Inside AL's Mind

2011-05-12T05:27:00.000+08:00

What to do, what to do???

Well, we've been back in America for a month and it's easy to see that my hubby's schedule is not going to be flexible enough any time soon for me to go back to work full-time. He's recently challenged me to earn $10,000 a year, so we can contribute that towards our retirement without penalty, etc. Needless to say, I've been considering the ways I can go about this. Do I substitute teach, start a business around one of my passions, go back to direct sales, or a combination of many things? So many options...

I've toyed with the idea of teaching part-time and putting feelers out at local schools, but to be honest - I don't want to have a set schedule. I want flexibility to be there for everything with my family. In the past, I've had many "direct sales" jobs: Tupperware (at 18!), Creative Memories, & Pampered Chef. I really enjoyed them all; however, never saw them as a true way to earn a living. Maybe it's time for me to buckle down and commit myself to something that I am passionate about!

A good friend has been in touch with me about a brand new company that combines home decorating, food, wine... sounding good so far, right?!? I think I want to go for it and could possibly be the first consultant in the Oklahoma City area. Part of me imagines all the people I can reach out to and build a team with - that triggers my happy place and all the things I want professionally.

I want to do it; however, I don't take things lightly and want to commit myself to success.

Still thinking...

Do you want to join my team? Geez, it sounds like I've made up my mind - LOL :)

2011-03-17T20:07:00.006+08:00

March Photo Challenge

Day 17 - Participation

I spent the morning with Loo Loo's Year 3 Class working on Math Group Activities. At the sand station, the students have to fill different containers and check to see if they come up with the same measurements.

Here is my daughter recording the measurement that we worked on together.

2011-03-17T16:52:00.005+08:00

Cont'd from the March Photo Challenge 2011...

I didn't post my picture in time, so I was technically disqualified from the official site; however, I will keep posting the remaining themes here. Since I can do it at my own pace, they may not be "on time" or coordinated with the exact date. In four days, we'll be moving from Perth, Western Australia, AUS to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA - so things are crazy, busy, and a strung-out ;)~

P.S. I always have an really hard time deciding and narrowing it down to one picture, so I might post multiple pics for one day - yea!!!

Day 16 - Affection

Loo Loo with her best friend, Wil in front of the Indian Ocean at Port Beach after we had dinner at the local restaurant, "The Beach Bar". It is one of the few places in the Perth area with a kids' play area!

A self-portrait with my Aussie Sister, Kristy, after dinner. This is probably our last trip to the beach in Australia. I will definitely miss being so close to the ocean.

2011-03-01T13:21:00.000+08:00

I tried to do this organization challenge and couldn't get through Day 3 - my life is in too much flux right now to pin-point goals, etc. beyond moving. Today I cam across my notes and didn't want to just throw them away, since I put a lot of thought into them.

DAY 1

Brainstorm of things that are important to me (in random order):

love
balance
support
achieving goals
financial responsibility
family
healthy lifestyle
educating my children about health ways
maintaining important and meaningful relationships
accomplishments
not holding things inside
being an authentic & true person
making a difference in other lives
helping people discover their passions & dreams - purpose
inventing new lessons, programs, etc. (B.E.S.T. at UH)

CURRENT GOALS:

Not only being happy (which is NOT achievable 24/7), but being balanced.
Understanding my emotions & reacting appropriately: not over -or- under
Mapping a career plan & steps needed for my return in ______ years.
Supporting my family/friends without sacrificing myself. Quit "topping-off" everyone else, so I am less than "half full" and often nearly empty.
Rediscover optimism!
Exiting AUS in an organized & low stress way.
Re-entering USA with reasonable expectations about: timeline, city/location, family's adjustment.

Day 2

My Top 3 Goals:

1) Family - Being present & actively involved in the moments with my family and showing/vocalizing their importance to me.

2) Myself - Maintaining balance & perspective about my emotional & physical well being.

3) Health - Consistently practicing healthy living through nutrition & exercise, while educating my family about healthy living's importance with my example.

Once these are established:

Give to others
Career path

Upsetting

2010-05-11T22:19:00.001+08:00

I purposely avoid certain things, so I don't get upset. Today I had to confront one I hate, cleaning the pool area! It's not because I don't want to do my share, it's because of all the cigarette butts everywhere - yuck. Is this what I will be stuck doing for years to come?!? God, it's miserable to think that :(

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Testing...

2010-04-28T21:54:00.001+08:00

I often wonder if blogging were easier (more accessable), if I would do more often. Well, here's my chance to see! I just got a new application for my iPhone that puts it right at my fingertips - literally ;)~

Now I just need to figure out what to write about... I rarely find myself at a loss for words; however, lately I've been either so lost in my own head trying to figure out the meaning of life -or- so pissed off that words cannot cover it. That feels a bit stupid to "say outloud", even if it's just into the cyberworld; however, it's true. I haven't been much fun to be around and feel guilty that I'm bringing the people around me down like the Titanic. Interesting thought that I'll be pondering for the next few days. Funny, but I don't think much about it when I might be bringing my family down, since I have a defininte "what goes around, comes around" feeling lately. That's not a good way to treat my family and I should work on putting out the attitude/feelings that I want in return...

See, my imaginary cyberfriends, this is why I should blog more!!! Off to work on my attitude. Seriously!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

2010-04-23T22:51:00.003+08:00

His & Her's CookiesThe other day, DH busted out with, "No offense, but I'd like some real cookies without chickpeas!" Since, whenever I've cooked homemade cookies lately they are a health version from the "Deceptively Delicious" cookbook. The kids love them, so why should I bother to make something else?!?!? LOL!!! So, today we made two types of cookies "his" and "her's" :)

2010-04-21T13:52:00.002+08:00

Soooooooooo...

It's been a long, long time since I've posted here. Life has been busy and I have been feeling down. However, I am hoping that things will be looking up soon, since I am actively trying to change things for the positive.

Today, I started a year long photo challenge with my friend of twenty years, Nancy. I am so happy to be doing it and hope to keep up with it, even though the next few months will be busy with traveling.

I have a few posts I did for another blog that I was doing privately, since I thought that this blog was being read by too many people and lost it's appeal as a venting place. Should I really care about keeping it private though?!? I don't know! I'm thinking about merging them here and just putting it all out there... We'll see what I decide.

Off to get some work done on a dreaded volunteer job that I am trying to get rid of. Maybe I will write here, again, tomorrow - maybe!

2008-04-16T01:29:00.003+08:00

I'm tired, but unable to sleep.

Lately, the littlest things are stressing me out and make me want to cry. I don't want to talk to DH about it, b/c he either overreacts or will be stressed, too! ARGH!

Gradually, I am making friends here. But, they are not the kind that you've known long enough to tell emotions like this to feel better :)

It will be fine. Most of it is hormones - 35 weeks and counting . . .

BTW - our sea cargo freight arrived today. We have too much shit. Damn.

More on DWJSDating? and pics on Flickr soon.

2008-04-07T17:06:00.002+08:00

I just might be insane . . .

for agreeing to move here pregnant. There is too much to do and I am starting to feel like crap. Hopefully, the damn furniture and stuff will arrive soon, while I still can move to put it away.

I really need to be nesting for the baby - instead of stressing over the international insurance. Today when I called, they couldn't find our family in the system. We better have coverage - I have already spent almost $300 out -of-pocket that will need to be reimbursed. It is going to add up fast . . .

2008-04-04T20:41:00.001+08:00

FINALLY! Australia pics are posted on Flickr :)

www.flickr.com

Didn't We Just Start Dating?'s Australian Arrival - First Two Weeks photoset

2008-04-02T00:07:00.002+08:00

What words are appropriate to use on a "family blog"????

I was just finishing a post that I saved from the weekend and used the word screwed. It was the best word to describe the situation, but since so many people will (hopefully) be visiting the site to follow our journey in Australia, I deleted it.

Oh, this self-censorship sucks ass . . . hehehehehe!

Please visit: www.dwjsdating.blogspot.com for more family friendly posts :)

Yeah, before anyone bitches in the comments about how long it has been since I have blogged . . . get over it! I love my attitude - LOL!

And, here are all the widgets that won't work on "Didn't We Just Start Dating?" because of my new format:

2007-06-27T21:09:00.000+08:00

I wonder . . .

How long my guilt conscious would last if I quit today?

I really want to - I am really unhappy.
I am really trying my best to finish the year and be here for my students.
I don't want to burn any bridges.
I am person that finishes a job that I start.
But, I can still wonder!

Dear God,
Grant me patience, I really need more of it in all areas of my life.
Thank you, AL

I attempted to email this post from work, but it failed for some reason. Since this is a journal for me to reflect back on, I felt it was important to put it in (even if it's two months late - originally emailed on 4/3/2007 @1:30 p.m.)!

2007-06-23T21:57:00.000+08:00

This is me . . . for now :)

Some changes/updates from my life include:
- I am not on "summer vacation", but getting used to the idea that I am no longer a public high school teacher
- My Pampered Chef business requires work, but it is slooooow in the summer and making it difficult for me to expand to a career
- I cut my hair sorter than usual and really like it, plus I colored it lighter for summer
- We are trying for another baby
- My MIL has breast cancer, but will be okay due to catching it early and it's location
- Hubby and I are doing good
- Loo & Loco are doing good, too
- My Dad is still living with us, but it is getting old (probably b/c I am home more)

- I am going to try to blog for 21 days straight to get in the habit, again . . .

That's all for now! I must run off and prevent Loco from beating everything in site. - AL

2007-03-19T13:22:00.000+09:00

JUST ONE WORD
1. Where is your cell phone? close
2. Your Vehicle? dirty
3. Your hair? roots
4. Your mother? voicemail
5. Your father? upstairs
6. Your favorite thing? love
7. Your dream last night? unmemorable
8. Your favorite drink? diet
10. The room you’re in? study
11. Your ex? history
12. You are? tired
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? complete
14. Who did you hang out with today? spawns
15. What you’re not? inspired
16. Muffins? most
17. One of your wish list items? debt-free
18. Where is the ______ ? keys
19. The last thing you did? chatted
20. What are you wearing? comfy
21. Your favorite TV show? Grey's
22. Your pet(s)? needy
23. Your computer? sluggish
24. Your life? evolving
25. Your mood? content
26. Missing? DH
27. What are you thinking about right now? everything
28. Your Shoes? more
29. Your work? departed
30. Your summer? anticipation
31. Your favorite color? blue

2007-03-16T01:26:00.001+09:00

Instead of . . . "Pimp My Ride", today I am playing "Pimp My Friend"!

Stewbie has finally started giving Flickr a chance and posted some pics on a regular basis . . . please visit her to show some love and encouragement. There are even a few pics of Loo up from when she spent the night :) Thanks!

2007-02-25T23:05:00.000+09:00

WHS . . . I am quitting at the end of the year . . . FOREVER!

This has been an increbily hard decision that stresses me out, since my job has provided us with the luxury of having things we want without thinking much about it. There is a budget in our future, there will be less eating out, there will be times when I feel guilty b/c I have worked since I was eleven . . .

It will be an adjustment for all of us, but if I don't do it now, I never will. These past two years have been miserable and I have been unhappy. In August, I started selling Pampered Chef and love it. It will take a while for me earn the same money, but I know if I "work it" like a regular job that there is a lot of potential . . . a lot!

2007-02-25T22:42:00.000+09:00

Spamming comments sucks! Seriously . . . I have received so many comments in the last month generated by bots. So, not only have I been refrainining from blogging, but I am also pissed off at it right now. I know that I will eventually get back into it and won't delete my blog, I'm just not "feelin' it" lately. The funny part is that I am probably close to exploding b/c I have been bottling so much in - that is exactly how I act when I get too stressed though. The weird thing is that I am incredibly calm as I write this; however, I have some looming decisions to make about work, taxes to get done, calls to make, etc.

Things that have been going on lately:
- Loo started dance class and playing soccer at the YMCA
- I am coaching her 4 year old soccer team :) LOL!
- Loco is a ball of energy and gets into everything
- Loco has a head of steal and it seems that nothing phases him, short of knocking himself unconscious
- DH has changed from the rig to the office, but is still rotating
- It has been a couple of rough months for DH and I, but things have been a little better this month
- My dad is still living with us - it is a blessing most times and annoying at others - when DH is gone, it is soooooo helpful to have him here
- One of my BFF's forever is getting married in less than 20 days, very cool for them
- My other BFF's going to be spending the next year on and off in Cali - it sucks b/c she is my "talking to friend" and we talk a lot less when she is gone
- My youngest sister (15) informed us that she is "bi" and has a girl friend - that is not going over well with some of the family and her mom is pushing the bible on her, etc.
- One of my other sisters is engaged to be married to a weird, "I used to be gay" man that the entire family hates and her mom will be going to court to get custody of her kids
- My sister S that we have heard a lot about over the years is a f'd up mess! It has been so long since I have blogged that I have not shared the news of her pregnancy, leaving her husband, going back to him, etc.

Wow . . . I went for writing nothing to an bulleted essay :)

Gotta go - both the kids are awake now. Later - AL

The Chicago Bears Shuffling Crew doing the Superbowl Shuffle

2007-01-23T09:39:00.000+09:00


1985 Chicago Bears doing the Superbowl Shuffle

Maintaining S.P.I.R.I.T.

2007-01-19T00:59:00.000+09:00

I subscribe to motivating newsletters like this . . .

By now, many New Year's resolutions have been broken! There is one
resolution, however, that everyone needs to never break. And that is to
always maintain a positive attitude. You see, no matter how good your
attitude is you will continually have opportunities to grow. No one has
"arrived."

Maintaining a super-fantastic attitude is a life-long journey. There
will always be plenty of opportunities to sideline a positive attitude.
To help you stay on course, I've developed an acronym that encompasses
six key attitudes. These attitudes create what I call S.P.I.R.I.T. And
by maintaining S.P.I.R.I.T., your attitude will always propel you toward
a successful future-no matter what you encounter.

S stands for Self-awareness
A bad attitude boils down to the bad habit of always looking at life
negatively. Self-awareness shows you the areas you need to change and
when it's time for an attitude tune-up.

P stands for Purpose and Passion
Life takes on new meaning when you passionately pursue your purpose.
And a positive attitude is what gets you through the hard times.

I stands for Initiative
By proactively taking the initiative to meet challenges with a positive
attitude, you will be the one who controls your situation instead of
your circumstances controlling you.

R stands for Relationships and Respect
Respect is something everybody wants. Treating people with respect can
transform a bad situation. As you lay aside judgment, you open the door
for understanding and harmony to develop.

I stands for Insight
Insight is something we all need to strive for. It's the ability to
discern the true meaning of a situation. However, it's something that
requires an open mind and heart so you can see the big picture.

T stands for Trust
Trust is the attitude that unites people. Without it your work life and
personal relationships will lack development. Trust enables you to share
your ideas, as well as consider the opinions of others.

Your attitude is your most priceless possession. It's what steers you
toward success or failure. Make the commitment to never allow anything
rob you of a super-fantastic attitude in 2007!

*** At the bottom of the newsletter, it suggests:
"Attitude is contagious. Share these ideas with others at work and in
your personal life. They may get their own subscription by visiting
KeithHarrell.com"

I hope a BAD attitude is not contagious, but I have had a really shitty
one lately! Hopefully, it will get better soon . . . please!!!!!!!!

My Fine Is . . . $480

2007-01-13T04:31:00.000+09:00

Here's how it works:

You don't have to confess your answers, just the amount of your fine.
And NO, it is not PER incident otherwise, some of us would have totals
more than the national debt!).

Bring up that calculator, and get to work!

Smoked pot -- $10
Did acid -- $5
Ever had sex at church -- $25
Woke up in the morning and did not know the person who was next to you
-- $40
Had sex with someone on MySpace -- $25
Had sex for money -- $100
Vandalized something -- $20
Had sex on your parents' bed -- $10
Beat up someone -- $20
Been jumped -- $10
Crossed dressed -- $10
Given money to stripper -- $25
Been in love with a stripper -- $20
Kissed some one who's name you didn't know -- $0.10
Hit on some one of the same sex while at work -- $15
Ever drive drunk -- $20
Ever got drunk at work, or went to work while still drunk -- $50
Used toys while having sex -- $30
Got drunk, passed out and don't remember the night before -- $20
Went skinny dipping -- $5
Had sex in a pool -- $20
Kissed someone of the same sex -- $10
Had sex with someone of the same sex -- $20
Cheated on your significant other -- $10
Masturbated -- $10
Cheated on your significant other with their relative or close friend
-- $20
Done oral -- $5
Got oral -- $5
Done / got oral in a car while it was moving -- $25
Stole something -- $10
Had sex with someone in jail -- $25
Made a nasty home video -- $15
Had a threesome -- $50
Had sex in the wild -- $20
Been in the same room while someone was having sex -- $25
Stole something worth over more than a hundred dollars -- $20
Had sex with someone 10 years older -- $20
Had sex with someone under 21 and you are over 27 -- $25
Been in love with two people or more at the same time -- $50
Said you love someone but didn't mean it -- $25
Went streaking -- $5
Went streaking in broad daylight -- $15
Been arrested -- $5
Spent time in jail -- $15
Peed in the pool -- $0.50
Played spin the bottle -- $5
Done something you regret -- $20
Had sex with your best friend -- $20
Had sex with someone you work with at work -- $25
Had anal sex -- $80
Lied to your mate -- $5
Lied to your mate about the sex being good -- $25

Tally it up and Title it..."My Fine Is..."

2006-10-27T10:42:00.000+08:00

They Grow-Up Too Fast . . .

Loco boy is walking!

I gave in and joined "YouTube" so that more family & friends can see videos of the kids without emailing them!

Here's to a productive weekend getting ready for hubby to come home :)

2006-10-22T12:09:00.000+08:00

Yeah, Biaaaatch, I'm Unique!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
0
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Well, really, it's my Hubby's last name that is unique . . . LOL . . . b/c when I searched with my maiden name I got:

HowManyOfMe.com

There are:
507
people with my name
in the U.S.A.

How many have your name?

Stewbie turned me on to this link - she rocks!

Bad day . . .

2006-10-13T02:49:00.000+08:00

I haven't written in so long, that it keeps me from writing out of guilt. And then I remember . . . I started this for me!

The last day and a half have been pretty miserable. It is just a combination of things, lots of things, that add up to me feeling like I am going to cry any minute. I hate feeling this way and know that it will pass - at least that is what I keep telling myself! -AL

Sometimes . . . Being In Education Sucks!

2006-08-31T22:48:00.000+08:00

Over the years, one of the worse parts about being a teacher is how limited you are for absences. They don't want anyone to take off Mondays or Fridays, you can't miss too many days in a row, etc. Last year, my school and school district had an obscene substitute "bill" and
now we are paying the price for it! This morning, we received the following email:

"Staff, the District spent over $4 million dollars last year in substitutes. XXX AL's XXX High School had almost 9,000 substitutes last year. This year each campus has a budget for ALL absences (excluding vacancies, special education student aides, and pullouts). Therefore, do
not do the following or your pay will be subject to be docked:
1) Schedule appointments during the day-- try to do this after school or during your conference period.
2) Schedule flights without prior approval-- seek permission prior to planning a trip.
3) Assume you will be granted approval.
4) Schedule absences before or after a school holiday.
5) Assume you will go to the same tournaments, meets or various
competitions (like last year).

Our campus budgets have been cut drastically. We ask for your patience as we endure this cutback, but we have to reduce the excessive absences. We are tracking staff absences per staff member vs. per dept. like we did last year. Thanks!"

Uuuuuhhhhh . . . ARGH! First, how are we supposed to remain positive and, in turn, be positive for our students with directives like this coming from the administration? Second, how can they tell me when I can and cannot use the days I earned for absences? Being like this makes the staff resort to manipulation and lies! I have a trip planned and know that I will have to call in sick or with a sick kid to miss work.

I earned those days and have a right to use them.

This frustrates me! Can you tell? - AL

2006-08-24T09:52:00.000+08:00

Slowly, But Surely . . . I'm Back!

Well, I have been trying to catch up and read how some of you have been doing. It has been fun, like getting to know old friends (too bad I can't comment from work). Though, I didn't post much on "AL's Mind" over the summer, I kept busy with Flickr. If you want to catch up with me and see some of the summer fun, please visit Flickr to get a photographic tutorial - LOL!

Ohhhhh, yeah - I'm already sick with a cold and school hasn't even been in session for two weeks - argh! - AL

Mars, The Red Planet, is about to be spectacular!

2006-08-23T02:42:00.000+08:00

This month and next, Earth is catching up with Mars in an encounter that will culminate in the closest approach between the two planets in recorded history. The next time Mars may come this close is in 2287. Due to the way Jupiter's gravity tugs on Mars and perturbs its orbit, astronomers can only be certain that Mars has not come this close to Earth in the last 5,000 years, but it may be as long as 60,000 years before it happens again.

The encounter will culminate on August 27th when Mars comes to within 34,649,589 miles of Earth and will be (next to the moon) the brightest object in the night sky. It will attain a magnitude of -2.9 and will appear 25.11 arc seconds wide. At a modest 75-power magnification . . . Mars will look as large as the full moon to the naked eye.

Mars will be easy to spot. At the beginning of August it will rise in the east at 10 p.m. and reach its azimuth at about 3 a.m. By the end of August when the two planets are closest, Mars will rise at nightfall and reach its highest point in the sky at 12:30 a.m. That's pretty convenient to see something that no human being has seen in recorded history. So, mark your calendar at the beginning of August to see Mars grow progressively brighter and brighter throughout the month.

NO ONE ALIVE TODAY WILL EVER SEE THIS AGAIN!!!! So cool :-) - AL

TESTING

2006-08-21T02:14:00.000+08:00

I am emailing a post to my blog . . . what does this look like?

I hate the fact that my school has blocked Blogger and all of your blogs. Now I cannot read or write at lunch time ;( It sucks!

- AL

2006-08-20T13:00:00.000+08:00

I guess I picked the correct career . . .

Your Career Personality: Empathetic, Loyal, and People-Oriented

Your Ideal Careers:

Chef
Corporate trainer
Designer
Events Coordinator
Librarian
Politician
Psychologist
Small Business Owner
Social Worker
Teacher

The Quick and Dirty Career Test

2006-06-22T12:04:00.000+08:00

There Is Not Another SECRET Blog!!!!!

Okay, so two people asked me within the last 72 hours if I had a another blog that I didn't tell them about! DH thought that I couldn't go "cold turkey" without blogging and my friend H was crushed that I barely blogged the last month while she was out of town! She said is was a "great time for me to quit blogging . . . " - HHHmmm - I think I sense some sarcasim in there! LOL!

No, I have just not blogged, but I have faithfully posted pictures to my Flickr page and sporadically posted on the family blog. There are so many reason and excuses why I have been away - too many to list or bore myself (and my one or two remaining visitors) with! So, I will just give a quick summary of the past month . . .

- I survived the school year and ended with a bang, realizing I hate being "in charge" of my department and school politics. Hopefully, I want to go back in August, usually the summer wipes away any negativity. I firmly believe that without summer break that teacher retention would be 20x's worse than it is now!

- With school out, I have been given the go ahead by Hubby to decorate and paint the house. So, I have been a little busy shopping :) For something that I dislike to do for myself - I hate going for clothes - I love to do it for the house!!!! It has been fun, fun, fun and I need to stop, stop, stop ;)

- Loco is really on the move, crawling every where and getting into everything! Motherhood is happening a much faster pace now with two on the move in opposite directions!

- My mom & brother visited for an extended weekend and we all survived (pics here)! Everyone stayed at our house and it was full to the brim, but it was a good time and, for the most part, everyone got along! During that weekend, DH put up another new playset for Loo, since we should the old one with the house as part of the package.

- Loo got her first "real" bike, but has only been able to ride it one time. We thought she went #2 on the potty that day and gave it to her, then she pooped more while on it in her pull-up. She cannot ride it until she goes #2 on the potty . . . needless to say, she are having a VERY hard time mastering this part of being a big kid!

- We had a chicken pox scare that just ended up being a bad virus with fever and a rash that both kids got. Loco's was much worse than Loo's that is why we initially thought it was the pox. His poor little body was covered with a rash (pics)!

- I got a Roomba and I love it!

- The drama with my dad and sister has gotten out-of-control! It would take an entire separate blog to chronicle that story. I really don't know if there is a way to "summarize" it . . . dad sold the house before he was foreclosed on, they barely got an apartment in time to move, my sister can't manage money for shit (what's new) and they almost couldn't get it, no one started packing the house until TWO DAYS before the move, I helped a lot or else they wouldn't have got it done, I am a saint and earned my pass to heaven helping in that hell hole (it was disgusting) when a roach came out of the "curtains" in my sister's room . . . I almost shit myself - LOL!

- The biggest news of all is that my sister got MARRIED last Friday - no joke - to her boyfriend of seven weeks. Yes, I said, SEVEN WEEKS - WTF!

I am at a loss for words on the subject. Part of my is soooooo happy, b/c she is no longer a worry of my dad's (in his mind, even though he should have kicked her to the curb a long time ago). The other part of me is sad, b/c I don't want to think that she married him out of desperation. Only time will tell if it really is "true love" or absolute insanity. To see pics of the "white trash affair", visit here. Oh, yeah, the tattoo on her DH's arm (that you see in every picture) says, "Tammy" - that's his ex-wife - nice to see it in every "wedding picture"! I wonder if he will tat Sher's name on him?!?!?!?

Well, I feel better - LOL :)

I will try to keep up-to-date more and catch up on my reading. I had to return my work laptop for the summer, so I can't read in bed at night (or during the day when bored or procrastinating at work)!

Flickr

2006-06-19T23:53:00.000+08:00

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

2006-05-31T20:38:00.000+08:00

Checking in . . .

Too much to do in too little time - isn't that how the saying goes?

Today is the last day of school for the students; unfortunately, the teachers have to work until Friday! The last day is usually crazy and we have to chase the kids out of the building, while trying to maintain a fight-free environment. They just want to hang out with their friends and take care of any "unfinished business" before summer :)

We all survived this past weekend with my family visiting Houston and piled into our house (Thank God for the new and improved house). It was an interesting time! I have lots of stories and took tons of pictures that I will be posting up on Flickr soon.

There are so many times in a day when I say to myself, "Oh, I want to blog about that!" Of course, when I finally have a free moment (or one that I stole - like now), I can't think of a thing! Go figure . . .

Last night I had a very vivid dream (the kind when you wake up tired b/c you didn't feel like you slept) and in the dream I was pregnant with baby #3. I remember being upset, then proud, then freaked out . . . lots of mixed emotions. Right now, I am feeling very comfortable (and frequently overwhelmed) with the family I have. How can life be so full of mixed emotions? One minute I am very happy and the next stressed; I can feel love and heavy dislike in a matter of moments for same person. I am ready for summer break - I hope I get a break!

2006-05-26T22:20:00.000+08:00

My World . . .

The end of the school year is always C-R-A-Z-Y for teachers! Thankfully, the summer break reward is well worth it :)

We are in the middle of final exams and five minutes ago, when I was grading a test, this is what I read,

"It's show they you is smart and that you is readly for the big world."

WTF!!! You did not read this wrong and I did not type it wrong! This answer was in response to the question, "Why is eye contact with the audience important while presenting a speech?" LOL!

Welcome to my world . . . I think this is contagious, b/c I have been making less sense over the last few years, too. Oh, wait - that is from the lack of sleep and adult interaction caused by reproducing!

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

I will have lots to blog about next week, since my Mom and brother are in town from Chicago and my sister and her two kids are staying with us for the visit, too! FUN! Sorry DH . . . I love you, baby!

2006-05-21T17:30:00.000+08:00

MIA - Hahahaha!

As one of you so eloquently put it in my comments, yes, I have been MIA b/c DH got home on Friday afternoon! It has been great to have him home and we have been busy ;-)

Here is something that I started on Thursday . . .

The Letter Game - It's "H"ot!

We're gonna play a little game :) I received the letter H from Fantasia Girl and have chosen ten words that begin with that letter followed by a brief explanation about why I chose it. If you want to play, tell me in the comments and I'll give you a letter . . . Then you can join the fun!

Here is goes - The letter H:

1. Hubby Home Happy Hump - no further explanation needed - LOL :)

2. Hard & Hell - The end of the school yard is always so hard, b/c we all want to be on summer break and the students are out-of-control. Plus, there are so much to get done - it feels like hell for the teachers!

3. Health - I need to spend some time this summer getting back to the basics and healthier. Back in college over the summer, I would always train for the next soccer season. I decided that I am going to use the same mentality to prepare for my 3-Day walk - it will benefit me all around.

4. House - There is a lot to get done with it and I can't wait to spend time working on getting settled in this summer.

5. Hate Hail - The damage to my mini-van for the hail storm two weeks ago is worse than I would like to admit, but I refuse to fix it b/c I don't play on trading in or selling my car for a long time. I am sure I will be in several more storms before then. I hate hail!!!!

6. Hat - I love wearing baseball hats and other fun ones . . .

7. Higher Education - I have been considering completing my Ph.D. online and have been sent information from several schools. To be honest, I am skeptical about an online curriculum, but don't know if I have the time or energy to commute for a degree. There are several colleges within an hour drive: Texas A & M, Sam Houston State Universtiy, and the University of Houston (where my M.Ed. is from) - I just don't know how that would work out with two small children.

8. Heavy Heart - Over the problems my Dad is coming across with his disability status and life in general.

9. Houston / H-Town - Where I live in Texas :)

10. Hot - Please refer # 1 & 9!!!!!

2006-05-17T11:56:00.000+08:00

Have you kissed your prince today?

Mine will be home soon . . . less than 72 hours!

Doesn't this frog look like he is having "one of those days"?

I feel that way right now . . . this sleeping beauty is going to bed :)

To see some pictures from Mother's Day, visit my family blog (You guys know the routine . . . please, comment here, not there).

2006-05-16T23:58:00.000+08:00

Ready!

Do you ever have those times in life when you are just ready for so many things to happen?

I totally feel that way right now and it makes it hard to enjoy the moment - which is something I strive to do!

I am ready for/to:
- DH to get home (Friday night)
- Close on the lot and get our money "back"
- Pay off the credit card from our move-in expenses
- Spend more money to buy stuff for the house
- The kitchen to clean itself
- The laundry to wash, fold, and put itself away
- Loo to crap on the potty every time
- Loco to push down the next set of teeth, so he will quit biting me!
- School to be out . . . oh, how I am ready!
- Have "spare time" on my hands
- Blog more and read more (DH asked me if I wasn't blogging b/c he was reading - no - I just have too many things to do & this has to be the first to go)
- Have a painted, decorated, and fully furnished home - LOL - long time off
- Sleep all weekend long . . . hell, I would take a couple of extra hours

I swear this list could go on and on . . . and on!

Here is a picture of the first real piece of art that DH and I have ever bought, "Poppy Nine Patch" by Don Li-Leger. It is coming from Art.com and will be here in June.

It ties all the colors and shapes that we are looking to use together. We ordered a square-shaped sectional sofa in two shades of brown (bottom leather and top micro fiber) and a circle accent chair in "salsa" red.

This should go perfect :)

I {heart} it!

2006-05-12T13:00:00.000+08:00

SPF - "2" Much Fun!
This week from Kristine:
1. Something you have 2 of.
2. Something you wish you had 2 more of.
3. “Two”.
Don’t ask why I picked this, it has NOTHING to do with mother’s day, but knowing you guys you’ll find a way to make it into Mother’s Day. ;) (Uhhhh, I didn't try to make it Mother's Day themed - hope I'm not kicked out of the club!) Keeping with the theme, I will post two pictures for each "assignment":

Something you have 2 of . . .

My two beautiful children! Loo has started to crawl every where, in support of Loco's newly developed skill.

We are a two TiVo family: Master Bedroom & Gameroom

Something you wish you had 2 more of . . .

Money for furniture and decorating! Hands to get it all done with!

“Two” . . .

Too many toys and too little time!

Two Loco's having too much fun crawling in our closet!

2006-05-10T23:52:00.000+08:00

Photography Scavenger Hunt

So, cool . . . My friend Hazel Hazel turned me on to this fun!

1) Sports
2) Danger
3) Blue
4) Outdoor furniture
5) Trash can
6) Pool
7) Sold
8) Overkill
9) Larger than life
10) What is it?

Most of these are being left up to your interpretation of the suject! Who's going to play with me? You know you want to!!!!!

I am so mad at myself that I never made it to the old house with my camera to get a picture of the "Sold" sign! That would have been perfect for #7 - I guess Stewbie can use it, since she was a sweetheart and took a picture for me.

2006-05-08T06:50:00.000+08:00

Here It Is . . .

TKW asked for it! I have a lot to say about this, but no time to write now (I guess I should feed my children dinner - ha!). My sisters called it a "mansion" when they visited for the first time. It is all about perspective! Unfortunately, in Houston, we cannot have basements and that means that more of the house is "upstairs" than in the homes that DH and I were used seeing in the Midwest growing up. Let me emphasize "seeing", not "residing in"! LOL!

There are a lot more pictures uploaded on Flickr than many of you may be interested in, but I put this badge on my family blog for them to see, too. You know how it is - gotta show Mom, FIL, SIL, etc. the place, too! If any of them lived closer, it would be a lot easier :-)

www.flickr.com

Didn't We Just Start Dating?'s New House: Room-By-Room Tour photoset

2006-05-05T11:47:00.000+08:00

I Will Miss It . . .

This morning on the way to work, the reality set in that today is the day we are selling our "starter home". I have to be honest and admit that I got a little teary eyed thinking of all the great memories there!

We definitely started a lot of things there :) When we moved in, we had no children, no furniture, and big dreams! We moved out with two children and so much stuff that we have no clue how we got it all - LOL! I can safely say that at this point, I feel like we have far exceeded our dreams and are living a wonderful life. It is incredible to be at a comfortable point in our life, emotionally and financially, to be able to make a drastic move of this nature on short notice. As I have said before, we have been preparing and planning for it, under the assumption it would be at least a few months off . . . little did we know that it would happen this fast!

August 4, 2001 - a little over one week before move-in. Now the trees in the back ground are replaced with houses and the four trees in the yard tower over the house.

I remember all the firsts . . . and all the painting!

Everything has gone fairly smooth and I am happy today is finally over. The last few weeks have been stressful and we have been on the calendar to close several times, but the buyer's FHA loan kept holding us back. I guess money to buy the house might be important :) Today was a long day, over two hours at the table and a long wait for some final documents to be sent over, but it is done! Thankfully, we will only have one mortgage to pay - yipee! Here I am pictured at the stop light less then five minutes from closing . . . can you tell I was ready to do it?!?!?When we were almost done signing the papers (thank god we were the sellers and not the buyers . . . signing my hubby's name followed by my full name and "Attorney In Fact" plus my own signature every time was a pain in the ass . . . sellers have a lot less to sign!) and waiting for the title to come through, we got hit with a HUGE HAIL STORM!!!

No joke! It lasted at least thirty minutes and had golf ball size hail pieces. This is the only picture I could snap without getting pelted with one! We were all freaking out b/c many of us had cars that are less than six months old and this was not looking good. From what I can tell, my minivan has a few dents in the hood, multiple dents on the roof, and no damage to the windows. I am going to assess the body better tomorrow, when I am not worrying about rushing to pick-up the kids, since the closing went past five.

2006-05-05T02:30:00.000+08:00

Your Questions Answered!

CameraDawktor said...
1)What was the best part about having DH home?
Well CD, this is an excellent question b/c there are so many good things about him being home! Our family misses him a lot when he is gone :) If I had to choose one thing, I would say it is having the "family" (Loo loves to say it) together and knowing that he is there to assist when I need it. Some of my favorite times are when we are all cruising in his truck, especially coming home from daycare together after a Sonic run for "slushy juice"! It awesome with the windows down for "big wind" (this is new b/c Loo finally likes it)!

2)What's the best thing about having him gone?
Not that I feel I have to tell my hubby everything I do, but it is nice to have the freedom of "worrying" only about me (and the kids). Plus, not being woken up by his snoring :)

momyblogR said...
Did you shave your legs for your cable guy? LOL!
Nope! I rarely shave when DH is gone . . . now that summer is approaching I will have to shave more - darn :)

The Kept Woman said...
Where did you go for your honeymoon?
Gatlinburg, Tennessee to a chilate' in the Smokey Mountains and then we went to visit family in Ohio and Illinois.

Do you prefer crunchy or smooth peanut butter?
Smooth

..ohhhh...I know...can we get a room by room tour of the new abode?
Yes! I will take and upload pictures this weekend . . . that will be fun!

Becky said...
I am voting for house details!
Well, I love the new house and just ordered the furniture for the living room this week. That was a stressful experience b/c what we want has to be "special ordered" with a 25% non-refundable down payment. I never thought of myself as a person that would order something of that nature or put money down like that! We better like it :)As of right now, there are five families living on our block and lots of homes under construction. All of the neighbors are really friendly, except for the couple that is engaged right next to us. We have lived there for almost one month and I have yet to meet the woman. They never come out of the house and don't seem interested in interacting with anyone . . . that is so NOT me!

Fantastagirl said...
Do you have flowers outside the new home - can we see them?
We have one lonely flower that just bloomed the other day.
CameraDawktor said...
Wow, how are you going to choose?I guess we'll see who you like best!No, just kidding........
I love everyone equally . . . times have just been busy and I have been unable to get back to the questions. Today DH wrote me an email that said my adoring fans were waiting for my replies! LOL!

This afternoon (in less than 90 minutes) I will be closing and officially selling the old house! This will be a huge stress relief for us :) With DH out-of-the-country right now, I have Power Of Attorney and will have to sign twice for everything - that is a LOT of signing! I might not be able to function and type later - LOL!

Renee said...
I like the house/landscaping questions! C'mon, answer up!
Loo and I have done a few things to spruce up the front landscaping.This is the red wagon that Loo & I picked out together at Walmart - it is so cute with the boy pushing the girl. Below is the green butterfly hanging from a tree in the front that she picked out.
amy said...
Have you taken any pictures since you've moved in? And if so, what has been the most frequent target of your lens?
You know it :) The kiddos, of course!
DH said...
Well cameradawktor, believe it or not she can actually answer that question honestly without offending me.
Yes, usually he is good about it! I know sometimes it is hard for DH to see what I write and know that you can't do the guy thing and "fix it". I love having this outlet to bitch and moan. DH and I have an agreement . . . he can read it, but can't complain or get his feelings hurt! To be honest, I have tried my best to not censor or change what I write b/c he reads my blog, but it is hard to not think about it in the back of my mind. I must say, I have noticed a difference in his empathy and understanding "Inside AL's Mind" and it has been healthy for our relationship!

For my own personal benefit:1) What is DH working on first when he gets home. ;-)
First? That is an easy answer . . . ME! Then you can start on your "honey do" list.

Becky said...
Have you gone through all your boxes yet?
LOLOLOLOLOLOL - I have put a dent in them and have less then 25% left. When I do my room-by-room tour this weekend, you will see the progress or lack-there-of!

2006-05-02T21:12:00.000+08:00

Ask Me Anything . . .

There are so many things to write about from the past month that I am having difficultly picking a place to start my blogging!

Do I fill you in about all of it? No, that would take toooooo long!

Do I skip it and move on to current things? No, that would leave out important details!

So, I turn the tables to you . . . give me a question or a topic and I will go with it :) It doesn't have to be about anything in particular; it can be serious or fun!

I can't wait to see what you want to know about AL!

2006-04-30T06:16:00.000+08:00

I'm Baaaaaaaack!

For anyone that is still reading me (thank you) . . . I will be posting again on a regular basis! And I will be able to catch-up on all of you. Did I mention that I am excited? Yipee!

Time to party and celebrate ;)

2006-04-29T01:39:00.000+08:00

Should I Shave My Legs?

For my hot date with the cable/internet person tomorrow - LOL :)

I am sooooo excited to almost have TV back and the internet, please, please, please let it go okay!

~~~~~~~~~~

Every day, I ask my students a journal question that they write and respond to out loud. Today's question is:

Write a list of at least twenty things that make you feel good.

My list (in no particular order):
- My children's laughter
- "I love you"
- Hugs & kisses from my family
- Hot baths & showers
- Massages (DH is getting us a massage chair - yipee!)
- Pedicures
- Date night with Hubby
- Chatting with Hubby
- Cuddling
- Censored . . . wink!
- Writing on my blog and reading other blogs
- Comments on my blog :) HINT!
- Starbuck's drinks
- Driving with the windows down, the sunroof up, and the music blaring
- A clean house
- Fresh sheets
- Getting something that I want on sale, especially clearance!
- Breakfast in bed
- Smelling fresh cut grass
- Making a difference in someone's life
- Spending time with friends
- Doggie kisses
- Finishing a task
- Being organized
- Compliments
- Providing for my family
- Getting my hair washed and cut
- Relaxing in bed watching TiVo

2006-04-25T03:57:00.000+08:00

I Have A Hot Date . . .

Finally, with my cable/internet company!

We will be back in action (some time) this Saturday!

I never realized how much I loved my TiVo and programs - hello, I have had no new TV shows for three weeks now! My need to blog is going to be met soon and I will be able to catch up on all of you - it may take me a month, but I will get there :)

This gives me a deadline to have all the unpacking by Saturday, so I can be a vegetable when they get me set-up - LOL. Have an excellent week!

I promise pictures soon. If you want to see Loco, visit the family blog for a recent one.

2006-04-17T23:39:00.000+08:00

Dear Time Warner Cable,

You are really getting on our nerves . . . we have a box in our backyard . . . come turn on the damn cable and internet before we go crazy. I . AM . GOING . THROUGH . WITHDRAWAL - HELP . ME . PLEASE ! ! !

Sincerely,

AL & the family

2006-04-13T23:48:00.000+08:00

Settling In . . .

& A "Big Boobies" Story!

I hope we don't have to move again any time soon! It is a puzzle, trying to figure out where everything is. Boxes, boxes, boxes every where - LOL! Thankfully, this is a three-day weekend and we will have some time at home to get settled in. The old house is almost completely empty and we are worrying about the new one now. So far, the kids are adjusting well to the change. We are having some problems with bed time - which I expected.

Unfortunately, we will be without internet for the next week or so . . . argh! I have definitely been going through a little bit of withdrawal from blogging :) Hopefully, by the end of next week, we will be back in action!

One funny thing I want to remember is Loo proclaiming (two nights ago) that she wants "big boobies like Mommy". We were sitting in the family room and she looked at me in a sports tank, grabbed her own chest, and said "I want big boobies!" The conversation continued for several minutes, DH and I were crackin' up, I told her that big boobies are beautiful :) Dada was trying to avoid a panic attack visualizing the future - LOL! When DH asked her, what would happen if she had little boobies, she got upset and said, "No, I want big boobies! Big boobies are beautiful!"

2006-04-10T23:09:00.000+08:00

I.NEED.SLEEP...

Words cannot describe how incredibly exhausted I am right now from the last two weeks! This weekend, was a raging success, b/c we moved and received a bid on the old house - things couldn't be going better!!! The move is almost complete with just a few things left behind and some cleaning to do at the old house. The new house is just one giant box :)

It is in times like these when your true friends surface :) Thank you to everyone that helped! Stewbie for keeping Loo several hours and H.G. for being the "Packing Nazi" for two days. H.G. - without your help this would not have been possible! I owe you a day out - just you and me!

Hopefully, I will have more energy to fill the details in a day or two . . .

Have a great week!

2006-04-08T12:19:00.000+08:00

I Need An Umbrella!

When it rains it pours . . .

Today we successfully closed on the new house AND received a verbal offer on our old house that has only been on the market for one week. If all goes as planned, they will submit an official bid tomorrow morning and we should close by the end of April.

I just keep waiting to wake-up and realize this is all in my dreams :)

I hope it all turns out good! This is going to be one busy and crazy weekend!

2006-04-07T13:05:00.000+08:00

SPF - A Change Is Coming . . .

This week from Kristine:

Take me off AUTO!
1. Macro: take a picture of something ‘close up’. Don’t use your zoom, make sure you have good lighting and make sure you’re steady. If you have to, set your camera down on something and then take the picture.
2. NO FLASH: try swiching the flash off and taking pictures of your stuff without it. It may take a lot of pictures to get the right shot, but open the windows and find artifical light to get it to work.
3. Perspective: get up high or down low…either way, change the perspective of your picture..tilt the camera sideways. Change the layout of the picture. Instead of having the subject framed perfectly in the middle of the picture…move it to the left or the right.

I find it interesting how different people deal with stress and change. Children are so alert and attuned with things that happen in our homes, more so than we (parents) frequently give them credit for! Tonight is the night before we buy the new house, it feels like the calm before the storm. DH & Loco are sleeping like babies, Loo has come out of her bedroom 20 times and refuses to go to sleep, and I have had an upset stomache all day (now, unable to sleep)! I figured, since I couldn't sleep, I would play some SPF . . . Loo joined me right after I snuck downstairs for a snack and some pictures - way past her bedtime - so I got to photograph one of my favorite subjects, Loo Loo! I think I followed the "rules", if not . . . oh, well :)

MACRO - Go to bed, girl, pleeeeaaaasssseeee!

NO FLASH - How can I be mad at someone so sweet, Mama's girl :)

PERSPECTIVE: You know she's tired! Just look at her!

2006-04-07T00:33:00.000+08:00

Emotional Banks

I have been thinking a lot about how negativity has a snowball effect and after reading a post titled, "Man, you SUCK!", I thought it might be time to reflect on a concept I learned about a long time ago . . . emotional banks.

With all the craziness in my life and stress, my mind has turned into mush (using CD's term) and seems to be on empty! An incident yesterday was like icing on the cake for me and my family. After being out of our house for almost four hours for showing appointments, we got home to find we are locked out. It was my fault b/c I took my house key off of my ring to leave out for the housekeeper. In the rush to run to the bathroom and get out of the house, I forgot to grab it before we left. We don't usually lock the garage door and go in through there a lot, but the realtors did lock it! DH was pissed off and I had to call our realtor to come and let us in, thankfully she is a friend and helped out.

Some where in the middle of all of this, the word "stupid" came up. One minute I was stupid, the next minute Loo thought she was stupid, etc. I was so upset and clearly felt stupid, but was most upset by hearing her say it. No matter how bad things are, I try to watch what I say in front of the kids, b/c Loo is definitely repeating everything now. The other day she told me to "shut up", something we yell at the dog barking outside (when we are not thinking and have heard enough). I want to be a good parent and a positive role model for my children and students! This is difficult to do, especially when I have not been feeling positive myself.

When I was college and upset about something (I think it was a time DH & I were fighting), my mom explained to me the concept of an emotional bank. The interactions in our life affect the balance of our banks; something positive is a deposit and something negative is a withdraw. Just like with money, it feels good when you are ahead and not struggling emotionally. Sometimes your account is so close to zero that it is like being on an emotional rollercoaster. When you are out of money, each withdraw hits you harder and harder, the "fees" add up, and the hole can get so deep that it is difficult (sometimes impossible) to get out of it.

This is a good analogy that I try to comeback to when things get out of "balance" for me. It forces me to examine my bank. What withdraws are being made? Can I control them and/or eliminate some of them? Are my own thoughts and actions making it worse? What do I need to do add to my bank? Right now, I am a little negative and need some deposits. I hate to be this way, b/c I snap at everyone and take everything personally. Does that mean it is okay for people to put me down and keep making withdraws from my bank? NO! But, I can control the way I react to them and make it known that I am not happy with the way things are going.

I know when we get through this next week and things settle down, life will begin to feel normal. With normal, I might be able to find some balance and, with any luck, get a little savings accumulated!

"You can't expect to prevent negative feelings altogether. And you can't expect to experience positive feelings all the time. The Law of Emotional Choice directs us to acknowledge our feelings but also to refuse to get stuck in the negative ones." - Greg Anderson, U.S. Basketball Player

2006-04-05T03:05:00.000+08:00

"Thank you for everything"

These words were written to me today on a pass from my student that I wrote about last week. I cannot tell you how happy it made me to see them! He has a long road ahead of him, but the journey has begun.

I was very vague when I mentioned him before and didn't go into details on purpose. Unfortunately, the way everything "went down" was not perfect and much of that is my fault b/c I was caught off-guard . . .

I read the pieces given to me at the very end of the period and was in shock. As the bell was ringing, I handed them back to him and said, "Are we going to talk about these now?" He was surprised that I wanted to talk (um . . . one of the writings ended with, 'If you are reading this, this is my suicide note' and at least five of the pieces was about killing himself). I let him leave my class and go to the next one. Then I contacted his counselor; however, my student had an asthma attack and left school. Not good news for us!

Now, without being able to speak with him first and tell him my concern and professional obligation to say something, we had to contact him and his parents at home in the middle of the school day. Needless to say, it got messy! The parents were upset and most bothered about the abuse he mentioned (they are well-known in the community and their reputation matters). His counselor emphasized that we need to be concerned about him hurting himself and suggested professional counseling.

The next day at school, he didn't speak to me - no surprise. When I found a moment to talk with him that wasn't obvious to the entire class, he expressed that he was upset and that they were "just writings". I was upset and explained to him that I could not take something like that lightly, especially since another student hung himself earlier in the year and had wrote similar things in English class. He understood my concern, but said he would never do that b/c he has a daughter and continued to sulk (that the best word I can think of). This has gone on for a week; I have worried for a week. His counselor told me today that the parents are seeking help for him . . .

"Thank you for everything"

He must have reached out to me for a reason . . . I feel a little better today.

2006-04-04T21:15:00.000+08:00

Once in a lifetime!
On Wednesday of this week, (April 5) at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be:

01 :02 :03 04/05/06

That won't ever happen again!

2006-04-03T23:00:00.000+08:00

Dealing With Stress . . .

I think that I am officially old and definitely out-of-shape! My body is boycotting the stress that I am under. The whole buying a house in two weeks is not fun. How are we supposed to pack our current house, while keeping it clean enough for someone to see it with little notice? Thankfully, we had two showing this weekend - yipee! Last year when we had the house on the market, we only had two showings (total) in three months.

This morning, when I woke up (grrrr - to the springing ahead an hour), I felt a little "off" and did my usual stretches in the shower. When I got out of the shower, my back spasmed and I almost collapsed! DH heard my cry of pain and jumped out of bed to help me. Since I plan on being off Friday for the closing, I forced myself to come to work; needless to say, I feel like shit today!

Yes, I am making fun of myself!

In March, I made a new blogger friend, CameraDawktor. We have had fun getting to know each other and have chatted a few times on Yahoo! Messenger. I saved these tid bits from one of our conversations to share later, because I thought there were some insightful and valid things said by me! Some times that is rare - LOL :)

"We all must face our true self - whether or not it is pretty. All we can hope is that each day we strive for something and try to be something better."

"People don't have to be perfect. Once more people realize that, the better the world will be."

"I try to let my 'personality' come out on the family blog, but end up being very vanilla there."

"I eat for many reasons. One is b/c I can afford to have anything I want and couldn't as a child."

About using blogging for coping in substitution for alcohol or food . . . "It is much healthier and gives you a track record of life. You can't go wrong with that."

About children (specifically Loo) whining . . . "Oh, I hate it more than words can describe. It is worse than nails on a chalkboard."

2006-03-31T14:11:00.000+08:00

SPF - Thank God It's Friday!

This week from Kristine:

WASHER AND DRYER

YOUR ROBE

A FLOWER . . .

I was surprised that the laundry area (which leads into my garage - I hate that) didn't look messier, since we are in the middle of WWIII with our laundry. It seems that since Loco has come along that I can't keep up. There are a hundred excuses, mostly that I am too tired and can usually find something for all of us to wear. Unfortunately, I keep the kids clothes washed more frequently than mine, so I often find myself wearing clothes that don't fit right or look a little "off" out of desperation when I get really low :)

I couldn't find my robe, then I remembered for some reason that it was hanging in Loo's room on her closet door. This is the first robe I have owned and I only bought it b/c it was on clearance at the end of winter. It is cozy - I should wear it more often!Flowers - I love flowers! This is from the Carolina Jessamine growing on the trellis by my front door. I took it at night, playing with my Nikon (I love the way it looks with the shadow). This vine is always beautiful when it blooms, but a pain in the ass to keep alive and healthy. It is hard to have a good garden here - the weather is a bitch!

Did ya play? Huh, huh?!?!

2006-03-30T23:15:00.000+08:00

WBW - late - 80's Confession
According to TKW, TX Mom is still preoccupied with 19-19-1985...in continuing with the fashion through the ages theme also came up with this theme...pull out the parachute pants, whip our the White Rain and show us how unkind the 80s were to you!

I have no pictures this week b/c I have been too busy with the whole house thing to get to them, but I have a confession to make . . .

We owned the "Michael Jackson: Learn to Moonwalk" VHS Tape and all of us would put on our black parachute pants to moonwalk around the house!

2006-03-30T05:25:00.000+08:00

Here It Is . . .

The house that might drive us to the poor house - LOL!

Front view with 3-car detached garage to the right, it is at the very end of a cul-de-sac street

Backyard from the far back corner - I see a pool (someday) in our future

This is a partial view of the kitchen, just to give you a feel for the colors and appliances. For an inventory home (one selected by the builders or another buyer that feel through), we are really happy with the selections and love the cherry cabinets!

The story of this house begins five years ago, March 31, 2001, on the day we signed the contract for our first house. We were shopping for a "starter home" and had been driving around for the day when we accidentally found our neighborhood. To make a long story short, we signed a contract to build a new house (which are plentiful in Houston) and moved in four months later. From the start, we had planned on living in this home for 5-7 years. Two years later, after Loo was born, we realized that we were going to out-grow our home fast :)

DH is a "researcher" for everything - it is so cute! So, after about two and a half years in the house, the research process for a new home began. I love to tease him about being the "HAR King"; yesterday, he could tell just by looking at a house in the newspaper what neighborhood it was in - can you say obsessed?!!? Anyway, we decided to move forward and get a hew house in October 2004 and signed an intent to build form for the EXACT SAME FLOOR PLAN that we are buying in the EXACT SAME SUBDIVISION! Unfortunately, the builder called us a few months later to say that they changed the "collection" of homes that they are offering on the street we had signed for. So, we got our money back and thought it was a sign to wait . . .

A few months later, we were driving through another neighborhood that we like and saw that a kick-ass lot was available. So, we went even further with process and selected the EXACT SAME HOUSE to build. Since, we contracted on this house so far in advance, we didn't know exactly when it would be finished and found out that we were pregnant with Loco (after ten months trying) the same week! In the end, the timeline worked out that the new house was scheduled to be finished two weeks after Loco was due, so we got out of the commitment in June 2005 for our sanity :) That must have been a sign, too, and the new home search continues . . .

After all of this, at the end of the summer, we had an opportunity to buy an one-acre lot about twenty minutes north of where we live. The lot had just become available and was right next to one of our current neighbors and good friends (Loo's BF's) and would be close to another couple we know. So, we purchased it and planned on building in a year or two. Unfortunately, unknown to us, things were not going well in our friends marriage; they got a divorce and sold their lot. Even though one of the main reasons for us moving out there was gone, DH and I were moving one with our plans and had picked out a floor plan, met with a builder, and were discussing the figures involved to build.

Then this Saturday, we went to breakfast with another set of good friends. After breakfast, we went driving around with them to look at a few houses in their area. They, ironically, live on the first street that we had planned to build on a year and a half ago! There is a new section in the neighborhood that we went to see. When we turned down the street, I said outloud, "That's the same house we were going to build!" . . . it was light a ray of light came down from the sky on it . . . I know, I know - LOL . . . but, it was really weird and felt like we were supposed to be seeing this house that had just become available b/c the original buyers did not receive a transfer to Houston.

DH jumped out to check the backyard, since this it is very important to us to have one big enough for our needs. It is hard to find in a good yard in a "cookie-cutter" subdivision (most of the neighborhoods around here are like that, unless you go further north for acreage). The backyard was awesome & could easily hold the playset with room to move, a dog and its poop bombs, and a future pool!

We took a deep breath, went home, and talked about our options before we saw the inside - it took patience to wait and not run up there that afternoon! Is this what we want? Can we make it work? Will we be able to sell our house and land quickly? Can we afford two mortgages until it sells? Then we met with our friend and realtor on Sunday to walk through the house - it was impressive - much better than we thought it would be for an inventory home. Our realtor worked out a deal with the builder for $10,000 off and we talked some more . . . Are we insane? Is the time line too quick? Can we do this before DH leaves? Do we really want this house?
In the end, we figured that, yes, we are a little insane, but decided to go for it! No matter how it happened, we know that moving into a new house (be it now or later) is going to be "messy" and involve some financial overlap. This way, we pick our circumstances.

There you have it! Wow - it is a long story and this house has been a long time in the making :) This Friday we do a walk-through with the builder and next Friday we close. By the time DH leaves for Thailand, we will be moved in! Did I mention that I am sooooooooo exited? Well, I am!

2006-03-29T03:34:00.000+08:00

Where 2 Start?

#1 - Hi! I tried to post twice yesterday and blogger (or my computer) crashed, so I decided that it wasn't meant to be!

#2 - DH is home and it has been wonderful :) Pictures to follow soon on Flickr!

#3 - We have made a lot of important decisions in the last 72 hours . . .

- I am not going to look for jobs out of the Houston area (reasons to be discussed later when I have more time)
- With this decision being made, we bought a new house (Lennar Inventory Home that we love) and will be closing on it within the next two weeks (no we are not on drugs, this was just too perfect to pass up! Will discuss in detail . . . later)

#4 - Work has been busy, home has been busier, and blogging was paused. I have been trying to read all of you while I pump at work (yes, go ahead, LOL at that visualization), but it is hard to comment!

#5 - Did I mention I am getting a new house - OMG - I AM SOOOOOOO HAPPY!

#6 - Did I mention DH is home? Wink!!!!!!!!!!!!

#7 - Today at work (remember: H.S. Teacher) one of my kiddos gave me some of his writings to read. It was very personal and a "cry for help". I have been dealing with the counselors all day and been worried sick about this student. I hope he is okay - the writings discussed abuse, thinking they would be better without him, taking pills, cutting his wrists, etc. - I am worried. Who wouldn't be?

#8 - I need a drink!

#9 - Here is a song that really made me think yesterday.

#10 - Lately, I have been thinking of a new "theme" b/c this summer I am going to do some renovation to my blog with the template, name, etc. Since, many of my family members are reading and writing in the "blog-o-sphere", I figured it might be time for my true identity to become less obvious. Many of them know I am AL and I don't want the whole world reading here - I need an outlet and a place to "Keep It Real". I know many of you can relate!

Hopefully, I will be on tomorrow for WBW . . . until then - have a great one! Oh, yeah - I LOVE COMMENTS and need a pick-me-up today :)

2006-03-28T00:39:00.000+08:00

Can I Get Extra Credit?I am sick of hearing that or will this count for a grade or can I get a free 100 (for doing something I should do naturally). Some times I wonder how these kids will ever survive . . . they always want something for nothing!

2006-03-25T13:47:00.000+08:00

{{{Sigh}}} of Happiness . . .

DH arrived home safely today from his latest trip to Thailand.
It is good to have him home!

At least until I have to start picking up after Loo, Loco, & DH! LOL - it's okay - I like to spoil him for a day or two when he first gets home. Then it's every man/woman for themselves! Actually, I can brag . . . he is really good about doing laundry (even without being asked).

Loo is really happy he is home :) I thought I would feel more jealousy when she "pulled" away from me to become a "Daddy's Girl" and thankfully, I do not. It's probably b/c I know she loves me so much and will always be my girl and Loco is there for me to snuggle! Well, I actually, I don't get to snuggle, neither of my children are big snugglers - we were ripped off there!

Here they are pictured hand-in-hand, heading downstairs for some cookies . . . yummy! Brutus is trailing hoping for some crumbs. See my family blog for more pictures.

Thank you for all the comments for my SPF - that was so fun and I love reading what you have to say. If you are new . . . I hope you come back for more :)

Also, I am officially at 102 posts (plus 40 or so on the family blog) - is this a milestone?

2006-03-25T00:00:00.000+08:00

SPF - Happy Birthday to Kris . . .

Happy Birthday to you,

Happy Birthday deeear Kris,

Happy Birthday to you!

Today's assignment was fun and allowed me the opportunity to act a little silly! Here was the Birthday Queen's homework:

1. Take a picture of something you own that you’re ‘gifting’ me with.
(You don’t really have to give it to me, it’s a ‘CYBER’ gift - so go hog wild!)

I never-ever have cash on me, but one of my customers gave it to me to buy some CM products. Pictured here for your cyber present is a day out shopping with all three meals paid for (no cooking!), topped off with a huge pile of kisses for you! My Hubby always encourages me to shop more (can you believe that?), but I really have to be in the mood to cut loose . . .

2. Write 3 words that describe me on paper and take a picture of it.This is a fabulous idea :) Handwriting says alot about a person! I am a doodler and created this artwork using a ballpoint pen and lipgloss! Now that's creative, baby - LOL! Since I have just started reading Random & Odd, the SPF Queen, I don't know that much about the birthday girl; however, she replied to my Flickr message and was very helpful. I really appreciate people that are prompt with replies and that lend a helping hand to everyone! Her "pay it forward" theory is not just a fabrication - we should all be more positive this way.

3. A self portrait of you doing a dorky face in the mirror.

Since I already looked like crap after a long day, I decided to go for broke and messed up my hair for some really stupid shots. I snuck away with Loo's "Birthday Queen" crown that is so tight it squeezes your brains out. I suffer greatly for these silly face shots, I hope you enjoy them :)
The whole taking a picture in the mirror sucked, so I turned my new baby (Nikon D50) around for a few shots. Anyone that knows me in real-life would laugh b/c I am infamous for always taking my own picture - if I didn't there wouldn't be any pictures of me! Eventually, Loo came in the room and busted me wearing her crown and I got lectured by a three-year-old - LOL! "Mooooom, that's my princess crown!"

2006-03-24T00:00:00.000+08:00

HNT #4 - Got Breastmilk?

Aaaawwww . . . I love this boy! Why does the site of nursing make so many people uncomfortable, especially in public?

It took me awhile to decide whether or not to post this picture and then I realized that I don't care what people think. I am not "exposed" like a bead-lovin' woman on Bourbon Street and this is something that I am proud to be able to do for my baby and my family.

We are building an incredible relationship and bond. Loo nursed until she was eighteen months old and loves watching her brother (without jealousy). She views breasts as something that have a healthy purpose and not only a sex object (like so many of the high schoolers I teach).

When G-ma B was visiting right after Loco was born, Loo told her, "G-ma, Loco is inside getting some boobie milk. I love boobie milk, but I drink from a big girl cup now!" You gotta love honesty like that - LOL!

"Breastfeeding is human nature in its' purest form & should be celebrated rather than condemned." - Project "Got Breastmilk"

2006-03-23T12:00:00.000+08:00

Way Back Wednesday - 70's Style - It's Groovy, Baby!The mission from a MILF in the cheese state, TKW: That 70's Style...TX Mom came up with this doozie...find the picture that most represents 70's styles (patterns, clothing styles, hair, etc.)...even if it was only you dressing up for a theme party...Oh, were to start with this picture? If this picture doesn't scream 70's to you, then you need to open your eyes to the beauty of it! This is me sitting on my Mom's best friend's lap . . . What the hell am I wearing? Look at that ugly-ass coat with faux-fur lined hood - I was pimpin'! If that coat is not enough for you, check out the BF's glasses, the original Coca Cola shirt (the first time around), the couch, the afghan, the paneled wall, etc. Fortunately for all of you, my scanner is acting up, so you are spared the other pictures I found of me.

I just was just forwarded this link from a friend that tells you the #1 song on the day you were born. Since I was born in the 70's and this song still has some kick, I thought I would share with you my song:

1974

"Kung Fu Fighting"

by Carl Douglas

NOTE to yesterday's post: My pants did not rip all the way through, just the first layer of stitching. I did, just to be safe, were a school sweat shirt wrapped around my waist all day - it totally clashed with my outfit, but I totally didn't care in fear that my ass would bust out any minute - LOL! :)

2006-03-21T21:53:00.000+08:00

Signs That It Might Be A Bad Day . . .

- You don't want to get out of bed!
- When looking in the closet, you find nothing to wear that fits & looks good.
- After you get dressed, you look at yourself in the mirror and think this use to be a cute outfit - what happened?
- You feel the need to flip-off several people on the way to work, but refrain!
- When bending over, you hear a slight rip in your pants - oh, no!
- Even though you searched thoroughly, you cannot find a rip or hole anywhere in the pants.

. . . and it's not even 8 a.m., yet!

What are your signs that it might be a bad day?

2006-03-20T10:59:00.000+08:00

Your Comments Answered:

<> The camera is a Nikon D50 that Hubby got for me with his frequent flyer miles, he only has like half a million from all his trips to Thailand. United Airlines started a purchasing program, since there are lots of people with too many miles (is there such a thing?)! It is so easy and fun to use - I would recommend it to anyone.

<> No, I wasn't a dog in my former life, I just thought the fire hydrant would be a good shot! However, living on a corner lot with one of these has its disadvantages - everyone body walks there dog by us and doesn't care if it craps in our yard. It is disgusting and a sore spot for us!

<> Yes, it is that warm here in Houston. When the humidity is not 50% or more (which is the norm), I throw open the windows to a beautiful 70-something degrees. We have even hit the 80's already, which makes me sad b/c 70's are my favorite!

<> I didn't drink on St. Patrick's Day or else I won't have been able to take care of these two Irish beauties . . .
<> Does Memphis Steve's profile picture make me miss DH? I never thought of it that way b/c I am always laughing too hard and wondering if that is really Steve pictured. But, now that you mention it . . . yes - hehehehehe!

<> I will need to have creative title about more often, b/c it seems many of you enjoyed the laugh! Laughter is the best medicine :)

<> Thank you for all the well wishes with my job search. When I get off my ass and do more, I will keep you posted on my success and multiple interview appointments (positive thinking).

<> Thank you, also, for the compliments from my Red Riding Hood picture. I love my smile, too, and better after 3 1/2 years of the old-fashioned metal braces followed by 3 1/2 years of religiously wearing my retainer 24 hours a day! This was before DH met me; I wonder if he would have thought I was hot then?!!? HA! My hazel eyes are something I think are pretty, too! It is so cool when they change colors to match what I am wearing or my mood.

In less then twelve hours my Spring Break will be officially over and I will have classroom of 30 hormonal, know-it-all teenagers in front of me eagerly soaking up every last word of wisdom I offer them! Damn, I guess that I better go find some wisdom to dispense - LOL!

Have an excellent week :)

2006-03-18T08:23:00.000+08:00

The First Pictures I Took With My New Camera!

www.flickr.com

2006-03-17T13:21:00.000+08:00

I Wish I Was Drunk . . .

If only Spring Break as an adult was as much fun as it was in college. I have been doing a lot this week, but seem to be getting no where. We all have those days, weeks, etc. Hell, I have had entire summers like that! (DH quit shaking your head in agreement!)

Let's see:
Monday - I spent the day working on my resume and contacting references
Tuesday - Zoo with my sisters and my teenage sister came home with me to spend the night
Wednesday - Spent the day with my 14 year old sister. It is always weird to be with her b/c she is the age of my students . . . She is a good "kid", though, and I wish things were better for her.
Today - Went to the OB-GYN to get an IUD (fun - not!), got my new camera (will post pics later with this post), and felt like shit the rest of the day. Had pizza with some good friends and his mom that was visiting from Arkansas.
Tomorrow - Getting a few things done on my mini-van and mentally preparing for the fact that my break was over in a blink . . . where did the time go?

I've had no alcohol this week - can it really be considered a Spring Break??? LOL!

Check back tomorrow for pics . . . I'm on my laptop and don't have them here. Plus, HNT is postponed to tomorrow with really damn cute pics of Loco in his 1st St. Patrick's Day bib taken with my new camera!

It's almost midnight, so . . .

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY, LADS & LASSES!

Kiss AL - she's Irish :)

2006-03-14T00:30:00.000+08:00

My New Application Letter:

To Whom It May Concern,

I saw the _____ position posted at Higher Ed Jobs.com and need to tell you that am perfect for this job. Please ignore the other fifty or more "perfect" applicants because they are lying - trust me! Save yourself, your company, and my family an unnecessary amount of time, stress, and heartache by hiring me today. My experience includes everything listed in the required minimum and preferred qualifications; just ask my husband, I am quite a catch!

If you need to, feel free to contact me via email or my phone number listed in the footer. I promise you won't be disappointed! I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely, AL

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Oh, oh, oh . . . if only it was that easy! Today, I am done complaining and saying that I need a new job. The last few weeks, I have been doing research and have lots of jobs that I am interested in lined up in several states. The application process will begin as soon as I am done procrastinating by typing this! LOL!

To be honest, I am really nervous. I have been with my current job for five years, it is the longest I've ever remained with one place. During my time at this job, DH has been with four different companies (all part of his advancement up the career ladder)! A majority of that time, I have not been happy; however, it was easier for me to "suck it up" and stay here during my childrearing years. Being pregnant and beginning a family is hard enough without adding new job worries and stress to the equation.

When I finished my Master's degree in December 2002, I never thought that it would take this long for me to get a job at the university/college level, again. However, since I limited my search to the Houston area, I was wrong! DH and I are at a point on our lives that we are ready and capable to "move up"; we want to find our dream home and need more space! Before we do that in Houston, I am taking one stab at a finding my dream job. I am so lucky that DH's job allows us the opportunity to move anywhere; if he can get to an airport, we can live there . . . so cool!

We have known this for the last year and a half, but I never really considered it the perfect opportunity for me, until Loco was born, and I opened my eyes to the possibility that I could be happier. I am lucky to have a choice whether or not I work. Why would choose to remain at my current job when the original reasons are now null and void?!!? That is stupid and self-destructive! Sure, we might have another child some day, but for now we are happy and content . . . I need to take this "pause" in life and jump on it!

Wish me luck - I need it - I forgot how vulnerable a feeling it is to leave your future in the hands of a hiring committee. Thankfully, I do not need a new job; I want it and this gives me an advantage. I am flexible and it won't be the end of the world if nothing comes out of this! (I just need to keep telling myself that!)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This morning, Loo asked if I was going to work, b/c I took them to daycare for some "Me Time" . . .
AL: "No, baby, Mommy has this week off. Today, I am going to apply for new jobs."
Loo: "Oh, I want a new job. I want to be a fairytale princess."
AL: "Wow! A fairytale princess? I thought you were a princess already?"
Loo: "A fairytale princess!"
AL: "Cool! Tomorrow you will stay home with Mommy b/c we are going to the zoo . . ."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please visit Amy for an editorial inspired by my suggestion! Now, that's cool! :)

2006-03-12T02:35:00.000+08:00

Red Riding Hood & Other Fairy Tales!

So far, today has been a lazy day! My theory is, why bust my butt to clean too much today, when I will be off all next week?!!? Plus, I am just so tired that I needed the morning to veg-out! I finally pushed my butt in the shower at noon and got dressed for a day around the house of laundry (unavoidable today) and picking up. The deep, spring cleaning will come over Spring Break!

A while back, DH cut some of the sleeves off of his older t-shirts to wear them for mowing the yard and working in the garage. I kept them for my hair; you know, Aunt Jemima style! Today I put one on . . . I am seriously going to do some laundry and have to get my "game face" on . . . and Loo looked at me saying, "You look like Little Red Riding Hood!" Then a few minutes later said, "I need to dress like a princess, too!" I didn't know LRRH was a princess, but I will accept the compliment!
So, right now, this LRRH is going to be a lot like Cinderella and get going on her household chores. Of course, I would rather spend my day more like Sleeping Beauty! Oh, well - you can't have everything you want :)

2006-03-11T05:30:00.000+08:00

SPF #1 - Junk In My Trunk

This is my first time playing . . it is fun, I like to take pictures, I like to talk about me and my stuff . . . if you do, too, visit Kristine for the details.
This week's assignment:
1. Your Garbage Can
2 Your "Junk" Drawer
3. Your Trunk

This is really the only place that we could fit our garbage can - in the pantry. There is no room in our kitchen to leave it out in the open and provide easier access. If you notice DH had to cut out part of the bottom shelf for it to even fit in. About once every couple of months I notice that we never took the sticker off the front completely. Today is one of those days . . .
Here is the infamous "junk" drawer that every household has! I am surprised that we only have one, since I am a recovering packrat. I really try to throw things away, but sometimes it is hard to part with them. For example, coupons - there are lots of expired ones around my house. Keeping up with paperwork and organization are not some of my stronger points. I know DH is reading this right now and laughing his ass off (honey, try not to fall out of your chair)!

I *heart* my "new" mini-van! And have been making a conscious effort to keep it clean. This is hard with children - LOL! I have the armor wipes in thcubbyie on the left, a freezer storage bag (very handy in Texas), diapers and changing padsnugglyie for Loco, and stroller. Not bad!

My first time playing was fun! Did you play, too?

Oh, yeah . . . for my Blogger friends that miss Texas. Don't be too upset right now. We are in the beginningng of the stage where yellow pollen coats everything, I mean everything! I took this picture for you, so you can remember the fun of this crap :) Yes, I will be washing "my love" today on the way to my H.S.'s baseball game!

Do you still miss this place? LOL!

2006-03-10T22:37:00.000+08:00

Don't Blame The Teacher For Everything!

Here is an interesting article about education in the United States today. Have you noticed how things have changed? As a teacher, I know the students today have it much "easier" than we did and feel entitled to things. If this generation of parents, that would be us, recognize this - can we change the mentality of future generations? I want to believe this can happen . . .

2006-03-10T14:00:00.000+08:00

Scroll down for posts you might have missed . . .

Due to technical difficulties caused by me trying to modify my template too much - I messed up the header and footer on my page. For the past several days (probably weeks), only a portion of my posts have been showing and I didn't know how to fix it! So, I just reset my template and will need to mess with "modifications" this weekend.

Please scroll down to catch my H*O*T Way Back Wednesday picture and other March posts you might have missed! You know your life won't be complete until you read them all :) LOL! Not! Happy Friday - I am so happy it is here! My Spring Break starts at 2:25 and I will be out the door at 2:24 (don't worry - I have the last period off, so I am not abandoning students)!

2006-03-10T02:00:00.000+08:00

HNT #3 - My Tootsies

I really need a pedicure. It is one of the splurges that I allow myself to have every few months. Living in the land of "we can wear sandals all year long", also known as Houston, it is necessary to have sandal ready feet! Unfortunately, I am lazy when it comes to taking care of them.

To my recollection, the last pedicure I had was before Loco was born in late September '05 . . .

The day before I was going to be induced, I went with a girl friend to get a pedicure and requested blue polish for my baby boy! The only color they had was an electric blue - now that got a lot of smiles! This picture (left) is heavily cropped and censored for your protection. Too bad, I didn't think to take a picture of them standing up; however, I probably wouldn't of physically been able to b/c my belly was so big ;)

My not-so-little-tootsies really need attention (I wear size 11 - gasp! I know that is huge!) as shown in my bath on Tuesday night . . .

. . . and this Wednesday they received it! However, I do think that, even without the pedicure, that my feet look much better camouflaged with bubbles, but I love these sandals! My feet look tired in this picture - can feet look tired or is it just me? LOL! All Mom's can relate to the next thing . . . both my big toes are smudged ALREADY! I went to pick-up the kids afterwards and Loo was all over me. She managed to step on both of them - argh! At least they looked pretty for one hour :)

2006-03-09T12:00:00.000+08:00

Way Back Wednesday - Take 2

I have scanned pictures twice and they all look like crap; then, I went to start typing and everything froze . . . if it doesn't work this time - I'm out! So, my first WBW might be a little disappointing, but I tried.
Coming to us from The Kept Woman, who misses Texas more than words can describe . . . This week's theme was created by Football Widow: You put what in your hair? Bad hair accessories of the past (bows that could eat your head, satellite dish silver lame headbands, etc.)

Here is the thing, I loved scarves and still have a closet full of them in all varieties and lengths. I have refrained from wearing them in my hair, since that is so out of style, but will admit the thought crosses my mind often!

So, here I am in my 8th grade Varsity Volleyball picture. Not only am I sporting a hot turtle neck and solid white large hoop earrings, but I have a scarf in my hair, too! If I remember correctly, it is one that I made myself . . . oh, I was that talented. This is probably not the best picture of my favorite style, but it will have to do for today.

The funny thing is that I wore this on club picture day, so I am in the yearbook several times with this exact same look. I must have really thought it was hot! Not! If I only knew then that I would be laughing at myself now :)

2006-03-08T03:53:00.000+08:00

Dying 2 Know . . .

Who are you people? I just did a quick lap of my stat counter and was curious who some of the people are!

I know you are there . . . why are you coming back?

How did you find me?

If I left you a comment, can you leave me one, too?

Really - I don't bite and would like to return the favor by visiting (and commenting) on your blog!

That's it! I should be working, but got distracted by these thoughts :)

"Seize the moment of excited curiosity on any subject to solve your doubts; for if you let it pass, the desire may never return, and you may remain in ignorance." - William Wirt, US politician (1772 - 1834)

2006-03-06T12:00:00.000+08:00

Been Too Long! Where Has My Mind Gone?

I miss my mind . . . hahaha!

I mean . . . I miss posting to my blog, (psst - this thing is called, "Inside AL's Mind").

This weekend, I spent all my "blogging time" on the family blog (please comment here, I would love to know if you visited it). It needed some updating and reformating (still a work in progress). I posted tons of new pics of the kids. They are my little angels; however, I saw a spark of devil in Loo this afternoon when she was B-A-D!

I had her in time-out for yelling at me. It went something like, "NO MAMA! I DON'T WANT DINNER! I WANT A SNACK!" She will be lucky if there is any snackfood in the pantry tomorrow - then she will know who is in charge! I was tempted to grab a garbage bag on the spot and start throwing it all away, but that would have sent her into a meltdown and we were already in dangerous territory.

So, to time-out she went and went and went and went. Needless to say, she was not being cooperative about the process. I just wish kids would figure out that if you stayed in the "punishment spot" that it would be a much easier and quicker thing! So, I thought I had her in there for the last time for her three minutes and began clearing the table for dinner. I heard her moving around, but could tell out of the corner of my eye that she was in the same area and continued to ignore her. MY MISTAKE - LOL! Next thing I know, she is at the backdoor and running out of it to the playset!

Oooooohhhhhhh, I wonder what my neighbors thought when they heard me run outside after her! I told DH tonight when were were chatting online that they were either laughing or in shock! I can't remember exactly what I said in the heat of the moment, but I do remember I refrained from cursing at her (thankfully) and told her, repeatly, that she was in trouble and in time-out. For a second, I paused and hid my face behind part of the playset to laugh - I couldn't help it! Damn, she was smart for thinking of that - little shit!

Finally, I decided it was time to catch her and followed her full steam ahead. Thankfully, no one could see us b/c I am sure it was not a pretty sight. Both me running after her and Loo's kicking and screaming when I scooped her up. She was returned to time-out, but the original lesson was lost. Now, I had to lecture her for running out of the house . . . I guess I will have to nab her next time for talking back!

It was a great weekend! I got to visit with a lot of friends Saturday when I hosted a Pampered Chef Kitchen Show and spent today relaxing (for the most part - see above). Since, I cleaned like a maniac yesterday morning, I boycotted laundry and will be paying the price all week. Oh, well!
Here is the little devil and her protege in the chair I use for time-out.
Yes, my children are barely dressed! Please don't be too upset or jealous - I know many of my blog friends are writing about snow. The weather has been perfect here in the 70's! Loo loves tank tops (aka - princess tops) and would wear them everyday, if we let her.

2006-03-03T12:38:00.001+08:00

HNT - Thought . . .

Interesting how when I show a tattoo and part of my ass - I get lots of comments, but a serious subject like my wedding ring gets no love.

Where is the love? Where is the love?

2006-03-02T14:00:00.000+08:00

HNT #2 - The Continuous Love KnotWhen Hubby and I got married, we didn't have rings to exchange b/c we decided at last minute to get hitched at the JP on Friday the 13th. On that day, we said our vows and went on our married way without a "symbol" of our commitment. Hubby ordered these awesome rings off of the internet, after much research for the perfect ones. Research is a big thing for him for everything, he is such an engineer - LOL!

Our rings were made in Ireland and bought from an Irish man in New Jersey - he had a killer accent and DH called as often as possible just to hear his voice! When they finally arrived in the mail, DH was out of town on business. I was so excited to have it that I put mine on before he was home (with permission) and loved showing it off. The Celtic continuous love knot wedding rings are hand-carved all the way around and through - unique and beautiful.

There have been times that I have been unable to wear it (argh!), but I never forget what it represents . . . my love, dedication, and commitment to my soul mate. This was inspired by the aching in my heart while he is gone for work, again {{{sigh}}}, I miss him already and it has only been 2 days.

"Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.' Mature love says: 'I need you because I love you.'" ~ Erich Fromm

2006-03-02T00:19:00.000+08:00

Making A Commitment To My Boobies . . .

Anyone Want To Join Me? Seriously!

It doesn't matter where you live or what shape you are in - I am sending an invitation out to all of you. Please join me for The Breast Cancer 3-Day Walk! I have been thinking about doing this for over a year, have made my intentions clear with DH, and will be finalizing my decision (when and where I will do it - right now I am leaning towards DFW on Oct. 27-29) by the of this month. I would be more than happy to be a "team captain" and help motivate anyone that joins me.

There are many reasons why I am venturing on this 60-mile journey:

1) My Grammy Macy passes away two years ago (11/04) from breast cancer complications. She was a strong, loving woman that saw "the glass half-full" and never felt the need to complain, even at the end! Right now, I plan on walking this every even year ('06,'08,'10,...) to honor her.

2) My Mom participated in the walk last year and was unable to finish her walk b/c of a stress fracture she got at mile seven. She fought through the pain and finally stopped walking at mile eleven! What a trooper :) She was so excited and raised almost $4,000 for the cause and it crushed her to not walk the full three days.

3) For my future, my daughter's future, and all the other women (and men) that suffer from this deadly beast. We can and will find a cure someday!

What are you thoughts? If you are considering joining me . . . what will it take to make it happen?

2006-03-01T11:28:00.000+08:00

Feeling "Blue" (A Little Less) . . .

I just love my children so much and even when they cause me to get little sleep and lots of gray hairs - they are the apples of my eye. There are so many good things I can say about these two. At first, I didn't know how my heart could grow to love another one so much, but now I understand how lucky I am. When I am down, I just look into their blues eyes and smile . . .
. . . it almost makes me want another. I said almost! LOL :)

Loo got her ears pierced this weekend. Visit the infamous family blog for some entertaining pictures! Please comment here, not there - heaven for bid someone figure out how to link to me - then I couldn't bitch about them as much! Hehehehehe!

Oh, I have two SHOUT-OUTS for some real-life friends that visit:
H.G. - I am so happy you are coming "home" and can't wait to see you, even if during our first few visits I will be slave labor helping you unpack!
Opie - I read your "space" and first official blog entry; unfortunately, since I don't have an account, I couldn't comment. You may have left me with a big pain in the ass to take care of, but I will still love and miss you. How could I not, after you endured a full year of being the only man at our "Sex In The City" lunches! Good luck and take care.

2006-02-27T21:47:00.000+08:00

Sometimes I Only Want To Be Me . . .

This morning, driving to work, I was running through a list of things in my head that I do not want to be at this time. At this current moment, that list is dangerously large. I am guessing that many of you feel (or have felt) like this, too. I have felt like this before and it is a bad, bad place to go.

Overall, I would not decribe myself as a depressive person. Stressed -yes! But, for the most part, I have everyday stresses nothing too big or unmanagable. For some reason, I have hit the wall and I am very close to the point of no return. What do I mean? Basically, I have rounded the corner (full steam ahead) from Stress Avenue to Depression Lane . . . and it sucks!

There is not any one thing to blame it on, it is just a cummulation of a lot of things - all the things I don't want to be right now. The problem is - I love my life. I have more than I ever dreamed of, including a loving family, a good job, food on the table, etc. I guess that today I realized that sometimes having more than you dreamed of just weighs you down! Life is hard - when I start going down this lane, I always make it harder by complicating things, trying too hard, fumbling the easiest tasks . . .

I disappointed my Hubby by not getting the taxes done early enough.
I am dropping the ball at school (work) with the teacher that has left classes.
I am allowing my children to get on my nerves and can't find my patience.
My house looks like a train drove through it - LOL!

The list could go on. For a day, I just want to be me. Not a homeowner, a wife, a mama, a teacher, a neighbor, a friend, a CM Consultant, a DC - nothing. Such an easy thing to ask for, but a difficult thing to make happen. I'll be fine, I always pull through! In the mean time, it is getting harded to cover-up how I am feeling and show the person everyone expects.

"Don't hold to anger, hurt or pain. They steal your energy and keep you from love." - Leo Buscaglia

2006-02-27T08:05:00.000+08:00

It's Sunday and I need a weekend off to recooperate from my weekend!

Does anyone else ever feel like this?

2006-02-24T11:18:00.000+08:00

HNT #1 - My "Heart Butt"

You gotta love children! My husband and I both have a tatoo, his is Yosemite Sam on his ankle and mine is a design with a heart on my lower back. Loo calls DH's the "angry man" and mine the "heart butt" due to its location! Last week, she was talking to DH before he passed in bed and looked at his angry man; then she looked at me and said, "Mama, I want to see your heart butt!" The funny thing is, even though she has only called it this once before, I knew exactly what she meant.

So, for your viewing pleasure and my first official Half Nekkid Thursday, I present my "heart butt" . . .

I told DH this story today for the first time and asked him to take a picture of it for my blog. Of course, he got my baby-baring hips in the picture (aka-love handles), too! My first response was, "I'll edit them out, b/c I look fat just popping out my four-month-old baby boy!" DH insisted that leave it b/c they are beautiful and he loved them. Aaaawwww . . . I am sucker for compliments :)

This creative shot was taken by Loo. She was so excited to take a picture of my "heart butt" and look at it on the digital camera. I love teaching her how to take pictures (my favorite hobby), even if she took a few extra shots of my huge butt! I will not be posting those - LOL!

The last picture I took by myself, in attempt to get close enough to see the "details" of the tatoo. My tatoo artist was a really nice guy, created this design from what I described and added touches of white to the edges to make it have depth, etc. Whatever! Now, ten years later, it just looks like it needs to be filled in more. Which I do not plan on doing any time soon :)

So, I guess I am no longer a HNT virgin - cool!

2006-02-22T04:46:00.000+08:00

25 Questions That No One Would EVER Think To Ask!
Stolen from Southern Fried Girl without permission - thanks!

1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing you thought? Do I really have to go to work, I could use a lot more sleep.

2. How much cash do you have on you? $5, I rarely have cash.

3. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST" (not last person's answer!): Rest. I need some :)

4. My favorite planet? Mars.

5. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list: Miss D - our daycare provider. Her power randomly went out yesterday and she called to tell me to pick-up the kids (and that she won't be "open" today b/c of President's Day).

6. What is your favorite ring on your phone? I don't have one - all of them annoy me, but I am too cheap to download a song or something!

7. What shirt are you wearing? Red T-shirt publicizing the state test we gave today at school.

8. What do you label yourself? Working Mom? Labels suck!

9. Name the brand of your shoes you're recently wearing? Nike.

10. Bright or Dark Room? Can I chose "dim", I love sunlight and always turn the lights off in the house! It drives DH crazy - hehehehe!

11. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping.

12. What did your last text message you received on your cell say? A phone number, I don't text, but my family often "leaves a number" instead of a voicemail.

13. Where is your nearest 7-11? Ahhhhh...I remember those! We don't have them here.

14. What's a saying that you say a lot? To my students: "You know me, honest, I like to keep it real!"

15.Who told you they loved you last? Hubby, right after we decided to "schedule" some "alone time" tonight before I left for work - wink!

16. Last furry thing you touched? Hehehehehe - some thing dirty came into my mind after answering the last question! That is wrong to say - oh, well!

17. How Many Drugs Have You Done In The Past three Days? 2 - Birth control pills, pre-natal vitamins.

18. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? Rolls? None. Digital photos - thousands :)

19. Favorite age you have been so far? The first thing that came to mind was 18 or 21, but I really think 30 would win the debate.

20. Your worst enemy? I don't think I have any enemies, but I often find myself thinking of my students that way.

21. What is your current desktop picture? My two beautiful children. I love them so much and miss them terribly when I am at work.

22. What was the last thing you said to someone? "Hurry up and leave the building. Don't cause any problems!" Due to all the fights we have had lately . . .

23. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to fly, which would you choose? Okay - that is a stupid question! The money, of course.

24. Do you like someone? I like my husband today and that is a good thing! My saying is that you can love someone, but not like them . . . I hate it when I feel that way.

25. The last song you listened to? Don't remember - it was too long ago! I'm sure some pop song on my favorite radio station.

2006-02-19T13:50:00.000+08:00

I'm Tired, I'm Busy - I Just Want To Sleep . . .

This is going to be one of those posts that I write for me. Nothing of much value, just to say that I have been really busy and just want to relax.

Work has been really stressing me out. It is hard for me to go with a smile when we have been in the city news (this is Houston - it's not small) almost all week b/c of an abduction that ended up being false and the continuous fights. DH tells me almost every day to quit and stay at home . . . it is hard to come up with a good argument against him when it gets this bad. My stresses include (but are not limited to):
~ I had to take initiative to call one of my teachers that hasn't been at work for three weeks due to his future FIL having a stroke and confront him about whether or not he would be returning, etc. The situation is not good, he will not be back (considered "job abandonment" - bad), and I am now responsible for his classes (and grades), too.
~ It appears that many of my staff members will be leaving at the end of the year and there are several problems that have been handled amongst themselves that are now hitting the wall.
~ We are overdrawn on the budget!!!!! This is out of our control b/c our enrollments are higher than ever before and we have thousands of dollars in student fees not being collected from students that came to our school from the hurricane(s) displacement.
~ I have had no planning time b/c the DC duties are taking over my time. We are doing sweeps of the hallways daily b/c students won't go to class and just wonder. You would be amazed how many kids we catch in these.
~ We had a big presentation at school this week that weighed me down that my students did not take seriously b/c they just seem to not care!
~ I was unable to be at the computer Thursday & Friday and have 50 serious emails that contain some form of work that I need to get to.
~ Grades are due Monday and I am behind . . .

At home, things are good and we are having a great time as a family. My portion of the taxes needs to be completed and it is really stressing me out! I maintain an "at home business" as a hobbyist with Creative Memories (notice how serious I am, since I have not mentioned it before - some of the ladies that do this are very "overwhelming"). B/c DH works international, his company hires accountants to complete our taxes. It is wonderful service to have, but it means I have to get all my business stuff together and complete those forms to submit. They are not that hard to do, just time consuming, and DH rides my ass about getting them done sooner, rather than later. This is hard to do with him gone, us being sick, and having two kids . . . stressful! My goal is to have it done by tomorrow night. So, I should be working that, but I have been doing it the past three hours and can't do any more without my head exploding :)

On the positive side, there are several job openings that interest me available. I just need to find the time to fill out the applications, spruce up the resume, etc. Damn - it is hard to find time when I am already behind on every thing else, but it is important b/c I would be happier (hopefully) with a new job.

I want to be happier.

Last night I slept wrong and my left shoulder and neck are all messed up. I can barely turn my head. Personally, I think some of it is stress related b/c of my past neck problems. Who am I kidding, I know it is stress related . . . I am just trying to not stress about stress . . . it's a vicious cycle - LOL!

2006-02-15T14:13:00.000+08:00

All The Cool Kids Are Doing It . . .

Okay, so this is what you get when you get curious and look on the "young" blog sites that students at my high school use. I would list them here, but I don't want this post to come up in searches by someone trying to find them (I am trying to be smart)! I teach at a school with a lot of "wanna be" gang members. We had a long discuss about it last week at our gang training session. The "wanna be's" are the most dangerous type b/c they have some thing to provide and are consistently trying to gain attention and status.

The things that these kids write about and the pictures they post on their blogs worries me. Many of them use real names without even thinking twice - scary! I would die if one of my students found my blog and knew it was me. Knowing this . . . tonight I "googled" my name and several of the other names that might come it. It is freaky to think that you could be on the internet in unknown places! I was quoted on one website for endorsing a product that a man presented during the time I worked at one of the local universities over five years ago!

Soon people will know everything about us. The stat counter that I use tells where, when, how long, etc. people that view my blog are there. It is very interesting and makes me think twice when I visit sites now, knowing most people are using something like this, too! Someone at school sent me a link that makes you wonder . . . what will the future be like?

2006-02-15T04:37:00.000+08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Your Heart Is Blue

Love is a doing word for you. You know it's love when you treat each other well.
You are a giving lover, but you don't give too much. You expect something in return.

Your flirting style: Friendly

Your lucky first date: Lunch at an outdoor cafe

Your dream lover: Is both generous and selfish

What you bring to relationships: Loyalty

What Color Heart Do You Have?

"Love is eternal. The aspect of it may change, but the essence remains the same." - Vincent van Gogh

2006-02-15T01:20:00.000+08:00

My Life Is Full Of Love!

On the way to work I listen to my radio station's "Top 5 List" - some are stupid, some are educational, some are fun! It got me thinking, since today is Valentine's Day, what are the things I love? If you play (feel free to change the categories) - let me know!

5 Things I Love: About my Hubby
1 - His sense of humor and sarcastic comments
2 - His soft full lips
3 - That he is (still) so attracted to me that he cops a feel and slaps my ass frequently
4 - The way he can "rig" or hack almost anything
5 – His big bear hugs and . . . (use your imagination!)

5 Things I Love: About me
1 – My eyes
2 – My ability to “roll with the punches”
3 – That I can be crazy/act stupid and not care what people think (for a teacher this is important)
4 – My competitive nature
5 – The continuous desire to learn new things

5 Things I Love: About my Loo
1 – When she randomly hugs & kisses me with an “I love you, Mama”
2 – Her curly blonde hair that is crazy and stick s up in the morning
3 – The way she loves life and lives for the moment
4 – Everything about the way she looks, the dimples are to die for!
5 – How she loves being the center of attention and already is showing her Daddy’s humor

5 Things I Love: About my Loco
1 – His sweet smile and blossoming personality
2 – When he grabs my face with both hands and “kisses” me
3 – His laughter
4 – The way he is trying to talk to us . . . he sounds like a baby dinosaur
5 – How excited he gets when he sees me, especially when it’s time to nurse

5 Things I Love: About my job
1 – The hours and time off during holidays / summer
2 – When my students confide in my and open up
3 – The opportunity to influence teenagers and help them figure out their future
4 – My laptop
5 – Being the Department Chair and having a staff

5 Things I Love: About my house
1 – That I have one!
2 – My backyard
3 – It’s location
4 – The solar screens
5 – That it is filled with love and laughter

5 Things I Love: About blogging
1 – The therapy and self-reflection it provides
2 – Meeting new “friends” from around the world
3 – Reading other blogs and putting my life in perspective
4 – Documenting life events to help me remember
5 – It is something for me that I take time for

5 Things I Love: On Television
1 – My TiVo – I am a huge television fan for stress relief! This list could go on & on . . .
2 – Grey’s Anatomy
3 – How I Met Your Mother
4 – One Tree Hill
5 – Desperate Housewives

5 Things I Love: About the rest of my life
1 – My minivan
2 – The rest of my family and good friends
3 – Tasty food and drinks (chocolate, too!)
4 – Sleeping
5 – Hot baths and showers

"Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own (will), is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." - Apostle Paul

2006-02-14T00:59:00.000+08:00

It's Going To Be A Fun Spring!

I love my hubby . . . he busted his butt this weekend putting together this playset that we bought for Loo! (Loco will be able to enjoy it in a year or two, too!)

Picture from Costco's website - None of these are my kids :)

Today he is paying the price for it and is in a lot of pain, not to mention tired. It is huge and a lot of work to put one of these together, even when they come in a kit that makes it "easier"! He is happy and knows it will be worth it when Loo is outside having a great time playing. Yesterday afternoon, she tried it out and had a blast . . . the thing wasn't even done, yet!

You know why I am happy? Because I envision many evenings outside watching her burn energy and get tired for bed - hehehehe! Seriously, I know this will be another reason to have friends over often and enjoy the good things in life. I hope to have many of these times with my best friend and her chicks . . . on beautiful spring nights with margaritas in our hands! Everyone will be happy, especially the Mama's! CHEERS :)

"The essentials to happiness are something to love, something to do, and something to hope for." - William Blake

2006-02-12T04:51:00.000+08:00

To The Hallmark Holiday . . .

Your Candy Heart Says "Get Real"

You're a bit of a cynic when it comes to love.
You don't lose your head, and hardly anyone penetrates your heart.

Your ideal Valentine's Day date: is all about the person you're seeing (with no mentions of v-day!)

Your flirting style: honest and even slightly sarcastic

What turns you off: romantic expectations and "greeting card" holidays

Why you're hot: you don't just play hard to get - you are hard to get

What Does Your Candy Heart Say?

I thought this quiz was funny, b/c I believe that Valentine's Day is a holiday invented for others to make money off of us. True, it is a good excuse for some flowers and chocolates from your loved ones, but not necessary! In all honesty, DH and I have avoided going out on this day in years past. This year, I am using it as an excuse for a day of pampering myself :)

If you really love someone, you don't need a day set aside by Hallmark, Godiva, and 1-800-Flowers to celebrate it. Celebrate your love frequently on your own - at least the wait for a table at your favorite restaurant will be shorter - LOL! Have a great weekend!

2006-02-11T10:07:00.000+08:00

Guilty As Charged: I'm A "Braveheart With Boobs"!

Hubby is home and everyone is so happy! Especially me - wink ;) Today, after I got home from school, we squeezed in some much needed conversation time. It was an interesting talk about a lot of things that are going on around us . . . one that lead to much emotion outpouring from me! Let's just say, I am very tired and sick; therefore, it is easy for me to get upset over things in this state of mind.

Just when I thought the conversation was done and we needed to move on to happier topics, DH asked if this would be a good time to talk about "the blog". Well, I said yes and that was probably a mistake b/c I was already worked up . . . and if you read my post from a few days ago, you know I probably needed to be a calm state of mind to start this conversation!

To make a long story short, I explained to DH that I was upset (even though he knew) about how he's was reading it and why he just didn't tell me, etc. He told me that he tried, but couldn't find the right time or way (my words, not his b/c I was too upset to remember his exact words). Then he informed me that he felt my description of it was one-sided and I didn't share the good reasons why he started reading it. Well, this upset me . . . of course, it is one-sided! This is my blog and I wanted to vent and get it off my chest, even if it was spun towards me and soliciting comments from you that might have been negative. At that time, even though he his intentions were genuine and pure, I didn't care - sorry, babe! (I personally thought it was nice that I waited a week to write about it, so I wasn't posting in pure anger and raw emotion.)

In the middle of our heated discussion over it, he told me that he didn't want to read my blog if I was going to be so one-sided, so now I get what I wanted in the first place back. At some point in time, he called me "Braveheart with boobs" on my mission to let my womanly voice out and call out to my other women. LOL! I was so pissed off, that I couldn't laugh at the time. Oh, really I was - I slammed a box down b/c I was so pissed that he has put me through this emotional rollercoaster about him reading my blog. I finally accepted and have grown to like him reading it, though I haven't had a chance to tell him b/c he just got home, and then he pulls this, "I will never read it, again" crap. Oh, no - you don't get off that easy - now your suck reading it!

In his defense, I know he probably originally started reading it b/c he was worried about me. With him gone on business frequently, I usually do one of two things: tell him too little b/c of time and my memory or tell him too much all at once in the only ten minutes we get to talk that day. I can't help it! He's my best friend, I want to tell him everything. Then, when I realize that I added too much stress on him, I clam-up and don't say much at all. Plus, sometimes I feel judged (I know it's all in my head) b/c he is not here to see how hard it really can be. That being said, he has really had a chance to see how things are going for me and has been more loving, understanding, and compassionate (though I didn't know why at first). These things make it all worth it! In the end, what I started for me has become positive for our friendship and marriage, too . . . there's nothing wrong with that!

Thank you for loving and supporting me, honey!

Thank you to my blogging friends for a being a "shoulder to lean on" and helping me find a new way to express myself. Through my "coversations" with all of you (and myself), I am becoming a better person! Definitely one that bitches less in person (I think)!

" Do you want me to tell you something really subversive? Love is everything it's cracked up to be. That's why people are so cynical about it. It really is worth fighting for, being brave for, risking everything for. And the trouble is, if you don't risk anything, you risk even more. " -- Erica Jong

2006-02-09T11:08:00.000+08:00

Maybe It's Just My Sick State-Of-Mind . . .

The Movie Of Your Life Is A Black Comedy

In your life, things are so twisted that you just have to laugh.
You may end up insane, but you'll have fun on the way to the asylum.

Your best movie matches: Being John Malkovich, The Royal Tenenbaums, American Psycho

If Your Life Was a Movie, What Genre Would It Be?

Is it wierd that I have seen none of the movies listed here, yet this is what I came up with through the questions? I think so!

Today was a little bit better. My head didn't feel like it was going to fall off until 6-ish. I know that if I would have done what I was suppose to do on my sick day off, it probably wouldn't have felt so bad. Whatever! DH is coming home tomorrow and I needed to pick-up and get some groceries, so I pushed it. I hate being sick!

2006-02-08T09:24:00.000+08:00

Someone End This Misery . . .

I have so much to do, so much to say, so many thoughts running through my head; yet, I cannot function. This has been one of the hardest weeks of my life so far. Both kids are sick and my sickness turned into a beloved sinus infection, confirmed today at the doctor. For those of you that have never been lucky enough (not!) to experience an infection behind your face, here is a brief description of its horrors:

- My face is visablly swollen - went to school this morning and some said, "Are you okay? Your face looks really swollen." Thanks! Yes, I know and I feel like shit - have a nice day!

- It is almost physically impossible to eat or smile b/c of the pressure in my face and my ears.

- I have no appetite - this could be a good thing except I need to eat to make milk for my baby; therefore, I am forcing myself to eat.

- I can't lay flat b/c I will cough to death and choke on the drainage.

- I can't hear - this could be a good thing with children...

- This list of my misery could go on, but I will not bore you!

All I want is to feel better, so I can get back to my life. Hubby comes home in two days; hopefully, I will be able to rest a little more then. If I am lucky, the medicine will have kicked in and I will be able to smile at him and love on him a little!

"Health is not valued till sickness comes." - Dr. Thomas Fuller, British physician (1654 - 1734)

2006-02-06T13:00:00.000+08:00

BUSTED!!!!

See This Man . . .

This is my loving husband and his ass is busted!
Busted!?!? You might ask why? Well, let me tell you . . .

Some of you may remember that a while back I asked for you advice on whether or not I should allow DH to have my blog address. Seven commented with mixed reviews, most leading towards "No, it should be your space". I felt the same way, so I started the family blog for him to read (plus, a great communication device for all family & friends), since some of the blogs that I would have wanted him to read were about the kids, etc. . . .

I guess I made a mistake, b/c I told him that I was THINKING about letting him read it (Yes, you can see where this is going)! He got his hopes up a little bit and then became CURIOUS. We are know what happens to curious people . . . eventually they just can't take it anymore . . .

The first thing that gets me upset is that he agreed in the beginning that it was "my space", "private", "it would be like reading my diary" and said he would not try to find it. Fine. I understand that he wants more insight to his wonderful, beautiful wife. However, if he was disappointed that I chose to keep the site to myself, he should have spoke up and just asked to read it. Even though I might have grumbled a little bit about it, I probably would have told him. But, I can probably guarantee that I would not have been so blunt with some of my previous posts (especially when I called him an F'ing idiot for wanting to play with Loco in the middle of the night - sorry Honey!) and been more aware of what I was posting - killing the concept of this being my place to "work things out"!

The second and most important thing that gets me mad is that he went BEHIND MY BACK and found my blog. Then he preceded to read it for a least a week, probably longer, without telling me. I know this b/c after I started the family blog, I installed a visible stat tracking code on it and an invisible one on mine. My original intent was to never spy on my husband, I thought he was not reading it. Then the first day I log-on to view the results - BAM! - someone from Thailand has read my blog. Now you could say this was a coincidence or that I have an international audience b/c my blog is so damn good and really popular, but let's be honest! It just so happens that Hubby left to go back to work a few days before this. Where does he travel to when he's gone - THAILAND - hhhhhmmmm, looking suspicious!

Words cannot describe how I felt. My face was on fire for the rest of the day. I marched right home and logged onto his account and looked at his history, too. I'll be damned, he was reading it from home, too - before he left! And there was a trail from when he was looking for it, which I'm sure wasn't hard to find with blogger's search engine and our children's nicknames. This really got me mad! I decided that I was going to give him a few days to confess, hoping his guilt would get the best of him. It never did.

Finally, instead of letting the anger eat me alive, I asked/told him about it. I tried to be subtle at first and let him still "admit it", by telling him in an email that I installed a stat tracker, etc. This didn't work. So, when instant messaging each other, I told him I know he reads it, blah, blah, blah . . . he played it off and denied it! Oh, I was smokin'!!! I sent him an email explaining how I knew and told him I wanted an explanation. Then it took two days for us to resolve the conversation b/c between the kids and his work, we were too busy.

Finally, he sent me an apology email and explained that he is happy to be reading it b/c he feels like it is helping us/him. I can forgive him, eventually, b/c I do hold grudges (should have thought of that first, baby)! He swears that it doesn't bother him if I talk about him, even if it is negative and venting, and wants me to write the same. I will hold him to that b/c I have known that he's been reading now for over a week and feel my posts have been true to me; however, he is not home and pissing me off!

I told him the other night when we talked, that I was originally not going to tell him that I knew he was reading it and was going to post his picture with a large title, "BUSTED"! He thought that was hysterical and told me that I should do it still. My reply, "Oh, don't you worry . . . I will be posting about this and it won't be pretty." So, there you have it! I'm not pissed anymore, but don't feel happy about how this played out. Now, don't hold back and tell me what you think about this shit! And take the poll over on the right --> to give me input on what his punishment should be . . .

Please keep reading for another weekend post that is near to my heart about friendship.

2006-02-06T05:20:00.000+08:00

Friendship's Cycles & Redefinition

This post was originally started two weeks ago and shelved for many reasons! Today, I have finally come back to it out of love for a friend . . .

This morning (1/23), I visited Southern Fried Girl's blog and read a recent post on "girlfriends". Friendship, especially girlfriends, is such a touchy subject for many people! I have been thinking about this a lot, too. One of things that I realized (very recently) is that, as with many things in life, we go through friendship cycles. And more importantly, times when existing friendships need "redefinition".

For a long time, I was "mourning" the friendships that I once had in high school and college, longing for the same thing now. Reality set in that I am not the same person I was back then, my life is more complex, and my needs are different. In my everyday activities, this truth is easy to see; however, it was not obvious to me in the friendship category and this was causing me grief. I distinctly remember within the last year having conversations with my mom about friendship and asking her if she had "best friends", etc. before I came to my realization.

With every stage of life you get girlfriends, some you stay in touch with and others fade out. In elementary school, this person is usually someone that you live close to and/or ride the bus with. These years feel like the absolute most important and changes in these friendships are traumatizing . . . I remember fifth grade still b/c of the falling out I had with my best friend. As you mature, you usually don't have to limit your friendship to those that live around you and their presence in your life can make or break you during puberty :)

To me, college was similar to high school, if not easier, to make friends. We all lived, ate, played, drank, and went to class together. Life was good and friends were plentiful, I can even remember a few people that shared the best friend status (though I never remember using that label in college). Then life changes . . . you graduate and may keep some of your friends from your previous life, if your lucky. I know that I don't keep in touch with many and had to find new friends.

So, where am I going with this? The point I am trying to make is that not all friendships last and there are many times when you have to find new friends due to a change in your life. I now understand and accept this fact. Doing so has made me less anxious about finding the perfect person/people to be friends and allowing me to enjoy all my friends more.

Another important thing to acknowledge is that if a friendship is important, it will frequently need redefinition during key times in life (marriage or a new love, children, new job, additional friends, death, divorce, more children, etc.)! Odds are that after the circumstances have changed, you are not the same person. Some times this brings people closer; other times it pulls them apart.

My best friend has recently gone through a divorce. This came as a huge shock to DH and I, since we were close with both of them and were blind-sided by the quick actions and decision. When this was happening, I just gave birth to Loco (the day she told me he was moving out) . . . needless to say, I was a hormonal reck and shed several tears about her situation for her loss and our loss, too. I know it may seem selfish, but her and I were not only friends, but we were "couple friends". A friend of mine at work said that when she divorced, she lost all her friends and it was heartbreaking and bitter.

I was at a complex stage in my own life, needing a good friend, and she was at her own. For a while, things were different - I can't really explain it. I desperately wanted to be a good friend and consulted my mom (the expert on divorce, being on her fourth marriage) for advice. She had some good things to say, but they were what I considered to be obvious, like "Don't complain about your own husband for now, etc." That sucked b/c the last month, all we did was complain about our hubbies - I was miserably pregnant and she was just miserable!

So, here's what I have learned: If possible, try to avoid having a baby the same time one of your closest friends gets divorced!

Seriously, these past few months have taught me to be flexible, non-judgmental, self-less, and the enjoy the moment when I am with all my friends. Because, life is not simple; it's inevitable that it will have sharp turns, mountains, and moments when you feel like you are drowning. These times, define whom your true friends are.

"Everyone hears what you say.
Friends listen to what you say.
Best friends listen to what you don't say."
- Anonymous

2006-02-04T13:01:00.000+08:00

My Guilty Pleasures . . .

Tagged by Three Time Loser, I don't think (like her) that I'm obligated to do this or else a string of bad luck lasting 1040 days will fall upon me...but, what the hell!

The rules: List or write an entry about 5 of your guilty pleasures then choose 5 other bloggers to tag. I have decided to not tag! Please notify me in the comments if you played - you know, you want to play - LOL!

In my opinion, I do not have many guilty pleasures! And this, my friends, is one of my biggest problems, lately!

1) Long, hot showers - Even if I have to be at work, if the baby is crying, the house is on fire . . . I will take a long, hot shower. This time is some of the only "alone time" I get all day. It also gives me time to stretch my neck and work on the little kink that is costing me money to fix. Lately, I have been taking two of these showers a day and loving every minute of it!

2) Starbucks - Really, do I need to pay $5 for a coffee drink when I have a perfectly good (well, it's broken, but works) coffeemaker at home? No! But, even when I really try, I can never get something that tastes as good! The sad part is that I usually order half-caf b/c I can't see paying that much for decaf, but should limit my intake b/c of nursing.

3) Arriving late to work - I should be there on time! When hubby is home, I get there early. But, when he is gone, it is really hard to get myself (already sleep deprived) and two kids out the door. Since I don't teach a first period (b/c I am the department chair and need to confirm/assist with substitutes), I don't have students waiting at my door and take advantage of this by arriving later than the scheduled time. Don't worry, I always get the job done!

4) Sleeping alone in a king-size bed - I am not a sprawler, but it is nice to have that option! When DH is gone on business, I miss him; however, he is a snorer . . . enough said!

5) Blogging - For someone that has never been a journaler or kept a diary, I find this quickly addictive. I enjoy posting and often find myself thinking about something I am going to write when not in front of a computer! I love reading all my blog friends, too. Unfortunately, when I blog, there is always something else I should be doing and it eats at me the whole time!

2006-02-03T04:31:00.000+08:00

Are You YELLING At Me?

I just want to say that I hate it when people type in all capital letters! Is it because they just don't know any better? Are they lazy? Are they incapable of hitting the shift key? Why? Why? Why?

There - now I feel better. Have a WONDERFUL night (or else I will kick your butt - LOL)!

2006-02-02T12:32:00.000+08:00

It's Been A Bad Day!

What a day! Last night I wasn't feeling well, but hoped it would pass. Unfortunately, it did not and this morning I felt like crap. Being a teacher makes it hard to miss work, so I figured since I was awake and had the kids up that I would take a stab at going to work. On the way there, I felt in a daze and probably shouldn't have been driving!

I ended up taking the second half of the day off and coming home to sleep. When I picked up the kids from daycare, it was raining out. On the way out of Miss D's house, I slipped on the wet stairs and fell hard on the concrete sidewalk. Even with pants on, my knees (below - looking oh, so sexy - not!) got scraped up pretty bad and my ankle is bruised, but functional. I dropped Loco in the infant carrier when I fell, but he was fine (I took the brunt of the accident) and only cried b/c he was scared (plus, I was crying).
DH always teases me b/c I am not the most coordinated person. We always joke and hope that our kids have his dexterity and coordination! So far, it looks like they are lucky and don't take after me :) Loo was so sweet when we got home . . . she held my hand from the minivan and told me to be careful b/c she didn't want me to slip. You gotta love that girl!

I just hope tomorrow is better . . .

2006-01-31T13:17:00.000+08:00

Too Tired For More . . .

I spent some time tonight working on my 101 List - damn, it is hard to think of that many things about yourself! I am on #35 and have been doing this list on and off for a week. Hopefully, I will have it done by next week's "MeMe". Tonight a posted some new pics of the kiddos on the family blog and created my first audioBLOGGER. It was fun, I got Loo to talk into the phone, so her Dada could hear her voice in Thailand! She did a choppy version of the ABC's :)

Hopefully, I'll write more here tomorrow and comment on a few of your blogs, too!

"Circumstance does not make me, it reveals me." -- William James

2006-01-30T12:04:00.000+08:00

The "So-Called Perfect Partner" List

My "librarian by day, superhero by night" friend, Amy tagged me! She worded her list so well that is it going to be a tough act to follow :) It is my first tag - does that mean I now have official blogging friends? Hehehehe! This "meme" is about the perfect mate.

Here are the rules: The tagged victim lists 8 different points of their perfect lover/partner, mentioning the sex of said partner. Tag 8 victims to join this game & leave a comment on a post letting them know they've been tagged. If tagged before, no need to contribute.

So here we go, AL's "So-Called Perfect Partner":

1. Sense of Humor - This is a must . . . laughter keeps the heart happy and healthy!

2.Athletic Build & Competitive Nature- I don't do scrawny men and prefer someone to be several inches taller than me (5'7'') and at least 50 plus pounds over me. I am not a small woman and want a man that makes me feel feminine (maybe petite on a good day - not!). Plus, I am a very competitive person and want someone that understands this obsession. It does not bother me that they may want to compete with me - I will always win! ;)

3. Intelligence - I want someone that I can have a good conversation with and feel that I have to be on my A-Game to be in their presence, even though it could become tiresome and frustrating! It would inspire me to learn more.

4. Honesty - Even though this may be hard at times. I want the truth - what is on his mind? Do I really look bad in this outfit? Is there something stuck in my teeth? The truth may hurt (sometimes), but I appreciated it.

5. Handy Man - I grew-up with a man that could do it all (in my opinion), whether it be on the house or a car. I want to know that if I need something done that it can and will be done by my man in a timely fashion.

6. Patience & Understanding - There are definitely times when I don't make sense and take a long time to get to a point. Be patient, I will talk it out and make sense in the end!

7. Self-Confidence - I want someone that has a presence when they walk into the room and have a magnetic aura that makes people want to hang out with them. Plus, I don't want to have to compliment him all the time to boost an ego.

8. Unconditional Love - He loves me for me and that will never change. Even if I change, he will find things about me to love me even more. This type of love can stand the test of time and any challenges we face.

And here are the 8 other tagging victims:
Stewbie2
Nik
Becky - Seattle
Becky - Texas
Momma of 2
MomyBlogR
Marel
HazelHazel

"I used to think of all the billions of people in the world, and of all those people, how was I going to meet the right ones? The right ones to be my friends, the right one to be my husband. Now I just believe you meet the people you're supposed to meet." - Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, Northern Exposure, The Quest, 1995