Geocaching

3 People

(Catarina, me, and Mr. Chad)

3 Places

(roadside, church, Asphalt Jungle)

No Booty!

(0, zero, nothing)

Still it was amazing and fun just running around together.

We can't wait to do it again!

CBB

where is my energy?

You may have noticed my blog has fallen a little behind. I have no excuse other than I am just, plain tired! I think it is Doctor time. I am a cancer survivor--thyroid, bur rarely do I think twice about it. It was 8 years ago and I seem fine...most of the time. If it wasn't for the blood work required for my meds every 6 months, I would NEVER think about it.

Over the past few weeks though, I am REALLY feeling the strain of life. I am tired, and I mean NO ENERGY...zero...zilch...nada. I am pushing to get through the day. I have gained about 10 pounds in the last month and working out is nonexistent.

I need to be pro-active, but I don't have the energy for that either...gotta get my mojo back and get to gettin'. Any suggestions? I sure need them right now.

CBB

Dairy Queen

I loathe you...I love you...I loathe you...I love you...I loathe you...I love you...aarrrggghhh. Today, I love you. I'm talkin' to you Dairy Queen.

Coming home from Ms.E's riding with the entertainment known as, Claudia--like all greats, one name will suffice. We stop at DQ and she is singin' in the drive-thru, "California Gurls"...crackin' me up. There is something beyond funny hearing the words, "The boys break their necks...try'na get a little sneak peek (at us)", coming from an 11 year old's mouth!...LOL.

We like to stop for an ice cream cone every evening. (I could do without the calories, but I love this time with her.) I get dipped; she gets plain, but we both look for the swirl at the top.

Ahead, someone drops their change. "Let's get it," she says and we start imagining the value of what has fallen from the window and landed on the ground...she is probably thinkin', "I hope it is $100--that would go a long way on my iPod touch." I think, "man, do I really want to tell her it's probably 2 dimes and a quarter."

We get to the window and one of my former students/girl scouts is working. She is a sweet girl and I am happy to see her. We all start talking about the swirl, and the chocolate dip, and then another girl comes and joins the conversation and, lucky for us, no one is behind us in the drive-thru, that the conversation continues...until we are all laughing. And what is better than laughter and ice cream cones? NOTHING!

As we are driving, Claudia says, "2 things I love about Dairy Queen ice cream--the swirl on top and the top of the cone." I grin and concur, all the while thinking about the 2 things I love...her and her big sister, I almost cry but decide not to and just enjoy the moment.


Whether I love you or loathe you...Thank you, Dairy Queen for this time.
CBB

Hello 5th/6th Graders!

This coming school year I will be teaching 5th and 6th grade Math (at the school I attended from K-7th grade, how cool is that?). I have never taught students this young, but am very excited about doing it. I, actually, think students at this age level are PROBABLY more trainable, and apt to learn than their middle school counterparts.

The great thing about this new school year is the school that I am working at has adapted a new curriculum, Math in Focus/Singapore math. I was not familiar with this type of instruction, but am not too worried about it since none of the staff has taught it either.

So...when we had our first training, I was a bit nervous until they brought out the "hands on" materials. It was awesome! I can not wait to get this "stuff" into my kids' hands. They are going to LOVE Mrs. Boyd's math class and our scores are going to be out of this world...or at least much better than the past few years--that's my goal anyway!

Now, I just have to wait to get into my classroom to create an environment that puts Math in a positive light and shows everyone how important the fundamentals taught in the 5th/6th grade will be for their academic future.

Mrs. B

Happy Anniversary Pt. II

Just looking at wedding pictures tonight and found this one that I had forgotten about...and love so much. Wanted to share it with my readers. I hope wherever you are...you feel as loved as I do.


Christy

Happy Anniversay

My husband sent this to me with a note that said, "I love you. Happy Anniversary!" The reason I love it so much is because there are 4 otters. Four is my favorite number and there are 4 of us...which is one of the reasons it is my favorite number...LOL.

The other reason is because I know he wants me to join his zoo on Facebook and this is a subtle hint...nice try, honey. I love you, too and Happy 2nd Anniversary, but I am still not joining your FB zoo.

Mrs.B (for 2 wonderful years now!)

Father's Day

A little shout-out to the man of my dreams.

Thanks for marrying a Pillsbury (already made) family and adding your own flavor to it. It's nice to know that you do the things you do because you "choose" to not because you're obligated to by law...LOL.

The girls and I love you and are glad that you are a part of our lives...and glad that you are one "helluva" scientist.

We LOVE you, Mr. Chad.

(I love you, Honey.)

Trampoline--Redneck style.

There is a picture out there.

I promise it does exist.

We, the people, involved, pray that no one ever sees it...so I will give you a VERY quick mental picture.

Mr. Chad, V, Ty, Ethan, me, Catarina, Claudia, and Jordan-as supervisor/cameraman, carried a trampoline from V's house to my house...not very far, but very funny. We looked like a group of rag-muffin gypsies. It was a great family moment...all of us walking along with the trampoline there with us. Good times. Good times.

It also goes to show that sometimes, you don't need a photo to capture the moment b/c you know it will stay in your mind forever and when you need a laugh or a smile...you can pull out that memory and laugh...this was one of those times.

I love spending time with my family.

CBB

Webby Awards/Speeches--5 Words

Best Award Show Speeches-EVER!

You must see to believe!

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheWebbyAwards

Grandmother's Wisdom

I have loved all the traveling over the last few weeks, but there is "nothin' like sleepin' in your own bed!" My Granny would say that all the time and I would be like "that's crazy". I would always go on about sleeping in hotel beds and clean sheets everyday...turns out the older you get and the more investigative reporting 20/20 does...she could have been on to something.

There is NOTHING like sleeping in my own bed, the bed that I share with the love of my life, the bed that holds the other 2 loves of my life when they want to watch movies, Jeopardy, or The Soup....LOL. The place that holds me when I'm sick or is there for me to cry in when I have had "one of those days".

Who knew that 20 years later, and God rest her soul, when she's not around for me to tell her...she was right about the bed thing...and so much more. (I miss you Granny, you were the best mom ever.)

Today is a good day...and I'm wiser.
CBB

capchta words

Just a quick note on captcha words...you know, the words that you have to type in so the computer doesn't think you're just another computer? Yeah, figure that one out!

Well, if you follow a blog, at least I know here on blogger (and you know you follow this one...LOL) before you can leave a comment you have to type in the captcha word. I'm OK with that, but lately I have come across some weird ones, maybe not weird, but they're "almost" words...so I decided to do a little research.

Turns out captcha words are the brain child of a nerd herd at Carnegie Mellon and were invented around the year 2000. The word captcha comes from the word capture and has a neat little acronym to go with it, too. (Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart.) You can read more about it on the wiki page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CAPTCHA

Well, there you go! I hope I just enlightened you today because I love days when I learn something new. Now, to leave a message...LOL...you know what you have to do.

Mrs. B

DC

Washington, DC...a wonderful place to visit...so humbling! The family loved it. Can't wait to go back and do it all again! Check some of these sites out, even if it is only on the web~!

http://www.nps.gov/ (the best site for all of the monuments)
http://thewall-usa.com/
http://www.wwiimemorial.com/
http://washington.org/


Enjoy your visit!
CBB

They grow up!

We're driving home and she calls. She is talking very low. She is heartbroken and I can tell. She doesn't say anything, but I think she wants to come home.

I ask how she likes the academy and she tells me it's fine... she is fine...but that she doesn't want to let her peers down...she doesn't want to fail. I hold back my tears and remind her how smart, beautiful, and courageous she is. I pray between each word I speak to her.

If there is a child in this world that feels the weight of the world rests on their shoulders, it's Catarina. She has been this way her whole life.

She is all the good that Charles and I had combined into one. A soul like no other...I don't think this child could fail if she tried, but that being said, she is still a child--my child...and all I can do now is pray. Pray that she is happy and healthy and this is an experience that will alter her life for the better. God bless her and keep her this week.

--"Can we pretend that airplanes in the night sky are like shooting stars...I could really use a wish right now, a wish right now, a wish right now." B.o.B.

Unclaimed Baggage

http://www.unclaimedbaggage.com/

OK, so maybe I had seen the "special" on this place...on one of those travel channels, but it was stored in my back in my brain somewhere under or close to the Wizard of Oz.

However, when picking up the girls, Aunt Peggy (Mrs. Trish's Aunt that brought the girls to AL from LA) said something like, "well, there's this place in Scottsboro,"...Uh, WHAT!? A place where all the unclaimed baggage in the world goes?...and you can buy it?...is this a dream?

The girls and I stopped, thinking a 30 minute break was needed before the long drive...3 hours later we came out with tons of memories and laughs, lots of crap that we didn't need, and a John Mayer cd. It was so much fun.

If you are ever in this area, I recommend you visit this place...it's like a Disney World Goodwill. They had Christian Louboutin shoes...and I'm not talking "replicas". The girls and I have decided (see our photo), "Lady Gaga we know where you shop!"



CBB