Thinking of You....

Thinking of you....that's the name of a new perfume from Mary Kay and it is lovely; but even better is that it reminds me of friends that I know who will love it.  The fragrance gives you that long "sigh" feeling.  Kind of like comfort food.

As I was thinking about the new perfume, I started thinking about how some fragrances remind me of certain people.  I have a friend that has always worn Beautiful as long as I've known her.  It's her signature and I love when I'm around her because I feel good when that fragrance floats through the air.  I have another friend that loves Chanel...she has expensive but excellent taste.  I think of the Chanel logo every time I see her.

One of my most vivid grade school memories revolves around perfume.  My third grade teacher smoked at every break and I think she even snuck a smoke in the closet in our classroom at times...that smoke smell combined with the ever overly present Youth Dew perfume is forever pressed in my memory.  She actually thought Youth Dew covered the smell of that cigarette smoke.  Whenever I happen upon someone that still wears Youth Dew, it takes me right back to third grade and the dread I felt going into that classroom.  I catch myself wanting to turn around and see if that teacher is nearby!

Perfume makes a statement - good and bad.  I'm just glad I have experienced only one statement that was negative.

What perfume do you wear?  Does it make a statement?  Do people know you are close by just by the perfume you are wearing?  Just wondering and "Thinking of You".

Mary Kay is in my life

I'm a true southern lady now, a Mary Kay Sales Consultant.  It's an awesome company and I've been very impressed with everything about it top to bottom.  I even have my own website for friends to become more beauterrific!  Look under my Sister links at right to go directly to my site.  Shop around and if you need assistance, I'm only a call or email away.

Cosby on Southern people

Patience

You know I marvel at people with patience.  Seriously I do.  I don't know if it is my red hair, or being raised to speak your mind but I find it difficult to have patience with people - be it friends, family or others, that don't give a whit about anyone else.  Drives me crazy.
Like, wouldn't you just love to say to those hurtful people -

"Have you looked in the mirror lately?"

"Who raised you?  The devil?"

"Abracadabra  -  poof - you're gone!"

Just once I'd like to leave my southern upbringing by the wayside and say something like that - put them in their place.  It wouldn't be worth it though, because those are the people that don't realize they are being rude anyway.
Oh how much better do I feel now.  Thanks for letting me blow off some steam...and by the way, Wal-mart is not the place to try your patience.

Computers are hard on the neck and back!

Computers are evil!  I've been on my computer most of the day.  My shoulders are stinging and my back is tight.  I try to keep the proper posture and I have the computer right in front of me so my neck does not have to strain but it doesn't seem to make a difference.  It just drains me.

If you have this problem click on the title of this entry to go find out what might help you.  I'm in a giving, sharing mood today.  I would hate for anyone to feel this way too.

Participating in a symposium tonight!

There is a symposium tonight on brain injuries and the treatment.  I've been asked to sit in on a panel to give the perspective of a caregiver/family member of someone who had a brain injury.  Wish me luck. :)

Bacon grease!

You know as a true southern woman, I must have a little bacon grease in most everything I cook.  Food just doesn't taste the same without it, and since you use so little, how much harm can a little spoon of bacon grease do?  Seriously!

In the south we put a little bacon grease in our beans, ALL kinds of beans - green, baked, soup, white, northern, lima, pole, Kentucky wonders, Italian and the list goes on.  Nope, a little salt and pepper, just won't do.  You have to let it simmer on low with those beans so the flavor goes all through the bean.

What else do we use it for?  How about a good fried egg - you know the kind with the curled up, crispy edge.  Or, fried cabbage?  Yummo!  Then of course you have to add a little to your oil if you are frying chicken, pork chops, french fries, etc!  It's for the flavoring of course!

Some people put in bacon bits to flavor with - but that just ain't southern!  It's downright fake if you ask me.  

Nope, if you need that bacon flavor, you have to have the grease!  I'm just sayin'!

Did I take a break or what????

I hope I haven't lost you!  When I left for summer vacation from CSISD, I guess I left from everything, including my blog!  I've had a blast this summer just visiting with family, a little travel and spending lots of time with my sweet momma.
I'm very excited about the upcoming school year - can't believe it's here but I am ready to roll once again.  Getting back on a high school campus is a big treat and I'm looking forward to being a Tiger at A&M Consolidated High School.  I'll be helping teachers integrate Technology into their classrooms this year.  Such a challenge but so rewarding.  (I just wish they had the high school on GPS!!!)
Hope all of you have had a great summer as well.

I'm ready!

I am so ready to have a few days off to relax.  Love my job but the last week of school is always hard - everyone wrapping up, asking questions, planning, taking care of wild and crazy children that can't wait for school to be out!!!!  It's like a squirrel on crack.

The cafeteria is always fun...seeing what they will serve the last week of school.  Today it was a choice of a great salad or macaroni and cheese, green beans and a corn dog...yes a corn dog on a stick.  They could also have fruit and a frozen thingy too.  Gotta love my school cafe - those women are fantastic.

I've been working on trainings for the summer, helping teachers transfer files, sending instructions for web pages and putting a web page together for one of my schools Athletic Department.  BUSY!!

Last but not least, August 2nd will be here before we know it - that's when I start teaching workshops to my teachers again.  Doesn't seem like it will take that long to get here.  But I'm ready to be out and enjoy the few days off that I do get to play.

Too blog happy!!!

I may have bitten off more than I can chew.  I have a blog for my dog - which I rarely post on.  ONLY when he tells me to and that isn't often.  Then I have a blog for work, which I try to post on at least once daily during the work week.  I also have this blog, which is just random thoughts and discussions that go on inside my brain about mundane things that I say out loud and most people keep to themselves. Ha!  Oh and then I have another blog, that I am attempting to write in as much as possible because I think it will keep me honest as I diet.  I believe that may just be too much...although we all know I like to spit words out.

It's the last week of school and things are crazy.  Don't be surprised if you don't see a post on here until next week sometime.  I'm overwhelmed with busy-ness! (and blogs.)

Where have I been?

I've gotten down right lazy on this blog in the past few days but I think I have good reason.  I've joined Weight Watcher's online.  It's an awesome sight and has kept me motivated.  It's free to join right now and only cost around $17 per month.  So far it has been an eye-opening experience....in a good way.  However, it is a little time consuming....I have to enter what I eat during the day and then calculate my points so that I don't go over.  Much easier than calorie counting.  I also started a blog for my weightloss venture as well called http://www.putthatforkdowngirlfriend.blogspot.com/.  I started the blog before joining weight watchers - where I found they have individual blogs as well....oh well, I like mine so I'm keeping it.  Trying to put a little humor in this weight loss thing.

Since Wednesday last week, I've had my work evaluation - I've passed and will be back at CSISD next year.  We got about 4 inches of rain.  I've done a million loads of laundry, and I've been dealing with Sam the crazy lab.  Since breaking out of the garage through the screened window, he has now decided he can go out anytime if the window is open.  I'll look in the back yard and there he is looking in at me.  I don't know what we are going to do with him.

Makes me wonder what this week will bring. Smiles to all.

Texas humidity is back for the summer!

Just need to take one look at my hair, curling like crazy, and you know it is hot, Texas summer time. (It was straight this morning and I had bangs.)  I'm not complaining though.  We have a wonderful breeze right now - some might even call it wind!  Keeps you cool.

Cracks me up to watch people try to keep their hair and makeup looking sharp here.  There is practically no way.  Between the humidity and the wind, - forget about it.  It's a given.

Another thing that I was broken of, since moving to Texas, was worrying about my white legs showing in skirts and my feet in sandals.  In Kentucky, you would never catch this pale face walking around in my albino white legs and sandals that showed my too long toes.  Once you get in this heat, YOU DON'T CARE, and neither does anyone else. :)

Yep it is summer alright - it starts around May 1st and goes through sometime in October and even later in a bad year.  You do just get used to it, that and the AC.  Thank goodness I wasn't here before AC, I'm sure I would have melted down.

Don't Mess with Texas

United States Post Office

I received one of those peach colored pieces of paper telling me I had a package at the post office to be picked up - why it couldn't have been left on the front porch is beyond me, but probably because they didn't want to get out of the little mail mobile.  But I digress.  I got this on Thursday but couldn't get there on Friday so I was going to go Saturday morning.

Guess what!!!!  THEY ARE CLOSED ON SATURDAY MORNING NOW.

Let me get this straight...I pay more for stamps than I ever have and have one day less service.  Hmmmmm....

Did I mention that I get my neighbor's mail all the time?  That's another thing we are paying them more for I guess.

So let me get this straight - I'm a teacher.  If I get a pay increase, I can work one less day a week?  I LOVE that idea.

So proud...

I'm so proud of Coach Sherman, football coach - Texas A&M University!  He's been in Iraq visiting our troops.  

I'm also proud of the spirit of the fine people in my hometown, Morehead, Kentucky.  The rains last week flooded much of town and the surrounding communities but it sounds like they are pulling together and helping each other out.  As one of my friends said, "I always knew Morehead was a special place."

I also want to give praise to the Technology Assistants at the elementary schools in College Station ISD.  These women teach every elementary student in the district.  They teach them the basics of the computer plus keyboarding, word processing, spreadsheets and PowerPoint.  Additionally, they help out with testing and tutorials on the computer in Math and Language Arts.  These women are fantastic teachers - way to go ladies.

Many other people touch my life and I'm so very proud of them, but the ones that are extremely special to me are the friends that are serving in our Armed Forces:  Lora Tucker, Rudy Davila, John and Jay Faulkner, and many more!  Thank you for making us proud!



Who are you proud of in your life?

What do you think?

Just something to think about....

....ish...

Think in terms of time.  What time is the party?  8-ish  What time do you need to get up in the morning?  7-ish  What time is your wedding?  11:30-ish

Wouldn't it be great if calendars were set up in "ish" time?!  We'd never be too early or late.  We could arrive pretty much on time for anything.  If you weren't sure of the time, you could "ish" it.  I'm telling you this is the answer to doctor's offices, schools (think of all the tardies that would be eliminated), date night, t-ball games, concerts, etc.

I think I've solved MOST of the world's problems today!

Zits at "50"

I consider myself blessed.  I don't seem to have to go to the doctor often.  Just the usual yearly stuff; however, at 50 or almost 50, I find myself ready for acne to go away.  So, I have been going to a wonderful dermatologist in town.  It's really unheard of I think.  I get there and they take me to the little "room" immediately where I don't ever wait more than five minutes.  At a doctor's office!!!  Seriously - sometimes I wonder if it is a fake doctor's office because just about all the rest require a minimum of an hour wait.  But I digress...

Good news today, most everything she was concerned about was doing much better - with the exception of the big gigantic fever blister that popped up last night.  These are usually due to nerves but I don't really have anything to be nervous about so I'm blaming it on the flaming pink/orange lipstick I was wearing yesterday....no Miss Donna it was NOT Mary Kay. 

Well, when she looked at my chin, she asked about this bump I have.  My professional opinion is that it is a "long term zit" but it never goes away.  I'm just blessed that way.  Anyway, she asks how long it has been coming and going and I tell her for months.  She frowns and I frown too.  But I wasn't ready for the next thing she said, "Well, I don't like it - I want to take it off and do a biopsy!"  ON A ZIT???  Are you kidding me?  No she was not. 

Needle in face to numb.  (I'm so glad I do acupuncture - otherwise this would have been traumatic.)  Scalpel to scrape it off and big round band aid to wear all week long or until it heals, (which with me will take twice as long as a normal person.)  It's quite a cute addition to my normal beauty routine.  I'm wondering if I color the band aids black if they will look like a beauty mark...do you remember those?  Geez we are OLD.

Why am I sharing this wonderful episode in my life - well it is two-fold.  One, the numbing is wearing off and I need to share my pain with people that care and two, I want to remind everyone to have their skin checked for questionable spots....you just never know when one of those childhood sunburns will raise it's ugly head in the form of skin cancer.  I care about you all.

Blog for my Middle School friends

Today I began working on my latest blog - dedicated to my middle school teachers and friends.  I hope that it will give them a resource to make their lives easier in the classroom AND help students learn.  I welcome any middle school tips and tricks, links, blogs, etc., that could be added to the blog.  Teachers don't have time to go out and search the web every time they want to present a lesson.  Hopefully this will help narrow that search a bit.  Please take a look and send feedback.  Remember it is only the beginning. 

www.smartologyandsmore.blogspot.com

Don't let time get away...

I should have written this yesterday but time got away from me.... - so I'm a day late with best wishes for a best friend - the bestest friend I ever had as a child.  Missy and I were children of church goers...and let me tell you, we went.  We attended church camp in Tennessee, went to Sunday school, Sunday morning service and Sunday evening service, tent meetings and Wednesday services weekly, and even got to "party" with the college kids that attended our church.  Picnics and get togethers were always the best.  


We also played and had great times together.  Whether it was Barbies or pretending to date the Osmonds, or just hanging out -  we always had a great time.


As we got older, we drifted apart and hadn't been in touch in years - but I thought about her often.  Low and behold one day on Facebook I found her.  She hasn't changed a bit - still that beautiful redhead I remember.  Yesterday was her birthday - brought back so many great memories.  I feel blessed to have reconnected with my friend.  Hope your birthday was very special Missy - the day was special for me.


Why am I sharing this on my blog?  Mostly because I wanted Missy to know how much I care and let her know she is missed, but also because I wanted to remind everyone out there in blog land to reconnect when you can - it is so worth the hunt for long lost friends.  Don't let time get away....

Petticoat Junction...

For those of us "old" folks, that reminds us of times gone by...no worries...and relaxing in front of the television.  


For the youth of today, not so much.  I'd hate to think of what "Petticoat Junction" conjures up in their minds...Seriously!  My how times have changed.


Now that I've reminded you of that sweet show...and Grandpa....you can't get that song out of your head can you?


Enjoy your day....at the Junction.


Trivia:  Who played Billie Jo at the end of the run of this series? 


Hint:  Initials - M.M.

Small things can change your mood.

As I got ready for work today, I decided to do something for one of my campuses so I stopped and got them Shipley's Donuts.  Just a spur of the moment thing but isn't it funny how doing such a small thing can change your mood for the day.

Then, as I was driving down Texas Avenue to the school I found myself behind an electrician's truck.  I noticed that he had left a box of those little yellow thingys you screw on the ends of wires to cap them so that they aren't bare and can't shock someone.  It held a bunch of them, so I decided to follow him and let him know.  Just as we turned a corner they went flying, but luckily he pulled into a quick stop and I pulled in behind him.  Rolled down my window and told him what had just happen - he smiled a "thank you" and went to retrieve them.  Again, such a small thing can change your mood.

Once I arrived at school, I delivered the donuts to smiles and greetings.  I'm thinking, wow - this is going to be a great day!

But then, I began reading my email and found that one of my favorite people in the world is REALLY moving on to a new chapter in her life.  It's been kind of like I knew it but wasn't accepting it literally; however, this morning her job was posted.  That's a slap in the face of reality.  I'm going to miss her so.  Posting a job opening, such a small thing but WOW can it change your mood.  I gonna miss you friend!

Manners

What happened to the following?

Please.

Thank You.

May I help you?

Yes Ma'am.

No Sir.

May I take your coat?

How can I help?

Would you like a refill?

No thank you.

Your welcome.

Absolutely.

God Bless You.

Be careful.

Be safe.

Sincerely.

May I help you?

Excuse me.

Bogie gets a fence...

This weekend Mike and I worked together to build Bogie a fenced in yard to run around in without a chain around his 7 lb body.  It is an awesome fence, looks like the old fashioned fences from the Victorian houses.  Love it.

This was an amazing feat for Mike and me - in fact it was a first.  We worked together on a project for 1 1/2 days and did not exchange "words" the entire time.  I mean, absolutely no disagreements whatsoever!  I think we are getting old. 

Speaking of old, my body is feeling old today after all the bending yesterday.  Why is it that your body feels old when your brain says you are still 30?  Seriously!

Getting in line at the checkout....

I don't know about you, but it NEVER fails that no matter which lane I choose I get in the one that takes the longest to check out.  I can get in the lane with nobody in it and it still takes me the longest.  I can go through self-check and something decides to break, I mean really - why does this always happen?  It seems to happen EVERY time at the grocery store. 

Heck, I've even tried to use psychology on the lane I pick.  I'll choose a lane, then they'll open a new lane but I stay where I am because I know I won't get out any earlier if I go to the other lane and I don't want to hurt my lane's feelings.  But, as sure as I stand there, I watch 10 people go through the other lane.  Seriously, do I have a sign on me that says, "longest lane only - show me the longest lane!"

I am also the person that gets behind the people that pick up something with no price, or the wrong brand, or find that they left their money in the CAR!  Who does that?  Ridiculous - surely people check before they get out of the car.  Is it only me - don't you check to see if you have money before going in a store that you KNOW you are going to buy something in?  THIS IS NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!

All I can say is thank goodness WalMart opened more lanes this week - I'd have to start taking a sleeping bag with me for checkout!

TV is screwed up these days!

One of my best peeps brought this topic up to me the other day and it really made me think.

Do you remember when we planned our lives around what came on at what time on what day!!!  You used to be able to do that.  You knew that The Wonderful World of Disney was on Sunday night, every Sunday, week in and week out!  All programs were like that.  Life was simple. 

Heck, we planned our classes around soap operas in college!  My sorority sisters and I were big ABC fans - and I remember when Luke and Laura got married....we all missed class that week - if we hadn't already planned our schedules around that time slot.

Nowadays, you can't do that - there are premiers going on all the time.  Just when I get used to watching a show on a certain day and time they change the day, or the time, or the day AND the time!  What's up with that?  Seriously.... I think they would have better audiences if they left the schedule alone.  Really, it is not a priority of mine to play charades trying to figure out when NCIS is coming on this week.  I need CONSISTENCY.

Oh, and don't get me started on why the DIY channels all seem to think we want them to show the same show in a MARATHON!  Then you know what they do?  They show them one at a time, for weeks after that...what's up with that?  Seriously!  You've just ruined it for me for the next 12 weeks. 

And do they realize that we notice that these were filmed 3-4 years ago?  I mean REALLY?  There's a flood on the East Coast and you are showing me some farm in Rhode Island with Spring flowers from 2007???!!!!  I think they could show something a little more up to date than that - don't you?

I love me some good couch time and a tall cold glass of Coca~Cola while I watch my HGTV but I sure wish I could figure out what day and what time my "shows" are going to be on. 

I guess that's asking too much.  I sure miss the good old days.

I love Spring!

Where does the time go?  It feels like just yesterday I was packing to go to Kentucky for a week and now it is already almost two weeks past the time I returned home! 

God must be concerned about time flying by also because he is really hurrying Spring blooms along now.  In Texas, our trees and shrubs are coming out, flowers are blooming and on my all black car I have a thin layer of bright green pollen.  I'm sure allergies are kicking in for lots of folks right now.

When I visited Kentucky they were just beginning to see the buds come on the tips of the tree limbs, especially along the river banks.  Now Mom tells me many things are coming out - pussy willows, forsythia, easter flowers and more.  I'm so happy for family and friends up there - I know they were sure sick of the cold and snow.

And did you see the cherry trees in D.C.?  Just gorgeous!  One of my friends from high school took the pictures I'm sharing today.  Lora is certainly talented with a camera and blesses me often when she posts her pictures on FB.  I think I need to put seeing the cherry trees in bloom in D.C. on my bucket list!!!

Here's to your Spring, no matter what stage it is blooming!  Happy Easter!!!

Spring Forward times Two

 I've been planning my Spring Break trip back to Kentucky in my brain and it HIT me like a ton of bricks.  I not only have to endure the time change this year but I will be enduring it twice.  As we head back to Kentucky we lose an hour and the time change will occur the same day we arrive there.  We'll be sleeping 'til NOON!!!

I love having the longer days in the summer but you know what, I'd be satisfied to just leave the time that way all year round so I don't have to get used to it again.  I don't even know what the real reason is for us doing a time change to begin with...I've heard it is so the kids don't have to be at the bus stops in the dark.  Like they care.  Seriously! 

You'd think people had enough to worry about without adding the time change to their problems.  Somebody needs to (as that guy on the radio says) WAKE UP AMERICA!

Trouble with computers is sometimes there are trouble with computers

Been having issues with my blog - now I've changed the name.  Wonder if this will work.  This is a test.  Don't be surprised if I have to change it again!

Update! Fixed it. Had to delete some gadgets but at least it works now. I'm happy.

Things that make me cry....in a good way

1. The Star Spangled Banner
2. Senior Night
3. My Old Kentucky Home
4. Movies
5. Watching kids win the big game!
6. School Songs after a high school/college football game.
7. Student achievement - teachers will totally understand that one!
8. Hug from a special friend.
9. Soap Operas - crazy I know, one reason I don't watch anymore
10. A good book...

What about you?

Sunshine On My Shoulder....

makes me HAPPY!
Sunshine on my feet wasn't part of John Denver's classic!

So happy that God has blessed us with sunshine and warmer temperatures today.  Just gives a lift to my spirits when the Spring sunshine comes out.  I know it is early but I wore Springy clothes today - could not wait another day.  Bright orange, bright pink and even orange shoes!!!

Spring Cleaning

Spring Cleaning is so much better when doing it with another person.  It was fantastic yesterday - Mom and I went to Lowes, bought plants and headed home to the back deck to do some damage.  She was the cleaner and I was the planter.  

Loved it - she cleaned every table, chair leg, etc....all the jobs I hate.  I planted about 8 large pots with flowers and greenery, rearranged a bit and I must say, it shows nicely.  What a feeling of accomplishment.!

Now - is it Spring yet???

Happy Day....

 

• Loving that today is Friday.
• Loving that I work with five of the most wonderful girls (women) in the world and that my campuses are full of dedicated and fun teachers.
• Loving that kids in Texas still say the Pledge of Allegiance!  (Every day!)
• Loving that I live in a wonderful community where they still usually say please, may I help you and thank you when you shop!
• Loving that my husband gets to go quail hunting with friends this weekend.
• Loving that my momma seems to be enjoying her winter with us - and not toooooo homesick.
• Loving that God has blessed me with great family and friends.
• Loving that my day is starting on a positive note...
• Hope yours is too!

Do you remember???

• Charlie's Shell Station in Hazard, Kentucky
• "saddle oxfords"
• blue eye shadow
• roller ball roll on lip gloss
• crew neck sweaters and button downs
• Anais Anais perfume and Georgio
• jellies
• maroon Aigner purses
• hankerchiefs
• Juicy Fruit gum
• white gloves and HATS
• Sunday dinner
• Spin the Bottle
• Little Kings
• Mixers
• Homecoming Mums
• all girl health classes/all boy health classes
• the Wonderful World of Disney
• Hollywood Squares
• when you didn't have a computer or a cell phone
• raising a garden
• Monopoly, Yahtzee and Clue
• Etch-a-Sketch
• Silly Putty
• Coke before it was Coke Classic
• Penny loafers
• curfews
• tent meetings
• American Legion baseball games
• picnics

I'm sure you can think of more yourself....just thinking about the things we used to do before computers and cell phones.  I miss it, do you?

My husband is an orchestra!

 As I sit in my home watching the Aggies try to pull out a win against Baylor, I am being serenaded by my husband's melodious snoring.  He has all sections of the orchestra - brass, percussion, etc.  Unfortunately it is a tune I know all too well.

It's funny - it seems that any time I start giving him a hard time about his loud tunes, he makes the point that I snore also.  I do - I know I do but I KNOW I could not possibly export such noise....I mean "tunes" from my self.  It just isn't lady-like!  I have on occasion been awaken by my tune but never has my volume been as high as my spouse.

The key to sleeping with this orchestra is getting to sleep before the orchestra arrives....that works every time.  If you have a similar Top Ten performance at your home, I'd love to hear about it.  What do you do to turn it down?  Have you found a solution?  Please share. ;)

Aggies lost - time to go to bed, BEFORE the orchestra arrives. LOL!

Work starting at 10 a.m.

Now this is something I could get used to!  We had a delay due to ice on bridges today - and it was a good cautionary step to take as there were many wrecks on the roads before 10 a.m.  By the time I left, all was clear with the exception of one guy who had spun into the median and was being towed away.

There was a quiet but excited buzz from the kids today at Pebble Creek Elementary.  They were talking about the snowmen they built or the fun they had in snowball fights.  This may be one of the few times these kids ever see snow - so sad.  All kids should have snow to play in at least once a year - once a year would be fine with me!  More than that - I don't think so!

All this reminded me of the sledding we did at a house down the street from where I lived.  Big hill with some slight terracing.  Every year we went there - even as high school students.  Every year someone or more than someONE broke their wrist or ankle.  It was always fun though.  Too bad we didn't have that much snow here for the kids.  But at least they got a taste of what it could be!

1-3 inches of snow today, 69 degrees on Thursday????

Sometimes I wonder if God has a shot of expresso in the mornings! 

What is up with this weather?  I'm serious - freezing cold, wind chill - brrrrrr and snow one day then pull out the shorts two days later - seriously. (Well I won't put on shorts cause no one wants to see that but you know what I mean!) 

If this is global warming, what is global cooling, or better yet what is global NORMAL?

I am hoping the snow thing is wrong - I've driven on snow - lots!  There is a right way and a wrong way.  My experience on the roads in the South when it snows has taught me two things....get to your house as soon as possible AND southerners do not know how to drive in the snow.  People, people, PEOPLE, you do not drive the same speed on snowy, icy roads that you do on a normal dry or wet road.  That's all I'm going to say about that.

I hope and pray everyone is safe getting home today IF we get bad weather.  And by the way, God, you might want to lay off the expresso....I'm just sayin...

Momma's Girl....

Daddy's girl....that was me!  I was the apple of his eye and would do anything to win his approval.  But my sweet daddy died in 1984 and since then my momma and I have been on a roller coaster of emotional learning experiences.  We have forged a wonderfully solid relationship and repaired some broken places along the way.  Getting to know and understand my momma AND our relationship has helped me to grow as a woman.  I can think of no other woman or man that has influenced my life as she has - and in a positive way.

That saying, "I have become my mother," is so true of me.  I talk like her, think like her and SHOP like her.  We love many of the same things:  antiques, dogs, reading, public education, friends, and much more. 

The best thing about my relationship with my mom is that we have finally come to a point in our lives that we can enjoy each other's company without harsh words, competition (yes we were very competitive) or major disagreements.  Why did it take so long?  Probably my immaturity and stubborn attitudes (which I get from my mother!).

Mom is going on 80 and me, well I'm 30 years behind her.  I'm so thankful that we have come to this point in our lives and hope that others have the opportunity to enjoy their mommas as much as I am enjoying mine.  I know she will always be there for me as I will be there for her...I pray for many years to come.

Hmmmm.....Momma's girl - that's me!

Innocence of Children

Bubbles in mouths....hands in lap....and they just do it for the teacher!  When I think about it, I love my job.  I am so blessed to be able to walk into a school every day of the week and see children learning, playing, socializing, even teaching and a million other things throughout the day.  They are our future and what a future it can be!


Things I don't think about often, these kiddoes can cause a smile to spread across my face!  For example, all the things they say as they walk past my door on the way to the cafeteria.  Or I just love it when they stop at the lab door just to wave or say hello....they don't even know me but they trust and give a piece of their heart to me when they greet me.


Wouldn't it be wonderful if adults smiled as much as children.  I mean, really!  They grin all the time and it IS INFECTIOUS.  Try it.  Take this one little thing the innocent child does hourly and incorporate it into your day.  Smile more at the people around you - see if it doesn't make a difference, not only in the person you smile at but in your day as well.

Olympics 2010

Wow!  That's it, just Wow!

Communication on all levels....

Have you ever noticed how the lack of communication ruins EVERY thing in all facets of our lives?  For example, asking for assistance in a retail store, the gas station, a restaurant, your work place, at the dinner table, with friends, on FB, through an email, on a blog, etc.  It is subject to so much reading between the lines.  It seems to be getting worse instead of better.  You'd think with all the technology we have in the world today, communication would be outstanding, instead, the lack of communication is standing out!

For example, there should be a translator for all sorts of things that automatically comes with your email.  Like when you receive something from your husband, it should have what he wrote and then in parentheses what he really meant to say.  Or, from your child, have what they said and then what that new slang means. 

The lack of these types of translations lead to frustration, which leads to anger, which leads to miscommunication, which leads to the lack of meeting goals, which leads to more frustration...you get it right?

Why is it that when you try to communicate about anything, people take it personally, especially when you truly aren't complaining you are COMMUNICATING, or attempting to anyway.  Funny thing is you are usually trying to help a situation and by the time it gets done you've made every person along the way mad at you, others, and themselves.

Maybe the problem is we move so fast that we don't have time to LISTEN anymore.  We don't have time to read at a slow enough pace to recognize the message.  

Whatever it is, I don't like it. I want everyone to know that my whole goal in life is not to get up in the morning and think of who I can tick off that day through an email, phone conversation or face to face.  I really do want to be and try to be - clear and thoughtful.  I want you to understand my message and respond with a well thought out answer.  I don't want you to take it personally or read into what I am saying.

Life is too short to get bent out of shape because of misinterpretation of a communication.  If you aren't sure about what someone is saying, asking or showing you - ASK FOR CLARIFICATION.  Most people I know would gladly give more information if it would help.

Then again, maybe it is just ME!

Baby bumps....

When did we first start calling pregnant women's protrusions baby bumps?  I know it does sound better than protrusion, belly, etc., but when did that happen? 

I have a very close friend that has just posted her baby bump - it just "came out" this week.  We are so excited and can't wait for the baby to debut in September.

I'm sure I'll have more to discuss later in the day but I'm covered up this morning - meeting with my wonderful teachers at Southwood Valley!!!

Real Friends vs Pretend Friends

As I was sitting in my meeting this morning, my friend suggested I blog every day.  Hmmmm…..do I really want to do that?  I mean, one more thing to take up time.  Later, as I drove away to my next stop, I thought, hmmmm….that could be fun.  Lord knows I have tons to talk about, even if no one wants to listen.
 
AND, since my friend suggested I blog, I’m going to begin by blogging about my friends.  They’ll LOVE that!  LOL!

When I taught high school, many moons ago, I had a student talk to me about her friends….her “good friends” that were real, and her “pretend friends.”  Yes, PRETEND FRIENDS.  Now I just don’t get this.  What is a pretend friend?  Why would you want a pretend friend?  Really?  She explained to me that a pretend friend was a friend that you pretended to like in the right social places but wasn’t a real friend at all.  Now how hurtful is that!  I was floored.  I always thought less of that student after that.  She went on to say that a real friend was someone that you could count on for everything and that you were a real friend to as needed.  I wonder if she knew she might be a pretend friend to some of her real friends.

To me, my “friends” are just that, friends, although some are techie friends and others are friends I actually know in real life.  I don’t have any pretend friends.  You either are a friend or you are not.  I can’t imagine calling someone a friend when I am only pretending to be their friend.  Seriously, that is rude. 

I hope that my friends would feel the same way about me that I do about them.  I want them to know I am there for them as needed, loyal and have their back at all times.  I will be there to make them laugh or sit with them when they cry and cry too.  I hurt when they hurt and celebrate when they celebrate.  They are like my family, in fact they are a part of my family.   AND, should they ever do something to annoy me, I will let them know or ignore it, because they are my friend.

My circle of friends has increased over the years as I have become “techie – ER!”  My students have become Facebook friends as have my high school classmates and even some of my high school teachers.  It’s been such a welcome exchange to make contact with all of them again.  What a joy to find that some of my students became grown ups and responsible adults, even mommies and daddies - and now my friends! 

Friends of friends are becoming my friends now.  I’ve loved hearing stories along the way about the friends that I hang out with now.  Bonds have been created with new people because of my friends. 

The more I think about my friends, the more I know I am blessed.