Say what you will about Mister Rogers, but he certainly was an important part of MY life growing up. And his show was safe for kids to watch. Warm and fuzzy. Kids need warm and fuzzy. There is too much ugliness in their lives these days. And though I haven't watched the show in years, and don't know if it's even in reruns anymore, I do remember it not being high and mighty preachy, but always reminding kids that they are special and loved. That is a good thing. So goodbye Mr. Rogers, Queen Sarah Saturday, King Friday XIII, Prince Tuesday, Lady Aberlin, Lady Elaine Fairchild, Daniel Striped Tiger, X the Owl, Henrietta Pussycat, Mr. McFeely, and all the other characters I've long since forgotten.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor would you be mine, could you be mine…I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you, I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you, so let's make the most of this beautiful day, since we're together we might as well say, would you be mine, could you be mine, won't you be my neighbor, won't you please, won't you please, please won't you be my neighbor.

Rest in peace Mister Rogers.

I have my heart test scheduled for March 5. I will get that over with and hopefully it will be good news and I can move on with my life, not stuck in worrying whether or not there is something to worry about. And if it's not the good news I want? Well, then I deal, but I just really want it all over with.

In other news, my trip to England is drawing closer and I can hardly wait. The people that I am going to visit are special and wonderful and I know I will have a wonderful time.

We are settling into the house a little more each day. And I do promise I will get pictures up soon. I got a scanner up and running with osx so it is now possible to scan pics. :-)

Let's see…I'm sure there is more, but I'll save it for another day. Just wanted you all to know I'm still among the living.

I LOVE MY HOUSE!!!!!!!!!!

Pictures coming soon…….

Got up and went to work yesterday morning. It was going to be a different day to begin with since my student intern (education student from ASU West) was starting, and it was Valentine's Day celebration time for the kids.

My intern got there just fine and I was talking to her when an announcement comes over the speaker:

“Attention parents and teachers. School is cancelled today due to no water on campus.”

At first I thought it was a joke, but of course they wouldn't joke about something like that, soooo my intern and two of my parents start calling all the parents who have already dropped off their little darlings. They diverted about 60% of the students in the parking lot before they were even dropped off, but there were a bunch that were there. The office called the television and radio stations and that got some parents to turn around and come back when they heard the announcement.

The announcement came about 7:50 and all my students were out by 9:00 a.m. I was lucky to have two awesome parents to help and an intern that jumped right in and did what needed to be done. I didn't even have to make any phone calls myself. Cool, huh?

So apparently a water pipe broke somewhere in the city and there would be no water to the school for at least two hours if not half the day. State law says public facilities have to be shut down if there is no water for more than half an hour, which of course makes sense, because if you don't have usable bathroom facilities, it is a health issue.

The kids were funny. It was pouring rain, and they didn't quite get how there could be no water. So, mini-lesson on public water. Then they asked, why can't we just go out in the grass? Mini-lesson on sanitation issues. How will the intern learn how to teach if we don't have school today? She'll be back, don't worry.

So, after the kids were gone we had a mini-staff meeting to debrief. I thought that it was actually a terrific drill for an emergency situation since it was NOT an emergency or a life and death situation. But everyone kept their calm and got things done. It was pretty impressive.

And then we got to go home, too! So a free day really. And a four-day weekend basically. I was in my car on the way home by 10 a.m. Went down to the old house to tell Mike some things to keep or get rid of. Came back home and sorted the pantry and did some laundry. Went to dinner with Mike last night and came home and had romantic evening in our new bedroom. ;-) (I know, too much information - just deal with it!)

Today we are going to buy rose bushes. Yay!

Hope all of you had a decent Valentine's Day as well.

The lump??

BENIGN!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a papilloma. Dr. says it does not put me in a risk category. Mammogram and Dr. visit in July and again in January, and then we can decide how often to have them from there.

Thank you for good thoughts and prayers. They really do work. :-)

Now I have the heart thing left to get checked, and hopefully that will be okay, and I'll be done with the worrying.

Hugs to all of you.

Yes indeed. I survived anesthetic…and actually it wasn't a horrible experience. I don't normally remember dreams, and it held true even under anesthesia. Oh well. I was looking forward to “groovy” dreams though.

So, everyone was very nice. The anesthesiologist was cool…he had on a lab coat with chocolate bars all over it…that was kinda funny. I liked him. And I sort of remember a little after he gave me the “margarita” to relax me. It's funny how you remember things but don't remember if they really happened or not. I think I remember being wheeled into the operating room and scooting onto the other guerney thing, but I'm not sure if it was real or not.

Anyway, waking up is always interesting under anesthesia…your limbs feel so heavy. I was so happy to see Mike when they finally let him in. Then I went home and slept for three hours, got up for awhile, slept some more, and then stayed up fairly late chatting with online friends.

Saturday I did some stuff around the house and took a nap during the day.

So I've been doing a lot of sleeping! But that is a good thing.

Back to work tomorrow. Sore, tired, but otherwise fine. Hopefully I will get the results soon!

I will let you all know.

Well, I'm getting ready to leave for the hospital for surgery. I will be back in a few hours, God willing, although I'll probably want to sleep a lot today knowing me. I will post when I'm feeling up to it. Think good thoughts.

And by the way, thanks for all the good thoughts and encouragement you've given so far.

I realized today that even though I thought I was fine about it….I'm really pretty stressed and scared about the surgery on Friday. Not really the surgery itself or even what they will find, but the anesthesia. Perhaps it's irrational, but somehow it is really making me edgy and afraid right now. And yes I'm concerned about the surgery and the outcome, but anesthesia is difficult and scary for a control freak like me I guess. Oh well….think good thoughts okay?

Strange how we get into routines and habits and no matter where we are, they continue. Today is the first day I go to work from the new house, and I'm going about my daily routine the same as always, but with a few little twists thrown in…like which light switch turns on the light in the kitchen? And…can I remember to turn both heaters off before I leave so that my husband will not yell at me for wasting propane? And so on. It's home, but it's not. It still feels kind of like someone else's house and we just moved our stuff in temporarily. I know that at some point it will feel like home, just like the old house did to me after awhile. But right now…it's strangeness. I think the nicest thing, though, is there is no baggage in this house…there is no historical imprint…no memories…it's a clean palette. I really like that to be honest. I don't feel any presence of the past. And while the past is good…in this case, it's nice to start over again a bit. I like the feeling of the empty canvas. It's time to make our own memories and not be bogged down by those of the ones who came before us in the space. This is our space to do with what we will. Nice feeling, I'd say.

Whoa! Three entries in one day. I'm on a roll!

Latest medical update in the life of Karin:

The cardiologist cleared me for surgery, so that is scheduled for Friday, February 7.

The stress test came back fine, but the echocardiogram shows that there may be leakage from the septum which is what was repaired when I was four years old. However, the cardiologist does not think this is correct. He thinks it is a miscalculation. BUT, to be certain I have to go have a transesophogealechocardiogram which is a scope that goes down your throat while you're still awake. Sounds fun, huh? Well, not really too bad, because they give you a drug called Versed that gives you temporary amnesia, so you don't remember anything. It's actually a very cool drug. hahaha

Anyway, I will let you all know how this goes! Hopefully (crossing fingers and toes and praying like crazy) it is nothing, but I can't help but think that if I hadn't had this stupid lump in my breast, they might not have found this heart thing for awhile, if it is indeed there.

Things happen for a reason, I guess, but I hope there is just nothing wrong all the way around. I'm rather sick of doctors to be honest.

As I mentioned in the previous entry, we woke up in our new house for the first morning! We still have a lot of packing and moving to do, but we're on our way, and we and the doggies are here! Yay!

The dream that began way back in 1998 when we began trying to secure the land, finally came true.

There's still a lot to do, but WE'RE HERE!!!!!! :-)

January 28, 1986
I was at my job as a receptionist at a janitorial service. I was 19 years old then. I would go home for lunch every day. I got a call from my mom before I left for lunch. She wanted me to hear the news before I got on the freeway and had an accident when I heard it as she put it. I rushed home to watch the news. The space shuttle Challenger had exploded right after take off with civilian teacher Christa McCauliffe aboard. I cried.

February 1, 2003
All night long two lines from the song “19something” went through my brain: “the space shuttle fell out of the sky, and the whole world cried”.
We turned on the television this morning to the news that the space shuttle Columbia had broken up on its way to land in Florida. Those same feelings washed over me.

1986 was one of those days, one of those times that you never forget where you were or even what you were wearing when you got the news.

2003 we woke up in our brand new home for the very first time to a tragedy. I think ever since September 11, I dread turning on the news to see a breaking story because I'm so afraid to see something else horrible happening before my eyes.

“The space shuttle fell out of the sky, and the whole world cried…again.”

God rest their souls and keep their families in the palm of His hand.