Happy Birthday to me!

Yes today is my birthday...the big 32! yeah! LOL! Birthday actually started on Sunday with lunch from my parents. My mom got me a couple of books by one of my favorite authors, James Patterson. I absolutely love James Patterson. Then today of course I had to go to work. Yes I had to work on my birthday. What fun! My best friend got me this awesome crock pot. It is huge! and the crock comes out of the burner. I'm so excited about using this one cause my old one was all one piece and a bitch to clean. I had to stay after school for a meeting with the math department and they bought me a cake. Good, but I left most of it at school. No way was I going to bring it all home with me. Then another friend came and took me out to dinner. Pretty good day overall.

The kids at school were pretty funny too about the day. One boy asked how old I was and I told him 32 and he said "That's all?" What is that supposed to mean? How old did he think I was? LOL Then he proceeds to call me by my best friend's name, Mrs. Wallace. She is blond and just had a baby 6 months ago. So now I look older than 32 and am overweight due to being recently pregnant. We all got a good laugh about that one.

Work at the golf course is finally over but not without some drama to end the season. Earlier this month, the other person who works in the shop was fired. That of course meant that the guy I hate (mentioned in previous posts as a complete jackass) had to move in and work in the shop. Now that sucks but as a positive it meant I didn't have to work with him anymore. Hallelujah! The pros were out of town two weeks ago and I had to work 7-7 on Sat and Sun of that weekend. That sucked! Saturday was my last day for this golf season and it will be so nice to sleep in this Saturday! I can't wait.

Tomorrow is Halloween of course and I get to hand out candy in my neighborhood. Since I bought my house this past spring, this will be my first Halloween in the new house. Afterwards, I will be packed and ready to travel out of town. I am chaperoning the BETA convention on Thursday and Friday. This will be the 10th year in a row I have chaperoned this trip. People always ask me why. I love it. I think it is fun to see the kids have fun outside of school.

Trying to lose weight again. I've lost about 6-8 pounds in the past 6 weeks or so. That isn't great, but I'll take it. Still working at it. Walked in the city fun run/walk this past weekend too. Walked 3.5 miles in about 45 minutes. Not too shabby. LOL!

My brother is still in Iraq so continue to pray for him. He will not return permanently until next June but will get to come home for a vist in February. Sucks that he will miss Thanksgiving and Christmas again. But what can you do.

So just got off the phone with my other brother who called to wish me a Happy Birthday. One of the three times I talk to him each year...birthday, thanksgiving, and Christmas...LOL....Our lives are just so far apart and different. Hard to find stuff to talk about sometimes. Very frustrating. The one brother I have stuff in common with is thousands of miles away and the one I can hardly talk to is here within a few hundred.

Hogwarts

Which Hogwarts House Would You Be In?
	The Sorting Hat would put you in Gryffindor. You are bold, passionate, and brave. You have a highly-defined sense of right and wrong, and you are not afraid to speak your mind or fight for what you want.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

Oh the peace and quiet

So yesterday I was a wreck! Hated my job, yada yada yada. Today I went in early to try to see what happened after I left last night. The assistant filled me in. New rules were put in place that affect them as well as me. First and most important is that the boys have to stay outside. They are not allowed to just hang out in the shop. Now this is awesome because it means I don't have to have him constantly badgering me with his nonstop talking about anything and everything. So in that part, I Won! Now the bad part is that now I can't be on the computer except for work and we can't watch anything on the TV except for the weather channel. Now that sucks but oh well I can live with it for my peace of mind. I'll bring a book or a sudoku. I'll deal. It will at least be QUIET! It really is funny because this is just what I suggested yesterday and he was like I'm not playing your game. Well now that the pros have said it, it will get done. I really can't stand it when guys have a problem with authority when it comes from a female or from someone younger than you are. It's just so stupid! The funniest thing tonight was what I heard him say to someone outside. You see, there's this chair right outside the shop and he was sitting in it talking to whoever came by. One of the things I heard him say, rather loudly in fact, was that he had 20 years of education and they gave him the grunt work. Whatever! He would have to have a master's degree or two to have that kind of education and if so, what the hell are you doing here? Then he goes on to say he was living his life loosely so he could concentrate on his music...he's a drummer. Whoopie do! Who gives a shit! Supposedly, according to him, it's not something you can just do, you have to be born into it...LOL. Get real, get a life! If you are so good, then why aren't you doing it? I'm telling you I want to start laughing every time he opens his mouth...that or shoot myself! LOL!

So Carol went home on BB tonight. Eric said it best that America got it right. Hate to see her go, would rather see Jessica or Jen go but I really like Amber. Of course, now Jen is HOH so she's not going anywhere. Hopefully, Jessica and Joe will get nominated. We'll see.

Going to see Harry Potter tomorrow. Excited! Can't wait!

Might play some golf tomorrow too since I don't have to work at the shop.

Well off to bed...it's late. Had to work until 10 because of late golf cart. Hate it when that happens.

My summer job...

I may have to quit my summer job of the past 6 years. I work at a country club in the golf course part of it. I am the shop clerk and am in charge of the bag boys etc. at night when the pros leave. I am miserable right now. I have spoken in the past of one of the "boys" and how much he drives me crazy. Well the shit hit the fan tonight. We have a bag boy who apparently has no respect for authority. Tonight he was in the office playing on the computer which is fine because nothing was going on. I went outside to smoke a cigarette and two golf carts came in. I went back inside and he asked what it looked like out side. I told him two carts just came in and he didn't move. So I went back outside. All of sudden there were 10 carts to clean and wash. I started taking out trash and he came out and started washing them. I thought everything was cool. I was picking out beer cans from a cart and he comes over and tries to start doing the same thing. I simply said I got it, why don't you wash and park since I dont' really want to get wet. Apparently that is being bossy in his book. So I said fine and went inside, making a comment about not being wanted. From that point on, I tried to avoid him because I was so mad! If he was inside, I went out, and vice-versa. Once everyone was gone, he decides to "attack" me and says he needs to say something to me. I was like okay fine, cause I was thinking you attack me and it is on. He tells me I am unpleasant in front of the members. So I say okay let me tell you something. "You drive me crazy and you talk incessantly." I can't even finish my sentence before he explodes. I was going to continue with I don't really want to get into this right now, don't want to talk about it, I'll just leave you alone, but he wouldn't let me. I tried to go back inside and read but by this time I am so angry I am shaking. I'm still shaking, just writing this. I finally decide to call our assistant pro who is out on the golf course and I go out to see him just to get away from this person. While out there, I completely lose it. I am weeping and being so girly. Which is so unlike me. So embarassed. I'm just so mad I can't stop it. He says he'll go back to the shop and I should go see our head pro who is at the range. I can't imagine what good this will do since they are friends, but okay I'll try. I get myself together and drive down there. When I get there I try to explain the situation to him and fall apart again. I hate this. I tell him what happened and that I don't want to put him in the middle of it but I can't do it. I cannot work with this person. I do not like him, his personality, his attitude, none of it. I love my job and I love the members but I cannot work a part time job where I am miserable and hate coming to work. I hate to put up ultimatums but at this point it's going to have to be him or me. I just can't do it any more. Of course, my boss takes everything in stride and says he will take care of it. That this person is an employee first, then a friend. I'm not sure what this means but hopefully something will come of it. I know it's not just me, but I'm the one who has to work with him the most and I have to deal with him more than anyone else. The assistant doesn't like him, neither do any of the other bag boys. Something is just not right with him. This has been one of the worst summers I can remember at the club. I hate it! I hate working with him so much I may just have to quit. The assistant says not to worry about it and let it go, that the head pro can't afford to lose me. However, I just don't know. I honestly don't know how he can fix this. The person is too old and too set in his ways to understand or change how he treats me or anyone around him. This is just who he is and how he is. I have to work again tomorrow afternoon and it could be rather dicey. Be interesting to see what happens. However, I cannot handle another confrontation like tonight. I just can't. For god's sake, this is a part time job! I shouldn't be miserable at a part time job. If I have to quit, I will, but I really don't want to. This is so frustrating. Even now, I'm on the verge of losing it. I think the only thing that could make this workable is for my boss to tell him to stay out of my sight. Stay outside or anywhere I'm not. It that means I stay inside, then that's what happens. If he wants to work inside, fine, do it. I'll work outside. He can be the clerk and I'll be the bag boy. Anything just to not have to hear his voice or see his face.

More Big Brother

Okay so BB is going well...a little changing from my initial reactions...

First, Dick isn't quite as bad as I first thought...he can stay a while. Danielle may seem sweet but I think she is dumb as a rock...Nick...not bad...loved how he called Jen on her lie...sweet! Hate Carol! Jen has to go ASAP! What a bitch! As for the nominations...really like them both but if I have to choose I have to go with Amber. Eric is hilarious! Kail better watch out if she thinks she is going to control everyone.

Summer school is about over only 6 more days! School starts back for me on the 1st with professional development. JOY! and then the kiddies come on the 8th and it is back to the grind.

Planning on going to the Brickyard with friends end of July so that will be good...hope I'm redneck enough for it! LOL!

Finally got rid of the dog I was watching. Sweet puppy but chewed up every thing including digging holes in the yard and finding things buried under the deck. LOL!

Got to put the furniture back into my classroom after the floors were waxed today.

Harry Potter comes out Friday!

Big Brother Premiere: First Impressions

Okay so absolutely love the BB house. Too cool! Especially the rooms that have the HUGE furniture and the itty bitty stuff. Hilarious!

Now for first impressions:

Dick: Tommy Lee wannabe...rude, crude, and "Evil Dick?" how appropriate
Danielle: Dick's daughter, seems sweet, I think I like her
Jameka: A Danielle Jr.
Carol: seems to have her head on her shoulders and have some intelligence
Nick: opening quip "body for bait" WHATEVER...full of himself
Jessica: Carol's rival...blond ditzy bimbo!
Eric: wants to fly under everyone's radar and now we see why...gonna be America's pawn
Jen: annoying slut, need I say more
Mike: nice arms but hairspray? come on, be a man!
Kail: religious mom, probably gonna get on people's nerves
Joe: fruitcake...he's gotta go, however he will be fun to watch especially when he's fighting with Eric, so obviously he is not over him
Amber: single mom, nice
Zach: good looking
Dustin: fruitcake #2, Joe's Ex, but not nearly as annoying as Joe

So there you have it, my initial impressions, we'll just have to see how it goes...I will say this though, Dick, Jessica, and Joe have to go! Soon!

Big Brother!

Tonight is the premiere of one of my favorite shows of all times! I absolutely love Big Brother! Can't get enough. The episode tonight should be entertaining witht the twist of enemies being brought into the house together.

Also want to try and catch the two new shows about singing...and not forgetting the lyrics...those should be funny.

House is going well. Took pictures but haven't downloaded them but soon I promise!

Still working both jobs and so tired of it! However, the money is good so I'm dealing.

Guy at work is driving me bananas! He just talks incessantly and usually doesn't make any sense whatsoever! Cannot stand him. The funniest part of it is that I don't think he even has a clue! I think he actually thinks I like him, as a friend that is! He had the nerve/audacity to ask me to some party on Tuesday night. I was in my mind going....(oh HELL NO!). Luckily I had to work at 7am and could use that as a viable excuse and not have to be mean. I hate being mean.

Dogsitting this week for my friend's shepherd mix. He's about the same size as Cole, so they are having a good time playing. Gonna have to set up playdates for the dogs after this, they won't be able to handle it.

Went to buy a lawnmower last weekend (might actually have to use it since it rained last night finally!) and ended up with a new lawnmower, new gas grill, and the trimmings. Told a friend about the grill and she went out and bought all the utensils, etc. that are necessary for cooking on the grill. I mean there is an whole bag 'o goodies! Now I just have to learn how to cook on it! LOL! Got gas for the lawnmower too and ended up spilling it in my car, stinks! And of course this is after I cleaned it out this past weekend, vacuuming, etc.

As for the guy from the previous post, we hung out again a couple of weeks ago, but I'm just not sure and he called me on it. He could tell something was not right. So I was honest of course, and told him I don't want to rush in to anything and then decided I don't want to be there. Better safe than sorry.

Well, guess that's enough rambling. I'll give you my impression of BB either later tonight or tomorrow. Happy viewing!

I kissed a boy...

and then wondered if I shouldn't have. Last night I was over at a friend's house and this guy that my friends want to set me up with showed up. He was sweet, sensitive, etc. However, he's divorced with two small children. Not sure exactly how I feel about that one. Want to take this slow and easy and see what develops, hope he understands. Last night, however, I was drinking, and might have flirted a bit too much and made him think otherwise...so we'll just have to see. A big part of me just wants to go with it, but I know that I'm not a child anymore and obviously don't want to hurt him if I decide I can't handle it.

I have been in my house for about a week now and I love it! The upstairs (living area for me) is basically done with the exception of my office (and we'll just keep the door closed there) and getting pictures hung, etc.

The guy at work is still driving me nuts. And now they want to put him in the shop. On one hand that is good for me, cause I won't have to work with him. However, bad for the bag boys outside cause he already thinks he's better than them because of his age and now he will definitely lord it over them. I am so sick of listening to his stories of how he had done everything and been everything. Yeah, right! Whatever!

Went to my cousin's wedding yesterday. Had to stand for the entire ceremony because the preacher forgot to tell us to sit down.

Finally named my cat. Gonna call her Monet. My mom actually suggested it since I love artwork by him.

Working both jobs is killing me. I am teaching summer school 8-1 M-F and golf course 2-9 T-S usually. Good money, but I am exhausted!!! Only three more weeks of summer school though!

Got my teaching schedule for next year and I have 4 geometry and 2 data. Really don't want to teach the Data class, but if I get to teach 2 geometry classes for each data, I guess it is worth it.

Well back to work.....

I'm here!

So I am officially in my new house. I moved the kitchen and bathroom by myself on Friday and my friends came by on Saturday at 9 to help. We worked until about 4, got all the furniture and large stuff over and unloaded and then I sent them home. My parents and I and a friend continued to work on it until about 9 and then they all went home as well. I stayed up until about 2am working and finally crashed. I am exhausted today but still doing little things. I never thought I would be so sore or exhausted. However it is a great feeling to be in and mostly settled. The computer is obviously hooked up, first things first of course. LOL! and the TV...such a TV junkie! Well back to work...more later.

Just had to see her!

So last night I got to see the dreaded ex roommate in all her glory...fun times...turns out she is working as a waitress at one of the local bars. That was just a fabulous thing to see as I walk in the bar. She was apparently waiting on my friends and when I arrived she just stopped coming...real mature...but not surprising coming from her. I haven't seen this girl in months and now she's at the only decent bar in town. Great!

Today was the first day of summer school and what a chaotic zoo. I walked into school at around 8 and there were kids everywhere! Finally we got them all settled and into the appropriate computer lab. One girl I just wanted to slap! She was so bitchy! Even had to get her off myspace when she was supposed to be working...that pissed her off even more. However, next time she's gone. One boy had his father there because he couldn't believe his kid made a zero on the final exam. The kid was absent for the test so I put in a zero. I agreed to let him take the final and see if he did well enough to pass. He made a 19. I knew he would...it was just a complete waste of time on his part. Now he has to take the class again in summer school anyway and wasted most of today. Stupid, Stupid.

Tomorrow is the big move. Can't wait!

The Latest

So I got this email with the following instructions:

"The Game is on!!! This should be fun. Describe me in one word.... Just one single word. Send it To me and to me only. Then send this message to all your friends and see how many strange & interesting things they say about you.

Here's how to Play:
1. Hit the reply key and send me my one word.
2. Then return to this message, and forward it to yourFriends(including me) and see what people say about you when limited to one word!!!"

How cool...wondered what people would say about me so I sent it of course. Got back replies of special, fantastic, awesome, caring, energetic, and such. Really a feel good moment. Sometimes you just need those. If you haven't seen this email, then copy it and send it. Everyone needs a feel good moment sometimes.

Moving into my new house on Friday. Had the cable company come out today to make sure I was wired for internet access and cable tv and found a bump in the road. I was so excited that they were coming today so that it would be ready for this weekend and then BUMP! The house which was built in the early 90's has what they call series run cable meaning that the cable comes from the box outside on one cable and runs from room to room. Thus, whenever you split the cable to hook up a TV or such it weakens the signal and so you can not have many hooked up at once. Therefore, I have to have an electrician come in and have the house rewired in what they call a home run system meaning several cables will come in from outside and go directly to each room individually. Fun times. Called the electrician and they told me they would hopefully be able to come out Friday afternoon and take a look at it. It will be $80/hour labor, 2 man job, and parts. What joys of home ownership!

Have lots of packed boxes at my apartment right now...really sick of looking at them. However, kind of stuck cause don't really know what else to do until I get some of them out of there! That's my plan for Friday afternoon when I'll be by myself moving...getting some of the boxes moved and figuring out what's left to pack. Have friends coming Saturday to help with the furniture so figure it'll be easier if I move some of it by myself.

So I am at work tonight and one of our "bag boys" (I use this term lightly, since he's 42!) comes in and he's all pissed off cause one of the members hurt his feelings...boo hoo! Why don't you get a real job. What 42 year old man works as a bag boy??? He's apparently way too intelligent to be doing this. I don't understand it. I mean I like the guy, he's okay most days, but some days he can be hard to take, because every topic that comes up he has something to say. Either he's done it, worked at it, read about it, etc. Really gets a little annoying. Sometimes we have really good conversations but othertimes I just really don't want to see him!

I start teaching summer school tomorrow morning! 8-1 M-F..woo hoo! Yet, it does pay $30/hour so I really can't complain too much. We'll see what little joys I get to deal with for the next 5 weeks. It will be an incredibly long day since I also work 2-9 at the golf course. I get to have that schedule for the next few weeks. Can't wait!

Had another lovely parent contact the school today. Apparently her son didn't do as well on his final as she thought he should have but yet still got an A in the class. What are you worried about? Love having to respond to those!

Anyway, wish me luck with the new house and I'll post pictures soon.

Bad Day

Ever have one of those days where you just can't stand to be wherever it is you are. I had one today. Yesterday was fabulous! Got to go to the boys state tennis tournament, didn't have to teach, played golf, got drunk...great day...and then today WHAM! Felt angry all day long. Not sure if I got up on the wrong side of the bed or what. Day started weird...just felt like I was in a fog all morning, sat through the most boring awards day at school (3 hours of not being able to hear what award was actually being given out since our sound system and gymnasium acoustics suck!), and then had to teach two classes of wild kids. By 2:30 when my last class was over I could feel my blood pressure just exploding. I was furious and really just didn't no why just that I had to get out of the school. Luckily I have last period planning so I cut out of there. Went to the gym and ran and lifted and burned off some of it and then it was off to work at the golf course for four hours. Luckily it was a good night at the course and I feel better now. But man what a day. Just felt pissed off all day...and not really any idea why. However, it all got put in perspective when I read an email from my friend Kev in Afghanistan...

"heck, if you have a bad day, just think, you could be in Afghanistan surrounded by endless dirt, rocks, locals with no knowledge of what hygiene is, oh, and lots of HEAT, lol. "

My day could definitely have been worse. Hopefully yours wasn't...have a good weekend!

Parent Emails

I am so not a fan of parent emails, especially the ones who think their kids are so perfect and do no wrong. I go to school today after being off for election day yesterday (which was so awesome by the way to have a whole day with nothing I just had to do!) and there is my latest parent email:

"I wanted to take this time to follow-up on something. I realize that based on ___'s grade of 33 that he must have shut down as a student in your class. Based on the score, ____ must not have turned any homework in at all and/or failed on the tests. I hate even in business to place blame. (yet, here you are placing blame..) But, I do understand that ____ needed to be able to adapt to your teaching style or to anyone's style whether he likes the individual or not. ____ failed to adapt and shut down. It's a pity (what's a pity is this parent waiting 5 weeks to say something) because ____ loves Science and Math.

I am surprised that we heard nothing from you except for the note taking instance. We were a little surprised to see his grade. Although we do have access to the online grades (then maybe you should have checked them when I emailed you and you would have seen, duh!), we never received any hint that there was a problem outside of not taking notes. He no doubt earned what he got (ya think!) but a little heads up would have been nice. We could have coached and followed up on ____ a little better about turning in his work and dealing with your teaching style. (feel the blame he's placing...MY teaching style has to be dealt with...hmmm!) Maybe ____ shut down and maybe you shut down on him. I was a little disappointed in both of you. (Kiss my ass!)

I am not sure that ____ will have you again but I hope that in the future if a student shuts down in your class, regardless the reason, please notify the parents. The parents maybe able to help in damage control in preventing a very smart student from failing in your class. (I thought I did tell you there was a problem!)

Thank you for your time. "

OMG! are you kidding me! whatever! Their kid screws up and its my fault...probably because I didn't cater to him and coddle him. The biggest problem I have with this parent is that they waited 5 weeks to email me about this. This kid left my class 5 weeks ago and is now with another teacher where it seems he still isn't doing the work and they want to blame me...whatever!

So I am sore sore! yes, started that running and working out think again on Monday and I am feeling it today! But I will stick it this time...I have to! LOL!

Loved American Idol tonight although I wish Blake would have won. However, it was pretty predictable since the song they chose was so not suited for him and SO suited for Jordan. I mean she's a great singer and will do well, they both will, I just liked Blake better.

Season finale of Lost is also on right now, but obviously since I was watching AI, got the Tivo running. Have to check that one out tomorrow.

Went and played my first round of golf, well 9 holes that is, and didn't do too bad, at least not for me...I was actually pretty impressed with myself. My drive wasn't great and my pitching sucks as always, but irons and putting were pretty good.

Closing on the house in a week...excited! gotta start packing!

State tennis tournament is tomorrow and I'm going...no school for me, hip hip hooray! Our best boys singles player made it and got the worst draw ever! He has to play the #2 player in the state so probably won't take long, but at least he's there.

Got a calico kitten about a week ago and I need a name for it...any ideas?

A long time

Hey guys!

First of all, yes I know it has been forever since I wrote anything down here and for that I apologize. As many of you may know, I coach girls’ tennis and from the middle of March until the middle of May, my time is not my own. It’s full days of school and then late nights at matches, and you know what, I hardly get on the computer at all. Well now tennis is over for another year and my time can go back to normal hopefully.

My tennis team did an amazing job this year. Last year, we were like 2-15. This season, we were 11-8. Quite a turn around! My top three singles players and my top doubles team all had winning records. I even had one young lady who won and got to play in the third round of the regional tournament and just missed going to state. That was way cool, cause I have never had one go that far.

My current news is that I bought a house. I close on it at then end of the month and move in on June 16th. So excited about that one, but nervous and scared at the same time. Gotta make sure the budget is done and all bills get paid on time.

Today was the senior prank at the high school where I work. They pulled all of the desks and chairs out of classrooms and filled the hallways with them. The principal was pissed and so were many of the teachers…some teacher actually let them into the building and allowed them to do it! can you believe it! It was actually kind of lame as far as a senior prank goes. Unfortunately, the teachers got to put the stuff back while the kids were held in the cafeteria.

My room wasn’t actually touched but a couple of the teachers were very upset…

"NOT FUNNY FOR THOSE OF US WHO SPENT THE FIRST HALF HOUR OF OUR DAY PUTTING THIS BUILDING BACK TOGETHER—AND GOT IT DONE IN TIME FOR CLASSES TO BEGIN IN OUR ROOMS."

I say WHATEVER! Who cares?

Since tennis is over and I have some time again, I have decided I must get back on the weight loss track. During the first two months of the year, I lost around 18 pounds. I’m sorry to say part of it has come back! Damn! LOL! So today it is back to the gym for me and back on the water regimen!

My brother is in Iraq right now and we get emails from him about once a week. He is doing well right now, but it is hard on him. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers that he will stay safe and return to us when it is time.

Apologies

Okay what is it with people who think they can do whatever the hell they want to you and then just apologize as if nothing happened? Here's my story...

I had this friend who was getting married. She had asked me to be one of her bridesmaids and I happily agreed. I bought the dress, helped her with wedding arrangements, and basically was just her friend. Then the guy gets all crazy and cheats on her. It wasn't the first time and she had had enough. She called off the wedding and then calls me crying and hysterical. I leave my golf game and go pick her up and take her to another friend's house. We console her and tell her its for the best, etc. She decides that she has had enough and wants her out of her house. We go with her to lend moral support and her dad comes down too. Well while he is there moving out his stuff (with his mom none the less), he just goes off. He starts cussing at us and calling us names and she just sits there. She lets him do it. So pissed! However we left it go because we think she is through with him. A few weeks later the wedding date comes and goes and she decides to go on the "honeymoon" to do some thinking and get her head on straight. I agree to feed the cats, etc. Come to find out she took him with her!!!! Yes thats right, you heard me! I could not believe. She lied right to our faces. Of course we don't find this out until after she returns from the trip and calls our mutual friend. Fortunately, she called her cause she was a lot nicer than I would have been. We demand she pay for our dresses and get out of our lives. She does and I haven't spoken to her since.

Well this week, I get this email...

"I have a sincere apology for both of you that is coming two years late. I apologize for not listening to the two of you, ----- and ----------- when the four of you begged and pleaded for me to stay away from ------. I apologize for any stress that disaster caused you. I removed him permanently from my life two months ago. You guys were right all along. I'm sorry I didn't listen to you from the start."

I was in absolute shock as was my other friend. She composed an email to reply to her and I had her add my name because I just didn't know what to say. This is what we wrote...

"We both accept your apology, understanding that what you believe to be love can blind you to truth at times. Beyond what we were telling you, we just wish you had seen how he treated you and your friends. I can’t promise that we will go back to being the closest of friends because there were many trust issues that were violated during that time. We stood up for you and took a lot of crap from him for it and still, many times, you told half truths or openly lied about things. I don’t think you understood how loyal our friendship was to you or the impact his behavior and the lies had on it. I hope that everything is going well and that you are moving past your relationship with him to better things."

I agree with what she wrote and I can accept her apology but I don't believe I can ever be friends with her again. My friends will tell you, I am loyal to a fault and when you break my trust it is really hard to get it back. I know if I were to have written a reply, it wouldn't have been near as nice.

She of course replies...

"Thank you both for accepting my apology. Things are going very well and I'm leaving my past behind. I have learned hard and valuable lessons."

Well I would hope so!

And finally an email I received today I can really appreciate!

COMEBACKS TO THAT ALL TIME FAVORITE QUESTIONS "Why Aren't You Married Yet?"

You haven't asked yet.
I was hoping to do something meaningful with my life.
Because I just love hearing this question.
Just lucky, I guess.
It gives my mother something to live for.
My fiancée is awaiting his/her parole.
I'm still hoping for a shot at Miss/Mr. America.
Do you know how hard it is to get two tickets to Miss Saigon?
I'm waiting until I get to be your age.
It didn't seem worth a blood test.
I already have enough laundry to do, thank you.
Because I think it would take all the spontaneity out of dating.
My co-op board doesn't allow spouses.
I'd have to forfeit my billion dollar trust fund.
They just opened a great singles bar on my block.
I wouldn't want my parents to drop dead from sheer happiness.
I guess it just goes to prove that you can't trust those voodoo doll rituals.
What? And lose all the money I've invested in running personal ads?
I don't want to have to support another person on my paycheck.
Why aren't you thin?
I'm married to my career, although recently we have been considering a trial separation.
(Bonus reply for Single Mothers) Because having a husband and a child would
be redundant.

So my parents left today for a 2 week cruise through the Panama Canal. Lucky dogs!

Went shopping for baby gifts for my best friend. I have two showers to attend in the next three weeks for her. Probably spent way too much money, but what can you do?

Weight Loss Update:



March Madness is here! Rough on me though supporting two high school teams. There is my high school (SC) where I went to school which is #1 in the state and awesome to watch. Then there is also the high school where I work (WH). WH actually won the district this year in overtime, but then went and drew the #3 team (BS) in the state to play. Of course BS is in the same district as SC and got beat to be a runner up which is why WH drew them. I'm worried that BS is just going to roll over WH. Fortunately though the SC and WH play on two different nights so I can go and support both of them. Then of course there is the SEC tournament and finally the NCAA tournament. Of course all of this basketball watching comes right on top of tennis practice! So much to do and so little time!

Another Long weekend

Where to start?

I'm sitting at lunch on Friday and I get the distinct feeling that my department at school knows something I don't. I hate that. Somedays I hate them! If someone in the department steps out for lunch they always forget to ask me if I want something to eat. Now it goes without saying I usually don't since I am watching what I'm eating right now, but they could at least ask. If something has been put in our mailboxes, and one of them goes to get theirs, it seems as if they get everyone's but mine. What's up with that? And the latest is that I believe they are wanting someone to transfer from the other school in the district to take the place of a teacher who is retiring this year. Now that's cool, but couldn't you at least share? Of course, this is all blamed on the fact that I teach in two departments so it is "natural" that I get overlooked. I was thinking of moving into the classroom of the teacher who is retiring, but I am starting to rethink that one. Don't know if I want to be that close to people who don't see me as a true member of the department. Although, according to the principal, I should be a full member of that department and quit having to share my time with two. It just pisses me off when people do things behind my back!

So I'm going on a trip to FL this Spring Break as a chaperone with the school band. Got an invoice in the mail today with my final balance showing and it is almost $100 more than was originally quoted to me. Panic! I don't have the money to pay it. I had really budgeted my money in order to make it work, and now they spring this on me. Come to find out the reason it is so much more is that two of the female chaperones requested their own room, leaving me and the other one to pay the double room rate whether we want to or now. Now that's just not fair. I didn't ask for a special room assignment but because of others I am being forced to do so. Hopefully I can talk the boosters into making this equitable.

Girls' tennis players are dropping like flies. I had two of my senior girls quit on the first day of practice because they said they had to get jobs to pay for Spring Break. They couldn't play tennis because they had to make money so they can go to FL and get drunk! WTF! Then today, another senior who had been trying to work out her schedule with tennis and work, comes to me and quits. Then I find out that one of my junior girls has mono and will be out 4-6 weeks! What's next? A nuclear attack? Needless to say I now have 3 varsity spots to fill and no one to fill them with that has any experience whatsoever. Crazy!

I think I am getting a cold! I hate getting a cold. And it sucks, cause I have to be outside for 2 hours with the tennis team every day. That certainly doesn't help.

Watched the Illustionist tonight. Good flick!

Got a chain letter in the mail today. It contained a lottery ticket! Never had this kind before...kind of cool. I didn't win with this one, but maybe the next one. Supposedly if it all goes right, I should get 35 more tickets in the mail. Surely one of the is the big one! LOL!

Anyway, hope the week gets better!

My Weekend

So I'm driving to a ballgame on Saturday night and I come up behind this car at a traffic light and it has one of those frames around the license plate...know what it says? Follow me to Waffle House! Okay now come on! I love waffle house, but I don't know about putting it on your car.

I finally get to the game, which we win by the way, and get ready to go home. Now Saturday is the day we got quite a bit of snow so driving home was a long trip, treacherous and icy and I'm scared to death of tearing up my new car. However, thankfully I made it home and survived my first trip on the snow and ice in my new car.

Buying a hybrid did pay off for me this year even though I am struggling with the car payments. Did you know that buying a hybrid this year entitled you to a tax break? I didn't, but upon further research it does. A huge one! Yeah for me, a nice refund, which of course I have all but spent. LOL!

Monday night, I went and played in my first Texas Hold 'Em tournament. Now I have played on the computer but never live. That was an experience. I was clueless! However I did win a couple of hands and even survived through the first break, first chip exchange, and even had to swap tables. This being said, I did last longer than some. Not bad for my first try. Of course, this was a free tournament so that made it all the better for me, the newbie! Had a good time though and even knew some of the people there including a former friend of my former roommate. We had a good laugh about all of that crap.

Couldn't get out of bed for my morning workout this morning. Alarm went off at 5 and I was like hell no! not today. Sucks though cause that means I missed out today. Due to tennis practice and a stupid confidentiality meeting after school and then working a ballgame taking tickets from 5 to 9, just now obviously getting home. However I did make if for American Idol! Yeah, any way, since there was no workout, I'll have to update you on my goal tomorrow.

You Are Strawberry Ice Cream

A bit shy and sensitive, you are sweet to the core. You often find yourself on the outside looking in. Insightful and pensive, you really understand how the world works. You are most compatible with chocolate chip ice cream.

What Flavor Ice Cream Are You?

So as I am home on my 7th snowday this year, and I am just a bit bored. We keep missing these days and there is no snow on the ground. I mean seriously...I got up at 5 for my workout, turned on the TV and we are out of school. I look at the window and there is nothing on the ground. I am just so frustrated with this. I don't want to be in school for the entire month of June! Anyway as I was bored I went blog surfing and found this. Now since I love ice cream and really can't have it right now with the whole weight loss thing thought it was kind of humorous.

As you can see, the weight loss is moving right now but I feel as I have reached this plateau and am trying to punch through. As of today I am more than halfway to my goal. That's great but just can't kick through this and get that number to move some more.

Today is also Valentine's day so....

Not a huge fan of the holiday but I guess some like it...go figure!

While I was on the treadmill for my daily workout today, I got to watch CNN for an hour and listened to Bush's press conference. Many of the questions asked were about the war in Iraq and that of course got me thinking about my brother. Now while we knew he was leaving for Baghdad in May, we really weren't concerned because he was going to get a 30 day leave to come home before he left. We found out last week that his deployment date has been moved up to the end of March and the 30 day leave has been cancelled. At this point we really don't know whether we will be able to get to see him before he leaves or not at this point. This sucks, cause he is going to be gone for an entire year. I'm hoping either he or us can find a weekend free and go to Seattle to see him before he leaves, but it looks very doubtful. Please keep him in your thoughts and prayers as well as all of the other armed forces.

Bored!

So today is my fifth snow day this year...four of them being in the past week. I am sick of snow days. At this rate, I am going to be in school until June 5th. Yuck! I am so bored just sitting in my house watching soap operas and trying to stay warm. I live in a really old house with gas heat and it doesn't get warm. Basically I am trapped in two rooms, my office and my bedroom where there are space heaters. Pretty cozy in here, but when you step out into the hallway, brrrr! Freezing! So cold, I hate even going to the kitchen to get food, but hey a girl has to eat. Then there is the dog. With the air temperatures in the single digits, he has become an indoor dog again which means I have to worry about him making a mess and whining to go outside. FUN! Where is March? IT has to get here soon, I hate snow and cold weather!

Of course, our administrators can't call off school the night before so I have to wait until I get up at 5am to go to the gym. I get up, turn on the TV, see the closings and of course promptly go back to bed. Forget the gym at 5...I'll wait until eleven or so. Gym time is still going well, burning lots of calories on the treadmill and this week I started some weight training. I'm down about 13 pounds since the first of the year but have a bunch to go to get where I want. It's working, and I enjoy the way I feel afterwards but that's about all I'm doing these days besides playing on the computer and watching TV. I want to go back to work!

Today they are predicting 2-5 inches of snow where I live which probably means I won't go to work tomorrow. Rumors are already spreading that we won't be back until Monday. NOOO!!!! Looking outside, the road is almost covered in white and it's a main road, I hate to think what the country roads are like now and will be later. So glad I have no where to go right now, the car is parked and is going to stay there. If it wasn't for the gym, I would have no social interaction and I so need social interaction of some kind. I'm going crazy! It's times like these that being single sucks! Of course just when you think you might be on to something with someone, they get scared and run. That happened to me last week too on top of the snow! Men suck!

Oh well enough bitching about the weather and my social status, not as if I can do anything to change it right now. Hope everyone is having a better week than I am....

Another stupid man

So this past week and weekend I attended a basketball tournament at my high school. Most of the weekend was uneventful but there was this one fan. Before the game started, he was bad mouthing my school and of course once the game started he continued. Every call was against his team and of course none were against mine. I looked over at my mother and said.."wonder how long it would take me to make this guy really mad?" yeah, I was sort of in a vindictive mood after my financial fiasco of earlier in the week. So I started screaming and hollering for my team and yes, I started mocking and repeating some of his comments right back at him. Well this only went on for a few moments before he turns around and starts yelling at me. That's right, a grown man yelling at me! He is saying things like I am an damn embarassment to my family and stupid and I'm an embarassment to my family, etc. Of course, my mother is sitting right beside me, hearing all of it. I just ignore him, cause at this point I have won. He's mad and I am rolling on the inside. I just go back to watching the game and cheering my team on. Of course, my mother has heard everything I have said and what he is screaming at me now. She gets into it, and he asks her who she is...well she says I'm her mother. It's a free country and I can say what I want. I love my mom...she was in my corner. I tried to get her to stop but they just keep going at it. All over a stupid ballgame. It was too funny! A lot of the people around me were fans for my team and they are hearing all of this and laughing. This guy is really embarassing himself. Unfortunately, I am not always a very fast thinking on the comebacks so I didn't respond. I laughed all the way home and of course realized what I should have said...."Look buddy! Yeah I freely admit to mocking you and trying to make you mad...guess what I did! However, I never cursed at you, and didn't insult you or your family!" I so wished I could have come up with that one sooner!

As for my weight loss project...I have lost 13 pounds in the last 27 days! Hooray!

Why me?

Am I doing something wrong? I really think I am a good person and am living a good life, but these crummy things always seem to happen to me. The latest...identity theft!

Yeah that's right. Saturday I got a phone call from the fraud department at my bank about a suspicious wire transfer through Western Union for more money then I had. Thankfully they caught it and called me. They had to block my card and then cancel it. So of course I am freaking out all weekend until I can call the bank this morning. When I call the bank this morning, they say the charge has been authorized and will post to my account. I am like freaking out at this point cause I don't have money to cover this. The lady at the bank says that I have to write this letter disputing the charge and they would investigate and the money would most likely be credited back to my account along with any charges I would incur for overdrafting, etc. Good news, but doesn't help my already dire financial woes. So I write the letter and fax it to the bank and continue teaching. Later this afternoon I decided to call Western Union and see if I could find out anymore information. I find out that this person (if you want to call them a person, I prefer asshole!) tried to wired the money to the Dominican Republic through the internet. This person had to have the card number as well as the security number in order to do that. This of course means someone had to have seen my card to get that number. Now that's scary! Thankfully, their fraud department thought it was fishy and cancelled the transfer which means no money will leave my bank account! WHEW! What a relief! Of course, it is small consolation to the stress I endured today and the fact that I have to wait 2 weeks to get a new debit card. Crazy!

Of course these things always happen in threes so now I'm wondering what is next? First there was my car window (see a previous post) and now this...what the hell is next? I don't think I can take any more drama right now!

On a positive note...the weight loss is going well...up to 9 pounds now! Hip Hip Hooray for me!

An Update

Okay let's see finally got some more pics from Vegas...remember that night in the suite where I said that the guys got in the hot tub...well here's just a couple of pics..LOL!

Then there was the birthday cake incident when my friend Indy was so drunk he through the cake across the table. This is the cake before and you can see how drunk he was! LOL!

Then there's New Year's in Tampa...got some of those pics too. First, one of us line dancing one night and then some from New Year's Eve...fun times!

Finally an update on my "project" right now...I've lost an amazing 6 pounds thus far in the past 9 days. Still working out everyday and watching what I eat. I will reach my goal!

Wow! Randomness!

Hello All!

First of all, my new project is getting back into my skinny jeans. I decided when school started back to start working out again, drinking water, and watching what I ate. This of course after a two week glutton feast over the holidays. Anyway, so far so good. I am drinking 40-60 ounces of water a day and doing an hour or more of cardio everyday. So far I have lost about 4 pounds since Wednesday. I know that's mostly water but it still feels good. I'll keep you posted.

Second of all, men suck! I have two examples. The first is the husband of a friend of mine. They have been having problems and rather than stay and stick it out. He decides to leave and does so, taking the kids with him, on a day when my friend is not at home. She comes home to find everyone and their things gone. That is so wrong! Second of all, is my own personal problem. There is this guy that I am talking too and sometimes he answers the phone/responds to email and sometimes he doesn't. Why do men always run hot and cold? He seems to like me and want to date me, but then he just disappears. I just don't understand men and I guess I never will.

Tennis starts this week and my life will soon no longer be my own. For the first month it is just conditioning after school but then it will evolve into a longer portion of my time. It is really going to make working out on any kind of schedule very difficult. Between school, tennis, going to SC ballgames, and trying to workout, my life is going to be pretty full. However, I think I might be able to make time for social activities should the opportunity arise...see above.

Finally, just want to give a shout out for a fabulous CD. I recently bought the new Daughtry CD and it is awesome. You remember Chris Daughtry, that little hottie from AI. Well he has a CD and if you don't have it, go get it! A friend of mine describes it as a cross between Nickelback and Three Doors Down. I don't know...don't have those CD's...I just know I love it!

Tampa, Part 2

Well, let's see when we last left off, I had had an interesting three days. Saturday, I got up and went to see my friend Chris's new house out on the beach in a place called Hudson, Fl. Beautiful house with tall ceilings, big open rooms, balconies, and right on the water. So going back to visit and hanging at the beach!



Thought the boats were funny, reminded me of parking in NYC.


Saturday was pretty uneventful. Had hotdogs at Mel's, dinner at Olive Garden and then went shopping and crashed early.



Sunday, we got up and went to the Bucs game at Raymond James Stadium. I had never been to an NFL game, so it was pretty cool. The stadium was cool too. It was so hot!





Also saw the stadium where the Yankees have spring training.




Of course, Sunday night was New Year's Eve and we all went out to a place called Whiskey North in Tampa. Had a blast and pictures were taken, but on someone else's camera, so we'll have to wait for those.

Monday, I got up and met the guys for the Outback Bowl. We bought tickets and food passes on the street outside the stadium. We got to go to this tent city and have breakfast and beer before the game. Very cool. Of course if you watched the game, then you know it was raining most of the day so I didn't take my camera and thus don't have any pictures. The game was cool though. I had also never been to a bowl game. I went wearing my UK blue and proudly supporting my Cats even though the game was between Penn State and Tennessee. The beginning was awesome with jets flying over and parachuters dropping on to the field. Then the bands performing at half-time. UT's band was amazing! Loved it! Of course I also got to hear Rocky Top about 1000 times since we were sitting right beside the band. One of the guys that went is a Gator fan and he just kept talking smack about the Gators throughout the whole game, hollering at anyone wearing Gator apparel. It was so funny! The rain wasn't bad during the first half but it really came down in the second half. I was soaked and then the wind made it very cold. Funny, I was sweating in the heat the day before and now I wish I had had a sweatshirt!
After the game, I couldn't wait to get home to get on dry clothes!

Tuesday, I got up early and headed home. A long 12 hour drive on the interstate and finally made back to my humble abode. I was so glad to be here but missing the warm weather of Tampa as soon as I got out of the car. So there you have it, my Tampa adventure! Chocked full of new things for me and lots of laughs!