Lady Ellice

So during break Brad put forth the opinion that we should start weight training with our walking. THe theory is that lifting weights, toning muscle and what not will help us loose more weight that walking alone is doing (since that is only marginaly effective.) so we added that during break, and then went back to school. It is wild. Now our schudeule has to include an hour to 50 minutes in the gym everyday but friday. SO lets see if I can recap Monday- Work, Get off work, pick up brad, drive to gym, work out for an hour, go to subway, then drive home and meet the guys for Starwars. which included an impromptu debate about the exsistance of God with our one skeptical, non christian memember, which lasted for almsot two hours. It was needed, but it was long, and DAvid and I had to stay out of it, cause if more than one person starts putting in their opinion then the guy feels threatened and shuts down all the way. SO needless to say Starwars went very late. Tuesday- School, then t...

Okay I started Monday with 16 students. And ended today, the next day, with 20. that is right I got four new students in 2 days. I actually got three of them yesterday and only one today. It was insane. Jsut about the time I got a desk, chair, and books for one, they would call and tell me they are bringing another one to my room. needless to say I am feeling a bit overwhelmed today. Which will pass once I get them settled in and use to the classrules.

All right, It is now fall break, so I will have time to blog. I think. I have already put a bunch of stuff into the week so that maybe hard. but Here is an update. My Back is fine. I played Volleyball on Tuesday, no problems. It is back ot the way it was. so no worries there. On Friday, which was Data day at our school I was trying to get up from the lunch tables, which are not built for big, tall girls lke me, and dislocated my knee. It went right back in but is swollen and sore, and will be for a few days. This has happened in the past and I knowthat It will go away, it is just annoying. Yesterday we faced the past, and went to the "Walk to Remember" sponsered by the hospital, and the cemetary where Hope is burried. This is the first time we have been back there since the funeral. THere was alot of crying, on both our parts. They played some nice songs, read some poetry. Then we all walked to where the Babies are buried. Then we listen to some harp music which was nice. The...

So today, around 7 am my back started to hurt. then my leg started to hurt, and the longer the day went on the more my leg hurt. It hurt less if I was standing that if I was sitting, so I stood all day, and was feeling pretty bad by the time brad came to get me. I took some Ibprophren then got in the car, before we got out of winchester I was in excrusiating pain. it was shooting all the way down my leg into my foot and no matter how I sat it would not go away. Brad called his PT and ask what she would recommed, as we both thought my back was out of place. She said she would give me a free screening. I went in, she made me do some exrecises and after seeing the results declared it a herniaded disk. When I left her office the pain was mostly gone, however, I must sit up straight, I am not supposed to sit for long periods of time, I have to lie certian ways, not pick anything up, and don't bend over forward, for a couple of days, which means no volleyball tomorrow night. Howev...

For those of you who might be wondering I am still alive. I have started to settle into my job. I have a room that is starting to look like a real classroom. I have students who are starting to act like real students and not wild animals that have been with out a teacher for weeks. I have started academic team, which I love but does take some time. School is going well now. I still come across things that everyone else knows from previeous meetings and I am just now figuring out, but it is not too bad. most things I got now. My class is up to 16. they can be stressful, but they are mostly great kids who want to learn. At home, brad and I are doing well. We are still dealing with depression, and I have moved on to anger. I have been struggling with the fact that very little makes me joyful right now. SO that is my goal this week and next, til fall break. I am going to look for the joy in each day. and not just hte obvious joy, that christ has saved me and I don't have to go to hell,...

SO I thought I would give you a weekly schedule so that you know why you never hear from me, and when might be the best time to reach me.. Good luck with that by the way. Monday: Work (7:00-3:50) Home around 4:30-5:00. Every other monday D&D from 5:30- 9:00 Tuesday: Work (7:00-3:50), Teacher meeting til 4:00, Brad's PT 4:30-5:30 Volleyball 6:00-8:00( sometimes later due to game) Wednesday: Work (7:00-3:50) Home around 4:30 -5:00, Sign language class at church (6:00-7:30) Thursday Work (7:00-3:50), Brad's PT 4:30-5:30, then every other thursday is Bible study, and the last thrusdya of the month is bunco. (so really only one free thrusday a month.) 7:00-9:00 Friday Work (7:00-3:50) Satruday: Sunday: SS (9:40-10:45) Church 11:00-12:30. Lunch (???) Meet with my mentee and at least an hour or two of lesson plans. Add to all of this that some where in tehre I have to grade papers, lesson plan, make copies, meet parents, write parent notes, clean my house, do landry, blog, check e...

Okay not a lecture, but three people have expressed to me their displeasure at the fact that I have not given enough details about my new job. On Monday the 18th of August, 3 days after school had started, Brad called me from school to tell me that he had heard that there might be a position open in the county. I called the principal and he sounded interested. He asked me to e-mail him my resume. (I offered to come up if he wanted me too and he said jsut e-mail it) so I did as he asked. A little whilre later I found out that I had not gotten the assistance job that I thought i was going to get. I was really upset. I called the principal from my last school and talked to her. Turns out that something I did to one of the teachers on the council made them that person hold a grudge and he/she had talked them in to not hireing me...I was very upset.. She kept saying she would give me a good recomendation if I needed one.. so I told..asked.. strongly requested that she call the other...

We interrupt the vacation story to tell you .... I GOT A JOB!!!!! I will be working as a 1st grade teacher at an elementray school in winchester.

Wed: we woke up in the bahamas. I want to point out that the bahamas from teh boat looked so much like Guam it was scary. I mean there were coconut trees, flame trees, typical tropical plants that I grew up with. It was way cool. SO we went to a resort, were we got to be on the beach in umbrella chairs all day. IT was wonderful . Lots of clear water, sun screen, jamacian jerk chicken, and sand. We did a little kyacking. When they picked us back up we got dropped off in town. we enjoyed a very quick shop. then loaded back on the boat to head back to the US. Brad and I actually laid down and took a nap we were so tired from the day. Then we got up went to dinner, more great food, then went to see more gay dancers.. which was fun again for me. then a night stroll on the deck then retired for the evening. Thru. We woke up in Ft. LAuderdale.. again with the unpleasentness, but we dorve right out and headed straight to Olando.. the magic citty. We stopped for lunch at a cute italian resturan...

Sun: (still) After Kennedy Space center, we drove to Ft. Lauderdale. Not a very pretty city, and not a nice place to stay. Our hotel was a Timeshare freebee, so we and about 300 other people came and went in two days. we checked in, swam and and then went to bed. Mon: got up and went to our 3 hour Timeshare presentation. NO we didn't buy a time share. After the time share thing which lasted most of the day. THen we drove around lost in Ft. L. for a while. Stopped at a gas station bought a new map and asked directions... he sent us to the Liquor store next door. THe guy who was lit at 3pm actually gave us good directions. We found what we were looking for dinner and then went back to the hotel and went to the pool in teh dark with 30 other African am. kids. It was fun. Tue: got up and went to the harbor. We stopped and had our first cuban food. It was really good. We had to wait in line, but got on board with little hassle. Our room was down on the bottom level in hte back of hte se...

Part 1 We left richmond around 4:00 pm on Friday. We stopped for dinner at hte origianl KFC, which is brad's favorite resturant. He had always seen the signs but never stopped before so that was fun. We drove through TN and into GA. We stopped in MAcon GA around 1:00 in the morning. WE stayed in a seedy little dive that didn't cost alot of money but was definatly not the kind of place you would want to take kids or stay for long. Most of hte veheles in the parking lot were Trucks. (name The pasport inn motel) SAT: Got up around 10 or 11 or so, ate at Denny's (it was the first time brad had had a breakfast at denny's since all ours closed.) it was pretty good but in true denny's style the service was really slow. Then we set out for FL. It took us a couple hours to get to GA nad then a couple more to get to Orlando. On hte way down we stopped and bought tickets to Arabian Nights. It was one of htose dinner horse shows, (like Dixie Stampied or Midevial times) we stopp...

Alright. Dillenbeck came to visit and that was wonderful. I bet it wasn't as exciting as she hoped, but it was nice to reconnect and see each other. I spent most of hte week running around like a chicken with its head cut off. We did get a chance to see Dark Knight at the midnight showing, which was fun, and very college esk of us. It was a blast and the movie was wonderful. (we also saw Hellboy II, it was fun, but not as good as Dark Knight.) Lets see hight lights 1. Hellboy 2. Dark Knight 3. Melissa being here 4. Belly Dancing on Saturyday (way fun, and something I never would have done on my own) 5. House warming party on Friday (loads of fun, and it was great to see so many friends) 6. Taking brad to the instant care because his leg injury from Softball seemd to have gotten worse, only to find out that he shouldn't have been walking on it and is stuck on crutches or in a wheelchair for 2-3 weeks, which covers a all of our vacation. It also requires physical theoropy a...

My Parents were in town for two weeks. it was much fun. Brad and I moved to a new bigger apartment, and all things are cazy. So Instead of great details about allthe stuff that has happened I have inclosed some pictures.. Mom and Hayden when we went bowling. I scored a 154.. the best I have ever done. Hayden ready for the baseball game..We went to see the legends get their butts handed to to them. Dad with the violin we got him for his brithday/christmas/next year birthday... The whoel family looking nice and normal... And looking crazy...

Monday- Brad had his frist day of class. I walked down town with my mom to buy my dad his birthday present, a viloin. He has always said he wanted to learn and now that they have no kids as home we thought tha tmight give him time. Brad and I Met at the pool for a little while then We had the gang over for D&D. We ended up playing til about 8:00. when it was over brad and I relaxed and went to bed. Tuesday- Brad had class, I walked with my mom. hten I took lunch to brad at hte pool. I was running late, then I got a parking ticket. Brad and I got asked not to show as much PDA at the pool. We don't know what we did to get asked that, he was jsut carrying me in the water. Brad would now like a list of what we are and are not allowed to do. Then we went to Movie tavern to see Get Smart. Way much, mucho fun. I recomend it, especially if you got to see any of the old series. Wednesday- Walked with my mom while brad was in class. Then took brad to lunch at hte Thai resteraunt. ...

This is the week i missed. Monday- My due date is today. I woke up feeling a little down and it is a rainy day so that doesn't help. Brittany picked me up and we went to walk at the Park. They walked more than me. I took a break in the middle and then finsihed my two miles. Beth the chaplin called me to check up and see how I was doing. Which was really nice. Tuesday- Went to lexington with James. Brad and I sold some books at Half-price, bought me some real people clothes from Layne brayant. and then some sneakers that don't have holes in them from Off Broadway. Then we took james to Dr. Mann, the allergy dr for brad appointment. We are little upset with Dr. mann. He never talks to us. He sits there, looks at us with a look of dissapointment like he thinks things shoudl be differnt and everything we say confuses him. then gives us a perscription and we leave. No explanation, no good advice. We are thinking about trying a differnt sepcailist, cause he is not very persa...

There is a new blog under this one. I just had to post the videos seperate.

Monday- Went to the pool, got our oil change in Lexington. packed. Tuesday- I was misrable. I started my first period since Hope and it was pretty rough. I spent most of the day in bed or at the comptuer and Brad once again took care of me. Wednesday- I had a wic appointment at 8:00 in the morning. It went okay. they asked me if I was seeing a counseler and I said no but that so far I had managed to not sink into a deep dark depression. Then at 9:30 Melissa came over to finish her character for the game. Dave showed up and we waited. When we realized that nate wasn't just late brad went to get him. He was asleep and apparently Brad had forgotten to tell him we were playing. So Melissa went home to spend time with her hubby. Nate did show up really late and we managed to set our characters up for hte next round of play. All in all a fun day. Then I went back to bed as I was still suffering from the day before Thrusday- had my 6 week check up. Dr. Says physically I am fine. they all ...

Monday- Brad's last day with students. I watched a good bit of Gilmore girls, andwent to wal-mart. It finnally happened. Someone came up to me and said.."Oh you had your baby, how is she" and I had to explain what had happened. Then I cried through the rest of my trip through teh store. then brad came home. David invited us over for a game and we got ot bed late. Tuesday- Brad's workday (he cleaned a closet, inhaled dust, and felt proud of his work.) I stopped by my school for an hour or so to remind them I work there and clean up some of my stuff. It was hard, emotionally. People kept hugging me and being sweet, but that is draining when it is that many people for that long. BUt it was a good trip too. Wednesday- Starwars, and Writing group. Saw Tiffy again for the frist time in weeks. We are all just to busy. Thursday- Brad and I babysat for Hayden. and I didn't cry. Are you proud of me? I was proud of me. We played mario Cart, and I got spit up on in epic propo...

Memorial Day (Evan's Birthday) (all the pictures in this blog are from Memorial day.) Because Memorial Day just happen to be evan's birthday this year we had a family cookout/birthday party. calls we made to family, we all talked to Nanny, and Mom and Dad. There was a an Ellice Special Blackforest Cake. Joel Special Hamburgers and Chicken. Mom's famous bakebeans were there. It was actually alot of fun. We cooked, watched some TV. And then Had a MArio Cart trounement. I discovered I could woop up on Evan and Brad, but Joel was harder to beat. Sonya says I need to come over and Practice so that I get better and can beat Joel with out trying. It has been about 3 years since I played, if not longer. Sonya and I have been bonding over Gilmore Girls. I have never seen them and have been borrowing them from her these last few weeks. They are witty, all though I still keep waiting for a nice Alien, or a car chase, or wait those are my other shows. Tuesday- Was a day at home alone. ...

Monday- Went to Bibi Pottery with MAry, in Waco. It was fun to get out. Not a pottery and going to fill my space with more stuff kind of person, so I only got a little pin that says KY on it to wear for UK games. Then we went to My Time, I had never been. It is alot like it use to be only smaller and less, yea it jsut seemed less to me. After that I went home. Melissa came over and we created a character for her for Starwars. (yes i have pulled a girlfriend in) Rested and played some CIV. Brad came home. Erin Dropped off dinner for later in teh week, and Shelly and her friends brought by dinner for that night. Brad was going to go ot softball practice, but he wasn't feeling well so he stayed home. Tuesday- Election day (No school) We got together to play star wars. Melissa was very impressive. While when to rolll dice, and the specific rules will come with time she more than figured out the roll play part, and the general gist of the game. She is a quick learner, and the guys admit...