth problem is fixed so I'm going to need someone to tell me that there are toenails and pig lips melted into them at the factory........or maybe just picture them in my gut swimming in my super double big gulp of diet coke.......that cannot be good...........

I'm cold.........my office is cold..........my hands are cold........I'm going to go whine about that somewhere else......Is  my blog ready for the public?????   that is a very big step......

A.W.O.L.

Well......I have been missing..........BUT.........I wasn't misbehaving ............I have not gone out to eat at all this week.....for a treat.....I also haven't gone to SuperWalmart in a month......Sam's Club and the baby Neighborhood Walmart twice.........
Goodness...........3 staff people have asked me what's wrong with me this morning.........um, nothing....I'm typing and can't talk when I'm typing..........forgive me if it looks like work......
Here's to a baseball filled weekend..............
Oh........and I don't count getting my super double big gulp of diet coke at 7-11 going out to eat......

Karen

...Karen says I'm lame cuz I don't have any comments on my blog..........what up, peeps?

..... Love Month

Goodness Gertie.............it's February...........I have to tell you.......I make a mean sandwich.........even Jackson likes it.............perhaps I should work at Subway during Summer break.......I could rock the sandwich artist-ness..............the trick is shredded lettuce and quality rolls from the bakery.......I can't tell you the rest of the tricks or Jackson will find out he's been eating onions......

Today there is a substitute in the room next to me............he is a bit of a dork............we're also having a Shelter in Place and he is feeling the need to speculate and share with the children............even the kinders...........oy

I'm in the know.........there are 4 armed robbers in the neighborhood..........I sure hope they are apprehended before 3pm or I get to live here with the children who have not been picked up yet..........not my dream afternoon.....

Abby has to cheer tonight after school and I'm pretty sure she forgot her white shoes.........I'm not feeling like saving her this time.......and.......I can't leave the building............so there..........

I have healthy meals planned for the week and groceries in the fridge...........so of course they threw a basketball game on the schedule for tonight........can we survive on popcorn?

People brought in leftover Superbowl food so I'm staying out of the lounge.......day old guac looks disgusting............

...cooties

Abby has a nasty cold and her voice is mega crusty.....she has choir first thing in the morning.......I could not convince her that we should all sleep in a little and go in late.........durn it.....she consistently rains on my parade like that .........work ethic schmork ethic.........I wanted to stay home.........

I think I'm done with winter now........let's move on to spring and steaks on the grill.........I have a veggie basket for the grill too.......win/win for everyone......

I would like for all girl scouts to stay away from me......don't make me growl at you!

.....and while I'm growling..........curse you inventor of Swedish Fish.....

chips and salsa

Well.........I had five million chips at the restaurant but .......I blame them......they ran out of food and took an hour to find some..........who wouldn't eat chips that whole time.........the only save was that I washed them down with 5 gallons of water........

Tonight..........I'm going to my daughter's orientation meeting....for HIGH SCHOOL!!!!
I'd be struggling if she weren't so stinking excited about going..........our district's small town feel helps too because she'll be reunited with elementary friends......I'm sharing this milestone with some of my favorite teachers who will also be going.............please overlook the fact that I am going to most likely be one of the oldest parents there.....please don't let me be the oldest........please

I think we have to eat on the fly tonight..........gonna make fabulous choices.......

Carlos Miguel

So tonight I have dinner plan.............Mexican food.....free chips and salsa.......light lunch to prepare for a night out...........I can't just not go out........and I don't want my friends to slap chips out of my hand...........so......I have a plan............we'll see..........lately I've re-discovered beer.........Corona and queso..........a fine pair.......I'm sure Corona would also be fine with some sizzling fajitas.....no sopapillas...no fried ice cream........no cinnamon/sugar coated anything......

You might have noticed my absence of blogging on the weekends........that's naughty......nothing much exciting on the weekends I guess..........once baseball tournaments start....I will have more of a life..........well, my son has a life and I'm part of it.....is it sad that Jimmy Johns is a part of baseball?

Friday Friday Friday

......the highlight of my morning was holding ( I mean evaluating) twin baby boys............such sweet little puddins ....you wouldn't believe........I probably should have made up stuff that was wrong with them and told the parents they had to bring them in to see me once a week.....soft fuzzy heads....
I packed a perfect lunch............Erica (pregnant ladies are a very bad influence) convinced us to go out........Chipotle is the bomb........and worth it..........it just means light dinner.......such as.....the lunch that is still packed and sitting on my desk.....

Sooooo....just tracked my lunch into the calorie tracker.........I recommend MyFitnessPal if you are looking for a free one...........Weight Watchers is great if an extra $18 a month falls out of your butt each month and you can't think of anything else to do with it......and back to me.....I have not ruined my day....Chipotle stays on my list of places I can eat out....and bonus, I didn't see any nose picking going on while we were there........

fyi....you can have a lot of calories when you're ginormous......

Whoops

Who's a blog slacker?.........yep.........just go ahead and deduce that I've been making poor choices....
Yesterday I signed up for Kaiser Permanente's Weigh and Win program.......if I lose 5% of my body weight, they will send me $15 a quarter.........10% gets $30....and so on....so....I've weighed in with them and am not going to post my weight............I'll give you a math problem and if you want to know the dirty truth you can figure it out......5% means losing 13 pounds for me.........so that's my first goal........
For the record.........Karen is the one who harassed me into joining.........I guess I should let her read the blog since she stars in it frequently.....
My sister sent caramel corn and homemade caramels yesterday............sabotage!!!
 I do my best when I stay out of restaurants...fast or otherwise.......so for now...I'm going to assume all food service workers pick their noses and wipe their boogies on the food......sadly, it might be true....
Thought for the day........it's fuel.....I will always need more so I don't need to eat it all in one sitting......

W-2 Day

Today I got my W-2 form from the district......I get money back from the IRS.......I will still wait until April to do it........no idea why...........again....stupid........I have issues with change.....
Big News..........I ellipticatered during The Middle ....and I lived.......Mychele gave me a nudge on FaceBook so I couldn't let her down.........I did not go in the craft room though.........
More Big News........I was hungry when I woke up.......I bet that's how skinny people feel..........

Jack took a break from his ADHD medication yesterday......... it was a late start so I wasn't there when he left for school.........how fun that substitute teachers know his name instantly..........he "didn't do anything" he was "just making noises" in class............

We played a pirate game in my groups today.......Aargh

Chocolate chip cookies in the teachers' lounge..........evil........people are evil.....

Welp............FAIL

I already missed a whole day of blogging..........dangit..........you can assume I wasn't behaving nutritionally.
I was CRABBY....all day...........I blame others...........because that's easier.......
Today I'm back to normal...........looking for fun in all that happens......my SLPA and I went out for lunch and it was a fair choice.......salad and a slice of DEEEElicious Boriello Bros pizza.....I should be set for the day........a simple cereal dinner should please us all tonight....
I need some help staying upright when I get home from work.   Going into the craft room works the best.......no food allowed.......I get busy and forget there is Nutella in the pantry.........it's a simple plan......crossing the threshold into that room is tricky since my bed wants me to join it and dink around with my phone or kindle............I always feel better if I've been productive.........so idiot........go in there............ask me tomorrow if I did........k?

My hip is achy...........reaching fifty could suck the life out of me if I don't get in shape.........I feel old...........I hate doctor appointments so that is not an option.........
If someone would offer me $100 to get on the elliptical tonight, I can't swear I'd do it..............okay.......I love watching the Middle on Wed nights........I watch very little evening TV so it's a treat...........maybe........just maybe I can commit to ellipticating while that is on.................again........check with me tomorrow.........
Toodles

Blog Virgin

So.....my first blog.....I hope no one was expecting punctuation because I don't do that.....I'm good at it, mind you.....I just don't like to do it when I type.....
My first thought was to make a blog but not give out the address for it..........it's safer that way.
In reality.......I need this to make myself accountable.   I read a blog today from a guy who lost 150 pounds by blogging.  I suppose he also ate less and worked out more.   I guess I'll try that too.

Today I found myself eating a Panda Bowl for lunch.  I HATE Panda Express.  My daughter loves it.  We had a lunch date to go to the orthodontist so guess what we had.........yes....blech.....
All afternoon I questioned why I ate 700+ calories of what I hate and decided I might have stumbled onto the crux of my issues.....I eat because it's convenient, it's available, it's delicious, it's filling, it's time, it smells good when I'm starving, .....because I don't think.   
I'm actually very picky.  My friend, Karen, is the same way and says "for a fat lady, I sure don't like many foods".........go figure....