Fear not faithful readers, Ryan and I are leaving for a week tomorrow. I'm sure there will be PLENTY to blog about =)
The schedule is to take two days to drive to Springfield, MO where my dad and his girlfriend live. We will be staying with them from Sunday until Wednesday morning. Yes, Ryan is going under trial by fire meeting and living with King Tom! Michael is flying in to join us on Monday morning.
Then on Wednesday we will head to Springdale, Arkansas for the next couple days for the big annual Bulger family Thanksgiving. Mom, Brock, and Michael's girlfriend are flying in at various times on Wednesday.
In other news, Ryan and I have officially finished the beginning square dance lessons. We completed 12 weeks and are now eligible to go on to the next level of classes starting right after Thanksgiving.
Also, I have a job interview scheduled for the Monday after Thanksgiving at Marietta Middle School. It is part of a charter school system in Marietta, GA and I will be interviewing for a contractor position of Title I math support specialist. Today, I sent in all my official paperwork to the state of GA to get my GA teaching license.
Look who's Pregnant!!!
Showing posts with label dancing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dancing. Show all posts
Friday, November 19, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Square Dancing
After embarrassingly having our square moved to the front of the room since we kept messing up, the caller, Ray, continually reminded the class that square dancing is progressive. You have to be at class in order to learn the moves taught that night, because the following week builds more moves on the previous ones.
When I learned that Ryan was going to be in Montgomery last week, and he is in Orlando this week, I emailed the Square Dealers Club and tried to gracefully bow out.
When I learned that Ryan was going to be in Montgomery last week, and he is in Orlando this week, I emailed the Square Dealers Club and tried to gracefully bow out.
Hi Angie,
I wanted to let you know that Ryan and I are not going to be able to complete the lessons. We've already missed 2 weeks due to his work schedule and it looks like we would be missing this week and next as well. Unfortunately, he has been traveling a lot lately!
Also, can you please give a message to Al and his wife for us? They were going to be our angels at class tomorrow night, but like I said, we will not be able to make it. I know Al's wife doesn't come every week, and I don't want her to make a special trip out to class thinking that she has a partner all set up.
Thanks Angie! We've really enjoyed the lessons and meeting all the people. We are definitely bummed that we can't commit the way we know a student needs to be able to. Maybe next time when your lessons start up again?
Thanks,
Courtney
I wanted to let you know that Ryan and I are not going to be able to complete the lessons. We've already missed 2 weeks due to his work schedule and it looks like we would be missing this week and next as well. Unfortunately, he has been traveling a lot lately!
Also, can you please give a message to Al and his wife for us? They were going to be our angels at class tomorrow night, but like I said, we will not be able to make it. I know Al's wife doesn't come every week, and I don't want her to make a special trip out to class thinking that she has a partner all set up.
Thanks Angie! We've really enjoyed the lessons and meeting all the people. We are definitely bummed that we can't commit the way we know a student needs to be able to. Maybe next time when your lessons start up again?
Thanks,
Courtney
But they would not let us quit. We are the youngest people in the lessons, and apparently they love us! Here is the response I got:
Dear Courtney and Ryan
I discussed your email with Louis (President of KSD). We would like to propose something to you, we think you are a super couple and would love to have you finish lessons and join our club. I understand the difficulties of having to travel due to your job, my job requires the same. What I would like to offer to you is getting some angels to meet maybe on the weekend and help you keep up with the class when Ryan has to travel. We could have 6 angels work with you and Ryan an hour or two. I think you are doing such a great job in class and with a little extra help we think we could keep you up with the class. I don't want to pressure you to continue if you think the demands of Ryan's job will continue to keep you out of the Thursday nite class but if we could help you a week here and there we think we can make it work. Also, if you can come to class when Ryan is gone that would help keep you up with the class. Let me know if you are interested in this option and I will start working on a place and angels to help.
Angie
Then, Angie and I got this email:
Courtney & Angie,
Good morning ladies! I live approximately 3 miles from the Community Center in a sub-division called Howell Farms. We have a clubhouse that is available most any time. As President of the homeowner association (L), I have the keys and can used it when needed. It’s a great place for us to meet.
Louis
So after all these emails, Ryan actually made it back in time for Square Dancing last week. And it looks like he will be back from Orlando just in time this week. So we tried to quit, but they would not let us, and onward we square dance. Do si do baby...
Friday, October 29, 2010
Wed and Thurs
Wednesday
Wednesday morning I tutored Ginnie. We worked forever on hybrid plants and genetic recessive and dominant alleles. I know way more than I ever wanted to know on the subject! Apparently she thinks I am a math AND science expert...
At Papa's Pantry that afternoon, there were only two appointments scheduled. I've never quite had a person come through like the first person did. This woman, who lives with three daughters, took the most food I've ever seen anyone take ever. She took more food than families of 8 have taken. These people are only supposed to take one week's worth of food for their families. This woman almost wiped out every shelf of every thing we offer. She was clearly stock piling, and taking way more food than she could possibly use within one week. I didn't quite know what to do about it, so I let it slide. For all I know, maybe this woman's shelves are completely bare at home.
For the next hour, I did something at Papa's Pantry that I've never done before. Usually when I go there, I simply replenish the pantry that the people "shop" from, with items from the pantry that only staff have access too. Today though, I got to take donations from the outside, and stock it in the pantry that only staff have access to. There is a very organized way of doing this, that includes:
After Papa's I went back to the Halloween store that Ryan and I went to the previous day. I tried on 4 costumes and took the one I liked the best, which I really don't like all that much. But I figure I'm desperate at this point... I need a costume within 48 hours! I got a bee costume, but it's not as hot as the one I tried to get from the other store. The tutu on the costume covers about half of my gluteous maximus, so then I walked over to Marshall's to buy some black leggings. When I was trying on the leggings with my costume at Marshall's, I realize the costume place didn't give me my accessories that go with it - the wings, antennae, etc. By now it is pouring down rain, and the costume place is filled with people. I wait, no joke, 30 minutes in line, soaking wet, to get my accessories for a costume I'm not all that excited about. Ugh.
Thursday
I was supposed to tutor Ginnie this morning at 10am. I was running a little late, due to hitting my snooze button for literally one hour, when I got a phone call from her mom at 9:09am. Normally I would've already been on the road by then, but this morning I wasn't. Ginnie wasn't feeling well, and the mom asked me to come Friday morning instead. That's fine - I was scheduled to be there Friday morning already. Then the mom asked if I could come Saturday too. I told her I would have to check my schedule and let her know. She seemed shocked that I didn't have an immediate "yes" for her. I went back to bed, and when I woke up I went to the website and charged her half price for the time I was supposed to be there since she canceled within less than one hour before the appointed time. I have a strict three hour cancellation policy!!! =)
Tonight, I met my newest student name Lindsey. She takes all advanced classes (can you say PAAL student?) but is struggling with math. The mom was super nice, friendly, and talkative. They hail from Wisconsin and have been in GA for about two years now. She liked that I am a mid-westerner. The daughter was much more quiet and reserved than mom. She wore a TON of purple eye liner that surprised me to see. I worked with her for an hour on polynomials and then left.
Ryan found out yesterday that he got the promotion he interviewed for, so I got him a present. Apparently every year for his birthday, his mom would buy him a Baskin Robbins turtle pie, instead of a cake. So I ordered one for him that said "Congrats Sugar Daddy"
Square dancing was horrendous this evening. I danced with an angel, and so did Ryan, but we were in the same square with a geriatric student, and couple who thinks they are amazing but really don't know much more than we do. Even the angels were old and about as slow moving as they come. Our square got called out for always messing up and we got moved to the front of the room, right in front of the caller. Embarrassing!
Wednesday morning I tutored Ginnie. We worked forever on hybrid plants and genetic recessive and dominant alleles. I know way more than I ever wanted to know on the subject! Apparently she thinks I am a math AND science expert...
At Papa's Pantry that afternoon, there were only two appointments scheduled. I've never quite had a person come through like the first person did. This woman, who lives with three daughters, took the most food I've ever seen anyone take ever. She took more food than families of 8 have taken. These people are only supposed to take one week's worth of food for their families. This woman almost wiped out every shelf of every thing we offer. She was clearly stock piling, and taking way more food than she could possibly use within one week. I didn't quite know what to do about it, so I let it slide. For all I know, maybe this woman's shelves are completely bare at home.
For the next hour, I did something at Papa's Pantry that I've never done before. Usually when I go there, I simply replenish the pantry that the people "shop" from, with items from the pantry that only staff have access too. Today though, I got to take donations from the outside, and stock it in the pantry that only staff have access to. There is a very organized way of doing this, that includes:
- weighing how much food was donated,
- checking expiration dates (we keep anything within 6 months expired except for baby food - that we do not give out expired),
- then you cross out the bar code with a specific color sharpie marker. The color of the marker is a coding system denoting what month Papa's Pantry received the food,
- Finally stock the items on the shelves.
After Papa's I went back to the Halloween store that Ryan and I went to the previous day. I tried on 4 costumes and took the one I liked the best, which I really don't like all that much. But I figure I'm desperate at this point... I need a costume within 48 hours! I got a bee costume, but it's not as hot as the one I tried to get from the other store. The tutu on the costume covers about half of my gluteous maximus, so then I walked over to Marshall's to buy some black leggings. When I was trying on the leggings with my costume at Marshall's, I realize the costume place didn't give me my accessories that go with it - the wings, antennae, etc. By now it is pouring down rain, and the costume place is filled with people. I wait, no joke, 30 minutes in line, soaking wet, to get my accessories for a costume I'm not all that excited about. Ugh.
Thursday
I was supposed to tutor Ginnie this morning at 10am. I was running a little late, due to hitting my snooze button for literally one hour, when I got a phone call from her mom at 9:09am. Normally I would've already been on the road by then, but this morning I wasn't. Ginnie wasn't feeling well, and the mom asked me to come Friday morning instead. That's fine - I was scheduled to be there Friday morning already. Then the mom asked if I could come Saturday too. I told her I would have to check my schedule and let her know. She seemed shocked that I didn't have an immediate "yes" for her. I went back to bed, and when I woke up I went to the website and charged her half price for the time I was supposed to be there since she canceled within less than one hour before the appointed time. I have a strict three hour cancellation policy!!! =)
Tonight, I met my newest student name Lindsey. She takes all advanced classes (can you say PAAL student?) but is struggling with math. The mom was super nice, friendly, and talkative. They hail from Wisconsin and have been in GA for about two years now. She liked that I am a mid-westerner. The daughter was much more quiet and reserved than mom. She wore a TON of purple eye liner that surprised me to see. I worked with her for an hour on polynomials and then left.
Ryan found out yesterday that he got the promotion he interviewed for, so I got him a present. Apparently every year for his birthday, his mom would buy him a Baskin Robbins turtle pie, instead of a cake. So I ordered one for him that said "Congrats Sugar Daddy"
Square dancing was horrendous this evening. I danced with an angel, and so did Ryan, but we were in the same square with a geriatric student, and couple who thinks they are amazing but really don't know much more than we do. Even the angels were old and about as slow moving as they come. Our square got called out for always messing up and we got moved to the front of the room, right in front of the caller. Embarrassing!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday
Papa's Pantry
I was supposed to have a one-on-one computer session today at Papa's Pantry but that got canceled. So instead I went in at my regularly scheduled time at 1:00 and we only had one appointment scheduled. Before that appointment started, I had to vacuum the pantry. But before I could vacuum, I had to sweep up all the dog food. People donate bags of dog food opened, unopened, bagged in plastic zip-locks, etc. The dog food dominates this one corner of the pantry and it's a complete mess and there are random scraps of food everywhere. It's totally unorganized and very different from how the rest of the pantry looks and operates. There were some pastors coming in later that day, whom Papa's Pantry wanted to impress, so it was my job to clean it all up and organize it before they arrived. Mission accomplished.
I helped the one lady shop for her food. She was on the verge of tears the entire time, and she ended up taking a lot of food (and neatly arranged dog food!). It amazes me how some people claim to be so desperate for food, yet they only take name brand items. We offer both, and I would expect someone in dire straights to take anything offered. But instead of grabbing 4 boxes of mac and cheese, some will only select the one box we have of actual Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Just an observation...
Lynn, the founder of Papa's Pantry, then asked me to do a partnered family through the pantry. If someone is not partnered with Papa's Pantry yet, then they are allowed to shop for one week's worth of groceries for their entire house hold. These are the only kinds of appointments I have ever done. If someone is partnered with Papa's Pantry, then they get to shop for two weeks worth of groceries for their entire family, and they have additional access to non-perishables such as produce, milk, eggs, cheese, etc. They also have access to more name brand items and toiletries than un-partnered families do.
It was kind of neat to do a partnered person. I figured they would have access to basic perishables like I listed above. Turns out, there is a lot they get to select from! This woman got to take home yogurt, sour cream, butter, cheese, eggs, frozen pizzas, ground beef, ground turkey, milk, orange juice, chocolate milk, broccoli, apples, bananas, tomatoes, burritos, rib tips, turkey legs, breakfast sausages, cream cheese, and Salisbury steaks. It is obvious that partnered families are desperate enough to partner up with Papa's Pantry, as this women also took razors, tin foil, shaving cream, tampons, mouth wash, tooth paste, soap and deodorant.
Square Dancing
Square dancing is usually on Thursday nights but this week it got moved to Wednesday night. Since it was on an alternate night, it was just going to be a review class with no new moves introduced. Since Ryan and I haven't been to class in the last 2 weeks due to being in MC and then Birmingham, I was grateful for the review class. Ryan did not go though, as he has tennis practice on Wednesday nights. He is convinced he is the ultimate square dancer, and that it's not a big deal. After being at that review class last night though, I can assure you, he's screwed. They had learned things called do paso, thar family, shoot the star, slip the clutch, box the gnat, ocean wave family, alamo ring, pass the ocean, swing thru family, run family, and trade family.
It was kind of cool being there without Ryan. Usually we only dance with each other, but last night I was forced to dance with an "angel". A square dance angel is someone who actually knows what they're doing and has been doing it for years. This man must've been around 65 years old and his name was Harold, or Harvey, or Arnold or something. He smelled atrociously but luckily you move around so much that the whiffs only come and go. It was cool dancing with him though, since I didn't know what I was doing on all the new stuff. I think from now on Ryan and I should both dance with angels!
I was supposed to have a one-on-one computer session today at Papa's Pantry but that got canceled. So instead I went in at my regularly scheduled time at 1:00 and we only had one appointment scheduled. Before that appointment started, I had to vacuum the pantry. But before I could vacuum, I had to sweep up all the dog food. People donate bags of dog food opened, unopened, bagged in plastic zip-locks, etc. The dog food dominates this one corner of the pantry and it's a complete mess and there are random scraps of food everywhere. It's totally unorganized and very different from how the rest of the pantry looks and operates. There were some pastors coming in later that day, whom Papa's Pantry wanted to impress, so it was my job to clean it all up and organize it before they arrived. Mission accomplished.
I helped the one lady shop for her food. She was on the verge of tears the entire time, and she ended up taking a lot of food (and neatly arranged dog food!). It amazes me how some people claim to be so desperate for food, yet they only take name brand items. We offer both, and I would expect someone in dire straights to take anything offered. But instead of grabbing 4 boxes of mac and cheese, some will only select the one box we have of actual Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Just an observation...
Lynn, the founder of Papa's Pantry, then asked me to do a partnered family through the pantry. If someone is not partnered with Papa's Pantry yet, then they are allowed to shop for one week's worth of groceries for their entire house hold. These are the only kinds of appointments I have ever done. If someone is partnered with Papa's Pantry, then they get to shop for two weeks worth of groceries for their entire family, and they have additional access to non-perishables such as produce, milk, eggs, cheese, etc. They also have access to more name brand items and toiletries than un-partnered families do.
It was kind of neat to do a partnered person. I figured they would have access to basic perishables like I listed above. Turns out, there is a lot they get to select from! This woman got to take home yogurt, sour cream, butter, cheese, eggs, frozen pizzas, ground beef, ground turkey, milk, orange juice, chocolate milk, broccoli, apples, bananas, tomatoes, burritos, rib tips, turkey legs, breakfast sausages, cream cheese, and Salisbury steaks. It is obvious that partnered families are desperate enough to partner up with Papa's Pantry, as this women also took razors, tin foil, shaving cream, tampons, mouth wash, tooth paste, soap and deodorant.
Square Dancing
Square dancing is usually on Thursday nights but this week it got moved to Wednesday night. Since it was on an alternate night, it was just going to be a review class with no new moves introduced. Since Ryan and I haven't been to class in the last 2 weeks due to being in MC and then Birmingham, I was grateful for the review class. Ryan did not go though, as he has tennis practice on Wednesday nights. He is convinced he is the ultimate square dancer, and that it's not a big deal. After being at that review class last night though, I can assure you, he's screwed. They had learned things called do paso, thar family, shoot the star, slip the clutch, box the gnat, ocean wave family, alamo ring, pass the ocean, swing thru family, run family, and trade family.
It was kind of cool being there without Ryan. Usually we only dance with each other, but last night I was forced to dance with an "angel". A square dance angel is someone who actually knows what they're doing and has been doing it for years. This man must've been around 65 years old and his name was Harold, or Harvey, or Arnold or something. He smelled atrociously but luckily you move around so much that the whiffs only come and go. It was cool dancing with him though, since I didn't know what I was doing on all the new stuff. I think from now on Ryan and I should both dance with angels!
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday
I tutored this morning from 10-12, had Papa's Pantry from 1-3, worked out from 4:30-5:30, and then tutored a new student from 6:30-8:00.
During Papa's Pantry today, one of the clients asked me if I was a volunteer there. We got to talking about how I moved down here about 2 months ago and don't have a job yet so I spend my time volunteering (or that's what I told him anyway). He explained to me that he just inherited a house here in Towne Lake. Towne Lake is a part of Woodstock, kind of similar to Long Beach being a part of Michigan City. He said it's completely furnished with old antiques and things, and worth about $500,000 but that he doesn't have $10 to his name. He is from CT and we laughed about the crazy things these southerners eat, like collard greens. So, you know me and my history with older men from CT; we became fast friends in the pantry. Then he asked me to move in with him... He said he is looking for a female that will live in the house, clean it, and get it ready to be put on the market, in exchange for free rent. And that's all I have to say about that!
Tonight I got my second tutoring client from the website I've been utilizing. She wants me twice a week for an hour each. She is taking her second PRE college level math class at Kennesaw State University. She is a mom and a wife and works somewhere in the medical field becuase she was wearing scrubs. She is going to school for nursing. She appears to be around my age, and she is from Chicago. We hit it off - her attitude, gestures, language and body language reminded me of home. And again, I was reminded how refreshing it is to work with students who want to learn! I think I'm just going to be a professional tutor from now on.
Speaking of home, I'M COMING HOME SUNDAY! I plan on spending the first half of the week in Mishawaka, and the second half of the week in Michigan City. Speaking of which... who wants to come pick me up from Mishawaka and take me to MC Wednesday afternoon? Anyone? Volunteers? I planned my trip for this coming week because I knew my tutoring of the little girl would be done as of this Friday. I didn't know I would get another client so soon! I know Ryan might be sad that I'm gone, but all the old ladies at Square Dancing Thursday will be happy that he'll need a new partner! Yee-haw!
During Papa's Pantry today, one of the clients asked me if I was a volunteer there. We got to talking about how I moved down here about 2 months ago and don't have a job yet so I spend my time volunteering (or that's what I told him anyway). He explained to me that he just inherited a house here in Towne Lake. Towne Lake is a part of Woodstock, kind of similar to Long Beach being a part of Michigan City. He said it's completely furnished with old antiques and things, and worth about $500,000 but that he doesn't have $10 to his name. He is from CT and we laughed about the crazy things these southerners eat, like collard greens. So, you know me and my history with older men from CT; we became fast friends in the pantry. Then he asked me to move in with him... He said he is looking for a female that will live in the house, clean it, and get it ready to be put on the market, in exchange for free rent. And that's all I have to say about that!
Tonight I got my second tutoring client from the website I've been utilizing. She wants me twice a week for an hour each. She is taking her second PRE college level math class at Kennesaw State University. She is a mom and a wife and works somewhere in the medical field becuase she was wearing scrubs. She is going to school for nursing. She appears to be around my age, and she is from Chicago. We hit it off - her attitude, gestures, language and body language reminded me of home. And again, I was reminded how refreshing it is to work with students who want to learn! I think I'm just going to be a professional tutor from now on.
Speaking of home, I'M COMING HOME SUNDAY! I plan on spending the first half of the week in Mishawaka, and the second half of the week in Michigan City. Speaking of which... who wants to come pick me up from Mishawaka and take me to MC Wednesday afternoon? Anyone? Volunteers? I planned my trip for this coming week because I knew my tutoring of the little girl would be done as of this Friday. I didn't know I would get another client so soon! I know Ryan might be sad that I'm gone, but all the old ladies at Square Dancing Thursday will be happy that he'll need a new partner! Yee-haw!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Lately
Thursdays - Square Dancing and the Jersey Shore
So it's official now... Ryan and I have a Thursday night routine: Square Dancing, then Snookie. Square Dancing, then the Situation. Square Dancing, then Sammy Sweetheart. You get the idea... By the way, the motto of the square dancing club is "dance in a square, make a circle of friends!" The lesson is supposed to go from 7:30-9:30 but apparently all the old folks can't hang with that so they are starting to end it now at 9:00. It's kind of ridiculous...we dance for 15-20 minutes and then there's a 15 minute break. Repeat.
Tennis
Saturday morning tennis... we won't mention the score of this game...
Cruise to the Bahamas
I was all set to go on that cruise with all those people I don't know. We were supposed to leave at 10:00am on Sunday (yesterday). Saturday morning I got a text from Tammy, the only person I really "know" who is going, whom I don't even actually know, saying "I can't go, can't find my birth certificate. Hope you can find a ride down there. Don't forget to book a hotel room for Sunday night as I've already canceled ours!" What?! She is the only person I remotely know so I had some thinking to do. First thing I did was call the travel agent and see if someone else could go in her place. Since it was less than 3 days before departure, that was not an option. I'm pretty independent, but I did not willingly sign up to go on a cruise by myself. So I decided I wasn't going to go. Then, later in the day Tammy texts me saying "Oh I can go now! I don't need my real birth certificate, I only need a copy. I re-booked the hotel room for us!" So I called her and said I was not going. She didn't really understand why, and then gave out my phone number to some more people I don't know who all called and encouraged me to still come. No, freaks. Besides, Hurricane Igor is romping around down there and I just felt it in my gut that I shouldn't go. I am NOT happy about the decision, but I figured if this woman is that much of a flake to have me frantically freaking out all morning, then only more examples of her/this would be popping up on the trip.
As a result, I have everything canceled for this week...Papa's Pantry, tutoring, ok I guess that's all I do in a week... I knew my mom was going on vacation this same week so I called her and asked her if I could join her. "No honey, you can't". Apparently she is in the same type of situation I was in where someone couldn't go at the last minute, so someone invited my mom but my mom only really knows one person going out of the whole group. She's like. "I hope they like me!" and I tried convincing her that if two of us go, the odds increase on them liking one of us but she wasn't buying it :)
Comcast
This whole time I've been living in this basement, I have had access to about 10 channels on the big TV and no channels on the tv in my bedroom. I didn't exactly mind...it took me back to the days of growing up without cable at Carol's house. I mean if the Home Shopping Network didn't switch over to cable, we still wouldn't have cable at mom's house. Apparently the home owners called a cable man to come out and help. I was just getting out of the shower when in walks the cable man and I am wearing nothing but a towel. I'm glad I was wearing the towel! I left while he was still there and upon returning all the lights were on, both tvs were on, and my door was slightly ajar to the apartment. Today, I tried to use the tv for the first time since he had been there and it is so blurry I can't see what the guide says. So now, I really have no access to any channels. Awesome!
Cystic Fibrosis
On Saturday night Ryan and I went and volunteered our time to help the day before a big race. First we stuffed bags with coupons, fliers, and information. Then we distributed bags and t-shirts to the race participants. We each got TWO free t-shirts and free spaghetti dinners! I love anything free, but FOOD and T-SHIRTS have to top my list. It was awesome!
Tutoring
One day last week I took my phone in and snuck a picture when I was alone. Here is a portrait of Ginny Lee and her brother Trey from many years ago:
So it's official now... Ryan and I have a Thursday night routine: Square Dancing, then Snookie. Square Dancing, then the Situation. Square Dancing, then Sammy Sweetheart. You get the idea... By the way, the motto of the square dancing club is "dance in a square, make a circle of friends!" The lesson is supposed to go from 7:30-9:30 but apparently all the old folks can't hang with that so they are starting to end it now at 9:00. It's kind of ridiculous...we dance for 15-20 minutes and then there's a 15 minute break. Repeat.
Tennis
Saturday morning tennis... we won't mention the score of this game...
Cruise to the Bahamas
I was all set to go on that cruise with all those people I don't know. We were supposed to leave at 10:00am on Sunday (yesterday). Saturday morning I got a text from Tammy, the only person I really "know" who is going, whom I don't even actually know, saying "I can't go, can't find my birth certificate. Hope you can find a ride down there. Don't forget to book a hotel room for Sunday night as I've already canceled ours!" What?! She is the only person I remotely know so I had some thinking to do. First thing I did was call the travel agent and see if someone else could go in her place. Since it was less than 3 days before departure, that was not an option. I'm pretty independent, but I did not willingly sign up to go on a cruise by myself. So I decided I wasn't going to go. Then, later in the day Tammy texts me saying "Oh I can go now! I don't need my real birth certificate, I only need a copy. I re-booked the hotel room for us!" So I called her and said I was not going. She didn't really understand why, and then gave out my phone number to some more people I don't know who all called and encouraged me to still come. No, freaks. Besides, Hurricane Igor is romping around down there and I just felt it in my gut that I shouldn't go. I am NOT happy about the decision, but I figured if this woman is that much of a flake to have me frantically freaking out all morning, then only more examples of her/this would be popping up on the trip.
As a result, I have everything canceled for this week...Papa's Pantry, tutoring, ok I guess that's all I do in a week... I knew my mom was going on vacation this same week so I called her and asked her if I could join her. "No honey, you can't". Apparently she is in the same type of situation I was in where someone couldn't go at the last minute, so someone invited my mom but my mom only really knows one person going out of the whole group. She's like. "I hope they like me!" and I tried convincing her that if two of us go, the odds increase on them liking one of us but she wasn't buying it :)
Comcast
This whole time I've been living in this basement, I have had access to about 10 channels on the big TV and no channels on the tv in my bedroom. I didn't exactly mind...it took me back to the days of growing up without cable at Carol's house. I mean if the Home Shopping Network didn't switch over to cable, we still wouldn't have cable at mom's house. Apparently the home owners called a cable man to come out and help. I was just getting out of the shower when in walks the cable man and I am wearing nothing but a towel. I'm glad I was wearing the towel! I left while he was still there and upon returning all the lights were on, both tvs were on, and my door was slightly ajar to the apartment. Today, I tried to use the tv for the first time since he had been there and it is so blurry I can't see what the guide says. So now, I really have no access to any channels. Awesome!
Cystic Fibrosis
On Saturday night Ryan and I went and volunteered our time to help the day before a big race. First we stuffed bags with coupons, fliers, and information. Then we distributed bags and t-shirts to the race participants. We each got TWO free t-shirts and free spaghetti dinners! I love anything free, but FOOD and T-SHIRTS have to top my list. It was awesome!
Tutoring
One day last week I took my phone in and snuck a picture when I was alone. Here is a portrait of Ginny Lee and her brother Trey from many years ago:
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Wednesday through Saturday
Wednesday
Papa's Pantry
On Wednesday when I went in for my shift at 1:00 I was told there were no pantry appointments scheduled, however there were some people who needed help with technology. I volunteered to do one-on-ones and small group help for people who need very basic skills...like how to set up an email account and use it, how to attach files, how to create a resume, etc. Very basic skills that most people in the world already possess, yet skills that these people in need do not have.
Only one woman stayed for my help, and unfortunately the internet had gone down prior to my arrival. So we worked on her flash drive...how to save files, delete files, rename files, copy and paste, etc. We worked together for about an hour and then she broke down. She cried and cried and cried and told me that she is used to being on the volunteer end of things, not the receiving end of things. She told me that on July 3 she went out, got drunk, and was about to be raped. She said she felt like her only two choices were to stay in that location and get raped and/or killed, or get in her car and escape. She chose to leave, wound up getting in a car accident and arrested for driving under the influence. Since then her work (she is a RN) has put her on unpaid leave, what little family she has has turned their backs on her, and she has no money to pay this months rent, car payments, cell phone bill, or gas. She said she has no friends, either, so when she gets evicted, she will have no place to go and be homeless. She has found some free counseling through a church, has attended some domestic violence support groups but didn't find they were exactly helpful since they didn't focus on rape, and she has landed at Papa's Pantry and is taking advantage of partnering up with us and all of the privileges and help that entails.
Mostly I just listened, but occasionally I reassured her that there is a higher plan for her in all of this, that people are out there who want to help her, and that she should be confident in the decision she made that night since she felt it was the best option at the time. I told her this was all going to work out just fine in the end, but that in the meantime it would be hard and lonely, but that there will be a light at the end of this rain. Then, her phone rang. After being unemployed for over two months and applying at numerous places, she got a call for an interview at a pediatric office. So things ended on a positive note. I don't know if I'll ever see her again, or get to hear how her story plays out, but I was glad that I got to be a small part of her recovery process. It also helped me remember how ridiculously blessed I am to live the life I live with all of the unconditional support and love from family, friends, and co-workers.
Due to my Papa's Pantry schedule I am tutoring from 8-10pm on Wednesday nights. I thought the girl's name was Jenny. Turns out it's Ginny, as in Virginia. Ginny Lee to be exact. I just call her Ginny. I actually really like this little girl. She is super cute, friendly, sociable, polite, fun, educated, and wants to learn. However when the mom, Emmie, and her are both in the same room, they each talk a mile a minute at the same time over each other. And they're both talking to me. My head spins from person to person while I think surely one of them is going to stop talking to me because they see the other person is already talking to me. Nope. Chaos that I uncomfortably wait out. Then the mom tells me to feel free to keep Ginny on task and not let her start chit-chatting. I wonder if the mom really is clueless that she does the same thing? By that time at night, Ginny is a little "punch drunk" as she keeps telling me so it is somewhat hard to focus that late for her. And honestly, for me too ;)
This is a view of their house from when I enter the gate. I know it's not a great view... but I can't very well bust out my camera and take snap shots while they're looking at me!
Thursday
Baby Kennedy
Today Leslie had her baby. I got a text in the morning from the proud papa announcing her arrival. Kennedy Elise Baker is the only girl the arrive in the Baker family thus far!!!
Today we tutor in a different room from the one we've normally been in. We've been in the formal dining room so far at this HUGE, round, elegant table reminiscent of the Godfather. Today we are working in the office. The walls are made of protruding blocks of wood about 2ft by 2ft, with perhaps 3in borders all around them. If you look closely, on every wall except one there is a secret door that you otherwise would not notice. One door goes into a closet, which is the most visible with the hinges in plain sight. Then there is one door that goes into the master bedroom, one door that goes into a formal living room, and another door that is another closet. It's like in a movie!
Ryan and I went square dancing again tonight. Apparently we are now enrolled in the Thursday night class. Yee-haw! On the enrollment form there was a space labeled for Ryan and I's relationship. I wrote he's my "baby daddy". There were some pictures of us from the first night we went square dancing, but Ryan has been a slacker on sending me them so I can't post them. I do have footage of the experienced "angels" as they call themselves dancing at the end of the night though. In one year, they say, this could be us! To see the video, look at the post above this one.
Friday
Ballroom Dancing
Tonight Ryan and I went ballroom dancing. I'm not sure of the name of the dance we learned, but it was not pretty. I mean the dance is pretty, Ryan and I attempting to do it together was not a pretty sight. He is definitely not as skilled at ballroom dancing as he is square dancing! And me, well, I'm just great at everything of course =) After that we went out to eat and then back to his house so I could bake a Green Bay Packer's cake for Jason's birthday. I used Ryan's kitchen earlier in the week to bake cookies for my brother Michael's upcoming birthday. Now I used it to bake Jason's cake. I feel bad about it because Ryan always gets excited thinking I'm making this stuff for him and then I give him the evil eye, like, if you touch it - you're dead meat. So I got a little creative with this cake to please both parties:
I'm not sure why the picture is upside down but oh well. So I cut a 1/4 out of it out for Ryan and his roommate/cousin Grant. I also gave Ryan a mini lesson on cake decorating techniques so he could decorate his own:
Saturday
Ryan is an avid tennis player and is in a league almost year round. This morning was his first match of the season and I went with him to it. He picked me up at 8:15AM! He is a superstar on the court but I totally think I could take him. He and his partner easily won their game.
Before leaving I saw the cutest snail I've ever seen:
I just got a phone call from Erin Moure with Penn High School. Penn is hosting several Challenge Days on November 2, 3, and 4 in Mishawaka. They are putting 900 kids through this program and they need a TON of adult volunteers to help for one day, school time hours. You do not need to be a teacher, anyone can volunteer. I participated in this last year at Penn High School and it was an awesome experience. So awesome that MTV has now made a tv show out of it called "If You Really Knew Me". Erin needs to talk to you within ONE week if you are interested in helping. Tell her I sent you and call her at 574-252-5589. You will not regret giving one day of your service to this amazing organization!!!
Papa's Pantry
On Wednesday when I went in for my shift at 1:00 I was told there were no pantry appointments scheduled, however there were some people who needed help with technology. I volunteered to do one-on-ones and small group help for people who need very basic skills...like how to set up an email account and use it, how to attach files, how to create a resume, etc. Very basic skills that most people in the world already possess, yet skills that these people in need do not have.
Only one woman stayed for my help, and unfortunately the internet had gone down prior to my arrival. So we worked on her flash drive...how to save files, delete files, rename files, copy and paste, etc. We worked together for about an hour and then she broke down. She cried and cried and cried and told me that she is used to being on the volunteer end of things, not the receiving end of things. She told me that on July 3 she went out, got drunk, and was about to be raped. She said she felt like her only two choices were to stay in that location and get raped and/or killed, or get in her car and escape. She chose to leave, wound up getting in a car accident and arrested for driving under the influence. Since then her work (she is a RN) has put her on unpaid leave, what little family she has has turned their backs on her, and she has no money to pay this months rent, car payments, cell phone bill, or gas. She said she has no friends, either, so when she gets evicted, she will have no place to go and be homeless. She has found some free counseling through a church, has attended some domestic violence support groups but didn't find they were exactly helpful since they didn't focus on rape, and she has landed at Papa's Pantry and is taking advantage of partnering up with us and all of the privileges and help that entails.
Mostly I just listened, but occasionally I reassured her that there is a higher plan for her in all of this, that people are out there who want to help her, and that she should be confident in the decision she made that night since she felt it was the best option at the time. I told her this was all going to work out just fine in the end, but that in the meantime it would be hard and lonely, but that there will be a light at the end of this rain. Then, her phone rang. After being unemployed for over two months and applying at numerous places, she got a call for an interview at a pediatric office. So things ended on a positive note. I don't know if I'll ever see her again, or get to hear how her story plays out, but I was glad that I got to be a small part of her recovery process. It also helped me remember how ridiculously blessed I am to live the life I live with all of the unconditional support and love from family, friends, and co-workers.
Tutoring
Due to my Papa's Pantry schedule I am tutoring from 8-10pm on Wednesday nights. I thought the girl's name was Jenny. Turns out it's Ginny, as in Virginia. Ginny Lee to be exact. I just call her Ginny. I actually really like this little girl. She is super cute, friendly, sociable, polite, fun, educated, and wants to learn. However when the mom, Emmie, and her are both in the same room, they each talk a mile a minute at the same time over each other. And they're both talking to me. My head spins from person to person while I think surely one of them is going to stop talking to me because they see the other person is already talking to me. Nope. Chaos that I uncomfortably wait out. Then the mom tells me to feel free to keep Ginny on task and not let her start chit-chatting. I wonder if the mom really is clueless that she does the same thing? By that time at night, Ginny is a little "punch drunk" as she keeps telling me so it is somewhat hard to focus that late for her. And honestly, for me too ;)
This is a view of their house from when I enter the gate. I know it's not a great view... but I can't very well bust out my camera and take snap shots while they're looking at me!
Thursday
Baby Kennedy
Today Leslie had her baby. I got a text in the morning from the proud papa announcing her arrival. Kennedy Elise Baker is the only girl the arrive in the Baker family thus far!!!
Tutoring
Today we tutor in a different room from the one we've normally been in. We've been in the formal dining room so far at this HUGE, round, elegant table reminiscent of the Godfather. Today we are working in the office. The walls are made of protruding blocks of wood about 2ft by 2ft, with perhaps 3in borders all around them. If you look closely, on every wall except one there is a secret door that you otherwise would not notice. One door goes into a closet, which is the most visible with the hinges in plain sight. Then there is one door that goes into the master bedroom, one door that goes into a formal living room, and another door that is another closet. It's like in a movie!
Square Dancing
Ryan and I went square dancing again tonight. Apparently we are now enrolled in the Thursday night class. Yee-haw! On the enrollment form there was a space labeled for Ryan and I's relationship. I wrote he's my "baby daddy". There were some pictures of us from the first night we went square dancing, but Ryan has been a slacker on sending me them so I can't post them. I do have footage of the experienced "angels" as they call themselves dancing at the end of the night though. In one year, they say, this could be us! To see the video, look at the post above this one.
Friday
Ballroom Dancing
Tonight Ryan and I went ballroom dancing. I'm not sure of the name of the dance we learned, but it was not pretty. I mean the dance is pretty, Ryan and I attempting to do it together was not a pretty sight. He is definitely not as skilled at ballroom dancing as he is square dancing! And me, well, I'm just great at everything of course =) After that we went out to eat and then back to his house so I could bake a Green Bay Packer's cake for Jason's birthday. I used Ryan's kitchen earlier in the week to bake cookies for my brother Michael's upcoming birthday. Now I used it to bake Jason's cake. I feel bad about it because Ryan always gets excited thinking I'm making this stuff for him and then I give him the evil eye, like, if you touch it - you're dead meat. So I got a little creative with this cake to please both parties:
Saturday
Tennis
Ryan is an avid tennis player and is in a league almost year round. This morning was his first match of the season and I went with him to it. He picked me up at 8:15AM! He is a superstar on the court but I totally think I could take him. He and his partner easily won their game.
Before leaving I saw the cutest snail I've ever seen:
Challenge Day
I just got a phone call from Erin Moure with Penn High School. Penn is hosting several Challenge Days on November 2, 3, and 4 in Mishawaka. They are putting 900 kids through this program and they need a TON of adult volunteers to help for one day, school time hours. You do not need to be a teacher, anyone can volunteer. I participated in this last year at Penn High School and it was an awesome experience. So awesome that MTV has now made a tv show out of it called "If You Really Knew Me". Erin needs to talk to you within ONE week if you are interested in helping. Tell her I sent you and call her at 574-252-5589. You will not regret giving one day of your service to this amazing organization!!!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
The past couple days...
Computer
Since moving out of Stephanie and Jason's I have had severely limited access to a computer. Thus my apologies for a lack of postings. The good news is I should be getting my computer back and fixed in about a week. Yahooo! I am at their house right now doing laundry so I have time to blog!
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Square Dancing
Ryan was supposed to leave on Thursday night to spend Labor Day weekend in FL with his family. Luckily, they didn't end up leaving until Friday morning so he got the pleasure of accompanying me to a free square dancing lesson on Thursday night. When we got there, I didn't want to go in. If I had been by myself I would've turned around and gone back home. The parking lot was packed; Ryan made us go in anyway. It was actually a lot of fun! My favorite part is "Schwing your partner"... Halfway through there was a HUGE potluck buffet filled with the most goodies I've seen in a long time. And, it was free!!! There were two door prizes drawn, both for free lessons starting the following week, but neither of us won :( Everyone there kept asking us why we weren't married yet and I kept pretending like he wouldn't bite the bullet and propose already. "Do you see a ring on this hand? NO! Whatcha waiting for dear?"
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Labor Day Weekend
Kelly came and visited me this weekend. I picked her up on Friday at 9am. Ryan advised to me to get to the airport BEFORE rush hour started, so I was there 2.5 hours early. There were military men and women coming home from a deployment where everyone was waiting and it was a very emotional thing to witness. The whole crowd cheered every time someone in uniform came off the escalator, and then to see that person embrace his/her loved ones was over whelming. I almost started crying several times before I decided I needed to eat.
We came home and took naps, then showered, and went out for the night. We went to Pure in downtown Woodstock. The food was good but the live music they were playing on the rooftop deck was awesome. We sat in rocking chairs and listened to the music and chit-chatted.
On Saturday Kelly and I went to three different cities for festivals/fairs. We started in Woodstock for a farmers market and a flea market, then we went to Marietta town square where they were having Art in the Park. There were REALLY cool artists and artwork there. Check out the port-o-potties! Have you ever seen something so beautiful?
Since moving out of Stephanie and Jason's I have had severely limited access to a computer. Thus my apologies for a lack of postings. The good news is I should be getting my computer back and fixed in about a week. Yahooo! I am at their house right now doing laundry so I have time to blog!
*********************************************************************************
Square Dancing
Ryan was supposed to leave on Thursday night to spend Labor Day weekend in FL with his family. Luckily, they didn't end up leaving until Friday morning so he got the pleasure of accompanying me to a free square dancing lesson on Thursday night. When we got there, I didn't want to go in. If I had been by myself I would've turned around and gone back home. The parking lot was packed; Ryan made us go in anyway. It was actually a lot of fun! My favorite part is "Schwing your partner"... Halfway through there was a HUGE potluck buffet filled with the most goodies I've seen in a long time. And, it was free!!! There were two door prizes drawn, both for free lessons starting the following week, but neither of us won :( Everyone there kept asking us why we weren't married yet and I kept pretending like he wouldn't bite the bullet and propose already. "Do you see a ring on this hand? NO! Whatcha waiting for dear?"
*********************************************************************************
Labor Day Weekend
Kelly came and visited me this weekend. I picked her up on Friday at 9am. Ryan advised to me to get to the airport BEFORE rush hour started, so I was there 2.5 hours early. There were military men and women coming home from a deployment where everyone was waiting and it was a very emotional thing to witness. The whole crowd cheered every time someone in uniform came off the escalator, and then to see that person embrace his/her loved ones was over whelming. I almost started crying several times before I decided I needed to eat.
We came home and took naps, then showered, and went out for the night. We went to Pure in downtown Woodstock. The food was good but the live music they were playing on the rooftop deck was awesome. We sat in rocking chairs and listened to the music and chit-chatted.
Later that night we strolled through the little shops in downtown Woodstock.
Then we went to Karaoke with the 575 Singles Meet Up Group. That is where I was doing the cha cha slide (see earlier post).
On Saturday Kelly and I went to three different cities for festivals/fairs. We started in Woodstock for a farmers market and a flea market, then we went to Marietta town square where they were having Art in the Park. There were REALLY cool artists and artwork there. Check out the port-o-potties! Have you ever seen something so beautiful?
Then we ventured on to Homer GA and went to their holiday festival there. Homer happens to have a large outlet mall so we hit that up real quick too. We didn't end up getting home until 8:00pm so we just ordered a pizza and watched tv.
Sunday we got up to go out to eat and when we arrived at my car, the tire was flat AGAIN. This same tire has been flat three times now since I've been to GA. I called Jason to come put on my spare. He was not too happy, and in fact, said that this is the last time he will put on my spare.
So Kelly and I went out to eat, and then tried to hit up the pool but we only got about an hour left of sunlight before it set. That night we went to Stone Mountain GA to see a laser show and extended fireworks display. There were so many people there it was ridiculous. We finally found a good spot, we got to enjoy it for all of 10 minutes, and then a huge crowd of late arrivers stood right in front of us so we couldn't see anything. So, we left. We stayed up all night until it was 3:00am and time to take Kelly back to the airport.
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Tutoring
I started tutoring today. I drove to Sandy Springs GA and went into this crazy mansion. There was a gated entrance into their driveway. The kind in movies of celebrities houses where you have to state your name at the gate to get buzzed in. AND, there was a driver already at the house waiting to take the husband somewhere. The mom's rock on her hand was so big I don't know how she lifted it. Three dogs.
The girl was very pleasant and sociable. It's fun to work with a kid who wants to learn. I forgot how that felt. She does all her schooling online so I reviewed some language arts things she was working on prior to my arrival. Then we planned ahead for some upcoming science assignments she'll have. Then we did some math. I went over some math she had already done and most of it was correct, but not all of it. Then we did a new lesson: absolute value. I will now be tutoring there on Mon, Tues, and Thurs from 2-4pm, and Wednesday nights from 8-10pm. The program she utilizes is pretty neat. Like her science lesson had a link to a specific article on National Geographic that she had to read and then summarize. Her mom is required to go out a buy one of two movies (students choice) for history. Very interactive, up to date, and student chosen activities.
Friday, September 3, 2010
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