Back to School

Yesterday was the first day of school for all the public school kids and the college kids.  Traffic around town has once again become the stuff of nightmares because there have been probably 50,000+ new people around here trying to learn their way around town and thinking that they are still in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth or Austin or whatever larger town they come from.  All the store shelves have been picked clean of well. . . .just about everything.  When my parents moved me to college, we bought most of our stuff at home and took it with us so we wouldn't have to fight the crowds but apparently that is not the way it is done anymore.  Anyway, the students are back and all of us hometown people are waiting until the Christmas holidays so we can get back out and enjoy eating at the nice restaurants and shopping oh, and driving without fearing for your life!!

I have spent the entire summer looking for a new teaching job.  It has been a futile attempt.  The school I taught at last year started last Thursday and it was a hard day knowing that my kiddos had moved on to third grade and that I wasn't going to get to see them on their first day of school.   I have to admit that over the summer I have become more angry over the loss of my job.  I am having a hard time remembering that God has the best plan for me.  It is hard to remember that when the bills are coming in hard and fast and we are down to one income that just doesn't seem to be able to stretch far enough.  Five days in the hospital did not help that at all. 

I always thought that by the time I was in my 40's I would be kind of settled. . . in a good job of my choosing, in our own home (not renting a shack), a family of four, with maybe a dog or cat or some other pet.  So far the only thing that has happened on our list of things we wanted to have by this time and that is the fact that I am in my forties.  No job, still in a rental, no kids, no dog or cat.  Sometimes life just isn't fair and sometimes it is hard to be thankful for the things you do have.  Oh and throw in there the fact that my Mom isn't around anymore and somedays I just REALLY need her advice or a hug.

Well, that is not exactly where I thought this post would end up but these things have really been on my mind a lot lately.  And sometimes you just have to get them out to help you look at things in a different way or something like that. 

Anywho. . . .I hope you have a great week.

What's For Dinner?

This week I will be trying a new recipe and I am kind of excited about it.  Can't wait to tell you how it turned out.  Here is what we will be eating this week.

Monday:  nachos~ chips, jalapenos, rice, taco meat, cheese
Tuesday:  buffalo chicken spaghetti, corn
Wednesday:  fend for yourself
Thursday:  out to eat ~ Casa Ole
Friday:  undecided
Saturday:  fend for yourself
Sunday:  out to eat

Happy Birthday!

Today is my little sister's birthday and it's the first day of school!  We celebrated her birthday yesterday with a yummy BBQ lunch my Dad made.

Blowing out the candles.  I won't tell you how many there should have been!!



Two of her presents.

 Happy Birthday Rae!  I hope you had a great day.

What's For Dinner?

Weekly Menu:

Monday:  meatloaf with roasted potatoes
Tuesday:  Chicken & Swiss casserole with broccoli
Wednesday:  fend for yourself
Thursday:  hamburgers with potato salad
Friday:  out to eat
Saturday:  fend for yourself

Wishful Wednesday




Wishing for some much needed rain.

 

Not In MY Town

Really bad things just don't happen in my hometown.  Sure, the twin cities are growing by leaps and bounds but we still have that safe(ish) hometown feel (even with 50,000 new residents coming in for school each year).  Or so we all thought until yesterday and then it happened. . . . .we became like so many other towns. . .we made the national news and not in a good way. Yesterday around noon a constable was serving an eviction notice when the unthinkable happened. . . .the person being evicted shot and killed the officer.  And when all was said and done an innocent passerby was also killed along with the shooter.  One officer was sent to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg and another innocent bystander was shot twice in the back and once in the chest and is still in critical condition in the hospital.  This all happened about 6 miles or so from where we live.

While all of this was going on, I was eating lunch with good friend in our historic downtown after having spent the morning in jury duty.  Once we got back to the courtroom we were sent home by the judge who you could tell along with the lawyers were greatly affected by the loss of their friend the constable.  And as you can imagine our community was really shaken by the whole thing.

If you have a moment, please say a prayer for all of those that were involved.  Losing a loved one is never easy and I am sure it is even harder when it happens because of a senseless tragedy.

It's FRIDAY!!!

I am so happy that it is Friday because I get to spend the day with Mr. Giggles.  The sad part about it is that this is the last Friday he has off until next summer.  We don't have much plan wise except maybe going to the movie and eating at our favorite hole in the wall mexican food place.  And I am sure that there will be trip to Walmart in there somewhere!!

What are your plans for today?  Whatever they are make it great!!

Wordless Wednesday

Where I wish I was again since it is so hot here at home!!