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AuburnChick’s Newest Adventure

Take a look at the picture on the top of my blog.

It’s new.

Why?

Because Yours Truly just got home from another adventure.

For the next week or so, I’ll be writing about each day of my adventure.

I’d start today, but I’m recovering from all of the fun I had.

Plus, it’s going to take some time to upload the gagillion pictures I want to share with you.

I’ll give you a clue though…

My adventure included yarn and water.

:::AuburnChick whistles conspiratorially:::

(Facebook friends…don’t spoil the surprise!!)

On This Day in History…

…the doughnut cutter was patented.  The year was 1872, and the place was Maine.  The inventor was John F. Blondel.

In honor of this no-so-famous day, go out and have yourself a doughnut.

While you’re at it, have one for me since I’m not eating sweets.

What Lies Ahead…

Observe…

Those are the teacher editions for the five classes I will be teaching this next school year.

Five different grades…6th through 10th…

A lot of lesson planning ahead of me.

I.

Can’t.

Wait.

If you need me, you’ll be able to find me…in my bed with the covers pulled over my head…

For just a little while longer.

Out for a Ride

The simple joys of being a dog…

Going for car rides…

Molly was a happy dog during her recent outing!

Dreams

A couple of weeks ago, Joyce posted a bucket list type of question on her weekly Wednesday Hodgepodge meme.  I didn’t participate that week, so I did not answer that question.

However, I’ve been thinking about it…especially after finishing my EPI classes.

I don’t really have a bucket list, per se.  I don’t like that phrase, quite honestly.  It sounds a little morbid.

I guess it’s semantics.  I prefer to think of such items on a list as “dreams.”

I think that when you get married at a young age, you often have dreams that go unfulfilled…especially if you become a mother early into your marriage when you are already young to begin with.

One of my long-held dreams was to finish college.

I accomplished that three or four years ago (I forget now…time marches on ever so quickly, don’t you know).

Then, I wanted to be a teacher.

As you know, I fulfilled that dream this past year.

Here is a list of some other things I would like to do:

I want to take music lessons.  I’m considering violin.  Why?  Because I find the sounds soothing, and I love the motions of drawing the bow back and forth across the strings.  If I ever start making more money, I am going to sign myself up.



I want to grow tomato plants.  Ok.  So this isn’t a huge “dream,” but it’s still something I want to do.



I want to attend Sock Summit and meet some of the designers whose patterns I’ve knit.  I especially want to meet the Yarn Harlot, Cookie A., and Anne Hanson.  All three of these ladies have either commented on my blog or replied to me via email.  I love their humor and their designing skills.  It would be an honor and privilege to sit under their tutelage…with a bunch of other knitters…at Sock Summit.  If my budget ever allows, I will treat myself to this trip.  You can count on that.


I would love to learn how to dance…a proper ballroom dance such as the waltz.  I adore music, and I do have rhythm, even if I look like a “mom” when I shake what God gave me.  I don’t care.  I love how people express themselves through dance motions, and I’d love to be able to move fluidly like that.


I want to attend a taping of So You Think You Can Dance or Dancing With the Stars.



I’d love to write a book.  About what, you might ask?  I have no idea.  I’m thinking about this.


I would love to be on the show The Amazing Race.  I envision doing this show with Super Sis.  I could see us praying before each leg and, quite simply, having a terrific time.



I want to attend a big NASCAR race and meet some of my favorite drivers.



I’d love to attend a World Cup game or an Olympic event such as ice skating or gymnastics.


I would love to visit the Holy Land and walk where Jesus walked.  The Middle East is so volatile right now and will continue to be until Jesus returns.  I’m not so sure it’s safe enough to go, but I would still love to be able to.


I’d love to go on a mission trip.


What about you? What kinds of dreams do you have?

A Little Bit of Pampering

Last week, I took a day off from my staying up late/sleeping in/eating routine to play with my friend, Barbara.

I’ve told you about Barbara before.

She’s my friend and mentor.

She’s simply wonderful.

To thank her for her support over the last couple of years, I asked if I could treat her to lunch.

She readily accepted.

The night before we were going to meet, I had a strong desire for additional pampering, so I texted her and asked if she was game.

Now, because you don’t know Barbara personally, I must explain a few things about her.

First of all, she’s a tiny thing…cute as a button.

She’s also a talker, which is why we’re good friends, I suspect.

She’s an amazing teacher…even winning Teacher of the Year for the district a few years ago.  She’s also been recognized as a Distinguished Educator.  She has no idea what this means, but she has the certificate all framed up.

She’s also very humble.

Barb is a hoot, and I really enjoy being around her.

So we met up around noon on Wednesday and had a blast…

Getting our tootsies worked on…

I know, I know.

A foot model I’ll never be.  My toes are not exactly pretty, but they are so much better looking with the French manicure that I had done.

Barb got a flower painted on her toes.

Another thing you need to know about Barb is that she has great fashion sense.  She’s given me a couple of bags of clothes before, and she had another bag waiting for me on Wednesday.  I had picked up a bag of clothes from Guy Friend’s mom, so I felt doubly blessed.

Not only did Barb give me clothes, but she also had other goodies waiting for me…

Those are a few of Barb’s baubles…costume jewelry that she did not want any more.

I felt like I’d stepped into Kohl’s.

Chicky and I had fun matching up the pairs of earrings.

We also had a small tiff about who was getting what.

I won.

I went through the collection, pulled out what I wanted, and put the rest in a bag to donate to Good Will.

After our pedicures, Barb and I went to a local restaurant, where we ate some fantastic black bean soup.

After we parted ways, I headed back to the beach to the Ann Taylor Loft, where I picked up a lovely blouse for $9…marked down from the original price of $36.50.

I didn’t get home until almost 5pm.

It had been a great day of pampering!!

Let Us Never Forget…

I live in an area that houses two bases from two different branches of the military.

It’s not easy to forget about the sacrifice that our soldiers are making.  In fact, I’ve taught students who had parents serving tours of duty in the Middle East.

On this 4th of July, I thought I would post a video for the Dixie Chicks’s song, Traveling Soldier.

The words of this song never fail to bring tears to my eyes…especially more so now because my friend, Jane, lost her first husband to the Vietnam War.

So, while we’re busy barbecuing with family and watching the night skies light up with brilliant flashes of color, let us never forget those serving all around the world, lighting up the skies in a much different way and often making the ultimate sacrifice…their lives.


A Good Site For Books

I recently, with the help of a friend, discovered the site, Good Reads.

It is a place where you can keep track of the books you’ve read, are reading, or want to read.

You can post your own reviews, or you can read others’ reviews.

You can connect with your friends through links with other social web sites and receive updates on what everyone is reading.

Because I am getting back into reading, and because I’m an English teacher, I am finding multiple uses for this site.  I frequently forget which books I’ve read…especially if I get hooked on a particular author.  This will be a wonderful way for me to keep things straight.

Check it out…see what you think!

(And no, I’m not being paid to promote this site.  I just like to pass along neat links. 😉 )

I Think I’ll Pass

You might remember my scathing review of the movie Transformers 2.

This was the one and only time I’ve ever walked out of a movie.

Unless you’ve had your head covered by a pillow, you know that the third movie in the series is about to make its debut.

This movie is supposed to be much tamer in the sex department than #2; however, I’m not sure if I believe those who make this claim.

When I was searching for a picture to use for this blog, the first one that came up was of a girl in her underclothes.

So much for less sex.

I don’t know what your summer movie plans may include.

I can tell you one thing for sure.

Mine will not include this movie.

I have lost my respect for the movie industry.

I have also lost my respect for such actors as Shia, who allow themselves to be paid by employers that push sex as a selling tool.

So sayeth AuburnChick.

😀

Blog Lovin’ Award

A few days ago, I received a very sweet comment from a fellow blogger who writes Mushy Cloud.  She  wanted to let me know that she had bestowed an award on me…the Blog Lovin’ Award…

Thank you, my friend!  I consider it an honor to know that you read my blog and find it enjoyable.  🙂

Along with the award comes the mandate to share seven random facts about myself.  Seeing as I am a random person, this shouldn’t be too difficult.

  1. I thumb through magazines backwards…from the end of the issue to the beginning.  If I see an article that strikes my fancy, I’ll find the beginning of it and then read it properly.  Weird, I know, but hey, I’m AuburnChick.  I don’t do normal.
  2. I can’t hiccup with my mouth closed.  This drives my family insane.
  3. I loathe repetitive noises like pencil tapping or the drumming of fingers on any surface.
  4. I remember standing up in my crib…when I was a baby.  I don’t care what “experts” tell you about babies not remembering things.  I KNOW this is a real memory.  I also know that I didn’t have any logical thoughts at the time, like “Hey, I’m a baby, and I’m holding onto the side of my crib.”  But I do know that it was me and not some contrived memory.
  5. When I was a child, I contemplated the following vocations:  child psychologist, archaeologist, and accountant (yeah, right…me and numbers…ROFL!!).
  6. If I put my hands on my hip, I am flexible enough that another person can easily pull my arms together so that my elbows touch.  When I was a child, we called this game “Angel or Devil.”  Apparently, I am an angel.  😀

Ok…so now I’m supposed to give this award to fifteen people; however, I blog hop frequently and don’t regularly read fifteen blogs, so I’m going to do as many as I can.

  1. Rebecca (Knit By God’s Hand)
  2. Tiffany (A Walk By Faith)
  3. Mary (Life in a Small Town)
  4. Taylor (The Lumberjack’s Wife)
  5. Susan (Immunosuppressed Knitter)
  6. April (Straight From The Heart)
  7. Shelly (Wool and Chocolate)
  8. Christina (Blue Ridge Knitter)
  9. Tigger (Life)
  10. Marty (Meditations from the Marty Mind)
  11. BigTimeGleek (Must Love Glee)
  12. Julie (Juliece’s Blog)