Willam is officially engaged to Heather!

That is why he came to town, to buy her a ring. He flew home this morning because he had asked her parents to come in town so he "could talk to them." He asked them for her hand in marriage this afternoon, before Heather got home from the play she is currently working on--they were excited and said yes. Tonight she went into another room and when she came out he said "You didn't even ask me if I brought you a surprise from Dallas..." she said "Did you bring me candy?" (she loves Candyhaven in Denton) he said "Yes, look in the closet." When said walked back out, he was down on one knee. SO EXCITING!

I am so happy for both of them. It seems like he loved her from day 1 about 2 years ago--he has always been so happy with her. She has been with him through a really rough year and never blinked an eye. I welcome her into our family--I'm excited to have a new "sister."

My mom would be thrilled--she loved Heather and would be so proud of them both.

Remember back when 4-20 meant something fun? That's so funny to me that I actually used to put a significance on it. Not that I ever actually celebrated it, but I did think of it as a holiday of sorts. Dork.

Actually though, it is a holiday, of sorts...just not the same sorts. Today is Ms. Nancy "Leanna" Stockdale's 34th birthday. I love Leanna. She's a peach. I don't remember first meeting her exactly, but I know it was at "Big Jen and Little Jen's house" in Lewisville back many (7 or 8 or so) years ago. All I really knew about her before meeting her was that everyone loved her. I found out why very quickly--she has this big amazing personality and a heart to match--she's so laid back and just takes everything in stride. Vic and I were talking about her a few days ago and how she is just always there--she's everybody's rock--and she's a funny rock, too. She came to my house several times when Vic and I were having really hard times, she was at my house almost before I was the day Mom died, she even came over and hung out w/ me while our dearest Rue was...um...temporarily restrained. Did I mention that she also helped keep Pud, Slap, Mandy, and Tamalca under control (well, as much as possible...) in Vegas at my wedding?! Wow. Anyway, I just wanted to wish her a very very Happy Day.

OH! She also hates the name Nancy, but it's one of my favorite names so she can't get too mad at me for using it.

In other news, William flew in last night. Stay tuned for some exciting news about him! He's getting so old! Makes me wanta sing "Mommy, WOW, he's a big boy NOW!"

I updated my links on the side. I took off all the people that don't really post anymore. I added "Sassy Sarah." This is my dear friend Sarah Pfalzer (Schmitt since 2001--seems like yesterday--that was a fun weddin'!) from Cali, and she's fabulous. She and I met at Santa Catalina when we were mere pups. She, husband John, and daughter Avery live in TN. She posts lots of good pictures!

I don't eat fried things very often--I don't cook them at all, and other than fries...well, I just don't eat um very often...BUT, in the past two weeks I've had two new fried things. Fried macaroni and cheese and fried stuffed black olives. Both very tasty. The fried M&C was at the Cheesecake Factory, it was delich. The olives were at a new little place in Lake Dallas that I forgot the name--they were stuffed w/ asiago cheese & breaded with italian bread crumbs and fried. They weren't as good as I had hoped, but still yummy.

Speaking of fried things, my brain hurts. My Dad's pending bride is planning a wedding that is making me want to pull my hair out. She has changed her mind so many times-about the dresses, the invitations, everything...except the groom. I have been sunny and supportive--I even ordered my bridesmaid's dress in turquoise with a smile on my face. Today she told me that she is having a hard time with the wording of the invitations. She was trying to figure out a way to say "our kids invite you," and was thinking of listing out all of our names. I told her that I think she should just say "Bob and Sheri invite you." She went into this whole schpill about the joining of two families. Well, the more I thought about it, the more I didn't like it. So I called my dad and told him that I would rather them not use my name on the invites, that I didn't think that was being fair to William and I. He got mad. He said that we (William and I) are making it "hard on him to move on." I got mad back and told him that we were having to answer questions like "how old is she?" and "does she work?" Because people assume that the only type of person willing to date a man widowed BY SUICIDE less than a year later has to be a twenty-something golddigger. I told him that I feel like I have gone above and beyond to be supportive.

The thing about it, is that he can "replace" his wife. We can't "replace" our mom. I understand that. He doesn't. He said that he didn't ask to be single. Well, I didn't ask to be momless, have a step mother, or to wear a damn turquoise dress. But I did ask for him not to use my name on the invitations. I don't think that's too big of a request.

Don't know what the next 3 months will hold. I guess I should have held off on ordering the dress. If he is going to accuse me of not being supportive--I can be. It shall be interesting.

So I don't think I've mentioned it here before, but I am a tad obsessed with Rachael Ray. I have always watched 30 minute meals and $40 a Day when I catch them, but when I heard that she had a new talk show--I tivoed it. That was months ago. I've not missed an episode since. Yes, I know--she bugs--I hear that from most people I tell that I love her. Her expressions like "yummo" and "evoo" can grate the nerves at first...but I now find those things endearing. But what really brings me to admit this was Friday's episode. This woman wrote in because her husband of like 13 years is being sent to Afghanistan. He's been in the National Guard for 18 years and was going to get out in just 3 months...but then was called up for an 18 month tour. While he's gone he is turning 40--but he's a leap year baby, so it's actually just his 10th b-day. Rachael flew a bunch of his friends and family there and turned it into a surprise party. The guy thought that he was going to film a testimonial about life insurance, but when he got there everyone surprised him and the whole show was around him and things that go with being apart from loved ones for long periods of time. Rachael gave he and his wife each a Mac book so they can ichat, wrote a recipe for him using his favorite foods, had Edwin McCain come sing to him because he's his favorite, etc. He cried through the whole show, his wife cried, Rachael cried, I cried--it was so sweet! So there it is, a public admission. I love Rachael Ray.

For the last 3 nights I've had dreams about orange soda. I've thought for the last 2 days it just meant I was thirsty, so I've drank extra water. But today I finally gave in. I drove Vic to the store and made him go in and buy some. And, wow. It's so good. I've never in my life wanted orange soda...but it is the best thing I've ever had in my mouth.

I don't often "love" Youtube videos. Many amuse me, but most make me feel like I've just wasted part of my existence that I will never get back--but today someone sent me this one and I think it's flabulous! It's called "Fat Rant" by Joy Nash...yall should check it out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yUTJQIBI1oA

So many things to blog!

March 7-11
Vic and I went to my 10 year reunion at Santa Catalina in Monterey, CA. Wednesday night we flew in to San Jose and spent the night with Tamalca then Thursday went and spent a day in San Francisco. We hung out on Pier 39 and went to Alcatraz--Vic had never been to Northern CA, so we had to be tourists! That night we drove down to Monterey to eat at my favorite restaurant, The Chart House. Then Friday and Saturday we did the reunion stuff...went to class, wandered around the campus, hung out w/ tons of friends, etc. We stayed at Whitney's grandparents house in Carmel Valley, which is just beautiful! It was such a good weekend--I was not ready to come home!

March 10
1 year since Mom's death. The dread was worse than the day. I had worried so much about it being just horrible, but it was just another day. I am really glad we had reunion stuff to do and that we weren't just chillin' at home. On the contrary, the worst day was last Friday (the 16th) because it was the Friday before my spring break which is what last year March 10th was. I think the "spring break fever" of all the kids (and teachers!) at school just reminded me of that day last year when 1/2 way through the day I was called to the office and told that Mom was dead...but, I made it and was semi-productive so moving on...

March 16-18
Big as Texas-the size acceptance assembly aka fat convention that I go to every year. It was great. It was a smaller crowd this year, but I really enjoyed it. One of my favorite things was yoga for large bodies--Melissa Taylor is from Baton Rouge and teaches workout classes for fat chicks there. She was the keynote speaker this year and taught her yoga class--so much fun! I bought the book that she gets a lot of her stuff out of, Megayoga by Megan Garcia, and I'm going to try and start doing some of it.

So now I'm on spring break. I have been planning forever to go to Midland/Hobbs this week. But by the time I recovered from all the stuff of the last two weeks, had gyno & allergy Dr. appointments, got Nancy groomed (for the first time since about Thanksgiving!), etc...it's now Thursday. So I'm not going to make it out west. Tonight we (me, Vic, Jamey, and Doug...oh yeah, and Bryan) are surprising Kim for her birthday (yesterday) at the Cheesecake Factory in Southlake. And tomorrow Vic and I are thinking about heading to Fossil Rim and Dinosaur Valley State Park. I'm just dying to see the dino foot prints!

Vic and I went to FL last weekend to see Vic's family--his grandparents from Syracuse, NY are spending the winter there. We stayed in Lakeland, FL...just outside of Orlando. Here we are at Epcot center (which was AWESOME!):

We also went to the (self proclaimed?)world capital of strawberries, Plant City, FL and went to the largest strawberry farm in FL--it was awesome! http://www.parkesdale.com/history.htm

Ohhh! And we saw several cars sporting this bummer sticker: "Anyone but Hillary-2008." I don't know about ANYONE, but I thought that was great!

Happy Birthday to Davis!

I added Miss H (Teacher Catherine) to my links ober dare on the side. She's the T in Team Teacher w/ me. It's the two of us w/ our paraprofessionals, mine is Marvelous Marvel and hers is Glorious Grejoria.

So today, someone asked me what alphabet my students are working on. I wasn't aware that there was more than one taught in US public schools, so my answer was that we are working on the ABC alphabet. That is just one of many reasonswhy she says that we are becoming raving idiots.

Anyway, assuming that she continues to remember where she put this blog, she is rather entertaining and yall should read her.

Did I mention that my Dad just called and asked me if I would help Sheri plan there wedding. And, yes, I'm serious. Save the date--July 7 at 7 p.m. (7/7/07). Neat, huh?

There is a new movie that I love. It's Kung Fu Hustle. I loved it so much that I watched it twice right in a row. It's like Pulp Fiction meets Roger Rabbit in Chinese. Anyway, I know that most people won't dig it like I did--but I laughed and laughed.

I'm praying for Melanie and Drake and all those involved.

BTW, Misti, I have drank a gallon of water a day for years now. And 64 oz of that are in my sleep--I've mastered the art of sleep drinking. I believe that Mandy does also. So that's who drinks that much water :).