Tulips Part II

I have learned a few things about taking photos lately and, as a result, have become rather camera happy! Anyway, I try to find things that I can photograph and when the pictures turn out rather well, I share them with you. Here are a few more pictures of my beautiful tulips this year. Last year they just didn't turn out that well. This year, however, they have done quite well despite the cold weather that almost killed them last month. Anyway, how are my camera angles?

Weekend

This weekend was a BUSY one. (Isn't every weekend a busy one?) Anyway...when we got married, our wonderful bridal party and siblings all pooled together to buy us a grill. Boy oh boy did we grill! This last fall and winter, however, was particularly abusive to our happy grill. It, literally, was so windy that it threw the grill over not once, not twice, but THREE times! As a result, I am sad to report, the grill was made practically inoperable. So...as we were driving around on Saturday we heard a commercial for a sale going on at the local True Value. "Lawn Mowers! Weed Whackers! Edgers! Weber Grills! 50 cent hot dogs and sodas!" 50 CENT HOT DOGS! WHOO HOOO! (Have I told you that I have recently discovered that I really like mustard?) Really, we went and looked at grills. We ended up buying a new Weber Grill. In fact, we bought this one (Spirit E-310)! Then we brought it home and grilled steaks. yummm.

As part of our weekend fun, we also bought and planted a new tree. You can see it below. It is a red maple. If you remember, last fall we planted a tree, it was a Red Sugar Maple. This little tree is seemingly pretty healthy.

Conference

As I mentioned in my previous post, I was at a Technology conference hosted in Omaha for Thursday and Friday. I left the conference with my mind REELING at the advances in technology and how much there is out there to learn. I attended some sessions on photgraphy and photo editing, podcasting, and databases. One speaker, Alan November, was particularly motivating. He was the keynote speaker on the second day of the conference. He was humorous and seemed to know what he was talking about. The keynote on Thursday was David Pogue, a writer and podcaster for the New York Times. He was hilarious! Read more about him and his podcast at the New York Times.

Conference

I have been at a Conference in Omaha the last 2 days. It has been an interesting learning experience for me as we experience and explore technology. More later...

Tulips

My poor tulips have been through a horrible year! They were growing and beginning to bloom when, blam! We got a a snow and cold temperatures for over a week. It stunted most of them, but here are a few picutures I got of my beautiful tulips!

As promised...

As I promised, here is a picture of my new glasses. I am aware, however, that they do not look red in this picture. I have learned that the lighting changes the color...sometimes they look red, others - pink, and still others - COPPER! Anyway, what do you think?

Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to MEEEE EEEE. Happy birthday to me!

So, 30 today. I heard that 30 is the new 20 and 40 is the new 30...so it is a good day. My students asked how it feels to be 30 and I said "I guess, no different than being 29!"

New Specs

Okay ya'll...do I have a story for you. Last weekend (Easter weekend) we were forced to Lenscrafters for new glasses and eye exam as a result of Drew's glasses breaking at the nosepiece. So, we went and I got my eyes checked. The eye doctor told me that I had a MAJOR change in my prescription. Most people change about 1/4 of a turn (or 1 step) in one year, but I am an overachiever I suppose. My left eye changed 4 steps and my right eye changed 2 steps and my astigmatism changed by 3 steps. So...as a result they had to special order my lenses. Yeah...they don't even keep my level of corrective lense in the store! Despite feeling bad about the eye change, we set out to find new frames for my new lenses. Hold on to your seats, folks. I got a RED pair! (Well, red in the academic sense...not like candy apple red or anything. They are a burgandy/wine color.) I will post a picture soon...

Ya know what annoys me?

I have been keenly aware lately of the things that just have a special way of getting under my skin. I don't really know why I have been more aware of this lately, but alas...I have. Since I have become increasingly aware of these things I thought I would share them with you! So, here's my list of annoyances...(these items are not ranked in any particular order!) Enjoy!

1. People who complain to inappropriate people at inappropriate times.
2. Internet routers that stop sending a wireless signal for no apparent reason.
3. Snow at inconvenient times. (Is there ever a convenient time, really?)
4. Remembering that I forgot to lay something out for dinner around, oh, 9 AM and there is nothing I can do about it. (This is practically a daily occurrence for me!)
5. Commercials that don't make sense to me because then I feel like a huge ignoramus. Am I the only one?
6. Folks who never use a turn signal...seriously, is it REALLY too much work?
7. Telemarketers that call in the middle of my favorite show.
8. Wait...telemarketers. period.
9. Being stopped at a red light when there doesn't appear to be anyone coming in any direction. My thinking is...Do I honestly need to be saved from the carelessness of the invisible people too?
10. People who wear too much cologne or perfume...PEEEWWWW

There ya have it...so, what bugs you?

It's Spring! No, It's Winter! No Spring! No Winter!

IT IS SNOWING HERE! Not only that, it has been snowing all day and is supposed to snow all night. I love snow...in December! I have decided that I am a selfish snow lover. I only love snow when I feel like loving snow. It's not like I love snow unconditionally in all seasons. I love snow for Christmas...but around...oh...January 2, I am all done with it and it can just go away. I have been spoiled this year by the fact that spring seems to have sprung early and I had already gotten into the swing of it. I guess God had other plans on this one. *sigh* Oh well, at least it is Easter Weekend and I get 4 days off to enjoy it!

Funny.

This tickled my funny bone today. I always wonder the reasons people choose the ringtones that do for various people. (comic at yahoo.com/comics)

Posting trouble

It has come to my attention that commenting has been difficult for some of you. I have disabled the word verification, let me know if this eases the process.
Thanks!

First Snake of the Year

Yesterday when I went home, I decided that the lawn needed its first mow of the year. So, Drew changed the oil, gased it up, and whatever else has to be done before the first mow, and voila...I was off. I was moving right along, being skeptical at first - afraid of a snake. I convinced myself that I was being overly cautious and I needed to just mow. My ipod shuffle was blaring in my ears when I saw movement. "WHAT IS THAT?!" my mind screamed. I turned my head (in my mind I can see this happening in slow motion) to see a snake. Not a baby snake, oh no, it was the granddaddy of all snakes in our yard. At that point I screamed and let go of the lawn mower. (I know, I know...I should of just disposed of the snake right then and there.) I ran to tell Drew I saw a snake and he said..."Well, did you kill it?" "no." So, I trotted back over to the area of the yard that I had stopped at and cautiously approached the lawn mower. (You know, the snake my be planning a revenge.) Lo and behold, the snake was still where I had left him. I started the mower and moved it over the snake and heard the satisfying "thwump" that is the demise of many snakes everywhere. Then, at that time, Drew came over with a rake to dispose of the carcass so I wouldn't have to do that part. Yuck. Another sign that spring has arrived!

Weekend Recap

This weekend was a BUSY one! Seriously...I haven't felt this sleep deprived in a LONG time. You know the place...where you feel like you could go face first into your desk, spaghetti, or whatever else you may be in front of you. Here is my recap...

Friday: Took 74 3rd-5th grade students to a Storm Hockey game. The Hockey team sponsors this program where students can earn a free ticket to a hockey game if they earn an "A" in any class or have 100% attendance for a grading period. We had several students qualify and decided to take them to a game. I organized and implemented the whole thing. As a result, we got to bed around...oh...11:30 PM. We had 74 students and 14 sponsors (Drew and I both went to help control behavior).

Saturday: Drew and helped sponsor a youth trip to Colorado Springs with our church. I had forgotten just how energetic high schoolers are! ha ha! We saw "The Thorn" at New Life Church in Colorado Springs. This is a play about the Life of Christ that the church puts on. Tickets are only $10 and it is a steal! If you are ever in Colorado Springs near Easter, you should definitely go to this play. On the way out, we ate at Casa Bonita and THAT was an experience to remember. The food was...blah...yuck-o...but the atmosphere was fun. (I am spoiled on the Mexican food since I get to eat so much of it that is truly genuine here!) We got to bed late, like 1:00 AM.

Sunday: Up early, 6:00 AM, in order to accommodate all the kids and showers that needed to be taken before we could leave for church. After church, we traveled back toward home, stopping in Denver for a bite. We stopped at a place that had about 6 different restaurants within walking distance of the parking lot. Drew and I chose to eat at Good Times. It was good...I wish there was one here! Then, we drove for 5 hours back home and my brother was waiting for us. He is a semi driver and had been dispatched to Denver, with a layover here. So, we got him around 7:30 PM and visited until around 11:30 PM. Needless to say, it was after midnight when we got to sleep...that alarm clock at 6 AM was akin to nails scratching against a chalkboard today!

whew...what a weekend!