Facelift

I decided to give my blog a facelift.  I've had the houndstooth for quite a while now, and while I love it (I am a Bama fan, after all), I was just ready for something new.  And since I'm a country girl at heart, I thought the barnwood and sunflowers would be a perfect fit.  What do you think?  I cannot, though, for the LIFE of me figure out how to get the black/white border to go away.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.  I have checked everything I can think of, and it is still showing up.  Oh well!

This has been a quiet morning since testing has been going on.  For the first time in forever, we aren't using the section of the building my room is in, so I haven't had to find a place to hide out.  Do you know how wonderful it has been to be able to stay "home"?  Of course I'll be testing tomorrow and Thursday, but hopefully by the time the first 90 minute session is over, all of the students Charmaine and I have will be finished.

I'm really excited about tomorrow and Thursday, even though I do have to test.  Since some of our seniors don't come in until 2nd block, we are doing the classes in reverse--3rd, 2nd, 1st.  I have 1st block planning, so I'll be through around 2:00.  (It really takes so little to excite me.  LOL)

Ashley isn't here today.  Auburn is having their interview day for the students in the school of education.  That means I'll have to teach this afternoon, for the first time in about three weeks.  Fortunately, the seniors are finishing up their pilgrim analysis, so they'll be working in groups.  Fifth block is the remediation class for language, and since tomorrow is the language test, we'll just go over some last minute stuff...test taking skills mainly.

I am so nervous for those kids in remediation!  All but two of them are juniors, so this isn't a "do or die" test for them, but I REALLY want ALL of them to pass.  Most of them were extremely close last time, so maybe they will get it this time.  My two seniors, though, are students who have learning disabilities and haven't passed a section yet, so this is "do or die" for them.  It BREAKS my heart because I just don't see either of them passing it this time, either.  And to have to see their faces when they get the results...I don't care what anyone says about prayer in schools; I will be praying very hard tomorrow!

I guess I should go now.  I need to take care of a couple of things before my darlings arrive.  I hope you have a GREAT day!

Could you please spell that?

I am a teacher.  Every semester when I get a new group of kids, I always preface my first roll call with a statement similar to the following:  "As I call roll, I will call your first name.  If you go by your middle name or a shortened version of your first name, please let me know.  If I mispronounce your name, please correct me.  I want to make sure I get it right."  In every class, there is a child who goes by his or her middle name or is called Nate instead of Nathaniel.  And in almost every class, there is a child whose name is so uncommon that I must write it out phonetically on my roster just so I can make sure I learn to pronounce it correctly.  I have even had kids go by a name that is in no way related to their given name, simply because their given names are so...weird.  My question for all of the parents/parents-to-be out there, WHY saddle your child with a name that is going to have people asking how to spell it or constantly mispronouncing it?

Sure, we all know about the celebrity babies...Gwyneth Paltrow has Apple, Julia Roberts has Phinnaeus and Hazel, and George Foreman has George Jr., George III, George IV, George V, George VI, Freeda George, and Georgetta.  We've all heard the stories about somebody's best friend's kid's cousin's classmate being named Shithead (pronounced Shi-the-ahd) or Lemonjello or Orangejello.  Don't forget Precious, who is everything but precious!  And we probably all know someone who had the fortune of marrying a man who gave her a funny name.  I know Fonda Tubbs and years ago, I knew Sherry Wood who married James Carver.  She became Sherry Wood Carver. 

BUT again, I must ask, WHY would you intentionally saddle your child with some weird name?  We will be giving the AHSGE next week, so we've gotten the lists of students who will be testing.  The following are some honest-to-God names of students at my school.

• Quametrius
• Briquez
• Gerecka
• Shakeithia (wonder if her daddy's name is Keith??)
• Gyovantaye
• Adjonski
• Yomira
• Sekwondria
• Antriunna (hmmm...sort of sounds like Aunt Trina)
• QuienGashaious
• Alaksian (he goes by Cat, which is in no way related to his name)
• Wymeka
• Dytazia

On the other hand, there are the names that are just a little too common.  Over the past five years, I have taught no fewer than 11 girls named Megan/Meghan/Maegan/Magan or some other variation, at least 10 girls named Brittany/Brittney, several Gabrielles, and a few Katelyns.  For whatever reason, it doesn't seem like boys have the same problem.  Sure, names like Michael or Joshua tend to be common, but I don't usually have as many boys with duplicate names.

Call me an old-fashioned fuddy duddy if you want.  I just see no reason to get all weird.  Personally, I truly love the old-fashioned, classic names...Olivia, Claudia, Lila, Emma, Claire for girls; Alexander, Jameson, Owen, Nathan, Hudson for boys.  And of course, I love my name...Trina Marie...because Grannie chose it for me, and that makes it very special!

Now I need to go.  Quasimonitretiunasha Raymonicalamichaelasinga has a question for me.  She goes by Peachy.  :)

Have a GREAT day!

Teachers' Lounge, Day 2

 <----  This is where I am.  Isn't this the most lovely teachers' lounge ever?  I mean, what isn't to love?  The walls are a gorgeous institutional gray, and the wall outlet...oh my! I'm surprised the folks on HGTV aren't all over this style!  The sofa and the rug have that lived-in look that says, "Don't worry about us!  Put your feet up and relax!"  The tables did have a delightful coating of dust until yesterday.  As much as I hated to rid the lounge of such an eye-catching feature, I knew my allergies wouldn't be able to handle it.  I hope I didn't offend anyone by doing so.  (Where is that danged sarcasm font????)

This ------>                            is where I want to be.  Seriously, isn't that such a calming, soothing view?  Close your eyes and imagine a soft breeze gently kissing your skin as the sun warms you. The birds sweetly sing their songs of life.  As the hammock sways, your mind drifts away, taking you on a journey to that place where you aren't quite awake, nor are you quite asleep.  When you must rouse yourself, you feel refreshed and ready to take on the world. 

I'm spending my second day in the teachers' "lounge" so that Ashley can get a true feel of what it is like to be completely in charge of a classroom.  (From my picture, you can tell it really isn't much of a lounge.)  When I'm in there, the kids are good, but they know that I will give them the evil "teacher look" if they aren't.  And many times they will come to me to ask questions.  When they do that, I point to Ashley and tell them they need to see Ms. Smith because she is their teacher right now.

Even though days like this can be downright boring, they have given me a chance to redo many of my presentations and handouts.  I have written a proposal for a reseach class I would like to teach, researched some new (and hopefully exciting) activities to add to my curriculum, and completed the assigned sessions for the online class I'm taking done.  Oh, and I've had time to blog.  LOL

Next week, students will take the Alabama High School Graduation Exam.  Oh joy!  Those students who have already passed and have alternate transportation do not have to come to school until 11:00.  Those who have to ride the bus will have to stay in the auditorium.  (So glad I didn't get selected for that fantastically fun adventure.  HA!)  Our class schedule will be all goofed up next week.  We will have our 3rd block classes every day since that is when we take our daily attendance.  Then, on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, we will have our 4th and 5th block classes.  On Tuesday and Thursday, we will have our 1st and 2nd block classes, BUT we will be doing those days reversed as well.  Students will go to 3rd block at 11:00.  Following 3rd block, we will have our 2nd block class and then our 1st block class.  The reason we're doing those days this way is because many of our seniors do not have to come for 1st block.  Can you imagine the headache we would have if we did 3rd/1st/2nd blocks?  Where would those kids who don't have a first block go?  Who would supervise?  NIGHT. MARE.  The best part is that Ashley and I will be finished with our day around 2:00 on Tuesday and Thursday.  Woo Hoo!!!

I have to test on Tuesday and Thursday, so that will be a bummer, but at least it is only those two days.  I remember very well the days of having to test every day AND losing my planning.  Talk about rotten!  Of course, during those days, teachers weren't held to the the strict guidelines that we are these days.  Way back in the day, we could grade papers, make out tests, read, work crossword puzzles...Now, we can't do anything except sit and stare at our students as they test.  For 90 minutes.  Have you ever done absolutely NOTHING for 90 minutes?  Try it.  You won't like it. 

Another change for this year (not sure if this is local or state), but even teachers are having to put our cell phones in our test boxes.  We've had our students do this for a few years now, but this go round, we're having to as well.  It really doesn't bother me.  I would much rather put my phone in the box and know that I have nothing to worry about than to have some disgruntled person make an allegation about me.  My job is way too important to me for me to do anything to risk it.  I have a hard time imagining anyone doing anything to jeopardize the years of schooling and the years of teaching over a test.  Not to mention the loss of a reputation.

It's almost time for our advisement, so I need to go.  And then I need to work on my Shakespeare stuff.  Actually, ole Will may have to wait.  I think I might just read for a bit.  :)

Have a GREAT day!

I'm sick. I have spring fever.

Yep.  I have it, and I have it baaaaadddddd!  The last few days haven't helped, either.  And having an intern isn't helping.  No, don't read that wrong.  I am loving having an intern, and Ashley is doing a fantastic job, but while she's teaching, my mind is wandering.  It's thinking about how gorgeous it is outside and how much it wishes it could be outside.  It's bad enough to have spring fever when I am teaching, but at least my mind is fairly occupied with the lesson.  **sigh**

When I was in high school, I never skipped school.  It was kind of hard since my mom worked at the elementary school and we rode together every day.  And being in a small school meant you didn't have the "opportunities" to leave school once you got there, if you know what I mean.  So my absences were always legitimate.  Until my senior year.  I decided (and Mom allowed me to) I needed to take a day off and go to the lake.  When I returned, I had her write me a note saying I was out the previous day with a bad case of spring fever.  I knew it wouldn't be excused, but I wanted to see what Mr. Woods would say.  I handed the note to him, he read it, looked over the top of his glasses at me, shook his head, and wrote "UNEX" on my admit slip.  hahaha 

Today, parents write their kids notes with the intention of getting the day(s) excused, even though they know the kid wasn't sick at all.  Even worse, some parents who have "connections" get doctor's notes.  It floors me that a parent would lie about that.  **double sigh**

Monday, I had to take my car back to the dealership because the check engine light came on two days after I had it serviced.  I didn't figure it was anything major (it wasn't), but I certainly didn't want to take any chances.  As a matter of fact, it took only about 5 minutes to discover the problem.  I had sent Susan a text to see if she would have time for coffee.  She did, so we were going to meet after she got off work.  Since I ended up taking 4th and 5th blocks off so I could get a jump on the traffic, and since it took no time at all at the dealership, I had about an hour or so to waste.  Hmmm...what to do, what to do.  I decided a pedicure would be nice (and one was desperately needed) so I found a walk-in place and got one.  The timing was perfect because just as I finished, Susan texted me to tell me she was on her way to Starbuck's. 

We decided to sit out on the patio because it was so nice.  The sun was warm on my face, and the breeze was just the perfect temperature.  And the company was awesome as well!  :)  I've said it before, but it bares repeating.  God truly blessed me when He put us both at Ben Russell.  I still think it's funny that He had our paths cross in so many other ways but never in a way that would lead to a lasting friendship until we were in our mid-20s.  It JUST dawned on me that our friendship is nearing twenty years!  Wow!!  It does not seem like it has been that long.

After getting my toes "did", I decided that I needed to wear shoes to show them off, so yesterday I wore my "dressy" Yellow Box wedge flip flops, and today I have on my black Born flip flops.  Karen has on a pair of Yellow Box ones today, too.  We were saying this morning that we know it's just the end of February, and we know that we'll have another cold snap, but it's just a flip flop day.  It would be fine with me if we started the REAL spring warm up now.  I could live with temps in the upper 60s to mid 70s from now until June. 

Ashley is completely taking over the classes today, so I'm hiding out in the upstairs lounge.  How easy would it be for me to slip out and enjoy some of this gorgeous sun?  I am SO tempted, but I know I need to be readily available IF anything were to go wrong.  **triple sigh**

I have used this morning to write a course proposal and sent it to Mr. Reyes, and I've gotten started on this week's assignment for my online class.  I need to finish that up so I'll be done for the week, so I guess I'll go for now.

Have a GREAT day and enjoy this sunshine!

First lake weekend of the year!

And I cannot wait!!!

Well, this is not the first weekend we've spent at the lake this year.  We were there New Year's weekend, but this is the first weekend that counts.  Or as far as I'm concerned, anyway.  :) 

The only crummy part is that even though the weather is supposed to be gorgeous here in Dadeville (low 70s and sunny), weather.com is showing tomorrow's weather in Logan as upper 50s and cloudy.  **sigh**  I was so hoping to sit out on the swim deck with my Kindle to soak up some sun and read.  I can still sit on the porch and read.  And the view, even if it is cloudy, will be nice.

I guess we'll find out this weekend how well our plumbing held up over the frigid winter.  If there are no breaks, it will be a first.  At least if there are any breaks, we'll have access to Danny and Linda's.  Last year, they had already taken the trailer out, so we were SOL.  LOL

Guess that's it for now.  I just had to take a break from grading tests, so I thought I'd update.

Have a GREAT weekend!

How do you feel today?

Aaaahhhhh....chooooooo!!!!!!

That has been the sound of the week.  It seems like everyone is sniffling, sneezing, or coughing.  Facebook friends are posting that they don't feel well.  Ah, the joys of cold and flu season.

When we were at Jessi and Lance's on Sunday, Lance and Katy were stopped up, and Sam was snotty and coughing.  On Monday, Jess posted on facebook that Lance had shared his cold with her.  As I headed to Birmingham to take my car for service Monday afternoon, my throat started with that scratchy feeling.  By the time I got home, I was starting to sneeze.  By yesterday, a full-fledged cold had struck.  I'm not sure if I should be mad at Lance, Katy, or Sam.  LOL

When I got home from going BACK to Birmingham yesterday, I brushed my teeth, took off my make up, put on jammies, checked John's voicemail (and made him do it himself so he'll know how from now on), and took two NyQuil and crawled into bed.  Before 7 PM.  I was asleep by about 8. 

I truly try not to whine when I don't feel well, but this go round, that is ALL I've done.  And it's only day two of crud.  You have no idea how glad I am to have an intern who is teaching right now. 

Thankfully, this day is almost over.  I'm skipping yoga today because I just don't think I can handle downward dog and sneezing at the same time.  Supper is going to be a big bowl of John's delicious chicken stew.  What could be better for a cold? 

Have a GREAT day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I get to go to Jarod!!!

What?  Oh, no...I'm not going to the jewelry store.  I've got to take my CAR to Jarod, the service manager, for its BIG "checkup".  Sorry.  I didn't mean to confuse you.  (Just a little bit of my goofy humor, which has gotten much worse since I married John.  LOL)

Today is a professional development day at work, but we don't have any assignED professional development meetings here at the high school.  All we've had was a faculty meeting that lasted about 20 minutes, and then I dug into my classroom to CLEAN.  Whew...talk about DUSTY.  I'm almost finished with that, and then I guess I'll work on updating the rest of my Chaucer/The Canterbury Tales presentations.  Or I may go ahead and get a jump start on my online class for this week.  I think that is what I'll do. 

Mr. Reyes told me I could leave work about 2:30 so I can get an earlier start to Birmingham and get back before it's very late.  I told John last week that I wanted him to grill me a steak for Valentine's Day, but after I scheduled the time to drop my car off, I told him he could wait and do steaks later this week if he wanted to.  He never told me what he plans, so who knows.  I really do hope he does them tonight because I really want a steak.  I figure I should be able to be home by 6.

I'll have to go back to Birmingham tomorrow to pick my car up, but I won't be able to leave until about 3:30, and that means I'll get in the early part of rush hour.  I'm seeing a McDonald's hamburger or something similar for tomorrow night.  : /

John has already given me my Valentine's gift...he did that a couple of weeks ago.  He handed me a regular mailing envelope with "Happy late Valentine's Day" written on it.  I looked at him with a quizzical look and reminded him that Valentine's Day hadn't arrived yet.  He said he knew, but if he waited, the gift would be late. I opened the envelope and pulled out a receipt for tickets to see John Prine and Emmylou Harris at the BJCC Concert Hall on March 4!  So yeah, if he'd waited until then to give it to me, he would have been late for Valentine's Day.  I guess he could have waited and given it to me today, but the timing really doesn't matter to me.  (I have a friend who was furious at her husband because one of her Christmas gifts wasn't able to be delivered until AFTER Christmas one year.  And then it wasn't exactly what she wanted, so she told him to send it back.  Talk about ungrateful!)

Don't get me wrong.  I love holidays, but sometimes I think too much emphasis is placed on THE DAY.  Shouldn't we show our husbands or wives we love them EVERY day?  Why do we HAVE to have a special day to go all out?  I would just as soon have a $10 bouquet of flowers from Winn-Dixie or Wal-Mart on Wednesday, May 18th as I had have a $75 bouquet of roses from the florist on Monday, February 14th.  (And remember, those same roses will be $25 tomorrow...)

I need to get myself busy again.  Like I said, I'm almost finished.  Another 30 minutes or so and I will be done!  The question will be how long will it last?  **sigh**

Have a GREAT VALENTINE'S DAY!

Family time!

What a great day!  John and I took the nursery furniture over to Jess and Lance's today, and with Katy's help (she, Phillip, Sam, Molly, and Alex came down), Pop Pop and Lance got the baby bed put together, and then we arranged the furniture.  Jess is trying to get in touch with a lady in Birmingham who does custom bedding, but so far she hasn't gotten a response from her.  Once Jess can get the bedding picked out, I told her I would be more than happy to come over and paint the nursery.  I love to paint, and she said Kay does, too, so between the two of us, we could knock the nursery out in a day, maybe two.

Before we went to Jessi and Lance's and did the furniture, we ate lunch at Wayne and Kay's.  Wayne did his world-famous chicken.  YUM-O!!!  I enjoy spending time with them so much.  They remind me so much of my own family--just down-to-earth, nothing pretentious.  And they adore Jessi! 

Sam was having a blast riding the Gator with Molly and Alex.  Once they started riding him around, there was no getting him off.  I'm sure he wasn't a happy camper when it was time for them to leave.  That kid loves being outside more than anything. 

Now we're back home, and I'm still stuffed.  I don't think I'll need supper tonight.  If I have anything, it will be popcorn.

I think it's time to do some snuggling with my babies, so that's it for now.

Have a GREAT week!

Quiet Saturday at home

It's just been the pups and me at home today.  John went to take Sam a big boy bedroom suite, and he hasn't gotten home yet. 

It is so very hard to believe that our sweet baby Sam is almost 3...March 10th will be his big day.  The other day we were looking through the 2010 calendar Katy and Phillip had given us and were commenting on how much he has changed but how much he is still the same.  His face hasn't changed much, except to go from a baby's face to one of a little boy.  His smile, his sparkling blue eyes, his blond hair...Wow!  Where has the time gone?

I had planned on going with John to Katy and Phillip's, but after I looked at the HUGE pile of laundry, I decided it would be best for me to stay home and try to get it all done.  I hate laundry.  The pile has gone from huge to just large, but at least I'm seeing some progress.  How two people can dirty so many clothes in such a short time is beyond me.  One reason it piles up so much is because I am the worst about not doing a load every day or so.  If I would do that, it wouldn't pile up so badly.  But I hate laundry.  (Oh, have I already said that?  It's true though...I hate laundry.  Ok, ok...I've driven to point home.  I hate laundry.  Just had to say it one more time to make sure you know.)

We're going over to Jessi and Lance's tomorrow to take Sam's, now Layton's, nursery furniture.  Just like I can't believe that Sam will be three next month, I still can't believe Jess and Lance are giving us another precious baby boy in July.  Well, I can, but it still seems so unreal.  I, for one, cannot wait to meet this beautiful life God has graciously sent to our family.  Like Sam, this child will have more love than he will know what to do with.  I can't wait to spoil him, and I know Pop Pop will make him ROTTEN.  Poor Jessi and Lance will have such a rotten kiddo between Wayne, Kay, John, and me.  :)  I ordered Layton a pair of overalls so he and Pop Pop can be twins.  Jessi got them today.  Once Layton has gotten big enough to wear his (the smallest size I found was 9 months), I'll need to get Sam a pair, and then we'll have to get a picture with John and his two little buddies wearing their overalls.

I was thinking earlier about how much I wish Carl were still alive to see all of his precious great grandchildren.  Zac was born before he died, but none of the others were.  Zac was just a tiny thing (well, Zac was never tiny, but he wasn't quite a year old) when Carl died, but Carl doted on him.  He called Zac "Fuzz" because his hair stood out all over his head.  He would have doted over Will, Maggie, Landon, Gavin, and Sam (and soon Layton) just as much.  Maggie especially, being the only girl, would have had Paw Paw wrapped around her little finger!  :)

I guess that's about it for now.  In between doing loads of laundry, I've been reading, so I think I'll get back to my book.  Today has been SO gorgeous, but it hasn't been quite warm enough for me to get out.  The forecast for next week has us having temps in the 70s!  Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to get out and enjoy the spring-like weather?  Sadly, my students, Ashley (my intern), and I will be stuck inside.  **sigh**  At least with us having a late spring break, I should be able to enjoy a week of gloriously warm weather at the lake!  :)

In case you've forgotten, I hate laundry.  :)

Have a GREAT day!

Baby Caldwell...

Jess and Lance will be giving us a GRANDSON sometime around July 10th!!!!!!!!!!!!  They found out yesterday, and we are SOOOOO excited!  When I got home, I told John I had some good news.  (I knew Jessi had tried to call her daddy, but she said she hadn't gotten him, so I figured he knew.  I wasn't going to tell him if he didn't.  I did have more "fun" news, though...I didn't have to be at work until 9:30 because of snow.  LOL)

Anyway, John did know.  I asked him what Jess had said.  This was the conversation (according to John.)

Jess:  You're going to be a grandpa again.
John:  Well, I kind of figured that.
Jess:  But you're going to have another fishing partner.

I laughed and told him that even if the baby were a girl, with Lance as a daddy, she would probably be a fishing partner anyway.  That boy LOVES to fish! 

I am so excited to be able to buy some gender specific things now.  She hasn't decided how she wants to decorate the nursery, so I won't do anything like just yet.  But I will start buying up cute outfits!

Fortunately, she is doing EXTREMELY well right now with her pregnancy.  She said she still has days that aren't so great, but they have been manageable. I don't think she has been nearly as sick as Katy was, and for that, we are so very thankful!  I hope I don't jinx her by having said this.  :)

Now, Grana is going to go see what kind of cute stuff she can order for Layton (or at least that was the last name they were thinking of for a boy.  Isn't it a terrific name?)  I have an intern this semester, so I have some "free" time.  (Don't get me wrong...I have already redone all but one of my PowerPoint presentations for The Canterbury Tales, and I have started planning a virtual field trip to Canterbury for my seniors.)

Have a GREAT day!

Test correction afternoon

How to fail a test with dignity
(And yep, this would be my answer
on a math test.  hahahaha)

My seniors had their first BIG test last week. For several of them, the grades weren't that great, so I offered to let anyone who had 130/200 (65%) or less come in this afternoon to make corrections for half credit. Some of them have never had a test that covered SO much material, and none of them really knew what to expect in terms of HOW my tests are made out (even though I explain that there will always be multiple choice, usually matching, sometimes true/false, and ALWAYS a written section that MUST be answered in complete sentences.)


I had a few who asked if they could come in at a different time because of jobs, and being the nice person that I am, I agreed.  True, I could have told them they had to make arrangements with their bosses to either be late or to change their schedule, but I'm just not that kind of person.  I had three come in this morning during my planning, and two more are coming in tomorrow and Thursday.  This afternoon...TWO.  TWO students showed up!  No one else bothered.  So now my "dilemma" is do I allow those who didn't see me about coming at a different time to just show up whenever it's convenient for them?  I think not.  If it was not important enough to see me to make other plans, their grades apparently don't matter that much.  GRRRRR!!!  I do understand that they are teenagers and they have lives, but come on! 

What really makes me want to scream is that some of the very ones who NEED to be here right now will be the ones who are begging for me to give them "just 2 points" at the end of the semester.  What they don't realize is that "just 2 points" in the overall average is WAY more than "just 2 points."  Oh well!  I can only do so much.  Progress reports go out tomorrow.  Maybe that will help some of them see the light. 

The two who stayed are gone, so I think I'm going to pack up and head home myself, and I cannot worry about anyone who consciously refuses to accept my offers of extra help.  They will be expecting this same offer every time, but I don't make it every time.  I feel like the first test is an exception because it is the FIRST test.

Oh, I am STILL enjoying my Kindle immensely, but I would REALLY love to know who sent it.  John asked me again last night where it came from.  I think he thought I ordered it and was just telling him it was a mystery gift.  I told him I swore on all that I love and hold dear that I did NOT know where it came from.  :)

Have a GREAT day!

Don't cha just hate it when...

As I was tossing and turning the other night, I had a great idea for a blog post.  And now that I have time to write it, the great idea is long gone.  I should keep a note pad beside the bed so I can write down all of my weird dreams and great ideas.  :)

Today is an absolutely GORGEOUS day!  After a week of cloudy, rainy days, this one is such a welcome change.  But what are we doing?  Well, since I'm blogging, I'm obviously sitting inside.  LOL  Ali is snuggled up in my lap under the blanket, and Bama is snuggled up on the blanket next to me.  John is kicked back in the recliner.  In other words, we are being lazy on this Sunday afternoon.  That's pretty typical for us, though.  I think I'm about to shift these spoiled pups around and catch a quick nap before the Super Bowl later!

Have a GREAT day!  And GO PACK!!!

Can you solve my mystery?

I have a Kindle. 

I did not order a Kindle.

Yesterday, I got home and found a box from Amazon on the steps.  On Friday, I had ordered some videos for school, so I thought that maybe I had selected the wrong shipping address and they had been sent to the house instead of to the school.  I picked the box up to open it and noticed that the shipping label had a "warning" that a lithium ion battery was enclosed.  Huh?  My videos didn't have batteries with them!

When I opened the box, another box...a Kindle box...was inside!  OK...wait a minute...in all of my comparing Kindles on Amazon, did I accidentally order one?  No packing slip, so I'm quite sure I didn't.  I took it to the den, held it up for John to see, and said, "Did you order this?"  He was totally clueless.  He didn't even know what I had in my hands.  He swore he didn't order it.  So...who did?

Mom?  No.  She was my first thought, after John, but she says she didn't. 

Dad?  Ha!  He wouldn't know a Kindle if it slapped him upside the head.  (Remember, he JUST made his first call on a cell phone in December.  hahahaha)

???  I am bumfuzzled!

BUT whoever you are, I want to say THANK YOU!!!!  I was (still am) super stoked and excited!  I put The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest over on to it, and I downloaded another Greg Iles book.  I couldn't put it down last night.  I'm going to order a cover for it today (one with a light so I can read in the car at night.) 

Yesterday had been one of "those" days...just a yucky, dreary, tired Monday...but once I got home and found my surprise, all of the yucky Monday blues went away.  Again, THANK YOU!

I hope EVERYONE has a GREAT day!