Belated Memorial Day

I was reading the Sunday newspaper today at my mom's house (I don't subscribe) and I was reading the list of local fallen heros that the newspaper was paying tribute to for Memorial Day. I recognized one of my classmates from my high school graduating class, Foster Harrington. There is no mistaking that name. I looked it up online and the picture confirmed that it was indeed him. He died Sept. 2004. Weird that I just now know about it.

I saw him at my 10 year class reunion just a year and a half before his death. He was a skinny kid and very shy in school. He had a crush on me in 8th grade. He lived only 6 blocks away. We rode the bus together in junior high. We talked for quite sometime at the reunion. I am so glad for that. He told me he was in the marine reserves and was an EMT. He looked good. He was happy. He had filled out that skinny body. I am so sad to know he is gone and that he gave his life for our country.

http://www.militarycity.com/valor/370952.html

Quote of the day....

A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort. – Herm Albright

I just realized...

Yesterday would have been my tenth wedding anniversary. I am so glad I celebrated with a first date! LOL!!!!

The details...

For those of you who may not have or don't frequent the other message board....here goes.....

The date
We started out at the Vietnamese restaurant. He had a sampler platter, I had the usual. He seemed to like it.

We had great conversation. I found out a few things I like about him. He is very active. He likes to kayak, rock climb, play softball(me too), rollerblade, etc. etc., overall he is just very active which is why he is so thin. For those of you wanting to know he is about 6', blonde hair, blue eyes and has a nice jaw line, nice to look at. During conversation I figured out that he is very involved with his kids, sounds responsible with his money and doesn't drink much. All A+'s in my book.

We went to his dance studio for the "dance". The theme was Aladin. A few people were dressed that way. They even had a magician. I had a great time. I love to dance and we did so for about 2 hours. I caught on very quickly to the different dances. It was nice that they would announce what dance to dance to to each song. Like they would announce "this one is a swing". Everyone there was very nice.

Afterwards, we went next door to have a drink with a few people from the studio. Then we went to TGIFridays for dessert (mudslide yum!)

That's it in a nutshell!

Yesterday and today

Not much to write about. It is pretty much same stuff different day. What day is it anyways? Having three weeks off will do this to a person.

I did end up with a huge kink in my neck yesterday. ooooooo, big news, eh? LOL. I does hurt like the dickens. Had a hard time sleeping. It has loosened up some today, but still hurts.

Today was Lil'babs last day of pre-k. She was sad to leave her friends but excited for summer break.

We are headed out to go swimming with some friends this afternoon.

And I have a date tonight. We are to do dinner and dancing.

That's it for now.....

Mo' Money

I have my info listed with this research company in the area. Every blue moon they call me. Well they musta known that I needed vacation money because they called me last week. They wanted me to come in and talk about local area hospitals. They asked me a few questions over the phone and I qualified. So for 1 1/2 hours last night I sat with a group of 8 other people (called a focus group) and gave my opinion on hospitals.

OK, the only time I have ever been in the hospital for myself was to give birth. I have visited other people in these hospitals (mostly because they gave birth). Most of the information I gave them was perceived opinion. They were fine with that.

After the 1 1/2 hours they gave me $75. Yes, seventy-five dollars cash! Totally worth my time and gas money to do that, don'tcha think?

Off subject....my poor Lil'babs was sick last night. She woke me up around 3am with tummy troubles. She upchucked 3 times during the 4 o'clock hour. I am so proud of her actually getting up and making it to the upchuck bucket I had for her (just in case). Not many adults can even do that! I decided to turn off the alarm and let us sleep in. She was disappointed I kept her home from school because she only has two more days left. After she awoke she was fine. She ate good all day. Go figure.

My big girl

Lil'babs was at her dad's house yesterday. She called me yesterday morning with some news. Her tooth was loose. Well I have been hearing that her tooth was loose for the last 6 months. She has a few older friends that have lost teeth and they told her about the tooth fairy. She has been wanting to loose her teeth since then. Last week she even took some toilet paper and waded it up real small and whispered to me "I am gonna trick the tooth fairy into thinking this is my tooth" Of course I told her the tooth fairy was pretty smart and would figure it out. Well, since she called to tell me the big news she was very adament this time. Her dad got on the phone and confirmed that is was indeed a bottom loose tooth. The first thing she showed me when she got home was her loose tooth. I wiggled it and ended up getting all emotional. My eyes welled up. I told her that she couldn't loose any teeth because that meant she was growing up! I didn't want her to grow up. She was to stay my baby forever! She told me "Mama, I will always be your baby!" Isn't she the sweetest thing!!

By the way, what is the tooth fairy paying nowadays?

I have to add this in, too. Every night I brush Lil"babs teeth. She gets to do it herself in the morning. Well, she never holds still for very long. So, about 3 months ago I started singing the Star Spangled Banner while brushing her teeth. It is the longest song that I know the words to. Anyways, about a week ago I had finished the song and Lil'babs spit and rinsed. She turned to me and said "Mama you should be on American Idol!" I laughed to myself because I don't sing well at all!

Night out

I had a night out with the girls (and one guy) Sat. night. There were 6 of us girls and 1 guy (one of the girl's boyfriend). 2 of us were single and on the prowl. We had a great time. We hit three different bars downtown and pretty much closed the last one down.

Because I was up so late (or early whichever way you want to look at it) that I decided to sleep until my little heart was contented. That is until my neighbor decided that this was the day he decided to replace his wood gate after 3 years of it falling apart! His gate is approximately 10 feet outside my bedroom window. Now granted it was 10 am and anyone has the right to start banging on their fence at that time. But it was the one day I get to sleep in! So I am a little tired and headed to bed now.
Sweet dreams!

Last night....

I had a great time last night. I did a lot of dancing with a lot of nice people. I was pooped when I got home. Just glad to get out....

Dancing Queen

I haven't been out dancing since November! That is a long time for me. Too much time!

Tonight I am headed to Billy Bob's. It is the world's largest honkey tonk. Anyways, my parents take dance lessons. This dance studio has outings all the time. Tonight it is Billy Bob's. They have invited me to go.

So there is this guy my mom has been telling me about. I can't remember if he is an instructor or student. I think she told me he was 38 and has a kiddo. She told me all of this months ago, so I don't remember the details. She told him about me and wanted to set us up. So, she told him I was going tonight. Well at least I'll have someone to dance with other than my stepdad, who is not very good at two-stepping. This should be interesting....

ABBA-
(oooo ya)You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life ohh yeah
Ooo.. see that girl, watch that scene, diggin the Dancing Queen (ahhh ahhh)
Friday night and the lights are low Looking out for the place to go
Where they play the right music, getting in the swing You come in to look for a king
Anybody could be that guy Night is young and the music's high
With a bit of rock music, everything is fine You're in the mood for a dance
And when you get the chance
You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen
Dancing Queen, feel the beat from the tambourine ohh yeah
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
Ooo see that girl, watch that scene, diggin the Dancing Queen
You're a teaser, you turn 'em on Leave 'em burning and then you're gone
Looking out for another, anyone will do
You're in the mood for a dance And when you get the chance
You are the Dancing Queen, young and sweet, only seventeen Dancing Queen,
feel the beat from the tambourine ohh yaaa
You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
Ooo.. see that girl, watch that scene, dig in the Dancing Queen
Diggin the Dancing Queen

quote of the day

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Dr Suess

On vacation, but in need of a vacation....

Surprisingly last Friday I found out that my class got cancelled for Maymester. So here I am on vacation with no plans. I'd love to make plans, but Lil'babs doesn't get out of school til the 25th, so we are stuck here til then. I was considering taking her to San Antionio to visit Sea World during the last week of May, but her Dad said something about wanting to take her this summer.

He is the type that always has these big plans that never happen. Do you know the type? I have heard about this Sea World trip from him 2 summers ago. It fell thru. Will this one happen? I am gonna double check with him this weekend to be sure. I am not sure what else we can do vacation wise on a limited budget.

We have our big stuff planned for July. A trip to Iowa to visit my dad, a trip to go toobing down the river (I hope, it is not set in stone and it would be without Lil'babs), and a trip to the Texas coast. I have been looking at beach umbrellas. I may be able to borrow my moms patio umbrella. My dad said when I am up visiting I can get his beach umbrella holder. It digs into the sand and holds the umbrella (hence the name). This works out great because if I am gonna be on the beach all day I gotta have shade! So I am gonna have the beach umbrella, chairs, cooler, bucket and shovel, towels ...wait... I gotta carry all of that crap. Maybe I need to pack a wagon or something...lol!

So....I was having this conversation with my xboyfriend (we are still good friends) about vacations. ( Sidenote: 2 Christmases ago we didn't exchange presents. We decided instead to use that money and we would take a trip to Cancun in the spring. Well that never happened because he never had the money to go. We broke up before this last Christmas. ) Getting on with the conversation... he says he is getting a big bonus check soon and wants to go to Cancun and wants to know if I am interested. I tell him I don't have the money. He says he feels bad for not having the money to go back then and will pay my way now. I asked him don't you think that would be a bit awkward. He said I dunno. And I just left it at that. On one hand I would love to go because I am dying for a vacation and hell he is paying for it. But on the other hand I don't want to lead him on or into thinking that there may still be something. I haven't said anything since and he hasn't either.

We talk almost everyday. I asked him last night if he thought we would still talk this often if one of us started dating someone. He said probably not as much. He said he hoped that whoever we moved on with would understand that we will always be friends. I said me too.

The incident

(Some background information before I start the story. My stepdad has OCD. His house is immaculate. At any time any day you can go to my parents house and it is so clean you can eat off the floor. According to him it is never clean enough. It looks like a model home you tour.)

I just got off the phone with my mom. This is how it happened.

Most of my family on my moms side live in VietNam. She decided to call her sister. The first set of numbers that you dial to call there are 011 followed by a long list of numbers. It is easy to get them mixed up and have to hang up and start over. This is what happened to my mom. She tried several times before getting the long list of numbers correct.

Now when my mom calls Viet Nam it is expensive, so she doesn't like interruptions. So when her door bell started ringing she ignored it. She wasn't expecting anyone and figured it was the neighborhood kids looking for Lil'babs (we are over there almost every day). Well who ever it was the kept ringing the damn doorbell. My mom got frustrated and told her sister to hold on so she could go see who it was. It was the police! The wanted to know if someone had dialed 911 from this house. My mom was surprised and said no, that she was the only one home and she had been on the phone for a bit. Then it occurred to her that she must have accidently dialed 911 instead of 011. She told him this. He asked if it would be alright if he came in to look around. Of course my mom agreed. She was sure he just needed to look around to be sure no one else called and needed his help. Apparently he was satisfied and turned to leave. On his way out he turned and said to my mom " This is the cleanest house I have ever seen!"

I thought it was pretty funny that mom misdialed and didn't realize she had called 911 because that is just like her but I was laughing my ass off when she told me about what the officer had said !!

A better me?

Ok, so I decided to get in shape. When I have tried this in the past it never seems to last long, but this time is different...right?!!

My goal is to work out for at least 30 min, 5 times a week, and to eat healthier. I would ultimately like to lose 15 lbs, but 10 is more realistic. I know it won't drop off, but I think 10 lbs can be attainable in 6 weeks, don't you?

This morning I walked on the treadmill during The Price is Right. I love that show. I ran during commercials. (Side note: I hate to run. I use to say that I will only run if someone is chasing me.) So I need to work up to running stamina because I know this is where the weight dropping off will occur. I walked/ran for 25min. and then used 5lb weights with my arms, then did crunches. Total of 40 minutes. Also, I drank more water today than I am use to. Not bad for the first day! I even resisted brownies this evening, and I am a sweetaholic!!

So far so good. The time I crave sweets the most is between 8 and 10 pm. I am gonna be good. I am gonna be good. I am gonna be good.

Looking forward to day number 2.

Today's quote

Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.--Marsha Petrie Sue (The CEO of You)

Mother's Day

My daughter woke me up this morning with her beaming smile and a great big hug "Happy Mother's Day " she says in her sweet voice. What a way to wake up. With the love of your life hugging you. That is what lil'babs is, the love of my life. It is weird to think of how it was before she came along, and I could never imagine my future without her.

I needed today. I was so depressed yesterday. After being so pissed off Friday night, it turned Saturday into depression. Today has brought everything back into perspective. What is my main goal right now? To finish school and graduate. It doesn't matter how I get there as long as I get there. My motto "just do it and get it over with so you can move on". So I surprisingly have a 3 week vacation before my summer classes start. What a great time to work out on the treadmill and work off some of this fat so I can go try on swimsuits. Goal: lose 5 lbs in 3 weeks, and 10 in 6 weeks. I'd really love to join a gym, but I don't have the money. The treadmill and weights at home are gonna have to do.

Back to today. So, Lil'babs made me breakfast in bed (cereal). I opened the present her dad(and his girlfriend) bought for her to give to me. Some nice bubble bath, candle and a nice pajama set. This was the nicest gift (doesn't happen every year so big kuddos for this year). Anyways, Lil'babs and I took my mom and stepdad out to Olive Garden for lunch. We came back to their house and spent the afternoon by the pool. It was a great day. Very relaxing.

This is the first Mothers Day for a couple of people I know that will not be celebrating with their own mothers for the first time. I can't imagine what that feels like. My girlfriend lost her mother last summer. I called her and left a message. She text me back, I don't think she was in a talking mood. Understandable. In addition, my cousin lost his wife in February. His 12 year old daughter did not have her mother with her today. I hope to call them tomorrow. He is a preacher, so today is his busiest work day.

Happy Mothers's Day to you moms out there! Big hugs and prayers to those who have lost a mom or child and are just trying to make it through the day!

AARRRGGGHHHH!!!

I am so upset!

My Maymester class got cancelled. The class got cancelled because not enough people signed up for it. This is a big deal since it is not offered at all this summer and I student teach in the fall. We are not allowed to take any classes during student teaching.

I was told that I can request special permission to take this class in the fall. Great, but here is what makes me mad.

1. The reason they don't want us taking classes while student teaching is because student teaching is like having a full time job with homework. You teach all day and then go home and make lesson plans for the next day or several days, grade papers etc. I don't want to have to worry about a class and it's homework, reading and study time that is required while trying to take care of my student teaching requirements.

2. They offer the class that I need on Mon nights from 5-7:50, in the fall. Here is the problem. It is at a totally different campus, in a totally different direction and I will have to fight traffic to get there at 5pm. (I'm thinking it will take me 1 1/2 hours vs. the 40 min it takes to get to my home campus).

3. Because it is at 5pm and I have to fight traffic, I will have to leave at 3:30 which is when the school I'll be teaching at will let out. When will I see my own kid?

Yes, it is only once a week, but I was suppose to have it in Maymester for 13 days and be done with it. And be totally done with classes by July 7th.

I just don't want to deal with this!!! I am more stressed out now than I have been the whole semester from hell that i just finished. I cried earlier, than I became irate, now I am at the point where I just need something to drink AND I HAVE NOTHING HERE TO DRINK!!!!! Do you know how frustrating that is? It is so hard being a single mom because when your kid goes to sleep you can't just run to the store for something. I do have a bottle of buttershots that I like in the winter to have with my hot chocolate. but I don't want a shot. I want to nurse something. Like a cosmo or Malibu rum and pineapple, I'd even settle for some Arbor Mist. I quit smoking last year (except on my birthday) BUT I sure could use one of those right now, too. Where is the alcohol and cig delivery service when you need one. Sure they deliver pizza, chinese, and hell they even deliver prescriptions ( I could use some of those, too) Why can't they deliver alcohol and stogies? I'd be willing to tip 'em big for that!

Maybe I just need to go to bed.

Freedom

Four days of freedom and how did I spend my first day? Doing pretty much nothing! LOL!
I was awaken by a phone call from my mom. She wanted to know what we were still doing sleeping? It was 7:30! Lil'babs goes to school at 8am. So, I wake her up and rush her to school. What do I do then? I go back to bed. I so love my bed! Also, I had Nyquil last night so it was easy to fall back asleep. I slept til 10:30 and picked up lil'babs at 11am. Had lunch, caught up on Y&R (Young and the Restless), walked on the treadmill, took a shower, we went to my moms, laid outside in the beautiful weather, lil'babs went to play with friends. We came home, played with her Pollys, ate dinner. Put Lil'babs to bed at 7:30, watched TV and played on the internet. And here I am. Going to bed soon. Wow, you still reading? Pretty boring, eh? And thats the way, uh huh, uh huh, I like it, uh huh, uh huh. Maybe I'll do it again tomorrow.... you jealous?

~~~ Happy Dance !!! ~~~~

Yee Haw!!! My semester from hell is over!!!! I can remember not to long ago (Nov-Jan to be exact) about how nervous I was taking 7 classes in one semester. I was so worried. And now it is all over!!! HAPPY HAPPY JOY JOY!!!

I had 3 finals today. The first two I blew through in 30 min. The last one took me 2 hours!! Eight of us went out afterwards and celebrated with some Tex-Mex and alcohol. Yeah baby!! Even our professor went with us. She is a great teacher and one of my favorites. I found out that I will have her this June for another class. I am looking forward to that.

So, I have a 4 day break (yes, only 4 days) and I start back up again on Monday. It will be 1 class that lasts 4 hours a day, for 13 days, including Memorial Day. I did a class like this last year and it is pure torture...BUT quick torture. Kinda like ripping a band aid off instead of pulling it off slowly. Pulling it off slowly was this semester I just finished with the 7 classes!

I won't have my final grades for this smester until Friday, I think. Right now it looks like I might have pulled straight A's. Cross your fingers!!!

Chatty Cathy....

Have you ever watched a movie with someone and they interrupt all the time? It drives me crazy! My mom does this. My stepdad, mom and I were watching a movie, it was an ok movie called Two for the Money. I certainly didn't mind drooling over Matthew McConaughey. Anyhoo, throughout the entire movie my moms says things like "I don't get it" "What did he just say?" "oh, I hate anticipation" "they talk to fast"and so on. She also predicts throughout the movie what is gonna happen next. She talks through the whole thing. I ask my stepdad how does he live like this? He says he just ignores her, lol. It was very hard to ignore. Next time I think I will just bring the movie home and curl up on the couch and watch it with no interruptions.

What's up with that?

I don't get it. There is this guy. I've mentioned him in the past on the message board that some of you frequent. He seemed interested back then because he flirted heavy with me. Then after Jan. It just kinda stopped. I didn't pursue it. I figured he just wasn't interested.

So, he has emailed me again a couple of times in the last week or two after I ran into him at his moms house. His mom lives two doors down from my parents. I've known her for at least 7 years. Anyways he was there hanging new coach lights on her house. Lil'babs and I were outside and she wanted to say hi to the mom. We went over and while we were talking he was winking and rubbed my shoulds at one point.

What's up with that? He needs to come out and say he likes me and wants to go out or quit with the flirting crap. I hate mixed signals, although I am guilty of giving them all the time. So I give up. If he can't make the moves, screw him (which is what I would really like to do , hehehe) (did I just say that?)

On a side note my going out dancing plans got cancelled tonight. Friend can't go. She is putting her dog down today. She has had an awesome white German Shepard for 13 years. Long time, eh? She has been having a lot of problems, poor thing. I had a dog for 18 years that I had to put down 7 years ago and it about killed me. So, my prayers are with her today.

Another side note... I talked with a friend today that I haven't talked to in forever!! What's weird is I knew May 6th was his birthday, but it didn't occur to me that today was May 6th and I just decided to call him out of the blue on his birthday ! Weird, huh! HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABE!

TGIF

This has been a stressful week. I am glad it's over. I had a final exam Mon. I had three huge portfolios (I originally wrote POTfolios, lol!) due on Wed. and a final exam on Thursday. I haven't had much sleep all week and I was stressed about getting everything done in time. My face is all broke out, I know I have gained at least 5 lbs this week and now I feel a scratchy throat.

Well at least I have 4 out of 7 classes done!! 3 out of the four I know for sure my final grade is an A. I don't have a grade on the fourth yet. It is borderline A or B. Same with the last 3 classes. It will depend on how good my portfoilios are and how well I do on the final.

I have 3 finals next Wed. 10:30, 1:30 and 4, ugh! So guess what I will be doing Sun, Mon, and Tues? I refuse to do anything before then to give myself some rest time. And it's hard getting any sleep when it storms every night! Thunder has woken me and lil'babs up twice this week and more storms are coming through again tonight!! I was so tired this morning that I just dropped lil'babs off at school, slept for another 2 1/2 hours and then picked her up. I needed it!

Well, I am off to watch the Grey's Anatomy that I recorded last Sun. I haven't had a chance to watch it all week.

Finally

Ok, so I am a bit of a procrastinator. Especially with a tough semester at school, I have managed to put everything else off.

I got a new digital camera for Christmas. Yes, I have had it for 4 months now. It is full of pics and video. It has a large memory card, so it can hold plenty. Have I downloaded any of the pictures? No. Why? Because I figure it will take too much time and I don't have any of that. Do I know that it will take too much time? No. I just figured it would since I have no idea what I am doing.

So, I finally break down and give it a try this morning (instead of doing homework) it takes like 1 whole minute to transfer the pics. I just plugged the little cord thingy into my USB port and click download and....1 minute later.... viola...I have downloaded 200 pics. Easy as pie! It is taking me longer to write this post than it was to download pics. Go figure.

So... you know I have to share a pic from our wonderful day last Sat. in which we spent 9 hours at Six Flags.