The World According to Leslie

Most days, there are just not enough hours to finish the "to do list" I have. There just isn't enough time to do all the things I want to do. I really don't even know where to start with my "to do list" most days. However, I'm learning quickly that there simply isn't enough time to do all I need to do with the Princess. In just a couple weeks (34 days), she is going to be finished with 8th grade. We've already enrolled her in high school for next year. But, what scares me the most (in a good way) is that tomorrow morning, we are going to do our FIRST (of many, I'm sure) college tour!  We are going to be touring Appalachian State University. (I went to school there my first year of college, so I wouldn't be opposed to her being there!! Plus... we could get season passes to Tweetsie so when we go visit!!)  It's crazy to think that there are only 4 short years before she is graduating from high school and going to college. ...

I guess it's better late than never, right? HAPPY EASTER! Spring Break started here on Friday.... Good Friday.  The day care was also closed, so the Princess and I didn't even have to set an alarm!  IT WAS AWESOME!  She's out all this week.  That means NO ALARMS all week!  So nice! It also means that when she goes back to school on April 24, there are only 34 days of school left! You all know how I love my countdowns!  (Yes! I still do them...even though I'm not in a classroom full time!) I may even put it up on the wall in the house.... this has been a tough school year! Anyways.... Saturday, we went to a few yard sales. Then we went to find the Princess a semiformal dress for some stuff she has coming up. Sunday, EASTER, we went to church. Since everyone was all dressed for Easter, the pastor had it set up for one of the ladies at church to take pictures of families. Since my parents and my sister and brother (and all most of our kids) we...

There are a lot of things I want from life. Some of them, I am working toward. Some of them, I just dream about having/doing. Some of them are on my "Wish List". If you go on Amazon.com or eBay, you can add things to your "Wish List". Naturally, I have lists on those... but some things just can't be bought. Here's just part of my "Wish List": I wish I could win the lottery (that I don't play)! I wish I could DVR more than 2 shows at a time without having to pay more on my cable bill! I wish I had enough money to help everyone who truly needs help. I wish I could come up with the right idea to write a book. I wish I could lose these last 12 pounds before I go to the doctor in June!!  (Personal choice, not doctor's decision) I wish we could find The Princess a dress for her Me and My Guy event (for Girl Scouts) and her 8th grade semi-formal.  (One dress will work for both....but seriously, she's worse at making decisions t...

The Princess is working on her Silver Award project. She is calling it Love in the Chaos !!! She's going to be making LifeBooks for children who are in foster care in our county. Once she has completed her Silver Award, she will begin the work to start her Gold Award. (It's like the Boy Scout Eagle Award--only better.... ok, I may be a little biased!) That's when she's going to spread to surrounding counties with this project! Anyways, we have asked friends, family, and complete strangers for donations for the LifeBooks. She's hoping to make 150-200 of them for our local county. We have had several people donate to the project so far.... and we still need A LOT of donations (monetary or supplies). But, of those donations only two have been from people we know!  It's amazing how strangers will help you do something when you are working toward a goal, like LifeBooks for Foster Children. If you would like to donate, please contact me. I'll set up a...

My mother has told me my entire life that I should try to be kind to people. I shouldn't hurt people's feelings with my words. I can honestly say I always remember that, but I don't always practice it. As I sit here today, I wish that other people had been taught the same thing. Let me just start by saying this... I am tough. I can handle myself in most situations (as long as there are no dogs involved!).  I can deal with most people. I really do not get hurt easily. However... It matters what you say. Just remember that you don't know everyone! Even if you have known someone for years, like more than 20, you don't know everything about them. They could be going through things that you never imagined. I recently had someone ask me when I was going to "get a job" so Tony wouldn't have to work so many hours.  Let me start with this. This hurt me. I'm not "unemployed" by choice.  Trust me.  I have been applying for an...

As you all know, we are researching options for The Princess for school next year. I'm sure you're getting tired of hearing about it.  Right now, she's registered at the local public high school in the International Baccalaureate program. We have applied for the NC Virtual Academy, but we won't know for sure about it until the application date is here--April 21. IF they have to do a lottery, they won't do it until April 28th.  WOW!  That seems like so far away, but it's really not!! Anyways.....  We are also looking at homeschooling.  I have been doing my research. I've been looking at the NC requirements and laws online. I've been reading reviews and checking out all the different curricula available. (Maybe not ALL...there are tons out there!) Yesterday, I went "old school"!  I went to the public library to pick up a couple of books about homeschooling. I ended up, actually, going to both of the branches of the public library closes...

This morning, bright and early, a few buses of kids from The Princess's school loaded up and left for Washington, D. C. The Princess and I were not on the bus. :(  Last year, about this time, we WERE on the bus to Nags Head, for 3 days. This year, we are not on the bus. We just couldn't do it! Actually, Tony, The Princess, and I were all going to go, but we just couldn't swing it. That means, she's carrying on a (somewhat sad) family tradition. She is not going on her 8th grade field trip to Washington. I didn't get to go. (I don't remember why, now!) And, unfortunately, I have never made it up there yet.  However.... The Princess has determined that we WILL be going to DC! :)  I want to go. I want to see Arlington, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. I want to see all the museums! I want to tour the White House. I want to see the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial Wall! I want to see the giant Lincoln at his memorial and all the other t...

"What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?" Robert Schuller Wow!  Just wow! I have a list, a mile long, of things I want to do. Things I want to try. Things I'm afraid to try. What if I knew I couldn't fail, what would I do? First, I would audition for The Voice.  I love that show. I love singing. If I knew I couldn't fail, sign me up!!  Second, I'd get my dream job. I have a lot of dreams, but my dream teaching job has always been at my alma mater! I'd love to be able to walk into the doors of my old high school every day and teach the kids that come from the same place (background, neighborhoods) as me. I'd be able to relate to kids that understand the history of the school and who understand where you are coming from more than teaching kids that are totally different (socio-economically, location, background) than yourself. It wouldn't be easy, because today's kids are totally different than the kids when I wa...