For some odd reason the kids are off school today, and so I'm off work today. Nathan wants to flood the sandbox with the hose (a July activity) and I told him it was only two degrees above freezing and that the hose wasn't even hooked up. "But Mom, it's burning!" he replied. I don't get how kids' temperatures are completely out of whack with reality.
We celebrated Nathan's 10th birthday this past week. He is such a cute boy. His party was inviting a bunch of boys to the church to play indoor sports games. The highlight was midnight football, where you try to scrimmage the football across the floor on your hands and knees, and in the dark. For some odd reason, the boys took to this game like a bee to honey. They loved it so much, in fact, they wanted to play it again on Saturday. They were having so much fun that I had to bribe them into opening presents and eating cake. Who would have thought.
For some odd reason, I have loved being an aide in the autism class. People think it sounds incredibly hard, and sometimes it is, but mostly it's just great. I had no idea I would enjoy it so much. It was sad this week when the normal teacher came back from her maternity leave and I didn't have to get up and go to work at 8. But it was OK, too. There are a million things I need to do around the house. Not that I want to do them . . .
For some odd reason, my family has stumbled upon an amazing opportunity. We found out last week that Darren will be directing the London study abroad program for BYU in summer 2009, and that our entire family will get to live in London for two months playing and doing touristy things. And since it is in the summer, there is no school to worry about for the kids, just play. We will live in a flat in downtown London and there is a cook who makes meals for the families and students. I cannnot believe our good fortune. My friend Gina told me she didn't want to hear one complaint about anything come out of my mouth for the next five years! I don't know how to express how excited we all are.
For some odd reason, I'm learning to swim for my mini triathalon. I think I will be able to do the swimming part. I don't know about the jogging part, but I'm pretty sure I can swim and bike. Thanks to Adrienne who is training us old fogies not to drown while keeping our butts up in the air and our feet kicking straight. We could not do it without her. We owe her.
Spring is thinking about coming. It decides to comes for a few days, then changes its mind. While it was here on Saturday, Darren and I cleaned out all the flower beds, raked the yard, and got ready to plant peas. On Sunday morning we awoke to a dusting of snow, a sign, perhaps that winter was tired of dumping inches on us and was tapering off a bit. It has been a cold, snowy winter.
For some odd reason and a strike of good luck for me, my sister is moving back to Utah. I can't wait to have her here, close enough to see on Sunday afternoons, close enough to share holidays together. We will all spend some insane days together at the cabin this summer, where cousins will get to be cousins and aunts and uncles can be aunts and uncles. Grandma can be Grandma, and turn off her hearing aid when she can't stand the chaos anymore. We will take walks, play in the lake, pick wildflowers and maybe huckleberries. We will play games, get sunburned, skip rocks, and take the canoe out. Maybe we will see a moose near the cabin when we're sitting on the porch sipping hot cocoa. Uncle Mike will take us fishing, Uncle Darren will take us hiking, and Uncle Mark will take us out in the boat.
For some odd reason, I get to be a part of all of this.
Monday, March 3, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
A Foray into Politics
I can't believe I've been blogging a year now and have never talked politics. Well, let's face it, up until a month or two ago, there were way more candidates than you could ever get to know (or want to know). Now it's getting down to the wire. Of course in elections, the wire happens to be nine months away. But we've narrowed the playing field considerably.
My husband thinks my opinions on politics are WAY to vocal and strong. Are they too vocal if they're written in words? Tee hee. Since he never reads this blog, I'll move right along with my political agenda.
I am one of five registered Democrats in Utah County. But if I didn't live in Utah where my political party is even less than the minority, AND where I am desperately trying NOT to be like everyone else, I would still like Barack Obama way more than Hillary, McCain and Huckabee. Face it, the guy is infinitely likeable.
Darren always laughs at me because I am so superficial when it comes to picking a president. Somehow I know immediately if I like them. Instinctively I can look at them and know if I can stand to look and listen to them for four years or, heaven forbid, eight years. In 1992, I couldn't stand the thought of listening to the George Bush senior's nasal tone for four more years. I immediately took to Clinton. There was something about him. Yes, admittedly he has/had many faults, but you've got to admit he was bright, empathetic, and enjoyable to watch. And I liked his hands, of all juvenille reasons to like someone.
In the 2000 presidential election, I faced a big problem. I didn't like Gore the know it all or Bush the know nothing, but I voted for Gore--one of the five votes he got in this county. Neither one of these candidates did anything for me. I couldn't throw my heart into either one. The same thing happened in 2004. There was our incumbant president who was still so painful to listen to, and John Kerry, who always made me feel like crying when I looked at his face. He looked like he was perpetually in a grumpy mood. Nevertheless, I and four other people in this county voted for him. He lost. I was not too upset. George W. hadn't done TOO much damage . . . yet.
Now comes Hillary. She's like a rerun in a bad nightmare despite her obvious intelligence and expertise on many topics. McCain is so unpleasant to watch and listen to, I just can't vote for him, no matter his experience in foreign policy and other things. Huckabee should not even be in the race as far as a lot of people are concerened. I hope he becomes a non-issue soon.
Then there's Obama. Woudln't he be be so pleasant to look at and listen to for the next four years? I don't want to get to the point with our new president that I was with George W. after about a year. I would cringe every time he said something. I was embarassed for him, embarassed for our country that he seemed to have such a lack of understanding of the most basic issues. I began to turn him off when he was on the radio or TV. I didn't want to do this. He was the president and I wanted to listen to him. Now I'm worried that it's going to be the same thing with McCain and not for his lack of intelligence. For his lack of appeal.
I like Obama. I like that he's black. I like that his voice is deep and rich and melodic, not choppy nasal-sounding like our current president. I like that his smile really lights up his face. I get the impression that he smiles a lot, and not just for the cameras. I know he's young and inexperienced. That worries me a bit. The whole not putting his hand over his heart thing was a bit troubling. But he is optimistic, energetic and exciting to listen to.
Having a smiling black man be president of this country would be send a powerful message of reconcilation to those countries that we have alienated and offended over the past eight years.
I will vote for him.
My husband thinks my opinions on politics are WAY to vocal and strong. Are they too vocal if they're written in words? Tee hee. Since he never reads this blog, I'll move right along with my political agenda.
I am one of five registered Democrats in Utah County. But if I didn't live in Utah where my political party is even less than the minority, AND where I am desperately trying NOT to be like everyone else, I would still like Barack Obama way more than Hillary, McCain and Huckabee. Face it, the guy is infinitely likeable.
Darren always laughs at me because I am so superficial when it comes to picking a president. Somehow I know immediately if I like them. Instinctively I can look at them and know if I can stand to look and listen to them for four years or, heaven forbid, eight years. In 1992, I couldn't stand the thought of listening to the George Bush senior's nasal tone for four more years. I immediately took to Clinton. There was something about him. Yes, admittedly he has/had many faults, but you've got to admit he was bright, empathetic, and enjoyable to watch. And I liked his hands, of all juvenille reasons to like someone.
In the 2000 presidential election, I faced a big problem. I didn't like Gore the know it all or Bush the know nothing, but I voted for Gore--one of the five votes he got in this county. Neither one of these candidates did anything for me. I couldn't throw my heart into either one. The same thing happened in 2004. There was our incumbant president who was still so painful to listen to, and John Kerry, who always made me feel like crying when I looked at his face. He looked like he was perpetually in a grumpy mood. Nevertheless, I and four other people in this county voted for him. He lost. I was not too upset. George W. hadn't done TOO much damage . . . yet.
Now comes Hillary. She's like a rerun in a bad nightmare despite her obvious intelligence and expertise on many topics. McCain is so unpleasant to watch and listen to, I just can't vote for him, no matter his experience in foreign policy and other things. Huckabee should not even be in the race as far as a lot of people are concerened. I hope he becomes a non-issue soon.
Then there's Obama. Woudln't he be be so pleasant to look at and listen to for the next four years? I don't want to get to the point with our new president that I was with George W. after about a year. I would cringe every time he said something. I was embarassed for him, embarassed for our country that he seemed to have such a lack of understanding of the most basic issues. I began to turn him off when he was on the radio or TV. I didn't want to do this. He was the president and I wanted to listen to him. Now I'm worried that it's going to be the same thing with McCain and not for his lack of intelligence. For his lack of appeal.
I like Obama. I like that he's black. I like that his voice is deep and rich and melodic, not choppy nasal-sounding like our current president. I like that his smile really lights up his face. I get the impression that he smiles a lot, and not just for the cameras. I know he's young and inexperienced. That worries me a bit. The whole not putting his hand over his heart thing was a bit troubling. But he is optimistic, energetic and exciting to listen to.
Having a smiling black man be president of this country would be send a powerful message of reconcilation to those countries that we have alienated and offended over the past eight years.
I will vote for him.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Mahem in February
Sammie and Nathan are rolling around on the floor acting like drunk gorillas. They're making more noise that an entire ape family being attacked. I'm ready to rip out their vocal chords and strangle them. Why choose to write now? If not now, when? I see that it has been a couple of weeks, and I'm long overdue, no matter the noise level in the house. You'd think they could at least go to another room. But they find great joy is seeing me writhe and squirm in frustration.
Life is good. Valentine's week at school is fun. There are lots of treats and love notes and fun activities. I'm helping with my own class party, and helping with Leah's class party. And I just got a desperate call from one of the moms in Nathan's class saying that she can't get a hold of any of the moms who were supposed to help her. Could I please help her? So it looks like I will be going to three Valentine class parties on Thursday. Life couldn't get any sweeter, in my opinion.
Kids say the darndest things. I was doing reading with one of the kids and he put his head down on the desk and sighed. I said, "What's wrong, Gavyn?" He answered, pouting, "This school just makes me so tired!" He looked surprised when I started laughing.
After we gave a lecture last week about no fingers in noses and using tissues, the class was very good about running to get tissues instead of wiping their noses across their sleeves. But they also made comments while throwing their tissues away. "Cool! It's all glittery and sparkly!" one of them said as he tossed it into the trash. And "That one's heavy!" 'Tis the season of drippy noses. I'm so grateful I've managed to stay healthy even though I am exposed to legions of germs each day.
Don't ask me how, but one of my friends has talked me into training for a mini triathalon. It's the end of April. Yes, that is rather funny, isn't it? Darren says I can get new counters if I finish it. I don't have to do well, I just have to finish it. I've only been wanting counters for nine years now. I guess I've finally found a way to get them--by swimming, biking and running my way into them.
Only nine weeks until New York! Or maybe eight. The kids are busy earning all kinds of money to take to the Big Apple. They now get one ticket for every thirty minutes they read. Each ticket is worth 50 cents. The pile of tickets is growing daily. Darren and I are going to go broke paying the kids for their tickets. There has been much less TV watching and computer and video game playing this week. I like this a lot.
My sister in law, Kim, is having twins girls in June. Up until two weeks ago she thought she was having only one baby. Now she has 3 1/2 months til they're born and her life is in a whirlwind of trying to prepare for this. How do you ever prepare, though? Her children go from 3 girls and 1 boy to 5 girls and 1boy. Poor Josh. You gotta feel for the guy. That's a lot of hormones in one household.
I just found out that a couple of my earlier blogs got accepted for publication in a new literary journal called The Sigurd Journal. I guess it pays off to ramble on the compter every once in a while.
Happy Valentine's Day friends and family! Love to all!
Life is good. Valentine's week at school is fun. There are lots of treats and love notes and fun activities. I'm helping with my own class party, and helping with Leah's class party. And I just got a desperate call from one of the moms in Nathan's class saying that she can't get a hold of any of the moms who were supposed to help her. Could I please help her? So it looks like I will be going to three Valentine class parties on Thursday. Life couldn't get any sweeter, in my opinion.
Kids say the darndest things. I was doing reading with one of the kids and he put his head down on the desk and sighed. I said, "What's wrong, Gavyn?" He answered, pouting, "This school just makes me so tired!" He looked surprised when I started laughing.
After we gave a lecture last week about no fingers in noses and using tissues, the class was very good about running to get tissues instead of wiping their noses across their sleeves. But they also made comments while throwing their tissues away. "Cool! It's all glittery and sparkly!" one of them said as he tossed it into the trash. And "That one's heavy!" 'Tis the season of drippy noses. I'm so grateful I've managed to stay healthy even though I am exposed to legions of germs each day.
Don't ask me how, but one of my friends has talked me into training for a mini triathalon. It's the end of April. Yes, that is rather funny, isn't it? Darren says I can get new counters if I finish it. I don't have to do well, I just have to finish it. I've only been wanting counters for nine years now. I guess I've finally found a way to get them--by swimming, biking and running my way into them.
Only nine weeks until New York! Or maybe eight. The kids are busy earning all kinds of money to take to the Big Apple. They now get one ticket for every thirty minutes they read. Each ticket is worth 50 cents. The pile of tickets is growing daily. Darren and I are going to go broke paying the kids for their tickets. There has been much less TV watching and computer and video game playing this week. I like this a lot.
My sister in law, Kim, is having twins girls in June. Up until two weeks ago she thought she was having only one baby. Now she has 3 1/2 months til they're born and her life is in a whirlwind of trying to prepare for this. How do you ever prepare, though? Her children go from 3 girls and 1 boy to 5 girls and 1boy. Poor Josh. You gotta feel for the guy. That's a lot of hormones in one household.
I just found out that a couple of my earlier blogs got accepted for publication in a new literary journal called The Sigurd Journal. I guess it pays off to ramble on the compter every once in a while.
Happy Valentine's Day friends and family! Love to all!
Monday, January 28, 2008
Midwinter Day's Nightmare
Last Thursday night Darren and I took Adrienne and Samantha to see BYU's production of "A Midsummer Night 's Dream." We were on the very front row and the stage slanted down toward the audience and at times it seemed as if the actors would slide off the stage and into our laps. I would not have been surprised if a swarthy Athenian ended up at my feet. I may not have been too upset by it either . . .We could see every expression on their faces. I've never sat so close before. Anyway, it was amazing.
Two days later, however, it was a Midwinter Day's Nightmare. I'll just write a few clue clue words and you can piece together the picture: snow, Wyoming, stuck, snow, wind, fight, off the road, broken car, tears, anger, car parts, AAA, paying extra, no sleep. That was my weekend. Oh, yes, there was that 3-minute snowmobile ride and the 20-minute cross country ski. We musn't leave out the hour of highlights that made everything worth it (sarcasm intended).
I was born in Wyoming. In Laramie, to be exact. It was the middle of October and it was a blizzard apparently. Who ever heard of of a blizzard in October except people from Wyoming? In every picture we have of Wyoming, there is snow in it. I am always sitting on huge snowdrifts to get my picture taken. Was it NEVER summer in Wyoming? I will have to ask my Mom. I kept thinking about Wyoming's horrible weather conditions as I was driving along 1-80 last weekend, watching a genuine blizzard descend at alarming speed. I thought of all those toddler pictures of me sitting in the snow as we passed car after car that had spun off the road.
When we got home I told Darren I would never go to Wyoming again unless it was really and truly summer. Last year when we went in August it was wonderful. Everything bad that happened, happened because it was January and we were in Wyoming. OK, enough.
President Gordan B. Hinckley died Sunday. I loved that man because he made me feel like I could do it. When others might have said, "YOU SINNERS--SHAPE UP," he said, "You are wonderful. We should all try a little harder, reach a little higher, do a little better." I can handle admonitions in gentle, loving doses. He was unfailingly positive and good-natured. And he worked like a horse for 97 years.
Two days later, however, it was a Midwinter Day's Nightmare. I'll just write a few clue clue words and you can piece together the picture: snow, Wyoming, stuck, snow, wind, fight, off the road, broken car, tears, anger, car parts, AAA, paying extra, no sleep. That was my weekend. Oh, yes, there was that 3-minute snowmobile ride and the 20-minute cross country ski. We musn't leave out the hour of highlights that made everything worth it (sarcasm intended).
I was born in Wyoming. In Laramie, to be exact. It was the middle of October and it was a blizzard apparently. Who ever heard of of a blizzard in October except people from Wyoming? In every picture we have of Wyoming, there is snow in it. I am always sitting on huge snowdrifts to get my picture taken. Was it NEVER summer in Wyoming? I will have to ask my Mom. I kept thinking about Wyoming's horrible weather conditions as I was driving along 1-80 last weekend, watching a genuine blizzard descend at alarming speed. I thought of all those toddler pictures of me sitting in the snow as we passed car after car that had spun off the road.
When we got home I told Darren I would never go to Wyoming again unless it was really and truly summer. Last year when we went in August it was wonderful. Everything bad that happened, happened because it was January and we were in Wyoming. OK, enough.
President Gordan B. Hinckley died Sunday. I loved that man because he made me feel like I could do it. When others might have said, "YOU SINNERS--SHAPE UP," he said, "You are wonderful. We should all try a little harder, reach a little higher, do a little better." I can handle admonitions in gentle, loving doses. He was unfailingly positive and good-natured. And he worked like a horse for 97 years.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Home Alone on a Friday Night
Unbelievable! My house is completely silent tonight. I've found myself all alone on a Friday night. Adrienne and Leah have gone babysitting and Darren has taken Nathan and Sammie and their friends up to my Uncle Ted's ranch in Evanston, WY. We will join them tomorrow for snowshoeing, cross country skiing and sledding.
I survived my first week in the autism class. Not only did I survive, I thrived. I absolutely loved being at school for six hours a day this week. Need a cure for the January blues? Get a job, I tell you. It works wonders. I haven't functioned this well in January since the 80s. I am truly astounded at how much better I feel not being home all day. My little blue light box helps as well. The combination of the job and the light box seems to be working miracles with my mood! I'm so relieved. Only seven more days until January is over.
Let's see, what shall I do with three hours to myself? Watch a movie, GO to a movie, go to the library, go to the bookstore, work on my manuscript (nah)? Take a bath, file my fingernails, exercise (nah)? Read a book, clean the family room, (nah) pack for tomorrow? Drink hot cocoa while curled up in that super soft blanket? Look at the dings in the wall and the spots on the carpet? For sure I will crank the heat up now that Darren's not here to turn it down. It can actually be above 64 degrees tonight.
The possibilities are endless, but I'm leaning toward the library and Borders since I have a coupon burning a hole in my pocket.
What would you do on a Friday night that was all your own?
I survived my first week in the autism class. Not only did I survive, I thrived. I absolutely loved being at school for six hours a day this week. Need a cure for the January blues? Get a job, I tell you. It works wonders. I haven't functioned this well in January since the 80s. I am truly astounded at how much better I feel not being home all day. My little blue light box helps as well. The combination of the job and the light box seems to be working miracles with my mood! I'm so relieved. Only seven more days until January is over.
Let's see, what shall I do with three hours to myself? Watch a movie, GO to a movie, go to the library, go to the bookstore, work on my manuscript (nah)? Take a bath, file my fingernails, exercise (nah)? Read a book, clean the family room, (nah) pack for tomorrow? Drink hot cocoa while curled up in that super soft blanket? Look at the dings in the wall and the spots on the carpet? For sure I will crank the heat up now that Darren's not here to turn it down. It can actually be above 64 degrees tonight.
The possibilities are endless, but I'm leaning toward the library and Borders since I have a coupon burning a hole in my pocket.
What would you do on a Friday night that was all your own?
Monday, January 21, 2008
10 Days Left
Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day everyone! I've been out shoveling show for an hour and it was coming down so hard I had to do it again 45 minutes later. We haven't had this much snow since we moved back to Utah almost 10 years ago. It's definitely a winter wonderland in our neck of the woods.
Tomorrow I'm going to start substituting at the elementary school in the lower grade autism class. The teacher is on maternity leave for 4-6 weeks and I will be the aide while she is gone. This past month I've been helping in the upper grade autism class periodically and my eyes have been opened to the trials and frustrations that these children face. I have been sworn at and yelled at on occasion while I've been in that upper grade class, but I've also seen the light bulb go on in some children's faces, and that made the other stuff worth it believe it or not. I am relieved to be occupied during this dreary, depressing month.
Adrienne went to a girl's preference dance at Orem High Saturday night and had a ball. We actually went out to buy a dress for this event and that was a fun mother/daughter time together. Her girlfriends did her hair, makeup and nails, and she looked gorgeous. Thanks Shelly and Bridgett for saving me tons of money at the beauty salon!
I feel sorry for the server at Macaroni Grill who had to cater to all 22 people in their group. And each couple had separate checks! What a nightmare!
Darren is coaching Nathan's Jr. Jazz team and the team's doing great. It gives him something to do on dreary Saturdays besides watching ESPN and playing Game Cube. He can't wait for soccer season to start again. This time he'll be playing without a broken ankle. I'm excited to see what he can do. I can't imagine ever seeing green grass again after the winter we've had.
Sammie is back at art classes after a two-year hiatus. She's decided that she's had a long enough break and is ready to create her beautiful masterpieces again. Leah is much happier since we started to going to school later and coming home later.
Cub Scouts continues to be an adventure a week for the other leaders and me. This past week a boy slipped on the ice, hit his head and started to black out. His eyes rolled back in his head and he was screaming. Only one leader was outside. The rest of us were inside cleaning up. While she was trying to make him focus on her and get him off the ice, the newest cub scout came up to her and said, "Sister Jackson, I didn't get my treat yet!"
Little boys are oblivious to the world around them. Not that I didn't already know this.
Only 10 days left of the worst month of the year!
Tomorrow I'm going to start substituting at the elementary school in the lower grade autism class. The teacher is on maternity leave for 4-6 weeks and I will be the aide while she is gone. This past month I've been helping in the upper grade autism class periodically and my eyes have been opened to the trials and frustrations that these children face. I have been sworn at and yelled at on occasion while I've been in that upper grade class, but I've also seen the light bulb go on in some children's faces, and that made the other stuff worth it believe it or not. I am relieved to be occupied during this dreary, depressing month.
Adrienne went to a girl's preference dance at Orem High Saturday night and had a ball. We actually went out to buy a dress for this event and that was a fun mother/daughter time together. Her girlfriends did her hair, makeup and nails, and she looked gorgeous. Thanks Shelly and Bridgett for saving me tons of money at the beauty salon!
I feel sorry for the server at Macaroni Grill who had to cater to all 22 people in their group. And each couple had separate checks! What a nightmare!
Darren is coaching Nathan's Jr. Jazz team and the team's doing great. It gives him something to do on dreary Saturdays besides watching ESPN and playing Game Cube. He can't wait for soccer season to start again. This time he'll be playing without a broken ankle. I'm excited to see what he can do. I can't imagine ever seeing green grass again after the winter we've had.
Sammie is back at art classes after a two-year hiatus. She's decided that she's had a long enough break and is ready to create her beautiful masterpieces again. Leah is much happier since we started to going to school later and coming home later.
Cub Scouts continues to be an adventure a week for the other leaders and me. This past week a boy slipped on the ice, hit his head and started to black out. His eyes rolled back in his head and he was screaming. Only one leader was outside. The rest of us were inside cleaning up. While she was trying to make him focus on her and get him off the ice, the newest cub scout came up to her and said, "Sister Jackson, I didn't get my treat yet!"
Little boys are oblivious to the world around them. Not that I didn't already know this.
Only 10 days left of the worst month of the year!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Snowy January Day
Christmas is over and the tree is on the back patio covered in six inches of snow. A piece of silver tinsel has broken free of its white cocoon and is flying around in the wind, a remnant of a our joyous holiday. What a beautiful Christmas it was. I'm grateful for the lovely memories.
This is the time of year when I seem to fall off the face of the earth. I struggle to stay upright in January. If I had my way I'd stay in bed reading all day in my pajamas drinking tea and eating whatever I wanted. But that's bad for me emotionally and physically. Intellectually I know this. But I can't help wanting to swaddle myself in covers and avoid the world.
That's how I felt yesterday. The world was not a happy place. Then I awoke to an email from a long-lost friend in Madison, Wisconsin. She told me she found me through this blog and that she enjoyed reading it. That kept me from wanting to go back to bed for the first time since January 1. Thanks, Pat. It also made me want to write in the blog instead of going back to bed. This is a major victory!!!!
Pat filled me in on Sally, her daughter, who is 16 now. I started babysitting Sally when she was six weeks old. Now she is a brilliant mathematician (yes the 16-year old) and attending college as a sophomore in high school. Blow me away. Does Sally know that I can't do math past the sixth grade if my life depended on it? Please don't tell her, Pat. Tell her I have other virtues.
So January . . .tons of snow and frigid temperatures. I don't remember having this much snow in the past 10 years. How do we make it through to March? This is how I plan to do it:
Thinking about a fun vacation. We're going to NYC (all six of us) in April! My sister and brother in law live in Manhattan and we will stay with them. Darren purchased tickets to Wicked today. The Red Sox are playing the Yankess when we are there as well. Darren is willing to sell his soul to see this game. There is much to look forward too. An entire week in NYC doesn't come around every day.
Substituting at the elementary school for 4-6 weeks while one of the teachers is on maternity leave. Working for six hours a day will definitely drive the doldrums away. It will also pay for our trip to New York. Well, part of it anyway. It will at least pay for Wicked and the Red Sox game!
Feeling so blessed that my sister and her family are moving back to Utah after having lived everywhere but for the past 15 years. Our children can be cousins and have fun getting to know each other. We can spend holidays together--wow Thanksgiving and Christmas with my side of the family, that's a first in many, many years!
Celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary in August. I don't know what we'll do, but it will be fun celebrating such a milestone.
Going to the cabin in Montana with family. We didn't go last year but we're going this year. Now that the kids are older, it will be even more enjoyable. Yes it will, Darren.
Thinking about what I accomplished last year. It wasn't a shabby year, goal-wise. I did (surprisingly) well at many of my goals. For this I am proud.
I am not going back to bed. I am going to go shower and go be duty guard in the frigid cold. It that doesn't keep my mind alert and functioning, nothing will!
This is the time of year when I seem to fall off the face of the earth. I struggle to stay upright in January. If I had my way I'd stay in bed reading all day in my pajamas drinking tea and eating whatever I wanted. But that's bad for me emotionally and physically. Intellectually I know this. But I can't help wanting to swaddle myself in covers and avoid the world.
That's how I felt yesterday. The world was not a happy place. Then I awoke to an email from a long-lost friend in Madison, Wisconsin. She told me she found me through this blog and that she enjoyed reading it. That kept me from wanting to go back to bed for the first time since January 1. Thanks, Pat. It also made me want to write in the blog instead of going back to bed. This is a major victory!!!!
Pat filled me in on Sally, her daughter, who is 16 now. I started babysitting Sally when she was six weeks old. Now she is a brilliant mathematician (yes the 16-year old) and attending college as a sophomore in high school. Blow me away. Does Sally know that I can't do math past the sixth grade if my life depended on it? Please don't tell her, Pat. Tell her I have other virtues.
So January . . .tons of snow and frigid temperatures. I don't remember having this much snow in the past 10 years. How do we make it through to March? This is how I plan to do it:
Thinking about a fun vacation. We're going to NYC (all six of us) in April! My sister and brother in law live in Manhattan and we will stay with them. Darren purchased tickets to Wicked today. The Red Sox are playing the Yankess when we are there as well. Darren is willing to sell his soul to see this game. There is much to look forward too. An entire week in NYC doesn't come around every day.
Substituting at the elementary school for 4-6 weeks while one of the teachers is on maternity leave. Working for six hours a day will definitely drive the doldrums away. It will also pay for our trip to New York. Well, part of it anyway. It will at least pay for Wicked and the Red Sox game!
Feeling so blessed that my sister and her family are moving back to Utah after having lived everywhere but for the past 15 years. Our children can be cousins and have fun getting to know each other. We can spend holidays together--wow Thanksgiving and Christmas with my side of the family, that's a first in many, many years!
Celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary in August. I don't know what we'll do, but it will be fun celebrating such a milestone.
Going to the cabin in Montana with family. We didn't go last year but we're going this year. Now that the kids are older, it will be even more enjoyable. Yes it will, Darren.
Thinking about what I accomplished last year. It wasn't a shabby year, goal-wise. I did (surprisingly) well at many of my goals. For this I am proud.
I am not going back to bed. I am going to go shower and go be duty guard in the frigid cold. It that doesn't keep my mind alert and functioning, nothing will!
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