The 25th Hour ~karenjcardoza.com~

So, while I’m still sad about the Patriots loss, I’m getting over it and moving on. I’m sure these kids are thrilled but I must say , it pains me to see it!

Patriot Nation is reeling this week but not because of living in the past, rather, over the 10% - 51% ticket price increase for the upcoming season. Folks are feeling that WE are paying for those fines incurred as the result of Spygate. Speaking of which, someone on the Rams filed a 100 million dollar lawsuit against the Pats for taping their Superbowl 36 walk through. Sigh… I so hate drama and unfortunately I think there will be more before it finally gets put to bed.

On a happier note, I’m now on February vacation and will be out of school all next week. And while I’m not going away or doing anything fun, I’m glad to be home. I’ve got lots to do and NEED this week to get them done. So here’s the game plan:

• Catch up on Alternate Assessment portfolios for my students. (This is the biggie.)
• Go back to square one and diligently housebreak Chloe and get rid of the pee pads now that she’s older and the weather is warming up. (I’ll be washing all of my floors then going strictly by the book in terms of taking her out then not letting her roam free to play with Bella unless she’s just gone. It’s hard for me to keep her crated when I’m home but I’ll have to do it for the week so that she doesn’t have any accidents.
• Drive my son back and forth to daily wrestling practice.
• Get lesson plans done for 2 weeks and set up outline for the rest of March.
• Exercise daily.
• Read a book or two. (Currently reading The Freedom Writers Diary by Erin Gruwell. I saw the movie and loved it so I’m enjoying reading the book which is a collection of the actual kids’ essays.) And Fluff reading: The 6th Target by James Patterson. I’ve got a stack of mags that I’d like to whittle away too.)
• If I didn’t have so much school stuff to do, I would love to paint my bathroom but it will likely have to wait unti April vacation.
• Of course, the usual weekly chores, errands, and stuff needs to get done as well.

So, while “a whole week off” sounds like a long time, it really isn’t and will fly by. I definitely have no choice about getting the Alternate Assessment done so I’ll be jumping right in and unplugging to get it done as it’s priority #1.

Wish me luck!!

Just an FYI if you happened over to Patriotworld.com, I’m having a Frontpage error problem so I can’t get in to fix the border issue. I’m waiting for my host to locate the missing file which will allow my FP Extensions to work and let me fix it. (Sorry, if you’ve been trying to access it this weekend.)

I’m sooo thankful that I decided to take a breather from getting involved with the Superbowl re-hash conversations. I don’t have the time or energy to invest in all of the negative talk going on right now on message boards and email lists. I’ll be back when the talks turn to the 2008 season prep. I’m not into beating the dead horse.

Last night, we took a bus trip to Foxwoods and had a good time with friends MJ & Louie. Can’t beat the price on a trip like that. $30 gets you the transportation plus tickets for the $19 buffet, and $20 in Keno cards. We’re not big gamblers so it was a cheap night out for us, especially since I hit $160 on Keno when I checked my tickets on the way out the door. It more than made up for what we put in the machines and our drink at the Hard Rock Cafe.

This is how I spent my birthday morning… looks like torture doesn’t it?!

Some quickies for today:

• I’m probable on this week’s injury report and have been cleared to return to work next Wednesday! Yippee!!
• I posted a mini-podcast this morning as the Pats continue on their Path to Perfection.
• Chloe is home and is adorable (despite rank puppy breath!) and she and Bella have turned this place into a Puppy Wrestling Ring! There’s been lots of rough housing as they sort out just who’s going to be the top dog around here (after me of course!) Despite Bella’s size and age, Chloe’s tenacity and determination just may win her that top spot.
• I’m getting ready to flip Chloe over since she’s got the day and night thing mixed up like many newborns do …. She’s up crying all night and I haven’t slept a wink.
• Don’t forget to don your PEAvatars today for Frozen Pea Friday #2 and if you have yet to donate and want to make a last minute 2007 tax deduction, today is the perfect day!
• Heading out to get my hair done and it’ll be the first time that I venture out and drive since that fateful fall on November 26th.

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Sisters

Mobile post sent by mrsb using Utterz. Replies. mp3

About 15 years ago, my husband and I made a decision regarding how we wanted to spend our Christmas holiday. I had two toddlers and he was working 3rd shift at the time and Christmas Day was a rushed, stressful time for us. So, we declared that Christmas Day would be a family day and we would remain at home. We respectfully declined all invitations from family and friends and reassured them that it wasn’t that we didn’t love them or appreciate their offer but we would be staying home for a low key day. (We see Al’s family on Christmas Eve and my family on a Saturday near Christmas to exchange gifts so staying home doesn’t mean that we don’t get together at all, just not on Christmas day too.)

No longer did we have to drag our kids away from their newly opened loot, dress them up in Holiday-wear and put up with the sounds of cranky, over-tired kids. Our Christmas mornings are now leisurely affairs often involving lots of coffee and lounging in flannels all day. It’s Heavenly!! Now that the kids are older, a little has changed but not much. Instead of getting up early to play with toys, they stay up late, then sleep the morning away, getting up in time for the ham dinner that I prepare. I still get up pretty early but lounge with a book or online enjoying the early morning peace and quiet.

This year, we’ve added 2 little girls to the crew.. Bella, who joined our family in June and just today, Chloe, who is snuggled up and snoozing right beside me. Once again, I’ve got lots to be thankful for and I’m so glad to have spent the day doing things that make me happy.

I’ve been keeping up with my updates via Utterz, which has been a godsend for me. (You can listen in to previous posts below or on the site.)

I did make a major milestone today in which I was actually able to make dinner with Kelsea’s help and had enough attention span and energy to make it through most of my email inbox without having to stop for a nap tonight.

Website updates and podcasts are still on hold as sitting the other computer is still out of the question. I’m (generally) comfortable sitting up on the couch so I have been keeping up with the latest happenings on new start up Seesmic and have enjoyed the video conversations happening there. So, apparently, has Bella!!

Incidentally, Bella has been a good girl during my recovery and her little sister, Chloe is growing fast!

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Got the mojo-making Buffalo Chili going today in anticipation of the Pats/Bills game set to kick off in 1/2 hour. It was a busy week and the next will be one as well.

Tomorrow is Parent/ Teacher conferences at school, Tuesday, our class is making our Thanksgiving Dinner (yes… complete turkey dinner with all the trimmings!), Wednesday will mean shopping, cleaning, and prepping for my own Thanksgiving feast here on Thursday.

Things are really going well here (it’s amazing what a bye week can do for you) and I’ve got lots to be thankful for. (Lets keep it going with another Pats win tonight, please

Incidentally, Bella’s baby sister, Chloe has entered the world and is due to arrive home for Christmas. ahhhhh… puppy love