Life for Us

I have finally slowed down enough to blog this evening. Perhaps that is because the hubs is in class, and being a little tired I decided to hit the drive-thru. Claudia is on the other computer in the dining room leaving messages for all her friends in Spain. She is NOTHING like our Julie was last year. Today I had to tell her that I was getting very frustrated with her and explain why. Did I mention she is nothing like Julie?

Speaking of Julie, she called one night last week and is back in the USA. She was able to secure a 5 year visa, and locate a host family in Wisconsin. However, she did not have an easy time traveling- they made her throw away something that was liquid she forgot to put back in her suitcase on a layover. Then when she got to Wisconsin the airline had lost all her luggage! Can you imagine? Plus, her host family is a single older woman who has not moved into the technology age yet. There is no internet, one TV in the house, and phone restrictions for when she is allowed to use the phone. She cried- I cried. I miss her, and feel so bad for her that she isn't happy this year. She said she really misses Madgette a lot.

The Razorback has started the school year with all of us this time. He is working full time during the day in the same school district as me as a special ed. paraprofessional (aide). He comes home and tells me about his day and sometimes it's hard not to laugh because he is going through some of those things every first year teacher goes through. But when I went through them, he thought I was just being a little whiny-- now he is gaining a little more perspective.

I do feel a little sorry for him. He is also taking a full class load this semester with several online classes as well as night classes on Monday and Wednesday until 10. He can do it- I know he can, but a little empathy never hurt anybody~

As for me, I am still loving my job. We have only been in school for 3 days but it already feels like I have been working forever! I have been called many bad words already and today I was nailed in the mouth with one of those stress balls. Luckily, they are little kids so I was able to recover fairly quickly. Tomorrow is a new day and definitely a new adventure!

Madgette is back to liking school. Her arch nemesis is attending a different campus than her this year and she loves it. She tells me on the days she has Spanish class that she doesn't understand anything they say. I think she is putting on just a little! (I know you can't believe that she would be dramatic ;-) Sometimes I just can't understand how she has gotten so big.

That is all the news at our house for now. All the animals are doing ok, and the mail continues to run...

I LOVE My Job

It has been a week since my last post and I know I am falling down on my blogging. Sorry about that- but I am here to tell you that I am definitely a happy woman. I have been on the job for one week and have truly enjoyed every minute of it. From outside sweating painting door announcers, to inside revising handbooks it has been great. I know that I am probably just having a honeymoon period in a new job, but it is a wonderful time none the less. I am looking forward to the upcoming year even though I am worried that I may not measure up or do a good job. The challenge that this year represents is absolutely wonderful.

I am so happy that I am annoying. You ever meet one of those people that you wonder "Who stuck a ray of sunshine up your rear?" Well, I am that person. I know I am annoying and I can't even stop. At the end of the day today our superintendent was talking about how many challenges we would have this year and all I could do was sit there and grin like the cat who ate the canary!

I guess I will just get up each morning, think positively, and pray hard. Here's to a fantastic year!

First Day of Work

Today was my first planning day at the new school. A majority of the staff was there, and I was super excited. Many of you know how I get when I am "on" because I am a little hyper, very outgoing, and a little on the annoyingly positive side. I was definitely like that from 7-4 today but then on the way home I calmed down and became an exhausted woman. I am so tired! It was a great day, but this was the first full day I have worked since the surgery. Did I mention I am exhausted? Night ya'll- It's only 8 o'clock but the bed is calling my name!

Catching Up

It has been a few days since I last wrote. The Madge_and_a_half family has been a group of road warriors as of late. Last time I wrote, we were in Austin having a blast. At least my family was having a blast while I sat in class! One evening we went out to see the nations largest urban bat colony. We got there early and took a seat on the hill beside the bridge. Madgette and the Razorback played a game of catch while we waited, and after about an hour we looked up to see our hill covered with people and all these people lined up along the bridge waiting for the bats to emerge. If you look closely, you can see all the people lined up on the bridge. When the bats began, it was a sight to see! We could hear them chattering before we could see them and it was definitely cool, and as Madgette reminded me-educational.

The next day the family went on a trolley ride, visited the state capital, and visited another museum where they watched a couple of I-MAX movies.

We returned home for the night, and then headed to Arkansas the next day to visit all the family and friends there. Madgette was uber-excited to see her cousin and was extremely annoying the entire drive. The girls have been playing for the last few days and done very well together. For the 4th of July they did fireworks and we watched old home movies. If you want to really see how everyone has changed- go back and watch your Christmas movies from 20 years ago!

One night I did manicures and pedicures which of course they had messed up before they went to bed. But, we had tons of fun! My niece normally has very curly hair, so I straightened it out and she looked like a different child! I straightened it again today and we took her down to get her hair cut. She has only had 2 trims in her life so she still had baby hair on the ends. After they trimmed it all and shaped it she absolutely looked like a little movie star. She was so proud.

Tomorrow we lwill head back to Houston. We hope to get on the road about daylight or maybe a little earlier if possible. We will stay home through the weekend then head for Mississippi the first of next week. I told you we were road warriors lately!

Austin

So the three humans of our family have abandoned all the critters and made off for Austin, TX. No hate mail please- the animals are all being well cared for by a girl that lives in our neighborhood. If they are in any danger it is of being over-loved.

Anyway, we made the trek last night so I would be here bright and early to make it to the conference on time this morning. It was a super long day for me. All I can say is "Thank You" to the people who made a version of Tetris and Brickbreaker for the Blackberry. I think I might have gone stir crazy if these had not been available.

Austin though is such a pretty city. Rolling hills with the mountains off in the distance, and a beautiful hotel room. We are on the 9th floor, and can see downtown shining at night. Madgette (of course) went and tried out the pool today after the rain stopped. Yes- I said RAIN! No one complained about the rain because we were all so happy to see it. I was beginning to think I had forgotten what rain looked like.

Luckily, tonight we get to go eat dinner with a cousin of mine. It is my dad's first cousin who he really likes (which is saying a lot for my dad). She is bringing her son who Madgette absolutely loves because he will play with her. Her son is probably about my age and extremely handsome so all you lovely young ladies- you are missing out with this one!

Then it will be back to the hotel to rest before 2 more days of training. At least tomorrow afternoon I will get to start taking the tests you must pass before your appraiserertificate can be issued. I know I will get to work at my own pace, and get it done. If I can pass both of them on the first shot, I will be done testing and just have one more lecture. If I don't pass on the first try I get to stay late on Thursday and take another test. I have decided I will be done tomorrow.

I hope you all are planning on a great July 4. We are heading to Arkansas to see the Razorbacks family. His mom has had knee replacement surgery, and his dad is having cataract surgery on the 6th. So we are going to attempt to be helpful. Leave me a comment and let me know what your plans are!

You Get What You Pay For

I know you have heard the old saying "you get what you pay for" and here is yet another example of how true old sayings can be. Back in April, we decided to get a new set of mattresses due to back pain when we woke up every morning. We looked and looked around town but just didn't want to pay what was being asked at all the furniture stores.
So we looked online and found someone off of Craig's List that had a storage unit of mattresses left over from a closed mattress store. (So the story goes) The price was reasonable, and they were willing to deliver so we called them up and ordered. Neither one of us had anymore back pain even though the mattress was a little more firm than our previous set.

On another front, our cat has decided she wants to be an indoor/outdoor cat instead of a permanent indoor cat. She comes and goes as she pleases, but spends most of her time outside. She seems to enjoy the outdoors more- I guess there is more to do. She started coming back in during the day and sleeping during the day on our bed.

Soon after we began to notice that we were getting bitten every night while we were in bed. After a little looking, we discovered that we had bed bugs. I was honestly suprised! I didn't think they were real- I thought it was just another old saying "don't let the bedbugs bite" So we aren't sure if the little critters came from the cat, or from the seller. According to what we have read on the net, animals don't usually carry them which leads us to believe that we definitely got what we paid for!

Anyone have a great idea where I can get a free set of mattresses without bugs? Mine are sitting on the front porch...

Update on Summer

Well, The Razorback has purchased and set up and 18 ft. round pool that is about 4 feet tall. That is his solution to his public pool phobia. This week is also vacation bible school week and Madgette looks forward to that all year long. So- summer is definitely looking up for Madgette.

My day was made yesterday when my friend Catfish agreed to meet me for a manicure and pedicure. We tried a new place that had been recommended to her, and it is our new favorite place. The price was good, and the atmosphere was comfortable. After we got done we decided to go to Panera Bread for lunch. We had such a good visit-it was nice to have some girl time, and I am SURE the husbands were relieved not to have to mess with that stuff.

Last night Madgette's best friend Sof came home with us and spent the night. We took them to a huge aquarium store and they saw an ugly electric eel and were all squealing about how scary it was.

On our way home our good friend Momma Pug called and they were having AC problems at their house so she and her 3 dogs came to hang out with us for a while last night. Texas is just to dang hot to try to live without air conditioning! I was sad that they didn't stay the night with us- but they made their way home after an AC repair man visited their house. I have to give it up for her husband- The Mark Up- he stayed in all the heat for hours waiting for the AC man and then waiting for the house to cool off again.

This morning the girls woke up bright and early, and they have been fed some pancakes, and are outside playing a little basketball and loving on the rabbit before we take them to VBS. This is turning into the type of summer that we normally have. That is very comforting and I am still spending a lot of time lazing around in my recliner. So the latest update is that summer does not totally stink- it is turning very aromatic!