Gnomies Gone Wild

[jenjolt]

I agree we definitely should have a gnomie chat sometime soon!!!!

Hope everyone is doing well!!

Second test is over and I think I did okay! I am not going to second guess myself tomorrow! I did it twice today and then when I checked my answers turns out I was right the first time...so none of that tomorrow!!!! Other than that I still feel very confident! Tomorrow is the big one!!

Turns out some of the stuff at out house got moved out today and into the PODS so this is really happening LOL!!!! I'm moving!

 

[kschafer]

disney must be really trying to entice people right now because I got a second, identical PIN code e-mail in just a couple weeks. I hope something might work out for a quick getaway C!

Still sending good thoughts Jen as you finish your tests!

Not much going on here. Speding most of my time keeping up on the house (which is of course exponentially more work in the summer) and driving the boys to activities. This weekend is Patrick's birthday and we are having his party on Friday evening. Luckily it's a very simple pool party, all we are allowed to bring is a cake and goodie bags so I have very little preparation to deal with.

The closing date on the part-time job nearby was yesterday so I have my fingers crossed to hear something. The full-time job in town has no closing date but the new principal starts her job on July 1 so I am assuming nothing will happen until then. Please keep the good thoughts coming, I really need them!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Fingers crossed for Jen and Katie as you hear about your test and job respectively!

Have I mentioned that I really feel I was meant to be independently wealthy and something has gone horribly wrong?

Work. Bah.

Men. Ugh.

Hope you're all doing well. Jen (MM) has a nice hot week to be in the Outer Banks at the beach!

Jackie - your trip is coming up soon. I saw that Taste of Africa article... very cool!

LL- are you able to do any 5K training in this heat? I don't judge... I can barely walk down the driveway to the mailbox.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I've been too busy eating everything in sight to train this week.

The good news is that I have a plan. I'm giving myself a few more days to be a slouch and then I'm going to buckle down. I have printed our planners and calendars and I'm going to make a strict regimine to follow for training and eating since I've been hovering lately in that.

BAH.

 

[ILuvCrush]

Hi All!! Long time no 'see'

Recap of my life so far this summer......

work, garage sale this weekend. done

The kids are having a much better summer vacay lol! I haven't seen Ellie in almost 2 weeks. Now, she left for Ocean City last night til next Weds lol! Allison is at a sleepover at least 2-3 times a week....so haven't seen much of her either. The Boy is locked in his room with his computer, video games, and cellphone....I see him at feeding time Thanks goodness I have the dog to keep me company! Tom is still collecting his severance. He hasn't found anything great.... but then again, he isn't trying too hard

I booked myself a solo WDW trip for the beginning of April. I just can't go a whole year between this years Sept trip and DLP next Sept! I've always wanted to see flower and garden. 3 trips in 5 months was way too much of a good thing! I need 4-5 months in between trips, I think, to really enjoy them. April will work perfectly in that regard! It's been almost 5 months since my last trip, and I'm really getting the 'bug' to go back!

I also made a tough decision. I decided that I'm going to rent/transfer out my DVC points for next year. It looks like the rental board is hopping again, so I'm less worried that I wouldn't be able to rent them all than I was originally. The ABD trip plus DLP would have completely wiped out 2 years worth of points... plus ones I've banked into next year...I don't like that idea. I figured I'd give you gals here 1st shot if you're interested...before I put them up on the rent/trade boards. I know that there's some trips being tossed around here... and I'd rather see friends use them if they want them. I have 400 points available for rent at $10pp...right now I can book at AKV up thru may 2011 Send me a PM if you are interested


CP, LL.... what are the lady Emily books?? I finished the Carnation books, and the vampire diaries... now I'm ready to move on to something else

MM... hope u r having a great time!

C... thinkin of ya! I know things will start looking up soon!

JJ... Keeping my fingers crossed as you finish up your tests and sending warmthoughts and pixie dust!

katie... Have fingers AND toes crossed that you hear some good news very soon!

Take care!
Paula

 

[kschafer]

Paula, what a generous offer...how long will your points go for? I secretly dream of booking a trip for spring break next year but in all reality, it will probably be Nov 2011 before I make it back

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Hi, P!

Great to hear from you. Glad the kids are having fun and hurrah for an April solo trip! I agree there is some magical # of months that have to be between Disney trips to truly appreciate it but it seems that 12 months is just too long!

I may be interested in renting points... let me think about it a bit. I'd love to see F&G too... April 2011... hmm...

LL- I'm with you on the general Bah. Bah. And one more time for good measure. Bah.
Bah. (couldn't resist).

 

[ILuvCrush]

Paula, what a generous offer...how long will your points go for? I secretly dream of booking a trip for spring break next year but in all reality, it will probably be Nov 2011 before I make it back

November wouldn't really be a problem. Only thing is I would need $$ by end of June. The plan is, I decided it would be better for me to rent the points out and use the cash for our ABD trip. I will need to be either paying for the trip or switching it to using the points by the end of June KWIM?? Let me know... I don't intend to post over in the other forum til probably Sept. My use year starts Dec 1st... and although I'd borrow point for you gals, since I know ya so well...I'm not going to do that for just anyone.

Hi, P!

Great to hear from you. Glad the kids are having fun and hurrah for an April solo trip! I agree there is some magical # of months that have to be between Disney trips to truly appreciate it but it seems that 12 months is just too long!

I may be interested in renting points... let me think about it a bit. I'd love to see F&G too... April 2011... hmm...
(couldn't resist).

Hiya C! You'd be easy...cause I could just transfer to you to do with them as you please
I like the idea of a little company on my solo trip I haven't gotten my confirmation back yet...AKV was my 1st choice and Beach Club my second (only cause BC is soooo many more points!)

I think my magic #is around 5-6months. I'm really itching to go now, but a month ago when I was making all the dining ADRs for Sept...I really wasn't as much into it lol! Since I'm done planning for Sept... I've been pricing out trips for my co-workers..... they all think I'm nuts

P

 

[ILuvCrush]

I like the idea of a little company on my solo trip I haven't gotten my confirmation back yet...AKV was my 1st choice and Beach Club my second (only cause BC is soooo many more points!)
P

hmmmm just now dawned on me that maybe the reason i haven't heard back yet is because April is outside my 7th month window for BC...lol! oops!

 

[ILuvCrush]

If anyone (besides me ) buys the photopass CDs.... the deal for $99 on pre-purchased CDs is good again. I don't know for how long. I bought mine for September

there isn't an expiration on the pre-purchase credit so you can get it now and then use it whenever!

http://www.disneyphotopass.com/previsitoffer.aspx

woohoo! yet another thing off my trip to-do list!

P

 

[Charleston Princess]

Good morning, Gnomies! It's Friday!

Paula, hi!!! If you liked the Pink Carnation series, you would like the Lady Emily series. They are by Tasha Alexander, and the order of them is And Only to Deceive, The Poisoned Season, The Fatal Waltz, and Tears of the Pearl. I just loved them! Such a super sweet offer about the points! It makes me want to book a trip!

Jen, congrats on finishing the tests! I am sure you did great!

LL, sorry this has been an off week for you.

Katie, fingers crossed for the jobs!

Christine, it definitely sounds like you need a get-away of some sort!

Well, yesterday, I had a meeting with other teachers of gifted students to help choose the novels and reading for next year. Here's my vent: it's no wonder that students hate reading in class! I was in the group choosing 6th and 7th grade materials, so I wasn't able to say a whole lot about what the 8th grade teachers were choosing. Let's just say I might as well pass out an anti-depressant along with the books because everything they chose is so depressing!!! I came home ranting and raving. Is it really so hard to choose something that students like, that's literary, and doesn't make you want to go hang out in the deep end of the pool indefinitely??? I may be "supplementing" with my own choices!

 

[jenjolt]

Good Morning Gnomies!!! It's Friday!!!

Jackie...I would be interested in hearing about some of the choices that got picked. I also have to agree that the lack of variety in books choosen is an issue, students should be introduced to a lot of different types of books with a variety of different types of endings.

Leslie...hope you'll be able to have the weekend to just relax and do something you will enjoy!

Paula...what a great offer...I just might have to figure out a way to take you up on it LOL!!!!

C...I agree maybe you should just take a quick getaway...you deserve a break!!!

Katie...saying a prayer for your job situation and that one of them will work out for you!!!

Got home yesterday afternoon and managed to do some packing but the majority of that has to be done today after my doctor's appointment. We will be doing the packing up of the heavy stuff Saturday and early next week. Right now the plan is to leave Friday morning or Thursday night and head to Austin, where I will drop off Phillip and I will head to KS to drop my cats off with my parents for awhile. We don't think its fair to keep them couped up in a extended stay for that long.

Hopefully will start finding out today how my tests went, saying prayers they all went well!!!!

Hope all our gnomies have a great day!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, Jen! I can't believe you are moving next week!

Here are some of the 8th grade choices:
The Giver (depressing story of a Utopian society gone wrong)
Harrison Bergeron (another depressing story of a Utopian society gone wrong)
Diary of Anne Frank
Night (autobiography of one man's experience in the concentration camps)
Flowers for Algernon (mentally challenged man is given an operation to make him smarter but it eventually wears off resulting in death)

Those are the big ones that come to mind. Pass me the Cymbalta!

 

[ILuvCrush]

Here are some of the 8th grade choices:
The Giver (depressing story of a Utopian society gone wrong)
Harrison Bergeron (another depressing story of a Utopian society gone wrong)
Diary of Anne Frank
Night (autobiography of one man's experience in the concentration camps)
Flowers for Algernon (mentally challenged man is given an operation to make him smarter but it eventually wears off resulting in death)

Those are the big ones that come to mind. Pass me the Cymbalta!

Oy! I'm glad my kids aren't in your 8th grade! Depressing is right!

would it have been so bad if they had threw in something classic, but lighter??

I remember reading Call of the Wild/Fang, Swiss Family Robinson, Hounds of the Baskervilles, National Velvet, and Little Women all in/around that age. So I know there's other books out there! Anne Frank is pretty universal for 8th-9th graders...thats the only one I think that I aggree with

P

 

[ILuvCrush]

Jen...good luck with the move! I think it's sweet that you're sending your babies to grandmas house insteadof to 'daycare'

CP... I downloaded the 1st Lady Emily book. I realized that I had gotten the new Twilight book,but hadn't read it yet... so I think I'll get that out of the way before I start on Miss Emily!

I read a 'regular' book last week.... turning the pages drove me nuts lol! My Nook has me so spoiled

P

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oy! I'm glad my kids aren't in your 8th grade! Depressing is right!

would it have been so bad if they had threw in something classic, but lighter??

I remember reading Call of the Wild/Fang, Swiss Family Robinson, Hounds of the Baskervilles, National Velvet, and Little Women all in/around that age. So I know there's other books out there! Anne Frank is pretty universal for 8th-9th graders...thats the only one I think that I aggree with

P

See, I don't agree with many of them, either, which is why I will more than likely do my own thing. I will read some of them, but I just don't think I can teach Night nor do I really want Chelsea reading it.

There are plenty of classics and high-interest books that I use that are lighter but still literary.

CP... I downloaded the 1st Lady Emily book. I realized that I had gotten the new Twilight book,but hadn't read it yet... so I think I'll get that out of the way before I start on Miss Emily!

I read a 'regular' book last week.... turning the pages drove me nuts lol! My Nook has me so spoiled

P

Let me know what you think of the new Twilight -- I may pick it up for Chelsea.

So, you are in love with the Nook? I just don't know if I could give up books.

 

[Lady Lallie]

No relaxing for me this weekend, I have a STUPID wedding to go too.

Paula, it's nice to see you around again. Don't tempt me with those DVC points.

Hi, Jen! I can't believe you are moving next week!

Here are some of the 8th grade choices:
The Giver (depressing story of a Utopian society gone wrong)
Harrison Bergeron (another depressing story of a Utopian society gone wrong)
Diary of Anne Frank
Night (autobiography of one man's experience in the concentration camps)
Flowers for Algernon (mentally challenged man is given an operation to make him smarter but it eventually wears off resulting in death)

Those are the big ones that come to mind. Pass me the Cymbalta!

I read all those books but not in the same year! Yikes. I love The Giver, also Night but I think it's way too much for the same year.

 

[2xcited2sleep]

I remember Where the Red Fern Grows... think that was around 8th grade or so. Maybe younger. I'm not sure. I do remember crying hysterically. Those are some depressing books, Jackie!

P- you are tempting me with the points and an April 2011 visit... stay tuned.

Just watched the first episode of season 1 of Weeds at the gnomie recommendation... hysterical. I can't wait for more!

What's up for the weekend, ladies? Anything fun?

 

[ILuvCrush]

I remember Where the Red Fern Grows... think that was around 8th grade or so. Maybe younger. I'm not sure. I do remember crying hysterically. Those are some depressing books, Jackie!

P- you are tempting me with the points and an April 2011 visit... stay tuned.

Just watched the first episode of season 1 of Weeds at the gnomie recommendation... hysterical. I can't wait for more!

What's up for the weekend, ladies? Anything fun?

tempty tempty tempty

I'm having a yard sale.... yay... in small letters. lol! I hope I make something on it... All my profits are being turned into a Disney Gift Card

P

 

[jenjolt]

Wanted my Gnomies to know.... I PASSED ALL MY TESTS!!! WOOT!! Talked to one of my principals and as soon as the certification process goes through she will resubmit my paperwork and I will be ready to teach in Austin!!! WOOT WOOT!!!!