Almost Christmas

Only 12 days to go until Christmas. Tke kids are getting restless waiting. I have been so busy with school I still have to put the tree up. Although I did put the lights in the window and hung the socks. Wednesday is my last day of classes. I think I will celebrate by putting the tree up. Merry Christmas to all that reading this. oh yeah, have a happy new year.

Final Exam

Oh my gosh! What is going to happen next? Will someone be killed? Will they get together in the end? Will they find the murderer? I need to know now. I think these things as I am enjoying my favorite hobby. As you may have guessed, it is reading. I love to read. Whenever I have a spare moment there is usually a book or magazine in my hands. I even read during commercials when I am watching tv. I have always loved to read. When I was in elementary school I couldn't go to the library until 4th grade, but my older sister would bring home books to me. Since the first grade this has been my hobby. I usually read suspenseful books, mystery books, or romance books. Each type has its own qualities.

My favorite type of book to read would be a good suspenseful book. I love the not knowing what is going to happen next. I have actually stayed up all night reading a whole book because I couldn't wait to find out what happens at the end. Now with school and four kids staying up all night isn't such a good idea. With a good suspenseful book I carry it around with me until I am done. I read a paragraph or page when I can fit it in. I even read when I am making supper. Now that's a page turner.

Another type of book I enjoy reading is a mystery book. These are kind of like the suspenseful books because I don't know what is going to happen. Although mystery books aren't always as page-turning as the suspenseful books. I like to read a mystery book at night with just a small lamp on beside me. It really sets the scene for mystery. With mystery books I know I am going to try to figure out who did it and that can be fun to do while I am reading it. Sometimes I am actually right about "whodunit".

I also enjoy reading a good romance book now and then. It has to be one that sucks me right in from the very beginning. I know it is sappy but I like to read a story about a couple that has found true ever-lasting love and has overcome every imaginable obstacle. I like romance books when the couple are so opposite I just can't see them together. In the end when everything is worked out it just makes me happy. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. I guess I am a sucker for romance.

I am glad reading is my favorite hobby. My kids see me reading and they love to look at books all the time as well. Reading lets me see other peoples lives, even if it is make believe. In a way, reading transports me to the book. I feel I am the one hiding in the alley, trying to catch the killer. Or I am the one who doesn't know who is stalking me, I can't trust anyone. Or with the romance books, I am the one being wooed by some tall, dark handsome man. I guess you could say I live vicarously through books. Enough writing, time to go do some reading.

Mylinda & the cat

Last night as I was sitting in bed putting my hand cream on I was thinking of something Mylinda did to the cat. About a year ago, I thought Mylinda was upstairs playing. She was 2 at the time. I thought to myself, what a good girl, playing so well in her room. After a while I went to check on her. Halfway up the stairs I could smell something good. As I turned the corner I could see my bedroom door open. There was Mylinda, putting my hand cream on the cat. Missy (the cat) was sitting in my rocking chair, while Mylinda was rubbing the hand cream all over her. The hand cream is Avon's rich moisture. It is definitely rich and thick. She turned and smiled at me, "I 'm fixing Missy". I couldn't believe that dumb cat sat there and let her do that. I had to give the cat a bath. It wasn't easy getting the cream out of her fur. She smelled like the hand cream for a few weeks. After that, I put a childproof knob on my door. Now she can't get in!!!

evaluation of the semester

This semester started a little rough for me. It was really different using the internet and the blog for writing assignments. I am from the old school where I need to have the paper, gotta see the paper and have it in my hands. I am over that now. I now find just sitting down at the computer and typing away works for me now. I really liked how you set up the course. I liked being able to redo assignments until they were ready. I find that really worked for me, especially since my writing was so rusty.

I feel that my writing has improved. At the beginning, it seemed like it took me a long time to write something. I was always redoing my essays. Now I am more comfortable writing essays. It still isn't my thing, mind you, but I think I have improved. Greatly.

Tony and the ladder

My oldest son Tony was 6 at the time this happened. We had a long extension ladder laying flat in the yard. Tony and his brother Mikey, at the time 4, were outside playing. I heard all this commotion and looked out the window. Tony somehow managed to move the ladder so it was propped up on toys about 2 feet off the ground. I don't know how he did it, the ladder is heavy and awkward. The reason he was yelling was because he put his big wheel 0n top of the ladder and was trying to go across it. His wheel got stuck in between the rungs and the big wheel was sideways with him still on it. Did I run right out to help him? No, I got the camera of course. It was definitely a kodak moment. He was fine. I have pictures to prove it. The things kids do!

end of semester

I can't believe the end of the semester is in sight. 3 months ago I thought it would never come. It seems like making it to the half way point was the hardest. After that it has gone by relatively fast. Overall it has been a good experience. All my teachers are decent. I hope my teachers next semester are as nice.

job essay

What have I got myself into? Am I going to be able to handle this job? Kinda late now. I thought this when I had my first job, picking potatoes. I also think it now, as a mother. Both jobs are alike in many ways. Both are dirty and hard jobs. You enter the job with enthusiasm then slowly lose it. It always seems that in both jobs I am counting down until the end of the day.

This shouldn't be too hard. I get to be outside in the fresh air and earn some money to boot. It is the fall and in Aroostook County that means potato picking time. I am 10 years old. At first it was so exciting. The field boss gave me all my own tickets to put on the full barrels. He had little flags he used to section the area that I was supposed to pick. It was kind of tricky at first, learning which rows to put the barrel in. It is every other so the truck can come through and pick them up. After the potato digger goes by it is time to work. I put the basket in the middle of my knees, I'm bent over throwing the tops out of the way and putting potatoes in the basket. When it is full you carry it to the barrel and dump it in. I keep doing this until the barrel is full then I put my ticket on it. If I am fast enough I get a small break before the digger goes by my section again. It is a very dirty job. Especially if it is rainy. By the end of the day I am covered in dust and dirt. My hair is actually gritty. Being a mother is also a dirty, hard job. I start out the day with a shower and fresh clothes. It doesn't matter how careful I am I will be dirty by the end of the day. I am guaranteed to have at least a couple of snot trails on my shirt. I get these from the outbreaks the younger two when they don't get their way. They cry and their noses turn into faucets that they must rub on my shirt. I also wear whatever they are eating. I come at them with a washcloth when they are done eating but they someone manage to get their grimy hands on me. Taking care of kids and picking potatoes is a very dirty job, but someone has to do it.

My fist day on the job picking potatoes I was so gung ho. "Let's get this job done." I was eager to learn how to pick potatoes and earn some money. After the first couple of weeks I just wanted to be home on Saturdays watching the new cartoons. I was missing "Smurfs", my favorite. It also started to get cold. The only thing that made it bearable was the paycheck on Fridays. Being a mother I started out with that same "gung ho" attitude. Sleepless nights? No probelm. Endless shitty diapers? No probelm. Crying, cranky baby screaming non-stop? No probelm. After the first couple of months, I realized it was the same probelms, just a different day. The great payoff is the first time my kids would smile at me, say mom, and give kisses. The payoffs are worth it. I never get tired of them saying "I love you" to me.

Halfway through the picking season I came to dread the crack of dawn. That was the time we got started for the field. Any 10 year old who has a choice would much rather be in bed. The second my hands touched the potatoes I would be counting down til quitting time. After lunch the day seemed to pass a little faster. Now I start my day almost at the crack of dawn. I wake to my youngest, who is still in a crib, yelling "mom, mom". It gets louder and louder until I can't ignore him anymore and have to drag my butt out of bed. Then the day starts in a rush. Getting breakfast for four kids. Cleaning up breakfast dishes. Changing diapers, brushing teeth, and dressing the little ones. I still have two more meals to prepare. After lunch I start counting down until bedtime. 8:00. My magic time.

Picking potatoes was definitely an experience. I learned to persevere even when I wanted to quit. I learned responsibility and being acountable for my actions. I learned that as a 10 year old I could do a job and do it well even if if I didn't like it. Being a mother is the test of all Perseverence. It is a 24 hour job. There are no sick days or vacations. It is nonstop worrying and responsibility. I also learn new things all the time. The best thing about being a mother is... there are lifetime benefits.

I hate Mondays

Ever since I can remember I never liked Mondays. This morning was just a reminder of that. As I was getting my kids their breakfast I looked out the kitchen window and saw my car had a flat tire. It is so flat it was sitting on the rim. Not a very good way to start the day. Especially a Monday. I'll be glad when this day is over.

goldfish cracker up the nose

It never ceases to amaze me what kids will do. My son T.J., the youngest who is 2, was eating goldfish crackers. He was sitting at the dining room table, watching tv and quietly eating his goldfish. Suddenly he comes running over all upset with his finger stuck up his nose. He is trying to tell me something. His eyes were big as quarters. So I looked up his nose and saw the very end of a goldfish cracker. Obviously my fingers are too big to get up there and his just kept pushing it up further. I tried to get him to blow his nose but he is only 2. Oh well, I figured it would come out sooner or later. I put him down for his nap. Sure enough when I went in to get him, there was the remains of the cracker. All nice and dissolved, mixed in with snot. Bright orange. He was relieved it came out. I guess I was too.

example essay

Breathe deeply. Count to ten. Stop grinding your teeth. I think of these things while I am trying to control my temper. I think I am usually level-headed but some things really push my buttons. Like the time I was in the kitchen trying to make supper. I have two toddlers clinging to me while I am working away. The phone rings and my 3 year old gets it. She then refuses to give it to me because "it is for her". After much repeating I finally get the phone only to find out it is a telemarketer. After repeating myself several times I finally get them to sit at the table while I finish making supper. Of course, they are whining the whole time. Count down until 8:00, their bedtime, when I will finally have some "me" time. Whining, having to repeat myself, and lack of privacy. Those three things really push my buttons.
Whoever said the twos are terrible obviously never had a three year old. The threes are the absolute worst. There is nothing like fighting with a three year old. There is constant whining. She simply doesn’t ask for a drink of water or a snack. She shrills in a nasally high pitched voice I ‘m thirsty, I ‘m hungry. Then she doesn’t wait for you get it. She repeats it over and over. She knows I always get her a drink or snack when she needs it but she still feels the need to whine.
Another thing that really gets me is the need to repeat things over and over. When it is time to go somewhere I have to keep saying "put your shoes and jacket on". Repeatedly. I just don’t get it. The kids know you can’t go outside without shoes on but I still have to repeat myself. I have to repeat everything during the course of a day it seems. When it is time to come to the table to eat. When the kids are outside and it is time to come in. When it is time to pick up the toys. When it time to brush their teeth. EVERYTHING NEEDS REPEATING! EVERYTHING NEEDS REPEATING!
The biggest annoyance to me would have to be the lack pf privacy. When the phones rings everyone wants to know who it is and say hello. When I need to pee (or other things) I have two toddlers tagging along. They insist on sitting on the bathroom floor. They must be worried I might get lonely without them. Forget about having a conversation with another adult. There are constant interruptions. You would think I would be used to it by now, but I am not.
My kids definitely know how to push my buttons. They do it on a regular basis. No one ever said having kids would be easy. I do have to say the rewards outweigh the bad stuff. I wonder if I am going to be one of those women who when their kids are grown wish for the good, old days when they were little. I guess I ‘ll have to wait 16 years to find out.

assignment dates

It never ceases to amaze how some students are such slackers. If you are paying for the school and taking courses that you choose why wouldn't you show up? I also can't figure out why students think if they consistently miss classes and know the assignments they should be allowed to hand in late work. Is that fair to everyone else? The students who show up and hand in work on time? Those of us who are trying really hard to do a good job? I just don't get why some people are even here in college. I think it would be EXTREMELY frustrating as a teacher dealing with students like that. I think all the teachers are more than fair with letting students do redo's. There is simply no excuse to be a slacker and get the same credit as those of us who work hard.