How big a bite is that?

Remember how I said I was going to be better about updating...I had such high hopes for keeping up to date, but as usual, life happens all at once. I am in the process of trying to juggle 3 jobs, maintain a somewhat habitable living environment, prepare for a class I'm going to teach, spend time with my husband, take a dance class, help my mother, and do a summer musical. All while trying to keep current on Dancing with the Stars. As shown above, my overconfidence is likely to end in disaster. So I plan to take it one step at a time.

First, my job at the YMCA is ending tomorrow. I'm officially retiring from daycare. YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!! No more sicky sick catching all kinds of goop and puke from the little buggers. I love all my little ones, truly I do, but it was really time for a change. I've been in daycare, going on my 4th year now, and that's fairly long considering the turn-over rate for preschool teachers. So, I will do some manual labor for my parents until one of my many sent out job applications bears fruit. Mmm, cleaning out the garage...let's just hope we don't have a repeat of last summer's "Tell-tale fire alarm" (Check my old July post if you want to know the story)

I'm also still having a blast at adult ed, and will be starting up my class this Thursday. I actually have people signed up for it! How cool is that!!! I'll be teaching 5 weeks of Exploring Greek Mythology. In fact, look for an new section of my blog, either every Thursday or Friday, retelling a different myth. It's time I spread a little of my passion to the masses. All 7 of you that read this.

Even though I'm really excited about teaching again, the job I'm looking forward to the most is my position at the Appleton Library. I'm bringing in some new collections for us, expanding the childrens' catalog, planning some fun events, and hosting the summer reading program. I also want to develop some new programs, including a linking local libraries traveling lecture series and an infant geared story time.

I'm trying to keep the house clean. We got a new vacuum (I know, how thrilling) and it's actually really cool...has an neat light system on it that tells you when the floor is clean. However, with our cats, the floor is never clean. I'm also looking to refinish an old bureau, and paint some bookcases now that the weather is getting nicer. We've been doing some yard work on the weekends and we brought the grill out of it's hibernation just the other day! Yeay for barbecue chicken!!! That means summer is coming! Even though I want to spend time outside of the house in the warmth, I'd like to find time to finish my current scrapbook, attend each night class of Middle Eastern Dance I signed up for, and break out my oil paints again. (It's been a long time, but they offer oil painting at adult ed and every time I go collect the attendance folder, the smell of turpentine makes me very nostalgic for my pa and the basement easel.)

So, after I find time to do all that...(HA)...I will get to do what I've been losing sleep over for weeks. Losing sleep you ask? Yes, on accounta' dose catchy songs whats been playin' in my head. A good friend of mine has been talking about doing Guys & Dolls this summer at the Lincoln County Theatre and she encouraged me to try out...I've been learning and singing the songs for weeks for this past weekend's auditions. Tuesday I went to the call-back. Those of you around the first week of August will get to see me as Miss Sarah Brown. :) I'm so excited to be back in a theater...I'm such an addict and I've been away too long. The withdrawal was killing me! But now I'll get a chance to work with some of the best people in community theater I've ever worked with. I get to sing "Marry the Man Today" with my dear friend, mentor, and long time director. Is it August yet? I'm so excited!!!

As for Dancing with the Stars...I'm cheering for my childhood idol and American Sweetheart, Kristi Yamaguchi...who is totally kicking some shimmying and shaking booty! I'll leave you with a little taste.





One of her best dances...even though it was only 2 10's instead of 3. Don't worry though...her jive Monday got a perfect score. I'll save that for another post.

I'm a Web Designer! Who Knew?!?

Like I mentioned before, my job at Adult Ed requires me to be doing more computer work than I've ever done before. My director even asked me to completely re-do the website using Dreamweaver (this heavy duty program with an even heavier instruction manual...which I may have only glanced at a couple of times). So, I said I'd post the link when I was finished so I could have all you computer savvy people give me your critique. I did all of it except for the "course programs" page. Our district web guy did that and he helped me put the site onto the server. (I never could have managed that by myself. Hell, my work computer didn't even have the required programs...he had to download them for me.) Why didn't I change his course guide? After spending a lot of time designing the site, I didn't want to re-invent the wheel and try to do something more complicated like how the classes are listed. And I wasn't going to put in even more time when my director came to me last Wednesday and said that the according to the state, they are going to streamline all adult ed websites to give them a uniform look so that people will understand that there is state-wide adult ed. Since I had already put in a lot of time and effort, he said we'd post my site until the end of the year, and then we'd change over to the cookie cutter template. :) At least it will get a chance to be seen, and I've logged experience points, but I'm actually glad that a professional will be taking care of it.

I tried to be very simplistic with my design, to appeal to the greatest number of people. The font is supposed to be papyrus (to match our course catalog); but apparently certain computers don't recognize papyrus and therefore it might look a bit yucky in a generic font. I apologize for that, and if it were up to me, I'd give everybody papyrus font so the website would look pretty for everyone. Overall though, I'd say it's not too bad, considering my entire computer experience could fit in a shoe box.

So here it is; enjoy and if you live in the area, consider signing up for a course, or offering to teach one.

http://www.fivetowns.net/subsites/adulted/home.htm

Mr. Osborne, may I be excused, my brain is full?

Thank you Gary Larson.

Some days, this is how I feel.

What's new with you, gumshoe?

My goodness, a lot can happen in a month. As much as I hate winter, (and believe me, at our house, we HATE winter) and feel that it drags on far to long, I forget just how fast January and February snow by. I haven't updated in over a month because I haven't sat down for more than a few seconds at a time. Let's see if I can catch everyone up (you loyal 5 readers) with a few snippets.

• I'm enjoying my time at Adult Ed. I answer phones, make copies, take attendance, and file stuff. I just love putting little stickies on folders! I'm rather anal-retentive/compulsive that way. Sort of like Monica on Friends. Just give me a label maker and I'm a happy gal. The job is also making me learn about computers...something I swore I'd never do. But in this brave new world of technology, not using computers is like not using a phone. Case in point: look at what medium I'm using to stay connected with all of you. Yeah. So for Adult Ed. I'm designing a website. Hee hee, I know! Me, the girl who can barely check her email! But I'm using a big beefy program called Dreamweaver and it's doing the heavy lifting for me. I'm damn near done and when I get it up and running, I promise to post the link here for you all to critique. :)


• I got a new job working for a local small town library! I interviewed to be their new librarian (the only paid position as it is a small town library) but they hired someone with an MLS. However, the board of directors liked what I had to say so much, and since my specialty and passion is children's programming/events, they created a couple hour a week position for me do their Children's Programming! I'm so excited because that's what I ultimately want to do. And, this library happens to be expanding to a brand new building this spring, so the position has the possibility to expand as well. I can't wait to plan some fun spring/summer events!


• The Mr. and I took our annual vacation to Florida to see his parents. We look forward to our tropical getaway every year...especially this year as both he and I were very burned out. We hadn't had a vacation since January of last year, and considering since then we have moved, started new jobs, and bot have crazy schedules, it was definitely time to kick back. Highlights include, but are not limited to: 80 degree weather, swimming almost every day, mini golfing, eating at this great Japanese Steak House, teasing my father-in-law, marti gras in Town Square, riding around in a golf cart, shopping with my mother-in-law (who is a bad influence ;) at Belk's (awesome department store), laying out in sun chairs, reading good books, going to the Spaaaaa, and 15hours at Disney! (Including hopping from Magic Kingdom, to Animal Kingdom, to MGM, back to Magic Kingdom.) And one of the sweetest things was coming home to find that my mother had gone grocery shopping for us so we wouldn't have to go out after the plane ride. She even left us a Steve Watts chocolate cake (like our wedding cake) and flowers!! A little fun in the Florida sun was just what we needed to recharge, reconnect, and relax. I love spending the day eating fruit and lounging by the pool. I can't wait to go back!


• I am way to addicted to CSI. I'm making my way through the seasons slowly but surely. I'm also looking into getting an elliptical machine, because if I'm watching CSI, I might as well be exercising instead of sitting on my rear end. I've also signed up for a Dancercise class at the new Dance Conservatory and have my very own Dancing with the Stars work out video. We're trying to be healthier...exercising, eating right, and I'm even taking vitamins. Who would of thought...