Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! I hope you all have a fun day!

Busy & Long Week

Today is the first day I've been able to get on my computer since Sunday afternoon. Today was also the first day I've been able to come home from work during daylight hours.

It's been a very busy and very long week, folks. Monday night I was at the school until 8:00pm taking tickets at the girls volleyball game and last night was my school's first night of parent-teacher conferences which kept me at the school until 7:30pm. The girls played very well and conferences were great, but these long days have left me exhausted. I am completely pooped, physically and mentally.

I will be spending tomorrow night at the school for the second round of conferences, so I'm going to make the most of my free evening. I'm going to lay around, watch a little television, and catch up on some wonderful blogs.

I hope you're all having a wonderful week!

Friday Find, Etc.

Boy do I have lots to share with you today!

First off, thank you to everyone for all the nice comments on my hair! I really appreciate your kind words!


Secondly, I was given the award below from Amber at Viva Voce! She's way too nice to me! Thanks, Amber!


Now the rules! Link back to the person who gave it to you and then award 10 other blogs!

A Little Piece of Me
A Special Blend
Aiming for Perfection
Ann Goes Banann
Blaine and Steph
Caity!
Dare to Tri
Life on the Hilltop
Mabel's House
Tea With Mrs. Fox


Thirdly, I was given the award below from Amanda at A Special Blend and Hilltopper at Life on the Hilltop! I'm thrilled! Thanks, ladies!


Now the rules! List six things you value, six things you don't value, and then award six more people! Here goes!

Things I Value
1. My wonderful husband
2. My crazy family
3. My awesome in-laws
4. My dear friends
5. My health (physical and mental)
6. My hobbies

Things I Don't Value
1. Dusting
2. Whistling
3. Working retail
4. Negative attitudes
5. Being cold
6. Snoring

People I Award
1. Amber
2. Caity
3. Sissy
4. Stacy
5. Steph
6. Megan


And finally, my Friday Find. I'm definitely in the mood to decorate for fall, but since I can't, I have to humor myself with looking at projects, like this leaf garland, to attempt next year when I'm in my house!

For more Friday Finds, visit Amber at Viva Voce!


Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

Ten Inches

Today was my first of two days off for teacher's convention break. I spent most of the morning and afternoon working on lessons, went out for dinner with my husband and some friends, and wrapped up the evening with a little bit of television. It was a very nice day. Oh, and I did this:

Classroom Conversation #2

Student: Mrs. W., I'm a math book and you're the teacher - you solve all my problems.

Me: I'm glad I don't have to see you guys for four days.

In Case I Get Lost...

my mom still has this:


The authorities should be able to find me in no time.

Friday Find

While perusing blogs one day, I found this pumpkin project. I thought it was wonderful and just had to share it with all of you!

For more Friday Finds, visit Amber at Viva Voce!

Have a wonderful weekend!

My Breathing

I like the sound of my breathing when I'm running. It's the sound of a struggle I must overcome. It's the sound of strength.

Last week I had one of the worst runs I've ever experienced. I cannot remember a time when my asthmatic lungs closed up so tightly so quickly. I knew it was a run I should have ended immediately but I just couldn't stop. The only part of my body telling me to stop was my lungs - the rest wouldn't listen. Gasping and hyperventilating, I continued on my way. I ran my entire route scared that I would collapse on the trail. I ran my entire route listening to my labored breaths, wishing all the while that I had a healthy pair of lungs.

I cried when I got home. Partly because of my stupidity, but mostly because I had finished. I realized those gasps for air weren't something to be upset about, but something to be thankful for. While my lungs aren't healthy, they were healthy enough to pull me through that run. While I may have to work harder at my running than others, I am still capable of doing it and that's what I should hear in each inhalation.

Today I had one of the best runs I have ever had. I haven't breathed so deeply or so clearly in quite a while and it felt amazing. Today I didn't even have to think about my breathing, I just breathed. Why wear headphones and miss out on that beautiful sound - the sound that shows me how strong, how alive I truly am.

Take a deep breath for me today and thank your lucky stars that you're able to do so.

Team Goofball

Unfortunately, I don't have much time to write tonight so I thought I'd just post a few photos from my weekend. On Saturday, my husband and I bowled with my family, my mother-in-law, and my sister's boyfriend in a charity bowling event. It was a lot of fun and I look forward to doing it again next year.

My sister and her boyfriend acting like themselves for the camera.
I guess I do look as stupid as I feel! (My average for the three games was around 75! I never made it up to or past 100! Yikes!)
My mother and mother-in-law doing what they do best together!
My dad took the event pretty seriously (that might explain why he took first out of all of us).
My husband scoping out his competition (my dad).
I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and survived your Monday!

First Time!

Today I was tagged for the first time by Hilltopper! Apparently, I'm so interesting that she wants to learn even more. (I'll wait as you all finish laughing). Okay, so here goes - seven random things about myself!

1. I do not drink coffee or pop. I've never liked coffee and I quit drinking pop about three years ago to be more healthy. If only I could have the same will-power with chocolate!

2. I spent the first three years of my college career as an architecture major, interior design minor and graduated three years later with a degree in math education. Life is interesting.

3. I avoid odd numbers like the plague. There is something unsettling about not being able to divide something in half evenly. I eat as many food items as I can in even amounts and when using my car's blinker I make sure it has blinked an even number of times before turning it off. (I believe this is called OCD).

4. I am creeped out to no end by worms and snakes. It's not natural to be able to move around so efficiently on land without some kind of legs or feet!

5. It horrifies me when people bend their ears forward (this makes cutting my husband's hair an excruciating task) or grab their tongues with their fingers.

6. I sucked my thumb until I was in the fifth or sixth grade. No joke; I have an ugly overbite to prove it.

7. I get dizzy when I look up - every time, all the time. It's happened for years and sadly has become the "norm." It makes for very uncomfortable dentist visits and shampoos during hair appointments.

I hope you enjoyed reading these random facts about me! If you'd like to participate in this, consider yourself tagged!

Have a wonderful evening!

Yesterday's Mail

I got my cookie!

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, mom! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Date Night & Books

So far my weekend has been absolutely wonderful! For the first time since school started, I didn't have anything work-related that I had to do, so it has been nothing but a fun, relaxing couple of days.

Friday evening, my hubby and I had a date night. We ate at our favorite burger and fry restaurant (I'm sure by this time I don't need to tell you where that is),

did a little shopping (how fun are giant calculators?!),

stopped by our house (the basement is poured!),

and then saw a movie. It was a fun evening spent with my best friend - I couldn't ask for a better way to start my weekend.

On Saturday, I did three loads of laundry. I know you're all as excited about that one as I am! I think it might be the last time I'm able to use the clothesline until spring. The days are definitely becoming fall-like, with cooler temperatures and less sunlight. I won't complain, though - dryers are fun, too!

After my laundry fun, my dad and I headed to the local library's used book sale. We waited until the last hour on the last day of the sale so we could get the bargain price of one dollar per grocery bag. In March, my dad and I got a total of 16 books (two for him, 14 for me). This year we did even better - we got 20 books (two for my dad, 18 for me). At five cents a book, I felt like I was robbing the library! My dad also got a box of 41 Popular Mechanic books for $2.50 which he was quite excited about. How wonderful is the library?! I hope they realize how happy they make people like my dad and me.

Saturday evening consisted of pizza and Hearts with the in-laws, visiting with my parents and some of their friends, then watching Saturday Night Live. While I don't enjoy that show much anymore, it is worth watching right now to see Tina Fey play Sarah Palin. The resemblance is crazy!

My Sunday has been pretty quiet thus far. It's a cool, rainy day - perfect for being lazy. I'm going to start one of my new books when I'm done here and later my husband and I are off to his parents for our weekly Sunday dinner. My mother-in-law is making ravioli tonight, one of our favorites. I can't wait!

I hope everyone is having as great a weekend as I am!

Old is Out

I thought it was time to start sprucing up my blog. Out with the old, in with the new!