List-mania

I have "off" today, but it always feels to me like I have more to do when I'm not at work than when I am. I am a highly devout 'List Person' ... I think it might run in the family. My grandma made lists out the wazoo (some of which we still have), and my Aunt Kay is big on them, too. Of course, my mom has many going at any given time, and don't even get me started on Norbert and his lists ...

Today, I'm trying to combine about 4 To-Do's that I have accumulated over the past week. The first is "Taking Care of Bid-ness" for school and teaching and volunteering. That would be my first priority. The second is "Leftovers" from what I failed to remember earlier this week at the store. Things like mushrooms, bacon, toothpaste, coffee, hand soap, with an added dessert for tonight. (We usually treat ourselves once every couple of weeks.) The third is "Around the House," which involves laundry and changing out my winter clothes to my spring clothes in the closet. The final list is "Fun Stuff" like renting some movies for the weekend, starting on the insanely large puzzle I bought for us recently (over 1000 pieces; I was feeling overly ambitious that day), and going to the fabric store to buy the necessary notions for the first shirt I will make (hopefully) soon without supervision.

Most likely, I'll take care of all of pressing business before lunch, meet my dad at The Drafthouse to have lunch and see The Wrestler, then run to the store and pick up some movies on my way back home in time to meet Alex after work. The closet can wait (even though it's been 90 degrees here all week and I still have sweaters hanging on my side of the closet), the puzzle is more fun when I have a parter in frustration, I'm still a little intimidated by the sewing alone thing (worried I'm going to jam something), and I'm holding off on laundry until Alex can switch out the dryer plug (long story) tomorrow.

You see what I've done here ... I've just created another list of my lists. There has to be some sort of 12 step program for this kind of thing.

My guess is ...

I am filling in for a teacher with the last name Waffle today ... next door is Mr. Peacock ... and across the hall is Ms. Brown. I couldn't make this up if I tried. I'm smack in the middle of Clue!!!

Up-down, we go again.

Things have gotten wild with school decisions. Generally speaking, I'm not all that incredibly "busy" these days, but by way of HUGE life choices, I've never been more overwhelmed and busy in my life!

I keep trying to tell myself that it will all work out for the best ... life is unfolding as it should ... and that everything happens for a reason ...

But, seriously, sometimes it is really, really difficult to not get totally stressed out with decision-making. Especially when parts of the puzzle are still waiting to reveal themselves and fall into place.

I've been talking to colleges now that all of my applications are in, and just when I think it is out of my hands, another big question arises.

I will elaborate more once I have all of the information I need. It basically comes down to which path I want to follow ... and, of course, there is the ever-present notion that I am definitely not the only person to consider in all of this.

Another month or so ... that's all the comfort I can allow. We will know in another month or so. Just have put a little faith in the unknown ...

Take your cautionary tales ...

... take your incremental gain ... and all the sycophantic games ... and throw 'em all away ...

I seriously can't watch the news! It's all so damn depressing, so drama ... all it does is anger me.

I mean, I get it ... that's what sells and all, but geez, Louise! It's all "the economy is in the hole, everyone is corrupt, people are dying, this person got murdered, that person got robbed ..." Uuuuuugggggggghhhhhhhhh!

I'll tell you what really torcs my drawers is that loony toon, Casey Anthony. Some people are downright sick, sick, sick!

I knew there was a reason I somehow found myself leaving the room around news times. Now, however, it's on ALL THE TIME. People need to know what's going on, and I understand ... but, really, most of it is so twisted, what can anyone believe?

News at 5: we're screwed, and all going to hell in a handbasket. Awesome ... just what I wanted to hear morning, noon, and night ...

When you hear this song ...

... and you sing along, well you'll never tell ... and you're the fool, I'm just as well ... hope it gives you hell ...

I have that song stuck in my head something terrible! It's one of the kids at school that got me hooked on it. During some classes, I let them listen to their iPods. I know, I know! I'm not "supposed to," but a lot of them work so much better with some music streaming. Plus, it keeps them quiet, which is really the biggest goal in classroom management ... let's face it.

Speaking of "my kids" at school ... 2 of them (so far) have decided to use me as the subject for their current projects in Art & Graphic Design. I have NO CLUE how they created these in Photoshop (maybe Adobe?), but I think both are neat, neat, NEAT! How talented are some of these kids with technology?! Seriously. It blows my mind.









But, really ... I am amazed by how much more advanced the young'uns (even 7 or so years younger) are with computers. I have a hard enough time getting my digital photos INTO the computer ... much less CREATING a mock-photo with the paint tool in an application! What the ... ?! I do have this class for at least a few more days, though ... so maybe I can worm my way into having one of the kids show me a few, very simple tricks.

Yes ... that is one lovely perk of working with computer classes ... I can also be on the computer! It's beautiful.

Two hours and counting ...

You're messin' with a Southern girl.

By far, one of my favorite smells in the entire world is French Toast, still simmering in the skillet. Mix in the additional smells of coffee and the hint of maple syrup (not yet poured) and that just might be the best smell, ever. Really breathe it in next time.

I've channeled the Southern Dame within and will also be making Pot Roast (tomorrow), Baked Mushroom Chicken (Friday night), and Biscuits with Sausage Gravy (Saturday morning). I have been harboring a hankering for some really good, homemade comfort food, and these seem like the ticket to happiness at the moment.

Cooking has become a huge hobby of mine lately. I've been dabbling with quick and somewhat easy meals on the weekdays, and conquering the more difficult preparations on nights when I am not exhausted ... but visiting with Norbert (over many, many glasses of red wine) on Sunday night made me that much more ready to tackle some new, more involved recipes. The three above are mine, but he always has amazing tips to share.

We had slow-cooked ribs (about 8 hours on low heat) that night with potato salad and greek salad as sides. It was a HUGE crowd-pleaser. I think I'll try it the next time we have people over to our place. I would probably make cucumber salad and a mixture of grilled vegetables on the side, though. (Only because I have a lot of successful experiences with both under my belt, and have only made German-style potato salad twice.)

Save a few meals during actual travel this past weekend, and last night when we picked up some soup and spicy chicken at our favorite Chinese-Japanese-Thai place on the way back into town (Austin) ... and I haven't eaten out ... for any meal: breakfast, lunch, or dinner (of which I always have all 3) ... in over a month. That's crazy! Once you get used to eating at home, though, the thought of eating fast food is somewhat repulsive.

The biggest added bonus of cooking at home all of the time is ... well ... aside from saving tons and tons of money and feeling a thousand times better ... is the whole weight-loss factor. Without even trying, I have somehow dropped about 8 to 10 legitimate pounds since Christmas. I didn't even notice until my family pointed it out recently. I am perfectly happy with my body (10 pounds added, even!), and have been for years, so I haven't been trying to lose weight at all. I can only attribute it to home-cooking, as nothing else has changed.

As promised, I will definitely share some recipes I've tried lately on here in the next couple of days. A lot of my friends (and some of you guys reading this) have been asking about the things I cook (because they are fairly simple and literally ANYONE can cook them ... step-by-step instructions, not leaving any detail out, are the key). Right now, however, I need to start preparing for an interview I have at 1pm. (Details later.)

In the meantime, go throw some French Toast in a skillet, if for nothing else, than to bask in the delicious smell! :) Ah, and I do hope everyone had a great weekend. I know I did! None of us wanted it to end, but, alas ... "the real world" beckons. It's a bummer sometimes, but that's just how it goes ...

Chocolate therapy is, oh, so good!

It is my opionion that the only truly amazing thing that has ever come out of this Hallmark Holiday is the excess of chocolate-covered strawberries hanging around everywhere. Goodness me, talk about delicious!

Alex and I made the completely spur-of-the-minute decision yesterday afternoon to make a trip to Lubbock for the long weekend. (I had off yesterday, Alex had a half-day, and we both have off the normal weekend, as well as Monday.) His parents were thinking of visiting us in Austin, but they got stuck working in New Mexico. We were looking forward to some family fun times together, so ... here we are!

Right now, I am hanging out at Kay's while my mom is closing up shop and Norbert and Alex are out running around, doing whatever it is guys do when they frolick about town in packs. (Most likely, shopping for "man" things ... outer wear and gadgets and what-have-you.) Tonight, we are foregoing the insanity that holidays like this inspire and having a really nice home-cooked dinner at Norbert and my mom's house. (The Norb is a knockout cook!)

I will be contributing the aforementioned chocolate-covered strawberries. Norbert isn't much for sweets, and Alex isn't crazy about strawberries ... so it will really be my mom and I indulging for the most part. I must say ... this is just fine by us!

The Grammy's

I think I must be REALLY far out of the loop ...

I taped the Grammy's and watched it (fast-forward-style) right after work yesterday. I barely knew ANYBODY! I knew the obvious icons like Stevie Wonder and Al Green and, of course, Paul McCartney ... I knew Radiohead and John Mayer and Keith Urban and Foo Fighters and Jason Mraz and Coldplay and Justin Timberlake and Kings of Leon and Adele (I haven't completely been under a rock) ... I had even heard of Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and The Jonas Brothers (working in schools makes this knowledge inevitable) ... but I had never, ever heard anything by them (I boycott radio) ... but who in the world were T.I. and Ne-Yo and Lil Wayne and Duffy and Lady Antebellum and Jazmine Sullivan and Chris Brown (apparently, some sort of girlfriend-abuser; great role model for the kids; way to go, asshole) ... and, seriously, who, who, who, who, WHO was that horribly pregnant girl in polka-dotted spandex gyrating across the stage?! Horrifying!!! I was just waiting for her water to break right there on national television.

My point is ... I don't get the music of the younger generation ... obviously. All of the people I had actually heard before are "older" folk who have been around for a while ... and what I mean by "older" are musicians my age or older who have had more than a couple successful singles ... and, gasp! ... probably even multiple high-selling records. I think the term is "longevity."

I don't know; watching The Grammy's yesterday made me feel like a granny. I fast-forwarded through a lot of it, muttering "Rubbish ..." under my breath and rolling my eyes. I will say, though, those little Jonas boys did impress me with holding their own next to the fabulous Mr. Wonder himself. I was actually, physically nervous for them when I saw that pairing; however, they did hold their own. And, yes, while the young-girly duet with Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus was not my kind of thing ... those girls can actually sing. I'll give them that much! The rap, gangsta, "I'm bad" stuff, though ... I'll just never understand. It's not music to me. I guess I'm just square that way ...

I wear my sunglasses at night.

Crop my mom in (she was taking the photo) and it's a total keeper! (Also made evident by this photo is how anyone and everyone joining our family is doomed to absolute nerdom. Sorry, Corinne!)

When I go walkin', I strut my stuff

This morning, Alex took the LSAT. As anyone and everyone can probably imagine, this was a very draining endeavor for him. When he got home at 2, we decided to go see a movie at Alamo Drafthouse (where you eat *and* drink while watching a movie ... brilliant idea!). The movie we wanted to see was Taken (because I have a secret, dirty little girl crush on Liam Neeson and Alex thinks he's "cool"). It wasn't showing at the South Lamar location (where we normally go, as we live ... you guess it ... South), so we had to go to The Village location, which is a decent jaunt North up MoPac.

The movie was pretty kickass ... and I do mean that ... kick.ass. However, on the drive home (on Southbound MoPac), we got stuck in some awful traffic! On a Saturday at 6pm, traffic is not "supposed" to be gridlocked, with no movement either way. But, you know, this is Austin, after all, where lanes bottleneck at the absolute worst places, and you better leave your house with a full tank of gas if you expect to get anywhere with any certainty.

We were diverted, and ended up going in circles on some stupid sidestreet that winds halfway into town, then back to the loop (MoPac) only one exit down after about 10 minutes. Talk about frustrating! We never did see what the heck was causing the massive blockage, as we finally ... after an hour and a half!!!!! ... got off of the frontage road and found a familiar street.

You know, living in a bigger city is supposedly so neat and great, but if you can't get anywhere at any time of day, the luster begins to wear off really quickly. Maybe I'm just a small town kind of gal ... I don't know. All I know is ... this traffic crap really twists my knickers, and not in the good way ...

Ain't nothin' but a G-thang

Girl Scout Cookie Time finds me flummoxed.

It's a see-saw between deliciousness and guilt.

It's a small crime ...

I very rarely involve myself in this kind of discussion anymore these days, but I am going to break my self-made rule for now ... because, for whatever reason, I think it is important for these things to be put out into the open. As a general race of people, we are declining, we are dishonest, we are losing our faith, we are letting the good sides of ourselves win over the bad ...

I can't (and won't) get into details about the specific, isolated cause of this rant. It isn't about the overall decline I mentioned, but about a small facet of the decline. The details are not my business to air. All I will say to preface is that I found out last night that a male friend of mine is living a double life with two other girls who are also friends of mine (varying levels and lengths of friendship) ... both of which are unaware of the other. Both of which are amazing people!

My problem with all of this should be obvious, and is that ... I freaking cannot stand guys who do this kind of thing to women!! GREAT, AMAZING, WONDERFUL women!!! Friend or not, I can't stomach it. I try not to internalize it, as it is not me in the situation (for once!), but it is so difficult for me to see this kind of behavior and not be affected by it. Ignoring it only makes it worse. We should all be more compassionate, as a general rule. Even though it is not me in this particular situation, it has been me in too many situations terribly similar in the past.

I couldn't sleep last night, I am so bothered. This kind of behavior ruins lives ... it damages people ... it breaks down parts of honest and caring and open people that take so long to repair. It destroys trust, and not only in that particular relationship, but for all relationships following. This kind of behavior makes me ill. No metaphor there. And the fact that it is one of my guy "friends" who is the root cause just tears me apart.

I have known too many men ... and, yes, I am definitely calling out men in this situation ... who cheat with no consequences and no real guilt. I'll just say it ... it's generally easier for men to cheat and to lie about it and have no real remorse for their actions than it is for women. There are exceptions to every rule, but seriously. Have I known women who have cheated? Sure. But I can with all honesty say that those women were either being cheated on (for years!), abused (physically and/or emotionally), or completely neglected (in every possible way) by the men they eventually reciprocated in action. I am, of course, not excusing it ... I'm just saying ... it seems to me that men will do it just to do it, while women will do it mainly when first-betrayed.

However, if you ask me about how many men I know who have cheated, first-offense, second-offense, every-single-time, in a supposedly "great" relationship, for no reason, because it was available, just to try it? Well, I can name the staggering majority of every, single man I have ever known. How horrible is that?! I can name almost all of my ex-boyfriends, save a few, who were truly kind to me in every way ... I can name family friends, acquaintances, and co-workers ... I can name many of my friends' ex-boyfriends, current boyfriends, and ex-husbands ... I can name ... and I can name ... and I can name. I won't, of course ... but I can!

How sad is that?! What is wrong with these people?!?! Seriously. And I won't hear anything about how, "Oh, the women encourage it by putting up with it, and should just leave." Because, really ... what for? To move on to the next cheater?! Sure, there are men who don't cheat. Alex doesn't cheat on me, and I can whole-heartedly assure that the men in my family are actually great guys (... maybe because of being raised around so many women who complained about philandering men all their lives).

And I certainly don't want to hear that it is the women's fault! Don't even go there with me. That is said by people who are incapable of admitting blame in any situation ... and always, always said by the truly guilty. You want a sure-fire way to know if someone has no morals, or is guilty a sin themselves ... you'll know when that gem comes flying out of their mouths. Don't blame anyone else, that's just bad business.

Now, don't get me wrong. I know there are good men out there! I know some, and truly believe that I am currently living with one of them. Because of these men, I know there are great ones out there! It's possible that some of them are actually the ones cloaking themselves as assholes with kind of behavior. But why?! What does it accomplish? Does it make them feel better? Does it validate some stupid insecurity they have? Are other people's feelings merely a game to them? I, for one, just flat-out don't get it. Seriously, I don't. I have had far too much experience in these cases to still be so clueless, and yet I am.

I applaud the good men who are left out there in the world, who are respectful and decent and kind to women ... who love wholly ... who may eyeball the menu from time to time, but always come home to eat. (Yeah, I said it.) I appreciate those men more than I can say, really, as do all of the good women out there. I fear those kind of men are dwindling at an enormously high rate, however. My problem is ... how do you weed them out in this huge mess of jerks? So many are so good at hiding it, lying about it. It's deflating, and I simply can't stand to see it.

I just had to get that out there. I understand finding other people attractive, I understand thinking other people are neat, I understand looking ... but I absolutely do not understand sampling, double-dipping, or diving in. Where is the loyalty?! It has been a peeve of mine for years and years and years ... a peeve that I have earned in spades. Most of the time, I try to ignore it, but when it is blatantly in my face, ignoring would be ignorant and impossible. I keep to my own, listen when I am needed, and I don't "rat people out" ... but maybe I should. Maybe we all should!

I know that if people around me had been more honest with me in my past, I might not have the stack of dusty trust issues I most assuredly, involuntarily, subconsciously carry over with me into even healthy situations now. And, for the love of Pete and everybody, if you do something like this ... come clean and apologize!!!! It's the least a cheater can do. At least give the other person closure. My girl friend will never have that ... she will have to create her own, just as I had to do in my past. Trust me, it's horrible.

Thankfully, I am lucky enough to have a man in my life now who will talk to me when I worry (completely irrationally, I might add), and tell me any time I need that he loves me, and wants to be with only me ... that he thinks I am the greatest girl he's ever known, and that my worries are unnecessary. I am thankful every, single day for him, and can only hope and pray that my friends will eventually be as lucky.

Because, in truth, I consider it a miracle that I have made it anywhere near here with the wake of baggage men like this "friend" of mine are leaving behind. Seeing one of my intelligent, hilarious, witty, beautiful, strong, fantastic friends last night, sitting in front of me, heart breaking, totally and utterly defeated ... a strong, sweet, kind, smart, mature, delightful woman ... defeated by a philandering ass-bastard ... was far too familiar ... and nearly more than I could take.

And, the grass, it was a-tickin'

Forgive me, but before we begin, I have to say that I heard one of New Kids on the Block's "new" songs at the grocery store last night, and I seriously think one of the lines was ... "Gotta know if you're mad at me before Grey's Anatomy ..." Are you serious?! It's tragic, and what is even worse ... I can't get the flipping song out of my head!!!!


Moving on ... or, at least, trying to move on ...


I made it to Lubbock, and then back to Austin safely. This is always good news.

I prefer road trips with a companion, but I will say that there is something very theraputic about driving long-ish distances alone. (For me, anyway). I get a chance to listen to exactly what kind of music I want to listen to, and there are miles and miles of quiet road to just think and think and think ...

The irony that I have my best ideas (for quite literally everything) while using a pen and paper are near-impossible is not lost on me. Because that's how it always has been, and probably always will be. I have these great thoughts, epiphanies, write-this-down-immediately ideas when I am either road-tripping alone, exercising, or in the shower. No lie. It's a curse, I'll tell you this much!

I have tried using one of those hand-held voice recorders in the car, but end up feeling like a complete freak before one sentence can even be captured ... fumble my words ... lose my train of thought ... and throw the thing in the backseat. I wish I could consistently speak how I think and write, but it just isn't so. ("Say it ain't so-whoa-whoa-whoa ..." (Weezer) just burst into my head. Weird.)

So, on the travel up to Austin, I pretty much peeled my balls (eyeballs ... perverts!) for ice on the road, of which there was a little in and around Abilene (nasty, nasty wreck, too, that I just missed). I also decided that I would take some CD's I hadn't listened to in ages and ages. One of which was Dulcinea by Toad the Wet Sprocket. I hadn't listened to that album in close to 4 years. It's so, dang good! I had forgotten. I listened to it all the way through 3 times.

I also listened to The Beatles' White Album and Elton John's Greatest Hits, and positively sang my face off ... at the top of my lungs ... horribly. The other 2 I managed to fit in on the way were Gold by Ryan Adams, which is truly an amazing CD from start to finish ... total emotional rollercoaster ride as well, I might add ... and Bon Jovi, Slippery When Wet ... a guilty pleasure face-rocker kick-back from the 80's. I'm sure those in the cars anywhere near me thought I was having some sort of episode, but the wide array was worth it.

On the way back to 'The Hill Country', I talked on the phone quite a bit to my sister (scold me later), and managed to completely tuned out the stereo, lost in thought for the rest of the drive. What thoughts, I could not tell you even if I were held at gunpoint. That's what I mean by the best ideas being wasted on acts that take full-body concentration, while allowing the mind to wander indefinitely.

While I was in Lubbock, I spent the great majority of my time at Aunt Kay's house. On Friday and Saturday, after everyone was asleep, I met up with my sister (both nights) and Melissa, Heidi, and some other folks I hadn't seen in a while (Saturday). It's funny because both Colee (my sissy) and Heidi are now dating guys named Chris, and this past weekend was my first night to meet both. Approval is important from family and friends when it comes to significant others, and I get why ... it's immensely stressful to date someone your friends and family are "just not that into." Luckily, I like both of the boys named Chris. Proceed! (Ha.)

(Sidenote: If my sister reads this, she is going to flip out because I said she is "dating" this guy. He's actually her boyfriend, but that word makes her wiggle, so she won't speak it. She cracks me up! Words it as she "caught feelings." How cute is that?! Ah, young love ... flowers and rainbows and balloons and party hats and cake ...)

I was also able to meet Courtni for lunch on Friday while Charlotte was getting Kay discharged from the hospital. We had Abuelo's, which is soooo yummy in Lubbock ... and soooo not near as yummy here in Austin. We took about 2 hours to just talk and catch up, reminisce about our late teens and very early twenties (crazy times, we've determined). I just love that girl! I still can't believe we have been friends for 25 years!!!! That's a LONG TIME! In fact, it is such a long time that I can't remember not knowing her. It's good (essential) to have those kinds of friends, the ones who will stick by you, no matter what ... forever and ever and ever.

OH! And I think I can spill this now ... I am going to be a pseudo-aunt once again ... because ... Courtni is pregnant with her second baby!!!! She's definitely having a little girl this time, and I am thrilled! I adore her first, Kealan (little boy, 3-years-old now, so smart, totally disgusted that his little sister won't be born with teeth, hilarious), but she claims this current one is her last, so I'm just happy she will have one of each. I believe she is due in mid-June ... or maybe mid-July? I keep getting it mixed up ... darn "J" months squished together! Either way, she is due this summer and it will be a little, pink, precious baby girl.

As for Aunt Kay, I mentioned in my last update that she was doing really well. She still is and has been cleared to do everything except exercise (that starts in about 6 weeks). She was 95% clogged where they operated (through her femoral artery in her leg, all the way up to her heart, yikes!), so surgery was definitely necessary. They say it will improve her quality of life tremendously. We are all happy to hear that! She says she's already having excess spurts of energy. She does need to stay inactive until they clear her for rehabilitation, however. We shall see how that goes! (I have mentioned the stubborn streak, haven't I?) ;) We are all just tickled pea green that she is doing well. Whew!

Sunday was the Super Bowl. I think everyone who knows me probably knows that professional football isn't my fav-rave, but I do enjoy the excitement of the final game. (I think it's to do with the food.) I mean, I'll watch football anytime without complaint if it is on, but ... I prefer college ... and, really, only the college I actually attended. However, Norbert quite loves pro football and had all of us out to his house for a Super Bowl Party of sorts. There wasn't much wild ruckus happening, as we had one baby, one patient, and a lot of tired party-goers, but we did gather and eat and enjoy. I, personally, was asleep by 10 o'clock. Oh, but I will have to post the picture of all of us in our 3-D glasses as soon as Melanie sends me the pictures from the weekend. It's ridiculous.

Let's see ... what else, what else? Oh yes ... for those of you (probably all) totally confused by the titles of my posts starting with this one, I am using lines from songs until further notice. Coming up with an all-encompassing few words of my own to alert whoever reading of all that will be discussed therein is too difficult for me! Song lines are much easier ... and sound way cooler, too. So, yeah, I'm a stealer. (Not to be confused with a Steeler ... I was rooting for the Cardinals. I always like a good underdog story.)

I guess the only other noteworthy news at the moment is that Puxatony Phil saw his shadow on Monday, claiming 6 more weeks of Winter. Sure would be nice if he sent that same message to the weather down here! 70's and 80's in February is not awesome, I don't care what all of the heat-seeking, melanoma-having, wrinkle-ridden crazy folk say!