Guten tag, liebchen! 
(I like a good beer buzz, early in the mornin', and Billy likes to peel the labels from his bottles of Bud...)
I actually have a reason for greeting you in German; the Sheryl Crow lyrics just happend to fit with the most German smiley I could come up with (and appreciate). Did you watch The Sound of Music Live! last night? I DVR'd it so I wouldn't have to sit through the commercials (and so I could watch my DVR'd American Horror Story: Coven, which I L-O-V-E!), but my first impression based on nothing: I love my Okla-home girl, Carrie Underwood, but to take on the magnificence that is Julie Andrews' Maria is a recipe for "Meh." I adore Seth Rogan, but if he remade Citizen Kane, I'd be giving him the same advice.
Actually, now that I think about it, a Seth Rogan-ized Citizen Kane might be brilliantly hilarious -- ooh, better yet: Danny McBride as Citizen Kane! This needs a visual:
=
As gorgeous and talented as Carrie Underwood is, she ain't got what it takes to make me believe she can tame the seven unruly Von Trapp children and win the Captain's heart, let alone escape the Nazis. That's merely my personal opinion. No need to pelt me with cyber rocks and garbage. I'll watch it sometime this weekend and let you know if my proclamation still stands. If it doesn't, I will humbly recant.
Another thing I must humbly and regretfully tell you: this is my last month as a member of the Taylored Expressions' Baker's Dozen. I have loved, loved, loved being on this design team, but as I alluded to in an earlier post, I have a new job on the horizon.
Actually I have two new jobs, but only one of them is full-time, starting in January: I'm going back to where I was before I started this whole bloggy-stampy thing! I'm resuming (?) my job as a college professor at Rogers State University (here in beautiful Claremore, America), in the School of Business and Technology, teaching courses such as Legal Environment of Business (aka Business Law), Professional Ethics, and Business Communications. That doesn't mean I'll be stopping this blog or papercrafting, but it may mean that I'm DT-free until I'm able to discern how/if I'm able to juggle other deadlines.
The good news: I discourage students from coming to my office hours. (That's a joke, but not really: I'm MUCH nicer/funnier/entertaining in class than I am when someone comes to my office, just like many professors I had as an undergrad. I think this makes me seem super-intellectual and intimidating, don't you?) That means I'll have more time for blogging! If anyone passes my office and sees me typing on my computer, it will totally look like I'm working!!! WOOT! Thus, those of you who come here for the writing are in luck. If you come here for the purty pictures, well, I hope you like stock/borrowed-yet-given-credit photos from elsewhere. It'll be like a very warped version of Papercraft's Moxie Fab.
Other good news: my job at RSU will enable me to get back into my retirement/pension program, and continue on the same fabulous state insurance program that we have now, once my DH retires from the state Senate, which is (THANK HEAVENS!) after this next session. As you know, our profoundly-adorable-smart-funny-kind youngest son, Carter, has cerebral palsy, and having good health insurance is of utmost importance to our family.
So, it's all good, even if I wish it could be a different. Such is life, no? One of the quotes I live by are the words of Wendell Berry: "We live the given life, not the planned." And guess what? It's ALL good. :)
Moving right along, I still have a month left to show you all the awesomeness that is Taylored Expressions, and this particular card comes with a little bit of local history. As I mention frequently, I live in the lovely small town of Claremore, Oklahoma, through which runs the Mother Road of Route 66. Just south of us by a few miles is Catoosa, and Catoosa is home to a Route 66 icon, The Big Blue Whale.
I absolutely ADORE beyond words this awesome beloved beluga. It's a famous Route 66 roadside attraction/homage to true love (a hubby built it for his whale-fancier wife), and though folks are no longer able swim, slide, or dive off of it, take a look at how cool it would have been to do so, back in the day:
Anywhoodle, when I got my hands on the new Petite-a-palooza set, SHOWERED WITH LOVE, I knew I had to make a tribute to this local legend. Take a look-see:
I love me a whale stamp, especially when it comes with a die for easy-peasy die cutting!
I know you're on the edge of your seats to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has up their creative sleeves for you, so skeedaddle on over to:
- Carole Burrage
- Charmaine Ikach
- Courtney Kelley
- Jen Shults
- Joan Ervin
- Kerri Michaud
- Sankari Wegman
- Shannon White
- Shelly Mercado
- Stephanie Kraft
- Taylor VanBruggen
- Wanda Guess
PS - the second job I've got going on? I'll tell you more later, but here's a hint...
Let me guess...you are going to bartending school??? Or maybe you are taking to the bottle because of all those millennial students in your classes? Can't wait to hear the what the "real" 2nd job will be!
Posted by: kathy | December 06, 2013 at 10:09 PM
Do tell....bartender??? Since they pay college profs so poorly here in California, I've considered a 2nd job as well. Too bad I can't stand the smell of beer.
Posted by: Julie L | December 06, 2013 at 10:36 PM
P.S. I'm glad you're continuing with the blog. I have it on my Mac's "top spots"!
Posted by: Julie L | December 07, 2013 at 02:56 PM
Wow, Your post has MADE the starting of my day!!! Thank you so much for sharing so much of yourself with us fans! It's been delightful to follow you while you were a part of the bakers dozen! I hope that you return in the future! Happy Holidays!
Posted by: Christine Kiehl | December 10, 2013 at 10:45 AM
Mystery Numero Uno: Why is this post in my inbox on December 16 when it was clearly posted Dec 6? I was SO confused about your confusion about poor Carrie Underwood as Maria von Trapp! I'm with you -- nice girl, wonderful singer, but God did not bless her with maximum acting skills. But it most definitely was NOT on TV live last night, it wasn't even recorded last night! Then I was distracted by the whale. Weird. LOVED that you gave us the photo for scale though -- tres cool and fun! Then the card, loved it.
Now we come to TE. I will be sorry to see you step down, I've enjoyed your work on the team, as you know, I've commented on your cards, but I'm also happy you'll be continuing with the blog and I laughed out loud when I read about your furtive typing during office hours -- hilarious! I myself am between jobs and am just praying I get something, I'll let you know -- our insurance is through my DH, he teaches 5th grade! Let's hear it for teachers!
Posted by: Queen Mary | December 16, 2013 at 01:09 PM
Poppin in to say hey, professor!
Posted by: Valerie | January 21, 2014 at 09:31 PM
Still not back, huh? Miss your wit!
Posted by: Robin Barwacz | February 20, 2014 at 12:03 PM