Neti Pot

If you're eating or have a weak stomach, you may want to turn away. No, I'm not going to go into the worst of the grossness, but believe me I could get graphic here.

I have been fighting off a sinus infection by taking my allergy medicine every day, but even with the meds I've had quite a bit of congestion, hacking and coughing especially in the mornings. One of my friends at work suggested I get a neti pot. She said she has been using one for a couple of years and has only had one sinus infection during that time. She said she used to get them all the time.

The neti pot kind of looks like Aladdin's lamp to me. You can click here to see one. I've seen the strange contraption before on tv and heard about it from friends, but I was always scared to get one. It just didn't seem natural to me.

Basically, you fill the thing with lukewarm water and a salt solution. Then, with your head over the sink you stick the spout in one side of your nose and turn it up to pour it in. In a second or two, the salt water solution comes out the other side of your nose. Afterward, you blow your nose. Sounds gross, I know, but it's supposed to clean our your sinuses and help get rid of infection.

I finally broke down last night and bought a neti pot for me and one for K since we both have been so miserable that it seemed like the right time to take a chance...to be brave. Wow, after using it just once last night it seems to have helped tremendously. I woke up at 4am and was so excited not to have a huge amount of congestion (in fact almost none) and I could breathe through my nose! Only problem was that the excitement kept me from getting back to sleep...lol. Not a problem, since I had slept SO much better during the time I did sleep.

Sometimes it really pays to be brave.

My 100th Post and My First Meme

I've finally reached the milestone of my 100th post. Since I got tagged by Jenn at Casa de Castro to do a "Six Random Things" meme and since I could not come up with 100 things about me like the amazing HisGirl (I couldn't even come up with 50..), hopefully you'll all be satisfied with this. Otherwise, feel free to ask random questions and I'll answer pretty much anything else you want to know. So here goes...

1. I love to type, which is a good thing when you love to blog. :) I'm a pretty good typist, partially because I have a habit of tapping with my fingers on the sides of my legs (typing) things I say out loud or things others say to me. It can be a little embarassing when people notice me doing it. Weird is a good thing, right?

2. I have a fear of lakes or any body of water that has fish or other water creatures. Not being able to see to the bottom of the lake makes my imagination run wild wondering what's down there and if it might graze me swimming by. I also can't stand the thought of the dirt and germs or other icky stuff that could be in a lake. My mom says that even when I was a small child, I didn't like lakes and would cry if we would drive over a long bridge over a lake.

3. I have traveled very little in my life, but my favorite place I have visited is Alaska. My family spent the summer there the year I was 12. I would absolutely love to visit there again. It's also interesting that it was the only time I've ever seen the ocean and it was the Arctic. I still have never been to the Texas coast even though it's only 5 or so hours away from me.

4. I love Tex-mex food. I could eat it every meal, breakfast, lunch and dinner and sometimes do. And it must be spicy hot! I buy salsa in the institutional size container.

5. I have a loud voice. An old lady at a party once rather rudely told me that my voice was going to be the only thing heard on the video tape of the party. Having a loud voice isn't always bad though. If you need someone to yell across a crowd to get another person's attention, I'm your girl!

6. I went by the name Susan instead of Suzanne from the time I was 12 till I was about 30 because a boy made fun of my name in jr. high school. He would yell "Shazam!" down the hallway. Anyone remember the tv show Shazam? I also thought Susan sounded more "normal". I love my name now and I'm glad it's not that common.

Well those are my Six Random Things.

Ooooh, now it's my turn to tag someone to tell their Six Random Things. Hmmm, let's see. I pick:

Susan at Lila's Journey

Jess at Mourning Into Dancing

Tracy at Our Journey

Joan at More God = Less Me

Oy vey! What a day!

Wow! I am just about wiped out today. Last night was the homecoming football game. We had fun even though our team lost, but I was a little disappointed that I didn't see anyone from the class of '83. Typically at the homecoming games every year I will see a few people that I knew from high school and this being our 25th year I thought I might see a few more. Does no one follow tradition any more? Oh well...if I didn't have kids there, I'm not sure I'd have been there either.

I was up till 2am because we didn't get home from the football game till 12:00 and I have to have time to wind down. After about 6 hours of sleep (I need at least 2 hours more), I got up and took T to drama rehearsal. Then I stopped and picked up donuts to take to the fundraiser garage sale that K was doing. I helped with the garage sale for several hours till time to pick up T from drama rehearsal.

I went to pick up T at 1pm, but they weren't finished rehearsing yet. So I rushed to Kroger to see if their floral department had any mums left over for homecoming...the dance is tonight. Nothing like waiting till the last minute! Thankfully, they had two left and one looked really nice. Sixty dollars poorer, I walked out with something kind of like this, only with our school colors (didn't think of taking a picture of the one I did get).

Then I went back to the school to pick up T, who by now was finished rehearsing. Next task was to go shopping for something for him to wear to the dance. Again, nothing like waiting till the last minute. About 10 stores later and 80 dollars poorer (not bad really for suit pants and jacket, plus tie that had to match the girlfriend's dress), we finally had his outfit. Not bad really, compared to the cost involved for getting a girl ready for the homecoming dance. Oh, by the way...K has no interest whatsoever in school dances which is why I wasn't dealing with getting two kids ready.

Whewww...I'm starting to realize why I am so exhausted.

Next up on the agenda, T and I had to go help pack up the leftovers from the garage sale with K. Woohoo! K made $111 toward her trip to Philmont next summer with Venturing Crew. Good thing, since it's going to cost over $800 total. More garage sales are planned and probably other fundraising events too.

Later back at the house, I got a chance to sit down and rest for just a few minutes while T took a shower, before ironing his shirt and tying his tie for him. I couldn't believe I'd forgotten how to tie a tie (used to do it all the time till D learned how to tie his own) and since D is gone on a camping trip with the scout troop, I had to figure it out. It took a while even with the picture we found on the internet, but we finally did git 'er done.

Once T made sure he looked perfect to go, we went to pick up his girlfriend and a couple more of their friends. I got lots of pictures of the lovely couple and of the group before driving them to the dance. By the way, we did pick out just the right tie because I heard T and his girlfriend say it looked like they had shopped together because the color match was so good. Score!!

I dropped off four giggly kids at the dance and then stopped on the way home to pick up dinner for me and K and now we're watching a catch-up soap opera marathon from the ones we have recorded. Can I just say, I love my recliner... Now if only I could fall asleep while watching, but I can't. T won't be home for about an hour and a half and I'm one of those moms who has to stay awake till the kids are all home.

When I finally get to go to bed, I will sleep well tonight!

Starting to Feel Like Fall..and a Few Other Things

Daniel 2:21 (New International Version)
He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.

Ahhh, this morning when I went to get into my car it was so cool I thought I might have to wear a sweater soon. Lovely weather we're having here! Sometimes I wish it was like this every day, but then I guess we wouldn't appreciate the great weather if we didn't have the bad weather to compare it to.

Next subject, my hubby and I are really not enjoying some things about the high school experience for our kiddos right now because of one particular teacher. It's so irritating when a person seems to love the "power" of being in a certain position while doing as little as possible of the responsibilities that go with being in that position. Plus, there have been a few occurrences. that are just unacceptable. Unfortunately, what used to be a very good program has deteriorated because of this individual. Several parents are contacting the principal, so we'll see what happens...

And onto my final topic of this post, I am SO glad that I don't work as a substitute teacher every day. Every so often, I will be called from my regular job to cover for a teacher that is absent and today was one of those days. The class where I was a sub today was just awful. Usually I think I'm pretty good at managing the kids, but today I just couldn't seem to keep them under control.

Oh well, tomorrow is another day...and it's supposed to be another beautiful, cool day too.

Dear Lord, please give me the wisdom to handle the situations I encounter in a way that brings You glory.

We Were Spared By Ike...Pray For Those Who Weren't

Thankfully, here in Dallas we just got some much needed rain from hurricane Ike. Since we thought we were going to get much more, we canceled the fundraiser garage sale that we were going to have. That gave us a weekend with very little else to do, so we managed to get the house back in order. Hallelujah! While I wouldn't want someone to look closely and see the dust that is still there, at least I would no longer be completely embarassed for someone to come into my home.

I also had time to catch up on blogging. I think I had about 40 posts to catch up on from my favorite blog-sisters. It was great reading what everyone else has been up to. I also finally had time to post the recipe that I accidentally published and then took down because I was missing part of the recipe (3 weeks ago!). So now it really is there if you click on my recipe blog.

Unfortunately, Ike wasn't so kind to other areas. I called my dad in East Texas last night and he said they had a pretty good storm and their power had been out for hours, but there wasn't a whole lot of damage that they could see so far. Then I saw on the news all the damage in Houston and they said they might not have power back for weeks! I feel so bad for all they're going through...

Praying for those who have lost so much this weekend that God will give them comfort and restoration.

Friday Night Lights

I grew up in the land of "Friday Night Lights", but I didn't really have much school spirit. I guess maybe I just had too many things on my plate to care much about other things that high school kids are supposed to be doing. I don't have those memories of camaraderie that come with being part of the band or the football team or the cheerleaders. I was in choir, but even that was done halfheartedly. So many times I have wished I had those memories, memories of being part of something.

It's interesting how God chooses to heal our hurts, how he gives us something that will fix even the unfixable. For me, being the co-crew chief for the band crew is helping to fix that part of me that didn't get to experience school spirit. Even greater for me is that my kids go to the same school where I went, my alma mater.

I'm part of the team now. Along with other parents, I work hard on Friday nights to make sure our band kids have what they need. I help to fill up hundreds of water cups and pass them out, passing out sodas at half time (shouting "only take one, only take one!"...lol), and passing out plumes for their hats. It may not sound like much, but it really takes a lot of effort and cooperation. It also satisfies the need to be part of something, something I never really experienced in high school.

Standing there holding up my index finger (we're #1!), as I sing my school song I do have school spirit. I have something I longed for when I was younger.

Whatever it is...whatever your "unfixable" thing, it doesn't matter that you can't go back and do it over again. God can fix it. He finds a way. Believe He can. And He will.

9-11-2001 Never Forget

I didn't want to forget that day. So I journaled how I felt. Reading it today, I can see that I was unable to convey my emotion through my words on a page. I was so much more upset than these words seem to tell. I am glad I journaled it though. Here is what I wrote that day:

September 11, 2001

Dean and I walked the kids to school this morning. I chased Tyler while he laughed, trying to catch up with him. I thought to myself, at the time, that I knew I would cherish that memory forever. What I didn’t know is that this would be such a defining day in my life for another reason. We dropped the kids off at school, kissed them goodbye and went for a walk. It’s such a brilliant beautiful day today. Dean and I both talked about how wonderful a day it was…how cool it was…so much cooler than it usually is this time of year. We really enjoyed our walk.

When we got home, Dean went and turned on the shower to get ready for work. I went into the bedroom and turned on the TV. That’s when I saw it…The World Trade Center…both towers in flames. Peter Jennings was just telling the world about how two planes had crashed into the buildings, an apparent terrorist attack. I called to Dean to come listen. The shower still running, we both stood and stared at the television in horror. Then the report that the Pentagon had also been attacked. The magnitude of all of this is beyond belief. I keep hoping that I’ll wake up and this will all have been a terrible nightmare.

How do I explain this to my children? I think of the times that I’ve prayed for the parents in war torn countries and hope there are parents in other countries praying for us now. I pray that God will give me the words to tell my children. I pray that my children will not be made to live in fear.

I walked outside in the front yard and looked up at the sky. It’s so quiet. There are no planes in the sky. I talked to my mom on the phone. She works near Love Field Airport. She says that it’s strangely quiet there.

My imagination runs wild with thoughts of how our lives might change in the months to come.

I pray that God will touch the hearts of those involved in this attack on our country. I pray that they will come to realize what they have done.

God Bless America…those words never meant more to me than they do today.