There is nothing like spending time with great friends, especially old friends. Erica and I became friends our sophomore year in high school, and have stayed close since (despite the fact that she's a Sooner). We have gone through more trials and tribulations in that time that I could count - never anything between us, which was great...there's just something about being able to call your best and oldest friends and know they'll let you pick up right where you left off, no matter how long it's been.

Erica was much more career focused than I was in college (meaning she didn't wait until after she graduated to decide what she wanted to do...). She became a nurse, then went grad school, and now is a Nurse Practitioner in the ER of a huge children's hospital. Erica dated Adam forever, which was a feat because we were in a group of friends who dated pretty much in our own circle, and Adam was a football player AND a Methodist (gasp). He always seemed older and, being outside of our immediate circle, a little untouchable - a good-looking, state-champion football player. Well, we have really gotten to know each other in the post-high school years (almost 10! yikes!) and I could not have picked anyone more perfect for my dear, dear friend. Erica is in the midst of the second trimester with their first baby, and having them here at this time was such a blessing to us. Watching the way Adam treats Erica, and the way they both were giddy and excited and all-out lit up when talking about the baby?...Priceless. They are going to be great parents.

I have always felt a huge sense of pride about Erica's accomplishments - maybe because she's overcome a lot, or because she is so professional about things, or maybe it's simply because she's such a good friend and I'm invested in how things go for her because of it. So, needless to say, I couldn't hold back tears of joy when I got the text on Wednesday that they're growing a healthy baby BOY!

So here are some pics of our time with Erica, Adam, and Baby Boy B.

Ocean Shores, WA

The Requisite Self-Portrait

The Parents-to-Be, shopping at the Land of Nod.

Shopping in the Snow

Friends!

Snow Day in WA. The dogs are having as much fun as the neighborhood kids.

Dixie, running like mad, chasing snowflakes.

"Okay, Dad, that's enough. Let me in, please."

Maddie, always looking for toys. Today they were covered with a few inches of fluffy snow.

But will that stop Mad-dog?

Don't think so. She proceeded to play with the frozen soccer ball, not wanting to come in out of the cold.

And in the end we had ourselves an abominable snow-dog.

It has been a fantastic four days with Erica and Adam (and the incubating Baby B) visiting from Texas. And to top it off we've had snow! It looks like more is on the way, hopefully not in time to delay their flight, though - let's just hope that the DFW Airport isn't too backed up from the winter weather down there.

Pictures to come - we're off to lunch at Bahama Breeze, then to the airport!

Time? It is a flyin'.

I can't believe this season has come on us so quickly...We still have so much to do:

-buy tickets to fly south for the winter (well, for 10 days or so)
-re-string the pre-lit tree since Will took off all of the lights
-decorate
-bake cookies for two cookie exchange parties
-host some great friends for a weekend!
-buy gifts

Throw in cleaning and making sure the dogs (Who am I kidding? I mean the dog, Dixie) doesn't eat any ornaments or branches off of the tree. Busy times. Oh, and we have to go to work, too. I just can't wait for our house to really feel like Christmas and be full of friends and laughter and good times. Then we'll head out of town and get to spend time with family and have more of that laughter and good times. Seriously. Can't. Wait.

Got kids? If so, and they're in school, you're probably thinking about what to get their teachers for Christmas...and, you've come to the right place! Here's a list of appropriate, budget-friendly gifts that your child's teacher will love.

-A donation (of any amount) to any charity in their name. It's especially nice in this economy to know that we're all thinking about those in less fortunate situations than us...Need some suggestions? Pick up an extra bag of food on your next grocery trip, and drop it off at a local food bank, or donate a toy. Or, see here, here and here (you could get some of the other parents to go in with you on these to make them affordable). I'd even love a note saying, "I dropped $5 in the Salvation Army bell-ringer bucket for you!"

-Basic Supplies: I'm always in need of dry-erase markers (especially colors, which tend to cost a little more, but do come in small packs). Fun gel pens, stickers (smelly stickers are great for elementary teachers) and decorative scissors with neat edges would also make great gifts. I don't know a teacher who doesn't love even the most basic of office supplies, especially in cute colors/patterns! Oh, magnets are nice, too. Colored note cards, card stock, and colored copy paper are not available in a lot of schools - some schools even limit white copy paper...just ask around and you'll find what the teachers at your child's school most want!

-Christmas Cards! If you do a family card, include your teacher among the recipients. I love getting the cards (even the ones with extensive family updates), and I really love it when they are personalized with a note.

-A small, homemade treat. Sometimes the amounts are overwhelming - a few cookies or a small container of fudge will do!...It's also nice to include the recipe, especially if it's a tried-and-true favorite of yours (and you don't mind sharing).

-An ornament that expresses YOUR kid, not a generic teacher ornament. Put their name on it with the year, and it's a great memory as we decorate our trees each year.

-A donation of your TIME...Come on in and volunteer! I'm sure your child's teacher has something that you could help out with!

I'm sure I could think of a dozen more, but this is a good start. It is difficult to accept gifts when you know that a lot of the kiddos in your class come from families that are struggling financially...and it can be uncomfortable when some students bring very nice gifts. Having your child drop something off before or after school, or giving it discreetly (and not having to open it in front of other kids), makes life easier for teachers. Know that we appreciate every single gift, and our thank-you notes can't really express that fully.

I have been blessed this year with an incredible class - sure they make me nuts, but they are so, so special. As a whole they have taught me a lot, and they are truly a gift to have around. I'm hoping for happy, healthy Christmases for all of them...and for them to realize the Reason we have those two weeks off in December.

I love this season.

Thanks, Will! I think you made an excellent choice.




The new rug makes it feel like a new room...which is perfect timing because I've felt the need to paint or rearrange since we've been here two and a half years already. Maybe the painting can wait, but this weekend I'll be rearranging the living room to make a space for the Christmas tree! I can't wait.

So, I've been tagged to complete some questionnaires, and I'll get around to it, but this morning I'm running late. And I haven't had a cup of coffee yet.

We had a great weekend catching up with AF friends who have already made their way to other parts of the country. However, I am not used to late nights, and I was worn out. We made our requisite Sunday run to COSTCO, not thinking about the upcoming holiday, and it was a mad house. Not a good place to go when you're already running on fumes. To top it off we had to stop at Wal-Mart to buy a few turkeys - fun! Luckily we were able to utilize the 20 items or less lane and didn't wait long at all.

Will sent back a few rugs while he was deployed, and we finally got around to arranging our dining room with one of the new rugs under the table. We had to reorient the room, which I wasn't sure about, but it turned out great. I don't have a picture of the room, but here's the rug (well, it's the one that Dixie is sitting on):

So, it's hard to tell what it looks like, but it's mostly a deep red with navy and cream. My favorite that Will has picked out so far, besides a handmade rug that's at the foot of our bed right now. Dixie was not very cooperative when I was trying to get pictures of the rugs - she's a ham. At least we got the rugs put in place so that they are no longer sitting in the middle of the hallway.

And now Monday morning is upon us. Well, Will's sleeping in a little bit, and I'm about to head out the door. Have a good one!

We're sick.

The crud has descended on our house (Will thinks it came from spending 30+ hours in a plane with over a hundred people as they made their way home from the Middle East, and he finally passed it to me). The worst part for me is that I haven't been sleeping well, so I've been in a fog since Friday night. I need to head out to buy some more meds that will hopefully bring a solid recovery by tomorrow - I have my formal evaluation! Fun, fun.

I had a wonderful birthday on Friday! My sweet husband brought me lunch at work, my awesome class decorated my room while we were eating in the teacher's lounge, and we had treats while we did our math. Will and I headed up to Tacoma to have a pot-luck with friends (I made a delicious antipasto pasta salad, and I'll have to post the recipe soon) - the host was making his mom's stromboli recipe and it was so good. Will surprised me with a cake (mainly because he didn't get one last year and was trying to earn some points). We all went out after dinner, and I was feeling fine until late Friday night. I'll post pictures soon.

For now, we're going to work on recuperating. Happy Sunday.

I must say that it sure is nice to return to life as "normal," even if the norm for us isn't actually having Will home...maybe that will change, though. We've hung out, watched movies, shopped, ate out, cooked dinner, and just enjoyed being together. As expected, there are some adjustments (Where did my clean house go? He snores! How did I forget that he snores?). I had to go to work on Friday and Will's truck was still out of commission (although it is now working), so my sweet husband got up to take me to work...as he came down the stairs, Dixie started barking like crazy! I guess we're all still getting used to having the whole family home.

In honor of Veterans' Day, Will is attending my school's assembly. What a good husband! He'll have to stand up in front of our 500 kiddos and tell them who he is and who he's related to...The kids get such a kick out of it and they my class so excited to meet him. Luckily, we have tomorrow off, so we'll try to get in a round of golf if it's not raining (insert laugh here at our futile attempt to pretend this is not WA in November).

Happy Monday.

He's home.

As expected, Will's return date was pushed back a day. That means tomorrow's the day! Now I just have to get through this day of teaching and a class after school. It's been pretty fun to countdown with my kiddos and they are pretty excited at this point!

T-minus one day and counting...

Please pray for safe travel as they have a lot of stops along the way, and a lot of anxious family members waiting on pins and needles to get them back!

I cannot wait for Election Day to be over so that these childish, mudslinging, accusatory, void-of-information political advertisements will end.

Argh.

Halloween night...

A creepy fog rolled in just about the time the trick-or-treaters started making their rounds. Thankfully, they took my lights off to mean I wasn't home, and they skipped our house. However, my next-door neighbor called and invited me to pass out candy from her front porch. I headed over, thankful for the company and with a bottle of wine in hand. It was nice to see all of the costumes and chit chat in between the groups of candy mongers.

As the trick-or-treating winded down, Mandy and her husband started getting ready for a Halloween party at their other next-door neighbors' house. I had previously declined, but changed my mind when I debated going home alone or hanging out with some neighbors. I had a costume in mind, and at the ready, too (and free). Thankfully, Mandy does hair (and make up) and my costume was complete. The choice was easy as I already have the glasses, the suit, and the Maveric attitude...There I was thinking I was clever, only to run into a rival as soon as I walked through the door...

See? I ran smack dab into Michelle Obama. I, I mean Sarah, was all smiles though...

Sarah Palin with Freddy (?). This face says, "You're not that scary. I shoot large animals out of the side of helicopters. Bring it."


Here is our favorite vice-presidential candidate with Katie Holmes (sans Tom) and Juan Valdez (?) our host.

We ended up having a lot of fun, but it was a late night. I honestly can't remember the last time I dressed up for Halloween, and I'm not sure I will for a long time. Maybe when Sarah runs for president in '16? :)

Halloween...


...and I'm holed up in my house, on the couch, debating at which time I need to turn off the lights, head upstairs, and hide out. I'm not opposed to Halloween, but I am slightly opposed to trick-or-treaters on a Friday night after a brutal few days of conferences with parents.

I'm exhausted.

Happy haunting, everyone. Post pictures soon of all of your kiddos/pets/significant others in costume...

I think I'm nesting in preparation for Will's homecoming. Is that possible? Or rather, is that normal? The house is clean and gets cleaner every day. The yard is looking pretty nice. The pantry is stocked, some hearty soup is put up in the freezer, and I've used my crock-pot twice this week, which rivals as much as I have used it in the last year. The dogs are clean and brushed. (Do you have the Furminator? If not, get one. Holy cow.)

I can't wait for this (even the mustache, which he has grown again):

I guess it seems like if the house is clean and ready, if there is a well-stocked pantry, if the dogs are brushed and exercised, then maybe, just maybe, Will's homecoming will come just a little bit quicker. Maybe I'm crazy (okay, so that's probably not even debatable anymore) but it is what it is. I am so ready to have him home and have some normalcy back for a while. T-minus 9 days and counting (of course, that's incredibly likely to change, but I'm hoping it doesn't).

I made some pumpkin pie dip for a party last week and it was delicious - however, I couldn't truly enjoy it because of though of all the calories! I made it with reduced-fat cream cheese, but it still had a cup of powdered sugar in it, too. So I searched the internet and found a different dip, but still a high-calorie one. I modified it (and changed the flavor of pudding mix from vanilla to cheesecake) and it's a winner! Delish. Try it...

1 tub Cool Whip Free
1 pkg fat-free/sugar-free Cheesecake flavored instant pudding mix
about 12-15 oz. pumpkin pie filling (to taste)

Stir together the pie filling and pudding mix. Fold in the Cool Whip. Refrigerate for a few hours (it tastes great immediately, but even better after it sits a while). Serve with ginger snaps or graham cracker sticks (regular or cinnamon).

I've seen it served in a small, hollowed-out pumpkin, but that's a little ambitious for me. This filling would also be great in a pie shell! Enjoy.

I love this dog...and the other one, too. But this dog is something else. She has such a distinct personality. She absolutely loves to play fetch, she loves to cuddle (well, for a little while, then she jumps down to find her own place to curl up). She hates the rain and the wet grass, and she only puts up with so much of Dixie's stalking - then she shows her who's boss.


However, this pup gave me a little scare. She has a lump under her front right arm, kind of on her chest. Small, but a lump nonetheless. I tried to get her into our Aggie vet last week, but he was out of town. We finally saw him today, and it's nothing but a normal lump/bump, the kind that a 7-year-old dog gets. Totally normal. Sigh of relief.


I know that dogs don't live forever. I'd just like this one to be around a lot longer, and I'm glad she got a clean bill of health.

The perfect post-church, eat-by-myself, Sunday lunch. I enjoyed the time alone to process the sermon, which was political in nature, but very refreshing and poignant.


And I had a nice view. Our local pho place has a very obviously ethnically-based seating philosophy...the gist of which is that white people don't get window seats, and have to sit at long, family style communal tables (with strangers). However, eating alone means I get a window seat - a very tiny table that is desirable only for the view, definitely not for the overall location (it backs up to a kinda stinky fish tank). I'll take what I can get, especially on a non-rainy fall day.

If home's where my heart is, then I'm out of place.

Lyrics from Mercy Me's "Homesick."

And so true for me right now.

I have some terrific friends here, and it is truly a beautiful place to live. However, I miss my husband, and I hate being so far from the rest of our families. I want to cuddle my sweet niece, have a glass of wine with my sisters, and spend time with a friend of mine as she embarks on a new journey. I want to see my friends' kids and know their personalities, and I want to not worry about time zones and airline travel and coordinating schedules. But, this is the life I signed up for, and this is the perfect time in our lives to have these adventures of living away from "home." And, I have two sweet pups to keep me company as I curl up on the couch with the fire going, enjoying being alone and being still.



It does not help that I feel as though I live in the most liberal place on earth, and it's an election year.

Friday Morning - during which time I should be going to work, but I am blogging instead...

-Will and I had a good chat this morning about mortgages and financial stuff. I've been so agitated and frustrated and [fill-in-the-blank jaded/negative emotion] over the current financial crisis. All I know is that our name is on our mortgage, not "U.S. Government."

Where has the personal responsibility gone in all of this mess? If you don't pay your car loan, your car gets repossessed. When you owe someone money, you pay it back. This should not be news to anyone. This has become a debt reliant country of people who feel entirely entitled to spend without limit - spend completely out of accordance with income. Where are we headed and what can be done?

-A group of kiddos from my class is going to see "City of Ember" tonight, and they and their parents invited me to join them. Should be fun.

-Will's return is rapidly approaching...but there are a bunch of hurdles to jump first, including parent/teacher conferences and progress reports. I just hope no one brings their dog this year.

-My house is very clean because I hosted a Southern Living at HOME party last night. I truly love having a clean house. It makes getting up and getting out the door to work so much more pleasant if I know I don't have to come home and clean at the end of the day (especially at the end of a Friday!).

I took myself on a date last night. The food was top notch, and the wine was spicy and delicious. Oh, and the company was good. And I picked up the check.


Then, I woke up this morning to our first frost. I'm not ready for winter, but (as Will would say, jokingly of course) that's irregardless. :)

This Monday might be a bit of a let down after the novelty of Friday's learning environment...

...and a big shout out to my JLMS friends! These activities always make me miss you guys so, so much.

Does your public library have one of these out front?

Rain...


...on my parade, not outside (at least not today). I have a co-worker who constantly rains on my parade. It is obnoxious, childish, and (even though I try hard not to let it be) hurtful. I know the reasons behind it, or at least I guess at them. I know that in reality it's not personal - it's just that I'm there and just being makes me a target. By the end of last year I felt much stronger in dealing with it, but I think that with Will gone, and several things happening at work to fuel this ire from said co-worker, it's gotten worse lately. All this to just say argh. It's frustrating, end of story.


On another note - we've entered the last month of this deployment, and the end of it could not come fast enough for me. I'm missing his company, and his yelling at college football (as I'm watching the Red River Shootout and wishing to be in Texas and not here). Gratefully, there are only a few weeks left until my mustachioed man makes his way home!

Morning Walk...

After dropping Mom off at the airport early Sunday morning, the pups and I took advantage of the fact that it wasn't raining and set off for a walk. It was pretty chilly, but very enjoyable. I brought along the camera for fun...

Here's my fall front porch decor (I love this Aggie Maroon mum):


I really like these droopy trees, but I have searched the internet and can't find what they are called. This one is in a front yard down the street. It was still really early in the morning, or else I might have been a little more apprehensive about snapping pictures of people's yards...


When we made it to the park that's in our neighborhood, I let the dogs run. Maddie started zigging and zagging as if she was picking up a scent trail - and apparently she was! She found this tennis ball in no time, so we spent 20 minutes or so playing fetch. Dixie doesn't play fetch, she plays "Chase Maddie" which at least gives them both exercise. Maybe her daddy can come home and start working with her again!!!


The only way I can walk both dogs at once is by using these Gentle Leaders. They immediately work, require no training time, and both dogs respond so well to them. They work like a horse bridle and guide the dogs by the snout. Although, the dogs tend to look at me like I'm crazy when I buckle them up in these!



Here are some more trees I like (and don't know the name of) - they remind me of the Beatles and their mop-head hair. There is a very young one in our neighborhood that has rocks tied to the branches which I suppose is how they get them to grow this way (these below are from the neighborhood next to ours - it's been there longer and the landscapes are much more established)...who knows, I just really like them!


We ended up being gone an hour and a half, which was great because it poured the rest of the day...and Monday...but it's just sprinkling this morning. The rainy season is started and all I want to do is curl up on the couch with a book and the fire going. However, I've got 29 twelve-year olds who might want to learn some math and reading and writing today (right?) so I'd better get on my way. Happy Tuesday!

I had a truly amazing day...all thanks to Office Max, and my principal!

I am blessed.

This is what showed up at my room, a little after 9 am yesterday (and apparently in almost 1,300 other classrooms across the country, in a coordinated effort of surprise...I was certainly surprised)...

Yesterday's agenda...

-Watch bobbleheads' (5th & 6th graders) football game
-Hit up the farmer's market for apples, plums, peppers, onions, beets (2 kinds), parsnips, and a snack of smoked cheese and sausage.
-Appetizer and Mac & Jacks on the patio at Budd Bay Cafe...Yes, there was sun!
-Mall, Costco, etc. (just your run of the mill errand running).
-Lattin's Cider Mill for fresh spiced cider and apple fritters.
-More errands (Lowe's, Home Depot, and Target)

I love having my mom here! We wore ourselves out and I was dead asleep (on the couch) at about 8:45. Whew.

Today we're headed to Trader Joe's, then back to the house for yard work! We had perfect Fall-in-WA weather yesterday, and it should be nice today once the incredibly thick fog lifts. Hope you're having a wonderful first Fall weekend in your neck of the woods!

I sure miss this guy...
...especially on his birthday! Happy, happy day, my love. See you soon.

Recipe Exchange!

My s-i-l, Charla, put out the call for recipes...Here's a favorite of mine - my niece, Marla, introduced me to this over the summer. Super easy and delicious.

Spinach Sausage Pasta

Ingredients:

2 cups rotini or penne pasta, uncooked

1/2 lb. hot or mild Italian sausage (you can use the kind that comes ground, found by the ground beef or breakfast sausage, depending on the store...it's also great with brats - just slice them up into bite-sized pieces!)

1 pkg. (6 oz.) baby spinach leaves (7 cups)

1 can (14-1/2 oz.) Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained (the kind with oregano, garlic, and basil already in them)

1 cup Shredded Low-Moisture Part-Skim Mozzarella Cheese

2 Tbsp. Grated Parmesan Cheese

COOK pasta as directed on package.

MEANWHILE, crumble meat into large deep skillet. Cook on medium-high heat 10 to 12 min. or until cooked through, stirring occasionally; drain. Add spinach and tomatoes; cook 2 min. or until spinach is wilted, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; cover to keep warm.

DRAIN pasta. Add to skillet along with the cheeses; toss lightly.

*Note - be sure to add the cheese right before serving...otherwise, it tends to clump. Oh, and you may want to double this recipe, it's that good.

I'm sure I'll think of some more to share, but that one is the easiest to remember, and turns out great every time!

I can hit my hybrids.

Yes, I can.

On the ground.

No tee.

(This is a milestone for me, so I thought I'd document my new golf progress - mainly for my own memory preservation, but also for Will to see I'm making some gains. This might have been the last decent day to go to the driving range for a while.)

**Update: My doctor (I say "my" but in reality I see a different person each time) says I do have carpal tunnel. She pressed and manipulated my wrists and my fingers went tingly then slightly numb, which apparently is a tell-tale sign. I haven't really felt that before her prodding, though. Also, I have only been having serious pain in the mornings...it seems to subside in the afternoons/evenings. Apparently, this is normal. The doctor also ordered x-rays to have as a baseline to check back with later as this hopefully improves. I will wear splints on my wrists/hands every night and when I'm at home just hanging around. Oh, and I will take anti-inflammatories daily. I'm just hoping I can sleep with those things on my arms!**

Weekend Updates...

-I got an email about this today. Well, I got an email with the info, and I looked on Snopes myself. What do you think?

-My to-do list for when Mom is here (she comes Friday and stays through the next Sunday) already has a few things: finally hang fan in the Man Room, fix the back door (won't latch anymore), repair damage to the coffee table caused by Will's dog (a.k.a. Dixie, who, as of this week, has munched three of the four legs), and tackle the overgrown planter box. But don't worry, we'll have time for fun, too.

-Also about Mom (& Dad), I made over their blog and I'm going to give Mom a tutorial while she's here. Expect random posting soon.

-I'm going to the doctor in the morning. I hate going because it's not close and I have to take off a whole day (they tend to be running late, and then if you need any meds you have to wait eons for the pharmacy). However, we have quality doctors and don't pay anything (other than months away from our spouses, but it is a good feeling to walk out with bags of meds without paying a dime). Anyway, a couple of weeks ago I noticed something was wrong with my right hand. I thought at first it was sore from pulling so many weeds...then I attributed it to holding the bar in my weight training class...and now I think it's something more chronic (I have not done that class since last Monday, and I have not done any yard work besides mowing). I have it on good authority/advice that it might be carpal tunnel syndrome - and this would be very ironic because for a long time I thought carpal tunnel was something people made up so they didn't have to work...I know that sounds ignorant, but my experience (years ago) with people who had this was limited, and they were totally the type of people who would claim to have such a thing and really not. This paragraph has gotten way too long, and I will hopefully have more information tomorrow as to why I can't pick up a full coffee pot with my right hand.

-I was catching up on blogs this morning and saw this posted on Donna's blog. This guy is amazing, and I especially like this video. What a tribute...

-This is a great site (thanks, Uncle Rocky!).

-I tried a new class at the gym tonight. Afterwards, I decided it's the perfect hump day class - not too strenuous, but definitely a workout, and lots of fun! I looked like a total fool! At one point we were zumba-ing to Shakira's "Hips Don't Lie" and mine sure didn't - they told the true story that this girl has got no moves...

-I'm so glad my mom is coming to visit soon! I just wish I didn't have to work while she's here.

-About work, it's going so well. I love my class and the other sixth grade teacher. We just mesh well, and collaborate, and (shocker) we both actually enjoy kids! This relationship makes all the difference in the world as far as boosting my want-to factor...I want to work with this person and I enjoy our meetings. Things aren't perfect (are they ever?) but they are far and away better than last year.

-If you know someone who's husband/wife is going to be delployed and they don't already use Netflix, you should get it for them as a gift (just for the months of the deployment, or go in together with a few friends to cover it). It has been really nice to be able to fill some of the hours that I'm home alone, hours that I don't feel like doing anything but curling up on the couch and relaxing with a movie. One of the guys who is deployed with Will takes care of the Netflix queue for his wife - she never knows what's coming next and it's been fun for her to see how well her husband knows her tastes. I think you could do this for a friend, especially one that you know well.

...Just my two cents. Hope you have a great end to the week!

This is some of the best stuff I've heard lately.

My favorite part:

"I am tired of the Obama supporters thinking that if you aren’t voting for him you are stupid, or ill-informed, or don’t care about our country. And that you are probably racist.

I am tired of the McCain supporters thinking that if you aren’t voting for him you are stupid, ill-informed, or don’t care about our country. And that you probably hate war veterans."

Chris, from Notes from the Trenches, is nothing if not refreshing. The banter in my part of the country has gotten especially ugly, and I need a dose of refreshing every once in a while. Also, my brother-in-law-in-law Barry has written an eloquent, thought-provoking post entitled "Blue Like Obama: One Evangelical's Case Against the Evangelical Case for Barack Obama." Very much worth checking out.

Bountiful Harvest

(Yes, more on my gardening...there's not a lot going on, and I'm feeling overwhelmingly domestic as fall approaches.)

Well, I only ended up with two successful "crops" this year (because they overtook the rest)...however, the abundance of those, zucchini and cherry tomatoes, has been surprising to say the least.


So, what did I do with my abundance of zucchini? I shredded my two monster zucchinis (using what is possibly my all-time favorite kitchen gadget, my Cuisinart food processor - thanks Leslie!) and ended up with 30 cups! Yesterday, I decided to make some zucchini bread for the troops (well, my troop, even though he's not sure that he even likes zucchini bread). I opted for the healthy version, replacing half of the oil with applesauce and cutting the sugar way down while adding 1/4 cup molasses to give it a sweet, caramel flavor. Well, it's pretty...

...but not sweet at all. It was an unexpected taste, but good nonetheless. It would be really tasty with a drizzle of cream cheese icing, but that would totally defeat the point...sigh.

I have truly enjoyed the normal-sized fresh zucchini, especially sauteed with a little olive oil, garlic, and onion. Mmm.


Now, onto the tomatoes. This plant is unreal. I have so many cherry tomatoes that I am giving them away in droves. One day I had seemingly thousands of green clumps, almost like grapes, and now every day they are ripening and begging to be picked and enjoyed. I pick a bowlful each day, eat what I can/want, and bring the rest to coworkers. I'd love to share them with Will, who chose this plant, but I don't think they freeze - right? Maybe I could simmer them into a tomato sauce base and freeze that? Let me know if you have any ideas/advice. Anyway, aren't they gorgeous?


The dogs love them - they get all of the fruit that has already split open with ripeness. And they try to get the rest...

...as I attempt to photograph my bountiful harvest.

This little guy was interesting...


So, it's feeling a lot like fall with harvesting going on, with youth football kicking off (I love watching my bobbleheads in action - some of them are really good for sixth graders), and a distinct chill in the air each evening...That, and the fact that I picked these up at Target the other day:


They're good, but I think they'd be a lot better if they were coated in dark chocolate with the pumpkin spice as filling.

Happy fall, y'all.

-Did anyone else hear Obama this morning on "This Week" when he said he's for exploring the idea of performance pay for teachers?

-I was feeling lonely today after church (and really missing post-church lunches at the pho place with Will) so I decided to go to the Farmer's Market. It was a gorgeous day and people were in the mood to talk. I had some really interesting conversations about produce and learned quite a bit. I also was able to help a lady put a name to a vegetable that she had once had - jicama (she was trying to describe it to one of the vendors and they didn't know what she was talking about). She found me later while I was having a snack and watching the bluegrass band perform, and she invited me to visit her church. If you know anything about where I live, you know how incredibly rare that kind of thing is.

-There are a lot of people on strike around here. I wish there was some other way for everything to be resolved, but I don't have any more ideas than the next guy. An interesting twist to one of these strikes is that the teachers in the Bellvue school district are posting videos of their strike on You Tube, providing their insight, reasoning, and personal stories.

-I hosted a going away party for a coworker yesterday. We had good food and good conversation...I cleaned the house and got the yard looking pretty nice for the party, so it was great to wake up and be able to relax and enjoy the sunny Sunday. I washed the cars and now I have a few Netflixed movies to catch up on.

-I'm making pasta with leftover chicken sausages and grilled chicken from last night's party, and I'm throwing in some fresh basil and garlic from the Farmer's Market. I'm hoping to take full advantage of that place before it closes in December (and doesn't open again until April). I also need to whip up some zucchini bread to send to my sweet husband along with some other goodies.

-That's all I've got. Happy week...hope it's a good one.

My next-door neighbor, Mandy, just got a blog up and running (not an easy feat when you're busy running after a two-year-old and getting your older one to Kindergarten for his first week of school)! Check it out!

This is how I feel after the last two days...I'd like to cry but I am too tired. I have a very large group of students with various needs (which is not different in and of itself from any year). But, this group is so, I don't know, needy. They need more of me than I'm sure I can give. I was relieved at how this first day went, especially after Open House - it was a constant barrage of parents telling me about their kids issues/meds/IEPs/family situations/allergies/etc. It was wonderful to finally meet them today, instead of their problems. They are a very, very special group and amazing things are happening in their lives...life changing things...and most of them aren't even 12 yet. Adoptions, a degenerative disease, divorces, marriages, any and all manner of ADD, ADHD, behavior disorders...And they are funny, sarcastic, bright, sharp as tacks, and they seem to kinda like me. It just seems as though this group, more so than any of my other past classes, has come to me at a time where their character is truly being molded. And I think they're the kind of group that will let me play a bigger role than just spectator. It's overwhelming.

It's likely I'll come out of this year with nothing left, an empty tank, but I am certain I'll be pouring it all out for a very good reason...make that 29 good reasons. And we're off...