http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem recent pleonast.com entries by user wildpeachem en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=595042 Big recent events: Griffin and Payton have birthdays exactly 2 weeks apart (end of September and then October.) We celebrated Griffin's birthday in Houston at Fogo de Chao so he could experience the excitement of meat on a sword. Payton chose to spend his 21st birthday at home, and we made him grill his own Meat Festival. We didn't have a camera for either occasion, but Griffin got a photo on his phone on Sunday the 12th, Payton's birthday: Last weekend we trekked over to see the march-in before the Colorado game. We had to rush back, but here's the mom and son, right after he finished overnight guard duty. 2008-11-04 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=591542 Long Live Serene Blues. If you have been to our house since we began moving in February, you have seen the progress in changing out the eccentric colors (burnt orange, tobacco brown and black, pepto bismol pink, etc.) One of the more challenging elements of our lovely hill country home has been that all the ceilings were painted these intense colors as well, making the house oppressive and cave-like. We had finished the public areas and the pepto bismol bedroom before I went back to work, but our bedroom and bathroom were still an intensely dark rose-pink that I called Bloody Salmon. It clashed rather biliously with our linens, which are a burgundy-maroon on a dark tea-dyed looking background. So when Brian took the notion to paint last Friday, there was much rejoicing. Take a look and rejoice with me! before we moved in--we can definitely see possibilities This photo does not convey the peaceful atmosphere of the room. Yellow hallway and blue room--sun and sky colors for happiness... 2008-10-25 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=588425 This is so odd and hilarious. Tell me which segment you like the best. 2008-10-17 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=583058 No, I'm not back in school, just sad about the body's betrayal. I woke up at 2:45, tightly wound and ready for action! I haven't been able to really sleep for years, so I should be used to the new normal, but I'm still looking back to the good old days. Luckily, Brian is sick (and refuses to go to the Dr. so will be sick for a good long time) so he got up around 3:30 and filled me in on the Palin/Biden debate. My anxiety about winners/losers definitely extends to this election, so although my interest is very high, I just can't watch the debates. I will listen to the post-mortems in snippets on my way to work. Now, on to something more productive. I get to sub. for Nancy on October 15, so all you ladies in her class are warned. We will be discussing one of my all time favorites, Martha. She is the prototype for all of us who think we have to do everything and then get bent out of shape about it. I love her and look forward to meeting her and Mary and Lazarus in heaven one day. 2008-10-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=581663 Well, I got a radical haircut. It feels great. 2008-09-30 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=579230 8 things you didn't know about me 1. I love hot dogs and sauerkraut. 2. I was county spelling bee runner-up. I misspelled "brigadier." 3. My favorite authors are Agatha Christie, Jane Austen, and Dave Barry. 4. I married my husband less than 9 months after we met. 5. I have the most miserable sense of direction ever. 6. The only thing I really like to cook is dessert. 7. I hate sports and TV game shows because I can't stand for anyone to lose. 8. My feet grew 1 size longer and wider after children:>( 2008-09-24 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=574405 I'm thinking of my friends and especially my mom and dad who live in the probable path of Hurricane Ike. Please pray for their safety on the road if they decide to leave and their safety at home if they have to stay. As a wise man said at church last night, we can also pray that the storm not strengthen anymore, lessening the dangers. FL nieces, I hope nothing else comes your way. Everyone take care of yourselves, wherever you are. 2008-09-12 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=570126 We started out Friday after I got home from work, loaded the dog in the car, and headed for Wild Peach. My mom and dad are doing well. Saturday we made a trip to College Station, meeting up with my brother Ron, his wife Jerilyn (my bff), and their twin sons. We were all set to see their son Nathan do his first march in as a member of the Fightin' Texas Aggie Band. We were especially happy to see Payton back in uniform and stepping off again after a long and difficult year. He looks great and seems to be happy to be back. We wimped out on staying for the game, leaving immediately after step-off, but it was still after 9 p.m. when we got back to my folks' house. We stayed over and attended worship services with them in Lake Jackson. It was great to see so many family members and especially to enjoy the hard work of our two great big boys. Photos: Peeling burgers for the cookout. Nathan, third from left. Proud Father and Son With his Old Army friend Jack Q. It's all about... 2008-09-01 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=566402 Actually, I think I'm going to be so busy at work that I won't even be able to perceive the passage of time. I have my caseload now: fourteen campuses! I'm already booked for four evaluations and have done two ARD meetings on the workdays. So, no sitting around AT ALL for me this year, thank goodness. GOOD NEWS on the kid front: Payton was readmitted to the Corps of Cadets at TAMU, and he's so relieved and happy. We're glad to see his hard work pay off, and I believe he's committed to making this a great year of spiritual growth and academic success. Perhaps the dark clouds of the past 18 months have lifted for all of us. There will be more clouds, I know, but I believe everything that has happened will have strengthened us to face changes with courage and faith. 2008-08-23 http://www.pleonast.com/user/wildpeachem?l=5&entryID=563975 Sigh. Bedroom still not painted, and the bloody salmon color is so wrong for us! Kitchen not finished, yard a mass of dead sticks that didn't get trimmed back, weight not lost... Oh, well. Everyone needs a goal to work toward. I did have a good summer since we were back in the same house after May 15, we got most of the house painted, I got to spend time with all five of my kids (Christie knows she is my other girl) and we had a chance to see family members both here and in Missouri. So I'll go back in a good frame of mind and start counting down toward Thanksgiving! 2008-08-18