First knitting lesson

Well, this weekend I had my first knitting lesson. Apparently you don't become an expert knitter on your first go-around. I wanted to become a pro immediately and was quickly frustrated by my fingers lack of cooperation. I couldn't believe how quickly my hands lost feeling in them as well. At one point I actually threw the would-be scarf on the floor, needles and all, and would have gotten up and stomped on them like a four-year old if they hadn't been rescued by my fine friend and teacher when she said "Ack! Give me that!" She surely has the patience of a saint. I one the other hand, have spent the past several days visualizing what my knitting should look like - how my hands should look like like, what the yarn should do while in my hand. I then got the courage to pick up my project today and managed to complete three rows correctly. PROGRESS!!! I then put it back down - happy - content - that I am now considering myself a skilled knitter and can quit and move on to another project.

picture credit

Just kidding. I will keep practicing, but in small steps so as not to frustrate myself too much.

Been a while...

I haven't posted since August 7 - an update to say I would be taking some time off due to a fire we had in our condo. Four months to the day, we were able to get back into our home. We have our bedroom set, and in the basement - a TV, couch, and recliner. No other furniture upstairs. If anything survived, it's in boxes. Boxes and boxes and boxes. At this point it's almost like - "I don't miss it, might as well pitch it..."

You spend your life thinking - "I want this, I need to get that," until one day it's all gone. And then you spend 4 months of your life living with the clothes you have in a hotel room thinking how lucky you are to have what you do. We spend so much of our life putting value on the things we own. Especially this time of year - Christmas is the worst time of year for possessions. You think the things you own make you happy, make you a better person - but when it comes down to it, what are you without those things? What are you without your "stuff?" What if your home were empty today except for the basics? Could you function? What do you need to function on a day to day basis? You would be surprised if you were forced to find out.

Look around and determine what is really important in your life - because the "things" aren't what makes you happy. Living your life, making memories, being with friends and family - that's the important "stuff." You can try and document it all, but even then, you can't fireproof it - so make sure those memories are embedded deep in your heart, because the fire can't reach the images you have there.

Taking Stock of What is Important

I only have a moment to update, but I wanted to share what has gone on in the past couple days. On Tuesday evening, our condo suffered a fire. The kitchen is destroyed and there is smoke damage throughout the remainder. We are staying with my sister for the meantime, but eventually will be placed in an extended - stay hotel. We are all safe and no one suffered any injury (besides emotional) and that is the most important thing. Stuff can be replaced - people and pets cannot.

I just want to tell everyone to take stock of what is important and to remember that the divine works to grant your wishes in the strangest ways. I have been saying for months now that I need to simplify my home and life, but I didn't plan on doing it this way. The old adage goes - "be careful what you wish for as it just might come true." But the Lord does not give you that which you cannot handle, and we will pull through this just fine.

Hug your loved ones close! (and make sure you have enough insurance!!!!)

Angie

Back to School

How to Torture Your Teacher
by Bruce Lansky

Only raise your hand when you want to sharpen your pencil or go to the bathroom.
Repeat every ten minutes.
Never raise your hand when you want to answer a question; instead, yell, "Oooh! Oooh! Oooh!"
and then, when the teacher calls on you, say,

"I forgot what I was going to say."

Lean your chair back, take off your shoes, and put your feet up on your desk.
Act surprised when the teacher puts

all four legs of your chair back on the floor.

Drop the eraser end of your pencil on your desk.
See how high it will bounce.

Drop your books on the floor. See how loud a noise you can make.

Hum.
Get all your friends to join in.

Hold your nose, make a face, and say, "P.U.!"
Fan the air away from your face, and point to the kid in front of you.

On the last day of school, lead your classmates in chanting:
"No more pencils!
No more books!
No more teachers'
dirty looks!"

Then, on your way out the door, tell the teacher,

"Bet you're looking forward to summer vacation this year.

But I'll sure miss you.

You're the best teacher I've ever had."

Just so everyone who is not in education knows - this is what it is like on a daily basis in the teaching world :) And these are the GOOD days! But I must love it or I wouldn't be going into my 16th year, now would I?

The Affair is Over

Oh, but I have had a sweet love affair this summer,

a fling if you may,

but it is coming to an end today.

I will miss my beloved,

but it is for the best.

My sweet was no good for me.

Only causing undo guilt and heart ache.

When my husband found out about it,

you can imagine he was upset.

He wanted to know why -

WHY?

I wasn't including him in on it!?!

He said he would have done the same for me -

that's just how much he loves me!

But I didn't want to have to put him

through the heartbreak of good-bye,

because I knew that once school started back up,

the affair would be over...

So good-bye my love,

parting is such sweet sorrow...photo credit

So it is back to Weight Watcher points and Biggest Loser Contests at work

Yee haw!

Premium Meme Award

I have my first award!!! It is the Premium Meme 2009 Award! I received this award from My Husband's Watching TV. You rock girlfriend!

"To accept this award, the recipient must list 7 traits about themselves and then pass the award onto 7 other bloggers who deserve recognition for the personality they share through their blog."
Geez - don't know that I personally know 7 other bloggers, and the one other that I do know already received this award from MHWTV, but that's okay, one day I will have a gazillion followers (ha!) and then they will be sorry :)

1. Intelligent - I consider myself a smart person. I graduated high school, college and grad school all with honors. I love to learn new stuff, but if you told me I had to go back to school again right now, I would cry! I am not one for formal education (says the teacher) - I like to learn by doing, and college was hard for me a lot because there wasn't much "doing" just a lot of listening and testing. I also love me a puzzle - I live for logic puzzles, riddles, etc. You know the little tests that get passed on in emails, I 'heart' those as well. Needless to say, I have a mathematical brain.

2. Creative - There is a creative side in me that is dying to get out, and I have been trying to fuel it's fire through writing (hello, blog!) and photography. My sister, Diana, is the creative genius in the family and I strive to be like her. Someday I know that it's all going to explode from me and I will know what it is I'm supposed to do with it all, but for now, I'm still trying to figure it out. So go figure - my left brain and right brain are at odds with each other - math or art? math or art???? It's quite a fight up there!

3. Procrastinator - Oh, if it can be done tomorrow, I will do it the day after! It's bad. Is there a 12 step program for people like me?

4. Obsessive - There are just some things I cannot get my mind to unwrap from. I get an idea in my head and the train is full speed ahead, regardless if there is a solution to my problem or not. My husband has been helpful in getting me to calm down about some of my obsessive thoughts - "it will still be there tomorrow, don't worry about it, there is nothing you can do about it today" - but other times the idea just rots and festers in my head. Watching the show Obsessed, however, has made me realize I really don't have a problem compared to the people on that show.

5. Funny - I tend to think I have a good sense of humor and I easily make my friends laugh. Wait, are they laughing 'with me' or 'at me?' Hmmm?!

6. Nosy - I gotta know it all. I want to be in everyone's biznis and know all about their deep dark secrets. Not that I'm going to spread rumors, I just like to know what's going on around me. Too many times being left in the dark makes one, well, without light...

7. Unpretentious - I'm not the type of person that has to keep up with the Joneses. I don't buy designer (unless it's on sale at Marshalls - $15 for a Liz purse is a steal!) I don't have to have my hair all done and make-up on or all the latest fashions in my closet. I'm happiest in sweats and my Colts hoodie with my hair in a pony under a baseball cap. I have lived in a condo for 11 years and will be moving back into the house I grew up in, gasp, in North County of all places. I do love the look of Pottery Barn, but I'm not going to go into debt just because of what society thinks. I'll go into debt doing things my way, thank you very much!

So now I tag people - here goes -

Anyone who reads this, consider yourself TAGGED!

Things I'm happy for today

1. Getting into my classroom and getting things situated to where I feel I won't be too overwhelmed come Monday when work starts.

2. Finding the right length Ethernet cord for the computer in my classroom so I can move it to my desk and not have to keep it on the other side of the room.

3. Getting to listen to my Sugarland CD (now on my Ipod) which I haven't heard in ages. I made more heart soar! It's their first CD and I just lurve their songs.

4. Having lunch for the last time this summer with my girl, Jen, at Pasta House. Me lovey love their salad and spaghetti pomodoro!

5. Coming home to my doggy and his wiggle butt (no tail) and his deep throated growl of happiness upon seeing me. Watching him practice his roll-over for a cookie - he almost has it but he's so fixated on the cookie that he starts rolling over, gets there, then rolls back because he is just too excited and wants to goodness that smells like sausage!

6. Getting tagged by My Husband's Watching TV with the "Premium Meme Award!" Will have to work on that one later!

7. Finding one of my favorite bottles of wine among my many and excitedly having a glass early this Friday. Hey, it's 5 o'clock somewhere! Plus, I'm home and I ain't going anywhere anytime soon!

8. Finding out I have a new follower! I'm up to three now! Hi to Cheryl! Thanks for following me!

9. Getting ready to take my last weekday nap of the summer! Sigh, I'll miss them, but I'm happy to be getting back to a schedule.