I want to

write something positive on here.  I really do.  I'm being bogged down by things I am not succeeding at and stuff that is not making me happy.  I know there are a lot of things I can do to make myself happy and a lot of things I can change so I'm being more successful.  God knows why we allow the crap to overshadow everything.  Maybe it's just me.  Regardless, I always have something to look forward to.  This week, it's Friday off, Wornall House tour and good friends coming over, Saturday is Band Alumni Day at Northwest, and Sunday is Halloween (not that I celebrate or give out candy).

in reference to: October 12, 2010

flippant: lacking proper respect or seriousness 

getting back on the right path

these activities make me utterly happy..

being active - biking, running, walking, playing
teaching (actually teaching, not doing paperwork - do not confuse the two)
cooking
traveling
coaching (both sports, and colleagues)
waking up early
drinking coffee
feeling calm
collaborating on a common goal
feeling like I have control of my time
being able to choose what I'm going to do
sharing and creating ideas

Of course I made this list thinking about a new career path for myself.  What do you think????  Any suggestions on new careers?  Maybe some I don't know about since I've been in education for 8 years? I need some ideas of places to look for jobs and how to go about that.  For the right price and opportunity, I'd be willing to relocate so the jobs don't necessarily have to be in the KC area.  I know it's still early in the year, but one never knows when opportunity is going to come knocking.

Untitle

Several things...in no particular order.

I had a professional development day on Friday.  This allowed me to get home at the unusually early hour of 3:00pm.  It was gorgeous out.  I wanted to open up my front door and enjoy the breeze.  I hadn't had the front storm door put in yet, because I just figured I would pay someone to do it, so that it was done correctly.  But on Friday, I was impatient and decided I would just do it.  So, I texted Brian and he agreed to come help.  And off I went - installing my front storm door.  We struggled with putting in the screen/glass.  It just wasn't working.  He kept talking about what him and Sarah were doing that night (like taking a walk and stuff) and since the sun was getting lower in the sky I just told him to go and enjoy it.  My dad happened to call at that moment, he came over but was no help either, just yelled at me for no real reason.  So, then I ushered him out and told him and mom to have a nice dinner.  Then Eric came over...my personal superman.  He can fix anything.  So we drank beer and chatted while he figured out how to get the glass in, then put on my handle, and just finished up the door.  It ended up being an awesome night.

Saturday was the year anniversary of the house break-in.  I reflected on how many improvements I'd made to the house and how much safer I feel.  I put in two new doors with new hardware, 2 new storm doors (the front one has a deadbolt), got my alarm turned on, and for the safety of my health - I had laminate wood flooring put in most of the house.  It pretty much looks quite different than from when I bought it.  This year will be the year of painting - so the inside will transform into something totally different.  I am pretty proud of myself for my ability to keep up my yard and house and make improvements. 

Speaking of the house, I watch the show Hoarders.  When I watch Hoarders, I clean - like a mad woman.  I think it's just because I don't want to end up like that.  The beauty of the show is that they teach the people that they can change their lives, that they don't have to live like that.  Anyway - it's always a sure fire way of getting my house cleaned up, I just start watching that. 

Today I went for a bike ride down to the Plaza Art Fair with my good friend Carrie.  It was a cold Fall day here in KCMO.  The bike ride was awesome, the rosemary caramel latte I had from Latte Land was also awesome.  The weather was perfect for looking at art.  After the ride, Carrie and I went and picked up our Tour de BBQ schwag, even though we aren't going to be able to do the ride now.  The pick up was at Spin Pizza, so we ate lunch there - it was delicious.  I love that place.  Then Carrie suggested Peach Wave and that made the day PERFECT! 

I don't have vball practice tomorrow so I'm going to catch up on some paperwork, hopefully I'll feel better after that.  I'm being weighed down right now by impending deadlines and useless paperwork.  I'm sure there's a bit of this in every job, but I hope in my next one, there's a little less. 

made another decision

Decided today after 3 weeks of not being able to get to band practice (either because of time or emotional reasons) that I won't be joining the community band I play in until their next concert. 

This is how bad it is.  It's not because of volleyball.  It's the job, and the load of responsibilities that they have piled on this year.  It's more than any of us can successfully accomplish, coach or no coach.  I realized this at my weekly sped meeting today.  It's not just me. Unfortunately, it made me feel good.  But it also solidified my decision I made this weekend to find a new job next year. Along with many other things, and conversations.

Good things:
Volleyball - man, I have an awesome team this year.  It is the highlight of my life everyday.  I wish I could have everyone come see them - they fight so hard.

decisions

While it might be too early to make serious decisions, I have prematurely decided that I will have a new job next year.  I've also decided and declared that there will be new and different opportunities come my way.  I'm very much looking forward to the change.  If anyone has ideas, suggestions, or potential job opportunities, please comment or email me - bonniesteen@mail.com

In other news:
-my volleyball team is awesome this year.  We've had 2 games and have totally rocked it out.  Tomorrow is our first home game, I'm very much looking forward to it. 
-found out a Trader Joe's is coming in right by my house - within biking distance - and so I am going to get a basket for my bike and use it to travel for grocery shopping.
-next week is the last week for my CSA groceries.  I am really going to miss it.  I'm actually going to have to grocery shop now.
-I am already planning several trips for this year (remember I think in terms of school years not actual years) and am very excited.  Most of them involve my bike, which is even more exciting. 

same complaint, different year.

It takes a person of such strength, courage, patience, and work ethic to be both a volleyball coach of 37 girls and a special education teacher.  I feel most of the time I cannot be that superhero.  Something always lacks.  It's impossible to get all my paperwork done in my 30 minutes of plan time everyday when I'm being given most the transfer students whose paperwork has to be done in 30 days.  And a little lesson - 30 days is 30 days, saturdays/sundays/days off school - they all count.  Plus I have to give 10 days notice to parents prior to a meeting, and enough time to be able to schedule 2 meetings in case a student doesn't show up.  So best have that notice of meeting completed before the kid even enrolls.  And another lesson - I have to do all this sped paperwork AND district lesson plans (everything a reg ed teacher does) AND case manage and yet, I get paid the same.  It's a myth, a lie, a falsehood that special education teachers get paid more. 
I agree that I've chosen this path.  I also agree that I chose to accept the position of coach when it was offered to me.  I don't agree with the rising fact that I can't be a coach and a special education teacher on school time.  I HAVE to take work home or stay after our 2.5 hour volleyball practice. 
It's just the way it is.  I have to suck it up, or quit coaching.  It just really angers me that I feel almost forced to make that decision for next year.  I am already going to be written up for not getting my paperwork in 2 weeks ahead of time.  It makes me hate this year and this job.  There's got to be a way out....unfortunately, it will have to be somewhere else, doing something else.  It makes me sad.

generousity is abounding in my life.

My beautiful friend Jackie got married this weekend.  I had the wonderful opportunity of enjoying the celebration.  It was a beautiful day. 

I also used the trip as a convenient excuse to visit another good friend Shannon, and her husband Andrew and their new baby (about 6 weeks) Erik.  I enjoyed talking with Shannon (before she got married and we were both poor and single, we used to talk on the phone all the time, we had the best conversations!) and then holding Erik on Sunday - he was soo good and made the cutest noises.

Baking up to Friday night - I had plans to go with a friend to see The Producers at Starlight.  It was meant to be, because another teacher offered me 2 tickets to the show, 2 dinner tickets and a parking pass.  SCORE!  So we enjoyed dinner and a show - all for free.  It was a wonderful production from here in KC.   Talented people and of course the funny wit of The Producers made it a really enjoyable night.  The teacher that gave me all the free tix, actually ended up using her other two tickets for her and her husband, so we got to see them there and enjoy the show with them.  I felt so bad that she gave me their dinner tickets and parking pass.  But, at the time she didn't know she was going so I'm trying not to feel too bad about it.

On Saturday, before I drove up to Nehawka, NE, where the wedding was (at Slattery Vinyards) I shopped til I dropped.  Since I was going to the wedding alone, I thought I needed a new outfit.  Here's my reasoning for this: 1.  If you feel like you look good, your more confident, and 2. ya never know who your gonna meet at a wedding and I firmly believe in putting forth your best look on a first meeting.  So I went to Kohl's, hadn't been there in forever, and found a ton a great stuff on sale.  I bought the above shown items:  Dress (about $23, necklace $8, earrings (+2 others) $6,  a pair of sunglasses for $6....awesome deals!  I love the dress.  Plus it came with a very cool belt that I can use with other outfits.  I did some other shopping, which felt good although I'm sure in a few weeks, I'll wish I hadn't been so spendy.  However, in a few weeks when I don't have any money, I will at least be able to drink my dunkin' donuts french vanilla coffee in a really cute new coffee cup and think about all the things I could be doing had I not splurged on those things.  All this shopping was reasoned by finally getting my steps raise, although it's not a raise - just up to pay where I should be because we had a pay freeze for 2 years.  So I have a bit more every month.  I thought I should spend it on goodies for myself, rather than be sensible about it. 

Fast forward to Sunday afternoon, my mom called and said she'd treat me to a pedicure!  My toes look gorgeous.  Bright and purple-y.  It was such a nice spontaneous treat.  And so much fun to do with my momma. 

I really can't believe my good fortune of a weekend.  It was just the best.

hrmph

I'm overwhelmed, underwhelmed, too busy, bored, and not finding the balance in my life that I had this summer.

I'm missing the sincere happiness that I felt too.  This was my fear!  I've been working out everyday, thinking that will bring it all back into place, and it helps, but it doesn't do it all. 

Here's some good things going on:
-one of the 6th grade reading classes is falling into place
-volleyball is going to be exceptional
-I'm still working out everyday :) 
-my screen door rawks!  I love having it, can't wait for the front one.
-Fall is coming, I can feel it.
-tomorrow is a new day
-tomorrow is also payday

Glee Flash Mob in Kansas City

A new year

The school year of 2010-2011 has begun.  This year feels different.  My job is just my job.  My real passion right now lies within me.  I have had so much fun this summer evolving my lifestyle, and working on my own issues that I'm going to continue with that.  When your job is your passion and everything your life revolves around, it's hard to make yourself your passion.  I was kind of surprised as today crept up, no drama, no freaking out, no anxiety...it's just a job.  And what's even weirder (to me) is that I have no doubt that this year will be my most successful in all areas (paperwork, teaching, test scores, coaching...etc.).  I know that I will have everything done in a timely matter and that I will manage my time to get it done.  I also know that I will manage my time so that the areas of life that are important to me, working out, being active, making good choices when I eat, will happen successfully.  I was kind of concerned about keeping up my happiness level and keeping the low stress level. But after a day, I just know - it's a job.  There's nothing to stress about, because the important part of life is the life I've started to live.

Race for the Cure

 

The first memory I have of cancer is during my time at Mid Continent Council of Girl Scouts.  As a Membership Development Director, I managed somewhere around 300 ladies.  I don't remember names.  But I remember moments.  And I remember walking into a volunteers house, she was the kindest, honest, and genuine person, and I walked into her house on a visit after she had been diagnosed, been through some treatment and had a mastectomy.  I don't remember a lot of details, but I remember her strength and positive attitude.  It could be that I encountered cancer way before this, I just don't remember or didn't know, don't be offended.  There has been several other individuals in my life that have had cancer, their fight was strong.  I think it's always important to remember the fight, the strength, the amazing attitude.  It's humbling.

I am still pretty speechless about the event today.  There were so many people.  I really was pretty emotional for the beginning of it, I think because of the amount of people everyone was walking for.  One girl was walking for her self and she as only 27 years old.  It's really motivational to continue to keep myself in better health and be active, also to not let life pass me by.  

I think we'll try to have a team next year.  Please join - this is an experience everyone will want to have at least once in their lifetime.  KC raised over a million dollars today.

check this out.

I've been toying with the idea of doing a wordless blog for a year - just pictures.  What do you think? 

what is this?

I woke up today and immediately felt the imminent feeling of doom.  I no longer felt the easy going, what-am-I-gonna-do-today feeling.  Where did this come from?  Why am I feeling it?
I can only conclude that as time lessens before I go to work (which I'm not dreading, or fretting) that this feeling could get worse.  It's affecting everything.  My decisions are no longer made with the clarity of a substantial mind.  Everything feels shuffled around like I can't get ahold of it.
I'm unsure of whether I need to go to the gym or take a nap.  There's too much going on this weekend to allow me to feel this way.  I don't really get where the feelings are coming from, because work is work - I'm not worried about it.  I am preparing for it, but at this point, it's a no brainer for me.  So nothing to sweat, nothing to worry about, no reason for the feelings of imminent doom.

Storm door

So, I installed a storm door today on the back door of my house.  It was a challenging task.  I was initially unsure that I could do it myself.  Then I watched about a dozen how-to videos and read a few articles, and thought - that looks relatively easy, I can do this myself and save about $100 bucks.
So this morning, bright and early, I woke up.  I made some agua de melon with my juicer and then got to work.  I pulled out all the pieces of the storm door and got the instructions all hung up then started with the first instruction, to put the zbar up and drill pilot holes (sounds like gibberish huh..), anyway it wasn't working.  The zbar wasn't fitting flush, it just wasn't working.  I hadn't been able to find the drill bits for my drill, so I decided to take a drive to Lowe's and get the bits.  On the way, I figured that I had to take off the molding for the door.  Then it would work.  Even though I found my bits when I got home and had to go back to Lowe's later to take those others back, I'm so glad I took the drive and figured it out.
I also figured out a few other things.  I'm very patient and look at all the angles to figure out the answer.  I follow all the directions.  I like to do things in the steps they are supposed to be done, unless something else makes better sense to me.  I'm more detail oriented than I used to be.  I am the most positive I have ever been.
There was only one thing that kinda went awry.  While I was trying to hold the door up and get the drill to screw in the pilot screw while holding the door, it fell.  The door fell.  It was one of those moments that happen in slo-mo.  I saw it falling, heard it, watched it - and just wanted for it to be finished falling.  I thanked god that the glass didn't break, propped the door back up and proceeded to try it over again, and over and over until finally I was able to put the drill in a place that was easy to grab and hold the door up with my foot.  Anyway - it all worked out, of course.  There's a dent.  And if I'm selling the house, that might not be a selling point, but it's a good memory.
I'm very proud of accomplishing the door hanging today.  I even got all the hardware on.  It looks fantastic and overall I'm very pleased with the outcome.
This summer has really been a summer of personal challenges.  I can say that I have leaped over all of them in big strides.  I'm happier than ever and have a more positive attitude than I ever have.  It's such a good place to be.  I'm so glad this is the path I chose to go down.  I know there are good things around every corner.



Here are a few pics.  My dad might have taught me to use a drill, but he sure didn't tell me how convenient it was to hold the bag of screws between my boobs! 

The door, minus the hardware.  This is right after I got it hung.  It looks fantastic with the hardware.  Will post a pick of that later.

wheat flour

This summer I decided to change a few more things about my every day diet that would be healthful for me.  Many of you know I had already quit drinking soda.  This has had a dramatic effect alone, I lost 10 pounds right of the bat and haven't put it back on.  I also decided to join a CSA - Grower's Alliance in which I get 2 bags of food (meat, veggies, fruit, milk & eggs) every week for $25 and it's all organic, and grown around here. All the meat I get is free of antibiotics and growth hormones.  Along with this, I decided to try and eliminate white sugar from my diet as well as white flour.  So at home, I've been successful.  Going out to eat, not so much - but I can choose not to go out to eat.  I found a delicious Wheat flour pancake recipe that I wanted to share. 

Wheat pancakes

Ingredients:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 tablespoon common granulated sugar (I use honey instead of the sugar and just add about a tablespoon or 2 of it in the batter - I've been doing this consistently all summer with lots of recipes and it works really well)
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons oil

I either spray a pan with pam or put a little bit of butter in it.  Heat it on medium.

Mix the flour, sugar/honey, baking powder and salt in one bowl.  In another bowl, mix the egg, add milk and 2 tablespoons of oil.  Mix the dry and wet ingredients together.  (Or if you are like me and don't like to dirty bowls, I mix the dry and then add in the wet and then mix it all together).
Then make your pancakes.  I add fruit to mine before frying.  I've done blueberries and banana - I think anything you like would work well (nuts too). 

I will probably make all recipes with wheat flour as time goes on and I use it even more.  The difference in taste is not extraordinarily different and it's better for me. 

The only other thing I've done is that while shopping I am very aware of the ingredients in anything I buy.  If I don't know what an ingredient is, I don't buy it - I look for the product with the fewest ingredients.  So far - so good.  It's really dramatically changed how I look at meat.  But Food Inc. did that and before that was Jillian's Metabolism book - so this really isn't new thinking for me. And if you haven't seen Food Inc., you should.  If you want a great read on nutrition, you should read Jillian Michael's Metabolism book.  Mine's loaned out right now and has a waiting line of 1, but I'm totally willing to share when it becomes available.

poison skin #2

Welcome back rash residing on the inside of my left wrist and between my middle and ring finger on my right hand.  Once again, it started as a red raised area and turned into little blisters.  The vinegar isn't working because the blisters haven't popped.  I refuse to pop them myself for fear of spreading it everywhere again.  I'll just keep trying to dry it out.  I hate this stuff. 
Just want to add the distinction on here - I don't really believe anymore this is#2, I think that it isn't poison ivy, that it's just an allergy to something.  When I put vinegar on the poison ivy it hurts, bad, but when I put vinegar on these open blisters - nothing.  It doesn't hurt.  So I've been adding some prescription cream to my routine to see if it helps at all.  So far...no.  This rash also doesn't have much color.  I think you'd have to be really observant or I would have to point it out to you to really see it.  I'm hoping it goes away soon - the heat really irritates it.  It doesn't hurt, or itch too much - more of a raised irritating, my-arm-is-gross-and-leaking feeling.

Summer Vacay 2010

I wasn't really going on summer vacation.  I was just going to go up and spend some time riding my bike in IA with my friend Carrie.  Usually, when I go and stay at peoples houses, it doesn't feel much like a vacation.  And actually, recently (in the last few years) have decided that I need to probably stay in a hotel when I go and visit places where friends reside.  It's a personal feeling that it is too stressful on the residing friend, and disappointing on my want-to-do-vacation-y-things self.  So, I did not have the feeling that I was going on vacation, I simply thought I would carrying out something I said I would do.  I couldn't have been more wrong.  Let me start at the beginning.  A slide show (my new way of doing pics on here, it's lazy and easy!) will be at the end.

I packed up and headed out early - I had several things to take care of before I actually started to head toward Carrie's house.  I needed to drop Maggie off at the vet (they board her), and then get some coffee along with a bag of coffee for Carrie's parents.  I had lots of thoughts as to what to get them, but this is such a nice and travel-able gift.  My car was full of gas and I was off to meet Carrie at her house.  Then we were on the road.  We only made a few stops prior to getting off I-29.  I wasn't really sure after getting of 29 where we were or how far we had to go.  Instead of getting gas at a Casey's that we stopped at, because I still had 1/4 of a tank left, I just kept traveling.  Well, it wasn't too long before my gas light came on.  I texted Carrie and told her we needed to stop before 40 miles.  I guess this was a problem.  There wasn't anything.  We did stop in this town of Melvin, IA.  Carrie pulled up to the old school looking pump.  I pulled next to her and said something like, "Are you serious?  I don't even know how to use this."  Anyway, lots of laughs ensued.  I tried to use my debit card, but I guess you needed a gas card???  It didn't work out so we made our way to Medford, IA.  In the end, I think I could have just made it to Carrie's parents house, but I'm glad we stopped and filled up when we did.  It was pretty funny.  I kept thinking - if I run out of gas, that will make for a great blog!  But I didn't, so you'll have to settle for something mediocre at best. 
Got some gas, traveled on to Carrie's parents house.  It was so nice to not be driving.  We sat and visited, unloaded our cars, and then prepared to head our for the night.  They had planned to drive around the 30 mile ride we would be riding the next day (BRASL - Bike Ride Around Spirit Lake) and then go to the theater.  We drove around it, I felt more confident after seeing the scenery.  I was pretty excited that it was all rural views and mostly on trails.  (I've never seen so many bike trails - it was awesome).  The community theater was fun.  It was a farce, and hilarious.  The actors were pretty good.  I was very impressed. 
We went home and prepared for the next day - it would be an early morning and then 30 miles on our bikes.  The longest either of us had rode.  I'm very thankful to my brother for loaning me his camelpack.  It came in very handy. 
The ride itself was awesome.  We were already 3 miles in before I realized the ride had actually started and we were on it.  I did my traditional exploration of shifting, which if I have paid for the ride, always results in the chain falling off while riding up a hill.  I got through that on mile 4 or 5 and then the rest of the ride was cake.  The views were beautiful.  They had lots of fruit and cookies at the rest stops - there were 2.  The hills were okay, not too intimidating.  I actually rode through a soybean/corn field (the trail went through there).  We rode around Loon Lake, which took us into Minnesota.  (so far I've ridden my biked in 4 states  - MO, KS, IA, MN)  The trail for the 30 mile bikers was not clearly marked so we lost some mileage - about 6 miles, but regardless, it's still the longest ride I've done.  I think we figured it was around 24 miles.  I would do the ride again.  Mostly, I would just go up there and ride.  The weather was beautiful, and perfect.  The view of midwest cornfields, soy bean fields, and lakes was awesome.  We had a great time. 
After the ride, we lounged for the day.  I normally read a lot on vacations, so this might have been the start of me feeling like I was on vacation.  I was comfortable enough to pull out my book and read it.  I don't think I was aware yet I was on vacation though.  It wasn't until probably the next day that I felt the relaxation and stress and world-on-my-shoulders feeling go away.  It was an actual realization, a moment, in which I realized I felt like I was on vacation.  This made me incredibly happy.  The rest of the time was wonderful, and full of fun times.  Carrie's parents were so easy going and fun to be around.    I am very grateful to them for all the wonderful food.  I also really enjoyed playing cards (canasta and golf).  They were just so much fun and so easy to be around.  I couldn't have asked for a better visit.  I definitely want to treat them to some Kansas City fun when they come down next. 
I had the best time and didn't want to leave Okoboji, IA.  I wanted to stay and ride my bike every morning for the rest of my life.  Alas, I can't make that happen yet.  So, I came back by way of Clarinda, IA and visited Shannon.  She is expecting and should be having a baby any day now.  Her and Andrew (husband) also bought a house, it was nice to see her, Andrew and the house (it's beautiful!).  But by mid-morning on Wednesday, I was ready to come home and see my Maggie.  I wish I could work it out where she just came with me on vacation. 
I made it home, but I really think I could have stayed the whole month out just wandering from place to place.  Who knows where I would have gone or ended up. 
Here's what I took away from my almost a week away:
-I am going to take Electra! on a vacation every year
-Carrie is an awesome friend (already knew this) with just as awesome parents/family
-I would like to own a place at Okoboji, even if it's just a shack
-The midwest is beautiful and very green (right now).
-Iowans make fun of you when you want to take pictures of yourself in the corn
-IF most of the food in the US comes from the midwest, we only eat corn, soybeans, cows, and chicken. 
-I am becoming more and more obsessed with the paranormal.
-I love small towns.
-playing cards is fun and should be done more often
-I want a laptop/ipad to take everywhere with me.
-I couldn't have picked a better road trip.  It was perfect!

My beautiful Mother and Michael Buble'

On June 13, my beautiful mother turned 60.  I felt there was a duty to celebrate this momentous occasion to the best of my ability.  I asked her for a list of folks she would invite to a birthday party, and the inviting ensued.  A handful of people ended up coming, I was not the best on timing.  But, several people came, important ones and even folks from Omaha that she knew came.  It was an awesome dinner celebration! 

 

I decided to go with a princess theme, not because my mom is a princess or anything like that, but because it was easy to find decorations for Birthday Queens.  And I thought it was fitting, and fun.  She wore here gear that I got for this picture, and quickly took it off.  My decorations were simple, some balloons, separate napkins and plates for the cake, and some maracas.  Mom is not over the top, so I didn't want it to be too over the top.  Mom did a shot of tequila, which is customary for her birthday.  She has the pics of that (I had broken my camera) and I haven't got them yet.  I did get a good before/after.  Someday, I will wrangle it from her.  Overall, we had a great time.  The family photo below was taken that night.  It's always great when we are all together. I have to mention that I couldn't have pulled this off without a last minute angels that gave us money to pay for the bill.  I am very thankful for their friendship to our family and wished they could have been there with us.                                                                                                                                       

For Mother's Day and her birthday, I (include Eric) got mom tickets

to Michael Buble'.  She didn't seem too excited at first when I told her about them.  Of course, I failed (on purpose) to tell her that we were sitting on the floor, 29 rows away from MB.

I knew that my mom would love this concert, and I would too.  I

did give her the opportunity to take dad, but of course she took me.  A friend of mine, Melody, came and went with us.  We ate at the movie theatre - only place with openings.  It was pretty good and nice and cool.  (it as a hot day)
We got to Sprint Center and I think mom was a little surprised to find out that we were on the floor, and so close to the stage.  (btw - I would not have been wearing that long black coverup had I not been covered with poison ivy).  Anyway - we were there nice and early, which I love, because I like to people watch.  It was fun to see all the other moms and daughters there.The first group that went on was Naturally 7.  They used their voices as instruments.  It was sooo cool.  Mom recorded some of it.  Maybe I can get that and attach it here sometime.  They were a great warm-up group.  Very impressive with their talents.  Both of us really enjoyed them.

After Naturally 7, MB came out.  I can't say enough about how awesome he was in concert.  The place was packed, but it seemed so intimate.  He was very good at finding balance between the talking and singing.  The absolute best part of the night was when he came into the crowd.  Sometime during a song, they had placed a movable stage right behind mom and I.  We never heard it.  We were trying to take pics of him coming down the aisle, I turned around and saw the stage and told mom to turn around.  Then we were pretty much serenaded by MB for a few songs.  It was awesome.  We were on cloud 9 after that.  I was so incredibly happy to have spent the money on the floor tickets.  It was just a real treat.  It was really fun to see mom so excited too.  At the end of the night, we both were really happy with the concert and going and had a blast.  I know that if he comes in the future we will go, and hopefully take the rest of the family, they would love it.  I would recommend his concert to anyone of any age.  Anyway - we had a great time, I'm closing this blog with pics from the concert - most are self explanatory.

poison skin

So, I decided to do a little yard work last week and ended up with poison something all over my body. The dr. called it contact dermatitis, because of course I have no idea what it is. It doesn't necessarily 'look' like poison ivy....it can't - it's everywhere. I'm on a steroid pack, and it's looking better, however I continue to get more and in new places. I will probably have to call the dr. I don't want to have this all summer. It's rather uncomfortable and makes me feel leperous. Also, it's on my face - although looking better - and I am scared to put any makeup on - so sans makeup everywhere I go. While I don't normally wear a lot of makeup - there are moments that I like to put my best looking foot forward...

Anyway - this is really just to remind myself later in life of when I had poison skin all summer and how bad it sucked.