On the bike again...

I think of Willie Nelson with that title...
Anyway...

I am riding the bike again - well, it's been about a month now. I get up at 4:30 and roll over and hop on for 19 minutes of a good sweaty pace and 1 minute of 'a mugger chasing me' speed.

Now, I sleep naked so this is not a pretty picture. Chris made a HUGE mistake the other morning and turned on the light. Big no. It's one thing to have flab jiggle and bounce in the dark - totally different with a light on!!! So far, I am only developing the L'Hote calves and toning the lower thigh and haven't lost a dang pound. Oh well - I am trying...

The News

I am a loyal Brian Williams fan. Every day at 5:30 - we watch Brian.

As much as I love to watch the news, I am not very thrilled with the news lately.

One of my friends here at work asked me what I thought about North Korea. I tend to be a person in my department that is up to date and always manages to have an opinion about current events. Anywho - I am not sure what I think right now so I honestly couldn't answer her. What in the world are they doing - how are we going to handle it - is this going to evolve into another giant mess? I am not a fan of war (who is?) and frankly, I am getting rather scared about the situation. I just wish countries could mind their own business - take care of their own - and just coexist with everyone else. One planet - one goal. It's an easy concept - just play well with others...

Don't get me started about the California thing. How hypocritical. And sad. I feel so disappointed in the state. I always thought that California was a forward thinking role model for the rest of the country. Who would have thought that Iowa would get it right? My heart goes out to all of those men and women that are hurting right now...

And the Supreme Court pick? I don't care if many think she only got the job because she is a woman and is Hispanic. So what? As long as she does a good job and can keep an open mind and heart and follows the general 'flow' of the constitution - then she could be a green goblin for all I care...

Lovely day...

I had such a wonderful anniversary...

Chris picked me up from work early and we went straight to the pottery place. I surprised him (with help from my awesome friend Amy) with beer, coolers, cheese, hummus, crackers, chocolate, and veggies/dip. We painted for 3 hours and had the best time. Depending on how silly they turn out, I might take a pic and post once they are done being fired.

We skipped dinner since we had snacked all afternoon and went straight to our favorite park to relax. It is a huge area that a group is naturalizing and no one is ever there. It was quiet, nice breeze - just a wonderful walk.

The kids texted us and told us to let them know when we were 15 minutes out. Scary. We got home - they were all lined up at the front door and said our present was upstairs.

I am tearing up again. Anyway - my room is clean - homemade cards from the girls - vase of white roses - bottle of champagne in an ice bucket and glasses - our wedding song was playing and a note that said press play. They had our wedding DVD cued up. It was the sweetest thing - and I just cried like a baby.

I have the most wonderful kids.

Anniversary Today!

Chris and I follow the 'gifting guidelines' dictated by who knows - but it is fun. We manage to come up with creative things to give each other while following the 'rules'.

It has been a bit hectic and costly around the house lately - so we cut back this year. I did get Chris the lovely veggie dragon book that Aunt Janet recommended and a DVD of Harold and Maude. Chris made me watch that movie when we were dating - and I still married him - it's one of his favorites - and I just think it is bizarre. Anyhow - my gifts did not follow the rules at all. Chris won't give me my little gifts yet - he always makes me wait.

Year 9 is supposed to be pottery, willow and leather. So we decided that we would paint pottery together after work - how fun is that?! Not many men would darken the doorstep of a pottery studio. He is definitely a keeper. And it was his idea! I am hoping that they have a very ugly gargoyle to paint - otherwise, it's a fish. I am hoping to find a real funky glaze to use - they have had really cool ones the last couple of times I have been there...

Then dinner - it will be nice to have a night alone for a change...

Kiel is on the news!

I am not sure how long this link will work - but I did get it on CD if it goes bad...

but here is the interview!

http://centralillinoisproud.com/content/fulltext/?cid=59761

It's official...

Kiel signed tonight!!! New coach is the guy in the black shirt. Sally (in blue) is one of my good friends - she is the director for internships at Lincoln's Normal campus. For the record - I didn't know the mom's are in the pictures or I would have tried harder on the hair and clothes!!! WMBD - Peoria TV - was there - and well as the local paper. I hope their pics are better than our's!!

This pic has Kiel's old coach and his friends. The girl in the West Cheer sweatshirt is Rachel - Kiel's 'friend'. And the guy in the dreds is Mellisa's on/off boyfriend that is the awesome track sprinter...

Signing tonite!

Big event for our household tonight...

At 3:30 - Kiel's signing ceremony! I have lovely purple and black decorations and tableware - GO LYNX - and a cake. What's a ceremony without cake???

Press is invited - who knows who will show up - but should be fun...

Baccalaureate was yesterday afternoon. I could have sworn that this was somewhat of a religious event. We didn't even have a single prayer. Maybe times have changed and our school is appreciating diversity or I am not remembering correctly - regardless, it was a nice afternoon and the speaker was wonderful... My pics look horrible since we were in the gym - but Kiel stood out like a sore thumb.... They put him in the back row - wonder why???

Lo and behold...

Just on a whim, I worked on Kiel's FAFSA last night and for some reason, it worked this time! Now, we aren't eligible for diddle government assistance but at least it went through. Which makes me wonder - how broke does a family have to be to get some of these monies? I mean - geesh! Five kids - two in college - and we get nothing? Oh well...

Then - Chris is checking his bank balance - and amazing - there is our tax return monies? What in the world???? We didn't get a letter or a call or anything... Maybe someone just goofed and used my soc sec number accidentally? Regardless - it was a wonderful thing to see and we immediately paid our first installment on our house taxes. That's always fun - get a refund from one taxing body and turn around and use it to pay another...

Oh well...

Senior stuff

So - I have sat thru two evenings of Senior award nights...

Monday was Normal West's Senior awards night. Only recipients and their parents are invited. It was long - but it was nice to see some of the kids with their parents. Kiel received the Cat-a-Tude award - along with a nice $250 check. I love it when the same dang kids get all of the awards...

Tuesday night was the Career Center's awards night. Kiel was recognized for placing 5th in the state in his CSI competition - nice ribbon, etc - no money - dang it. The night ran very long as some of the teachers were waaaay too windy.

I think my fanny is done with awards nights.

Baccalaureate is Sunday. Wow, already.

It's over!!!

The last Booster meeting of the school year - woohoo!!!

We are trying something new for us - a brick fundraiser. We are the ugly stepchild school in the district. The one high school separated about 10 years ago - and we became the 'new' school when they built our building. So - all of the alumni ($$$) stayed with the old school as their Alma mater. Even when their new school was built 3 years ago - they still claim that as their school. Their old high school is now a junior high.

Anyhow - raising money has been difficult for any group in the school. Post Prom struggles every year to raise funds. Boosters - the same. We try to keep up with the 'Jones' (the other high school) but frankly, cannot compete with those alumni dollars.

So - we found a couple of West alumni who now have their own landscaping business. It's new and they are young and working hard and are willing to take a chance with us. So we are selling engraved bricks and have this wonderful layout for a huge patio with landscaping and everything to be installed near the main entrance. It is gorgeous. Well, last night we approved the final drawing. I am always the devil's advocate for this group - they have these rose colored glasses on and I seem to have to shake them into reality. For example - the landscapers want to plant a Japanese Maple smack dab in the center of the circle walkway. Chris and I had a Japanese Maple for about two years - nursed it, fertilized it, tlc - and it still died. They have a very hard time in the best of conditions - so they really struggle in Illinois. Let's face it - there will be 1000 kids messing with this tree on a regular basis. So I asked - what is the warranty? Who will replace the plants? Who is going to maintain the mulch? Who is going to weed? For some reason, these folks think that the District is going to do this. Are they kidding? Have they seen the football field? That area is a mess. The district doesn't hire landscape firms - the custodians are already overworked and underpaid. I just wanted them to realize that I 'graduate' next year - so somebody needs to think about who will be held accountable for the maintenance. I recommended that we 'hire' the horticulture class to maintain it and give them a donation of some sort every year - but it fell on deaf ears...

It's still a great idea - a huge asset to the school. I just hope someone takes care of it or it would be just a shame...

Champion!

This morning, Kiel and I had breakfast at the high school. He had been nominated by a faculty member as exhibiting characteristics of a Champion West student. We assumed it was one of his coaches or maybe his physical conditioning teacher. Turns out - it was his math teacher!

Now, my mother was brilliant at math. I hated math - maybe cause mom wouldn't just tell me the answer - she wanted to teach the concept to me - maybe it was because math was just stupid. I dunno - but I did not inherit my mother's math gene. I got great grades in math - but I didn't like a minute of it and struggled and worked to get those grades. My older three kids did not get the math gene either. They all struggle. Poor AJ has been taking math classes forever just to get his associates degree.

Anyhow, Kiel is not a math guru either. The math teacher gave a little speech that meant more to me than any goofy grade. She has Kiel first hour. She says good morning to her class every day - and gets stone faces from everyone - except Kiel. He gives her a big smile and says good morning Ms. Digby. She said that he always has his homework done, is always on time, is respectful and has a great attitude. Not once did she mention that he struggles in math (he is getting a B now - but let's face it, will never be an engineer). The fact that she said that he is just a great kid meant more to me than anything. Maybe it's the nearness of graduation and the fact that I break down in tears over anything Kiel-related right now - but I was just so very proud of him.

What happened???

The second I heard that Freisan Fire had been determined to be the Favorite - I knew he wouldn't win. The favorite rarely wins. Not only did he not win - I am not sure he even finished! I think the jockey had to drag him around the rail. Geesh - how disappointing. But - I LOVED the jockey on Mine That Bird - he was unconventional, emotional - just a refreshing change to the normal formality. He was more exciting to me than the race this year!!!

Weekend was busy - Kiel was off in Indiana playing ball. Some school from Wyoming called and offered Kiel a full ride. Wyoming? A school in Tennessee wants to fly Kiel down there - full ride. They can't pay for a parent - which doesn't matter much since we are confined to 70 miles radius to the H1N1 due to work! I am not sure where we stand with that idea anyway. We were supposed to have an answer for Lincoln this week and I am still leaning toward that school - selfish reasons mostly I guess. I just have doubts that Kiel could handle living too far away but who knows - he surprises me sometimes. The rest of the family moved all of the bananas outside along with the other potted plants. We will replant everything this weekend. The house looks absolutely empty now.