My Christmas Manifesto

Manifesto: Noun. A declaration of one's intentions.

Starting December first, I will keep a Christmas journal. In it, I will write something every day to reflect on the holidays of my past, enjoy the holidays of the present and dream
about the holidays of my future. To some, this will be a stack of papers and trivial scribbles, but not to me. I am taking back my Christmas, I am letting it be something I relish and, most importantly, I am giving at least fifteen minutes every day to myself no matter how crazy this season becomes. I hope you will share, encourage and understand as I make something with my own hands, my own words and my own memories.

I may post some or all of my entries here. Other artists are doing this with me, and you can see their work <a href="http://www.writtendown.com">here</a>. Or you may <a
href="http://www.shimelle.com/classes/105/its-beginning-to-look-a-lot-like">join
us</a>.

Above all: enjoy the season. I will.

Kimberly Winter

Winter Family Quiz Draft

Winter Family Quiz December 2006
For this issue of the Winter Family Christmas Letter, we decided to do something different. This year’s version is a quiz. See how much you know (or can guess) about what happened with us this year!

1. Kim and Gerry logged many miles this fall by
A.) Joining the traveling circus; B.) Going on a romantic getaway; C.) Driving the band carpool twice daily; D.) Didn’t drive at all (the truck does not have over 100,000 miles!)
Answer? C. We got to take Kelsey & Holly plus two of their friends to morning and afternoon practice plus to and from the games. Somehow the carpool didn’t seem very equal.
2. Tim began karate lessons in January, and he has earned what color belt?
A.) Yellow; B.) Purple; C.) Black; D.) Orange
Answer? B. Tim earned his purple belt on December 2. We are also impressed with his incredible physical shape – he even has a six pack!!
3. Gerry met Kelsey’s new boyfriend when
A.) His students’ announced that Steven didn’t want to flirt with anyone but Mr. Winter’s daughter; B.) In the principal’s office; C.) On their first date; D.) In his nightmares
Answer? Believe it or not, A. Yes, poor Steven is in Gerry’s chemistry class.
4. In a surprise move,
A.) Gerry started liking onions; B.) Kim stopped spending money on stamps and scrapbook paper; C.) Kelsey and Holly learned to share; D.) Tim didn’t break anything
Answer? Trick question! You know none of that could be true! None of these things happened, and don’t expect them to happen next year either.
5. Which of the following themes was discarded for this year’s letter?
A.) Reusing the dog-writes-letter idea; B.) Reusing the form letter idea; C.) Reusing the newspaper idea; D.) No Christmas letter this year
Answer? All but the last one. Skip our Christmas letter? Not a chance. We even delude ourselves into thinking people like reading this stuff as much as we enjoy writing it. We almost did C but couldn’t find the right format and thought it was too boring. Sadly for everyone else, we came up with this quiz idea though. Sorry! Any suggestions for next year? How about write it in pig Latin? At-whay o-day ou-yay ink-thay? Maybe not.
6. The whole family is very proud of Gerry this year for
A.) he discovered his own element; B.) he graduated with honors with his Masters of Education in Science; C.) learned how to grow more hair; D.) ran a marathon
Answer? B! Gerry actually finished his program at Our Lady of the Lake University in August of this year but will walk the stage on December 16, 2006.
7. During the next year, Kim is
A.) going to stop talking; B.) learn to spend less; C.) plan a prom; D.) pursue a masters degree specializing in teaching Autistic students.
Answer? Actually C and D. She is one of the sponsors of the Class of 2008 (Kelsey’s graduating class) and is planning prom for about 1,000 students. She also has been accepted to Our Lady of the Lake University and will start school in January (the same week that she celebrates her 38th birthday!). She is in a grant program and plans on transferring to a middle or elementary school after Kelsey graduates.
8. The Winter Family zoo includes
A.) 3 cats, 2 dogs, 2 ferrets; B.) 2 dogs, a rabbit & pig; C.) Animals? Who has time with this many kids? D.) none.
Answer? A. We did lose one of our dogs this year; Sharla passed away in early November. We did get another dog so that Bonkers would stop being depressed. The new dog, Taffy, is about 6 years old and a yellow lab. Bonkers is now acting much younger than his 12 years.
9. Tim plans to become famous by
A.) replacing Jet Li in karate movies; B.) finding the cure for baldness; C.) seeing how crazy he can drive his parents crazy with refusing to cut his hair; D.) filming a skateboarding montage and posting on youtube.com.
Answer? While C is a really good choice, the answer is D. Montage was actually his word when he was describing his project. What are they teaching kids in school?
10. Holly’s future plans include
A.) attending the Air Force Academy and then joining the FBI; B.) join the circus; C.) play bass in a rock band; D.) get a job with Apple so she can get a really cool Ipod
Answer? A. Kim isn’t really thrilled with the idea, but is trying to come to terms with the idea of Holly joining the military.
11. Kelsey’s career plans include
A.) graduating in 2008 from high school; B.) writing a novel; C.) joining the foreign legion; D.) cosmetology school
Answer? A, we hope. She doesn’t have many plans for the future, and will probably go to junior college for a bit to figure it out. She did think about D for a bit, until we explained that she would be cutting hair. She also toyed with the idea of the secret service, but was concerned that it wasn’t very secret with them attending the school’s job and career fair.

How did you do? Get them all right? Did you need a lifeline? 50-50? Ask the audience? Why not just phone a friend?
We love you all and hope this letter finds you happy and healthy!
Love,

Bowling for Soup

My guilty pleasure is listening to my Ipod. I have a new cd that I am putting on my pod --> Drunk Enough to Dance by Bowling for Soup. I love their song 1985.

Some men are dogs

Some men are dogs. It is just a fact of life. I have been very blessed with two wonderful husbands who would never cheat on me. My best friend Suzy, we found out isn’t so lucky. Her husband has been sniffing around this little 18 year old (who is 20 years younger than both of us!) and even moved her into the house. I knew when that happened that things didn’t look good. He had also just had a visit with his parents recently.
Side note on his parents:
They helped him & Suzy build their dream home, and then tried to scam the couple out of $350 thousand dollars.  Their excuse is that their other son would never have the pension that Jeff would have. Both Suzy & Jeff forgave them.
The parents spew filth into his mind. He is tempted by this young girl. This morning Suzy found them kissing in her house! I told her that she should go for the adultery fault divorce! If he has the balls to kiss her in Suzy’s house, you know they are screwing. Tomorrow, Suzy is going for a meeting with a divorce attorney. I think that is the best thing. At first she felt that she was to blame, that she was a bad wife. I think that she is waking up and no longer believes the asshole!!!
She did kick the little tramp out of her house. Which if she hadn’t done, I was going to do it for her.

Book of Dreams Update

Have been very busy hanging out at the pool. But I wanted to add these pictures of my book of dreams.

Altered Book of Dreams

I am going to create an altered book themed My Book of Dreams. Artsymama is doing making one and I am going to follow along. I am a day or two behind, but she is doing a technique a week. So, I should be caught up by next week. I picked up a book at Half Price Books, and I am now preparing the book. I have to thin down the papers so that I don't break the spine with all my artwork. I edit and post my before pictures laters. Wish me luck!!

Gerry flew to CA

Gerry went to California this morning. His brother Greg was in an accident with a quad runner. He was driving on the dunes at Pesmo Beach when he went up one dune that had the back side washed away -- leaving a 70 ft cliff. He broke his pelvis in 2 places, broke his shoulder and has at least 5 broken vertabraes. It will take from 5 months to a year for rehabilitation. His surgery to repair his pelvis started at noon California time, and will take 8 hours. I am glad that Gerry will be there with his family. They will be comforted by his presence. His mother was very glad to have Gerry there. She just needs her kids around. I think it is a mom thing with her boys.
I was surfing, and stumbled across Angie Pederson's Blog of Me and she was talking about being a mother to boys. It really is very different with a boy. My girls never thought of eating personal care products. If it wasn't for Tim, I would never know that lotion can be a great laxative. Or that you can't steer rubbermaid buckets as you go down the stairs. Go figure! I should have know that when he managed to eat a scorpion at 8 months I was in serious trouble.
I did tell Gerry that if I woke up in the hospital with all my brothers around me --> I would look at Gerry and ask if I was dying. I see my brother and I know that I am history.
I hope my kids are as close as Gerry & his siblings. While we live several hundred miles away, they still are there for each other in the roughest of times.
I am counting the days until the 27th. We are getting close to the bottom of the barrel. I just keep praying that we will get to the end of the month before we get to the end of the money. Next month will be better. I just have to remember that. Gerry's truck will be paid for at the end of May, and that will give us $500 more in the mix.

Eventful Weekend

First, the bad news. One of Gerry's students was killed in a car accident on early Friday morning. We went to the visitation this evening. It was very sad.
Now for the good news. I went with my best friend Suzy to the Women of Faith Conference in Houston this weekend. It was wonderful! I loved the great feeling of fellowship, and wonderful loving atmosphere. It was awesome.

time for the big guns

As an adolescent, I had terrible acne. My girls are having the same problem right now. I made an appointment for the 28th to go to the dermatologist. I am hoping that we can get this taken care of easily. Gerry really doesn't want them to get the hard stuff, no accutane. I just don't want them to be scared for life.
Today, Gerry is taking Holly to the doctor. She is really having emotional problems and I just seem to make them worse. So, we decided that dad should take her. I helped Kelsey with her World History project. We have it finished. She was glad that I could type it for her and help get it formated. She had a terrible time with it. She needs to learn more about computers.

My Curly Gurly

Kelsey has been hanging around me a lot lately. I wonder how much of it is a reaction to the local news of the Runaway Mom. Kelsey doesn't have to worry that I will take off but I think she may be concerned about losing me. Or she just wants to stay on my good side because I am working on her banquet dress.

How far away is Friday?

E I really am looking forward to the weekend. As the year draws to a close, I can't wait for it to be over. It isn't like I hate my job or anything, I am just ready for a break. That is the cool thing about being a school teacher, getting all the holidays off. April 28 is Prom, and my Interact Club's Banquet is May 10. The important parts of the school year are almost here. The end of the month is the big TEST days.

More on the Runaway Mom...

The story keeps getting weirder. Naomi was found in a homeless shelter in New Jersey. I can't understand why you go to New Jersey, but that is the place of choice for runaway moms from Texas. Stories are circulating about a family member being notified that she was alright but not notifying the police; being wanted for questioning by Windcrest Police (where her employer is located); and having to subpoena phone records to find where she is. Ok, after reporting your wife missing--do you really refuse to give cell phone records to the police? Do you want her found or do you already know where she is? I had seen the daughter and husband at the Tigermart by school & I was troubled by the fact that neither of them seemed visibly upset. I would be very visibly upset if my husband was missing.
A larger part of me is very disturbed that the public was lied to. I understand from news reports that her sister is pissed off. In a statement she called her sister very, very selfish. I agree with that assessment. Selfish is a very good word for it. Seems she is a criminal and just wanted to escape from her life.
I have had shitty days, but I have never walked away from my car, my family, my job or my life as a way to handle things. I just don't understand...

Good News

Source: Missing UTSA Student Found Alive
Great news! My friend has been found. She left on her own. I can't understand how she could leave, but she is back. Where was she and why she left are still unclear, but I am glad to know that she is back and alive.
I have really thought she was dead. I didn't think that it would end this happily. I know that there will be challenges as they deal with this. It may cause an end to their marriage, but at least she will be alive. I wonder how it will affect the children. I would think they would be very angry with their mother. The trust that your mother will always be there would be very bent. I can't imagine...

Who is the one with the problem?

It is Friday! Yeah! I have to help Gerry with his research paper, but that shouldn't take me too very long. He has left everything to the last minute yet again. I don't know how he manages to do this everything. I don't know how he can believe that he isn't ADD. The boy has no concept of doing things on time. Not that I do though. But we all know that I have a serious case of ADHD. I am very free with telling the world that I was diagnosed in 1976 before it was cool. They had to really figure out something that would describe what I was. I was hell on wheels.
On to other matters, Tim is still sick. Hopefully he will be better by Monday. I am hoping to pick up some work for him today. I am still incredibly worried about the boy. I just hate to see him sick like this. He did gain 6 pounds in the last 6 weeks, so that is good.
I am a financial mess. We are totally broke until payday. I am borrowing some cash from mom, but geez, I wish I wasn't such a moron. It is really hard only getting paid once a month, but I should be used to it. I am a total goof.

I have got to relax...

I am overwhelmed today. I really don't want to be here. I am so nervous today. My pulse is going a thousand beats a minute. Okay, so that isn't really true, but it feels like it!!
Gerry is home with a sick boy. Tim is having fevers again. The doctor says that it is viral. I am concerned. He had the same thing about 6 weeks ago. How do you keep getting the same thing? The good news is that he gained 6 pounds. He was almost underweight at the end of January. We started not giving him his concerta on the weekends to hopefully increase his appetite. It seems to be working.
Today we are having an all day faculty meeting. That means that during my conference period I have to go watch a video on drug abuse. I think I may know a little about that. Seems all my students have at least tried some thing. I am just glad that Kelsey, Holly or Tim haven't done them. I hope that I am doing the right things to keep them safe and drug free.
I have way too many people depending on me. I am a special education case manager, and incredibly I do much more than just paperwork. I work with the different departments, teachers, counselors, and therapists to take care of 30 students. I am feeling overwhelmed.
One parent requested an ard, and after two attempts --> they haven't showed. I bust my butt getting things together, do the paperwork, get everyone to be there and it is a no show. I am just blown away! Why ask for a meeting if you aren't going to show up?
My son is in special education, and I have never been a no show to his ARD. If I can't make it, I reschedule. I am the one that requested testing in the first place because I thought something was wrong. The boy had a learning disablity. The ADHD also compounds things. I just know how important it is to be involved in your child's learning.
Naomi is still missing. Another woman who was kidnapped on February 13 was found a few weeks ago. I wonder if she will ever be found. I think she is dead. She wouldn't have run away from her family. It was too important for her to do that. She didn't leave willingly.

Missing Naomi

On February 19, an old friend went missing. Her daughter was in my daughter's girl scout troop (that I was the leader of). I was very close with all the girls, we had girl scouts for 3 years together. Now, the girls are all sophomores at the high school that I teach at. Our kids were in band and other classes since kindergarten.
She went missing from the downtown UTSA campus. It was a cold day, not many people were out. She disappeared between 2 and 6 that day. No one has seen her since. (More details http://www.utsa.edu/utsapd/)
I can't imagine what could have happened, and I pray every night that she will be found alive. I can't imagine losing someone like that. The uncertainty of not knowing where or why would be worse than a death.
Selfishly I think how this has changed my life. I don't go anywhere without my husband after dark. If I do, I call several times during my outing to let him know where I am. There are still things that I do, but there are lots that I don't. I don't go to the gym by myself anymore. I don't go to Walmart by myself anymore. I don't think I live in a horribly crime ridden city, but now I don't know...

Kelsey

I sometimes get overwhelmed by the actions of my oldest daughter. She makes choices that are not thought out or are just plain stupid. She makes these decisions for attention. She likes to be the center of everything and will do really stupid things to get that attention.
Thursday she chose to wear her father's knee brace because her knee hurt. The girl has never damaged her knee nor has any problem with joint disease. She weighs 100 lbs maybe and her father weighs 250. It was for attention. I asked her why asprin, tylenol or advil was not a better choice. I tried to explain to her that her that if she had a headache that a neck brace was not needed.
This morning Kelsey decided to throw up on the bathroom floor. She is not "sick" and I am not a mean mom. You could hear her making herself gag until she threw up. And throwing up in front of the toliet, and only on the tile floor takes talent. She did it for the attention and probably to get out of chores. She cleaned it up, and is now laying in bed.
Kelsey has a problem with making good choices. She has either bipolar or border line personality, the diagnosis is still up in the air. Could be both. She just got bad genes. We have her on medication and have had to have her hospitalized.
The stress in dealing with her is great. I don't know how to handle her sometimes. I wish that kids came with a magic button that would make them all better. My biggest fear is that she will be a teenage mother and that I will have to raise the child because she can't get her shit together and ruin her life.
Optimistic aren't I?

My Very First Memory

That is a hard prompt to answer. Mainly because I have blocked so much of my childhood from my mind. My parents didn't mean to be such terrible parents, or at least I hope that they didn't. My mother was bipolar, and couldn't deal with much of anything. My father was a pedafile who is now in jail. I am proud to say that I put him there. My mother died in 2001 from a stomach virus that was helped along with too much morphine in her system. Did my dad have something to do with that? I think so.
My best memories are of my grandparents. They were the stability of my childhood. Without them I would be some criminal or a drug addict or exotic dancer or worse. Boy this is a bummer prompt!

Happy Valentine's Day

Valentine's day is an over commercialized holiday. Too much expectation is placed into one day.
I have a soul mate whom I love and adore, but forget the stupid holiday.
And that is all I have to say about that...

Fun Plans for this weekend

I am going to Austin this weekend with my buddy Suzy to a women's conference. It is presented by Lisa Welchel (remember Blair from Facts of Life?). It is the second time that we have gone to see her. I just love her wonderful style. She is also the mother of teenagers, and many of her stories really resonate with me. I also trimmed my hair yesterday. I didn't cut the length, just the top layers went shorter. I got rid of the heaviness of the longer top layers. I went from a bob to a shag basically. It is really interesting to see how much longer it makes my hair look. I am kinda confused by that part.

Long way to go

as you can tell from my icon, my hair is about chin length. I cut my hair short when my son was born and I haven’t been able to grow it long again without cutting!

See more progress on: Grow my hair as long as possible

10 days til my birthday....

and I will be 37! oh no!!
I just so don't want to be old. I really don't feel that old.
Above you will see Lucy, the most spoiled dog in history. She is opening one of her many Christmas presents. My sister really needs to get a life....