tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151809572024-03-07T02:51:52.493-05:00In My Shoes"I get something out of them. When I feel down, I like to treat myself. Clothes never look any good, and food just makes me fatter, but shoes always fit." In Her Shoes ~Jennifer WeinerUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger386125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-73081535848262255172008-09-12T13:09:00.003-04:002008-09-12T13:36:37.233-04:00We're Moving!Well, not physically.<br /><br />But we're moving to a new spot in the blogosphere. Check us out over <a href="http://littlewhitefence.blogspot.com">here</a>.<br /><br />I know I haven't written in a while, but I'm hoping I have a <span style="font-style: italic;">few </span>loyal readers who will follow me to my new home.<br /><br />Hope to see you there!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-64118503637527369692008-08-07T07:11:00.002-04:002008-08-07T07:19:37.662-04:00A New BreakfastRembember this?<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/dkX8J-FKndE&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/dkX8J-FKndE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Now, have you seen <span style="font-style: italic;"></span>this<span style="font-style: italic;"></span>?<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/R94woFElb5o&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/R94woFElb5o&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Proof positive that my generation is now making their way in the corporate world. I don't know if it sends a positive message (after all, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088847/">The Breakfast Club</a> is not a group you would want your teens to look to as role models), but I love that the movie has had a "rebirth" with a new generation.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-22959155818683068502008-07-22T10:10:00.012-04:002008-12-11T06:05:54.362-05:00House Tour (in pictures)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225840999899471634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPwrrwMbHwnzLAe9R2zllAJskFfOJuZz35y30Ls4-yORxPTDDbIgwLk90vxfQOi6hldN82CDoi4DM4RyKqCahUIaciGVWdyt6ig7kFxM1Hjq0FccpgrUav0_qkIAvgT8C9Rv-x/s320/Picture1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWmHaTggGvbWyHQI6BCtiQkESnry8i_44PUDkwpB8Q4BJWXVUjs0Me2YnV6lUmyb2AbvEOuRgxq729beGknMsYZ8jFTQij3s-fpUxNvif0hObciRCwZIcihUAlpo_qzH7whK1/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225842254785531666" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsWmHaTggGvbWyHQI6BCtiQkESnry8i_44PUDkwpB8Q4BJWXVUjs0Me2YnV6lUmyb2AbvEOuRgxq729beGknMsYZ8jFTQij3s-fpUxNvif0hObciRCwZIcihUAlpo_qzH7whK1/s320/To+Be+Filed+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qorJrxMyF3itrHDBfDct1hVrB8NP_94MFAvqqUqUdlik5-OJLJEoIqyEZsCQrNoWl7S_4SN-Ccq2wXfPA6cuWHx7-jogjqmVzYdBYeyul67dPVtsR3QZiv_wqnLwivKQZ_RQ/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225842146441357474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3qorJrxMyF3itrHDBfDct1hVrB8NP_94MFAvqqUqUdlik5-OJLJEoIqyEZsCQrNoWl7S_4SN-Ccq2wXfPA6cuWHx7-jogjqmVzYdBYeyul67dPVtsR3QZiv_wqnLwivKQZ_RQ/s320/To+Be+Filed+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIAXLBTpMZFrQKI5JbTH9EhmXM7z8c4ViI69SLPM1JKzq3oDtft1KpkEmoZ1V-qZZGYYJPCC_QhiU0_GE573Hx32HBXKYtxCvuU0yVoSBp4PH_tcHRvYeAchu4vE1K7GgInoX/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225842017500916178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIAXLBTpMZFrQKI5JbTH9EhmXM7z8c4ViI69SLPM1JKzq3oDtft1KpkEmoZ1V-qZZGYYJPCC_QhiU0_GE573Hx32HBXKYtxCvuU0yVoSBp4PH_tcHRvYeAchu4vE1K7GgInoX/s320/To+Be+Filed+008.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rkudJSw0SsUdnBH9-MgErWq7ND0CCZ2lTYl0XQPD6yCab7-QsanWcnDZ8WyUcp4x5iZ-RNhb7FsI_HGk-5MuHhuXe1AbOYpIsSQviwK5BKZbXp_HCX3P8-ol_Asc6yum9NKN/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225841889299324434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-rkudJSw0SsUdnBH9-MgErWq7ND0CCZ2lTYl0XQPD6yCab7-QsanWcnDZ8WyUcp4x5iZ-RNhb7FsI_HGk-5MuHhuXe1AbOYpIsSQviwK5BKZbXp_HCX3P8-ol_Asc6yum9NKN/s320/To+Be+Filed+007.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekE4V16vmgqYd6-Ro2eOnLtTL0dSLO2z-VRgOxfgfTBiFluHNBH09EvJnttlLgSmvwxQdWuJuP7wMkRwDxMh3XLdTbfW1cGiBah3TpIVl2hyphenhyphen5GD6sq7XXQwM9a0AiXDa8Dwyp/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225841747829248866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekE4V16vmgqYd6-Ro2eOnLtTL0dSLO2z-VRgOxfgfTBiFluHNBH09EvJnttlLgSmvwxQdWuJuP7wMkRwDxMh3XLdTbfW1cGiBah3TpIVl2hyphenhyphen5GD6sq7XXQwM9a0AiXDa8Dwyp/s320/To+Be+Filed+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttNISrKTEN4bODXklGeu-w-o5lsA00IrCRaYfidTj0Rl5JlzWimN263_pNdbqEcPmNZgnOVOHtojzaFi5aZof02uhbdfe6ERLBe8ABE3Ct6SsX9_tPBLZkHCtcVSCWjZdB6dI/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225841626976933730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjttNISrKTEN4bODXklGeu-w-o5lsA00IrCRaYfidTj0Rl5JlzWimN263_pNdbqEcPmNZgnOVOHtojzaFi5aZof02uhbdfe6ERLBe8ABE3Ct6SsX9_tPBLZkHCtcVSCWjZdB6dI/s320/To+Be+Filed+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTEF7DgQYR_vfBx2Fry8-sy0aR1UgJn2Hqv-L7Q2_fG7LZpg15M3mtAzxpZsDb9nJpcDa6r5Yz0OIll3g94tUY5iIKhWX855O037_L2N_YRg5m8b2tHngbUYN6_9WTa_4pwR9/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+004.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225841508660099218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTEF7DgQYR_vfBx2Fry8-sy0aR1UgJn2Hqv-L7Q2_fG7LZpg15M3mtAzxpZsDb9nJpcDa6r5Yz0OIll3g94tUY5iIKhWX855O037_L2N_YRg5m8b2tHngbUYN6_9WTa_4pwR9/s320/To+Be+Filed+004.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuHz-0A5g1AYdzkUahtbx6oLMJ_SRqp0IDV5MmYrOVR2PCD_8D1JbOQ-TAPH9fpASfl47AscQl4y6SfteP6aVUGGEhYNuesECinGow5LA3IAIVvOq32QtQldAY7gaFs7yRXGu/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225841405355943298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJuHz-0A5g1AYdzkUahtbx6oLMJ_SRqp0IDV5MmYrOVR2PCD_8D1JbOQ-TAPH9fpASfl47AscQl4y6SfteP6aVUGGEhYNuesECinGow5LA3IAIVvOq32QtQldAY7gaFs7yRXGu/s320/To+Be+Filed+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv904IwcB9nLnouH-qN2AKA88-IwnV3HqSJ6T5Y0KKsAVdbfGX8CpT_vlpLSV81Y9Tbi8vIv2Bi7pLqppshKvBfzrDYJ8Oikg2n7_PEFI-CwfWoVuHHcg02NKsPoFr8qAyMzJ-/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225841272952409506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv904IwcB9nLnouH-qN2AKA88-IwnV3HqSJ6T5Y0KKsAVdbfGX8CpT_vlpLSV81Y9Tbi8vIv2Bi7pLqppshKvBfzrDYJ8Oikg2n7_PEFI-CwfWoVuHHcg02NKsPoFr8qAyMzJ-/s320/To+Be+Filed+002.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoIXN5UJeyQRDMQgbs5IKt1b5Znku7qtpED8HnQzfEiTvACYmmxaS73wojledCQeqlOP_jnUzldGKFE6MNzBbnIsEBaO7oEUY3WJXlhLNsmZ8FjoeJRFYxQUzVOWE6ufSKjAG/s1600-h/To+Be+Filed+001.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225841146937634402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoIXN5UJeyQRDMQgbs5IKt1b5Znku7qtpED8HnQzfEiTvACYmmxaS73wojledCQeqlOP_jnUzldGKFE6MNzBbnIsEBaO7oEUY3WJXlhLNsmZ8FjoeJRFYxQUzVOWE6ufSKjAG/s320/To+Be+Filed+001.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-11941570742714085762008-07-20T19:17:00.002-04:002008-07-20T19:39:37.646-04:00Homemaking and SuchThat's where I've been. Last weekend my parents came down with the truck (thank you, thank you!) and my dad and Kevin picked up the two bookcases and loveseat we had bought from Ikea. Can I just pause a moment here to share how much I <em>love </em>Ikea? The furniture is reasonably priced, but holds up soooo well. Our guestroom is outfitted with furniture that was bought from Ikea...20 years ago! Not only is it still serviceable, but no way does it look that old. So yeah, living within half an hour from Ikea is a shopping fantasy fulfilled.<br /><br />So we had help picking up the furniture. And also putting togetherthe grill that was our third anniversary wedding gift to each other. We both forgot to write about that, too....does that make us "old" married folk? Married for 3 years, together for 7. Back to the grill...I've been wanting a grill for a few years. It's Virginia law, though, that if you live on the second floor of a building, you cannot have a grill on the patio. A law that many break, but I myself am always a law abiding citizen and so... no grill. It was one of the very first purchases we made after moving into this house.<br /><br />While the guys were out picking up furniture and a new lawnmower and putting together the grill, us girls went on a shopping spree. Mom bought for us a new floor lamp, a table lamp, and an area rug. I completed the ensemble by purchasing a few pillows from Kohls. The resulting room is my absolute favorite room in the house. I have to get pictures up here, but I haven't quite gotten that far yet.<br /><br />So that's the homemaking part, now on the such...<br /><br />I have a new job working as a tutor. I was supposed to have training Thursday and Friday of last week, but "training" evolved very quickly into "working" and now this coming week, I'll be into my regular routine of working evenings, Monday-Wednesday and Fridays. This will be a change, and something I haven't quite figured out yet. I'll be leaving for work around the time Kevin is getting home, so we'll have less time together in the evenings, and I won't be around to cook dinner. We'll have to figure that one out as we go along.<br /><br />And I'm halfway through a 4-week summer course. This has proven to be pretty intensive, as it's a full graduate course load in four weeks. I'm spending lots of time on the computer, but definitely not for my own entertainment.<br /><br />Wish me luck as I jump back into a work routine.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-48688723335997963322008-07-11T09:58:00.002-04:002008-07-11T10:04:13.365-04:00Off the DoleOkay, I was never really <em>on, </em>since my paychecks from the job I left won't technically stop for another month or so. But now I have <em>new </em>employment, starting in about a week and a half, with a learning center nearby. <br /><br />I've gone through interview rounds several times in the last 4 years. I've had the bad interviews. You know, the ones where you leave and you just <em>know</em> you're not getting that call. <br /><br />This was the exact opposite. I had the phone interveiw on Monday, they asked me to come in yesterday for a face to face. And it was one of those interviews where everything just went perfectly. So when they offered me the position at the end of two hours, I took it. <br /><br />Woohoo!<br /><br />It feels good to have that piece in place.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-43007469438200671752008-07-06T17:39:00.002-04:002008-07-06T17:53:01.631-04:00RestartIt's been almost a week since I've had internet access and thus the ability to check and respond to emails, blog, search for addresses in a new city, or just plain surf the net. Do you know how reliant upon those things I have become? NOT having it has been challenging.<br /><br />While we are technically in the DC suburbs area (isn't ALL of Northern Virginia?) you wouldn't know it by looking out my window. Or walking through the neighborhood. Or even driving a few miles in any direction. It's alot of wooded areas, and quiet streets, and <span style="font-style: italic;">hills</span>. It's been awhile since I've lived in an area with hills. Very pretty. The house is fantastic, though we have to do some painting we hadn't anticipated. Fortunately, though, just in two small bedrooms, so it's not <span style="font-style: italic;">too </span>big of a job. Kevin's working on the trim work as I write and I'll paint the rest tomorrow while he's at work.<br /><br />The hard part is that alot is still in boxes. Boxes which cannot be unpacked until the two rooms which need paint are painted (a project that was started today and will hopefully be finished by the end of the week), and the bookcases we're purchasing from Ikea arrive (Dad to the rescue with his truck next weekend). I am not a patient person. In fact, I sense that I'm starting to become an irritating whirlwind. My "let's do it now!" attitude has led to some small disgruntlements around the house. Kevin is being very patient with me, but I also think he'll be glad to go back to work tomorrow, where he's not constantly exposed to my "creative brainstorms." <br /><br />And so here we are. It doesn't feel like home yet and I'm still thinking "I need to ____________" at every turn, but we're here, safe and sound.<br /><br />Restart.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-53464861145639734192008-06-23T12:42:00.006-04:002008-12-11T06:05:54.688-05:00Bare WallsAll the pictures have been taken down off the walls. The valuables have been moved to temporary residence at a friend's house in DC. Mostly now it's hurry up and wait.<br /><br /><div>The movers arrive on Thursday. We'll be leaving this:</div><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215119000986569314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeIpkPR4-0eDY0SE1PEh9SirhiJkqhWLK_saH6pxZbm6USJoo9Bq2eBIzKp7XViiOMHrs95VpTM2WVwQ-KX8hy__hthu_sQr5Y96yxkzu6VNTW9KdROYlSTXQAM78_P50g7T6/s320/south+beach.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>And on July 1st, we'll move into this:<br /></div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5215119361490616866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKTwaUtMqgl74OlFf4zM9T7DO1nIX3T7BnEXhz7dHHmrjehNsRq502LujK773o5EK_s0rlTpZDHKTxl52aXhqYlvzoeBWMlp7NffojD5Rz9B8KOhUCG3mYk6vg9kE4cVrsI8EF/s320/Picture1.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>I'm not sure how I feel about all this yet. On the one hand, I'm looking forward to the change. We've lived here for fourh years and loved it, but we had gotten to the point where we had outgrown our apartment and the neighbors who live around us (mainly the guy who has the bass turned up so loud that the walls vibrate). On the other hand, as much as I love the house (I'll post more pictures when it's officially ours and not someone else's), it's alot of <em>house</em> and I don't know what to do with all of it. It actually makes me a little nervous.</div><div></div><div>I've got "last dates" lined up this week. Dinner and SATC tonight. Another dinner on Wednesday night. I hate saying goodbye to people so it's alot of "I'll be back to visit."</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-76455900055388542902008-06-20T07:32:00.004-04:002008-06-20T08:02:09.219-04:00Baby Mamas<div align="center"><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><strong> Mass. teen girls made pregnancy pact</strong></span></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">GLOUCESTER, Mass. (AP) — <em>A pact made by a group of teens to get pregnant and raise their babies together is at least partly behind a sudden spike in pregnancies at Gloucester High School, school officials said.<br />Principal Joseph Sullivan told Time magazine in a story published Wednesday that the girls confessed to making the pact after the school began investigating a rise in pregnancies that has left 17 girls at the school carrying a child. Normally, there are about four pregnancies a year at the school.<br />Sullivan told Time that nearly half of the expecting students, none over 16, were involved. Sullivan said students were coming to the school clinic multiple times to get pregnancy tests, and "seemed more upset when they weren't pregnant than when they were."<br />Some of the girls reacted to the news they were pregnant with high fives and plans for baby showers, Sullivan said. One of the fathers "is a 24-year-old homeless guy," Sullivan told the magazine.<br />Superintendent Christopher Farmer confirmed the deal to WBZ-TV, saying the girls had "an agreement to get pregnant."<br />He said the girls are generally "girls who lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their life."<br />The first reports of the students' apparent plan to get pregnant were in the Gloucester Daily Times in March, when Sullivan said students were reporting that the girls were getting pregnant on purpose.<br />The rash of pregnancies has shaken the seaside city about 30 miles north of Boston. Last month, two officials at the high school health center resigned to protest the resistance from the local hospital to the confidential distribution of contraceptives. The hospital administers the state money that funds the clinic.</em></span></div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="left"><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em> </div><div align="left">This makes me sad on so many levels. Sad that these girls were uneducated/ignorant enough to make this pact. Sad that their lives as teenagers are about to come to a screeching halt, before they even get driver's licenses. But mostly sad for these babies.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">What happened? The media is blaming movies such as <em>Juno</em> and <em>Knocked Up</em>. But like the saying, "Guns don't kill people...people kill people", movies don't impregnate...people do that. So what happened? The superintendent says that they were girls who "lack self-esteem and have a lack of love in their lives." I'm cautious here...who is this according to? Generally, superintendents are not really "in the know" when it comes to the students. They tend to be on the outside, in neat offices, rather than down in the trenches. So who fed that statement to him? The girls who, like most teenagers, probably don't feel like they get enough attention? The teachers? We don't always know what's going on either. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">But back to the babies. What happens now? How many will be raised by 15 year old mothers, who really WON'T be the ones raising and supporting them financially? How many will be raised by 35 year old grandparents, who weren't even finished raising their own children let alone their grandchildren? How many will be dumped into an already overloaded foster care system, where they are likely to be moved from home to home to home? I have a coworker who miscarried their perfectly healthy baby at 8 months. Another who is currently paying thousands for IVF in order to have a child with her second husband. A friend who had two miscarriages trying to conceive her third child. Another who, after years of searching for the right man and not succeeding decided to try AI, and was then told, in her mid-30s, that her eggs were "too old" and it was not likely to happen. All women who are financially stable, have good jobs, 4 out 5 with supportive spouses, all suffering trauma. And yet a group of under 16-year-olds are successful. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">I think the babies should have a say. Years ago I saw a Shirley Temple movie, the name of which I cannot remember. But there's a scene where all the babies are gathered up in heaven, looking down. When it's "their time" they ride down on a cloud to the waiting parents. Okay, not realistic, I know. But I love that image. Wouldn't it be wonderful if these babies could CHOOSE the life they were entering into? Then those parents who were responsible and ready would be rewarded, without heartache, and those who weren't would not be punished, exactly, but would not receive that child until the time was right.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Some things would be so much easier if you took the science out of it.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-54286549300553410342008-06-17T19:01:00.002-04:002008-06-17T19:12:03.156-04:00The Next StepI headed out after work on Friday for a wonderful weekend on the Eastern Shore. I would have pictures if <em>somebody</em> (ahem, ahem!) would send me the pictures from the camera. But <em>somebody</em> is hogging all the photographic memories. Or it could be that I'm too lazy to sit at the computer and receive each one, one-by-one, and told aforementioned somebody just to put them on my computer when he's home this weekend. Either/or. But anyway...antiquing, fresh seafood, ice cream, dolphins, and wild ponies abounded. Very nice. <br /><br />Got back Sunday afternoon and slept for 3 hours, then got up, watched a movie and went back to sleep.<br /><br />Yesterday I putzed around in the morning and then went to visit a coworker and her new (5 day old) baby boy. <br /><br />Which brings us to today. Today I started the job search. I sent out my resume to several locations, but it wasn't until this afternoon, at Mom's urging (thanks Mom!) that I found an opportunity I felt really excited about. It could be a foot in the door for my next career, as well as provide additional experience in the field. Unfortunately, once I sent in my resume, there's nothing I can do but sit and wait. So if you're the praying type, or even the positive energy type, send some well-wishes this direction. <br /><br />On to the next step.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-47619088126187411442008-06-12T20:39:00.003-04:002008-06-12T20:40:33.174-04:00Re: AlmostBefore it's pointed out, I realize that the picture below has traces of snow, indicating that it is NOT referencing summer break.<br /><br />But the sentiment stands the same.<br /><br />And that is SO me tomorrow, come 3:00 (or perhaps earlier, if the powers that be permit it).Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-25509768237156338122008-06-12T19:55:00.001-04:002008-12-11T06:05:54.913-05:00Almost<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9keH9SJIuM1AARhjeo-s0Vqsg7Q6xoPIPE9z2fGHwRcyOhZT6D9cb6tJ1_P6NbmWeT-n7RQz1OXza7KfNRR0cYlOpbZE3rEiRW-xIMUYuqrWCOhCg4Q3ajqAkphZie2CCi7T-/s1600-h/School's+Out!.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211148168770603890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9keH9SJIuM1AARhjeo-s0Vqsg7Q6xoPIPE9z2fGHwRcyOhZT6D9cb6tJ1_P6NbmWeT-n7RQz1OXza7KfNRR0cYlOpbZE3rEiRW-xIMUYuqrWCOhCg4Q3ajqAkphZie2CCi7T-/s400/School's+Out!.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-49071366874955474992008-06-09T21:09:00.001-04:002008-06-09T21:23:55.161-04:00Woot!Kevin says that that's not a grown up word. Which is probably true, but this is what happens when you spend more time with 11-year-olds than with educated adults. But still...<br /><br />We are <em>finally </em>in the last week of school. When you live in a resort town where school cannot start until after Labor Day, you go way past the time everyone else is out, resulting in a sense of "Why me?" Federal law requires 180 days of instruction. My district tacks on an extra 3, just to be sure. The end result is that the kids are all hyped up, and the teachers are just as hyped, but also wiped out. Regardless, by noon on Friday, graduation will be over and the kids I have taught for the last two years will be headed on to the great unknown that is MIDDLE SCHOOL. Before that, however, we have the chorus field trip, and the 5th grade picnic, and field day, and a movie-and-pizza party, and a final graduation rehearsal. Fun days? Absolutely. Tiring? You betcha.<br /><br />But!<br /><br />Kevin and I just booked a totally impulsive getaway to the Eastern Shore this weekend. Thanks to his military discount, I booked a room for literally HALF of the going rate. 2 days and 2 nights of sleeping in, and long breakfasts, and hiking, and small-town shopping, and seafood dinners (at least for me), and absolutely anything that involves lesson plans, or grades, or report cards, or discipline referrals.<br /><br />Yeah. Come on... You know it's in there...<br /><br />WOOT!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-9292014365300557222008-05-28T17:05:00.002-04:002008-05-28T17:09:13.712-04:00Commercial UpdateA week ago, I posted on <a href="http://navybride2005.blogspot.com/2008/05/must-be-green.html#links">this </a>commercial. At the time, I couldn't find the commercial on YouTube. It's there now. I've noticed, though, that it is no longer being aired on television.<br /><br />For your viewing pleasure:<br /><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/N3QKtMFeFcY&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/N3QKtMFeFcY&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-80510347823684658012008-05-24T08:07:00.004-04:002008-05-24T09:05:48.344-04:00What happens when I have free time on a rainy SaturdayInstructions<br />1. Go to Photobucket (I used Google Image).<br />2. Type in your answer to the question in the “search” box.<br />3. Use only the first page.<br />4. Copy the html and paste for the answer.<br /><br />1. First name?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.poster.net/sharapova-maria/sharapova-maria-photo-xxl-maria-sharapova-6233842.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 138px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 189px" height="272" alt="" src="http://www.poster.net/sharapova-maria/sharapova-maria-photo-xxl-maria-sharapova-6233842.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://leadership.wharton.upenn.edu/l_change/conferences/Bartiromo_Maria.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br />2. Favorite color?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.space538.org/images/gallery/bravo_cheves_dahl/DAHL_CeruleanBlue.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 224px; CURSOR: hand" height="147" alt="" src="http://www.space538.org/images/gallery/bravo_cheves_dahl/DAHL_CeruleanBlue.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />3.Celebrity crush?<br /><br /><a href="http://ithinkimdying.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/patrick_dempsey.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" height="202" alt="" src="http://ithinkimdying.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/patrick_dempsey.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />4. Band you're listening to right now?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/artd/amg/music/bio/3023031_sugarland_200x200.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 186px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 140px" height="164" alt="" src="http://www.artistdirect.com/Images/artd/amg/music/bio/3023031_sugarland_200x200.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><br />5. Favorite Movie?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.createyourscreenplay.com/images/PrettyW.JR.chicdress.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 203px; CURSOR: hand" height="142" alt="" src="http://www.createyourscreenplay.com/images/PrettyW.JR.chicdress.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/film/dancing460.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />6. Favorite Disney Princess?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.disney-vacation-time.com/img/sleeping-beauty/sleeping-beauty-4.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 169px; CURSOR: hand" height="145" alt="" src="http://www.disney-vacation-time.com/img/sleeping-beauty/sleeping-beauty-4.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />7. Favorite alcoholic beverage?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.stevesfrozenchillers.com/margarita.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 151px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 196px" height="256" alt="" src="http://www.stevesfrozenchillers.com/margarita.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />8. Dream vacation?<br /><br /><p><a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/126905457_53afae85bd_b.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 227px; CURSOR: hand" height="163" alt="" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/1/126905457_53afae85bd_b.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><p></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>9. Favorite dessert?</p><a href="http://www.shyiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/cheesecake.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 196px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 145px" height="168" alt="" src="http://www.shyiam.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/cheesecake.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><br /><p></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />10. What I want to be when I grow up?</p><p></p><p><a href="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/VAS/0000-4734-4~Pin-Up-Girl-Quiet-Please-Librarian-Posters.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; CURSOR: hand" height="177" alt="" src="http://imagecache2.allposters.com/images/pic/VAS/0000-4734-4~Pin-Up-Girl-Quiet-Please-Librarian-Posters.jpg" border="0" /></a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-12421869701022407492008-05-23T19:18:00.002-04:002008-05-23T19:25:08.922-04:00I'm NOT going to spend it sick!Today was the end of the longest week of the school year. In fifth grade, this is the week where everything comes to a head with 4 days of high-stakes testing. It's probably not coincidence that this is immediately followed by a 3-day weekend.<br /><br />I had a week off at Christmas...and was sick. Another week off right after Easter...and was sick. This is my first "vacation" since then...and I'm NOT going to spend it sick. Instead, I'll sleep and watch the NCIS marathon, and relish in the fact that this week is behind me and it's "smooth" sailing for the remaining 3 weeks of the school year.<br /><br />Woohoo!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-52316438441031704962008-05-22T21:01:00.003-04:002008-05-22T21:06:30.259-04:00I'm generally wary of little ones who skyrocket to stardom. Sometimes, they stop being little ones.<br /><br />That being said, listen to this little, cute-as-a-button six year old. And tell me you don't get chills.<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hkcE6Vy-e6c&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hkcE6Vy-e6c&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-79373703864231994652008-05-21T19:36:00.002-04:002008-05-21T19:41:47.810-04:00Must be the GreenAnybody seen the new M&Ms commercial, the freezer one?<br /><br />It reminds me of this:<br /><br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BVHRWSl1z8U&hl=en"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BVHRWSl1z8U&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />Is this really a smart move? Sorta questions M&Ms as children's candy, doesn't it?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-63061420329972513042008-05-16T17:37:00.003-04:002008-12-11T06:05:55.203-05:00Make Way for Ducklings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDJKd9I7VSXS3KEGyAQKcQYvFMvIWUsW35yRwCYIWgJNGgExcHCLgRBfhQBK0bzuD0dipQ6LXRpvoyyqDPQBPL4KA7YqWIaRhPaz_Lk6giccgH0M5lP_cHP9fQDPlR253xoak/s1600-h/Ducks.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5201093213009082994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxDJKd9I7VSXS3KEGyAQKcQYvFMvIWUsW35yRwCYIWgJNGgExcHCLgRBfhQBK0bzuD0dipQ6LXRpvoyyqDPQBPL4KA7YqWIaRhPaz_Lk6giccgH0M5lP_cHP9fQDPlR253xoak/s320/Ducks.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div align="left">Every spring, for the last 3 years, this mother duck lays her eggs under some bushes in the courtyard of our school. And every spring, this male Canada Goose appoints himself father and guardian of this mother and eggs. For the several weeks while she is resting, he can be seen patroling the grounds. He stands on the roof, squawking, in the morning. He stalks the grounds, chasing any who get too near to him. Then, when the eggs hatch, he disappears into the courtyard and stays with the mother and "his" new ducklings.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">Last Friday, 9 ducklings hatched. All this week, we've enjoyed watching the little fuzzballs explore their new surroundings. Eventually, though, they have to make the journey from the courtyard, through the hallway, out the opposite door, across the lawn and into the marshland on the other side. </div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">The spectacle is one not to be missed. It occurs after school, though the teachers are just as excited as the kids would be. We use gym mats to create a tunnel going across the short hallway from the courtyard to the back field. One of our male teachers, protected by a shield made from a cardboard box, shoos them through the tunnel. Mama trots ahead, with her 5 surviving babies toddling along behind. "Dad" brings up the rear, hissing (did you <em>know </em>geese hiss??), squawking and flapping at the teacher brave enough to get in his space. Once out in the field, the whole entourage moves to the marshland. The goose then leaves, and we don't see him again till next spring.</div><div align="left"> </div><div align="left">In our little corner of the world, this annual event is a sure sign of spring.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-76595916128056895282008-05-12T18:29:00.002-04:002008-05-12T18:39:43.047-04:00So Who's Counting?Me! Me!<br /><br />I can tell without even looking at the calendar <span style="font-size:78%;">(23 weekdays) </span>that the school year is ending. Physically, I'm worn down. Mentally, my creativity is zapped. But the biggest clue...the kids have gone <em>nuts. </em><br /><em></em><br />Really.<br /><br />Truly.<br /><br />Nuts.<br /><br />There are 4 school days till THE big state tests. I'm pulling out all the stops to keep them entertained and focused this week. But really? I just want to nap.<br /><br />And the weather. What is <em>up</em> with the weather? We've had more tornado watches/warnings in the last two weeks than in the entire 4 years I've lived here.<br /><br />Rain predicted till Wednesday means that it'll be a rough start to the week.<br /><br />Hopefully spring will return on Wednesday to refresh my mood.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-68657857118384270692008-04-27T19:25:00.004-04:002008-04-27T19:34:27.199-04:003 more checks on the listMore wrapups this weekend.<br /><br />On Friday, I turned in the "Intent to Vacate" form for our apartment.<br /><br />Yesterday, we went to see the last show on our season tickets. <a href="http://broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/smokey.htm">Smokey Joe's Cafe</a>. Worth every penny spent.<br /><br />Today, I finished the last final exam for this graduate semester. Yes, that's right, folks. Is there an "Amen!" out there? There's alot of 'em in here.<br /><br />And then tomorrow...is another week.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-68330987667764710302008-04-19T20:06:00.002-04:002008-04-19T20:15:40.965-04:00Sunny SaturdayAfter a week of "regular" work with the addition of report cards on top of that, Friday afternoon couldn't come fast enough. Kevin managed to make it out of DC at an early hour and arrived back here to the beach in time to join myself and another couple for drinks and a leisurely (3 hour) dinner at <a href="http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/ORFVHHF-Hilton-Virginia-Beach-Oceanfront-Virginia/dining.do#1">Catch 31</a>. That was enough for both of us and we both crashed by 10pm. Yeah. We're real party people.<br /><br />I slept in till 7:30 (woohoo!) and then did nothing for the next two hours or so, before noticing that the <a href="http://www.vbfun.com/conventionCenter/conventionCenter/showEvents.asp">Spring Craft Show </a>was in town this weekend. The promise of shopping, in whatever form, was enough to spur me into action. I wasn't expecting to really find anything, but it turned out to be a really productive trip. I got my sister's birthday gift, which I'll hold till June. And an 8x10 print that Kevin and I both fell in love with on the spot. Well, actually, we fell in love with an original painted on velvet for $245. That being just <em>slightly </em>out of our range, we settled on the reproduction. No idea where I'm going to put it, but I figure somewhere in the new house is the perfect spot. And for $10, I couldn't pass it up.<br /><br />That was followed by a quick stop back at home for lunch, then out to run a few more weekend errands.<br /><br />Nothing spectacular, but a nice day nonetheless.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-53553743902169275992008-04-16T18:44:00.002-04:002008-04-16T18:55:59.580-04:00And the Lord Sayeth......stop working and read Redbook instead!<br /><br />Which, I might add, is a great plug for Redbook.<br /><br />It's been one of those weeks where I've been putting in alot of extra hours, both at work and then at home with my work. Yesterday turned into a 13 hour day, when all was said and done. Blech.<br /><br />So this afternoon, I came home again with the intention of grading the last of my essay papers, putting the grades into the online gradebook, and then working on report card comments, also on the online gradebook.<br /><br />Except the gradebook wasn't working. And then I found the newest issue of Redbook in my mailbox. So I'm pretty sure that's a personal invitation from the Divine to finish the grades tomorrow and "slack off" early tonight.<br /><br />Kevin, meanwhile, is loving his new job and his new life, and that's a good thing to see. I'm a little sad that I'm not yet there to share/celebrate/live this new phase with him, but I know that I made the right decision in staying till the end of the school year. I was a little jealous last night when he said that he didn't know what he was going to do to entertain himself, since he didn't have to be at work until 10am, and so didn't have to go to bed early. This morning when I left for work at 6:45, he was still snoozing away. I felt a <em><strong>little</strong></em> better, though, when he emailed me to tell me he had to work till 9:00. Weird hours.<br /><br />And that's all for here. Now, aren't you glad I wrote something? Because life is sooooo exciting....<br /><br />:pUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-58320292244201588692008-04-13T19:09:00.003-04:002008-04-13T19:27:16.216-04:00An Era EndingI turned in my last project for this semester of graduate work today. I still have a take-home exame to do next week, but otherwise I'm done for now. I'm taking some time off, there's no classes between the end of April and June 3. Summer session I begins June 4, but I'm not taking classes, as I will be finishing up the school year and preparing to move during that time. I'll be back at it again in July, this time from our new location. So that's a (small) goal accomplished.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Kevin "moved out" today. He may argue that point, but the reality is that "home" is now in transit. I'll continue to live here by the sea, while he begins the next phase of our life in DC. He'll be back here to visit on weekends, but somehow it doesn't feel the same. I feel like I'm killing time until I can make that move, too.<br /><br />Fortunately, with our state's high-stakes testing in just 5 weeks, "killing time" means I'll be working like crazy. I'm torn there, too. It's the end of the school year, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel that is the last day of school, and yet I'm starting to feel a twinge of sadness at leaving this staff behind. I've been in the building 3 years and feel a sense of cameraderie with the other teachers, after the ups and downs and changes we've been through in the last couple years. Because I looped up with them, I've also taught most of my 34 students for TWO years. There's a connection there that's more than I've had with my classes in the past. I've seen these kids go from "just out of third grade" to "almost in sixth grade." Graduation will be an emotional experience.<br /><br />So it's a reflective time. The end of this time in our lives and the beginning of another.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-4613800853038562102008-03-27T14:07:00.001-04:002008-03-27T14:09:20.789-04:00SpringWith temperatures climbing into the 70s today, and my being on spring break this week...<br /><br />I broke out the capris.<br /><br />Nothing says spring (and summer!) like capris.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15180957.post-10629322633793942582008-02-28T19:55:00.002-05:002008-02-28T20:01:51.697-05:00Maybe I Should Just Do This Once a MonthSo the "news" for the month:<br /><br />We found a home (for rent) in Burke, Virginia that we just signed a lease on this week. Gorgeous. I'm a little nervous it's too big for what we need, but it was too good of a deal to pass up and Kevin talked me into going to see it. Now he'll continue reassuring me that it's not too much space to fill. :p We move in at the beginning of July.<br /><br />I'm halfway through the most challenging graduate semester I've had so far. It's only two classes, but two classes, in addition to working full time, is forcing me to be very itemized in my time.<br /><br />That's just about it.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0