gonna try to catch up

 OK....by tomorrow I should be driving this car; 2006 BMW 330ci convertable....OMG...you can't imagine how good it feels to drive....vroom....vroom....Bill is afraid I might get a speeding ticket.

Here is the lowdown on what happened Friday evening....Bill's mom started screaming at me about some stuff of mine that was in her closet....I tried to remind her that the day she moved in she said not to remove anything else...that she had all the space she needed....she called me a liar....so then I started some stuff out...she started yelling again.....so I drank some wine and took a couple tylenol pm's & went to sleep early....and stayed out of the way....stayed out of her way most of Saturday....then in the afternoon...she asks...all sweet.....have I done something to upset you?.....Absolutely no recollection of the day before.....I told Bill...I think she does have alzhiemers....we just thought at first ...it was just memory....but memory+confused (getting lost in the house)+being mean= alzhiemers (sp?).....I'm pretty sure......I found her a Dr that takes medicare and tricare...and specializes in geriatrics....do any of you have experience with this?

I was down another .4 today....not sure why....but I'll take it.

Car Shopping

And just a lot of stuff going on.....but first the car talk.  I've been wanting a convertable...midlife crisis car....although I'm pretty sure I'm past midlife.  I really love those Thunderbirds, and Porsche Boxsters, and the bigger BMW convertables....so we went to CarMax yesterday....this want we found:

 the only problem is no back seat for Joey...and a very small trunk.

Then we looked at :

 it has a back seat, the trunk is bigger.....but I tried to start it....and the salesman thought it was the battery....but it was the alternator.....so we looked online and found  one in Garland that is a few years newer, a lot less miles and they are going to send it to Plano tomorrow......I want to drive both the T-bird and the BMW...before I decide.....there were no Boxsters locally...but even used....I've priced them and I don't want to spend that much....I'll keep y'all posted.

Friday was a day I'd like to forget as far as my MIL is concerned...I can't go into details right now....cause we are all in here watching the game....but I think maybe now that we've had a little more time together....that Alzhiemers is a definate probability....I share the details when I can let loose.

Today was also a major stressor as far as school is concerned also...we have a group project due today....and had not heard from one of the members of our group since Wednesday....I was getting nervous....called her...she finally called back and has been sick....

And....I finally weighed myself....only down .2.....but I'll take a lose over a gain any day!

Procrastinating

 I really need to go out to 2 campuses right now.....one is an OK trip...the other I feel will be a waste of time...a teacher that just does not get how we are suppose to be helping students....plus it is a long drive...and I don't  want to go!...I'd much rather sit here and chat with y'all, chat with my Master's class, get ready for our training this afternoon....shoot...I'd rather have a colonoscopy for that matter (only because they give you really good drugs...but the prep sucks........anyway I'm going to suck it up and go out...and get it over with....but I'm not happy.

Bill and his mom went down to Killeen to close on the house today....her and I had a nice visit last night...so things are smoothing out....she still is a bit quirky....and I know that is not going to change.....but I don't remember if I mentioned this...she is convinced she has Alzhiemers.....I told her the best way to ward that off it to keep your brain active...brains need exercise too...and her brain has been idle for awhile.  Still we are going to check with a Dr...

If I make it through the next 2 days...I get to enjoy a 3 day weekend....whoo hoo!

Reminded of a dream

 I was reading Chargail's blog today about compact/compacters......and it reminded me of what Bill and I often talk about for retirement dreams.....we talk about building a log home in the piney woods of east Texas.....and being off the grid and at least semi self sufficient.....think back to the hippie communes of the 60's.....without the free love stuff goin' on.  I know it may seem a little crazy.....but it sounds wonderful to me.....all this stress we are feeling as a collective nation over the economy and everything else....can not be healthy!

Reading, Thinking....caught up for now.

 OK....I spent a big chunk of this morning reading and commenting on friend's blogs.....I need to make sure I didn't miss anyone....but I wanted to post my blog before I forgot what I wanted to say.  This is what happens when you get over 50.  First of all....I'm so happy to see my friend txlass back....she was one of my first friends here....her and AndreaN.   Blogging helps me keep my goals in mind.....even if I'm not acting on them as I should.....if they are at least in my thoughts it keeps me from doing something completely stupid.  Tatumsmom was asking why she blogs...this is a weight loss blog...and she had not been doing anything to lose weight recently.....and I said that sometimes blogging needs to be therapy....it seems to work for me.....with all my recent rantings.....writing about them has kept me from diving into a bag of chips, or basket of chocolates or many of the other temptations I face on a daily basis.....and I think it would be pretty fair to assume that most of us here have at least some emotional eating issues.....so if getting something off your chest helps.....go for it!  One thing is for certain....most of the time people (myself included) take a break from here.....when we come back....we are not reporting wonderful results.....so I would think even keeping in touch....will help keep us from completely going off the deep end......and reading what others are doing.....can help get us motivation for when we are ready to kick our big butts into gear again....but that is me......what do you think?

OH....speaking of weight...I forgot to weigh this morning....again.....but Bill asked if I had lost more weight....and clothes are fitting very nicely....so I am optomistic that it will be good news whenever I remember.

Drive by Post

This is just a quickie to check in.....it's late and I won't get to any Blogs till tomorrow.  Been crazy busy since MIL arrived.....with all of her stuff....but I think we are getting settled.  I was a little concerned yesterday because she kept getting lost in the house....at first in was just getting turned around downstairs but then I was taking a break from unpacking stuff to watch the Cowboys....upstairs....her room is down stairs...3 times in about a 40 minute period....she came upstairs with some random stuff....I said where are you going Jo...she said I looking for my room...so I brought her down and showed her where her room was...3 times...and tried to point at some landmarks.....anyway she was pretty confused...I prayed it was just that she was nervous...and she seems much better today.  Now getting her to get rid of some of her stuff.....is going to be a real challenge......and if I went into all that I'd be here all night.  But she really is sweet and has a heart of gold....but we all have our quirks and one of hers is she doesn't like to get rid of stuff.....Bill has a bit of that tendency too....one time I noticed a salad dressing was past it's expiration date...so I threw it away...and started looking at other dates....and getting ready to toss more...he threw a fit....so I just did it when he wasn't around. 
OK...I'm off to bed...tomorrow won't be nearly as busy as today was....so I promise I'll come visit.

Life will be different from now on

I stayed home this morning....and got caught up on sleep....and Bill went down to Killeen; my purpose in staying home is to get some stuff done around here....and to be here when the movers arrive....the sleeping in was just a bonus!  It could be that needing some sleep was part of the reason for my blahs earlier this week.  With all that is going on economy wise, changes in our lives (mil moving in), super busy plus changes at work, not knowing who to vote for, some stuff going on around here....that doesn't directly effect me, but really has me bothered (I'll explain later)......has really been interfering with restful sleep....I get up 2 or 3 times a night....and I'm always having lots of really weird dreams.  I need to remember to take a tylenol pm early enogh so I won't be groggy the next day....but time always seems to get away from me in the evenings........so anyway....Bill left at 5:30 am....I woke at 6:30...saw that it was still dark....crawled back into bed......and slept like a baby until 8:30.
OK....the thing that is bothering me that doesn't directly effect me...is what is going on with the Dallas ISD....I don't know if that kind of stuff makes national news or not....but about a month ago...they realized they had a 64 million dollar short fall in their budget!!!! After a few weeks of investigation....it was 84 million!!!!  One of the things they blamed it on was last year as a way to fix their low preforming schools, they hired more teachers to decrease class sizes.....so some how 300 more teachers got hired than were budgeted for.....so new teachers get around $43,000 around here (give or take a couple thousand).....and math is not my strong suite but even I know (even with benefits) that does not add up to $84 million....after digging and board meeting out the whazoo......about 1100 people from Dallas ISD are losing their jobs....550 of them teachers.  All because of poor financial management of the administration of that school district....and that is upseting.
And now the economy....never mind how much money Bill has lost from his 401K these past 2 weeks.....I'm sure retiring at 62 (for him) is entirely out of the question now.....when that Bill finally passed...did y'all see all the garbage they stuck in it....stuff for nascar! Stuff for rum (I guess pirates need it?)...research for wool....I can't even remeber all of it because I was so disgusted......I know something had to be done....but really....how stupid does congress think we are?.......no wonder they only have an 18% (even lower than the Prez) approval rating.....which brings me to my next issue of stress....
the election....there are things I really like and really dislike about both canidates......knowing what kind of mess congress is in and that both canidates (and one vp canidate) are senators.......really .....really.....really....concerns me.
And yesterday....I wanted to kill a co-worker....we were in a training for this reading intervention program that 5 of our elementary campuses that needed to bring up their reading scores are trying out this year.....so we are basically learning the tools, reports and how it is suppose to work so we can support the teachers who are actually implementing it....so this flaky person who was sort of dumped on technology (not fired because of connections) and workes with the high schools is in this training.....it has nothing to do with any of the teachers she is suppose to be working with....she sits next to me.....talks the intire time....gets lost in the program at every other click of the mouse....can't even put her email in correctly to register.....and if I heard it once....I heard it 17 times about how she had scarlet fever as a child and it affected her hearing...and therefore her reading.....geez...and everytime I helped her out she says I'm so glad I'm next to you, since you are Special Ed.....finally in the afternoon.....after about 6 hours of her driving me nuts....I said...look Sandy,....I'm just learning this too....I don't know why your screen looks different....I don't know how you got there.....maybe you should just watch and listen to the trainer...since none of your campuses have this anyway.....after a few margaritas...I felt much better.
Anyway....I need to get to work around here......I am going to try to catch up on everyone's blogs.....after I get a few chores done.

Blah

  That's how I'm feeling.....not good....not bad....just blah......nothing complain about ....nothing to brag about......nothing profound....or profane for that matter.

I guess I just want to get Bill's mom up here and get her settled.....and I'm really dreading have to deal with all the stuff.....

Of course it was gossip central around here this morning.....lots of speculation about up coming changes.

What a day!

I was jumping through hoops all day....solved a few problems but uncovered more.  Then we had a staff meeting at the end of the day....We have a part time executive director (ED) of Special Ed....she retired and then came back part time....she is a major micro manager....so that causes a lot of frustration for getting stuff done...when she retired she made 2 of the supervisors director....one for elementary and one for secondary....but they are not allowed to make decisions without going through her....and she is never there....more frustration!  So one of these directors is my boss, I know this was the last year they were going to let the ED be part time and I heard the other director was also retiring at the end of this school year....so I thought my boss would then become the ED.......but she announced today at the end of the meeting that she would be retiring at the end of this semester!!!!!!!  Holy Cow....I'm still in shock, and then as I was driving home I started worrying about my job, I have a very unique position, considered a luxury by most school districts....and it's federally funded....So what if the new powers to be don't value what I do?  Anyway, I'm at peace knowing they will always need teachers and I'm not opposed to going back to the classroom....but still......

OK....and this is the birthday that keeps on going....my assistive tech friends took me to lunch today......Cowboy Chicken....it's rotessiere chicken over wood flames....so I wasn't too bad.
I need to make a few comments before criminal minds starts....I love that show

Turn out the lights; the party is over!

But what a great party it was!  After a fun, fun weekend...yesterday the actual B-day....was super, had a very enjoyable lunch with work friends, then came home to find a carrot cake, roses and beautiful mushy card from Bill; in the mail I had the perfect card from Tiffany and Ray; and on the front porch there were beautiful fall flowers from Blake, Molly and Joey.  Then I had phone calls from Tiffany (DD); Molly (DIL); Blake (DS in Iraq); Ray (SIL) and Jo (MIL)....the only one who did not call was Tori (DSD).....in fact she did not even call her dad on his B-day...no card or anything...so I'm a little put out with her...the only time we hear from her is when she wants something....but that is another whole issue.....(sorry for the little rant...I get random sometimes).  Then I also got tons of emails both at work and home....and comments here...I was really feeling the love

OK....Now I need some off topic advise.....about my little rant above on my step daughter....I can't decide if I should share my feelings with Bill about his daughter.......what do you think?

Now my challenge is to get myself remotivated....I had a carb hangover last night from all my sins....and pretty much feel like a slug right now.....Saturday is the day my MIL moves in.....we will take that 3 hour drive to her place early, early Saturday am....we will be loading stuff in a trailer that the movers will not take; the movers will be there at about 8; once everything is packed, we will come back to DFW...with MIL and her dog...another 3 hours....and then meet the movers here to get everything unpacked and her furniture in place.....so....I went into all that to say....when I try to formulate a battle plan...this move has taken over my brain.  And I will save all the fustration over what she is bringing and what she is giving away....for another time.....I try my best to be patient.....because I know what goes around comes around and someday I may be alone and 80 and moving in with one of my kids.....but Bill has lost it a few times.

So where is that magic pill when you need it