YES

yea! I got a call from the guy who hit me's insurance company today and they are accepting liability for my complete claim -- I can't believe it - yea!

I Like Vegas Every Moment...

ellen the gambling pro...


after the fabulous Celine's "A New Day"


mom and dad inside the mirage before Leno


mom and I at the slots


outside the Bellagio...




our fancy suite at the Platinum!


we made it to Vegas...at 4 o'clock in the moring our time!



Well, the Dransfield and Rietz families have returned from a last minute jaunt to Vegas - we had an incredible time! From seeing Jay Leno stand-up, CELINE (!), playing the slots, attempting black-jack Vegas-style, lounging by the pool, and, for us, traveling cross-country in just a few days, Vegas was certainly an amazing experience! thanks to mom and dad for entertaining us....and congrats to Jan - the big gambling winner with a windfall of $23.00! :)

IDIOT

ARGH! So...today I was pulling out of a shopping center and was hit by a guy in a big white van...he just didn't see me in my little white Honda. To make matters worse, he wasn't even driving his car - but his boss'. Being the "smooth operator" I am, I took his insurance information, his boss'information, took pictures of the damage, and was on my way. Driving away I think: hm...I wonder if I should have gotten his phone number. Once I got to school, my colleagues chided me for not calling the police, and when I called my insurance company, the lady was like: "it's not very likely with the lack of information you have that we will be able to collect on this claim." Damnation. It's not like the dent is that big and I know that to fix the car it won't even be that much, but I am definitely feeling like the title of this entry and now my summer school earnings will have to go towards repairs...any sympathy would be greatly appreciated...

So you think...

...you can DANCE!

Ok - so we are obsessed (again) this summer with the dance version of American Idol: So Ya Think You Can Dance...
not being a dancer, it took me a while to understand the lingo and the costuming, but the personalities of the judges and the total focus/devotion of the dancers got me hooked! My favorite couple by far is Jessie and Pasha (see pic) and my favorite judge is Mia Michaels...a chic truly all her own, though she did kick some hiney with her choreography on Celine's "A New Day..."

All I need now is for my star-dancer little sister to audition and make it big!

go to http://fox.com/dance for all the drama...

Happy 95th?!

Kudos to Ms. Ruth Rietz Taber on her 95th birthday a few weeks back...family gathered in Ashe-vegas to celebrate this neat lady and had a wonderful time....








p.s. - kudos also to my Granny B as well on her 87th last week...pretty impressive in and of itself! :)

Memorial Day Revisited...

This year's trip took us to the lake outside of Knox-vegas...it was a small group, but a wonderful trip...it was also the first weekend with a baby -- snaps to Sam for hanging in with the rigorous regime of mexican train, fruity beverages, sun, and lake time. enjoy the pictures...

A Dream at School Year's End...

Well, the fifth grade production of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" was amazing...the kids were totally into it and the audience was floored - way to go fifth graders of Trinity Episcopal School! We deviated from tradition and put on a whole play rather than snipets of several plays - so all told, we were quite proud of the kiddies!

Quote of the night: "Last year, I was so bored watching the play - this year I was totally into it!" - Emily's boss

And yes, they do memorize the real stuff -- no adaptations here!

It is finished!

Well, school's finally out - hoo-rah. I still have grades to finish up, but life is considerably less stressful as of Frday, June 8th. the picture is from the last monday. In case you were wondering, in true me fashion, I did cry as I sent the little fifth graders off into the purgatory that is middle school. They were an amazing class and I am forever thankful to have fallen into a field I love so much...