Day 2

It is day 2 of 2014, and I'm sitting here yet again vowing to write more on my blog.  Most of my resolutions are tied to writing, as I don't really go in for those soul shaking change your life resolutions.

So for 2014,  I resolve to document the following things either here or in an actual paper journal (yes they still have those):

Travel - I have lots of travel planned for 2014 and several of those trips are to places I've never been before. I am most excited about my trip to Prince Edward Island with my folks.

Reading - As an avid reader I am constantly growing my library but I have sorely neglected making any sort of notes or reviews of those books.  That shall change and I've even purchased a small journal to keep next to the bed (where I do most my reading)

Camping/Hiking/Outdoor activity - I live in one of the most beautiful places in the world (statement of fact. I dare you to challenge me!!!) and I have been so caught up in the day to day living that I have not been exploring to my full potential.  When I do, you all will read about it

Photography - When I first started this blog, I was really good at documenting things with my little camera and it seems that even though I now have a camera phone I never take any meaningful pictures much less record them for posterity.

Correspondence-  It is shameful to me that I have not written more than a few measly handwritten notes in the past 2 years.  I didn't even send out thank-yous from my wedding (what a breech in etiquette that was).

How Hashtags Make Me Feel

I don't really understand hashtags.  I've only just begun to tweet around, and I'm fairly certain my 14 (almost 15) year old niece was laughing at me on twitter (instead of with me) the other day.  I have a vague idea of what they are for, and I get how the #cousinsoncall would use them to help people find their smoking hottness, but why would I use it?  Are there rules to this #?  I wish I could be like Joey and be blissfully ignorant, but I'm not.   Oh, Hashtag! why are you so #confusing?

Behind the Times

Since I've been absent from the blogosphere for so long, I've fallen behind on the latest technology.  There are things I want to do to my blog, but I don't know how.  How did I get here, scratching my head banging on the keys like a frustrated monkey?

I've got big plans for you blog.  So just cooperate!

And Just Like That

How crazy it has been since I last posted.  I've moved into the new barndominium, and after two very long months we finally have the internet.

Now, I know that may not seem like a big deal, but when you think of our tenuous connection with those who are not within a few moments walk the internet is a big deal.  Without it (and your connection to Kevin's Facebook) how would you all have known that I had a serious dental emergency, got a new dog, or sometimes cry to Ozzy Osborne's Mama I'm Coming Home? You would not.

I've realized that I'm not the best at keeping in touch via phone or snail mail.  I also know that we live in a world where in the push of a button all communication ends....Snap your finger....and just like that we are again seperated by miles, rivers, and mountains.  I'll take this time to say Hello again, I love you, I miss your faces and if I lose my connection again just know that there is tin can with a string and a straight line from my heart to each and every one of you.


Hugs and kisses and I'll see you again in the virtual-world soon!

A Cinderella Moment

The kitchen floor in our current rented home is - or once was - white linoleum.  I hate it.  It is disgusting.  Instead of white it is more a coat of many colors that grease and grime gave to me.  I've tried every cleaner on the market and even purchased a steam cleaner, but it never gets any less dingy.

Today while cleaning the kitchen I decide that I should do some old fashion brush and scrub on my knees to improve the floors appearance.  Here is a quiz for you, after deciding my course of action did I:

A. change into a Cinderella-esque  costume
B. Change into old sweats and tank top
C.  Just pull of my pants and do it in my undies

If you guessed C you either know me too well or are kinda perverted.  I couldn't risk having an A.D.D moment and losing momentum by going into another room.  So down on my knees in my skivvies with a brush and pot of really hot water, seriously like burning hot, I begin my medieval attack on the floor.

30 minutes later and half the floor to go, I loose steam and decide the brush and mop need to have a death match.  I do the rest of the floor with the same cleaning ingredients, but with a mop instead of the brush. The second half took all of five minutes.  Upon inspection of the outcome, I have decided this:

Cinderella's fairy-god mother was a BITCH.  She should have given her a mop.  There is no difference between the two sides of my floor.  Cinderella could have cut her work load in half, had time to hire out her services in order to make some money and buy a pair of properly fitting shoes.  I mean really how do we even know this Prince was in fact "charming"?  What if he turned out to be Henry VIII?  A mop would have looked pretty good to Anne Boleyn I bet.

In conclusion, I have this to say to all you ladies:  Don't lose your head.  Use a mop!

Closed

Remember that saying: If the good Lord's willing and the creeks don't rise?  Well they hath risen; therefore ending my service in Lavina a little earlier than expected.  Montana is socked in with all the rain we've had.  Billings had record fall just a few days ago. Rivers and creeks have over flown their banks, and the last little bridge connecting Lavina from the rest of the world was in a state of purgatory when I left this morning.

I walked into the cafeteria to say my good byes this morning and only 5 lonely high school kids were there.  The bridge according to the mt.gov site was already closed but no one at school had been informed.  The power lines were precariously close to falling into the river when I drove over.  Our superintendent doesn't communicate/make decisions/ or show leadership well; so I let the mt road officials make my decision and headed home before the local sheriff could follow through and enforce the closer.

As they close the highway 3 from Broadview to Lavina, I close another chapter in my teaching book.

Woman of the Year

I know you all are use to my blog being about me, what I like, what I want, what I did, but today I'm dedicating this post to Kevin's beautiful daughter, Katie Gustainis. Being a former coach of Katie, I would like to take credit for all her accomplishments. Kidding, I kid, I kid, I know you love a kidder. She just proves I haven't warped my students.

Miss Gustainis has received the Woman of the Year award from West Texas A&M. I am so very proud to know such an accomplished young woman, and look forward to seeing her continued growth and education in Boston.

Katie will be attending Emerson college this fall after her marriage to former Man of the Year and soon to be Luckiest Groom of the Year, Tim Vela. On their own these two are outstanding people both personally and professionally, and together they will take Boston by storm.

I think I'll make a shirt with her picture holding her Woman of the Year trophy and a caption that reads: I know her!

Congratulations Katie, I'm proud of you.

Down But Not Out

I have a terrible head cold complete with greenish grey gunk, and a stuffy nose that runs (how is that even possible?) a throat that feels ripped in two every time I cough, sneeze or hack (which is all I've been doing the passed 3 days), and through it all I've jeopardized hundreds of Montanans by not staying at home or wearing one of those hospital masks Michael Jackson made famous.

I woke up Monday with razor blades in my throat, and went down hill from there.  We had parent teacher conferences on Tuesday, but luckily I only had two couples to contaminate.  Yesterday, I helped spread my virus to hundreds of high school students by chaperoning our Quiz Bowl team.  I was sent home at noon by my fellow co-workers.  Did I follow their advice and go to the clinic? NOPE.

In my stubborn attempt to keep up with my fitness routine, I made Kevin take my grumpy wheezy ebola infected self out on a bike ride.  I would have used profanity the entire time had I been able to breathe, but instead I worked through it.  I think snails were going faster than me.  I am pretty sure I was passed up by an old man with a cane and a two legged dog (could have been a hallucination).  Did I mention I had to take an hour nap before we rode?  Then I rested for 45 minutes (maybe I was unconscious) before going to my first roller derby practice.

 I really had to suck it up there, not only did I have to skate for the first time since my 1996 debut as a roller derby dance queen for Vernon Regional Junior College, but I had to try and not fall down while actually attempting to fall down properly.  Oh and there were push-ups and crunches with deep knee bends, and  spandex. It was lovely.  I managed to keep the hacking and thick green fluids to minimum, and I think I did pretty good.  They invited me back for next weeks practice so it couldn't have been too bad.

If I made it through day 1 of derby feeling like a zombie think of how well I'll do when I am well.  I just hope I don't get Typhoid Mary as my nick name.  After all the shenanigans of the week, I did decide to do my rundown system a favor and stay home today.  I also needed to file my taxes, clean before company arrives and walk around with a tissue shoved up my nose and an ice pack on my derby bruises.

Speed Wobbles

I got a new Revel MTB Giant today. (That's a mountain bike)Kev and I took a ride this afternoon. We started easy just on the path by the house,but then we ended up below the rims on some trails that had a few ups and downs, and at one point I got the speed wobbles and scared myself. I had to hit the breaks to feel in control; then, I didn't have enough speed to make it back up the hill and almost fell over when I stalled out.

I have never owned any sort of bike with gears so I was on a learning curve too. When we got back to the house, I was beat and may have thrown up in my mouth a little bit. My taint is really hurty, but McKay at the Billings Bike Shop insured me that would diminish after a time. I hope so, but I figure my new carreer as a Derby Dame may be a bit more painful than my new bruised taint.

Ballad of the Northland by Jason Barron

Our school elementary is participating in a literacy campaign to promote reading in school children. This years theme: Iditaread

Readings and activities are centered around the Alaskan Iditarod, and later this month we will be honored with hosting a presentation by an Iditaread author, Jason Barron.

As a lover of books, I'm excited about the chance to meet an author. I just received a copy of Mr. Barron's book. As I sat here this morning preparing to read, I had an odd feeling of mixed emotions: excitement and concern.

"Wow, this man will actually be here. Someone who has published, someone who has had the mental fortitude to do what I aspire to do." Then, I thought "What if I don't like his book." It is only as I sit here now that I realize it doesn't matter if I like the book. Right, isn't that what a lit teacher tells her students? There is value in literature whether you "like" the story or not.

I was preparing to passively read this book, and what a disservice that would be to me, my students, and the author. I'm putting on my literary analysis pants and getting to work.

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on the bus

We are on our way to the Lavina ski day at showdown mountain. One of my students, Courtney, has talked me into taking snowboard lessons. This may hurt.

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just do it.

With the help of all my available technology, I still can not seem to post regularly. You all will have to live with the insignificant trivial posts while I get back in the habit.

It is Monday, and I have no news or anecdotes to share, but I wanted to get back in the habit of posting.

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Happy Holidays and Happy Birthday

I just returned from my trip home to celebrate the new year with my soul blistas and in turn celebrate my mom's 70th birthday.  I am beat I had to take a 3 hour nap when I got back.  Right now Kevin is outside dealing with the car I ran out of gas (he's a KEEPER) and I am working on making Chiles Rellenos with poblano sauce.  Well, technically I'm writing this, but the peppers are steaming in the brown paper bag.

I had a wonderful time back home, and everytime I go I can't get enough of the food that I love so for the next little while I'll be trying to recreate the flavors of home.

It was a shock to see my oldest brother at the birthday party.  None of us thought he could make it with work and MaryJane having surgery, but he suprised us all and made the trip up from Houston.

It was a delight seeing all my nieces, nephews and their children. My family is huge and I feel like a barely know the little ones.  I'll have to correct that as much as I can this year.

Gas-N-GO

In my excitement to get on the road today, I Failed to realize that when your gas Gage tells you that you have 28 miles until you run out of gas that you should not let your car idle for 20 minutes in the drive way. I just wanted to defrost the windows and melt the 5 inches of snow that have fallen in the last 24 hours. Now I am stuck here waiting on a ride and have become fodder for jokes. Yuk it up people, yuck it up.

wooo wooo wooo

Fire Drill.

Oh the exciting life of a high school teacher
smokin' in the boys room
trash on fire
Give those back
them are mine!

Happy Meals

Things around here are just starting to slow down.  I hate to admit it, but Kevin and I had been eating way too much frozen/takeout pizza.  We have made a few good things here and there, but today we were back on track. 

After sleeping late (so late my back started to hurt from laying there so long), we got up and made breakfast.  Kevin made a mean dish of homefries with bell pepper, onion and garlic to go with the delicious chicken apple sausage we had purchased the day before and the perfect eggs he always makes.  I made my first ever batch of biscuits, cheddar-sour cream biscuits that is.  I had a little jellied cranberry left over from a few nights before, and that with the biscuit/sausage combo was a ride on the flavor train.

With our bellies full of scrumdiddleyumptiousness, we set about our day's labor.  The weather here was gorgeous maybe it reached 80 today, but it felt much cooler with the breeze and shade.  After the daily chores, Bubba begged us to take him hiking on the rims.  It was beautiful up on top looking down at the town and the trees with their leaves turning all golden yellow, red and orange.  

Hiking is hard work and makes you really hungry.  For dinner, Kevin and I made our first ever red curry with chicken and rice.  Man-o-man was it good.  We  both could eat it again this week.  Maybe twice.  I'm hoping our two delicious meals catapult us back into the habit of cooking really good food that make us both happy. 

For those who may want the recipe check back tomorrow.

Dumbass Attack

I've done it this time.  Instead of listening to those who know better, Jessica and Kevin. I decided that yes, I need bangs, and I need them now, today, just this moment as I'm passing by the bathroom.

Worst idea EVER.  What am I twelve?  Well that's what it looks like.  I looks as if a roving band of 5 year olds, tied me down Gulliver's Travels style and took a machette to my hair.  TERRIBLE, terrible, terrible, terrible.  I can't say it enough terrible. 

Hello Hats.  Good thing it's fall hats are in this season.  I wonder if I can change the school policy to allow them inside.

Oh well, as Kevin says:  "They'll grow out....in 6 weeks."

Good Times and Noodle Salad

Tomorrow my sister, Janet, arrives from Texas. I'm very excited. I'm driving to Missoula today (should be doing that now instead of this) so that I only have to drive 3 1/2 hours to pick her up in Spokane, Wa.

She requested a visit to that bar with the swing, The Lumberjack. They have live music on Friday and Saturday so it will be tons of fun. We will visit on Friday night. Saturday we are going to the farmer's markets in downtown Missoula then on to Philipsburg for some sapphire mining at Gem Mountain. Followed by a night at the Philipsburg Opera House.

Sunday we are off to the derby. The demolition derby that is. No, we are not participating. We are going to watch a friend, Todd, and his son participate in the Western Montana Fair Demolition Derby. This should be exciting. After a lazy day floating the Black Foot river, I think we will not some hot dusty crash 'em up excitement.

Monday and Tuesday we will prowl around the mountain sides and visit Hamilton and Darby with a trip over the Skalkho pass down to Anaconda for antiquing and ladies lunch.

Wednesday we head back to Spokane. We're lodging at The Hotel Ruby, because Janet's flight is at the crack of down on Thursday. She doesn't know it, but I'll be returning to the hotel and sleep some more after I drop her off. While in Spokane I think we will try out one of two places that piqued my interest either the Catacombs Pub or Anthony's Home Port at Spokane Falls. Maybe we will do both. I've heard there is shopping and some cultural stuff there too.

It's going to be GRRREAT. I'll post next week with some photos of our journey. I wish you all could come up and visit. You need to sometime soon!

It's Not About Me

I realize my last post may have sounded a bit narcissistic.  I am 100% excited about Jess's wedding and completely honored to be the maid of honor.  I'm just embarrassed about my size, and I don't want to ruin the photos and stuff by appearing as Fat Frumpy Girl.  So no, it's not about me, all about Jess and Bryan.

I can't wait to see how beautiful she looks in her dress.  I know she has worked very hard to coordinate the wedding and make sure everything goes off without a hitch.  I am particularly excited about the reception where I plan on doing the Macarena and the Chicken dance.  Just Kidding.

The Pressure of Pretty

I've been searching for a dress to wear to Jessica's wedding. It wasn't until the bachelorette party that I realized I need to stop searching and actually purchase a dress. Like a lot of brides maids, I made the fatal error of intending to lose weight, but not actually doing it. I had book marked all these fabulous dresses that the thinner me would wear. Last week in my state of panic, I purchased a dress that was brown and boring. I think it was an outward expression of my inner uncomfortableness.The few times I went to try on dresses was so disappointing I developed an aversion to brides maid dresses. All week long I cringed when I thought of the dress. Not that it isn't a nice dress, but it is NOT nice enough form my best friend's wedding. When I thought of finding another dress I would start to sweat.

I had to build my self up and deal with the voluptuous situation I've found myself in. I found the dress and it's beautiful.