44 books...... I suck!!

Well, 2008 ends in 7 hours and 7 minutes.. and I'm about to go to a three hour movie, so I don't think I'll be able to get any more books read.

My goal was 50.

I read 44.

I didn't make my goal and I'm bummed by it! But this year has been a busy and an intense year, particularly since August. And the fact that I basically read a book a week is pretty impressive, I think.

How many books did YOU read?

I guess for 2009 - I'll aim for 50 again. I'd like to meet that goal. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and doggonit, people like me.

Be safe tonight ringing in '09.

I'd like to introduce......

..... two more friends whose blogs I'm linking to my page.

To have your blog linked on my page, you must go through a rigorous screening process to see if you are deemed worthy enough. Most people fail, but a few pull it out.

Actually, if you are a smart ass and/or your blog makes me laugh, I link you. I'm not that picky - sheesh.... I mean, you've read my blog, right? hahaha

Here they are:

1. JDHTEACH - J is a co-worker of mine. Like me, he was an AP in our district for a couple of years and then he moved up to principal. (He did it, so he helped me realize I could make the same move too!) He was principal for a few years, but he got sick and has moved his career in another directionwith our district while he allows his health to improve. I admire him greatly for that. I've always liked him because he's funny. We also have all these weird connections too - his mother-in-law and I worked together and his step-brother-in-law and I grew up together. So it's like we've known each other for a long time even when we haven't. He has a great blog (though I hate Queensryche!!) and it's always sure to make you laugh.
2. First Year Principal Like Me - E is a first year principal of a junior high school (God love her!). We worked together as APs for the past couple of years and became good friends. She's smart, funny, and someone I've come to trust and confide in. She moved south and I miss her awful. Her blog is a new blog, but a lot of fun to read and enjoy.

I hope to add more as I can..... it's fun to read and share each others' blogs. Keep writing!!

Virus on my computer!?!?!

I truly think that my world almost came to a stand-still on Friday, December 26 at 1:05 PM. I realized I had a bitch of a virus on my computer and I needed help to get it gone.

When I was on the Internet, pop up advertisements kept coming up, my computer was slow and I couldn't interact with society (aka Facebook). I was panicked, freaking out, so I called for help.

My one techy friend realized that this might be beyond his scope and wimped out. Thanks, Chris!!

So... not sure what to do, I called "The Geek Squad." Now, geeks do NOT come cheap. But they do come on Sunday afternoons and that worked well for me.

Nolan, my "Geek," arrived about 4:45 and by 6:30, my virus was gone and I was surfing away on the Net and interacting with society (aka Facebook) again. Now I'm able to live my life like the Internet-aholic that I am.....

Amen for Geeks!!

Is someone trying to tell me something?

Did everyone have a Merry Christmas? I hope so! Mine was hectic (XMas Marathon '08), but I had a good time, ate some good food, and spent time with my family.

We started at my Dad's - where we ate, opened gifts, then played Rummikub. My family is vicious when playing games - we all want to win and are all convinced that everyone else is trying to cheat us out of the win.

Then we headed to Mom's. We ate a delicious dinner, opened gifts, and chatted. It was nice, but I was tired at this point. I came home and crashed about 10 PM.

I received a Kindle from my Dad. I'll blog more about it when I get it in 8-12 weeks (March 9-20). It's awesome and I can't wait for it to get here!!

My sister knows I'm a freak about books. A freak. She likes to call me a "bibliophile." She says that I devour books. It's true. (I'm only 6 books away from my goal of 50... and I still have 3 days left, I'm not giving in until the last minute!!)

So my sister and her hubby get me a book, "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die." Of course, I want to start looking and seeing how many I have read. (Ed.'s note: The print is so small I needed my reading glasses - I am getting OLD!!)

I'm sad to report that I have only read 26 titles. (Ed.'s note: If you counted Cliff's Notes, then I could probably add another 10-15 to that number. If you counted movies I've seen, I could bump it up another 10 or 15.)

The good news is that I have 7 of the books in my pile to read beside my bed. That's good, right? That brings me to a grand total of 33 books, or I've read 3% of the books I must read before I die. At this rate, I'll need to live for another 1,113 years to read all of the books listed. Not a problem!


I took a picture of my new XMas present (left), with my travel "bible" that Sigh Sister Betty and I use. Notice a common theme between them?

Now, I've done much better on my places - I've been to 68 places so far. I have another 11 places planned for 2009 (2 in March, 8 in June/July, and 1 in November), so I'm doing a bit better here. I have a whooping 6.8%, but will have 7.9% this time next year - maybe more, if I get to travel more. (Ed.'s note: And yes, I mark the pages with the date I went to visit the place. I know I'm a dork, but I love it!!)

I'm 38 1/2 years old today. Though I bitch that I am old, I'm not. I shouldn't die for like another 35-40 years...... so why do I have these books? So I can get a head start before I die? I can't die with these paltry percentages - I've got to get my numbers up!!

Or is a new theme once you hit your 40's - everything is "(insert something here) before you die?"

Try to Have a Non-Dysfunctional Merry Christmas!!

Well, it's Christmas Eve. Wow, where did 2008 go? And don't give me the crap about that time goes faster when you are older (even though it does!).

So many of you are travelling (or have travelled) and are preparing to spend the day with family and friends. Lots of noise, chaos, potential dysfunction......

Me?

I'm alone. And I'm loving it. I had two gift wishes this Christmas - a new TV and a day for myself to do whatever I wanted.

Well, the new TV went buh-bye when I had to get a new radiator and O2 sensor for my car. So tonight I'll be unwrapping a picture of my new radiator and thinking how great it will be to be able to drive. It's the small things, right?

My second gift - I can't tell you the last time I had a day to myself to do what I wanted - wait, I can.... it was in July!! So today is my day. I'm showered and in a fresh pair of PJ's. I'm watching "Footloose" because I can. I may read or nap later. I'll make something yummy for dinner tonight, light a fire, and finish my bottle of Bitch wine. (Keep the Bitch wine comments to yourself!!)

The rest of my family spends time with their "other" family today - my sis with her hubby's family, my Mom with her hubby's family, and my Dad with his "friend's" family. I don't have another family. So I get the day to myself. (Ed.'s note: Please note that there is no tone of complaining, whining, or requesting for pity here. I'm HAPPY about this.)

What I'm not happy about is that both of my parents expect to see me on XMas Day. This is about a 100 mile round trip for me, not to mention lugging gifts and food (because you can't come empty-handed, I wasn't raised in a barn, ya know!). It's like a job, it's exhausting. People are drinking, and in my family, that usually leads to some form of unpleasantness, meanness, or just dysfunction. I have to eat two full meals so as not to offend them. I have to balance my time because God forbid I spend more time at one house or another.

I want to see my family, but why on that day? Couldn't we get together on the 26th? My mother has not been to my home in 2+ years, my father has not been here in 15 months. They never come to Frisco or want to see me here. I have to come to them all the time. For my birthday even, if I want to see them, have dinner, get gifts.... I have to go to THEIR house..... Heck, I can count on one hand how many times I've seen them this entire year, but by God, we had better be together on Christmas Day.

Don't get me started.....

So today, I will enjoy my day - I will rest and gear up for the Christmas Marathon of '08. They are my family and I love them.

But next year.....

I am hosting XMas Day at my house. 3 PM. Mark your calendars. There will be food and Bitch wine for all. Leave the dysfunction at the door.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!

Do you have a wine named after you?

The gift to get the bitch who has everything. Note the screwcap top? Classy, babe.... pure class.

(Ed.'s note: Like it displayed next to my Christmas flowers for the holiday feel? Hey, what can I say? Merry Christmas from the Bitch!!)

My Break Begins...... cue the Hallelujah chorus!!

So as of 3:30 PM today, my break officially began!! I have 16 days of no work ahead of me. This is so awesome!! It's almost like I don't know what to do, but then I start thinking about all the things I need to do......

* Finish reading books to get to my 50 for the year
* Go by school and pick up all of my plants and flowers that I couldn't carry out today
* Clean out my Tivo
* Christmas shopping - haven't even started, not even sure what to get people..... yikes....
* Scrapbook my last three trips
* Create my calendar pages and get those mailed out
* Pick up box of checks that has been sitting at the bank for at least a month now......
* Get my 02 sensor fixed on my car and hope that's the end of my car troubles
* Clean out my office closet and go through my clothes
* Catch up with some friends that I haven't seen in a while
* Blog about my Thanksgiving trip and post some photos

And that's all I can think of..... I mean, just 5 hours ago, I was nodding off at the salon getting my hair colored (and boy does it look good!)........... and I've had a couple of appletinis since then.

Happy Holidays!!

My Friend Richard

Richard Smith passed away this evening at 6:30 PM. He was 38 years old. He was married to his high school sweetheart, Misty. They had two kids, Dawson is 9 and Massei is 12.

Please pray for Misty and the kids to find peace during these upcoming weeks. Pray for all of Misty's friends and family to find the strength to support her as her life changes directions.

My heart hurts.

The Truth About Santa Claus

This is for adults only...... anyways, your kids shouldn't be reading my blog. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year!!

Why?

I'm not the most religious person you will meet. I am spiritual, I do believe in God and I do pray. But I'm not one who goes to church or is involved in the more formal trappings of religion. I think my years in all-girls Catholic school did that to me.

My friend Richard is dying. I can't believe I wrote that sentence. He fell 25 feet onto concrete on November 20 and has been in the CCU at Medical Center of Plano since then. He's a McKinney firefighter and has been featured in the newspaper and on the news. He has so many injuries. The doctors said they would tell us when they were losing the battle and they told us that last night. Richard flatlined after surgery yesterday and barely made it back. His organs are failing and it will be a miracle for him to survive. And I'm praying for that miracle. I am holding on to that shred of a miracle.

I was at the hospital from 4-11 last night. I went to be strong for Misty, his wife. Misty is my friend and my secretary at work. She keeps me in line, organized and on-time. She makes me laugh when I'm ready to kill and encourages me when I'm ready to quit. I can't think of a person better suited for being my secretary aka psychological gatekeeper (as I like to call her) than Misty.

I sat in the chapel last night praying and crying. I came home and cried for hours. I don't understand God's will. Why? (Ed.'s note: My therapist tells me Why? questions are the worst because you rarely get the answers to them that you want or need.) He has two small children, why? He is a good, Christian man, why?

As my Facebook page says, I'm trying to open my heart to God's will. But it is hard. I may never understand the Why. So I will soldier on and be strong for my friends Richard and Misty. I love them. And I'm scared.

Respect the Grand Poobah's Authority!

I'm a principal of a small school in a small district in a small town. I like my district. Being small allows everyone to know each other and there is a real feel of family. I love my school - it's new and we have some growing pains, but my staff is strong, the kids are good, and I know that we will be a force to be reckoned with as we continue to grow and mature.

As I've blogged, I've put in a lot of hours into my new job. I've even slept on the clinic cot (which is surprisingly comfy) because I was too tired to drive home. I believe in doing Whatever It Takes, so that's just what you do.

Weekends are sacred to me. I like to have one day to run errands, clean, do whatever I need to do and then I like for my other day to be what I call a "Sloth Day."

On a "Sloth Day," I may get dressed. Or I may stay in my pj's. I may shower or I may not. I could nap all day, or curl up with a good book on the couch. I could watch TV or play on my computer. I might scrapbook or I might do some baking. It's doing whatever I want, when I want, how I want. Some days start as a "Sloth Day," but an offer comes along and I jump on it. On some "Sloth Days," I don't interact with society at all. No phone, no texting, no IMs. It's all about me. I treasure these days as they don't happen very often.

Being a principal has really cut into my sloth days. I knew it would happen, but it still makes me pout if I don't get my time. It is what it is and I'm getting used to it. I'm learning to manage my time to sloth whenever I can, rather than waiting for a whole day that may not happen.

Tomorrow I have to go to a fundraiser for our school from 10-12. I shouldn't complain because we truly have the BEST PTA I've worked with in a long time. They are caring, hard working, and committed to our kids and staff. Then we have our local tree lighting festivities at the park tomorrow. I'll be one of the judges judging the floats in the parade - that starts at 3:45 PM. I have dubbed myself the "Grand Poobah" of the parade even though I won't be in it. After that, I'll head to the tree lighting and then see my choir sing. I'm so excited to see the kids sing, they did a practice run today and they were phenomenal!!

But there goes my whole day. I'm glad to do it for my kids and school, truly, but I'm tired and need to start doing Christmas stuff too. I don't know when I'll get my cards out or mix my annual (as well as highly regarded and demanded) Holiday Jams.

Soo much to do and not much time to do it in.

But no worries, I'll try not to think about it while I "sloth" on Sunday. "Rock of Love Charm School" and "Survivor," here I come!!

Just Call Me Judgy McJudgington......

I know I haven't blogged in a while... I've been busy. I'll blog about my trip and I'll blog about why I've been busy later. When I'm not so busy. Sometime.

Last week, my aunt and I were in our hotel in Branson. (Ed.'s note: Two strikes against Branson: old people and country music - one of the shows was called "Baldknobbers" - I kid you not! The great thing about Branson - excellent shopping opportunities!)

We were tired, we had a busy day and we were glad to be sleeping in a modern hotel after our night in the Haunted 1886 Crescent Hotel. We were in our jammies, watching "Dancing With the Stars" when it starts........

"Look at that outfit, doesn't she look ridiculous?"

"Oh, my, not the best dancer in the group."

"What is up with that kick thing? Oh, no she didn't!!"

My aunt and I are totally trashing the contestants on the show. While in bed. In our jammies. Eating cookies. Like we are professional dancers. Which we are not.

I start giggling..... we keep trash talking. We are ruthless and unforgiving. Finally I say to my aunt, "God, are we the most judgmental people in the world?"

We burst into smug laughter. It's easy to judge from the confines of a hotel room in Branson, Missouri. Heck, I couldn't do any of those moves, but I sure felt qualified to judge.

The show ends and "The Real Housewives of Atlanta Reunion Show" is on. The next thing I know, we are doing it again....

"Ewww... she's not pretty."

"What's up with hair? Is it a wig? She looks like she's 40!"

"These people are a total trainwreck."

We look at each other and die laughing again.

You know, it's not easy being as perfect as we are. Do I feel bad for those people? No, they choose to go on these shows and should expect ridicule at times, especially when they are so stupid they make no sense.

I think I've have a piece of pie and judge... uh, I mean.... watch either Survivor or Top Chef.