Injury-driven craftiness.

Got hurt at work and didn't have the duck to pay my bills. In a fit of boredom, I went down to local chain craft store and bought some stuff. Then I made some stuff. Then I put it on etsy. Check it out.

Say Hello to my Little Friend

This is the Santa I made for my Dad. I wanted to knit the sweater, but as crunch time grew near, I knew there wouldn't be time. I ended up making the sweater from an old fair isle I felted. The face is polymer clay and everything else is fabric.

Happy Holidays to You and Yours

If I was a plane, I'd be a jet plane...

Going to leave in the morning for Atlanta to see the Tigers (I hope) whup the Vols. Don't tell anyone, but I am bad luck for LSU in Georgia. Every time I've gone there for a game, they've lost. We'll see if my streak continues. I have to leave to fly out of NOLA at about four in the morning, so I should be trying to sleep now. Hmmm, come to think of it I haven't slept in about three days.
Note to self- see doctor as soon as new insurance kicks in because, self, I think you are bipolar and though you feel great now, your ass will be stuck in bed, wallowing in misery again, soon enough.
In less morose news, there's still no word from the schools I've applied to. Well, one sent the affirmative action routine but that's expected. I thought UNO would have at least sent me some email questions now. (I have a sneaking suspicion they already have people lined up for the job, and that's ok because I know those people and they deserve it. Yeah, Amy and Jerry, I mean you.)
Oh well, keep sending the vibes.

I'm here, I'm alive.

I'm positive that teaching first grade is not and never has been the job for me. It just may kill me by Christmas.
However, looking on the bright side of things, hating teaching so much has pushed me to apply for a few faculty positions that I would have been afraid to go for if I were still sitting at my government desk. Send vibes, say a prayer, burn a candle for me. You know I'd do it for you if you asked.
Here are the schools I send to (in no order if you are a school snooping on my blog) Illinios @ Chicago, Nicholls State, LSU, UNO, and Kennesaw State. The Louisiana schools are all in driving distance from where I live now, so not having to move would be nice. I did not send to any schools in either of the Dakotas or Iowa. I'm afraid of those states.

In knitting news. I finished my Widdershins and the Skull cap. Widdershins came out great. Expect photos. Skull cap will be frogged. I got some compliments, but I had to explain the pattern too much. I want it to be obvious, "Hey cool skulls!" There will be no photos until its perfect.

Also, any advice for a girl bully. Yep, G is pushing kids around. The teacher gives her class daily reports, smiley, straight, frowny faces and an explanation. G gets straight or frowny faces most days. Frankly, I don't know what to do. She couldn't visit my sister in Texas over break because she got too many straight faces and she got another one today. She's punished almost every evening. And it's not little things. It's hitting, pushing, kicking. I"m at wits end. She's going to get put out of freaking KIndergarten! HAALLPP!
What really sucks is that I know how her teacher feels b/c I"m getting it on the other end from my own students. I"m so tired of fussing at children.

Good Frackin Grief!

When I told everyone I was leaving my job here with the state, I got a few offers to continue analyzing data by private contract. This is where the money really is, so I agreed. Because, well, I like money.
The problem (why does there always have to be a problem?) is that I will be leaving the software that I use to do my analyses when I leave my job. After talking it over with hubs, and mostly talking it over in my own head, I decided to check out investing in my own software licenses. The other option would be to cleverly disguise myself as a grad student and sneak into the computer lab on campus to use their copies.
There are two programs that are most commonly used. Each has its benefits and drawbacks and I usually end up using a combination of both for each analyses, one to set up and create new databases and the other to run the analysis and make pretty visuals.
So, my sleuthing uncovers $800 for the easy-analysis program for *COUGH* ONE YEAR *COUGH*!!!!!
And a much less reasonable $7000 for the other data-management program for ONE FRACKING YEAR!!!!
And lets not forget that these programs won't run on Mac, which I own, only PC, which I don't own. That's another $1000 for the computer with enough memory to handle the data.


Excuse me, I just died for a second there.

Since my first super-lucrative contract will only bring in $2000 payable on delivery, I guess I will be sneaking into the computer lab until I can save up for the legit copy. Pajamas- check. Flip flops- check. Coffee- check. Yep, I can still pass for a grad student. Oh, except I'll be the only one in there doing work instead of checking myspace. I hope they haven't started checking ids since I graduated...

Anybody know anything about small business grants or loans?

New life, 12:00

Last week I geave notice at my current job. I've decided to go back to teaching. Literally, I'll be back in the same classroom I left 8 years ago. I'll be across the hall from the same teacher but it all seems very new and scary.
I never had that moment when I knew what I wanted to be. No, that's a lie. I knew what I wanted to be, but I gave it up for a "real" career and family life. The past 12 or so years have been a lot of wandering. Not aimless, always forward, but wandering the same. I had goals and I met them. Unfortunately, I forgot to live my life during all that goal-meeting.
I've decided its time to slow down and live my life. Teaching won't be easy and it definately won't be slow, but for the first time ever- it won't be about me. There will be no degrees to finish, no promotions to earn. I've got 15 First-graders to turn into Second-graders. And that's it.
And when I get home, I get to be a mommy. I'll finally have time to spend with my kids. I'll also be able to take care of them the way I want to.
If this sounds like I'm trying to convince myself, that's because I am. I'm at the lovely point where I've jumped ship and now I have to swim to shore. I know what lies ahead is best, but the uncertainty makes me doubt myself. I worked hard for all those degrees and part of me feels like I'm throwing all that away. I'm giving up a respectable career and promotion to get back in the "trenches." That shit is scary. It feels like I am still wandering, but now I'm not going forward. I'm getting erratic. I think its going to take more conditioning to get me comfortable with this decision and realize that it doesn't matter what's best for me anymore (and that this change isn't a bad thing). There are other people more important than me in my life.

Back Amongst the Living

I've been in bed for a whole week with strep. My kids had it too, but they got shots and were running about after one day. For some reason, I had to get oral antibiotics and it took me until yesterday to break the fever. YUK! One good thing is that I was able to be home so the internet guy could come and get things straightened out. I'll be posting pics soon.

In other, completely unrelated news, Yay for LSU being voted number one in the country in the coaches and AP polls! This is the first season in a long time in which I've made every home game. We even took all three kiddos to the Tulane game Saturday. They were sooo well behaved! Good thing, because I was watching the game so closely any one of them could have run off and I might not have noticed! LOL!

I think I'm going to pick up the skull cap again tonight. I'm ready to move that off my plate. I still need to redo the bind-off on Widdershins, though, so I might just get that over with. (Not like I don't have to finish staining my bathroom counter or tile my kitchen backsplash. Why would I want my house to be finished for the party on the 27th when I can be knitting?!?!)

Might be some job changing on the horizon. I won't post any details, but I was in anxiety-attack mode all weekend before calming myself down with the mantra- it's going to be alright! I'll keep you posted when I learn more.

I ganked a meme!

Totally ripped off from ShadKitty

Full disclosure, I'm a huge fan of themoviespoiler.com. So, if I haven't seen these I've probably read the spoiler and know what happens in all of them. Also, I think the over 85 limit is a bit low, but I acknowledge I have no life- and have seen many of these more than once- so I can't really argue that point. Also, completing this has made me realize how much I really don't like sequels.

The rules: SUPPOSEDLY if you've seen over 85 films, you have no life. Mark the ones you've seen. There are 239 films on this list. Copy this list, go to your own blog, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the films you've seen, add them up.Have fun!

(x) Rocky Horror Picture Show
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
() Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest
() Boondock Saints
(x) Fight Club
(x) Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story
(x) Blazing Saddles
(x) Airplane
Total: 8

(x) The Princess Bride
(x) AnchorMan
(x) Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth
( ) Saw
( ) Saw II
( ) White Noise
( ) White Oleander
(x) Anger Management
( ) 50 First Dates
(x) The Princess Diaries
( ) The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement
Total so far: 14

( ) Scream
( ) Scream 2
(x) Scream 3
( ) Scary Movie
( ) Scary Movie 2
( ) Scary Movie 3
( ) Scary Movie 4
(x) American Pie
( ) American Pie 2
( ) American Wedding
( ) American Pie Band Camp
Total so far: 16

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
( ) Resident Evil 1
( ) Resident Evil 2
(x) The Wedding Singer
( ) Little Black Book
( ) The Village
( ) Lilo & Stitch
Total so far: 21

(x) Finding Nemo
( ) Finding Neverland
( ) Signs
(x) The Grinch
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre
( ) Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
( ) White Chicks
( ) Butterfly Effect
(x) 13 Going on 30
( ) I, Robot
(x) Robots
Total so far: 25

(x) Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
( ) Universal Soldier
( ) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events
( ) Along Came Polly
( ) Deep Impact
(x) KingPin
(x) Never Been Kissed
(x) Meet The Parents
(x) Meet the Fockers
( ) Eight Crazy Nights
(x) Joe Dirt
( ) KING KONG
Total so far: 31

(x) A Cinderella Story
( ) The Terminal
( ) The Lizzie McGuire Movie
( ) Passport to Paris
(x) Dumb & Dumber
( ) Dumber & Dumberer
( ) Final Destination
( ) Final Destination 2
( ) Final Destination 3
(x) Halloween
(x) The Ring
( ) The Ring 2
(x) Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber
Total so far: 37

( ) Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle
(x) Practical Magic
(x) Chicago
( ) Ghost Ship
( ) From Hell
( ) Hellboy
( )Secret Window
( ) I Am Sam
(x) The Whole Nine Yards
( ) The Whole Ten Yards
Total so far: 40

( ) The Day After Tomorrow
(x) Child's Play
( ) Seed of Chucky
( ) Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
( ) Just Married
(x) Gothika
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street
(x) Sixteen Candles
(x) Remember the Titans
( ) Coach Carter
( ) The Grudge
( ) The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
(x) Son Of The Mask
Total so far: 48

(x) Bad Boys
( ) Bad Boys 2
(x) Joy Ride
( ) Lucky Number Sleven
(x) Ocean's Eleven
( ) Ocean's Twelve
(x) Bourne Identity
( ) Bourne Supremecy
( ) Lone Star
( ) Bedazzled
(x) Predator I
( ) Predator II
( ) The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
(x) Curious George
Total so far: 56

(x) Independence Day
(x) Cujo
( ) A Bronx Tale
( ) Darkness Falls
(x) Christine
(x) ET
(x) Children of the Corn
( ) My Bosses Daughter
( ) Maid in Manhattan
( ) War of the Worlds (the original and not the crappy remake with Tom Cruise)
(x) Rush Hour
( ) Rush Hour 2
Total so far: 62

( ) Best Bet
(x) How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
(x) She's All That
( ) Calendar Girls
( ) Sideways
(x) Mars Attacks
( ) Event Horizon
(x) Ever After
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump
(x) Big Trouble in Little China
(x) The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2
( ) The Terminator 3
Total so far: 71

(x) X-Men
(x) X-2
( ) X-3
(x) Spider-Man
(x) Spider-Man 2
( ) Spider-Man 3
(x) Sky High
(x) Jeepers Creepers
( ) Jeepers Creepers 2
( ) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
( ) Reign of Fire
(x) The Skulls
(x) Cruel Intentions
( ) Cruel Intentions 2
( ) The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2
Total so far: 83

( ) Swimfan
( ) Miracle on 34th street
(x) Old School
( ) The Notebook
( ) K-Pax
(x) Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
( ) Ice Castles
( ) Boogeyman
(x) The 40-year-old Virgin
Total so far: 87

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Total so far: 93

(x) Baseketball
( ) Hostel
( ) Waiting for Guffman
( ) House of 1000 Corpses
( ) Devils Rejects
(x) Elf
(x) Highlander
( ) Mothman Prophecies
(x) American History X
( ) Three
Total so Far: 97

( ) The Jacket
( ) Kung Fu Hustle
( ) Shaolin Soccer
( ) Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
(x) Monty Python and the Holy Grail
( ) Shaun Of the Dead
( ) Willard
Total so far: 100

( ) High Tension
( ) Club Dread
( ) Hulk
( ) Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
( ) 28 days later
( ) Orgazmo
( ) Phantasm
( ) Waterworld
Total so far: 102

(x) Kill Bill vol 1
(x) Kill Bill vol 2
( ) Mortal Kombat
( ) Wolf Creek
( ) Kingdom of Heaven
( ) the Hills Have Eyes
( ) I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
( ) The Last House on the Left
( ) Re-Animator
( ) Army of Darkness
Total so far: 104

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
(x) Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope
(x) Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
( ) Ewoks Caravan Of Courage
(x) Ewoks The Battle For Endor
Total so far: 111

(x) The Matrix
( ) The Matrix Reloaded
( ) The Matrix Revolutions
( ) Animatrix
( ) Evil Dead
( ) Evil Dead 2
( ) Team America: World Police
(x) Red Dragon
(x) Silence of the Lambs
( ) Hannibal
Total: 114

Hey Britney

Quit acting out some wierd Life Comes at You Fast commercial. That is all.