I Did It Myself!

 Lala inspired me - all that desire to accomplish daily tasks. Or discovering new things.

The sink in the bathroom has been a slow drainer for awhile now. According to "How to Sew a Button," some baking soda and vinegar would take care of the problem. Initially, it wasn't working. Then I read the rest of the instructions (which are laid out very simply... I've just a short attention span, apparently), which indicated that a pot of boiling water should be poured down the drain after the foam had subsided. Really, that part should have double stars next to it, because without it the process fails.

What new adventure will tomorrow bring? I can't even imagine.

Spring Is In the Air

In reading across blogland, it seems that spring is truly on it's way. Students are getting restless, the countdown to testing has started and some flowers may have been spotted around the corner. My school mailbox contained the annual "tell us what you're planning on doing next year" form... which means that RIF notices will soon be coming too. Since I'm still (!!!) at the bottom of the seniority list, it's my annual time to stress out about it and seek constant reassurance that "it won't be [you]". Although this year, I may feel a twinge of dissapointment about that one. Weird thing just keep happening, weird-scary things, and everyone is walking on eggshells. Or a little bit closer to running around campus screaming at the top of their lungs. Either one is equally probable.

A "friend" told me about a job opening in another district for the coming year. It would be a very different job, but with the possibility of a much lighter workload or a much heavier one. The job could go either way, I suppose, given the size of the district (miniscule). Part of me wants to send in a resume right now and another part of me is more than a bit scared about the changes it would require. I've become quite staid in my old age - I'm not big on change. (Also, packing - not fun). Plus updating my teacher file... when exactly does one get to stop doing that when seeking a job? Because it's been so long that I don't even own a computer that could read the disk the old information was stored on... it's been that long.

Spring Weather

Thanks to El Nino, we've had the mildest winter weather I've experienced since moving to this area. I've scraped my windows twice since Feb. '09 and it snowed only once. The kids didn't even have a chance to go out an play in it, because it was gone in an hour. Everything is blooming. Yesterday I was pulling up dandelion flowers from the garden... in February! I'm so glad I bought boots this year!

This whole week has been sunny and above 50 degrees. The kids are going nuts running around the year and playing with the slide. Lala has finally figured out how to use the trike. Seriously, you can't tell her  how to do anything - she has to figure it on her own or watch you do it. Since I can't "ride" the trike, she's been working on it for awhile. The cuddler has finally reached the point of where I can trust that he won't pick up everything on the ground and attempt to eat it (thank you!) and can walk well enough to maneuver on uneven ground without serious injury (the dog likes to dig).

While they ran around, I worked to prep the garden. Because the weather is pretty mild (read cold and wet, not fun to be outside in), everything keeps growing during the winter. During periods of nice weather, you can see some people out mowing in January. The weeds had started to take over my poor little fallow garden and spread their roots all over. You cannot believe the size of the roots under these dandelions. Fist-sized, with runners that stretch across the yard. And the damn morning glories... the bane of my existance. But maybe if I start weeding now, I'll be able to keep them under control come summer. Maybe.

Someone needs a visit to the eye doctor!

We all went up to a local children's museum on Monday. When I say a good time was had by all... I mean that two kids were busy every second for over three hours. The only time they were off exploring and building something was when we at lunch. It was a nice break in the activity before anyone got overloaded.

While we were having lunch, another mother was feeding her baby nearby. We started chatting about nothing in particular. Then she made a comment about the cuddler's hair color, which isn't a usual color. Then she remarked as to how both kids look so much alike except for their coloring. Luckily, I wasn't drinking anything, because I'm sure I would have choked. We all look so little alike that I have actually worried about having to prove that the kids really belong with me. I guess I don't have to worry so much, eh?

You Can Do Anything!

I forgot to mention - while talking with the cuddler's CW about the termination process, she said she was told to ask me if I wanted to adopt the cuddler's siblings (2 girls). I just stared at her. Seriously, a single mom with four children under the age of 6? It sounds like a Lifetime special. All the CW could say was "I was told to ask..." because they won't be adopted by their current foster care placement*.

I would love to be able to adopt those little girls, but doing it alone is not feasible. So, if you know of someone who'd like to get married in the next year to an overworked mom with a ready-made family and relatives constantly butting in, let me know. I know there are tons of those types of guys running around... like unicorns.

*The girls are currently placed with foster parents who are over the age of 60 - I won't say "well-over" to be kind, but sufice it to say that it's unlikely that if they did adopt the cuddler's sisters they would probably not live to see them graduate from high school.

Counting Chickens

Some times, during the journey, it's hard not to count your chickens before they hatch. You start planning your life - move here, buy this house, find that job, take the trip of a lifetime... and then you remember that you moving would be a huge paperwork pain in the &$%, a new job would just add more stress and how many tickets would you need for the trip?!!? And then you (I) get annoyed at the insecurity of this whole process. I know why it's like this and on an intellectual level somewhat understand it's need to be so, but it's still annoying!



Paperwork has been filed on the cuddler's biological parents. It may be a few months before the first court date and there is expected to be a fight or not... there are extenuating circumstances that could make it blow either way. In the meantime, the cuddler is chattering away and growing like a weed. He's finally figured out what to do with the train tracks and the trucks and cooks up a mean wooden steak with white onion. All the bottles were bagged up last week and we're pondering when to get him a toddler bed. (He's been attempting "crib break-outs" in the morning) He's getting older and more bonded to our family. I worry about what would happen if he was to return 'home'. Would he wonder why 'mommy' isn't there and where she is and where is Lala and Keavy and why isn't he going to the 'home' he's known longer than any other? Would he suffer pretty severe emotional repercussions? I worry more as each month goes by.

Sounds of Silence

I'll admit it. I'm a tv addict. As a true child of 70's I spent my Saturday mornings engrossed in cartoons and all of my evenings watching a strictly scheduled repertoire of sit-coms, variety shows and dramas. Every Saturday night was spent watching Lawrence Welk (wonerful, wonerful), Hee-Haw and the Irish Rovers. Sunday nights was Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdome, Jacque Costeau and Disney. Every day I would wish and hope that that was the day that Ms. Florence would see me in her magic mirror. She never did and I'm still disappointed to this day.

However, just because I'm a tv addict does not mean that my kids should be. Plus, I know it makes sound like an old fogey, but television is not as good as it was back then. Only drunk people sing, animal shows are all about blood and gore and cartoons no longer have story lines. Well, except Handy Manny. So this month's habit is to turn off the TV. Given that it could rain heavily every day this month, it may be impossible, but we're giving it a go.