August 30

Feeling a little strange today…hasn’t been a bad day but I’m feeling a little bit nervous.  Maybe it is just Sunday night jitters…

Went to the mall today, bought cute patten leather brown loafers for $8.00 and a Claibourne dress shirt for Eric for $10.00 at Carson’s.  Went to Sears and got a pair of pants, a pair of active wear capri’sand a pretty dress shirt all for me at the whopping price of $7.50.  I filled out a credit app and got 10% off and a free $15 off the total bill.  While filling out the credit app my name came up as Tammy Cherna under my social which I have never used on any official documents…should I be worried?  I was approved for the card so my credit hasn’t been tainted yet but what if someone is applying for stuff under my social with the name Tammy Cherna? 

I will try to call the ss office tomorrow and then see if I can get a credit report from my bank.  Keep your fingers crossed that nothing has happened and it was a Sears screw up since Eric already has a card.

One more day of school without students.  Tuesday my classes begin and I am almost ready for them, still have some last minute stuff to do tomorrow.

It is 7:20 and I am going to ride my exercise bike and do my weights.

Almost forgot…Happy Birthday Tina!  I know I already wished you a happy birthday on the phone and on facebook but I thought I would be thorough and include one happy wish here too!

August 28

So far I have survived 8 days of school, only 175 to go!  It has been great coming back to work and seeing all of my co-workers.  Was so glad to see almost everyone back from last year, yea Stephanie.

Tina is turning 40 on Sunday.  Hard to believe my younger sister will be 40 in two days.  That makes me old, unless I go by the theory that 40 is the new 30 in that case I am the new 33 which doesn’t sound that bad.  Good thing is I only feel 33!  I remember asking my mom to take Tina back to the hospital and bring me a baby brother.  Of course now I am happy to have a sister because out of the deal I got a beautiful niece and nephew.  Who by the way look a lot like me. 

Anyway, Happy Birthday Tina.  Hope you have a wonderful day filled with joyous moments!  Eat cake not pie…and a big scoop of ice cream.

August 23

Happy Birthday to Pat, Terri, Traci, Blayr and Justin…August 22 & 23!

Well, I survived my first week back at school.  I finished my schedule, started entering in students to SuccessMaker and to SuccessNet, organized my room and updated my website.  Doesn’t seem like much for four days of work…1/2 day was taken up by staff meeting so I guess I did the above in 3 1/2 days.

Still have so much to do…six more days before I get students, so I should get it all finished.

My count downs have started…11 more days until college football kickoff and 18 more days until the fall television season begins.  Steve Spurrier and the Gamecocks open up college football on Thursday, Sept. 3.  Hope he gets the swagger back except when he plays Florida.  I am looking forward to the Gator season opener on Saturday, September 5…won’t be able to watch it until the 7th because I will be at a wedding.  I know, I know who gets married during college football kickoff…obviously not a college football fan.

As far as the television season, I am looking forward to new shows:  Vampire Diaries, FlashForward, Cougar Town and The Middle.  I am also looking forward to the return of Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl, Fringe, Ugly Betty, Big Bang Theory and Castle.  I have already mapped out the planning for the DVR recording.

As for today, I will be doing some errands and watching episodes of Leverage on the DVR, hoping the day goes by slowly as I have to get up at 5:30 a.m. tomorrow.

August 19

Have had a hard couple of days…my last day off I tried to rescue a kitten and got bit in the process.  Had to go to urgent care, I’m ok, it didn’t really even hurt.  Just went because the vet said cat bites get infected very easily.  Tried to keep the kitten in quarantine but the poor thing was so sick, had to take it to be put down.  Vet thought it had distemper and a wound that was filled with maggots.  So I am sad!

Back at school, yesterday for first teacher day.  Today is the first student day.  I don’t open the lab until September 1.  Luckily I get 10 school days to get the lab ready for students.

Hope today goes better than Monday and Tuesday, wish me luck.

August 18

This is it, my last day of summer vacation 2009.  I tried to get up early 6:45 but stayed in bed until 7:12.  What am I going to do tomorrow when the alarm goes off at 5:30 a.m.?

Went shopping yesterday at the Lighthouse Mall in Michigan City and then to Carson’s at the Southlake Mall.  Bought 3 pairs of pants, 1 pair of capri’s, 2 casual shirts, 1 fleece, 1 hoodie and 1 t-shirt for Eric for $70.00.  Am I the best shopper or what?  I got everything at the Gap, Liz Claibourne, Tommy Hilfiger, Vanity Fair and Carson’s not too shabby.

Eric spent the day with his cousins in NYC going from restaurant to restaurant.  He started at Nobu then went to Joe’s Pizza, Pomme Frites and Dylan’s Candy Bar.  He wanted to go to Otto and Serendipity but couldn’t fit it all in the day.  He has business meetings today and tomorrow so he won’t be home for my first day of school.

Today I have to clean, weed if it stops raining and do a few errands.  Don’t feel like doing any of it so I will have to see what gets done.

August 14

Four more days…that is all I have left of summer freedom.  I know, I know many of you are thinking quit complaining you only get two weeks vacation while I get about 14 weeks throughout the year, but hey you get paid and I don’t during those fun filled days.  So let me complain a little…5:30 a.m. just comes too early, scheduling your bathroom breaks is a challenge, never going out for lunch, well a turkey sandwich gets old.  Okay, I’m done!

I know I have a good, easy stress free job and I’m lucky but my paycheck shows it.

Okay, I am really done now!

Had a great time in California.  Saw friends from UF…Sharon made us a yummy meal and we went to Santa Monica for more food and drinks.  Saw my favorite sister-in-law and her fiance in Malibu.  Laughed so hard at dinner I actually had tears rolling down my face.  Went to Santa Barbara, one of my favorite places in the US…shopped on State Street and had Mexican food for dinner, what could be better on a Tuesday night.  Went to Philippe’s for the Authentic French Dip, it sure was tasty, last stop was Randy’s Donuts where I had the most amazing donut ever, so light, so airy, so glad I don’t live close by!  On to the airport and home.

Spent yesterday cleaning.  Today I will do errands and go out for dinner with my cousins.  Making the last four days count, get stuff done and continue to have fun!

August 8

Minneapolis was fun…filled with food and shopping.  Ate fried asparagus and potluck pickle roll-ups at Psycho Suzi’s, a brat burger with cheese, bacon and spicy sauerkraut at Talk Town Diner, Cuban sandwich and black beans and rice at Victor’s 1959 Cafe, spicy golden raisin bread pudding at Crave.  Shopped at Nordstrom’s Rack bought a Paul Frank t-shirt, gotta love the monkey and a short sleeve caramel colored long sweater, too cute!  Bought a small camera case for my Nikon P6000 and a blue gator and orange cord necklace.  Toured the Swedish Institute of America, a 33 room mansion lived in by the Turnblad family and then donated to the Institute.  The craftsmanship was incredible…detail in the wood and plaster just isn’t done anymore.

Great to be home and in my own bed if only for two nights…leave for LA in the morning.  Of course it is supposed to be in the 90’s here and only the low 80’s high 70’s in California.  Looking forward to going hiking in the Hollywood Hills.

August 5

Today is my last day with the kids…until Thanksgiving Break.  It has been fun having them here.  We have been very busy.   Had a birthday party for Tina on the 2nd…she turns 40 on August 30.  Went to Indiana Beach on the 3rd, went to Deep River Park and the Candy Factory on the 4th.  Ate at the best taco stand according to Sunny Anderson from the food network on the Indiana Beach boardwalk.  Will post a picture on facebook soon.

The vet is coming today for the cats yearly checkup.  This will be the first time the vet sees Piper.  Piper is finally getting used to the kids after 3 days of hiding under the bed. 

Tomorrow Eric and I leave for Minneapolis.  He has a business meeting and I will visit the mall of America.  We are also going to some of Guy’s picks from Diners, DriveIns and Dives.  Gotta love the triple D.

August 1

It is hard to believe I only have two weeks of summer vacation left.  I don’t want to go back to waking up at 5:30 a.m. and going to bed at 10:30 p.m. 

Had a great time seeing old high school friends last night.  It was great to catch up.  Haven’t all been together in 15 years.  Of course they both look beautiful, even better than when they were 17!

Tina, Sabrina, Sam and Corbi will be here this evening.  Looking forward to seeing them for the next four days.  Want to take them to the Dunes if the weather holds out.

Going to Mall of the Americas on Thursday…don’t have anything to buy but it is an American site to see…five floors of shopping mall complete with an amusement park.

Also going to some more of Guy’s picks from the Triple D.  I think we are going to hit Victor’s 1959 cafe and The Nook.  Barbra Striesand also ate at The Nook and said it was the best Juicy Lucy she ever ate.