One of the annoying things about getting ready for school.

Is he whole clothes/ outfit switcheroo and preparation :

*** Next week I will be wearing outfits that are appropriate for wearing to workshop, but maybe not to school. They represent a sub set of school- appropriate clothing & they have to be washed, organized & coordinated.

*** The following week I have to have thought through & prepared another whole sub set of clothing to wear. The "fall" sub set of clothing. In my world this includes cool, cotton skirts , nice capris, clean white T shirts & others ,layered tops over them
( which I likely will shed with the first hot flash around 10:30 am... thus CLEAN T shirts) ) , sandals, clean anklets & newer tennis shoes.

**** The next sub set of clothing one must consider while getting prepared for school is the transition sub set. This includes long pants. Now I put off wearing long pants for as long as I can because my legs generally scream in protest. Also, when I wear pants to school for the first time, the amount of day light is also likely waning & I hate that. I LOVE sunshine & November is our cloudiest month. yuck.

*** There is a winter sub set followed, obviously, by a spring sub set but by winter I really don't give a rats ass what I wear to school as long as my underwear is clean & my teeth are brushed.

I must admit though, that the above is minor compared to getting your own school-aged kids set up for the beginning of school. Also pale in comparison to getting your daycare age kids ready to go again. I have mucho respect for young Moms and Dads.

Flash :)

I am crabby too.

That is why I left home and am at school. That is why I can barely look at Dan without being pissed off even though other than being crabby, there is absolutely no reason to be pissed off at Dan. Ok. Maybe there is. HE doesn't have to start work next week!!!

I am also crabby because my meal worms are hungry and I have to go to Heims Mill to pick up feed. Wait. Maybe I'll send my student teacher next week.

I am crabby because I have looked ALL SUMMER and haven't found a replacement for the insulated mug that I dropped and broke last spring. So what you say?? SO WHAT???? So that means that my freaking cup of ice water will sweat ALL FALL, crinkling up my desk calendar which I will be reminded of every time I sit at my desk until MAY!! That is a big time "that sucks" !!!

I am crabby because I am bored and I want to start school but know that AS SOON as I start school I will wish I was bored.

I am crabby because after finally racking up the miles on Flash, I am beginning to realize that a 3 gallon gas tank, even on a motorcycle, gets empty fairly quickly... like every 120 miles or so. This means that I have to make choices and important decisions when I am riding and feeling free. Like last night. Last night was a beautiful night to ride; no wind, cool & the sun is getting low enough that it doesn't blind me by my bedtime (8 pm). I didn't know how beautiful it was to ride until I got to Marty... then St. Nickolas (oh. Look at those cows. Aren't they lovely?), then as I got to Eden Valley, I had to make a decision. Should I get gas in Eden Valley or take a bit of a chance & ride to Watkins, Kimball and home? OR, should I not get gas, cut the ride short, be safe, turn around and go home? If I cut the ride short because I didn't fill up in Eden Valley, will I feel sorry on the way back & wish that I had filled up? I could fill up in Luxemburg then & continue riding, but if I am that close to home, I might just want to call it a night and GO home! Then I would sit in my chair staring out the window thinking "You dumb ass, Mary, you should have filled up & rode on.".

It actually turned out OK. I played it safe, turned around and came home and was glad that I did. I was getting cold anyway & riding when I'm cold isn't much fun. But in my opinion, if one is riding a motorcycle, one should not have to make such difficult decisions. It really does take away from the whole experience. And THAT, my friends, makes me crabby. At least today.

Later,

FLASH.

ps. I also am crabby because normally blogging helps. This time it hasn't. I am still really really crabby.

Now ain't that the truth!!

Here is an article regarding the website Craisglist. Craigslist has an interesting history with one founder and only 30 employees. That has it's downside and I quote:


By eliminating marketing, sales, and business development, craigslist's programmers have cut out all the cushioning layers that separate them from the users they serve, and any right they have to teach lessons in public service comes from the odd situation of running a company that is directly subservient only to the public. Here's the lesson: The public is a motherfucker.

Never more truth be told!!!

Flash.

Beginning of school analogy. NOT for the weak of heart.

This was posted on the biker's forum I frequent and I wanted to quote it and respond by saying "sounds like the beginning of another school year" but didn't want to threadjack so will post it here to get it out.

[QUOTE=684869]They should count themselves lucky.

The last time a pilot landed on a freeway in the Atl area, he struck a car, the plane exploded, and all involved died by fire.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like the beginning of another school year!!!

Staerns County fun.

Yeah. I know I spelled that wrong. I have a splitting headache. Mock weddings can be rough. More picts. later. MAYBE!!

Trivia goons.

You may enjoy this site. I ran across it while surfing a site entitled "Stupid Stuff".

F

Happy Dance for Andrea!!!!

I just found out that you will be at South full time!!! And Kris Hagen part time!!

Happy Dance Time!!! WOOT WOOT!!!

FLASHG!!

Apparently I know my dogs better than my beer.

Just give me a *F'n Bud

Iced Latte

I have been experimenting with recipes for a cheap, late morning - mid afternoon latte to prepare and keep in the fridge at school.

So here are the two basic ingredients that are working for me:

1) A Coffee base:

* grind enough coffee beans to make 1/2 cup of grounds.
* brew with 4 cups of water
* add 1/2 cup of instant coffee (I like Folgers) to the freshly brewed coffee.

stir & let cool.

2) The Latte:

In a quart mason jar with tight-fitting lid mix

* one can of sweetened condensed milk
* one can of evaporated milk
* 1.5 tsp. of the extract of your choice: almond, vanilla, orange . I like the true extracts...
* fill to within an inch of the top of the jar with skim milk. One , 2 % or whole if you can stand the extra calories.

Shake vigorously.

To make the ready to pour, pre - mixed latte:

In an empty, one gallon milk jug mix:

1) The cooled coffee base.

2) The lattee.

3) 1 Tbsp. sugar.

4) Add milk to your taste. I add enough milk to make 3/4 gallon.

Shake vigorously and store in the fridge. When you are ready for a quick and easy pick-me-up, add ice to your glass, shake the ready to pour, pre- mixed latte from the milk jug & pour over the ice.

yum yum.

There is still room for improvement or changes for your own taste. For example, you may not like instant. Or this may not be sweet enough for you. But it is a start & if you like Latte, it might be fun to try.

M

Hello and Good Evening.

Broadcasting live from the backyard:

It is a beautiful night unfolding here in central Minnesota in the center of the Meyer Yard folks. Reporting to you this fine night is Mary, the 5th avenue tree house kid who just can't shake the tree from the kid.

And what a glorious bunch of trees it is. I'm camped under a wide expanse of canopy made up of oaks, ash & even a white birch. And a beautiful white birch it is. Home to the singing cicada's , wrens & an occasional visiting chipping sparrow looking for a delicious catkin to snatch on the fly. Even the crickets are chirping... a sign of mid-August to be sure.

If it weren't for the fact that I can see the TV from my vantage point & have a computer on my lap, a person would swear I was somewhere on the Appalacian Trail. But seeing as how that likely isn't going to happen anytime soon, I have to say this is the next best thing.

So happy trails to you & signing off from mid-yard,

Mary the fifth avenue tree house kid hoping her ass won't give out before mornin'

Oh! And keep the light on for me! Thanks!!!

The netbook sucked.

An identical replacement is on its way, due to be delivered by UPS tomorrow, & I am going to "refuse delivery" & have it returned to Amazon as per THEIR suggestion.

After further investigation it turns out there (possibly) is a bad batch of the ACER eee HE netbooks out there, and I for one am not willing to chance it.

All I can say is thank God it was our computer & not the one I complained (and complained & complained) about for Jessica. She is in computer heaven & she deserves it.

Hmmmmm. Maybe this is my payback for being a resentful mother?????

Naughty FLASH!!!! :)

ps. Amazon I will still love you as long as I get a FULL refund!!! oops. Did I just jinx my own fricking payback?? Damn it.

The Whispering Pines didn't work out.

We stopped & I knocked on the office door at 7pm. No answer. Neither Dan nor I said anything to one another about the 4 bags of garbage sitting just a yard from our feet. I cupped my hands around my eyes & leaned against the dirty glass to look inside. I saw 6 empty beer bottles on the desk & a bunch of "I love Jesus "- type propaganda tacked on some cork board that was just praying to be organized.

Still undeterred, I mean I DID make a reservation, I peaked around the corner & noticed that the office window was open but that the screen had a huge hole in it. I wondered if this was the motel's method of AC?? One more knock & no answer and Dan, still standing behind me with his hands in his pockets said, "Maybe we should go to Bemidgi, maybe we'll find some place on the way."

Now THAT was a great idea!!!


We got the LAST room at Super 8 in Bemidgi (handicapped rooms have great bathrooms BTW) & a good laugh for great memories too.

Ironworld was wonderful. Itaska State Park perfect.

Now all I have to do is pitch & sleep in the tent and my summer wishes for 2009 will have all come true.

Dan & I are leaving.

We are going Up Nort. We will be staying at the Whispering Pines Motel in Cass Lake tomorrow night. It costs 50$ CASH per night to stay there. There are a total of 8 units. I asked, "Will you take a credit card?". She said, "No. We are only taking cash at this time".

They DO take dogs.

This will be a much different experience than the all - expense paid, 5 night stay I had at the Holiday Inn- River Center in July.

Flash.

cramped places

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... I need more SPACE


F

Waiting for a Netbook!!!

Dan has decided that he wants to become more computer saavy. I am somewhat surprised by that & certainly am all for enabling him in this endeavor.

So after much (ok a few weeks) research.... I introduce to you Dan's own personal computer... coming soon to 223rd street via Amazon.com.

Congrats to Dan-the soon to be computerized - man!!!

F

On a lighter note...

Thanks Becky & Holly for your quick replies & kind comments.

As I said, on a lighter note.... this was just posted in the "Ladie's Corner" of the biker's forum I frequent. None of the guys can get in there without a password.

The woman said, OK, srsly, would *you* carry this purse?

Ha ha. Would you????? I would NOT!!! But I think it is hilarious!!!!

Dream

I had a dream about my sister last night and it keeps popping back into my mind.

I am going to blog about it to 1) (hopefully) let it go 2) help me process what it means.

This dream that is following me was NOT a bad dream. It was a very short, simple & uncomplicated dream. It was devoid of powerful feelings or emotions. As a matter of fact, it was very calm. Maybe that is part of why it has attached itself to my mind. Usually (because of school) my dreams are very powerful & full of emotions... mostly frustration ... I'm sure you can relate!

Anyway, in this dream, I find myself walking around the outside of a small, well- kempt & cozy home. Everything about the place, the lawn, the house, & the outbuildings was perfect. It was as if everything had just been meticulously gone over; freshly washed, cleaned & painted. The place was uncluttered & spotless.

The cement floor in one of the small sheds looked as if it had just been poured, but in my dream I thought that perhaps it looked that way because it had just been cleaned super well. There was water on the cement... like it had just been sprayed down.

The lawn, like the outside of the house ( I never saw the inside of the house ) was small but quaint. There were some tall, grass - like plants that edged part of the freshly laid & very green lawn. In my dream I was so impressed with the yard/lawn, that I specifically looked for a sprinkling system & saw the sprinklers & even noticed evidence of water... like puddles or mist or something.

In my dream I was admiring how simple but beautiful the yard was. It looked as if everything had just been attended to by a professional gardener.

Everything had a "cool" feel about it. My skin felt cool & comfortable.

There was a sidewalk that curved around the house & as I walked down it & turned the corner I saw Lisa sitting in a gown ( like a mumu) ,in a rocking chair, in front of the house. She was large, heavy, chubby, but comfortable. She had slippers on & her expression was that of just matter of fact & welcoming. She didn't say anything to me, but I remember being so glad to see her & I was surprised to see her. It was as if I had been plopped in this place, wasn't thinking about Lisa, was just walking around & there she was. I was glad to see her though, and as the dream went on it made perfectly good sense to me ( in my dream) that she would be there. Even in my dream I was trying to put this all together in my head.

Lisa & I walked together into one of the sheds and her husband, Dwaine was inside & he looked so young & fit. He was almost child- like. The shed was completely empty but Dwaine seemed joyful about the shed, & how it looked. He was almost skipping. I thought he had lost his mind but he was so positive & happy & joyful & I was just tickled to see him that way. I was joyful too.

There was a little more of the dream but I am tired of typing & some of the symbolism has become apparent to me... especially the coolness & water & uncluttered ness & simplicity of everything. It is just the opposite of what Lisa is actually living like.

I think I dreamt of Lisa in heaven.

I haven't called her in two weeks or more. It is so hard for me to call and it has been good for me to stop for awhile.

I will have to get a hold of her again soon. Not because I feel obligated but because I miss her & love her and I WANT to talk to her. But it is so damn hard.

Anyhoooooooooooooo. I'm glad I have this down "on paper". If nothing else, to remind me some day of where I dreamt she was.

M

Danielle ran her first triathalon.

The other women are Ellie Nowicki & Leah Ward. I think Leah may be from St. Cloud... not sure though.












Danielle has really gotten into the "I'm physically fit in Denver" scene.









She made her goal of finishing in under 2 hours. Yeah Danielle!!!

I think these vids are funny. That is all.

Get Married.

Then divorced.

Oh. And it is unfortunate that the song is by Chris Brown.