I believe I am in trouble. I am excited to finally bring my wart into the world, although I hope my teaching this year doesn't ruin all of the excitement. I don't know why it is so hard for the class I have this year to figure out that if they will line up without being so ANNOYING they would actually get to go to recess early. I don't think I am asking too much, in fact I am offering a reward. Instead we are always getting to recess a couple of minutes late so we can "practice". Don't let me give you the complete wrong impression. Sometimes they actually make it on time. I am not going to budge on this one so, we will see what happens. I may just snap and end up yelling for them to "Shut Their Traps". I am really good at that you know.
So, last week I had a birthday. It was a nice somewhat relaxing day. It was the day before school began for my students. I had to work, but sometimes it isn't so bad when I actually have time to get stuff done in my classroom.
My first gift was a nice visit from rabidrunner and the two Yahoo's. It was great to have a visit at work. They brought me a fabulous "hand crafted" beanie and a cute dress. The dress was a little big read on to understand why.
My parents and sisters gave me clothing to wear to work.
My dear hubby gave me silicon oven mitts and trivets, two Big Bubba Kegs, and money to buy new clothes. He knows better than to try and guess my size.
Another sister gave me the DVD "Wild Hogs" I recommend it to all.
I also received two cookbooks from a friend and from a sister-in-law.
I think my best gift actually came on the day after my birthday. I had a doctor's appointment and my hubby and I got our first look at our Yahoo in the making. We saw its little heart beating like mad, weird looking eyes, and limbs with fingers and toes. We were also able to see it move twice. It was quite exciting. It has been a little hard to believe that after 6 years we are finally on the road to parenthood. WOW!!
I didn't scan our ultra sound photo in, but it looks something like this:
It sort of looks like it's not much, but to us it was the best news in a long time!
I couldn't let this moment pass without paying a special tribute to Xana-Diva-Delux and her blog Xanadua. I was reading it yesterday and having a bit of trouble with the way my eyes were responding to the colors. Upon moving to the comment section I noticed that el rabido had requested a theme song be placed on the blog. I took the opportunity to request new colors. The Diva responded very un-Diva like. She didn't throw a fit about it. She made the changes and now has given rabidrunner a run for her money for the best blog ever prize(if you know me everything is a competition).
I was feeling a little down and having more of my usual tummy troubles. Then I remembered Xana-Diva-Delux and her theme song. I instantly went to the sight. The song began and I danced around the room feeling the best I had all day. THANKS X-D-D! The best part is my dear hubby loves me all the more for playing the Xanadua song over and over and over and over. . .
I recently took a trip to the land of Disney. What an experience! First of all I highly recommend the Fastpass system and the 3 day "Park Hopper" pass. While you're in the newer of the two parks be sure to ride the "Tower of Terror" it is one of the best thrill rides ever.(my dear hubby who jumps off cliffs while skiing went on it 2 times in a row).
Anyway, to the real point of all the "happiness". This place is full of screaming and crying kids. I couldn't believe that I hadn't noticed this in past trips. One example of the "happiness" torture was when I went to help my sister-in-law with the 4 year old while she changed her little one. There are several diaper changing stations that are well equipped with supplies. That doesn't mean there wasn't a huge line waiting for a spot. This should be expected considering the lines everywhere else. Of course all of the children are screaming or at least whining. So, our turn comes the duty is done then sister-in-law needs to use the john herself. I volunteer to take the kids out so the 4 year old won't touch anything (I know my hubby wouldn't let him close if he thinks he might be contaminated). The little one becomes very distraught about this and sets into a new set of "happiness". To push him out in the stroller I have to tilt it back because of the violent tantrum. While exiting the restroom I receive several understanding glances, and a few looks of "can't you control that child". I might have been pushed way over the top by all of this if I hadn't been with the hubby. As we would walk around the park or wait in line if the kids would begin to cry he would say(in a voice my typing can never do justice):
STOP CRYING, THIS IS THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH!!!!!!
If you know my dear hubby you would know why I would laugh in my wonderful cackle and had the gumption to wait in just a few more lines. Keep all this in mind the next time you plan a trip to the land of "Disney". Don't say you won't because you just never know!
P.S. If you are the type who likes the whole celebrity watching thing go when a new ride is opening. We saw a ton of the rich and famous type. See if you recognize this "Law and Order" chick with her baby. I am not talking about the little girl who thought I was taking her picture! Check out the shoes obviously the celebrities didn't have to wait in line.
So, as I sit here looking out my front window watching the adorable little quail family cruise around I think to myself, "Am I a mean person?" I don't quite know the answer, I guess it is highly possible that I am. It is equally possible that some people are just plain rude.
BACKGROUND
I feel that the hubby and I are fairly generous people. We don't have a lot, (hubby hasn't had a job in the past 4 years, law school, and as previously mentioned I am a teacher), but we try to think of others and give when we can. So, the entire inner struggle began about a month ago. A male who happens to live in close proximity to us came by to show his new mountain bike to dear hubby. During the conversation the need for shock oil came up. My dear beloved quickly offered some of his (2 different unopened containers I might add). Both males then ventured down to the "gear room" (we have a lot of sporting gear as a result of a previous job of the hubby). The bike was oiled the spouse mentioned that one container would not be used and could be kept. The other male said great and took both. WOW!
Shortly after this visit the female also living in close proximity comes by and asks my hubby if we know anyone who has a baby carrying backpack. Now here is where it gets interesting. We have not been blessed/cursed with children. We do happen to have a very expensive (remember we are not affluent) baby backpack purchased during the time of the previous mentioned job. This backpack has been saved for 4 years hoping we might finally be able to have children and use it. My hubby knows that the other male would have seen this in the "gear room" so says that we do. The female then asks is they can use it. My hubby decides to let them take it on the day hike as it has been made to sound. He then proceeds to go and fetch it. The female says don't get it now we’ll come later. Turns out that they are going on a week trip to a very hot and sandy location. When the male came to pick it up he says, "Is this thing hard to figure out?" My hubby says in a short tone, "I don't know we haven't used it!" The male says, "Great, Thanks!" WOW! We let them take it all the while quite disturbed about the matter. Call us pushovers, but think hard about how you would really respond in an entrapment like that. So the backpack returns mostly unharmed. The hubby and I decide that we will limit our contact with this male and female and be prepared to say, "We aren't comfortable with lending that." upon future encounters. Then we try to put the issue behind us. I had even wrestled with whether or not to blog it. Then this morning happened.
CAKE TOPPER
Today I am out taking care of the flowers. While watering I’m chatting with a neighbor. The previously mentioned female comes over joining the conversation and says, “I was going to come over last night and borrow a cute shirt from you, but your car was gone.” Once again I am not prepared for the boldness. Out of surprise I say, “Which one?” She then says, “I don’t know I just wanted to look through your closet and see what I liked.” WOW, WOW, WOW! All I could think to say was, “Yeah, I wasn’t home.” Maybe I am mean and selfish for not wanting people to come and pick what they “like” from my stuff. I can live with that. I just need to work on being rude back.
I guess I should be thankful that nobody has asked, “Can I borrow your breast pump?” Oh wait, I don’t have one yet!
So, I was driving home from work the other day, yes I drive the average American commute of 30 min., listening to a "Hardcore History" podcast. The topic was what happened to the people of the Bronze Age. I was obviously not paying attention because I began wondering where my Annie lunch box from second grade went. (which I am sure was sent to the local thrift store years ago) This thought then led me to wonder why school lunch is now so vile. You see I had the lunch box but it was rarely used. My family qualified for reduced lunch prices so we usually ate school lunch. Which I didn't mind especially on the chicken soup and cheese bun days. As an educator I now see first hand what types of lunches the children get and I also understand why there is a childhood obesity problem. Everything is prepackaged and most often full of trans fatty acids and other disturbing goop.
This entire thought process chain was quickly forgotten until last Saturday. I had a few hours to hang out at home (this is a rare thing for me). I decided to make a nice breakfast for myself and the hubby. While cooking I turned on the T.V. hoping for some good ol' "Saturday Morning Cartoons". I quickly found myself thinking what happened to all of the "good" cartoons. I couldn't even figure out what was going on let alone get a little chuckle from the silly things. Don't even get me started on the weird animation. I then had a flashback to my thoughts from a few days prior when I wondered where my lunch box was. I wondered what happened to "Bugs Bunny", "Scooby Doo" and "The Jetsons". I decided they are lost like the Annie lunch box.
I guess through all of my random thoughts I now understand why the kids I teach seem to get more difficult with each passing year. They don't have Annie lunch boxes. They eat food filled with junk. They are deprived of happy entertainment. I want Annie and Bugs Bunny back!
So the latest new "safe" thing is listed on the yahoo site's tech link. Wi-Fi blocking paint. It is supposed to help those who have unprotected wireless networks. Sound a little like the taboo of unprotected something else. . .?
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/hughes/10031/wi-fi-blocking-paint
If you don't have time to look at the link here is a brief clip of the "useful" product:
"wireless blocking paint. One coat of this paint 'creates an electromagnetic fortress by preventing airborne hackers from intercepting signals.' "
Just the term "electromagnetic fortress" makes me cringe. I am not one of those cancer fearing folks, but this just screams of one big cancer trap or one big government trap.(I will get to that later). What is the paint lead? Not to mention is it "GREEN" a topic I am becoming familiar with thanks to a dear friend. I fear somehow that this new paint will only lead (nice lead and lead in the same paragraph try teaching the difference to children) to more people having a false sense of security and an increase in identy theft.
The post later suggests a possible use in a movie theater to block cell phone use. Wouldn't that cause problems in our homes? I am one of those annoying/with the times (depending on how you look at it) people who doesn't use a landline. Wouldn't I be an idiot to paint my walls with something that would block my use of the all important telecommunication device. I guess you might want to keep some people from getting through. I personally have a better plan than blocking all possible calls. Just get a number that is long distance for all of your neighbors. It will really make them crazy and is good for a few laughs on your part.
Well, back to the government. I have a husband who is a little into conspiracy theories. This reeks of such. What's next fireproof houses and the burning of all books?
(The final sentence is a throwback to one of my favorite novels Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury check it out on "Wikipedia" if you are not familiar or better yet read it!)
