Time off

I don't have to work today. Anywhere! Yahoo!!!

When I first started at Alcatraz, the Principal told me my last day was Fri. Sept 22. So when I was arranging the start date for my other job at the other school, we discovered that the 22nd was a Wednesday. The lady I was speaking with and I both thought be just meant Friday, the 24th. I had worked at Alcatraz for a week when I learned it was really Wed. the 22nd was my last day. I never called the other school to change it and thought I would just take the 2 days off.

Then I thought I would be super mom and take Mac on 2 college visit days today and tomorrow. We even one scheduled for today and then he said he wasn't sure taking 2 off in a row was a good idea, AND he had lifting for a game on Friday so that might not be good either. So I figured I would chill tomorrow and enjoy a nice three day weekend.

His college visitation for today had to be cancelled at the last minute because he's in a club where high school kids agree to educate the junior high kids on topics that relate to peer pressure situations. This club has a day long training today so Mac had to go to that and we cancelled the visit.

So guess who has a loooooooooooooong 4 day weekend?!? Oh yeah, that's right. That's what I'm talking about! Me!! Whoot- whoot!

I sort of felt guilty, like I should be at school. And I was worried about going 2 days without pay. But then I counted it up and I'm still going to have a 9 day pay period instead of 10 so it didn't seem like such a big deal.

I also started thinking about "working". I taught in the Wild West from Aug. 2008-Dec. 2008. Then I was off for about three weeks due to moving and Christmas and paperwork but I started subbing around the second week of January 2009. And I subbed almost daily from then until May 2009. Then I worked ice cream and insurance for that summer, daily. Then I subbed for a few months when school started and then I finished that contract last year from Halloween until June 2010, then I did summer school at Alcatraz with only 1 week off.. Then I taught the maternity leave. I think it's okay for me to have 4 days off. I think I can use the relaxation time.

However, I'm still working on that dang Beowulf movie the kids made. Yeah, long story but we will finish it this evening; we have about 5-7 hours left to work. And I'm showing it tomorrow to the kids; I got permission from the new teacher. And I told them I would bring treats so I also have to either shop or bake. I also have to go to Mac's game tomorrow night. I'm supposed to go out for dinner for my birthday to a restaurant almost a 2 hour drive away on Saturday which seemed like fun when I agreed to it but now it seems like a long damn car ride just to eat at the Cheesecake factory. Sunday's big plan, which is the actual birthday, is to see Curley, and maybe hang with Sam.

For a weekend off, it seems busy. I have no idea how I get myself into these things.

But as for now, I'm going to lay on the sofa, drink coffee, and read a good book for a few hours.

Mags

Party Time Grill!

Last night I fixed dinner for Mac and me and I used the George foreman Party Time Grill. Does anyone else have one of these?

I loved cooking on it- I used it the first time. I marinaded boneless chicken breasts in a honey teiryaki marinade for 24 hours. Then I grilled them on the Party Time grill; the chicken was awesome! I also fried some potatoes in garlic, butter and olive oil. And we had cornbread. (I love cornbread with milk and honey!) Mac thought the food rocked and I was impressed with my bad self and my mad cooking skills. And there was no open flame so the danger of burning down Daddy-O's house was lower than if I actually learned to use the outside grill- and it was cooler in the house and bug free, so it was a win-win for all!

The George Foreman Party Time Grill is awesome and easy to use and I really like it but cleaning it up sucks. I read the directions and checked the web site and it never says I can't stick it in the dishwasher but all the cleaning directions say to wash it by hand. If anyone has one and sticks it in the dishwasher, could you let me know?

The other thing that makes me laugh is reading the directions. There are recipes in the booklet and they don't just read "place chicken pieces on the grill" but "place chicken pieces on The Party Time Grill!". They included the exclamation point. I was fraught with laughter and every time from that moment on, after explaining the funny to Mac, we would both be obnoxious with saying "Party Time Grill!" in loud excited voices, complete with verbally punctuated exclamation points!!

So special thanks for Curley for giving me the Party Time Grill! We loved it! It was yummy! Thank you!

Let's get cookin'!
Maggie

Is Sam still employed? And the West Wing date follow up

Yes, Sam is still employed. I will spare you all the down and dirty details and all the names he called his boss- which are most certainly NOT fit to print. But be that as it all may, he still has a job and in the middle of this global depression, it's a blessing. The Boss was in his office from San Fran to Dublin on Thursday and was saccharin sweet- I can at least tell you that. His job had been restructured- more training, more sales, more travel and less management duties- Sam is not a happy camper about the last one... When I talked to him after our West Wing date, his final words about the job were: "If I call you around noon your time, then you can rest assured I punched his lights out and ordered you plane ticket- you'll be leaving Sunday." The phone call, the punch nor the ticket occurred. So, he's employed for now.

The down side of this restructuring mess is that I am now no longer going to meet him in San Fran in April. Before this, he was to be in CA for 14 days and I was going to be there for a big chunk of those. The trip is now down to 4 days, with him flying out on a red eye on Thursday so he can conduct a training in Dublin on Friday... I don't think I need to even talk about how unhappy both of us are over this whole thing. he's pissed at the company. He's also pissed at himself. I'm sad over it all, vow to not use any guilt on the man because he does it well enough on his own (He has a Jewish mother- he lived the World Series of Guilt for years!), and am mad at the company. I would say the upside is that if his training schedule works out, I'll go see him at the beginning of May and be there for his birthday! Now that would be nice...

And as for our West Wing date, it was fun. We giggled and talked through much of it and he can quote the whole thing word for word, which struck me as hilarious, for some reason. When he worked for Clinton, he told me he was really like Toby but wanted to be more like Josh with a splash of Sam<-- the character played by Rob Lowe, not MY AIISam. But he was really Toby. (Okay he really wanted to be Leo- who wouldn't want to be Leo?!?) And as I watched that episode I can totally see it. Completely- he is sooooo Toby. Ah, the things TV help you learn about those you love. BUT anyway, we talked and watched and decided to do it again. We even have another "date" episode picked out. (And we were totally impressed that we only had a 2 second lag from when we separately clicked play) And for those of you who are not familiar with the shoe, shame on you, and sorry you just wasted a bit of your life reading this paragraph that probably made no sense...

Ah, the world of Sam. At least updating you on him and how his job affects me keeps me from really talking about myself........

I'm a CJ girl myself (or is that Dr Bartlet?),
Maggie

Another Sam story...I know, I'm making you all sick

Sam and I talk on the phone every night, as I think I've mentioned. And we've talked on the phone every night since that's all we have- that and Instant Messaging plus emails. All telecommunication mediums. I don't think I've ever loved technology so much.

We talk every night. We revel in the chaos that is our lives and how to blend us together over the thousands of miles and the Pond that separates.

S0, yes we talk every night- usually a few hours, until the wee hours of the morning in Ireland, when he should be in bed sleeping, but instead he's telling me anything and everything just mere hours before he needs to get up and go to the office. We whisper secrets into the dark, share our fears and thoughts about everything, we share our past lives, our desires, wants, needs, and play 'what if' with our future, our stories, and many many laughs. We just click, in a strange way that is so very good. And he's quoted some movie (neither of us can remember which one- When Harry Met Sally?!) because he said it sums up how he feels very well. He said he likes that he wants my voice to be the last one he hears at night before he sleeps... and he can't wait until it's the first one he hears in the morning... Oh my. Oh my oh my oh my.

Sam went to Amsterdam this weekend for business. Well, Friday and Saturday were in Amsterdam for pleasure- a mini vacation- and then Sunday until Wednesday are business in a town about 30 minutes outside of the city. And while in Amsterdam, he is enjoying... a particular offering of the city which is legal. He also told me that he MUST keep conversations on Sunday through Tuesday nights brief so he can get some sleep and be at the top of his game for business with potential new clients. Now, to recap the weekend talks: our conversation on Friday was brief; he booked my ticket and we chatted about his trip and my upcoming visit and the wonders of the State Department and my First Passport Ever. Saturday afternoon he called and it was... a brief conversation, which made me laugh and he doesn't remember.

Then there was Sunday night's phone call. Or shall I say calls? He called and I wasn't near my phone and he left a delightful message. (Some of you who've known me for a loooong time will get the ironic humour here.) He said "I'm in The Middle of Fucking Nowhere, Holland and have no Internet and no cell service. I'll try back in a half hour. If you want to call me, here's my hotel phone number and room number..." He called a second time and again, I missed the call- Mac and I were playing music in the car way too loudly. That message said, "Sorry I missed you again. If you get this message in the next 10 minutes, give me a call." This one came in about... 1:45 AM his time. I missed the 10 minute window so I figured I was just out a phone call from him, for the first time in over a month, damn it!

Ah, but I was wrong... he called me at 2 am his time. Because he missed talking to me before bed time. Because the weekend didn't allow for our regular phone call routine. Because he has it bad for me. Because he doesn't sleep as well if he doesn't chat with me before bed. Because of me. I couldn't stop smiling because it was 2 am in the morning, he was seeing clients at 7 am and he missed me, wanted to hear the sound of my voice. Even though he told me last week we couldn't have a late night chat, he still called me. He likes me, he really likes me! This boy has it BAD!!!!

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, don't tell, but guess what? So do I!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Somebody likes me lots,
Maggie

Anyone want to hear a happy Valentine's day story?

Last night I had a phone date with Sam. We decided we would set a time and just talk until one of us was ready to fall asleep.

We talked for several hours and we each drank a bottle of wine. This is an interesting way to get to know each other because it's all about talking and sharing. We can't kill time with a movie or doing stuff- we are getting to know each other since we're a continent apart, separated by an ocean. We talk just about every day, every night.

It was funny because last night we concluded that we've told each other stuff that we haven't ever told other people, which is cool, and scary. We laugh LOTS and tell stories. We debate politics, talk about the news, films, books, our lives. We giggle and sigh and are often times very stupid and teenage like. We talk jobs and families.

And since we actually had a date, we were sweet and silly and just relaxed. It was our Valentine's Day since we couldn't be together, we did our own thing.

Background so what he did makes sense: Sam moved to Ireland for... a change in life. He asked his wife of 10 years for a divorce and then got the heck out of dodge. He was sick of working in a Bush DC and thought he would just flee the country and do something he always wanted- live internationally. The time was right, the job offer was irresistible and he went. He, of course, had no idea he would meet an American still in the States that he was "intrigued" by and that he found "beautiful, smart, charming, sexy, smarmy when necessary, and witty." <-- That's me he's talking about!!!! I understand him, I "get" this, wanderlust??? I mean, does this guy sound like anyone we know- maybe some crazy girl who moved to the Wild West to teach school??? Hmmmmmm? Anyone? Anyone?

So... here we are, with a Pond between us, feeling a bit melancholy and whimsical, on the eve of Valentine's Day, having a silly phone date, chatting in the darkness, drinking our wine when he gave me a Valentine's gift. He... well... he... sang to me. He had a beautiful voice, with some classical training thrown in, and he... he put a head set on (phone) and grabbed his guitar and sang and played me a song. The. Most. Romantic. Thing. In. History. O.M.G!!!!!! Yes, schmaltzy. Yes, you can't believe it and I know Farrago is rolling his eyes and throwing up in the back of his mouth a little bit. BUT-- it was charming, sweet, perfect. I... I... and it gets BETTER. He picked a song. And had to learn it for this occasion. And I'm putting the lyrics (and a youtube video) here because, well, because he's a guy who picked this particular song. Oh hell, I'm not gonna spell it out- just read the words, and it will make sense. "It's a Long Way Back Home" by BNL.

My dear Goddess, help me, help us all because... I like him; I really like him.... Oh dear. Oh dear... Can a phone date be one of the best dates ever?

Happy *Heart* Day! Love and kisses,
Maggie

It's a long way back home
to pack up and leave again
Together alone
You without me again

It's a long way back home
and a long way back here again
I should have known
That you would just bleed again

For the first time I knew what to do
The first time it's just me and you
and then the worst timing I ever knew
I have to go
I already know

It's a long way back home
To feel like I'm far away
How should I know
What goes on here anyway?

For the first time I knew what to do
The first time it's just me and you
and then the worst timing I ever knew
I have to go
I already know

Why not spend a week on a star
No time, he can't get there by car
When we get some time on our own
We'll plan our next year alone

It's a long way back home
from just about anywhere
'Cause once through the door
I'm not even halfway there

For the first time I knew what to do
The first time it's just me and you
and then the worst timing I ever knew
I have to go
I already know

It's a long way back home

Chillin' with Mac

Mac and I saw the movie Paul Blart: Mall Cop. It sucked. it so very much sucked. It sucked more than any more I've watched in a very loooooooooong time. There are not words to describe how bad that movie actually is. It's every bit as bad as you can imagine.

The upside was that I got to hang out with Mac. Daddy-O took us to supper at a local Chinese place and then he went to church choir practice while Mac and I saw the movie. I would have rather been at choir, and since you know how I feel about church, that's saying lots! But the food and the company were all good! And Mac makes me laugh, most of the time.

He'd been a butthead the last several days, whether it was PMS (pre-man syndrome) or just because he's 15 but he was in a good mood that night. I also convinced him to get a much needed hair cut. It wasn't nearly as short and I wanted it to be but it's now off his collar and out of his eyes. If I could just convince him to get rid of the black hair dye that he thinks makes him look older, we'd be all set. I think the black hair dye look stupid, frankly, because his coloring is so fair and when he grows his beard in, it's red. And at 15 he does grow in his beard- he's a hairy little sucker- he can shave in the morning and have a shadow by noon!

So, hanging with Mac was a good thing... and we got complimentary popcorn at the movie theater- what could be better than that?

Mac's mama,
Maggie

If you're going to talk the talk, be ready to walk the walk (or "why I went to Pittsburgh for 24 hours")

Spontaneity. I have always claimed that I'm a spontaneous person. Until last week, though, I would say that my spontaneity was usually on a small level. Dance in the rain. Midnight walks in the snow. Random trips to a movie theater. Small stuff.

My move to the Wild West was rather spontaneous to an extent-- the fact that it all happened so quickly was what made it seem crazy spontaneous, but I'd wanted to teach HS and had wanted to live in the Wild West for a long time so it was going to happen at some point in my life. The turn around was fast so I guess it was "organized" spontaneity, if you will.

Okay, now I need to tell you something else. Follow me here: some of you might remember that I signed up accidentally, of course, for an Irish dating service. It was free. So, what you might not know, is that I've been communicating via email with an American who lives in Dublin. He took a transfer with his company and has been in the Emerald Isle for about 6 months. He and I have been emailing and it had been great fun to talk to him- an American perspective of Ireland, a place I desperately want to see!

This AmericaninIreland Sam is funny and he is an excellent correspondent. Our email exchanges are fun and lively and full of wit and intelligence, sometimes reaching rather Tolstoy-esque lengths. He can write complete sentences. He likes to read and to travel. He's thoughtful. He's smart. He has a delicious sense of humour. He's a bit handsome, well, quite a bit handsome. He's well versed in politics- and is a Democrat.

He's such a Democrat that before he went across the Pond he campaigned for President Obama. He lived in DC so that was easy for him to do. He was such a supporter and believer that he traveled around the US to do some campaigning. He is such a supporter and believer that he came to DC last week for the Inaugural Festivities. He had Ball tickets and tickets to be on the Mall for the ceremony. So, he was in DC.

We chatted on the phone TONS once he got State side. And we emailed. And then we broke all dating rules. We talked and emailed all the time and said to hell with the three date rule- who can wait three days when he's only in the US for a week? And then he called on Tuesday night with a crazy proposal: Would I meet him half way between DC and Civilization? He priced plane tickets for both of us to any airport that lay between us and the most affordable plan was for us to meet in Pittsburgh, PA. That was halfway. For a date. Would I do it? It was crazy, silly, absurd-- but... since I've always claimed that I like to fly by the seat of my pants, that I've always wanted to be in love like a movie, because it felt right, all the elements came together, so...YES!

Yes, I drove to Pittsburgh, PA on Thursday to meet my AmericaninIreland Sam, for a 24 hour long date. We had from 3 pm Thursday until 2 pm Friday, when he had to get back on a plane, get back to DC so he could prepare to fly back to Dublin Saturday night. Yes, dear readers, I drove to Pittsburgh, PA for a date.

The greatest first date story in history!

Sam is as great in person as he is on paper- at least he was for 24 hours. There is a part of me which would love to babble on and on about how great he is then there's the other part of myself which I chide my naive thinking that he's great because I have such the terrible track record with men. But Sam is grand. Handsome, witty, so very smart, a gentleman, such a flirt, interesting, romantic, sexy, silly... ack- this could be very very bad since he lives in IRELAND, for goddess sake!

We had a great time and couldn't seem to stop talking. We stayed at the Pittsburgh Hilton and basically marinated in each other for 24 hours. We talked forever and listened to music and talked books, politics, life, past, present, future, work everything. We talked about everything and practically could finish each other's sentences. This was amazing and nearly perfect. He brought me some nice Inaugural gifts- a pink commemorative hat and sweatshirt. A button. A copy of The Onion. And-- well... he brought me a gourmet box of chocolates. Heart shaped. Since he wouldn't be able to see me on Valentine's Day. Yes, my darlin' readers, the man remembered Valentine's Day 3 weeks early since he knew we couldn't be together. I. just. about.died. on. the spot. from the romanticness of it all.

I had picked him up at the airport- in addition to his airplane ticket he also paid for the Hilton and all meals, so it seemed silly to have him rent a car. We hugged and kissed in the airport like long lost friends. Then we didn't shut up, hardly, for the next 24 hours. It was wonderful... and yes, I'm gushing with emotion here- and I don't care!

He's sweet, he curls my toes. I like him. So- what next? Well, we sort of developed a code word as to whether or not this was just a shot in the dark, a one time deal... or maybe should it be more. The code word was "passport"- since I don't have one. So we're standing in the airport preparing for his departure. We're talking and he leans close and whispers "passport" in my ear, very softly. So...

And- yes, I've heard from him several times since he left. Several emails and a very looooong phone call- in which we both agreed we hate the ocean that lies between us and the gods were certainly bored to do this- we have our own level of Dante's hell....

What do we do now? Other than he and I both have decided to hate the Pond...well, we both know this is insane and the distance is beyond terrible. The tentative plan is to meet in San Fransisco, CA in April when he comes State side for a business trip, for 10 days. Yes, that's 10 weeks away and we both know lots can happen between now and then. Hell, anything can happen between now and then. But right now, if all the emails, phone calls, texts, chats and letters go according to plan- then San Fran is the plan. By then my passport should arrive and we'll talk trip to Dublin in the summer.

This is so very, very bad. And so very, very good.

Long shots. Craziness. Insanity. Spontaneity. And I will say, I think I could be a fan of Pittsburgh, of all places. Other great romances have Paris, Rome, the Empire State Building--- well, no matter what happens with him, more or nothing... we'll always have... Pittsburgh.

Your adventurous one,
Maggie

Hanging with friends, and a floral boardgame experience

I don't want this blog to turn into a "what I did today" agenda. Sometimes that happens, I realize, but I don't want it to be the overwhelming theme here. That being said, I've been doing some fun things of late, and spending time with family and friends are all part of my return. Almost like a healing...

Last weekend Mac, Daddy-O, Curley and I spent time hanging out. The guys went to a movie (Grand Torino and they said it was amazing. Mac told me that if I didn't like Clint Eastwood I was a Communist and should go live in Cuba... he's really good at being 15 years old!) and Curley and I went to a clothing shop that was going out of business- 40 to 90% off on all stuff and I got three much needed shirts. Living in the Wild West left my attire in my despair!

Yesterday was fun, too, because Hecate and I went to the Botanical Conservatory in Fort Wayne, IN. The theme of the winter garden display was "Clue"- you know, as in the board game? And this was one of my favorite all time games to play as a kid, and come to find out it was Hecate's favorite board game, too!!!

It was really cute. The main garden exhibit hall had "Clue rooms" set up and decorated: a Conservatory, a library, a dining room and the study. There were posters about each character (remember Col. Mustard, Prof. Plum, Mr. Green, Mrs. White, Miss Peacock, and Miss Scarlett?) scattered around and we had to read a little narrative to see if they characters had motives and alibis. The Conservatory provided little packets for use to write down clues, weapons, to make notes and sketch the major clue, a leaf found on Mr. Boddy. Of course, since Hecate and I both brilliant, we solved the case: Miss Peacock with the knife in the conservatory. We spent time enjoying all the floral displays. And we can't wait to go back in the spring and summer when the 2 outdoor gardens are open!

I wonder what she and I will get ourselves into next??????

Mysteriously yours,
Maggie

Or was it really Hecate in the dining room with a candlestick?

Or maybe it could it be Maggie in the study with a rope?

If I keep laughing like this I won't need an Ab Rocket

Daddy-O, Curley and I spent the day together yesterday and I haven't laughed this much in a loooooong time.

Curley likes to knit and crochet, my dad is an artist and card maker, and I like quilting and scrapbooking, so we had to go to Hobby Lobby and to a fabric store. We had a great time browsing and making fun of weird stuff, like a cannibal African Art sculpture riding a motorcycle- seriously, I mean really?

AND I got another PINK Christmas tree, like a Charlie Brown tree!!!!!!!!!!! It was 80% off so it was $5- and Daddy-O got it for me!!!!! I'm going to decorate it for Valentine's Day so I can leave it up longer! Did I mention it was pink?

Curley, Daddy-O and I laughed all day long, with one silly story or observation after another. They even indulged my need/ want/ desire for Starbucks! We ate at Fazolis. We laughed and laughed (even though I told an inappropriate story about penis pictures and said "shit" a few times in front of her!)

I also have a pattern for a skirt and Curley's gonna see if we can make one for me and maybe teach me how in the process and I could make several! It's a cute flippy skirt and will be perfect for the summer. With cute shoes, or even with flip flops!

To top it off, I even hung with Mac for a little bit. He and I grabbed a coffee and then made fun of people walking around the mall.

So, it was a great day. And I also want to say a special thanks to Curley and Daddy-O for spoiling me with the goodies- OMG, Curley got me shoe paper and sticky notes and a tiara headband!!!! With SE-quins!!!!!! (Pictures will be forthcoming!) and silly string- adore silly string, even though Daddy-O said I canNOT use it in the house or car!!!! And some other little goodies- thank you both! And thanks for such a fun day and being wonderful people

Kissies,
Maggie