I promised I wouldn't blog about it, so I won't, but it is so nice to spend nearly two hours just having a long conversation about life with your twelve, almost thirteen year old son.

Phew! Have we ever been through the wringer this week? It feels so good, tonight, though, to have done what we have done this week. Last week, Monday, began with frigid temperatures and a sick kid, tonight ends with typical snowy weather and a new car in the driveway! How quickly life can change. I do have to say, though, that as busy as our week, and weekend was, and as gypped of "my own time" that I may feel, I do not have the grumpies at all. I guess I am just so happily pleased by our car acquisition process that it just doesn't matter that work begins again tomorrow. Not to mention, now, with two car payments for a few months, I kinda HAVE to get to work, eh? We do what we have to do.

Bought a black 2008 Honda Certified Used CR-V and we are loving it! It is so cute, and totally reminds us of our 98 Ford Focus, but on steroids! Yeah us!

After this week, I am particularly happy to see Coconut Friday.

Went out to drive some cars tonight, and begin to shop around. Then grabbed dinner at Wendy's. Kinda low key, but perfect. The kids, too, are, for some weird reason, getting along very well. They've been talking, like humans, and joking around all night. It is a little weird. They are, as I type, flipping between HGTV's House Hunters International, and Spongebob, together, in the living room, whilst munching on the doughnuts they bargained for.

"Well, since we need to shop for cars tomorrow, and will want to get going quickly in the morning, maybe we should pick up a dozen doughnuts..." said Gwynn.
"Yeah, good point," said Devin.

The weekend is kicking off with peace if not quiet, successful bargaining, and positivity...let's hope it continues.

...and again tonight. I am whipped! Have been sleeping like the dead the last couple of nights, but dreaming of cars and car shopping, so I don't wake up rested. Weird. Of course having a bit of a head cold and then report card week as well don't help. You get a rough week here and there in life, so check mine off the list, eh? I'm done!

Ummm, yeah, like I would have time to blog whilst knee deep in report cards AND car shopping? Not so much! Who knows, may see you all again next week? HA! Any suggestions or recommendations welcomed...on the cars, not the grades. Those the kids have already earned, I am afraid.

What a day it was, today, on the heels of yesterday's car disaster fiasco.

I got a ride from Sue this morning, got to school, and realized I had brought two different shoes with me. Annoyed as all get out, I shared my agony with the guys that teach across the hall from me. Andy retorted, "Well, you can just run home," which got me all excited, until I realized that, duh, I had no car! When I looked at the shoes again, and realized they were two lefts as well as being different styles and colors, I just about cried. Andy loaned me his car, though, and, fixing a shoe issue can really help in one's overall perception of a day, which was a good thing, too, as the day didn't get any better. While I was running home for my shoe, Tim called to inform me that the car was pretty much a loss and not worth fixing.

So the rest of the day was filled with attempts at car shopping, and loan rate checking. All of this while trying to teach, and prep report cards, which are due on Friday. Needless to say, it was a long day, but one of my cuties did mention a bright side..."You know, Mrs. Howell, now you have some really funny stuff to write about in your Writer's Notebook!" How true. How true.

How can one day take so much out of you and be so super frustrating? Sub zero temperatures...sick kid...sub plans...stranded husband...sucky broke down car...sickeningly high repair bill...I am just done, done, done with this Monday. It can only get better, right?

"Victoria and Me, At a Crossroads"

Today, I am feeling a little baffled. I always "got" Victoria's Secret, but suddenly, not so much. Is it age? I don't know. But we've been having this problem for a little while, as I have seen my favorite undies slip away. Now, I am afraid they are gone for good. To make things worse, I just gave $30 worth of silky undies to a 9 year old, so now I am sad, and also pissed off.

Don't worry, I did not vamp Gwynn up in lacey thongs or anything. The undies in question are the Body by Victoria Hipsters. I have always and forever been a hipster girl. I hate bikinis, always feeling like they just don't do the job. Young, older, pregnant, heavier, at my thinnest, I have never liked 'em, and never will. Briefs don't do it for me either. I have never liked a waist band, well, at my waist. I like it part way down, on my hips, at my center, a "hip"ster. Cute, not "momwear." Good for everyday, attractive, and comfy at the same time. Every few months or so, I was happy to go into Vicky's and pick up 3 new pairs on sale, to spruce up my underwear wardrobe. They washed great, wore great. Things were good.

Recently, though, there has been a change. My good old Body by Victoria hipsters felt "different." I wasn't quite sure why, as I had gotten some pairs that were a LITTLE different...some ruching, some with lace, some cotton as opposed to microfiber. I wasn't really loving any of these, but I thought, OK, stick with the microfiber. It is obviously what you like.

I went in a few weeks ago and picked up the Body by Victoria Incredible undies, in a L like I always wear. They seemed small, but were VERY stretchy, so I just went with it. 3/$30 I was out the door. They looked fun, very vibrant...they looked like my old BBV hipsters. Then I got them home. They fit, sure, but they are BIKINIS! I even measured the "rise" in the front and compared to my oldies...sure enough, lower! I gave up. I gave them to Gwynn.

When I went to Vicky's website, here is what I found.

(on the Incredible panties...)
Like no other panty you've ever worn. Comfy, soft and super stretchy just like the bra. Perfectly no-show and completely smooth under clothes. Low rise. Imported nylon/spandex.

(on the hipster panties, in general...)
Sweet and low. Like a boyshort + a bikini

Low rise, low rise, low rise...everywhere...it is low rise. And the hipster specifically described as a bikini. If I WANTED bikinis, wouldn't I buy those?

I saw Ellen Degeneres one day, on her talk show, joking about people's underwear showing above their low rise jeans. She did a bit about the fact that pants come in such varying rises, that maybe underwear should be sold with the correct jeans. I am thinking she may have a point. Apparently Vicky has chosen to solve the butt clevage problem by making all of her undies lower, but how about for those of us who were not having a problem in the first place? How about those of us who wore the correct underwear with our mid rise jeans?

Interestingly enough, again on Vicky's website, many of the briefs are described at mid rise...so maybe the adjustment has happened there as well. Maybe there is a whole contingent of Vicky's brief girls who are angered that they've been forced to hipsters? Well, all I know is, as a former lingerie salesgirl after all, there are a lot of underwear manufactures out there. Maybe it is time, as I enter my 40's, to find someone new. I'm stickin' with the hubby that I have, and the job, but the undies, well, I just might have to move on.

Whoo boy, was this Saturday FULL of "Saturday Randomness!" We woke up to, probably, about 12-18 inches of new lake effect snow in our driveway, "snowblowed" on out, and drove to Lansing. There, we moved Mom and Dad Howell into their new house, and Todd and Katie, now, officially, into mom and dad's old house! It was a long, crazy day, but a really good one! Would I ever love to have a new house myself, but am I ever happy, tonight, to be in my warm, cozy and already set up home! We unpacked a ton, and cleaned and loaded cupboards and closets, but there sure is a long way to go. It is going to be great, though. I am so happy for Lala, and Pa, and boy, will that house ever be a great place for an "all grandchildren sleepover!"

It was "Coconut Friday" in droves today! Well, actually, I drove through some pretty crappy weather to get home, but it was on early dismissal, so that was the first thing that rocked.

(...actually, again, my new LLBean vest and a yummy doughnut from Andy were pretty much rockin' my Friday, and that was BEFORE the early dismissal was even a glimmer in my Superintendent's eye. I'm not really that hard to please.)

Once I finally got home, there was time to play some games as a family, yummy shrimp and coconut rice for dinner, and also, Tim ran out today, before the snow got too bad, for "reinforcements." Coconut Rum! It is time to start making "Vacations!" It is just pineapple juice, orange juice, and coconut rum, but does it ever take you to the islands! Kick back and relax my friends. When snowed in, a vacation is the only way to go!

Happy Friday!

It is funny, but sometimes a sick kid is just what the Dr. ordered. Gwynn came home feeling yucky. All she wanted to do was curl up under a blanket on the couch. Happily, the book I had ordered for our next bookgroup, Angry Housewives Eating Bon-Bons, arrived from amazon today as well. It was a win win. She slept for an hour and a half, I read for an hour and a half. I can't remember the last time I sat and read for an hour and a half. Granted, we have now cleaned up a bit of sickness, done laundry, and Tim is typing up plans as he is on "stay home with the sick-o" duty tomorrow, but still, I must say, I loved that hour and a half.

No time to blog tonight...totally lazed on the couch watching our ABC shows all night. Maybe I will explain my theory that "Cougar Town" is just "Friends" for the new millennium. Tim is pretty sick of hearing it, but the law says he has to. You will have a choice, tomorrow night, but for tonight, I am done.

I feel like I spent my day in the car today.

First it was driving to school of course, then to Syracuse for my last leg Dr. appointment. Next it was the drive back home, with a few stops along the way, then the shuttle of Gwynn to and from dance. Fortunately, some random good tunes on the radio made the day. There were oldies I had not heard in a while, such as "My Kind of Lover" by Billy Squire, "True Colors" by Cyndi Lauper, and "Never Surrender" by Corey Hart. Then there was a newer tune by GooGoo Dolls, "Take Me Home" which I had cranked up full blast.

For the dance shuttle, Gwynn chose to listen to her new Broadway CD of "Beauty and the Beast," which was great. And I am usually quick to grab a CD, or pop in my iPod, but today, while out and about, it was fun to see where the music took me.

Since yesterday felt like Saturday, I suppose it was inevitable that, at some point, today would begin to feel like Sunday. And not in a good way. Got the grumpies around 7...when I knew it was time to go make the lunches. Oh well. It was a great three day weekend, and I have to just face the music I suppose, but for right now, I am just going to go sulk. I am not growing. I guess I just need to accept I am not a happy camper on Sunday nights.

"Saturday Randomness"

First of all, I love a day when my husband goes to do the grocery shopping. I don't mind it, really, but a break from it now and then is a good thing.

Soup is the best meal, both to make, and also to eat. Today's was Chicken Stock, with sausage, carrot, celery, onion, a couple of cans of fire roasted tomatoes, little ditalini pasta, and spinach. Yum,

Todd and Katie and the kids came up. The intention was sledding, and the kids did go out to sled, but even with all the snow we have, it isn't great sledding snow. And boy did the snow come down today! It is always fun when people come to visit and the lake effect machine puts on a good show. After they left, as Tim was cleaning up the driveway a little bit, I went outside and just stood there, watching it come down. It was so beautiful. The silence of falling snow is amazing. There is a 12+ inch blanket on our home tonight.

(HA! Just realized that I called today as a Saturday when it is really a Sunday! I just LOVE a three day weekend!)

This+"Hairspray" the movie+your daughter doing dance moves in the living room and your son doing derogatory commentary = PRICELESS family evening of entertainment. Seriously. Priceless.

Ingredients
1 (5 to 6-pound) roasting chicken
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme
4 lemons
3 heads garlic, cut in 1/2 crosswise
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/2 pound sliced bacon
1 cup white wine
1/2 cup chicken stock
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pinfeathers and pat the outside dry. Place the chicken in a large roasting pan. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the thyme, reserving enough thyme to garnish the chicken dish, 1 lemon, halved, and 2 halves of the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Cut 2 of the lemons in quarters and scatter the quarters and remaining garlic around the chicken. Lay the bacon slices over the chicken to cover.

Roast the chicken for 1 hour. Remove the bacon slices from the top of the chicken and set aside. Continue roasting the chicken for an additional 1/2 hour, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove to a platter and cover with aluminum foil while you prepare the gravy.

Remove all but 2 tablespoons of the fat from the bottom of the pan. Add the wine and chicken stock and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes, or until reduced by half.

Slice the chicken on a platter. Garnish the chicken platter with the bacon slices, roasted garlic, reserved thyme and 1 lemon, sliced. Serve with the gravy.

DAY ONE

And, amazingly, we have made it through the 12 step program to MLKJr day! A three day weekend is upon us...a fine Coconut Friday indeed! Heard U2's "(Pride) in the Name of Love" while on the way to work and was immediately reminded of who I should thank for my good mood going into today.

Took it easy at school today, got a lot DONE with the kids, and didn't load them up (yet) with too much new stuff. Then, came home to coffee and Oprah. Dinner out tonight was Azteca, margaritas, and great conversation too, with our kiddos. Finally, we are settled in at home, playing Wii, and Tim and I have plans for a movie. Even if we fall asleep in the middle, who cares. It was a great day, and we have three days of freedom ahead!

Happy Friday Everyone, and, Martin, thank you.

DAY TWO

Today the key was laughter.

First I laughed through the day with my class. I really have been blessed with a great bunch this year, a lot of them with very good senses of humor. Today I let them joke a bit, laughed along, and got off on a few too many tangents...but hey...it got us through a Thursday, together.

Then upon arriving home, and checking in on email and Facebook, I found out my horoscope sign has changed. I spent a little time reading crap about that. Then Tim and I checked our new compatibility, finding that, as a former Pices and current Aquarius, I am even MORE compatible with him, and our sex life is supposed to be off the charts. WooHoo, eh? A nice shot in the arm for a 17 year marriage I guess! I did laugh right out loud that it is a good thing I never got that Pisces tattoo, as that is always one of my "Hey that could be my tattoo" images. HA!

Finally, it was Devin's bowling meet, and laughing with the parents there. I feel so much better today than I did yesterday. Laughter really does do good for the soul...so bring it Friday...I am ready...and then it is on to the THREE DAY WEEKEND!

DAY THREE

OK, so we've reached the wall. You know, it's that place in a race that people always talk about. I mean, if you are a runner and all, which I certainly am not, but I have heard from trusted others. You hit the wall, and must power through to reach the end. That was me today...powering through. Yep. I seriously can't think of any one thing that was outstandingly good. My class was fine, and my outfit was cute, but really, I could've just done without today. Everything was markedly lackluster, and to top it off, I got stuck in the snow in the driveway when I got home.

Blah.

It's not a great feeling, to tell the truth. And I feel a little bit like I am wishing time away, but, eh, whatever. Day three. It was a day. It is nearly over. On to Thursday.

DAY FOUR

Whipped through today, painless as could be. Again, who knew focusing on these 12 steps would make things so easy? MLKJr day is within my grasp. Now to figure out how I will get through from the day we get back, to February break! HA!

Today was a doughnut day, and it wasn't even Friday! One of my (fabulous!) students had a birthday, and brought in doughnut holes instead of the usual cupcakes. What a treat! Then I came home and lit my new Yankee Candle, coincidently called "Jelly Doughnut!" And I mean, really, is there anything better in life than a jelly doughnut? Crispy on the outside, but covered with sweet crystals of sugar. Then, a doughy center, with and oooey gooey surprise? Yummmm! Oh, wait, a jelly doughnut with no calories? Yeah, that is better! And strangely enough, burning this candle works like that. I have done this before, while trying to control my eating a bit. If I burn a "foodie" candle, it seems to curb my appetite. I will overindulge in a scent, as opposed to a taste I suppose. Whatever it is, I am thankful that it works! Consider it my New Year's tip to all of you - hey - it's worth a shot!

DAY FIVE

Are we here already? 4 days to go? Monday over and done with? I am telling you, this 12 step program is A-OK! Today was fine. The day came, the day went, but what made MY day was hearing the washer running when I got home. It was obvious that Tim had "hit the road" as soon as possible from work, come home, and started laundry. Then, as I was taking off my coat, I heard the sweet "Hi Mom!" from Devin, finding out in that moment that bowling practice had been cancelled, and therefore we didn't have any reason to run back out in the cold tonight. I came in, unwound with a cup of (leftover from moring...sigh...) coffee, and then whipped up some "Indian-ish cause I am suddenly into Indian cuisine after Katie's birthday dinner extravaganza" garam masala chicken over rice with naan bread that I got at the good 'ol Chopper yesterday. Yeah, life was OK today, even better tonight, and Friday is WELL on its way!

DAY SIX

We're within a week, and I think I can make it! Today was a really nice Sunday too. Had to do the normal household tasks and errands, but weather cooperated, so that's always a plus. Then I got to do some shopping for me, along with the weekly groceries. Finally, I got an $80 desk chair at Staples on sale for $40, then used $30 in Rewards bucks to boot, so you do the math on what I really ended up paying! Rounded out the day with delicious chili, and BOTH of the "Old Fezziwig Ale"s from our Sam Adams Winter 12 pack and life is more than good.

I am thinking, as far as this chair goes, that it'll be nice ALL this coming week to write from a new spot! It is a great chair, with good lumbar support, and it keeps your posture right where it should be...good for keeping me on track and working towards next weekend! Yippee!

DAY SEVEN

Today was a great day. Slept a blissful 10 hours. Enjoyed my coffee and some sun. Got a bunch of stuff organized and put away around the house. Then just sat and read a book for a while. It was the first weekend in SO long with absolutely NOTHING to do. Then mix in a pretty good dinner, or at least pretty good stuffing a la Barry's recipe, some great news from Sue, and an Oswego State victory at the night's hockey game, and I am certainly a happy girl! This 12 step program is working out just fine!

DAY EIGHT
(...and also Coconut Friday! Yippee!)

It was easy to find my way through today.

Gwynn had early band, but, due to forgetting to set up the coffee maker the night before, and being too much of a coffee snob to be OK with JUST the half caf they brew at work, I dropped her off and drove right on by, up to McDonald's in Wolcott. It was 8 blessed minutes alone on the way there, and 8 blessed minutes alone on the way back. "Grace Potter and the Nocturnals" played me along. I sometimes have that fantasy of "driving right on by" when I go to work, and this satisfied the urge, at least in part. (tried the new oatmeal from Micky's too and I have to say, it was pretty good, especially if you love craisins and yellow raisins...mmmmm...)

Once at work, we had the all day celebration of Becky's birthday complete with ordering out pizza for lunch. Thanks Beck, even if you had to get old, it made for a nice lunch:)

Then my paycheck came, complete with "Obama Dollars."

I came home, and was happy to see, on Facebook, that my sister in law Katie is making progress towards her own Coconut Fridays. It made me proud!

And finally, it has been an evening at home, with leftovers, and Wii, and wine. Sad as it may be, it just doesn't get any better than this!

DAY NINE

Ahhhh, take out Chinese was all it took. We all went up to Devin's bowling meet in Wolcott tonight. He did a great job, bowled his highest game yet, and we brought home dinner. I didn't have to cook. There are no lunches to make. Even if, as I type, there is math homework frustration in the kitchen, I know we will make it. Friday is in sight. The weekend is nearly here, and MLKJr day is closer every day. One day at a time. One day at a time.

DAY TEN

I had high hopes for today last night, thinking a good night's sleep was going to bring back my energy. Fat chance, with a snoring sick hubby, and a hormonal me to boot. Didn't sleep well last night, and didn't feel too great today, but at least I had some new clothes helping to get me through...a cute graphite corduroy jean jacket I picked up at Gap after Christmas for a song. Why IS it we all shop before Christmas when all the great sales are AFTER Christmas? I know, I know, the season of giving and all...whatever.

Tonight, I also had the happy thought, while making lunches, that I am DONE with that task for the week. We generally don't pack lunches on Thursday night as the menu at the cafeteria varies between pizza and soup/toasted cheese, items my kids won't grumble about too much, and that I am OK with them eating. No more lunch making for the week! WooHoo! Proof positive that Coconut Friday is on its way, as is MLKjr day! See, ya gotta hand it to these 12 steps, they really are moving us along!

DAY ELEVEN

Where is my ENERGY? Today was hard from the get go. Hard to wake up, hard to get out of bed, hard to get dressed and get out of the house. I could go on and on. I mean, it wasn't a bad day, just a dragging day. I did pretty well from 8:30-lunch at work. In fact we had a pretty good morning, in particular a good writing session, but then the afternoon hit and I could barely drag myself through. I am just not made to get up early in the morning, and, pitifully, each time we have a break, I get in bad "stay up late then sleep in" habits that are a bear to break when I go back to work. So today, on the twelve step plan, I am going to go to bed early to TRY to regain some energy! Caffeine can't do it alone!

DAY TWELVE

I kept joking today that I was on a twelve step program, those steps being the twelve days I must face in order to be treated to our next break, Martin Luther King Jr. day on January 17th. And I was joking, really, as going back to work today was fine, and necessary, and even a bit fun. I got to chat with people I hadn't in too long, my students were good, we got some work accomplished, and all in all it was a pretty good day, but still, we can't deny that we are so conditioned. Much like my dumb black lab, who will sit for an eternity like a prize show dog if there is even a hint of a treat in the vicinity, we, as human beings can't deny that we find our way through life with "treats" as well. We work and are rewarded with a pay day here and there. We work and are rewarded with a vacation day, a blessed week off, or, if we are lucky enough to be in education, with the beautiful expanse that is summer vacation. And that is just within the relm of the work world. We all "treat" ourselves to get through life as well. A particularly difficult week might "deserve" a grocery store arrangement of flowers. In facing a long day, we might create a mantra in our head "Bath Tonight, Bath Tonight," and in so doing, Calgon will help to take us away. Each step along the way, life is lived, accomplishments happen, good work is done, there is job satisfaction, but really, face it, we're working for the treat. So, 1 down, 11 to go, I will keep my mind on my mantra and my mantra on my mind.

...some nights you go "old school," to update your Christmas Memories book for the year 2010!

Just had a flashback to 10th grade math while cleaning up from a "Settlers of Catan" game with the family. In tenth grade math, when faced with probability, I was LAUGHED OUT OF THE CLASSROOM when I asked how many cards were in a deck. Tonight, I was LAUGHED OUT OF THE DINING ROOM when I questioned why the numbers 6,7 and 8 on the board were in red, and considered most desireable when positioning a settlement. Apparently, when playing games with two six sided dice, these numbers come up the most. Makes sense now that I think of it, but where along the way in the general knowledge of life, did I just plain miss out on this? I did not come from a game playing family is one reason, I suppose. I also know that when we did go to my grandparent's house in Buffalo, and card games ensued, people got loud and boisterous, and I just went off and read a book instead. Finally, in my married life, as much as he may enjoy a dice game, it is well known that I am wedded to "The World's Unluckiest Man," so perhaps he kept my naiveté intact in order not to expose his flaw more completely. Well, I am finding out, as the kids get more and more into games, and I am forced, as an older adult, to learn some new tricks, that I better brush up my mathematical logic skills. I was only one well played (and a little bit lucky) move away from winning, so we'll see. Rematch...TOMORROW.