The Prego Report - It's a...

BOY!

Yep, that's Bean above.

Several days ago we visited a business in the area that specializes in 3D/4D ultrasounds and was recommended by several friends. We were going in to have the normal 2D gender determination but the women at the front desk suckered T into getting the 3D/4D done. I'm so glad they did. I'm fascinated by these pictures. Yes, they are a little surreal...I'm the first to admit, the child needs to gain a few pounds. But, look!  Little feet!

Bean was camera shy at first; he kept rolling over so all we could see was his back side. But he eventually decided to cooperate and show his face and we had a great time watching him do his thing. His biggest form of entertainment - moving his arms - those things were all over the place.

So how sure was the techician about the gender? Very. Could I see what she saw? Um, no. But T says he could. We are aware, however, that the process is not 100% accurate. Our precious neice is living proof of that. Were we excited about Bean being a boy? Absolutely, but we would have been just as excited if Bean were a girl. It's just fun to find out more information about this little person that will join our family in a few months.

And now a note from T:

Hi everyone, it's T - I don't think I got suckered into it... I think I knew it was a special opportunity. It was like we got to spend 20 minutes with Bean, and it was great! I felt my second kick tonight while we were watching TV. Awesome.

And one last picture... Can you see T's bottom lip? It's definitely there.

Saturday Circle Game

Background: T and I are visiting our alma mater for Homecoming weekend and staying with our dear friend, K. We walked into her kitchen and were greeted with the smell of pumpkin cookies! Yum! It got me thinking: most people have traditions surrounding cookies. So...

Question: What cookie traditions (when, where, type) run in your family?

I'm in LOVE!

With Hostess' 100 Calorie Packs.

Chocolate cupcakes are my favorite.

100 calories

5 grams of FIBER!!

(Grams of fat and sugar are so not important.)

So You Think You Can Dance

This was the week T took me to see the live performance of So You Think You Can Dance...dance...dance. I loved it! Here are some thoughts.

1) Jeannine is great, but in my humble opinion Brandon should have won season 5.
2) Phillip is just cool.
3) They performed so many dances that I absolutely loved. My favorite...the addiction dance with Capuno and Kayla. Some more favorites...the Breast Cancer dance with Ade and Melissa and the Pick Dance with Ade and Jeanette.
4) I was disappointed they only performed one new dance.
5) The dancers MCed the performance. I'm trying to figure out how to say this nicely...Loved their dancing, would have been OK with less talking.
6) T was completely outnumbered at this performance. It must have been a ratio that was somewhere along the lines of 20 females to 1 male.

Saturday Circle Game

Sorry, this question is slightly indulgent. It was inspired by a recent inservice presenter that was excellent and the movie "The Freedom Writers". (We watched it last night, and it was excellent.)

Who were the three educators that impacted you the most? Why?

The Prego Report

We will be able to reveal Bean's gender in approximately a week in a half. So, I'm curious....what are your guesses? Is Bean a she-baby or a he-baby? Word on the street with Tim's co-workers: Beans a Boy. Word on the street with my co-worker's: Beans a Girl.

Saturday Circle Game

I want to know...

Have you ever been on TV? If so, for what?

The Prego Report

Here's the word on our third doctor's visit...


BEAN:
18 weeks and growing like a weed, apparently...and feisty. Gave the Doc's stethoscope a kick while she was trying to listen to the heartbeat. Heartbeat was good and steady...around 145 bpm. I haven't felt movement yet, but this is no surprise since the placenta is apparently providing a nice cushion between me and Bean.

ME:
Besides the random wisps of hair that are growing below my normal hairline (really, will I have any forehead left?), I have enjoyed pregnancy. It's been so easy that sometime I forget I'm pregnant (knock on wood). Although this is getting tougher as my stomach seems to be growing exponentially. I've been very fortunate, though, that I haven't experienced morning sickness, have had energy, and have enjoyed a break from an achy knee because of all the cool hormones flowing through my body.

A Note from T:
Hi everyone... it's T here. Yes, I think this is my first time that A has allowed me to write in Metacognitive Musings. Every doctor's appointment is fascinating and I am reminded that it's truly a miracle growing in there. Our doctor is very nice and A is doing such a good job. Experienced parents at my office say things like, "I bet her mood swings are interesting, huh?" or "how's the new little one in charge doing?" and I have to tell them that really nothing has changed yet.

Yet, anyway.

Can't wait to find out if it's a boy or a girl!

Back to A.

Our Biggest Decision for the Moment:
To vaccinate or not vaccinate. I'm fairly comfortable getting vaccinated for the seasonal flu; however, my doctor would like for me to get the H1N1 vaccination. T is all for this and was relieved this was the doctor's advice. Me? I kept wavering. Being a teacher I am around students ALL the time. Sometimes they forget to cover their mouths when they cough or decide they don't need a tissue when they really do. At these moments, I think the H1N1 vaccination is a good idea. But then I get nervous...is the vaccination really safe for me and the baby? It seems to be rushed to the public and this is what makes me nervous. I guess the good news is that I have until October to decide.

My Harry Potter Addiction

I'm in the midst of reading all seven Harry Potter books...it's my third time through, so I'm no stranger to the series. Currently I'm somewhere around page 400 in book 4 and loving every minute of it...again.

I've decided that to be a true Harry Potter fan, though, I need to watch all of the movies as well. I'm lacking in the silver screen rendition of the books; I've only seen the first three so I have some catching up to do. Has anybody seen the sixth? Any comments? I've heard rumors that book 7 will be divided into two movies. Anyone else heard the same?

Math, Science, and Technology Monday

I got this problem from http://www.theproblemsite.com/games/secretnumber2.asp. There are several games, so you could do this all day if you so desire. Here is an example of one of the problems.

I am thinking of a 3-digit numbers. Can you guess my number from the following information? 

1. The product of the first two digits is less than 20
2. The difference of the first two digits is greater than 3
3. The difference of the last two digits is less than 4
4. The difference of the first and last digits is less than 5
5. The product of the first and last digits is equal to 20

So You Think You Can Dance?

I LOVE this show!!

I LOVE that there is only three weeks between season 5 and season 6.

I LOVE that Mary Murphy talked about her inability to raise her eyebrowns because of BOTOX on national television.

I LOVE watching all the different types of choreography.

I LOVE hearing about the dancers' stories and seeing how they bring life to the choreography.

I LOVE that my husband HATES this show but bought us tickets to the live performance anyway. Thanks, T! I can't wait for our date!

Fall Tradition

For the fifth time in six years Labor Day weekend was filled with loved ones, games (ask BC friend, KD, about her new game, Pictionary Telephone. Very fun.), fireworks, a trip to one of our favorite breakfast nooks, and some shopping.

Now the weekend is officially over and the house seems very quiet. I don't like it.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for hosting, and thanks, dear friends, for spending so much time in the car to join us.

I'm already looking forward to the 6th annual.

Photographer: Dad

Math, Science, and Technology Monday

I got this problem from http://mathforum.org/dr.math/faq/faq.doubling.pennies.html . It's a fantastic internet resource for math teachers or anyone interested in mathematics although you might need a password to access some of it. I am adjusting the problem just a bit, so if you go online it will be slightly different.

Which is more: being given ten million dollars, or one penny the first day, double that penny the next day, then double the previous day's pennies and so on for a month?

The solution will be in the comments if/when you're interested.

Saturday Circle Game

It's a lazy Saturday morning so far. So the following seems like a fitting question.

What's your favorite way to relax?

The techie teens

I taught with a new piece of technology today, and I was nervous. The picture above depicts what Texax Instruments is calling a hand-held computer.

I was uneasy as I started class today. What if I forgot how to do something? Or what if I screwed up and hit the wrong buttons and didn't know how to correct my mistake? I, myself, have just learned to operate this machine at a basic level only a few weeks ago.

The class was excited as soon as I started passing out the new technology, and we quickly began the lesson of finding solutions for a system of equations. First we graphed the quadratic equations and then we looked at the table. And then it happened...I forgot how to calculate the points of intersection using the calculator.

Ummmm...trouble.

Then one of my quiet, female students raised her hand. "You go to 'points and lines'." So I did, and behold, there was the command I needed.

I realized then that it took mere minutes for my students to acclimate to the machines. And in one quick moment, before I could even register it, I became the student in a room with 24 teachers, learning how to operate my hand-held computer.

Cool.

Math, Science, and Technology Monday

I recently received a card from a fellow co-worker/dear friend/wise mentor who reminded me that as a proud math/science geek I needed to help encourage others into the math/science geekdom. So with that charge in mind, I write my first math, science, and technology blog. Today it's a problem; next week it might be an interesting invention that catches my attention. If nothing else it will be a good way for me to keep up with my own professional community.

Although you could use some fancy mathematics to solve the following problem, it is not neccessary. Knowledge of operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division) and some time thinking is enough to solve it. Happy solving.

A man entered an apple orchard that had 7 guards and picked some apples. When he left, he gave the first guard half his apples and 1 apple more. To the second guard, he gave half his remaining apples and 1 more. He did the same to each of the remaining five guards and left the orchard with 1 apple. How many apples did he gather in all?

I'll leave the answer in the comments section.

Have You Seen My....?

I FINALLY found my camera! (Thank goodness!) It was in my work bag. The sad thing is I have absolutely no recollection of putting it there or why I might have thought it was a good idea to store it there. I wish I could blame it on the pregnancy...experts do say you lose brain cells during this time...but people like my mother, T, Trophy Life, our good friend, S, and I'm sure several others would be able to call my bluff.

The truth is I am a person who temporarily misplaces things all the time. People are constantly accompanying me on shoe searches, key quests, and general 'Have you seen my (fill in the blank)?' hunts. I am not sure what this characteristic says about me, and to be honest, I would rather not think about it. I have just decided to accept this flaw and am appreciative of the people around me who put up with it.

The good news for me is now that I have my camera back I can share some pictures I originally intended to post.

Little Bean at 7 weeks. (Yep, that little oblong shape on the left is the baby.)

Profile of Little Bean at 12 1/2 weeks. 

Saturday Circle Game

If you were to go back to school, what institute would you attend? (Assume, of course, that we are all brilliant, admission is guaranteed, and funds are no object.)

Prego Report

Disclaimers: 1) I am stealing Two Pretzel's idea of a pregnancy update. Hope you don't mind, TP. :) 2) A high school friend, MT (actually now MB), used the title phrase and I thought it was cute, so I'm stealing this too.

My goal is to write a pregnancy update every doctor's visit. So, to catch up to current times...

BABY:
First doctor's appointment was early July as was the first ultrasound. The baby looked like a bean and was a whooping length of 9mm. (Hence, from now on I will refer to it as Little Bean or LB when I'm feeling particularly lazy.) 5 weeks later at our next visit Little Bean measured in at 6 cm (about 2 1/2 inches), had arms and legs that moved, and a mouth that opened and closed. This blew me out of the water and was by far the first time I felt this whole pregnancy thing might be real. (I really wish I could show you some of the pictures, but my camera is MIA. So sad.)

ME:
Besides feeling as if I ALWAYS have a cold (since June) and sometimes can't breathe, I've been extremely fortunate and have been feeling fabulous. My regular clothes are starting to feel a little uncomfortable even with the hair rubberband trick, and I took my first trip to the maternity store at the beginning of this week. Pants with elastic waistbands...HERE I COME! I did have a little freak-out moment in the changing room when I put on the fake 7 month belly and couldn't see my feet. What?!

T:
Has been very understanding with all the minor aches, pains, and constant naps I take. He was particularly adorable when he sat down with me Tuesday evening to read and write some thoughts of his own in the baby keepsake journal we got from a friend this week.
Next doctors appointment: Mid September

Guilty Secret

I'm addicted to Big Brother 11. I'm not proud of it. It's not great TV. It raises my blood pressure whenever it is on. But I can't stop watching it. Thank goodness the season will be over soon!

Back in Session

Summer is over and school will soon be in session. It's a big time for anyone with a job somehow related to education. Although I will miss the freedom of my summer, I also enjoy the excitement of a new school year. I am fortunate to be in a career where "do-overs" are possible for everyone involved. New slate. And for the moment, opportunities and possibilities are infinite.

Brita and Body Pillow

A few random thoughts about two items that I purchased recently.

1) I LOVE my new Brita. Why I didn't invest my $18 earlier, I don't know. Since the little bean announced its existence earlier in the summer, I had an aversion to water, which was weird for me. I usually drank water all the time. Our tap water just didn't taste good anymore, and I hated buying bottled water. Although I'll do it from time to time, I hate the waste. Brita has made my water taste good again, and the upkeep of changing the little filter seems completely worth it.

2) My body pillow...it wasn't love at first sight for sure. I'm a toss and turn kind of girl. So the first night with the pillow was a little cumbersome. It's hard to swing an almost 4 1/2 foot pillow from side to side. T accused me of pulling some WWE wrestling moves the first night. I think I nailed him once with my elbow and a few times with the pillow itself. Since then I've learned to control the pillow a little better, and now I'm wondering if I'll ever be able to sleep without one again. I think it'll be a little hard to travel with, though.

Saturday Circle Game

It's BACK!! I know it's not technically Saturday, so please excuse the tardiness. This question is in honor of the wedding we attended tonight. So much fun, but it'll take my feet some time to forgive me for the shoes I forced them into.

What is your favorite wedding reception song? The one that's going to get you groovin' on the dance floor. Or feel free to answer the opposite. What is your least favorite reception song, sure to leave you glued to your seat?

Teeth Cleaning

I'll preface this post by saying I like my dentist office. There are five dentist that work there and a gazillion hygienist. Every single one of them that I have meet has been great.

But what I don't understand is why they try to talk to me with their hands in my mouth. Of course the yes/no questions are OK as I can nod my head to indicate my answer. Questions like "When do you go back to school?" or "Have you traveled anywhere this summer?" are trickier. So I wait until they briefly pull their hands out of my mouth, shout "Hilton Head" before she plunges her hands back into my mouth and hope they don't ask a follow up question that is any more involve.

"Carry On"

T put a link to a video clip on OHSAA's website about two teenagers from Cleveland, OH that aired on ESPN . The video is about 10 minutes long, but I felt it was worth the time. There is a short update about the guys from the ESPN producer on OHSAA's website. These two guys are inspiring.

Mole Man, Part 2

Dear Ty,

I wish you could have seen the look on my husband's face when you called him last night. It was sheer joy. I thought perhaps you told him that he was going to receive free milkshakes at the parlor for the next 10 years, or that you heard there was a lucrative position open in the Reds front office that he would be perfect for.

Nope, you were calling for family members who wanted his advice on how to get rid of moles. And he was honored you called him. (He didn't say this directly, but I could tell.) Finally, his hours of researching the little critters on youtube and Mole Man paid off.

I will never pretend to understand this fascination of his with moles and their extermination, but I will never cease to be amused by it. So many good stories have come from it. I mean, how can we ever forget the Momma K cell phone message about their mole.

P.S. If you're interested in refreshing your memory on Mole Man, Part 1 it was written in April 2007.

The joys of home maintenence

There are some days I wonder if T and I had any business buying a house. Our knowledge about home maintenance is limited. The majority of the time we hire out jobs that need attention or we just turn a blind eye. For instance, two years ago T, with my consent, ripped the closet doors off our guest bedroom closet - I can't even remember why at this point, it's been so long. To this day the closet remains doorless and you can see all of my off-season clothes hanging in it as you reach the top of our second story. Classy.

But today I did it. I tackled a project on my own. The guest bathroom drain was plugged. In the past, if my homemade "Draino" (a combination of baking soda, vinegar, and boiling water) didn't do the trick, I called our faithful plumbers. God bless Scott, the plumber, who showed me how to unclog the drain by myself last year. The man did not crack a smile or even show traces of a pleasant personality during his time in my home, but he taught me a life-long skill. And this year, as I plunged and fished out the gunk from our drain, I silently thanked him for the $80 he saved me today. Joyously, victoriously, I enjoyed the lack of water pooling at the base of our tub. Sweet success.

Movie Review

I highly suggest seeing "In the Shadow of the Moon." It's a wonderful documentary put together by Ron Howard that details the Apollo trips taken to the moon between 1968-1972. The men that are showcased in this film are inspiring. And the documentary itself was a pleasant surprise. I was entertained and already look forward to seeing it again.

Sights on the Highway

T and I were taking a road trip on Monday night. As I typically do on long car trips, I took a nap. T woke me up to the sight in the pictures. It didn't take me long to wake up and grab my camera. This was too good to miss. I am convinced that road rage would not be a problem if this sight was seen more often on our highways.

Saturday Circle Game

I am cheating today...kinda
I have played the circle game so often lately (awesome) that I have run out of my own questions.
So I have stolen this one from my "Go Ask Anyone!" cards...they rock.

If you were going to be appointed as U.S. Ambassador to a foreign country, which one would you want that to be?

Labor Day Weekend - Partial Circle Game

It contained everything labor day should have...family, friends, football, and fireworks. I now feel that fall has arrived and I love it! Anybody else feel the same or are you lamenting over the end of the summer?

Update

I found my paper reinforcers at Staples. They are my go-to place when others fail. They even had different colors so when I get really obsessed I can color code chapters, for instance, by paper reinforcers. LOVE Office supplies!

The thingies you put on your paper...

These things (in the picture)!! There is NO good name for them. You ask for paper clips...EEEEVERYONE knows what you're talking about. You ask for reinforcers or paper reinforcements and NOOOOOBODY knows what you're talking about. As a person who owns 503,248 3-ring binders that get used almost daily, these things are essential in life.

I walk into Meijer today to buy some. That was my first mistake. I should have gone to an office supply store, but after a long day at work I was looking for one stop shopping. It's nice to buy dinner, pillows, sidewalk chalk, and ring reinforcements all in one trip...but I am getting side tracked.

I ask the Meijer associate currently working in the office supplies section where I can find paper reinforcements...I promise you the look on her face almost convinced me that I had just asked her where to find the one horned purple elephants by mistake. She had NOOO idea what I was talking about and was clearly disgusted that I could not explain myself properly (in her opinion). After she made sure to display her annoyance with me for a good couple of seconds she sent me to the PARTY/CARD center section to look for them. I went because I was a bit scare of her, but as soon as I was out of her sight I took off from the store. Tomorrow...I will get them. And I might even ask a (friendly) Staples or Office Max associate what in the world I am supposed to call them.

Old Friend in a New Place

When I was eight years old my parents bought a piano, and I started lessons. I played until eighth grade and then "gave it up" - at least I gave up the formal lessons. I continued to play and would frequently serenade whoever in the house would listen during middle and high school years. When I'd come home from college I would sit down on the bench and pound away at the keys - reteaching myself, it seemed, every time. Although I'm far from being a great piano player, it's always been a source of relaxation and joy.

It was sad when my parents moved from my childhood house 2 1/2 years ago and put the piano in storage. I could no longer wonder into the living room to say "hi" to my old, faithful friend (piano).

But two weeks ago my faithful friend and I were reunited. By the very kind act of my Uncle B. and Aunt S., the piano was transported to our house. Family and a neighbor came and helped us move her in, and it has been a joyful reunion. I forgot how much I like to play...not because I'm good, but because I enjoy music. It can echo any mood you want it to. You just have to find the right piece. (Dri-Do you remember the song "Hymne". You copied it for me years and years ago. I found it the other day - still love it.)

But here's my dilemma...I think the piano needs a name. A good, sturdy name for a friend (piano) that I've had for 20 years. Any ideas?

Trip to N. Carolina/Southern Virginia

In my mind it was the last fling of the summer before the grind of work begins again. We worked some, played a lot, laughed hard, and cried a little. It was a great trip.

Some highlights:

1) Seeing M in the airport after two months.

2) Trip to M's work (beautiful place!) and Molasses Grill (wonderful restaurant!)

3) Exploring Duke and Chapel Hill.

4) My Taco salad at Jason's Deli on Monday. Seriously my second favorite salad EVER (California Pizza Kitchen's Chopped BBQ Chicken Salad is my first)!

Picture on the left is of moving day (Saturday). M is in a very cute house that will suit she and Marlie perfectly. Picture on the right is in the Duke Gardens. Beautiful place...if you have a chance to visit...do it! Picture below is also at Duke Univ.

Plans for today

1) It was really nice to catch up on my favorite blogs this morning. I have missed doing that recently.

2) I thought I would go to work today. Then I decided that I was going to take one last day before summer ends (at least in my world) to enjoy my house. The grad school paper is done, I have to go to work tomorrow because of meetings, and I can work from home today while in my pajamas. In between times of work I can clean my home for guests I have coming this weekend, play my piano, crochet, and relax. Sounds lovely. I can't wait.

Catching Up

It's been a long time without blogging. I am going to try to catch up with what I have missed...slowly.

The first thing to report...

The chompers are out and the pain is gone. My mouth still feels funny and I have a lingering stitch that doesn't want to dissolve. But the swelling and bruising is gone and I have long been off the Vicodin. I am glad it is over and definitely glad I did it during the summer. It would not have been pleasant to have to return to the classroom to talk for 8 hours a day shortly after surgery.

Happy Birthday, Poppa E!

Happy (big milestone) birthday to a wise and generous man I am proud to call "DAD"!

Hope it was a great day. (I'm interested in hearing all of your dinner stops!) And here's to a fantastic year!

Love you!

The Chompers are Coming Out

Surgery occurs tomorrow at 9:30am. I wasn't nervous about it until I started looking through the google images of wisdom teeth. Then I saw a whole bunch of people with swollen faces and gauze sticking out of their mouths. This cute carton makes me feel better, though. It almost looks fun with all of those teeth smiling. Unfortunately, I know better. I will be put to sleep, and they will remove all four. The bottom ones will be the least fun. They are pointing in various directions. The top two shouldn't be as bad. Let's hope surgery is a smooth ride tomorrow. And if not, let's hope the medicine is very, very strong.

Happy Birthday, Momma K

It's a milestone. I won't tell you how old my very cute and loving mother is turning today, but let's just say you'd never guess if you saw her.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I hope it's a wonderful day and a wonderful year.

Love you!

Chicken Piccata

Loved this recipe. It was relative quick and very tasty. Have to give credit to my Menno cookbook again for this one. Enjoy. Let me know if you try it.


Ingredients:
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
dash salt
dash pepper
1/4 cup of flour
4 Tablespoons butter or margarine
8oz cartoon of fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup dry white wine or chicken broth
2 Tablespoons of lemon juice
2 Tablespoons of chopped parsley

Directions:
Pound chicken breasts to 1/2-in thickness. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper; coat with flour.
In a large skillet, brown chicken in 3 Tablespoons butter over medium heat about 5 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove from the skillet and keep warm.
Add remaining Tablespoon butter to skillet, and cook the mushrooms and garlic until tender.
Return the chicken to the pan.
Add wine or chicken broth and lemon juice. Simmer for 7 - 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the sauce thickens.
Top with parsley.

Explanation

I have three reasons for not blogging lately.

1) I visited my college roommate and her family this past weekend. One thing I learned...there is not a whole lot of time to blog when you have twins. We had a great time playing instead. We went to the park, the farmers market, and out to eat. Good times. The twins are SOOOO cute.

2) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows arrived on my doorstep Saturday. I got my paws on it Sunday, and got no sleep until I finished reading it yesterday. Wonderful book. Sad the series has ended, but I decided I will now take my time and go back through all of them and re-read. (Will lose less sleep this time.)

3) The renovation of our master bathroom has begun. It started Monday with a meeting with our contractor. The demolition began yesterday and they are now currently fighting with our new shower. It appears that nothing in this house can be standard. So the opening for the shower that we thought was 48'' is really 47''. They have a plan, though, don't worry.

So those are the culprits. I will be back to blogging as usual now.

Finally

It's 3:15am and finally raining. It freaked me out at first because I had forgotten what it sounded like on our chimney when it rains hard.

Toying with Me

I don't think I'd be upset if it ACTUALLY RAINED, but I am rather annoyed with the weather right now. My great state is experiencing drought like conditions. So it's 2:45 and I've been up for an hour because of thunder. (I am not a fan of storms - or being in second stories of houses when storms come in.) But there is NO rain that is accompanying the thunder. There is just the audio reminder that it's out there but not at our house.

Hummingbird

I am thrilled that a cute little hummingbird has decided to add our backyard to his list of stops. I see him buzzing through our yard about once a week. He's a fast little thing.

(Picture not mine :) ).

New Look

FYI

Time for a blog template update. I love the dark dotted look and will probably go back once winter approaches, but I feel the colors did not do this season justice. A new look was needed for summer. :)

The Deacon's Bench

T and I are searching for a church. We haven't been very pro-active, but yesterday we decided to take a trip to a church we've visited before. For the first time we heard the pastors preach (we seemed to have the knack to go during the summer when they are on vacation) and we were impressed. More impressive was what they did afterwards, though. They provided a time they called "The Deacon's Bench" when people (anyone) from the congregation had the opportunity to come up to the front and make comments on what they just heard. It was fascinating. People did not come up and merely say, "Good job, it was interesting". Instead they questioned and asked for more explanation in a particular area, added their own opinions, and even at times doubted what was said. They were critical thinkers and were working together as a congregation. We liked it. Perhaps the search will become a little more pro-active.

NPF

T and I went to watch our first NPF (National Professional Fastpitch League) softball game on Saturday. For me the experience was a cool one for many reasons. The main reason was to see the women getting a chance to play the game they love at a high level of competition and getting paid for it. Society has given this opportunity to men for a long time in many sports. It is fun to feel like perhaps I live in the era when this same opportunity is being extended to women. It will take a while for the organization to have widespread recognition. But as I watched the little girls and boys scramble for autographs after the game, I am convinced that the NPF has a future. I know I will return.

My favorite part of the game...the left fielder breaking through the fence to prevent a home run. Second highlight...the pitcher laying out to catch a foul ball to end the top of the inning. The Racers won the game in the 7th inning 3-2.

Sunday Circle Game

I'm still in vacation mode, as I assume some of you are as well. So I decided that the circle game should be related to travelling.

In 1997 my dad visited his 50th state when he, my mom, and I travelled to Hawaii the first time. I think this is a cool accomplishment, and I hope that I too can one day say that I have experienced all 50 states. So here's the question: Approximately how many states have you visited and which one is your favorite?

I had problems of thinking of all fifty states, so I have provided a list here.

(This picture is from our recent Hawaii trip, not our previous one. And yes, B-rent, I swear I took this picture and the ones below in the vacation update.)

Recycling

I am ashamed that it took this long to happen, but I am FINALLY taking advantage of our curb side recycling...and I feel very good about it. Plastics #1 and #2 you shall never enter my trash again! Aluminum cans, you too!

P.S. I am now in the habit of using my canvas shopping bags...at least 98% of the time...and I am a true believer. Not only am I saving on plastic bags, but I can sling all my groceries over my shoulder at once and make only one trip into my house. Love it!

Nature Walk

Last night T and I took a slow, leisurely walk around our local Metro Park. We decided on the short trail that curls along the river. For some reason last night I was particularly taken by the beauty of the trees. I loved reading the plagues that described the black walnut (pictured), American sycamore, hackberry, and of course the pride of our state, the buckeye. The 70 degree weather made our spontaneous tree tour a very pleasant walk. I think my favorite was the Sycamore with their peeling bark that revealed a cool combination of greens and white. It was a nice reminder that although Hawaii and California (vacation spots this year) are gorgeous places, there is much beauty to discover in my own Midwestern state.

Highlight #2 last night was the Great Blue Heron relaxing in the river as we approached. He was a beauty and seeing those birds in flight is always breath-taking.

New Websites

I was surfing the web tonight and found these two sites. If you are interested in environment-friendly practices check them out.

The first http://www.care2.com/ is a site that list all kinds of suggestions for "green living" as well as news and a variety of other things.

The second http://www.earth911.org/ focuses on recycling.

Back Update

I went to the spinal specialist yesterday for what is hopefully my final visit. My hip/back is still sore but has improved since my first complaints in November. In an indirect way the doctor politely told me that to rid myself of the soreness I need to improve my posture, drop a few pounds, and gain some muscle tone. I have done well in thinking of posture and have been surprisingly viligant (pain is a good motivator) about doing my exercises. Weight, on the other hand, is not easy for me to lose. The truth of the matter is that I like food and quantity control is not a strong point. I'll keep working on this matter. I am hoping that in another 6 - 8 weeks, I'll be blogging injury free. We'll see how it goes.

Vacation Highlights

Back to the real world. Here are a few vacation highlights from each day. Family, feel free to add your own highlights

June 23rd: Vegas

Maui

June 25th: Beach & dinner over looking ocean

June 26th: Maui Tropical Plantation & Ioa Valley State Park

June 27th: Helicopter Trip & Sunset Picnic on Haleakala

June 28th: Spa & Luau

June 29th: Drive to Hana

June 30th: Snorkeling & Dinner over looking ocean

San Francisco

July 2nd: Touring San Francisco & Ice Cream on Ghirardelli Square

July 3rd: Grey Line Tour of City & Dinner at Vietnamese Restaurant

July 4th: Duck Tour & Fireworks on the Bay

Thanks to the family for a great vacation! Looking forward to Vacation '08.

I LOVE my new Cannon Power Shot

BOOK REVIEW

Over vacation I read Why My Wife Thinks I'm An Idiot by Mike Greenberg from ESPN. If you are related/married to a person who works in sports or is a sports fanatic, I think it is worth your time to read this book. I in no way feel that I completely understand my husband and his behavior after reading this book, but I think that it gave me a few interesting insights. It has the possibility to add to some of our discussions. For instance I can now say "Hey T remember when Mike said this...do you agree?" And I thoroughly enjoyed the fact that my husband starred lines that he liked during his own reading of the book.

The book itself is a short read and comical. My only negative criticism is that sometimes his somewhat negative outlook on life got to be a bore.

Saturday Circle Game (Early)

We are leaving tomorrow for a two week vacation. Most likely I will not be blogging much while we are gone. However, you never know, so stop by once in a while over the next few days.

I did want to get in the Saturday Circle Game before the craziness of vacation preparation begins. I have made a few people answer this question already, but humor me and post your answers anyway so that other people can enjoy them.

Question: If you had two other lives to live what would you do? My answer will be in the comments section.

This Old House

I'll admit, our house really isn't that old, but it's approaching 23 years and every handyman that has visited likes to tell me that this is the age when things start to go wrong. Really? I would have never guessed. Our master bath is ripped up and unusable because of toilet problems, I am doing my laundry with a flashlight because the light won't come on in the basement, and the second story gutter is hanging off. My mom reminded me that things come in threes...at least I know what the three things are.

I can't begin to describe the relief that I felt when the handyman showed up today. He fixed my gutters and my heart began to soar. I have been e-mailing/calling the company since last Thursday, but I don't care about their poky service, it's fixed. I probably severely overpaid, but I don't care about the price, it's fixed. Bonus: The man was really nice. He even showed me how to fix the light in the basement and didn't charge. I may even be brave and fix it myself when we come back from vacation. NOTE TO SELF: Turn off #13 on breaker box before fooling with light. I may now leave for vacation with a peaceful mind. My house will be standing when I come home and the gutter will be secure in its place.

Some things I have learned so far about being a homeowner:
1) I need to expand my caulking and speckling skills and include some other home repair skills.
2) I need to meet more people in my area that know how to do repair work.
3) Maintenance and preventative care can never be underestimated.
4) Take care of things right away (this was a lesson from the bathroom).

Good Bye Olympus D-380

Dear Olympus D-380,

We must part ways. You served your time. I have many great memories preserved on film/computer becuase of you and for that I thank you. But I am moving on. In all honesty, your 2.0 effective megapixels no longer works in today's society, and I upgraded to a Cannon Powershot SD800 IS. Don't worry, though, you were my first digital camera and that guarentees a special place in my heart. Good work. I promise to find a nice spot in recycleland for you.

Your devoted owner,

Metacognitive

Good byes

I had to say goodbye to a dear friend today. Dear friend says it is not necessarily a goodbye, but a "I'll-REALLY-miss-having-you-in-Ohio". Regardless, it is a sad feeling. It got me thinking of all the goodbyes we say in life.

Sometimes they are not all sad. When a sales person leaves my house...good riddance. When a telemarketer hangs up the phone...thank goodness.

But often good byes are hard because we have to say them to the people we love. The time between goodbyes varies. People might see each other the next day, or they may not meet again until the next decade. Many times change often follows goodbyes and that is the most unnerving part. It is not necessarily that the change will be bad, but often we don't know how things will change. We only know that change is inevitable. The combination of change and uncertainty is what pushes us to the boundaries of our comfort zones.

Of course, the hardest goodbye is the one that is permanent. It is an experience that, unfortunately, none of us can avoid during our life time. These goodbyes twist our lives inside out.

And with that thought I came to this realization...I can handle saying "I'll-really-miss-having-you-in-Ohio" goodbyes because it is not permanent. Inevitably there will be some changes...a 1 1/2 hour is more likely to happen spontaneously than a 8 hour drive...but these changes are manageable. Hallelujah for e-mail, cell phones, reliable cars, and cheap airfare.

Baked Stuffed Tomatoes

I am back at it again...cooking...who knew I'd enjoy it so much. I got this great recipe out of our farm bureau magazine that we receive. I was a little nervous that T would not like it, but to my great surprise he loved it! And he informed me that he had heard from the Reds broadcasting team that cooked tomatoes were a great food to eat to reduce the chances of prostate cancer. Even better...thanks Marty and Thom Breneman. If you try it, let me know what you think.

Ingredients
4 medium tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 lb ground beef (I used a pound of ground venison)
1/4 cup of onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup of celery, chopped fine
2 T of butter
1 1/4 cups of water
1/2 cup of Grape Nuts cereal
1 t of salt (I used garlic salt)
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Scoop out tomatoes, reserving pulp. Brown meat in a skillet, remove and set aside. Saute onions and celery in butter until onion is tender. Add pulp and 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil; simmer for 5 to 8 minutes, or until pulp is tender. In a bowl combine meat, cereal, remaining 1/4 cup water, salt and half of the sauce (I also added a little pepper). Place tomatoes in a shallow baking dish; fill with meat mixture. Pour remaining sauce over tomatoes, sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tomatoes are tender. I served it with fresh green beans. Crusty bread would have been nice too, but I am trying to cut the carbs before vacation so that I can eat them on vacation. Weird how my mind works.
Thanks to Carolyn Tolonese for submitting this recipe! We thought it was delicious!

Camping

T. and I went camping this weekend with Cuz M and B-rent. Trophy Life joined us on Saturday.
Here are a couple of thoughts.

1) Cuz M and B-rent are amazing with cooking food at a campsite. We enjoyed french toast, pork tenderloin stuffed with garlic and rosemary accompanied with veggies and potatoes, sausage gravy and biscuits, and some other fare. I have informed them that for better or worse they are going to have to be present for all of my camping experiences.

2) There are many different kinds of people at a state park and every one is packed in close. Especially when a family of 16 shows up Sunday at the site next to us. Can't say I was sorry we were leaving just as they were arriving.

3) T and I have the coolest tent ever. It is equipped with a bay window. This is only our second time camping together and our first time in our new tent. I could sit in it for hours.

4) Cornhole will also be accompanying us on all our future camping trips.

5) My next camping purchase would be a cool flashlight. And then possibly sleeping bags because making the air mattress was not fun.

6) I am OK with not being totally clean.

7) Visit the bathrooms after 8 am and before 11 pm. The mosquito population seems to quadruple in the restrooms during the night hours.

8) I was disappointed that Randy and Rodney, our pet raccoons that B-rent mistook for dogs, did not show up for Trophy Life. She did have a cool rescue whistle that she found at Target for a dollar.

9) T is a pyro...in a non-scary way.

Any fun camping stories that you care to share?

Father's Day

Happy belated father's day to all dads out there. To my own dad...you're the best.

In honor of Father's Day and Saturday Circle Game that I missed this weekend (because of camping...more on that later), I want to know the best advice your dad has given you. Check the comments for my own dad's words of wisdom.

Caulking

Still not tired of it yet. Yesterday I put down blue tape before I layed down the caulk. Smoothed the stuff down with my finger and then removed the tape. Seriously, I should be a professional. It looks good! And it only took 7 minutes for one seam.

Day of Pampering

My SiL, LeAnn, and I decided last year that we were going to start an annual day of pampering to celebrate the end of the year. Last year's annual day of relaxation, however, cost us an arm and a leg at a local spa, so this year we were looking to get control of the cost. Our answer...one of the numerous Aveda Institutes in the country where they train students.

We started off the day by visiting a new, cute Chinese restaurant, and then headed down to the Aveda school. I will be honest that I was a little nervous about my first visit when the salon/spa asked me to sign a waiver releasing them from all responsibility. I read the release quickly but I remember seeing phrases such as "not responsible" and "damage and injury". We were determined to experience our day of pampering, though, so we forged ahead ignoring the scary jargon. We were very pleased with our services. My only complaint was that the woman working on my nails was not very gentle with my cuticles; I felt a little pressure and pull.

But that aside, I can't stop looking at my pretty fingers. It's been a while since they looked this good. And for only $15. I am too ashamed to tell you how much I spent on my toenails last year. Let's just say $15 is a steal. I certainly will be visiting the Aveda Institute again and I suggest that all of you who are fortunate to have one near by do the same. My next visit will include a facial. I can feel my muscle relax just thinking about it.

Mold, Mold, Mold

In the beginning...
I noticed our ceiling was discolored in a certain area one day in our kitchen. I tried to ignore it, but my eye kept coming back to the spot. A few weeks later as I was dutifully cleaning my toilet, I noticed water on our kitchen table that was directly below the toilet. Sure enough, the ceiling was damp and spongy. We called our home warranty company who sent out a plumber. The news, he told us, was that the former owners did not put the correct flange on the toilet when they put in our Pergo floors. Instead they put down two wax rings....and the wax seals had broken. The damage? No one would know until we ripped up our floors. Side note: our home warranty would not cover any damage since it was pre-existing.

Part 2
We ripped up the Pergo and the linoleum was underneath. We could see mold growing in the corners, but had no idea what to expect. The next night T ripped up the linoleum and we were greeted by the sight and smell of mold surrounding our shower and toilet. It smells bad.

Part 3
The plumber came back today. He was supposed to do some things, but by the sight of our bathroom he shook his head and called for re-enforcement. When we called T told them we found mold and a hole in our floor/wall, but apparently they needed to see for themselves. So now I wait for another company to call me. They are water, fire, and smoke damage control. They are supposed to tell me the extent of the water damage. The worse part of this whole thing...the former owners did all THREE bathrooms the same way.

Thoughts...
1) Oh crap.
2) I want to do things right in fixing these issues. Sounds cheesy...but I want to be a good steward of our home.
3) I will not lie...the potential cost makes me a little nervous.
4) I think I am taking this pretty calmly for the most part.
5) Note to self...I will never buy another home from the former owners.
6) I wonder what things we will screw up in the house? I'm sure there will be something that make the next owners scratch their heads.
7) I think I need to do some more caulking today. It'll make me feel like I am taking care of our home properly.
8) I think we might just re-do our bathrooom while we're at it. Wish we knew what we were doing. Loews? Home Depot? Can anyone help us? How do I know if we can trust the companies we are using?
9) I have a feeling there will be more blogs about experience in the future.

PRIDE

I am truly one that is deficient when it comes to repairs on my house. I am one of those people that called Gary, the repair man, at my old apartment when my outside light burned out (I could handle the inside ones - I am not sure what the difference was). Incidentally, I was incredibly proud of myself yesterday when I learned a new skill that is house related...caulking.

I invited one of my teacher friends, Tina, over to show me the new skill. Tina and her husband renovated a 70 year old home a few years ago and have, what I consider, fairly impressive repair skills. I bought Tina lunch...she showed me how to caulk. I am now an expert. OK...maybe not...but I did have visions of starting my own caulking business if teaching turns sour. If this happens be prepared, I will use my blog to market.

Afterthought: I am sure the novelty of this skill will wear off. Give me until window #7.
Afterthought #2: I also spackle (sp?) like a pro. Perhaps I can include that in addition to caulking on my postcards that I send out to future clients. Any possible names for the future caulking/spackling business?

Saturday Circle Game

Last week the fam and my very good friend, M from Trophy Life, went to a new, wonderful breakfast place. Once done at the new, wonderful breakfast place we were standing around in the parking lot talking about cars M should test drive and consider buying. Audi TTs, Camry Solaras, and various convertibles were discussed. Then Uncle D threw out the possibility of a Buick LeSabre. The Buick LeSabre is probably a very good car - however, not one that many 20 - 30 somethings are rushing out to buy...at least not that I am aware of. From there the conversation turned to possible vanity plates for M if she did pick the Le Sabre as her car of the future.

So, in honor of our discussion... what would your vanity plate be?

SCHOOL'S OUT FOR THE SUMMER

Wahoo! I have completed another school year.

I have spent my first day of freedom cleaning dishes, removing old caulk from my windows, and counting change. Now I think I will work for an hour or so on school work for next year. I understand that this might odd since I was just celebrating my freedom, but I would rather do this work now than under stress of the beginning of next school year. I think I am starting to learn to practice preparation instead of procrastination.

By the way, I can't explain how nice it is that my schedule is not dictated by bells that ring twice every 40 or so minutes.

Chicken Broth Latte

I got this e-mail from my cousin the other day. I asked if I may share it, and she agreed to let me post it to my blog. Enjoy...I know I did. Sorry, cuz, that it was at your expense.

Well, tonight I inadvertently gulped down a huge swallow of a chicken broth latte! I would not recommend it under any circumstance. I was hungry for a chai latte and so I mixed up the concoction, prepared for the yummy goodness, and was greeted by a most horrible mixture of chicken broth and milk capped off with ice cubes. Apparently I grabbed my "organic chicken broth" which comes in a similarly sized box as chai, and mixed up the proper proportions of what I thought was chai and milk. Much to my surprise it was not. If you have ever gotten sprite when you expected water you will know how difficult it is to adjust your cognitions mid swallow. At leas sprite is a pleasant surprise, chicken broth latte is not. I couldn't run to the sink fast enough to spit it out that I partially spit some on my kitchen counter.

YUCK!!