A little rain can't stop us

Here is a little recap of last night. It was MK's first night to march with the band at the football game. I had been recruited to chaperone and we had picked up two friends to go with us, one in the band and one for moral support. As we picked one girl up, her mother asked, "Do you think it's going to rain?" So I looked up at the sky and saw ominous clouds. On the way it started to sprinkle. The closer we got to the school, the harder it rained, until I pulled into the school parking lot barely able to see a thing. We went into the band room and waited, listening to the thunder, until the band director finally announced that the game had been cancelled. Sigh...faces fell, eyes drooped. I loaded three disappointed girls into the car and we headed home. We called one girl's dad to let him know we were on our way, then tried to call the other girl's home and no one was there. We later found out that they were on their way to the game. So we took the girls home with us and made a night out of it. The girls made dinner for us and I think it worked up great. Of course I did, I didn't actually have to cook dinner and they made dessert!

Actually, though, it was the kind of night I love. The girls and I were in the kitchen talking and laughing. With the oven going, the rain, and the house full, it was so cozy. However, outside it was still in the 80s. If it had been in the 50s I might just have shed a tear or two. The girls were so fun and bubbly and good sports about everything. They even let me take a picture of them which I'll post if I get their parents' permission.

So we'll try again next week. It's another home game. Let's hope it doesn't rain.

Now we are ready for a long weekend. The Big Man's birthday is Sunday so that will be our highlight.

Happy Labor Day!

You asked for it

Two pictures of my new shorter hair.

Straight (which I prefer but takes sooooo long to do)















And Curly, which takes all of 2 minutes to do, but usually looks like it. It's wet in this pictures and shrinks up a lot by the time it's dry. That's why I miss it long, because the weight held it down.


So there you go.

Wow...it's been so busy here. It's such an odd feeling. I've been so used to having lots of time to do things, but not anymore. We are going all the time. However, we're really enjoying it. MK has her first game with the band on Thursday and I've been recruited to "chaperone" the band. I think it just means that I have to escort them from the middle school to the high school where the game is played. We went to a game last week that was just a scrimmage so the band didn't play. But it was fun to be back at it and she is so happy to be a part of things this year.

T. Willy continues to do well in preschool. He now asks to see Miss Sam and is a little disappointed on Saturday when we don't go. He loves to go to school and Sunday school. Today we had a fire drill and I was able to see him without him seeing me. He talks a lot about a boy named DJ so he's making friends too!

That's it. Thanks for checking in. I'm making no promises that I'll post more but I appreciate that you stopped by!

It was twenty years ago....

yesterday....that a very naive 17 year old girl left home to go to college for the first time. There she met her roommate, Melissa, and later that day, The Big Man. Yes, that girl was me! Wow!

Sorry, Melissa, that I just told the bloggy world how old we are. You don't look it at all, so I don't think you're worried about it.

School is great...busy, busy, busy, but I have a great group of students. Our books were delayed at the printer so that is causing some headaches, but we'll make it.

I had an accident with the scissors and now have much shorter hair. The scissors were being held by the Big Man at the time. I had just wanted a trim because I was waiting for an idea about how to have it cut. Well, the decision was made for me. I'll try to post pictures soon.

That's it...have a great day!

Wow!

We have hit the ground running! After 3+ years of most of our time being our own, it has suddenly come to a halt and we are busy!

My school had open house last night and I met most of my students. Classes begin tomorrow and I feel ready. I just hope I can sleep tonight. T. Willy is adjusting well to the new schedule. He hesitated just a bit when we first dropped him off, but I stood by the door and in no time he joined the other kids to play. Tomorrow is also his first official day, he has just been going to childcare while I have been preparing my classroom and lesson plans. He napped today and joined circle time for songs and stories. Whew. I will try to post pictures of him in his school clothes tomorrow. MK has been able to go with me and was a big help getting the room ready and peeking in on T. Willy for me. Her school begins Monday - 7th grade!!!

Thanks to Melissa for getting me involved in the blog world. I started a blog for the class to communicate with parents and already I've had positive feedback. Also, thanks to Chel for teaching me about "invitation only" because the parents and staff feel more secure about commenting when the whole world doesn't have access to it.

Okay, off to bed! Good night!

Happy Anniversary and the end of my retirement

I did not post on the actual day, but we celebrated our 18th anniversary on Sunday. Wow!!! Time certainly flies when you're having fun. The Big Man's brother, the Grillmaster and his wife, the Mrs., and daughter, Miss, came over for the weekend. We didn't do much but hang out around the house, but it was a good time.

My wonderful brother and my wonderful sister in law celebrated their 19th anniversary yesterday, so congratulations to them too!

I am going back to work on Thursday. My 3+ year retirement has come to an end. I have enjoyed it so much and have loved and appreciated every minute of it, but feel ready to return. MK is looking forward to helping me decorate my room. We are going with a sports theme...any ideas?

That's about it. Have a great day!

P.S. Chel, if you're out there...I can't read your blog anymore! Help!

Sweet Home

Alabama! We had a wonderful time on our trip. It was one of those vacations that exceeds your expectations. The cabin was great, secluded and just what we were hoping it would be. Better than reading what I have to say, I'll just post pictures!

Here is our cabin.














This is MK at DeSoto Falls. She was too brave for my comfort. She wanted to run all around and jump everywhere. We've lived too close to sea level for too long. I am a bit of a flatlander.













Mk will not ride rollercoasters for anything. However, after visiting this hang gliding launch, she is begging to go hang gliding. Uh, no...but she is determined to do it when she turns 18.













MK and I took the underground elevator down about 20 stories to visit Ruby Falls. It is hard to believe that they even found it but it was something to see. While we explored, The Big Man and T. Willy found a park and had fun too.













Here are the falls at Little River Canyon from an overlook.

















Same falls, a little closer.













And MK standing at the top of the falls. They haven't had a lot of rain so you could just walk right out onto them. Some people were picnicking on them and others were swimming in places that still had water.













The Big Man and T. Willy at the top of the falls...my heart was beating a little bit fast.













T. Willy and the Big Man eating hamburgers on our last night.













Mk and me eating hamburgers too. Does it look like my hair is smoking?













It was the best vacation we could have asked for. We did lots of driving (okay, the Big Man did lots of driving) and lots of exploring. We visited Chattanooga and saw some new things there. I hope your week was just as fun!

And away we go

We are heading to Alabama tomorrow to camp. Okay, we're staying in a cabin, but we're calling it camping. We're all packed and just waiting for morning. We should be back on Friday unless we discover something else to do. We're stopping at the Cheesecake Factory in Birmingham on our way up. It's my FAVORITE restaurant and B'ham is the closest one to us. So, I'll enjoy some Thai Lettuce Wraps and Key Lime cheesecake before we get to the park.

I can't wait to hear of your adventures while we're gone!

Have a great week!

Summer Fun

Mk and T. Willy at the zoo.


















Mk and my nephew, J, at my other nephew, B's, soccer game.














The kids and B. after the soccer game.


















The last night of the trip...T. Willy was too exhausted to make it to bed. I think that's the sign of a good trip.

Home again!

We have come to the portion of our summer when I've returned from visiting friends and family in Delaware and I'm wondering why I don't live there. But with school starting in a month and band camp starting today for MK, the running around has begun and we're getting back into the routine here.

MK loved the Brandywine Zoo and the sloth, along with several other animals. It is a very small zoo, but the setting is absolutely beautiful. It is set by a river and the word to describe it was LUSH. The weather was perfect. Rain threatened but didn't bother us at all. We had Grotto's pizza for lunch and Dairy Palace for dessert, two Delaware institutions that just scream "home" to me. On the 3rd my brother took his younger son, MK and me to Northeast, MD to watch fireworks. It was a total taste of Americana and we sat on rocks by the water and watched fireworks on all sides. My parents hosted a July 4th party for some old friends and we had a great time catching up and watching kids from 1 - 17 running around and swimming and having a great time. My sister in law and I had our annual crab feast and we had enough for two days of picking. Others joined in, but she and I are still the champs.

There was a "first" for us. We missed our flight home! I only fly twice a year and this had never happened before, but in hindsight, I'm glad it did, because I now know what to do. We left in what should have been plenty of time, but there was a lot of construction traffic so we just made it to the airport in time to check in. The skycap told me to hurry and tell the people that we were on the 8:30 flight. We hurried as much as you can with a 3 year old who is too heavy to carry and too little to run very fast and told the people at security that we were on the 8:30 flight. They directed us to the 8:30 line and I thought it wouldn't be so bad...until I noticed that what I thought was the end of the line was only the middle because it wrapped around a corner. The woman behind me was friendly and she sounded like an experienced traveler, so she assured me that if we missed the flight, the airlines are usually accommodating. We made it to our gate in time to hear the airline employee tell the woman in front of me that the pilot wasn't allowing anyone else on the flight. Yikes. But the airline was accommodating and quickly booked us on later flights, no questions asked. In fact, they had to put us in first class, so we didn't exactly suffer. Wow...the stories are true...first class really is different!

And for those of you who know me, you know that I run into people I know everywhere. Here was an almost...the friendly lady from the line missed her flight too, so she was booked on our flight to Atlanta. She sat by us while we waited and we started talking. Somehow the subject of West Virginia came up, which is where my parents grew up. She mentioned that she grew up in Clarksburg, WV and I mentioned that I had a lot of relatives there. (Two of my dad's sisters married brothers and between them had 21 children, many of whom are married with children and still live in the area, so I really meant A LOT of relatives.) She asked their last name and I told her and she knew the families! One of my cousins, Joe, had been her tennis coach and she said she'd had a huge crush on him. So, Joe, if you're reading this, Robin Williams (the girl not the actor) says, "Hello!"

And now we're home and I can't believe you're still reading this. But if you are, thanks, and let me know some adventures you've had this summer!!!

Have a great day!

There's no place like home - there's no place like home

Today we flew up to Delaware to spend the week with my parents. The Big Man didn't get to come but I know he will enjoy a quiet week at home.

Our flights were great. T. Willy was excellent all day. Flying with a 3 year old can be unpredictable but he was great, even though we had to wake him at 4:30am. We met up with my mom and Alyssa in Atlanta and flew home with them. The first thing we noticed when we got home was how cool it is here. There's no humidity! Mk even complained that it was cold, but I wouldn't go that far...just very different than Florida.

My brother and his oldest son play on a softball team, so we went to their game tonight. There were tons of kids around T. Willy's age but he was content to just watch them running around. He would say hi but didn't feel the need to join in.

Not a whole lot planned. My parents have invited people over for the 4th of July, so that should be a good time. A surprise for MK is that we may go to a local zoo. She is crazy about the strangest animal - the sloth! I did a little research and found out that this zoo is one of the few that actually has a sloth, so we're going to try to take her there. She doesn't know about it yet and I think she'll be very excited! My brother has some plans to take me into Philly for a few things. So it should be a fun week!!!

Hope yours is fun too! Good night.

You asked for it

So, awhile back I had Zoom done on my teeth. They aren't as white as snow but they're much improved. So here is a before/after!

Before - Sleepy - on the way to the Zoom appointment.














After - Today after my very last class!!!

What we've been doing

We have lived in our little town for nearly 10 years. We did not even know this place was so close until our neighbor told us about it. We had a wonderful time. The water was COLD but beautiful. So here are some pictures of our trip to the cold water springs. Did I mention COLD?

MK and Alyssa - ready for sunshine.













Swimming hole with man made walls.

















Girls jumping into the water.












My dad braving the cold water with MK and Alyssa.













Alyssa and MK helping some kids find crawfish.













My mom and T. Willy playing where it wasn't so deep.















MK and T. Willy winding up their day.



So that's what we've been up to! Have a great day!

Whew

I'm back. Only one week left and school is OVER!!! I cannot believe it.

I have spent the last two weeks tutoring. The girl I'm tutoring is a sweet, sweet girl and I have enjoyed it so much. She is from Honduras and has lived in the US for a year. She is bright and cooperative and I am really going to miss her. It's been a good experience. Now just two projects and 4 days of tutoring left...do I seem a little bit eager?

My parents arrived on Tuesday with my niece. She used to be such a tomboy but not anymore. She has realized she's a girl and MK is having such a great time with her. Her name is Alyssa which T. Willy used to pronounce, "La." Now he is calling her Miss Alyssa. I'm not sure why, we really aren't formal people, but it's cute. Tomorrow we are taking a trip to a state park in Ponce De Leon to swim in the cold springs there. Our neighbors went yesterday and told us about it. The girls and my mom spent the day at the beach, so this will be a change. I enjoy the beach but prefer fresh water.

My dad will leave on the 26th to play in the Senior Olympics in Kentucky. My mom and niece will fly with T. Willy, MK and me to Delaware on July 2. We have busy days ahead of us and couldn't be happier. I hope you're feeling the same way!

Have a great day!

I'm not ignoring you

The house is still standing.
We are alive and well.
My practicum has begun! It is finished June 29. My parents and niece are coming Monday to entertain the kids during that time. If you don't hear from me before then, don't be alarmed!
Have a great day!

I'm It!

I've been tagged by chel :

It's a Bloggy Thing...

1.How old is your blog?
Almost 2 years old.

2. How would you categorize your blog?
Snippets of my life, family and various goings on.

3. Are the photos you post Photoshopped or otherwise altered?
Just to remove red-eye.

4. Do you lie in your blog?
No, you can't make this stuff up, although it might be more entertaining.

5. Are you passive-aggressive in your blog?
If you don't think I am, I can't make you think I am. I will just sit here quietly and you will have to think what you want. (sniff)

6. Do you ever threaten to quit writing so people will tell you not to stop?
No. I really have no need for that kind of gratification.

7. Have you deleted any of your own posts? Why?
Not once I hit "publish." I have deleted some before they were published.

8. Do you delete mean comments?
I would if I had some, thankfully I haven't. I'm neither popular nor controversial, I guess.

9. If your readers knew you in person, would they like you more or like you less?
I use a LOT of exclamation points in my blog and comments, so they might think I was a bit perkier. But I'm still the same person, so I think they would feel the same.

10. How many blogs do you follow?
Close to 20 but I only comment on 7 or so.

11. Which blogger do you want to meet in real life?
Chel,Tammara and Pioneer Woman

12. Does your family read your blog?
Yes, those that remember to bookmark it.

13. Do you have a hit counter? How often do you check it?

Yes, it's new, but I don't check it often because I already know how many times I look at my own blog.

14. Is blogging narcissistic?
It can be.

15. Do you feel guilty when you don't post for a long time?

Not at all.

Bonus: Do you try to look hot when you go to the grocery store just in case someone recognizes you from your blog?
Very funny. However, I happened upon a blog written by someone in our little town. I ran into the writer and her family at the grocery store. I was so excited because I felt like I was meeting a celebrity. She was nice and her husband seemed to think it was neat. However, she soon changed her blog to invitation only, so I think I scared her just a little bit. (I was using all of my exclamation points!!!!) And no, I didn't get an invitation. I'm not really a stalker.


7 Random Things About Me

1. My best female friend has been the same since I was in 3rd grade or so. Our moms are also best friends. We were in each other's weddings and she is the only non famiy member I regularly talk to on the phone.

2. I really, really, really do not like to talk on the phone. Melissa would find this very strange because, when she and I were roommates, the Big Man and I used to talk on the phone for hours. Unless you are calling long distance, call me, tell me what you have to tell me, and promptly hang up. I will not be offended because I also don't enjoy small talk.

3. My blog is called "So here's this" because when I was teaching high school, my students pointed out to me that I said that very often. Whether I had good or bad news to announce, I always started it that way. So there's that.

4. I live for football season. It coincides with my favorite season, but that is not the only reason. (I live in Florida, it doesn't feel like fall till almost Thanksgiving anyway.) High school, college, pro - I love it all!!! I am so excited about this school year because MK will be in the band and I will get to be at all the middle school games!

5. My mom did not want me to go away to college. She told me that she would buy me a new car if I would stay home and go to a local school. She was afraid I would meet someone from very far away and move very far away. She is a very wise and insightful woman.

6. If I had not married the Big Man, I think I would have ended up a spinster librarian, like Mary in It's a Wonderful Life if she hadn't married George. The Big Man is my George Bailey.

7. I love the movie "Steel Magnolias," fake accents and all. It is the only movie I can pretty much parrot the actors all the way through. I also quote it often.

So now you know a little more about me. Have a great day!

Take that, Mark. D.

I woke up bright and early and had the Zoom done. My teeth aren't bright white, but there is a definite improvement and they said it would continue to improve. We took before and after pictures but I haven't been able to download them for some reason. I will post them as soon as I figure it out.

The Big Man was home today so we spent a good bit of time outside. The Big Man did some yard work, although it was more like weed control. It is so dry here. The grass is brown and crunchy but the weeds are lush and green. Can you explain why that is? There is talk of scattered thunderstorms soon, but we will need much more than that.

Tomorrow MK and I are going to have a night on the town. Our little city is having "Movie in the Park" tomorrow night. So, I guess we'll take chairs or a blanket and bug repellent and spend some time with our neighbors.

I have really been looking for ways to get more involved in the community. I seem to have taken a break since I've been home with T. Willy. I try to think, if I left this town today, what mark would I leave? I'm afraid it wouldn't be much of one. I run into some former students from time to time and they still remember some things I taught them, more about life than academic, I suspect. So that is a little mark. But I'm looking for a way to do more. I'll let you know.

Have a great day!

Feel free to skip this post...

Because there is not a lot going on. I just wanted to check in. MK is enjoying her summer so far. She has been busy with friends, enjoying sleepovers and a trip to our local waterpark. It's been a little cooler the last few days so we've been taking some walks around the neighborhood and spending a lot of time outside.

I went to the dentist today for my Zoom impressions. They said they would have to call when there is an opening to make the actual appointment. About an hour later they called and said there is an opening tomorrow at 8 a.m. So I will try to post pictures. The initial appointment should brighten my teeth some, but then they are sending trays with me that I will apply at home and that should help more. I am trying not to get my hopes up too much. There is also a part of me that thinks it's sort of vain, but it is not something I would normally do, and that was my mom's directive.

We made some plans to go away in July. We have rented a cabin at DeSoto State Park in northern Alabama. I have wanted to go camping for a long time, but we don't really have the equipment and it's just too hot here. So this is a good compromise. It is near Lookout Mountain. Not that we ever lived near the Rockies or the Alps, but we have lived in Virginia and North Carolina and were always just a quick trip to the Blue Ridge Parkway and mountains of some sort. Now we live near the beach, which is truly beautiful, but I have been missing mountains. So I am really looking forward to this trip.

If you're still awake, leave me a comment and let me know what you're doing this summer!

Have a great day!

In which I reveal a painful secret

If you knew me in real life, you'd know that I have a pretty good memory. This serves me well when playing Trivial Pursuit (or the Big Man's version - Strip Trivial Pursuit. Too much information? Sorry.) However, it also makes it difficult for me to let...things...go.

Two things that are hard for me to let go are these: when I was in middle school, a boy in my class, for reasons unknown to me, blurted out, "You'd be pretty if your eyes weren't so far apart." So, thanks, Curtis Dencker, to this day I still can't receive a compliment without tempering it with the thought that someone is just being kind to poor, homely me. The funny thing is, the few times I have related that story, the other party assures me that my eyes are not grotesquely far apart, and, Curtis Dencker was no Brad Pitt. However, it is one of those things that I can't seem to let...go. The second was thanks to Mark Dettra. He once decided to blurt out, when I was laughing at something, "Your teeth are really yellow." This has been a trial for me, because I am generally a pretty smiley person. Sigh. It may have been true, just unkind, and once again, hard to let...go.

Fast forward to the present. My mom and and dad generously gave me a monetary gift for graduation. My mom's request was that I spend it on something I normally wouldn't. It wasn't quite enough for me to realign my entire facial composition, but it is enough for me to get ZOOM!!!! So Wednesday I am going to start the process of having my teeth whitened. I am cautiously optimistic that it will make an improvement and I will finally let Mark Dettra's words GO.

However, if you ever go on "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" and you need a phone-a-friend, I'm your girl!

Have a great day!

And, Happy Birthday to my mother in law!

School is out!

MK finished her first year of middle school. We were both dreading it and cannot believe how foolish that was. Middle school has been wonderful for her and she can't wait for 7th grade to begin.

We got the results from the vet, and the cat does have cancer. MK took the news surprisingly well. She is not known for taking bad news well, but I think she was prepared for it. We are just keeping an eye on Sugar for now. She is eating normally and is still her pleasant self, so we'll just have to see what the future holds.

That's about it. There isn't much going on but I wanted to check in. Hope you're doing well!!!

Once faith, now sight

MK with Dr. Falwell July 2006.






I saw the phrase from the title of this post at a Moravian cemetery in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It has always had a lot of meaning for me, because isn't that what this life is all about? Our beliefs will all be proven true or false one day. I have faith in the same Christ that Jerry Falwell did, and am comforted today with the fact that all he preached and taught is known to him now.

I started this blog because of Melissa. I met Melissa when she was my roommate during our Freshman year of college. And that college was Liberty University, founded by Jerry Falwell. No matter what people may think of his politics, I can't think of a negative thing that has been said about his character. There were no scandals involving him and other women, or men, for that matter. He loved his wife and family and let everyone know that. He lived what he believed. Good bye for now, Jerry!



The Big Man, me and MK at TRBC after the first service.