Killing Time in Maine

I received a fun letter from Christopher, uh, Elder Faria, this week. As I read it Mom claimed, "He sounds just like you." Maybe that's why I thought it was so clever? Chris was killing time waiting for his companion to finish with his e-mail. The silliness was the result of viewing the screen saver at the library, repeatedly.

"I'm sitting in the UMF (University of Maine Farmington)library in front of a computer screen whose screen saver is a slide show featuring a stuffed beaver (UMF mascot I assume) in humorous poses throughout the library (i.e. checking e-mail, reading a book about trees, surrounded by a pile of tree books, looking down a "forestry" section aisle, etc.). Can't say I'm too impressed. Cosmo the Cougar probably eats rodents like this for breakfast. On a diet that is (it's too cute, almost cuddly)...

"The sad thing about this slide show is that there are only five pictures. I want to spike the mangy critter like a football in the end zone then proceed to execute an over-the-top victory dance and squish out its fluffy innards...

"Now I'm thinking about plucking out it's beady, plastic eyes, ripping out its felt buck teeth, sewing its tail to the back of its head and shooting hoops with it. (O.K., no more violence. Fake or not, this beaver deserves respect)...

"Why did UMF pick a beaver anyway? There aren't even that many beavers here. There's not many moose either, but that would be so much cooler. And more intimidating. A moose could put up a decent fight with a Cougar or a Mustang (his high school mascot), but what could a beaver do? Nibble at the ankles? Slap it with its tail? Chew a wooden spear and nibble the end for sharpness? That last idea might be crazy enough to work...

"P.S. Elder Gonzalez just finished! No more having to amuse myself by poking fun at a rodent-like inanimate object!"

I miss my baby boy!

Busy as a Boring Bee

I'm such a slacker about posting AND I seem to have forgotten that I own a camera. It seems my life is full of busy nothings that don't seem noteworthy or fun to read about. There's also the 300 lb. gorilla in the room that is been Steve's unemployment, six months now. The stress is "(insert swear words)" but who wants to read about that? (bleh!)

We're in the home stretch for the musical and the girls are incredible. They are totally keeping up with all their homework and don't complain. I think the fact that they sleep any chance they get helps a lot. (smile)

Mom and I took a few days to take Michael to UT to get him settled into his new life before school starts. Brittany even took the day yesterday to scour the town with him for jobs. I'm really happy and excited for him but I miss him! (sniff)

We arrived home Tuesday, I slept away most of Wednesday (?) and now it's Thursday. I have a YW's Fundraising Dinner to pull off tomorrow night for 200 people and I'm also substituting tomorrow. I'm thankful for the sisters who have stepped up and let me delegate a LOT of the grunt work. Now I just need to help the girls each come up with a silent auction item and dessert to auction off. It must be done today because I only have 90 minutes tomorrow between the end of school and the set up at the church. Then we're on to the Fundraising Garage Sale. (sigh)

Love you all! I think I'll glue my camera to my side so I can find some fun things to share.

Mrs. Faria's "Major" Story and Church Basket-Brawl

I've been substituting all this week in Special Ed., definitely not my cup of tea if it includes the sixth graders. Lunch time is rich. In telling your strange/funny experiences of the day it's a way of laughing at how absurd life is.

On Thursday Megan, the other special ed. teacher, was telling about a group of students coming in her class ridiculing their teacher. I guess they were trying to tell their classroom teacher that if she ever needed to take a day off they wanted a particular substitute. Megan said she couldn't understand the name the kids were trying to come up with and said, "I don't think I know who that person is." The group turned on her and dripping with scorn told her, "She's a major sub here and you don't know who she is?!" We all laughed and Megan went on to say that the kids were telling her that this sub was "way cool" and did this "peace out" thing. I immediately had to bury my face in my hands. Yeah, one day in the fourth grade a kid did a double fist bump on his chest to me and, without thinking, I did it back and followed it by kissing two fingers and flashing the peace sign (I'm so urban). I guess that makes me "major" cool and "hip." At least I can impress fourth graders.

CHANGING GEARS AND MOTHER MOMENT WARNING... I didn't want to publish a separate post because often I'm errant in reviewing previous posts to see if I've read everything. I just had to include I LOVE my daughters and their prowess on the basketball court. They are so fun to watch!

Yesterday was a continuation of our Stake Basketball tournament, and let me tell you this is serious "Church Ball, starts with a prayer and ends with a brawl" kind of stuff. Which it really shouldn't be but some people push it. My little girls are the two of the three oldest girls on the team (we lost some girls because they are on their school teams). The Faria Girls are average height, just an inch taller than Helen and the other girl is not much taller. Boy, what punch in those small packages! If Em and Al are on the floor together EVERYONE marvels at the intuitive way they can pass and work together. They were up against a dirty team yesterday, and I'm not just saying that because they lost (rare). Last week this other ward played so nasty there were injuries suffered by players on the opposite team, one girl is on crutches! The Stake YW's presidency had to send out a blanket e-mail reminding the wards that this isn't competitive ball and that sportsmanship is key... don't injure each other (I support this because we have no insurance!). I saw my daughter's faces and knew just when they switched gears and that they meant serious business. Emily launched herself into the air and I was thinking, "Basketball, not Football!" but she was merely swatting the ball away from a girl who had just, blatantly, fouled one of her teammates and hadn't been caught doing it. Allison? Girlie Allison? She was tripped and knocked to the ground and as she fell, yeah baby, she scored.

We've never been a competitive team sports family, mostly due to funding issues, but I'm proud that my girls are using their talents and are working hard AND are good sports in spite of all that swirls around them. Well, I have to add that after the game yesterday Emily said she wanted to leave quickly so she wouldn't have to cheer for the other team. Sadly I accommodated her (but so did the rest of the team, and the other ward didn't cheer either. so there). I attended the stake Girl's Camp mtg. this week I was approached several times by women I didn't know who all commented to me that their daughters knew who my daughters were and they loved them. One woman even told me her beehive daughter pointed them out to her and said she wanted to be like them (all this just from seeing them in basketball games). Yeah, I'm bragging but I like knowing that working hard and playing well WHILE turning the other cheek is noticed and appreciated.

The Family Sunday Six

I am enlisting the whole famn damily to help me out this Sunday.

Allison: I'm grateful that I'm in the musical at school because it's so fun... go Cinderella! (she enjoys the dancing and the thoughts of a ballgown)

Emily: I'm happy that the batteries in my calculator didn't give out until AFTER my math quiz! (precalculus? I'd be happy too)

Michael: Making plans to move to UT to find employment and get back into the swing of school (I'm happy for him but I'll miss him dreadfully... I know he's already planning on walking Sam for Marianne and is willing to sleep in the backyard since he's done the whole B.S. Freezeree thing)

Steve: I made it to DIA, SLC, Park City and back with NO problems (I'm grateful for that too)

Helen: I'm thankful for Steve's chance to go to Park City and interview for a job and that he came home safely (ditto)

Me: I'm grateful for so many things I can't even begin to know where to stop: modern feminine supplies, extra strength Midol, extra strength Excedrin, my pal Denise slipping me a few Firocet that have saved my life a few times this month, diet caffeine my Momma gets for me, my puppy Charlie always being so tail-wagging-yipping happy to see me when I've been gone even as short a time as twenty minutes, the Wii and having fun figuring out the problems in Boom Blox, a good night's sleep, Secret anti-perspirant, but mostly my beautiful family and the prayers so many have been saying for me and mine (thank you, sniff... really)

Ooo, red carpet time... ciao for now!

Thank You For Coming!

Well, it's been a while since I've written anything of substance and I'm so sorry. If you're reading this I'm thrilled you haven't given up on me!

Luckily I've been substituting quite a bit. I'd like to be busier with more jobs but I'll take what comes. I do love teaching! All next week I'll be a Special Ed. teacher at a school I love. I've covered for this teacher in the past and I know most of the students because I've been a sub in their homeroom classes too. I'm looking forward to it!

NEWS UPDATE: I just talked to Steve and he's preparing to board a plane to bring him home from SLC. He had an interview with a company in Park City. They've been trying to get him out there since mid December but have had to wait for "the powers that be" to sign off on things. It sounds like the interviews went very well and the people he spoke with all said they have a real need for experienced engineers. They even floated the idea of placing him in a group leadership position which I know he'd be great at. Sounds good, right? Now we wait for "the powers" to move again. I think if it were up to the people Steve spoke with today things would move much quicker.

I've been trying to live my life through hope, faith and gratitude. I have so many blessings I feel petty when I feel picked on. Prilosec helps a lot as does keeping busy. Take today for example. I've scrubbed bathrooms and crocheted more than half a baby blanket. I feel accomplished. Now if I could just figure how to keep my hair from falling out...?

I promise I will gather my thoughts and post more often. At least those are my intentions. Maybe I should quit while I'm ahead. After all I do need to finish that baby blanket.

NEWS ALERT....

There will be a "real" post coming this weekend (I am typing this from an elementary school library...). Thanks for your patience, if you've checked in.

Super Bowl???

What the @$##? Does anyone else think the referees in this years SuperSucker Bowl had blinders on? I don't feel very Sabbath so I'm signing off....

Happiness Is...

In searching for songs for the girls to use in musical auditions and concerts I ran onto an old friend, "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown." It comforts me to remember how easy it was to be happy once upon a time...

Happiness is finding a pencil, pizza with sausage, telling the time.
Happiness is learning to whistle, tying your shoes for the very first time.
Happiness is playing the drum in your own school band.
And happiness is walking hand in hand.

Happiness is two kinds of ice cream, knowing a secret, climbing a tree.
Happiness is five different crayons, catching a firefly, setting him free.
Happiness is being alone every now and then.
And happiness is coming home again.

Happiness is having a sister, sharing a sandwich, getting along.
Happiness is singing together when day is through,
And happiness is those who sing with you.

HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,
DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME TOO.
FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL
THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.