The Happiness Test

For some reason, unlucky things happen to me.  Not all the time, but enough of the time!  It makes me wonder if I really were born under an unlucky star.  Just in case you needed proof, here are a few examples.  Some of you will remember back to November 20080--election time.  Time to vote in one of the most historical races ever.  Andy and I are exactly the same (except I'm a girl and he's a boy), but I mean in terms of where we lived, how long we've lived there etc.--exactly the same!!  So, he got to vote and I didn't!  When we got in line, we happened to get in two different lines--my person didn't let me through and his did.  See-unlucky.  Lest, you think this is only one experience.  Another time, I was sitting behind a car at a red light, waiting to turn on red.  I tapped my horn to let him know I wanted to turn and could he please move up.  He ignored my request, waited for the light to turn green and then got out of his car to come menacingly at me.  I didn't wait to find out what he wanted--I high tailed it out of there.  Seriously, over react much?  There are countless others, but these two stick out at me.

So, what does this have to do with current day?  Well...how to put this....I was told recently that I may be an unhappy person and maybe the above kinds of stories happened more because of my communicated miserableness than any unluckiness!  I was shocked and hurt.  I really do try to be a "part of the solution" kind of girl; I try not to adore the problem, but to work it out.  However, I am not a belly-aching, laugh out loud kind of girl either.  I more appreciate the humor of a movie, book, or event, and I keep it to myself (it's probably the only thing I keep to myself).

The next day I was sitting at the computer and went to the Oprah website to look for something and low and behold there was a happiness test!  Seriously, a happiness test.  The coincidence was to amazing to ignore.  I had to take this test. 

My score:
If you scored 60 to 79 points: Getting there



This is a healthy score. If you want to take your happiness score to the next level, you need to recognize the difference between chasing after happiness and choosing happiness. Happiness is not outside you; it's not a destination; and it's not about "getting there." When you stop chasing happiness, you allow yourself to be more present, more available and more open. This way you find happiness wherever you are.

This is a healthy score!  I am a happy person! 

Here is the link:  http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Happiness-Test  

Things Flying Around My Head Right Now:

1.  Contract, furloughs, RIFS, County Council, Maitenance of Effort, Race to the Top--our contract is up for negotiation and people are torn over whether or not to accept the new contract.  I gave up a 5% increase last year, so teachers wouldn't loose their jobs.  And then I lost mine!  Our superintendent tried to put out a proactive non-recommended budget cut this year in anticipation of cuts that were going to be deep.  Media Specialists were not even on that recommended budget cuts-and we were cut, and yet again I lost my job! (Ok, it is my friend who works with me, but still a media specialist position was cut when it wasn't on the recommended list)!  I'm really sad I don't have the trust in my teacher's union to take a media specialist's best interests and represent them fairly beside a teacher's interests.  They have already shown media specialists are too small a fish in the big pond to fight for.  Sigh.

2.  I'm so worried for my friend whose mom has had a series of strokes.  This is the second set of strokes and I'm afraid she won't make it.  My friend needs her mom.  And then I think about how I need my mom.  I wish I could do something to make her better, but I can't.  I just need to be there for my friend in the way she needs but, but is too stubborn to admit.

3.  Where does the time go?  I can't believe that 24 hours in a day doesn't seem to be enough time.  I'm work, but then it should seem like I have some hours to fill how I want to.  But that never happens.  I get busy with carpools, activities, planning activities that I do what I don't like which is fall to the couch and watch tv.  I don't like it, but don't know how to change it.  I don't want to impart my bad habits to my children. 

4.   I want my foot to get better!  It has been a year and almost 3 months since my heel started hurting.  I have had tests, orthodics, shots, etc. and nothing helps.  If I have had a long day, running around or standing a lot, my heel aches at the end of the day.  So, I haven't exercised in a year and 3 months!  I feel yucky, I look yucky and I don't know what to do about it.  Even walking hurts it.

5.  I love my new house! I love the hottub, I love the rooms, and I love Brenna's little nooks and crannies she's found.  Her favorite is one underneath of our stairs.  She has hung up a shower curtain to make it more private.  She has moved her American Girl doll accessories down there.  I found Noah there the other day, with a flashlight reading.  I loved it.

6.  I am so greatful for my friends.  I wish we got together more!  My friends are all focused on their children's activities, but I love when we squeeze in a dinner together, either with or without kids.  I wish we could do it more.  I wish I didn't feel like hanging out was wasting time.

My heart is breaking

Stupid caterpillar project!  I hate you.  I hope never to see another caterpillar project again--oh wait, no more second graders in my house-we were done!

I had to stay home with Brenna while Andy took Noah to his 5th grade concert.  What I didn't know, because he didn't tell me, is that Noah had a solo in tonight's concert!  How could he not think this was a big deal.  He had to audition for it!  And he got it!  And he didn't think it was a big deal?  Come on.  Every night (well, as often as we can) we go around the dinner table and say what was the best part of our day.  Wouldn't it have been perfect to say, "Oh yeah, mom, dad, I auditioned for a solo in the 5th grade concert and I got chosen out of everybody who tried out.  Well there are six of us doing solo parts, but still.....I got chosen!"

I am literally crying.  My heart is breaking that I didn't get to hear Noah sing or play his clarinet tonight for possibly the last time.  Oh no, another tear....his last time...it didn't look real until I wrote it down.

I love you Noah and am so proud of you for being independent and trying out and making it.

Stupid caterpillar project!

Wax Musuem: Nastia Lukin

Meet Nastia Lukin

Helen Keller (Brenna's friend Brooke)

Meet Sharon Pope Osborne:  Writer of the Magic Treehouse Series.  (Mack-Brenna's friend)

Brenna's second grade class did a wax musuem.  Brenna wanted to be Princess Diana but when the time came, she was already taken.  So, she decided to do Nastia Lukin.  Brenna did a great job.  I was a little worried at first; it seemed like there were just so many dates of her achievements.  I didn't want it to sound boring and have Brenna mix up the dates.  We worked on it together.  She did such a great job!  I loved watching her practice.  I would catch her doing it in the mirror, to a hairbrush, and anytime she walked.  She particularly wanted the flowers as part of her costume.  She has had enough of her own meets to know that you always get something (flowers, candy, teddy bears) after a competition.  She did a great job.

Oops I forgot Easter

Easter was typical, fun, and full of candy!  The Easter Bunny created clues for each one to follow to find their basket.  Tobin's basket was in the "27 Dresses" closet, Noah's basket was    and Brenna's Easter basket was in Andy's office, where her "favorite spot was." 

A Glimpse Into Brenna's thoughts

     Andy was on a cruise last week.  I know, I know.....he tells me it was a work cruise, but I don't quite believe him (JK).  He was able to go scuba diving on a James Bond wreck where he saw a manta ray with a wingspan as far as his arms could open! 

Back at home, we were all pining for Andy.  Brenna was the most vocal about it.  I knew that she wrote the first email to Andy, but I didn't really know about the second one.  I think these are just about the cutest pieces of communication that have ever been created!

Click on the pictures to make them bigger!