No News, Is Good News

Not much to report, which is why you haven't seen any new news here. Busy working and trying to be a decent parent. Some days that goes better than others. But hey- the effort is there!!!!

There is also little time to just sit and think about the world with holidays upon us. It's just go, go, go. I am happy for the upcoming break. I really feel terrible for non-education career people and that year around gig. It really has to suck. Anytime I think of a different career- "Oh! That sounds like an interesting job!" I quickly remind myself that I would have to work during the month of July!! (and I wouldn't have off time in June, August, and December!) However, those that work with kids know that you need that down time in order to wind down from children antics. Otherwise, students would be beat to death!!! Okay. That is a bit extreme. Let's just say that we are better teachers/ caregivers when we get regular breaks from the little fireballs.

With that said, I am going to sign off and think about my next installment. As we said in our school notes, LLL.

I Hear that 40 Comin! Comin around the Bend..

I have been trying to get here and post since September 23rd! But I had to get something here on the last day of September. Oddly, I thought I had posted something and was surprised to read my last posting was in August. Anyway!

(Incidentally, can you hear Johnny Cash on my title?)

Update- everything and everybody is doing well. We have a routine established and we're rolling right along, taking the bumps as smoothly as possible. The Con Man, Eagle Eye Chaj and The Husband are all just peachy. Truly not much to report- perhaps I will share some cute stories later!

As for me, I've been terrific! Except I did have one very bad evening. Kathi wrote me a little email message at work (I needed something we used to work on together) and it really hit me how much I miss her and working with her. Now, that is not to say I don't miss everyone else! It mostly illustrates how these moments of intense longing really come out of the blue! Here I am reading an email, happily enjoying the newsy tidbits, and WHAM! I am crying like a big baby. My mom has informed me that things like this would happen to her as late as 2 years after a move. SO- one more month and year to go! Can you believe it? November 1st I will have lived in Indiana a whole year.

More updates on me- I will be 40 years old tomorrow! Who'd-a-Thunk-it? This birthday isn't hard at all! But it is weird to think I will be 40! Feel kind of proud, actually. Why? Don't know! It only proves I haven't died, which is really a strange way to view it.

My weight release- (at my Weight Watchers meeting, a lady says she doesn't 'lose' weight. When you lose something, you usually want to find it, to have it back! Instead she releases it!) Anyway, my weight release has slowed down considerably. I knew it would happen if I got a job because it is so hard to focus on it as a main priority when I am trying to be the LibraryMomma Extraordinaire!

I have attempted to entice the staff to exercise with me after school! Monday was our first day- it went well. I'll also share with you that it is also difficult to get motivated when I look in the mirror! I still would like to release 35-40 pounds, but I look so great in my clothes right now! Now you tall people consider my short height in this next sentence- but right now I am fitting into 10/ 12 size and although I suppose I 'should' be smaller, I just can't seem to feel that fat, coming from where I was before. I know I'll get the bug again though, so I won't worry.

The LibraryMomma Extraordinaire- I am trying. When I write that, all I can think of is "the Beebs". Not sure why, but there it is. I could share all kinds of little library bits, but I will spare you! I am really enjoying having my own library media center to run and all the fun/headaches that come along with it. But it has really tapped into my writing time! Now I know why professional writers (or want to be's) try not to work full time on an outside job! It really drains your creative thoughts! But I continue to jot down thoughts in my journal, at least weekly.

So, I think stopping here would be a good idea, as I am beginning to get tired. (mostly from what I have written!!! :-)

I wish you a crisp, cool, colorful autumn October with lots of pumpkin treats!
(Let's all take a moment to Thank to Good Lord Above for Pumpkin Shakes at Culvers! How DID He know? YUM!)

Puking, Homework Blues, and Another Week

Sunday night until Monday morning, Eagle Eye Chaj was my little puking man. Poor child. He was up most of the night, just miserable. The very wonderful husband stayed home with him on Monday and thankfully both were ready to be back at, Tuesday.



Unfortunately, the absence led to an increase in the homework load. Eagle Eye Chaj is in GT or REACH this year (self contained gifted/talented class) and it is proving to be challenging. Perhaps it is due to the absence or just a change in routine, but the frustration of trying to figure out WHAT had to be done and by WHEN was enough to make the parents lose their flippin' minds. Have you spoken with an 8 year old lately? Were you able to extract the exact details needed to accomplish a task? Good for you, because the ole Eagle Eye was sparse on the details. Yes. I do realize that is developmentally where they are at, but we were tired and just wanted to spend time with the boys. Not have to become a reincarnation of Attila the Homework Hun or Detective SherHomework. I am quite certain his teacher thinks I am a hysterical, as in crazy not funny, over-reactive parent. I am hopeful I can alter this captivating image. The most amazing part of the homework hell is, Eagle Eye Chaj, after a few tears were shed, managed to smile, laugh, get good grades on the weekly tests and be his sweet caring self. I love the resiliency of children.



The Con Man is a little big man. Adorable and charming. And so knowledgeable about all things Kindergarten. Just a ball of fuzzy funny. He had a terrific week. As did the LibraryMomma and the wonderful husband, I think.



Not much to add , but I have to say last evening, Con Man and I had quite a list of "Thankful for's" to share with each other and God. Oh, Blessed Weekend and my Boy Time is here.

The Sunny Side

"Keep on the Sunny Side, always on the Sunny Side, Keep on the Sunny Side of Life! It will help us everyday, it will brighten all the way. If you keep on the Sunny Side of Life!"

Yep. I'm keeping on the Sunny Side, in honor of my new work place. It has a been a whirlwind the last two weeks!!! The In-Laws were visiting 2 weeks ago. Then on the boys' first day of school and my first day of school/work, my sister and her family drove through and stopped over for a very quick visit. They were not even here 15 hours before they left again. Good to see them.

I had been fighting a dreaded summer cold and was frantically trying to get everything set up the way I need it to be in the library and I was having trouble sleeping. It was totally crazy! To top it all off, The Con Man got sick at school today and the husband had to go pick the boy up. Which is the reason I am now up at this ungodly hour- he tossed his cookies again in bed! So.

So. What to share? Like I haven't shared enough already?

The boys are settling in and we ALL have had some adjustment pains. Everyone of us has had a turn at a meltdown of sorts. Luckily, none of us had it all together at the very same time. But this is common for the first couple weeks of school for us- it is a pattern. And I don't think we can change it, as much as I'd like to.

My first week at work was pretty good. The children were active and I remembered the conversation with Kathi about the first month of school. She trudges through it. And now, I remember why. The kids have forgotten how to act in school and you have to mime, squeal, role play, jump up, act, jump down, and generally exhaust yourself to engage them, while getting them back into the routine.

Through the grapevine, I heard a complaint about the library schedule. And since I was not in charge of it, I know there isn't much I can do but sigh. I knew the new job wouldn't be PERFECT, but it was still a bummer to hear the first negative comment. In these moments I strive to remember Jo's motto: "It Sucks to be YOU!" It keeps things in perspective for me to think that. It is too easy to take on and in other people's junk, so I just think of Jo's motto and remember that their problems and issues are theirs, not mine! Helps rid me of my Catholic and Jewish guilt. Too bad I'm not Catholic or Jewish! Then I would know where that natural internal guilt comes from, for real.

Yes. There were some awesome highs this week and a couple of pretty low lows. But I have maintained- OVERALL, mind you- to Stay on the Sunny Side.

I wish you the same.

Ooops! Forgot to mention the sleeping thing...

Kathy, you are not the only one that would question my being up late at night. Yes, I had gone to bed early that evening, but lately I've had very disrupted sleeping patterns. I am told this is the sign of impending menopause. Well, I don't know about all that, but if so, I say, BRING IT ON! Otherwise, I will blame it on the anticipation and excitement of the new job!

The Comments (smiles and grins)

To MaryAnn, Kim, Melissa, Kathy!

Ahhh. My first commenters of 2008! I'm so excited!! You'd think I would have checked the blog sooner, but I have been practicing patience and being a grown up. Stop laughing.

Thanks MaryAnn! I am looking forward to working with a fun staff!

Beebs- You are a brillant Librarian and I hope Blackburn knows how lucky they are. And I will someday write a book with you!

Melissa- You mean there is something you don't remember about me???

Kathy- You just want to go back to the 'burg. I know the truth! And you can write KathySueNews- you just have to be boring like me!

Thanks for the comments. It is fun to read them.

For everyone else! I am still waiting on paperwork to make my new job official. I am telling you, it amazing how much things change and how much other things stay the same! I did do some signing of papers today and looked around the school. Not much to report.

Be looking for an update soon!

2 Years is a Enough Time between Blogs

Here I am after all this time. It was 'something' to come back and see how far I have come from the worst experience in my life to date. No. I don't expect worse things to come, but I do have to be realistic! Rain will fall again. But for now. For now.

All is good.

To bring this blog up-to-date!! We (the husband and two sons) have relocated from Nebraska to Indiana. Now what a change, but then, not really. We have lost our immediate contacts of friends/family in Omaha, but Indiana and Nebraska share that Midwest feel. Although I have to say that Indiana also offers a feel of the south, which I know is crazy geographically! But it really does have a down home southern feel! Even the land reflects this to me.

I am northeast of Indianapolis and if I drive north I am in the Omaha corn fields and wide open spaces. If I travel directly southward it is small curvy country type roads lined with woods and creeks. Which reminds me of my childhood Kentucky and around my parent's house in present day Georgia.

And let us all take a moment and thank the good Lord for the availability of sweet tea- a true southern treat- here in Indy!

I have been keeping my friends and family up to date with a newsletter through email. Well, I am thinking I am tired of doing it that way. I never know if I should be sending it to this one or that one. I feel it is time to welcome back the blog and see how it goes. Then this one and that one can make their own choices.

However, this may be a bad time, with a new job and all, but I'll see what I can do. I figure one posting a month will do the trick. Unless I have something that needs to be said!

That is it for now! We'll see what else will be said. Leave your comments here or email me at TheLibraryMomma@gmail.com

Woo Hoo... A Comment!!!

Much gratitude and thanks to one, Mamalang out there in blog land! I am so psyched that you posted a comment, I don't really know what to do with myself! I will indeed be visiting you blog, momentarily.....
maybe I will leave a comment!
Then you and I can dialouge.

Okay- this could be something someone comments on- when I was posting about the Christmas letters, I wrote the word- "writes" incorrectly, as "rights."

where's the mudslinging?????

I have a comment,-yea!
I have a comment, weee!
I have a comment...
(how do I portray the little tune I am singing here?)
Have a happy day!