Reflections on 2008

As I sit here at work on the last day of the year, I am prompted to reflect on this year. What has happened this year to me personally that is of any significance? What has happened in our nation and world?

Well, we have elected our first black President. Although I was not an Obama supporter, he is, or at least will be as of January 20th, our President and I will support him in any way that I can. We continue to be involved in Iraq and who knows how long that will go on. I do not profess to understand any of what is going on in that regard so cannot comment on the situation.

Personally, as I have documented on this blog, it is the desire of my heart to adopt a child. Yet another year has passed without any progress towards said adoption as there are still other areas of my life that need attention first.

Other areas of my life are documented here on my blog so I do not need to go back over my work situation - it is too draining to even think of typing it all out yet again.

As 2008 draws to a close, I have but one thought on my mind for 2009. It is the same thought that was on my mind one year ago.... when will I be a mother?

Wishing everyone a joyous New Year!! Please be careful tonight if you are going to be out and about.

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a very joyous holiday.

May we never forget...

"An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.' Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying:
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. "

Luke 2:9-14

Scroll to the bottom!

Scroll to the bottom and leave a gift under my "Christmas tree"!!

This is a cute little toy that I posted on another site I have last year and just did it again this year.

Watch this!

This was an elf yourself video I made with me and my cats... it was only available until January 15th, unfortunately!!!

Until next year...

Why do I let things like this bother me?

So today is my day off and I decided to have lunch at Chik Fil*A while I was out running some errands. I get my order (chargrilled chicken club, usually very yummy!!) and go sit down to eat. Since I was there by myself, I had decided to bring my book inside to read while I was eating. As I started to eat, I realized that I had sat right by a big group of young moms and their children. It was then that I overheard the thing that is bothering me. One of the young mothers starts talking about how now that she is married and has children she doesn't feel like her friends who are single understand her anymore so really prefers to hang out with "people of her own kind"... that is, married and with children. She made some, in my opinion, quite disparaging remarks about those who are still single and their attitudes towards those who have children.

Well, this rocked me in a way that I simply cannot explain. Now maybe she was talking about some friends who have treated her horribly since her life has changed in that manner. But when I related what she said to my own life situation it felt like daggers hitting my heart. Here I am, 42 years old and still single. I've met quite a few men in my life but none that ended up being the type I would marry. And I have no idea at this point if I will even marry. But the bigger thing, for me is the fact that I desperately want children. And I have no ill feelings towards those who do have children - I understand it completely changes your life. I want that change in my life. But I am not able to have children, not married, and not financially able to pursue my dream right now - adoption.

So here I sit with an aching heart, yet again, and it is the holiday season - the time when my heart aches the most. I despise waking up alone on Christmas morning but it's what I have to do for now.

Please excuse this completely self pitying sounding post.... I had to get it off my chest.

Happy Thanksgiving

May your turkey be filled with warm stuffing, and your homes filled with warm hearts and thoughts on this holiday of thanks.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever."

Psalm 107:1

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.

So what happened?

Heck, I don't know how many readers I really have or even if anyone is wondering what happned... but here goes.

Yes, the new franchisee has taken over and closed 2 of the 3 centers on "this side" of the water (if you are local, you know what I mean). Of the 3 centers, the one I am currently in was the most centrally located. Quite a few of the kids from the closed centers have made the switch with us as well as most of the teachers. We how have 1 huge center with lots of kids receiving instruction. Still dealing with some parents who wanted their money back rather than make the extra drive and fit it all in with family schedules, etc. I am the Center Director and I have 2 Assistant Directors because we are so big.

So that is it in a nutshell... I am employed, was out of work for about 2 weeks. Those 2 weeks did a number on me financially though and we have all taken a significant pay cut which isn't good. We are awaiting word on our benefits and I have a scary feeling it won't be good working in such a small business. It's still very scary... it could happen again. I am still praying for the Lord's direction...

My Site has been Nominated!!!

I have no idea who nominated me but I was nominated for a "Love This Site" award!!! How cool is that??? Anyway, the box to take you to the voting site is in the sidebar, vote for me!!!

Quick Update

Well... a new franchisee has taken over and we have reopened for business. It's not exactly a celebration because so much is still uncertain. We have angry parents to contend with, confused kids, and confused teachers. We have merged three centers into one so I am not sure what my role will be as of yet. And I am also making considerably less than I made before until everything is all settled. There is a chance I will get the same position again but I am really unsettled by it all still. I am still looking as I think it would be a good idea to get into something a little more stable (but I wonder what exactly is stable anymore) and with more regular hours - working until 8:00 p.m. is dreadful.

Thanks for all your prayers and kind words!!

Update... kind of

First, thank you for the kind comments on my last post. It really means a lot to me that people in the blogging world are praying for me.

The only "update" I have is dealing with my employment situation. And that is there is no update. We are awaiting word on whether or not we are going to reopen. The attorneys for the franchisee I worked for and the attorneys for the corporate offices are haggling it out with the negotiations and that is preventing us from reopening. A representative from the corporate offices is in town but because of the stall with the negotiations, she cannot legally enter any of the centers nor can she legally speak to any of us. It's like being in limbo but it's scary at the same time. There are some rumors that they may condense the cneters which means they will not need all of the employees. If asked to go back, I will go in order to help the kids but with this being such an uncertain business now, I am actively looking for a new position. I would dearly love to return to the classroom on a full time basis and sometimes positions like that do open up in the middle of the school year.

Right now I am just praying for God's will in all of this... trying to figure out what He wants me to do. It's not easy.

Just when you think things might be looking up...

Why oh why do I even think things are going to go well finally?? My father is battling lung cancer, had surgery this summer and they removed one of his lungs. He stopped his chemo recently because it was just too much for him. He has had health problems for a long time now. Then about a week after I got back from NJ, my Mom informed everyone that she had lost her job after 18 1/2 years with the same company. Then she got the results of a recent CAT scan and they thought she had a tumor in her lung. She had another CAT scan done and it turns out it was an inflammation so they want her to have another one done in February just to check on the progress. And they have asked her to stop smoking but we shall see about that.

This past week the owner of my learning center has been acting very strange, saying he was sick and unavailable and then showing up asking for all kinds of last minute reports on Wednesday. On Thursday he calls to say that we are changing payroll companies and he wants us to fax him payroll through that day so he can send it to the company he is letting go and have them process one final paycheck run before the new company takes over.

I got up this morning and went into work to get the biggest bombshell of all. He dissolved the company yesterday and we are all out of a job. We will be paid through Thursday and that is it. And I just went to training in September!!!! The corporate offices are going to be coming into town this week to take a look at everything and see what can be done. The possibilities at this point are that they will take over or another franchisee will buy our centers. But it is all up in the air at this point in time. So come Monday morning I am back to being a substitute teacher........

I just want this nightmare to end, I can't take it!!!!!!! This is the second time in 2 years I have been faced with the possibility of no income. I am too old for this.

Pray please........

Too funny!!!

And this is the real Gov. Palin on SNL!! I wish I had watched the show, but I hardly ever do anymore.

Today

So today is my birthday. And I'm not looking for birthday greetings from anyone... :).

I am just reflecting on the fact that I am officially another year older, another year past the 40 mark, and have no idea at this point if I will ever be a Mom. I am happy for my cousin who had her second little girl in August, I am happy for another cousin (sister of the first one) who is expecting her 3rd boy in January, but I wish something like that was happening for me.

Oh, and I am excited for Shannon, who just received her referral very unexpectedly in the middle of the month, congratulations again!!

I hope that the news is much better by this time next year!!

Trip to NJ & NYC

My last post mentioned that I was traveling. I've been back home since Sept. 27th, very very very late that night. I was sooo exhausted!! 2 weeks in a hotel is just 2 weeks too much... unless of course you are relaxing in the Carribean somewhere! This was a business trip so all expenses were paid for, aside from my side trip to Manhattan. I got pretty tired of eating out, to say the least! I was so happy when my sister invited me over for dinner the first full day I was home. She made rotisserie chicken (she owns a rotisserie), macaroni & cheese casserole, and steamed broccoli. It was the best meal I'd had in weeks!!

Anyway, here are some photos from the trip.

Ciao Bella Gelato Cafe was the cutest little cafe right around the corner from my hotel. I stayed in Tenafly, NJ, a very picturesque little village in NJ. I ate at this place a number of times - delicious paninis and crepes!! And their gelato milkshake was very good as well.

This was my first view of the NYC skyline. This picture was taken from the window of the # 166 bus!! The bus picked us up right in front of the hotel and dropped us off at the Port Authority Terminal on 42nd St.

NYPD welcomes you to Times Square!!

We had dinner here. It was very crowded and very loud!!

This ad was actually on the outside of Toys be Us in Times Square. And I do heart Ugly Betty!! This Toys be Us was quite amazing... there was a 4 story ferris wheel inside the store and the cars each represent a child's favorite toy.

Radio City Music Hall!! I didn't go inside. My AD's aunt was actually a Rockette for 14 years!!

It really is the world's largest store, at least in my opinion!! 9 floors and a cellar. They had their Christmas floor in the works... on the 9th floor. The 7th floor is the children's clothing and there is a full service McDonald's on that floor!! We ate at a very neat place in the cellar, and I had the best NY cheesecake for dessert.

Me inside Macy's... the home furnishings floor.

Rockefeller Center. And I got really dizzy leaning way back and looking up to take this shot!!

Pretty self explanatory... this is where the famous tree is placed every year!!

NBC News studio... where they film the Today Show every morning. See the marquee? We saw those all over Times Square!

The weekend in NYC was great, but very very tiring!! I don't think I have ever walked so much in my entire life. I have great respect for the people who live there and have to walk everywhere just because of the sheer volume of traffic and the cost to keep a car in the city.

Traveling

So I'm leaving today... in fact my flight leaves in a little over 2 and a half hours. And I'm still at home!! I'm getting ready to head to my sister's house where I'm leaving my car while I'm gone. When I fly back home in 2 weeks, my flight doesn't land until after 10:30 at night so I'm going to have them leave my car at the arrivals parking lot and call me on my cell to tell me where I can find it.

So it's off to 2 weeks of training for work... better be interesting!!!! Next weekend will be time in New York City with my best friend, her husband, and daughter.

See you when I get back!!

Best Cities for Singles?

I saw a link on Yahoo that sounded interesting so I clicked on it. Forbes Magazine has done one of their polls ending with a ranked listing of the top 40 cities for singles. Here are the results:

1. Atlanta
2. San Francisco
3. Dallas
4. Minneapolis
5. Washington, D.C.
6. Seattle
7. Boston
8. New York City
9. Orlando
10. Phoenix
11. Chicago
12. Denver - Aurora
13. Miami
14. Austin
15. San Antonio
16. Los Angeles
17. Houston
18. Charlotte
19. San Diego
20. St. Louis
21. Columbus
22. Philadelphia
23. Tampa - St. Petersburg
24. Las Vegas
25. Baltimore
26. Virginia Beach - Norfolk?
27. Detroit
28. Pittsburgh
29. Portland
30. Buffalo
31. Milwaukee
32. Sacramento
33. Cincinnati
34. Memphis
35. Providence
36. Kansas City
37. Indianapolis
38. Cleveland
39. Salt Lake City
40. Jacksonville

This was very interesting to me, indeed. I think this is one of the first times I have seen my area listed on a poll like this but I just have one question. If it is ranked 26th on the list of the best cities for singles, then why don't I realize that?

This was actually more of a good laugh to me than anything else. I haven't posted in a while so I figured better this than nothing!!

Life Goes On

Life does go on. Maybe not in the direction I wanted it to at this point but it's not like I can stop it. So I make sure I am taking care of what I need to take care of - housework, laundry, etc. Most of the time it feels like I am moving about in a hypnotic state and just don't care about it. I feel like I do that at work too. This will be a different week, though, because the regional director and I are swapping places starting this week. She will be the acting director at the center where I've worked for almost a year and I will be the director at another of our centers. It's not much farther away for me as far as driving goes. We shall see how it goes.

Short post, I know, but there really isn't much going on.

Heartaches

How do I explain this?? My heart is aching tonight... I want to be a mother more than I can even express with words. I have this overwhelming feeling that I am SUPPOSED to be a mother. I made the unwise decision to visit a few adoption blogs and am sitting here with tears streaming down my face.... and my heart is crying out to God to make the aching go away...

New Look

So I decided that my blog needed a facelift. I tried several different layouts but most of them made it impossible to read my posts and since posting is what a blog is all about they just didn't work!! Let me know what you think of the new look!!

I just realized that the last time I talked about my new job I said that I was going to be Assistant Director of Education at my company. Well.... due to some staffing changes just as I was coming on board in a full time role, I was actually offered and accepted the position of Center Director. It's a big job, lots of responsibilities and a little scary to think of it all. But I am taking it one day at a time and trusting that the Lord dropped this in my lap for a reason. I still miss teaching in the classroom but this is where I am supposed to be right now.

Nothing new on the adoption front. I sometimes think I gave this blog the wrong name... maybe it should have been Will I Ever Be a Mom?

23 Years Ago Today...

Wow, how fast time flies. It just hit me that 23 years ago today was my Senior Prom. So I looked through the photo album my Mom made me a few years ago and found a pic of that day. It's the only one I have, unfortunately. About 8 years ago or so my hot water heater burst in the place where I was living and it ran all day while I was gone, ruining the boxes I had stored in the room with it. Along with that was a box that contained photo albums and lots and lots of memories.

But here is the pic of my senior prom. Believe it or not, this style of gown was the way to go back then!! My hair looks so big!! I styled it myself, there was no going to get it done back then. My date was my boyfriend of the time. And I'm the one who drove that night!!!

Today...

So today was my last day at my full time job. It was kind of a low key day. The people who were nicest were very happy for me. Others were the same. Oh well... I am moving on.

I am praying and thinking about a new opportunity that has landed in my lap. It's with the same place that just promoted me... they are looking at an even higher position for me due to some recent personnel changes. They have the confidence in me, I just need to find the confidence in myself. I'll know more and most likely have a decision by mid next week.

Whatever you do...

Make sure that when you vote for the winner of American Idol next week you vote for.....

David!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My sister just called to say this to me so I couldn't resist. I do have my favorite of the Davids... although my absolute fav this season was Carly Smithson. But my favorite David is David Cook so he will be getting all my votes next week!!!

News...

In my last post I mentioned a career change coming up soon. Well, I was officially offered, and accepted, the promotion today!! It has been in the works for a couple of months now and I've already been slowly learning the position as I have been working part-time there, as a teacher/tutor.

I am waiting until this Friday to give notice at my current full time job so as of May 19th, my new job title will be Assistant Director of Education. To protect myself, I'm not saying where but if you know me than you know where I work part-time!! If something goes awry with giving notice, as can happen because of the Virginia employment laws, I will be able to start there immediately.

I am really excited to begin this new chapter. I will actually be flying to New Jersey in a few weeks for some training so I'm looking forward to getting out of town as well. The main office for our center is only about 30 minutes from NYC so I'm hoping to get back into that city. I haven't been there since 1984 and we all know how much has changed in the 24 years since I've been there!!

Long overdue post

Hi! Wow, I didn't realize I hadn't posted on here in so long. There really is nothing new to report. I've just been busy working both of my jobs and following Idol and DWTS. Pretty boring.

I am in the midst of making yet another career change. Losing my teaching position after last year was such a blow to my ego that I have yet to recover. I had many teaching interviews last summer and none of them came to fruition. In the meantime, I began substitute teaching in the public school system and tutoring on a part time basis. In December I took a position at a college where I used to work. Suffice it to say that I am really not happy with the work I am doing at this position but I kind of knew that would happen as I would not be using my degree and doing what I felt called to do. The change I am making puts me back into the education world on a full time basis although it is not teaching. I am not going to say anything more about it at this point until it happens... I feel as though I can jinx things which I know is strange but considering what this last year has been like I am just a little wary.

I received a phone call the other day from a teacher I worked with last year. She has now retired and was telling me that things are really going down hill at the school where I was. There are at least 7 of the teachers on medication for stress and anxiety, and these are women who would not normally have to take such meds. One teacher actually went out on medical leave a few months ago due to extreme anxiety and has since returned to work at a different school at her doctor's recommendation. The main reason this teacher called me is to ask if I would be willing to share what happened to me in order to support yet another teacher who is under attack. I did not hesitate to say yes because while I was a first year teacher this particular woman has 20 years of experience and does not deserve to be treated in such a manner. I know I am being vague but this is a public blog so I do not feel comfortable posting any more specific details.

Ok... such a negative post!! Nothing new in the adoption world except the fact that I still very much hope and pray to be able to adopt one day very soon. I just feel like I am supposed to be a parent even if I do not find my soulmate and get married. The thing is even if I did get married I am most likely not able to have a biological child of my own so would end up adopting anyway.

Time to get back to work....

Silly boys...

Today my nephews came over for a couple hours while my sister went to the nail shop. They were being silly, as usual, and I played a song on my computer (old Shania Twain but it's a cute one!) and they both came running in the room and started dancing. Actually, by the time I grabbed the camera the older one had sat down but the young one was still boogying away!! Enjoy:

I'm exhausted...

I'm completely exhausted... this was WAY harder to do than I ever thought it would be. I had the hardest time getting it all together. I hope the end result is worth it (meaning I better get a good night's sleep!).

Friday Night and the Weekend's Here!

Since the title of my last post was "Monday, Monday" this seemed appropriate as the next title!

I am soooo glad the weekend is here. For the first time in almost 6 months, I am off work on a Saturday!! I had decided several weeks ago to take the day off so I could at least go to ONE of my nephew's basketball games. He is playing in one of the local Upwards basketball leagues but only has about 2 or 3 games left in this season. I am looking forward to sleeping a little later tomorrow since I usually have to be up and out of the house, somewhat professionally dressed, in order to be at the tutoring center by 9am. But the game doesn't start until 11am so I get to sleep a little!!

And tomorrow I go pick up my new bed!! I am so excited about that. Tonight I tackled the job of taking apart the old bed, then rearranging the furniture in my bedroom in preparation for tomorrow. Now I have my old bed and mattress set in the 3rd bedroom, the new mattress set in my computer room, and my bedroom sits mostly empty for just a few more hours, yippeee!!

Gee, could I be more sillier, being this excited about a new bed?

On a more somber note, I am in shock and disbelief that our nation has suffered yet another senseless school shooting this week. I wanted to offer my prayers along with everyone else's. Lord, I ask for your prayers of peace among the many who knew and loved the victims of this senseless tragedy. Give them the strength and the wisdom to get through the sad days ahead and to find a way to go on. I pray that the students of Northern Illinois University are able to continue their studies despite all that has happened. I ask all of this in the name of your son, Jesus. Amen.

In honor of the victims:

Monday, Monday

Who likes Mondays? Not me!!!! Especially when you've had a pretty nice, but busy, weekend.

This weekend I finally received a package I had been waiting for... I have bought a book from Amazon.com called "Adopting On Your Own: The Complete Guide to Adoption for Single Parents." I haven't had time to really start reading it but at first glance it looks as though it will have a lot of good information for me. Thanks to Mary for posting it on her blog in the list of books she has read! I also have an adoption handbook that my sister has lent to me. She has an 8 year old son they adopted domestically but the book does have a section on international adoption as well.

Now the reason why I didn't have time to read that book this weekend is because I was so busy!! I had to work on Saturday, then I went big time shopping in the afternoon. I haven't been able to sleep really well in a long time so decided it was time to finally do something about it. Since I can get a better night's sleep when I'm not actually sleeping in my bed it didn't take long to figure out that the bed was the culprit. Waking up stiff and sore every day was a big clue. So Saturday I got a nice new mattress set from a store called The Dump... it's an interesting place with lots of great deals on furniture! I didn't see the actual bed I wanted there so after bringing home the mattress set, thanks to my brother-in-law, and having dinner with my sister, brother-in-law, and the kids, I went to Value City Furniture where I bought a beautiful new bed that I will pick up next Saturday! Then it was off to Sears for a new comforter and sheets, and new pillows too. They were having a great sale. So it turned out to be the best weekend to buy all of this, the bed was on sale too. Sunday I had a few more errands to run, then I came home to do laundry and rearrange my living room. By the time I finish straightening out my bedroom next weekend (I'm going to rearrange it too), I think I'll be exhausted.

Here's the new bed I bought, not the same mattress set of course, but it will be so pretty!

Where do I blog?

Just for fun... I thought I'd post a pic of my computer set up. I actually just cleaned and reorganized things in this room last weekend, it wasn't looking so pretty before that, not that it's all that pretty now, just looks better!! The computer is actually open to the home page of my myspace site.

not a good day...

For some strange reason, today was one of those days where I just wanted to crawl under a rock and stay there, just waiting for it to be over. I felt all day like I was doing everything wrong and it would never be right. Then, to make matters worse, a co-worker's daughter came to visit him with her new baby. He was proudly showing off his brand new grandson and I don't begrudge him or the mother the pride, he is a beautiful baby. But this gentleman just turned 50 and has a beautiful new grandson to show off. I, on the other hand, am 41 and I don't even have children yet. I want to get this adoption journey started, I know it's what I am supposed to do but there are still obstacles in my way. I did read on another blog that there might be some positive changes happening for adoptions from Guatemala so I am hopeful about that at least.

Maybe I won't crawl under that rock after all... I think I just need a good cry.

About a year ago...

What a difference a year makes!! A year ago I was in the worst pain I had ever felt in my whole life. I basically felt as though I were having a heart attack 24/7. Nothing I did could alleviate the pain... no amount of painkillers, etc. would even touch it. I slept lying straight on my back with a heating pad which most nights actually did allow me to sleep. A co-worker of mine suggested that my symptoms sounded exactly like what she went through when she needed to have her gallbladder out. Knowing how difficult gallbladder problems are to diagnose, I demanded that my doctor check me for this and surprisingly enough my demands were met. I was sent to the hospital for a GB ultrasound. I had to be there super early on a Friday morning, 6am to be precise. The ultrasound tech did her job, then told me that she wasn't supposed to say anything but that I could expect to be having surgery very soon as I definitely had stones. I then had to start stalking my doctor's office for the results of the ultrasound because my pain was not only not going away, but it was intensifying. I finally went back to the urgent care part of my doctor's office on Saturday and they called in to consult with a surgeon who said I should be given a pretty good painkiller and if that didn't take care of the problem, I was to page the surgeon and they would admit me directly to the hospital for emergency surgery. So the doctor at the urgent care put me on Vicodin and that did the trick, I felt pain-free for the first time in about 2 weeks.

Now did I mention that I was a teacher at the time, and had a class of 26 5th grade students that I was teaching while feeling like I was having a heart attack 24/7?? That was no fun. Then I was teaching while on this super painkiller. Quick emergency surgery over the weekend would not have been a good idea as I had no sub plans written, and no way to let a sub know how my classroom discipline plan worked, who the trustworthy students were, etc. I ended up at the surgeon's office on Monday afternoon and they said yep, you're having surgery and the sooner the better (ummm.. no duh, I had that figured out already!). I was home about 30 - 45 minutes when the scheduling desk from the surgeon's office called to tell me that Thursday, Jan. 11th was the day. So I went into school the next day (Tuesday, Jan. 9th) to let my AP know I needed time off and start preparing sub plans for about 2 weeks. I was given a wonderful sub, she was a retired teacher who was always around our school so she came to see me after school that day and we talked awhile, then she came back Wednesday afternoon and I introduced her to the kids, telling them I was going to be out for a little while due to a medical procedure. What shocked faces!! The sub stuck around with me after school and took the Social Studies materials from me, telling me she would take care of that, I just needed to let her know what to do for the other subjects.

The surgery was fine but lasted longer than expected as it turned out that my gallbladder was way more infected than expected. They came very close to completely opening me up but thank God my surgeon was able to complete the procedure laparoscopically (I think I spelled that right!). But I woke up with a drainage tube and a little bottle due to the infection in my liver and had to stay in the hospital for 2 nights. No fun!!

But it's been a year now and I am so thankful that is all behind me. The only lingering side effect I have is that after I went back to work last year, I suffered a gallbladder attack, even though I didn't have one, as a result of eating a very healthy salad for lunch (I didn't know my body couldn't handle the roughage yet). That attack, and the resulting sickness, was almost worse than what I had gone through before the surgery. So the lingering side effect is I still cannot eat a salad... even looking at lettuce makes me think of how sick I got and I start to feel sick. I can eat veggies and I can cook with them, just can't put it all together in a salad yet. I am hoping that goes away soon because salads are sooo good!!!

I know this post is totally nonrelated to the topic of my blog, but there is simply nothing new to report on that front. I still cannot even begin the process.