Just Because I Love You

I tend to be quite simple when it comes to making meals. I could live off of portobello mushroom sandwiches, vegetable fajitas, baked potatoes loaded with veggies, homemade veggie pizza, salads, the occasional Hough spaghetti, and grilled chicken. I don't add spices- not even salt. I'm pretty sure this simplicity stems from how I had finally lost weight after being overweight for a good chunk of my life. Eating "healthy" like that, also allows me to enjoy the delicious desserts that I love to eat on a daily basis "guilt free" whether it is brownies, ice cream, cookies, or sherbet. In my mind they balance each other out.

Unfortunately, I married a man who loves full-flavored foods. My "go-to" meals are the ones he'd rather pass on. He watches the Food Network, plays with a variety of ingredients, and often makes a delicious dinner that I can only enjoy if I don't know how much butter, oil, or creamy ingredients that he added. This makes our evening dinners pretty basic. I'll offer to make my meals and he'll quickly say, "No, thanks." Once in a while he'll make something if he's feeling motivated, otherwise, we tend to compromise and make something we both can "stand." Perhaps Chop Suey, a frozen pizza (half of one of his full flavored meat lover pizzas, and half of one of my thin crust veggie pizzas), a chicken dish, Hough Spaghetti (which I'm SO THANKFUL that he enjoys),  or a Viola frozen meal. His overall preference would be if I made a full-flavored (meaning HIGH CALORIE) meal with venison or  beef.

So once in a while I try to make a new recipe. Something that sounds good to me that will hopefully taste good to both of us. I might be at 2:20- two meals that were satisfying to him and twenty that were just average and not worth making again. But I still try. I tried tonight, making a creamy chicken pasta dish. I found it over-salted and bland-if that's even possible. It also needed vegetables to add some color and personal appeal to me. When I asked if he thought it had too much salt, he just reminded me that it probably tasted that way to me because it actually had flavor - something I didn't typically have. Boo to him. I love my happy, simple meals. To me, they taste delightfully delicious.

Anyhoo, what was the point for sharing this? I suppose it was just to remind myself that loving someone means doing something you think they will appreciate- even if they don't see the good intentions behind it and still wish you made something full of red meat and fat.

Happy Monday!

Laziness

I woke up this morning completely refreshed after sleeping for 10 1/2 hours. I went to bed at 7:30pm last night, and could do so, because I wasn't worried about my husband thinking that I was a loser by going to bed so early (he was down by the river with his cousins for their annual "Tra Fest" (a weekend of camping by the WI river with intentions to hunt, but unfortunately always ending with drinking too much)).

With getting up so early, I knew I could do just about whatever I wanted. I had time for a full day project or tons of little ones. I started on the little ones. The kitchen, living room, bedroom, bathroom, and basement all got cleaned. The workout area in my basement is now user-friendly again, as I did round two of cellar spider vacuuming, freeing the elliptical machine from their intricately designed webs.

Then the husband got home. Surprise, surprise, he wasn't feeling all that well. And as no surprise to anyone, I wanted to talk with him since I hadn't seen him all weekend. He, on the other hand, had no desire to spend any "quality" time together as it IS football Sunday. So, I went upstairs and did the last bit of painting that was needed in the baby room. Then I did something I haven't done in a LONG time. Nothing. I sat in front of the T.V. for about 2 1/2 hours watching movies- or parts of movies depending on what was on. During that time I thought of everything else I should be doing... Maybe working on my wedding scrapbook, finding another area in the house to organize, fill out my much needed maternity leave paperwork for work, do something with the bag of apples, trays of tomatoes, rotting peppers, and last summer's butternut squash that has taken over the kitchen counter... but no, I sat. Oh, and I made brownies... brownies with chocolate chunks. Yum!

Finally, after feeling worthless for wasting my afternoon away, I went upstairs to clean the second bedroom (which accumulated everything that was once in the room that is now going to be the baby room). It took just a few seconds before I spotted the book titled Belly Laughs by Jenny McCarthy. I had acquired this from my sister who had picked it up at a garage sale while she was pregnant. So, I left the room with my book in hand and decided to sit and read- something else I haven't done in a long time (if you don't count school-related materials).

Reading this book, which was a fast read, made me realize I've been blessed with a very easy pregnancy (knock on wood). I haven't gotten hormonally crazy nor had to deal with nearly anything Jenny McCarthy apparently went through. But, I still have about 10 weeks to go, so, we'll see. Reading the book and eating brownies persuaded me to go upstairs and take a nap. A nap? After already sleeping for 10 1/2 hours the night before?

So now it's after 6:00pm and I still have loads I could do- but nothing I'm really motivated to do. Packers play at 7:00, so I probably shouldn't start anything big. Supper sounds good, but making something requires effort. The rain isn't helping either.

The First Week

School is back in session, as is my early morning alarm. The first few months of school bring me less sleep, excitement for a clean slate, lots of rule setting, plenty of laughs, and parent phone calls so the kids know that I mean business.

Some of this week's events are worth remembering...

Student 1: "Umm. Mrs. Krueger... Well, I don't mean to be rude but... Ummm (imagine a young girl who cannot decide whether she should focus on my eyes or my belly the entire time while talking to me)... I've heard rumors about you... umm... I heard that you have... umm... or are going to have a... um... are pregnant?" Then she looks up at me with the most unsure and genuine eyes I have ever seen.

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, I need to use the bathroom."

Me: "We JUST took a bathroom/drink break 10 minutes ago. Right now it's our reading time."

Student 2: "But, I have a bladder infection. I need to go to the bathroom."

Me: "Ohhhh. Really? That's a big deal. I'm surprised that the nurse or your father didn't tell me about this. I also find it hard to believe you didn't have to go for three hours this morning, and now you have to go twice in ten minutes. But, since I start every year trusting all my students until they give me a reason not to trust them, I should probably let you go, right?"

Student 2: Shakes her head up and down.

Me: "Okay, well, go to the bathroom and I'll make sure to talk with the nurse to make sure we can have a plan set up for you until this passes."

----

Next Day (same student)

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, I can't have lunch today."

Me: "Oh, no. Why not?"

Student 2 "Because corn tacos make me throw up and I don't like grilled cheese."

Me: "And you didn't bring a lunch from home?"

Student 2: "No."

Me: "Well, you ARE going to be hungry at lunch time. You should pick one that you think would be best for today even if you don't eat it all. OR you can call your dad and ask him to bring you a lunch from home."

Student 2: "I just won't eat lunch today."

Me: "Are you sure? You WILL be hungry."

Student 2: "Yes, I'm sure."

Me: "Okay, I won't order a lunch for you. Remember, there won't be extra lunches at lunch time."

Student 2: "That's fine. I don't want lunch."

Right before lunch (same student)

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, I need to go to the bathroom."

Me: "Right. Because of your bladder infection?"

Student 2: "I don't have a bladder infection."

Me: "Wait. You DON'T have a bladder infection? (Oh, surprise!) That means you lied to me."

Student 2: "No, I didn't lie to you."

Me: (getting a little more stern with my voice now) Yes. You did lie. Yesterday, you told me that you had a bladder infection so you could go to the bathroom during our reading time. That is lying."

Student 2: "But I don't have a bladder infection now."

Me: "Bladder infections don't go away in less than one day. Now I have to figure out what to do, because I don't know if I can trust you. I don't even really know if you DO have to go to the bathroom. Since you lied to me yesterday, what should I believe?"

Student 2: "I didn't have a bladder infection yesterday."

Me: "Well, since I don't even know if that's the truth, I'm going to have to talk to the nurse today because I forgot to talk to her yesterday, and call home so I can get honest answers about this. I wish I could trust what you're saying, but now I need to talk to someone who hasn't lied to me." I turn and walk away.

Student 2: Sulks away.

---Getting Ready to Walk to Lunch---

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, did you order a lunch for me?"

Me: "No."

Student 2: "Oh." And looks down at her feet.

Me: I walk away.

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, can I bring the cherry tomatoes that I picked from the school garden this morning to take to lunch?"

Me: "You bet! That's a great idea, because I'm sure you are very hungry. That will at least give you something to eat."

---At the Lunch Table---

Student 2: "Mrs. Krueger, am I going to get in trouble?"

Me: "For not ordering a lunch? I'm not mad about that. I just know you're hungry. But you made that choice."

Student 2: "No, I mean, will my dad be mad at me?"

Me: "I don't know. You know your dad better than I do. I just met him yesterday. But I am going to call home to let him know that you are going to be one hungry girl after school."

Student 2: Looks at me with alarm.

Me: "Okay, well, it's time for me to go eat my lunch. I'll see you at recess."

Student 2: Puts her head down on the table.

Me: I leave.

---At the Lunch Table: Different Student---

Me: "Student 3, how did you get two milks with your lunch today?"

Student 3: "I brought 50 cents to buy it."

Me: "I'm glad you remembered that an extra milk costs 50 cents. Who did you buy it from?"

Student 3: "The person who gives out the lunches."

Me: "Okay, I'll go make sure that you paid and that she knows who you are if you plan on doing this often. Which lady was it again?"

Student 3: Explains which woman it is

Me: I leave to go ask her and get about 10 feet away from the table.

Student 3: "Mrs. Krueger!"

Me: I turn to the student.

Student 3: Extends his arm out, holding the milk to me.

Me: Look at him with terribly disappointed eyes. I take the extra unopened milk and return it. I come back and say, "This is a problem." and then walk away.

---During Lunch---

I call Student 2's dad. He is NOT happy. She, of course, does not have a bladder infection. She also didn't pack herself an afternoon snack (which dad told her to do the night before), so she was unhappy before she even got to school. He wanted to talk with her. I go to the lunch room to get her before she makes it to recess. She is BAWLING with her friends when I find her. I motion for her to come with me. She breaks down in the hallway, already knowing she's in trouble. I prep her for her talk with her dad. I tell her she needs to know that everyone makes mistakes, even adults. All she can do now is to learn from it and not do it again. I give her advice on how to accept whatever punishment she gets from dad and know that it WILL pass, it IS temporary. We talk about the importance of trust. I tell her that tomorrow will be a new day, and that now she'll have to work on earning trust back. While she's on the phone with dad about to break down, she looks at me across the room and I motion for her to breathe and calm down. She does. After talking with dad she hangs up. I tell her good job for making it through a hard conversation. She said her dad is mad. I said he's probably more disappointed about her choice, just like I was. I remind her tomorrow is a new day. She nods. I send her outside.

I call Student 3's mom. She immediately knows her son was lying. I told her how I handled it and said they should probably have a conversation at home about if he needs another milk, or an extra drink from home.

With 5 minutes left of my lunch (I still haven't eaten) I felt like a hard a** teacher. Sorry, that's the only way I can describe how I felt. I was strong, confident, and didn't hesitate to make any phone calls home. I was ready to take on and take down anyone. I had to tell a colleague. I credited my increased sense of power to my baby belly. Oh, what a year this will be!

---While students are playing/exploring with math manipulatives, after snack time---

Student 4: (quite loudly) "It smells like peanut butter over here." And he looks at me questioningly. 

Me: (from across the room) "I don't know why."

Student 5: (who is sitting next to the good smeller responds loudly) "Oh! I have nuts."

Me: (from across the room) BURST OUT LAUGHING! None of the other kids laughed, but I did! The adult in the room!

Student 5: "No, I mean for snack. But yes I do... But no... "

Me: "It's fine! I understand. Let's move on."

We both have big grins on our faces.

Yep. It's going to be another interesting year - as every year is.

Happy Saturday!

I want to do EVERYTHING!

This bothers my husband. I truly want to do everything. My mind is consistently reeling with ideas and possibilities. Things I want to experience and try. Things I want to make and create. Pretty much every week I come up with a new business idea that I think would be amazing. I start to plan it out in my head, only to get distracted with a completely different business idea the next week. 


The same goes for crafting. An example being a cake decorating class that I took several years ago. I took one class, and invested in all the tools needed to bake and create delicious and aesthetically pleasing treats (I've only used these tools a handful of times). Or the watercolor painting class where I also bought all the materials needed to paint (I haven't painted a single thing upon completion of the course). 


It also goes for ways I want to enrich myself. Like the Sign Language class that I took, envisioning myself becoming fluent in Sign Language (I never continued past Sign Language One). Or the business class I took and invested 12 weeks and 300 dollars on (and still haven't decided on a business I'd like to do- or actually a business that I could make money on instead of just do as a hobby). 


With summer ahead of me and garage sales and random people to give me ideas, my list of "I Want To" things continues to grow. I'd like to try oil painting. I want to learn how to make and create stained glass. I want to create beautiful mosaics. I want to learn how to make jewelry (even though I don't wear it). I want to use the Quilting Bible that my aunt bought for me one Christmas when I was ready and gung-ho on learning how to quilt, quickly envisioning all the cute things I would make. I also want to know where some words originated from, so I just looked up gung-ho and discovered: Gung ho (Vietnamese) is a slang term in American English used to mean "enthusiastic" or "dedicated" originally used in Marine slang. I regularly look up quilting classes and sewing classes through Joann Fabric to see what is being offered. 


Every few months I look up MATC's Adult Continuing Education courses to see what I'd like to do. I want to learn how to use scary tools that can cut off your fingers so I can make bird houses, bird feeders, bookshelves, and basically anything that you can create with wood. I want to make the bird treats and suet for our feeders. I want to whittle wood and create ice sculptures. I want to have an amazing garden that grows delicious, organic fruit by the buckets. I want to start and finish my wedding scrapbook and then move on to my teaching scrapbook, and then scrapbook for others!


I want to get chickens, goats, and ducks for the yard. I want to foster raccoons and other wildlife to give them a second chance. I want to cook new recipes on a weekly basis (which rarely happens- I often resort to the easy vegetable dishes that I love, but that Dusty is tired of seeing). I want to get a huge fish tank set up and have happy fish swimming around.

I want to have a girls' night where I actually see my girlfriends, make new friends, and get to laugh just by being me. I want to find a church that I can call home. I want to spend time with my sister and niece. I want to visit my friends who live in other states. I want to visit my Compassion children. I want to get my school lessons/units prepared before the school year begins. I want to work out everyday. I want to paint the rooms in my house and organize the basement... I want to keep thinking of things that I want to do.  


I want, I want, I want. Who has time to get bored?

Dear Betty Crocker

I love your boxed brownies and cakes. I always have a box in my cupboards "just in case." Tonight was one of those nights. With a craving for something light and fluffy, I went to my pantry and was delighted to see a box of Angel Food Cake Mix just waiting for me to whip up and bake. With a smile I set it on the counter imagining what it would soon taste like and quickly noticed the Box Top on the container. After looking a little closer, I noticed the Box Top expiration date was 2007. Knowing that Box Tops typically expire one to three years after buying an item, I found the cake mix's expiration date: November 2006. Did this deter me? No. I opened it up and smelled only Angel Food Cake goodness. I looked for bugs and saw none. I called my mom and sister who both agreed "what harm could it be to try... you really only add water" so I pressed onward. I mixed, poured, and licked the batter bowl. So far, so good. The next testament to your delightful desserts will be whether or not it rises and produces the same results six years after the expiration date. And for someone who has a problem with sweets, apparently just having a boxed mix of something delicious in the cupboards is enough to put me at ease and not feel the immediate need to bake it and eat it. It might also be time for me to go through my dry goods and check all the expiration dates.

Only 15 more minutes to go... the smell is already drifting through the house. =)

Nature's Music

Now that school is over (even though it ended Tuesday at 10:00am, I was at school until after 8pm cleaning that day and had to go back yesterday to finish it all up: packing up my classroom and protecting my items for when it is used for Summer School. I also had to bring back the 40 gallon tank which houses Turtle, my African Sideneck, and my 20 gallon fish tank) I can finally start working on my Summer To-Do List, which is unfortunately, quite long.

I started with some simple exercise. Thankfully, I just have to go down the road to get in a very pleasant nature walk. From my house to the dead-end nearby and back is a wonderful 3 mile trek. With some great hills and plenty of shading, you can't go wrong. This walk used to be my running trail and it would sure be nice to get back to that point sometime in the future, but this summer is for enjoyment, leisure, and a comfortable amount of productivity.

Often I notice people running/walking outside listening to their music as they go. Music as a sort of escape or distraction. I've done that plenty of times, but just about always come back to the conclusion that I like to have my ears free to catch the things that are happening around me. In the past, I've seen grouse, deer, rabbits, pheasants, snakes, squirrels, birds, random dogs and cats, all on my mini adventures. Of course, that's not including the llama farm that I go past, or the horses, cows, donkeys, chickens, and roosters that I see or hear in the yards of the neighbors along the way.

And yes, you can see some of these things while you go along with music, but I've found that I "see" a lot more without the music. Yesterday, as I took my first walk of the summer, I heard rustling in the grass ahead of me so I watched and waited... and out came two very young squirrels chasing each other through the tall grasses on the side of the road. Something I would have missed if I had been listening to music.

I continued my way and heard a funny noise that I thought might be a deer calling out. I didn't see anything, but kept an eye out. As I came to the dead end and headed back, I eventually saw a doe in the middle of the road. We locked eyes and then it took off. As soon as it was back in the woods, it started calling out again - I'm guessing a call of warning. But I listened and loved every second of it - something else I would have missed if I had been listening to music.

Focusing on my own thoughts and the nature around me is truly relaxing. I love seeing the blue birds fly above me and listen to the song birds that accompany me on my way. My goal this summer is to get a walk in everyday. Not just around my house, but anywhere... and, to prevent using my mp3 player the entire time. I'd like to see what I can truly "see" on each of these adventures. Maybe I should map out all the parks with trails that are around my area and start with some of those...

Happy Summer to everyone! I hope you get the opportunity to get out and enjoy nature as well.

Who Does That?!

What's bad is when you're driving home and see an animal that has just been hit by a car still moving in the middle of the road. What's worse is when you pull over to try to help haul it's sad body to the side of the road and realize the people behind you are watching you and not the road, and then they run over the animal again while you are watching, completely horrified. Then, you  rush to the animal, tenderly pick up it's twitching, dying body, and bring it to the side of the road wishing inside that it will miraculously be better- only knowing that it will die within a few minutes. Bawling on the side of the highway over a woodchuck without a chance was me tonight. Then, upon getting home and seeing the new neighbors have cows, I decided that seeing the cows would make me happy. So, with tear stained eyes I introduced myself to the neighbors trying to explain how their cows made me happy after hauling a dying animal off the road... Yep. I'm the crazy neighbor. And I do that.

It's the Little Things...

In a perfect world we'd all end up married to the perfect person... someone who talks to you every day and asks you questions, someone who leaves you random notes to make you smile, someone who cooks, cleans, and helps maintain the household, someone who enjoys spending time doing the same activities as you, and someone who can make you laugh, feel loved, and feel beautiful.

But it's not a perfect world, and we marry the person that we feel will make us the most happy. My husband doesn't do everything I wish he did, but I KNOW that I don't do everything that he wishes I did. It truly is the little things that count.

Last night, my husband didn't throw the rotisserie chicken carcass in the garbage... he threw it outside... in the yard... within view of the upstairs bedroom window... so that I could see my raccoons enjoy a little feast. And I did. My coons (I'm assuming they're from one of my batches but may not be) are looking quite healthy and cleaned up the carcass lickety-split. I LOVED seeing them moving about in our yard, and even sent out a little prayer for them to be smart enough to stay out of the neighbors' yards so they don't get shot.

So, yep, it's things like that, that remind you that you DID marry the person who would make you the most happy- even if other little things are missing. Find joy in what you do have. =)

The Bearded Lady

We have a bearded hen that frequents our backyard several times a day. She's a happy camper when the corn's out, but when the corn is gone, she puts on quite the show of stomping her feet and digging her hen claws into the dirt and making the soil fly.  She is almost always alone, but occasionally shows up with a lady friend.

The other day, she showed up, but brought along at least three Jakes in addition to her lady friend. I guess her beard doesn't hurt her chances with the males. Unfortunately, there wasn't any corn out, and I can only imagine the Jakes sarcastically sayin', "Sure there's corn here..." So after they went to our neighbor's yard, I ran out in my bathrobe and dumped a bucket of corn out there. It wasn't too long until she was back and enjoying the corn, but she was now alone.

While at work yesterday, I got to speak with several disappointed turkey hunters (due to the weather). One of the gentlemen said that the bearded lady is a rarity! But since she has a beard, she can also be shot along with the Toms and the Jakes. Maybe that's why she's alone so often- she's keepin' herself safe! Her beard gives excitement to those that get to see it, but somehow, I feel that the hairyness God has blessed some women with, doesn't quite result with the same excitement... ask my husband... I'm just about to splurge for a full leg wax before our trip to Mexico for a destination wedding. Yep. It's bad, but at least I can't be legally killed for it!

Here's to the bearded ladies - I know you can't help it and don't let the men shoot you down!

p.s. Never go swimsuit shopping if you haven't shaved your legs for three weeks. NOTHING looks good on you!

BEAUTIFUL DAY

This weekend was full of beautiful things... I didn't have to work on Saturday and the sun was shining. But the most radiant thing I saw was a house finch. From a distance inside the house I saw a bird on the feeder and didn't recognize it, so I decided to sneak up on it. Oddly enough, it didn't seem to notice me inching my way towards it. Finally, as I got close enough, I discovered why. It's right eye had been compromised. There it was, sitting on the feeder, eating away, having survived some type of injury. I began to wonder what may have caused the damage, only to stop myself and think, THIS is a bird to admire. It probably isn't complaining to its friends about how hard it is with only one eye... instead, it's doing what it needs to do to survive- focusing on what it can do instead of what it can't do- having faith that it will make it through another day.

I want to be like this bird. Confident in myself regardless of the things I often let hold me back... and trust that others can see the beauty within, instead of focusing on my flaws. I am happy, healthy, and full of life. Yep, I've just pumped myself up for another great week of work! I hope you make the most of your week as well.

God is good. God is great. God is LOVE.

The Brutal Goodbye

Today was Ricardo's last day. If I could do anything over again, it would be to take pictures of what the kids made him. We had a huge banner hung up over the door for when he walked in this morning, a class-made book with a page from each student, an autographed soccer ball from all his classmates and teachers, and a soccer pillow that was made by two students.

When I asked on Monday for parents to volunteer to send in treats, I had three parents offer cupcakes, brownies, and juice. PERFECT! I thought- A nice variety. Guess what came in today? TWO cupcake contributions, Oreos, popcorn, brownies, blow pops, tootsie pops, two HUGE chocolate bars, fruit snacks, and two kinds of juices. OMW. How would we survive the day? We had one of the cupcakes for a morning snack (super healthy, I know) and then saved everything else for the end of the day.

The last 30 minutes of the day was dedicated to passing out unhealthy treats and waiting to sing a goodbye song to Ricardo. Once all the treats were eaten and Ricardo took a first bite, the students dug in to their sugar. While students were eating, we began to give Ricardo his gifts one by one. By the end, tears were swelling up in his eyes. He couldn't answer any questions because he knew the result would be a full-out cry. The tears were enough... soon two people were crying... then three... then four... pretty soon just about half of the class was tearing up and crying- keep in mind with a class of 27, that's about 13 students. It also wasn't the weak that were crying. It was my football players, my class clowns, my confident students, and my quiet students. All were effected. When everyone else started crying, Ricardo couldn't hold it back. It was heart breaking watching a class break to pieces within a matter of minutes.

We got Ricardo packed up and got ready to head outside to the buses. We made a human bridge/canopy for Ricardo to walk under and did a big send off... but that made the crying worse. My boys were SOBBING. Ricardo continued to cry. This was their last chance to say goodbye. Teachers, parents, other students were trying to figure out why on earth a majority of my class was crying... goodness knows, I could hardly keep myself my crying. I just turned to the gawking students and said, "See, you don't want to be in my classroom. I'm so mean that I make my students cry." Eventually I told the onlookers, "It's never easy to lose a good friend."

I am SO PROUD of my class. They truly let their emotions show and let Ricardo know that he will be incredibly missed. When his mom came to pick him up and she heard what happened and saw her son's tears, she began to cry too. What an emotional day. I turned to Ricardo and said, "I bet you didn't know you were so loved, did you?" He shook his head "no." I don't think ANY of my students will forget this day- I know I won't.

To Be This Loved...

Recently I found out that one of my students will be leaving us and heading to a new home in Milwaukee. Unfortunately his dad has no say in the matter other than move and have a job, or stay and lose your job. =(   Now, in all honesty, when a teacher discovers a student will no longer be in her classroom, she feels either joy or sadness. Joy if it is a student who daily takes away the learning from classmates and consistently causes hurt; or sadness if it is a student who truly tried their best on a daily basis without complaint.

This student leaving brought me much sadness. Why this family? Why now? Why not someone else who causes drama or frustration? But regardless of my feelings, he is going to be leaving. This morning I asked him if he had told any of his friends. "No." he replied in a sad voice while glancing up at me and then looking at the floor. "Can we tell them now?" I asked him, eager for him to share his news so the children could embrace their last few days with him. Instead of a response he just shook his head "no" while looking at the floor and walked away. SUPER SAD! =(

So, I sent him off to Art class to finish his projects (since Art isn't until Friday for us and Wednesday is his last day) and then told the class so they could prepare themselves for his departure and make him a goodbye gift. As I shared the news, three boys began to cry. Several others got tears in their eyes. "He was like my cousin" one child said. "But he sits next to me" another one said. "He can't leave, he's so good at soccer" said yet another. And I thought, wow, this boy was loved. It's funny to me that his parents were concerned about him not having any friends. I've had students leave before, but I've never had this kind of emotional response from my students- especially from a student who was new to the school this year.

Tomorrow we will finish our good bye booklet, sign a soccer ball for him, and prepare for our good bye and good luck celebration send off on Wednesday.

I hope he knows he is loved. I hope he feels the love. I hope he finds this kind of love and acceptance in Milwaukee...

Eat off my Floor

This morning I woke up with the urge to clean the house. Not just a light cleaning, but a DEEP CLEANING. Every room is in dire need of some TLC, so I could truly begin anywhere and know that anything I did would be an improvement over what it is now.

I started with getting a few loads of laundry going and then decided the kitchen, dining room, bathroom, and hallway tiled floor needed a good cleaning. I would clean the floors more often, but when you've just finished cleaning the floors only to have your husband come home, make something to eat, and wipe the crumbs off the counter directly onto the floor, it just doesn't feel worth it. But, enough is enough and I NEEDED clean floors.

Jumping into my car, I drove to Hardware Hank down the road and picked up some good floor cleaner (earth and pet friendly of course) and a hardcore handheld scrubber. I swept the floor several times to get as much as possible off the floor and even used our dying vacuum to help. Starting with one area, I began to scrub each foot x foot tile individually, including the grouted areas which had not been given personal attention since moving in. Clean smell swept through the house and after every tile I completed, I felt better about my chosen task. Three hours FLEW by and I was under the kitchen table, seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. I only had one small section of the dining room and then a small remainder of the hall and entry bathroom left and I was already considering what I should post on Facebook. I was thinking, "Anyone want to come over and eat off my floor with me?" or something along those lines. I was smiling to myself, jammin' to some country music, when I suddenly heard an earsplitting crash. I crouched and froze (which is funny, because you'd think I'd know I was pretty safe already crammed under the table). I look over to see Smitty (Dusty's cat) on the kitchen counter, having just knocked over all three glass cat dishes that I had put on the counter for the floor scrubbing project. Shards of glass and cat food literally covered the ENTIRE two huge areas that I was just finishing. I'm sure Smitty could read my mind and said, "I'll eat off the floor with you." but I didn't like his gesture. I got pretty mad. Let's face it, I yelled. I yelled some not so nice things to the cat. Then I yelled at Rodger (Dusty's other cat) for trying to eat the cat food that was embedded in the broken glass.

Well, God has a good way of reminding you not to get too full of yourself. 4+ hours after beginning this project, all the glass and cat food are cleaned up and I did a second floor cleaning with our Steam Shark. I still think I can eat off the floor now, but I definitely don't feel so big and proud of my sparkling clean floors. Now I just feel very matter of fact about it... and I need to find a way to prevent it from getting dirty as soon as "someone" gets back home.

Just Ignore it

In the middle of our writing workshop today, I waited until all the kids were settled and working, had another teacher in the room working with a few students, and then slipped out for a quick bathroom break. You'd think all would go well for those two minutes, and often the kids are better when they don't even realize their teacher has left the room. Unfortunately, I returned to a class in an uproar with two kids standing on their chairs! Why? Because there was a spider on the ceiling. Sure, it was a hairy wolf spider, but seriously, it was on the ceiling. I told them they had nothing to worry about, needed to ignore it, and realize that the chances of that spider falling from the ceiling was slim to none. They needed to get back to work.

Thirty minutes or so later, while everyone was working on a poem for their poetry books, I hear a scream and suddenly students are scattering and causing quite the commotion. Well, that spider dropped from the ceiling and landed on one of their desks! Of course they freaked out, that would've scared the crap outta me! One brave soul tried to catch the creepy eight legged creature, but I steered her away from it, because I'm pretty sure they bite. But as suddenly as it appeared, it was gone. We had no idea where the spider went. Try to get a class of 4th graders back on task when there's a spider running fiercely around the classroom... yep, it doesn't work. There was no pulling them back. Finally, when students started to settle down and a few were working away from the desk where the spider disappeared from, another student yells out, "There it is!" And everything goes right back into chaos mode.

Thankfully this time, I was able to capture it and send it outside with two students who were eager to release it. However, bringing the class back into a learning mode those last 15 minutes of the day was pretty much impossible.

Is it Friday yet?

Stargirl

I LOVE this book! Stargirl. If you haven't read it, it's a fast read and makes you want to be amazing. It's written for middle/high schoolers, but I'm reading this book with the girls in my class this year. We're calling it our girl book club. I've read it before and every time I read it, it inspires me to stand out and stop worrying about what other people think.

4th grade girls can have some GREAT discussions about what they read- especially if they LIKE what they're reading. This is the first book this year that we've read altogether, and that they keep asking me, "Can we read more? Can we read ahead?" I LOVE IT!

I've always had the desire to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe, one that screams confident, happy, and fun. But when I go out to try and accomplish this, I end up laughing at myself in front of the dressing room mirror, because I totally believe I can't pull it off... Again, this is why the book Stargirl is amazing- and annoying, because even though I know I look ridiculous in the "fun" clothes I want to be able to pull off, I know I'll try it again within the next few weeks because of this book! But trust me, this book is NOT about clothing and what you wear.

Live to the beat of your own drum. Read this book if you want to make a difference in the world. Read this book if you want to know what kind of person I dream of becoming. Read this book with your growing daughter if you want to have some interesting conversations. Read this book if you just want some happy inspiration.

Hey, I have an idea...

Super Glue

Super glue is my best friend once the dryness of Winter comes. Those little cracks on the tips of your fingers can be insanely painful and take forever to heal... so I super glue myself back to having happy hands.

Well, my favorite kind of super glue that contains a nice brush for easy application no longer seems to be sold at the store, so on my way to school a few weeks ago, I picked up this kind (see picture above). It has a nail-ish plug to keep it from spilling and has an upright container to store it in.

Today before leaving school for decorating cakes, I decided to patch up a recently formed "crack." I got the super glue out, turned it upside down to apply, and nothing happened. I squeezed. And squeezed. And squeezed. No luck. I bit down on it and squeezed some more, praying that it wouldn't explode everywhere. I tried to use the nail-like plug to unplug the glue that must have dried by the entrance. Finally I noticed a small drop of super glue appear at the tip- PERFECT! I only needed a drop. As I turned it over, I squeezed ever so lightly to get that drop onto my finger. That's when it happened. SUPER GLUE EXPLOSION! It covered my fingers and parts of my hand.

I froze. I couldn't even move. I told myself not to touch anything so I wouldn't be stuck to it. It would dry, it would dry, it would dry. Then I looked down at my wedding ring. It was covered in super glue as well as the rest of that finger! I then wondered how long a ring would stay glued on to a hand. Then I had the immediate sense of urgency that the ring had to come off. I quickly unstuck the rapidly drying (and bonding) ring from my finger, only to get it stuck on my knuckle. I can't have this thing glued to the middle of my finger- that wouldn't work at all. I put it back. It began to stick again. I moved it up. It stuck again. AHHHHHH. Finally, after moving it repeatedly, the glue dried without getting me strongly attached to anything. Whew.

However, at work, when cleaning my decorating supplies, I couldn't tell if anything was clean because of the layer of super glue over the majority of my fingers and thumb... Here's hoping this layer will not last long.

Oh super glue. You're the best in small amounts... But I guess that's true with most things.

Resume Me

For days I've been thinking about what I should write about. It seems that everything on my mind is about things I've already mentioned in the past, things that would take only three sentences to write about, or things I've already posted on Facebook- so why post?

I decided to look at my photos to find some inspiration, and I did. As I was looking at the pictures of cakes I've been decorating, my mind suddenly flashed to the variety of jobs that I've had so far in my life...

Resume Me:

Lawn Mowing: I mowed one neighbor's yard. It was huge. And hilly. I found a way to mow it in about an hour while having to move a huge trampoline out of the way and without tipping over on the steep slopes. I used my dad's mower and gas, didn't trim well (I probably should have), and got paid $30 every time I mowed it. Not bad for an hour's work. I was 14ish...

Babysitting: I babysat all around the neighborhood. From a single child with huge birds, a family of three crazy boys who liked to cause a ruckus every possible way, a 10 year old boy (and his younger sister) who liked to slap girls' butts when they walked by, to a couple who would come home pretty intoxicated (I didn't know it then, since I had never been around alcohol nor had parents that drank, but looking back it was insanely obvious). Babysitting ended when I began to get involved with my church youth group and I found that I'd rather spend time with kids my age over getting paid 5 bucks an hour (if that).

Middleton Public Library: A great after school job since I could walk right from High School to the library. I checked in books, shelved books, listened to music while I worked and made some new friends. Upon my most recent visit to the library, I found my first "real" job is now being replaced by a robot... yep. Some kind of electronic, robotic, machine. Lovely.

Auto Glass Specialists: Yes, the Guys in the Little Red Trucks. Only, this was an evening job where I became one of those annoying people calling you at your home and asking for a few minutes to answer some survey questions. I remember the first time I got sworn at and hung up on. I cried. I also got the other girl working there fired because she lied about the number of calls she made and had been adjusting her time in and out. I never tattled on her, they just looked at what I did and compared it to what she did and knew it didn't add up. Overachiever? I do my work when I'm getting paid.

Bethel College Library, Cataloguer: I worked in back with the most wonderful older gentleman named Jim. I covered books and helped catalogue them in the computer.

Meriter Hospital Medical Records: I filed. And filed. And filed. This was a job through a temp. agency. I remember coming across the record of a boy who had liked me and took me out once. (On our first date he looked like a vampire with a long black trench coat-super scary.) I broke the rules of my job. I "looked" at his record. In my defense I had to add notes from his last appointment, so really, it's not like I hunted him down. I just happened to come across him. The injury to his toe that I remember him talking about was not so innocent... he had SHOT HIMSELF IN THE TOE! Glad that was a one date deal. Poor Mom and Dad must have freaked out when he showed up at the door. Nonetheless, the hospital didn't need me anymore and didn't tell me, so when the temp. agency called to say they were going to look for some more work options, I still went to the hospital... AWKWARD!  They were embarrassed, I was confused. I ended up leaving half way through the day without saying anything.

AARP: They needed a "creative assistant" or something like that who could make flyers on the computer, do miscellaneous stuff in the office, and typical book keeping. That didn't last too long, but I did really enjoy it. However, since working there I consistently get AARP mail notifications asking me join. Nice.

Bethel College, Teaching Assistant: Did anything and everything the two professors I worked for told me to do. Lots of creative stuff and lots of filing stuff.

Auto Glass Specialists, Accounts Receivable: I did this job several summers and met a crazy co-worker who had broken her finger in a drunk water-skiing accident. She was always giving me guy advice and consistently said to date a married guy because you get whatever you want and there's no commitment. I did NOT take her advice, but over the years we became good friends. Hmmm. This makes me want to see her- it's been too long!

Meriter Hand Clinic: Receptionist for people coming in for hand therapy. They had told me how they'd had such bad luck keeping anyone for longer than two weeks. I assured them I was going to last, not knowing that after one week of working there I'd get an offer to teach Summer School for the Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD).

MMSD: Summer School for 8 years. Last year was my first official summer off and it was... AMAZING!

Chili's Bar and Grill, Waitress: Almost two years of waiting on people... I loved it at first, but eventually became bitter towards customers, their demands, their lack of appreciation, and insanely small tips. I did this while Substitute Teaching in the Madison, Middleton, and Waunakee School Districts.


Bennetts Sinclair Gas Station: About 6 years, every Saturday morning. 6am-Noon.  Counter girl for the register and socializer for the regulars. Within walking distance and visual distance from my apartment.

(Current)
MMSD: Teacher for 9 years: K/1, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4, 4/5, 4, 4.

(Current) CJ's Trash To Treasure: Register girl only when needed. Rarely work, but love it every time I'm there!

(Current) Piggly Wiggly, Cake Decorator: Learning like crazy, becoming more confident, and excited for what the future holds.

I know I'm missing some odd jobs in my list, but I think I've listed most of them. Quite a random work life... but hey, working pays the bills and exposes you to new experiences and learning opportunities. However, I think I'm pretty happy where I'm at right now. =)

Happy Monday!

Happiness Is...

... having that extra skip in your step when you're doing something you love, like organizing a part of a store and being able to socialize with complete strangers while 8 hours quickly pass by and it never once feels like work.

... going to sleep dreaming of cakes you want to decorate at your next opportunity, and wishing it would come sooner than later.

... getting multiple double page spreads completed in your scrapbook within a few weeks instead of over the course of several months.

... knowing your sister had a healthy baby girl and that you're finally an aunt!

... resisting the temptation to eat sweets and drink unnecessary calories, allowing you to wake up feeling a little bit skinnier the next morning.

... running into a boy you had a crush on in high school, having him hug you to say hello, and being able to talk to him like a normal friend even though you were a COMPLETE dork in high school.

... getting along with and having the girlfriend of the boy you had a crush on in high school say that you have a positive energy about you.

... seeing a truck with a plow show up in your snow covered driveway after you flooded the engine of your snowblower and were seriously considering shoveling the entire thing.

... having some quiet time at home to write about happy things while enjoying the warmth of an electric blanket you received as a Christmas gift from your husband.

... completing 27 report cards for your 4th graders. I haven't experienced that happiness this school year yet, but I've gotten a chunk of them done.

I hope YOU are feeling happy today!

Decorate This

When it seems that money is tight, I've always been taught to find a way to make ends meet. Spend less, budget, or get another job.

And that is how I met Dusty. I got another job (one of many extra jobs I've had over the years). I worked at the Sinclair Gas/Car Shop that I could literally see from the window of my apartment every Saturday morning for over 6 years. Dusty also happened to have a second job. Between the two of us, we shared a co-worker: John. That's how we met.

Dusty & John

After the owner of Sinclair passed away, I was in the process of getting married and buying a house and all that jazz, so the extra job seemed to be a thing in the past. I was financially stable with my teaching job and once we bought a house pretty far out of town, I didn't want to drive anywhere for an extra job. Besides, being married and living together is supposed to save money, right?

Well, lately things have gotten tight. So, I spent less. That didn't seem to help much, so I began half-heartedly looked for another job. Finally, a few weeks ago, something caught my eye. A Cake Decorator was needed at a grocery store that I drive past EVERY DAY on the way to and from work. I couldn't ignore it and set up a time to meet for a "hands on" interview. I figured the worst thing that would happen is that I wouldn't cut it and I wouldn't have a second job. I could handle that.

Today, was my "interview." After given a brief tour of the bakery department (also shared with the deli and rotisserie chickens), I was shown a cart of blank cakes and was told to go at it. "Is there a theme you want me to do?" Nope. I just needed to decorate whatever I wanted to decorate to see if I was trainable, creative, or even a possibility.

I had been introduced to the air brush for decorating and figured I'd give that a go. I made a huge smiling sun with a blue air-brushed background. Eh. Once it was done I knew what I'd do differently in the future. On the second cake I decided to use a LOT of color... A little too much color. It almost looked like a gay pride cake with rainbow colors, stars, sprinkles- the works. On the third cake I tried to tone it back a little and make some balloons using the new balloon technique that I had been quickly shown that day. A few balloons turned into a group of balloons- one balloon "blew up" due to an air pocket in the frosting and I tried to salvage it the best that I could. My critical eye told me to try and scrape it off and start over, but that wasn't an option. The lesson I learned today, is that LESS is MORE when it comes to decorating cakes.

Expecting to get a chance to taste one of my decorated cakes, or share them with the store employees, I was shocked to find out where they were going: ON THE SHELVES in the store to be sold. WHAT? "Decorate these" and "decorate these to be sold" are two very different things! But, alas, that's where they are- on the refrigerated shelves waiting for some child to look up and say, I want that color explosion of a cake!

Being prepared to thank her for her time and the opportunity to play with decorating items, she asked if I could come back on Monday to do some sheet cakes. Ohhhh, extended opportunity. Maybe I didn't do so bad afterall. Then she said, "I'll see if we can get you on payroll so you get paid next time." WHAT? I think I just got a second job. I'm pretty sure I did. 10-20 hours a week. I don't even know what the pay is. I don't even know what to think. But, I guess I'm trainable, creative, and possibly a nice addition to their bakery. Sweeeeet! New opportunities are on the horizon!

Saffron, Please!

Well, a couple days ago I got my first copy of Cooking Light. After giving the subscription as a gift for several years, I decided to get it for myself. I always say I'll try new recipes, but actually doing it takes time. I figured a magazine with descriptions and pictures would probably help motivate me to try something new.

Tonight, I did. With my husband in mind, I decided to steer clear of the chicken (since we ALWAYS have that because I don't eat red meat... well, not often. If Dusty shoots a deer I will will have some of his venison. And once in awhile I'll have a BLT. Occasionally I make Pea Soup and include ham for Dusty, but that's beside the point) and step into the seafood world.

I found a recipe called "Shrimp with Lemon-Saffron Rice." The description sounded good. It was supposed to have a kick which I know Dusty likes, so I decided to give it a try. I stopped by Piggly Wiggly on my way home to pick up the ingredients. After help from the Produce Department man to find Saffron, we had a nice discussion of whether or not Saffron was worth $11.50 for the smallest portion imaginable, as well as if there was a way to substitute Saffron with other ingredients. I thanked him for his time and ended up saying, "No matter how great Saffron is supposed to be, I refuse to pay that much for it."

Once I got home, I pulled up Google and looked for Saffron substitutes... which by the way, there are none. People suggested this and that, but as my husband said, it's like trying to substitute copper for gold. Feeling defeated, and not wanting to ruin my first new recipe of the year, I text messaged Dusty to see if he'd be willing to pick up some crazy-expensive Saffron for me on his way home. He did.

As I waited for his return this evening, I got all the ingredients ready. I had them measured out and sitting happily just like they do in the cooking shows on Food Network. I was feeling quite proud. Once everything was cooking, I was excited to see what he'd think of a new recipe- one where I didn't cut out or halve all the "bad" ingredients, and included something I don't normally cook with- shrimp.

When it was done, I measured out my serving and thought it was quite good (don't forget I have a very limited sense of taste and smell right now). He ate his plate, set it down, and said nothing. "So, what'd you think?" I bravely asked. "Eh...." I decided to make it easy for him and put some words into his mouth. "Would you eat it again, or should I remove it from my recipe box?" His response: "I'd eat it again, but...." "It's not your favorite?" I filled in. "Yeah." he replied.

First new recipe of the year: FAIL.
Satisfied Husband: Fail (He's in the kitchen searching the cupboards.)
Would it have still failed without the Saffron? Yes.
Was the Saffron worth $11.50? I don't think so.
Do I know more now than I did back then? Yes.
Adding to Stephanie's knowledge: Win.
New recipe next week? One with chicken. =)


I want chickens of my own, btw, but that's for another time... (and not to kill, pluck, and eat, but for other reasons).

Happy Thursday!

Don't Forget...

I've been sick for just about four weeks now. Two weeks before Christmas Break I figured I'd be better by then. Once Christmas came, I figured I'd be better by New Years. Once New Years came, I didn't know what was going on. So, during my weeks of sickness, I've been reminded of what to be thankful for.

1) The ability to breathe. Originally every time I would take a breath beyond a shallow breath, it would result in a coughing spasm. The first time I went to the doctor, I was prescribed an inhaler to help open up my lungs. Apparently I had something called Reactive Airway and whatever bug I got originally, found a way to set up shop along my lungs, allowing my breathing to activate coughing fits. Not nice. The inhaler helped drastically, but I couldn't help but be thankful for my normal breathing. And I couldn't help but have empathy for anyone with asthma or anyone who has trouble breathing deeply and clearly.

2) The ability to taste (and smell). Having lost this ability for the past several days, I'm reminded of my grandma who didn't have her sense of taste for the last few years of her life. I have no motivation to make anything that's full of flavor because I can't taste it. Why eat sweets when I can't enjoy them? (Maybe this is a blessing in disguise.) But currently, everything I taste is flavorless and I try to imagine what it should really taste like. It's also not good because the old, slimly mushrooms I sauteed up "smelled" fine... yeah.

3) The ability to hear. My ears have been plugged for about two weeks now. Everything is muffled and quiet. "Huh?" "Come again?" "What was that?" "I'm sorry."

4) The ability to talk normally. Every time I talk, I risk a coughing fit and expose my "You have a cold" voice that makes people take a few steps back. I may sound awful, but every day I feel a little bit better- just not back to normal yet.

5) The desire to work out. This has been the LONGEST I haven't had a good workout in years. I originally thought that by skipping my workouts I'd recover more quickly- less stress on your body, right? Well, now, four weeks later, I'm just feeling sick and OUT OF SHAPE. This just makes me want to say, "Forget it." and go workout- but I'm still stuck on the "go easy" advice. Really, I think it's just an easy excuse to not push myself to sweat. Lazy me.

6) The desire to be social. Explained by reasons 4 & 5.

7) Optimism and Energy. With this thing holding on, I find myself lacking motivation, lacking my upbeat nature, and feeling slightly negative and pessimistic. Pessimists, how do you do it? =(  This also results in getting MUCH LESS accomplished during my winter break than originally planned.

8) A Two Week Break! Originally, I was not thrilled about the timing of our school's Winter Break. Who wanted to work right up to the day before Christmas Eve? Well, it was a good thing, because it has given me more time to try and figure out what is wrong with me. I have a second doctor's appointment tomorrow to see if anything else can be done to help me return to normal. Here's hoping for some good news.

So, if you're reading this and are healthy, take a deep breath, savor your flavors, cozy up to someone you  love, and do something that requires motivation. Do it for me. Please!

Happy Wednesday?!

What I Learned at Lambeau

I had the privilege of ringing in the New Year at my very first Packers Game at Lambeau Field and figured I'd share some of the things I learned along with random observations...

The honor system is still in place among strangers. After finding a Lambeau Parking pass on Craigslist the morning of the game, we paid face value for a parking pass that we need to mail back to the owners so they can use it for the playoffs.




Who says you need a nice grill for tailgating? Why not buy one for $9.50 that's disposable? It cooks your food (for the most part) and doesn't damage your truck in any way!

Packer fans are quite friendly. We witnessed Packers and Lions fans posing together for pictures and sharing some good times. With people wandering from row to row, you get to see a lot of interesting characters from both teams. But remember, there's always someone watching!

With wind and snow, dressing appropriately is KEY. Who says only losers wear snowpants? I wore mine happily and enjoyed the warmth and dryness they provided throughout the 6+ hours we were outside- along with the hand warmers that I stuffed in my boots. Granted, going to the bathroom was a little more tricky. Had I not cared about what anyone else thought, I would've taken a picture of the Women's bathroom. It was HUGE and efficient- even with a lack of warm water. Also, wearing a homemade scarf from your sister lets you sport Green Bay colors without spending a fortune! (The picture doesn't do this scarf justice.)

They aren't kidding when they say these games are SOLD OUT. There's not an empty seat in the stadium and the strangers around you become your friends. They help steady the intoxicated, confidently take off their shirts in the 4th quarter, and trust you to watch their stuff when they leave for food, drinks, or the bathroom. You're packed in which goes well with the team name. Be prepared to cozy up to your neighbors.

Too many drinks results in missing a few parts of the game. And when asked if we wanted to leave early- as in during the third quarter- it was easy to say "NO WAY!" Who leaves a close game at Lambeau on your first trip there? Or ever?





For anyone who knows me, you'd know I'm not about the put-downs, crude comments, or booing, but at one point I did find myself "Booing" loudly. Then I came up with the following phrase which I can easily live with: "It's okay to "Boo" at someone like Suh."

Just because Rodgers isn't playing doesn't mean that you won't be 

witnessing an amazing game! Great job, Matt Flynn!

Also, if you decide to run across the field and you're NOT a player, 

you WILL get tackled and escorted away- even if you are only 15 years old.

Overall, it was a GREAT day to experience a game at Lambeau Field. I must admit, however, that it's a LOT easier to catch what's happening accurately when you're at home. You also get to appreciate the Lambeau Leap better at home and don't miss any parts of the game with DVR. BUT if I get a chance to go again, I'd definitely do it.

Happy New Year!
GO PACK GO!