Immigration Reform ?

This past weekend, I got into a minor discussion about the new Arizona law concerning illegal immigrants. I'm not a fan of the new law, but I wasn't able to properly communicate my feelings to the people in the room that felt differently. I found this post by Archbishop Timothy Dolan (late of Milwaukee) that states how I feel....http://blog.archny.org/?p=652

Blast from the Past

Tonight, while on Facebook, someone I used to date "chatted" me. You know, that little strip in the lower right corner that shows you who is online? I've avoided it like the plague, never chatted with anyone....it seems, so....90s. It reminds me of AOL instant messaging.

I hung in there...stayed on to see what was so important. Nothing. I got caught up on the past ten years of his life, he didn't ask one question about mine. Reminded me of one of the many reasons I dumped his ass so many years ago....

Gotta Love Spring

This is one of my favorite times of the year in my garden. The daffodils are all in full bloom....all different shapes and colors. Tulips are starting to bloom and iris' are beginning to sprout. One of my routines is to walk down the driveway (garden strips down both sides) and in front of our yard where the majority of the garden space is.

Almost time to put away the winter clothes....not quite.....it was in the 40's this weekend!

Only in Wisconsin....

Only in Wisconsin can you have sleety/slushy/rainy/snow one day and warm enough sunshine the next that the entire neighborhood is out for a walk! I am so pumped about spring I can't wait to get in my gardens!

To officially kick off the spring season, Megan and I went to the mall and both of us got a manicure and pedicure. She got wild/glittery blue with white flowers and mom got a sedate pinkish red. I even managed to get hubby to make supper. All is well in the kingdom.

Spiritual motivation sorely needed

To get more involved at our parish, I volunteered to teach Faith Formation class this year. Growing up Lutheran, we called it Sunday school and I believe my Catholic friends called theirs CCD (I have no clue what that stood for.) I converted to Catholicism in college and have been a Cathlolic now for almost 30 years.

Corey comes along to assist because if everyone shows up, we have 28 seventh and eighth graders! Some weeks I put in a lot of effort and don't feel I'm getting through to them at all. This week I didn't put in as much effort for our twice/monthly lesson and Corey's comment after class was "that went well." What!?! Were you in the same class I was?

The kids rarely participate and only read if I make them read. Seventh and eighth graders should be reading better than they do in class...although even I have difficulty with some of the words in the Bible etc. I try and switch it up--do something different every 30 minutes or so. I've also resorted to candy bribes so they bring their folders and to encourage them to participate.

Talk about a workout. I'm so drained when our time is up. Fatigued....mentally and physically.

Am I getting through? Do I force them to think? I hope so. Minimally, I hope our discussions and lessons incite discussions around their dinner table. I can't say I remember any of my Sunday school teachers from my youth, but as we have made our way through our lessons this past year, the Biblical stories came back. And as we slowly close out the year (only three classes to go), they are all tieing together.

I guess I need to be more like St. Francis who says in the Introduction to the Devout Life, “the proud man who trusts in himself has good reason not to attempt anything. The humble man is all the more courageous because he recognizes his own impotence. The less he esteems himself, the more daring he becomes because he places his whole trust in God.” I need to quit doubting and begin trusting in Him and perhaps our last few sessions will go well for all.

Blah Winter Blues

Despite the glorious sunshine, I feel guilty because all I want to do is lay in bed and read a book. When did kid's shoes get so expensive? Good Lord! In the past we've purchased Megan's shoes at discount box stores but this time she really wanted a pair of Sketchers....so off to Famous Footwear and Rogan's shoes we go. $39.99 for a pair of shoes that she will likely grow out of before she wears them out. Did manage to pick up my new specs and do some grocery shopping. Next I get to chauffeur Megan to a birthday party and hope to have the Chair Massage guys at the mall work out a few kinks. ;-)

Facebook

So while I've been stressed a lot by work lately, it hasn't been enough to blog about it. Facebook seems to be a nice distraction lately--its new and I want to check up on my 17-year-old as well as stay in touch with coworkers and friends.

It also has given me an opportunity to see what my world-traveling brother is up to as well.

What does my future have in store for me electronically? A 'crack'-berry? *gasp*

Black Friday

Not only were stores open on Thanksgiving, but some stores were open at midnight for the Black Friday sales. I didn't set the alarm, but was up early (which is typical for me). I showered and made it out the door by 5 a.m. To Walmart I was headed. There was an electronic item I wanted to buy for a Christmas present. Despite the store opening at 5 a.m. and my being on the road near Walmart by 5:20, imagine my surprise as I drove by to see the entire parking lot full with cars--not an open spot to be found.

I am not one for crowds and I certainly felt that in all of those vehicles, there wouldn't be one of the items I wanted to buy left. So I drove right on by and drove home. Plan B....begin work on sorting through the mess called my bedroom.

My husband and I live in an old Victorian home and we have a dressing room/parlor outside of our bedroom. It is packed to the gills with stuff. Mostly paperwork I have not dealt with because I am all about not dealing with things. I managed to put away my summer clothes and totally unpack my winter clothes. I also started to sort through the junk....old bill receipts, scrapbook items I've been saving for the girls, books, magazines, travel brochures and more books. I gave it a good effort but petered out early on. It sure is nice having a four-day (five for me with an added day of vacation) weekend!

Work Woes

Another morning where I wake up and cannot fall back to sleep after waking. So here I am at 4 a.m. watching Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (rerun) and am surfing the net and freezing my butt off because our thermostat is set back.

I say work woes because I am to the point of no return work wise. Over 100 e-mails I have not responded to and yesterday I didn't even get to my phone messages. So once this is published, I'll head into work and resolve some issues before the troops come in or start calling.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Hubby left for a four-day trip to Evansville, Indiana this morning and I already miss him. It is weird, because lately I just want to be left alone. No kids, no hubby, no anyone. But the moment he leaves, I get all busy and actually care about things around the house I don't normally pay attention to. I did a load of laundry, did the dishes, put away already folded clothes and had a tea party with my youngest daughter.

My typical evening consists of getting "sucked" into my Lazy Boy chair--watching TV and reading the paper until bedtime. Why is this? Why the Doctor Jeckel/Mr. Hyde?

Happy New Year

There is always something unique about the end of one year and beginning another new one. You put to bed your bad habits with the thought of banishing them forever and starting out new--fresh.

We read about people who this every day. They lose 50+ pounds, they quit shopping and were able to turn their finances around, or someone who quits their job and persues his/her dream.

Why can't all of us do this? Why can't some of us even get the dream off the ground? It isn't quite the end of the month yet so all is not lost. I just need to begin. Start small, work on it every day.

There is hope.

Tis the Season

One of the reasons I love the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas are all of the sappy programs on TV that remind us about the spirit of the season. I'm so grateful for my family and all the blessings I have in my life--I love to spend this time of year giving to others and being reflective.

We started off our season of giving by holding one of the balloons in the Milwaukee holiday parade. We held the gingerbreadman balloon. Today my oldest daughter and I are going to decorate trees at a nursing home and serving holiday cookies with members from our parish this afternoon.

The snow is coming down in big fluffy flakes right now. The holiday season is upon us.

Take Me Away Calgon!

Sure could you use some money to be ahead a bit instead of pinching pennies all the time lately. That's what I get for buying a new car. The peace of mind the new car buys me though is worth the penny pushing I guess.

Only three weeks until the election and I can't make up my mind. I've always voted Republican but I want a president that can lead change for healthcare that won't cost me more money or leave me scrambling for insurance. I need to do some research because I can't say I trust what I hear in these numerous commercials.

I need a nice massage--manicure and pedicure and then a few days off somewhere away from it all. The closest thing I'll get to that is a bubble bath.

Mood Most Foul

It seems of late I've been having "bad" moods. It doesn't take much to get me this way and I can't say I like myself when I'm so bitchy. My team avoids me at work (thankfully) and my family leave me alone.

What causes this? What brings it on? To make this two-day funk mood go away, I plan on going for a long walk (alone) tonight in hopes of dissipating it. As a back-up, I also made some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies--either should do the trick I'm thinking. :-)

My hubbie had several polyps removed today surgically, saying a prayer that the tests come back negative next week. It was a gorgeous day weatherwise, and nice to be away from work!

Mood most foul--be gone!

16 and Driving.....

....driving me nuts! At every opportunity she feels the need to drive by herself with my new 2008 PT Cruiser like it is her God-given right. My parents only let me drive when I had a band concert or had to play at a football game. And even then, I had to come straight home. Perhaps if I didn't have a new car, I wouldn't feel this way but I do. I have to remember that it won't be long and she'll be off to college.

Brain Fuzz

Have you ever had the kind of day, week, month where your ability to remember important things dies a slow death? It seems to have snuck up on me this summer but I've noticed that my ability to remember is proportionate with the amount of work I have on my plate--both at work and at home.

We just finished a 7000+ employee acquisition at work this summer and I coin this summer as the "summer from hell." Right about the time of the acquisition, my star employee got promoted to another team, another employee went out on short term disability and my least favorite employee left the company. The timing was awful. That left one employee and myself to do the work of 5 employees (we still haven't replaced an employee who left last winter), not to mention all the added work. Despite all of that, we managed. We're still not back to 100% workwise but we're slowly getting there.

Now on the homefront, my lovely teenager is in her busy season. Multiple AP classes at school, marching band, 4H and varsity volleyball. We have no life from now until the end of October.

Today my darling husband writes about labwork tomorrow and how he cannot drink his frustrations over not getting a job and it occurs to me--what labwork....remote work? I had completely forgotten he had his annual physical tomorrow as well as the insulation guys are coming to blow more insulation all over our old house. (We live in a historic home that is 118 years old this year.

I'm convinced my forgetfulness is due to stress. I really need to take some time to discover what is important and then strive to obtain it.

Time.....what a commodity.

Randy Pausch passed away

I was so saddened to hear that Randy Pausch passed away on Friday, July 25th. His book "The Last Lecture," as well as his video are so inspirational. What a positive individual. I especially feel for his children. Here is a link to an obituary at the Carnegie Mellon website http://www.cmu.edu/news/archive/2008/July/july25_pausch.shtml

My mother called me with the sad news--it cast a shadow on this sunny day.

Off to Camp

My "little" girl went off to the big city of Madison, Wisconsin today for State 4H Congress. I believe she will learn about other cultures, leadership, volunteerism, organization, government--all the qualities you want your child to have. Other than volleyball camp last summer, this is the first time where she has gone off on her own. I really am not comfortable with this!

And to add to my stress, it is almost 10 p.m. and I still haven't received a call from her yet!

Holy Cow Batman - an entire day without rain!

Well not officially--it was sprinkling when we got up this a.m. But actually, it only wet the pavement and stayed dry the rest of the day today. First day in over a week. The height of the Fox River has gone down...hopefully things around Waukesha can get back to normal.

Father's Day today. We spent the morning with my parents, wishing my dady a happy Father's day. This afternoon I visited dad's best friend Jim in the Waukesha hospital. Also bought ladderball for us to play when camping. We played a few games this evening while preparing supper (steak, asparagus and potatoes--nummy!)

The weekends go by entirely too fast around here. blah.

The Last Lecture

Although I haven't fully watched the online video of Randy Pausch, I finished his book "The Last Lecture" this weekend in a little over a day. Very inspiring book about taking the positive side of life in all things. I have much to learn, and I certainly was inspired.

Do a Google search for "The Last Lecture" or Randy Pausch and you'll find dozens of links.