What an Interesting World We Live in....

Last night A and I went to a parents' meeting for her pageant. This year the pageant coordinator is a different person than last year. Last year they emphasized that they wanted the girls to be themselves, be natural, etc....said that if the girls don't normally wear makeup and aren't comfortable in makeup they didn't need to wear it for the pageant, etc. This year seems to be more serious -- they said the girls needed to wear makeup appropriate for being onstage under the lights, talked about the types of gowns they expected to see (full, ball gown style skirts are preferred over more simple gowns) , etc. The pageant coordinator this year is very much into the pageant scene...both of her daughters compete and she has judged pageants. I love the pageant coordinator (one of A's teachers) but the pageant seems to be taking on a different flavor than it did last year. I don't see the same emphasis on the girls just being their natural selves.

One interesting thing is that the information packet they sent home said no strapless dresses. I liked that...especially after last year when some of the girls wore gowns that had more shape in them than the girl had, and you could see how uncomfortable the girls were, worrying about falling out of their dresses. So the pageant coordinator said last night that no strapless dresses were allowed...and the other pageant coordinator jumped in and said that strapless dressed WOULD be allowed, as long as they were "age appropriate and modest." OK, here's where I'm confused. How is a strapless gown age appropriate for a 12 or 13 year old girl? And how is a strapless gown modest to start with? That just doesn't compute in my mind. They said they got the "no strapless gowns" stuff from the pageant packet from one of the local high schools...if the high school won't let girls wear strapless gowns in its pageant, why would a middle school let the girls wear strapless gowns?

I realize that my dress standards are different from those of 99% of the population. I'm o.k. with that -- the way people dress really is a very personal, individual thing. But kids grow up too fast...I think putting a 12 or 13 year girl in a strapless gown encourages her to grow up too quickly. I am grateful for companies that design and manufacture modest gowns and other clothing. It's hard to find, and it's definitely pricey, but if more people demanded modest clothing there would be more options and the prices would come down.

Here is a link to A's dress:
http://www.eternitystore.com/detail.aspx?ID=82

You would be hardpressed to convince me that this dress isn't every bit as beautiful and appropriate as any gown anyone else will be wearing in this pageant, or any other. Last year A was the only girl (out of 20) in the pageant who wore a gown with sleeves. I daresay she will be the only one again this year. But she will be comfortable and confident, knowing that she is maintaining her personal standards and that she doesn't have to worry about whether her dress will fall down, her bra straps showing, etc. That, to me, is beautiful.

Not sure what to post....

I spoke too soon on Sunday -- I ended up having to come back to work for a few hours. But all's well that ends well.

My best friend Jamie gave birth to a beautiful baby boy yesterday. He is sweet and adorable and absolutely perfect. I got to hold him, cuddle him, and ooh and aah over him. It was wonderful. That little boy is going to be smothered in love from his parents and older siblings.

I ended up ordering a different gown for A for her pageant. It should arrive this weekend or Monday...we're excited to see how it looks on her. Now to find an interview outfit...a feat that is turning out to be much more difficult than it was last year. And also need to figure out what she's going to wear for her casual wear ("fun in the sun" -- the instructions are to wear something you would wear to a summer party...ugh).

I took Monday off work, as well as yesterday afternoon. I'm still feeling really drained from the last several weeks at work. I can't seem to get back to my normal energy level. I think I've passed some point of no return and it might take a while longer to bounce back from the stress of this past year. It has definitely been a stressful year.

I'm on a bit of a downer right now and am not sure how to find my way out....it's not fun. I'm not usually like this and I don't like it at all. Even good dark chocolate (in large quantities) isn't helping. I'm looking forward to my trip to visit my sister M next week (though it looks like the dates will have to move a bit because of work). I'm hoping the change of scenery for a few days will help. If nothing else, the retail therapy we have planned during my visit should help!

I finally figured out why the entrance/exit at Wal-Mart are backwards. When you're driving on the street, you drive on the right side of the road. When walking in a mall or other crowded venue, the general rule of thumb is to stay to the right. The entrance door at every Wal-Mart I can think of is on the left -- not the right. That's what makes it backwards.

It's Over!

I actually finished all of my contracts before midnight. Amazing! I'm absolutely exhausted, wiped out, and drained. But it's over...4:45 p.m. and it's done.

There are still a few tiny details to take care of...paperwork "housekeeping" type things that take time but don't have to be done today. I'm taking the day off tomorrow and those things can wait until Tuesday.

I survived another end-of-fiscal year.....mostly intact (physically and mentally).

That's a big accomplishment!

30 Days Hath September....

And right now, part of me is relieved that September only has 30 days...and part of me needs September to have a few more days.

September 30 is the end of the fiscal year...and in my line of work, that's a big deal. A huge deal. So big that I've been working overtime and comptime for almost two months to get everything done.

I am exhausted!

Some years things go smoothly. Other years, like this year, everything goes haywire. If it can go wrong, it will (don't worry -- I didn't just jinx myself -- it's already bad!). For some reason, all of my projects have issues. Big issues. Time-consuming issues.

But a lot of it boils down to this: "Lack of preparation on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part." Sound familiar? Yeah. I just wish I could actually say that to my customers. Unfortunately, I can't. I just have to dig in and get the job done.

Sometimes it's exhilarating. Most of the time it's exhausting. It's definitely never boring.

I function pretty well under pressure. In fact, I perform better under pressure than not. Yes, I have a few "freak out" moments along the way...but for some reason the pressure makes me more focused, organized, and efficient. That's a good thing.

But not eating, not sleeping, and not relaxing...not such a good thing.

I wish I could say, in the words of Green Day, "Wake me up when September ends." Unfortunately, I have a sinking feeling that I'll be wide awake when September ends...at my desk...frantically trying to get it all done.

'Tis the season!

To All of the Teachers Out There....

I have been very blessed in my life to have had good teachers...wonderful teachers who took an interest in me, who pushed me to discover what I was capable of, who didn't let me slack off (even when I wanted to), and who made a difference in my life because they believed in me. Hopefully you have all had such teachers in your life.

The first teacher I remember is Mrs. Burger (sp?). I remember trying new foods in her class...a tie-dying project...and mostly just having fun. I can't remember if she was my kindergarten teacher, my first grade teacher, or my gifted teacher. I just remember that her class was fun (even though we had to do those disgusting weekly fluoride rinses....gag!). From her I learned that school could be fun.

I remember one of my second grade teachers. He also happened to be in our ward at church. There was a piano in our classroom and we sang songs everyday -- one song in particular was "This Land is Your Land, This Land is My Land"...is it strange to remember that? I don't remember specifics of what I learned in his class...I remember the layout of the classroom, and I remember that he always seemed to be happy. It was in his class, I believe, that my love of music was awakened.

This is not to say that I haven't had my share of less-than-good teachers. My next second grade teacher comes to mind (we moved during my 2nd grade year)...her philosophies about working with advanced students left much to be desired. I spent most of my second grade days in her classroom with my head down on my desk, doing nothing. Her rule was that, when our work was finished, we were to put our head down on our desk and sit quietly. No independent reading. No working ahead. Nothing. And so I spent much of second grade with my head on my desk.

A specific group of teachers stands out in my mind...my high school AP teachers. I had four different AP teachers (would have been five but I dropped AP Calculus...a good move on my part!). They all pushed me. School was easy for me, but they tried to challenge me and keep me interested. The first "C" I ever got was from my AP English teacher on a progress report...I was so angry at him for giving me a "C"...when he called to give me the results of my AP English exam and told me I had earned the highest possible score, I asked him how that was possible since he had only given me a "C". His response was that "A" work for other people was equivalent to "C" work for me -- that I was capable of much more than I was doing and he knew that giving me that "C" would push me to work harder to prove to him that I could get an "A". He knew all along what I was capable of...before I knew it myself. I did get an "A" from him that year -- and I knew I had earned it. I learned then that I didn't want to just be "given" good grades. I wanted to earn them and leave no doubt in anyone's mind -- especially my own -- that I had earned them.

My other AP teachers were just as great. My love of all things government/civics came from one of my AP History teachers and my AP American Government teacher. Those two couldn't have been more different, but both sparked an interest in me that has done nothing but get stronger through the years. They spoke to me about current events -- both in the US and around the world -- as if I were more than just a teenage girl. They encouraged me to think and learn and discuss and debate...to analyze a situation, pick my position, and defend it.

I had college professors who have had an impact on my life as well. One was an economics professor at BYU. I should have dropped his class but I was so stubborn that I didn't. Even personal tutoring sessions with the professor didn't help me...but even though he knew I wasn't going to get an A (or even a B) in his class, he took time to try and help me. Another was my faculty advisor at another university. I took several classes from him and really learned a great deal. I was in touch with him recently, letting him know I had (finally) received the master's degree I so badly wanted to start on 8 years ago. It was good to hear from him and to know he was sincere in his congratulations. Another who pushed me in ways I didn't expect and hadn't been pushed in a long time, who encouraged my goals of continuing my education...and from whom I learned there was more to me than I had been giving myself credit for for a long time.

There have been others. People who saw in me what I was not able to see in myself at the time. People who have reminded me of who I am and what I am, and who have encouraged and pushed me to be better and do better.

I am grateful for all of them.

A has had several such teachers in her life. One in particular, though, has reminded me of the impact a teacher can have for good in a child's life. He was one of her elementary school teachers. He took his class out to play sports outside every day for recess -- boys and girls. Flag football, frisbee, kickball, soccer...and A was right in the middle of all of it. Somehow in the process she turned into an athlete -- something he nor I ever expected would happen! He has now coached her for two seasons in rec league softball. He pushes her to be better, encourages her, and understands her. In her two years of school softball, he has come to many of her games to cheer her on. He does the same for other students of his. It takes time away from his "after school" life, but he comes anyway. He comes because he cares. A listens to him and values what he has to say. She respects him. She knows that he cares about her as a person, even she is no longer one of his students. He came to her softball game yesterday and always takes time after the game to talk to her and give her encouragement, congratulations, and support. He knows much more about softball than I ever will, so I find myself asking him to explain things to me as they happen in the game. He is still teaching her, and he is teaching me. He has taught me not to underestimate my children's ability -- not to think that it isn't possible for a girlie-girl to end up being a pretty darn good pitcher with more athletic ability in her pinky than I will ever have in my entire body.

That kind of impact will last a lifetime for her. And for me, because it has opened my mind to the possibilities that are out there for my children. My children are more than I give them credit for. B is now reaping the rewards of this enlightenment. She loves soccer. She also has more athletic ability in her pinky than I have in my entire body. And I know that when she has this particular teacher, the same teacher A had, he will have the same impact on her life that he has had on A's life.

I am not a teacher. Even though I am married to a teacher and I hear all about the good and bad side of teaching first-hand from him, I cannot pretend to know what it is like, day in and day out, to be a teacher. I know that, as the parent of two gifted children, I demand much from my daughters' teachers. Perhaps my demands and expectations are unreasonable. But we have had very few teachers who have let us down.

So today, I just want to thank teachers. My teachers, my girls' teachers, and all teachers. It is difficult, exhausting, frustrating work for which there is definitely not enough monetary compensation. But please know that somewhere, someday, somehow, you will touch the life of a child in a way that will shape the person they will become.

And that can make all the difference.

Why, oh why....

Today might as well be a Monday.

I went to the dentist today on my lunch break. What a fun way to spend a lunch break. That, in itself, is bad enough. But to find out that you need $1100 in dental work? That's miserable. And to find out that the two teeth that need the dental work aren't even bothering you, aren't sensitive in the least, and seem to be perfectly fine...while the tooth that does hurt doesn't need any work at all? That's just ridiculous.

My car has been shaking when I go over 60 mph (and you know I love to go over 60 mph!)...turns out I need my tires balanced...and, BTW, need new front tires. Well, this morning as I pulled out of my driveway, something kept bumping and thumping. I don't know much about cars, but I know enough to know that bumping and thumping isn't good. Sure enough, one of my front tires is totally, completely flat...and halfway off the rim. So I guess I'll be getting those new tires a little sooner than I had planned.

My rant for the day....actually, I have two today. Because it's been that kind of day.

1. When you go to a store and one door is clearly marked "Enter" and the other door is clearly marked "Exit," PLEASE use the doors appropriately. In other words, when you are Wal-Mart (yes, I can't stand that store either but sometimes there isn't much choice) and you find yourself in front of the store, ready to walk in, please use the door marked "Enter." When leaving the store, please use the door marked "Exit." Yes, I realize that both Wal-Marts here in town have those doors reversed (exit on the left, enter on the right), but please....use the correct door. It would cut down on the number of people walking into each other.

2. Please, please, please do not use a cell phone (or any phone, for that matter) in the restroom. That's just gross. Disgusting. Nasty. Have you never watched the "Mythbusters" episode about germs in restrooms? And besides, no one wants to hear your conversation. Thank you. (Of course, in case of emergency, please feel free to use the phone in the restroom...but not for routine conversations -- there is a lady at work who carries on lengthy phone calls in a foreign language while in the restroom stalls...and it grosses me out).

A pitched a great game in her softball game Tuesday night and will probably pitch in the next game, as well. She only walked two batters and seems to have regained her pitching intensity and confidence. I'm very happy about that. She did a great job in the other positions she has played this year, but her heart is on the pitching mound.

B is thoroughly enjoying soccer. We're having some piano lesson issues, but she's doing really well. She plays very well by ear -- something I have never been able to do.

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane....

and I hate to fly. Can't stand it. Scared to pieces.

But I can't wait. I am so excited! I booked my tickets yesterday to go visit my sister M for a long weekend in October. I have wanted to visit her for the longest time, and really need a break from the insanity at work that seems never-ending.

I found out I was getting a cash award for the big project I worked on for the last year and a half...when I told DH about it, he said I needed to buy an airline ticket and go see M as a reward to myself. He didn't have to tell me twice!

So now the ticket is booked and I can't wait!