It's been a nice, fairly quiet day. I got some laundry done. 4 loads. My belt broke on my washer and I am waiting for the repair man to call me back to give me a quote and to set up a time to come and fix it. Not a terribly big deal. The washer is 12 years old. It doesn't owe me a thing. It has been used heavily from me and from various friends who've done laundry here to save at the laundromat. If it is going to cost more than $100 to fix, then I will be buying a new one. They aren't too expensive.
Hayley's first soccer game is Tuesday, the 20th. They play regular games at the Union St. Soccer Complex all summer and have pick-up games at the LMS soccer field Thursday and Sunday nights, all in preparation for the fall soccer season. She'll be a freshman in the fall and wants to do soccer. Kayla doesn't do any sports except swim team, but that is in the winter months. Kayla will be a sophomore. I can't believe I have two kids in high school now! My baby's in his second year of middle school. Time for me to have another one, I think. Or at least gear up for adopting.
I was seriously considering a sperm donor, however, there is a very odd manager guy at Movie Gallery, and I am going to most-unChristianlike for a moment. He is short (5'6 or 5'7), soda bottle glasses, and his legs are normal from the thigh to his knees, but then they flare out. He looks like he could be the brainy sort, but at his age (he looks like he is in his late 20s, early 30s) if he were smart, he wouldn't be working and WALKING to work at the Movie Gallery. My point to all of this, is whenever I think of artificial insemination, my brain conjures up a vision of him. Just the thought of him rubbing one out is enough to keep me celibate, or at least orgasm-free for a long, long time. But you know how it is when you don't want to think about something, and then you can't help but think about it? It doesn't help much that I am in that Movie Gallery at least once a week.
The kids and I are going to the movies tonight. Two of us are going to see RV and one (Zach) is going to see Cars. Hayley is at my brother's house for the week.
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
Freaky
My son has some real walkie talkies that we use in Boston or on hikes and what-have-you...they supposedly have a 5-mile radius. We've never tested them for more than 2 miles, so I don't know if that is a legitimate claim or not. Anyway, we charge them during the day and he usually takes one with him when he is out playing in the woods or down the street. Lately, while both handsets are in the charger, someone else has been calling them. Obviously, this kid and Zach are using the same channel, but it is kind of weird. We'll be sitting in the living room watching t.v. and all of a sudden, the kid on the other end starts talking. They've finally exchanged names...Zach and Tyler, but Zach doesn't know him from the neighborhood. Directly across the river from us, probably less than a quarter mile away, is the Main Rd. in Bradley. A completely different town. The bridge doesn't cross the river to get into Bradley for about 3 miles, and to get directly across from us, that is probably another 4 or 5 miles, so potentially, this kid could live 7 or 8 miles away by car.
4th Plans
This has been an early day. I've been up since 6 AM. I'm getting used to waking up early. It is certainly a way to get that extra hour added onto your day.
Allison and I have been making our 4th of July plans. We go to Boston every year. We started going way back when I was 26. I've missed two years but am anxious to get back. In the spirit of our first 4th of July there, we like to fly by the seat of our pants. It all started with a group of 4. Allison, Stacie, Lynette and myself. On the 3rd of July that year, Stacie was like, "Let's just go!" With little planning, and little knowledge of what to expect, we headed out that night at around 7 or 8 PM. Lots of adventures happened that first trip down (getting lost in Ipswich, Mass, bringing the metal baseball bat for protection, betting Allison and Stacie that Lynette and I would have a date to be on one of the yachts by the time the fireworks went off...we had the date by mid-morning!) By now, we're old pros at it and have it down to a science, even getting the same parking spot every year. Each year, new people come with us. Lynette doesn't go anymore. Stacie goes every year with Cookie, and so it is usually just Allison and I and whomever we bring along. One year, Desaraye came, my very 9-month pregnant friend Melissa came, Hayley's been...she saw LeAnn Rimes there with me, Kayla saw Barry Manilow with us and she absolutely hates the fact that she has had to see this man in concert! We've seen Don McClain, Cyndi Lauper, Arlo Guthrie, various Miss Americas, of course the infamous Boston Pops, with conductor Keith Lockhart...last year, Big and Rich played along with Gretchen Wilson.
The rules of the trip are simply to have the fewest concrete plans as possible. A sure way to ruin the trip for me is having anything written in stone. The beauty of the trip is to be open to any and all options. Sometimes we get a hotel on the 3rd in Boston, but that has proven to be detrimental to getting a good spot because it is so easy to hit the snooze button in a cozy hotel room and not get in line for the concert until 7ish...way too late. Pros begin lining up the night before. We've discovered that as long as your in line by 5, you should be in the first couple of rows. Most years, we're in around the 2nd row, but honestly, my preferred spot is about 12 makeshift rows back. You have better views of the fireworks after the show. Also, part of the fun of the trip is running on little sleep.
My most favorite trips are the ones when we've headed down about 10 PM the night before and been in our parking spot by 2 AM. We doze until about 4:30...then we grab our essentials and head for the line in the park, where you rest in line until they open the gates. In the past, before 9/11, you were able to rush the field for the best spot, but since 9/11, everyone has to go thru metal detectors and have their bags checked and you get a bracelet. After marking off your spot with tarps and blankets (trust me, after spending almost 24 hours with your people, you'll want almost a blanket for each person, and that will STILL be too close to each other) you get to spend your day exploring Boston and trying to keep cool. It is breezy down by the river and it is a carnival like atmosphere all over the city. We find the Starbucks, ride the T back and forth, eat lunch, get hosed down by the City's firetrucks, buy souveniers, etc. It is important to regroup around 5ish...at this point, the crowd has reached anywhere from 400,000-800,000 people. The concert starts around 8. The fireworks go off at 10:30 PM. They play the 1812 overture during the fireworks and use real cannons that make your heart feel like it will stop and your eardrums will blow. All of the fireworks are orchastrated to music. It is such a patriotic moment that it brings tears to even the most hardened anarchist. It is a magical time and a moment to share with your most treasured friends and family. It makes all of the long hours of the day leading up to the concert worth every second. That memory is what keeps you coming back every year.
After the fireworks, either we head back to the hotel, OR we drive back to Maine. I prefer to make the short drive back to Kittery. If the weather is going to be nice, I like to do this, and catch a few zzzz's at the rest area in Kittery, then wake up early and head to Old Orchard for the day. Usually at this point, I try to lose Allison on the beach and demand she find her own ride home! :) In my defense, I've never left her there! Or in Connecticut, or in New Jersey, or in Rhode Island...though I've been tempted.
Allison and I have been making our 4th of July plans. We go to Boston every year. We started going way back when I was 26. I've missed two years but am anxious to get back. In the spirit of our first 4th of July there, we like to fly by the seat of our pants. It all started with a group of 4. Allison, Stacie, Lynette and myself. On the 3rd of July that year, Stacie was like, "Let's just go!" With little planning, and little knowledge of what to expect, we headed out that night at around 7 or 8 PM. Lots of adventures happened that first trip down (getting lost in Ipswich, Mass, bringing the metal baseball bat for protection, betting Allison and Stacie that Lynette and I would have a date to be on one of the yachts by the time the fireworks went off...we had the date by mid-morning!) By now, we're old pros at it and have it down to a science, even getting the same parking spot every year. Each year, new people come with us. Lynette doesn't go anymore. Stacie goes every year with Cookie, and so it is usually just Allison and I and whomever we bring along. One year, Desaraye came, my very 9-month pregnant friend Melissa came, Hayley's been...she saw LeAnn Rimes there with me, Kayla saw Barry Manilow with us and she absolutely hates the fact that she has had to see this man in concert! We've seen Don McClain, Cyndi Lauper, Arlo Guthrie, various Miss Americas, of course the infamous Boston Pops, with conductor Keith Lockhart...last year, Big and Rich played along with Gretchen Wilson.
The rules of the trip are simply to have the fewest concrete plans as possible. A sure way to ruin the trip for me is having anything written in stone. The beauty of the trip is to be open to any and all options. Sometimes we get a hotel on the 3rd in Boston, but that has proven to be detrimental to getting a good spot because it is so easy to hit the snooze button in a cozy hotel room and not get in line for the concert until 7ish...way too late. Pros begin lining up the night before. We've discovered that as long as your in line by 5, you should be in the first couple of rows. Most years, we're in around the 2nd row, but honestly, my preferred spot is about 12 makeshift rows back. You have better views of the fireworks after the show. Also, part of the fun of the trip is running on little sleep.
My most favorite trips are the ones when we've headed down about 10 PM the night before and been in our parking spot by 2 AM. We doze until about 4:30...then we grab our essentials and head for the line in the park, where you rest in line until they open the gates. In the past, before 9/11, you were able to rush the field for the best spot, but since 9/11, everyone has to go thru metal detectors and have their bags checked and you get a bracelet. After marking off your spot with tarps and blankets (trust me, after spending almost 24 hours with your people, you'll want almost a blanket for each person, and that will STILL be too close to each other) you get to spend your day exploring Boston and trying to keep cool. It is breezy down by the river and it is a carnival like atmosphere all over the city. We find the Starbucks, ride the T back and forth, eat lunch, get hosed down by the City's firetrucks, buy souveniers, etc. It is important to regroup around 5ish...at this point, the crowd has reached anywhere from 400,000-800,000 people. The concert starts around 8. The fireworks go off at 10:30 PM. They play the 1812 overture during the fireworks and use real cannons that make your heart feel like it will stop and your eardrums will blow. All of the fireworks are orchastrated to music. It is such a patriotic moment that it brings tears to even the most hardened anarchist. It is a magical time and a moment to share with your most treasured friends and family. It makes all of the long hours of the day leading up to the concert worth every second. That memory is what keeps you coming back every year.
After the fireworks, either we head back to the hotel, OR we drive back to Maine. I prefer to make the short drive back to Kittery. If the weather is going to be nice, I like to do this, and catch a few zzzz's at the rest area in Kittery, then wake up early and head to Old Orchard for the day. Usually at this point, I try to lose Allison on the beach and demand she find her own ride home! :) In my defense, I've never left her there! Or in Connecticut, or in New Jersey, or in Rhode Island...though I've been tempted.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Kids
My kids are funny. My 12 year old nephew Cody is spending the week with us. Kayla and I were going to run some errands and we wanted salads for supper. Zach and Cody wanted pizza. I took them out to eat last night, so I said, NO! Cody has $25 on him, so he and Zach said they'd get their own supper. This entailed them walking to the nearest pizza joint about a mile and a half down the street. Cody is a weird little boy. Weird in the sense that he mowed crop circles in my yard for me when I got home from work. Together they are super weird. Kayla and I drove by them, to make sure they made it to the pizza place and they were sitting inside, huddled together on the bench, awaiting their order. They then carried the pizza home and ate it here, instead of just eating it there. I come home to them making cookies and Zach calling himself Betty Cocker...Betty cRocker, Zachary. What do I expect when this is the kid, when packing his clothes for the summer, yelled down the stairs, "Hey, who took my stack of Fruit of the Looms?" Except he called them Fruit of the Loams. Being the only boy in our immediate family, I'm sure his sisters and I did not touch the stack! He also calls Subarus...Sub-a-roos. I'm not certain where he gets his reading skills.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Sunday Night
At church tonight, I looked over and my friend Annie was sitting a couple of people down from me. Annie was one of my drinking buddies from about age 28-31. I got saved shortly before my 31st birthday and stopped drinking every Friday night. Friday nights were my nights without the kids, so Allison and I would head to "our" bar Mulligan's and meet up with Annie and the rest of the crew. Annie has been saved since March. It was so great seeing her. She and I and her two kids, along with two of mine and my nephew Cody, all had supper tonight after church. We ate at the Coach House. Her little boy Caleb, who I haven't seen since he was about 6 months old, is now a very talkative 3 1/2 year old. He has quickly become my best friend.
Caleb: You're beautiful! Cute, too!
Me: Oh, thank you Caleb. You are pretty handsome yourself!
Caleb: Thanks. You know, I really don't like my mom, can I go home with you?
Me: Well, I love your mom and I think she would miss you very much!
Caleb: Maybe. I guess I'll give her another chance.
And her little girl Zoey is beautiful. She is almost 2. White blond hair and big blue eyes. She looks a lot like Jenna, Erin. SOOOO cute. She sat next to me and kept opening her mouth for my croutons. "More, pease" she'd say. She and Caleb ended up helping me eat most of my salad. She loved Zach. They both loved Kayla. Caleb was on ketchup patrol. "Hey guys, let me know if anyone needs more ketchup."
God truly works in mysterious ways. I was feeling a bit down last night and today because with the loss of Brian is the loss of all of my friends thru him. Of course, they still like me, they know none of this is my fault, they want me and Brian to work out, but still...they're his friends. And Amy is in Ohio. Allison is always in and out of the loony bin. Eric works the graveyard shift and Erin and I are often times too lethargic from dealing with kids all day to have the kind of energy required to pick up the phone and call to do stuff. Lynette lives in Ellsworth now, and has just had a baby. Charlie lives in the Augusta area now. Anyway, so I was feeling down and then this morning at church, my brother's wife showed up. It has given us something to talk about and to connect with. Then when I was mowing the lawn today, my other sister-in-law called.
Julie: What are you doing?
Me: Mowing the lawn.
Julie: When are you going to church?
Me: We're leaving here about 5:30.
Julie: Do you think you could leave earlier and come over and bring some hair dye?
Me: What did you do?
Julie: I had my hair highlighted and it turned into a pumpkin color. So I went back to have her fix it and it is still awful. Will you come over and help me fix it?
Me: Sure, when do you want me?
Julie: Is now okay?
Me: I'm on my way.
So we headed back to Brewer to fix Julie's hair. Two trips to the store for hair dye and then her hair turned GREY! I was running late for church, so I left and told her I'd pray for her and that I'd be back at 7:30. While I was gone, she went and dyed her hair back to dark brown, only now instead of being just dark brown like it used to be, there are some greys in it.
At church, I ran into Annie and we've made plans to go on the church picnic together next weekend at Lamoine Beach. So for a day that started out lonely, I realized how very lucky I am. A phone call last weekend from Tanya. A phone call this weekend from Amy. Catching up with Annie. Starting a friendship with my sister-in-law Mandy. Continuing my friendship with my sister-in-law Julie.
Current Mood: very happy
Current Music: Legacy............Nichole Nordeman
Caleb: You're beautiful! Cute, too!
Me: Oh, thank you Caleb. You are pretty handsome yourself!
Caleb: Thanks. You know, I really don't like my mom, can I go home with you?
Me: Well, I love your mom and I think she would miss you very much!
Caleb: Maybe. I guess I'll give her another chance.
And her little girl Zoey is beautiful. She is almost 2. White blond hair and big blue eyes. She looks a lot like Jenna, Erin. SOOOO cute. She sat next to me and kept opening her mouth for my croutons. "More, pease" she'd say. She and Caleb ended up helping me eat most of my salad. She loved Zach. They both loved Kayla. Caleb was on ketchup patrol. "Hey guys, let me know if anyone needs more ketchup."
God truly works in mysterious ways. I was feeling a bit down last night and today because with the loss of Brian is the loss of all of my friends thru him. Of course, they still like me, they know none of this is my fault, they want me and Brian to work out, but still...they're his friends. And Amy is in Ohio. Allison is always in and out of the loony bin. Eric works the graveyard shift and Erin and I are often times too lethargic from dealing with kids all day to have the kind of energy required to pick up the phone and call to do stuff. Lynette lives in Ellsworth now, and has just had a baby. Charlie lives in the Augusta area now. Anyway, so I was feeling down and then this morning at church, my brother's wife showed up. It has given us something to talk about and to connect with. Then when I was mowing the lawn today, my other sister-in-law called.
Julie: What are you doing?
Me: Mowing the lawn.
Julie: When are you going to church?
Me: We're leaving here about 5:30.
Julie: Do you think you could leave earlier and come over and bring some hair dye?
Me: What did you do?
Julie: I had my hair highlighted and it turned into a pumpkin color. So I went back to have her fix it and it is still awful. Will you come over and help me fix it?
Me: Sure, when do you want me?
Julie: Is now okay?
Me: I'm on my way.
So we headed back to Brewer to fix Julie's hair. Two trips to the store for hair dye and then her hair turned GREY! I was running late for church, so I left and told her I'd pray for her and that I'd be back at 7:30. While I was gone, she went and dyed her hair back to dark brown, only now instead of being just dark brown like it used to be, there are some greys in it.
At church, I ran into Annie and we've made plans to go on the church picnic together next weekend at Lamoine Beach. So for a day that started out lonely, I realized how very lucky I am. A phone call last weekend from Tanya. A phone call this weekend from Amy. Catching up with Annie. Starting a friendship with my sister-in-law Mandy. Continuing my friendship with my sister-in-law Julie.
Current Mood: very happy
Current Music: Legacy............Nichole Nordeman
6/11/06
Went to bed with a bad headache and woke up with a bad headache. I almost didn't go to church this morning. I really was not feeling well. I definitely wasn't feeling "it" this morning, but Ken was gone all last week, so I wanted to be part of the welcome back crowd this morning.
I saw my boyfriend at church. Like I said, I was not feeling well, so I headed over to my seat, not really paying attention to anything or anyone. I looked up and of course, he was watching me. I smiled and found my seat. Later on, a girl that I've noticed before was checking him out when she walked in. I was like, "Hey! He is MY boyfriend. Put your eyes back in your head and lose some weight in the lower half of your body!" Not very Christian-like I know! Then of course, she had to pretend to go to the bathroom or whatever and had to walk right by him. She said hi to him, and he said something back, but he didn't take his eyes away from my direction. Later during the sermon, I was feeling quite convicted because I knew I was taking my eyes off of my ultimate goal, which is my relationship with Jesus Christ. So at this point, I was feeling pretty darn crappy. I was sick, I was convicted, and I was ready to break up with my boyfriend because I am not competing with every girl in the place for his attention. I'm not interested, nor do I have the time or energy. That's when Ken starts talking in his sermon about beauty queens and how the runner-up always pretends to be happy for the other girl, when secretly she hates her and wants to scratch her eyes out. All of a sudden, I start thinking, Okay, how many people saw my thoughts about this girl on my face, other than my pastor? So now I am feeling like I am doubting my faith because earlier, I had decided that God will work everything out in my life like it is supposed to work out, and here I am already giving up because God of course, can't do something as big as straighten out my relationship life. Just when all was almost lost, I looked up and my brother's wife was coming towards me. I've been praying that my brothers and their significant others would get saved. This particular brother has problems with alcohol and he and I are the ones who've beared the brunt of my dad's illness. I can't describe how happy I was to see her. I must point out I've never liked her, because she's cheated on my brother and is just flakey and not someone I would like, and admittedly, it would take an act of God to get me to love her. So imagine my surprise when I was so overwhelmed with happiness to see her. I gave her a genuine hug and asked how long she'd been coming and she said that today was her first day. I told her that I had been praying that they'd come to church. I even showed her the bookmark in my Bible, which is my niece Gaby (their daughter). There isn't a whole lot of point to any of this other than to me that was the reminder I needed that God is always faithful.
Current Mood: good, but I need to take some medicine for this headache.
Current Music: My Heart Goes Out............Warren Barfield
I saw my boyfriend at church. Like I said, I was not feeling well, so I headed over to my seat, not really paying attention to anything or anyone. I looked up and of course, he was watching me. I smiled and found my seat. Later on, a girl that I've noticed before was checking him out when she walked in. I was like, "Hey! He is MY boyfriend. Put your eyes back in your head and lose some weight in the lower half of your body!" Not very Christian-like I know! Then of course, she had to pretend to go to the bathroom or whatever and had to walk right by him. She said hi to him, and he said something back, but he didn't take his eyes away from my direction. Later during the sermon, I was feeling quite convicted because I knew I was taking my eyes off of my ultimate goal, which is my relationship with Jesus Christ. So at this point, I was feeling pretty darn crappy. I was sick, I was convicted, and I was ready to break up with my boyfriend because I am not competing with every girl in the place for his attention. I'm not interested, nor do I have the time or energy. That's when Ken starts talking in his sermon about beauty queens and how the runner-up always pretends to be happy for the other girl, when secretly she hates her and wants to scratch her eyes out. All of a sudden, I start thinking, Okay, how many people saw my thoughts about this girl on my face, other than my pastor? So now I am feeling like I am doubting my faith because earlier, I had decided that God will work everything out in my life like it is supposed to work out, and here I am already giving up because God of course, can't do something as big as straighten out my relationship life. Just when all was almost lost, I looked up and my brother's wife was coming towards me. I've been praying that my brothers and their significant others would get saved. This particular brother has problems with alcohol and he and I are the ones who've beared the brunt of my dad's illness. I can't describe how happy I was to see her. I must point out I've never liked her, because she's cheated on my brother and is just flakey and not someone I would like, and admittedly, it would take an act of God to get me to love her. So imagine my surprise when I was so overwhelmed with happiness to see her. I gave her a genuine hug and asked how long she'd been coming and she said that today was her first day. I told her that I had been praying that they'd come to church. I even showed her the bookmark in my Bible, which is my niece Gaby (their daughter). There isn't a whole lot of point to any of this other than to me that was the reminder I needed that God is always faithful.
Current Mood: good, but I need to take some medicine for this headache.
Current Music: My Heart Goes Out............Warren Barfield
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Saturday Night
I feel renewed. Much better after getting out and then taking an invigorating shower.
I talked with one of my best friends, Amy, on the phone today. She is presently living in Ohio, attending law school. I love unexpected phone calls with people I love. Amy and I have been friends for 10 years. Anyway, she was like, "What are you doing August 7th?"....."Um, gee, Amy, I don't know. I don't think I have any plans as of yet!" She wanted to know if I would attend her wedding! She and Jeremiah broke up and now she is marrying someone else! She thought she had me on the shock meter until I informed her that I doubt Brian would be attending the nuptials. "YOU AND BRIAN BROKE UP?" Why this surprises her, I do not know. The more distant I get from the situation, the more I am surprised that we were even together as long as we were. Anyone who has endured a long depression and then come out on the other side, must know how I feel. It wasn't my depression, but I certainly lived it with him and I am just so glad to be away from all of the gloom. Even when he was in a good mood, I was always waiting for the other shoe to fall. Always walking on eggshells. It certainly wasn't all bad. There certainly were more good times than not, and I'll carry those precious memories with me till the day I die, but I will not miss the dark cloud that follows him everywhere.
Anyway, congratulations Amy! I miss you and I love you and I can't wait to see you soon! :)
I need to go blow dry my hair. Until tomorrow then!
Current Mood: very good
Current Music: Breathe Your Name.......Sixpence None the Richer
I talked with one of my best friends, Amy, on the phone today. She is presently living in Ohio, attending law school. I love unexpected phone calls with people I love. Amy and I have been friends for 10 years. Anyway, she was like, "What are you doing August 7th?"....."Um, gee, Amy, I don't know. I don't think I have any plans as of yet!" She wanted to know if I would attend her wedding! She and Jeremiah broke up and now she is marrying someone else! She thought she had me on the shock meter until I informed her that I doubt Brian would be attending the nuptials. "YOU AND BRIAN BROKE UP?" Why this surprises her, I do not know. The more distant I get from the situation, the more I am surprised that we were even together as long as we were. Anyone who has endured a long depression and then come out on the other side, must know how I feel. It wasn't my depression, but I certainly lived it with him and I am just so glad to be away from all of the gloom. Even when he was in a good mood, I was always waiting for the other shoe to fall. Always walking on eggshells. It certainly wasn't all bad. There certainly were more good times than not, and I'll carry those precious memories with me till the day I die, but I will not miss the dark cloud that follows him everywhere.
Anyway, congratulations Amy! I miss you and I love you and I can't wait to see you soon! :)
I need to go blow dry my hair. Until tomorrow then!
Current Mood: very good
Current Music: Breathe Your Name.......Sixpence None the Richer
Saturday Afternoon
I'm not sure what it is about getting a goodnight's sleep that causes me to be drained the next day. It is 3:30 PM and I could lay down for a nap. I fell asleep last night around 10. I slept very well. Was awake by 8:30 AM. On the days that I have less sleep...say 10-6 for instance...I feel much more energized during the day.
I've even had two caffeine ladened beverages already to no avail. Methinks I should take the dog for a run. We're going stircrazy with all of this rain.
My room has been cleaned. I've read for almost 2 hours. I've watched two World Cup soccer games. That was torture, don't you know it! Watching beautifully-toned men racing up and down a soccer field.
Okay, off for my jog.
I've even had two caffeine ladened beverages already to no avail. Methinks I should take the dog for a run. We're going stircrazy with all of this rain.
My room has been cleaned. I've read for almost 2 hours. I've watched two World Cup soccer games. That was torture, don't you know it! Watching beautifully-toned men racing up and down a soccer field.
Okay, off for my jog.
June 10, 2006
It is RAINING! Please make it stop!
Today's list of stuff to do:
Watching the World Cup...Paraguay vs. England (My aunt spent 2 years in the Peace Corps in Paraguay so I am kind of rooting for them, BUT on the England team there is David Beckham...he is such a fine looking man. His wife isn't too shabby either...Posh Spice aka Victoria)
Clean my room
Organize my room (bookshelves, desktop computer, dressers and wardrobe, various ski equipment, golf clubs, etc.)
Read
Tan
Go to Borders
Today's list of stuff to do:
Watching the World Cup...Paraguay vs. England (My aunt spent 2 years in the Peace Corps in Paraguay so I am kind of rooting for them, BUT on the England team there is David Beckham...he is such a fine looking man. His wife isn't too shabby either...Posh Spice aka Victoria)
Clean my room
Organize my room (bookshelves, desktop computer, dressers and wardrobe, various ski equipment, golf clubs, etc.)
Read
Tan
Go to Borders
MacBook Here I Come!
I love my iBook. I have loved it well. It is my entire life all rolled up in a little notebook size computer. It has my iTunes, which I load onto my iPod. It has all of my iPhotos and a video library of all of my iMovies that the kids make with the mini-DV camera and edit themselves on the iBook. It has my manucript and other various writings. It has my master calendar. It is my portable dvd player. It has my Bible loaded on in King James Version which is the version I PREFER. (I liken it to reading Shakespeare...it really isn't the same when you read the Cliff's Notes version.) It is the keeper of my all-time high SNOOD scores. It is much smaller and more stream-lined than any monster-sized laptop that is running Windows. And oh how I love my OS X operating system. BUT...I just found the newest love of my life. A brand new MacBook. It will be my newest gift to myself for me, from me. It presently runs OS X AND XP and should have no problem switching to Vista when it is ready. I get all excited when I think of all of the blogging, chatting and emailing we will do together.
Friday, June 09, 2006
6/9/06
I am so glad today is over. What a long day. I am so glad today is Friday. The kids and I are looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.
The plan last weekend was to relax and I succeeded until Saturday night. I couldn't take it anymore so the kids and I went out to eat at Ruby's and apparently missed Erin and her family! :) We also did some shopping. This weekend, Carl and I decided, will be THE weekend to talk to my guy at church. Wish me luck.
I get to hold onto Zach for an extra week. His flight is now leaving on the 23rd instead of the 16th. One extra week! :) That makes me happy! We're leaving early that morning, spending the day at Old Orchard, then taking him to the airport, then the girls and I and two of their friends are going to spend some time at the Portland Mall! YIPPEE!
Now I have to figure out what we're having for din-din. Last Sunday, I made homemade mac and cheese. The kids loved it. Lately we've been having pizza delivered on Fridays, but maybe I'll cook something.
Current Mood: a little happy, a little cranky from being tired
Current Music: I'm actually not listening to any right now.
The plan last weekend was to relax and I succeeded until Saturday night. I couldn't take it anymore so the kids and I went out to eat at Ruby's and apparently missed Erin and her family! :) We also did some shopping. This weekend, Carl and I decided, will be THE weekend to talk to my guy at church. Wish me luck.
I get to hold onto Zach for an extra week. His flight is now leaving on the 23rd instead of the 16th. One extra week! :) That makes me happy! We're leaving early that morning, spending the day at Old Orchard, then taking him to the airport, then the girls and I and two of their friends are going to spend some time at the Portland Mall! YIPPEE!
Now I have to figure out what we're having for din-din. Last Sunday, I made homemade mac and cheese. The kids loved it. Lately we've been having pizza delivered on Fridays, but maybe I'll cook something.
Current Mood: a little happy, a little cranky from being tired
Current Music: I'm actually not listening to any right now.
6/9/06
I got the pictures yesterday, Tanya! :) The littlest one of the three of you is so sweet, but I like all of them and can't decide on a favorite. Tatyana is absolutely adorable. What a little beauty queen! She has gorgeous eyes! And of course, her little smile! That's what I love about kids the most at this age, their smiles are always genuine.
Thursday, June 08, 2006
More Blogging
Two girls are home from school already. Hayley and her friend Sarah. The other three will be home shortly. They are taking the bus. Hayley and Sarah didn't want to stick around for the school award ceremony, so they called to be picked up early. Kayla and Shannon will be taking the high school bus and Zach is staying for the awards and will be taking the middle school bus.
One of my many pet peeves of mine...parents who whine about being a PARENT! I can understand if you had one child and realized, "Hey, this isn't really for me, so I'll stop with just this one and do my best for the next 18 years." This is directed at people who maybe didn't learn that lesson. I can't help but want to give them some contraceptive advice.
I'm not talking about the occasional bad day rant...I'm talking about people that are clearly not happy being parents, that have more than one child.
One of my many pet peeves of mine...parents who whine about being a PARENT! I can understand if you had one child and realized, "Hey, this isn't really for me, so I'll stop with just this one and do my best for the next 18 years." This is directed at people who maybe didn't learn that lesson. I can't help but want to give them some contraceptive advice.
I'm not talking about the occasional bad day rant...I'm talking about people that are clearly not happy being parents, that have more than one child.
Baby Shiloh
I just saw the new pics. I'm not a big fan of the couple and I must be one of the few women for whom Brad does NOT do it for, but I am a sucker for babies. What a sweetie! It is only fitting that in American News, this story follows the news of Al-
Zarqawi.
Now when Viggo and I procreate...watch out!!! :)
I can't wait to see A Prairie Home Companion.
I have another amendment to a previous post. About the whale one. On further investigation of the article, I read that the reason why this was such a rare find and why it made it on the front page was because it was a Sperm whale. They are found all over the world, but because they are deep divers, they tend not to come terribly close to the coast. They suspect it died after a collision with a ship and was rotting in the harbor causing a terrible stench to permiate the sea breeze. YUM!
Zarqawi.
Now when Viggo and I procreate...watch out!!! :)
I can't wait to see A Prairie Home Companion.
I have another amendment to a previous post. About the whale one. On further investigation of the article, I read that the reason why this was such a rare find and why it made it on the front page was because it was a Sperm whale. They are found all over the world, but because they are deep divers, they tend not to come terribly close to the coast. They suspect it died after a collision with a ship and was rotting in the harbor causing a terrible stench to permiate the sea breeze. YUM!
6/8/06
The last day of school for the kids. Too bad it is rainy. They only have a half day today. Next week, the weather is supposed to be beautiful.
Al-Zarqawi was killed in an air-raid. Too bad it wasn't Bin Laden. It is hard to get too excited about it. We can expect even more vicious retaliation. I'm sure there are many more waiting to fill his shoes. I still get chills when I see the video of Nick Berg.
Al-Zarqawi was killed in an air-raid. Too bad it wasn't Bin Laden. It is hard to get too excited about it. We can expect even more vicious retaliation. I'm sure there are many more waiting to fill his shoes. I still get chills when I see the video of Nick Berg.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Thanks!
I would like to thank my newest reader for posting in my comments about 5 posts down. Your compliments are very nice, thank you. I am always so surprised when people bother to read what I write and even more surprised when they take the time to comment. I'm very glad Tanya and Teresa stopped by and decided to stay! :)
Writing (and reading) for me is like breathing. What I find so satisfying about a blog is that my "journal" talks back. It lets me know when I am right on the mark and when I am being a little too sanctimonious. Be warned though, my writing is often an up close and personal view of my thought process and is often times a work in progress.
Writing (and reading) for me is like breathing. What I find so satisfying about a blog is that my "journal" talks back. It lets me know when I am right on the mark and when I am being a little too sanctimonious. Be warned though, my writing is often an up close and personal view of my thought process and is often times a work in progress.
6/7/06
Wednesday is here. Wednesdays are my fun days. My "I don't have to run" days. I get to spend my morning relaxing, taking my time getting ready. I don't have to be anywhere I don't want to be until 2 PM when I go get the kids. I work at the center 3-5:30 and then church 6-7:30.
Let's see if I can say more than one word to my cute boy at church tonight. So far I've managed to say "Thanks" to him. Today I'd like to try, "Hi, my name is Jennifer." If I think too much about it though, I'll get nervous and then my palms will get sweaty and just thinking about it right now, my palms are getting sweaty.
Speaking of sweat...last night was so weird. I was reading my book in bed and Zach was in there watching a movie. He fell asleep and I was like, whatever, he's too big to carry upstairs, he's fine where he is. I looked over at him, thinking, he still has that little boy cuteness, but he's growing up fast. Literally, two minutes later, I looked back over to him because he was mumbling something. His head was soaked and he had sweat running down all over him. I tried to wake him up, but he wouldn't wake up. He stood up, turned on the fan, went upstairs into his sister's room and grabbed the phone away from her. She was talking to her boyfriend. He hung up the phone and went back downstairs, with Kayla chasing after him. We still could not wake him up at all. He laid back down on my bed, talking but not in English. Wasn't even mumbling. He clearly was speaking, but I couldn't recognize any words. He has no recollection of any of the events last night.
A forty or so ton whale washed up on the coast and made the front page today. A 40-ton carcass that has been rotting for a month. Great for people who like to enjoy their paper with their morning breakfast. I don't know why people find this so surprising. Maine has a good size coastline. Whales do live in the ocean. Whales do die in the ocean. It was bound to happen that one of them might get swept to shore in the tide current. Whales are pretty common in our waters. You can take a daily whalewatch trip right from Bar Harbor. They even guarantee the tickets. You either see a whale or they refund your money, or give you more tickets for another date at your convenience. Once a beluga whale swam upstream and got caught in the Penobscot in Bangor. That was surprising and exciting. You don't often see whales in a river. Maybe the surprising fact is that there should be MORE whales washing up on shore and it doesn't ever happen. Anyway, BIG news in Bangor today.
Current Mood: very good
Current Music: All Out of Love.............Air Supply
Let's see if I can say more than one word to my cute boy at church tonight. So far I've managed to say "Thanks" to him. Today I'd like to try, "Hi, my name is Jennifer." If I think too much about it though, I'll get nervous and then my palms will get sweaty and just thinking about it right now, my palms are getting sweaty.
Speaking of sweat...last night was so weird. I was reading my book in bed and Zach was in there watching a movie. He fell asleep and I was like, whatever, he's too big to carry upstairs, he's fine where he is. I looked over at him, thinking, he still has that little boy cuteness, but he's growing up fast. Literally, two minutes later, I looked back over to him because he was mumbling something. His head was soaked and he had sweat running down all over him. I tried to wake him up, but he wouldn't wake up. He stood up, turned on the fan, went upstairs into his sister's room and grabbed the phone away from her. She was talking to her boyfriend. He hung up the phone and went back downstairs, with Kayla chasing after him. We still could not wake him up at all. He laid back down on my bed, talking but not in English. Wasn't even mumbling. He clearly was speaking, but I couldn't recognize any words. He has no recollection of any of the events last night.
A forty or so ton whale washed up on the coast and made the front page today. A 40-ton carcass that has been rotting for a month. Great for people who like to enjoy their paper with their morning breakfast. I don't know why people find this so surprising. Maine has a good size coastline. Whales do live in the ocean. Whales do die in the ocean. It was bound to happen that one of them might get swept to shore in the tide current. Whales are pretty common in our waters. You can take a daily whalewatch trip right from Bar Harbor. They even guarantee the tickets. You either see a whale or they refund your money, or give you more tickets for another date at your convenience. Once a beluga whale swam upstream and got caught in the Penobscot in Bangor. That was surprising and exciting. You don't often see whales in a river. Maybe the surprising fact is that there should be MORE whales washing up on shore and it doesn't ever happen. Anyway, BIG news in Bangor today.
Current Mood: very good
Current Music: All Out of Love.............Air Supply
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Still 06/06/06
It was a good night at the center. We had pizza for supper. I'm pretty tired, though. Zach is swimming in the pool right now. All of my kids enjoy their evening swims. They used to love it when they were younger and I would let them swim naked at night!
I have a quarterly report due June 10th. :( I have another one due in August.
Zach just came in and put on some sweats to warm up and turned around and asked, "Mom, do these make my butt look fat?" He is a weird little boy.
My friend Sean is relentless. I think the Afghanistanian heat is getting to him:
armyman2013: wish i could see you
jennluvsgable: probably not today you wouldn't...i'm exhausted
armyman2013: doesnt matter
armyman2013: want to see you so bad
armyman2013: keep thinking of coming home and what i want to do
armyman2013: want to see you
Okay, I need to go catch up on my reading if I want to be reading Galileo's Daughter by this weekend. Kayla is talking an unusual amount tonight. My 16 year old tends to run on the quiet side. I just asked her if she was on drugs. Zach says, "Yeah, the LOOOOOVE drug! Ever since she went to the prom with Ryan, you can't shut her up!" She is even being nice to her sister.
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: the kids are still playing their Aladdin SNES game. Last night, Zach and I played Scene It ESPN edition. He was amazed at how good I was. He still beat me, but he's proud his mother knows her sports!
I have a quarterly report due June 10th. :( I have another one due in August.
Zach just came in and put on some sweats to warm up and turned around and asked, "Mom, do these make my butt look fat?" He is a weird little boy.
My friend Sean is relentless. I think the Afghanistanian heat is getting to him:
armyman2013: wish i could see you
jennluvsgable: probably not today you wouldn't...i'm exhausted
armyman2013: doesnt matter
armyman2013: want to see you so bad
armyman2013: keep thinking of coming home and what i want to do
armyman2013: want to see you
Okay, I need to go catch up on my reading if I want to be reading Galileo's Daughter by this weekend. Kayla is talking an unusual amount tonight. My 16 year old tends to run on the quiet side. I just asked her if she was on drugs. Zach says, "Yeah, the LOOOOOVE drug! Ever since she went to the prom with Ryan, you can't shut her up!" She is even being nice to her sister.
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: the kids are still playing their Aladdin SNES game. Last night, Zach and I played Scene It ESPN edition. He was amazed at how good I was. He still beat me, but he's proud his mother knows her sports!
Movie and Book Review Time
Where is everyone? Traffic outside is down to a minimum. I wish it was like this every day! Never can I make a tanning appointment for NOON, lunch hour time, and expect to get in without a wait, or to even get there on time because of lunch rush traffic.
Still nothing terribly exciting to blog about. I'll do a movie and book review update.
Little Manhattan -- what a sweet movie! My 12 year old son LOVES this movie! Great for the whole family.
Date Movie -- not for the whole family, but my kids are 12 and up, so for my family, it was okay. Zach thought it was a little perverted when I asked if he thought it was good or not (he'd seen it before), but he's 12 and the subject of kissing girls is still perverted to him. I asked him if he thought I'd like it and he said yes. I can't lie. Seeing Alyson Hannigan in a fat suit, singing "Milkshake" made me laugh out loud. If you like the Scary Movies, you'll like this one.
The Gospel of John--excellent. A great way to "read" the Gospel of John...I prefer the 3-hour extended version. It obviously didn't go terribly in depth of the crucifiction, like The Passion did, but gave a thorough overview of the events leading up to and after it. Incidently, Eric and I both saw The Passion together at the movies. I remember there was an older lady sitting in front of us that was sobbing very, very loudly.
Cheaper by the Dozen --okay. It was predictable, but sometimes you are just in the mood for a predictable happy ending kind of movie. A good family movie.
The Omen -- which opens tonight. Erin and I agree that it probably won't be as good as the first, but Eric and I both want to see it. I find this funny because most of us know that Eric was freaked out by The Ring. Erin turns the tv on static just to freak him out and I find that HILARIOUS!!! A girl after my own heart. More so, after I found out her family Pledged hardwood floors FOR FUN! :)
Onto books I've been reading lately.......
I am presently reading "Living Water" by Chuck Smith. Very good. It is about the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Redeemed & Restored.....wrtitten by Calvary Chapel Pastors' Wives...It is the stories of 12 ordinary women whose lives were transformed by God's extraordinary power. I read this in 2 days. I was able to meet Rosemary Gallatin, who is one of the 12. My 16 year old is reading it now. She is really enjoying it, as well. She is also reading Anne Rice's "Blood and Gold". I'll have to ask her how she is liking that one. I think it is humorous that most of us have similar reading "phases". I had a Beverly Cleary phase, a Judy Blume phase (I'm not sure that one was a phase for me...more like a life choice, I still read her and love her), a V.C. Andrews phase, an Anne Rice phase...you get my drift.
A book I can't wait to get to, which is next on my list: Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel...I should get to this one by this weekend. It is being touted as a "historical memoir of science, faith and love."
Freakonomics...still reading. It is very well written. I am enjoying it and I am taking it slow. I love how he views things "outside of the box."
I am also re-reading The Chronicles of Narnia outloud to the kids. Yes, I know they are 16, 14, and 12! Yes, I know they can read! But sometimes they just like to cuddle and be read to and of course, I LOVE IT when they do! Those moments are the most precious to me. Their favorite moments with me, they've told me, are when we shut off the tv and the lights and just have candles burning and we sit around while I tell them stories about when I was little or even when I make up stories for them. I started doing this for my little brother, who is now 6'5 and is 28 years old. Doesn't he get mad when he walks in and I'm telling one of "his" stories to the kids. All of his stories had his name in them and he gets possessive if I change the names, like his favorite "Adam and the Spaceship"...he walked in on me telling Zach about "Zach and the Spaceship"...Adam was like, "What are you doing? That is my story and its rightful title is Adam and the Spaceship!" He was like 22 years old when that happened! What a kid! He was my first baby as I was 6 when he was born and I was his protector from our other two siblings, and he never lets me forget it! :)
I have literally 30 or 40 more books that I've bought over the last year or two, that I have yet to get to. Tanya thinks my DVD fetish is bad...my book buying habit exceeds it! :) My kids love going to Borders or even Goodwill, to get books, which is one of the million things I love about them. We like the library, too, but there is something about the smell of new and vintage books that I love. I don't feel so free sniffing library books! Plus, my bedroom has 4 floor-ceiling bookshelves that I am in the process of filling. I can't wait to have my very own library room in my house someday. It will be where I read and blog and write and sit by a cozy fireplace with my dog and my tea, with a very cozy warm couch that I can be comfortable falling asleep on, on the nights that I am so into reading or writing, that I can just stay right there in the magic of it all.
Still nothing terribly exciting to blog about. I'll do a movie and book review update.
Little Manhattan -- what a sweet movie! My 12 year old son LOVES this movie! Great for the whole family.
Date Movie -- not for the whole family, but my kids are 12 and up, so for my family, it was okay. Zach thought it was a little perverted when I asked if he thought it was good or not (he'd seen it before), but he's 12 and the subject of kissing girls is still perverted to him. I asked him if he thought I'd like it and he said yes. I can't lie. Seeing Alyson Hannigan in a fat suit, singing "Milkshake" made me laugh out loud. If you like the Scary Movies, you'll like this one.
The Gospel of John--excellent. A great way to "read" the Gospel of John...I prefer the 3-hour extended version. It obviously didn't go terribly in depth of the crucifiction, like The Passion did, but gave a thorough overview of the events leading up to and after it. Incidently, Eric and I both saw The Passion together at the movies. I remember there was an older lady sitting in front of us that was sobbing very, very loudly.
Cheaper by the Dozen --okay. It was predictable, but sometimes you are just in the mood for a predictable happy ending kind of movie. A good family movie.
The Omen -- which opens tonight. Erin and I agree that it probably won't be as good as the first, but Eric and I both want to see it. I find this funny because most of us know that Eric was freaked out by The Ring. Erin turns the tv on static just to freak him out and I find that HILARIOUS!!! A girl after my own heart. More so, after I found out her family Pledged hardwood floors FOR FUN! :)
Onto books I've been reading lately.......
I am presently reading "Living Water" by Chuck Smith. Very good. It is about the power of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Redeemed & Restored.....wrtitten by Calvary Chapel Pastors' Wives...It is the stories of 12 ordinary women whose lives were transformed by God's extraordinary power. I read this in 2 days. I was able to meet Rosemary Gallatin, who is one of the 12. My 16 year old is reading it now. She is really enjoying it, as well. She is also reading Anne Rice's "Blood and Gold". I'll have to ask her how she is liking that one. I think it is humorous that most of us have similar reading "phases". I had a Beverly Cleary phase, a Judy Blume phase (I'm not sure that one was a phase for me...more like a life choice, I still read her and love her), a V.C. Andrews phase, an Anne Rice phase...you get my drift.
A book I can't wait to get to, which is next on my list: Galileo's Daughter by Dava Sobel...I should get to this one by this weekend. It is being touted as a "historical memoir of science, faith and love."
Freakonomics...still reading. It is very well written. I am enjoying it and I am taking it slow. I love how he views things "outside of the box."
I am also re-reading The Chronicles of Narnia outloud to the kids. Yes, I know they are 16, 14, and 12! Yes, I know they can read! But sometimes they just like to cuddle and be read to and of course, I LOVE IT when they do! Those moments are the most precious to me. Their favorite moments with me, they've told me, are when we shut off the tv and the lights and just have candles burning and we sit around while I tell them stories about when I was little or even when I make up stories for them. I started doing this for my little brother, who is now 6'5 and is 28 years old. Doesn't he get mad when he walks in and I'm telling one of "his" stories to the kids. All of his stories had his name in them and he gets possessive if I change the names, like his favorite "Adam and the Spaceship"...he walked in on me telling Zach about "Zach and the Spaceship"...Adam was like, "What are you doing? That is my story and its rightful title is Adam and the Spaceship!" He was like 22 years old when that happened! What a kid! He was my first baby as I was 6 when he was born and I was his protector from our other two siblings, and he never lets me forget it! :)
I have literally 30 or 40 more books that I've bought over the last year or two, that I have yet to get to. Tanya thinks my DVD fetish is bad...my book buying habit exceeds it! :) My kids love going to Borders or even Goodwill, to get books, which is one of the million things I love about them. We like the library, too, but there is something about the smell of new and vintage books that I love. I don't feel so free sniffing library books! Plus, my bedroom has 4 floor-ceiling bookshelves that I am in the process of filling. I can't wait to have my very own library room in my house someday. It will be where I read and blog and write and sit by a cozy fireplace with my dog and my tea, with a very cozy warm couch that I can be comfortable falling asleep on, on the nights that I am so into reading or writing, that I can just stay right there in the magic of it all.
06/06/06
I slept in a little this morning. Hayley has the day off from school. It is move up day for the rest of the middle schoolers, but the 8th graders got today off. They already had their day at the high school, so I guess this is a little 8th grade graduation present from the school district.
The kids are done for the summer on Thursday.
The center is getting whipped into shape. I spent Friday cleaning over there and yesterday, I had a volunteer over there from 8:30-2 PM organizing the craft closet and the computer room.
I'm off to get my latte and I'll blog when something exciting happens.
The kids are done for the summer on Thursday.
The center is getting whipped into shape. I spent Friday cleaning over there and yesterday, I had a volunteer over there from 8:30-2 PM organizing the craft closet and the computer room.
I'm off to get my latte and I'll blog when something exciting happens.
Monday, June 05, 2006
Monday
Today was a busy day at work. Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. I do like conversations like these, and thank you Holly by not saying anything like "And Dan Brown says..."
I do hope you appreciate my point of people using this or even the movie Stigmata (which coincidently, I also love) as a basis for their arguments. I don't mind being wrong, I don't mind having someone be smarter about things that I am just learning about, and I commend and appreciate anyone that can back up what they speak.
I feel like I need to say again, I loved the book, though I preferred Angels & Demons. I never meant to offend anyone other than the people it was intended. To me, citing Dan Brown in a theological discussion would be like citing E.B White on arachnid habits at a science fair. I also support and encourage anyone to question their spiritual lives and to grow in that area. Thoughts and ideas that I have change all the time. So if a book encourages people to READ and to QUESTION their realities, then as an English teacher, I am all for it! I will forever fight censorship in our schools, which is precisely why I choose to teach in the public school realm, as opposed to private or Christian schools, not that book banning does not exist in our public schools, too, but the practice is certainly more limited than in our Christian schools. I will support and defend the freedom of speech out of respect for others' thoughts and ideas.
However, in a theological discusssion I will not be defending Dan Brown. I will defend my Lord and Savior.
Current Mood: excellent
Current Music: Enter Sandman.......Metallica.......I don't just like Christian music.
I do hope you appreciate my point of people using this or even the movie Stigmata (which coincidently, I also love) as a basis for their arguments. I don't mind being wrong, I don't mind having someone be smarter about things that I am just learning about, and I commend and appreciate anyone that can back up what they speak.
I feel like I need to say again, I loved the book, though I preferred Angels & Demons. I never meant to offend anyone other than the people it was intended. To me, citing Dan Brown in a theological discussion would be like citing E.B White on arachnid habits at a science fair. I also support and encourage anyone to question their spiritual lives and to grow in that area. Thoughts and ideas that I have change all the time. So if a book encourages people to READ and to QUESTION their realities, then as an English teacher, I am all for it! I will forever fight censorship in our schools, which is precisely why I choose to teach in the public school realm, as opposed to private or Christian schools, not that book banning does not exist in our public schools, too, but the practice is certainly more limited than in our Christian schools. I will support and defend the freedom of speech out of respect for others' thoughts and ideas.
However, in a theological discusssion I will not be defending Dan Brown. I will defend my Lord and Savior.
Current Mood: excellent
Current Music: Enter Sandman.......Metallica.......I don't just like Christian music.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Amendment
This is an amendment to my thoughts on The Da Vinci Code. This will be all I will ever say about the subject again, because quite frankly, I am getting bored of Dan Brown and the surrounding controversy.
I still maintain the following:
Yes, I read the book and I loved it.
Yes, the book is cleverly written and Dan deserves kudos for that.
Yes, the book is FICTION. **
** This is where I make my amendments....
Most historical fiction novels are written with a backdrop of fact. For example, there are lots of Civil War and WWII historical fiction novels. While the characters may or may not be fictitious, the South always loses, as do the Nazis. In order for Dan Brown's book to "work" he had to blur the facts a little. He geniously confuses the reader as to what the real facts are. Now, if we're all still reading this book for fun, and we all know it is fiction, then I have no problem, but DO NOT come to me and present your entire new "faith" or lack of faith on FICTION! Give me facts to support your cause. An example of a fact that Brown blurs is the infamous Dead Sea Scrolls...aka...the Gnostic Gospels. First, look up the word Gnostic in the dictionary. Second, check the date the scrolls were authored. 100 PLUS years after the Apostles lived. The 4 Gospels that made it into the New Testament were written or orally dictated by the FOUR themselves. It is the only eye witness account we have. Why should the church add gospels dated 100 years after the original 4? Both liberal and conservative Christians agree on this one and you know it must be true if they both can agree on something. And please spare me the feminist agenda about the "Goddess" being taken out of the Bible by omitting the Gnostic gospels. Want to know the last sentence in the actual Gnostic Gospel of Thomas? It says something along the lines of "For a woman to be saved, she must become a man." Dan Brown leaves that part out of his book when his fictional characters talk about the patriarchy of the Church. There are also Leonardo facts that are amiss in the book, but I'll leave that up to you to find those yourself. Read a book on Leonardo or even better, an art book on the Messianic period. Religious art during this period often depicted John as more feminine than the other apostles because he was younger. In addition, The Last Supper is not a "fresco" as called repeatedly in Dan Brown's novel, but an experimental medium of tempera on stone which caused it to deteriorate shortly after completion. There have been several restoration attempts, the last completed in 1999. But I digress. That is neither here nor there. Just another example of how facts can be misconstrued and didn't influence my enjoyment of the novel. Whether or not Jesus was married, I could really give a crap. Brown and any other author can make anything up they want. Fiction is my favorite genre. Oh yeah, and Opus Dei is real, but they have no monks.
Soooo, if you want to talk theology, great. Want to talk about fiction? Fabulous!!! Politics? Depends on the mood I am in, but do not use fiction to back up your theological or political views.
Current Mood: amazed at the stupidity of certain people
Current Music: Desperate Housewives theme music...............Dan Brown and I are gonna summer on Wisteria Lane and be friends with Brie and Lynette and the other girls before heading off to Hogwarts in the Fall.
I still maintain the following:
Yes, I read the book and I loved it.
Yes, the book is cleverly written and Dan deserves kudos for that.
Yes, the book is FICTION. **
** This is where I make my amendments....
Most historical fiction novels are written with a backdrop of fact. For example, there are lots of Civil War and WWII historical fiction novels. While the characters may or may not be fictitious, the South always loses, as do the Nazis. In order for Dan Brown's book to "work" he had to blur the facts a little. He geniously confuses the reader as to what the real facts are. Now, if we're all still reading this book for fun, and we all know it is fiction, then I have no problem, but DO NOT come to me and present your entire new "faith" or lack of faith on FICTION! Give me facts to support your cause. An example of a fact that Brown blurs is the infamous Dead Sea Scrolls...aka...the Gnostic Gospels. First, look up the word Gnostic in the dictionary. Second, check the date the scrolls were authored. 100 PLUS years after the Apostles lived. The 4 Gospels that made it into the New Testament were written or orally dictated by the FOUR themselves. It is the only eye witness account we have. Why should the church add gospels dated 100 years after the original 4? Both liberal and conservative Christians agree on this one and you know it must be true if they both can agree on something. And please spare me the feminist agenda about the "Goddess" being taken out of the Bible by omitting the Gnostic gospels. Want to know the last sentence in the actual Gnostic Gospel of Thomas? It says something along the lines of "For a woman to be saved, she must become a man." Dan Brown leaves that part out of his book when his fictional characters talk about the patriarchy of the Church. There are also Leonardo facts that are amiss in the book, but I'll leave that up to you to find those yourself. Read a book on Leonardo or even better, an art book on the Messianic period. Religious art during this period often depicted John as more feminine than the other apostles because he was younger. In addition, The Last Supper is not a "fresco" as called repeatedly in Dan Brown's novel, but an experimental medium of tempera on stone which caused it to deteriorate shortly after completion. There have been several restoration attempts, the last completed in 1999. But I digress. That is neither here nor there. Just another example of how facts can be misconstrued and didn't influence my enjoyment of the novel. Whether or not Jesus was married, I could really give a crap. Brown and any other author can make anything up they want. Fiction is my favorite genre. Oh yeah, and Opus Dei is real, but they have no monks.
Soooo, if you want to talk theology, great. Want to talk about fiction? Fabulous!!! Politics? Depends on the mood I am in, but do not use fiction to back up your theological or political views.
Current Mood: amazed at the stupidity of certain people
Current Music: Desperate Housewives theme music...............Dan Brown and I are gonna summer on Wisteria Lane and be friends with Brie and Lynette and the other girls before heading off to Hogwarts in the Fall.
Sunday
So this morning was a very, very rainy morning and I ran through the parking lot into church and my cute boy there held the door open for me. I actually found the words to finally speak! I said, "Thanks!" :)
Then..............let me start out by giving a description of our church auditorium. There are cushioned bleachers against each side and there is a center row of seating, with an aisle on each side and then a section of seating on each adjacent side of the center row, with aisles on the other sides between them and the bleachers. The auditorium easily could seat two or three thousand people, though our parking wouldn't allow it, hence why we have three separate services each Sunday. Anyway, so cute boy walks up the aisle nearest me and then back down the aisle nearest me.
Zach was like, "He's checking you out!"
"Well, I DID finally talk to him!" I replied.
"What did you say?" asked Zach?
"Thanks!" I said.
"Oh wow, Mom! I said more than that to him today!" said Zach sarcastically. "What is his name?"
"This I do not know," I said.
During service, I couldn't find him and I told Zach to look for him. I soon got engrossed in the sermon and forgot about cute boy. Zach bumped me and said, "Your boyfriend is up there watching you." My eyes moved to where he was looking. In the back of the auditorium, upstairs, there are three rooms with very large glass windows. The one my boyfriend was in, was the the coffee shop/book store. The center one houses the studio control, where they control the two big projection screens for the people that can't see the stage, as well as other various audio and computer gadgets. The third window is for nursing mothers. He had been up there watching me! I looked over at him and our eyes met and then he made it look like he was just up there getting coffee. I continued on, listening to the service, leaving Zach to watch out for my boyfriend. I knew he was still watching me because all of a sudden, Zach's arm went around my shoulder and he stayed that way the entire service. I know my son and, with the exception of Brian, he is very careful with me. For instance, recently when I was dating Flint, Zach would either try to sit between us, or when we were at the theater or something, Flint would reach for my hand, and Zach would put his hand in between mine and Flint's. Zach has always been nice and polite to anyone I've dated, but he's made it very clear that he comes first.
So we'll see what happens at church tonight! :)
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Footloose..........Kenny Loggins
Then..............let me start out by giving a description of our church auditorium. There are cushioned bleachers against each side and there is a center row of seating, with an aisle on each side and then a section of seating on each adjacent side of the center row, with aisles on the other sides between them and the bleachers. The auditorium easily could seat two or three thousand people, though our parking wouldn't allow it, hence why we have three separate services each Sunday. Anyway, so cute boy walks up the aisle nearest me and then back down the aisle nearest me.
Zach was like, "He's checking you out!"
"Well, I DID finally talk to him!" I replied.
"What did you say?" asked Zach?
"Thanks!" I said.
"Oh wow, Mom! I said more than that to him today!" said Zach sarcastically. "What is his name?"
"This I do not know," I said.
During service, I couldn't find him and I told Zach to look for him. I soon got engrossed in the sermon and forgot about cute boy. Zach bumped me and said, "Your boyfriend is up there watching you." My eyes moved to where he was looking. In the back of the auditorium, upstairs, there are three rooms with very large glass windows. The one my boyfriend was in, was the the coffee shop/book store. The center one houses the studio control, where they control the two big projection screens for the people that can't see the stage, as well as other various audio and computer gadgets. The third window is for nursing mothers. He had been up there watching me! I looked over at him and our eyes met and then he made it look like he was just up there getting coffee. I continued on, listening to the service, leaving Zach to watch out for my boyfriend. I knew he was still watching me because all of a sudden, Zach's arm went around my shoulder and he stayed that way the entire service. I know my son and, with the exception of Brian, he is very careful with me. For instance, recently when I was dating Flint, Zach would either try to sit between us, or when we were at the theater or something, Flint would reach for my hand, and Zach would put his hand in between mine and Flint's. Zach has always been nice and polite to anyone I've dated, but he's made it very clear that he comes first.
So we'll see what happens at church tonight! :)
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: Footloose..........Kenny Loggins
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Stuff
Tanya called today! It was so nice talking to her!
Right now, the house is clean, my laundry is getting done, I have candles burning and we're just hanging out relaxing. I haven't taken a day to just do NOTHING in a long time. Do nothing as in, just staying in and having no plans.
This has been the nicest rainy day in a long time!
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: a jazz mix that I have
Right now, the house is clean, my laundry is getting done, I have candles burning and we're just hanging out relaxing. I haven't taken a day to just do NOTHING in a long time. Do nothing as in, just staying in and having no plans.
This has been the nicest rainy day in a long time!
Current Mood: happy
Current Music: a jazz mix that I have
Rainy Day
Sometimes I love rainy days and today is one of them. I like the really warm rainy days, like today, so you can still keep the windows open a little and smell the rain and flowers and cut grass. Plus, it gives me a reason to stay inside and CLEAN a little! When the weather is nice, I feel like I need to be outside to enjoy it.
Today I need to buy dog food and other assorted pet products. I need to get my latte! :) I want to squeeze in some tanning time. I want to buy some new shirts. Seems like I always want to buy some new shirts, but the last few times I've gone, I either haven't found any I like, or I just pick up one or two, like the two I got from Old Navy. Maybe today will be clean the wardrobe day! And then turn into add more new clothes to the wardrobe day! :)
My daughter is going to yet another prom tonight. Tonight is the Senior Prom, as opposed to the regular old prom. This makes formal dance number four for her and she is only a freshman. She had the Christmas Ball, the military ball, the regular prom and now she has been invited to the Senior Prom by Ryan, who is a guy she met at the military ball, while she was there with another date. By the time her senior prom rolls around, I will definitely be lacking in enthusiasm!
Now it is coffee time. Sierra is waiting at the door with her leash. She knows it is coffee time, too. She has already used the outdoor facilities, but she knows that after her potty time and my blog time, we go for a ride to Ampersands so I can have my daily dose of sanity and she loves to ride.
Today I need to buy dog food and other assorted pet products. I need to get my latte! :) I want to squeeze in some tanning time. I want to buy some new shirts. Seems like I always want to buy some new shirts, but the last few times I've gone, I either haven't found any I like, or I just pick up one or two, like the two I got from Old Navy. Maybe today will be clean the wardrobe day! And then turn into add more new clothes to the wardrobe day! :)
My daughter is going to yet another prom tonight. Tonight is the Senior Prom, as opposed to the regular old prom. This makes formal dance number four for her and she is only a freshman. She had the Christmas Ball, the military ball, the regular prom and now she has been invited to the Senior Prom by Ryan, who is a guy she met at the military ball, while she was there with another date. By the time her senior prom rolls around, I will definitely be lacking in enthusiasm!
Now it is coffee time. Sierra is waiting at the door with her leash. She knows it is coffee time, too. She has already used the outdoor facilities, but she knows that after her potty time and my blog time, we go for a ride to Ampersands so I can have my daily dose of sanity and she loves to ride.
Friday, June 02, 2006
Slowly Unwinding
I can't believe how emotionally exhausted I am. Instead of a 4-day week, it feels like I've worked overtime! The kids and I are hanging out tonight. Our Friday night ritual lately. I've been so burned out come Friday evening. I'll perk up tomorrow! :) Or maybe after I blog for a little bit. This is how my brain relaxes.
We rented movies! YIPPEE!!! Incredibly bad horrible movies (I hope!) as those always tend to become my favorites! We got Little Manhattan, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Date Movie, Motorhome Massacre (I can't wait for this one!) and Daltry Calhoun.
I have a tanning appointment in a half hour, then we're ordering pizza and I may take a dip in the pool. It is a very warm and humid 80 degrees right now.
I just love my doggie. She is curled up next to me, her head on my lap, watching me blog. What a sweet pea! She has quickly become my best friend. Actually, she has quickly become the "neighborhood dog". I feel like we're on Mister Roger's Neighborhood! We went to the bank yesterday and she got FOUR dog bisquits! My next-door neighbors on each side of me, say hello to her every morning. She gets doughnuts at Dunkin Donuts and bisquits when I go to fill up my car.
I cleaned the learning center today. I swept and mopped the floors, vacuumed the rugs and washed the tables and chairs. I cleaned the toilet and the bathroom sink. Changed all the trash bags. Lysoled all of the light switches and doorknobs. We had a great year regarding germs. No major colds or flus going around the center this year. I think I've made the kids neurotic about hand sanitizing! :) It seems to have paid off, though! No bird flu for us!
We rented movies! YIPPEE!!! Incredibly bad horrible movies (I hope!) as those always tend to become my favorites! We got Little Manhattan, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Date Movie, Motorhome Massacre (I can't wait for this one!) and Daltry Calhoun.
I have a tanning appointment in a half hour, then we're ordering pizza and I may take a dip in the pool. It is a very warm and humid 80 degrees right now.
I just love my doggie. She is curled up next to me, her head on my lap, watching me blog. What a sweet pea! She has quickly become my best friend. Actually, she has quickly become the "neighborhood dog". I feel like we're on Mister Roger's Neighborhood! We went to the bank yesterday and she got FOUR dog bisquits! My next-door neighbors on each side of me, say hello to her every morning. She gets doughnuts at Dunkin Donuts and bisquits when I go to fill up my car.
I cleaned the learning center today. I swept and mopped the floors, vacuumed the rugs and washed the tables and chairs. I cleaned the toilet and the bathroom sink. Changed all the trash bags. Lysoled all of the light switches and doorknobs. We had a great year regarding germs. No major colds or flus going around the center this year. I think I've made the kids neurotic about hand sanitizing! :) It seems to have paid off, though! No bird flu for us!
June 2, 2006
What a weird day. I haven't started my day off talking to Brian in quite awhile, so I guess it is to be expected. His best friend passed away yesterday. I'm glad I was able to let him know that he was in my prayers, but I ended the call rather quickly after he started in with the "Why me? Why do I have to experience so much loss in my life? I've lost my spouse, my dog, my best friend, you. When am I going to start gaining things in my life, other than weight?" I remained silent for a moment and then said I had to get to work and told him I hoped he'd be okay. He was so incredibly sad and depressed.
I did email him later and this is what I sent him.
~~ I wouldn't be a friend, nor would I be Jennifer, if I didn't tell you exactly what I am thinking, and my thinking is that you need God now more than ever. I can say this on authority because of the glorious things that have happened and are continuously happening with me. All I can say is that something has changed in my heart and it has God's fingerprints all over it. My prayer is that you too, find some peace in your life, and it is my belief that that will only happen once you have a relationship with Him. God has really led Ken and his wife, Jeanette to reach out to me and help me in ways that 5 years of therapy could not. The invitation to Calvary Chapel always stands. Please take care of yourself. ~~
I got some advice from Tanya about it and I think it is good advice. I've known for awhile that there can be no future for Brian and I unless he makes some spiritual changes in his life. Therapy is not helping him. His depression and drinking are spinning out of control. I can't fix him. I can love him. I can be his friend, but I can't stand by and watch.
This is where the situation stands. I am moving forward with my life and am happy to accept whatever God has planned for me.
Current Mood: a little sad about Dickie...he was my friend too...but GREAT otherwise!
Current Music: Hungry..........Paul Clark
I did email him later and this is what I sent him.
~~ I wouldn't be a friend, nor would I be Jennifer, if I didn't tell you exactly what I am thinking, and my thinking is that you need God now more than ever. I can say this on authority because of the glorious things that have happened and are continuously happening with me. All I can say is that something has changed in my heart and it has God's fingerprints all over it. My prayer is that you too, find some peace in your life, and it is my belief that that will only happen once you have a relationship with Him. God has really led Ken and his wife, Jeanette to reach out to me and help me in ways that 5 years of therapy could not. The invitation to Calvary Chapel always stands. Please take care of yourself. ~~
I got some advice from Tanya about it and I think it is good advice. I've known for awhile that there can be no future for Brian and I unless he makes some spiritual changes in his life. Therapy is not helping him. His depression and drinking are spinning out of control. I can't fix him. I can love him. I can be his friend, but I can't stand by and watch.
This is where the situation stands. I am moving forward with my life and am happy to accept whatever God has planned for me.
Current Mood: a little sad about Dickie...he was my friend too...but GREAT otherwise!
Current Music: Hungry..........Paul Clark
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Watch Primetime TONIGHT!
Please everyone, watch Primetime tonight, with Diane Sawyer. Besides being one of my most favorite people EVER (she is so beautiful, gracious and genuine) they are having a special about foster children. It will be a little glimpse into the lives of the children I get to work with every day. I work with kids who have been in and out of foster care, and some who are in desperate need of foster care. I guarantee they'll steal your heart and I hope you let them. I hope you consider the situations in your communites and take action. Not everyone is in a position to be a foster parent, but you are in a position to get political. You can volunteer at a Big Brother/Big Sister organization, you can find out about volunteer opportunites at your church, you can write to your congressman or woman. And if God really speaks to your heart, you can consider adoption. I don't want to discourage international adoptions, but please please if you are considering adoption, take a look at our kids right here at home! The ones that break my heart the most are the families with older kids. They aren't "cute" anymore and it is next to impossible to place entire families intact into adoptive homes, especially if one or more have any kind of disability.
All three of my kids know I want lots of grandkids and I have stressed on them the importance of adoption. It will be nice to have a couple of blood relations too, if only because I want to see my babies one more time. I want them each to have babies that look just like they did.
All three of my kids know I want lots of grandkids and I have stressed on them the importance of adoption. It will be nice to have a couple of blood relations too, if only because I want to see my babies one more time. I want them each to have babies that look just like they did.
June 1, 2006
I can't believe it is June already! Time has flown right by! Before you know it, it will be February and the kids and I will be enjoying a vacation on the West Coast! We've decided to go to Disneyland instead of Disney World. I really want to visit with my aunt in San Diego and then head up the coast and spend a few days in San Francisco and THEN head up to Oregon to visit with Tanya!
The staff meeting was long. I was glad when it was over. It was fun, but long. Carl has a new nickname! :)
The National Spelling Bee is tonight. The kids want to watch it.
We supposed to have showers the next 5 days or so. I'm glad we enjoyed the sun when we had the chance. The kids' last day of school is next Thursday. They get a week off and then the girls start babysitting everyday and I'll be at the learning center during the days. Zachie will be gone for 10 weeks.
I have to get my coffee, go tanning and run my errands. I also HAVE to get laundry done. I am a couple of loads behind schedule.
I am glad tomorrow is Friday.
The staff meeting was long. I was glad when it was over. It was fun, but long. Carl has a new nickname! :)
The National Spelling Bee is tonight. The kids want to watch it.
We supposed to have showers the next 5 days or so. I'm glad we enjoyed the sun when we had the chance. The kids' last day of school is next Thursday. They get a week off and then the girls start babysitting everyday and I'll be at the learning center during the days. Zachie will be gone for 10 weeks.
I have to get my coffee, go tanning and run my errands. I also HAVE to get laundry done. I am a couple of loads behind schedule.
I am glad tomorrow is Friday.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
May 30, 2006
It was such a great night at work tonight. The kids were so great. They were so excited to be there, which is nice. Marcus, Skyler, Alexander and Haleigh are finally back from their grandma's, so it was nice having them at the center again!
My girls both got babysitting jobs for the summer. They are making $200 a week! I didn't make that kind of money when I was 15 and 16. Then again, minimum wage back then was like $3.65 or something crazy like that. Kayla is happy because it was this or working at Dunkin Donuts all summer.
We have staff day tomorrow at work. I like staff day. It is kind of like teacher in-service days. In fact, it is JUST like teacher in-service days. Iona won't be there. Her mother-in-law's sister passed aways suddenly. She was 93 (I think). So she'll be in Portland for the funeral. Carl may or may not be there for staff day. He's taken some sick leave and I hope things are going okay! Staff day looks to be boring without the two of them!
Tanya and her husband are having some trouble finding a house in their price range. I really hope things work out for them!
Okay, I have to get to bed. I have some reading and movie watching to get to. I don't have to be at the ranch until 8:30 AM. Church tomorrow night.
I'll catch y'all later!
My girls both got babysitting jobs for the summer. They are making $200 a week! I didn't make that kind of money when I was 15 and 16. Then again, minimum wage back then was like $3.65 or something crazy like that. Kayla is happy because it was this or working at Dunkin Donuts all summer.
We have staff day tomorrow at work. I like staff day. It is kind of like teacher in-service days. In fact, it is JUST like teacher in-service days. Iona won't be there. Her mother-in-law's sister passed aways suddenly. She was 93 (I think). So she'll be in Portland for the funeral. Carl may or may not be there for staff day. He's taken some sick leave and I hope things are going okay! Staff day looks to be boring without the two of them!
Tanya and her husband are having some trouble finding a house in their price range. I really hope things work out for them!
Okay, I have to get to bed. I have some reading and movie watching to get to. I don't have to be at the ranch until 8:30 AM. Church tomorrow night.
I'll catch y'all later!
Tuesday
I can't believe it is Tuesday. It feels like Monday. Another beautiful day. What a great weekend weather-wise. Restful and entertainment-wise, too! :) Today is definitely a beach day and someday, when I am teaching English is a high school somewhere, I will have summers off again. Summers off to travel, lay in the sun and play with my kids, although the kids in this dream will probably be my grandkids by that time! :) Maybe not. Maybe I'll have another one or at least adopt.
The girls and I are figuring out what we want to do with our "free time" when Zach is gone this summer. We want to sign up for some kind of karate class. We are also going to go go-karting every Friday night. (I'm only writing the go-karting part because Zach is reading this over my shoulder.) The look on his face was priceless when he read it, too!
Current Mood: great
Current Music: Nothing Compares.......Third Day
The girls and I are figuring out what we want to do with our "free time" when Zach is gone this summer. We want to sign up for some kind of karate class. We are also going to go go-karting every Friday night. (I'm only writing the go-karting part because Zach is reading this over my shoulder.) The look on his face was priceless when he read it, too!
Current Mood: great
Current Music: Nothing Compares.......Third Day
Monday, May 29, 2006
Weekend Wrap-up
A great weekend. My only regret being unable to get to Massachusetts to visit my grandfather's grave. He was a WWII veteren of the Air Force. I miss him so much. I cried at least once every day for the first year after his death. After two years, I was okay unless I talked about him. Now, after 8 years, I can talk and laugh about him without crying. I can't believe it has been 8 years. 8 years since I've heard the "you were the most beautiful baby" story. I heard this story almost everyday of my young life because I saw him almost everyday of my young life. The last time I saw him at the hospital, he told me the story about the first time he saw me. I was one of those lucky little girls who had two wonderful grandfathers, one who is still alive. But this grandfather in particular, Grandpop, picked me as his favorite grandchild. It is wonderful being someone's favorite.
We're having taco salad for supper tonight. We not terribly hungry. We ate a lot at Desaraye's party. After, we spent the afternoon and early evening in the pool. I missed Tanya's call! We were in the pool and I didn't have the phone outside. I called her back, though, so I hope she got my message!
Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous again, too, so I will get a little more sun before working tomorrow night. Wednesday, we have a staff day. That will be fun. I like staff days.
Zach wanted to play with his 4-year old cousin Tajin today at the house and in the pool, so I said, "Okay, but you're watching him." They played all afternoon and then Zach came down to ask when he could take him home. I told him that whenever he was ready to bring him home, to do so. He comes downstairs a few minutes later. "Oh great," says Zach (in the way only Zach can say it), "he says he never wants to go home!" "Well," I say, "say hi to your new brother!" Zach finally talked him into taking a walk and he walked him home.
We're having taco salad for supper tonight. We not terribly hungry. We ate a lot at Desaraye's party. After, we spent the afternoon and early evening in the pool. I missed Tanya's call! We were in the pool and I didn't have the phone outside. I called her back, though, so I hope she got my message!
Tomorrow is supposed to be gorgeous again, too, so I will get a little more sun before working tomorrow night. Wednesday, we have a staff day. That will be fun. I like staff days.
Zach wanted to play with his 4-year old cousin Tajin today at the house and in the pool, so I said, "Okay, but you're watching him." They played all afternoon and then Zach came down to ask when he could take him home. I told him that whenever he was ready to bring him home, to do so. He comes downstairs a few minutes later. "Oh great," says Zach (in the way only Zach can say it), "he says he never wants to go home!" "Well," I say, "say hi to your new brother!" Zach finally talked him into taking a walk and he walked him home.
Memorial Day 2006
I am so glad I have another day off. Kayla and I got way too much sun yesterday. We spent the day in the pool. Zach was at Dakota's for a bit and then he came home to go swimming, too. It has been a nice busy weekend, but not straight out busy. We had time to relax, too. I am going to a party at Desaraye's at noon today.
Bruce Willis is on The View today. He is a cutie. He's on a lifetime speedo ban! :) One of my absolute favorite movies is "The Story of Us" with him and Michelle Pfiefer.
After the party, I am going to finish straightening up and light some candles and read, read, read! I bought a bunch of new books to add to the list of many that I have yet to read.
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Renegade..........Styx
Bruce Willis is on The View today. He is a cutie. He's on a lifetime speedo ban! :) One of my absolute favorite movies is "The Story of Us" with him and Michelle Pfiefer.
After the party, I am going to finish straightening up and light some candles and read, read, read! I bought a bunch of new books to add to the list of many that I have yet to read.
Current Mood: Happy
Current Music: Renegade..........Styx
Sunday, May 28, 2006
For Eric
No need to apologize, Eric. Your battle with God is just that, YOURS. I just know you. I hold highly intelligent people in great esteem, as I considered myself one of them, and I pride myself on having very smart friends. It is probably most hard for science-minded people to just believe. But I also know and believe your stories about your life after death experiences you've had with your grandmother. Why did she have to die? Why did your bird have to die? Why is your grandfather dying? Well, everyone dies. That is a given. But your soul doesn't have to. I also knew Jane and is tragic for her child to have lost its mother, but I also know a mother's daily prayer is "Please God, do not let me outlive my children." I know a young couple at church, who 2 weeks ago, put their two-month old daughter down to sleep and she never woke up. You just never know. Not in any bible of any religion will you find a phrase close to "Life is easy." People are going to go through hard times regardless if God is in their life or not. So the choice is to go through the pain and hard times alone or go through them with Someone who does love you above anyone else.
I fought with Jim and fought with Jim on buying into this stuff. He loved me enough to put his pride aside and risk me making fun of him, like I did, to try and save me. I know these beliefs are not popular and I know your thoughts on the subject, but I love you enough to try. You battle with anxiety, with your manic episodes, with your other fears...why do you think that is?
And there are bad people who do indeed hide behind Christianity, but why blame the whole for just a few? I follow one person and one person only. Jesus was the most poor man that ever walked this earth. Our entire calendar is based on his very existence. Not one man has been more talked about since his birth 2000 years ago. None of that was good enough for me to believe. I needed proof that he was the son of God. I needed proof that there even is a God. My proof is me. I knew it would take a god to change me. It took an act of God to turn my life around. It took an act of God to even get me to blog about Him.
When I was first entertaining the thought of getting saved, I remember I asked Jim about what people would think. He said something that still strikes a chord with me when I think about it. He said, "I thought you were one of those few people that didn't care what people think. I guess I was wrong."
Anyway, as always, I enjoy our philosophical talks. Heaven is the ulitmate bomb shelter and I want you there.
I fought with Jim and fought with Jim on buying into this stuff. He loved me enough to put his pride aside and risk me making fun of him, like I did, to try and save me. I know these beliefs are not popular and I know your thoughts on the subject, but I love you enough to try. You battle with anxiety, with your manic episodes, with your other fears...why do you think that is?
And there are bad people who do indeed hide behind Christianity, but why blame the whole for just a few? I follow one person and one person only. Jesus was the most poor man that ever walked this earth. Our entire calendar is based on his very existence. Not one man has been more talked about since his birth 2000 years ago. None of that was good enough for me to believe. I needed proof that he was the son of God. I needed proof that there even is a God. My proof is me. I knew it would take a god to change me. It took an act of God to turn my life around. It took an act of God to even get me to blog about Him.
When I was first entertaining the thought of getting saved, I remember I asked Jim about what people would think. He said something that still strikes a chord with me when I think about it. He said, "I thought you were one of those few people that didn't care what people think. I guess I was wrong."
Anyway, as always, I enjoy our philosophical talks. Heaven is the ulitmate bomb shelter and I want you there.
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Concert Update
The concert was fantastic, although much too short.
I couldn't get any pictures of my cute guy. WHY??? Because he decided to sit directly in back of me again. I couldn't turn around and take his picture without being rather obvious what I was doing. When he walked into the church, I could feel a hush go over the crowd and all the girls were sitting in anticipation over who he would decide to sit near...I looked up and there he was in front of me, then going around me to sit behind us. Ken looked at him and looked at me and then I looked at Jim and it was a very weird moment.
I can't believe I am too chicken to talk to him! I even talked to everyone tonight and I couldn't talk to him. I don't want him to think I don't like him. Hopefully God will fix this situation at church tomorrow.
The kids and I had supper at the Texas Roadhouse after the show and then we bought $20 worth of books at Goodwill.
Now, I am going to watch the rest of my movies and read before bed.
Current Mood: happy
Current music: Wish You Were Here........Paul Clark
I couldn't get any pictures of my cute guy. WHY??? Because he decided to sit directly in back of me again. I couldn't turn around and take his picture without being rather obvious what I was doing. When he walked into the church, I could feel a hush go over the crowd and all the girls were sitting in anticipation over who he would decide to sit near...I looked up and there he was in front of me, then going around me to sit behind us. Ken looked at him and looked at me and then I looked at Jim and it was a very weird moment.
I can't believe I am too chicken to talk to him! I even talked to everyone tonight and I couldn't talk to him. I don't want him to think I don't like him. Hopefully God will fix this situation at church tomorrow.
The kids and I had supper at the Texas Roadhouse after the show and then we bought $20 worth of books at Goodwill.
Now, I am going to watch the rest of my movies and read before bed.
Current Mood: happy
Current music: Wish You Were Here........Paul Clark
Texas Roadhouse
After the concert. Supper at Texas Roadhouse. Kayla and Zach love this restaurant. I look stoned!
GodSword Band
This is our church. The guy in the green shirt and khakis is Ken...the lead singer of GodSword and our senior pastor.
May 27, 2006
My house smells like fresh cut lilacs! The kids cut a whole bunch down and put some in vases all over the house. They smell so good. Lilacs on one of my most favorite flowers. Sweet Peas are good, peonies and daisys. Gardenias and orchids are pretty, too.
Concert day has arrived! I am so excited. I have my camera ready.
Talk about sleeping in! The kids and I did not wake up until 10 AM!! I can't remember the last time I slept in like that. I was asleep by 10 PM last night, but I guess I needed it. My morning routine has been a bit rushed, but that is okay.
It is 80 degrees already. HUMID! I am not complaining. You will never hear me complain about things being too hot, but I have to say, I don't like that feeling when you are out of the shower and you still feel damp. The good thing about the heavy air is that the smell of the flowers hangs around longer.
I rented some movies last night. Southern Belles. That was a cute movie. The Perfect Man...another cute one. Dick...because it is one of my favorites and I don't own it and Kayla's never seen it.....and Surrender Dorothy. I plan on watching that one tonight. It was a chick flick night and Kayla and I had fun watching movies that Zach would not be interested in!
A very cute guy moved in next door! He looks like an Americanized middle Easterner. Long camo skateboard shorts, flip flops, longish curly hair...great tan, fantastic smile. He was on his cell phone in our driveway this morning when I got up to go get my latte. He smiled and waved. I'll find out all about him when I go over to pay my rent.
Okay, I have to go tanning. I'll blog with concert pics later! :)
Current Mood: fantastic
Current Music: Everything.......Lifehouse
Concert day has arrived! I am so excited. I have my camera ready.
Talk about sleeping in! The kids and I did not wake up until 10 AM!! I can't remember the last time I slept in like that. I was asleep by 10 PM last night, but I guess I needed it. My morning routine has been a bit rushed, but that is okay.
It is 80 degrees already. HUMID! I am not complaining. You will never hear me complain about things being too hot, but I have to say, I don't like that feeling when you are out of the shower and you still feel damp. The good thing about the heavy air is that the smell of the flowers hangs around longer.
I rented some movies last night. Southern Belles. That was a cute movie. The Perfect Man...another cute one. Dick...because it is one of my favorites and I don't own it and Kayla's never seen it.....and Surrender Dorothy. I plan on watching that one tonight. It was a chick flick night and Kayla and I had fun watching movies that Zach would not be interested in!
A very cute guy moved in next door! He looks like an Americanized middle Easterner. Long camo skateboard shorts, flip flops, longish curly hair...great tan, fantastic smile. He was on his cell phone in our driveway this morning when I got up to go get my latte. He smiled and waved. I'll find out all about him when I go over to pay my rent.
Okay, I have to go tanning. I'll blog with concert pics later! :)
Current Mood: fantastic
Current Music: Everything.......Lifehouse
Friday, May 26, 2006
Friday!
A beautiful day! It is clouding over now. Looks like we'll have a thunder shower. I'm babysitting Lexi and Cody tonight. Not exactly what I had planned on doing, but Hayley volunteered. Actually she is the one babysitting, just in my house. Zach is go-carting with his friend Dakota.
Tanya is going to call this weekend! That is cool.
The concert is tomorrow afternoon. Sunday is supposed to be gorgeous! I can't wait.
Okay, I have to go tanning, go to Movie Gallery and rent some movies, pick up some groceries and call it a night. I am exhausted.
Current Mood: Excellent
Current Music: I'm watching Friends.
Tanya is going to call this weekend! That is cool.
The concert is tomorrow afternoon. Sunday is supposed to be gorgeous! I can't wait.
Okay, I have to go tanning, go to Movie Gallery and rent some movies, pick up some groceries and call it a night. I am exhausted.
Current Mood: Excellent
Current Music: I'm watching Friends.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Happy Thursday
Another beautiful day. Sunday is supposed to be gorgeous. Another week almost over. Tomorrow is Friday. I am so ready for the weekend! The kids and I are going shopping tomorrow. We're going to Border's and probably the mall. Just hanging out together. We only have 3 weeks left with Zach, so we're going to make the most of it. He leaves 3 weeks from tomorrow.
It will be so good to sleep in on Saturday. I desperately need an extra hour or two. Maybe even just a few minutes of being able to just lay there, without having to get up and rush the kids around getting ready.
The Godsword concert is on Saturday. I can hardly contain myself! I am so excited! I'll try to sneak some pictures of the two guys at church that I think are cute just for you Tanya! :) I got quite a few women laughing at the retreat. Obviously, our church does not promote premarital sex and this is one of many areas I struggle with, although, after Brian, I really am not interested in sleeping with anyone now, ever again, but I digress. Anyway, I was like, "I get this, but there are some things I need to know BEFORE I sign my name...like I am opposed to back hair and tight white underwear...it is kind of difficult to find those things out without sleeping with them." The ladies decided that I will bring a questionaire along with me on dates! Like, "#1. Body-waxing...Friend or Foe? #2. Boxers or Briefs...if Boxers are checked, move on to next question. If briefs are checked, this is the end of the test, unless, briefs are checked because your large parts need the extra support, then immediately sign your name at the bottom, with most recent pay stub and a copy of your tax return!" The funny thing is, Brian was incredibly hairy. And wore tight white underwear.
I am pretty sure the kids have a four-day weekend. I don't know if the City is giving us Monday AND Tuesday or just Monday off.
Current Mood: great
Current Music: So Far So Good.......Bryan Adams
It will be so good to sleep in on Saturday. I desperately need an extra hour or two. Maybe even just a few minutes of being able to just lay there, without having to get up and rush the kids around getting ready.
The Godsword concert is on Saturday. I can hardly contain myself! I am so excited! I'll try to sneak some pictures of the two guys at church that I think are cute just for you Tanya! :) I got quite a few women laughing at the retreat. Obviously, our church does not promote premarital sex and this is one of many areas I struggle with, although, after Brian, I really am not interested in sleeping with anyone now, ever again, but I digress. Anyway, I was like, "I get this, but there are some things I need to know BEFORE I sign my name...like I am opposed to back hair and tight white underwear...it is kind of difficult to find those things out without sleeping with them." The ladies decided that I will bring a questionaire along with me on dates! Like, "#1. Body-waxing...Friend or Foe? #2. Boxers or Briefs...if Boxers are checked, move on to next question. If briefs are checked, this is the end of the test, unless, briefs are checked because your large parts need the extra support, then immediately sign your name at the bottom, with most recent pay stub and a copy of your tax return!" The funny thing is, Brian was incredibly hairy. And wore tight white underwear.
I am pretty sure the kids have a four-day weekend. I don't know if the City is giving us Monday AND Tuesday or just Monday off.
Current Mood: great
Current Music: So Far So Good.......Bryan Adams
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Ficus Potty
I'm not sure what kind of Christians the hotel was expecting at this women's retreat, but I know I personally don't like peeing on a ficus. Now, a Nerium Oleander, maybe!
View From Our Balcony
The very beautiful Bar Harbor, Maine. In the distance is the road to the ferry. This was last Saturday.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
The Reason I May Never Date Again
Or how to NOT score with me....a recent chatting session with an ex-boyfriend......he is presently stationed in Afghanistan.
armyman2013: hey sexy
jennluvsgable: hey
armyman2013: how was your weekend at the retreat?
jennluvsgable: great
armyman2013: been thinkin about you
jennluvsgable: really
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: about what?
armyman2013: wanting to be with you
armyman2013: how sexy i think you are
armyman2013: your eyes .... how good you look
jennluvsgable: thanks
armyman2013: hoping to see some pic soon
jennluvsgable: i'll try
armyman2013: that would be great
armyman2013: cant believe i am here for a year
jennluvsgable: it is a long time
armyman2013: yes
armyman2013: and no sex
armyman2013: this sucks
jennluvsgable: i guess
armyman2013: very lonely
jennluvsgable: sex seems to have a funny way of making you feel lonlier
armyman2013: yea
jennluvsgable: do you ever get the feeling like you might be doing thngs wrong?
armyman2013: in what way....
jennluvsgable: just relationships in general
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: i've been thinking alot about it lately
armyman2013: really
jennluvsgable: yeah
jennluvsgable: it is almost like the same thing just repeats itself
armyman2013: yup
jennluvsgable: same story, just different players
armyman2013: sorry
jennluvsgable: about?
armyman2013: you have had problems
armyman2013: with relationships
jennluvsgable: no, that is just it...i don't stay long enough usually to have problems. you lasted what, 2 months?
jennluvsgable: i stay with it as long as it is fun
jennluvsgable: i never get too close
armyman2013: o
armyman2013: passion but not close
jennluvsgable: and i hate being alone
jennluvsgable: so i never am
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: not lately...i'm talking about my life before
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: like when brian and i broke up the first time and then i started seeing you
jennluvsgable: that was way too fast to start seeing anyone
jennluvsgable: i was pissed off at him and wanted to get over him as quick as possible
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: brian and i have been on and off for the last 3 years, but i certainly don't wait around for him when we're "off"
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: you sound like my therapist
armyman2013: dont want to do that
jennluvsgable: no, you don't
jennluvsgable: you and i barely even knew each other
armyman2013: i know..... but physically you totally turn me on
armyman2013: did right from the start
There has got to be more to my relationships than this. It has occured to me that I've never stopped dating the retarded football player that has taken too many hits to the head! Except Brian. He was the one who loved my bitchy, opinionated mouthiness above all else. I will never forget the look on his face the night I met him, after he guessed that my career was that of hairdresser. I was like, "I don't think so. I am a teacher. Nice try." Then he wanted the other girls to guess what he drove for a vehicle. They didn't guess it and in his Tim the Tool Man voice, he said, "I drive a GMC 2500 4 wheel drive club cab"...my response? "Of course, you do. You did say you were from Presque Isle. Isn't that what all the county boys drive?" I was soooo unimpressed. I miss plowing in the truck and I miss arguing politics with him. I miss his abrasive, completely faulty uber-Republican view that druggie Rush Limbaugh is king of kings. I just miss him.
armyman2013: hey sexy
jennluvsgable: hey
armyman2013: how was your weekend at the retreat?
jennluvsgable: great
armyman2013: been thinkin about you
jennluvsgable: really
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: about what?
armyman2013: wanting to be with you
armyman2013: how sexy i think you are
armyman2013: your eyes .... how good you look
jennluvsgable: thanks
armyman2013: hoping to see some pic soon
jennluvsgable: i'll try
armyman2013: that would be great
armyman2013: cant believe i am here for a year
jennluvsgable: it is a long time
armyman2013: yes
armyman2013: and no sex
armyman2013: this sucks
jennluvsgable: i guess
armyman2013: very lonely
jennluvsgable: sex seems to have a funny way of making you feel lonlier
armyman2013: yea
jennluvsgable: do you ever get the feeling like you might be doing thngs wrong?
armyman2013: in what way....
jennluvsgable: just relationships in general
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: i've been thinking alot about it lately
armyman2013: really
jennluvsgable: yeah
jennluvsgable: it is almost like the same thing just repeats itself
armyman2013: yup
jennluvsgable: same story, just different players
armyman2013: sorry
jennluvsgable: about?
armyman2013: you have had problems
armyman2013: with relationships
jennluvsgable: no, that is just it...i don't stay long enough usually to have problems. you lasted what, 2 months?
jennluvsgable: i stay with it as long as it is fun
jennluvsgable: i never get too close
armyman2013: o
armyman2013: passion but not close
jennluvsgable: and i hate being alone
jennluvsgable: so i never am
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: not lately...i'm talking about my life before
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: like when brian and i broke up the first time and then i started seeing you
jennluvsgable: that was way too fast to start seeing anyone
jennluvsgable: i was pissed off at him and wanted to get over him as quick as possible
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: brian and i have been on and off for the last 3 years, but i certainly don't wait around for him when we're "off"
armyman2013: yes
jennluvsgable: you sound like my therapist
armyman2013: dont want to do that
jennluvsgable: no, you don't
jennluvsgable: you and i barely even knew each other
armyman2013: i know..... but physically you totally turn me on
armyman2013: did right from the start
There has got to be more to my relationships than this. It has occured to me that I've never stopped dating the retarded football player that has taken too many hits to the head! Except Brian. He was the one who loved my bitchy, opinionated mouthiness above all else. I will never forget the look on his face the night I met him, after he guessed that my career was that of hairdresser. I was like, "I don't think so. I am a teacher. Nice try." Then he wanted the other girls to guess what he drove for a vehicle. They didn't guess it and in his Tim the Tool Man voice, he said, "I drive a GMC 2500 4 wheel drive club cab"...my response? "Of course, you do. You did say you were from Presque Isle. Isn't that what all the county boys drive?" I was soooo unimpressed. I miss plowing in the truck and I miss arguing politics with him. I miss his abrasive, completely faulty uber-Republican view that druggie Rush Limbaugh is king of kings. I just miss him.
Tuesday Night
I have a meeting in the morning tomorrow. I sat outside in the sun for a little while today and I mowed the backyard today. I only did one load of laundry, though.
Cassidy and Courtney (two of the kids at the learning center ages 5 and 6) moved on the 20th. Of course, I left on the 18th, so I was upset today that I didn't get to say goodbye. Well, their mom had some stuff to finish up today, so the girls came to the learning center for hugs and kisses. They didn't want to leave before saying goodbye either. They aren't going far. Just another part of Bangor, so they will be able to visit. They are still friends with the families that live near the center.
It was a good night at the center. The kids were glad I was back and I made Pasta Alfredo for supper, along with some garlic bread.
Dawn is feeling better, so she and her little girl Alayna should be at the center tomorrow. Laynie is such a sweet little girl.
I visited Grandma this morning for a couple of hours. I went to get my coffee and then decided to go over there to check on her. I'm glad I did. I'm picking her up Sunday morning and bringing her to our church. She is excited. I didn't like the church she was going to and really felt like they were just after her money. I was surprised how quickly she changed her mind when I asked if she wanted me to pick her up Sunday. Usually she gives me the "no, I like my church" routine even when I argue that it seems way to cultish for my taste. I think our last conversation about it ended with me saying, "don't blame me when they pass out the purple Kool-Aid!"
Cassidy and Courtney (two of the kids at the learning center ages 5 and 6) moved on the 20th. Of course, I left on the 18th, so I was upset today that I didn't get to say goodbye. Well, their mom had some stuff to finish up today, so the girls came to the learning center for hugs and kisses. They didn't want to leave before saying goodbye either. They aren't going far. Just another part of Bangor, so they will be able to visit. They are still friends with the families that live near the center.
It was a good night at the center. The kids were glad I was back and I made Pasta Alfredo for supper, along with some garlic bread.
Dawn is feeling better, so she and her little girl Alayna should be at the center tomorrow. Laynie is such a sweet little girl.
I visited Grandma this morning for a couple of hours. I went to get my coffee and then decided to go over there to check on her. I'm glad I did. I'm picking her up Sunday morning and bringing her to our church. She is excited. I didn't like the church she was going to and really felt like they were just after her money. I was surprised how quickly she changed her mind when I asked if she wanted me to pick her up Sunday. Usually she gives me the "no, I like my church" routine even when I argue that it seems way to cultish for my taste. I think our last conversation about it ended with me saying, "don't blame me when they pass out the purple Kool-Aid!"
Yesterday's Screw-Up
I wrote yesterday's date at 5/23/06, all day and even started today off writing 5/24, not realizing that yesterday was the 22nd. Today is the 23rd. I'm back on track now.
Congratulations to Iona for her big BIG winnings at the slots and Happy Birthday. I'll bring her card and present in sometime this week, as I forgot her birthday was this weekend. Claire threw me off because she gave Iona her birthday card on May 9th.
I work at the learning center tonight. It will be nice to get back into my routine. After about two minutes with the kids, I'll feel like I haven't been gone at all.
Zach's field trip today is in Bar Harbor. Hayley's field trip on Friday is in BAR HARBOR! Kayla is too old for field trips anymore. She might have a trip to Spain if she keeps up with her Spanish. She went to Mexico with me. Of course, she was in my belly, so I doubt she remembers much of it! :)
I haven't said this lately. I LOVE my dog. She is still the sweetest girl around. She sleeps so peacefully it always makes me smile because I know she knows she is completely safe. I'm on the couch, blogging on my laptop and she is on the cushion next to me, sleeping. I'll get up in a minute to go get my latte, but first I have to go to bathroom and put on my contacts. When I get back, she'll be waiting at the door with her leash. She knows my routine and doesn't she hate it when I deviate from the plan and she has to spend a few hours in her kennel. I want to point out, she doesn't hate her kennel. She loves it and plays in and out of it all day, chasing the cats into it. What she hates is me walking out that door without her. She literally smiles from the front seat of the car when she is riding.
I am so grateful we haven't had the rain like a lot of New England. The sun even came out in Bar Harbor when it wasn't supposed to. Saturday was nice. Yesterday turned out quite nice. Next week, the weather will be warmer again, according to the forecast.
Well, I have to go get my drink, go to the bank, go tanning and do some laundry. Sierra likes errand days. She gets dog bisquits at the bank, the gas station, and when I go through drive-thrus. Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled!
Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: Jennifer Knapp cd
Congratulations to Iona for her big BIG winnings at the slots and Happy Birthday. I'll bring her card and present in sometime this week, as I forgot her birthday was this weekend. Claire threw me off because she gave Iona her birthday card on May 9th.
I work at the learning center tonight. It will be nice to get back into my routine. After about two minutes with the kids, I'll feel like I haven't been gone at all.
Zach's field trip today is in Bar Harbor. Hayley's field trip on Friday is in BAR HARBOR! Kayla is too old for field trips anymore. She might have a trip to Spain if she keeps up with her Spanish. She went to Mexico with me. Of course, she was in my belly, so I doubt she remembers much of it! :)
I haven't said this lately. I LOVE my dog. She is still the sweetest girl around. She sleeps so peacefully it always makes me smile because I know she knows she is completely safe. I'm on the couch, blogging on my laptop and she is on the cushion next to me, sleeping. I'll get up in a minute to go get my latte, but first I have to go to bathroom and put on my contacts. When I get back, she'll be waiting at the door with her leash. She knows my routine and doesn't she hate it when I deviate from the plan and she has to spend a few hours in her kennel. I want to point out, she doesn't hate her kennel. She loves it and plays in and out of it all day, chasing the cats into it. What she hates is me walking out that door without her. She literally smiles from the front seat of the car when she is riding.
I am so grateful we haven't had the rain like a lot of New England. The sun even came out in Bar Harbor when it wasn't supposed to. Saturday was nice. Yesterday turned out quite nice. Next week, the weather will be warmer again, according to the forecast.
Well, I have to go get my drink, go to the bank, go tanning and do some laundry. Sierra likes errand days. She gets dog bisquits at the bank, the gas station, and when I go through drive-thrus. Spoiled, spoiled, spoiled!
Current Mood: sleepy
Current Music: Jennifer Knapp cd
Monday, May 22, 2006
May 22, 2006
I'm still feeling off since I've gotten back from my trip. Behind on sleep, I guess. Could be shell shock too! It was an emotionally profound experience and truly life defining. I think I am also off on my cleaning schedule and that has something to do with my discombobulated feelings. I did change my sheets and had a nice fresh bed to sleep in last night!
Zach is leaving June 16th. He is flying to Virginia to spend the summer with his dad. I'm not crazy about him flying alone. I'm not crazy about him being gone for 10 weeks. I'm not crazy about feeding his snake 10 times. Basil eats once a week. That would be one mouse a week.
I'm glad Monday is over. I don't think I will ever be fond of Mondays.
Zach is leaving June 16th. He is flying to Virginia to spend the summer with his dad. I'm not crazy about him flying alone. I'm not crazy about him being gone for 10 weeks. I'm not crazy about feeding his snake 10 times. Basil eats once a week. That would be one mouse a week.
I'm glad Monday is over. I don't think I will ever be fond of Mondays.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Brief Update
I will do a more thorough update tonight or tomorrow. My mind is still very fuzzy and overwhelmed with new thoughts and ideas.
The little mini-vaca was much needed. I haven't spent the night with my cousin Shawna since highschool. We roomed together. She is my father's niece and my mother babysat her everyday. Once we were school-aged, my mom watched her on vacations and in the summer everyday. She is a year younger than me, so there was me, Shawna, my sister and then my brother. In that order. We were the best of friends. So anyway, we used to talk all night long when we were kids and nothing has changed. The first night, I got 3 hours sleep. Friday night, I got 5 hours. Needless to say, when I got home yesterday, I checked my mail, hugged the kids, took out my contacts and we all went in my room to watch some movies. The kids were in the midst of a Buffy marathon and I promptly fell asleep and slept until 8 PM. A lovely 5 hour nap. I ate some cereal and read a little and was back to sleep by 10. I slept until 8 AM this morning. We missed morning church, but we'll go to tonight's evening service.
Anyone out there contemplating a women's retreat should be forewarned...expect little sleep...think summer camp. I don't know why I thought this would be restful. 300 hundred women doing what they do best...TALK! And cry. I think I've cried more in 3 days than I have probably ever. My sinuses and contacts will never be the same.
Rosemary Gallatin was our guest speaker. She is the funniest, sweetest and most strong 65+ year old woman I have ever met. She is very honest with her testimony and it was kind of like I met my future self I hope to be. She is still very beautiful so I can believe she was quite gorgeous when she was younger. Prior to getting saved, her husband was very abusive, she drank, she had two sons, two abortions, several affairs and had a hard time believing in God. Her own father had been sexually abusive. Just a long list of things she had to overcome. When I first met her, I thought to myself, this is the hippest grandmother I have ever met. I have finally met someone who I will be like, when I get old. Not some old stuffy Christian. For instance, after her masectomy, she and her husband were picking up some religious leader from Germany and his wife from the airport and they passed a Hooters. Her husband had a new ministry in Germany, so he's been gone 6-7 months a year. She is no longer the senior pastor's wife because he is no longer the senior pastor at their congregation. She didn't feel like a woman anymore because of her masectomy. She had been struggling with finding a new identity. She immediately started laughing and called her oldest son on her cell phone and said she found her calling...she was going to be a Hooter's girl! He said, "Oh, great idea Mom, and when they don't hire you, you can sue them for discrimination!" She also joked about when she had to go to the prosthetic shop. I will not do her jokes justice, so I won't even try. Just read her testimony in her book. She is a fascinating woman, even if you're not overly religious. She's also had a liver transplant this year. So many things she's had to overcome and she is still laughing! I do remember her telling us about her dining with her 4 oldest and dearest friends last weekend and she ordered her iced-tea and said, "Make it a double, like I used to drink my bourbon!"
The little mini-vaca was much needed. I haven't spent the night with my cousin Shawna since highschool. We roomed together. She is my father's niece and my mother babysat her everyday. Once we were school-aged, my mom watched her on vacations and in the summer everyday. She is a year younger than me, so there was me, Shawna, my sister and then my brother. In that order. We were the best of friends. So anyway, we used to talk all night long when we were kids and nothing has changed. The first night, I got 3 hours sleep. Friday night, I got 5 hours. Needless to say, when I got home yesterday, I checked my mail, hugged the kids, took out my contacts and we all went in my room to watch some movies. The kids were in the midst of a Buffy marathon and I promptly fell asleep and slept until 8 PM. A lovely 5 hour nap. I ate some cereal and read a little and was back to sleep by 10. I slept until 8 AM this morning. We missed morning church, but we'll go to tonight's evening service.
Anyone out there contemplating a women's retreat should be forewarned...expect little sleep...think summer camp. I don't know why I thought this would be restful. 300 hundred women doing what they do best...TALK! And cry. I think I've cried more in 3 days than I have probably ever. My sinuses and contacts will never be the same.
Rosemary Gallatin was our guest speaker. She is the funniest, sweetest and most strong 65+ year old woman I have ever met. She is very honest with her testimony and it was kind of like I met my future self I hope to be. She is still very beautiful so I can believe she was quite gorgeous when she was younger. Prior to getting saved, her husband was very abusive, she drank, she had two sons, two abortions, several affairs and had a hard time believing in God. Her own father had been sexually abusive. Just a long list of things she had to overcome. When I first met her, I thought to myself, this is the hippest grandmother I have ever met. I have finally met someone who I will be like, when I get old. Not some old stuffy Christian. For instance, after her masectomy, she and her husband were picking up some religious leader from Germany and his wife from the airport and they passed a Hooters. Her husband had a new ministry in Germany, so he's been gone 6-7 months a year. She is no longer the senior pastor's wife because he is no longer the senior pastor at their congregation. She didn't feel like a woman anymore because of her masectomy. She had been struggling with finding a new identity. She immediately started laughing and called her oldest son on her cell phone and said she found her calling...she was going to be a Hooter's girl! He said, "Oh, great idea Mom, and when they don't hire you, you can sue them for discrimination!" She also joked about when she had to go to the prosthetic shop. I will not do her jokes justice, so I won't even try. Just read her testimony in her book. She is a fascinating woman, even if you're not overly religious. She's also had a liver transplant this year. So many things she's had to overcome and she is still laughing! I do remember her telling us about her dining with her 4 oldest and dearest friends last weekend and she ordered her iced-tea and said, "Make it a double, like I used to drink my bourbon!"
Thursday, May 18, 2006
May 18, 2006
The weather turned out kind of nice yesterday! The sun was unexpected. I don't know how much of the state got to enjoy it. From the sound of things, southern Maine is getting nailed with rain. We've had a few showers, but nothing major yet. We did have a brief thundershower Tuesday night. That was cool. I like my rain with thunder and lightening.
I've been sneezing all morning. I am trying to get my stuff packed up. We're leaving today at 3:30. I won't be home until about 1 PM Saturday.
Church was fun last night. Wednesday nights are a little more intimate because most of the church only goes to one or two services on Sundays. I try to get on Wednesdays. It hasn't always worked out in the past, either because of a night class, or closing at the preschool, or other work. But the last few weeks, we've managed to make it.
Much to Ken's (our pastor) chagrin, I am going to see The Da Vinci Code Saturday night. Why? One, because I've already read the book and I'm excited to see it on the screen. Two, I love Tom Hanks and Ron Howard. If any two people can treat the book and subject with respect, I think it would be these two individuals. Three....because I enjoy FICTION! This is all the book was. A work of fiction. A work based loosely on facts, albeit geniusly interwoven. I don't feel that the book has diminished my faith in Christ. If anything, it prompted me to do my own research on the subject. Knowledge isn't always a bad thing. I question anyone who wants blind followers. In the Bible, it instructs to search for the answers and to test your faith and that He would always remain faithful, even though we might not think so at the time. I liken it to when my kids were little and wanted to do something that would put them in danger. As their loving parent, I said no, which led them to their telling me I was mean, unloving or just unfair. My reply? Tough. I love you and I know what is best for you. God doesn't even go that far. He lets us do the dangerous thing.
Last night, we studied Revelations:9...Kayla had forgotten her Bible and so I offered to let her look on with me...she looked at me and said, "I read chapter 9 last night." "Oh, excuse me, my precious one!" It was cute, though. How many 16 year old girls read the Bible before bed? And you know what? I let her read what she wants!
Other cute things...my niece Lexi turned 5 recently. When asked how old she is, she says, "Cinco de Mayo!" "No, Lexi, just cinco!" Also cute was a conversation between Zach, Joel and our faithful volunteer at the learning center, Amol, who is from India. Zach has been confused I guess, thinking Amol was Indian, as in native American...They were playing with the globe and Amol showed the boys were India was located. Zach says, "You mean, you're not from Nevada?" I don't know where he got the idea that Amol was from Nevada. Joel then says, "I've never even left Bangor." Zach says, "Not even to go to Veazie?" like Veazie is THE place to go in the state of Maine.
Funny kids. Okay, I've procrastinated long enough. Time to get back to packing and laundry.
I've been sneezing all morning. I am trying to get my stuff packed up. We're leaving today at 3:30. I won't be home until about 1 PM Saturday.
Church was fun last night. Wednesday nights are a little more intimate because most of the church only goes to one or two services on Sundays. I try to get on Wednesdays. It hasn't always worked out in the past, either because of a night class, or closing at the preschool, or other work. But the last few weeks, we've managed to make it.
Much to Ken's (our pastor) chagrin, I am going to see The Da Vinci Code Saturday night. Why? One, because I've already read the book and I'm excited to see it on the screen. Two, I love Tom Hanks and Ron Howard. If any two people can treat the book and subject with respect, I think it would be these two individuals. Three....because I enjoy FICTION! This is all the book was. A work of fiction. A work based loosely on facts, albeit geniusly interwoven. I don't feel that the book has diminished my faith in Christ. If anything, it prompted me to do my own research on the subject. Knowledge isn't always a bad thing. I question anyone who wants blind followers. In the Bible, it instructs to search for the answers and to test your faith and that He would always remain faithful, even though we might not think so at the time. I liken it to when my kids were little and wanted to do something that would put them in danger. As their loving parent, I said no, which led them to their telling me I was mean, unloving or just unfair. My reply? Tough. I love you and I know what is best for you. God doesn't even go that far. He lets us do the dangerous thing.
Last night, we studied Revelations:9...Kayla had forgotten her Bible and so I offered to let her look on with me...she looked at me and said, "I read chapter 9 last night." "Oh, excuse me, my precious one!" It was cute, though. How many 16 year old girls read the Bible before bed? And you know what? I let her read what she wants!
Other cute things...my niece Lexi turned 5 recently. When asked how old she is, she says, "Cinco de Mayo!" "No, Lexi, just cinco!" Also cute was a conversation between Zach, Joel and our faithful volunteer at the learning center, Amol, who is from India. Zach has been confused I guess, thinking Amol was Indian, as in native American...They were playing with the globe and Amol showed the boys were India was located. Zach says, "You mean, you're not from Nevada?" I don't know where he got the idea that Amol was from Nevada. Joel then says, "I've never even left Bangor." Zach says, "Not even to go to Veazie?" like Veazie is THE place to go in the state of Maine.
Funny kids. Okay, I've procrastinated long enough. Time to get back to packing and laundry.
Monday, May 15, 2006
May 15, 2006
I'm watching the 2 hour season finale of Grey's Anatomy tonight at 9 PM.
I got my reports written and emailed to our project coordinator today. I have to go grocery shopping tonight. Kayla and I will do it after our tanning appointment. The kids have a band concert tomorrow night.
Nothing else exciting to blog about. Church was very fun last night. Altar boy sat directly behind me on the bleachers last night! Things are starting to move quickly! :)
I got my reports written and emailed to our project coordinator today. I have to go grocery shopping tonight. Kayla and I will do it after our tanning appointment. The kids have a band concert tomorrow night.
Nothing else exciting to blog about. Church was very fun last night. Altar boy sat directly behind me on the bleachers last night! Things are starting to move quickly! :)
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Happy Mommy's Day!
I am in a fantastic mood today! I think the beautiful sunny weather might have something to do with it. It is about 73 with a very nice breeze. I think Eric is right, I am like a plant. I need sun and lots of it. I also need rain, but not more than 2 or more days consecutively.
The kids and I went to Nicky's restaurant last night for supper. We had breakfast! Only a handful of places serve breakfast all day. Today we went to church and all of the moms got carnations. That was very sweet! After, the kids and I went to my parent's house. We visited for about a half hour and then I wanted to get back for my latte and for some gardening and tanning! I planted all of my herbs and my tomato plants. Gardening in hard work! It was fun, though and a good way to enjoy the sun! Then I jumped in the pool and cooled down. I picked up Hayley's friend Devon for a little while. I dropped Zach and Dakota off at the baseball field so they could play with Zach's new baseball equipment. I picked them up and we got some Slush Puppies. Now the boys are at Dakota's for awhile. Shannon is here now. She burned me a cd for Mother's Day. She and the kids made me a very sweet one last year. This one is Sarah Kelley and Third Day! I'm listening to it now! :)
At 5, we're dropping Devon off and we're heading back to church. Shannon is coming with us, so we should have a good time.
Chicken Little is SUCH a cute movie! I need to buy it! 4 days till the women's retreat! I am getting so excited! Nothing like an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and weight room to perk me up! And to think I had all of that at AJ's. He had an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a tanning bed and a home gym in his HOUSE! I don't miss him as much as I miss all of the stuff that came with him! As I recall though, it got old pretty fast. I am a social kind of person and like going to the beach and watching people and being watched and I am one of those people that loves working out at a busy gym. I don't mind my solitary runs, but I like the social aspect of the gym. AJ was the opposite. He had very low self-esteem and wouldn't even work out in front of ME! I would have to stay upstairs if he was working out. I do know he used to work out to Christina Aguilera! Until I bought him the Shakira cd. I'm still not convinced straight men listen to Christina or Shakira! They may watch their videos, but work out to their music???
Oh well, I need to go get beautiful for church. I'm sitting here in my bikini.
The kids and I went to Nicky's restaurant last night for supper. We had breakfast! Only a handful of places serve breakfast all day. Today we went to church and all of the moms got carnations. That was very sweet! After, the kids and I went to my parent's house. We visited for about a half hour and then I wanted to get back for my latte and for some gardening and tanning! I planted all of my herbs and my tomato plants. Gardening in hard work! It was fun, though and a good way to enjoy the sun! Then I jumped in the pool and cooled down. I picked up Hayley's friend Devon for a little while. I dropped Zach and Dakota off at the baseball field so they could play with Zach's new baseball equipment. I picked them up and we got some Slush Puppies. Now the boys are at Dakota's for awhile. Shannon is here now. She burned me a cd for Mother's Day. She and the kids made me a very sweet one last year. This one is Sarah Kelley and Third Day! I'm listening to it now! :)
At 5, we're dropping Devon off and we're heading back to church. Shannon is coming with us, so we should have a good time.
Chicken Little is SUCH a cute movie! I need to buy it! 4 days till the women's retreat! I am getting so excited! Nothing like an indoor pool, hot tub, sauna and weight room to perk me up! And to think I had all of that at AJ's. He had an indoor pool, a hot tub, a sauna, a tanning bed and a home gym in his HOUSE! I don't miss him as much as I miss all of the stuff that came with him! As I recall though, it got old pretty fast. I am a social kind of person and like going to the beach and watching people and being watched and I am one of those people that loves working out at a busy gym. I don't mind my solitary runs, but I like the social aspect of the gym. AJ was the opposite. He had very low self-esteem and wouldn't even work out in front of ME! I would have to stay upstairs if he was working out. I do know he used to work out to Christina Aguilera! Until I bought him the Shakira cd. I'm still not convinced straight men listen to Christina or Shakira! They may watch their videos, but work out to their music???
Oh well, I need to go get beautiful for church. I'm sitting here in my bikini.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Saturday
Life is slowly resuming normalcy. The girls and I got a lot of cleaning done. All the stuff that has been bugging me for the last week because I was so busy last weekend. I got the lawn mowed. I got my windows clean. Floors washed. I DUSTED!!! I haven't dusted in forever. I hate dusting. I got my drapes and furniture Febreezed. Laundry is done. Dishes are done. Bathroom clean. The one thing I will probably tackle later is my fridge. I haven't taken out the drawers or shelves in a few months, so it definitely needs to be done soon.
I was right about the graduation traffic cluster. My graduation was bright and sunny and I remember I wore shorts underneath my gown. I had a kick ass party after my family party. Gerry & Elaine, Rachel & K-Dogg and the guy I was seeing at the time, Sean, threw me a very fun party. The three A's were there, Allison, Amy and Andrea. It was just super fun.
Lexi (my niece) and the boys (Zach & Cody) went swimming this afternoon while I got some yardwork done.
I must get back to work.
I was right about the graduation traffic cluster. My graduation was bright and sunny and I remember I wore shorts underneath my gown. I had a kick ass party after my family party. Gerry & Elaine, Rachel & K-Dogg and the guy I was seeing at the time, Sean, threw me a very fun party. The three A's were there, Allison, Amy and Andrea. It was just super fun.
Lexi (my niece) and the boys (Zach & Cody) went swimming this afternoon while I got some yardwork done.
I must get back to work.
May 13, 2006
I am so drained. I am very much looking forward to the women's retreat next Thursday, Friday and Saturday. I need a little time away! I didn't do much last night. Kayla and I went tanning, while Hayley, Zach and Sierra waited for us. After, we got some gas, got some food, and got some movies. We rented Crash (excellent!!!!!!), Fun with Dick and Jane (I fell asleep), Chicken Little (haven't watched it yet), Wolf Creek (I saw this in the theaters, too...still disturbing, Hostel was better, though), and finally King Kong, which I haven't bothered to watch yet. We got home to relax and my niece and nephew showed up with their parents, wanting to spend the night. They'll be going home this afternoon. I really wasn't in the mood for extra company, but it was Zachie's birthday and he looked excited to have the company.
He has made $65 in birthday money. He got a ball python, a baseball glove and ball and today, we're going to pick up his hit away thing and hopefully just stay home. I was so busy last weekend, that I just need a day or two off to do NOTHING. Tomorrow, we'll go to church and out to eat for Mother's Day and Zach's birthday.
I know my mood will improve after I consume my latte, so time to get my day started. Orono will be crazy, though...UMaine graduation is today...traffic getting to and from Ampersand's will likely be disgusting. I may have to get two lattes.
Current Mood: okay
Current Music: Aladdin video game theme music
He has made $65 in birthday money. He got a ball python, a baseball glove and ball and today, we're going to pick up his hit away thing and hopefully just stay home. I was so busy last weekend, that I just need a day or two off to do NOTHING. Tomorrow, we'll go to church and out to eat for Mother's Day and Zach's birthday.
I know my mood will improve after I consume my latte, so time to get my day started. Orono will be crazy, though...UMaine graduation is today...traffic getting to and from Ampersand's will likely be disgusting. I may have to get two lattes.
Current Mood: okay
Current Music: Aladdin video game theme music
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Another Thought
While doing more research, I found a neat site about childcare centers. It noted that the centers can increase its earning potential by 30% by offering after hours babysitting services. Friday or Saturday nights, as well as whole weekends. Even nights for parents that work late hours at a hospital or job like that. No major curriculum would be needed because the kids are sleeping. The only exception would be the full weekend. I definitely know many parents that would love the opportunity to get away for the weekend and would take advantage of giving their child a little vacation, too. Because there would probably be fewer children at a time, this would allow for field trips, etc, and I think with the right pay incentive, most workers would be willing to cover a weekend shift or even split the shift. Or simply hire someone who only wants to work nights and weekends.
Another Post
I also spent some time online last night researching investments. It is getting to the point where I have a considerable amount of money in my savings account. Yes, some will be taken out shortly for a new car, but that will be replaced within the year. My hope is to have about $20,000 in the bank a year from August, so I will have a down payment for a house and money to start my own side business. I started thinking that after buying a car, I won't really need the money in my account for at least a year, so maybe I should consider investing in a 12-month CD, which currently has a higher interest rate than my savings account. However, after doing some research, I figured out that if I invested say $12,000 in a 12-month CD with an interest rate of 3.5%, then I am only making an additional $420 when it matures. I'd save more if I quit drinking my lattes! Then again, and extra $420 is an extra $420. Soon after, I started looking at the stock market. I've always heard it takes money to make money and I understand that, so I'm definitely interested in making the most of my situation. I guess now would be the time to get planning on my retirement and IRA and what-have-you. My knowledge is limited about money-market options. I think that can be used more like a checking account, in which you can use some of your money, whereas a CD is untouchable for the length of the term you've chosen, but like I stated before, I don't plan on touching it. I plan on keeping it in my savings until I am ready for a down payment, closing costs and lawyer fees.
I think this weekend, I am going to buy "Investing for Dummies" at Border's.
I think this weekend, I am going to buy "Investing for Dummies" at Border's.
That Was Easy
I was looking online for quotes for daycare liability insurance...for what I would want (I want to be licensed for 20-25 kids) it could be anywhere from $500-$1000 per year, depending on the state and the site I am operating in and on. If it were in my home, or on my property, my homeowner's insurance would cover most and then an additional endorsement would be about $170 more per year. I was expecting some outrageous price in the several thousands. I am willing to pay $1000 a year for a combined commerical liability policy.
I also was looking at dog liability insurance for when I move and buy my own home. I can buy a separate policy for her and my home owner's would cover the rest, or I can just get a homeowners policy that insures her breed. Again, I was expecting this to be atronomical. Sierra is definitely worth an extra hundred or two a year. My 12 year old son does more damage than the dog.
I also was looking at dog liability insurance for when I move and buy my own home. I can buy a separate policy for her and my home owner's would cover the rest, or I can just get a homeowners policy that insures her breed. Again, I was expecting this to be atronomical. Sierra is definitely worth an extra hundred or two a year. My 12 year old son does more damage than the dog.
May 11, 2006
I'm slowly getting laundry caught up. It never ceases to amaze me with 3 kids how quick your laundry can fall behind.
The kids were super excited for school this morning! Not really. But they all got on the bus. Normally I drive them but I am dragging this morning. Thankfully the school year is almost over. We need a break. Zach will be gone for the summer in a little over a month. His birthday is tomorrow. He loves his new snake. He keeps hugging me saying, "Thanks, Mom, I never thought I'd get to be a boy who owns a snake!"
I leave next Thursday afternoon for the woman's retreat. We're staying at the Atlantic Oakes Resort & Conference Center in Bar Harbor, about 45 minutes away. The kids will be on their own Thursday night. They'll have to get themselves up and on the bus for Friday. I warned them that they had all better make it to school Friday. They will because they know their school will call me or their dad if they don't. They can either go to their dad's after school Friday for the night, or stay here, which I'd prefer, so Sierra doesn't have to be alone. It is nice that they are at the ages they are at. At 16 and 15, Kayla and Hayley are old enough and responsible enough to keep an eye on their 12 year old brother for a night or two. Their dad lives 2 minutes away. My parents are a phone call away. Desaraye and David live down the road. We have very close neighbors that will keep an eye on things, too. Both girls are CPR and first-aid certified. They are excellent babysitters and have excellent references from the families they work for. PLUS, they know I will kill them if anything happens to their little brother. :) As long as Hayley can talk on the phone all night and I leave money for pizza and movies, and Zach has his snake and video games, they should be quite content to chill until I get back around noon on Saturday.
A lot of big events happened right after Zach was born 12 years ago. The end of May, Jackie Kennedy Onassis died. In June, 12 years ago, Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered. I remember wondering to myself, about a year after that happened, if we would ever turn our tv's on again and not see or hear about OJ. Several months later, that mother drowned her little boys in her car. I remember being consumed watching that play out on tv. The youngest son looked like Zach and they were close in age. I was beside myself, worried for the parents and hoping the kids would be found. Mike came into work one night and looked at me and said, "She did it." I was like, "What?", not sure what he was talking about it. "She did it. She killed the boys." They would be 15 and 12 now, I think.
I am feeling lazy today. It is day number two of rain. Tomorrow night, after work, Kayla and I will go tanning and then we'll have a birthday dinner for Zach. We'll either go out to eat, or make something special. All three of them are fans of having breakfast for supper, so we might just stay in and have bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes and toast. Then again, we might go out to eat because we'll have to go shopping for birthday presents. The snake was the big gift. He aslo wants that Derek Jeter hit-away ball pitcher, a new baseball glove, and some other stuff I can't seem to remember right now.
The pets in this house now include a snake, three oscars, two of our cats, plus a visiting cat we're sitting for my cousin, and our dog. Throw in three kids and a mom and we have a full house!
The kids were super excited for school this morning! Not really. But they all got on the bus. Normally I drive them but I am dragging this morning. Thankfully the school year is almost over. We need a break. Zach will be gone for the summer in a little over a month. His birthday is tomorrow. He loves his new snake. He keeps hugging me saying, "Thanks, Mom, I never thought I'd get to be a boy who owns a snake!"
I leave next Thursday afternoon for the woman's retreat. We're staying at the Atlantic Oakes Resort & Conference Center in Bar Harbor, about 45 minutes away. The kids will be on their own Thursday night. They'll have to get themselves up and on the bus for Friday. I warned them that they had all better make it to school Friday. They will because they know their school will call me or their dad if they don't. They can either go to their dad's after school Friday for the night, or stay here, which I'd prefer, so Sierra doesn't have to be alone. It is nice that they are at the ages they are at. At 16 and 15, Kayla and Hayley are old enough and responsible enough to keep an eye on their 12 year old brother for a night or two. Their dad lives 2 minutes away. My parents are a phone call away. Desaraye and David live down the road. We have very close neighbors that will keep an eye on things, too. Both girls are CPR and first-aid certified. They are excellent babysitters and have excellent references from the families they work for. PLUS, they know I will kill them if anything happens to their little brother. :) As long as Hayley can talk on the phone all night and I leave money for pizza and movies, and Zach has his snake and video games, they should be quite content to chill until I get back around noon on Saturday.
A lot of big events happened right after Zach was born 12 years ago. The end of May, Jackie Kennedy Onassis died. In June, 12 years ago, Nicole Brown Simpson was murdered. I remember wondering to myself, about a year after that happened, if we would ever turn our tv's on again and not see or hear about OJ. Several months later, that mother drowned her little boys in her car. I remember being consumed watching that play out on tv. The youngest son looked like Zach and they were close in age. I was beside myself, worried for the parents and hoping the kids would be found. Mike came into work one night and looked at me and said, "She did it." I was like, "What?", not sure what he was talking about it. "She did it. She killed the boys." They would be 15 and 12 now, I think.
I am feeling lazy today. It is day number two of rain. Tomorrow night, after work, Kayla and I will go tanning and then we'll have a birthday dinner for Zach. We'll either go out to eat, or make something special. All three of them are fans of having breakfast for supper, so we might just stay in and have bacon, sausage, eggs, pancakes and toast. Then again, we might go out to eat because we'll have to go shopping for birthday presents. The snake was the big gift. He aslo wants that Derek Jeter hit-away ball pitcher, a new baseball glove, and some other stuff I can't seem to remember right now.
The pets in this house now include a snake, three oscars, two of our cats, plus a visiting cat we're sitting for my cousin, and our dog. Throw in three kids and a mom and we have a full house!
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Midnight Toker
Midnight Toker:
(n.) One who rocks the bong in the dark.
REMEMBER!!!
Knowledge is power!
Current Mood: still good
Current Music: Rock the Casbah............The Clash
(n.) One who rocks the bong in the dark.
REMEMBER!!!
Knowledge is power!
Current Mood: still good
Current Music: Rock the Casbah............The Clash
Conversations from the Car
Me: What the heck is Sierra flipping out, barking and growling at?
Zach: Probably that cat crossing the street.
Me: That cat or that old man walking with the cane?
Zach: What's the difference? They're both furry!
My boy is special indeed!
Zach: Probably that cat crossing the street.
Me: That cat or that old man walking with the cane?
Zach: What's the difference? They're both furry!
My boy is special indeed!
May 10, 2006
I didn't blog yesterday! Time just slipped away from me. I worked 8-12 in the office and then 2-8 at the center. By the time I took Danny and Ashley home and got home myself, I only had energy to check some email and reply to a few and I was off the bed.
I had a major allergy attack last night. It lasted about an hour. Sneezing, severe runny nose, itchy throat, cough, hives. It ended as fast as it started. Very weird, but I handled it well. I had my inhaler if it had gotten to that point, which it did not. It is raining today and tomorrow, so that should help get some of the allergens out of the air.
I have a phone conference tomorrow at 11:30. Technology really sucks sometimes. I was under the impression that participation in the USM bladdy-bladdy-blah (I can't remember the title) study was optional. I was wrong. They want to use my data (not just mine, but all who are in charge of youth programming) for their study. I guess Chip pimped us out to them and said we'd all participate. I was wondering what was up with the "Thank you for agreeing to participate" email. I thought it was just a mass forward and ignored it. So Chip has rescheduled a phone conference with those of us who ignored their first attempts. I resent people using my work to raise money for themselves!
Zach's 12th birthday is in 2 days. I bought him a 3 1/2 foot ball python. It eats one mouse a week every Tuesday. He watched this process last night with keen fascination.
I have the morning off and I work 2-5 tonight. Church is 6-8. Then home so Kayla can watch Lost.
I have not had my latte yet. I'm dragging ass this morning. Zach is home today too because of his allergies. His asthma is more severe than mine, so I like to keep a closer eye on it. He hasn't had any significant trouble in a couple of years. By significant, I mean hospitalizations. We had a rough go of it for a few years, when he was younger. At least one major hospitalization a year for most of his early years, once for 2 weeks when he was 9 months old. Glad those days seem to have passed us by.
Okay, I have to get moving. I have to clean today. It is driving me crazy.
Current Mood: good
Current Music: Joker.............Steve Miller Band.......what the hell is a midnight toker?
I had a major allergy attack last night. It lasted about an hour. Sneezing, severe runny nose, itchy throat, cough, hives. It ended as fast as it started. Very weird, but I handled it well. I had my inhaler if it had gotten to that point, which it did not. It is raining today and tomorrow, so that should help get some of the allergens out of the air.
I have a phone conference tomorrow at 11:30. Technology really sucks sometimes. I was under the impression that participation in the USM bladdy-bladdy-blah (I can't remember the title) study was optional. I was wrong. They want to use my data (not just mine, but all who are in charge of youth programming) for their study. I guess Chip pimped us out to them and said we'd all participate. I was wondering what was up with the "Thank you for agreeing to participate" email. I thought it was just a mass forward and ignored it. So Chip has rescheduled a phone conference with those of us who ignored their first attempts. I resent people using my work to raise money for themselves!
Zach's 12th birthday is in 2 days. I bought him a 3 1/2 foot ball python. It eats one mouse a week every Tuesday. He watched this process last night with keen fascination.
I have the morning off and I work 2-5 tonight. Church is 6-8. Then home so Kayla can watch Lost.
I have not had my latte yet. I'm dragging ass this morning. Zach is home today too because of his allergies. His asthma is more severe than mine, so I like to keep a closer eye on it. He hasn't had any significant trouble in a couple of years. By significant, I mean hospitalizations. We had a rough go of it for a few years, when he was younger. At least one major hospitalization a year for most of his early years, once for 2 weeks when he was 9 months old. Glad those days seem to have passed us by.
Okay, I have to get moving. I have to clean today. It is driving me crazy.
Current Mood: good
Current Music: Joker.............Steve Miller Band.......what the hell is a midnight toker?
Monday, May 08, 2006
May 8, 2006
A fun day at work today. Chaos reigns supreme. Larry came back to tell me he "fixed" the garage handle again. :) Carl thinks he has a crush on me...Larry, not Carl...Larry is very cute. I like him. He looks like AJ, though. Not a bad thing, because AJ was very good looking. This is an improvement for me. I haven't even been remotely interested in anyone since Brian. Brian is still my first choice but this is getting old. Jennifer is getting old, too. And horny! There is also this gorgeous man at church. Big BIG muscles. Nice face. We spotted each other across the room two Sundays ago and he sits in the front row in the center...I sit on the side, on the bleachers. I think he is my pastor's stepson, who just got back from Iraq. Well, last night at church, it was the children's Spring Concert, (our church has it's own school, K-12) anyway, the bleachers were taken because all of the students were at the service waiting for their grade to be called up to perform, so I sat on the left side, next to the middle, with my family. Travis walked by me, stood in front of me, fellowshipped within a foot of me until it was time for the concert. I played cool and talked to my cousins, but kept him in eyesight, and he kept me in eyesight and we just kept eyesighting each other while pretending to listen to our friends. Very mature! :)
Ah well, at least my blogs will be interesting again if I resume dating! :)
I am working tomorrow morning because we're kind of shorthanded all around.
I have a tanning appointment at 6:20, then home for supper and a quick shower, beddie-bye.
Current Mood: very good
Current Music: I Can Still Feel You...............Collin Raye
Ah well, at least my blogs will be interesting again if I resume dating! :)
I am working tomorrow morning because we're kind of shorthanded all around.
I have a tanning appointment at 6:20, then home for supper and a quick shower, beddie-bye.
Current Mood: very good
Current Music: I Can Still Feel You...............Collin Raye
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