A Long Ramble of Bitchiness

(I'm so mad that I haven't edited this yet--there are grammatical errors, I'm sure.)

I have never quite understood people who think that the citizens of the United States aren't helping the less fortunate in our own country. Lately on Facebook there has been a lot of chatter going around that people are mad about the telethon for donations to the earthquake victim in Haiti. Those same people think that money should be going to people in the United State, who are mentally ill, poor, or otherwise unfortunate.

I hate those people who question the kindness of Americans to give their OWN money to Haiti.

Why? Well, it's simple: even the poorest-of-poor American has a better quality of life than most average Joe's in other countries. As a super-power the United States has a responsibility to help those nations, even though many of those nations CAN NOT reciprocate when we have a disaster. Nor--by-and-by--would we ask them to reciprocate, because WE have the means to help ourselves. Note: The telethon did not raise money for the United States to give away, it raised money for the people of Haiti from UNITED STATES CITIZENS.

Someone on FB brought up that there are children going hungry in the United States. You're right, there are. And, I'll be the first to admit that the recession and unemployment rates have sucked up a lot of America's reserves of money and resources. But, here's the thing: there are still avenues out there from which those children could get food. Schools give out free meals for lunch for families that qualify (and if they don't qualify--most schools WILL FIND A WAY to have the child fed). In addition, food banks have started to give out food at some schools--or at least identify families that need help--so no child goes to bed without food in their stomachs.

You're probably wondering how I know this, right? Well, even though I work for a private, Catholic high school, my school has a lot of at-risk students who we admit at reduced-rate tuition (which is why I get paid peanuts compared to other high schools I could be teaching at), and we help identify those families, and get food to them. In addition, we have a pubic elementary and middle school right across the road that we work with; so, yes, I know many of the ropes.

More importantly, those food banks heavily rely on donations from everyday citizens to keep running. And, I know from our twice-yearly can drives (and clothing drives) at school that there are a lot of people willing to help the less fortunate--and they do! Our last can drive had over 2,300 food donations in the morning--not counting what came in later during the day. There was a huge turkey drive as well--but I don't recall those numbers. Yet, this is just one way that the government does not help.

As for the mentally ill, I understand that it seems a lot of people don't get help. However, you can't help someone who doesn't want it. In my experience, I couldn't receive help for my PTSD or depression--which I still struggle with every day--until I wanted it. And, I was not turned away when I needed help. Even if I hadn't been a student on campus when I needed help, I could have gone to counseling for a much reduced cost. I can't remember if they had free options or not, but I know each session would have cost less than a movie each week.

And, to counteract anyone who claims that the recession has really cut into their budget and the above isn't possible, I know your pain.

A few years ago I went without health insurance for over a year. I tried to keep myself healthy, but lo-and-behold I ended up with and abscess on my tooth. I think I said FUCK about 20,000 times, for the following reasons: 1.) root canals are expensive 2.) I was at a new dentist (the one I go to now) because I was far from home. I had no idea what to expect at this new dentist, but I got up all of the nerve I could muster and told them about my situation. And, a compromise was planned. They would do the root canal, but would NOT put a crown on my tooth until I had insurance (about a year later) unless another emergency arose. Moreover, they offered a a 30-day, 60-day and 90-day payment option, or I could apply for even more. I was able to pay within the 30-days, but the offer was nice.

However, none of it would have been possible if I hadn't asked for options. And, because I'm like family at my dentist office now, I hear A LOT. They were telling me one day that they had an elderly gentleman who needed new dentures, and they were going to take a hit on his case because they knew he needed them. THEY WERE GIVING UP THEIR OWN MONEY.

And, don't forget about family services, welfare, food stamps and other government resources that are available to American families at government rates.

In addition, in every big city I've lived in or next to, there's some type of homeless shelter that opens its doors to everyone seeking help. However, a person must SEEK help to get help.

Thus, I wonder how many Americans ask about options before bitching that America does nothing for her own people who are suffering.

The people of Haiti are so devastated that they have no one to ask for help in their own country. There are no resources, there are no outlets.

So, to those Facebookers who think Americans are spending money the wrong way, I say: Sit on your privileged finger and spin.

Merry Christmas 2009

Merry Christmas! Even though we're snowed in at our house in Omaha, Jeff and I decided to make the best of it. We each opened a gift (as you an see on the right, Jeff wraps SO well, LOL), and watched movies. Around 10:30 we played One vs. the Mob on the XBox 360. Jeff said he wanted to stay up for a bit, but I went to bed around midnight. And, it's a good thing I did!

Santa Claus came sometime after I went to bed! He brought me an Wii Fit, which is good, because since I threw my back out I've been jonesing for some yoga.

Although we're making the best of it, it's still sad to not be in Iowa for the holidays with my family. It's the one time of year we stay overnight there, so it's always special. But, anyway, the bottom picture on the right shows why we couldn't go: we've been in a Blizzard Warning since 6 p.m. Christmas Eve, and a Winter Storm Warning since 6 a.m. Christmas Eve morning. We already have 4 foot drifts everywhere (some higher!), and 20 hours left of this storm.

Unfortunately, the track of the storm changed, so we're in for even more snow. They're now saying we could get 18 inches. I think I liked it more when we were in the 9-12 inch range.

And, we have learned a lesson, Jeff will be taking two days of vacation around the holidays from now on.

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ONE AND ALL!

It's the Day Before the Night Before Christmas

Even though I'm iced in, I feel the need to cook and bake! Here are this year's Christmas cookies. Enjoy!

Even though we won't make it home--to my parent's house--for the holidays, Jeff and I will at least be able to spend Christmas together. It's sad, but that's life.

So, blizzard, get your act together. I'm not missing Christmas for nothing!

Blizzard--December 2009

This is what 10-11 inches of snow, high winds, cold temperatures and no school for 2-- soon to be 3-- days does to a person. It makes them take pictures of the snow. The picture to the right is out of our back door. The snow is about 5-6 inches high on our door, and there's a 3-4 foot snow bank on our deck. I don't think the storm would have been so bad had it not been for the strong winds.

Jeff is shoveling out the end of our driveway and into the street here. As of today at 6:38 p.m., we have not had anyone plow the street. Stupid Omaha.

We only shoveled half of our driveway-- we are SO sore. There were 2-3 foot drifts on it, and the sidewalks. Since I hurt my back a couple weeks ago, my chiropractor asked me to not over exert myself. I did anyway, because I felt bad for Jeff doing a lot of the snow removal!

Another picture of the bottom of our driveway and the street. That's a lot of freaking snow!

This is looking from the east side of the sidewalk up towards our house. We have a 5-6 foot snow bank from removing snow from only half of the driveway. UGH. I have no idea where we're going to put the rest of the snow!!

The part I'm the most upset about is that I'm missing 3 days with my students at the end of the semester. My freshmen won't be able to watch Romeo and Juliet (yes, the Leo one!!), and my honors classes won't be able to fully discuss the id/ego/super-ego about Pip in section 1 of Great Expectations. My journalism courses should be ok...we have video shot for broadcast and I made sure all of the yearbook deadlines were in before I left Monday--it's only the cover and end sheets at this point.

Let's hope there's school on Friday!! There's only 3 school days until finals next week! AAAAAAHHHH!

The Day After

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Originally uploaded by IowaSunshine

Really, Mother Nature?

This isn't even funny. We all figured that the snow would leave yesterday, but no, it's still here.

If I finish writing an exam and grading papers, I might just have a recipe up tonight.

Cats and Bones

Recently I was channel surfing after watching Gilmore Girls (on rerun) and found a great show: Bones. I fell in love with the show almost immediately. Of course, it didn't hurt that David Boreanaz (a.k.a. Angel to the Scooby nerds) is one of the leads. However, I love the way the cast is foiled against each other, and the writing is witty. Needless to say, I've found a new addiction while I make supper.

Not much else going on...just working on the yearbook. However, while working on the yearbook last night Sasha was right behind me, sitting in the patio door window. The next thing I hear is a LOUD meow/hiss/roar and the blinds on the patio door went WOOSH. Now, my cats talk. A LOT. However, they do not LOUDLY meow/hiss/roar without a good reason.

The reason? Another stray cat was at our door. The second one in a week.

What makes this different, though, is that this stray cat opened our screen door and was beating on the glass where Sasha was. Sash fought back for a little but, but then just left. But, not before giving me and Morgan a near heart attack! Even Jeff heard her all the way downstairs! YIKES!!

I fed both Morgan and Sasha their favorite wet catfood, to calm their nerves. The only caveat to this experience is that Sasha is sticking to my side wherever I am, and is reluctant to go next to the window by herself. The good thing? She will stick up for herself!!

Google Reader

I have become obsessed with Google Reader recently. Any food blog, or for that matter any blog I like to read, I will place in the reader. This makes my life easier, because I can access my favorite sites from anywhere and don't have to visit each one daily to check for updates. Additionally, I can read it at school if I want a certain recipe. Thus, I finally added the RSS access on my sites as well.

Today is Memorial Day, and I hope each one of you takes time to remember the good times with the ones we have lost. And, please salute the soldiers and sailors who have helped keep our country safe.

Swings and Sunburns

Yesterday we put together a new swing, so that I could sit outside and read, or drink beer, or in this case, both.

I didn't stay out in the sun too long, plus I had on sun block, but wouldn't you know it, I apparently missed a spot on my shoulder blades and they are both red as radishes. They are not too painful, though, so I am thankful for that.

Not much else going on, other than school is out for the summer!

Where I've Been

I've been updating on my recipes site, and not really paying any attention to this blog. I find that this blog has provided therapy over the years, but I need it less and less. I'll keep it up--it is a record of the good, the bad, the ugly and the VERY ugly--but if I update about once a month that will be it.

On a high note, I just redyed my hair back to the dark chestnut color with red and blond highlights on the mohawk. And...I won teacher of the month for April--what a stark contrast from 5 years ago!

Frick TMI

I am now peeing out neon-yellow liquid, but it's a hell of a lot better than the stuff that was coming out before. I do in fact have a bacterial urinary tract infection. I wasn't surprised when my physician told me, but I was surprised to hear that I still had a little blood in the urine. I thought I had pushed enough liquid through me after I was in the debilitating pain on Saturday to get rid of the blood.

The antibiotic that I am taking has turned my urine bright, neon yellow, and it could go to orange in the next day or two. I also have the usual side-effects, like headaches, fever and the chills. Oh, and the backache is still there, but it's not as bad.

Ah, the third antibiotic in three months. How wonderful. *NOTE THE SARCASM*

On the bright side, I have two crowns on and don't have to go back to the dentist until December 22. Next up is a cleaning and new assessment, then it's at least 1 more cracked tooth/crown and a couple more fillings.

A New Addiction

I could go on and on about how my teeth suck and I've been going to the dentist for 5 weeks now, but I wont. I could also complain about the fact that I'm trying not to move, and that I need to make an appointment for the doctor tomorrow afternoon before I go to the dentist, because I'm pretty damn sure I have a UTI, but alas that's already TMI.

Hence, since I've been trying not to move for the past 36 hours, I've found a new addiction: etsy.com. Etsy is a website where you can buy and sell homemade items fairly cheap. I have been buying up a storm! So far I've bought one Christmas present so I can't say it on here, but let's just say it's awesome; a pair of Glowworm earrings; 4 pair of PacMan ghost studs; a white and pink cat-ear knit hat; a pink circular knit scarf; green glass bulb earrings; two pair of rose dangle earrings; red dangle glass earrings; silver rose dangle with a red bulb earrings; and a good luck, horseshoe necklace; all for under $50!

I have to force myself to get off of that site, because it is so addictive. I absolutely love, love, love all of the unique items on there. My favorite thing is to go to the geekery section and browse through all of the items.

I love craft work, I really do. But, I suck at it. I can make Santa Claus heads (ahem, that's also going to be Christmas gifts--I think), and I can make fleece blankets. But, I've been trying to teach myself to knit...and that's not going so well.

I may just stick to cooking and baking and leave all of the crafts up to my new addiction.

The Answer is Blowing in the Wind

Randy Pausch has died. At 47.

Like other people, I found out about Pausch through his You Tube "last lecture." After viewing the first 10 minutes of it, I was hooked, mainly because he said "you can tell the nerds early," regarding his goal to write a encyclopedia entry.

As a fellow educator (and fellow nerd), I felt that he embodied everything that educators should be... funny, supportive, intelligent, fair, hard working and polite. I wish I could be more like him.

For the world to have lost such a wonderful person... a person who inspires you to be better...is a travesty.

I can't put into words how much his lecture changed the way I thought. How it made me feel accepted...kind of like the way I felt when I went to grad school.

It was good to know there are other people out there who think like you...

And, it's good to know there are those out there that you strive to be like.

My hope is that his life lessons are not lost, but endeared.

Wonderful Wednesday

First, the P/T Conferences were only 3.5 hours and I only had 13 parents! Apparently, spring P/T conferences are not attended as well as the fall ones. That's o.k. with me. ;)

While my back still hurts, it's not as bad. The room we held the conferences in was WARM. I almost had to take off my jacket...apparently 70 is too warm for a teacher who spends most of her day in 63-66 degrees.

Those issues may not seem so wonderful, but we found out my nephew, Craig, is coming home from Iraq in May. Jeff and I are excited that he'll be back in time for our wedding on May 31! YAY!

Baby, It's a Freezer Outside!

I feel sad knowing that 15 degrees now feels warm. I love living in the Midwest, because we have 4 VERY distinct seasons, but damn, I can't wait for spring.

I'm really hungry, too.

Stress makes me eat. I have gained about 5 pounds in the past 6 months...when I wanted to lose 10...so now I want to lose 15 before the wedding in May.

Achievable? Yes.

Getting back onto Weight Watchers...SUCK-O!

At least I'm exercising again, so I'll lose double the weight.

I Don't Know What to Do, It's Nothing New

I have all of these short stories, novels, novellas, poems and God knows what else on my laptop. I work on them in the afternoons, because I have always wanted to be a writer.

However, I love teaching as well, so I thought I would ride the teaching train for awhile and publish when I got my Ph.D.

The more I think about it, though, the more I'm not 100% sure a Ph.D. is helpful in writing books. I mean, I would LOVE the Ph.D., but I'm not going to break the bank for it.

Recently in the online version of the Om@h@ paper, they had links to NE writers guilds and writing groups. I immediately thought, "COOL, I should totally go to the meetings!" But, then the antisocial, hermit in me was like, "Fuck that shit." (Yes, I teach at a Catholic high school and curse like a sailor--I have a curse-free 'teacher mode' while I'm teaching).

I'm thinking I should at least give it a try, but the one group is at 72nd and D0dge on a Friday night right after rush hour. I can imagine how fun that would be to get to!

However, I do want to write...and if I did manage to get something published that would help me get into a Ph.D. program... I hate indecision.

The Past Week in Review

So...it's been a pretty shitty week.

One week ago today as I was driving home from work (around 12:30) my car broke down on Sorensen Parkway. In fact, broke down isn't quite right, because I couldn't steer! The Power Steering fluid thingy broke because of a loose tension thingy with the serpentine belt and the belt came off and broke the power steering thingy and some other stuff. Oh, and plus, the car had a broken something-or-other that needed to be fixed as well. Can't you tell I'm a whiz-kid with cars?!

Fuck that car.

Once again, I spent over $1,000 on that fricking thing. I HATE Pontiac's...but for totally different reasons than Rebecca Lynn Howard.

Even as much as I bitch, I have to say that I got off easy. That very same day I had inklings to go to Westroads Mall. I guess I'm glad the car broke down after all. May God's Blessing be with those families of the Westroads massacre victims.

It's still hard to imagine what happened at the mall. Because of the shitty weather and other appointments I've had, we didn't make it to the mall this weekend to hang up our snowflakes.

We've had 3 major snowfalls since last Wednesday, plus a Christmas party and this is the last teaching week we have (next week is finals). I want to pay my respects, but, I'm sure I'll make it out there sometime soon.

I guess what's so weird is that I KNOW that mall. I've been there hundreds of times and always felt safe. In fact, that's probably why we liked that mall so much was because of how safe it felt.

Besides, doesn't this type of thing happen in the movies? Or...some place other than Omaha?! Other than home?!

Hundreth Timeth Aroundeth

So, we bought a house.

We're moving...hopefully for the last time in the next 10 years.

My commute is going to rock! No more getting cut off by idiots at the Dodge Street exit on Interstate, and if I don't want to take Interstate... I don't have to!

Most importantly, we'll be out in the west part of town, away from all of the 'trouble' spots. Don't know what I'm talking about? You should check out the Om*ha paper online. It's not like we're too close now, but we'll be extremely far away.

We move on November 30 and December 1. That kinda sucks, because we'll be paying for this apartment for the entire month of December, but it gives us time to move before the holidays.