First Things First

First of all, I would like to apologize for my epic failure in not blogging this week. It's been a very weird week. Because I am not feeling exactly "creative" today, I am going to break it down simply (much more for me, than you! lol)...this is not to insult your intelligence but to save mine! ;)

1. The Weather: OK. For those of us who live in Arkansas, ENOUGH rain ALREADY! It rained cats, dogs, elephants, tigers, *insert any animal, ALL week long. The drive to ASU is crappy enough without the torrential downpours. 10 inches in 24 hours?!?!? Seriously. That's mucho rain-o. I donned my muck boots and trudged (literally) across campus. I saw some people dressed up in high heel boots (my fave! but not in rain) and full hair/make-up. I'm like what the heck?!? I had no makeup, rain soaked hair, oversized sweatshirt with hoody, and of course my mucks. Nice. LOL However, I learned long ago not to question the Big Guy so I've just let a smile be my umbrella. My heart goes out to our farmers, though. It's been a tough few week and there's much still in the fields. I hope this coming week with all the glorious sunshine they can get all "in the dry" and salvage what's left. Also, my deep appreciation goes out to all the elementary teachers who have had to deal with indoor recess. Believe me, I do NOT envy your job. Which leads me to topic #2:

2. Lee Academy: I subbed on Wednesday. It was awful. Wednesday is my "work" day for all my school work. But, I did this as a favor for another teacher so she could take her little ones to the pumpkin patch (in Mississippi...where apparently it is much drier)....she teaches 7th-8th graders ALL day long. I don't care for this age group. Never have. No offense, they are wonderful children but I prefer 11-12th graders. I felt like an elementary school teacher. All day with the same kids makes Steph a grouchy lady...okay, more than grouchy lady! LOL I was worn slap out by 3pm and in NO mood for witty banter, or banter of any kind. I guess I am pretty well acclimated to not working a J-O-B now because this just stunk. It took me a couple of days to recover mentally and physically. I will not sub again until the Spring. I promised a pregnant teacher friend that I would sub 3 days/week for FOUR weeks during her maternity leave. What on EARTH was I thinking?!?!? LOL I pity the kids, the school, AND my family during that time! Good grief! Speaking of family leads me to topic #3:

3. Deer Woods: AD took me deer hunting this weekend. We weren't going to go because of all the water, but I acted petulant and he caved. He probably shouldn't have. We drove to Warren in rain (big surprise) and bought a Rhino ATV. Very cool. Then we drove back to Monticello to the motel because it was way too muddy to haul the camper. Got up at 5a Saturday and got on the stand. I fell asleep not once, twice, but THREE times. I felt narcoleptic. It could've been from all the carbs I ingested. I tend to eat, heck OVEReat, when deer hunting. I sat there for 4 hours and didn't see a darn thing. Quite unusual. But there was sooo much water around that a lot of the deer had not the chance to return yet. I got off the stand and we rode around refilling feeders and checking stuff out. If you know me and AD, you know we tend to bicker. It alarms some people, but it's just how we communicate (when we're actually talking). Well, both of us were just cranky and NOTHING was going well. So, I said I wanted to go back to my stand. Really anything just to get away from AD and of course, he was willing to put me back up there. So what does that tell ya? LOL So, we end up texting. What would we do without texting?!? Then things start moving. First in was a doe that I couldn't, see but she smelled me. They "blow" at you. And it will scare the bejesus out of you when you hear it. I bet I jumped out of my skin there for a sec. No sleeping for me now! It helps when you can see them because it doesn't surprise you. But when you don't....well, it's freaky. I calmed down and in they start coming. One fairly good sized doe. I needed her to get 30 yards or closer because that's my range with the crossbow. Hunting with a crossbow is way harder than gun hunting. You can't just take any shot. She wouldn't give me a clear shot so I watched her eat til her hearts content and leave. Then I see HIM. He's a pretty big bodied deer about 60 yards out. Comes right up to the feeded but he only has 1 horn and it's about a 6 inch spike. Not legal. OF COURSE he gives me all sorts of clear shots but I can't take them. AAARGH! Then a doe and her two babies show up. I can't shoot a momma with her babies. Sorry, I'm a momma. I know that I'm supposed to be able to do that, but I have my standards. That's one of them. So I watched them eat. It was getting close to sundown and it's hard for me to see in that kind of light. I was done for the day...no deer. But that's OK.

I text AD and he SAYS he's on his way. Now, if you've read my blog for a while you know my "issues" with nighttime and the woods. NOT COOL. I'm sitting up there in the stand because you couldn't pry me down if you tried! Not in the dark. Unh-unh...no way. I don't hear the 4 wheeler. 5 minutes...no sound. 10 minutes....no sound. Did I mention that it was Halloween? Creepy crap starts happening, either for real or in my mind, who cares. I can't see, but oh can I hear. Bumps, clumps, flutterings.....and all I've got is this stupid crossbow. If I had my gun, well I'd feel a "little" better...oh, who am I kidding....I'd still FREAK OUT. So, I did. I text an angry message and hear the 4 wheeler. Sometimes I think he's just sitting there waiting on me to do that because he's thinking he'll "MAKE" me get used to the dark woods. He hasn't been able to make me do anything in 13 years so this "experiment" is wearing thin, not to mention it is futile. lol We fall right back into bickering and all is right with the world. I decided not to deer hunt today because I need to work on some graduate stuff. Of course, I am now proscratinating by blogging but whatever. ;)

4. The only thing I brought home from the hunt is about 2 extra pounds of flesh (mine) and fried pies from Ray's. Aahhhh, the joys of fried pies.

It's going to be a very busy week for me. Hopefully, this sunshine will stay. I must get to work on my annotated bibliography. Have a wonderful week blog readers! Later.....

NOTE: Obama participated in the solemn occasion of bringing 15 of our boys back home in body bags from Afghanistan this week. This was no doubt a difficult task to look into the faces of their families. He is still pondering whether to send all the troops asked for or some of them. I hear no talks of pulling them all out anymore. Remember his campaign promise? I do. Just goes to show you that he's no different. And that's exactly what people need to understand. God help us.