little words and long winds

2009-10-25T12:00:00.000-05:00

These last couple of weeks or even months have been pretty stressful on my kids and John and I.

Rhiannon is trying to make her way through her first year of High School. She has made some new friends and found old ones again. Other than hitting a boy in an after school function and getting suspended for 5 days for it, she seems to be doing okay socially. She knows we don't want her to date yet and she seems to be okay with that. She likes having a lot of friends around her. Her grades are good so far too. She has two classes that she has a C and a D in.

Now Alex, he is not passing any of his core classes. He is in 7th grade. He says every boy in his school is bullying him (all but his one and only friend). Boys that he has known since kindergarten are extra cruel to him. There is one that in 5th grade pushed him down a flight of steps. This boy's mom is (I can't say what I want to say) and in her opinion it was all Alex's fault for being too close to her son. He is still tormenting him. There is another used to be friend that went all the way through Boy Scouts with Alex. This kid is calling Alex names, telling lies to other kids that Alex called them names, lying to the teachers also about Alex. I have talked to the teachers and they all know this boy is lying. There is so much crap going on with him at school and on the bus that he is shutting down at school completely. Oh, this same boy told the other kids that Alex got beat up at school and then on the bus and that is why he was not in school this past Friday. Alex was not in school because he had a major stress melt down at school and the minute he got home from school. there is a kid on the bus that throws things at Alex and gets the boys and girls that hang with him to do the same. I spoke to his class principal and she told me that just that day did all his teachers have a meeting about Alex and him shutting down in school and the problems. She suggested that I keep Alex home. Alex's special school district teacher, along with his core class teachers are going to try and get him a new schedule for his classes to get him away from as many of the kids that are tormenting him to see if that will help. He has not been sleeping at night, he has been wanting to stay very close to me, he only reads and plays DS or computer games and talks with what he says is his only best friend Nick. He does have other friends, they just aren't as available as Nick is.

Why don't I just take these parents out in the parking lot you wonder? I have talked to them in the past and it has never made any changes in their child's behavior. The principal has asked that I not confront them either, that she will take care of it. I have to trust her.

so, our daughter will be 15 on 10/28, driving permit age in the state of MO, and Alex's Doctor (yes I called him in complete abject parental fear), his Principal, his teachers, my friend who is the CEO of BHR and all of them suggest that we find him a psychologist or a psychiatrist. We have to do something, when he came home on Thursday he was ready to really hurt one or all of the half dozen or so boys that are tormenting him. He still did not sleep well on Thursday, but Friday and Saturday he did sleep better than he had been.

These problems with the kids makes every other difficulty (lack of money, house maintenance, bills, family that is sick, animal care, school, work, all of it) seem trivial.

So all you with little ones, hug them and keep loving them, they will really need you when they start interacting with others.

lingering in my brain right now

2009-10-19T22:44:00.004-05:00

dogs sleeping on the floor behind me. the kids (better be) in bed. the husband out of town for work. one child not doing his school work or home work, the other suspended for the week. hitting a person at school is not accepted. the insomnia is back along with the heartburn. the cat is someplace not sure where. college is going well, i need to apply myself more. do i look for a job or not? going to a lecture tomorrow and listen to the founders of t.a.p.s. looking forward to that. yesterday it was cold, tomorrow it is to be warm - welcome to st. louis. i am happy, i don't seem to be. but i am. i liked it when we had money in the savings account, now we have a very very small amount, i don't like that. i get motivated to play bejewelled but not much else. i like to knit and crochet, i am trying to be project monogamous though. frustrating when you have a lot on the needles and the hooks. the dogs are snoring, that's what i should be doing too. love you all, really. happy thoughts slowly creep back into my brain. now if the ringing in my ear would stop, it hasn't in 25 years, but really happy thoughts and a smile. time to stitch it all back together so my love will come home and my kids will like their mom. off to sleep, curl up under the covers and try to sleep. tomorrow make phone calls, get the daughters homework from the office, turn in the h1n1 vaccination forms for the kids, study for anthro midterm on wednesday. write a paper for polisci and hopefully practice the recorder for music class. no one came to my last crochet class, but had a great time that night at mary's house teaching her and two of her friends to knit. maybe i could sell stuff on ebay again and on etsy? stop playing games on the damn computer and make it so. why am i afraid of success? how can it be that i will really be 49 in february? can i still make a life? can i stop being afraid to write for publication? why does my own mother avoid me? oh well she's a little nuts so that's okay now that i am an adult. just make sure i don't turn into the same crazy as she is. that would not be good. go to sleep woman.

Attitude of Gratitude: St. Teresa's Prayer

2009-10-11T20:06:00.000-05:00

Attitude of Gratitude: St. Teresa's Prayer: "St. Teresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.
May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.
May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.
May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that
has been given to you....
May you be content knowing you are a child of God....
Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.
It is there for each and every one of us."

Classes | Knitty Couture

2009-10-11T15:18:00.000-05:00

Classes | Knitty Couture: "Crochet 101 • Beginner’s Level
Learn to crochet with our friend and crochet aficionado, Angie Gonzalez. You’ll learn the basics of crochet, ways to understand your stitch and perhaps, even pursue a project or two. Click here for a description from Angie.
Supplies: a supply list will be provided by the instructor.
Tuition: $20
Dates:
Saturday, Oct. 17th, 11am-1pm
Sunday, Nov. 8th, 130pm-330pm"

what skill hat do I need to wear? I have no idea.

2009-09-14T14:14:00.005-05:00

*Warning statement*: Friends, you may not want to read this, my depression is showing more than usual.

You know I really want to put down all the things that make me stress, cry, laugh, love and just go aw at. But I can't. they just all seem to blur together today. Our son is being bullied and teased again to the point he writing about it in his homework. Which he does not let me see it, but he shows his teachers. He sees no reason for school. He's only in 7th grade. Our daughter likes LIKES a college guy. did I mention she's not quite 15 yet? That is next month when she turns 15. John is so stressed over work (he was ready to walk on Friday) and that could turn out badly and I am praying so very hard it does not. both my mother-in-laws (one step one biological) have health problems and money problems that we can't help with. I dropped my algebra class because I am too stupid to understand it. I am going to start over at square one of college math. That will put me behind on my degree completion. I just hope I graduate college before Rhi graduates High School.

do I need to be a counselor today? a financial wizard? a dishwasher? a cop? a broken down old woman? What skill do I need?

I want to go to Alex's school right now and pull him out and home school him and tell the kids that are bullying him their parents are lousy parents. I want to walk in the QT and buy the lottery ticket that will win the top millions of dollars prize so John doesn't have to worry any more about taking care of his family. I want to give Rhi the skill to not get hurt by a man if he turns into a jerk. (personal past exoperience talking here).

I want Alex to learn to deal with bullies and find friends. He has one that he counts on. Other than that he sits at home and is afraid to trust anyone with his feelings and friendship.

John just wants to take care of his family and enjoy life. Not much for someone to ask for is it?

I want my family happy and safe and free of fear. I want the kids to have friends, be smart and intelligent and love themselves and their lives.

what skill hat do I need to wear? I have no idea.

It would be great if I could say everything is fantastic. Today I don't feel that way at all, I am scared.

It would be great to clean my house so it's not so cluttered, I just can't let go. It's a true phobia.

There have been many people that have known me that tell me I have it all and there are no problems in my life. Hate to tell those folks, they either never paid attention to me (story of my life) or they are extreemly dilusional.

so here is my rant of fear and heartache for today. I am praying so very hard a positive outcome for my kids, my husband and our family. I want to be able to write about how I finished John's sweater, I cleaned out the house, all the costumes for Archon are done, the bills are all paid off and we have no debt, I am going to Crete for a summer program for school, Alex has friends-true friends, Rhi has found her soulmate just like I did in John. I want to report nothing but good news and to stop crying.

I want to be crafty

2009-08-27T13:57:00.002-05:00

The fall semester of school started last week. I am already wanting to get started on my assignments and get them over with. Why? Because I want to get crafty. After a long summer of Algebra, which I failed and am retaking this semester, and not making time for the creative juices to flow I feel them backing up at the damn or creativity as I type.

I knitted no socks, completed no project, crocheted no baby blankets (I need at least 3 done soon), did no sewing of bags, dresses, tops or toys, beaded nothing, no stitch markers, no bracelets, earrings or necklaces. I wrote no stories, poems, prose or chapters and submitted nothing.

I did not do any work on the house - it REALLY needs it. Even if we had the money, I had no time. I mowed the lawn once (yes others mowed it). No hanging out with friends, saw one movie, no pool time, not even at the Y.

I feel the damn getting ready to crack and let the creativity flow over everything like Niagara. It needs to be controlled though, I can't let my school work falter too. I need to get A's in all my classes that I can (I would like at least a C in Algebra so I can keep my GPA up and get a grade modification from the summer's F). I am so stressed and bottled up I have been having nightmares.

I think I will go make stick figures now, out of real sticks!

Afternoon

2009-08-19T12:45:00.000-05:00

It's a funny story, I'll tell you later when I come back on line.

My 30th reunion and stuff

2009-07-26T23:56:00.003-05:00

Sorry, no pictures of my 30th high school reunion. It was weird for me, fun but weird. I saw and talked mostly with a couple of girls and that was it. I loved seeing Terri and Sharon and Melissa, It was the highlight of the weekend. Even after 30 years I was still insecure and afraid to talk to the "popular people" which was 90% of the people that were there. I know most of my now friends would not believe that it was me, crap I go up to strangers and start a conversation, but not these people. You know it wasn't them that kept me from it either, I did not have a happy time when we first moved to St. Louis, and I was not getting along with my family at all, I felt they could care less if I was here or not.

My mom was depressed and lonely and did not want to try and help me through those exact same feelings I was having. I carried that depression and loneliness with me everywhere I went. I even carry it around today.

I went, the husband went as my date. I took him so I would look good, my husband is damn handsome. So he and I went out on two dates and did what we normally do when we go out, eat, drink and watch people and talk to folks that approach us. I just loved the looks of surprise from my former classmates, I still don't know if it was surprise that I was there or that they were trying to figure out who I was and did I really go to school with them. I had fun though and it was good to see those that I did see.

Now my summer school - we are not going to speak of it. 'nough said.

Knitting and Crochet. I have not done much since the summer class did start. I have a lace shawl started, still working on the husbands sweater, and two crochet shawls going. I ripped out the socks I was making and am using the yarn for a scarf. I have a step niece having a baby in the fall and I want to make her a baby blanket. She's having a boy, so I know the color scheme.

I really really want to get some more ink, but I am too lazy to park the car and go into the shop I want to do it. That word lazy has been so up front in my life lately. I just want to be lazy, lazy as lazy can be and I don't know why. Anyone have a cure for the lazies?

I miss......

2009-06-24T22:21:00.002-05:00

I am missing;
my friends, family, knitting, crafting, gardening, lawn mowing, doing laundry, cleaning house, sewing, going to the movies, new ghost hunters episodes, torchwood, dr. who, good grades, personal time, my husband, knitting, crocheting, sewing, oops said all that.

Update on the boys

2009-06-24T21:44:00.003-05:00

Well John and Alex have been at Boy Scout Camp since Sunday. Yes it started on Father's Day, John did not complain about it so I guess he was okay with it. He did schedule his vacation so he could go.

John has not been very happy about camp since he got there though. He is used to going camping and lounging around while the boys do their programs. Not this time, this time it is for an entire week and he is in leader training in the morning and then another leader training program in the afternoon.

On the second night he calls panicked over Alex. John would never say panicked over his son, but I will and he never reads my blog so it's okay. But he was. Alex has Chiari Malformation level I and when he is over excited (in anyway) for long periods he gets a headache and sick to his stomach to the vomit stage. If you have experienced the joys of having your spinal column pricked and you drain spinal fluid from your system and your brain sinks in your skull and the pain and agony of that comes over you, then you would know how sick Alex can get. (no he does not loose fluid but it circulates so fast it causes the same feelings). So---with the heat (95+* with heat advisories in the 100's) and the excitement, guess who got sick and guess who isn't around when he does get sick, you got it.

After a couple a calls and me calling the emergency line to camp, John drove home Monday night, they came home to the AC. Alex finally took some pain killers and slept. Like fantastic troopers they went back on Tuesday morning. They have been down there since and John drove out of camp today to call and check in with me (there is no signal in the woods where the camp/ranch is). He also just needed to get away from the mayhem, he does not like crowds and large masses of people bunched together.

We (Rhi and I) go down tomorrow for Family night. I am really looking forward to it, so is Rhi. It is going to be a long day, school, then a 2 hour drive and a couple of hours at camp and 2 hours back home. It will be well worth it. John has requested Pizza for dinner, it's a visiting family bring food night.

So nutshell time,
to camp, sick at camp, camp not what daddy expected, home to sleep in AC, back to camp, hot - hot - hot - heat warnings all week, so far that's it. They come home on Saturday sometime.

Rhi has two more days of summer school, I have 6 weeks left. Anyone know how to teach me not to freeze up on tests?

I'll have pictures of camp later.

2009-06-21T12:11:00.002-05:00

You ever stress yourself out to the point that life is one giant tension knot in your shoulders? Well that is how I have been for months.

I am sticking this out into the world via my blog 'cause I hate to call my friends and vent to them. I feel like a burden and I know that they all have their own problems and mine seem so minor to most of theirs.

It started Spring semester when I got a poor grade in one of my classes. Plain and simple I did not study well enough, or I forgot how to study and my brain can't do memory work anymore. I got a C+ in art of all things. I got to a port where I did not care, I wanted to show for class and that was it. The tests were stupid, they were more about the psychology or art than about having enriching art activities for elementary age children. The tests read like a security profile quiz.

The kids are out of regular school. They both are in summer school, mostly so they don't get board while I am in summer class also. That has not stopped them from asking me to do something everyday and it usually costs money. I have been trying to at least take them to the Y so they can swim or work out.

The hubby was gone for 4+ weeks right before my school ended in May. Now this week he and the son are gone to Boy Scout camp for the week, so it's me and the girl and our animals.

I have an Algebra class this summer, which is kicking my you know what. I do great on the on-line homework because I have information to look at the reminds me or walks me through the steps to solve the equation. But the Quiz's and the test - forget it! I just can't remember the steps! I feel like such an idiot and that makes me feel awful. Then I come home and see the dirty dishes, the mountain of laundry and messy house and then I feel guilty for not taking care of everyone and everything. Like right now the daughter is yelling for me to share or do something for her.

there is is much more and in a nut shell, I have made my life stressful and I can't do Algebra and perhaps I am too stupid to learn or relearn anything and should just give up on what I thought I wanted in a career - teaching. It would be so much easier to quit and have no goals.

Schools Out!

2009-06-03T08:40:00.003-05:00

Now the planning starts. The kids are out of school and my summer class doesn't start till Mid June. That leaves every afternoon during the week open for us to be local tourists. I really like this time.

Finch Butt?

2009-05-26T20:38:00.007-05:00

Here my friends is a Finch Butt, more to the point a Yellow Finch Butt.

Yes, the Finches are back! I hang the feeder right out the kitchen window so I can watch them and hear them. I promise to get better pictures as they come and go to feed. The 'butt' shot was an accident, the little lady turned too fast.

This picture is a male and a female on the feeder together.

The male and the female were on the feeder and it was spinning so you will have to settle for a side shot.

Today I finally saw a Red Finch on the feeder. And go figure, the camera was in the basement. John has seen 3 yellow males and a female lined up on the lines coming into the house, waiting for a 'all clear' to come and feed.

More Finch sitings later.

can we stop now?

2009-05-13T09:36:00.003-05:00

Can the media stop talking about Carrie Prejean! The woman made a statement about her personal opinion, this is America, the land of free speech right isn't it.

Now, I do not agree with her personal opinion, Gay or Straight we have the right to share our love with the person we are meant to be with. But it is her opinion and you have to respect that.

Instead of paying so much attention to a woman that makes our little girls feel inadequate in there own self image why can't we focus on something positive that can help. How about this news report?

Get out in your neighborhood and find someone that does something positive. Did a neighbor mow your yard for you when they noticed you were so busy you did not get to it yet? Did your mailman bring your mail to your door so you did not have to go to the box to get out all the print material he had? Did someone at work give you a coupon for a lunch discount? What if you had to wait for a fresh pot of coffee to brew but you got a coupon for a free cup at your next purchase?

What good happened to you today, yesterday, somewhere in the past? Who cares if the neighbor mow your yard because they were tired of looking at the mess. So what if it was a coupon for food your co-worker doesn't like. Who cares if it is part of your mailman's job to deliver the mail. So what if it is company policy to give you that free cup coupon. THESE ARE ALL GOOD THINGS that have happened to you. Find the positive.

My son and daughter are being bullied at school and on the bus. We have talked to school and the bus company. The Teachers and Principals have talked to the children in question, and it has helped little. But it still happens, and unfortunately it is a fact of life that there are unhappy people in the world that want to be the total center, no matter what they do to others. So what do we do? We try as a family to find the positive in what is happening to them and how they can learn from it. Yeah they are kids, but you have to start teaching them how to deal with the bad when it happens. The first thing we tell them is the more you pay attention to the negative, the longer it takes for it to go away or turn into good.

So - Shut up about this woman! Look at all the attention she is getting for a personal opinion. Find something better and good to pay attention to. How about finding the hero in your neighborhood or family or circle?

That's my challenge to the world, find a hero that does good.

Last day of my classes

2009-05-06T10:05:00.003-05:00

I have two classes today, and then that is it until the summer session. I am only taking one class this summer, I want to do things with the kids so more than one just did not fit into my schedule.

My 8am was done by 8:30am and I don't have the next one until 11am. Right now I am thinking I should have brought my knitting to work on. But I decided to leave it at home today, figuring that jumping around on the net would be enough to use up a couple of hours. I probably would have made more mistakes on my lace piece I am doing anyhow. So it's best that I left it at home.

I find myslef wondering about things with all this time on my hands. I love being in school, but am I doing the right thing? What in the hell motivated someone to kill a mom and her two children in a Columbia IL suburb? Why do abasolute genius compter programers insist on creating viruses that cause honest and wonderful people to suffer? Why do teanagers act the way they do? Am I too old to follow my dreams, and are they my dreams or are the imbedded into my mind by someone else? Did my brother-in-law call me Dragon Woman on facebook in an endearing way? Did the Ghost Hunters really come to UMSL and investigate part of campus? I need to find a theatre for the new StarTrek movie so I can go tomorrow.

See what happens when I have too much time on my hands. I really want a cup of coffee right now, but I am too damn lazy at the moment to unplug my laptop and go get me a cup. One more class then done for a month. I have never looked so farward to cleaning my house and having a yard sale.

Procrastinating umm I mean taking a break

2009-04-28T19:29:00.006-05:00

I am actually finishing my homework for tomorrow, but I wanted to take a minute and post my cardboard board weaving that I did for my Art Activities for Elementary Ed. class. We will be graded on it on Monday May 4. So here it is:

2009-04-26T22:57:00.002-05:00

Oh I so want to write and blog right now. I know a few of my friends check to see what I have written, and I miss them all so much. Hear that you yarn junkies at Knitty Couture! I miss you too!!!!!

Tomorrow will be the start of 4 weeks that John has been out of town. We got to go see him the first weekend he was gone. Last weekend the kids and I went to a family reunion for my Dad's side. One of my Mom's sisters lives nearby so we went to her place to see all the cousins and cousins kids on Saturday night. We missed all the partying with my Dad's family, but it was good to see my Aunt Betty and most of her kids. It's been so long that I don't even recognize my cousins kids, and now they are having kids!

This weekend Alex had camping with Boy Scouts so I did not venture far from home, or the computer! I have some very poignant school work to finish before the semester is over in two weeks. Our final project in English 3100 is a resume project. This project is making me feel old. I have not worried about a resume since 2004. That was when I was officially out of work and John and I decided that I would be a stay at home mom while the kids were still in elementary school.

Back to school work, I have two more projects for PE Teaching Health, and a test Wednesday - this. In Art Activities I need to recheck all my projects and make sure I fulfilled the requirements for each one.

I could go into the kids making me crazy, but anyone who has kids, especially teen and pre-teen already know my dilemmas. So there is no sense in bringing that one up!

I am trying to set up my classes for summer and fall. Fall will be two long days of classes. Start at 8am and end at 6:30pm, that's if I get into those classes. I am thinking about putting in my app for substitute teaching for next school year. If I do it, I better get more cooperation here at home from the kids, and they BETTER police their own school work better than they are now!

The dogs are missing John. I think Jack Dog is actually depressed. Zena who wants very little to do with John, sits at the door when it is time for him to come home and looks out the door and waits. The cat on the other hand could probably care less, as long as someone feeds him and lets him out and scratches his belly. What do you want, he's a cat.

I have to get up in 6 hours, I guess sleep time is in order for me now, Good Night friends.

Best plans

2009-04-18T22:09:00.003-05:00

You know we all have great plans. My plans for this weekend, like last was to spend my spare time, while being out of town both weekends, on my homework that is due on the Monday and Wednesday following getting home.

My plans were not the others plans. This weekend the kids and I are at a family reunion for my Dad's family. Plus we went to my Mom's sister that lives 20 minutes away for dinner tonight. Got back to the hotel and well, I chased around the 2 year old niece, fed the 8 month old nephew, checked on the son in the pool, kept asking the daughter to turn down the TV next to me. Oh - there are some girl softball teams in the hotel too, along with their families in the pool and hanging out in the lobby drinking. The family reunion is still going on in the banquet room, shit I really want to give in and go join everyone and drink.

Yet there is still the 8 page research paper draft due on Monday at 8am.

Shit!

Long distance fighting

2009-04-14T23:19:00.003-05:00

you know what is worse than getting into an argument with the one you love? Getting into an argument that you have to wait 5 weeks to make up.

I pissed off the husband, he got his work review the other day and he said he received a satisfactory. He seemed rather upset by this so I asked him about it and if there was anything he could do. He felt he deserved better, and well being biased I know he deserved better. He busts his ass for his job and he really likes it.

Well, me asking about it and talking to him about it in my own special way, kept him up till 2:30am stewing over it. He was so angry at me this afternoon we got into an argument over me being prodding. well I am, and I tried to apologize. I don't think it mattered. He is scared the company will lay him off along with others across the nation. He is worried about getting a satisfactory appraisal, so would I with all the work he does.

Oh don't worry, he does not read my blog. But if he by chance does, I am sorry , I miss you and what ever happens it happens to both of us and we can handle it. We always have in the last 19 years.

Late for my own funeral

2009-04-13T09:59:00.003-05:00

I really believe that will be the truth. The hearse will get lost, run out of gas, get stopped by every train on it's way to where ever (since funerals don't have to stop for red lights or stop signs), somehow it will be late. Sort of funny thought considering I don't see the reason to be dropped into the ground, I believe in ashes to ashes.

Why am I talking like this, no I am not having a death wish, I was late for my conference with my 3100 English teacher. Does not look good on my 'permanent record' if you know what I mean. I hope she likes me and lets me reschedule. I caught her just as she was leaving her office to go to her 9:30m class and we are to email and figure something out. How in the hell could I be late!? I live 7 miles from UMSL and it takes me 30+minutes to get here. All the red lights between here and there see me coming and blip, they change. That is the scenario whether I leave early, on time or late. Only once this semester have I arrived to my 8 am class (English) on time. What a fluke.

Today it was the traffic and the stopping for lights. There are 7 traffic lights and 5 stop signs until I get to the parking lot I park in. wow, I just now counted how many there are. My dad drove A LOT for his job he worked at for 32 years and just now do I realized why he always said, give 3 minutes per stop and add 15 and you will get there on time. So according to his traffic math I should leave and hour early and I will be on time. Ouch! I would have to leave at 7am for an 8am class to get to a University that I live 7 miles away from. That really does not work right now with John out of town till the middle of May. I need to be home to make sure my kids don't sit and stare at the T.V. and they get to the buss stop and to school.

I was late, I was up till 1am working on my English research paper, I got up at 6:15 am to get the kids up so they were not late for school. I had extra time so I went back to sleep for 45 minutes (after the kids got on the bus), woke again, showered, loaded the car and left with plenty of time ( I thought) to get here. I got behind a cement truck, no way to get around him - no passing zones, hit every one of those lights I mentioned just as they turned red, the one that was not red the lady in front of me would not turn even though she had the right of way. Now I am making excuses and I am just pissed at myself.

I know I am still frustrated from the drive home from Springfield yesterday too. We went to visit John for the weekend. I drove down in the rain all the way there, and then drove home in driving rain until Rolla and wind so strong it was pushing Semi Trucks around. My hands are cramped and my arms are soar from keeping us on the road. From Rolla home there was no heavy driving rain, but there was the wind. When someone tells you they drove for 3 or more hours in a forceful wind and they say that they are tired and soar, believe them. It is not an easy thing to do. They I had one kid freaking out everytime he dropped a piece of Lego to his model, and the other one staring at me in anger the whole trip.

We had a regular family day though on Saturday with John. We went shopping and ate out and walked a trail at Springfield lake. We drove by the house I used to live in too. I still has the Oak tree in the front yard and is that tree ever big! When my Dad planted it, it was probably 1966 and it was a sapling from my Grandfathers farm. If you have ever visited someplace you used to live and you lived there for a long time then you will understand how odd it is to be back. I all feels familiar even though the surroundings have changed. I saw myself playing in the yard, going across the street to play with friends, and walking to school. It is weird and comforting all at the same time.

but now back to my original rant, I am so frustrated being late and missing my scheduled time. I don't even have any knitting or crocheting with me to work on so I can calm down.

Off the road

2009-04-11T11:00:00.002-05:00

Okay it was not a long trip, took about 4 hours ( we stopped for a bit ). We left later than I wanted to. I got no homework done or studying before I left or when we arrived. I am going to be so hosed for the test on Monday and my English 3100 items that are due.

We arrived in Springfield about 8:30, had dinner and came to the hotel to hang out.

Why? John is gone for 5 weeks for work. He left this past Monday and this weekend is the only weekend the kids and I can visit. Next weekend the kids and I will be busy with my Dad's family, then Alex goes camping with the Boy Scouts and then.... well you get the picture.

So today we are going to hang in Springfield MO and go to a state park, visit some yarn shops and eat with some friends that live her. Then tomorrow, home after Easter Brunch and I hit the studies - hard.

98 out year old Grandma survives earthquake

2009-04-08T17:29:00.005-05:00

I was sent a link to a news report out of Italy.

It seems a Grandmother of 98 survived the massive earthquake that killed hundreds. She was rescued after being buried for 30 hours. How did she pass her time - KNITTING. I have just added this amazing woman to my list of people with WOW. Here is another link to a story that says she was crocheting.

picture from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/7984969.stm

Estate sale find

2009-04-05T18:11:00.003-05:00

John, Alex and I went to some Estate sales over the weekend. We were lonely, Rhi was off on an overnight Teen Leaders Rally. Well today paid off, we found a hand made clay serving platter with hand painted fish, a pewter inkwell and these really great hand knit gloves.

Daily wear

2009-04-04T15:26:00.002-05:00

I was surfing and found this.

I love Kermit, but maybe not this much. but you have to love a designers brain.

Thank You

2009-03-31T23:52:00.001-05:00

A big thank you to my friend Eileen.

I will let you know if I get the Scholarship.