Geek Utopia

I got through my week of constant classes and assignments and have a breather today. When I got home last night from school, Jay had bought me three booster packs for Magic The Gathering. This is why I love Jay. He knows the path to a geek's heart is her new booster pack. So today, we (of course) had to dig into our decks to optimize them in the geekiest of fashions. We were pouring over our cards like Gollum to his Precious (I think I just heard the sound of two of my three blogreaders closing their windows), when we started discussing the rules for how a split card works (and the one person still reading this surely knows what I mean):

We couldn't decide, and Jay said "Never fear!" and got up to call the 24-hour toll-free helpline for Magic The Gathering. As an aside, would that NOT BE THE BEST JOB EVER, to be the helpdesk for your favorite card game?

We giddily each grabbed a phone extension so we could hear what would happen. We then heard a message that all lines were busy, which made me laugh - because that meant either it is just one guy who rolled out of bed to start taking calls about this game, or that there are actually that many players out there quarreling over the rules of this game at twelve in the afternoon. I guess we're in good geek company.

We got our question answered by a representative who was very warm, chipper and helpful. And Jay said, "Why wouldn't he be?! Look at what a great job he has!"

Excuse me now while I go delicately place my foil cards in their protective sleeves. Good thing Jay & I are married to each other now, otherwise neither of us could ever get a date.

learning

The learning curve goes up when you learn a new thing or have a new experience, like getting a new job or having a kid.

Well, the learning curve is off the charts for me right now. I feel really out of it at school. It is a bit overwhelming. I study for hours and am barely keeping up. The lingo for special ed is very different than that of regular ed. And everything is turned in electronically. Also, I can't see the powerpoints of the teachers even with my glasses on. I knew it would be a bit of juggling but this is insane. I am expected to know terms that I don't because the one class has the 4 other classes I'm taking now as the prerequisite. The prof says stuff like, "Go to the IRC and download the data off of vista from your flashline account and make a powerpoint about why standardized testing doesn't suit those with ODD or FAS. And be prepared to justify your answers with graphs when you present it to the class." Why don't you just tell me to go to the moon. :) I just nod and write copious notes. Nod and write, and hope to figure it out in my negative spare time.

Oh and I feel like a crappy mom to top it off because I come home and go right to work after they go to bed. "No story tonight kids...I don't know where your shorts are- maybe they're under your assessment, I mean bed."

Summer times

Millie in her happy place- the couch. You can see the new blinds behind her.

Tara took this picture of Emily today. Summer break begins!!

9:43pm on a Thursday

So right now Millie is trying to get me to play with her toy and trying to eat a fly out of midair.
Emily is finally sleeping after several trips into the living room for no good reason.
Tara just went back to bed. She's been up like five times. The latest was a sobbing fest about how she doesn't want to go to first grade because that would mean leaving her beloved kindergarten teacher. I told her that she cried the same tears last year when she didn't want to leave her preschool teacher.

"I was a baby then. This is different. This is true love," sobs Tara.

I tell her that she will see her teacher around. Well, you can imagine THAT didn't go over very well. She wasn't buying it. More sobbing. Poor kid. When Tara loves someone, she REALLY loves them.

Last day of school

Here is a blast from the past when Emily graduated from kindergarten two years ago. Now Tara has too.
At least they can now say, " No more teachers, no more books..." unlike me.

What I've learned this week so far:

• Tara had a bad dream last night about Winnie the Pooh chasing her. So much for fun memories with Winnie.
  
• more about pop culture bad girls than I needed to know.


• Professors contradict themselves but I say nothing because they are also the keeper of the grades.


• When companies say training is for a month, don't plan on it. Plan on delays, extensions and your carefully planned babysitting schedule going up in smoke.


• Things are rarely the big deal you make them up to be in your mind.


• New glasses take a while to get used to.


• Little kids sweat a lot but still want a blanket on when sleeping.


• When it gets too quiet and you can't hear the kids, bad things are happening.


• The idea of frozen strawberries is a good idea only in theory.


• Children love to cuddle.


• Dogs can get fleas, even with a flea collar. scratch scratch.


• My blog is still very fun for me, even when I'm busy.


• God teaches me things despite my bad attitude at times.
  

my new specs are freaking me out

Ok it doesn't help the 'ole self esteem when the love of your life keeps taking your picture and saying, "No, that's not a good one. Nope, you look too red in that one. Each one has a fatal flaw." In his defense, and he needs it, I am notoriously unphotogenic. It is God's little joke. He makes me love photography but then makes me look really weird in photos. Triple chins come out of nowhere. One eye slightly crosses. Whatever. :) But I wanted a picture of me in my new glasses to show.



Anyhoo, I got my glasses today. The optician was surprised they were my first pair due to the prescription strength. I did have glasses a long time ago but I never wore them and lost them. But because of this prescription, the world looks really weird to me right now. Jay keeps laughing and encouraging me at the same time. The ground looks like it is coming up at me. I swear a sign looked like it was following me. Jay was snickering and telling me that it was coming to GIT ME!!!!!!!! Things seem much brighter. Did this happen to you guys, too when you got glasses? And noone better write back and say, "No, freaky weird Jo, just you."