2.28.2005

Pet peeves. After reading rearviewwindow this morning, I think I will post mine.

-being late
-not using a turn signal
-repeating myself
-unwelcome advice
-bad customer service
-rerunning Gilmore Girls in random instead of chronological
order

2.25.2005

Yesterday I was checking out my old school's website, Blue Valley Northwest High School, to see if they had any alumni contact information. Not finding anything, I decide to check out the faculty and see who all was there. Pretty much everyone was, except Mrs. Oestreicher (oh-strike-her). Mrs. O was my favorite teacher. She was my mentor and my friend in 8th grade and in high school. She taught me how to have confidence in my self and encouraged my abilities in reading and writing. As my friend, she helped me gain courage to talk to the hot guy in class and asked for updates on how things were going between me and Phil or Justin or Andrew. She LOVED Al Pacino and got to stand in an elevator with him once. Here is what she wrote in my 8th grade year book:

"Dear Melissa,
Thanks for keeping the kids on track or putting them back on track in fifth hour. I knew I could depend on you to know the grammar answers! I knew I could depend on you to understand what you read, too! I never doubted your ability, Melissa, and relived some great experiences with my grandmother as I read about yours.

Please keep writing your poetry, Melissa and keep a journal- especially this summer! Best of luck to you. Let me know what's happening.

Mrs. Oestreicher"

Mrs. O died in December of 2002. I have no idea what happened, but I'm really sad. I just found out yesterday when I googled her and a memorial fund in her name came up. I wish that I would have known. I would have gone to her funeral. I would have been the first to pay tribute. So here it is two and half years late. I have missed you Mrs. O. Thanks for everything.

UPDATE:
I found her obituary.

Kansas City Star, The (MO) - December 9, 2002
Deceased Name: SUSAN C. OESTREICHER
Susan C. Oestreicher, 56, Overland Park, KS, beloved daughter, sister, wife, aunt, teacher, mentor, colleague and friend, passed on December 6, 2002, at home. Susan was born March 18, 1946, to Virgil and Virginia Woodside of Prairie Village, KS. After graduating from Shawnee Mission East High School, she received her BS and MS degrees in education from the University of Kansas and a MA in English from Middlebury College, Vermont.

After starting her career at Holliday Jr. High in Topeka, Susan moved back to Shawnee Mission, teaching English and Reading successively at Shawnee Mission South, Shawnee Mission East, Clay County Schools in Northeast Florida, Blue Valley Northwest and West. She also taught at Penn Valley Community College and Florida Junior College. She was active on the boards of several education and literacy organizations and served as President of the Kansas Reading Association and the Reading Supervisors of Florida. She also served as a Shepherd Deacon at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, KS.

Susan is survived by her husband of 32 years, Randall; her mother, Virginia Woodside of Prairie Village, KS; her sister, Patricia Knabe of Dallas, TX; two nieces and one nephew; three greatnephews and one great-niece; and countless friends, colleagues and students whom she loved and inspired.

Funeral service will be at 2:15 p.m. Tuesday, December 10, at the McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road. Burial in Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Stanley, KS. Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Monday, at the chapel. Memorial contributions may be made in the name of Susan Oestreicher to the Special Scholarship Fund, in care of Blue Valley West High School, 16200 Antioch Road, Stilwell, KS 66085. (Arrangements: McGilley State Line Chapel (816) 942-6180)
Kansa

2.23.2005

In the immortal words of Ghoti Hook:

"There's just one thing
that I love more than anything.
I hold it so near to my heart.
It has just one gear
and a pair of blue training wheels,
A headlight to see in the dark.

I like my bike.
It's not like other bikes.

It has pinwheels
and a purple banana seat,
Loud cards in the spokes as they bend.
It has a big horn
that I honk when you're in my way,
So I don't run over my friends.

I like my bike.
It's not like other bikes.

I ride my bike
to the girl that I like,
And she looks at me and my bike.
A tear fills her eye
as she's filled with great pride,
When I ask her to take a ride.
Me and my girl,
we ride all over town on it.
My guide is the street and the sun.
We stop for a shake--
I pretend we'll share all of it,
When I hit the eject button.

I like my bike.
It's not like other bikes."


2.18.2005

My bowling ball is beautiful!

We had a lot of fun at work tonight. It involved a lot of opera singing, booty slapping (consensual, mind you) and excitement about the Blind skateboarding team coming to our store on March 5.

That is all.

BTW, certain Legion members need to post, I must know what is going on with you since we are stuck out here in the burbs and all...
Wow, what a WEIRD week. Media circus at my house, V-Day celebrated on Thursday, K-baby not feeling well (and not sleeping well), amongst many other things.

We went bowling for my Valentines day (my choice) and had a lot of fun. I would really like to do it on a weekly basis. It'll be like Happy Days and I'll be like "Okay dear, I am going to my league practice tonight. Have you seen my ball?" I'll have shirts and shoes and hopefully today my brand new ball and bag come. I have needed a hobby of some sort.

2.10.2005

okay so my posts have been a little schizo lately and to be honest I have mostly felt like my posts. nothing a free hair coloring session can't put a bandaid on for a little while. oh, and my darling daughter fixes everything when she starts giggling at the kitty. but alas it is fleeting and I face again the struggle to find self. there are two certain things: I am a Mother and I am a Wife. most would cringe to be defined in those terms only, but right now it is really comforting. I have purpose! But I feel I have creative purpose as well, i just don't know what capacity that takes form. i'm trying something new, but life gets in the way and the little time i have gets sucked away and i don't get to devote it to my new challange. i'll get time. one of these days i will get time to myself and my creativity. we haven't hung out in awhile.

2.08.2005

I'm going through this weird and uncomfortable phase where I can no longer relate to anyone and I alienate everyone I come in contact with. Which is absurd because it is the total opposite of how I have always been.

"We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off." -fight club

This is my quarter life crisis. Let's see what happens now.

2.05.2005

25 kinda sucks. not lovin' it.