recent sighting

I didn't know zombies were a big problem in Vancouver, but it's good to know that the Zombie Response Team is on my side and ready to go should a situation arise.

I can't make this stuff up people. This is a real live car spotted at the light at 162nd and 18th.

note to random cop

Dear Mr. Policeman,

Thank you for your grace and mercy Friday night when I turned left on a red arrow. I saw you over there in the right lane. I was in the turn lane, daydreaming. I was tired. Scrapping late into the night at the church with Barbara and Rachel has that affect me, and I was thinking there was still going to be a detour from the street work going on. So my mind was all weirded out. I don't even know if you were aware that I turned, but I did. I kept glancing in my rear view mirror, begging for forgiveness and hoping that moving over that many lanes of traffic would just be too much. Apparently it was, because I made it home without the red and blue flashing lights.

I will never forget you.

Sincerely,
a Vancouver driver

five good things

1. Today Phil505 had a rare Saturday off. Turns out, he picked the best spring day ever to not be heading downtown to save all the crazies of the world. Record breaking temperatures, a lovely little breeze, lots of sun, and a few hours of hard work pulling weeds and stirring up some dirt and we've got the garden ready for planting. We ran errands in the afternoon and topped it off with a dinner date at Burgerville. Now I need a manicure and lots of moisture for my dry cracked hands.

2. I got a new vacuum. It's a Shark. And I am so embarrassingly happy about how much dirt and dog hair that thing sucks up it's not even funny.

3. I am almost ready to embark on part 2 of the pinterest-inspired master bathroom transformation. My amazon order of the General Finishes java wood stain and clear poly came. I bought the fabric for the curtains today. We've also got the faucet picked out. I can't wait to show it off.

4. It's National Scrapbook Day! While I was too busy to scrap, I did stop in at Craft Warehouse for a little shopping. Of course they didn't have what I wanted and I practically had to waste the rarely ever given 40% off coupon. I do have a new stack of pictures waiting for me at Costco, so maybe this week I'll get back to work on my album.

5. My new favorite song on the radio these days. . . Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher. Catchy little tune, that one. And with Christy Nockels singing backup vocals, you can't go wrong.

i should probably blog before april comes to a close

Today the class I was subbing for had library. Look what I found! Made me feel right at home. Goes along with the plane tickets that we purchased the other day! 

I didn't have to do much today because there was a student teacher in this class. She was talking to me and said, "I heard you have like 10 years of experience." I said, "Well, actually, it's 14 and a half." She said she was thrilled to work with such a seasoned teacher and wanted my feedback on her lessons. OK, people. That comment made me feel old. Seasoned teacher??? Good times.  

This past weekend was our church conference's spring retreat. We ladies were in Newport this year on the Oregon coast. The weather was fabulous, the speaker was wonderful (she taught on the Tabernacle. . .good stuff), and I had a great time. We spent a couple hours strolling through the trinket shops in the wharf and stopped along the way to take a picture of the bridge.

We had a pretty amazing view out our window. It's hard to see, but the Yaquina Head Lighthouse is on that cluster of rocks on the right.

Wilson missed me while I was gone. The hubster sent me a text Friday night that said "Wilson's looking for you." Oh, doesn't he just look pitiful? This is just what he does when he thinks it's time to eat (which can be every five minutes some days). Poor baby.

happy tax day, america

It's April 15th. You got your taxes done? I was thinking about my friend Jamie this morning and how, before I got married, I'd be over at his house on the 14th so he could do my taxes. I'm always such a procrastinator. In case you were wondering, thanks to Phil505 our taxes are done and we received our federal return today. How funny is that?

This week finds me subbing in kindergarten. Those five year olds have more energy than my dog, and he has a lot. Funniest line of the day happened during morning prayer time. A little boy says, "My dad has a kidney stone. And it's going to come out his privates and he's going to catch it in his hands." Seriously, how does one recover from that? Last week I was in 2nd grade for four days and then had a para sub position that changed to a certified position at 2:00 so I could save the day for a teacher who had to leave when her father was having a heart attack.

I've been on the quest for the perfect new bathroom rugs, now that I've got it all painted and our current yellow rugs are now seven years old. I found them. . . 55% off at Kohl's. I thought I also had new curtains picked out (a steal of a deal from Home Goods), but when I got them home, I knew they just didn't look right. So off to JoAnn Fabrics I went, and I've found THE fabric. Believe it or not, I'm going to attempt to sew them myself. Yes, I haven't sewn anything since my senior year in high school, but I believe with a little guidance from a quilter friend, I'll be able to whip up a pair of simple panels. I mean, I did make the infamous gray headband/matching sweatshirt and all. (Don't worry, Kerry, I'm looking for a picture to scan.)

My bathroom is making me really happy these days. Speaking of bathrooms, my dog tried to eat a bar of soap the other day. Weirdo.

Here's some really good news. . . I was invited to attend Candidate Day at Van. Public Schools. I was referred by a principal from a building I've been subbing in (it's how you get an invitation) and will meet some administrative staff, tour a building, hear all about the benefits and professional development, and interview with a team of principals. It's on the 26th and will be from 10-3. They have about 6-8 Candidate Days in April and May and this pool of people is where they hire new staff from for the following year. The principal that referred me for this is the same one that called HR and got my interview arranged for the certified sub position. She is amazing. I am nervous. For the last seven summers I have been checking the district website for elementary positions and have never seen one. Now I finally get the opportunity to interview for one.

And that, my friends, is all she wrote. Hope your Monday was awesome.

spring break list-of-things-to-do

You remember my list, right? Well, I'm happy to report that I was highly motivated this last week to cross off stuff. I even added more and got that crossed off too. . .just because I like crossing stuff off.

1. Paint bathroom. Done. So much brighter. Lovely pale green.
2. Clean out car. Done. I also cleaned out the Jeep that day too. What a nice wife I am.
3. Wash blinds in back bedrooms. Well, half done. The scrapbook room will have to wait, but the guest room is finished.
4. Weed. Not done. The front flower bed is looking jungle-like.
5. Upload pics to Costco. One batch done. Several more to go.
6. Move bed, sweep & dust. Done. The whole bedroom smelled like Murphy's Oil Soap that day.
7. Scrapbook for Katie. Done. See yesterday's post.
8. Card for Dad & Jenny. Done and mailed.
9. Mail Dad's gift. Done and arrived on his birthday. Yes, I am that good.

I don't know what got into me, but the spring cleaning felt good.

somebody's got a birthday today

Today is my dad's birthday. He loves chocolate ice cream and the Ohio State Buckeyes. He has more t-shirts and ball caps than you can count. He hogs the babies and does a mean Santa impersonation. He reads my blog, but here's the best part. . . he reads my comments too. So if you feel so inKlined (ha! get it?) leave my dad some birthday love. Tell him how amazing and wonderful he is, because he is amazing and wonderful. Or maybe you can tell him how amazing and wonderful I am. . . and that he must've passed on the good genes to me.

Love you, Dad.
Wilson loves you too.
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