The World According to Leslie

My Girl Scout troop is FABULOUS!!! They decided they wanted to be sure that every kid in Kindergarten at their school (luckily it’s ONE school) went home with a book for the summer!     So over the week, we collected books!   Last night with 142 books, we separated and labeled classrooms.  We put them in pretty gift bags.  Then….  since we had books left over, we gave the teachers some for their classrooms!!   I thought it was awesome!    They are talking about trying to get everyone in the school a book to take home for Christmas or at the end of next school year!  WOW!  That wouldn’t take much more since there are only about 350 kids at the school!   I think my girls could do it!    We will see!

WOW!  You know the old saying, “Time flies when you’re having fun?”  Well, I must have had a blast this year!  Today is the last TEACHING day for my kids.  Exams start tomorrow.   Between tomorrow and Monday, I will give all of the exams I am giving.  Then the grading starts, but still….. WOW!  By Tuesday of next week, I will have finished all of my grades for kids.  I will not have any paperwork for the kids left to do!   After Monday,  I have many kids that I will not see again.  Those that I do see will be watching a movie.  I really only have 3 more 90 minute classes to teach.    Then…..  it’s over!   The Princess is taking her exams yesterday and today.  She won’t get the results back until October! WOW!  That’s FOREVER!   I’m taking the paperwork to her new school today.  (I just need to get 2 things from her doctor and everything will be in!)   Countdown----  1 teaching day, 6 exam days= 7 school days!!!

Over the last week, mostly the weekend, I have been researching and writing articles.  They were due last night.   Unfortunately…. I could not get them all completed.  There were three topics I could not find enough information on.  I couldn’t write them.    Now, I’m back to trying to find a writing job for the summer.    I really would like to have something to do.  I’m not used to having free time.  I might go nuts!     But…. in the world of high quantity article writing…. I tried.  Ultimately, I failed.

This Memorial Day, I hope you said THANK YOU to a soldier (past or present).  I hope you stopped to think about all the things we have because of everything they sacrificed.   I spent my Memorial Day in front of my computer.  With only a total of about 90 minutes worth of breaks (food, potty, hanging with the Princess), I wrote all day.  I accepted a job writing articles.  I have 20 test articles due today.    Last week, something came up almost every night.  So I didn’t get to write them.  I spent Sunday and yesterday working on them.  I wrote 2 on Sunday.  I wrote 9 yesterday.  I still have 9 left to write today.  Unfortunately, I have to do the “real job” thing today.  So I am going to have to find a way to do research and write articles while I am at work….. guess that will be my planning period today!     Some of the articles aren’t hard to find information for, but others are killing me.  Once I get the hang of it, it won’t be hard to write 4-5 articles in a day.  The

I have a million thoughts running through my head today.  However none of them are as important as saying THANK YOU to the people who have served our country.   One of my favorite sayings is “All gave some.  Some gave all!”   Remember those who served today.  They are still fighting to give us the right to be able to do the things we do.    If you see a soldier today…. THANK HIM (or HER)!!!  We have a policy in our family that if we can get to a soldier when we see them, we thank them.  They are doing a job I don’t want to do so that I can do the things I do want   to do!   Thank you to all who have, are, and will serve MY great country!  I love you!   GOD BLESS the USA!    GOD BLESS OUR TROOPS!!

Yesterday, we went about 2 hours from home.  We went to watch Tony’s niece play softball.  The last time we saw her, she was only a little younger than the Princess is now.  It’s been about 8 years.   The Princess got to meet her Uncle, Aunt, and her cousin.   She was so excited.    We finally got home around 11pm last night.    The Princess and I slept on the way home.  Then we crashed as soon as we could get our pajamas on.   Now this morning, we are up and trying to get ready for church.  The Princess is leading the Pledge of Allegiance this morning because it’s Memorial Day Sunday!   (I love when she does that!)   Have a great Memorial Day weekend.  I have some work to get done for these writing jobs I have accepted. 

I can’t seem to be on time for much of anything.   LOL    Today, we all overslept. So now, we are trying to get ready to head out to see Tony’s brother and his family in SC.  We are going to watch some older girl softball today!

With this being a holiday weekend, I have an extra day to fill.     So, Saturday, we are going to SC.  My brother-in-law’s daughter is playing softball there in a College Showcase tourney.  We are going to go catch a couple of those games and hang out with his brother.  We haven’t seen him since the Princess was like….2…. I think.  So…. it’s been a while!    Also, Sunday we will have church.   Monday, we will probably get together with family for Memorial Day fun.   All during this time, I am going to be working on those articles I’m writing.  They are due on Tuesday, but I get a bonus if I get them in on Monday!  (That’s what I’m shooting for!!)    Tuesday sends us all back to work and school, but the Princess and I will only have 9 days left until we get to sleep in!    Today….we have 10 days left (counting today!)!!!  Almost single digits.  Almost done! 

WOW!   Can you believe today is my 550th post?  I can’t believe I have had that much to talk about!   Ok! OK!  So, some days I really don’t have that much to talk about, but you guys/gals “listen” anyways.   Today, I wish I had something fabulous to say today, but I don’t really.   Yesterday, I was looking through pics of the Oklahoma tornado ruins.  There was a pile of rubble and in the top of it there was a plaque (or frame or something).  It simply said, “The best things in life aren’t things.”   If you think about it…..  They aren’t! The best things in life aren’t the cars and houses and jewelry.  They are the friends, family, love!    So just think about that today as we continue to love on the people of Oklahoma through this tragedy.  They will rebuild.  They are strong.  Let’s show them….they are LOVED!

Today, I was awarded another writing job.  I am going to be writing 3-4 500 word articles a day.  They are about “types of” things.    I have a trial run of 20 articles that are due on May 28th.  I have to research and write about them.  I know I can do it.  I just have to really get into it now.    I’m nervous.  I’ve never been paid to write anything. Now I have two jobs that  are going to pay me for my writing.    Maybe this will get me off my tush and get my book written.   I’ll get there.  I just need to get the confidence.   I’m jumping in head first today!

So I said the other day that I found a place where I could potentially find writing jobs.    Well…… last night, I was awarded my first official writing job.  Ok.  So it’s going to be easy.  I have to read blog posts from a website and comment on them.  I have to do the same for their Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest accounts too.  There are also 3 books they have written that I am going to read and review.  I’m excited!    After I have completed this, maybe I will be more confident in what I can do writing-wise.  Plus, some of the jobs (the way they word them) scare me.  They are like “We need this immediately,” but they posted it 2 days ago….so how fast are they going to expect it?   I will have more time in a couple weeks too.  So I will attempt to get more then.

For me, and my musical brain, it’s hard to say “Oklahoma” without singing it.  You know…. “Oklahoma’s O k l a h o m a.  Oklahoma’s OK!”    (I think that’s right…it’s been 100 years since I’ve actually seen the musical or heard the music.  Need to dig that up!)   Anyways…..   Today, my heart goes out to all the people in Oklahoma who were devastated by the tornado.  The videos and pictures are horrible, but I’m sure they aren’t even close to showing all the destruction.    When I first heard about it, I did a Google Map search to see if my best friend/”brother” was close to it.  About 100 miles away.  Safe!  However, there are many who are not far away and safe.   Please keep these people—the parents, teachers, friends, family, volunteers, Red Cross, and our Country—in your prayers.  They need us more than ever now.

You know how people always say that as their parents get older, they have to take care of them.   Well, today, I have to take my daddy to the doctor.  He hasn’t been able to drive since he was in the hospital in October.  So, since I will get off work before Mom today, I have to take him.  I don’t HAVE to, but I will.   How many times have they done stuff for me that was inconvenient or not what they wanted to do?  It’s payback time.  I’m okay with that!

Today is my wedding anniversary.  Tony and I have been married for 12 years!  Poor guy has to put up with me all the time!     Yesterday, the girls won BOTH games of their double header.  Each of the other two teams has to play again.  We don’t have any more games until the tournament.  If each team wins one and each loses one game, then we will be in first place!   That means we don’t have to play until the final day for the championship!   That would be FABULOUS!!!!!!!!   It’s getting closer to the end of school.  We are beginning to plan vacations.  We are going to Hilton Head in June and Myrtle Beach in July.  We are also planning our trip to Gatlinburg in December!   We love the mountains.  Of course, the Princess earned tickets to Tweetsie again through Girl Scout cookie sales.  SO we will be going there again this year!   (Hopefully for the July 4th celebration they have! It was awesome there!!!)   Everything else is just normal for now.  (Hope it stays that way for

I have been awake since 5:30am!  On a Saturday!  ON PURPOSE!    Mom and I are going Yard selling this morning. Then we have a double-header for the Princess. Then my nephew has a game. Then my niece is singing the National Anthem at the local pro baseball team’s home game tonight.  She’s going to sing with her chorus group from school!  FABULOUS!  Can’t wait to see/hear that! Then we are going to stay for the game! Then we will come home and CRASH! Wow! That makes me tired already!  But….mom just called. She’s on the way!  Better get my hair dried!

I have to say, I haven’t said that much this year.  I really do love my job.  The only reason I look forward to the weekends is so that I can sleep past sunrise!   I’m looking forward to summer for that too!     Anyways, this week has been long.  It’s been tiring!  It’s been long.  (Did I say that already?)   I’ve ticked people off.  I’ve offended people.  AND….the kids are going nutso since school is out in 15 days!  Crazy right???  Nutso!!    So…  there really isn’t much more to say.  I’m tired.  I’m ready for the weekend…..even though we have the double header this week in 80+ degree temps!

I really only have ONE brother.  However, he and I share a best friend—Cody!  Cody lived with us for a while when he and I were in high school.  He looks like my real brother.  So, we “adopted” him.  He is my brother!!!  Anyways…. his wedding anniversary is coming up this weekend.  It’s May 18th.  He got married ONE day before MY 1st anniversary!  Isn’t that cool???   My real brother, Donnie, graduated yesterday!  He got to walk across the stage at his college and everything.  But, I’m the bad sister.    I had a meeting after work, so I didn’t get to go.    I have decided that I want to write more.  Obviously, you all know that!  So, last night, I found a site that I can use to find freelance writing jobs.  I have officially bid on my first job!  It’s pretty scary, but I think that if I get a job or two, I will become more confident and start bidding/taking more jobs.  Some of them are to write book reviews (like I bid on), but some are to rewrite content.  I might try to get o

We live near a couple of different strawberry farms.  Every year, there are little stands set up with strawberries for sale.   Yesterday, mom was telling me that she would love to have some strawberries.  So, on my way home from work, I went by one of the stands and got her two gallon-sized containers of strawberries!   When I went in to the daycare to get the Princess, I had one of the containers in my hand.  I said, “Will this be enough strawberries?”  She was joking, but she said, “For today!”  I said, “Good!  I have another container just like this for tomorrow then!”  I love being able to surprise my parents!   I’m sure that she cleaned them and left some in a container (in the refrigerator) for dad to eat today.   I don’t even eat strawberries, but I love being able to make my parents happy!!

Last night, I attended my last required meeting for Girl Scouts for the year.  We did our Adult Awards Banquet.  That means that my year as a Service Unit team member is over!    That also means that all I have left is to complete my Troop Scout Year, and a little paperwork, and I am finished for the year.    Our final troop meeting is the week after school lets out so that I have time to go get badges/awards for the girls!   Then, we have some fun stuff, camping/trip/etc. over the summer, but other than that, we don’t do anything until August!    I’m so ready for a break, and I think my girls are too!   18 school days left (12 teaching—6 exams!)

Went to church yesterday.  Loved it.  Visited my brother’s church.  Their new pastor rocks!  (Might have to go back!!!!)   Went to Mt. Airy to take flowers to Tony’s mom’s grave.  Beautiful day.  Stopped at my favorite place in Winston-Salem to eat!   Put the flowers on her grave.  Started for home.   I started to dose.  I had all intentions of sleeping the entire drive back.    All of a sudden-----*BAM*!   I sat straight up!  “What was that?!” Tony said, “Something hit the car.” I said, “You just hit something?” (Still a little dazed!) T said, “No.  Something fell from the bridge and hit us!”   We got out to look.  There is a chunky crack in the front of my van.  YES!  The van I haven’t even had for two months yet!  It’s only where a license plate would go in the front though.  (If we had been driving any faster, it would have shattered the windshield and probably have caused a huge wreck!)   Another man and woman stop.  He says, “Did you just get hit by

Every year, Mother’s Day is emotional for me. I’m lucky blessed to have a wonderful mother.  Although she and I don’t see eye-to-eye on everything (many things!) I know that she loves me unconditionally.  I love her, for that and so many other reasons!   I’m very blessed to have the best kid in the world too!   I know we all think that.  But, really, mine is the best!   She’s awesome.  I love her more than anything in the world.   However, today is sad because Tony’s mom is no longer with us.  This year, all the dates aligned exactly the same as they did in 2002!  Tony’s mom passed away on Thursday, May 9, 2002.  Her funeral was Saturday, May 11, 2002.  It’s really hard when you look at something and see the days and dates like that!  So, this afternoon, after church, we will be going to Mt. Airy to put flowers on his mom’s grave.  We do it every year…. most major holidays and days that were special to her!   She was awesome.  I can’t imagine how much more spoiled the Prin

Last night, the Celebration Ceremony for Girl Scouts was great!  I’m finished for the year, except for one event where I just have to show up, eat, and watch awards!  lol   I do have to do my TROOP awards, but those are in about 4 weeks. I have a couple days to rest first!    Today, I’m having mixed emotions.  My pastor’s dad is being buried today.  I’m sad for that.  He’s in a better place….that’s good. My emotions are crazy because I’m here at home.  My parents and my sister (and her hubs) went to the funeral—6 hours away.  Mother’s Day is tomorrow.  My dad’s birthday is tomorrow!  I won’t get to see either of them tomorrow because they are staying in Elizabeth City again tonight.     Kinda stinks.   Anyways….. softball today….at noon!  GO TARHEELS!  If we win today and both games next week, we will be in 1st place!!!

Yesterday was the 11th anniversary of my mother-in-law passing.    Yesterday was the day that my pastor’s father passed.  (My pastor is my dad’s best friend.)   Yesterday was the day that the part of my history was burned to the ground (on purpose) by the city!    Today is the day that I means I only have 20 days of school left.   Today is the day I have a Girl Scout ceremony to celebrate girls who have worked hard this year!   Today is the day the Princess has softball practice!   Today is the day that I will see the remaining evidence of the part of my history that was burned.  (I promise to tell this later!)   Today is the day that I will have a much better day than I did yesterday (at least emotionally!!!)!!!!!!

Until I get the official notification via email/USPS, I will only say that there is a very good chance that the Princess will be changing schools next year.    We went to the official lottery yesterday afternoon.  Her number was drawn.    However, I am not giving more details until I get the paperwork in my hand.    I know that God has worked this out.  Sometimes, my “doubting Thomas self,” needs to see it in black and white before I shout it from the roof tops!     But…. I promise…. I will be shouting it!  It is an awesome thing that the Lord has worked out for us, for the Princess!     On a different note, please remember my pastor and his family in your prayers.  They told him last night that his father (earthly father) only has about a week left.   I know it is going to kill him when it happens.  Just pray that God will give him the peace he needs for the situation.

Today is the day that…. 1. We only have 22 days of school left.  Of those, only 16 teaching days.  6 are exam days!   2. We find out if the Princess gets into one of the schools were are hoping for.  We applied to a couple.  However, because of money (and not wanting to pay more a month for her to go to school than we do for a car payment) one of the schools is not an option!  This one, is FREE.  There is just a lottery to get in.  They are doing the lottery for 5th grade today.  So we will know soon (as soon as it is posted on the website) if she got in or got waitlisted!    3. We finalize everything for the Girl Scout Celebration Ceremony this Friday.  I am going to get the certificates done and signed.  I am going to get the ceremony written.  I am going to confirm everyone who is helping and/or attending.  This should be  really easy ceremony for me.   I like them like that!   4. We are celebrated at school for being teachers.  Actually, my school does “Teacher Apprec

Today is one of those days where I have a lot on my mind, but nothing really to say.   1. Only 23 days of school left! 2. We find out tomorrow if the Princess is going to the new school we applied to or if she is being wait-listed.  3. I really need to lose weight! 4. I need to pay my car payment, but the online system is down.  Of course….  or…. it could be user error.  Who knows?  5. My brother graduates next week from college! 6. Mother’s Day is Sunday! 7. My daddy’s birthday is Sunday! 8. My niece is singing the National Anthem (with a school group) next Saturday for the local pro baseball team’s game!  (Gotta get tickets to that!) 9. My foot still hurts from the 5K! 10. I have so much on my mind, but nothing really to write today!

Ever heard the saying “It has to get worse before it will get better”??   Well, that’s how I feel about my body right now.  I feel like the pain, soreness, stiffness are all getting worse.  I can only hope that this week, the pain, soreness, and stiffness will start going away!   My ankles are still swollen.  I’m not sure how I’m going to get my boots on to wear to work today!  But… I will.   I just wish I could take the cold.  I would totally submerge myself in an ice bath—like the athletes in the movies do!     For today, I’m just looking at the positive!  Only 24 more days until Summer break!

So….since you are reading this, you know I survived! I thought I might die! But…alas…I didn’t! However, I’m pretty sure my body hates me!  AND…if I never have to do a 5K again…well, it will be TOO soon!   Times: Tony and the Princess—1 hour 6 minutes and some seconds Me—1 hour 14 minutes and 58 seconds!  Less than 1 hour 15 minutes! AND… I did NOT finish last!   (That was my goal… not to finish last!)   So… my feet, legs, arms, shoulders, and fingers hurt, but we lived through it.    After the 5K, the Princess played softball and hit a ball over the 3rd baseman’s head into the outfield!    (Should have been a double, but I think she was a little tired of running!  LOL)  Her team won!  GO TARHEELS!

In just a few minutes, we are leaving to head to the Girls on the Run 5K!  Tony and I are walking in it with the Princess!     Tomorrow, I should have pics of her at the race and with her medal!    I’m afraid for how my legs are going to feel after this.  I might not be able to walk.   However, a 5K has always been on my bucket list.  I just was hoping to be in shape and not afraid of dying from doing it!