Weird weather

Last weekend it was in the high 90s, almost 100 a few days, with unbearable humidity.

Last night, during the night, the temperature fell to a balmy 46 and today it never even made it past 65 degrees and it rained.

Expected temperature tonight: rain and 39.

You've got to be kidding. I have no idea how to dress for anything at this rate. And I can't go to work naked, right? Nobody wants to see that!

Mags

Spending time with Mac CAN be fun... I'm as surprised as you are!

I can't remember the last time Mac and I actually spent any sort of quality time together that didn't involve screaming, yelling, tears, the police or a therapist until last night! Holy cow- he and I spent 5 whole hours together and never said a cross word and we even laughed! We joked! We did tricks! Okay, no tricks, but we did laugh, joke around, talk and just had a generally good time.

I had to get a haircut and he went along and we listened to music and chatted. We had Subway and talked more. We saw a movie- Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp- and both agreed it wasn't too bad and was fun, and then we had a nice drive home, talking and visiting and I dropped him off at a friend's house for the evening. It was a pleasant surprise.

I have missed him. it's weird I know. Who misses hanging out with their kids? He and I were always close and always o much alike and we did like some of the same things but we were different enough to keep it interesting. He's a smart kid and can be easy and fun to talk to. I just really miss connecting with him, and spending time with him in a fun good way.

As a single mom (or one who's been divorced for 16 years, since Mac was 3 years old) it was always he and i against the world. On so many occasions we did things together, just the two of us: going to movies, the zoo, concerts, shopping, bowling, road trips... he was always up for an outing or an adventure. Since the end of his junior year of high school, we haven't connected like that. I know that stuff happens in life, and kids grow up, get their own lives, make their own friends, walk to the beats of their own drummers, leaving their but I always thought Mac and I would be "tight" as the the kids say, but we haven't been at all for the last couple years, with this last year being a parental/ child nightmare.

So last night was like a big old flashback for me, to the good and fun times I've had with Mac. it was good. Wish I could have lots more of these but I'll take what I can get!

Mags

Diet week 4

After the mess up with the "send my body into starvation-mode" and the fact that I ate butterscotch blondies at a Memorial Day picnic, I was not looking forward to my weigh in. After speaking with a nutritionist (okay 2 of them) who told me that I was probably going to gain weight because I starved myself, I was also nervous.

But the weigh in was not bad nor good. I I lost none and gained none; I weighed the same today as a week ago today.

So in the last four weeks, I've lost 10.5 pounds.

Whew- no gain!!!

Mags

New meaning to 'dead putt'

I think we should conserve land and build gold courses on top of cemeteries. Yep, I do. I think cemeteries are a waste of land but people seem to need them (and that's okay!!!) and since we don't live in a police state with mandatory cremation (yet) I think we could combine golf courses with cemeteries.

Follow me here.

First, it would have to be a no stone cemetery, obviously because golf balls can't be whacking into head stones; that would be a very unsatisfying hazard. That wouldn't make for a fun game at all. To address the matter of the missing headstone, I say that at each tee box, there should be a plaque with a list of names of people buried on that fairway, at that particular hole. There's one one special spot to go, but an entire area for that hole.

Second, loved ones can't leave flowers just willy-nilly all over the ground at a golf course so there could be a chapel where people can leave flowers. The names of the golf course buried are engraved on the walls of this chapel and it would be open to the families anytime the golf course is open.

Third, I think the golf course should be closed every Tuesday from 11am- 4pm for burials. One day a week, all people are buried so it can be open the other 6 days. I also think that after the burial and the families leave, then the graves are covered over, mashed flat and sod it laid down and watered. Grave maintenance is also done on this day- say, adding more dirt and sod to a sunken spot, engraving at the tee boxes, and that sort of stuff.

No one gets buried on a the putting green or the driving range.

It's just an idea. I think there are avid golfers who might actually go for it.

Mags

I'm going to explode

I ate way too much and I am totally not weighing in tomorrow. I'm not talking about it. I just blew it for the first time in a month. Had I not eaten the butterscotch blondie I would've been fine. I cheated. I suck.

damn my sweet tooth!
Mags

Random diet musings

Chicken carbonara Weight Watchers sucks. I've eaten about 20 kinds of Weight Watchers and Lean Cuisine meals and it's the first one that sucked totally and completely.

Why is it that I want movie popcorn with butter, garlic bread, and lemoncello cake more than anything else on this diet?

I would do sexual favors for the person who could make peanutbutter keeps it's taste and texture but be only 30 calories.

I like swimming and biking and paddling a boat. Whodda thought I could like exercise?

I've been experimenting with my favorite drink at Starbucks and no matter how my favorite baristas try, my tall sugar free mocha, sugar free peppermint, skinny, no whip drink doesn't taste anything like my former Venti Peppermint Mocha with Whip.

I love, love, love unsweetened iced tea, thank goodness because I would get really sick of water.

And why does Diet soda pop all have super nasty, gross, yucky after tastes?

I roasted asparagus, ate it, and lived to tell. And my pee was not weird.

Mags

Random crap in my head on Friday

If it's 97 degrees for several days in a row here in May, how miserable is it going to be in July? I might have to move to the polar ice cap for a few months.

Does anyone here play draw something? If so, let me know and we can get a game going. But consider yourself warned that I suck really badly. If I give you a lot of word clues it's because my drawings need severe help; words are my back up plan.

A shot of peppermint sugar free syrup in my iced tea is very light, refreshing, and yummy!

I have 4 days off. Thank you God of all Things Day Off. I would like to ask for Tuesday off too, but I don't wish to appear greedy.

My next pedicure is going to be a bright, florescent orange with little white daisies with yellow centers airbushed on!

Mac decided to NOT take some test that would then help him join the Navy, who probably wouldn't want him anyway.

I love laundry that's been on the clothes line all day; one of the best scents ever.

I've found the best used clothing store ever. I spent $30 and got 3xs the stuff I get when I spend $75 at Lane Bryant! And it's a small business owner, locally owned and the owner likes me and saves me special stuff!

Beach reading

I went to the library and picked some books. I thought I just needed to get away from young adult literature for awhile so I got some grown up books.

We all know I like, on occasion, to read with a theme, like that one time a few years ago when I was on a kick with food/ cooking memoirs or the time I read a bunch of books in a row that all had a female gender word in the title or when I read historical fiction, a bunch in a row. So, sometimes I do that consciously.

Apparently, I must do it unconsciously as well. I got 4 books at the library and when I got them home and started reading them and then scrutinizing, I discovered they all have to do with the beach, or they all take place at the beach or near water. I didn't do this purposely; it just happened. So I guess my first theme of the year is going to be beach books. Appropriate since it is summer time and all- a way to welcome the season, I guess.

Mags

where did that good idea go?

I hate that I think of great topics during the day and as soon as I sit down to blog, I can't remember a thing? I usually try to write myself a note but then I leave the note at work and can't remember it until I see if the next day and then forget again... well, you get my drifts.

What's worse is when I remember to bring the note home and I can't remember the details. I jotted one or 2 words and then I think "what hell was that supposed to be about?" It's all Greek. What was I going to say that I thought was blog worthy about "Pandas"? Hell, what even made me think that? So I think through the whole day trying to key in on the word Panda and draw nothing. Then I'm frustrated because I obviously had a good idea with Pandas but can't focus on something else because I'm concentrating so hard on Pandas that I can't come up with anything else.

Or my all time favorite idiot moment when it come to blog topics: I remember the topic and I sit down and start to write only to come up with about 1 paragraph. 1 very short paragraph. Okay, it seemed like a super idea to the point where I remembered it but I can't get anything else out of it. Nothing,. Nada. Zip. Zilch. The one paragraph blog post. yeah, right.

I swear I should have an entire blog dedicated to blog ideas gone awry. The ones that can't be developed or the single word or phrase that was once part of my brain that's gone. The single paragraph blog posts. Ugh!

Writer's Alzheimer's? Or just a blocked writer?

Mags

How I screwed up weight loss

So................ the weight loss has decreased and it's my fault. It's not the fault for the reason you might think. I have not cheated at all in the last three weeks. I haven't cheated on single bit. I haven't eaten anything bad for me and I've limited my grains and pasta to those found inside a Lean Cuisine Box. I have behaved. So, what the heck is going on, you might be wondering?

Well, first of all... please no "I told you so" because I just don't think I could handle it.

I screwed up. Here's how. Week one, I struggled and hovered my calories around 1100 per day. My goal was to be around 1000 but it was all new and I just had a hard time, which is to be expected when changing an eating lifestyle. But I still managed to lose 7.5 pounds the first week which I considered to be a huge success.

I felt my will power kick in the second week and I worked harder and felt good. The "always starving" feeling was beginning to dissipate. So, I thought since the shakes have so many good vitamins and nutrients and protein, I could cut down on my calorie intake. So I did. I didn't tell anyone either; I just did it. During the second week I went down to around 800 calories per day and that included my 2 shakes. That week I only lost 2.5 pounds. Sure not what I thought by cutting down more calories but I thought my body was making an adjustment.

Third week my will power kicked in to high gear and to be honest... well, I went to about 500-600 calories a day, including my shakes. I only lost a half a pound and Monday I was devastated because I never cheated, I exercised, and my calories were down. What the hell was wrong??

Well, a fat girl's body can actually go into starvation. Whodda thought? I seriously thought because I'm bigger that there's no way I could go into starvation mode. Everyone says "oh it won't hurt you to miss a meal" and stuff like that to fat people, but that's not true.

This explains why the fat guy on Lost never got skinnier.

Anyway, after talking to a nutritionist and reading the Body by Vi info and doing some research and talking to the nurse at school, it was true that my body thought I was trapped in the desert and didn't know if it would eat again so it hung on the my fat. Gross but true.

So, I'm supposed to have 900-1100 calories a day in FOOD in addition to my shakes.

I'm still eating healthy with salads and chicken and Lean Cuisine. I'm eating fruits and lots of veggies. I count calories and measure everything.

I'm still in awe that a fat girl's body can go into starvation. And I'm embarrassed that I did that.

So this week is better. It's hard to eat more because my brain is saying "fat!" but I know I have to because obviously the other way didn't work. Everyone says I look thinner already and some of my clothes do fit better even if the scale isn't showing it. Yay.

I hope that next Monday I can report better weight loss results. I want the SCALE to tell me I'm thinner!

Mags

Diet week 3

I lost a half a pound so the count is now up to 10.5 pounds lost. Only 79.5 to go. Shit.

Okay.

1,3, & 5 on the Before 41 list

It's been awhile since I looked at my list of things to do before I turn 41 (or things to do in my 40th year, as the list became) and I can cross three things off:

1- go on a geocache
2- dye a streak of pink in my hair

and the third thing, which I'm the most excited about:

3- lose 10 pounds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know I've blogged about the geocache and am giving a weekly update on the weight loss but I haven't written about the pink hair.

I found dye that is supposed to wash out in 1 shampoo. I colored my hair pink all over, with the help of Daddy-O, then I went out of dinner. I got some weird looks of course, but I did it! I have to say it made me look really young, too. (Side note: I did wear black lipstick and charcoaled my eyes but washed that off because I felt silly. And I didn't have the right punkslashsuicidegirlslashemo clothes to pull it off. Maybe when I see Green Day in concert?)

I love crossing stuff off my list!

Mags

Album review- Train

I love Train and plan to see them in concert in August! I just bought their new album called California 37 and from the first track, I'm in love!

I've been a Train fan for years and years, actually, and saw them in concert back in March 2006. They've had several popular songs on the radio over the years: "Meet Virginia", "Drops of Jupiter", "Calling All Angels", "Hey Soul Sister", "Marry Me", "When I look to the Sky", and "Cab" just to name a few.

California 37 is great, easy listening, with some fun tracks, sad songs and is easy to sing along with. I like the lyrics, the sound, the composition so it's a win- win for me.

Many people probably heard then recent hit "Drive By" on the radio and it's a catchy tune- hence the HUGE radio play. But other tracks are that good, or better. I love the duet with Ashley Monroe, called "Bruises" with some country sound. The campy "50 ways to say good bye" makes me laugh, and I just love all the other songs, too. "You can finally meet my mom" just touches my heart and the song "Mermaid" has the name Johnny Depp in the lyrics- so it's can't be a bad, song, right?

So, I recommend this album for people who like the adult contemporary sound. Don't hold that genre against them!

Mags

Other Train songs:

The Lazy Day

I said I was gonna be lazy today and I meant it. I slept in until 10am. I sat on the porch drinking coffee.

I was called to sub 8 times and let the phone go to voice mail, and the boss of my weekend receptionist job called me to see if I wanted extra hours and I said no.

I watched a little television and read a little.

It was so nice to just veg out. I went out for dinner and watched a movie, The Vow (which was terribly disappointing). I even had a "Skinny Bee" Margarita, which is about 100 calories so I had the warm fuzzies.

What a great day! I'd like a few hundred more of them!

Mags

Not enough time to craft

Lilith and I took an Archiver's class tonight and it was fun. First I love to hang with Lilith and visit and I love to take Archiver's classes so it combined 2 of my favorite things! We had fun girl time and a good supper, too. Yeah today!

We made a scrapbook called the Doodlebug Photo Album. It's really cool, and very pretty. However, it was the first night for the workshop and that's usually when they work out the kinks. It was a two hour workshops to make a 15 page album. No freaking way was that gonna work.

We got all our paper cut and the pages in the right order, and the cover and first three pages done. We got the book bound and that was it in 2 hours. They sent all the supplies home with us so we can finish on our own. I was so bummed because my plan was to finish the album and put pictures in it- which I had even remembered to bring with me. But no.....!

I really hate that but what could I do? I wish they would give enough time for everyone to finish the whole there. We weren't slow, I didn't think. Here's a link if you want to see it! And when I get mine done, I'll post a picture! And all I can say is that I'm really thankful that there was no heat embossing.

Mags

More than restless natives

I have no idea what's going on with the kids at school. Holy Fighting, Batman!

The kids just keep pounding on each other, and it's unrelenting.

And these aren't just small fights. These kids are beating the crap outta each other at the drop of a hat.

We had one girl scream at her teacher, leave the room, and go to another classroom to beat up a boy who broke up with her; I guess she just smacked him hard and then ran crying from the room and went to the office.

Then there were three boys. The boys were calling each other names and then one boy said to another "your mama's a 'ho who sucks dick." Oh yes he did! Apparently that was a line crossed because they went after each other to beat the snot out of each other. It took 3 male staff members to restrain the one who's mam was insulted. The other kid sorta cowered. And the third boy smacked the name caller in the face with a chair and walked out of the class.

There was the usual pushing and name calling by both genders, the kids cussing teachers and slamming doors.

And a kid who threw a temper tantrum and threw a chair into the hallway, and threw the recycling bins and then ran outside and ran around the building screaming and then punched a tree.

What's going on? I'm not sure but it's not good.

Things have to settle down.
Maggie

Come on FRIDAY!

After working all those hours I am so tired. I worked all those days in a row doing both jobs and am now working just my normal library job and I am so exhausted. I know it's my own fault. But I am so tired.

I'm having a shake party tonight- if I can get three people to sign up then mine's free! And tomorrow is a reading club party and Thursday is a scrapbook class and dinner with Lilith, and last night was art club. I did this to myself, I know.

This weekend I'm doing nothing.

I'm NOT working Friday. I've turned down subbing jobs already and I plan to just be a worthless layabout.

I'm due!
Mags

Diet Week 2

I lost 2.5 pound last week, bringing the grand total to 10 pounds lost.

I have no idea why I didn't lost very much. I never cheated a single bit. PMS maybe?

But 10 pounds is still 10 pounds and I'll take it!

Happy Birthday, Daddy-O

Happy Birthday Today to the Best Dad ever!!!!

Happy Birthday, Daddy-O! Thank you for being my father!

I love you, dad!

"A Father Poem" by Joanna Fauch

Every day the whole year through,
I feel grateful you are my father.
Some fathers don't have time for their kids,
But for you I'm never a bother.

You always make the effort to listen and share;
You're always there when you're needed.
It warms me to know how much you care,
And with that knowledge my worries are defeated

Dad, you are truly admired and adored,
And as your daughter, I hope that you know,
These sentiments fill me each day of the year,
And my love for you continues to grow.
Happy Birthday!

Still tired

As of Friday night I worked 72 hours in 6 days.

I spent 8 hours photographing a wedding, so hours worked with all jobs and the overtime is now up to 80 hours. And I'm so happy we had no Bridzilla and no mean mother of the Bride. The bride got snippy with her own mom and the sister of the groom was a complete control freak, but as a professional, we photographers just worked around her.

Is there any other reason I'm so tired? I think not.

I'd like to take a week off and sleep...

And I have to work 7 more hour tomorrow and then things will "settle" down again. Yeah, right!

Maggie

Nice, and creepy

Last night around 11pm I was at Wally World picking up a few groceries.

As I reading the nutrition information on Carmel corn rice cakes, an African American (race is actually relevant so continue to read) gentleman about my age approached me. He said "excuse me."

I apparently was still in work mode because after being slightly startled, I said "May I help you?"

He smiled and said "I just wanted to tell you that I think you're just beautiful." Uhhhhhh,, wha????? And that must've been the look on my face because he repeated himself. I said thanks and smiled, which apparently he took as an invitation.

He then held out his hand to shake mine and told me his name was Jerry. Reflex kicked in and I shook back and said my first name.

He told me he was from Chicago and was a truck driver and just was buying stuff to cook himself supper. He said he doesn't usually approach women in the grocery store but just wanted to tell me I was beautiful. He went on to say that where he was from didn't usually allow him to meet nor date white women but if he were to do that, he'd like to date someone who looks just like me because I'm so attractive.

I said thanks and walked away.

What else was I supposed to do?

It was a lovely set of compliments. But sort of a little creepy...

Weird Wal-Mart happenings,
Mags

O.M.Goodness.........

Working 14 hour days is kicking my butt.....................

Today was the 4th one in a row...........

Nothing further............

Mags

GO Schedule!

This week is crazy busy with working all the extra hours and next week is going to be crazy busy but that's my own doing as well- crazy with FUN stuff!!!

Monday I'm either staying home and relaxing or daddy-o and I are going out for his belated birthday supper.

Tuesday I have art club after school AND a diet shake party.

Wednesday night is the rescheduling of the literary mystery party for my students.

And Thursday night, the best of all, I'm taking a class at Archiver's with Lilth- it's a Doodle Bug class. We're making a scrapbook. I'm so organized I have a stack of pictures I'm bringing along and before I leave the store, not only will I have made a scrapbook, but it will BE FILLED WITH PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And then dinner out.

Friday might be lunch with a friend from the Wild West who really lives closer to me now that I've moved back. I might have mentioned Trooper before. He's going to be at a conference in my neck of the woods and we might be able to meet for lunch!

Busy girl,
Mags

Why can't good stuff all happen at once?

Sometimes life is just going to suck. That's all there is to it. I wish, just for once, I could get all the good things happening at once. I can get all bad stuff coming down on me at one time but I can't seem to manage all the good things simultaneously.

I'm losing weight right now- that's a good thing.

I like work- that's a good thing.

I have some money in my savings account- a good thing.

Mac is an asshole- bad. And there's nothing I can do to fix it- also bad. And it's going to probably result in him getting kicked out of the house- REALLY bad.

Still a poor paying job with no insurance- bad

A bone spur that will need an operation to be removed- bad

And the guy I was dating and I are no longer dating (he doesn't like the long distance thing, wants me to move there NOW and decided he wants to date other people)- also a bad thing. And a sad thing.

Sometimes Tuesdays suck

Mags

Diet: summary of Week 1

I said this blog is NOT going to be all about dieting but that I would occasionally keep you all updated.

Here's the update:

• I'm still dieting


• It works

I lost 7.5 POUNDS in the first week!!!!!!!!!!!

Need I say more?

Boo- Yah!
Mags

It sounded like a good idea last February

As ya'll know I have many different jobs. I answer the phones on every third weekend in a second shift position. The company I do this for is a firm believe in a live human answering the phones 24/7.

The woman who usually does this Sunday- Thursday is on vacation this week. She planned for vacay last February and my boss for this position asked me if I wanted the hours. She asked me the day after I found out my school loan payments went up $200 a month; I said YES when she asked me.

Hence the title of this post...

Financially this is still a really good idea, no doubt about it. I'll make more in that week taking all her hours: 42 from today through next Sunday.

But now that it's here I keep asking myself "MAGGIE, ARE YOU CRAZY???" And please do NOT respond to that because I think we all know the answer!

So, Monday -Thursday I'll library all day and receptionist all night. During the day on Friday I made a commitment to Girl to take her to honor her dead mother. Then I'm the receptionist Friday night. In the midst of it all, I'm assisting in photographing a wedding ALL DAY Saturday; I had to let someone else work the Saturday hours. Sunday is Mother's Day and Daddy-O's birthday so we have church, birthday festivities and then I work receptionist next Sunday night.

Writing it all down makes me tired...

I'll have lots of time to read and post and I'll make money; there's always an upside!

Mags

Get in Tune

I've been downloading music for the last few years and I've decided to stop. I realize that's anti-technology sounding but I don't care.

My CD burner on my computer burns a CD just fine. I can play it on my computer or on the house CD players. The one place I cannot play a burned CD is in my car. I've no idea what's wrong but if I burn a CD on my laptop it will NOT play in my car. If Mac burns a CD for me on his desktop, about 50% of the time it works. That's so frustrating.

My ipod has died; the headphone jack doesn't work. I play it from my docking station but that's all. It also won't play using an adaptor through my car.

It's obvious I have several issues happening here. I mostly listen to music in my car and I have no way to listen unless it's the radio or a purchased CD. So, I decided to heck with it and I'm buying CDs from now on. How old school am I?

And to make myself even older, I went to Half Price Books and to a 'record' store and got a TON of new to me but used CDs! I'm totally jammin'! it feels awesome to have some new tunes.

I'm going to share titles here; don't judge. I'm 40 years old and I can listen to what I want, no matter how nerdy it makes me sound:

• California 37 and Save Me San Fransisco Golden Gate Edition by Train


• Great Hits- James Taylor


• Doo-Wops and Hooligans- Bruno Mars


• We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things and LOVE is a 4-Letter Word- Jason Mraz


• Living Hard and Get Off On the Pain- Gary Allan


• Sweeter- Gavin DeGraw


• 21- Adele


• 1.22.03 Acoustic Live- Maroon 5


• Teenage Dream- Katy Perry

It's been years since I bought CDs and I'm so glad I could find these all dirt cheap!

I be jammin',

Mags

Caution: lemon can cause... crazy?

Since I started making shakes for breakfast I like to add flavors and lemon seems to be my favorite. I just want to say that.

Also, I'd like to point out I've never been diagnosed with a mental illness. I'm just sayin'.

So, am I the only one who talks to herself? And I don't just mean talk... I mean... well, entertain herself, and not in that sexual way, either! Let me just give a "for example."

I made a shake in the morning and it was lemon flavored. I was driving to work and drinking the shake and I started saying the word "lemon" over and over in different voices, different accents, doing impressions. Then I started singing the lemon song. I don't KNOW a lemon song, but I made one up. Yep.

And about half way to work, I discovered what I was doing. And I stopped. Then I started berating myself for being such an idiot. But I was doing the berating aloud. And occasionally reminding myself how yummy my lemon shake was- sort of interjecting that happily while I yelled at myself for chanting lemon.

I'm not crazy. I swear.

This is why I should just shut up and turn on the radio in the car in the morning, right?

Mags

Random TGIT!

If I were still in Montana, we would be celebrating Thirsty Thursday tonight and let me tell ya, after the crazy week here at school, I could use it! I'm seeing Lilith tonight and if I didn't have a drive home and could sleep somewhere in Northern Civilization, it would be a 4 martini night.

It's been a good but busy week. Busy isn't always bad, right?

And of course I've had something going on after school everyday this week, which is my own planning fault, of course! But I love my GFs and sometimes our time together is scarce so I take it when I can get it and this week I've been blessed to see XRay Girl last Sunday (we got Pedi's and I got the best named toenail polish color ever: Mrs. Leary's BBQ), Photographer after school this week (Starbucks run!) and to hang with Lilith tonight! Yay girl time!

And for some reason, I have this deep throaty voice thing going that sounds either like Kathleen Turner/ Suzanne Pleshette (when she was alive) or I sound like I have the flu. I feel fine, overall, but the voice sounds rough (I was asked to audition for the musical Annie that our community theater is doing. The show's producer specifically found me at church and asked me but with this voice and this schedule, there was no way I could. And auditions were last night and I sounded not like Kathleen at that point, but like "swallowed a frog". No No audition, but I woulda been a kickbutt Miss Hannigan!). Add that to busy and the combination is one tired girl- me!

Mags

Help! The library aide needs aid!

I've ordered tons of new books lately and it's been fun getting the shipments in!

What's not fun is that my student library assistant was released from our program and went home; now I'm swamped!

I don't think I realized how much she did, as far as the day to day stuff goes. She processed all our magazines and newspapers and put away all the books. Then if time allowed, she would also cover new books, do any cleaning and straightening and design my bulletin boards. Now I get to do it all! Holy cow, there aren't enough hours in the day!

So, I'm off to straighten shelves and put away about 100 books!

My fingers are crossed that I get another helper soon!

Mags

Crocheting post edit found here

I want to say I hate using Blogger in Microsoft Explorer. I've figured out that 99% of the time I do, there's some weird error.

I wrote the prayer shawl post on Sunday, saved it, then added a paragraph later, and hit publish and today as I re-read it, I discover the added paragraph is gone. So:

Some of the kids wanted to help but had never crocheted before and some has just started learning. This became... an issue. All of the kids had their hearts in the right places but some of them didn't have the crocheting talent to back it up. We had some yarn projects that were... challenging. So God Bless Daddy-O and Curly who "fixed" a bunch: gave them edges, ripped out knots, made shawls longer or wider, and in a couple situations just... um. sorta, maybe took out some stitches and then redid them a bit smoother. This project had 2 angels who made ALL the blankets, shawls, and lap robes able to be used. AND, they each made their own shawls to contribute because I was afraid we wouldn't have enough and the project became HUGE so I didn't want to let anyone down. The ones they made were so pretty, too! (and I have to admit: I can't knit nor crochet so Daddy-O made one for me to contribute!) Thank you Dad and Curly because there is no way I coordinated this alone!

That is the VERY IMPORTANT missing paragraph that stupid Explorer ate!
Mags