





Life of a happy go lucky diva with lots of hopes and dreams.
Before school started and I was running this summer...in daylight...here were my tools. An i-pod, my heart rate monitor, a cellphone, and my pepper spray...mostly because of my fear of crazy animals.After school started when I was forced to get up at 4:00 am to get my run in before I needed to be at school...I added a flashing light to the back of my armband AND a small flashlight to strap to my hand as there are some very dark sections of my early morning run. The pepper spray expanded from keeping me safe from of crazy animals to keeping me safe from crazy people. (Have you ever been on the website that tells you what kind of crazy people live near your house??? Do yourself a favor...don't)
Yesterday predicted that today would be a colder California day...and when I say colder California day it means the morning temperature would be in the upper 40s...to me and my unfortunate acclamation to California temperatures...that is cold. So I decided I needed to go to Target to get some warmer pants and maybe a hat to run in...so GS tagged along and we went to Target. When I say tagged along I mean he offered to go with me. Believe it or not he likes to go to run errands with me...I know right??...he drives, pushes the cart, and holds my hand. Now you know why he got the tag GS (Godsend). I purchased Target Champion Running Pants.
I fully realize that these are tight fitting pants..
I fully realize that tight fitting pants are not flattering to my body...
I fully realize that my legs would be cold without them...
I bought them...
Here is my new cold weather running gear complete with a hat that has a hole for my pony tail...how cool is that!!! I realize that I must look like a commando with all this stuff attached to me...a commando that would wear pink and orange sparkly gloves that is.
So I got up this morning at the crack of dawn after a very scary dream about vampires...and no not the good-looking-I-want-to-love-you-not-eat-you vampires. I donned my new running pants and hat and went outside. Needless to say I was a little spooked going out for my run in the dark after this horrible dream. However, I was hopeful that if I just kept my mind busy that I would forget all about the bloodsuckers and get my run done.
Here are some of the things that went through my mind this morning:
I wonder if I fell this morning if my orange and pink sparkly gloves would protect me from a hand injury.
I wonder if I fell this morning if my new too tight running pants would protect me from skinning my knees.
Is The Stroke one of Billy Squires only hits.
Oh my gosh is The Stroke a song about what I think it is a song about???
How the heck did a Celine Dion song get put on my running mix???
I hope that guy who just ran by me wearing only a tank top and shorts doesn't think that I am a wimp for being WAY overdressed...
I really hope that no one notices my jiggly butt in these too tight pants...wait a minute...it is 4:30 in the morning no one is even looking at my jiggly butt in these too tight pants.
...unless its a vampire and he is thinking..."how juicy"...
so much for distracting thoughts...
More later
-A Ro
1. Tell me something about your favorite teacher.
Well I am of course my favorite teacher...you know you gotta love yourself before anyone el...ah never mind.
My favorite teacher was my high school choir director, Mr. Charles Clark. He inspired me to not only be a better musician, but to be a better person and in turn a great teacher. He instilled in me the love and importance of music. It is truly the power of teaching because not only did he inspire his students, but through me he is inspiring my students, and hopefully one day my students will inspire others...such a wonderful loving chain.
2. Tell me about one pivotal moment in your life.
When I graduated from college I was encouraged to apply for a job at the local middle school near my home town. I was also offered a scholarship at a school in Arizona...yes 1000 miles from Iowa (where I lived my whole life)...to attend grad school. I decided to leave the nest, knowing no one, and travel 1000 miles to attend grad school at the University of Arizona. I am convinced that one decision changed who I am for the better. I am a better woman, mother, and teacher because I believed in myself enough to take that risk...Not to mention that I met my ex-husband there and would never had my kids had I not gone there...granted the husband thing didn't work out so well...but that's another Oprah...
3. About favorite colors--a lot of people will ask you what it is, but I want to know why it is. What feeling or memory does it evoke?
My favorite color is purple. When I look at a rich, dark, vibrant, color of purple it makes me feel mesmerized...either that or I'm crazy...it's a toss up at this point.
4. What's a sure sign that you're getting older?
I can no longer sit criss cross applesauce. Thankfully my job no longer requires me to do that.
5. Please don't sermonize, but Halloween--is it a yes or no for you?
YES, YES, YES Heaven's to Betsy and for the love of all humanity YES!!!
Was that too preachy??
6. What's your favorite musical?
Well since I am the vocal director for my school's high school and middle school musicals you'd think this would be easy...but truthfully the genre of musical is new to me...I was an opera singer and now am having to learn all about this genre. OK so that was my disclaimer...here's my answer...I think West Side Story is my favorite musical. The music, the story, and the message is just so powerful!!!
Was that too preachy??
7. Are you more of a city mouse or country mouse?
I am a country mouse stuck in the city...sad but true. My favorite time is visiting my parents acreage in Iowa and sitting on the porch watching fireflies. Oh Give Me a Home Where the Buffalo Roam...she sings in her purtiest twangy voice.
8. Did you know that it is possible, for a small fee, to name a real star after someone? (It's true! Google it!) If someone were to name a star for you, would you appreciate it for its whimsy and romance, or would you say, "Are you kidding me? For $19.95 we could have gone to the movie and actually bought popcorn."This question comes from Paula at His Ways Are Not Our Ways.
I am afraid that I am a practical gal when it comes to gifts. Some of my favorite gifts from GS were a good cutting knife, a nice big skillet, and my new tongs...see practical. I don't even like to get flowers 'cause I think that $50 could be put towards my dream of owning a Cuisinart mixer...shiny and stainless steel with all the attachments...ahhhh...
But somethings are just ridiculous buying a STAR...who is the smart rich guy who thought of this...next someone will try to sell me some swampland in Florida...
9. What's the craziest thing you've ever been doing and texted during it? I only thought of this b/c I was about to try to text during my walking video but I didn't.Paula, you do know that this blog is rated G, right?
I am not really a texter...and quite frankly I know my multi tasking limitations...so its one thing at a time for this gal...
10. "It's not a party unless _______."
I laugh so hard I snort...usually this involves both my brothers, my sister and stories from our childhood.
11. When you're stuck in traffic or a waiting room, what do you do to pass the time? PS: There are no magazines available.
Well I do like to people watch, but I can't let anyone KNOW that I am people watching. So I'll usually pull out my planner or phone and PRETEND to mess around but secretly I am people watching. If I am stuck in my car in traffic I sing...I sing at the top of my lungs like no body's business...I don't do that in the waiting room, however...
12. If you weren't yourself, would you be friends with you?
Well my answers to this Random Dozen are coming across like I am such a diva...
...oh wait I AM such a diva...
anyhoo...I am a very kind, generous, and loving person who would sacrifice anything for anybody almost to a fault. I am a darn good friend.
In summary: dress me in purple, buy me a Cuisinart mixer, sit me on a porch in Iowa (just as long as it's not criss cross applesauce), and you'll know I am havin' a good time by my snort...but most importantly...
...be my friend.
More Later
-A Ro
Our primary and lower school chorus perform before the game.
Some of my seniors who sang the national anthem with the choruses.
My good friend and her daughter
GS and I at the game.
I had a winning football team in high school. When I dated GS in high school he was on the football team and I got to wear his away jersey to all the home games. I was so proud of him and loved being the girlfriend of a football player. Our games were every Friday and I don't think I missed one. Football games were such a big event for my school. Then everyone went to Pizza Hut for pizza and more socializing...it is wonder I learned anything in high school except who was dating who...
My son loves to go to socialize, and this year my daughter did a whole lot of socializing too...I guess she is growing up into a pre-teen.
I am in such trouble...
Again where is that baby who wouldn't sleep...
Oh the good old days!!
A cute munchable pumpkin...
Here are the cast of characters:
box of cake mix
tub of frosting
Wilson's candy melts
Crisco
candy food coloring
lollipop sticks
edible writing pens
There you have it...a cute chocolate edible pumpkin cake pop.
Dip the ghosts into white...let dry...
wasn't he just ADORABLE!!!
You know how much I love Linda over at 2nd Cup of Coffee. She always has these fun memes. This time it is your favorite fall recipe. Now what most of you don't realize is that I LOVE FALL!!! I love the leaves changing, I love the crisp fall weather, I love sweaters, I love jeans, I love hats, I love sweatshirts, I love hearty soups and baking...
...I, however, am an Iowa girl transplanted into California. It is sunny and 90 degrees today and will be this whole week. Not the kind of fall I want or am used to. I can't bring myself to bake or to partake of the hearty soups and stews I long for.
That won't stop me from participating in 2nd cups Fall Into Flavor. In fact my first recipe was one of the first recipes I blogged about when I started this ole thing back in January. It was my dad's recipe for Chili. It is the best thing to have on a cold evening...sitting by the fireplace. I am hopeful that at least once this fall California will have weather that will allow me to pull out the crock pot and cook up some Chili. It makes me think of my late dad and of home.
I hope you like it. Here is the link as I cannot figure out how to cut and paste this recipe into this post...I hope that doesn't break the meme rules somehow...I think Linda will forgive me!!
Grandpa Mike's (Not For Chili Snobs) Chili
More later
-A Ro
OK maybe I didn't get "attacked" per say...maybe the animal just ran through my backyard while I was jumping rope at 4:30 am...AND maybe it wasn't a large unknown animal...maybe just a large cat...AND maybe the locals were only terrified because of the blood curdling scream that escaped my mouth at 4:30 am. It certainly got the attention of GS and our dog Maggie. However, I did expect the police to show up at our doorstep to make sure that the lady of the house was still alive. You know after that OJ Simpson trial...we all look at our clocks when we hear a dog barking or people screaming...you never know when you will be asked EXACTLY what time some odd thing occurred...OK maybe most people equates to ME, but darn it I am ready.
Now maybe if I could only be a little less skiddish...
More later
- A Ro