School is out, and we are "Slaphappy"

The moment we've all been waiting for finally arrived this week, and not a moment too soon.

Let's see if I can remember everything in order from the past week. IT's been a doozy, just like the last week of school usually is. Last Saturday morning I slept late and Rusty got up really, really early and he and Donnie built a work bench thing in his little room outside. The kids did some picking up of limbs and before I knew it, Tyler was doing something that I haven't seen him do in YEARS. By the time I got my camera, of course, he was just sitting. But he had been jumping on the trampoline with Tanner. For some reason it was nice to see him doing that lol. Also, later in the week, his friend Diari was here visiting and he was jumping on the trampoline once AGAIN. Twice in one week. Maybe he's still got some kid left in him after all!

Got a picture of the best purchase we've made in quite some time. I finally have my VERY OWN wheel barrow. Small enough that I can push it if I have to. As much dirt as we are constantly having to move around here, we definitely needed one. Also, got a pic of Rusty on his new lawn mower.

We had a band practice/fish fry that Saturday evening that was fun. The bass player, who's name is also Rusty, and his wife Renee brought catfish that they have been catching on the river lately. I was determined to find a recipe to match the crab nachos we had eaten at Joe's Crab Shack in Destin and I think I've gotten pretty darn close. The crab nachos I made were EXCELLENT. I'll put the recipe at the end if anyone wants to try it.

Sunday we went to Guitar Center. I needed to spend the money we won at CHristmas with the honor choir on some microphones and cables for the school. I got 2 mics and 4 cables, and the PTO is going to buy 2 more mics and 2 monitor speakers. Rusty H, Renee, and Mike all went with us. The whole way there we tosses around ideas for names for our band. After about an hour, RustyH came up with the name "Slaphappy". Somehow it just kinda stuck. I looked it up on the online dictionary and then I KNEW it was definitely the name for us:
1. severely befuddled; punch-drunk
2. agreeably giddy or foolish
3. cheerfully irresponsible
4. Dazed, silly, or incoherent from or as if from blows to the head; punch-drunk.
5. Happy-go-lucky.
Of course, none of those things apply to me. But the guys - yeah. Hehehehehehe.......

So now we are "Slaphappy". And we're about 2 months away from playing out I think.

Monday was the full moon, and my last full day of classes. The kids really were wild, wild, wild. Tanner had a baseball game that afternoon, and then I had band practice right after that where we were auditioning the 3rd singer so far. Tuesday we had awards day at school, then I had the honor choir singing at the PTO meeting that evening. I had 8 out of 22 kids show up. Then for some reason we had band practice again on Tuesday. I think it was because we were working out some vocal stuff or something. Wednesday we had 6th grade graduation at school and I had to run a powerpoint slideshow for it, and have the honor choir sing yet again. And I had to audition 30 different acts for the talent show I was doing the next day. By Wednesday evening all I could do is sit in a chair and stare at the TV!

Thursday was the last day of school and we did a talent show. I was very nervous because you just never know how something like that will go. I had auditioned everyone to make sure that no one was doing songs with inappropriate lyrics, or doing dances with inappropriate gestures, and so on. But it ended up going very well. People enjoyed it. Tanner, Cody and 2 of their friends performed in the talent show and did some magic tricks. They called themselves "The Wacky Magicians". They did a couple of card tricks and Tanner found a way to pull a stuffed monkey out of a hat that looked empty. I won't give up his secret, but it was pretty crafty thinking on his part. I'll let him tell about it some time lol.

After the kids were sent home on Thursday, we had the end of the year faculty luncheon at Toney's restaurant. It was really nice. The teachers who were leaving got gifts, and I was one of them. Finally the announcement was made publicly that I am going to the high school.

So! I survived the talent show and everything else. And Thursday evening Rusty and I went out to eat at El Ranchero. The margarita was so good, I went and bought some mix and called up Terri and said.......let's sit in the kitchen! She and the boys came over and visited, we had a good time. Tyler let for Alabama with Mom on Thursday and he took the xbox. I didn't think Tanner would ever quit crying. I think he took the xbox and his computer too lol. Tanner still had his computer, but he was not happy about the xbox.

Friday was a teacher work day and I got NOTHING done pretty much. I let a teacher talk me into working on her computer which I shouldn't have done. I went to the high school to ask my new boss when I can move in. I still don't think he has resolved things with the former choir director. But he told me I could get in there beginning next Friday. And he told me that everything was in quite a mess. I ran out of time back at my old school and I didn't get everything packed away or straightened up. So, here I am - school is out but I do not have my usual feeling of relief because I feel that I have left things unfinished. Left loose ends, and I'm uneasy lol. So I'm going to have to come home from Alabama next Thursday so that I can hopefully do what I need to do on Friday and get comfortable.

Friday afternoon I met at the Southern Cultural Heritage Center with an old teaching buddy, Kathy G. She and I will be conducting the art camp there in late June. I taught with her years ago at Cedars before she moved to high school art. It will be really nice working with her again, and she was happy to hear it too. Anyway, we spent time making plans for the camp there. And when I went to leave I had to walk to the front of the stage and down the steps and I was like........I've been here before..........what is up with this..........and then I remembered. That building was where they filmed the stage part in the movie "O Brother Where Art Thou". That part where they are on stage singing "Man of Constant Sorrow". Cool! The next time I'm there I'm going to take a picture of that stage. Maybe with me on it. And maybe I'll be wearing overalls and singing "Man of Constant Sorrow".

Friday night was Tanner's last season game. At 5:45. And I had plans of cooking dinner and hanging with the family once it was over. But when I got there I found out that we were also going to be playing a make up game that night......so we had a double header. I was at the baseball field from 5:00 til 9:30. But the great news is........Tanner finally hit a ball!!!!! He hit it good, it made it into the outfield and he easily got on 1st base. They got him out at second though because the coach made him try to steal 2nd. But that was ok, he was thrilled! I got a picture of him hitting the ball, but you can hardly tell if he hit it.

Tyler texted me Friday and told he had gotten his head shaved. I about flipped. Come to find out, he had just gotten a crew cut. But I had visions in my head of a totally bald Tyler. He and Kyle had decided to get crew cuts. I was very surprised as picky as Tyler is about his hair. But I hear he is enjoying it. NO muss, no fuss lol. While I was at the high school Friday I got a friend to sneak peak at Tyler's final grades and he PASSED, thank goodness. He did fail Algebra II though, but we expected that. He did well in everything else, but passed AP History with a 70. He was very lucky. But I know he has worked very hard this 2nd semester to get those grades back up.

Saturday we went to a fish fry at Aunt Joni's house for our Memorial Day gathering. Kristi and Robbie were in town, they recently got married and it was the first time we've seen them since. Tanner and Connor had a good time playing with animals. The guys all played a few rounds of pool. It was a really nice visit. Zach and Collin missed Tyler. Collin has offered to tutor Tyler in Algebra II next year and I just might take him up on that. Saturday night Connor spent the night with us and I rented some movies for Rusty and I to sit and watch. Today is Sunday and we're having practice today. Then in the morning I'm leaving out with Tanner, Terri, Dusty, and Cody to head to the lakehouse for a few days. I know they are all excited about it. And I'm expecting that some time while I'm at the lakehouse, I will finally get that chance to START READING MY BOOKS!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!

Almost forgot.........the Crab Nachos recipe:

I used a can of crab meat one time, and I used fresh imitation crab meat the next time. The canned stuff was MUCH better.

Crab Nachos :
8 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
4 ounces Monterey jack cheese, grated
1/4 cup sour cream
1 pickled jalapeno, minced, plus 1 to 2 tablespoons pickling liquid from jar
1 garlic clove, minced (I used a small spoonful of the already minced garlic in a jar)
1/4 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
8 ounces crabmeat, fresh or frozen
1/2 cup sliced artichoke hearts (optional)
3 dozen tortilla chips
1 pickled jalapeno, sliced thin
Minced scallion tops (for garnish)

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a bowl, mix together cheeses, sour cream, jalapeno, pickling liquid, garlic and cumin until well blended. Fold in the crabmeat and artichokes, if desired. Spread each chip with a layer of the topping mixture. Place the chips on a heatproof baking dish or platter. Sprinkle the sliced jalapeno over everything. Bake for about 5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and a little bubbly.
Scatter scallion tops over the nachos and serve immediately.

**I also added picante sauce over the top of the crab mix after I took it out of the oven and it was awesome. I figure you can also just use the crab mix as a dip instead of covering chips and baking them.

Mid May

Somebody keeps stealing time from me somehow. Each day is shorter and less gets done. But I've been reading a new wave philosophical mumbo jumbo tree hugger book lately, and I'm convinced that the only way to increase time and space is to increase DISTANCE. Just step back from it all, as far back as you can, take a few breaths and THINK for awhile. Kinda like......stopping to smell the roses and such. Then you see how unimportant most of the things are that you are stressing over. And time will slow down a bit, and you can put space around and between things. And feel like you're living after all. Anyway......

When we got back from Destin, Smokey was not here. He goes places and comes back sometimes so we didn’t worry much. But by the weekend he was STILL not back. We have not seen him at all. So I called the pound and the humane society and they don’t have him. We drove around his usual spots and didn't see him. He does have a tag with our phone number on it but we had no messages on the voice mail about him. I’ve put an ad in the paper and no one has called about him. I don’t know WHAT has happened to him. But Tanner is thinking that he must have lost his tag, then got lost in some neighborhood and somebody started feeding him and he forgot how to come home. So that’s what we’re going to stick with. Tanner misses him.

I got official word last week that I AM getting the job transfer I requested! Woohoo! But I’m NOT going to Jr. High. It’s even better. I’m going to HIGH SCHOOL. I’m going to be right up there with Tyler lol. And then I’ll be there when Tanner gets there too. I’m very excited. VERY. I have a lot of studying to do over the summer to brush up on that level of teaching but I’m just thrilled about it. I will be a choral director mainly. But I think I’ll have a general music class or two. And I’ll be directing the high school play every year. I will have to take the choir to contests, etc. It’s going to be a lot more work than I am used to. But I totally need this change, something to put a spark back into me. It’s going to be a trip!

Tuesday night after we got back from Destin, my friend Lysa had gotten a few free tickets to see the Billy Joel musical called “Movin’ Out”. So she, Cheryl, and I went to see it and it was WONDERFUL. It was not quite what we expected, but it was still awesome. It was more or less a “rock ballet”. And Billy Joel was not in the cast or band but they had a guy that sang a lot like him singing the Billy Joel songs while the actors danced to it. There was a story line and all, just no spoken words. It’s kinda hard to describe, but this is all I could find about it on the internet:
Movin' Out is a jukebox musical featuring the songs of Billy Joel. Conceived by Twyla Tharp, the musical tells the story of a generation of AMerican youth growing up on Long Island during the 1960s and their experiences with the Vietnam War. The principal characters are drawn from those who appeared in various Joel tunes: high school sweethearts Brenda and Eddie ("Scenes from an Italian Restaurant"), James ("James"), Judy ("Why Judy Why"), and Tony (Anthony in "Movin' Out"). The show is unusual in that, unlike the traditional musical, it essentially is a series of dances linked by a thin plot, and none of the dancers sing. All the vocals are performed by a pianist and band suspended on a platform above the stage while the dancers act out the narrative sans dialogue, making the show, in essence, a rock ballet.
So basically I’ve been running around with Billy Joel songs stuck in my head all week. It was really cool lol.

Now, for the football drama:
Tyler has been saying off and on for a year that he doesn’t like playing football anymore, or wants to quit football, etc. I’ve thought that it had mostly to do with his medical issues going on and being depressed about it and all. We’ve continued to push him to do it and stick with it to see if he changes his mind, etc. So last week he brought it up again that it was a major source of problem in his life – the fact that he didn’t like playing anymore and that we are forcing him to keep playing. He said he just felt that he had absolutely no choice about it and that we never listen to him, etc. So after much discussion, we told him we were leaving it up to him. If he was THAT miserable, then he didn't have to play anymore. So he chose to quit football. It may end up for the best, with his cataplexy and all. I'd never forgive myself if he got seriously injured on the field and I had MADE him stay in football.

So - THEN -I find out a few days later that Kyle decided to quit football too. Not sure on his reasons. But really, I think they are very lacking in the coaching area at our school or something. There is not a lot of encouragement or any kind of inspiration to make the boys want to keep coming back. They ought to have tons of kids on the team and they just never do, seems like.

Now, for the baseball drama:

Tanner's team has played about 10 games at this point. They have only lost ONE. They are a really good team. Tanner has had a real hard time this year though, baseball is kind of more advanced than the last time he played. Kids pitch now instead of coaches. And they are trying to STOP you from being able to hit it. So, basically he has not hit the ball with the bat in a game at all this year. He has been walked a few times, but that's it. And he had decided by the end of last week that he hated playing and wanted to quit, but he knew we were not going to allow him to quit. When we signed him up, we told him he HAD to finish if he started. So he's been kinda miserable about it a lot. Another thing - he has REFUSED to wear his glasses. Or, when he has agreed to try wearing them, he's accidentally left them at school, or home, etc. We have not had the glasses at any games. The coach got word that Tanner is supposed to wear glasses so he called me this week and asked me about it. I told him.........uh, yeah, he's supposed to wear them and I know I should have been making him but he hates them and blah blah blah. I didn't have a good excuse. Felt kinda dumb lol. But I promised him Tanner would have them on at this week's game on Tuesday. So he wore them even though he didn't want to. First bat, he hit the ball TWO TIMES - both times were foul balls but he actually HIT the ball. He hit it, and looked over at me and mom with shock on his face! He was a happy kid. He ended up getting walked, and then was walked two more times that night. (The other team had bad pitchers.) I think if he had been pitched some good balls he would have finally hit a good one though. Also that night, he made at least 3 really good outfield plays that stopped some runs that might otherwise have been scores. He was walking TALL that evening. And said he likes baseball again lol. We have two regular season games left next week, and then the play offs. I'm pretty sure we will be in the playoffs because we have the best record of all the teams.

Last Saturday I took Tanner and Cody to a birthday swimming party. There were a lot of kids there from their school. Their grade level has some pretty good kids in it, and a pretty close knit bunch of kids. That's good to see, because it doesn't happen too much these days. If I can get a picture or two off my phone I'm gonna post them.

Mothers Day was last Sunday and I had a great day. The guys took me to eat at the China Buffet, then we went to Jackson to Guitar Center to window shop and the kids even volunteered to go along. They were real sweet to me that day. Tyler had been shopping with a friend the day before and bought me a Mothers Day Card he picked out and it was adorable. It was a "fill-in-the-blank" card and was really funny. This is what it said (The red colored words are the parts he filled in the blanks):

"Once upon a time, (not any longer ago than today and no further than a hug), there was a mom named Tracy who lived in the land of men. Her family thought she was the best mom ever, for no one else's mom could be cool like she did! Indeed, the whole kingdom could see what a hip woman she was. Brave knights admired the way she could shake dat thang (he said Rusty helped him on that one lol). Wizards begged her to teach them how to shake dat thang...and even the biggest dragons brushed their nose hair and said "shake dat thang" with a smile when she asked them to. And so it comes to pass, that a special day was set aside to celebrate this fly mother so she'd know she was loved all the way to hell and back at least three times. And the best part of the story is....the once-upon-a-time mom is YOU!!!!"

I got a real kick out of that lol. I definitely live in the land of men. I often remember my Great Aunt Helen and how when I'd visit her house it was just so "male". Gun racks and guns on the wall, deer heads and fish and stuff. Everything was just so "guyish" and that seems like my house so much of the time. I understand now though - she just didn't stand a chance. I fight hard to make things pretty and feminine and there is just NO USE. I've got guitars and all kinds of unidentifiable electronic equipment everywhere lol. And even a gun cabinet. And football and baseball stuff, video games, giant tennis shoes, etc. But that's ok I don't guess I'd have it any other way. They love me to hell and back 3 times, so I can't complain I guess! lol

We went for a short visit with Mom on Mothers Day also, had gotten her a little outdoor candle set. Was a nice visit. She has bought lots of yard toys for the lake this summer so Tanner tried out a few of them. He's very much looking forward to summer lake fun.

The weekend after we got back from Destin, all four of us got out back and DUG OUT the patio. It was covered with dirt and grass growing over the top of it.We have intentions to build it up so that it won't overgrow again. We have not exactly decided how yet, but we're gonna do it. We need a patio for sure now because we have nowhere to grill lol.

Have I mentioned the fact that I backed into Rusty's new truck a few weeks back and dented his front bumper? Surely I have. Anyway. I have yet to hear the end of it. We were going to pay the $700 to have it replaced with the extra income tax money coming and all. But last Saturday he decided he was just gonna take it off himself and try to straighten it - then later on buy a new bumper and put it on himself. The bumpers are just hard to find right now because it's a 2008 truck. But soon he can find them and save tons of money. So I looked out last Saturday when I woke up and this is what I found .......

He got it straightened out pretty much, just a couple of very small indentions. He also changed the oil that day with the intentions of teaching Tyler how to do it. Not sure how that all went. I just noticed though.....it looks like Rusty is flipping me the bird. Hmm. I'll have to get him for that.

We had State testing at school this week. Which means I've had to stand and walk the room for 2 and a half hours solid everyday. We're not allowed to sit down while watching students take the test. So I've been pretty sore at the end of the days. I've also been rehearsing 6th grade students for a musical program they are doing tomorrow. Just taking it all one thing at a time I guess. I'm ready to close out school and move to my new spot though.

After getting my hair dresser to finally audition for our band, and him doing such an AWESOME job of singing......he then decided that he really doesn't have the time to put into it. Which broke my heart because he was SO good. We're currently trying to beg and plead with him to do it. I think he thinks we're going to be playing out as often as we were in the old band......but we're not. I can't handle that kinda lost time anymore I don't think, especially not with the new job position. I think playing out somewhere once a month, within driving distance, is plenty enough. And I think that is what we all have in mind.

This is just one of those times of the year, like right before Christmas, that I have so much going on I simply have to stop and take it all one day at a time. I'm NOT going to stress myself like I did the 2 weeks before Christmas to the point of being a gigantic ball of pain and unable to move or even THINK lol. So I know that very soon I'll be making a visit to Alabama, and doing some workshops over the summer, and so on. But I guess right now I'm just trying to finish out the year. By this time next week though, I'm gonna be EXCITED about the summer!

Tanner found a bag of balloons in my classroom as I was cleaning out some junk so I let him have them. Then I had to teach him how to tie a balloon and he actually got it this time. He was proud of himself.

The BEACH photos

Really BIG waves one day.........

ZERO waves the next lol

Chasing fish

He's a sand kid, for sure

They swear it was a dolphin...

Posing for the pics

Tyler pretending to be jealous

Two of us were in the sun all day everyday.Two of us were not. Can you guess???

If Tanner buried his feet once, he did it 100 times. On this night he got everybody else doing it .

Tanner

My best dolphin picture

sand pyramid

sand turtle

sand dolphin

Mike's sand alligator

The entire month of April - at a glance!

Silvertongue Devil show
Tanner and Cody at the Honor Choir concert

Rusty, Keith, Danny
Rusty and Danny jamming on my new keyboard

Karla, Rusty, me, Helen

Drew and Connor



Connor makes it to the top

Tanner getting started

The girls hanging out together

Rick Springfield!!!

Tanner and Brooke at the Spring Carnival
Tanner won the cake walk - finally!
Blake striking a pose around Easter
Couple o' grown folks talking looks like.
Tyler, Ken, Rusty

WOW. It was so busy I didn't even notice that I didn't post at all in April. It started with some storms that came through and we were without internet for about a week. Then things were just too busy from there on. But gonna try to catch up and be brief about it if I can.

Brooke came to town for her Spring Break. Tanner stayed home from school one day to play with her. And they were together a lot during the rest of the week also. He really had a blast, he misses her all the time. We did an Easter gathering at Mom's while she was here and the food was terrific as always. Brooke and Tanner hunted for eggs a bit, and the rest of us just started realizing how they are growing up so much that egg hunting is about over with. Sad but true!

DAnny came to town for his relic hunting vacation and stayed with us for a week. It's always great having him around and visiting. He did some hunts with his friend but only found a few minor items. While he was in town we went to see Jonny's new band, "Silvertongue Devil" play up at the Loft. They were terrific and we all had a good time.

There was one Tuesday where I had to get my hair highlighted at 4:00, be at a district honor choir concert at 6:00, and at a baseball game by 7:30. Was a wild afternoon but I made it. Tanner and Cody were both a part of the honor choir concert and did a great job. Tanner has been playing baseball all month long. He was quite rusty on baseball since he didn't play last year. But he's coming along in the practices and getting better little by little. His team is undefeated and everyone is wanting to beat them real bad.

My school had a Spring Carnival one Saturday and I had to go work the jumping castle for 4 hours. Tanner and Brooke came up there and had a good time. Tanner did the cake walk 24 times until he finally won a cake! He said he was gonna keep doing it til he could win his mama a cake! lol.

Riverfest was this month also. Tyler wanted a funnel cake BAD but he didn't want to go downtown for the festival. We told him he could only get one if he went with us. So he reluctantly went. And he got his funnel cake and was happy. Tanner and Drew and Connor did the rock climb thing. Connor made it all the way to the top but TAnner and Drew were too chicken - they only went halfway up hehehe. On that Saturday night we went to see Rick Springfield at the concert. I remember everyone going to the Rick Springfield concert when I was in Jr. High and I didn't get to go. So I was sure to see him this time - 23 years later. The man is 59 years old and still looks GREAT! Don't know how he does it, but I'm sure there's some trick or two when you got some money maybe lol.

Tyler had a Dr. appt this month and they are increasing his Zoloft a little at a time. It works, then stops working. THey increase it and it works again, then stops. So I guess we're just gonna be on the roller coaster for a bit. But it's just nice to have SOME kind of improvement happening.

Band is still going well. We're auditioning some singers now, figuring that we'd be less limited if we have someone whose job it is to sing. My good friend and hairdresser Steven K. auditioned last week and was AWESOME! Got a couple of more guys to hear. But Steven will be hard to top that's for sure.

And now, last but not least, at the end of April we spent 6 days in DESTIN, FL!!!!!!!!! Mike and Cheryl got the condo for the good price again and we all played hookie from school and work and took off down there. Can't say enough about how much fun we had. I sat on the beach everyday and even read some books. We saw tons of dolphins, and we even saw a manatee one day. The lifeguard said that is a very rare sighting. We all got nice and sunburnt, and Tanner even peeled for the first time ever! lol he was shocked. Rusty got lots of rest and played some games and went guitar browsing with Mike. And of course they had to make their lunch time trip to Hooters lol. Guess that will be a tradition now. Tyler came on the beach only once in the day time and only once at night time. He read his books and played games most of the time. We went out to eat one night at Joe's Crab Shack and it was awesome. We made pina coladas most days, and the guys cooked burgers on the grill one night. We just got back yesterday. Sure could have stayed another month down there! I'm going to post the beach pictures in a separate post because there are so many I want to post.

Rusty told me if I'd let him buy a riding lawn mower he would do all the grass cutting from now on. So we got it! I'm holding him to his word. I still do the weedeating, but thats cool.

Well that's about it in a nutshell. I hate leaving out so many details of the daily routine, but I'd be here forever trying to remember a month's worth! There are now 3 weeks of school left - yay! And I'm still waiting to hear 100% on a job transfer, but very hopeful about it. Can't wait to get to the lakehouse and see all the renovations. We still have a few things left to do to our added on room. Hopefully it will be done soon. But it's done enough to use right now.