All posts in R A N D O M

Courtesy of Dianne Larson, mother of Mary Elizabeth, Apex teacher extraordinaire

Today in my classroom, the kids are busy finishing a Jabberwocky project.

We read and studied the poem, by Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland) And now they are writing and illustrating parodies of the poem.

I have taught them about portmanteau words (Two words smushed together to make new word, like brunch) and how Lewis Carroll invented them.  So they have to invent portmanteau words to use in their parodies.

Now tell me, how can I tell Morgan that the combination of Dragon plus Horse comes up with an inappropriate monster called a Draghore?  She keeps saying “my Draghore” and I am having trouble keeping a straight face.  Oh, the challenges of teaching. Do I let her put the Draghore up for Open House or do I censor her budding creativity and keep my job?

It’s fantasy football time in the Washburn home!!!!!  Yes, week 1 for the NFL is officially in the books, and both Washburns made it through with W’s in the fantasy football league.

Now, Matthew has been an avid  fantasy football fan for years, but this is only my third year to be part of a league.  And I have to say, it has been the best 3 NFL seasons of my life. I never cared for NFL before. I didn’t grow up loyal to a team. But now, thanks to fantasy, I just love it. Strategizing about which wide receiver to play, which defense has the better match up, and so on. It’s just exciting. I can’t stop listening to sports radio and reading ESPN.com articles. It’s not even that I feel the need to dominate and destroy my opponent (although I will) as much as I just long to be informed. I don’t want to be the cheesy wife that signs up and picks players by the colors of their jerseys.

So good luck to all who join my obsession for the next 16 weeks. May your quarterbacks be strong, your running backs be healthy and your kickers be above average!

Everyone said “get ready” when we started Wesley in daycare. Apparently, along with learning and socializing, she will also develop her very own immune system. And to accomplish the latter we must try out EVERY illness out there. We have been in school for six weeks, and she has only been to the doctor one time, which I count as a victory.

The problem is that I have been sick for the past three of those six weeks. I guess she developed the immunity after the first illness, but I didn’t?  I mean come on, I’m a teacher! I’m supposed to be able to lick the floor and not get sick. Are you telling me that in nine short months of maternity leave I lost all of the super-immunity powers that I had built up over the past 6 years of hugging slimy, snotty, sickly children? How is this fair? Don’t get me wrong, I’m pumped that Wes has the immunities, but did she have to take all of mine?

BLECH!

This is what happens when you get dressed in the dark.

The sad thing is that I didn’t even notice until lunch time. Looks like I’ll be picking up a light for my closet on the way home from work today.

So we’ve moved. It’s done. We actually moved on July 1st, but we are just now feeling settled in.  We LOVE our new home. It is beautiful, if I do say so myself. It is a traditional bungalow, built in 1922 painted a lovely shade of khaki greenish. Complete with original hardwood floors, wide crown molding, 24 original glass windows and a housefan . There is a basement, attic, pantry and laundry room, so space galore. And there are enough bedrooms and baths for everyone. So to say the least we are thrilled.

But with anything, as you settle you notice little things here and there you did not notice before. For example, behind our new house is an alley, where we put our trash for pick up. In this alley, apparently, lives a rooster. That’s right, within city limits. This rooster stays true to its nature and announces each day at sunrise, or a little before, approximately 5:30/5:45 am EVERY. DAY.

Now, for those who don’t know me, sleep is one of my favorite things. In importance it may go 1. Family, 2. Sleep 3. anything else. So needless to say (yet I will, cause this is a blog and you can’t read my mind) I am NOT happy about this rooster.

So, last week, at dusk, the rooster started up. I grabbed the babe and the dog and we headed out determined to locate said rooster. I walked around our block on a mission and guess……what…..there is not A rooster, there are THREE roosters! Three I tell you!! The live in the back yard of a house not 20 yards from my bedroom window.

What can I do? I’ll tell you. I got myself registered online on the city code enforcement website and reported them! I’m not scared. I need sleep I tell you. I sure did. This is not Tipton County, I don’t live on a farm people! The very next morning, I can report from a source who shall remain nameless, the police were at the door of the rooster house. That was last Friday. I have not heard them since.

But yesterday, on our evening family walk, guess what I saw! One of those damn roosters!!! Now, I’m not reporting them again just yet. But only because they haven’t woken me up, yet. If they continue to be on their best behaviour (after their police talkin’ to) I guess they can stay. But don’t think I won’t write a strongly worded letter if I have to!

August has begun, and so like a lot of you, we’ve been busy gearing up for the start of a new school year.

For Mary, this time of year always means that she starts thinking about lesson plans, program schedules, and (much to her chagrin) getting up very early in the morning.  But because she is so very awesome, she is always able to pull it all together and walk out the door on her first day in style.

This year is a little different, however, in that we’ve got another little schoolgirl that is ready for her first educational experience. That’s right, Miss Wesley is attending her first daycare this fall, and from the looks of things, she’s pretty excited about it.

Good luck to all you school kids out there. Enjoy it while you can!

Well the saying goes “No rest for the weary” and it does not lie.  Summer is usually the time of year my world, as a teacher, slows way down.  But I guess when you are a stay at home Mom, that is not the case. Summer is now the time for not wasting a minute.

School ended on May 28th.

May 29th I was honored to sing the National Anthem at the Redbird’s game downtown and it was Matt’s work’s company picnic night there as well. Great time had by all.

May 30th, bingo bango we sold our house!! Whoooooo hooo!!!! WAIT…now we need a house somewhere else, uh-oh.

May 31, bring on the contracts, sign sign sign. And in the downtime(ha) have an open house (JIC). And our favorite 7 year old, Michael Alan, comes to live with us for the week.

June 1, Mary goes back to work, teaching guitar at a summer camp at school (hence MA staying with us, so he can go to camp) Mary also decided it was a good time to grab another Grad class to finish my Administrative Endorsment–that starts today, 2 essay’s due. Oh and we need to go house hunting.

June 2, Repeat June 1

June 3, Repeat June 1 add writing an offer on new house, and getting our house ready for thorough inspection AND one homesick little boy who needed dinner with his parents.

June 4, Repeat June 1

June 5, we made it through the week! We had a wonderful guitar concert, soccer and science demonstration and everyone heads to their own home.

Oh and Wesley and Ollie were there too!

I can’t imagine how people get through life without friends and family?I had so much help. We had a great week. And it felt good to be busy and productive. But I am glad tomorrow is Saturday!!

Hi friends, sorry we’ve been away. Turns out that when your house is for sale, your baby starts sprouting teeth and eating solid food, and April showers bring May yard work, you don’t have time for blogging….funny?!?!

Anyhoo, here’s a quick tale to liven up your Thursday.

Since I was pregnant for forever, and now with baby 24-7, I have grown quite pale. And because of the latter it hasn’t really mattered that my legs were pasty, because no one ever saw them. But this Saturday two of our very good friends are getting married (to each other), and I am wearing a very pretty dress that requires a healthy glow.

So I weighed my options:

a. I could just try to be outside as much as possible. Great idea, very natural, until it rained for 9 straight days…

2. Tanning bed, which is quick and easy, but you can’t take a baby or get a sitter everyday to go…oh and it gives you the skin cancer

Final. Spray tan, it takes 1 minute, no UV rays, and gives an even glowing tan

So obviously I went with the final option. One tiny problem, I had never done it before and had no idea how to. What should I need to know you ask? Plenty, I say. Here’s how it went down.

I went to the tanning parlor, told the lovely 90 lbs of perfectly tanned and manicured 15 yr old I would like to be tan. She explained the prices and such, then sent me in to a tiny room and told me to wait for her to come explain how to be sprayed. Meanwhile, another tiny teenager came and told me all I had to do is put on some lotion, stand on the silver circle, and press the green button. So I disrobed, then the other girl came back and asked me if she wanted her to come in and help…um…NO!  I got in the booth and looked at the wall of spray jets and panicked. Once I press the green button, how long before they spray me? Should I close my eyes now? When do I hold my breath? When do I turn around? Is it going to sting?

Moment of truth. I pressed the button and squeezed my eyes closed. Then I held my breath. One problem. You know how when you are supposed to be holding your breath, you never get a big enough breath before? Maybe it’s just me. Anyway I held my breath and IMMEDIATELY felt the need for another breath. I felt like I was suffocating. Instinct took over and I gulped in some air, along with a host of golden brown chemicals. All the while trying to remember to stand just right so that every crevice was getting coated.

Then the jets stopped. So I turned around, but nothing happened. I was sure I had just recieved two coats on my front and none on may back. So I opened my eyes to see and PHISSSHHHHHH the jets started up again. Well again I hadn’t taken an adequete breath….arghhh. Finally it stopped. I opened the door and got out as fast as I could. I opened my eyes and couldn’t see anything, I was convinced I had spray tanned my eyes, when the mystic mist cleared out and I could see fine.

So quick fix tan or torture chamber, I ask you?  I’m glad I choose the basic level, because the plus may have killed me!

But I do have a glowing tan (and orangey hands…apparently did not use enough lotion…) So I guess the mystic experience was worth it, if it lasts through Saturday night!

I dare you not to giggle…

http://nameoftheyear.blogspot.com

I guess I’ve been bitten by the spring cleaning bug (even though I am listening to it sleet outside right now) because I am cleaning an organizing my very messy attic.

I remember 3 1/2 short years ago when Matt and I moved from our teeny tiny apartment with one closet to our teeny tiny house with 3 closets and a whole attic!!!We have since shoved everything we own at one time or another in said attic.

So now I am sifting threw the treasures and I can’t help but think the stuff we save (whether we meant to or not) must say something about us.

For example, I have approximately 1 million gift bags neatly folded into each other at the ready for when a last minute gift needs to be wrapped. This include numerous wedding themed bags which means I packed them and moved them from our apartment and have stored them since 2004. I also have 2 5-gallon rubbermaids full of “costume” items such as platform boots, a one piece denim jumper, an evening gown from 1924, and velour stretch pants. What kind of person can fill 2 tubs and doesn’t work for the circus?

I have also found every empty box from everything we have purchased in the past 4 years JUST IN CASE we need to return the 35 mm camera…..

So what do you hang on to and why?