The Blahs

It's almost the New Year.

I haven't been to the gym in AT LEAST a week. Before that, a month.

I haven't been to Weight Watchers since November.

I'm feeling the blahs. Can you tell?

I've maintained my weight over the break, but, I just feel bad. Not sad, not depressed, but, my body feels BAD. I've got to do something. And, I need to get started on it FAST.

I need to take care of myself! I only have this one body and I can't believe the damage I've already done to it.

I'm kind of disgusted with myself.

We are planning on going to Mexico next October. There's my incentive. I have nine months. I can be to 75% of my goal by then if I get my act together.

I'll keep you posted on my progress.

Music Monday... On Wednesday

This song reminds me of when Ed and I were first married. We lived in a little house near the local bar and would walk there Friday nights. My sister worked there and this song was a staple on the jukebox. It was also the second CD we bought together.


Chloe Dancer, Crown of Thorns

Ooo, yeah, yeah, yeah...
Chloe don't know better
Chloe's just like me, only beautiful
A couple of years difference
But those lasses never learn and you know
Chloe danced the tables in the French Quarter
She's always been given so I can't always make her laugh
But I'm proud to say and I won't forget
The time spent laying by her side, oh yeah, yeah
T he time spent laying by her side, oh yeah, yeah
Dreams like this must die
And a dream like this must die
Dream like this must...

You ever heard the story of Mr. Faded Glory?
Say he who rides a pony must someday fall
Talkin' to my alter, life is what you make it
And if you make it death well rest your soul away
Away, away, yeah child

It's a broken kind of feeling she'd have to tie me to the ceiling
A bad moon's a comin' better say your prayers, child
I wanna tell you that I love you but does it really matter?
I just can't stand to see you dragging down, again
Again, my friend again, oh yeah

So I'm singing
And this is my kinda love
It's the kind that moves on
It's the kind that leaves me alone, yes it does
And this is my kinda love
It's the kind that moves on
It's the kind that leaves me alone

I used to treat you like a lady now you're a substitute teacher
This bottle's not a pretty, not a pretty sight, yeah
I owe the man some money so I'm turnin over honey
See Mr. Faded Glory is once again doin' time, oh yeah

And this is my kinda love
It's the kind that moves on
It's the kind that leaves me alone, yes it does
And this is my kinda love
It's the kind that moves on
It's unkind and it's unkind and
It'll leave me alone, yeah

Like a crown of thorns
It's all who you know, yeah
So don't burn your bridges woman
Cause someday, yeah

Kick it!
And this is my kinda love
It's the kind that moves on
It's the kind that leaves me alone, yeah
And this is my kinda love
It's the kind that moves on
It's unkind and it's the kind that
Baby i said com' on, com' on, com' on,
Com' on yeah I said baby don't burn your
Bridges woman
~Mother Love Bone

Music Monday...

On Tuesday, of course...

I love this song because it reminds me of good friends... (and dancing in the garage...)

No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.

Said - said - said: I remember when we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown,
Oba - obaserving the 'ypocrites
As they would mingle with the good people we meet.
Good friends we have, oh, good friends we've lost
Along the way.
In this great future, you can't forget your past;
So dry your tears, I seh.

No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
'Ere, little darlin', don't shed no tears:
No, woman, no cry.

Said - said - said: I remember when-a we used to sit
In the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
As it was logwood burnin' through the nights.
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,
Of which I'll share with you;
My feet is my only carriage,
So I've got to push on through.
But while I'm gone, I mean:
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right!
I said, everything's gonna be all right-a!
Everything's gonna be all right!
Everything's gonna be all right, now!
Everything's gonna be all right!

So, woman, no cry;
No - no, woman - woman, no cry.
Woman, little sister, don't shed no tears;
No, woman, no cry.

I remember when we used to sitIn the government yard in Trenchtown.
And then Georgie would make the fire lights,
As it was logwood burnin' through the nights.
Then we would cook cornmeal porridge,
Of which I'll share with you;
My feet is my only carriage,
So I've got to push on through.
But while I'm gone:

No, woman, no cry;
No, woman, no cry.
Woman, little darlin', say don't shed no tears;
No, woman, no cry.
Eh! (Little darlin', don't shed no tears!
No, woman, no cry.
Little sister, don't shed no tears!
No, woman, no cry.)

~Bob Marley and the Wailers

Another Meme!

1. What is your occupation right now? Teacher
2. What color are your socks right now? white
3. What are you listening to right now? The ticking of the keys of my laptop and the heater blowing.
4. What was the last thing that you ate? White Chicken enchiladas
5. Can you drive a stick shift? Of course I can. The question should be, “can you drive an automatic” because it’s VERY hard for me! I’m going to teach Julie how to drive a stick shift.
6. Last person you spoke to on the phone? Julie Rodriquez – teaching partner and dear friend
7. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Absolutely! She’s my sanity!
8. How old are you today? 39
9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV? Motorcycle racing, hockey, drag racing

10. What is your favorite drink? Non-fat, sugar-free peppermint lattes

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? If I didn’t, I’d be completely grey. (Nice genes from my grandma!)

12. favorite food? Sea food
13. What is the last movie you watched? 101 Dalmatians (Character point celebration with Julie’s and my classes.) Other than that, Beowolf
14. favorite day of the year? My birthday
15. How do you vent anger? Swear, A LOT
16. What was your favorite toy as a child? Books
17. What is your favorite season? Summer
18. Cherries or Blueberries? Blueberries
22. Living arrangements? With my hubby and cat!
23. When was the last time you cried? I can’t remember
24. What is on the floor of your closet? Nothing
25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are
sending to? Not sure

26. What did you do last night? Put up my Wizard of Oz Christmas tree, went to the dollar store, cooked dinner (well, heated it up) and watched a marathon of Storm Chasers.
27. What are you most afraid of? Spiders and public speaking in front of ADULTS
28. Plain, cheese, or spicy hamburgers? It depends. If I’m BBQ-ing the burger, I like them plain. If I order one, I like cheese.
29. favorite dog breed? BLACK labs
30. favorite day of the week? Saturday
31. How many states have you lived in? 1

32. Diamonds or pearls? Always diamonds
33. What is your favorite flower? daisies

I'm BAAAAAACK!!!!

Holy cow internets. I have been gone a LONG time. I know. You've missed me.

Not so much??? Well, I never...

I really have tried to sit down and write posts. I just have been so tired by the time I get home. I just spent 5 days doing 50 parent/teacher conferences with my families. That's a lot of work. And talking. And worry...

So, today's installment will be music because I LOVE THIS SONG. In fact, I purchased it from iTunes this morning. Ed is going to be SO excited. Because he HATES THIS SONG.


Lay where you're laying
Don't make a sound
I know they're watching
They're watching
All the commotion
The kiddie like play
It has people talking
talking

You
Your sex is on fire

Dark of the alley
The breaking of day
The Head while I'm driving
I'm driving

Soft lips are open knuckles are pale
Feels like you're dying
You're dying


You Your sex is on fire
consumed
with what's to transpire

Hot as a fever
Rattling bones
I could just taste it
taste it

but it's not forever
but it's just tonight
Oh we're still the greatest
The greatest
The greatest

You
Your sex is on fire

You
Your sex is on fire
consumed
with what's to transpire

And you
Your sex is on fire
consumed
with what's to transpire

~Kings of Leon

Tuesday Tune-age

I know. It's been a REALLY long time. But, holy buckets have I been busy. Here's this week's installment:

Bittersweet Symphony

'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
You're a slave to money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah
No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
But I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no,no,no,no,no,no(fading away)
Well I never pray
But tonight I'm on my knees yeah
I need to hear some sounds that recognize the pain in me, yeah
I let the melody shine, let it cleanse my mind, I feel free now
But the airways are clean and there's nobody singing to me now
No change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the next
I can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no, no, no
I can't change
I can't change it
'Cause it's a bittersweet symphony, this life
Trying to make ends meet
Trying to find some money then you die
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
You know the one that takes you to the places
where all the veins meet yeah
You know I can't change, I can't change
I can't change, I can't change
But I'm here in my mind
I am here in my mind
And I'm a million different people
from one day to the nextI can't change my mind
No, no, no, no, no
I can't change my mind
no, no, no, no, no,
I can't change
Can't change my body,
no, no, no
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
I'll take you down the only road I've ever been down
Been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
Ever been down
That you've ever been down
That you've ever been down

~The Verve

Every time I hear this song, I am reminded of my friend Tiff's brother. I never got a chance to meet him. But, I think of him every day.

Spin Cycle

So this week's Spin Cycle has to do with fear. What am I afraid of?

Well, by nature, I am afraid just about everything.

Really, I am.

I HATE spiders. The thought of them makes me shiver uncontrollably. And, the fact that someone told me once that the average person eats 5 spiders a year, in their SLEEP, makes me want to cover my mouth and nose with duct tape every night.

When I was a kid, I was afraid of walking anywhere by myself. I hated to walk "up town" to the grocery store for something my mom forgot and would often beg, plead and bribe my sister to go with me. I REFUSED to walk anywhere at night that was off my block.

I hate scary movies, haunted houses and Halloween. I don't like the feeling of being scared. I don't like answering the door to trick or treaters on Halloween. I hate the fact I can't see who people are under all of the masks or face paint.

I do fear losing a family member. I don't have kids of my own, but, the thought of losing a niece or nephew, or brother or sister is a scary thought to me.

But the thing I fear most is conflict. Hate ANY kind of conflict. The thought of an argument with my husband or sister or mom sends my heart racing and gives me the sickening feeling in my stomach. It almost feels like my body is getting ready for the fight or flight response. If it's a conflict that goes on for more than a day, it can get so bad that I don't eat, sleep and get depressed. My brain automatically decides that the reason the other person I'm having the conflict with is right, that it's MY fault or that I did something wrong. And to make the conflict go away, I will just roll over and let them walk all over me.

Well, and that lends itself to all kinds of other issues.

I don't know why I'm like this. I have ALWAYS been like this. Even in grade school, when my friends would get "mad" at me. (You know how the "mean girls" work...) My heart would start pounding, my stomach would get the sick feeling and my brain would race to try to figure out a way to get back in their good graces.

Because it was my fault, wasn't it?

Fives About Me

The rules: Each player answers the question themselves. At the end of the post the player then tags 5 people and posts their names, then goes to their blog and leaves them a comment letting them know that they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person that tagged you know when you've answered the questions on your blog.

10 years ago I was:

1. Starting my first year teaching fourth grade after teaching first grade for three years.
2. Helping my sister by watching my nephew one night a week while she worked.
3. Blonder
4. Weighed less (but not much)
5. 29 years old

5 things on today’s to-do list:

1. Finish the laundry
2. Walk Trudy around the loop
3. Vacuum up the dog hair (from Trudy)
4. Work at getting rid of my panic attack
5. Change the sheets on the bed

5 snacks I enjoy:

1. Oreos
2. Kettle Corn (The 100 calorie kind)
3. Honey crisp apples with peanut butter
4. Weight watchers pretzels
5. Beef jerky

5 things I would do if I were a millionaire: (I’m changing this to be Billionaire too)

1. Pay off my house and the houses of all my friends and family members (Buy property, that is close, for my sister that will allow her family to have a farm... I don't want them to move away!)
2. Buy a new car for my husband
3. Remodel the kitchen
4. Remodel the garage for my husband
5. Have all our "antique" cars finished

5 places I have lived:

1. Snoqualmie
2. Snoqualmie
3. Snoqualmie
4. Ellensburg
5. Snoqualmie

5 jobs I have had: (in order)

1. Babysitter
2. Horse stall mucker
3. Dental Assistant
4. Day Camp Counselor/director
5. Teacher

5 people to Tag:

Tina already tagged the two people (her and Tiff) that I would have tagged, so I am not going to tag...

H2

Tiff posted awhile back about a "hummer" idling in her hallway.

Last Sunday, this is what I found in my guest bathroom sink:

Now I know. It doesn't really look THAT big. Right?

So, how about this?

Yeah, we grow 'em big here...

Hey, Would you Mind Pulling My...

Tonight after school I stopped by the library because I had some books that I put a hold on to pick up. Hoping they were still there (I think I waited too long). I pulled into the parking lot, locked the door to my truck and headed for the front door.

About half way there, this sweaty man holding a long rope stopped me.

"Can you help this man by pulling his car faster than 15 miles an hour so he can bump start it?" He motions to two guys standing next to a car in the parking lot.

"Um, I don't think I know how to do that."

"We'll just tie this rope to your bumper, tie the other end to his bumper and then you can tow him"

"Um, I don't think that I want you tying anything to my bumper."

"Well, not your BUMPER but your hitch back there."

Creeped out, I glance again at the two guys standing next to the offending car. I start to try memorizing the make and model of the car, what these three guys look like, and what clothes they have on.

"Um, does this guy have a manual transmission?"

"No, you don't need one of those to bump start a car." (OK, I may be a girl, but, I've bump started a few cars in my day and I KNOW you can't bump start an automatic.) "We've just been trying it with it in neutral and then jamming it into drive. We just can't get it going fast enough."

I have visions of me pulling them through the parking lot and when they "jam" their car into drive, seeing the tires skid as my huge diesel drags it along for the ride, inevitably ripping off my bumper or theirs, or both.

"Come on. It'll only take five minutes."

I try the: "Man, this is my husband's truck."

"Nothing's gonna happen to it."

"Um, I don't thing this is a good idea. Sorry."

And I walked away. I did. I walked away.

Dooce just posted on her website a rhetorical question about whether you would give money to someone (homeless) even if you knew they were going to spend it on crack. And I felt kind of bad for not helping these guys. BUT...

This is going to sound like justification, but, these guys didn't care about my truck nor did they look like they had the resources to repair any damage that might be caused by helping them. What I think I did in this instance, is save damage happening to my truck. Damage that would cost more than a small $20 you might give to someone standing on the freeway on/off ramp during rush hour. Also, my safety was an issue because who knows what crazies are out there. Tina says you know when something isn't right. My gut was shouting at the top of it's lungs, "RUN AWAY, RUN AWAY!"



So I did.

I ran into the library and stayed there until I saw that they left.

Anger Management

I'm new to the Spin Cycle... my friend Tina got my interested in it, so I'm going to try it out...

There are many things that piss me off. I tend to have that part of my dad in me... you know, to throw a "riggin' fit" where you get so mad you throw a wheelbarrow full of wood across the backyard or chase after your kid with a clam shovel intending to kill him (not really) after he accidentally Frisbees a sand dollar into your temple while you are out clam digging at the ocean with the family.

Yes, I have that in me. And I have been known to kick a full garbage can across my kitchen floor spilling garbage everywhere because I was mad at my husband. (I think I really freaked him out...)

But I have to say that the thing that I CANNOT take is driving under the influence. I lost a friend a year and a half ago to a man who was high on meth and driving with a suspended license. My friend was a father, a forest service police officer, an awesome friend who would do anything for you. When he died, he sat in his vehicle bleeding out because it took so long for the EMS to cut him out of his truck.

He died before his wife and boys could get to the hospital to be with him.

It took a year and three months for the trial to happen. The man who killed him was accused and convicted of vehicular homicide which carries a maximum sentence of sixty-one months.

I posted the day we went to the trial here .

I'm still not over it. I don't know if I will ever be. So, if I could make one plea to all of you out there in the Internet, please, PLEASE don't EVER drive under the influence of ANYTHING.

It's NEVER good. Really bad things happen.

What's in Your Box?

Tina, Tiff and I have a game: What do you NOT want to find in your mailbox at school.

We email all day sometimes back and forth all of the things you would DIE to find in your box.

Underpants.
Feminine products.
Prophylactics.
A Speedo.

You get the picture.

So, Tina... what do ya think you're gonna find in your box tomorrow???

I Know. I KNOW. Geez

I know. I keep changing things.

I like Amy's Annotations better.

So sue me.

Tuesday Tune-age

For You

To my mother, to my father,
It's your son or it's your daughter,
Are my screams loud enough for you to hear me?
Should I turn this up for you?

I sit here locked inside my head
Remembering everything you've said
This silence gets us nowhwere
Gets us nowhere way too fast

The silence is what kills me
I need someone here to help me
But you don't know how to listen
And let me make my decisions

I sit here locked inside my head
remembering everything you've said
The silence gets us nowhere!
Gets us nowhere way too fast!

All your insults and your curses
make me feel like I'm not a person
And I feel like I am nothing but
you made me so do something
'Cause I'm f-ed up because you are
Need attention, attention you couldn't give'

Cause I sit here locked inside my head
Remembering everything you've said
This silence get us nowhere!
Gets us nowhere way to fast
~Staind

Babies, Babies, Babies

I went this weekend to Idaho to attend my friend's baby shower. I haven't seen my friend since last February. FEBRUARY!?!?!?!?!? Holy cow, it's been THAT long. Over six months.

It was a great weekend and it was SO good to see my friend and her husband. When we spent the weekend with them in February, she was just barely pregnant. Not showing, but feeling crappy. When she came and found me in the baggage claim area of the airport Friday night, I was totally flabbergasted! I mean, I knew she was pregnant. I knew her tummy was going to get big. I mean, duh! But I was so surprised how fast it seemed to happen. I'm sure that it didn't for her, but, remember the over six months part? Yeah. Seemed like yesterday I saw her last. Wasn't expecting the tummy!

She looked awesome. And so HAPPY.

Her baby shower was slated for 2:00 the next afternoon so we had a list of things we needed to do before her mom came at noon. One was to melt candy bars in diapers for one of the games. It was totally gross opening diapers with melted candy bars in them and try to guess what candy bar was in which diaper. We tested it out on her hubby and HE GOT EVERY SINGLE ONE CORRECT. We said he knew his "shit". He just said he was a connoisseur of candy bars.

Now to the party... My friend's mom is the Martha Stewart of Idaho. Seriously. Here's what she did...
1. Hand made all of the invitations for the party.
2. Hand made six different jungle animals that were put on straw and then inserted into cupcakes that looked like an African Savannah.
3. Made a mobile out of a large poster tube (painted yellow with green ribbon striping it), a yellow and green umbrella and blow up African animals.
4. Hand stamped labels for chocolates that went into boxes that were in boxes that were wrapped in African animal paper.
5. Researched celebrities and their babies for a matching game.
6. Arranged all of the food
7. Helped set everything up
8. Ran all of the games

I couldn't believe the amount of work that her mom put into this party. It was wonderful, and beautiful and special.

Seventeen people attended the party and she received many great gifts. That night her hubby and I put together the swing. The next day she and I put together the mobile for the crib, the pack-n-play, packed the diaper bag, took the tags off the clothes that little man will be wearing right away, unpacked the baby monitor, put on the new switch plate and night light, and went to Babies r Us to return some duplicate gifts and purchase things that were needed.

The weekend went by so fast that I couldn't believe that it was actually time to head to the airport.

I got a call tonight from her asking if I had any pictures of the buffet table. I didn't. That was the only picture I DIDN'T get. She also said that she felt funny all day today.

Maybe little man will make an appearance sooner than she thinks!

Snot Rockets and Why Kleenex Was Invented

Kids by nature are nose pickers. Heck, some adults are STILL nose pickers.

Me? I find it nasty and gross. It makes my skin crawl to see people picking their noses in public like it's no big deal.

Ugh.

What I REALLY enjoy is when the kids who are "savvy pickers" try to hide their picking adventure by using their other hand to cover up the one that is doing the damage. Like, "YOU CAN'T SEE ME PICKING MY NOSE BECAUSE I AM COVERING IT UP WITH MY OTHER HAND! THERE IS NO NOSE PICKING GOING ON HERE!"

Today we are having the "Kleenex talk". My fourth graders have not figured out why Kleenex was invented and that when you pick your nose with your finger and touch everything in the classroom, you get GERMS everywhere. Which makes the teacher sick. And crabby. And nauseous.

So I tell them to please use the Kleenex. We have probably seventy-five thousand boxes in here and hand sanitizer. Fingers are forbidden. I told them how Ed blows snot rockets when we are camping or out working in the yard. They totally grossed out at that. And I said, "What is the difference between blowing snot rockets and using your fingers to get the snot out?"

I think they got my point.

Belly Shirts and Front Butt

You may have noticed that I have a site meter at the bottom of my blog. Tiff has one on her blog and I thought it would be cool to see who checked in on me and where they were from. I've had people from back east, Texas and down south check out my site. Mostly it's because I have friends who have blogs and they have put a link to my site on their sites. When their friends and family read, they can scroll down and check out who my friends are following as well.

So, the other day I decided to check my site meter to see who's been peeking in on me. There is the usual Kirkland, WA and Seattle, WA and Puyallup, WA and Maple Valley, WA, but, there down on line number Five was: Switzerland, Basel-Stadt.

WTF????

Switzerland? Who the hell do I know in Switzerland? I click on the number and it takes me to an information page that shows me where they logged in from and where they found my site.

Here's what's funny:

Whoever looked at my site from Switzerland had GOOGLED the words "belly shirt" and "front butt".

First of all, why in the WORLD would you just HAPPEN to Google those two words together?

And B: What about those words is NOT explanatory?

And 3: If you happened to be looking for the definitions of THOSE two words, why in God's name would you look at someones blog to find them????

I actually find it hysterically funny that someone from Switzerland looked at my blog and read about Marv and his icky girlfriend with daisy dukes on and no underwear.

Kinda makes you wonder what Europe thinks about US.

Sick

"I cannot go to school today,"
Said little Peggy Ann McKay,
"I have the measles and the mumps,
A gash, a rash, and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,
I'm going blind in my right eye.
My tonsils are as big as rocks,
I've counted sixteen chicken pox

And there's one more--that's seventeen,
And don't you think my face looks green?
My leg is cut, my eyes are blue--
It might be instamatic flu.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,
I'm sure that my left leg is broke--
My hip hurts when I move my chin,
My belly button's caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle's sprained,
My 'pendix pains each time it rains.
My nose is cold, my toes are numb,
I have a sliver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,
I hardly whisper when I speak.
My tongue is filling up my mouth,
I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow's bent, my spine ain't straight,
My temperature is one-o-eight.
My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,
There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my heart is--what?
What's that? What's that you say?
You say today is---Saturday?
G'bye, I'm going out to play!"
~Shel Silverstein~

Hello Internet. Today my name is Peggy Ann McKay. I am sick.

Only I really am.

Really.

Day Seven

Today was the seventh day of school.

I haven't written about my class yet because I was kind of waiting to see how things went. I have to say that I am liking them. They have some fun personalities, strange idiosyncrasies and are fast learners.

I have to say, that this is the first class to fall into my routine this quickly. I still have to give a few reminders for some things, but, for the most part, my kids are meshing well and our days are going more smoothly.

Julie and I have really been partnering this year. I am teaching writing, science, social studies, Second Step, giving the spelling test, and teaching computer lab for both classes. I almost feel guilty because I feel like I should be here longer working on things, but, the reality is that I just don't have as much work only planning for that small amount. I do have twice the grading for those subjects, but, I can already tell that the pay off in time of less planning is going to be awesome.

I feel like I'm finally bonding with Julie's class too. We had a rough start to the year. I think that they didn't think I was serious about being prepared and that I would knock down their character points, but, after our talk yesterday, they came around. She has some really nice kids and a few "corkers" but, so do I. I'm starting to feel like they are mine as well as Julie's.

I'm tired.

But, it's a good tired.

Not an "exhausted" tired.

I'm almost holding my breath, but, I think that this year is going to be a good one...

Oh Tif-an-yyyyyyyyy!!!!!

When was the last time I combed my hair? Seven days ago.
When was the last time I rode my motorcycle? Tonight.
When was the last time I had a beer? Two weeks ago.
How long since Tiffany's last post? Forty-one days (if I counted correctly!)


Love you Tiff...

But that spider gives me the creeps!!!!!!

Summer Goal Achieved

I'm still going to Weight Watchers.

It's been a long hard road. 21 weeks and only 5.2 pounds gone to show for it.

BUT, I have made some big changes as far as how I think about food. At the beginning of the summer Heather (my WW leader) challenged us to make a summer goal. It could have been a weight loss goal, a health goal, or a "I'm going to learn to cook healthy food goal". My goal was to pay attention to my "full meter" and keep in mind the mantra "Hunger is not an emergency".

Paying attention to my "full meter" just means listen to your body when you eat. I started with smaller portions to begin with on my plate. If I was still hungry after I ate the smaller portion, I could go back and get 1/4 of what I had on my plate in the first place. I ate only 1/2 of a sandwich but cut that half in half to fool my brain that I actually had more than I did. I ate a piece of fruit before my meals. Half way through my meal, I got up and went to the kitchen for more water so that the contents of my stomach settled. (I found that if I just sat there and ate my whole meal, my food didn't settle until I got up to take my plate to the sink, and most of the time I was miserable because I'd eaten too much. So now I get up half way through my meal for more water and the food settles and my brain recognizes faster that I am satisfied.)

I also figured out that the time in the afternoon right before I cook dinner is the most dangerous time for me. I started drinking flavored water. (You know, those little flavored packets that you dump in water. ) That makes my brain think it's had something sweet and it stops the hunger until I can get real food inside of me.

Also, my friends Tina and Tiff have decided to be... I think Tina called it "food Nazi's".

No, wait, was it "weight loss Nazi's?"

At any rate, they have a goal to lose ten pounds by October 2nd. I have joined their quest for permanent weight loss. Every Saturday I text them my current official weight and how much was lost for the week. I think I'm doing pretty good... 5.2 pounds gone.

But, I'm getting worried. I had a hungry day today. I know that I ate too much and it's going to show if I don't get it under control NOW.

I wish they had the same lunch at school with me.

Back to School

So, school started last Tuesday. I have 26 little munchkins in my room this year. I think that they are going to be a good group. They seem to be pretty bright and they are catching on to the routines and expectations pretty quickly.

I have some families that I had previously... brothers or sisters of my fourth grade alumni... I also have some new kids to the district. They are the ones that struggle the most. It's funny watching the kids that have been at our school for at least a year because when the new kids misbehave, the veterans look at them like, "Dude, you did NOT just do that." The new kids tend to straighten up and fly right pretty quickly.

I am actually glad to be back to work. Summer was really hard for me this year. Ed had a new job and even though he was really close to home, the stress and amount of work he inherited with this job didn't allow us to do much getting away this summer. So, I spent the summer stacking wood, cleaning the office, painting the back hall, mowing lawns, getting bids for the kitchen and trying to figure out the financing for the kitchen project. We did go to Sand Camp and to Blue Lake twice. But, usually during my 9 week summer we are gone for three of those weeks to Blue lake and camping and at least a long weekend is spent on a motorcycle ride. Most Friday mornings we'd meet someone at Lake Samammish and go for an early morning ski.

No bike ride.
Two weekends at Blue Lake.
No Friday morning skis.
One week at Sand Camp.

I was pretty lonely.

It's nice to get back to work to actually feel like I'm contributing something and getting some adult conversation and just having something to do... a schedule that doesn't deviate.

Having someplace to go where someone needs me.

Having something to talk about besides how much you got done around the house that day.

Being able to think about something besides how lonely you are.

Hmmm... I guess the mopey feeling isn't gone after all...

Music Monday on Friday

Way down yonder on the bayou
There lives a little girl-o
Skin so pale
Six feet high
Skinny as a rail
Just one eye

She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona

Her daddy gone to heaven
Her mama won't like you
Her brother he's crazy
He just might bite you
Her sister she's pretty
But she just won't do

She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona

Oh you can say she gonna love you
Because you made a little voodoo
Oh but what they didn't tell you
Is it ain't up to you dude
You better not cross her
You try to boss her
Then you better duck Mister
Here come a cup and saucer

She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona

So if you're going to the bayou
Man I'll tell you all I know
She's got skin so paleShe's six feet high
And she'll look right through you
With just one eye

She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona
She's the one-eyed Fiona

Lyle Lovett (my other boyfriend)

Pain in the Grass

So for my birthday, I wanted to go to Pain in the Grass '08. For those of you who don't know, Pain in the Grass is a concert that KISW (a local radio station) puts on every summer. They invite 7 bands and it starts at 2:00PM.

We went to one similar a few years back, also put on by KISW, but, it was in the Seahawks stadium and there were only 5 bands.

Anyhow, I really wanted to go because 2 of my favorite bands were playing: Sevendust and Seether. So, we bought a pack of 4 tickets, because it was cheaper, thinking that we would for sure be able to get 2 more people to go with us. Do you know how hard that was???

Holy Cow.

Everyone we asked was busy.

We waited to ask our friend Chuck because we were sure that he would have to work. I told Ed to check anyway and lo and behold! Chuck had Saturday off. This meant trying to give away 1 more ticket.

Didn't happen.

But, we went and had a GREAT time.

The bands that played were (in this order)

Jet Black Stare
Earshot
Drowning Pool
Sevendust
Shinedown
Seether
Queensryche

Jet Black Stare, Earshot, and Drowing Pool only played for about 20 minutes each. Sevendust got to play for about 45 minutes as did Shinedown. Seether played for about an hour (which wasn't long enough in my opinion) and Queenryche played for a little longer than that.

We took short lawn chairs because we sat up in the grass and we brought in lots of munchies because food and drink were ASTRONOMICAL. However, when we went in, they made me take off the lids to my water bottles because they don't recycle.

OK, what?!?!?!?

I had to walk in the concert carrying our cooler AND our food bag with three opened bottles of water. THEN I had to get in line to get felt up, I mean patted down, by some girl I hardly knew. She even felt my bare legs (I was wearing shorts) to make sure I wasn't trying to hide anything in them. THEN I had to pack all of that stuff to the ticket guy and HAND him my ticket in order for him to scan it.

OMG

They DO NOT make it easy for you to bring in food.

Next time I think that I will take out a loan in order to NOT carry in all of that stuff...

We found our spot up in the lawn and staked our claim. Ed and Chuck went immediately to the beer garden because it was about 17,000 degrees in the sun. Thank God I packed sunscreen or you would be seeing a crispy critter in me.

Some people decided to sit behind us and pretty soon I feel a kick on the back of my chair.

I turn around, irritated.

Me: What?
Him: Do you mind if we smoke a little...
Me: A little what?
Him: You know...
Me: I do?
Him: You know, grass...
Me: You want to smoke some grass?
Him: Yeah. I wanted to ask so I didn't offend you...
Me: Sure, whatever.
Him: You want some?
Me: (in a scoffing voice): Um, no.
Him: Do you like the smell?
Me: it's OK.
Him: Do you smoke?
Me: Grass?
Him: Uh, yeah.
Me: I have.
Him: Did you like it?
Me: It's OK.
Him: How come you don't want any?
Me: Um, because I hardly know you and I don't know if I'm the one driving home tonight.
Him: Oh! I was wondering who was taking me home tonight!
Me: Very cute.

They then proceeded to smoke their "grass" and I proceeded to get a contact high.

Ugh.

Once they were well on their way to bakesville, they thought it was OK to spend the rest of the evening trying to have a conversation with me.

Finally the baker boys decided to try to get closer to the stage and left me in peace to listen to my music.

Why is it that people like that think that you want to know their life history?????

Music Monday... On Wednesday

We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home

Oooh...Oooh...
Oooh...Oooh...

My gift of self is raped
My privacy is raked
And yet I find
And yet I find
Repeating in my head
If I can't be my own
I'd feel better dead

Oooh...Oooh...
Oooh...Oooh...

Alice in Chains

I hate that there is that crap in the front of this video... but I love this song...



And this one was actually at the Pain in the Grass concert that I went to last Saturday night. Seether was the highlight in my opinion. Sorry that the quality is not better, but, I will post one more so you can actually see the band and get some better sound quality...

Music Monday on Friday

Gosh! Don't get on my case... I'm setting up my classroom so I've been kinda busy...


looking down on empty streets, all she can see
are the dreams all made solid
are the dreams all made real

all of the buildings, all of those cars
were once just a dream
in somebody's head

she pictures the broken glass, she pictures the steams
he pictures a soul
with no leak at the seam

lets take the boat out
wait until darkness
let's take the boat out
wait until darkness comes

nowhere in the corridors of pale green and grey
nowhere in the suburbs
in the cold light of day

there in the midst of it so alive and alone
words support like bone

dreaming of mercy st.
wear your inside out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms

pulling out the papers from the drawers that slide smooth
tugging at the darkness, word upon word

confessing all the secret things in the warm velvet box
to the priest-he's the doctor
he can handle the shocks

dreaming of the tenderness-the tremble in the hips
of kissing Mary's lips

dreaming of mercy st.
wear your insides out
dreaming of mercy
in your daddy's arms again
dreaming of mercy st.
'swear they moved that sign
looking for mercy
in your daddy's arms

mercy, mercy, looking for mercy
mercy, mercy, looking for mercy

Anne, with her father is out in the boat
riding the water
riding the waves on the sea

Mercy Street~ Peter Gabriel (for Anne Sexton)

A Change in the Weather...

OK, I know.

This is the second time that I've change my blog name.

Sue me.

I haven't liked the name of my blog for some time and have been trying out different titles. It's kind of like moving your living room around until you get the arrangement you want...

or painting 75 2x2 squares of different colored paint on your back hall wall so you can see which one you like.

OR

You can have A.D.D. like me and change your mind when the wind blows...

So, what I'm saying is: Please bear with me... I'm trying to find something that fits...

This is Me!

Eye Color: olive green
Hair Color: according to my hair dresser, medium brown with blond highlights
Dyed or Natural: um, see above
Curly or Straight: Curly!!!
Right- or Left-handed: right, but I shoot a gun left handed...
Tan or Pale: depends on the time of year. Right now, I'm tan.
Jeans or Khakis: Both
Country, Rap, or Rock: Rock
Car: Subaru wagon, diesel truck, crotch rocket (it's a motorcycle, yo...), 1969 mustang fastback
Place in order of preference--T.V., book, movie, music: Music, book, TV, movie
Your heritage: Cross between a skunk and a barbed wire fence. (Swedish, Norwegian, Dutch, English and German)
Shoes you're wearing today: at the moment, I'm not wearing shoes, but will probably be wearing flip-flops later.
Your weakness(es): cheese, ice cream, bread, good cocktails
Your perfect pizza: pretty much anything without green peppers.
Favorite color: sage-ish green and red
Favorite place: Anywhere when it's summer and my hubby is with me.
Goal you'd like to achieve: Travel outside the US (besides Canada and Mexico)
Your most overused phrase(s): Dude, holy buckets, oh my word, duh,
Your thoughts first waking up: "What time is it?"
Your best physical feature(s): my eyes
Your bedtime: varies
Your most missed memory: going to lunch at Granny's house when I worked as a dental assistant in high school.
Pepsi or Coke: Coke
McDonald's or Burger King: Neither
Single or group dates: my husband doesn't let me date
Adidas or Nike: Converse
Lipton Ice Tea or Nestea: I don't have a preference of either, I just don't like it coming to me already sweetened.
Chocolate or vanilla: depends
Cappuccino or coffee: Yes, please!

DO YOU:
Smoke: no, but I won't turn down a menthol if you offer
Cuss: daily
Have a boyfriend/girlfriend: no, my husband's funny that way...
Take a shower: daily
Have a crush(es): many, but if I talk about them any more, home land security might come after me for being a stalker.
Think you've been in love: well, YEAH
Want to get married: again? no
Believe in yourself: sometimes
Believe in God: I don't know
Believe in your government: I used to feel a lot better about our government. Not so much anymore.
Get motion sickness: Nope. I can read in the car. (while someone else is driving, though!)
Think you're attractive: I'm not a dog, but, I'm also not a super model.
Think you're a health freak: not a HEALTH freak, no
Get along with your parents: sure
Like thunderstorms: yes

IN THE PAST MONTH, HAVE YOU:
Drank alcohol: yes
Gone on a date: no
Gone to the mall: yes
Been on stage: oh hell no
Eaten an entire box of Oreos: WTF?
Eaten sushi: does California roll count?
Been dumped: no
Gone skating: no
Gone skinny dipping: OH HELL NO!
Stolen anything: not lately

HAVE YOU EVER:
Played a game that required removal of clothing: see above's answer to the skinny dipping question
Been trashed or extremely intoxicated: many times
Been caught "doing something": YES, OKAY? Twice, by a cop...
Been called a tease: once... and only once...
Gotten beaten up: in second grade by Tawney Connelly.
Age you hope to be married: I think I timed it right
Number of children you'd like: Two
Describe your dream wedding: we did it right... kinda small, (150 people), mom made my dress, bridesmaids dresses and ties and cummerbunds for the guys. Outside reception with lots of food and beer.
What do you want to be when you grow up: when I grow up????

WHAT YOU LIKE IN THE OPPOSITE SEX:
Best eye color?: don't care
Best hair color?: don't care
Short or long hair: short
Height: I'm 5'10" so I'd like him to be at least that tall.
Best first date location: a junk yard ( YES REALLY)
Best first kiss location: on the mouth... where else would a kiss be....

IN THE NUMBERS:
Number of people I could trust with my life: 5
Number of CD's: no idea
Number of piercings: 5 (only my ears! GOSH!!!!)
Number of tattoos: 1
Number of times my name has appeared in the newspaper: a few...
Number of scars on my body: oh, lots

More and More Music

So, I'm cleaning out the office... if you know what my office looks like, you'd know what a HUGE task this is. And, with my ADD, I get distracted easily and go do something else, so it takes weeks to get something this big done.

Today I took out 2 big black garbage bags of SHIT from this office.

I did.

TWO.

I love my husband. I do. But that man saves every email (printed and on his email account. Currently he has 109 emails just at home), every card, every magazine, every professional journal, pen, pencil, present, manual... need I say more? I threw out stuff that was from 1995. OMG! It's funny because he always wants to know why our house is untidy!

Anyhow, I digress. The point of my story is that because I'm in the office working, I am listening to my iTunes list on the computer while I work and I'm hearing all the songs from my iPod that I love. So, here's another one that I just heard that I forgot was on there. Love it, and it's keeping with the mopey mood I've been in...

Run

I'll sing it one last time for you
Then we really have to go
You've been the only thing that's right
In all I've done

And I can barely look at you
But every single time I do
I know we'll make it anywhere
Away from here

Light up, light up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

To think I might not see those eyes
Makes it so hard not to cry
And as we say our long goodbye
I nearly do

Light up, LIght up
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

Louder, Louder
And we'll run for our lives
I can hardly speak I understand
Why you can't raise your voice to say

Slower slower
We don't have time for that
All I want is to find an easier way
To get out of our little heads

Have heart my dear
We're bound to be afraid
Even if it's just for a few days
Making up for all this mess

Snow Patrol

Hurt

I can't seem to get the mopey feeling gone this summer. Don't know why or what the deal is. I'm excited to be busy with school again. Maybe have some adult conversation, ya know?

Hurt
I hurt myself today
To see if I still feel
I focus on the pain
The only thing that's real
The needle tears a hole
The old familiar sting
Try to kill it all away
But I remember everything

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

I wear this crown of shit
Upon my liar's chair
Full of broken thoughts
I cannot repair
Beneath the stains of time
The feelings disappear
You are someone else
I am still right here

What have I become?
My sweetest friend
Everyone I know
Goes away in the end
You could have it all
My empire of dirt
I will let you down
I will make you hurt

If I could start again
A million miles away
I would keep myself
I would find a way

Nine Inch Nails

This is a version of this song done acoustically by the band Sevendust. They do a version of Johnny Cash's rendition of this song...

Music Monday On Wednesday

All I Need


I'm the next act
waiting in the wings
I'm an animal
Trapped in your hot car
I am all the days
that you choose to ignore

You are all I need
You are all I need
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds

I am a moth
who just wants to share your light
I'm just an insect
trying to get out of the night

I only stick with you
because there are no others

You are all I need
You are all I need
I'm in the middle of your picture
Lying in the reeds

It's all wrong
It's all right
It's all wrong

Radiohead

Letter to Honeybunch

Dear Honeybunch,

I wanted you to know how much I appreciate you. So, I decided to blog a letter to you. I hope that sometime you read it. :-)

I have known you since high school... Well, I've known who you are since high school. You were two years behind me in my sister's class. We didn't associate because you were in my sister's group of friends... the "cool" group. My sister wouldn't allow me near her friends with a ten-foot pole because I wasn't the status she was. It was OK... I had my own friends and my own stuff going on and didn't need to be friends with my sister's friends.

We didn't become better friends until recently when Ed and I started hanging out with Bart and Jolene and then becoming better friends with you and your better half. We started talking about lots of different things... motorcycles, life, jobs, better halves, pets, hobbies... everything. We started seeing each other at barbecues, parties and our favorite local hang out, Smokey Joe's. Did you know that they changed the name to "Smokey Joe's Bar and Grill"?? I saw that on the menu last night when we were there and got a huge giggle from that. Bar and Grill???? Whatever. We both know what happened in the FRYER at Smokey Joe's "Bar and Grill".

When Ed got the GSXR, I decided to get my endorsement and ride the CBR. We talked a lot about the class and what we learned because you took the same class. When I passed the class, you were the first to know, besides Ed. I was so nervous to ride the CBR. It was much bigger than the little Rebel 250 that I took my test on. But, you said to not worry, that it would just take some practice. Finally, Ed thought it would be OK to go on a ride with the "big boys". I'd only ridden with Ed until then. You still had your CBR 900RR then and we went on a ride with Jason and Ed. Jason took us to his work site on the Samammish Plateau. You gave me some really good advice that day. Ride your own ride. You said on the Falls Hill that you didn't ride fast down like Jason and Ed because you were practicing being smooth. Such good advice. Ed gets mad at me because I am so poky on the TL, but, I just don't feel safe riding as fast as he does on surface streets. Come to think of it, I think that was the only motorcycle ride we've been on together. You always have chores or softball going on. Or, you are always washing your car... I think that you have the cleanest car in town. I wish we rode more together, but, now that you are married, you probably have more chores and such to do.

When Shane died, I didn't know what to even say to you. What do you say to someone when a loved one has died? Anything I thought of saying sounded so trite and I knew it wouldn't make him come back and there was no way it was going to make you feel better. I mean, I knew Shane, through Leah and you and Ed... and we'd emailed a few times to get in on the campaign to make you buy your TL. But I didn't "know" him. Not like you did. I felt, and still feel like, I am/was intruding that whole piece of your life. In Zoe's life. In every one's life who was so close to him. I can't even believe he's gone and my stomach hurts when I think about it. I can't get my mind wrapped around the finality of it. I can't even imagine what you have to endure on a daily basis.

I remember when you and Angie came back from the Dominican Republic. We met y'all up at the Mexican restaurant with your sister, Colleen, and Zach and you announced that you'd asked Angie to marry you. I couldn't believe it!!! I cried! And I usually don't cry at those things! Your wedding was beautiful. You and Angie did an amazing job planning the whole thing and it came off without a hitch. Ed and I had a great time dancing and catching up with people that we haven't seen in awhile. Your sister and I sat together for a long time and talked just as we did on Angie's bachelorette party. I miss your sister. You need to have her out some more!

So, my Honeybunch, a whole post just for you. I love your smile, your "understated-ness", your laugh and your quirky sense of humor. I especially love it when you get started laughing and you can't stop. It makes me giggle just thinking about it.

I appreciate you.

Love,
Kitten

Use My Sausage???

This song is hysterical. I actually like it very much but there is no way that you can truly understand what Chrissy Hinze is actually saying. So, for your viewing/listening pleasure, I am going to post the real lyrics of this song and what I thought the lyrics were. Enjoy...


BRASS IN POCKET

GOT BRASS IN POCKET
GOT BOTTLE I'M GONNA USE IT
INTENTION I FEEL INVENTIVE
GONNA MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU NOTICE

GOT MOTION RESTRAINED EMOTION
BEEN DRIVING DETROIT LEANING
NO REASON JUST SEEMS SO PLEASING
GONNA MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU NOTICE
(CHORUS)
GONNA USE MY ARMS
GONNA USE MY LEGS
GONNA USE MY STYLE
GONNA USE MY SIDESTEP
GONNA USE MY FINGERS
GONNA USE MY, MY, MY IMAGINATION

'CAUSE I GONNA MAKE YOU SEE
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE HERE
NO ONE LIKE ME
I'M SPECIAL SO SPECIAL
I GOTTA HAVE SOME OF YOUR ATTENTION GIVE IT TO ME

GOT RHYTHM I CAN'T MISS A BEAT
GOT NEW SKANK IT'S SO REET
GOT SOMETHING I'M WINKING AT YOU
GONNA MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU NOTICE

(CHORUS)
GONNA USE MY ARMS
GONNA USE MY LEGS
GONNA USE MY SIDESTEP
GONNA USE MY FINGERS
GONNA USE MY, MY, IMAGINATION

'CAUSE I GONNA MAKE YOU SEE
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE HERE
NO ONE LIKE ME
I'M SPECIAL, SO SPECIAL
I GOTTA HAVE SOME OF YOUR ATTENTION GIVE IT TO ME

'CAUSE I GONNA MAKE YOU SEE
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE HERE
NO ONE LIKE ME
I'M SPECIAL, SO SPECIAL
I GOTTA HAVE SOME OF YOUR ATTENTION
GIVE IT TO ME

Pretenders



OK. Now here's my version with help from my sister and my friend Marian. (Don't forget to play the video while you sing our version of the lyrics!)

BRASS IN POCKET

GOT BRASS IN POCKET
GOT FIDO I'M GONNA USE IT
INTENTION I'M FEELIN MY TAIL
GONNA MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU NOTICE

GOT MOTION EXTREME DEVOTION
BEEN DIVING DEETS ARE LEANING
NO REASON JUST SEEMS SO PRETEND
GONNA MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU NOTICE

(CHORUS)
GONNA USE MY ARMS
GONNA USE MY LEGS
GONNA USE MY STYLE
GONNA USE MY SAUSAGE
GONNA USE MY FINGERS
GONNA USE MY, MY, MY LEGENDATION

'CAUSE I GONNA MAKE YOU SEE
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE HERE
NO ONE LIKE ME
I'M SPECIAL SO SPECIAL
I GOTTA HAVE SOME OF YOUR ATTENTION GIVE IT TO ME

GOT RHYTHM I CAN'T MISS A BEAT
GOT NEW SKANK, SORRY
GOT SOMETHING I'M WINKING MY TAIL
GONNA MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU, MAKE YOU NOTICE

(CHORUS)

GONNA USE MY ARMS
GONNA USE MY LEGS
GONNA USE MY STYLE
GONNA USE MY SAUSAGE
GONNA USE MY FINGERS
GONNA USE MY, MY LEGENDATION

'CAUSE I GONNA MAKE YOU SEE
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE HERE
NO ONE LIKE ME
I'M SPECIAL, SO SPECIAL
I GOTTA HAVE SOME OF YOUR ATTENTION
GIVE IT TO ME

'CAUSE I GONNA MAKE YOU SEE
THERE'S NOBODY ELSE HERE
NO ONE LIKE ME
I'M SPECIAL, SO SPECIAL
I GOTTA HAVE SOME OF YOUR ATTENTION
GIVE IT TO ME

(WIGGLE WHEN YOU WALK...)

Pretenders, with creative license from Amy, Leah and Marian (drunk at Smokey Joe's)

More and More Music...

Down by the Water

I lost my heart under the bridge
That little girl
So much to me
And now I moan, and now I holler
She'll never know just what I found
That blue-eyed girl she said no more
And that blue-eyed girl became blue -eyed whore
Down by the water I took her hand
Just like my daughter
See her again

Oh, help me Jesus come through this storm
I had to lose her to do her harm
I heard her holler, I heard her moan
My lovely daughter
I took her home

Little fish, big fish, swimming in the water
Come back here, man, give me my daughter
Little fish, big fish, swimming in the water
Come back here, man, give me my daughter

PJ Harvey

Tuesday Tune-age

Idaho

Texas are you my friend, you live so close to the end
Texas are you my friend, cause I'm afraid of you
Hey Maine hey, you're a little too high for me
And FLA you're just a little too low
D.C. you could be the end of me
I think I'm movin to Idaho
I ain't afraid of you

Oo, people on the outside lookin in
Mother Nature shakes, what then what then
Oo, people on the outside lookin through
she'll shake you to Idaho, that's what she'll do

Oo, Oo Carolina Brother's you make me crawl under the covers
I just can't get myself to go, oh no
Hey Joe I see your name too, but there is nothin that they can do
I think I'm movin to Idaho
I ain't afraid of you

Oo, people on the outside lookin in
Mother Nature shakes, what then what then
Oo, people on the outside lookin through
she'll shake you to Idaho, that's what she'll do

Train

Music Monday

Take me down, 6 underground,
The ground beneath your feet,
Laid out low, nothing to go
Nowhere a way to meet
I've got a head full of drought,
Down here, so faroff losing out
Round here,

Overground, watch this space,
I'm open to falling from grace

Calm me down, bring it round
Too way high off your street
I can see like nothing else
In me you're better than I wannabe
Don't think 'cos I understand,
I care, don't think 'cos I'm talking we're friends,

Overground, watch this space,
I'm open to falling from grace

Talk me down, safe and sound
Too strung up to sleep
Wear me out, scream and shout
Swear my time's never cheap
I fake my life like I've lived
Too much, I take whatever you're given
Not enough,

Overground, watch this space,
I'm open to falling from grace

I fake my life like I've lived
Too much, I take whatever you're given
Not enough,

Overground, watch this space,
I'm open to falling from grace

Sneaker Pimps

Who Likes to Paint?

So, after a year and a half, I've decided to try to finish the back hall. I actually have been looking for a long time at paint chips to try to decide what color to paint. I am NOT the one to be able to look at different colors and say,"Oh! These go great together. I will pick these!"

No, this is not me.

I have to have those paint cards. You know, the ones that put colors together so that morons like me aren't choosing the wrong hues. Yeah. Those.

So after much thought and looking at those damn cards, I decided on a set of colors of Benjamin Moore paint. Actually, I decided on two sets of colors. I liked some in one set of colors and some in the other set. So I go to the local hardware store to buy some quarts of the paint so I can paint a little on the wall to see what it actually looks like in the house. The lady at the paint counter is AWESOME because she turned me on to these cool little things called "paint pots". They are small amounts of paint that cover a 2x2' area. Just enough to see if you like the color. AND they are only $3.00. WAY better than paying $12.00 for a quart.

So, I choose my colors and did end up having to buy 2 quarts because they didn't have the colors I wanted.

Now, here's the cool thing. The color I thought I wanted? Wilmington Tan? Yeah. Looked like someone had emptied their dirty diaper on my wall. NOT the color on the paint chip. The color that I thought I wouldn't like, actually looked OK on the wall and it has a cool color that matches that I want to paint my kitchen.

I go back to the hardware store to by some gallons (2) and a gallon of trim paint. I get home and get ready to paint and have a panic attack.

OMG. What if it's too dark? What if it's ugly? What if I hate it?

I called my trusty sister, Leah and she said, "Jesus! Just paint a wall! If you hate it, you hate it!"

I painted the biggest wall and I love it. The color is called Bleeker Beige and it looks kind of Khaki. In the morning it looks green, right now, it's tannish and at night, it kind of looks brownish. I'll repaint the trim white because it needs it.

Right now, I'm almost done with the wall part. I've still got to do the trim and finish behind the washer and dryer. (Pain in the ASS!)

I'll post pictures when I'm done and my mess is cleaned up!

Music Monday

CRAZY LOVE
(Rusty Young, Poco)

Tonight I'm gonna break away
Just you wait and see
I'll never be imprisoned by
A faded memory

Just when I think I'm over her
This broken heart will mend
I hear her name and I have to cry
The tears come down again

It happens all the time
This crazy love of mine
Wraps around my heart
Refusin' to unwind
Ooh, ooh crazy love

Count the stars in a summer sky
That fall without a sound
And then pretend that you can't hear
These teardrops comin' down

It happens all the time
This crazy love of mine
Wraps around my heart
Refusin' to unwind
Ooh, ooh crazy love

Tonight I'm gonna break away
Just you wait and see
I'll never be imprisoned by
A faded memory

It happens all the time
This crazy love of mine
Wraps around my heart
Refusin' to unwind
Ooh, ooh crazy love

Tonight I'm gonna break away

One Time, At Sand Camp...

Ed and I just got back from a week long vacation in Florence, Oregon for our annual Sand Camp camping trip. We left July 5th and got back the 12th. Actually, it wasn't like camping at all. Everyone has campers now so the only tents were set up for the teenage kids and we had two people sleeping in their trucks.

This year we reserved six camping spots. Normally, we have only four spots but this year we wanted enough room to spread out. Let me give you a vision: Last August. We have just arrived in Coos Bay, Oregon and the boys are deciding how to arrange all of the cars, trucks, campers and trailers in our four spots. They moved everything three or four times until they finally got the configuration that fit our space the best. While all of this is happening, the girls (wives and daughters) are sitting on a picnic table watching them scratching out their ideas in the dirt, and arguing about whose idea or configuration is the best.

This year, NONE of this happened. We decided that the Northern Palmer family would stay in the two spots we had that were across the road from the four main spots. Then the North Bend Palmer's, the Kelly's, the Whitaker/Kalanius', the Masters' and us took the remaining four spots. It was so weird having so much room! We didn't quite know what to do with ourselves...

Each night a family took turns cooking dinner for all twenty people camping in our group. Saturday night, was kind of a pot luck. People just BBQ-ed what they had and brought out chips and salads and mac-n-cheese to share.

Sunday night was Pirate night. We had BBQ-ed salmon, bread, pirate booty, bread and rice. Captain Morgan's and coke was the signature drink for the night.

Monday night was Italian night. We had like 4 different kinds of lasagna, salad and bread for dinner with GREAT wine as the signature drink.

Tuesday night everyone was on their own because Jolene, Jamie and I went to a spa in near Lincoln City and spent the night there. These are pictures from outside our hotel room and also at dinner at a GREAT seafood restaurant!

When we got back on Wednesday, Ed and I were responsible for "White Trash Night". We served our famous Memphis ribs, corn bread, corn on the cob, corn bread and salad. The signature drink for our night was Boone's Farm Strawberry Daiquiri, Sangria and Fuzzy Navel. Hey, Boone's Farm is $2.75 a bottle at Fred Meyer and what is white trash if it isn't Boone's??? Everyone dressed in their best white trash wear. The girls all had on hideous bras and white, "wife beater" t-shirts. I bought the largest hoop earrings that I could find (they went down to my shoulders) and Jamie Marie and Kari Lee found me nasty blue eye shadow. I also put part of my hair in a pony tail on the top of my head. I wished I had some really red lipstick, but, Safeway just doesn't carry it!

Thursday night was Taco night. Lots of great meat, beans, cheese, flour taco shells, and margaritas!!!!

Friday night was Hawaiian night and we had some great chicken, fruit salad, and jello shots and slippery nipple shots. Everyone was "lei-d" and had their own shot glass hooked to their lei so that they wouldn't lose it!

Also on Friday, all of the girls went on a wine tour. We had a limo pick us up in the camp ground and took us to Elkton where there are four wineries that we got to visit. Of course we tasted all of the wines they had to offer and had lunch in a great little restaurant right across the street from two of them.

We came back quite tipsy! After all, we did have a driver. And, I have to say, that I hope that we do a tour like that next year as well. I think that I enjoyed the wine tour more than going to the spa. It's not that I didn't have fun with Jamie Marie and Jolene, but, it was really fun going with ALL the girls.

Saturday morning we were up and cleaning up to get ready to go. We had a GREAT time this year. Even Ed relaxed and didn't work while we were there!

Music Monday

I know that I didn't post last week. Ed and I were on a week's vacation in Florence, OR riding in the sand dunes. Too fun!

Here's this week's installment!


Winter by Tori Amos


Snow can wait
I forgot my mittens
Wipe my nose
Get my new boots on
I get a little warm in my heart
When I think of winter
I put my hand in my father's glove
I run off
Where the drifts get deeper
Sleeping beauty trips me with a frown
I hear a voice"You must learn to stand up for yourself
Cause I can't always be around"

He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear

Boys get discovered as winter melts
Flowers competing for the sun
Years go by and I'm here still waiting
Withering where some snowman was
Mirror mirror where's the crystal palace
But I only can see the myself
Skating around the truth who I am
But I know dad the ice is getting thin

When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses are still in bed
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change my dear

Hair is grey
And the fires are burning
So many dreams
On the shelf
You say I wanted you to be proud of me
I always wanted that myself

He says
When you gonna make up your mind
When you gonna love you as much as I do
When you gonna make up your mind
Cause things are gonna change so fast
All the white horses have gone ahead
I tell you that I'll always want you near
You say that things change
My dear

Holy Crap It's on Time This Week!

Welcome back to Music Monday... I think that since I'm on summer break, they will more than likely be on time now... (Don't hold your breath...)

Here's this week's installment...

Limelight

Living on a lighted stage
Approaches the unreal
For those who think and feel
In touch with some reality
Beyond the gilded cage

Cast in this unlikely role
Ill-equipped to act
With insufficient tact
One must put up barriers
To keep oneself intact

Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
Those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme

Living in a fish eye lens
Caught in the camera eye
I have no heart to lie
I can't pretend a stranger
Is a long-awaited friend

All the world's indeed a stage
And we are merely players
Performers and portrayers
Each another's audience
Outside the gilded cage

Living in the limelight
The universal dream
For those who wish to seem
For those who wish to be
Must put aside the alienation
Get on with the fascination
The real relation
The underlying theme.

-Rush/Neil Peart





I am also going to add a drum solo by Neil Peart. Again, I have to say that he is the most amazing drummer that I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. After reading all of his books, I see where the his lyrics are coming from and why he does what he does... It's long... 8 minutes...

Sixty-one Months

That's the amount of time that the person who killed Shane will have to spend in jail. Kenneth Clark pleaded guilty yesterday to vehicular homicide. The maximum jail sentence the law allows in cases of vehicular homicide is sixty-one months.

I'm not quite sure how I'm feeling about this.

On one hand, I'm glad the judge saw that Kenneth Clark had a record a mile long of drug offenses and other things. I'm ecstatic that he saw fit to give this man the maximum sentence. I'm happy for Zoe, the boys and all of Shane's friends that this is now "over". It's been a long time coming.

On the other hand, I'm PISSED that he only gets sixty-one months. Think about it Internet. That's only five years. And since he's already served a year and some months of this sentence, (because it's taken THAT long for this to be completed) he truly gets out in a little over three years.

FOR KILLING SOMEONE. When on meth. While driving. Without a license. And insurance.

When given a blood test to check the amount of alcohol and drugs in his blood, it was shown that he had .71 milligrams of meth in his blood stream.

Now, Shane's boys have to grow up without a father. The amount of time Kenneth Clark spends in jail for homicide, is a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of time Shane's boys will be without their dad.

I'm struggling with this.

Three people stood and spoke on Zoe and Shane's behalf. The first was Shane's training officer who spoke about training Shane in the Forest Service law enforcement field. He spoke about Shane's integrity as an officer and how he was such a great communicator.

The next person to speak was Shane's friend Troy. When Troy spoke, you heard a little more rage behind his words. He spoke about his loss and the huge loss to Shane's sons. He spoke about having a birthday three days before Shane's and having to call Zoe for the second time to wish Zoe happy birthday for Shane. He spoke about wanting the ordeal of all of the court proceedings to be over. That Zoe needed it to be over because she was so tired.

The last person to speak on behalf of Shane, was Zoe herself. She spoke of missing Shane so much that it was almost unbearable. She spoke of the picture she has in her mind of him bleeding to death for hours and wondering what he might be thinking. She spoke of their boys, their nightly prayers to Daddy in heaven and Kye's terror of crossing the yellow line when Zoe has to make a left hand turn across traffic. She spoke of their boys growing up with out Shane.

The judge asked if anyone was there to speak on behalf of Kenneth Clark. And, although there were probably six or eight people in the court room supporting him, not one of them got up to speak for him. Kenneth Clark did speak on his own behalf, though. He talked about being "sorry that the wreck happened" and that he "has been addicted to methamphetamines for twenty years" and that he "hopes that because he pleading guilty to the charges, the family will find some peace" and "the wreck didn't happen because he was high, it happened because he was too tired and shouldn't have been driving".

The judge then had a turn at talking. He spoke about the laws not being great and that things like this happen every day in his court room. He spoke about the responsibilty of each of us getting out there to change the laws so this doesn't happen to anyone else. He then started talking about the sentencing and what the law allows. Ed and I both thought that he was going to give Kenneth Clark the minimum sentence of forty-six months because that's what the prosecution recommended (to get a plea bargain it turns out). But he didn't. He talked about the victim impact statements, (Over one hundred of them) and even held them up to show that he'd spent the better part of the afternoon the day before reading every single one. He mentioned that he felt like he knew Shane, Zoe and their boys. But he didn't just give the minimum. The judge saw that Kenneth Clark really didn't care and saw fit to give him the maximum sentence allowed by the law.

Ed and I sat right behind three of the supporters of Kenneth Clark. One must have been his daughter. She cried through the entire court proceeding and when they took him out shackled in handcuffs and leg chains, he smiled at her.

This also gives me some cause for thought. I have been so focused on the pain that our group of friends has been feeling about losing our friend in such a violent way, and feeling so angry that this person slipped through the justice systems cracks, that I never stopped to think about if Kenneth Clark had any family and what THEY must be feeling. In a way, they have a loss too. Their loss isn't nearly as permanent as the loss that Shane's family and friends feel, but it's a loss nonetheless. I don't know the history of what kind of father Kenneth Clark has been... I know that he's been addicted to meth for twenty years, so I wonder how that's affected his family.

But, right now, I am still too angry to even process that part. And frankly, right now, I don't care much about Kenneth Clark. Or his family. Even though they are victims of his choices as well.

Right now, I can be content knowing that, at least, for sixty-one months, Kenneth Clark will endure jail and the loss of most freedoms. Hopefully, for sixty-one months, thoughts of that night will permeate his every day. Hopefully, for sixty-one months, his stay in jail will be miserable.

Right now, that much I can do.