GEM's May Journal

5-30 - Had a pretty good trip to Williamsburg. We left at 7:38 Thursday morning and got home at 9:10 last night. ON the way down we stopped at a rest stop and had lunch (everyone brought their own). Then we went to Jamestown and explored there for a couple of hours. Got to Williamsburg about 3:00 (I can highly recommend the Fort McGruder Inn). Hubbie and I had a room with a kingsize bed, wet bar (which had had everything removed) and a real nice bath. They even have nice towels, not those hand towels some hotels try to pass off as bath towels. We ate dinner (which was terrible) at the hotel around 4:00. Then we went to Williamsburg for a Ghost Tour. The guy was really good and kept the kids' interest. We got back to the hotel around 9:00. The kids were given an assignment to do in their rooms. They had til 10:00, then they could get a snack. We adults went back to the dining room and got the run down on the schedule for Friday. We went back to our room and called home. Our daughter was staying the night at her cousins, and Joey was really lonely. That is the first time he has ever spent the night home alone. Don't think he liked it too much. Then we went down to the bar with another couple. They all had pizza and I had a burger. We were starved because the dinner was too bad to eat. Got back to the room and was in bed by 11:30. Got up early and got my shower. Kids got up. Tim was all dressed and standing in the hall. The kids had already turned their keys over to the assistant principal when Tim started feeling sick. Let him in our room and the poor kid was sick as a dog. It was from his sinuses draining all night. He didn't eat any breakfast and was sick a couple of more times. Puked all the was to Historic Williamsburg on the bus (the hotel gave up a trash bag for him to use). Started feeling better around 11:00 and had a great day from there on in. We walked and walked. It was hotter than blue blazes. We toured the Govenor's Mansion and saw all the weapons in the foyer (there were over 700). It was most impressive. We also saw the cooper, the carpenter, the mill, the wheelwright and went in so many small shops my head still spins. We got a tour of Raleigh's Tavern and Tim wanted to go the the courthouse. We listened to a guy speak who was supposed to be a judge. He was very interesting. Tim and Cat wanted to go through the church; but it wasn't open. We did go into the cemetary and read the headstones, though. We couldn't get into some places we wanted to go because they were taking pictures for a children's book they are making. Timothy had a great time after he started feeling better. He and Cat fell asleep on the bus on the way home. I spent most of my time on the bus reading or listening to Beatle's tapes. All in all, it was a pretty good but exhausting trip. Back to work on Monday. Only 7 more days of school for the kids and 8 more days of work for me. I can hardly wait. Keep the faith ;)

5-27 - Went and had a manicure today. My first one ever. The woman wouldn't to overlays or acrylic because she said my nails were perfect the way they are. Just filed them a little, trimmed the cuticles and massaged my hands and then polished my nails. I must admit, they do look good. My husband treated me for my birthday. We leave for Williamsburg tomorrow morning and get back around 8:30 Friday night. I probably won't journal again til Saturday. Hope everyone has a nice couple of days. Keep the faith ;)

5-26 - A quick note before I get ready for work. Had a great weekend. Went to a cookout yesterday at my husband's work. He is a professional firefighter and the guys had a cookout and all the families were invited. It was real nice. Ate within my parameters again. Now if the scales would only move. Have been exercising and eating right; but the scales are going the wrong way. Am not sure what is wrong. Gotta go get ready for work. Hope everyone has a nice day. Keep the faith ;)

5-24 - Just a quick entry before we leave. We are going over my sister-in-law's for a cookout. I have planned out what I am going to eat and already have entered it in DietWatch. Have stayed within my calorie and fat allowance. Went and bought myself a new walkman yesterday. Broke down and got an expensive one this time. Have gone through 2 or 3 cheap ones. They just aren't make to stand up to the rough treatment of power walking. Hopefully this one will last longer. There is a woman at work who has one and has had it for 5 years. I also got a couple of Beatles tapes to use when I walk. The store has a couple more I would like to get. Like that peppy, upbeat music when I walk. Gotta go, we are getting ready to leave. Keep the faith ;)

5-23 - Another few days have passed by without me noticing. Have been very busy. Had two mandatory meetings to attend Thursday night. Naturally could only attend on so went to most important one. That one was so my oldest could attend the technical school next year. Boy was it boring! The other one was about the fifth grade trip to Williamsburg on Thursday and Friday. I have already attended that meeting twice for my other two kids. I begged off and just got the packet that was being handed out. We leave at 7:30 Thursday morning and get home at 8:30 Friday evening. I get to spend most of my birthday on a bus to Williamsburg. We stop off at Jamestown on the way down and explore there for a while. Then Thursday night we go on a ghost tour of Williamsburg. Get up at 7:00 Friday morning, eat at the hotel and spend the whole rest of the day til about 2:30 touring Williamsburg with our kids. We will have another child, Cat, with us. Her parents couldn't come and would only let her come if we agreed to be her chaperone. She is a nice kid whom I am sure you have read about in my journal. We readily agreed. I hope to have a good time as it was fun when I went with Jaime three years ago. James went with Joey when he went 5 years ago; so we both decided to go with Timothy. Gotta go clean. I have been walking every day but Thursday because of meetings. Denise and I have been walking in the evenings after dinner; but once school is out, we will walk in the mornings again. She works in the schools also. Keep the faith ;)

5-20 - I see it has been a while since I was here. Have had a little excitement. Last Thursday my youngest sprained his ankle on the trampoline. Yesterday was field day at school for his grade and it puffed up like a puff toad. Now he is wearing a brace with steel support bands in it. Then this morning he was chosen to help the special ed pre-school students with their field day. One of them swung a golf club and hit him. He has a cut on his left eyelid. No real serious, no stitches, just a butterfly bandage. Luckily it didn't injure his eye. He will probably have a shiner before it is all over with. It will go nicely with the green and yellow colors in his ankle. Gotta go. Am gonna go for a walk with my friend, Denise. It is hotter than blue blazes here today. In the 90s today. Summer came with a vengence. My flowers that aren't supposed to bloom until July are already starting to bloom because of our mild winter and spring. At least it is sunny here. Much better than all that rain. Keep the faith ;)

5-17 - Had a busy day yesterday. Spent a mother/daughter day with my 13 year old. First we spent about 2 hours defrosting the frozen tundra of the freezer. This is a big commercial freezer that, unfortunately, is not frost-free. We usually have to defrost it about every 6 months. However, it has been only 3 months and this is all her father's fault. The last time I made spaghetti sauce he started nagging me to put the left overs away in the freezer as soon as we got done eating supper. (Any guy who says women are naggers has obviously not spent more than 15 minutes with my husband when he wants something done.) I kept telling him it was too hot, but nothing would appease him but having it put away. So, to make a long story short, all that hot sauce in the freezer started defrosting things and then left each shelf with about 2 - 3 inches of frost on the top and bottom. It was getting extremely hard to put things away in there. After that delightful job, I took Jai and Punk to seem Titanic again. My oldest son couldn't understand why we wanted to see it a second time and kept harping on the subject and telling us how dumb he thought it was (as you can tell, he takes after his father). We just ignored him and went. I cried, again. Guess that is all for now. Am waiting for a friend to come take me to see her new house. Then this afternoon I am making my hubbie go get new jeans before we go to Williamsburg with the fifth grade. His are ready to walk to the junk bag with him still in them; but I have decided I really want to keep him, just not the jeans. Keep the faith ;)

5-15 - I'm typing this real quick before I go to work. This has been a tough week. We are doing MSPAP (Maryland School Performance Assessment Program) testing in third grade this week; last week was fifth grade. I have had to cover classes for teachers every morning while they proctor in the rooms where the testing is taking place. Last week I was in special education all week, which I really like. This week I have been in first grade classes every morning. After subbing mostly in special ed or the media center, this has been kicking my butt. I really like the kids, I'm just not used to being with 29 kids all morning. I am used to smaller classes or only 45 minutes with the same class before switching. After covering a class all morning, I then teach 4 thirty minute classes in the afternoon. It is extremely to compress what you would teach in a 45 minute time-frame into 30 minutes. Oh well, such has been my pitiful little life this week. Keep the faith ;)

5-13 - Finally, after 13 straight days of rain we are getting some sunshine. The neighbors were talking about getting together and building an ark. My flowers are growing like crazy; unfortunately, so are the weeds. The pollen is also in the high range. I have been coughing and sneezing all day. At least we were able to take the kids outside for recess today. It is hard trying to keep them calm when they can't get outside to run off excess energy. Keep the faith ;)

5-11 - Had a great Mother's Day. My daughter and youngest son fixed me breakfast in bed. I had scrambled eggs, toast, ice tea, and grapefruit. That is the first time I have had breakfast in bed since I had Timothy. He was 11 in January. Went and took my final in psych class tonight. Now I just have to wait for my report card. I have an A average; but this test was really hard. I'm not sure how I did. Guess time will tell. Now I am all finished college til the fall. There are only 20 more days of public school and then I work one extra day. Then I am finished work til the fall. I really need this break. Going to school and working full time really kicked my butt. Keep the faith ;)

5-9 - Still have to finish my last college paper for this semester. My Dad wanted us to meet his new girlfriend tomorrow. My sister and I got together and talked and then asked him if we could wait til the Memorial Day weekend and have a cookout that Sunday and have him and Nora. He agreed; but now I find out he asked Nora to come to church with him tomorrow. I'm not sure if she will show up; but if she does, I don't know how I will handle it. I always sit with my Dad and if she is there and I snub them, he will be pissed. I don't want to stay home from church on the off chance that she will be there. I don't know what to do; but so far I have managed to avoid eating. I got some exercise today in the form of dancing. My daughter wouldn't dance with me because she said she couldn't dance to my music. I had on a record from the 60s and 70s. Some of the songs were Knock Three Times and MacArthur's Park. Then I put on the soundtrack from Footloose. She loved the movie; but still wouldn't dance with me. What a party pooper. I still had fun. Keep the faith ;)

5-8 - Sorry it has been so long. Have been working on papers for college. My last class is Monday night. Then I won't be so busy and can get my life back on track. Seems like all I have done here lately is work, type college papers, fix meals, do laundry, do dishes and all the other mom stuff. Have been so stressed out I have been eating like a pig. Gained 5 pounds. I will be glad when Monday night is over with. Then no more classes til September. I'm not taking any summer classes. Gotta go finish my last paper for Monday night's class. Keep the faith ;-)

5-3 - Have spent most of the day on the computer typing stuff for college. Did take time out to plant a few cannas in my garden. Still have weeding to do. Will get to that sooner or later. Have to get back to college work. Everything is due Wednesday and I have about 5 more pages to type on this paper. Then need to type another one. Keep the faith ;-)

5-2 - 225 I know, I know, the wrong way. I have been exercising and drinking my water. Guess I will just have to start over, again. I downloaded the new version of dietwatch diary. Haven't really had a chance to look at it yet. Have spent most of the morning cleaning. Usually pull out the couch and chairs the first weekend of every month. Well, today was the day and I also pulled out the organ. Don't usually do it every month because it is too heavy. I think I gave myself a hernia (only kidding). The only thing with pulling out all the furniture is that you see what color your carpet should really be. Guess the next step is to get the steam cleaner out. We were going to do that over Easter break; but somehow never got to it. It's funny, when you can't see the super clean spots that are covered up by the furniture, the rug doesn't look that bad. I hate cleaning because it just never gets done. Just like the laundry and dishes. I NEED A MAID!!!! Enough griping for now. Keep the faith ;-)

5-1 - Wow, the first of May already! I forgot to weigh this morning because I overslept. Will try to remember tomorrow. Tomorrow will be my brother's birthday. Then we will be the same age for 26 days; then it's my birthday. I must remember to send him an on-line card. Hope everyone is having a good day. Take care, and keep the faith ;-)