2+ Years in the Making

After two years of giving this climbing peace rose love and attention it has finally given me a rose! Now last year it didn't produce because of a late frost and the year before because it was new, but this year I was losing patience. I finally told the bush that if I didn't see any roses by July it would lose it's prime spot to the azelia bush. Well that was all it took. I now have a perfect rose. Granted there is only one and no sign of other buds. Perhaps I will plant another already blooming rose bush elsewhere in the garden as competition or inspiration.

26 and counting

I actually feel fine about getting a year older. I have always liked aging because I feel the people will respect me more the older I get. I feel like I am always trying to catch up to my older sisters. Anyhoo, had a good day, Jeff and I took Max and his Girlfriend Claudia to the local animal safari where we petted baby goats and sheep. My favorite part of the safari was the cage of donkeys in the middle of the Lion complex. Every single lion was staring down those poor donkeys, I felt bad for them that is really no way to live. Jeff and I also went to go see Iron Man which was awsome. Props to Krista for pointing out in the credits that there was a plastic gang boss. I don't know what that guy does but I would not want to mess with him.

Floors!

Been a bit too busy to post because of my new floors! When we bought our house it was evident that not only did the previous owners let their dog live in the house, but they also used really cheap carpet in the living room. I imagine if I were to go into a carpet store and find my old carpet it would actually be labeled "dirty." Jeff and I had this on our eventual to do list, but last fall the carpet started pulling away from the tile in the kitchen and nails were exposed posing a danger to Max. Long story short, thanks to Uncle Sam's stimilus check we now have new laminate floors. We also removed some tile from the livingroom and removed the tile from the entry way to give the whole area a unified feel. Now if anyone ever tries to tell you removing tile flooring is easy you tell them that they are liars and going to hell. Removing tile is hard and I have the blisters and bruises to prove it. Laying the laminate was easy enough, and for good measure we painted to rooms also. So ta da.. I have a gorgeous new living room which everyone is invited to come see.

Go run a lap

I could totally coach something. I have no problem telling kids to run, jump, punt, and then watching them do it. (okay I know it takes more then that, and I am not in any way saying I am anti-sport) Grrrr... once again I am denied a teaching position because I do not coach anything. Today multiple jobs were posted at one of the local school districts for teachers but all of them said you must be able to coach something. Seriously! I blame my parents for moving me so much. You can't get into sports in high school if you don't make it freshman year. I was always missing tryouts. I suppose I could have taken coaching classes in college, but it seems that would be difficult without the proper background in the actual sport. Last year I taught for a few months at the local high school replacing a teacher who got a coaching position somewhere else. I had a good experience making friends with other teachers and really fitting in at the school. I was told that I would not be guaranteed a position for this year. Last summer I saw a posting for four social studies teachers and called for an interview, they were really polite and said they would call me back -never got called. I did happen to see on the school website this last fall that the four new teachers were all first year, young male, teachers who coached for half their schedules. I not only had more experience then these guys, but I was already familiar with the school, faculty, and students. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised since I was one of only two teachers in the whole social studies dept. who didn't coach something. Is there no place in southern high schools for teachers who care about education?

A positive send off

Viewing my blog, I realized that I should probably post something positive to counteract the other inaugural post. Therefore I want to say a few words to all those who I have recently reconnected with via, facebook and their own blogs. Thank you for all the delightful stories you spend the time to post, I just spent like an hour reading the blogs of my friends from college. Hallelujah, for the Internet! I am so glad that I can reconnect with you and hopefully become friends again. Oh and a special shout out to Meg and Kasey my current Arkansas friends whose blogs I have been blurking on for the past few months, thanks for the laughs.

Nursery Toys

This has been eating away at me for the past two days so now that I have a blog I can finally vent to the masses. I received the following email from the relief society a few days ago,

I just received a call from Bentonville 2nd Ward Nursery Leader, and she feels it is time for Bella Vista to have their own Nursery Cupboard. Apparently, we've been sharing with B-2 since becoming a new ward in August. She said she'll go through all the toys, and anything they don't want, they'll give to us. However, I'm sure how much that will be, so I'm hoping to get some "used, but not needed anymore" toy donations from families in our ward. Anything suitable for children 18 mos - 3 years old would be hugely appreciated. Our Primary President is not sure yet what kind of budget Nursery has, so I'm pretty desperate.

Seriously people what the Hell! It is like we had a bad breakup from the other ward and some of our crap is being thrown out the window at us. Why can't it be a divorce where we divide the assets 50/50? I am not even going to mention that we were the majority of the previous ward, (including complete primary presidency who picked out the toys in the first place.) Okay I did mention it. I can understand wanting to ensure that all toys are clean, accounted for, and picked up, and I appreciate that we have 4 wards that meet in the same building, but I think that demanding that little kids stop playing with another wards toys is totally ridiculous.

And so we begin...

Well what better time to start this thing then during priesthood session of general conference. Max is asleep and there is nothing good on tv. I actually began this blog a few weeks ago, but got distracted by facebook instead. I like facebook, as a way of getting in touch with people, but I think this is probably an easier way to let people know what I am up to, (cause you know it is all about me.)