A Crappy Start to New Year's Eve...Literally...

Alright, I'll keep this one short and sweet. For the last week and a half, I've been dog-sitting at my dad's house, while he's in Paris with my sister and stepdad. Life's rough, huh? Anyway, dog-sitting has been going great! The dogs are taking short walks every day, in spite of the frigid weather, no fights thus far (knock on wood)...Basically all has been well in dog land. Until today! My dad's housekeeper was scheduled to come over on Thursday, to clean up before they got home from France. She texted me last night, however, to let me know that she would be coming over today, instead. It wasn't that big of a deal. It meant that I will now have to pick up around the house twice, instead of once, but it wasn't the end of the world. I wanted to be out of her way, and usually she stays most of the day. So, when I left around 9 to take Charley to school, I asked her to let the dogs out when she had a chance. I was in and out all day. I let them out around 2:00, then went to pick Charley up from school. This is where it gets a little gross.

Charley and I got back to my dad's house, and the dogs were out on the porch. I called to the dogs, to let them outside, then opened the door to the living room, where I promptly stepped in a pile of dog poop. "EEEEEWWWW!" I squealed, as I felt it squish under my boot. I took my boot off, and raced into the other room to get paper towels to wipe it off. In the process, I managed to step in ANOTHER pile of poop in my sock. "GROSS!!!!!" I shouted! Then, I carefully removed my socks, while inspecting the somewhat camouflaging floor to make sure I didn't step in anything barefoot. It's like the moment it crossed my mind, it HAPPENED. "OH MY GOSH! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!!!!" I yelled. Poor Charley isn't used to me losing my cool, and started crying. I wasn't actually mad, I was just surprised, disgusted, and totally unprepared for crap that had apparently been intended to surround me. Yuck!

So Charley was crying, the dogs were outside, then my sister tried to FaceTime us from France. Her timing couldn't have been worse. Anyhow, I cleaned everything up, got Charley situated, then got another phone call. I wasn't on the phone for more than 2 minutes before I looked over and noticed that Charley was lying on her belly, making me a little present of her own. Now, 3 weeks ago, this would've been no big deal. But she's potty training...which means NO diaper. "Are you KIDDING me?!" I exclaimed. I rushed her to the potty...although of course she had already gotten most of the job done in her pants. In 20 minutes, I think I cleaned up more crap than I have ever dealt with in my life. Gross.

This, apparently, is how I was intended to spend the last night of 2013. Cleaning up crap. Metaphorically speaking, I HAVE been doing a lot of that lately, so maybe this was just the literal manifestation of what I've been doing in other areas of my life! With that said, Charley and I are going to spend our New Year's Eve at home tonight. I'm going to have a glass of wine, go to bed early, and think about how this crappy New Year's Eve must be bringing about a very exciting and wonderful New Year in all areas of my life. Happy New Year!

New Year Reflections

As 2013 comes to an end, I find myself reflecting on the events of the last year. There's no doubt the last two years have been the craziest, most up-in-the-air, yet exciting years of my life. I've had my share of ups and downs, and as a full-time single mom, I know there are many more of those in my future. But overall, I'm happy with the progress I've made in my life. I've become more confident, assertive, and motivated than I've ever been. I've also learned some things about myself that have surprised me a bit. I know I've said it before, but I'm very self-reflective. I'm always looking for reasons for my actions and the things that I do. On the outside, I might appear to be an extreme extrovert. Any of my co-workers would call me a liar if I said I was introverted. But in some ways, I really am. I carefully pick and choose what I share with people, and when things go wrong, I always think about how my actions could've been different, and what I would do if I was in the same situation in the future. I learn from my mistakes, but that doesn't mean I don't stumble a little bit, making the same mistakes a few times over, before I REALLY figure out how to make changes for the better. But when I figure it out, I figure it out. Then I DON'T make the same mistakes again. With all of that said, I've decided that as we go into 2014, I would make a couple of lists for 2013: Top 10 Events, Top 5 Revelations, and Top 5 Resolutions. This could be lengthy, so read at your own risk!

Top 10 Events
1. My divorce was finalized. Although I have been separated for more than a year and a half, at this point, it was only a year ago that my divorce was actually final. It set me free in a number of ways. Most importantly, receiving my divorce decree really gave me the closure I needed to put my marriage in the past. Even though I hadn't felt married for several months before I left Vegas, the finality of the divorce really was necessary for me.
2. I started a business, along with my stepdad, and one of my closest friends. GO! Gymnastics is still up and running, by the way. It's not something I can do full-time at this point, but it's going strong, and I'm hoping to watch it build in the next few  years.
3. Charley broke her leg. This was NOT one of my favorite events of the last year, but it did make an impact on my life. Poor Charley was incapacitated for several weeks, but she really impressed me with how well she coped. She managed to get where she needed to go, in spite of the seven pound cast on her leg. And my arms were like rocks for about a month and a half. Thanks for that, Charley!
4. I started teaching IN THE CLASSROOM again! This might be the most exciting event of the last few months for me. It is exciting, it's challenging, it drives me crazy, but it's also the best possible thing I could've done for Charley and me. I craved the interaction with students and teachers that I wasn't able to get through teaching online. The position is really a perfect fit for me.
5. I've made some great new friends. I know this isn't one particular event, but it's been so incredibly important to me. There's nothing like having old friends, and I always say mine are the greatest. They are! But none of them who live here have kids (except for you, Katie Maddaus), and it's honestly easier to socialize when there are other kids to play with. I feel so blessed that I actually LIKE Charley's friends' parents. They're great. It's a nice feeling to be able to know that Charley is going to have kids to play with, while the adults socialize.Plus, playdates are over before 9, so Charley and I both get to bed at a reasonable time. I must be getting old, but I need my sleep! I guess I feel like it's such a symbiotic relationship to be friends with your kids' friends' parents, and it's really a great perk to having kids! Thanks again, Charley, for expanding my social circle.
6. I completed the Tough Mudder. For many of my co-workers, the Tough Mudder was a breeze. For me, it was the ultimate physical challenge. The obstacles might have been easy for me, because I'm strong. But I absolutely HATE running, especially any sort of distance. So even completing a 10-12 mile obstacle course was a feat for me. I might have been the slowest participant in the history of the Tough Mudder, but I did it, and for me, that was enough.
7. My dads got married. After 12 years together, it was about time. I was happy to be a part of the ceremony, and can't wait for the upcoming reception.
8. My niece was born/I got to meet my niece! I am a sucker for kids (everybody who's ever seen me around children knows that), so it was really exciting to get to meet the newest addition to the family.
9. Charley started preschool. This changed my relationship with Charley drastically. It's a big part of the reason that my social life is lacking on the weekends. I always said I didn't want to have a child, just to send her to someone else and not raise her. Well, now that she's in preschool, it's a much bigger priority for me to take advantage of every minute I have with her, after I pick her up.
10. I sent Charley away to see her father and grandparents...without me. This was a huge step for me, because prior to this, I hadn't spent more than 12 hours away from her...ever. It needed to happen, but it wasn't easy for me. She was totally fine and had a great time, of course. I probably struggled significantly more than she did. But it also showed me that she is well-adjusted enough to know that she can be safe with someone other than me, and I will ALWAYS come back. It gives me a little bit of freedom looking into the future, too.

Top 5 Revelations
1. I haven't spent enough time with my old friends. I know I rave about them, and honestly I feel like I could call any of them at any given moment and know they'd be there for me if I needed them. But I haven't been able to give those friendships the attention they deserve. I haven't intentionally neglected my friends, but in the hustle and bustle of my life as a single mom (who now commutes about an hour and a half every day), it's easy to neglect those relationships that have always been intact. It's important to me that they know they ARE priorities to me, so I need to get out more and socialize with them.
2. I don't take enough time for myself. This goes along with my first revelation, I think. Spending time with my friends when Charley isn't around IS taking time for myself to have fun. I haven't really had the opportunity to do that in the last few months...at least not as much as I would like. I haven't had much Charley-free time in general, and by the time she goes to sleep at night, it's hard for me to spend a lot of time focusing on myself. I usually just do the dishes and go to bed. I'm so exciting, I know! But it's become a way of life for me, and it's something I'd like to change.
3. I have incredible people in my life. If what I've put out there in the world is being paid back in terms of friends, I must have made an amazing contribution to the universe. I seriously find myself surrounded by the most wonderful family, friends, co-workers. Shoot, my co-workers ARE my friends and many of them are like family to me, too. Not everybody is that lucky. Charley and I have great people who care about us all over the country, and for that, I will always be grateful.
4. I still have NO idea what I'm doing when it comes to dating. I've tried dating quite a bit in the last year or so. It's really hard for me! I think it can be a pattern for me to get wrapped up in things quickly, and then back off because I get scared of commitment. It's not that I want to date a lot of people. I legitimately HATE dating. But the thought of integrating someone new in my life, making somebody a priority...that's intimidating! I've already got Charley to take care of, and I'm so busy, it's overwhelming to think about adding another person (or people, if he has a child), into the picture. With that said, I'm totally open to settling down. That's really what I want. But I definitely want to build a friendship with someone first, and get to know them on that level, before talking about dating. I think that's been my issue with online dating. If you find someone you like, you rush to claim them (although usually it hasn't been me doing the claiming), and go from point A-Z in a fairly short period of time. For some people, that's great! For me, it doesn't work. I tried it once, and it really didn't work. Friendship works for me. It would be nice to be friends with a romantic interest before anything else, and to make that friendship a priority. This is what I'm talking about when I say I've made the same mistake several times. Rushing into things, then running away. Again, something I've now recognized, and will now change.
5. I'm still the ultimate people-pleaser. I have to give myself credit here, because in the last year I think I've gotten better at standing up to people and telling people things they didn't necessarily want to hear. However, I still have a hard time trying to please everybody. It's something I've done my whole life, and I'm working on changing it. Parts of my people-pleasing habits, I won't change. For example, I love to let people I care about know I care, in my own ways. I might text a funny quote that makes me think of them, or send them a post on Facebook every once in awhile. I like to do things for people that I think they will like or enjoy. But I'm beginning to address my issue of trying to please everybody and make everybody like me.

Top 5 Resolutions
1. Give myself a break! I'm going to aim for at least 2 nights out every month, whether it's with my girlfriends, or new friends...it doesn't matter. But 2, Charley-free nights every month, just so I can remember that I'm something other than a mom.
2. Never miss out on anything because I was afraid to take a chance. I made this resolution last year, and I think I'm going to continue it. I've taken a lot of chances this year. Some have panned out, others have not. However, I don't regret anything, because I DID take risks. It's a good resolution, though, so I'm sticking with it!
3. Have patience with myself. My goal is to trust that everything happens for a reason, and sometimes, that reason isn't apparent right away. Ok, this might not sound like much of a resolution, but I tend to want things, work for them, and get them fairly quickly. That's how I've been since the day I was born. However, it's made certain aspects of my life difficult, particularly my personal life. I haven't been terribly patient with myself, and I don't really cut myself much slack. In 2014, I'm going to try to relax just a little bit, and let life lead me wherever it does.
4. Stop trying to force things to happen in my life. I'm going to try, again, to let life take me where it's supposed to lead. I do believe that there are certain parts of life that are already in the works in the universe, and I just need to stop trying to control everything. If that means I'm going to be moving north in the next year, because that's where my job is, so be it! If it means I'm going to be single for another year, that's okay! If it means I'm going to settle down and start building a relationship, that's even better. Regardless of where life leads me, I'm going to stop trying to make things happen before they're supposed to.
5. Build my business. GO! Gymnastics has already hosted a number of events and parties. I want the business to really take off in 2014. I think part of me was always meant to own a business, but I also think that maybe I'm not meant to BE my business. I want to learn to delegate and help the business become even more successful in the next year.

Well, there you have it! That's my life in 2013...and what I'm hoping for in 2014. Here are some pictures that have captured my life in the last year.

Me, a year ago, at Lindsay's birthday party!

Charley, a year ago, playing at Beth's.

At the zoo, over the summer. 

Tough Mudder 2013

P.S. I want to give a shout out to my sister, Allie, who will be celebrating her birthday by the time she reads this. I love you Allie, and I'm so glad we've grown closer over the last few years!

Charley and me a couple of weeks ago. My crazy little handful!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Well it's been a week since I've blogged, and my life hasn't slowed down even a little bit! Since I haven't been working at the school, I've managed to squeeze in a few private lessons, do some Christmas shopping, and even bake cookies with Charley. It's been months since I baked cookies, but it seems as though I've still got it... Charley's happily gobbling them up! There's a reason I don't bake often, though...When I bake, I end up eating what I make! So, I'm peddling these cookies around like crazy, because let's be honest, at this time of year, I could really do without the extra sweets lying around the house!




I love this time of year. It's my absolute favorite. In spite of the -12 degree weather (which I royally despise), I just like being out and about during the holidays. For Charley, it really should be the holiday season all year round. She learned about a dozen Christmas carols at school, which she sings at the top of her lungs, regardless of where we are (the gym, the store, a restaurant, etc.). Oddly enough, most people seem to find this quality in her to be endearing. She is just so happy to sing, Jingle Bells, at the top of her lungs, and she has NO shame. People everywhere seem to just eat it up! I think Charley's finest moment, this holiday season, was when she called Santa on me, and told him I was naughty. I'm not exactly sure what I did to offend her, but it must have been significant, because I'm kind of anticipating a giant lump of coal in my stocking this year! Charley, meanwhile, has been making out like a bandit in terms of gifts! It's not even Christmas yet, and she already got a bunch of Hannukah presents from my dad and his side of the family,  as well as a ton of gifts from my students at the gym. I can't believe that the girls I teach got CHARLEY Christmas gifts, along with me. I just think that is so nice. We are surrounded by some really wonderful people. One mom told me today, "Our lives are better, now that you and Charley are in them." What a kind, and sweet thing to say! And I know she was being genuine, because she really is a great person. People seem to be nicer this time of year, and I really do appreciate that. Anyway, my point here, is that Charley and I are surrounded by wonderful, generous people, who love us as much as we love them, and that's something I'm very grateful for.

So, as is their tradition, my dad, stepdad, and sister went overseas for Christmas this year. They're in Paris! I, meanwhile, am dog sitting at their house. Thus far, the dogs have been great. My only complaint is that, while trying to transfer a sleeping Charley into her make-shift bedroom, I tripped over the door frame and completely wiped out. Talk about a terrible way to wake up from a nap! She screamed, but wasn't hurt. I had her pretty tightly wrapped in my arms, and she was still in her coat, so she had some extra padding. My legs, arms, and back, however, will be feeling the fall for the next couple of days. It was such a stupid fall! But not the first time I've had trouble WALKING. I mean seriously, I can do all kinds of acrobatics, but I can't walk on my own two feet. Maybe it's a result of being tired from all the work I've been doing. Ok, I'll be honest, I'm certain I'm overtired and was just being clumsy. Lucky for me, she wasn't hurt, and we both had at least a few minutes to relax for a nap.

We went to my mom's for dinner tonight. Traditionally, she always made lasagna, but she decided to mix it up tonight and make a different pasta dish. It was awesome, and over dinner we talked about how Santa might make a surprise appearance, when Charley went to get her jammies on. I took Charley into the bathroom, put her on the toilet (we're in the midst of potty training, and finding success with frequent bribery), and we heard some jingling outside the door, as my mom shouted, "Santa's here!" Charley shrieked," Santa!!! I went peepee on the potty!" Love it. She's very proud of her potty training success, and will tell anybody who will listen exactly how many times she's pottied in a given day. Anyway, Santa came by and brought some presents, which she gleefully opened. Her favorite was a set of Disney Princess shoes. Apparently the shoe obsession is hereditary.... And she can't blame me directly. It all started with her Nana!

Alright, time to get busy wrapping presents. We're going to Charley's friend's house in the morning, and I've got quite a bit of wrapping to do before the night's over. Lucky for me, I was able to get her from the car to her bed without incident tonight, and she's out for the night. Merry Christmas!

Feeling Lucky!

So, it's been awhile since I've blogged, but I've been so busy, I really haven't had time! I've got a LOT to catch up on. Today, I thought I'd focus on my new job, and Charley. When I started my new teaching job in the middle of November, I wasn't quite sure what I was walking into. What I've found, is that my new students are awesome, and I am totally at home in the classroom. I've finally got my own room, so routines are becoming more established, in spite of the upcoming Winter Break...which I'm certainly looking forward to! I haven't had a full day off since Thanksgiving, and even then, Charley and I were running around from house to house, so it wasn't terribly relaxing. I will definitely take advantage of the extra time to relax over the break. I've only got three more days with students, but who's counting, right? Ha!

The students I work with are amazing. They all have such distinct personalities, and sometimes they say the funniest things. Today, one student told me, "I'm not normal, I'm exotic." Another one went on and on about his girlfriend. He told me how she'd given him her phone number, and how he didn't just like her because she's pretty...he likes her personality, too. When he finished his story, he suddenly realized who he's been talking to. "Wait, why am I telling you this?! You're a teacher!" he exclaimed. I laughed. He's a piece of work. He's probably the most difficult student I've ever worked with, for a number of reasons. For one thing, he has a horrible home life. That means that anything established at school, stays at school, and doesn't really get reinforced at home. I asked him today if he's looking forward to the break. "Not really," he said. "I like it here. This is the first time I've ever liked school." While that's very flattering, I know that the reason he likes school right now is because he's comfortable with me. He knows he can push boundaries, and I will consistently respond with consequences. It's true, kids crave rules and structure. But at the same time, I choose my battles wisely. If the students are working on an art project, and he is working on a different art project, I leave it alone. If he's doing a similar task, and not bothering anybody, it's not worth getting worked up about in my book. But because of this, he wants to spend his entire day in my classroom. He knows that he acts up in class, and has a hard time dealing with authority figures. So, he'd rather not be in that setting. But he's a bright kid, and needs to spend more time with his peers. So, I spend much of my day trying different techniques to entice him back to his classroom. The problem is, as soon as I get him there, he'll do something to get in trouble so his teacher sends him back to me! Essentially, he's "in trouble," but getting exactly what he wanted in the first place. He's a work in progress, but I see a lot of potential in him, and if I can figure something out to keep him motivated to stay in the classroom a little bit more, I think he has a very bright future. Any of my fellow teacher friends have any suggestions? I've been using a token-reward system, and it was great for about a week. But just as I knew it would, the system stopped working. Kids are always keeping me on my toes! Any ideas would be appreciated.

Even though my students are challenging, I absolutely adore them. They keep every day interesting, and I know I'm blessed to have found them. They bring as much joy and excitement into my life as I could possibly hope to bring into theirs. I think I'm going to try to write down a student quote of the week. Last week's quote goes as follows:

Student (after losing his class' Christmas party): "There's NO magic in Christmas anymore!"
Para: "There is magic in Christmas."
Student: "No there's not! There's just crotchety old ladies, who like to crush my Christmas dreams!"

*Side note- I was equally impressed at a fourth grader's use of the word crotchety, and relieved that the statement wasn't directed at me.

I seriously enjoy my students for all of their quirks, and creativity, that's for sure!

So, I mentioned in my last post that Charley had gone to Kansas to visit her dad. I was really nervous about the trip, more for my sake than for hers. I knew she'd be in good hands. She would have a chance to spend time with her dad's entire family, and they are wonderful people. However, I knew I would be bored without her, and I'd miss her like crazy. I definitely missed her, but managed to keep myself busy, so I didn't think about it so much. I did some Christmas shopping, spent time with friends, worked quite a bit...I honestly did anything I could to keep myself distracted. When I drove to pick her up on Monday after work, I literally cried, I was so excited to see her. She was less enthused about seeing me, than I was about seeing her. But after a little bit of snuggling at home, she was over any possible annoyance with me for sending her away, without me. She's been much better behaved since she's been home than I ever could've imagined. I'm one lucky mom!

Charley and I were at a friend's house tonight, and my friend mentioned something to the extent that I seem to have a calling for teaching. She was at my house a couple of times when I was teaching online, and said she just thought teaching was the perfect job for me.  I think she's right. It's what I'm best at. Whether it's in the gym or the classroom, I understand how to communicate with kids, and most of the time, I can get them to do what I would like them to do. Most of the time. Ha! If only I could communicate as effectively in my personal life, as I do with my students! Maybe I would have more success...Huh, that's a thought to ponder.

Okay, it's time for me to get Charley to bed. Here's a fabulous picture of her with Santa, though! She had more success when her Nana and Boppa took her, than she has in previous years with me!

New Job Fun!

Ok, so I knew last weekend was going to be busy, but I had no idea! I feel like I've been running around like a chicken with my head cut off since last Thursday, and I'm not anticipating a break until Thanksgiving. It's okay, though. Things might have been busy, but they have also been great! Hmmmm, where should I start....

Baby Lyla, right before the wedding.

Last Thursday morning, I was continuing GO! Gymnastics Week, at Kenwood Gymnastics, which was hugely successful. I was carrying the kids back into the gym, after their play time on the bus, when I got a text from the principal at my new school. "Hey! Your paperwork came through. Do you want to start today?" "Ummmm..... Crap!" was the thought, running through my head. I was in St. Louis Park, in my coaching clothes, and my teaching job was in Forest Lake! I replied that I'd be there in an hour, frantically drove home, ran inside, changed clothes and tried to make myself look presentable, and raced out to Forest Lake. I met a lot of my students, and had a chance to get to know the people I will be working with on a regular basis. It was kind of a crazy way to start a job (with an hour's notice), but I'm glad I started when I did! I worked another half-day on Friday, because my dads got married on Friday night. My sister came in town with my new niece, Lyla, and between meeting my niece, and getting the chance to be part of the wedding, it was an overwhelming and exciting day. By bedtime, we were all ready to crash, but I had trouble falling asleep, because I think I was just so wound up by the craziness of the week, and the anticipation of the weekend.

Bruce, the creepy doll!

On Saturday, we had a pretty packed schedule. I'd told my sister in advance that I would get her where she needed to be while she was in town. She doesn't come home from Florida very often, and this was going to be such a short visit, she had a lot to accomplish in a short time. So, we started with breakfast at my mom's, followed by some errand running and a visit with her mother-in-law. Then, we went from there to lunch at my dad's house. It was nice to visit with family, and relax. While we were at my dad's house, someone brought up Bruce, the doll. "Bruce," is an extremely creepy, life-sized doll, that my mom had when she was a little girl. The doll is from the 1950s, and it survived two generations of women in my family (except the right leg, that falls off regularly). In high school, my girlfriends (who actually named the doll), always talked about how creepy it is. We enjoyed scaring the last person to the house, by hiding it in random locations around my basement. Anyway, at the mention of Bruce, my older sister and I decided to prank our younger sister, who would be coming to my place that night. We dressed Bruce up, placed her on my toilet seat, and chased after my sister as she walked into the bathroom. It was classic. I'd share the video of her reaction, but I'm not sure she'd appreciate it. Here's the funny part. What I did not think through, was the fact that bringing Bruce to my house meant BRUCE WOULD BE AT MY HOUSE! Crap. While I managed to scare my sister once, I did not anticipate scaring myself a half a dozen times in the course of three days. I tried to hide the doll in Charley's closet, so she would be out of the way, but Charley screamed, "NO!!! Don't put Bruce in there!" Oh, Bruce. Creepy and frightening for three generations.

Yesterday, I coached some private lessons and taught a birthday party on the bus. These birthday parties are a lot of fun, and they seem to be picking up quite a bit. Sunday's party was a potential mess, though! We didn't receive the address information, even after several e-mails to the parents, so up until 20 minutes prior to the party, we didn't know if we were actually going to be hosting a birthday! At 10:40, the mom finally called with the address for an 11:00 party, and we raced to get there. It was a fun party, but I really didn't like how rushed it felt. Oh well, the birthday girl was happy, so I can't ask for much more!

Cousins!

So, today was my first full day at the school, and I loved it. I still don't have my own classroom yet, but I got to meet with all of the kids on my caseload, and kind of figure out what makes them tick. They really are great kids, and I'm lucky to be in the school I'm in. I like the teachers, too! Minnesota Nice  does exist. All of the people I work with have reached out, introduced themselves, and tried to make me feel welcome in the school. It's a nice feeling. I think my favorite moment of the day came from one of my students who's working on social skills. He came into the room, and my co-worker introduced me. She referred to me as "Ms. P," and the student started to laugh. *Sidenote: My last name is still Pierron on legal documents, which is why they don't call me Ms. Kaplan, and the kids still have trouble saying it, so Ms. P is just easier. Anyway, he giggled, and then immediately turned to me and said, "I need to get a little more mature. I'm at the ending stage of the anal phase of development..." at which point my co-worker cut in and let him know that he didn't need to talk about that phase in school. I'm glad she did, because it gave me a chance to turn away and not look directly at him as I giggled to myself. It was definitely the best comment of the day...And it has felt wonderful to be back in a school setting. I kind of feel like I belong there. The sad news is that working at the school will take away from me working at the gym. I truly love coaching, and I hate to have to take away from that. But I think being in the classroom is a fit for me, right now. I can already tell I'm in the right place.

More to come soon!

Ha!

Last time I posted, I mentioned that I would write more on different topics this time. I will. I really should have written myself an outline, so I don't forget anything! Oh well, here it goes...

Over the weekend, we kicked off GO! Gymnastics Week at Kenwood Gymnastics Center. The owner at Kenwood, Brian, and the entire staff have been incredibly supportive of my business venture, and wanted to help give us a little bit of a kick start. It's been so successful! We've been taking the preschool students out to the bus for about 10 minutes of every class, and it's been a huge hit. The parents have really been into the idea, and quite a few have taken information and asked about birthday parties, etc. All-in-all, it's been a huge hit. I think it's so exciting for the kids to get a chance to come on the bus to play. We've been carrying the kids two at a time out to the bus, so they don't have to take time out of class to put shoes on, and that's been my workout for the week. One dad asked if I wanted help getting the kids to the bus (there were 13 of them, plus Charley). "Sure!" I replied. He went and grabbed a few more parents, and they all congregated at the door....and proceeded to WATCH me carry the kids out to the bus, two at a time. "I thought he offered to help!" I thought to myself. By my seventh trip back to the bus, with one preschooler in each arm, I was totally winded and a little bit confused. Apparently, by help, he meant watch the kids at the door? Whatever, I thought it was funny. Plus, it eliminated my need for cardio this week! Anyway, I've been thrilled to have so many kids on the bus, because watching them play, and have fun was really my vision for this business. We've been booking more clients, too, which is great! Thus far, it's been a great week for GO!

I was hoping to start work at my new job this week, but I'm still waiting on the background check to be processed. It's been a long process, but I'm really looking forward to getting to work! I got a call from the principal today, and he reassured me that they still want me there, and they can't wait for me to start. He suggested that the fact that I've lived in 3 different states has increased the time to process the background check. That makes sense. It's just a pain in the neck! The good news is, it's given me some more time to start booking events for the bus, and make arrangements for this weekend. I've got a big weekend ahead. My older sister is coming into town for my dads' wedding! I'm looking forward to all parts of the weekend, but I know it's going to be busy, and probably not restful at all. With that said, I'm glad next week is a holiday week!

Thumbs up for a new purse!

Last weekend, I had plans that fell through, due to babysitting issues. It's a frequent problem in my life, but that's okay. Anyway, instead of staying at home, I took Charley shopping, because I needed a new purse. My purses tend to feel like they're carrying bricks, generally because at any given time, I've got diapers, wipes, snacks, and toys in my bag. It's probably no surprise that the strap broke on my favorite bag, and I had to get a replacement. I took Charley to Marshall's because that's where 95% of my purses have come from over the years. In spite of having an enormous meltdown prior to leaving the house, Charley was surprisingly pleasant at the store. I was looking for purses, and she was looking, too. She picked up one purse that was something like $30, walked over to a mirror, put it on her shoulder, and said, "That's SO me!" Oh my gosh, she is TOTALLY my kid. Ha! As much as she would've liked the $30 purse, that was never going to happen. Lucky for her,  I found a Disney Princess purse for $5, that she liked even better. We were walking up to the counter to pay, and she said, "You're my best friend forever," and hugged my leg. A woman walking by with her teenager overheard it, and I could see her face light up. Charley had made her day, too. I'll try to remember that sweet comment during Charley's next tantrum.  After shopping, we went to Chipotle for dinner, walked around St. Anthony for a bit, and then went home. It was a fun little mommy-daughter date night.


So, for some reason, last night I decided to venture back into the world of online dating. I'm really not sure why. I don't really even have time to date right now, but I guess I figured it's always  been an amusing way to meet people, and it's a hell of a self-esteem booster. Except when you hear from creeps and a##holes. I've gotten messages from some guys that seem nice enough, although I'm not really even sure I'm going to make an effort to meet any of them. We'll see. But then, along came Brandon. Now, remember, I said I signed up LAST NIGHT for the site. I received a message from Brandon, telling me about himself, and asking me about myself. I looked at his profile, and he really wasn't my type. He lived far away, worked at a casino, and physically, was not what I'm looking for. I didn't respond. This morning, I woke up to this e-mail.
"You think you are to good for me it's great. Thank you for showing me the type of person you are. You don't care about anything you type about and are a phony. It is great. You don't deserve a great man because u r not a great girl. I wish u the continued failure that is u based on your shallow personality"

Nice, huh? The Brandons of the world have kept me from staying on any dating site for any real length of time. Crazy! Did I respond? You bet! I'm really a nice person, but don't insult me, because I will intelligently voice my opinion. Without grammatical and spelling errors. Here was my response:
Hi Brandon. I do not appreciate your second message. It might be appropriate for you to do a little bit of soul searching to understand why you're having trouble dating. First of all, online dating is a bit of a crap shoot. You reach out to someone. Sometimes you get a response sometimes you don't. One reason I did not respond to you has to do with your location. I will be moving further north soon, and it doesn't make sense for me to start dating someone who lives the opposite direction. Nothing personal. However, in receiving your second email, it's clear that you have significant self-esteem issues, that I am not prepared to deal with, and most women would find incredibly unattractive. I hate to say it, but your negative attitude will prevent you from finding someone great. Don't judge women who don't respond. I'm sure they have their reasons.

I know I probably came off as callous, but the guy deserved it. He hasn't scared me away from online dating. Others have...but this guy just made me laugh. It's really pretty pathetic to tell someone they're shallow and phony, because they didn't respond to a message within less than 12 hours. With all that said, I'm sure this round of online dating won't last long, but it's already provided some entertainment!

Alright, I'm off to bed. Hopefully I'll get a phone call tomorrow saying I can come to the school and sign my contract! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Another New Chapter...

Oh my goodness, it's been FOREVER since I posted on here! I've had a lot going on, and at times feel like I don't even have time to eat! Thank goodness for coffee...It's been a great food/sleep substitute over the last couple of weeks. Anyway, I haven't posted mostly because I had a couple of things happen that have changed my career path a little bit. I won't go into details because they don't really matter, and I can't stand when people go on and on about the negatives in their lives. Let's just say this. I've never been one to wallow in my sorrows or struggles. Life happens, I roll with the punches, and tend to change my plans quickly when I need to. That's pretty much what has happened the last couple of weeks.

When I started GO! Gymnastics, the plan was that I would start teaching classes pretty much right away, as soon as the bus was completed. The problem? People seemed really excited about it, but not really willing to commit to monthly classes. So, we've adapted the program a bit, and I think we're more marketable now. We might not plan on going to the same schools weekly, but we're getting many people who are interested in bi-weekly or monthly sessions, so that's great! We've also had lots of birthday party requests, so we're on the right path with that, too. Here's the problem...I need to have a steady source of income. The bus is just getting up and running, and I can't support a two-year-old on what's coming in from the bus at this point. It's still growing, and I know it'll take some time before it'll bring in enough money for me to rely on it as my main source of income. I had a medium-sized freak-out a couple of weeks ago, and panicked when I looked at my finances. With some guidance from some very helpful friends and colleagues (you know who you are), I was able to stop my miniature breakdown and figure out a new plan. With that said, I had to go to Plan B (which is really more like Plan Q at this point...In talking to one of my friends, we decided that I've had more life experience in the last year and a half than most people have in a decade). I decided to go back to teaching.

Part of me had been avoiding getting my MN teaching license, because I remembered how painstaking the process had been in Nevada, and figured it would take awhile. In spite of that, I decided to apply to a couple of teaching jobs around the Twin Cities area. There were a few special education positions, and I figured it would be easier to get a SpEd job, than an elementary job, because there are more positions and not as much competition. I honestly didn't anticipate getting any callbacks, because my current license was an out-of-state license, and I'd been told it would take 8-12 weeks for processing. Imagine my surprise when I received a phone call the very next day from the Forest Lake School District. It was the special education director, and she was inquiring about my license. I answered her questions, and she informed me that if the school was interested in interviewing me, they would contact me directly. "Great," I thought, "I don't stand a chance!" Oddly enough, a few days later, I received a phone call asking me to come and interview for the position. I was excited, but also a little bit nervous. I haven't been on a teaching interview since I was pregnant! I frantically searched through the tubs of clothes I've been storing in the basement, searching for something that was professional, but not stuffy. I was thrilled to find my "teacher clothes" tub, and I decided on my outfit fairly quickly. When I went to the interview, I didn't really expect there to be many other applicants. I mean, it's November, and a special education position, 25 miles north of the Twin Cities. I was wrong, in that assumption. There were quite a few applicants, and they'd scheduled back-to-back interviews all day. "Well, crap," I thought, "There goes my shot! I don't even have a license yet!" During the interview, though, I really clicked with the principal, and other team members, and thought maybe, just MAYBE, I had a chance.

The next day, I got a text from my friend, and colleague, Janine. "You're totally going to get this," she said, "The principal called me for a reference!" I got butterflies in my stomach, because as much as I didn't want people to know it, I REALLY wanted this job. It seemed like a fit, and appeared to be exactly what I was looking for, which was a positive work environment, great kids, a steady income, and a daily routine. I'm a creature of habit, and I need a routine. That is one thing the bus hasn't been able to give me, and at this point in my life I really crave the consistency. Sure enough, the following Monday, I got a phone call from the principal, offering me the position. I was so relieved! This job is just what I need in my life right now, and I'm confident I will be really good at it. Now, of course, it's taken awhile for the paperwork to process, and all of the little bureaucratic things to work themselves out, but if all goes as planned, I will start next week!

Now, with that said, GO! Gymnastics is still very much in business! It's starting to pick up, and I've decided that, even though it wasn't my original vision, I will hire someone to do the teaching. That means I will simply do the planning. I will coach birthdays on the weekends, but I will not be instructing the day-to-day classes. That's okay! I don't always have to micromanage in order for things to be successful!

So, with the career conversation out of the way, let's move on to the fun stuff....Charley! I know I've posted about Charley starting school, and she is just beginning to get into the groove of things. She has been going 3 days a week, but will start full-time next week, when I start teaching. I dropped her off the other day, and a little girl shrieked, "Charley!" "Oh, hi Jaya, " she replied. I loved it. It makes me feel good that she's making friends and getting more comfortable. Apparently, she spent the last few days telling her classmates and teachers about the bald eagle we saw on Friday. Charley is very enthusiastic when she's talking about it, too. "We saw a bald eagle! Sitting on the merge lane on the highway! It looked at me (insert random number here) times!" It's cute. She can't stop talking about it at home either. It's okay, though, because seeing that bald eagle was a good omen and a positive sign for the future.

In other Charley news, she will be going to Kansas for a few days in a couple of weeks to see her dad and grandparents. How do I feel about it? Let's just say my feelings are mixed. It'll be great for her to see her dad's side of the family, and she can't get enough of her Grammy and Grandpa. But I will miss her! It'll be the first weekend I've had without her since she was born. It's going to be great for me to have a break, but I have a feeling I'll be frantically calling people to hang out, so I don't sit at home crying because I miss her! Deep down, I know it'll be good for both of us, though. I'm a more effective mom when I get the occasional break.

Alright, that's all for now! For the first time in a long time, I feel very confident and content with where my life is now, and where it is headed. More about other topics in the posts to come...

Halloween Fun, Stereotypes, and Faux Pas

It's been awhile since I've blogged, but it's been busy, and when I normally sit down to write, I generally determine that going to bed is a better option. Tonight, though, I've got a little bit of energy after all of the trick-or-treating fun! It was fun, and Charley had a great time knocking on doors and getting candy....for about 20 minutes. Then, her attention span was up, and it was time to head back to her friend's house. I saw some things, this Halloween, that jumped out at me a bit. Enjoy!


So, last year, Charley refused to dress up for Halloween. She wouldn't wear a costume, and threw a fit every time I even attempted to put something on her. This year was different. She got the most adorable Snow White costume ever from a friend of mine, and was so proud to show it off. She went trick-or-treating at school, then participated in a little song and dance with her classmates this afternoon. It was adorable, watching all of the kids sing 'Five Little Pumpkins,' along with several other songs. As I watched Charley and her classmates, it struck me that preschool teachers really don't make enough money. I know several preschool teachers, and many work for something like $13 per hour. That certainly isn't enough money for me to wrangle toddlers and preschoolers all day. It looked exhausting. The songs were cute, though, and Charley really had a great time at school.

We went home for a bit, and then proceeded to Charley's friend's house, where we ate dinner and went trick-or-treating. The kids looked adorable, and it was a fun way for me to spend the evening, too! After trick-or-treating, we stayed at Charley's friend's house for a little while, and let the kids eat a little bit of candy. Anybody who doesn't believe in sugar highs should've been there! Let's just say, they would be proven wrong. All three kids were running around, happy as can be, but within less than 30 minutes, they were all coming down from their 'highs' and starting to melt down. Charley was even worse when we got home! She simultaneously wanted to stay in the car, go into the house, and go to my friend Rena's house. Unfortunately for her, I wasn't in the mood for her tantrum, and carried her into the house, in spite of her kicking and screaming protest. As a result, I've hidden her candy bucket. Tomorrow it'll be like it never even existed! Ha! One can hope...

As I was driving back from Charley's friend's house, I noticed something funny. I saw several cars with parents driving along, transporting their kids from one house to the next. Talk about contributing to a lazier, more obese generation! When I was a kid, we walked from one house to the next and our parents walked right along with us. As I looked at the cars driving from house to house, all I could think was how sad and pathetic it was. I found it to be incredibly lazy, and I think it said a lot about this generation of parents and children. Now, that doesn't go for all of us. There are many (I'd even venture to say MOST) parents who still encourage their children to have experiences that require physical activity. But what were these driving parents doing for their kids? Driving them from one place to the next, to get free candy. To me, that was even worse than the adults that were going from house to house with bags or pillowcases so they could get candy, too. I mean, seriously, if you like candy that much, go buy a bag! Don't bring your two-year-old trick-or-treating, and bring two buckets! Everybody knows where all of the candy is going to go. In my opinion, those are complete Halloween faux pas. On Halloween, kids are supposed to be out in the community, going from house to house, seeing their neighbors, and having fun! Not jumping into a car after every house. And it's certainly a faux pas to trick-or-treat once you've hit an age where you could have a child yourself. Yikes!

With that said, it was a great Halloween. I love seeing all of the kids in their costumes, and I really love hearing the little ones whisper (or shout, in Charley's case) "Trick-or treat!" The little ones are very polite, too, which is adorable. Generally, it's obvious when they've rehearsed, "Thank you. Happy Halloween." Ha! I love it. On that note, it's time for bed. More updates on my life to come in the next few days! Happy Halloween!

School Shootings in Nevada...Too Close for Comfort

Generally my blogs address the things going on in my life. I intentionally don't talk about politics, or give my opinions about public issues, because I prefer to discuss those things in person, and sometimes keep my opinions to myself. After reading about yet another school shooting, this time in Nevada, I feel the need to speak up about this generation of students.

I'm a teacher. I don't teach in the classroom setting anymore, but nonetheless, I am a teacher. I love encouraging children, watching them succeed, and pushing them to learn. I also enjoy watching my students have little failures. Not because I like when my kids fail, but because I recognize that kids NEED failures in order to really appreciate success. I also feel strongly that it's possible for kids to fail, or struggle, and then work to improve themselves. As a teacher, it's my job to give them the tools to rebound from difficulties or little failures. In my classroom, we played a lot of games. There were winners, and there were losers, every time we played. Some kids coped with losing better than others. Part of it is just related to their personality types, but another part of their coping skills comes from being taught!

When I was young and played games with my family, sometimes I lost. I was TAUGHT that it's okay to lose sometimes. You win some, and you lose some. When you lose, you have the opportunity to learn, and make changes so you have a better chance of winning the next time around. I think that was, for the most part, how my generation was raised. I was appalled a couple of years ago, when I was babysitting (it was at a party, so the parents were home, I just supervised the kids), and watched a mother "solve" a problem between her kids who were playing a game. The kids were about 9 and 10 years old. Definitely old enough to understand that they won't always win when they play games. Well, a game of Sorry wrapped up, and the girl clearly won. What happened next? Her brother threw a fit. "You cheated! You didn't win, the game's not over yet." I intervened, and stated, "You know, it looks like she won this round. It's no big deal, she got some lucky cards! Why don't you play again, and maybe you'll win this time!" He wasn't having it. He went upstairs and pulled his mom away from the party. She promptly informed the kids that it was a tie. The little girl didn't win, but both kids won. Why? Because she didn't want to deal with the fact that her son didn't have coping skills. It upset me, because in a little decision like that, she took a learning and growing opportunity away from both of her kids. Her daughter didn't get to celebrate her win, and her son didn't have the chance to deal with a loss, and find that he can move forward.

Obviously, if you're reading this blog, you know how much of a role gymnastics has played in my life. When I competed in gymnastics, the top 5 or 10 gymnasts on each event got a ribbon or a medal. Everybody got some kind of participation prize, like a t-shirt, but only those who performed the best received awards. As a coach, I've watched that philosophy change. I think it's great to acknowledge all the kids' hard work. But, as I sit in awards ceremonies, and watch kids receive medals for 25th place in a competition of 30 kids total, it makes me wonder what encourages children to do any better. Don't get me wrong, I understand the purpose for rewarding everybody. All the kids walk away with a smile, and feel like they've done a great job, which they normally have! But at the same time, I feel like giving everybody a "feel good" award in every sport, at every competition (I know I'm generalizing here, it's just been my experience as a coach), we're not preparing kids for real life. In real life, the top 3 performers in a job interview might be called back for a second interview, and the best performer will get the job. In real life, somebody who is 25th on a list of potential employees won't get a phone call, because there are 24 applicants who are more qualified. Unfortunately, if kids aren't prepared for this type of situation, they don't know how to deal with rejection, and in turn, frequently act out or blame others for everything that goes wrong in their lives.

All of this comes to mind, because I firmly believe that a lack of coping skills contributes to the increase  in school shootings over the last 15 years or so. It's great to build children's self-esteem, and encourage them to be the best kids they can be. What better opportunity to do that, than when they experience failure? As parents and teachers, we need to take advantage of those teaching moments. We need to tell the children who lose, "You lost, and that's ok! How are you going to make sure you win next time?" I understand that life would be easier for everybody if nobody ever 'got out' in a game, or if the outcome was always a tie. But that's not how life works, and kids need to learn that, so they don't freak out when they are faced with adversity. Charley and one of her little friends get into arguments fairly frequently. Her friend's mom and I usually try to let them work it out (unless one of the toddlers throws a punch or something, lol), because even at 2, kids need to learn to cope with things, particularly with peers. So many of these kids who participate in school shootings seem to have been bullied in school. They need to learn how to deal with bullies in a constructive manner, instead of bottling up their emotions until they can't control themselves. As parents, we want to protect our children from negativity. But sometimes, we need to back away, and let them solve problems for themselves. If kids were taught from birth HOW to use their emotions constructively, enjoying the positives, and even embracing the negatives, maybe we wouldn't see so many kids who are pushed to suicide or even murder, before they're even teenagers.

As a perfectionist in childhood, and admittedly now, I have high expectations for myself. I don't like to fail. I didn't experience much failure as a child. If I wanted something, I worked hard to achieve it, and was usually successful.  With that said, in my early gymnastics years, I was frequently one of the girls who received a medal in competitions, at least on floor and vault. But I almost never won anything on beam or bars, because I wasn't as good at those events. I knew those were my weaknesses, and that I had to work harder on those events if I wanted to do better. There were times when I was off, and didn't get any medals at all. I failed those days. But that was really the extent of my failure during my childhood. As an adult, I have experienced a few failures, and in self-reflection, I appreciate every failure almost more than I do my successes. I was willing to stay and work on a marriage that was never really meant to be, because I didn't want the relationship to fail. I didn't WANT to fail. But my failures have made me stronger, wiser, and more conscientious. I'm not super-mom, and I know Charley isn't the perfect child, but I hope that I can encourage her to deal with failure better than I did when I was young, so she doesn't make the same mistakes I've made as an adult.

There's my rant for the night! Not my usual type of post, but the Nevada shooting hit too close to home. I know too many awesome teachers, working in a terrible neighborhood in Vegas, and I don't know what I would do if one of their names was written in the paper as a victim of a school shooting. On that note, I promise, more entertainment in the next post!

Saturday Night In!

So, it's a Saturday night, and what am I doing? Blogging! Naturally. I actually had a really busy day, so instead of trying to chase down a sitter so I could go out, I decided to stay in and snuggle up on the couch next to my new space heater. Best purchase I've made in the last month, I might add. Anyway, this week was busy, and when you're starting a business, busy= awesome, so it was a good week!

She dressed herself before gymnastics. Can you tell?

I mentioned in my last post that Charley started school this week. It's been both a blessing and a curse. 90% blessing, and 10% curse, I would say. I mean, I love that she is getting to have time with other kids, and I know it's good for her. She's getting the mental stimulation she needs, and making friends at the same time. Meanwhile, I get time to actually focus and get things done! Those are the positives. There have really only been two negatives. First of all, since she started school, she's thrown screaming fits when I've left her with anybody else for over an hour. Secondly, she's had the HARDEST time falling asleep at night. It's not that school doesn't wear her out. It definitely does. But she's so stinking stubborn, she fights to stay awake, until she's overtired and ends up having night terrors once she is asleep. Now, I do understand that both of the negatives will improve with time, but right now, I'm still having some pull-my-hair-out moments in the middle of the night when she decides it's a good idea to wake up and stay awake until 2:00 a.m. Awesome. I suppose poor Charley is genetically screwed when it comes to sleep patterns. For as long as I can remember, I've had trouble falling asleep, and sleeping through the night. And on her dad's side? He was notorious for night terrors and sleep walking. The poor kid never had a chance of being a good sleeper. Lame!

Girls' Day!

A friend of mine asked me to watch his 9-year-old daughter today while he was at work. I'd intended to work all day, but my sitter backed out during the week, and I wasn't able to find anyone to watch Charley. Anyway, of course, I said I was happy to take his munchkin for the day. I took the girls to get their nails done, then for a playdate at one of Charley's friends' house, then to Michael's to buy craft supplies. In the car, we blasted Disney music, One Direction, and even some old school Backstreet Boys (I insist that the original boy bands don't go unrecognized in my house), and sang along all day. We brought the crafts home, and the girls did crafts during the afternoon, while I did some serious housecleaning. It was awesome to have a little girl here who was a bit older, and actually enjoyed entertaining Charley. As the day progressed, I started thinking. Most of the men I've dated are single dads, and I'm fairly certain that anybody I date seriously in the future will likely have kids as well. I thought about the day, and realized, that I think I would be better off with a guy who has a girl than a boy. Now, of course I know that's a generalization, and I would be perfectly fine if I end up with a man that has a boy. But I GET girls. When I took my friend's daughter to get her nails done, she completely lit up. She was so excited to sing along to boy bands in the back seat, and have me singing right along with her. With girls, I can read them, and figure out what they need from me fairly quickly. I think that comes from so many years of teaching and coaching. I can spot a girl from across the gym, crying in the lobby, afraid to come out on the floor, and figure out how to coax her into joining her class (whether that means I have to let her chase me around the floor, or sit with me during stretch, I can figure it out). I know when to tease and be a little sarcastic, and when to be straightforward and sensitive. A couple nights ago, I was subbing for a class where I didn't know any of the girls' names. Instead of learning their names, I gave all of them nicknames, based on what they were wearing, so I had Sparkles, Pinky, Purple Puff, Space Girl, etc. They loved it. That's because I GET girls! It's different with boys, though! Sometimes they look at me like, "Who's this chick, and why is she talking to me like I'm an idiot?" It's interesting, because when I taught school, some of my favorite students were boys! Some of them were well-behaved, helpful, and smart. Other favorites were still smart, but they could be troublemakers, and a little mouthy. I guess I liked that they had personality. But I didn't understand them on the same level that I understand girls. With all of that said, I would actually love to have a son. I look at my sister, and my friends that have boys, and they have the sweetest relationships with their little guys. I just think I would need to start with a boy from birth, because otherwise I'd be lost!

On a totally different note, I've mentioned many times that I think people come into your life for a reason. I've got a new friend at work, that I've totally clicked with. I really enjoy everyone that I work with. They're fun, they make me laugh, and they are genuinely great people. But it's funny how with some people, you can get coffee, spill your guts to each other, realize you have a LOT in common, and never have any fear that they're judging you. I'm very much an open book. I mean, crap, I write a blog that anybody and everybody can read! I don't share all the details, but a select few people know the ridiculous nonsense that has gone on in my life over the last year. For some reason, she and I jumped right into conversations about our lives, dating, the mistakes we've made, patterns we've fallen into, etc. It was like I'd known her my whole life! She made an "Oops," comment via text today that was almost identical to a text I'd send to a couple of girlfriends a couple months ago. I laughed to myself when I read the message. We were destined to be friends.

On that note, I'm currently enjoying peace and quiet, because Charley went to sleep at a reasonable hour tonight. Fingers crossed she sleeps through the night!