Exciting Treat To Make

Especially for Brody, Anna, and Allie:

Counting Blessings

Today I have been feeling sorry for myself. I've come to the conclusion that I will be alone on Christmas. I had wanted to go to Arizona, but the closer it gets to the 25th the more hope I lose that the check I expect is coming in time.

However, I have also been thinking how lucky I am to have a family that I want to spend the holiday with. I am thankful for a son who makes me proud by trying to do the right things. I have a dog that snuggles with me and seems to know when I am upset. I belong to a church that teaches truth and light. I know that Christ lives and eases burdens. I know prayers are heard and answered. Even though the answers are not what I want, they are answered.

So-Here's hoping that everyone has a Merry Christmas and remembers the reason we celebrate the holiday.

What You Have Been Waiting For

I have kept you anticipating my move--right? Well-here are the pictures.

Outside of the house:



Inside of the house:












This room has six closets!








Here are some bonus items with the house:


A swiveling TV-yes, it has a cable hookup-and yes, it has a picture tube that blinks on and off with that little circle--feels like when I was a teenager! We can watch at the dinner table or the living room lounging in front of the fireplace.








This is from the master bedroom through the laundry room and out to the enclosed patio. Can you see the gas line near the floor on the other side of the laundry room? Yep. Gotta remember to step over it--no walking out there without contacts.



This is the makeshift desk and work area.
I have two more file cabinets! It is complete
with a broken cabinet door!















View from kitchen window






Yes, deer poo-to prove they come in my yard!

Thoughts About Nothing in Particular

So-I went to a Community Watch Meeting for the Apartment Complex I live in. The only manager who has ever taken an interest and done something about Community Watch was transferred on Friday. She didn't see it coming. I am in charge of Community Watch for the Apartments. Guess how many showed up for the meeting? Besides me? 1. One person besides myself. We have the most apathetic people living here. Oh, I mean apathetic unless something happens like say a drive by shooting, or drug busts, or gangsters.

Today I was in the kitchen doing dishes-a weekly occurrence. I had the blinds open-a monthly occurrence. (I live on the bottom and don't like people seeing in!) A guy jumped up on my balcony, climbed to the second floor apartment, and went in through their porch to let a girl in.

What would you do? On one hand-there are three girls who live upstairs-I just saw three girls 20 minutes prior to this leaving for church. Is this a fourth girl of whom I don't know about? Is this one of the three and I saw a friend going to church with the other two? Or-is it a burglary in progress?

I called the police. Yes, I did. What a good little Community Watch Coordinator I was! They sent cops and back up cops. I think the girl lives up there-no one ever told me anything-but I did see the cops looking at my balcony and up to the second floor.

Sorry neighbors-but is it better to call the cops and have it be one of you, or to not call the cops and have you come home to things being gone? I'd rather have my neighbors send a cop to question me.

At What Age?

So-just out of curiosity--at what age do you think a body starts falling apart? I used to think it was about 80. I have since change my opinion. I won't share it with you just yet. I don't want to skew the results.

I'm Excited About.....

Seeing my family in Arizona.

Finishing the school administration program on March 15, 2010.

Losing 40 pounds and hoping to lose more.

Starting Lacrosse season again.

The bathroom being clean.

Austin's birthday coming up.

My nephew playing in a football game.

Buying Christmas presents.

Getting Halloween over--I hate Halloween!

Funny Sayings

The other day I watched and listened as a person was looking for something important. About 30 minutes later someone asked if she had found it. The first person said, "Yes. It was in the last place I looked!"

Duh!!!!

Once you find it do you really keep looking?

Something Twisted

I've been thinking about twisty ties. Yes, twisty ties. If you are lucky you get a whole bunch of em when you buy garbage bags. They look so nice when they are new. So straight and untarnished. No bends or twists.

If you work at it you can untwist a twisted one and make it almost straight again. I suppose if you are more committed you could get it to even lay straight once again. Those twists and turns that change the look of the tie happen so easily and quickly.

When twisties come as an attached pack (like with your garbage bags) they are pretty easy to keep straight. They seem to protect each other. Separate them and they are so easy to manipulate and twist.



Twisties are much like life. When we enter life we are new and untwisted. We have a number of supportive people who take care of us and make decisions. As young children we may have kinks and twists, but that support network helps us continue on the straight path.

After a while we break off from the package and begin making our own decisions and act of our own accord. Our path isn't as straight as it was before, but we want to make our own decisions. As we continue we put our own twists and turns into our lives. If we are lucky those twists are in a positive direction. But-what happens when our decisions aren't so good? Those twists are not wanted, or sometime in the future are regretted. What can we do? We can attempt to untwist ourselves. At times this works, but with some twists we need more help. We turn to our supporters and hope they can help us out of those twists.



Sometimes our twists get so numerous and tight we feel there is no way to straighten out. That is when someone must intercede on our behalf. Luckily for us there is One who intercedes for us. He makes it possible to untwist when we think there is no hope left. He gently guides us through the paths that will begin to untangle us. We must do what we can in the process. Perhaps we become more flexible and moldable. Perhaps we come to understand that what we can't do for ourselves can only be done when we trust in and ask Him for help.

I have been helped through many of these twists and turns. My family and friends have been supporters throughout my life. Many times they have helped support and guide me through some twist that happened. Other times I have had to have faith and ask for help from my Savior and yours, Jesus Christ, to intercede on my behalf and guide me through the untwisting. I continue to learn in the process. I have hope that someday the reasons for those twists I have struggled with will be made known. Until then, I continue to have faith that I have someone by my side to intercede when I know I can not do it alone.

In a World Where "Class" is Often Questioned

Apologies to my family who do not listen to the same music as I do.

I do not always agree with the way people live or the music they play or the videos they make. But once in a while it does the human spirit good to see these same people doing something extraordinary. These two clips are two of these times.

This is a tribute to one of my favorite performers by my one of my favorite performers.

A well spoken tribute to Michael Jackson from Madonna at the MTV Video Awards.

MTV Shows

Another first rate, classy act from Beyonce to Taylor Swift who was shown incredible disrespect by another performer. If you did not see the show, you may have heard about it. Taylor won an award. She is not a hip hop, rap, or pop artist. She is a country artist. During her acceptance speech a performer took the mic from her and made the comment that Beyonce was the best. Taylor did not get to finish accepting her award. What Beyonce did when her video won an award later in the show is what the Golden Rule is all about.

MTV Shows

Busy Week

As many of you know (Well, probably all three of my followers anyway) I am trying to complete a certification for a license to be a principal. To do this I have to complete 450 hours of time in the schools working with principals. Kind of like Student Teaching. I guess it could be called "Student Administrating". These hours are in addition to my hours at work.

So-here's my busy week-
Monday: Work, night class in Salt Lake. Classes are from 6-10 PM.



Tuesday: Work, voting, met with a church leader.



Wednesday: Work, early bedtime

Thursday: Work, supervise Sophomore football game, supervise girls volleyball

Friday: Work, train teachers on new gradebook, supervise football game



Saturday: Dog to grooming, worked individually with a teacher on the new gradebook system, did dishes, made rice krispie treats, worked on creating charts from the data for the high school.

When I read this blog as a preview it doesn't sound that busy--but considering I leave by 7:15 AM and get home many nights around 11:00 PM-that's a busy day!

State Fair

I remember as a kid the fair was the place to go. We would go often enough that I have good memories of it. As a teenager, you went to the fair with your friends. If you got to go without your parents, you were cool!

Austin doesn't remember ever going to a fair. Although he did go once with his cousins in Arizona. The boys all got to jump with a harness on and they had fun. However, I think the oldest boy was about 6.

This week the Utah State Fair started. I decided that we would go. Austin wasn't real happy at first because he thought it would be boring. He was wrong! He had fun. Of course it helps when mommy buys things!

Remember the big slide in Michigan that used to be at Sears? The "Super Slide". When Mom and Dad would take us there it was the best. It didn't stay there though. There's a reason for the reminiscing--

Here is our top 10 things to do at the Fair:

10. Watch an old lady try alligator meat.
9. Look at the photography entrants.
8. Go into the Nintendo DSi trailer and play with the camera and sound.
7. Eat pizza at our favorite pizza place(The Pie Pizzaria.)
6. Purchase a green and black belt. (Coolio!)
5. Eat cinnamon sugar coated pecans
4. Pay only $25 for a one night stay in a five star hotel (Actually they want to sell us a time share)
3. Buy the book, The Runelords
2. Meet the author, David Farland, who signed the book.
1. Take a ride down "The Super Slide".

The Hammering Out of Murphy's Law

So-here's my synopsis of the previous post.

1. The car cost $596.49 to fix. OUCH!!!

2. My interview yesterday was changed to a SKYPE interview so I could interview from home. I don't think I got it though.

3. I whined to my mom about not being in Arizona.

4. My interview today was okay-but didn't get the job.

5. Had a meeting with my new Bishop yesterday. I like him.

6. Teachers at the school I was supposed to be at yesterday are not happy because I wasn't there.

7. Noticed that on the cluster map for my blog I have looked at my blog more than anyone.

8. My sister loves me--she would have given me a ride to work yesterday.

Murphy's Law

I am a firm believer in Murphy's Law. When all can go wrong-it will. AND-it's always at the worst time ever :)

So, here I am happily going about my business when my air conditioner starts acting strange in my car. It's a 2006 vehicle, so it seems like it shouldn't have problems yet (Silly me!) So I think to myself (Its a Wonderful Life....No, the song just popped into my head now--not then), "Well, Self, it is just the air conditioner. It's going to get cooler in about a month so just don't use it when it starts blowing the hot air."

I am pretty good at listening to "Self" talk, so when I turn the air on if it works I keep it on, when it starts blowing hot air I turn it off. Sounds like a great plan. Don't use it when it's not working and everything will be just fine.

I continue to go about my merry little business. I have an interview scheduled for today, I have an interview scheduled for tomorrow. I am feeling positive about the interviews.

Yesterday I stop at Target to use my $5 gift card I received from buying my 5 gallons of ice cream and I notice the temperature gauge going up, up, up. Right when I get ready to panic, it goes back down. Whew. I start driving home when the temperature gauge does the same thing! I start to panic. Can't remember where I was going, how to call the car place to get the car in, nor can I forget that the last vehicle that did this cost over $1000 to fix. I use my handy cell phone to call 411. They tell me there is no such place listed! Stupid 411! I call that place all the time to get oil changes, etc....

Finally, I make it home with my meat that I had bought at Target. I get everything put away and I start asking my friends if they can pick me up at the car place and bring me home. Of course, all three of my friends cannot. I call the car place. They say to drop the car off in the morning (That's today in case you are having trouble following the rambling). I said okay and spent last night trying to find someone to take me to work, to the high school for an assembly, and of course to my interview that is 43 minutes from right now.

No go. Can't find a soul. (If I lived in Arizona I wouldn't have this problem because everyone of my family members there would have a solution for me--and it would have been solved before I left the Target parking lot!)

I ate dinner last night which made me sick--I think due to the situation because my son did not get sick! Decided to look at my family bloggers and see that not only did my family have a MICHIGAN Party, but they all have MICHIGAN T Shirts for their party. Wow-kick a girl while she's down. I show my son. He tells me I'm trying to guilt trip him into moving down there (well, there might be some slight truth to that one).

I guess I will have to tell you the outcome of all of this when it is all resolved. I'm just wasting time because I'm not at work (Yay!), I'm not at the interview (Boo), and I have no wheels.

Murphy's law will getcha every time!

Coupon Deal!!!

I received this email today and thought some of my three family member readers would like the bargain.

"You want to do this because ice cream is good. And so is Target. You know you were going there this week anyway. Don't lie. :)

Dreyer's Ice Cream is on sale for $2.50 this week. Not a great bargain.

But then, print off 5 Target $1 Dreyer's coupons----

http://www.organicgrocerydeals.com/forums/view.php?pg=coupon_generator

You have to scroll down a little, find where it says "Edy's or Dreyer's Ice Cream" and type in the number 5 in the little box next to it. Scroll down to the bottom and click on "Get Coupons" The coupons will appear in a new window and print them out!

Now the ice cream is $1.50. Not too shabby.

But here's the best part. When you buy 5 at Target this week-you get a $5 Target gift card!!! Essentially making each 1.5 qt (normal size) only 50 cents!! Take that diet!!

I got mine today!

Cheryl"

Decisions Part Two

Fingerprints? Check

Money order to pay for fingerprint processing? Check

On to the next step. Yay!!!

Cool Show

Ever wished you could try to live your life over again? Ever wanted to try to live as someone else? this show is pretty good. It's on Lifetime.

Decisions

I have come to the conclusion that I need to move to Arizona sooner than later.



I am going to actively make preparations to do so. I'm hoping this will make some of my family members post comments to my blog. Nonetheless I am at this point making some plans.

For example, I have posted a resume on the following site listed on the Arizona State Department of Education web page.



I am also going to get my fingerprints done this week at the police station. Then, on payday I am going to get a money order and send the fingerprint info to the state.



The next step financially is to sign up to take the tests required by the state of Arizona in order to get my certification current in the state. This one costs a lot of money so I will probably do in January or February since I have to pay when I make the reservation for the testing spot.

I am planning on going to AZ for part of the holiday break.




When I do, I am considering renting a small uhaul and bringing some things down with me. I will get a storage unit, and try to pay for at least six months in advance.

After that, I just need to take the tests, apply at school districts and see what happens. I would consider moving without a job if a family member was willing to let me, Austin, and the dog stay with them.



I'll have to see how it goes though. I can always substitute for a while if I need to. I will finish this year with the school district I am with.

Of course there are other preparations too. For example, Austin. He will have to decide where he wants to live. Then, I will have to speak with his father about the ramifications. This part will be the hardest. There will be a pay cut of course, but hopefully I could make a lot of that up by having a cheaper apartment and cutting down my expenses. If the move and timing are right, everything will work out for the best.

Lookin' For Some Ideas``

It has been a hard week at work. The weekend is here and I need some suggestions on what relaxing things to do. If I had the money I would be at my niece's wedding reception in Washington State, then I'd be down in Arizona for my uncle's funeral.

However, I am stuck here in depressing Utah. I have been yelled at or gotten after almost every day this week from teachers and principals. I HATE the beginning of the school year. I can't figure out why more adults don't realize that one person in charge of 300 computers, 60 projectors, 60 document cameras, and a conundrum of other technological things that maybe, just maybe, one person is working as hard as they can to get things fixed and working.

Yes, I am hating my job. As you know I tried to get back to the classroom this year, but wasn't successful. Now I remember why I wanted back. I am stressed to the max.

So-any ideas on how to de-stress and relax that don't cost money? Don't tell me to go window shopping either. The ex is causing my son stress about what I do and do not purchase and therefore, this has caused me stress to. So--ideas that involve no money and no wishing I could spend money. Probably it would be better for me to have to get out of bed. My ideas are: sleep, take the dog to grooming (already paid for), do homework that is due on Monday, and sleep.

Please write some ideas for me---I'm going to bed now.

My Educational Law Class

I have just finished week three of my law class. Last night I learned about the Ugly Law.

Yes, it is true. (You can Google it--that's where I found the following info)

In the early 1900's the Ugly Law was quite common. Communities wanted to only show their "pretty" faces. So-it was ILLEGAL to be found ugly on the streets in some major towns in America.

Someone could be imprisoned or fined $50 for each offense.

Chicago's law stated "No person who is diseased, maimed, mutilated or in any way deformed so as to be an unsightly or disgusting object or improper person to be allowed in or on the public ways or other public places in this city, or shall therein or thereon expose himself to public view, under a penalty of not less than one dollar nor more than fifty dollars for each offense."

Chicago was the last city to quit prosecuting this "crime" in 1974.

In 1974 I was 11 years old. I've got to tell you that I am glad the law was repealed because I was not "pretty". And for quite a few years before and after 1974 I was still not pretty. Take a look.


9 years old:



















11 years old:


It's bad enough that I have dark brown spots on my neck and nose--did I really have to have my tongue stuck between my teeth too?







15 years old:


Amazingly I looked strikingly similar to the boy I liked this school year!

I think I'll leave you now with these wonderful pictures. Maybe next time I will show some cute ones!

Lists

I have always been told that keeping lists is a great way to stay organized. I have resisted the idea for 46 years, but decided I would give it a try. I started keeping a To Do List today. Take a look at how it is going so far:

Original List:

1. Make zucchini bread
2. Cash a check and put the money in the bank
3. Take the dog to the groomer-he smells
4. Stick to my diet
5. Clean my bathroom
6. Sweep and mop all the tile floors
7. Do homework

Here is what has really happened today:

1. No zucchini bread-but when I do it will have chocolate chips in it.
2. Cashed the check-spent most of it
3. Forgot the dog at the groomers
4. Took my friend to lunch and had ice cream for dessert
5. Used the bathroom
6. Looked at the tile floors
7. Homework? Really? Do I have to?
8. Enjoying a repeat episode of iCarly

Maybe it would help if my list was portable and in front of me. Maybe I should go buy a notebook.

Oh and don't worry about the dog. I didn't really forget him. He is sitting on the reclining chair between my feet right now.

Garage Sale Blues

Usually I am pretty savvy with garage sales.

I never go to them, but I always have them.



Usually I can have a garage sale and end up with somewhere between $200 and $400. This year is a bit different. Maybe it's the economy-I don't know.

I held a garage sale in July and barely made over $90. Yesterday I added some things to my friend's garage sale and made about $15.

The worst part is her brother was selling something that I knew Austin would love. And-it was a steal at $50. I would never find another one for $50. He had one once, but his dad's brother sold it. So-I bought it. Here is a picture of one like it:





Yes, I bought him a gas powered scooter. I am the BOMB!!!! He even said so!

So-instead of making money at the garage sale I came out with $35 less than I started with. Oh well. Sometimes you just have to be the BOMB!!!!

Ode To My Son

Oh son, you were so small and cute




It seems like yesterday,

You tried to fill your Daddy's shoes




Of this we can't refute.

As you have grown



I've watched to see

What kind of man you'd be



I've watched you learn and lead and work
And of you I am proud.

Must Have

Connie this blog is for you. You posted things you must have and asked what the readers' must haves are. So-after much thought, struggle, and decisions I have decided on my must haves.

I will start with the only girly thing I could come close to thinking of.

#1







This is the first hand lotion I found to work on my dry hands. I can't stand smelly stuff, nor can I stand greasy stuff. So-This Gold Bond Brand lotion is my one and only semi-girly must have.

#2




Nike Tennis Shoes. Good for 8 1/2 mile walks and the only brand I have found that are comfortable for my feet. Two pair are good to have on hand at a time.







#3



George Foreman Grill--a present from my parents one year. Excellent tool for high protein diets. A real pain to clean because it is time consuming and hard to get scraps out of the grill plate, but worth it--especially when I lose weight while on my diet.


#4




Laptop. Good for completing school papers and online classes. Not long life though--needs to be replaced every so often to keep a fast running system.






#5




Wireless printer--COOL! Can sit across the room, on the porch, in the bedroom and print. Drawback-must have ink.









#6




Books. Lots and lots of them.











#7




My dog. Nice to cuddle with while I read one of those many books.








#8




Porch swing. The dog completes the set. Add a book and a cool day and what more could I ask for?

I Need to Go Back to Work

Okay. See the cute picture?











The poor dog was so bored today I had to take him for a drive. I rolled down the window for a minute. Of course since it is in the high 90's I rolled the window back up. The poor dog who was on the other side of the car, jumped onto my lap and stuck his head out the window--while it was going up. Luckily, the window stopped going up, but he was stuck. I couldn't find the button fast enough to roll the window back down. As you can see from the picture he is fine. Scared him though. Scared me too.



New picture:






This is my patio gardening attempt this summer. And-as you can see I have cherry tomatoes. I didn't want the birds to eat my tomatoes so I brought them in to finish ripening. I will probably eat them tomorrow. I can hardly wait.
















Now, lest you think patio gardening is my forte, let me show you a few more pictures. The first one is my blueberry plant, the second are my strawberry plants.





RIGHT! What blueberry bush? What strawberries? Although, the fact that I have cherry tomatoes means that I am doing better than last summer's patio garden project.

Last couple of pictures. I get excited when I think someone really wants to send me this message :)
















But--I know it's not much to get excited about when it ends like this:



















Amazing. I can be so busy working and going to school. I get so few days when I have time I hardly know what to do with myself when I've got it.