As many of you know Gregg is now the cohost on the afternon drive show on 105.3 The Fan.  He is very excited as this was very unexpected.  Mr. Big B called Gregg and the next thing you know(within hours) he had a job.  I had been interviewing all spring to get back into teaching and while we were on vacation Gregg gets a call out of the blue(you got to be kidding me) and get’s a job while I just got a call saying I was not the #1 of the 2 they had narrowed it down to.  I am so sorry to that principal that called me to tell me I didn’t get the job cuz I just said ok and hung up since I had learned 15 minutes before that that Gregg had gotten the surprise gig in Dallas.  Hired by CBS, Really, so much for those burned bridges that a certain old GM started on fire. 

Then less than a week later I got the call for my gig.  I so badly wanted to get back into teaching that I jumped at it.  I LOVE my new school and am having a blast teaching again.  You get a totally new perspective once you have kids of your own. 

We have hired Chris, Gregg’s brother, to run the Jungle Java.  It is doing so well.  We are actually growing faster than our expectations which is nice.  I know I have said this before but I can’t believe how much money people spend on a birthday party.  I figured that once I threw a party at our home, with all the cleanup and food and stuff I probably spent about $200.  So I base that as the norm price for a party.  However I would say the average price of a party is about $250 and we can do 16 parties a day on a Saturday and 12 on Sunday.  We get wicked busy on the weekends.  (:  Next weekend we have our biggest party yet.  They are closing out the place for 3 hours and I believe their tab, with all the food, drinks and extras,  will be around $1,100.  We have had a lot of $500 parties but this is our first $1,000+ party.  What recession?

The boys are doing great at school.  Cooper can write his name and is getting better at it every day.  He loves his preschool in Cactus.  Noah is doing well too.  He is in the math pentathalon club and the Math Superstars Club.  He has always done so well with the spelling and reading(doing so at a 3rd grade level now) that I thought since I was a math teacher I should get him involved in math activities.  I don’t know how to extend the learning much more in reading, but could lend a hand in math.  I have been freakishly surprised at his skills.  The freaky thing is he knows how to do these tough problems without giving it much thought   Of course I thought he was just guessing the answers so I had him break it down and tried using some higher level thinking skills and he knocked it out.  I swear the group is going to think I gave him the answers.  One question was that he had to buy two things that equaled exactly .33 cents and with out much thought he circled the .18 and .15 cent items.  There were 6 things he could have chosen from.  How did he guess these two items?  He’s only in first grade.

G-ma was in town this week and we had a blast.  Yum Yum G-ma.  So sad to see her go tomorrow.  I hope Cooper doesn’t break down at the airport when we drop her off this time.  She is off to Paris and then she will come back to see us again.  Bon Voyage Mon petite.  Returnez-mois, toute-de-suit.

I could go on about my boys.  LOL

Everyone is back in school now.  Noah and Cooper are at Cactus Ranch.  They love it.  Noah is in first grade and Cooper in their pre-school program.  Noah was particularly excited because this is the school that Mrs. St. John teaches at and he just loves her and her 4 boys.  They got to hang all summer so it made the change easier.  Noah has always been easy with change and says he doesn’t miss Teravista.  I’m always so surprised how well he transitions but I guess he gets that from me.  I don’t think Cooper really noticed other than Heathcliff and Preston don’t come over anymore.  LOL

I have started my new job too.  I’m teaching 8th grade and loving it.  We have such an AWESOME staff.  We had a happy hour a week ago and a lot of people came.  We had tons of fun.  Everyone is getting into the school spirit.  We even tailgated at our first high school football game.  Everyone had their pits out and we ate and drank “coffee.”  The boys played football with some of the bigger guys and had a blast.  Unfortunately the lightning delay pushed us from watching the game(boys had to go ot bed) but at least they got to tailgate and see the band.  We’ll try again next week.

Gregg and Chris have been running the Jungle Java.  I’m still surprised at the number of people we get each day that have never been here before.  Next weekend we have birthday palooza.  We have 10 parties Saturday alone.  Guess I am going to have to show my face.

Well I gotta run.  We are closing the Jungle Java early tonight and having a party.  I should get back to prepping and packing up the food to deliver to our party!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!!  Be safe!!

So much has happened since I last posted so I wil try to fill you in.

Mouse has gone over the rainbow.  It was soooo time.  It was said but needed to be done.

We moved off the Path and are on the Bend!  LOL  We moved to the West side of Round Rock and I LOVE our new house.  If you are on my facebook then you probably already know that.  We have a great new house and terrific backyard.  It is perfect for entertaining and as everyone knows that is one thing I love to do.  We have a beautiful pergola and I have a Bouganviella growing through the end trellis.  Perfect for sitting out on a nice warm night(two ceiling fans).  This neighborhood is more mature.  We have huge trees.  So large in fact that we weren’t able to get Direct TV.  We got Uverse instead.  No NFL Ticket so I am a little bummed.

Jungle Java is crazy busy.  It is amazing how much things have changed.  It has been one year now and we are a well oiled machine.  We have art camp at our place all summer.  Mrs. St. John from Cactus Ranch has set up camp at our place and we couldn’t be happier.  The 100 degree heat is also forcing people to come in.  As a result we have had a chance to get away more.

We went to New Braunfels for three days and visited Schlitterbahn Water Park and Natural Caverns Safari Park(watch out for those emus and zebras they are quite aggressive).  We are also going to Dallas to see the Tigers play the Rangers and spending a weekend at Houston to visit NASA and other sites.

We are having one of the best summers ever.  Man oh man I love it here in Texas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you enjoy eating meat do NOT see Food Inc.  Food Inc will do to the meat industry what “Super Size Me” tried to do to McDonalds.  Only it is a lot harder to erase the images you wil see in Food Inc.  I saw a film like this over 20years ago.  I was a Veggie for over 12 years before I was diagnosed with CD 10 years ago then I slowly got back to meat.  Now I am getting Gregg back to the Veggie lifestyle.  They are even making fake meat now without the wheat gluten.  I remember back in the 80’s that it was reported that 1 in 3 chicken pieces in normal grocery stores were infected with Salmonella, hence the need for better contamination procedures and antibacterials.

If you dare to see the film you will know what I mean.  I cn not bear to see it again but I suggest everyone to watch and decide the best choices for yourself.

I still have my views on Lost coming soon.  Suffice it to say I see a lot of biblical references but I do promise I will get to that once things start to slow down.  JJ has been bloody busy and so have I.  I promise to print some thought provoking ideas and would like some great responses.

report back soon.

NIk

Didn’t know what to name this blog and that was the first thing that came to my head.

First….a big hug to Baxter, Mouse’s boyfriend.  I hope you are feeling bette.  You didn’t need those stinky toes any way!!!!!  Less toes in your paw but the same amount of love in your heart.  You can still hug minus a toe or two.  An even bigger hug to Julie who I know is just beside herself.  I wish I were there to hug on you and tell you everything is going to be alright.  I miss you and Baxter.  I can’t believe he is ten already.  HOLY COW!  It seems like just yesterday you brought him home and he was jumping our fence to play with Mouse.  Oh the noise she would make when they would play.  I would love to see Mouse like that again.  AHH those were good times.  BBQ’s and Mike’s Hard Lemonade and of course Profiler before court tv went to shit!

This is going to be a random post, hence the title

Noah is stating his independence now.  The boy doesn’t want to cut his hair and he is starting to look like a hippy.  Today he even wanted to dress himself and I felt like I was taking a peasant to school.  I think back to my parents and what they allowed me to do.  They always said as long as I got good grades I could dress and look however I wanted.  My dad tried to give suggestions but I was dancing to a different beat.  I survived so I guess Noah will too.  It’s hard to let go.  He is too cute and too precocious.  We went to math night last night per Noah’s request.  I was quite happy being a math teacher and all.  He has always excelled verbally so it was nice to see his interest in math.  They played fun math games and we continued the math lessons at home.  He really loves to learn.  It is so nice and refreshing to have someone so interested in learning.  I work with kids who have failed the Math TAKS test and some of them could care less.  It is nice to come home and talk to someone who cares.  The other night he even brought up the civil war.  At one point in the conversation I had to remember I was talking to a kindergartner.  The funny loop was he asked me if “our” state was a slave state.  I told him Michigan was in the north and was not and then he replied NO I mean our state.  LOL, as much as I am getting acclimated to Texas, Noah is a Texan.  We had to make a few calls for the answer(it was and that is why its stateshood was delayed 10  years).

Cooper is doing well too.  He has a new teacher at school and really seems to like her.  Miss Rachel was nice too but Coop seems to be sweet on miss Sonya.  He knows his ABC’s even though l-m-n-o-p sounds like some obscure dialect.  He can count to 20 thanks to the hide and seek games we play.  The one thing he doesn’t like is to go to the potty.  He is obssessed with his WII games and computer games.  He would rather pee in his pants and wait for me to catch him than go to the potty.  That is a work in prgress but we are getting serious now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jungle Java is GREAT!!!!!!!!!  Oh my we are birthday central.  It is fun and rewarding.  I love our little regulars that I get to see everyday as well as those kids who are so excited to have a birthday.  Nothing is greater than to see their little faces light up when they get to the door and can’t wait to get in.  It’s like seeing a birthday for the first time over and over again.  It doesn’t get old.  I love kids and it is so sweet to see their happy faces.  If I had started earlier I would imagine I would have had a whole gaggle of children.  Alas I don’t want to pay for college in my 80’s.  So I get to live vicariously through the other babies.

Tomorrow is Gregg’s birthday.  He will catch up to me in age so he can’t say I am his old broad(or lost in the tsunami).  Sunday we are planning on going to the Kite Festival with Mark and Mary and maybe Rachel and Brandon too.  The past two years we have had so much fun there.  This Sun. might be a bit cooler but hey today is 87.  It’s humid a bit too so it feels almost like a Michigan day.  I think it is suppose to be in the upper 60’s Sun.

Uncle Chris is moving here on Monday.  WE can’t wait to see him and get him used to the Texas way of life.  This will be his thrid trip to TExas in less than a month.  I’m sure he will be happy to set some roots now.  As I have said there are plenty of jobs here and if you are looking to get out fo where you are you couldn’t pick a better community than the greater Austin area.  They are hiring for all sorts of jobs.

I can’t believe Hosea won Top Chef.  I was rooting for Carla but she was lead astray.  I was happy when she was teamed with what’s her name for sous chef but I wish Carla would have told her that she had her own way of doing food.  She would have won had it not been for the sous chef.  I’m glad Stefan didn’t win.

Lost is still good.  I’m enjoying the twists. I knew when the guy said sorry about your friend that we would see him again.  It will be interesting to see how that crash plays out.  I’m guessing a few of them have been there before.

Survivor is not as good as they said it would be. Surprise!  I swore off th Trump shit but I might catch a glimpse or so because of the  disaster it may be.  I haven’t watched any yet but I hate the man so it might be hard.

Hope all is well with you and I will try to write again soon!

OK so obviously from my lack of posts I have been a little busy.  The JJ is booming and things couldn’t be better.  Only my blogging is greatly suffering.  Before I go to bed I wanted to make some quick comments on shows.

1) It has been over a year since my beloved Court TV has been turned to SHIT!  I am on central time so I can’t really see any good trials(8-2) and after that they are just a remake of the God Awful FOX channel.  Everything is most daring or bloody beach battles or drunk people gone wild.  FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE, CHRIST ON A BIKE, get this thing back on track.  It is a joke that you put something educational like Forensic Files or Dayle on this site.  It makes me sick.  I find myslef now watching more the Investigative Discovery Channel.  Thank God for that channel.  There is now another channel on Direct that you have to pay for that is something like that but so far there are only 24 episodes and things I don’t care for.  If it was forensic files 24/7I would buy it.  I’ld even take Dateline for Discovery 24/7.  Give me some real life mysteries not drunk people doing stupid stuff.  If I wanted that I would have stayed at home and gone to Windsor!

2)  Lost,  Some have said it has jumped the shark but I would suggest you give this season a second chance.  It has been very interesting even though every time I have tried to watch the season finale or opening show we have lost power.  LOL.  I am caught up now and am very intrigued by Charles Widmore having been on the island.  More great things to come and not much time to talk aobut it now.

3)  Top Chef.  I’m kind of bummed Jeff was voted off.  I liked him.  DOn’t know why, maybe the blonde hair and blue eyes.  Either way I love Fabio and his slaughter of the English language but consistently his food has been lacking flavor(whether salt or seasoning).  I can’t believe Leah is still kicking.  I have been waiting for her to fly for a while.  Good God she is so unimaginitive.  I have been getting great ideas for a catering business.  Any way I see Jaime and Stefan as the two front runners.

4)  Heroes.  I loved this show until last season when I stopped watching.  There was no secret that I was in LOVE with Mohinder.  Then they made him a character I didn’t even notice and then things went downhill from there.  I stopped watching midseason last year.  I have a few episodes taped and may watch them and the pick up with the next arc to see if things have changed.  If you have any input let me know! 

So that is just a little of what I was thinking.  Let me know your thoughts and anything else.  I ill watch Grey’s for a good cry but not too hip on the dead Denny thing other than he is a hot piece.

OK gotta go to bed.  I’ve got TIVO to watch tomorrow!

AAHHH Friday!  What a great week.   It has been nice here.  Today it is 82 and I am out back watching the golfers blogging.  Nice day!!!  Just said nice shot to a guy.  I never do that.

WHat a great week and sad one.  Great week for America!  Not so great for some people in Detroit.  Gregg’s old station is now out of business.  They pulled the plug on Tuesday during the inauguration.  They were hoping no one would notice.  Some great people are out of work now and that is always sad.  Even more so with the way the economy is in Detroit.  Radio is just not a good gig.  Sure it is good when you got it but things change, owners change and tastes change.  My advice to anyone in radio now is…”don’t get used to it, have a back up plan.”  Look at the veteran radio personalities who are now still in their prime(non-retiring age) and have to find work.  Gregg knew back in the wxyt/krk days that things weren’t going to last forever.  He had told me that radio was going to die and syndication, internet and “Bob/Alice” type stations were going to take over.  He was always interested in doing something else be it another job, college or opening a restaurant.  Even though the thought of openning a breakfast place had ALWAYS thrilled me it was just easier to collect the big salaries offered and not think about the future.  I still regret not buying the breakfast place we were talking about.  Once in Philly and seeing how miserable Gregg was I knew we had to make the move.  He dreaded talking about sports again.  So we set forth to open the Jungle Java.  Now in the beginning we were going to open one in Clinton Twp. and I was going to go back to Farmington Public Schools and resume teaching 6th grade math.  Then Gregg got the job here in Austin.  He didn’t want to go back to sports talk but it was an opportunity for us to get out of Detroit once and for all and get started on our dream.  Yeah that hit some bumps when he lost his job and we had to finish the financing without the job.  I’m sure if we would have waited another year we never would have gotten the loan.  But it was well worth the wait.  I love it here and I Love being our own boss and having our destiny in our hands.  Business ownership may not be for everyone but if you are in radio I would recommend that you at least have one back up plan if not a side venture going.  Things won’t last and I know everyone in radio has been unemployed before and knows some of what I say is true.  And with the way the market is going and the direction radio is taking there may not be another job opening once you lose this one.  THINK AHEAD or plan to move a lot(or be a great ass kisser and have no self esteem OR always keep a job while you cut the legs off from those under you ie./ be an executive).

OK enough of that on to sunnier things………TEXAS  LOL

Noah has his first science fair this week.  Kindergarten kids can’t go to regionals but I thought it would be good for Noah to do a project.  and………………..NOAH did his project.  He came up with the idea after searching the web and wrote the whole thing by hand.  Having been a science teacher I know too well how many parents do the project for their kids.  Often I would have to call a student to my desk to have them explain the project(mind you 6th grade) and they couldn’t.  Not only that but often they couldn’t pronounce some of the words on their board nor tell me what the word meant.  So this meant a lot to me to have Noah do his on his own.  Last night was the night when all the boards were on display and it wasn’t surprising to see what I saw.  Clearly parents had helped more than they were suppose to.  However I did learn something.  It is OK for parents to help if they put that in their reference and acknowlegement section.  Next time I will definitely type what Noah dictates to me but it will still look like an age appropriate task.  I had the poor child write everything out on his own and that took more time than coming up with his project and actually doing it.  I am happy to say that although Noah’s board did not look as professional as others he did receive a second place ribbon.  He was happy and I told him he won it all on his own.  This is not to say that other’s did not do their project on their own.  I saw and talked with some of the other kids in all grades and saw the work and effort they did in building their own items.  It was a great night and nice to see all the displays.  Congrats to Colin and Addison and good luck at Regionals(sorry if I missed anyone I didn’t see everyones).

Well another week is done and time to relax.  Couldn’t think of a better way than with a gluten free beer and lime salt so I am off to sit on my back porch, enjoy the weather and sun, and do a crossword…oh then beat the boys in Mario.  Gotta get ready for another busy day at JJ tomorrow!  Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TTFN

OK cheesy opening considering…….

I finally saw the end of las season’s Lost.  I am so happy that at least Desmond and Penny got a nice reunion.  I can’t wait to watch tonight.  I hope they go back to the island tonight.  I don’t want to wait forever.  I wonder what John was doing back and what happened back on the island that was so bad.  I guess we will find out some tonight.  Nice to have that back!

Noah has a second wiggly tooth.  I think the toothfairy may come this weekend.

We have been having a great time with G-ma.  Her timing couldn’t have better.  THe kids had Mon and Fri off and have had tons of fun with her.  Cooper has been asking every day when she is going home and telling her he is going to miss her when she leaves.  Last month when we visited he cried uncontrolably for an hour.  I hope that doesn’t happen this time.

Her timing was good for us at JJ.  It has been going bonkers since Dec..  It was nice not to have the boys around while we were crazy busy.  Part of it was my bad scheduling.  I thought on a day with 70+ weather that no one would come in to play.  I was wrong.  WE had the biggest weekend ever and the next few weeks have even more parties than EVER.  We have been open a little over 6 months now and it is growing daily.  I am still surprised how many people are coming for the first time.  We were a bit apprehensive about opening a buisness in a place that has so many nice weather months a year but that is proving not to be a problem.  I think this is good for the other people thinking of opening a JJ in the Carolinas or Florida.

I had great fun and joy yesterday watching the inauguration.  SSOOOOOOO Happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wa Hoo Hey!  We had a great time last night at our little party.  OMG we have to do that again!  Great fun was had by all.  I could go on and on but instead I have some pictures.  I didn’t get any of the fireworks as I was mostly dodging them.  Nor did I get the giant explosion…..had my fingers firmly place in my ears and that still wasn’t good enough,  No cops so that was good.

OK so the first few pics are of the boys decorating our sorry tree, Noah’s first tooth lass, Cooper dressed for a chilly day, The Round Rock Tower lit up for that Great xmas party they do downtown, and of course the visit with Santa at JJ.  The rest are pictures from the party!!!!!!!!!!!

I found this nice write up.  It was dated in Sept.  I;m surprised I didn’t see it sooner.