New Year's Resolution

There are very few years when I have made a significant New Year's resolution. Now that I think back on it, I can't think of any. I really want to think of something good this year. Something attainable and meaningful. I only have 9 more hours to think about.

It's kind of sick

how much I love to go grocery shopping early in the morning.

Busy Week

I've got almost all my list checked off! We have a busy house over the next few days, so I need to get it clean.

Tonight- Nate's parents will be here for dinner
Wednesday- friends over for NYE
Thursday- Nate's brother and his wife will come to visit. So will Nate's friend from HS, Chris
Friday- Dan and G will still be here & we're going to dinner with Bisa & Ryan
Saturday- Dan and G plus Nate's parents for our B family Christmas.

Ok, enough blogging. I need to finish cleaning!

Time is an illusion, lunch-time doubly so

It's lunch-time. I'm hungry. I wish I could eat tacos or pizza for every meal. I'll have to settle for a pnut butter sandwich.

New Year's

New Year's is my in my top 3 favorite holidays. To be an awesome holiday you must meet 3 out of 4 of the following criteria:

1. Good food
2. Fireworks
3. A Parade on TV
4. Something to think about

New Year's fits the bill pretty well, especially when you consider that Nate's dad makes amazing home made egg rolls on New Year's Eve (if we're with them) and this NYE, we're making smores!

That's right, it's a list

List of things I hope to accomplish today:

• Clean out the refrigerator
• Clean the stove
• Wash the kitchen floor
• Clean the bathroom
• Rake leaves
• Fix Claude (my yard gnome that got broken)

Sorry!

I guess I got out of the habit of posting over my little Christmas break. I'll try to post more often tomorrow.

I did think about posting today. I think that these blog posts might be an unhealthy manifestation of my need for praise and affirmation from others. I want others to know what I'm doing (even the most minute things) and tell me that I'm awesome.

Thank you, dear readers, for not posting any comments on my quilt as comments would have surely fed this unhealthy need. :)

Home Again

After a wonderful Christmas with my family, we are back at home.

Christmas Eve

In just 6 hours, I will be at my parents' home with all 3 of my siblings, my brother-in-law, my parents, and my grandparents. And just 3 hours after that, we'll be enjoying our Christmas eve tradition- Chinese food!

FINISHED!!

I finished the quilt I started in the summer for the bottom bunk of the kids' room!
What do you think?

Snuggling

I know that none of you who have met my cat Mrs. Reynolds will believe it but TWICE yesterday, she came up to me while I was on the couch and SNUGGLED. For over an hour. Purring. It's a Christmas miracle.

suspicion confirmed

My eyes have just become un-dilated enough to type so I thought I'd let any of you who might laugh at #6 on my list why I believe what I do. Here's what the eye doctor told me:

My contact prescription is -7 in both eyes.

Both eyes have astigmatism.

I have holes in the retina of my left eye.

I can't see as well at night.

My eyes are overly sensitive to the sun.

I will probably have cataracts in 20-30 years.

I'm come to accept my fate.

7 Things

Since I was "tagged" twice to do this, I guess I should. Here are 7 things about myself:

1. In the winter, my butt is almost always cold. Yes, you read right- not my hands or my toes, but my BUTT.

2. I have no problem listening to the same song 3 times in a row if I really like it.

3. I think I make the best spinach lasagna in the world.

4. Once I find a menu item that I really like at a restaurant, I will ALWAYS order it.

5. I'm not an animal person. I don't like anyone's pets but my own.

6. I firmly believe that I will one day go blind and I sometimes walk around with my eyes closed to "practice."

7. I really, really want to get a tattoo, but I want to go somewhere I feel comfortable and I haven't found that yet.

If I follow your blog or you follow my blog, you are "tagged" to do this next.

CHRISTMAS BREAK!

Christmas Break, Woooo!

Today, however, is not so exciting. Up at 7 so I can be ready and out of Nate's way. Then I'll take him to work, run to Walmart before it gets insanely busy, take Nobby to the vet for some shots, eat lunch, go to an eye doctor appointment, go to the liberry, and then clean up around the house and pack.

I think I'll sleep in and then take a bubble bath tomorrow.

The 9

Yesterday, I was able to spend the day with my best friends from college- our girls Bible study that met on Monday's at 9 and eventually became 9 people. I love these ladies. They are so amazing. I'm so thankful for them and the time I got to spend with them yesterday.

I'm also thankful for the new stock pot from Matt that allowed me to make enough food to feed everyone.

Christmas at the __ House

We're having our little "family" Christmas this morning. Nate, Matt, and I will exchange presents and open our stockings that have been hung on the laundry closet door with care. But first, I'm off to the grocery store.

Cleaning up

I'm trying to get the house cleaned up because tomorrow I will host 15 people here for dinner. I'm really excited about spending time with The Nine (add in the husbands to get 15) but until then, it's cleaning time!

Last Day!

It's the LAST DAY of school before Christmas Break and thus the library has been filled with students reading picture book after picture book trying to cram in their AR points. Hello, Future Procrastinators of America.

I win!

I had a battle of stubbornness with a student today and I WON! I know I shouldn't feel so elated at having a 3 hour standoff with a 13 year old, but I do. I won.

success

This afternoon I successfully threw a bowl on the wheel. I didn't keep it because it had just the teeniest wobble, but I know now that it won't be long before I have something worthy of keeping.

NEW BOOKS!

My new books came in today! 206 books! I'm super excited about them. I think I'm going to plan a party for the kids so we can celebrate all these new books. Yippee for reading!

Let's try something new

I know it's going to kill you (and me) that I can't post at school anymore, so I'm trying out this little "Post date and time" feature. It feels a little like cheating, but what other options do I have? Nate's on the computer most of every evening so I don't get a lot of computer time outside of work.

Christmas Party

Tonight was the faculty Christmas party. I was really anxious about it at first, but thanks to my new found friend the band director, I had a really nice time.

Caught

It finally happened... they blocked my blog at school.

Also,

I love rice crispy treats and could eat a whole pan (9x13). Thanks for making them, Laura!

My favorite part of being a librarian

is recommending books.

Confused

I thought it was Friday this morning.

Brian's mustache

My brother Brian made me laugh so hard last night, I cried and my ears turned red. Even now, I can't help but smile when I think of him licking his mustache.

Visitor

My brother is coming to visit today!

Christmas Tree

I was going to post a picture of our little Christmas tree per requests, but just as I was getting the camera...


The little guy didn't even leave the scene of the crime. Maybe Nate's right. Maybe we can't have our Christmas tree up this year.

Clean Floors

Yesterday, they kicked me out of my office at 3:00. I'm not complaining.

Today, I have shiny, clean floors (and all my stuff piled on top of my desk).

Spent!

I've spent all byt $2.62 of my book budget. Redistribute that, State Government!

Library Fines

Library fines are a necessary evil. If we didn't have them, books would never come back- especially in a middle school. Also, library fines allow for the purchase of more books.

Here are my little library, all fines must be paid today in order to exempt your finals. For good or for evil, we're raking it in today. $$$

That Cat

Mrs. Reynolds is my alarm clock. She paws/knocks at the bedroom door each morning until I get up to feed her (even if she still has food in her bowl). She always seems to do this exactly 15 minutes before I have to be up- no matter what time that is. I wish I knew how to make her stop. She's driving me nuts.

Score

Skullcrusher: 1

Katie: 0

Sarge

My shoes- my favorite, sensible teacher shoes have a small rip in them. Last time this happened, I took them to Sarge's Shoe Repair on Main Street and had a wonderful conversation with the elderly gentleman who worked there. Getting my shoes repaired was a very pleasant (and inexpensive) experience. And now, when I need him again, his shop has gone our of business. Does anyone know how I can get in touch with "Sarge"?

Skullcrusher

No, I'm not talking about my favorite song on RockBand. I'm talking about waking up with a headache. I agree with my sister. Headache is not a strong enough word. Today I have a skullcrusher.

Tonight

Plans for tonight include...

• fajitas for dinner
• PTO meeting/band concert
• Fantasy in Lights

THE BEST

I have THE BEST husband in the world.

Stress Eater

I think I might be a stress eater. It's 10:22 AM and all I want is to curl up on the couch and eat my weight in chocolate. Hopefully today will get better and I will forget that desire before I get the opportunity to make it a reality.

Yoga

I started doing yoga this morning. I'm writing it here so I'll be accountable.

Making a difference

Teachers are always frustrated. That's because they never give up on expecting just a little more than any student gives.

Eating Well

Yesterday, we had cinnamon rolls for breakfast, BBQ sandwiches for lunch, and then turkey pot pie and apple crisp for dinner.

Today, I'm eating apple crisp for breakfast (it has both fruit and oatmeal in it!), bruschetta for lunch, and then soup and cornbread for dinner with brownies for dessert.

You wish you lived here.

2002 Ford Tarus FOR SALE

So the car has no heat. I took it to the shop. Guess how much it would cost? $850 and mostly in labor because fixing the heat will require taking apart the entire dashboard. It's going to be a cold winter.

Procrastination

I'm working on my final exam for my technology class. I answered all the easy questions and now I'm on the final 2 that will require me to re-view 8 PowerPoint presentations just to glean the 3 key points. I think I'm going to fold the laundry and clean the bathroom and put it off a little longer.

Just in case you wanted to know

They got us Katie's for lunch.

Also, I've peed 6 times today.

Lunch today

They fed us Chick-fil-a for lunch yesterday. I wonder what they'll feed us today?

It is a little sad that it's only 7:30 AM and I'm already thinking about lunch.

Boring Meeting

ALL DAY today and tomorrow I have training on a new computer system. I know you're jealous.

Pottery

For the last couple of weeks, I have been spending my Wednesday afternoons up to my elbows in clay. After years of longing to return to the pottery wheel, I remembered that I work at a FINE ARTS magnet school. Duh. We have a wheel and now, I've made it my own. Yea for creative outlets!

Allergy shot

I just gave myself my weekly allergy shot. The shot itself doesn't hurt but afterwards... the spot on my stomach where I inject it becames swollen and itchy and tender. I have to try not to rub it all the time because I've learned that rubbing your tummy is something that makes people think your pregnant even if you say a million times that you are not.

VOTE

If you live in Georgia, don't forget to vote today.

My Bed

My bed is the best place in the world- especially when it has my husband in it. It's cozy and warm and soft.
I wish I was there now.

Dream

When I was little, I liked telling my dreams- in long and ridiculous detail- to my parents each morning. I'm sure they loved it. That being said, I'll keep this short.

Last night I dreamed I was in Vegas when I got a phone call from a friend's mom that she had maxed out dozens of credit cards. I went to my car to go and find her when an alien jumped in (it was a convertable), planted a ton of drugs on me, and made me speed down the interstate until a cop caught me. I them went to prision where everyone thought I was crazy because I swore an alien made me do it.

Weird, huh?

Parking Tickets

I'm in class and I'm dreading going out to the parking lot even though I'm dying to get out of class. I'm worried I have another $20 ticket. You see, I have no parking pass for this university, even though I've been a graduate student for a year and a half. Parking permits must be obtained between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM Monday through Friday at the parking office. This university is an hour away from my home so I can never leave work and get here before they close. This is also the reason I can't pay my parking ticket. It must be paid in person at said office during the previously stated impossible hours. You see my dilemma?