Thanks Winston!

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.  ~Winston Churchill" 

This quote totaly explains my day.  It has been a rough week back at school.  Honestly, I didn't want to be there, and I was assistant-less for most of it. The kids were whiney, I was crabby, and it seemed like no one was even listening to me. When I finally got home, after a gazillion parent meetings, I have been drained-unmotivated to do the smallest task. I felt miserable.

Yesterday, at my 3 hour long ILT meeting (which I, of course, dreaded for days) our leader said something that really spoke to me.  I don't remember exactly what it was, but it reminded me that MY attitude, tone, behavior, etc, affected the way my kids behaved, and they way I perceived the day.  Yep, I have been causing my own problems all week. 

This morning, the sun was shinning and I decided that my attitude was going to be different.  And it was. And today was much better.  No, not everyone was perfect, and some parts were still frustrating, but i walked in the door @ 5:30 (yes, 5:30) and have felt great all afternoon!  Yay Attitude!  I think I will go for a walk/jog, make some dinner, and Grey's Anatomy it up with a glass of Duplin Wine! 

And tomorrow is Friday! 

"Attitudes are contagious.  Is yours worth catching?"  ~Dennis and Wendy Mannering

"Work is either fun or drudgery. It depends on your attitude. I like fun." ~ Colleen C. Barrett

Knock, knock...Martha, are you in there???

For the past couple of months I have been thinking about household responsibility.  Cleaning, cooking, dishes, laundry, and the like.  And it makes me kinda nervous.  My room is a mess.  Clothes are everywhere, clean, dirty, unknown, all strewn about the room. The bed is never made.  I haven's seen 1/3 of it since May 2007.  The bathroom counter is covered with hair and make-up stuff and the laundry piles up mid way to the ceiling before i finally take it to the wash, where 95% of the time my mom does it.  That is a little embarrassing. But i don't do much to relieve her of that duty because, well, I HATE CLEANING. I don't like to vacuum, dust (hey, it makes me sneeze!), do the tub and tiles, or wash and fold the clothes.  I don't like to sweep. I despise doing dishes.   

In 100 days I will be married and responsible, at least in part, for all of these dreaded chores.  Part of me is hoping that my inner Martha Stewart comes flooding out with the I-Do's... but the realistic side of me knows that is less than likely to happen.  I mean, when I was in college, my room was messy (nothing like it is now!), but I did keep the laundry under control and the rest of the house in pretty good shape.  So, that gives me hope that because it is MINE I will feel more of a desire to present a clean and tidy home.  I want to keep it nice and clean.  But the fact of the matter is that when i get home from school, the last thing i wanna do is clean.  And for the past year i have been spending 8 hours of the weekend driving, so Saturday and Sunday are out for cleaning.  

Oh well, I sure hope hubby-to-be doesn't mind the mess from time to time, because it's gonna take some will power to change my non-cleaning ways. :)  And, maybe, just maybe, having 8 extra hours a weekend will give me a few moments to clean the house!

My Hobby :)

I love picture and i love being crafty... so scrapbooking is the perfect hobby for me! I love how the papers and colors and embellishments add flavor to the photos.  And I LOVE looking back at past pages and remembering the good times! These are just some semi-recent pages I have done. :)

RANT: American Idol

So, I have never been a big American Idol fan.  I didn't watch Kelly Clarkson, I don't like the horrible try-out rounds, and I barley took note the season with 3 NC folks.  But as soon as I heard about Anoop Desai, UNC Clef Hanger alum and adorable Indian dude from Chapel Hill, I was hooked (this season at least).  Long story short, I like him.  He can sing. He is cute in a goofy way. He went to Carolina. He sang at my College Graduation (hey, how many people can say that an American Idol sang at THEIR graduation???)  

But, this season, being the avid fan that I am (now), I have been very interested in how the show works.  And my opinion of the show is plummeting every week.  The judges are horrible (who is Kara Diaguardio anyway???) and biased. They act like it is their job to pick on the select few who they deem "not marketable." But if you criticize the blind guy's singing ability, you might seem heartless.  Gee, I didn't think it was a SEEING contest. Sight should be irrelevant. The judges seem to pick on the same contestants week after week no matter how well they do, while some who fail time after time skate by with barely a negative comment. And anyone who thought that Adam Lambert's "Ring of Fire" sounded good, needs to have their hearing examined.

I am by no means saying that Anoop is the best. I have no illusion of grandeur that he will sneak up on America and win.  And on most days, Adam sounds great.  He will win, hands down. Albeit, he has had plenty of help from the judges.  He can do no wrong in their eyes.  He makes MY eyes hurt, but I guess I don't matter that much. Ha.  

When all is said and done (after I have voted my heart out without success), and Anoop goes home, I will have 4 extra hours every Tuesday and Wednesday; because they are biased; because they are money hungry; because I refuse to believe Adam Lambert is the best the USA has to offer; but most of all, because I am not an American Idol fan-I am an Anoop fan.

Wordless Wednesday

photo by Carly Brantmeyer

http://www.carlybrantmeyer.com

Tar Heels = National Champions!!!

THEY DID IT!!!! Yep, the Tar Heel boys met, and even exceeded all expectations.  They led for all but ~10 minutes of the NCAA tourney... and they brought another Championship to UNC!!!! (for those counting, thats 6!)  Tyler Hansbrough and the Heels have been kicking a$$ and breaking records all seasons and he will be missed greatly next year!  Actually all the seniors will be greatly missed-Danny Green and his dancing for one.  I was at Carolina for their freshman and sophomore years and I am so proud of the success they have had. They only thing that could make this night better is to back in Chapel Hill, jumping and screaming in the streets with a million other Carolina fans.  Man, I miss that place. 

This quote pretty much sums up how you feel about Chapel Hill after you spend 4 amazing years in that place that is unlike any other.

"Down through all the years of your lives, wherever you may go, your heart will always beat just a bit faster when you hear the symphonic syllables: Chapel Hill."

- WT Carmichael Jr, 1950 Yackety Yack

Tar Heel Born.

Tar Heel Bred.

GO HEELS!

Tyler- You will be missed! 

Go Heels!!!!

There is nothing finer than being in Carolina... especially when the Heels are in the Final Four, I am in Chapel Hill, and the skies are Carolina Blue!!! Can't wait for the game to start! Then, if (when) there will be bonfires in the street and a sea of the best color on the planet. Hopefully the Tar Heels will go all the way! Then Carolina will have won a national championship when my dad was in college at UNC, when I was in college at UNC, AND when my brother was in college at UNC!!!