Exciting day.

Danielle and Zach's delayed and informal marriage reception with the Meyer's is today at Hidden Lake Park just up the road. We are expecting about 45 people. Starts at 3 pm, Mexican Village catered taco bar at 5.

I love what is happening in  my house right now. Grace is sitting at the kitchen table eating a sandwich singing, "I'm going to a par ar ar arrrrtyyyyyy in my new ew ew sweater dressss ahahahhhhh.

Danielle has tried on 4 different outfits and I'll post the one she picked. Let me just say it includes bright pink tights and only Danielle could pull it off.

Jessica and Matt just got back from hunting so they are burying duck and squirrel guts. 

Zach is pretty much all by himself watching the Viking's game, cheering to an empty living room
(exception me) and wondering how the Vikes are managing this fantastic feat. I'm trying to act amazed and interested....not my strong suit.

I love and am so proud of my family; my girls, the men they've chosen..so perfect for each of them and so very different from one another yet such a cohesive and bright group. I love my life today.

I am proud of us. Dan and I. We done did alright. :)

M

Dan's quirks.

Over the years and especially the last few Dan and I have gotten to know each other pretty thoroughly especially when it comes to boundaries. For example, last month I bought Dan a package of 6 pair of cotton boxers off of Ebay (yes they were new....duh) and 6 pair of white briefs. When they arrived he kind of made a "hrummph" about the briefs because he said they were "too thin".

The  meaning of the " hrrrrummmph"  depends on the context of the conversation (if you could call it that) and sometimes I literally never know unless he follows up with a comment like the one he made about the briefs: they were too thin. I shouldn't have ordered underwear on line. He could get a better deal himself. He would prefer to buy his own underwear. All of the previous statements combined or taken independently or in some other combination there of was the meaning of the "hrumph".

If there is no follow up I have learned that is an indication to just let it pass. It is not a big deal and it is nothing personal.

There was a non- response or pause regarding the boxers. Different meaning entirely.

 There was definitely something amuck. He didn't like the briefs. I would return them. How about the boxers? pause. pause. pause. "I guess we could keep the boxers". The boxers passed inspection. They would not be returned and I unpacked them and put them in his drawers sand as I did I admired how soft they were; and thick cotton. He had made a good choice!
The very next morning I was sitting in my chair and he came out of the bedroom in a pair of his new boxers. The brightest, blue & yellow pin striped pair of the bunch!!! I laughed so hard I almost fell out of my chair!! I couldn't help it!

Earlier in our marriage Dan would have been offended and (mostly) embarrassed but he said "WHAT?" , smiled and sat down in his chair.!! We've come a long way. Ha.

There are two things that Dan did ; one was earlier in our marriage and one now that if I mentioned  it to him in a teasing way he would respond with a strong hrrruuuumph followed by a snappy response in defense of his actions. The first was that when the kids were little and we all would get ready for church, Dan would insist that they clean out the corner of their eyes of the morning "gook" with a warm washcloth for lack of a better term.  I always thought that was weird. And he insisted. He didn't care if they had a hole in the knee of their tights ( or more likely if Danielle's were twisted around her toothpick legs) or if their hair was perfectly in place but by God, their eyes did not have any crust in them!!! Weird. I think.

More currently he does this.  If we are going to have company he will organize the silver wear drawer. Perfectly. The mirror in the bathroom can be streaked or there can be dust bunnies in the corner of the kitchen floor but by God every piece of silver wear will be in it's place in case anyone would open that drawer! I dare not say anything about it. For one I would get a hrrruuuumph ...but worse it would be followed by a resounding WELL YOU DO THE CLEANING THEN!!!. Uh. I definitely wouldn't want to go there!!!

Miss my readers. I'll make coffee one of these Fridays. Not next Friday for sure but soon.

M

Subtle differences between South and Apollo. What do YOU think these things say?

1) The "S.O.A.R" passes , the equivalent to the PAWSITIVE passes are 1/3 the size and one S.O.A.R pass gets a big warm cookie from Iggys store.
2) The hall passes are big and green and have a ton on blanks to be filled in as the hall passes at South are tiny, orange things.
3) There is one, tiny, old, copy machine that you a) need a DOOR key to get into the room to use and b) you need your own code for and c) there is a limit of 3,000 copies per YEAR for each user.
4) There is a bell for every single period including one for every lunch period.
5) You are not allowed to use colored paper for any reason unless it is a necessity for the lesson and you talk nicely to Susan, the person who runs copies.

For the first time since 1995 my name has been misspelled.

Look at Apollo's web site under Staff.  Hausman-Meyer, Mary works there. I hope she gets a lot of
e mails.

As for ME, it will save me from doing all that exhausting, unnecessary aerobic exercise  I've been doing in recent years;  using my index finger to  delete  - delete -  delete- delete.

Another I'm older than you .... be careful story.

I have been relatively open about using medication for depression and anxiety. After some personal experiences this summer, experiences of both my sistas and some reading I have new insight for you. So listen up .

1) FIRST. Don't read shit off the internet. It will either scare the shit out of you causing more stress./ anxiety or , if done long enough will give you a butt the size of Saturn, including the rings.

2) Long term use of anything can be considered chronic use. Look up the definition of "chronic" add it to "prescription" and put in an = sign and see what YOU get.

3) The world is full of stressors. Our brains have only evolved as far as responding to short term stress  ie. hmmm. buga buga. Big cougar .... run, run run.... see everyone run FASTER than average. Thank you God for adrenalin, cortisol and for that slow guy. num num says cougar. Ahhhhh says the survivors. I think I'll take a nap!!!

4) Introduce "chronic stress" add to it our whimpy response with short term adrenalin/ cortisol put in an = and see what you get. I get left over or + stress.

5) So. Start with (+ stress) - ( X ) = neutral stress or "normal". What ARE the possibilities for "X" ?

a)  X= exercise, meditation, vacation, acupuncture , any self - help  strategy to reduce the extra fight or flight chemicals cruising the BODy.

b) X =  eliminate  the additional stress ( + stress) altogether or reduce it and add in some of a).

c) X = DRUGS.

d) X = any combination of above but must include good sex. Good sex is what would be called a CONSTANT in this math ( and I was taught using "old" math) .

6) Sometimes choice (c) has to be used but use it as conservatively as possible. If your Doc. recommends an increase or a change or an additional something .... question it.


The long term effects of SSRI s use is just being studied because it is just emerging. It is the first time in human kind's history that there are people who have been on SSRI s over an extended period in time.  Although all brains are different, there is some evidence that using SSRIs for a long time ( thus changing the chemistry in our brains for a long time) MAY universally result in changes that MAY take a very long ( and sometimes very uncomfortable)  time to resolve.


The medical community has very little experience with this emerging problem of  chronic SSRI use and so SOME Docs. are understandably hesitant to admit that what they have been prescribing for a long, long time may have at least SOME serious consequences.



SO PLEASE BE CAREFUL!!!!! AND HAVE A LOT OF GOOD SEX!!!

Signed,

"yer loving colleague.

I'm researching this.

This is Yusuf Islam or Cat Stevens of the 60,s/ 70.s. I listened to his music. He dropped out . Is back recently and has written a musical. It premiered in Australia. I am looking for a copy.



I'm very intrigued with his story. I think he is the "real deal" when it comes to peace, happiness and finding more to life around every corner and under every adventure. Perhaps it is where I need to be right now. Who knows.

Sweet Jesus They are transfering all my account info. to APOLLO!

And I am PUMPED about it!!!!  They transferred Lynn Johnson to ALC too!!

Looks like all the big mouths, perceived "power" folks, the I'm not gonna jump on ONE MORE  mother fucking band wagon people are  GONE FROM SOUTH!!!!

Save the fucking world South. Make George look good. Drool and pander to  the "red zone kids" and we'll all just watch the majority of our youth (the middle) continue to lose ground academically. That will be the test. If you can  close the " Achievement Gap" at an accelerated rate AND maintain the data proven necessary slope for progress for the the average kid to reach his/her potential, then you will be Superman. Superman will be IN THE HOUSE if South can do that . Let me reiterate. IF you

1) can accelerate the "redzone" kids growth 

AND

2) maintain the slope for progress ( this is a data proven rate ) for the the average kid to reach his/her potential.

You will be Superman. George will be the head of Supermen. I sincerely wish you luck. And yes, I do say that with some sarcasm, but I will be proud of you if you can do it.

M

Mother fucking testing is going to be the bane of the 21st century education phenomenon. End of story. Mother fuckers.