It's just another day. I don't feel like celebrating today. You see, in just 14 minutes (I was born at 8:54 P.M. ... so I won't be 38 until then) I will be a year older.
To date, this has got to be the most difficult birthday I have ever had. You see, I have ALWAYS been the baby in the family. Well, in just a few minutes I will no longer be the baby. I know this sounds ridiculous, but in my mind and my heart this is a BIG deal.
You see Cynthia and I are five months apart, she was older. Now, she will forever be 37 in my mind. I will no longer be the baby. I know this sounds so very stupid...even typing it out I feel like a fool, but I can't get over the fact that something that has been a part of me for so long is no longer going to e the case because such an important person in my life is no longer here.
She always called me on my birthday, I really miss that.
A group of us walked in the Dallas Race for the Cure yesterday. It was a very emotional time. Sometimes I get so very depressed I can't breathe. I know she would not want me to be sad, but I miss her desperately.
Eight more minutes of being the baby.......
Texas Library Lady - Passionate Bibliophile - sharing my love for books
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
What am I reading now?
Well, to go along with the previous post, I thought I would let you know the books I am reading right now. (I say books because I have recently started reading more than one book at a time...something I have had a HARD time doing because of the similarities in the books...if the books are not similar it makes it A LOT easier).
Schuyler's Monster : A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughter
by Robert Rummel-Hudson.
Robert is actually a friend. I met Robert when MSC and I were first dating. We were so surprised to hear about Robert's book (and family) when another UTA friend called us one night and told us to turn on the news.
The book is a heartwarming memoir and wonderful account of a parent's advocacy for special needs children. Robert's words, sometimes very blunt and overwhelming, convey never ceasing desire to have the very best for his daughter, no matter her abilities or disabilities.
Not only am I reading this book because Robert is a friend, but because of my invovlement in education. I do not have a background in special education. When I was a child my elementary school had inclusion students from the School for the Deaf and the special education school located next door. I was one of the students partnered with one of the inclusion students. I never saw the students as different, just from a different school. This idea continued on through my years as a classroom teacher, having inclusion students from this same School for the Deaf, and even now as a share time with the special needs students in my school. I love the way Robert advocates for his daughter, Schuyler. He fights for her on a daily basis.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
In this historical fiction account of the lives of Mary and Anne Boleyn, we learn how Mary was the first Boleyn to catch the eye of King Henry VIII. I have fallen in love with the writing style of Philippa Gregory (thanks Monica for the recommendation0 and want to read everything she has written.
My love of history combined with the fictionalized account of Henry VIII. I love this time period and I love historical fiction. A win, win for me!
Identical by Ellen Hopkins
I was introduced to this book through a blog (I don't remember which one). The synopsis intrigued me..."Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own deark secret, and that's where their differences begin.
For Kaleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All the Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who?" (Amazon.com)
Now, doesn't that sound intrigueing? I thought so. I have always been fascinated by twins. This book, however became something like a challenge...it is written in prose. This is something I did not expect. Not hard to read, rather easy actually, but very different from anything I have ever read. It is a Young Adult book, so something a middle school / high school student might read. I am intrigued by Hoplkins' writing style and plan to read some of her other books.
Frill Kill by Laura Childs
I just started this fifth book in Child's scrapbook mystery series. As a scrapbooker, I love reading these mysteries about the owner of a scrapbook store in New Orleans, Carmela and her best friend Ava, the owner of a voodoo magic shop. There have been times I have felt as if it would be fun to be Carmela, except for her involvement in murders. They are just fun to read...the next one in the series (on the table waiting for me to crack the cover) is Death Swatch.
Okay, here you go...yes, I am reading four books right now, but they are all different, so I don't get them confused too often, as if I could...Henry did not have a twin, Schuyler is not involved in murders, Carmela does not have a monster to slay, and Kaleigh is not having an affair with a king...I don't think!
Schuyler's Monster : A Father's Journey with His Wordless Daughterby Robert Rummel-Hudson.
Robert is actually a friend. I met Robert when MSC and I were first dating. We were so surprised to hear about Robert's book (and family) when another UTA friend called us one night and told us to turn on the news.
The book is a heartwarming memoir and wonderful account of a parent's advocacy for special needs children. Robert's words, sometimes very blunt and overwhelming, convey never ceasing desire to have the very best for his daughter, no matter her abilities or disabilities.
Not only am I reading this book because Robert is a friend, but because of my invovlement in education. I do not have a background in special education. When I was a child my elementary school had inclusion students from the School for the Deaf and the special education school located next door. I was one of the students partnered with one of the inclusion students. I never saw the students as different, just from a different school. This idea continued on through my years as a classroom teacher, having inclusion students from this same School for the Deaf, and even now as a share time with the special needs students in my school. I love the way Robert advocates for his daughter, Schuyler. He fights for her on a daily basis.
The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa GregoryIn this historical fiction account of the lives of Mary and Anne Boleyn, we learn how Mary was the first Boleyn to catch the eye of King Henry VIII. I have fallen in love with the writing style of Philippa Gregory (thanks Monica for the recommendation0 and want to read everything she has written.
My love of history combined with the fictionalized account of Henry VIII. I love this time period and I love historical fiction. A win, win for me!
Identical by Ellen HopkinsI was introduced to this book through a blog (I don't remember which one). The synopsis intrigued me..."Kaeleigh and Raeanne are identical down to the dimple. As daughters of a district-court judge father and a politician mother, they are an all-American family -- on the surface. Behind the facade each sister has her own deark secret, and that's where their differences begin.
For Kaleigh, she's the misplaced focus of Daddy's love, intended for a mother whose presence on the campaign trail means absence at home. All the Raeanne sees is Daddy playing a game of favorites -- and she is losing. If she has to lose, she will do it on her own terms, so she chooses drugs, alcohol, and sex.
Secrets like the ones the twins are harboring are not meant to be kept -- from each other or anyone else. Pretty soon it's obvious that neither sister can handle it alone, and one sister must step up to save the other, but the question is -- who?" (Amazon.com)
Now, doesn't that sound intrigueing? I thought so. I have always been fascinated by twins. This book, however became something like a challenge...it is written in prose. This is something I did not expect. Not hard to read, rather easy actually, but very different from anything I have ever read. It is a Young Adult book, so something a middle school / high school student might read. I am intrigued by Hoplkins' writing style and plan to read some of her other books.
Frill Kill by Laura Childs
I just started this fifth book in Child's scrapbook mystery series. As a scrapbooker, I love reading these mysteries about the owner of a scrapbook store in New Orleans, Carmela and her best friend Ava, the owner of a voodoo magic shop. There have been times I have felt as if it would be fun to be Carmela, except for her involvement in murders. They are just fun to read...the next one in the series (on the table waiting for me to crack the cover) is Death Swatch.
Okay, here you go...yes, I am reading four books right now, but they are all different, so I don't get them confused too often, as if I could...Henry did not have a twin, Schuyler is not involved in murders, Carmela does not have a monster to slay, and Kaleigh is not having an affair with a king...I don't think!
October 2008 Read-a-thon
October 18th at 5:00 PM begins the October 2008 Read-a-thon. I am seriously thinking of joining the fun and read for 24 hours...okay, I seriously don't think I can do this...you know stay up all night, read through church, skip the Cowboy game, and pretty much bypass my birthday doing one of my favorite past times.
It sounds like such a great plan though. You know if it had only been THIS weekend. Next weekend is a little busy. Early Saturday morning I will be participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Dallas. This has always been an event I have enjoyed supporting, but now it has become a family event. This year CB, is going to join LJM, WWW, and my sweet aunt JG. We also have other family and friends coming to join us honor Cynthia's memory through this walk. I have to admit it was very emotional for all of us last year. We had only lost her two months before. We were still raw with emotion. Now, we are still mourning, but the pain is not as deep. We are in the coping stage of our loss. We still miss her tremendously that will not go away. I think about her all the time. I catch myself daydreaming. Going bakc and thinking of the last time we were together, or something we used to do. I still can't believe she is gone.
Well, even if I can't do the challenge, I will be reading. Today during the football games (even during the Cowboy game commercials and half time) I was reading.
Here is the link, if anyone out there wants to participate. What a great way to have fun, promote reading, and win prizes all at the same time.
Monday, September 29, 2008
The Sighting
YES, we do! Okay, read the previous post and you will see how we SMELLED we have a skunk running around the neighborhood (specifically MY backyard).
Well, I SAW the little pain in the butt when I was taking out the trash. It all started when I was walking back to the front door. I noticed our neighborhood cat Sammy walk from under MSC's car to the hedges by the front door. I then noticed two kittens run from under the car over to the fence. I wanted to see the kittens so I walked over to the fence and got a quickly glance before they squeezed under my neighbors fence. When I turned around I saw a black cat waddling out from under MSC's car. Okay, I saw waddling because that is exactly what this BLACK CAT was doing...it was only after the "cat" raised it big, furry tail that I realized it was NOT cat!!!! I had NEVER seen a skunk in my entire life (in real life...only in pictures and on TV). This skunk was NO Pepe 
le Pew. NOT cute at all! Just a little furry black thing that made my sweet dogs smell like last YEAR'S garbage. I chased it across the street and into my neighbors yard. FAR from my dogs.
le Pew. NOT cute at all! Just a little furry black thing that made my sweet dogs smell like last YEAR'S garbage. I chased it across the street and into my neighbors yard. FAR from my dogs.Now, I have been calling every day in order to get a trap (that I have to go pick up and place in my yard) in order to capture this nasty critter. The city says they will come and pick it up when (and if) I catch it. They're darn tootin'. I'm not keepin' it for a pet! I don't want to catch it just so I can cuddle up to it at night. No way, I have had enough of little stinky kitties. So long Pepe!
Pretty kitty...uh, no!
Okay here is a GREAT story...and OH so true.
A few weeks ago, on a Wednesday, I let the dogs out (yes, it was me when they sing, "Who Let the Dogs Out?"). Now, you must understand they (the dogs) decided to sleep in this particular morning, so I was just about ready to walk out the door when they finally dragged themselves from MY comfortable bed...I have kept my spot warm all night, so they must enjoy that warm as soon as I get up (out of THEIR bed...not quite). I had no sooner let them out (less than a minute) and I smell this HORRIBLE stinch! It has alreay permeated my kitchen, so I'm thinking it is in my house, but NO, it is outside.
Okay, I run to the door and let the dogs in very quickly thinking surely they did not have enough time to be covered in smell. Boy was I wrong. Not only were they COVERED, they were rubbing everything they could in order to get the smell off.
Now remember, I was LEAVING for work. So, I left.
When I came back that afternoon, I searched and search and search for anything I could find on getting the smell of SKUNK (the pretty kitty) off of a dog! Okay let me tell you...tomato juice DOES NOT WORK!! What I finally found to use was a mixture baking soda (2/3 of a cup), shampoo, and hydrogen peroxide (about 3/4 of a bottle). Now, giving a shower to a 65 pound dog is NOT fun...but I did it TWICE.
Did the smell completely come off of Tex...NO. He was sprayed in his muzzle because he wanted to smell the pretty kitty...and BOY did he ever smell it...for days and days and days and days.
Angel, well she was not as curiuos, surprisingly. She is the one who always wants to smell the REAL kitties we have in the house. I guess Tex just beat her to it this time.
Monday, August 25, 2008
First Day of School
Well, I survived! I can't say it was an eventful day, but I can say that it is OVER!
I did my usual duty of helping with registration, not much fun, but you get to see a lot of people. MZ (my new clerk) and my mom sold school supplies out of the library so there was not much else going on in there. I will start having classes tomorrow so hopefully I can start some kind of routine going.
I think that is the thing I miss the most during the summer, routine. I guess you would say I am a creature of habit and I like to have a routine. I don't like when MY routine is messed up. Forget about everyone else, it is ALL about ME (yes, my only child is coming out!)!! I want things MY way, I want to do them MY way, on MY time, etc. etc. etc.! Maybe I am just really tired. Maybe the first day was much more eventful than I originally thought and now I should go take a short nap (or go take a time out) until I can be more sociable....just leave me alone and let me have my hissy fit!!
I did my usual duty of helping with registration, not much fun, but you get to see a lot of people. MZ (my new clerk) and my mom sold school supplies out of the library so there was not much else going on in there. I will start having classes tomorrow so hopefully I can start some kind of routine going.
I think that is the thing I miss the most during the summer, routine. I guess you would say I am a creature of habit and I like to have a routine. I don't like when MY routine is messed up. Forget about everyone else, it is ALL about ME (yes, my only child is coming out!)!! I want things MY way, I want to do them MY way, on MY time, etc. etc. etc.! Maybe I am just really tired. Maybe the first day was much more eventful than I originally thought and now I should go take a short nap (or go take a time out) until I can be more sociable....just leave me alone and let me have my hissy fit!!
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