out of books!!

Today has been a good day. I think I'll make it my typical Saturday ruitine! Except when school starts I may have to start doing a little housework on Saturdays, bleh!

Today I made myself a pancake...then I read a bit while drinking coffee. Kitsy came and stretched out on my lap...and it was very cozy. :)

Then I worked out. Today I did one of my old old videos (self;sculpt sexy legs fast) Then I changed into my swimsuit and layed on the back deck for over 2 hours. It was HOT and I was sweaty, but I love it. I LOVE the sun.

While I was out there I finished reading The Lucky One. It was pretty good. I think it will be a movie eventually. It would make a great movie actually. Now I don't have any more books to read!!!! I think the delivery guy at the library has been on vacation or soemthing because none of my new books on hold have arrived at the Putnam Library for a LOOOONG time. Then, all the sudden a few days ago three arrived on the same day.

I kinda don't know what to do without a book to read. I feel lost. I can't get to the library until monday. I think I'll go early!

I cooked dinner (taco salad) and then Jesse and I went for one of our long walks. All in all a great day!


Tomorrow, I'm going to church, of course...but after that I have to go to an Open House at WHS. I'm kinda nervous about starting teaching!! AHHH!! I'm excited, but nervous too! The other day my dad helped me carry in my mini fridge and my microwave to my classroom...and while we were there he saw one of the vice principals and she told him that he has a CLASSROOM this year! YAY!!! He has been traveling from classroom to classroom for the past 2 years. This will be SO much better for him. I'm so happy that he finally got a room!

I'll write about the Open House tomorrow!

burned alive

Today was a BEAUTIFUL day!! It was 76 degrees and sunny without humidity and just perfect.

After church Jesse and I had our first taste of Backyard Burgers. Its kinda funny cause now that we are moving back we are trying to try all the stuff Winston has to offer that WV doesn't. I have to admit..Backyard Burgers was good. Expensive, but good. For our two "bundle meals" we paid over 12 dollars. I tried to get the nutritional info on their site, but it said "coming soon."

After eating lunch, I took Kitsy for a little walk. Then I decided I wanted to pull out my lawn chair and lay outside. So I did, wearing a tank top and shorts...for 2 and a half hours...while reading The Guardian.

I finally decided to come back inside.... only to realize, my skin was red and itchy. I am really sunburned, but only on the front of my arms and the front of my legs. My face didn't burn because I wear sunscreen every day, thank goodness!

It was so nice outside..I wasn't even hot or sweaty or anything. So, I didn't realize that I was getting burnt. Oops!

After this... I cleaned our master bathroom because it was getting nasty. I have never hated cleaning a bathtub more than the bathtub here!! It is all bright white tile and the grout is a great place for mold and mildew to grow. Its so disgusting and the only thing that works on it is bleach! So that took an eternity....and my hands smell like a janitor.

After my cleaning fest I got on the Substitute finder website and booked a job for tomorrow at a middle school. I'm kinda depressed about that because middle schools start at the crack of dawn. Oh well, it does mean that I'll be home earlier! I'm subbing for a 6th grade math and science teacher. I'll write about it tomorrow.

I love the smell of books...

I realized that love the smell of books today. Even the old and musty ones. Books make me happy and the smell of them brings back nice memories. Does anyone else feel that way?

I realized this a little while ago when I was laying in a warm bath reading The Guardian by Nicholas Sparks. I finished The Rescue this morning. Yes, I cried a little.

Today we woke up...I made french toast...we went to Target...and the Dollar Tree. Then we went back to that garden and green house (The Reynolda House Gardens) that we went to a few months ago with my parents and Flat Stanley. Holli wanted to take pictures of flowers. It was a really nice day for it. That place was crawling with Grandma's.

When we got home Jesse and I watched a movie called The Brave One. It has Jodi Foster and Terrence Howard in it. I really like him...and I think he's attractive. It was a good movie. Neither of us had even heard of the movie before.

After that I worked out, doing weights until my legs, abs, and arms were jello. After that is when I took a bath and read that book.

It was a pretty relaxing day....I hope tomorrow is the same.

sunday..not so fun day

Went to church this morning at Agape.. it was pretty good. It was the 2nd message in a series titled, "GO" from Pastor Whitfield. He showed a video about Oprah's "megachurch" on Monday nights with A New Earth author, Eckhart Tolle. If you are reading this... just know that no matter what they say about it not interferring with your Christian beliefs...it does. If you believe that Jesus is the way to salvation and that no man comes to God except through Him, then you will have issues with Tolle's teaching.

Speaking of which...did everyone hear the American Idol contestants sing Darlene Zschech's song "Shout to the Lord" on American Idol on Thursday night???????? I was amazed that they would sing that song, although it is an extremely popular Christian song. Wikipedia says that is is sung by an estimated 25 to 30 million churchgoers each week! but anyway... the Idol version cut out the name of Jesus.



Yesterday I had made plans with Jesse to go eat lunch at Qdoba's after church. Then I wanted to go over to the mall and try on some more bathing suits. After that we needed a few things from Walmart and I thought we could pick those up on the way home.

Well..after church we did go to Qdoba's and it was very good. Jesse got a chicken burrito (which was $5.79, I think) and I got a chicken quesadilla (which was $6.29) Qdoba's is oddly a LOT like Chipotle and Moe's. The prices are slightly higher than Moe's but I think the taste and quality is a lot better at Qdoba's...but Moe's does give you free chips.

Well, we were headed on the way to the mall..and I knew it was going to take me a while to find some bathing suits and try them all on. I wanted to go to Dillard's, Belk, JCPenney's and Macy's. Anyway...we were on our way and its already like almost 2 o'clock...and Jesse says that he wants to make it home by 3:30 to watch the Master's. haha.... I was supposed to go to the mall and walmart in an hour and a half??

So I told him to turn around and just go to Walmart. I guess I'll have to go to the mall by myself cause Jesse just doesn't have enough patience to shop with me when I'm actually looking for something.

When we got home from Walmart we went over to the apartment complex's gym. I ran 1.75 miles w/o stopping. The stupid treadmill screwed up so I don't know how far I went all together, but...it was about 3.5 miles. It was really hot in there and my face was blood red.

Then I took a bath and read my book. Now I'm reading Nicholas Spark's "The Rescue" which I borrowed from Holli.

Country Roads...Take me Home

Jesse and I spent the weekend in WV. We weren't supposed to go back until next weekend..but thats a long story.

We drove home on Thursday night... It was around 8 when we got to my parents house.

On Friday morning we went to Cracker Barrel in Barboursville to pick up a couple of paychecks from December. We talked to people for a long time. Charles and Ruth were there and they wanted to chat our ears off. I was happy to see everyone there...Allison Roe, Kathy Smith, Carmen, Brenda, Chris, Jeff, Alan, even Becky! :)

Then we went to Taco Bell. I had a baja chalupa, I love those things. They probably have 500 calories. I'd check the website but I'm afraid.

Jesse bought a new laptop at the Huntington Circuit City while we were there too.

Then we went to visit with his dad in Ona.... after we drove by the old house. It looked just the same.

We hung out there for awhile, watched most of Apollo 13, then we went to Jeremy's house. After that.... we went back to Mom and Dad's.

On Saturday we went to Sarah and Jay's around 1:30pm. Almost all of Jesse's family were there and Brian and Jessica. Sarah and Jay just bought a bunch of new furniture and a 42" plasma TV from Big Sandy. Jeremy was there trying to mount the thing on the wall for them. We were there for over 5 hours and when we left Jeremy was still working on it.

After that....we went to Mike and Allison's house to play some ping pong. Well, the boys play ping pong. Jessica and I play old school nintendo. We couldn't beat the 7th world of Super Mario 3. It was pretty pathetic.

They turned out all the lights and turned on the strobe light and some dancin' music. It was pretty fun :) Hannah, Abagail and Emma had a blast. Emma kept saying, "Now THIS is how you spend a Saturday night!" hahaha.

On Sunday we went to church at Maranatha. Then we went to my parents house and had Mexican Lasagna and a really yummy salad. Jesse wasn't feeling good. We took a 2 hour nap. Since he wasn't feeling well we decided that I would call in to Cracker Barrel and just drive home on Monday. :o) Yay! 4 day weekend!

After our loooong nap we weren't sleepy. Jesse stayed up watching TV and I finished a whole Nicholas Sparks book (Dear John).

If anyone reading this likes Nicholas Sparks...and enjoys a good cry...you HAVE TO read that book. It was the best Nicholas Sparks book I ever read.... but you'll cry more than you did in The Notebook! I hope they make this one into a movie too!

Since I finished both of my books, I reserved a couple more today. I should be getting Nights in Rodanthe pretty soon. I also got on the list to get The Choice but its new and I am number 61 in the queue.

I also reserved the new Homer Hickom book, Red Helmet. I think its about a mine rescue...I should get it very soon too! :)

I LOVE MY LIBRARY!!

long time... no blog

ok..... so its been awhile (sorry)

My parents came in last weekend. I think they had a pretty good time.

On Valentines Day Jesse received a letter in the mail from his brother Mike's daughter, Emma. It included a paper doll looking character called "Flat Stanley" and a letter from "him." It was like Flat Stanley went on a vacation and stayed at our house. It was kinda fun. We took Flat Stanley everywhere with us for the weekend. We took pictures with him. It made the weekend more interesting I think!

Here is the letter I typed up to send back to Emma.....

Dear Emma,

Hello! Flat Stanley arrived in Winston-Salem, NC on Thursday February 14^th, Valentine's Day! He stayed in our extra bedroom in our house.

He seemed very comfortable here!

On Friday he stayed at home and rested from his long bumpy trip in that envelope.

Then on Saturday morning we woke up early and made eggs, bacon and hash browns. We wanted to have lots of energy for a full day of adventures!

The first place we went was called Historic Bethabara Park in Winston-Salem. Flat Stanley brought lots of information home with him about the Park.

Bethabara Park was where the first settlers came to Winston-Salem all the way from Germany! We saw an old fort and Flat Stanley even pulled the Bell! He also posed for a picture in front of an old log cabin. They had an oven that Stanley thought was really cool, too. He couldn't imagine having to cook bread in that!

The next place we went was to the Reynolda House Museum of American Art. Stanley also brought back lots of information about it. We weren't allowed to take his picture inside the Museum.

Outside the Museum there was a huge garden and a greenhouse!

The greenhouse had so many neat plants that Stanley wanted to take a picture with all of them. He saw a cactus, tulips, and lots of other tropical plants, but the orchids were his favorite!

After a short potty break we were on our way to a late afternoon lunch.

Lunch was delicious! We went to Carrabba's because none of us had ever eaten there before. Stanley had spaghetti with Italian sausage. Afterwards we were stuffed but Stanley wanted to get another picture. He wanted to bring home a mint to share with you, Emma.

After lunch we went to the mall just to walk around. Stanley didn't like shopping very much (He could only peek out of Aunt Erin's purse!) so we went home. We spent the rest of the evening relaxing at home.

On Sunday morning Stanley went to church with us. Afterwards we went to Cracker Barrel to eat. Of course, Stanley wanted to take another picture.

On Monday morning Stanley went back into an envelope to come back

home to Emma's house in Hurricane, WV. I really hope he had a great time visiting Winston-Salem, North Carolina!

Love,

Uncle Jesse

Cute, huh?

Ok.... now I'm caught up sorta.

Today I didn't go to work at Cracker Barrel. I had someone pick up my shift because I was scheduled to go to the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Substitute Orientation. I had to fill out a bunch of paper work... the usual first day of work stuff, W-4's and some others. I had to make a bunch of copies of my transcript, my teaching license, ID, SS card, etc. We watched a few videos. One was a dramatization of a school shooting that was quite compelling for a video made in NC.

Afterwards I had to go over to a Lab and pee in a cup....I signed in at 12:24pm and the waiting room was filled to the BRIM! I sat there until around 1:15pm and I didn't get to leave until after 1:30pm! Of course when I left the waiting room only had 3 people in it.

Luckily the lab place was right in a big shopping center....so I went to Kohl's and then to Michael's. I really wanted to do more shopping but I had an EXTREME headache. So I drove back home, took 2 Excedrin and took a 2 hour bath (while reading "True Believer" of course) After 15 minutes I felt much better. I feel really good now! :) and I have silky smooth skin...hahaha.... Thanks to Vaseline Intensive Care Bath Salts. That stuff works great!

Jesse and Lester had to drive to Cleveland, TN today. 5 hours one way. They won't be back until around 10pm...so now I'm gonna go upstairs and watch American Idol w/ Holli.

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