New Beginnings

On Wednesday afternoon I volunteer as a computer and newspaper teacher at my son’s (rural) school. During my after school newspaper class I got an urgent call over the intercom to call work. My cell phone doesn’t work in that area so I went to the office, called work and learned that my four [...]

Jessica Lynch and Pat Tillman’s younger brother testified in Congress today about the hype surrounding Lynch’s capture and rescue in Iraq and the death of Pat Tillman in Afghanistan. Why isn’t the truth enough anymore? Don’t we deserve the truth? More importantly, don’t they deserve to be supported, honored, and respected for what they’re doing [...]

Dude! Jim Osterberg, aka Iggy Pop, turned 60 3 days ago. The Godfather of Punk is 60. How do you think the iconic singer celebrated his 60th birthday? That’s right, stage diving during a concert with the Stooges.
I wonder if he’s still sober?

I am grateful for my children, my husband, my sobriety, Tiger, my job. On day’s like today, I need to remind myself what I do have and not what I don’t have. Today, I will try to smile more even though I don’t feel like it. Today, I will make sure the gray [...]

The horrible tragedy at VA Tech has given fuel to discussions on a myriad of topics, including depression, suicide, rage, bullying, gun control, mental illness, racial prejudice, media freedom, and immigration. As these kind of horrors can only be brought on by a complex set of circumstances in a diverse society, I don’t pretend that [...]

I’m very excited. My parents (really, my dad) gave me an early birthday present: the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ3. I live and die by the snapshot. And, sadly, my beloved Canon digital has not worked properly since one of the kids spilled their VitaminWater on it. I’ve been basically camera-less for the last few months. Now, [...]

Check out our brand new baby chicks. They are about 6 days old and just as cute as can be. The kids are in love. Can’t wait for those fresh farm eggs.

Can someone please tell me why my Wordpress blog keeps reverting back to the default template? In all the years I’ve used this software I have never had this problem. Argh!

For my birthday (next month) my husband is taking me on a mini-vacation. We’re going to take 4 or 5 days off and drive up the coast, stay the night in a lovely little hotel on the beach and then drive up to Portland and be touristy and visit friends. Without children. Just him and [...]

So much sadness, so much pain. My tears and my prayers for anyone directly or remotely involved in this tragic event:

Gunman kills 30 on Virginia Tech campus

Student’s firsthand account

Technorati Tags: virginia, grief, shooting, sadness

Sometimes, if I open my eyes wide enough and truly pay attention, I can see the miracles around me. My friend coming back to her family after going back out. GC getting a DUI and not running. Instead, he goes to jail, can come to work every day, and decides he likes being sober. After [...]

So who is Aaron?
Some kind of Libby extremist? California hippie? Anti-Bush Michael
Moore stalker? Uh, no. He’s a guy from Texas. A patriotic
American who is sick of the image of Americans in the global community.
Me, too. Go visit Americans Apologize for Bush.

Technorati Tags: american, patriot, bush, texas, liberal, politics

In the Art of Happiness the Dalai Lama says the antidotes to hate and anger are tolerance and patience. Because I seem to be filled with various levels of hate and anger lately I’m going to make a concentrated effort to work on neutralizing these negative feelings by actively combating them with tolerance and [...]

I’m starting to think teaching middle school kids might not be my forte’. Maybe teaching in general. Sometimes it really sucks not being anonymous. I desperately need to vent, but I’m not able to because of my lack of online anonymity. And, no, I’m not a teacher full time. I teach a couple of classes [...]

Bold the ones you’ve read.
Italicize the ones you want to read.
Leave Blank the ones you aren’t interested in.

1. The DaVinci Code (Dan Brown)
2. Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
3. To Kill A Mockingbird (Harper Lee)
4. Gone With The Wind (Margaret Mitchell)
5. The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King (Tolkien)
6. The Lord of the Rings: [...]

1. Blue skies and tulips.
2. The health of my children.
3. Support from my parents.
4. A husband that loves me for me (as odd as I am).
5. My home group.
6. My best friend, MoMo.
7. [...]

Go visit the online recovery community, Women in Recovery.

Technorati Tags: women, recovery, sobriety, community, message boards, aa

My DH was out of town for a few days and I missed him terribly. Now he’s been back since last night and I can’t wait until he goes away.
***Update: Okay, I’ve stopped being a baby long enough to realize that my own feelings of guilt and inadequacy may have led to my anger [...]

Kathy Sierra and Chris Locke – Coordinated Statements
Technorati Tags: kathy sierra, chris locke, cyberbullying, internet, privacy, blogging