Nightmares

So honestly....when I was teaching full time, and things would become pretty worrisome and stressful (like around state testing) I would start having nightmares about an event happening that I had no control over.  On the more lighthearted side of those nightmares, large "wild" animals such as rhinos, would come charging through the classroom walls and trample us all...nightmares based completely in reality I know :) While on the more serious side of those nightmares, I would wake up in the middle of the night as an angry student, or in my case of younger students, an angry parent, would come in and cause some sort of chaotic situation that would hurt my students or me.  When I would wake up to those more serious nightmares, I would try to remind myself that we practiced lock down drills that were meant to keep us as safe as possible in a school situation, and that in an elementary school I should be more concerned with natural disasters happening and making sure my students knew how to protect themselves by diving under their desks.

Then Sandy Hook Elementary School happened.  I watched the reports as they came in.  I read the stories about teachers and students that became heroes simply by surviving but also from stepping up into the role of helping others.  I tried not to focus on the negative and heart breaking parts...but how can my heart keep from breaking when I find out that many of the youngest in the school fell victim to such violence?  I retell myself about the teacher who, after hearing the 'booms' and 'screams' pushed her young students into the single person bathroom that was in the classroom and locked everyone in.  Have you ever attempted to keep a group of children in the dark, quiet and not squirming?  I have.  Not an easy task.  And here was a teacher who later said that she was pretty sure that this was the last thing that she and her students were going to do in this life, and when one of her children would voice their fears or begin to cry she would take their little face in her hands and tell them "I love you" among other positives such as they would all be alright - just so that would be the last thing they would hear instead of the terror that was happening around them.  What an amazing example she is to those little kids!  Because - I know that as a teacher I come to love the students I work so hard to teach.  I can believe that those we lost last week in such a violent and tragic way are having their faces taken in our Heavenly Father's hands and being told,

"I love you"

Tonight, on the reality show The Voice, the participants gave a very simple, yet touching tribute to those we lost.  I hope that the families and the community of Sandy Hook Elementary School will find some comfort and feel the love of those around the world who are with them in spirit as they face beginning lives without their loved ones.  

GPS and Me

Oh traffic.  How I loathe thee.  Friday afternoon, 3 o'clock, here in Bothell.  I guess I should have simply waited until rush hour was over, but I thought that I was awesome enough to fly through without having to pay the price for not leaving sooner.  I was all prepared to make the trek down south to Puyallup.  I should have known better and been ready to leave sooner.  But I got to enjoy one of the last nice sunny afternoons of the season, sitting in my car with the windows down and music going.  Now I have no need for using my GPS any longer to find my way to Puyallup...but I had it out and going to help "predict" my arrival time, which kept being pushed later and later.  I was on the final leg of the journey and had hit yet ANOTHER traffic snarl.  I mean snarl in that I was moving at speeds that were barely registering on my speedometer...when my GPS (with whom I have a shaky relationship with already) asked me:

"Would you like to switch to pedestrian mode?"

Umm...not particularly.  Thanks for rubbing it in.

...So yeah...I am ENGAGED!!!

Where oh where to begin?

It has been a summer beyond describing...but I am going to give it a try :)

I'll begin back in April.

I was excited to attend Bone Junior's big 3-oh Oscars Birthday Party!!! Sort of a "Welcome to My Box", Big Deal birthday, and I was NOT going to miss it. While there I was fortunate enough to hide away at Yanaj & Paul's until the big reveal, and it was during one of those talking times that I discussed with Yanaj my thoughts about online dating. I have been trying different ... um ... adventures? ... to diversify the odds of meeting someone. I had put a profile up on one of those sites last summer, but did not feel ready to commit by paying for its full services. Instead I let it sit and I would receive notices that this person or that had taken a gander at said profile, or messaged me and "wouldn't I like to sign up and connect with so and so?" I was able to ignore these blips for nearly a year. That is, until one person stood out among the rest. That is where my conversation with Yanaj comes in (which accurately went something like this):

HPLuvr: "...so Yanaj...I've been seriously considering trying the online dating thing..."

*nervous pause*

"does that seem too geeky?"

*rushing on to explain my thinking*

"Because I've been really thinking that its not like I go out bar hopping to meet guys...and there are nice guys in the singles ward, but not anyone I really see potential with...and I tried that singles cruise to Europe...and remember that REALLY LONG mid-singles campout awhile back? Scary! Anyways...I've come to the conclusion that meeting online is a great way as long as it doesn't remain online forever...because honestly...you have to physically meet to see if there is a spark...right? Sounds ok right? Will you be forever silently judging me for EVEN considering this?"

Yanaj: "Of course not. You should give it a go" (I may be paraphrasing here a bit...but you get the idea)

HPLuvr: "Oh good. *HUGE sigh* Because there is a particular guy that I think sounds interesting and I want to find out some more about him. I think I'm going to go for it..."

Fast Forward...nearly 2 months...yup...2 months! Apparently I still had some self talking into to do!

Little did I know that this decision would be so life changing...altering...rocking... :)

Nightmayr

Puyallup

28

Yup. That is about as much information as I had to go on :) well maybe a bit more...but it caught my eye and I went for it. That is I signed up and committed.

...and here is my secret...

He was the reason I signed up. We started out emailing back and forth. He was amazing with the words. It did not take me long before I realized that I wanted to meet this guy in person. It also wasn't long before we did :) and we made plans to meet...but even before the official first date came, his errands ended early one day...and we decided to meet up sooner. There were the usual "first time meeting butterflies" and "oh my gosh, what am I going to wear?" thoughts running around in my head. And that knock on the door was...well...you get the idea! I am so glad that I opened that door and began my last first date :)

To say the least, things moved rapidly...and I was enjoying the experience!

In fact, I knew fairly soon that this was the man for me...and I was pretty sure he was as into the relationship we were creating too! The third date, our mini road trip through Leavenworth, Wenatche, and Winthrop...on the Cascade Mountain Loop...was a pivotal date. I figured anyone willing to invest in an activity that had "no easy escape route" for that long (upwards of 12 hours!) was interested in finding out more about me! I knew I was excited!!! I planned a "20 Questions" grab bag to keep the conversation going. I may have planted a few important "I gotta know the answers to these" questions...you know those awkward ones that are difficult to work into a regular conversation...and he was willing to give honest answers.

This was also the date that I knew that this guy was someone special. He planned specific stops along the road trip that he knew I would enjoy...fresh apple cider...a quaint bookstore...all of which caught my attention (as if he needed anymore of it!)

From the beginning we spent as much time getting to know one another as possible. Chatting online....texting...his days off...mornings before he had to go to work. I was willing to selfishly claim that time! And eventually we began inviting the other into each other's lives. Meeting families, attending the other's ward...passing friend and feline tests alike :)

...participating in my silly schemes...

Batstaches

...things began falling into place...rapidly! We knew that we wanted to be together...officially. I "requested" to graduate from my singles ward rather than be kicked out, which meant that I told him :) that he had until December to propose. He teased me. Gave me a tough time. But the day we celebrated his transfer to day shift, he was celebrating himself knowing that he had just bought my engagement and wedding rings...and they spent the day riding around hidden in his car with us!

Although whether or not he was going to propose was no longer a secret...the when and how was. He found it a challenge to set up a time to talk with my dad and mom without me tagging along :) But he did! I did not have a CLUE that he had done it! Props to both him and my parents for their sneaky sneaky behavior...of which I underestimated :)

While I was at home getting ready for a noon Evergreen State Fair date with him...he was meeting my parents at a local park...showing my Mom my rings!

In fact...we did go to the fair. It was the fastest time through a fair to date! Little did I know why...until my suspicions were aroused with a requested return trip to the location of where we began our first date:) A beach park that on Labor Day was much busier than our first visit there. But no matter. We spread out a blanket and he handed me a gift. A pretty monumental gift! In which I admit, some laughs were had...and some "This is it!" thoughts were going on...and even some tears. I wanted to rush through to the end but didn't want to miss out on any of this experience that he had carefully orchestrated...in which he culminated with a little white ring box and an answer that I happily gave...YES!

March cannot come quickly enough...to marry this man that I still find hard to believe that I get to spend my life loving!

...mush...mush...I know:)

Happy Mother's Day!

Found this mother's day craft and thought,

 "What a cute idea...I wish I was young enough to still do crafts like this!" 

So to those who may feel they have someone in their life where it is age appropriate to do, have fun!

Romney Boys pay tribute to Ann Romney

Sharing some of their favorite memories...

Where are Obama's Ex-Girlfriends?

****U P D A T E****

Some random comment-er left me some links that "debunk" some of the following statements.  I agree that the information forwarded by this email seems to be sensationalism (to grab attention)...but I also still think there is something suspicious concerning birth records (did our President ever claim 'not' to be an American citizen?  Was he born in Hawaii and issued multiple Conneticut social security numbers?)  The debunking sites did not address these questions.  Along with law licenses...who knows, yet I think it is important to become knowledgeable about the politics of our country/state/city...especially enough to be active voters!

********

***From yet another political email I received recently.  I thought it brought up some interesting points.  I've always been of the belief that there is little to no seperation of a "political" life and a "personal" life.  If one is willing to do something in their personal life, then it foreshadows what they may be willing to do in their political life.***

"See if there's anything here you don't believe.


I  hadn't thought about this - but where are Obama's past girlfriends?  Surely he had at least one.  No past girl friends are popping up anywhere.  Strange - strange  to the point of being downright weird!


OK, this is just plain old common sense, no political agendas for either side just common knowledge for citizens of a country, especially American citizens,  who know every little tidbit about every other president (and their wives), that even know that Andrew Jackson's wife smoked a corn cob pipe and was accused of adultery, or that Lincoln never went  to school, or Kennedy wore a back brace, or Truman  played the  piano.


We are Americans!  Our media vets these things! We are known for our humanitarian interests and caring for our 'fellow man.'  We care, but none of us know one single humanizing fact about the history of our own president.


Honestly, and this is a personal thing...but it's bugged me for years that no one who ever dated him evershowed up.  Taken his charisma, which caused the women to be drawn to him so obviously during his campaign, looks like some lady would not have  missed the opportunity.


We all know about JFK's magnetism; McCain was no monk. Palin's courtship and even her athletic prowess were probed.  Biden's aneurisms are no secret.  Look at Cheney and Clinton - we all know about their heart problems. How could I have left out Wild Bill before or during the White House?


Nope... not one lady has stepped up and said, "He was soooo shy," or "What a great dancer!" Now  look at the rest of what we know... no classmates, not even the recorder for the Columbia class notes ever heard of him.


Who was the best man at his wedding? Start there. Check for groomsmen. Then get the footage of the graduation ceremony.


Has  anyone talked to the professors? Isn't it odd that no one is bragging that they knew him or taught him or lived with him.


When did he meet Michele and how? Are there photos? Every president provides the public with all their photos, etc., for their library. What has he released? Nada - other than what was in this so-called biography! And experts who study writing styles, etc., claim it was not O's own words or typical of his speech patterns, etc.


Does this make any of you wonder?


Ever wonder why no one ever came forward from Obama's past, saying they knew him, attended school with him, was his friend, etc? Not one person has ever come forward from his past.


This should really be a cause for great concern.  Did you see the movie titled, the Manchurian Candidate?


Let's face it. As insignificant as we all are... someone with whom we went to school remembers our name or face... someone remembers we were the clown or the dork or the brain or the quiet one or the bully or something about us.


George Stephanopoulos, ABC News, said the samething  during the 2008 campaign.  Even George questions why no one has acknowledged  that the president was in their classroom or ate in the same cafeteria or made  impromptu speeches on campus. Stephanopoulos was a classmate of Obama at  Columbia-class of 1984.  He says he never had a single class with him.  Since he  is such a great  orator, why doesn't anyone in Obama's college class remember him?  And, why won't he allow Columbia to release his records?  Do you, like  millions of others, simply assume all this is explainable - even though no one can?


NOBODY REMEMBERS OBAMA AT COLUMBIA


Looking for evidence of Obama's past, Fox News contacted 400 Columbia University students from the period when Obama claims to have been there, but not one remembers him.  For example,Wayne Allyn Root was (like Obama) a political science major at Columbia  who graduated in 1983. In 2008, Root says of  Obama, "I don't know a single person at Columbia that knew him, and they all  know me. I don't have a single classmate who ever knew Barack Obama at Columbia .. EVER!"


Nobody recalls him.


Root adds that he was, "Class of '83 political science, pre-law" and says, "You don't get more exact or closer than that.  Never met him in my life, don't know anyone who ever met him."


At our 20th class reunion five years ago, who was asked to be the speaker of the class? Me. No one ever heard of Barack!  And five years ago, nobody even knew who he was. The guy who writes the class notes, who's kind of the, as we say  in New York , 'the macha' who knows everybody,  has yet to find a person, a human who ever met him."


Obama's photograph does not appear in the school's yearbook, and Obama consistently declines requests to talk about his years at Columbia, provide school records, or provide the name of any former classmates or friends while at Columbia.


How can this be?


NOTE: Wayne Allyn  Root can easily be verified. He graduated valedictorian from his high school, Thornton-Donovan School, then graduated from Columbia University in 1983 as a Political Science major in the same '83 class in which Barack Hussein Obama states he was.

Some other interesting questions...

Why was Obama's law license inactivated in 2002?

Why was Michelle's law license inactivated by court order?

According to the  U.S. Census, there is only one Barack Obama - but 27 Social Security numbers and over 80 aliases!


WHAT!??


The Social Security number he uses now originated in Connecticut where he is never reported to have lived.  ***I thought Hawaii claimed him?***

No wonder all his records are sealed!

Somewhere, someone had to know him in school...before he "reorganized" Chicago and burst upon the scene at the 2004 Democratic Convention and made us swoon with his charm, poise, and speaking pizzazz.

One of the biggest CONS this country has ever seen, and he's getting away with it!  This is scary on many levels!  Makes me wonder..!"

Lipstick in Catholic School

According to a news report, a certain private Catholic school was recently faced with a unique problem. A number of 12-year-old girls were beginning to use lipstick and would put it on in the bathroom. That was fine provided it was of a natural or neutral skin tone, but after they put on their lipstick they would press their lips to the mirror leaving dozens of little lip prints.

Every night the maintenance man would remove them and the next day the girls would put them back. Finally the principal, Sister Mary, decided that something had to be done. She called all the girls to the bathroom and met them there with the maintenance man. She explained that all these lip prints were causing a major problem for the custodian who had to clean the mirrors every night (you can just imagine the yawns from the little princesses).

To demonstrate how difficult it had been to clean the mirrors, Sister Paschal asked the maintenance man to show the girls how much effort was required.  He took out a long-handled squeegee, dipped it in the toilet, and cleaner the mirror with it.

Since then, there have been no lip prints on the mirror.

There are teachers..... And then there are educators