Curse

"Oooooooh, she said a bad word!"

Insert: me panicking when one of my third grade religious education students said this today. What did I say? Class only started like 4 minutes ago. Did I drop an s-bomb and not even realize it? Oh frick.

Turns out, the only crime was being Midwestern.

I said "Hail" Mary.

Which sounds shockingly like "Hell" (hay-l) Mary if your Southern.

Sigh...

Give Back with Jack

Unreal, isn't it? This is Clarkdale Elementary in Austell, Georgia. It is a K-5 school in my children's district. This photo was taken on Monday, and the entire school was evacuated safely with no injuries.


That said, Clarkdale Elementary students have lost everything in the school. Computers, desks, pencils, binders, cleaning supplies, books, art supplies, paper, ink, post its, dry erase, tissues...


Without question, the district will replace text books, furniture and facilities. Cobb County is a fantastic district which relies on SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) and carries no long term school debt. However, the bits and pieces? That's where we come in.

The teachers at Clarkdale have lost years worth of lesson plans, classroom supplies, furniture and memories. As we all know, many teachers, like my mother, spend hundreds of their own dollars on their students each year.

The minis, and Jack in particular, have taken this on as their mission for this year. This is a list that Jack made to show the needs of Clarkdale Elementary.

Of course, monetary donations can be made via the district website. However, I think it would be more tangible for the children to donate actual school and classroom supplies. Many of the students also lost lunch boxes, backpacks and art smocks. Think of your own child's teacher and all that she needs to effectively educate your children, as well as keep your child safe.


If this is something that you or your children would like to do, I'd ask you to put together a package of supplies and send it to Jack's school to give on your behalf. Do it for me. Do it for my mini Jack. Take a look around your house or head to the store. Even a package of markers would be a great donation, and what an amazing lesson to teach our children.

Pretty please?

Address your package with this info:

Give Back with Jack

c/o Mrs. Dearborn's Class

4496 Dixie Avenue

Acworth, GA 30101

Stranger Things Have Happened

I have always been a big fan of emoting. Partly because I am a female and partly because my pendulum swings really wide. By that, I mean that I get extremely happy and extremely sad. Same goes for excited and anxious. If there is an emotion you can think of, I feel it more than most.

I'm OK with this. I know I don't have the same reactions as a lot of people. My girlfriends will tell you that I will dance on the rooftops with joy when something wonderful happens, and crawl into the closet and cry when something crappy happens.

I hate the expression "over reacting". One can not over or under react. One simply reacts. Next time someone says you're "over reacting", kick them in the junk. Then tell them that's from me. Coach learned early on to never, ever say that to me. I didn't even have to kick him in his junk.

Something really, really crappy happened to me this week. I prepared for that really crappy something. I forewarned my friends. I made a preemptive appointment with my therapist.

But something weird happened. I haven't really lost it yet. Yes, I have shed some tears and I had a little pity party one morning. I wrote a post about how I felt. Perhaps that was therapy enough. I haven't actually talked to my girlfriends about the details. Coach and I have spoken of it on the peripheral. Not fully dissected it though. Not sure I plan to.

In any case, I'm still waiting for the other shoe to drop. Still waiting for the proverbial elephant to sit on my chest. Waiting. With chocolate covered breath.

So here's the thing. I am either a bigger bad ass than I thought or I am in denial. Yes, I am aware that grief has five stages...In either case, I'm powering through.

Partly because of you. You think I am someone better and more fabulous than I really am. You think I am the list of things I'd love to be someday. You think. You read me. You get me.

This blog started years ago because of something oogy. Something crappy that changed forever who I am. This blog helped me through that. And it continues to do so.

For that I thank you. Smooches to you tonight my friends. Those who know the real life over emoting me and those who know me simply as, Clemsongirl. I love you.

Flood 09

The Great Flood of 09 has demolished our county!

We are completely safe and dry in the Casa de Chaos, although our friends and neighbors? Notsomuch. Got a basement? Whoops. Start building that canoe.

Be thinking of them this week.

Thankfully, our schools reopen on Thursday and the children will be out of my hair...I mean back in the classroom.

Smooches!

I'm Done

Today I am done being me.

I am done being the capable one. The reliable one. The practical one. The organized one. The tough one. The strong one. The together one.

I am done being smart. Done with being understanding. Done with being patient. Done with kind. Done with thoughtful. Done with considerate. Done with funny.

Today I am over making good choices. Over limiting my caffeine intake. I'm over managing my life. I am over managing others. Over it.

Today I will not.

I will not help you. I will not solve your problems. I will not. I won't listen to your complaints. I will not. Even if you think they are bigger than mine.

I will sit on the floor and cry. I will feel sorry for myself and eat carbs. Lots of them. With butter. I will freebase on caffeine and sorrow.

I will not put on a happy face. I won't answer your call. I won't respond to your email. I won't answer your knock at the door. I won't. Even if you have chocolate.

Today I will sit in the dark and lick my wounds. I will have a pity party and only invite myself. I will cry some more. And likely some more after that. I will snap at you if you come near me. I will be rude and ugly and hateful. I will wear sweats and no makeup and twirl my hair. I will think mean thoughts and be really, really angry.

And then tomorrow. Tomorrow I will start to pick up the pieces. Tomorrow I will wipe my tears and put on big girl clothes and lip gloss. I'll answer your call. I'll be capable and strong and independent and well, me.

But not today.

So don't ask me to.

I won't. I'm done.

Rainy

I just woke up.

Literally. From a disco nap. Except I am not going anywhere. hee hee

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

...or lip gloss...either way...

The winners for the Not Soap, Radio are:

Teachergirl
Lemony Melon
Jennie W.


Hoo hoo! Email me at clemsongirlandthecoach@yahoo.com with your address, etc and I will get you all set up!!

For the rest of you, use coupon code "CLEMSON" for 20% off your order!!!!!

Absolute Final

Last chance to enter the Not Soap, Radio giveaway!

Winners on Thursday...

Not Soap, Radio Giveaway

Can we please discuss the last 2 weeks? They stunk. Ryan had the flu for an ENTIRE WEEK and then Jack got it. I totally lost my girly mojo! I hardly had any hall passes out of the house at all!

Lucky for you, I'm back and I am hosting a giveaway now!! I had intentions of taking lots of magazine shoot style pictures...but both the house and I are a little scummy, so give a girl a break, ok?

I did bust out some new yummy bath and body stuff and some new lip gloss this weekend when I finally got my groove back. I love this sweet lip gloss from Not Soap, Radio. It's called "The Phoenix: When you need to rise from the ashes- yet again!" Could that be any more perfect?! It's juicy and delicious and I totally added it to the mix! There is another one called Blue Hawaii that is super fun, too!

How fun is this collection? It's the "I'm not here, I'm really..." collection, also from Not Soap, Radio! I used the Lounging Poolside body souffle after my 84,000 minute shower. I was still slightly damp and it felt great! It's light, but still really moisturizing! The scent is to die for.

Love this. Smells like the mandarin oranges (I eat them directly from the can) and tangerines. Plus, it's ORANGE!

The minis got extra special treatment when they were sick which included yummy baths with yummy Goop Bubbles for Kids. We used this cutie scent called "My Favorite Blanket". It's calming and sweet and smells like a security blanket right out of the dryer. The fact that it's magic goop that turns into bubbles when you put it in water makes it "cool" enough for my big boys...6 and 8!

Laura, the owner of Not Soap, Radio is gorgeous and funny and I just adore her. We found out that we were in the same sorority, which is a so neat! They have an amazing line of Greek products which I may or may not have a whole bunch of! The lip glosses in the little pots with your letters on them? Darling!

So...in honor of me getting back to reality, I am hosting a giveaway of her products!

Check out Not Soap, Radio and then leave me a comment about what you like.

One entry for your comment.

One entry for becoming (or tell me if you already are) a follower of my blog.

One entry for telling me your sorority.

Perspective

Last night I drove over to the chapel at our Catholic church. As I sat there in the notsoquiet (dude was waxing the floors and running the vacuum which is not at ALL distracting when I am trying to get my Rosary on) I couldn't quite figure out what I needed to ask for.

I knew what I wanted to ask for, but you know how that ends up. Tell God your plans so he can have a little giggle. So instead, I asked for perspective. Perspective is such an elusive thing these days. At least it is for me.

When I got home, Coach and I went to check on the sleeping children.

Wherein Jack projectile vomited all over.

How's that for perspective?

I Lied

You're not getting puppy photos today.

Jack now has the flu.

Grrreeeatttt.

Bowman

Just picked up puppy Bowman, who is now 6 months old from the vet. He had his little boy puppy surgery today and is just pitiful.

He is loopy and walking crooked.

Sure is cute though. Pics tomorrow.

Dichotomy

The good news is that I believe the Migrain Action Plan has assisted in diverting tonight's migrain.

The bad news is that I have been WIDE AWAKE since 2:45am from the caffeine in the Migraten.

I Forgot

I forgot how much I hate prepping for a consignment sale. I haven't sold the boys' clothes since we left Tennessee 4 years ago (yes, TN friends, it's been THAT long!) and I think I blocked out what a PITA it is. Somehow I convinced myself that it would be fun and I would officially be paring down the outgrown clothes to the one box of must keeps.

After washing and ironing and hanging and tagging and entering I am still only 50% finished. You look at the potential total sale on line and it just doesn't seem worth the effort. Of course, when they hand you your check, it's all so very lovely. You know I will spend it on something super fun like groceries or the electric bill...sigh. But in the interim, there are little boys clothes taking over the garage at the Casa de Chaos, in sizes 6 months to size 6.

Of course getting rid of everything is usually a sure fire way to ensure a pregnancy. So, in that unexpected event, you are all going to have to babyGAP it. Pronto. Just so we're clear.

Did I mention that Coach burst the bursa sac in his elbow this week? Well, he did and it is DISGUSTING. Painful as well, but I am focused on the gross factor. I married him because he is hot and has a great body. This is cramping that...a little. hee hee Not. Kidding. His arm is black and blue and lumpy and swollen. I have been icing it and wrapping it for him and I assure you, I am totally repulsed by all things medical.

Between Coach's injury and Ryan having the flu, I totally earned my Florence Nightingale badge. Just can't figure out why it hasn't arrived yet...Fed Ex delivered a big bottle of Low Carb Metabolic Drive Chocolate Protein Powder for Coach...pout.

Um, here's what we're NOT going to discuss tonight...Jack was feeling weepy and warm-ish at bedtime...

Surname

You know it's been a long and hard week when you're even calling the dog by his full name (Bowman Alfredo Lastname). And, yes, Alfredo like the pasta sauce. Moving on.

Ryan has been home every single day with the flu. We finally left the house today to do some super fun stuff; car wash, bank, Target. I am in hot pursuit of the Sharpie Retractable Pens (sold out EVERYWHERE) and that seemed reason enough to put him in the shopping buggy with a drink. I had such bad cabin fever that I just had to get out of the Casa de Contamination.

Coach's parents cancelled their trip to Atlanta and Coach also has to work quite a bit this weekend.

I will spend several hours pulling the house back together and re-Lysoling.

You?

Flu

It's hit the Casa de Chaos. Ryan is officially the season's first flu victim here.

Sigh. Waiting for the other shoe to drop, but Lysoling in the interim...