Sunrise: 4:27 a.m---Sunset: 11:39 p.m

19 hours of daylight. Can you guess where I am? Alaska! We got in late Wednesday night and we're looking forward to real sunshine that is forcast for this weekend. I'll post more when I have time but there is mindless cable to be watched right now!
PS Rex did fine for his first time on an airplane but I almost opened a can of you-know-what when we still didn't have him an HOUR after the plane had landed. Drama drama. They shouldn't do that to first-time dog moms.

So I was right

My neck is killing me (muscle spasms) and the chiropractor tried to help but it didn't do much. I'm just going to have to get through it since I need to pack and clean before our housesitter comes over this afternoon!

Without going into too many boring details, I was in a car accident four years ago and it messed up my neck pretty bad. I've been going to a new chiropractor for a few weeks and he recommended I get a massage. I was also tense with the end of the year/report cards/etc. stuff so I figured sure why not?

I'm GOING TO BE DYING TOMORROW PEOPLE! She said she wouldn't go "too" deep but let me tell you, she went DEEP. I'm feeling okay right now and I'm downing water like it's no other so hopefully I will survive.


Want to know what I was thinking during my massage?

Ahhhh I love laying on my stomach on massage tables.

I need to call Tam. Maybe she'll give me a massage next week when I see her. Is that tacky? Asking someone to do their job (for free) when they're on vacation? Yeah, that's tacky. That's like someone asking me to tutor their kid for free in the summer.

Have we started packing yet? No. Shit. Need to pack.

Is 7 pairs of shoes excessive for three weeks? Nah. Now I just need to convince the Husband.

Did I do ANYTHING from my To-Do list today? Yes, I bought dog and cat food.

I hope Rex isn't melting at home.

Did she hear my stomach growl? That was embarassing.

I'm so glad it's nice out but our house is unbearable. . .

The music is nice. Soothing.

I need to pack.

Did I email my mom about the dog's crate?

I am so freaking nervous about Rex flying. I hope he does okay. We got so lucky with him. He's the best dog ever.

Why can't I turn off my thoughts?

I want to get into meditation.

I'm so not into my book for book club but I am trying.

Laying in the grass in the backyard with Rex and the Husband was so nice today. I love my little family!

I'm so glad we're going to Alaska on Wednesday.

I need to get Jackson's birthday present. I'm a horrible "aunt" because I don't know what he's into right now. I usually get him books. I could get him books but I don't want him to think I give lame presents. I can't believe he's 5 already! I remember going for coffee with Kelli and she turned to me and smiled and I just SCREAMED "Oh my God! You're. . . pregnant?!" I just knew!

Thinking of kids, I wonder if Eri is flying back to Seattle with us. I should email her mom. She's going to be in 7th grade next year! Holy crap. I loved 7th grade. And 8th. I think Amber and I are the only human beings on the earth that loved junior high.

I'm so happy I'm going to see all my friends in Anchorage. Britt, Moriah, Jo, Kelli. . .

Those people in the waiting room are so loud.

Seeing Amber and Kate on Saturday was fun, although I don't think I'm a fan of Indian food. I do like the bread though.

Burritos or stir-fry for dinner?

Walking

We were passing a pile of branches someone had cut and put out by the street.

The Husband: Someone cut down a lot of branches.
Me: Yep.
Rex:. . . . . . . . Okay he said nothing. He's a dog. I just wanted to add that he was on the walk too.
The Husband: Wow-I would have loved that one when I was a kid! (Pointing to a big branch)
Me: A sword right?
The Husband: Um, no. It would be a six-foot staff.

Of course. What was I thinking?

PS It's 82 degrees at 9:45pm. That's craziness. I know that is below the LOW temp in Phoenix so I'll just shut up now, won't I Jade? Here's the difference: No one in Washington has air conditioning! We've got three fans going and the dog is sliding around the hardwood floors chasing piles of cat and dog hair that are blowing around the house. Guess that means I need to vacuum.

Good News for People Who Love Good News

After months of not knowing if he'd have a job, the Husband found out yesterday that he will be at his middle school again next year. This is great news considering my paycheck pretty much only covers the mortgage and maybe the car payment and we really need his paycheck so we can eat real food.

Say it with me. . .

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWHO!
I just finished my report cards and all I have to do is print them off at school and stuff them into the envelopes.

Red, White, and Who?

You know I was joking, right? I mean, my husband doesn't REALLY think I'm fat. I just wanted to clarify that.

But I digress. I need you people to pray for me please. Tomorrow is Field Day at school and I'm in charge of sack races. I hoping 1. It doesn't rain and 2. It's not really hot and 3. The kids don't completely loose it and go crazy. Who am I kidding? They are going to go crazy. I'll just be sure to document it with my camera.

PS So we're talking about Flag Day today in class and I asked the kids if they knew who made the first flag. Sadly, one little girl raised her hand and said with a hint of question in her voice, "George W. Bush?" I let them know that we actually aren't sure who did make the first American flag but it probably wasn't Betsy Ross like we were raised to believe. They gasped and one boy said, "You mean you were taught WRONG?"

Are you saying I'm fat?

At the theatre yesterday. . .

Me: These Hot Tamales seem smaller than I remember.

The Husband: It's not them, it's you. You're bigger than the last time you had them.

I'm watching the second season of Hell's Kitchen. I LOVE Gordon Ramsey. And by LOVE him, I mean hate him.

On another note, I only have 8 more students report card comments to complete. YIPPEE!

The muscle relaxers worked wonders yesterday and we even managed to make it to the movie "Cars."

Only 7 1/2 days of school left!

I'm flat on my back in bed. I'm having terrible muscle spasms in my neck/shoulders. I don't know if it's from my massage yesterday or the yardwork we did afterwards but whatever the reason, this sucks!

8 1/2 days until Freedom!

I guess accupuncture isn't a popular topic. . . but I digress.

I don't know why I'm still awake and wasting time on the computer. It's something I want to do less of-waste my time surfing the web. I've got three really interesting books going right now so I should be reading them. My book group meets on Tuesday and I've actually already finished the book! I'm so proud of myself.

The Husband just took his older brother (father of baby Leaf) to the airport for a two-day job interview in North Carolina. I wished him good luck but my heart would break if he got it. I just became an aunt-they can't move now! I know I'm being selfish but I really hope he gets a job in Seattle instead.

I've been up since 7 and I've barely stopped since then. I got a few yoga DVDs from the library and tried out parts of all of them this morning. Then I made a smoothie (I thought of you Jade and your juicer. . .) with strawberries, yogurt, banana, and OJ. It was so delicious! We shopped all day and bought lots of cards/gifts for upcoming birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, and Father's days. After we got home we got serious on some weeds in the front yard. I love our house but the yard is so hard to keep up with! I don't have much of a green thumb so it's pretty much hit and miss at this point.

Tomorrow will be filled with report cards, cleaning around the house, and (hopefully) a little bit of relaxation.

Have you ever tried acupuncture? I am thinking of trying it out but I'm a little scared of needles. . .any thoughts? I need some reassurence that it won't hurt. I'm going for headaches and my neck/shoulder pain from a 3-year-old car accident.

A Bee

That's what I've been as busy as this weekend.

I. . .
celebrated one of my best friends' 25th birthday by taking her out to dinner with another friend and learning how to knit. . .

went to Gas Works Park and Pike Place Market with the Husband, Rex, and my sister and brother-in-law. . .

planted some flowers and herbs. . .

went out to breakfast with the Husband's ex-girlfriend (that sounds so mean-I really like her!) and her husband from California and took them to the airport. . .

finally met one of our next-door-neighbors. . .

read many pages in my book club novel. . .

graded LOTS of papers. . .

watched 4 episodes of Felicity in a row. . .

talked to the mother figure on the phone. . .

bought a birthday present for the Brother's gf Lyndsay. . .

and the thing I am MOST proud of. . .STARTED REPORT CARDS!

Only 13 1/2 days of school left! Cheer with me people!

"Finally, you wore the same colored shoes."

Teacher: Your last spellng word is caring.

Student: Give me a bonus word.

Teacher: Please?

Student: Oh-I can do that! (and starts spelling "please" on his paper).

Teacher: Seriously?
__________________________________________________________________

Teacher: Line up! We need to go inside and do math.

Student: I have something to tell you. It's incredibly important.

Teacher: Okay. What is it?

Student: I need to reschedule my lunch detention for Monday.
___________________________________________________________________

They're dweebs.

Confessions

I wore one black Dansko clog and one brown Dansko clog to work today.

I told the kids I did it on purpose.

I snuck out of a meeting early to go to yoga.

I don't like to do cleansing breathes in yoga.

I can't wait for the second season of Hell's Kitchen.