Goals

Boy15 had the baseball season goals of starting JV (has started most games) and making 5 or less errors (has one so far). My goal for today was finishing up my team project and sending it out to my team members. Our deadline is Friday and one person shared hers over a week ago. Now my next goal is to complete two of the ten 'reflections' for my portfolio by Friday and this weekend work on the No Child Left Behind debate that will take place April 15.

Grateful for some really good popcorn at the game tonight (and not too cold), no one getting hurt tonight, heating pads, naps, and flat irons.

Zumba

This post is mostly for Betsy: Zumba has finally come to our YMCA and thank goodness I had the good sense NOT to sign up. I have observed it while walking on the track above. It's hard not to stare. I found out I'm not the only uncoodinated awkward dancer in town! They shut down the entire gym, but only use half the gym. There's a big divider curtain so I don't understand why you can't shoot baskets on the other side, not that I would be shooting baskets mind you.

Anyway, I thought Zumba was a free form of dancing, which I couldn't manage either, but the Zumba here is supposedly a Latin based dance. It looks pretty darned complicated, there is no way I could keep up with the moves those chicks are doing.

UNC is killing Michigan State. Going to see "Milk" Thursday. I finally got over thinking 'milk??' what kind of movie is about milk? Is that like that stupid book "Salt"?

P.S. A gym full of sweaty women smells a lot better than a gym full of sweaty guys.

Happy

I am elated to hear from my friends Madz and Ginnie!! Thanks for your comments. It made my day.

I am happy, too, to have had the foresight to take a week off from work. I'm practically exhausted from working and school and several things at work have conspired to make everyone pretty crabby!

My son asked me today what Palm Sunday was about and I had no idea. That's a little embarrassing. I was encouraged to attend church in my youth (which was located in my backyard) and all I remember of Palm Sunday was going out to the church dumpster the day after and finding all these cool leaves that we dragged out and played with.

Grateful

I have not been very grateful lately. Tonight walking out of the Y after an intense aqua workout, I thought, maybe if I counted my blessings once in a while, in a concrete way, I would be more content. So here I go.

The weather has turned decidely better. After all my bitching and complaining, I better appreciate it!

I saw a forsynthia tree blooming today.

My house hasn't caught on fire.

I have a really good support system: husband, kids, parents, sibs, friends, classmates, teachers.

I was offered an internship yesterday for next year- not my first choice, but I have one for sure now.

I sleep very, very well.

Louisville is in the Sweet 16.

Mickey

What do you think about Mickey Rourke? Has anyone seen "The Wrestler". I've heard it's real good. I'm watching a good interview with him done by Charlie Rose. He makes me want to be a good therapist. I want to give people the tools they need to function well, to get over problems, a lot of which I think is formed in childhood. Which then makes me want to be a good parent, so that my children don't have problems that I have caused.

Sunday

Boy15 made his high school acting debut this weekend (green shirt). He did a pretty good job. The character was his personality, so I'm not sure how much acting. He did memorize his part well, one of two speaking parts.
One of his funny lines was, "I know I have a bad haircut..." The play was called "Wonder on Paper" a not very good script.

I'm burned out on studying. I've spent all day on and off working on stuff and seeming to get nothing done. I'm concerned my concentration is not up to par. It might be preparing, living and recovering from the 17 hour day on Wednesdays.

Spent time with family for dinner this evening. It was really good. I haven't been able to cook much lately, so a whole chicken with stuffing on the grill (dad's specialty) was really tasty along with green bean casserole, baked potatoes, raw veggies, pineapple upside down cake. I've been obsessed with food lately, which is not really new, I'm just using it as my solace and 'get me through this semester' crutch. Very bad plan. I know I would feel better if I ate less and more healthily. It just feels like the one thing I can depend on to make me feel better. Sounds terribly like an addiction.
BTW- I didn't mean I alone ate a whole chicken, though I see how you would think that.

Trivial

Did you know an orange is a berry?
Do you know the name of Isaac Newton's dog? Of course not! It's Diamond.

Family Time

This weekend my bro from New Hampshire and his wife visited. They booked their flight to coincide with Boy15's acting debut. Turns out the school has changed the dates twice and so Chris and Donna didn't get to see the play afterall. Well, it's only about a 20 minute one act play, so maybe if this turns out well, he will continue and act again. It seems to run in the family, though not in me.

Here we are playing one of many games this weekend Trivial Pursuit. Also, played Golf (a card game), BS (cards), pitch (one dummy hand, too complicated at 11 pm), Apples to Apples. Boy14 is a big gamer, loves to play games which my family does also. We ate too much food this weekend, pork roast, pastabilities, corned beef and cabbage. Apple dumplings, Tres Leche cake, fruit salad, and on and on.


And what is in Nephew9's mouth? A candy cane I guess. His eyes almost always come out red, too. Sorry, not a good picture, but you can see the costume.

4/4

I wasn't being purposely cryptic, I was being scatter brained. I intended to pick up on Madz' meme and post the fourth picture in my fourth picture file. When I looked in "My Pictures" I was okay with the picture. One of my sister, boys and nephew at the Hard Rock Cafe a couple years ago. Well, when I went to browse and add a picture here, there were only 3 pictures in the fourth file (Boy15's rock band previously posted) so I posted this whimsical photo of the musical "SUESSICAL" dress rehearsal I watched the weekend of New Year's at my sister's house. Nephew9 is the one turned around in this photo. I actually helped decorate the costume. Aren't the little girls precious? My parents went down for the performance last weekend and said it was just great.

Anyway, I uploaded the picture and was too tired to write anything, and this might it be it for a while. Betsy mentioned seeing it, and Ginnie commented so I thought I better do some explaining! Classes start on Wednesday and that is a 17 hour day for me each week (commute plus three classes)and working 32 hours on the other days. Then doing homework on the weekends. Sounds like fun:) If you know me, you know I'll probably love it. Invigorating! Exhilerating! Exhausting?

While visiting Betsy, we went out for a evening on the town and went to a lesbian play called "Pulp". It was funny and clever, post World War II when lesbians were very much in the underground. This play took place in a lesbian club in Chicago and featured 6 diverse women.

The previous picture was a Danish ornament I bought last March in you guessed it, Denmark, actually at the gift shop of Kronberg Castle. I call it the pretzel girl, natch.

Christmas Flu

Two down, ?? to go. The youngest two in our household have been stricken with stomach flu. No fun, but a milestone is passed when they get sick in the night and tend to themselves without waking anyone. I noticed Boy14's trash can in the bathroom in the middle of the night and suspected illness but since it was dark, I couldn't see the contents, nor did it smell. What a wonderful thing not to have to get up, change the sheets, bathe the baby, etc.

Boy14 thought it was from the Banana Cream Pie but I explained it was a virus from his dear brother. Now he'll probably never eat banana cream pie again.

Favorite Version

One of my favorite Christmas songs and an original, beautiful rendition.

Bitter

After the ice storm we have about 1 degree temperatures. Even some churches closed due to cold. It is still somewhat of a minefield driving around town with downed trees and power lines in the streets, with just an orange cone to give warning. It's an absolutely frozen tundra out there.

Nonetheless, I am deeply satisfied now that Boy20 is home safely and we are all together for the holiday. I'm over halfway done Christmas shopping, so that is good. Tonight we watched Batman: The Dark Knight this evening. Not really my type of movie, but okay. Boy15 hadn't seen it before and predicted Dent to be a bad guy based on his having a coin.



Terri and I take a break from shopping at Taste of Thai. I ordered 'hot' and it was absolutely painful-delightfully painful.

Free Day

Today my good fortune was someone else's misfortune. The Ice Storm to beat all storms finally came through last night and rained and froze all night. The sound of cracking trees pierced the night several times, but our home didn't lose power. Lucky for us, certain areas of town did lose power including Pat's and my work. Yea!! Snow day, ice day! Free Day. It felt like Saturday all day, but tomorrow is Saturday and my grocery shopping is done, a little Christmas shopping accomplished and just a nice relaxing day.

Here is a list of my objectives for this holiday break from school:

Write something about my cousin who recently committed suicide for the Family News _done.
Resume exercise_ in progress
Read a book, other than the children's book I've been reading since October_ in progress "An Unquiet Mind" memoir of a psychiatrist who battled Bipolar Disorder most of her life. I love reading books about mental illness. Very compelling. Amazing, brilliant woman.
Place order for group I belong to_ done

That's about it for now. Spaghetti sauce splattered on my white sweater and I am none to pleased about it. Gotta go take care of it now before it sets in (Stain stick is a life saver).

Career Change

I got something off my chest today and I feel great. Ever since Oct. 24 when I registered for Spring classes, I knew I would be leaving my job next summer to pursue my career in school social work. I got approval for my schedule change (I will be off Wednesdays to travel 2.5 hours each way and take 9 hours of classes at the University) shortly after that. This means I will be working later the other weekdays to make up my 32 hour schedule. Grueling.

Anyway, I wasn't sure when to break the news to my boss that I don't plan to continue in the field of mental health at my current place of employment (after 12 years of service). So, I decided today was the day. His reaction? "Oh, I thought you were graduating in May and would be looking for other employment anyway." Needless to say, there were no tears or pleas for my continued servitude. This is my 11th supervisor in 12 years, so no love lost apparently.

I feel better getting it out in the open, even if no one really cares.


"Aspiring Social Worker"

Angie and I can hardly wait to lunch at our new restaurant "Jimmie John's" sub shop tomorrow. Actually, I'm more caught up in her excitement- a cold sandwich and a big pickle doesn't thrill me that much. We've been talking about it all week.

Holiday Pics

Sunday Musings

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. Charles Dickens



My favorite Christmas songs are:
Little Drummer Boy
Carol of the Bells
O Holy Night

I got to hear Carol of the Bells today at the high school band concert. Very nicely done. They also played a very good piece by a Dutch composer that was inspired by Israeli folk songs/dances. Called Rikudim by Jan Van der Roost. Wonderful! I think you can find it on You Tube.





I'm afraid to put much ornaments on the tree. It is seriously tipping and ready for retirement. I found a new item yesterday at Walgreen's. Yes, do invest in Walgreen's it's the best store ever. It is little battery powered tea lights. Perfect for putting behind the Christmas stocking holders so as not to catch anything on fire.

Cookies and Quotes

I got a craving for Russian Tea Cookies (Mexican Wedding Cakes),whatever you call them. Pat observed we only eat them at Christmas though I think there is a stale store version sold year round (Archway?). So I baked a batch, and proceeded to eat about a dozen of them. Had intended to share with my women's group this morning, but forgot to take them, so another dozen I have been devoured by me. Ugh. Good thing I only have them once a year. Something about the butter, little sugar and ground up nuts...

I did a little Christmas shopping today. Like my sister says, two for me, one for you...just kidding. I just go blank when someone asks what I want for christmas but often when I'm out I see attractive things. Our tree is down from the attic but not yet decorated. I'm throwing it out after the holiday. It's really old, really dirty and really ugly. Pat says the stand is too wobbly, also.

Ginnie, I, too, have been told I'm a good proof-reader. Just not of my own work. I know what I'm saying, so I think it's there even when it's not. Or if my mind says "per say" I won't notice I misspelled it. Did you ever have a phrase you thought you knew, but didn't? Like "For all intensive purposes?" I was shocked to learn in the swimming pool one morning during our chlorine klatch, it's actually "for all intents and purposes."

Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and their kids pay for it. ~Richard Lamm

I can understand people simply fleeing the mountainous effort Christmas has become... but there are always a few saving graces and finally they make up for all the bother and distress. ~May Sarton

Finale, per se

After turning in my last paper, my mom called and told me she found one more typo (yes, I have my parents *one retired English professor* read my papers). Lest you think that cheating, it was recommended by more than one professor that you have at least one outside opinion. Keeps you writing and expressing yourself more clearly. At least in social science writing, there's a tendency to assume others know what you are talking about, and believe me, they don't. I also leave out of a lot small words if you haven't noticed here.

So, my mom tells me the last sentence of my paper contains the phrase, "per say" rather than "per se." There's no way to correct it now, without driving the teacher crazy with revision after revision to clutter up his computer (on-line class, submission process). So, it's done and not perfect like I wanted.

So, our governor is a joke. I thought it ironic Blago made national news the day before his arrest broke, standing with Illinois factory workers who lost their jobs and blasting the Bank of America. Well, only the fourth Illinois governor to go to prison...he could share a cell with Mr. George Ryan.

Finding Peace and Blessings

Finding peace and joy and blessings is sometimes hard for me, especially as winter sets in and things, even little things, don't go my way. I think I have been especially lucky and spoiled in having my way most of the time. Here is some nice things:
gas for $1.65
a job and a holiday bonus of $50
University of Buffalo winning the Mac- Turner Gill
watching the boys play basketball and trumpet
a heating pad on my bed
Boy20 met Iguodaula's cousin at school
putting on my pajamas