My new fishies

Don't worry! Petunia's still alive and somewhat kickin'!

However, these new fishies warrant a story.

My fishtank has been empty for a while, because I have not had the chance to get to the pet store and buy some new fish. The other day, I thought about getting some fish, when I noticed that my filter was no longer running. So, I went to the pet store yesterday, bought fish, and I picked up a new filter pump. I bring the fish to their new home, and set up the pump.

To set up the pump, you need to to transfer a few parts from the old filter to the new pump. Having done this before, I knew what to do, transferred the parts, and plugged in the pump. As soon as I plugged it in, there was a very loud CRUNCH! I unplugged the pump and took it apart. The brand new pump DESSIMATED the magnet on the gear I transferred.

I brought the gear and pump back to the pet store. The very helpful man told me the magnet was stressed and that caused the loud crunching noise, and that the new pump is fine. I bought a new gear and took it home.

Just out of curiosity, I put the new gear in the old pump....

and it worked...

now I have two working pumps for my one fishytank.

5 new fishies
2 working pumps
and a partridge in a freaking pear tree...

My new obsession....

I have seasons One and Two on DVD, and I can't stop watching...seriously...I'm addicted

grrrrrr..........

I am taking a short break from entering my grades into the online program my school uses.

Could I even tell you how aggravating this is?

Well I am going to tell you anyways...

1). The preprogrammed comments never seem to say what you really want to say...such as...where's the comment that says "you should have never procreated in the first place"?!? Or..."how can you seriously forget to bring your instrument 11 times in one semester"?!?! Or..."being the adult, you need to wake up on time to bring your child to school on time, so that they will stop missing my class". Do you see my dilemna? They're just not what I am looking for!!

2). The program keeps failing, and after I have spent WAY too long trying to enter in grades and comments for an entire class, it boots me out, and i have to do it ALL OVER AGAIN!!! I am seriously thinking of writing them all down and handing them to the principal tomorrow morning, and telling HER to do it...

3). The program takes WAY TOO LONG to think between commands. I could seriously do this all by hand WAY faster!

4). Students who left our district LAST YEAR are still in the program, so that I have repeatedly entered in grades, to find out that I have given students who haven't been in my class since last April are now getting A's in my class...

UGH!!!!

And that being said...

back to the grind I go...

Caffeine..............

Yesterday morning, I pulled up to the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru speaker to place my order.

I went to open my window, and it was frozen shut! I can hear the lady repeatedly asking if she can help me, and I have a line of cars behind me.

I had to pull my car forward to give me clearance to open my door, which I still couldn't open all the way because of the speaker, and I had to yell my order over my window several times.

That was the easy part, then I had to pull up to the window, where I had to open the door, and get out of the car to give my money and get my coffee from the hysterically laughing woman inside Dunkin' Donuts...

The lengths I go through to get coffee...

PS-I am glad to see I am NOT the only one to have these difficulties...

Interesting...

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 40% Conservative, 60% Liberal

Social Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 50% Conservative, 50% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 25% Conservative, 75% Liberal

Ethics: 0% Conservative, 100% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Where do you fall?

I was surprised by some of these answers...

Granted, this is not a very scientific survey, but it's fun none-the-less!

Where do you belong?

You Belong in Dublin

Friendly and down to earth, you want to enjoy Europe without snobbery or pretensions. You're the perfect person to go wild on a pub crawl... or enjoy a quiet bike ride through the old part of town.

What European City Do You Belong In?

first rehearsal

The first rehearsal of Free to Be was a success (at least in my book). The kids seem excited (however left-footed and off-key they may be) ;-)

I had fun...that's all that counts, right?

I feel so sophisticated

Since the boy won his fantasy footballl league, he treated me to a VERY nice dinner tonight!!

We went to Papa Razzi in Concord. We've never been there before, and although it is a little pricey, it was VERY good!!

I had the RAVIOLI AL POMODORO stuffed with spinach and ricotta in a light basil-tomato sauce.

He had the PETTI DI POLLO boneless, skinless chicken breast grilled with fresh lemon and virgin olive oil.

We split a Caesar salad and some breadsticks. We had a yummy bottle of Pinot Grigio. Also, we split an AWESOME dessert. It didn't have chocolate in it, which means I know some of you wouldn't consider it a dessert, but it was good. A scoop of vanilla gelato covered in fruit sauteed in a brown sugar sauce....sort of like bananas foster with other fruit. VERY YUMMY

Great way to end a weekend..........stuffed to the gills........

My mom's Christmas gift

My sister and I took our Mom to a salon in Andover for her Christmas present. She got her hair dyed and they blew it straight. My sister got her hair cut, and I got a pedicure.

Before the salon, we took her out to brunch, and then for a martini. We had a lot of fun, and I think my mom's hair came out looking great!

The reason we picked the Friday after Christmas was because that was the day of my brother's Holly Ball (big bash that the different armed forces schools throw).

Her hair looked great for the party. I have a few shots of my brother and his girlfriend getting ready for the ball, and my mom and stepdad too.

how cool is this house?????

I couldn't even get all the lights in one shot!!! This house is over in Bradford, near the Ward Hill onramp onto 495. There were even more lights up on the side lawn, as well as behind the house! I can't imagine what the electricity bill must be (or how the neighbors can get to sleep with all those lights!)

What about setting them all up (or taking them all down?)

It's over the top, and I love it!!

My collection

I bought the nativity scene (Mary, Joseph, Jesus, a shephard and some sheep) for myself right before Christmas. My aunt bought me the angel, the shephard that is kneeling with the goat, the camel, and some more sheep. My brother got me a metal star backdrop (not in the picture), and my mom said that the three "wise guys" (as she calls them) are on order.

I can't wait to have the whole thing set up for next year's holiday!!!

A sweet gift

They don't look as pretty now, but I received a beautiful bouquet of flowers for Christmas from one of my favorite family of students. I teach all three daughters, and they are all wonderful!

Our new living room

The boy and I spent at least an hour of New Year's Eve rearranging the living room furniture, and here is the result:

We moved our couch across the room, the loveseat forward, creating a space behind it to put our shoes, etc. It seems to have made our living room a bit larger.

Back after a loooong hiatus

1 new hard drive, a new battery, and a new power cord later....



I AM BACK!!!!!!!



My computer is practically brand new now...



I didn't have to pay for the new pieces (it was covered under my warranty), but I should send them my cell phone bill for the 5+ hours I have spent on the phone with them...ugh...



Where should I start????



Christmas was great, New Year's was great, the first week back to school was looooooooooong.



I have started the loooooong task of the musical....auditions were this past Wed/Thurs. Call-backs are on Tuesday. The show is March 16-18...ask me for info and join in the fun of...