Today was a blah day. Not because anything particularly bad or stressful happened. It was just one of those days. I didn't want to be at work. I didn't want to deal with my students. I didn't want to work out. I want to eat 50 cupcakes. Not really, but one or two would work. *sigh* I am into the 6 week program three and a half weeks now. This is the hard part I guess. And the weird thing is that I actually lost a pound today. So you'd think I'd be happy! Dunno what's wrong. Just blah.

Tomorrow I get to go to a conference, so no school for me so to speak. Well, no teaching, instead I will be taught. I can live with that.

The results from my blood test are in, but I didn't get home in time to call so I will have to call tomorrow. I am dreading it a bit. I don't want bad news. So I will try to focus on good news. Okay? Okay. *sigh*

At least I can sleep in until 7 for a change.

Tonight's theme was Motown, and to be honest, except for one performance - I was really bored, disappointed, and totally unimpressed. I am a Motown lover, and they just really didn't do it justice to me. There were some that were okay, and some that were just kinda painful. Also, they had a live band on stage which was great, but the mix (at least the TV mix) was awful - most of the singers were too far into the mix and it was really hard to hear them except when they got really loud. Anyway, we were saved by one absolutely stellar performance. Click to find out who it was…

1. Camile - Totally lost her voice in the mix, but she definitely had personality. It was her best performance in the top 12 shows so far, but I hated her shirt.

2. Jon Peter - The beginning was shaky, the performance was pitchy, but there were some great parts.

3. LaToya - I really like her better when she does upbeat songs. This performance was a yawn for me. I wish she would have picked a different song.

4. Amy - She sounded a bit nasally tonight to me. It was a great performance, but she was too quiet and her voice was lost in the mix.

5. John - He chose one of my all-time favorite songs. Not really his style but he did ok. I didn't hear the pitchiness as much as the judges did, though. He did show some personality, but he may be getting out of his depth - he is very young!

6. Jennifer - I did NOT like her voice on this. It was too affected - too much vibrato. Randy said it best though - “too over the top for me.”

7. Jasmine - She was pitchy but really great on some parts. Not bad.

8. Diana - She connected with the audience and had a lot of fun. Her voice sounded a little thin to me on this song - so maybe not the right song, but better than last week.

9. Fantasia - Hated the outfit! She did okay, but I was still not thrilled. She's done much much better and I detested her ending.

10. George - Now THAT is Motown! I've said it before, but really, there's not much else to say. I LOVE GEORGE!!!'

My ranking:

1. George (by a long shot)
2. Diana
3. Fantasia
4. Jasmine
5. LaToya
6. Amy
7. John
8. Jennifer
9. Jon Peter
10. Camile

My prediction:

This is a toughy…most of them were mediocre, but no one really stuck out as awful to me. I'll say the bottom three will be: Camile, Jon Peter, and John :(

I think John may be on the bubble this time. We'll see what happens.

Coachman keeps telling me about law of attraction. Does it work? Well, you be the judge.

This morning I had a message from a parent asking me to call her. I didn't have time during the school day so I was going to call her after school (even though I really don't like calling parents), but then I started thinking “I wish she would come and pick up her kid today so I don't have to call her.” Mind you, she NEVER comes to pick up her daughter - sometimes the father does, but even that is rare. She usually goes to the afterschool program.

So anyway I'm standing there dismissing kids - including the kids going to the afterschool program, and who walks up but the mom! So, I got to take care of her question right there and then. Yay! Call it whatever you like, but something worked!

My ob/gyn had told me that I needed to have blood drawn on day 3 of my cycle for an FSH level. Well, today was FINALLY the day. And the good part was I got off at 11 a.m. today because of early release, so I called the dr's office to see when I could come in to get blood drawn as soon as the kiddies were gone. But the phone rang and rang and rang and rang and not even the answering service ever picked up. So, I went on home to have my tuna fish sandwich lunch with Mike and figured I would just drive over there after lunch. I got there and go up to the office and the doors are wide open, there is no one there, there are files and boxes everywhere, and a sign on the door saying they are moving to their “beautiful new offices” and will be open for business on Monday. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!

I can't wait til Monday!!! I have to have my blood test TODAY! So I called the fertility specialist's office, but since I am not their patient yet, they can't do anything for me. I am now panicking. I try to calm down and call to leave a message with my regular doctor because I figure they could at least give me orders for the blood test.

Then I decide I will go up there one more time and maybe yell to see if someone is around. I get up there and then I think, well, maybe there is someone at the new office, so I start to write the address down when some office workers come up to get more boxes. I talk to them and they tell me that I should be able to find someone to write a prescription for the blood draw at the new office. So I go over there and FINALLY find someone to give me some help and write the 'scrip. Then I go get the blood drawn and all is right with the world.

I made an appointment with the fertility specialist for later in April, call my insurance to get the authorization code and we are on our way to making a baby! Yay!

Disclaimer: This is not directed at any politician past or present. This is merely the opinion of the writer of this blog and said writer does NOT want to get into a political discussion regarding the current presidential administration. Therefore, please keep replies dealing directly with the topic at hand and not any government institutions or employees thereof. The management thanks you for your cooperation. Now back to our regular programming.

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First let me say that I am all about freedom of speech. I have no issues with whatEVER two consenting adults choose to do. That is their choice, their decision, their business. Not mine. I have no issues with pornography as long as it is not exploitating children or animals (in other words, those who are not able to speak for themselves or necessarily control what is happening to them). That does not mean that I particuarly care to view said pornography, but hey, if it makes them happy, whatever. I have no major issues with nudity or profanity in certain arenas, either, as long as it is in the appropriate arena. However, I'm also all about freedom of choice. We should all have the freedom to choose whether or not we want to view said pornography or listen to said profanity. It needs to be kept in its appropriate place and not shoved down the throats of those who choose not to view or listen (and by the same token, those who spout their religious views should not shove them down the throats of those who do not wish to be bombarded with them either). In other words, there is a time and a place for everything.

So, that is why I think what Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake did during the half time show of the Super Bowl was way worse than anything Howard Stern has even THOUGHT about doing. Why? Because I can choose whether or not to listen to Howard Stern's show. I EXPECT it to be obscene, distasteful, and in other ways not to my liking at all, and so I CHOOSE not to listen. I have that choice, because unless you have been in a cave for the last few decades you know what Howard Stern is all about. The same goes for Playboy or Hustler or various other skin mags out there. And so on and so on.

However, millions of people watching the Super Bowl did NOT have a choice whether or not to view their little escapade. It was carried out in an arena where it was completely unexpected. I am sure that had there been some warning given that the Half-Time Show would not be appropriate for all viewers and “parental discretion is advised”, many people would have tuned out until the game started up again, because in that scenario they would have been given the CHOICE. That, of course, is not what happened. And although a semi-naked nipple is not a huge deal in the whole scheme of things, it is something that a lot of people find offensive and certainly it is something that the majority of parents would not want their children to see. The Super Bowl is supposedly family programming - an American sports institution - a national event, and for it to be hijacked by two pop stars out for thrills or headlines or WHATEVER the hell they were out for is just plain WRONG. It really made me angry, because that freedom of choice I was talking about before was basically taken away. Not cool.

Why do I bring this up? Well, because the backlash from that seems to be the media freaking out and overreacting to EVERY little thing that happens now. Howard Stern is banned from Clear Channel. Other dj's are sued by stupid people who don't like what they are saying or doing. An American Idol contestant has to change the words of a song from “mattress dancing” to “crazy dancing”. Hello? CHANGE THE ^#%&$^#$ channel! I don't care one IOTA what Howard Stern does on his show because I don't listen to it. And to all those people out there who are freaking out about it, I have four words: CHANGE THE STATION. DUH!!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm ranting, I'm ranting. It just really drives me crazy. I detest Howard Stern. But do I go writing complaint letters to the stations that carry him and demand that he be thrown off the air? No. I just don't listen. And that's what people should remember. Change the channel. Sure I think there is too much violence and sex on tv. But I don't write letters and whine about it. I just don't watch it. And if enough people did that, then the ratings would go downhill and they'd be cancelled anyway. If you really want to take the protest further, then don't buy the products advertised on the shows. Protest with your pocketbook, that is where it hurts them the most.

Anyway, I suppose I have ranted enough. I'm just angry that two stupid, idiotic, semi-talented people have seemingly sent the country over the edge. I'm not saying they have caused the whole situation, I am just saying that their actions seemed to be the last straw.

Gee Janet and Justin…are you happy now?

I suppose first I should tell you that I'm one of those people that tend to be hung up on dates. I remember the date of my heart attack, the date of my car accident, the date of my engagement, etc. So, it should come as no surprise that I would remember the date of my mother's death. She died March 7, 2000. Four years ago. And every year since then on that date I have been sad, upset, depressed, etc…even including the days leading up to the date. Well, as I was sitting eating lunch with my colleagues yesterday, and relating some story that began with, “My mother died….” I suddenly stopped cold because it hit me that I had totally forgotten about the anniversary of my mother's death this year. Mike's birthday is March 12 and for the last few years, it has been a bit overshadowed by the other date. This year, though, for some reason I focused much more on his birthday, and the day passed without me realizing it.

So, on one hand, I'm sad that I forgot. But on the other hand, I think it is a positive thing. It's not like I don't think of her. I think about her absolutely every day. And I certainly wouldn't forget important days like Mother's Day or her birthday, but I hope this means that I've been able to move on a bit. She wouldn't want me to dwell on the sad part anyway.

Life moves on with or without our loved ones. At some point, we need to get back on the expressway, too.

Being a teacher can be quite befuddling at times. Here is an exchange between me and two of my students today:

“Bobby” comes to the table to get a tissue and then sits on the floor next to the garbage can doing something I cannot see.

Me: What's up Bobby?

B: Nothing.

Bobby stands up and I see he has black marker all over the fingernails and fingers of one of his hands.

Me: Why do you have marker all over you?

B: “Michelle” did it.

Me: Why did she do that?

B: I dunno.

Me: Michelle, come here.

Michelle comes to the table.

Me: Why did you put marker all over Bobby?

M: He told me to.

Me: Bobby, did you tell Michelle to put marker on you?

B: NOOOOO!!!!!!

Me: Michelle, what exactly did he say to you?

M: He said, get your black marker out.

Me: Okay, and what else did he say?

Silence from Michelle.

Me: Did he say anything else?

Michelle shakes her head no.

Me: So, you are telling me that by him saying “get your black marker out” that you decided he meant color on his fingers?!?

M: Yeah….

Me: I see. Michelle, you are not supposed to color on someone with marker whether or not they tell you to. Change your color.

Now, I turn to Bobby again.

Me: Bobby, I could understand how you might not notice her drawing on one finger with marker at first, but ALL of them? Why didn't you just move your hand or tell her to stop?

B: I dunno.

Me: *sigh* I think you need to change your color, too, because you know better than to let someone draw all over you.

Both change their colors.

Then I put my head in my hands for a moment, and finally my head down on the table.

Class: She's FAINTED!!!!

I sit up and shake my head again.

Audrey: Mrs. G are you ready for summer?

Me: At this moment, I am very ready. *sigh* I need to go for a walk now.

I go get my teacher neighbor to watch my kids while I take a bathroom break to cool off. I tell her the story and she cracks up. I go to the lounge and tell the story to three of the teachers there. They crack up. I feel a little better then and go back to class.

I really really need to not do this anymore.

…but when I got into bed last night as tired as I was there was a part of me that wanted to get up and do my workout tape again. That is scary because I HATE working out. Oh well, I'm sure it was just temporary insanity.

The theme tonight was Country (a genre I'm very familiar with) and overall it was somewhat disappointing because I felt like a lot of them “played it safe”. There were some high points, though. But what on earth was the deal with so many of them starting their song sitting down?

1. Diana - She had a shaky start and I think the sitting was bad for her breathing. There were some pitch problems and this to me was not a strong performance. It did have a strong ending, though.

2. George - I love George. Swooooon. The man can sure croon a ballad. What heart and soul. There is not much I can say because his singing speaks for him.

3. Fantasia - I did NOT like her facial expression - she looked angry throughout the song. But her voice was like velvet tonight and it was a very subtle, subdued performance from her.

4. John - This was the perfect song choice for him. The low notes are so rich. If you closed your eyes, you would think he was 40 years old. Very suave performance.

5. Camile - Breathing in weird places - choppy as Randy said. She has a pretty voice, but you just can't take a classic song like that and do what she did with it. I did not like her version at all.

6. Jennifer - I loved her hair tonight. The softer, slower part of this song was not there, but the big fast part of the song was much better. Jennifer's problem is she cannot do subtle - she is just an in your face singer and that is not a positive comment. I also felt like the song was dragging the whole time.

7. Jon Peter - I really wish he would have picked an upbeat song. I like his voice, but it didn't work on this song at all for me. I was disappointed.

8. Jasmine - This was a safe performance from her. She has a pretty voice, but the song was too old for her. The song needed raw emotion and at 17, I don't know that it is possible to give it. You need to have lived a little more to really give that song what it needs.

9. Matt - He was a bit pitchy. I think it was perhaps the wrong key, and I absolutely detested the arrangement they came up with. He was trying to show a softer side, but I really really wish he would have gone for an upbeat rockout tune.

10. LaToya - This was NOT a safe performance at all and she totally pulled it off. It was upbeat, fun, and she was awesome.

11. Amy - Oh WOW! LOVED this performance. She chose the perfect song, and to me she had the best genre performance of the night. She soared.

My ranking:

1. Amy
2. LaToya
3. George
4. Fantasia (this was almost a tie, but I gave it to George because of her facial expression)
5. John
6. Diana
7. Jasmine
8. Matt
9. Jon Peter
10. Jennifer
11. Camile

My prediction:

Camile will go home. If not her, it will be Jennifer.

I started this new eating/exercise program two weeks ago and today was measuring day. I've been watching the scale fairly regularly, and it's been frustrating because I really haven't lost much weight. So far it has only been 3-4 pounds from where I started. Last Saturday, though, I had lost 3 1/2 inches so that made me feel like it was working a bit. Today I measured again and this week I lost 7 1/2 inches for a total of 11 inches in two weeks!!! That's pretty amazing really. Obviously I'm burning fat and it's being converted to muscle, and the pounds are really not the important thing anyway - it's the inches and how I look and fit into my clothing. It's hard to really stick 100% to the food plan, but I've been doing pretty darn well if I do say so myself. These results will help me stay motivated for the next 4 weeks. I'm really excited because I can see the results when I put on my clothes. I'm not where I want to be yet, but I'm getting there! :) Little summer clothes here I come. :)

Not having watched the first two seasons, I can't really comment on the judges saying that this is the best top 12 they've ever had, but I do have to say that they were pretty darn good!!

1. Latoya - Great stage presence, good voice, hated her hair. She has talent, but still I have to go back to what I said the first time. It is just not unique. She just sounds like too many people that are already out there.

2. Amy - I still hate her hair. (I'm stuck on hair so far this week apparently.) Soul is not really her genre. She has a pretty voice but this was not the right song for her.

3. Matt - He had a nice edge to his voice and was fun to watch. He worked the crowd well.

4. Camile - She has such a unique voice and oh so much potential, but she looked so scared and nervous - totally out of her element. She seemed to be holding back and in this show she needs to just let go and as Simon said, believe she belongs there because she really does.

5. Jon Peter - He has a voice that doesn't match his look but I like it. He has something I can't put my finger on yet. I look forward to seeing more.

6. Fantasia - She's an original baby. She reminds me of Tina Turner a bit. She was great, but she needed to smile a lot more!

7. George - I love George. He is my absolute favorite in the whole competition. He just glows with goodness and joyfulness. Such a joy to watch him.

8. Jennifer - Much better clothes this week, but I lost the low notes on her song, so perhaps it wasn't the right song for her. Great voice, though.

9. John - He is sucha throwback and has something special. He is smooth, but soul is definitely not his forte. It's hard to know exactly what to do with him, but I really like him - another fav.

10. Leah - No power in her voice. Not good enough for me at all. She is young, and hopefully someone will give her a chance somewhere down the road when she has developed her voice some more.

11. Jasmine - Wow. She showed off both sides of her voice - the gentleness and the power. And she glows with goodness almost as much as George.

12. Diana - SUCH a mature sound for 16. Flawless performance. Wow. She has IT. And she is my second favorite in the competition.

My ranking (not totally according to preference, but based on performance as well):

1. Diana
2. Fantasia
3. George
4. Jasmine
5. John
6. Jennifer
7. Latoya
8. Jon Peter
9. Camile
10. Matt
11. Amy
12. Leah

My prediction:

Leah is going home.

Three things at work that just about sent me over the edge yesterday (click for the rant that follows):

1. Secretary still hasn't got our field trip booked. And now she is saying “oh I think you are on a waiting list…blah blah blah”. Well, one of the other 2nd grade teachers called the science center where we are planning to go and lo and behold…they would have NO trouble fitting us in on the date we want. Amazing.

2. Parent brings in cupcakes and punch for her son's birthday. No biggie. I have no problem with that. The kids pass out the cupcakes and the napkins and the cups and I am expecting her to pour the punch as I am obviously sitting there grading spelling tests so I can send them home that day. But the next thing I know, I look up and she is GONE!!! So, now I have to stop what I am doing and get up and pour the damn punch. RUDE.

3. I emailed the print shop to say that I would drop off my report cards on Monday so that they could be copied over Spring Break this next week since conferences are the week we get back. The print shop person emails me back and says, well I won't be here Monday. It would be best if you could leave them for me today. Ummm…..HELLO???? They are not finished yet you moron! What do you think I do all day anyway???? Besides, what difference does it make whether or not you'll be there on Monday? I don't care what day you do them as long as I have them by the time I get back. She had sent out this email saying please get things to me by Friday because I won't be working every day over break because I have to arrange child care blah blah blah. Well, number one, the fact that she has to arrange child care is NOT anyone's problem but her own. Number two, if you KNOW you have to arrange child care why don't you just choose two or three days to work and tell everyone what days they are so that they can get their stuff in to you on time? Number three, my idea was to TRY to help her so that she wouldn't be inundated with report cards that have to be FINISHED the day we get back. DUH?

I just think people are so frigging stupid and idiotic sometimes it just amazes me.

Yes, I really need to not do this job anymore.

Well, I did NOT like the way they did the first half hour of the program at ALL. They bring them back, put them through their paces for a week and then say to four of them live that “you're not singing tonight.” I thought it was unnecessarily cruel. Why not just let them sing for that half hour instead of putting them through all that emotional upheaval? Anyway, other than that, it was a great show. So click for my thoughts:

1. Jon Peter - He was really fun to watch tonight. There were a few pitch problems at the beginning, but it was fun to see his personality come out (finally!).

2. Elizabeth - She sounded a little shaky at the beginning and her voice just didn't match her look and it was a little harsh to me.

3. Katie - She is fun to watch. She has a good time performing, but it seemed like tonight her throat was closed a bit on that song and there were some pitch problems.

4. George - OH BABY!!! He can absolutely be a star. The beginning was a little shaky, but when he got to the fast part - WHAM! He was THERE! He definitely picked the right song this week!

5. Suzy - She has a great voice, is a lot of fun to watch, liked her new hairdo - very powerful! Good job!

6. Matt - I really love his voice - reminds me a little bit of Bryan Adams without the edge. Of course he is a cutey and he has a fantastic smile. Not a lot of power there, but definite potential.

7. Leah - She has enormous potential, but it's not quite there yet. She has a really interesting voice and it would be interesting to see her grow in the competition.

8. Jennifer - I really couldn't stand her facial expressions, but she has a great range and there was a lot more variety in her voice unlike the last performance which felt like screaming.

My ranking:
1. George
2. Suzy
3. Jennifer
4. Matt
5. Leah
6. Jon Peter
7. Katie
8. Elizabeth

My prediction:

America will choose George.
Simon will choose Suzy.
Randy will choose Jennifer.
Paula will choose Leah.

…yes indeed, in my quest to find something low energy to do while I was fasting, I fiddled with the design of the page a bit. Hope you like it!

So, I'm doing this liquid fast thing for the weekend to get me started on my new eating/exercise program that is supposed to have me in tip top shape in 6 weeks. I think it will work pretty well. I have a goal of losing about 25 pounds, but more than that I'm focusing on looking the way I want to.

I was doing oh so well until we moved. But then with no carpet in the house, there wasn't a really good place to work out. And then there was that little car crash thing that made it rather painful for me to even walk much less work out, so the weight got back on a bit. Anyway, at least it's not as much as last time right?

The main thing I have learned this weekend is that I really really like food and I miss it when I can't have it. But, my body is being detoxified and my stomach is shrinking and those are very good things. I never thought I'd get sick of cran-grape juice, but I'm starting to get there. And, I never thought I'd look forward to a Monday morning that I had to go to work on, but I can't wait to get up and eat breakfast!!

But, onward and upward. Or downward in the case of pounds and inches. Here's to good health and great bod. :)