A Lazy Sunday (Write a Post in 8 Lines)

The day starts with the knowledge that I get an extra hour!

I spend most of the day on the couch in my PJ's finishing grading for report cards and conferences.

The laundry machines swish and rumble in the back hall.

When I finally do take a shower, I decide to clean it at the same time and run out of hot water before I finish my own shower.

Because it's a lazy Sunday, left over crock pot lasagna is on the menu tonight for dinner.

Maybe it isn't so lazy today... Ed's outside on the roof of the garage winterizing it.

Probably I should go out and check on him to make sure he's OK...

The bad thing about this "falling back" business is that it's already getting dark and it's only 3:00.

22 Things I've Done

Mama Kat has a great weekly post called "Mama Kat's Pretty Much World Famous Writer's Workshop". You can see it here.

One of her prompts was to make a list of twenty-two things that you've done in your life thus far. Here's mine:

22. Got my street bike motorcycle endorsement.
21. Buried four grandparents.
20. Rode 1200 miles on my motorcycle, in Canada, in 4 days.
19. Got my first speeding ticket in Canada, on my motorcycle, when I wasn't even speeding. (Who is going to argue with the Canadian Mounted Police?)
18. Buried three of our own pets.
17. Got married the day before I turned 22.
16. Worked in a dentist office as a dental assistant.
15. Been with my husband since I was 17. (Almost 25 years)
14. Had a nervous break down.
13. Been to therapy.
12. Learned to make bread from my Granny.
11. Learned to make jelly/can from my sister.
10. Grew a garden.
9.  Learned virtually every lyric of every song I know.
8.  Became a teacher.
7. Learned to tile walls and floors.
6. remodeled a kitchen (with help)
5. bought a quad.
4. Been in a hit and run accident. (not me doing the hitting and running...)
3. Been at the hospital when my nieces and nephews were born.
2. Was born in the same town that I still live in.
1. Been married for 20 years.

Music Monday- Fur Cue

It's early. And I know that I haven't posted in A REALLY LONG TIME. I don't know if it's because of my stress level, pets, school starting... I don't know. But, I just downloaded the new Seether and I love this song. It's kind of fitting my mindset at the moment.

It’s all too revealing
Your words are deceiving

I can’t let you get in my way

I sense all your actions are meant as distractions

You must know I won’t play your game

Fake, you’re more than I can take

And something’s gonna break

Get out of my head

No shame, you’re passing all the blame

And nothing’s gonna change

Get out of my head

You made me realize that it’s all a lie

And it comes as no surprise

Stay for a while

Stay ‘cause you make me smile

There’s no compromise

I’m sick of pretending

The thoughts are unending

I can’t let you get in my way (there’s no way home)

I’m no longer bending

My mind set is mending

And now I have something to say (deny me)

Fake, you’re more than I can take

And something’s gonna break

Get out of my head

No shame, you’re passing all the blame

And something’s gonna change

Get out of my head

You made me realize that it’s all a lie

And it comes as no surprise

Stay for a while

Stay ‘cause you make me smile

There’s no compromise

Fake, you’re more than I can take

And something’s gonna break

Get out of my head

Shame, you’re passing all the blame

And nothing’s gonna change

Get out of my head

You made me realize that it’s all a lie

And it comes as no surprise

Stay for a while

Stay ‘cause you make me smile

I see no compromise

Stay for a while

Stay ‘cause you make me smile

I see no compromise

Stay for a while

Stay ‘cause you make me smile

There’s no compromise

You have to see here in order to hear it.
~Seether: Fur Cue, Holding on to Strings Better Left to Fray

August 4, 1995

Dear Sal,

Today is your 16th  birthday. And you are DRIVING! (Well... not on your own yet, but, we are stapling notices to telephone poles warning the neighborhood to stay off the sidewalks.) When you were little, I'd let you sit on my lap in the truck and drive it down our gravel road. You've been practicing a long time, so you should be doing great!

When you were born, it was a day very much like today. It was hot and sunny and a beautiful day. You had decided that you did NOT want to be born and were content to stay inside your mom. You were 10 days late and your mom was not having any more of this pregnancy thing so the doctor induced her. You made your grand entrance sometime in the afternoon... late afternoon... and if I were your favorite Auntie, I would know the exact time, except I don't. Sigh. I know. I KNOW! Your dad came running out of the room yelling, "It's a BOY and his feet are HUGE!" Your mom said "his eyes are kinda far apart and he looks like a frog". I thought you were beautiful. We didn't know whether you were a boy or girl beforehand. Your mom didn't have the ultrasound to find out. You were a huge surprise to all of us.

You were the best baby, despite your mom being kind of a freak show about you. It was the middle of August and she had you all wrapped up in blankets ALL the time and then couldn't figure out why you were fussing. You were a warm kid and didn't need all the blankets. Your mom, Munka and I would cart you all over the place. We took you shopping, to antique stores, the pumpkin patch... and I got every Tuesday night with you because your mom worked.

You never complained about anything we ate for dinner. You helped Ed with projects around the house. You'd play ball with Jessie and eat Kiu's food. "It's yummy! Try some!" you'd say.You would slide from the back hall, through the kitchen on your knees and slam into the sink cupboards and get up rubbing your head. When I'd ask you, "How'd that feel?", you would say, "That feeled fine, Auntie." Then after two or three trips of sliding down the hall and me asking the same question, you'd say, "NOT FINE."

Now you are taller than me, a fact that you never let me live down. And that's OK. I figured that some day you would be. I love that you are best friends with your cousins. I love that even though you tease your sisters mercilessly, you adore them.

I love that you still call me Auntie.

Happy, happy 16th birthday, Sal. I'm so proud of you.

Love,
Auntie

Random Tuesday Thoughts

• Why is it that when you want to stain the deck it decides to rain? It's been hot and beautiful for the last week and I have to pick the day before it's supposed to rain to pressure wash the deck.
• The bear got into the trash again last night. We haven't seen sign of him for the last two weeks. I kind of thought that the fireworks could have scared him off. Ed went out to the car to leave for work this morning and found the trash can knocked over with the bag flat gone. I guess it's back to putting the can in the garage. This should make Ed REALLY happy.
• I want to know why the kid who was convicted of KILLING the Tuba Man a few years back, only got 18 months. And now, he's back in the news for committing more crimes. I wonder if the penalty had been harsher for killing someone if he'd be in the mess he's in now. And, what about the parents who argued in court, that he was "basically a good kid" and "just got in with the wrong crowd". I wonder if they feel the same way now.
• My oldest nephew has graduated from high school... He didn't do the whole graduation thing because he was doing online school. He's a hockey player that spent the last two years in Texas playing for a team. I think he's headed to Canada to play this season... I just can't believe that he's old enough to do this.
• The second oldest nephew just turned 16 and is going to be driving on his own soon.
• When did these kids grow up?
• Our 16 year old cat has had some digestive problems. After days at the vet, and many procedures (that I won't go into detail here), we found out that he has what's called "mega colon". His colon has stopped doing it's job so now we have to give him medicine three times a day to make things move they way they're supposed to. I'm not complaining. The alternative is not pleasant either. Now, I'm just waiting for Alex to come and give him a hair cut. He needs it badly.
• My foot is finally healed so I can start my running again. I'm excited about this! :-)
• I'm trying to decide if I'm going to do a garden this year. Ed rototilled it for me, but I'm a tad afraid to plant anything because of the bunnies and bears strolling around these parts lately. I'll let you know what I decide after staining the deck.

Music Monday- Cage the Elephant

I have been hearing this song and have come to really love it. It's been rolling around in my head for days now. Enjoy.

Ain't No Rest for the Wicked

I was walkin' down the street, when out the corner of my eye
I saw a pretty little thing approachin' me
She said I've never seen a man
Who looks so all alone, could you use a little company?

If you pay the right price your evenin' will be nice
Or you can go and send me on my way
I said you're such a sweet young thing, why you do this to yourself?
She looked at me and this is what she said

Oh, there ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed
There ain't nothin' in this world for free

I know I can't slow down, I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
Oh no, there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good

Not even fifteen minutes later after walkin' down the street
When I saw the shadow of a man creep out of sight
And then he swept up from behind, he put a gun up to my head
He made it clear he wasn't lookin' for a fight

He said give me all you've got, I want your money not your life
If you try to make a move I won't think twice
I told him you can have my cash but first you know I gotta ask
What made you wanna live this kind of life?

He said there ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
I got bills to pay, I got mouths to feed
There ain't nothin' in this world for free

I know I can't slow down, I can't hold back
Though you know I wish I could
Oh no, there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good

Well, now a couple hours passed and I was sittin' at my house
The day was windin' down and comin' to an end
And so I turned on the TV and flipped it over to the news
And what I saw I almost couldn't comprehend

I saw a preacher man in cuffs, he'd taken money from the church
He stuffed his bank account with righteous dollar bills
But even still I can't say much because I know we're all the same
Oh yes, we've all seek out to satisfy those thrills

You know there ain't no rest for the wicked
Money don't grow on trees
We got bills to pay, we got mouths to feed
There ain't nothin' in this world for free

I know we can't slow down, we can't hold back
Though you know we wish we could
No there ain't no rest for the wicked
Until we close our eyes for good

13.1

Jules has done them before. She talked about it like it was easy. It's only 13.1 miles. I can do this. Right? So, I signed up. It's been one of those bucket list kind of things for me... to run/walk a half marathon. I sort of ran in high school and liked it, but never competitively and NEVER on any organized team.

I started my training by buying a book by a guy they call "The Penguin" who started marathon running at a later age and did everything wrong. The book had awesome advice and great training programs. I started the walk/run program training and I was off.

I ran/walked two short stints during the week, did two days of cross training and then a long run/walk on Saturday.

By race day, I was nervous. Teenie and Stacey and I rode in together, caught a bus to the start line in Tukwila and wound our way to our corral. I couldn't believe the number of people. They said 26,000 people ran. We ended up in Teenie's corral... Mine was the very last one because I gave myself 4 hours to finish. I wanted the most time possible, knowing that it probably would take me that long. We ran the first mile, walked the next hill, ran down the hill, and began our plan. of choosing an endpoint to stop the running and take a rest.

I'm not sure when it happened, but my right foot began to feel weird. That's the only way I can describe it. It felt like the top bones in my foot needed to pop, like they were sort of grinding together. I began walking to favor the foot, and developed a blister the size of a silver dollar on my left foot. I was a mess. At mile 6, Teenie was really wanting to run, but I knew I was going to be walking the rest so I told her to go... NO, really, GO! She went ahead and finished at around 3 hours.

I walked the last 7 miles favoring my feet... I'm not going to lie... there were LOTS of times that I just wanted to stop at the medical tent and tell them to send a van for me. I wanted to give up. I did. But, I'd get a little farther, and the people were cheering us on and giving encouragement. Apparently, it was enough to keep me going one more mile.

At mile 9 we were routed onto the HOV lanes on the I-90 bridge. Through the tunnel. It was SO hot in there. And loud... some DJ guy was playing music with his speakers turned up to 11 and I couldn't even hear myself think. I began to "tail" a gal just keeping my eyes on her shoes in order to make it through that tunnel. Here's something that I didn't think about... freeways/highways are made for cars. They are crowned so that the water runs to the edges of the road. Have you EVER tried to run/walk on a surface where one leg ends up being shorter than the other? HIGHLY uncomfortable and NOT recommended.

We went up fourth and made a left... at mile 12, we went over the Viaduct. I almost cried. I was thinking that possibly, they would be just going to scoot us around the corner and to the finish line near Quest Field. No such luck. When I got to mile 13, just at the corner of Quest field at Royal Brome (sp?), I only had a tenth to go. I started looking for Ed along the finish line hoping that he'd gotten the texts saying where I was on the course. I saw him very near the finish line, huge grin on his face taking pictures of me. I seriously almost burst into tears when I saw him.

I went over the finish line at 3:39. Not bad considering that I walked the last 7 miles with an injured foot and a blister the size of Texas on the other. They say that you are supposed to continue moving for 20 minutes after you finish. All I wanted to do is sit. In fact, I thought I was going to pass out if I didn't.

They had beer, bands, food and swag. Lots of stuff to do at the finish line. All I wanted to do is go home.

I did learn some things:

• When they say that, in training, if you can run 10 miles, you can do 13.1, they are LYING. I would HIGHLY recommend SOMETIME during your training to try going the full length. Not right before, though.
• I HATE running outside. I am a treadmill girl. I loved going to the gym, getting on the treadmill, putting in my headphones, and reading my Nook. My knees never hurt running on the treadmill, and I could stop and pee if I had to.
• Running outside is WAY different than running on the treadmill.
• I am the slowest runner in captivity. Most people walk faster than I run and I am OK with that.
• I CAN do this when I put my mind to it.

I'm going to keep up the training schedule... leaving out the long runs on Saturdays... except maybe doing the long runs on the treadmill... I felt better when I was running. I slept better when I was running.

So, am I glad I did it? Yes.  I ran for my Grandma. The run benefited the American Cancer Society and I wore my Grandma's cancer bracelet. Will I do it again? NO.

And yes, that deserves all caps.

Tuesday Tune-age: Eye of the Tiger

So, I know that this is kind of corny, but as some of you know, I've been training for a half marathon at the end of June. Last Saturday, Teenie and I ran/walked 10 miles in 2 hours and 26 minutes. Then, last night at the gym, I did my 50 minutes as scheduled. Teenie challenged me to try to run a whole mile without stopping. And do you know what? I DID! Of the 3 1/2 miles I ran, two of those miles were RUN. Not run/walked. RUN. I also didn't do them consecutively, but I did them. So when I got off the treadmill, I kind of felt like Rocky at the top of the steps. I wanted to jump up and down and shout that I'd actually done it.

Now... if they just let me have my iPod so I can channel Bob Marley, I think I will be fine for the 13.1 miles on the 25th.

Risin' up, back on the street


Did my time, took my chances

Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet

Just a man and his will to survive

So many times, it happens too fast

You trade your passion for glory

Don't lose your grip on the dreams of the past

You must fight just to keep them alive


[Chorus:]

It's the eye of the tiger, it's

the thrill of the fight

Rising up to the challenge of our rival

And the last known survivor

stalks his prey in the night

And he's watching us all with the eye of the tiger


Face to face, out in the heat

Hangin' tough, stayin' hungry

They stack the odds, still we take to the street

For the kill with the skill to survive
[Chorus]

Risin' up, straight to the top

Had the guts, got the glory

Went the distance, now I'm not gonna stop

Just a man and his will to survive
[Chorus]
The eye of the tiger

[Repeats to fade out]

~Survivor

Music Monday- Leave the Pieces (On Tuesday)

My friend has been going through a rough time. She is the strongest person I know... dealing with what she's been dealing with for the last 18 months.

She even has a bulldog on her poodle skirt.

Love you Teenie.

You're not sure that you love me
But you're not sure enough to let me go
Baby it ain't fair, you know
To just keep me hanging 'round

You say you don't want to hurt me
Don't want to see my tears
So why are you still standing here
Just watching me drown?

And it's alright, yeah I'll be fine
Don't worry about this heart of mine
Just take your love and hit the road

There's nothing you can do or say
You're gonna break my heart anyway
So just leave the pieces when you go

Now you can drag out the heartache
Baby you can make it quick
Really get it over with
And just let me move on

Don't concern yourself
With this mess you left for me
I can clean it up, you see
Just as long as you're gone

And it's alright, yeah I'll be fine
Don't worry about this heart of mine
Just take your love and hit the road

There's nothing you can do or say
You're gonna break my heart anyway
So just leave the pieces when you go

You're not making up your mind
It's killing me and wasting time
I need so much more than that
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

And it's alright, yeah I'll be fine
Don't worry about this heart of mine
Just take your love and hit the road

There's nothing you can do or say
You're gonna break my heart anyway
So just leave the pieces when you go
Leave the pieces when you go
Oh yeah, leave the pieces when you go

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah
Leave the pieces when you go
~The Wreckers

Random Tuesday Thoughts

• Today my cat had an "event" (which I won't describe in detail here, but let's just say "stuff" came out of both ends) 15 minutes before I was to leave to be at zero hour photography at school. Sometimes I wish I didn't have carpet anywhere in my house.
• Dear Hitchhiking Lady- Probably flipping people off who purposely don't give you a ride because you are stumbling along a two lane road at 7:45 in the morning looking  like you are strung out on heroin isn't going to get you a ride from anyone at all. Just sayin'.
• Why is it that guys feel the need to pee into any type of container they can find in their car WHILE DRIVING and then throw said container out of the window of their car for the rest of the population to enjoy passing on their way to work? Have you ever heard of McDonald's? You don't even have to buy anything to use THE RESTROOM!
• Our god daughter graduated from college last weekend. Man. There's nothing like a college graduation to make you feel REALLY old.
• We're almost through with our state testing. Thank goodness we only have 1 test per subject instead of the 2 or 3 per subject. This year we only have 3 days of testing instead of the 7 last year.
• What is with the weather around here? I'm SO sick of the rain. I think I might be growing webbed feet.
• My training for the Rock and Roll half marathon is going OK... I walk/ran 6 miles yesterday. It's going to be tough. Luckily the race isn't until June 25th. And Julie and Teenie and Stacey are running with me. Well, at the same time. Probably not "with me" as I'm the slowest runner in captivity.
• I just ate left overs for lunch and have decided that all my lunches from now on have to be left overs. Which means that I have to cook something the night before that might precipitate left overs. I've decided that I am not a "make a sandwich in the morning and eat it at lunch" kind of girl.

All righty then.

Music Monday- Leather and Lace

OK... I picked this song because:
1. I like it and
B. Stevie Nicks is awesome and
Last. Dave Grohl does a great cover of it... with Will Ferrell...

Is love so fragile...
And the heart so hollow
Shatter with words...
Impossible to follow
You're saying I'm fragile... I try not to be
I search only... for something I can't see

I have my own life... and I am stronger
Than you know
But I carry this feeling
When you walked into my house
That you won't be walking out the door
Still I carry this feeling
When you walked into my house
That you won't be walking out the door

Lovers forever... face to face
My city or mountains
Stay with me stay
I need you to love me
I need you today
Give to me your leather...
Take from me... my lace

You in the moonlight
With your sleepy eyes
Could you ever love a man like me
And you were right
When I walked into your house
I knew I'd never want to leave
Sometimes I'm a strong man
Sometimes cold and scared
And sometimes I cry
But that time I saw you
I knew with you to light my nights
Somehow I'd get by
First time I saw you
I knew with you to light my nights
Somehow I would get by

Lovers forever... face to face
My city or mountains
Stay with me stay
I need you to love me
I need you today
Give to me your leather...
Take from me... my lace

Lovers forever... face to face
My city or mountains
Stay with me stay
I need you to love me
I need you to stay
Give to me your leather
Take from me... my lace
Take from me... my lace
Take from me... my lace

Can't Kick It

Two weeks ago, I took my 5th graders to their camp experience. Now, this camp experience isn't something that is for the weak hearted. This is full on camp for two and a half days AWAY from home, sleeping in barracks and having school outside no matter whether it's raining sideways or not. Yeah, camp.

I have to say that the first session totally lucked out because the daily weather wasn't rain hitting you in the face in a gale force wind. No, it was actually sunny the first day, cloudy the second, and wet the third. (It rained in the night the second night after we'd gone to bed, but stopped before we actually had classes the next morning.)

The kids (and teachers) come home EXHAUSTED. I mean tired-er than tired. The first session goes up Monday morning early, then comes home Wednesday afternoon. The first session teachers have two more days to teach the kids until the weekend. It's pretty tough, on us and the kids, trying to come back and learn/teach something meaningful.

It was a long week. Our spring break holiday is scheduled right after camp, however, for me it was not a holiday. It was spent cleaning house, moving 20 yards of dirt around the front yard, seeding the lawn with grass seed and finding out my grandma has lung cancer that has metastasized into her brain.

So, there really wasn't any rest. Just rest. We went, went, went ALL week and weekend long.

I'm tired. And I can't seem to shake the bad attitude that has infested my being.

Apparently, I need a vacation from my vacation.

A New Job

I'm sitting at my computer working while my kids are working independently. I'd been sick for the first two days of the week with the flu and returned on Wednesday. I probably should have taken one more day, but it is such a hassle making sub plans that I decided to just tough it out and be at school. My nose was all plugged up so I took a big breath with my mouth. One of my students heard me and said:

Her: Mrs. C, are you feeling OK?
Me: No... I probably should have stayed home one more day with this awful cold.
Her: Maybe you can get a prostitute to come in for you this afternoon.
Me: (Shocked) A SUBSTITUTE????
Her: Oh. Yeah. A substitute.

Music Monday (on Thursday) Long Cool Woman

My mom LOVES this song. I think it might be her favorite. I have it on my iPod and it came on this morning on my way to school. Here's to you, Mom

Saturday night I was downtown
Working for the FBI
Sitting in a nest of bad men
Whiskey bottles piling high

Bootlegging boozer on the west side
Full of people who are doing wrong
Just about to call up the DA man
When I heard this woman singing a song

A pair of moneybags made me open my eyes
My temperature started to rise

She was a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5'9" beautiful 'n' tall
Just one look I was a bad mess
'Cause that long cool woman had it all

I saw her heading to the table
Well, a tall walking big black cat
Charlie said, "I hope that you're able, boy
'Cause I'm telling you she knows where it's at"

Suddenly we hear the sirens
Everybody started to run
Jumping under doors and tables
Well, I heard somebody shooting a gun

Well, the DA was pumping my left hand
She was holding my right
Well, I told her, "Don't get scared
'Cause you're gonna be spared
I'm gonna be forgiven if I wanna spend my living"

With a long cool woman in a black dress
Just a 5'9" beautiful 'n' tall
Just one look I was a bad mess

'Cause that long cool woman had it all
She had it all, she had it all, she had it all
She had it all

You got it all, you got it all, you got it all
You got it all, got it all, got it all, got it all
Pretty long cool woman had it all

~Long Cool Woman, The Hollies
 

Tuesday Tuneage: Beastie Boys

I'm having a REALLY hard time going to work these days. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE my job, I'm just having a hard time getting up when it's dark, I think. I can't wait until it's light at 5:30.

You wake up late for school, man, you don't wanna go
You ask your mom, "Please?", but she still says, "No"
You missed two classes and no homework
But your teacher preaches class like you're some kind of jerk

You gotta fight for your right to party

Your pop caught you smoking, and he said, "No way!"
That hypocrite smokes two packs a day
Man, living at home is such a drag
Now your mom threw away your best porno mag
(Busted)

You gotta fight for your right to party

Don't step out of this house if that's the clothes you're gonna wear
I'll kick you out of my home if you don't cut that hair
Your mom busted in and said, "What's that noise?"
Aw, mom you're just jealous, it's the Beastie Boys

You gotta fight for your right to party

Fight for Your Right~ Beastie Boys

Maybe Not So Stupid...

OK, so on my last post, I said that I had no motivation... That I wanted to quit... That I was a big loser...

Well, guess what? Last night I ran for 8 minutes. WITHOUT STOPPING! All at one time!

Can you believe it? I certainly couldn't.

It was one of those instances where I had the plan of: Run 3 minutes, walk 2 minutes... Run 3, walk 2. But, at that 3 minutes mark, I was feeling pretty good so I thought to myself, "I think I can make it to 4 minutes." At the 4 minutes mark, I was still feeling pretty good, so I decided to try for 5. At the 5 minutes mark, I was all, "Oh, I can make it to 6 minutes!" And I did! So, when I got to the 6 minute mark, I decided that if I could make it that far, I could make it to 8. And I did.

I walked for 2 minutes and then decided to try for another 8 minute 2 minute interval. That didn't work so well, but I did make it 6 minutes. Then I walked 2. Then I ran 4 minutes, walked 2. Then I ran 2 walked 2 and ran the last two. In this 30 minute period, I actually ran/walked 2 miles. With the cool down, it was 2.25.

Maybe I CAN actually run this half marathon in June...

Stupid, Stupid, Stupid

So I did a stupid thing. I signed up for a half marathon. I know, right? What business do I have entering something like that? Sigh.

Julie talked me in to it. (My attempt of making it not my fault.) But, I did have to sign up for it by myself. It's in June, so I have a ton of time yet to train. But it's only been 3 weeks since I signed up and I'm already losing momentum.

My whole body hurts. The thought of running makes me want to vomit. I want to just quit.

Sigh.

It's getting hard. When things get hard, my MO is to quit. But, this time I can't. I have people depending on me.

Oh, motivation, where art thou?

Music Monday: Bells For Her

And through the life force and there goes her friend
On her Nishiki it's out of time
And through the portal they can make amends
Hey, would you say whatever we're blanket friends

Can't stop what's coming
Can't stop what is on its way

And through the walls they made their mud pies
I've got your mind I said she said I've got your voice
I said you don't need my voice girl you have your own
But you never thought it was enough of

So they went years and years
Like sisters, blanket girls
Always there through that and this
There's nothing we cannot ever fix I said

Can't stop what's coming
Can't stop what is on it's way

Bells and footfalls and soldiers and dolls
Brothers and lovers she and I were
Now she seems to be sand under his shoes
There's nothing I can do

Can't stop what's coming
Can't stop what is on it's way

And now I speak to you, are you in there?
You have her face and her eyes
But you are not her
And we go at each other
Like blankets who can't find
Their thread and their bare

Can't stop loving
Can't stop what is on its way
And I see it coming and It's on its way

~Tori Amos

This video isn't the best, but it's the best that YouTube had and it's not an official video...

THis is Tori Amos Live...

Missing

A conversation between me and one of my students last Friday:

Him: Mrs. C., do you notice anything different about me?

Me: Do you have a new backpack?

Him: No.

Me: A new coat?

Him (now exasperated): NO! I'm missing part of my butt.

Me (extremely confused): What?!?!?!

Him: Last night at basketball practice, I ran my butt off and now I think part of it is missing.

Me: Oh, honey... that's just an expression that people use when they work really hard or play really hard. I really don't think that part of your backside is really missing.

Him: I don't know... It IS getting smaller...