mush...

My brain, back, and knees,....

are mush...

and I think I will be having dreams nightmares about thinset, tiles, and grout!

The boss is calling for help with a piece of cement board...

so I better go so we can get to bed before 4:00am tonight!

perspective...

I am always amazed when Michaela talks about a singer or group that she likes that I think is awful...

i.e Jonas Bros.; Justin Beiber

I often wonder what she hearing that I am not? What am I missing?

But I have concluded that as we age, our ears, rather than losing the ability to hear, our ears actually become more fine tuned:)

case in point:

When I was Michaela's age the series Fame came out and I LOVED it! I thought the cast was fantastic. Recently I found the series on Netflix. And can I just say that a few decades later, the singing isn't quite as fantastic as it was when I was 13. And the acting...a little less stellar than I remember. While I have watched some of the episodes (with the girls laughing about the clothes and hair styles in the background!) and hear Leroy or Coco sing, I am amazed at how dfferent they sound now. I wish that rather than hearing the flats and out of tune singing better than I did when I wore banana clips and stirrup pants, I still heard whatever it was I heard then!

I just cannot wait for the day when Mac looks back at pictures or reads a journal entry and says,"The Jonas Brothers???? What was I thinking!!"

friday frivolity...

I had to sneak down here and do this real quick...

Steve came home tonight to see us...

He is leaving at 4:30 to go into work...

and the girls and I have to get up at o'dark thirty to be in Columbus (3 hour drive) by 9:00am for Rising Star dance competition.

Emma is very emphatically reminding us that "THIS IS FAMILY TIME!"...

so I better get back up there before I am missed (which since Daddy is home may actually be quite awhile:)!

We will not be home until after midnight tomorrow...

so see you Sunday!

failure is not an option...

It was the job of my dreams. The brass ring that I was striving to reach. For years I did everything I could to obtain the coveted position. Success did not come easy. Failure followed failure which was followed by even more failure. It was frustrating and heart~wrenching to continuously fail, but I knew that I had to continue to try. I was convinced that I would never be content until I could wear the title. So I persevered. And finally, after 5 years of 'No-s', I finally received the call confirming my newly obtained title, 'parent'!

And what a job it is! It is a job that carries enormous responsibilities; whose successes and failures will effect the future of society. It is a job that is filled with joy, laughter, and a love that fills the heart beyond belief. And it is a job that has disappointments and hurts that can tear the same heart into tiny pieces. There are days you want to work 'overtime' and there are days you want to run out screaming, quitting on your way out. Parenting is one of the most difficult jobs we will ever do. It is a 24 hours a day/7 days a week position that requires commitment (no, not to a rubber room--although there are days!), dedication, and a strong determination to do your very best. Consistently. Even when we are tired of saying 'No'. or "You are not doing what your friends are doing." Consistent even when you are tired of being the boss and when the only answer you have is, 'Because I said so!" (and if you haven't said that to your child yet, just wait, you will.)

Sadly, many that have accepted this job are failing miserably. Some have accepted the responsibility, but only on a part-time basis. They are there in the early years, but cut back their responsibilities as the children grow older. Others it seems are not even part-timers, but more seasonal workers--showing up during the momentous occasions, but absence during the 'slow' times. And the disrespect our youth has for others and their lack of morality are evidence of the parental neglect that seems to be prevalent in so many households. Just read some of the Facebook pages and it will be evident that there is no parental monitoring or guidance occurring.

Many of you may be rolling your eyes and saying I am overreacting. You may be saying that I am an overprotective mother that smothers my child by checking her emails and Facebook page. That I am creating a sense of mistrust between Michaela and myself by going onto her Facebook account and checking the statuses that her friends are putting, and deleting friends that are inappropriate and foul mouth. But I believe I am doing my job as a parent. It is my responsibility to teach her right from wrong and to guide her as she matures so that she can make good decisions when confronted with peer pressures. And when I read a status on her FB page that is so disturbing and inappropriate I want to be ill, it is my responsibility to delete that individual and then discuss the reason why with her afterwards. Not ask her permission. Not just ignore it. But monitor, question, check up on, and teach!

Parents we need to step up. Our children do not have the maturity and experiences we do. It is our responsibility to nurture and guide them. Read what your children are saying on their social pages. Check their emails and text messages. Monitor their friends. Know where they are going and with whom. Be the bad guy and say,"NO!" when it needs to be said. We are not their friends...we are their parents. And when we accepted that position, we accepted the good, bad, and ugly that comes with it!

not quite wordless wednesday...

Just got home from La Grange!

For the last day and a half my computer has had security and virus alerts popping up literally every 60 seconds. It was not our virus scan software, so I knew something was wrong, but I could not make it disappear.

And trying to accomplish something on the computer when this alerts keep popping up is somewhat useless---and aggravating!

So I took the computer down to Steve and he ran a virus scan on it after bible study---and wouldn't you know it, NOT ONE alert popped up!

GRRRRR

No virus, but my accessory pathway to word and excel has disappeared!

Computers are great!

So this is all you get today...

but tomorrow...

I am stepping up on a BIG soapbox!

frustration...

Okay, I just had a post written and then....

FireFox crashed...

AGAIN...

and all that was saved of my post was the title.

GRRRRRRRR!

This never happened until I updated FireFox...

and now it crashes a few times a week!

Anyone else have a problem with FireFox?

***Which you could answer if comments actually worked on my blog page! :)

I am going to take it as a sign to shut down the laptop!

'much to be thankful for' monday...

My blogger friend Linny, at A Place Called Simplicity, does a Thankful Thursday post each week. No matter what craziness is going on in their lives, she takes the time to list things that she is thankful for. A kick in the pants, stop your wallowing kind of thing. Today I need a swift HARD kick, so I decided that instead of allowing my thoughts to be consumed with anger and hurt, I would list the things that I am so thankful for--even if it isn't Thursday!

I am thankful for:

• healthy husband and daughters
• a home to live in
• a reliable car to drive
• a steady paycheck
• health and dental insurance
• Pepsi w/ lots of ice
• a husband that can do handyman jobs--so we don't have to hire one
• a husband that is patient with his perfectionist wife and just withstands the rants quietly
  
• a friend, that even 1000s of miles away and in the midst of a crazy time in her life, offered (w/o being asked) to help empty our storage unit in England
• the same friend for sensing that I was not in a good place with an unexpected situation and ending our conversation with three words, "God is good"--because at that moment, I certainly needed to be reminded that He is in control!
• the daffodils that are blooming
• that Michaela's play is finished
• M&M MckFlurrys
• that the nasty opossum did not run out in front of my van as I snuck out and got the above item
  
• having a washer and dryer--even though I hate to use them:)
• the smiles on Emma's face when she got home from school
• being able to purge things without certain someones saying, "I may need that one day!"
• 25% off coupon for Sherwin Williams
• prayer
• my nice comfy bed--which I think I will go take advantage of
• and mostly I am thankful for a God that is constant

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things ---Philippians 4:8

upon the first day of the week...

Rejoice in hope,

be patient in tribulation,

be constant in prayer.

—Romans 12:12

our little 'candy kid'...

Who can take a sunrise

Sprinkle it in dew

Cover it in chocolate
and a miracle or two?Willy Wonka...

Willy Wonka can!

friday frivolity...

Gotta' get my Friday Frivolity done...

because if I don't...

the fans will rise up in protest...

refuse to begin the weekend...

until they read my weekly ramblings.

No??? Really!??!

Well, I will commence with my weekly ramblings anyway!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The week began nicely...

Bible study and sermons...

and no matter how many times we go over Daniel 10-12, it becomes no clearer!

a Dave Ramsey session...

and visiting with friends.

And of course hiding in another room studying while the crazy fans were in watching the UK game!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And then it was downhill from there!

Monday at 3:53 Emma woke up and told me her belly hurt...

I sent her to the loo to sit on the potty...

and a few seconds later I heard the sound no mother wants to hear!

The bathroom floor is clean and disinfected...

and she missed the cream carpet in the hallway!

What more can a mommy ask for at 4 in the morning?

Well besides sleep!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
She is better now...

She was sick every hour...

for 14 hours...

too much information?

slept for two days...

missed two days of school...

I am ready for the truancy letter and visit!

but she made it though her first stomach bug!

and Michaela and I never got it...

well until now because I said that "out loud"!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I finished my group projects at 5:13AM Tuesday morning...

Have I mentioned I hate group projects?

We presented it on Thursday...

and I am thankful to not have to work with my group again!

Why is it no matter how many times I say I will not do most of the work, I end up doing most of the work??
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michaela's play opened on Thursday night...

Emma and I went to see it tonight...

It is cute...

and the kids are doing a good job.

Emma asked if we were going to see it tomorrow night with Steve...

and as tempting as that is, I think once was enough for me!

Shhh, don't tell Michaela I said that!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I heard Michaela tell Steve she wouldn't be doing another play...

she was going to stick strictly to Ballet.

She said when you have a small part you sit around and do nothing A LOT...

and she has no desire to have a big part...

so I think her acting days are over:(

I am just proud that she stepped so far out of her comfort zone to get the part she has...

I guess I will let her snuggle back into her unobtrusive, blend into the background zone she finds so comforting!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve has worked overtime all of this week...

he is finally coming home tomorrow...

to begin painting and tiling of course...

You didn't think he was going to get to rest did you?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love driving around and seeing the nurseries putting trees out...

it means Spring is coming soon!

I may even have to mow the grass for the first time before March is over...

or shovel snow!

Ya' never know!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This coming week is going to be just as crazy as last week...

ballet corp and two more play performances tomorrow...

project due in DMS class...

test in A&P...

dance classes, dentist appointments...

and a team competition in Columbus over the weekend!

And somewhere in there my family would probably appreciate some laundry being done.

I am tired just thinking about it all!

I guess I better get some sleep to prepare!

Have a great weekend.

dear mr. woods...

Dear Mr. Woods,

The curtains are about to be raised as the opening of the 8th grade play, Willy Wonka, begins. But you are not there to share in the nervous excitement. Because of choices you made, you are not there to see the hours of hard work come to fruition. As the cast and crew takes their curtain call, you will not be standing on stage with them accepting the accolades of the audience. And it saddens me. It saddens me that you allowed alcohol to be more important to you than the students who were entrusted to your care. It saddens me that your addiction has clouded the joy that I am sure must have been there when you began sharing your joy of the theater with children. It saddens me that because you allowed a substance to rule your life, you are not there to encourage and congratulate the students as they go on stage this first night of performances. As I think about the memories this group of 8th graders will take away from this experience, it saddens me that the pride for a job well done will be tainted with the memory of your erratic behavior and your subsequent arrest.

And while I know you are denying the charges, I pray that you will get the help you need to overcome your self-declared alcoholism; control for yourself and for your wife. I pray that the accusations and rumors being Tweeted and Facebook-ed will not cause you any more troubles to have to answer to and overcome. I pray that you find peace and contentment within yourself so that you do not need to search in a bottle for your self worth. I pray that you can move forward and find yourself a better man next year as the curtain opens than you are tonight. And as much as I pray that you find solace for yourself, I pray strongly that you somehow make right the disappointment you brought to those 30+ students that watched you be handcuffed and taken away in a police car. I pray that you create an example of humility and regret; that you allow them to see that you are responsible for your choices. I pray that you somehow take this situation and allow a positive lesson to be taught; that somewhere in the midst of this ugliness, the children can learn that with accountability and honesty our failings can be overcome.

Mr. Woods, while you may not physically be in that auditorium tonight as the lines are said and the songs are sung, you are there in spirit. Your influence, both positive and negative, is with each of those students as they take on their roles and walk out onto the stage. You will forever be in the memories of those students as they think of Willy Wonka and their last year in middle school. You have left a footprint in each of their personal histories; an impression that will remain with them throughout their lives. Your behavior has changed them. Some a little. Some a lot. And they will take those changes with them as they go forward in their lives.

Mr. Woods, get help. Accept responsibility for your actions. Move forward so that the impressions you leave on the hearts of people in the future are ones of encouragement and strength. You cannot change the past, you can only try to make amends for your actions and strive to make your today and your tomorrows better than your yesterdays. Good luck to you.

Sincerely,
the parent of a disappointed candy-kid

not quite wordless wednesday...

Can someone please explain WHY the dog completely ignores the $16.00 rawhide that was purchased for her...

and instead, carries paper and logs from the fireplace into the middle of the floor and eats them????Leaving a shredded, splintery mess in the middle of the carpet!

This is why the vacuum cleaner is part of our decor!

monday is history...

I had every intention of writing a post...

but with Emma sick with a stomach bug...

and my group project (PowerPoint) due tomorrow...

I ran out of Monday!

And now that it is 5:30AM Tuesday morning...

and I just sent the completed project to the others in the group...

I think I will get some sleep!

And hope that Emma keeps something down today...

and that Mac and I DO NOT get it!

friday frivolity...

I am so off schedule today...

the girls were home from school (prof. development day)...

and Steve did not have O.T. today so he was home from work...

it has felt like a Saturday all day...

but Friday it is...

so here is my rambling about the week!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The weather this week has been gorgeous...

Clear blue skies and bright shining sun...

Spring is trying to make her entrance!

Of course it has been a job trying to convince Emma that we do not wear short sleeves and flip flops just because the sun is shining...

65* is still kinda' cool...

even if she is burning up because it is sooooo hot!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The "GET THE FOR SALE SIGN IN THE FRONT YARD" race has begun...

a date to have the sign in the yard has been set in stone...

the list of projects and supplies has been compiled...

the tradesman (i.e. Steve) has been hired.

It is actually surreal to think that in less than a month we will be dealing with a realtor...

and hopefully buyers!!!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michaela has been extremely busy...

play practice and team practice...

and because Mac is very busy...

Emma and I are very busy...

running a taxi service!

I am pretty sure I could do the driving circuit with me eyes closed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am half way through this school term...

it is going well...

a lot less stressful with only two classes...

I only have 3 classes left that I can take before applying for Progression...

so I am taking a few terms off...

I am very ready to not have to study for awhile!

Remind me I said that in a few months!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Steve went upstairs over an hour ago to do 'bedtime' with Emma...

I retire from parenting the day or two he is home:)

he has not returned!

I wonder who read who (whom?) to sleep!

I think I will just leave him in her room---more bed for me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We have decided to stop looking for a house to buy...

we had decided to rent for awhile...

let Steve get more time on his job and a few more raises...

and have me get a job while I wait to be accepted for progression...

but then we got excited about the houses we were finding...

and veered away from our original plan!

But we are back on track.

Until the next great house anyway!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michaela has finally decided that she is not trying out for Team next year...

she has wanted to do Pointe since she was 7 years old...

so I found a studio near where we are moving...

and much to Michaela's dismay...

she had to meet the owner and dance for her last Sunday...

because you have to have an instructor recommendation to do Pointe.

Ms. Ann was impressed with what she saw...

and is letting Mac skip Pre-pointe and go directly into Pointe class!

I am glad to know the last 11 years haven't been wasted.

Michaela is officially a 'bun head'!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I hear footsteps coming down the steps...

Steve must have awakened...

just in time to go to bed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I guess I should get ready for bed also...

I have an appointment tomorrow morning after dropping Michaela off at Ballet class...

so I guess I should get some sleep!

especially since we lose an hour for Daylight Savings tomorrow night:(
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

a conundrum....

write a post...

go to sleep...

write a post....

go to sleep....

decisions, decisions!

hmmmmmmm.......

I think I will have to sleep on it!!!

i hate when that happens...

It doesn't happen often, but I guess it was time...

For days weeks months I have heard that I needed new tires on the van...

I have ignored the 286, 368 comments made about taking the van in to the garage for tires and an alignment...

But the comments continued no matter how much ignoring I did.

So, in order to shut him up provide safe transportation for the girls and I, I left the van in Louisville with him on Sunday so that HE could go sit in a nasty, smelly garage and get new tires put on the van.

I got it back tonight after Bible study.

I cannot believe how much better the ride home was tonight!

And I hate to have to say it...

and I will deny it if you tell him...

Listen up because I am only going to say it once...

He was right!

Man I hate when that happens!

not quite wordless wednesday...a day early

Our little clown...

received this nose in dance class today...

we don't know why!!

Before going to bed...

she came downstairs...

and informed me that...
her allergies were REALLY bothering her...

making her nose red and puffy!

I think we will hit the road with her little comedic self!

upon the first day of the week...

There is no God. All of the wonders around us are accidental. No almighty hand made a thousand-billion stars. They made themselves. No power keeps them on their steady course. The earth spins itself to keep the oceans from falling off the toward the sun. Infants teach themselves to cry. when they are hungry or hurt. A small flower invented itself so we could extract digitalis for hearts.

The earth gave itself day and night, tilted itself so that we get seasons. Without the magnetic poles, man would be unable to navigate the trackless oceans of water and air, but they just grew there.

How about the sugar thermostat in the pancreas? It maintains a level of sugar in the blood sufficient for energy. Without it, all of us would fall into a coma and die.

Why does snow sit on mountaintops waiting for the warm spring sun to melt it at just the right time for young crops in farms below to drink? A very lovely accident.

The human heart will beat for 70 to 80 years without faltering. How does it get sufficient rest between beats? A kidney will filter poison from the blood and leave good things alone. How does it know one thing from another?

Who gave the human tongue flexibility to form words, and a brain to understand them, but denied it to all animals?

Who showed the womb how to take the love of two persons and keep splitting a tiny ovum until, in time, a baby would have the proper number of fingers, eyes, ears, and hair in the right places, and come into the world when it is strong enough to sustain life?

THERE IS NO GOD????

{Written by Jim Bishop, Miami Herald, 1967}
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.....So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed....and God saw that it was good....On the seventh day God had finished his work of creation, so he rested from all his work....This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created. When the LORD God made the earth and the heaven. (Genesis1)

signs...

Blue skies and sunshine.

Streams of water running down the road.

Bicycles and baseball.

Bunnies and blue jays.

Sounds of children giggling.

New life trying to break ground.

All signs that the seasons are changing,

and Spring is on it's way!

friday frivolity...

Wow, another Friday already!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am pleased to be able to say that we have actually seen blue skies and the sun for the last two days here in northern Kentucky...

And they are saying 50s this weekend...

I think the windows may need to be opened and let Spring fever come on in!

Sadly, I am sure we are just being teased with the hint of warmer temps.

A snow storm is lurking somewhere; waiting to dump on us:(

***sigh*** visions of warm days dance in my head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Emma is doing really well with her stretcher bar...

She took some Tylenol this morning before school because the teeth that have the brackets wrapped around them were sore...

but other than that she is not complaining at all.

The greatest part for me...

definitely when she eats something and then comes a few hours later and shows me what was stuck up in the wires---tonight it was a meatball. UGH!

I am thinking a liquid diet may have to be in order!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Don't you just love when people state the obvious...

I went to Petsmart tonight to buy a remote control collar for our lovely beast that has taken to barking at anything that moves...

while I was there I grabbed a raw hide for her...

it is about 2.5feet long...

hey, she is almost 100lbs!

Anyway...while I was walking up to the register, at least 4 people stated in one way or another, "Wow, you must have one big dog!"

by the third person, I wanted to look at them and say,"No, we have a toy poodle, but I thought it would be amusing to watch her try and carry it around."

but sarcasm is not very nice!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Well, I found out what Emma is getting me for my next birthday...

On the way to church the other morning, I pointed out the BMW I like...

and she told me I could have it on my next birthday!

I just wish she hadn't spoiled the surprise! haha
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have decided to take a few terms off from taking classes...

I only have 3 classes left to take before progression...

progression will either happen Feb., 2011 or Feb, 2012...

because they only take 15 students a year---and it is based on acceptance into the program and not academic achievement (that is changing Fall, 2011)...

so I will be packing and getting things ready to move...

and I guess I could possibly get a job and help out with finances...

or maybe just be a lady of leisure!

Yeah! I like that 'lady of leisure' idea better:)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Remembera few years agoI ran over thelaptopwith thevan...

it stillworksexceptthat randomkeys stickonthekeyboard...

whichmakes typingvery time consuming...

wenever knowwhichone isgoing to stick..

canyouguess what keyisstickingtonight?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As busy as it seemed our week was, I can not think of anything else that has happened to ramble on about...

So I think I will get ready for bed...

and curl up with the laptop and Dave (Ramsey)...

because tomorrow the taxi sign goes back onto the van...

and I get to drive Michaela to team practice from 9 to12 and then to a drama workshop (a few hours late) for a few hours, and then....

Man I cannot wait for her to drive!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have a GREAT weekend...

and if you are blessed enough to live in the areas where the sun is shining...

get out and enjoy it!

my 600th post...

Wow! This is my 600th post.How should I mark the occasion? A profound writing about the state of our country? A thought provoking expose about the struggles of marriage and parenting? Maybe a list of 600 things I wish to accomplish before I die.

Nah.....

Instead, I will show you a picture of the wonderful stretching contraption that Emma Shea had glued into her mouth today!

with bits of the oranges she had just eaten-that I did not see until I uploaded the pic. Sorry:)

Cuz' I'm nice like that.For the next few months, Emma will have this to help widen the roof of her mouth and correct her misalignment(which you can actually see in the picture in yesterday's post) Every three or four weeks we will go in and Dr. Bert will make an 'adjustment' in order to spread the palate! I think it sounds gruesome, but Emma is so excited to have her "wires"! She wants some for 'in front of her teeth' now!

The pain is nothing, she is just bummed that she cannot chew gum:)

not quite wordless wednesday...

F.I.N.A.L.L.Y!!!!!

and tomorrow....
the stretcher bar across the roof of her mouth gets put in:(

if you give emma a book...

The great thing about Emma Shea FINALLY realizing that reading is a good thing and that she actually enjoys it is that she reads everything!

She has developed a voracious appetite for words. Which is great! I am thrilled about her love of books. I love to hear her say, "Reading is fabulous."But there is a negative in regards to her new found love.

the drawback... she reads everything!

Trips in the car are filled by a play by play of every billboard and store sign we pass.

We can no longer spell things we do not want her to know.

And we have to are privileged to hear the same stories read over and over and over...

Among the favorites we hear often is Laura Numeroff's If you Give a Mouse a Cookie. She cannot read it enough. I am pretty sure we will have it memorized very soon. :p

So... when I saw this poem I had to share it!!

If You Give a Mom a Muffin

If you give a mom a muffin,

She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it.

So she'll pour herself some.

The coffee will get spilled by her three year old.

She'll wipe it up.

Wiping the floor, she will find some dirty socks.

She'll remember she has to do some laundry.

When she puts the laundry in the washer,

She'll trip over some snow boots and bump into the freezer.

Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan supper for tonight.

She will get out a pound of hamburger.

She'll look for her cookbook. (101 Things To Make With a Pound of Hamburger.)

The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.

She will see the phone bill which is due tomorrow.

She will look for the checkbook.

The checkbook is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two year old.

She'll smell something funny.

She'll change the two year old.

While she is changing the two year old the phone will ring. (Of course!)

Her five year old will answer it and hang up.

She remembers that she wants to phone a friend to come over for coffee on Friday.

Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.

She will pour herself some.

And chances are,

If she has a cup of coffee,

Her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Written by Kathy Fictorie

Based on If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

you have 90 minutes to finish...

Remember sitting in high school/college English class with a bright white piece of paper and a sharpened pencil sitting on the desk in front of you? The teacher is standing at the front of the classroom explaining the directions for the assignment. You hear the topic prompt, you pick up the pencil and you stare at the blank paper in front of you; struggling with composing the first sentence. The clock continues to tick away the minutes; you continue to wait for inspiration as you stare at a blank piece of paper.

Finally inspiration comes and you begin writing furiously (of unrestrained energy, speed not, full of fury, violent passion, or rage; extremely angry)

Tonight I am still staring at the bright white, blank page screen waiting for inspiration to come!