I don’t know how to do a tilde over the n, but Feliz Cumpleanos is Spanish for Happy Birthday!
Whose birthday is it you might ask…
It’s Jake’s!!!
So, a great big happy birthday to my handsome and wonderful guy. I’m so glad you’ll be here tomorrow so I can help you celebrate, but I wish I could be with you this morning. Love you lots mister. 
You should all visit his site and wish him a happy birthday
I thought I’d post some pictures from the other night
This is Miss Maddie, sitting outside on her Mommy’s car.
Maddie and Tre on the back deck
Tim and Maddie- Saying Goodnight
Me and my Tim… and his monkey!
That was a good day… and there are many more coming our way.
A year ago today my life was in turmoil. But I had a new friend that had been helping me deal with a very difficult time. A year ago today I was sitting in my apartment at Alfred State, watching the news, and worrying about this friend as his home was battered by a category 5 hurricane named Katrina.
I thought a lot about this friend over the time he was absent from the internet. His mother sent me emails letting me know he was ok (thank heavens for Patricia). Over those days I thought about this guy who had taken such a big place in my life over a very short period of time. Mostly I wondered why I was thinking about him so much… and I also thought that I probably shouldn’t be thinking about him so much.
I think I knew even then that my feelings for this man were much more than I had ever intended them to be, and I had no idea what to do about that.
A year ago today Jake was living in Gulfport Mississippi… and he along with his family and friends survived Hurricane Katrina. He made it through that awful storm and told me that he’d been thinking of me too.
Katrina was a horrible storm with an aftermath that hasn’t ended yet. The people in Mississippi and New Orleans are still fighting to rebuild and recover.
I learned though, that even the most awful things can have a silver lining. While I didn’t live through Katrina, my heart was there.
I am so glad that Jake is safe… and that his family and friends are safe. Most of all, I’m glad that we were thinking of each other during that storm a year ago. I was going through my own storm during those months of summer and early fall… and while I know it doesn’t compare to the horrors faced in Mississippi or Louisiana, I do know that Jake was my light at the end of it.
6am is early and I don’t like it.
That being said, work is going very well. Yesterday I felt like I really knew what I was doing. That was quite a welcome situation. We had staff meeting after work, and I was elected to serve on the School Improvement Committee… and by elected I mean I volunteered myself since nobody else was going to volunteer, and I knew I’d just get picked anyway! The other teachers on that team are great, so I know that I’ll learn a lot and we’ll be productive.
I need a couch. My back has been hurting nearly non-stop since I hurt it lifting boxes at work three weeks ago. The only times it doesn’t is when I’m at work sitting in the chair there, or on Jake’s couch. After sitting on this futon in the evening my back is incredibly sore and usually hurts all night. I’m not OK with that.
I put up a page called ‘Puppy Wishlist’. It’s in the right sidebar under the pages section.? I decided I needed to get organized and ready for the puppy, and the best way for me to do that is create a list with links to the things I need or want. Anyone who would like to get Merlin a welcome home present is more than welcome to do so!
Today is another heat index warning day… I kind of wish that I had gotten my AC put in so I would have someplace to escape to. It’s supposed to be 110 with heat index, and that’s just ridiculous. After today, though, it’s supposed to cool off dramatically. Of course, there’s also an anticipated hurricane. 6 in one, half a dozen in the other I suppose.
It was a lovely weekend. I’ve already written about most of it, mainly because I was so excited after Friday and Saturday. Between getting the wonderful news that I will be getting my dog (scroll down to see some pics of the mommy and daddy dog), and then seeing Tim, Tre, and Maddie… it’s just been awesome.
Today we went out and I got a couple new things to wear to work. Then we went to Chinese Buffet that was OK, but vastly over priced. After lunch we drove around Cary/Raleigh.? We got Jake’s oil changed, found a wonderful used book store (I got two books that I’ve really been wanting, one a rare pre-publication copy), and even drove around to find this good fish store that Jake wants to get his saltwater fish tank stuff from.
Today was just a laid back, easy day… full of laughs and fun. I love days when we just ride around and find fun new stuff in the area.
Jake… thank you for another fantastic weekend and for everything you did for me while I was there. I’m not sure I can ever say how much I appreciate all you do, but I hope you know how much I do. I love you and can’t wait until next weekend. 5 more days!
