The rest of my life

I know that I haven't written in a while. That is for 2 reasons. 1. I subbed on Thursday and Friday last week and didn't feel like sitting on the computer when I got home. 2. I have been battling a cold since Friday, which kept me off the computer since then too. I am feeling a little bit better, but still have a stuffy nose and cough(not a very productive one either)
So, my Lenten goal has not been off to a good start. With subbing and this cold I haven't fit it in. I was recommended a book, that I am going to dry to find and hopefully that will help (thanks Rae Ann)
When will the snow stop? We got about a foot here, and there is more on its way for sure on Thursday. I wouldn't mind it so much if we had a snow blower, but we have to shovel the heavy wet snow(actually, Brian had to shovel this weekend since i was sick). Hopefully we are getting one soon. Mom said that Dad wants a new one and he will probably give us his old one. Luckily we have nice neighbors who snow blow our driveway for us, but it would be nice to return the favor.
OK, I think you are filled in. Sad that it only took a few sentences, but what can I say.

Final Outlander Update

We picked up our silver Outlander on Friday-just in time for the snow. Brian is still getting used to driving it, especially since he is used to driving a car. The garage is still a challenge for him, and those of you who know our garage/driveway layout know why. The added challenge of the snow is not helping either, the apron of the driveway has been made smaller with the piles of snow.
In a few minutes I will be off to pick up the floormats for the outlander, and then everything will be done. I found it a little strange that the car didn't come with installed floormats, but they have to be ordered seperately. I guess they are looking for ways to make an extra buck.

Outlander update

We were hoping for an anniversary edition, which is $400 less then the other model because they only made 2500 of them for their 25th anniversary. And on Saturday, our salesman didn't think he would have trouble finding one by the end of the week. However, our salesman is having a hard time locating one because they were so popular after they premiered in a SuperBowl commercial. (Except for FL where they are actually selling for above sticker because of the popularity. Crazy Floridians:)) So we are most likely getting a base model (which is exactly like the anniversary edition), and our payments will go up slightly. Oh well, we are still around where we want to be.
As for the color, it sounds like we a getting a silvery one because a dealer in the Fox Valley area may have one. As of yesterday, however, it was not for sure. We could also be getting a grayish one. Brian would really like a silvery one, but I am open to either. And like I mentioned before, Brian will be the primary driver, so I am not sure that my color opinion matters a whole lot.
I will keep posting as new developments in the car saga occur.

Ash Wednesday

I have just returned from Ash Wednesday mass, since I didn't have to sub today and will not be able to go tonight due to Sylvan. I have decided that I am not going to give anything up this Lent because I always go right back to doing what I gave up as soon as Easter is over. In years past, I have tried to give up chocolate (which worked for a little while until a chocolate cake was served at my cousins birthday party). I have tried to give up soda, not that I drink that much to start with, but I like the carbonation every once in a while. I have even tried to give up swearing. And while I will admit that I have cut down quite a bit, there is still the dumb driver out there that will cause a naughty word to come out of my mouth.
This Lent I have decided that I am going to try to strengthen my relationship with God. Fr. Mike said at mass today that wearing just the ashes is not good enough if your heart is empty. So, I am going to try to read something from the bible every day and reflect on it. This is something i hope to continue once Lent is over. I am hoping that by surrendering more to God, it will improve my life and make me a more giving person.

Our big purchase of 2007

This weekend Brian and I signed on a new car. The Mitsubishi Outlander-an SUV Crossover type vehicle. We are just waiting for them to call saying they have located one in a color we wanted-then we can give the okay to have it shipped in to Appleton. I knew we would be deciding on a vehicle soon-Brian has a lease, which comes due in May-I was just thinking that we were going to wait until it got closer to May. That is life though, and we were able to get a pretty good deal on the Outlander with all of Brian's negotiating skills, thanks to a friend of ours who also recently bought an Outlander from the same salesman-so he knew all the tricks and how far we could push this guy. So we are getting a great deal to trade in Brian's Honda, as well as a good deal of money off of the Outlander. I didn't know that Brian had those negotiating skills, but I guess we all have hidden talents. So, hopefully by the end of the week or the weekend, we will have the Outlander in our possession. It is exciting, even though I know that I probably won't be driving it as much since Brian in kinda anal about the cars he owns/leases. We are leasing this vehicle, with the intention to buy it once the lease is up. Luckily my truck is paid up in May, so we wont' have two SUV car payments.
Keep tuned in to the Outlander saga and I will fill you in as new details arise.

It wasn't a wake up call, but...

...I did get called at 9:30 for an afternoon position :) The only downfall is that it is a parapro(paid hourly). But it some money, no matter how small the amount. And it is at the preschool, so I know it shouldn't be that stressful of a day. Then I get to go right to Sylvan until 8:15, so it will be a long night. But at least I will have a reason for being tired when I get home.
Off to do the dishes since I won't have time this afternoon :)

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!

Do Brian and I qualify as an old married couple because we are not exchanging gifts or doing anything special tonight?? I have to work, so going out to dinner is not a great option. We are going to go out this weekend. We have decided not to spend money on gifts-I am making him a card, not sure what he is doing. And I am going to attemp heart shaped chocolate chip cookies-which may turn into plain old chocolate chip cookies-we will have to see how things go. Oh well, I guess when you are married, Valentine's Day becomes less important and is just another day.
For all those of you voyaging the crowds to go for a nice dinner(have a drink for me) or a movie-good luck(and be safe). For those of you who have yet to shop for that special person-WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR????? and extra good luck to you. (watch out for all those other crazy last minute shoppers)
Guess I need to go finish that card and work on those cookies :)
Happy Valentine's Day to everyone :)

Did I jinx myself??

I didn't do much at home yesterday, I surfed the internet and watched some TV. I had dishes and laundry to do, but figured that I would have time today. I am thinking that I jinxed myself thinking that way. So I am going to get all the dishes and laundry done today so that I will be free the rest of the week to get called to sub. I haven't been called since last Wednesday. I am picking up a few more hours at Sylvan, so that is helping a little bit-but the pay is not the greatest there. That is okay though, I like what I do there and all the people I work with-I wouldn't give it up for anything. Which is why I am having sucha hard time finding a full time day job. Any one that I see, would conflict with the hours I work at Sylvan and I don't want to put them in a bind by me having to cut back on hours. I am there every day that they have instruction and almost every hour of instruction.
New topic: When will this cold weather be out of here?? I am glad that I am not living on the East Coast after seeing the weather there lately. So much snow has fallen out there and more is on the way. I wish we could have a little snow here, at least it would make the cold a little more bearable. But the wind here today is crazy. I am sitting at the computer and can hear the wind blowing through the house every once in a while. course, could just be that the house is old and has poor insulation, but I can still hear it.
Well, off to do my chores and work on a Valentine's Day gift for Brian :)

My welcomed 6:05am phone call

Yes, it happened today. After 2 weeks of no phone calls, and the cold weather closing yesterday, I finally got the 6am phone call I have been waiting for. I threw back the covers, checked the caller ID (just to be sure it was Carol and not someone else calling at 6am), and accepted the preschool parapro position. It was an hourly job, and one at a school with the longest unpaid lunch of all, but it was a job none the less.
It turned out to be a much easier day then I thought (except for the fact that I had bus duty, which put me outside 4 times today). I spent the morning doing bulletin boards and cutting things for the teacher that would be used next week. The afternoon was spent in a class that I had been in for a week in January, and was pretty laid back due to the fact that the teacher in the room was also a sub. In fact, the whole building was crawling with subs since the teachers were all testing for kindergarten next year. But, I can't complain-I made some money today.
Then there was Sylvan. Not a tough night-actually a pretty easy day for me. The only down side is that I am really tired at 9:30pm. But at least I have a reason for that which beats sitting at home all day.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!

Could it be any colder outside?? Ok, yes it probably could. With the wind chills today it is -36 degrees. Without the wind it is still -18 degrees. It is so cold that all of the schools in the area are closed-a few even decided last night that they were going to close. So, I am not subbing today. However, I am taking this opportunity to catch up on the laundry and dishes from the weekend,in preparation for being called for the rest of the week. Maybe a little wishful, but I am thinking positively.
So, we watched the SuperBowl last night and most of the commercials. We missed the very beginning, which I am told had a cute Blockbuster commercial. I am hoping that one makes it air and I will see it soon. I was really not impressed with the quality of the new commercials this year. I actually didn't see a whole lot of new ones either. Coke had quite a few and I found out on the news this morning that the commercial for the Chevy HHR, when all the guys are taking their shirts off, was created by a college girl from UWM. I thought that was pretty cool. I can't say that I have a favorite, but I did like the one for Budweiser with the dalmation and the white dog who got splashed with mud from a passing car and then decided to join the other dalmation in the Budweiser wagon. Pretty cute and intelligent for a dog. I would love to hear what your favorites were-if you had any.

Happy February!!

So, it is finally February with all of its cold glory. And it is only going to get colder. Still no sub calls this week-but there is still tomorrow:)
So, I sit at home contemplating what to do. There is cleaning that needs to be done as we are having company tomorrow night. I know that I should get it done today, because I may get called tomorrow and then I will be screwed. But part of me is thinking that I probably won't get called so I might as well hold off. Oh the delemas of my life. Wish I had bigger delemas.
Well, the time of the morning has come where I search the employment websites to see if there are any work from home jobs that don't require any money up front-or if there are any other part time jobs I could do as a filler for my days. I am confident that subbing will pick up soon. After all, this cold weather is bound to make some people want to stay home and take a personal day, right?! Or the germs will finally come back and spread throughout the schools. I know the germs are in my house. My scratchy throat turned into a head cold, and that is excatly where it is staying. See, if I had been called this week, I could have spread my cold germs around-potentially getting more subbing calls!! (I actually had a friend suggest that I take in blankets laced with small pox to schools. I wouldn't want to kill the staff, jsut knock them out for a day) Oh well, so I spend another day sitting here, waiting for the phone to rign for even a half day sub and thinking about all the cleaning that I should be doing but am putting off. UGG procrastinating- it is like school all over again!!!