Not Me Monday/Crafting FAIL

I did NOT decide yesterday that I need to be more domestic (getting back to the original roots of this blog!) and decide to try a simple quilted pot holder as a birthday present for my friend. Cutting out the fabric went well. Piecing it went reasonably well (this is usually my downfall for quilted projects of any kind so I was stoked). I went to the fabric store after work today to get some of the special heat resistant batting that does on the inside. I did NOT panic when the lady asked me how much I wanted and panic and say "Two yards". Two yards will NOT make approximately 28762 potholders. If you feel like making a quilted potholder, you should NOT stop by and help yourself to my special heat resistant batting. I came home and sewed the potholder together. I did NOT accidently sew the quilted top inside out so that all the seams are showing. I did NOT have to pick it all apart painstakingly. I did not NOT sew it all over again on to discover this time that the batting was now on the OUTSIDE and the blue fabric which was intended to be on the bottom was in the middle. I am NOT giving up for the evening. *Sigh* I'm so not domestic...

Some things never change

Overheard in first grade classroom: C: Hey, A. Spell ICUP. A: I-C-U-P C: You see me pee? Gross!!! I remember telling that joke myself. Glad it's still alive and kicking.

so I'm a creepster

But I had to document my neighbor's making a full blown gym in their front yard last weekend. Considering our yards are the size of postage stamps it was fairly ridiculous. As if it wasn't bad enough seeing all of the squats and lunges... See that blue scooter on the middle of the sidewalk? They were laying with it on their stomachs and propelling themselves along like beached whales.

Isaac and I spied on them and mocked them for the whole two hours or so they were out there (and yes, I realize I will probably be going straight to hell, since the last time I did a lunge was probably over a year ago).

thank goodness

And a Friday. =)

Something like that anyways.

Mid-May I am making my escape.

Isaac and I are going here:

and here:
and staying here: I've got to get a change of scenery and a few days off of work or I am going to lose it. Go big or go home, right?

blah

I'm uninspired to blog lately.
I feel extra chubby. Which makes me feel ashamed and gross. Which makes me feel depressed. Which makes me want to eat.
I'm dealing with a huge workload and several extremely stressful work situations. I'm struggling with leaving work at work emotionally and in terms of workload. I'm trying to set better boundaries with it.
I can't decide if my new jeans are really comfortable or if they are "mom jeans". I can't believe I might be old enough to accidently buy mom jeans. If this is the case, someone please do an intervention.
My old nieghbor called me up and gave me two huge bags of brand name clothes and shoes in fabulous condition. This woman has clothed Isaac since he was a baby. I'm so lucky.
She lives right across the street from my old house. I wonder if I will ever be able to drive past it without welling up with tears that someone else is in MY house.
They cancelled the early dismissal the kids were supposed to have Friday.
My house is in a perpetual state of CHAOS (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). It's getting really embarassing. I'm staying on top of the dishes and that's about it.
As we speak PDH is at the Bon Jovi Concert that I bought tickets for us Christmas. I lost custody of my ticket when I iniated the break-up. I had been looking forward to that concert for, literally, months. But I wasn't about to shell out more money for more tickets. Grrrr....

At least spring break is next week!!!

I can't stop listening to this...

It's fabulous

shout out

to my faithful reader in Chambersburg PA! I don't have any idea who you are, but I see you reading all the time. I'm glad there is something here that keeps you coming back, whatever that may be.

Also, a big hello to my European reader who googles me by (blog) name.

I'm so humbled that you guys are reading (whoever you are) that I thought you deserved your own post!

(Also, I am trying to avoid going to sleep, because if I stay awake it's still the weekend, but if I go to sleep, it's Monday... booo...)

ugh

Online dating sites are a complete waste of time and money. The Mormony ones especially make me a bit nauseous. I don't want to check a box that qualifies my church attendance (although I did giggle at one that said "I go as long as it's after 9:00"). I feel like all of the guys on there are soooooooo old. Ones screenname was "Newwidower". And then there is the man with the handlebar mustache... Not sexy... I don't want you to "wink" at me. Oh and this statement is a real winner too "I was looking for a new cell phone. Just got that, now I'm looking for a wife". *Gag* Maybe I'll just buy another cat.

announcement

I have the best parents in the world. That is all.

A wise woman once said "Shoes are like girlfriends... you can never have too many". Which is great cause I have tons and tons of shoes. I thought this was a fun meme, and since I am incapable of creating posts that aren't about dating or puke I figured I would go for it.

These are a great old standby. I got them about four years ago when we went into the city for one of those single mingle conference things. During the day we did a hardcore service project cleaning trash out of fields in North Philly. I brought clothes to change into before the formal dinner/dance later that night but realized I didn't pack shoes-- I only had my filthy sneakers. I wandered around University City until I stumbled into a little hole in the wall shoe place and bought these for around 19 bucks. They are so fun (although even after all of these years I haven't *QUITE* got the hang of walking on the kitten heel). These were new this past year. They are actually Jessica Simpson; believe it or not her line has some pretty fab shoes. I usually wear them with jeans to get into "hot mom" mode.

I've had these forever too. They are kind of furry. My sister and I both bought a pair on a marathon shopping trip to my favorite store in the world (whose name sadly escapes me currently... what the heck??? that big store in the Gallery Mall.... the discount department store.... what the heck? I'm having a senior moment... sorry).

BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY! Whew! That's it.

These are from Target. I love to wear red, white and blue. These are from Kohl's. Cute with black tights.

You wouldn't think you could combine snake skin, tweed and embroidery and have it look remotely cute, but somehow these shoes do it. When my mom, sister and I were shopping at the outlets last year, I saw these and drooled over them but decided I couldn't afford them. My mom and my sister ended up seeing them the next day at the outlets in Lancaster and surprised me by getting them for me. I know what you are thinking. "Lisa, these shoes are all fabulous, but come on now. You're a soccer mom and you teach autistic kindergarteners. You're not strapping on stilettos everyday!"

True.

Here's a random smattering of what I wear to work about 75% of the time. These colored slip on shoes come in a variety of colors. I usually am wearing boring khakis or black pants so I try to choose a shoe that coordinates with my shirt. Most were bought from Target for 6-12 bucks, so when they eventually give up the ghost it's no big deal.

Last but not least, you can't go wrong with some pink paisley Chuck's.

Show me your shoes!

=)

Tee hee...

Here's a few more from the same site:

Source

Not Me Monday - TMI edition

I did NOT chalk Isaac's "my stomach hurts" on Thursday night and Friday morning up to his usual I-don't-wanna-go-to-school attitude. I did NOT have to frantically call my mother at 7:15 am and beg her to take Isaac for the day after he tossed his cookies all over the (beige) carpet on the stairwell.

I did NOT end up scrubbing more vomit out of the stairwell again later after I brought him home and he promptly tossed his cookies again.

Later that evening Isaac did NOT develop a terrible case of the runs. I did NOT make the wise decision to let him wear shorts with no underwear. He did not have a horrifying accident which fell directly out of his shorts and onto (you guessed it) the biege carpeted stairwell.

I will NOT be spending next Saturday renting a rug doctor for the stairwell.

In less disgusting news -

I did NOT screw up no bake dessert bars this evening when trying to get my chocolate fix.

(There are literally two ingredients: water and butter. ) Domesticity is NOT still a faraway dream...

*Ahem.*

I do not ADORE watching Parking Wars on A and E. I do NOT recognize random streets in Center City Philly just from watching this show.

I do NOT have so much dirty laundry that I will probably need a forklift to get it down to the laundry room whenever I get around to do doing it.

NOPE! Not me!

torment

I just discovered google saves all your old chats whether you want them to or not. Ick.

oh man...

More from the e-harmony reject pile:

• The most influential person in John's life is: Mr. Miagi, I learned a lot from that man.

* uhhh...

• Things Klaus can't live without: Family, house, computer, bicycle, Life Goes On DVD

* Well that's a first...

• Things Hendrick's can't live without: compassion, family and friends, adobe acrobat

* for real?

what to do?

I have always been opposed to the idea of a private blog. I follow lots of blogs that I stumbled across or discovered by clicking "next" on blogger and I like the idea that someone could have stumbled on mine that way. I also follow the blogs of lots of people I barely know IRL who would probably think I was a weirdo if they knew their blog was in my reader. I don't want someone to feel awkward that they have to delurk to get an invitation to my blog.

And yet, sending someone an invitation to view my blog feels presumptious too. Cause why should I assume anyone really gives a crap about the insane stuff that floats around in my head? I also think private blogs are irritating because they don't appear in my blog reader. I have to make a point to check them individually, which is just more work. BUT I also don't want to have to censor myself or worry about who is potentially reading this (that I encounter in various situations IRL). Blogger is not sophisticated enough for me to make certain content open to all and other content closed (unless I am missing something? Please let me know if I am mistaken!)

I know, I'm all over the map here.

What is prompting this? Little birdies have pointed out internet posts written about me that range from venting about innocent school interchanges to completely false accusations and slandering of me (and my co-workers) as professionals. I do not go looking for it. I really don't. But since someone else has brought it to my attention it has caused me to wonder how easily these people who are apparently so unhappy with me could be tracking me down.

And I mean, here I am reading information that they obviously felt was somewhat private, that would never be seen by me. Who knows who could be reading this? Not that I ever write about anything work related, ever. But... I mean, some of my stuff is on the more personal side that the parents of my students don't really need to know about.

I've been googling myself with different combinations of personal information to see what comes up....

Gah. Feel free to weigh in.

blah

here is my life right now:

work

work

pick Isaac up from school and then take him to my school while I continue to work

meeting with upset parent

dirty dishes piling up in the sink

driving to Lancaster

checking blogs

looking up at the clock at work and seeing it is 6:30 at night and I haven't eaten anything since 12:30

e-mailing work people until midnight while in bed

work

tv dinner

work

Pretty exciting life, right? Doesn't make for good blog material.

I am definitely terrifically busy at school. The insanity starts with the early intervention kids in February and keeps building steadily until June. There is no doubt my work load has increased.

But... (yes, I'm blogging about it again)....

I also feel a bit of loneliness and a void that for the past six months or so has been filled up with PDH and I think it is safe to say that I am filling that up with school. On Monday I had an after school meeting and so my mom was kind enough to pick Isaac up from school and brought him straight to her place. After my meeting was over the thought of going home to an empty house was unbearable. In the past I would have jumped on the chance to grab dessert or go bowling with PDH. Now I am filling the time up running 100 individual 3 by 5 cards through the printer until the cleaning lady is kicking me out. Dating him helped me draw boundaries on things and keep other obligations from encroaching over every aspect of my day. I need to try to regain that. I can't do another year like last where I show up at work at 6:30 am, stay till five and then bring three hours of work home with me.

On the break up front... it's done for real. I deleted his number, the whole nine yards. I'm still alternating between sad and mad. The playlist ranges from Almost Lover by a Fine Frenzy ("Goodbye my luckless romance/my back is turned on you/should have known you'd bring me heartache/almost lovers always do") to Narcissus by Alanis Morrisette.

("Any talk of willingness/and any talk of both feet in/ and any talk of commitment/leaves you running for the door"). The opening line of that song I think is my favorite of any angry chick song ever, but it's not really family friendly. Feel free to Google if you're curious. I'm still fighting the urge to think catastrophically. Just because we didn't make it doesn't mean that I will die alone in a house full of 20 cats. Anyways, it's after midnight. I guess I should go to sleep. Better blogs to come soon (for real).

show me what I'm looking for...

(actual music video isn't embeddable)

Boring.

So I have nothing to post. I could keep linking up snarky pictures about dating/breaking up, etc............

I could keep linking up to youtube videos of my life soundtrack (which is still heavy on the Alanis)..............

But I refuse to keep blogging (thinking/texting/obsessing/talking) about PDH.

And there isn't too much new going on with my life.

I went tubing with some co-workers last night: I have never gone snow tubing before, and it was a lot of fun.

Isaac and I went skating last Friday which was also fun.

Now that we are finally starting to see glimmers of spring around here, we have to hurry up and finish up the winter activities, I guess.

so true...