Today was a Fairy Tale

Andy bought me Taylor Swift tickets for Mother's Day.  I was so excited.  I knew some of my friends were going with their daugthers as well, so we decided to go together.  We didn't take the girls to dinner; they were too excited.  We took snacks for the drive down which turned out to be a good decision.  On the way down, my friends were talking about the Miley Cyrus concert and really how inappropriate it was for little girls.  I didn't think Taylor Swift would be the same, but still I worried.  When we got there we first decided to buy t-shirts.  My friends were excited to see that they had children's sizes b/c at the Miley concert there were no children's sizes.  My thought on that was I was glad Taylor knew who her audience was.

My friends and I did not have seats together.  So, off we went to our seperate seats.  My friends had seats that showed them behind the set.  They were on the side of the stage.  I was a little more centrally located and we were in the first row in our section!  I was really excited becuase they were GREAT seats.  I was really close and actually liked it more than the floor because we were up higher and could see.  We had two teenage girls on our left and a mother and her daughter on our right.  It was the perfect combination to have.  I was so excited sitting there waiting for Taylor to go on stage.

Her concert turned out to be amazing.  What I didn't know at the time, but later learned is that Taylor Swift has a very active role in designing her sets.  A lot of it is her idea and she sees them through to completion.  Her castle set was amazing, her stage design was really well planned out.  Our seats were so good and I was just so happy with our seats.

The highlights:
1.  During her acoustic set, she opened up between sections 109-110 at the top of the stairs, singing her heart out.  It was amazing.  Afterwards she walked down the stairs and hugged fans on both sides of the aisle.  You could tell she loved the little children.  At one point, there was a group of about 5 20 something year olds.  One of them picked her up when he hugged her in a giant hug--she gave him a kiss.  She was on the other side of where I was, so I watched the big screen they have.  I was content to watch people beam as she hugged them.  I think Taylor really appreciates her fans and I think she would have hugged everyone there if she could have!  She made it such a personal experience.  She then played 2 or 3 songs in the back of the arena which was amazing.  And then she walked her way back through the concert goers.  I was a little disappointed that people seemed to rush at her this time making it harder for her security detail which in turn might make the not do this again.  Why can't people be happy for other people and know that their time might come next time?  Don't get me wrong--I imagined in my mind several scenarios if Taylor came our way all of which included pictures and hugs and kind words, but it was just as fun to imagine as do.

2.  Because my friends were sitting where they could see the back of the stage they texted me updates and let me know about set changes that were coming up.  So, I knew about the castle before it came on stage.  They let me know about her various guitars.  It was fun to get this commentary.

3.  Right before the finale section of her program, a man came up to us and gave us a pick with Taylor's picture on it.  He said to me, "Thanks so much for coming out tonight and bringing your daughter.  You really need to stay for this next part, it is amazing.  My daughter has done a lot of work for tonight."  Wait.....really?  no?  "Is Taylor Swift your daughter?" 
He replied, "yes, Taylor's my daughter."
I gave a few looks and then said, "please tell her we think she's great and I am so happy I brought my daughter.  Taylor did a great job tonight."  I felt a little silly, but I didn't have enough time to think of something great to say.  I felt so lucky that out of that full auditorium, her dad walked up to me in the middle of a crowd and said something nice to me!

4.  Her finale was awesome!  Playing the drums with one of her entourage in a "competition" and having the water rain down on her!  I loved it.  It was visually and acoustically stunning.  I walked out of that concert feeling as if every penny of those tickets were worth it.

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!