So one of my second grade classes found out I'm having surgery. I've really played it up as very minor, and that the best part is I get to stay home and be lazy for two weeks! In response to this, one boy offered ever so sincerely, "Do you want to borrow my Wii while you're sick, Mrs. Fuzzy?" I melted, bigtime. Awwww! Of course, I declined, and assured him we did indeed already have a Wii. To which another little boy piped up, "You can borrow my Playstation, then!"

Kids are awesome. :)

Or something like that. I'm not sure what it'll sound like, and thankfully, I won't be awake to hear it. Yes, folks, I am officially going to be the proud recipient of a hysterectomy! But wait! That's not all! For just...Oh, wait. Yeah, that's all. ;) Come November, I get to go in and let them root around a bit and remove my fibroid-infused baby-making bits which I do not need, leaving the bits that actually are currently helpful. I should be down and out for about two weeks, then back to normal. I'm not terribly sure how I feel about it. I suspect some of my current lightheartedness is whistling in the dark, and that further less fun-happy emotions are in store, but I'll let it all happen as it does. The doctor today was utterly spectacular, and spent at least a full 1/2 hour discussing options and implications with me. Thankfully, at my age, childbearing is no longer a big deal, and she didn't even try to suggest I might change my mind. Plus she'll be doing the surgery herself, which is also comforting.

In happier news, I am now officially a member of the Austin Civic Chorus! I start singing with them next Monday night! WOOT!

I just realized that I have not seen a single firefly all summer long. Has nonstop 100+ degrees every day scared them off?

I miss the fireflies. Little sparks of magic at dusk.

I have found new videos at http://www.youtube.com/user/klusmanp. The man is a professional engineer and cat wrangler, and my ribs now hurt from laughing so much. This -literally- puts the LOL in lolcat, and even has good grammar!

So most everyone knows I do not have children. I do not want children. Yes, I like kids. I wouldn't be a teacher if I didn't. I have a -brilliant- relationship with my own mother, and I love her dearly. I still don't want to be a mother myself, and physically I'm very close to being incapable of it. I am happy in my non-motherhood. I do not feel maternal. Nurturing? Compassionate? Yes. Maternal, no.

I got three mother's day cards today. Three. I appreciate them in the spirit they were given (just because my family loves me...they no longer expect kiddos), but I'm still laughing on the inside with lots of bemused headshaking. Granted, one of them was technically from my cats and dogs. One was a pretty one from my mother just for being her daughter. Another was from my grandmother, who still harbors hopes that I'll "change my mind".

Ironically, I did not get anyone cards. My brother and I cooked dinner for our Mom instead. I made potato salad and bought strawberries and chocolate pudding, and took all that over. My brother grilled steaks. My sister-in-law, who is very pregnant, cut up veggies. We had a wonderful dinner filled with lots of laughter, good food, warmth, hugs, and fun. I will never be able to buy a card that puts that feeling onto simple paper, and frankly I'm -rotten- about remembering to buy cards. So's my brother. We remember to cook and give hugs though, and somehow our family puts up with us. We had three very special mothers there tonight...our mom, our grandmother, and my sister-in-law. I am in awe of them and love them all dearly. I just don't aspire to join their ranks.

Can tomorrow be "Women Choosing Not To Add To The Population Day"? ;)

Why is it that even though I don't particularly like San Antonio, I tend to end up here often? Ah, well, it's not that bad. I just like Austin better. ;)

Anyhow, I'm in my hotel room, which is nice, if a little older than some refurbished hotels. It's quiet, I've found San Antonio's classical music station on the radio, and I found a wireless network for which I do not have to pay. The hotel's wireless, you see, is not free. I was rather less than pleased about that. But then, the pub in the hotel -does- have free wireless. So I check my list, and lo, I can use that one! Yay! Evidently they do not expect the casual hotel guest to be able to figure out the different networks. Shh. If you don't tell, I won't either. ;)

I've got some pretty full days coming up, and the seminars I'm attending look like they'll be awesome. I'll write about them after I go though, just in case. I miss everyone in Austin, particularly my Dean. I'll be home Saturday though!

ETA: Oh. Yeah. I'm here for the Texas Music Educator Association conference. The music teachers of Texas have totally taken over downtown San Antonio. We're a pretty quiet lot, amusingly enough. ;)

So today I was down in Austin getting Dean his belated Christmas present (a .22 pistol, very shiny.) A few blocks away from the store, I passed the Blood Center of Central Texas. Now, I'd been there once a few years ago with tajnyj and donated blood, and had absolutely no problems whatsoever. So I decided I'd pop in, let them drain a pint, and be on my merry way.

Well, close.

( Snipped for blood and gore. Sorta. )

And then I went grocery shopping. ;)

Clearly. Clearly this is a message from on high. I should either find a choir like this in which to sing, or begin one myself. Hmm. Can I conduct adults? Dunno. Never tried.

Complaint Choir of Philadelphia

Because the Swedish Chef, Beaker, and Animal singing Carmen? This is the best. Ever.

We're driving home after a lovely dinner. Stopped at a light beside us is a somewhat elderly pickup, and on the side it read:"

"HORSESHOER
512-###-####"

(Yes, there was a real phone number there. No, I don't remember it.)

Me, peering across and trying to read: Horses...hore. Horses whore?
Dean: *stares at me* Horse-shoer.

Merry Christmas!

This is a photo essay of what became of some of Michael Vick's dogs. Merry Christmas!

Things I’ve Done

A Borrowed Meme Is The Best Meme!

Saw this at Rants By Ronni.

( Below snip, for sake of sanity! )

1.) Why the heck is Palin still the headline on CNN.com? It's creepy!

2.) One of my students today made a joke about Basement Cat. I darn near hurt myself laughing. I then returned a quip about Ceiling Cat. He then cracked up laughing, stunned that a teacher would know LOLcat stuff. All hail LOLcat, spanning generations! ;)

3.) I am sleepy. I am now going to bed. Goodnight, folks!

Four years ago, I posted this after Bush's second election. I don't think I was wrong. We've seen a lot of woefully regressive views come to light. On the other hand, we did survive the four years, and while there's an immense mess left behind, the tools and workers are there ready to get to work.

And so I think to myself today that while the next four (or eight!) years will not be sunshine and roses, they will be steady improvement. You fall into a hole fast. You climb back out slow. Now I feel like we have a ladder, at least.

And my brother did make it home safe. I pray the rest do too.

P.S. Check out in the comments in my old post. tajnyj is precognitive!

I am delighted with the election results, obviously. I feel like even breathing is easier. I cannot wait to hear Obama's speech here in a bit.

I am also impressed with McCain's very gracious concession. The man has class.

But what I am most glad for? Not having Palin shoved in my face anymore. Whew! (I bet McCain's glad to send her packing back to Alaska too.) ;)

Okay, so I'm a lemming. I have eggies!

Dean and I are having an argument. He says that Cheney has been abducted by aliens, and is now part alien. Proof? All the heart problems keep mysteriously getting repaired.

My theory (created with tajnyj) is that Donald Rumsfeld is a time traveler, and has been through so many times that his brain is now fried. Proof? So many of his quotes, while useless political rhetoric, can be repunctuated into absolutely stunning poetry. Really. It's like e.e. cummings with more capital letters.

I say Dean's being ridiculous. He says I'm being silly. Clearly one of us is right.

Many know I am cursed with the semi-constant sinus infection. I'd say it's a pain in the ass, but it's more a pain in the head, to be honest, not to mention it makes me lose my voice semi-regularly. The doctor counsels, "Make sure you don't talk for a few days." I stare at the doctor in amusement, and inform him I am a music teacher. Let's try another angle, shall we? ;) Anyhow, I'm tired of said sinus infections, plus allergies, plus just having a generally crappy upper respiratory system.

( In which I learn to use a nasal irrigator. Clipped for ew-yuck factor. )

And so let us hope that the Great Syringe of Nasal Water Torture continues to be a success. Happy Tuesday!

Dear Friends,

PBS is doing a poll which asks if Palin is qualified to be VP.

The right wing has organized a yes campaign--and the 'yes' is at the moment winning. Take literally 1 minutes or less, go to:

http://www.pbs.org/now/polls/poll-435.html and vote!

Please send this on.