A rainy Saturday of banking...yawn. I need to think of something to do to spice things up - just a little.

OK - right now I feel like a big heel. We just caught the first of the three wild cats in a trap (the plan is to get them over to the vet to be fixed and then released). We caught Zigabu - the tabby male. I know in the long run, this is necessary and will help prolong his life and make him much safer - but when he gives out a cry I feel like such a traitor. That being said - I still have more traps ready for his mother and sister...

Our neighbor Frank caught the other rag-doll kitten yesterday - now we have 3 inside and only the black one left to catch. They are being very cute :)

Mercy, I haven't been on here in ages - my last entry was about the loss of my kitty - now this one is about the flood of kitties that has entered my home. Once again the alley cats have had kittens - they don't stop long enough for me to trap them and get them fixed. I have a call in to Cat Angels to see if they can help me get a grip on the situation. In the meantime there are 2 (because one just wouldn't be enough) liters of kittens. The first liter is gorgeous and old enough to go - to problem being that they have no where to go. I had one home set for two of them - but then she backed out at the last minute - she decided she didn't want to wait for the time it would take to catch the little buggers. With wild born kittens - you have to have patience. So I guess it is better that she doesn't get them - might not have been a good fit.

So anyway - if anybody has a kitten need - I can fill it!

This morning we said good-bye to our good friend (and cat) Margaret. She was amazing. Very supportive, loving and brave. We are going to miss her more then I can say.

Be at peace, Puddin.

I had a long "talk" with myself yesterday. I was getting depressed that my spring break was just about over and I have accomplished very little. I needed to remind myself of the key word "break" - it is OK that I wasn't on the ball the entire week - I did get a few things off of a very long to do list and I got caught up on my sleep too. I don't know what I was expecting but I refuse to be down on myself for relaxing. Now if only I could stop breaking these Ukrainian eggs I am trying to finish - relaxing my ass.

Yesterday I celebrated my second Chinese New Year in Chinatown. It was good. Lots of drums and dragons. I snuck over to Reading Terminal Market and had yummy Indian food for lunch (I took Chinese home for dinner) and bought some of my favorite soap. I've decided that I prefer the Chinese approach to New Year better then the European - it isn'tabout getting smashed and making guilt inspired resolutions- it is about new beginnings, good luck and celebrating. It seems like a better time of year too - the majority of winter is behind us and we are preparing for spring. :)

I finally have a quiet moment (won't last long) so I figured I could do a quick entry. Christie and her husband Sean are coming Friday night. They should arrive after dinner time. Saturday morning they will go see Mom - I am working at the bank - and then we will meet up with them later. Mike - free for dinner either late (don't know what time)Friday or Saturday? They are heading out early Sunday (sorry Amy!) I can't believe they are driving 10 hours, spending a day, and then driving 10m hours again - but what can you do?

People from the past are crawling out of the woodwork:

Susie, my friend from Tyler, called last night. She is a mom for the second time - another little boy named Quinn. It was great catching up - it has been too long. I promised to call - now that I have her new phone number.

Dale, a friend from CO sent an e-mail today. He is planning a Philly trip. We haven't seen him for 7 years!

And Sonja from the good ol' Dandelion days and I are having lunch next week - fun, fun. (MMMMMMM, Green Papaya, MMMMMMMM)

It has been an interesting week. On the happy side, we were notified that we qualify for a $5,000 grant for home repairs from the borough of Pottstown (if we lived across the street, we wouldn't qualify). There is some paper work to do and then some foot work getting multiple estimates but we can use the money for things like a new fence, a hot water heater, repairs/upgrades to the duct work, flooring and finishing off the basement or attic. The hard part will be prioritizing. Derek and I have slightly different ideas - so we need to have a meeting. :) Either way - it is a happy/exciting surprise.

Derek's mom's house has sold, for the second time, but it looks like it is for real this time. Closing is in a few days. We have at least one more day of hauling and throwing away and getting some cleaning done - and then we can finally close this chapter. I understand that it can be sad for Derek - this being the family home and all, but it was hard for him to see it in such a sad state. I will be very happy to have this major event crossed off our list.

On the owee side - I hate money, thinking about money, worrying about money - all of it. We had the furnace break repair, first utility bill, first PECO bill with some heating costs and a $130 cell phone bill. Time to tap savings and that scares me. Don't get me wrong - I am very happy to be in a house and I spent years dreaming of being able to bitch about the joys of home ownership - I just don't like money.

MARCH:
Attractive personality (why, thank you...). Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive (you promised not to tell!!!). Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize ( so much wasted time – if I lived half as well as I dream…). Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. (8 years!!!) Loves home decors. Musically talented (obviously never heard me sing). Loves special things – like the perfect Chococat mug :(. MOODY – you would be too if someone threw out your mug.



JANUARY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Ambitious and serious. Loves to teach and be taught. Always looking at people's flaws and weaknesses. Likes to criticize. Hardworking and productive. Smart, neat and organized. Sensitive and has deep thoughts. Knows how to make others happy. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Rather reserved. Highly attentive. Resistant to illnesses but prone to colds. Romantic but has difficulties expressing love. Loves children. Loyal. Has great social abilities yet easily jealous. Very stubborn and money cautious.

FEBRUARY:
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexy. Temperamental. Quiet, shy and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends but rarely shows it. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizes dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions.

MARCH:
Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate. Shy and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Loves to serve others. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Observant and assesses others. Revengeful. Loves to dream and fantasize. Loves traveling. Loves attention. Hasty decisions in choosing partners. Loves home decors. Musically talented. Loves special things. Moody.

APRIL:
Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Emotional. Aggressive. Hasty. Good memory. Moving. Motivates oneself and others. Sickness usually of the head and chest. Sexy in a way that only their lover can see.

MAY:
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm Standpoint. Needs no motivation. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High spirited. Spendthrift.

JUNE:
Thinks far with vision. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Having ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Able to show character. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Brand conscious. Executive. Stubborn.

JULY:
Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Not revengeful. Forgiving but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Likes to be quiet. Homely person. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Prone to having stomach and dieting problems. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt but takes long to recover.

AUGUST:
Loves to joke. Attractive. Suave and caring. Brave and fearless. Firm and has leadership qualities. Knows how to console others. Too generous and egoistic. Takes high pride in oneself. Thirsty for praises. Extraordinary spirit. Easily angered. Angry when provoked. Easily jealous. Observant. Careful and cautious. Thinks quickly. Independent thoughts. Loves to lead and to be led. Loves to dream. Talented in the arts, music and defense. Sensitive but not petty. Poor resistance against illnesses. Learns to relax. Hasty and trusty. Romantic. Loving and caring. Loves to make friends.

SEPTEMBER:
Suave and compromising. Careful, cautious and organized. Likes to point out people's mistakes. Likes to criticize. Stubborn. Quiet but able to talk well. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal but not always honest. Does work well. Very confident. Sensitive. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Must control oneself when criticizing. Able to motivate oneself. Understanding. Fun to be around. Secretive. Loves leisure and traveling. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Very choosy, especially in relationships. Systematic.

OCTOBER:
Loves to chat. Loves those who loves them. Loves to take things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Always making friends. Easily hurt but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care of what others think. Emotional. Decisive. Strong clairvoyance. Loves to travel, the arts and literature. Touchy and easily jealous. Concerned. Loves outdoors. Just and fair. Spendthrift. Easily influenced. Easily loses confidence. Loves children.

NOVEMBER:
Has a lot of ideas. Difficult to fathom. Thinks forward. Unique and brilliant. Extraordinary ideas. Sharp thinking. Fine and strong clairvoyance. Can become good doctors. Dynamic in personality. Secretive. Inquisitive. Knows how to dig secrets. Always thinking. Less talkative but amiable. Brave and generous. Patient. Stubborn and hard-hearted. If there is a will, there is a way. Determined. Never give up. Hardly becomes angry unless provoked. Loves to be alone. Thinks differently from others. Sharp-minded. Motivates oneself. Does not appreciate praises. High-spirited. Well-built and tough. Deep love and emotions. Romantic. Uncertain in relationships. Homely. Hardworking. High abilities. Trustworthy. Honest and keeps secrets. Not able to control emotions. Unpredictable.

DECEMBER:
Loyal and generous. Sexy.Patriotic. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Loves to socialize. Loves praises. Loves attention. Loves to be loved. Honest and trustworthy. Not pretending. Short tempered. Changing personality. Not egotistic. Take high pride in oneself. Hates restrictions. Loves to joke. Good sense of humor. Logical.

Niceness meme

Comment with your username and I'll give you an honest compliment. Then post this in your journal and spread the love.

I've been meaning to up-date my LJ forever. Now during my ample prep-period (yes, I am already all prepped)I have the opportunity. Things have changed sooooo much over the past few months - my mind is still adjusting and my body is pooped and shows no signs of recovering anytime soon. I have all sorts of things I want/need to tackle with the house, new job and puppy - now I need to find the energy to do it. Being beat all the time frustrates the crap out of me. Quick little naps become long naps which stretch into nighttime and then it is time to start over. I can't blame the puppy, whose official name is Mac, because he has slept through the night since we got him. He is a lot of fun - very cute, very sweet and very naughty once he gets going. Last night we took him to visit my friend Karen in Philly. She has a 2 year old dachshund named Turtle - they became fast friends and then the romping commenced. It was HYSTERICAL. Later one of her neighbors, Tim, brought over his dachshund, Dutchess which just added to the chaos. It was a blast. We are going to have play-dates with Turtle in the near future. I need to get the digital camera up and running to record the crazy cuteness that is Mac - that would be one of the many, many things I really want to do, if only I could wake up. (grrrrrrrr)

The job is good. I am still amazed at this place and some of the people here. There is lots of talent and some very kind people here. I have my own classroom - which is HUGE and lots of happy new supplies. I am spoiled. I am teaching half Studio Art and half Sculpture - which is a dream come true. I am given ample time to prepare and most of the ids are excited to learn. Amazing. The only down-side is that I am waiting for the other shoe to drop - like this isn't really happening or could be taken away at any moment. That's right - the only down-side is the one I am creating myself out of fear and insecurity. I'm trying to keep it in check. I try and do a good job and focus on what is important. Speaking of which - it is time for me to go prepare some more - I love being ahead of the game!!! It is great for stress levels.

Haven't been here in forever. We still don't have internet at the new house (BUT WE HAVE A HOUSE!!!!!) - well, truth be told, we do have internet, in the kitchen - not that there is room in the kitchen for a table, let alone a computer. Guess I need to call Verizon, again. We ordered a sofa and a comfy chair. Once they arrive it will feel more like a house. I intend to sit a lot.

We met with a carpenter today who said the termite damage was not too bad and would be easy to fix. The seller has agreed to repair all major items - now we wait to see the quality of his repairs. It is getting exciting (while also nerve racking). The is a dove nesting in a tree in the back yard. God I have a lot of crap to pack/throw out.

Well they found termites, ants and some wood-eating beetle in the basement of the house. There is also water damage and the mortar is eroding around the foundation - sigh. Things were not bad enough that we need to cut and run (not yet anyway). We do, however, need to bring in more specialists to appraise the damage to determine how it will impact the sale agreement - if the seller agrees to fix everything then we are set - but if he doesn't then he could lower the price - leaving us to fix the damage (which we cannot afford to do) or he can cancel the deal. All of this hurts my head.

I also had my first teaching interview today - it would have gone well except for the coughing fit I had in the middle - I always like to leave an impression - at least it isn't as bad as when I threw-up just outside of the principle's office last year. (Hard to believe he still wrote me a very nice letter of recommendation.) Me thinks I am a mess.

Ok - they accepted our offer - that is very exciting. Now we need to have the home inspection done and figure out what is going to happen as far as Derek's mom and her situation are concerned. It is a wonderful feeling to be moving in a forward direction.

Well, we did it. We put a bid on a house. I am so excited/stressed that all I want to do in nap. We hope to hear by Wed. if the offer is excepted or not.

I was finally getting over the bug I caught last Sunday when my fever returned. Yesterday the doctor informed me that I have something from the "whooping cough family". Neat. Now I am on a pile of meds and have no voice. I'm trying to keep my act together to make it through the last 6 school days!

Tomorrow we go to see 2 more houses. Fingers and toes are crossed. While searching for houses this morning (instead of banking) I found a house that Derek and I had been interested. Before we could view the house, it had sold. I am hoping it has returned to the market - we shall see. Could just be a really out of date web site.

I am all about the venting these days - coming home after school takes all the strength I can muster up. Never know who will have their shorts in a knot or what the next crisis will be. To top it all off - I lost my voice last night so I couldn't scream if I wanted to - and I really would like to...

We went house shopping again on Sunday - we visited my favorite house a second time - I still like it but don't think it will suit Derek's needs - I said a mental good-bye to the house. The other 2 were not too great - one had a centipede in the sink - a bad omen if ever there was... The other one would have worked pretty well for Derek - but was too dark and contained for me - I would be very depressed living there. So the search continues. What is weird is that after I said my mental good-bye - Derek mentioned still being hung-up on that house himself - looks like we need to discuss more.

After house hunting I got a sore throat followed by the chills, etc. So now I feel crumby and still have lots to do :(

OK - sounding a little too sorry for myself - better say nighty-night and cut it out.