Back for a few hours

So, long story a little bit shorter, I am back in the cities. No. I didn't have troubles getting to Fargo (I mean, yes the journey was slow going, but not impossible for the safe driver). I did have troubles leaving Fargo though (I blew out a tire on my car as I was trying to head towards Grand Forks).

Anyway, this caused me to have to stay in Fargo, and if I did that, I was going to have to fly back home on Monday, because Sonny couldn't fly up on Sunday, to transfer Lukin. But I couldn't get back to Fargo until around 10:30 Monday night meaning he wouldn't be in Cavalier until Tuesday. That wasn't gonna work for the grandparents. So my dad drove to Fargo, picked me up, and we came back home. We will be heading back to ND tomorrow. Fun times.

Home for the holidays...if I can get there.

So, this is probably my last entry of 2008. I have to go and get packed for the possibility of heading home tomorrow, if the weather cooperates. And if you know my hometown, you know that dial-up still rules (as far as my parents are concerned) and it's more of a headache than a joy to get on the computer.

So, I want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday (whether it be Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice Harvest, or whatever). Have a happy one! Talk you to all again next year!!

Not in the mood for the rest of the week

So the title of this entry pretty much says it all. It's not that I have a ton of Christmas stuff yet to do to get ready to go home for the holidays, in fact, I have nothing left to do but pack. The shopping is done. The wrapping is done. It's all done.

Rather, I am not looking forward to working the rest of the week. Seriously? I can't even begin to imagine that the kids are going to be all gung-ho to work the last three days before break. I am not even motivated to work the last three days before holiday break.

I'm sure that it will go fine. I just don't want to have to deal with it. I would rather spend a time trying to figure out an answer to Stacie's text question today. Yes, Stacie, I got your text, but I don't know when he is coming up yet. I am still waiting for him to get home from Texas with Mimi and Papa.

I'll keep you all posted.

Macaroni Rosa

So, this entry is a few days late, but whatever. I am avoiding the gift wrap mess that is behind me at the table.

Last Wednesday, we went to Buca di Beppo for my father-in-law's 71st birthday. I was so excited to go there because I was really looking forward to Macaroni Rosa. So we get there and we decide we are going to order three smalls. (For those of you who have never been there, the food is served family style, so you share with those at your table. That way everyone doesn't have to order their own. (And I really shouldn't have to explain that because as far as I know, everyone who reads my blog either lives here, and has probably been there, or we have taken them to eat there. But just in case.))

Right away, without discussion, we decide that we want to have Macaroni Rosa. And we search through the menu for it (this one had actual menus...it was strange.) But, alas, it wasn't there.

Turns out, this has been discontinued. I was downhearted (and consequently playing the PRG song as I type this). So we ordered other things. They were good, but I was bummed out about the Macaroni Rosa.

So if anyone knows the Macaroni Rosa and finds something similar on the menu, please let me know, so I won't have to miss the Macaroni Rosa anymore.

P.S. If you are still scratching your head trying to figure out the PRG thing, I'll tell you. It's Primitive Radio Gods: Standing Outside a Broken Phonebooth with Money in My Hand. Remember that song?

Follow my circular thinking

So the TI/Rihanna song "Live Your Life" is one of my new favorite songs. And thankfully, I live in a city with a top 40 station that plays it like every two hours or so. But whenever I hear the song, it makes me think of Lukin, even though I assume he has never heard it. Let me explain.

So the song, for those of you who don't know it, samples Ozone's Dragostea Din Tei, at least the Mia-hee, Mia-hoo, Mia-haa, Mia-haa-haa part. Although, it is different in the TI song.

When I first started working in MN, I had a student in my homeroom who loved that song. In fact, he loved it so much that he would ask to borrow my CD with that song on it, over the weekends from time to time. He would often come to class and ask if we could listen to the song. And some days we couldn't listen to it because it was silent reading day or drug ed day or something like that. But on Fridays, it was our free day and so the kids could sometimes bring in snacks and just visit during homeroom, and listen to music. Of course, he was one of only about 2 or 3 students who liked that song. The rest of the kids moaned and groaned, but they were good sports about it.

The name of that kid was Lukin. Yes, this is the same kid that I got my son's name from. He was a fun kid. Smart, respectful, funny, witty, nice to his peers, just cynical enough, and well-behaved. All the things that you would want your child to be in 8th grade.

So, that's why I think of Lukin (my son) every time that song comes on. The song samples a song that a student I had liked, whose name was Lukin, which I named my son. Got it?

Boy-less

So I dropped my boys off at the airport about 45 minutes ago so they could fly down to Texas to do Christmas with my sister-in-law and her family. I couldn't go with because I don't know if I have to work tomorrow or not, and regardless of the answer of that, they won't come home until Monday night, after my prenatal dr. appt. And I am sad that I couldn't go because it will be my boys, my sister-in-law, her husband, their two children, and my in-laws (whom I also dropped off 45 minutes ago). The only one missing is me.

I'm sad, but not totally. Here's why. First, have you ever flown pregnant? For me, I get sick to my stomach and am not a fan of that feeling. The other reason is that in a little over a week, I am heading home for the holidays. I haven't finished shopping and I have a ton of other things I need to do too. So having the boys gone will give me that time to get some of that stuff done.

This is not to say that I won't get lonely. But my husband thinks that I have enough things to accomplish that I won't even notice that they aren't here. That may be true, for like a day, then I will miss them. I was in tears a couple times this morning before they left (pregnancy hormones again). Lukin was like, "No Mommy why (his word for cry). Mommy happy."

Yep. I am gonna miss them.

The Pre-Holidays with a 2-year-old

For those of you who do not have children, you may not really get this entry. However, I am going to assume that most of you were once children yourselves, and can maybe reflect back on these things from YOUR parents point of view.

So, last night, Lukin and I curled up on the couch to watch "Twas the Night Before Christmas". You know the one. The one about Joshua Trundle, the clockmaker and the clock he made to sing a song for Santa, and the mouse teenager who had written the mean letter to Santa, and wrecked the clock...that one. And as we were watching it, I was remembering how much I loved that show as a kid and it brought a little tear to my eye to watch it with my son.

Later, we watched the Charlie Brown Christmas Special on the ABC channel and it was fun to see how this is the first Christmas that Lukin has really been cognizant of what's going on, and that also brought a tear to my eye to think about how he is forming his earliest Christmas memories this year. Will he remember them? I don't know. But it's fun to watch him form them.

(Side note: the teary-eyed-ness may be caused by the increased hormones (aka: being pregnant can make me cry).

Today, was the best though because we were at the MOA. And my MIL (Mother-in-Law) and I were walking through Nick Universe, and there was Santa just sitting there. So we turned around to come and get Little Man's picture taken with Santa. He was okay with this up until we were face-to-face with Santa. Then he started getting scared and saying, "No. No Ho-Ho," repeatedly, before letting out a high-pitched cry. Needless to say, he didn't take a picture with "Ho-Ho" this year. Maybe next year when he is the big Brother.

Colgate vs. Crest

As I was trying to think of what to type, different things crossed my mind. However, as I started to type, Lukin showed up and was standing on the chair beside me chanting something that sounded like, "Colgate". To which I simply replied, "We use Crest." This exchange repeated itself about three more times before he giggled. Then he quickly got distracted by saying, "Coke", and jumping off the chair to run around the house repeatedly yelling "Elmo" as if Elmo would suddenly answer. And as I type this bit of information, he is tracing the stitch up my sweater, repeating "Choo-choo" over and over. Aaahhh, the joy of a little one in the house.

Things to do today:

1. Pack to go to big Cav.

2. Take care of some list items since I am home alone.

3. Squeeze in a tiny nap.

4. Contemplate Nas.(This one is for Amanda. I said this once in the car and she busted up laughing.)

A little of everything

1. On Sunday afternoon, I got gas because I was practically on E. I stood in awe for like 10 seconds as I realized that I got over 10 gallons of gas for $17.72. I can't remember the last time that happened.

2. "Auntie Amanda" was here this past weekend. Lukin can't say Amanda, or at least, decided he didn't want to. So instead, he decided to call her "Debuh". It was actually quite cute and Amanda was happy to have a name, even if it was wrong.

3. I completed my first day as a substitute, ever. It was on Friday and I got to work at the school that I worked at last year. It was actually pretty fun. I lined up another day for later in December.

4. Is it wrong to just mail out normal people Christmas cards if we have a child under 5? We didn't do 30 month pictures (or 2 1/2 year) pictures. And I am not paying some outrageous price for pics from the wedding that aren't really what I had in mind.

5. I am currently one glass of juice into filling my bladder before my ultrasound in 50 minutes. Fun times. Obviously the people that designed these things don't understand that it takes me quite a while to drink anything. But I will do my best. How does anyone do this without peeing their pants? This is what I want to know.

6. I wonder how much trouble I will be in if I don't make the annual calendar this year for my parents and inlaws? Brenda gave me a gift card for Archivers, but I am not feeling it this year. I don't know why, but even though I am not working, I still feel really busy and almost feel more busy than when I did work full time. It's strange.

Cities 97 Sampler Eve

So tomorrow is the Cities 97 Sampler 20th Anniversary CD release. Of course, if you know what I am talking about, then you know that it isn't something you can just waltz into a store that sells CDs and pick up at your leisure.

You would also be correct in assuming that I am not the kind of girl who goes and waits in line at 3 am on a cold November morning for this CD...however, my husband is that kind of guy.

I was telling him tonight that we make a good pair in terms of this CD. He goes and gets it (waiting in line in cold weather for hours to get a copy before they sell out 15 minutes after they go on sale). I think he does it because it's tradition for him to do it, as he has done it for years, and because the money from the sales goes to charity. I don't really believe that he knows half the artists that are on the CD.

I, on the other hand, do know many of the artists and can't wait to listen to the CD. I am super excited for it to be a two-disc set this year in honor of the anniversary. So happy Sampler Eve!

In case you don't check your email...

So, in case I have the wrong email addy for anyone, or if I don't have an email address for you, or if you don't ever check your email, here's the announcement of the day:

I am pregnant with baby number 2.

We are pretty excited at our house. Well, I am. I don't know if Sonny is appreciating the mood swings that are already occurring. And I don't think Lukin has a clue what is going on yet.

I have an ultrasound next Tuesday to tell me the exact due date since the dr. doesn't believe that I am as far along as I had suspected I was at my first prenatal visit yesterday. And I will be sure to pass that information along when I know.

Have a terrific day!

The Red Pepper

Now, I don't know if I have blogged about this before but I need to comment about the Red Pepper. So, tonight after the UND hockey game, we went to the Red Pepper. We waited in line for like 10 minutes for an available teenage boy to help us. When one was finally ready, we gave our order: A half turkey grinder, a ham and cheese, a combo tostada and two Mountain Dews.

Now I realize that mathematically speaking, there are probably a ton of different options when ordering from the limited menu at the Pep, but that's what you train for. So when someone orders, you should have the mental capacity to make these things in an efficient manner. But alas, this is not the way it works.

I swear that these are the kids who failed training at Jimmy John's. They are not freaky fast. They are not freaky anything. I swear, if anything, these kids are freaky slow. It's like they are vying for the award of slowest worker.

That and I thoroughly believe that when these kids go on break, they slip out back for a joint. That doesn't add to their speediness at all.

But what pisses me off about the whole experience is that they have absolutely no reason to change. They are not a chain restaurant. They have no standard to live up to. In fact, the standard that they have to live up to is to be really slow.So if you want Red Pepper, you will have to wait in line, and the shitty thing is, people are willing to wait in line, so they have no reason to change. It's like a very annoying cycle.

Pop Culture

So this weekend was girl's weekend. And as per usual, it involved a night of board games. (Oh I know, we are wild and crazy.) Anyway, I love doing that, especially trivia games. And I love it even more when the trivia games are based on Pop Culture. We played the Trivial Pursuit 20th Anniversary Edition, and I was telling Sonny that I knew the answers for everyone else's questions, but when they were mine, I didn't have a clue.

But my favorite game of the night was The 90's Game. Brenda pointed out that she doesn't know why we even play it because she already knows that I am going to win before we start. I don't know why, but I just know and remember that stuff. Information like the medical term for flesh-eating bacteria, I don't know (and had I, I would have gotten another piece of pie in Trivial Pursuit), but things like the name of Andrea Zucherman's husband on 90210, I know.

I used to date this guy and we would send each other trivia type emails every day. And most of the time, the questions we would pose would be pop culture questions and so if I ever got stuck on one, Peter would be like, "Come on Jen. This is an easy one. It's Pop Culture."

I wonder why Pop Culture information sticks with me, but other stuff doesn't. Maybe it's an issue of whether or not I care about what the topic at hand is...and for many years, I didn't care. But I don't think that I care that much about pop culture stuff either, but perhaps in the 90s, I did. It was the world around me, and I was immersed in it.

Hodge Podge

Things that have crossed my mind today:

1. I must really like the color brown. Today I was wearing my brown pants, a brown sweater, (even a brown bra) brown shoes, brown leather jacket, carrying a brown purse and my brown umbrella. Who knew I liked brown so much? I guess I must have because I know I don't like black (in terms of shoes, jackets, or purses, and scarcely in my clothing) very much at all.

2. I was remembering last year when we went to Vegas for my Dad's 50th. It was Mom and Dad, Gigi and Nils, and Sonny and me. I remember Gigi making a comment about how I could take as long as I wanted to get ready (if you know me, you know it's a lengthy process). And that she was proud that I still took good care of myself and didn't stop getting ready the way I used to once I had a baby.

3. Tomorrow is my last day at FRMS. I'm not really sad. At least not right now. I know I won't miss getting up at 4:55 every other day. I think I need a week of sleeping in to recover. Amanda asked me once if I really believed that getting up 40-45 minutes earlier every day really had that much of an impact on why I am so tired all the time, and the more I thought about it, the more I believe that yes, it does. That'd be 160 minutes more of sleep Monday through Thursday and I didn't work Fridays last year, so yeah, it makes a difference.

4. I am waiting for some information about Girls' weekend which starts tomorrow. But if I don't get any for tomorrow, I have a backup plan, at least for dinner tomorrow night anyway.

5. Gotta go. Little man wants to snuggle with mommy. It must be the 'nuggle shirt.

Election Hangover

Today I am suffering the election hangover. I was up at 3:45 to get ready to work the election, plus staying up to see the results trickling in equals being exhausted the next day. Everyone who asked me how it was today, that is the response I gave: "I'm exhausted." I truly am. But like I mentioned yesterday, it was a great thing to have the opportunity to be a part of, and I am looking forward to filling my civic duty again in 4 years, or two, if they should need me then.

Civic Duty

As you all SHOULD know, today is Election Day. And all of you who are eligible, SHOULD have voted. What you may not be aware of is the fact that I served as an Election Judge today.

This is a new experience for me, and I have to confess that I was a little freaked out after I took the training class, but once you get there and get rolling, it's really not so bad. You kind of find a groove and it works for you. I was a Roster Judge (R-Z). I kept passing the page with my in-laws names on it, and I kept thinking it was my name...silly rabbit. I don't vote in that precinct.

Around lunch time, the Head Election Judge dismissed us two by two to grab some lunch during a lull. (The school that we were working in provided lunch for us.) And while we were going to get lunch, the Challenger for our site, came with us. She put her arms around Kristen (the girl I was sitting beside) and me, and said that she was glad to see young people volunteering. She also added that she hopes we do it again.

I mentioned that fact to one of the guys I was sitting by and he asked me if I noticed in the training video that all the workers were older, retired folks. I didn't even notice. But after the Challenger said that, I realzed that Kristen, Suzanne and I were the youngest three there, except for the high school volunteers.

I had a good time. It felt good to be part of national decision making process. It was nice to have a couple people thank me. I thought that they were thanking me for helping them, and they were really thanking me for volunteering. That made me feel good. I would recommend that experience to anyone. It's your civic duty.

Amanda's sense of humor

My BFF Amanda has some interesting names for some of the restaurants that we have taken her to when she has come to visit. I was thinking about this yesterday when we went out for lunch. We didn't go anywhere that she has ever been, at least not that I remember, but it still made me think of her inventive names for the following restaurants.

1. Genghis Grill : Amanda's name: Ghenghis Khan

2. Panera: She calls it: Pandora's Box

3. UGH, there is one more, but I can't remember what it is! Amanda help. Please remind me what your interesting name for the 3rd place is. Was it East Meet West? Or LeAnn Chin? Maybe neither. I can't remember.

First time to the store?

So today we did the usual Sunday grocery store trip. And for some strange reason when we got to the check out line, there was a girl in front of us, who decided that she had to go to the bathroom before she paid. So we had to wait there until she came back? Really?!? Isn't there some kind of button you can push that will let you put that order on hold and move on?!? There was when I worked in a G. store back in GF.

So after about 3-5 minutes, she finally came back and then she paid for her stuff, which was all rung up by this point, and then she pulls her cart to the end, but doesn't feel compelled to get it out of the way. So, she leaves it sitting there at the end while Sonny waits at the other bagging section to put the bags in the cart.

Seriously? Has this girl never been to the store before? I don't get how you could not get it...at all... But it didn't help with my crabbiness factor for today.

Speaking of Bad Parenting

This entry is related to the last entry (SAW 5), and is dedicated to everyone I know that works in education.

Today was a horrible day. I have two classes back-to-back of kids who refuse to care and it makes me not care. You want to be shitheads in my class? Fine. Be shitheads, but you're going to the office. Get out of my room.

The first group is three sixth graders. One of them is a good girl. She does what she is supposed to. She is quiet. She is respectful. She is a little odd, but not obviously so. I like her. The other two kids? Well, they went to the same elementary and they seem to think that they run the show. One of them was trying to tell me that her friend's mom got a teacher fired. She said this because I had told them that they would not be rewarded with a fun activity on Friday if they didn't do work today. So I turn to her and ask if she was threatening me. And then told her that if she was, she would need to explain that to the principal because that was not allowed. She got mad and all 6th grade attitude with me. I don't care.

The other student, a boy, was imitating everything I said. Real mature. He asked if I was ever in a good mood. And seeing as I was having one of my 'wits ends days' I replied, "Yes. But not when you guys are here." I continued to tell them that I couldn't believe the way they were acting for being 6th graders. I have never met such a disrespectful group of students ever in my life. (That's not totally true...there were three shitheads when I worked on the north side of the metro...but they were 8th graders...technicality.)

So the bell finally rings for their class and the next group comes in. Not looking a whole lot better. It's the boy from the first classes brother, and two other boys.

Now like the other group, this group has one worker and two that piss away the entire class period doing absolutely nothing. This is nothing new. These two tend to spend every homework day doing absolutely nothing. But today was different. I was in a bad mood from the class before, and the brother was picking on the other two boys saying everything was stupid. Telling them to "make me" when they would ask him to stop, or not do something. One of the other boys was pretty worked up when the first boy took one of his things, used it and threw it away. I was done. I sent him to the office, stating simply to the principal's secretary, "Attitude".

After that hour, I needed to debrief. I went to the child study secretary who laughed as she said that she didn't know how we dealt with some of the behaviors that we get in our classes. But having thought about it now since the end of the day, I have realized the problem is three-fold.

1. The class sizes (for my room) are so small that the students don't think that classroom etiquette rules apply...I don't even know if they think any rules apply. That's not totally true. The rules apply to everyone else, but not to them.

2. Special Education is a double-edged sword. Some of the students have this learned helplessness and refuse to do anything on their own. Why should they? If they don't get it done, someone will sit down with them to do it? Why have internal motivation?

3. Lack of External motivation. I believe that the kids that are disrespectful in the classroom are not being motivated by anyone at home to do a good job at school. I can't really believe that the parents would encourage this behavior. Take for example the girl that was talking about getting a teacher fired. On what grounds? Not letting you sing and scream in class and actually making you do something? Sorry. Nobody told me when I was in college that my main job as an educator was to let you piss around for 13-18 years and then give you a diploma. My bad.

After today, I wish that we could go into meetings and be truthful with parents. Instead of saying that they child is delightful, I wish we could be honest and say, "Your child is a disrespectful brat." That might stun some parents into doing their job. Lying and telling them that we love their child makes them think that they are doing a good job of raising their children, when in fact, they aren't.

I know, some kids can't help it. But they have a label that covers that (EBD). Unfortunately for the kids I am speaking of today, none of them have that luxury.

SAW 5

So on Friday night, Sonny and I went out for dinner before heading to the theater to see Saw 5. I know, I know. But it's become a tradition. We have gone to see every single one (with the exception of the first one) together.

Anyway, that is not the remarkable part of the story. So we go to the theater and pay and get a Sprite and go sit down and are waiting through the commercials (remember when there weren't commercials at movies?) and we see this family come in. That's right, I said family. There were, three or four adults and two small children: one about 3 or so, and one in 1st or 2nd grade. Seriously.

Now I can't get over this. And in fact I have a hard time focusing on the movie because of these small children at the horror flick. I was certain that once the movie started, the family would realize that it went in the wrong door and actually meant to be next door at Beverly Hills Chihuahua, a more family friendly flick (I would guess), but no. They stayed through the whole thing.

Throughout the movie, I kept waiting for some crying from the kids. But I heard no peeps. At the end of the movie, I turned to look back and the smaller child was sound asleep, and as we were leaving, the older girl was carrying on a normal conversation as if she had just watched some Disney movie. I couldn't believe it.

Then I got pissed. Working in the educational environment, it seems that everything we do, as educators, is wrong. But if, as parents, you choose to piss your responsibility to do a good job raising your children away, then far be it from me to say anything. I was so mad. I texted my sister and she couldn't believe they were there. She texted back, "Can you say therapy?" No kidding. I am still mad even five days removed from the situation.

No Diggity. No Doubt.

For the last few days, I have been doing my best to listen to the actual radio instead of CDs. I am trying to not succumb to being old quite yet...

So anyway, today on my drive home, I was flipping through the radio channels and I hit the button for the top 40 station that I have programmed. I smirk to myself because they are playing Blackstreet's No Diggity. That song came out when I was in early college...that makes the song like 11-12 years old. And I was happy because I knew it. I jammed along and then when Pink's new one followed, I flipped to another station...that's enough trying to be young for today.

I wasn't born to tailgate.

So, Saturday was UND's homecoming. We went up there because it was MEA weekend, and because it was homecoming. Sonny was all gung ho to go and insisted that we go to "the Al" by 11am to do a little tailgating.

I will note here that if you ask me, 11am is plenty early for tailgating. Although, I can remember back when Sonny was just my friend and he would insist on getting there by 9 in the morning. Seriously, dude.

So, we get there and we wander around trying to find the people that we are looking for and we eventually do. But then Sonny needs to go and find some other people that he is supposed to meet up with. I come with him thinking that he knows where these people are. He does not. We wander aimlessly around the tailgating lot and then come back to where we started. I tell him that she call the guy he is looking for and then try to find him.

So he does and we set out again. This time, we find the friends. I guess they were at our wedding, but I don't honestly remember. Anyway, as we are talking to them, I see one of my sorority sisters and my cousin Chris.

We head back to our spot in time to grab a potato (people eat the strangest things at tailgating...I would assume hot dogs and burgers, but there is all kinds of crazy stuff out there...like the baked potato).

And it's during this walk back to the potato that I realize that I don't really need to tailgate. It's not really something I couldn't live without doing. I mean what is it, really? A bunch of people out drinking in the morning claiming it's because they love some sports team? I don't get it. But that's just me.

Day off

So, the past week has been crazy, to say the least. I feel like our family has not spent a night together in forever. Let me explain. Last Wednesday, we had conference prep until 5:30. Afterwards, I went and grabbed a bite to eat and ran a shopping errand because I thought my boys were gone for the evening at a lutefisk feed. They were actually home because Lukin was sick.

Thursday was conferences until 8 pm. Then I came home to a sick husband in addition to a sick kid.

Friday was sort of normal, except for my husband was still sick and so needed to go to bed pretty early.

Saturday, we went out for dinner for Sonny's uncle's retirement party. Then after, Lukin and I went over to the in-laws for cake and coffee, but Sonny did not. He went home and went to bed because he still wasn't well and he had to work in the am.

Sunday was somewhat normal.

Monday had conferences until 8 pm again and Lukin stayed at Grandma and Grandpa's because Sonny still wasn't well. So I came home and slept on the couch because the last thing a sick person needs is someone coming in and flipping through the channels as they try to go to sleep and tossing and turning to find a comfy position.

Tuesday, conferences only went until 6 pm, then I met up with my boys at the in-laws for dinner because some friends of Sonny's aunt, who is visiting, flew in from England. So we all had dinner together. Sonny went home as soon as he was finished and Lukin and I stayed until some time after 8 and then came home and game L-train a bath and put him to bed.

Tonight (Wednesday) was the first night in practically a week where both of us were around to put Lukin to bed. And even though I wasn't technically here at bedtime, due to my election judge class, the boys were waiting for me when I got home. And I have to say, it was nice to put Lukin to bed as a family at least once this week.

P.S. In case any of you were wondering about the entry with the kid with staph. Further testing showed that he was, in fact, negative for staph. Thank goodness.

Weekends

Why is it that the weekends always seem to slip away from us? I only had three things written in my planner for this weekend: dig for some school supplies at my in-laws, have some pants measured so my mother-in-law could hem them, and take my wedding ring in for its 6-month check. I didn't get any of them done. Strangely enough, I was at my in-laws both last night and this evening, so it's not like I didn't have the chance for the first two.

The only problem with the pants thing is that I have six pairs of pants for her to hem. If I give them all to her at once, what will I wear? I hope she can do them in a week's time so I can get them back, and wear them before I am done with this job.

(Okay, okay, it's not like I don't have at least 6 other pairs of pants that I can wear. It's just that they are not my new faves.)

The-icing-on-the-cake of days

So, yesterday was a tip-top day (detect dripping sarcasm). It started out okay enough. But things quickly went sour as I went into my first class to find out that my 3rd hour class was going to have a parent observer. Great. Not only was I not ready for that class, but now I was going to have a parent watching.

2nd hour I am scrambling trying to get something together for the 3rd hour. Suddenly, the fire alarm goes off. Normally, I wouldn't care. But I had less than 30 minutes to crank out some fantastic lesson plan (because I had totally scrapped the lesson I had planned at the beginning of the week due to how difficult it was), along with some one-on-one work for, you guessed it, the student that had the parent observing.

Period 3 arrives and I head to class. It's usually warm in the this classroom, but it feels like it's boiling with me in front of the whole class and mom sitting in waiting. So I am greeting each of the students individually to begin. This is what I do at the beginning of every class, and I don't care if the mom likes it or not.

So I am waiting for one of the students to reply. Some are verbal, some are not. I am waiting at on a student that can at least say 'hi' and 'good' to answer how he is doing. Anyway. So I am waiting for the student to reply and he is touching my hand. And he is looking at it, and turning it over and studying it. The PSA beside him is telling him to keep his hands to himself. I don't mind because he is looking at me and I assume he is processing and will say 'hi' soon. The PSA repeats that he should keep his hands to himself. He doesn't. He is studying my fingernails now. They are shiny. He puts his fingernail under mine and pushes it. You know that feeling. It frickin' hurt and I jumped back and said, "oww", and continued on.

Then I went to get something off the pile of stuff I had brought and look down to realize that I am bleeding. Great. Mom is watching and I am bleeding. Class stalls while I get a bandaid from the teacher so I can continue teaching without having to take care of my wound. Class continues. When it is time for the one-on-one service, Mom doesn't like the activity. She says he is already good at that. Great.

Period 3 eventually ends and I head to period 4. At the end of period 4, I leave a few minutes early and head to the school nurse. She asks if I washed the wound at all, which I haven't because I have been in class. So I wash it. Then she puts peroxide and bacytracin on it. She asks me to fill out an incident report, and then I go about the rest of my day.

After school, we have conferences. Yay. The first one happens to be for the kid that injured me. Mom tells us that the student will not be in school on Friday because "he just tested positive for Staph infection, like MRSA". Are you effin kidding me?!? I don't mention what her son did because she is worried already that he is the worst student in the class. I think the incident was accidental so I don't want to tell her that.

I leave that conference and continue on for the rest of the evening. I didn't have any tough questions that I couldn't answer, and I managed to get to at least 2 of 3, or 3 of 4, at any 20 minute interval.

The time eventually hits 8pm. I am ready to leave. I want to ask my mother-in-law about what happened since she is a retired nurse. But as I go to leave, I can't turn the light off in my class. Seriously?!? There happens to be a custodian outside my room and I ask him to come in for a second and I tell him my trouble, and he casually says, "Oh that means your light is dead." Okay. What does that mean? I don't know, but he tells me that the light will turn off with the master lights at 11pm, and they should turn on again in the morning when they turn the master lights back on. Great. What a fantastic day.

Long week

I am tired and ready for bed but I thought I would make everyone feel better about the length of their work week this week.

26 hours down, 20 to go. Bleh.

Birthday fun

So, for those of you who haven't been paying attention, this past weekend was my birthday. It was fun to go to Fargo to have a little time away and get to see some family and friends. We spent the day swimming, shopping, eating and then swimming again. And it was all fun. Here's some photos from supper at Paradiso.


Seesters!


The best family photo we could muster.



Me and me mum


The BFF photo


The picture of the special educators (aka Vik and me)


Mollie, Ruby and Dave


The Sorority Sisters


Uncle Mike, Cousin Austin, and me


Aunt Dawn, Cousin Allie, and me


Aunt Michelle, Uncle Mark and Sabby

Youth of the Nation

So today this kid rushes out of my room to see one the 7th grade teachers hanging the state flags that the students created and the teacher asks if he will help him move the table around the corner. My student rushes right over to help, and I was proud of him for doing that. For about 3 seconds. As soon as the job was done, he asked what he got for helping. Then he asked if he would get candy. The teacher replied, "I don't have any candy. But I can offer you a thank you for helping me."

I smiled because that's all it should have taken, but the kid did not seem convinced. And I realized that the youth of the nation really are going to pot.

P.S. Two days til my birthday.

Birthdays and Baseball

Last night, we went to Buca de Beppo for Deb's 30th Birthday. Happy Belated Birthday Deb! (even though it wouldn't really be late since I was there and said so on your birthday, but in case you wanted to be wished h. b-day again, there you go). The food was great. It was fun to go out with friends. The service was not the fastest, but all in all it was a lot of fun.

The sad news is that the Twins lost tonight. Althought, my husband (and probably many many others) predicted that they would lose because they didn't have home field advantage. I'm sad about it now. I was hoping for the best for the team. Sonny says it wouldn't have mattered. He, again with many others, believe that the Twins wouldn't have made it far if they had won, and neither will the Sox. I guess that means I will be rooting for the Rays this weekend.

Twins Game

So, a guy from Sonny's work happened to have tickets to the last game of the Twins/White Sox Series. And for whatever reason, a week or so before the game, he offered the tickets to Sonny because he couldn't go. Sonny, of course, gobbled them up and we went to the game. And on Wednesday night, at the end of the second game of the series, we realized how big the Thursday night game was going to be.

We made sure to wear Twins gear. We had been to three games earlier in the year and every time we went, the Twins lost. We almost thought that we shouldn't attend because of this trend. But we were hopeful that they were going to win. Also, if they did win, they would be a half game ahead of the White Sox in the division, and that would be awesome.

Well, the game did not have a very promising start. No score in the first, second, or third. Top of the 4th, the Sox scored 6 runs. It was at this point, I asked Sonny if we should leave. We weren't so hopeful anymore.

Twins scored two at the bottom of the fourth and from then on were consistent in averaging at least one run per inning. By the end of the 8th inning, they were tied, 6-all. At the end of the 9th inning the tie remained and we entered the 10th inning. The Sox made no progress in the 10th and the Twins managed to score therefore winning the game!!

(For those of you that already know all this, I apologize. But not all my friends follow baseball.)

It was awesome to be there!! We had awesome seats in the second row to the right of the foul line. It was so exciting in there!! I could hardly stand it!!

I did manage to hold onto my voice. People at work the next day were surprised I had a voice left. I'm a speech path. I know better than to scream my lungs out, for the most part.

And another crazy thing, besides the come from behind win was the fact that I ran into my ex, Phil, there. He happened to be in town taking a mini-vakay and we just happened to be at the same game in sections right next to each other. Crazy!

More Videos that I forgot

I forgot to add a couple more of the YouTube videos that I like.

This one is a Velvet Underground song: I'm sticking with you. It's a funny little video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrgujzqSrRI

And after I added the other JibJab video, I thought I better add this one because it gets stuck in my head too.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ztj2qfui114

Enjoy!

More YouTube

Lately, these are my favorite youtube videos.

Time for Some Campaigning (a JibJab video as seen on Jay Leno)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adc3MSS5Ydc

SNL Digital Short about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (random, although it was better when it was actually on SNL so the picture moved)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmd8iS2895s

They Might Be Giants: Never go to work (from their Here Come the 123s DVD as seen on the Disney Channel)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3Kgj6EiZtw

The three of these seem to take turns playing through my head. But I think that my personal favorite is the TMBG song...because I like to think about having the option of never going to work. :)

I don't look good in tenure.

I know that there are a couple people that read this and don't like when I use it like a journal to vent. So, if you are one of those people, now would be a good time to go your email or some other site because this is a venting entry.

At the end of the last school year, I was working .6 in one building and .2 in another. The SEC (Special Ed. Coordinator) for the building that I worked .6 in asked me if I would return if they only had the .6 for me for this year. I knew that the family was using the insurance through my work and I also knew that I wouldn't qualify for that insurance if I worked less than .8, so my answer at the time was no.

As a result, I sat all summer waiting for the phone call that never came. (Last year, I got a phone call in mid-August to come back, but instead of 1.0 (or full time), it would be at a .8 (or four days a week). My husband and I kept an eye on the website and we left town for Vegas for our end of summer vakay and when we came back, that school's posting was gone. I called and found out that they had filled the position. I was SOL.

So I browsed the website some more and found my current position. Well, not actually. I found some positions in early childhood and I thought that they might be right up my alley because I have an child that age and I might 'get it' now and be a good choice for those positions. But again, those positions had been filled, and thusly, I ended up with the position I have now.

Now, granted I do have a full time job, and granted I am making pretty much double the paychecks I was making last year at this time. But it doesn't make up for the fact that if I have a job in the district again next year, I start over in my probationary period (well, not really because I have already done two years), but in terms of working towards tenure, I would.

Then I started thinking, "Aside from job security, what do I need tenure for?" It's just causing me headaches and making me sad that I screwed myself over in the tenure department and knowing that I won't be tenured, if I cared to be, for at least another 4 years. I mean, I get paid the same either way.

And then I thought, "What if I didn't care if I never became tenured?" And for the first time in like a month, I felt totally calm. My headache subsided momentarily and I realized that tenure is just a word. It doesn't define me or my abilities. It just locks me into a position. And at this point, I don't honestly know if that's something I would want or not...

Post Script: But just for the record, that doesn't mean that I probably won't continue to worry about this...it was just interesting to have this thought today.

Mourning

So today was one of those icky days at work. It wasn't icky in the sense that the kids were bad or anything like that. It was more along the lines of the fact that I was talking with a teacher and we were discussing tenure. She believed that tenure was achieved after three consecutive years. I am crossing my fingers that is not the case because I am too old to start over next year.

So then on the way home I was listening to a CD and it had the song Mourning by Tantric on it and singing along to it made me feel a bit better. It made me remember the first time I heard it. I first heard the song back in February 2002 as I was sitting at Tabula, on the University of North Dakota campus, prepping for my NESPA (I think that was the name of the test). My friend Harmony and I decided to take a break from studying and she said I needed to listen to this song. She put the headphones on me, started the song and walked off to get something to drink.

As I listened, the words spoke to me, as songs tend to do for college-aged kids. I had recently been through a big break up and instantly liked the song. I don't remember that it made me sad. It just made me realize that things happen for a reason. So I guess listening to it today maybe created the same feeling: that things happen for a reason. Even though right now, I am blind as to what those reasons are when it comes to working in this district.

Clarification

To clarify yesterday's entry: Sonny goes into Lukin's room at night, when Lukin can't sleep and starts to cry. He doesn't go into Lukin's room when he (Sonny) starts to cry. After I read the comment, and read the entry again, I could see the point and I laughed as well. Thanks TR2!

"Aha" Moment

So the other night,I went downstairs to go to bed and noticed that my son's bedroom door was open. I peeked in and realized that my husband was sound asleep on the futon. I know that my husband only goes into Lukin's room when he cries at night and I wondered why I didn't hear him. Nevertheless, I went in and woke my husband and told him to go to bed. He did just that.

As I turned around, I saw my son sitting up in his crib. That was an odd thing to see at 10:30 at night and so I walked over to his crib. He said, "Da?" And I replied that daddy has to go to work so he has to go sleep in his bed. This answer appeared to appease Lukin and so I gave him a hug and he laid back down.

I asked if I could cover him up with his Pooh blanket and he nodded yes, already laying with his eyes closed and his fingers in his mouth. I asked something else and he nodded again with his eyes closed and then I smiled as I left the room. Apparently, all he really needed was for mommy to come and retuck him in.

That's when it occurred to me. I have a student at school that just needs someone to pay attention to him. When I paid the attention to Lukin, he was fine in seconds and laid down to go to sleep. Maybe if someone gave that kid at school 5 minutes of their time at home, then he would be better able to focus and make good choices instead of only bad ones to get attention. Maybe not. But that's my thought for the day.

9/11

I know that I am a week late to comment on 9/11, but I am going to do it anyway. And I want to add the disclaimer that I do not intent for what I want to say to be offensive or insensitive in any way, it's just my thoughts.

So the other night, I was watching a program on the History Channel entitled: "102 Minutes that Changed America". It showed the events of 9/11 from 9 different points of view from 10 different locations around the city on the day of those fateful events.

As I watched the program, there were several times when my eyes began to tear up. I remember that day. For me, and for several other people around my age, it was the first national tragedy that we had been alive for. Maybe that was why I was tearing up: because it was a national tragedy that I remember.

I mean, I remember exactly where I was sitting when Cathy (my student teacher supervisor) took the call from her husband. I remember the way she said, "Oh no!" And I think back to what a poignant moment that was. There I was, thinking that something sad had happened and, at that moment, not really knowing just how profoundly sad it really was. I mean, I thought it was something like an uncle or grandparent had passed away. It never crossed my mind that it would be anything like it turned out to be.

I remember thinking about how I (along with many others around the country) couldn't tear ourselves away from watching it one more time on the television and then not being able to turn away because maybe this time, it wouldn't collapse. I remember the sense of sadness that I felt every time that it did. It was denial.

So when I watched it on tv the other night, I remember experiencing those same emotions again. It was depressing. Like I mentioned, there were several times that I had to wipe the tears from my eyes.

But then I got mad. Why did they show this on tv? Granted, I did't have to watch it, but I did because I remember. I mean, watching it, I was just as sad as when it happened, and for what? My husband says that they show programs like that so that we don't forget.This didn't help my anger. I hadn't fogotten!

My over-analytical self kicked in at this moment because I thought about how sad I was for this tragedy and realized that it was not the sadest I had ever been in my life. I have been through some sad experiences before. The main one that comees to mind is the death of my sister. But (thankfully) no one recorded every moment of that occurrence so that I could pull it out and replay it on an annual basis. Why would I want to do that? Why would anyone want to relive a tragedy like that over and over again? So they don't forget? I don't think that you really can forget when there is a tragedy that affects you as an individual.

When Steph passed away, I remember so many different moments of the following week and all its surreal events. I remember how sad I was when it actually happened. I remember how sad I was when I had to call everyone to tell them what was going on, and how bad I felt that so many people were so happy to hear from me only to find out that it wasn't a social call. I remember how my aunt Mic dropped the phone when I told her. I remember getting up the following morning and having my dad tell me that he didn't know how he was going to make it through the next several days and that he would need my help. I remember not really crying for a couple days after that because I was trying to be strong for the family. I remember the exact moment when I finally did break down and bawl (Wednesday night). I remember the funeral. I remember the burial service at the cementary. I remember how sad the whole thing was. So why would I want to relive that annually? So I don't forget? I don't want to remember it all with crystal clarity.

So, I guess that's why I had mixed emotions about the program on 9/11. I understand that its intent may have been to make sure that we remember, but really, for those who are old enough to remember, did we really forget?

Stacie and Mike's visit

So Stacie and Mike made their way to the cities the week after their wedding. They stayed with us on Saturday and we took them out. The plan was originally dinner, bowling, and then the piano bar.

Even though, Mike had wanted to go to Psycho Susie's, we ended up going to have Juicy Lucy's instead. We ended up skipping bowling because we got a late start and because someone forgot her ID when we went out. So we went back to grab it and then headed downtown to 'The Shout House'. (I should have taken a picture of the sign, but I didn't think of it til now.)


If you have never heard of it, or never been there. It's a dueling pianos style bar. It's a lot of fun. Stacie and I especially liked the bouncer. We didn't know he was going to sing "Shoop" for us. That made us laugh, partly because he was singing "Shoop" and partly because he reminded us of our friend Derek.


Stacie said that the bar wasn't what she expected. But I think that she and Mike had a fun time. Mike especially liked the part where some people paid $85 to have them sing the NDSU school fight song. He had the biggest smile on his face for that part.


I also took advantage of the opportunity to introduce Stacie to the best Cosmopolitans I have ever had. Yum!


We took photos on the way home to show what a good time we had.


And I am sure that a good time was had by all.

My sister (and new brother-in-law)'s wedding

This would be the morning after we arrived in Cavalier. It would also be the boys attempt at helping to decorate the legion. It would also be the only picture I took that day. (Sorry for forgetting to snap a quick photo of the Legion after it was decorated...not to mention pictures of the rehearsal.)


The next morning, we had to go get our hair done. I, in my usual over-analytical state, was trying to figure out why we get our hair done for a wedding. Is it supposed to be a relaxing fun time? Is it just to make it so you don't have to do your own hair? Or is it just an excuse so the guys can go golfing while we get up early to get our hair done? I'm not sure.


A shot of the bride by herself.


The bride with her sister.


More proof that we are sisters. Thankfully, it's just my camera and not the photographer's.


In case you thought Lukin wasn't on this part...oh I guarantee you, he'd be on.


The wedding party.


Proof that the bride had a shot when she was 'kidnapped'.


The first dance as husband and wife. Awwwww.... It brought a little tear to my eye.


Obligatory Family pose...even though Lukin wanted no part of it because he didn't have a nap and Mom and Dad have their eyes closed because it's bright out...This is why we just have Lukin on the Christmas card people.

All in all, it was a very fun weekend. Exhausting, but very fun. I was honored to be the Matron of Honor for my sister (as I am sure that Sonny and Lukin were happy with their roles as groomsman, and Ring Bearer, respectively). Congratulations to Stacie and Mike!!

Hair: check. Nails: check.

Okay so besides this being the week of Stacie's wedding, it is also the first week of school. But being the over-organized freak that I am, I have compartmentalized everything that needs to be done this week, including getting my hair and nails done.

Hair was last night. I went back to having some blonde. I only had that brunette thing going on for a few months but it was weird to have the blonde all of a sudden. (But don't worry Stacie, I look freaking adorable...just like the day we tried on dresses...) :)

Then tonight after work, I stopped to get my nails done. I wanted a manicure, but I was worried that they would try to push the full set on me. Thankfully, they didn't. And I was able to get a nice French manicure (not American, too everyday, not formal enough) without the worry of having to go back every two weeks. Now I just hope that they last through Saturday night. After that, I don't care.

Well, this is the last entry before the wedding because we head out tomorrow after work. I will promise to take pictures and I will actually get some on here this time.

Dear Stacie

So here it is, Stacie, the big week. The week you have been looking forward to, and probably dreading all the work involved with, for the last year. Having been through this "big week" myself, I want to offer up some advice. And, in case you are wondering, it is real advice.

I know that I have been giving you grief about getting all your stuff packed and getting the favors done, and though those are things that you are working on, those aren't the things I want to write about.

I also am not going to write about my speech...which I haven't started yet. But don't worry. I will try not to let it start with, "Stacie, you are lucky because Mike is a really great guy..."

What I want to say is to enjoy this week. All of it. For as much as some of the things you have to do this week may seem like a pain in the ass, they are necessary to help give you the wedding day you have dreamed about all your life. And every detail you have to prepare, as mundane as it may seem, tend to it with excitement, because it is all leading to your wedding.

Don't wish a moment of this week away. Because before you know it, it will be over. And Sonny and I will be the first to tell you that it's such a let down when it is all over (probably more so for you two since you have been planning longer than Sonny and I did). I mean, you plan and plan and plan and before you can blink your eyes, it's over. And I have to confess that the wedding let down is worse than the day after Christmas let down (because at least with Christmas, you know it will happen again in a year).

So enjoy it while it lasts, and have fun.

Oh and one last piece of advice, I'm not saying not to drink at your wedding, but I wouldn't advice getting really drunk either (I have no idea if you even plan to get drunk or not, but I am just saying) because what would the point be of spending oodles of money on a wedding and reception and dance, if you plan to get too drunk to remember it?

So, there's your advice from your older sister.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK!! I LOVE YOU!!

Two Entries, One Weekend... The State Fair Entry

So, Sonny and I went to the state fair this past week. If you have ever been the the MN state fair, you know that the big draw is to eat things on sticks: ostrich, meatballs, tator tot hotdish (which by the way wasn't bad), reubens, etc. And that's basically what this entry is about...what we ate (whether on a stick or not).

(Side note: Some of you may wonder why I would have an entry about the food that we ate at the state fair...but if you are wondering that, then you obviously don't know the state fair. When I have told people that I went there, they want to know what I ate, so here it is.)

Alright, so this is broken down into foods we shared, foods I ate, and foods Sonny ate. Keep in mind that we got there around 1:30 pm, and were there until around 9 pm or so, and did a lot of walking. But it's still a lot of foods to try.

Our shared list: (1) a sausage sampler consisting of wild rice and jalapeno, italian tuscan, and potato sausage pieces along with peppers and onions on top (this stand is the home of the viper jerky (where they make you sign a waver before you can buy it)), (2) crab cakes, (3) walleye cakes, (4) garlic fries, (5) chicken bruschetta pizza, and (6) Sweet Martha's Chocolate Chip Cookies.

My individual list: (1) corn on the cob (a MN state fair staple, in my opinion), (2) a marshmallow dipped in chocolate (on a stick), (3) a smores, (4) lefse, and (5) deep fried mushrooms.

Sonny's individual list: (1) teriyaki ostrich on a stick, (2) turkey jerky, (3) a strawberry smoothie, (4) frozen grapes on a stick, (5) a free beer sample, and (6) mini doughnuts.

Sorry to have to confess that even though we sent pictures of the Big Fat Bacon stand and the stand that had Kool-Aid, we failed to have either of these goodies. We also skipped the Pronto Pup this year and the cheese curds. I have no regrets about that but Sonny said that next year, we have to include the cheese curds again. I guess it's not the state fair, for him, without them.

Besides eating, we went on two rides, walked a ton and even played some games and won an stuffed animal for Lukin.

Stacie's Bachelorette Party

Okay, Stacie. So you want a new entry? I suppose you only want a new entry because you want me to write about your bachelorette party...be careful what you wish for. :)

First off, I have to say that I didn't know that planning for a Bachelorette party was so much work. I figured that the Bridal Shower was the one that had all the planning and that a Bachelorette party was just a gathering of girls to have a few cocktails and share a few laughs and go home. I didn't know we had to make trays of sandwiches and a huge bowl of salad and more stuff like that.

I didn't know that there would be an opportunity to play games, but thankfully I planned some at the last minute anyway. I didn't know that the girls' party was so much more detail oriented than the guys' (but I probably could have guessed that).

That all being said, it went pretty well. There was more than enough food (as tends to be the case at our house). There was some laughs, some embarrassing gifts, some games, some prizes, some drinks, and a two-year old stripper (as in he has learned to take his clothes off and felt that the bachelorette party was an appropriate time to do so) and then we all left to go to the bar.

At the bar, I had to play the Joe Cocker song (You are So Beautiful) for Stacie. She MADE me. I also played Milkshake by Kelis for Jill (because of Stacie's 21st birthday party). I had to step in and take action for the behavior that our entire table saw happening (as in I know whose fiance Mike is, and I know whose fiance he is not.) I had to make sure that my sister got home at the end of the night, in her high heels, and that she was okay with her passed out fiance. We were at his house for a good hour in which the best man showed up. Why he showed after 1 am, I am not sure, but it proved a couple good laughs during the tense times of Mike throwing his phone because he couldn't remember his code.

Mom bought a round for all the girls that were around for the bachelorette party...except Stacie and me...what the...? Granny stayed out til close with us and many people knew who she was. I bought a round of shots for four people (only two of them actually wanted the shot). Coincidentally, this was the shot that put Mike over the edge and he was out the door throwing up. (I failed to mention that it was his bachelor party that night too.)

All in all it was a fun night, complete with the little meatballs in bbq sauce at the end of the night. yum! And Stacie, I think I speak for most everyone when I say a good time was had by all, and my favorite line of the night remains when you were walking by the bathroom door into the kitchen when we were at your place at the end of the night and you looked in and said, "Honey, please throw up in the toilet." It was like you were already married. That was classic.

Las Vegas and Bridal Showers

I have been quite busy since my last entry. (Has anyone gotten their postcard yet?) We were fortunate enough to get on the 5:30-ish flight last Tuesday to Vegas. The bad news was that Sonny got to sit in First and I had to sit in Coach. Even worse was that we were only a row apart. When we landed, I leaned forward to ask if he had his bag handy so he could put my book in, and the guy next to me couldn't believe that I was sitting in Coach while he was in First. I just replied, "It was his turn." Because it was.

We had a good time in Vegas. Sonny managed to lose all his money arriving at the AP on the last day with $3 left. I appear to have done better than him arriving at the AP with around $420 left. After getting a seat on the 7:30 plane without Sonny, I gave him $200, of which he gave back $100 and I got on the plane. It was sad to go without him but after they called the last three guys to the plane, two of them showed up and then there were these two girls around Stacie's age in front of us and the lady asked if they were willing to split up if she only had one seat. They thought about it and said 'no.' Sonny had already decided that we were willing to split up because I needed to get back if I had any hope of making my flight home to be at Stacie's bridal shower. I was okay with the idea until it was time to act on it. I cried when some lady offered me $40 for my seat because her friend was getting married on Saturday, but got on the plane at Sonny's insistence. I cried on the plane too for a moment before settling in to MY First Class seat. Too bad for that guy that missed his seat.

The time in Vegas was fun. I learned that I would much rather play blackjack on a machine (where I turned $20 into $140) than at a table with a continuous shoe (where I lost $240). I saw a man wearing capris. I heard so many languages, you would have thought I was at the Olympics. And I sat next to some guy at a dinner show that I don't think spoke English. At least that is what I am telling myself about why he was so creepy during the show. I decided that I like Grandma's favorite game: Super Jackpot Party. That was fun. I miss having Krispie Kremes around. I recommend 'The Deuce' for a break from gambling. Oh and I got a new purse that is big enough to carry everything I need (including my shoes, book, candy and my cosmetics) for $5. Sweet.

Stacie's shower was fun. Rushed, but fun. I couldn't get over the fact that we were being pushed to hurry up, as if there was some big thing going on after that everyone had to rush off to, and if that was true, then why come in the first place? The shower was scheduled to last from 2-4 pm but was done shortly after 3 pm. Good thing you rushed through all your gifts, right Stacie? I am glad that my shower was in a private home where I got to unwrap MY OWN gifts and look at them before passing them on. Sheesh. My poor sister being rushed through her bridal shower.

So much to do...so little time.

Do you ever feel like you have ten thousand things to accomplish and hardly enough time to even take a bathroom break? Then do you ever experience the flip side and have very little to do, if anything? Well, I have had a bit of option 2 this summer but it feels like for the past week, we have had this abundance of things to do everyday. That is good. Except that it makes me tired, so tired that as I sit here I have to force myself to keep my eyes open.

You see, the last two days I have been cramming to get the house all cleaned up and the laundry all done and a bunch of other odds and ends taken care of because tomorrow Sonny and I are off on our annual trip to...well, if you know, you are lucky, if not, you will have to guess. And no, the answer is not GF, even though we do get there often.

Vertical Horizon

I forgot to mention that listening to Vertical Horizon also takes me back. It reminds me of moving into my very own apartment, right next door to Amanda and driving to Crookston every morning. Eating my Smores Poptarts, drinking my chocolate milk and singing along with the whole CD. I just remembered this because I was listening to that CD while getting ready and thought about what that reminds me of. I just had to add that.

Memories

Well, there are days when I have nothing to say but make an entry anyway. However, that is not the case today... I would love to go on and on about our week up at Lake Mille Lacs (but I want to include pictures from the trip) or about my job outlook (which I don't want to discuss), but instead of either of those things, I want to talk about memories.

I don't really know why but I was thinking about how certain smells can trigger a memory while I was at the cabin last week. I don't think there were any particular smells that made me think about it, but I just was. You know, smells that maybe remind you of family gathering, or take you back to simpler times. For example, the smell of Strawberry Lemonade perfume from Bath and Body Works or Dr. Pepper chapstick from Lipsmackers remind me of the summer before my first year of college through my first year of college. And you can't really ever pinpoint these things until you smell them and then instantly take you back to whatever memory.

Then the more I thought about it, the more I realized that songs do the same thing. We don't have a stereo in our bathroom. But every once in a great while, when my boys are gone, I will haul out the CD player and hook it up in the bathroom so I can listen to music while I get ready. A while back I randomly grabbed a CD and happened to grab Blues Traveler. I listened to the ones that were from the radio: Run Around and Hook, but then was instantly pulled back in time as I listened to Just Wait. That song also reminds me of my first year of college. Or the song Mourning by Tantric. That reminds me of cramming for the GRE at Tabula with Harmony the week before the test. We were taking a break to get a coffee and she insisted that I listen to that song because I would be able to relate it to things going on in my personal life. To this day, I still relate it to the same time of my life whenever I hear that song...thanks a lot Harmony. ;)

Then tonight, I realized further that sometimes movies do the same thing. I saw part of Serendipity tonight on tv. I own this movie so it's not like I need to see the whole thing to know what is going on but seeing the movie brought back memories of living in West Ridge in Grand Forks while I taught in Hillsboro. There was just something about that movie that led me to watch it almost every night and to fall asleep to it almost every night. That leads me to the fact that I went for almost two months without sleeping in my bedroom at that apartment just because I had created this little haven in my livingroom and that's where I wanted to sleep, and was perfectly content with that.

So who knew that so many things could bring back memories? What things bring back memories for you? Songs? Smells? Movies? Fill me in.

Thursday

So I am home all day but I don't often notice things that have been sitting around in an obvious location (unless it's like crumbs on Lukin or something). Anyway, I was trying to think of something and happened to glance up and realized that the 2008-2009 Fighting Sioux Hockey Schedule is already posted for this year. It was like 90 degrees yesterday, and my husband has posted the hockey schedule. Weird.

I don't really know what I wanted to write about. Perhaps the fact that I got a haircut yesterday and then spent way too much money on a flat iron that I didn't use today because I am afraid to open it because of how much it cost. I think I am afraid because I want to go to the mall to the one hair store and see if they have one that is less expensive (but just as impressive). Of course, as my stylist told me, owning this one means I can throw all my other irons away. This one straightens, flip out, flips under, does spiral curls, three-barrels, everything short of making you breakfast...okay, there was one that a smidge cooler: has a universal adaptor, and turns itself off in 30 minutes if you haven't touched it. But that was another $50, and I wasn't about to go that overboard.

In other news, I got mad at Lukin today. He dropped our bathroom scale on my little toe. I yelled at him, and not that yell when you tell them not to do something, but that one yell that is more guttoral and sounds like someone else's angry voice coming from your diaphragm. He cried so hard when I put him in time out. Yes. He got time out because there wasn't any reason he needed to be lifting the scale. He was crying so hard that a half hour later when time out was over and he was sitting and snuggling with me and had fallen asleep for a nap, he was still doing that gaspy breath thing you do after you cry really hard. Poor little buddy.

Then I got mad again at dinner because he wouldn't eat. That drives me insane. But I think he has learned that he doesn't necessarily need to eat what's for dinner and he knows that he can eat something before bed. So tonight I had had it and decided that he didn't get a piece of cheese, or fruit or a cup of cereal or anything. If he wanted to eat something, he could eat the leftover mac and cheese from yesterdays lunch or the leftover carrots. If he didn't want those, he didn't eat. He must have understood that because he didn't even go to the fridge for milk after supper.

Lastly, Stacie wanted me to include some memory from my memory bank that included her. If I could wait to add it, I could make it something about her wedding...Oh I got it. Remember Stacie's "Wonderful" toast at my wedding. Hindsight being what it is, Amanda said that I should have let her do the toast, but we just did the best man and maid of honor because I hate when you go to weddings and have to listen to everyone of the bridal party (when there is more than one or two) tell some stories about their relationship with the bride or groom. Gag me. If I wanted to know memories that your third bridesmaid, who is your second cousin on your dad's side, has to say about how they feel about you getting married, I will seek them out later. I know I am a bitch but it's not like that was some big secret.

Anyway, that sort of turned into a rant, so yeah Stacie...there's your memory..."Jenny, you are lucky because Sonny is a really great guy. And Sonny, you are lucky because, well, you are. Thank you." I think we could hear the crickets. I don't think I have ever heard that place that quiet. Makes you almost wish you had written something down...makes you nervous for your wedding, doesn't it?

A week in Cavalier, ND

So we have been out of town since the 1st of July, and I am currently supposed to be packing so we can leave town again tonight, but I had to take a few minutes to give a brief rundown of our time at Grandma and Grandpa S's (my S not his S) house.

So we flew up Tuesday evening and that was pretty much it for Tuesday.

Wednesday, Stacie took half the day off so we went out to lunch with her and Mike and then we went to order tuxes for the three boys for the wedding. I have to admit that the He-Mart looks exactly the same as it did 20 years ago when I was a kid and would go in there for whatever reason my mom would make us go in there. That night we started the wedding invitation process, and that was a good thing to do.

Thursday, we went out for lunch with my mom and then ran some errands with her around town before calling Mike to see if he wanted to go golfing. So Sonny and I went with Mike for a quick 9 holes before Stacie came home from work. That night we went out and bought a few fireworks in preparation for Friday (we called them practice fireworks).

Friday was the Fourth of July (Happy Birthday America!) and we got ready and then went as a collective whole to buy fireworks before heading out to the lake for the afternoon. Needless to say, Lukin got soaked because he went to clean off his shovel and knelt down in the lake and that was the end of that. After that, we headed back to the house for a game of Bean Bags but the peanut gallery (aka: Dad and Sonny) annoyed me and I stopped after one round. Then we had our annual bar-b-que before getting to the fireworks for the evening. Sonny is a little ADD when it comes to lighting off fireworks but it's fun to watch him be like a little kid...but having him be like a little kid means you have to discipline him like a little kid ("One at a time!", "Don't hold the firework in the same hand as the punk!" Stuff like that.)

Saturday, Sonny went golfing with my dad and all the uncles. I stayed at home and my friend Karie, from high school, came over with her new baby, her "Baby Daddy" and Katelynn. We told her that she looked good with the two kids and that taking care of a third (Lukin) for a night would be a good thing. She joked that she would leave her two with my parents and then she could go out for an evening. That night we had steaks on the grill for supper before just hanging out at home for the evening.

Sunday, we went to church, then went golfing again with the uncles, but this time I got to come too. Then we came home and got freshened up before heading to the Kittson County Fair. I had never been to that fair before but Dad wanted fair food for supper and so we went. We came home after the fair and worked on invitations again for the wedding.

Monday, we woke up and I decided that we weren't going to leave until Tuesday because we were all just exhausted. So we hung out at home that day. We finally got a chance to play some cards with Mom. Mom made enough spaghetti to feed all of Cavalier, and we started on the favors for the wedding.

Tuesday, we got up early and got ourselves all ready and packed and were out the door by 10:15-ish. We headed to Grand Forks and had lunch with Amanda since I hadn't got to see her the whole time I was home, before heading to Michael's to find more wedding stuff, and then heading to the AP to come home.

Our time at home has gone quickly. I had my annual physical yesterday. Fun times. And now like I said, I should be packing for our trip tonight.

I will probably write all about that trip too when I get home.

Things I miss

Did you ever notice that as time passes, some things fade out of your life? Some of those things are things you don't want to keep around (strep throat, alcoholic boyfriends, stuff like that), but some of it, when you think about it later, makes you smile.

1. "Neil's Dad!!": Fighting Sioux Hockey Season 07-08. Riding the fan bus from Overtime. Once we realized that the bus driver was the owner's dad, Amanda and I wasted no time coming up with a slogan that was his alone. I am sad that Neil sold the bar, mostly because I will miss Neil's Dad driving the bus.

2."You girls very beautiful.": When I lived in Oakdale, my friend Naomi and I would go get french manicures done every few weeks and we always got this one guy (that we nicknamed Naomi's boyfriend) and he always had to tell us how beautiful we were. It was creepy but it always made us laugh.

3. "You moving out with me?": When I was in high school, when we got home from school, we used to clean up the house before mom got home from work. Usually, we would listen to music while we did this. Often times, I would play some tape so that I knew the songs and one of the tapes was Billy Joel. I would listen to Anthony's Song, and when it would get to the "I'm moving out!" part, I would always ask Steph if she was moving out with me, and she would always say yes.

I am sure that there are tons more, but it's late and tomorrow is going to be a long day (going home for the 4th), so I better wrap this up. Feel free to mention some of your own.

A novel experience

So yesterday, I had a novel experience. I went to a graduation open house. Now I have been to several of these. Some, I have attended as a friend, some as a cousin, even as a sister. But yesterday's experience was novel because I have never attended one of those as a 'teacher'. And I have to say, it was fun.

Even though the invitation was given to me, I brought my family with me. And I had to laugh because when she (the student) saw the small person with me, she immediately knew it was Lukin...my husband, not so much. She came up right away and asked if that was Lukin and then said, "I have heard so much about you!" And then I introduced my husband and she was like, "Nice to meet you." I thought it was funny. Obviously, we had spent more time talking about little kids during our sessions because her mom runs a daycare.

I enjoyed the experience seeing as I have never had a student who was a senior before. And I have to say that if I work in that school again next year, it will be sad to not have her around. She could always make me laugh. And I wish her the best of luck in the future.

No stay-at-home wife here

I can think of lots of things to write about but one in particular jumps out in my mind tonight. I dated this guy back in 2003 who once told me that I would not be able to handle being a stay-at-home wife. I think I was angry at the implication but then the more I thought about it, the more I agreed with him. He was right (about that...he seemed to think he was right about everything). Anyway, as we are getting to the end of the second week of summer vacation, I think that being a stay-at-home wife just in the summer is a bit much for me. There's no set structure, except that which we create, and I am worried that I am not offering enough exciting educational experiences for my son. But, he's two, and I am pretty sure that he is excited to go outside and play ball, blow bubbles, and slide down the slide at the playground every day. But I can see myself getting bored with that everyday.

But when I think back to when my boyfriend had made that comment, I think he was referring to the fact that I couldn't handle: a) the unorganization that is the joy of having children around, and b) having to get permission to spend money. He was wrong about a. Lukin is the best thing ever. Yeah, he's a kid that sometimes makes messes, but that's part of their carefree, impulsive nature.

But he was right about b. That would pretty much just piss me off to no end. Seeing as I started my professional life being single, it's hard for me to think that people do that. "Can I go buy something?" Eff that. Sometimes, I tease my husband that I have to get "The Sarge's" permission to buy stuff, to which he replies, "Like you would listen anyway." He's right, I would be like, "Don't tell me what to do." And I would go buy whatever it was anyway.

Still, the whole 'being at home' thing has really got me thinking about what it is I want to do in the fall. I will confess that there is a certain appeal in the idea of working full-time, year-around, that I have never experienced. Not that I wouldn't experience it and hate it immediately, but you never know.

I will wrap this up by saying that as I was finishing up grad school there was this guy I knew that told me that once I finished my graduate work, I wouldn't know what to do with myself. I laughed as I said that I would sleep. But that guy had incredible insight because he could see that I wouldn't deal well with little or nothing to do. I still don't. Hmmph. I bet that guy has his Ph. D. and is making a lot of money with that insight now.

No Day but Today

So, on Wednesday night, I took my husband to see RENT. If you have seen the play, then you understand the appeal. If you have only seen the movie, you need to see the play to understand the entire appeal. To quote the usher at the play, "the movie sucks." I agree with him. I was trying to explain that to my husband, even though he has never seen the play or the movie. In the play, the entire first act takes place in one night. In the movie, it takes place over several nights. That ruins it for me right there. It's kind of like how a book is always better than the movie. It's like that.

Anyway, for those of you who have seen it, it was awesome! It was my third time seeing the play and my first time seeing it since I became a soundtrack owner when I lived in ND. We sat in a box. That was awesome. The lady in the couple sitting next to us was seeing it for the fourth time and she and I promised to try not to sing along. Although, we both confessed during intermission that we were mouthing along. That was funny.

Anyway, that was our culture for the week. Now back to the daily grind. Have a swell weekend everyone.