I thought it was about time I updated. I can't help it...I really had nothing interesting to share. February is like that. I was bored living my life, much less writing about it. Anyway, here are some random thoughts/feelings/gripes from the last couple of weeks.
1. My son participated in his first pinewood derby today with Cub Scouts. He came in 4th. He was .3 seconds behind the 3rd place finisher. My question is, who decided that only the top 3 get trophies? Yes, I'm a little disappointed for my boy, but this was his first year to do this. We'll try again next year.
2. I'm tired of hearing the words "weight related" every time I visit a doctor. Not every health issue can be "weight related". I think it's discrimination.
3. These wedding plans are driving me crazy. I want to go live in a cave until it's all over. (But we have some really great stuff planned!)
4. It was 75 degrees outside day before yesterday. Today it's snowing. I can't keep my sinuses happy.
Hmmm, I can't think of anything else to say. Plus, my kid is sick as a dog with tonsillitis and keeps interrupting me. I hope everyone has a good weekend!!
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
You know what they say about plans...
Oh well, I just thought I was keeping an important job announcement from you guys. A few weeks ago, I finally had had ENOUGH of the constant drama where I work. I didn't become a teacher to work with grownups...I wanted to work with children. I don't really get to do that though. I supervise...I don't teach.
Anyway, I was ready to give it up at the end of the school year. I applied for graduate school...I applied for financial aid. Erik agreed to switch shifts at his job to make more money. I agreed to find part time work while I went back to school. Then the crappy economy slapped us in the face.
Erik went to a meeting yesterday in which he learned that there may be major layoffs where he works. The factory is struggling...filed bankruptcy last year and still trying to keep afloat. There are rumors that another company is buying them out. Major changes are definitely ahead for them. He doesn't think he'll lose his job there, but he may be demoted. He will take a major pay cut just to keep this job...a job he's had for 11 years.
Don't get me wrong. I love the people I work with...I adore the kids. I love so much about this job. I'm tired though...I've already lasted more years at it than most special ed teachers. It was time for a change. I may still take one class a semester, but I wanted to just be free for awhile. Oh well. It's probably not to be for a few more years.
Anyway, I was ready to give it up at the end of the school year. I applied for graduate school...I applied for financial aid. Erik agreed to switch shifts at his job to make more money. I agreed to find part time work while I went back to school. Then the crappy economy slapped us in the face.
Erik went to a meeting yesterday in which he learned that there may be major layoffs where he works. The factory is struggling...filed bankruptcy last year and still trying to keep afloat. There are rumors that another company is buying them out. Major changes are definitely ahead for them. He doesn't think he'll lose his job there, but he may be demoted. He will take a major pay cut just to keep this job...a job he's had for 11 years.
Don't get me wrong. I love the people I work with...I adore the kids. I love so much about this job. I'm tired though...I've already lasted more years at it than most special ed teachers. It was time for a change. I may still take one class a semester, but I wanted to just be free for awhile. Oh well. It's probably not to be for a few more years.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Valentine's Swap 2009!
Am I the first one awake this morning?? I've been up since 5:30...sneezing. My allergies are killing me. Anyway, time to show off my Valentine gifts and thank my wonderful swap buddy Tracie!
What wonderful gifts! She gave me an inspirational book of stories, some of which have gotten me all choked up. She also gave me a gorgeous red bracelet accented with a heart, two cute Valentine towels, a pretty heart covered bucket and two chocolate suckers. At one point, there was also a bag of chocolate candy. It has uh...inexplicably disappeared. Yeah, disappeared.
Can't wait to see everyone else's stuff! Thank you again, Tracie!
What wonderful gifts! She gave me an inspirational book of stories, some of which have gotten me all choked up. She also gave me a gorgeous red bracelet accented with a heart, two cute Valentine towels, a pretty heart covered bucket and two chocolate suckers. At one point, there was also a bag of chocolate candy. It has uh...inexplicably disappeared. Yeah, disappeared.
Can't wait to see everyone else's stuff! Thank you again, Tracie!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Springtime Survey...from Dory
13 Questions about Springtime:
1. If you could pick one season to last all year (without moving), would you? Which one would it be? I would pick late spring, early summer. Am I allowed to be that specific? I love it when the sun is really bright outside and the temps are still in the 80's.
2. Do you have spring allergies? I have year round allergies! Right now I feel like my head is being squeezed.
3. Name your three favorite blooming flowers. Most flowers make my throat hurt, so I'm not as fond of them as I should be. However, I love fuchsias, roses, and daisies.
4. Do you trim your trees in the spring before new growth begins or in the fall before they go dormant for the winter? I only had one tree and the ice broke it in too many places to save it. I did have it trimmed in the spring though. *sob*
5. Do you mow your own yard or do you hire someone to do it? I used to pay a guy in my neighborhood $10 to mow it, but now Erik handles that. Yay!
6. When do you start to wear sandals? (The first day without snow?) I can't wear sandals at work so I probably wait later than anyone. Sometime in mid spring.
7. Do you mind the whole “April showers” thing? YES, I don't like rain.
8. Name three things that constitute “spring cleaning” for you? I love spring cleaning! I open the doors and let the warmth and wind in while I clean the floors, rearrange the furniture and redo the closets.
9. Do you actually DO spring cleaning? See above...
10. Do the longer daylight hours of springtime change your evening routine from what you did on dreary winter evenings? Yes, I'm more likely to get out at night and shop or visit friends. I don't drive well at night.
11. What are you looking forward to most this spring? My wedding!!!!
12. Do you ever want to “play hookey” from work on the 1st lovely spring days of spring? I always want to play hookey from work.
13. Is it time to clean out your closet? ;) No, they're okay right now. I had help with them in the fall.
1. If you could pick one season to last all year (without moving), would you? Which one would it be? I would pick late spring, early summer. Am I allowed to be that specific? I love it when the sun is really bright outside and the temps are still in the 80's.
2. Do you have spring allergies? I have year round allergies! Right now I feel like my head is being squeezed.
3. Name your three favorite blooming flowers. Most flowers make my throat hurt, so I'm not as fond of them as I should be. However, I love fuchsias, roses, and daisies.
4. Do you trim your trees in the spring before new growth begins or in the fall before they go dormant for the winter? I only had one tree and the ice broke it in too many places to save it. I did have it trimmed in the spring though. *sob*
5. Do you mow your own yard or do you hire someone to do it? I used to pay a guy in my neighborhood $10 to mow it, but now Erik handles that. Yay!
6. When do you start to wear sandals? (The first day without snow?) I can't wear sandals at work so I probably wait later than anyone. Sometime in mid spring.
7. Do you mind the whole “April showers” thing? YES, I don't like rain.
8. Name three things that constitute “spring cleaning” for you? I love spring cleaning! I open the doors and let the warmth and wind in while I clean the floors, rearrange the furniture and redo the closets.
9. Do you actually DO spring cleaning? See above...
10. Do the longer daylight hours of springtime change your evening routine from what you did on dreary winter evenings? Yes, I'm more likely to get out at night and shop or visit friends. I don't drive well at night.
11. What are you looking forward to most this spring? My wedding!!!!
12. Do you ever want to “play hookey” from work on the 1st lovely spring days of spring? I always want to play hookey from work.
13. Is it time to clean out your closet? ;) No, they're okay right now. I had help with them in the fall.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Saying Hi...
Hi! I don't really have any big news but I'm in the mood to blog, so here I am. I did order Valentine's Day goodies for my boys today. For Bailey, I ordered a singing balloon (that should drive me crazy) and a stuffed bat. I know that's weird, but he's a nine year old boy and he didn't want anything "girly". A bat is definitely not girly and I think he'll love it...he's just that kind of kid.
For Erik, the girl I talked to from the florist recommended a coffee mug decorated in deer hunting stuff and a couple of balloons. I'm a little nervous because I ordered all of this over the phone. I trust this florist though and have ordered from them every year so it should be okay.
We're sickly here at my house...Erik and I are miserable with sinus infections (probably from letting the cats live inside for the last few weeks). We've got to get some consistent weather outside...this fluctuation in temps is not helping anyone. It's 56 degrees today, but I hear the temps are going down this weekend.
Bailey is just crazy lately. I got a note from his teacher yesterday letting me know how his behavior has changed. He's talking constantly at school...and at home for that matter. Apparently yesterday his teacher was evaluated by the school principal and Bailey would not behave...he got in trouble repeatedly for talking even while the principal was in the classroom. I was furious with him when I found that out. There is nothing more nerve wracking for a teacher than being watched and judged by the principal while children are misbehaving. Needless to say, Bailey is grounded from the tv, computer and video games until the weekend and feeling guilty for acting so terrible. She did say in her letter to me that he's always a respectful, sweet kid who has always been good before. I'm hoping this weather is causing a little of this...he's cooped up inside the house and has been since the beginning of winter. Now he can't even go out in the driveway to ride his bike or scooter because of the fallen limbs. Our whole yard is a safety hazard right now.
Oh well, that's all I've got for now. I did mail out my Valentine's swap gifts on time so I hope they're either there already or on their way! Can't wait to see what everyone is getting.
For Erik, the girl I talked to from the florist recommended a coffee mug decorated in deer hunting stuff and a couple of balloons. I'm a little nervous because I ordered all of this over the phone. I trust this florist though and have ordered from them every year so it should be okay.
We're sickly here at my house...Erik and I are miserable with sinus infections (probably from letting the cats live inside for the last few weeks). We've got to get some consistent weather outside...this fluctuation in temps is not helping anyone. It's 56 degrees today, but I hear the temps are going down this weekend.
Bailey is just crazy lately. I got a note from his teacher yesterday letting me know how his behavior has changed. He's talking constantly at school...and at home for that matter. Apparently yesterday his teacher was evaluated by the school principal and Bailey would not behave...he got in trouble repeatedly for talking even while the principal was in the classroom. I was furious with him when I found that out. There is nothing more nerve wracking for a teacher than being watched and judged by the principal while children are misbehaving. Needless to say, Bailey is grounded from the tv, computer and video games until the weekend and feeling guilty for acting so terrible. She did say in her letter to me that he's always a respectful, sweet kid who has always been good before. I'm hoping this weather is causing a little of this...he's cooped up inside the house and has been since the beginning of winter. Now he can't even go out in the driveway to ride his bike or scooter because of the fallen limbs. Our whole yard is a safety hazard right now.
Oh well, that's all I've got for now. I did mail out my Valentine's swap gifts on time so I hope they're either there already or on their way! Can't wait to see what everyone is getting.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
My name is Kelly, and I'm a Mountain Dewaholic...
Sometime before the ice storm happened I mentioned that I was going to have Lapband surgery. Well, I finally had my office consult with the surgeon this week and he says it looks like I'll be ready for surgery in as little as 8 weeks as long as my insurance cooperates. He only had one concern from all the questionnaires I had filled out in his office...what kind of sugary beverage was I consuming "several" glasses of daily??
I told him Mt. Dew and watched his eyes roll. For those who don't know about the deliciousness that is Mt. Dew, let me explain it. Mt. or Mountain Dew (if you have time to type it out) is a southern concoction owned by the Pepsi people with more sugar and caffeine in it than basically any other carbonated beverage. It's also been the love of my food-life and bane of my weight-existence since I was a kid.
When he learned that Mt. Dew was my weakness, my doctor flatly informed me that I had to give them up IMMEDIATELY. He even told me that if he found out that I was still drinking them up to the time of my surgery, he would NOT perform the surgery. He was that serious about it. No more Mt. Dews, or any other carbonated beverages...ever. The theory is that the carbonation in sodas (or pops for you northern folks) makes your stomach expand and messes up your appetite and could displace the Lapband, thus irritating and annoying your surgeon profusely when he has to go back in and fix it...
I'm okay with doing away with every other soda...I'm very happy with unsweet tea. It's what I drink at all restaurants and most of the time at home. I don't like any other soda except Mt. Dew...but my like of Mt. Dew borders on obsession. To badly quote Twilight, Mt. Dew is my "exact brand of heroin". How sad is that?? I can understand an obsession with cheesecake or Snickers bars...my love for chicken nachos is pretty strong...but giving up Mt. Dew makes me want to cry. Seriously.
My mother drinks Dr. Pepper and my dad was a Pepsi fan, but from a very young age I can remember begging them to buy me Mt. Dew. I would have always rather had water than any other soda. I will turn my nose up at the rest of them. I have no idea what it is about Mt. Dew that I love...it has sugar, but so do all the other drinks...it has caffeine, but so does iced tea. I don't get it, but if I've had a bad day or I'm under stress, a nice cold 20 oz. serving of the yellow green (I'll admit it looks like pee) stuff makes me feel better. It's my ultimate comfort food and it isn't even a food. The first thing I do when I arrive at work in the morning is take a sip from a Mt. Dew. They can bombard me with all the paperwork and drama and craziness all day...as long as I have a Mt. Dew to smooth it over. It's also the first thing I want in the morning...just like that first cigarette of the morning that my mom used to talk about.
I know I have to give them up. I haven't had one since my doctor told me not to, and I won't have one. I really want this surgery to work. I probably won't really miss them until Monday morning at work. That's when it will hit me. If my mom can quit smoking...an actual addiction...then surely I can quit my favorite soda. Right? Of course I can...
Wish me luck.
I told him Mt. Dew and watched his eyes roll. For those who don't know about the deliciousness that is Mt. Dew, let me explain it. Mt. or Mountain Dew (if you have time to type it out) is a southern concoction owned by the Pepsi people with more sugar and caffeine in it than basically any other carbonated beverage. It's also been the love of my food-life and bane of my weight-existence since I was a kid.
When he learned that Mt. Dew was my weakness, my doctor flatly informed me that I had to give them up IMMEDIATELY. He even told me that if he found out that I was still drinking them up to the time of my surgery, he would NOT perform the surgery. He was that serious about it. No more Mt. Dews, or any other carbonated beverages...ever. The theory is that the carbonation in sodas (or pops for you northern folks) makes your stomach expand and messes up your appetite and could displace the Lapband, thus irritating and annoying your surgeon profusely when he has to go back in and fix it...
I'm okay with doing away with every other soda...I'm very happy with unsweet tea. It's what I drink at all restaurants and most of the time at home. I don't like any other soda except Mt. Dew...but my like of Mt. Dew borders on obsession. To badly quote Twilight, Mt. Dew is my "exact brand of heroin". How sad is that?? I can understand an obsession with cheesecake or Snickers bars...my love for chicken nachos is pretty strong...but giving up Mt. Dew makes me want to cry. Seriously.
My mother drinks Dr. Pepper and my dad was a Pepsi fan, but from a very young age I can remember begging them to buy me Mt. Dew. I would have always rather had water than any other soda. I will turn my nose up at the rest of them. I have no idea what it is about Mt. Dew that I love...it has sugar, but so do all the other drinks...it has caffeine, but so does iced tea. I don't get it, but if I've had a bad day or I'm under stress, a nice cold 20 oz. serving of the yellow green (I'll admit it looks like pee) stuff makes me feel better. It's my ultimate comfort food and it isn't even a food. The first thing I do when I arrive at work in the morning is take a sip from a Mt. Dew. They can bombard me with all the paperwork and drama and craziness all day...as long as I have a Mt. Dew to smooth it over. It's also the first thing I want in the morning...just like that first cigarette of the morning that my mom used to talk about.
I know I have to give them up. I haven't had one since my doctor told me not to, and I won't have one. I really want this surgery to work. I probably won't really miss them until Monday morning at work. That's when it will hit me. If my mom can quit smoking...an actual addiction...then surely I can quit my favorite soda. Right? Of course I can...
Wish me luck.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
The Ice Storm Pictures
The tree in the last two pictures is mine...was mine. It fell branch by branch onto our roof and into the yard. You see the man under the tree? That's Erik...and one Y shaped branch fell on him, but he was standing in the Y and only got scratches.
Even pictures can't describe how scary this area looks right now, but you get the idea.
The Big Thaw...
We finally have electricity after five days in the dark because of the horrible ice storm. There was a total blackout in my county last Tuesday. No power...no phones, even cell phone service was gone for days. Many others in my town and surrounding towns are still in the dark and could be for five weeks. No one has worked or gone to school since last Monday. We lost a local police chief when a tree branch fell on him, killing him instantly. Others are in hospitals due to carbon monoxide poisoning. We have crews from surrounding states working round the clock to restore power. There are water boil orders...trees down in the middle of houses...curfews...and churches that have become temporary homes.
We're lucky...it could have been so much worse. We'll all recover from this. I'm just thankful my sister got her power back on before us and we had a warm place to stay. I've never been through anything like this, and I never want to go through it again. I will never take for granted things like batteries...electricity...blankets...flashlights...hot food...and family.
I have pictures, but my camera is still at my sister's house. You have to see it all to believe it. I'll get pics up this afternoon.
We're lucky...it could have been so much worse. We'll all recover from this. I'm just thankful my sister got her power back on before us and we had a warm place to stay. I've never been through anything like this, and I never want to go through it again. I will never take for granted things like batteries...electricity...blankets...flashlights...hot food...and family.
I have pictures, but my camera is still at my sister's house. You have to see it all to believe it. I'll get pics up this afternoon.
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