School Daze

What some invent the rest enlarge. ~ Jonathan Swift

Can't say that I am not guilty of passing along rumors. I'm sure most of us are guilty of this as well. Therefore, realize that the tone of this is not anger or anything along those lines. Basically, I'm just setting the record straight. Yes, she went to the office. Yes, she sat in the ISS room, but was not IN ISS. No, she is not in trouble. Sorry to let folks down, but, NO, she was not in a fight. She was not sent home from school. Hubby went to school to discuss the situation. She chose to leave rather than deal with all of the questions once she returned to class. Am I going to elaborate? Not here.

Not Sure What to Call THis ONe

“We cannot tell the exact moment a friendship is formed; as in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses, there is at last one that makes the heart run over.” ~ unknown

I have suspected for weeks that a friend has been purposefully avoiding me. Then, I even questioned if I was imagining things, tying together an odd assortment of events that really led to nothing. However, I discovered last night that my suspicions were true. I don't know how to repair the situation. We haven't had a fight. We haven't done anything malicious to each other. In fact, the cause of it, from what I understand, is something I cannot undo....and wouldn't. I am fearful that I know the exact moment this friendship took a major blow, unlike the quote above. I honestly do not know how to remedy the situation....guess I'll think on this one for a bit. I miss our friendship and despise the awkwardness that is apparent.

It's a Family Tradition

I'm just carryin' on a family tradition. ~ Hank Williams, Jr.

As I was strolling down the hallway of my school on Tuesday, I noticed the new first grade display: a paper quilt detailing each first grader's Thanksgiving traditions. It is precious....bulletin board paper with hand print turkeys surrounding colorful squares of paper created by each first grader. I searched for Son's. We had been asked to discuss our holiday traditions at home prior to this activity. We talked about the different family members who gather together (usually averaging around 20) and the food we eat. I was confident he would have no problem recollecting the details of our holiday. Imagine my surprise when I find the paper with his name on it with a sentence that reads something along the lines of "My family plays cornhole toss and then we jump on a trampoline." WHAT?! I checked the name on the paper at LEAST three times!! Cornhole toss? I'd never heard of it let alone played it! As far as I knew the word 'cornhole' was synonymous with 'butt hole'!!! Jumping on the trampoline?! We don't own one! Perhaps one year there was jumping, but for most of the boy's life we have eaten at the community building to accommodate our large family: no trampoline! I finally looked up this 'cornhole toss' and find that it is a real activity....nothing to do with butt holes. However, it is still not part of our Thanksgiving repertoire. Perhaps Son is just a visionary like George Costanza's father, the creator of Festivus; rather than continue with the honored tradition of Thanksgiving, we shall now have Cornhole Toss. The Feats of Strength associated with Festivus will be replaced with the Trampoline Jump. I shudder to think what menu items Son will adopt for this holiday. To top it all off, we will have the Liar Liar Pants on Fire portion which Son apparently has mastered. So, family members, enjoy this year's traditional Thanksgiving as it is being replaced by Son's version. Cornhole toss......classic. This is one story that will become part of MY Thanksgiving tradition, "Do you remember the year Son told his first grade class that we play cornhole toss?"

GGGGGGOOOOOTTTTTTT IIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!

I CAN'T EVEN FIND A QUOTE!!!! I GOT IT!!!!!!

The Power

Make people wait for what they want, and you have power over them. ~ unknown

I honestly believe that this is the secret motto of National Board. I submitted my portfolio in March. Then, I took the written test at the assessment center. Since that time I have progressed through many stages:

1. Thank God it's over. I don't give a crap about it any longer!!!

2. Gee, I think I did a good job. I think I may just have a chance.

3. I suck! I am a loser and will not get it. (I alternate between 2 and 3 quite often depending on the level of self-loathing I am experiencing.)

4. I don't care if I ever see the damn scores now that I'm done.

5. Hmm.....aren't those scores due soon?

6. What?! November 21st? Where does it say that? How long do I have to wait? WHEN are they actually going to post the date?!

7. Is it okay to check the site for news of the release date 20 times a day? Do I need to consult professional help for OCD?

Until finally at 4:30-ish today.......

8. The date is posted. It IS tomorrow. I'm going to puke!!!

And that, my friends, is where I stand NOW! My stomach has been a bit uneasy most of the day. I am officially nauseous now. I could easily vomit. As much as I want to know, I DON'T want to know. The scores are available mid-morning tomorrow. I have sworn to myself that I refuse to look while the students are there. I remember last year how sad it was to see excellent teachers not achieve certification. Understandably, they were devastated and had to leave school. I do not want to be seen hysterical (which I'm sure I will be if the result is less than 275). BUT.....can I really make myself wait until after school? I say I can, but do I really have that much willpower? Since there are so many of us waiting, it's tricky to know how to act. How do we let our colleagues know? Joy took the day off. Kinda wish I'd done that now, but I didn't want to needlessly use a day off.....especially since I wasn't completely sure the scores WERE coming tomorrow. I also despise writing lesson plans. It's easier to be in school as opposed to writing DETAILED lesson plans explaining a day's events. So...by this time tomorrow I will know one way or another. I guess I will be back tomorrow to share my news. Until then........

Waiting and Waiting and Waiting

The waiting is the hardest part...~Tom Petty

My new obsession? I guess that should be plural b/c there are two main new ones. One would be my Facebook. I loved MySpace until I got on Facebook and found a bunch of old friends. Now I can't stay away...checking out everyone's quotes, seeing the pics, and sending around flowers, drinks, etc.

The other obsession? Checking the National Boards site to see if they are letting us know the release date of the scores. Is once a day enough? NO! Have they given the smallest hint? NO! All the site says is "on or before Dec. 31, 2008". Local scuttlebutt says that Nov. 21 is the big date. 9AM on a Friday. Can I really wait until after school to check? Should I take the day off? I do not want to ruin my day with my students by reading bad news at 9AM. I really don't know if I can restrain myself until I am out of there. I don't think I want to take a full day off. If I do receive bad news, I will be worthless, though. Oh, what to do, what to do. All this waiting and wondering is really starting to get to me. Yeesh!

Another Milestone

Wiggle it, pull it, wrap it up tight...
Put it under the pillow, there'll be money there tonight! ~ unknown

Early in the summer Son revealed to us that he had a big tooth "coming in". One of the front ones on the bottom. He was excited, but right away all we could think about was the fact that none had come out and it would certainly mean the "baby" tooth would need to be extracted. Thanks to my trip to Myrtle Beach, the dental appointment had to be moved to the 30th of July which (THANKFULLY) has given us a few extra weeks for him to get that tooth out. TA DA! Today was the day! The first tooth has now fallen out! Now we just wait for the visit from the Tooth Fairy. :-D

Never Wanted Nothing More

Well I'm what I am and I'm what I'm not
I'm sure happy with what I've got
I live to love and laugh a lot
And thats all I need ~ Kenny Chesney lyrics

I've recently spent some quality time with Ethel....a rarity in our lives. Believe it or not, when I refer to "quality time", it does involve the presence of the children. For the moment, we believe we are fortunate to be in a stage where it's a bit easier than it has been. The older ones are responsible enough to tend to the younger ones so we can sneak out for a lunch or a walk. The younger ones aren't too much of a handful....they can tend to their needs and (as much as younger siblings respect older siblings) obey the older kids. The older ones are not attempting to sneak off and do "things" that will surely horrify us in the future (and probably make me regret this entry). We are not naive to think that rough days do not lie ahead as we navigate a course through "the teenage years" with the entire brood (this cycle officially begins in Dec. and will end when Son turns 20....in 14 short years), but for now we relish our days of "easier" parenting. For today, I am thankful for everything.

The Goog

Boys are found everywhere -- on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on, swinging from, running around or jumping to. Mothers love them, little girls hate them, older sisters and brothers tolerate them, adults ignore them and Heaven protects them. A boy is Truth with dirt on its face, Beauty with a cut on its finger, Wisdom with bubble gum in its hair and the Hope of the future with a frog in its pocket. ~ Alan Marshall Beck

I marvel daily how two children can be so amazingly diverse yet so similar...not to mention that this diversity exists under one roof! Essentially there are six years separating my two children. Daughter was drawn to books and learning immediately. Son...loves to learn, but not in the same manner. She was always more sedate and able to attend more to traditional learning. Goog....not so much. From the moment his eyes open in the morning he is on the go. He lives to be outside doing typical "boy" things.....he surfs, skateboards, bikes, runs, destroys, plays ball, spray paints (yes, I have found a spot of paint on our home that he and a neighbor hijacked from the neighbor's dad)....you name an activity that can be wild and woolly and outdoors and he is up for it. He is 6 going on 16....ready to be a "big guy". He knows more high school boys than most kids his age (from the skate park and the dock, I suppose). He already begs me to take him to the beach in Buxton...where all the big guys surf....at almost 40, I prefer to go to the beach in Hatteras where all the mom's hang out. He is NOT deprived by going to the beach there as there are a large number of surf-folk there, too. Yesterday his cousin DID take him to the beach in Buxton....I wonder if he'll ever be satisfied down here again! It's still morning and I've already heard about the Buxton beach. He is a daredevil. I can't bear to watch half of the things he does. I do not take him to the skate park because I know I will vomit. I hear he is good. I am NOT so bad that I don't allow him to go....I just can't watch. After surfing in Buxton yesterday, Hali brought him to where the rest of us were in Hatteras. Clutching his new surfboard (from Santa....how patient he has been to wait this long to use a gift!), he paddled out to where all the big kids surf. Last year I did not allow this. Yesterday it just seemed natural. He did great! On the last day of school he won a free kite boarding lesson. Whew....talk about a new fear for me! I know adults who have broken their necks doing that crazy stuff! I called Hubby from my classroom immediately to share the wonderful news.....his response: "Don't tell him!" It was too late, though, as it was part of the morning televised broadcast. It was so ironic since this spring Ethel and I took the brood down to the beach on a warm, windy day and watched dozens of people kite boarding. I looked at her as these crazies were using the kites, boards, waves, and wind to jump 10+ feet in the air doing all sorts of acrobatic stunts and said, "Why do I think that surfing is just not going to be enough for Son?" I am really rambling now....sorry. As I try to update and summarize the lives of my children at the close of this academic year, I think back to Son's first day of kindergarten. Before starting he expressed many times how much he wanted to read. Having such a busy schedule and desire to be outside, he just had never had the interest to devote time to learning outside of his preschool setting. After school we asked how the first day was. He was rather dismayed because "they didn't teach me how to read today". I guess he thought it would be like riding his bike, skating, surfing: just pick it up and do it. I am thrilled to say that my Goog has become a proficient student this year, exceeding the typical kindergarten expectations. I think we must be doing ok with him, too. He was student of the month for kindergarten in March because he ALWAYS helps with all the class chores and helps his classmates. My heart fills with pride, joy, and love when I merely think of him....just as it does when I think of Daughter. Of all the things I do.....I LOVE being MOM the most! :0)

The End of the Year

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

~Martina McBride

After my mom passed away in 2000 I received numerous messages of condolence. All meaningful and heartfelt. Over the years one has remained in my heart and mind. It has been a source of peace for me. The strangest part is that the person who sent it more than likely doesn't even know how dear her message and how I have clung to it. Her message simply said that whenever I needed to see my mom, all I needed to do was look into my daughter's eyes. How prophetic since "my quote" wasn't released until 3 years later. On Thursday morning I received a phone call at school from one of Daughter's teachers urging me to attend the Award's Assembly. I had planned on going, figuring that she was going to be honored for (hopefully) Principal's List for the year...if not, it would at least be Honor Roll. I explained this to her teacher, who was glad I was coming. She then proceeded to tell me that Daughter was going to receive more than one award. I was thrilled for Daughter. She has become such an independent person...it just amazes me. She handles all aspects of her academics (except for the large projects) completely on her own. I wish I was more abreast of the situation at times, but I also realize that I need her to make her own way and be responsible. I am so proud of the awards she earned and the humbleness she displays. Sometimes I worry that the parenting choices I make (and have made) have created a child that isn't as self-confident as she should be about her talents. I worry that she doesn't always reach her full potential because she doesn't realize how capable she truly is. But, I am a worrier by nature. There were so many highlights of that day. Seeing her with her medals was awesome. One of the other highlights was the morning phone call from the teacher. During the conversation she told me what a fantastic job Hubby and I have done. She said that Daughter was just flawless. She had tried to find just one flaw, but couldn't find one. Yes, I realize that she, like all of us, are flawed. I could go on forever listing mine, but to have a teacher tell me just how amazing she thought my child was instantly put tears in my eyes. I cannot even describe how much I love that girl (don't worry....I have a post cooking up for Son, too!) and how immensely proud I am of her and all of her accomplishments. Martina's words only begin to scratch the surface. :0)

Is This for Real?

It is lovely, when I forget all birthdays, including my own, to find somebody that remembers me. ~ Ellen Glasgow

I have spent the last several years avoiding my birthday. I have tried my best to ignore it. Wanted it gone. The depression that overwhelmed me was too much to bear. I guess I figured if it didn't celebrate, then the memories and sadness of the day would disappear as well. My reaction to my birthday was not due to vanity. I know I am getting older and look the part (yes, I've seen a few gray hairs and notice the gradually deepening wrinkles). Honestly, I could care less. Rather, it was the death of my mother that began the "birthday protest". She always made my birthday seem like the most special day ever created. Without her, I couldn't fathom celebrating. Her absence was so prominent from the "big day" I just wanted to avoid it. It was worse than Christmas or any other holiday. Some of the years, the anticipation of it depressed me for weeks prior. For some reason, though, this year is different. I don't know if it's because I have been SO busy with the NB thing that I didn't have time to begin dreading the day until it was almost here. I don't know if it's because someone near and dear to my heart straightforwardly explained how confusing it was for others (not to mention that this was NOT how my mom would want my birthday to be). Nonetheless, this year has been different. I have embraced the notion of actually partaking in the birthday this year. I enjoyed the combined celebration with my nephew. I have genuinely smiled and HAD a HAPPY birthday instead of just going through the motions for my children. So, basically, all I want to say is "Thank you" to everyone who has dealt with my negativity for the past 8 birthdays. Your love and understanding are my rock and I could not achieve anything without all of you. YOU are the best gifts I have ever received and it is an honor to be loved and appreciated by such a magnificent circle of family and friends. Love you all!

PS....Isn't it AWESOME that David Cook is the American Idol? WOO HOO!!!

Natural Disasters Running Amok

I ran out of gas! I got a flat tire! I didn't have change for cab fare! I lost my tux at the cleaners! I locked my keys in the car! An old friend came in from out of town! Someone stole my car! There was an earthquake! A terrible flood! Locusts! IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD! ~ Jake Blues

Good grief! This weather is going crazy! Here is what it looks like out my window!

Teacher from the Stress Lagoon

I can not stress enough how much I don't have plans. ~ Xander (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

For those of you unfamiliar, there is a series of children's books by Mike Thaler that detail the lives of several teachers "from the Black Lagoon". I feel like I have been in the stress lagoon for several months. Yes, I am always stressed, but the National Boards have added an obscene amount of extra stress to my life. It is similar to that of grad school, but different in that I have devoted what seems like an eternity to this endeavor (when in actuality it was only since Fall). I will not know the results until NOVEMBER!!! Yesterday I completed the last leg of what COULD be the initial leg of my journey (I have 2 more years to achieve if I don't do it this time). PLEASE let all my numbers equal 275....that's all I need to avoid redoing this again!!!!!!!!!! The testing center.....6 Exercises. 30 minutes to answer each exercise without the assistance of anyone or anything. Each exercise basically asked me to design and rationalize instruction in given scenarios for the following topics: literacy, math, science, social studies, play, health/safety/PE. Definitely a daunting task when I was expected to be able to rattle off lessons for students ages 3-8 on any number of topics that encompass that age range and am only familiar with our state's 2nd grade curriculum. PLUS....no research - I NEVER teach without researching. I have spent weeks on end studying things that I did not know how to teach: electricity, heat, light, moon, stars, sun, motion, force, PLAY (yes, teaching children HOW to play), yadda, yadda, yadda. I have been in chat rooms discussing possible scenarios. I have answered practice prompts. I have been a freak. Study mode does not bring out the best in me. The last two weeks have been especially ugly. BUT....it's done for now. The trip itself was comedic.....with comedic being defined more like Little Miss Sunshine as opposed to The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (or insert any number of purely mindless, but sure to make you laugh type films). The experience as a whole: 5 teachers going to take a test, all with different personalities and lifestyles, all with their own levels of stress, all with differing needs, traveling by Suburban for one night with more study materials than could possibly be used in one trip to Greenville. Put it this way....I don't think one of us had more than one change of clothes and a set of pj's, but I had 3 bags (which was about average: one night, 5 girls: approx. 15 bags of various shapes and sizes). It turned out that it was graduation weekend for ECU which meant every hotel in town jacked up their rates 5 zillion percent. This caused some financial dilemmas.....another bright spot (ah-hem) for our trip....not to mention rooming issues since the only rooms available were rooms with a single king bed. The air mattress that was taken only inflates with a pump that MUST be charged to work....no, it cannot be plugged into the wall to use it (wtf is up with that?!).....and it takes 8 hrs. to fully charge. You guessed it.....the charger was not charged. After a few hours we were able to get it to somewhat work. Joy had to blow the rest up with lung power. The room Luscious, Joy and I had was stuffy and smelly (kind of like cat pee)....all that for $160. As it turned out, it was great that Joy had that air mattress...when we finally figured out that the room didn't have the AC on (only the fan was on even though the place was completely booked and it was about 80 degrees outside), we flipped the button to AC ONLY to discover WHY there was a dehumidifier in the room....the AC leaks, making the carpet wet. All night we listened to the flow of water. I worried about the content of the test and just how far the water would extend throughout the room. I didn't worry about Joy because I knew she would float on her semi-inflated air mattress. We turned off the lights at 1 am and I woke up (if you can really call it that since my mind did not stop at all - it was more like a restless nap) at 4:51. I could not lie there and listen to that damn faucet-like noise any longer so I bathed and went to the lobby to study....only to be engaged in conversation with some dude who was there learning about how to defend himself if attacked or something like that....I was a bad listener because I really needed to learn about the damn moon. The little front desk girl was "shocked" when I told her about our situation upon checking out.....amazing since not all rooms are decked out with dehumidifiers. It poured on the way to the testing center....loud claps of thunder/ streaks of lightning...just what you want to hear when you're going to take an electronic test and worry about a power outage that may extend the hellish situations under which you've been living. The testing center has cameras everywhere.....I think they even record you in the bathroom because there are signs all over it forbidding you to turn out the light. EWWWWWWWWWWW! Overall, I felt really good when I left. I almost cried when I exited the building. It was weirdly emotional. We went to the mall....that was a whole other can of worms I don't even want to discuss. Then we indulged at Olive Garden. It's not often that I have liquor during the day, but I ordered myself a lime-mint fresco and boy was it delightfully refreshing. :0) TomTom let us down on the way home....he led us down an old road, taking us the LONG way. No, I'm not breaking up with the boyfriend - just sending him to the dog house for a bit. ;0) Anyway.....I'm home and have NOTHING TO STUDY! I should clean the house, plan for VBS, exercise (the 10 pounds I have gained during the "crunch time" of NB are NOT attractive esp. with bathing suit season sitting on my front porch), weed my flower beds.....basically tend to all that has been neglected since I-don't-know-when. So, I will probably tend to the things that need it most: the kids, my sanity, Hubby (he's fishing today, though) and do just about nothing but hang around and be a sloth. I have really meandered away from the initial point of this post which was to update the events of my life (like I had one)....more like the life that has been going on around me despite my absence. I guess I'll provide updates in another post..........this one has gotten WAY too long and rambling. When you think of me, hope for 275 in November. I feel good about it right now, but the more I mull it over, the more I worry. I really don't want this to be "the thing" intended to knock me down a few pegs. So, for now, I'm going to just try to put it aside and breathe for a bit. Thanks for all the love and support that keep me going. <3 U!

Big Blue

Sorry....no time to find a quote right now.....maybe I'll edit later! ~ Kristin

I just checked the site and the Big Blue Box has reached her destination!!!!!!!!!!

In the Mail!!!!!!!!!!!

There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. Yet that will be the beginning. ~ Louis L'Amour

There she is, folks. Getting weighed and insured for $2500 (the amount I'll owe NC if it doesn't arrive). Do I think it's finished? No. However, I've known that I would never feel that it was "done". I just got to the point where I was ready to mail it. Now.....I study for the test (take the test May 9) AND WAIT FOR NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trepidation

Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it by the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith. ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Here it is.....the day I could quite possibly mail that bitch of a blue box that has been staring at me tauntingly for months on end. In one hour we meet with our facilitator who shows us how to pack THE BOX. I have stressed about this work for months. I have spent my Spring Break restlessly preparing the contents of the box: writing, reading, rereading, rewriting, printing, reprinting, anally stacking, checking, clipping, rechecking.....am I ever going to be able to actually part with these materials. Four entries: Entry 1: 13 FULL pages (I'm talking no paragraphs, no extra lines), 6 samples of writing from my students; Entry 2: 12 FULL pages, 4 instructional materials w/one page commentaries, 1 video of me teaching, classroom map, and a lovely photocopy of my license (blown up to its gorgeous 200% requirement); Entry 3: 11 (?) FULL pages; 3 instructional materials w/one page of commentaries for each, 1 video of me teaching, classroom map, and the license; Entry 4: 10 pages of accomplishments, 16 pages of documentation. If I were Charlotte (the spider), I would call this my magnum opus. I'm really wanting to grab that handle of faith, especially since I have the written test looming (May 9th to be exact). I desperately want to mail that box so I can enjoy a few days of break before the glory of Science Fest descends. I DO NOT want to be anxiety-ridden over this until NOVEMBER (when I finally find out if I achieved or not). Hubby said the other day, "At least with all the work with grad school you KNEW you were getting it." Isn't that the truth!!!! OK. I'm now going to throw on some clean clothes, put my hair in a ponytail (revealing the wonderful patch of psoriasis that lovingly appears whenever I have stressed myself to the max), and head to school to spend my last few hours with my creation. PLEASE LET IT BE GOOD ENOUGH!!!! I CANNOT IMAGINE SPENDING ANOTHER CHUNK OF MY LIFE ON THIS PORTION OF MY BOARDS (yes, I WILL have to renew in 10 yrs. - IF I get it this year). Handle of faith. Handle of faith. Handle of faith.

My New Boyfriend

Having a good boyfriend is like having a good bra, it's all about support. ~ unknown

Yep, folks, I've got a new boyfriend. The newest in a line of very important men in my life. First there were Bartles & James who showered me with liquid refreshment while taking the stress out of my life. Those were some wild old men! Then I moved on to Ben and Jerry. Their tasty treats so delicious and decadent....until they betrayed me. Their cool, creamy comfort landed me in Weight Watchers. Bastards. Now my new boyfriend is TomTom. He led me straight to Cullowhee even when I disobeyed by alternating my route for potty breaks. He did not retort with a disapproving, "RECALCULATING" (like that Garmin bitch) if I altered the path. Instead, I was kindly urged to turn around at my convenience. The only disturbing thing about Tom Squared (as I affectionately call him) is his voice....HE sounds more like a SHE. Despite that, I think I'm in love. And don't worry.....Hubby knows about my new boyfriend....he bought him for me.

A Quick Blurp

she tells you she's an orphan after you meet her family ~ Black Crows

Disclaimer: the above quote concerns an issue that has been on my mind for a couple of months...those of you who know me best will understand what this references.

Life has been so completely hectic and insane...I have had no time or desire to write. My Boards keep me writing so much that I don't feel like writing anything else....kinda like grad school. When I was done with that, I needed to write and this was my outlet. Now, that endeavor depletes my writing energy. Having said that....a quick update.

Jan. 18 was Hubby's 40th. We had a kick-ass surprise party for him at Ethel's house (like the drunken pic?!). Friends, food, drinks, video montage, karaoke, live entertainment.....stayin' out far too late: AWESOME! Pics are on my MySpace. If you join, let me know so I can add you as a friend - it's the only way to see my profile.

Socializing has been made a priority this new year....well, not really a priority, but a wonderful diversion from the mundane demands of life. Daughter is able to babysit for us now which enables us to have more time to go out with friends. Our friend Chris Bellamy came to town a few weeks ago. It was AWESOME to hear him play, but since I was trying desperately to recover from a hideous cough, I didn't get to enjoy it to the fullest extent (i.e. I remained completely sober - bummer). Hubby and his friends have all had it too so that has put the social life on hold for a bit....gives me time to rest up as well as give my liver a reprieve.

Did I bitch about my National Boards? WHAT POSSESSES ME TO DO THIS CRAP?!

Daughter continues to do well in school. She LOVES 6th grade and I am so grateful! I was so worried about how she'd adjust to the new school. She's happier than she has been in quite a while.....as far as school goes. She's in the midst of basketball season and is playing the best she has ever played! She is much more aggressive and confident! Her newest acquisition is her metal mouth....yes, the braces (adorned appropriately with Carolina Blue rubber bands) are reality. She has them on the front 6 teeth on the top and bottom. She gets the "back" part in March. She is also getting a contraption called a "Herbst appliance" (I think that's what it is called). It replaces the headgear of yore. Back teeth on both top and bottom will be capped and metal "bars" (that remind me of the contraption on the screen door that allow it to close slowly) will connect the top and bottom.

Son is doing great in kindergarten. He is learning to read and write. We are in the midst of our newest family project (did I ever mention that his teacher put the turkey - see Nov. blog - on the wall while it was still wet and it peeled paint off the wall?): designing and creating a valentine box. We are making a surf-oriented box because he loves to surf and skate. These projects (his & Daughter's) combined with all the crap I'm having to do with the shit known as National Boards (can you tell I'm over it?!) are about to send me over the freakin' edge!

Anyway, I felt guilty about not posting anything so I hope this is enough for now. As I said, I haven't had much writing energy lately.

Cheatin'

don't feel like writing......but check out the band (Daughter is the 2nd seat in clarinets)