telephones

i have just realized that i have no clue what my kids cell phone numbers are. i have them stored in my cell and on the frig, but, until just now, i couldn't even remember what numbers they started with! does this make me a bad parent? i doubt it. i have no cell reception in the public library where i am working this week and they need to get up! sleeping until 1pm has to stop! school starts back on monday!

engagements and babies

today i was talking to my boss and another teacher about engagements and babies. i loved being pregnant. bonnie told us a story of a husband who threw a surprise party for his wife's 40th bday. he got her a shirt that said, "better to be 40 than pregnant". the wife ran out of the room crying. turns out she just found out she was pregnant and hadn't told the hubby yet! ugh!
one of my favorite people at wppl got engaged this past weekend to a coworker, who i wish i knew better. she is very nice and they make a wonderful couple and i am so happy for them!
tomorrow is the day before turkey day.
bring on the chaos....

books

i've read 44 books so far this year. i'm hoping to make it to 50. plenty of time.
i read a lot of teen books since i work in an all girls high school. this one was "you wish" and was about a girl who wishes on her bday cake that all her bday wishes came true, because "they never freaking do". careful what you wish for. soon enough, a life size ken doll is following her around, among other funny things.

i'm re-reading the "fever" series by karen marie moning. her last book in the series comes out in january, and i'm hoping it's amazing! (and no, i did not count the rereads in my total for this year!)

to do lists

byrd & belle blog had an interesting post last week about things on her mind.
well, here is mine:
1. i have started taking notes on my ipod touch for reminders...
christmas gifts (to buy or make)
christmas crafts - so many cute things i am finding online, but will i ever sit down long enough to do them? or rather, not go to sleep at 9pm?
2. so much to go thru at home. i'm a pack rat sort of person...i keep things long enough for me to look at a pile and think, i need to go thru that. then i go thru it and wonder why i was saving it! crazy!
3. websites to look at...i've started a list of them (on my ipod)
4. ideas for work...such as "how to give a violation with a smile". you know you want it or deserve it!
5. what to make for dinner? this goes on everyday...
6. will i get my butt off the couch and step onto the elliptical? i say tonight i will!

and so it begins...

wow, seriously, i haven't posted since then?
busy summer, busy school year. there are just two of us in the library this year. i'll feel guilty calling off sick. (i usually don't)
found a new blog that i love called "delia creates" very imaginative lady, and funny to boot! reminds me of me....

summer

wow, it's hot out, but what do you expect from july? so much has happened so far! four different camps, a whole lotta cleaning, and a big party. so glad it's over. just two more camps, a mini vacation and then i can't believe it's back to work!

excitement

i'd like to say how much excitement is in the air, but right now, it's more like panic. there has been so much going on and so much more to come! first communion this weekend. will is excited, me, maybe on saturday. i have to shop, clean, cook, tidy, clean, and clean some more! my big goal is to clean the basement tonight. yippee!

tribe time

yes, it's that time of the year. we all pull out our indians-wear and hope for the best. of course, the past few years haven't been anything to write home about. i really wanted to go to the home opener today, but alas, motherhood has kept me out of the way. oh, whoa is me....
oh, i did finally call the vet! yeah! scratch, scratch, scratch...

to-do list part 2

well, i did do two of the things on the to-do list. have to call the vet yet.
started a diet yesterday. no dairy is one of the things i am not supposed to have. that means black awful coffee. yuck.

to-do lists

two people have not inspired me to work on to-do lists. i have to admit i do make them. i usually keep it to just a couple things. i usually make them at night before i go to bed, while lying in bed. i keep a notepad and pencil on my nightstand and usually make them in the dark.
last night it read:

map out kitchen to calculate amount of new flooring

call about moving a tree

call vet for our dog phideaux.

yep. that was it. there are other things to do as well. laundry. rake out lawn and gardens. sand trellis' i took down yesterday. restain. sold swingset and now the play area will become a veggie garden...not that all of this needs to be done in one day, obviously. it just keeps coming.
ok. there it is. oh, and find someone to go to the indians home opener with and get tickets in nose-bleed section.

maple sugar candy

someone brought in maple sugar candy and placed it in the faculty lounge. big mistake. in the words of lauren child,
maple candy is my favorite and my best.
YUM!

gray hair

okay, i'm 43 and have noticed three gray hairs. do i pull them or let them stay? is it true that if you pull, 10 will grow in it's place. i guess if that is true, more people would pull them for fuller hair!
i think i'll leave them.

scrap time

yeah! i went to trish's crop on saturday, and i finished putting our south dakota photos in their own scrapbook. i have to do some journaling, but i'm just thrilled to get them down.
yesterday, my boss called. she was sick and asked if i wanted her tickets to see CHIGAGO. hello! yes!!! mags and i went and we were dead center 16 rows back. i counted. it was wonderful and i'm still singing the songs.....

carmel corn

okay, my friend trish posted this on her blog, so i'm passing it on to you. (whomever 'you' are). i'll be making it this week, so if you try it before i do, let me know!

Caramel Corn with Salted Peanuts
Adapted from DamGoodSweet, by David Guas and Raquel Pelzel

A few notes to help you along:

- The original version of this recipe calls for microwave popcorn. I used Newman’s Own brand microwave popcorn in the “natural” flavor. However, I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t use stovetop or air-popped popcorn, if you’d like. You’ll need 10 cups of it, and you’ll probably want to salt it lightly, since almost all microwave popcorns have at least a little bit of added salt.
- Be sure to have a whisk and a rubber spatula close at hand. You’ll need them both on short notice.
- Before you begin cooking the caramel, measure out the baking soda and the vanilla, and chop the peanuts. You won’t have time to do it later.
- Do not try to make this recipe without a candy thermometer.
- If you plan to give this popcorn as a gift, know that it looks very handsome, and keeps nicely, in a Mason jar.

1 (3½-ounce) package plain (unbuttered natural flavor) microwave popcorn, or about 10 cups fresh popcorn popped by any method, lightly salted
1 cup packed light brown sugar
¼ cup light corn syrup
6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
¼ tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup lightly salted peanuts, roughly chopped

Preheat the oven to 250°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

If using microwave popcorn, pop the popcorn according to the package instructions. Coat a large mixing bowl with nonstick cooking spray, and dump the popcorn into the bowl, taking care to pick out and discard any unpopped kernels.

In a medium saucepan, whisk together the brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, salt, and 2 tablespoons of water. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Continue to simmer, whisking often, until the mixture reads 250°F on a candy thermometer, about 3 to 4 minutes. Immediately remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the baking soda and vanilla. Quickly pour the hot caramel over the popcorn. Use a rubber spatula to gently fold the caramel into the popcorn, taking care to distribute it as evenly as you can. Stir in the peanuts, and transfer the mixture to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 1 hour, stirring and turning the popcorn with a spatula every 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, and place on a cooling rack for 20 minutes. Gently break up the popcorn, and serve.

Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days (or thereabouts).

Yield: about 10 cups