Book Review of Sorts

**This post has to do with my New Years Resolution to read more during the school year and keep track of what I read on my blog. Due to the class I am taking at the moment, the books have been slow coming! But I am close to finishing another one this week also!**
Here goes:

Get Your Loved One Sober: Alternatives to Nagging, Pleading, and Threatening

What I thought: I bought this book looking for a book to help me understand the disease of alcoholism better. I was hoping for a book of how to help the recovering alcoholic. (We all know that Kevin is a recovering alcoholic and has been in recovery for 3 years.) We have worked past a few lapses in the past two years, but haven't let them stop the recovery process. I really wanted to be armed with tools to help him even more should a lapse occur again. What really captured my attention about this book was the last chapter titled, Relapse Prevention. But, I still read the whole book. It validated a lot of things for me and is a positive book to read for anyone who struggles with an alcoholic in their life and what to do. If anyone is living with an active drinker, this book would be a huge asset to you. Most of the book deals with the "what to do" when living with an active drinker. It didn't really hit on my particular situation, but was still interesting, and I gained from reading this.

Lines from the Relapse Prevention Chapter that could help anyone:
*We enjoy the good times, work through tough times, and generally keep moving forward one step at a time.
*Real life is full of ups and downs, as you well know, and the difference between people who get stuck in the downs and those who do not is how they interpret them.
*Everybody makes mistakes. (sooo true!)

Summary from the book jacket: Here is a book for those who have "tried everything" to get their loved one sober all to no avail. Using this compassionate yet effective approach, spouses, lovers, parents, or children of problem drinkers or drug users can improve the quality of their own lives while making sobriety a more rewarding option for their loved ones than drinking or doing drugs. This book provides the guidance and tools you need to recognize how you and your loved one interact and to change patterns to achieve healthier, happier results.

Nooooooo! Say it isn't so!

• Spring Break is over ... tomorrow is an alarm clock day! :-( I need a few more days, so I can at least start missing the kids. ha! If I didn't have spring fever before, I certainly do now!!
• Which brings me to some good news, I am not going to work this summer (first time in a long time). I do really like teaching summer school, but I am only 6 classes away from finishing my Masters. So, I am taking two classes this summer. Should be just enough to keep me from getting bored and spending too much money (that I won't have b/c I'm not working! ha!)
• In other good news/masters news, I literally just finished my research project!!!!! I have printed it out to proof read. Thank goodness for the bit of rain the past two days that made me stay inside to work on it! ha!
• And, one gripe and then I'm off to proof read. As I working on my project yesterday, I opened the blinds so I could have a bit of a view while I worked. Guess what I viewed? My neighbor (granted he is a kid, but I have other neighbors that do it too), was taking his dog for a walk and letting it poop in my flowerbed! Ummm....hello? I am a dog lover and professed animal nut, but this really ticks me off! (this and dog owner who let their dogs out in the front yard or go for a walk with no lead but we'll save that for another day). When I opened the front door, he jumped a mile b/c he knew he was busted - which tells me he knows it's wrong! I nicely, but also grouchily said (hee-hee -it's possible - you say it grouchy but put a southern hun or sweetheart at the front to soften it), "Take your dog to your yard to use the bathroom!" I did get a sorry (not a poop pick up though!). But today, he just took the dog to another neighbor's yard! urgh!
• oh, and I updated my pictures in my sidebar - what do you think?

Country Kids at heart...

Kevin has today and tomorrow off ~ yay! We started off this morning with a good burn pile...I do love a good burn pile! This one was HUGE! Technically, I am in the city limits, but not really. The road behind us was in the country not too long ago, and then developers came in and made a neighborhood behind them. Since I back up to them, and they make burn piles, then I can too! ha!

See, I'm careful and do just like Dad says and spray around it with water to set my boundaries and I never leave it unattended. Plus, I love the smell of it! Oh, for the city girls ~ note my new highlights! LOL!

I spent today burning yard clippings, cleaning out the pond at the dismay of Mr. Toad (see him?) and cleaning up the deck. (once I find some new cushions, I will take a pic!) Yep, I am ready for SPRING!
Kevin spent today getting the garden started. It is in the first stages, and I have to say I am impressed. Right now, the plants are still growing in his little greenhouse - remember? Today he started getting the bed ready. He tilled up his compost that has been down all winter, got some topsoil and tilled it in and then went back and got a load of compost soil. He was Mr. Farmer B today!! Look how loaded down Old Blue is... that truck has come in super handy this week!
The garden is much bigger than last year!! We are going to have big tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, squash, green beans, cucumbers, jalapenos, bell peppers, zucchini, and carrots. woo-hoo! Now, any ideas on how to keep the squirrels out of our tomatoes this year??? Yep, you can take the kids out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the kids!

Can you say MULCH?

After getting my hair cut and highlighted this morning, I reverted back to my country girl self and promptly pulled my hair up in a ponytail and started back in the flowerbeds! ha! Seriously, I am not a good girly girl...not crazy about shopping, not really into fashion (just comfort), and don't own a ton of shoes. (gasp!)

Now, I spend my money on the house and in the yard!! It took two truckloads of mulch to get all my flowerbeds done today, but my teenage neighbor that I hired yesterday and myself got it done! He is a good little worker - I have hired him the past three spring breaks. I think he starts driving next year, and that is when I lose all my good help! ha! All six flowerbeds have fresh mulch now and look at the size of the one I extended! Now that's a flowerbed! ha! We finished the rock border today too. When everything starts blooming, I will take another picture.

Mr. Razorback is all comfy in his new home.

It's going by too fast!

Wednesday of Spring Break is almost over! YIKES! The week needs to sloooowww down! Or Spring Break needs to be TWO weeks long! LOL!

I feel like today flew by, but you know I got some things crossed off my list. First of all, I got lucky and the lady that I scored all the free plants from the other day called this morning saying I could have two more day lillies, three azalea bushes and a crape mertle if I would come dig them up! Woo-hoo! So, I did. Then, I had to rush to get cleaned up and make a hospital visit to my Aunt who had surgery. I got there in time to do a little visiting (which I'm sure she won't remember due to pain meds -ha!) and have lunch with my mom, SIL, and Granny at Cracker Barrel. yummy!

Once back home though, the work (relaxing work) began of planting my free stuff. Oh, and I called the teenage helper I hire every year to come mow the yard and help me spread mulch in the front flowerbeds. It's good to have help!!! He was a bit of a sissy about the bees chasing him in the backyard though - ha! Seriously, I would've ran too - they were huge!

Tomorrow all the flowerbeds should be mulched, so I will try to take some pics. I'm afraid rain may force me to stay inside on Friday, and I will be so sad! Rain, Rain, stay away - come back on a workday!

Today's Spring Break in pics...

I started today working on that research project that I have procrastinated on...I am about 1/3 of the way done...it's a pretty intense project that I've put off. Oh well, it's a little too cool to be in the flowerbeds in the mornings anyway. So, I'll try to do a little bit each morning! I will be SOOO glad to be finished with this one! To relax, I started on the flowerbed extension today. Remember, yesterday it was just tilled up. Today, I planted all the the free plants I scored and started on the border. I also transplanted a few of my plants and got three of the beds ready for mulch. I do love working in the flowerbeds!!

But, look what I killed today: I didn't even scream! I froze for a second, because I almost stepped on it AND it was heading straight for Jax who was laying in the sun while I gardened!! So, I grabbed a shovel and proceeded to stab it until I was certain it was dead. And, then I thought - GREAT, the snakes are already out! urgh! Jax relaxing after his snake scare. "Whew! That was a close one! Thanks for saving my life Mom!"
"Eek! They are so dramatic - let's nap!"

LOL!

Happy Tuesday ~ who do you think

will be booted from Dancing with the Stars?

Monday pics

Today has been a mixture of lazy and getting things done too! I would accomplish something and then rest a bit! ha! Vacation is good like that! First, I got the pop-up ready for camping season. I popped her up in the garage (let me insert here - I quickly remembered why I usually leave this job to Kevin! Jeez! I thought I was going to die before my out of shape self could get the thing popped up!) But I did it, and sat there taking several deep breaths for a bit to recover! ha! She is all ready now to pull out of the garage and hit the camping scene. I have a very short shopping list to get her restocked on a few things.When Kevin got home he tilled up an extension area of my wild flowerbed against the fence ~ which I will work on tomorrow. I scored a BUNCH of free plants today. My cleaning lady was here (yeah - I now have a clean house!!), and she had a friend who was tearing up one of her flowerbeds. She was going to toss out the plants - throw them away. See the bucket below ~ I got 5 buckets full of plants from her today for FREE! hee-hee!! I love it! Between those and splitting some of mine that are in desperate need, I will have the extension filled up in no time and for free!! (even better!) Look - here is Kevin's garden so far this year. He's so proud of his mini greenhouse. Today was the first day without the lid....he has Friday off and the start of working on the garden begins!And, here is Nala seeming to say, "I'll use this thing if you aren't going to." LOL! And, what is it about cats and boxes?

Ahhhh.....Spring Break!

I LOVE Spring Break...the freedom to put things off to whenever you get to them...flowerbeds are budding...projects are in the air (hee-hee! I love projects!)...camping season is right around the corner...fresh air...and I admit a hint of sadness that the school year only has nine weeks left! Time flies!

Friday was a half-day for teachers, so I did my grades, report cards, got my plans ready for the week after the break, and was "officially" on vacation around 11:30am Friday!! I think that is when you all heard a distant "whooo-hoooo!" ha! Friday, I relaxed a bit, read a bit, and got some stuff ready for a yard sale. Then, Saturday morning, my cousin, Sandy and I had a very successful yard sale. Note this - the first weekend of Spring is a great time to make your trash someone else's treasure - it is the first weekend that all the yard salers get out and they are in prime spending mode! We were wiped out of all the good stuff in the first 20 minutes and had almost sold everything when we closed the garage door! And, I made $200! yipee! Not a bad start for Spring Break (except for the waking up early part!). I did get to go to TaMolly's - my favorite - for lunch, so another bonus! After that, I napped! And then....my organizing craziness kicked into overdrive. I was just going to clean up from the yard sale and ended up building one of those crate shelves for the garage and going into major organizing high! I can just stand in the garage and smile! It's a sickness I have - this organizing rush I get! LOL!

Today, Kevin and I went to the early church service for Easter, and then headed to Newport to my parent's place to pick up the camper. Thanks Mom and Dad for storing the pop-up all winter!! We were going to camp one night this week to get her (the camper is a her) ready for the season, but Kevin's schedule didn't work out. So, I'm going to pop her up tomorrow in the garage and get her ready. That will give me a project while the cleaning lady is here (an indulgence I cannot live without!). Anyway...that's what's going on here. I am in bliss to be on vacation. I'll post pictures of any projects/progress later! :-)

Patience...

I am in need of patience right now ~ just trying to wait for Spring Break!!! I just have tomorrow with the kids ( who are in full fledged spring fever ). They are almost unrecognisable!!! Promise! Friday is a teacher workday to get report cards done, and then you will probably hear me yell, "Whoooo-hoooo!" I am in need of a break!!! I am tired of keeping up with master's work, a clean house, laundry, grading papers, blah, blah, blah...Sometimes I wish I were a man and could sit back and relax in a messy house! LOL! Really, what is that like?

You've got to see this!

We wrapped up our unit on sound by the kids building instruments at home and then bringing them to school to demonstrate on Friday. This is a child from across the hall who did such an amazing job that he got to play for us too! Check him out - remember he built the drum set from things around the house too!!! I love it!

It's here...

The treadmill is in the house! We brought it home from Kevin's parents house this weekend. Of course, I had my stress attack once we got it home about how ugly it made the guest room. Ha! What's more important - being healthy or having a pretty room that no one uses? I guess being healthy! Darn it!

We are suppose to start walking on it tomorrow (because we got home late Saturday and the hogs were playing and today is a day of rest). Have I already started with the excuses?

Well, wish us luck! I did put the little tv in there that we use in the camper b/c I know I won't walk on it if I can't watch tv. Hope that does the trick!

I'll keep you posted!

Now, I gotta go eat another piece of that chocolate cake Kevin's mom sent home with us! Hee-hee!

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 32 year Anniversary Mom and Dad!

Love ya!

The NERVE!

Some people have a lot of nerve ... today, a woman posing as a parent walked into the school this morning. She was spotted outside several rooms looking at bulletin boards. One person even asked her if she need any help...no, was waiting on her child...she managed to steal two people's purses before she left the building!!!

Now, the mornings before the bell rings is a lot of hustle and bustle ~ parents dropping off kids, kids going to the cafeteria for breakfast or in the hall waiting for the bell to ring. Several people saw this woman but assumed she was a parent. Nope - she was scoping out the situation and stealing purses! One teacher came in her room to find all her desk drawers pulled open. THE NERVE! This school is a very warm and friendly environment - unlike my previous school. At this school, classroom doors are left open and teachers are visiting. It is a trusting environment with minimal problems. Someone took advantage of that today, and it really ticks me off!

After she took two purses at our school, she walked next door to the church and asked if she could use the phone and stole a purse there too! Then she CAME BACK to the school....the bad part is that no one was sure who she was yet - they were looking and playing back the video from the morning. Here's the best part - while security was looking over the video - she was outside going through THEIR car!! (it was later seen on video ~along with her seeing what vehicles she could get into!)

Anyway - she got away for now. They have her face and car on tape...I just can't believe how bold some people are!

Randomness...

Nothing very exciting is going on here - and that's a good thing sometimes! :-) So, I just have totally random thoughts/updates today. In school/work news, I taught the after-school tutoring program today (because I don't have enough to do! ha!). Anyway...this will be every Tuesday for the next four weeks. Because, teachers and parents, you KNOW what is in four weeks.....THE BENCHMARK TEST! URRRGGGHHH! I don't even want to talk about that - so switching gears! Remember when I said I was tricking my kids into thinking I was feeding them worms? Hee-hee! Well, here they are enjoying or trying to make sure they are really just gummy worms in the jello! I love it!

And, in case you doubted me wanting me to be my spoiled, rotten cat in yesterday's post ~ check her out here:
I mean, really you have to live with her to appreciate her quirks and "lovely" personality. There are people who fear this cat! ha! She is really fluffy, and everyone wants to pet her. The problem is - she really only loves me. She tolerates most other people. Yesterday, she blocked Jax (the 80 lb. boxer) from the doggie door. She sat in front of it and would not move. He tried several times to get past her, and she hissed at him and scared him to the back of the house. She will meow and carry on at the bottom of the sink in the bathroom until someone (usually me) picks her up and turns on the water so she can drink from the tap. But the funniest thing about Nala, is that she CAN'T jump. She is the clumsiest cat you have ever seen. Sometimes it takes her three tries just to jump up on the bed ~ you can't help but laugh!

Told you today was random!

What if....

What if I could meet someone in the art world to chat with - well, I wouldn't know who to pick or what to talk about...I am not artsy. Unless, you could count writing as a form of art, then I would like to meet James Patterson - my all-time favorite author.

What if I could have one wish granted for the benefit of all mankind - I would wish for there to be no child abuse or neglect, and that no child went to bed without food or feeling loved. Is that more than one wish?

What if I could travel anywhere in the world - There are lots of places I would love to travel, but right now, I would LOVE to go on an Alaskan Cruise and enjoy the scenery.

What if I could live in a period other than the present, for 24 hours - this one is easy for me, I have always wanted to live back in the days of the old western movies with the big dresses and sexy cowboys! ha!

What if I could make over three areas of my body - my thighs, my freckles, and my butt (maybe that treadmill we are getting from Kevin's parents will take care of two of those!)

What if I could become an animal for 24 hours - hmmm...my spoiled house cat, Nala! She sleeps all day and only gets up to tell everyone else what to do for HER.

What if I could bring someone back to life for 24 hours - my grandpa C ~ He was the best male influence in my life, and I regret not getting to talk to him about what happened between me and my Dad before he died. I wish I would've had more time with him ...there are so many things I'd like to say.

*This tag came fromVader's Mom. I pass it along to whoever wants it! :-)

Some snow pics...

When I got up yesterday, I was really worried that I wasn't getting my snow day AGAIN! Because, there was really nothing on the ground, and it wasn't doing anything. I guess the 100% chance and the winter weather warning we were under are what saved us! ha! The snow started about 11am and didn't stop until about 6 o'clock last night. It was a pretty snow coming down too ~ big snowflakes.
"Got any more bird seed lady?"
This is what we finished up with (about 3 inches) - just enough for the neighborhood kids to have a little fun, and the dog to not want to go out! LOL! All in all, it was a perfect snow day ~ the roads didn't get bad, I didn't get out of my PJ's, and there wasn't any school! Woo-hoo!

SNOW DAY!!

I got my snow day today!! Woo-hoo!

I did my snow dance, taught my kids the dance, and followed Lindsey's advice and told 'em to wear their PJ's inside out, and it worked! And thank you to all who did the snow dance for us! LOL! (It had to be that, because it really is a pitiful amount of snow outside.) It depends on which news station you watch, what will happen throughout the day. According to one station, we still may get 1 to 3 inches. It isn't doing anything now though. I don't care though, because I got a free day OFF! Woo-hoo!

Why am I up? Because I can nap later! hee-hee!

I wanted a snow day like my cousin Kristen got on Tuesday JUST AN HOUR AWAY!

See - now THAT is some snow! I think they got just as much last night and today...but I'll take my free day off, and she can play in the snow for me! :-)

Could it be the weather?

Remember, how I bragged about it being 70 degrees here all weekend? Well, this is what I drove to school in yesterday. It was a big, pretty snow. An hour away, they got up to 16 inches!! We only got maybe an inch. I think it is almost sinful to have to drive to school in the snow...think of the kids! ha! But, I also admit the roads were clear. So, what would any good teacher do - feeling a little sick or not? That's right, I took 'em out to play in the snow. For pictures of that - go to Our Classroom site.
I had to stay home sick today - couldn't shake whatever it is I have. I came home from school Tuesday and went straight to bed. I really only got up to eat and then back to bed until about 3:30pm today. I think I am feeling better now. Thanks to my sweetest guy ever, Kevin, who has given me meds, come home at lunch to make sure I had chicken noodle soup, and taken care of me for the past 3 days. Love you honey!!

But get this - all weekend, 70 degrees, then Tuesday - snow, today 60 degrees, and they are calling for snow on Friday. CRAZY weather! My fingers are crossed we get snow on Friday!! Please don't go North of us again!! Just ONE snow day! Everybody do your snow dances!!

Sick...

I knew I would catch this sickness going around eventually...I blame a mixture of Kevin making me kiss him this weekend when he was still sick (yeah, he made me do it! ha!) and the fact that it was 70 degrees all weekend and is NOW SNOWING outside! Crazy Arkansas weather! Some of Arkansas got dumped on pretty good - over a foot of snow. Of course, not here though, we are going to school! Darn the luck! LOL!

My weekend in pictures...

Friday night was scrap night with the girls & my friend, Donna, who recently had the twin girls, stopped by with the babies!!! So...for a few hours, we stopped and ooohhed and awwwwed! Aren't they cute and small and precious??? Look at these baby feet!!
Kevin and I may get to babysit soon and give the Mom and Dad a night out. How scary is that? ha!
Saturday, we piddled (is that a word?) around town and around the yard. The nice weather (70 degrees!!) inspired one Lowe's trip!! We also rented two movies ~ Michael Clayton (with my man, George Clooney) & Eastern Promises (watchin' it tonight). Michael Clayton was good. In the middle, I was starting to think, where is this going? But, it all comes together in the final 30 minutes. George does not disappoint, ladies, it is a rental that even the man will enjoy. And, we were also excited to score the next season of the Soprano's. We are soooo hooked!
Check out Mr. Handy Man this weekend!! Kevin installed a new shower head in the guest bath AND new floodlights in the backyard. He installed the whole kit - not just changing the bulb! ha! I broke the last one we had - don't ask!
I cut back all the crape mertle's and all the dead stuff in the flowerbeds over the past two days ~ check out my burn pile! I am super excited about that! LOL! I am a country girl after all!

Now ~ on our trip to Lowe's we checked out patio possibilities ~ still no firm decision on what to use, but picture a patio off the deck where I have my tarp down killing grass. It will be in front of the steps too - I just figured my wussy dog wouldn't walk on the tarp! ha!
Speaking of the dog ~ my sweetest doggie! Today was his 10th birthday! My baby is getting old!! :-(
Simba gives him some birthday love ~ a little butt in the face and tail wrapped around the head. This cat will rub all over him and is most annoying! ha!
And finally, Kevin got the grill working again (Mr. Handy Man this weekend!). The grill was a little messed up b/c we used it as a smoker some. Now, she is back in business and Kevin grilled burgers for lunch and is grilling chicken for dinner! Yummy!
All in all, a GREAT weekend with NO master's work!

Oh, and I made a 91/100 on my midterm. That is a high B. (93% and up is an A)

But, if I make a B in this class, I will jump for joy!!