Lake Anna State Park, VA
15 years ago
Sunday, March 22, 2020
March 18, 2020 - Day 5
Most restaurants have go to carry-out and drive-thru, no dine in. We've been doing that anyway, so it's all good.
Still haven't found those darn BBQ chicken strips. What gives? No TP. No paper towels. No Lysol wipes. We still don't need these things, but we will.
I've been back-tracking to remember things from my daily happenings, so there must not have been anything extraordinary happening on this day. I think this was the day I found potato bread for the Hubs, though. Not sure. It was at Giant. They had plenty of eggs, too. Something else people have been wanting. Never wanting chickens more than now. LOL!
Tuesday, March 17, 2020 - Day 4
I went to 7-Eleven again and a Marine struck up a convo with me. He was twice retired: Marine and civilian job for 18 years, so he told me. He was brushing this whole COVID-19 virus off. And the whole time I was thinking he falls into the "older population". Ok. Cool.
Cleaned out a closet today and found $84! Score! Have some stuff to donate now, but don't know if anyone will pick it up. Everything could be "contaminated". So, that stuff will have to wait.
Looked for Kaela's chicken tenders again. No luck. Every place seems to be out of TP, paper towels and bread...still. Amazon doesn't have this stuff either. I figure that once we need it, it should be back in stock. I hope. Darn hoarders.
Our routine seems to be eating lunch at home and getting dinner "to-go" from somewhere, with me being the mule. Fred contracts everything and Kaela is an introvert. So, here I am.
This was also Fred's first day to telecommute to practice social distancing. It's going ok. We'll see how it is at the end of this. LOL!
Monday, March 16, 2020 - Day 3
So, it was an ordinary day. I went to 7-Eleven for my soda. They no longer let you refill your cup for a discount, but they will give you the discounted price. Good move. I went in search of some BBQ chicken strips for my daughter, but couldn't find any. No TP either. No paper towels. No Lysol wipes. No normal white bread for the hubs. He's picky. Not a lot of meat, but I only recalled that after someone asked.
There are people in the social networks constantly asking where TP is and meat and such. It's annoying. They're creating a bigger panic.
Kaela and I were supposed to go to Disney from July 11 to July 18. That may not happen. As of right now, they closed the parks through the end of the month. I think they'll be closed longer...thinking mid-May at the soonest. The hotels and Disney Springs is still open.
This is very strange and surreal.
"Social Distancing" weekend 1
I should have started this last weekend when we first started this "social distancing" thing due to COVID-19, aka Coronavirus. Due to the fact that this virus spreads so quickly, we Americans are asked not go "out and about" except for essentials, stand 6 feet from the next person and wash our hands A LOT! School in Virgina and much of the US is "off" for a couple of weeks. We were told on Friday, March 13th to bring anything home we would need to instruct. We wouldn't be back for awhile...a month! Teachers are expected back April 13th, which was an already planned workday. Students tentatively are due back on April 14th.
So, what have we done. Fred and I went to our normal breakfast at the VFW. It was rather empty, but that was expected. Streets seemed to be filled with the usual amount of cars, but the VFW parking lot was not. Sheetz after seemed pretty much the same except the cashier was wearing gloves. Ok.
Didn't do anything earth shattering on Saturday. Trying to figure out what I could do to occupy my time at home.
Sunday, we didn't go to breakfast or church or anywhere really. By this time we knew there was a toilet paper shortage, for whatever reason. Why toilet paper? Who knows. We had enough for the 3 of us to get by for a couple more weeks. We weren't worried about running out, even though we would be home all day. This is the beginning. Should be interesting.
Monday, November 5, 2012
It's been awhile
This will be short. Trying this blog from my phone, a Motorola Droid Razr. I have Swype, so this shouldn't be too painful. I would like to start blogging about teaching Math and Math ideas, but will probably need to create another page, but would really rather not!
With the election officially happening tomorrow, life is a little crazy. Living in the DC Metro area is showing it's downside right now. :)
Ok. That's a rap. Hoping this will help me blog.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
My Daughter's room
I'm currently redoing my 7 year-old's room. She first wanted a Tinkerbell room, but then changed her mind to an "Under the Sea" room. I'm not talking Finding Nemo or The Little Mermaid, but she wants sea creatures.
I painted her room 3 shades of blue and bought some decals from Amazon.com. I knew I could not paint fish. However, I did paint a scuba diver because I was not going to pay $26 for one scuba diver. My daughter thinks the diver looks great and that's all that matters.
All her furniture is wood. So we are installing wall shelves, buying a lighter desk and I'm painting her bed and dresser white. White goes more with a little girl. I had stripped the foot board and headboard to her bed YEARS ago when I thought I would just varnish them. Since then, I've thought everything would look better white. So I wasted countless hours taking off-white paint off the bed pieces just to paint them again! However, they are now white and look pretty darn good, IMHO.
Her dresser is my dresser from when I was 10. It's in decent shape and all wood. I'm still in the process of removing all the varnish to paint it white. This is tedious. I can't imagine 'wanting' to do something like this for fun. I've put a lot of time into this project, as well. I still have to do some minor repairs to the dresser, too, which required me taking the top off of it. I'm hoping gorilla glue for wood will help with the repair. My husband is doubtful.
So, when all is complete, I will post pictures. This is just a teaser, I suppose.
I painted her room 3 shades of blue and bought some decals from Amazon.com. I knew I could not paint fish. However, I did paint a scuba diver because I was not going to pay $26 for one scuba diver. My daughter thinks the diver looks great and that's all that matters.
All her furniture is wood. So we are installing wall shelves, buying a lighter desk and I'm painting her bed and dresser white. White goes more with a little girl. I had stripped the foot board and headboard to her bed YEARS ago when I thought I would just varnish them. Since then, I've thought everything would look better white. So I wasted countless hours taking off-white paint off the bed pieces just to paint them again! However, they are now white and look pretty darn good, IMHO.
Her dresser is my dresser from when I was 10. It's in decent shape and all wood. I'm still in the process of removing all the varnish to paint it white. This is tedious. I can't imagine 'wanting' to do something like this for fun. I've put a lot of time into this project, as well. I still have to do some minor repairs to the dresser, too, which required me taking the top off of it. I'm hoping gorilla glue for wood will help with the repair. My husband is doubtful.
So, when all is complete, I will post pictures. This is just a teaser, I suppose.
Friday, July 22, 2011
Florida trip(s)
For the past 3 years, I've been trekking from Virginia to Florida for at least 2 weeks during the summer breaks. I visit family and "tourist traps". The first year was due to our house being renovated. The next was due to family vacation at Disney. This year was a shorter visit for family visits. Anyway, driving here is nice because I can come and go as I please. Visit places I used to go. Visit where I want to go. Leave when I want to leave. I'm not dependent upon others to drive me somewhere because I flew down.
Driving down also has the benefit of playing it by ear when I'll leave. I am free to take the kids to the beach or some other destination, as I feel, such as Ft. Lauderdale Beach or Disney or Busch Gardens or Gatorama or Gatorland....the list is pretty endless.
On our way down this year, we stopped in St. Augustine, Florida, for the night for an extra day at the beach and wasting time until my sister would have more days off. It was nice. We went up in the St. Augustine Lighthouse. I would have liked to visit the Old Jail or the Castillo de San Marcos, but that may have been a bit boring to the kids. Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum may have been interesting, but alas, we didn't visit.
We first went to the beach at Anastasia State Park. The next day, we went to the public beach off of A1A near our hotel. Great place and has showers to rinse off. However, the restroom was not that great. The St. Augustine Lighthouse was great, even for a 7 and 10 year old. They climbed all 219 steps without complaint. We took some great pictures of the lighthouse and the grounds. Shopped at the gift shop and headed to Orlando.
Driving down also has the benefit of playing it by ear when I'll leave. I am free to take the kids to the beach or some other destination, as I feel, such as Ft. Lauderdale Beach or Disney or Busch Gardens or Gatorama or Gatorland....the list is pretty endless.
On our way down this year, we stopped in St. Augustine, Florida, for the night for an extra day at the beach and wasting time until my sister would have more days off. It was nice. We went up in the St. Augustine Lighthouse. I would have liked to visit the Old Jail or the Castillo de San Marcos, but that may have been a bit boring to the kids. Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum may have been interesting, but alas, we didn't visit.
We first went to the beach at Anastasia State Park. The next day, we went to the public beach off of A1A near our hotel. Great place and has showers to rinse off. However, the restroom was not that great. The St. Augustine Lighthouse was great, even for a 7 and 10 year old. They climbed all 219 steps without complaint. We took some great pictures of the lighthouse and the grounds. Shopped at the gift shop and headed to Orlando.
Friday, September 25, 2009
First Day of School & A Missing Child
Yes. My daughter was 'missing' on the first day of school. She was fine and actually turned out to be in a safe place, but I didn't know this for about an hour and a half!!
I am a teacher at an elementary school, but my children go to a different elementary school. Their school has before and after school care right there at the school run by a daycare conglomerate in our county. I can drop them off in the cafetorium as early as 6 am and pick them up as late as 6:30 pm. Long time, but they are NEVER there that late.
My son participated in this program last year and LOVED it. They play on the playground, have parties, do homework, have barbies and hotwheels.
So I dropped the children off there in the morning and they get breakfast and go to school. After school, my daughter doesn't show up. The director of the after school program calls me on my cell, as does the principal. I literally run out of my school on the way to theirs, the longest 20-minute drive of my life. While driving back, the after school director is driving to my house, the house where we used to live (just 4 house away) and our neighbor's house. Our neighbor says my daughter was in the car rider line with them and her and her twin daughters waved good-bye to her as they left.
I get there and there are about 8 people in the office and they all look at me as I was in. The principal has me sit in her office after explaining what went on. They are calling the staff that was helping the children in the car rider line, since that's where my neighbor and her twin daughters saw my daughter. The staff doesn't recall seeing her.
Soon after, they say they've called 9-1-1 and I have to stay there until the police arrive. Sometime in the midst of all this they ask me for a picture of her. I had to run out to the car to get the camera, as I took pictures that morning of the children. When I return, there are about 20 people in the office. One of our neighbors walks in and asks if there's any word yet. She's still dressed in her airline uniform from work. I tell her no and she turns around and heads back out the door.
The principal starts downloading the pictures onto her computer and the bookkeeper was calling off-site daycare centers that had picked up children from the school. This was at the suggestion of one the ESOL staff members that was in the car rider line.
That's where she was....at a daycare center. Apparently, the line for the daycare vans is right next to the car rider and my neighbor actually saw her in the daycare van line. She wasn't even supposed to leave the school!!
We had a neighbor on a four-wheeler, our pastor and his daughter on bikes, two neighbors in cars, some neighbors on foot all looking for her. Wow! What a mess, but I think the entire school knows here now, as well as that she is supposed to STAY at school after school. :)
I am a teacher at an elementary school, but my children go to a different elementary school. Their school has before and after school care right there at the school run by a daycare conglomerate in our county. I can drop them off in the cafetorium as early as 6 am and pick them up as late as 6:30 pm. Long time, but they are NEVER there that late.
My son participated in this program last year and LOVED it. They play on the playground, have parties, do homework, have barbies and hotwheels.
So I dropped the children off there in the morning and they get breakfast and go to school. After school, my daughter doesn't show up. The director of the after school program calls me on my cell, as does the principal. I literally run out of my school on the way to theirs, the longest 20-minute drive of my life. While driving back, the after school director is driving to my house, the house where we used to live (just 4 house away) and our neighbor's house. Our neighbor says my daughter was in the car rider line with them and her and her twin daughters waved good-bye to her as they left.
I get there and there are about 8 people in the office and they all look at me as I was in. The principal has me sit in her office after explaining what went on. They are calling the staff that was helping the children in the car rider line, since that's where my neighbor and her twin daughters saw my daughter. The staff doesn't recall seeing her.
Soon after, they say they've called 9-1-1 and I have to stay there until the police arrive. Sometime in the midst of all this they ask me for a picture of her. I had to run out to the car to get the camera, as I took pictures that morning of the children. When I return, there are about 20 people in the office. One of our neighbors walks in and asks if there's any word yet. She's still dressed in her airline uniform from work. I tell her no and she turns around and heads back out the door.
The principal starts downloading the pictures onto her computer and the bookkeeper was calling off-site daycare centers that had picked up children from the school. This was at the suggestion of one the ESOL staff members that was in the car rider line.
That's where she was....at a daycare center. Apparently, the line for the daycare vans is right next to the car rider and my neighbor actually saw her in the daycare van line. She wasn't even supposed to leave the school!!
We had a neighbor on a four-wheeler, our pastor and his daughter on bikes, two neighbors in cars, some neighbors on foot all looking for her. Wow! What a mess, but I think the entire school knows here now, as well as that she is supposed to STAY at school after school. :)
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Tristian
Tristian is a unique child. I've been told that he is helpful more than once. He got the award in Kindergarten for the most helpful. I've also been told he has "an old soul". I truly believe that. So, this blog is about him and may be ongoing, if I can remember to keep it up.
By 1 year old, Tristian...
had flown in a plane from Indiana to Florida twice.
could clean up his toys into his toy box with very little help.
could drink from a cup.
had been walking for over 2 months.
had been swimming in a pool.
had been camping, sort of, but hated it, so we returned home before falling asleep.
had rode a horse with Mama.
had tubes put in his ears.
By 2 years old, Tristian
had been to his first amusement park, Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN;
.... and spent the whole day in the water park part.
moved houses for the first time.
slept in a real bed, not a crib.
went camping, for real, in a tent (on the hottest week of the year, so we ended up in a hotel).
visited Squire Boone Caverns in Southern Indiana.
had his first febrile seizure and scared Mom and Dad to death.
...which led to his first ambulance ride.
went to his first of many RV shows.
By 3 years old, Tristian
could look at one side of a truck or trailer and tell you the TOTAL number of wheels on it.
could help dad set up the pop up camper. His job was to put the legs down. Although, he was was caught trying to "hook up" the camper to his "Flintstone-type" car!
had his 2nd febrile seizure in the baggage claim of the Orlando airport. Mom remained calm.
had another tube put in his right ear and came out of the surgery smiling, being carried by the recovery room nurse! Such a church baby!
knew the names of all the types of campers: 5th wheels, travel trailers, pop-ups, class A, class C.
had been to Dollywood and Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, TN.
By 4 years old, Tristian
became a big brother.
"fixed" a bottle for his baby sister by pouring water in a new can of formula.
got his sister out of her crib, strapped her into her car seat and declared her "ready to go"! (I immediately called the pediatrician and she assured me that babies were more resiliant than I thought, but watch her for a couple of days anyway. She was FINE!)
was finally potty trained! (closer to 3 years old, but not before)
had a new job on a new camper: legs on the camper again, but also helping Daddy back up the van to the camper hitch. Dead on, every time!
had seen the arch in St. Louis, MO.
had been to Six Flags in St. Louis, MO.
saw over 3 feet of snow fall in less than 24 hours!
By 5 years old, Tristian
was learning to read.
had learned to ride a bike without training wheels.
wanted to be a Wal-mart truck driver.
had been to Magic Kingdom, Gatorland, Busch Gardends (Tampa) twice, Sea World, Florida Aquarium, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
had been to the Air & Space Museum in Dayton, OH.
had been to the Newport Aquarium in Newport, KY - other side of Ohio River from Cincinnati.
had been to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, IN.
had been on a real train ride (Amtrak).
had rode the Tri-rail (South Florida) to the Metro rail (Miami) to eat dinner in Miami at a Cuban restaurant.
By 6 years old, Tristian
had been on a rode trip, without a hotel stop, from Avon Park, FL, to Seymour, IN!
had spent 7 weeks in South Florida with his grandparents! A long stint without parents!
By 7 years old, Tristian
had played drums in a choir concert at school.
had received the "Most Helpful" award for Kindergarten.
By 8 years old, Tristian
had saved enough money to buy his own bike.
had rode on the Metro into DC to see "the city" and visit a Smithsonian.
saw the White House, the Washington Monument and walked around DC.
was being evaluated for the gifted program at school.
had gone to his first indoor water park.
learned how to send a text message.
moved from Indiana to Virginia.
By 1 year old, Tristian...
had flown in a plane from Indiana to Florida twice.
could clean up his toys into his toy box with very little help.
could drink from a cup.
had been walking for over 2 months.
had been swimming in a pool.
had been camping, sort of, but hated it, so we returned home before falling asleep.
had rode a horse with Mama.
had tubes put in his ears.
By 2 years old, Tristian
had been to his first amusement park, Holiday World in Santa Claus, IN;
.... and spent the whole day in the water park part.
moved houses for the first time.
slept in a real bed, not a crib.
went camping, for real, in a tent (on the hottest week of the year, so we ended up in a hotel).
visited Squire Boone Caverns in Southern Indiana.
had his first febrile seizure and scared Mom and Dad to death.
...which led to his first ambulance ride.
went to his first of many RV shows.
By 3 years old, Tristian
could look at one side of a truck or trailer and tell you the TOTAL number of wheels on it.
could help dad set up the pop up camper. His job was to put the legs down. Although, he was was caught trying to "hook up" the camper to his "Flintstone-type" car!
had his 2nd febrile seizure in the baggage claim of the Orlando airport. Mom remained calm.
had another tube put in his right ear and came out of the surgery smiling, being carried by the recovery room nurse! Such a church baby!
knew the names of all the types of campers: 5th wheels, travel trailers, pop-ups, class A, class C.
had been to Dollywood and Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, TN.
By 4 years old, Tristian
became a big brother.
"fixed" a bottle for his baby sister by pouring water in a new can of formula.
got his sister out of her crib, strapped her into her car seat and declared her "ready to go"! (I immediately called the pediatrician and she assured me that babies were more resiliant than I thought, but watch her for a couple of days anyway. She was FINE!)
was finally potty trained! (closer to 3 years old, but not before)
had a new job on a new camper: legs on the camper again, but also helping Daddy back up the van to the camper hitch. Dead on, every time!
had seen the arch in St. Louis, MO.
had been to Six Flags in St. Louis, MO.
saw over 3 feet of snow fall in less than 24 hours!
By 5 years old, Tristian
was learning to read.
had learned to ride a bike without training wheels.
wanted to be a Wal-mart truck driver.
had been to Magic Kingdom, Gatorland, Busch Gardends (Tampa) twice, Sea World, Florida Aquarium, Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure.
had been to the Air & Space Museum in Dayton, OH.
had been to the Newport Aquarium in Newport, KY - other side of Ohio River from Cincinnati.
had been to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, IN.
had been on a real train ride (Amtrak).
had rode the Tri-rail (South Florida) to the Metro rail (Miami) to eat dinner in Miami at a Cuban restaurant.
By 6 years old, Tristian
had been on a rode trip, without a hotel stop, from Avon Park, FL, to Seymour, IN!
had spent 7 weeks in South Florida with his grandparents! A long stint without parents!
By 7 years old, Tristian
had played drums in a choir concert at school.
had received the "Most Helpful" award for Kindergarten.
By 8 years old, Tristian
had saved enough money to buy his own bike.
had rode on the Metro into DC to see "the city" and visit a Smithsonian.
saw the White House, the Washington Monument and walked around DC.
was being evaluated for the gifted program at school.
had gone to his first indoor water park.
learned how to send a text message.
moved from Indiana to Virginia.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
House Renovation Complete
Well, a lot of time has gone by, over a month. I was not in town for the house renovations, so I could not take pictures. The contractor had his workers start demolishing the house inside before I could get in there with a camera. I have some pictures that have been taken with a camera phone, so they are not of the greatest quality. I will post these later.
All in all, the renovations went well and were completed within a month! Our contractor rocks!! He'll be back when we replace the carpeting with bamboo flooring. That will be in a few years. He'll also be changing out the linoleum in the baths and kitchen. We went on the cheap side just so we could move in.
Right now most of our stuff is still in our basement, where we moved it while in transition between houses. We have most of our furniture upstairs, though. There are some minor pieces downstairs still, but nothing heavy that we can't handle. A lot of clothes are still downstairs and we continue to say, "I think that's in the camper", as Fred was living in our camper for 2 weeks. So, as I upload pictures from my camera and phone, I will post them on here.
All in all, the renovations went well and were completed within a month! Our contractor rocks!! He'll be back when we replace the carpeting with bamboo flooring. That will be in a few years. He'll also be changing out the linoleum in the baths and kitchen. We went on the cheap side just so we could move in.
Right now most of our stuff is still in our basement, where we moved it while in transition between houses. We have most of our furniture upstairs, though. There are some minor pieces downstairs still, but nothing heavy that we can't handle. A lot of clothes are still downstairs and we continue to say, "I think that's in the camper", as Fred was living in our camper for 2 weeks. So, as I upload pictures from my camera and phone, I will post them on here.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Still trying to close
Yes. We're still trying to go to closing. We've heard everything from 'one more signature' to 'one more person' to 'there's a condition'. UGH! We're so far into this, we don't feel like we can walk away. Our original closing date was May 21st and you can see the date (June 14th) and we've still not closed. We have a packed moving truck in our driveway and boxes within the house. We're living on the bare essentials and not having fun.
Our landlord asked us to be out by June 15th, but I asked to be able to finish out the school year until June 20th to give us time to clean and get the carpets cleaned, as well. Now, it's like we won't even make that deadline!
We'll be living in our camper, or, at least, Fred will. My hope is to go to Florida for a significant amount of time while the house is getting renovated. My sister, at this point, has arranged for us to get into Disney for FREE on June 24th. That's 10 days and, with all the delays we've had so far, doesn't seem possible. I would like to start driving south by this Saturday, the 20th, but who knows. As of right now, movers come on Thursday, the 18th, and carpet cleaners on Friday. Hmm...wonder if we'll make it. Wonder if we'll have to postpone those dates, too.
BTW, the first offer that was written on this house was March 29th. It's been 2 1/2 months!!!
Our landlord asked us to be out by June 15th, but I asked to be able to finish out the school year until June 20th to give us time to clean and get the carpets cleaned, as well. Now, it's like we won't even make that deadline!
We'll be living in our camper, or, at least, Fred will. My hope is to go to Florida for a significant amount of time while the house is getting renovated. My sister, at this point, has arranged for us to get into Disney for FREE on June 24th. That's 10 days and, with all the delays we've had so far, doesn't seem possible. I would like to start driving south by this Saturday, the 20th, but who knows. As of right now, movers come on Thursday, the 18th, and carpet cleaners on Friday. Hmm...wonder if we'll make it. Wonder if we'll have to postpone those dates, too.
BTW, the first offer that was written on this house was March 29th. It's been 2 1/2 months!!!
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
New Home Purchase
It's been so long. I'm a slacker, but I'm also working on my master's and just tired of 'writing'. Sooo, here's an update.
We weren't really looking for houses and stumbled across a foreclosure just 4 houses down from where we live now in our rented home. What makes this house so desirable for us is the location. We went inside and saw a lot of cosmetic things, nothing major. This was on a Saturday.
We went for another visit and decided to put in an offer. It went back and forth and we ended up with a good deal/offer/acceptance. Now we're in the process of picking out the details of our renovation. The kitchen is going to be the biggest and costliest project, so I'm highlighting that. The kitchen is a galley, so not much to do there. However, it is getting gutted. One day, I will add before and after pictures. Right now, I just wanted to get this started.
I will take pictures of other rooms and the outside, but the baths and kitchen will show the biggest changes. We are also going basic on floor coverings due to costs. We plan to make our 'dream renos' in the future when we won't have to finance them into a 30 year mortgage.
Stayed tuned. :)
We weren't really looking for houses and stumbled across a foreclosure just 4 houses down from where we live now in our rented home. What makes this house so desirable for us is the location. We went inside and saw a lot of cosmetic things, nothing major. This was on a Saturday.
We went for another visit and decided to put in an offer. It went back and forth and we ended up with a good deal/offer/acceptance. Now we're in the process of picking out the details of our renovation. The kitchen is going to be the biggest and costliest project, so I'm highlighting that. The kitchen is a galley, so not much to do there. However, it is getting gutted. One day, I will add before and after pictures. Right now, I just wanted to get this started.
I will take pictures of other rooms and the outside, but the baths and kitchen will show the biggest changes. We are also going basic on floor coverings due to costs. We plan to make our 'dream renos' in the future when we won't have to finance them into a 30 year mortgage.
Stayed tuned. :)
Monday, December 29, 2008
End of the year 2008
I'm not one to make new year's resolutions, so if that's what you're expecting, so sorry. I have also never written a Christmas letter. So this is sort of my version of one for this year.
This year has brought our family many changes. It started out fairly busy. Fred left just after the new year for an advanced course in Alabama. He was gone for about 4 weeks. He returned for about 3 weeks and was off again. This time for 6 weeks. In the middle of this course, was Spring Break for the kids and I. So we trekked it the 11 or so hours to Alabama from Indiana to visit for a long weekend. It was a nice time. We headed out the next day to an indoor water park for an overnight trip in Indianapolis. It was a great size for just me and the two kids. I could plant myself in one spot and see both kids. At the same time, I could see snow on the ground outside! We said we'd want to come back next year. During this same time I started on my Master's degree for Education, as did Fred (MBA, though). Boy, were our lives changing!
Just before the school year ended, Fred heard grumblings about a position in the Washington DC National Guard. He'd get to fly more and possibly secure his retirement. We left on our annual furlow to our favorite camping spot for the Memorial Day weekend and had it in the back of our minds. I finished up my first series of classes and started my ESL summer school position for the next 5 weeks. This after flying the kids down to Florida to spend it with my family down there.
The first of these weeks were met with a tornado and flooding. A tornado hit Camp Atterbury where Fred was doing his annual training and nearly totaled our truck. It took them a month to fix it. The tornado was followed 4 days later by flooding that made national news! What a mess. We were spared, but so many in our community were not.
At the end of the 5 weeks of summer school, we still hadn't heard about the DC position, so our lives were literally on hold. The principal at my school was anxious to hear, but promised me that I would retain my position, despite the fact that I may be leaving. This brought us to mid-July.
We left on our week-long vacation at the end of July and returning the beginning of August. We visited and explored Northern Indiana in Amish country. We learned a lot and sampled some great food. They have the best cheese up there. Yum!
Still no word...then wait! Around August 8th, 3 weeks before Labor Day, we had the word. Fred was going to DC. They wanted us there by Labor Day. That was 3 weeks! and 2 1/2 weeks into the school year. We had to act fast. In the middle of all this, Fred had to do a weekend drill. Then we headed out to Virginia to look for housing. The following week, we moved. We sold a lot of our furniture, but nothing from the bedrooms and loaded up a Uhaul and moved! Oh my! What a trip. We took 3 days, but the Uhaul would only go about 30 mph up most of the mountains! We were moved in officially on Labor Day and registered Tristian for school the next day. That was the first day of school in Virginia.
We then set off to look for a pre-school for Kaela. We found a local Christian school and checked it out. They observed our interactions with her and suggested she try Kindergarten for a day. She did and did extremely well. So, bam, she was enrolled in Kindergarten. Of course, we missed her first day of school pictures because we weren't expecting her to start Kindergarten. Oh well. So next year, we will have the choice of whether she will start Kindergarten again or 1st grade, but she's doing extremely well in Kindergarten, so we'll see.
I got a job as an ESOL teacher, primarily teaching 1st graders, which I love! The school is on the Northern part of Manassas, but it's a quick commute, taking about 20 minutes from Kaela's school. Tristian wanted to join me, but all his friends would be all the way across the county and that just wouldn't be fair. Maybe next year all 3 of us will be together! ;)
Tristian was involved with Basketball for the first time and joined the Cub Scouts. He's in a wolf pack. Kaela has taken up ballet and tap and is also a Daisy, which is girl scouts for Kindergarteners. They both love their activities and will continue with them into the new year!
So we ended the year on a good note. We are wavering back and forth between saving more to buy a house or jumping on the housing opportunities now. We love the area we live in and wouldn't want to settle for another area at the moment just because the price is right.
I guess that's all for now and have the plans to do a real Christmas letter next year. Uh, was that a resolution???
This year has brought our family many changes. It started out fairly busy. Fred left just after the new year for an advanced course in Alabama. He was gone for about 4 weeks. He returned for about 3 weeks and was off again. This time for 6 weeks. In the middle of this course, was Spring Break for the kids and I. So we trekked it the 11 or so hours to Alabama from Indiana to visit for a long weekend. It was a nice time. We headed out the next day to an indoor water park for an overnight trip in Indianapolis. It was a great size for just me and the two kids. I could plant myself in one spot and see both kids. At the same time, I could see snow on the ground outside! We said we'd want to come back next year. During this same time I started on my Master's degree for Education, as did Fred (MBA, though). Boy, were our lives changing!
Just before the school year ended, Fred heard grumblings about a position in the Washington DC National Guard. He'd get to fly more and possibly secure his retirement. We left on our annual furlow to our favorite camping spot for the Memorial Day weekend and had it in the back of our minds. I finished up my first series of classes and started my ESL summer school position for the next 5 weeks. This after flying the kids down to Florida to spend it with my family down there.
The first of these weeks were met with a tornado and flooding. A tornado hit Camp Atterbury where Fred was doing his annual training and nearly totaled our truck. It took them a month to fix it. The tornado was followed 4 days later by flooding that made national news! What a mess. We were spared, but so many in our community were not.
At the end of the 5 weeks of summer school, we still hadn't heard about the DC position, so our lives were literally on hold. The principal at my school was anxious to hear, but promised me that I would retain my position, despite the fact that I may be leaving. This brought us to mid-July.
We left on our week-long vacation at the end of July and returning the beginning of August. We visited and explored Northern Indiana in Amish country. We learned a lot and sampled some great food. They have the best cheese up there. Yum!
Still no word...then wait! Around August 8th, 3 weeks before Labor Day, we had the word. Fred was going to DC. They wanted us there by Labor Day. That was 3 weeks! and 2 1/2 weeks into the school year. We had to act fast. In the middle of all this, Fred had to do a weekend drill. Then we headed out to Virginia to look for housing. The following week, we moved. We sold a lot of our furniture, but nothing from the bedrooms and loaded up a Uhaul and moved! Oh my! What a trip. We took 3 days, but the Uhaul would only go about 30 mph up most of the mountains! We were moved in officially on Labor Day and registered Tristian for school the next day. That was the first day of school in Virginia.
We then set off to look for a pre-school for Kaela. We found a local Christian school and checked it out. They observed our interactions with her and suggested she try Kindergarten for a day. She did and did extremely well. So, bam, she was enrolled in Kindergarten. Of course, we missed her first day of school pictures because we weren't expecting her to start Kindergarten. Oh well. So next year, we will have the choice of whether she will start Kindergarten again or 1st grade, but she's doing extremely well in Kindergarten, so we'll see.
I got a job as an ESOL teacher, primarily teaching 1st graders, which I love! The school is on the Northern part of Manassas, but it's a quick commute, taking about 20 minutes from Kaela's school. Tristian wanted to join me, but all his friends would be all the way across the county and that just wouldn't be fair. Maybe next year all 3 of us will be together! ;)
Tristian was involved with Basketball for the first time and joined the Cub Scouts. He's in a wolf pack. Kaela has taken up ballet and tap and is also a Daisy, which is girl scouts for Kindergarteners. They both love their activities and will continue with them into the new year!
So we ended the year on a good note. We are wavering back and forth between saving more to buy a house or jumping on the housing opportunities now. We love the area we live in and wouldn't want to settle for another area at the moment just because the price is right.
I guess that's all for now and have the plans to do a real Christmas letter next year. Uh, was that a resolution???
Friday, October 3, 2008
The Letter Game
My daughter came up with this game we play in the truck. We play it on the way to and from school or anywhere that we are driving to/from around town. It's very simple, but it keeps her busy. Keep in mind, she's 4 1/2.
The game is called "The Letter Game". This name she came up with herself. She announces, "Let's play The Letter Game." And usually, we agree. It starts by her saying a letter and everyone has to come up with words that have that letter in it. When we started this game several months ago, we came up with words that began with whatever letter. Now, it's more challenging, in a way: You have to come up with words that you hear the letter. Everyone takes a turn saying a letter. We go 'round and just shout out words and when there seems to be a lull in words, we move on.
So, tonight, we're playing the game and the letter is "d". Several words are said and my daughter yells out, "Dammit". My husband, very seriously, explains to her that she shouldn't say this word. I am in the passenger seat silently laughing my ass off. Then we are having a very quiet conversation about what if the letter was "f" or whatever. Oh boy!
Maybe you had to be there, but we were dying.
The game is called "The Letter Game". This name she came up with herself. She announces, "Let's play The Letter Game." And usually, we agree. It starts by her saying a letter and everyone has to come up with words that have that letter in it. When we started this game several months ago, we came up with words that began with whatever letter. Now, it's more challenging, in a way: You have to come up with words that you hear the letter. Everyone takes a turn saying a letter. We go 'round and just shout out words and when there seems to be a lull in words, we move on.
So, tonight, we're playing the game and the letter is "d". Several words are said and my daughter yells out, "Dammit". My husband, very seriously, explains to her that she shouldn't say this word. I am in the passenger seat silently laughing my ass off. Then we are having a very quiet conversation about what if the letter was "f" or whatever. Oh boy!
Maybe you had to be there, but we were dying.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Furniture Shopping
We went furniture shopping yesterday. What do we need? Living room furniture (except side tables & coffee table), family room furniture with side tables and a new mattress for our bed. My hubby is trying to talk me into one of those memory foam mattresses. Can't get the feel of that? Not very comfy. The FR couch has to be long enough for him to nap on and comfy. We definitely don't want a sleeper in the family room. So, we went to Value City. Eh, not so great. Something called Room Store (?), eh, okay, but nothing "jumped" out at us. Then to IKEA. Looked a lot like dorm furniture or kid furniture, but great storage ideas and basement furniture, maybe. Then we ended up at Ashley. Didn't even know they had one. We probably would've bought furniture there, but the sales people were very pushy. Not a good point in our eyes. Leave us alone and let us look! So we walked out, but we left liking a lot of things they had. Now we need to figure out what to buy. I hate this. I wish someone could just come in and say, "Oh, well the couch and chair and ottoman is a must and the other chair would be fine too." But, no such luck! UGH!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
People in Virginia
They are so nice here, at least so far. I can say that after having to talk with them for about 3 months now. When I first started contacting the school system here about getting a job, they have been extremely helpful. One lady in HR even returned my call (long distance) to explain how I would go about getting my Virginia teaching license. When their application system was having problems and another lady in HR had to input all my desired teaching positions manually (in the days of computers, what a pain!), she still seemed to be smiling on the other end. After the summer, when we came for a long weekend to find a house, a third HR lady was calling all over the county to get me an interview because I had gone through their interview process and was considered "recommended".
So now, we're having house phone problems. Can't get calls in and can't make local calls out. I should say that the only reason we have a house phone is because we have two children with the propensity to have fibral seizures (get a temp. too high, too fast and their body reacts by seizing). Anyway, so 911 doesn't work too well with the cable phone service yet or cell phones. So we feel the need to subscribe to a house phone.
So I've had to deal with many phone calls to the phone company. Each phone call, I know I sound exasperated, but they always seem to be smiling. :) Good thing, because I'm not on the other end.
Anyway, they are fairly courteous here with their driving. Everyone seems polite. I'm just amazed. Is this Southern Hospitality? I don't know. If so, I'm never leaving the South!
So now, we're having house phone problems. Can't get calls in and can't make local calls out. I should say that the only reason we have a house phone is because we have two children with the propensity to have fibral seizures (get a temp. too high, too fast and their body reacts by seizing). Anyway, so 911 doesn't work too well with the cable phone service yet or cell phones. So we feel the need to subscribe to a house phone.
So I've had to deal with many phone calls to the phone company. Each phone call, I know I sound exasperated, but they always seem to be smiling. :) Good thing, because I'm not on the other end.
Anyway, they are fairly courteous here with their driving. Everyone seems polite. I'm just amazed. Is this Southern Hospitality? I don't know. If so, I'm never leaving the South!
Friday, September 12, 2008
My new position (not sexual)
We came to Virginia 3 weeks ago to look for house and the school system here wanted to do a pre-screening interview. It was explained to me that this was to insure I had everything I needed to be a teacher in Indiana and to what knowledge was in my head. Immediately after the interview, they had me go to a school to interview with them. I didn't get that position. My husband was bummed, but I was okay with it.
So, 2 weeks ago we left Indiana to make the big move here. We didn't have internet for a week, which, as Kier put it, was like losing my right arm. So I was going to the library and Starbucks (oh hardship) for the internet. All we had were cell phones, too. That part was really bad, but Verizon proved true. I never lost a call and was able to do a lot of talking when I needed my phone. Anyway, last week I spent a lot of time updating resumes and applications online, but no interviews.
This week I had 5 interviews! 3 of those went really well. I had Monday's set last week and one of Thursday's set on Monday. The other on Thursday was set on Wednesday and one of the ones today was scheduled this morning! The one scheduled at the last minute was the one I selected.
My first interview on Thursday I was told I had the position, but had to hear it from HR. The 2nd one on Thursday was special ed. Not my specialty and that would mean more classes! I had one interview scheduled for this afternoon. A kindergarten position. Then, as I was heading out in search of uniforms for my daughter, I get a call on my cell phone. This principal wants to interview me in an hour & a half. Okay. So back down the driveway to change and head out again. At the end, the principal said, "Now I can't offer you the position, but you'll be hearing from HR." So off to my 2nd interview of the day and 5th of the week! That principal says I interviewed really well!
So, now, my dilemma: which one do I choose? I decided that whichever school called me first, they wanted me the most and I would choose them. The school that called at the last minute, called first. It's what I wanted - an ESOL position in a needy school. The 1st interview on Thursday was like that, too, but that school takes longer to get to, but I would have taken it. I would have to go with a lot of traffic. The school I chose is in the direction that the traffic would be coming from. How nice!
So September 22nd, I will be employed once again. Yeah!
So, 2 weeks ago we left Indiana to make the big move here. We didn't have internet for a week, which, as Kier put it, was like losing my right arm. So I was going to the library and Starbucks (oh hardship) for the internet. All we had were cell phones, too. That part was really bad, but Verizon proved true. I never lost a call and was able to do a lot of talking when I needed my phone. Anyway, last week I spent a lot of time updating resumes and applications online, but no interviews.
This week I had 5 interviews! 3 of those went really well. I had Monday's set last week and one of Thursday's set on Monday. The other on Thursday was set on Wednesday and one of the ones today was scheduled this morning! The one scheduled at the last minute was the one I selected.
My first interview on Thursday I was told I had the position, but had to hear it from HR. The 2nd one on Thursday was special ed. Not my specialty and that would mean more classes! I had one interview scheduled for this afternoon. A kindergarten position. Then, as I was heading out in search of uniforms for my daughter, I get a call on my cell phone. This principal wants to interview me in an hour & a half. Okay. So back down the driveway to change and head out again. At the end, the principal said, "Now I can't offer you the position, but you'll be hearing from HR." So off to my 2nd interview of the day and 5th of the week! That principal says I interviewed really well!
So, now, my dilemma: which one do I choose? I decided that whichever school called me first, they wanted me the most and I would choose them. The school that called at the last minute, called first. It's what I wanted - an ESOL position in a needy school. The 1st interview on Thursday was like that, too, but that school takes longer to get to, but I would have taken it. I would have to go with a lot of traffic. The school I chose is in the direction that the traffic would be coming from. How nice!
So September 22nd, I will be employed once again. Yeah!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Things About Me
1. My tonsils were surgically removed when I was almost 4 years old because my sister had tonsillitis. The operation was performed by a heart surgeon. He was a family friend. I then proceeded to eat 2 pork chops for dinner that night.
2. My sister and I fought like cats and dogs growing up, but I would do anything for her today.
3. I joined the army after graduated from UF because I couldn't find a job. I had a blast!
4. I once broke a coffee table while dancing on it. I was slightly inebriated. I say slightly because I can remember doing it. I did have the help from 2 of my neighbors.
5. I once drank Gatorade at a kegger during college because I was afraid of getting busted for drinking underage. I was so naive.
6. While I was pregnant with my son, all indications pointed towards him having down syndrome. We did not have an amnio done because there was a risk of miscarrying and we were going to have the baby whether he had down syndrome or not. He doesn't have down syndrome. He is extremely smart, I have never looked at a child with down syndrome the same again.
7. I missed taking pictures of my daughter's first day of kindergarten because she wasn't supposed to start kindergarten that day. She was supposed to start PK4.
8. I quit my job that I had a real dislike for when I was 33 to go back to school full time to become a teacher. The Army paid for my school. This was something that I will never regret doing. It is something that I would have regretted NOT doing.
9. My dad's mom died when I was in college. My grandmother (mom's mom) is the one who told me. I didn't cry. She didn't like me and she showed it.
10. My mom has multiple sclerosis and I don't know how I feel about that yet. :(
11. My best friend and I have been friends since we were 2 1/2 years old!
12. My first date with my husband lasted until 4 a.m. and no, I didn't sleep with him!
13. Our dinner and dancing party (wedding reception) was at a restaurant that was a former brothel/chicken ranch in Hollywood, FL.
14. My daughter's due date was my son's birthday! I didn't want twins 3 years apart, so I was induced early. Yes, we have sex more than one day a year! ;)
15. I once talked my way out of a traffic ticket while at UF. I was going the wrong way down a one way street at like 2 a.m. I asked the innocent question of why there was a stop sign and a white line painted on the pavement if it was one way. The officer let me go. :)
16. I've been on 6 cruises and want to go on another soon.
17. I've visited 4 of the 7 continents. I would love to visit Australia and Asia, but can't picture myself in Antarctica.
18. My best friend in the Army was a guy. We were in basic training together and eventually stationed at Ft. Bragg at the same time, but different units. Everyone thought we should get married except us. We didn't. We still talk and I love him like a brother. I cried when he told me he was getting married. I was so happy for him!
19. I really disliked my 3rd grade teacher. I am an elementary school teacher and have no desire to teach 3rd grade. I don't know if this is related to my 3rd grade experience or not.
20. Both my children were extremely fast deliveries. My son was out in 2 pushes and my daughter in 4 pushes. Both without an epidural. My daughter was without any drugs at all! My hubby says I was born to have babies, but we're not having any more.
21. My step-daughter lived with us during her tween and early teen years. Her mother kicked her out of the house just before Christmas. It was the longest 3 or 4 or 5 years of my life. We went to counseling so that the counselor could tell me that it wasn't my job to raise her. She obviously wasn't familiar with the Army's way of life!
22. I have never broken any bone in my body or had any kind of surgery due to an injury or (my own) illness. Can you hear me knocking on wood?
23. I did have my wisdom teeth taken out when I was almost 21. I ate pizza that night for dinner and, although codeine was prescribed for pain, all I took was advil and rode my bike to the beach the next day!
24. I've been to Mardi Gras 3 times. The only time I was old enough to legally drink was the 3rd time. But that didn't stop me the 1st 2 times!
25. I am a 3rd generation Florida Cracker, which I'm told is rare. But my children are both Hoosiers.
26. I liked driving in Texas, but didn't like living there. There were posted speed limit signs, but no one paid attention to them. If the person behind you was going faster than you were, it was expected of you to pull onto the shoulder to let them pass! Crazy.
27. My maternal grandfather's family was one of the 3 families that founded the Cayman Islands. I can't apply for citizenship because my mother hasn't. :( Apparently, they have a lot of rules and control over who becomes a citizen.
28. I believe that honesty is a quality that everyone should have. I'm a very honest person. Too honest, so says the hubs. This is why I didn't get along with my step-daughter.
29. I am also a selfless person. Many are asked if they would move to another state to be with the one they loved. I did it. We moved to Indiana because my husband's kids were there. We now live in Virginia now. Sadly, they don't care. :(
30. I could go to the Magic Kingdom every weekend and still not get sick of it. I love all the Disney parks. My husband thinks, "Not so much."
31. The photographer took over 700 photos at our wedding! He was there until the place closed. Should I upload them?
32. My best friend in pre-school was mulatto (half-black, half-white). I can remember "tasting" each other to see if she tasted like chocolate and me vanilla. Then asking her older sister why she was darker than everyone else. That's the day we found out what adopted meant.
33. My parents used to take a whole month in the summer for vacation. We traveled everywhere camping. I had a great childhood.
34. My sister and I were the only grandchildren on both sides (mom's and dad's). To say the least, we were spoiled. We also had an uncle that was never married and didn't have children!
35. I usually only cook in our house when the husband is flying at night. I don't like cooking and my husband does. I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.
36. My favorite TV shows are 2 1/2 men, NCIS, Law and Order and Grey's Anatomy.
37. I absolutely LOVE doing jigsaw puzzles and could do them 24 hours a day!
38. I can speak Spanish really well. Well enough that I serve as a translator at the school where I work.
39. I could hammer a nail into a 1/4 inch board by the time I was 5! Why do I know this? My DAD wrote it in my baby book. He was impressed with his very girly daughter.
40. I didn't wear a pair of jeans to school until the 6th grade. I thought they were for boys and fishing. Now I could wear them daily.
41. I once put the claw of the hammer through my sister's left eye lid. I told you I didn't like her!
42. My parents say I could swim before I could walk. I loved swimming. I didn't join the swim team in HS because I couldn't dive!
43. I collect gator beenie babies. They don't have to be the real, name brand beenies. They just have to be small.
44. I love to clean. It de-stresses me. I clean the best when "Aunt Flo" comes to visit.
45. If there was a school that was open from like 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., I would sign up to teach there.
46. I can write with either hand on a chalkboard/white board/smart board.
47. I really dislike the taste of coffee, but love the smell.
48. I don't like chocolate milk or chocolate shakes or chocolate ice cream.
49. I've donated my hair to lock of love twice. The first time, they cut off 16 inches! And still cut more in order to style it correctly. The second time only 12 inches.
50. I love to cut the grass. I was forced to cut my grandfather's grass growing up and should probably hate it, but I don't. Yes, it was his grass, but my grandmother's house.
51. I'm a very laid back person. More than one person had told me that, including my husband. If you knew my husband, you understand why I am. Helicopter pilots are SO type A.
52. I have no desire to go to Las Vegas. I've been to Reno and have gotten my fill. I know, not the same, but that's me.
53. I wore my mom's wedding dress in my wedding. I had the sleeves removed. (Lace. Yuck!) I also had the back taken out. Then it was perfect! And I saved boo-coo amounts of money because my mom's friend did all the alterations for free!
54. I have never seen many of the classic love stories like Gone With the Wind and really don't want to see them. Weird, for a woman, I know. But I have no desire to see them. I am more likely to read the book.
55. I took Racquetball at UF because Tennis was full and I was told it was an easy "A". I had to work my ass off for that "easy" A. Volleyball was the same story.
56. I dislike shoes. I take my off as soon as I enter the house. That's why our coat closets usually have my shoes on the bottom.
57. I really don't like houses with multiple levels. It's due to the laundry room. What genius puts all the bedrooms on the top level, but the laundry on the main floor? Obviously, a man!
58. I have no problem donating blood, but give me a TB test and I nearly pass out every time!
59. I think actors with salt n pepper hair are hot, so therefore who I think is hot depends on their hair color. I thought Sean Connery was hot in Medicine Man, but now, not so much. His hair is all grey. I thought Richard Gere was hot in Pretty Woman. I don't know why I find this so appealing.
60. My grandmother was a nurse and so was my mom. I could never be a nurse. I could never stick someone with a needle and I don't like taking care of sick people. Blood doesn't bother me a bit.
61. I learned to drive a car in 3 weeks! I wanted to go to a summer acting class and my parents refused to drive me. It was their way of making me get my license.
62. I had the best summer jobs in HS. One summer I worked at Adventure Island in Tampa and the next at Busch Gardens. We were being paid to have fun. Ice fights. Free ice cream. Played games.
63. When my sister and I were very young, we chose to share a bedroom so we could have a playroom.
64. I am the youngest daughter and my dad still calls me "The Baby".
65. If I didn't think the hubs would notice, I would own hundreds of shoes.
66. I own a monopoly game from the sixties. My uncle owns one from the forties!
67. I once rode my bike 12 miles to get to the beach. I was about 14. My best friend and I would ride everywhere on our bikes. Those were the good old days.
68. I have a footlocker full of my school (MS, HS, college) memorabilia. What's missing are the yearbooks. Those are on a family room shelf, if not packed in a box!
69. I love painting walls in a house. If I thought I could make money at it, that's what I would do for a living. I painted our house by myself and loved every minute of it. All inside, of course. The house was brick. No need to paint outside.
70. I own about 7 bathing suits even though I don't live in Florida anymore.
71. I could wear a UF sweatshirt or T-shirt every day for a month and not wear the same one twice.
72. My roommate and I in college created our own Gator shirts with ribbon and such because we didn't want to pay the high price in the Gator shops.
73. I can trace my maternal grandfather's family genealogy back to the 1700s.
74. I don't scrapbook. I'm probably the only woman who doesn't feel I need to learn. I don't feel I have the time. I probably NOT the only woman who feels this way!
75. I love to drive. I am always up for a road trip. In college, my roomies and I went to Jacksonville on the spur of the moment because there weren't any parties in Gainesville! We got back to the dorms around 4 a.m.
76. I don't like rooms that are decorated with birdhouses. I don't think birdhouses belong in a house.
77. My favorite color is sage green. I wanted my bridesmaids' dresses to be in sage, but my mom and best friend's mom talked me out of it. Why did I let them do that?
78. I addicted to Diet Coke. There. I've said it!
79. I am obsessed with HGTV. I like all of their shows: anything home improvement or buying/selling a house.
80. My secret TV obsession is What Not To Wear. I don't know what draws me to this show. Maybe it's Stacy's and Clinton's honesty and sarcasm.
81. My husband and I renovated our basement, floor to ceiling, in under a month! We thought he was getting a job transfer and we needed to finish it before trying to sell it. We had previously tore out the ceiling and walls. It was a blank canvas.
82. I once ran through the Orlando airport carrying a backpack, an almost 3 year old and car seat while 7 1/2 months pregnant! My son was about to have a fibral seizure and I was running to get help. He had one before and I could tell he was going to do it again. Thank goodness he's past this phase.
83. As a kid, I would catch lizards and hang them from my ears like earrings. It didn't hurt and we thought it as cool.
84. I think people who wear socks with sandals should just wear tennis shoes. Why wear sandals if you're going to put on socks?
85. I don't like The Simpson's. I think it's the dumbest show ever put on TV. I can't believe it's lasted this long! Someone, please tell me the appeal of it.
86. When I was in the Army, I could run the required 2 miles in 15 minutes! I was very proud of that. It makes me wish I had joined cross country or track in HS. I also used to run 10K for fun!
87. I have wasted height. I am almost 5'8" but never used it for anything like basketball or volleyball. I do like to play pick up games of basketball, but that's it.
88. I was made in Germany, but it's not stamped on my butt or anything. My parents were living in Germany when I was conceived. I am proof of how well the pill worked for my mom.
89. I can sleep anywhere as long as I have at least one body pillow!
90. I can sleep until well into the afternoon if you let me. I can also stay up all night if I have to for a reason.
91. I have no desire to ever drive a mini van. I like my truck. Most people think it's too big. I even receive glares once in awhile. I admit. It's big. It takes a lot of diesel, but I like it and we need something to pull the camper we have and the camper we will have. :)
92. I refuse to wear sandals unless my toenails are painted. I don't like naked toes.
93. My hands don't match each other. My right hand looks like my grandfather's and my left hand looks like my mother's.
93. I love to people watch in the airport or mall. Actually, I just love airports. I don't even have to be going anywhere, just the airport.
94. I hate the snow and cold weather. I'd rather be sweating my ass off in Florida than freezing it off in the snow in 10 degree weather!
95. If I must cook, give me a gas cook top. But I prefer a electric oven.
96. I dislike pancakes. Doesn't matter how you make them, I won't like them.
97. I'm also not so fond of butter or margarine or whatever you want to call that yellow-tinted stuff you spread on bread. I get a lot of strange looks when I order dry toast in restaurants.
98. When my husband and I sold our house in Seymour, we became debt free. It is a great feeling. I recommend it to everyone. If you have doubts that it's possible, just Google "Dave Ramsey".
99. Making this list was painful. Why did I ever start it?
100. It took me 3 days to come up with this list!
2. My sister and I fought like cats and dogs growing up, but I would do anything for her today.
3. I joined the army after graduated from UF because I couldn't find a job. I had a blast!
4. I once broke a coffee table while dancing on it. I was slightly inebriated. I say slightly because I can remember doing it. I did have the help from 2 of my neighbors.
5. I once drank Gatorade at a kegger during college because I was afraid of getting busted for drinking underage. I was so naive.
6. While I was pregnant with my son, all indications pointed towards him having down syndrome. We did not have an amnio done because there was a risk of miscarrying and we were going to have the baby whether he had down syndrome or not. He doesn't have down syndrome. He is extremely smart, I have never looked at a child with down syndrome the same again.
7. I missed taking pictures of my daughter's first day of kindergarten because she wasn't supposed to start kindergarten that day. She was supposed to start PK4.
8. I quit my job that I had a real dislike for when I was 33 to go back to school full time to become a teacher. The Army paid for my school. This was something that I will never regret doing. It is something that I would have regretted NOT doing.
9. My dad's mom died when I was in college. My grandmother (mom's mom) is the one who told me. I didn't cry. She didn't like me and she showed it.
10. My mom has multiple sclerosis and I don't know how I feel about that yet. :(
11. My best friend and I have been friends since we were 2 1/2 years old!
12. My first date with my husband lasted until 4 a.m. and no, I didn't sleep with him!
13. Our dinner and dancing party (wedding reception) was at a restaurant that was a former brothel/chicken ranch in Hollywood, FL.
14. My daughter's due date was my son's birthday! I didn't want twins 3 years apart, so I was induced early. Yes, we have sex more than one day a year! ;)
15. I once talked my way out of a traffic ticket while at UF. I was going the wrong way down a one way street at like 2 a.m. I asked the innocent question of why there was a stop sign and a white line painted on the pavement if it was one way. The officer let me go. :)
16. I've been on 6 cruises and want to go on another soon.
17. I've visited 4 of the 7 continents. I would love to visit Australia and Asia, but can't picture myself in Antarctica.
18. My best friend in the Army was a guy. We were in basic training together and eventually stationed at Ft. Bragg at the same time, but different units. Everyone thought we should get married except us. We didn't. We still talk and I love him like a brother. I cried when he told me he was getting married. I was so happy for him!
19. I really disliked my 3rd grade teacher. I am an elementary school teacher and have no desire to teach 3rd grade. I don't know if this is related to my 3rd grade experience or not.
20. Both my children were extremely fast deliveries. My son was out in 2 pushes and my daughter in 4 pushes. Both without an epidural. My daughter was without any drugs at all! My hubby says I was born to have babies, but we're not having any more.
21. My step-daughter lived with us during her tween and early teen years. Her mother kicked her out of the house just before Christmas. It was the longest 3 or 4 or 5 years of my life. We went to counseling so that the counselor could tell me that it wasn't my job to raise her. She obviously wasn't familiar with the Army's way of life!
22. I have never broken any bone in my body or had any kind of surgery due to an injury or (my own) illness. Can you hear me knocking on wood?
23. I did have my wisdom teeth taken out when I was almost 21. I ate pizza that night for dinner and, although codeine was prescribed for pain, all I took was advil and rode my bike to the beach the next day!
24. I've been to Mardi Gras 3 times. The only time I was old enough to legally drink was the 3rd time. But that didn't stop me the 1st 2 times!
25. I am a 3rd generation Florida Cracker, which I'm told is rare. But my children are both Hoosiers.
26. I liked driving in Texas, but didn't like living there. There were posted speed limit signs, but no one paid attention to them. If the person behind you was going faster than you were, it was expected of you to pull onto the shoulder to let them pass! Crazy.
27. My maternal grandfather's family was one of the 3 families that founded the Cayman Islands. I can't apply for citizenship because my mother hasn't. :( Apparently, they have a lot of rules and control over who becomes a citizen.
28. I believe that honesty is a quality that everyone should have. I'm a very honest person. Too honest, so says the hubs. This is why I didn't get along with my step-daughter.
29. I am also a selfless person. Many are asked if they would move to another state to be with the one they loved. I did it. We moved to Indiana because my husband's kids were there. We now live in Virginia now. Sadly, they don't care. :(
30. I could go to the Magic Kingdom every weekend and still not get sick of it. I love all the Disney parks. My husband thinks, "Not so much."
31. The photographer took over 700 photos at our wedding! He was there until the place closed. Should I upload them?
32. My best friend in pre-school was mulatto (half-black, half-white). I can remember "tasting" each other to see if she tasted like chocolate and me vanilla. Then asking her older sister why she was darker than everyone else. That's the day we found out what adopted meant.
33. My parents used to take a whole month in the summer for vacation. We traveled everywhere camping. I had a great childhood.
34. My sister and I were the only grandchildren on both sides (mom's and dad's). To say the least, we were spoiled. We also had an uncle that was never married and didn't have children!
35. I usually only cook in our house when the husband is flying at night. I don't like cooking and my husband does. I only have a kitchen because it came with the house.
36. My favorite TV shows are 2 1/2 men, NCIS, Law and Order and Grey's Anatomy.
37. I absolutely LOVE doing jigsaw puzzles and could do them 24 hours a day!
38. I can speak Spanish really well. Well enough that I serve as a translator at the school where I work.
39. I could hammer a nail into a 1/4 inch board by the time I was 5! Why do I know this? My DAD wrote it in my baby book. He was impressed with his very girly daughter.
40. I didn't wear a pair of jeans to school until the 6th grade. I thought they were for boys and fishing. Now I could wear them daily.
41. I once put the claw of the hammer through my sister's left eye lid. I told you I didn't like her!
42. My parents say I could swim before I could walk. I loved swimming. I didn't join the swim team in HS because I couldn't dive!
43. I collect gator beenie babies. They don't have to be the real, name brand beenies. They just have to be small.
44. I love to clean. It de-stresses me. I clean the best when "Aunt Flo" comes to visit.
45. If there was a school that was open from like 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., I would sign up to teach there.
46. I can write with either hand on a chalkboard/white board/smart board.
47. I really dislike the taste of coffee, but love the smell.
48. I don't like chocolate milk or chocolate shakes or chocolate ice cream.
49. I've donated my hair to lock of love twice. The first time, they cut off 16 inches! And still cut more in order to style it correctly. The second time only 12 inches.
50. I love to cut the grass. I was forced to cut my grandfather's grass growing up and should probably hate it, but I don't. Yes, it was his grass, but my grandmother's house.
51. I'm a very laid back person. More than one person had told me that, including my husband. If you knew my husband, you understand why I am. Helicopter pilots are SO type A.
52. I have no desire to go to Las Vegas. I've been to Reno and have gotten my fill. I know, not the same, but that's me.
53. I wore my mom's wedding dress in my wedding. I had the sleeves removed. (Lace. Yuck!) I also had the back taken out. Then it was perfect! And I saved boo-coo amounts of money because my mom's friend did all the alterations for free!
54. I have never seen many of the classic love stories like Gone With the Wind and really don't want to see them. Weird, for a woman, I know. But I have no desire to see them. I am more likely to read the book.
55. I took Racquetball at UF because Tennis was full and I was told it was an easy "A". I had to work my ass off for that "easy" A. Volleyball was the same story.
56. I dislike shoes. I take my off as soon as I enter the house. That's why our coat closets usually have my shoes on the bottom.
57. I really don't like houses with multiple levels. It's due to the laundry room. What genius puts all the bedrooms on the top level, but the laundry on the main floor? Obviously, a man!
58. I have no problem donating blood, but give me a TB test and I nearly pass out every time!
59. I think actors with salt n pepper hair are hot, so therefore who I think is hot depends on their hair color. I thought Sean Connery was hot in Medicine Man, but now, not so much. His hair is all grey. I thought Richard Gere was hot in Pretty Woman. I don't know why I find this so appealing.
60. My grandmother was a nurse and so was my mom. I could never be a nurse. I could never stick someone with a needle and I don't like taking care of sick people. Blood doesn't bother me a bit.
61. I learned to drive a car in 3 weeks! I wanted to go to a summer acting class and my parents refused to drive me. It was their way of making me get my license.
62. I had the best summer jobs in HS. One summer I worked at Adventure Island in Tampa and the next at Busch Gardens. We were being paid to have fun. Ice fights. Free ice cream. Played games.
63. When my sister and I were very young, we chose to share a bedroom so we could have a playroom.
64. I am the youngest daughter and my dad still calls me "The Baby".
65. If I didn't think the hubs would notice, I would own hundreds of shoes.
66. I own a monopoly game from the sixties. My uncle owns one from the forties!
67. I once rode my bike 12 miles to get to the beach. I was about 14. My best friend and I would ride everywhere on our bikes. Those were the good old days.
68. I have a footlocker full of my school (MS, HS, college) memorabilia. What's missing are the yearbooks. Those are on a family room shelf, if not packed in a box!
69. I love painting walls in a house. If I thought I could make money at it, that's what I would do for a living. I painted our house by myself and loved every minute of it. All inside, of course. The house was brick. No need to paint outside.
70. I own about 7 bathing suits even though I don't live in Florida anymore.
71. I could wear a UF sweatshirt or T-shirt every day for a month and not wear the same one twice.
72. My roommate and I in college created our own Gator shirts with ribbon and such because we didn't want to pay the high price in the Gator shops.
73. I can trace my maternal grandfather's family genealogy back to the 1700s.
74. I don't scrapbook. I'm probably the only woman who doesn't feel I need to learn. I don't feel I have the time. I probably NOT the only woman who feels this way!
75. I love to drive. I am always up for a road trip. In college, my roomies and I went to Jacksonville on the spur of the moment because there weren't any parties in Gainesville! We got back to the dorms around 4 a.m.
76. I don't like rooms that are decorated with birdhouses. I don't think birdhouses belong in a house.
77. My favorite color is sage green. I wanted my bridesmaids' dresses to be in sage, but my mom and best friend's mom talked me out of it. Why did I let them do that?
78. I addicted to Diet Coke. There. I've said it!
79. I am obsessed with HGTV. I like all of their shows: anything home improvement or buying/selling a house.
80. My secret TV obsession is What Not To Wear. I don't know what draws me to this show. Maybe it's Stacy's and Clinton's honesty and sarcasm.
81. My husband and I renovated our basement, floor to ceiling, in under a month! We thought he was getting a job transfer and we needed to finish it before trying to sell it. We had previously tore out the ceiling and walls. It was a blank canvas.
82. I once ran through the Orlando airport carrying a backpack, an almost 3 year old and car seat while 7 1/2 months pregnant! My son was about to have a fibral seizure and I was running to get help. He had one before and I could tell he was going to do it again. Thank goodness he's past this phase.
83. As a kid, I would catch lizards and hang them from my ears like earrings. It didn't hurt and we thought it as cool.
84. I think people who wear socks with sandals should just wear tennis shoes. Why wear sandals if you're going to put on socks?
85. I don't like The Simpson's. I think it's the dumbest show ever put on TV. I can't believe it's lasted this long! Someone, please tell me the appeal of it.
86. When I was in the Army, I could run the required 2 miles in 15 minutes! I was very proud of that. It makes me wish I had joined cross country or track in HS. I also used to run 10K for fun!
87. I have wasted height. I am almost 5'8" but never used it for anything like basketball or volleyball. I do like to play pick up games of basketball, but that's it.
88. I was made in Germany, but it's not stamped on my butt or anything. My parents were living in Germany when I was conceived. I am proof of how well the pill worked for my mom.
89. I can sleep anywhere as long as I have at least one body pillow!
90. I can sleep until well into the afternoon if you let me. I can also stay up all night if I have to for a reason.
91. I have no desire to ever drive a mini van. I like my truck. Most people think it's too big. I even receive glares once in awhile. I admit. It's big. It takes a lot of diesel, but I like it and we need something to pull the camper we have and the camper we will have. :)
92. I refuse to wear sandals unless my toenails are painted. I don't like naked toes.
93. My hands don't match each other. My right hand looks like my grandfather's and my left hand looks like my mother's.
93. I love to people watch in the airport or mall. Actually, I just love airports. I don't even have to be going anywhere, just the airport.
94. I hate the snow and cold weather. I'd rather be sweating my ass off in Florida than freezing it off in the snow in 10 degree weather!
95. If I must cook, give me a gas cook top. But I prefer a electric oven.
96. I dislike pancakes. Doesn't matter how you make them, I won't like them.
97. I'm also not so fond of butter or margarine or whatever you want to call that yellow-tinted stuff you spread on bread. I get a lot of strange looks when I order dry toast in restaurants.
98. When my husband and I sold our house in Seymour, we became debt free. It is a great feeling. I recommend it to everyone. If you have doubts that it's possible, just Google "Dave Ramsey".
99. Making this list was painful. Why did I ever start it?
100. It took me 3 days to come up with this list!
Names in VA
Ok. So getting around this part of Virginia is more than just about learning new street names, etc. The person who laid out this area must have been smoking some good stuff. Now, in every city there are those roads that go along and then cross a road and suddenly are named something else. SOME roads do that. Here ALL roads do that! It's crazy! Then there are just some strange names here. Tell me, how would you pronounce this name "Niple". That is a name on the side of a rather large building on a major thoroughfare here. I nearly had an accident. If it weren't such a busy road, I would have stopped and taken a picture of it with my phone. There was another name that went along with Mr/Mrs Niple, but I was so hung up on that, I don't remember the other name. Could you imagine going through life (or school) with that last name? I think I would change my name.
Just my thoughts.
Just my thoughts.
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