Author Archives: ramblingsofaperforatedmind

A Widow’s Confession

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Even though my dear soul mate has been gone for almost six months, I feel like it has only been days.  I guess I’m still in shock.  I haven’t discussed it with any other ladies I know who have suffered the same loss, but I imagine it’s much the same for them.  I just keep going, fighting through every day.

My community was very supportive and generous.  Bela and I got quite a bit of mail following the tragedy.  It shames me to say, however, that I have not been able to even read all of the sympathy cards we received.  Don’t get me wrong—I know who sent one, and all the love has been appreciated, but as far as sitting and reading each line…well, I still can’t.  I don’t know when I’ll be able to or even if I will be able to.  I have them saved here at home, though.  Maybe some day….

Forensic Fridays

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My daughter and I found an amazing forensics class online.  Since my public school day ends at two on Fridays, we decided to complete work for forensics every Friday.  Yesterday we took a field trip to the local sheriff’s office to look at the equipment for lifting prints.

We saw some training pictures and a program to recreate scenes of accidents.

We saw some training pictures and a program to recreate scenes of accidents.

Wynn showed us how to dust for prints.

Wynn showed us how to dust for prints.

He made lifting the print look easy.

He made lifting the print look easy.

Now Bela has a souvenir of a neat learning experience.

Now Bela has a souvenir of a neat learning experience.

 

http://bsapp.com/forensics_illustrated/index.html

 

Picture Day

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Today was picture day at school.  I, however, chose not to participate.  (In my defense, when the call came for teachers needing a picture made, I had a class.)  Instead of donning a skirt and a fancy shirt, I wore my capri pants with a shirt paying tribute to Edgar Allan Poe.  I bought the shirt at Warped Tour when I met MC Lars.  He’s a clever rapper who rhymes about Poe.  He also happens to be a really nice guy.  If you’ll remember, he gave me a free CD.

I was rocking my Poe shirt today.

I was rocking my Poe shirt today.

I had a lot of questions about my shirt today.  The kids want to hear the CD about Poe, so I’m bringing it to class long enough to play my favorite track—number seven.

 

Sunday Snippet

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I woke up at four this morning, showered, dressed for work in scrubs and took the dogs out.  I was walking Jinx around the yard, and I looked up.  I always check the sky, even in the dark.  With no cloud cover, the stars were so clear and beautiful that I could have stared at them until daylight.

What is it about the sky that captures human imagination?  Is it the Christian belief in heaven?  Is it the sheer magnitude of the sky?  I’ll leave you to ponder that.  I’m waiting for the stars to be visible again….

Clouds are amazing, but so are the stars in a clear night sky.

Clouds are amazing, but so are the stars in a clear night sky.

 

Dressing Up

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The first thing I did this morning was snag a student to take a picture for me.  Thank you, Brodie, for helping me out.  I needed a picture as early as possible before I got busy and frazzled.  🙂

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I had a lot of positive comments throughout the day since I usually live in my jeans and T-shirts.  One colleague thought I had “done” my hair, but I just washed it, brushed and slapped a head band on.  The rest was natural.  My normal “do” is a pony tail.  Every time someone would tell me how nice I looked, my response was, “Michaela did this.”  I told a few people that it felt really different, and I always worry that it looks like two raccoons in a sack of corn….

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Shopping Therapy

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I normally hate shopping for clothes.  I go when I have to, but tonight was one of those rare happy shopping trips.  I guess I should explain.

Every since the love of my life was murdered in March, I have felt like I’ve been waiting to die.  I haven’t wanted to shop or do much of anything.  Every day I just do what is necessary and no more.  Shopping is usually on the back burner.  I’ve never really liked shopping for clothes because I feel so fat.  It’s not the clothes I’m unhappy with; I don’t like my body type.  I have a healthy food baby.  🙂

Today I figured that my body is not likely to change since I’m lazy, so I might as well get some nice duds anyway.  I also realized that my dear Arold would have wanted me to have nice clothes no matter what.  He loved me fat or thin, and he never complained about spending money on food and clothes.

Lucky for me that Michaela, a former student, now works at Maurice’s, my absolute favorite store in the mall.  I was double lucky because many cool items were on clearance for 75% off!  (Ysabela, my daughter, even got a few things tonight.)  I felt better about spending the money when I got home and totaled up what I would have paid if things had not been on clearance.  I saved a whopping $260.

Michaela sent me this pic to use. Isn't she adorable?

Michaela sent me this pic to use. Isn’t she adorable?

I’ll post some pictures of the outfits Michaela helped me pick out.  I think those Maurice’s girls should get commissions because they are awesome.  Having a “personal shopping assistant” is like hitting the lottery for me since I have absolutely no sense of style!