Haven't had enough of the election process? Anxious for more details and predictions? Your wish is this website's desire.

http://www.change.gov/

It's the transition website for President-elect Obama. You can send them your election day memory or your wish for the country. You can research all the appointees and all the agenda items. You can even apply for a job! Hook me up. I'm thinking assistant to the speech writer for Obama. That guy's got talent!

If I'm hired, you can all come visit.

Stephen Turns 45...Well, Not Really!

I had the bright idea to throw Stephen a surprise birthday party. It all began 5 years ago when he turned 40. I just couldn't get it together. 50 seems such a long way off so I could not resist 45!
So I invited a few friends (he'd want it small) and began to plan. Wow. I don't think I've slept. Here's why. Stephen checks our bank account at least once a day. How was I supposed to pay for anything?

I ordered him a neat photo book of scenery pictures from our last two vacations, paid for it with a credit card and had it sent to a friend's house. Solved? NOPE! He found the email that confirmed shipping! I had to lie and say his mother wanted one because I didn't know it had the mailing name and address on it. I quickly lied again (not my specialty) and said she'd lost her card. Well, she did melt it in the dryer!

I bought the party supplies Friday night but forgot and put it on the debit card. Well, it is a weekend, right? Wrong. Sunday morning I'm greeted with, "So, what'd you get at Party City?" Ah, another lie coming...."Um, it's for our tournament." Safe? Hardly! Hours later he asked again exactly what I'd bought. Grrrrrr.

And then the day comes. I manage to get out of the house, fill my trunk with the goodies with one partner in crime while another partner called with a "flat tire" to use the whole damsel in distress ploy to get him out. What happens? Two guests arrive early and RING THE DOORBELL! Are you kidding me?

Ah, well, here he is enjoying his gifts fit for an old man. It was a success and I'll never forget the look on his face when he took me aside and said in his most romantic voice, "So, how much did this cost?"

Not really. He asked that second!

Sooooo Tiiirrrreeeeddddd

I'm too tired to post. I'd put a picture but that seems like a lot of effort right now. Maybe later.

Sooo

...sleepy...

...must grade papers...

....zzzzzzz

Late is Better Than Never

So Stephen and I celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary on Tuesday, September 2. A school day. A LONG school day as Nikki had volleyball until almost 10. I'm beginning to think there is no other kind of day BUT a long one.

Anyway, after a long weekend of debate tournaments at Naaman Forest and then softball tournaments at Hurst along with Nik's first date to the movies with her new beau (yep, the other one didn't last...something about his being too clingy), Stephen and I decided to get all spiffed up and have our anniversary dinner.

Oh, please. The best we could do is a wonderful dinner at Mi Cocina followed by a tanning session because our money was almost used up in that account (yep, bad for you but a burn in Mexico would have been worse) and finally, dessert at Sonic...love those .99 jr. banana splits.

These pictures should have been taken before, but no. He was in the car with the motor running so they are after when I'm on my sugar high. My body just doesn't know what to do with the real thing anymore.

The First Day of School

OK, I guess it's the "first" first day of school. Teachers in our district go back tomorrow.

What to wear? What to wear? Colleen, on this one, you and I are two of a kind!

Do I venture out and wear those cute, new dressy shorts I just got? Or stick with the standard dark jeans and sparkly wedge sandals that are really flip flops but who cares? Maybe some capris to split the difference.

The jeans win. It's not every day that I get to wear jeans to work so when I can, I DO! No school spirit shirt for me. I just got a cute sleeveless babydoll sweater that gradually changes from hot pink to rust. Gold wedge "sandals" and I'm all set.

I'd take a picture of my clothes all laid out...but it's past my bedtime.

Nighty Night!

Darn Those Olympics

The Olympics are killing me.

You see, I have a sickness. Once I start something, whether it's a book, a movie or a dinner, I MUST finish it.

So, I drag myself home from teaching teachers all day when school doesn't even start until next week with more meetings that I can't wait to attend AND waiting for Nik's practice or games to be over so it's really late, I flip on the tube and immerse myself in USA pride, gold medal glitter and talented individuals that make me feel inadequate on so many levels. Good times.

And by the time I realize what I've done, what trap I've not only allowed myself to get into but actually created myself, it's too late.

Do you know what time the Olympics go off? Nope. Not midnight. NEVER! They are ALWAYS on some channel and I've got 'em all.

Softball at midnight. Boxing in the afternoon. Recaps of everything all the time.

I'm sleepy, but I can't sleep. Michael Phelps might win another gold and frankly, I want to be a part of that history. It's vicarious living that's getting me through the days right now.

Where have I been?

1. The Good News: Nik's team competed in the 16U B Southern Nationals Softball tournament held in Garland. They were the host team, something of a courtesy invitation. Hmmm. Someone forgot to tell them that. This spunky little team, mostly girls who are 93s, went out there and placed THIRD! Can you believe it? So, that means I spent most of last week sitting in 100+ degree heat while she played in it. But, boy did she play. She had multiple doubles and RBIs, her base running was flawless and her fielding was good. The best part was her Uncle Kerry got to watch every single game. The other parents started calling him the good luck charm. Oh, and the BF got to watch some, too. She played best when he was there...he should definitely show up more often.