1 Dead, 4 Injured in Shooting at First Baptist Church in Illinois

I think the reason this story caught my interest was because one of Darryl's uncle's is named Fred Winters. I knew it wasn't Darryl's uncle but still a church shooting? Those don't happen every day thank God. This Fred Winters was a Senior Pastor at the first Baptist Church in Maryville, IL. He used the Bible he was reading out of to shield himself from bullets being pumped at him from an unknown gunman who opened fire during Sunday services. A man entered the church during the 8 am services, walked down the isle and started shooting, injuring five people, before being stabbed by a parishioner

Today was another day of boxing things for the move. I packed some clothes, china, and plain old stuff. Boy am I pooped. I did run up to Arby's to try my free roast burger. It was pretty good. I was happy to see they had a sugar free lemonade so I was even able to get my drink.

I did go to Target this morning to get my prescription. The lady yesterday couldn't find it but this one actually looked for it and was able to find it.

I think what surprised me about Target today was how empty the parking lot was. I realize that it was Sunday but gee usually by noon that parking lot was filled. When I went by Target yesterday the parking lot was pretty empty too. It's weird seeing the old Circuit City Building empty.

blog contests:

The Galeggsy Easter egg decorating kit helps you create eggs that are out-of-this-world. The kit features with space themed stickers and glow-in-the-dark pen, galactic egg stands for you to display your egg artwork.

$10 Amazon (1 Winner)

Prize: Zoom Album (ARV $32.95).
Hotel on Bitter and Sweet Audiobook (1, International)

Free To Love (5copies)

A Lucky Child (5 Winners)

Spring Cleaning (2)

Prizes (2): Rain-X Latitude Wiper Blades, Rain-X Weatherbeater 2-in-1 Glass Cleaner & Rain Repellant, and Rain-X X-treme Clean.

Prize: Two Monkey Popouts wall art.

Prize: One dozen toffee cookies from Sugar Plus Spice.

First Prize: Twilight prize pack (ARV $150).
Second Prize: $25 Twilight gift card to WalMart.

All Dressed Up And No Ice Cream

Today was PJ day at Bruster's. I had it all planned out. I was going to go to the library and finally retrieve our latest edition of Dallas. I checked out the book: Hot, Flat, and Crowded. I checked out the booksale and bought a couple of books on tape that were on sale two for $1.

From there I was on my way to the CVS in Cartersville. I wanted to check to see if there were any more of those gift packs on sale. I got such great deals this week on gifts at CVS. There weren't any left though.

Just as I pulled into the parking lot of Bruster's I heard the end of the book "Midnight Bayou" by Nora Roberts. I'm not a big romance book fan. There was a time, when I was in my late teens I got to reading them because I could get them so cheap at yard sales but generally they're usually very similar in nature. Hunky guy, slender woman with long flowing hair and big boobs, and the man is persuing her while she resists his charms, often hating him at first only to realize that this is the one man she waited her whole life to be with. Here's the funny thing, when I was at the book sale, a woman who was buying a bunch of books had about fifteen nora roberts books. they were a quarter a piece. I almost, almost mind you, went back to see if I might be interested in any of them. What's up with that?

Here's the ice cream story. In order to get the ice cream you had to wear your PJs. I even took it up a notch and wore PJ's, slippers, and a robe. I also brought my dog because dogs are supposed to get free ice cream when you take them to Bruster's anyway. I waited in line behind a guy and his kid who must have thought I was a loon. Fine. I was going to be a loon with a free ice cream.

When it was my turn I stepped up to the window and said, "I'm here to get my free ice cream." The boy at the window stared at me. "Uh, it's PJ day. I'm supposed to get free ice cream." The boy shrugged and called his manager on the cell phone. I mean here's a teen boy all by himself and if he has a question, he has to call his manager.

The manager told the boy that although it is PJ day they were not participating in the promotion. Fine. I'll take my dog's sundae. I didn't know what to expect but basically it was a very small tablespoon serving of ice cream and they are supposed to put a dog biscuit in it but they didn't have that so he just shrugged and said "sorry we don't have a dog treat for it." FINE FINE FINE. Really this guy is just a young teen having to deal with a customer who just made a fool of herself wearing PJs. It's not his fault. I just have to question their strategy of leaving this kid by himself and not telling him what to do if this happened.

I finally signed up for good reads. Kim is forever telling me I should so I did. I can't remember the names of all the book's I've read so far this year. I put down what I remembered and I will go from there. I know I read a lot I'd just like to see how many I do read in a year

Well here's the blog contests that I entered.

Prize: He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish Ryan.

Prizes (3): Yoplait Yo-Plus gift bag with 4-pack of Yo-Plus yogurt free product coupon, Yoplait cooler tote bag, water bottle and nutrition journal.

Prize: Handmade St. Patrick's table runner from The Krafty Kats.

Prize: Reader's Delight gift basket (ARV $100).

Prizes (3): Box of Crest White Strips Advanced Seal (ARV $45).

Prizes (5): Copy of Mrs. Meyer's Clean Home by Mrs. Thelma A. Meyer.

Grand Prize: History backpack, Ax Men Season 1 DVD, roadside car kit, digital photo frame, log box mind puzzle, iPod speaker case, and Trek waist pack with wather bottle, flashlight and compass.
Runner-Up Prize: History tote bag, Ax Men Season 1 DVD, log box mind puzzle, iPod speaker case, and Trek waist pack with wather bottle, flashlight and compass.

Prizes (3): Coupon for a box of Fiber One Chewy Bars, chocolate scented soap, lotion and bath salts, coffee scented candle and bath pillow.

Prizes (6 - 1 per book): Copy of Primary Beneficiary by David Tackett, Explore the Virgin Islands by Harry S. Pariser, Inside All by Margaret H. Mason, Essentials of Premarital Counseling by Sandra L. Ceren PhD, Beat the Reaper: A Novel by Josh Bazell or 20 Things You Must Know to Write a Great Screenplay: A Thorough Primer for Screenwriters by Rick Reichman.

Prize: Hoover Platinum Collection cordless stick vacuum (ARV $179.99).

Prize: Signed copy of Happy Hour of the Damned by Mark Henry.

Prizes (5): Copy of Mrs. Meyers Clean Home by Thelma Meyers.

Prize: Copy of I Like You by Amy Sedaris.

Prize: Copy of Be Strong & Curvaceous by Shelley Adina.

Prize: Sweetheart apron (ARV $42).

Prize: Beautiful pair of handcrafted crochet slippers from Linda's Krafty Kreations.

My What Big Eyes You've Got

I talked to my students about coupons and why they are a good way to get people to try your product. I also talked with them about why they should use coupons. They couldn't believe the deals I was showing them. I told them they should check out the thrifty maven to find out more. I hope that gets some parents to check out the site.

I tried to burn a cd from ITunes but that messed up. The first three songs burned on the CD but after that there was nothing. I was a bit upset. I was looking forward to hearing the songs.

All is not lost because I did find out that I won something I've been trying to win. I WON GLASSES from EYEBUY Direct. YIPEEE. Now I have to find my perscription. I'm so very excited. The other thing I really wanted to win was the lasagna from Pizza Hut but still no luck on that. Still I'm excited about the glasses so I will have to see what frames I'll get. I see ones I want but then you have to throw in the all the other costs and get them to come in under $100. Let's see how that goes.

I ran late tonight so I didn't get to enter many blog contests but here's the ones I did enter:

Prizes (5): Crest Pro-Health Rinse, Crest Pro-Health toothpaste, and Oral-B Vitality toothbrush.

Prize: Evolve shower head.

Prize: 3-month membership to ListPlanIt.

Prize: Pair of glasses from EyeBuyDirect.com.

Gun Found At Woodstock High

Contracts came out today. The second I got mine I signed it and hand delievered it to the principal's secretary. I can't afford to play the game I played last year. I waited hoping to get a job closer to our new home in Acworth. Looking back, God was watching out for me. I had a job interview just as school began in Rome. I had tried to find a job in either Cherokee County or Paulding County and I couldn't seem to get an interview.

Now I realize how lucky I was I didn't get on at another school. I have a job in Rome, as well as some seniority. Thank God. Something happened today to make me even happier that I didn't get a job at another school. You see, last summer I tried to get a job at Woodstock High School. I heard that it would be a better situation for me. It would be closer to home and a chance to start fresh at a new school. Usually after five years I leave a school. Now here I am, year seven and I just signed on for year eight.

Just days before I started back at Rome, Woodstock called me to come for an interview. I'm sorry, I got kind of nasty with them. I reminded them that I'd called them quite a few times before I signed my contract with Rome. Then they wanted me to throw that contract back in my schools face. So not cool.

What happened? According to the news two Woodstock High School students were charged Thursday after police got a tip that led to the discovery of an unloaded handgun in a restroom at the Cherokee County school, along with two assault rifles at one of the students’ homes. A third student was questioned by police and released.

One of the students taken into custody, Forrest Busby, 17, faces numerous charges related to weapons, as well as for growing pot in a closet at his home. Busby admitted putting the gun in the Woodstock High restroom, police said. He is being held in the Cherokee Adult Detention Center on $20,000 bond.

The other, a 15-year-old who was not identified, is charged with being party to possession of a weapon on school grounds; three counts of theft by taking; being a runaway; and disrupting a public school. He is being held at the Paulding Juvenile Detention Center.

The third student, 16, was questioned but not charged, police said

As a teacher, I can tell you that lockdowns can be very stressful. I've been through quite a few over the years and all I can say is I'm glad that it was all handled without anyone getting hurt or God forbid, killed.

I heard from my son Michael today. I'm thrilled to know he arrived safely. I love him so very much. I'm working on writing a tribute to him.

Once again I worked on some entries for Thrifty Maven. There's some good freebies coming up and I'm working hard to make the articles for my series on finding a job useful.

I found out I won a bottle of Country Bob's bbq Sauce. Darryl and I tried it before and we liked it. It's kind of pricey but we got the first bottle free and now we will get another free bottle.

Even my students are starting to win. I told them about blingo, winzy, and swag bucks. In the past five days two of my students have won. One of them one $100 and the other won $500 pretty awsome

Here are the blog contests I entered today:

Prizes (5): Copy of The Perfect Baby Handbook

Prizes (4): Pizza Hut Tuscani Lasagna order.

The winner will receive a coupon for a FREE Guiltless Grill entree at Chili's

Contest: Win a $259 Ruby Necklace from DiamondShark!

Prize: Keurig Platinum Home Brewing System and assortment of K-Cups (ARV $169.95).

Prize: Hasbro Family Game Night video game for Nintendo Wii.

Prize: Shaklee Get Clean Starter Kit (ARV $176).

Prizes (3): Freshwater pearl bracelet.

Prizes:
- Copy of Welcome Home by Steve Lorch.
- Copy of Our Lifeship: A Study in Proverbs for Women by Lynn Wallace

Prize: Bottle of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce.

Got My New IPod Touch Yesterday

I won it a few weeks ago and I'm just so very thrilled. It took forever to sync it and figure it out, etc. My computer kept being stubborn. I still can't believe I won one. I've been trying to win a really nice IPod for awhile. This one even lets you watch TV shows on it. Way cool.

I've also been working on Thrifty Maven. I'm writing a series of article to help people who are looking for a new job. Each night I work on my posts so that in the morning I can just uplodad them.

Tommorrow is an important day. Contracts go out. I will sign mine and race up to submit it so they can't change their mind.

Here are the blog contests I entered:

One lucky winner will receive 3 Krispy Kreme Gift Certificates good for 1 dozen original glazed doughnuts

In support of Pamper's "One Pack = One Vaccine" campaign with Unicef, one randomly selected winner will receive:
* 1 six month supply of Pampers diapers
* 1 three month supply of Pampers wipes
* 5 "One-Pack = One Vaccine" campaign baby body suits
* “One Pack = One Vaccine” bear with branded onesie
* Thank you letter from UNICEF

Win a free ad spot on the popular blog for the month of April.

Prize: Fairhaven Health Dreambelly Stretch Mark Cream, TOKI: The Collagen You Drink, and AminoGenesis’ Tripeptinon

Prize: 10" Chocolate Chip Deep Dish Cookie Pie from David's Cookies (ARV $44.95).

"A Lesson of Love"

I thought I'd share my essay with you. Not quite sure where it goes from there but I'm kind of sad because it just looks like one big long essay with no paragraphs. It wasn't originally typed that way but I copied and pasted it after writing it in Open Office and that's how it turned out even when I tried hitting enter in between paragraphs. Guess I can only blame myself.

http://www.forallthewaysyoucare.com/search/default.asp?item=2286671

Today is a sad day so I don't really feel up to writing much. My son Michael has left for Iraq today. I love him so very much. He asked me not to cry. I cried all day. It was hard to teach because I just wanted to sob but I had to stay on task.

I the meantime here are some blog contests I entered.

Prize: Disney Snow White Princess Doll (ARV $16.95).

Prize: Disney Ariel Princess Doll (ARV $16.95).

Prizes (3): Choice of $38 eyeglasses from Coastal Contacts

good luck to you

Let It Snow Let It Snow Let It Snow

Honestly, Darryl and I really ignored the predictions of snow for today. Snow in Atlanta. Yeah right. They want snow? Heck I'm through with it. I moved away from snow. Try driving in it and you won't be so very happy about it.

I woke up this morning to a fine mist with a cold breeze. Not a good sign but I still didn't think I'd see any snow. By the time Darryl and I got to the store to do our grocery shopping it began sleeting. By the time we exited the store there was a layer of snowy slush on my windshield.

I'll admit it. I actually got a a little excited. Oh Yeah if this keeps up I'll be off from school tomorrow. The wind began to pick up and so did the snow. We watched it fall from our kitchen window as we ate lunch. At times it was coming down. The harsh winds were full of big, thick, wet flakes. The wind would die down and the snow would seem to have tapered off. Mother Nature couldn't make up her mind. Should it snow? Should it rain? Should it just be windy? Finally just before 3 in the afternoon the snow stopped. The wind has been fierce though. At times the large trees in the back almost seem to bend in half. The wind dies down for awhile and then picks back up.

I am excited about a great deal I got at CVS. I was able to buy some perfume scents that regularly sell for $19.99 for $1.99. I bought a gift set of White Diamonds and Elizabeth Arden Red Door.

I found out that an OLS member won the M&M essay contest. Wow $10,000. I'm glad for her. I would have loved to win it but I think it's great that she won because she wanted to do something with her own son. How great!!!

Since every single Dallas DVD was checked out we weren't able to watch any Dallas this weekend. Right now I'm watching Meerkat Manner Season Four. It's pretty interesting. I never saw the show before but I have seen Meerkats at the zoo.

Here are the blog contests I entered:

Prizes (5): Can of Batter Blaster.

Prize: Copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends 25th Anniversary Edition by Shel Silversteen and Where the Sidewalk Ends CD.

Prizes (2): Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods prize pack.

Prize: Copy of Internet Dating Is Not Like Ordering a Pizza by Cherie Burbach.

Prizes (3): TurboTax Premier software bundle (ARV $85).

Prize: Pair of glasses from EyeBuyDirect.com

Good luck to you all and I hope you win something great.