Surprise!

Hey everyone! As you may know, Korey and I are now engaged! =) Unfortunately for you, there is no really romantic story to go along with it, but we have been talking about it for a while, and I went with him to pick it out, so I would've felt strange had he sprung it on me as if were a surprise.
I'm posting pictures of the ring here, for those who are to far away to see it.
It'll have a wrap around it like mum's when we get married. (Don't worry, we'll graduate first! I'm in NO hurry to plan a wedding. O_O!)


From the side, you can't see how pretty it is in this picture, though. It is really very sparkle-y! The prongs here are white gold although the rest are yellow. I really absolutely love it!
(And of course, the man who gave it to me, heehee!)
I hope everyone else is doing well as well!

18.5 Years Ago Or So

Virus Reminder

I just wanted to remind everyone to be careful before you click a link in an email. I got a virus email today claiming that someone sent me an e-card and it looked like it came from Hallmark. There were some clues that it was a virus. One was that in the "to" address it said "undisclosed recipients." When I hovered the mouse over the link it revealed a different address than Hallmark.com.

Here's an example, though it is harmless:

http://www.amazon.com

The link looks like "Amazon" but it doesn't take you there. If you move your mouse over the link and look at the bottom of the screen you'll see it the actual address.

More pics!

I grabbed Mike's camera and shot these today, especially for you out-of-towners. I'm not a great photographer, but you get the idea... Also, sorry they are so big and might take a long time to load. I don't have a photo editor on my pc.

Meet Gracie!

Well, that's her working name for now at least, but it may well stick.

Don't laugh too hard when you see her! She looks an awful lot like Choppy, except shrunken down and s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d...

PS - I haven't heard her bark yet...

UPDATE:  Her new "working name" is Trudy...  That's a Mike pick and it seems to suit her, but I do want him to meet her before we make a final decision.

She is very silly and she likes to throw things.  I gave her a treat and she tossed it up in the air twice before eating it!  I guess she hasn't met Choppy's imaginary "other dog" yet!

My Life as a Teacher

Well, in case you haven't heard, my new job is next to impossible.

I truly think I am the most ineffective teacher in the history of the world. My kids run wild, I am trying to teach 16-year-old how to add 1 digit numbers, some of my kids can barely write their own name, and all of my boys are in "love" with me and write me inappropriate love letters. I go to bed at 9 every night, and I eat sad meals that I cook for me and my roommate, and the most exciting spot in town is Wal-mart. I miss my boyfriend, my friends, and my freedom.

I actually did a dance in the hallway today out of happiness when I found out my WORST BEHAVED STUDENT who is in TWO of my classes got suspended for 10 days. That's 10 days of teaching. I am really stoked. Of course, he got suspended for jumping another child in the hall.

Teaching is the hardest thing I have ever done, and I truly think it takes a special person to get up every morning and fight this battle, and I don't think I can be that person for more than 2 years. Ughh.

I did it!

Today, after meeting with a professor, walking up and down two flights of stairs four times, and writing a check for $40.00, I have officially petitioned to graduate.
What does that mean? Essentially nothing other than that they know I want to graduate. (Especially since I have all kinds of issues including course number changes and course request changes to have done for me - and I don't get my hope up with SPSU's communication record too much on something like that.)
However, it does feel a lot more real now that I will be graduating in another semester.
Plus, on the upside, I did discover that I only have to take four classes next semester instead of the five I thought I did. Which means I technically didn't have to take six now, but it also means I've lightened the load on myself for Portfolio.

In other news, I'm going to go back to my internship for a while and maybe they'll just keep me on...? Because they're moving offices, they need someone to help go through things who is really thorough. Well, as mum likely knows, I have plenty of experience as a pack rat. =)
I don't know that I would want to work there full time upon graduation, but the extra cash right now is nice especially seeing as I'm going to have to buy a new computer in the next few months if I want my student discounts. ($250 for InDesign, PhotoShop, Dreamweaver, and Illustrator? How can you turn that down?!)

In news beyond other news, the living situation is going well. =) I'm learning how to cook better despite my belgian waffle disaster this morning. And Korey has tried almost everything I've made. Yay! I think I'm going to bake a pie tonight.... yum!

Where Am I?

I'm in Versailles (apparently pronounced 'ver-SAILS'!) Ohio, at The Inn At Versailles. There are no Starbucks and no fast food restaurants. The town seems to be smaller than Chimney Springs.

The restaurant at the hotel, however is great! The butler is a decent sort, though he doesn't say much.



I'm only here for two days and I'm looking forward to coming home on Thursday night.

Getting closer...

Only a few items left in the scavenger hunt now:

9) A photo taken at our old apartment.

11) A photo showing 2 or more family pets

21) A photo taken at a high school event.

So if you haven't posted something yet, you better hop to it!

Also here are the results of the last poll:

Obama's Pick What do you think of Obama's pick of Joe Biden for a running mate?
Joe who?	0%	0
Doesn't matter to me, my mind was already made up.	60%	3
What TOOK SO LONG?	20%	1
Gotta be better than McCain's pick.	0%	0
Gotta be better than Lieberman.	20%	1
Aren't you glad the Olympics are over?	0%	0
total votes: 5
powered by blogpoll

A few more photos

This is a prom picture that isn't my own. This was Pope's prom 2005...can you guess who the third person from the right is?


This is the X-mas tree



This is the Chimney Springs Lake
I have some more but I don't have a scanner...

I have a selfish picture log, but here goes....

1) A photo of any birthday party, with the cake in the picture (I didn't really have birthday parties, but this is the cake we had for my 18th. I even have a picture of the candles, too.)














3) A photo of anyone's ex boyfriend (Does your own count?)



















4) A photo taken in the house with no one in the picture. (Yeah, I don't know why I have a picture of this... >_> I clearly don't even delete useless pictures. The sad part is that I have about 10 other photos I could've put here as well....)














5) A photo of a sibling that the sibling doesn't know you have. (This photo is AWFUL but it is of Emma and Shauna - Emma is on the right. I think she'll remember the night, but probably doesn't know I actually have photos of it.)














7) A photo of a car that we don't have anymore --- could be anyone's (This is the inside of the Bonneville a long time ago. Actually, this was taken at a high school football game, but since there is no way you could tell that, I won't put it under that. I think you wanted an actual picture of something happening.)














12) A photo taken at a holiday other than Christmas (Spring Break is a holiday, no? Hahaha! This is in Savannah, though, on Spring Break.)













13) A photo of food other than Birthday Cake (Gelato in Roma!)














15) A photo of someone in their work uniform or outfit. (I look real happy to be alive in this photo.)














16), 17), 18), 19) A vacation photo from each of the four Disney parks showing a member of the family. (Argh, the member of the family got me here!)














20) A photo taken in another state. (This was taken in Gatlinburg, TN, on the same mountain I was carted off of by ski patrol.... >_<)














22) A photo taken from a high vantage point, such as a mountain or tall building. (Villa DeEstes in Rome. It was a very tall building. I also have some from the Smoky mountains but not as good as this one.)














24) A very silly photo. (Of Sera, in the dorm.)



















I have some others, like at high school events and stuff, but I'd have to scan them. =/

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Yeah so I don't really know why but it uploaded backwards or something. So I am sorry...start from the bottom!
And then I decided to add my own. A photo with a famous person. Alyson Stoner. If you dont know who she is then here ya go: Camp Rock, Cheaper by the Dozen, Suite Life of Zack and Cody, and the little girl in the Missy Elliot video....plus more.

24. A very silly photo.

23. A photo of a new present

The Belle and Cindy dolls were new presents!

22. A photo taken at a high vantage point.

19. A vacation photo in Animal Kingdom showing a member of the family.

18. A vacation photo in Hollywood Studios showing a member of the family.

17. A vaction photo in EPCOT showing a member of the family.

Again, it was a day off so it counts! I am in Morocco in World Showcase!

16. A vacation photo in Magic Kingdom showing a member of the family. It was my day off so it counts!
20. A photo taken in another state.

Do I even have to say what state?

15. A photo of someone in their (in Disney terms) costume!13. A photo of food other then Birthday Cake

As many as I could find without much trouble or use of a scanner...

1) A photo of any birthday party, with the cake in the picture


3) A photo of anyone's ex boyfriend


7) A photo of a car that we don't have anymore --- could be anyone's


8) A photo of Mom & Dad --- dressed up.


12) A photo taken at a holiday other than Christmas (this is 4th of July, see the fireworks?)


13) A photo of food other than Birthday Cake


14) A photo taken in a dorm room showing the college logo or mascot. (It can be on someone's t-shirt.) I have no explanation for this besides that I think it was dead week (the week before finals) in the VERY early morning. My roommate and I apparently did have some fun my freshman year...logo on my sweatshirt


20) A photo taken in another state. (in Pennsylvania)


24) A very silly photo.


25) A photo of any two siblings with their arms around each other.

First Annual Labor Day Photo Scavenger Hunt!

Post a picture of any of the following and you will be entered in a drawing for a $25 Amazon Gift Certificate! Drawing will occur after all items in the scavenger hunt are posted... or until we all give up!

(UPDATE: The ones in BLUE are the ones we do not have yet...)

1) A photo of any birthday party, with the cake in the picture
2) A photo taken at Christmas, showing the Christmas tree
3) A photo of anyone's ex boyfriend
4) A photo taken in the house with no one in the picture.
5) A photo of a sibling that the sibling doesn't know you have.
6) A prom photo but NOT your own
7) A photo of a car that we don't have anymore --- could be anyone's
8) A photo of Mom & Dad --- dressed up.
9) A photo taken at our old apartment.
10) A photo showing the Chimney Springs lake
11) A photo showing 2 or more family pets
12) A photo taken at a holiday other than Christmas
13) A photo of food other than Birthday Cake
14) A photo taken in a dorm room showing the college logo or mascot. (It can be on someone's t-shirt.)
15) A photo of someone in their work uniform or outfit.
16), 17), 18), 19) A vacation photo from each of the four Disney parks showing a member of the family.
20) A photo taken in another state.
21) A photo taken at a high school event.
22) A photo taken from a high vantage point, such as a mountain or tall building.
23) A photo of a new present.
24) A very silly photo.
25) A photo of any two siblings with their arms around each other.

Rules:

* Nothing embarrassing. This includes really really awful pictures of anyone. We will just remove any that DaddyMike and I both deem too unflattering.
* Photo has to be taken by you or someone you know; no snitching pictures from the 'net.
* Post a caption identifying which item your picture satisfies. A picture can only be assigned to one item --- ie, a picture taken at a birthday party at a relatives house can only count for 1 or 11, but not both.
* If someone else already posted an item, but you have one you wanted to post, please post it anyway.

Happy Hunting!!

Ummm, geeeee, how will I ever decide?

On the one hand we have this:



And on the other we have, well, we have THIS:



Hooo boy.

Happenings this weekend....

Well, with everyone back in school etc, you might think it would be a quiet weekend.... doesn't look to be shaping up that way, so far!

First off, of course, it is a long weekend, with Labor Day on Monday. Hard to find a good picture to represent Labor Day. Here's one:



Or maybe this one?



(Which one do you like Cheyenne?)

Also, Kacie is supposed to be in town briefly, we hope to see her on Saturday. I'm going to try to get her data off of her old hard drive. Which reminds me, if your laptop ever dies suddenly and you need the data from it, I now have a hard drive enclosure for a laptop hard drive and I may be able to help.

George and Veronica are both working tonight. Veronica might have a couple of friends over for a sleepover; George is staying at Josh's tonight.

Cheyenne will also be home this weekend. She's having a birthday party at her Mom's tomorrow but we hope to see her on Sunday.

Twila got an invitation to join the Honor Society due to her high GPA. You may not know this but Twi has been on the Dean's list almost every semester! Congrats Twi; stop by and see us this weekend!

Emma is back at her co-op job this semester. I know Ethan has been hitting the books lately, and, as far as I know, she still has no internet service at her apartment! I guess I'll have to catch up with her the old fashioned way... I'll txt her!

Mike is on his way home from Manhattan right this minute. He got to see cousin Diane and lots of his friends over the week; but I'm sure he'll still be glad to get home! Meanwhile he's flying out again on Monday :-(

We are supposed to have dinner with Uncle Sid & Aunt Julia tomorrow night and then play some Euchre.... Anyone want to learn how? I'll be happy to teach you!

Also, be sure to check out the Poll, as I'm updating it again...

I would like to see everyone at some point this weekend; so those of you without specific plans to come over, expect to hear from me soon...

Finally --- stay tuned, I'm dreaming up a contest to get everyone back interested in the family blog again, after I neglected it for such a long time!