My Head is Spinning!

SO MUCH is going on right now! I feel like my head is spinning as I try to keep track of all that is in my brain!

---- At work, I am still trying to get myself organized while I help the young teacher that I am the assistant to, get organized as well! Today, "should" be an easier day. We'll see!

---- At the gym, I went for my "Physical Assesment". I wasn't impressed with the trainer that did my assesment, so I feel like I wasted my time on that. Oh well. I did get signed up for a program called "Fitlinxx", tho. It is a program that keeps track of your workouts as you work out on each "Fitlinxx" machine. I am hoping that it will help me to "accountable"! I need that! My plan is to go to the gym on M-W-F, after work.

---- At church, there is this HUGE event happening on Sunday, after church, and I am part of the team that is organizing it! And... on top of that.... I am in charge of helping my College Age Sunday School Class prepare a "booth" for it! I am feeling frustrated because it doesn't look like some of the kids are going to come thru with the things that they promised that they would "do" or "get". (This is including MY own girls!!) I have to be at the church pretty much all day on Saturday to prepare and set up for Sunday. I was hoping that I would have plenty of help from my students, but several of them have had to back out because of work or school commitments! (Including my girls!) So.... I have no idea what our booth will look like on Sunday! I don't like that it is being left up to ME to get it ready!! I am trying REALLY hard not to stress about it, but it's hard.

---- At home, I feel lost. Now, that I'm working 5 days a week... I am having to do more things "after" work and therefore I am not getting home in the afternoons until like 3 or 4pm. I am not keeping up with my household chores as well, and it is frustrating me. David is having to help out more and I know that he doesn't like it. Hopefully, once I get this weekend behind me... things will get better.

Gotta run and get to work! Hope you all have a blessed day!

Taking a break

Hi friends ~

I am taking a break today from... "My Vacation A to Z". I have a horrible sinus headache and can not think straight... but, I thought that I owed you a different post to let you know how things are going with my new job.

My new job as a  4 yr old, Pre-K Assistant Teacher is a lot harder than I thought it would be!!

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the preschool itself!!! It is wonderful!! But, the teacher that I am working with is a new teacher and she was TOTALLY unprepared when school started, just over a week ago.

She told me in the beginning that because she WAS new and I was a veteran... she wanted us to work TOGETHER to teach the kids. I was fine with that, but it has turned out to be very difficult because every time I offered her help or suggested different (and better) ways of doing things (because of my experience)... she thinks that I am criticizing her!! I don't mean to come across that way... but, that is how she is seeing it! So... I have backed off of trying to offer my "suggestions" and have just let her handle things.

Last week, the kids were in control of the classroom!! SHE was not, which was not a good thing! Yesterday, she seemed to have a little bit better control over them, which I was glad to see. Hopefully, this will continue.

She has a VERY "high strung" personality and seems to have a hard time focusing on one thing at a time. This is another thing that is making things difficult. Last week, she was SO overwhelmed and she was a nervous wreck! This week, she seems to be a little more calm and in control. I can't help but wonder if the kids were "feeding" off of her nervousness last week, and that is why they were so "out of control".

Please pray for this young teacher as she struggles to learn the ropes... and for me!!.... as I try to keep up and stay calm myself!

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As far as other things in my life ---

I quit Curves last week and joined the YMCA. I knew that I was not going to continue going to Curves because it was nowhere near where I am working now. (It's not convienent for me... I won't go!) The Y is just two blocks over from my new school!! A PERFECT location! I plan to go every M/W/F afternoons, after work. Tuesdays, I will go and see my mom. Then, on Thursdays, I will go and see my C.R. -- I hate not getting home early in the afternoons anymore, but that's ok. I'm getting used to it.

Miranda started Nursing School last week. It is SO COOL to hear about what she is learning each day! Soon, she will begin going to the hospital to learn. I CAN'T WAIT to hear about her experiences there!!!

Ashley is back in school. She is an Art Education student. She is not too happy right now because she is in a sculpture class. This is NOT something that she enjoys!! She would rather be painting.

She also has a new guy in her life. We met him this past weekend. He is very sweet. She says that they are just in the "talking" stage right now, which is fine. She has been hurt so many times by guys that I would rather her NOT jump into a relationship too quickly. 

I am enjoying getting to know the ladies that I work with. One of them, in particular, I can see as a potential furture "good friend". She and I are very close in age and we have a LOT in common! She has three boys that are in the same age range as my girls. In fact.... my girls know who her sons are!! LOL!  I am hoping that she and I can go to lunch one day soon and get to know each other a little better.

This weekend, I will be at my church pretty much the whole weekend!! Saturday, I will be getting ready for an event on Sunday. And then, Sunday... I will be AT the event all day! I'll be one tired puppy by Sunday night!!

We have no plans for Labor Day weekend, as a family. My very BEST friend that lives in Atlanta is (hopefully) coming down on that Saturday to go "thrifting" with me!! I can NOT wait!! I have been anxious for her to come down all summer! I can't wait to take her to all of our new Thrift Stores!

The only other thing that we might do on Labor Day weekend... is go up to the campground and visit our camping friends. Some of them will be camping. We are not ready to go camping yet. It's still WAY too hot!! I am anxious for Fall to come so that we can really camp!

Ok... I better run. Time to go get ready for work!

Hope you all have a blessed day!

My Vacation A to Z --- (L)

Yes. We skipped "K". I didn't really have anything for it!

L is for LIBERTY BELL

Well, we didn't get to go and see it this time because of the VERY long line of people waiting to see it! We have seen it before, so we opted out. Plus it was VERY hot and we were VERY tired!!

See the long line?

L is for LIBRARY

While we were in NYC, I really wanted to see the New York City Public Library which was used in the movie... "The Day After Tomorrow". I just wanted to at least walk into the lobby of it and see that grand staircase that Jake Gyllenhaal and his classmates RAN UP to escape the rush of water, taking over the city! It was really neat being inside the building! I also got a great photo of the scene in the movie, when the wall of water is coming down the street towards the Library.

Just imagine.... a HUGE wall of water coming towards you, as you tried to make it to safety inside the library!!

There's the stairs that they ran up!! So pretty!! Miranda and I "pretended" to run up them! Haha!

It was the 100th birthday of the Library.

L is for LIGHTHOUSE

While we were on the Staten Island Ferry, we spotted this lighthouse. I looked it up later and found out that it is "The National Lighthouse & Museum". Miranda and I thought it was SO pretty! I would love to see inside of it someday.

A "zoomed in" look! So pretty!

L is for LATE SHOW

We saw where David Letterman does his Late Show.



My Vacation A to Z --- (I & J)

I is for INDEPENDENCE HALL

After we drove back from Atlantic City, we drove into downtown Philadelphia. We wanted to walk around the historical area and see some of the sites. The area was very crowded with tourist, tho. We decided that since we had been to Philadelphia before and had already seen everything, we wouldn't bother standing in the long lines. PLUS.... it was very hot!! But, here is a picture of Independence Hall. It looks like they are working on the top part of it.

J is for JET SKI

David's brother lives on a lake. He has a boat and a jet ski! My girls had a blast with the Jet ski! Miranda even learned how to drive it!

David and Bob had to give it a "test run" to make sure it was working properly. It was having problems starting.

Shannon teaches Miranda how to drive it!

Shannon & Miranda on the jet ski, and Ashley waits for her turn on the tube. (More pics on that later!)

Mirana learns how to "park" it next to the boat. NOT an easy task!

Now, Shannon is driving.

Tori is driving now, with Ashley on the back. They went to the clubhouse to pick up some drinks and snacks.

Miranda takes David for a ride!

J is for JUMBOTRON

While we were in Times Square, we got to be on the big jumbotron that is mixed in with all of the billboards!

There we are!!

My Vacation A to Z ---- (G & H)

G is for GROUND ZERO

We visited the site of the 9/11 attack, now known as "Ground Zero". There isn't much to see right now. Only construction. Next month, on September 11th, it will be the 10th anniversary of that horrible attack on our country and the day that so many people lost their innocent lives. There is a memorial being built at the sight, but it isn't complete. All that we could see were construction fences. The "feeling" of the area was a somber one, even with all of the noise around us.

More buildings are being built to replace the ones that were destroyed.

Fence around the construction area.

This building is part of the 9/11 Memorial. So are the trees just beyond the fence.

A beautiful memorial wall.

A poster of all the firefighters that lost their lives on that horrible day.

Artwork in a window near the 9/11 site.

A slight "peek" beyond the fence.

G is for GENO'S

While we were in Philadelphia, we were anxious to have an authentic Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich! There are two places that claim that they have the original sandwich. Pat's Steaks and Geno's. These two places are across the street from one another, believe it or not!! David's family has always chosen Pat's Steaks as their favorite, but here's a look at Geno's across the street!!

This is the view that we had of Geno's as we stood in line for a Pat's Steak!

H is for HOTEL

During our vacation, the only time that we stayed in a hotel was when we stayed in NYC. We knew that we wanted to stay in the Times Square District because it is central to just about EVERYTHING! We waited until the day before we were to arrive in NYC to book our hotel through Priceline. We were "hoping" to get a room for $200 or under... but.... we quickly learned that this would be impossible! I won't tell you how much we paid, but it was WORTH IT to pay the extra!! We ended up with a 4 star, right IN Times Square!!! It was awesome! We stayed at The Renaissance Hotel.

Here, we are driving... well... DAVID is driving... and looking for our hotel. That's it. Up ahead, on the right. The black building, with red. Times Square is just down the street, to the right!

These are the HUGE billboards that were right across the street from our hotel!

We are standing in the middle of Times Square. Those tall buildboards are attached to our hotel!! THAT's how close we were to Times Square!

This was our view from our hotel window, looking to the left.... up 7th Street. Check out all of those taxi's!!!

This was our view to the right. Times Square is just out of the picture, to the right!!!!

Remember those HUGE billboards across from our hotel??? Well.... They ended up being right outside our window!!!! Miranda and I had a fun idea and took this photo!!! LOL!!! That's Daniel Radcliff (aka: Harry Potter)! He's now starring in a Broadway show! 

H is for HOME ALONE

"Home Alone, Lost in New York" is one of our favorite family movies! It was on our minds a lot while we were in NYC. As we were walking... the many miles that we walked!!.... we spotted this picture and note, randomly taped to a water meter box!! Too funny!!

My Vacation A to Z ---- (F)

F is for FERRY

The very first thing that we did when we arrived in NYC, is ride the Staten Island Ferry!! It was one of the FREE things that we could do, so it was first on the list!

I still remember when I first met David and he told me about the Staten Island Ferry. Of course, 30 years ago... he still spoke with a "Northern" accent. (Now.... he is fully SOUTHERN!! **Smile**) When he told me about the ferry, he pronounced it "f-U-rry"... with a "u"!) I laughed SO HARD!! Of course, I knew what he was talking about, but I teased him about it having "fur" on it!! I have never forgotten that moment! He also had plenty of chances, back then, to make fun of my "southern" accent!

Here are a few pics of The Staten Island FURRY!!

I'll save my pics of what we saw from the ferry for later in my list!

F is for FAMILY

It was GREAT getting to see David's family!!! We don't get up north too often. Our main goal was to see Granny, David's 99 year old grandmother! -- She is "G.G." to the girls. Of course, we got to see David's mom and many other members of his family while were in Philadelphia, as well.

David's mom, and her two oldest grandbabies.

Family picture!

When we went to visit Granny, we got to go through a lot of old photographs that she had. I took pictures of quite a few of them, so that I would have them.

This is a picture of Granny's mother.... David's Great-grandmother.

This is David's Grandfather... Granny's husband.

Miranda & Ashley and their cousin, Tyler. He is 12 years old and such a cutie!!

Granny and three of her Great-grandchildren.

(In the background, you see a family friend. His son is married to Tyler's mom)

We get a picture together with Granny. She is THE sweetest woman!! We love her so much!! She is doing pretty darn good for being 99 years old!! Her short-term memory isn't there so much, but her long-term memory is TOTALLY there!

David and his Granny.

Family Picture. To the right of Miranda is David's cousin and David's Uncle & Aunt. His uncle is his David's dad's brother (Granny's youngest son). David's dad died about 8 years ago of cancer.

Miranda was a bit "creeped out" (her words) when Uncle Dale walked through the door!! He looked SO MUCH like her Grandpa!! (David's Dad)

In Virginia, we spent a few days at David's brother's house. That is Bob on the right. He has two girls that are just a little younger than Miranda. His wife took the picture. Bob wanted a family dinner photo of all of us eating dinner and Jimmy Buffet on the TV screen in the background! -- Check out all of our sun-burned faces!!! LOL!!

F is for FUDGE

Granny LOVES fudge!! So, while we were in Atlantic City, we bought her some!

F is for FISH HEADS

Once, while we were in the car with Bob and his family, the song "Fish Heads", sung by Alvin and the Chipmunks... came on the radio!!! I had never heard it before, but David and Bob broke out into singing and entertained us with their memory of the words to the song! Our girls were like..... "Ewwww!! What kind of song is that??" This song became "their song" for the rest of our visit!! LOL!!!

F is for FEDEX

While we were on our trip, FedEx was represented VERY WELL!!! David was glad to see that it was!

This was on a building that we passed by while making our way through Washington DC.

We saw FedEx Trucks EVERYWHERE while we were in NYC!!!

Even on our way out of NYC, as we passed by the Newark, New Jersey Airport.... we saw the FedEx building and some planes.

And, we saw this FedEx plane while were waiting at the Philly Airport. We saw some at the Atlanta Airport too, but I didn't get a picture of them.

F is for FLOATING and FISH

While we were at Bob's house, we spend one day hanging out on his lake. One of the things that they like to do is drop anchor and "float". Well.... I am NOT a fan of lakes!! I like to SEE what is in the water below me!!! I like swimming pools and I only like the ocean when it is CLEAR!

I didn't want to get in that lake, but it was very HOT and the only way to cool off was to get in the water. Debby (Bob's wife) talked me into getting in. The water felt good. She, Miranda, Bob, David & myself were all floating in the water... holding onto or sitting on floatation devices! .... when all of a sudden.... Miranda screams.... OUCH!!!!!! And grabs her leg!!! I am like..... "WHAT HAPPENED?????". And Debby tells Miranda.... "Shhhhhh!!! You're fine!" (She was trying to keep ME from freaking out and getting out of the water!!)

A few minutes later..... David screams... OUCH!!!! And yells... "Something BIT ME!!!"  Now, I'm starting to FREAK OUT!!! And I was about to get back in the boat, when Debby calms me down and just tells me to keep moving my feet. So I DID!!! I kicked LIKE CRAZY!!! 

Then.... Bob screams..... OUCH!!!!!! And THAT is when I got OUT OF THE WATER!!!

These pics were taken before I got out of the water. You can see Miranda already OUT of the water!!! Smart girl!!

F is for FINANCIAL DISTRICT

After we rode the Staten Island Ferry, we walked over the area of NYC known as the Financial District. David really wanted to see "Wall Street".

Trinity Church was amazingly beautiful among all of those skyscrapers!

One of my favorite pictures!

The other side of The New York Stock Exchange building.

We had NO IDEA that the stocks were taking a huge dump that day!!

F is for FAO SCHWARZ

Miranda really wanted to see this giant toy store, although.... it wasn't as big as it appears to be on TV!

These "Harry Potter" dolls were pretty neat!

"The Big Piano" as seen in the movie "Big" with Tom Hanks.

My girls were like...... "I'm not taking my shoes off and putting my feet on that nasty thing!!"

Lego "Indiana Jones"

The girls with Lego Statue of Liberty

F is for FOX NEWS

On Friday morning, we were trying to find one of the morning news shows to watch and maybe meet the news anchors as they greeted the guests outside thier studios.... but, both ABC & NBC were having concerts going on, so that was a "no go". We ended up stumbling upon another, "smaller" concert outside of the Fox News studio!! We saw a stage and not very many people in front of it, so we got excited!!! As we got closer, we learned that it was a guy named Matt Nathanson. My girls knew who he was. David and I did not. He was just beginning to play when we got there and I DID recognize the first song that he sang... but, I can't tell you now what it was!

Behind us.... THIS guy was being interviewed LIVE!! David recognized him from Fox Business News. We learned that he was reporting on the Stock Market "dump" from the day before.

We were hungry, so we walked across the street to get our NYC bagel!