28 Years Later
Such a nice birthday! I remember last year my birthday was completely crummy and I thought everyone had forgotten about me. Today was completely opposite in every way. At school the kids sang to me a million times. They had taken up a collection an bought me fancy board markers and dragonfly earrings. I got several cards and even more e-cards and everyone was sweet all day. Also we got a move in date--December 12th. We'll be in the building in 2 weeks! I think it's so right that everyone gets a day to feel special.
Tonight I am actually going to a birthday thing for my buddy Cranky. I plan on consuming a crazy quantity of pasta at Bucca di Beppo. Every girl needs some yumminess.
Happiest of happys to the loveliest Jenni Lou whom I got to see over the weekend. You have to love someone who shares your birthday, your middle name, and a million secrets and jokes.

3 More Weeks, Really
Word has come down from on high: the building will re-open in 3 more weeks. After Christmas we will indeed be back in our classrooms. I went over there today and actually got to get items out of my desk that I have been missing for 7 months. I think I heard a chorus of angels sing above me as I fondled my pink and purple dry erase markers. Ah. . . the simple joys.
Our Thanksgiving holiday was very lovely if a little busy. WE put over 600 miles on Millie the Matrix visiting both Dallas and Lufkin. WE had a wonderful visit at each place. I unfortunatley did nothing over the weekend and must do classwork all night tonight. Still, it's a small price to pay for actually relaxing.
We scoured Dallas for a Chirstmas tree, but we were unable to find the perfect tree. We decided to Charlie Brown it and decorate our ficus. Everyone can decorate a pine; it takes a special (ed) sort to dress a ficus up to the nines. Not every ficus has flashing lights and Hello Kitty decorations. A special sort indeed.

Purrr
First of all, welcome Rossalyn Mae Quarles to the world! She arrived at around 2:30 today, weighing in at roughly 8 and 1/2 pounds. Congratulations! THey're so cute when they're all red and new.
Also if anyone needs a quick holiday pick me up check out this rocking cat.
It purrs when you rub its belly. If only I could get Clemmy to stand that still.
Tomorrow we're off to begin our marathon holiday--Kileen, Dallas, Lufkin, and Round Rock. Whee! Millie is going to get a lot of mileage this holiday season.
Happy Thanksgiving. Be thankful.

Drifty
I"m so tired that I am not even really functioning. I think it's from over the weekend. WE went camping in teh glorious freezing weather. WHile around a camp fire, the weather was pretty rocking, but when Eric and I tried to go to bed, I was way too cold to sleep. I don't hink I got more than a couple of hours.
Put in a 12 hour day today. We had a basketball game. My babies did pretty well but lost. I wasn't going to go, but somehoe they just look so cute when asking.
In any case, I've already wasted too much sleeping time. I hear the blankets calling my name.

Shut Up!
Sometimes I really just need to shut up when my feelings are hurt or I am angry. It seems taht when I try to talk about these things I just make the situation worse or more intesne. Is this one of those dumb lesson I am supposed to learn while still fairly young?
The priest at work really offended me which was kinda the last straw with him. I went to see the principal about it in my upset stage, and I pretty much told him that I didn't think I wanted to come back next year because I wasn't happy, didn't earn any money ect. He actually agreed with me and was very sympathetic (said he was thinking of quitting too!), but I really should have shut up. Instead I had to spend the whole afternoon talking to him. I really need to get over the whole righteous indignation thing.
Still I really do not intend to return there next year no matter what happens. I need to start sending out resumes and seeing what kind of bites I can get. I just feel I"m ready for a change. I would do me good.
I was in such a foul mood that I grabbed my friend Sara to get Mexican and Ritas before my class. Actually the rita made theology class go by much more quickly. Tequila and God, what a combination!
I am thankful for Thanksgiving.
This weekend we are supposed to go camping. I will not leave the sleeping bag all weekend. Way too cold. But if I turn into an icecicle I won't have to go to work on Monday. Food for thought.

Brown
I'm totally browned out today--dressed from head to toe. I guess it makes me feel autumnal or something. With the wind blowing like it has today I guess I"m thinking we might have a fall after all. Then again it will probably be 80 tomorrow and ruin my illusion. I would just like to celebrate Thanksgiving while wearing a sweater, is that too much to ask?
This Thanksgiving will be a little nuts. We will be celebrating in Glenrose (cabins in woods with hot tubs and porches), Dallas (yummy, mom's cooking), and Lufkin (to celebrate Eric's Aunt Angela being cancer free. Still I am looking forward to the break. I have lost all tolerance for 13 year olds (and their little dogs too. . .)
Eric is out of town for the week, so I have been left to fend for myself. I threatened that Toby would be fricassed when he got back, but I just don't have a pan big enough.
I'm supposed to be working on the paper due later this week, but my mind is swimming. I"m not sure reading dense encyclicals is the thing to do. I"m actually leaning towards the secret pleasure of a nap. Nothing says delicious like being under the covers when it is still light out.

Warning
Anyone in state my want to leave today before E. gets home. I have a feeling he's going to explode. It's always the quiet ones.
Let me back up. 4 and 1/2 years ago Eric, Chris and I built a storage shed in the back yard so we would have a place to keep the lawnmower ect. It was quite an undertaking and ended up costing alot of money.Still, we were happy with the result. Over the summer for whatever reason the home owners' association people discovered it and forced us to apply for permission to build the shed we had build 4 years prior. Ridiculous, but we agreed. Eric had to draw up plans, present materials, ect. Big pain in the butt. Today in the mail I just got their response. They say they refuse to allow metal sheds. We have to either tear it down or make modifications so that it is made of brick with shingles matching the house. I swear I am not joking. I wish I was.
I'm almost glad I'm leaving for my class because I predict that he will lose his mind. I've already lost it, so I'm not in any danger.

I Need Your Fingers
Again our school is in a competition to get a computer lab donated. We need to finish in the top 5 schools. Our school has 160 students and we are against schools with thousands of students. Please help us out. Check out
http://www.futureready.org/school/?pid=Uhn1O26R

This is very important. Enter the verification codes you find there. They are tricky and hard to read, but it would mean a lot. Vote often. Please.

In unrelated news Pete bought Clem a catnip mouse, and she's literally climbing up the walls, trying to get the best of closets.

My group in the education class has begun feuding, and I am stuck in the middle of the situation. I cannot wait until the semester ends.

The Cure
I ran in the Komen 5 K Race for the Cure today. I was very proud of myself, and I didn't stop once. Eric also signed up at the last minute, and he did very well too. The feeling at the finish line was amazing. Check out us at the end.
Anyway, I am feeling a little better. I have taken the day off from school work, and my goal is to get my head straight for the week ahead. If I can run a 5 K while recovering from the flu, I can handle all of the other nonsense. More to the point, if all of those breast cancer survivors I saw this morning can run in it, I don't have much to complain about.

Spooky

Check out our Halloween pics. They'll put hair on your chest!

Now we start planning for next year. . .

Ick and Damn Camel
Isn't that the way it always works? I took off today to get my test done in the hopes of getting alot of my school work done. How lovely that would have been. Unfortunatley my body had a different idea. When I got up I knew something was wrong. Every part of me ached, and I felt sick. I spent most of my morning throwing up and threatening to pass out. My lovely, wonderful inlaws came over with Tylenol, crackers, and a thermometer. They took me to the hospital for my test and hooked me up with a smoothie. I am very gratful they were around. Anyway, I've gotten to research or work done. I have a group project and my partners are probably upset with me. The good news is that the test went well at the hospital. Amazingly all of my plumbing is clear. The bad news is I almost passed out on the table. They came in to take my vitals and my bp was 90/60 and my pulse over 100.
I also had a rough night last night. I had a really unpleasant student encounter. Then after school I stopped by to see the principal about missing work today, and he trapped me with his presentation on how poorly paid I am (60% of a normal teacher's salary). I knew this, but I really didn't need to hear it when already stressed out. I had class last night, but I didn't have the time to get anything to eat, so I decided to stop at my usual 7-11 because they have sandwiches I can eat. Well, not last night. I then stopped at another store and they too did not have anything I can eat. That was the proverbial straw. Stupid camel. I burst into hysterical tears in the parking lot. It was just too much. Completely stupid reaction, but I had just had enough. I think this whole working and taking two graduate classes is making me a nervous wreck. I will be so glad when December comes and this will all be over.
Maybe I can get Eric to research my paper; I know it's beyond me right now. Heck tying my own shoe is a little beyond me right now.

All Souls
Today is the Feast Day of All Souls. I always liked the idea. Anyway, I put grandpa's name on the chalk board and invited my students to come up and put names of their lost loved ones on the board too. Before long we had a really nice wall of rememberence. It was actually pretty touching. Then one of them wrote that I was a harridan (old hag), so I guess the touchy feely moment ended there.
Went to a meeting with some old friends from church tonight. I had dreaded going because I have way too much to do, but it was really nice. I enjoyed the me time.
This weekend is the big Susan G. Komen 5 K. I really apprecaiate the support of those of you who have pledged to the cause. I am still trying to raise more money for them, however. If you can help I would appreciate it.
The principal cleared my day off on Friday--now there's nothing stopping me from uncomfortable dye procedures. Woo.
I've had a headache for the past few days that just will not quit. I think it's time to go drown my troubles with hot tea and down blankets.

X Rated
I went to the doctor today about all the pain I have been having. She scheduled a procedure on Friday where they will inject me with dye and see if there are any blockages. It is supposed to be very painful and icky. Joy. That being said, however, I will have to miss a four hour faculty meeting. This procedure will have to be pretty damn excrutiating to be worse than a faculty meeting.
As we have already spent our entire deductible I told her to bring on all of the expensive tests before the end of the year. I'm getting my money's worth.
I've been reading Vatican documents all night. Sometimes I really have no idea what I am doing. The more I study the more I realize that I know nothing and can be sure of very little. I guess that's the definition of the learning process.
Jon Stewart is calling my name. Of him I can be very sure.