The strangest thing happened today! I spent the majority of my day at the KSU Union preparing for the Classified Employee Recognition Ceremony. Until Friday I am still an acting Classified Senator so this was my last official duty and I was happy to help. However, that was not the strange part. As I was leaving the Union I felt this wave of sadness wash over me and I started to tear up. The whole premise of the ceremony today was to recognize those employees who have made K-State their life and President Schultz spoke about the campus family. It was touching. As I walked to my car I kept thinking about how even though I refuse to utter the words "Go Cats," this campus has been my home and these wonderful people I work with every day have become my family. I may never step foot in that Union again and that made me very sad. That is the strange part.

A lot of people don't know this but I have taken several credit hours at K-State. One thing I always loved to do was to sit in the courtyard at the Union and people watch. The students are incredibly fascinating! I like to watch the international students and their funky sense of style, the sorority girls and their overpriced bags,  the brainiac kids, and the kissy couples holding hands and laughing completely on top of the world. Occasionally I would see a girl on her cell crying and I would speculate to myself about her story and sympathize.  

I have a ton of good memories that I am taking with me as well as some incredible knowledge. I can honestly say I am truly going to miss K-State.

This past weekend we had our first softball tournament of the season. My Giggy Bug loves to play but it was painfully obvious this year that her confidence is lacking. I hate seeing her so down and I will not be able to be around as much here very soon due to my new job so I enlisted some extra help to coach her on her batting. Beside that, she would not listen to me anyway. After an hour she was a totally different batter and as we left she said, "well that wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." Anyone with a pre-teen knows that's their version of a compliment. Now I just hope she remembers what she was taught tonight and then gets the opportunity this weekend to prove to herself she can do it! "Commit and let'er rip Gen."  

Many believe and studies have been performed to research whether or not children can interact with ghosts. It is thought that children can indeed communicate with and see spirits up to age 5. Other children possess a special gift that allows this ability for much longer. In most cases a child may report seeing the spirit of a deceased family member; most likely someone guarding over the child.

This week my 3yr old nephew woke up smiling and told his mommy that he had a "good night-night." He told her he had a dream about Papa getting his new body. This creeped my sister out however I thought it was very cool. I believe we all have guardians who are with us in this lifetime. It would not surprise me in the least if Dad was watching over Blake and also my girls. As I have written before, they were his whole world and they were with him in his last days. I would expect that he is not ready to leave them anytime soon. I will be curious to see if Blake has any more Papa dreams. 

My one and only campaign sign. (Courtesy of R.A.B).

Eight years and eight months ago when I moved to Kansas one of my primary goals was to dive head first into local civic organizations, start networking, and if the opportunity presented itself, run for election to city council. Three years ago I did get elected and it has been an experience that I will never forget. It is also one that more people need to experience. When I ran for election I remember making the comment that I felt, "If you aren't willing to be a public servant then you have no room to complain about the process." I wish I could say I helped make a difference but who knows. If we have, the future will tell.

Last night was one of the longest council meetings we have ever had... 5 hours and we finally adjourned around 11:50pm. My final vote was one of abstain in regard to accepting the following final piece of new business.

"I was honored to be elected and have been proud to serve as 1st ward city council member the past three years. It has been a valuable experience and is one that I would recommend to others. I recently accepted a position that no longer allows me to serve so it is with heartfelt regret that I submit my resignation of my 1st ward city council seat. 

This council and this community will continue to face challenges that will test your leadership. I would encourage each of you to keep in mind that you are not only sitting in these seats to serve your constituents, you also have a responsibility to the future growth of this community. We have made significant strides but there is room for improvement. Learn from our past mistakes and keep the change momentum moving forward in a positive light for the benefit of our residents. There is no place on this council for personal agendas.

In parting I would like to say 'Thank you' to Mayor Brown for your guidance and devotion to our City and 'Thank you' fellow council members for your public service."

My heart was pounding so loud I could hear it and I wish I could say I got all the way through this without getting choked up... but I can't. As much as I love being involved in government the "bastards can no longer get me down." I now have new goals and someday in my new location I hope I get the opportunity to serve again on a bigger scale.

Silliness

Sydie Ga-Ga spotted at the mall....

Rock'in out on the way home must include an open mike and lots of air guitar!

2010 Spring Recital

Princess and the "Nerd" during the Daddy/Daughter dance. 

I have been anxiously waiting for today because tonight is the new moon in my birth month. The new moon is the most ideal time to start something new; a hobby, a routine, etc. or to create a new beginning for yourself. Doing so during a new moon gives whatever you are introducing a better success rate. Very recently I have had an unexpected variety of blessings come into my world. I shouldn't say unexpected because I have been 'expecting' them; they just haven't appeared as quickly as I would have liked. I am now able to fully accept and am excited for my new beginning that is just around the corner. Tonight I have decided I want to have a fire ceremony to enhance the energy of this newness for me. I see it around me as well. My friends are experiencing great, exciting changes in their lives as well and I am so thankful for the joy they are and will experience. With so much going on it causes me to recall one of my favorite quotes that I have carried with me on a tiny piece of paper for years.

"Because things are the way they are, things will not stay the way they are." (Bertolt Brecht)

My wonderful, supportive co-workers thought it would be hilarious to give my KU basketball a "make-over" while I was out of the office yesterday. Ew! Actually, this was some pretty good stuff and I give them credit. I'm so glad that my creative prankster influence has rubbed off on them.... finally! Good grief, it only took 4.5 years! Guess my work here is done.

I could not resist taking a picture of the latest addition to my office. A good friend of mine gave me a full size NCAA basketball hand signed by the 2010 Kansas Jayhawk basketball team for my birthday. These are actual original signatures... not printed. Wow.. this is so incredibly awesome. Thank you. 

Gen had four of her girls come home with her after her party to spend the night. They camped out in the basement in front of the big screen watching movies, screaming, eating Skittles and chips until well after 1:00am. I loved listening to them. I was tickled by their comments and at times impressed with how mature they acted... sometimes. I also noticed something about my daughter this weekend; she is growing up. After her party I discovered that even though there were boys invited, they were carefully picked because they were "dating" (*cough, cough*) one of her friends. This kind of surprised me because I gave her free reign to invite whomever she wanted and she didn't go crazy with it. It became apparent to me that she put a lot of thought and consideration into her guest list and had her girlfriend's as her top priority and not necessarily herself.

I was also reminded that Mom is only cool in her own mind. I made a couple suggestions and was told, "Mom, that's lame" or "Mom, that is too complicated. We're 6th graders." However lame I apparently was I still wore the biggest smile when she came running up to me and said that one of her friends told her this was the "best party EVER!" Whew, pulled it off and now have a year to find some coolness before the next birthday. I'd better get cracking!

Shrill screams, laughter, a plethora of good tunes, and 26 (give or take) 5th and 6th graders jacked up on pop and candy; Yep, that pretty much sums up Giggy's 12th birthday party. She wasn't sure what she wanted to do this year and I encouraged her to do something "big" knowing this will probably be her last celebration here. I got a great suggestion to have her party at one of the school gyms from a good friend who even offered to help so how could I resist! Gen picked out the food, the drinks, the color of the balloons, and sent out all the invites. To be honest, I had no idea how many kids were going to show up but it didn't matter because there was plenty of room for them to go crazy and burn off some energy. They had the most fun playing on the scooters. A line of them would join hands and then one (or two) of the boys would pull them and fling them around. Thankfully no one was inadvertently splattered against a wall.. but we had some close calls. Gen told everyone to bring their flashlight so once it got dark we started a round of flashlight tag. All the while, our DJ, "Diva Cole" laid down the tracks with the help of "Crazy Eye Bon." (I know I'm totally going to pay for writing that but if she hadn't deleted the picture, I could have proven how she earned the title.)

Hanging on to "30-something!"

This is my first birthday... April 1972. Mom would often incorporate the Easter theme into my birthday cakes. A couple times I remember having a white lamb cake surrounded by green coconut "grass" and jelly beans. Mom made all of our cakes and still does for my girls. Each year she would ask what kind we wanted and it wasn't just about the flavor of the cake, it was the design. Some of them over the years, (bless her heart) have been pretty intricate. One year I desperately wanted a Holly Hobby cake and she spent hours decorating her little patchwork dress. Needless to say, that cake mold was only used once.

Easter Sunday

I knew today was going to be really tough on Mom. I'm fully aware all the holidays this first year are going to be exceptionally difficult but we will knock them out one at a time. Dad loved Easter and he always got a kick out of watching the kids scramble for hidden eggs and tear into the baskets Grandma still fixes for them. His presence was most noticeable and missed when it came time to say grace at dinner. When I opened my eyes I noticed Mom's eyes were leaking the same as mine and I knew we were thinking the same thing. All in all the day was gorgeous. The girls had a water fight in the yard and played while we sat on the patio and soaked up the sun.

How you look when you have eaten too many peeps.

Happy Birthday to my Giggy Bug

My Beautiful Daughter

My beautiful daughter
You cannot know
How much my heart breaks
As I watch you grow

In time you’ll become
Independent and free
Always my daughter
And special to me

As you grow older
You will see
Through the eyes of a mother
Reflections of me

Past, present and future
All intertwined
My mother, your mother
All daughters you’ll find

Our reflections, not vanity
Mirrored lives we share
Always a daughter
Your mother, who cares. 

By Julie Copeland

Happy 12th Birthday my sweetheart and many, many more. I love you.  

Hair, teeth, and a whole lotta stupid...

...pretty much describes my first two years of college in Alabama. Along side Nic we thought we had the world at our fingertips. So many of our stories make us truly wonder how we didn't end up in a ditch somewhere. We were a couple of extremely naive 19 yr olds totally out on our own.  Nobody but us will ever fully understand why we cringe when we hear each other use the term "salad shooter" or why we laugh when we mention BC Powders or the chills I still get whenever "Friend's in Low Places" or Hank Williams Jr. comes on the radio. So many all night road trips to Kansas... late night stops at Taco Bell... weekends at Goose Pond, and constantly pushing the limits to see what we could get away with. We started out living together and we still joke that someday when we are old and gray... we just might raise hell all over again. One thing I can guarantee is that my hair will never be this big and we both will be better cooks.

April Fool's Day is like Christmas for "my people."

April 1st is not a day that goes unnoticed in our office. I've been here four years and this day has always been carefully plotted and planned. Only the target has slightly changed over the years. My favorite story is the year Sissy had a friend on campus calling Horticultural Services asking to speak to Pete Moss. This year she wanted to redecorate our fearless leader's office with some really sweet and frilly items such as plastic flowers, doilies, little dolls, Easter decorations, pink scented lotion, and even a "Hugs for Friends" book. Of course among all this pink and frills were a couple piles of fake poo to remind him of his new doggy at home.

Here is the actual email we received once he stopped laughing;

"I have been informed that disciplinary action has been proposed for each of you for violations of KSA 75-9452 

(a) impersonating employees that should have been working, 

(b) being out of your assigned work place and/or unit,

(c) cutting off the Easter Bunny's head and putting on display,
(d) turning a truly masculine office into one that might be considered 'darling' and
(e) anything else I can think of between now and if you come see me.

You have a right to appear before me, with or without counsel to give  me your side of the story, after which, when I recognize you have no credibility, I will impose said disciplinary action.

And no, it won't be no day off with pay."

I'll spare you the pictures of the fake poo on the floor... but it was priceless, trust me.