tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36700982168358052322024-02-07T20:05:26.536-06:00A Life in the SticksIma Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-15509978217063369942010-07-08T04:28:00.000-05:002010-07-08T04:28:05.782-05:00Quick Note<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just wanted to let anyone who is still following along that we are vacationing in Hawaii at the moment! This is the first chance I have gotten to get online, and I am only staying for a minute. We have been here since last Friday and will stay until next (the 16th) Friday.</span> <div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This place is absolutely amazing! And I will have so many pictures to share that I am not sure where I am going to be able to start! I love it here, but am missing home just a bit. (Not enough that I am willing to get back on an airplane right now though!) </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many many things still to see.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am trying to keep the fact that both my dad and I are unemployed out of my thoughts, but sometimes the worry is just too much to push aside. Thank you to all who have offered thoughts and prayers on our account concerning both the joblessness and the vacation. It means a lot.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Gotta go get some sleep so that we can get up early and see what else there is to see! It is nearly 11:30pm here, which makes it about 4:30am at home. I have pretty well gotten myself on Hawaii time by now, which is good since the first couple of days seemed a lot longer than they actually were!</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hope everyone is have a great summer so far. Go spend it with someone you love!</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-17365064463003188142010-06-25T11:57:00.000-05:002010-06-25T11:57:57.364-05:00Friday Fragments<div align="center"><a href="http://mrs4444awards.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-fragments.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mommy's Idea" src="http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w323/CarbaraB/scan00022.jpg" /></a></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Time for another edition of Friday Fragments hosted by <a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2010/06/friday-fragments-100th-edition.html">Mrs. 4444</a>. And, today is a special day. It is the 100th Edition of Friday Fragments. Not <strong>my</strong> 100th edition, but hers. Go on over there, say hey and congrats and let her know that I sent you! For that matter, join in on this momentous occasion!</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- This is the last Friday of summer school. I have to come back until about noon on Monday and then will be free to leave. I am glad to be nearly done.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- I am in the process of writing a letter to the school board in order to try to save my school nurse position. Crazy Man thinks I am totally nutso to try to keep a job that has been causing me grief for the past several months. But I just feel so strongly that all of these kids and the staff too, deserve to have a nurse available to them. Do I think this will work? No. I don't think that the district wants to have a nurse badly enough that they are willing to dig into their own pockets to pay for one. It was fine as long as someone else was paying.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- My dad is searching for a new job too. I asked him the other day if he wanted to carpool to the unemployment office with me! He just laughed. His plant closure has been on the news because they treated them so dirty about it all. I really don't know what we are all going to do with two of us out of a job at the same time. We don't live together, but we try to take care of one another.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- Next Friday, Crazy Man, The Boy, Little Little Brother and I will be flying to Hawaii for vacation. I have thought long and hard about canceling this trip. We have saved for 18 months for this. And that money would go a long way to getting us all through until we can find new jobs. But then I have been told that we have been saving for 18 months and it is a once in a lifetime situation. I am just so uncertain as to what to do.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- Had to order new checks the other day. This is something that I knew needed to be done, but knowing that I had at least one book left, I kept putting it off. Until I opened my checkbook two days ago and realized that I only had <strong>one</strong> check left. Evidently I can't count, huh?! At least that is what I told Crazy Man. Now I am keeping my fingers crossed that the new checks get here before I have to start paying bills for July!</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- I am still not a reliable source of transportation according to The Boy to get him to a possible job. And, everytime <strong>I</strong> go on a job interview and am asked this question, I have to laugh. Maybe that is the reason I haven't been offered a new job!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- I have been going to a Zumba class for the past few weeks. It actually seems to be reshaping my body. Of course it isn't drastic enough for others to see it, but I can tell how some of my clothes are fitting. And it isn't the all fancy type of Zumba you see on those infomercials. It might be except my body doesn't move in those directions! So I guess I have been going to my version of a Zumba class!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">-- Supposedly Boyfriend will be taking some family pictures of us this weekend. Something my mom asked for. Something I am not looking forward to. I hate having my picture made probably as much as The Boy does!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Hope everyone has a good weekend. Spend it those you love!</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-36208439361566694762010-06-24T12:52:00.000-05:002010-06-24T12:52:29.896-05:00Regional Air Show<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is Thursday and I have more pictures that I wanna have people look at. The only thing that has been done to them is to zoom in a little. Other than that, no touch ups to be had.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">What are they all from? This past weekend, there was an Air Show at our little regional airport. It was sooooo hot that day! And unless you brought your own shade, there was none. Unfortunately, The Boy didn't get to go with us because it was his weekend to be with the DNA Donor.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anyway, the Golden Knights parachute team and the Blue Angels were the highlights of the show. We got to the airfield around 10:30 in the morning and left around 4:30 pm. It was a lot of fun.</span></div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtNE9APYVKe58v0WrUuZW23xqPsA0BuTELhGHsE4G5UOXddpFoav86ZVPvQguNHLGZlYCF_gqoq1XJlPCnpMf_L-01SeleHlq0x3E62ePqNK5kxqoVdiBpLTgN1CNj0ALLviYBFtMSCM/s1600/Wart-Hog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtNE9APYVKe58v0WrUuZW23xqPsA0BuTELhGHsE4G5UOXddpFoav86ZVPvQguNHLGZlYCF_gqoq1XJlPCnpMf_L-01SeleHlq0x3E62ePqNK5kxqoVdiBpLTgN1CNj0ALLviYBFtMSCM/s400/Wart-Hog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been told that this is a Warthog. Ok...if you say so!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pdBVW1N26CbDOD38BwlA3Sfk4scfJagY5A94ZjB5pBUihr4Gg7B1VfQdaUsV_25bD00XlzDkYTWd1IXCfopwAZeLvWJCBY7AfNf9C-Zb8dWHaZ-tniDDuM_Nl3526ZuQREeaci7wXPk/s1600/WingWalker+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9pdBVW1N26CbDOD38BwlA3Sfk4scfJagY5A94ZjB5pBUihr4Gg7B1VfQdaUsV_25bD00XlzDkYTWd1IXCfopwAZeLvWJCBY7AfNf9C-Zb8dWHaZ-tniDDuM_Nl3526ZuQREeaci7wXPk/s400/WingWalker+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you notice, there is someone standing on the top wing of this plane. Her husband is flying the plane in all sorts of directions and she is acting like it is no big deal. Talk about trusting your spouse!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VNmzjAaiRwpD_M1WIH8KajtjM1ry5Vreqil6vvYMZqpVv2XGYBfJVGLsuzvP78nbk6YO8zyFBmW4Bx-FYyT14ZjOgQ-GKYh4-Mm2Pn4qMRNa0qj4U-8SJPuDgvkq5NvV-mg64dvXUW8/s1600/WingWalker+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0VNmzjAaiRwpD_M1WIH8KajtjM1ry5Vreqil6vvYMZqpVv2XGYBfJVGLsuzvP78nbk6YO8zyFBmW4Bx-FYyT14ZjOgQ-GKYh4-Mm2Pn4qMRNa0qj4U-8SJPuDgvkq5NvV-mg64dvXUW8/s400/WingWalker+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUn3ButVqRMvfrwvKxrlelKMWIwGUsVQIYveCZqa2G7oYdIwKF3l1Pg0hdkZWCtWM2C8tScP4_-mBx8vzZlXnBo8L2UXIgRbRwxIqk8uXNoYi8ztclCTL2gCVS6bjw3-fpRQmsP5Xz-8/s1600/WingWalker+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBUn3ButVqRMvfrwvKxrlelKMWIwGUsVQIYveCZqa2G7oYdIwKF3l1Pg0hdkZWCtWM2C8tScP4_-mBx8vzZlXnBo8L2UXIgRbRwxIqk8uXNoYi8ztclCTL2gCVS6bjw3-fpRQmsP5Xz-8/s400/WingWalker+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, I did not flip this picture. She is truly upside down. Outside of the plane. Like it is no problem. Yeah. She can NOT be totally sane.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKvvRGt7jcIQJAHqF_9fOyL03uGafJfWOaTAXPsfZf7l62dtARK9R-SOxgRZHAprdjpqsduLkklPQAz5kb98oW5KJ3_MnrwaMHPuOHvZeUdWAPeE8EMA1phCCf0qJH0ouobviiPaWvgQ/s1600/Freedom+Flight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKvvRGt7jcIQJAHqF_9fOyL03uGafJfWOaTAXPsfZf7l62dtARK9R-SOxgRZHAprdjpqsduLkklPQAz5kb98oW5KJ3_MnrwaMHPuOHvZeUdWAPeE8EMA1phCCf0qJH0ouobviiPaWvgQ/s400/Freedom+Flight.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is called the Freedom Flight. Or so I have been told.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUT_LcJPBthqIQAc0uCIFM79aSYhTC3wzQ7-32JSXHtwH7B7PP7YO6KOS6jbkZ3X2AyRg2nYnwPPB-z9D6Bhyphenhyphen1nULNwBVZNMDWYNQ2CLEHwPwzPZ6Ucc6wsHomCLzWWH5DLfgY6jvO1w/s1600/Corsair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPUT_LcJPBthqIQAc0uCIFM79aSYhTC3wzQ7-32JSXHtwH7B7PP7YO6KOS6jbkZ3X2AyRg2nYnwPPB-z9D6Bhyphenhyphen1nULNwBVZNMDWYNQ2CLEHwPwzPZ6Ucc6wsHomCLzWWH5DLfgY6jvO1w/s400/Corsair.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a Corsair. Not the best picture of the bunch, but I thought it was kind of cool how it seems as though there is no back ground to it. Again, I did nothing to this picture except zoom in a little.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnJ198GE9ADxgozCrzgwd7rItMUX4OwVc-sGkJEu24EhkjkJn4sf74Q5p68KqcAZzBdi6KMsMcMJzEF6xTzr-TW53FnuEG-msycOU1IsmUJBPoiJ0aNYEU_Dcq_ZG-2yd6Nj-YaDf57g/s1600/Golden+Knight+with+Flag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZnJ198GE9ADxgozCrzgwd7rItMUX4OwVc-sGkJEu24EhkjkJn4sf74Q5p68KqcAZzBdi6KMsMcMJzEF6xTzr-TW53FnuEG-msycOU1IsmUJBPoiJ0aNYEU_Dcq_ZG-2yd6Nj-YaDf57g/s400/Golden+Knight+with+Flag.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is one of the Golden Knights flying in the flag.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSN0DnH4qrg21zuZqwdsHAe3vvgfr0-AJsA8rUIABu0DcuGDajAG4A9kUEMgL7gnJI7o_RQrnNU-TGnjCA-dlYpsvYFyd7JI7iWBKYXS0h91m3pF-t9W6Q9D6PgEliQqdsC5upUyURqc/s1600/Double+Smoking+Knights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdSN0DnH4qrg21zuZqwdsHAe3vvgfr0-AJsA8rUIABu0DcuGDajAG4A9kUEMgL7gnJI7o_RQrnNU-TGnjCA-dlYpsvYFyd7JI7iWBKYXS0h91m3pF-t9W6Q9D6PgEliQqdsC5upUyURqc/s400/Double+Smoking+Knights.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I love this shot!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbPYVfAIFlCMY40kan1H-pzhpaapkm3HX2UoiA_-0ba1HQgoerr8q-tVHX1SRjUCt3VzdD7FscAgHcHu8sqKgSsZdH0PgdaxxogCy0u0VRUSep80Cpwmf0q0JT5HZ7Q0KJoSDSPbhFpA/s1600/Blue+Angels+6+Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbPYVfAIFlCMY40kan1H-pzhpaapkm3HX2UoiA_-0ba1HQgoerr8q-tVHX1SRjUCt3VzdD7FscAgHcHu8sqKgSsZdH0PgdaxxogCy0u0VRUSep80Cpwmf0q0JT5HZ7Q0KJoSDSPbhFpA/s400/Blue+Angels+6+Group.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These are all six of the Blue Angels.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqme7e6g_U2QnKjLC1ImanyWjBrNhoRK8vPx_zIrkdIoxW9Y0_XtySA6X7pqE2rHgEMRVTwXDwdIo-UcSK2uIaXxJDvwlu8cPvMlN5yjI-i2EovrK2-gSVrE6obKPk0wPusLegI5dW-Ak/s1600/Blue+Angels+6+Group+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqme7e6g_U2QnKjLC1ImanyWjBrNhoRK8vPx_zIrkdIoxW9Y0_XtySA6X7pqE2rHgEMRVTwXDwdIo-UcSK2uIaXxJDvwlu8cPvMlN5yjI-i2EovrK2-gSVrE6obKPk0wPusLegI5dW-Ak/s400/Blue+Angels+6+Group+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another angle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwXm1eHQGu4JSYplWdsQBokYC2evKh6o6SIJRWOfBMy_5Kq9Rtcd1HkiEC3O1fOY1mis-HIIgeIz1f2zVZhI4wNRkyh7df-00_VXao12mJdivJYZwv0_gqeS2CthYJWvcApSrllJc-Vg/s1600/DSC_0544_00.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmwXm1eHQGu4JSYplWdsQBokYC2evKh6o6SIJRWOfBMy_5Kq9Rtcd1HkiEC3O1fOY1mis-HIIgeIz1f2zVZhI4wNRkyh7df-00_VXao12mJdivJYZwv0_gqeS2CthYJWvcApSrllJc-Vg/s400/DSC_0544_00.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And, one more angle.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg9pKmy_FK-pbhnHGP_AK_F9ePyTxm_UJjQ4cXZz33nqDy46wBENfGOLlyfOogj-il4lUPHAJVFyRjFqWLKxTbvVwIQOU3jId60s79QHTLhhGhCpib2y0YRz99sXzm39G0Zh1SuMMqEs/s1600/Blue+Angels+6+Group+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVg9pKmy_FK-pbhnHGP_AK_F9ePyTxm_UJjQ4cXZz33nqDy46wBENfGOLlyfOogj-il4lUPHAJVFyRjFqWLKxTbvVwIQOU3jId60s79QHTLhhGhCpib2y0YRz99sXzm39G0Zh1SuMMqEs/s400/Blue+Angels+6+Group+3.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't look like the same planes do they? I love how the sun has caught them and make them look like some sort of bug!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnwaMb7dicBGIFrSj6AJOxSskW-vX-cXMo9dgvu9iT6ZcDtj7RdAcSMsIXEAVsWv4FTUe66hW0EZZxRB1icKAiMhpGQGyo4u4IF6UohJZOO0l0AtNTJGzhXaWU6N2RoJGBd0UP2hHd60/s1600/Blue+Angels+6+Split.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKnwaMb7dicBGIFrSj6AJOxSskW-vX-cXMo9dgvu9iT6ZcDtj7RdAcSMsIXEAVsWv4FTUe66hW0EZZxRB1icKAiMhpGQGyo4u4IF6UohJZOO0l0AtNTJGzhXaWU6N2RoJGBd0UP2hHd60/s400/Blue+Angels+6+Split.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is hard enough keeping the camera focused on the group as they blow by at 400 miles an hour. But when they split like this, not only does the camera have a hard to focusing, but so do I!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLHEmCootV4WD3KtIptr-VY_eaBKNm2m2FqfBkhSrDrHaa23bUfIy_Ct8W6eLI4MA8ZPqLw6hEEJYuCQdVOcc7Xw-7_Uzf1T0iYUCMIxzIpkFAVvBTGFeZ0y-IBYE7dJgFuoK4r44XME/s1600/Two+Pass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuLHEmCootV4WD3KtIptr-VY_eaBKNm2m2FqfBkhSrDrHaa23bUfIy_Ct8W6eLI4MA8ZPqLw6hEEJYuCQdVOcc7Xw-7_Uzf1T0iYUCMIxzIpkFAVvBTGFeZ0y-IBYE7dJgFuoK4r44XME/s400/Two+Pass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think I was really lucky to have caught these two making a pass at each other. Sounds kinda dirty when you say it that way.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgosyGr6neuydmvUh3navmXRgj2J5SpZgh1UOXaVPLsicrouRIsvOzPjonfnYg7aD1k0qS3lvzMzCIQmTRiUIDtThkpHPwLlLbMpD1Q2h4OJxAfGhiqxyJpdXLTzW8X9QEgOzl8oX20I/s1600/Blue+Angels+2+Together.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSgosyGr6neuydmvUh3navmXRgj2J5SpZgh1UOXaVPLsicrouRIsvOzPjonfnYg7aD1k0qS3lvzMzCIQmTRiUIDtThkpHPwLlLbMpD1Q2h4OJxAfGhiqxyJpdXLTzW8X9QEgOzl8oX20I/s400/Blue+Angels+2+Together.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They look like they are touching each other, but I have been told that they are about 18 inches apart. Yeah, well, I will take their word for it because I refuse to be the one to climb up there and measure it!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlpWNplHGaXoAVHL0nOS0dQKITqGXjloPKTWbLiEAxTxKkLsltWzGwdIkJVEF8htVqpH7ZFOKG7hBwxq1ZUz5ebYaVOOlFWw9B0AOZbnrK7cHt4Wl2xfVp7jUvBk7HG-Ni8hQ7Ih4y5E/s1600/DSC_0755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQlpWNplHGaXoAVHL0nOS0dQKITqGXjloPKTWbLiEAxTxKkLsltWzGwdIkJVEF8htVqpH7ZFOKG7hBwxq1ZUz5ebYaVOOlFWw9B0AOZbnrK7cHt4Wl2xfVp7jUvBk7HG-Ni8hQ7Ih4y5E/s400/DSC_0755.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Flight of Four.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSpgSHaOFbr4pO7SxKsE-hKH5iLfyt2UXZhoKFNAZdivlzh-DfKlJU-p8YLjQz18bEEQuRDzfGeUML_QoJztnpUD51z6tDn3DdFtmFvbQTIUnQYt0CiQMWCeocXCji0wG0D9H4bOWvOg/s1600/Blue+Angels+1-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSpgSHaOFbr4pO7SxKsE-hKH5iLfyt2UXZhoKFNAZdivlzh-DfKlJU-p8YLjQz18bEEQuRDzfGeUML_QoJztnpUD51z6tDn3DdFtmFvbQTIUnQYt0CiQMWCeocXCji0wG0D9H4bOWvOg/s400/Blue+Angels+1-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still not gonna dispute the distance between them!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This next one is my favorite of the bunch. And I did take a bunch! Over 1600 shots to be truthful. I figured that I could get at least a couple good ones, and I think that I did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90mY9hJOs70Mh-_Xl7ntTOaqJ5kfDMXQl3IxHdW0PplOEi1KIm0s3E04CV3SViIWnlhIqlMabCgVp9nuF-m8UT0uOs5WZL7FdM6Ee_N4-S-iTztv2YJcunr3BPDWqIOaq-GPWegrqILo/s1600/Belly+to+Belly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" ru="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh90mY9hJOs70Mh-_Xl7ntTOaqJ5kfDMXQl3IxHdW0PplOEi1KIm0s3E04CV3SViIWnlhIqlMabCgVp9nuF-m8UT0uOs5WZL7FdM6Ee_N4-S-iTztv2YJcunr3BPDWqIOaq-GPWegrqILo/s400/Belly+to+Belly.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you look really close, you will see two pilots. See them, one on top of the other? Or at least that is how it looks, huh? Yeah, I love this shot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had a really good afternoon.</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-32978262458620504322010-06-22T13:38:00.000-05:002010-06-22T13:38:49.439-05:00At Least We Don't Have to Set the Alarm<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is official. Or at least mostly.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">My dad is out of a job.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am out of a job.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Friday night, after having worked all day, my dad got a message on his machine saying that there was no need to return to work on Monday since the locks had already been changed. He was to call on Monday instead to set up an appointment to come get his personal things.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Fourteen plus years and he is given two weeks severance pay and no notice. At his scheduled appointment to retrieve his personal items, he was escorted in by an armed guard where he had to sign in with the time. This armed guard then stood over him watching every move he made. Once he felt he was done, he had to sign out with the time and the guard signed behind him.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">He was so intimidated that after he left, he realized he had forgotten something and had to call back and ask that it be set outside for him to retrieve later. When he picked that up, he realized there were a couple of other things that he had forgotten. He is still trying to decide whether he is going to try to get those things or not.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Once he was there, he asked questions like when he would receive his last check and that sort of thing, but was told that at this point the company has no money so they don't know when they are going to pay them. And, you can't sign up for unemployment until you have received your final check.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">As far as my job, I got an e-mail on Friday from the state which I didn't really understand. One of the other school nurses that I know from another district called me and told me that she didn't understand it either, so she contacted them. What she was told was that the Governor decided to totally cut the funding for school health. That means that my job is no longer funded by the state and if the school wants to still have a nurse, they will have to figure out how to pay for one.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">The superintendent was out and didn't come back until today. And, (gleefully I am sure) he came to tell me that he had called the state to ask a couple of questions. He told me that he was told that all he could do was to contact his legislators and try to get them to change their minds. He told me that he would contact them and keep me updated.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I asked if what he was saying was that I needed to find a new job, he told me that he would keep me updated since the legislators may change their mind and go ahead and fund it. </span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I asked him if I would have a job here come August. He told me that if the funding was definitely cut then I would not have a job, but he would keep me informed.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I told him that if I were to be honest, then I can't sit around and wait until the day before school starts and then be told that I have no job. He seriously expected me to do that! He also expected me to wait a year to see if the funding would be re-instated for the following school year!</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">This still has to be approved by the school board, but most of the time, whatever he recommends, they go with. The worst thing is that I will be on vacation when the school board meets, so I can't even fight for my job in person.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At least my dad gets a severance and the vacation that he has saved up. I don't get anything. And, I have to finish working my 'volunteer' month.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Anybody have a couple of jobs for me and my dad?</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-40684447874693258822010-06-17T12:13:00.000-05:002010-06-17T12:13:19.651-05:00Pictures<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know that I haven't been here in almost a week. I finally got all of my reports for the state done and I have been working on getting things ready to go for next school year. Add that to the fact that I am tired and my brain seems to have shut down so I don't know what to talk about....and I haven't been here for nearly a week!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Last week, several of the teachers that I am working with started talking about Zumba. Have you heard of this? I hadn't. They were talking about going to a new class that was getting ready to start in our local community center. Seems that one of the local news reporters was willing to come teach it to anyone who wanted to learn.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">When I got home, I was flipping through channels and discovered a infomercial about Zumba. I watched it. And figured that there was absolutely no way that I could keep up with it! However, it did guarantee that you could lose one dress or pant size in 10 days. That intrigued me. And, the more the girls at school talked, the more I thought I may want to at least try it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">So, try it I did. And discovered that I am so much more uncoordinated than I ever thought! But, I also discovered that it was kind of fun too. And even though it was a lot of work, it was exercise and it didn't feel like it took an hour to do it. In other words, I didn't dread it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And I still don't. I have been to four classes and actually am enjoying myself. I still don't have all of the steps down, but I am still having a good time. I thought that it would be easier with people that I don't know, but being with folks that I do isn't so bad.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">There are six more classes that are scheduled that I will be able to attend before we head off on vacation. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my body reshapes itself to look better in my summer clothes. I don't know that I will lose the dress/pant size before leaving, but maybe tone up a little anyway.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Moving on.....</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I have taken several pictures that I thought I would share. They aren't anything special, just shots that I took that appealed to me.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPn-zryyAmsuBDLrc5Bl-tWMTaKXBecsPt8BY_MHO1uGWkKOYaFeX8Tf_xetj2w24jnMt67VoRT1t4MUSIZsv3wGEeVDhhY39VQ6E1zoxqrNiA9r8RoFqvIKM9uhyphenhyphen2aB-TLV_Y1WMfQc/s1600/DSC_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGPn-zryyAmsuBDLrc5Bl-tWMTaKXBecsPt8BY_MHO1uGWkKOYaFeX8Tf_xetj2w24jnMt67VoRT1t4MUSIZsv3wGEeVDhhY39VQ6E1zoxqrNiA9r8RoFqvIKM9uhyphenhyphen2aB-TLV_Y1WMfQc/s400/DSC_0664.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is Little Little Brother with Nephew's new puppy.</span></div><div align="justify" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93bEuSpAKzwfdQfKVEjeO6qtfUR9zlreXleVfiqQw3l-qk5RqS1OSn-S2aSD_eS5HwLpQxIs-4h4P_Z-CJq5DqBsiQWggQej1phVfK3H1HWJTYA-ti0_5Bop9tSZ3BV0j6RYDBwvQBqw/s1600/DSC_0668.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93bEuSpAKzwfdQfKVEjeO6qtfUR9zlreXleVfiqQw3l-qk5RqS1OSn-S2aSD_eS5HwLpQxIs-4h4P_Z-CJq5DqBsiQWggQej1phVfK3H1HWJTYA-ti0_5Bop9tSZ3BV0j6RYDBwvQBqw/s400/DSC_0668.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am rarely able to get a picture of The Boy because he doesn't like to be photographed so he hides behind others or puts his head down. He thought he was hiding here, but his momma is getting better!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia12HTzOKQYWx4Ckw22ePbUAqNOv8jLYpxiCNqqI7XKpHNU6uPD_HQAeiheweSZ622aFnY3E_voYll2nF6GYFaltf12PyEI3Gye8SCJ8RaWgTOsXYOS7U-XwwVLxOv0ZF2XMULNJkResI/s1600/DSC_0895.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia12HTzOKQYWx4Ckw22ePbUAqNOv8jLYpxiCNqqI7XKpHNU6uPD_HQAeiheweSZ622aFnY3E_voYll2nF6GYFaltf12PyEI3Gye8SCJ8RaWgTOsXYOS7U-XwwVLxOv0ZF2XMULNJkResI/s400/DSC_0895.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Little Little Brother decided to try the 6 pound Burrito Challenge. He ate just shy of a pound of it! It was really fun to watch him.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4vMx_mDL2hTiCzZES8FkQCK768mDDZ6C_WOfNZzyitz7cjN-X7dj9NrZTdm5GDOfHeV9lzcvhPntAGPnxFYC4n89PItxQTYhMkFdAkt_rsLltXmCi2pacrX3BNxh9Kh0JMQaW3TSHrQ/s1600/DSC_0916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge4vMx_mDL2hTiCzZES8FkQCK768mDDZ6C_WOfNZzyitz7cjN-X7dj9NrZTdm5GDOfHeV9lzcvhPntAGPnxFYC4n89PItxQTYhMkFdAkt_rsLltXmCi2pacrX3BNxh9Kh0JMQaW3TSHrQ/s400/DSC_0916.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We were at a military cemetary in Illinois a couple weekends ago. Most of the headstones there were labled as "Unknown Soldier". This was a look down the path between two lines of headstones.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbpD61cXzQN23vGUWGTJApsuwu-3AaQsH9f9Q3W_1PHMGAPYYR50v8oBOIGAMw9Yr6bhkYCzws_Hye3bSzlKMUgb4Ed4qf3s8aMhT7pMZ8Lz-hWQLidd04jIEcjJBSpix2YhlaeMcBaw/s1600/DSC_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbpD61cXzQN23vGUWGTJApsuwu-3AaQsH9f9Q3W_1PHMGAPYYR50v8oBOIGAMw9Yr6bhkYCzws_Hye3bSzlKMUgb4Ed4qf3s8aMhT7pMZ8Lz-hWQLidd04jIEcjJBSpix2YhlaeMcBaw/s400/DSC_0935.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I liked how the sun fell on these stones.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkwDT_aqE3ASBQBEGhAtrvTy4h2DWBRZHOURA_2n7HuFDKi0hACWYczsKM42FYzRwRp_zlOa2M-nP0ZZdRZk8FDIyIAxL2qWmf1PXhtKGQEcrfiZGcbcbjO5BsGxZig6ucY0hpxqT3V0/s1600/DSC_0940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBkwDT_aqE3ASBQBEGhAtrvTy4h2DWBRZHOURA_2n7HuFDKi0hACWYczsKM42FYzRwRp_zlOa2M-nP0ZZdRZk8FDIyIAxL2qWmf1PXhtKGQEcrfiZGcbcbjO5BsGxZig6ucY0hpxqT3V0/s400/DSC_0940.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This tree is working on overtaking one of the headstones.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVNZg7tDx1Hg3UHPuRc74TSy9h0x0WwX-CEF747miTf5q8qbx428bF-kBFQHoiDpAqh46DJ8ZbBLrSTgYQAcG-oOPphLb8gfFUdZvtXA6MB5O_zWvaN4nWMHfoE2BQ9QEDXAjwtfVnLw/s1600/DSC_0944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVNZg7tDx1Hg3UHPuRc74TSy9h0x0WwX-CEF747miTf5q8qbx428bF-kBFQHoiDpAqh46DJ8ZbBLrSTgYQAcG-oOPphLb8gfFUdZvtXA6MB5O_zWvaN4nWMHfoE2BQ9QEDXAjwtfVnLw/s400/DSC_0944.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crazy Man pointed out this stone that looked like the sun was shining right through it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">That is all I have for now. Hopefully I will be better about being here next week!</span></div><br />
</div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-11022363351076139802010-06-11T12:09:00.000-05:002010-06-11T12:09:19.944-05:00Friday Fragments<div align="justify"><div align="center"><span style="font-family: Verdana;"><a href="http://mrs4444awards.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-fragments.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mommy's Idea" src="http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w323/CarbaraB/scan00022.jpg" /></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I know that I haven't done this in several weeks, but today is Friday. And that means that it is Friday Fragments time. You can head on over to <a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2010/06/friday-fragments-episode-98_10.html">Mrs. 4444</a> to check out just how fragmented everyone else's week has been....after you finish up here of course!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I started to walk at nine months of age. And I have known forever that despite walking so early in life I just am not a very coordinated person. On Wednesday evening I discovered just how uncoordinated I truly am! I attended a Zumba class with some of the folks I work with. It was a total train wreck for me! Evidently angels actually carry me everywhere that I go. That is the only way I can figure out how I can get somewhere safely instead of tripping over my own feet like I did during Zumba.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Believe it or not, I am planning on going to more of the Zumba classes. Hang on. Let me consult a dictionary...... Yep. I thought so. Looked up "glutton for punishment" and found my picture there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">It has been really hot and humid here. About time! I really am not into being cold. But this humidity really bites. Especially when the temps are in the high 80s or low 90s....and the humidity is hovering around the same numbers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We had our American Legion Riders shin-dig a few weeks ago. It was a bomb. Really. It opened up and poured. And not only did the rain get us, but another group just up the road planned on top of us. I think we ended up breaking even, but all in all, it wasn't good. We are going to plan again for next year though I think. (Yep. There is my picture again!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Boy is helping with summer school in the Pre-K class. There are only about 19 young'uns in there. But with that age, it really feels like there are twice that many in the room! He is doing well (according to the teacher) and the kids miss him when he isn't in the room. He usually has nothing to say about the whole experience, so I guess it can't be that bad.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana;">I saw an ad in the newspaper that I dropped off my resume for on Wednesday. When I got home, there was a message on the machine from them. I am not sure I was out of their parking lot when they left it, asking me to come in to talk to them. Not sure if that is a good sign or not. Supposed to go talk to them around 3pm today.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Still having some issues dealing with the loss of one of "my" kids. Tears will hit me out of the blue. The Boy is starting to get used to it. I am not. If I am having such a hard time, I can not imagine how his parents are dealing with it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Boyfriend and Boyfriend's Wife came out to the sticks for Memorial Day. We grilled and visited. Then Boyfriend and Crazy Man went out to shoot at targets for a while. We had a really good time! After we were done eating, Boyfriend showed me how to do a couple of things on Photoshop. I am about as good at that as I am at Zumba if that tells you anything!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Crazy Man and Boyfriend are going on an Iron Butt Ride tomorrow. They are supposed to travel 1000 miles within 24 hours on the motorcycle. They plan on leaving around 5am I think. I thought about riding with Crazy Man, but The Boy is with me this weekend, so I didn't want to leave him home alone. That, plus the fact that I am not sure I would be walking very well (or at all!) after riding 1000 miles on the back of a bike.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">We are slowly but surely getting closer to the day we leave for vacation. Three weeks until we board the plane! I can't get excited about it yet. I am still afraid there will be something that will keep us from being able to go. Or worse, something will happen when we get out there and we will have to head home too early. I guess I am actually looking more forward to the day the plane lands rather than the day it takes off! That way I know that we have gone and had a good time. Crazy, I know.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">The Boy had an orthodontist appointment yesterday afternoon. The girl who is assigned to take care of him looks like she is about to pop. Her due date is Monday, so she decided that yesterday would be her last day. That means that one of the orthodontists himself will be working on The Boy. Took a little convincing of The Boy to get him to agree to it, but hopefully it will only be a maximum of three times.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">Have you heard the song "I Pray For You" by Jaron and The Long Road to Love? If you haven't, you need to go <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atBg9zLI2bA">here</a> to see the video and listen to it. It has made my list of favorites.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">And that is the end of what I have to say! Will see you back here next week. At least that is what I am hoping for! Have a safe weekend. Spend it with someone you love!</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-24987473315620352722010-06-08T13:24:00.001-05:002010-06-08T13:25:12.332-05:00I Heart Faces<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://new.iheartfaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The theme of the week over at <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2010/06/week-23-play-photo-challenge.html">I Heart Faces</a> is "play". When I read that, I knew immediately which picture I wanted to show. It isn't all fancily photoshopped or anything like that. What you see is what I saw as I snapped the shot.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what I saw was an uncle with his two nephews, all three with a smile. Getting The Boy and Little Little Brother to smile was feat in and of itself. But when I whispered to each of them to give Nephew a 'wet willy' on the count of three.....that did it. Laughter all around!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">And it does a body good to see and hear it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEig76L0hkyDn2pEFAtlJzhxPj6h2UsOUSgXV-Cx71I7E_xrdn2qCcBDXyqebulSNHNiHdJziCzpP1Tk3leoraN-CRBwZkviKYSuKgZylIVffOyazCbpkGNykEIlZd9O-sbOu43H5U-U/s1600/DSC_0691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" qu="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlEig76L0hkyDn2pEFAtlJzhxPj6h2UsOUSgXV-Cx71I7E_xrdn2qCcBDXyqebulSNHNiHdJziCzpP1Tk3leoraN-CRBwZkviKYSuKgZylIVffOyazCbpkGNykEIlZd9O-sbOu43H5U-U/s400/DSC_0691.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">Now, you need to head on over there and see all of the other playing going on!</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-64585970773545175562010-06-01T13:07:00.000-05:002010-06-01T13:07:54.429-05:00Guess Who?!<div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Believe it or not, I have not fallen off the edge of the Earth! I am still around, just not able to have been online for the past couple of weeks due to the fact that school finally dismissed for the year. So how am I able to type this out now? Because, unfortunately, summer school started today.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many many things have happened in the past couple of weeks. Nothing majorly important though! What can I say? I live a fairly ho-hum kinda life. Most of the time that is a good thing!</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I said, summer school started today. I was informed that I am required to be not only the nurse, but also the secretary. And not receive an extra check like the rest of the staff who is working. And, I am required to like it. Yeah, well, that ain't gonna happen! I may be forced to be here, but I don't have to like it.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Boy ended up coming with me. He is too old to actually attend, but I didn't have anywhere else for him to go. The plan (in my mind) was for him to stay either at home or with Little Little Brother two or three days out of the week. I was not overly thrilled with this option, but you do what has to be done, ya know?! He had to come with me today because with an appointment scheduled this afternoon for him, I didn't have time to run home and get him. But, things have a way of working themselves out I guess. Our Kindergarten teacher has the class of little ones during the summer that she will be teaching next school year. And this group is a major handfull it seems! She asked if The Boy would be willing to come everyday and help her out. I feel much better about this, even if The Boy does not!</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am in the process of looking for a new job, so if anyone out there reading this has need for me, let me know! It would be nice if I could make at least what I am making at the moment, but more is always appreciated! </span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">At this moment in time, I still don't know if I have a job for the next school year. I have heard a rumor that I was hired back "pending funding" but nothing has been officially told to me yet. Of course that means that when the state cuts the grant funding that my creates my position, I don't know if the school is going to be willing to dip into their own pocket to keep me working in the district or not. It will probably be sometime in August before I know. I just wish they would make a decision since it is really hard to tell a prospective employer when I am able to start a new job.</span></div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify"><span style="font-family: Verdana;">I am not going to make this very long today. I have a bunch of reading to catch up on and some reports that are due in a couple of weeks that I am working on. Just wanted to let anyone who visits here know that I am still around.</span> </div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-9518367466617398242010-05-14T09:42:00.000-05:002010-05-14T09:42:54.703-05:00Friday Fragments<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://mrs4444awards.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-fragments.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mommy's Idea" src="http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w323/CarbaraB/Blog%20Graphics/scan00022-1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Friday Fragment time! Should you wish to join in, just head on over to <a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2010/05/friday-fragments-episode-94.html">Mrs. 4444's</a> place and link up, or just see how fragmented everyone else's week has been.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As you can tell from my not being around for a week, it has been chaos around here. My whole week has been nothing but fragments! I have actually got a few things to say that could take up a whole post, but just can't find the cohesiveness needed to form a complete post.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Today is the last day of the school year. For that I am very happy! Next year (if I still have a job here) we will be in a brand new elementary building which sits directly across the street from the high school. That will make things a lot easier. I have yet to move anything from this room to that one. Some would say that I am being obnoxious and rude about it, but why would I want to pack everything that belongs to the school and try to squeeze it into a tiny little space when I don't know if I will even be using it next year? Call me obnoxious if you want!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Last night was the school board meeting where they were supposed to make a decision about rehiring the non-certified staff for next year. I am considered one of those. However, when I am hired, the board always puts the stipulation of "pending funding". I completely understand this. But it makes me angry too. Because my position is funded by a grant through the state, the board will only hire me back if they receive the funding. When I asked a board member last night if this district even wanted a nurse, he emphatically told me that they did. But when I pointed out to him that if I am hired "pending funding" then what I am actually being told is that the district only wants a nurse if someone else pays for it. He had no response. And all I had were tears of anger. I am total limbo here. I can't look for another job because I don't know if I still have the one that I have now! And, if this year is the same as all the years past, then I won't actually know if I have a job until August....about a week or so before school starts.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yesterday the superintendent came to me and told me that there was going to be a scaled back version of summer school this year because the funding from the state is not like it should be. He told me that I would be the secretary as well as the nurse for summer school. The reason is that this way he can fill two spots with no money out of pocket. He has never paid me extra to work summer school. Despite the fact that every other person working it takes home a nice extra check</span>.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Tomorrow, I am involved with putting on a scavenger hunt, bike show, raffle and all sorts of other things to support our local Veteran's Home, the Fischer House, and the Legacy Fund. It is all being put on by our local chapter of the American Legion Riders. This is the first time we have attempted something like this, so if you could just say a little prayer that the rain stays away and the turn out is good, it would be much appreciated!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Last Sunday on Mother's Day, I took some pictures of The Boy, Little Little Brother and Nephew. I haven't been able to go through them all and decide which are the best, but once I do, then I will show them on here.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Yesterday I bit the bullet and set up a Facebook page. I have no idea as to how to use this thing! Crazy Man has been wanting me to set it up and I have been resistant. Shoot....I can't even keep up here! But, within a week, two people that I haven't talked to in a long time asked me to find them on Facebook, so I finally caved. Guess Crazy Man will have to show me how to work the darn thing!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">That is all the fragments of the week that my brain will acknowledge at this point, so I guess I am done. Hope everyone has had a great week and will have an even better weekend.</div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-52711381176706856592010-05-07T10:43:00.000-05:002010-05-07T10:43:14.239-05:00Friday Fragments<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://mrs4444awards.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-fragments.html" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Mommy's Idea" src="http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w323/CarbaraB/Blog%20Graphics/scan00022-1.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Time for Friday Fragments hosted by the wonderfully amusing </span><a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2010/05/friday-fragments-episode-93_06.html" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mrs. 4444</a><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">. I have not linked to her in a while for several different reasons. If you have no idea what those may be, then just look back on this site in the month of April. That should explain everything. And if you still haven't figured it out, send me an email and ask! Now that that is out of the way, it is time for those things that have happened, but are not major enough to warrant an entire post.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">School is winding down for the year, for which I am terribly happy about. Now if I could just have those three months off that everyone always says that school workers have! I am usually lucky to get 5 weeks out of the 12 not at school.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Couple of field trips coming up. Going to the skating rink in the next town over today. Next week is the park and bowling alley. Next Thursday is the annual kickball game between the sixth grade students and the Elementary staff. It is fun for all! At least until the staff tries to get out of bed the next morning! Next Friday is our last day and we get out at noon.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We only have 56 days until we are scheduled to get on the plane and fly to Hawaii! I am trying to contain my excitement since a lot could happen between now and then. But it is really hard to do with the weather warming up and the tickets all paid for and waiting to be used.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I really need to find a swimming suit for me to take on our trip, but am thoroughly dreading it. Sometimes I think I would rather swim to Hawaii than try to stuff this body into a bathing suit. Of course, if I were to do that, then I don't think I would mind getting into a tiny little bathing suit because whatever the sharks didn't eat would be nice and tan and thin. And others wouldn't turn their heads in disgust when I show up in a tight little piece of material.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I already received my Mother's Day gift from The Boy and Crazy Man. They built me a new bookcase out of old barn wood. I love it! It is nearly completely full, so I told them that I need about 10 more! I also will need an extra room to put them all in, but one thing at a time, right?!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">That is all I have to say for the time being. Hope everyone has a great weekend! </div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-81837997372463881252010-05-06T14:07:00.000-05:002010-05-06T14:07:58.055-05:00Dear Someone Letters<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/"><img alt="shortmama" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/ashortmama/familyofshortsbutton.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I have missed writing Dear Someone Letters the past couple of weeks. I just wasn't able to do so. But, today is different! And besides, I have things to say! Once you have made your way through mine, head on over to <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/05/dear-someone.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FamilyOfShorts+%28Family+of+Shorts%29">Short Mama's</a> place to see who others are writing to. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Waiter at O'Charleys</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Yes, I really wanted a Cuban Sandwich. It is what my taste buds were craving, not the hamburger that I had to order because your restaurant had removed my sandwich from the menu and you swore the stuff to make it was not in the kitchen. So when you came back to our table and found me in tears, I almost hope that you thought it was over not getting that sandwich! Of course that would just make me look like a complete idiot if it were truly the case. I didn't explain then, but the tears were because I had been informed of the death of one of 'my' kids at school. Also, I won't be able to come into your eating establishment until the <strike>Cuban Sandwich has returned to your menu</strike> grief has lessened.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks for understanding,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Don't Make Me Cry Again</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Principals</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If you want me to do my job, then let me do my job. If you want to change the rules for one child here and there, then don't lay it off on me. I am trying to follow what the law says, but evidently laws aren't really important to administrators. If the law (yes, it is a real law) says the child can't be in school, then they can't be in school. You should not have the authority to decide willy-nilly who has to follow the law and who doesn't. Your job should be to back me up as I try to enforce this law, since that is truly what it is....a law. But, if you don't want to do that, then please be aware that at any unannounced (at least it won't be me telling you when it is) moment, the state can come in and do an audit. If they find this school lacking, then they will write you out a bill for several thousand dollars per child who is non-compliant.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thought you should know.....again,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Not My Fault</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Superintendent</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">All of the Elementary staff are packing up their rooms so they can take it all to the newly built building three miles away. Well, all of them except for me. And why is it that I am refusing to pack anything? Because if you won't tell me that I have a job, then why should I move things that I may or may not be using next year? I will pack and move it all when you tell me that you have hired me back. So, maybe if you want it done before August 1st you should let me know this year before that date. And it may be a nice idea if you find me some space to actually place the items that I need to place.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks for nothing,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Your School Nurse</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear IRS</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">When I opened up your letter to me yesterday afternoon, I nearly vomited. First off, why is it that you are just now looking at my 2008 income taxes? Shouldn't you have done that in, oh I don't know, 2008?! Secondly, there is absolutely no possible way that I owe you more than I made in 2008. For that matter, it is more than I made in 2009 and am scheduled to make in 2010! And thirdly, if Crazy Man and I had actually made what you say we made, then we would have already built our house's much needed second floor....and we haven't.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Signed,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You are Wrong</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Little Little Brother</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Please do not try to go to school next year for only half a day. It is your Senior year. You need to have that experience! It only comes once in a lifetime (or at least it better, so keep your grades up!) and you will regret it when you are my age if you don't stay.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Love,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Your Favorite Sister</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Son</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am so extremely proud of you! You have worked really hard this year, and being named as top student in the Freshman class proves it. Next year, you have signed up for some tough classes, but I know you can do it. And, since you had to have special approval to get into a couple of those classes, then you know that both the teacher of those courses and the principal believe in you too.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Love, </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Your Mom</div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-72378322926688859272010-05-04T09:46:00.000-05:002010-05-04T09:46:23.481-05:00Getting There<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am back. Kind of. Physically I am here. Mentally and emotionally I still sometimes kind of check out for a little bit. If you have been around very long, then you know that I can't always write here because of lack of computer access. And if you have been around for the past couple of weeks, then you know what has been happening in my neck of the woods and why I haven't been around.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Today, I finally feel like writing something.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Things are starting to normal up a little. Although, it is still not like it should be around here. I still wear my "in memory" ribbon. And the reason I do that is because I still cry without warning. And I figure that when I stop doing that, then I will stop wearing the ribbon. My grief, my prerogative.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What else has been happening around here?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Well, last Thursday evening was the Academic and Sports Banquet. Awards for these two things are given out that night. Each family brings in a couple of covered dishes and the school provides the meats, drinks, plates and such. You have to be invited academically or be on one of the sports teams. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The counselor gives out awards for kids on the A and B Honor Rolls. If you have made the A Honor Roll all year (for the first time), then you get an academic letter (to put on a school jacket), a pin to go on that letter (each year you achieve this) and a certificate for the school year. She also awards a plaque with the student's name and the school year stating that they are the Top of the Class for their grade.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The Boy is not on any type of sports team, but we were invited to attend because he has really good grades. He has actually had really good grades for his whole school career. And, he has always been one of the top three or four kids in the class. When I moved him to this school to start the fourth grade, there was a girl in his class that was blind. She remains in his class and has been named the top student every year since we moved here.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Now, several of the kids think that it is kind of not fair since she doesn't do all of the same work that the rest of them have to do. They also don't like the fact that she has someone reading tests and assignments for her since her reader could know the answer and inflect a tone of voice when reading the correct answer. The Boy is one of these kids (even though he has no understanding of tone of voice! Go Autism!). I just try to remind him that he wouldn't want to be blind. I also make sure he knows that I can't change his mind over his opinion, but as long as he feels that way and he still does his very best, then he knows that the grades he receives are his very own. I don't think it makes him feel any better, but at least he still does his best!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">When the counselor announced that she was giving out the Top of the Class awards, several in this class prepared to clap for the same child that had been receiving it every year. Man was everyone surprised when The Boy's name was called! I was excited for him. The Boy however, just went up and got the plaque without so much as a grin! He wouldn't even let me take his picture with it! I think he is excited too, but he was embarrassed to be the center of attention. The other kids were happy for him though!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am trying to get excited enough to start packing up my office here at work/school to move it all to the newly built Elementary building that sits right across the street from the High School. Don't get me wrong. A new building that close to the High School will be nice. The problem comes in when I tell you that I will be moving from a room that is about 20 feet by 20 feet with two windows to a room that is literally 14 ft by 8 ft and has no windows in the walls or even in the door to see out into the hallway. I have seriously used painter's tape to mark out the dimensions on my current office floor so that I can somehow figure out where to place the items that I need to take. It is like a tetris puzzle! Once it gets in the room, you can't just change your mind about placement of items without moving everything out the door and starting over! Oh. And the 14ft by 8ft area actually only has 10ft by 5 1/2 ft of actual workable floor space! Yeah. Everyone needs a challenge!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">We are scheduled to get out of school on Friday, May 14th at noon. At this moment, summer school is supposed to start on June 1st. Don't even get me started on that! I am kind of hoping that it is called off due to lack of funding. Does that mean that I won't have to show up anyway? Probably not since the superintendent is a (insert word of choice here).</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So that is how things have been here. I am healing from the inside out. Although this whole thing is going to be leaving a scar.</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-49668394590478808602010-04-27T10:49:00.000-05:002010-04-27T10:49:44.936-05:00Say Cheese!<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I have found another category in which I have a great (in my humble opinion) shot that needs to be shown off in an <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/">I Heart Faces</a> challenge. This week's theme is "Smiles". Once you gander upon my entry, click on over there to see the hundreds (literally!) of others that are entered. <strike>And leave them a comment telling them that my entry is the best!</strike> I also know that there could be lots of PhotoShopping done to this picture, but I didn't. This is the way it happened to turn out.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnJPqOxAvT-PbaQKzAm1jq4uElAVfUiftZ51a5uTVveE54ojqdpIGwzKv0xvdJ-mri9SNtt3nrnHnR_E8IVJKoZgK4dPHIIf7d9zWjytAGaEkwIUsreVtfW8_UIb9Untd-7AUy8T-6Uo/s1600/DSC_0867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLnJPqOxAvT-PbaQKzAm1jq4uElAVfUiftZ51a5uTVveE54ojqdpIGwzKv0xvdJ-mri9SNtt3nrnHnR_E8IVJKoZgK4dPHIIf7d9zWjytAGaEkwIUsreVtfW8_UIb9Untd-7AUy8T-6Uo/s400/DSC_0867.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is Azriel. Maybe this isn't a full out all teeth showing smile, but what do you expect from a baby who is less than 20 minutes old?! If nothing else, it sure made the rest of us smile. Admit it....you smiled too!</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-9579085357476761622010-04-26T14:24:00.000-05:002010-04-26T14:24:41.555-05:00Last Week<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last week was tough. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Scratch that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last week was brutal. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Why? Find out <a href="http://alifeinthesticks.blogspot.com/2010/04/no-words.html">here.</a></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Friday, we were out of school for our scheduled "Spring Break". One whole day that I was actually looking forward to having at home to do some things that needed to be done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Instead, I spent the day crying. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The funeral home was filled with kids and adults alike, all wearing camouflage. I overheard a story in which the funeral home had set up 300 chairs throughout the building. Every single chair held at least one person. Many many more found seats on the floor, in the hallway, or leaning along the walls. The estimate was that there were 500 people inside the building during the service. That does not count the numbers of folks who came and left before service time.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stories abound detailing the concern and prayers pouring out for our "family". Our girls were in the middle of a softball game on Tuesday afternoon when they heard the news. Tears began to fall, but to the outfield they went. The other team heard what happened and called off the game, saying that they were too far behind to catch up. Once the high fives were over, the other team went to their bench where they placed their gloves and hats. They then made their way to our team where each of their girls hugged each of ours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The state university rushed at least one of our students and her mother (a teacher here) through while they were attending Freshman orientation for next semester. They got them out in time for the two of them to slip quietly in just as the service was starting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There were hugs between people that you would never expect for hugs to be. Kids were hugging teachers. They were hugging each other. They were crying in front of each other without shame. Teachers were letting the tears fall in front of all. People who were having spats with others put those aside and came together in their grief.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Schools from surrounding communities sent e-mails or called our counselor offering support and sympathy. Even the state university called to offer condolences. Remember, we are a tiny school. And the state university called.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The hallways are still unusually quiet. They are louder now, but still not at the level they should be. Kids are still in shock. Although, some are wavering still between denial and anger. There is no acceptance as of yet.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We should be grateful that out of the three classmates who were together, only one was taken from us. And yet, we can't rejoice in that fact because one was taken from us.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are some kids who have started counseling through an outside source because of the stress they have been forced to endure.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I feel silly because I still break into tears at times. And I can't come up with a reason when Crazy Man asks why. Like yesterday afternoon. My MIL hugged me and told me to "have a good week". I am having more trouble than normal putting my thoughts together.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And I am not this child's mom. Nor am I blood related to him. I am just a mom of a classmate who happens to have worked with this child through school. I can not imagine how she feels. And selfishly, I don't want to imagine how much worse she feels if it hurts this badly for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you have read this far, please keep this family in your thoughts and prayers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thanks for listening. Tomorrow <i>will</i> be better. </span>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-76020199857683748972010-04-21T14:04:00.000-05:002010-04-21T14:04:19.604-05:00No Words<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I am not really myself today. Physically, I look the same. Mentally, just not all there. (Stop laughing. I know that I am normally not all there, but this is different.) This is a tough post. Just be warned.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yesterday was April 20. The seniors are released from school on April 29th. The entire school lets out on May 14th. The place is loud and happy between classes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Today is April 21. We are out of school on Friday. There are a total of 16 days left in this school year. And there are no loud happy students in the halls between classes.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What could have changed so much just overnight?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yesterday afternoon, around 4:43 pm, one of our 16 year old ninth grade students was pronounced dead by the county coroner at the scene of a motor vehicle accident.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This boy was in my son's class. He was one of 28 students in that grade. His brother is a senior. His father was raised in this school, just like many of us here.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We are not a happy place right now. The only word I can come up with to describe this place is eerie.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It isn't supposed to happen here. Not our school.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But it has. And it sucks. </span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-17604558672538719422010-04-14T10:16:00.000-05:002010-04-14T10:16:56.036-05:00Looky Looky!<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-time-to-swap.html"><img alt="shortmama" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/ashortmama/Cartoon_Spring_clip_art_medium1.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Not long ago, I told you that I had joined in on a Spring Swap hosted by <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-time-to-swap.html">Short Mama.</a> And, I have been saying that I was working on getting things together to send to my partner. Well, I played by the rules and got everything all boxed up and sent out on the day it was supposed to go. Want to see what I sent to my partner <a href="http://just-playin-around.blogspot.com/2010/04/look-what-i-got.html">Julie</a>? Just click on her name and it will take you to her site, Just Playin' Around.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">She also played by the rules. And, because she did, I got mail! I love getting mail. The problem is that when you get rid of the bills and the junk mail, there usually just isn't anything left to love! That was not the problem with this batch of mail since I got this lovely box with my name written all over it. Of course, there were others who were as curious as I was as to what was inside....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwlt4Z6aidIfP2XCCk2EOWwF8KCkxMGmsFXkNSmpIpHZ9XpZEqTKYQDCdBHaqv28AxKhBzRKZR_BZCjqR0cHcvQQY2vPhn0D6rEK7vXFQPVL43Yd-4mZnq5PZwT5C7TQslYwwKGRHFzE/s1600/DSC_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJwlt4Z6aidIfP2XCCk2EOWwF8KCkxMGmsFXkNSmpIpHZ9XpZEqTKYQDCdBHaqv28AxKhBzRKZR_BZCjqR0cHcvQQY2vPhn0D6rEK7vXFQPVL43Yd-4mZnq5PZwT5C7TQslYwwKGRHFzE/s320/DSC_0316.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Once I was able to convince Ziggy that I really didn't need his help, I opened it all carefully and found.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw58CDPga3Em3raUfA95hyphenhyphenKlYAQQ-qZF1DjFaVENFLkytHUxjdKZStwalgKA9s7PKmcoGGAWvsgv9UH8s5UPoVEhFTJsY-ncN1W3V93Nd6pvtkl8FqxLKkDEHZV63cJz3bqr8tDNyNoU/s1600/DSC_0318.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOw58CDPga3Em3raUfA95hyphenhyphenKlYAQQ-qZF1DjFaVENFLkytHUxjdKZStwalgKA9s7PKmcoGGAWvsgv9UH8s5UPoVEhFTJsY-ncN1W3V93Nd6pvtkl8FqxLKkDEHZV63cJz3bqr8tDNyNoU/s320/DSC_0318.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A card peeking out on top of something bright and pink. What could it be?! I was having trouble not just ripping through it! Instead, I used patience and took my time, savoring every exciting piece!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Look......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Euqymx_wJ_65VExOAFwnSrohCg0bCkeKKiaWE5Re71ZuHDXV8BOV7R0MQspLKpEYoPgZwette9f4RlmpXP4ASoUcM_YOi-DPHarmyQkij6Nee4TereGq5p-omM-YQbb-I2TR_-JR_Hg/s1600/DSC_0319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Euqymx_wJ_65VExOAFwnSrohCg0bCkeKKiaWE5Re71ZuHDXV8BOV7R0MQspLKpEYoPgZwette9f4RlmpXP4ASoUcM_YOi-DPHarmyQkij6Nee4TereGq5p-omM-YQbb-I2TR_-JR_Hg/s320/DSC_0319.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A very cute springy card and a fun new tote! And, she shops at Target! How do I know this? Because I saw one of these on one of my recent excursions there <strike>when I was gathering things for her box</strike> and talked myself out of buying it! Not sure how she knew this, but she did.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Inside this fabulous bag was.....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7BNvw9h8ThRuVV49WkgNbI-zoTYwCmTYkY39nfjp9pGtznf0Dpf-FdLyFVYtKzNjGY6LGvEM0dVbwzAcXn7mTe4Qr47DBmWuFg90dpGSaiF1N1EB_-a9SHEags-wfpR8rM1-056s47k/s1600/DSC_0320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR7BNvw9h8ThRuVV49WkgNbI-zoTYwCmTYkY39nfjp9pGtznf0Dpf-FdLyFVYtKzNjGY6LGvEM0dVbwzAcXn7mTe4Qr47DBmWuFg90dpGSaiF1N1EB_-a9SHEags-wfpR8rM1-056s47k/s320/DSC_0320.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">all sorts of other goodies!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Let's see, shall we?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzXhqNQkNLCIzjLkmCuaTXawLzsv-TCB6cb5Db_tsHc1HiSo0A42Bys324aFbqRneLX30hPU-M-pv4bPjKMM5sXg5XhreAQHmzEUD7OryQn6_ED_8kDYSPIxdCJXigzwqEEI99jOuW3k/s1600/DSC_0322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNzXhqNQkNLCIzjLkmCuaTXawLzsv-TCB6cb5Db_tsHc1HiSo0A42Bys324aFbqRneLX30hPU-M-pv4bPjKMM5sXg5XhreAQHmzEUD7OryQn6_ED_8kDYSPIxdCJXigzwqEEI99jOuW3k/s320/DSC_0322.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Springy, flowery fun tumblers. These things are heavier than you think! I am always looking for something that I can use that isn't glass. I love these.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSHxTKjqkouvItVAQ0ddGKvhILJfkw4IokkvApBJqnTY_307d-0FY5CjXUrulA21DVozz4qiv_pvy5q_zApe6aqY1TYpRHXGWORmO1bAkAAeSKshdtYVY8PqEWxqba8RYMIEFRx6sm20/s1600/DSC_0323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSHxTKjqkouvItVAQ0ddGKvhILJfkw4IokkvApBJqnTY_307d-0FY5CjXUrulA21DVozz4qiv_pvy5q_zApe6aqY1TYpRHXGWORmO1bAkAAeSKshdtYVY8PqEWxqba8RYMIEFRx6sm20/s320/DSC_0323.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">A cute little pail filled with those little puff candies (which I can never get enough of!) in flavors that I have never seen before.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJGOwAnP3p1lv7ukoGtpKAgLCz8HyokJ7R93AswKSiFR_p7mSIkKWTJUrchNxBa9XrTXECgG62ZDmD9MlFuEUis44OhHzbEgt_R_od-HjnApGCt1BTsLQ8j49X0etGDa6vPOF3d-9mPY/s1600/DSC_0324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJGOwAnP3p1lv7ukoGtpKAgLCz8HyokJ7R93AswKSiFR_p7mSIkKWTJUrchNxBa9XrTXECgG62ZDmD9MlFuEUis44OhHzbEgt_R_od-HjnApGCt1BTsLQ8j49X0etGDa6vPOF3d-9mPY/s320/DSC_0324.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Now, I don't know where she found this, but I LOVE it! It is a coupon holder that I can hang on my cart while shopping. I thought she was several hours away from me, but evidently she was watching when I came <i>this close</i> to spilling out my tons of coupons the other day in the grocery store! That won't happen with this nifty thing!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfdwEO5GCMHQdXLBbAA36iiTaEal4b2TNzOAuEEBbmM49LWacEFctrFXaqtVHjOJSkLLdxqdfbLKmcnyHLVPPsNkwS-K7QQ7UGsZVSiD9GDEKsz7vo0PR7bhOtd9zS8gyrO1M25hQzJI/s1600/DSC_0325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfdwEO5GCMHQdXLBbAA36iiTaEal4b2TNzOAuEEBbmM49LWacEFctrFXaqtVHjOJSkLLdxqdfbLKmcnyHLVPPsNkwS-K7QQ7UGsZVSiD9GDEKsz7vo0PR7bhOtd9zS8gyrO1M25hQzJI/s320/DSC_0325.JPG" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">This is a neat little notebook that I can write anything my little heart desires in. Isn't it cute and springy?!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFzw1eMnvbesHJnG-FJBTNdXo_DV71QBpna_UDK_w-253TYmmA-rTkjo39pWKY73pcaEXUDYOTwsoOLAyLRcNO-Reg4TdL_8pN9poBCqFlpKM7Q_Bp51jI6BvVNgSF293F5GzT0G23ew/s1600/DSC_0326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFzw1eMnvbesHJnG-FJBTNdXo_DV71QBpna_UDK_w-253TYmmA-rTkjo39pWKY73pcaEXUDYOTwsoOLAyLRcNO-Reg4TdL_8pN9poBCqFlpKM7Q_Bp51jI6BvVNgSF293F5GzT0G23ew/s320/DSC_0326.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">And, finally....my very own cooler bag! I don't have one of these and am thrilled to finally be the proud owner! And, it is a bright pink, so The Boy and Crazy Man won't bother with using it! Now, I don't have to wonder just what I am going to put my lunch in when I go on these upcoming field trips at work/school. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thank you, thank you, thank you! I loved everything in my package. Hopefully you enjoy what was in your package as much as I liked picking it out for you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Want to see what the other 66 folks who signed up got? (Add me and Julie and you get a grand total of 68.) Click <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-time-to-swap.html">here</a> to go find out! </span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-69046547017262506552010-04-12T09:15:00.000-05:002010-04-12T09:15:57.443-05:00Getting the Finger<center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I have decided to enter another picture over at <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2010/04/week-15-i-heart-desserts-photo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartfaces+%28iHeartFaces%29">I Heart Faces</a> this week. I was a bit disappointed that I didn't get my act together in time to enter anything last week. I didn't think I would be able to show off this photo as an entry because there is not a face to be found. But, after reading the rules for this week, there doesn't have to be a face showing at all! Yay for me!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This picture was taken around Halloween time. I love these cookies, not only for the taste, but also because sometimes it is fun to give someone a finger!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcVnRiZ77ZgUon-ZhKfkBI7OaRDXcqkxdf3-3VU50ZlytKFzO0bRmJSv_1dthRSOHa2PDkmn5VVc9Db-oGi1Q6fnHx0lcC1xxaafNv3aVmeSQ-7z8py3Cr8NkYQE5RrMSHOs9W9AQQ9g/s1600/DSC_0060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVcVnRiZ77ZgUon-ZhKfkBI7OaRDXcqkxdf3-3VU50ZlytKFzO0bRmJSv_1dthRSOHa2PDkmn5VVc9Db-oGi1Q6fnHx0lcC1xxaafNv3aVmeSQ-7z8py3Cr8NkYQE5RrMSHOs9W9AQQ9g/s400/DSC_0060.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-31681722893855305022010-04-09T10:22:00.000-05:002010-04-09T10:22:55.603-05:00Writer's Workshop<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you are a reader who has been here a while, you may notice that today I am going to try something a little different. I have decided to link up over at <a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/">Mama Kat's</a>. She hosts the Writer's Workshop and gives you some different prompts to chose from for your writing.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The prompt that I chose reads:</span><i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Where does that fear come from? Write about something that frightens you that other people might find ridiculous. Write about it in a poem, a story, or whatever.</span></i><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have a crazy fear of funerals. Well, not really the actual funeral, just portions of it. I know that most people don't like to attend funerals. Although if you do, then I can only assume that you are a mortician or something along those lines.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, when you go to a funeral, you hope that whoever dealt with the body was able to make your dearly departed look as though they are just sleeping. I am not sure why this is the case, but you never hear anyone say that they want to look horrid at their own funeral. But, the thing is that if they make them look as if they are just taking a nap, that is when my mind starts to play tricks on me. Because when the funeral director closes the lid I begin to panic and freak out.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How did I arrive at this fear? Well, I didn't even know that I had the fear until I was at my uncle's funeral several years ago and I had the misfortune to witness the closing and sealing of the casket.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now, when I go to a funeral, I keep my fingers crossed that the lid will be closed when I am not looking. Crazy, huh? I know the body is still inside, but unless I actually witness the lid closing I am fine.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another fear that I have about funerals was discovered this past November. We had been at a visitation for around six hours and was finally leaving for the night to get something to eat and then get some rest so we could return the following morning for the funeral. I rode with my husband planning to leave my car at the funeral home and return to get it after eating.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Simple enough, huh? Not really. Because when I got back to get my car, I couldn't make myself get into it and leave. I just had a major meltdown and started to cry. After several minutes, I was able to verbalize just what it was that was causing the episode.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The irrational fear was that everyone had just left the funeral home. How can people just pick up their stuff and leave their loved one in that place? Alone? They have been a mom, a dad, a sibling, a friend, a husband or a wife for many years. And it is doubtful that anyone had ever just walked away from them without telling them that they were loved or even just a simple 'see ya later'. But this had happened. And I lost it.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another fear of the funeral stuff occurs in the cemetery. I have to walk several feet away from in front of the stone or directly behind the stone. If I don't do it that way, then I feel as though I am walking on someone. And that is just wrong.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All of these things give me nightmares for weeks when I attend a funeral. Even just a visitation will usually set off the nightmares. For that matter, I will probably have nightmares tonight just because I brought this to the forefront of my mind. Talking about them makes me want to cry.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I know that these fears are totally irrational. And most people look at me like I am totally crazy when I verbalize them. But even though my mind knows it is a little on the nutty side, my heart has yet to be convinced.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Head on over to see what others are writing about this week!</span></span> </div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Mama's Losin' It" src="http://i913.photobucket.com/albums/ac331/mamakatslosinit/poodle4.jpg" /> </a></span><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></a></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-586846090772541832010-04-08T10:36:00.001-05:002010-04-08T10:42:30.715-05:00Dear Someone<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Today is the day that I like to join in with <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/04/dear-someone.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FamilyOfShorts+%28Family+of+Shorts%29">Short Mama</a> to write Dear Someone Letters. Let's get started!<br />
<br />
<b>Dear Short Mama</b>,<br />
<br />
I have no idea what is going on here, but I could not get your button to show up. I have tried everything I know how to do, but no dice. Could I really have forgotten how it is supposed to work in a week?! I don't think so, but something is up.....<br />
<br />
Sorry,<br />
Ima Hick<br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Everyone</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">It has been a long week since I last posted. And I am just nearly too tired and confused and brain jumbled to even come up with something to write that is even close to being readable. That is the main reason that I haven't typed out anything for nearly a week. So don't be surprised if you read all of this, sit back and question just what exactly I was talking about!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sincerely,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Ima Hick</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Nurse at the Other School</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Remember back in January when we sent emails back and forth concerning Kindergarten Screening? No? Well, I do. And if you don't, then I will gladly show you the emails that I happened to have saved. Anyway, during that time, I told you that you would need to make sure you were at the screening since you had a job to do there. I didn't realize that you didn't think that I was talking to you. Silly me! Where were you the day of the screening? Unless the date was different than what was posted in the newspaper, you were not there. After I had told you two months prior that you needed to be there! And, tomorrow is the deadline for you to return all of those papers to me that I have to have for the two of us to hopefully keep our jobs. Guess what? I don't have from you what I need. Am I totally shocked? Not at all. Will I apologize if the forms are delivered in the mail today or tomorrow? Maybe. We will have to see what kind of mood I am in.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">So mad that I don't even know how to end this letter,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The One Who You are Supposed to Pay Attention To</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear School District Voters</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Nice to know that someone besides those of us who work here are questioning the school board decisions and have decided to vote out an incumbent and vote in someone totally new. Have we all made the wrong decision? Time will tell, but can it really be worse than it was?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A School Employee</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Mother Nature</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">The weather was really nice for a few days. For that I thank you. I have, however, had enough of the wind. Did you forget that this is Missouri, not Wyoming? Now, the rain is back and with it came cold again. Pick a season! Please. And make it summer.....</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Wishing for Summer</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Grandma</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Didn't think I could get those deviled eggs done for Sunday dinner, did ya? Ha!! Fooled you! I not only got them done, but had some left. Of course, I delegated the eggs to be hard-boiled. But you never specified that I couldn't do that!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Love,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Your Favorite Granddaughter</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear State</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Please do not cut funding for my position at school. No matter what anyone else might think, I am really a help to the school. And, if you want to cut funding, then that will just be one more person standing in the unemployment lines. I didn't realize that when the higher ups said they wanted to create jobs that what they actually meant was they only wanted to create them in the unemployment offices.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Please Save the Funding,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A School Nurse</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Mind</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am tired. And you working all night shoving dreams that make no sense at all or that scare the you know what out of me is just not helping. I am really over this.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Needing Sleep</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear New Doctor's Office</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You were so kind to me when I called. You answered all of my questions and then some. Thank you so much for being so kind and patient. I really appreciate it.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sincerely,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Hope it Will Continue</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Boy</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You crack me up! And you are growing like a weed again. I am hoping that I will be able to convince you to start wearing short sleeves and shorts once Mother Nature allows warmer temperatures to show up around here. I know how hard it is to totally change your way of dressing. And I hate having to hide all of the wrong weather type clothing from you. But, I have done it before and will do it again!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Love,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Your Mom</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Swap Partner</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I have everything that I can think of that reminds me of Spring all <strike>stuffed</strike> neatly packed into a box that I am going to be wrapping up tonight. I will bring it with me to work in the morning so that I can stop at the post office on my way home tomorrow. And then it will be on it's merry way to your house! Hope you like it!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Keeping my fingers crossed,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Your Swap Partner</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
That is about all I can squeeze out of this tired, jumbled brain of mine at the moment. Hopefully next week will be better. Now, don't just sit there! Go check out the other letters!</div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-60886827538028804512010-04-02T08:00:00.001-05:002010-04-02T08:00:07.868-05:00Because of This, He Is<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I am ashamed to admit that I used to look at the kids who were throwing themselves down in the middle of Wal-Mart's aisles and wonder just why the mom was letting the child act that way. I would always tell myself that my child would <b>never</b>! And if he did, then that would only happen once!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Then God performed a miracle and I had a child who he blessed with Autism.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">What?! A miracle and a blessing?! Are you crazy?!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Probably. But yes, a miracle and a blessing. I have not always looked at it that way. And to be honest, there are days that I still don't! Especially when <b>I</b> am the mom of that kid in Wal-Mart. Or when I am seen trying to calm a tearful scared child who stands inches above me when we are in the pediatrician's office. Or when The Boy refuses to let anyone but Shannon touch him at the orthodontist office.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I will not lie when I say that I sometimes wish that my son had a limp or a cast or whatever that could be seen by the world instead of this invisible disability. At least then there would be no scathing looks from others when the above happens. I can handle those looks (or I at least like to tell myself that I can), but I get royally ticked when they are directed at The Boy.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">If I try to explain that The Boy is on the spectrum, the looks turn to a couple of different things. Since he has grown so much, most of the time the look continues as anger because now I am just trying to cover for an overgrown brat or a really spoiled teen. Or, it could turn to confusion and then pity. Very rarely does it ever go from confusion to understanding.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A miracle and a blessing is what I have. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">When my Grandmother says in awe, "<i>he hugged me</i>", I am reminded of this. When my teenager tells me that he loves me and doesn't mind if his classmates hear, I am reminded of this. When I realize that he is smarter than I will ever be, I know that he is a blessing and a miracle. And without the blessing, The Boy would not be The Boy. Sure, he would still be my son, but he would not be who he is.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Today is Autism Awareness Day and the month of April is Autism Awareness Month. Please, open your hearts and your minds when you see those Wal-Mart meltdowns. Maybe, just maybe, that family you are passing judgment on is working through Autism.</div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-63124814356226021222010-04-01T14:14:00.000-05:002010-04-01T14:14:26.360-05:00Dear Someone<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/"><img alt="shortmama" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/ashortmama/familyofshortsbutton.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">As you know, or maybe you don't, I link up with <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/04/dear-me.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FamilyOfShorts+%28Family+of+Shorts%29">Short Mama</a> to write Dear Someone Letters. These help me say the things that I would love to be able to tell people, but usually don't. Enjoy!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Mailman</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Please do not talk behind my back. Just because I have called and asked that my mail be dropped off at my parent's house does not mean that my husband and I are having problems. It simply means that with all of the icy weather we were having and now the major possibilities of flooding, I just really need to have access to those bills that continue to be sent to me despite the weather.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Still Happily Married</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Major Television Networks</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Do you realize how hard it is to watch your shows when you schedule all of the good ones at the same time? You know, your ratings for each would rise if you put the good ones opposite the ones that are never watched. Maybe you should try that next season and see if it helps any.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sincerely,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Tired of Having to Choose</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Department of Education</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">No matter what you do, not every child will be proficient at the subjects that you throw out there. Have you ever even visited a school? Do you realize that there are children here that have such major disabilities that they can't even tell you their own names? And you want them to be proficient at math?! C'mon. Really? Who is coming up with all of your <i>brilliant</i> ideas? I agree that it would be nice to have a country full of really smart kids who turn into really smart adults, but can we be realistic?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sincerely,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Just Shaking My Head</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>P.S.</b> And having end of course exams that count for 20% of the grade at the beginning of April? There are still six weeks until the end of school! Shouldn't these be called 'Three Quarters of the Course' exams?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Interviewers</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Can I have the job I interviewed for? Or at least some other job that I may be even better at? How about any job that you may have available? For the same pay as you were advertising of course. Really. Just give me two weeks and I would be all yours. Matter of fact, if I was to tell the Superintendent today, then more than likely he would tell me not to come tomorrow. Then I could be all yours on Tuesday since Monday is a state holiday. It would really do my <strike>wallet</strike> heart good to hear that you want me to work for you.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sincerely,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Waiting on Your Call</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Family</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Is this a joke? You want me to bring the deviled eggs for Easter Dinner, all the while knowing that I can't hard boil an egg to save my life. You are doing it just so you can laugh at me, aren't you? </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Love,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I Will Show You<b> </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Second Grade Teacher</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thank you, thank you, thank you! I truly appreciate you boiling the eggs for me. I am being 100% honest when I tell you that I have tried everything known to man and the middles are still not done. And I even proved it to my mother who stood over me and watched me start with cool water, and then I even boiled the yolk right out of the thing for 30 minutes before letting the water cool down a little and then running cool water over it again to let it sit for another hour. And the darn thing wasn't fit to eat. Sad, ain't it?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks again,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">I Can Cook Anything But a Hard Boiled Egg</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Mother Nature</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thank you so much allowing us the privilege of knowing that Mr. Sunshine is still alive and well. I was beginning to wonder if you were waiting on a ransom or something. I know that I have not received a ransom letter, but then maybe it was lost in the mail? Either way, I am glad to see that you have released him and allowed him to return to showing himself.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Very Grateful,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Vitamin D Deficient</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Mrs. 4444</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">You know how I love <strike>riding your coattails</strike> linking up to you for your Friday Fragments every week. But this week, I will not be at school/work because of our abbreviated version of spring break. Not that you are worried about less link up, I am sure, but I wanted to let you know just on the off chance that I am missed! I will return to your regularly scheduled Fridays as soon as possible!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Hope to be back next week,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Ima Hick</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><b>Dear Anyone Who Has Read Down This Far</b>,</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Tomorrow morning I have a special post all scheduled to arrive here around 8am central time. It isn't linked up with anyone or anything like that, but I would love to have you come visit and read it tomorrow. And, if it isn't too much trouble, maybe send some others over this way to read it also. I would love to have the extra visitors!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Thanks so much,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ima Hick</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Did you find anything that you wish you could have written? If not here, then maybe over at <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/04/dear-me.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FamilyOfShorts+%28Family+of+Shorts%29">Short Mama's</a> place. Head on over and see what others have to say. Tell her I said "hey" and that I sent ya!</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-81525292153615743342010-03-30T14:20:00.000-05:002010-03-30T14:20:34.280-05:00The Interview<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Last Thursday I went on an interview. I was a bit nervous since I have not been to one of these in quite a while. Plus the fact that interviews always make me question just how qualified I am anyway. They always seem to ask the strangest questions and you never are sure what answer they are looking for.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have been looking for a different job for a while. It is not that I don't like the job I have, because I do, it is just that I think that a change may be for the best. Especially since I come to work everyday wondering if it will be my last. After all, this position is grant funded and with all of the cuts that the state government is making, I feel that if my grant is cut even by $100, I will be out of a job. Couple that with the fact that I have been told there is no longer a need for me since <b><i>"your last diabetic is graduating in May"</i></b> and I figured it was time to start actively looking.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Around the tenth of this month, I received a card in the mail looking for resumes for a job working for the state. Now, I was a bit worried about applying for that since it is a state position, and like I said before, a lot of states are making cuts. In the end, I decided to apply anyway and see what happened.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I sent in my resume by email, which I have noticed a lot of employers now accepting them this way. You never know if it gets to where it is going or if it is lost somewhere in cyberspace though. But I guess it is the same as sending it by snail mail since you are never certain it got where you addressed it.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">About a week after I sent it, I was contacted and told that I had been <i>"chosen"</i> for an interview. First hurdle cleared! She told me that I needed to get online and fill out an application and then she would mail an application to me also that would need to be filled out. Why can't they just use the one I fill out online? Because everything for the state has to be done a dozen different times!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I made it to the interview with just about two minutes to spare before my scheduled appointment time. Which was actually pretty good since I had forgotten the shoes I needed and had to go back home to get them and then drive through water that was beginning to flood over the road. Things seemed to be looking good!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I was called back for the interview itself, there were three women sitting at two tables pushed into an "L" shape. I am seated at a table with one of the women and the other two are at the other table.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The first lady tells me that the way a state job interview works is that they each have a packet of papers in which there are several questions written on them. They will go around the group and each ask a question. As I speak, their job is to<i> "write everything you say"</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What?! Everything I say? Holy cow. Now you have just made me even more nervous! But, I take a deep breath, tell her that is fine and she begins.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Her first question is <i>"Do you have a reliable source of transportation?"</i> I nearly get up and leave at that. My answer is 'yes', but what goes through my mind is the conversations that I have had with The Boy. We have been talking to him about looking for a job and he keeps telling me that he has to <i>"have a reliable source of transportation"</i>. I tell him that as his mom, I <b>am </b>his reliable source of transportation. He tells me that <i><b>"moms don't count"</b>!</i> So, I really have to think before answering this question!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This interview goes on for about 30 minutes with a pass the buck sort of question and answer session. Each of them asking a question and me answering while they scribble down answers.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At one point, I look at the lady sitting across from me and see that the question is above where she is writing. Just below that, there are lots of words that seem to be things that need to be either said or implied in my answer and she circles each of those things. Then there is a scale from one to five that I can only assume means to evaluate how I answered the question with a five being very good. Now mind you, I couldn't read everything that was typed, let alone what she wrote, but that was what I could make out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As I watched her write what I had said, I noticed that she was circling mostly fours and fives. That made me feel a lot better about how the interview was going since a lot of the questions that were being asked I felt like could only be answered if you had held the position before.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Once I left, however, I got to thinking about the whole set up. Maybe that lady who was seated at the same table as me was a ringer. Maybe her whole job was to circle those fours and fives to make the person being interviewed feel better about how it was going. Maybe her scores didn't count at all! Maybe those other two women were back there circling ones and wishing there were zeros!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The more I think about the whole process, the worse I feel about it all. Maybe I shouldn't have told them a couple of the things I did in the hopes of clarifying my application. Or maybe I should have done some more research on the types of questions that were going to be asked. Or maybe I should have just told them that according to The Boy I am not a reliable source of transportation and gotten up and left right then!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Either way, now all I can do is wait. I don't know how long it will be before they make a decision one way or the other since I forgot to ask and they didn't offer that up. Is that because they didn't feel I needed to know since they had already made a decision earlier in the day? Is that why they didn't tell me when I could expect to hear?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jeeeez. Can I just win the Mega Lottery and not have to worry about any more interviews? Please?</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-35885553322634906822010-03-26T13:28:00.000-05:002010-03-26T13:28:25.034-05:00Friday Fragments<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://mrs4444awards.blogspot.com/2009/03/friday-fragments.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Mommy's Idea" src="http://i520.photobucket.com/albums/w323/CarbaraB/Blog%20Graphics/scan00022-1.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Welcome to Friday Fragments, once again hosted by <a href="http://www.halfpastkissintime.com/2010/03/friday-fragments-episode-87_25.html">Mrs. 4444</a>. Go see what she has to say. And when you are done with that, visit everyone else that has linked up. And, when you are done with <b>that</b>, link up yourself!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you were here yesterday, you know that I was scheduled to have an interview. And, if you were here yesterday, you also know that I forgot the shoes I was going to wear. Well, today, you will be happy to know that I was able to make it home through the water that was across the road and get the shoes that I needed. I then made it to my scheduled interview with about a minute and a half to spare. And wouldn't you know it, I had to wait on them! Guess I will continue to wait on them to see if they want me to work for them.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Tonight is the night of the last of the fish frys in the area. Next Friday is Good Friday and the don't have one then. We have been to three different ones this year. Plan on going tonight, but not sure which one. And, my grandparents have finally been convinced to come out with us! I am so happy about that!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have got to get all of this paperwork off of my desk! It is starting to get toward the end of the year and I really need to get it all filed and counted and whatever else needs to be done with it! Anyone not busy and wanna come help?!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Crazy Man just called a little bit ago. Wants to take Lucille to Boyfriend's house to change her oil. Then tomorrow, we are hoping to get out for our first ride of the season. That is if Mother Nature reads the letter that it seems many are writing to her and the sun comes out.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Wednesday night we were watching the show Modern Family on ABC. I love that show! I find it absolutely hilarious and have even gotten Crazy Man watching it too. If your sense of humor is anything like mine, <strike>God Bless the ones you live with</strike> then you will be wiping away the tears from laughter. There aren't a bunch of shows that I find amusing on tv, but this is definitely one of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I think this weekend I will probably be trying to gather things up to mail to my swap partner. Lots of ideas, but none acted on yet. Which just tells my partner that I am not the 'crafty' type of person she may be hoping for! Because you those 'crafty' folks started to work on their ideas when the mention of a swap was brought up I am sure! Hopefully she will like what I pack anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We only have 32 days of school/work left this year! Well, that is not counting the 20 days of summer school. <b>If</b> they have summer school this year anyway. With all of the cuts that the state is making, nobody is really positive at this point that the funding will be available come summer school time. Wouldn't bother me if we didn't have it since I am not paid anyway. Of course if I get this other job that I just interviewed for then I won't have to worry about it anyway.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Okay....gotta run. Those organizational fairies still haven't shown up. And I know that I filled that form out in triplicate requesting their services. If I could just find my copy on this desk....... </span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-59558186857941023302010-03-25T14:07:00.000-05:002010-03-25T14:07:10.048-05:00Dear Someone Letters<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/"><img alt="shortmama" src="http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss291/ashortmama/familyofshortsbutton.jpg" /></a></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I have finally made it to Thursday. And let me just tell you that I am really happy for that little fact. For one, I am just glad to have made it that far with the chaos that is happening here. Another reason is because it is time for the Dear Someone letters hosted by <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/03/dear-someone_24.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FamilyOfShorts+%28Family+of+Shorts%29">Short Mama</a>. Click on over there because there are more letters where these came from!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Mother Nature</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Look. I know that I asked for no more snow, as I am certain many others did. However, I think that what I really meant was no more lovely wet stuff falling from the sky. I know, I know....you have to have the rain to make spring flowers. I understand that, truly I do. But you have to look at it from my perspective too. When you pour that much rain out of the sky, I can't get home because you have filled everything so full that it is now flooding. And that ain't cool. Because I like to be at home in my own bed to sleep. So, could you pretty please just slow down on the wet stuff? Just a little. I'm not asking for it to completely cease. Just slow it down so there isn't the flooding. After all, if it floods, the flowers can't grow underwater.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thanks,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm Not a Duck</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Sinatra and Ziggy</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I know that we haven't been at home much this past week. But it isn't because we don't want to be. Mother Nature is working against us. Maybe if you would contact her, then there would be three of us asking nicely. Look at it this way though....at least you have as much food as you want when we have to pack and leave in a hurry.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Love and miss your furry and purry-ness,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mom and The Boy</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Crazy Man</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I just don't understand. If I had days that I could take off, I would much rather wait until I could spend it with you and The Boy or when I had something that absolutely had to be done that I couldn't get done any other time. Not to go to a funeral of someone that I hadn't become acquainted with until a short time ago. I know that you felt "obligated" but I just don't understand. And I am trying, really I am.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Love,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Your Wife</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Organizational Fairies</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Why have you not come to clean off my desk yet? I have wished for you to come and organize it all and let me know the color of the desktop and yet you have not shown up.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Please come....quickly,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Leaving the Door Unlocked</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Boy</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love you son.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Love,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mom</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Interviewer</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hopefully when I talk to you later this afternoon I won't make a complete and total fool of myself. After all, I am wanting this position that I applied for. Or at least I think I do. I really think that I could do the job with the right training. And I am hoping that you will think the same thing by the time we are finished talking. I was told that I would be the last interview of the day. Maybe that will be good for me and I will be the only one that you remember.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sincerely,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">C'mon....Give Me A Chance</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Superintendent</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hopefully the above mentioned interview goes well and I can give you my notice soon. It would do my heart good to be able to dump all these forms in your lap and tell you that they are due April 15th. Yep, it would make me smile!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sincerely,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Keeping My Fingers Crossed</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Me</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Get it together! You will be fine this afternoon. Even if you did forget your shoes for the interview. You will have time to go get them and all will work out wonderfully.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Signed,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just Believe</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Dear Readers</b>,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Don't forget to head on over to <a href="http://familyofshorts.blogspot.com/2010/03/dear-someone_24.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FamilyOfShorts+%28Family+of+Shorts%29">Short Mama's</a> to read more Dear Someone letters. Better yet, join in! It may just save your <strike>life</strike> sanity!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thanks,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ima Hick</span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3670098216835805232.post-61551502931194558932010-03-23T11:02:00.001-05:002010-03-23T11:05:12.615-05:00I Heart Faces Photo Challenge<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><center><a href="http://www.iheartfaces.com/"><img src="http://www.livinglocurto.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/I_Heart_Faces_noborder_125x100.jpg" /></a></center></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Time for another photo challenge at <a href="http://iheartfaces.blogspot.com/2010/03/week-12-focusing-on-angles-photo.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Iheartfaces+%28iHeartFaces%29">I Heart Faces.</a> This week's challenge is "Focusing on Angles". I thought this was a nifty picture for that.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkejAMQ4ztKOnoLVll9i7UQ18lIKX6XKMcuLK0mU4oi-p_2pekGlsMqJ2kpjTaLrRaTWFfRDj7lvrvzgOCFBM7-HhLavGisr_YKUFyI8yeo3188jcBfePGg3DaA6gC5h9VprCskfFzKTs/s1600-h/101_0113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkejAMQ4ztKOnoLVll9i7UQ18lIKX6XKMcuLK0mU4oi-p_2pekGlsMqJ2kpjTaLrRaTWFfRDj7lvrvzgOCFBM7-HhLavGisr_YKUFyI8yeo3188jcBfePGg3DaA6gC5h9VprCskfFzKTs/s400/101_0113.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This wasn't taken with my newest camera. Just a Kodak point and shoot. That is probably why it looks a little blurry. Or at least it does to me. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Either way, I love the colors. And The Boy <i>can</i> smile! Not often that you see that! Which is another reason I love this shot! </span> </span></div>Ima Hickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02526587766726348163noreply@blogger.com2