F~O~C~U~S

so I do believe I have accepted the word FOCUS for my word of the year. I am going to try this out vs useless resolutions that I will not attempt to keep a week into the new year.

so, I am going to FOCUS on many things this year:
I hope to FOCUS on de-cluttering my life and my space and living with less "stuff"
I hope to FOCUS on the positive things that I can do on a daily basis
I also hope to FOCUS on my family thru-out the year

What is your word going to be???

what is your word?

It is that time of year. Christmas and Hanukkah are both over (and still need to be put away around here) but Ali has reminded me that it is that time of year to pick ONE word that will influence you for the entire year of 2010!!

She has chosen the word STORY and I have been thinking hard about the word that I will pick for this year.......There is one that keeps popping into my head and I keep saying to mysef-"that isn't it" but it just might be.

I will keep you posted as I ponder it for a bit. For the time being-FOCUS.

What is your word?

Holy Stuff BATMAN

All that I can say, is OMG was Santa ever good to this family.
Christmas Eve was spent in St. Pete at Johnnie's mom's house. We had a very nice evening full of wayyyyy too much food and lil man opened up his gifts from Uncle Dave. Everyone had fun putting racetracks together and launching cars and airplanes thru the house.

We got home just in time to feed the reindeer their special reindeer food before one very tired lil guy passed out. He was so excited for Santa. I couldn't imagine what time he might pry my eyes open in the morning but he was very patient and waited. I heard him up before 7am but he waited until I opened my eyes before rushing to wake Daddy up.

The next few hours were a complete and total blurr of excitement as SP family came over and joined us in opening the tremendous number of gifts we received. DH made a fabulous breakfast pizza and we ate that with danish, donuts, fruit and drank lots of coffee from my new Keurig.

Then had to prepare to go over to Aunt Sue's. Made my spinach dip as requested by Mitch and off we went to have lunch with the fam and open gifts..........from there we went to SP to Aunt Pat's to do what? Eat and open gifts.
By 8pm we headed back to Aunt Sue's.........no more gift opening, but oh did I mention that we had dessert and coffee???

I ate more yesterday that I usually do in 3 days combined, but it was all delish. The choc. cake last night was to DIE for-diabetic overdose I swear but as my dad would say, so worth it. HA.
We didn't get home until nearly 11pm and at that point neither Johnnie or I could sleep.

What an incredible day we had. For several years all of our "running" on Christmas used to literally wipe me out and it was just TOOOOO much. It was usually very overwhelming. Yesterday didn't seem that way. We reflected on that and how nice it was at each stop.

Joshua made out like NO ONE ever should but truthfully, we ALL did. I said outloud that I hoped that all my 'kids' at school had a nice holiday and how truly fortunate that I feel to have received so much luv and kindness in the last week.

Life is good. However, Santa DID forget to bring me a place to put all this stuff. OY. Where shall I begin???
Thankfully I have a week or so to figure that out.

I hope that Santa was equally as kind and generous to you and yours.

another proud moment

So Weds. was the last day of karate camp. Dh woke up with a sick sinus headache and by the time it was nearly noon and off to p/u our lil camper, he felt well enough to join me. We get there and peak thru the window as they wrap up. Go inside after we were spotted and he gets called up to the front of the gym.

One big, "HaYA" and board strike with his knee .......broken in half, clean thru on his first try. WOW.
He was so proud of himself and let me tell you, one of the MUCH bigger boys walks up to him after class and says, "Josh, you are truly a WINNER". That boy's Mama needs to be very proud as well.

So much to do in the next couple of days, including sewing his silver star onto his uniform before karate camp next week.

One proud Mama moment

So my lil guy started karate camp yesterday.....he has been taking "classes" at his daycare/preschool since transferring there last January. It is about a 30 minute class once a week and despite my numerous efforts to get there in time, it took me almost 10 months to actually meet his instructor.(Aunt Sue and Grandma met him LONG before I was able to).

About three weeks ago I got an email from the karate school talking about karate camps this week and next while the kiddos are out of school and since there is no VPK, we decided what the heck.
OMG, he has absolutely LUVED it.

Yesterday there were only about 8 or so kids there, but today, OMG the gym was packed. They worked out for THREE straight hours. My child is the youngest one in the gym and the tiniest but among the loudest I can tell you that.

At the conclusion of class today, he got called to the front of the gym and was given a medal for being the most improved, for listening and for being focused for the entire time. Let me tell you, this Mommy was C~R~Y~I~N~G as my lil guy said, "thank you SIR!!" and bowed to Mr. Duane.

He also received his NEW Black Belt Club uniform AND his yellow belt.

ONE very proud Mama moment today and ya know what? Daddy was there for every second of it.

Henry oh Henry

Last night we went over to St. Pete. I should begin with first, the boys all went to the train show at the fairgrounds. They had a blast and I had about 4 hours to myself to work on some crafty "things"-although I didn't get to finish em up.

Then we all went to St. Pete. We had dinner. I was so in the mood for a good turkey club so I surprised everyone when I ordered one. FIL ordered lasagna and when they brought it over, you should have seen his face.
Needless to say, it just wasn't worth listening to him all night, so I had lasagna and he devoured my turkey club(w/o saying thank u I might add).

After dinner, the inlaws both bailed on us and sil, and the three of us drove down to Straub Park. The line to see Santa was HIDEOUSLY long, but our good luck got us a carriage ride in a big beautiful carriage this year, pulled by none other than Henry the horse who took us out for a ride two years ago this time.
It is a shame that MIL and FIL didn't join us cause they would have really enjoyed it. The weather was perfectly brisk and the lights on the water and in the park were very festive.

This morning we were all up early baking home-made cookies for a cookie xchange that Joshy and I are going to later. Pretty much everyone knows, I am a great cook, but "I do not bake". I think after 42 years I figured out why today.

When I cook, I am just like Daddy.......a little of this and a dash of that. KWIM? It never tastes xactly the same twice, but usually(not always ) good.
This cookie thing, it requires following a recipe which is just another way of saying "following written directions."
I can NOT do that well, okay not at all. So whether it is cookies, or putting together a bookshelf, there is a reason that Johnnie does that kinda stuff around here cause,
I am Jackie Durning and I can't follow written direction....

I will confess though that I made from scratch two different kinds of cookies today and although they do not look nearly as pretty as the photos in the Santa Cookie Book (and I could hear Uncle Bill, our family baker, telling me I was doing it wrong) they all taste good. However, Johnnie's LOOK 100% better :)

Let's hope that we have a successful xchange. I have never been to one of these before. Perhaps I will host it in the future. LOL.

A good luck wish to SIL, Patty as she begins a new job tomorrow. She has been out of work for over a year, so this is a VERY good thing.

Joshy goes to karate camp this week and is so xcited that he earned his yellow belt on Friday and I am thrilled to have 3 hours per day to myself.

Happy Sunday to all,
Scrappin' Jax

BC Pills

not a topic that I am usually one to discuss as I have not been on these for YEARS, but we were talking about it at a faculty meeting yesterday and it MUST be discussed.

Just in case anyone still reads this thing, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE make sure that anyone that you know that does take BC pills is NOT , I repeat NOT TAKING Yaz.

We had a perfectly healthy parent at our school.....28 years old, had just passed the FL Bar Exam and was to begin her new job at the State Attorney's office on Monday. Friday, she suffered a SEVERE stroke and was not found for 4 hours, which is LONG passed the time that the meds can be administered to counteract the stroke. The prognosis was grim. She would survive but would more than likely NOT function the way that she should ever again.

I am happy to report, that although at this time, her skull has still be removed until the swelling is reduced, she has gone home and is back with her family. She has a LONG road ahead, but her job is being held for her :)
Of course, she was w/o health insurance as she was due to begin her job days afterward. Due to the no insurance, her doctor gave her ONE , just ONE month supply of the Yaz birth control pill to hold her over.

The hospital ran a specific test the confirms that there was a protein present that is ONLY present with this form of pill, so it is definitively this pill that caused an otherwise healthy 28 year old mother to have a life altering stroke.

YAZ is often prescribed for teenagers with acne as well as for the usual use. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, tell everyone you know to get off this medicine. It is DEADLY. The company that manufactures it has had to recently change their advertising and is being sued left and right, but you do NOT want your daughter, wife, sister, aunt, cousin or best friend to be the next woman that is hurt by this medicine.

I KNOW this little girl personally as she attends my school. Please say a prayer for her entire family and pass this on to whomever you know that may know someone who takes oral contraceptives.

you know

it is pretty bad when u get "removed" from the sidebar.

guessing that I really shouldn't care but truth be told, I do. I wish that I didn't and I am quite certain that I will survive. I was never involved in being in the IN clique......

at this point I am in NO clique and thinkin bout startin my own. HA.

Happy Hannukkah to all who celebrate. We had a great first night last night at Aunt Sue's. Joshy and I got super spoiled. Not sure if my new Keurig coffee maker or my 1000 tc sheets are my favorite but I will let ya know when I get up tomorrow.

Joshy had a non-stop birthday celebration turning five on Nov. 22nd and spending a fabulous weekend at Disney for the first time. He lost his second tooth at Magic Kingdom and the tooth fairy leaves Disney dollars when that happens.
His firefighter birthday party last weekend was outstanding and thanks to our "angels" who took care of the weather for us.

This weekend has been wonderful thus far. We all had an awesome time at the boat parade tonite. Thanks Stacy and all the Bay Crest gang for making it a lovely evening.

My knee hurts so I am off to bed. Good thoughts and prayers for Stacy's mom and Linda M.'s hubby that are both in the hospital this weekend. Thinking good thoughts and lower blood sugar for both of them as they are both diabetic and suffering from complications.

I go back to the othro on Friday to hear the results of my MRI. wish me luck.

shame shame

on me as i have been a bad bad blogger. however, i am not quite certain that anyone really cares these days.

have had some very busy weeks and weekends are worse. not complaining, it is just life.

joshy has TWO loose teeth which makes me incredibly sad. he is my one and only baby and he will be losing his baby teeth any minute and that means that although he will always be my baby, he isn't my baby anymore.
it is hard to remember the days when he weighed less than 6 lbs, esp. on nights like tonite when I had to attempt to carry him inside asleep.
that lil bugger weighs in at over 53 pounds and is nearly as tall as me, which i KNOW isn't saying much but there wasn't a chance in hell that I was gonna get him upstairs.

He was plopped onto the couch til daddy came home to help.

He still isn't sleeping well or feeling 100 percent and I hate that i can't make him feel better. He is also incredibly sad cause his favorite teacher, Ms. Vicky is leaving on Friday. "She is leaving us AGAIN Mommy," he whined in the car this afternoon. I can't believe we are going to lose her AGAIN.
We had Ms. Vicky at Pozee last year and she followed us to Panda Hugs. She leaves to embarque on a new adventure and I wish her well, but oh boy are we going to miss you Vicky.
On a happy note, we are getting Ms. Ericka back and we luv Ms. Ericka......
So many changes.

Our papa pup-a-kid, KC is not doing well at all. Joshy has such empathy.......ensuring that we are treating him right and reminding us both that KC is sick so you have to be more gentle with him.

Gosh I luv that lil guy and the lil man he is turning into. Even if he isn't a baby anymore, he is MY baby and I will luv him forever, Like him for always...........

it must be LUV

so tonite we met my teaching partner and family at cici's for a kid friendly kinda dinner and what else should ya have on friday night? pizza. surely not the best in town or close to it, but.....

we sit down and one cutie patootie lil 3 yr. old girl says, "HI Joshy and Joshy's Mommy."
we say hi back to her and the rest of the family.

we all begin eating dinner(since one lil 4 yr. old boy is told on the drive there that he isn't going to get to play games TIL he eats)-at which point he tells me that he ate a very big lunch and doesn't think he will be hungry to eat too much.......

so we are eating, talking etc when all of a sudden, 3yr old girls says, "Joshy, I LUV LUV LUV you!@
adorable.

dinner continues, adult conversation takes place and 3 and 4 year old are off playing games(within safe vision range). back and fourth, checking in, filling my purse with the usual loot that one wins in the stupid machines all the while emptying my purse of yet another dollar.

down to one dollar and awaiting to go pizza for daddy to be ready(yes, he got caught in U2 traffic that took him 3 hours to get home from work in Lakeland today-told him he should have gone to NPR, but who listens to me.)
anyone, blonde 4 yr. old boy asks for dollar again. I reply with NO.
and as I sit there telling friends that he always asks and wouldn't take w/o permission etc, what does the little you know what do???????

grabs the dollar and BOLTS to the back where the machines are-3yr old cutie chasing right behind and JUST as he is slipping that crumpled dollar into the change machine-BUSTED.

my blood is boiling, my heart is racing...........that little.............................

i don't yell.
i don't scream.
i don't speak.
i point. to the chair. he complies.
still no voice from me.
point to the carseat and in he goes.

i am calming down. i ask 4yr. old boy if he knows why i am so upset?
4 yr old boy: yes, because i took the dollar after u said no.
mommy: feeling better now, i ask him if he knows that what he did is wrong?
4 yr old boy: yes mommy, i do know i shouldn't have taken it, but 3 year old girl is upset cause she wants more toys and mommy, i just wanted to make _____________insert 3year old girl's name here- happy."

OMG,,,,,,is he serious?
why yes he is. HEARTBREAKER< CHARMER<

TINSKY!!!!

Law School savings account being opened soon and btw, teaching partner, you had better start the wedding fund!!!!!!
either way you look at it, we are in TROUBLE.

what a busy........coupla days

yesterday started at the neuro by 8:15am. the traffic at that time of day is insane. why would anyone do that each day, i can not figure out. oy. good appt and got another rx for yet another med to try to keep me from feeling like i got run over by a truck. she also gave me two weeks worth of samples for the medication that wonderful pharmacy couldn't figure out how to refill so, just in case, there will be no more seratonin withdrawals. hooray.

got to school early, after buying 21 more bottles of soda at publix. u gotta luv a bargain, or at least i do. nothing like buying 3 two liter bottles for $3. then taking $2 off with the flyer coupon AND getting yet another 55 cents off each one from the coupon stuck to the bottle. my dad was smiling at that one.
ended up in a 45 minute conference with a parent in the office, oops, sorry Anna, I DID plan to be in the room early.......so much for re-arranging the furniture.
LONG plc meeting,(please do NOT get me started on all of the new testing and accomodation stuff that we discussed cause I do not want my heart racing that fast again), p/u Joshy(who would NOT leave pre-k classroom)., dropping him off at home, picking up KC and heading off to a new holistic vet for a 6pm appt.

KC luved them. First of all, he played tug-o-war with me in the waiting room for about 10 min. Someone forgot to tell this dog that he sick and I am luvin that. He is acting like he always has and he is SUCH a good baby.......THREE hours later, the vet tech dragged the doc outta the room and I didn't get home to have dinner til 9:15. What a day.
KC got a thorough work-up, accupuncture and a new slew of herbal remedies to keep him feeling good.
Ya know, I am not into "hokey" stuff, but at this point, the fact is, he has a mast cell tumor in his mouth. It is malignant, it is going to kill him :( but if we can do "things" to continue to allow us to luv him, why the hell not????????

And for those of you (like my husband) who are wondering just how much three prescriptions, accupunture and three hour appt with this said vet costs??? Lemme tell you, I can spend way more than that in about 30 minutes at Target. Literally.
It cost me $120. How can i not do that for my papa pup-a-kid??

I will keep ya posted.
LONG short(early release day ) for me today too.
I also had to "trick" Joshy into getting a flu shot at Drs. Walk In Clinic, but he forgave me......and couldn't believe how brave he was.

We finished up the day by picking out some new fish for our fishtank and he was tickled to float them until Daddy came home.

Working on crop stuff, have BOD meeting tomorrow and a WHOLE lotta nothin over the weekend. okay, gotta score some writing tests but that is relaxing.

Anna and I DID manage to re-arrange the entire classroom today and wanna hear this..........21 out of 22 did their homework and one did XTRA. first time for this group and i am feeling xhausted and elated.

Sweet dreams,
Tad

Happy Anniversary

to me and dh .......six years ago 2night we were married on N. Redington Beach at sunset.
our six years of marriage has truly been a roller coaster ride, and admittedly, as much as i HATE roller coasters, I wouldn't wanna be riding this one with anyone else.

Happy Anniversary Johnnie Boy.

oh what a mood

i was in yesterday. watch out.
now i have pms, so that is xpected but the rest of it was NOT my fault.
having seratonin withdrawls is NOT fun........you turn your head and although it is now facing all the way to the right, it still feels like it is on the left. ugh. add dizzy, nauseus and crabby to the mix and lemme tell ya, you did NOT want to be the IDIOT on the other end of the phone at the pharmacy yesterday.

I guess that my being somewhat evil worked or scared the guy badly enough that he overnighted my medication and get this.........it was the RIGHT one this time. hmm, only took 10 days, three phonecalls, them blaming four other people for the mistake and charging my cc for meds i didnt' order and i am NO longer on.

well u get the hint. if ya dont' hear from me for a couple days it is simply cause i am overdosing on pexeva to get it back into my system. ahhhhhhhhhhh good drugs-all legal of course.

by the way, tomorrow johnnie boy and i will celebrate 6 six of being married :)
makes me happy and sad, makes me realize i have never been married this long but oh how i miss my daddy. maybe i will be able to watch my wedding video?????? i have yet to do that. I bet i could handle it now and Joshy has been asking to see the pics etc. I think that is the plan.

Have a great weekend.
Jax

oh so sleepy

I feel like I spend at least one day each weekend lately trying to catch up and just being plain ole lazy. NOT a good feeling and I can't keep doing it. I think that a call to my neuro is in order tomorrow.

Last weekend we had such an incredible time at MaSquerade. Deb, Chris, Johnnie, Aunt Sue and I really enjoyed getting all dolled up and going to support the cause. The Felder family certainly worked their tails off obtaining donations and more. Do you know that they had a signed helmet of every single SuperBowl MVP player ever!!?? With a starting bid of $6000 lets just say that sucker did not come home with anyone that I know. LOL. I did win a couple of raffles and one auction and all the while supporting the NMSS. I even danced if you can believe that.

Had a good week at school as my new group and I try to get into the groove and routine. We are getting there and they are a "good" group of sweeties. My Spanish is getting better and better as Karla's English continues to improve as well.

Josh is Josh........John works too long and KC is doing great. Can NOT ask for anymore than that and I will not.

Off to finish up the laundry.
Jax

a family asking for help

I read a post on our school internal this weekend. Several years ago, I had the joy of teaching an incredible boy named Efrain. He made SUCH progress in the year that I had him and I am always thrilled when he comes back to visit.

This is a kid who does the 5th grade dvd of memories for our entire elementary school each year, even now as nearly a high school student. he has never forgotten his elementary roots. So, it was with great sadness when i read that he reached out to our speech therapist this week with a phonecall telling her that they house had internally had a fire in it over the summer.

they lost about everything and mom also lost her job. they have nothing but the shell of the house and are still living in it.

it made me sad. it made me want to do SOMETHIGN anything for these people. It made me realize just HOW much we have in our lives that we take for granted each day............

I am going thru my closets, drawers, linen closets, toiletries and gift cards that I stash away for whenever.............
I am challenging each employee at my school to pitch in one dollar.....one dollar is nothing, yet if we all do it, we can help to feed this family for a week or more.

I challenge you all as well. Do something, anything, please to help someone that might be less fortunate than u r..........email me if you would like more info or simply put one dollar(or more) in an evelope and mail it to:

Efrain Rivera, 10117 Timber Oaks, Ct. Tampa, 33615

Thanks to all of the bloggers out there. Help with anything ..........
Scrappin Jax

customer service

So, I never did get out of my jammies yesterday and it felt GOOD. I needed a day of a whole lotta nothing. My throat isn't sore anymore so maybe I knocked it outtta my s ystem.

Monday mornings are NOT my favorite, esp. now that I have to have JD at VPK at 9am. UGH. I had the best intentions and let me add that we have NOT battled once yet. He jumps in the shower with his dad and then gets dressed w/o me even assisting... it is great.

So, we head out to the car to get to school on time.......and my car battery had other ideas. The one that appeared most pressing on its mind was NOT to work today. Now Jen, Stacey and some others would say, just change it cause we did it with Jen's car not too long ago, but I didn't have Jen to take me to Wal Mart to buy a new battery. LOL.

After a quick call to Hyundai Roadside assistance, a nasty to call to dh about leaving the overhead light on in my car, and not even 10 minutes later the PopALock guy pulls into my driveway.
WOW.
I was less than thirty minutes late in getting JD to school and that included calling to tell them we would be late. WOW. I DID call the local Tpa POPALOCK guy to say a BIG thank you. Great customer service. I had originally been quoted 60 minutes, but the guy stopped on his way to another call since he was passing my house. How do u like that??? GR-8 customer service......he even made me laugh and it wasn't a laughing kinda mornin . KWIM?

Totally off topic here, but my step sister told me something when my dad died. She said, Jackie, let him come to you and ironically that is the ONLY thing I remember from that horrible week.
Well, Saturday while Aunt Sue was here typing up info about Uncle Bill for the lawyer, Johnnie went to p/u Chinese food for dinner. The number on our bag was 522. (May 22 was Uncle Bill's birthday).
Today when I called to rave about the POPALOCK dude, they asked for the number on my ticket.......wouldn't ya know, it was 219?? (Dad's birthday was Feb. 19th)

So, let them come to you!! any way that they can.

Glad that this Monday is over.

sunday

As much as I hate to admit it, my throat feels a bit sore. UGH. I do NOT wanna get sick. So, as I sit here at nearly 4:30 pm, I am still in my pj's trying to take it easy today. I sure hope it helps.

I have done plenty for the ms crop this weekend. yeah. I feel a bit overwhelmed by it all and school, so it is good to have a down day I am guessing.

Hoping that everyone had a productive weekend as well. I am going back to bed, I think.

slack blogger

but does anyone even read this thing and care??? not sure. leave me some luv.

back to school now for nearly two weeks. the first six days were FULL days and i now know why my neuro will not let me work full time anymore. i am still trying to catch up on stuff and feel like i have been run over by a mack truck. wowzers.

i have 21 new kiddos and they all seem very sweet ..........my new partner and i have gotten it together and the room looks good and we were ready. MANY USA and Olympic ideas swimming in my head for our theme this year. FUN FUN FUN.

sadly, our school(and many others in the area) are very low in numbers. that may mean some MAJOR unit losses for us and LOTS of shifting of units and people. everything is crossed that this will NOT happen.

KC is doing well. I got a call from the second vet yesterday just to see how he is tolerating his meds. i thanked them for doing that and found it very sweet of them. he is running round, happily eating his special food and taking his meds like a champ. he does NOT like pumpkin, inhales salmon and cottage cheese as well. the other pups are a bit jealous of his new feeding routine, but he is prancing all over the place and truth be told, if i didn't know he was sick, i would never know. he looks great, acting normal and isn't even swollen anymore. benadryl and prednisone are doing the trick.............

Joshua went back to pre-school this week and was soooo xcited. yesterday he started vpk and luved it. today he didn't want me to leave so quickly but i exited with a big hug and kiss. now i have two hours in between taking him to school and me reporting to school. what to do with all my new found free time??? hmm, not sure. i am really going to have to get used to this new schedule.

i did pay some major bills, have a load of laundry going and caught up on some other 'stuff'. my house is soooooooooo quiet it is scary.

have a great day.......thursday but feels like weds. why oh why does our county start school for kids on tues.? and then vpk started on weds......heck, tomorrow is Fri. yeah.

It is almost over

My summer vacation that is. Now dh would tell you that my whole life is vacation, but I beg to differ. It is back to school tomorrow morning. I am not a huge fan of change, so the new school year always brings with it some anxiety for me. Some years it is worse. This is one of them. Although for the first time in 19 years of teaching, I am going to be in the same classroom........yeah, I do have a new job share partner. I am very xcited to be working with Anna. I think we are going to be a good team. My 4th grade team is going to be fantastic as well. However, it is an entirely new group of kiddos. I do not recognize a single name on my roster. Kinda scary. I remember dh 7 years ago not believing that the teachers get butterflies as well. I am here to tell ya, this teacher does.
I look forward to going back, but could def. use another week or so and could someone put in a good word that it isn't really necessary to report back at 7:30 AM? I would appreciate that.

We are nearly unpacked and done with the laundry from our week down in the Keys. Had a fantastic time filled with LOTS of laughing and hysterics but that is another post in and of itself.

The inlaws arrived home from two weeks in Alaska late last night so not sure what time zone they will be on when they do check in today.

KC did NOT get a good report from the pathologist on the mass in his mouth :( It is a stage two mast cell tumor-this is NOT good because of the location, it really can't be removed with 2cm perimeters. Awaiting a call back from the vet this week to discuss options for him. Dr. Hamilton was going to consult w/oncologists at FVS. I decided not to go the FGT and scrap. As much as I wanted to , I REALLY wanted to come home and see my KC bear........and I KNOW that those of you who are animal peeps would understand that decision.

I am attempting to give KC a high protein, no carb diet as apparently cancer luvs carbs. So, he ate some salmon, chicken and cottage cheese since we got home. He is still running round, kissing and acting just like himself........however, his face does appear to be puffier since we got home.
Say an xtra prayer for my Papa Bear poochini. He is such a luv.

Happy Sunday,
Jax who hasn't scrapped at all this summer

08-06-02

Seven years ago tonite at 7pm I walked into Outback Steakhouse on N. Dale Mabry to meet my blind date.

I won't go into specific details, but let's just say...........it has been a roller coaster ride and one that I wouldn't get off of for anything.

Happy Anniversary Froggie. I luv you...........the good, the bad, the bumps, the whirls and the twirls. You are an incredible man and I am so very glad that I didn't run outta Outback when the hostess said, "Ohhhhhh, you are Jackie. OMG OMG OMG".

Table 64...........7 years later, I am still and always will be- Baby Tad!!

always playing catch up

Considering that I really have done a whole lotta NOTHING this summer, I feel like I can not catch up.

KC update: blood work came back fine, so we scheduled a biopsy to take place this week on Tuesday. He did great and the poor lil guy still looks like he has a gumball in his mouth, but that is better than the golf ball from a couple of weeks ago. The vet feels like it is a 50/50 shot as to what the outcome could be......50% nothing(benign) and 50% melanoma.........those are NOT such great odds.
Thankfully, he is acting completely normally and doesn't appear to be in any discomfort or distress. I can NOT even imagine being told that it isn't good. They say that it typically is NOT good in the mouth..........whatever that means. I did some reading online yesterday and that didn't help me feel upbeat and positive.
I am positive that this lil guy is such a luv bug who does nothing but protect his/our family and luv us to death. So.........with that said, PLEASE say an xtra prayer as I am not prepared to lose this special Papa Pup-a-Kid and he is only 9.

Dropped off some stuff at school today. Can't believe I am going back in just over a week. OMG, so not ready for that. I am not a fan of change and this year will be lots of changes for me.
New partner, new group of kiddos and just different. I am so happy to be in the same classroom and only having to set up and not unpack. WOO HOO. However, I did nothing other than drop bags off on a table. It will all still be there on the 17th and Anna and I will both be there then.

We are going to the Keys this next week and I am ready to RELAX.

Happy Thursday,
Jax

the weeks are flying by

before I know it, it will be back to school again.
it has been a very strange summer to say the least.

my neuro appt went well last week and happily, there are NO changes on my MRI. yeah.

KC ended up at the ER vet ..........not a tumor, not a cyst, don't know what it is, but the poor lil guy looks like he has a golf ball under his gums. oh, and not, it isn't an absess having anything to do with his teeth. follow up next week, but swelling has def. gone down. yeah.

our house is all done, back to the usual disaster area that it always is. i know, we have a 4.5 year old and 5 dogs, but it DID look good for about a week. then, i got over the ocd of trying to keep it all perfect and well, if you have been here, then u KNOW.

we did finally get time off approved for dh and it will be back to the FL keys we go for almost a week. i will go to a scrappy weekend straight from there and straight back to school upon return.

aunt sue had outpatient surgery, did great. had her birthday and not a whole lot else going on truthfully.

we checked out IKEA yesterday. OMG. I had never been to one before and if I only needed to re-do my entire house they would have a bunch of my money. very cool place with lots of great ideas. luved it, but not the traffic attempting to get home from there. let me tell you, if I had to drive in traffic like that every single day, I would be suicidal. UGH.

low key weekend planned. dh, fil and ds will go fishing in the am, and then to the train show in clearwater. i am going to wsd to crop and attempt to get a couple of projects completed. heck, don't really care if i complete anything, but sure looking forward to hanging out with some of the girls.

enjoy your Friday.

Almost done

We spent a good part of today putting the kitchen BACK together. As I said before, a two person job. ALMOST done.

I threw a TON of stuff away when we took it all down and I don't mind saying that it looks a bit empty on top of one whole side of the kitchen. Hmm, I hear Val's calling my name-well just as soon as i have a paycheck again.

We are having a "battle" over the fridge.......silly I know. Mr Wonderful "kinda likes it with nothing on it". I happen to think that it looks empty and barren. Who do u think might win this battle?
We have collected magnets from nearly every place we have visited over the last seven years and they are sitting in a Tupperware bowl. I WILL win.
The photos on the fridge, I can do without although i miss them too.

Of course it is raining again, but we are progressing even though I missed the sunshine to do laundry and clean UGH.

HBD America

What a lovely weekend we have had so far. We did a BUNCH of work around the house after the owner of the painting company came to "fix" up the paint job that I was less than happy with.
It is now acceptable and I will spend the next week dusting the tops of my cabinets and returning all of the art and collectibles from our world travels to their appropriate places.

We headed over to St Pete last night so that mil could get her new cell phone. Best Buy was on my lift of things that I wanted to do this week and they happen to have Verizon in there. So, while Nanny got her new phone programmed and running, i ran over to the tv section. We walked out of their wth a 42 inch LCD tv for my master bedroom and oh my gosh, it is amazing.
Three years interst free payments on their cc and off we go.............yeah, i sat in the way bakc of the SUV curled in a ball, but heck, there are not all that many times when being my size(short and little) pays off. Last night happened to have been one of them. Small suv, 4 adults and child in booster sear all in same small SUV with HUGEEEE tv.

It is installed in my bedroom and I am luvin it. WOO HOO.

Today was so unusual for me. I am often, okay nearly every single day, awaked by my favorite lil man at no later than 7am. TOday was no different except that I told him I was not ready to get out of bed. And, I didn't. I rolled over again at 9:37 which is something that never happens and I must admit, I quite enjoyed it.

We worked together with Johnnie outside and me in the kitchen preparing burgers, salads, veggie dips, corn on the cob, and other assorted condiments ........then it was time for our own little parade. We decoted joshy's bike that I had never seen him ride and we all walked around the block with him honking his horn and it was a hoot. Note to self, if I am on the BOD we have a community bike/scooter/wagon parade for the lil ones. It was so much fun.
After that we jumped into the pool which was hugely refreshing and then we had some school friends join us.

Lovely lunch, great swimming, 3 lil boys, 5 pups, one parrot, and many proud mommies and daddies enjoying the holiday.

We are so thankful to have so many brave men and women serving to allow us to celebrate a day such as today. THANK YOU-ALL OF YOU.

Our day ended with a phenominal display of fireworks best displayed from our upstairs master bedroom windows and then a tired lil man passing out downstairs on the couch with his daddy.

I am off to watch something wonderful on my new tv. Just think although it sure feels like it, TOMORROW is Sunday and we get another day torecuperate. Nanny did all the dishes, I finished the laundry, no grocery shopping to do and AUNT SUE called and is back in the USA having had a fabulous time in Aruba. Can't wait to see her on Weds..

Hope everyone enjoyed.

Have u ever wondered?

I was reading another blog recently and sadly, this person lost a friend. She died relatively young and it made me think of many things.

Death always makes me think first of my Dad and then of course, Uncle Bill.

On said blog, the person who recently passed away was being "remembered." That is what got me seriously thinking. Getting diagnosed with MS in 2005 has made me try to live each day to the fullest and not worry bout the things that I can not change. It kinda puts things into some sort of perspective.

Then, with the deaths of so many famous people in the last week, two of whom were only 8 years older than I am...........I wonder, How will I be remembered??????

I realize that after teaching for 18 years, there are many a student who will say, I had Miss Tinsky/Mrs. Durning in elementary school and I hope that they will smile and remember the family atmosphere that I tried to create and the passion for both reading and writing that I hopefully shared.
I know after being married happily to John that I would like to believe that I will be remembered as a good wife. Although I never proclaimed to be, I KNOW that I will not be remembered as being housekeeper of the year, but I do make a mean chicken parmigiana.

I have made and lost many friends over the years but there truly is NOTHING that I wouldn't do for those that I luv and I hope that being a person of good virtue is something that I will be remembered for.

I didn't mean for this to become a downer or at all depressing, but think about it............what GOOD have u done while you are here? What can someone say they have benefitted from having known you?

Let's all try to be that person that will be remembered in a very positive light.

Where oh where

did the entire month of June go????????? Oh yeah, I spent it living at Aunt Sue's. LOL.

I just realized that it is JULY and I feel like June just totally blew right past me.

Happy Canada Day and Happy July 1st.

A little bit of this

and a whole lotta that. so far, that is what my week has consisted of.
yesterday we did some running round to pick up some much needed storage items at wally world. then i got home and attempted(very unsuccessfully I might add) to put together the bookshelf that I had purchased for the playroom. After two hours, I realized that it was MUCH too much like a puzzle and gave up before tossing it into the swimming pool.

I did however happily return home from my Board meeting to find it completely assembled in the playroom. I didn't dare ask how long it took him to accomplish this task, but it was done. Why do men come with he "put it together" gene and women don't? I try much harder and am surprised at how much I really can accomplish but when it comes to certain tasks(the ones that specifically are puzzle like) it is just really easier to ask for help or in reference to cube issue during pre-planning last year, BEG for the defenseless music teacher to assist and then have to promise to keep the music groups corraled at every choral and instrumental performance for the rest of the year(which I did in appreciation for one Mr. Andrew Smith :)

So the playroom is done. ...kitchen nearly done, family room almost done. The owner of the painting company will arrive on Friday morning to finish/correct the crappy paint job. I will post before/after photos once it is taken care of to my liking.

So, I am hopeful that by the end of celebrating our fine country's birthday weekend, I will have my HOME back in shape. However, too many more days of weather like today and it may just be flooded again and totally trashed cause Joshy and I are stuck inside.

We WILL leave the house tomorrow for fear of going totally stir crazy.
Good thoughts from Carol's hubby as he recuperates from surgery.
Good thoughts as the Peck family heads to their new home state of PA........FL is never going to be the same w/o them.

I am off to enjoy some quiet moments. I didn't get too many of them today at all and I am longing for a few.
TTFN,
Jax

VERY productive

That describes our weekend thus far. I have dusted, scrubbed, de-dog-haired this ENTIRE house and pitched more stuff that one should ever own. One lil blondie is going to flip out if he opens the garbage can in the garage, but it is all good. I have several bags of toys/books/clothes that will be donated this week as well.
He is such a little pack rat that he can NOT stand to part with anything. Hmmm, wonder who he takes after. LOL.
He can look at a pair of socks that fit him two years ago and not let me throw them away.

It is def. starting to feel like home again. Mil and Fil were here yesterday to help keep the kiddo occupied so dh and I could organize. Well, didn't xactly turn out that way as dh and ds and fil kept each other occupied in the yard and the pool while Mil and I busted our REAR ends. My picture of the day for yesterday is me laying on the familyroom floor SCRUBBING the leather couches. I am certain that was NOT a pretty sight but must admit that it looks a zillion times better downstairs.

I have LOTS to do with regards to paperwork and catching up, but I have nothing on the agenda this week, and hope to get to it all.
We have had lots of rain this weekend as well which we really do still need.

So little by little it is all coming together. I am hopeful to have some time to get back into the scraproom and try to put all that stuff away this week too so that I might get to begin to be crafty again. I miss it when I am not.........

Happy Birthday to Hilltop this weekend. Hope that everyone had fun fun fun in Valrico at the crop. Wished that I could have swung it, but my time was better served getting our house back together again and FGT is just around the corner.

Happy Sunday,
Jax

Yucky Blah kind of Day

But overcast and rainy is good, esp. when we need the rain so badly. I was, however, ready to head to the beach this morning. Oh well. Another day.

We had a nice visit with Elissa and the kids. Joshy and Cameron were instant playdate buddies. I didn't see him most of the day. Now he is awfully quiet, so I am thinking he is napping-another good thing.

The house is slowly getting back together and I am hopeful that by the end of the weekend, with TWO of us working on it, we can be successful. I am still awaiting a call back from the contractor cause I am NOT at all happy with one of the painting areas and it DOES need to be re-done. Heck, he left the blue painters tape up on one of the walls.

I have no specific plans at all for the weekend and only wish that there was a FREE crop somewhere that I could justify attending as I haven't scrapped in FOREVER, but perhaps I can work on organizing this room some. I have scrap crap EVERYWHERE and I mean EVERYWHERE.

Have a great weekend and hope to get lots accomplished :)

Oh So HAPPY

Well, it took MUCH longer than I would have xpected, but we are now back in our house. It felt soooooooo good sleeping in MY own bed last night esp. with my OWN pillow.

It is going to take us probably as long to get everything put back together, moved in, settled and unpacked, but we will deal with it.

Off to work on my closet some and then we MUST hit the grocery store. There is little to eat in this house besides condiments and worse than that, nothing much to drink either.

Happy Thursday, the Durning's are home.

I just LUV Progress

OMG I walked into my house today and it almost felt like my home, albeit the entire family room and kitchen is currently in the dining room, but who cares???????????????

There are NOOOOOO holes in the ceiling, they are all patched up and today even texturized. WOO HOO. Get this, the texture matches. Double woo hoo.
I know that almost sounds silly to me, but after more than THREE weeks, it is sooooo nice to get to see progress.
Yesterday the entire kitchen was wrapped in saran wrap. It was comical actually, but tomorrow we should have painted ceilings.
LIFE IS GOOD.

If all goes according to schedule, I will spend my birthday on Monday sleeping in my OWN room

Once again, staying with Aunt Sue has been awesome, but my bed is feeling a bit lonely as are my poor puppers. Plus, I miss them like CRAZY.

Okay, gotta head back outta here, but thanks to all who have followed my saga. :)

it has arrived

so the estimate has arrived from the insurance company and I just printed it out. I am frightened to look at it but did see on the front page something about nearly $15k. Guessing having h.o. insurance is a VERY good thing :)

happy hump day.

almost two weeks

since our toilet flood/leak and we still have holes in the ceiling and my house is a DISASTER area. UGH.
the insurance adjuster was here last Monday and still hasn't gotten us an estimate. He seems to be very busy with other claims that have priority. YEAH.
so, I have had a contractor come in but he can't really give us a bid/estimate cause at this point I have NO idea what they are paying for.
I just want the holes in the ceiling patched up and lets get the ball rolling here folks.

School ended with the usual tears and I am glad to be on summer vacation for now. If I didn't have a rotten summer cold, I would be much happier. But, that is all that is really going on. I wish I could crawl into bed and veg, but that is NOT gonna happen.

Enjoy your weekend everyone.

its the weekend

oh yeah. ROUGH week, but it is over now. woo hoo.
the house is dry and all the fans are gone.......yeah. it is still kinda stinky esp. upstairs in my bedroom, but oh well. nothing i can do about that at this point.
we are back and forth checking in on all the animals, who are happily accepting cookies and treats when we stop in.

the insurance guy will meet me here on monday and til then, have a gr=8 weekend.
jax

24/7 claim line-NOT

okay so after pondering the water that appeared to be pooling in the ceiling in my kitchen, I decided that something had to be done.
As I type, Eric is here cutting holes in my ceiling, ripping up some baseboards and beginning the drying out process of our minor "flood" this morning.
Never a dull moment.

Of course, he assured me that going thru our HO insurance was more than necessary and I attempted to call the said 24/7 claim line. Apparently, that is 24/7 with the exception of Memorial Day for which they are closed.

I can feel a BIG aggrevation coming on, but what can I do except be thankful that we have insurance, that Drying Specialists are NOT closed in celebration of Memorial Day and be esp. thankful that it happened last night/this morning and not last weekend when we were away for the whole weekend?!

Always gotta find the positive or try to. The glass is half full, the toilet on the other hand, not full of anything and the smell is getting to be more than I can stand truthfully.
Wood floors are already warping...........this is NOT gonna be fun. HUGE deductible, but thank goodness it was MY bath and not the guestbath which is connected to my scraproom walk in closet.

Hope everyone else is enjoying their day. This poor guy is working his tail off. and of course, I took pictures before he got here and after he cut the holes in the ceilings.
Scrappin Jax

W~A~T~E~R, water, H~2~0, h20 EVERYWHERE

so, you spend the day at the beach, have a wonderful dinner and come home to take a long and hot bubble bath before going to bed at a reasonable hour. nothing wrong with that right?

at 3:21am you think that you hear water running or a water fall. Now, we do have a waterfall(sometimes it is still referred to as Fred Flinstone's couch and admittedly, still looks like it but dont' wanna get off track here). realizing that it is a waterfall that I hear and although I am still in an Ambien induced haze, i notice that it is NOT raining outside and no, the tub is not still on. However, upon further inspection, there is water spraying everywhere out of the toilet in my bathroom specifically the hose connecting it to the wall.
I quickly turn the water off behind the tub and slosh to wake up dh ............

the water is pouring downstairs and after two hours of mopping up, taking down light fixtures in the kitchen, we all were able to return to bed for a couple of hours. Not sure what we will have to do as the ceiling is still pretty wet and that concerns me........Gotta luv owning a two story house.
I am hoping that there is no need to make an insurance claim as that is NOT a good thing in FL. FUN times. Off to slop up some more water and wash/dry some more towels.

Happy Memorial Day

a big thank you to all the service men and women who have served and continue to do so which allows us to live the life that we do now.

your dedication is greatly appreciated.

almost may 22nd

and that will be one tough day for my aunt sue. tomorrow would have been uncle bill's birthday....i KNOW how much we miss him here so I can't even imagine how tough it is going to be for her. it also happens to be joshy's half birthday......not that we ever would have celebrated a half birthday cept that it was uncle bill's too.
growing up, my half birthday(dec. 22) was my nana's actual birthday. i remember always having a birthday cake that said, Happy Birthday Nana and happy half birthday Jackie.....
It also means that there is only ONE month til my birthday, June 22nd. We happen to have LOTS of 22 birthdays in my family, which is why the number 22 has always been my favorite number. Totally off topic, we have a BUNCH of 19;s as well.

One shout out to our dear friends the Theobald family.......at this very moment they are on their way to put their yellow lab, Casey down. She was dx with cancer today and since they were given very little hope as it had already spread to her liver and other places, the whole family(triplets and all) are going to say their good-byes. My heart breaks for them. Remember, that you WILL see her again on the bridge. We luv you Theo's.

DH is draining down the pool for the 4th time this week. The music and art show at school were well attended despite the HORRIFIC storm and I am ready for a nice hot, relaxing soak in the tub.

We have zero plans for the long weekend and that is actually a "good" thing.
Have a great evening,
Jax

Happy Birthdays

To "Big" Amanda as Joshy calls her. She was a former student of mine when she was in both 2nd and 3rd grades and now is 23 years old. How is that possible? I can NOT have a student that old. I am so proud of the little girl that hid in my classroom closets with Elizabeth after school as she is now teaching her passion of scrapping to others and wi ll embark on her new adventure when she moves up north to attend grad school in the Fall. SOOOOOOOOOOO proud of you Amanda.

Also a happy birthday to dh's nephew Squalie. Can't believe how I have watched you grow into an amazingly talented young man as well.

Off to get ready for school. Have a neuro appt this afternoon. Wish me luck,
Jax

Happy Mother's Day

What a glorious day.
I am so priviledged to be a Mommy. This is something that 25 years ago I would have thought would NEVER happen.
I was told at a very young age that getting pg. would have been nearly impossible for me and I accepted that fact.

Then I met Johnnie and everything changed. We decided to try to have a baby and hoped that it would happen, but all the while knowing that it wasn't likely.

REmarkably, we got pg. the FIRST month that we "tried". A true miracle and blessing.
I lost my dad six weeks before we found out that we had conceived and I believe that despite a high risk pregnancy, my "angel" was watching over me.
I became allergic to chocolate at 6 weeks pg-Daddy was allergic to chocolate. Became insullin dependent diabetic while pg(dad was also diabetic) and so the story of the circle of life continued when my amnio results told us that the little miracle was not only healthy, but a BOY.

At 37.5 years old, I gave birth to my precious, precocious and altogether amazing little man who continues to delight me on a daily basis with his stories, tales and remarkable similarity to a certain father of mine.

I am truly blessed and thankful. I luv being a Mommy more than anything and I would NOT change it or trade it for one second(on most days).
Today was one of those days. Thank you Daddy for ensuring that I had this little man and for watching over us all the time.

Happy Mother's Day to all and to Joshua Daniel, thank you for allowing me to be your Mommy!!

GORGEOUS day

The weather has been gorgeous for the last few weeks. It is def. feeling a whole lot like summer, but it is sunny and breezy and just about perfect.

DH and ds did a bunch of work outside this morning while I stayed in and attempted(with little to NO success) straightening up. I have given up ALL hopes of cleaning up but today I think I even pitched the straightening as well. I am in one room, think that I have it tidy enough and off to the next one. Before I can blink, said room number one is trashed and .......well you know how that goes.

So, done with that and the laundry and off we head to the beach for a bit. No burning for me this time. OH yeah. We enjoyed a fabulous meal at an all u can eat sushi buffet, with more food than I have seen in a LONG time. Allllllll kinds of seafood(including crab legs), chinese, italian, mongolian bbq, sushi, sushi and m ore sushi, american fare, and the desserts......omg. Ds ate wayyyyyyy more than the $4 they charged us for his meal(hell, that is cheaper than a Happy Meal at Mickey D's-seriously they are $4.69 w/nuggets).

All in all a really nice afternoon and eve. Going to go soak in a nice hot bubble bath and hit the hay.

To all of you mother's, fathers who are mothers, mother's to be, new mother;s, old mothers,.....

ENJOY your day tomorrow cause u deserve it.

School

Well, my fourth graders are nearly fifth graders and acting like such. So disappointing to see the hormones kick in completely.

Positively, they OUTDID any class that I have ever had on the FCAT Writing test. Way to go Bay Crest. 97% of our students passed. WOO HOO. I had only one who didn't and he arrived in this country 15 school days before taking the test in a language he didn't speak AND get this, he got a 2.5, which means one of the two people who scored it, gave it a passing score.

Sadly, have u seen the story on the news about the four Walker Middle School teens arrested? What were they thinking. I am hanging my head in dismay that anyone could be so brutal AND to top it off, Walker Middle School is MY neighborhood school!!

I sure hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend and make your Mom feel special on Sunday.

Elissa, I am so sorry for the loss of your grandfather. Luv ya,
Jax

Happy 4th Birthday

Many people would look at today as a horrid memory, however, I choose to look at it as a day to celebrate.
No, not 'cause it is Cinco de Mayo, but rather because it is the day four years ago that I was diagnosed with Relapsing Remitting Multiple Sclerosis.
I would like to believe that in the last four years I have not only accepted what I read on that MRI report before any of the doctors, but that I have come to OWN it.
Even more, I would like to believe that I am MAKING A DIFFERENCE.
I sure hope so and I thank you all for the support that you have shown me over the last four years and will hopefully continue to do so
.Happy Birthday Scrappin' Jax. As I have said more times than I can count, "there will always be someone worse off than me."

It has been a WEEK

And what a week it has been. I am actually surprised at how well I did, but I am thankful that it is over.
Monday, dh left for a week-long business meeting and although he is still in the state(last one was in Virginia), he hasn't been here. I did appreciate not having to cook too much. Joshy is quite satisfied with chicken, fries and ketchup-ha. But, I was a bit worried about having ds all to myself. He has been known to be difficult.

But, I have to tell you, he was GR-8. Monday I had a field trip at Cracker Country. We had fantastic weather and my class really enjoyed it. Job sharing makes field trips tricky, but it all worked out well. We had dinner at Aunt Sue's with Grandma visiting and went in the pool and jacuzzi. It was a very nice and relaxing evening. Aunt Sue is starting to be a bit more like her ole self.
Tuesday, Weds were unremarkable actually and that is all good. The house is in one piece, the kid is in one piece, schoolwork is done. Laundry is in progress and the FCAT writing scores came out this morning.

Our 4th graders at Bay Crest scored higher than they EVER have. They averaged a 4.1 which is fantastic. I am looking forward to receiving their individual scores in the near future.

Tomorrow I get a very very very LONG overdue haircut. I can NOT wait. Before that I am having lunch with a potential job share partner and I can't wait to meet her. (She interviews with DP on Monday) keep your fingers crossed.

Saturday is National Scrapbook Day......yes, there is one.

Sunday I am going to see Fiddler on the Roof with Aunt Sue.
Busy weekend, but it is the weekend. YEAH>
(sorry for those of u that have to work on Fri).

OMG also can't believe that it is going to be May 1st.......happy anniversary Vera & Steve.
Luv,
Jax

FL

I have always luved living here and when we have weather like we have had this week, I KNOW why.
There hasn't been a cloud in the sky and although the pool is still more than a bit chilly for me, ds has been luving it.
The evenings have a cool breeze and this is what I just luv about living here.


We had a former family member return this week when Uncle Dave asked us to take Silly back. DS has bonded with her like mad as has dh. I, could do without another pet, trust me, but Dad is smiling down, I know.
She only tried to bite me twice-lol, but will gladly take the apple I have been giving her each evening.

Today we are off to the Touch a Truck in Dunedin and tomorrow the boys go to the train show in Largo. Our community is having a yard sale this morning-LOTS of traffic and barking dogs here. We can't participate cause my lil guy is the worlds' BIGGEST pack rat and we can't give anything away while he looks. TRUST me, I would luv to. WSD scrappy yard sale today too. I miss all the fun. Believe me, I have tons I could have sold, but not good timing.

Still waiting on word for my partner issues at school, patience Jax, patience.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I have several projects that need attending to. Hope to accomplish some of them.
Jax

another day, another smile

some days it is much harder to find that smile than others. i left the kayla shower a bit earlier than i had xpected to and headed back over the bridge thinking that spending a little while with dh might be a GOOD idea. truth be told, i know that i had been less than attentive lately, but i often get into a "funk" this time of year, worrying about summer(no paycheck), finding a new partner for the following year and the like.
basically, i have been weepy, mopey and very hormonal-none of this being dh's fault, i figured that a good talk would help.
i talked, i cried and we connected by listening to each other. sometimes you just have to listen. right?

today my heart was warmed once again when one local tv reporter asked me to give her 60 seconds of my time before i picked up my class from lunch. it was more than 60 seconds, but she wanted me to know how much she appreciated ME and was mailing me a gift certificate to the salon that she has gone to for years.
well, anyone who has seen me lately KNOWS that i could SERIOUSLY use this pampering, but oh my gosh did one fabulous lady(Jackie Callaway) absolutely make me SMILE from ear to ear.

Thanks Jackie for thinking of me........

Courage

I have to tell you that I had such an amazing time yesterday at the Project 365 crop hosted this month by Valerie. First I will say what an amazingly gorgeous home she has. WOW. it was absolutely magnificent. Each room more beautiful than the one before. As she gave us the grand tour and I looked in each corner with all the gorgeous glass vases from her store, Val's Basket Warehouse, all I could think of was: Hmmm, wonder how long Joshy would take to break this, that and the other. LOL. Someday I might be able to have things like that again.

It was very nice to meet new 365-ers and Val's sil too. We had a large group with plenty of room and all working on some project or other. We were all surprised when Jean came in and had her gs in tow with her. Drew has grown up so quickly and did a fabulous job of playing with Patches and becoming our group photographer without stepping too far back and into the pool(something I would assume he wouldn't have minded too much cept that he held Dee's Cannon Rebel in his hands).

When I was packing up to leave to give dh some fishing time, Carol arrived(she was suffering with a migrane yesterday so arrived late). We don't get to see Carol often enough so it was good to have her join the group, even if I didn't get to see her for very long.

I had left her a copy of a photo that I had taken at the walk ms event at the zoo a few weeks ago. Her girl scout troop volunteered and did a phenominal job of passing out the magnets to everyone who crossed the finish line at the walk. I asked her if the girls enjoyed themselves and she responded with a resounding YES. "In fact, at their meeting this week, they were doing some more work on their badge and their discussion was about people who demonstate courage."
She continued on with the fact that all the girls at the meeting said that I was someone who exemplified great courage.
Needless to say, I walked out of Valerie's home crying like a baby or should I say honestly, crying like a Tinsky. I could hear my father boo hooing in my ear like you can NOT imagine.

THANK YOU Carol and to your scouts for making me take a moment and be humbled. I do try to demonstate strength in adversity and I didn't realize just how much of an impact that I make on others. So, I greatly appreciate the opportunity. As I sit hear crying once again, I will bow my head gracefully and KNOW in my heart that I DO touch others and that means more than I can put into words.

Jax

TGIF

I am soooooo glad that it is Friday. I REALLY am.
I had a good day at school today too, but I am just soooooo ready for the weekend.

It has been a LONG week and quite unsettling actually. So I am feeling a bit more stressed than usual which makes me crabby and NOT a happy camper.

I hope to get caught up a bit this weekend and try to chill and relax. But, I think that I might need to just veg. more than anything else and I for one, do NOT see that happening.

Also, I am DESPERATELY in need of a good babysitter, so if someone could rec. one, i would greatly appreciate it.
Jax

Back at It

So, it was back to school today. I for one, could have used another week off. I know, for those of you who are NOT teachers, you do NOT want to hear it, but those of you who are, get it.

We had a very busy Easter Sunday yesterday and despite my NUMEROUS requests for the family to limit the candy, only Aunt Sue obliged. I left an entire basket of unopened candy at mil's house in St. Pete and took home way more than I would have liked to. My child got nearly as many gifts from the Easter Bunny as Santa this year AGAIN. I guess that is what happens in a family when he is the only lil one for decades.........

I still have a TON of photos to upload and all i can think about is taking a nap that I am not going to get to take. I am really tired of being tired and I think a call to my neuro might be in order actually, but being after 5pm, that might just have to wait.

Found out today that I once again, have NO teaching partner for next year. Job sharing is amazing in every aspect except for this time of year when my partners always decide they need to go back full time next year, leaving me feeling like I am getting divorced once again.
I completely understand this time(as i have in the past) but it always adds to my anxiety having to seek out and find a suitable replacement. I will put it out there and then expect that it will all fall into place as it usually does.

Feeling kinda blah today........a good cry might be in order just don't know why actually. Off to go and find some leftovers that might be able to serve as dinner for the boys. I just ate a chocolate brownie leftover from last night and that might just be all it takes.

TTFN,
Jax

Hoppy Easter

Shout out to everyone who celebrates Easter-hope it is a happy one.
I must admit that my son, who has been named TROUBLE by many did an egg-sellent job of coloring eggies last night.
They came out in very bright and vibrant colors and I hope that the photos will show that when I download them.

This afternoon we will head over to St. Pete for dinner(Lupper) and an eggie hunt hosted by Nanny and Pop-Pop.
Josh was very thrilled with the goodies that the bunny left in his basket. He got almost NO candy, but numerous Scooby Doo dvd's, a couple of choo choo's and some art supplies. I am certain that there will be plenty of goodies in St. Pete, but hopefully, not tooo tooo much candy.

Have a wonderful Easter and celebrate luv from all around you,
Scrappin Jax

packing update

please re-read if you care to about my packing a couple of posts down.

i DID remove several pairs of shoes and a few shirts to lighten my load. well, it was a good thing since my suitcases were JAM packed coming home.

However, the first 26 hours we were in Savannah it was POURING down sideways and I was a drowned rat. I had left two pairs of shoes in my suitcase and neither one of them is completely dry all these days later. I was sloshing in them for days up there.
I also ended up at the GAP and bought a shirt to travel home in as I ran out of shirts to wear-literally.

Next time, I leave the clothing and take fewer snacks cause never ate em. However, not sure what happened to my Twizzlers? Hmmmm.

Also, I had the BEST massage I have had in a VERY long time. Thanks to parking dude Sam at the hotel for finding us the massage therapists that spoiled us rotten on Saturday :)

Spring Break is here

and I am very thankful that the Savannah trip happened to have been scheduled right before my Spring Break. There is NO possible way that I could have gotten myself up and off to school yesterday.

The train trip was by far one of the BEST vacations that I have taken since my honeymoon in Hawaii. The group that I traveled with was very diverse and met some really nice ladies. Savannah was truly an INCREDIBLE place to visit. OMG I am already trying to plan my return there. It was absolutely GORGEOUS !! Oh yeah, the scrapping was good too although as usual, I took wayyyyyy too much scrappy stuff and accomplished hardly any of what was planned to accomplish. I did complete four 12x12 layouts and nearly finished the scrapping choo choo album class, without actually taking the class itself. I hope to finish it up this weekend as I am missing some of the stamped images and i do want it all to match.

I uploaded all 250+ photos last night and I am anxious to see everyone else's shots. Had a ball trying to complete the digital scavenger hunt, although admittedly, I did not get to take the shot of me and my teammates praying in church-LOL, nor did I find the member of the clergy to take a photo with/of.
The photo of me hugging the horse as he ATE my namebadge and nearly strangled me is among my favorites.

Joshy's ROCK traveled to and from Savannah in FLAT STANLEY style and I have pics to prove it. I am still afraid(very afraid) to get on the scale since I literally ate my way from Florida to Georgia and back again.
The Pirate House was a favorite of mine and the shrimp and scallops at the Pink House was to DIE for. The shrimp could have been lobster(my fave food) if noone had told me differently.
I skipped the drag show(no Jen, I am NOT a chicken) and the pub crawl, but did indulge in two drinks while there.

I have many more highlights to share, but I must go and finish up laundry and unpacking. My boys had a great weekend at the beach and Johnnie is now .....well, OLD.

Happy Tuesday of Spring Break. It is tooo darn cold and windy here for my liking. The beach is calling my name but not today.

Jax

CHOO CHOO

my bags are packed and way too many of them I might add. Seriously, how can one person need as much stuff as I have I don't know. What I really don't know is how the hell I am going to carry it all. I have spoken to a few people who are also traveling with me and they haven't taken nearly as much stuff. DARN it. And, for me, I thought that I had done well. I did empty a couple of pairs of shoes to lighten the load and a shirt or two, but I draw the line at anything else.

I can't say that I am xcited just yet, but I will be. I am still at the point of "stressing" slightly, so I will do my best to get it all together, calm down and then I will be ready to go. I truthfully, could NOT care less that I am going to a really neat place(that I have never been to before) at this moment. I could be spending the entire time traveling on the train and I would be happy.

I am so ready to have five days with no boys and recharge my batteries. Plus, an added bonus, when i return, I will be on Spring Break for the entire week and Joshy will still be going to school.

So, Happy Birthday to my dh while I am away and hope that everyone has a wonderful rest of their week.

I will not be around til Sunday, in case anyone misses me :)
You can always call my cell or send me a text. I may or may not answer ya!!

Happy Scrappin,
Jax

Friday Friday Friday

I am sooo happy that this day is here. What a crazy, busy, hectic, frantic kinda week and it is almost over.
Got thru report card printing, checking and distributing. YEAH.
Made it thru our HOA annual meeting and the elections of the new BOD.
Finished up the volunteer assignments for the walk MS event tomorrow at Lowry park zoo and then Re-did them all over again with new ones.......BIG task, but it is done. Fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly tom. night. I am sure that it will. A TON of preparation has gone into this event and we are hoping that it will be a HUGE success.

Aunt Sue and Uncle Bill's anniversary would have been this week-tough day for us all, because we miss him so very much.

Thanks to all who have donated to TEAM DURNING. Have a great weekend and let's all help to make a difference,
Captain Jax

Ugh Monday

And I am one very tired Tadpole!!
Last week about did me in and I realized that this week isn't going to be a whole lot less busy. In fact, it just might be worse.

I have to go in today and print out my report cards as my rc check is after school today. Then we have our Annual Homeowners Meeting and elections that I am not looking forward to. My term was for two years so I am still on the BOD for another year, but it just might get UGLY although I hope not.

Saturday is the walk ms event at the zoo and TEAM DURNING will do me proud I am sure. Now if I could get all 100+ volunteers for the event lined up and ready I would feel some relief.

I leave on Weds after the walk for my choo choo scrapping trip to Savannah this year. I want to be xcited but there is just far too much going on beforehand.

I must say that I had a fabulous weekend when dh kidnapped me and we went down to Venice to chill on the beach. It was magnificent.....and just what I needed to recharge my batteries.

Back to reality today though. The surgeon I saw on Friday was a JERK and I could loudly hear my Dad telling me why certain doctors work on people when they are asleep. This guy was classic and since I am not really a surgery candidate at this point, there wasn't much he could say to me other than "go to your happy place" as he jabbed a very long needle full of cortisone into my knee cap. OUCH. that sucker HURT and very much reminded me of my amnio.
However, it appears to have worked cause I had very little pain this weekend :)

Happy Monday all. Leave me some luv.
Jax

Treasure Hunting

One store left to do today and I will be DONE. WOO HOO.

I have had a whirlwind few days since picking Miami Dawn up at Linda's on Thursday morning. It truthfully has been NON stop and I WILL post a recap when I don't happen to feel like a semi-truck has run over my brain. MS and utter exhaustion make it very difficult to think straight much less string together any kind of thoughts that make any sense.

I am TIRED, but I really have had a wonderful few days catching up with my friends in person. I have neglected anything and everything else in life. (Better get my grades done asap), but ....such is life.

My knee is better, not good, but MUCH MUCH better.

Off to finish Treasure Hunting and then get Dawn to the airport. I was very lucky to also squeeze in 59 minutes with my sister before she took off as well.

Gorgeous day in the Sunshine State. Enjoy whatever YOU decide to do with it.

Surrender Yer Photos

Many of us in the Tpa Bay area have begun the Treasure Hunt around town. The theme is obviously pirates and some have been stopped wearing their MS Crop 4 Hope shirts from last year's event.In case you are interested, I have a garage FULL of them in all colors, sizes and styles......women's tshirts are $15 and the baseball jersey's are $20.Email me if you are interested,Jax

I am BAAACK

not that anyone probably even realized that I was gone, but Verizon was having some "issues' which in turn kept me offline for about 4 days.

I had a gazillion emails to rapidly read thru and pretty much hit delete on most of-but I am back.

glad that no one missed me too much or at all, but I am glad to surf the net once again. Jeez, what did we do before all of this technology?
Jax

Brrr

Boy has the weather done about a 180 degree turn-around in the last twenty four hours. Jeez.
It is blustery out there considering it was nearly pool weather on Friday.

We had about 10 minutes of rain early on this morning and then the wind started. We sure could have used a day FULL of downpour, but we got little more than a sprinkle. It is now windy and quite cool comparatively, but a nice change.

Other parts of the country are gearing up for snow, so I am far from complaining, believe me. Weather changes like this are typical in winter here, but rarely in March.

Had a very nice time with Jen and Stacey last night. We laughed for HOURS. I didn't scrap a single thing, zilch, nada, and didn't even cut ONE single piece of paper, but oh boy, did I mention how much we laughed? We did. Oh yeah, we also ATE. The place we went for dinner was a bit pricey but YUM. I am not usually a huge fan of oriental food, but this was good. Pei-Wei I think it is called. Crab Rangoon to die for and my honey shrimp and chicken, YUMMMMMY. The spring rolls were delish as well.
Then we went back to Jen's and the custardy dessert(what it was called I have NO idea) but another YUM.

I got home at nearly 1 am to a very dark house. Okay, so I assumed after going fishing twice yesterday, dh was asleep. No problem, cept, he locked the dead bolt on the front door. NOT a genius. No problem, I will just go in thru the garage........cept the door to the laundry room is locked and he hasn't been able to find that key for ummm, I dunno.

So, there I am at 1 am, tired, carrying totes of overflowing, unused scrappy stuff, ringing my OWN doorbell. Jeez. The dogs went bizerk, which is a good thing or I might still be standing out there. LOL.

I couldn't fall asleep right away either, so I did a bunch of channel surfing and shopping/infomercial watching. The Roombo Today's Special on HSN looked interesting, but seriously doubt that it could handle FIVE dogs worth of dog hair, so I showed restraint. Wasn't at all interested in the undergarment on another channel and was pleasantly surprised to wake up unassisted at 8:30 am. I do NOT remember the last time I got to sleep that late in YEARS and oh did it feel good.

Joshy and Aunt Sue called to invite us to lunch at Sweet "Potatoes"aka Sweet Tomatoes and we had a yummy lunch, although, note to self, do NOT go to that place on a Sunday at 1pm any time soon. it was PACKED with the church crowd........super packed. So much for a bad economy.

We came home with our bellies full and not sure what Aunt Sue did to my lil man, but he has been asleep for nearly four hours and I am wondering IF he wakes up, will he ever go back to sleep??

I am going to try to finish up putting all my scrappy stuff in it's correct place and call it a night. Several good shows on tv tonite. The Donald returns and Amazing Race is on too.

One last week before FCAT, so it is crunch time. AND it is also NATIONAL MS AWARENESS WEEK.

Have an enjoyable evening,
Jax

Listen to that

It is TOTALLY silent here. Completely. That silence, while usually a treasured sound by most, is haunting around here. Rarely, if ever, do I have the opportunity to stay in my jammies til LATE into the afternoon and listen to the wind blowing and the airplanes flying overhead with no "Mooommmmmyyyyy" belowing in the backround or Cartoon Network drowning that out.

While I must admit having had the majority of yesterday afternoon/evening and today completely to myself with NO ONE here at all, cept the puppies and they are downstairs snoozing, it is a bit tooooo quiet.

Now, someone please remind me that I said that when one lil guy decides that he is ready to come home. He did tell me when i dropped him off last night that he "Had to stay and take care of Aunt Sue and that he would be back in SEVEN mornings." We will see just how long that lasts, but I assure you Aunt Sue will be done before he is. LOL.

Hope that anyone who reads this is enjoying their Saturday as well. Leave me some blogger luv every now and again, PLEASE.
Jax

One Happy Mama

My son has spent the entire afternoon listening to Billy Joel. We are now in the house and he is downstairs dancing to BJ. He informed me he wants to go to the concert with me next week. LOL.

Keep in mind that he does NOT like to listen to MY music in the car EVER.........

One VERY happy Mama. What can I say? The kid has GR-8 taste.

MUCH better day today

Saturday has been a MUCH better day thus far. Dh got up pretty early, but not as early as I did and he and our neighbor and friend were off to pick up the new bedroom furniture. I have spent the better part of the day CLEANING-UGH and organizing and moving and shifting..........

I do not usually care for change at all, but I have got to say, DAMN IT LOOKS GOOD. The new stuff is gorgeous!! I emptied the nightstands from our room and then got the brilliant idea to re=arrange Joshy's room. They actually fit in there nicely, considering. It probably will NOT be too long til I have to give up my scraproom and take over his room. It really is pretty tiny, but with all the furniture moved, it looks good.

I moved my vanity in my room, which displaced the bookshelf in our room. So, it went into the scrap room and I have to admit, that looks good too. THen the BEST part was putting all of my new bedding on. OMG I LUV LUV LUV it. Sadly, TIny Tadpole WILL probably destroy it before the night is over. I swear we should have prefaced his name with Hurricane or Tornado. However, I WILL snap some photos before he gets in there to trash it all.

So, with that said, I have dusted, moved and rearranged enough today. My knee is KILLING me and I have no clue why, so I am going to go and soak it in the tub.

Have a wonderful Saturday eve all,
Scrappin Jax

rude people

Okay, I am feeling VERY upset right now and the bottom line is that RUDE PEOPLE SUCK.

I am breathing in and out and attempting to calm myself down but it isn't working all that well, so I figured that if I typed it out and got it off my chest, then perhaps I would feel better.

So far, it isn't working........hmm.

Oh well, hoping to calm down and one more time,
RUDE PEOPLE are just NOT nice.

cha ching

So I decided to clean out my old jewelry box and I grabbed a little box and placed all of my yellow gold stuff that I no longer wear in it. Threw in some single earrings with no mates and random other "crap". I was one very happy camper when the guy told me that I had $554 coming. WOO HOO.

I contemplated keeping it a secret-you know, not telling dh....But, then I decided being truthful was the way to go. I made him close his eyes and handed him the wad of cash-yes ALL of it. I also thought about taking a couple hundred and putting that to the side. So, I thought it, but I didn't actually DO it. I showed him all of it.

We already had an appt set up to go and see a headboard and nightstands that I found on craigslist yesterday. We left after paying the man for them and I still have $$ left over. I am going to call it choo choo money and use it on my scrappin train trip w/o one ounce of guilt.

Gotta luv it. I am thrilled and doing the happy dance. Yet, at the same time, a bit on the sad side cause tomorrow would have been my Dad's 69th birthday. Happy Birthday to you Daddy. He ALWAYS called me the day BEFORE my birthday so he could be the first one to wish me Happy Birthday. So here ya go, and back at ya,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY. I sure hope they have some amazing stogies up there. Luv and miss you..........

Happy Hearts Day

Feb. 14th......a day full of luv or so Hallmark would intimate.
Actually had a very nice day today. I got some alone time and managed to complete a layout that is very out of character for me. I am going to even post a picture of it.
I organized the rest of our closet in our master bedroom with the second batch of huggable hangers. I LUV the finished product. It makes what used to be a mess, look so neat and organized.
I got tons of laundry done and put away. I rarely get to put it all away on the same day.
Aunt Sue picked Joshy up and they are enjoying their date day.
John truly liked his lil mini I LOVE YOU album/card that I made him. I could tell that he was very touched by it.
Finally, a FABULOUS dinner beginning with sushi, main course of lobster, shrimp and filet and leftovers, YUM.
I am one tired tadpole, but going to be brave and post one of my pics of my layout. I NEVER ever do that, but be kind. Leave me some blogger luv on Valentine's Day.
Jax

another week done

why is it that short weeks always feel sooooo long? and it isn't like i got a darn thing accomplished. jeez.

i had an ms walk meeting on tuesday=late night for me. weds was a half day for the students, i was dead tired. thurs night hoa bod meeting-LATE night. i came home from that meeting to nanny and joshy baking at 9:15pm. so cute.

today was a kids had wayyyyyyyy too much sugar day at school, but it was a gorgeous day outside. omg, beautiful. i took joshy to preschool early for his party. 14 three and four year olds decorating sugar cookies. his teacher should be given a medal. there is NO way. I am truly an intermediate teacher-lol. i will post some pics of them. it was very cute. off to my school where when i arrived there were flowers. for ME!? from my dh who does NOT believe in valentine's day...i read the card twice. yup, they were for me. NICE. sure did make me smile.

anyone who needs flowers should call my friends, pete and stacey at colonial florist in safety harbor. we heart them, esp. joshy who LUVS their triplets.

still waiting on dh to get home from work, but we will lay low tonite . aunt sue gets joshy tomorrow so she can have her valentine date and that allows johnnie and i to have one too.

hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. hug someone u luv,
Jax

FCAT Writing day

So at this very moment, my 4th graders are taking their FCAT Writing test at school. Wishing them good thoughts. They are FULLY prepared and I KNOW that they will do their best and make me proud.

I had such a nice weekend. Ginni hosted our first gtg for the Project 365 group at her home. I decided last minute that I would head up there on Friday night. I am not sure that I could do that again and only by chance did I not get totally lost. LOL. Her directions were amazingly detailed, but I didn't even think to increase the FONT size before I printed them off (clue number one that I am getting OLD). So, I pulled off into the rest area before getting off the interstate at my exit and copied them into HUGE handwriting cause clue number two that I am getting OLD is that I can't read w/o my glasses on anymore(well, I could if my arms were about 5 feet longer).

I scrapped, stickled, stamped and socialized til the wee hours of the morning. She cooked us some yummy bkfst and lunch on Saturday and I helped with the take n make pizza Sat. night. I also played bartender and had THREE drinks after I decided to stay over on Sat. night too. The luvseat was not the best for my back cause even though I am a shortie, the arms were too high to stretch out. So, I did blow up the inflatable bed and after figuring out how to do it properly, was quite comfy when I did crash at 5 am.

I got home Sunday to a very clean house-thanks honey and like I said, had a very productive weekend. Cant' wait til the next gtg.

Off to get ready for school. My kiddos can't talk about the test to me til they are boxed up and outta the building but again, thinking good warm thoughts for them..........

Happy Tuesday,
Jax

28 things for Feb.

Twenty Eight Things For February
One thing I wonʼt let anyone else buy me: underwear
One thing I would love to have, but I probably will never have:.a boat
One thing you will never find in my closet:.clothes bigger than size 12 again and that would be going up a few right now.
One thing I would choose if I were having elective surgery: to remove the roll of skin on my tummy from being FAT
One thing I love about my house: it is my HOME
One thing that I love to do: duh, scrap
One thing I would like to change if I could: I would luv to have my daddy back so he could meet Joshy in person and I could see his reaction.
One thing I would change as a woman: no more PMS
One thing I would do if I had unlimited money: donate it and travel. prepay my health insurance forever
One thing I that I will not do again: go spleunking(sp)
One thing that I would like to do: take another cruise SOON
One thing I could do without: bills
One thing I love to smell: joshy after a bath
One thing I would do if I won the lottery: it won't happen since i NEVER play.
One thing that infuriates me: IGNORANCE
One thing that I love about scrapbooking: my friends.
One thing I am addicted to:scrapping-collecting scrapping supplies i will never use .
One thing I pray for:a cure for MS .
One thing I wish I had:an endless supply of money to help others out .
One thing I would do again, regardless of the pain:take my shot tonite.
One thing that I absolutely hate to do:only one? dust
One thing that is weird about me: only one? face it, I am ME.....okay, I do NOT eat the cheese on pizza with the crust. Yes, I eat it with a fork and then pick up the crust and eat the bottom part of the pizza. I went out with a guy in HS who told me he would NEVER take me out to eat pizza again. LOL.
One thing that I need help on: accomplishing everything that needs to be done
One thing I find most relaxing: bubble baths w/o choo choos in them
One thing that could get me in trouble: I will NEVER tell
One thing that annoys me: IDIOT drivers
One thing I dread; therefore, donʼt do very often:DUST .
One thing that I have learned, but still sometimes forget:that not everyone is nice.

one word

Type only ONE word answersIt's harder than you think!! Here is what you are supposed to do...and please don't spoil the fun...copy and paste into your own note, type in your answers and tag a bunch of people - including me.
Where is your cell phone....................nightstand
Your hair........................................ ugh
Your father.....................................missed
Your favorite thing...........................scrapping
Your dream last night.........................dunno
Your favorite drink...........................coffee
Your dream/goal...............................cured
The room you are in..........................scraproom
Your fear.......................................loneliness
Where do you want to be in 6 years.......published
Muffins.........................................corn
One of your wish list items...................travel
Where you grew up............................New Jersey
The last thing you did........................superbowl
What are you wearing........................jammies
Your TV..........................................on
Your pets........................................messy
Your computer..................................laptop
Your life........................................great
Missing someone..............................Daddy
Your car.........................................Tucson
Favorite store..................................Whims
your summer...................................floating
Your favorite color.............................purple
When is the last time you laughed...........today
Last time you cried............................Friday
Three people who email me................... Helen, Vera, Jan
Three of my favorite foods...................pasta, shrimp, lobster
Three places I would rather be right now.....asleep, cruise,Australia
Three people I think will respond............Vera, Dawn and Dee

weekend wrap up

we had a very nice weekend minus one very cute four year old. aunt sue wanted to spend some time with him so i surprised john and didn't tell him.
joshy was there from fri after school til just now and oh did he ever miss his time with aunt sue. i am sure her target card didn't miss him all that much, but he took full advantage of that and made up for missing his birthday and christmas too.

we had a great time and enjoyed some quality time together. i scrapped a bit, we enjoyed childless meals out and our new washer and dryer arrived yesterday.

LUV it and saddened a bit by how much new appliances made me happy. Guess what my POTD was for Saturday .......lol.
I also had a great time going thru my closet, organizing, pitching/donating old clothes and getting it all put back together with my huggable hangers.

All in all a gr-8 weekend so far and super bowl on tonite. enjoy and be safe.
Jax

FIVE Years Ago today

My life as I knew it changed forever!! It was about this time on Tuesday, January 27th, 2004 that I was called to the office at school wondering which parent was there complaining about something I had done or said.

I walked in to find John and his mother standing there telling me that my father was "gone."
I accused him of lying to me as my father was coming up on Friday to see our new house. He had said as much in our phone conversation just hours before on Monday night.

I do not remember much after that truthfully, but it still hurts as much as it did FIVE years ago...
There is truthfully a whole in my heart that will NEVER ever be filled again completely.

I do take great pride in knowing that my father died a dignified man and my sparring partner is now blonde, with blue eyes and answers to the name of Dennis when he needs to, but truthfully,

I MISS YOU DADDY!!

Please continue to watch over us and send a sign every now and again to let us know that you are OKAY.

scrappy weekend

Friday it worked out perfectly that dh would pick ds up at outlaws house and i could go to the lss and crop. it was so much fun. i didn't get as much accomplished as i would have liked, but i got to spend time with the girls and began the set up on my 365 album. i surely didn't realize that just setting it up would take that long. wow.

yesterday, dh went fishing with fil and then came home and took the munchkin to the park. i had hours of time to do more set up. YEAH.
dinner in st. pete ended with us going to HD and buying a brand spanking new washer and dryer to be delivered on Saturday.

back to st. pete this afternoon for a birthday celebration. looks like it is going to be a great weekend all around, just not quite long enough. ha.

busy weekend

we had a very busy weekend, but got a whole lot accomplished and had lots of fun too.
i won a few brownie points i am sure when i told dh to go to the train show with my fil on saturday instead of attending the first of the two birthday parties we had on our calendar for the weekend.
i went with ds and we had fun. it was good to catch up some former teamates and teachers i used to work with and the kids really had a blast.
then i went over to aunt sue's to spend a bit of time with her. we didn't stay too long but long enough for joshy to get his aunt sue fix and vice versa.
after that we headed over to sp and met up with dh. quick dinner and ds stayed at the house while johnnie and i ran over to home depot and lowe's to do some washer and dryer preliminary shopping.
we walked out as I was on W&D OVERLOAD. who knew there were sooooooo stinking many. i was totally my father in Lowe's when I heard myself say, "Electrolux makes vaccums and LG made my old cell phone." It is kinda like buying a car made by Hoover ya know? YIKES> I have become my father. But truth be told, I just want a dryer that will actually DRY my clothes on ONE cycle not the THREE that it is currently taking.
Sunday was birthday party number two and that was in SP as well. We had a fun time with my friend Laura, her hubby Doug and their two boys. Joshy and Alex have been friends since before they were born-literally and have not missed ONE of each other's parties in four years. I can't say that about some relatives much less friends. LOL.
Dinner at mil's house watching the game-well, I wasn't watching. I was reading Simple Scrapbooks, but they were all watching their beloved Eagles' demise.
Today the little man went to school, I went to Famous Tate to check out more W&D and then ran some errands. I actually had about two hours of quiet time(how come school days for me don't fly by nearly as quickly???).
I never did get to scrap at all as I got busy hanging some pictures and dusting some shelves. UGH. no wonder they are so dusty, NOT my favorite thing to do by far.

So that is the excitement. Nothing new going on really. I have car rider duty this week and the high tom. is supposed to be a blustery and windy 54 degrees so I had better go and dig out a winter coat. Weds is supposed to be sunny but even cooler. BRRR.

Off to give the lil guy a bath that he desperately needs and then try to soak in the tub myself when he is done. Have a great night and HOORAY for what tomorrow brings........more change, but this one is welcomed. Ta ta GWB........may no one with that last name run our state or our country anytime soon.