Saturday, April 30, 2005

I sold out.

You've probably noticed the Google banner ad running across the top of my blog. I'm trying out their new Google AdSense program; in theory, every time someone clicks on one of the advertised links, I get money (it's probably like half a cent per click, but what the hell). The cool thing about it is that the links and ads are customized to the content of my blog--it picks up key words from the posts (NASCAR teachers soldiers troops nanny <--- just experimenting) and displays links that are relevant to what we're talking and writing about (you can thank Renee's recent post for the link to "Buttermilk pancakes," lol).

Anyway, I'm just trying it out. We'll see how it goes. (It BETTER work; this revenue is going to be my drinking money for the blog party). ;)

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Sweet Child O' Mine

Some of you have seen this already when I sent it out on email, but I was urged to share on the blog as well. I'm just gonna copy and paste (hopefully) so I don't have to type it again, but my kid is the sweetest EVER!

I've got to share this story; I'm still smiling about it :-) Brent said the CUTEST thing to me today while we were at IHOP. He had his usual, a Funny Face (for those who don't know, a Funny Face is a chocolate pancake topped with whipped cream eyes, nose and mouth, maraschino cherries in the eyes and chocolate chips on the mouth... a child's delight) and I got a sandwich with fries.

He asked if he could have one of my fries and I told him he could have as many as he wanted. He picked one off my plate and said "Oh, mom. You're so good at sharing and teaching and playing and making yummy stuff, I love you!" An early Mother's Day present :-) Had to choke back the tears a little... okay, a lot :-)

He also made our waitress all misty-eyed. Since we go there for lunch on a weekly basis, we see her a lot and she thinks he's just a doll (but of course!). This was the 4th time in a row that she's been our waitress, and when she came to take our order, Brent said "Hmmmm, I think I would liiiike... a Funny Face, please" (as if he had to think about it; he gets it EVERY time) "And I'm so happy to see you again! I love it when you bring us our pancakes!" She just melted and said in her southern drawl "Awww, you sweet little man you! I love to bring you your pancakes, darlin', you come and see me anytime you want, you just make my day!"

Now tell me that is not the cutest thing in the world! :-) Hope everyone has a good weekend!

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

Happy Anniversary!

I'm a few days late, but I just noticed that April 23 (Saturday) was officially our one-year blog aniversary. (And what a year it's been.)

So thanks to those of you who have stuck around and continued to read and post, making this the happenin' place that it is. It has become quite a nice "gathering place" for us, hasn't it? We talk about it all here--sex, love, life, death, happy, sad, humourous, off-the-wall....

I'm really glad I have my girls (and, of course, our homey Da Pope. Mad love.).

Monday, April 25, 2005

A scary story.

Mr. S. was trying to get me to eat some cake today, and I told him that it was against the rules of the Supernanny Super Shape-up Plan. (It's the new Atkins. Watch for it.) Anyway, Madison asked me what I meant, so I said, "Let me tell you guys a story.

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful princess named Supernanny. One day, Supernanny found out that a horribly scary monster was coming, and the monster's name was Summer. Supernanny knew that she had to get ready for the horrible Summer, so she started doing a lot of Tae Bo and not eating so much cake. Pretty soon, she was able to put on her beautiful princess bathing suit before Summer came. The end."

The kids sat quietly for a moment, pensively chewing their dinner as their dad was snickering behind me. Finally, Madison swallowed and said in admiration,

"Wow. That's a REALLY good story, Supernanny."

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Saturday, April 23, 2005

What the --?

Straight from the National Weather Service comes this Winter Storm Warning for Wayne County:

Winter storm warning extended until 11 pm edt Sunday.The winter storm warning has been extended until 11 pm edt sunday. Snow will continue through Sunday evening. The snow will be heavy at times. Storm total snowfall accumulations will range from 3 to 8 inches by Sunday evening.

Now mind you, it actually reached the 80s earlier this week.

I'm too pissed to write anything further on the subject. And anyway, I have to begin stockpiling supplies for the Blizzard of 2005.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Congratulations!

First of all, congratulations (a few days late) to Jeff for getting a job at Lowe's! I'm so proud of you! (By the way, Anna, he's working in Westland, on Ford Rd and Newburgh or something--so if you and Tim ever need anything for your home improvement projects--especially Lumber--go pay Jeff a visit.)

Secondly, congratulations to the judge who heard my case today for NOT having his head up his ass, unlike the magistrate who originally ruled in Elliott's favor (quite erroneously, might I add). I WON MY CASE AT COURT TODAY! (I know most of you have already heard about this via email and/or the phone, but I can't stop reliving the glorious moment.) I barely even had to say anything, actually, because the judge already knew the facts of the case and, more importantly, THE LAW. He looked at Elliott like he was an ass clown, listened to him stammer and stutter for a few moments, and then granted the motion to set aside the previous judgement. (For those of you who don't have a law background, that means, "He ruled in my favor.") ;)

(Lastly, I'd like to congratulate myself for using the word "erroneously.")

Friday, April 15, 2005

I'm done!

As of two minutes ago, I completed my last assignment for my last class!!! Granted, I still have to GO to my last class this coming Thursday, but I have just finished writing my final paper. Now, I relax until student teaching in the fall. (And finish my 30 observation hours with Mrs. R.)

I started this program in the fall of 2002; it was just a few months after Cam's accident and it was one of the only things that kept me going for a while--having something solid to work towards and look forward to. I also remember that one of my last good conversations with Cam before the accident was the day I informed him that I had been accepted into the program. He was so happy for me, because he knew how badly I'd wanted it. (He did wonder, however, if I'd actually FINISH the program, as he seemed to think that I tended to make grand plans but not follow through with them...which just goes to show that he never really knew me at ALL. ;) ) You have no idea how important this program was to me during that heartbreaking, nightmarish time.

ANYWAY, here I am, in the spring of 2005--a full year behind schedule, but I'm done with my classes. My life is completely different than it was when I started--new job, new apartment, new boyfriend--but I'm just as positive as I was back then that teaching is the right career path for me. Hell, I'm even positiver. ;)

What a road it's been...and the best is yet to come.

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Not so far away anymore.

Being a Soldiers' Angel means that I pay a lot more attention to the news than I used to. The events in Iraq are no longer something happening "over there;" every event now has the possibility of affecting someone that I write to and email with. The recent car bombings, for example, happened very close to a FOB (forward operating base) that is currently home to a couple of "my guys." Our soldiers out there have reported feelings the tremors up to a quarter mile away; the blasts, they said, made their "insides shake."

Don't get me wrong; I love being an Angel and it's one of the most rewarding things I've ever done. Sometimes, though, it's hard. It can be very emotionally draining. But we keep sending those letters and cards and care packages, we keep giving a huge piece of our hearts, because they need us. They're the ones living through this each and every day. As one of my guys said, "This war won't be over until I can leave the base without being shot at." They tell stories of the attacks and ambushes almost casually; it's just another day at work for them. Sometimes we Angels hear even more details than their spouses and loved ones back home do; they need to vent and talk about what they're seeing and doing over there, and often, they don't want to cause their families any extra worry or alarm. So their Angels often become their sounding board, their therapist, their ear to listen and shoulder to lean on. And it's a badge we wear with honor. Yes, sometimes we cry. We lose sleep. But we keep going, because they do. And they're what it's all about.

So again, regardless of your personal feelings about this war, I ask you to keep these men and women in your thoughts and prayers.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Summer!

Now that we've survived the long winter, does anyone have any fun plans for summer coming up?

Friday, April 08, 2005

Andrew, where are you??

So in cruising the Net today (the boys are napping, so it's okay), I found a reference to my blog (read the intro in the post and then scroll down to the comments for a mention of yours truly).

http://www.thursdaynightfever.com/2004/12/crunk_awards_st.html

Apparently, this Andrew person either thinks my blog is a "Best Blog You're Probably Not Reading (Yet)"-- OR one of the "Worst Trends in Blogging 2004." But either way, I can't ask him, because the email address associated with that post is no longer valid (trust me, I tried).

Now, my question to all of you is:

Wasn't there a post from an Andrew once? Anyone remember at all where it was (what month, what topic, etc.)? The winner gets to do a little something special with me. (Don't get too excited; that was just a tip of the hat to "Whose Line?")

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

'Tis the season...

...to start exercising like a madwoman so I don't scare small children during the warmer, remove more clothes/ show more skin summer months. For the foreseeable future, I plan on spending quite a lot of time with Mr. Billy Blanks.

Looks like we'll be taking another trip to the Dutch side of the state next month for Tulip Time. Although I have historically made it my mission to AVOID West Michigan during tulip season, my grandparents (on my mom's side) will be in town that weekend, and I'm truly excited to see them again. Furthermore, we're having a "family picnic" or some crazy thing and it looks like the Garcias (ie, my daughter and family) will be able to make it. I haven't seen Amanda in...wow, a year and a half now?...because of the circumstances surrounding our situation (which have been well-documented previously on this very blog; in short, though, because it's too damn hard to continue to bite my tongue when she SHOULD have been told the truth so long ago); however, I also need to make sure that I keep our relationship strong (after all, the secret will come out eventually, and I don't want to waste the trust, love and friendship that I've spent years building up between Amanda and me).

Other than that...everything is going great. One usual thing to note: the other day, I was singing "You Are My Sunshine" to the kids--until Luc, the 2 year old, reached out and put his hand over my mouth. Fabulous...even a toddler can recognize my horrible lack of tune and pitch.

(For the record, I continue to blame the recurring ear infections I had as a child for my tone-deafness.)