Ok I didn't mention it before but Mom and I joined the Y.  It's been fun...  Well they started a "Tour de Texas" June 15th.  It ends July 20th.  By working out you get fit points and you can use these fit points as miles to move along the route.    The Y has a system called FittLinx that you log into when you work out.  It keeps track of how what machines you worked on and how much weight you lifted and cardio too.  

Here's the instructions from the gym they explain it mo betta. 

"Basically the challenge is to get 2,500 fitpoints before July 20^th. If you do exceed that number of points your name gets put into a drawing for a gas card or a gift card for a hotel."

Now they have 18 "checkpoints" to encourage you along.  I decided to join it.  Here is a list of the checkpoints (and points needed) we get to "visit."

1. Galveston   (33)
2. Corpus Christi (233)
3. Brownsville   (457)
4. San Antonio  (735)
5. New Braunfels (769)
6. Austin   (817)
7. San Angelo  (1043)
8. Big Bend National Park (1354)
9. Odessa  (1585)
10. Midland   (1606)
11. Lubbock  (1725)
12. Amarillo   (1846)
13. Wichita Falls  (2070)
14. Dallas   (2209)
15. Tyler   (2308)
16. Kingwood  (2514)
17. Houston (2542)
18. Perry Gym League City Tx  (2569)

When I checked the board yesterday I was at Checkpoint 8.  I just looked at the points online from Thursday and Friday's workouts and... I think I somehow finished!  It says I have 3000 and some fitpoints for the week.  Ummm wow.  Not sure how except that walking Cocoa 2 times a day adds up the CV points even at her pace!

On an interesting bit of Trivia.For the month of June I have lifted 106,560 lbs.  That equals 13 elephants!  Heh.

Is everyone ok?

Looks like Dogberry resigned.  I got a call from the Director and she wanted to know if I would mind trading parts.  Heh.

Ok.... tonight I went on an audition because I haven't been to one in ages and well... after seeing Topol in Fiddler on the Roof the other week I felt a need to audition for a show.  I found out yesterday that a theater near me was doing "Much Ado" and the last day to audition was today.  I dug out and updated a copy of my theater resume from when I lived in MD and when I did mucho amounts of theater.  I went to the audition not expecting anything except a chance to get back into auditioning.

( With that disclaimer )

Shall we slip into the Gulf too? ::ducks::

1st... an ex-student sent me a wedding invite. Yay!

2nd... OMG I soooooooooo wanna join starfleet! I am such a nerd. The movie was sooooooooooo awesome. Love it love it love it!

ETA: Live long and Prosper

You HAVE to check out this video! If this doesn't make you smile you are REALLY having a bad day or are an old Fogey.



From the You Tube site
"More than 200 dancers were performing their version of "Do Re Mi", in the Central Station of Antwerp. with just 2 rehearsals they created this amazing stunt! Those 4 fantastic minutes started the 23 of march 2009, 08:00 AM. It is a promotion stunt for a Belgian television program, where they are looking for someone to play the leading role, in the musical of "The Sound of Music". "

Man talk abou storms.  Yesterday was insane and intense.  The storms started about noonish and lasted the rest of the day.  I've never seen the water so high on my street.  Nor had mom.  At one point on my street it was about 2 feet from my car in my driveway.  I had about another foot or so in front and went to move the car up.  My across the street neighbor, the back of his car was about to start getting wet.. I went across to warn him and the water was to my knees.  Never seen it that high.  At my mom's house the water almost made it to the door.  And it took hers forever to go down.  Once the rain slacked off here at my place it was about an hour and it went down.

During the height of the storm, Cocoa and I were looking out the back window and the rain was coming down in sheets and in circles.Can we say wind?  Esh.  It was to say the least a lil scary at points.

Poor Cocoa was a basket case all day because of the thunder and lightening.  She was pacing and panting.  I felt soooooooooooo bad.  We did get a break after the biggest part of the storm for like 10 minutes and I could get her out to pee and she did.  Then there was a clap of thunder and rain started and she RAAAAAAAN back inside.

OK guys...  I am asking for some good mojo sent this way.  We just got the word at work that we are going to lose 5 teaching positions next year.  No word on who what when or anything.  I know 5 isn't alot but I sure don't want it to be me.  The best option would be for at least 5 folks to retire and/or leave for other reasons.  The year before last we had 25 quit/leave and last year we had 38 leave or quit.  So I am guessing 5 isn't unreasonable for this year but it is nervewracking.  Soooooooooooooo can you send me some good thoughts and prayers my way.  I like my job and am good at it and don't want to be out looking.

le sigh.

Dude are you OK?  Family OK?  Worried over here!

Obama is now President.  And?  He is 1/3 of the power base of the country.  Yes he is the first bi-racial president (that we know of heh) in US History.  Big whoop.  America shouldn't be about race or gender.  I don't CARE what color the man is.  I care about him doing a good job for every American.  And I hope that he can.  I'm sceptical (he has less experience than anyone) 

Everyone who thinks that life in the Oval office is going to be 2000% different with him in the white house is dreaming.  He is a politician.  He only controls 1/3 of the government. 

I find it amusing that people blamed Bush for EVERYthing in the world yet neglected to look at Congress and the Senate.  All of whom were there with their fingers in the pot.  Obama included.  The added pressure everyone is putting on the new President is going to lead him one direction and that it to fail.  He has many hard roads to follow and it's going to take a long time to get things done so that they are done correctly.  Yet when he doesn't get them done "tomorrow" people will turn on him.  He has to get Congress behind him.  They are politicians first.  They'll ride the wave until it doesn't do them any good.  Then they'll desert the ship.

I am appalled at the lack of dignity of the people on the Mall yesterday.  President Bush was not my favorite person, heck I never voted for the man.  But he deserves the respect that being the President gave him.  And the lack of dignity, respect, and class of people singing the "Na Na Na na" song to his helicopter left me with little hope for this nation as a people.  Good or bad job the man gave 8 hard years of his life leading this country.  What have YOU done for it?

Don't blame Bush for the economic upheaval we're in.  Blame yourself and your neighbors for overspending.  Just because someone will give you 250,000 for a house doesn't mean you need to spend it!  Think people!  Yes I do know what I am talking about.  When I bought my home 5 years ago they offered me 200,000 grand, tried to talk me into taking it.  I asked myself one simple question.  If I lost my job tomorrow and had to work at McDonalds could I afford it?  The answer was NO so I didn't!  OMG take responsibility for myself!  Novel concept!  I bought a house.  It cost 98,000.  Was it new?  No.  Did it have loads of gadgets?  No.  Who Cares!  *I* can afford it.  Unlike the fools that are now complaining that they can't afford the 250,000 house that they shouldn't have bought in the first place!

Ok... On Ravelry (think Knitters and Crocheter's Facebook) we have been having the book challenge. My goal this year was 100. My Final Tally 102. Goal for 2009: 102.

Lessons Learned: can tell how stressed I am by what I read. The more stressfull the year/month the less stressfull the books. I also will reread old favorites, I think this is the readers version of comforrt food. I also noticed that I am addictive in my books. If I find an author I like I will scarf everything of theirs I can get my hands on. Notice the 200000000000000 murder she wrote books on my list. Heh. I also realized that I LOVE audio books. They make me get to work in a happier frame of mind.

( Here's the list. )

Happy New Year Everyone.

First off. Sandy you shouldn't have. I love the books but you spent too much. Love you sis.

Secondly. I am here hoping that 2009 is a better year for everyone. If you were lucky enough to have a great 2008 I fervently hope 2009 is better. If you had a craptastic 2008 heres to wishing and praying that 09 is better for all of us. Not sure I can handle as much stress this year. Didn't post alot of the craptasticness on this end this year but post-Ike things here got way shitty (surprisingly they had nada to do with Ike. Well not much. Heh.)

I love all my extended family and wish you nada but the best for this year.

Heeeeee! You must remember that I live in South East Texas. Houston. Well sort of.. actually closer to Galveston but I digress.

Wednesday.. was cooooooooooooooooold. I mean it truly cold. Not Houston cold but like NY/Washington DC cold. I had to go to an anual Boat Parade Meeting at 4:20 and thought to myself. "Self if we were still in DC I would say it would snow. But self we are in Houston.. It isn't going to snow." Self agreed with my logic.

Left the meeting and headed home to walk Cocoa before we went to the Weekly Family Mexican Dinner Night. Cocoa and I got to the park 2 minutes from my home and stepped into sleet. 2 hours later it was snowing. Yep snowing.

Took Cocoa out at 11 to this -->
( You really wanna see hell frozen over )

Hey Guys...

I need everyone's snail mail addy's. Even if you think I should have it... post with a comment. They are screened. When packing for the Hurricaine I kinda don't remember where I put my address book.... Heh. Sooooo please! And point folks you know that I know that don't read their LJs that often over here please....?

Thanks

Bold the ones you've done!




( Meme )67/100  Waaay more than I thought.  Guess the Army and being an Army brat was good for something!

Sandy you are sneaky for someone who doesn't post often.  Thank you.

Dennis you made me smile.

That and 3 class periods of kids singing was interesting.

Not even getting into the dinner at which my sister in law let it be known to the waiter that it was my Bday and I got whip creamed in the face with a sombrero on.  I still have WC up my nose.  ::flails::

RIP Michael Crichton