Friday already???!!!!

I'm so excited!  It's Friday - that in itself is super; however, this is a special Friday because this is the Friday before TCEA - the Texas Computer Education Assn. Conference in Austin, TX.  Now I know some people don't get excited about their education conferences but I do - this one is awesome.  We learn so much and have fun doing it.  Then we get to eat fabulous food at fantastic restaurants all over Austin. 

We've been going every year for several years and the hotel we stay in knows us when we walk in and register.  They take good care of us.

So this weekend it is crazy - I have to shop for the trip, pack for the trip, get the hair done - you don't think this southern girl would go on a "big" trip like this and not get the hair "freshened" up do you?  Then there is the grocery shopping - I think we take enough munchies for 10 people and it will only be three of us this year. (That makes me sad.)

Leaving Sunday afternoon - yes Diana and I will be there in time to watch the Super Bowl!  Maybe go out and eat/shop or both.  We come back on Friday afternoon.  It's a full week of fun workshops and seeing friends from the past.  I'll be posting throughout the week so stay tuned for pics and commentary from hippy dippy Austin.

Life can be tough...

Aggies Fall to No. 6 Baylor, 63-60

You may think that's a horrible headline - and on the surface it is, especially if you are an Aggie fan.

Mike and I attended the Texas A&M Aggie Men's basketball game last night.  While the score says they lost, and they did, it does not tell the tale of this team. 

This season has been full of struggles and mountains that needed to be climbed.  First, the new head coach was diagnosed with Parkinson's.  Then one starter went down.  Then a second starter went down.  AND yes, a third starter went down.  They are all still out. 

Some men would give up with such a diagnosis.  Some teams would give up.  Some would fold and quit.  Not this coach.  Not this Aggie team. 

They were not playing up to their potential until recently.  We've observed a spark, a cohesiveness that was not there early in the season and now we are seeing these young men find a way to be competitive each night.  They NEVER quit.

There are student athletes on this team that haven't played in 3-4 years and they are stepping up and contributing.  They also are motivating the starters too.  They give an unbelievable effort in order to overcome players on their opponent's team that are far more talented. 

This team doesn't have the physical ability to win the NCAA Championship, but they do have the character to represent Texas A&M in a way that should make all Aggies proud.  They have learned that they always have the possibility of a win.  They never quit.  They support each other and now seem motivated to put their best foot forward when they walk on the floor. 

Wouldn't it be awesome if we all overcame our adversities in such a way, always putting our best foot forward? 



Pinterest - samples

Pinterest is a wonderful thing.  If you aren't addicted then you aren't using it.  I recently received an email at work that had the following in a much longer email.  (I've shortened it to deliver the best of what was shared.)  All of these have been shared on Pinterest.  Now they are being shared in emails and yes my blog.  However, I just wanted to point out that you can find things like this and much MUCH more on Pinterest.  If you don't have an account, comment below and I will send you an invite. 

Ideas to Make Life Easier Why didn’t I think of that?!  We guarantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems. Hull strawberries easily using a straw. Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.  Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes. Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band. Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone & iPod in a bowl.  The concave shape amplifies the music. Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags. Attach a Velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys. Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose. Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid. A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy.  Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.

Vacation from Technology

I had a wonderful weekend of shopping, cooking and relaxing with my family.  My mom and I shopped and found some of the things I had been pinning on Pinterest, mostly for organization 'stuff'.

We also hit one of our favorite places, BIG LOTS!  I love it - you never know what jewels in the rough you will find at Big Lots but it's like winning the lottery when you do!!  We found some great encouragement cards in stationary, canned Luck's apples (for frying don't you know) which we weren't able to find anywhere else in town and the perfect little picture to finish off my bedroom wall!  Great success!  As we were checking out, Mom was quite hungry.  She began opening the Peanut butter filled Oreos before I had paid for our loot.  So funny - reminded me of parents in the grocery line trying to keep their children out of the purchases.  Role reversal for sure!

Saturday afternoon we watched the Texas A&M Aggie basketball team beat Travis Ford's Oklahoma State Cowboys.  This is always a game we like to see because Travis played at Kentucky - pretty good small guard and always has a quick temper.   Since watching him coach in Aggieland he seems to find a way to get a technical most of the time; however, he did not this game.  He had reason to yell a bit though - the refs were a bit on the sad side.

Yesterday, Mom and I made Shrimp Creole!  I love that stuff.  My hands still smell like the onions I chopped but it was well worth it!  Yummo.

Next on my TO DO list for this week is getting ready for TCEA (Texas Computer Ed. Assn.) Conference.  It's in Austin and once again my peeps and I will be at the Embassy Suites.  This is always a fun time and a time to see new techie things for the classroom.  We also receive some good training at this conference.  This will be our last TCEA Conf. together and will just include Randi, Diana and me.  (So sad that Martie doesn't get to go this year.)  I'm feeling a little melancholy about it - can't wait to go and learn but sad that we won't have this time together ever again.  Times change and budgets do too.  I hope we are able to adapt to both!

Whew, I've rambled on today.  Now back to work.  Off to help more people with their STaR Charts....

Cauliflower....it's a big one

Yes it looks like a bouquet for a wedding, but it's not! 

It's a cauliflower out of my friend's garden. 

Can you believe it! 

Grown in Texas of course,

Because EVERYTHING is bigger in Texas!

Sam...

I hate to relay bad news but I wanted to follow-up about Sam.  The news was not good from the vet.  He does have cancer and they predict he has 3-6 months to live.  They feel that it was found early but this is a cancer that is inoperable and obviously fast moving.  We will know more next week when they do a more thorough exam and xray.  Right now they want his hog incision to heal.

To see and be around Sam you would never know he has a thing wrong.  He is as active as ever but he does get a little short of breath.  The tumor is pressing on the area around his esophagus I think.

We are sad but are celebrating and enjoying the time we have with him now.  Sam has a sordid past.  He has been through a lot - I think he is part cat because he has had "nine lives"....  We will consider him a blessing every day we have him but will not allow him to suffer if pain takes over his daily life.

Sam the Lab - UPDATE

Our hunting dog, Sam the Chocolate Lab, got into a tussle with a wild hog.  Sam lost.  He had a "stitching" at the vet's office yesterday.  The thing is, this happened 1 week ago but Mike didn't see it, nor did I, until this past weekend. Apparently momma hog got him with her teeth or hoof.   It was right in his chest, and looked like a precision scalpel incision - not what you would think another animal would do.  Sam never showed any signs of being hurt or in pain and no blood.  And, to make matters worse, while they were working on him, they had to put him out to sew up this six inch incision, they found a tumor which they biopsied.  We will know more today on that.  Mike is fearing the worst, as this is what his beloved Mookie had and the cancer took her.  So today I am praying that Sam will be o.k. and that whatever happens, Mike will be ok too.

On a positive note, Sam was up and running around today like he didn't have a pain or a care in the world.  Dogs are so resilient!

To Do List

If I don't write it down I'll forget so here goes:
1.  Paint front door.
2.  Paint rooster with chalkboard paint and bring in off the porch. ;)
3.  Send Katy Krumm the lemon pepper chicken recipe.
4.  Go to Round Table meeting
5.  Nails
6.  Add that Snickers Bar I just ate to my WW online.
7.  Give Ruth the Tammy Worcester books. She's going to be so happy!
8.  Pray for friends that have special requests.
9.  Pay bills and check to see that mom was able to pay hers.
10. Text Ashley.
11. Water plants -- might not need it after today!
12. Floor for bedroom
13. Movie....zoo one and horse one
14. Hang pics above our bed so they don't fall on our head!!!
15. Flowers for umbrella wreath
16.  Send card to Amber
17.  Call the yard people to spray
18. Charge iPad.
19. Update iPads for Shayanne.
20.

How observant are you?

I'm usually pretty observant of anything on the computer - sites, layouts, design, etc.  However, I guess on my own space I don't really see things quite so well.  For example, I am just noticing that the title of my blog, this one, is not showing up because it blends right in with the background....duh!

I've been thinking about how often this happens in real life.  We think things are what we THINK they are when reality they may be quite different.  Like proofreading your own document -you read what you know it is suppose to say but there can be errors everywhere that you miss.

It's so easy to allow your brain to become lazy.  You have to work at keeping it fresh.  I've found a great little website to do just that...http://www.lumosity.com/app/v4/personalization.  This site has brain games that keep us alert and on task.  Take a look.  Can't hurt and if you are a 50 something like me, you may NEED it.

Have a great day!  (Now off to fix the color on this blog site name.)

This and that...

~~~
Yesterday I helped with a UIL (University Interscholastic League) competition for elementary students.  It was so exciting to hear the conversations students were having...they were enthusiastic, proud, and competitive.  They were also supportive of each other which was wonderful.  We seem to lose that as kids get older. 

~~~
This week has been one that I've found myself turning to God on numerous occasions - not just for me but for family and friends, friends of friends and even strangers.  We are so lucky when we are young because we lead such a happy-go-lucky life.  But as I get older, I find that I am constantly worrying about illnesses, crisis, and day-to-day challenges more and more...not just mine but those of others as well.  Thank goodness God is always there to listen and he has been there to hear and heal as well.

~~~
I'm looking forward to the weekend.  Massage in the morning - yay!  Then car testing for Mom in the afternoon.  She's decided to get a smallish SUV!  It took some coaxing to get her to go SUV instead of car but I think I've convinced her that getting in and out of an SUV will be easier than a car.  Her knees are so bad that it is super hard for her to raise up out of the car seat.  She's interested in one by Toyota and the small Cadillac SUV.  We shall see how it turns out.

~~~
Diet update - so far I'm being somewhat good.  It's hard to break from sodas and sweet tea though.  I think I can do everything else but I have those around all day long.  Trying hard to drink more water...but ick!  I just keep telling myself..."you don't want to be the fat teacher, you don't want to be the fat teacher!!!" 

I'm going to have to figure out a menu for mom to fix that isn't fattening.  She cooks when she is here but it is usually good southern cooking - always with potatoes, bacon grease in some of it and bread most of the time.  This has to change or I'll never lose the gut.  Ha ha - I'll keep you posted.

Incentive - finally!!

I'm a fat cat!

For several years I have been in need of losing weight!  Oh large amounts!!!  I know I need to do it.  I know what needs to be done.  I know how to do it.  But the incentive has never quite reached the point of really making it worthwhile to me.

It has now.  I'll most likely be going back into the high school classroom.  I'll be working with high school students again - yikes!  I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE "FAT" TEACHER!!!  So the diet has begun, the exercise will begin in a few days - have to move the treadmill to the garage and get the t.v. hooked up so I don't bore myself into quitting. 

Seriously folks.  I think this is just what I needed to get started!  Now let's see how it goes.  I'll report back periodically - NO I will not be posting how much I weigh - maybe how much I lose though.  Your kind words and prayers will be appreciated. 

I feel good about this.  I can do this.  I WILL do this.

Collard Greens...

Oh yes I did see an elderly gentleman parked beside the road

with a sign on the back of his truck saying he had collard greens FOR SALE!!!

Have you ever eaten collard greens?  I have.  It's amazing how big the plant leaf is and how much it reduces when cooked.  It boils down to nothing.  They are suppose to be good for you but I'm not sure how when you have to put so much bacon and/or grease in them to season them.  Seems like that defeats the purpose.  I don't really care for them that much.  My mom says she likes them about once a year and that's all.  Ha!  Makes you want to just run out to that old man's truck and buy a bunch doesn't it.

Below is the finished product.  Yum Yum!

   

I posted three versions - everyone seems to make it a bit different.

Now run on out and get you some greens today.  I know you want to!!!

Changes

I found out yesterday there will be a change in my life next year.  I believe God has a plan and there is a reason for this change.  I appreciate also that I do not have to wonder about my future - now I know what to expect...sort of.  :)

Change is usually looked at with negativity; however, I believe in fate.  Changes that occur do so for a reason.  We may not know that reason for a long time or even never, but I truly believe it's for the best.  My goal is to be positive when change occurs...that's a challenge sometimes.

This year we've had lots of changes where I work, especially with technology.  It was not a happy situation to be in this year at first but as time has progressed, I think I see people actually liking the changes - at least I hope so.  I've been fortunate to be able to help them through the process by training and assisting.  (These were changes to programs and technology we use.)  It has been great fun watching the light bulb come on as they realized how to do something or that it will help them!  So rewarding!

The next time you go through a change, try to stay positive and look at it with optimism.  It sure makes life happier.

Pinterest. Addicted. Yes.

I am admitting it.  I am addicted.  But not in the way that I have to be ON Pinterest all the time, but in the way that I feel it will "HELP" me.  Seriously. 

And in fact it already has - I find all kinds of things that I COULD do in my home to organize!  I started with my laundry room.  The room is done but now I need to do the closet.  Problem is, it can be expensive also. 

If I had all the money in the world, I'd buy containers!  Yep, and they'd all be clear so I could see what was in them....learned that on Pinterest too.  Did you know there is a container for EVERYTHING! 

Another thing I wonder about now that I'm addicted to Pinterest....how much weight does the average Pinterest addict gain while Pintering?  All I know is that every time I'm on it, I get up starved.  The most delicious pictures and recipes ever and of course they all look EASY!  I bet Paula Dean is on it too!!!!  I bet one of her Boards is labeled "BUTTER"!!!!

Some things on Pinterest are strange though.  Like I have a friend, who will remain nameless but you know who you are, pins those little curved campers from the 1950's.  She seems to adore them.  I don't get it, but who knew there were that many pictures of them available and that there are groups of people that LOVE them so much!  This was the first clue that told me I was addicted....first, I don't like to camp.  Second, I don't see a need to pin them or make a label for them.  Third, while they are cute in an odd sort of way, is there a need for them?  What's the purpose?  With that said, I admit I enjoyed EVERY SINGLE MINUTE I spent looking at her pins of these funky, old campers. 

Yep, that's when it hit me.....I'm addicted.

If you would like to be addicted, and are not on Pinterest, please let me know.  I'll send you an invite!!!

As my aunt says, "Lord have mercy...."

I'm back!

It's been a long, long, LONG time since I've been on here.  I've decided to return to therapy and begin writing again.  I miss it.  Yet it's one of those things I have to make a habit.  It's not like I don't have the time.  I do.  In fact, I don't know why I abruptly quit posting.  I enjoyed it.  I love to talk so why would this be a challenge!?  So for better or worse, the expounding on my life experiences are continuing.  Hope someone out there enjoys.