Wednesday

The 2 days of training for work has really put a dent in my blogging time!!! The training was ok, but most of it didn't apply to what I do, but I do like to know what's going on around the schools and to be involved with different programs when I can be. Our school system is extremely involved with PBS (Positive Behavior Support) and is trying to get it working right in all of our schools. The idea is to encourage the positive behavior rather than focus on punishing the negative behavior, which with 85% of kids will lead to using positive behavior. Of course, I work with the other 15%. I still don't have to go back to work until August 6, but signed up for one other day of training next week.

I got my IPhone yesterday!! It took a week for it to come in, which isn't bad. I ordered the 16GB white phone and most people ordered the 8GB black phone and theirs are way more backordered than mine. I am still figuring out what all it can do, but it is very cool. My biggest project so far is figuring how to put ringtones on it. Apparently you have to buy a song (or use one you've already bought) and then make a short ringtone out of it and BUY the shorter version! Crazy! I only want a couple, so it's no big deal, but when I tried it, it didn't work! So, that will keep me busy today.

We were up late last night dealing with the issue with our boys again. Stacy & Bryce came over and we talked with them for awhile. The 3rd boy did something beyond what Cameron & Bryce did and it could cause some trouble down the road, so we are going next week to be "proactive" and have the boys admit what they did. I hope that the person we are talking to will appreciate the boys' honesty and help this be a teaching experience, but we aren't sure what will happen. I do think this is the right thing to do, so it's what we are doing. I called the other boy's parents yesterday and he is welcome to come with us, but if he doesn't, I let them know that we will be naming names.

Walter & I went to Cathy & Brent's for dinner last night. She cooked spaghetti and it was really good! I didn't go back on my diet until today, so I ate spaghetti AND had ice cream for dessert! Yum!! I have gained back 4 lbs. since I messed up my diet on Saturday, so i'm back on it today and trying to figure out how to add back carbs without going crazy.

Questions & Comments:
Lesley asked when we are going to New York. We are leaving on Friday, August 29th & coming back on Monday, September 1. Cameron will not be going with us. As far as my brother-in-law's bay house, it probably holds A LOT of people!! It is huge! It is built off the ground, so it is only one story, but underneath the house is set up with tables & chairs everywhere to hold lots of people. He even put an elevator in the house!

I hope you all have a great day!

It's Friday!!

I went and ordered my IPhone today and I am so excited!!! Nobody has them in stock and it will take 10 - 21 days to come in, which should work out with my August birthday!! I watched a 30 minute video on all of the features of the phone and it is incredible! I can't wait to get it! Happy birthday to me!!!

Walter & our neighbor, Allen, are working hard this morning on our screened porch! It is really going to make a difference, not to mention, make it possible to actually sit on the porch when we want to. Between birds slamming into the window (yes, that still happens daily), mosquitos, bugs, and the weather, it is really unpleasant to try to sit out there. Also, my cats will be able to go out on the porch and soak up some sun. We are going to get some white rocking chairs to put out there and that is really going to look nice. I'll take some pictures of what they get done today.
I called the court in Harris County, TX this morning and JP's co-defendant's attorney is apparently dying and has to be reappointed, so that trial is reset, but I don't know the date yet. If it's after JP's trial, I could care less what happens, but if he is tried first, I will have someone there to know what is going on. It would have been nice if both trials really happened in the summer while i'm off of work, but as usual, I just deal with it as it comes. Something really weird that the court man told me is that they don't even know which trial will start on the day one is scheduled. He said there will be 4 or 5 scheduled and when the attorneys show up, they all go in a back room with the judge and he decides which one is most ready to start. Yikes. JP's attorney is top notch and has a great relationship with the court, so maybe that will help us somehow.

I am very proud of myself for saving some money today!!! I was looking at new planners yesterday because mine is expiring and thought about trying to find an online planner that would work good for me. Walter suggested I try google's calendar, so I did, and I LOVE it!! I can access it online and print it if I need to! And it will automatically update birthdays & things for me. Yeah!

Questions & Comments:

Hilltop closes a couple of times a year so that they can take a vacation! It is a family run restaurant and I guess they don't think their employees can manage without them or maybe want to give everyone a vacation?? They also randomly close when they have family events (like graduations, wedding receptions) at the restaurant. Must be nice!!

Thanks to everyone for the comments on my bookcases. They aren't actually white, but a cream color that matches the trim in our house as well as our kitchen appliances. Here is a picture of the kitchen.
I hope you all have a nice Friday!!

You KNOW what night it is!!!

It's STEAK NIGHT!!!! It's my most favorite night of the week!!!! Unfortunately, Cathy & Brent left for New York this morning, so Walter & I will be on our own, but we will enjoy ourselves anyway!!!! AND, when Cathy gets back, she will know if our Labor Day plans are on for New York where Brent's boss let's them borrow a beach house on Long Island!! All we would have to pay for is the airfare, so i'm crossing my fingers!!! My mom will sure be proud of me because she always says I need to get "out of my box" and this summer, I sure have done that!! The quote and picture above fits me to a tee!

Today is also the day that my housekeeper comes, so I do my best to make plans so that i'll be gone all morning. Today, I'm going to my mom's to visit and have lunch at our favorite restaurant in their town, Magnolia Cafe. My mom lives about 1 hour & 15 minutes from me, so it's a good little way out there, but it is SO nice that they are not still 9 hours away in Big Canoe, Georgia. They lived there for about 15 years and have been back in Louisiana for about 4. I've mentioned before that my mom was recently diagnosed with a small brain aneurysm and it scares me more than I can say, but she is being monitored closely by her neurologist and his team.

I lost another pound!!!! I am at 151!! That makes NINE pounds that I have lost in 13 days!! Yay! I only have 4 to go and i'm so excited!!!

WebMD had a good article yesterday comparing low fat diets, low carb diets, and Mediterranean diet. I don't know what a Mediterranean diet is, but if I can eat all my meals at Albasha, i'm in! Low carb dieters tended to lose more weight initially, but in the end, all the dieters lost weight and the issue is maintaining the weight loss. Over 24 months, low fat dieters lost an average of 6.5 lbs, Mediterranean dieters lost an average of 10 lbs. and low carb dieters lost an average of 10.3 lbs. Low carb diets help with HDL (good cholesterol), while the Mediterranean was helpful to those with diabetes, leaving them with better blood sugar and insulin measures. Anywho, I like to know the facts, so it was an interesting story to me. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20080716/diet-debate-3-top-plans-go-toe-to-toe. And being who I am, of course I looked up the Mediterranean-style diet, which is basically a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and healthy oils, such as those found in fish, olives, and nuts.

I called a customer service person at AT&T about the IPhone 3G monthly service charges after a salesman at Walter's job told him his monthly service charge is $120!! Woah! But fortunately, to add it to my service since we already have the family plan and unlimited texting will only be $30 month. Yeah, I know, ONLY $30, but hey, i'm worth it!!

A few funny moments with my little friends yesterday:

Before they left home, Payton called and asked, "can we bring Lucy to your house?" Lucy is their teacup poodle and I said, "no." He called back 5 minutes later. "Do you want a cat?" I said, "no." He said, "well, can we bring our cat to your house??" I said, "NO, and if you need to spend more time with your dog or cat, then STAY HOME!!!" He said, "no, I don't care about them!"

They were all 4 in the pool and Camille was asking for someone to push her around the pool on a float, but everyone was playing by themselves and didn't want to push her. She shouted at Payton, "YOU ARE SO SELFISH!!!!!" We got to have a little talk about how SHE was the selfish one for expecting everyone to stop what they are doing for her!

Payton does not eat anything. Literally. Anything. He eats Whales crackers, waffles with no syrup, and cheese pizza. He doesn't eat ANYTHING from any fast food restaurant. He doesn't eat pudding, popcorn, macaroni & cheese, chicken nuggets, ANYTHING. This has been a life long issue with him and whenever they go to other people's houses, people always think they will change him and FORCE him to eat, but he will sit at the table until he goes to sleep. It is a control issue, in my opinion, but i'm not out to "fix" him in the short time I spend with him. When I told Walter that the kids wanted to come over, the first thing he said is "well, they can come but Payton is going to have to eat....." and I stopped him. Noooooo, this isn't my issue and I will gladly feed him cheese pizza. But the funny part is, upon request, Payton will LICK the bottom of his SHOE and not mind it at all, but he wouldn't put Coco Puff cereal in his mouth to save his life.

Camille & Ava came over wearing their bathing suits, so when it was time to get out of the pool and get dressed, between them they only brought 1 pair of panties!! Camille thought Ava would bring some extras, and Ava only brought 1 pair! Once Walter got home, I had to go out and buy panties!!

Questions & Comments:
Payton did wake up at 5:30, so I got up and took a bath so that I could get downstairs and fix him something to eat. I got out of the bathtub, came back downstairs and he was sleeping on the sofa and slept until 9:45! Nobody else got up until after 7am, but at least I managed to get a bath in before they were all up.

A question I was asked was about Elizabeth's awkward baby shower - what was my answer to the "who are you & how do you know Elizabeth" game. Keep in mind that her adoptive mother was there and I had very recently met them. As the people went around a circle answering the question, my friend, Lesley, and I whispered back & forth about what to say. Lesley was sitting before me, so she gets the question first. She answers that she is Lesley and knows Elizabeth through me! Good answer, but it didn't do anything for my anxiety! So, I said, "I'm Dawn and I'm a special friend of the family." I felt SO stupid!!!! Elizabeth just laughed and said "that's my biological mom!" After the shower, knowing there was ANOTHER shower coming up soon, Elizabeth & I talked and she said she would make a point to be sure NOBODY played that game again. And personally, nobody ever had before and hasn't again, at least in my experience!!!

And yes, Lesley! I do remember when we were at the hospital when Landen was first born!!! I was very honored that you not only went to the baby shower with me but also wanted to see my little grand baby!!! Here is a picture of that day and I don't remember seeing this in the 300 pictures I put on your cd!!

Also, Lesley wants to know what the 3G in the IPhone stands for? Hmmm, probably the 3 grand that it will cost me in fees to get it activated???? Nah, maybe since this is the 2nd IPhone, they know that once I blow my money on this one, they will make number 3 and say GOTCHA!!! Ha Ha! Well, a google search shows that it stands for "Third Generation" so I wasn't all that far off! I should probably hold out for the IPhone 200G, but I really want one now!

To HotTubLizzy - yes, certainly you can be replaced in all the pictures from yesterday so that you can be the one enjoying yourself. And yeah, maybe not the ones in Walter's lap cause people just might not understand!!!

And Tam, my husband built the mantle for the fireplace and we hired a cabinet maker to build the cabinets, but Walter designed them, hung them, and I painted them. Here a picture of the whole thing, but keep in mind that we have NOT decorated the shelves all the way out of lack of things to put on them, so they look sort of goofy in places. And posting this picture can really open me up to a whole different post about the things ON the bookcase. Walter is a bit eccentric and I'm just used to that. We have everything up there from a trombone, to an old camera and book collection, to a Hillary Clinton nutcracker!

Molly mentioned that she can't diet because she loses 2 lbs and then becomes invincible and gains 6 more. I am the same way, but I suggest trying Atkins if you haven't already. The results are so immediate that you end up wanting to stay on the diet!! It is the only diet I have ever lost more than a pound or two on.

I hope you all have a great day!!