Can't Dodge the Hodgepodge

It's Hodgepodge Wednesday!!!  Head on over to Joyce's and get the questions, answer them on your blog, and then link up.  Then check out everyone elses's answers and get to know them a little better.

Here is a peek into my head this week:

1. What is something that bothers you if it is not done perfectly?

Oh Nelly...Rich is laughing at this question right now.  I don't think I am bitchy about wanting things a certain way I just do it myself if it isn't done a certain way (hopefully he would agree).  I need my tupperware cabinet to be organized a certain way.  Things in the refridgerator and freezer have a certain spot and they need to be put there.  The dishwasher needs to be loaded in a certain way.

So I guess the answer to this question is just a yes.

2. What is one of your best childhood memories?
Anything involving my grandparents.  Being at their house and doing things with them from playing Bingo to eating popcorn in the driveway on summer evenings.  In general I had a pretty good childhood...with the exception of having crooked glasses on in every single picture.

3. Do you plan to watch the Royal Wedding and when was the last time you wore a hat?
This Royal Wedding coverage is driving me nuts as well as the fact that you could feed a small nation or pay the salaries of a school district for a very long time with the amount they are spending for a one day event.  The last time I wore a hat would be a baseball hat on a sunny day run.  Hats that need to be fitted like (and cost as much) as an entire outfit can stay off of my unworthy head.

4. Where do you fall in the birth order in your family? Do you think this has influenced your personality?
I am the oldest and I am most definately the oldest.  I married an oldest too but I think I act more like the oldest than he does.  So it all works out.  A perfectionist who doesn't like surprises pretty much describes me to a tee. (See #1)

5. Where do you think you spend most of your money?
At the moment the only thing that co mes to mind is TAXES!!!  We live in California so housing is right up there.  But if I had to say one thing that is a luxery it would have to be going out to eat...which we are currently trying to cut back on, however, we are a busy family with lots going on so sometimes it is necessary.  That being said keep in mind I love to cook and am pretty good at it.

6. When you need to confront someone would you rather communicate in person, on the phone, by email or by letter? Why?
I do better when I can organize my thoughts and be articulate so an email is usually the way I go.  I do realize that somethings are better said face to face, but I tend to ramble and I also cry easily so I need to really have my ducks in a row before I confront someone in person.

7. Dodge ball, freeze tag, kickball or jump rope? You have to pick one.
Kickball all the way...I love a competitive sport and a team sport.  I have never been good at dodge ball or freeze tag and in fact the stress level rises in me when I have had to play those types of sports, I just feel that everyone is out to get me and I feel very vulerable and un protected. 


8.  In Summary:
It really all boils down to being lucky I found Rich.  He complements (and compliments) me perfectly.  I am crazy obsessive he is easy going and relaxed.  He is a big part of memories from my youth.  We both could care less about the Royal Wedding and in fact our wedding was SO simple and beautiful without all the expense.  He accepts and helps me work through my perfectionist attitude and knows to lay off on April 1st.  We both agree on money matters and he has no problems with confrontation.  As far as dodge ball, freeze tag, kickball or jump rope I would be happy if he had my back in any of those activities.

More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 17

I don't need to be reminded that I have missed week 15 and week 16.  I have the pictures I just don't have the stamina to post them at the moment.

I will.

Someday.

Maybe.

However, here is this past week.  We had a great week without so much afterschool activity...phew.  I got to see a little more of my hubby...thank goodness, and I was a lot less stressed...amen.

Sunday April 17:

Yep That's Me

Did I mention in the midst of my crazy week I ran a 10K?  Well I did.  It was a nice day for a run and I finished in 1:09.  Slower than my first race but faster than my last one.  I didn't run at all the week prior (at school until super dark o'clock)...so I was happy that I finished and in a pretty good time.  Up next a half marathon in October if I can just keep my left pinkie toe from falling apart on all my long runs.  Any pediotrists read my blog??

Monday April 18:

Pretty!!

I finally got my flowers that I got from one of the Narrators in Joseph put into a vase today.  They are so beautiful.  I just get sad when they die...but right now they are a bright addition to my kitchen..

Tuesday April 19:

Drop Tuck and Hold

We had an earthquake drill and my students Katharine and Sara were chatting with me in my room as the alarm went off.  My room isn't equipped with anything too heavy to hide under so the chairs will have to do.

Wednesday April 20:

FORE!!

I feel like I have to duck and cover each time I watch a 5th grade volleyball game.  Let's just say that they aren't as accurate as they will be and they sometimes don't know their own strength.  Still I love watching my girl do just about anything so I was happy.

Thursday April 21:

A Performance

Bella's Lower School Chorus performed today at the Earth Day assembly.  My girl is in the front row second from the right.  They sang Big Yellow Taxi and sounded wonderful.

Friday April 22:

Boredom

This is what Bella does when she is bored.  She paints beautiful pictures. 

Saturday April 23:

Heaven Help Me

There are so many things that upset me about this pictures.  All fail in comparison to the fact that my little boy is growing up right before my eyes.  All in all he is a pretty good driver for only being behind the wheel a couple of times.  Maybe he'll be like me.  I have only been in one accident and it wasn't my fault, and have only received one ticket in my entire life and it wasn't even speeding, it was for pulling into a turn lane too soon.  Yeah lame I know.

 

In Summary:

 

Oh, Lord I am feeling old this week.  Creaky bones from my 10K, my son is driving, and my daughter is growing up too.  I guess I could look at it as me being young...right???  I am still able to run a 10K, teach my son to drive, and enjoy every bit of my daughters talent.  Yeah...that's how I am going to look at it too!!

More Later

- A Ro

Happy Birthday Stacia

Today is Easter, and when I usually post my Project 365 (which I will post later today), but most importantly it is my sister-in-law Stacia's birthday.

In honor of her birthday I have written an acrostic poem.

Stacia, my sister-in-law, is a really great friend

The way she is loved by those around her knows no end

Although she is known to have some fun

Caring for these two is her favorite thing to do under the sun

I know for a fact her family loves her so

And I don't care what all the signs say, she isn't a...well you know  


Happy Birthday Stacia!!!  We love you!!!

More Later

- A Ro 

Hoppin' on into the Hodgepodge

Wow...I feel like I haven't done this meme for...oh say, three weeks.  Yeah that is about right.  Well I am back and I am sure my compelling answers will be worth the wait.

or not...

1. What are your plans for Easter Day/weekend?

I have nothing big planned at all.  The usual Easter basket scavenger hunt and maybe I'll cook a ham...maybe.  We just started going to a new church so I think we might pass on this Easter service.  Not sure I want to deal with the new craziness of Easter Sunday.

see...we are off to a rip roaring start huh?

2. Besides Jesus, what one person from The Bible would you most like to meet and why?

I would like to meet Job and hug his neck...and ask him just how he went through all that.  Sometimes I need a little perspective.

3. What is one modern day convenience you didn't have as a child that was easy to live without?

Totally the cell phone.  I cannot believe how attached I am to that little device.  If I forget it at home I will actually go back for it.  That and that new fangled thing called the internet.

4. Are you more right brained or left brained? If you don't know what that means there is an interesting little quiz here. 
Well being a musician puts me in the right brained category, but I am a very organized and meticulous person which is conducive to left brained people.  I am going to have to go with right brained.

5. What is something you intended to do today but didn't? Why?

Upload my pictures from the past two weeks of Project 365.  Why didn't I do it?? hmmmm too right brained??

6. Cadbury Creme Eggs or Reeses peanut butter?

Reeses peanut butter all the way baby!!

7. Who was your favorite cartoon character when you were a child?

I was a big Scooby Doo fan...rooby rooby roo!!  As an adult I love a good mystery/who done it so that cartoon was right up my ally...instead

8. In Summary:
My summary will be fashioned after a scene in the movie "The Jerk"..."All I need is my cell phone, the internet, Reeses Peanut Butter cups...that's all I need...and some anti procrastionation pills, and 8 more hours in the day"

More Later

- A Ro

She's Back

I am trying not to feel bad about my blog absence...but I am very much a pleaser person so if I feel I have let anyone down at all I feel bad.  Not that I have grandiose beliefs that someone's day is runied because he/she can't go to my blog and read about the mundane that is my world, but when I don't blog it usually means I haven't read any blogs either and well that might make some of you think that I just don't care anymore, which is far from true.  I do care, but I not as much as sleeping and showering. 

This past week has been filled to the brim with my High School production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.  That translates to me being here at school last Monday - Thursday until 9:00 pm, Friday until 10:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday performances that just took over my weekend.  But don't worry I had help as they have a stepdad (who happened to be stuck working nights most of the week) and a father (who was out of town from Wednesday on.)

Oh wait...that means I didn't have much help. 

Thankfully, Andrew played cello and bass in the show so it was just Bella having to sit through most of the rehearsals.  However, she was ready to go if someone was sick, and was quick to point out when a lighting cue was missed or a prop was not placed in the right location.

This does not even go into the the baseball games, volleyball games, and after show get togethers.  I would have loved nothing more to have jumped into bed each night after the performances but alas my son cannot yet drive so I was mama -taxi when I should have mama-in-bed.  Nothing says relaxing like sitting in a booth at Johnny Rockets while my son and most of my students suck down shakes, eat burgers, sing show tunes, and tick off the employees.  Yeah...fun.

So while I am asking for forgiveness, not lamenting the two followers I have lost, and trying to play catch up with my life I will still be thankful that I have a job I love, wonderful kids, a supportive generous husband, and only 8 more weeks of school

More Later

- A Ro

Oh My Goodness Does Time Fly By

It is Thursday as I type this.  I have only one day left of my spring break.  Then the normal weekend.  I have enjoyed my spring break but am very happy to get back to routine...I think.  The week I get back we are teching our high school musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat so normal routine may have to take a back seat to long days and evenings of rehearsals.  I am also running a 10K that weekend too...what am I crazy???

Again, don't answer that...

Tomorrow Bella and I are headed to our friends house to make cake pops.  We are going to make puppy pops and I can't wait.  I love Marian and her family and we are going to have so much fun.

In remembering my spring break I would like to list some of the things we have done.  This is to remind myself that I didn't spend my entire two weeks lounging around in my yoga pants watching Tivo'd Phineas and Ferb episodes.

1.  I give entirely too much of my money to Uncle Sam so that he can pay lawmakers a lot of money to shut down the government so that my husband can take a non paid vacation...well at least if he isn't getting paid Uncle Sam doesn't get any of his money.  Sounds like a vicious circle to me, but I do know that it is much more complicated than Donald Trump makes it out to be.

2.  I should have been a CPA.  They really clean up this time of year.

3.  I am glad that I am NOT a CPA because most of the time they have to deliver bad news.

4.  I read two books during my spring break.  Technically the first one I finished before spring break even started.


The second one I finished yesterday.



I would recommend the first one over the second one, but both served their purpose of keeping me up at night trying to finish them.

5.  Taking a road trip with Bella to Palm Springs to watch Andrew play baseball means a few things: a)  I have to drive the entire way by myself  b) I get to spend quality time in the car with my girl listening to only songs WE want to hear.  This includes many Glee songs, a couple of Veggie Tale favorites, and a few Phineas and Ferb songs too.  c) I have to spend a few days away from my husband, this is rough as we are still technically newlyweds, this means a lot of I miss you texts.  d) I get to watch my son play baseball although he is on a very good team so this means he doesn't play all the time in fact I asked Bella what position he was playing as I couldn't see him on the field to which she responded "He is playing left bench".

yeah she's a hoot

6.  I have big dreams of catching up on my scrapbooks, blogging everyday, reading all the blogs I have been neglecting, running 3 miles everyday, and cooking spectacular dinners every night.  Did I mention we had Phineas and Ferb episodes Tivo'd???  I kid.  I did a few pages on our scrapbooks, I blogged once or twice, read a few blogs, ran almost everyday, and did cook a fish dish that Rich is still talking about.  Moderation is the key to life.

7.  I managed to infect my work laptop with some sort of virus within the first 4 days of being home.  The walk of shame to the IT department on Monday morning will not be a fun one.  Hopefully it won't turn into an episode of Nick Burns Company Computer Guy



Here is to about 9 more weeks of school and being blessed with a job that allows me to lounge around in my yoga pants every now and then.


More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 14

Well it has been a wonderful first week of Spring Break at the A-Ro household.  It has gone by so fast, but I have enjoyed every dull normal minute.

Here is a peek:

Sunday March 27:

Lazy Maggie

So this is what she does all day when I am at work...such a lazy doggie.

Monday March 28:

Perry the Platupus

Bella worked on her Benderoos and made her favorite Phineas and Ferb character Perry (and quite frankly mine too).  He turned out so good!!

Tuesday March 29:

Winner Winner

I FINALLY sent off my little giveaway to the host of this here Project, Sara.  I hope she enjoys it.

Wednesday March 30:

They're Back

Bella had to have some Peeps today.  I am not really a fan, however, I do like them when they are a little stale and crunchy...am I wierd??  (Don't answer that)

Thursday March 31:

I Know It's Sideways

I couldn't get this picture to load correctly...odd.  Bella and I made cupcakes from scratch today.  I love to bake and decorate and she is such the artist.  The cupcakes are vanilla the icing is buttercream and the decorations are made out of fondant.  Such fun!!

Friday April 1:

Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be...Drivers

Andrew got his permit today and his Dad let him drive around the neighborhood.  Lord help me this is not an April Fools Joke.

Saturday April 2:

3 Down 3 To Go

I finished my third strip in my blanket today.  It is starting to look like a blanket!!  Lots of baseball and basketball on TV today so I got quite a bit done!!

In Summary:  Did I mention how much I like Spring Break??  I get to bake with my girl, play with my doggie, get errands done, and knit!!  Not to mention watching my boy grow up right before my eyes.  Well this week was ALMOST perfect.

More Later

- A Ro