A Full Plate

So many things to think about!




Right now my plate is full. All I am wanting to do is be home and relax and begin to get in the holiday spirit and do some baking, some organizing, some shopping........but the reality is I have no time for all of that!!! There are several changes taking place in the next two weeks. First of all our house--15 miles outside of town, that we have been trying to sell for 1 and 1/2 years has all but sold. It was supposed to close Friday. However there was a glitch which stems from people not doing their job. So the homeowners were screwed and so were we. Bubby says it's their fault for not knowing what is going on. LOL but I don't think they did it on purpose. Anyhow if we are lucky it will be this next Friday, if not Monday, Dec. 13th.

 The next worry on my mind is Parker. He is wanting to quit basketball. As in forever. He has worked so hard his whole life, since age 5 when he started playing and now is ready to give it up. I understand that he is tired of it. The coach is extremely negative. Some of the things Parker tells us I can understand why he wants to quit. It will be a good thing in a way. Once must make a lot of sacrifices to play sports. I'm just not sure when the right time for Parker to quit is. First he wanted to finish the season, then he wanted to finish the next tournament, now he wants to quit right away!!! 

Can I talk school?  Budget cuts are finally hurting our district. Teachers are being moved around. So far no one has lost a job, but teachers who had had non- classroom jobs are being put into classrooms. This isn't always a good thing. While being in a classroom and being the actual teacher requires the most work, paper work etc, support teachers are important too. We are loosing most of the support systems at our school. We were told, you are loosing all the support you are used to and yes, we still expect the high standards we want and need. Good luck and remember- you still have a job. I feel for my co-workers who are being moved and switched at a whim. However, I do understand the state of Texas does not value education like it should and will not put the money where it needs to go. 

How does this affect me? Right now I just feel for my friend who has been out of the class room and in a position to help kids one-on -one and help us teachers with projects. This is an invaluable person. She is retiring because of the change...after she takes on sophomores and juniors....for 6 months.....I feel for her.

I spent yesterday at Parker's tournament and didn't get a lick of work done Saturday. So today( I've been awake since 4:30AM worrying about all this)  is groceries, laundry, grading papers and a wee bit of shopping. I have so many areas in this house that need attention. I guess those will wait. OH, and I'm not loosing weight. It's been two weeks. I'm holding steady. I'm ready to try the new WW points, but have to figure out how to get to a meeting. No time!! I'm still walking my three miles nightly, but I think it's not enough. argh. 

OK crappy post over. Just waiting for summer already! 

Happy Thanksgiving

What a year! So much to be grateful for. We had big losses~ Bubby's mom died from a horrible fast-moving cancer. My brother almost lost his foot to an infection...but he's still got it...minus a toe! We are set to close on our country house in a couple weeks. Parker is doing great in school and still playing basketball. I'm having a good year teaching despite all the added pressure of "No One Fails" and I'm loosing weight in the midst of it all, (Thanks Jack for making me walk)  finally...... oh and Bubby turned 50!!! 

Happy Thanksgiving

Bubby's Big Beautiful Delicious Chocolate on Chocolate Cake

Parker's First Varsity Game~ Warming Up

He didn't play much, so I had to use the warm up shots here. lol

Doing his thing on the bench...

clapping and cheering! 

I'm always thankful for my girl, Molly 

And my boy Jack!! 

Happy 2010 Thanksgiving! 

Checkin In

Been quite busy and out of sorts lately. It was my migraine week- had the headache for 5 days. It's still lingering, but for the most part gone. I worked through it and walked with it and I survived. As of this morning I'm down 30 lbs!! I'm happy. I'm in the mode of loosing. I even passed up the most delicious cake yesterday afternoon. I'll keep doing this as long as it feels right. I don't feel like I'm missing anything which is important.
I hosted Bunco....had fun and even drank wine. I couldn't concentrate though...but it felt good to relax. My friend is in the hospital- very very sick. I'm sooo worried about her when she gets out. I need to balance being selfish about my walks and visiting and helping her. My younger brother is having some issues. I worry about that too...not to mention the stress of work and wondering if our house will actually close!!! And to top it off- I had a horrible tooth ache last weekend which resulted in root-canal- which I got 1/2 last week and will have it finished today. AWK
But... I'm not eating my problems away. Walking has been the biggest de-stresser. Who knew? I sure didn't. I never gave myself enough time to make it a habit. I'm battling my back hurting. It's sore. Walking helps. I think when I get headaches I just want to crawl in bed and lay and that make my back hurt.....so no sleeping- got to fix that now!
I did buy pants two sizes smaller. I feel happy that I'm making progress. Baby steps. :) Here's to the next 30!!!

Scary Stuff

Link up and show us something you've created for Halloween, anything qualifies...costumes, recipes, crafts, party invites, treats, decorations etc..  This post is inspired by Mama Kats

 This Halloween like all others I didn't make anything. So I thought I would share pictures of stuff I see on my walks with Jack....  Oh, I'm m-a-k-i-n-g a photo gallery. So I did make something! Here ya go: 

This one little cul-de-sac always goes all out...by day it looks like this....

By night it looks like this...

In fact, every one on that street put's out pumpkins w/ lights.... 

Lots of spooky thinks we see

Ancient burial ground? 

Beware of bats and ghosts

Happy Halloween..not spooky!

This really freaked out Jack. He wasn't keen on the new additions to the yard. 

 Nice and scary!!

Darn wind

Just in case you get lost.

Not a fan of rats. LOL 

Gremlin guarding the fire hydrant...always necessary at Halloween!! 

Same house with the owner who has too much time on his hands. LOL 

Love the spooky goblins that have come out. 

A coffin awaits you!

Just get me home...this is all too scary. You humans are weird. :)

Acorn Overload

I have no idea what game Miss Mother Nature is playing on us, but I don't like it. 

It's the damn acorns. 

They keep coming and coming. 

We sweep them up every two days and they just  come back. 

I mean, really. How many of these things does one tree need to produce? 

Why? Why this year and not last? 

We are having some very unwelcome nighttime visitors as a result. 

The patio chair has what looks like cat hair? Really? We don't have cats.

We have two dogs that don't like cats. 

Or was it a cat? Looked like cat hair. 

Do rats shed? Gosh I hope not. 

Do squirrels come out at night? 

Whatever it is I wish I would go away.

All I hear when it's quiet is: Plunk....rooooolllllll  or DINK...dink..... or capowwww......

And Jack...Jack likes to bring them in and then drop them and walk away.

ARGGRHHHH 

Acorns suck. 

Whining

I guess whining helps. Scale is back down today LOL

Ding Dang Weight

I dunno what is going on with my body.
 How can I gain and loose three pounds of water over night repeatedly? I need to stay off the scale. Next week I guess I'll weigh in once and then be done. One day this week it swooped down low..then was back up. I'm going to have to be more meticulous with points?
I'm writing everything down. Not snacking.
I could eat more fresh fruits. Maybe incorporate something a bit more aerobic. sigh.
Weight loss is hard. :)

Weekend ReCap

Why do weekends go by so fast?

This weekend I~ 

1. Performed with our school's dance team at the halftime football game. It was really fun.

2. Drove with my son's school basketball team to two businesses to take pictures for the program book. 

3. Had fun taking their pictures. :) 

4. Got groceries. Did Laundry. Cleaned the house. 

5. Read all my magazines.

6. Caught up on TV shows.

7. Took three naps! 

8. Walked a total of 7.5 miles.

9. Shopped for baby gifts and a purse. Only got the baby gifts. 

10. Entered a butt load of grades into the computer for school. 

That's what I call a relaxing weekend. :) Happy Monday. 

They have a hard time being silly in front of parents. LOL 

The View of My World

Inspired by Mama Kat's Writing Workshop !!!!

The View out My Front Door

Just Kidding. I wish. LOL 

Looking Out 

Looking In 

Looking Further Out 

Looking Down My Street

My Backyard Sanctuary 

My Kid's Legs. 

Teeny Tiny Weekend

Wow, the weekend flew by. I think it was the gorgeous weather, not working, relaxing, that made it fast.

Here is a capsule update:
1. Weight is coming off slow. I'm down 22 lbs. Down a pant size.
2. Still walking my 3 miles a night. I bike when I can. I want to increase that, because Sunday I rode 7 miles and my tailbone is sore again. lol
3. Dillards and Macys  have crappy clothes right now. Just saying.
4. Ordered more shoes online. Husband is not thrilled. I'm on a quest for my heal not to hurt. He has to understand I'm on my feet all day. With about two 45 blocks of time when I eat and plan. I need comfort.
5. We might have a contract on the house!!! More to come.
6. Supposed to be a shooting at my son's school today. Let me tell you rumors fly like crazy. It all stems from two teen suicides the last couple weeks at a different school. Parker informs me he will be fine. LOL I've experienced some interesting parent panic episodes in my teaching years, so I feel comfortable saying this is silly.
7. I have three more weeks with the Academy Kids before we get new ones. I'm ready. They have overstayed their welcome. I'll have to explain them in a post. But they are like wild animals at this point!
8. I won at Bunco Friday night. :)
9. I found pants (smaller size) at Target. I'm hoping they only fit for a month and then are too small. hehe
10. I got asked to be a Dance Team girl's partner on Friday at the half-time show. What have I gotten myself into?