Birthday Event Meme

Stolen from Patrick who stole it from someone else...
Go to Wikipedia, key in your birthday (not the year), and post 3 events, 2 births, and 1 death. So, without further ado on November 10 these events occurred:

Events

• 1969 - National Educational Television (the predecessor to the Public Broadcasting Service) in the United States debuts the children's television program Sesame Street.
• 1775 - American Revolutionary War: The Continental Congress passes a resolution creating the Continental Marines (later renamed the United States Marine Corps) to serve as landing troops for the recently created Continental Navy.
• 1871 - Henry Morton Stanley locates missing explorer and missionary, Dr. David Livingstone in Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika saying "Dr. Livingstone, I presume?"

Births

• 1483 - Martin Luther, German protestant reformer (d. 1546)
• 1925 - Richard Burton, Welsh actor (d. 1984)

Death

• 1549 - Pope Paul III (b. 1468)

Magic of Music

The Showcase of Music overall went pretty well last night. I didn't really mess up or have any issues like I have at times in the past. Last year a key got stuck in the middle and I had to stop playing for a minute or so. I felt kind of out out place though. I think I'm still trying to fit into a place where perhaps I don't belong any more. I hardly know anybody involved there other than a few of the music teachers that are still around. My talent has waned over the years because I play only a couple of times a year. I can't play anything too complex and I don't have to time to really practice much. I really felt like an outsider this year. Perhaps it's time to retire from participating in it and just go as a spectator from now on. It's just that I really miss playing in an ensemble and making music. I guess that's why I have joined the choir at church. Although I still am not a "singer", I love being in a music group again. I guess I can carry a tune of sorts, but I completely lack any kind of confidence when it comes to singing. But I still love it. And I am still able to play my clarinet. I am playing tomorrow at the Palm Sunday Mass and next week on Good Friday. Josh will be playing on Holy Thursday, Easter Vigil and on Easter Sunday.
Sometimes I wonder if I should have stuck it out as a music major. I quit because I didn't want to be a band director and I didn't like the business classes involved in music business. I couldn't think of anything else I could do in relation to music. Somebody asked me once what my dream job would be. I think I would love to be a music librarian. I still have the passion for music and I love being a part of that crowd. Problem is that jobs in that area are few and far between and the pay is minimal. But I still think I would love it.
I am still trying to figure out my path in this life. I think that I am where I am supposed to be right now. And maybe this is truly where I'll be staying. I don't know. I don't have to have all the answers right now. All I know is that I've missed music and I want it to be a part of my life in some way.

I must confess

that my confession went better than I thought. At one point yesterday I felt that I wasn't ready, that I had too much to tell and I was probably forgetting something major. But I finally got to a point where I placed all in God's hands and decided that He would lead me through it. I made a list to take with me. It was shorter than I thought. Some of it I really had to sum up because there is just too many individual things to cover. I feel as though my confession was as thorough as it should have been and that I am truly repentant. I only cried once briefly in the confession itself. It was a relief afterwards, but it really hit in a major way once I got home. I cried more tears of joy, remorse and relief. It was incredible. For the first time in my life I am completely in God's grace. It was a communal reconciliation service so the penance was given before the individual confessions. After my confession, I did my penance (Say the "Our Father" and pray for the parish community) and then visited with my sponsor. She was so wonderful to wait with me and pray for me. Confession is not easy. It takes a great deal of humility to say your sins and deep dark secrets out loud, but the healing that comes afterwards is SO worth it.

Maybe not what the doctor ordered

But I think getting some extra rest was much needed. I slept in until about 9:00 this morning. Of course I woke up intermittently throughout the night and morning, but I feel that I finally am getting caught up on rest. I am starting to feel better, but still not quite back to normal. I am sure that this wonderful wind today isn't helping though. I went to Michael's (the store) today and got some beads that I needed to make some more rosaries. I am hoping for some extra cash soon so I can perhaps get enough to make one for everybody that has been involved in the RCIA class. I also went to the Catholic book store so I could get another crucifix and two centers. I had a very nice conversation with a guy that I guess is one of the owners. He was pleased to learn that I am a convert.
I am still not very confident about my confession tonight. I tried to search my mind for all those things that I felt I really needed to put out there, but I feel as though I am missing many things. Twenty-seven years is a lot to remember.
I have a couple of hours now to practice my showcase music. I also have to make sure my excel worksheet is ready for the cheerleading tryouts. I should clean my house, but maybe this weekend I'll work on it. I have also promised to help my brother's new girlfriend with some graphic design stuff, so that's what I will probably be doing tonight after confession.

Thanks Garth!

For some strange reason I received a large number of hits on my blog today. I check my stats almost daily just so I have an idea of any kind of regular readers I may have. Today the following search words resulted in more than 40 hits to my blog: Garth Brooks Ex Kidnapped. I am sure you might be wondering why such words would bring people to my blog? I guess because I mentioned at one point that Garth Brooks is a favorite of mine. I have also mentioned my ex-husband on here from time to time. I also told a story about getting kidnapped for my birthday one year. So there you have it. It is so strange as to what can bring people to my blog sometimes. Take for example these search words that have also brought people here in the last few days.

how to win your lover back
spring break collage grils (<---- this one is a close favorite... but I still like the "naked girls in and around amarillo" the best.)

I do get a few hits from other blogs that have me listed on their page. I am truly grateful and flattered to be listed on someone else's site. If I am listed on your site and I have not returned the favor, do let me know. I need to update soon.

I have garnered a few new regular readers to date. I am thankful for you too. I have what I suppose is a new fan from Hereford that is reading regularly, but I am not certain who you are. Regardless, I appreciate anyone that finds what I have to say to be even remotely interesting. But even though we don't always have profound thoughts on here and much of the time it's simply reporting mundane tidbits, blogs are really addicting. When you get involved in reading about someone else's life, you just crave more... even if it's just that they went to the grocery store and bought a new pair of socks. (Jonathon-I am missing your regular postings, btw.) Blogging is I guess similar to the craze of reality shows. I find that blogs, perhaps, are more real. Most are written from the heart. They aren't written for show (well, the ones I read generally are not) but just because people feel the need to write something and throw it out into cyberspace. Through blogging we find our kindred spirits. Those that post regularly become a part of our lives. We are disappointed when a day goes by and they don't share at least a little something.

So all my fellow bloggers out there... thanks for sharing. Thanks for letting me into your lives. Keep updating and just tell it like it is. And those of you who are gracious enough to have me bookmarked, drop me a comment. Just say "hi" and let me know who you are!

Floating

That's the way my head feels right now. Last night was horrible. I had a terrible headache that didn't go away with aleve or tylenol. I finally took a benadryl before bedtime and it finally cleared my head by this morning. I took my other meds this morning, but I'm starting to feel stopped up again. I am doing better than yesterday, but still not quite myself. I think this darn time change has not been good. I really hate the time change because it takes me forever to get caught up on sleep. Not feeling good and not getting enough sleep cause major problems.

My brother has a new girlfriend. I chatted with her online last night. She is wanting some help with a school project. She is studying to be a nurse practitioner. He seems to be quite taken with her, but I haven't met her in person yet. Maybe soon.

I hope to be caught up with my grades by the end of today so I won't have to worry about it the rest of the week. One of the horrible things about teaching is all the grading. We have to somehow justify a student's grade, but it just seems to pile up somehow. I am still amazed that students can take an open note, open book test and still fail it.

Tonight I am going to RCIA and then I'm getting away for the evening. I have been needing some alone time and so I booked myself into a hotel in Amarillo so I can just get away. That's one of the reasons why I am taking Thursday off. I also needed the day to get some other personal things done. I am so ready for it! Josh will be gone Thurs-Saturday on his band trip. He will get back early, early on Sunday morning. I am supposed to play my clarinet during Palm Sunday's Mass so I really need to find time to practice. I also need to practice my clarinet ensemble music. I had great intentions this weekend, but didn't get to it since I was in bed the entire time.

I should be in bed

I figured having drugs would make me feel better. I do, but I don't. I am so not up to par today though. I feel drained, my nose is still running. My throat is a little better, but I really feel like I should be in bed right now. I also have to teach all day today. Maybe if I have my chicken noodle soup for lunch I will feel better.
Josh has a piano lesson today. I have to finish transposing music tonight. I also need to get some more beads. I am so glad I decided to take Thursday off. I probably should have taken today off though. I could really use a couch in my room. I would take a nap if I had one.
I am probably going to be a mean teacher today. I am making my kids take notes in an outline form today... with no fill in the blank notes. I know, I coddle them too much. To expect them to have paper and something to write with for class may just be asking too much.

Still Alive

I was going to avoid going to the doctor, but after making the mistake of going to work today, I figured I really needed to get some medicine. Sure, it might clear up on it's own, but maybe I could get some drugs to make it go a little faster. Since I had a 3 hour block of time, I decided to go ahead and do it. I called and got an appointment for 10:00. Usually I'm in and out within about 30 minutes, but I guess I got there after someone else that took forever. That is the good thing about my doctor, though. He doesn't just quickly examine you ask a few questions and throw a prescription at you. He takes his time and asks how you're doing and tries to be thorough. He seemed to think my problem was mostly sinus and allergy issues with all the gunk and smoke that's been in the air. He gave me some samples and four prescriptions and an injection in my derriere. (Thinking of you, Jonathon ;) I only had the antibiotic filled. It's getting to that point where money is really, really tight again. Josh leaves for his trip on Thursday, so I have to give him some money for some meals.
I'm feeling a little better, but still not 100%. I just have so much going on this week. I have to get grades finished, Josh has an early piano lesson, RCIA on Wednesday (I am supposed to have more rosaries to take as well), Thursday is going to be a personal day off for me. It will be my day of reflection as I prepare for my first reconciliation. I also have clarinet ensemble practice that day and cheerleading tryouts. Then Friday is the WT Showcase of Music. I also have a bunch of music to transpose for Holy Week services. I am also playing at Mass this Sunday which is Palm Sunday. This will basically mark a year that I have been attending Mass. So, Summer, no I guess it's not going to let up soon... but it's still a good kind of busy. I just wish I could breathe normally at this point.

Still Sick

I took some cold medicine last night that sort of knocked me out... one of those nights where you halfway sleep with strange dreams. I woke up around 7:00 and debated about going to mass. I decided I'd try for the 11:15 mass. I took a shower around 10:30 (after I realized the time change was this weekend). I took my temperature again and despite taking tylenol earlier it was going up. It was 99.6. I decided it probably wasn't a good idea to attempt to go to Church. So I stayed in bed. My throat hurts, my body aches and I just feel like crap. It's probably strep throat with my luck. If I don't feel better tomorrow, I'll go see my doctor during my break in the morning. I hope everybody's weekend is going better than mine.

Sick Saturday

I didn't sleep much last night and woke up feeling awful this morning. I think it's a combination flu/allergy thing. Whatever it is, I am miserable. I've pretty much stayed in bed or sat in a chair all day save for the shower I finally took this afternoon. I had promised Josh we'd go to Subway for dinner tonight. That was awful. It took a good 15 minutes to have two sandwiches made and rung up. My body aches, my eyes are watering and my nose won't stop running. I don't feel well enough to go get any more medicine so I have to make due with what I have. So no post today other than my whining.