Some kids would be left behind.

No Child Left Behind is just continuing to plague our country in so many negative ways.

Buried in the 670 pages of the federal No Child Left Behind law was a requirement that high schools provide lists of students’ names, telephone numbers and addresses to military recruiters.

Students can get off the list if they or their parents notify the school district in writing that they want to opt out.

But there’s a catch. Those who opt off the list find themselves also excluded from the lists provided to college and job recruiters. And opting out also means a student’s name cannot be published in yearbooks, honor rolls or newspapers....Lawrence Journal World, Oct. 26, 2006

As my children get older, I hope to educate them about how government effects them. So far, I have started out by talking to them about things we see on the news. We discuss wars, immigration, health care, gay rights, and other topics that come up often. This is one subject that I will bring up to them, as it will directly affect them when they get in high school. I think all parents should openly discuss issues with their kids and involve them in their world. I hope it cultivates an interest for them. I don't try to persuade them to think like me, I just want them to think, period.

Ain't nothin' like the real thing baby. Ain't nothin' like the real thing!

HowManyOfMe.com

There are: 142 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

Just in case I ever get engaged.

This is the ring that I want. A three-stone, princess-cut, white gold ring. I wouldn't mind baguettes around it on the same band, but if not that, a ring enhancer with little diamonds in it. This is totally not meaning ANYTHING! I just saw an ad for jewelry and I started looking at them. I am a girl, give me a break! LOL

Testing out my Halloween costume.

She would kill me.
Originally uploaded by Normalcy Overrated.

I think this costume would be called Tired Mother. Which is exactly what I have been ever since Friday night.

Saturday, Beau and I went out to Riverside Park and we rode his four-wheeler around. More like he did, because after I took it around once I was all tuckered out. The sickness had gotten ahold of me. I instead took videos of Beau doing small jumps and peeling out. I love taking photos so this suited me just fine. It was a really wonderful day (other than the sneezing, itching, and general shittiness internally).

After resting both Sunday and Monday, I am now back to work. With plenty of Halls and Mint Medley tea, I am able to get some stuff done thank god.

What really sucks when you are a mother and you are sick, is that generally, noone seems to care about cleaning the house quite as much as you. Noone does the dishes or cleans the catbox. Ok, so the kids did their chores, thats good, and the boyfriend made dinner, that good too! However, they let the mound of dishes grow and grow until there is not one fork or spoon left clean. I saw this happen for years and years with my mother, and I now know exactly how she felt. I love you mom. Every year and every experience I have as a tired mother shows me what a true survivor you are. After 5 kids and your husband, I to this day find you to be my hero.

If I just lay here, would you lie with me and, just forget the words.

I have heard that song (Snow Patrol - Chasing Cars)everyday as I am driving to work for the past three days. I think it should have been the theme to the first episode of Grey's Anatomy this season when Lizzy just laid on the floor after her heart transplant fiance died.

Today is my best friend Sheila's daughter Sam's 13th birthday. 13 on the 13th! Its her special birthday as my kids would say. Mine was when I was 11, and my girls was on their 4th birthdays. Happy Birthday Samantha!!!! Sam was born 3 weeks before my girls were. Her mom and I used to lay on a bed together and watch them all kick around in our bellys. We would laugh and say that they were friends from the very start. When they were babies, we would line them up on a blanket with Sam in the middle and they would all kick and play (cry and scream). Those girls are still friends to this day. I hope that next year I will have money so that we can go visit them in Colorado. Check out my friends salon if you are in the Colorado Springs area, tell her Kristine sent you (not that it would guarantee a discount or anything, haha): Serenity Springs Salon and Spa

This weekend I don't really have plans. I hope to get some hours and tips at the diner. Some tips worthy of putting in the bank would be even more awesome. It seems that lately I don't really have plans for the weekend, I just move spontaneously through the days, deciding what to do as I go. Sometimes I almost prefer that. It caters to that noncommital side of me. Sometimes I am hard on myself, that because I prefer to just hang out and relax, that I am some kind of loser. Lately, I have let up on myself a little. I just am what I am and have let go of the expectations I put upon myself. I have actually got more done lately and kept my house so much cleaner.

Rounds for everyone! On the house! Have a great weekend!

UPDATE: Looks like the kids and I are heading to Colorado to surprise her tomorrow! Lots of driving (well, I am riding with her mom), but I haven't been there for quite a while. It will be nice to see my friend too!

UPDATE 2:I guess we aren't going. My friends mom doesn't want to "take the responsibility". I don't quite understand that. She will drive her grandkids back and forth, but can't take an adult and that adult's 2 kids. Does she plan on drinking before she leaves? Does she plan on wrecking? Whatever, its her car, her decision. I am just sad for Sam. I know that she would have been really excited to see the girls. We are just going to call her tonight.

The wierd, wacky, and probably just plain normalness in me.

When I am tired:
My right eyelid droops more than my left.

When I sleep:
I don't like facing the wall or someone's face.

Walking down the street:
I will avoid walking on grates in the sidewalk.

Clothing:
I hate belts.

Bathrooms:
I always try to use the exact same stall in each restroom I use, every time.

Brain:
Sometimes I actually don't think of anything at all. My mind is completely clear. I wonder if that's normal?

Body:
I want to update my tattoo and make it bigger.

Dreams:
When I dream of myself in my 50s and 60s, I don't know if I am married, but I do know I have a modest but nice house with a view, not in Kansas, where I go out every morning with a cup of coffee and the newspaper onto my deck and enjoy the morning sun. I feel calm and happy.

Personality:
Ever-changing. There are some things about me that are constant (attitude, heart), but the rest me ebbs and flows (interests, hobbies).

What I am best at:
Procrastinating.
Figuring things out.

Passions:
Solving problems.
Designing and planning.

Ok, I am back.

Whew, that was a long and unannounced break. So much has been going on. The two people in the previous post have since got things straightened out for now, I have been super busy here at work, and I started a part-time job.

I am waitressing at Slow Bob's Diner and spent Tuesday and Wednesday nights training. As soon as I get off work here, I jet out to the parking lot, hop in the car, drive all the way home with takes 25-30 minutes, change clothes, use the bathroom, grab a snack and head out the door. The diner is only about 3 blocks from my house, so the drive home is awesome at night. So far I have made about $30 in tips. Not to bad for my first 2 nights.

When I get home, around 9pm, I am pooped. Not just the normal pooped, but too pooped to eat, too pooped to clean, and almost too pooped to sleep. My B rubbed my sore, unaccustomed to standing, feet last night. I didn't even ask him, he just started doing it. He is so wonderful.

Today, I head off to the gym after work, but really, I just want to go home and relax. ON MY BUTT.