Hmmmm...

Not a good thing when your husband makes you breakfast and whispers to himself, "Good, she ate it....now for the poison to take effect...."

You've Got It ALL Wrong!

Hmmm, the more you know..

Who Are You Calling Laissez-faire?

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Dallas, Texas and discover people weren't kidding when they say Arizona is "a dry heat". During the conference we had an experiment, or team building if you will, about work styles. There were 4 to choose from.


-Task Oriented (let's get it done, NOW)
-Transformational Leadership (let's delegate and motivate one another)
-People/Relations Oriented (how can we do this together?)
-Laissez-faire (it gets done WHEN it gets done)


I was very interested in this because I'm a very task oriented person and assumed I would've been the only one there, in my group, but I wasn't. At first I was going to lie and say I was in the People/Relations Oriented group (so I wouldn't be alone), but I truly didn't want to lie to myself.  The others gathered in their respective groups to chat among themselves about the groups' positive attributes.


Of course, the Task Oriented group (myself included) were done before all and stood there waiting and looking at our watches. It was absolutely hilarious to see the others talk, especially the People/Relations Oriented. They had to talk about what to write, agree on what to write, and then choose who was to write... while we just jotted down the answers that came to us naturally and shot our "alright, what's next?" looks to one another.


This was a very interesting experiment because we were then divided into a motley group consisting of all categories. I was just thinking, "Great. now I'm going to have to defend my stance with Chatty Cathy's" when another person started talking about his style. We drew up a very interesting discussion about our likes and dislikes. It was very eye opening. As a Task Oriented person, the Laissez-faire group and Transformationals drive me nuts because I want tasks done, not chat... then chat...then have a meeting about the meeting. Get it done ASAP then on to the next task! says the Task Oriented. That's just the type of person I am. The Laissez-faires didn't like the Task Oriented because they seemed "pushy" and "always want to take control". I thought this was hilarious because in all actuality, I just wanted it to get done and get the ball rolling asap. The Laissez-faires tended to be one the leave-me-to-it-and-I'll-finish-it-when-I-finish-it side. I could see how my style could've been misconstrued as "bossy". Then it dawned on me..Laissez-faires are procrastinators, just kidding, they have their good qualities like being calm and taking things slowly.


My hubby is so Laissez-faire. That's one of the things I love about him, but I took his style as a non-chalant attitude. Which, I learned, is far from the case. The Laissez-faires don't see eye to eye as the Task Oriented. He's always saying, "Calm yourself, no worries." Which drove me crazy. It's true, opposites attract. Our styles are so opposite that I wonder how our future children will turn out. (Eek, Relations Oriented?)


It seems so simple, but this exercise opened my mind and gave me an a-ha moment. I'm not saying we all fit into one style, but it's interesting to have a discussion on styles that differ from your own and the assumptions they, and you, make about one another.


Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.

A Zero? What's That?

Zero tolerance for zeros? I. Am. Speechless.

It's Not What You Think...

So another year completed and another year approaching. I recall the school year starting mid August and ending mid May. Now it seems the school years have become longer, starting first of August and ending the very end of May. Maybe it's just me?

The year was wonderful and I've learned so much more about students and myself. I came down with a mild case of Trichotillomania this year. I don't remember when it started, but I do remember my husband saying, "Wait...is that..are you pulling out your hair!?" It all started when I began to worry about my schedule. In case you don't know, teachers have a very tight schedule that constantly changes. And by constantly, I literally mean by the hour.

The best piece of advice ever given to me was when I was student teaching in 4th grade. My awesome mentor says, "I see that you are very organized and have a very specific schedule, I hope you know that when you are a teacher...that all goes out the window. You need to think on your feet and learn to adjust at the drop of a hat." I thought she was joking at the time, but thank goodness I'm a fast learner.

I was worrying about a million and one things to do when I noticed myself looking for a juicy bit of white* hair. (*Side note, since I started teaching, I now have little white hairs) Not just any hair, but the ones that are thicker than the others that obnoxiously taunt me by standing straight up after I've fixed my hair. The ones that are so thick they feel awesome to break apart. I tried to stop by tying my hair back. So far so good. I think it's just a nervous tic I have. At least I hope.

I have another vice. Bob's Burgers. I am absolutely obsessed with this show. Netflix has the 1st season on, so I've been watching it religiously. If you have Netflix and a couple hours to lose, I suggest you watch season one. I'd have to say, "Sheesh! Cab, Bob!" is my favorite. Ugly Americans is awesome for a god laugh too.

Happy summer to you! ;)

Prospect for a Painting

Thank you to my father for amusing me and taking me to the best spots possible for my next painting. I wasn't sure which, the southern or northern area of Round Rock, was the best place for a picture. I think this was a good choice.

Bee Pollen Testimonial

Every year it seems that my immune system is faltering. Every year the sniffles and flu come at the most random times of the year. Of course if one student catches it, we all do. (By the by, younger students have been known to sneeze and touch every area of the room) I've tried Airborne, Vitamin C drinks, and Claritin.


One day my husband, being the medicinal deviant, offered bee pollen to me. The thought of ingesting bee pollen didn't quite sit well with me at first, especially the smell. The smell was awful, but the taste was familiar. The taste was of corn pollen, or to the Dine (Navajo) Tadidin. It was tasty in an interesting way. Guess what? This year I have yet to catch a cold. When I feel the sniffles or the "burnt cookie" smell in my nasal cavity, I take bee pollen rigtht away. Make an informed decision: 

Pros here

Cons here

How Is This Still an Issue?

How is this still an issue?

Little Pleasures in Lolz & Life

1. I had a woman on the phone ask if I was married. My reply was, "Yes." Hers, "Legally?"

2. I absolutely love it when people call my husband by my last name. Funny that people assume the wife takes the last name of the husband. I kept mine, no need to change really. Too much of a hassle.

3. My Cat From Hell inspired me to continue my quest for our cat circus. I'm looking into turtle training. Ours have four skills: eating, pooping, giving the stink eye, and running at great speeds to escape.

4. Cherry blossoms smell awesome this time of the year.

5. My younger brother made me a bracelet with my name on it the last time I visited him. It's my new favorite piece of jewelry. (If you have younger brothers, you know they are usually too cool or machismo to show any type of affection)

6. A student said, "You'd be an awesome mom!" (Secretly made me smile)

7. Our neighbors leave lemons out to share.

Skip Bo

It's been a while since I've played Skip Bo, but I remember it being highly addictive (such as Dominoes). Does anyone know how to play? Youtube offers little help and I'm jonesing for a game. This week I found my brother to have a competitive nature also...so, it begins......

Antonio Garcez Stole My Interest!

Here is a little gem I've been wanting to post about for the longest time. This read will leave you thirsting for more. I don't know much about Mr. Antonio Garcez, but I do know his books are a hard find, but don't disappoint! Buy it, you won't be sorry.

Find it here

The Amazing Acro-Cats!

To see the amazing Acro-Cats in your area, click here!


To the Acro-Cats, challenge accepted...
xoxo-Cookie & Piddles

Liars and Lobsters

As many of you know, I am the Lobster defender. (Side job is turtle defender)

I was reading a link on Cracked about how lobsters feel "little to no pain" when cooking alive due to blah, blah, blah. Lies.

I don't pretend to be a vegetarian or holier than thou. But if you really stick a poor defenseless animals in boiling water to fill your gullet, than you have some serious issues. Sociopathic tendencies?

Here is a link that supposedly has facts, but it the truth dipped in sugar.

Sugar coated link

If you read carefully, it stated that lobsters do feel "little to no PAIN". Pain is pain. Whether it be a little or a lot. And they can't talk to voice their opinions. Like my turtles. One cannot possibly fathom the pain they are in and for how long, just to eat? Really. And they are called animals.

This is why I stopped shopping at Fry's. I could stand walking pass the lobsters. Layered in the oh-too-small tank on top of one another. If you look carefully, they are clearly not happy. Would you be? Hands bound and thrown in with 10 other people as big as you? Only to meet a horrible awful death?

I shudder at the thought. Sickening. I wonder if this is what my husband feels like when I eat meat? Hmmm...I just blew my mind!

So You Sew Now, huh?

During the break my mother-in-law taught me how to sew. Nothing fancy, just the basics. She showed me how to sew a tutu and a cat cape. Yes, you read that right, a cat cape.

For a time now, I've been deciding my next venture. I've been thinking of a family circus. So far we have our talents, except for my poor hubby. I went through the list. Cookie can open ANY unlocked door. Seriously an escape artist, he'd put Houdini to shame. So glad he doesn't have thumbs...yet.

Piddles can fetch any sock or glove, which is an awesome switch up from birds. He is an expert bird catcher. Not that we condone his behavior, what with a vegetarian in the house, but he's truly gifted. He can catch any bird. I often sat wondering if he could catch a hummingbird, but my husband has an affinity for them and would place Piddles on house arrest if he got any ideas.

Chomper and Ren, the turtles, are also runners and escapists. They can concoct any plan to escape. We had them in a baby pool outside and in a matter of minutes they were team building and plotting their escape. Luckily their cunning plan was thwarted. We have seen Chomper almost climb out of his tank, true story. Almost McGuyver style. Just place marshmallows and toothpicks in their tanks and you'll have a turtle canon in a matter of minutes.

I can play instruments and host....my hubby.we're still thinking.

We took up violin lessons to complicate our lives, and I okay. Not Vanessa Mae okay, but alright. My hubby seems to be playing to a different tune. I think he's trying, but I can't be sure.

On to the capes. I made the kitties 2 capes. They are glorious, I must say. Yellow and shiny. Cookie and Piddles love their capes. I need to get one to jump through a hoop. Flames can come later.

Stay tuned.