Right, so this is more like 2 weeks in between posts, but in my defense, CQ was over here with Kitten and Falling Leaves and they were all...CQing and Kittening and Falling around, so we couldn't concentrate...so...yeah...!
Anyway, it's been a crazy two weeks, the worst of which came two days ago. I'm just gonna preface this by saying "No sprites, Highlanders or teenagers were harmed in the making of this incident!"
Kevin and I were in a car accident Thursday night. We hit two teenagers that we know through their families at school (I actually do an afterschool reading team with the mom of the passenger and had the little sister of the driver in my GT class). We were coming down the main road going home and the driver turned in front of us to make a left on our green light. When he saw us, he put his brakes on, so they slowed down instead of speeding out of the way (his insurance company later told us he was reacting to his girlfriend's scream when she saw us coming at them). We slammed our brakes and tried to avoid them, but there was no way to go but into their car.
Even now, it's like a bad dream where things NEARLY happen, but nothing quite comes of it. There were emergency vehicles everywhere and lots of broken car parts, but no hurt people...even the kids were fine. Our airbags didn't deploy, but the seatbelts were enough. I had this horrible moment where I thought the Highlander was injured, and another when I thought we'd hurt the two kids, but none of that came to pass. Our car was totaled, so a sheriff had to drive us home, but the rental people got us another car yesterday. And even though we had initial worries about this being a huge problem (two teachers hit local teens, or local kids fight insurance claim), the family accepted full responsibility and all our needs will be paid for. Heck, while visiting the doctor yesterday, we found out our favorite nurse hates her green 1995 Subaru Legacy (the EXACT car we totaled!) and would LOVE to trade it for our gas guzzling GMC Sierra that we've had off the road for months!
I guess the only piece of this that makes this real is that yesterday, we were both home and safe on a school day without some sort of debilitating illness being involved (you guys KNOW what I'm talking about!). We slept in and rested pretty well, so all we have is stiffness and my tongue being sore from biting it. I actually had a UTI that I should have stayed home from work on Friday for (and wasn't going to), and the Highlander (who's a sub and part time at a lab) has had no paid days off since...um, last year at this time when he was still considered full time at the lab! If not for the car being totaled, both of us would have been stretched thin at work and come home exhausted. Had it even been just a fender bender, we'dve had to handle all the insurance stuff while TRYING to work.
This whole episode has become a weird blessing in disguise, I guess. Admittedly, we're good and sore NOW, but still...it's the kind of day where you should hug the ones you love, call the ones you miss and thank God that you've got your health.
Anyway, I know this sounds weird, but I needed to TALK about this! The Highlander and I have rehashed the whole thing so many times now, it's not even FUNNY, but I still wanted to just...TELL someone. I'm not quite sure why, but I've noticed people tend to WANT to talk about really scary life stuff (like, I really WANTED to talk about my grandma when she passed, or when I rolled my car a few winters ago). I feel like some sort of morbid braggart, but it really helps to share it. Does anyone else get that feeling?
In less "holy !@#$" kind of news, I think I'm going to audition for Comedy Sportz in Buffalo. I haven't gotten to do much improv outside of my normal classroom goofiness lately (plus I've forgotten what a pain it was to drive into town and do late night shows...oh, wait...). Okay, STILL, I'm gonna try out. If I don't get in, no worries. If I do...I'll have to think about that part of it when it happens! Easier to say no after I've actually MADE the cut than to never try at all, right?
Oh, and I've been WALKING! I've actually been getting outside and walking the streets trying to earn extra money for...no, wait, that's KEVIN! I'VE been walking for my HEALTH! :-) I realized how crazy it was to get upset at my mom for being in shape and not condoning the lumpy middleagedness that is myself and decided to do something about it all. Kevin's neck has been bad, so he hasn't been walking EVERY day with me, but he INSISTS on following me in the car like some kind of stalker! :-) I've convinced him to at least go up a street instead of trailing behind me so that the neighbors don't run outside and try to confront him while dragging me to their porch for safety!
Anyway, we've gotta get to the hospital to get Kevin's neck X-rayed (just to be safe). I'll throw some more down later...!
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Our 2007 Holiday Letter (in worse format than the original!)
Happy Holidays 2007 From The Burkes!
About 10 years ago, Kevin and I met each other playing a game online. There were, at the time, over 1500 people playing that game at any given time during the day and I was already closer buddies with one of his friends. Neither of us was looking to do more than play a game and have fun with our free time, yet somehow we ended up together for life.
You’d think THAT would be a constant reminder that things always happen for a reason…!
Life is really funny sometimes. Last year was a year of loss and change, but somehow, as I write this fifth holiday update, I’m surprised at how we gain when we accept that we lost. Too many events have happened this year to remind us of this. For starters, our picture this year wasn’t taken on our anniversary (which we mutually decided to skip to work summer school). This picture was taken at the wedding of a close friend of ours, someone we might not have been reacquainted with if not for the passing of our friend Tom Hollis.
Last summer, we lost my grandmother Lucy Rollins, but almost exactly a year later, my brother Eric breathes new life into our family by marrying Antra.
We braced ourselves for more lean years when Kevin decided to go back to teaching (even went so far as to decide to let go of the house if needed), but found that a HUGE part of the pain in his head and neck came from the stress of working at the lab. Now that he’s been subbing all over the county, we’re finding we don’t go through as much medication to keep his pain at bay. Coupled with the gas saved in going to work together, we’re actually SAVING money.
We were late to a student’s basketball game and felt we’d really missed something important, but arrived at a crossroads just in time to witness a terrible car accident. Had we been on time to the game, we wouldn’t have been there to hold the victim’s head and comfort him until help arrived. The experience became even more real for us as later that same day, another accident happened at the same intersection and a life WAS lost.
Even the song that we chose to mark our anniversary, “Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel, turned out to be prophetic in more ways than one. I was listening to it while driving Kevin home from his myelogram. He was so worn out and tired looking from his 6 hour ordeal that seeing the sun shine on his face and hearing the words “Grab your things, I’ve come to take you home” really hit me hard. As it stands, it’s also a song about letting go, taking a risk to reach for your goals, despite your fears.
The name of the game this year, then, is faith and perseverance. Obviously, we haven’t STOPPED trying to do what needs to be done to survive or to help others, but we can see there’s no point in worrying any further about whether things will all work out. More importantly we know better now than to worry if they will work out the way we WANT them to.
So, while life here is never perfect, we’ve learned to accept a few basic truths:
Wherever you are is where you need to be at that time (even if you’re late to work or a basketball game).
Do what you can to make things happen (God bless the child that’s got his own), but remember to thank God for those unanswered prayers, too.
Stop waiting for the other shoe to fall…if life will take a wrong turn, it doesn’t need your pessimism to guide it in!
Love and support each other in your dreams…and always be ready to grab your loved one’s things and take them back home.
Have a wonderful 2008!!!
From Kevin & Daina
Monday, December 31, 2007
So, thanks to CQ...
...I've been goaded into blogging just normal stuff...again!
The last time I said I'd do this, Enchantress got me to start messing with Live Journal. The problem is, I ALWAYS have tons of time on the holidays to post, but not during the rest of the school year. So, my New Year's resolution (along with starting Weight Watchers again and reducing my roleplaying time) is to post once a WEEK instead of daily. If I can do that, I'm happy. Of course, for the next few days, I'm going to move my Live Journal stuff over here, so it'll look like this wasn't the first day I posted. Rest assured, THIS is my first blogger post for this board!
Soooo.....
Today's going to be our traditional New Year's Eve fare for Kevin and I. We're going to go into Brockport and get the fixin's for sushi, along with some sparkling grape juice, then come home, make it, watch the ball drop and kiss. We started this tradition a few years ago when we decided to no longer go anywhere for the holiday. The Brockport part came in because I LOVE Wegmans' but driving into Williamsville is the antithesis of holiday fun and joy. Brockport is just as far from Medina and we get a beautiful back country drive through Orleans and some of Monroe County that way. With the snow on the ground again, it'll be a perfect little winter wonderland.
Am I the ONLY person in WNY who misses/loves snow? I realize it's become a pain for most of you (window scraping, driving and shoveling and all), but it still holds its magic for me (probably because I still get school snow days!). Nothing makes me happier than seeing the ground coated in flakes with the sky all steely gray and swirling with those huge lake effect flakes. In fact, as far as me and sprites go, I think Kevin is right. I'm a snow sprite in the winter, but I DO change with the seasons. I become a leaf sprite in fall (for obvious reason), an air sprite in spring ('cause I love that breath of fresh air the spring brings and all the smells of the world coming back to life) and a pine tree sprite in summer (because evergreen trees are where I seem to default).
Too much weird for you?
Okay, back to normal tomboy stuff. I actually DO care about whether the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Kevin loves them and since the Rams are out and baseball isn't back yet, I'll go for the winning team today! Also, I just heard they're televising the Ice Bowl tomorrow and I'm SO watching this! How cool is it that the Sabres and Penguins are gonna play outside??? It'll be like a real pond! :-)
Oh, and I finally finished my holiday letter for 2007. It'll be on it's way to everyone in the new year (once I print up enough copies), but I'm posting it here for you guys to read (check my next post).
Well, I think we're getting ready to head out to Wigglemeyer's...if I don't hear from anyone, have a great New Year's Eve and an even better new year!
The Sprite
The last time I said I'd do this, Enchantress got me to start messing with Live Journal. The problem is, I ALWAYS have tons of time on the holidays to post, but not during the rest of the school year. So, my New Year's resolution (along with starting Weight Watchers again and reducing my roleplaying time) is to post once a WEEK instead of daily. If I can do that, I'm happy. Of course, for the next few days, I'm going to move my Live Journal stuff over here, so it'll look like this wasn't the first day I posted. Rest assured, THIS is my first blogger post for this board!
Soooo.....
Today's going to be our traditional New Year's Eve fare for Kevin and I. We're going to go into Brockport and get the fixin's for sushi, along with some sparkling grape juice, then come home, make it, watch the ball drop and kiss. We started this tradition a few years ago when we decided to no longer go anywhere for the holiday. The Brockport part came in because I LOVE Wegmans' but driving into Williamsville is the antithesis of holiday fun and joy. Brockport is just as far from Medina and we get a beautiful back country drive through Orleans and some of Monroe County that way. With the snow on the ground again, it'll be a perfect little winter wonderland.
Am I the ONLY person in WNY who misses/loves snow? I realize it's become a pain for most of you (window scraping, driving and shoveling and all), but it still holds its magic for me (probably because I still get school snow days!). Nothing makes me happier than seeing the ground coated in flakes with the sky all steely gray and swirling with those huge lake effect flakes. In fact, as far as me and sprites go, I think Kevin is right. I'm a snow sprite in the winter, but I DO change with the seasons. I become a leaf sprite in fall (for obvious reason), an air sprite in spring ('cause I love that breath of fresh air the spring brings and all the smells of the world coming back to life) and a pine tree sprite in summer (because evergreen trees are where I seem to default).
Too much weird for you?
Okay, back to normal tomboy stuff. I actually DO care about whether the Patriots win the Super Bowl. Kevin loves them and since the Rams are out and baseball isn't back yet, I'll go for the winning team today! Also, I just heard they're televising the Ice Bowl tomorrow and I'm SO watching this! How cool is it that the Sabres and Penguins are gonna play outside??? It'll be like a real pond! :-)
Oh, and I finally finished my holiday letter for 2007. It'll be on it's way to everyone in the new year (once I print up enough copies), but I'm posting it here for you guys to read (check my next post).
Well, I think we're getting ready to head out to Wigglemeyer's...if I don't hear from anyone, have a great New Year's Eve and an even better new year!
The Sprite
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Solsbury Hill
Last night (July 17th) was the Highlander's and my 8th anniversary. Even though we ain't got money (there's a song in there somewhere), we've sort of developed a tradition over the past 5 years that I really enjoy that doesn't cost us a thing.
Back on our 3rd anniversary, I put together a list of songs that really represented our entire relationship history up to that point (the high tech version of the tape of songs couples used to make for each other back in high school!). I put them into a playlist on my Musicmatch program, then, in the Notes section, I wrote a little blurb about each one. For example, the first song is "Boy From New York City" (since the Highlander lived in New York and I was in Dallas when we met). I wrote:
When I first did this, there were 10 songs for the first part of our relationship, where we met online and really fell for each other. I used songs like "Take A Chance on Me" by ABBA and "I Just Want to Hang Around You" by George Benson. Then there's another 10 for when we met in person and things initially went sour because SOME dumb sprite was too afraid of commitment. I had some pretty sad songs there like "I Don't Know How To Love Him" by Helen Reddy (from Jesus Christ Superstar) and Please Mister Please" from Olivia Newton-John (on that one, I began with "Once you've reached the country music phase, you're missing someone too much!") and the last 10 for our amazing reunion and the two more separations afterward, all the way to our finally being together permanently. That part ends with "At Last" by Etta James and "Our House" by CSNY.
Anyway, it's become habit to listen to this set of songs on each anniversary. We read the blurbs all over again and sit and talk about where we were, how we were, and even WHO we at that time (plus we usually dance to our favorite ones). It had sort of become a musical timeline of our lives between 1997 and 2002, so for our 5th anniversary, I decided to go back and add a song for each year we'd been married. I already had songs up to the 3rd anniversary, so for the 4th, I added "You Just Can't Smile It Away" by Bill Withers (the song we danced to our first night in our new and VERY empty house) and the 5th was "As" by Stevie Wonder (where I began the blurb with "Our 5th anniversary...and now we're old enough to find meaning in obscure Stevie Wonder songs!") The blurbs have become longer each year so that I'm now writing short letters to go with each song and just adding it to the list. The list itself I've finally put into a Word Document so we can read it while we listen to the songs.
Which brings me to out 8th year...
This year's song was" Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel. It was the song playing when I drove him home from the hospital a few weeks ago (he had a myelogram done to see what was wrong with his neck), and we were REALLY scared about it. Everyone told him how bad the pain could be and he put it off for months. So, as I looked over at him looking all worn out and tired, with the sun shining in on him, I was so overwhelmed that I suddenly had to just thank God for letting my hubby come home safe and sound. The song just wouldn't leave my head, thought, so after researching it a bit, I found out it's a song about changing your life and being ready to lose what you have for what you might get and just letting go in general.
That's been a HUGE thing for us this year...we had to choose to give up our home, most certainly gave up our pride, our personal and physical comfort and many other things, only to find out that fate had other things in mind. We gave up the house, only to find a last minute option that let us keep it and got us back on track financially again. The Highlander gave up working at the lab to sink everything into trying to become a teacher and we discovered that, even though he made less, we actually saved some money in not having him drive clear to Buffalo, plus he was SO much happier that we spent LESS time at the doctor's in pain. Because of the pain, we both gave in and decided to do this myelogram in the first place, knowing it meant he'd be in horrible pain for a solid week, but found out it wasn't as bad as we thought. We gave up any hope of having a child, only to discover how important the kids we teach have now become to us, as well as each other. And about 10 years ago for the Highlander and 6 for me, we both chose to leave our homes and families to live with the one we committed out lives to (he moved down to Texas where I was and we both moved back up to Western New York where he was from).
Sometimes you just have to give up your comfort zone to move on to the next big thing in your life.
And through all that, we've had each other. He's been my silent, stalwart companion in the storm, keeping me calm and centered when I thought I might crash on the rocks, while I've gone and STARTED storms for him, being his lightning and thunder when he needed someone to speak up on his behalf or to get him motivated. Each of us has been there to protect and care for the other.
So, what have we learned in 8 years? Life isn't always what we planned, but when you feel like you're "in a rut" or "part of the machinery" and you have to let fate take over, I hope each of YOU has a person like I do that can come to you, give you a hug and say:
"Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
Back on our 3rd anniversary, I put together a list of songs that really represented our entire relationship history up to that point (the high tech version of the tape of songs couples used to make for each other back in high school!). I put them into a playlist on my Musicmatch program, then, in the Notes section, I wrote a little blurb about each one. For example, the first song is "Boy From New York City" (since the Highlander lived in New York and I was in Dallas when we met). I wrote:
Kevin Burke, bachelor farmer, super uncle and generally laid back guy. He works all day, goes out on weekend nights, hunts during the season and sleeps when his body tells him to. He's out of the race for the right girl and has decided to enjoy life the way it is.
Poor bastard...doesn't even know how miserable he is! ;-)
When I first did this, there were 10 songs for the first part of our relationship, where we met online and really fell for each other. I used songs like "Take A Chance on Me" by ABBA and "I Just Want to Hang Around You" by George Benson. Then there's another 10 for when we met in person and things initially went sour because SOME dumb sprite was too afraid of commitment. I had some pretty sad songs there like "I Don't Know How To Love Him" by Helen Reddy (from Jesus Christ Superstar) and Please Mister Please" from Olivia Newton-John (on that one, I began with "Once you've reached the country music phase, you're missing someone too much!") and the last 10 for our amazing reunion and the two more separations afterward, all the way to our finally being together permanently. That part ends with "At Last" by Etta James and "Our House" by CSNY.
Anyway, it's become habit to listen to this set of songs on each anniversary. We read the blurbs all over again and sit and talk about where we were, how we were, and even WHO we at that time (plus we usually dance to our favorite ones). It had sort of become a musical timeline of our lives between 1997 and 2002, so for our 5th anniversary, I decided to go back and add a song for each year we'd been married. I already had songs up to the 3rd anniversary, so for the 4th, I added "You Just Can't Smile It Away" by Bill Withers (the song we danced to our first night in our new and VERY empty house) and the 5th was "As" by Stevie Wonder (where I began the blurb with "Our 5th anniversary...and now we're old enough to find meaning in obscure Stevie Wonder songs!") The blurbs have become longer each year so that I'm now writing short letters to go with each song and just adding it to the list. The list itself I've finally put into a Word Document so we can read it while we listen to the songs.
Which brings me to out 8th year...
This year's song was" Solsbury Hill" by Peter Gabriel. It was the song playing when I drove him home from the hospital a few weeks ago (he had a myelogram done to see what was wrong with his neck), and we were REALLY scared about it. Everyone told him how bad the pain could be and he put it off for months. So, as I looked over at him looking all worn out and tired, with the sun shining in on him, I was so overwhelmed that I suddenly had to just thank God for letting my hubby come home safe and sound. The song just wouldn't leave my head, thought, so after researching it a bit, I found out it's a song about changing your life and being ready to lose what you have for what you might get and just letting go in general.
That's been a HUGE thing for us this year...we had to choose to give up our home, most certainly gave up our pride, our personal and physical comfort and many other things, only to find out that fate had other things in mind. We gave up the house, only to find a last minute option that let us keep it and got us back on track financially again. The Highlander gave up working at the lab to sink everything into trying to become a teacher and we discovered that, even though he made less, we actually saved some money in not having him drive clear to Buffalo, plus he was SO much happier that we spent LESS time at the doctor's in pain. Because of the pain, we both gave in and decided to do this myelogram in the first place, knowing it meant he'd be in horrible pain for a solid week, but found out it wasn't as bad as we thought. We gave up any hope of having a child, only to discover how important the kids we teach have now become to us, as well as each other. And about 10 years ago for the Highlander and 6 for me, we both chose to leave our homes and families to live with the one we committed out lives to (he moved down to Texas where I was and we both moved back up to Western New York where he was from).
Sometimes you just have to give up your comfort zone to move on to the next big thing in your life.
And through all that, we've had each other. He's been my silent, stalwart companion in the storm, keeping me calm and centered when I thought I might crash on the rocks, while I've gone and STARTED storms for him, being his lightning and thunder when he needed someone to speak up on his behalf or to get him motivated. Each of us has been there to protect and care for the other.
So, what have we learned in 8 years? Life isn't always what we planned, but when you feel like you're "in a rut" or "part of the machinery" and you have to let fate take over, I hope each of YOU has a person like I do that can come to you, give you a hug and say:
"Grab your things, I've come to take you home."
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Wild Kingdom After Dark
So, the other morning before work, I'm looking out out big picture window and admiring the view when all of the sudden, I see these 3 squirrels going nuts in the yard (and not the "food gathering" nuts, either!). They're going crazy all over the yard, so I start describing things to the Highlander:
"Oh, honey, you gotta see this! These squirrels are jumping all over each other...they're all rollin' around and then they get up and chase each other to another tree...oh, man, that one nearly pile-drove that other into the dirt! (laughter) Okay, they're running past the oak now...that one keeps trying to jump on the other...actually, both of those ones are...well, that's not exactly...huh...(tilting my head sideways)...okay, not sure this is just playtime now...ohhhh...okay, if Snoop Squirrelly Dogg comes out of the other tree and asks anyone to show their fur, that would just complete this whole scenario."
Just as I'm realizing I'm actually watching Wild Kingdom After Dawn, I look over and and see the most bizzare thing I've ever seen. A long time ago, the folks who used to live here put a stump upside down near our little patio area and it overgrew with tiny vines and such so that it's a natural seat (although in past years, the termites have about worn it away). It's about 2 feet high so you can imagine my surprise when I see a full grown groundhog sitting ON TOP of it. His back is to me (about 8 feet away) and he's WATCHING THE SQUIRRELS!!!
Seriously, I did NOT want to know what else that groundhog was doing.
Later on, I saw this video on Yahoo. http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=687851&fr=&cache=1 Honestly, if that groundhog had turned around and looked at me like this (with the music and everything), it would have just made the entire MOMENT!
Which reminds me of another animal tale that I gotta share!
Back when I was doing the GT program in my district, I had my kids doing a research project with a PowerPoint presentation. The 4th and 5th graders had to research their dream job, including the college to go to, the classes, the volunteer opportunities, etc., while my 3rd graders got to do their favorite animals. It was a combination of learning computer usage and research skills, so it was a fabulous higher level activity. Anyway, one of the 3rd graders chose to do her project on whales. After doing the research and all the typing, I let the kids surf the net and look for pictures to add to their presentations. This little girl came up with the picture from this article: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_blue_whale.htm
She NEVER noticed it, but had it in her presentation. I came by the DAY BEFORE we were supposed to be showing these at the district open house and had to swallow my heart when I saw it. I think I said something along the lines of: "So how's it gooo-ohhh-uh-oh...ing, hon?" Since she didn't notice and no other kid was paying attention, I just said, "That's a GREAT pic, but I think we can find one less grainy, don't you?" Then I QUICKLY opened the Explorer screen, found a pic she loved even better and told everyone to take their bathroom break while I cut and pasted the new shot, thus saving my life and career in one fell swoop.
Hmm...maybe all these animals are just trying to show off for ME! I'm the Animal Copulation Whisperer! :-O
"Oh, honey, you gotta see this! These squirrels are jumping all over each other...they're all rollin' around and then they get up and chase each other to another tree...oh, man, that one nearly pile-drove that other into the dirt! (laughter) Okay, they're running past the oak now...that one keeps trying to jump on the other...actually, both of those ones are...well, that's not exactly...huh...(tilting my head sideways)...okay, not sure this is just playtime now...ohhhh...okay, if Snoop Squirrelly Dogg comes out of the other tree and asks anyone to show their fur, that would just complete this whole scenario."
Just as I'm realizing I'm actually watching Wild Kingdom After Dawn, I look over and and see the most bizzare thing I've ever seen. A long time ago, the folks who used to live here put a stump upside down near our little patio area and it overgrew with tiny vines and such so that it's a natural seat (although in past years, the termites have about worn it away). It's about 2 feet high so you can imagine my surprise when I see a full grown groundhog sitting ON TOP of it. His back is to me (about 8 feet away) and he's WATCHING THE SQUIRRELS!!!
Seriously, I did NOT want to know what else that groundhog was doing.
Later on, I saw this video on Yahoo. http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=687851&fr=&cache=1 Honestly, if that groundhog had turned around and looked at me like this (with the music and everything), it would have just made the entire MOMENT!
Which reminds me of another animal tale that I gotta share!
Back when I was doing the GT program in my district, I had my kids doing a research project with a PowerPoint presentation. The 4th and 5th graders had to research their dream job, including the college to go to, the classes, the volunteer opportunities, etc., while my 3rd graders got to do their favorite animals. It was a combination of learning computer usage and research skills, so it was a fabulous higher level activity. Anyway, one of the 3rd graders chose to do her project on whales. After doing the research and all the typing, I let the kids surf the net and look for pictures to add to their presentations. This little girl came up with the picture from this article: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl_blue_whale.htm
She NEVER noticed it, but had it in her presentation. I came by the DAY BEFORE we were supposed to be showing these at the district open house and had to swallow my heart when I saw it. I think I said something along the lines of: "So how's it gooo-ohhh-uh-oh...ing, hon?" Since she didn't notice and no other kid was paying attention, I just said, "That's a GREAT pic, but I think we can find one less grainy, don't you?" Then I QUICKLY opened the Explorer screen, found a pic she loved even better and told everyone to take their bathroom break while I cut and pasted the new shot, thus saving my life and career in one fell swoop.
Hmm...maybe all these animals are just trying to show off for ME! I'm the Animal Copulation Whisperer! :-O
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Gox Box Sox
Well, I just went out and got the mail today and lo, there in our box were gox box sox from dbltall, along with the brand new Gox Box Sox HH (here's a pic of them at the Woolrich catalogue http://www.woolrich.com/CGI-BIN/LANSAWEB?WEBEVENT+L3D74537A45138000EA4303U+PRD+ENG)!
I was laughing like an idiot until I actually put them ON!
Oh...
...my...
...GOD!!!
These sox...I mean, SOCKS are AMAZING! They are SOOO on my list for boxing wear (and daily wear, really...after all, we're in upstate NY, where Winter goes for the winter...and summer...and spring break...and the vernal equinox...!). First, they're the right color (I LOVE blue and those wintry sweater type patterns). Second, they're merino wool, so they're warm AND soft and have this delightfully cushy feel to them everywhere I walk. I'm walking around barefoot in them now and making sounds that the Highlander normally associates with a different room of the house! And finally, they're MINE! Muhahahahahahhaaaaaaa!
I'm telling you, I'm going online to get more of these because I will TOTALLY PAY for this kinda sex...I mean, SOCKS! :-)
I was laughing like an idiot until I actually put them ON!
Oh...
...my...
...GOD!!!
These sox...I mean, SOCKS are AMAZING! They are SOOO on my list for boxing wear (and daily wear, really...after all, we're in upstate NY, where Winter goes for the winter...and summer...and spring break...and the vernal equinox...!). First, they're the right color (I LOVE blue and those wintry sweater type patterns). Second, they're merino wool, so they're warm AND soft and have this delightfully cushy feel to them everywhere I walk. I'm walking around barefoot in them now and making sounds that the Highlander normally associates with a different room of the house! And finally, they're MINE! Muhahahahahahhaaaaaaa!
I'm telling you, I'm going online to get more of these because I will TOTALLY PAY for this kinda sex...I mean, SOCKS! :-)
Thursday, April 5, 2007
School Daze & True Love
I just gotta tell everyone what an awesome day Kevin and I had at my school. He's been subbing for folks in my building (including me...gotta love having the inside track on your kids when you're gone!), so we've been getting to hang out with each other at different points during the day. It's great because he's finally happy doing something he enjoys and I get to see the glow on his face all the time!
But today was a full day of pretty much everything I do that makes me proud to be a teacher. This morning we did our simulation of the Underground Railroad, where my 4th graders act as runaway slaves and every classroom in the building agrees to act as "stations" to harbor them (the cafeteria is Canada). We do a ton of journal entries on it and they have to answer a question from our chapter on the Underground Railroad to even get into the stations. I made this game up in the car on the way to school four years ago and now all the buildings in our district have done it at least once.
After lunch, we did our 1st Annual Retro Talent Show (thought that one up after listening to JACK FM on the way home a few months ago!). All the people that wanted to did a dance, lipsync or some other act to a song from the 70's or before. We had a bunch of kid acts, a group of parents who sang Movin' On Up for our 5th graders, the whole 5th grade doing Ain't No Mountain High Enough, me in the lion mascot costume as my class sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and nearly all the teachers did the Locomotion, which we did twice to get everyone out of the auditorium and back to class in time to pack up and leave at the end of the day.
Meanwhile, the kindergarten had their Easter parade right before the show; our principal, who was the MC, couldn't make it from his meeting at the board office until literally the last possible second before the show started, so the school band played Louie, Louie like 6 times waiting for him to start the show (thought the horn section was going to pass out!) and every class in the building was attempting to have some brand of Easter party at once, so kids were walking around the school handing out cupcakes and stuff while being all hopped up on sugar and general excitement before a week long Easter break.
And you know the best part? My hubby got to see it ALL. He had a half day in the afternoon for the 2nd grade class, so he helped be a "bounty hunter" for the slaves in the morning and taped the whole thing while sitting with his class in the audience that afternoon. Everything I do that I love and he finally had a day to be part of it.
They say that when you marry someone, they really don't become your WHOLE life. You merge your lives and share them with each other. Kevin means the world to me, but we both have things that make us who we are independent of each other. Getting married just means you get to share that with each other, which is the real blessing. :-)
But today was a full day of pretty much everything I do that makes me proud to be a teacher. This morning we did our simulation of the Underground Railroad, where my 4th graders act as runaway slaves and every classroom in the building agrees to act as "stations" to harbor them (the cafeteria is Canada). We do a ton of journal entries on it and they have to answer a question from our chapter on the Underground Railroad to even get into the stations. I made this game up in the car on the way to school four years ago and now all the buildings in our district have done it at least once.
After lunch, we did our 1st Annual Retro Talent Show (thought that one up after listening to JACK FM on the way home a few months ago!). All the people that wanted to did a dance, lipsync or some other act to a song from the 70's or before. We had a bunch of kid acts, a group of parents who sang Movin' On Up for our 5th graders, the whole 5th grade doing Ain't No Mountain High Enough, me in the lion mascot costume as my class sang "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and nearly all the teachers did the Locomotion, which we did twice to get everyone out of the auditorium and back to class in time to pack up and leave at the end of the day.
Meanwhile, the kindergarten had their Easter parade right before the show; our principal, who was the MC, couldn't make it from his meeting at the board office until literally the last possible second before the show started, so the school band played Louie, Louie like 6 times waiting for him to start the show (thought the horn section was going to pass out!) and every class in the building was attempting to have some brand of Easter party at once, so kids were walking around the school handing out cupcakes and stuff while being all hopped up on sugar and general excitement before a week long Easter break.
And you know the best part? My hubby got to see it ALL. He had a half day in the afternoon for the 2nd grade class, so he helped be a "bounty hunter" for the slaves in the morning and taped the whole thing while sitting with his class in the audience that afternoon. Everything I do that I love and he finally had a day to be part of it.
They say that when you marry someone, they really don't become your WHOLE life. You merge your lives and share them with each other. Kevin means the world to me, but we both have things that make us who we are independent of each other. Getting married just means you get to share that with each other, which is the real blessing. :-)
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