So there's some good news and some bad news...

The bad news is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince "the movie" has had it's release date pushed back to something like next June/July. This really stinks but I think I read something about how this makes the last three Harry Potter movies come out closer together. That's good right?

The addititonal good news is that because the Harry Potter movie has been pushed back to a later date Twilight, the movie, is getting pushed up to the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

I am excited. However, is any of this at all relevant considering the last movie I saw in a theater was Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix? I've wanted to see a few movies since then and just haven't. I guess I'm excited for all those people that spend their extra money on going to see movies in the theater. I wish I had extra money to spend on that stuff. This is all I have to think about since I am all wired for some odd reason. I am not tired at all...I guess I'll go watch some more tv. I turned it off in hopes of feeling more tired. It didn't work.

I passed my appeal, lazy day, reading juvenile literature...

This is kind of a school update. I got my appeal approval in the mail today. I've been given the okay to receive financial aid. YAY!!! The boys also had their first day of school today. I'll update on the specifics of that later. I spent most of the in a chair reading a book. I got the last installment of the Twilight series this weekend and am a little more than halfway through the book. It is SOOOOOOO good! TMA if you read this and would like to borrow the book you are more than welcome. I should be way done with it by the time you get home from yet another (wink) of your trips. I'm going to go read my book again.

I'm going to school!!!...UPDATE!!!

Well I'm going back to school. I successfully navigated that which is community college and 1.)had my student status changed to "regular" so that my credits would count and I can get financial aid 2.)sat with a counselor and made up a schedule 3.)met with a financial aid officer to fill out an appeal because my last set of grades from CC were no good. Now that those things are finished I am waiting for a letter stating that my appeal has been granted (so that I can get financial aid) and wait for my student ID to come in the mail. After sitting with a counselor I found out that my previously taken Biology class is no good because it's too old. So unfortunately I have to retake it. However, because of our current financial situation (which won't be that way forever) I was approved for a federal pell grant. That pell grant will cover EVERYTHING!!!! It will pay for all of my classes and I think it will cover all of my book expenses as well.

It was really a lovely surprise after waiting in the Financial Aid waiting area for 45 minutes to find out that it will all be covered. I am also proud to say that I kept a smile on my face and treated everyone kindly and with respect. First of all me with a smile on my face for three hours at a time is not something that happens often. Secondly to keep a smile on your face while dealing with crabby front desk FA guy, who is acting like you are extremely annoying for even thinking about asking him if the category that you signed in with is the correct category because you don't want to get sent to the wrong person only to find out that you had categorized yourself with the wrong number and then to cause frustration for them and me and also wasting my time and theirs, is not an easy feat. (Nice run on right? I might have better writing skills after I take my English 102-Intensive writing course.)

So now I am registered for four classes: Intro to Biology, General Psychology, Intro to Sociology, and College Comp II. I'm excited! I'm really looking forward to starting even though the girl who helped me get my id acted like I was a crazy person for taking the courses I'm taking. They aren't any different than the courses I was signing up for 10 years ago. I didn't really understand why she was acting like that. I'm more worried about statistics, macro economics, logic, and ethics. I guess I am slightly worried that I'll have nothing to write about for my College Comp II course. I don't do well if I'm not given a clear subject to draw from, and I'd rather not all of my papers be about all the day to day hum drum that is my life. I guess that's what this blog is about but is it really enough to carry a good grade in a college course??? I don't know.

Okay well before I freak myself out to much about the courses that I'm going to take this semester and in the future... send good thoughts my way and that of the appeals person in the financial aid office. I already know that I have favor but when two or more are gathered together...

Summer is winding down...

Well we've made it through two months of summer break!!! It was getting a little hairy mid-July. Then Yellow Belt started summer camp and for something that was supposed to make him a happier person he was really getting on my nerves throughout the experience. I know that sounds really awful but he was so tired which made him crabby. He was talking back and whining and being mean to Monkey. He was really quite unpleasant. I made a promise to myself to make sure that we actually do start up our bedtime routine again...now that there are just a couple of weeks until school starts. (Insert gasp here) I'm excited for the boys to start school. I'm hoping that with routine Monkey's potty-training regressions will stop completely. He's almost earned the Transformer that's been sitting on top of the upper kitchen cabinets (the only place he can't get to yet...well he probably could but that's something I listen for) for of couple weeks now. And since there are only two more weeks of summer break left for them I really want to enjoy them.

Today Yellow Belt had breakfast in bed while Monkey barged into my bedroom demanding that I "get out from under those sheets. Come into the kitchen and made me some breakfast as well. I want cocoa pops and milk in a bowl with a spoon and milk in a cup with a lid as well." ("As well" is his new favorite phrase.) I told him I was getting out of bed for no less than him asking politely for his breakfast. The first time he asked politely he did it with many "hmphs" and a little pouty attitude (thanks to Yellow Belt's example) which I told him wouldn't cut it. So then he asked nicely and I got out of bed. It's made me realize how nice it is that Yellow Belt doesn't like to eat right away when he wakes up and will play quietly by himself until I'm ready to get out of bed. Monkey has never given me that luxury.

One thing I did like about Yellow Belt being in camp, and so busy the last two weeks, was that I was alone with Monkey a lot with no interruptions. He's going through this "using big vocabulary" phase which is extremely cute. Even though he can be challenging sometimes he also really enjoyed being "the only child". Now I know that I've spent a lot of time with him in the past three and a half years but this summer it's been all three of us. Plus Monkey is at this really cute age where he has a lot to say and he has the language skills to do so. Monkey really gets a kick out of being funny. It's not really a making jokes funny but more him telling stories or using phrases that you would really expect to hear from a three year old. He's also really cuddle-y. He likes to tell stories. Unfortunately they mainly have to do with Transformers but he does add in other characters. It's really a lot of fun to hear him talk. I guess because I spend so much time with him that I understand him really well. I think he talks pretty clearly but most times I have to translate for others...or at least give them a general idea of what he's talking about (the topics aren't exactly varied). I guess it helps when you have a starting point.

I can't believe there are only two weeks left of summer vacation...

Working out...

I haven't blogged about working out in a while. I have been working out but my topics seemed a little too boring. Not that they are spectacularly exciting but I thought those that read might not be too into hearing how often or what I'm doing to work out. However, like I said, I have been working out. I've been walking a lot even in the heat of the St. Louis summer. Not so much this week but there were other factors in this last week...physically speaking. Also for at least the last month I cut out the cardio portion in my bellydancing/strength training work out. I did that mainly because of the walking so much. You will find the video that I use on the second "here" of this post. I found that when I cut out the cardio portion I was more likely to fit in more of the muscle toning portion throughout my week which is what I feel I need the most. I've been doing approximately 70-90 minutes throughout the week. Each targeted section is 10 minutes. I do seven different routines (arms, chest and back, hips and waist, abs 1, abs 2, legs and butt 1, legs and butt 2)mixed and matched usually three each day I work out.

I've noticed, of all things, that my neck seems to be getting slimmer. I guess because I'm building up my trapezius muscle between the arms and abs workouts. I'm still seeing definition like before. I don't know if it's necessarily more. Since I still haven't lost any weight there's still that layer of fat covering everything. I feel stronger, and I'm getting through the routines completely. It seems easier to push through them and and really perfect the moves even though my muscles might still be sore from the day before. I also feel like my body wants to be in a perfect posture when I'm sitting throughout the day. I don't always feel that way by the end of the day when I'm tired though.

I think that's enough. I have about 50 minutes until I need to pick up Yellow Belt and his friend, NR, at day camp. I think I'll read. I really want to finish The Amber Spyglass already. I want to know what happens but have been a little bored with the plot. I have a new book that I want to start that my friend TMA let me borrow. So it would be nice if I'd just finish this book already.

No satellite. Will read...

I really miss satellite tv. But here are the books that I've read in the last week that it's been gone.

The Golden Compass
Pride and Prejudice (I started this before but really got into it and finished it after satellite was no longer)
The Subtle Knife
Water for Elephants
and I've started The Amber Spyglass

Not too bad for a week.

No more satellite for this family...

And here are shows that I'm going to miss.

1. The Graham Norton Show-He may be the funniest person to watch...ever. I laugh out loud so much during this show that my stomach usually hurts afterwards. That usually only happens when I'm out with my girl friends.
2. Jon and Kate plus 8-I like that when I watch this show I realize that they are raising six kids the same age as Monkey. I actually have it pretty easy. It's also inspirational (even if they don't think they are) because they are handling it with 2 7-8 year olds and 6 3-4 year olds. There are times when I'm stressed out about just one of each age group and think, "Jon and Kate do this only so much more." Plus I wish that I was as dedicated as she was to prepare almost every meal at home and for it to be mainly organic fresh food. It's amazing.
3. Flipping Out-I may never know if Jenny and Chris made up with Jeff. Okay so I'll be able to still see their blogs on bravotv.com but it's not the same as watching a whole episode. Also, Jeff has a wicked sense of humor and I really liked watching him. I look at the people he's hired and think, "Man that job would be pretty easy. Why isn't Chris Elwood just doing the things on the list? It's not like any of the items take that much time. And not only that but he gets paid well to do them. I wish my "job" paid. It's practically the same job."
4. Iron Chef America-I <3 Alton Brown and Kevin Brauch. Oooh Oooh Oooh and Michael Symon.
5. The Next Food Network Star-Will the lady with squinty eyes and great fashion sense be "The Next Food Network Star"? At first she annoyed the heck out of me but now I like her and feel that she is the most qualified. I wish I had the money to have her wardrobe. Although I don't think I could chase after Monkey in Jimmy Choos.
6.You Are What You Eat-I wish that I could make money as a nutritionist. I also like the knowledge I got from that show on food nutrition and physiology.
7. Ace of Cakes-That would be one fun job working in a bakery with artsy people joking around and creating cakes.
8. Top Chef-Oh the drama!!!
9. That Mitchell and Webb Look-This is a sketch comedy from Britain that is hilarious. Although when I started watching it I had a hard time watching the real BBC news documentaries on "interesting people with problems". See they had this sketch on a documentary about a man with something like 7 penises. Then through the whole sketch there is a voiceover about "Now you can stare at this person with a deformity without feeling guilty." Of course the deformities they used were always ridiculous but I had trouble watching the real BBC news documentaries that I had recorded and watched religiously after this show. The poor guy with 7 penises had to clean his bathroom more often than I do which was very very sad. ;D
10. Little People, Big World-I like watching this and I'm not really sure why. I've enjoyed watching the kids grow up. I also like to watch the mom. I would like to be as centered as she seems to be when my boys are in their late teens about them growing up.

I can't think of any other shows at the moment so there may be a part 2 in the near future.