Do Certain Songs Remind You of Anyone?

This really isn't intended to be today's post, but it's kind of fun, so I thought I would share. So, I recently found my old school iPod. Not an iTouch or anything fancy like that. Just an iPod, and I've probably had it for 6 + years. Anyway, I was going through it because it has a lot of music that is not linked to my iTunes, and I was kind of interested to see what I was listening to, years ago. I plugged it into the car on my way to the gym, and Usher's Yeah! came blaring through my speakers. I was instantly sent back to my junior year of college, with Eric Jantzer blasting this song at his apartment, and singing along just about every weekend night. Awesome. Then it hit me. I know I've talked about songs and music playing a role in my life, but are there songs that make you think of certain people? Sometimes I hear a song, and I think to myself...."_____ really needs to listen to this song. It might get him off his butt!" or,  "Ummm, perfect breakup song. I need to text ___." Generally, anything by Zac Brown Band and Lady Antebellum can tell the story of my life, or make me think of people that are/have been important to me. But there are other songs that I've listened to, danced to, rocked out to in the car, etc. with certain people, and every time I hear "that" song, I can't help but be a little bit nostalgic. I've got a ton of friend-music references. I thought I would share a few, mostly for my own enjoyment, but maybe you'll find them amusing!

Faded- Soul Decision- This brings me back to driving around in the Bug, with all of my high school girlfriends. I heard it the other day for the first time in a LONG time. I still know all the words. Other songs that make me think of riding in the Bug with my girls include Aaron's Party (don't judge, we were teenagers, and I can still bust out an awesome Aaron Carter rap), anything by Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, BoyzIIMen, etc. I'm also reminded of a certain O-Town song, Liquid Dreams. I'm a smart girl, but can be naive at times. I'd been listening to that song for weeks, before my friends had to EXPLAIN to me what it was about. For some reason it had never clicked! We didn't listen to that song anymore...Ha!

1,000 Miles- The Proclaimers- This song makes me think of Lindsay. It was like an anthem when we were kids. On her 29th birthday, they played it for her at the bar, and we all danced like we were 16 again. I loved it.

Anything by Miranda Lambert- Miranda Lambert makes me think of Rena. So does Sugarland for that matter. Badass women. Maybe that's why Rena and I like them so much. Amazing.

Dixie Chicks and Jo Dee Messina- Blair. Blair and I are notorious for singing There's Your Trouble and  I'm Alright  at karaoke. Alcohol doesn't even need to be involved. I do have a vivid memory of singing karaoke in Katie Pretty Eyes' garage. I was on the mic wailing Goodbye Earl for everyone to hear, as Katie and Anthony did an interpretive dance. That was a moment I'll never forget. Ha!

Dirty- Christina Aguilera- Anthony and Blair, you know where this is headed. Let's just say I can't even hear this song without picturing Anthony dancing with me (or without) in my dorm room on Halloween freshman year. This song got a whole new meaning, when we went to the club for Blair's birthday. I'm not sure anybody could actually handle the details of this one!

Roll Out- Ludacris- This song brings me back to Mexico, on Spring Break, my senior year of high school with Blair, Ben, Brooks, and Brennan. Blair and I hadn't exactly done much drinking in our time, but on this trip, we learned about alcohol. The hard way. I still can't drink tequila.

It's Your Birthday- 50 Cent- This one goes back to another Spring Break, when I went to Cancun with Ann, Blair, Kelly, and Anthony. This trip marked the first (and last time) Ann and I ever danced on tables! Hey, we were young. Besides, in spite of that indiscretion, we were actually the tame ones on the trip!

Anything by Kenny Chesney- Kellie and Spenser. When I think of Kenny Chesney, I immediately think of Kellie. Not sure why. Maybe because we always listen to him when we're riding together? Spenser comes to mind here, because he doesn't know anything about country music. Every time he rode with me, I'd ask, "Who's singing THIS song?" if it was one he'd heard several times. His answer? EVERY time, it was Kenny Chesney. Typical.

Praying for Daylight- Rascal Flatts- Rascal Flatts make me think of Ali Baker, and my dear Pretty Eyes. Not sure why.

Rap- ANY rap- Janine. I didn't have any REAL rap on my iPod, but when I hear rap on the radio, my New York buddy comes to mind.

Damaged- Danity Kane- This one reminds me of going to pick up Kelsey at the airport when I was in Kansas City. It was our anthem for the week! I still love this song.

What I Got- Sublime- I can't help but picture Allie pulling into the driveway with her big white Jeep, and Sublime bumper stickers on the back. This is an oldie, but goodies.

These songs/artists came to mind because they were all a part of my trip to the gym today. I think I should stick to the old iPod for awhile. It definitely provided a trip down memory lane, and started my day off the right way!

I Can't Feel My Legs...

Last night, I started off by talking about staying up late to have some time to myself. Well, I stayed up a little bit TOO late last night, and slept past my wake-up time to go to the gym. Ugh. Not to mention I was kind of crabby all day. Apparently I DO require a certain amount of sleep! Anyway, I made it to the gym tonight, and I ran 4.5 miles in 35 minutes. Yes, you read that right, 4.5 miles in 35 minutes. For runners, that probably seems like nothing, because it's not like I was running a 6 minute mile or anything. But those of you who know me are fully aware that I HATE running. I despise it. Short girls, with short legs are meant to do gymnastics. Not run. Kellie and I talk about this all the time. We did gymnastics for a reason! We're short, we can go really hard for short periods of time...but we absolutely HATE cardio exercise. So, needless to say, for me to run any distance greater than a mile without stopping is a feat for me. Apparently this whole "consistent cardio routine," serves a purpose or something. Whatever. I just don't want to be the idiot at the Tough Mudder in July who craps out at mile 2! With that said, I'm fairly certain I won't be able to walk normally for several days. I told someone the other day that I actually like being sore after a workout. I got the whole, "Are you crazy?" look in response. I had to explain that if I don't feel just a little bit sore, I don't feel like I did anything in the workout. Is that weird? Maybe it's just me.

"Stop taking pictures, there's a cupcake in this bag!"

Naturally, after the gym, I had to go out to dinner and ruin all of the hard work I'd just done. Well, actually, Charley and I are back at my dad's house dog sitting again, and there is an awesome restaurant around the corner that has a great Greek salad. I LOVE Greek salads. Paymon's in Vegas anyone? They have an awesome Greek salad, and Janine and I will likely go there as soon as I get in town! Yummy! Sorry, ADD kicking in... Anyway, I was so excited not to cook, and was really looking forward to the meal. Sure enough, we walked in, just to find that it was no longer on the menu. Sad day for me. So, instead of being a good girl and getting a salad, I got a veggie sandwich and probably erased all the work I'd done at the gym. Oh well, it happens!

As much as I have been enjoying training MYSELF to get into shape, it's way more fun to train the girls at the gym. I honestly love the gym I work at. I've worked at some great places in my life, and had the pleasure of working with great people over the years. I've always been the more laid-back coach, who gives a lot of corrections, but is definitely approachable. Well, at this gym....I'm the MEAN coach! I think I come off that way because I'm so stinking loud, and I will call anybody out, at any given time if they're messing around. Plus, all of the other coaches are SO nice. Incredibly nice. I'm nice, but not THAT nice. Ha! I'm not really mean, but I tell all the kids I am, and when they're new, they usually believe it. What I really should say is that I'm strict. I ALWAYS warn them that I'm picky. I am. I've learned from a lot of good coaches with incredible technique, and I've become very picky. I'm also sarcastic, so if kids don't get sarcasm, I have to be careful not to hurt any feelings! Anyway, I brought this up, because I got quite a few new students in my class yesterday. I jokingly told them I'm the mean coach, and I'm very picky, but if they do what I ask them to, they'll be incredibly good little gymnasts. While I was spotting at a station, I noticed two of the girls talking. One was a girl who has been in my class for awhile. She used to kind of run the show (which does not work for me), but she has gotten so much better over the last few months. Anyway, she was talking to one of the new girls. I overheard her saying, "Oh, Lindsey's not mean. She's strict. Kind of like a teacher at school. But she's too nice to be mean." Ha! It was sweet. It gave me a little warm-fuzzy. She might have taken that statement back, if the conversation had taken place after conditioning though! Anyway, I love my little gymnasts, and that was just a reminder as to why I do what I do.

I said in yesterday's blog that I'm excited to go to Las Vegas. Here's a big reason why...This Minnesota April has been horrendous. We're expecting snow tomorrow. Accumulating snow. Seriously? Did the universe forget that it's April? I mean, come on, cut me a break. It's my first Minnesota winter in 10 years, and it's been brutal! Another snow, means another thaw, which means MORE ALLERGIES. Ugh. I can't wait to be in that fabulous Vegas weather! Just watch, it will probably snow while I'm there.  I'm also looking forward to having a little time to myself. Charley is going to get to spend some time with her father. A significant amount of time (5 or 6 days). Not that I won't see her at all during that time, but he will be the primary parent on those days. I don't even remember what it's like to just relax and do nothing. It's going to be marvelous. I took a couple of days off of work, too, so when I'm not administering tests, I'll be lying by the pool with a gossip magazine in hand. Although I'm about 4 years disconnected from celebrity gossip, so I probably won't even know half of the people in the magazines. But still....Heaven!

 Okay, a teacher story... I've talked about working in a low-income school when I was in Las Vegas. Coming from Edina, let's just say it is a totally different world. I remember my first after-school event, when the parents were going around to meet their children's new teachers. When we were all in the multi-purpose room and the principal was explaining what was going on, and welcoming parents to the school, the teachers just surveyed the crowd. There were women in pajama pants, and others dressed like they were going out to the club. There were men with pants down to their knees, and shirts with swear words on them. I looked at my friend and just said, "They know this is a school, right?" She laughed, and nodded. Anyway, I came to expect that kind of dress, as I worked there for several years. One day, when I was doing my student teaching (yes, I was forced to student teach even after I had my own classroom for two years), I walked the students out to the line. One of the parents came up to me looking for her son. As I turned to look at her, I was in shock. Remember, this was an elementary school. The woman was in booty shorts and a white sports bra. That's it. And she was NOT a slight woman. I passed off her son, and watched her walk away, in complete shock. One of my past students came up to me and asked, "Ummm....Ms. Pierron....are we allowed to wear JUST a bra to school?" "No, honey, you're not," I replied. She whistled, cocked her head to the side, in the direction of the mother, and said, "Well then she better get out of here! Because I don't think ANY of us need to be looking at that." Took the words right out of my mouth.

Random Thoughts and Funny Encounters

I'm sitting here, wide awake at 11:15 p.m., and wondering why I stay up so late some nights. I think it's because it's the ONLY true alone time I have. Charley's asleep, Oscar is passed out on the couch next to me, and I just have my time to sit and think about things or totally zone out. Today, I've been incredibly busy with work, but I've also had time to think about other things in my life right now. I realized that I'm totally content. I'm on my own, and I know I've said before that I am independent and don't need a man. That's true. But I am just feeling very content, and happy with where I am in my life. I'll be 30 in a few months, and I've had a lot of life experience for someone my age. I mean, let's be honest, I don't think many people thought I would be divorced with a kid by the age of 30. But even though I've had my down moments in the last year, I'm genuinely okay with where I'm at, and it feels good.

This is totally random, but the other day, I was thinking about one more online dating scenario that totally scared me off. I got an e-mail one day, from a man who was in his early 40s. It said something to the extent of, "Hi! I'm looking for a serious relationship. Do you want to chat something?" In typical Lindsey form, I read that line, and totally shut down. Serious relationship? In the first e-mail? I'm looking for someone who wants ME. Someone who recognizes that I'm a pretty cool woman, and can show me that. NOT somebody who just wants a relationship with anybody. I'm definitely not a girl who wants a relationship with just anybody! This guy didn't even know me, and totally freaked me out in e-mail number one. Of course, I ignored the e-mail, as I typically did when guys came off as creepers. The next day, I got another e-mail from the same man. "Hi there, I'm just on a break from work. Thought I'd say hi." Hmmm...I didn't respond to the first e-mail. Definitely wasn't going to respond to the second. Then a third e-mail came. "Do you want to chat or not?" The e-mails got pushier...I think there were 6 total. Finally, he sent an e-mail that said, "Wow. I thought we could have a good time getting to know each other, but I guess not. So sorry to bother you." With that, I chose to respond. I said, "I apologize for not getting back to you. I am very busy. I'm a single mother, and I work full-time, and sometimes do not get back to e-mails right away.I might have responded to you, but to be honest, you've come off as pushy and rude. I'd rethink your approach next time." And with that, I figured out how to block him. CREEPER! See? This is why I'm not online dating anymore!Maybe why I feel content being single, too....Ha!

Not too long ago, somebody told me to list all of the things I'm looking for in a partner, and once I figure out exactly what qualities I'm looking for, that person will find me. Well, I made my list. It's long. I'm sure that comes as no surprise, considering the long-windedness of my blogs... Anyway, the list is written, and I know EXACTLY what  I want. Alright, Prince Charming, (preferably  with a bit of an edge, and in a uniform of some kind...) come find me!

On another note, at the end of the month, I'll be heading out to Las Vegas to administer the Nevada CRTs. I never thought I'd say it, but I'm actually excited for the trip! I know when I left, I said I'd never go back, and at the time, I really meant it. But I am so looking forward to seeing my friends, and getting out of MN for awhile.I love Minnesota, don't get me wrong, but I definitely need to get out of the bipolar weather, and into the sun! I'm looking forward to seeing a lot of good friends, and getting some time to myself, too!

In honor of my Vegas trip, I thought I'd share a Vegas story, courtesy of my little sister. When I first started working from home, my sister, Kelsey, came out to live with us for awhile in Las Vegas. She got a job at Target. She still works at Target, but let's be honest, Target in Vegas and Target in Minnesota are two totally different things. Anyway, one night, around the holidays, a woman was in the store with her kids. One of the kids was rubbing a dollar bill on his face. The woman looked at her son in disdain, and said (loudly), " What the hell are you doing?! This is Vegas! Now you've got dirt and hooker crotch all over your face!" Best. Line. Ever.

On that note, goodnight!

A Two Year Old and Mom with a Wet Shirt. You do the math...

Yesterday was honestly a great day from start to finish.I slept like a rock and woke up this morning feeling totally relaxed and well-rested, even though Charley  decided that 5:30 seemed like the appropriate time to wake me up. It worked out well, though, we snuggled on the couch watching The Emperor's New Groove, and took it easy all morning. I love lazy Sunday mornings!My only complaint would be the fact that I'm so sore from my workout yesterday, I could hardly bend over until about noon! Totally worth the pain, though!  The day picked up a little bit later on...I can never seem to have a completely work-free day, and today was no exception.

I took Charley to my dad's for a couple of hours while I taught a couple of private lessons. I love teaching private lessons, because I really get to know the kids. They are so cute, and of course they love the one-on-one attention. One of my girls today left completely exhausted, and practically crawled out of the gym...she's a bit on the dramatic side, though! Ha!

Meanwhile, Charley was living it up with Papa and Scott. I got back to their house and discovered she'd eaten yogurt, deli turkey, and a chocolate cupcake. At 3 in the afternoon...Oh well, it didn't seem to impact her appetite at dinner! When I got there, I noticed Charley was wearing a new pair of pants. Papa had actually needed to change a diaper! That doesn't happen often, and oddly enough, Scott always seems to disappear at diaper time. Weird. But Charley was happy as can be, when I picked her up, which is always a great feeling. She loves her grandparents!

So, I'd talked to one of my girlfriends earlier about going to a fun little shop in the Lyn-Lake area, and after Charley and I left my dad's, we went and picked her up. Charley was well-behaved in the store, but she was tired, as she had napped in the car, so I was holding her on my hip. Suddenly, I felt warm...and wet... I looked down at my side, and sure enough, my shirt had the proof. I'd been peed on. Remember how I said her Papa had changed a diaper? Ha! He'll have a hard time living this one down. Needless to say, shopping wrapped up quickly!

 

When Papas Change Diapers...

I dropped my friend off, and headed to the airport to pick up my mom, who was just coming in from Florida. I took her home, ate dinner, and before I knew it, it was 7:30, and I had to get Charley home. I got her to bed, and here I am, relaxing with a beer and watching Friends. Could this evening be any more perfect? Other than the fact that I got peed on, it was a pretty great day.

With that said,I'm going to skip a teaching story tonight. I don't have anything exciting coming to mind, although I'm sure I will tomorrow!

Allergies...

My whole life I've dealt with allergies. From the time I was a little kid, who had an anaphylactic reaction to a Cheezit cracker at preschool, to the time I got a henna tattoo on my back that turned into a a flower-shaped, welt that lasted for 6 months on my lower back, I've had to deal with allergies. Some are worse than others. For example, I'm allergic to dogs. However, I've always had dogs, and just dealt with the consequences. Usually I develop a little bit of immunity to them after a couple of weeks, and end up being just fine. On the other hand, if hair color even approaches my scalp, I break out in hives that last for days. It's super fun. Not.

My closest friends have seen my allergic reactions first hand. I can't even go to my friend Lindsay's house for more than an hour, because she has cats and dogs, and the animals always get my eyes watering and my nose running. It sucks, too, because I love the animals! My friend Laura has a couple of cats. I went to her house several weeks ago, and had no issue with allergies at all. It was great. However, several days later, I put on the jacket I had worn to her house, and discovered that the coat had cat hair on it. How did I make this discovery? I was in Target with my friend Beth, and basically began tearing up uncontrollably in the middle of the store. I'm sure people thought I was crying. I put my jacket in the cart, and suddenly my "crying" spell disappeared. Embarrassing!

Another time, I was with my Kansas City friends at the bar. We had just finished adult tumbling, and, just as we did every week, we went out afterwards. It was one of my favorite weekly traditions. Anyway, somebody had the brilliant idea to sit outside. I think we'd been outside for about 3 minutes before the tiniest little bug I'd ever seen, bit my leg. "Ouch!" I shouted! Everyone kind of laughed, because it was typical for me to be the only one bitten. It hurt, but I didn't know how bad the bite really was until the next day, when I woke up and had a baseball sized welt on my leg. Totally not exaggerating. I remember the next week at gymnastics, I was wearing shorts, and my friend Kellie said, "OH MY GOSH! Is that from the teeny bug last week?" as she stared at my welt. "Yup, story of my life," I replied. That stupid welt lasted the better part of a month.

Anyway, these stories have a point, I swear. I was hoping Charley would be lucky enough to escape my allergy issues,  because her father has NO allergies whatsoever. No such luck for Charley! She's allergic to peanuts, laundry detergent, and apparently has seasonal allergies, because she's been coughing herself awake since the snow first melted. Poor kid. Thank goodness for antihistamines! I'm hoping she outgrows them. Looks like that's just one more thing Charley got from me, and unfortunately, it's not a good trait.

The other purpose was the fact that I had some allergy issues tonight. I have seasonal allergies. I always have, and likely always will, especially living in Minnesota. But those aren't the allergies I'm talking about. I'm talking about hives. I went to a friend's house tonight (who of course has cats), but I've been there before and the cats haven't been an issue. I thought I was free and clear tonight, too, because I didn't have watery eyes, or an itchy throat or anything! When I got home, however, I realized that I had hives starting to form on my face. Then my hands...Figures! It was like my body was saying "Screw you! You took your Zyrtec too early in the day!" Ugh. I look like a hot mess, but it's nothing a little cortisone and Benadryl won't take care of overnight.

Ok, quick teacher story...This one didn't happen to me directly, but it's a good one.When I lived in Kansas City, I worked at an awesome school with amazing teachers, and a principal I really liked. He was one of those principals who stayed really involved, and engaged with the students. I'm fairly sure he knew every student in the school by name. He was great. Well, one night, he was driving down a busy street around 8pm, and saw a 5th grade student I'll call Emily, stomping along on the sidewalk, all by herself. Now, Emily was generally a good kid, but she was very spoiled, and her parents set no limits for her whatsoever. That, added to the fact that she had poor coping skills, made for a difficult student at times. So the school principal pulled up next to her, and said, "Emily, is everything okay?" She looked at him. "No!" she shouted, "My mom ordered me Sprite at Pizza Street and I wanted root beer!" She seemed to think it was totally logical to stomp out of the restaurant and down the street, because of such a devastating mistake! What I find even funnier, is the fact that neither of her parents followed her! Ha! The principal and his wife picked her up, took her back to the restaurant, and called it a night. Never a dull moment, when kids are involved!

Relax? What's that?

Relaxing is not really my thing. I know I need to do it more, but I'm such a busy-body, it's not really in my blood! Generally I work on Saturday mornings, so I head to bed early on Friday nights, and prepare for a long work day. Today, however, I took the day off, because I didn't have a sitter for Charley! It was kind of nice. I stayed up a little later last night, chatting with a couple of friends, and woke up at a reasonable hour...a wonderful thing, considering I have a toddler! But the minute Charley woke up, my relaxation time (which consisted of getting ready for the day, and doing the dishes) ended abruptly.  Once she got up, I had to get her ready for her gymnastics class. She had SO much fun at the gym. I'm not surprised that she loves going to gymnastics. There are other kids, fun things to do, an awesome coach...what's not to love? She's not exactly on-task most of the time. She is so anxious and excited to take her turn, it's not uncommon for her to jump up and squeal at the top of the lungs, as she tries to cut in front of the other kids. She did listen, though, so that's good. The whole following-directions thing will improve, though, thank goodness. I mean, she did just turn 2! I think my favorite part was watching her interact with this adorable little girl named Aurora. Most of the time, I am teaching when she is in class, so it was fun to just be Mom today, and see how she is with other children. Those two were like 2 peas in a pod, giggling, hugging, and talking in unintelligible language. It was very sweet. Aurora's mom and I have become friendly, and I have a feeling we'll be having some play dates in the future!

Attempting a fish face...

After gymnastics, I decided to take advantage of my free time and headed to the gym, so I could work out! It was really nice, because usually when I go to the gym, I rush through, so I can make it back in time for work. Today, I took my time, and Charley got to play in the childcare center. It was very peaceful. I called my friend Kellie when I left, and we talked about how our time at the gym is our individual "me" time. I never thought I would feel that way. I used to hate going to the gym! But, now it's my break, and the one thing I really do for myself. I never thought I would be "that" woman, but that's who I've turned into. I guess I might be growing up...or growing desperate for adult interaction and time to myself! Who knows.

I took Charley to lunch, because I didn't get a chance to go to the store yesterday, like I'd planned. We went to Chipotle, Charley's favorite! I'm not kidding when I say that she usually out-eats me at Chipotle. We "share" a burrito bowl, but actually eating it generally consists of Charley shoving my hand out of the way as she shovels the rice and beans in her mouth at an alarmingly rapid rate. On the way back, I was certain that she'd be so worn out from the morning activities that she'd pass out in the car. No such luck! Although, I will say, it didn't take long for her to crash after we got home. And that brings me to now. I'm actually TRYING legitimately to relax. It's KIND of working. But I'm thinking of all the things I could be getting done. It's a curse, I swear!

I'm thinking tonight will be another night in. My mom has been out of town for two weekends in a row, and my dad generally watches Charley more during the day time. So that means I'll be enjoying a night in...who wants to join me? I've got a bottle of wine! Ha, I know a bottle of wine wouldn't tempt many, but a glass or two is more than enough for me! That might actually enable me to relax...Ha!

Alright, a teaching story...This one's from the virtual classroom. A couple of weeks ago, I had a student, who I'll call Joseph, come on the microphone and tell the students and me (for about the 18th time), how he was going to be moving away and how he would miss everybody, and how I'm the nicest teacher he ever had (he's a sweetheart). Joseph proceeded to talk about his 13th birthday party, and how he wants to invite everybody from the class to his party. Mind you, this student is currently 11 years old, so 13 is still a couple of years down the line. Well, class finished up, Joseph logged out, and another student I'll call Carlos, began raising his hand repeatedly (which he knows he is not supposed to do). I asked him what he needed, and when he came on the microphone, Carlos was borderline hysterical. "Ms. P. I wanted to go to the birthday party, and I didn't get to say that to him! He doesn't have my address or anything! I really wanted to go to the party. I can't believe I didn't get to talk to him." I took the microphone away from him, and explained that the party wasn't going to be taking place for a long time. I had to reassure him that he would have another chance to give his friend his address. Carlos came back on the microphone, and said, "Oh. Ok, sorry I had a meltdown. Have a good weekend!" And just like that, he signed out. Oh the life of a virtual teacher...

Back in Action!

Between the problems with my wrist and my knee, I took about a week and a half off from training, and gave my body a chance to heal. It was definitely the right move. I started back at the gym on Wednesday, and I felt great. I’ve gone the last 3 days in a row, and it just reminds me that I seriously love the feeling after a good work out!  I don’t know how I went so long without a gym membership. Anyway, I’ve been able to do everything I want to do, with only minimal pain in my wrist, and none in my knee, so thank goodness for that!

I am still internet-free at my house, which of course has me thrilled. I’ve been driving to 20 minutes to my mom’s house in order to make use of the wireless internet. It’s incredibly annoying. I was told that the Century Link people would be at my house sometime today between 1 and 5, so I’ll have to go back at that time, and get the rest of my work done this evening, which is just what I want to do on a Friday night! Ugh.

Speaking of Friday nights, my girlfriends are going to Jurassic Park tonight. I remember seeing that as a kid, and watching my older sister scream and jump onto my dad’s lap in one scene. It was hilarious.  I don’t have a sitter, though, so I’ll be at home doing my make-up work. Lame! I’m debating signing up for Care.com. I need to get out every once in awhile and have some adult time, without sending Charley to one of my family members. Oddly enough, they all have social lives! Weird. Anyway, being a single mom, I’m a little bit hesitant to leave Charley with someone I don’t know, but I’ve got to get out of the house! As many of my friends know, I love my job, but it’s very isolating to work from home when you live with a toddler. Also, I tend to work quickly, and get bored easily (ADHD much?), so I really need more adult interaction on my daily basis. So, I might just have to bite the bullet and sign up. Hopefully I can find someone great, who can watch Charley a couple times a month. 

I was at my dad’s house last night, and he and Scott were asking about dating. Scott wanted to know if I had been on any dates lately. I kind of filled him in on the whole getting off of Match.com because I thought I would have a burnout thing! Honestly, I kind of felt like a zoo animal, on display. I know men just judged me based on my pictures. I looked at their pictures first, too. Although, I really did read their profiles, and if they were full of spelling or grammatical errors, I ruled them out automatically. I know that might seem judgmental, but I want someone who can write a complete sentence! I don’t think that’s too much to ask. Anyway, that’s a big part of why I got off of Match, and I explained that to them. I liked meeting people, but I was totally overwhelmed. I even gave it a few tries…I was online off and on for about 3-4 months…But having met some of the weirdos I did, I knew online dating wasn’t for me. I kind of hope to meet someone randomly, the old fashioned way. Maybe at the gym or at Starbucks or something. I would love it if some good-looking guy would just walk up to me and ask me for my phone number. That NEVER happens anymore. I think it’s because there are so many different ways to meet people and date, that the traditional, happenstance meetings and phone number exchanges hardly exist. Shoot, if a guy just randomly asked for my number, he’d get immediate points for having guts! Whether he would get the right number from me, however, would depend on a number of factors, though. Ha! 

Ok, here’s a teacher story from today. I was teaching one student about the differences between facts and opinions. I posted a flash card on the screen that stated, Vegetables taste like dirt. I asked him to tell me if it was a fact or an opinion. He read the statement and sounded shocked. “That’s not true! That’s a lie! Vegetables taste good. I don’t know who wrote this, but they are crazy. Vegetables do not taste like dirt. Wait, what was the question again, Ms. Pierron?” Ha! He got so upset about the statement, that he couldn’t remember what he was supposed to do. Love him!

*** Side note: It’s 11:00, and the Century Link guy just called from my house, asking when I would be home…Ummmm, the company told me between 1 and 5. I’ll be there at 1. Annoying!

Old Friends

Yesterday, I talked a lot about my girlfriends, but I have a few guy friends that have been influential in my life, as well. Honestly, guy friends are more important to me, right now, than they ever have been before, because I want Charley to be surrounded by positive male figures that are close to my age. I’ve got a few in Minneapolis, and they are great people. I went to dinner with one of them, and his parents tonight, to celebrate his 30^th birthday. It was really nice to reconnect with an old friend, who’s known me since I was a baby. I need to integrate him into my life more, because I DO want Charley to be exposed to more men, and not necessarily guys I’m dating. My MN guy friends are great, but I’ve got a few male friends in other states that I really wish lived in the same city as Charley and me.

First of all, there’s Spenser. Spenser is not my friend, he’s my brother. We were roommates in college, and we became like siblings. I’ll never forget waking up to my exercise ball being thrown at me, or getting rolled up the stairs (yes, that’s right rolled UP the stairs). We drove to work together and gave names to all of the elderly people that cut us off in the car (Bertha and Ethel…it was a fun game). He’s the first guy I call for a good laugh, or if I need to talk about anything serious, because his advice is thoughtful, and generally on-target. Spenser knows more about me than most people, partially because we lived together, and partially because he has made an effort to stay in my life and support me, even when I moved away from KC. Spenser is Mr. Rational, and he’s always reminding me to take things slow, one step at a time, etc. He reminds me that I am a good woman, and any man I’m with needs to recognize what kind of woman I am. He is protective of me, like a brother would be, and I swear, he’s the best guy friend a girl could ask for. I can’t wait for him to settle down for good with Nadia (his longtime girlfriend) one of these days. No pressure, Spenser ;)  

I remember in Vegas, when things went south in my relationship, one of the first people to respond was Pat. He sent me a message that said, “Hey, I am not sure what’s going on, but if you need anything, we’ll be there.” Sure enough, he showed up that night, along with his wife Shelly, daughter, Paige, and friend Melissa, pizza in hand, simply to chat and keep me company. It was such a simple gesture, but the fact that they did that for me meant a lot.

I have a lot of male friends, and each of them serves a unique purpose in my life, and I’m happy have them in it. Right now, I’m so happy to have AJ (not ‘BSB’ AJ that I dated, but my friend’s boyfriend) and Thome around, even though I don’t see them much. They are the type of men I’m really glad to have around Charley, and she adores them.

Ok, on a totally unrelated note, has anybody else had issues with Century Link? I got cut offline today around 4, went out, and when I came home, it was still off. I called, and they walked me through a process that was pointless (in broken English, of course). Basically, they wanted me to see if my cord was plugged in. Ummm…yes. I’m not an idiot. One minute it was working, the next it wasn’t. The problem is on their end not mine…Yet I’m going to have to pay someone $85 on Friday to come check out the issue. Yup…I have to wait until Friday. I’m thrilled about that, considering that I work from home! Off to Mom’s house I go, I guess. How annoying.

I’m skipping the teacher story today to share this little gem. So, a couple of days ago, I took Oscar (my 12 year old Wheaten Terrier mix) to get groomed. He HATES getting groomed, almost as much as I hate getting on the scale, but that’s beside the point. He is horrible when he goes to the groomer, so I always warn them. This time, he was pretty matted, because he licks his fur constantly, so I asked them to shave him down. When he was ready to go, I got a call from the groomer, telling me I could come get him. “He really gave us trouble when we tried to get his face, “ the groomer warned me. I thought I was prepared… But I showed up and found my beautiful, fuzzy dog transformed into this skinny little dog with a scraggly goatee. Charley had been so excited to pick up Oscar, she was telling everyone, “Oscar got a haircut.” When they brought him out, however, she looked at me and said, “Mommy, Oscar’s a goat!” She was right, he did look like a goat. Since then, she has been asking for “The Goat,” every time we come back from running errands. She’s a piece of work!

Girlfriends

Rena came over tonight, and as per usual, it was an awesome night that ended far past the intended time... I love having my girlfriends over, because nobody ever knows where the conversation may lead. Tonight focused on men...not surprising...and it was kind of fun to catch up and see where each of us was at in terms of dating/relationships. Rena is in a long-term relationship, and it's kind of nice to get a little refresher about what that is like! I mean, it's been a year, it's kind of hard to remember what it's like to be committed to one person! She always has candid advice, and doesn't mince her words when she's referring to the men I've been interested in. Basically, she thinks that men I like see me as naive, and manipulate that to their advantage. She's usually right...and I know I'm naive because I'm new to the dating world. But I learn quickly, and as an adult, I'm prepared to deal with pain that might result from risks I take in my whole dating adventure.She is protective of me, and I love her for it.

I have the best girlfriends (and sisters- Allie and Kelsey). Seriously, I do. I would like to say I have the best friends in general, because I believe that's the truth. But my girlfriends are honestly the best. I've developed close girlfriends in each of the cities I've lived in, and I feel very fortunate for that. I know that a lot of women aren't so lucky. Girlfriends are essential in every woman's life. I know I talk to my friends about EVERYTHING. Yes, that's right men, they know EVERYTHING. And I know everything about them. If you've hooked up with one of my girlfriends, I know about it. I know more details than you would probably want me to know (exactly what happened, when, where, how many times, good, bad...I know it all...and so do the rest of my girlfriends). Most men have nicknames, too...Some of the guys I've dated include Creepy Steve, Firefighter Mike, Chatty Patrick....the list goes on. Now, this rule is slightly altered if we really care about a guy, or see potential with him. Then, the girls will know the basics, but not the details.  Ever want to make a guy uncomfortable? Get a bunch of girls together in a car, and talk about what you'd normally talk about. Guys get so uncomfortable and act all shy. It's hilarious. Anyway, girlfriends laugh together, cry together, call each other out when they need to, give advice...they're the best.

The last year of my life, I've relied on my girlfriends more than ever before. Honestly, I've relied on ALL of my friends more than I had in the past. People say that when things go wrong, you know who your friends are. Well, I'm lucky...I've got a lot of them. Many friends who helped me pick up the pieces, and get to where I am today.

In Minnesota, I've had the same girlfriends for over a decade. They knew me when I was a goody-goody little kid, a responsible teenager (the "mom" of the group), and now as an adult. We've grown up together, and had a lot of 'firsts' along the way. Like I said, my girlfriends know EVERYTHING! Right now, we're all kind of at different places in our lives, in terms of home life (boyfriends, husbands, kids, single life), and that can make it complicated to stay close...but we still make time to stay in each other's lives and  when we're together, watch out! Even if we're just hanging out at someone's house, it can get wild, crazy, and wonderful with Lindsay, Rena, Blair,Laura, Mooty, Pretty Eyes, and Beth! I've recently added Kim to my list in MN, and I'm so glad to have her here.

In Kansas and Las Vegas, I found some amazing girlfriends, as well. I met them when I was older, so even though we don't have as much history, have so many things in common. Janine, Kellie, and Ali might as well be my sisters. I think of them that way. Janine and Kellie have had a lot of life experience, and I rely on them for everything. If I want advice about men, they're usually the first ones I turn to, because they KNOW men! Janine and I had our kids a week apart, so we're learning about the kid stuff together. Kellie and I are both full-time single moms, so we're in constant contact. I love these women, and I'm so lucky to have them.Ali and I were instant friends, when we met several years ago. Since then, she's joined "sister status," and we've even been mistaken for sisters...I think it's the curly hair. There are many others, like Ann, Cori, Gretchen, Colette, Terri, Jennifer, Kelli, Shelly, Melissa, Lisa, etc. and I'm lucky to have every one of them.

Ok, enough with the name dropping. I've learned a lot from my girlfriends, and I hope they've learned a lot from me. They are my biggest supporters, and they have taught me a LOT about life and what I had been missing out on for a long time. They make me laugh until I cry. They reassure me that nothing but positive things lie ahead for me! They're right. I'm in a great place, and I know I've said that before. It's probably getting old. Everything is coming along for me, just as it should be. The only thing missing is a partner in crime! I'm not used to waiting for things. As my parents have always said, from the time I was born (labor was 40 minutes from start to finish), once I want something, I go out and get it...usually quickly. I think right now, I'm having a life lesson in patience. If I want something great, I can't rush it. I have to give it time. So that's exactly what I'm doing! Waiting it out and seeing what happens, and what comes my way. Meanwhile, I'm enjoying hearing my girlfriends' dating stories. I don't have anything juicy to share at the moment, but when I do...they'll all hear about it ;)

Quick teaching story: When I was student teaching with my friend Sara, we decided to play a prank on our third graders. In fact, we played several pranks on them, but this was one of my favorites.The kids were about to begin a writing prompt about a time they felt scared. I picked the kids up from P.E. while Sara stayed in the classroom, and hid behind a bookshelf. I took the kids into the class, got them all seated, and began reading from the story we were using to spark their imaginations. The students were totally engaged and focused on the story, until Sara popped out from behind the bookshelf and made a plethora of spooky noises. The kids screamed in unison, some of them jumped up...it was awesome. For another writing prompt, we scared them again. I don't know why, but we seemed to get enjoyment out of it. Anyway, I was teaching the lesson, and asked the students to close their eyes. I talked them through a spooky story in a very quiet voice. The kids were completely silent, with eyes closed, and I screamed (as part of the story), at the top of my lungs. The kids screamed, too, because they weren't expecting it at all. Again, hilarious. Those are probably some of my favorite writing stories, and I don't think I'll ever forget them!

Back to School, Back to School

Well, Spring Break is officially over, and I'm back to work for two more months. I have definitely enjoyed working a teacher's schedule. You can't beat the breaks, and summer vacation is a big plus! I can't believe my second year at NVVA is wrapping up. It went by really fast. I know people say time flies quickly, but I don't think I realized how quickly until I started teaching. I think back to my first year of teaching...that was 5 years ago! My fifth graders are high school students now, and I'm not sure I would even recognize them if I saw them! It's crazy. Time flies even faster when you have kids. Someone mentioned on Facebook today that Charley is losing the "baby" look, and definitely looking more like a toddler. I felt that way this weekend, when she was at gymnastics. I've taught so many two year old kids over the years, I just can't believe that Charley is now one of those kids! Time really does fly.

Today was pretty uneventful. Just the typical work stuff, trying to get back into the swing of things. I had a hard time getting motivated, even though I had quite a bit to get done. I found myself dancing around with Charley throughout the day. Sometimes I wonder what people would think, if they were flies on my wall when I'm at home with Charley. We laugh a lot, and dance constantly. I'm notorious for dancing to Lady Antebellum, while doing the dishes or getting ready for the day. I guess it would probably be amusing to most people, but lucky for me, I never get caught (probably due to the fact that there's nobody here to catch me). I wonder of other people do the same things, when they are home alone, or if it's just me! Charley and I were both extra excitable today. I  think spring fever is settling in, even though it is still freezing in Minnesota! I'm definitely looking forward to relaxing by the pool at Janine's at the end of the month. It will make flying to Vegas totally worth it! I'm actually looking forward to the trip, and seeing all of my Vegas friends. I'm not looking forward to administering tests for 3 days in a row, but it's okay,  I'll deal with it! Charley will get a chance to see her dad and Grammy. It will be good for her, but definitely hard for me. I'm not used to spending much time away from her, especially for long periods of time. It will be fine, it's just going to be a challenge for me.

Alright, here's for my dating topic for tonight: dating people from high school. Since I've become single, I've actually talked to a couple of guys from high school. My sister ended up marrying a guy who when to our high school, and she recommends it, that's for sure. Here's the thing. Thinking about dating a guy from high school has it's positives and negatives. For one thing, they KNOW me. They might not know me that well, but they know about me, and the type of person I have always been. They even knew me during my awkward stage! And they are still interested. That's a definite plus. I mean, I've changed a lot since high school, but on the whole, I'm still the same, down to earth girl. That can be a negative, too, though. They might have preconceived notions about who I am. Am I still a good girl? Yes. I'm still responsible, and I stay out of trouble. But I've had a lot of life experience, since high school, and I've definitely grown up! I think I'm more fun than I was in high school, but that's just because I've loosened up a bit. Anyway, more than anything, I think the negative is that there is more at stake early on. It's not like just randomly meeting someone, going on a date, and realizing it's not going to work. With someone from the past, you already know about them, and the first date stuff kind of gets skipped. I think it could jump to relationship status more quickly than it would with someone who's NOT from the past, and that has its positives and negatives, too. Is it worth the risk? I don't know. Because they are really good people, and I wouldn't anybody to get hurt. It would be a pretty big risk! I guess time will tell, just as it will with any potential man in my life.

I'm too tired to write a teacher story tonight, but here's a funny little Charley quote. She called her dad tonight, and immediately started rambling about her day, and what she ate for dinner at her Papa's house (I was working). "I ate ketchup, and chicken, and yogurt, and trees, and broccoli. Lots of things!" Trees? Ummm, yeah, pretty sure she was actually talking about the broccoli, which she didn't touch. But she was very proud of herself. Love her!