I've really got to do this more.

Blogging is nothing if not cathartic.  And it has been one busy summer for me. 

Summer started with the moving of the horse to a new barn.  He's happy, I'm happy, and he will hopefully gain weight.    It was still a tough move, and one that would have gone smoother if our moving wasn't simply ignored.  Once I told Lynn that we were leaving, Sydney and I became persona non gratis.  We would show up to ride, and no one would speak to us.  The day we left, no one said goodbye.   Both Syd and I thought that we had made friends at that barn; friends that we would have forever.  Turns out all we had were acquaintances.  Sad.


So we're at the new barn, which is quite a bit more expensive, but all of us are happy.  Doofus has settled in nicely, and Syd has started jumping lessons, which she loves.  Poor  Riley is having to suffer through my struggles with keeping a constant contact with him, and relearning my position, especially my "un-quiet" hands.  It comes, it goes, and while I know that we're both doing better, I wish it was easier.   He still isn't gaining weight, and the vet is coming out to look at him tomorrow.  I'm hoping that there is a quick (and cheap) fix for whatever ails him, but I'm preparing myself for the fact that it may be time to seriously begin looking for a newer model.

School begins in two weeks; after being moved around several times this summer, I am back to teaching 8th grade math & science.  I'm actually looking forward to it, mainly because Syd will be in the 8th grade with me, but not in any of my classes.  I'm not going to be grade level chair, and that's o.k. with me.  The only things I want to be in charge of are the trip to six flags and graduation. 

Syd's had a busy summer, which means I've had one also.  Her vb is going great; there is a 300% improvement over this time last year, and she has already made the starting rotation at school.  We're (as in I'm) pushing her because I'd like her to make the 15yo Boom team, as opposed to playing for the 14's.  I think she's capable, and I want to be away from some of the parents and kids I had to deal with last year. 

Ah-choo!

There are few things in life that I truly hate - - having a cold/sinus infection is one of them.

I can handle being sick.  I've had pneumonia, bronchitis, strep; those illnesses don't bother me.  Sure, I feel like crap, but I'm not miserable. I want to sleep more, so I stay bundled up and in bed.  Even with bronchitis, the right cough syrup will help me sleep. 

But give me a sniffles or a runny nose, and I'm all "please remove my head and don't worry about the anesthesia."   Realistically, I know that I don't need antibiotics.  This is a viral infection, and will work its way through my body in due time.  Drink lots of fluid, take my vitamin C, have kleenex on hand, take over the counter drugs, and eventually I'll feel better.  But when my nose starts to run, all common sense runs out the door with it and to the closest minute-clinic to beg for drugs.

Can you tell I feel miserable?  I had envisioned two weeks of riding my horse, writing papers, and generally getting stuff done.  Instead, I'm wallowing in self-pity and snotty kleenex.

Christmas Tales 2010

Remember those days when you were a child, and Christmas decorating was the most exciting thing e-v-e-r?  Then one day, you become an adult, with bins full of decorations that only you are responsible for putting up and taking down, and putting back into storage?  Suddenly, decorating for Christmas doesn't seem that important...

And then there is the cat that destroyed the Christmas tree....  In all of my years of owning cats and Christmas trees, I have never owned a cat that was determined to spend her life in the tree.  My previous cats looked at the tree, looked at me, and said "you really don't expect me to climb that thing, do you?"  Not this year.  Jilly-boo has made it her life's mission to make sure that there are no ornaments on the tree, nor an angel.  You put it up, she takes it down.  She is so determined to do this, that she managed to (1) get her leg tangled in the wires of the lights and then dangle upside down in the tree; (2) which caused her to bite my husband repeatedly while we were trying to get her out; (3) which we could only do by cutting the wires to the lights.  Did I mention that this was a pre-lit tree?  No?  Well, its not anymore.  In fact, this very expensive tree will be going into the trash heap this year, thanks to one incredibly stupid cat.  Why do I think she's stupid?  Because after getting stuck in the tree, she decided to climb back into the same tree 5 minutes later!  Look at the picture - - she has demon eyes, 'nuf said.

Day 1

So.....  I should be writing a paper on pedagogy, but instead am coming up with a million things to do besides work on my thesis.  Like starting this blog.  Its not that I don't like to write; I can write on just about any topic.  Some of my writing will actually be good.  I just don't want to work on my damn thesis.