Woo Hoo...last day of Summer School!

Happy Dance Time!!!

Tomorrow (technically today!) is my last day of Summer School! Woo Hoo! And we are really done with content so we are doing a review, I'll answer any questions they have and then they can have the rest of the time to work on their exam if they like online. As soon as I turn in grades I'm off for a bit over 2 weeks! Have the have them done by noon Friday but I may sooner. 

I just finished a Powerpoint with their Review to use the IClickers. I love them & the students seem to also.

I had a great time with my cousin tonight. We sat at the bar at LoneStar for a while & talked & these two guys, probably late 20s? were listening & chirping in from time to time...hysterical! The bartender gave the 4 of us (the guys too) shots of Appletinis? It was good. I haven't done a shot since maybe in my mid 20s! Oh wait I know when...at MSU working on my doctorate the jelloshots...ha...I haven't thought of that for so long! HA! I would have been 26 or 27? My favorite is Ouzo! I don't like black licorice but I swear I lick out the shot glasses with Ouzo! Ha! It took me 1 1/2 hrs to get to dinner tonight though due to traffic...ugh. We talked though for 4 hours! HA! I'm sure the restaurant was thrilled with us! HA! We had a great time though. My cousin is having a pool party for her kids birthdays and graduation this Sun though so we'll get to have some more fun. I think we are also going to go to the zoo when my niece comes back in since she has some passes. I had fun there last weekend so I can't wait.
The weathermen were so wrong though...again! It rained on my way...though I got a free car wash! :-) I went to B&N afterwards & got a book on Cary Grant & one on Katherine Hepburn on sale. Pretty much all pictures with explanations. I also got this set of cards with Sign Language...I wanted to learn & this looks good. It was on sale too. Then I picked up the new Scientific American, Scientific American Mind & a magazine I never saw before called Green Guide by National Geographic. My Social Psych students have a chapter on Sustainable Future and our institution getting with the program! :-) I'll try to link those later! Saw my sister there & said hi for a bit & then took off because I was tired...and thus I say "Sweet Dreams"

P.S. As James Bond ends now I just want to voice my opinion by saying they made a big mistake getting rid of Pierce! What a hunk of man! HA! And hopefully...he will make my dreams sweet! HA!  

Worst Than Your Mom Nagging You!

This alarm clock may be worse than you mom yelling at you to get up as a kid! Then again? Although my mom really didn't get me up...except Sundays for Church but I think that was my dad...ha! I don't remember when I started to use my own alarm clock? I do know getting my sister up was a pain. I'd always get up first because if I didn't she would never get up & I'd have no time for a shower. So I was the one that was always up at like 6am! Probably why I don't like mornings so much now ha! I should get it for my baby brother. That man would sleep through an earthquake. My dad use to be like that my mom said. She'd have to hit him over the face with a wet washrag if she had to get him up earlier than his alarm. My brother has this horrendous alarm that you can hear even outside the house & he still is in a dead sleep. It will go off for an hour & nothing. Interestingly though he seems to get up to the cell phone! HA!  I wonder if it is on the pitch? 

Not sure if he hears his daughters? When my little niece was born all of a sudden I slept lighter. I would hear every whimper she made if her crib was next to me or her monitor. And I think she will have trouble. She sleeps all over the place! Hits the wall, still at times sleeps with her legs tucked under her tummy & her butt up in the air! She is 11! She did as a baby...I wonder if she was like that in utero? She whacks me in the nose with her arms when she was a baby. Once I had her on my chest on the lazyboy rocking & my mom was talking to me when she picked up her head & dead weight her head fell on the bridge of my nose. I was in sooooo much pain I was seeing stars & thought I would pass out. She just got it right. I could not do anything as I did not want to wake her. She was probably 2 yrs? Her legs where down to my lap then so...then just as I was feeling better she did it again. O...M...G! My mom could not believe it. She is like put a pillow between the two of you...thanks mom, you are a lot of help now! HA!

Oh & get this...I never used the snooze button until last year or the year before? I swear! I think I always figured I'd never get up...which I find I have to just set my alarm earlier to allow for the snooze & that doesn't make much sense to me so...but this alarm has a 2nd alarm so I just set it for 15 min later & that is better. I know you can do that with the snooze but...I don't know I just feel I have to get up rather than hit it again idea.

I don't know about you but I need more sleep now to function. In college and graduate school I pretty much functioned on 4-6 hours of sleep. Now I have to have 8 really. Maybe the reason of staying up so late is different to. Studying keeps you more cognitively engaged & if you enjoy the subject you get in the "flow" and just lose track of time or the occasional "party" ha...& that is different than staying up all night because you can't sleep or are sick or something. Of course I do remember in college I would come home from class, take a 20 min nap & get up for the dining hall to open & it would refresh me so much. Ready to go until whenever then Ha!

And I remember the day we had off due to a holiday and we did not wake up to the fire alarm! It sounded like someone's alarm clock. I woke up chocking from smoke! That was nuts. It was like before 9am so you know we partied that weekend & were sleeping in! The guys could not believe all the girls were coming in their dorm with nighties on! HA! I was disoriented because I think I managed to get jeans on, not sure what else...it was Feb! Yes, the changed the fire alarms after that...was so blaring you could not hear anyone talk with directions! Ugh!

Well off to have dinner up north with my cousin...

Ahhh Clean Carpets!

I'm not sure if this is a sign of getting old, but it seems it takes very little to please me in comparison to younger ones. Today they came to clean my carpets & I'm sooo giddy about it! So fresh looking & smells nice. I've been in this apartment for 9 yrs and well the carpet cleaner said they were really good for 9 yrs but I am a clutz! I have a knack for making a mess...real fast too! HA! The steam cleaner guy was very nice to me and helpful. He said I could put one cat in the bedroom & then switch when he got the other done. I know the first time I spill something I'm going to be really pissed now! HA! I even wanted to get my car seats protected when I picked up my new SUV in Jan but of course my dad said, you can do it cheaper with Scotchguard...did I get that done before something got on them? NOPE! Have I done it yet? NOPE! Should it go on my to do list this week then...ya! Dusty seems to be ok, but Country just doesn't know what to make of this. I haven't been able to move my furniture back in yet...well he did it around the big furniture. I figured under the coach etc is fine since it has been there for 9 yrs...if anything dusty. Should be dry tomorrow morning. Country keeps licking his paws too ha! I went out to get something to eat since my lazyboy, coffee table etc are blocking my stove in my kitchen. Then I went to Kohls to look for some rugs???? to put by the litter boxes. Dusty has tuffs under his paws & drags the little throughout the place...amazing! I remember my grandmother use to have little throw rugs along the high traffic areas. I still remember her picking up pieces of paper off them & then she'd later pick them up & fling them outside. They moved from that house when I was about 12 yrs old. I found really a bathroom one in light purple & I'm going to see if it works. Does match the purple in my bedroom. I found a cute one for under their food. It has a white cat on it & says "Got Fish?" HA! And Kohls had 30-50% off rugs so they were cheap!!! Ahhh another smile...I love a great bargain!

Speaking of bargains...my ex emailed me about a book sale (ya he's been pretty decent) & I went to it Sat & you will not believe this...I got 28 CDs, 3 Language packages with 3 CDs, workbook & travel card, 5 DVDs, 6 books, these pilates hand balls and 2 text...get ready...you won't believe it....$10.50!!! Nope, I'm not lying! I would have had them for $4 if I had waited with my first patch. I try to watch my back and since I did not have a big strong guy to carry things for me I purchased the first set & said no biggie bring them to the car & come back & look around some more. Well the lady then announced all the books, CDs and DVDs you can fit in a big brown bag $2! The place went nuts. These are all new!!! they had ? some guitar is it PS3? I don't know for $40...it is $90 at Walmart I think. They had Halo Helmet? I think too. I got tons of Christmas CDs...well it is my favorite time of the year. I'm not sure if I will ever bet that bargain!

Now Meet Me In St. Louis is on TCM again... :-) Ahhh I'm just so happy! I really like Leon Ames (the father) he was in Life With Father & By the Light of the Silvery Moon and so many more. It brings back memories of watching them with my mom when I was a young girl.

Ok, lets see...then I was leaving to go eat & I drove up to my mailbox to see what surprises I had and as I read my mail a guy came by walking his dog, a big beagle type. He said I like your decal. I was trying to think what it was. I really didn't want to put any on it but then I remembered I put the blue one that matched that says "God Bless the American Soldier". I said thank you & asked if he was in the military. He said yes "Mame" (ugh!). I said thank you to him and he said you're welcome & flashed a cute smile turning his head back to me? Hmmm...then I go to Petsmart and I turn the aisle & some cute little dog comes up from behind me & starts licking my calf. I had cropped pants on! I was like "Hello!" I asked...nope female dog! HA! At least it could have been a male licking my calf...then just have to work my way to a human male! HA! Then I went to the restaurant & you know there are days when you think no one notices you at all. No one talks to you to say Hello, opens a door, doesn't even make eye contact. Well, then there are days when everyone is "noticing you" and you actually get self-conscious...is my zipper open? Do I have food on a very obvious place on my shirt...what..what is it people? I don't know? Everyone is smiling at me, and saying hi & being helpful? The guy next to me is telling me where the waitress is to wipe off my table, then this waiter that was from I don't know Bahamas or maybe like Nigeria? He had such a thick accent & talked fast I really could not understand him. He was helping me so much. Then I'm reading my "Eat, Pray, Love" Book (just started it) and I started to laugh out loud & he was next to me & I said I'm sorry & just explained & he said, "What is that book, I want to read it?" I'm like he apparently does not know it is a "chick book" but then he says to me quite straight forward, "Where is your Ring?"  I did not understand him at first, so he repeated it LOUDER! OMG! I just rolled my eyes in disbelief and said, "It doesn't matter!" I'm like I can't believe he said that! What a line...does he use that all the time...on just American women? And OMG he is like what maybe 25 yrs old! GEEZ! Like I need this! HA!!! Then I'm leaving & he says, "See you tomorrow!" I'm said, "I don't think so" and he says, "See you Friday", I said, "I don't think so!" I'm  still laughing...what is with my energy today?

Well...lets see what tomorrow brings!

The BEARS Are Back In Town!

Now Hook is on...I tell you...

Hmmm...first you see the major news channel vans heading south toward us....then among the pick up trucks and farm equipment you begin to see corvettes, cadillacs, mercedes, and lexuses. Then a few days later stop signs begin sprouting up, gas lines are longer than usual, and though we certainly have our fair share of residents who could really use a retest on their driving skills, there just seemed to be a whole new level of driving recklessness. Then there was the sudden color change in town! Someone has sprayed it Orange & Blue. Everywhere you go that is all you see! Of course the sure give away is when you run out to your Super WalMart at midnight to just grab something you can't wait until morning for, looking so incredibly attractive with no make-up on of course and wearing your SouthPark pants and a big t-shirt and you turn the corner of the aisle with you cart & run into the "Testosterone Zone"...well Jose Canesco may not have named him but you & your cart actually bounces backwards down the aisle! HA! Men like this are just not grown down here, even with all the pesticides used.  

Oh no...didn't I put it on my Calendar? Why didn't someone remind me? Sigh....Ok, Ok, don't get me wrong it is great to have the Chicago Bears stomping all over my camp ground. It is great for our businesses here and the kids just love it...ok, the big kids too (I seem to recall meeting Chris Zorich last time with the beau so...). We also seem to have benefitted with new growth in housing & hey we now have 2 new Super WalMarts, another McDonalds, a Buffalo Wild Wings, a 2nd Jimmy Johns, a PetsMart, and I hear Culvers is opening in Nov, Linens N Things & Dick's Sporting Goods is coming. This is just a bit much in a small period of time for us. If we would just get a Portillos...oh no...that might not be a good idea! YIPES!

I better take the highway to school for my last week...going through town will be a nightmare! Besides apparently I can roll over my own SUV I don't need any crazy driver helping me out! HA! I know, I can laugh about it now but...

Well, I'll keep you updated on this year's unique craziness along the way.

WBM...But for a Purpose!

Howdy!

As the Wicked Witch of the East is melting on my tv, I thought I would remind everyone of Cheryl Richardson's website....ugh...they just cut the movie horribly on TNT...this week her email discussed Whining, Bitching & Moaning! :-) She basically reminds us all that while a bit of it is good if you don't do anything about the reason you are upset nothing will change! As my parents raised me, "If you are not a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem!" Unfortunately, so many times you do have to come up with the solutions. Many times I just think, you know I'm not that intelligent & if I can come up with this then how come others can't before me? I don't know but heck they are needed when my pea brain can't figure out ALL the other problems so...

Sunday 7: Fav. Cats

Well I was gone all day yesterday so just getting to Patrick's Sunday Seven. He wants to know our 7 Favorite Cats...well I could not pass up that topic!

1. First, is my BABY! Dusty is most likely a Nebelung! I love this breed now! I think I'll always have them because they are just wonderful! They are very affectionate & yet then want to be on their own too. Dusty is a lap cat too & he will sleep on me which I do like. Health wise he has been excellent so far also. He is 18 yrs old now & runs so fast & jumps across the room! He is very smart also and fearless. He use to climb the rafters in the basement of my folks old house & he stared down a racoon which got into our house! What a brave man!




2. & 3. are probably a tie! Generally speaking I love long haired cats. I do like short hair but I just love longer haired cats. I love Main Coons & Norwegian Forest Cats. Again, they are kinda like Dusty being a long hair cat although Coons can get sooo much bigger.
Here are a few I like:

Main Coon 1  Main Coon 2  Norwegian Forest 1  Norwegian Forest 2

4. & 5 Next, I think I would have to go to Wild Cats. And again hard to decide! I really like Bobcats with their pointed ears and thick coats. They look very sturdy and solid. Hmmm? Is this a personality test? Maybe it say something about us? Or what we like...hmmm! Also the Canadian Lynx is so incredibly beautiful! His face looks likea wolf a bit too! Again, I think it is the strenght...hmm!

Bobcat    Canadian Lynx

6. I do like Tigers...and White ones especially...I have the picture below as a framed poster in my office! I love it. I see soooo much in it. First, they are so tender & loving. Next, they are different but don't see it! They see what is common & can still love each other! I love that idea! No prejudice, no discrimination! They may even love each other for their differences! I could go on & on!

Loving Tigers!

7. Next would be the Lion. I love how magificient they are. Again they can be roaring, just project strength just sitting & yet can be so gentle, even sleeping adorable things! Ya, I think this is so true of MEN! ;-) I tell Dusty with his mane he is a lion...king of the forest...Mufasa! Got to help their egos you know! HA!

Lion 1  Lion 2  Lion 3  Lion 4

Actually, yesterday I was at the zoo & took some pictures & may have a lion in there. It was soooo hot! I will have to go back in the fall & try to just go to take pictures. If any pictures turn out good I'll post them!

Ok, there is my 7...finally! :-)

Lights Out

Well, I woke up about 8:20 from everything on my deck blowing around like crazy. T-storm warning after I rebooted my computer? ugh. Then a bit later the lights flickered a bit & out they went for about an hour. Ugh! The storm moved through fast. They said about 70mph yipes! Good thing I morning I can sleep in...ugh! Found out my carbon monoxide detector needed a new battery when the power went out! HA! Took care of that! I think I'll make something to eat & then lay down for a bit. I'll post more later on my trip to the zoo yesterday etc...

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