It Isn't in the Mail

This was my mail today. No letter regarding my CPA license application. I take that back. I guess I got some reply yesterday. You can't come out and ask if you got approved or not. The board has rules and procedures to follow. My lack of patience was getting the best of me so I emailed them asking if my application was complete. They had requested additional information from other people and I wanted to make sure it had been sent back. The licensing person said my app was on her desk and she would email me if it anything thing else (other than the 40 pages already sent in) was needed. Well, I didn't hear back. So here's the latest update: it's on her desk! What does that mean?

Cover It Up Girls

Conversation with my husband: "Why can't Britney, Lindsay, and Paris wear underwear? I've seen more of their privates (okay I admit privates is not the word I used but my choice was not too vulgar) on the Internet than I care to see."
No, I'm not putting a link! Did he ask for a link? I won't answer that.

What Am I Doing?

I'm watching Season 2 of The Office. Thanks for the suggestion Katie. After working for a large corporation in a cubicle, I love this show. Sadly, I've known Michael and Dwight types. On the flip side thank goodness I've worked with several Jims.
I'm reading Tabloid Love: Looking for Mr. Right in All the Wrong Places by Bridget Harrison.
I know so far I'm appearing very intellectual. Hey, the book is nonfiction.
I'm eagerly checking the mailbox each day for the yes or no about my CPA license. It was only mailed September 15! The board requested a few more items. I'm not a patient person.
Last and probably least, I'm trying my best to get into the Christmas spirit. That will be a subject for another day.

'Good to be a Mountaineer

The weather was beautiful for a day trip to Boone, NC to see the Appalachian State University Mountaineers beat Coastal Carolina University 45-28 to advance in the playoffs.
I hope the girl I saw laying down, clutching the toilet in the ladies bathroom at the game isn't too hungover today. You know you are partying hard when you are in such state and it's only the first quarter of the game.
Chancellor Peacock took time out before kickoff to pose for a picture with my kids holding the National Championship trophy as well as taking a family picture of us with the trophy.

New friend

new friend
Originally uploaded by jmach0207.

Our single friend on the Charleston trip took this picture of a live Abercombie & Fitch model. Might I mention she shoved the female model out of the way for the photo shot.

Joining the Club

My husband joined a new club during our vacation. It's called the Painkiller Club and with it you get a "tin" cup. If I had a better camera you could see the recipe on the back:
"Created in the tropical paradise of the British Virgin Islands the PAINKILLER- 2,3 or 4 oz. Pusser's Navy Rum, 4 oz. pineapple juice, 1 oz. cream of coconut, 1 oz. orange juice topped with grated fresh nutmeg". I stuck to margaritas.
Clarification- this classy collection of beverage ware was acquired over a 2 night period.

Let's Get Brushing

My daugher had her first cavity. I thought this would give her inspiration and be a good stocking stuffer. I want one!

1-2-3-4-5 Smile!

Despite pretty hectic days, here are 5 things that made me smile this week:

• Maid service while in Charleston: It might be weird but I love coming back to a hotel room and finding the bed made and clean towels.
• Room service-our hotel offered a complimentary continental breakfast brought to your room along with a newspaper. It beats my usual 5:45 wake up time and trying to find the paper among all the leaves while rushing my daughter to the bus stop.
• Singing along with Aerosmith while driving: I'm not a huge fan but as I said before I was very jealous of Alicia Silverstone in their videos.
  
• My five 4th grade girls. I tutor once a week in my daughter's class. I could never handle being a teacher but my hour with these girls is always fun.
  
• Making a dent in my Christmas shopping!
  

Maid at Home

I guess I got over my laziness. I cleaned part of the house this morning before I left for work and finished the rest when I got home. Contrary to what my family may think, I'm not a neat freak. However they are slobs. Remember my son's room and that was on a good day? I came home Monday after being away for a long weekend and the house was in pretty bad shape. I simmered for a while then blew up later that night. I remained emotional through Tuesday. Now I think I've calmed down. Funny how my husband decided to be out of town last night. Maybe me answering the phone Molly Maid when he called didn't help. Here are a few pictures of Charleston as promised:

I'm Bringing Lazy Back

I got back from Charleston yesterday afternoon. I'll post some pictures later. This is the first time I've sat down since I got home from work. I'm enjoying relaxing too much to go get my camera. I've determined Charleston is all about food, the history stuff is secondary. Everything I ate was delicious. So now after a long weekend of larger than normal lunches and dinners coupled with more than the average number of beer, wine, and other assorted drinks, I don't want to get off the couch.

Hittin' the Highway

I confess I had not completely unpacked from my last trip and now I'm heading out again. 4 of us are going on a girls long weekend to Charleston, SC. We go way back. I met one of my friends the first day of college. She lived in the room next to mine. It turned out she and I were from the same town. The other two girls attended different universities representing the ACC (UNC-Chapel Hill a.k.a. Carolina and Wake Forest University). All three of them went to high school together. We had a lot of fun making road trips and various adventures during school breaks. We've always managed to stay in touch. Between us we have 9 kids. This will be a vacation.

Hover Trend

I learned a new phrase. My husband sent me this link about Helicopter Parents. The terms is new but the subject matter is not. It is an ever growing trend of parents hovering over their children doing everything for them. The problem has moved past the school years, into post college and job seeking. Potential employers say it's a real issue.
It use to be for many that going to college was a start of distancing yourself from your parents. I know it was in my case. My friends and I probably averaged talking to our family on the phone once or twice a week. Keep in mind this was before PC's. Now you have email, IM, cell phones and text messaging. The distance isn't quite as far anymore. I'm not saying it is completely a bad thing though my parents probably slept better not knowing what was going on with me!
Getting into college is more and more difficult. I know parents who do their children's schoolwork for them. Parents don't let teachers and coaches do their jobs. It's ridiculous.

The Big Story of the Day

It's election day but this seems to be the big story. Here is a picture back during happier times.

The Last 5 Years

Thanks to J-Mom at In Our House for a link to The Imagination Prompt Generator. I'm not participating in NaBloPoMo but 3 of my blogging friends are and I'm enjoying reading all their posts. Getting back to the prompt generator, in the world of cutting and pasting I lost the exact prompt but it boiled down to How Have You Changed in the Last Five Years and How Do You Expect to Change in the Next Five Years? Hmm, I'm only going to do the first part for now:
1. 5 years ago I was a stay at home mom. Now I'm working part time. My job has transformed into a lot more than when I was re-hired 3 1/2 years ago. I've applied for my CPA license and eagerly waiting to hear the outcome.
2. I've discovered a love of travel. In the last 5 years I've ventured to Cabo San Lucas, St. Croix, Grand Caymans as well as revisiting Vermont, Key West, Washington D.C., St. Pete's Beach, and all parts of the NC Outer Banks. I'm probably forgetting somewhere. I've rediscovered my interest in the NC mountains where I went to college and taken up camping again.
3. Several years ago I went through a few times I was very depressed. While I'm not depressed now, the experience has stayed with me.
4. I'm older. Age use to not bother me. In the past, in many settings, I tended to be the youngest person. Now it's not unusual for me to be the oldest. Along the same subject, my husband and I lost a friend last year. It was a first for us.
5. 5 years ago my children were 4 and 8 1/2. Having a child turn into a teenager has been a total shock. While my youngest has certainly changed, it has not been a dramatic as my oldest.

Update on Destroyed High School

Here is the latest plan for the high school destroyed by fire: 9th & 10th graders will be having classes at the campus of the former NC School of the Deaf. 11th & 12th grades will be housed at the eastern location of our community college - GTCC. Parents and students really wanted all the kids to stay together but that was impossible. The school had an away football game last night and unfortunately lost by 2 points. I believe they will continue in the playoffs. To clarify - my children do not attend this school but it is in our school system.

Up in Flames

Yesterday one of the local high schools burned down. My part time coworker and full time school counselor discovered the fire. Due to her quick actions and those of another fellow teacher, no one was injured. Now where do the students and staff go from here? Will this tragedy affect their college applications - academic and athletic scholarships? Everything is gone. Think how difficult high school can be then think how difficult it will be without a high school.