Modern Outhouse?!?

My father-in-law spent the weekend doing some minor repairs to our downstairs bathroom. He decided to lay new "tile" so the toliet needed to be removed. We decided to throughly clean the toliet (hard water leaves its mark) so Ayron put it out back so we could hose it down. When I walked through the kitchen, I was struck by the sight of our toilet as a lawn ornament! Hey, it is worth a laugh. At least we didn't plant flowers in it!

Another Blog Questionare

1) When you looked in the mirror first thing this morning, what was the first thing you thought?
I need to dye my hair! My attempt to go blonder back in October turned me into a red head, but my dark roots are showing and I look kind of odd.

2) How much cash do you have on you?
I have $200. I wish it was mine. Some is from my paycheck, some is from soccer.

3) What's a word that rhymes with TEST?
Pest- a person or thing that is annoying

4) Planet?
Planet? Um, I just finished the Solar System Chapter at work/school with the kids. Probably Uranus (pronounced Your-a-nise) because everytime the students misprounced it to get a giggled out of the peers, the had to do pushups.

5) Who is the fourth person on your missed calls?
Probably Dawniepoo! I love that chick!

6) What is your favourite ring on your phone?
Who spells "favorite" with a "u?" Honestly?

7) What shirt are you wearing?
An Old Navy shirt

8) What do you label youself as?
A busy student and teacher who is trying to get her life started while not becoming the old married couple at the same time.

9) Name the brand of shoes you've recently worn.
Converse, or "clown shoes" as my niece calls them
10) Bright room or dark room?
It's tan, but it is pretty light. Two large windows

11) What were you doing at midnight last night?
Still laughing about the "Pop Rocks" event (see previous blog)

12) What did the last text message on your phone say?
"Merry Christmas" from a guy on our soccer team

13) Where is your nearest 7-11?
We don't have 7-11's around here. Must not be enough middle eastern guys to say "Welcome to the 7-11. Would you like a slurpie?"

14) What's a saying you say a lot?
pickle slicer (joke), fumundacheese (had to be there), bite me (just to Ayron), use your brain (to my students)

15) Who told you they loved you last?
Mom

16) Last furry thing you touched?
My fuzzy flannel pants

17) How many drugs have you done in the past three days?
None, unless you count Smirnoff Twisted Raspberry a drug

18) How many rolls of film do you need to get developed?
None, I'm a digital gal myself

19) Favourite age you've been so far?
Kindergarten- It was cool to color outside of the lines and everything was new and exciting. Or maybe 15/16. I miss some high school days.

20) Your worst enemy?
my conscience

21) What is your current desktop picture?
The buiness computer: the boring green Windows one
Mine: A picture of Ayron and I from CDYC 2001

22) What was the last thing you said to someone?
"That is not a diet!" Said to my husband after he said, "I'm on the seafood diet. I see food and I eat it."

23) If you had to choose between a million bucks and being able to fly, which would you choose?
Of course the money. Pay bills, help family, build a house and pay it off! Take Ayron to the Netherlands. Donate to Hospice.

24) Do you like someone?
You would expect me to say Ayron wouldn't you!

25) The last song you listened to?
Clay Aiken- "Measure a Man" Hey, I go for the geeky/nerdy/musical type.

Stupidity reigns Supreme!

Last night Ayron and I went to my brother's house (by brother I mean brother-n-law and wife) to drink, eat, play cards and watch movies. We were playing BlackJack when my two year old niece decided she wanted some candy and pointed to some "pop rocks." Deciding that it could be an amusing moment, N (my sister in law) gave her a little bit. M (the niece) thought it was hilarious and decided she liked them. In a buzzed moment (yes mom, I was buzzed, but I didn't drive and I am 22) I dared a guy on the fire department (my brother is a chief and my sister is the president) to take some poprocks and then fill his mouth with 7-up. J being the macho man type to never turn down a dare, accepted my drunken challenge. We made him stand over the sink and told him not to swallow. He looked like a volcano! His eyes got really big and then red "lava" started spewing out his nose. He didn't think to open his mouth, and it didn't help that Ayron was saying, "Don't swallow! Don't swallow!" My niece was a little freaked out because she thought "J's head go pop?!" It was funny! N and I were laughing so hard we were crying and trying to not pee our pants at the same time. It was so funny!

More proof I am getting older

What do you get when you have two stubborn sisters born 7 1/2 years apart? Two very stubborn "only" children. After a conflict with my sister over Oreo I sent a very nasty email. At the time it felt nice to vent, but my lack of sleep that night proved me otherwise. I couldn't sleep. As much as we get under each others skin sometimes I realized that the things I said were hurtful and that a dog was getting in the way of our new adult friendship/relationship. I am finally seeing her as an adult not an overbearing older sister and I hope/think she is finally seeing me as an adult (I'm new at it and I make mistakes, but I am trying and I think she sees that now). I felt so guilty that when I left for work on Friday morning, I left Ayron a note telling him to email what I wrote to Nat. He emailed her what I said and now it seems like things should be ok. It will be hard for me to put behind me some of the comments, but I know some of the comments I made were hurtful too. I guess our mouths got the better of our brains.

Wow, I slept for 12 hours!

I fell asleep at 9:30 last night. Which means that I missed "Num3ers" but I didn't wake up again till 6am when Ayron got up to leave. After a trip to the potty, I managed to go back to sleep until 10 this morning! It was good!

I got a nice email from the Great Lakes Border Collie Rescue Group this morning. The lady is going to call me tomorrow to discuss Oreo. I need to go into town and take some pictures of Oreo so I might as well take her to the park and let her run. The tennis courts are nice because I can lock her in and she can just run. Ayron and I took her Thursday night and she ran nonstop for 20 mintues and then she just fell over. It was funny.

Anyone have a glass of milk for my Oreo?

I am trying to find a home for my dog, Oreo. Oreo is a 5 year old border collie and lab mix. She looks like a tradtional black and white collie with the lab head shape and lab ears. She weighs around 50 lbs. She is extremly healthy and is up to date on her shots. She is energetic and will play fetch all day if your arm will last that long. She also loves to play soccer. She needs to be an only dog (she can be possessive if a rawhide chewie is in her possession) and a fenced in back yard would be wonderful. She is excellent at herding the family cats so I am pretty sure she could herd farm animals with some practice. She has a cute routine of tricks. She will go to her room if you tell her to "Go to bed." She loves to cuddle in bed and will curl up against your back and try to purr like a cat, it is very theraputic. She would be good with older children and she needs a firm hand to guide her (I don't mean abuse her, just someone firm). She is really cute and I hate to admit it, but it is time for her to move on. I cannot have her in my current living situation and my mother does not need the added stress of a dog. She is very loyal and loves to snuggle. If you know of anyone who could use a good friend, please let me know. Oh yeah, she loves broccoli!

I'm Getting Old

Ok here is a depressing thought: I am getting old! I received an email from my high school graduating class president. We are soon going to have our 5 year class reunion. It doesn't seem like it has been five years. Well, then again it does. Any hoo. In a moments of insanity, I volunteered to help track down lost classmates and plan the actual event. If any of you happen to know anyone from DeKalb High School's 2001 graduating class, please email their address to me at princesscarmie@yahoo.com or to CS at csquires@purdue.edu

New Favorite Song

I just thought I'd post my new favorite song. We sang it at church today and it struck me hard. I don't know why, but I feel I was supposed to hear it. It has been in my head all day so I thought I'd post it.

At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your loveT
hrough the judgment You received
And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart
Now I can
Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross
At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me
I'm laying every burden down
I'm laying every burden down
At the foot of the cross

TGIF

Well, I made it through my first week. I survived and I also managed to gain a new name. The students now call me Mrs. Elvis. They apparently think my husbands sideburns are "the bomb!"

Ayron had an interview today at a local factory. They will schedual him to work as soon as he passes his drug test (on tuesday) but we have decided it is not the right job. The risk of being injured is high and he wouldn't have a set schedual until he established seniority. They could have him work 3rd shift one day and the next be on 1st shift. After thought and prayer we have deceided that it won't work. At least one of us is working now. He is going to get all of his sub. paperwork in order on Monday.

Well the girls are here and I am going crazy so we are going to Ft. Wayne to birthday shop!

I Appear To Be Drunk...

but I wasn't. I swear. I didn't drink one drop. Honestly, alcohol upsets my tummy lately. Check out the pics from my sisters 30th b-day dinner. I bought her the crown and the balloons! And yes, tough guys wear pink. http://www.flickr.com/photos/94969846@N00/sets/1796678/

It's Been a LOOONNGGG time

...since I have checked my university given email account. Actually, I have never checked that email account. I don't know why I never choose to, maybe it was the fact that it hardly ever works or it always manages to lose important emails saying class has be cancelled for the day. But, getting back on track. After encountering a professor who refuses to send any email to a normal account (yahoo, hotmail, etc) I decided to search for his emailed syllabus for the class (why he couldn't just print copies for the 15 of us I don't know). After not checking my email for 4 years I had acquired a suprising number of emails. I thought I would have a ton of email, I only had 79 messages. While 79 would be a lot for an account that is checked daily, I assumed I would have more than 79 messages after 4 years. We all know what happens when you assume.

Well since I am in the lab I should probably do some actual work instead of blogging.

Oh, as a praise to my husband. I like having him home during the day. Would I rather him be at work (honey, I know you are trying) for the money, yes. But I like him being home. The bed gets made every morning, my lunch gets packed (although today's menu included applesauce but no spoon..hmm..) and dinner is made when I get home! Tonight...MEATLOAF!! Yummy! Guess what will be in my lunch tomorrow...MEATLOAF!!

What A Day!

Wow, I'm already exhausted and it's only 2:30! I started at Garrett today and I love it!! It was crazy and a bit unorganized, but I'm sure I'll catch on. It was made even crazier by the fact that I had to leave early to get to campus today. Which leads me to my other fabulous news!

I needed to take "Intro to African Lit" to graduate. I had arranged with the prof to take it "independent study." I was a bit worried about notes and the weekly journaling, but thankfully today someone in class stepped up and told me she would take notes and we have arranged for her to tape record the class for me! Yeah! It looks like everything is looking up! I am excited and truly thankful for God's many blessings on my right now.

On the discouraging front, Ayron still does not have a job. He called back a ton of places today and so far no luck. It is disheartening for him I know. I struggle with how to help him. I feel bad because I am so excited for my job, yet when I show that excitement I am afraid he will think I am rubbing it in his face. I have decided to join a group of ladies on Tuesday night to discuss life and I am looking forward to that.

Well, I should go get a head start on my reading! Oh crap, I don't have a highligter! I knew I forgot something!

Back to School

I start school tomorrow! I am excited. Actually, I am starting two schools tomorrow. At 7:45am I officially begin my job as the 8th Grade Special Needs English/Language Arts Aid. My husband thinks I'm a dork because I am excited about getting back into the classroom as a student. I start my last two classes tomorrow. Intro to African Lit. and Chaucer. It should be interesting. I'm such a dork that I have already packed my bookbag and placed it next to the door and my lunch is neatly placed in the fridge. Wow, I really am a dork!

Hahaha. I have to laugh. We were debating what to have for dinner and I jokingly mentioned "Chinese" and I must have started something because now everyone is getting ready to go to dinner. Yummy! Crab Rangoon here I come!

PS- Sarah, if you read this email me about Tuesday. What time? What material? I am planning on coming!

I HAVE A JOB!!!!!

My interview went fabulous this morning! I drove home recalling all of the bad moments which only lead to self-doubt. I was wrong! As soon as I walked in the door, Mr. M (principle at the middle school) asked me to start on Monday. I'll spend the morning at the middle school and the afternoon at the high school! Yeah!! I am so excited. Today is a wonderful day.

Oh yeah............................................


Happy 30th Birthday Natalee!!! Ich Leibe Dich!!!

Hallelujah

After deciding that today would be another hum drum of a day, I was proved wrong. I took the last two needed papers for subing to Garrett. When the lady called me, I thought it was about a subing position for next week. I was wrong. I have an interview for an Instructional Aid position in the middle school tomorrow morning at 9:30! It would be full time and be a steady pay check!! Just proof that God answers prayers in his timing, not ours. Hopefully this interview will lead to a position that I can use as a foot in the door for next year at the high school!

Sniffle Sniffle Cough Cough

Someone has gotten me sick! I spent all day yesterday in bed asleep and then when normal people would be going to bed, I was waking up! I have discovered that Equate Allergy medicine and codeine cough syrup make a nice drug cocktail that induces several hours of blissful sleep!

Ayron managed to clean out his closet yesterday!! It no longer spills out onto the floor. He even when through his socks and underwear and threw out old/torn pairs! The doors glide shut with ease and the shirts are nicely hung (kudos to me). It is wonderful! While I wasn't able to talk him into throwing away his old toy John Deer truck (it has 2 wheels and no windshields) he did clean his closet on his own without my prompting!

Yet another dark and dreary day. Why can't we have sunshine? Is it written in the earth's bi-laws that "Indiana shall not have sunshine from December-March." Thank goodness for tanning beds. What a wonderful way to escape the bleak outdoors. If only I felt like getting around to go into town. That would require a shower and real clothes. I don't feel like using my minimal energy to get a shower and my clothes are all dirty. Darn, looks like I'm headed back to the medicine cabinet for more sleep inducing medicine.

Maybe It's Just The English In Me

I was reading random blogs and I discovered something wrong with blogger. Maybe I'm the only one who has noticed it, but I am pretty sure my sister has figured it out by now to. When someone posts a comment the bottom of the post reads "1 comments." 1 is singular, comments is plural. It doesn't match. It's stupid I know, but it is a pet peeve of mine.

Another day of break and another day of boredom. I should go to Ft. Wayne to meet with Professor L.M. about class but I told her I'd be down on Wednesday. Maybe I'll go tanning. Yep, that's it, tanning!

I Am So EXCITED!!!

Yeah!!!! God does answer prayers. Ok, I've known all along he does, but I also know he chooses to not answer if the request will not be in your favor! I have been emailing a professor about letting me take a course as "independent study" since it is offerend in the middle of the day and I wouldn't be able to work as a substitute at Garrett/DeKalb. I need this course to graduate so I've had my fingers crossed for a month now! Here is the response I received today from her.

Hi Carma,

I'm glad you signed up for the course. I talked to the English dept. Chair, who suggested you attend at least the first class and arrange for someone to tape record the discussions for you. Last year, I taught the class for the first time and I noticed that I had to do quite a lot of explaining (cultural, historical, literary) to help students wade through the material. I have readings on reserve that relate to the cultural and historical background, but we still had to go over it in class too so that everyone had a good grounding. With my heavy course load, I don't have time to do all of that discussion one-on-one in the office with you. So if you could arrange for anotherstudent to help you get the material, then we could probably set this up. The Chair also recommended that you attend at least one other class and make some kind of short presentation. I think at some point I'm going to have students look for a news article on an African topic and write asummary of it and briefly discuss it in class. So maybe that would work for this part of your attendance. As you know from L101, 20% of the course is discussion-based. We'd have to find a way to make up that component, possibly with another short paper or project. Last semester, my students interviewed African people and wrote up their interviews for their paper assignments. We compiled them into a "book"that was very cool. The class loved the project and I plan to do it again. You could still contribute to that, though you'd miss out on some of the planning. I'll have the syllabus completed in a week or so, and can e-mail it to you if you want to see it. Also, if you come by sometime, I can show you the "book" if you're interested. The Chair has to approve this being an independent study course, so let me know your thoughts on what I've proposed.

Best,
L.W.

I am so excited because now I only need to drive to campus twice a week, if that! The other course I have to take is "Chaucer" and I laugh as I type because I spent 5 weeks at Garrett teaching "Chaucer." I know that I do not know everything about him or his work, but at least I have a head start and I am wondering if I present all of my material to the professor and/or the class I can get out of going to class for a couple of weeks! We are only doing 3 works and the major one, Canterbury Tales, is the one I researched and taught at Garrett! Even if I don't get excused for that portion of the class I still shouldn't struggle! Yeah!

This news certainly brightened the dull day!! Oh, and Ayron went into Smith Farms Manor (a nursing home and assisted living facility) to apply for a Chef job and that went fabulously well and then he went to Applebees just to get an application and he ended up having another interview with a final interview on Wednesday! Life is wonderful!

2006

I actually managed to stay awake till midnight last night! Ayron and I went over to Phil and Nikki's (Ayron's brother and sister-in-laws) to hang out. It ended up being us four and their three children. We watched the movie Ladder 49 and I will never look at a firefighter the same again. Both Phil and Nikki are firefighters and I told them "You are never allowed to go into a fire again!"

We had a Carnahan(my mother-in-laws side of the family) get together today and everyone survived. Heck, I even managed to get the bed sheets changed so I'm doing good.

I was excited about the possibility of substituting on Tuesday only to learn that Garrett doesn't go back to school until Thursday. I guess that gives me more time to get my act together and get Ayron's closet organized (yee haw), laundry done, and my stuff for school around.

Wow, I've had a really boring day! I guess I'll go give up and start laundry now. Wow, my life is so exciting I can hardly contain myself!