Me, Myself, and I

This poem was written by an 11-year-old student this year. 

(Yes, the same one who wrote A Peacock's Tale.)

I die inside as I walk down the hall

Plaster a smile on my face to hide it all

My heart is broke

It beats no more

It started on fire

I'm burnt to the core

I say hi to people as I go

My true feelings I won't let show

Life at home isn't what I want it to be

I hate myself. I hate being me.

I do good in school and act just right

but I'm afraid of going home at night

because then I'm there with me, myself, and I

It hurts so much, I think I'll cry.

Me, myself, and I.

(This, from a girl who says she just hates writing; "It's stupid.")  

I'm gonna miss that kid.

As Close to Heaven As I've Ever Been

On Friday, my sister Michelle stepped outside and witnessed something spectacular right in her back yard.

This is called cloud iridescence (not to be confused with a rainbow, apparently).

And that's not all she observed. In the same sky, she captured a "sun dog."

("Sun dog" is obviously not the scientific name. Sorry, but I'm not smart enough to explain the phenomena.)

It's a ring around the sun (or the moon).

I Googled this stuff and didn't see a single photo as good as Michelle's.

Incredible, huh?

Maybe heaven did come a little closer to earth recently!


Today (Memorial Day in the United States) I am grateful.

Sundays in My City: Chicken in the Car

My blogging buddy, Unknown Mami, hosts a weekly meme that collects entertaining posts from cities/towns/villages around the globe. It's always a treat. This week, my post focuses on Chicago, which is obviously not my city but is a popular destination for vacationing Wisconsinites.

[Don't live near Chicago but like to support bloggers and nice people? Like Melisa's Facebook fan page or recommend the book's website to a friend before clicking away from this post, please. Melisa will love you for it!]

Obviously, Wisconsin is next door to Illinois, and although we like to poke fun at Illinoians, I have to admit that that Chicago is a doable distance for vacation travel, and it's a city full of excitement and fun for families. We've been there a handful of times with the kids, so when I learned that Melisa (Suburban Scrawl) had written a travel guide to Chicago (especially written for families with teen leanings), I bought one.  It took me a few weeks to find the time to open it, but now that I have, I'm happy to report that it's really terrific!  Melisa grew up in Chicago (and she lives there now), so she has an insider's scoop that made her an ideal person to write the book. She's also a very genuine, fun, thoughtful go-getter; it's no surprise that her book is awesome.

To be honest, at first I thought, "Why buy a book when everything you could possibly need can be found on the Internet?" but holding the book in my hands reminded me that, sometimes, us visual folks (most of the planet, I'm pretty sure) like to see everything in-hand, at-a-glance, and not having to click in and out of tabs (especially on small, hand-held Internet devices) is sweet. You don't need a wi-fi connection to have your entire trip plan at your fingertips :)

The book is super-organized (indexed alphabetically, by area, and by activity type), and each entry is simple and to-the-point. Melisa has a fun, engaging writing style that seems to say, "I know you want the nitty-gritty here, so I'm just gonna hit you with the stuff you really care about and ignore the rest. She also provided website and twitter info (when relevant), which is helpful.

Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go also has some special features, like Creating a Personalized Family Summer Camp, and a part all about pizza and hot dogs in Chicago. Some of us (Kendall, for example) would be horrified to order a hot dog in Chicago and be denied ketchup, but true Chicagoans like Melisa know that ketchup is not part of an actual, Chicago-style hot dog!

Planning a vacation for a family can be tricky when adolescents are involved (everyone has his/her interests) and sometimes it's hard to please everyone, but Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go has destinations that appeal to typical travelers, as well as the eccentric. If you have a history buff, that's easy, but pleasing a daughter in love with horses or an eccentric kid geeked-out about rock-collecting, can be a little trickier. Who knew that Chicago has fun stuff for the picky kids in the family, too? (Melisa, that's who!)

Each recommended destination includes excellent tips specific to teens, but this book is ideal for anyone with tweens, as well as those young-at-heart.  Melisa gives recommendations I'd never thought of, such as...

*taking the Chicago water taxi!
*downloading mp3 audio tours from websites before heading to your destinations
*staying a Downtown Chicago hostel! (My college kid, Kyle, will love this one!)

She also included a key for the cost of each destination, which comes in handy. (For example, it helps to know that if you're going to take the Chicago Chocolate Tour, you're going to pay $26!)

Chicken in the Car and the Car Won't Go would probably not have been on my radar, had I not known the author, but I'm really glad it was, and I highly recommend it--It's a great tool, and I look forward to using it this summer and in years to come!

[For the record, Melisa did NOT ask or even hint that I write a review of her book. I paid for it myself, and my post is inspired by a sincere appreciation for the book.]

Chicken in the Car Facebook Fan Page
Chicken in the Car website

Saturday Sampling, May

Welcome to Saturday Sampling! If this is your first time, please read the specifics by clicking on the tab above.

I look forward to reading your offerings! Thanks.

Friday Fragments, Episode #147

Even though it's Friday (Who's not happier on Friday?), there's still a little work to be done, such as spring cleaning the cobwebs from our minds, which is what Friday Fragments is great for--Time to unload the bits and pieces that are too small for stand-alone posts but too important to just discard. Shall we?

I don't know about your neck of the woods, but in mine, stuff is finally greening up! FINALLY. It rained like cats and dogs last weekend, and today everything is so beautifully green. However....

Lisleman mentioned the problem in one of his End of Time fragments last week:

*Why cut the grass? The end is near! [Sadly, this is no longer a good excuse.]

*Why do the laundry? Don't you get fresh, white clothes in heaven?

He offered up plenty of other gems, but these really made me smile, so Lisleman, the award goes to you this week!

Wondering what to get a favorite dad for Father's Day? Head over to Eighty MPH Mom where you can win a $50 Red Envelope Gift Code for Father’s Day!  (I love that store!!)

Another favorite fragment I read this week came from my cousin, Lisa, who started raising chickens this year (for fun). She posted this on her Facebook wall:

Went out to feed my chickens and was shocked when they attacked my painted toenails!!! Guess they never saw me without shoes and socks and thought my toenails were treats, like pieces of strawberries, LOL....actually ouch:)

Sorry, Lisa, but that makes for a funny visual :)

When I was about 12 years old, someone paid for me to go to Camp U-nah-li-ya (YMCA camp).

It was the vacation of a lifetime. I felt so free; free to take a walk, free from chores, free from stresses at home, free from commitments. The freedom was exhilarating, and I will never forget it.

If you ever consider sponsoring a child's summer camp, don't hesitate; you can create memories to last a lifetime.

Now it's your turn! [Sorry, if you link up a post that is not a Friday Fragments post, it will be deleted. For more info about FF, click on the tab above.]

Heard in the Classroom

Students had to share what they would place in their own sarcophaguses (weird word--I agree)....

Mom and Dad don’t let me drink too much Mountain Dew. They say it’s not healthy for you.; I would like to be buried with a six-pack.

Pizza is my favorite food, so I would bring some to the afterlife. I especially love sausage and pepperoni.; I would even share it with my grandpa in heaven.

How about you? What would you have in your sarcophagus?

Tech Tuesday: TodaysMeet

[Note: If the topic of Web 2.0 tools bores you, will you at least scroll down to the bottom of the post and read that? I'd appreciate it very much!]

Have you ever been in a meeting and couldn't stop passing notes back and forth between friends also at the meeting/conference/class? Those side-conversations are what's known as the "back channel" of a presentation, and there's a Web 2.0 tool to help bring note-passing to the 21st century. I learned about it at a education conference last summer, and lately, Mrs.K and I have been using it in our literature class with 6th graders.

What I love about TodaysMeet is its simplicity; it takes less than a minute to set up a page, and no one needs to join beyond typing a username and clicking "Say!"  Right now in Lit class, we are listening to an audio book called Crispin. While the story is playing, we project our TodaysMeet web page onto the front board, where we can all see what's being said.  There are 10-15 iPod Touches in the room, and the kids share them, taking turns entering their responses to the story. Their contributions pop up on the large screen immediately.

In a typical class period in which the teacher is reading a book aloud, students learn about how to read fluently and that reading can be an enjoyable activity.  Read-alouds are not really the time/place for lengthy discussion. Talking too much during read-alouds messes up the continuity of the story. Yes, kids are having thoughts, making predictions, wondering, etc. but they aren't sharing them unless called upon. The beautiful thing about TodaysMeet is that everyone can contribute their thoughts or ask questions in real time without interrupting the flow of the primary activity. Whereas in the past, only a handful of kids would ask questions, etc. about stories we read, using TodaysMeet, now they all do, and the best part is that they are also answering each other's questions via the backchannel, unprompted by us. Participants can also participate via tweet.

Here's a snapshot of one of our TodaysMeet pages from last week:

Our students receive a grade for participation (and no, spelling doesn't count). I love this, because even shy kids can contribute, and so many more students participate than just the typical "eager beavers."

So, yes, we do allow "passing notes" in class, via iPod Touches, cell phones, and our projector. Today's classroom is a different world! :)

***It just occurred to me that TodaysMeet would be a great tool for getting some advice from you about a trip I'm planning with Kyle in June.  Please go to the meeting room that I set up to collect input on this question:


Kyle and I are planning our trip to CA in mid-June. SanFransisco and Oceanside. What should we do while we're there?  


All you have to do is type in your name and click on "Say" and then type a message in (there is no "joining" process beyond that). If you use Twitter, you can also participate by sending a tweet using the hashtag #mrs4444trip. This way, I can collect your ideas without getting a lot of emails to read; instead, the ideas will all be in one place. If you want a response, be sure to use a name I recognize :)  You're also welcome to just pop in to say "Hi. Look at me! I'm using a cool Web 2.0 tool!" or just check it out.  Thanks!

Life's Little Mysteries

I found a very interesting, entertaining website the other day and spent more than an hour there, learning the answers to many of life's ponderables. The site is called Life's Little Mysteries, and I recommend it to anyone who likes learning new stuff.  For example....

To understand how some people (2%) survive when they jump off the San Francisco Bay Bridge, check out the post.  Here are several more that I found interesting:

Why Are Barns Traditionally Red?

Why Do People Say "Okay"?

Why Aren't There Tornado-Safety Building Codes?

Can a Toddler's Athletic Skills Foretell Success?

"Twin Babies Having a Conversation" Video Explained. In case you've been out-of-the-loop and haven't seen the video, you MUST watch it; it's heartwarming as heck. Here it is:



The article explains that while the two may seem to be speaking their own "language," they are actually just modeling a highly developed skill related to the give-and-take of human conversation. Still, it's cute as heck, no?

[And yes, Lisleman and Dave, I did think of you two, especially, when I found Life's Little Mysteries; it's a great, great site for curious folks (and I'll let you decide what I mean by that, haha)  You two, especially, will love the site.]

Have fun!

Saturday Sampling, May 21, 2011

I came across some brilliant posts this week, so I'm really happy to have Saturday Sampling in which to share them. [Please visit the tab above (If you haven't before) to get the scoop on SS how-to's. Thanks.]  If you're linking up a post that isn't your own, please put a * before the title. In parentheses, please put tags that describe the post so that those interested in browsing can choose the subject their most interested in. Thanks for sharing! :)

Friday Fragments, Episode #146

Welcome to our favorite place to unload the bits and pieces flying around inside our heads; those that aren't big enough for stand-alone posts but are those we just can't let go of. Gather 'em up and share! [First time fragmenting? Click on the Friday Fragments tab above to learn more.]

***If you're like me, you're going to love this little tip. You know how every now and then, you find a blog that you love but it has a tiny font that you can't see and it drives you crazy? All you have to do is click Control and the + button of your keyboard to magnify your screen enough to see it. Repeat the steps to make it even bigger, and click Control - to take it back down to normal size. You're welcome :)

***Kyle is home for the summer, and we love it. We're always pretty happy around here, but when Kyle's home it seems like we laugh a lot harder.  He has moved his plans to study abroad to his junior year, but he has big plans to visit friends in Spain next year. His plan, in addition to his full-time summer job, is to detail cars on the side to raise plane fare. If you live near us and are willing to pay for a thorough cleaning of your car, give me a call and I'll hook you up!

***More Parents Turn to Service Dogs to Assist with Their Youths' Aspergers was a brief, interesting article I read recently. I'd love to try this with a student who blew up on me this week. I can really see how a service dog would help students with disabilities. I wish I could have one in my classroom.

***Not that I'm counting, but there are 10.5 days of school left for me.  It's been a hell of a year, and I am ready for a break.

***I don't mean to be a whiner, but I used to be able to leave a comment on a blogger blog without having to maximize the screen/box to click "Publish Your Comment." What's up with that? Hello, Blogger? Fix that, will you? Thanks.

***I am really going to miss Oprah. I hope she stays in the limelight.

***I "met" A Vermont Girl this week. She is generous, takes wonderful photos, and has a unique-looking blog that is very easy on the eyes. She also has a Get Ready Giveaway going on (which I hesitate to tell you about, because I would like to win) in which she is offering up a personalized gift made with your name (but really my name, since I plan to win it).  Alright, alright; you can enter, but please tell her I sent you, okay? (It might help my chances!)

***My friend, Kandee, lives in California. Her middle school aged (?) daughter, Carly, had a sleepover on Saturday night, and Kandee had this for a Facebook status update:

"One of Carly's friends just licked the rabbit's salt block; it's going to be a long night with these girls..."

Thanks, Kandee, for being a friend I can always count on for dry humor.

***Is there such a thing as wet humor?

***Kendall has been invited by a generous friend (and her family) to go to Hawaii two weeks in June. (Uh...yes; she's accepted.)  I'm thrilled for her (and plan to stow away in her suitcase).

What fragments have been spinning around your head this week? Feel free to link 'em up? [Sorry--This linky is for Friday Fragmenters only.  Non-FF posts will be deleted.]

A Peacock's Tale

I have a 6th grade student ("Julie") who can be delightfully charming some days and belligerently disagreeable the next.  She is beautiful but can be ugly at the same time; it's clear that there is much beneath the surface with this child.

Julie absolutely hates to write about anything we direct her to write but loves writing poetry "just for fun," and regularly shares her poems with me. The speed and ease with which she can whip out a poem in less than 10 minutes is amazing.  Here's the one she showed me this week (and gave permission for me to "share with some friends of mine.").

The Peacock's Tale

As quiet as the river flows

Upon a branch a peacock rose

She cried out softly to the moon

I live in fear for I'm to die soon

All of my hardships I must tell

For I am never to get well

She told of promises that she broke

She told of children that never woke

She cried about the relationship that failed

She yelled about the war between her and the quail

She told about everything in the life she led

In the morning by the river she was found dead

Yet if you go down to where the river flows

You might hear the soft coo of the peacock

as she tells of her story the night she rose.

Twelve years old...

Were you this deep at age 12?

Got a Minute?

See this beautiful, little guy?  

His name is Braylon, and he's only a week old, but today he is having heart surgery 

(No wonder he looks worried, huh?)  

He's a tough little cookie, though, and doctors are confident the surgery 

for Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) will be successful.

That said, Braylon and his family could use a few extra prayers, 

should you be so inclined.

Also, I just want to give a little shout out to the Ronald McDonald House Charities 

for their incredible support of families going through difficult times like Braylon's. 

This year alone (according to their website) they will help 30,000 families!  

Braylon's mom and dad will stay at the Ronald McDonald House, 

near the hospital, during his recovery from surgery, 

free of charge or for a small fee. 

This will allow them to focus their energies on Braylon's healing.

Thanks for sending good vibes Braylon's way! :)


Update from Braylon's mom, Tina:


He's off bypass and his little heart is beating strongly on its own.  They are pacing it right now at 160 and watching for bleeding...so far, all looks good. Such relief, although we know the ride isn't over quite yet, the next few days will be crucial for sure.  Again, thank you for your prayers they have helped Braylon be one tough dude:) 


Update from Wednesday night:


...eyes opened, arms and legs moved, sedation is wearing off and fabulous kyle [nurse] is decreasing heart support meds...we'll be home by Saturday at this rate...ha..ha..ha..couldn't be happier with how well my little man is doing...prayers are working keep them coming! i'm so proud to be his momma:)

My Scottish Nephew

This kid? He's an original. Recently, when my nephew Caden and his fourth grade classmates were invited to dress up in clothing in accordance with their heritages, Caden knew exactly what he wanted--He was gonna wear a kilt, come hell or high water! His mom (Michelle), being her wonderful mom-self, set out to make Caden's dream come true, and she didn't quit. "Anyone know where I can get a kilt for a young Scotsman?" she asked on Facebook. Not surprisingly, she came up empty, but a little thing like a kilt is not going to  make Michelle quit; she persevered.

My mom happened to have just the right fabric (all packrats do, you know!), and a friend of hers sewed the kilt (under which he wore shorts, in case you're curious.) Mom also crocheted the hat. When his ensemble was ready, the kid was positively giddy with excitement, begging his mom to let him wear it to school days early.  The answer (about 42 times) was, "No."

Of course, Michelle supports her boy fully, but she's no dummy; she knew other kids might tease Caden, and she gently warned him about this, but he wouldn't have it; he just doesn't care what other people think of him. (What self-respecting Scotsman does, anyway?!)

Next year, this free-spirited kid will be off to intermediate school (5th and 6th grade are in their own building), and sooner or later, some punk is going to try to bully Caden into thinking something's wrong with him, but you know what? I don't think it's going to work. Because this kid? He already knows who he is, and he knows he is one cool cat.

(But just to be on the safe side, Michelle will probably hide the kilt, come September.)

Saturday Sampling, May 13, 2011

Saturday Sampling is the place to share some of your favorite posts--Yours and those of others that you think deserve another go.  This week, I'm offering two posts of my own. They're two of the most popular posts from Half-Past Kissin' Time. The first is an audio recording of one of my most embarrassing moments, which occurred a few years ago, also in May. The second is a post with a shockingly enlightening video demonstration of the Go-Girl (female urination device), because I'm just that weird.  I realize many of you have heard/seen them before, but just in case anyone hasn't seen them, I thought they'd be great choices. (Get ready to laugh!)

Looking forward to reading your offerings!


[If this is your first visit, please read the SS How-To's under the tab above.]

Friday Fragments, Episode #145

***While I did not appreciate Blogger going out for a 24-hour nap, I didn't stress too much about it. As Mom would say, "It's not the end of the world."   In four years of blogging, it's never happened before, so I'm not jumping ship. I feel sorry for the poor people responsible for the mess.

***I'm not sure if this qualifies as an official fragment, but it was in response to fragments, and since I make the FF rules (yea!) I'm counting it.  Mel Fraase commented on my FF post with this:

YOU ARE A CAKE POP JUNKIE!!!! Time for an intervention. Will you make the refreshments? ;)


I also forgot to mention this gem, from Mel's fragments a couple of weeks ago, in regard to her forgetting about Spring Picture Day...

• I think the photographer was ready to give me the Mom of the Year Award when Max sat down for his photo…..
  

Why, yes, that is a pig tattoo on his forehead.  And my very least favorite shirt.  Cool.

Mel, you get the award this week. Thanks for making me LOL :)   And yes, any time you want to visit, I will happily make some cake pops for you.

***

Hmm...I said I'd give you Relay for Life supporters a little something for helping us out. Maybe I will make some cake pops and see how they ship?! What do you think?

***

I figured out why I've been so cake pop crazy lately; it's because my camera is out of commission--I am just sick about not being able to take pictures; I need the outlet. I love being creative.  Speaking of cake pops, if you missed my Baby Shower Cake Pops, you really much check them out!  CUTE. CUTE. CUTE. Kendall started making cake pops this week, and she, too, is hooked! I brought one of her in to work today for a secretary who enthusiastically declared "These should be called 'Sex on a stick!' They're so good!" lol

***

I wrote a post this week about the "birds and the bees" talk. The comments are very entertaining; if you need to laugh, the link is here.

***

You didn't miss Kendall's prom pics, did you? Just in case, those are here.

***

I've been a member of Freecycle for about a year now. This week, I finally offered a couple of things up for the taking. Both exchanges went seamlessly and very positively! It made me feel great to get rid of some "trash" that was "treasure" to the people who took the items.

***

I found a really cool resource via the Kim Komando radio program last weekend. (I learn something every single time I listen to that show!) From her website... if your camera has been stolen (or lost and adopted)...


Simply upload a photo to Stolen Camera Finder. The site will pull out identifying data. It then searches the Internet for photos taken with your camera. If the thief has been using it, you can find it. That's a great starting point for getting your camera back.


Got fragments? Load 'em up!

Wordless Wednesday

Mr.4444 does some traveling for his job; he spends a fair amount of time in airports. While he does not carry a digital camera, he does have one on his phone, so when he observed this couple in the gate area on a recent trip, he knew he had to capture the moment.

They say people who live together for a long time start to look like each other. Here's proof:

"The Talk"?

"Well, it's true that I don't know what an erection feels like, but..." 

I'm still smiling about the school nurse (a woman) explaining to the 6th grade boys (last week) why a woman was teaching them about what it's like to be a boy going through puberty. LOL

Do you remember "the talk?"  I remember only that there was one (at school) and that afterwards, my mom and I were alone at home (must have gotten to go home after the presentation), sitting at the diningroom table, when she tentatively asked,

"Do you have any questions?"

I quickly gifted her with an abrupt, "No," and retreated to my room.

In my memory (clouded by adolescence at at the time), Mom was absolutely terrified that I would have a question. (It's ironic that a woman who raised nine children would try to pretend that sex did not exist, but she did.)

I remember the time Kyle (ate 5 or so) was at Mom's (with me) when he put on a very long piece of costume jewelry (necklace) and exclaimed, "Wow! It's all the way down to my penis!" and Mom about had a heart attack, responding quickly and sternly (in a hushed tone), "We don't say that word in this house!"   LOL

Getting back to the subject of the "sex talk," later that day, mom came up to my room and handed me a menstruation belt and pads for the eventual "event."  I was completely turned off (how old-fashioned!) but I did appreciate her effort, on some subconscious level.

Thankfully, my friend's mom (Ellen) was totally cool talking about periods, etc. She even had a copy of Our Bodies, Ourselves (from which I learned a lot).  I loved that about Ellen, and by the time Mom came to me with that belt, I was already a generation ahead of her. When my "big moment" finally arrived, I was completely prepared for it.

How about you? How did you learn about puberty? Your parents? School? The school bus? 

Monday, Sweet Monday: Baking "Fun"

A couple of weeks ago, Difference Makers had to make good on a promise to Penny Drive winning homerooms; we had promised those who raised the most money (or the most pennies) to a "Cookie Buffet!" So...insane person that I am held our weekly meeting in the Home Ec room and gave the kids pretty much all free-reign to bake four different batches of cookies. "Just follow the directions on the back of the bag," I instructed (about 42 times).

I helped where I could, but obviously, one person cannot supervise baking four different batches of cookies at the same time, so there were some "gaps" in proper baking techniques. (The Home Ec teacher would probably have had a heart attack.)  I took some photos and some video, and here's a little montage that will give you the gist.

When the cookies were done, I showed the kids how to make cake pops. Of course, those were a big hit!  We had quite the assembly line going!

Fortunately (or unfortunately) the kids all had to be picked up at the normal time, so I ended up doing an extra 30 minutes of cleaning up on my own. I had instructed the boys who made the "cookies" in the video to just press them into a cake pan to make bars, and while they looked okay, I was a little suspicious as to how they might taste, so after my cleaning was finished, I took a bite....

...and quickly found a garbage can in which to spit it out. I wouldn't have fed those bars to Cooper; I had to throw out the entire pan (waaay to generous with the salt, Boys). So glad I tasted those before the big "Thank You" Cookie Buffet event, the next day.

At this week's meeting, I figured we could talk about some low-key ways to coast out the rest of the year, but the kids had very different ideas; they positively wore me out, all taking at once about how they want to "end the year with a bang!" and do some more "really cool stuff," like cleaning the neighborhood park ("No! Let's do all of the parks in town!"), and visiting the local nursing home one last time, because it's "So much fun!"  I laughed out loud over their enthusiasm and even videotaped part of the meeting (to show them some time), just because the level of energy was so funny.

These kids blow my mind.

So, no; we're not going to "coast" the rest of the year, though we are going to spend one night just having fun together (think picnic, firepit, fishing, pond, etc.)  They've certainly earned it!

For more information about Difference Makers, type "Difference Makers" in the search box in my sidebar.

Fyi, the parents of these Difference Makers gave me permission to post the video here :)

In Case You Were Wondering....About My New Header

Yes, I took all of the photos. No, they are not all current, though they are all summer shots. The bottom photos were taken recently. The top were taken last summer, with the exception of my all-time favorite, Family Sunset, which I took when the kids were younger, at our favorite family camping spot, Franklin Lake. I guess I just got sick of Wisconsin waiting so long to get to summer that I've pushed it a little bit. (And my camera is in the shop, so I don't know when I'm going to be able to take photos as often as I'd like.)

Keeping fingers crossed that my camera is fixed (inexpensively) soon... Taking pictures feeds my soul, and I'm hungry!

Sundays in My City: Prom!

Every Sunday, Unknown Mami shares links to photos from cities all over the globe.

In my city, it's prom time!

Kendall was invited to her boyfriend's (Adam) prom.

Okay, well I'm pretty sure everyone thinks their kid is gorgeous, but I am just gushing here...

...First, the before...

and an after...

...and the rest...

And she even smiled once or twice with her teeth showing!

Although, judging from Adam's smile, they are the perfect couple :)

Note: Yes, I'm aware that there are no flowers in these photos. 

Kendall and her date went to meet friends who picked them up for the group :) 

They're also going to Lambeau Field, where apparently "everybody" goes to take prom pics. 

(I was thrilled with the ones I already had, so I passed.) 

For beautiful shots from other cities, visit Sundays in My City.

AND HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

Saturday Sampling, May 7, 2011

Those old pics in my header are driving me crazy, but my camera is in the shop, so I'll just have to find some distractions to keep me busy in the meantime. Saturday Sampling is just that; a nice place to sit back and enjoy some great posts from blogs around the world. I look forward to your offerings. Thanks for visiting :)

To learn more about SS, please click on the SS tab above.

Friday Fragments, Episode #144

No intro tonight--Sorry. I am very, very busy making the cutest stinkin' cake pops EVER for a baby shower tomorrow. As soon as they're done, I'll post pics here and at Mrs.4444 Cooks. I can't wait to show you!!!

***

It's been a long time since I mentioned Favorite Friday Fragmenters. Last week, Kay reminded me of that fact when she posted this hilarious video fragment and it truly delighted me:

Kay is a busy homeschooler with a beautiful blog (Herr, Nach Deinem Wille 

and a guest book waiting for new friends :)

I also enjoyed this fragment about the Tooth Fairy, from It Feels Like Chaos...

Last week some asked what the going rate was that the tooth fairy pays for a tooth. Well, our tooth fairy pays $5 in gold one dollar coins for the first tooth lost and then either $1 or $2 (again in the gold coins because the tooth fairy is fancy like that!).....

....My kids have told me stories of friends at school getting $15 for a tooth from the tooth fairy. I just said, "Well, I guess their tooth was worth more than yours. 

Maybe they brushed it more!"

Ladies, please accept this award!

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One of my pet peeves is when people leave a comment and end it by telling me to come and read their blogs. Sorry, but that's a great way to make me not read your blog. I'm not sure why; maybe I just don't like being told what to do. If you are such an offender, we still love you, and we'll get to your blog in due time :)

Update: I have to clarify that I actually love it when my readers ask me to come and read something you want to share with me because we have that kind of relationship. What I wrote refers to perfect strangers who stop by (drive by, really) and say, "Hey! Your blog is so great. Please visit my blog at shamelessimpersonalplug.com," and then I never hear from them again.
If bloggers want connection, they need only leave their urls (and personal, sincere comments).

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Taboo--What a WEIRD show. Very, very weird. (Lisleman, I think you would enjoy it.heehee)

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I'm glad that Bin Laden is dead, and I can appreciate people being excited about it, but it's not flipping New Years Eve or something; I think it's in very poor taste to show hours of video of Americans screaming, cheering, and chanting "U-S-A.!" on national television.
I can't even articulate it; all I know is that I think it's sick.

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Last night, at our school board meeting, the Difference Makers were recognized for being "Outstanding Community Volunteers," and each of them had his/her name called and were given a certificate and small thank you gift. The kids were positively beaming.

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To see more of our Cupcake Wars Sweet 16 Birthday Bash pics and video, check it out at Mrs.4444 Cooks.

Okay, now it's your turn!

Because I'm Just That Kind of Wife

[Warning: This post could be disturbing to some readers; it addresses a subject that some people find gross. I find it funny, but I'm a sick individual; it's your call.]

I should have known better than to think I could sleep in a little today before my appointment with the endodonstist (root canal doctor). Mr.4444 was bothering me at the butt crack of dawn...

"Will you help me?"

Seriously? Let me sleep!

A little while later...

"I could really use your help."

[I pretend to be sleeping.]

"Come on...please?  I've been up since five, and I can't do it myself."

Men!  Finally, I caved. Mr.4444 apparently did need help with his little friend, Woody.

You see, it seems that during all the yard work yesterday, Mr.4444 found a new friend. His name is Wood Tick (Woody for short). Some time during the night, Woody found Mr.4444's nice, furry belly in which to burrow and have himself a meal.  Now, I'm not complaining about the choice for the location of his banquet (between you and me, Mr.4444 can afford to lose a little in the belly area) but for some reason, Mr.4444 doesn't like blood-sucking parasites, and in the middle of the night, he unknowingly ripped Woody away from the table.

As you may know, wood ticks are not polite guests. Even the most unruly bouncer cannot intimidate a wood tick into leaving on its own.  While Mr.4444 was successful in removing Woody's body from his own, he was unsuccessful at keeping the head intact while he did so; poor Mr.4444 has the head of a wood tick lodged in his belly.

So, now, I'm off to help my husband with his...um...Woody problem.

What?! Of course I had to write a blog post first--Sheesh! (I had to have my coffee first! These things can't be rushed into, you know.)

And no, I'm not going to take pictures; that's just sick!

Monday, Sweet Monday

I've been battling a toothache all weekend. I have no idea how anyone becomes addicted to Vicodin---All it did for me was make me nauseous; I'll take the toothache. So, anyway, it's Monday, now, so I will be heading back to the dentist later today. Wish me luck!

In the meantime, I like to start Mondays with something cheery, so here's a clip of Kendall, giving us a little concert tonight after dinner. She got a ukulele for her birthday and has been teaching herself how to play it. She knows how to read music, but other than a stint with a trombone in 6th grade and some piano lessons in grade school, she hasn't played an instrument, so she's proud of herself, and we love listening to her sing, so I thought I'd share a little bit to kick off your week :)

And, if that's not enough for you, here's also Somewhere Over the Rainbow!

Have a sweet week! :)