Blogging By Phone

I've got my phone set to e-mail my blog. We'll see how it works!!

South Dakota, here we come!!!

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Mo Drives a Hard Bargain!!

Okay, let me preface this by saying...... I'm a renter!! Yes, I don't own a home. I have commitment issues. Plus, as a single gal, it sure is nice to call the leasing office and complain and when I get home from work, everything is fixed. Like today, my sink was clogged up and my outside light fixture had burned out bulbs. I stop by the office and by the time I get home at 4, it is all fixed.

But, being a renter, you are limited in what you can do decorating wise. My apartment has the older decorating scheme, which was cute, but has grown tiresome. My carpet was jacked up when I moved in, and after 3 years, it's a bit worse, so it's embarrassing to have people over. They think that Maude isn't potty trained or something when they see the floor.

So today, I stop by the office to pay rent and complain about the above issues. I ask if there is another apartment with my floorplan that might be available when my lease is up in December. I need a change. They tell me there is an apartment that is available July 30, with hardwoods and the new scheme. Do I want it?

As I run my other errands, I consult my sister. After talking to her, I realize that I'll be paying movers, hook up fees, etc. And it means that after I get home from my trip, I've got to start organizing my move, including packing, etc. I treasure my break and time off more right now than moving.

As I finish my errands, I stop back by the leasing office to let them know my decision. They try to sweeten the deal (they can hold it until September 1, etc), but I realize the last thing I want to do is move. So I stand firm.

I walk out of the leasing office with them agreeing to paint an accent wall in my living room, add a ceiling fan in my second bedroom, redo my kitchen and two bathroom counters. They are going to have a carpet person come and look at the carpet. If they can't refurb it, they will pull it up and put in hardwoods. So when I get back from South Dakota, it'll almost be like coming to a new apartment.

Isn't that cool?

I'll let you know how it works out.........

A Most Excellent Birthday!!

Today was my 39th Birthday!! Happy Birthday to me!! I guess now is the big countdown until I turn 40! I was surprised that I wasn't upset or feeling funky about this year's birthday. Actually, I was more like "Bring 40 on - I'm ready!"

My sister Sarah and her hubby Mike took me for a most unusual birthday meal. We went to the House of Blues for their Gospel Brunch. All I can say is that I highly recommend it! Ever since living in Tallahassee, I've had a thing for gospel music. I'm sure working in a predominantly black school had something to do with that.

So we brave the heat and head down to the House of Blues. While waiting, we enjoy a quick cocktail and then head inside. Sarah got us fabulous seats - right along the front. Great view!

The food was phenomenal! Waffles, eggs, hash browns, fruit, fried chicken, mac'n'cheese, desserts... the list could go on! I was worried about how my recovering stomach might handle everything! (Ed.'s note: No colon blows happened as a result of this lunch.) So we sat and ate for a while, then the music began!

These people could sing! It was awesome! For the last song, they called up the birthday people, so I got to go up there. They gave me a necklace and a bag of goodies, then we had to sing and dance with them. Sarah got pulled from the audience and so she was up on stage with me! It was so much fun!

What a great way to remember my 39th B-Day!!

Being Sick Sucks........

So it's my last day at work... summer is so close, I can almost taste it!!

Our network goes down, which makes me panic at first, but then I'm okay with it. I clean out the drawers in my office and get some paperwork done that I've been lollygagging on, so I'm feeling good about productivity.

My friend Melissa comes to have lunch with me and to see the school. She brings Subway. The same sandwich I get every time I go to Subway. No big deal, right? Melissa and I eat and catch up - we used to work together and I just miss her personality. She's a great person, so it was a lot of fun to visit.

I wrap up the day and then head home before going to the foot doctor for another injection for my jacked up foot. I go the doctor, get my shot, and head home.

I'm really hot and feeling kinda puny, but I think it's because of this oppressive heat. I lay down in my dark bedroom under the cool fan, thinking a few minutes here will make everything feel better.

Yeah, right.........

For the next 5 hours, I vomit, I do the other end.... it was awful..... Maude was scared and wouldn't come near me.... probably because I looked like the Excorcist! Finally, around 10, I stop the insanity and pass out. Friday, I wake up and I still feel horrible.

I have a hair appointment... come hell, high water, or food poisoning, I'm going. Afterwards, I spent the rest of the day in bed, sick. I have a horrible headache, I just feel awful. As the night wears on, it gets worse. I decide maybe I need to go to the doctor, so I go to Primacare and it's closed. So I decide I'm just gonna go to the ER. I head to the hospital, and I'm able to get in. They hook me up to an IV for two bags of fluids and send me home. I take some Ibuprofen and get some Gatorade.

I hope that I get well enough for my b-day and my trip to South Dakota......

Vacation Time is Almost Here!!

I only have two more days of work!! I'm so excited, then I have 3.5 weeks off for summer! When I became principal, my summer got cut in half, but that's okay.... when I have too much time off, I tend to make bad choices.

On Tuesday, Norma and I are leaving for our road trip to South Dakota. Why South Dakota? Why not? On my bucket list, I've always wanted to go to Mount Rushmore on the 4th of July. I think it would be majestic. It's a part of the country I've never seen.

Originally, Sigh Sister Betty and I were going to do this trip. But, it didn't work out and I was beginning to think I'd go by myself when Norma told me she'd always wanted to go! So now I have a travelling buddy - woo hoo!!

I don't know how long we'll be gone - I capped it at two weeks because I don't want Maude boarded for longer than that. So we'll either go till we run out of time, money, or room in the car for our junk!

I've been trying to find neat places to see, things to do, places to eat, and places to stay. So at least we'll have a list if we want/need it while we are on the road.

I'm contemplating taking my computer and blogging from the road. At the very least, I'll update my Facebook and let people know where we are and what's next for us.

But here's the best part of the trip. The highs this week in South Dakota? 70's!! And the lows? Upper 50's? Doesn't that sound divine?????

Watch out Middle America - here comes Norma and Mo!!

Time to Rename my Blog!!

Next Sunday, I am no longer 38 and absolutely fabulous!! I'll be 39!! So that means I need to change the title of my blog......

To the right, I've made a poll of possible titles to change it to. I've also left "Other" as a choice. If you pick "other," please leave a comment here with your recommendations......

The new blog title will be revealed next Sunday, June 28th. Happy Birthday to me!! :)

My Jacked Up Feet........

(Ed.'s note: This is my foot. You can see where I got the shot. This foot has the lesser developed bunion. But I still have my sausage toes and Fred Flintstone drive with my bare feet feet.)

I'd like to start this blog by giving a shout out to all the Werners, Dugans, Huckenbecks, and Eckelcamps for passing down to me my jacked up feet. While I've been spared some of the less savory family traits, this foot thing is pissing me off!! Apparently us Germans are great drinkers, but have some serious foot issues!!

Let me take you for a quick walk down memory lane. September 2007, my feet were killing me. I go to the foot doctor. He tells me I have plantar fasciitis and gives me some anti-inflammatory drugs and some exercises to try. I get told to quit wearing flip flops and buy some sensible shoes. About two weeks later, I can't walk. My right foot is so painful! I go back to the doctor. X-ray, nothing. They sent me for an MRI. Results? 3 cracks in my heel. Guess what my prize is? A month in a boot! But, after the time in the boot, my foot does feel better.

Flash forward to February 2009. My left foot hurts. I go to the doctor again. I'm not walking right and I'm misplacing weight on my foot which is causing the pain. I have the beginnings of bunions on both feet. I need physical therapy to work on my walking and surgery to clean out my ankle, which is why I'm walking weird to avoid pain in my ankle. So they set me up for arthroscopic surgery in July because I refuse to take the time off of work (Remember my AP was out on maternity leave?? It's not like I could just take off!). The doctor tells me to quit wearing flip flops and buy some sensible shoes. I do some PT and my foot starts to feel better - it only hurts if I'm on it alot.

Which brings us to yesterday.......... My left foot hurt so bad I couldn't walk. I felt like the oldest 38 year old EVER! I was in training yesterday and as the day wore on, it just got worse and worse. I called the doctor and got in for a 5 PM appointment. Thank goodness!! I get there and he x-rays my foot. I'm thinking I've broken something again.

Turns out I didn't break anything, but let me see if I can explain this. You have a ligament that connects your toes. Under it, is a nerve. Because of my bunion that's developing and the weird weight distribution, my ligament is irritating my nerve. In turn, my nerve is swollen and infected. This is creating the incredible pain. Lovely. Treatment? Injections into my foot. That hurt. With a really big needle.

What are you going to do? I take the shot. With the really big needle. That hurts. But my foot stops hurting right afterwards. When I walk, I can feel pressure, but not pain. I'm thrilled. I able to go have sushi with Melisa afterwards. My doctor reminds me to not wear flip flops and buy some sensible shoes.

Today, I kind of over do it. Secretary Misty and I decorate our Staff Development room to show our new theme for the upcoming year.... which will be unveiled during Tuesday's staff development. By the time we leave school to hit Walmart and Hobby Lobby, I can barely walk. The pain is back.

I go back to the doctor next Thursday for another injection. With a really big needle. That hurts.

And I hope it lasts for more than a day.

The Return of Roland and Sylvia..... oh, and The Wizard of Oz.....

So it was time for our second trip to the Dallas Summer Musicals yesterday. D and I were excited about seeing "The Wizard of Oz." I had to work, then rush home to take care of Maude. D picked me up and we stopped for a quick bit at Uncle Julio's before heading downtown.

We had brought our tickets to "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" which is our next musical on June 30th. I will be out of town, but I still had no interest in seeing it, neither did D. So we were going to trade them for another show or see if we could upgrade our seats for one of the upcoming shows. No such luck. Our options were to try and sell back, change dates, or lose the money. We decided that since we did not want to see the show, D would give the tickets to her sister-in-law who sounded kind of excited about the show. Enjoy the tickets, Ellie - maybe you won't hate me so much since I've done something kind!

We get inside and get to our seats, and who do I see.... Roland and Sylvia!! I'm just so excited to see them after 8 months. They had to trade nights for Happy Days and that's why we didn't get to see them that night. But they are back!! It was great catching up and we realized that we have some friends in common.

I felt bad for D. The Gay Sarcastic Commentary Duo were nowhere to be found. I'm wondering if they gave up their seats - I'll be sad because I really enjoyed them. They made me laugh. If you don't mind, say a prayer that they will show up for the next show.

The musical was really good!! The special effects (especially the tornado) were pretty incredible for a stage show. The cast was great and it was an enjoyable show. I would highly recommend it (especially if you have kids) and I would go see it again in a heartbeat.

On the way home, we listened to the new Black-Eyed Peas CD. I absolutely loved it!! (Ed.'s note: My birthday is June 28 and this would make a fabulous gift. I'm just saying is all.)

Since we bailed on the Chitty Bang, our next show will be July 14th - "A Chorus Line!!!!" I'm so excited about this one - takes me back to my Ursuline days when our drill team performed "One" - we were so awesome!!

School's Out For Summer!!

Well, I did it!! I survived my first year as principal!! School ended today at 11:30 for the kids - the teachers had the afternoon to start tying up their loose ends so they can head home for the summer.

In retrospect, it was a great year. We faced many challenges, but our kids succeeded and our teachers excelled. I'm proud of everyone involved.

It was nice to go to Happy Hour today with some teachers - it had been too long since I had done that. Good to have a Coke and laugh with your co-workers.

Monday is the teachers' last day. Then I leave Tuesday to spend the week in Austin at TEPSA. After that, I'll work through June 30th, but it'll be quiet with just Misty and me.

Happy Summer, everyone!!

Happy Days - The Musical

So, it's time for my Dallas Summer Musicals season to begin! I'm so excited! As you know, last year I had season tickets by myself; but I had many friends that came for many shows, so I wasn't alone much. Plus, I made friends with Roland and Sylvia and the Gay Commentary Duo, so it really wasn't like I was alone.

This year, my friend D is joining me for the season. Last summer, she was in the middle of finishing grad school and planning her wedding, so she wasn't able to do it. But I am excited to have a partner to do this with.

Even though it's the last week of school and we are exhausted, we are excited to go to Fair Park. We decide that we'll stop at Snookie's on the Tollway for a quick bite before we head downtown. After some chips and queso, we are ready to head south.

We get there, park, get in and get seated. I'm hoping to see Roland and Sylvia and the Gay Commentary Duo. However, another couple is seated next to me. I'm confused. Where are my friends? Have I pissed them off? Did they switch nights? Or did they just ditch this particular show? I'm hoping I'll see them at the next musical.

The show was okay. It was not my favorite show, the music was good, but the story was kind of lame. Fonzie sounded like John Travolta. The highlight was that Arnold was played by Barry Pearl. Do you know who Barry Pearl is? He was Doody (Frenchie's boyfriend) in Grease! That was cool!

Our next show is the Wizard of Oz on June 16th. I'm hoping that my friends will be there, but if not, D and I will have a blast!!

Let the Dallas Summer Musicals season begin!!