New Year's Eve 2012

     Here it is, 11:35 on 12/31/12, wow,, sure got here fast. I'm kicked back, drinking hot tea, watching The Ghost and Mrs. Muir from 1947. The only true romantic movie in my opinion, no sex, no dirty talk, no violence, no guns, no cheating, no shoving tongues down throats, no whacked out special effects,,,, just beautiful interaction between a man and a woman that leaves the good stuff to your imagination.
     I was hoping to be able to say how wonderful 2012 has been, but it hasn't been a good year for me. I'm not going to let it haunt me though, I'm going to move past it and get on with the life I want to have. I have things I need to take care of with myself; things that aren't healthy or good for me, things that though aren't illegal, shouldn't be happening, things I just don't like about myself. I can't change my life until I change me, then the rest of the change can happen together. But I will take charge and I will make it happen.
     2013 will be the year I get back to my writing, get back to working on those dreams I gave up too long ago, and I take the risks that I need to and hope that they turn out to be worth it. This is the year I turn back into myself, psychologically, physically, emotionally, completely. This is the year my son and I settle our hash one way or the other, I can't be torn apart anymore, I can't allow myself to be brought down anymore. This is the year that all toxic people will be flushed from my life!
Happy New Year Folks!

Fundraising links for Cindi Silvers-Davis

This post isn't for me, it contains links to help a wonderful lady and dear friend who has to battle not only cancer but the morons at Well's Fargo! Those who know the fight my family had with them after 911 knows how I feel about that bank. Below are links for Cindi's story and fund raisers. Please share them, and if you can, donate to the cause!

Cindi's story and Trust link, for the name of the trust please email Marsha who has her email on the story or me at WriterofWords@aol.com:

http://hopeforcindi.blogspot.com/2012/07/cindi-davis-has-been-battling-breast.html?showComment=1342127702797#c1555253048729006724

Giveforward.com link:

http://www.giveforward.com/savecindishomeandlife

Youcaring.com link:

http://www.youcaring.com/fundraiser_details?fundraiser_id=5988&url=savecindishomefromforeclosureandpayforchemo

Education, Bullies, Parents, Teachers,,, others

I always find it interesting when someone with no children in school tells me how bad the educational system is, how bad and uncaring the teachers are, and how horrible the bully problem is in ALL schools and NO teachers do anything about it. And they know all this how? Oh yeah,, a friend with kids told them all about it and of course their word is gospel. This friend who shall remain nameless knows all about all schools, and all teachers, me included I'm sure.

Now I know as well as the next person that not all schools or teachers are perfect,, but I also know of a lot of parents who should have been sterilized at birth! When you look at the numbers there are a lot more parents then teachers out there, and as a teacher I have to deal with an average of 25 to 30 of those parents a year! I smile, grit my teeth, and resist the urge to drag them across the conference table, slap them, and tell them to "parent up" and take responsibility for their progeny and for themselves!

You know, not only am I a teacher, I'm a parent too! I do understand where parents are coming from when they get on their soapbox, but I have a really big soapbox and on one side I'm a parent, on the other I'm a teacher.

Before you go attack a teacher, be sure you've done your homework too; crow is hard to swallow!

Teeth and Trolls,,,

Steven, my son, had two wisdom teeth surgically removed today. Now let's not forget this kid is 19 and has been in the Army Reserves almost 3 years now. So my mom takes him for this surgery because he's mad at me, I'm the bad guy I told him he has to pay his phone bill or I'm shutting off his cell phone, and I'm the bad guy. While they were at the surgeons my dad got out the hand truck and helped me move stuff in my classroom so I could get ready for the first day of school on Monday. My mom called to tell me they were home, so we finished up and went back to check on the kiddo.

My son is handsome, he's a good looking guy, all the girls and folks tell me this; what greeted my eyes looked like he should be under a bridge threatening three Billy Goat's Gruff. His face was all swollen, he had blood on his lips making him resemble a vampire troll and he had dried blood coming out of one nostril and trailing over his face. He was not a pretty sight. He was also not in a good mood when I had to wake him to take the gauze out of his mouth, take his pain killer, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory. I guess he thought I was a Billy Goat so I left him in the tender care of his grandmother,,, HAH! Not a tender bone in her body. I'll check on him tomorrow, maybe the troll will have removed his head from his nether regions.

Where Did Summer Go?

I started putting my classroom back together yesterday. It seems like yesterday I was trying to get it shut down and packed up. They buffed my floor but left the last day's trash in the room, so it smells really bad. I officially go back to work on Monday, the 25th, then the students on the 27th. Yes, of July. Whatever happened to getting out at Memorial Day and going back after Labor Day?

The summer started off with 3 weeks of training, next year I won't be doing it, pay or not. A few things were worth it, but not worth giving up 21 days out of a 50 day summer.

My son went to his summer drill in Wisconsin at Ft. McCoy, then to Ball, LA for Warrior Leadership School, also PLDC. He was sent home only 4 days into the training because he got a rash, go figure,, a rash in Louisiana???? They sent him to a civilian Dr. who told him he had Scabies,, quarantined him,, I don't call sending him home on an aircraft quarantine,, but anyway, he was sent home. It took two weeks to get him into the Dr. here for a physical to clear him going back to work and then found out what was diagnosed as Scabies was actually a mild case of Athletes Foot! Yes, they sent him home for Athlete's Foot. He was also in a vehicle accident; he rear-ended a guy on I-10 that had almost totally stopped in a construction zone and it was down to 1 lane, flashing lights everywhere, and suddenly a car in the way. He was cited for not controlling his speed and no proof of insurance. That was June 24; so today July 21 he had his court day and if he takes Defensive Driving they will drop the failure ticket and if he reinstates his insurance on his non-running truck they will cut that ticket down from over 400 to 117 at the most. Good luck to him there.

Summer break 2011 and their off!!!!

Well,, the students are off, I'm not lol,,, I have training the first three weeks off. Of course it's my own choice, but I'm getting paid for it and considering I only get one more check until school starts next July 25 I need the money! Oh, I need the money anyway! It's math this week, then science the next two weeks, but then I have 4 weeks off. I teach in a year round school so not a long summer. The best part will be Ricky coming home on leave the 25th of June through the 8th of July, I sure miss that kiddo. I'm going to try and remember to write every night, but someone has got to send me a message to remind me!

Where did the time go?

I can't believe it's been almost a year since I posted anything, aghagh!!!! Gotta fix it! A lot has happened in that year in my life and the lives of those around me. In that time I've lost 4 people who have played a huge part in my life, another friend is almost brain dead from a massive aneurysm she suffered in CA while driving her big rig with her husband.
The first death was Father Ashley, an Anglican Priest who had the biggest heart, the most fabulous sense of humor, and Leukemia. He fought for so many years to beat it, it just pushed right back and would sneak around and run in the side door. Father Ashley was a Royal Marine before becoming a priest, he served the Queen! He left my son his side-arm, and me a beautiful glass paper weight in the shape of an egg with red and white swirls. He said it should have been cracked because it sure reminded him of me!
The second death was a life lost way too young. A former Boy Scout and Cub Scout of mine, he went to school with my son, they were in band together, they were good friends. Sam left work early not feeling well and while driving over the mountain fell asleep at the wheel and hit another truck head on. He was crushed to death instantly as his small truck violently introduced itself to much larger cousin. Sam was a late in life baby for my friend Debi, and this has just destroyed a piece of her, it went to the grave with her son.
The next death was my Great Aunt Norma, 94 years on this Earth, wow! She died suddenly, in her sleep, 2 days after her daughter married a handsome Italian and moved to London. With her passing only one member of my dear Grandfather's generation remains: Great Aunt Allie, and she is 97.
The latest loss is Marcie, 48. We have known each other since I was in 4th grade and she was in 5th. We absolutely hated each other most of the time when we were younger. We shared a horse trailer going from rodeo to rodeo, competing against each other and sometimes with her on MY spare horse! Less than a year ago she was diagnosed with cancer, she fought so hard, and she blew up like a balloon doing it. It won, but not without a helluva of fight. Goodnight Marcie, no more midnight rides for us.
My friend Lilly, just around 50, had a massive aneurysm blow up in her brain while she and her husband Charlie were in Los Angeles, CA. She went into a medically induced coma after surgery to let her brain heal, but no,, it got an infection and every time they tried to bring her out of the coma she seized. They've said there is no chance, so her husband after several months is trying to bring her home to NM for care. He's lost his truck, her truck, their semi, almost everything while trying to care for her, be at the hospital, and still make enough runs to keep the insurance up and the bills paid. While she has been in the hospital, her old dog whom she worried about so much lost his fight and passed away not long after her incident. So when she goes, he will meet her at the Rainbow Bridge to help her cross over. That makes me feel better.
My dear nephew Ricky is at Sigonela Navel Air Station in Cicily right now, I was happy he got to go until this mess in Libya happened. I miss him. Chelle, the youngest grandchild of my parents graduates this year, next month in fact. I can't believe she's 18. Eric the middle child of my brother moved in with his girlfriend and her parents, and my own son has moved in with friends in El Paso. It's the first time I've been alone since I married his dad in 1988, it feels odd, but it feels great! I love him and always will, but he's got some maturing to do now, and a lot of growing up.
I'll pause now, I have a lot more to say, so it won't be a year this time, I promise!

Mona Lisa Smiles

I just watched Mona Lisa Smiles again for the umpteenth time. There is just something about watching the change in both Katherine Watson and the girls there at Wellesley that touches me. The idea of Ms. Watson trying to go to such a tradition driven school, and show those girls that there is more to life than a good marriage a center hall Colonial and babies is admirable in one way, but foolish in another. The girls do see a change on the horizon, especially Betty who finds herself in that marriage every girl dreams of but it's to a husband with the accepted mistress in NY! She writes some horrible editorials, costing one staff member her job and getting Ms. Watson in trouble too. The character of Giselle,, she and Connie are my favorites and I guess I can empathize with them. Always looking for acceptance, not seeing it when you find it, and being unable to face what you really are or are becoming. For Giselle, it's when she sees her beloved Italian professor for what he really is,, a womanizer, and for Connie it's when she is helping with a party and finds herself turning into the speech and elocution teacher tells her "You remind me of myself at your age". The idea of turning into a boring spinster lights a fire under her and she goes and gets her man back!

I digress lol,, I love this movie,, I don't call it a "coming of age" movie,, I call it a slap in the face we all need at times. What was behind the Mona Lisa's smiles? Was she really smiling or was she grimacing from sitting for so long? Did she have secret thoughts? What was really on her mind?

Nugget the Big Red Rooster

Nugget the Big Red Rooster (Picture Book)

Pg. 1 One day, in the barn at the Webb's farm, two little brown eggs hatched.

Pg. 2 The first little chick was tiny, with no feathers on her neck at all, and the rest of her baby feathers were a pretty black color. She had a little black hat on her head too.

Pg. 3 The other little chick wasn't so tiny! In fact, he was huge! He had bright yellow fluffy baby feathers and long, long legs. His legs were so long that the first little chick could walk right underneath him!

Pg. 4 The two little chicks became the best of friends, the tiny little one's name was Woo, and the big little one's was Nugget, because he looked like a little gold nugget when he was hatched.

Pg. 5 As they grew up together Nugget kept growing, and growing,, and growing!

Pg. 6 But little Woo grew a little more, and then stopped right there. She was so tiny she could walk under Nugget and not even bump her little head.

Pg. 7 In the farmyard were other chickens too.

Pg. 8 There was Blue Rooster, he was the boss! He would stand on top of anything he could and he would crow so loud you could hear him all over the farm.

Pg. 9 Blue Rooster let Nugget tag along with him as he walked around the barnyard making sure that all the other chickens were where they were supposed to be.

Pg. 10 The hens had an area all of their own where they laid their eggs, and Farmer Webb picked them up and took them in the farmhouse.

Pg. 11 They had a beautiful house the called their coop. It was so nice inside! It had nice warm straw to snuggle down into lay their eggs. It also had two wooden bars called perches, so they could sit on them and sleep safely at night.

Pg. 12 Outside of the coop was a nice big area with a strong fence around it, to help keep the nice chicken ladies safe. There was door on the side that opened up into the barnyard so the hens could scratch around and find little treats to snack on.

Pg. 13 Every now and then one would find a really tasty treat and take off running so no one else could take her treat! All the other hens would chase her around the yard, trying to steal the treat away, but in the end, they all shared their treats.

Pg. 14 To Be Continued

My Plan!

I have a plan! Not sure how I will implement it but I have a plan! I will put in applications in at least one different school district a month in areas I'm interested in. I find friends and acquaintances who might live in those areas and know of people with a house/trailer/etc for sale or rent in an area I can have my animals.. chickens, ducks, dogs, cats, etc.. Maybe one of them will have something I can get at a decent price! I will start liquidating what I have, things I can't take or won't want to. I will start making weekly trips to the dump to get rid of everything I can. I will find homes for the chickens or ducks that I don't feel I can take or that I am not as fond of to cut down on feed expenses for now. I'll try even harder to get a second job to help get out of this financial fiasco I'm in,,, 2500 bucks would solve all my money problems, surely I could make that in two or three months in a part time job somewhere??? I might have to leave my education off of the applications because I'm tired of hearing I'm overqualified,,, I can work with it!!

Jan 4, 2010

Wow,, what a Winter break! My son hit his terrible two's, teen angst, and I'm 18 and an adult all at once! Of course according to him it has nothing to do with his BFF he suddenly started hanging around with lol! He and I had a great Sunday together, shot pool, did some yard work, watched a movie,, just like normal and he had no contact with his buddy. It was a great day today, we had lunch together since I'm back at work, and then a nice afternoon, but now he's at his buddy's house again, we'll see what his attitude is like when he gets home.

I've made a decision, one that won't be easy given my circumstances with my finances and all... but I'm setting a goal of getting everything, that being taxes, and water problems, heat problems, all that, in order and hopefully finding a job in a new district in another part of the US so that this time next year I will be living somewhere else. I'm going to either cut off and acre to sell for cash, but can't do that until my way past due taxes are caught up, or after taxes are caught up, put my whole place up for sale. It's about 3 acres with a double wide mobile home that needs work, but it's a good area people are moving into, so I might be able to get enough to just flat out buy another place somewhere. I'll never be able to finance a breath of fresh air again, so I have to be able to buy. Wish me luck!

He's 18....

Wow,, 18, my son is 18!! Eighteen years old.. EIGHTEEN!!!! YEARS!!!!! OLD!!!!! I was not a teen when he was born, I was not in my early twenties when he was born, in fact I was staring at 30 from two steps away. I was 28, getting a divorce, and suddenly I was being told I was 4 months pregnant,, wow,, I couldn't be Doc,, you said I would never have kids! My miracle, my baby, my life. 11/23/91 @ 1:23. His lucky numbers,, 123.

All the planning, yeah,, single again! Hold on to your men,, she'll make us worryin' wives, and bring us alibis,, look out she's single again.. lol,, well that didn't happen. We stayed married for the military benefits until he was a few months old. Then I WAS single again,, and home with a brand new boyfriend,, a tiny, skinny, bossy, little man who completely stole my heart and owns it to this day.

Do I feel old? No. Do I feel older? No. Did I feel a tiny little piece of my heart start to separate as the ties that bind loosened a bit? Yes. My little man isn't little anymore, and the baby of my memories now wears the uniform of a man. He holds himself taller, straighter, and now,, instead of reaching up to be held, he leans down to do the holding.

My baby is 18 today.

Nothing like some TLC when sick!

I caught a stomach bug Friday, it hit Friday night and I've been miserable ever since! The high point is I've had such wonderful care while I've been sick!! My big cat Valentino has made sure to lay right behind me and keep me from rolling over and possibly making myself uncomfortable. While at the same time my Chihuahua Angel has snuggled up to me under the blankets and makes sure to apply her cold nose to my bum regularly to ensure that my reflexes are still operational. My sweet little Maxi,, he's a poodle/huahua cross,, he plasters his nose to my nose to make sure there is air coming out every now and then and if he thinks I'm in danger he applies a cold wet tongue to the end of my nose to check my temperature. My darling baby cat,, Baby Swan,, she has her little lips applied to mine in case I need mouth to mouth, and those long whiskers keep my nose twitching. The other three cats, Siskiyou, Prints, and Capt. Jack-Jack,, they are holding a chant right outside my bedroom door; I just can't decide if they are praying for my recovery or if they praying I don't die and leave the cat food bag closed! Whatever it is they are howling for, I'm sure the kitty gods are getting an earful! Hmm hopefully it's not a wake!

On the other hand my son has made numerous trips to the store to buy me Sprite,, a 20oz bottle at a time of course,, and he is so nice, he drives my truck to the store so it won't sit there and rust from disuse... I feel so loved lol!!!!

Teaching in my little town

Ahh yes, the joys of teaching in a small town! One of my little 3rd grade buddies came up to me yesterday and said Ms. Livingston,, please don't be offended!! But you look more beautiful with your hair! LOL I cut my hair very short on Saturday and little Fidel just wanted me to know that I look ok,, but he thought I was more beautiful with my longer hair. What a sweetie!

My first blog!

I just had to do it,, my first blog! My own place to come to and put my thoughts down on virtual paper... wow,,, just too cool and this is going to be such fun! That is if I remember I did start it....