Thursday, August 31, 2006

Life Path Number

Your Life Path Number is 9

Your purpose in life is to make the world better

You are very socially conscious and a total idealist.
You think there are many things wrong with the world, and you want to fix them.
You have a big idea of how to world could be, and you'll sacrifice almost anything to work towards this dream.

In love, you can easily see the beauty in someone else. And you never cling too tightly.

You are capable of great love, but it's hard for you to focus your love on one person or relationship.
You have a lot of outward focus, and you tend to blame the world for your failures.
You are often disappointed by the realities of life - it's hard for you to accept the shortcomings of the world.
What Is Your Life Path Number?

Well, I think it is FAIRLY accurate about me. I am like Eileen in that I guess I do not know what it all means really or how it is all decided. If you go to the site, you just type in your birthdate and it spits out a number and description of you. Hmmm....Okay....seemed to work for me. Link via Eileen

Monday, August 28, 2006

One week down and Counting

Yes, one full week of school has passed. This week has been a dream for me. I LOVE fifth grade! I love teaching science, social studies, math, reading, writing. I love being able to laugh, grade papers, and even enjoy independence of the fifth graders. Thank you all for your support and help this summer in MY preparation for this career shift!

Home Canning

This weekend I embarked on a new adventure. I talked to everyone around me earlier this summer about my desire to learn to can tomatoes and make jelly this fall. Some very generous folks gave me A LOT of tomatoes (along with potatoes, peppers, cucumbers, onions, and pickles) and this weekend I learned to can. I was worried about it, but after reading about it, getting supplies (pot, containers, and jar remover) donated to me from Grandma, and talking to a few people, I successfully accomplished this goal. I guess we will see in a few months if it really worked, but it surely has appeared to have worked beautifully.

Monday, August 21, 2006

What?

I have nothing to say about this guy. I hope it all works out for him.

How embarrassing

Some things are just not meant to be aired publically. This story makes me laugh, frankly. I think that this is one reason why we are not supposed to use personal email at work. I shouldn't laugh, but I am. I bet they went right back to old habits as soon as it was over!

All My Mommies Love Me!

I really don't think that this could be so. This child that is part of a polygamist family claims that he is loved by all of his moms. It gives me the creeps.

First Day of School

Today was the first day back to school. What. A. Day. I was watching the Kindergarten teachers with their little criers and seeming chaos that always accompanies the first day of kindergarten and I did not seem to miss that. I loved my first day as a fifth grade teacher. The kids understand humor, they work, they are wonderful! It was a smooth successful day.

Of course, Drew and I both were back to school today as well. I am taking one measely class online and it started today. Drew is taking 4 classes this semester and had a good day as well. Looks promising.

Friday, August 18, 2006

Happy Birthday

I just want to wish a happy birthday today to the love of my life. I hope you have a good one Drew!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Thanks

I have been having bad headaches the last few weeks. This morning I woke up with the worst one yet. I have been questioning whether it is caffeine withdrawl (which it very well could be), allergies acting up (the corn has tasseled here and that aggrevates my allergies), stress (school is starting again this week), or possibly gritting my teeth in the night (I've been having stressful dreams about school!) Anyway, this morning I woke up and my head hurt so bad that noises and light was excruciating. Today was the worst possible day for a migraine because tonight is open house at school and I will meet all of my students and thier parents. I muttered to Drew that my head hurt really bad and then pulled the blankets over my head to block the light and tried to go back to sleep. Drew was careful to be very quiet and then left the room. I was really groggy and kept going in and out of sleep. Anyway, a few minutes later he returned with Excedrin Migraine and a glass of water. In 30 minutes the headache was gone. I have the best husband in the world! You know, it really is the little things like that that mean so much and go so far in telling another that you love them. Thanks Drew, that made my day!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Mmmm...Pie

2 weeks ago we bought a big box of FRESH COLORADO PEACHES. We were only going to buy a few but the saleslady convinced us to buy the whole box. I told her that we would never eat that much and she explained that you can freeze your whole peaches. Did you know that? I didn't. Anyway, she said that as long as the peach doesn't have any tears in the outer skin, you can freeze them whole by simply placing them inside ziploc baggies and then placing in the freezer. I LOVE peaches, so I buckled and bought them. So, today I took out 6 of my deliciously perfect colorado peaches and thawed them for 2 minutes in the microwave. The skin just slid off and then I cut them easilly. 6 cups to be exact. I mixed up the sugar, flour, and cinnamon. I added the lemon juice and poured it all in a pie dish. I added the buttter pieces to the top, placed the top crust and baked. OH. MY. GOODNESS! Peach pie smells sort of like apple pie when it bakes and the entire house smells oh so good right now. Well, I took a picture for you to see it and to say to my sister...see, I can make pie now! (We will eat it later, when it is still warm but not scalding, with some ice cream....yum yum.)

Friday, August 11, 2006

Corn School


The first image here is of an elephant ear, the second is a funnel cake. This article explains the history of Corn School! In case you are not from Northern Indiana, Corn School is a carnival in the first week of October every year. There are always carnival rides, exhibits, and vendors...mmmm....the elephant ears! An elephant ear is not a REAL elephant's ear, it is like a funnel cake but it's flat and crispier. It is usually served with sugar and cinnamon. Here is a recipe if you want to try one! The only thing I would say, though, is that the elephant ears at the fair are fried, I think, and they are as big as a plate. Oh, here is another recipe that fries them. I miss them...I might just make some for myself here.
(images courtesy of wikipedia Link to Corn School History courtesy Web-Goddess)

NO Liquids on Airplanes

I agree that security is an issue today on our airlines and we have to be more careful, but anymore it seems that it is altogether easier to drive wherever it is that you are going. I mean, you have to get to the airport 2 hours before departure. Then you wait. Then you board the plane. Wait. Then the flight. When you land....you wait. Then off you go and have to get a rental car or find a ride from someone....WAIT! WAIT! WAIT! By the time you pay for airfare, gas to get to the airport, parking at the airport, rental on a car, gas for the car...you could have spent less on simply driving. Now, the new rules are that you cannot really take much of anything onboard as a carry-on. However, I do realize that these new rules would not be in place if it weren't for these guys plotting to blow up an U.S. bound airliner. Okay, okay...I can comply with new rules....as long as the authorities continue to thwart the bad guys.

Monday, August 07, 2006

Make yourself into a Simpson

I went to the Simpson Maker and tried to make a character that looks like me. I think the face and setting is right....I probably would never wear those clothes! (Link from Eileen)

Kohl's

Yesterday Drew and I went on a hunt for school clothes and shoes. I needed 2 pairs of shoes and we both needed new shirts. We looked and looked and looked at a variety of stores. We started at Payless and I found a pair of brown shoes (seen here). I still needed a pair of black shoes and shirts so...off we went to JCPenny's. No luck there. We went to Famous Footwear, Nothin'. We went to Brown's Shoes....NOTHIN'. Finally, I said to Drew "Let's go to Kohl's. Some day I will learn that Kohl's has everything I need." So, we went to Kohl's. We found my new black shoes, 4 shirts for me, and 4 shirts for Drew for $200! What a great deal! I LOVE KOHL'S! Why didn't I just start there?

Tuesday, August 01, 2006

Peat Bog Bodies

The bodies they find in the Irish peat bogs just baffle me. It seems that they have found 2 more bodies and that they are well-manicured! You can read more about it here.

What an idiot!

This is a story about a waitress that recovers her OWN driver's license when asking for ID. She asked to see ID and when the patron handed it over, it was her own that had been stolen weeks earlier. You would think that the patron would be a little smarter than that! What an idtiot!