Although I do like the show "Friends", I didn't watch it as religiously as some. Now, "Little House On the Prairie" is another story, but that's besides the point. I liked the way "Friends" gave titles such as this particular blog's to their episodes. So since I like it, I might just use that idea sometimes.
Considering the creation of this blog, which was a long time coming: it took the first step of two good friends, Angie and Jennifer, to completely motivate me, & keep in mind it was 12:30 am when I took those very easy steps it took to choose my lovely color, give some random profile information, etc. I was stumped, though, when it came time to name it. I have a little trouble with commitment. We experienced that with the naming of D a great deal. The permanence of a name causes me to hesitate and second guess for as long as I can.
The very simple story is just this: I yelled into the living room, "Hey, H! What should I name my blog??" To which I received this response, "Ah......" and nothing. He didn't care, and was really probably nicer than some husbands just to not say, "I don't give a %&(@^$." I guess I was just looking for a lead, and I got one. "Hang it all" is a phrase used throughout the Chronicles of Narnia that basically means "What the heck?" which is how I finally felt about creating a blog / online diary / public posting of random and possibly quite boring inner thoughts / site that could get me in trouble if taken wrong.
And so, that is all there really is to that story. :)
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Post-Christmas Let-Down
You could feel it everywhere tonight. The mega-sporting goods store, the favorite Mexican restaurant, the gas station. People were home, and those poor souls (like us) that were out, well - they weren't so jolly. Sometimes it's a bit comforting to know I'm not the only one that experiences the post-Christmas let-down. The anticipation and building up of the universal favorite holiday is no match for what lies afterward. I will say that I do feel extremely blessed I don't have to gear up for another day back at work like so many, and get to stay home, clean up, take things slow, play with the toys. There are definite benefits to my job such as not having to sign up for vacation days in January to make sure I get Christmas week off. And this year, it is actually just about a week. Contrary to popular belief, no, we're not paid for days we're not there. That seems to make a few people calm down.
Big purchase this year: plasma t.v. Completely unexpected. H and I had agreed - no Christmas presents. It was all about the upcoming mortgage and the kids. Then....it was such a good DEAL, though. You can't pass up a GOOD DEAL like that, right? Mounting that baby-that could have been one of those deal-breakers, though. Directions were vague, blah, blah, blah. H and I handled it well - he even gave me a high-five for my part in the heavy lifting. It was pure adrenaline. But oh, the picture. One of those things that makes me feel naughty and undeserving for having it because it's so beautiful. So thankful.
The kids were glorious today. They got along magically, dabbled in a little craft-making, lots of mess-making (I don't care - I care so little after a year of trying to sell that last house that messes don't have the effect they once did.) I even treated them to their favorite drive - through of late: Chic-fil-a.
We even made it on the local news tonight. Standing in line at Best-Buy, waiting to return a $140.00 Norelco shaver that I had bought based on what I thought was a major hint that actually wasn't. Then we get a phone call from H's mom: "YOU'RE ON TV!!!" And, true to form, S was kicking H and D was pointing to the camera and tugging on my sweater while I probably had a far-off look with no sign of a smile. That excitement had the kids electrified for a good half-hour. Local celebrities. :)
Big purchase this year: plasma t.v. Completely unexpected. H and I had agreed - no Christmas presents. It was all about the upcoming mortgage and the kids. Then....it was such a good DEAL, though. You can't pass up a GOOD DEAL like that, right? Mounting that baby-that could have been one of those deal-breakers, though. Directions were vague, blah, blah, blah. H and I handled it well - he even gave me a high-five for my part in the heavy lifting. It was pure adrenaline. But oh, the picture. One of those things that makes me feel naughty and undeserving for having it because it's so beautiful. So thankful.
The kids were glorious today. They got along magically, dabbled in a little craft-making, lots of mess-making (I don't care - I care so little after a year of trying to sell that last house that messes don't have the effect they once did.) I even treated them to their favorite drive - through of late: Chic-fil-a.
We even made it on the local news tonight. Standing in line at Best-Buy, waiting to return a $140.00 Norelco shaver that I had bought based on what I thought was a major hint that actually wasn't. Then we get a phone call from H's mom: "YOU'RE ON TV!!!" And, true to form, S was kicking H and D was pointing to the camera and tugging on my sweater while I probably had a far-off look with no sign of a smile. That excitement had the kids electrified for a good half-hour. Local celebrities. :)
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Christmas, Day one & Spontaneous Combustion
Today, D woke up saying, "I'm SO LUCKY! I can't believe I have 4 Christmases to go to!!!" That's when I rolled over and went back to sleep to the sound of "OHHHHHHH......He lives in a pineapple under the sea - SPONGE BOB SQUAREPANTS!" and S playing the flute with on his nose, like he does every morning.
Spontaneous combustion has always fascinated me. (Especially the human kind.) Tonight, before I arrived at the lakehouse, my family had the amazing opportunity to experience this scientific wonder. As they were all four huddled around the island, snacking and visiting, an unused Pyrex dish (nothing in it but some Pam sprayed for later use) shattered all over the kitchen. Glass everywhere. 1 million pieces, as it is told, to be exact. Pretty cool, but they were freaked out. Couldn't think of any explanation, so as my sister put it, I turned to the internet god - searching for an answer. Found a few links that took me to similar experiences. Bottom line, be prepared.
Visit with H.'s Grandma Ann today was very enjoyable. She is especially social and friendly and easy to talk to. We talked about how she always wanted to be a teacher and how remarkable that I am such a "scholar" and that there are people out there like me that will do "what needs to be done." I needed to hear that little undeserved ego boost this week. There were two days I cried before school, and I snapped at a fellow teacher who didn't deserve it.
She was speaking right to my heart, so many times. She talked about the books she loves, she recommended books to me and told me why she knows I would love them. She speaks with passion and a genuine-ness that makes me believe and wait on every word she says. She told me how our generations are so detached. That until the last 30 or 40 years, generations all shared the same home and cared for one another. Grandchildren really knew the stories and wisdom their grandparents had to share and offer. I told her she was reminding me of a favorite song of mine by none other than Sara Groves - shocker, I know:
From "All Right Here" track 2: Every Minute...
• And I can think of time when families all lived together • Four generations in one house • And the table was full of good food • And friends and neighbors • That's not how we like it now • • Cause if you sit at home you're a loser • Couldn't you find anything better to do • Well no I couldn't think of one thing • I would rather waste my time on than sitting here with you • • And at the risk of wearing out my welcome • At the risk of self-discovery • I'll take every moment • And every minute that you'll give me • • And I wish all the people I love the most • Could gather in one place • And know each other and love each other well • • And I wish we could all go camping • And lay beneath the stars • And have nothing to do and stories to tell • We'd sit around the campfire • And we'd make each other laugh remembering when • You're the first one I'm inviting • Always know that you're my friend • • And at the risk of wearing out my welcome • At the risk of self-discovery • I'll take every moment • And every minute that you'll give me • Every moment and every minute that you'll give me • Every moment and every minute that you'll give me • Every minute • •
http://www.saragroves.com/store.asp#
Maybe I'm forever a nostalgic, but there's gotta be a way to get back to this.
Spontaneous combustion has always fascinated me. (Especially the human kind.) Tonight, before I arrived at the lakehouse, my family had the amazing opportunity to experience this scientific wonder. As they were all four huddled around the island, snacking and visiting, an unused Pyrex dish (nothing in it but some Pam sprayed for later use) shattered all over the kitchen. Glass everywhere. 1 million pieces, as it is told, to be exact. Pretty cool, but they were freaked out. Couldn't think of any explanation, so as my sister put it, I turned to the internet god - searching for an answer. Found a few links that took me to similar experiences. Bottom line, be prepared.
Visit with H.'s Grandma Ann today was very enjoyable. She is especially social and friendly and easy to talk to. We talked about how she always wanted to be a teacher and how remarkable that I am such a "scholar" and that there are people out there like me that will do "what needs to be done." I needed to hear that little undeserved ego boost this week. There were two days I cried before school, and I snapped at a fellow teacher who didn't deserve it.
She was speaking right to my heart, so many times. She talked about the books she loves, she recommended books to me and told me why she knows I would love them. She speaks with passion and a genuine-ness that makes me believe and wait on every word she says. She told me how our generations are so detached. That until the last 30 or 40 years, generations all shared the same home and cared for one another. Grandchildren really knew the stories and wisdom their grandparents had to share and offer. I told her she was reminding me of a favorite song of mine by none other than Sara Groves - shocker, I know:
From "All Right Here" track 2: Every Minute...
• And I can think of time when families all lived together • Four generations in one house • And the table was full of good food • And friends and neighbors • That's not how we like it now • • Cause if you sit at home you're a loser • Couldn't you find anything better to do • Well no I couldn't think of one thing • I would rather waste my time on than sitting here with you • • And at the risk of wearing out my welcome • At the risk of self-discovery • I'll take every moment • And every minute that you'll give me • • And I wish all the people I love the most • Could gather in one place • And know each other and love each other well • • And I wish we could all go camping • And lay beneath the stars • And have nothing to do and stories to tell • We'd sit around the campfire • And we'd make each other laugh remembering when • You're the first one I'm inviting • Always know that you're my friend • • And at the risk of wearing out my welcome • At the risk of self-discovery • I'll take every moment • And every minute that you'll give me • Every moment and every minute that you'll give me • Every moment and every minute that you'll give me • Every minute • •
http://www.saragroves.com/store.asp#
Maybe I'm forever a nostalgic, but there's gotta be a way to get back to this.
Blog, Baby
As if I have nothing else to do this Christmas Eve, Eve, Eve night, I am sitting here, posting my first blog entry. It's part of the disease we night-owls deal with. The brain won't shut down, in spite of no caffeine, sugar, etc. for the last few hours. I even forwent (might have made up that word) the traditional Egg Nog concrete on the way home from the annual Nutcracker event.
I will refer to my family members here by the very creative "D" for daughter, "S" for son, "H" for husband. D said, as we pulled away from the theater, "They should have called it 'The Clara.'" Mom and I sat and thought about what that might mean for a minute, then figured it out. I replied, "You're right. The Nutcracker doesn't make a lot of appearances." And for that we were blessed. I truly believe they found the Nutcracker Prince walking around downtown and asked him, "Hey! Ya' think you could put this costume on with a tall hat and kind of sloppily march around stage a couple of times? Great!" And that was how he got his role.
Her insight might not sound too profound with this one, small example. However, she pops these off randomly and quite frequent. Her violin teacher, also our school's gifted teacher, and others have hinted she may be gifted. I'm not so sure. She thinks and communicates and relates to things as a gifted student / person would, but we know how she also has not exactly struggled with reading, but with all the books she has had swarming her since infancy, it hasn't come as easy as one would expect. I am aware that gifted students may not be gifted in all areas, but I do have flashbacks of my own years in the gifted classroom. Very lonely. None of my friends were in the class, so I felt it was almost a punishment to be so separated and isolated. Being near my best friend, J, was much more dear to me than being a "Future Problem Solver" or knowing about grown-up politics at age 10. In fact, I succeeded in talking my mom into removing me from the class my last year of elementary. I felt exceedingly 'normal' for one of those very rare moments in my life. However now, as a teacher, I call upon quite a few things I learned in those once a week sessions with the grand 'ol Mrs. McCann. Oh, how she hated me.
Piano lessons from a very early age blessed me with very quick fingers in typing, as well. I can see how in a very short time this first blog has become a first book. Gonna have to watch that. Those who know me know my 'shut-off valve' doesn't always work real well. I always notice that after the fact, and if I don't say so, I really am sorry. I've even called friends back because I realize I have no idea what they called for. And yes, I'm a teacher and I will occasionally end a sentence with a preposition. Otherwise, stuff just sounds weird.
Until next time...
I will refer to my family members here by the very creative "D" for daughter, "S" for son, "H" for husband. D said, as we pulled away from the theater, "They should have called it 'The Clara.'" Mom and I sat and thought about what that might mean for a minute, then figured it out. I replied, "You're right. The Nutcracker doesn't make a lot of appearances." And for that we were blessed. I truly believe they found the Nutcracker Prince walking around downtown and asked him, "Hey! Ya' think you could put this costume on with a tall hat and kind of sloppily march around stage a couple of times? Great!" And that was how he got his role.
Her insight might not sound too profound with this one, small example. However, she pops these off randomly and quite frequent. Her violin teacher, also our school's gifted teacher, and others have hinted she may be gifted. I'm not so sure. She thinks and communicates and relates to things as a gifted student / person would, but we know how she also has not exactly struggled with reading, but with all the books she has had swarming her since infancy, it hasn't come as easy as one would expect. I am aware that gifted students may not be gifted in all areas, but I do have flashbacks of my own years in the gifted classroom. Very lonely. None of my friends were in the class, so I felt it was almost a punishment to be so separated and isolated. Being near my best friend, J, was much more dear to me than being a "Future Problem Solver" or knowing about grown-up politics at age 10. In fact, I succeeded in talking my mom into removing me from the class my last year of elementary. I felt exceedingly 'normal' for one of those very rare moments in my life. However now, as a teacher, I call upon quite a few things I learned in those once a week sessions with the grand 'ol Mrs. McCann. Oh, how she hated me.
Piano lessons from a very early age blessed me with very quick fingers in typing, as well. I can see how in a very short time this first blog has become a first book. Gonna have to watch that. Those who know me know my 'shut-off valve' doesn't always work real well. I always notice that after the fact, and if I don't say so, I really am sorry. I've even called friends back because I realize I have no idea what they called for. And yes, I'm a teacher and I will occasionally end a sentence with a preposition. Otherwise, stuff just sounds weird.
Until next time...
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