Blogging slacker

I want to apologize for being a blogging slacker recently. I actually have A LOT to talk about which will be posted soon so please stay tuned. The problem is, what comes with a lot to talk about is a lot going on. I want to put pictures and lots of details and I don't want to leave anything out....I just need the time. SO, I am setting a date. Meet me back here by Thursday, October 2nd and I will officially unload....

Total fatty

I went to Target today and I found myself salivating in the Halloween candy aisle. It was astonishing to me. I have always loved chocolate, but I could do without other types of candy. I ended up desperately searching for that really weird candy I used to get trick-or-treating as a kid…it was kind of round and kind of like caramel. It had the weirdest texture and I loved this freaking candy. Of course, off brand stuff like that doesn’t exist anymore. I couldn’t find it. The amount of restraint it took for me to walk away and just leave the store was remarkable. I had visions of opening my trick-or-treating bag and dumping the loot on the floor and going to town. Suddenly, that’s where I wanted to be. I wanted to be eight, stuffing my face, dressed as Raggedy Anne. You can picture it can’t you? God love homemade costumes. Mom you rock.
**Side Note - yes I believe I was Raggedy Anne at age eight and girls at that age now are Hannah Montana...either I was a total loser or girls now need to be reminded that they are still little!

The world of education has rained on this profoundly under-rated holiday. We can't hang decorations of carved pumpkins, silly looking ghosts, or, God forbid, a witch. It has to all be fall related...pumpkins as in the vegetable, leaves, trees, etc. What fun is that? I mean, I don't want to scare the kids, but have you looked at Halloween decorations? They are harmless! They have cartoonish faces and bright colors. There's nothing evil about any of it. Who took all the fun stuff out is what I want to know. Bah humbug to whoever you are.

Side Note

I am not blog savvy enough yet...the picture of Seth is really big and the one of me is little. I don't care, but I would love to know how to make things look the way I want them to. I will get there...until then, I love that picture of him so it's a keeper!

Addicted to addiction shows

We are fully addicted to two shows about addiction....Intervention and The Cleaner. Intervention has been a slowly building addiction, but The Cleaner is a new and consistent favorite. If you haven't ever watched it, it will make you realize that Benjamin Bratt is a good actor and not just a hot sidekick in random movies you never saw.

Both of these shows come with their own level of depressing amounts of information. Intervention is the show you should make your pre-teen/teenager watch over and over again. Someone once told me Requiem for a Dream was the movie to scare the crap out of kids before they can make bad decisions. However, then I watched it and realized if I had seen that movie between the age of 13 and 18 I would have never left the house. SO, Intervention is a "happy medium" of sorts.

At any rate, if you haven't ever seen them, Intervention is just what it sounds like. Families of addicts get together with a professional to give their loved ones an ultimatum about their lives. The Cleaner on the other hand, is about an ex-addict (Bratt) who has made a career (and a pact with God) out of saving other addicts - or cleaning them up.

With all the serious amounts of CRAP on TV, I thought I should share about two shows we find worth your time.

Quick tip

So I am still sick. I thought it was getting better and then it got worse again. Actually, it just changed from sore throat and sleeping all day to runny nose, coughing, can't sleep...you know the drill. Nothing I have taken has really worked so I got a bright idea that I want to share. I may just be a complete moron, and if so then get a chuckle in now. If I am not a moron and you didn't know this would happen then do tell so that I feel better.

I am sitting on the couch this afternoon after roughing it through a day at work sneezing all freaking day and I get a bright idea. I need a quick fix if you will. I can't breathe and that alone is pushing me to the edge. I remember that I once bought peppermint oil to make soap (yea I made the soap ages ago and it turned out horrible so now I have this container of peppermint oil). I thought to myself, that stuff is pretty strong smelling, maybe I should go sniff it. Rewind - I am sitting on the couch waiting for Seth to get home because we are going to go eat Mexican which I am very excited about. SO, I go sniff the oil. It's actually working! I then get the bright idea to rub a little under my nose so that it continues to work. It works alright. I become increasingly aware that I cannot feel that my nose is running because my upper lip is so tingly and cold. Then it starts to burn. I can breathe though....I mean really breathe....like better than I have in days.

I ended up having to wash it off before dinner for fear that I would drip snot into the cheese dip and not know it...

Was it worth it? I can still breathe so I am going to say yes. However, use at your own risk. Herbal remedies are great but I was upset that the chips and salsa tasted/smelled a little too minty.

The down side....

...of being a teacher:

You can't just call in sick. IF you did that, they would probably laugh in your face. If you wake up at 3 am with chills and hot flashes simultaneously, a throat that is near closing up, and body aches of a 90 year old, you still have to take 18 steps to be assured you don't have to go to work. If you are me, you take 19 steps. I have never called a sub at the crack of dawn so I had no clue what the level of appropriateness was. So, I got up, got ready, and went to school on the assumption that I would be working that day unless some poor soul could save the day. Mind you, I have never been so tired in my life. Apparently this bug that is going around may as well be called the "sleep it off until you feel better" illness. I felt like I could have gone to sleep for days. I went in and spoke to my principal who told me that subs get calls at the earliest hours possible and they are used to it. So I go to my learning cottage and start to go down the list. Luckily, I hit the jackpot with sub number 3. Seth has already brought me an arsenal of vitamin water just in case I was going to have to stick it out (God love him) so I am frantically chugging it while "getting things ready" for the sub.

This is part two of why you can't just call in sick. I mean, I am a control freak so I could have just let things go as they were, but I would imagine subs hate teachers that do that. So, I got everything set and ready for the day. It becomes almost like you have to plan to be absent from work. You have to plan to get sick or the headache that is added becomes more of hassle than the actual being sick part. Not to mention, if you are out more than one day, the level of getting back on track becomes a nightmare.

If you ever wake up, call in sick, and go back to sleep, when you do get up raise a glass of OJ or whatever your healing liquid of choice is to all of the teachers out there who are secretly cursing people like you. **Disclaimer - I'm sure there are other jobs that have to go through the ringer to be absent from work. I just don't know what they are.**

On the up side, I think I have almost slept it off. I wasn't awake for more than two hours yesterday and that was when I was at the doctor. I abruptly woke up this morning with the odd sensation that I needed to be vertical for a while. So off to work I went!

Correction

Ok Molly just barfed on the floor....so maybe I will keep a roll or two of paper towels around just in case....

Yes I am sitting on the couch and have been since the last post. You should know that my throat is on fire and I am pretty sure I am coming down with the first official funk of the school year. I am not just a lazy piece of poop who has nothing better to do that talk to the computer and hope someone responds (hint, hint *comment!*).

Going crunchy

I have made the decision to go crunchy. Don't poke fun before you hear me out. I already recycle like crazy and use Publix reusable grocery bags. I now plan to put a few other things into action:

CFL bulbs
homemade cleaning solutions and detergents
NO paper towels

These are my first steps into going green. Why you may ask? To be honest, I am looking for ways to save money, to be healthier, and to take more control over my own house. After doing some research I am astonished at the money that can be saved and I think that is reason #1. This working out kick and strong desire I have to start eliminating nasty things from my diet is playing a huge part as well. And lastly, I'm a control freak - enough said. I have decided I will start at a slow pace so I don't overwhelm myself...thank you Renee for the inspiration! (I'm not even sure Renee reads my blog but just in case she does she should get the props for this new leaf I am turning over.)

I will keep you posted on how this new lofty goal turns out (well not so lofty because if it seemed hard I probably wouldn't be doing it). If you already do some green stuff yourself that I haven't mentioned I would love suggestions!

The truth about tailgating...

The truth is, tailgating is rather fun. As is true with anything that is fun, there are things that still end up being infuriating at some point. God love him, but when you are married to Seth fun things come with a certain level of mishaps that are truly out of his control...most of the time.

Let me back up. I am going to give you the really short version of an example. I mentioned that we kayaked down the Broad river over Labor day. There were 9 of us and it was a great day. However, in the process of this day Seth's oar mysteriously disappears. This oar, which was at least as tall as Seth, went missing after a rapid and never resurfaced (in water that is at best 4 feet high). In our frustrated discussion about the oar a man on the bank tells us he has another one. He lives on the river and finds oars all the time so he gives us one. As we near the end of the river the new oar suddenly snaps in half as Seth is trying to push off of a rock. Do you follow my drift? These types of situations follow Seth, and inadvertently me, around constantly.

SO, we are tailgating yesterday and as usual, some of us head toward a bar to watch the game in the AC. If you have ever been in Athens on game day it is glaringly apparent that the policing of alcohol consumption is non-existent on campus. People are seriously hammered everywhere you turn. There seems to be an imaginary line around campus where if you are inside the line you can be underage, have an open container, and be publicly intoxicated all in one breath if you like. I am not saying this should be changed...I'm just painting a picture. So we walk over this imaginary line somewhere between north campus and downtown Athens toting all of our crap. We are not hammered. Yes some have been drinking, but there is nothing illegal or inappropriate about us. Seth is pulling our cooler behind him and carrying an empty beer can in hopes of finding a garbage can as there were none when we crossed the line. One of those police officers who is so wonderfully protecting and serving the good people of Athens stops Seth and asks him for his ID. Seth says the can is empty and he is looking for a trash can (I can corraberate this) and the cop tells Seth he does not care that the can is empty, he points to trash can, and then he promptly gives Seth an open container ticket. Another cop walks up and proceeds to take the same approach with another person. So they are like vultures waiting on the downtown side of the imaginary line for anyone who can pay their salary and get a ticket....meaningful or not. Are they looking for underage drinkers? No. Are they looking for drunk drivers? NO. Are they paying attention when drunk parents tote their sweltering hot two-year-olds into a bar that is 21 and over? NOOOOOO. (Yes, I did see this happen). No, they are ticketing a guy like Seth who is trying not to litter like the rest of the freaking population of tailgaters. Way to go Athens-Clarke county police...you just made us feel SO much better about our safety. Not to mention, every cop I saw after this point was equally as useless. You know, holding up a light pole, NOT directing traffic, etc. etc. I realize it's stupid to complain about these types of situations because of course we will pay the ticket and move on. It just makes me feel better to spread the word and get it off my chest ;-)

Anyway, I was lazy and didn't take many pictures again - but here you have Seth's now turning green fingernail along with some other goofy pics...

Grace

Maybe that's what we should name a daughter we have someday. Maybe that way she will have a fighting chance of not becoming like her mother. I woke up at the magical time of 4:50 am yet again today to find myself walking directly into our bedroom armoire. I don't usually open my eyes until I have brushed my teeth. I am probably one of the grumpiest morning people around (except for maybe Kim - love you honey but we are both afflicted with severe bitchiness in the AM). So it was astonishing to me that upon running into the armoire full force (body, face, and all) that I burst out laughing. And truly it has made me giggle repeatedly all day long. I am laughing right now as I type because it just struck me that way (HA!). Of course groggy old Seth hadn't awoken to become his insanely chipper AM self yet, so he suddenly asks me what's so funny as my laughter in the dark is forcing him to take notice. I can't even stop laughing to tell him that my excuse for not going to the gym today could be that I was attacked by a piece of furniture. Man I hope this comes across as funny as it felt.

So we go to the gym. We have decided against the trainer for now because they cost more than we are willing to dish out. On the first machine I pull one of those awkward muscles next to my shoulder blade in my back. You know the one where it hurts to breathe and you wish someone would just make it pop or snap or go back to whichever way it is supposed to be so you can get on with life. Don't say it....dramatic I know. But truly the workout sucked from then on.

As if I don't already feel like a raging walking catastrophe, I wore heels to school today. Why after the armoire and the pulled muscle would I choose to wear shoes I haven't worn since last year and heels no less? I never wear heels. Ever since that so called marathon I ran my feet have denied anything that even looks higher than a flip flop. I mean my feet swell if I am in the car for an hour. So I make it most of the day without taking the shoes off even though I know there are blisters. I pack up what needs to be taken home in a crate and "worked on" over the weekend and I depart my learning cottage. As I take the step from the sidewalk to the parking lot the left foot falters ever so slightly to the left. Problem? It might not have been if the overflowing crate had been on my right hip. But the laws of gravity took hold and down I went. The crate and the contents of my purse are now scattered beside my car and I let out a very loud curse word. This wouldn't have been a problem if I wasn't in an elementary school parking lot. I do the quick look around to see if I've been spotted, I frantically gather my crap, and I get in my car in the hopes that no one saw or heard.

All in all, I am fine (I know you were worried). There may be some ego bruising and a lot of swelling around the afflicted ankle but I'll make it (assuming tomorrow I can avoid an actual major injury).

Upgrade?

So I am trying a new look here. I don't love it....so be prepared for it to change again. But the polka dots were becoming unnerving. I'm going for plain yet fashionable. Or you could say I am avoiding grading papers because I have never been fashionable. Whatever.

On a serious note, please say a little prayer tonight for my Aunt Linda. She has been struggling with colon cancer and has now found out it has spread to her liver. Seriously, if there were pictures in Webster's and you looked up the word aunt there would be a picture of her. I grew up eating her gourmet southern cooking, playing at her house, and believing whole-heartedly that when she said I was beautiful it must have been true. She has the biggest heart and the most amount of love I have ever come across in one person in my entire life. Her kids, my cousins, encompass the best parts of her and I can't even imagine how hard this is for them.

The word cancer has entered my conversations of late more often than I am ok with. My family members, family members of friends, friends of friends....too many. Every time there is another diagnosis I think maybe someday there will be a cure. So here's what I suggest. Send that out into the universe...if you hear the word cancer think the word cure....the power of positive thinking never hurt anyone right?

Meet Eric...

Sorry I have been a blogging slacker. With the holiday weekend and....well....I have no more excuses other than I'm tired. There was the football game debacle on Saturday where we ended up wandering downtown Athens because Comcast is conspiring against the state of Georgia and there was nowhere to watch the game. I finally cleaned the entire house on Sunday while Seth attacked the deck. AND, we kayaked the Broad river on Monday and I must say, it was much more of a kick in the rear end than I remember. This could be due to one of two things. #1 I am old and out of shape. #2 I wasn't drinking (can't teach hungover) so I cared more. In college we would go down the Broad all the time and it never dawned on me that beer made it easier. Anyway, Seth on the other hand didn't fair as well. I take that back - he probably wasn't as tired as me because he did drink, but he had some mishaps which I will let him explain because it's funnier that way. Seth you need to explain...people will want to know.

Anyway, we bailed on LA fitness yesterday morning because I believe that my arms got an insanely good workout on Monday. So today we had to show up. What is driving me still you might ask? I am going to be brutally honest. I am the only reason Seth and I go to the gym. Seth could sleep through 18 alarms. I drag us both out of bed for one reason (well there are other reasons but at 4:50am this is truly the only reason)....there is a parent of one of my students that we see there. If she notices that we aren't there it's like I have failed. If no one I knew saw me then no one would know if we didn't show up. SO - we go and I am telling you this was the hardest day yet. I had ZERO motivation, I was cranky as all get out, and I seriously wanted to slap someone. So a funny thing happens. About oh, I don't know, ten minutes before we would be done, a trainer for the place comes up and asks us about our routine. He was very nice and he asked if he could show us something. Our pace of a workout changed in the following ways:
# 1 less reps, two different machines at the same time (instead of him going, I watch, me going, he watches on the same machine - in other words, no down time)
# 2 Jana is on a pull up machine that she has never done before - I now owe Eric a home game football ticket that I don't have because I actually told him I couldn't do it
# 3 We are going so much faster and harder that we are both now sweating and gasping for air

The up side? I am awake now and ready to go to work....usually I spend the next hour getting ready trying to scheme a way to get back into the bed. SO, Seth and I are discussing having a chat with Eric and working out a deal where he shows us how to kick our own behinds and then we can do it right from there. It's not that the working out we have done so far is no good. It just seems that it needs a pick me up. I would have taken a picture of Eric to show you but I thought that would be a little assertive of me.