But we need 6!
Good news 1: Keith is now back to work. He's on a shut down at a refinery. Sucky part I is that it's night shift. Sucky part II, I think his first night off is in 14 days. Sucky part III is that he will be working minimum of 10 hour shifts. But all of those sucky parts outweigh no work, so we will take it.
Good news 1 1/2: I think our new mortgage is almost approved.
Still needed good news:
1/2: definite approval of new mortgage.
3: we sell our house
4: our offer for the woolwich house is accepted
5: moving goes easy
6: my contract gets settled
As for #3, Keith's mom bought us a St. Joseph statue to bury in the ground upside down. It helps sell your house. Have you ever heard of this before? We didn't. But not surprisingly, I wouldn't, not being Catholic and all. I know there is a saint to pray to for finding lost things, and I heard about putting the blessed mother in the window for good wedding weather. But not this. So when she told us she was buying us the statue, we thought we were getting a STATUE that we would have to bury in the ground. STATUE = big. Can you try to imagine burying a big statue in the ground, none the less, especially with all this snow that we still have. Boy! Guess what, it's only 3 inches tall. Thank goodness.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
old habits stay with you
Keith's mom tells the story of when Keith was a little boy getting dropped off for school. Everyday he would ask his mom what she was doing that day and where would she be going. Seems kind of protective don't ya think? It hasn't been until recently that I noticed Keith pulls a similar interrogation with me. However, the distance is extreamly shorter. After sitting on the couch for a little while, I like to get up and go into the office, or I like to brush my hair, or I simply need to use the bathroom. You can bet, within two steps from the couch, Keith is asking me where I am going. Like really? Isn't that weird? It's not like I am planning on running away, or like he can't follow me with his eyes to my destination. The couch is in the center of the house on the 2nd level. I am within viewing at all possible times. By, he can be funny!
So what kind of habits have followed you in life. I know I still bite my nails but I'm not talking about that stuff. Weird stuff that you have programed into your head.
So what kind of habits have followed you in life. I know I still bite my nails but I'm not talking about that stuff. Weird stuff that you have programed into your head.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
I like to Move it Move it
I just got done playing a new Wii game Just Dance. I like it and I had fun playing. Keith says I look dumb doing it. So do all the people on YouTube performing the dances. So far I've done 10 short versions of songs and I'll tell you, it is a cardio booster. I was sweating by the third song. If you like to just have fun with it, I totally reccomend. However, scoring seems off as my moves were read as misses. We even have the Motion Plus remotes. Whatever. And get this. You know the Family Guy episode where Peter is obsessed by singing "Bird, bird bird. Bird is the word." I totally thought they made that song up. Nah, it's a real song. Go figure!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
High in demand
This weekend is the first weekend in some time where mother nature hasn't threaten us. So it isn't any surprise that people are out and about. We have had 6 invitations to go out with our friends and family within 5 hours of time. Crazy. Unfortunately, we accepted on a first come first served basis without really knowing who was going to call. We are not at all trying to say we are popular and have more friends than you. Not at all. I just find it extreamly ironic and the math geek in me finds it low in the probability sense. You know what I mean? But anyway, it is nice to have friends & family that care for you and would like to spend quality time with you.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Snow Woes
Ahhh. So she hit us again. That mother nature! Ironically, I assigned a project to my kids this year to create beautiful snowflakes from rays, lines, and segments. They then had to measure all the angles and write a letter to Jack Frost begging him to let us have a snow storm. Do you think he listened?
This last strom, although less in accumulation, was harder for every thing is stuck too. And boy did it stick. It was clinging to our power lines and trees. Keith would knock it off the cables every few hours in prevention of keeping our electric. However, it still went out last night for over three hours. Our heat was dropping 2 degrees every hour. We have three of our own trees that fell, but luckily it was over the lake and not on the house or cars.
Today was another day off from school. I'm hoping for a delay opening tomorrow. And then we are off Monday again for President's Day. But get this... snow is in the forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday. Get another batch of milk, eggs, and bread!
This last strom, although less in accumulation, was harder for every thing is stuck too. And boy did it stick. It was clinging to our power lines and trees. Keith would knock it off the cables every few hours in prevention of keeping our electric. However, it still went out last night for over three hours. Our heat was dropping 2 degrees every hour. We have three of our own trees that fell, but luckily it was over the lake and not on the house or cars.
Today was another day off from school. I'm hoping for a delay opening tomorrow. And then we are off Monday again for President's Day. But get this... snow is in the forecast for Tuesday into Wednesday. Get another batch of milk, eggs, and bread!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Official Big News
Nope... not what you're thinking.
But, we did put our house up for sale today. We recently found a house in the country that we LOVE! Definately a place to raise a family. So please send your prayers and well wishes our way so that we can get our house sold, so we can purchase this new home. Fingers crossed!
But, we did put our house up for sale today. We recently found a house in the country that we LOVE! Definately a place to raise a family. So please send your prayers and well wishes our way so that we can get our house sold, so we can purchase this new home. Fingers crossed!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Yeah I know
So it's been a while, again. Sorry... sue me. But it's not like anyone really noticed.
What have we been up to?
Just pretty much day to day things. Keith has been working on the house by fine tuning some things on the "hunny do list". He is still out of work. I have been teaching my classes. And I started my new class... Geometry. My professor asked me to teach the class in a few weeks. Still working without a contract so I have been home by 2:45 which is really sweet. Besides, all the kids stand you up anyway when they ask for extra help or to retake a class. Which leads me to my rant.
I really have been thinking about our education system. Or maybe just the methods my school runs. I feel my students are getting too many chances to fail. For example I give my students a hands on lesson with triangles, do it again in traditional format, assign CW, then HW, then a quiz, then a test review, then a test. Pretty much how it was when I was in school except with the hands on stuff. Now, when the kid fails the test, they can retake it again to get a better score. Here's the kicker... it has to be after school with you, which means you donate your time (without a contract). Then they fail the test again. Ok... so they are put into a 9th period tutoring class where they learn the material again. They are given another test, much easier and basic this time, and then they fail again. They end up failing the year, get put into summer school, and the teacher is told "Do whatever you can to get these kids to pass." Guess what... they pass. Then the kids take the state test and fail. They take it again and fail again. Then they take special tests to see if they know the concepts and while waiting for their scores, they take the state test for a 3rd time. How many times is it going to take for them to pass? I asked some of my kids this and they had a good philosophy about it. Why should they worry about it once, when they can do it again? Why should they worry about the second time, when they can take it a third? My big question... when is the responsibility going to be put onto the students again? It has not been that long since I was in school. However, if a student decided not to do the work, then they earned a failing score. They did not earn the chance for do-overs. Can you believe that in meetings, we are told kids aren't doing their projects so that means we shouldn't do projects. Recently, we were told they are not doing their HW. So no HW? Really? What's next? Quizzes? Tests? Good grief.
What have we been up to?
Just pretty much day to day things. Keith has been working on the house by fine tuning some things on the "hunny do list". He is still out of work. I have been teaching my classes. And I started my new class... Geometry. My professor asked me to teach the class in a few weeks. Still working without a contract so I have been home by 2:45 which is really sweet. Besides, all the kids stand you up anyway when they ask for extra help or to retake a class. Which leads me to my rant.
I really have been thinking about our education system. Or maybe just the methods my school runs. I feel my students are getting too many chances to fail. For example I give my students a hands on lesson with triangles, do it again in traditional format, assign CW, then HW, then a quiz, then a test review, then a test. Pretty much how it was when I was in school except with the hands on stuff. Now, when the kid fails the test, they can retake it again to get a better score. Here's the kicker... it has to be after school with you, which means you donate your time (without a contract). Then they fail the test again. Ok... so they are put into a 9th period tutoring class where they learn the material again. They are given another test, much easier and basic this time, and then they fail again. They end up failing the year, get put into summer school, and the teacher is told "Do whatever you can to get these kids to pass." Guess what... they pass. Then the kids take the state test and fail. They take it again and fail again. Then they take special tests to see if they know the concepts and while waiting for their scores, they take the state test for a 3rd time. How many times is it going to take for them to pass? I asked some of my kids this and they had a good philosophy about it. Why should they worry about it once, when they can do it again? Why should they worry about the second time, when they can take it a third? My big question... when is the responsibility going to be put onto the students again? It has not been that long since I was in school. However, if a student decided not to do the work, then they earned a failing score. They did not earn the chance for do-overs. Can you believe that in meetings, we are told kids aren't doing their projects so that means we shouldn't do projects. Recently, we were told they are not doing their HW. So no HW? Really? What's next? Quizzes? Tests? Good grief.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
New wii games
Wii Fit Plus - Awesome! Better than the orignal. Has more exercises and a bunch more games. Also, you can customize your own work outs by targeting areas of the body. Body tests can be done in less than 2 minutes!
NHL 2K10 - Not bad. Very different than the PC version. Currently using the motion plus to gain more excitment.
Super Mario Bros - Cool. Somewhat similar to the 90s version. Gets a bit confusing on who is which player. We went through two worlds in two hours. A bunch of fun. One complaint: my thumb hurts.
NHL 2K10 - Not bad. Very different than the PC version. Currently using the motion plus to gain more excitment.
Super Mario Bros - Cool. Somewhat similar to the 90s version. Gets a bit confusing on who is which player. We went through two worlds in two hours. A bunch of fun. One complaint: my thumb hurts.
Friday, January 1, 2010
2010
"What did you do in the last decade?"
Kim
Got my driver's license
Owned three cars: 85' 5th Ave, 92' Explorer, 08' Versa
Voted
Graduated High School
Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics
Began Graduate School
Held one part time job in a bakery, one full time job in retail, and finally became a teacher.
Started drinking at 21
Gambling in AC
Got married (twice - to the same guy)
Lost some family members, and more shockingly friends in death
Vacationed at the shore, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Jamaica
Keith
Owned four cars: the green one, the black one, now the gray one and a green truck
Graduated High School
Associate Degree in Drafting and Design
Apprenticeship with Steam fitters
Awarded high grade average from the Steamfitters
Worked for Old Navy, then the fitters
Started drinking at 21
Gambling in AC
Got married (twice)
Lost some friends in death
Gained new family members
Bought a house
Renovated the house
Vacationed in the Bahamas, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Jamaica
Kim
Got my driver's license
Owned three cars: 85' 5th Ave, 92' Explorer, 08' Versa
Voted
Graduated High School
Bachelors of Arts in Mathematics
Began Graduate School
Held one part time job in a bakery, one full time job in retail, and finally became a teacher.
Started drinking at 21
Gambling in AC
Got married (twice - to the same guy)
Lost some family members, and more shockingly friends in death
Vacationed at the shore, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Jamaica
Keith
Owned four cars: the green one, the black one, now the gray one and a green truck
Graduated High School
Associate Degree in Drafting and Design
Apprenticeship with Steam fitters
Awarded high grade average from the Steamfitters
Worked for Old Navy, then the fitters
Started drinking at 21
Gambling in AC
Got married (twice)
Lost some friends in death
Gained new family members
Bought a house
Renovated the house
Vacationed in the Bahamas, Las Vegas, Hawaii, Jamaica
Saturday, December 26, 2009
I don't want to wake up
"I don't want to wake up"
written by Kim, age 11, 1994
sung to the tune of Toys R Us jingle
I don't want to wake up
I'm a Sleeps R Us kid
There's a million beds at Sleeps R Us that I can sleep on.
From hard to soft and even water beds
How can I really choose?
I don't want to wake up
because if I did,
I wouldn't be a Sleeps R Us kid.
written by Kim, age 11, 1994
sung to the tune of Toys R Us jingle
I don't want to wake up
I'm a Sleeps R Us kid
There's a million beds at Sleeps R Us that I can sleep on.
From hard to soft and even water beds
How can I really choose?
I don't want to wake up
because if I did,
I wouldn't be a Sleeps R Us kid.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
yesterday... happy birthday keith
haha. keith is 28. 2 more years til he's 30!!!
he reminds me that I will be 28 one day. although very true, he will be 29 turning 30. so my 28 will not be nearly as life rattling as his 30.
for his celebration, we went to dinner at the tuscan tavern. our service was GREAT! our server gave us an extra appetizer since there were 4 of us. keith's dessert was free. and we were given 4 shooters of baileys, vodka and other stuff for free. nice!
he reminds me that I will be 28 one day. although very true, he will be 29 turning 30. so my 28 will not be nearly as life rattling as his 30.
for his celebration, we went to dinner at the tuscan tavern. our service was GREAT! our server gave us an extra appetizer since there were 4 of us. keith's dessert was free. and we were given 4 shooters of baileys, vodka and other stuff for free. nice!
Saturday, December 19, 2009
two hours left
of bizzard 2009! Whoa take a look at these pictures.
Solar lights that first accumulated on the tops, then the snow eventually filled up from the ground.
Our grill on the back patio.
I thought my car was black!
Keith's car. Mind you, we scrapped off the cars three times today.
We started off the day with Katie. We puppy sat while Keith's parents we at a party. When we woke up, there was already 3 inches of snow. Watching the news, we saw there was much more to come. So we bundled quickly, packed Katie's stuff in a bag, and drudged through the snow to the 1/2 mile walk (driving would be too dangerous). Katie had no intentions of walking at all. She ran the entire way! With four extra inches added to my thighs I could not keep up.
We had breakfast at Keith's parents, and Mother Nature dumped 3 more inches on us. Keith and I then walked home.
During the day we spent a lot of time in the kitchen. We made chilli, bread pudding with rasphberries and cherries, and cranberry coconut cookies.
Solar lights that first accumulated on the tops, then the snow eventually filled up from the ground.
Our grill on the back patio.
I thought my car was black!
Keith's car. Mind you, we scrapped off the cars three times today.
We started off the day with Katie. We puppy sat while Keith's parents we at a party. When we woke up, there was already 3 inches of snow. Watching the news, we saw there was much more to come. So we bundled quickly, packed Katie's stuff in a bag, and drudged through the snow to the 1/2 mile walk (driving would be too dangerous). Katie had no intentions of walking at all. She ran the entire way! With four extra inches added to my thighs I could not keep up.
We had breakfast at Keith's parents, and Mother Nature dumped 3 more inches on us. Keith and I then walked home.
During the day we spent a lot of time in the kitchen. We made chilli, bread pudding with rasphberries and cherries, and cranberry coconut cookies.
oh christmas trees
Keith and I have two Christmas trees. I know, its crazy. But it is awesome. Since we hang out in the upstairs of the house, we have a tree there to enjoy. Then our other tree is down stairs for when we have company. Out up stairs tree is our "family" tree. You know, the tree with all kinds of funky ornaments and color lights. The downstairs tree is the "department store" tree. Its all gold and white. Now before you start thinking two trees are expensive I gotta let you know, I bought both trees at Goodwill 5-6 years ago. Can't beat a $13 tree!
downstairs
upstairs
downstairs
upstairs
Thursday, December 10, 2009
december updates
it's that time of year when I don't even have enough time to capitalize the first letter in a sentence! Updates...
Keith
Designing bikes on CAD
Being an excellent "House Husband" - he is so involved with cooking. It is amazing. I'm going to build him a trophy... Trophy Husband, get it?
installed the hardware on the new kitchen cabinets
has a very long beard again
birthday coming up
upset the flyers weren't doing as well
Kim
Finished the semester of grad school with two A's. Taking geometry next semester (gonna be a breeze).
read two novels
getting midterms ready for work
playing on the wii again
K^2
Christmas shopping - yes we were out black friday
Exercising on the elliptical
decorated the house for the holidays - 2 trees
decorated the yard
Army/Navy game in philly this weekend
Made two batches of pizzelles.
Katie sitting next week
Keith
Designing bikes on CAD
Being an excellent "House Husband" - he is so involved with cooking. It is amazing. I'm going to build him a trophy... Trophy Husband, get it?
installed the hardware on the new kitchen cabinets
has a very long beard again
birthday coming up
upset the flyers weren't doing as well
Kim
Finished the semester of grad school with two A's. Taking geometry next semester (gonna be a breeze).
read two novels
getting midterms ready for work
playing on the wii again
K^2
Christmas shopping - yes we were out black friday
Exercising on the elliptical
decorated the house for the holidays - 2 trees
decorated the yard
Army/Navy game in philly this weekend
Made two batches of pizzelles.
Katie sitting next week
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Getting set for a new year
Keith and I have really wanted to get an elliptical. Our plan was to run until the weather would not let us anymore. Well, that soon went out of the window after our honeymoon. Except for me, well kind of. I did go to the resort gym... once. Well I have noticed a few extra pounds. One reason lack of exercise, second reason, driving four hours to/from class, then another six siting in class. Unfortunatly getting your masters makes you unactive. The weather now is officially not good for running and black friday is days away. We thought about waiting for this time to be serious about buying an alliptical. Today we went through the Sunday ads and the black Friday sales. We went to two sporting goods stores and found one at each that are great. At one, a 15" flat screen DVD player with stand came for free with the ellipitcal. For the same price, you just got the ellipitcal. Well, I went to the manager of the second store (the one with no free TV). I told the manager, "Hey, we like this ellipitcal. There is not much difference to the other one we are looking at. Price is the same, warranty is about the same, but we get a free TV. Is there anything you can do to reduce this price?" Guess what, I got 20% knocked off, and additional 3 year warranty. We didn't really need the TV. We already have a big one in the downstairs living room anyway. So moral of the story, talk to the manager to get discounts while holiday shopping. If you tell them you are going somewhere else, they can swing you discounts that may honor a damage, friends & family, or even an employee. I challange you to negoiate.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Public Restrooms
What is it with people that they feel it is okay to leave their bodily waste in a public toilet without flushing. I mean c'mon. Only a toddler learning to go potty should have difficulty in this. Yet while I am in grad school, a place with highly educated individuals who know how to use the toilet, it happens at least in two stalls. I just don't get it. Especially in a ladies room! What is lady-like about that? GROSS! Working in a high school where students do not have much consideration for others I get it. But are they waiting beside the stall for an unsuspecting visitor to grimace away. No. So what is the big deal? And speaking on that level, who poops in public? You know there is someone else in the restroom who can smell your smelly butt. Em-bare-ass-ing! Get rid of it. Give a curiosity flush then flush the rest. Grrrr.
being fat
Keith: "Chocolate covered cherries are coming out soon."
Kim: "I know. I was thinking that the other day. Mmmmmm. Queen Annes."
Keith: "You're such a fat kid."
Kim: "Why am I a fat kid?"
Keith: "You look forward to certain holidays just for the candy they produce. Christmas - Queen Annes. Easter - Cadbury Creame Eggs."
Kim: "Hey, so do you. You're a fat kid."
Keith: "I am a fat kid. But it's different for you. I am an outter fat kid. You're an inner fat kid."
Kim: "I know. I was thinking that the other day. Mmmmmm. Queen Annes."
Keith: "You're such a fat kid."
Kim: "Why am I a fat kid?"
Keith: "You look forward to certain holidays just for the candy they produce. Christmas - Queen Annes. Easter - Cadbury Creame Eggs."
Kim: "Hey, so do you. You're a fat kid."
Keith: "I am a fat kid. But it's different for you. I am an outter fat kid. You're an inner fat kid."
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Ghosts
Every Wednesday I torture myself and watch Ghost Hunters on the syfi network. It's torture because I am deathly afarid of ghosts. I am warning you now... do not haunt me when you die. Anyway, the hunts are very interesting to me. On tonight's show, they were investigating the haunting of a cat. This seems weird to me. How can a cat be a ghost? So I googled and went to ask.com. Evidently, it is not rare for pets to haunt, especially if their death was tragic and unexpected. Insert cruel joke here: I guess the cats lost count of their lives. The research also suggests since dogs, cats and horses have souls, they may come back as a spirit. Has anyone ever experienced their pet as a ghost?
Monday, November 9, 2009
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