Dear Fellow DMV "Client?",

When you waited until the end of the month (in which the last day is on a Saturday) to do your renewing, you had to know that the DMV would be busy, and you would have to wait behind everyone who, like me, procrastinated.  I knew before running the dreaded errand, that it would take a while to get to the front of the line in order to conduct my business.  Your loud complaints actually made the clerks get all passive-aggressivey and go slower...on purpose.  This did not work for me as I didn't bring snacks for the monkeys with me (just a book to look at while we were there).  In addition, the instructions for what you need are ON THE RENEWAL CARD they send to you.  Take a look.  There's a list of exactly what you need.  So, it is not necessary to go through line twice because you could have been prepared the first time.  Also, it is not necessary to ask to speak to a supervisor because I'm almost pretty sure there is no actual supervisor and the clerks are all equal (they draw straws each day to see who's it).  I'm also positive that the DMV makes no exceptions and crying about how you didn't know and begging for them to make an exception to the rules makes everyone uncomfortable.  So, for the sake of us all, please, next time, just read the card and do what it says.  It will make your trip so, so much easier.

Sincerely,
Frau M.

11 in 11

First, I'd like to thank you all for your kind words and prayers. This week has been really, really hard. Ryan was laid to rest yesterday. My niece prayed to begin the service. The prayer was absolutely beautiful and echoed the feelings of everyone there. She is so strong. I admire her. So again, thank you everyone who gave me a call or left a comment.

So, as I was cruising the blogs this morning, I saw Kristen over at First Grade-California Style linked up with A Teeny Tiny Teacher's Linky party, 11 in 11. So, I thought I would join in, too.




11. Favorite Movie I watched:  I loved this movie for two reasons.  First, it has penguins (I love all things arctic).  Second, it is one of my most favorite read-alouds for 2nd grade.  Even though the movie didn't stick to the book, it was still really good, you know for a family movie.

10.  Favorite TV Show:  I don't usually sit down after getting home from wrestling practice/4H/Cubscouts until about 9:00 or so.  I catch reruns (I know it makes me boring at the water cooler, but hey...what can you do?).  Michael Scott is the best.  1st Runner Up?  Big Bang Theory as I feel like I am watching my caseload on TV.

9.  Favorite Restaurant:  I actually love all Mexican food, but this is my favorite chain.  We have some really, really delicious privately owned Mexican restaurants here.  My other favorite is the Tamale stand just down the road from my school.  You can get 12 for $15.  Yum-mo!

8.  Favorite new thing you've tried:  I try new things all the time so this one is hard.  I did try a different kind of wine recently and really liked it.  It was a Gruner Veltliner.  It is Austrian.  I was in a Reisling rut before.  But this was really good very dry but not woodsy.

7.  Favorite gift I received:  My DH whisked me away for our anniversary to a bed and breakfast that is in an old school.  It was so nice and something I had always wanted to do.





6.  Favorite thing I've pinned:  I know this is going to sound crazy, but I don't have a Facebook or a Twitter account.  Therefore, I don't have a Pinterest.  I have cruised on the front page and made a few cute things I saw there.

5.  Favorite blog post:  I have several favorites (the ones that still make me laugh a little when I go back and read them.  But, one of my favorites comes from the blog I broke (I tried to get all fancy and didn't save) called Quarters in the Jar.  It's called That Ice Cube thing Really does Work. 

4.  Favorite accomplishment:  I passed the Praxis with 191/200 for my special education mild/moderate cross-cat certification.  I studied really hard until the test day as I hadn't had a special education class since my undergrad.  It felt so good to not just pass, but to really really pass (although I wish I had gotten a perfect).

3.  Favorite picture:  Is one I took of my daughter on a carousel last year.  She isn't looking at the camera and is laughing.  I love it.

2.  Favorite memory:  Seeing my kids run to their Nan and Poppy when they got off the plane from their summer-long mission trip to Russia.  My monkeys were so excited to finally see them after they were gone all summer long.

1.  Goals for 2012:  Drink more water, slow down, don't procrastinate.