From My Pumpkins

Happy Halloween!

from Charlie!

from Toby!

I am not one to dress up my animals, but the other weekend while I was in the vet's office I noticed that they were having a little costume party on Halloween. I wasn't seriously considering getting them an outfit, but when I came across this little pumpkin hat thing I couldn't resist! I'm sure that Charlie and Toby wish I had tried just a little bit harder.

Their little faces probably don't convey it, but we wish y'all plenty of treats and absolutely no tricks!

Shake It Girl

Tonight I made a discovery. Well, actually it is an affirmation of a previously discovered discovery. Hmm...did I just make up some words? Either way...the discovery...God blessed me with zero ounces of rhythm.


A friend of mine and I are jumping on the exercise band wagon. Apparently eating rabbit food and drinking water will only take you so far. We walk several times a week, but we're trying to expand our routines while shrinking our number of fat cells. We already do walking (1 mile a few times a week), we're exploring the water aerobics offered at the community pool, tennis looks easy enough, and my suggestion...belly dancing!


Yep, we're taking belly dancing lessons from the lovely (not to mention tanned, blond, tiny) Dolphina. Tonight was our first go at it. This is when I discovered just how rhythmically challenged I truly am. I look like some large retarded bird on drugs. Trust me...it ain't pretty. So, while I'm trying to loosen my chakras and touch my loonycona...or something like that (whatever it was it sounded pretty darn dirty) my friend got a good laugh. I lost my balance (which happens easily when the trunk is more full than the hood...seriously the girls can't even touch that junk) and ended up on the floor. My snakes are pretty sad and my shimmy...well even sadder. I totally stink in the dance arena!


But, despite my obvious handicap, I still managed to walk away with my thighs screaming and my heart pumping. So, I gotta be doing something right. Right?! Now, if you'll excuse me I have to take a large quantity of Advil and crawl into bed.

Explain Please

So, it was brought to my attention that perhaps I acted like a tease...well maybe just a bit. Of course I could also argue that I just needed a little processing time. The older I'm getting the more I value that "shut up and say nothing for just a minute" time. Whatever my reason (notice I did not say excuse!), I'm fully prepared to do the explaining that so many of you asked for.


I should warn that this could possibly be a long post.


The Car
In short...wrecked, totalled, absolute loan mess, new car...sigh! The details are boring, but frankly there was a huge delay with the loan process. I did what the bank asked me to do with having the dealership fax over the sales worksheet. They let it sit on the fax machine for a day (all they can offer by way of explanation is some fuzzy "We're sorry.") which pushed it back till after the weekend. Then once the loan was approved I needed to have some documents which if I'd kept them it would have been easy to get them faxed over to the bank. But, since I'm all for getting rid of "clutter" I'd tossed it out. Basically, after a week of "I don't believe it!" moments I finally got to go and pick up my car. It is a 2008 Kia Spectra that I lovingly call Spence. And, after all was said and signed on multiple dotted lines, I bought a car! It wasn't as scary as I thought it would be and that is directly because of some great advice/support/coaching from Josh (see...I told you I'd sing your praises) and lots of the same from my parents. Now, that is a lot to sigh about!


That Job Thing
A few weeks ago, my principal called me in and said that because of low numbers they were going to have to do some changing around. My heart nearly stopped. I thought I was being sent to another campus. Luckily for me, she just wanted to tell me that my AG (above grade learners) 2nd graders should begin learning third grade material so I'd have a section of AG 2nd and OG (on grade learners) 3rd. So, while I'm still teaching Language Arts and Social Studies I now teach 2nd and 3rd graders. It has been an adjustment, but I actually like the challenge. At first, a lot of the other teachers (let's just say there were many...many schedule changes to make this work) weren't very interested in this change. I can't blame them either...I hate change, but this time I went in with a positive attitude and it has been really...positive. Imagine that! So, yeah...I don't just teach 2nd grade anymore. I bet that is going to look so cool on a resume too!


I Finally Cracked...
For a while I've been having some pain in my foot. Okay, more than just a little pain...a lot of pain. It started months ago, but finally was bad enough to drive me to the doctor. I was pretty stunned when my family doctor thought it was a benign growth on a nerve and sent me immediately to an orthopedic surgeon. After several sets of x-rays and prodding around, it was determined that it was a much simpler affliction...a stress fracture across three metatarsals. I spent three weeks in the most unattractive and uncomfortable boot and now I've moved into the post operative shoe. Not a big improvement in the attractive footwear department, but much improved in the comfort one. I have to wear it for the next four weeks and then be re-evaluated. This truly has felt like the year of the medical mishap, but thankfully the year is almost over and this was the last one!


There have been a lot of little other things along the way, but those were the big things. I really should start blogging as things occur instead of trying to play catch up. Seriously.

Slacker

Yep...that is me. A big ole slacker.

I am alive.

I have bought a car.

This is my year of the bodily ailments.

I'm love my new kitten Charlie though I'm sort of in naming remorse...I think he really is a Gus.

I don't teach just second grade anymore.

Tomorrow is my Friday so there is always a silver lining!

Finding the "want to" along with the time to post hasn't been easy.

I hope you guys are all doing well even though I won't be around to check things out for myself for a few more days yet.

New Favorite Snack

Yesterday I was picking up some items at the store and came across a new popcorn flavor. Have y'all seen that Orville Redenbacher's Natural popcorn before? It comes in a variety of flavors...the newest being salt and lime.

Oh. My. Gosh.

This stuff is delicious! My taste buds have a soft spot for salty and tangy flavors so they are pretty darn happy right now.

Seriously...y'all should try it!

Happy Birthday...

...to me! (Technically it isn't until Oct. 7, but I hit the post button before I thought to schedule it.)

Normally, I go on and on about my birthday. I can't help it...I love them! But this year, with so many things that have happened in the last few months, I just sort of feel kind of old.

How did that happen?!

Despite the old label, I am getting to have a birthday lunch, a birthday dinner, presents (which technically were given to me in September, but I've been a very good girl and didn't open or even peek), and a slice of carrot cake (my current obsession) so what could be better right?

Maybe being 21 again. I'm just saying...

Worth A Thousand Words

There have been some changes in my little world recently. I could go on and on, but aren't pictures better? Now don't get excited yet, I still plan to be a little bit wordy about each picture. Thought you were getting out easy huh?!

Charlie

Charlie is the newest addition to my little family. Toby has been really great about me being at work all day and him being home alone. But, sometimes, I just know he wishes there was more to do...I know this due to some bite marks and other naughtiness found around my house. So, because I was at the end of my rope with him, I decided to get him a friend to have for company. Enter Charlie...an adorable 10 week old kitten I rescued. Last night was his first night with us and after a few minutes of hissing and growling (yep, cats growl...who knew?) the boys settled right into a friendship. The played all night and were playing this morning when I got up. I think this is going to be the perfect solution!

Ike

Thankfully, any effects from Ike are starting to fade. I have my power, debris has been cleared away, and things are starting to return to normal. Despite all that, I wanted to go ahead and post a picture of the damage that happened around me. This tree is less than 100 feet from my front door. I was very lucky. As you can see, there was some minor flooding of the sidewalks. Also, that thing that looks like a big eye next to the roots is actually a part of the lamp post by my apartment. Ike hit very early Saturday morning and I took these pictures about mid morning Saturday. With the debris and such I probably shouldn't have been out walking around, but sometimes you just have to get a picture.

Wreck

When I went to the body shop to snap these pictures, I had a strange feeling. Perhaps it was because I was PMSing, overwhelmed by the prospect of buying a new car, or simply grateful that the car took the brunt of the accident instead of my body, but I was a little emotional about turning this car over to be totaled. I took all my things out of it and pulled off my two car magnet things and waved goodbye. This car was a good little car. It saw me through college, my first job, and always got me home safely when I ventured across the state to see my parents. While I'd been planning on getting a new car, I wasn't really ready to let this one go. But, looking on the bright side (see...I am trying) I wouldn't be able to get a new one until I got rid of this one. And I've decided that, while a little unnerving, the whole buying a car process excites me!

So there you go...my world in a few pictures.