My Own Version of Freecycle

I love clothes...and shoes. But not just any clothes...really nice clothes ON SALE! You see, it's all a game with me. (Yes, I'm a little competitive.) Here's how it works. If I pay full price, "they" win. For every portion of a discount I get, I "get" more "points" and no they aren't real and you can't redeem them at any store that I know of. It's just a great feeling of satisfaction. I love that tickly feeling in my stomach as I realize there's an extra 10% off the redlines...or today is half off of half day...or coupon weekend at New York and Company.

I also have clothes I can't seem to part with. Now, let me say that I am not the same size I was just a few years ago. So, I have a collection of suits from Dillard's that I bought for at least 75% off...because I could...and they are mostly 1's and 3's. I am NOT a 1 nor a 3!

What to do. What to do.

So, I take 8 of them up to the school and the girls on my team played dress up and went home with new clothes for the upcoming national qualifier. I loved the look on their faces. They didn't even think it was geeky to like my old suit which are all in perfect condition, by the way.

Now that there's a little space in my closet...

Great News...I have a job next year.

Yeah, anyone reading that title will wonder what I've been up to. A job next year? Of course. Have I been shopping around for a new one? Nope. Oh, but read on.

So, I got one of those email messages that requested my presence at a meeting with a counselor and an AP to discuss a class I teach. Now, it's not a total surprise that it's up for discussion due to the 4X4 requirements for kids to graduate, but I'd been told recently that we weren't changing anything for next year.

Long story short (who me?), I was told the class was out to be replaced with another one. Wait. My baby? I birthed that class. I wrote all the curriculum FROM SCRATCH with no TEKS and no guidelines. But it's my baby. I've coddled it through collicky six weeks and countless bouts with vocabularyitis and freshmenitis. No, not my baby!!!!!!! Call CPS...this has to be abuse.

But that wasn't really the issue, was it? No, and if you know me, you know that it's not that I won't be teaching this FAB class next year. It's not even that my baby is being kidnapped and put out to pasture. Nope, it's that NO ONE TOLD ME!

Maintaining as much control as I could, I questioned #1 the length of time this had been in the works (a while) and #2 why I hadn't been told (we didn't want to upset you in case it didn't happen) while they professed their appreciation for me and that it hadn't been "hidden" from me (see answer to question #2).

I barely made it back to my room before bursting into tears. I sobbed to the Honey. I sobbed to the friends. I sobbed to my laptop. And then I dried my tears, put on fresh makeup and got ready to spend the evening recruiting 8th graders for next year.

Hey, I'll just focus on my team next year and kick everyone's tail...and teach that other class with my eyes closed. At the recruitment for the FIRST time ever, kids were looking FOR US!!

The upside? They did say I had a job next year.

Duh!

Got Coffee? Maybe now you will!

Here's a link to try to win a fab Keurig coffee brewer. I hope you don't win....I want to win REALLY, REALLY badly.

Warning...Open Heart Below!

So, I don't blog nearly enough. Oh, I have lots to say, but I feel inadequate when I don't have pictures like everybody else. Like in junior high...when I didn't have the coolest jeans because I was so skinny my mom had to put darts in my pants and they were still highwaters. Or in high school when I didn't have, well, boobs. (Note: that problem is solved).


I also have a really hard time but Just Say Julie says I make Lemonade out of Lemons so I must have something going for me. Because Just Say Jule says so. I'd do what she said to do with it but I can't figure out how.

So, anyway, this speaks to one of my biggest struggles...believing I'm "good enough" for... whatever. I suppose many people who know me are surprised to find that out, but it's ever so true. Part of it is perfectionism and part of it are esteem issues that most people deal with.

How do I battle it? My friends are my support system. My Honey is priceless. My Pumpkin is living proof that I did something right. And my God...he sent his Son to save me because I at once was good enough for him to want me and not good enough to do it on my own.

Looking Fine in 09

I have decided that this year will be about feeling and looking fine (last year was Feeling/Looking Great in 08) so I am going to focus on the inside and outside and it begins with

MY Wii and Wii Fit!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's MINE! All MINE!!!! My Honey searched high and low and bought one of the first ones that hit the city after Christmas. I heart my Wii and Wii Fit! By the time we go on vacation this summer, I should be looking great! Hey, I can dream! And who knew I'd love yoga? I sleep better and feel better. Wow!

I have once again cut out as must sugar as possible. Splenda is my best friend. I have also found ONE diet soda that I can tolerate...even like if I forget it's diet...Diet Barq's Root Beer. Yum!

I did a two-week detox that pretty much worked like a brillo pad on my insides. I must have had a ton of junk plastering my insides because I KNOW I wasn't eating THAT much.

• I need a creative outlet so I'm pledging to blog three times a week. I will warn you that one blog will be about something on my heart as my faith is an incredibly huge part of who I am and I've neglected that part of me having an outlet for far too long.
• I am going to devote one night a week to have a devotional time with the Pumpkin. I've only got two plus years left with her before college and I'm storing up the memories now.
• I will do something with "my girls" once a month. February will be Ladies Night at Quiggly's Clay House. There is a softball game, but my friends have convinced me I won't die if I miss one.
• I will do something spoiling for my Honey once a week...foot rub, special dessert, whatever. He is amazing and supportive of me and my career (yes, teachers can have "careers") which is changing and challenging all the time...just one reason I don't get to blog enough.
• I will finish one chapter a month on the book I've been writing for longer than I'm willing to admit.

Hold me to it guys. I'm counting on you.

And for those of you keeping up with the Pumpkin's love life...the four-month "relationship" came to an end when she chose her integrity...not easy for someone her age. I am so proud of her. She so seldom bends to peer pressure and she is so comfortable in her skin most of the time. I wish I'd been like that.

Til next time!

I'm BAAAAACK!

Lookie here. I am still around. Barely. But I'm back with a vegeance! New year, new motivation, new me.

I have decided this post is going to be one heck of a post and I'm resolved to be a better blogger! Please hold me accountable.

So here goes.

First, let's catch up. My last post was in November. Isn't that a shame? Well, since then, I've had quite a life. In November, Nikki went to visit her dad and Stephen and I had Keri and Jason over for lunch. Food for TWELVE and FOUR of us dining. More on that later. We stuffed ourselves with stuffing and had turkey and ham. That's a must with me.
December flew by with taking my kids to the International Student Congress competition. We took home some bling...top Presiding Officer, Best Costume country AND individual. Ah, I love to get bling.

Nikki went to her dad's for the whole holiday (am I not the most generous ex?) and Stephen and I headed out to Ruidoso, New Mexico, via Lubbock. We stayed in a beautiful B&B lodge that is now a must visit again.

Here we are heading out on day one...first stop, Braum's for breakfast!

And, of course, I let Honey drive while I enjoy a great book. This is one of the Private series Pumpkin is reading.

The Black Bear Lodge is a great place to go. It's exclusively for couples...NO KIDS! The living area is great for sitting in front of the fire sipping freshly brewed coffee and nibbling on freshly-baked cookies.

There are four rooms and each is absolutely huge and cozy
at the same time with a jacuzzi tub and gas heater that makes a relaxing hissing sound making the room toasty.

It was COLD! It didn't snow while we were there, but we went up the mountain to Ski Apache and there was some snow there. We didn't ski, but we did drink hot cocoa on the terrace of the lodge...close enough!

On the way back, we stopped in Roswell, NM, and I found someone to make Honey jealous! Hee Hee

Next Post...not New Year's Resolutions...just what I'm going to do differently this year. Last year was "Feeling Great in 08" and this year is "Looking Fine in 09" so stay tuned!