Much cooler and much less humid this morning. Would be perfect except the mosquitoes are eating us alive!

Looking at Target's fall fashions. Why are all the tops paper thin? I mean how many layers does one need to wear for double the price and half the fabric?

I'm hungry and I have an entire mall food court available to me. Nothing sounds good to me. So I just wander around until something smells or looks good I guess

It has been a week

No, nothing bad happened. Everything just seemed challenging no matter which direction I turned. Maybe it is the PMS? Who knows. It was dark and dreary for much of the week which always just kicks me in the teeth. I don't mind a day here and there and even enjoy the rain. But this seemed like it was non-stop dreariness. UGH.

O was home from school sick on Mon and Tues and his teacher kindly sent me his homework page by email so that we could make sure he was up to date when he returned on Weds. Well, it seems he has a dinosaur project due this coming Monday. They gave the kids a week to do it. It involves art skills that I really dislike and don't actually have so I've never cultivated them in the kids. M loves to draw and do more artsy things and I'm not sure where she gets it. Probably from C's sister, CF. Too bad she lives too far away to encourage that skill.

Anyway, the students were given a week to do a diorama or a detailed drawing of their chosen dinosaur. I can barely keep up with my homework and my responsibilities and by Sunday I'm just a blubbering idiot. So I'm in a panic thinking that I am going to have to spend every waking moment tomorrow sitting with O to get him to complete this project. Not looking forward to it. To his credit though he did rough out a sketch and make notes about his project today so maybe it won't be so bad. Some days I can barely take care of myself and now I have to help a 7 year old create a diorama???? Help! Too bad I'm not more like my friends Annie & John who actually care about and follow through on their kids' education.

M decided to cut her own hair by herself on Thursday. Luckily she pulled her hair straight out in front of her to cut so she could watch it. That put it right about chin length. You should have seen the drama and the tears while I evened it out. She kept saying, "I don't want to cut my hair!" And I would respond, "But you already did! I'm just trying to make it all the same length!" Even though we cut off a good 4-5 inches it turned out super cute and she loves it. I'll try to post pictures soon.

We went off to the Astros game last night but the tickets we wanted to purchase (free kid ticket for every adult ticket purchased) were sold out. So, we bought tickets for tonight's game and hung out downtown for dinner. It was nice to be out with the family doing normal family things. The game tonight was fun. The Astros lost but I don't really go to watch the games so much as to watch the people. Tomorrow is their last scheduled home game this season. Hard to believe it is coming to a close.

In clinic yesterday the intern I'm following was swamped with three patients very close together with their appointments so he quickly handed me their folders and had me do the intakes. Now I do these sorts of things a lot as a massage therapist so I didn't mind giving it a try. Some of the questions are similar and some are quite different. I left the tongue and pulse diagnosis for him to do because I don't trust my skills in that department yet and I didn't want the patient to have to do it twice. I think it went well and that I helped a lot. We saw patients who were dealing with anxiety and depression, wanting relief from symptoms of the common cold, needing treatment for knee pain, wanting help to stop smoking and a patient who gets relief with acupuncture for this sinusitis condition she has had since 1985! She has been congested for 24 years and finds that acupuncture every other week is the most effective treatment for her. It is incredibly interesting work and I'm starting to see myself actually doing this job in the future. I hope my patients have just as diverse issues to treat once I become a licensed practitioner like those that I see in the school clinic.

So, there you have it. The week in a nutshell. My first quizzes begin next week so I'll be spending tomorrow studying. I'm glad the first quizzes will be done before I head to Vegas in two weeks! I can't wait for the time away. I really look forward to going and hanging out with friends every year at this time. All you gals out there are always welcome to join us so let me know and I'll keep you posted as to our plans. If anyone else can join us at the last minute this year then please do! The more the merrier.

C had a rough week at work for numerous reasons. Some I can't go in to but suffice it to say that he is dealing with some annoying opposition, some wonderful support and he is really getting tired of this position. I hope that it improves for him soon.

I'm fading fast so I think I'll go crash for the evening. Love to you all.

Funny M

This photo makes me think that M is doing her impersonation of a hungover celebrity caught by the paparazzi. Makes me laugh! So funny!

Spicy Black Bean Burgers

I've had this recipe for about 6 months. I stole it from this blog. It is the Thursday recipe on that post. Anyway, I finally made them for lunch today and they were sooooooo yummy. Just a little dollop of sour cream....perfection. So, I thought I'd share for those who are interested.

Enjoy!

SPICY BLACK BEAN BURGERS
1/2 cup flour
1 small onion diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 small hot pepper minced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 medium red pepper diced
2 cups cooked or canned black beans, mashed
1/2 cup corn niblets
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp chili powder
2 tbsp fresh parsley

Set flour aside for coating. Saute onion, garlic, oregano and hot pepper in oil until onions are translucent. Add peppers and saute for another 2 minutes, until pepper is tender. In a large bowl mash the beans with a fork. Stir in all the vegetables, corn, bread crumbs, cumin, salt, chili powder and parsley. Mix well. Divide and shape into patties. Coat in flour. Cook on a lightly oiled frying pan on medium high for about 5-10 minutes, or until brown.

Sick Day

O is home from school today. He had an impressive fever most of the weekend. This morning he is still fighting it. As with any fever, it goes in cycles: he seems run down, tired, not interested in doing anything then his fever breaks and he is ready to run around the house. It is hard to hold him down!

I've had a headache for the past couple of days which is how his seems to have started. I may just head back to bed. He is all set up on the couch and doesn't need anything right now. C took M to preschool this morning. So, I'm all set for a snooze.

m self portraits take 3

One with daddy. Again, she took them all herself.

m self portraits take 2

M self portraits

She took all of these herself.

More first game photos

His first at bat he struck out. However, he didn't get a bad attitude about it like he has been prone to do in the past so that was great!

He never struck out again and was hitting really well. C captured a picture of one of those moments.

They still rotate through all of the positions. Here he is playing catcher.

"Yes, mom, I see you. Take the picture. Can't you see I'm playing a game here?!"

First Game of Fall Season

O had his first game of the fall baseball season yesterday. This season he has advanced to hard ball machine pitch. The team did really well and it is amazing to think back 3 years ago when they were all playing mini t-ball and just learning skills! They have developed into quite a team We are all proud of them and they are having fun.

O and MV ready to play.

The machine that pitches to them.

Warming up for his first at bat.

"Baseball ready."

Just dropped M off at preschool. Week 3 and when I hang out for a minute to make sure she is ok, she points to the door and says, "Mom go" with an eye roll.

Bathroom take 3

Just a reminder:  you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

Another view of the mirror used to reflect the light back towards the toilet area.

View from toilet.

This tapestry is from France.  It is "my" castle:  Chenonceau  I let the French Government think they own it but, secretly, it is mine.  I swear I lived there in another life I love it so much.  C had the tapestry framed for me years ago as a Christmas gift.

Sign from Bed Bath and Beyond.

I got this framed glass at Paris Las Vegas.  You can see through the glass so that is the wall color you see behind the Eiffel Tower.
The only thing missing is a lovely stone Fleur-de-lis that was given to me from my French family years ago.  It is packed away somewhere but when I find it, it will become a part of the France bathroom.

Bathroom take 2

Sign from Hobby Lobby.  Pillow from Paris Las Vegas.

View from toilet.  The toilet is set back under the stairs so it is dark under there.  C came up with the idea to hang a mirror on the wall opposite the light fixture so it would reflect light into the dark area of the room.  It works rather well.

Bathroom Complete

Many of you know the story.  But in case you missed it, in a nut shell, the toilet in our powder room under the stairs needed repaired and we decided to take the opportunity to decorate the room as part of having to remove the toilet tank.  We could paint behind the toilet and all would be well.

That was in October of 2007.  Since we have two other full baths in the house there was really no hurry to get the powder room finished.  Plus, C and I rarely keep the same waking hours let alone trying to decide on a decorating theme.  So, slowly (painfully so!) over the past nearly 2 years we've decided on decorations and paint colors.  C was able to work on it more over the past few months since it was really getting on my nerves that it was sitting there incomplete.

So, we now present, our France room.  I would love to have a bigger room to decorate in honor of my beloved 2nd country.  But, for now, this will do.

La Toilette sign above the door.  New light fixture over sink.

One side of the wall by the toilet.

This sign (found at Hobby Lobby) inspired the paint colors:  sunny bright yellow and plum.

Also from Hobby Lobby.

A couple of kid photos

M by her cubby at school her 1st day (8/31/09)

M and AB playing dress up later that day.  I'm still finding pink and blue feathers all over the house!

O and his BFF MV.  The same MV that M says she is going to marry!  I barely got them to stand still long enough to take the picture.

Back to the Grind

Classes begin again for me this evening.  I attended a 2 hour orientation for the clinic last night so I kind of feel like I've already started.  I've set up 4 tough classes plus my observation so I'm sure I will find this semester quite a challenge.

The thing that will help me the most this semester is M started pre-school this week.  She'll go MWF.  I'm hoping that will motivate me to get my time management under better control and take advantage of alone time to study so I'm not so stressed about all I need to do.  We'll see how that goes.  I don't think I completed a single thing on my list that I was hoping to do during break.  I'm hoping that the time I had to relax and spend with the family will be the motivation I need to get it into gear for this semester.

Otherwise, all is going well.  Will post more when I have something to report!  Love to all!