Monday, February 16, 2009
Check out this contest
Go here and sign up to follow her blog. you might just win some books! (and if you go there and do that, tell her I sent you!)
Remembering Charlie
A very good friend of my parents died today.
I just saw him on Friday and he looked and seemed great. It was a last minute decision to run by my parents after school and I am glad I did. He and his wife Peggy were over there.
Charlie was someone that I have known all of my life. He always liked to tell the story that he drove all the way from Alabama just to see me when I was born. We spent many many summers at the river where my parents and several others have trailers. It all began with the Music City fishing club but it came to be much more. They had huge cookouts during the summer and had horseshoe tournaments. Charlie was one of the best and earned the nickname Charlie Horseshoe.
We took several trips to Florida with them and visited them in Nashville a lot before they moved to Waverly.
He always had a smile and a "whatcha say, cat" every time I saw him.
Over the last couple of years he had a few mini strokes but seemed to be doing better. Saturday night Peggy found him unconscious. They think he had an aneurysm or stroke. He died at 5:30 today.
Here is a picture of Charlie and me in Florida when I was about 2
and one with Charlie and my daddy before heading out to eat
Rest in Peace, Charlie Horseshoe. You'll be missed.
I just saw him on Friday and he looked and seemed great. It was a last minute decision to run by my parents after school and I am glad I did. He and his wife Peggy were over there.
Charlie was someone that I have known all of my life. He always liked to tell the story that he drove all the way from Alabama just to see me when I was born. We spent many many summers at the river where my parents and several others have trailers. It all began with the Music City fishing club but it came to be much more. They had huge cookouts during the summer and had horseshoe tournaments. Charlie was one of the best and earned the nickname Charlie Horseshoe.
We took several trips to Florida with them and visited them in Nashville a lot before they moved to Waverly.
He always had a smile and a "whatcha say, cat" every time I saw him.
Over the last couple of years he had a few mini strokes but seemed to be doing better. Saturday night Peggy found him unconscious. They think he had an aneurysm or stroke. He died at 5:30 today.
Here is a picture of Charlie and me in Florida when I was about 2
and one with Charlie and my daddy before heading out to eat
Rest in Peace, Charlie Horseshoe. You'll be missed.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Sandi was a big girl today....
My daddy had knee surgery today so I ran a few errands before heading to the hospital (he's just fine, thanks for asking)
The first stop was the podiatrist. A couple of months ago I got orthotics to correct a big toe joint issue in both feet. They've helped tremendously but my left foot would still pop every now and then and that kinda hurt. I figured I needed to orthotic adjusted. My brilliant podiatrist was able to ask a few questions, fiddle with the foot a little, and tell me that it was a nerve in the foot that had a sort of scar tissue around it. (He said this a common thing among runners as well...though I am no runner yet)
He told me it was something that needed to be taken care of soon so it wouldn't get worse.
I start thinking "I'm going to have to have surgery! I'll have to wait til this summer when school's out........."
Then he says "we just inject a little medicine in there and after a while that shrinks back to normal...blah blah...
I didn't catch much else...INJECT medicine?!? I can feel myself breathing faster and starting to panic. He leaves to go get the needle. I'm tyring to keep myself from passing out. When he comes back in, I just close my eyes and focus on breathing. He sprays something really cold on my foot and tells me I'll feel a little sting. I tell him not to tell me anything else- just do it.
And I didn't pass out! Most of my left foot was numb and the sensation of walking on it while it was numb made me want to throw up (Ok, so I am a little neurotic)
Now the ball of my foot is swollen and it tingles a bit but that should last a couple of days.
I think because he sprung it on me like that I was able to keep from freaking out so much.
I also got my hair highlighted (I love it) and went to the dentist....I have to get two teeth filled. One of them we had been watching for a while and it has a cracked filling.
This means more needles. I'm already starting to panic.....
The first stop was the podiatrist. A couple of months ago I got orthotics to correct a big toe joint issue in both feet. They've helped tremendously but my left foot would still pop every now and then and that kinda hurt. I figured I needed to orthotic adjusted. My brilliant podiatrist was able to ask a few questions, fiddle with the foot a little, and tell me that it was a nerve in the foot that had a sort of scar tissue around it. (He said this a common thing among runners as well...though I am no runner yet)
He told me it was something that needed to be taken care of soon so it wouldn't get worse.
I start thinking "I'm going to have to have surgery! I'll have to wait til this summer when school's out........."
Then he says "we just inject a little medicine in there and after a while that shrinks back to normal...blah blah...
I didn't catch much else...INJECT medicine?!? I can feel myself breathing faster and starting to panic. He leaves to go get the needle. I'm tyring to keep myself from passing out. When he comes back in, I just close my eyes and focus on breathing. He sprays something really cold on my foot and tells me I'll feel a little sting. I tell him not to tell me anything else- just do it.
And I didn't pass out! Most of my left foot was numb and the sensation of walking on it while it was numb made me want to throw up (Ok, so I am a little neurotic)
Now the ball of my foot is swollen and it tingles a bit but that should last a couple of days.
I think because he sprung it on me like that I was able to keep from freaking out so much.
I also got my hair highlighted (I love it) and went to the dentist....I have to get two teeth filled. One of them we had been watching for a while and it has a cracked filling.
This means more needles. I'm already starting to panic.....
Sunday, February 01, 2009
January Reads
January
The Tales of Beedle the Bard~JK Rowling (Brilliant!)
Kingdom Keepers:Disney After Dark~Ridley Pearson (A must read for any Disney fan)
Fade to Blue~Sean Beaudoin (not released until Spring 09) (This one had me guessing until the end)
My Sister the Vampire:Switched~Sienna Mercer (Vampire books for the Middle school set. Really cute books)
My Sister the Vampire:Fangtastic~Sienna Mercer
The Tales of Beedle the Bard~JK Rowling (Brilliant!)
Kingdom Keepers:Disney After Dark~Ridley Pearson (A must read for any Disney fan)
Fade to Blue~Sean Beaudoin (not released until Spring 09) (This one had me guessing until the end)
My Sister the Vampire:Switched~Sienna Mercer (Vampire books for the Middle school set. Really cute books)
My Sister the Vampire:Fangtastic~Sienna Mercer
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
25 Random things about me
1. I was in a local PBS commercial with my third grade class in 1982 or 83. (I really wish I could see this again)
2. I am terrified of spiders
3. I collect Barbie dolls. I prefer the ones from movies/tv shows/books.
4. I am an unapologetic book nerd. It makes me completely giddy when I get new books...even though I am running out of places for them. I love recommending books for people, talking about books, meeting authors, etc
5. I watched the first Harry Potter movie about 15 times in little over a week when it came out on dvd.
6. I considered getting a tattoo once but was too indecisive about what to get (don't tell my mother!)
7. I love looking at photographs and scrapbooks, even if I don't know the people in them
8. I am not a very good speller.
9. My mother still has a spelling test of mine from second grade where I misspelled April.
10. I was once so excited to see the ocean in Florida that I ran right into the sliding glass door- a story my family loves to tell over and over and over
11. I tend to pass out when I get shots or blood drawn, etc. This didn't start until I was 18 and had a cavity filled. Just the thought of needles makes me light headed.
12. I quote tv shows and movies (and sometimes Broadway shows) in conversations.
13. I have terrible handwriting
14. But I can write with both hands legibly (just not neatly)
15. I am addicted to chapstick
16. I talk to my animals and know they understand (most of the time)
17. I hate little green peas (also known as English peas)
18. I've seen RENT onstage 6 times (Nashville-2, Memphis-2, Louisville-1, NYC-1)
19. I keep ticket stubs from all movies, plays, musicals, etc
20. I like the look of guys in eyeliner
21. I played clarinet and baritone sax in high school but I don't remember how to read music anymore
22. I put lotion on the backs of my hands only and rub them together
23. I notice a person's teeth almost immediately when I meet them
24. When I was in high school every visible space of wall was covered with posters of the New Kids on the Block. And I saw them in concert I think three times. I still have all of those posters in a box in the attic.
25. I am mentioned in an acknowledgments of the book Son of the Sword: River of Doors
2. I am terrified of spiders
3. I collect Barbie dolls. I prefer the ones from movies/tv shows/books.
4. I am an unapologetic book nerd. It makes me completely giddy when I get new books...even though I am running out of places for them. I love recommending books for people, talking about books, meeting authors, etc
5. I watched the first Harry Potter movie about 15 times in little over a week when it came out on dvd.
6. I considered getting a tattoo once but was too indecisive about what to get (don't tell my mother!)
7. I love looking at photographs and scrapbooks, even if I don't know the people in them
8. I am not a very good speller.
9. My mother still has a spelling test of mine from second grade where I misspelled April.
10. I was once so excited to see the ocean in Florida that I ran right into the sliding glass door- a story my family loves to tell over and over and over
11. I tend to pass out when I get shots or blood drawn, etc. This didn't start until I was 18 and had a cavity filled. Just the thought of needles makes me light headed.
12. I quote tv shows and movies (and sometimes Broadway shows) in conversations.
13. I have terrible handwriting
14. But I can write with both hands legibly (just not neatly)
15. I am addicted to chapstick
16. I talk to my animals and know they understand (most of the time)
17. I hate little green peas (also known as English peas)
18. I've seen RENT onstage 6 times (Nashville-2, Memphis-2, Louisville-1, NYC-1)
19. I keep ticket stubs from all movies, plays, musicals, etc
20. I like the look of guys in eyeliner
21. I played clarinet and baritone sax in high school but I don't remember how to read music anymore
22. I put lotion on the backs of my hands only and rub them together
23. I notice a person's teeth almost immediately when I meet them
24. When I was in high school every visible space of wall was covered with posters of the New Kids on the Block. And I saw them in concert I think three times. I still have all of those posters in a box in the attic.
25. I am mentioned in an acknowledgments of the book Son of the Sword: River of Doors
Friday, January 23, 2009
walmart bags
Hubby and I do what we can to save the planet. We recycle what we can, try to buy recycled and earth-friendly products when we can. Something that has really bothered us is the amount of plastic bags we get each week from places like Walmart. I'm not trying to be mean, but some of those cashiers have no clue how to bag items and I have taken stuff out of bags as they were bagging because there was still room in other bags. (I've worked at Walmart, I know how to bag) {wow, I just used the word "bag" a lot}
My hubby got behind someone who brought her own bags and the cashier bitched about it to him after she left. Apparently around here the cashiers don't like people bringing their own (even though walmart sells the reusable bags) Is it a control issue? Is it because it might be more work for them?
Well, we took our own bags to walmart tonight for the first time (these are not the ones sold at walmart). I got "the look" from the cashier when I told her I had my own. She asked me if I preferred for her to bag my items or if I wanted to do it. I could tell she wanted me to, which I didn't mind. She scanned, I bagged. It was very quick. I think it surprised her because she made the comment about keeping me around to bag the rest of the night.
It's all about a system, really. I know this sounds crazy but if there is an order to how you put things on the conveyer, they bag easier. Cans and bulky items first, cold stuff and produce next to last, and bread and chips very last.
All this to say, we got out of Walmart tonight without a single plastic Walmart bag!!
Those bags are bigger than they look (and they were totally free- some of the book complanies were giving them away at the conference in San Antonio). The red one on the end has a pineapple and three apples. The one in the middle has canned food under the bread and chips. The blue one has the small boxes and bags (toothpaste, makeup, gobstopper hearts, etc)
~~~~
Before we went to Walmart, we stopped at a local Italian Restaurant. They have a fabulous Vegetable Lasagna. It was after the waitress brought our drinks out that she told us they were out of the lasagna!
So we left.
It was the first time we have ever done that, but dangit, that's what I wanted. And how can you be out of lasagna! You're an Italian restaurant!
I'll probably be neglecting this blog a little until after the play-which opens the last weekend of February. I expect everyone I know to come see it
My hubby got behind someone who brought her own bags and the cashier bitched about it to him after she left. Apparently around here the cashiers don't like people bringing their own (even though walmart sells the reusable bags) Is it a control issue? Is it because it might be more work for them?
Well, we took our own bags to walmart tonight for the first time (these are not the ones sold at walmart). I got "the look" from the cashier when I told her I had my own. She asked me if I preferred for her to bag my items or if I wanted to do it. I could tell she wanted me to, which I didn't mind. She scanned, I bagged. It was very quick. I think it surprised her because she made the comment about keeping me around to bag the rest of the night.
It's all about a system, really. I know this sounds crazy but if there is an order to how you put things on the conveyer, they bag easier. Cans and bulky items first, cold stuff and produce next to last, and bread and chips very last.
All this to say, we got out of Walmart tonight without a single plastic Walmart bag!!
Those bags are bigger than they look (and they were totally free- some of the book complanies were giving them away at the conference in San Antonio). The red one on the end has a pineapple and three apples. The one in the middle has canned food under the bread and chips. The blue one has the small boxes and bags (toothpaste, makeup, gobstopper hearts, etc)
~~~~
Before we went to Walmart, we stopped at a local Italian Restaurant. They have a fabulous Vegetable Lasagna. It was after the waitress brought our drinks out that she told us they were out of the lasagna!
So we left.
It was the first time we have ever done that, but dangit, that's what I wanted. And how can you be out of lasagna! You're an Italian restaurant!
I'll probably be neglecting this blog a little until after the play-which opens the last weekend of February. I expect everyone I know to come see it
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
Read this book!
This year I plan to showcase books that I think you need to read. These will be books that don't have the fanfare that the Harry Potter and the Twilight books have, but I hope maybe they'll become more well known.
I should say that I am not being asked to promote these books, nor do I get any sort of compensation for doing so. I just like them and, being a good little book nerd, I want to share. :)
First book:
Generation Dead is a zombie book. But these are not your typical eat-your-face off zombies. For some reason when teens in America die they don't stay dead. They become zombies, or to be politically correct, Differently Biotic, and they just want to fit in.
Daniel Waters has done a fantastic job with this first novel. I gobbled it up quickly and was anxious to know what happened next. Luckily for me, I was able to get my greedy hands on an advanced copy of the next one in this series, Kiss of Life. You, however, will have to wait until around May. Let me tell you, it is well worth the wait.
He did leave me hanging though. I am ready to storm his blog and demand more books! Or maybe beg to be a test reader or or or.....or just wait until it's published. Sigh.
Read this book. You won't be disappointed.
I should say that I am not being asked to promote these books, nor do I get any sort of compensation for doing so. I just like them and, being a good little book nerd, I want to share. :)
First book:
Generation Dead is a zombie book. But these are not your typical eat-your-face off zombies. For some reason when teens in America die they don't stay dead. They become zombies, or to be politically correct, Differently Biotic, and they just want to fit in.
Daniel Waters has done a fantastic job with this first novel. I gobbled it up quickly and was anxious to know what happened next. Luckily for me, I was able to get my greedy hands on an advanced copy of the next one in this series, Kiss of Life. You, however, will have to wait until around May. Let me tell you, it is well worth the wait.
He did leave me hanging though. I am ready to storm his blog and demand more books! Or maybe beg to be a test reader or or or.....or just wait until it's published. Sigh.
Read this book. You won't be disappointed.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Looking Back
Looking back on 2008:
*I went to NY with my hubby & best friend. It was the first time for both of them. We saw In the Heights & Rent (!). The highlight of the trip was going to the East Village to the Life Cafe.
*This was the first year that I kept a log of the books I've read. I read about 50 books this year and hope to read even more in 2009.
*My colorguard won 1st place at every contest except state.
*I went to Texas for the first time ever. (It was actually the first time I had been west of St Louis.)
*I met some of my favorite authors in person
*I signed on to participate in a picture-a-day project (it can be found here)
*We sold our other house and finally closed that chapter of our lives
*We bought bikes....but have not ridden them nearly enough
*I took, and passed with flying colors, the middle school math praxis. Now, with one class next summer, I will be able to teach 9th grade algebra when given the opportunity
*I watched the Twilght movie in two different states and for a total of four times in theaters (obsessed much?)
*I learned how to make screens and screen print tshirts
*I Reconnected with long lost friends
*I auditioned for a role in a play at a local college and got a part! We start rehearsals in about two weeks. More info will come later on that.
I am sure there are things I have left out, but it's late and I am tired. I am pretty happy with my life in general. I have an awesome hubby, great friends both online and off, I LIKE my job and the kids that I teach and see every day, etc etc etc
I hope you all have a Happy New Year. Make it a good one :)
*I went to NY with my hubby & best friend. It was the first time for both of them. We saw In the Heights & Rent (!). The highlight of the trip was going to the East Village to the Life Cafe.
*This was the first year that I kept a log of the books I've read. I read about 50 books this year and hope to read even more in 2009.
*My colorguard won 1st place at every contest except state.
*I went to Texas for the first time ever. (It was actually the first time I had been west of St Louis.)
*I met some of my favorite authors in person
*I signed on to participate in a picture-a-day project (it can be found here)
*We sold our other house and finally closed that chapter of our lives
*We bought bikes....but have not ridden them nearly enough
*I took, and passed with flying colors, the middle school math praxis. Now, with one class next summer, I will be able to teach 9th grade algebra when given the opportunity
*I watched the Twilght movie in two different states and for a total of four times in theaters (obsessed much?)
*I learned how to make screens and screen print tshirts
*I Reconnected with long lost friends
*I auditioned for a role in a play at a local college and got a part! We start rehearsals in about two weeks. More info will come later on that.
I am sure there are things I have left out, but it's late and I am tired. I am pretty happy with my life in general. I have an awesome hubby, great friends both online and off, I LIKE my job and the kids that I teach and see every day, etc etc etc
I hope you all have a Happy New Year. Make it a good one :)
December Reads
December
The Light Bearer's Daughter~OR Melling
Fragile Eternity~Melissa Marr
The Diviners: A Play in Two Act~Jim Leonard
November
The Summer King~ OR Melling
Kiss of Life~ Daniel Waters
October
Betrayed~ PC Cast & Kristin Cast
Eldest~ Christopher Paolini Sisters Grimm:Fairy Tale Detectives~ Michael Buckley (read with class)
Brisingr~Christopher Paolini
Because of Winn-Dixie ~Kate DiCamillo (read with class)
I also read the first 12 chapters of Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's perspective) and I really hope Stephenie writes the rest of it. It is AH-mazing!
May
New Moon~ Stephenie Meyer (I actually read all of it this go round and didnt skip the first, depressing half)
March
The Anaedor Chronicles- Prophecies~ Kristina Schram
Define Normal ~ Julie Anne Peters
Twilight ~ Stephenie Meyer (had to get my fix)
Someone Like You ~ Sarah Dessen
Physik- Septimus Heap book 3 ~ Angie Sage
January & February:
*The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman
*How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro
*Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen
*Son of the Sword~ River of Doors by Wesley Stein
*Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
*Pendragon Book 7: Quillan Games by DJ MacHale
*Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
*The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (read with class)
*Screwtape: A Play Based on the book by C.S. Lewis, "The Screwtape Letters" byJames Forsyth
*The Shack by William P Young
The Light Bearer's Daughter~OR Melling
Fragile Eternity~Melissa Marr
The Diviners: A Play in Two Act~Jim Leonard
November
The Summer King~ OR Melling
Kiss of Life~ Daniel Waters
October
Betrayed~ PC Cast & Kristin Cast
Chosen~ PC & Kristin Cast
Untamed~PC & Kristin Cast
The Lost Queen ~Frewin Jones
September
Kindred~ Octavia C ButlerBrisingr~Christopher Paolini
August
Breaking Dawn (Twice!) ~ Stephenie Meyer
Ink Exchange~Melissa Marr
Marked (House of Night book 1)~ PC & Kristen Cast (vampyre finishing school)Because of Winn-Dixie ~Kate DiCamillo (read with class)
I also read the first 12 chapters of Midnight Sun (Twilight from Edward's perspective) and I really hope Stephenie writes the rest of it. It is AH-mazing!
July
Twilight audiobook ~Stephenie Meyer
Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix~ JK Rowling
New Moon audiobook ~ Stephenie Meyer
Eclipse audiobook ~Stephenie Meyer
Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince ~ JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows ~ JK Rowling
June
Wicked Lovely~Melissa Marr (Faerie novel. Fantastic!)
Harry Potter & the Sorcerer's Stone ~ JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets ~ JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban ~ JK Rowling
Harry Potter & the Goblet of Fire~ JK Rowling
May
New Moon~ Stephenie Meyer (I actually read all of it this go round and didnt skip the first, depressing half)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower~Stephen Chbosky (I dont get the hype surrounding this book)
The Host~ Stephenie Meyer (love it love it love it)
Eclipse~ Stephenie Meyer
Harry Potter & the Deathly Hallows Audiobook ~JK Rowling
Nineteen Minutes~Jodi Picoult (I like her books, but this one was quite wordy. and i was confused about something at the end)
April
Perfect~ Natasha Friend
Lush~ Natasha Friend
Bounce~ Natasha Friend
Jeremy Fink & the Meaning of Life~ Wendy Mass
Twilight~ Stephenie Meyer
Twilight audiobook~Stephenie Meyer Listened to when walking
March
The Anaedor Chronicles- Prophecies~ Kristina Schram
Define Normal ~ Julie Anne Peters
Twilight ~ Stephenie Meyer (had to get my fix)
Someone Like You ~ Sarah Dessen
Physik- Septimus Heap book 3 ~ Angie Sage
January & February:
*The Year My Sister Got Lucky by Aimee Friedman
*How to Hook a Hottie by Tina Ferraro
*Lock & Key by Sarah Dessen
*Son of the Sword~ River of Doors by Wesley Stein
*Keeping the Moon by Sarah Dessen
*Pendragon Book 7: Quillan Games by DJ MacHale
*Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
*The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe by CS Lewis (read with class)
*Screwtape: A Play Based on the book by C.S. Lewis, "The Screwtape Letters" byJames Forsyth
*The Shack by William P Young
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