After my haircut today, I went shopping for a dress for Mike's 20th high school reunion next weekend (which I am so NOT looking forward to). I went to the mall, found a dress in Dillard's that I liked but was $90 which I would have spent, but I decided to look around a little more before I bought it. Then I went to Robinson's-May and found another dress that I liked that was $70 so I decided to go ahead and get it because I was already sick of shopping. I took it to the clerk and believe it or not, when she rung it up (100% silk by the way), it scanned as $19.99!!!!!!! Now that is a happy surprise. I was so happy, in fact, that I treated myself to some Elizabeth Arden makeup on the way out. Well there went my savings. :-) Now I just have to find a pair of shoes. What a chore that will be…it's not like I like shoes or anything. ;-)

Okay if you can't get enough of reading blogs, visit these:

My friend from England - Fergus

and

Moonpuddle's other half - Dalvenjah

Happy reading!!!

Yep the wicked “witch” at church has quit his job and will not be making my husband miserable anymore. Hurray! I have no idea if my focussing on that outcome (as a friend tells me) is what helped it along or not, but I am positive that I am glad it is over. FINALLY. Now we can move on and not have to be stressed out anymore!

I got a new toy yesterday - a camera phone :) And until January 1 I get unlimited text and pix messages for a set price per month, so I'm having fun fun fun right now. Anyway, if you know my cell phone number and want to send me messages or pix, go for it! If you don't know my cell phone number, then email me. I love technology.

Two years. Seems longer in some ways, like yesterday in others. The pain and horror have abated for me, for a lot of people I suppose, but for others who lost loved ones, who are still losing loved ones in the war on terror, it must be a constant reminder of what happened. Strange how just the memorial services bring it all rushing back. I don't mind that collective pinch to wake us up, though. The saying, “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it” is all too true. We need to remember and in some way continue to fight the war on terror. Whether it is with weapons or with words or with deeds, we all need to find a way to make the world a better place where people are able to live together and not hate just because of skin color or religion or political beliefs. We may not agree with the way that someone else does it, but we cannot let hate continue. That is what dooms us all to be vulnerable to attacks on what we hold dear. So, on this day, remember those who died, who continue to die, and pray for peace. Pray for an end to hatred. That is the only way anything will ever change.

Just to defend myself a bit…I didn't say that I thought I would be bored, I said others thought I would be bored. Of course none of those others has ever been a stay at home mommy! I certainly don't think stay at home mommies live boring lives at ALL!!! They have the most important and best job in the entire world! (Have I grovelled enough yet?)

However, I can see what they are getting at. I want to be a mommy very much, but I know that being used to the faster pace of career life, I still need something to exercise my brain in that fashion. I'm not in a hurry to find it though, this time I want something that will, above all, make me happy and allow me the flexibility to be there when my child needs me most.

I hope that came out the way I wanted it to! *grin*

Mr. Syndromes just posted about wanting to reinvent his life. So, I thought I'd talk about what I'm doing to sorta reinvent mine at the mo. It's not like I can just up and quit my job without repercussions, so it takes time to sort it all out, but the process is going on. We are focusing on baby making. And we are focusing on Karin not having to work unless she wants to. Which means, Mike having to work enough to support us AND find a way to insure all of us (including future baby(ies). Mike has found that handymen are in high demand, something which he likes doing and which he is good at. So at this time, he is building up a business doing that. Now, this is not to say that I'm not going to contribute financially in some way. I will be able to substitute and tutor and bring in some money that way, while being a mama if I'm lucky enough to get preggers. Everyone tells me that I will not be able to be stay at home mommy forever, because I will get bored, so I will begin looking at new career ideas. In fact, that process has already begun. All I know is, I want a job that I love, that I look forward to every day, that makes me happy, and that pays slightly better than what I do now. I don't have to get rich, but teaching at times feels like slave labor. I have been blessed this year to have an awesome class, something that is a lucky break for someone suffering burnout. So the management is much easier and I can focus on the teaching. What a change! Anyway, enough rambling. My point was, that sometimes we need to redefine our lives, and when married, we have to do it as a team. I'm having an easier year in some ways because after I sat down and cried all over Mike about not wanting to teach anymore, he didn't freak out. He said, okay. This is your last year of teaching. Now we have to make a plan. Just in case I haven't said it lately - I really love that man.

Do you know what he did the other night? Friday night, I had a sore throat. It was hurting very much and we were already in bed. So, he gets out of bed in the middle of the night, gets dressed and drives around looking for an open store until he finds me some throat lozenges. Did not complain, does not remind me of it over and over again. And what did I say? Thank you for loving me. He does. He puts up with a lot, and I appreciate that. (So do I, but that is beside the point at the moment.)

Anyway, I have rambled enough and I need to finish my breakfast and get my still sick self to work. Thanks for reading.

What do all of these have in common? Something, I'm sure.

Basically I just want to gripe about someone in a position of authority at church who is NOT a good leader and how I'm really starting to understand his lack of ability as I take on a student teacher and am responsible for giving her feedback.

So here it is: Good leaders give positive feedback, try to instill loyalty and respect in those they lead, are team players, and are most concerned with the outcome of the THING whatever it may be. Bad leaders tear down those they are in charge of, trying to be a “boss” rather than a team player.

I am very aware of the fact that what a person in authority - either a boss or a mentor says to someone can have a major effect on that person's confidence and self esteem. I've heard so many stories of people who had crappy student teaching experiences. I REFUSE to let that happen with my student teacher. So positive feedback is the thing, and I'm good at that luckily! Sometimes I actually amaze myself when people come to me for advice and feedback. I wonder where all this stuff comes from in my brain! But it's a good feeling.

So, back to the bad leader at church. The way I figure it…he will just continue to be nasty and do himself in on his own. I don't really need to help - even though it is very tempting at times. (Meaning write emails to people above HIM griping about his nastiness.) So I will sit back and let him fade away. I bet it will happen.