So much for making good progress on our laminate floor project. Tonight as we were working, we decided we had made some errors in putting together the first rows, so....we took it all apart. We're now where we were Sunday morning. The tension was palpable and for a few moments I thought Hubby might lose it. But, it passed and we started singing "If I Had A Hammer" only changing the words to fit our circumstances. The girls looked at us like we were crazy (and maybe that's the secret to doing home improvement projects together...don't take it too seriously). But with the song, and some laughter the tense moments passed and we are still speaking to each other.
Hubby spent an hour on the phone with our wireless provider trying to get a $260 charge removed. Someone ordered a phone on our account and had it delivered to Indiana. We've been working this problem for about 2 months. We were told, yet again, that it would all be taken care of, but somehow it keeps reappearing on our phone bill.
I'm happy for the rain we've been getting every night the past week. Our lawn is green (even if most of it is weeds) and my rose bushes are healthy.
I can't believe it's already July. My summer is flying by. It won't be long before we're taking the Singer up to Belmont Abbey. I'm reading a book about mother-daughter relationships and it addresses the fact that our society holds fast to the myth of perfect mother love. And that this is detremental to both mothers and daughters. Somehow, mothers aren't suppose to have conflicting feelings towards their daughters. Well, I've got plenty of conflicting feelings towards my daughter, just as I have contradictory feelings towards my husband, my friends, my siblings, etc. Relationships, by nature, involve ups and downs, and as a relationship involves two flawed people, I figure having more positive feelings than negative is doing pretty darn good.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Laminate Flooring
Back at the library, but only 2 times this week :-)
Hubby and I have made great progress on our laminate flooring project, but are not finished. With Hubby having to work, we won't finish until Saturday. But what's done looks pretty good. I've waited a long time for this and I can't wait until it's completed and I can sit back and enjoy it. We were talking last night, and the Imp offered her assistance this week and suggested she and I could make significant progress during the week. This would involve one of using the electric saw. Hubby commented that we hadn't been "checked out" on that equipment and the Imp replied, "What? You turn it one and cut. How hard can that be?" At which point Hubby turned to me and said, "Don't let her go near it!"
Trying to plan for next school year. Teaching once a week with lots of independent learning requires a different approach than conventional classroom teaching. But I'm excited for it. I'm also looking forward to utilizing the internet more. I'm thinking of having work sent to me the day before class, so I can simply go over what there is confusion on and then have some sort of activity, instead of going over the questions everyone 'got'.
Hubby and I have made great progress on our laminate flooring project, but are not finished. With Hubby having to work, we won't finish until Saturday. But what's done looks pretty good. I've waited a long time for this and I can't wait until it's completed and I can sit back and enjoy it. We were talking last night, and the Imp offered her assistance this week and suggested she and I could make significant progress during the week. This would involve one of using the electric saw. Hubby commented that we hadn't been "checked out" on that equipment and the Imp replied, "What? You turn it one and cut. How hard can that be?" At which point Hubby turned to me and said, "Don't let her go near it!"
Trying to plan for next school year. Teaching once a week with lots of independent learning requires a different approach than conventional classroom teaching. But I'm excited for it. I'm also looking forward to utilizing the internet more. I'm thinking of having work sent to me the day before class, so I can simply go over what there is confusion on and then have some sort of activity, instead of going over the questions everyone 'got'.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Singer's 20th
The Singer at 1
Celebrating her 2nd Birthday with her cousin.
As Belle, on her 5th Birthday
As Barbie, on her 7th Birthday
At 16
The Singer turns 20 today. I can't believe it. I got up early and made her some beignets from the mix from Cafe du Monde.
Although, nothing compares to the fresh beignets made at Cafe du Monde, in New Orleans. Those are simply heavenly.
She was super excited. We aren't really celebrating her birthday until Sunday due various social conflicts, and even then it may be a small celebration due to the laminate project, but that's okay, there have been many years where she's had numerous birthday celebrations. If we've been with extended family (which we often are) around her birthday, they always give her a cake and presents. And she traditionally has a party for her friends and then a separate get-together with her in-town cousins.
I feel great contentment over the Singer transferring to Belmont Abbey and in so many ways she's growing/grown up, but in her day-to-day dealings with her immediate family she is still very much a teenager wanting lots of privileges with little or no responsibilities. If she successfully completes her tasks (chores) for 4 days in a row and then totally ignores her responsibilities on the 5th day, she gets the "I can't believe how unreasonable my parents can be but I can't talk back" look on her face and says in a saccharine sweet tone, "Yes ma'am, I'll make sure I do that." then proceeds to NOT do it. UUGGGHH. This isn't a dorm, this isn't simply a place to stay...this is home and being part of a home requires a certain amount of GIVE not just take. The Imp has suffered the most, as I see the Singer taken advantage of her. The Imp doesn't want to see the Singer get into trouble and has picked up the Singer's chores on more than one occasion, and has tried to warn the Singer of impending catastrophe. The Singer seems very unappreciative.
Back in January, the Singer's plan was to be in an apartment now. I was so for that. In some ways she is too old to be 'parented' but I won't let her live here as a simple boarder. I know she thinks she should be able to do whatever she wants...last summer was rough around the edges, this summer is better simply because her work schedule has her sleeping and waking during normal hours. I know, August 19th will be here before I know it and with her in NC instead of across town, I will miss her. But I'm complaining, anyway.
My garden is not in good shape. I'm still pulling a few onions, and my green peppers look okay, but I got cucumber worms and the heat and sun are doing their damage. So I'll harvest what I still can, but then am waiting until mid July to start seeds for a fall crop of cukes and beans and more peppers and lettuce and new onions and potatoes.
Celebrating her 2nd Birthday with her cousin.
As Belle, on her 5th Birthday
As Barbie, on her 7th Birthday
At 16
The Singer turns 20 today. I can't believe it. I got up early and made her some beignets from the mix from Cafe du Monde.
Although, nothing compares to the fresh beignets made at Cafe du Monde, in New Orleans. Those are simply heavenly.
She was super excited. We aren't really celebrating her birthday until Sunday due various social conflicts, and even then it may be a small celebration due to the laminate project, but that's okay, there have been many years where she's had numerous birthday celebrations. If we've been with extended family (which we often are) around her birthday, they always give her a cake and presents. And she traditionally has a party for her friends and then a separate get-together with her in-town cousins.
I feel great contentment over the Singer transferring to Belmont Abbey and in so many ways she's growing/grown up, but in her day-to-day dealings with her immediate family she is still very much a teenager wanting lots of privileges with little or no responsibilities. If she successfully completes her tasks (chores) for 4 days in a row and then totally ignores her responsibilities on the 5th day, she gets the "I can't believe how unreasonable my parents can be but I can't talk back" look on her face and says in a saccharine sweet tone, "Yes ma'am, I'll make sure I do that." then proceeds to NOT do it. UUGGGHH. This isn't a dorm, this isn't simply a place to stay...this is home and being part of a home requires a certain amount of GIVE not just take. The Imp has suffered the most, as I see the Singer taken advantage of her. The Imp doesn't want to see the Singer get into trouble and has picked up the Singer's chores on more than one occasion, and has tried to warn the Singer of impending catastrophe. The Singer seems very unappreciative.
Back in January, the Singer's plan was to be in an apartment now. I was so for that. In some ways she is too old to be 'parented' but I won't let her live here as a simple boarder. I know she thinks she should be able to do whatever she wants...last summer was rough around the edges, this summer is better simply because her work schedule has her sleeping and waking during normal hours. I know, August 19th will be here before I know it and with her in NC instead of across town, I will miss her. But I'm complaining, anyway.
My garden is not in good shape. I'm still pulling a few onions, and my green peppers look okay, but I got cucumber worms and the heat and sun are doing their damage. So I'll harvest what I still can, but then am waiting until mid July to start seeds for a fall crop of cukes and beans and more peppers and lettuce and new onions and potatoes.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Contents Under Pressure May Burst
A science lesson up close and personal. The Imp and I were putting cans of coke into the refrigerator and 2 were knock over and began rolling to the edge...I grabbed one and tried to yell to the Imp to get the other, but before I could form coherent words...wishing she could interpret my, "aahghh, ahhgha, aaahhhh" to mean, "Grab it!"...the can rolled onto the tile floor. And yes, it exploded. Quite impressively. The Imp found the whole thing interesting and amusing. Me? Much less so. I was spared the full impact of the explosion, as I was on the other side of the counter. But the explosion was rather impressive. Coke splattered on the wall 15 feet away! I took about an hour to wash everything down. I mused, "I guess this is a sign to stop drinking coke." And the Imp quickly told me she didn't see that message in the event. She thought it was a message to not sweat the small stuff and relax and laugh. We did have a few laughs as we were cleaning and she was a trooper in helping get rid of the sticky stuff. She kept the can. [It looks so cool.]
Hubby and I are taking the laminate plunge this weekend. We purchased the 300sq ft of laminate that we need and are letting it acclimate in our home so we can install it Saturday. The idea being that even if everything goes wrong we should be finished by the end of the July 4th weekend. Of course, I'm hoping for a much quicker completion date. Our house isn't really big enough to move the furniture out of the living room without impacting every other room of the house. With the Singer home from college already using any available storage space, it will not be comfortable to be in the house until we can move the furniture back in the room. As the couch has to camp out in the kitchen during this process, I was very thankful it wasn't already in the kitchen when we had the coke explosion.
I started teaching a crochet summer class. Just 4 weeks...a true intro class. I had 5 little girls (10-15 years old...they wouldn't appreciate the terminology) yesterday and I enjoyed myself immensely. I may have to start a crafts club for the school year with the homeschooling group. It really is fun.
Hubby and I are taking the laminate plunge this weekend. We purchased the 300sq ft of laminate that we need and are letting it acclimate in our home so we can install it Saturday. The idea being that even if everything goes wrong we should be finished by the end of the July 4th weekend. Of course, I'm hoping for a much quicker completion date. Our house isn't really big enough to move the furniture out of the living room without impacting every other room of the house. With the Singer home from college already using any available storage space, it will not be comfortable to be in the house until we can move the furniture back in the room. As the couch has to camp out in the kitchen during this process, I was very thankful it wasn't already in the kitchen when we had the coke explosion.
I started teaching a crochet summer class. Just 4 weeks...a true intro class. I had 5 little girls (10-15 years old...they wouldn't appreciate the terminology) yesterday and I enjoyed myself immensely. I may have to start a crafts club for the school year with the homeschooling group. It really is fun.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Father's Day
Father's Day was great! The girls made another T-shirt for Hubby. They've made about 10 shirts in the last 15 years. This one was exceptionally cute. I love the back, "Guiding Our Footsteps Since..." The first shirt they made in 1995 had their handprints all over the front (but the handprints were so much smaller).
Hubby always has "world peace" as an item on his wish lists. It drives the Imp crazy because she hates that she feels an item is unattainable. So...this is what she gave him..
Hubby said that was his favorite gift. He is quite the punster so he loved that part of it. But there is also the fact that he and the Imp share a connection over the Veggie Tales' French Peas
The French Peas
The French Peas tend to play roles where they are enemies or are running things behind the scenes. They are small green peas. They do not quite understand instructions perfectly. The main two peas are Jean Claude and Phillippe, who are voiced by Mike Nawrocki and Phil Vischer, respectively. They also voice the others peas, except for Christophee Pea who is voiced by Chris Olsen.
So if you look real close you can see that the Imp named her peas with French (sort of) names. It was definitely a feel-good time.
Then after presents we went to see Toy Story 3. It was great! I'd go see it again (if it weren't for the sticker shock at the theaters.. We all agreed we need to purchase it for our DVD library when it's released. I've always been a fan of the Toy Story characters...I still am.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Back at the Library
I'm back at the library, but fortunately only until 2 pm today. I've managed to get a little work done, but have spent most of my time looking at laminate flooring online. I think Hubby is going to be going to home improvement stores for Father's Day. We need to make a decision and get going on this. The worst part of the whole process is moving the furniture out of the family room so we can do the work. I'm sure ripping up the old carpet won't be pleasant, either. I did find neat online resources through the library site and am looking forward to using them in the future.
I spent time yesterday reading old posts on The Happiness Project. It's fun to look at lists/hints/tips of others. I almost always find exceptions with at least some of them. At home, I talk back to the computer but here in the library I must remain quiet. Gretchen, at the Happiness Project, is an advocate of de-cluttering, and so am I. But I am also a person of moderation. De-cluttering does not mean never having anything out in the house. She talks about putting away small appliances (coffee pot, toaster) so de-clutter your counter. I leave them out to simplify my life. A tip to decluttering is to avoid souvenirs when travelling. But if I have a shell for souvenirs, then why not? Avoiding souvenirs that you don't already have a place for in the house...got it. I'm sure my the outside of my refrigerator drives my OCD and clutter-free friends crazy. It is covered with magnets (lots of business card/advertisements) so it's not a 'clean' look and then I have all sorts of important papers held up by those magnets. I do 'clean' the outside of my refrigerator and throw out out-dated stuff, but have the girls' schedules, my Jo Ann's coupons and the Rays' schedule so easily accessible is very important to me. When is stuff too much stuff? I don't know...I'll know it when I see it...in someone else's house. I have been trying to simply/downsize. We really don't have much storage room in my house. No basement and no real attic (very few things can survive a Florida summer in an attic). So I am forced to limit my stuff to a degree. I know I'll never be like the people on hoarders who climb over stacks of trash to get through their homes. The hardest thing for me to part with is a book. The Imp is the same way. I was in her room the other day (usually her room is primarily her domain) and I noticed she had a stack of books on her dresser...at least 3 feet high...no exaggeration. I told her she needed to put some of them away on one of her 2 bookshelves. She told me there was no room. I told her she needed to weed through some books. She doesn't know how to get rid of books. Having me as her mom doesn't help. But the 2 of us will be going through her books next week. I just got rid of 2 boxes of books. I let my friends rummage through them then give them to the library.
I wish I could stay home tonight. But Hubby and I have our marriage ministry group tonight. Once there I'll be fine and have a good time, but after 1 1/2 years of running the meetings, I'm ready for someone else to step up, but I know there isn't anyone who will. I think it's an important ministry, so Hubby and I will continue for a while longer, at least. When we started out we said we'd do it for 2 years. 2 years is up in February. We're both disappointed that it hasn't drawn more people. I guess lots of people see their marriage that as something that just IS, and not something that needs nourishing. Oh well.
I spent time yesterday reading old posts on The Happiness Project. It's fun to look at lists/hints/tips of others. I almost always find exceptions with at least some of them. At home, I talk back to the computer but here in the library I must remain quiet. Gretchen, at the Happiness Project, is an advocate of de-cluttering, and so am I. But I am also a person of moderation. De-cluttering does not mean never having anything out in the house. She talks about putting away small appliances (coffee pot, toaster) so de-clutter your counter. I leave them out to simplify my life. A tip to decluttering is to avoid souvenirs when travelling. But if I have a shell for souvenirs, then why not? Avoiding souvenirs that you don't already have a place for in the house...got it. I'm sure my the outside of my refrigerator drives my OCD and clutter-free friends crazy. It is covered with magnets (lots of business card/advertisements) so it's not a 'clean' look and then I have all sorts of important papers held up by those magnets. I do 'clean' the outside of my refrigerator and throw out out-dated stuff, but have the girls' schedules, my Jo Ann's coupons and the Rays' schedule so easily accessible is very important to me. When is stuff too much stuff? I don't know...I'll know it when I see it...in someone else's house. I have been trying to simply/downsize. We really don't have much storage room in my house. No basement and no real attic (very few things can survive a Florida summer in an attic). So I am forced to limit my stuff to a degree. I know I'll never be like the people on hoarders who climb over stacks of trash to get through their homes. The hardest thing for me to part with is a book. The Imp is the same way. I was in her room the other day (usually her room is primarily her domain) and I noticed she had a stack of books on her dresser...at least 3 feet high...no exaggeration. I told her she needed to put some of them away on one of her 2 bookshelves. She told me there was no room. I told her she needed to weed through some books. She doesn't know how to get rid of books. Having me as her mom doesn't help. But the 2 of us will be going through her books next week. I just got rid of 2 boxes of books. I let my friends rummage through them then give them to the library.
I wish I could stay home tonight. But Hubby and I have our marriage ministry group tonight. Once there I'll be fine and have a good time, but after 1 1/2 years of running the meetings, I'm ready for someone else to step up, but I know there isn't anyone who will. I think it's an important ministry, so Hubby and I will continue for a while longer, at least. When we started out we said we'd do it for 2 years. 2 years is up in February. We're both disappointed that it hasn't drawn more people. I guess lots of people see their marriage that as something that just IS, and not something that needs nourishing. Oh well.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Staking Claim at the Library
Well, I've made my claim on the carrel in the back corner of the library. A teenage boy had his i-pod music so loud I could hear his music over the music from my ipod. Guess he won't hear much in the future. The librarians are pretty good here, and someone came over to have him turn it down before I could finish my internal debate on how loud was too loud. This library is not large and older...so there are limited number of outlets (our new library in Town and Country has outlets everywhere for us laptop users) and claiming a carrel with an outlet is a feat. I got my Bible Study done and since I'm a prisoner of sorts here, I spent more time searching background material than I normally would. I learned quite a bit about the Pharisees.
I'm trying to figure out how to handle the Imp's work schedule. When we gave the okay to work with the iWait program, we were naively unaware that she would have to get to Plant City every day she worked. Ugh. I'm sure I'll get more of my planning done for next year's classes than I would have, but it really takes the low-key approach to the summer away. Fortunately, she doesn't work 5 days a week, so we'll have one day that we can not wake up and hustle out the door with me having to pack a lunch and a book bag filled with things to keep me occupied for 7 hours. I wouldn't mind doing some shopping...but I don't want to spend money and if I spend hours shopping, I know my resolve with not last. There are some antique shops in historic Plant City (right here) that I might meander through. Not much temptation of buying there....most is too expensive and doesn't match the decor of my house. And I use the word 'decor' liberally. I like my house...it definitely has the lived in feel to it. No one would feel like they'd walked into a magazine layout.
Even though the Singer is home this summer, it seems I rarely see her. She's working from 8-5 about 45 mins from home and she's started stopping at the gym to swim on her way home. So she's getting home around 7 or 8 each evening, and is gone by 7 the next day. I guess we'll all get to see each other this weekend for Father's Day. I think we'll go see Toy Story 3 on Sunday...maybe Karate Kid. Then Hubby wants me to make bacon-burger-cheese-dogs for him. You take a hot dog, split it down the middle and put in some cheddar cheese, then form ground beef around the dog, then wrap 2 pieces of bacon around it. Throw it on the grill, and you've got a dinner only a guy would want. We were telling some other people about this, and the women all said..aaahhh a little too much, and all the guys said "Oh I want that, too." Go figure. It's his day, so I'll make them and he'll grill them...
The Singer's birthday is next Friday. She's turning 20...a big deal because she's no longer a teen, but not really any milestone. Don't know yet what we're doing for her birthday. Guess I'll spend my afternoon planning her birthday.
I'm trying to figure out how to handle the Imp's work schedule. When we gave the okay to work with the iWait program, we were naively unaware that she would have to get to Plant City every day she worked. Ugh. I'm sure I'll get more of my planning done for next year's classes than I would have, but it really takes the low-key approach to the summer away. Fortunately, she doesn't work 5 days a week, so we'll have one day that we can not wake up and hustle out the door with me having to pack a lunch and a book bag filled with things to keep me occupied for 7 hours. I wouldn't mind doing some shopping...but I don't want to spend money and if I spend hours shopping, I know my resolve with not last. There are some antique shops in historic Plant City (right here) that I might meander through. Not much temptation of buying there....most is too expensive and doesn't match the decor of my house. And I use the word 'decor' liberally. I like my house...it definitely has the lived in feel to it. No one would feel like they'd walked into a magazine layout.
Even though the Singer is home this summer, it seems I rarely see her. She's working from 8-5 about 45 mins from home and she's started stopping at the gym to swim on her way home. So she's getting home around 7 or 8 each evening, and is gone by 7 the next day. I guess we'll all get to see each other this weekend for Father's Day. I think we'll go see Toy Story 3 on Sunday...maybe Karate Kid. Then Hubby wants me to make bacon-burger-cheese-dogs for him. You take a hot dog, split it down the middle and put in some cheddar cheese, then form ground beef around the dog, then wrap 2 pieces of bacon around it. Throw it on the grill, and you've got a dinner only a guy would want. We were telling some other people about this, and the women all said..aaahhh a little too much, and all the guys said "Oh I want that, too." Go figure. It's his day, so I'll make them and he'll grill them...
The Singer's birthday is next Friday. She's turning 20...a big deal because she's no longer a teen, but not really any milestone. Don't know yet what we're doing for her birthday. Guess I'll spend my afternoon planning her birthday.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Ballroom Dancing
Last night was a blast! Hubby and I took our 3rd class in ballroom dancing and we were actually dancing! It was fabulous. And more of a workout than it sounds. And we were complimented by the instructor...she asked if we'd taken classes before because we picked up the dances so well. Yea. I can't wait to go back again next week.
I'm reading a couple of different books right now, and they're all good. Two that are especially intriguing and thought provoking are
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink and Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. Here's a great summary of Drive on Youtube. Drive has me thinking of how to run my homeschool courses next year. I'll be teaching High School Geography, Government and Economics. It's a unique situation as I only meet with the student for 50 minutes a week. So much of the work is already done on their own. But, the gears in my mind are churning and I'm getting excited for the school year. Back to Virtue has me thinking about soooo much. Here's a quote, "We have reduced all virtues to one: being nice. And, we measure Jesus by our standard instead of measuring our standard by Him." The whole idea that today people spend more time than ever before in history TALKING about ethics and doing the right thing, but little time in pursuit of virtues or Truth. In fact, many today don't believe in an objective Truth but that Truth (hence right and wrong) are subjective. Anyway it is quite interesting.
The Imp has a summer job working with the iWait group, going around to Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCA summer camps to put on skits and such about abstaining from sex and drugs. I think she's perfect for the job and the varied structure of the job is perfect for her. The training is this week...32 miles from home. So I find myself sitting in the library not far from her training. Yesterday I worked on the scope and sequence of my government course and realized I need to learn more about the history of Florida before I try to teach about its government (state government is only 1 part of one unit and there are 15 units, but still...I hate not knowing some depth to what I'm teaching). Today I've been reading Drive and playing with my blog and searching for good swing music to download so Hubby and I can dance at home.
While surfing around on Daniel Pink's site, I came across the Happiness Project, and got caught up in reading many of her posts. In some ways it ties in with something Cindy mentioned in her post the other day about a woman making a new piece of clothing from an old dress each day for a year. Her budget for the year only $365. If you've got some time, it's fun...not near as 'heavy' as the other things I've mentioned thus far. If you sew, you should definitely take a look.
I'm also gearing up to teach a crafts course this summer. 3 weeks of intro to crochet and 3 weeks of intro to knititng with a "catch up week" at the end (no new material...just trying to finish projects). I'm pretty excited about that, too. Although, since I'm mainly self-taught in these I am spending some time online making sure my technique won't teach my students any bad habits.
I was telling Hubby the other night how it was kind of nice that we had no real summer plans and that I was looking forward to just staying home. He then told me he thought we should finally replace our living room carpet with laminate. I'm super excited to have it done, less excited about the actual doing. We're trying to get it done within the next month. (We have our couples group to our house the 3rd week of July). So I've also been spending time researching laminate flooring. Any advice is welcomed, although not necessarily heeded.
I'm reading a couple of different books right now, and they're all good. Two that are especially intriguing and thought provoking are
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink and Back to Virtue by Peter Kreeft. Here's a great summary of Drive on Youtube. Drive has me thinking of how to run my homeschool courses next year. I'll be teaching High School Geography, Government and Economics. It's a unique situation as I only meet with the student for 50 minutes a week. So much of the work is already done on their own. But, the gears in my mind are churning and I'm getting excited for the school year. Back to Virtue has me thinking about soooo much. Here's a quote, "We have reduced all virtues to one: being nice. And, we measure Jesus by our standard instead of measuring our standard by Him." The whole idea that today people spend more time than ever before in history TALKING about ethics and doing the right thing, but little time in pursuit of virtues or Truth. In fact, many today don't believe in an objective Truth but that Truth (hence right and wrong) are subjective. Anyway it is quite interesting.
The Imp has a summer job working with the iWait group, going around to Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCA summer camps to put on skits and such about abstaining from sex and drugs. I think she's perfect for the job and the varied structure of the job is perfect for her. The training is this week...32 miles from home. So I find myself sitting in the library not far from her training. Yesterday I worked on the scope and sequence of my government course and realized I need to learn more about the history of Florida before I try to teach about its government (state government is only 1 part of one unit and there are 15 units, but still...I hate not knowing some depth to what I'm teaching). Today I've been reading Drive and playing with my blog and searching for good swing music to download so Hubby and I can dance at home.
While surfing around on Daniel Pink's site, I came across the Happiness Project, and got caught up in reading many of her posts. In some ways it ties in with something Cindy mentioned in her post the other day about a woman making a new piece of clothing from an old dress each day for a year. Her budget for the year only $365. If you've got some time, it's fun...not near as 'heavy' as the other things I've mentioned thus far. If you sew, you should definitely take a look.
I'm also gearing up to teach a crafts course this summer. 3 weeks of intro to crochet and 3 weeks of intro to knititng with a "catch up week" at the end (no new material...just trying to finish projects). I'm pretty excited about that, too. Although, since I'm mainly self-taught in these I am spending some time online making sure my technique won't teach my students any bad habits.
I was telling Hubby the other night how it was kind of nice that we had no real summer plans and that I was looking forward to just staying home. He then told me he thought we should finally replace our living room carpet with laminate. I'm super excited to have it done, less excited about the actual doing. We're trying to get it done within the next month. (We have our couples group to our house the 3rd week of July). So I've also been spending time researching laminate flooring. Any advice is welcomed, although not necessarily heeded.
Monday, June 07, 2010
memorial day weekend
Our trip over Memorial Day Weekend was fun and packed with activity. We got to Sumter on Saturday afternoon. Got to see Kevin and Lauren (and meet Patrick) and my mom and dad. Brian's boys were spending the weekend with my parents so we had fun with them, too. Sunday we drove the boys home and got to spend Monday and Tuesday with Brian and Tracy. The rain tried to put a damper on things, but couldn't. Tuesday we toured Belmont Abbey and it was absolutely gorgeous. The student who was our guide said he'd try to keep us in the shade as it was so hot. We all laughed. It was beautiful...about 86, sunny and not too humid. Arriving back in Tampa, we have mid 90's and humidity so high you can cut it. The school is obviously small. Only 1400 students. Compared to USF's 40,000+ it's bite-sized, but it felt like a perfect match for Megan. Now if she can just get her transfer credits situated. Enjoy the pics.
Pictures from Sumter
Pictures from North Carolina
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
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