Thursday, January 25, 2001

i guess i have always known this would be me....took the emode test for "what type are you?" i may fight this, but i know deep inside i am.

You are a Hopeless romantic

Do you swoon when a guy recites poetry to you? Go ga-ga over a bouquet of hand-picked wildflowers? Then there's no doubt about it — you're a textbook Hopeless Romantic. Chances are you love soft music, candlelight, and long walks on the beach at sunset. Crying at sappy movies (your favorite kind) is a given — a box of tissues is a must — and you've have had your wedding planned since grade school. You're looking for a deep relationship — a soulmate. Traditional and sympathetic, guys love that they can open up to you and talk to you about their feelings, their past, and their hopes for the future. How can a suitor win your heart? By romancing you. Sending you flowers, surprising you with a picnic lunch, or going for a horse-drawn carriage ride. Before you know it, you'll be creating a life-long love story.
posted by chris on 11:43 AM | go ahead - link me!

once again i am at work where my imac does not have those little attachment links so being lazy, i won't be adding any links...sorry. i agree with heather that it is frustrating to not have them. must be a mac thing.

i hate winter and gray days. since i actually see a glimmer of sunshine this am, it might not be so bad today. however, i am not sure i could live somewhere always warm. dilemma of the world. i want seasons to change, but i hate the long days (or rather short ones) of winter.

deb, i would love to borrow your books, but i hate for you to have to send them. however, i guess if you add the charmed tape to the pile i could just jump into the pit of tv shows and reading for a while. thanks.

i agree with a few peoples' comments about beliefs and accepting. i am more republican and conservative than i thought at one time, but i respect what other's believe as long as they don't try to change my beliefs or get upset when i don't agree. discussions are ok--even heated ones, especially when the person believes the convictions they hold. i dislike them when i feel that someone is just saying the opposite of me to just be different or start an arguement. (and i know a few like that)

someone had mentioned prayer in schools as an issue of debate among the people. yes. and i know that it plays a big role in why i work in a catholic school. i want to be able to talk about faith and prayer to the kids without worrying about it. my biggest concern is not that people don't want it, but that it squashes those who do. there have been schools that have stopped having a baccalauriate (sp?) for graduation, which gives those who want it no choice. as a catholic school, we have non-catholics, and those who don't want to pray or worship. that is fine. they still have to go to mass or prayer services but all we ask is respect. i think that is what it all comes down to. respect those who differ. stand up for your beliefs. change what you can. and accept the differences.

sorry, didn't mean to ramble, just had those thoughts on my mind. i guess because sometimes i get tired of defending to others why i work in a catholic school for half as much as a public school counselor when i do the same job (and sometimes more than the "bad" ones) WARNING....THIS GETS SENTIMENTAL. i guess i just see myself as lucky. i work at a job i love, with kids who choose to be here for the most part. yes, i have my major disagreements with other teachers, parents or adminstration, but i have found a comrade in our asst. principal who has only been here 4 years. she and i believe much of the same, and agree on how to handle so many things.
i am lucky to have found someone as sweet and patient as keith cause i waited a long time, and i know i am not always the easiest person to get along with. i have a family that has its problems, but we are still close. we fight, but we can spend a week together on vacation, and i know they will be here for my wedding. i may be overweight, but i am in good health. i may be short of money, but i pay something on all bills and still have money for "fun". i have great friends who listen to me, and talk about everything---on the phone, email, in person, and even on blogs. i know i can count on someone to just listen when my day sucks, but i also know they will laugh with me when life has joy.
sometimes we don't always look at that. in april, my best friend's husband will have been dead 2 years. he had a brain tumor that they found in december. she took care of him because after the hospital decided they had nothing left to do, he was in a wheelchair, could not talk or even take care of himself that well. i admire her courage every day. she loved him and gave him peace in his last months. i hurt for her because one thing i learned about myself is that i hate seeing those i care about in pain. she and her kids are living life, but i know he is still with her everyday. sometimes, i expect to see him walk in the door smiling.

ok, i guess its time for work. somedays, i just talk to darn much.

posted by chris on 8:26 AM | go ahead - link me!

Tuesday, January 23, 2001

hey, you i have not read the "beauty"stories yet because my friend is not sure i would like them---maybe she thinks to harsh for me. the funny thing is that janene is one of my former students and you would think it would be the other way around. but, like you i have read many of her other stuff. i really like the vampire things (note, one of my did you knows about fascinations) but also have read the mayfair witch stuff and others. need to complete my reading of various series.

and you can eat off my china---i just might not let you wash it....just kidding although given your inability to work a mop, i may have to really think on that one!! *giggle*

ii want to come to the book sale...that was my favorite thing when i was in grade school. oh, and the scholastic book papers. i would save my money from allowance and extra chores to be able to buy books. but mom always had to give a limit. *evil smirk* she can't stop me now!!! (although keith just sighs when i buy more books which i did this weekend at half-price books. almost all from clearance!!)

thanks to those who complimented my dresses and china, etc. i wanted to share that with you all. i hope i will be able to get pictures on-line after the wedding.

group went well tonight. i think i have made some headway in getting a few members to take this more seriously. they may not change their behavior but they will at least participate. tomorrow is class #1 for a 4 week cycle. although i will be energized after it is over, it also wipes me out.

talked to my mom today about various stuff. we went to myrtle beach with her and bill---2 of my brothers and his kids for a week in june. they want to do it again, but obviously not this june since wedding is in june. we hope to find a house with a pool that can sleep about 14 (plus bill and kim's baby---not related to me) not much else in our conversation although i did tell her that keith and i meet with our photographer on monday to pick a package, and decide on pics we want. basically mom gave some + and - that she saw at my 2 brother's weddings.

ok, need to catch up on bloggy reading, and see what needs to be done to my clothes for tomorrow. later.
posted by chris on 8:34 PM | go ahead - link me!

disjointed thoughts this morning. and i don't have any linking thing on this computer so i will just talk and talk.

chat was fun last night. i think we may have surprised a few people that we were all there and carrying on as we do. but i have been one who has popped in a few times. besides tina, i rarely got any recognition those times, and it was cool to have "friends" be in there instead of the silence you get. kind of like taking over a home. missed having deb there especially since she went to the trouble to email all of us. damn systems that only work when they want to.

i want to go to bed at 8 pm tonight but keith is working 2-10 and likes to stop over after work. maybe i will crawl in bed and leave lights on so i can see him but still take a nap.

have a bundle of kids to see this afternoon. this senior class has more procrastination than any of the past 7. there are about 10 kids who have done nothing for their future plans. so i guess its time to corner them and make them think about it. parents are beginning to worry.

i picked up my invitations yesterday after work....and they are simple but pretty. they are square cards with a rose in the right hand corner that is pearlized. hmmmm....wonder if i can scan one at janene's and link it on to my blog. i plan on addressing them over easter which seems far but which will be here before i know it. keith and i attend a engaged class on feb 9-10 and that will be 4 months until the wedding. never thought i year and 4 months would go by so fast.

still need to pick music and readings for the mass. and a dance song for us. although i think we might still go with the one keith liked so much...."when i say i do" (country--clint black and lisa hartman-black)

now to late questions...cost of living here in pittsburgh is definately less than chicago, new york and dc. a 2 bedroom apartment will be under 1000 in most areas and not more than 1500 in others. in the suburbs you can find them for about 400-500. mine is 400 but i pay some utilities. food is hard to say. dinner at a mid price restaurant would be about 40 including tip and tax. we have 6% in the state and 7% in allegheny county which is where i live. tax is not on clothes or food but all else including paper products which is pretty new....only the past 6 or 7 years.

and the sex thing...hmmmm usually i fee like crap the first 2 days with cramps and nausea and since it usually only last 3 or 4 days, we usually wait.

ok, time for some work this am. and time to find room in my tiny office for the crap that everyone feels the need to dump here. ahhhhhh!!! someday i am going to just let loose my tongue and tell these people to deal with it.

posted by chris on 9:01 AM | go ahead - link me!

Monday, January 22, 2001

and another thing? why is it that i waited until the night before i had to start the unit on abnormal psych to bring home the work i need to do?

oh, well. i can wing it....i have been teaching it for 7 years. pizza for dinner and chat at 9 (my time) yeah!!
posted by chris on 5:27 PM | go ahead - link me!

Sunday, January 21, 2001

this is my china which i got to complement a few sets of another one i had. it is simple, and although we don't need china, i grew up appreciating the nice dishes and want the same in my home. my mom used hers often for sundays or birthdays which made it more fun and special. we also learned to be gentle. we did more updating at kaufmanns' (may company) because jcpenney did not carry towels in either canary yellow or chili pepper red which are two colors with the black and white bathroom. we will have ladybugs and daisies.

ok, want to check this...didn't work the first time.
posted by chris on 6:34 PM | go ahead - link me!

I'm home and have much to say about the weekend and all of your thoughts and comments, but first...i want to try a few links here.

this is a picture of my wedding dress. it was the first one i tried on, and although i did try about 8 others, i kept coming back to this one in my mind.

These are the bridesmaid dresses, and they are even in the right color. Currently, the shoe question for them and me is driving me slowly insane, but more on that later.

ok, off to check the links.
posted by chris on 6:26 PM | go ahead - link me!