Things That Make Me Happy #12

Soup.

Had a delicious bowl of chicken tortilla soup this past weekend. If you're in the area of Frisco, Texas, try Cristina's. It's a great Mexican restaurant. I highly recommend it.

I also love La Madeleine's potato soup. And homemade tomato soup. My mother-in-law gave me her mother-in-law's recipe, and it's just incredible. Very simple, but pretty close to perfection.

Things That Make Me Happy #11

Baked potatoes.

With lotsa butter, sour cream, bacon bits, and green onions.

Today I had my first BBQ tater -- had the essentials listed above plus chopped beef.

In the words of Rachael Ray, yumm-o.

Things That Make Me Happy #10

Accents.

Last night at church a minister from Glasgow, Scotland, gave the message. Billy Wilson is a wonderful preacher -- very inspirational. Makes you want to jump up and do something. If you're interested in hearing him, click here and look for his sermon dated April 25, 2007. It was the kind of message that makes you want to strap on your battle gear to face the day. Every day. Billy will be going to Australia soon to become a minister there. Australia -- another fun accent.

Anyway, I love accents. I remember my mother spontaneously speaking in an English accent around the house...for fun. When I was in high school, there was an English exchange student in one of my classes. I tried out my English accent, and she was surprised and impressed. Guess it was all that practice growing up. I'm sure it's no surprise that My Fair Lady is a favorite of mine to watch.

Accents -- love 'em. And language in general.

G'day, mates. And cheerio.

Things That Make Me Happy #9

Roses.

And I mean the fragrant ones. Not your typical florist offerings. I mean, the ones someone has nurtured in their own garden. And I think mine are some of the best. About 3 years ago, I decided to get some roses. Fresh flowers do wonders for one's mood, but it seemed ridiculous to constantly be buying flowers at the local grocery store. And they don't even really smell! Well, buying rose bushes was one of the best decisions of my life.

Right now, I have 3 Double Delight roses (yes, roses are named) in a vase (well, an old glass that got chipped that I love and couldn't part with) on my coffee table now. They are pink and creamy and smell...delightful! Yes, they will die. But my rose bush will give me new ones soon. My other 9 roses are doing well too. My favorite, Sheer Bliss, is a light pink rose, and the fragrance is unimaginably divine. She has three buds on her, which will probably bloom in the next few days. Sheer Bliss was my mother's favorite rose. I have my mother and grandmother to thank for imparting to me a love of roses. Roses also make my husband happy, and that makes me happy.

Things That Make Me Happy #8

Blue Bell Cookies 'n Cream ice cream.

And then there's Rocky Road and Dutch Chocolate and Moo-llennium Crunch and Mint Chocolate Chip and Fudge Brownie Nut and Chocolate Brownie Overload and Triple Chocolate....Do you sense a pattern here?

Things That Make Me Happy #7

Flip-flops.

I like the sound they make. I like that my feet don't feel constricted and suffocated as they do in socks and shoes. I like the different colors and patterns they come in. (I think I have about 8 pairs of them.) And I like what they stand for: warm weather.

Things That Make Me Happy #6

Watching my Rusty Dog sleep. And hearing him snore. Unless I'm having trouble sleeping. And then the snoring doesn't make me happy.

Things That Make Me Happy #5

Breakfast tacos.

Particularly bacon, potato, egg, and cheese breakfast tacos. With a dash of salsa.

Yum.

Things That Make Me Happy #4

Clean sheets.

They smell good, they feel good, they are good.

Things That Make Me Happy #3

Planting things.

Last year at the very end of the summer, my husband and I scored 3 crepe myrtles for 50% off the original price. We planted the two smaller ones quite a while ago, and they've been doing very well, despite the snow we got here a couple of weeks ago. One is pink (Pink Velour) and in our backyard, and one is white (Natchez), which we planted in our front yard, near the side of the house. (They haven't bloomed yet, but the tags said they'd be those colors.) Yesterday we (okay, mostly my hubby because I was kind of working, but I helped some) planted the largest one. It is a Sioux crepe myrtle and will have pink flowers. We planted it closer to the street. Next year we'll plant bluebonnet seeds around the base of it.

I love planting things because watching trees, flowers, shrubs, and plants grow gives me hope. It renews my spirit.

And...

...because I like getting dirty. It's fun. And I love water, so getting dirty is a perfect excuse for getting wet.

I love spring.

Things That Make Me Happy #2

Baseball.

I began watching baseball a few years ago because my boyfriend (now husband) loved it.

And now I schedule my errands around the Texas Rangers' game schedule. Last week they were traveling on Thursday, so we went grocery shopping in the evening because there wasn't a game. I'd say that's sad, but it's not. It just shows my devotion. Let's just pray that their next game is nothing like the last two against the Mariners. Ouch.

Now, I know a lot of you aren't baseball fans. I understand that it's not fast-paced like basketball or football. But that's part of why I love it. It's also very psychological -- players can get into each other's heads. Pitchers can do all kinds of things to mess with the head of the guy at bat. It's a game of mental prowess.

I do love the sport, but I also love baseball because it reminds me that spring is here. Go to a game at the ballpark. Feel the sun on your skin. Eat a hotdog and peanuts (and throw the shells on the ground!). Heck, go ahead and get some cotton candy too. It's a beautiful sport. It is America's game. It's patriotic to love baseball.

Things That Make Me Happy #1

I've recently had the thought that maybe if I post just short posts that I'll actually post. Rather than feel that I need to write a long, drawn-out essay, perhaps I need to just get something out. So, I've thought that I'll try to regularly post about something that makes me happy. So here it is....

The $1 shelves at Target make me happy. Last week I bought 3 6.6-ounce bottles of scented handsoap for $1 each. The scents aren't quite as good as those of my usual Bath & Body Works handsoap selections, but hey -- for $1, who cares? The soap gets the job done and it does smell good. I purchased one cherry blossom, one vanilla, and one green tea. I haven't tried the vanilla yet, but the other two are quite nice.

In the past, I've bought all kinds of things from Target's dollar shelves. It's great. I suppose I should also say that Target makes me happy. The Target sales brochure that comes every Sunday in the newspaper makes me happy. Their Archer Farms brand's salt and vinegar chips make me happy (just tried those last week).

As I say quite often, I luv Target. And I think when I say that, it makes my husband happy. (I'm just so darn cute when I say it!)

One Big One or Two Small?

In my last post, I discussed my victory at the Tuesday Morning game. I have to add that at Christmas time, I scored some awesome plastic Chinese takeout-style containers to put the dog biscuits in for the family dogs' holiday gifts. Oh, and an ornament to give someone. Love that place. Anyway, one of the items I bought was a ginormous (that's a combination of "gigantic" and "enormous" for those of you unfamiliar with this technical term) suitcase. I mean, this thing is huge. I bought it in preparation for our trip to Maui, Hawaii. Some would say this was a stupid purchase. My husband bought a similar one back in the summer and has used it a few times and loves his. So I didn't see any potential problems. And I still love it. By the way, it's red. RED red. But there are some possible inconveniences and dangers that come with such a large piece of luggage (along with the toiletries bag, accessories bag, laundry bag, shoe bag, garment bag, and plane ticket/passport holder). First, the cons of such a monstrous suitcase:

1) Even if most of your shoes are flip-flops, you may go over the 50-pound weight limit for free baggage and have to pay $25 to have your bag put on the plane, which is somewhat necessary if you want to use your big bottle of lotion while on your trip since you can't carry lotion in big containers on the plane with you.
2) If #1 is the case, you'll probably have to rely upon airline workers to lift the darn thing onto the scale when you're checking in. But if you smile really big and act grateful (which you should be!), then they'll be happy to help you (I hope).
3) Two words: baggage claim. First, getting the darn thing off the carousel. Second, everyone on your flight knows what a doofus you are for having such a huge suitcase.
4) Toting your luggage to the parking lot. Thank God the Kahului airport isn't too big.
5) Such large suitcase often have quite a few pockets on the outside and inside of the bag. These can be helpful for organization. But you may have trouble finding your panties b/c there are just too many pockets to check.
6) Related to the numerous pockets, nooks, and crannies of the bag -- the TSA worker going through your bag may hold up the entire line of people trying to check in. I think the guy who checked mine was working his first day in a new job. It was ridiculous.

Now, the pros. And yes, there are pros.
1) If you check one enormous bag on the way to your destination, then for the return trip, you can always buy a new bag in which to pack all your souvenirs and gifts. You're allowed two bags for free (plus any overweight charges), so if you packed two bags on the way there (as one older lady told me I should have done), then what do you do with all those shot glasses, t-shirts, and mugs?
2) If someone else has to help you with your humongous bag, then you're providing that person with a great sense of accomplishment as well as empowerment, as he or she is helping someone else. And don't we all love that feeling?
3) With such an enormous bag, you know that bag is yours. And if said large bag is red, then you can laugh at all the black or charcoal bag owners who have to check a million luggage tags to see if the passing suitcase is theirs.
4) You can get in some strength training exercises without even planning to. Baby, my biceps look good.
5) Those various pockets do help a lot. I had one devoted to pj's and undergarments, rather than a corner of the main compartment-- that never works.
6) You can teach people to be patient while waiting for the TSA go through the last 20 pockets of the suitcase. We are all responsible for developing the character of our nation's citizens, are we not?

So what shall I do next time? Pack my big suitcase (but not so full) and bring a relatively empty carry-on bag that I can check later with all those shot glasses, regional food items, and t-shirts. Any other suggestions? Other than buying my own jet, complete with staff?

I'm Nuts

As the note I left for my husband at 6:15 this morning declared, apparently I am nuts.

A few months ago, my husband and I saw a small teak stool to be used in a shower in a Tuesday Morning brochure. Having recently remodeled our tiny master bathroom, we thought this would be a nice addition to our beautiful, frameless glass shower...as well as an aid in shaving my legs in the shower.

We were Tuesday Morning novices. We were clueless. We went out in search of the shower stool a few days after the brochure arrived at our house.

Needless to say, we could find no remaining shower stools. A few months before that incident, we had seen luggage in the TM brochure. We foolishly went the following Tuesday evening. Yeah, no luggage left.

Last week I went to Tuesday Morning for a couple of items I'd seen in the latest TM brochure. But I couldn't find them at the three locations I went to. I was soooo sad. I'd lost at the Tuesday Morning game again. However, one of the clerks at the last store asked me if I needed help (a loaded question). I described one of the items to him. To my delight, he informed me that the items I was after were not in yet, but would be this Tuesday. He warned me to be at the store at 7:00 AM.

So, this morning I awoke to my alarm at 5:00, got ready, braved the early morning traffic, arrived at the store, and took my place in the line outside the shop at 6:45. I was about 12th in line.

And...

...I WON!

I got the items I wanted. No more, no less.

And then I was a responsible citizen and voted.

Not a bad start to a Tuesday morning.

It's a Boy...

...for Britney Spears.

As a person with some fertility issues, I just want to puke. Somebody hand me a blue-colored cigar and let's celebrate.

Do you think she registered for a car seat at Babies 'R' Us?

Update on Condiments

You may recall my post about the size of discount store condiment packaging and the potential related hazards. I thought you'd appreciate an update. We have in fact learned from our mistakes. Yesterday we signed up at Costco, which is an awesome place. As we wound around the aisles, marveling at the various appliances, recreational equipment, books, cleaning products, produce, meat, and other delightful items, we eventually found ourselves face to face with a two-pack of enormous bottles of ketchup.

We laughed and walked on.

But we did get the two-pack of mustard. The bottles are smaller and seem sturdier.

Wish us luck.

My New Favorite Store...

...is Ulta. It's, like, my "ulta-favorite" now. (Imagine me flipping my hair and doing a Valley Girl accent. Oh, and sorry for that horrible pun. I couldn't help myself.)

Seriously, though, I'm like a kid in a candy store there. During college, a friend and I would enjoy browsing in Sephora during our semi-annual trips to the Galleria in Dallas. Those shopping days were so much fun. One time I bought a nail polish that was a metallic Tiffany blue color. It cost $10, but I didn't care. Splurging was allowed on those days.

So now we have an Ulta in Burleson. I may never leave town now that I don't have to go to Fort Worth for the good stuff. Between the new shops here and online shopping, I'm set.

Now, some of you might be thinking, Uh, don't you think you should buy your makeup and hair products at the grocery store or somewhere that has stuff that normal people use? I do use some "normal" stuff--Suave shampoo (though I sometimes use the Aveda shampoo, which my husbands likes) and I do use Cover Girl blush sometimes. I'm pretty frugal, but I do like quality products. The right ones are worth it.

Here are some of my latest, greatest purchases:

• Urban Decay's mineral makeup (great for my skin) in Illusion (the color)
• Opi nail polish in My Chiuahua Bites (love their color names--wish I could name makeup colors for a living)
• Maybelline eyeliner in Sapphire Glimmer (I'll try that out tomorrow; I know it's not a designer brand really, but buying it feels so much more of a luxury when you buy it at Ulta)

Target, don't worry--you'll always be my top favorite.

The Reality of Teachers' Salaries

In a week or so, most school-aged children will go back to school. It will mark the second year since I resigned from my teaching position. I miss the kids. But the educational system continues to hack me off.

An opinion piece in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram discusses the increased pay for first-year teachers. School districts have been making huge increases in starting salaries for teachers so that they can actually acquire teachers. Okay, that's fine. I'm a little annoyed that it's a huge amount more than what I got as a first-year teacher, but hey--that's life, right? You win some, you lose some.

Here's the problem....

There isn't much of a difference between what a new teacher makes and what a fifth-year teacher makes. I mean, there's really not much of a difference. This has always been the case, at least in my experience. So, the public school system may acquire teachers, but is it keeping them? If you get only about a $100 a year pay increase each year, what's the point of staying? Fortunately, many teachers teach because they care about what they do. But in today's world of growing class sizes, limited budgets, high-stakes testing, discipline problems, and all the family issues that factor into students' lives, sometimes it can be too much. And good teachers leave the field of education.

Here's another problem....
If you're a good teacher, you have pretty much only one option for advancement and higher pay: administration. But shouldn't the quality teachers stay in the classroom, doing what they are talented in? Even if excellent teachers go into training positions, they need to stay in the classroom in order to not lose touch with, as I heard so often when I was a teacher, "the ones in the trenches." And veteran teachers should not be expected to train other teachers without monetary compensation. That's one of the problems with teachers--they care so much about students, that they'll do whatever is needed--without being compensated. And eventually, they'll get worn out. And education will lose the best teachers.

Another school year is about to start. And I'm not one of the ones in the trenches anymore. But I'm still mad. And there are more things I'm mad about related to education. But I'll stop here for now.

Live (as in "alive") Lawnmowers

First of all, I have to apologize to myself for not taking the time to write for me. I've wanted to be a writer since I was 7, and I've neglected this blog horribly. But sometimes you're just not "in the zone." However, that's all the more reason to write. I did order a book of writing exercises recently, and have completed 9 of them. So that's something. Through those exercises, I'm learning that perhaps I ought to focus on children's books. (Eegads, not that anyone else in the world wants to do that, eh?)

Nothing too spectacular to share today, except just a quick story of a hilarious vignette I saw on my street the other day.

As I was driving by a neighbor's house the other day, I was nearly accosted by a lawnmower, moving independently into the street, with no apparent aid from human hands. I glanced up from the menacing machine to see my blonde (I'm a blonde, too, but this woman is blonde) neighbor running toward the lawnmower as it came toward my car (intent on chopping me to bits, I'm sure), one hand outreached for the runaway, and the other hand...on her cell phone that she was still speaking on. People who cannot effectively drive while talking on their cell phones is one thing. People who try to talk and mow...folks, just don't try it. I think that task is best left to stunt professionals.

Quote of the Week

Okay, it seems there's never any time for me to write. But I know I need to just make the time. But I really need to make myself work, so I'm just going to post a line from a movie that I saw recently.

"We must have British nipples."

~Bob Hoskins as Vivian Van Dam in Mrs. Henderson Presents

If you haven't seen this movie, I recommend it. It is set in WWII London, and it has a deeper significance than nudity. To read about it, click here.