Random Thoughts Thursday (Friday Afternoon Edition)

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Apparently I have fans.  Who notice when I don't post on Thursday.  That makes me feel good.  Thanks, fans!

It's been really busy.  School is making me crazy, but I'm really enjoying it.  I am also, however, really looking forward to summer when I'm not taking any classes.  It's been a long time since I've had this feeling.

We had a mouse in our house.  We know this because he was pooping on our kitchen counters.  Gross, huh?  Bleach has become my new best friend.

We no longer have a mouse in our house.  We know this because within an hour of setting the traps last night, our little friend had departed this life in a very unceremonious way.  And I got to deal with it.  Ew.

Last night was the first episode of a new season of So You Think You Can Dance and I was reminded yet again why I don't watch TV (Netflix doesn't count as TV).  Commercials make me crazy.

Friday nights have become Mythbusters and panini nights at our house.  I love this tradition!

On Tuesday, Vicki and the rest of the sixth graders at her school leave for Outdoor School, something many of them (and their parents) worked their butts off all year to fundraise for.  I'm so excited that they get to go for three nights!  This will be something she'll remember for the rest of her life.

This is amazing!  How could you say no?

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Your turn!

Random Thoughts Thursday

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Lexi opened the fridge this morning and the door fell off.  How's that for random?

It may be time to get a new fridge.

This afternoon I have an appointment for a full checkup with the doctor, something I haven't done since before having children.  I have quite the list of things to talk with her about, including, thanks to my A&P unit on skin, several moles and marks on my back.  Wear sunscreen, people.

Speaking of my A&P unit on skin, Vicki walked into the room while an image of the three different types of skin cancer was on the computer screen.  Her reaction?  "I can never, ever unsee that."

This is the view from the cabin where I spent my birthday:

Not exactly what I think of when I think of camping, but you certainly won't hear me complaining!

My going back to school has been educational for the whole family.  The other night at dinner I taught them all about the bones in their bodies.  They politely told me to stop talking.

Today there's no school at the Middle School.  Tomorrow, kindergarten has the day off.  Lexi is mad that she's the only one who has to go to school all week.

As stressed out as school is making me this quarter, I think I'm taking two of the coolest classes ever.  I wash my hands a lot more often now, though.

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Your turn!

Random Thoughts Thursday

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All day long, every time I've looked at my blog I've thought, Gosh, I really need to get a new post up.  Oh, well, I'll do it on Thursday.  Turns out today is Thursday.

I still haven't missed a day!  (I haven't posted for over a week, but I promise the pictures have been taken!)

Today was one of those days where I didn't go anywhere and I honestly don't think I really did that much, but I still feel like I got a lot accomplished.  I like days like this.

I discovered this week that I actually do have willpower.  Trying to eat less and control my portion sizes is challenging, but actually not as hard as I thought it would be.  I haven't died of starvation yet, or even felt all that hungry.

This article is totally worth the read.  We do not give teachers anywhere near enough credit for what they do.

Yesterday someone discovered blood and teeth in the parking lot next to the girls' school.  Before the end of the day all the kids were convinced that there had been a shootout and at least two people had died.  Turns out they were animal teeth and it was probably a coyote vs. cat fight.  I didn't know we had coyotes in the area, but it beats dead gunmen.

We are all really excited for the NAMIWalk next weekend!  It feels good to do something to help others, even if it's something small.

I learned the other day that one of our favorite stores, Dollar Books, is closing at the end of this month.  This makes me so sad.  And it makes me desperate to stock up on cheap books.

Do you have any idea how many bones are in your head?  I'm supposed to memorize them all, plus markings.  In addition to all the bones and markings in the rest of the body.  Holy. Cow.  That's a lot of bones.

Saturday is my birthday.  Just in case anyone wondered :)

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Your turn!

Doing Our Part

When a person is diagnosed with a physical illness, more often than not they are immediately showered with sympathy, love, and support.

When a person is diagnosed with a mental illness, more often than not they are immediately abandoned by the same people who would have supported them through a physical illness.

This is so very, very wrong.

Thank goodness for the National Alliance on Mental Illness.  NAMI is the largest education, support, and advocacy organization that serves the needs of all those whose lives are touched by mental illness.  This includes persons with mental illness, their families, friends, employers, the law enforcement community and policy makers.

Five years ago someone I love dearly was diagnosed with a mental illness.  Fortunately, he is one of the lucky ones who has a family that is educated and supportive, thanks in part to NAMI.  Though it has definitely been a bumpy road, this loved one is currently doing well, but it is a battle he fights every day, and admire him for it.

Last year I discovered NAMIWalks.  This year's Portland walk is on May 20, and our family is excited to participate!  Last year I walked alone, but this year Chris and the girls are joining me.  This is something that we, as a family, can do to help raise awareness for this amazing organization, and to help fight the stigma that, honestly, should no longer be surrounding mental illness.  We are also hoping to raise a little money for the organization.

If you feel inclined or inspired to support us in this event, please visit our walker web page, where you will find a safe, easy, and secure way to donate to the cause.  Every little bit helps.

If you are interested in joining us, we'd love to add to our numbers!  You can also find information on our web page about signing up as a walker yourself.  If you're far from Portland but are still interested in walking, you can find information about NAMIWalks nationwide right here.

It's time to get rid of the stigma and realize that people with mental illness deserve the same respect and right to treatment as those with physical illnesses.

We're doing what we can to help out.  Will you help, too?

Random Thoughts Thursday

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It's May.  I'm pretty sure I shouldn't be able to see my breath outside anymore.

It was fun the other day to discover that my lab partner in microbiology has the same birthday as me.  It was not so fun to realize that I was in high school when she was born.

Was it really that long ago that I was in high school?  Oh, man.

Lexi was just sorted into Gryffindor on Pottermore.  It was a very happy moment.  And also a little bit in-your-face at her sister, who's in Ravenclaw.

I think it's my turn to bring treats to my book club tonight.  If not, well, we'll have a lot of treats.

Hanging out with 6th grade girls is an interesting trip down memory lane.  There are some things that I guess will never, ever change.

The other day, completely out of the blue, Ellie said, "Am I the only normal one in this family?"

My kids have finally found a show to watch that doesn't make me want to gouge out my eyeballs and set fire to my eardrums.  Whoever came up with Phineas & Ferb is a genius.

I've had a tune running through my head all day, and I just now figured out that it's from the Veggie Tales episode "Lyle, the Kindly Viking".  Weird.

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Your turn!

Well...That Was Easy

This evening, over a plateful of hard-boiled eggs, Chris and Ellie had the following conversation:

Ellie: "How come there's no baby chicks inside the eggs when we buy them at the store?"

Chris: "Well, it's because the eggs aren't fertilized."

E: "So, that means there were no roosters around to fertilize the eggs in the chickens?"

C: "Um, yes, that's exactly what that means.  How did you know that?"

E: "Oh, I listened at the door when you and Mom were talking to sissies.  Because I wanted to learn stuff, too."

Guess that's one talk we won't have to have.

This girl cracks me up.

Random Thoughts Thursday

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How's this for random: this morning I stopped by the lost & found at the school, hoping to retrieve a sweatshirt that Ellie swears she left on the lunch table yesterday.  I found no sweatshirt (of hers - there are LOTS of other kids' sweatshirts there, though), but did actually find a jacket of hers that I didn't even know was missing.

I dreamed last night that I made a list of things to write about in today's post.  I don't remember what was on the list, though.

I love having three daughters.  But I do wonder sometimes what it would be like to have a son.  Not enough to actually make that happen, of course.

The lady at the local post office is a little on the cranky side.  She doesn't like it when I ask her for the cheapest rate possible for mailing packages.  I'm not paying $25 for something to arrive in three days when I can pay half as much for it to get there in a week.  Sorry, cranky post office lady.

I scored a 91% on my Microbiology midterm.  I felt pretty good about that, but even better when she announced that the class average was 83%.  Go me!

Microbiology is fascinating.  I just really highly recommend cleaning out the fridge BEFORE you start the class. FYI.

I wish I felt as good about Anat. & Phys.  That class is killing me.  I had no idea there were so many types of tissue in our bodies.  Sheeees...

I just realized that I will have lots of extra kids here after school today, and I really don't have any good after-school snack foods.  Last time that happened, I baked cookies.  Maybe I'll just have to bake cookies again.

Oooh, I like the phrase "have to bake cookies".  Cookies are a need, right?

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Your turn!