Change in Work Email

For the few of you who had my work email, I thought I'd let you know that they finally gave me an offical steuben county government email address. I will occassionally check yipteacher@yahoo.com but I plan to phase that out. My new work email address is creeves@co.steuben.in.us

Many Fishtales But Never A Doughnut

Growing up in Indiana, I have experience driving in this wonderful winter weather. While I've never been in an accident, I have gone off the road twice. The first time happened while driving to school my senior year. I was the 4th DHS student to slide off the road in the same spot on 35. I managed to get myself out of the corn field and to school. I called dad when I got to school and while I was still freaked out, he laughed at me. The second time happened while I was driving home from Ayron's old house. All of the sudden, I couldn't see a thing. I had a feeling that I wasn't on the road. I put the car in park, and called Ayron. He and his father came and got me out of the ditch and when I returned the next day, I realized that I was all of 3 inches away from hitting a tree head on. But, I have never done a doughnut.

Last night Ayron and I needed to return some equipment from the Auburn store. When he pulled into the parking lot, he did a doughnut and I screamed. While it was fun, I had no clue it was coming! He amused me by doing several more before we left. He laughed at the fact that I had never done one before. Well now I can say that I have experienced a controlled doughnut and it was fun.

Another Reality Show...

from the "geniuses" at MTV. I was flipping through stations while I was at my mom's house and stopped on MTV because the commercial caught my eye. They are profiling minors who are locked in an juvenile detention center. Maybe they are hoping for the "scared straight" method, but as someone who works with these youth on a daily basis, the last thing they need is a camera crew hanging around a facility. I plan on having my mom tape the first episode so I can see what it is all about, but that does not lessen my disgust.

Doing Better

I have been in a funk for the entire week. I don't like being that way. I am crabby, nonproductive, and just plain yucky. I decided to spend some time in prayer and meditation today at work. But first, I decided that I needed a snack. I went down the road to the gas station and bought a Sprite and Seyfert's Cheese popcorn. I came back to my office, popped in WOW 2003, the Silver Cd and started "meditating." Only, I can't sit still. I'm sure if anyone is outside looking in my office window they are getting a show displaying my wonderful chair dancing abilities. It's amazing what popcorn, pop and Toby Mac's "Irene" can do for a person.

"Hush little baby don't you cry, daddy's gonna sing you a lullabye...."

Music

Anyone who knows me, knows I like music. I often use it as a type of meditation and prayer. I know it sounds silly to use music during meditation because most people prefer it to be quiet, but I like the noise. The lyrics are what help me focus. I have a small CD player in my office and I always have music going. Lately, it's been all Christian artits (Switchfoot, Stacie Orico, Jars of Clay, Third Day) and some old groups that I'd probably get made fun of if I admited that they were in the player right now, but for me, it works. Here are two songs that are currently running through my mind. What songs do you use to worship? What are you favorites? I loved.....crud, I can't think of the title, let alone any of the lyrics right now.....ahhh we sang it Saturday at church. Quick, Nate or Adam, what songs did we sing Saturday? Any who, I'm always looking to expand my musical tastes, so I'm curious what others listen to. It's still bugging me that I can't think of the song.

"Alyssa Lies" by Jason Michael Caroll

My little girl met a new friend,
just the other day,
on the playground at school
between the tires and the swings

But she came home with tear-filled eyes, a
nd she said to me "Daddy, Alyssa lies"

Well I just brushed it off at first,
'cause I didn't know how much my little girl had been hurt
or the things she had seen.
I wasn't ready when I said "You can tell me"

and she said... "Alyssa lies to the classroom,
Alyssa lies everyday at school,
Alyssa lies to the teachers
as she tries to cover every bruise"

My little girl laid her head down that night to go to sleep.
As I stepped out the room, I heard her say a prayer so soft and sweet
"God bless my mom and my Dad
and my new friend, Alyssa
*oh*I know she needs you bad

Because Alyssa lies to the classroom,
Alyssa lies everyday at school,
Alyssa lies to the teachers
as she tries to cover every bruise"

I had the worst night of sleep in years
as I tried to think of a way to calm her fears
I knew just what it was I had to do
but when we got to school on Monday I heard the news

My little girl asked me why everybody looked so sad
the lump in my throat grew bigger
with every question that she asked.
Until I felt the tears run down my face
and I told her that Alyssa wouldn't be at school today

'Cause she doesn't lie in the classroom
she doesn't lie anymore at school
Alyssa lies with Jesus
because there's nothin' anyone would do

Tears filled my eyes when my little girl asked me
why Alyssa lies *Oh Daddy, oh* Daddy tell me why Alyssa lies

"Long Trip Alone" Dierks Bentely

It's a long trip alone over sand and stone
That lie along the road that we all must travel down
So maybe you could walk with me a while
And maybe I could rest beneath your smile

Everybody stumbles sometimes and needs a hand to hold
'Cause it's a long trip alone
It's a short piece of time but just enough to find
A little peace of mind under the sun somewhere

So maybe you could walk with me a while
And maybe I could rest beneath your smile

You know we can't afford to let one moment pass us by
'Cause it's a short piece of time
And I don't know where I'd be without you here
'Cause I'm not really me without you there

Yea YeahHallelujah hallelujah oh

So maybe you could walk with me a while
Maybe I could rest beneath your smile
Everybody stumbles sometimes and needs a hand to hold
So maybe you could walk with me a while
Maybe I could rest beneath your smile
Maybe I could feel right beside you 'til I'm home
'Cause it's a long trip alone

Reconnecting

I managed to drag myself to work yesterday and today. I haven't been feeling well and my back has been the main source of pain. I am glad that I came in yesterday though. While I did get some work done, I also spent a large amount of my day chatting with an old friend. We grew up together, but lost touch until our freshman year in college, and that contact was brief. Our mothers ran into each other at Wal-Mart and I was able to get his current contact information. He is currently working overseas for 3 weeks, but we have talked more in the past week than we have in 7 years. It was cool to reconnect and remember all of the silly things we used to do as kids. We did talk about timing. I am a firm believer that everything happens in God's time and while we may not understand it, we need to accept it. We were talking and wondering why we had drifted apart and thinking back and wishing we hadn't. There were so many situations in both of our lives where each other would have been helpful. For some reason, God waited till now. I don't know why, and yes I wish he hadn't waited this long, but like I said, I accept it. It's funny though. I was driving to the chiropractor yesterday thinking through our almost 2 hour chat and thinking, "I would like to fly out there and visit him this summer." It's funny how after almost 9 years of not interacting we were able to interact like no time had passed.

Am I the Only One??

Today has got me thinking, and no thinking doesn't hurt (there I beat you to the punch line). I have a theory that I experience minor pain when people in my life are experience large amounts of pain. Here is why I have this feeling.

The day of Nikki's accident, I felt like crud. I couldn't pin point just why I didn't feel good, but I knew that I didn't feel well. About the time of the accident (I know this now) I really started to feel ill. I had a sharp pain my head, my left hand wouldn't function properly, and my left leg was tingly. Piecing it together now, I realize I felt this way because of two things. That morning, a friend of mine, who happens to be Nikki's sister in law (she's married to Nikki's brother) was is a minor fender bender on her way to work in Fort Wayne. About the time I started experiencing the larger pain, Nikki had her accident.

Not knowing why I didn't feel right, I came to work today. While I didn't, and still don't, feel ill, I don't feel 100% either. I started having severe chest and back pain. I felt like I was being shocked with a taser (not like I'd actually know that feeling, but it's the only think I can think to compare it to). The pain bounced off my sternum and hit my spine, where a numbness traveled down my back into my hip and caused my leg to twitch. It is still doing that now, but that's besides the point. Right after the pain was getting worse and I was debating calling the chiropractor and leaving work, Ayron called. A brother of his employee was killed in a car accident.

I discussed my theory with a friend of mine and that only caused me to think more. The night I found out about my parents divorce I was at Ayron's house and he brought me home because I didn't feel well. We walked in the door the exact moment the "d" bomb was dropped.

Last summer when my sister messed up her back, I was at home sitting and I had a strange shock run down my back. The phone rang and it was my sister in extreme pain.

Is this some kind of spiritual gift that I don't know about? Am I the only person that experiences this? If the accident of an employees brother is what brought about my pain this morning, then why is it back this afternoon? I know, I know, go to the doctor. I am seriously thinking about it.

Prayer

Ayron just called me to let me know that a brother of one of his employees was killed in a car accident this morning. We don't know names, details, etc, but we know that she needs prayer. Please keep her in your thoughts this week. She is struggling with life already, and now this.

I Caved...

Ayron and I went to Fort Wayne yesterday and did some shopping. I was looking for tennis shoes or comfy shoes and we ended up at Payless in the mall. I ended up leaving with two pairs of the Airwalk version of Crocs. I never thought I'd cave into what seems to a be large fad, but dang...they are comfy! I wasn't able to get any fun colors since I have the feet of a giant. I have a black and a blue pair. I'm wearing the black pair now!!

Poker is Canceled

For those of you who were planning or thinking about coming to our house on Monday for poker, we have to cancel. Ayron forgot he had a Relay for Life committee thing he has to be at. We will reschedule and let you know, so stay tuned for further details.

Phil and Nikki

Phil and Nikki came over the house last night and we chit chatted about what's been going on. The met with a lawyer yesterday. The insurance company of the woman that caused the crash says they "can't pay anymore." This is going to turn into a battle. They aren't looking to get rich, but as of right now, they don't know if she'll be able to go back to work, what the effects down the road will be (seizures, PT, vision,etc). But, Nikki is doing very well. She would like to say "Hello and thanks" to Devery. She has become the master of pureed food. They even did chips and salsa pureed the other night. While Nikki has undergone major changes, it's interesting to watch how Phil has changed.

Phil was, and probably still is, a macho man. He's not the emotional kind. When he does get emotional, it is hardly in front of people. He is the assistant chief of a fire department and very much a manly man. At times it seems as if his heart was made of lead, but now it's softened. Everyone would expect it to soften towards Nikki, but it has towards everyone. He never was mean with others, but he wasn't a touchy feely person. While he still isn't, he is a lot "softer." Watching him interact with Nikki, the girls, us, and even our dog since the accident has been amusing. Not like, funny amusement, but I watch him in amazement. I don't know if I could have remained as strong as he has over the past month. Maybe he's always been this way and I just never noticed. But I wonder if that is true, I've been around for 6 years now, and this is the first time I've seen him like this. I like it, and I hope he is here to stay.

Funny Forward

These "signs" were forwared to me by my sister. They are good for a laugh.

Sign over a Gynecologist's Office: "Dr. Jones, at your cervix."

In a Podiatrist's office:"Time wounds all heels."

On a Septic Tank Truck in Oregon : Yesterday's Meals on Wheels

On another Septic Tank Truck: "We're #1 in the #2 business"

At a Proctologist's door: "To expedite your visit please back in."

On a Plumber's truck:"We repair what your husband fixed."

On another Plumber's truck:"Don't sleep with a drip. Call your plumber.."

At a Tire Shop in Milwaukee : "Invite us to your next blowout."

On a Plastic Surgeon's Office door: "Hello. Can we pick your nose?"

At a Towing company: "We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows."

On an Electrician's truck: "Let us remove your shorts."

In a Nonsmoking Area: "If we see smoke, we will assume you are on fire and take appropriate action."

On a Maternity Room door: "Push. Push. Push."

At an Optometrist's Office : "If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place."

On a Taxidermist's window: "We really know our stuff."

On a Fence: "Salesmen welcome! Dog food is expensive!"

At a Car Dealership: "The best way to get back on your feet - miss a car payment."

Outside a Muffler Shop: "No appointment necessary. We hear you coming."

In a Veterinarian's waiting room: "Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!"

At the Electric Company : "We would be delighted if you send in your payment. However , if you don't, you will be."

In a Restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry, Come on in and get fed up."

In the front yard of a Funeral Home : "Drive carefully. We'll wait."

I Love Puppies!!

Who Doesn't Love a Cute Puppy?!

Scooter "Pooter Rotto Rooter" Reeves

Oscar- my dad's fearless daschund. This dog temps fate by challenging does, bucks, foxes and the occasional 9 iron.

STOLEN?!

As I was checking my list before heading out to Wal-Mart, I decided to grab the credit card out of it's hiding spot and paperclip it to my list. When I reached in to get the card, I realized that both the Wal-Mart and the Meijer cards are missing. I didn't panic because I am not the only one who uses the cards. So I called and talked to the money person in my boss's office. No one over there has them. She calls other people. They don't have them. My boss isn't answering his phone (it's his day off) and I can't think of any reason he would have it. After calling the Angola Wal-Mart and being on hold for a couple of minutes, I was finally able to get a number for the credit card company. I am currently on hold with them listening to crazy classical music. What makes this worse is knowing that after I'm done dealing with Wal-Mart, I still have to deal with Meijer.

Fun Day

WINNIE THE POOH DAY!!

Today is "Winnie the Pooh Day." His creator was born on this day in Scotland and now Winnie gets his own holiday.

Baking Soda to the Rescue

Ayron had his soccer tournament last night and they came in third. It was a good match and everyone was cheering them on. The team they lost to is not invited to play at the CCC next session and every other team doesn't like them. So it was cool to see everyone cheering for our team. But, back to my story.

We got home from soccer around 9:30 and since neither one of us had eaten a dinner I decided to make my speciality, mac and cheese. After Ayron was done cleaning up he came out to the kitchen to help. The water had just started to boil and I was elbow deep in dishwater so Ayron added the pasta and turned back to the sink to help me rinse. He heard to pops and turned to look at the stove. The burner was on fire. He looked at me and said, "Um...fire." Not loud, not in a panic, just like it was no big deal. He grabbed a pot holder and moved the pot. He realized that it was stuff that had boiled over the previous night that was on fire. We tried to smother it with the pan lid, but that didn't work. I reached above the side of the stove that wasn't on fire and grabbed the baking soda. Ayron used it to cover the flames and the fire went out. It wasn't a big fire, but normally I would have been screaming my head off. But we were calm. After the fact when we got back to washing the dishes Ayron said, "We should have let it go, then we could have collected the insurance money." I did not find that funny at all. I'm just thankful that God inspired me to do the dishes because had we not been in the kitchen, we wouldn't have noticed the fire until it got big enough to set the cupboard on fire, and by that point it would have been too late.

I think when I go to Wal-Mart today for work I'll pick up a fire extinguisher.

HELP WANTED

Just throwing this out there because it is a free way of "advertising" a job.

I am currently looking to hire 2 people for the Youth Improvement Program. The people hired would be working with at risk or troubled youth. You would be in charge of completing the daily activity (I have them all planned out), helping prepare dinner (supervising the kids), supervising the dinner clean up, and driving the van for "field trips." The hours are from 3:30-6:30. I am looking for people to fill the following days: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (or any combination of those days). The pay is $15 an hour. This job would be perfect for a college age student or grad student who is looking to pick up some extra money. Experience with youth is a must. You have to have a clean criminal history and be willing to administer drug screens (you stand in the bathroom with them, but you don't have to watch them). I have a lot of feelers out at Tri-State, but I'm getting desperate. Heck, even if it's not something you could do on a regular basis, but would like to be on our "sub list" would be cool.

If you want more information or want to "talk" to me about it, email me at yipteacher@yahoo.com

I'm Hired!

Today was my meeting with the commissioners about me becoming a full time employee. I made sure I drug my boss away from his desk and we got to the meeting about 10 minutes early. They commented that this was the first time in a long time that my boss has been early. He told them it was my doing. Gold star #1 for me. When it was our turn, my boss stood up and said, "I'd like to hire Carma full time. She teaches for the day program and coordinates the evening program. The CC Board approved her hire and her salary will come from the XYZ (I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you) grant. " That was it. No fabulous introduction. No prying questions from the board. Just like that I became a full time government employee. I managed to wade my way through the paperwork. Heck, they are adding to my PERF and I was able to get a $25,000 life insurance policy (I know it's not a ton, but it's better than the one I currently have- NONE) for free. I spent more time getting dressed this morning than they did thinking their decision through.

The New Me

Since none of my students decided to show up yesterday, I took the afternoon off and decided to go get new glasses. I thought I was going to have to order them, and them come back and get them. I was lucky and they had both my frames and lenses in stock. Thanks to Greg I was able to walk out of there in 1/2 an hour with new spectacles. Here are what they look like. Mine are a dark red though, not black.

So as I was getting around this morning, I decided to wear my glasses. Well, actually I had made the decision awhile back. I have been wearing my contacts too much and my eyes were starting to warp and I've already had one bad eye infection, but back to my point. I knew I had the meeting with the commissioners today (that's another post) so I wanted to look decent, but not dressed up (they are not dressed up people around here). I decided to wear khakis, my red YIP polo with a white long sleeve shirt underneath. I recently had my hair professionally colored and once I put myself all together this morning, I didn't look like me.

I ran into my other office (across the street) to grab some paperwork, and one of the members of the CC Board (the one that suggested my nomination as a full time employee) looked at me funny when I pulled out my badge, swiped it by the wall, and walked in (the doors are locked and our badges allow us to enter without calling security and identifying ourselves). He asked someone who I was, and she said "Carma...you know her." He looked at me for a good minute and went, "Nope, that's not her. Are you sure?" Keep in mind I'm in "my" office and he doesn't think he can hear me." He finally realized it was me and came over and said, "You don't look anything like you used to." I said thank you. To be honest, I wanted that. I didn't want a drastic change, hence the subtle hair color, but I wanted to look different, older, more put together. I think the glasses may have been the icing on the cake.

Random Pictures

Here are some random pictures with captions. Now the captions may not be humours to you, but to me (and a select few) they are.

"Mom! The troll moved back into my closet and I can't get him out!"

*Joe, you have some pale legs! Love ya though!

"This there outbuildin is worth 9 grand. I told them there insurance folks they was wrong, but they says that's what it's worth."