Welcome To My World {it's crazy in here!}

Frosty morning

Never fails, the moment I put away all the winter clothes, it gets cold again.  Even though it is only a balmy 33 degrees today, I know tomorrow it should be 70 again!  Oh so confusing! Monday night, I bid a due to  my Owens students, so proud of them.  I believe they are all coming to join me in the Fall at  the U of F.  Yesterday was my last time with my juniors..they are such a great group of kids.  I think all is out of the closet now on the job, although there will still not be an official announcement of any sort until next week sometime.  Have you ever heard of such a slow process?  Good thing I have some inside information, otherwise I would need a visit to Orchard Hall by now. 
Two months from today I will be on a plane, headed for Hawaii.  Can't wait!
I need to get back up into my scrapbook room this weekend.  Although Saturday will be busy with soccer, graduation, and a mother daughter banquet.  My house is clean, so I think I can reserve Sunday for play.  I need to get my pictures organized, it has been soooo long, I forget even what I have developed. 
Next week, it is my day of beauty, and heavens knows, I need it.  My roots are almost offensive at this point.  I just want to scream out..hey people, please don't think I am ignoring this about myself, I've just been really busy and I promise I have an appointment next week.
Maybe I could wear a sign.
Or a hat.
That may be the answer.
Ok, for now, I better go wear a shower or people won't be concerned with my hair...
Cheers!

And a super good morning to you!

Good morning blog world..thanks for checking in today!
Here are some pictures from this past weekend of my darling children..
My little "love bug" singing her little heart out at church.  She was totally adorable, along with her other fellow bugs.
Then there was Carly, who did a fabulous job, singing a solo for her church program.  Looking so old up there it almost took my breath away...

But seriously..have you ever seen cuter bugs than these?

A great weekend over all...very relaxing.............I even shared my own talents on Friday evening doing

a little debut at the village inn in cygnet..singing with my long lost partner..umm, what was his name?  Not sure..but he addressed Matt as "husband" all night..which was quite amusing to all. As always, a wonderful night out with friends Christie and Scott..good times with good friends.  Love you guys!
Oh..and one last picture for good measure...

See Mer?  He does think once in awhile!  ha ha..love that boy wonder..
here is one for Kendra as well..  Bryson singing his little heart out!

My last final day today..then I am free from class for several months.  Although I realize..the work has only begun.  My colleague should know by today, so things should be pretty interesting around the house.
Have a great day! 
Cheers!

Musical Beds

Last night there was a game happening here, one that I hate to be a part of.  It is called Musical Beds.  Are you familiar with this one?  It's a really good time..
NOT!
Sound asleep..so relaxed..one of those sleep induced coma kind of states, when all of  sudden, I hear our door open.  Not only does it open, it SLAMS open, allowing the hallway light to roll in our tomb like room.
It's Abby, not whispering, instead, she was talking loudly..
"I forgot to give Daddy a hug"
Ok, well, it's 2am, so let's just forget about that right now.
You want to hurry her in bed so you can fall back into the coma, although you feel the sweetness slipping away..
She gets in bed..
I lay there, now fully awake.
After about a half hour, I decide to get up.  Can't stand to lie in bed awake.
I go downstairs.
I am watching tv, almost asleep again, when I hear thunder and see lightening.
I can only pray my children are out in their own comas, otherwise, I know what will happen next.
Sure enough, not one, but two kids show up downstairs. 
It is now 4:30am.
Carly announces she had been laying on my bedroom floor for sometime before they both decided to come down.
That means that Matt has now been woken up three times..Abby, me leaving, and Carly entering.
I herd everyone back upstairs..
Waking Matt up once more as I turn the hall light on while everyone gets settled.
Carly in her bed.
Me, planning on laying with Abby in her bed, just for a moment until she gets back to sleep.
Next thing I know, I wake up there.
Now my neck is all crazy because I had to sleep on "big Dora", instead of my normal pillow.
Plus I found myself wrapped up with some crazy little doll blanket.
Not a good nights sleep for the record book.
Guess I'll try again tonight, hopefully we can get all our hugs out and God will hold off on the thunderstorms.
Cheers!

Prozac anyone?

Yesterday I was riding an emotional roller coaster and I needed to get off..quick.
I think it was just relief maybe, the fact that things are ending both good and bad.
Answers.
I have answers.
This has been a crazy year and yesterday it took it's toll.
My students teach the class on Wednesday, they presented their lecture and then we had to do an activity.
The activity consisted of having to give each member a "gift".
As I sat down to make my list, I started to cry.
And cry..and cry.
Ridiculous.
We sat in a circle and as I heard each student talk about the "gifts" they would give each other and myself, I was totally touched.
I cried some more.
Then they all started to cry.
That made me cry even more, because they were crying.
So I got to work, and they continued to send me messages all day, like "we love you", "we hope you are ok", "we think you are so great"..and so forth..
I had to convince them all that no, I'm not crazy and I'm totally happy, really, I am!
then, one of my patient's almost died, which made me really sad.
Then, my hubby got word that all is ok..and we are looking at scheduling surgery,which is a necessary evil- so then I was relieved and kind of worried, all at the same time.
Then I picked up my children and they were acting all crazy..which made me mad.
I tried to call my husband on his cell phone and kept getting his voicemail, that made me more mad.
I got to church, called down and started to get happy, talking with my coffee girls, seeing Mer and Kendra.
Then I was laughing hysterically on my way home because of my kids and my mean, mean friend Meredith who was denying her child a basic right of attending a party.
Ok, so I had gone full circle in a matter of 12 hours.
I'm hoping for a calmer, more normal day today.
Cheers!

The writing is on the wall

My baby girl Abby is obsessed.  She is in love with James.  This is the grave digger from the show Survivor.  I'm not sure what is more disturbing..the fact that she is in love with a strapping black man that is 35+ years older, or the fact that he is a gravedigger.
Nonetheless..
I see the writing on the wall.
Don't get me wrong..
I am ok with this totally.
It is just amazing to me how often "James" comes up in our everyday conversation.
Matt and Carly have been watching the show casually, she will be-bop in and out of the room.
The minute she realizes what is on, it starts..
"Oh James"
"Where is James?"
"I hope James doesn't get eliminated.."
We ask her why she loves him so..
she reports he is "handsome and strong"
(agreed, totally)
I personally think it is her obsession with tank tops as well.  If you remember right, I had to hide the tank tops at the end of last summer because she is so obsessed with them.
Up to this point, she is still  going to marry Connor..which is her daily love of life at school and James is just invited to the wedding.   I bet she is secretly hoping he will object to the marriage and they will ride off together in the sunset.
We have this black guy at church  who she saw last week..the minute she saw him walk by she turned to me and said very excitedly  "mommy!  I just saw James!"
My cousin is black and his dad as well, she had to tell me this past weekend that maybe because they were there, maybe James would be showing up as well to the party.
On Monday night she came to class with me, one of my students was presenting.  She had a poster of a black man on her board.  I knew what was going to happen.  Abby slowly crawled up to the board and was mesmerized by the picture.  As she turned to me, I knew..
"mommy!  that looks like.."
I know baby, I know.
So there it is.
My quiet, moody, blond haired, blue eyed, ballet dancing baby...
in love with James..the muscular, black skinned, grave digger that lives in tank tops.
It is going to be an interesting ride...
Cheers!

Allow myself...

to introduce myself.
I am RKWP..
the (unofficial) Director of the Social Work Program at the University of Findlay.
Oh yeah.
I got it!
big smiles here.
Although, it is "unofficial"..my own colleague does not yet know.
But it's all good.
The job is mine.
I am in shock about it really.
I've been thinking about it, doing it for so long, that the fact that I can rest in the fact that I got it, well, it's just too much for me to consider.
Sounds strange, I know, but it's true!
Can you believe it?
Now I really HAVE to go back to school and get that doctorate.
Crazy, crazy, crazy!
Not sure when the announcement will come, but should be soon.
Until then, mum's the word..yeah, not like this blog isn't public or anything.
ha ha
On a different note, Matt did not hear yesterday.
But when he went to the Dr., he told him immediately that he would need to have it out, whatever the "it" is.
He was handing him names of surgeons in Cleveland and Columbus- so at this point, we are facing this, a surgery with an overnight stay.
But all will be well.
I know this.
I'll keep you posted...
Cheers!

American Idol: Hometown Edition

Had a (literally) rocking time visiting family this past weekend. 
We had a surprise b-day party for my cousin who was turning 50, my whole family turned out for the event.  It was nice being all together, in fact, I can't remember the last time we were all in the same vicinity like that.  I am kind of in the middle..my first cousins are about 10 years older and my second cousins are about 10 years younger.  It's nice though, cause I get along with all of them.
My one cousin, Jessie- he is the most unassuming guy around.
He doesn't say much, doesn't stand out in a crowd.
So, when he whipped out the American Idol for the Wii, I was a  bit surprised.
And then, he proceeded to sing.
What?
He can sing!
In fact, to my surprise, I can too!
ha ha
We had American Idol in the living room.
Each taking a turn, waiting for the thumbs up from Simon and Randy.
Of course Paula, she always gives the thumbs up. 
Whatever Paula, get your own brain and use it.
Matt even participated (aka Gibson) and kicked some idol butt.
However, his downfall was the James Blunt "You're Beautiful"..a bit to high, unless of course you have taken a shot to the nuts.
It came down to Jess and myself...
scoring a perfect on Kiss Me and Heart of Glass..
then I had to sing Baby, baby..(dang it Britt..)..which was a close to perfect..
the last and final song I had was Rhianna's Unfaithful..a perfect score.
Jess..he gave "Tainted Love" a shot, and well, the crowd loved him more.
He was the winner...
I will get you next time guy.
It was great fun.  Carly was loving it as well, my party girl.  She told one person they should not be smoking and another why drinking beer was bad for them.  In fact, she told them that if they would just "read the consumer warning on the side of the can, they would be able to figure that out for themselves".
ha ha.
Abby, well, she told me that she "didn't like parties"..
hmm....who does that sound like?
:)
Overall, a really good visit.  So good to hang with family.
Loved finally meeting baby Conner- what a sweet pea.
Now, back to work today.
One last big push to end this semester.
Cheers all!

Wine Tasting 101

So last night I dragged my husband back on campus for the first ever, invitation only wine tasting.
Did you know that there is actually a class called the "beverage class"?
Yep.
You can pay big bucks to actually take this class and learn about beer and wine.
They actually drink at every class.
Wine and beer.
They learn about grapes and hops..what food goes with which wine.
We got to sample six wines and have tons of fun appetizers (salmon, cheeses, crackers, fruits, and nuts)
I am so going to audit that class next fall..
if I'm there, that is. 
It's Friday, good times.
Today is slightly crazy (although, really, what day is not...)
I have class, then dialysis, then back to school.
Once I'm done for the day, we are taking off to Steubenville to hang with the family.
My hubby is having a biopsy today on his neck, and the thought of them jamming a needle in his neck is driving us both a little nutty.
He has some type of lump there, some issue with his thyroid.  It's been an insane medical week for him, tons of appointments which included a cat scan.
He should be fine, but we have to make sure.
Just when you thought is was safe to go back in the water....

Happy Friday all- Cheers!

Still waiting....

I was glad to see I was not the only one lining up at the post office yesterday at 5:15 to drop those beloved taxes off.
Always meet the deadline..
just right at the deadline.
I know that would drive most of you crazy.
You can totally count on me to get the job done, just don't panic when it isn't done one second before it is due.
Most of you wonder..
yes, I'm still waiting.
I am so not good at waiting.
The longer I wait to hear, the more bitter I become.
I have been totally let down by this process of a "national search".
My colleague, whom I trusted to help me this year, guide me in the right direction..
he has used my vulnerabilities against me.
I am so angry with him.
All trust is gone....
I made up my mind I was going to be all business from now on.
But that is so difficult for me.
I am a person who loves personal relationships.
Chatting, closeness, camaraderie..
that's what I am all about.
So forcing myself NOT to be that way, well, it is difficult. 
Yesterday we were together all day long and it was a real effort to ignore him and act normal.
I keep reminding myself that nothing good in life comes easy.
Yeah, right.
As I wrap up this semester, I can't help but think this has to end soon.
And I will be so glad.
Until then..
Cheers!

Lazy Day

Never quite sure what to do with myself on days like these.
How do you deal with a day when there is no schedule?
ha ha
Yesterday, Carly had her first soccer game, which was totally kick butt.
They won (of course, who is keeping score) and my baby scored two goals.
Despite the frigid cold, drizzly day, it was a great experience!
Love the game of soccer.
I would have taken a picture, but me, being the good friend that I am, allowed my buddy Robin to borrow it for her babies bday :)
Not a problem at all friend.
There will be plenty more opportunities to snap photos to share.
This week will be a hectic one.
My job?  Still don't know.  It of course is shrouded in controversy.  A long, long story, but nothing to my doing.  The process itself was "tainted" and now, they are making history trying to resolve it.
So I wait.
And wait.
Wondering what the future will hold.
This weekend we will be heading to Steubenville for a surprise bday party.
Autumn, I sure hope you guys are going to be there.  Need to see that baby of yours!
Cathy, get that scrapbook stuff together..
I'll need something to do soon.  ha ha
Yes, I did finish my taxes yesterday..need to just find a few more deductions.
That's me..
Just in the nick of time.
Happy Sunday all...two more weeks of April and then it's over.
School, church on Wednesday nights, it's all going to end.
Then I will complain about being bored.
Remind me about the craziness, will ya?
:)
Cheers!