batman wouldn't let me finish my work!

i REALLY thought i was going to get more done today than i did...i'll have to work on productivity tomorrow.

this morning, when i finally woke up, dad said that mom was going to make cinammon rolls tonight (prep for tomorrow's breakfast). but, we had to make dinner. well, since he took off to go work on something for me at the shop, i would be making dinner. of course i had all day, so i watched batman begins to give me the motivation i needed to fight evil.

then i had to go to the store to pick up a few items. i would be making fajitas for dinner, because they are easy and good for us. i figure, if they don't like what we're having, perhaps i won't be asked to make dinner again! usually i like my food a bit spicy, and i looked everywhere in the cupboard, but mom and dad don't keep pepper flakes around... the marinade for the steak strips was an interesting concoction, we would have to wait and see!



it was colorful, and tasty enough, but i sauteed so many peppers and onions, that i will be eating veggies tomorrow for lunch (to make up for the too many cinammon rolls i plan to partake of).

as i sit here at the computer i am watching one of my parents' cats (scamper), and he is getting ready to drink his water, but he looks like he's doing the running man, or walking on a treadmill with his front paws...practicing pantomime or something. it's comical, because he is a big, fat, orange cat (bigger than bruno), and only his front paws are moving -not scratching at anything, it really looks like he's 'pretend-walking.'

right before i sat to watch the movie this morning, i heard the windchimes out front and i'm pretty sure i heard part of the chorus of cabaret. reminded me of when i lived in kc, and shawnee mission east had a ROCKING drama dept! they were amazing! (biased because some of our klife kids were a part of it). their performance was phenomenal! it was almost eerie. in the intermission, the performers were milling around with the audience in character asking people to be a part of the political party...and the very end was even more sobering as the schwasticas dropped from the side walls, the back of the auditorium and there was one huge one across the front of the stage, and all you could hear was the marching of boots as the performers all marched around and off the stage. it certainly made a statement and there was silence as we quietly filed out of the auditorium-it left us in a contemplative mood.

as i type that, it really makes me happy thinking about season tickets for the musicals next year! i can't wait to see the lineup!

have i mentioned how much i love getting texts? especially when i am not in town-it makes me feel special! so thanks for the texts- i need to do that more often-just a random text here and there because you never know when someone might just need to feel special!

tomorrow i am making it my mission to get my grading and lesson prep all done while mom is at work and dad is at the shop. i know i can!

julie

when robin's eggs inflict pain, just keep sucking the life out of them!

how excited am i that Easter candy is out? the only thing i really like are the mini robin's eggs. i believe that i may have mentioned them before...but it's kind of a love/hate relationship. i could eat a whole bag-i bite them in half and then suck out the malted milk center...until the roof of my mouth is in shreds because of the texture.

i've put them away for the time being-i never should have purchased them.

last night i showed dad my gun and mentioned that it's just so hard to find ammo for it, and then i asked him about his little, antique rifle and he said it's just a small .22, but the ammo is cheap and easy to get. then this morning at church, he found one of his buddies who usually carries, and we went downstairs and he showed me his little taurus pt .22; it was so small, and it felt snug in my hand. i think that i may be looking at one of these in the near future because the ammo is readily available, and a nice little back-up...tiny. and it's just so cute.

last night my dad finished working on his teaching points for sunday school, and then took the pictures that dr. hughes snapped at tcea of the compartments to lock up ipod touches and an ipad or two...and began to draw up some plans. we're going to try to duplicate what we saw (by we, i mean him)...he might give me some menial job. the only part that we cannot do is the actual charging unit.

he's figuring it all out.

and then he asks me, "how big are the things you want to put in here?" as i was counting boxtops, i grabbed a manilla envelope that they had been in, and being the non-perfectionist that i am (when it comes to making things), said, "about this big." he looked at me and asked if that was the exact size, and so i had to look up dimensions on the site...i mean..close enough, right? wrong. anyhoo...i'm excited to see what he comes up with. #mydadisamazing #itakeaftermydad (and my mom in other arenas- she's pretty darned amazing too!) two awesome parents = that's why i turned out the way i did. (tooting my own horn today because sometimes ya just gotta tell yourself: "i'm good enough, i'm smart enough, and doggone it, people like me!"

and with that i bid you adieu...(adios...bye..gesundheit...?)
julie

what do boxtops and angel food cake have in common? nothing..i'm pretty sure boxtops are satan's idea of torture.

so...the plan was to be up and off by 7 am. BAHAHAHA! who was i kidding? no one but myself! i finally got everything packed up to go and felt like i was in college again, because i definitely packed dirty laundry that needed to be washed when i got to mom and dad's!

last night, all i could think about was stopping in to get a cinnabon. but this morning, when i pulled up, it was not open! boo. i guess that's what you get when shlotzky's and cinnabon partner up-no breakfast. so i ended up with einstein bro's instead, which was by far better for me. and we were off.

i really don't mind the drive, probably because i'm so used to it-being so close to kamp and what not...it was good to just contemplate in the car. the boys travel so well. (by well, i mean bruno lays in his car seat and chaco just sits there and looks at me with his wide-eyed 'i know we're going to see the demon cats' look-his words, not mine...i like the cats!).

anyhoo, on the car ride, i decided that i need to pray for my students. not like a hail mary, i hope they pass...more like individually for them. for their lives. for good things. i know that will change my attitude and give me even more of a vested interest in them. i want good things for them, even when i get frustrated and feel helpless.

after dinner, i got started on the task of reseparating the box tops because i had them divided incorrectly. 2650 box tops later...i really thought at the beginning of the year that this was going to be the responsibility of the recycling committee..cough,cough..lindsey.

arch rival

 but life got better once mom put the angel food cake in the oven (she knows it's my favorite!) and of course, she has much more patience than i do. she put the thing on top of a bottle to let it drop from the pan...whereas me? i would take a fork and eat it as if out of a bowl...angel food bowl cake. yep..true story.

mom's the best!

and it was worth the wait for the glaze. this made up for stupid shlotzky's/cinnabon failing me this morning!

and when i came in to check on their computer and make sure it was still here, i saw these apple heads my dad started last time i was here to show to one of his friends.

if you remember ahile back when i was teaching my students what dehydrated meant, i made one of my own (check him out here-fun poses)..i'm pretty sure that i mentioned that he had taught me to make them when we were little...yes, instead of eating apples, we carve them..healthy family! i learned a lot from my parents!

bruno found the bag of treats..he's so smart.

can we? huh?huh?huh? can we? if you don't we'll start barking at the cats again.

jerks.

it's gonna be a dog eat cat...or cat scratch dog kind of a week.
jules

sleazy, sneezy, doozy and sneaky

Ding Dong! The Witch is dead. Which old Witch? The Wicked Witch! Ding Dong! The Wicked Witch is dead. 

i'm sure this is how most of my friends felt about the whole hugo chavez death. i just pictured the legs sticking out from under the house. it is so unfathomable to hear people lauding him-and now i hear they're going to put his body on display...(like a stuffed animal-narcissism even after he's dead). silly sleazy mortal.

ever know one of those people who, every time they sneeze, they snot all over everything? i mean EVERY time. well, i've experienced that to a point that every time i hear the sneeze, i have to look the other way so that i don't lose my breakfast. and then the same person pumped so much hand sanitizer on his hands, i thought he was going to take a bath or something! really? yes.

i got my call from the teaching trust, and i have my group interview the saturday on the tail-end of spring break. that's going to be a 4-hour ordeal. i can't believe i am subjecting myself to this again. i'm excited because my principal knows someone else who will be in the same interview; she applied last year as well. so i hope that we both make the program, so that we can help each other through the craziness. if i make this program, next year is going to be a doozy. i'm up for a challenge....she tried to convince herself...

it's the little things that excite me, like the fact that today i put my test in to be copied, and it was done by this afternoon, so i can actually give the 6 week test tomorrow!! woohoo!

i'm trying to think of a sneaky way to pack stuff up so the dogs don't figure out that we're taking a trip, but they're pretty intuitive, so i'm afraid that they are going to figure it out...

that's all i got, except that i am super excited for tomorrow (and the 9 days that follow it!)
julie

i don't like to be dressy too often, but i do like to dress up!

wednesday-check! (i WISH i got a check! unfortunately more like check, it's done)

i spent the first half of my day in a science prep meeting to look at our objectives and skills we need our students to understand...i actually enjoy getting to collaborate for science! it's much different than getting together for language arts...science is so neat and packaged. language arts is just a bit messier. i feel like i walk away with a plan and i am ready to go for the 6 weeks. whereas with language arts, i feel like i walk away with a somewhat confused and furrowed brow.

finally done with all my student telpas writings and we can get back to the regularly scheduled instruction! grr.

i know last night i mentioned the renaissance festival in kansas city...one of my favorites! it actually inspired my friend mike and i to borrow some costumes from the drama department to go to "Nazarene Night at Worlds of Fun" dressed up-we loved being in the limelight back then...and much more fun when a huge majority from our small college were at the amusement park as well! this pic made our yearbook. smile. anything for a laugh!

bruno and chaco are beginning to understand why i like to dress them up every once in awhile..

 and to think this was before i even knew about kanakuk kamps! once i started working there, i was in dress-up heaven! we had parties and skits pretty much every other night, so there was plenty of silliness! please indulge me while i share some of our party pics!

my early years at k2-flat billed grandpa caps with neenee (the dollar store was our best friend)

not only a full body 'pantsuit', but check out the awesome shoes!

50's night-trying to be like the pink ladies (grease) only not in pink...

lost/survivor party...i did have a bandage and handcuffs..

cruise party-retired  senior in my mumu (did you see how i repurposed that lei from the lost party?!)

hollywood movie producer

western party

 and i never would have worn so many costumes and lasted so many years at k2, had it not been for one of my dearest friends, trish helsel. she is certainly a rock star who loves Jesus and loves working with teens and college students and she has a knack for making people feel pretty darned special! plus she has a pretty amazing family! (in purple because that is her favorite color!)

one of my favorite people!

i have never worked someplace where i felt like i was able to make more of a difference in peoples' lives...eternal difference. i learned so many lessons and i would never change any of those summers for the world! i love that i get to keep in touch with so many former kampers and counselors-eternal friendships!

and i leave you with the thought that in the true scheme of things, nothing really matters but God! (dressing up is a distant second)
julie

bruno and chaco put on a show and i endured awkwardness

and we've made it through yet another monday...wait..it's tuesday. good! this means it's going to feel like a short week! and thank goodness next week is spring break, so that we can recuperate from springing ahead...no. no...thank goodness next week is spring break so that we can have a bit of a break before the madness begins!

on saturday i packed up the boys and we drove to petsmart, and we walked around the parking lot so that if they had to, they could do their business. then we went inside just to get dog food, and while we were in the store, i saw that look in bruno's eyes, and so i hurried along, not allowing him to stop in one place until we got to the register and tried to pay really quickly. while i was paying, a little asian boy approached and chaco started barking, drawing attention to himself, and it never fails when we're in petsmart, bruno decided to take a dump. nice. i'm sure the way it went down was "psst..hey bruno, you go poop, and i'll bark really loud to get everyone to look! ready? here come some people, go, go, go!" pretty sure i know who the instigator is! good thing i always keep a poop bag tied to the leash! and out the door we went with a bag of poop and some dog food.

and i rewarded them by taking them to the park-our favorite...

then we went to the little park near the store that they love so much..it's tucked away so you can't really see it from the street, but we love it! and on the way we saw daffodils! i like daffodils, but they look so stinkin' fragile and sunday morning bonnet-like. they remind me of little miss muffet for some reason.

i tried to get a pic of the boys smelling them, but chaco would have none of it. "no, not a pic of me smelling flowers, what would the other dogs say?!"

 i was worried about the time, but i got them home, then got ready to go to a surprise bday party for a friend. i decided to leave early to try to get up to allen so that i could stop by cabela's to try to purchase ammo for target practice, but they were out. boo. early for nothing. but then, my day was made when i stopped at the register and saw the candied pecans. it made up for the disappointment of coming all the way over and not finding what i really wanted...in fact, next time, i'm not going for ammo, i'm going for roasted pecans, and if they happen to have ammo, added bonus. i am a sucker for these things! it brings back fond memories of renaissance festival in kc! good times!

YUM!!

 i had received a text earlier in the day that one of my coworkers was not going to be there, boo. i had seen olivia and lindsey's name in the email list (i learned later that natalie was also on that list), and since they were going, i thought i would go, as i did not really want to go to a party where i knew no one. well. i got a text early in the day saying that lindsey couldn't go because she was feeling sick, legit...but i thought, "no big deal, olivia will still be there!" 

i arrived late because i missed my turn and had to loop all the way back down to legacy and back up to allen to get there, then when i arrived, it was located in this plaza area, and i had no clue where to park because it was such a beautiful day, and everyone was out and about. finally i circled around and found a spot in the garage. then as i was trying to figure out exactly where it was at, i tripped on the curb because it was much higher than it should have been-nothing damaged beyond ego.

when i found it, i walked in and had to wait for the hostess twice. she finally showed me around the corner, and i was at least hoping to see his wife, but alas, i looked at the gathering and knew no one, so i asked if this was for dallas, and was told yes. so i sat where there was an available seat (the family was all there-5 people at one end and 5 at the other end, the available seat was in the middle, so i sat). it was a little awkward because it was about 15 minutes before they showed up, and no sign of olivia...so i just kinda sat there. didn't really talk to anyone because they were all engaged in conversation...no one really talked to me...yep.i even ordered a caprese salad at one point thinking if i slowly gnaw on some food maybe i wouldn't have to talk to anyone...well, that salad never came...but i still didn't have to talk to anyone (i probably seemed like a jerk...or a loser, not sure which, don't care!) then i was relieved when dallas and diane finally walked in! and that's when diane mentioned that natalie couldn't make it either. boo!

half way into it, a couple of other coworkers showed up, but they were at a separate table, so i just enjoyed the pizza and nothing bundt cake! my first time at grimaldi's pizza and i loved it!

it was worth it, and dallas was truly surprised-diane did a great job!

then sunday i decided to go ahead and make the dehydrated watermelon because xochitl had been asking for it! so i took some down while i was in the library i snuck it over to her in the teacher's lounge..then she had to share it because everyone else was interested! so i took another batch to her in her classroom. i love it that she loves it so much! smile.#goodtofeelneeded

i may have to keep the dehydrator out and do some more fruit! i loved it too! mango's good...

so today i went to the store to get some salsa ingredients, as mine was running low, and it is the best condiment for pretty much anything (minus a hot fudge sundae-which is not on the diet). and when i went in, my eyes immediately glanced over at the spock machine, but i noticed he wasn't there anymore...when i came out i took a closer look:

hmm..interesting, spock's not there, AND it's out of order. i don't know exactly what happened, but i imagine that when the lights went out, he performed some sort of vulcan mind move and got himself out, and then unfixed the machine for the best interest of the others

so, i started to walk out and stopped at the 'gumball machines' that actually sell toys. i really wanted something, so i put my bags down and dug through my purse for three quarters. then i put two of the quarters in, but i wasn't able to turn the knob to insert the third quarter. so i had to shimmy the other two quarters out and try to turn the knob to figure out how it worked...no luck, so being determine i tried the two quarters again, but to no avail...i have no doubt that the people passing by were thinking that i was somehow robbing the thing when i kept trying to get the quarters back out...so i walked away without my toy. sad day.

but not so sad, because when i got home, i saw a package in front of my door! my watch has finally arrived! now i can be a real adult!

it was the blue-silver face that won my heart!

ask me what time it is, go ahead...
julie

lorax for a minute

oh my goodness. so...yesterday was dr. seuss' bday, and i must give a huge shout out to our librarian, ms. murphy! she did an amazing job promoting it and getting everyone involved. the students really enjoyed it! there where hidden hats all around the building (i'll bet more teachers were trying to locate them all than students!), there was a picture station, and seussical readings. many teachers dressed the part and got their students involved as well. good times!

so this was how i started the morning, as the lorax, only it was much too warm to do all day long (fake foam mustaches do not stick when you sweat)

 when i went to walmart the night before, i just got 3 yd of orange fabric and made the easiest costume i could! it reminded me a little of when gigi helped me throw together a dorothy costume a couple of years ago! gigi's the bomb at this kind of thing! anyway, once i took the outfit off, i went for the improvised wocket in my pocket (no matter that he looks more like a gecko than a wocket...)

our data meeting went as planned...rough. but hey! everything with a grain of salt (or a salt shaker full)...once we disregarded the info we felt was useless, we figured out what we really want to focus on, and it's forward march! (as in march, st. patrick's day, spring break....) yep, there is growth, but again we want so much more for our students!

yesterday after school, we went to the standard pour, which was quite relaxing. thanks to xochitl and lindsey for good conversation, but next time we may need to steer clear of the cheese tray. the udderly spreadable cheese was one of those that i felt i needed to keep picking at even though it was far from enjoyable. "stick with the corn and the squash babies," that's what she said.

this morning, i was up early-because the boys were up early...so i got some small stuff done while i was waiting for the right time! when 9 am rolled around, i jumped in my car to go to the bullet trap. this is the first time i've gone to shoot by myself, so i was excited about it, and a little nervous. but once i got in there, i was feeling right at home. i just wish i'd had more ammunition because 50 rounds goes way too fast!!

all lanes were full, so when i went in, i had someone to my immediate left. it was an older lady, and i looked at her target and hoped i could do better...and once i got started, i was so engaged in what i was doing that i didn't even notice when they left! 

i'll be spending a lot of time here over the course of the next year, as i need to make the most of my membership!

 and while i was waiting in line to checkout, i looked to my right and saw all of the knives for sale, and this one caught my eye! i haven't had a hairbrush like this since i was little...actually i've never had a hairbrush quite like this-the brush pulls off and it becomes a knife!

so..a mugger comes along and i say, oh, just a minute, let me comb my hair really quickly before you take my money!

anyhoo, this afternoon on the agenda:

1. purchase dog food- i ran out. today i fed the boys some 'special' dog food that i had left over for chaco when he was on his prescription diet and i could only buy his food in a 20 lb bag (he only eats a 1/4 of a cup a day)...it's not bad for them, but it's full of stuff that fattens them up-not what bruno needs!

2. take the dogs to the park-the one by petsmart- see if the ducks are out, change things up.

3. clean out the car- got to get ready for the drive to mo.

4. go to cabella's to see if they have the ammo i need to take with me to mo.

i think that about covers it for today!

julie