Some nifty gifties!

I just have to say that my friend Julie is FABULOUS! Mainly because she love pierogies and is very smiley. But also because she is one of the most generous, caring souls I've had the pleasure of meeting. And she knows I love the happy mail. :) A few weeks ago, she sent some goodies to all of the DT members over at TAAFOMFT. I got these cute tags from livingroomfloor's shop. I can't wait to use them!




And as much as I love my tags, I am even more thrilled about this very special gift. When I met Julie for the first time last year, one of the things she was very adamant about (besides the pierogies) washow much respect she has for teachers. Being a teacher, I can't even being to tell you how much that means to me. So I was elated to see the project below posted on her blog. 1) Because it's handmade by Julie, 2) because they're owls, and 3) because it just feels so good to know that somewhere out in this great big world, someone was thinking about me.

Julie, thank you so much for the very special gifts!

Some light vehicle maintenance

So, you all know that I'm a technology teacher, right?

And you all know that my job used to be know as "shop teacher" back in the day, right?

So I'm sure some of you might be under the impression that I can fix my own car, right?

Wrong.

So wrong.

Auto mechanics was my worst class in college. The small engine my group put together...I wouldn't trust it to mow my lawn. Somehow, I pulled off a B, probably from memorizing system schematics the night before a test. And forgetting all about them by dinner.

Last weekend, my driver's side headlight went out. And we had to change it ourselves, because it's probably kind of silly to go to a mechanic. (When that happened at our apartment, we had a George. George was the superintendent of our building, a former mechanic, and one of the sweets older gentlemen you'd ever have the pleasure of meeting. I miss having a George.) So I went to AutoZone. Asked for the low-beam headlight for a 2005 Corolla. Patted myself on the back for using correct terminology. Paid for the bulb. And waited a day or so.

Because it was going to fix itself.

And when we realized that it wasn't, we pulled the car around to the front of the house. I found the section on replacing headlights. Mike was ready to take the headlight cover off. He went for tools. Here's where I get stubborn, realizing that I may never be able to call myself a technology teacher again if I don't do this myself: Having read the section on replacing headlights (sorry honey, it really was informative), I realized all I needed was a flat head screwdriver to pop off a fastener for some sort of filter thingy (at least I used the proper terminology once during this process). So I proceed to remove said fastener, and immediately drop it...somewhere. Mike brought a flashlight over, and we found it. It was then that I realized that I only needed to move the filter thingy to replace the high-beam. I really did read the directions. Mike still thought the headlight cover needed to come off. (In hindsight, I think he just really wanted to take the headlight cover off.) I twisted the bulb. It didn't come out. Twisted again. Nothing. Mike finally got it working. But I put the new one in and twisted it back into place. And then Mike said, "Wait. I'll go get the camera." (Gotta love him!)

Mike didn't let me revel in my victory for long, reminding me we needed to replace the light above the licence plate. I flipped through the manual, only to be told that I needed to take the car to a Toyota dealer to have it fixed?!?! Really?! That itty-bitty insignificant light is a job a mechanic?! We left it alone.

Later that night, while we were unloading groceries, Mike called for me to come out to the car. "Do you notice anything?"

The licence plate light was working.

Makes my "buy-the-bulb-and-wait" theory seems logical, doesn't it?

Newness

New stuff to share. First, the new challenge over at TAAFOMFT -- your favorite room. Okay, so technically our firepit is not a room. But it's my favorite spot to hang out, so it counts. :) (Also, this week I will need for you to tilt your head to the left to view this layout. Seriously. I don't get it!)

Last week, I went on a scrap frenzy. Like, I couldn't relax until I put stuff on paper. This was the first one I made -- my friend James showing off one of his oh-so-fantastic fedoras. Yes, I know I said that Mike rocks the fedora. But James will AGREE that he rocks the fedora, so he gets to be on the page. :)

Another tribute to the firepit. Love this photo, so it got its own page.

I started this one at SISiversary back in June, but finally got some stitching on it last week. Mike loves Half-Price Books -- seriously, a great used bookstore chain.

It's been awhile since I made a Lola page...this one is about her lid-obsession. It doesn't matter what room she's in, if I open a bottle of water, she comes running. When we moved out of the apartment, the amount of lids we found under furniture was ridiculous!

Born to Run 5K

Yesterday, I ran (using that term loosely) in the Born to Run 5K at the Taste of Harrison County festival. This was my 2nd 5K, and my goal was simply to finish without stopping to walk. Because, well, I haven't been running as regularly as I was last year around this time...I used to be able to step outside the door and take off down the street. Now we're out in the country, so I have to drive into town to find a street. Excuses, I know. So, in the last two weeks, I ran once, and that was only for 2 miles (a 5K is 3.1 miles). I ran with my friend Ashley. We finished in just over 35 minutes.

Mike also ran. Much faster than me. :)

Clockwise from top: Ashley, Forrest (Ashley's husband), Mike, and me.

Then there were the awards. I didn't place in my age group, but that's okay.

Forrest, who placed 7th overall, enjoying a doughnut from a stranger.

Mike placed 1st in his age group...but he won't let me share his time.

His prize.

My legs are so sore today. My goal is to run 3 miles at least once this week, now that I know I can.

Introducing a new segment I call...

..."Things Mike Bess Wants Me to Post Because He Won't Get His Own Blog"

Or more simply, TMBWMPBHWGHOB. :)

Today's topic: Things Mike sees while biking.

Two Saturdays ago: Mike and his friend, Forrest, are biking in a secluded part of a neighboring county. As they ride, they spot a man who resembles Grizzly Adams on his porch. In his tighty-whities. Dancing a jig. There is no music.

Last Saturday: Mike is riding with the local bike club. A goat has escaped and is on the loose. Said goat is frightened after spotting a pack of cyclists. Said goat runs full speed into a fence, bounces off, and hides in a ditch.

This has been "Things Mike Bess Wants Me to Post Because He Won't Get His Own Blog". Regular posting resumes tomorrow.

Fun find!

Seriously -- the classroom is keeping me busy. The year is going very well, but I'm so exhausted when I get home. I really do have all these great ideas to blog. The trouble is I can't brain so well when I get home (sorry -- tribute to my favorite piece of flair).

Here's something neat I had meant to post a couple weeks ago. When I was visiting my family, we went to this really cool little antique store. Before leaving, I looked through the old magazines. I found three issues of McCall's -- 2 from the 60s, and one from the 30s. Here's the mailing label I found on one of them:

How cool is that?!?! It was destined to be mine. :)

Also, I've been trying to post my TAAFOMFT layout, but it keeps appearing on it's side. So for now, you can find it here. Or, you could just tilt your head a little to the left.

Have a great Labor Day weekend!

Happy September!

Time to share some photos!

First, my 365 project. I have to admit that I slacked a little these last couple of days because I've had a cold, and just haven't thought about photos. Luckily I'm feeling much better!

And my daily mugshots...

And the Cynthiana banners. Only two this month. I'm a little disappointed in my town.

Oh, and the new TAAFOMFT challenge is up! I'll post my page for the challenge tomorrow. But right now it's late, and I need to wake up early.