The Polar Express ( How nice! )

Hey! I had a great day today. I subbed for the special needs classroom again. I guess that is a delicate way to put it. Everyday is a challenge. I am learning about the different boys in the classroom and their personalities. One likes to pull and tug on me and say "Hey!" all the time. He really doesn't speak other than that. He likes to grab my hair. Today he grabbed my behind. That was about enough of that. I had to set him straight. I don't care if he is special education he is still a 14 year old boy with hormones.

We took the kids to the IMAX Theater to see The Polar Express. I had never seen it yet. Wow, was that a really nice movie. I loved it....and I cried towards the end with all the pretty music and touching moments. Geez, I don't think I can make it through a movie without crying. Two of the boys had issues at first. One had a panic attack. He freaked out and his face turned red and he started breathing heavy. We got him calmed down. The other only says words like yee yee yee yaw. He screams and then he started kicking the chair infront of him. The outbursts are just something you learn to expect. It does make it real hard to go out in public. Overall we had a great time and the boys did love the movie. They sat quiet pretty much through the whole thing.

Do you feel rich?

If you live in America you are most likely wealthier than 80 to 90 percent of the rest of the world. That is what the pastor said at the church I visited this morning. It is all relative. I can vouch for that first hand. I personally have traveled to over 30 different countries world wide during my time on earth, alot of them third world. It doesn't take long to see what we have here in America and what we take for granted. For instance, we can worship publically and when we want, we have clean water to drink. We earn decent wages. People in other countries may work a 10 hour day for a mere $1.00 US dollar. We are so very rich and so very well off. It is just sad that we don't feel that. I am guilty too of wanting more than what I have. Why is it we feel we never have enough? Do we keep comparing our lifestyles to the neighbors? I think I need a good shaking up. If I can't personally travel to the countries I used to, to help first hand I can surely send some money to those who are willing to sacrifice the comfy life and live in difficult situations.

We are rich. Never forget that. Even if you work at Walmart or McDonolds, you have more than most of the rest of the world has. A very small percentage of the world even owns a car and some of us have 2 or 3 in the driveway. Just a little reminder expecially during this Christmas. I am thankful and grateful for everything I have. We are truly blessed to have what we have in the USA. You are rich if you have Christ in you heart!

Christmas lights going up

Today we bought red, white, and blue Christmas lights for our tree's outside. We have 3 beautiful blue spruce Christmas tree's outside. We decorated them each in a solid colors, one red, one white and one blue. It is pretty cool looking and quite patriotic. It is hard to believe that is so close to Christmas. It has been in the 60's here this week. We have no snow. I think there really is something to this global warming thing. I am not complaining but I think we should be a little concerned. I blame alot of this on the hairspray. So all of you people overdoing it with the hairspray hold up will ya? Two weeks till we sail to to Jamaica. Can't wait!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Well I started out my day with 2 miles on the treadmill so I could have a jump start on things before I packed on the calories with the Thanksgiving meal. I hardly think the 300 calories I burned up with the workout will cover the damage I did later. :)
We had about 17 of us here at the house. I wanted every holiday this year to be at our new house because I waited all these years to have my own home to entertain in. Everyone is letting me so far haha. I am so blessed. So we ate to our hearts content. The whole works!! Turkey, Ham, salads, stuffing, green beans, jello's, pies, (my favorite being french silk!)I can't move. Ugh! I think I need another workout later in the day if I don't take a nap first.

We had a fun afternoon. Some of my family members let me work on them trying out my new ear candling technique. I took a continuing education class last weekend for massage therapy and learned how to do salt spa massage and ear candling. If you have never done ear candling you will have to try it out sometime. It is an ancient technique used to relax and clean out the ear. You take a hollow candle made of muslim cloth dipped in paraffin wax and put it carefully in the ear. Then you light the end with a match and let it burn down. It gently lifts the wax out and up into the tube. You can just imagine me having them lay down one by one in the back yard on a blow up mattress with candles on fire sticking out of their ears. Great family entertainment on a Thanksgiving afternoon. Can't beat that huh?

Happy Thanksgiving!! Enjoy your families cause that's what it is all about! :)

The DaVinci Code (My thoughts)

Tonight while making chocolate covered pretzels for the first time and scurring around making a few things for Thanksgiving tomorrow we popped in the DaVinci Code movie. I had not seen the movie until tonight. It is not the kind of movie that is light and easy to watch. It requires your full attention. I think Steve was irritated that I was running the printer, baking and watching the movie all at the same time. Us gals are able to multi task fairly easily. We have to. Haha!

My thoughts on the DaVinci Code... I just didn't like it at all. I was offended that the Story of Jesus and Mary Magdeline was not at all like the bible says it is. I don't care if it is just a Hollywood movie, I don't take it lightly. Any biblical topic is sacred with me and should be left alone. The thing that concerned me the most, was not about me being influenced by the movie, I know where I stand with my faith and belief in Christ, but for the people who don't know the true story about Jesus and are impressionable and may see this movie as the truth. That is the scary thought. The movie makers in Hollywood have the power and resources at their fingertips to present movies such as this. I pray that people will seek out the truth about Jesus Christ. This movie Glorifies Mary Magdeline, leaves Jesus in the dust and presents the Catholic Church as evil. Although I am not Catholic, I still respect their faith and way of worshipping. Think about this one. Know where you stand before you fall for just anything.

That's it for Tammy's movie critique corner tonight.

Congratulations SE Polk Rams!!

Last night SE Polk played Cedar Rapids/Xavier in the State Championship class 4A football game. It was a pretty good game even though our Rams got beat 21 to 6. It still was a great accomplishment to make it to the State Championship game. Congrats to all the guys! We are proud of you!

It was hard for me to watch the game because I am so competitive and get a little too wound up. I can't enjoy it in a relaxed manner. Maybe nobody can when it comes to sports. We left early too because of the traffic. It took us one hour to go one mile to get into the parking lot on the way there. I wasn't about to go through that when we were leaving too.

Took a continuing education class today in Salt Spa Massage and Ear Candling. It was an all day course and real informative. Anyone who wants to give it a try give me a call. Both techniques are REAL relaxing!

GOOD LUCK SE POLK RAMS!!!

Tomorrow night the Rams play Cedar Rapids in the State final. Good Luck Rams!! We raised over 3000.00 for a young grade school kids who was recently diagnosed with cancer so tonight some of the coaches are going to shave their heads since we surpassed the goal. I think it is so wonderful everyone is reaching out to this family.

I've been so busy with massage appointments and piano lessons it's hard to believe our cruise to the caribbean is only 3 weeks away!! Actually my suitcase is packed already. Can ya tell I am anxious and ready to go?! Not much other news. I am back at the piano and have been working on some songs that are half finished that have been in the works for a couple of years. I am determined to get them finished and onto a tape.

MY BIRTHDAY BASH!!!

Today I had the best birthday!! One of the best one's I have had in a long time. Steve and I went to breakfast and then we stopped and he bought me a vase of a dozen red roses. What a great husband! He is so sweet. We went to church and came back and I had my whole family over for lunch then we had cake and ice cream. Tomorrow is my sister's birthday so we celebrated together today. We haven't done that in years. We are a year and a day apart. We may as well have been twins sometimes. I got to see all the people I love dearly today,, friends and family. What a fantastic day!!

SE POLK RAMS FOOTBALL TEAM TO STATE FINALS!!!

I am so proud of our school football team!!! Even though I did not go to the game tonight, (it was a couple hours a way from here at the UNI Dome)it was incredible to hear they beat Valley High School 27 to 14. We will be playing in the finals next friday night back at the Dome. GO RAMS!!!!! What an exciting year for us. It is the first time our team has ever made it this far I believe in school history.

Steve, my sister and I went to see the movie "BORAT" tonight. Has anyone seen that one yet? We went to see it because of all the hipe about it. Yes it was funny...but I can see where people would be offended by certain scenes. If you see it you will know what I mean. I have never seen them portray an extremely over weight man like they did in this movie. Yikes! I guess they are really raking in the profits on this movie. A low budget film that happened to take off because of the sick, strange humor of it all. I hope foreigners do not get offended by this one.

Congratulations to the SE POLK Rams Football team!!!

Last night was a great one! Even though I could not make it to the big playoff game our guys won one of the biggest games in years against our rival team Ankeny. Our Rams earned the spot going to state after winning 23 to 20 in overtime. It is just too bad that the other team took it so poorly and their coach refused to shake our coaches hand after the game. I hear there was a little fighting and name calling going on afterwards too. It's too bad we can't all accept each others victories. Our team has lost to theirs for years. This is exciting for me because my daughter is a senior this year and it made it a special year for her! Good Luck on friday guys! On to State!!

I had another 12 hour work day. So much for working on one of my songs. I promised to set aside songwriting time but it still isn't happening. I will make it happen soon. I keep thinking I will just get in the mood. Did anyone see the video footage at the Country Music Awards last night of Faith Hill backstage when she heard that Carrie Underwood won female vocalist of the year??? It ain't pretty! haha! She was not pleased, she was rather shocked.. like you have got to be kidding. I think she must have thought Carrie hadn't paid her dues yet. I can understand that a little, but you have to admit Carrie is great! I think faith has won plenty of awards herself. That again is another good example of learning to be humble and happy for someone else other than yourself.

Bad massage, Can you ever really get one?

Has anyone ever had a bad massage? Hmmmmm I recently had a massage done and during the massage I expressed to the therapist that they were pushing too hard on my legs and forearms. Now what part of that sentence does not come across clearly? I was REALLY hurting. Being a massage therapist myself I try to be REALLY sensative to pressure levels on an individual basis. I always ask "How is the pressure?" I kept pulling my arms and legs back and saying that is sore, and that hurts. That usually means stop or lighten up. Well the next morning after that I hurt badly. This is NOT good. I tell people that if it has been awhile since their last massage they may be a little sore the next day but not any day after that. This is the second time for me to have gotten a bad massage that went too deep. One other gal had done the same thing to me a couple months back and the following day I had finger print bruises on my forearms. I do not bruise easily if that tells you anything. I am a tough old bird. Sooooo my advice to all of you whom are getting massages is always, always, always tell your therapist your pain tolerance level and is worse case senario, get up off the table if they don't listen to you and end the massage. The point will be taken.

On a happier and lighter note, I hope everyone at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards last night had a great time. I sure wish that I could have been there. I know it was a great time. I just couldn't get away and everyone knows I hate flying so that put the kabosh on that. Just going through all the rituals of packing, check in, adreniline rushing, heart racing, I think I am going to pass out, was just not worth it to me. If you have never had panic or anxiety disorder, ya just won't unnderstand. Those of you who do are on the same page with me and you would understand. Anyhow, I am sure the night was so fun! I have been to the awards 3 times and loved it very much. It really stretched me as a performer to just get up there and play the piano and sing. What a great opportunity.
Have a super sunday!

Joined the gym!! and good luck to all at the Just Plain Folks Music Awards this weekend!

Hey! I joined the gym again after letting my membership go for 3 years. I can't believe that much time had gone by. I used to go 6 days a week. It's funny how the weight creeps on when you stop going and just get busy with other activites. Then I just figured it was too late to ever get back into shape. How pathetic. Well now I am finding it is necessary to feel good. Weight loss will just be a bonus. :)

I want to wish all my friends at the Just Plain Music Awards in California this weekend a super good time! The weekend is always awesome! I have met so many wonderful friends over my 3 different trips out there. That was the highlight to me. The awards are great. Don't get me wrong.. but there is just a great kindred spirit amoung fellow musicians. Good luck to all of you who are up for awards! Enjoy the moment!