The World According to Leslie

Happy Valentine's Day!  OR as the Princess informed me this morning.... "Happy Singles Awareness Day!!" Either way, I hope your day is happy!! Today is my last day to be 38 years old. At 2:45am tomorrow morning, I will be 39! I will be starting my final year of my 30s!  OH MY!  Where did the time go? This year has been interesting!  At home, I have been able to do more. I've cooked more (and everyone survived!)!! I've gotten outside more--and consequently sneezed more! I even coached the Princess's rec league softball team last Spring!  I've been happier, mostly! At church, I've been more active. I'm working in Children's church. I'm singing on the Praise Team (in rotation). :) I'm heading up VBS this year. (That will technically be when I'm 39,  but I've started plans already.) I'm helping head up the 500 stockings for families this year. (That will also be when I'm 39.... but still!) At work, I'...

Yesterday, we had another appointment with the Sports Medicine doctor. The Princess can now bend her knee.  However, she is not playing softball yet. It's ok. She wouldn't have time to do the workouts anyways. The last practice is today, and, unless they win, the last game will be tomorrow. We should be ranked next to last. That means we will be playing the 2nd place seeded team. As of right now, the 2nd place spot is held by a team that has walked on the our team twice already this year.... like 17-0 and 18-0 games that only went 3 innings. The Princess has 4-6 weeks of physical therapy. I have to get that scheduled. She has to go 2-3 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour each time. That's going to be a workout!! For now, we will keep the knee rested, therapied (is that a word?), and iced. Hopefully she can do winter workouts and get back to doing Karate! 

Yesterday, the Princess had her last home game for middle school softball. Although she can't play, she's still attending every practice and game... just in case the doctor releases her on Monday, when she goes back in to visit. Yesterday, the 8th grade players were recognized. They were given a bouquet of yellow flowers wrapped in white paper with black and gold ribbon on it. (The school colors are Black and Gold!!!) WE BLEED BLACK AND GOLD!!! (It will be her high school colors also.) Anyways, after the game, our minivan didn't want to start. We went to Cici's Pizza with the family--13 of us (not even 1/2)!!! After dinner, the van didn't want to start again. So, we drove straight to the AutoZone. The guy there checked the battery. It was dying. Then he checked the computer to show that we had just put that battery in the van in March of 2014. That means that the warranty ran out in March 2016!!!!  GO FIGURE!  So.... just a few minutes later, the guy insta...

Yesterday, the Princess had her appointment with the Sports Medicine doctor. He did more X-rays. He said that the good news is that when her knee cap moved, it did not chip. If it had chipped, we would be scheduling surgery. He thinks that it's just severely bruised. He also said that her knee cap moves too much. So.... he put her in a new immobilizer. This one HAS to go over her pants. It keeps her knee completely straight. But, the good news is that he took her off the crutches. She gets to actually walk now. The worst part is that she's in 8th grade. It's her last year of middle school. She's in the new immobilizer for 2 weeks. We go back to the doctor on October 10th. If the doctor doesn't clear her for softball when we go back, her middle school softball career is over. They only have 2 more weeks of games. The first (and probably only) tournament game will be on Oct. 12. IF she gets cleared, she will be able to be in that game. If not, no more softball unt...

There's an old saying "When it rains, it pours." That seems so true. I was sick all summer, mostly. I'm feeling so much better now. Now, the Princess is on crutches. On Wednesday at the school softball game, she and another teammate had a collision in the dugout. She twisted her knee. The trainer said that her knee cap "sub-flexed." So, we iced it and she played the 2nd half of the game. On Thursday, she practiced for two hours. She was practicing at 3rd base and went to pivot to throw the ball to 1st base and she fell. We got her to the dugout. Her knee was already swollen. Tony took me to Girl Scouts and took the Princess to Urgent Care. When they came to Girl Scouts to pick me up, the Princess was on crutches and had a immobilizer on her knee. She also had the diagnosis of Osgood-Schlatter Disease. Osgood-Schlatter is where the tendon is pulling on the bone in her leg incorrectly. Fortunately, it is very common in athletic kids. Typically, girls...

The doctors told me to "return to normal" so I have been doing everything I normally do.  Almost everything.... I haven't had a chance to get back to the gym. I'm still trying to work that into my strange schedule.  I get the Princess off to school in the mornings. Then I head to the daycare to help my mom, since my friend who really works there is still out on medical leave. After I leave there, different days are different times, I head home for just a little bit before heading to get the Princess from softball practice. Two days a week, she has games. As of last Wednesday, the first game, she is the starting first baseman! Last year she only got to play in 2-3 games because she was in 7th grade. This year, as an 8th grader, she's a starter!  She got her same number too!  #18!!!! We have school stuff, like meetings and stuff to handle in the evenings. We have church stuff. We also have Girl Scout stuff. We stay pretty busy!  However, it's nice to be ...

As of today, there are only 24 days of school left for the kids. That means that I have 26 days of work left.   Updates:   1. In February, my Principal told me that my job may be on the line. The class I currently teach is funded by a Federal grant that runs out in June. (There are 5 of me—one at each High school in the district. Each of us was in the same boat.) There was only one difference.  Each of the other teachers (at the other schools) had been hired as an English teacher. So, they had higher rank in their departments because I was hired FOR the grant position.  A couple of days before Spring Break, my Principal came to me to let me know that they added some sections for next year, and I get to keep my job.  It was awesome!   2. In March, Tony and I got a letter that we were going to owe $1600 to the IRS for something that was on our taxes in 2012. (YES! TWO years ago!) So, our tax lady (my awesome sister in law) did some research for us...

Today begins that last quarter for the school year.  I’m kind of excited!  Actually…. I’m really excited.  With all the snow days and, therefore, snow make up days, we haven’t had a break since February.  It gets kind of tiring for the teachers and the students.  But, now, we are in the home stretch.  If we can survive 9 more weeks, we will make it until Summer Break!   This weekend, the Softball Fairies were not on our side. We didn’t get to start the season as planned. We are hoping that there will be no rain this coming weekend so we can get the season started!  Our team is starting to shape up very well, I think.  I know that we are going to have some tough games, but we are going to have a good time doing it.   Countdown Update: 6 days (counting today) until Softball Opening Day 14 school days (counting today) until Spring Break 9 weeks until Summer Break

Many of the countdowns in my world are slowly getting smaller and smaller.  It’s exciting.  This time next week, I will be able to say that we have SINGLE DIGIT weeks left in school.    This week, we have a snow make-up day.  We were supposed to be out of school on Friday, but we are having a snow make-up day instead.  The best part is that it is only a HALF day!     What is 1025??  That is the number of boxes of cookies that the Princess ended up selling.  She earned her iPad mini!  She will get it at the beginning of May (supposedly) at the celebration for kids who sold more than 500 boxes of cookies!  We are excited!  For us, it will be the first (personally owned) i-anything in the house.  We are Android people, except for Tony’s work phone.      Our softball team is pretty cool.  We have a couple of girls who have never played before, but that comes with any rec team.  This ye...

Considering that I feel as though I haven’t slept in about 3 weeks, Daylight Savings Time did not really affect me.    To be perfectly honest, we had cookie booths all day yesterday.  The troop is down to about 61 boxes of cookies to sell (total)!  The Princess is only 36 (total) boxes away from her iPad mini goal of 1000 boxes!  OMG!  I can’t believe it will be 2 years in a row with 1000 boxes!  She has worked her tail off….again!   Saturday, we started softball.  Which means that for one more weekend (this one coming) The Princess has cookies and softball.  Then it will only be softball until June….maybe longer.    Sunday morning, I had the alarm set for 8am.  I forgot to reset the clocks.  Tony always does that.  He forgot too.  We talked about it, but we both crashed before it was done.  So I got up with the alarm at 8am.  I came in here to the computer and started working on some t...

It seems as though we may be in for a “normal” week here in NC.   I haven’t listened this morning, but I don’t think we are expecting any of that strange white precipitation (snow) to fall this week.    The Princess should be getting her softball info this week.  We should know (for sure) the coaches and the team name.  My brother should be one of the coaches, but we never know until after the draft.    Girl Scout cookies (and booths) are in full force.  I feel as though my world is surrounded by them!  And…that could be because they are in 2 of the main rooms of my house—living room and dining room.   I have a couple of meetings this week, so that makes it even more normal.   The countdown for everything is still on.  As soon as we get our softball schedule, we will get to add more things to it… like first practice and first game!    As long as we keep doing what we are doing right now, this w...

Saturday, the Princess had a double header. It was freezing at 8am. They finally won (after scoring 12 runs in the final inning) by 1 run. They won the second game by 1 run in the final inning also.   They are now in 1st place so they will play ONE game this weekend for the championship!   My sister got two new foster kids last week. So the Princess is hanging out with one of them for Halloween. (Considering the situation, I can’t share names or anything, but it is a girl who is around the Princess’s age.)   Sunday was the first day since the end of September that Tony did not have to work.  So we all went to church together and cleaned the house.  With me working full time, Tony working over 30 straight days, and the Princess having softball, the house kind of got neglected!  So…. the living room actually has furniture and carpet!  (They were hidden under mail and laundry!)  lol   Tomorrow, I’m supposed to have my first offic...

I have always hated making decisions.   Last night, I made a great one!   After being broken-hearted that I could not make it to scrapbooking, Tony actually got off work in time that I could go. However, after going by my Papaw’s how to get my mom… (She takes his car to him on Fridays.  That’s another story. )…I decided that I would not go scrapbooking. I could have made it for a couple of hours. I decided to spend time with my family.   We haven’t done that in a while. So, we went to the Chinese buffet. After dinner, we went to watch part of the race that is in town this weekend on my dad’s huge TV. My brother and two nephews were there. We stayed until about 9:30pm. Then we left and came home to get some rest.   I wrote my article about my Interpreting career. (When it is posted, I will link it here.)   Then we were all in bed by 11pm.   Now, Tony is already at work.   The Princess is eating breakfast and getting ready...

I have a writing assignment due today. It’s about my career. When it is posted online, I will let you know.     Today is “Favorite NFL Team” day at the Princess’s school.  I had to get her a shirt. It matches one that Tony got for Christmas. Now, they have two shirts that are exactly the same. They dress alike without even knowing it!  lol    I finished reading another book yesterday. If you get a chance, read The Invention of Hugo Cabret . It’s an easy read because much of the story is told in pictures, but it is a great story.    I’m so tired. I feel like I never get any sleep.   Last night we had 11 girls at Girl Scouts again. That STILL wasn’t everyone!   I’m supposed to go scrapbook tonight, but I’m sure I won’t make it. Tony has been getting home late all week. Then I’d have to leave early to get home to sleep so that I can have a 6am alarm tomorrow morning. (These double headers are killing me!)  BUT….no g...

Is it just me, or do you think it’s rude for someone to hand you an invitation to a birthday party a few hours before the start time?   At the softball game this morning, the Princess came to me and handed me the invitation to a party that starts in just a few minutes. Of course she wants to go! She also wants to get the girl something for her birthday.   I’m sorry. I don’t know this kid all that well.  We will go to the party, but I don’t know what to get her. So, we are going empty handed. (Really, showing up is asking a lot of me on a Saturday…..especially since I have only been home long enough to SLEEP all week!)   Note: They won the first game, but lost the 2nd. (If we had not let girls that were just learning to pitch do the pitching, we would have won it too! But…this league is about learning all the positions. So, we lost by only 4!  Not bad!)

We are starting to settle into our routine over here.  Today we have softball practice. I hope the girls saw on Saturday how important practice is. They won because of the things that the coaches taught them on Monday night.     Tomorrow I don’t think we have anything.   Wednesday, I have a Girl Scout recruitment. I need a few more girls for the troop so that we can do activities and stuff.    Thursday and Friday I have training at work. I have to get my sub plans together. These are days #3 and #4 of 5 training days I have to do. Day #5 is next Thursday!   So I will only see my kids for 3 days this week, 4 days next week, and 4 days the next. (I am supposed to have another training on Sept. 25th!)  Required trainings that are interesting are not bad. I just wish we could have spaced them all out instead of putting most of them in a 3 week period at the beginning of the semester/year!  LOL  But… we are hoping to get the sam...

This is my 600th post. I have been waiting for the right thing to write, and I think this is it!   Today, the Princess starts at a brand new school. She has her backpack and supplies all ready. Her uniforms are laid out and waiting. She is always excited about school, but this year it seems even more so.   She’s going into the 5th grade. Like I said, it’s a BRAND NEW school. They just finished building it in July. The teachers are still working to make the rooms perfect….even yesterday!    I am heading into a new school year. I am excited for the things that await me this year. In reality, I only have plans for today finished. I worked really hard on everything else this past week, and I attended a million and one meetings (or so it seems)! So, today during my planning period, I will be PLANNING!  I’m glad to be at a school that will allow me to do that. Other schools have things for the teachers to do every day during their planning periods. ...

Wow! So I have to get used to getting up early again! I am SO not a morning person!   For the past two days, I have gotten up early for a class I have to take for work. You know “they” (whoever that is) say that teachers are continuous, lifelong learners. That’s true! It’s especially true when they REQUIRE classes.   This class has a two-day component over the summer. Then there are three days during the school year. They will be in September…right after school starts.  My kids are going to LOVE that I am not there!   I promise to leave LOTS of work to be completed.      Anyways…. I have also had some other work to take care of while in the evenings.   Last night we went for the Meet and Greet of the new principal for the Princess’s new school. The Princess seems to like her. I will take some time to get to know her. No snap judgments. (It could all be a show!)    Tonight, the Princess has a try-out for a softball tea...

I guess I technically did not write on Friday.   I’m trying not to slip into the habit of not writing.  It keeps my mind clear even if I feel like I am writing the same things every day.   I just (like 20 minutes ago) finished the articles.  He decided to only have me write 15 instead of 20 since some of the titles were so close to the same.  That worked out well.    Pay was lowered, of course, but I can live with that.   In just a few short hours, we are going to watch the Princess play in the championship game.  I can’t believe it’s a week later than it was supposed to be.    Right now, I’m saying “good night” because I’m going to bed.  But… I should be saying “Good morning” because it is after midnight.    So….Good TIMES!!   I’m going to bed and will hopefully have something wonderful to write about tomorrow.

Wow!  I can’t believe I went two days without writing.  I have gotten in such a habit that now it just feels strange.   There isn’t much going on in these parts right now. 1. Saturday—Softball was cancelled, but they are rescheduling for THIS Saturday.  8:30am!  (Hooray for waking up early on Saturdays!)   2. Sunday—We officially told our pastor and his wife that we are leaving the church.  They tried really hard to get us to stay, but we aren’t leaving because of them.  It’s the other stuff (some other people) that are killing our church.  Unfortunately, it’s really the only church the Princess has ever known.  We started attending there in June 2003.  She was born in August 2003.  10 years!  A decade!!   3. Monday—I took my dad to get his hearing aid fixed.  Simple enough… the filter was clogged.  He had already cleaned it.  But…. still clogged.  New filter—no charge—now he can hear...