I have been trying really hard to get in bed by 10 p.m., so I am able to leap out of bed when the alarm goes off at 6 a.m. I am realizing, that I am a morning person, afterall. All those years of sleeping in until 9 a.m. or later where just me adapting.
But last night, I was sucked in by Dateline's interview with the mother of the recent octuplets. I couldn't help but think the woman was crazy like everyone else did, but I think she raised some valid reason as to why she produced that many children. Not to say that I think she should take government money or other handouts, but I can relate to her.
I am not judging her. I think too many rumors are flying and I am hard pressed to see which are facts and which are not. I can't imagine what it would be like to want kids so bad, only to be told you were unable to have them naturally. That you would have to be implanted with fertilized eggs and hope for the best. It's probably sort of twisted, but after 6, maybe she wasn't satisfied. If the doctor told her me I was running out of time, I might make a quick decision, too. I don't know. I would really have to examine all the facts, but I think people need to stop judging her and maybe look at her as a caring human being.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Peanut butter and Jelly and leftovers
Wow. I never imagined being so busy that I wouldn't even have time to make a decent meal. Even I can throw together something in 10 minutes. But yesterday, I went from teaching to Harrisburg to get a good parking space and study for a quiz, then right to class. I was gone from 7 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. I lived on granola bars and peanut butter and jelly. Today, I am eating a mixture of leftover pork barbecue (the store bought kind) and instant mashed potatoes. This can't be good for fitting into the dress for Amy's wedding. But I am constantly on the move. I like it, don't get me wrong, but it's taking a little getting used to. I am teaching mitosis, miosis and acceleration and the makeup of solutions. It's actually fun to try to get this kids to understand this complicated stuff. And they understand when I have to go over something that I don't know.
I won't see Nate until Saturday morning. That is crazy. He is on night work and I am going to bed early so I can function when I arrive at 7:30 a.m. to gather together my lessons.
I am hoping after a refeshing weekend, that I can pull myself back together and get into a good routine. Now, I just have to make it through the next few days.
I won't see Nate until Saturday morning. That is crazy. He is on night work and I am going to bed early so I can function when I arrive at 7:30 a.m. to gather together my lessons.
I am hoping after a refeshing weekend, that I can pull myself back together and get into a good routine. Now, I just have to make it through the next few days.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Apology
I know I promised photos, but I just didn't get the hutch done. Yes, it's all painted black, but I realized it needed a clear sealant coat because every time you bumped it, it peeled off. And, we are still working on clear coating the floor, which makes walking in the dining room impossible. That is one thing about DIY home projects; you never know know what will come of them. "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry." Hopefully by mid week or next weekend, my house will be back to normal and I can finally post pictures of our dining room overhaul! Thanks for understanding.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Work weekend
It's Friday night (technically Saturday morning) and I am hopped up on adrenaline, a 20-minute nap and Cracker Barrel coffee. After a week of work (and a few days off) I am so ready for the weekend. Nate and I have off and have grand plans to finish our dining room. I can't wait to show you photos. Some people get giddy about baby's with chubby cheeks or warm desserts with melted ice cream, but I get giddy about taking what seems like impossible home projects and completing them. Of course, babies and dessert make me giddy, too.
Anyway. I spent most of Thursday tweaking our terrible built-in hutch. I am sure whoever built it there had lovely intentions, but it just doesn't fit the room. It looks like the builder of the hutch made a few mistakes and just covered it with flimsy trim. Most of it is covered with laminate, but some of it is beautiful wood. The back splash -- if you will -- is wood panel. I have scratches all over my hands from using the cats paw (I think that is what it's called -- it's the tool you rip things apart with) to remove the sliding glass doors and tracks. I ripped out a funky scalloped trim, which I am sure was cool in the 1970s. I wondered as I was doing this, why I didn't rip the whole dang thing down. I also had a huge smile on my face the entire time because I did this ALL by myself. I even made two trips to True Value and made the right decisions.
But with 75 percent of the work done, I am so glad I didn't. I sanded the laminate and primed it, then used a black flat paint(which by the way hides brush strokes for you crazy painters like me) to paint all but the shelves and drawers. I have to say, it's looking mighty fine. I promise to have before and after photos before the weekend is over..if my hands survive. Nate also promises to have the floor done and the furniture moved back in. I can't wait to see my new and improved dining room.....all by our own hard work!
Anyway. I spent most of Thursday tweaking our terrible built-in hutch. I am sure whoever built it there had lovely intentions, but it just doesn't fit the room. It looks like the builder of the hutch made a few mistakes and just covered it with flimsy trim. Most of it is covered with laminate, but some of it is beautiful wood. The back splash -- if you will -- is wood panel. I have scratches all over my hands from using the cats paw (I think that is what it's called -- it's the tool you rip things apart with) to remove the sliding glass doors and tracks. I ripped out a funky scalloped trim, which I am sure was cool in the 1970s. I wondered as I was doing this, why I didn't rip the whole dang thing down. I also had a huge smile on my face the entire time because I did this ALL by myself. I even made two trips to True Value and made the right decisions.
But with 75 percent of the work done, I am so glad I didn't. I sanded the laminate and primed it, then used a black flat paint(which by the way hides brush strokes for you crazy painters like me) to paint all but the shelves and drawers. I have to say, it's looking mighty fine. I promise to have before and after photos before the weekend is over..if my hands survive. Nate also promises to have the floor done and the furniture moved back in. I can't wait to see my new and improved dining room.....all by our own hard work!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Yummy dinners
I have been making some tasty dinners lately, but of course it isn't until I am putting the dishes in the sink that I remember to take a photo. By then, it's too late.
We had fish on Monday, which as easy as sprinkling seasoning on frozen fillets and cooking it at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Tuesday, I made one of Nate's favorites, BBQ Nachos. I used to make Nate nachos all the time when we were dating, by my parents introduced us to the BBQ kind while dining at Smoky Bones and The Works.
Even though we have tons of pork left from the wedding, I used the store-bought stuff. It's pretty easy to throw in a saucepan and heat up. I layered blue and yellow tortilla chips on a plate and sprinkled mozzarella cheese on them and popped them in the microwave for 35 seconds to melt the cheese. When the pork was warm, I dropped little piles of pork on the nachos followed by a sprinkle of chopped lettuce, and finely diced tomatoes and onions. I also added sour cream, green salsa, guacamole and jalapenos. I promise you, even though I don't have a photo, it made for a colorful dish.
Wednesday I made an Olive-Garden worthy pasta dish in about 10 minutes. I have so many pasta noodles, shapes and sizes in my cupboards, but neither of us is a big pasta eater. I realized it was time to start using them.
So, I boiled garlic Parmesan fettuccine noodles in salted water. In the meantime, I sauted garlic, onion, mushroom, tomato, shrimp and imitation lobster meat in olive oil in a sauce pan...just enough to make it soft and warm. I sprinkled in a little pepper and sweet basil for some taste. We just served the veggie/seafood combo over the noodles! YUM. I will try to start taking more photos, I promise.
We had fish on Monday, which as easy as sprinkling seasoning on frozen fillets and cooking it at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Tuesday, I made one of Nate's favorites, BBQ Nachos. I used to make Nate nachos all the time when we were dating, by my parents introduced us to the BBQ kind while dining at Smoky Bones and The Works.
Even though we have tons of pork left from the wedding, I used the store-bought stuff. It's pretty easy to throw in a saucepan and heat up. I layered blue and yellow tortilla chips on a plate and sprinkled mozzarella cheese on them and popped them in the microwave for 35 seconds to melt the cheese. When the pork was warm, I dropped little piles of pork on the nachos followed by a sprinkle of chopped lettuce, and finely diced tomatoes and onions. I also added sour cream, green salsa, guacamole and jalapenos. I promise you, even though I don't have a photo, it made for a colorful dish.
Wednesday I made an Olive-Garden worthy pasta dish in about 10 minutes. I have so many pasta noodles, shapes and sizes in my cupboards, but neither of us is a big pasta eater. I realized it was time to start using them.
So, I boiled garlic Parmesan fettuccine noodles in salted water. In the meantime, I sauted garlic, onion, mushroom, tomato, shrimp and imitation lobster meat in olive oil in a sauce pan...just enough to make it soft and warm. I sprinkled in a little pepper and sweet basil for some taste. We just served the veggie/seafood combo over the noodles! YUM. I will try to start taking more photos, I promise.
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Work update
I have to say I expected to be a day-to-day substitute through the end of the school year. Of course, I hoped for somthing more concrete. I had a crazy phone call about two weeks ago, only two weeks into my subtitute teaching career. It was emotional supprt supervisor at York County School of Technology. She said the IU said I was available to substitite and she wanted to interview me!
I called her back, just to see what this was all about. After a little here and there, I am commited to fill in for the emotional support science teacher at YCST through the middle of May. I am excited, scared and happy all at one time. I will probably miss the day-to-day excitment of not knowing where to go. And even though I complain about random days off with no pay, I may miss them. Then again, I am happy to know that I am going to the same school and working with the same kids every day. I also know this is a great move for me and a step toward a full-time position in the fall, which is what I have been hoping for.
I am not really worried about the content. In the last month or so of subbing I have successfully covered many subject areas with no problems. It's the interactions with the students that I worry about. I hope I can help them and work with them without too many outbursts or tantrums.
Students always surprise me. Just when I thought high school subbing was the last thing I wanted to do, I had a super easy day Monday. And the best thing I heard all day was a senior boy who said, ""Our sub is hot." That doesn't hurt a gal's self esteem at all, does it?
I called her back, just to see what this was all about. After a little here and there, I am commited to fill in for the emotional support science teacher at YCST through the middle of May. I am excited, scared and happy all at one time. I will probably miss the day-to-day excitment of not knowing where to go. And even though I complain about random days off with no pay, I may miss them. Then again, I am happy to know that I am going to the same school and working with the same kids every day. I also know this is a great move for me and a step toward a full-time position in the fall, which is what I have been hoping for.
I am not really worried about the content. In the last month or so of subbing I have successfully covered many subject areas with no problems. It's the interactions with the students that I worry about. I hope I can help them and work with them without too many outbursts or tantrums.
Students always surprise me. Just when I thought high school subbing was the last thing I wanted to do, I had a super easy day Monday. And the best thing I heard all day was a senior boy who said, ""Our sub is hot." That doesn't hurt a gal's self esteem at all, does it?
Monday, February 2, 2009
Super bead
While the rest of the Stiger family cheered on their beloved Steelers, I used the chunk of time Sunday to start beading the crystal bracelets for Amy's bridesmaids. It's been a while since I did one of these bracelets, so I was a little rocky to start, but once I got on a roll, I cranked out three. I have two more to go, but I think one of the three is too small, so I should probably rip it out and start over on that one. Maybe one of the gals has a super-skinny wrist.I know the picture isn't very good, but I got so many compliments from all the girls (and guys) who were viewing the game at the Stigers. I am thinking of having a craft day at my house and teaching every one how to do these bracelets. I took a class at Ben Franklin Crafts (before it closed). They sell for about $40, but you can make them in about 30 minutes (once you get the hang of it) for $7 or so.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
