The World According to Leslie

For the past week, I have been trying really hard to get writing jobs.  I have already (in two jobs) made over $100 writing!  I’m excited about it.  (Most of that work was completed in two weeks, but few hours!)   Today, I put in bids for several jobs.  I was the first bid on one job.  And… I got it.  The cool thing about it???  I get to write about what I want to.  Right now, the first four articles have to deal with technology.   What does any good teacher do?  Go straight for the classroom—iPads in the classroom and  online/distance education. Those are the first two.  The other two will be dealing with “tech tantrums” and the technology of hearing.  Those are things I know and I can do minimal research about.  I also found 3-4 other topics I am planning to use for my next set, if I get technology again.     I have to have two of them done today and the other two my Monday.  I should...

Yesterday was a day of traveling!  We got up early and left Hilton Head.    However….we did not head straight home.  Tony’s brother and sister’s  grandmother died.  (They are his step-siblings!)  We went through Laurens, SC to pay our respects to the family.  We didn’t get to see many people—most had to work until the funeral tomorrow.    But, we got to see their mom.  We haven’t seen her since the Princess was about 3-4 (maybe 5).  We really should make time to see the family more.    I had told my mom we were going through there, but I had not called my dad.  About 1/2 way there, I got a text from Dad asking if we were coming home.   That meant a lot.  It meant he missed us.    So I texted to let him know what was going on.   As soon as we got into town, I called my mom. We came home, unloaded, and went to their house.  Really?  You thought I’d do anything else fir...

So I know I still haven’t posted pics of the new van yet.  I promise… I will.  Actually, they will probably be posted with the stuff about Hilton Head because I always take pics of everything once it’s loaded!!     Anyways….when we got the van, the Kia place did a “We Owe” saying they would fix a huge scratch on the side.  We took it up.  They fixed it, but not good enough.  They didn’t sand it down.  They just painted over it.   We have been trying for two months to get the rain to cooperate with us.  Now…  I am going to take it up to the Kia place today.  They are going to paint it tomorrow.  Hopefully they will do it right.  If not….well…. it won’t be pretty…..for them !!!!   My mommy is going to follow me to the Kia place and bring me home.  I love living so close to my family.  (Shhh….just don’t tell them!!)  Some days it’s a pain, but other days…..well…. it’s a blessing!

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 ...

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!

Yesterday, I had a million RANDOM things to do. Surprisingly enough, we got them all done.  We (the Princess) played softball.  They lost by 4, but it’s better than losing by 10 like the last time they played this team! GO TARHEELS! Donnie had to work (umpiring games) so he got there late, but Tony did a great job with the girls until he got there!   We got the van checked out.  Turns out that the Check Engine light was on because I put too much gas in the van.  Hmmmm…. on newer cars, there is a sensor in the gas tank.  If you get it wet (with gas) it will turn on the Check Engine light.  If you do it repeatedly, it will ruin the sensor.  How do you NOT get gas on it?  Well, when the gas pump clicks to say that the tank is full, just stop pumping!  (Who knew?!?!?)    After that, we went to watch my oldest nephew play baseball.  Then we went to supper at Mayflower (a seafood place) with my parents.  ...

Do any of those sound like they have something in common?   No?   Well…..   Today, in my world, they have something in common.   That is what I am doing today.  1. Going to watch the Princess play softball (Go TARHEELS!) 2. Going to get the van checked since we didn’t get home in time to do it last night 3. Putting lots of Spring-y dresses on eBay to make some cash…. hopefully! 4. Working on shrinking my final exam for school so that it fits in 2 hours instead of 4!!!!  I am giving my final exams on Friday, May 31 and Monday, June 3!  I don’t have much time left to teach these kids!  I hope they are ready for full-speed, overdrive to get finished!   My weekend plans often have a way of connecting really random things!    LET’S GO TARHEELS!!!!

This weekend, the plans are a little less blurring than last weekend.   If it doesn’t get cancelled because of rain, we have softball practice tonight.   We have a game tomorrow at 12:30pm.   Then I have nothing…. absolutely nothing…to do the rest of the day!   And I’m okay with that!   If it does rain tonight, and practice gets cancelled, we are going to watch the staff from the Princess’s school play the staff from another elementary school in basketball.  It’s to help buy school supplies for the two schools!   I need to take my van to have it checked.  For some reason the “Check Engine” light came on in my “new to me” van yesterday.  God knew what He was doing when He let us get the other car fixed and inspected last week.  I had to drive it to work yesterday and I will today too!  (Tony and I didn’t get home in time yesterday to have it checked!)   Other than that…. I am going to get some rest th...

After this weekend, I can’t even ask “How did Monday get here!?!”   It really was a BLUR!  I hope we don’t have many more like that coming up!   This week is going to be interesting. 1. I have to go today to get the tag for my car.  We finally got it fixed and inspected.  I can get the tag now.  Actually…it’s a stupid little sticker for the tag! 2. I have to work the gate for the softball and baseball games at work tomorrow.  So I will get the Princess from Girls on the Run and then run back to school to work the gate until about 8pm.  Luckily the Princess will be with me and can get her homework done there. 3. I have to go get the ACTUAL tag for the new van.  They sent a letter and called to say that it is in.    4. We have softball practice on Friday.  Then we have a game on Saturday.  However, after that, we don’t have any plans this week.   I might go watch my nephews play this week!   Thi...

My wonderful Monte Carlo is getting some much needed rest!  As you know, Tony and I recently got a 2nd vehicle.  We have been needing one since….well….since the Princess was born!  (She has always had a busy schedule—dance, Girl Scouts, baseball/softball, gymnastics, school.  We have always needed a 2nd vehicle.   So now we have one, but the Monte Carlo needed some love.  It has some things that need work before it can be inspected.    It is getting that love today.  I just really hope that the guy gets it done before Friday.  We have WAAAAAAAAY too much to do this weekend to only have one car!     Hopefully, he will call today and let us know that he has loved on her and gotten her ready to come back home!       42 days…. and counting!

Some days I feel like I have nothing to say.  I feel like what I'm writing isn't really relevant to anything that is really happening. Some days I feel like I can't write what is on my mind.  I'm afraid I will hurt people or make them mad. Some days I just don't know how to say what I want to say.  (Ever had those days?) Today, though, I have lots on the brain.  My brain is completely full.  However, the things on my brain are trivial, trite, random things. For example, my parents are having an issue with the neighbor's dog. It's a really aggressive pit bull.  If it comes up and tries to attack either of my parents, they wouldn't be able to get away from it.  So, they have called Animal Control a few times already.  However, my dad is going to warn the neighbors that if the dog is in his yard again, he's going to shoot it.  He can't get away from it.  Mom can't run from it.  My parents have too many kids and grandkids (and t...