Friday, and no more pink

We can't have a pink page now that Kurt's over here! heh.... so a bit of a change.

This week continues to be full... even over-flowing, so much that I loose track of what day it is...

Nonetheless, item after item gets scratched off my lists..... keep pluggin' along.

Zwei Tasse starke Kaffee ... and I can move.... I can't think to type in Deutsch.... nothing conversational anyways... I just don't have the phrases... only textbook words strung together that make me sound like such a tourist.... maddening as always, but no time today to dwell on that. I'll put it on my list.

Off to the accountant's office today... quarterly taxes must be postmarked by the 30th... I'll give an hour of my time to the second grade teacher... no rockwall help from me anymore.... not enough hours in my day. Then it's back here to clean, clean and clean some more. We're hosting a dinner party with our former karate instructor.... the big boss... well, the former big boss. I'm now the big boss. Although, on that front... my belly is shrinking, thanks to a little more get-up-and-go, and a little less food! Notice, I didn't say less Bier... I love my Weizen too much! ;)

Saturday, we'll play with our demo team a bit, I'll take the girl Lake Geneva for a girl scout event... the boys will do the Dixie Land band thing.... and we'll all meet back home 'round bedtime. Sunday morning is the next preperation for yet another party.... K-W will be making his first communion in the afternoon, and grandparents and godparents will then party at our house......

My goodness. And then, it will be Monday again!

Exciting times as Kurt's told me. There is not a dull moment 'round these parts.... no moss growing under our feet.

And somewhere in there I have to buy a minivan... before the April, minivan sales event is finished.... !!

I've put this up before.... but here's a shot for MK.... all Kurt's dolls
.... er, no, that would be Guys! A picture of his office! Click it bigger to see them all! heh heh

Aliens

My friend Roddy recently pointed me to the following site: http://www.prisonplanet.com/analysis_louise_01_03_03_mockingbird.html It's all part of our ongoing "conspiracy" conversations wherein he tries to show me how Governments and Big Business are secretly running the world (duh?) or that aliens are among us. I told him that... "...And, the reason you don't hear more about these things is NOT because of government/corporation cover-ups, it's because you can't get more than 2 conspiracy theorists in a room without both of them suspecting that the other one is either a government agent sent to kill him or an alien from the Ninth Moon of Jupiter living in disguise for three generations of humans, patiently waiting for the Apocalypse and killing time by cutting up cows, anal probing farmers and cutting crop circles in the hay..." Kurt

what we did today

Little cee, who's in 4th grade, went today to teach a class of 3rd graders! Her aunt teaches third grade at a different school, and asked if she would come in and talk a bit about diabetes and how she spends a typical day managing food and insulin. Today was also their Walk for a cure day in the school district, so students from all over town were walking to raise money for research!

Little cee cannot stop talking about how much fun she had in that 15 minutes where all eyes were on her! She wrote on the white board with different colored markers, had two visual bottles of "blood".... one showed "normal" blood -- (water with blue food coloring), the other showed "blood" that had too much sugar in it -- ( thick, blue shampoo). Well, you can imagine how one flowed and the other sludged along. It was a good way to illustrate why her body needs insulin since it doesn't make it any more on its own.

After that, we walked around the school grounds.... 11 times, which took almost an hour! EVeryone was rewarded with popsicles! All the little 3rd graders all wanted to walk with little cee.

I think this is one event she'll be talking about for some time!

One of those days where

I have to cram 30 pounds of schhhhh...tuff into a 15 pound bag... aka, my 15 hour day. GAH! And of course, we know with that weighing on my mind, it begins to race and rev up, then I toss and turn, even though it's nearing midnight. Happens everytime. Now I have a chock full day, and I get to accomplish everything on 6 hours of sleep.

That will make for a crabby, short-tempered mommy. sigh.

Ya know, there's over 500 kids at my kids' school. So, call it nearly 500 parents when accounting for siblings. Not a single one can volunteer their time at the rock wall in gym class. This after the gym instructor sent home flyers asking for volunteers. sheesh. So, here we go, I volunteered myself again this year. Although, this week is so crazy busy, I won't have many hours to give...... There will undoubtedly be no chance for a nap today..... =(

Testing tonight. Thankfully, it will be on the smallish side. Only about 7 students each hour, which translates into a small audience that I'll be performing in front of.... on 6 hours of sleep....

Is it 2200 yet?

oh, wait, my day just keeps getting better....
I go out to the car, we had to drive to school, missed the bus.... and found I left my windows open last night.... Naturally, it follows, that it would be raining outside. Hey! What do you know, it is raining..... nothing says "good morning" like a soggy butt.

Today is party day

...and K-W was worried that this would look too baby-ish! heh heh heh.... it was all he could do to contain his excitement as he ran out to try it out!!!!

I feel this afternoon will be a great day.... complete with a dozen or so kids hanging at our house!!!

A feel-good Friday

And what's different this morning? I got to bed at a decent hour, and I worked out last night for the first time in a very long time. There's going to be more of that! I need to work out to get back my girlish figure!

I found the summer volleyball camp schedule in K-W's backpack.... Yay. Now, I can finalize my summer schedule! Good, I like to have things put in place! I've sent on this new info to my ad department... Kurt.... and now we can get our ad in the paper today!

I think today, I may go out and buy a van. We'll see. And, now that my computer network is finally found again!! hooray, I think I'll print out paychecks early. Because as soon as I disconnect my laptop from the network cord.... I have a heck of a time trying to find the network again..... drives me up a wall! Stupid Windows XP..... and there's no set sequence of clicks to get it back up and running. Sometimes you have to push the network... sometimes you can try to find my laptop from other computers on the network.... sigh. Anyways, I found my computer after Kurt taught me how to ping it from his computer! So, I have a printer again! Simple pleasures! heh.

Now that Kurt has DSL at his work.... I've been begging him to come back and give me a story every now and again over here! =) Please, pretty please?! What's that they say about the squeeeky wheel and all??...... heh.

So, that's my Friday ramble. Nothing exciting, except for some loose ends tied up over here! ;) ...which makes me content! So, let's all have a relaxing Friday evening! Biers all around, and perhaps a good movie to watch!!

A Birthday in photos

Birthday lunch with Kurt, a yummy cajun shrimp and pasta complimented by a Blue Moon Belgian Ale. I picked up my glasses ....and went back to his office that was filled with construction workers (eeeeeeee!!!! always a pleasing sight for me... heh heh) who just happened to know it was my bday.... ooh, how fun!

Fast forward to the evening.... I found part of my bday prezzie hanging on the porch by the hottub and sounding so lovely in the wind , another part.... ... and ooh, my, that one is particularly tastee! Really a strong-tasting Weiss like we were back in Germany! Mmm! Lecker. It went splendid with our Papa John's pizza! hahahaha... and a cookies 'n' cream ice cream cake! This is how it is when you share a bday with a kid... you get to be one yourself!! ...notice I get a crown too. Present time... and, "OOoooh, SWEET! This is my best present, Ever!!" The silver & red Razor scooter! ... So, another year, another happy day!

The End.

=)

They say it's our birthday....

8 years ago I was given this cute little bundle of boy for my birthday! It's fun having someone to blow out the birthday fire ... er, candles with you!!!

Happy 8th Birthday, my little K-W!!


...and me, neununddreißig.... oiy!

Chicago Symphony Hall Excursion

Pictures are up over here.... only 21. The rest were just too much flash bouncing off the inside of the dirty windshield, or strange images from the 'night mode' setting.... but there's a few to tell the story....

Go check 'em! then, back to work!

;)

Cowtown in the Big City

.... fell into bed 12:12am. A fun, but too short evening in Chicago. We had a "race" read, bumper to bumper ride into the city.... about 2 hours,

parked, in the Grant Street North Underground Hmm, now the pics are all out of order, if I do it this way.....

I'm going to put them in order over at flickr....

Anyways, click these little ones bigger.....

The concert was good, we had nice seats and could see all the action. I was able to tell the first violins from the seconds by watching their hand positions. 16 first violins. The Sibeleus piece was the opener... excellent. Next up was Brahm's.... eh, they could have scratched that number... it was only so-so... nothing spectacular. The final piece for the first half was Smetana. I had never heard of that composer... but as soon as the first chords were struck, I lit up!! I recognized it! Kurt hadn't heard that piece.... probably because it's a popular orchestra number, not for bands. You need the refinement of the violins.... heh heh.... ;) A little ribbin' for Kurt, coming from the violin player in the family! =)

Well, little K-W fell asleep during the second movement of Dvorak's 4 movement "New World Symphony".... it was the slow, quiet number.... and I swear I was getting nervous because his breathing had turned so heavy as he leaned against my shoulder... I thought he'd start snoring at any moment!! I kept thinking.... c'mon pick it up, move on to the 3rd Vivace section!! hahahahaha But, no, he didn't snore, phew! I was saved!

Ok, on to the photos now! And, I have to dig out my manual again..... goofy camera and all the buttons.... I can't take a decent night photo.... sigh....

In a weak moment

Familie vonS goes out for some culture

As part of a pre-birthday gift to myself and KW, Kurt thought it would be lovely to take in the symphony!

We'll be enjoying the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in tonight's performance of

• Dvorak's "New World Symphony"
• Brahm's "Variations on a Theme by Haydn"
• a Smetana piece
• Sibeleus' "Finlandia"!!
  
  This will be a big night out in the big city! The downbeat begins at 8pm, so perhaps a little on the late-ish side for the kids, but it think there will be so much excitement, and bright lights, and big people all dressed up.... it will keep them entertained!
  
  I'm looking forward to our night on the town! Pictures, of course, to follow!

Wednesday catch-up

Goodness, it's been awhile since I've chatted here.... where's my clone, MK?! ;)

Let's see... yesterday, I had an eye check-up. Yup, I do need reading glasses, a mild variety, but a bit of help nonetheless. So, my new specs will be ready next Tuesday. It's kind of fitting, a bit like saying, "happy birthday, old lady"! hahahah That's ok, though, I'll also get to go out for a birthday lunch with 2 of my favorite men.... Kurt and K!

I received the schedule of events for when our German friends are here! Glad about that... I have to arrange a teacher to cover at least one of my class times..... I'm also busy with the outside. I'm getting estimates on having another portion of our gravel driveway blacktopped, debating calling a landscaper to fix up a couple of garden areas... or maybe I'll just get out there and dig..... I've received my 23 page fax from Consumer Reports on buying the van and what I can expect on my PT Cruiser trade-in..... Definately need a van for when the guests arrive. And then, there's the huge inside project of straightening out the guest house...... But, I have time. They arrive May 27th.

On an exciting, spring note.... our daffodils bloomed this morning!!! Spring is here!

Saturday. For lack of a better title...

We spent Saturday afternoon shopping. Drove up to this smallish shopping area 10 mins away from our house. Kurt went to Kohl's, I to Dress Barn. Kurt then arrived at my store, because naturally, I was taking longer to decide than he did. Sigh... things just look so much nicer if one is 20 pounds lighter. heh. We've both decided! Last stop, back to Kohl's to pick out a pair of sandals for me. I do not own any brown shoes...well, other than my Birks... but that wouldn't look too spiffy with a skirt. So, I picked out these... and LOVE them!

Then it was off to my cousin's wedding reception. My brother, John and his girlfriend, Ella were there, along with my mom, and aunts and cousins.... 3 Gin & Tonics make for a fun evening.

My little brother and I.
Don't know why my hair was so red-looking here... aack. Elle, John, Kurt and I!

A busy Friday...

...go figure.

It's ok though. K's finished his science test on volcanos, he has a metric test in math this morning, he got 100% on his spelling test yesterday, he'll do his extra credit math work, write in his journal, he already read for an hour.... and he'll be finished for the day. I must say, he is really thriving being home schooled!

Yesterday was just a disappointing day all around for me. My 4pm class consisted of about 8-10 hyper kids who all played off each other, and bothered the rest of the kids..... blah, blah... so I won't go there again. The catalog from our local college arrived with the courses for summer and fall.... once again disappointing to see that the times for the German classes just don't fit my schedule.... Grrrrrrr. Well, there was one that fit... but it was the beginning German 101. Oh right, that wouldn't be too boring for me. sheesh. I was planning on taking the written test to see where I could be placed.... perhaps the first of the intermediate German. Anywho. It won't happen this time around again.

But....

Kurt managed to cheer me up on all fronts. I now have a clipboard for my classes... long story... and it was decided that $500 for 10 weeks of private tutoring of the kids and I in German is an excellent use of money!! So... WE're going to all have a German tutor this summer! Hoooray!!

Now, my job is to line up my/our summer schedule. I have to fit in little Cee's volleyball camp schedule, my 2 morning karate classes, and an hour for German study.... That and I just phoned the lady in charge of organizing the German band. I need to get an idea of what their schedule of events will be... incase I need to find teachers to cover my karate classes.... Loads of scheduling to streamline.

Tonight is our buddy night at the karate school. Our brand, spankin' new Demo Team will be performing the opening 10 mins to the lively tune... "Man With the Hex" by the Atomic Fireballs! Go listen to it!!! It's going to be fast and flashy! So, besides that... we have to organize the video production... *note to self... charge the digital recorder*.... print up some glossy pamphlets, get the name tags ready to go.... things to fascilitate signing up new students! I'm going to be taking photos of lots of board breaking and new faces! It should be a fun night... hopefully a successful one as well for us financially!!!

busy, busy, busy.... oh, and I hope my DEMO TEAM patches arrive in my mailbox this afternoon! That would be really perfect timing! heh

Have a great weekend all!

Were I pregnant....

...... then perhaps this would be cute-looking. But seeing as my final baby was born nearly 8 years ago...... and I'm not pregnant..... It just screams, 'Too Much Bier!' (hahaha, as if.....)

And, if you'll notice something else about the picture, ....clean mirror?.... nah, I cleaned it just for this shot, as the first batch I took, the only thing I noticed was dirty mirror.... heh. No, the other thing, the granny specs 'round my neck....

I think I've discovered the root of my headaches. This morning, doing my computer work at the table with K while he was doing metric math, I caught myself squinting and scrunching my entire face... and what do you know, I was starting a headache.... No, I haven't been wearing my cheaters lately....
.....guess I have to go back to that, and probably schedule an eye checkup too.

Gawd, it's rough getting old. My eyes are failing, and I can't drop a single pound even while on the South Beach diet for 3 days. Last time on this diet, I lost 5 pounds in 8 days.

Eh, le't just forget it all and "HEY! Can I get a round of Franziskaner over here for my friends and me?!" I hear cold Bier is good for headaches anyways!

Kopfschmerz

I was never one of those girls who got horrid cramps/headaches once a month... in fact I never got headaches... or it was really rare, I've maybe had a handful in my entire life..... Lucky.

So now the past 3-4 days I've had a constant headache. It's really bugging me to the point where I'm like what's wrong with me? It's a tumor, I know it. But, since I wake up feeling fine, and it gradually appears through the day, I'm diagnosing it a stress headache. Searching webMD, I find a bunch of my symptoms for the stress headaches, including fatigue. I've been sleeping the entire weekend.... what's wrong with me??? Well, how much time do you have... ha! The list goes on.

Eh, so we'll give it some more days.... see what develops, or goes away, I'm hoping..... I'm sure it's stress. Take the 1 year anniversary of little Cee's diabetes diagnosis,(which I'm not supposed to mention or think about...sigh) the running of the karate business that's so new to me, the kid I've decided to home school, and the mini pup that I decided to care for over the spring break, and the fact that I'm nearly weighing my all time, non-pregnant fattest I've ever been..... I think it just all adding up in my head.

Now, the mini pup is gone, and they brought me home 3 newspapers from Germany!!!! WHEEeeeeee (ja, I'm easy....) =), shopping today for my South Beach diet foods, and I really cannot allow myself to stress about "things" anymore.... I have to make a conscious decision to Let.Them.Go!