My teammates made it!

I just got off of the phone with Misty and she survived the 3-Day! I am so proud of her and Denise and Kristin. These ladies have really given of themselves to make the world a better place. The only thing better is if I could have joined them.

My aunt sent me a link to quiltpink.com which is a group that makes quilts to sell to raise money for breast cancer research. Maybe I will make a quilt to help Misty and Kristin fundraise next year. Hmmm. I can still participate and I like that idea.

I'm proud...

This is what I have been doing lately. These are two hats with booties and a baby afghan for our former preacher's first grandchild. After three daughters, his first grandchild will be a boy--he's a little tickled about that.

It's been fun working on baby stuff. It works up fast and it's so darn cute! I have laughed and oohed and aahed over the little booties and reminisced over when my babies were little (although my oldest was NEVER that tiny--his 3 month old size clothes were pretty darn full right away).

The blanket is just a huge granny square. But it makes for good, mindless crocheting for in front of the tv. I guess this is what I am doing for stress relief these days since working out isn't doing it for me much. It's probably because I can't work out for the duration that I did before my injury. But, I have got to get it together.

The 3-day starts tomorrow. I am rooting for my team--BIG TIME!

3-Day Praises!

Hurrahs and big hugs to Misty, Kristin, and Denise, the remnant of team 3-Day Supporters! They will report in 2 days to do a 60 mile walk to raise money for breast cancer research.

I am both insanely jealous and really proud of them all!

It's Official!

Okay, I have finally hit the big 4-0. I guess the good news is that I am way more bummed that the 3-day walk will go on without me. My pity party goes something like this: everyone will be having fun without me. Oh well.

But, I had a good day yesterday. I didn't take on anything major and we just took everything slow and easy. We did go out for dinner last night and it was lovely. Eddie and the boys got me an excellent set of crochet hooks so that I can continue my crafting fun.

I have finished the big blue blob for a Christmas gift. Plus, I have just finished a lovely baby afghan with 2 matching hats and 2 pairs of booties for the expected grandson of our former preacher. It's so sweet to work on baby stuff. This is the first grandchild for a family that had only daughters and no sons, so this is going to be one spoiled rotten baby! Of course, I have a really soft spot for baby boys...

The only really bad part is that I am going to have to really start cleaning and working hard around the house while I am on fall break to keep my mind off of the 3-day. Yuck! I'd rather be lazy...

clomp, step, clomp, step

Okay, I am getting somewhat used to the sound of trying to be mobile in an aircast boot. On the whole, I think I am doing pretty well. I am still bummed about the walk, but I have accepted that. Basically, I am really missing my early morning walks. It was a reason to get up in the morning. It gave structure and purpose to my day. It was social time, too. I was walking and enjoying the company of a good friend.

My doctor has approved that I can ride an exercise bike and resume my elliptical as long as I build up slowly. But, while it has seemed so easy to get up and meet Misty, I can't seem to make myself do it just for me. Plus, my foot aches and throbs just from my daily grind of being on my feet, so I am not terribly crazy about trying to do more and making my life miserable earlier in the day.

I have found a way to help ease my stress. I have gotten out my knitting and began to start making a few things again. It helps to feel like I am being somewhat productive, at least. Last night, I decided to give crocheting a whirl. I knew how to do a very little bit of crocheting from when I was a little girl and a neighbor showed me. I found a good tutorial on the internet and followed along. I don't know if it was due to the fact that I had played around with a hook and yarn so many years ago, or if it is just easier in that I only had to learn to really manipulate one hook with one hand as opposed to two needles in both hands, but I seemed to pick it up really simply. Don't get me wrong, I am by no means an expert, but I didn't struggle for days in order to feel comfortable making basic stitches. It took DAYS and DAYS with knitting and my tension is still not the best and I have been playing with it off and on for 3 years or so. For what it's worth, I am enjoying it. I love having options.

I have scored some awesome fabrics from the dollar table at Wal-Mart in the last 10 days or so. I don't have much time to sew and I am a very rank beginner, but my Mom has gotten excited that I have lost my 40 lbs or so and she is helping me a bunch! She has made up a beautiful microsuede into a full, gored skirt that is dreamy. It is a dark, chocolate brown and with topstitching, it looks just like suede. It's going to be gorgeous for this fall. She is also making a matching jacket. It's yummy. I did find some gorgeous taupe fabric for a suit and some khaki for a light cardigan with 3/4 sleeves. I will likely wear that lots at school when it gets chilly.

Mom also found some fabrics that I had bought years ago (before my weight had gotten so high) and pulled it out and some of it was in colors that I am trying to work around. Subtle greens, browns, touches of burgundy. So, my wardrobe is growing without my having to spend much money. It's good since I don't have much left since losing weight. Instead of grungy t-shirts and jeans that don't fit, I will have a few skirts, pants, and such that can be put together in a number of ways. I've never been this coordinated in my wardrobe and I think I am going to really like it!

School is going well this year, so far. Other than a few issues with enforcing dress codes, I haven't had any real problems. I am sticking to my high standards and insistence in classroom order to really push the kids. I think it's going to pay off, overall. I think we will see an increase in SAT scores in the next couple of years. Plus, I have seen a decline in both work ethic and critical thinking skills over my career. So, that is what I am stressing. Critical thinking and the desire to work hard to achieve a goal is likely to be a definitive factor in future success for these kids. Oh well, I will get off of my soapbox for now!

Happy Labor day!

Back from vacation--bummer!

Well, we spent a wonderful week on Jekyll Island, Georgia this past week. We met my best friend from Tennessee and her two beautiful daughters. It was a lot of fun and it's always cool that when we get together that life is all about the kids. It's laid back and relaxed and noisy and chaotic. By the end of the week, the adults are pulling their hair out and the kids are exhausted. It's a good thing.

The best part is that the kids need absolutely no time to get back into the swing of things. Even though they haven't seen each other or spoken in a year, they picked back up as if they had been together the day before. They just never miss a beat. Of course, it's like that for me and Karen also, but it's fun to watch how well the kids get along. It made going back home (and to reality) hard for all of us. But, we'll see each other in October, as she is coming down to be at the closing ceremonies for the 3-day with us. I'm so excited that she would even consider coming down to support me in this. It's cool.

Unfortunately, on the way back home, my car picked up a horrible noise and we had to limp it back home. But, we made it home safe and hubby is working hard to get it back up and running so I can return to work tomorrow. It wasn't a great time to have another expense to take care of, but at least it appears that he can do the work himself, which helps.

Whew!

I don't know if there is a full moon that is just hanging over my school, but I have just (barely) survived the most emotionally wrenching week in my teaching career. I don't know what has happened. I don't know if I am becoming a burned-out, old teacher or if the children really are acting like rabid animals escaped from a zoo. Whew! I am not quite sure how I am going to get through the remaining weeks.

I am excited to go to the kickoff for the 3-Day in Atlanta on May 5th. It will be tight time-wise as I have got to be up late the night before with chaperoning our senior prom. Then I have to get back in time to help set up and help with the picture taking for our junior prom. I will be pretty exhausted when I get through that weekend. I just have to remember that I will have to do my laundry during the week that week--because it just won't be done otherwise!

Another day!

Good news! I got a new donation to my fundraising account from Doris McGlone. In addition to the generous support of my parents and Jan Marshall, I think I am up and running.

My bronchitis flared up after Dad's little cardiac episode and I hadn't been able to work out very well. I tried, but I would only be able to go a little way until I started coughing and couldn't stop. Ugh! The other day, I went walking with my friend and teammate Misty and could only go a mile before it sounded like I was working up a horrendous hairball!

But, I figured out that if I take a nebulizer treatment of albuterol (one good thing about having an asthmatic kiddo is that you have all the equipment on hand), I could go a bit farther on the elliptical trainer. Now, I am back to 30 minutes, but only once a day. But, I can sure feel it in my legs and fanny when I am done, so it's likely to be doing something positive.

John and Granny even walked with me yesterday for a mile. Pretty good for all of us--exceptional for John. It's taking a lot to build up his stamina.

Tomorrow, if the wonderful weather holds, I will try to take the kids and walk with Misty again after school. Now that I have a portable nebulizer (so I can quit coming home so Ethan can use our old-fashioned nebulizer during the school day), I can take it with me in a fanny pack so I can even have a treatment en route! Ha! I may outsmart this bronchitis thing yet. Plus, I feel so much better after every workout. Maybe I can burn it out of my lungs.

So, life is good.