Built FORD Tough

I’m actually gonna post pics from this week. Yes, i actually took some.

Me at church in what my mom called a "hoochie dress"

Jeff looking all spiffy

And does ANYONE know why the chicken crossed the road?

Especially long ones like this! Jeff and I would love to be headed to sky valley but have to stay in town for graduation parties. Yay for them. Crap on Dacula for having grad. memorial day weekend. I’m sure it makes sense so that all the out of towner family can come in town but for all of us in towners who see these graduating tards every day or so…it stinks. Go Megan, Preston and Mallory! Proud of you all, honestly.

Update on us. Jeff accepted a job at Walton Alternative School. He’s very excited. I think it will suit him well. I found out this week that I am getting 3 weeks off this year b/c Dr cohen is a tard who cant decide when he’s going on vaca so i planned ours for june and then he decided to take a week in july and aug. Nice. We will be broke. But rockin on the time off work! I am going to get some color in my hair today. highlights. and color to cover my GRAY freakin hairs. I blame Jeff for them so he cant complain when i go get them covered up. See how that works…

I took spud on a walk this morning (because jeff left a sad little note saying " mommy,  please take me on a walk today. I have been a good dog. I luv you." Signed SPUD. Dude…he totally knows how to make me do whatever. SO, I came to realize that spud is getting older. and more out of shape than me. Thats especially sad.

I have quit p90x because i think thats whats making my back/neck hurt so much. So back to walking it is. Well, the word "back" implies that i had been doing it. And i did…like 2 years ago. Does that count?

Oh, and the lord is doing lots in my heart and i am grateful but not yet ready to share.

Last thing. I make lots of typo’s when doign this thing and sometiems i get sick of trying to fix ti all, so just use your brillant brains to decipher and get over it! haha! All 2 of you who read!

Not as good as the snl version, but hopefully intriguing just the same. This week has been crazy/fun. Jeff has interviewed with Loganville High and Loganville Alternative School. Both were to let him know their decision by friday. So of course i’m sitting w/ my phone right beside me all day waiting to hear…WELL (dum, dum, dum) Loganville High didnt call at all. Are you as let down as i am? Hello! Just call and let him know if you are still considering or if you’ve made a decision or whatever. Just dont keep us hanging! Anyways. Its a pet peeve. Loganville Alternative School, however, offered him a job. He is to give them an answer tomorrow. I dont know a whole lot about it other than that jeff is very intrigued and might actually prefer teaching there as opposed to traditional high school. Thats the update on him, anyways. So prayers for discernment are greatly appreciated.

In other news. Friday I got to go to lunch with a friend from hygiene school, Olivia. First of all let me tell you how much i love this girl. She is one of the most sincere and transparent people i’ve ever known. I drove 78 to 316 to get there b/c i was coming from a dr’s appointment in loganville and let me tell you…talk about memory lane! I havent driven to athens in 5 years (since i graduated!). I used to carpool w/ a friend Cara everyday and i dont mind saying that i miss school. I know. i’m a dork. But i liked hygiene school. i didnt have to work (thank you jeff! you rock!) and i’m pretty good at school. So i didnt hate my time there at all. Plus, i got a few amazing friends from school! Olivia ranking right up there with the bestest! Anyways, we ate at inokos (YES, i got yellow sauce too, Kristi!) and i got to see her beautiful home and 2 precious doggies. They even sat still for me to take a picture. Unfortunately i figured out that my batteries had died and therefore got NO pics. BOO! I know, i’m terrible at not posting pics. But my camera is kinda large and bulky…not the kind you carry in your back pocket! The only downer is that i wasnt completley "there" b/c i was all consumed w/ thinking of job possibilities for jeff. So I’ll guess i’ll just have to make another trip to inokos w/ mama O to make up for my wandering mind. Darn.

From athens i came home, packed up and Jeff and I headed to Greer S.C. to see my BFF Angela. Again, no pics. I suck. But we had a great time. However (theres always a however, isnt there?) on Sat night my tummy started hurting (gross, but its a fact of life, people) and for some reason my asthma was acting up as well as my allergies. So as we ate a wonderful dinner w/ some of her friends from church (love them!) i was cramping, my eyes itching and my lungs slowly closing up. nice. I ended up taking 2 benedryl, 3 trips to the bathroom and sleeping with an icepack on my swollen eyes. I was the life of the party, you see. But I LOVED getting to see my Ang and Matt. I love her so much and i always feel so good about seeing her in her town…i like seeing how well she and matt are doing. Their church is great and I got to experience someone speaking in tongues for the first time. Let me just say, um, wow. Different. But i love how the church of God (in particular) puts so much emphasis on living in the spirit. How there is one baptisim (salvation) of the spirit but many fillings (hourly, daily…). I love how they "dont want to just see you living in the spirit in church…anyone can do that…I want to see how you live 24/7. How you love people. How you experience life outside the walls of this church". Ouch. and amen.

And to end it all, I have a prayer request. I have had ridiculous amounts of pain in my neck and back for almost a month now. And as of 3 days ago, my jaw as well. I cannot tell you how discouraged I am. Chronic pain blows chunks. not because the pain is all that bad but because it wont go away. I’m spending a fortune on massages and chiropractic care and its getting worse. So I’m asking you to pray for me about this. I dont know what else to do. and i’m not meaning that as a last resort at all. I just dont normally ask ppl to pray for physical pains i have. well, i dont normally have any. And i dont want ppl to think im a wus. But at this point you can think i’m whatever you want to call me. But it hurts to breathe because my ribs expand and contract, sneezing is bad and i cant turn my neck either way. Basically, I’m functioning like someone who has been in a bad car accident and is sore all over. Thats exactly how i feel. And i’m bummed. So please pray.

But seriously, I love my friends and am so grateful that I got to spend time with them this weekend. 

As i lay in the tanning bed today for my 12 minutes of bliss i was entertained by the stylings of ace of base, janet jackson and many more "oldies" by B98.5.  I was flooded with (fun) memories! One of which being: I remember when only old people listened to that station. Do i really fall into that category already??!!!

What have you done for me lately? oooooooooooo ooo yeah.

Oh yeah, you know your singing it in your head!

I have gotten the royal smack down from Donna for not recognizing her and her instrumental part in my high school life! So let me first start by giving major props to my friend Donna and her mad blog commenting skills! I love you! And I am super excieted that Miriam and Missy both have pages too! I LOVE stalking people on this thing!

Today was a great day! I went to the orthodontist today and I’m sure you all have been on pins and needles as you wait for an ortho update. Wait no longer…the time has come. I have religiously worn my rubberbands for a month now and Dr. P commented on my fabulous work today. He says he needs to see me in one month and then in JULY they can come OFF! OMG! I cannot tell you how excited i am. The smile speaks for itselt. Yep. I was excited enough to get colored elastics. Now I really look 12! HA! I know you’ve all been dying for a new pic of the grill.

Secondly, Jeff had a job interview today. An update is in order with his job search as well, I suppose. He has interviewed at (all high schools) Dacula, Grayson and Parkview until today. He had stated to the schools when they asked about coaching that he is willing to coach but would find it ideal to have one year of teaching without coaching as to have time to adjust to the new curriculum. That is an honest answer, my friend. And apparently honesty does NOT get you a job in Gwinnett! So fooey on Gwinnett… Well, actually Parkview offered him a job but they wanted him to coach baseball and softball and its a 45 minute drive. So he turned it down. I was furious at first, but i have to admit, Jeff thinks of things I dont. He is a great man who really seeks the Lords will before making decisions. The Lord has made it clear to me as well that Parkview (while a great opportunity) was not the place for him. So the search continues. He interviewed at Loganville today and will hear from them next week.

Lastly…Jeff asked me a few weeks ago if i have "always been that white". I am some serious pale and pasty. So i decided today that I would go hang out at the "cancer casket" to improve my appearance a bit. To make myself a little less bright, at least. I know its so high school of me to be going to the tanning bed, but DANG…it is SO nice to lay there for even 12 minutes with nothing to do! That doesnt happen often. So in prep for the big vacation next month, I am tanning. Plus, my aunt says that tan fat is prettier than white fat and seeing as how P90X is not melting the fat off like i was hoping it would, I need to pretty up my fat. I think i have to quit pigging out in order for any exercise program to work really well. And that just stinks. Not as much as my burning skin from the tanning bed though! HA!

Oh. And Jeff has decided he wants to put in a swimming pool. Random, but he mentioned it Tuesday and we’ve already got 3 quotes. Hes nuts.

I have recently found some old friends from good old DHS. Actually, they go way back past high school!

Shout out to Amanda Wynn…married now to rando and back in DACULA! Yay! I have so many fond memories of Amanda being so sweet ever since i’ve known her in elementary school. Her mom was so precious and now is Asst. Principal…whoohoo! Anyways…its great to find her blog!

Shout out to Lou Ellen Wheeler…married to h.s. sweetheart Mike! I actually learned to french braid my own hair by watching lou ellen do her own every day on the bus on the way to school. She always had such thick, beautiful hair and it was fun to learn hair tricks by quietly watching. Ok, maybe stalking? Theres a fine line there, I know…but seeing as how we are friends, i’m gonna say i didnt cross the line. HA!

I’m so glad to be able to continue to keep up with friends even though we may not see one another. Its great to see that they are both doing great with beautiful families! (check out the chunky monkey on lou ellen’s page…shes GORGEOUS!)

Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. ”

That’s alot of watching!

And yes, I know this was Katie and Chris’s old background…but i like it and am using it anyways.

I booked our vacation this weekend! I am totally stoked. We basically live to vacation!

We will be leaving on Fathers Day (Sunday, June 15) and returning that saturday the 21st. We will be staying at the Grand riviera princess/ Grand sunset princess (sister hotels on the same property that share amenities and whose rooms are identical). The riviera is a few years old and the sunset is brand new. We will be in the riviera. WHO CARES! Its mexico!

Delimma is this: what excursions to take part in. We are interested in 3 that we know of.

X-Caret: archeological park. I know there is a butterfly museum, lazy underground rivers, mushroom farm, equistrian shows, etc. Food and beverage not included in the day which bumms me!

Chichen Itza: One of the 7 wonders of the world. 2 and a half hour bus ride to and from the place (in the middle of mexico, apparently). It is a site for mayan ruins and their largest temples/pyramids. Apparently its wonderful…but wonderful enough to spend 5 hours on a bus?!

Tulum and Xel-Ha: I’ve read reviews that Xel-Ha is great but you need to rent a car or get a taxi to take you instead of taking the tour bus so as to have the whole day at the park b/c there is so much to do. From the reviews i’ve read, taking your own transportation is the ONLY way to see both in one day…otherwise youre rushed.

So for all of you who know anything about this….HELP! I need info/opinions….FAST! Even if it’s hearsay from a friend, i want the info. I want to do great stuff while we are there and dont want to get ripped off w/ the shuttle rides if there are better ways to get places. And i kinda dont want to feel like i’m on a cruise where you have to get back to the ship/bus by a certain time, but nor do i want to be off by myself if its not the best thing to do. So advice, please!!!

I was all about sleeping in this morning b/c i didnt have to work! Yay! I’m off every friday but I volunteer with a group called impact and teach sex ed and abstinence in Gwinnett Co. high schools. So most friday’s i am up earlier than on a regular work day. Seriously, i dont know how high shool teachers maintain getting up at the butt crack of dawn like that. So this week i have been stoked about sleeping in for the 1st time in months. Now i know all of you moms are snickering because you never get to sleep in…or sleep at all! And props to you…I dont think i can function on less than 8 hours sleep. So today I set my alarm for 9am thinking that i dont want to sleep the day away. I watched all my favorite shows last night, not worrying about how late it got…Survivor, Scrubs, Gray’s Anatomy…then my eyes opened this morning to the glorious sun and it was so beautiful. I didnt even wake up to my alarm (which I hate…waking up on your terms is so much better!). Then i looked at the clock. 7am.  WHAT? I’ll just go back to sleep, i thought. So i tried. I faked sleep while jeff got ready for work, as he kissed me on my cheek before he left, as spud came in and looked up at the bed, decided I was no fun and ran back out…i faked sleep for 45 minutes before i sucked it up, accepted that I am getting old (as determined by this biological clock that only OLD people have that wakes them up before they have to) and got up to blog about the unfortunate nature of the beast. Oh, and my back hurts. And something popped as I was getting out of bed and sounded like a fire-cracker. Yep, I’m getting REAL old.