Weekend, where are you?  Snow days, where are you?  Spring Break, where are you?  Summer, where are you?  Come on, I need a break, and it's only Tuesday! 

This has already been the longest week ever.  I am swamped.  I mean drowning, in paperwork. Covered.  I had five IEPs scheduled for this week.  I wrote three of them last night, one two weeks ago, one more to go.  Meetings held so far this week...one no show; two today; one tomorrow; one Thursday.  Then, ready to schedule five more!  I'm ready to get these done and behind me.  Approximately fifteen more to go, give or take. depending on new move ins or move aways, between now and the end of the school year.  My three year reevaluations are almost out of the way, then, I will be able to concentrate on just having my IEP meetings.

Whatever possessed me to pursue a career where I do tons of paperwork, beyond that of a regular teacher?  I don't mind the lesson plans, grading papers, recording grades, etc., in fact, I actually love writing my lesson plans!  I know, I'm weird, right?  It's the multitude of special education paperwork that overwhelms me on a daily basis.  I just wanted to help kiddos that are struggling.  Twenty-six years ago, there were no ten to twenty page IEPs, parent rights, parent surveys, review of existing data, MEEGs, and on and on and on.  I am just ready to get all of this done, so I can just enjoy TEACHING, of all things, for the rest of the semester. 

Oh, wait....

There's that thing called achievement testing.  Just shoot me.  No really, just shoot me.  That will take approximately three months, grand total.  Here's hoping I get ALL of my IEPs done before that all begins! 

Hey, weekend, I'll see you this Friday! 

Empty, lost, lonely, and broken. 

Those are the only words I can think of to describe my feelings the day after my Dad's funeral.  We laid him to rest yesterday. 

My Dad passed away on Saturday, January 5th, at 4:00 a.m.  The last four days are just a blur.  So many arrangements, plans, decisions, and people to talk to, in such a short time.

My Daddy worked as a lineman for PSO, and other companies all over the United States, as a journeyman lineman. He also had his private pilot license and passed on his love of flying and airplanes to his only daughter, even though I never got my license, I always wanted to. He was an avid fisherman and hunter, often traveling to Canada or Colorado to pursue that love. He loved Alaska, Canada, and of course, America, always flying his American flag proudly lit up in his front yard.

He loved nature, growing beautiful gardens, spending time with his family and friends, but, most of all, helping people, with nothing expected in return. He loved to tease and tell jokes. He loved to laugh. He fell off an electrical pole once, broke both arms, punctured his spleen, and survived. He loved adventure, history, and was the smartest man I've ever known.

He could tell wonderful stories of his many adventures and amaze me with each and every one. He loved spinning yarns with his long-time buddies at the Bliss Restaurant, here in our little town of Nowata, every morning for years, until he became ill. He knew everyone. Everyone knew him. Everyone loves and respects him. He was a good man.

I remember a vacation he and I took many, many years ago. He showed me the Grand Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Juarez, Mexico, and took me to Riudoso Downs in
Arizona, and Disneyland. What a crazy, fun adventure! My Daddy has done more for me and my children than I ever deserved.

I will miss him horribly, but, at the same time, I'm happy that he now has a brand new, wonderful, healthy, eternal life in Heaven, with our Lord and Saviour. My sweet, sweet Daddy, I love you SO very much, and can't wait to see you at the HOUSE!!

Just a moment to say, I hope you all voted today.  I did!!  I'm praying that America carefully and prayerfully considered their final decision as they voted.

 Now, back to my Nanowrimo!!  Wheeeeeeee!!!   :)

Wordcount as of today = 10,076 words!!  Woo-hoo!!

I'm knee deep in Nanowrimo this month!  Determined to cross the finish line this year!  May not be posting much here, unless it's just my current wordcount.  Please feel free to keep commenting though!!  :)

Friday night with my dad, here in a bit.  Gathering up my chargers, my Kindle, my snacks, coffee, and my courage.  My fear is that I'll break down and cry in front of him.  Praying I don't do that.  Praying he doesn't fall on my watch.  That's actually my biggest fear of all.  It will be okay, I'm sure.

Lots of plans listed on my adenda for the weekend. Two or three different things going on Saturday, including some pumpkin carving with my two-year-old grandson!  I can't wait to see him and get my hugs and kisses quota!  Then, on to Tulsa for some new and exciting adventures.  Sounds mysterious, huh?  Hoping that goes well.  Keep your fingers crossed and prayers said.  Will report more on that later, maybe?

Most excited about my Sunday adventures though!  I will make my first stop in Stillwater to see Morgy and drop off her huge suitcase of handmade jewelry.  She forgot and left it here when she came home for Fall Break a few weeks ago.  It was fun going through it and borrowing a new and different necklace on a daily basis. 

Must go feed the horses and Miss Kitty, then, head to my dad's! 

Note to self:  MUST go look for some nice, warm, flannel jammies this weekend.  It's getting cold outside! 

Have a great weekend, friends. 

Ahhh....rainy Saturdays, now that's my kind of day.  On one hand, I want to just stay home, do some baking, curl up, and read a good book.  What I REALLY should be doing is grading papers, recording those grades, doing laundry, and packing for my fall break trip.  However, I'm also tempted to drive to T-town and visit with some old and new friends and have some fun!  With a threat of heavy thunderstorms and possible tornadoes on the horizon, my common sense tells me to stay home and do those boring teacher chores.  It's no fun making grown-up decisions!  What to do, what to do?

The OU/Texas game is going on today.  That event always brings back horrible memories, just like it was yesterday.  One of my new favorite quotes regarding this time in my life is, "Better to hurt me with the truth, than fool me with a lie."  Truth.  A very hard concept to understand for some people.  Why?  Just tell the truth and get it over with.  A much better option for all parties involved.

Going to take a shower, rather late in the day, then, decide what to do on this lovely, lazy, rainy Saturday.  I'm leaning toward a road trip to T-town....

"Life is too short to wear white socks."
I've always loved crazy, colorful socks, pretty much all of my life.  My friends have often growled at me when they've asked me what I wanted for Christmas.  My reply is always, "Socks!"  I love socks.  Well, let me clarify, I love socks during the winter time.  I love flip flops or, better yet, bare feet, the rest of the time, weather permitting.  However, my collection grew quite large and I decided to purge a large portion of my sock drawer just this past summer.  Now, I'm missing my cool socks.  It's getting a little nippy outside and I am almost without cute socks.  I'm down to a few pair of (ugh) white, no-show socks that I wear w/my gym shoes, for those wonderful walks with Mr. Treadmill, three or four times a week.  What was I thinking?!?!?  Purgers remorse, I guess. 

Same thing happened with my flannel jammies.  This past summer, I decided that my old, comfy flannel jammies were just a little TOO worn, and a wee bit holey.  Telling myself I really did need to buy some better p.j.s, I reluctantly threw away my only two pair of flannel jammies.  Now, I'm REALLY having regrets.  Guess what?  I can't find any flannel p.j.s anywhere!!!  Yikes!  What will I do?  It's already getting chilly!!  I miss my flannels.  :(

My perfect Heaven.

White, sandy beaches.  Blue skies.  Sea shells.  Grass huts.  Turquoise colored water.  Hammocks.  Cruise ship rocking me to sleep.  Island music playing in the background.  Palm tree shade.  Salty breezes.  Parasailing.  Endless grilled shrimp, lobster, fresh pineapple, and chocolate covered strawberries. Tiki torches. The scent of coconut.  The soothing sounds and spray of a waterfall nearby.  No alarm clock.  No schedule.  No paperwork.  Sleep.  Sweet, sound sleep.

Take me away.

I can dream, right?

It's the little things in life that make me happy.  The things we often take for granted, are the things we miss the most when we lose them. 

I had several "little things" awarded or afforded me during the last few days.  First of all, my old phone finally gave up the ghost this past Tuesday.  I had ordered a new one the previous Tuesday, but, still hadn't received it in the mail, exactly one week later.   When it finally failed me for the very last time, I was lost.  I had three people trying to contact me and awaiting a return text. 

Most importantly, my daughter needed a key piece of information from me.  A key piece, being HER username for HER bank account.  Yes, I've given it to her numerous times, however, she can't seem to keep track of it or memorize it.  She is attending a major university, with a double major, in pre-vet science and agricultural education.  So, apparently, she's pretty smart, but, can't remember her username.  Go figure.  Gotta love her, my twenty-year-old baby girl.  She survived.  I stressed.

Secondly, a client was trying to contact me to ask a question about appointments scheduled for he and his wife THAT DAY.  I couldn't answer him.  They survived.  I stressed. 

The third person did not have an immediate need, thank goodness.  Person number three survived.  I stressed, somewhat, just because, I like to return my texts as soon as possible.

After giving massages to my client and his wife, I high-tailed it to my nearest cell phone carrier's store-front, hoping to get a loaner phone to hold me over until my new phone arrived in the mail.  I was told they "don't do loaner phones", but, they had a "cheap" ($29.99) little phone that would hold me over until I received my "real" phone in the mail.  He had also just told me I would probably receive my phone in the next day or two.  I explained that I REALLY needed a phone as my daughter lives about 150 miles away and has heart issues.  Furthermore, my dad is very ill, and my step-mom needs to be able to reach me, however, I really hate to spend $29.99 +tax, when my phone will most likely arrive within the next day or two.  The clerk decided to look at my old phone, I think, hoping to be able to fix it long enough to hold me over until I received my "real" phone.  When he examined it, he discovered my SIM card had died.  He grabbed one of the little $29.99 phones and put a new SIM card in it, transferred my contacts, and told me to keep the phone after my new one arrived and that way, I'd have one if I ever have similar problems with my phone again.   I said, "Okay, so how much do I owe you?" (not really wanting to buy it, but, figuring I had no real choice).  He said, "Nothing, it's yours."  I said, "No, I need it, I'll pay for it."  He said, "No, really, it's okay, just keep it, then, you'll always have a back up."  Now, this just made me want to cry.  This man did NOT have to do this, but, he did.  What a nice gesture to a worried mom of a college-age daughter, with serious health issues, and the daughter of a very loved man, who is battling a brain tumor.  What a sweet, sweet guy.  Thank you, Lord, for sending angels to me when I need them most.  It's the little things that matter most, and help the most.  Two days later, on Thursday, I received my "real" phone in the mail.

On Friday, I received another box in the mail, containing two, beautiful Navajo (maybe?) baskets, sent from New Mexico, by a friend.  I love anything Southwestern-ish.  LOVE.  They have that yummy basket smell.  I know, I have lots of weird scents that I love.  Baskets, leather boots, saddles, etc., new car smell, gasoline, cow or horse poop (I know, really weird, huh?), hay, rain, asphalt, creosote(sp?), burning brush, horses, fresh-cut grass, old books, fresh Crayola brand crayons, and men's Polo.  Ay, caramba!!!  Do I love that scent!!!  Okay, I got WAY off topic there, didn't I?  Two small, but lovely little baskets.  It's the little things.

Saturday, the friend who sent me the baskets arrived in town, took me out to eat, and ran into Wal-Mart to buy windshield wipers.  When we got back to my house, said friend commenced to putting the windsheild wipers on MY truck!!  I thought the wipers were for my friend's truck!!  No, they were for mine.  A small, but, very much appreciated gesture of thoughtfulness.  I never, ever said ANYTHING about needing new wipers.  Never.  It's the little things that make me happy.

Today, I went to church with my sweet, sweet grandson.  He is now 27 months old, and still loves to hug and give his GeeGee kisses.  I cherish each moment he wants to sit in my lap and scribble on the church pamphlets.  He couldn't be any cuter, smarter, or better well-behaved.  Yes, the little things ALWAYS tug at my heartstrings.