No wonder men and women can't communicate

DH comes to the top of the stairs from the painting room.

"Honey, I have a big favor to ask. Can I use one of your spatulas? You won't get it back but I'll buy you a new one."

I got to the drawer, open it and grab one of the spatulas.

ME: "Sure, do you want the metal one or the plastic one."

DH: "The plastic one."

ME: "or do you want the mixing kind."

DH: "The mixing kind. That is a flipper." he says pointing to the spatula I have in my hand.

ME: "No, I say grabbing the plastic scrapper. That is a spatula, this is a scrapper." I say handing it to him.

Oh yes, there is a language barrier even with kitchen utensils.

Must get back to the lasagna and get the meatballs out of the oven.

The week in review

I kept thinking I needed to update, but have had a hard time sitting down and just writing.

Christmas and Christmas Eve were wonderful. Sarah had been sick in the days before (I think it was just excitement that made her tummy sick), but was well in time for Christmas Eve service.

Before we left for Church, the girls and I made cookies for Santa.

This year, Sydney carried the Baby Jesus during the procession (Sarah had carried it the past 3 years and now it was Sydney's turn). Sarah walked behind her, with her hands on Sydney's shoulders to help guide her. Sydney walked holding the Baby Jesus ever so carefully with a smile of pride and joy on her face. It made me wish I'd had a camera, I didn't think about using the one on my phone until it was too late.

We came home from Church and the girls found the jamies and slippers I left them on their beds. Then they went with DH to find the moose jamies I left him.

Note the present placement - the girls had spent that afternoon dividing all the presents into piles.

Christmas was wonderful. Sydney woke up around 7:30 and we watched shows and snuggled in bed (and I started the dough for the Carmel Rolls) while we waited for Sarah to wake up. Unfortunately, my Kitchen Aid broke just as it finished kneading the dough. But, the carmel rolls turned out great!

Bless the lovely people at Kitchen Aid who is sending me a new one. It was my Christmas present to myself last year, so just under it's one year warranty.

We had a lovely Christmas day with good food, naps, lots of presents, and overwhelmed girls.

Today, Sarah and I are going to scrapbook some pictures with her new scrapbook and Sydney will select some more pictures to put in her photo album.

Later, I will take pictures of my two favorite Christmas presents.

This week I've done lots of strange little jobs that I've wanted to do for a while - clean the freezer out, clean out the videos/entertainment center storage areas, and vacuum the basement (it's sort of finished in 1948 playroom, and DH's workshop is there so there is lots of dust. It's more storage room than playroom. But the girls got razor scooters for Christmas and needed space to ride them, so I vacuumed (ok, part of it was trying to figure out how much water damage we had when the girls discovered a couple of tiles in the floor coming up - but that is another story)

We still need to get our Christmas cards mailed (in reality, assembled, letter written and printed, etc) but my goal is to get them sent between Christmas and New Years and I can still meet that goal!!

And a Sydney funny: The other day she was wearing a mock turtle neck. She announced that she was wearing a "turtle neck" and a "turtle wrist" (for the wristband.)

The worst gift ever

I was reading the Washington Post online, and read this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/23/AR2007122302145_2.html

You Call That a Gift?!
A More Divine Doll

I was 5 years old. My straight, dirty-blond hair was cut into an ugly-but-manageable pageboy. And I desperately wanted a Velvet Doll for Christmas. She was beautiful. Platinum blond hair that, with a push of her bellybutton, you could pull out of the top of her head so it would cascade around her gorgeous ankles. The TV commercials on our old black-and-white Zenith showed a crank on her back, to magically wind the hair back into her head for a short and sassy style.

But my parents were good Catholics. You know, "Vanity, vanity, all is vanity." "More's the pity." "Offer it up" and all that. And that Christmas, despite my pleading letter to Santa, when I opened my shiny present I had an entirely different kind of doll. A plaster statue of Jesus. He was pulling his red robes aside and pointing to a bloody, fleshy heart with flames shooting out around it. I thought it was gross. My older sister, Mary, aptly, got a Mary statue. And my younger sister, Tessa, got a massive Saint Theresa.

For the snapshot, I did try to put on my best, solemn and holy "I really want to be a saint when I grow up" face. Secretly, I wondered if I would be sinning if I had him go out on a date now and then with my garage-sale Barbie.

My older sister's eyes are all puffy and red in the photo. And my younger sister, who, at 3, was too young to know and love the unattainable mysteries of Velvet, smiles like an angel and hugs her plaster Saint Theresa statue tight.

-- Brigid Schulte

I've never laughed so hard.

It's 3:00 AM and I just submitted my grades! I'm so excited.

Now I can finish my exchange fic tomorrow, wrapping presents, writing the christmas letter, mailing Christmas cards, cleaning the house, making menus, buying groceries, playing with the girls - and SLEEP!!

Night!

P.S. Melanie, we ended up chatting with you at our scrapbooking end of year dinner and ornament exchange. Chris Miller was there.

Santa brings

This would be fine too:

You Christmas Stocking Will Be Filled with Money

You've either been really really good this year... Or Santa is trying to pay you off!

What Will Be In Your Christmas Stocking?

But I think Santa is bringing me this for my stocking instead:


Ah the fun of picking out your own stocking gifts. You get what you want.

Grading, etc.

Paper #1 rewrite - LONG OVERDUE
3 papers to return
1 no graded, not enough changes
2 need to be graded

Paper #2 rewrite - Turned in Tuesday
6 papers to re-grade

Paper #3 - Turned in last Thursday
19 students
18 papers submitted
5 graded
1 reviewed
13 papers to grade

Informal paper
18 papers submitted?
18 papers to grade

Last class tonight.

Final dress rehersal for Nutcracker tonight (must deliver girl in costume), two performances this weekend.
Need Girl to finish homework
Need to start mailing packages/finish ordering/wrapping/etc.
Need girls to finish making bookmarks for family
Need to clean house!

Where is that magic wand so I can slow down time??

I had the best class tonight. . .

This is the 4th semester I have taught this class. This was the first time I've ever taught anything more than a 1/2 day seminar, each semester I learn new ways to present thing, new ideas of how to communicate.

I teach introverts. They are college freshman. They have little experience and interest in things like politics, religion, and business. The topic of the course I teach is Organizational Cultures and how organizations change. Most of the concepts I teach are things they have little experience or understanding of. The basis of my class was the things I wish I had understood when I first started working. I've told them on several occasions that what we are discussing are things that will make more sense to them in 10 years.

Tuesday, I had a brainstorm and realized that the best way to discuss the book they were reading was to have the students break down the concepts I had introduced to them and have them tell me how they applied to the company we were discussing. It really seemed to make a difference. Next week we do an exercises that I created my first semester when I was really pissed at my class. The last week of class, when all the papers are written, when all the books are read, when all the assignments are done - the students pick topics and they lead the discussion. I created it when I got tired of trying to force the students to talk to me and I wanted them to understand what it's like to be on the other side.

A funny thing happened on the way to the lesson - they really enjoyed it. So, I did it again with the next class and they loved it too. It's kind of nice because they have a purpose the last week that is a bit low key - and we get to be done with the intense stuff.

In today's class we were wrapping up the semester. I've never found a way to get everything wrapped up so it all connected. In a moment of brilliance (and that is only because it worked), I decided to try having them tell me what they learned. They really did start to get the connection - how it related - and really seemed proud of themselves for getting it. It was wonderful.

Now, if only their papers are as good as the conversation tonight.

I wish I had thought of that. . .

Oh wait, I did.

Two years ago, I suggested making an internal change that would better allow us to manage the students we pay from the grant I work on, but it was rejected because our director of research didn't understand what I was saying.

So this summer, I convinced her that we should make the change and she agreed. But, then my surgery hit and I didn't get the paperwork done for a couple of months. By then she changed her mind and decided to do an offline approval. So, we are now having issues with setting the students up for their spring and summer payroll because the timing of the index.

So, after telling one person what the plan was this fall, I get an email saying "no, you should fill out a time extension form." I explained that I tried that and it was rejected and this was the agreed on plan. The next email said "but, all we have to do is this and it would make so much more sense to do an internal change." I explained that Yes, I agree but it was already rejected. I was willing to submit the paperwork again, but not until I had an assurance that it would be accepted since the director changed her mind this fall.

So, I get an email from the director saying that we should do the time extension, but only until spring because by then we should have the funding in house.

I had to explain that if we do the extension, we should do it though summer because the students are on a 12 month appointment and if we do it until spring, that means the staff will need to put the students into the system 3 times this year instead of twice (and I had been working on a one-time entry that was rejected). - I'm still waiting for a response on the spring versus summer extension.I really wish I had thought of extending the time. . . .because their way is so much easier then the way we've been doing it for the past four years.

Things that go bump in the night. . .

This week we have been the beneficiaries of LOTS of snow.

At 5:50 this morning, I woke to THIS clearing snow off the sidewalk in front of our house.



(the picture was from last spring, but the machine and amount of snow is the same.)

Well, at least people can walk on the sidewalk for a day rather than the street. AND I was able to get back to sleep.

Stupid Snow Day

My to-do list:

Review 6 chapters of my text for tonight and create some discussion questions.
Maybe finish grading re-writes from the first paper.
Take Sarah to the Dr. to see why her ear and throat hurt and why the low grade fever showed up.

And, instead of doing this in the silence of my house, I get to do this while trying to keep two kids from driving me insane. It doesn't matter which room I move to to get my work done, they will follow me!

I've been looking forward to a day without kids for over a week. Last week, Sydney was home sick, then schools closed for Thanksgiving - I wanted a day off!! ALONE!! To finish my school work. and clean my house.

The worst part is that the snow didn't even cover the grass and we probably closed schools for the wind.

She's growing up . . . .

KID COUNT! If you ever read, It's Just the Coffee Talking you know that Meritt occasionally has kid counts on weekends or over the summer. I have my first Sat morning with a kid count.

Yep, kids - 1.

Sarah is at her first sleepover in a LONG time.

When she was about 2, I think she slept over at a friend's house (or did we just talk about it. . . . ), she also spent the night at a friends house the night Sydney was born when she was 3. Other than that, she has only slept at Grandma's house. Sarah informed me that sleeping at Grandma's doesn't count as sleeping away because it's at a relative's house.

Sydney helped Sarah pack. She gave Sarah a picture of her so she could kiss it goodnight, and her little flashlight so Sarah could find her way around the house at night if she had to get up. It was too cute.

Syd went with me to drop off Sarah at her friends. Earlier in the evening, Joe had offered to let Sydney sleep in Sarah's bed so she would not miss her so much.

The girls each have what we have nicknamed "mommy shirts." Before I went on travel this spring, I printed pictures of me and the girls on iron on transfer paper. These were ironed on to shirts that they could wear while I was gone so they would have me near them. Sydney wore hers to bed last night, but announced that "for tonight, this isn't my mommy shirt, it's my Sarah shirt."

Sarah must have done OK, as we didn't get a phone call last night.

Thanksgiving ramblings

Yesterday, I realized that I have now hosted Thanksgiving for seven of the last ten years. I love Thanksgiving at home. For the past two years, I've been lucky enough that my friend Amanda and her family have come over for dinner. It's such a relaxed affair - we divide and conquer the menu with Amanda bringing the things that trasport well and I the things that should be cooked here. At the last minute, I bought a Cooking Light magazine. In there was a picture of a yam casserole with marshmallows. I ran out that night to get sweet potatoes. It turns out that Amanda was craving the same dish, so we were both thrilled with the last minute decision.

Growing up, my mother would move the TV into the kitchen, the first thing cooked was the chex mix, followed by the starting of the stuffing to put into the turkey. My days start in much the same way, same stuffing, same chex mix.

Four years ago, I found myself cooking thanksgiving dinner while watching the Macy's Day parade on the TV I moved into the kitchen, while eating Chex mix with a 9 mos old Sydney and a 3 year old Sarah.

I looked at the girls at my feet and just started to cry. I was just so grateful to be alive (if you remember, I almost died when Sydney was born and it was a bit of a miracle that I was here). To have the traditions I grew up with being passed onto my girls, to see them enjoy them. I can't listen to the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade without tearing up.

Christmas doesn't seem to have the same effect - maybe it's that I know the girls would have traditions, maybe it's that the focus isn't on being thankful as much, but Thanksgiving affects me almost more than Sydney's birthday.

Sarah decided we should go around the table and say what we are thankful for. By the time we got food on the kids plate, and on ours - we decided that we would wait until after we ate so we could have lukewarm food rather than cold. But, when we finally did, the only thing I could be thankful for was life.

So, for those of us who spent yesterday with our family - Thank goodness for life. For those outside the U.S. , I hope you enjoyed your Thursday.

Yesterday's accomplishment

The fridge is clean and the T-day groceries are bought. I dumped the science projects and DH cleaned the containers. We are ready!! (I usually try to clean the fridge out every Tuesday, night before trash day) but class has interfered with my plans of late).

I also cleaned Sarah's bedroom. I mainly put everything in a place (i.e., where it belongs) and you can actually see the surfaces of the furniture that DH made for Sarah. I still need to clean off the top of her book case, but it's pretty much done.

Funny thing, she got home from school and didn't say anything about her room until I finally asked her. LOL. Now I have to do Sydney's room too (not fair for Syd to have to clean her room if Sarah didn't have to - and it's all about fairness when you are little!)I'll keep posting pictures as the house gets cleaned.

Cool finds

I dropped Sydney off at daycare today. She didn't want to go, and I really didn't want her to, but I HAVE to get things ready for Thursday and I can't do it while she is home. Plus, she will nap at school and she needs sleep.

Shortly before she went to bed last night, I wanted to give her some cough meds so she could sleep. I had a choice of the prescription stuff with codine or the tylenol w/ cough meds. I decided on the tylenol version and gave her a couple of puffs of arbuterol. We spent the next four hours with her awake and coughing up a storm. I decided to try another round of arbuterol when she was coughing non-stop.

Sydney sits up when she sees me walk into her room and notices that I have the inhaler and the extension tube.

"Not again!" she exclaims as she falls back into her pillow. (when did my 4 y.o. turn into a 16 y.o.?)

"Sydney, we need to see if it will help your cough."

"But, we already did that."

"We need to try again."

It helped some, but what helped the most was waiting the four hours and giving her a dose of the prescription meds.

So, yesterday, we headed to the video store so Sydney could rent some videos. There, on the shelf next to the kids videos was the Ocean's Thirteen, Twelve, Eleven - and best yet - the ORIGINAL Ocean's Eleven. I'm so thrilled and really enjoying watching it.

The other day, I was at walmart to buy coffee (the only one in town that sells the coffee I use) and there, on the shelf, was Dunkin Donuts coffee!

I need to get the house clean, the fridge scrubbed, the menu planned, the groceries bought all before I pick up Sydney.

I've not heard back today, but my MIL got through her surgery and was in her room, in pain and nauseous.

Oh yea, I need to order flowers for her too.

A little of everything

Sydney is still sick. Yesterday morning I thought she might be better - but by lunchtime her temp was creeping up.At about 2:30 last night I hear "Mom, did you hear me." From Sydney. I dashed to her room. She quickly asked for a throw-up bucket and some gaterade. I grabbed the throw-up bucket and gave it to Syd and then felt her head. I went to the bathroom and then got her gaterade and the thermometer. Her temp was 104. I got motrin and asked if she wanted to sit with me in the living room. I hate her being so sick.

Her temp was down all morning (it did the same thing yesterday) but it (knock on wood) seems to be holding down today too. If it stays down, I may send her to school for a bit tomorrow while I take care of a few things (then again, the four DVDs we rented today may keep her busy enough so I can get the house clean and she can shop for groceries with me tomorrow.

(later today - she is soooo well. She can't be still at all.)

Yesterday I emailed my two bosses and asked if we should cancel meetings or if I should attend them by phone. My one boss canceled the meeting. I attended the other meeting via phone, with a very impatient Syd wanting to leave for Blockbuster. Thankfully both my co-workers have had kids.

Sarah has been taking ice skating lessons for several years (this is her 4th year) Sydney is on her 2nd year. I took lessons for a bit after I was married. I had recently moved to central Virginia where DH was going to UVa for his grad work and working many late hours. One of my best friends from my high school years (she went to a different school) also lived in town. She has skated for years growing up and had decided to start taking lessons again. She dragged me alone as this town had a great lesson program for adults. I really enjoyed it. So, I skate along with the girls while they have practice time during the block of lessons.

Sarah was really bummed that she didn't earn her Basic 3 patch during the lessons this summer. So, while Sydney is taking her lessons, I've been pretty insistent that she practice with me. In the two weeks we've been doing this, she has really improved with her skills. She has 2 more lessons this session. I've told her that she might not pass this session (she has a better shot than she might have if we didn't practice). I'm not sure how she is on some of her skills, but during about a 5 min practice, she went from a split second hold of her backward one foot glide to holding it a bit. If her other skills are done on the right edges, we just might get her passed this session.
I'm on my 3rd week of skating some. The first night my ankle felt really good the first half-hour, but I could hardly hold myself up while skating with Sydney. I can feel that it is so much stronger now. *wonders if I should take skating lessons the third session* Maybe next year.
Keep my MIL in your thoughts today. She is undergoing a knee replacement. For some reason she thought it might be a good idea to have my family travel to South Dakota to see them for T-day (she'd put us up in a hotel), but I'm not sure that having 2 kids underfoot is great for recovery. She is thinking she will be discharged on thanksgiving morning. My SIL and her husband have traveled out and my BIL and his family live in the next town over (so his family, SIL, niece, nephew) will all be able to visit. The only ones missing are us. Having just recovered from surgery myself, I don't think she will feel too social, no matter how much she wants us there.

Maybe if I get enough around the house or work done I'll read some more of my Outlander book. It hooked me when in the first chapter she was putting the perfume my mother bought me (the first expensive one), L'heure Bleu by Guerlain.

Just your normal Saturday (not)

Friday night, Sydney was really tired and didn't want dinner (generally a sure sign that she is sick). We had her sit at the table with us, but didn't make her eat. After dinner, she went to get her jammies on, she was nakie for a few minutes and was visibly shivering. Temp 102/103 (depending on ear).. . . OK, sick.

She slept on me for a while, and we finally put her to bed. I woke up at 2:30 listening to her cough. At 3:00 am, I decided it was time to figure out how to get her cough to stop. She was finally ready for bed at 4:15 am.

She was ready to get up at 7:00 am, so I slept on the couch until 9:00 while she watched TV (Sarah got up at some point).

So, today Sydney wanted to rest and Sarah was raring to go. Sarah and I went and ran a bunch of errands. Sarah discovered that the magazine rack at the library had old copies behind the display rack that you could check out. She was SOOOOO excited.

Sydney pretty much spent Sat on the couch with a fever.

This morning she woke up ready to play a bit and without a fever. I guess she didn't get the 5 day high fever thing her friends go (knock on wood).

In the wee hours of the morning. . . .

I've not been sleeping well, so I've been tired (you know, the wake in the middle of the night unable to get back to sleep so you have two choices - either get up and start working on your papers at 3:00 AM or dump the idea of getting up at 5:00 to spend an hour or two before the kiddies wake up and you have to get everyone out the door for school/work.

So, last night hit crunch time. I promised my students they could pick up their papers from my office starting today.

3:30 - I'll just finish this one more.

4:00 - this one isn't too bad, I'll finish up this one.

4:30 - OK, I"m down to the ones I've read but I'm not sure how to grade - I'll do it tomorrow. I need at least a little bit of sleep.

Bless his heart, DH let me sleep and got the kids ready and to school himself. I did end up waking up a bit before I wanted as I needed to yell out things like "pack her snack from the stuff on the counter" and "her boots are at school." and "No, I'm not packing your lunch today (thank goodness it was food she would eat). But, I'm functioning.

We worked late the last two classes, so I don't have to teach tonight. Thank goodness because the house needs my help too!

*head desk*

I ran away from home. I'm at the University library trying hard to grade papers.

It took me an hour to read through the first. She struggled big time on this assignment.

On to the next.

I have to have them all finished for Tuesday night.

The Accomplished

Rather than setting a to do list - I decided to post the accomplished list.

1. Get all kids to school on time.
2. Get way back seat into SUV so I all kids can have a proper seat.

Things I thought I would get done with DH was out of town.
1. Grade all papers
2. Finish sewing curtains
3. Prep dining room for painting
4. Clean basement
5. Keep house clean

Actually got accomplished:
1. Got everyone to school and work on time.
2. Fed everyone all required meals
3. Got everyone showers
4. Got everyone to bed - unfortunately not on time.
5. Only threw one tantrum at kids for not going to sleep.

Thankfully, DH comes home tonight.

Now to run to the store to pick up Mac and Cheese and get first round of kids.

Potpourri

My week in review:

Last weekend we went Trick or Treating at the dorms. Every year the dorms sponsor a Safehouse - they decorate the halls with two paths - one for younger kids, and one that is pretty scary. We really enjoy going. The National Touring company of Peter Pan came to campus. Sydney, still wearing her Tinkerbell costume, and I went to see the show with some friends of ours. I loved the actor who played Tiger Lilly. Peter Pan didn't quite keep my interest (which made for a long evening).

Monday we finally managed carve our pumpkins. But, I already told you about that.

Wednesday was trick or treating. Unfortunately, DH's tooth was still bothering him from where he had a cavity filled the week before. He went to the dentist earlier in the day, but he was still tired for not sleeping well and feeling a bit sore. So, he drove while we walked to the close houses. We pretty much stuck to our street (I know everyone at least from the block party and almost no one T or T on our street so every house gives a few pieces of candy.

One house (with a couple I know vaguely) invited us to come in. As I did, I was thinking how odd it felt to just go in without thinking (they didn't know DH was in the car). We chatted with them for a bit about stuff and Sydney sang her favorite song for them. It felt so nice to live someplace where I could feel comfortable entering a house I didn't know well and feel safe.

Friday, a friend of Sydney's was hanging around here. Sydney and K have been playing together for several years. In this past year, they have really begun to play together as opposed to parallel. We got home from preschool and they immediate dashed off to Sydney's room to play. After an hour or so, I finally convinced them to break for lunch. Then, they headed outside for about an hour. I had so much fun watching them from the window as they created their various games. At one point, Syd came in and asked to take the umbrella outside. It seems the structure they had built needed a roof. I'm fairly certain they got the idea from Peter Pan (which they saw together) as when the Lost Boys built Wendy's house, they used an umbrella for the roof.

We need to dash and get a few things done this AM, so I'll save more thoughts for a later post.

This post is getting long, so I'll write about my class this week in another post.

Pumkins and growing up

Last night, I managed to think that I should empty the pumpkin to make the process of carving them easier for the girls. They had to be carved tonight since I have class tomorrow night and TorT is Wed.

So, tonight the girls and I carved their pumpkins. Last night, I managed to think that I should empty the pumpkin to make the process of carving them easier for the girls. They had to be carved tonight since I have class tomorrow night and TorT is Wed.

While I cooked dinner, they drew pictures of their plan so they were ready when it was time. After dinner, they drew their faces on the pumpkins and we began to carve them.

Sarah did most of her by herself. I drew the first eye to give the scale she would want, and she drew the rest. I just did some clean up for her.

Then we moved to Sydney's. Syd drew her design and once I started the cut, she took over. I was so amazed that she could cut some of these pieces out without help. I did have to finish the mouth for her as she had all these squiggles.

I sat there alternating between amazed that she was so grown up and sad that she was so grown up.

I'll post pictures of the pumpkins later.

FINALLY

I finally made it to the post office. Getting to the post office wasn't the hard part, it was getting everything that needed to go into boxes, addressed, marked, processed, etc

One box only got as far as everything that needed to be in it, but I left the address at home and didn't have my cell phone. I might have asked to use the phone at the post office (small town and such) but there was a line of 5 people behind me.

So, into the mail went:

1 overdue birthday present
3 packages of clothes that needed to be returned over the past year or so
1 package of Sarah hair to Locks of Love (been in the car since the last week of Aug)

remaining - 1 overdue birthday presents to my nephews (2 boys).

The other day, we discovered that they actually do notice if we send something as there was a box on their doorstep when they got home the other day an my now 10 y.o. nephew said "hey, that must be the box from our state. It does make me feel good that even kids I see about every other year really do feel a connection to us. We don't talk on the phone as they hate it, so my sister has done a great job of keeping us connected on their end (just as I have here).

Need to go, I have to iron on rhinestones on canvas tennis shoes for a birthday present for today's party (Sarah decorated white shoes with fabric marker for her friend's b-day. I'll post pics later.)

Sometimes it all falls into place

Tonight, I sat down before jamie time to set my laptop up. Not sure why, but it turns out that my power cord wasn't in my bag.

I dashed back to campus as I knew the power cord was either in my office or one of two conference rooms. I have keys to two of the three rooms, so getting in before everyone who has a key to door number three goes home. So, I dash, check office, check conference room, check office, drive to next building. On the elevator, success - a person with key to door number three.

I check, not there, I check one last time and sitting in the chair next to where I was sitting - a POWER CORD!!

I think I need to put my name and phone number on the cord. As a result, I can now tell you about the other "I couldn't set this up if I tried" that happened today.


I was in a meeting earlier today. My boss was commenting that I shouldn't be spending my time updating our website (I dinker with it but we are hiring a student to do the major overhaul). I spend so much time pushing papers and investing time that the powers that be decide are not needed it's nice to do something that will not be rejected. Also, I need the skills. Last year I lost out on a job because I didn't have the skills to update websites. The reality is that it would take me a few minutes to figure it out (and that has been the reality) but I couldn't convince the committee that was the case - so I want to have this skill on my resume.

So, as we were walking off the elevator for the next meeting, the website guru who is our site's webmaster walked by and complimented me on job I've done on the website - in front of my boss!!!

Some days it falls into place.

The week in review

I seem to be on brain overload. When I get this way, I can't seem to function as I don't know which way to turn. So, I'm going to try emptying my brain some.

I'm working so very hard to both get the house organized and decorated. I managed to finally get the decorations on the mantle. I'm also clearing out the hutch in the sewing room dinning room so I can keep my projects out of the middle of the dining room. I also want to clean out the basement. I think I might be getting a little to ambitious??

Friday night, I was a bit tired, but had an opportunity to go to a photo organizing night. I had a huge number of photos sitting around, 2 almost full Creative Memories Powersort boxes, and a bin of unsorted junk. So, I decided that rather than sleep, I'd go organize. I now have 3 Powersort boxes. Bless my friend/consultant's heart who decided that someone would probably need a new powersort and had one on hand!

Sat was a bit busy, I was tired, but the grocery list was made, shopping done, and the girls and I made empanadas. I used Paula Deen's recipe.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,,FOOD_9936_34307,00.html

This morning, I woke up to this:


The puppies are the principals. Tigger and Lambie are the "bad kids."

Then, Sarah decorated the shoes for her Halloween costume.

She's going to be a singer. The dashed lines are decorative stitching.
The shoes were her own design and compliment her shirt.

I have papers to read (I love the topic they wrote on), an exchange piece to write (I finally decided to start with drabbles since the story wants nothing to do with me) and a chapter for my story that my muse did arrive for but I keep putting off until the exchange piece is written.

Maybe I'll just go to bed and start over tomorrow (with the bills, packages to the post office, class prep, work, . . . )

What is good for the soul

Sorry I've not been around much. Most of what I want to talk about are items I can't in this public of a forum.

So, scroll down to the next post and look at the pretty picture.

[ok, it's later.]

The sun came out and the temperature warmed up. I decided to take advantage of the fact that for ONCE it was not raining and overcast and I brought the girls outside to take nice pictures of them. Sarah was upset that two copies of something came in the mail in Sydney's name, so she was cryee and blotchee. I decided that playing in the leaves was the better idea to get them in a good mood before I took pictures. I had fun watching them play.

I decided that I just needed some sunshine and so I've brought my papers outside to grade.

So, I better get started. Meetings with the student happen starting tomorrow. Oh, don't groan, I've hear enough of that from my students. But, if *I'm* willing to give up some hours on a Sunday so I have time to meet with them all, so can they.

I love fall in our town

This was the sunrise over the lake:

And the light reflecting off the leaves in the back yard.

So, when the dentist's office called to confirm Sarah's appointment tomorrow, I asked if mine was the same. It turns out that they called to confirm Joe's appt today, but forgot to leave me a message. Darn, one more thing to squeeze in today.

Finally a minute. . .

One day, I got an email from my friend Kelly telling me that Fantasta Girl gave me an award. I would have completely missed it had I not received that email since I had a rough few days and haven't visited my friends in a few days.

Fantasta Girl- at The Adventures of Fantasta Girl - gave me the "You Make Me Smile Award"

It's a little intimidating when a super hero tells you that you make a difference in her life. I have no idea how I found your blog, probably through one of my heroes - Kelly. But, I'm so glad I did. According to Fantasta, this is what the person who created this award says about it- the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with. I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement. Although there are MANY people I want to give this award to at this very moment, I am going to choose ten bloggers: Please grab your badge and wear it(with a smile) proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you. So, now it is my turn to pass it on.

Now I have to choose my ten.... (I know some of them have already received it - so they don't have to do the meme, but they do make me smile!)

Of my ten, some will be from the LJ community I read also. I will list them here, but not link because most of them are friend locked and I find it very frustrating to find a new blog only to discover I can't read it.

So, in alphabetical order:

* 6 year med - She is one of my two favorite med students.

* Can Only Imagine - No matter what life has thrown at her, she has faced it with grace (and she's going home for Christmas!)

* From the Runway to Diapers - Just plain fun to read.

* It's Just the Coffee Talking - One to three times a day, Meritt keeps me awake with coffee and chat.

* Melinda's Blog - She's currently facing cancer with humor.

* Missing JT Snow - A friend by chance, and seven years later I'm still grateful.

* Planet Jules - The most amazing friend anyone will ever meet.

* The Scrapping Librarian - Her creativity astounds

And from LJ:

Dr. Poultry - who has enriched my life beyond belief

Sneaky Rhea - my other favorite med student

The dinner two years in the making

Three summers ago, our beloved neighbors moved and we had new neighbors move in. It was the very end of summer, so the new neighbors were only here for about a month before they left for the winter in Florida. I did have just enough time to meet them before they left. Last summer, we just never quite got around to having them down, I just never got the house clean enough. Then, I got pneumonia - so another year without dinner with the neighbors.

This year, I was bound and determined that we would have them for dinner.

Why was it so important? Well, D!husband grew up in this house. His father designed it. I really wanted to learn something about the history of the house.

I was really hoping that we would get along and have something to talk about. I discovered that they are the nicest couple. I really wish we'd done this earlier in the summer. I suspect that when I was stuck on my couch, I would have had alot of fun chatting with D!wife.

They really liked some of the things we've done to the house and learned a bit about it's evolution. Our kitchen is almost unchanged (at least since 1965) - the house was built in 1946. Mr. M. was a lawyer in town and there were 6 kids in the family - I believe 4 boys and 2 girls.D!wife and D!husband dated in high school. What I just learned is that they had been married to other people. When D!wife's husband passed away, she put a notice in the local paper. D!best friend saw the note and called D!husband to tell him that D!wife was now single. D!husband sent a card, they found each other and they have been married now for 10 years.

D!wife very kindly gave us a copy of a DVD of home movies. It has been so fun to see what the house looked like.

Now, do I take a quick nap or get back to work (ok, it's my day off but I'm working - then again I will be exchanging some time off later in the week.

Mulled wine and apple crisp

Friday night, I made Mulled wine and apple crisp for my friends. A while ago, I finally learned that a friend of mine doesn't drink red wine. But, she had asked for Cosmos, so the wine choice really didn't matter. But, I decided to use white wine. It was amazing!!

http://www.ehow.com/how_10318_make-mulled-wine.html

2/3 c. sugar
1 750ml bottle wine (I used reisling)
1/2 c. brandy
6 to 8 cloves
1 cinnamon stick
orange peel from 1/2 orange

1. Pour the wine into a nonreactive saucepan and place over low heat.
2. Cut the zest off half an orange with a sharp paring knife or vegetable peeler so that only the orange part is removed. If some of the bitter white pith is still attached to the zest, cut it off and discard it.
3. Lightly pound the pieces of zest with the back of a knife or a mallet to release the aromatic oils. Add the zest to the wine. Squeeze some juice in, too.
4. Add the remaining ingredients.
5. Stir occasionally. Do not let the wine come to a boil.
6. When the wine begins to steam and is very hot, it is ready to serve.
7. Shut off the heat and ladle the wine out into mugs or glasses, leaving the seasonings behind.

Some tips from the website:
Mulled wine can be made from red or white wine. Zinfandel is great, but merlot also works well. Among white wines, riesling and viognier are good choices.

Wines that have been aged in oak do not make good mulled wine.

Don't pay too much for wine to mull, but don't pay too little, either. A bad wine becomes even worse when heated. Shoot for the $7 to $10 range.

If using white wine, try using Turbinado (unrefined) sugar for a more complex taste. Turbinado's subtleties are lost in red wine, however.

Always use a stainless steel, ceramic, heatproof glass or nonstick coated pot to mull the wine in. The acids in the wine can react with an aluminum pot and give the final product a metallic taste.

Thankfully, I did most of my house cleaning in prep for Friday night. Thank goodness because 2 soccer games and a birthday party didn't leave much time for me to clean before the neighbors came for dinner. Dinner was so much fun -- I can't wait to tell you the stories about that. But, that will have to be another post.

Theme??

On Friday, I'm having so people over (partylite party).

What I need is a drink and dessert idea. I've served Cosmopolitans and margaritas before, I was trying to think of something new.

I can't decide on dessert either. I'm low on energy, so I need something easy. It doesn't have to be elaborate. If all else fails, I'll go back to birthday cake.

Suggestions welcome.

Sorry I've not been around too much this week. I've not been sleeping well. I'm not sure if the meds I've been taking is causing insomnia or if I'm overstressed from work, or both - but I'm not sleeping well, and therefore tired and unmotivated.

Class Thursday night was a bit interesting. I'd decided to watch a movie rather than have a reading. In the beginning of class, I was giving some general instructions and some member of the class were chatting. I finally had to play the "middle school" line of "do you have something to share with the class?"

Then, as I was about to start the movie, I realized that one of the students still had an ear bud from his mp3 player hanging from his ear. I told him that he didn't need the ear bud to listen to the movie. He told me that he might fall asleep as he turned OFF the mp3 player and took out the ear bud.

OK, I realize that this is a different generation of students (and when I was this age, passing notes was the most I did), but I'm still amazed that they can't seem to pay attention to class without listening to music.

I guess for a while, I need to treat them like they are in middle school. Hopefully they will learn that they are actually in college.

They need a few other lectures also. I don't mind some joking, but they also need to take things seriously when it's time or I can't determine how well they are learning and can't give them a grade they may deserve.

General musing! Grab a cuppa, it's a long one

So much on my brain, and so little energy. Yesterday morning I woke up early to finish some stuff from work. OK, OK, I know, 5:30 in the morning wasn't normal work hours. But, I have a certain way that I work best. I learned as an undergrad that if I work on something for a bit in the evening and the words aren't coming, I go to bed and let my brain process, wake up at 5:00 or 5:30 and crank out what was giving me a block.

Anyway, while I was working, I could hear a mouse entertaining him or herself in the kitchen, then the playroom, then running across the living room floor.

Last night I kept waking up and hearing the same mouse. I didn't sleep well.

On the job front: Yesterday I was having lunch with a friend and her husband. Believe it or not, I'm buying meals to eat at the dorms. The variety is better than the on campus eatery and the price is better too. So, while we were sitting there, the guy who is the manager of the job I'm thinking about applying for sat down with us. It was a bit of kismet.

So, at the moment, he is willing to let me work 20 hours this semester, 30 next, and then work 30 hours in the fall and 40 hours in the spring. The potential flexibility is great because it means that I can keep teaching. But, he said that he really would like to ultimately like to have someone full time. Eventually I would too.

I talked to DH about it a bit last night, and he told me to be wary of jumping to another job quickly that still isn't what I want to do nor is a promotion. I do like my job, it's just my boss who bugs me. And, not all the time. I think that I can make a difference where I am. . . . and I have some things in the works that I'd like to see through this year.

This job is either something that will take off and grow, and I could grow with it - or it will fall apart within the next few years.

I was going to try to apply over the weekend, but I think I might try to meet with the Director one more time to get a better idea of the job and expectations. I want to make sure that at the beginning of the job, it's not going to have too many administrative tasks - I'm not good at them.

Sarah had a soccer game last night. One of the downsides to teaching is that Sarah plays Tuesdays or Thursdays - the days I teach. So, I didn't get to watch the soccer game last night, but I hear Sarah did really well. She's come close to getting some goals. I need to bring the video camera to Sat. games to film both girls. I have been amused at DH. This spring he was rolling his eyes at the idea of a travel team for 1st graders. Now he is talking to Sarah's coaches about how she might be able to try out. It is true that Sarah loves soccer and is showing some skills. It is also true that playing travel teams now will help her is she wants to play in high school as she would be competing against kids who have been on travel teams. And, she does need more skills practice (I think I want to propose to our soccer association that they incorporate more practice time in the season rather than 3 weeks of practice and 2 mos of 2 games per week. If they changed some of the mid-week games to practice during the season, the kids would be able to hone the skills they are starting to understand during the games.

I'm really enjoying my students and class this fall. About half of them are really talking. Last night they did complain that there was alot being assigned, but I pointed out that I could change it some, but then they would be writing their paper over the week long Thanksgiving break (ok, I didn't tell them they would be reading a book, but its not quite the same!) When I explained that there are a lot of requirements for the class and I do try to spread the work out (and give them reading assignments in at least a week before it's due so they can work on it when they have time rather than try to read stuff in just a few days - they understood that I am considering their limitations and trying to be considerate.

In between dance for Sydney, homework for Sarah, and Soccer for Sarah, we went to the picnic for our block at the University President's social house. He doesn't live there, but it is down the street from us so they try to be "neighborly" since we have to deal with the extra traffic when they have events at the house.

I was talking with D a bit and learned a bit more about the house. He was one of 6 kids, so the four bedrooms are a bit small to accommodate the need for some many people. He always thought the garage was too small as it really only accommodated one car even though it's billed as a "two car garage."

I also learned that the room off the garage was used to keep the freezer and store wood for the fireplace.

I also asked when his mom passed away, and he said it was about 1994. So, the R family owned the house for about 8-9 years and we've had it for 5. We are the third owner of the house.

I need to get Sydney to preschool. I hope everyone has a great day.

Amazingly, this was pretty close to right

1. Go here
2. Put in Username: nycareers, Password: landmark
3. Take their “Career Matchmaker” questions
4. Post the top ten results.

I did list all 40 and noted which jobs I'm currently doing in bold and notes about others. Not a bad evaluation.


1. Research Analyst (Financial) <---- an actual job of mine
2. Economist
3. Purchaser
4. Venture Capitalist
5. Management Consultant
6. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist <---- considered this as a career at one point.
7. Health Care Administrator <--- almost a job
8. Money Manager
9. Certified Public Accountant
10. Insurance Underwriter
11. Project Manager <---- always been a component of almost all my jobs
12. Logistics Specialist <----- done this one too
13. Association Manager
14. Forester
15. Operations Research Analyst
16. ESL Teacher
17. Website Designer
18. Curator
19. Foreign Language Instructor
20. Mathematician
21. Office Manager
22. Industrial Designer
23. Technical Writer <---- done this as part of jobs too
24. Historian
25. Interior Designer <---- you'd not think this if you saw my house
26. Desktop Publisher
27. Multimedia Developer
28. Anthropologist
29. Professor <--------- Currently doing this
30. Office Machine Repairer
31. Computer Programmer
32. Computer Network Specialist
33. Electronics Engineering Tech
34. Electrical Engineering Tech
35. Cabinetmaker <----- cool! I just DH to finish giving me lessons.
36. Sign Maker
37. Model Maker
38. Computer Trainer
39. Cartoonist / Comic Illustrator
40. Electronics Assembler

Rainy Day Musings

Today it's a cold, rainy fall day. My ankle has been bothering me, so I'm taking a day to just rest on the couch. I have so many things I should be doing, but I'm wiped out. So, I've been sitting on the couch surfing the net and working on Sydney's cross stitch. I worked pretty hard on cleaning the house this weekend so I'm even sitting in a fairly neat living room.

Work has been exhausting me. My boss isn't the easiest person to work for. He only gives 1/2 the direction you need to complete any task and if he doesn't see results, he believes that you are not working on it and never actually asks. When you do try to discuss an issue with him, he just decides that he doesn't have time for it and announces that you should solve it for him. I currently work 20 hours doing two jobs that should easily be done in 40 but there is only money for 20. When I comment that I don't have time for everything, the comment is "work more effectively." So, I'm perpetually exhausted by this job.There is another job, similar job description, that is full time but probably can be reduced to 30 hours. I've thought about applying because the thought of maybe having a boss who can actually direct things isn't a bad idea.But, I like my 20 hour job. I keep thinking that I might just be able to find another since I've sent a few feelers out.

Classes started this week. I seem to have a pretty good class. They seem to be willing to talk a bit. I did finally decide to talk with the class about what kind of information they could include for each part of the paper. This, of course, included my saying things like "what could you do for this?" If they missed an obvious idea, I chimed in. We'll see what they come up with now. I still hate my last assignment, so I really hope I get inspired with another idea before the end of the semester.

For the past two years, I've been wanting to invite our neighbors for dinner. I finally did it s I have a few years to get the house in order. They winter in florida and had just bought the house behind us two years ago this month. Last year the summer just got past me and this year I wasn't too mobile. The reason it's harder to invite them is that D's parents built this house. I think he's been in the house once with the previous owners (we are the third owners). I can't wait to learn more about the house. Di (D's wife) has said that she can bring some home movies for us to see. I can't wait. I love knowing little things about the house. Like the lot was purchased for $1 and that it was the first house "out of town" in this stretch.

I did warn them that it won't look the way I'd like it to before they saw it. Mrs. M has been quoted to me by more than one person as being an amazing housekeeper. Me, I can't keep the house neat enough for my MIL to be comfortable here.

I should finish up my chapter so I can post it, or run to the store to buy a new phone since both of ours are dying a slow death. But, I think I'll work on Pooh Bear's arm just a little longer.

Just what is the right answer?? and other musings

Today, I need to finish my syllabus. I'm trying to incorporate a new book. We can either read it in its entirety or in three parts. The book discusses aspects of political, religious, and corporate organizations - the three my course covers.

Both have some merit. I think later today I may take my white board markers and go to the library to figure out how to best use the book.

I think I've modified my first assignment so it's clear enough. I've changed the due dates for the papers. The first paper was written more slowly so they had time to learn how to approach it better, but the students didn't really use the time and then the end of the semester ended up cramped. We also ended up with them revising a paper over Thanksgiving break. Worse, the presentations were just after Thanksgiving and with the paper due the class or so before, they just felt rushed to complete the presentations.

I've made a few other changes in the class this year. It used to be that they were able to re-write all three papers. This year they can only re-write the first two. I think it will make life easier on me. I still don't like my third paper assignment - I need to find a new assignment for this year. The students just don't get it. I've decided that they need a bit more of an explanation about the papers when the first one is returned. I've decided that in order to get their paper back, they need to make an appointment with me so we can review it. The first assignment grades tend to be very low and the students seem to get very discouraged. Most of the reason they are low is that they didn't address components of the paper. For some reason, they can't seem to understand that if they are scored a 2 out of 5 for answering a item on the rubric (for example "compare and contrast points A and B") that means their grade was lower not because they are bad writers, but because they didn't answer the question. When they revise the paper, they end up changing three words on the section they answered, but they never do the compare contrast. Maybe if I meet with them first, they will do better.

I also am trying to find a way to discuss the paper assignment and what kind of information I'm looking for without giving away the assignment or having them just create papers that are all identical and only include ideas discussed in class. I need to think about this a bit.

Sarah still loves her haircut. Yesterday, she climbed on the roof of our house. During one of the storms, part of a tree blew onto the house and hasn't come down in any of the rain storms, etc. I asked DH if we could get it off the roof. He decided the best way was to put Sarah on the roof and have her take it down. This meant she went on the roof from the back, walked to the front of the house and took down the tree, and walked back to the back of the house. I covered by eyes. Sarah thought it was great. (ok, I've been on the roof to clear snow and I knew it was easy to walk on since it wasn't too steep of a slope.

I did find a walking foot to fit my machine! I just need to finish my prep work for class and clean the house and I can go back to sewing! I can't wait to see how it works on my shade.

On to other things.

Sarah and her pony

Sarah's hair was getting a little out of control. It was very long, and very heavy and we weren't looking forward to trying to put in into a bun for ballet all year. But, it was so long that I didn't want to cut it unless Sarah agreed to cut enough to donate. It just seemed a waste. So, we've been talking about it a bit and Sarah started to warm to the idea. I was on the Locks of Love website to see how long it needed to be and Sarah was looking over my shoulder. When she saw those kids who needed hair, she decided she was ok cutting hers. We did it today:


Sydney got her hair cut too!
Me, I just had tears in my eyes.
Kirsten

The week is over

Orientation/Professional Development week is DONE!! The only thing left is to create an assessment vehicle and send it out for the students to fill out.The visitor is gone - faculty members (not all mind you) can be so - frustrating.

When I stopped by the meeting in the afternoon to see if he wanted to go to the picnic that night, he asked me how he was getting to the airport the next morning (he didn't rent a car and I had been shuttling him all week). The hotel shuttle drove him from the airport. I mentioned that I thought the hotel shuttle was the best option. He asked me if I was going to arrange it! (you are at the hotel, stop by the desk yourself.) Ok, what I really said was "How about we check at the front desk when I drop you off and make sure they can take you.

I'm exhausted and now sometime in the next few days we have two soccer games, I have to get everything ready for my class on Tuesday (note, buy marshmallows today so they have time to harden) and clean the house so it's ready to start the semester. (wonders if I should just get a cleaning person for the fall).

I'll be back more later.

And to think I was excited to open the box

The other day, I ordered a walking foot (aka even feed foot) for my sewing machine. I need this to finish the window shade a friend was teasing me that I would never finish. It will also help with quilting.

I have a cirica 1970s Kenmore 158.17501 that my Grandmother bought years ago and gave me!So, today my box arrived - giving me plenty of time to figure out my new attachment before the Labor Day Weekend sewfest! (and syllabus creating fest!!)

I open my box to find a foot control pedal. Obviously the guy looked at the list of parts for my model and chose this to be a walking foot! It seems that Sears Parts can only search for parts by model number of the product and part number. So, if I'm looking for an Even Feed foot, they can't search by words.

So, it seems that they make a different version of the High Bar Walking Foot I already have, but no longer make the low bar.

I think I'm dooomed!! (I'll try the local sewing stores, if not, I've found something online.)

I did convince Sears that *they* should pay for the return shipping on my part since it wasn't close to what I described.

The County Fair (part II)

I'll update more later, because there are some cute stories from this. But here are the results from the fair.

Sarah got two blue ribbons and one white (third)Her scrapbook page got third. While Sarah did a great job, I could see where the other two were just a smidge better. I don't know the ages of the other two (too far way to see their names), but Sarah was competing in the 7-13 age group.

She was VERY impressed with herself. (and so were we!!!)

DH entered one of the jewelry boxes that he made for the girls. I'll post a picture of the box tomorrow. He won a blue ribbon, a best of show, and a Yellow.Only four yellow ribbons were awarded in the adult class and it allows DH to send his box to the State Fair next year.

I'm very impressed with him!

I think it will be a busy weekend.

Work is a little insane. I had plenty of time to do everything for Orientation on Monday - until Thursday when I learned that the program director from our partner university was coming. He just assumed we knew. We assumed he wasn't coming. My boss has a policy that all visitors will be scheduled to meet with people every minute of each day they are here. So, we started to scramble to set up meetings.

So, before Monday at noon, the following needs to be accomplished:

Orientation/PD Week
1. Create Agenda for LL
2. Name tags for Welcome Lunch
3. Write John’s speech for Welcome Lunch
4. Arrange for Podium at Forestry
5. Arrange for microphone at Forestry
6. Final numbers to MUB for Welcome Lunch
7. Trainee Responsibility List
8. Associate Responsibility List
9. Scholar Responsibility List
10. Copies/packages for Trainees/Associates/Scholars
11. Complete IGERT Overview presentation for John
12. Complete Karl/Kirsten presentation
13. Final numbers to MUB for Box Lunches
14. Arrange for people to man table during Round table
15. Materials for Round Table
a. Sign up sheet
b. Scholars responsibility
c. IGERT Brochures
d. Course information
16. Grocery Shopping:
a. Sodas, cups, coffee filters (snack)
b. Garbage bags, disposable gloves, beverages (clean up project)
c. Charcoal, paper products (plate, forks/etc, napkins, cups), beverages, cooler w/ice, condiments, cooking utensils.

So, with the fair, birthday party, cleaning house, and getting ready for my class - I guess I have a busy weekend.

The County Fair (part I)

Today, Sarah and her dad brought her entries to the fair. Sarah has been working hard over the past week or so making her entries for the fair. She is finally old enough to enter the Jr. category and will be competing against kids up to age 13.

First, she drew a picture of our front yard. This was drawn using Crayola Oil Pastel Crayons. I tried to convince her to draw a few drawings, but she said this was perfect and there was no reason to make another. I agree that it was pretty good!! She was so proud of her multi-green grass.
Then, she made some Origami Angel Fish. She even made a tin foil pool to display them in. There are a mommy, daddy, and two kid fish.

Lastly, we made a scrapbook page. She was really hoping to just put the letters wherever she wanted, but I convinced her that we needed to center them and work at making the border consistent around all pictures. This was her design competely, including the idea of one single paper to accent the picture (which was harder then individual bordered pics).

And, for Aunt Melanie - this was a stamping up paper and jump rope sticker, with big letters and summer stickers from Creative Memories and word and month/year stickers bought at Walmart.

Judging happened at 7:00 this evening. I'll update over the weekend on how she faired!

She learns quickly!

Sydney is playing "Math Missions" on Sarah's leapster.

The character says "Thanks for helping us do these windows. What can I do to thank you?"

Sydney leans on my shoulder (I was holding the game) and says "Give me money?"

(for those who aren't familiar with Math Missions, you earn money doing math games that you can spend in the game's arcade.)

Too cute!

For once I'm ahead of schedule

Today I went to the Physical Therapy. My therapist, told me that I'm ahead of schedule for recovery. He told me that I'm doing really well and he wants me to continue to work in the pool (2 times a week now) and the rest of my exercises and to come back in two weeks. There isn't anything else he can give me to do until I get a bit stronger - and the best place for me to do the exercises that will get me stronger is in the pool.

So, I now have to do the following:

exercises for my hips
walk forward and back
walk side to side
step up, step down
pick up marbles with my toes
move my foot like a clock
push my foot out and in using a resistance band

Then there are the exercises in the pool.

So, my walking without my brace is going really well. My therapist was really, really impressed with my gait.

Now to catch up with the rest of my life.

Princess World

Last night, DH came into our bedroom last night and informed me that Sydney wanted to go to Princess World. One of her friends went their earlier this year. Another friend went to Mickey World.

This morning, I asked Sydney about Princess World. She told me that their were Princesses there and rides. And you could dress to match the princesses. Her face just lit up as she talked about it.

I told Sydney that I was thinking about taking the girls to Princess Land. Her face fell until I told her that the Princesses visited Princess Land also. I wanted to take them last year, but I guess that Sydney will be more into it this year, so its just as well that I didn't. Now I just need to plan it all. I need to talk to DH to see if we can go over the University Spring Break. I just wish flying out of here wasn't so uncertain that time of year.

So, I'm bound and determined that we will go this year!!

So, it seems my little girl is going to be Snow White for Halloween.

And now its time to panic

It's only a few weeks until the semester starts. I thought I had a series of Tuesdays and Fridays to finish up my prep for class.

Then, it turns out that I have to take four of those days to watch my kid and a friends kid. The summer program is closed for the last two weeks of summer and so . . . someone needs to be home. One of my friends and I are dividing up the weeks.

The other week, I was in the big city. When you are in the big city, one of the things you do (stick with me, this is fits the above theme) is wander the HUGE bookstore. It used to be that I would wander fiction and wedding planning. My DH must have rubbed off on me over the past 10-12 years because I started in Business, looking for interesting books. Then, I went to History. After I finished with those sections, I headed to biography. I did wander to kids, but I never made it to fiction. Actually, I guess truth be told I started in Bargains, then went to business.

One of the books I found was Sidney Poitier's autobiography. This was something I've wanted to read for a while. But, I found a great resource for my class. One of the components of my class that I struggle with is how to get the students to understand "culture." This is a major concept in the class and if they don't understand it, they will have a tough time.

In his book, he talks about his life on a Caribbean Island, in the Bahamas, and in Florida. He talks about how the culture of each of these areas was different. It's great!!!

I was also talking with another faculty member at a party Sat. Some of the things he said triggered a few ideas with me. One of the things he said was that the students needed to define what culture was. A few quick types of the keyboard and I realized that they could do this.

So, how would you define the culture you live in, the culture of the organizations you interact within?

General update on us part 2

It's been almost 7 weeks since my surgery. I'm starting to walk a bit better and this morning I could almost see the bottom of my foot.

I started physical therapy this week. I will be going twice a week and once a week I will do exercises in the pool. I also have daily exercises to do at home for my ankle and my hips.

So, here is my ankle two weeks ago:

And my ankle today:

Tuesday I moved from the walking boot to a brace with TWO SHOES!! I'm so excited about this. I am starting to get some mobility, although my left to right range of motion is very small. Yesterday I went to a party and I accidentally left my crutch at home. I was a bit sore this morning as I'm not used to walking long without support, but I did it! I'm taking it easy today though.

I can't believe how far I've come in just six and a half weeks. I still have 4-6 mos of recovery time, but something about wearing two shoes has made it so much easier to handle.

General update on us. part 1

Where to start - I think I'll divide this into two posts. One about the girls, one about me.

I finally convinced the girls to watch my Schoolhouse Rock videos. The girls really like them. I can't believe that when these were first released I was Sarah's age (7). I did have to explain to Sarah what a record machine was.

Soccer season has started. I requested Sarah's soccer coach for this year. The coach she had last year was very good at teaching ball handling skills. Many of the coaches are just parents who have never played (which wouldn't matter much) but the coaching clinic they do seems to be focused more on "don't forget snack" than resources for lesson plans, ways to teach how to get a more powerful kick and aiming your passes at a teammate than just kicking the ball.

During the first three weeks, they are suppose to have practice. Many of the coaches have no idea how to teach, so they just want to scrimmage. Sarah's coach has a rule that when she has practice time, she wants to work with her team they have time to play later. Her teams are always very strong.

Sydney is playing this year too. She is so excited.

Last night Sydney had a nightmare. She dreamed that she was scoring too many goals and they stopped the game and made her stop playing! She's too cute.

Sarah did two weeks of swimming lessons. She started the session floating on her back with a teacher holding her up and using a life jacket to go in the diving pool to doing the back stroke and jumping off the high platform dive (the one that is about 9 feet high). Quite impressive. It was hard for mom to watch her just walk off that board.

Update on the car rental

And the dollars keep racking up. I'm beyond frustrated.

The Avis in Green Bay finally agreed to our local Avis certify that the car was ok. I guess they are afraid that I will claim that I had an issue with the car after the fact. *shrugs*

So, I drive up to our airport to discover that the Avis closed on June 1st. So, my options now are 1) drive to the next closest Avis, 2 hours away, 2) drive to Green Bay, or 3) pay for a Avis employee to drive up from Green Bay to look at the car. These three options allow an Avis person to look at the car. Option 4 is to pay the $41 for the next few days until my car is fixed.

For some reason, there is no other human they trust to look at the car and as far up the chain in this organization I go, I'm informed the decision will stay the same. Well, it's Friday, I'll pay another $80 before Monday unless I take the 4 hour trip to have the contract revised.

I did talk to Avis Customer Service and they said that they don't need to see the car, but I need to sign the contract in person. I've not called back.

I'm beyond frustrated between the car repair place who didn't fix my car they way I told them I wanted (I wanted just the mechanics fixed and not the cosmetic work which I was going to have fixed here so I didn't have to pay the rental any longer than necessary. I told this to the guy at the collision place who told me today "well, USAA didn't say to only fix part. They didn't tell me they needed USAA to tell them this! I'm pissed at him too but I can't say anything until I pick up the car) - to Avis who can't let a non-Avis employee certify the car (I offered a notary, who can't lie) and I'm willing to offer up the Chief of Police and a friend who is a State Police Officer.

My car was suppose to be fixed today, but blah blah blah.delay, parts, etc. I may try Avis corporate again. . . . I HATE LIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF ****ING NOWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trying not to cry with frustration.

A national company, except when its not

Ten days ago, I needed to rent a car while I left mine in a city 4 hours to be repaired. We were able to rent the last vehicle in the city, but not from a rental company that did business in the city I live in.

Oh, our city does have an Avis rental car, but the Avis four hours away didn't honor contracts etc with the Avis in my town.

I've been able to learn that my insurance company does cover a rental car in the even of an accident, so I don't need the rental coverage on the car - which is more than doubling the rental price of the car.

So, how easy is it for me to have the insurance removed? I have to drive four hours away so they can see that the car is still in the condition they rented it to me before they can change the contract.

Now, there is an Avis counter a TEN MINUTE drive from me, but they can't certify that the car is in good condition because they don't do business with the Avis four hours south of me.

I'm wondering in what way this is a national company if they can't trust each others word?My car was suppose to be fixed today. They are now saying middle of next week. So, its going to cost me $45 per day for an additional 5 days because they can't get my car fixed AND I can't change my contract without driving 8 hours round trip to fix it.

I really want to understand the logic of this.

Learning to walk again

I've periodically attempted to take a step or two without the crutches. I'm probably pushing things, but I so want to be back in two shoes again.

The few times I've found myself with my crutches just a few steps too far, I've had to try to get to them. The few steps I've taken have felt like my children must have been trying to take those few steps - robot style.

It's very awkward to walk.

Today, I did manage two steps that felt a bit more natural!

My foot is still a bit swollen. It has no curves!

I saw my doctor today, and she said it looked pretty good. Now we will see what I can manage with physical therapy in two weeks.

Week Four!

On Saturday, I decided that I had enough of the cast and we took it off - so, my ankle went from looking like this:

To looking liks this:

It's still a bit swollen and very bruised. It doesn't like being walked on. Tomorrow I go to the doctor to have the stitches dealt with. In two weeks I start physical therapy. I hope I can bend my foot a little by then.

This is NOT fun.

On a positive note, I had someone come in and clean the house some. It's not organized, but at least it's cleaner.

Oh, how rude

Last night, I went to see Order of the Phoenix. I won't include my detailed opinion of the movie here in case people haven't seen it yet - but I did enjoy the movie! I've never seen a HP movie in the theater and didn't plan on seeing this one except my book group decided to skip talking about the book for this month and went to the movie instead.

As you may remember, my foot looks like this now:

So, we got to the theater early so we could get seats together. I popped my foot up on the seat in front of me figuring if the theatre wasn't too full, I could watch the movie in comfort. In the row in front of me, there were three empty seats. The couple if front of us had put their jacket on one of the three seats (I'm guessing so no-one would sit next to them).

So, two people come in, look at my foot, and sit down in the two seats in front of me - that my foot is leaning on. I guess they thought that moving my foot was more appealing than sitting next to the couple.

Thankfully we had five in our group, so I changed places with a friend of mine and put my foot up on the empty seat. (but, at the end of the movie I discovered that the couple had no theatre manners at all as they left their drink cups in the seats when they left.)

When my friend Cindy came to pick me up, she even brought me a double dinner. Did I mention how wonderful my book group was? Almost every member brought me food!!

If it's not one thing, it's another!!

So, I'm in the last week of my cast and get to change to the walking boot Sunday.

Yesterday, Sarah came home from camp not walking on her foot. She fell off the monkey bars. Looking at her foot, there is a good chance she fractured her foot. So, I'm taking her to the Dr. this morning.

I hope its something clear cut as I'm not sure I trust our lot to find something more difficult. It doesn't seem feet are their specialty.

I'm seriously considering asking my Ortho in Minneapolis to read her x-ray as a distance second opinion. He knows the clinic I go to (they refer enough patients) so he probably would be willing.

I really hope it's just sore (Soccer starts at the end of the month, I'm almost well enough to start doing things, etc)!!


In an "awww" moment, DH told me last night that he's really been sad this week because he took the girls to the beach by our house and biking and I couldn't be there to see what a wonderful job Sydney was doing (she has finally become comfy riding a two wheeler) are doing and how excited they were at the beach because I was hurt. It was very sweet.

Timing is everything!

Looks like titles are still broken.

Yesterday, I was looking at my tomato plants and thinking that I needed to ask DH to pick up another wire support system for my tomato plant because the stakes were not going to support them well enough when the tomatoes start to grow.

At 5:00 am this morning, we woke to a HUGE thunder storm (lighting on lighting so fast the thunder was almost continuous) and very heavy and hard rain.

While making coffee this morning, I looked outside and found my tomato plants broken. My grape tomatoes are ok because they were in the cage. My slicing tomatoes are probably dead.

I'm so sad.

Three down, two to go!

For some reason, I can't type a title, but it's two days early, but I'm just about three weeks down and have one to go before I lose this lovely cast! One week from tomorrow, the girls tear it off!! and I change to the walking boot.

Once I'm in the walking boot, I get to remove it for showers. Walking on crutches won't be so bad because I will be able to put my foot down. I just need to find a shoe for my right foot that will give me the right lift so I don't walk awkwardly. I only wear the boot for two weeks, then start to wean off the boot for the second two weeks. So, between six and eight weeks post surgery, I'll be in a brace and wearing TWO shoes.

I'm only taking pain meds when I'm feeling sore - and I've abandoned my spreadsheet that told me when I can take things.

This week I had to order more parts for my laptop. Back in April, my power cord broke and I needed a new one. HP had them on backorder, but I needed one before I went on travel so I bought an off brand one. Well, it failed this week - and it stopped charging my battery. I decided that would just buy a regular one and we assumed that my battery had lost it's ability to recharge so I bought a new battery. Well, the very nice kid who was taking my order at the "help" line couldn't figure out how to merge this into one order, so each of the three parts was ordered separately - and shipping paid separately. I calculated it the other day and I paid $40 more than if I'd ordered it online myself. So, HP is suppose to call me back to fix it. I debated about canceling the battery as the new power cord fixed the recharging issue (I thought it was strange that it worked one day and not the next), but my battery life is down to 4 hours and most of those on standby, so I could use a new one.

I saw the cutest thing in Better Homes and Gardens. You take bubble wrap and paint it a color and paint a number on it and use it for noisy hopscotch. Kelly, if Jenelle doesn't mind loud noise, she might find it fun.

I'm going to sign off and drink my coffee. I filled out a survey and received a free Senso machine. I need to play with it more because right now the coffee is too strong for me. I may try making an 8 oz coffee w/ one pod instead of two. Or, it may be that I make the 4 oz single cup and add 2 oz of hot water to make a slightly weaker 6 oz cup. If I can make a cup of coffee with one pod rather than two, it would be much cheaper. I may bring the new machine to work for coffee there.

Have a great day. We may try to go to the Strawberry Festival today. With my little handicap parking pass, they may even let us park inside (small town festival here!)