Story of My Life

I listen to music too much. I really think I do. And, I think the problem is, I don't listen to "happy" music. I like what I listen too, it makes me happy- but stopping to listen to the lyrics gets me down sometimes.

Part of the day today (right now, even) was spent listening to Social Distortion. And the song that really jumped out at my was called Story of My Life.

This evening my MIL called to tell me that she had gotten a call from a lawyer in MS that I sent my resume too- and gave me his number so I can call him tomorrow. When I sent my resume he told me that we could set up an interview when I actually get in town the first week of November. But then he called and left a message to get me to call him. So I spent about an hour thinking we were going to do a phone interview- and I was pretty excited about this. And then song lyrics creeped into my head...

"I went downtown to look for a job
I had no training, no experience to speak of.
I looked at the holes in my jeans
And turned and headed back."

Kind of a mood killer! It did remind me though, to not set my hopes on this. Maybe he does want to interview me tomorrow. Or, maybe he's decided that I am not right for the job, maybe he's found someone else that can start right away. It's very possible that he's just doing the nice thing and letting me know before I get to town so I can start looking elsewhere.

I'm not sure. I'll be calling around 7 or 8 tomorrow (my time) to find out. And I'll either be really excited the rest of the day- or I'll be spending the rest of the day trying to run off my frustration with the iPod as loud as it goes.

Yoga

I was kind of amused to see the quote of the day on the side of my page for today...

"Yoga is bodily gospel" -Reaven Fields

I'm not sure if I think of yoga in a religious way- but I will say it's probably the most spiritual I am these days. I didn't always think of it in such a positive light. In fact, the first time I tried it- I hated it.

F was born via repeat c-section, and at my 6 week PP check up I was given the ok by my doctor to begin light-moderate exercise. I assumed that yoga was something really easy (after all, it's just stretching, right???) so I took a walk down to the gym in my parents neighborhood and took a class.

And then I wanted to die.

I didn't really think the whole thing out. Like the fact that I had just had surgery that cut up and sliced to ribbons all the muscles I would be needing that day. Or the fact that I had no phone, so once I walked down there, I would be stuck walking home again.

I avoided yoga for about three years after that. Just flat out refused to consider it as an exercise possibility. I tried it again earlier this year.

To my surprise- I started loving it. I started looking forward to it every day. I practice yoga 4 to 5 times a week now. And I say "practice" because I am still not that good at it. I am certain I look very ridiculous. I know the S and F seem to find it amusing, at the least.

But I love it. It's my "me" time. It's one thing I can do that is all my own. No matter what time of day I set aside time for it, I am grateful for that half hour I give myself. I love waking up in the morning and starting out with yoga. I love ending the day with yoga and just letting all the stress leave before going to bed. I love taking a break in the middle of a very stressful day- forgetting about the phone calls that need to be made or the fact the S and F are making me want to pull my hair out.

I never thought I would love it as much as I do. It's too bad I didn't discover this years ago!

Just Let Me Eat in Peace!

I never realized that making the choice to move towards a more vegetarian diet would put me in such an awkward position. Right now, I am what is called a pescetarian. Basically, I am a vegetarian who eats fish sometimes. I'm comfortable where I am, and unsure if I am going to transition to a fully vegetarian diet.

Right now though, I feel like I am just opening myself up to comments and criticisms on both sides. J is pretty good about respecting my diet choice, but he does make comments every now and then about me giving up meat. And, I know that when I go back home, I will get the same comments that I got in high-school. It seems that many of the people in my life feel like there is something wrong with me for not eating meat.

On the other hand, though, I feel judged by people who are vegetarian or vegan. After all, I am not a full vegetarian, so I guess I'm not cool enough to be in their club. Yes, that's juvenile, but the judgmental mentality isn't exactly a mature one.

This morning I was posting on a vegetarian message board (a board that was set up for vegans, vegetarians, semi-vegetarians, and people interested in possibly becoming vegetarian) One of the posters made a comment that she couldn't understand how someone who eats fish can consider themselves vegetarian.

For all I know, the comment wasn't directed to me. Or maybe it was. Doesn't matter. I just didn't understand why she felt the need to make the comment at all. I guess I just don't see why anyone on either side of the fence feels the need to make judgments about the other side. And I don't like being in a position where, no matter who I talk to, I am left feeling like there is something wrong with me, like I'm somehow not good enough for not eating red meat. Not good enough for still eating fish. Not good enough for drinking milk.

I found this: Vegetarian Lifestyle, and I liked a lot of what he had to say. Some of the comments that stood out to me were....

"Ultimately, what life style and dietary approach you adopt is really up to you. Being vegetarian does not make you a saint nor is consuming meat going to make you a bad person."

"No need to be judgmental of others: Simply be yourself. Being judgmental about people who do not embrace your values, dietary approaches, or lifestyle, is unnecessary and not constructive."

"Be true to yourself and people will respect you for it. Standing up for what you believe to be right and drawing a line for what you think is acceptable for you is a must! There are plenty of people who will appreciate you for it as well."

Quote of the Day

I didn't realize how much I would miss having a quote as my title for blog posts. In some ways it seemed very limiting. On the other hand, though, it was very interesting for me to good searching for a quote that would summarize what I wanted to write about that day.

I am not going to change my format back to a blog-title quote, but I did add the "Quote of the Day" gadget that blogger offers to my tool bar. I don't really know if there is a way I can change it to show particular quotes- and I'm not sure I am always going to like the quotes it selects. But it should be interesting and (for me at least) informative. I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting quotes- so I am looking forward to seeing what is posted each day!

It's a bird, it's a plane, it's SUPERGIRL (and a cowboy)

The kids picked out their Halloween costumes this past weekend. When I first had kids, I said I thought that Halloween costumes were a waste of money- why pay for something they're only going to wear once, after all.

But, in our house at least, it feels like every day is Halloween. S and F are always playing dress up- and have boxes of costumes, some from Halloween, some bought just because, and some items are just pieces of clothing that they have laid claim to. So I really don't mind buying costumes now. I know that both kids are going to get a LOT of use out of them!

S debated his costume up and down the aisles in two stores. He just couldn't make up his mind. Iron Man, The Hulk, Indiana Jones, a Transformer. Each one had it's merits, and he told J about how cool each costume was as they searched. And then they wandered off the costume aisle onto the toy aisle and S had a change of heart. Heroes are not as cool as cowboys, apparently.

J was pleased with this choice too, since most of what S would need we already had. He needed a hat, of course. Can't be a cowboy without a hat. Throw in some cap-guns and a badge- and S is officially a western lawman. He's pretty pleased with the completed look- and J is running around the house shooting capguns with S like he's 5 years-old again too!

F was much easier to pick a costume for. I assumed that she would want to be a princess, since that is what she walks around the house pretending to be. But this year she walked right past the princess costumes to the end of the aisle, and then spent several long minutes debating the merits of Wonder Woman and Supergirl.

I'm not sure why Supergirl won in the end. Maybe it's because we've been watching the seventh season of Smallville here at home, and she had Supergirl on her mind. Or, just as likely, it's because the girl wearing the costume on the bag has blonde hair. F definately shows a tendency to prefer blondes. I guess it's that little kid mentality- "her hair looks like mine, her eyes look like mine". Whatever it is, I'm pretty pleased. She's more of a Super hero than a princess anyway- she's much too wild and adventuruous to spend her days at tea parties.

So, this year, S and F are going to save the world in their own ways. I like having heroes in my house.

School's Out For Summer

S and Ms. B

Ok, maybe not for the summer. But it is out for the remainder of the time we are in Vegas. S's school is on a track system, and the first track break starts tomorrow, so today was his last day of school while we are here. Thankfully, he had a great teacher who understands the importance of continuing education at home. The students were all sent home with a months worth of activities to day, as well as a new book. S is very excited to have school to do at home again, and he and F are both excited about this new book. I'm pleased with the packet as well. It will help me with my lesson plans. I've been working with him at home these past six weeks anyway, and plan to continue homeschooling until we get him enrolled in MS. He's almost completed the workbooks we have though- so it's nice to have some new materials to go over. I took some pictures yesterday of S and F walking to school, in the classroom, and playing on the playground. So I figured I would post them. It's my blog, afterall, so why not?

S and F on their way to school
S jumping on the playground
F enjoying a chance to play soccer
F really enjoyed the days she got to go to school

The Mystery of the Missing Backpack

Today was just not our day. I'm starting to feel very anxious to move, and feeling less safe in what I thought was our nice, quiet neighborhood.

I was a volunteer in S's classroom today, and went to school with him. On our walk home from the school, we noticed one of our neighbors was being arrested. Pleasant, eh? We got home and I realized that I had left my keys and my phone inside and J- being the smart and cautious man that he is, had locked the door before he went to work. So I had S and F leave their backpacks tucked behind the wall and we went to the convenience store across the street to borrow their phone and call J to come home and let us in.

We were gone for all of 15 minutes, just long enough to call J and then buy some water since we were going to have to wait outside in the son for at least 30 minutes before J could come home. We got home and I noticed that S's backpack was missing. Someone had come into our yard and stolen it.

There was nothing valuable in the bag, so it's not a huge deal. The thing that bothers me though, is that the backpacks were not visible from the street/sidewalk. In order to see them someone would have had to come up to our gate- possible with the intention of breaking into the (thankfully) locked house. THAT bothers me a lot more than a missing bag.

S is not all that upset. He has three other backpacks, and several folders that he can take to school with him tomorrow. He's treating this whole situation as a kind of adventure- the way only a five-year-old can. He talks about the "mystery" and wants to solve it, but did not seem bothered when I told him that there was not a very big chance of of solving the mystery.

I'm glad that S is not phased by this but, at the same time, it makes me even more anxious to get out of Vegas!

Because I can

I've gotten a little bored with the way I am currently posting. The Boy, The Girl, That Guy, The Dog- it just doesn't appeal to me anymore. I'm also finding the title quotes a little limiting. So, since everything else is changing soon anyway- I might as well change my posting style.

I do like the privacy of not revealing our names though, so I will keep that to a certain extent. I think initials will work just fine for most of us. The dog shares a first initial with me though, so I think she can go by the initial of her nickname. Why? Because I said so.

So, a brief re-introduction to the family. My husband, That Guy, is J. I am M (I feel like a Bond character now, too bad we don't have a Q in the family) Our son, The Boy, is S, and our daughter, The Girl is F. The puppy is P.

I'm too lazy to go back and change all the old posts though, so I'm not going to.

Anyway- just a pointless little announcement on my part.