Future Home...

I've found an apartment to live in! It's within 10 minutes of my school and 30 from Mom and Bobbert. Awesome amenities and the complex is next door to one of my best friends here, Amanda! Well, OK, the next apartment compound over. But STILL a lot closer than I've lived to friends in a long time. =) I am so excited, and when I move in the 2nd week of February, you're all invited to stay at my place - so long as you appreciate a spot on a couch or floor, or you don't mind sharing a bed with someone who kicks.

Hooray for NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

Minnesota Surprise!

It was Friday, December 22nd, and my mom, Bob, Alyse, and Jeff were anxiously awaiting the arrival or our sisters Heidi and Stacy at Christos in St. Paul. The latter had no clue we were there... until we sang "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" from the balcony to their table below. THAT's a good feeling.

Needless to say we had a blast on our holiday trip to the Land of 10,000 Lakes. It was fantastic to see everyone again and I had a great time! The 15 and a half hour car ride there with 5 grown adults wasn't so bad either (thank you, Lunesta). On the way back? Little more rough, but there were only 3 of us in the car so I couldn't just close my eyes and disappear. Best quote of the trip? Stacy, after playing her first game of Risk... "War - I'm into it now".

We also got to see cousins Steve and Mary Ann on the way home in Iowa. THAT was interesting. Just a warning to you all, but Steve has decided that when he's 89 and senile he's going to be as stubborn as a mule and do whatever the hell he wants. Josh, you may want to live far, far away.

We arrived back in TX to find warmer weather and our beds, which we promptly fell asleep in around 8:30 Wednesday morning. Hooray for roadtrips! I hope you all had as enjoyable a holiday as I had, and enough rest as well! Merry Christmas!

Steroid Shots

With my lovely self being prone to sinus infections (I know that's not too much personal information for you all now, is it? Did you READ "Bright Blue Panties Girl"???) I've had a couple of steroid shots in my rear. Today's hurt. Does anybody else's nurse rub it in? HOLY MOLY that hurts worse than the shot! And you feel so... exposed.

Two rear end stories in one week folks... aren't you lucky? =)

Bright Blue Panties Girl

I've decided I've met my quota on "interesting" things happening to me at school this year. A kid getting a small concussion in my class was #1 and I thought enough for the year. Alas, I was wrong.

I split my jeans Friday while on a field trip with the choir and band. And not just any small tear. We're talking top o' the bottom to top o' the thigh. Did I notice? Nope. Did anyone else? Thank goodness NO (I am truly thankful for my long black coat right now). So when did I realize my left cheek was exposed? When I sat down on the bus and felt cold plastic on my thigh. Of COURSE I still had 1 class to teach upon returning to school and of COURSE I HAD to tell and show my friends at school - it's just one of those things you don't believe until you see. I'm not sure I like my new nickname though... "Bright Blue Panty Girl." Katy O., while they may not have seen the cuteness of the panties, I am happy I was wearing panties and I'm not known as the bare-butt girl. I guess that saves my reputation? Maybe? We'll find out at the "unofficial" faculty party tonight.

SNOW! Kind of...

Growing in up IL/MN snow was a yearly thing - happy at first, then annoying as I had to scrape my car everyday. Here in TX it's a rarity, but I got to use my scraper today! My kids were thrilled over the flurries we had (not really anything I would consider full-blown snow, it was more like sleet that couldn't decide WHAT precipitation to be) and their eyes lit up. They lit up so much they were almost unable to concentrate on the songs we were singing! And I do not have a window in my room. I do not envy those with a window - nothing got done today in the classrooms. Though the teachers figured it out... "If you're good and we work hard for the remainder of the period we can go out side for the last 2 minutes of class". I couldn't bear the thought of herding children when the bell rang (not unlike herding cats), especially when they would have been enjoying this rare phenomemnon - I would feel guilty. So instead I made them stay in. I know, I'm the kind-hearted teacher you've always wanted. =)

Holiday Happenings

The holiday is over and I'm back at it with my lovely little Middle Schoolers. Crazy kids. =) I have to say the break was nice though! And I'll summarize my birthday... EARLY Sunday morning (12-2 AM) FANTASTIC thanks to Stacy, Taylor, Jeff, and of course... Alyse (quick quote "KATE!!! Can you walk forwards? I can only walk backwards!!!" and who could forget "Hook 'em Horns!"). Go ahead, ask. Later Sunday morning (8-11 AM) sucked. And I don't like to publish that word. Later that evening (5:30 PM - Bedtime) was WONDERFUL. Notice how I emphasize the good points. So turning 26 went rather well! New experiences for all that Saturday night/Sunday morning.

And then Heidi sent me this great book (yes Heids, you can read it after me) "I Know You're Out There - Private Longings, Public Humiliations and Other Tales from the Personals". I'm highly amused and enjoying each chapter.

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday's as much as I did mine! To keep you up on other aspects of my life money is missing, I'm ticked, and my lawyer is handling it. HOWEVER, amidst it all I am still happy that I am moving forward.

To NEW BEGINNINGS!!!

News

So technically everything should have been filed yesterday. I talked to him today, and things are now in motion. Hooray?? It's difficult to celebrate something so depressing. So happy news?

I get to see my wonderful sister and brother-in-law in 2 more days! I wish the entire family was going to be here for the Thanksgiving feast, but alas, it is not to be. No worries though! Hopefully we will soon find ourselves surrounded by the energetic and warm soul that is Heidi - MN this spring, anyone? TX, Heidi??? Travelling is not unknown to the Gabriel/Gehrman clan. Also, it is my golden birthday this year!!! Turning 26 on the 26th. Crazy. Is there anything special for golden b-days? I didn't think so.

I hope you all have a wonderful and safe holiday (that's the good teacher in me coming out)! If I don't burn down my parents house or ruin the fudge we're making a month in advance of Christmastime, all will be well.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

Small World

I've experienced another meeting wtih someone that, once again, proves that the world is indeed smaller than we used to think it was. While at Dunn Bros. this evening I met a lady who was the band director at my school 2 years ago. Fun to hear a little bit of gossip on my peers (all good, I might add), and to know that I got to make some teachers' days by emailing them saying so-and-so says hi! It's sometimes the simple things that make you smile the most.

Filing

Well, it's in motion. Papers are in and everything should be filed Monday. On one hand... relief & excitement. FINALLY it is time to begin this new chapter to my life! On the other hand, sadness. No one ever WANTS to be divorced, and I don't necessarily want to do it, but to get what I DO want that's what needs to be done. One step at a time.

The Blogging Family

My sisters all have blogs! Minus one. She should get one for her and Taylor. I think it would be cute! And informative. At least it would give her something to do when she's tired of editing lawbooks. Should I try to talk our parents into it? They have quite a bit of trouble just reading our own blogs. Check out the family blogs under my links - I feel technologically intelligent.

Fixed it!

Alrighty then! I think I've fixed the "commenting" problem. You should all be able to post comments now! Thanks for bringing it to my attention. =)

New Blog

So I have decided to jump on the "Blog Bandwagon" and start my own blog. I have multiple family and friends around the country, not to mention the DFW metroplex that I don't get to see very often and thought, 'My, my. It seems that a blog is an efficient and simple way to let everyone know what's going on in my life without having to track them down during 'free minute' times of the day.' Thus I created my own site.

So to all you family and friends around the country, this is for you!!! And my mom said it would be therapeutic. So here's to me, too!!! =) Always listen to counselors, especially if they're related to you.