AA

Hello, my name is Betsy, I live in the country, and I have a problem with Ants.

I know, it's just a part of living out here.

And I know, it's not that big of a deal.

But I am SICK of ants! Last summer, the first time we found them, I cried. I thought it meant I was a terrible housekeeper and a bad person. Now I know that ants are a part of life in the country, they can get in anywhere and they will eat anything. I've found them in my bed, on a trail to the snotty hanky under my pillow. In the mudroom, carrying back BITS OF DIRT! There is plenty of dirt outside, why don't they eat that? And of course, on the kitchen floor and on the floor by Anna's highchair, the obvious places. I'm tired of following the trail and spraying just a teensy bit of Ant Raid on the entrance spot, and then worrying about poisoning our little family. I'm tired of staring maniacally at the floor looking for moving dots. I'm tired of cleaning up ants and then feeling like I have them crawling all over me for the next hour. I'm tired of stumbling across a new path and literally getting ants in my pants.

I love living in the country, and I love creation. I can even admire them sometimes. How do they do it? I found them a few nights ago coming in by the doorway that separates the mudroom from the rest of the house. In the middle of the house! They were not in the mudroom, just coming out the floor by the door to it. It's impressive, but I still want them all dead.

Eeeeeewww.... I feel so creepy crawly all over.

BTSF

Back To School Fatigue

I always forget about how tired it makes me to go back to school. I also always forget (until Open House) how much I love this job. I love the kids, I love teaching Spanish, it's so much fun.

We're using the new curriculum this year, I taught today using the books, and it's fun. It feels like cheating, to just do what the books say to do, but I think it will be nice this year, to have a break, and still feel like the kids are learning, and really immerse myself in this curriculum, to see what it does.

I'm also training for a 10K. I've never done anything like this before, and I hesitate to mention it here, because then if I don't make it, it'll be public, but I want to do it. They're having the first annual Laura K (Kleysteuber) 10K on October 6, and I decided I wanted to do it. It's raising money for the cancer center. I've been running this summer, so I thought I'd give it a shot. I found an 8 week training program online, so this is what I've been following. Anyone want to do it with me? I'm a slow jogger, but I'd welcome the support. I'm off to bed now, I've got three miles scheduled for the morning. :)

Home again, home again

We're back from the cabin. It was a lovely week. This week we're back to work though, in every sense. No more lounging about, eating junk and letting other people take care of Anna. There's laundry up to my ears, a house to pick up, things to put away, and inservices to go to. I LOVE my job, but the first month back is a kick in the pants.

My favorite quote from the trip comes from my Dad, talking to us about how Mom was worried because we kids got there a bit later than she expected: "I don't worry, worry is not a productive emotion." Hmmm, where DO I get my attitudes about the world?

We read the last Harry Potter out loud together, driving Mom crazy in the process. But we finished, and I'd be happy to discuss it with anyone, but I don't feel like I can here-because of the spoiler issue. So just talk to me sometime.

One interesting question from the books though--What would your Patronus be? Mine, obviously, would be a flamingo. Quite intimidating. AND-the subject of much debate during the reading aloud-What is the proper pronunciation of the word Patronus?