The two extremes of life - birth and death...

Yesterday, Grant and I went to my first ultrasound. I got to see my little baby - the heart beat... the movement - it was so amazing to see. I am keeping a pregnancy blog at 0urbabyblog.blogspot.com

On a down note, yesterday, we had to put our dog, 13 year old dog, Kanga, to sleep. How much does that suck? Seriously - it happened so fast. A few days after we got back from Europe, she started peeing in the house - After a few days, with it starting so suddenly, we thought maybe she had a bladder infection. We took her to the vet and she got an antibiotic but after a few days, things didn't seem to be getting better. She stopped peeing in the house - she stopped peeing at all. She would squat and strain but nothing would come out. She also wasn't eating very much. We called the vet again, and they thought maybe she had kidney stones. I dropped her off yesterday to get x-rays. Well, the xrays showed no stones, so the vet suspected a tumor or bladder cancer. She put Kanga out to do the test and found that her bladdar was so blocked she couldn't get a catheter up, and the urine was very, very dark. Essentially, there was nothing they could do, and they suggested just letting her go at that point - since she was already underanesthetic for the test, it just seemed easier for her than reviving her so we could all say goodbye - it would have been selfish to put her through that pain.

Oasis of the Seas

Awhile back, I shared with you the "Central Park," neighborhood on the new Project Genesis ship that Royal Caribbean is building. Well, the ship is officially named the Oasis of the Seas (with its sister ship being named the Allure of the Seas.) Oasis will begin booking this September, and sail in December of 2009.

They are designing Oasis around the concept of neighborhoods - seven in all. The first that they revealed was the Central Park Neighborhood. The next one was the Royal Promenade, already a familiar concept to the Royal Caribbean Fleet. They just recently revealed the third neighborhood, and the will continue revealing information about the rest of the ship throughout the summer.

The most recent neighborhood is the Boardwalk. This neighborhood is adjacent to Central Park, above the Royal Promenade, on the back of the ship. It, too, opens to the sky, and recalls the feel of historic boardwalks - it will include an airbrush "tatoo" parlor, candy shop, fortune telling, Johnny Rockets, and the first ever at sea amusement ride - an old fashioned carosel! In addition, there is a zip line that travels across the Boardwalk Area that decends something like 9 decks.

The Boardwalk exits onto an ampitheater pool deck known as the AquaTheater. During the day, terraced decks filled with lounge chairs surround this aft pool, while two movie screens can, at time, offer entertainment to the sun batehrs and swimmers. Behind these decks are two rock climbing walls. At night, these lounge hairs convert into stadium seating, while the pool transforms into an aqua theater - complete with a suitable depth for high diving, synchronized swimming, and water ballet and acrobatics.

Can you even imagine?

Here, you can go to the official website. There is a photo gallery, a video with all sort of concept art, and all sorts of neat info.

Here are some interesting quotes from the recent chat event:
Foffie232: How will the space in the AquaTheater transform at night? Specifically, if the area is a public pool area during the day, with lounge chairs, what kind of seating will there be at night for the shows performed there?
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: You'll find this very interesting. We will have very unique chairs which can convert from reclining sun lounge chairs by day, to fully upright stadium seating by night. Other "transformations" include: water show programming (day = passive; night = active), plus large screen tv programming, in-water lifting platforms which convert from standard pool bottom depth during day, to become ultra deep diving pool at night (17.9 ft), night lighting and sound, etc

Roe: What is a zip line?
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: A zip line is best described as a pulley suspended on a cable. The zip line is designed to allow the guest to propell by gravity nine decks across the top of the Boardwalk. This is for those that are looking for an adventure.

dogloverCalifornia: what kind of shows are going to be in the aquatheater? the stage seems awfully small for any kind of real entertainment.
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: The AquaTheater is the first of its kind at sea. At night the space will be transformed into a performance venue which feature dramatic acrobatics, synchronized swimming, water ballet and professional high-diving performances. There is ample space to execute wonderful performances.

patswife: WILL THERE BE INSIDE CABINS
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: Yes, there will be inside, outside, and balcony staterooms. Actually, there will be a total of 37 stateroom categories to choose from.

BEACHCAT: ARE ALL THE TREES AND GRASS REAL?
Royal_Caribbean_Alice_Norsworthy: Yes, Central Park features real grass, foliage, shrubs, trees and flowers. It's going to be so neat!

Wicked

On Tuesday, we went up to see Wicked in LA. We took the train and spent the night at the Marriott at Hollywood and Highland!

Wicked really is a good play - and I loved the casting - Elphaba and Galinda were perfect in their roles! It seems like such a fun play to be in!

Evolution

Something that leaves my head scratching -

I know a lot of people who believe in creationism and say that evolution is absolutely wrong. Yet, when asked, they really don't understand what evolution is. I'll bring up a specific point and they'll say, "You know, I don't really know the details..." or "I don't really understand what that part (of evolution) is."

One example is micro versus macro evolution. I'll talk about a general point on micro evolution, and they'll readily admit that they don't understand the specific points of evolution.

So how can people discredit a scientific theory that they don't even understand? That seems a bit close minded. I would never reject (or accept) a theory that I don't understand. "Oh I don't understand refraction, so I don't believe rainbows are created from the separation of light."

School's Out for summer!

I hat the end of the school year - I totally cried, as usual! I am such a sucker. I hate endings. This day is always so emotionally exausting for me. And where did the time go???

Tomorrow, off to Amsterdam! If I don't blog here for a while - check my vacation blog!

Prices

Taco Bell has a new menu - .79, .89, .99 cents.

Sigh.

I remember in 6th grade - the .59, .79, .99 menu!

Gas prices today - $4.57, $4.67, and $4.77.

Lord.

Sorry -

End of the year. Report Cards. Vacation. Stuff.

Superhero Quiz

Your results:
You are Spider-Man

Spider-Man 60% Superman 60% Robin 57% Wonder Woman 50% Iron Man 50% Green Lantern 45% The Flash 45% Supergirl 45% Hulk 40% Catwoman 25% Batman 15%

You are intelligent, witty, a bit geeky and have great power and responsibility.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

After Thoughts

The Manicotti turned out pretty well. I am going to make it with Spinach and mushrooms next time. yum.

Sasha Baron Cohen. Freakin hilarious. Honestly, I think the guy is a genius.

Ten for Tuesday - On My MInd

Ten things on my mind (in completely random order... because I am... random that is...

1) I hope dinner is yummy... I am making Manicotti for the first time. (fingers crossed)

2) Tony Awards on Sunday - with the original cast of Rent... probably playing tribute since Rent is closing this year after it's 12 year run (it was the 7th longest running broadway musical).

3) The Mamma Mia movie. I am so excited for it - I really hope it is good! One thing I am bummed about - one of my favorite songs is not in the movie (or if it is, it is not on the soundtrack... :o( "Thank you for the music...."

4) Amsterdam... coming up in just a few more weeks! I hope I sleep on the flight. Should I check my bag or carry it on??? The Other Boleyn Girl is playing on the flight...

5) The Disney cruise. I am so So SO excited... SO excited. I can't even tell you. SO excited.

6) Million Dollar Password: Fun show!!! Neil Patrick Harris is pretty good! Really suspenseful! Seriously... I am getting so excited!!! Oh God he is going on..... and... OH! He didn't make it!

7) School: I really should start me report cards. More to the point, I really should be correcting research reports right now. Sigh. After dinner.

8) Summer TV. Man does it suck. Nothing is on until Big Brother in July. Thank GOD for Netflix.

9) Lost. I actually like the 2nd Season. A lot... so far...

10) Obama won. I am still praying for an Obama - Clinton ticket. Seriously, he would totally go up in my esteem if he did that!!!

9)
8)

Buzz Lightyear in Space!

Buzz Lightyear has launched to the International Space Station today on the Discovery!

See the promotion clip HERE on You Tube

Follow along on Buzz's mission at nasa.gov, or here at Buzz's official site through the Nasa Kid's Club

View Askewniverse

I'm watching Mallrats and thought I'd use this opportunity to list the View Askew movies in my personal favorite order (although I enjoy them all! Love them!)

1) DOGMA - Jay, Silent Bob, Alan Rickman, and religious dogma. Who could ask for anything more?

2) Mallrats - Brodie is to the mall as I am to Disneyland. Fear and respect the elevator. What, like the back of a volkswagon? Fly fat-ass Fly!

3) Clerks 2. A squeaky clean, dealin' Jay, the best bachelor party in the history of the world, a happy ending for Dante, and all the Mooby burgers you can eat.

4) Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back: Tickets? Since when did they start charging for the bus? Didn't we used to ride that shit to school every morning for free?

5) Chasing Amy: So, you've never been curious about men?
Curious about men? Well, I always wondered why my father watched Hee Haw.

6) Clerks: "I'm not even supposed to be here today...

Love Jersey Girls, but really, not a View Askew movie... you think?

Well, that's my list for today... of course, it is subject to change...

Chocolat

I just watched Chocolat. What a lovely movie. Really, I enjoyed it much more then I thought it would. I think I'll read the book this summer.

I know lovely isn't that I normally use, but it truly is a lovely story. Not awesome, fantastic, great, or cute - lovely.

Oh, and I think I am totally in love with Johnny Depp now.

Same Sex Marriage Legal!

I am so stoked! The California Supreme Court has ruled the Same Sex Marriage is legal! I am so, so incredibly happy!

When I heard the news on Thursday, I was so happy about it! Someone I know made a snide comment about it, and when asked me, with a completely disgusted look on her face, why I was to happy. It about broke my heart.

In our country, people have a right to equality. Who is anyone to say who someone else can love? As long as the love is between to consenting adults, then it should be legal. The government can't forbid people of different races from getting married. Civil Unions are not the same (Haven't we already had the separate but equal issue in America?)

I am so happy. This is a day I have been waiting for. What the world needs now, is love, sweet love, and why anyone would want to deny that of anyone else is beyond me.

A friend of mine said it best on Thursday. She said, "You know, I've always been for gay marriage. But now that I have my own children, I feel even strongly about it. I want my children to find love and to be happy, and if they happened to be gay, then I would want this for them. I would want them to have the right to be married."

Love. Love for your children. Love for your life partner. Love for your neighboy, your fellow man.

Love.

That's what life is all about, folks.

Survivor Finale

I am still pulling for Amanda...

I think that the Ozzie/Amanda romance is so cute - way better than  the gag me Rob and Amber reality show crap...

But, seriously, what is it with the all-star romances... seriously... I mean, I bet the stay-tgether rate of all-star romances is higher than the Bachelor....

Oh God... Jeff's gonna tally the votes!

I love when they pan across the Survivors back in the US looking all healthy and pretty...

What if there is a tie???

Parv
Amanda
Parv
Amanda
Parv
Amanda
Parv
Parvati

Parvati??? Wow! Holy Macaroni!

Well, congrats, Parvati. It has certainly been a season of blind sides!

Love the movie Juno

If you have not yet seen the movie Juno, please, go see it... I love Love LOVE it. Seriously. Love it.





















CLICK HERE TO SEE MY FAVORITE JUNO DELETED SCENE!

Quick Quiz on Politics

The Quiz I took can be found here...

The political group that
agrees with you most is...

.

CENTRIST



CENTRISTS espouse a "middle ground" regarding government

control of the economy and personal behavior. Depending on

the issue, they sometimes favor government intervention

and sometimes support individual freedom of choice.

Centrists pride themselves on keeping an open mind,

tend to oppose "political extremes," and emphasize what

they describe as "practical" solutions to problems.

Juno

Oh my gosh - Juno - such a cute movie! I really, really liked it!

It was funny and cute, with some heart tugging, poignent moments, and a quirky, simple soundtrack.

A MAJOR reason that I loved this movie is that it represents to me one of the most awesome things someone can do - It is about a teenager who gets pregnant, and decides to keep the baby and give it up for adoption - in my opinion, the kindest, most selfless thing a teen in that situation can do. Abortion just gets rid of the problem, and keeping it when you are not ready, finacnially or emotionally, is just a bad situation for the mom and the baby. Carrying the baby and giving it to a loving family who can take care of the child is a beautiful act.

This movie is fantastic - it is a beautiful story of growing up - of being faced with grown up problems when still young. WATCH IT!

Water for Elephants, The Glass Castle

I just read two books - Water for Elephants and The Glass Castle.

Both of them were great books, if you are looking for a good read.

Water for Elephants takes place on a traveling circus in the early part of the 20th century. It is a rich detailed description of the politics and workings of the traveling circus during the prohibition and The Great Depression, when circuses - and everyone - was struggling to stay afloat. It is also about growing old, as the protagonist is reliving his time in the circus while he is living in an elderly home. A beautiful story.

The Glass Castle is sort of like an "Angela's Ashes" type tale... a story of a family growing up in poverty and hard times and parents who have a, shall we say, different view of what a parents role should be. However, as a child growing up in the family, what to someone on the outside may seem horrific seems to her as, well, more or less, normal. Of course, the older you get, the less crap you are willing to accept. This is a tale of a family of children who made the best out of the circumstances they were dealt, and then became determined to not repeat the cycle in their own adult lives.

Royal Caribbean - Project Genesis

I am so excited about The new Royal Caribbean Genesis Class ships. OH MY GOD.... Seriously, it looks so awesomely awesome. I mean, check out the link... I am not kidding! It looks so great. My favorite part of the Adventure of the Seas was the promenade... and their "Central Park" plans for the promenade of the new ships just looks spectacular. Seriously? I would love to stay in a promenade view room!

2009, baby!!! SO excited!

Thank you for the music....

I swear, Abba must have been playing in the hospital when I was born. I can't believe how catchy the tunes are, and how easily I seem to pick up the lyrics. Granted, they aren't the most complicated songs int he world, but still... I think I may have a new musical obsession....

I mean, I ask you in all honesty, what would life be, without a song or a dance what are we? So I say thank you for the music, for giving it to me...

Cori's Fortune

Grant and I went out to eat with Angie, Andrew and Cori at Golden Garden. At the end of our meal, we got our Fortune Cookies. Grant read his out loud. Angie read hers. I read mine, and Andrew read his. Not wanting to be out done, four year old Cori pulls out her fortune, and starts reading/singing it, "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, How I wonder what you are!..."

Stupid IQ Test.

Don't go do this one. Trust me, it is not worth your time. Its not a real IQ test, and it makes yo9u wade through 15,000 ads before it gives you your results.


Take a Free IQ Test.

My 2nd choice

Your Personality Profile

You are dreamy, peaceful, and young at heart. Optimistic and caring, you tend to see the best in people. You tend to be always smiling - and making others smile. You are shy and intelligent... and a very hard worker. You're also funny, but many people don't see your funny side. Your subtle dry humor leaves your close friends in stitches.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Shortest Personality Quiz

Your Personality Profile

You are dependable, popular, and observant. Deep and thoughtful, you are prone to moodiness. In fact, your emotions tend to influence everything you do. You are unique, creative, and expressive. You don't mind waving your freak flag every once and a while. And lucky for you, most people find your weird ways charming!

The World's Shortest Personality Test

Color Quiz

Bobbi+Jo took the free ColorQuiz.com personality test! "Needs a peaceful environment. Wants release from ..." Click here to read the rest of the results.

Here are all the results, but you can click above to take the quiz yourself!

Bobbi Jo's Existing Situation

This represents a barrier between the compensatory colors which precede it and the remaining colors.


Bobbi Jo's Stress Sources

Wishes to be independent, unhampered, and free from any limitation or restriction, other than those which she imposes of herself or by her own choice and decision.


Bobbi Jo's Restrained Characteristics

Clings to her belief that her hopes and ideas are realistic, but needs encouragement and reassurance. Applies very exacting standards to her choice of a partner and wants guarantees against loss or disappointment.

Becomes distressed when her needs or desires are misunderstood and feels that she has no one to turn to or rely on. Egocentric and therefore quick to take offense.

Able to achieve satisfaction through sexual activity.


Bobbi Jo's Desired Objective

Needs a peaceful environment. Wants release from stress, and freedom from conflicts or disagreement. Takes pains to control the situation and its problems by proceeding cautiously. Has sensitivity of feeling and a fine eye for detail.


Bobbi Jo's Actual Problem

Does not wish to be involved in differences of opinion, contention or argument, preferring to be left in peace.

19 Minutes

I just finished "19 Minutes," by Jodi Picoult. Almost everyone I know says that "19 Minutes" say that it is their favorite Picoult book.

I enjoyed it. I thought it was really good. However, I don't think it was my favorite. There were too many plot issues... the whole plot about the older brother who got killed by the drunk driver.... so? The only way I can see that that helped was to give the mom a sympathetic reason to not go through her son's room to be aware of the guns and stuff.

Anywho. A good read - you'll like it... much better than Mercy and Change of Heart, but I like The Tenth Circle and Plain Truth better...

Mamma Mia

I think Mamma Mia is one of my all time favorite shows. It really truly is the music that makes it so good. The story itself is far fetched but cute - and I really like how it is just as much about the mom (Donna) as the daughter (Sophie).

I just found out that they are making a movie. I don't really know how it will translate to the big screen - so many of the musical numbers barely work, but do, because it is on the stage... but I am still excited...

I am most excited about Amanda Seyfried as Sophie and Julie Walters as Rosie. Amanda plays Sarah Hendrickson in Big Love, and Julie Walters is Molly Weasley in the Harry Potter movies.

They cast Christine Baranski (Chicago, Grinch) as Tanya... I really like her as an actress, but not who I would picture in the role... every time I see the musical I picture Kim Cattrell (Sex and the City).

Here's the cast:
(Credited cast)

Colin Firth ... Harry Bright

Meryl Streep ... Donna

Pierce Brosnan ... Sam Carmichael

Amanda Seyfried ... Sophie
Dominic Cooper ... Sky

Stellan Skarsgård ... Bill

Julie Walters ... Rosie

Christine Baranski ... Tanya

NKOTB

New Kids on the Block

Reuniting

Friday. April 4th. On the Today Show.

I am SO EXCITED.

www.nkotb.com

2008 - 2009 Broadway Series at OCPAC

10 for Tuesday - 10 reasons to be excited about next season at the Orange County Performing Arts Center!

1) The Color Purple (regular season) in November

2) Cats (Curtain Call add on) in December

3) Stomp (Curtain Call add on) in January

4) Avenue Q (regular season) in March in April

5) The Rat Pack - Live at the Sands (Curtain Call add on) in April

6) Grease (regular season) April in May in June

7) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (regular season) in July

8) Fiddler on the Roof (regular season) in August

9) Legally Blonde (regular season) in September

10) The fact that there are 9 shows again instead of 7, like the 2007 - 2008 season!

Reading

I love to read. So much. Too much, maybe. When I read a book, I get totally absorbed in it. I don't understand NOT liking to read.

I am reading a book called "Change of Heart" - Jodi Picoult's newest one. So far, eh, I don't know. I am way at the beginning, still, (page 80 of 400 and something...) but there are these things happening that suggest that there may be supernatural things occurring... now, I don't mind reading  supernatural  books, but it seems to be a little off putting in her novel, because thats not what she usually writes.

Plus, I am not sure if I am crazy about the message her book might be leading up...

On the other hand, it could be that there is a logical explanation for everything that is happening and I just haven't figured it out yet. We shall just have to wait and see.

 
Which to me, is the best part of books!

The Sims 3

The Sims 3 is on the horizon!

It is coming in 2009, and it has some definite features that I am way excited about - namely - the fact that you are playing in a whole neighborhood rather than one household at a time, so your Sims can stroll out of the house, down the street, to the park, or into a coffee shop without loading new lots constantly.

Also, I am excited about how we will be able to create our Sims personalities. In Sims 2, you were given 25 "points" that you could use to create your Sims personality, distributing them among 5 personality "bars" (sloppy-neat, shy-outgoing, lazy-active, serious-fun, and grouchy-nice) - with each bar having the possibility of 10 points max. The way you distributed your points gave your sim a personality.

The creators of Sims 3 noticed that in the real world, when people classify themselves, they do so by character traits - so when creating your sims personalities, you will have a list of 80 some odd character traits (lazy, clumsy, genius, family oriented, etc.) and you will pick 5 to describe your sim. This should really make sims customizable!

I am pretty excited. This is my favorite article so far.

There is also lots of information at Snooty Sims.

Newsies on Stage

I am watching Newsies right now, while working on report cards - you know, a little background noise and all, and I was just thinking again about how much I would LOVE to see a stage version of this - with a little tweaking - I've always believed that Newsies could be a huge hit on stage - like a new Oliver! or Annie. Seriously, it has some great songs, a good story, family appeal - it could be totally awesome!

So I decided to take a break and google to see if Disney telepathically read my thoughts ( like it does so often for many of its brilliant ideas that I also thought up)

... and sure enough, I found this Nov. 2007 article that says, way down, at the very end:

Other upcoming Menken projects include "working with Tim Rice on King David, a stage musical of 'Newsies' [also 1992], and a couple of new movie musicals with Stephen Schwartz. There's a whole agenda of what I want to do."

AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH Could it possibly be true? This could be a dream come true for me! Seriously, I'd probably fly out to New York to see it before it started its National Tour.

Also, I found this about it on wikipedia:

Stage Adaptation

Music Theater International is currently working on a stage adaptation of Newsies. In an e-mail response to a question, an MTI employee stated that "at this time, the performance rights to NEWSIES are still not available and a release date has not been set, although we are hopeful that a stage adaptation might finally be available sometime in 2008-2009".

Stresses

Top Ten Things I've been stressed about lately...

1) Not getting my top ten out on Tuesday

2) My field trip (stressful, but fun! It went really well...)

3) The walk through. Don't ask. I hate them. I have always hated them, and I always spend the next few months feeling like a shitty teacher.

4) Report Cards. I have to get them done. This weekend.

5) Grading my students writing. I have to get it done. This weekend. Before I can do report cards.

6) Student Led Conferences. I feel so unprepared this time around.

7) The writing portion of student led conferences. I feel like I have spent too much time on reading and science that my writing instruction has been really weak this year.

8) Not practicing or writing as much as I had hoped I would (Not working on my personal goals).

9) Not helping Grant as much as I should around the house.

10) This crazy dream I had. Seriously, you'd have had me committed. Maybe I should have my self committed.

Wednesday. Most of this will be over by Wednesday. My last conference is on Wednesday. I can make it to Wednesday....

My boyfriend's back!

My boyfriend has moved back in to the family room. And my boyfriend's better than ever.

Our new Tivo records in HD. It can record two channels at a time. Plus, it can access all of the shows on our old, 300 hour Tivo upstairs, so we can actually record 3 shows at once (if needed) and access all the programs (from upstairs or downstairs) on our spiffy new Tivo that is connected to our big TV.

I must credit Miranda from Sex and the City for being the first to call Tivo her boyfriend. I so understand.

I love my TV. I love my Tivo. I fully admit it.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Finally! Seriously, they should have done this for books 4, 5, and 6, too. And possibly book 3.

I hope someone makes a TV series out of it. 2 seasons. 24 48 minute episodes. Or as many as it takes to tell the story full, completely, and accurately.

Here is the story:

'Deathly Hallows' films are scheduled to be released in November 2010 and May 2011.

By Geoff Boucher, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
1:11 PM PDT, March 12, 2008

WATFORD, England -- It's official: Eight will be the magic number for the "Harry Potter" film franchise.

After months of rumors, Warner Bros. and the producers of the massively successful movies will announce Thursday that they plan to split "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," J.K. Rowling's seventh and final "Potter" novel, into two blockbuster films -- one to be released in November 2010 and the second in May 2011.

The films will be titled, simply, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I" and "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II," according to producer David Heyman. Director David Yates, who returned for his second tour of Potter duty with "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" and is quite popular with the cast, will direct both "Deathly Hallows" films, which will be filmed concurrently. Screenwriter Steve Kloves also returns and, by completion of the franchise, will have written seven of the eight films.

10 Jobs

10 for Tuesday -

10 Jobs I would love to have (if I had the ability) and/or (if I wasn't a teacher) and/or (if I could make a living doing it.) -

Presented in no particular order...

1) A singer.

2) A fiction writer

3) A Disney Imagineer

4) A year round camp counselor

5) A radio talk show host

6) A TV show series writer

7) A Travel Book Writer/Travel Magazine Writer

8) A Disney Tour Guide

9) A stand up comedian

10) A Broadway Legend

Maybe some of those jobs could be combines and it is not 10 actual songs, but hey, it is cool!

Today is a happy day!

Writer's Block

I did a lot of writing this weekend, and then I just stopped. Arg! I am totally stuck! I completely forgot what I wanted to come next. This morning, I woke up and remembered another key scene that I wanted to take place, so I thought I could skip over this transitional section and work on that, and then go in and fill the holes in.

About 1/2 of my story I have read twice - because I wrote it on different computers and merged them together and had to double check that everything fit correctly. What I enjoyed is that I revised a lot f the stuff that I had rewritten, and it is even better. I feel like I can tell a distinct difference between what I just wrote, and what I went through and revised. The dialogs flows more naturally (at least, I hope it does!) and things go better together.

In the past, one of the weakest things about my stories was my lack of dialog, I spend so much time focusing on giving back story that by the time I get to action, this story always sort of fizzled out. This time, I really tried to focus on dialog, and filling in the back story as I go along - however, I am afraid now it is too dialog  heavy - I don't know if I am striking the right balance. Again, always something I can work on.

If I can just finish it, I will be so proud of myself!

2008 is turning out to be quite the year for me, a year of new things, getting over personal hurdles, and trying things I've always said I wanted to do...and it is still just at the beginning!

 

All Good Things Must Come to an End

That is the title of the 2 hour season finale of Dawson's Creek that I just finished watching.

Which is why I am sitting here, crying like a baby.

All the big points I remembered... who ended up with who (except I had forgotten who Jack's boyfriend was) and what happened to all of the major characters. I wanted to avoid it, because I hate it when good storied end.

It had a good run. (You know, the whole inevitable video collage that shows just how much the characters aged throughout the series).

Ah, what can I say? Life is weird, is it not? Real or fictional. The thing about these shows is, they have to end on tv, even though the character's lives go on from here - we just don't get to see them anymore - so they have to make some big event to end it all for the viewing public. (I mean, look at Joan of Arcadia - that show just ended - totally left everyone hanging - but it didn't have all the drama of a finale....)

In real life, there are only a handful of major events that mark these monumentous endings of one life and beginnings of another - graduation, weddings, births, deaths. But the reality is, as you go back and look through your life, the big changes are more gradual. You don't see them until you look from a distance.

God, I am just trying to be all poetic by trying to put into words what I'm feeling in my chest right now.

Have I mentioned how much I hate endings?

"It's not about getting it right. It's about knowing when something is wrong and doing something about it."

One more thing to add... for now

I do seem to have a hard time - when I DO remember to not talk about myself - and I try to show my genuine interest in others, I feel like I come across as nosy. It is a tough balance. I envy those who are naturally social.

Guess what? I'm allowed to use my "head voice!" Don't ask - it is a random comment and not remotely related to this topic.

I'm just... random

Self Centered

 

I think I must be a very high maintenance friend. I am probably very tiring to be around at times. It sucks.

See, here is the thing. I am annoyed by people who are self centered. However, I have come to realize that I am one of the most self centered people I know.

My problem was, I always assumed that self centered people were that way because the thought that they were fabulous. So, with those glasses on, I could never really see myself as self centered because I know that I am anything but fabulous.

(Let me be clear - I don't suck, I'm just not fabulous. You know what I am trying to say. You've met those really and truly fabulous people. Some are very self centered, true, but some are extraordinarily humble in their fabulous-ness, which makes them, of course, all the more fabulous.)

However, it has become clear to me over the past year or so that I spend so much time thinking about all of the ways that I am NOT fabulous. Second guessing things I said, or things I did. With my close friends, I talk about it, a lot, and it must be terribly boring.

It occurred to me that all of this self doubt and self reflection add up to self centered-ness. I am TOTALLY self centered. If I spend most of my time thinking about how I can improve myself, how I can not be such a dork, how what the last thing I said or did was totally stupid, then that is pretty self centered, right?

Here's the problem. In many ways, I think I am a pretty cool person. I make good "big idea" decisions in the course of my life. Unfortunately, where I pretty much suck, is where anyone else is involved. Talking to  people, going to parties, hanging out with friends.

So, when I am with other people, I enter this sort of "freeze mode," where I forget everything I am supposed to do because I am so uncomfortable. I coach myself "Don't say this, Don't do that, Don't talk about yourself, Talk about others, Show interest in others." Then I get in the situation, and I forget everything that I am supposed to do. Upon reflection, I realize that as I sit there, wanting to join in a conversation, I don't know how, I don't know what to say in the moment, so I end up connecting the conversation to me. About me.

I forget all of my self coaching.

(Come on - you can totally relate - I can parallel this to when you take lessons in something new, and you have all this stuff you have to remember to get it to work right - like playing an instrument - remember how to play each note, remember to keep a tempo, remember to sit up straight, remember the correct position of your fingers, remember to breathe, oooooh wait now you're slouching and oops you're not keeping the tempo, but remember to breathe... you try to juggle all of those little things and you remember one thing and you forget another...)

I feel like I have so little patience with myself - because I know what I am suppose to do - but I forget to do it. I feel so stupid sometimes - and infuriated because I know I am NOT a stupid person. But I do think I am a SLOW person. I am very good at thinking out everything that I need to do, but I am not very good at actually doing them in the moment.

It's why I suck at playing the piano - I can't play and look at the music at the same time - I had to memorize the song. Maybe that is my problem. I spent so much time finding ways to "cheat" growing up (ie, memorizing the songs) that I didn't learn how to actually learn to do stuff.

Anyway. What was I talking about in the first place?

Oh yeah. Myself.

sigh

Ten songs in my head

Ten for Tuesday (A day late)

Ten Songs stuck in my head: (in no particular order).

1) Imagine - John Lennon "Imagine all the people, sharing all the world.... you, you may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one...."

2) Maria - Blondie "She walks like she don't care, smooth as silk, cool as air, oooh it makes you wanna cry..."

3) Life Support - Rent - Jonathan Larson "Will I lose my dignity? Will someone care? Will I wake tomorrow from this nightmare?"

4) Angel of Music - Phantom of the Opera - Webber, Hart, and Stilgoe "Where in the world have you been hiding? Really you are perfect! I only wish I knew your secret, who is this new tutor?"

5) Bathwater - No Doubt "But I still love to wash in your old bathwater, love to think that you couldn't love another, I can't help it.... you're my kind of man!"

6) White Houses - Vanessa Carlton "She's so pretty and she's so sure, maybe I'm more clever then a girl like her... the summer's all in bloom.... the summer's ending soon... "

7) Mamma Mia - Abba - "Just one look and I can hear a bell ring, one more look and I forget everything..."

8) Breakaway - Kelly Clarkson "I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly, I'll do what it takes 'till I touch the sky and I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change.... and breakaway..."

9) What Time is It?  - High School Musical 2 - "What time is it? Summertime! It's our vacation!"

10) Theme Tune - Charlotte Church - The Charlotte Church Show (Season 2, I think)  "It's my theme tune, it's my theme tune, it goes on and on.... it's my theme tune, my lovely theme tune, it goes on and on."

Parties

I always seem to make an ass out of myself at parties. Say something I regret or act stupid or something. I always spend so much time thinking DOH! I shouldn't have said that!

I wish I could be more like Grant and just be like "whatever..." I spend WAY too much time thinking about what others think about me.

Anyway.

Happy Leap Day!

10 things on my mind lately

10 for Tuesday
10 Things on my mind lately...in no particular order...

1) Earrings. I must admit, some people look cute with earrings. But seriously, it is weird. It is cute to punch holes in your ears and dangle metal from them? Strange.

2)Amsterdam - we're going in June. I am SO EXCITED!!! We are staying on a house boat! Check out here to see where we're staying!

3) Sims 2 Free Time - the New expansion pack. It ships today, so I could probably buy it tomorrow at Gamestop - but I am going to wait until the weekend and get it on sale at Circuit City (They better put it on sale again - they've done that with every EP so far...$17.99 instead of $29.99.) Trust me, with as many EP's as I've bought, I need to save whenever I can. This might be the last EP before SIms 3 comes out.

4) Survivor, American Idol, Big Brother. Thank God the Writer's Strike is over - more of my shows should be coming back on. I miss The Big Bang Theory. I hope that Rosie O'Donnell's new sitcom is a hit!

5) Dinner. I am hungry. I think we are having fish tacos at Rubio's. Yum!

6) Correcting - I am SO behind. I know I have barely blogged - I just feel like I have SO MUCH to do and I am always catching up! Hee hee - I know, I know, don't we all feel that way?

7) Relationships - A certain type of relationship, actually. I am trying to think of the correct word for it. You know the type - like your doctor or a teacher - where they are like YOURS, so you feel comfortable around them, but to them, you lare like one of many. For example, As a teacher - I am the only 5th grade teacher that 125 kids have ever had (and the only first grade teacher 20 kids have had and 32 in 4th grade...) but yet I have had that many students. You know what I mean?

I need a name for those types of relationships. Not unbalanced or uneven or unequal (or maybe one of those would work) but those names remind me of relationships that are unbalanced - like a parent/child - obviously that has to be unbalanced - or you know, certain types of friendships where one person does all the work...

8) The democratic race. I am on pins and needles. I know who I want SO BADLY, and I fear the other. I just feel like Obama is a big speaker - but he doesn't have any solid plans or enough experience to back them up. I think Hilary is ready. My mother in law is probably freaking out as she reads this.

9)Writing. I want to write. DO you have any idea how many stories I;ve started and never finished?

10) Science Pilot - We are getting a new science program in our district. I am piloting it, so tomorrow, I will be at a training to learn how to use it. Yipee! I hope it is a good program - after all, we're stuck with it for the next 7 years! Speaking of new programs - I asked to be on the new math consult to help pick the new math program. I hope I get to be on it!

Survivor

Now do you remember why we don't like Cerie?

CAG

I just spent the weekend at the CAG (California Association for the Gifted) conference in Anaheim.

The conference itself was pretty good - I went to some fantastic talks and some pretty good talks.

I stayed at the Anaheim Hilton. Grant and Belle came up to spend time with me on Friday night, but they didn't spend the night because Grant had to work the next day. It was kind of cool that Belle was able to come to the hotel - they had a very liberal dog policy!

Also, my room faced the parks, so I got to watch the fireworks from my hotel room!

On Saturday, as part of CAG, I got to attend a panel of nine Disney Imagineers, including Marty Sklar!!! More on that in a future blog!!! Needless to say, I was ecstatic, emotional, and excited to be sitting in on such a panel, listening to such bright, creative, and energetic minds talking about some of my most beloved problems that now exist in parks around the world and previewing future projects. So FREAKING amazing!!!

So of course, I was in such a Disney mood. Unfortunately, I was blocked out this weekend. Fortunately, Grant and I had reservations at Hook’s Point at the Disneyland hotel, followed by watching the fireworks from our hotel room.

A great weekend - very educational... very inspirational... but I am SO tired now! Thank GOD there is no school tomorrow!

stressed

I am feeling very stressed at work, due to a few students, but one in particular. In addition, I have the most HIGH MAINTENANCE parents on the planet this year. I have one parent who wants to meet to discuss her son's progress - her son is doing JUST FINE! I have another parent who makes so many excuses for her son that the kid has never "failed," and thus has learned NO coping skills.

Sigh.

I had my evaluation today, though, and it went well, so that is certainly a relief.

Family

Dinner tonight at Souplantation - Tammy and Dave's treat.
Dave's daughter, Alexis - a ready made niece. She's almost 6. She likes me. I like her.
Mom, Bobby, Grant, and Danny, there as well.
Melted chocolate cake night. Yummy.

I love when my mom and Bobby are in town. I feel like my life is more complete when they're around.

Buzz Lightyear

Last Wednesday, I went to Disneyland and rode Buzz. (This ride is equipped with lazer blasters, and as you progress through the ride you aim at targets to try to build up a high score. )My average score on this ride is about 250,000 - 280,000 points. My goal when I ride it is to get above 300,000, which I've done a handful of things. This includes times when the ride has "stopped" for special loading (usually about 30 seconds).

On Wednesday, I scored 950,000 + points! Yes, the ride stopped, and I was able to lock on to a high scoring target, but still. That blew any score I've ever had out of the water! In addition, I was in the Top 10 for the DAY! (That includes anyone else who was stopped on the ride at the same time I was!) CHeck it out!

That is me with the blaster in front of my face. (Trust me, it is me!)

And that is me: Number 8 BJB.

Mom's in town

Mom's in town this weekend. She, Grant, and Bobby are rocking out on Guitar Hero as I type. They're good. Me? Not so much, but that is okay. I am perfectly content to listen as I blog and read about the upcoming expansion pack for Sims 2 (Free Time, being released in February...) and fan speculation as to whether there will be another expansion pack before Sims 3 comes out. Since there are a lot of "hints" about sims 3 in this expansion pack (for example, a painting that can be hung on one of the walls is of "the future" and shows a neighborhood where the houses are more interactive with each other, and one of the new video games your sims can play on their pc's is "Sims 3."

ALso, I am watching the debate between Obama and Clinton on You-tube. I think tonight we are going to go in the jacuzzi, especially if it starts to rain (fingers crossed!) and maybe watch the rest of Clerks 2. I just noticed that Jay is wearing a "Buddy Christ" shirt (from Dogma...) SO cool. I want one.

Vegas - thoughts

Vegas is getting a new revival for me. There was a time when I was sort of sick of the place. Really over it. I mean, it was just "ok." But now, I am all over the place again, and mostly just sticking with the strip!

First of all, the smoke situation is vastly improving, with more and more areas being limited in where you can and can not smoke. I don't come home with all of my clothes reeking of cigarette smoke. blech!

Second, I can now afford to attend some great shows. I LOVE that! In the meantime, they are developing more and more of my favorite types of shows: musicals and Cirque's. That thrills me.

Third, and, well, I never didn't enjoy this aspect.... I do love to eat. And what better place to eat then Vegas? hee hee.

Vegas

Hi,
Sorry about the lack of posts. Back to school, slight addiction to my Nintendo DS (more on that later....)

But I wanted you to know that I am in Vegas with Grant, so check out the our vacation blog if you're interested!

Nintendo DS

I got a Nintendo DS for Christmas. It is way cool - it is a gold one - a limited edition. I really like it!

One of the games I got is called "Brain Age 2" I like it because it is fun puzzles that you do to get your brain thinking and working. It also has Sudoku on it.

I also got Zelda - Phantom Hourglass - but I've just barely begun that game. I'll probably play that more in depth on the plane to Vegas in two weeks.

The third game I got was Super Mario Brothers, but I haven't really been able to play that - Andrew got a DS also, and he got Mario Party - so we traded for a while, and I have his Mario Party and he has my Super Mario Brothers. I have already beat the story mode on Mario Party, but it really is more fun to play together. (A cool thing about the ds is that if someone else has a ds, and they are within 30 feet, you can play some games together - like Mario Party, for example, with just one game cartridge... the other player temporarily can download the software.)

Other games, like Mario Kart (which Grant ordered in the mail and we got today) can connect online and play with other people who have the game around the world. SO far tonight, Grant has raced someone from India, someone from Japan, and people from around the US. cool, huh?

The last game I got, which could very well by my new video game obsession, complete and compact in my traveling Nintendo DS world (which can go every where I go) is Animal Crossing - Wild World. It consists of my little person (named Beejay) who has moved into a town populated by animals (I named the town Nahtazu - like Disney's Animal Kingdom's old slogan "Nahtazu" which let people know that the Animal Kingdom is "not a zoo..." get it?)

One of the cool things about it is it runs on real time - it is set to the time you set on your nintendo ds - so assuming it is set to real time, then if it is night time in real life, it is night time in your game - if it is noon, then it is day time in the game. It also follows seasons - if you play in January (as I am) then it is winter in the game - with snow on the ground sometiems, sometimes it snows, and the days have a cool blue cast to it - when you play in the summer, then the game is brighter and the weather adjusts accordingly.

The game is very open ended - you can fish and you can catch bugs, you can write letters to your new animal friends, and they will write you back. You find ways to earn "bells," the currency in the game. It seems like fun so far!

I am going back to include links in the post so check them out.

New Year's Eve

Check out my New Year's Eve

My sister's big news!

So, my little sister is engaged! Her fiance proposed to her on Christmas morning, by giving her a gift from under the tree with an engagement ring and asking her to marry him!

No wedding date set, yet, but his daughter, Lexi, (my soon to be step-niece!), who is 6, suggested next Tuesday. Tammy mentioned that it would take a bit longest then that to plan, s Lexi reconsidered and suggested the following Sunday, instead!

Congrats Tammy and Dave - I am so happy for you guys!

43 things / 43 places

Well, it is the end of the year - people review last year and think about next year...

resolution time...

I think I've blogged about this in the past, but I love the website 43 things... on it, you can list 43 things you'd like to do... you can look at them as goals, short term goals, long term goals, resolutions, or just things to check off your "things to do in your life" list. It can be as simple as "Watch the movie "Rent"" to "Climb Mount Everest" or anything in between.

It is fun, a neat way to track progress... (for each thing, you can leave messages or log entries tracking your progress, if you wish. You can also find others who are working on similar goals, or who have succeeded in meeting doing that "thing" and read their entries or ask the for ideas. You can also opt to have the website email you to remind you that it is something you want to do... currently I have 18 things on my list, and I get emailed about 4 of them once a week.)

It has a sister site - 43 places, where you can make a list of 43 places you want to go.

So, if you're thinking about making a resolution this year, give yourself a break and head over to 43 things. Make a list, set some goals, big and small, achievable tomorrow or in 20 years... And resolve to try and tackle at least one of those things in the next year...

After all, I did learn to solve a rubik's cube.

Corteo - Cirque du Soleil

Last Night, Grant and I went on a date.

We had dinner at Bella Terra at the Japanese restaraunt and then had pink berry for dessert. (Pinkberry is okay - I am not a huge fan of frozen yogurt, and it is expensive...but it was tasty.)

Then we saw Corteo at the OC fairgrounds. It was AWESOME! The musicians and singers were stellar, and the acrobatic acts were amazing! Some of the standout acts were the trapeze act - except there was no trapeze, the acrobats swung each other - a human trapeze! Very cool! They also had a gymnastic - bars at that I particularly enjoyed, as well as a cute scene with "children" bouncing on trampoline "beds."

A fantastic show!

Radio City Rockettes

Last night, Grant and I got to see the Radio City Christmas Spectacular - performing in Orange County! It was SUCH a fantastic show! It was so neat to see it live - you know - it is one of those things you hear about growing up but living out here on the west coast, you really don't think you'd ever get to see it. It is really cool - like seriously - the American version of "Lord of the Dance."

Really puts you in the holiday mood!

The Von Trapp Children

On Saturday, Grant and I went to the new concert hall at the OC Performing Arts Center, and saw the Pacific Symphony Orchestra's Christmas Pops concert. The guest singers were the Von Trapp Children, the great grandchildren of Captain Von Trapp, and the grandchildren of Werner Von Trapp, the 2nd eldest son (portrayed as "Kurt" in the movie.

The concert was fantastic - and the Von Trapp children are REALLY good. They can really sing. It was so neat to heat them!

Here is a youtube clip if you'd like to hear them - but as good as they sound here, they sound SO MUCH BETTER live!

Dad

So my dad went to the hospital with severe stomach pain last night and it was appendicitis. He had an laparoscopic appendectomy, because it hadn't burst yet, so he should heal more quickly.

It was all over so fast. I was at the hospital at 8, they took him in at 8:30, they were done by 9:30 and he was out of recovery at 10:30. Just amazing.

I am sure he had a crappy night at the hospital, but hopefully he will be home today where he can sleep and heal.

It was weird seeing dad like that, though - he's one of the guys, you know, who's never sick and has a very high tolerance for pain.

Typical dad. He goes to work even though he's in pain. Decides to come home early becasue it hurts so bad, but decides to swing by Costco to pick up a Christmas present and then swing by Target to pick up another one. Then he goes home, lays down for a minute, decides the pain is too bad, and then heads to the doctor. :::roll my eyes and sigh::: that's my dad!

Against God's Plan

I don't know if I can convey the hilarity of this moment to you.

But I will try.

SO, last night I was at a party, and one of the girl's brings a friend. This guy is loud, exuberant, and needless to say my gay-dar alarm was going off, full blast. (As it turned out, I sort of "knew" this guy from someplace else, which made the story all the more hilarious when I came home and described this to Grant - because he sort of had an idea of who this guy was, and how gay this guy was.)

A few hours later, I heard the girl who brought this guy introduce him as her fiancee. What? Just about everyone's jaw hit the floor. Seriously and I kid you not. We we're all in shock. I mean, it was so against any prediction we could have possibly made.

So, I am talking to another friend of mine who happens to be gay, Brad, and he sits down next to me and another friend. We kind of glance over at the gay-guy-who is engaged-to-a-girl and Brad is like I know, IKNOW. So we just keep shooting each other these looks whenever he does something that elevates our gay-dar alert. Honestly, this guy wasn't just "maybe-gay." We were honestly confused. At one point, he leans in and kisses his fiancee, which was shocking -

and a scene from "My Best Friend's Wedding" popped into my head. Let me take you back... Julienne (Julia Roberts) has this best guy friend, Michael (Dermot Mulroney), who is getting married to (Kimmy)Cameron Diaz. Julia's character decides she is madly in love with this guy and decides to crash the wedding. In desperation, she calls her other best friends, George (Rupert Everett), who is very gay. However, Julienne introduces him as HER fiancee, to try to make Michael jealous. When Sammi finds out she comes squealing up the aisle in excitement, "This is so great so wonderful, it just makes everything so perfect..." And George, very gay, and very exuberant, has his arm around Julienne - so obviously where it doesn't belong, and Kimmi says "This is just, so... so...." and George jumps in and says, "Against God's Plan?"

And that line just jumped in my head... to see this guy at the party that seemed so unbelievably, desperately gay...and not just in a "poor sap he's clueless" kind of way, but in a "he is so exuberant in his word choices and song dedications and movements that he is out and proud" kind of way... to see him kiss this girl... it just seemed so... against god's plan.

So I am looking at Brad and he's looking at me, and he's like, "oh that is just so wrong." So I say, "I know... I KNOW ... Brad says, "It would be like if I kissed...." (sigh of utter disgust) "....you!"

So my friend and I are cracking up and Brad puckers his lips with a look of utter terror on his face, as if he is about to kiss a cockroach. So I lean in and kiss him and we both jump apart as if it were... well... against god's plan. hee hee.

So he jumps up and runs outside shivering like... "That was so wrong..." and I can't stop laughing about the whole thing. Brad pulls out a cigarette and lays on the driveway fanning himself... it was so funny... it was just so freakin' hilarious. The look on Brad's face...

Sigh... just one of those moments that hits so perfectly... I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time!

Spanglish

***possible spoilers***

I really liked this movie. I wasn't satisfied with the ending, but I think it has a lot to do with how you look at the movie. It was sort of like "Little Children..." movies that go for the more realistic ending rather than the expected/romantic ending.

I really liked Adam Sandler in this role. I love when he plays the more serious roles with the hint of comedy.

The problem is when you try to look at the story from too many angles. I mean, you want to look at the story from Cristina and Flor's perspective, but you only see their lives in relation to the Clasky's, with very few references to their home life. Who were Flor's friends in America? What about Cristina's friends? cousins? We were rooting for John and Flor because that was all that we saw of Flor's life?

On the other hand, ug... when you look at John's story - well, he's got great kids, a great staff and a great job, but a neurotic wife - who is AWFUL for him and their daughter. I feel badly for him. He deserved better. But really, it wasn't his story.

All in all though, I thought it was a good movie... thought provoking, for sure.

LegoLand

Grant and I went to Legoland yesterday with Angie and Drew and Cori. OH MY GOSH! What fun! Yes, Legoland is for the kids, definitely, but still, it so so cute and creative! The rides are just okay, but the landscaping is lush and beautiful, and the opportunities for kids to use their imagination are abundant!

My favorite part was the driving school (and I couldn't even participate!) We took Cori to a driving school for 3 - 5 year olds. They press a peddle, turn the steering wheel, and get to go around an oval track. So cute.

Then we met up with Andrew who was at the driving school for 6 - 13 year olds. SO CUTE!!!! It is like a whole series of streets - one section is like a city, with intersections that have stop lights and stop signs. Another section is like a park with trees. Each car has a gas and brake peddle, and the kids get to practice driving ion the left side, stopping at stop lights and red lights at intersections, etc. So cute and so cool!

There were some free floating boats that you could drive through a course at skipper school. Just lots of neat things for kids to do. Of course, the miniland - where there are lego models of San Francisco, New York, Las Vegas, etc. are really cool, too.

Just an all around neat place for kids and families!

Presenting

So, I have been thinking that I'd be interested in presenting - to other GATE teachers, etc. So I mentioned it to Nanci... and well, last week she said - "Ok, on Thursday night, we're presenting to the parents and you're helping...."

So tonight, we presented to parents of GATE students in our district. Nanci did most of the presentation, but I did a little. That is just the way I like it. baby steps. I might do this presentation later in the year by myself, and I totally think I could do it.

The hardest thing for me, though, was to speak slowly, because everything I said was being translated. So I couldn't go too fast... which is very different from my presentation style, which is to talk, ramble, and repeat myself.

I think it went very well, though!

Yeah for me!

24 Season 6

Grant and I are starting it and watching it on dvd before season 7 comes out on tv... although I just don't know if I could actually watch 24 live - and wait a WHOLE WEEK between episodes.

Gawd... I do love the show, but I HATE torture... and there has been far too much of it on the first 3 episodes.

OH - and let me get this straight... there is a price that the Chinese Government is will ing to take to give Jack back to the US, and no one bothers to do it until they need to turn him over and sacrifice him to a terrorist... wha? That so pisses me off. I mean, sure I am sure they explained the situation and the Chinese figured, "well, sure, if you're just going to kill him..." but still PISSES ME OFF that Jack did SO MUCH for the country and they are so willing to just throw him away. Anyway - we just finished ep 3.

Bad Dreams

I have had the crappiest dreams lately.

Two nights ago, I had a dream about a guy chasing Grant and I down in a car. He started out by asking us for directions and then he started stalking us and then it was like a full on chase - and there was like no one around to help us.

Last night, I had a dream about Amy. I went to the Children's hospital (granted, it wasn't the same hospital that Amy was actually at.) When I first saw her, she scared the shit out of me for two reasons; one because I knew she was dead and therefor a ghost, and two, because she looked sicker than ever. I wanted to talk to her but she left like she was mad at me. As I continued my tour of the hospital I came across her again, and this time she felt better and looked happier, but she was sad because she wanted to go home, or at least that was the impression I had. I picked her up and carried her for a while. Throughout the dream, when I was deep in the hospital, she looked pretty healthy and happy to see me. But whenever I saw her near the exits, she would start to look unhealthy, sad, and even angry. I finally woke up when she got really mad at me for taking her close to the exits. She wanted to leave, but was furious when I tried to take her. It was weird, uncomfortable, and sad.

Kathy Griffin

I LOVE Kathy Griffin. She is so funny. I love her show "My Life on the D-list," so when I saw she was coming to the OC Performing Arts Center, I HAD to go.

So last Friday, Katherine, Reid, Cathy, Grant and I went to the new concert hall to see Kathy Griffin in person. I was curious about whether she would have someone open for her and when she came right out, I was a little disappointed, because I thought, "How long can the show last if it is just Kathy?" I mean, I worry way too much - I am one of those people who frets about what is going to happen rather than just enjoying the moment... you know, "Only "blank" days left of vacation...." kind of thing...

So I was worried about when it was going to be over... but Kathy had all us laughing... for 2 hours and fifteen minutes! She was fantastic!

I am so glad she signed on for a fourth season. She is so freaking hilarious!

Christmas Lights

Ok, first - I found a way that I can play my Sims game in a window - so now I can play my sims while doing other computer stuff, like now for instance - my new Legacy family, Nicole and Sheldon, just got married and are on their honeymoon on Twiiki Island. As they're combing the beach for seashells right now, I am taking the opportunity to blog...

So - Thanksgiving Day is over and it is officially the Christmas season... quite a few houses have lights up outside, and thank goodness. It just seems so DARK. I know that is like the uh-duh of the century, but it is true - the first few weeks of Daylight Saving's Time, I just feel so tired, because it is so dark... and the Christmas Lights - they are just so needed to brighten up the spirit... it truly is no surprise that so many holidays based around light - Hanukkah, the Pagan Festival of Lights (Winter Solstice) etc., all gather around this time of year. It is just needed.

My Sims are at the beach now, swimming. It is unfortunately, raining, so I am going to get them out of the water before they get electrocuted. Maybe we'll had to the spa and get a couples massage...

Sp anyway, my toes are so cute - bright holiday red with a snow man on one toe and a holly leaf on the other...

OH! The people who are across the street and one house down have their lights up - three separate strands, synchronized to some annoying tech-y music. I am glad I don't live next door! The lights don't match, and it is so bright when a whole strand blinks on and off. It is not done very well... but maybe it will be better next year with practice... now that they have an idea of how it works...

Broadway Dark

The strike sucks. I'd hate to be in NY this season.

A judge ordered "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to start playing again in NY.

It seems to me there should be a better way to handle this, you know? I am a teacher - I am union - and luckily my union and district work well together. But still. This whole idea of not showing up to work, shutting down jobs, it just doesn't seem like the best way to handle the whole problem.

...and in a related note... I miss new episodes of "The Big Bang Theory..."

I love that show.

The Holidays

So It is official, the holidays have begun. It is Thanksgiving! My toes are painted a holiday red with a cute snowman on one toe and holiday leaves on the other toe. I took a pic, but it didn't come out very good. If I can take another picture, I'll post it here for you.

I am so excited to have a few days off! I am watching past episodes of Ugly Betty online that didn't record on my DVR for some odd reason and searching the Internet with nothing to do until 3:30. So sweet.

On Tuesday, Grant, Cathy and I saw Jersey Boys, the new Broadway musical about The Four Seasons. It was so good! I love that music! "You're just to good to be true... can't take my eyes off you..." LOVE it.

The End

I hate when stories come to an end. When I was a kid, I loved reading serial books - especially the Babysitter's Club. When I came to love a group of characters, I always wanted to know what would happen next. When books were stand alone, I'd reread them over and over - I must have read, "Are you there God, it's me, Margaret," 6oo times.

I am that way with TV shows, too. I hate series finales. I want the show, the adventures, to go on and on.

Not so much with movies... maybe I just don't get as invested in the characters... although I take that back... sometimes I come to the end of the movie and I go online and look for everything I can find about that movie, but certainly not as often as with books or TV shows.

Add it my list of OCD symptoms.

Sylvia

Last night, Grant and I went to see "Sylvia," starring Kathy Rigby, at La Mirada. The play was ok... we we're all pretty underwhelmed. However - Garry Marshall was in the audience! How cool is that? I guess they are launching a new musical based on "Happy Days," and it is going to premiere at La Mirada. It was one of the plays on the survey for the next season at the Performing Arts Center!

 

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Cool HB website!

Check this out: The Local HB

I particularly like this page... where to go.

Proud to be born and raised in Huntington Beach!

The fires

I suppose I should have blogged about this during the week it actually happened, but such is life. So. The fires. SUCKED. Here in HB, we were fine, really, but the air quality was nasty. The Silverado Canyon fire hit closest to home. One of my friends lives there, but she is fine, her house is fine, and she got to go home last night.

I kept my students in all week... 3 of the days the district mandated it, but the other days I let them stay anyway. Seriously - it was nasty out. But this past week is much better.

Oh yeah, some school districts closed... we don't get snow days, but once every decade we get a fire day... unfortunately, you don't get to play outside, but then again, kids don't do that much more anyway - so they can play video games or watch tv all day. I am sure they were thrilled.

The Amazing Race

The new season of Amazing Race starts in just a week and a half...

Get this - three of the racers are from Huntington Beach, and two racers are from Fountain Valley!

This post contains offensive language...

I am fucking pissed off.

Ok. So. I am trying to be understanding. But... aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh

Ok... let me back up. Today, after school, I glance over at my Writing Process board, which has black butcher paper on it. From across the room, it looked as though there were white streaks on the board, so I go over to look closer, and realized there were tears in the black paper, showing the white under the first layer.

HUH?

So I think back to earlier in the day, when my class had their first mall of the year. A mall is when students get to bring in stuff - homemade items, gently used toys and books, etc. - and sell them for classroom money. In addition, students can create games to entice customers. I remembered that one little darling had a dart board on the writing process board. However, having taught 5th grade for a few years now, and having had many many many Benedict malls, I didn't panic about seeing the dart board there. I figured the student who had attached the dart board used a push pin or something equally logical.

But no. The effer taped it up. TAPED IT UP. ON THE BULLETIN BOARD. right on my BLACK BUTCHER PAPER. Then, after the mall, they proceeded to tear the tape off. Hence, the white marks were four different places that tape was ripped off of the butcher paper, ripping the top layer of the butcher paper off.

Ok. So. I am trying to be patient. Forgiving. I am thinking over how I can appropriately deal with this on Monday when I see him again. I have two other teachers who have suggested kicking the kids ass.

But seriously, right? Its a kid. Right? Kids make mistakes, right? Sigh. I can help him learn from his mistakes. I need to give the kid a break - being that it is just a mistake.

Except that I just keep thinking... after he tore off that first piece of tape, did he stop tearing the tape off? No. Did he come to me? No. He proceeds to tear the fuck up on my B-board. In FOUR DIFFERENT places. He doesn't stop after one... or two.... or even three tears.

Then, when he sees the damage, does he come to me? Oh no. He just saunters his ass out to PE.

god damn it.

The Sample People

Ok - you know the sample people at Cosco? The ones who make samples of the food products and then hand them out? OK. I am sure that they are very nice people. And I am sure that this isn't true of everyone who gives at samples. And I REALLY don't mean to sound bitchy.

But seriously.

Some of those people are weird. Seriously. Yesterday, I was walking down an aisle, and I here a Sample Lady saying, "Right down this aisle, half way down on the left." I get closer, and realize that there is NO BODY THERE. She is talking to herself. Out loud. Not loud enough to be pimping her product, but not quiet enough that she is just practicing the spiel to  herself.

The whole situation was kind of... creepy.

 

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"No day but today!"-
- Rent

Halloween

Halloween is turning into such a festive season. The key word being season - with people decorating their yards weeks ahead of time to theme parks having special events through the month of October. I know a lot of people have turned Halloween into a season,  but I am feeling it more so in recent years, as people around here are putting up orange holiday lights, scary snow globes, and other assorted items on their lawns - much like Christmas.

I like it. Especially here. Without the leaves to signal the changing season, it is a nice way to ring in the Fall.

I think I'll have apple cider tonight.

 

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"No day but today!"-
- Rent

Just Me

I can't help it.

I gotta be me.

80's Music

Growing up, I didn't listen to a lot of current music - I preferred oldies - bubble gum, 50's K-Earth 101, listening to mom and dad's records, picking out my favorite songs... Close to you, One Tin Soldier, The Twist, The Lion Sleeps Tonight...

So 80's music, well, I never really knew, could never really sing along, never really considered this music a part of my life...

But music, well, music isn't really like that for me. Music gets inside of me, it sets a mood, it reminds me of things... like scents... music makes me nostalgic.

Without me even realizing it, 80's music filled my blood, carved a place in the time line of my life. It played in the background at the malls when I went Christmas shopping, it played in the movies I went to see with my family, with my cousin Betty, and eventually, alone with my friends. It played at Bullwinkle's fountain show, on TV commercials, at Knott's Berry Farm's shows in the Good Time Theater, on the radio in other people's cars. 80's music was all around me.

So now, when I'm driving to work, and 80's music comes on, I get slightly annoyed - because in general, I like to sing along, and as mentioned, I can't sing along to most 80's tunes - but there is something about the commonality of 80's music that floods me with memories - and makes it so hard to turn the dial. How could this music that I spent a decade actively ignoring have such a powerful impact on me?

Because I hear it... and I'm in grade school again, twirling in my uniform jumper, running barefoot at the park, playing "traffic," on my bike with Tammy, creating stage shows with the neighbors, The band I made with Sarah, The spy game with the colored badges, sneaking up the neighbors trees, eating waffles with peanut butter and syrup with Danny D., and of course, unending laps at the roller rink....

Nostalgia, so powerful.

Sims 2, Dawson's Creek, and High School Musical 2

SO, The new Sims 2 EP came out - Bon Voyage... and I LOVE it. I love taking my Simmies on vacation... it is so cool to just relax and have fun with them, without feeling like I am wasting time when I could be increasing my Sims knowledge or skills. And I REALLY love the new lots... I have never been so excited about building... I am going to create some kick ass vacation lots.

I'm in the middle of Dawson's Creek, Season 3. I am so in love with Joshua Jackson, it is unreal.

Also, I was watching the Dance-Along version of high school musical. I was just thinking, in general, how neat those kids are - Ashley Tisdale, Zac Effron, Vanessa Hudgens - I mean, here they are hugely successful with the same age group that adored Brittany Spears and Lindsey Lohan... and yet, there staying out of trouble. What happened? What is the difference? I mean, in a way, I feel sorry for the Brittany's and the Lindsey's. I can't claim to understand what celebrity is like... but anyone who is so addicted to drugs an alcohol like those girls... sigh. What a horrible place to be.

But those Disney channel kids, (granted, Lindsey Lohan was a Disney girl), but these high school musical kids, they're so put together. I mean, they have to dig to find dirt on these kids, and the worst they can do is publicize a personal, private photo that one of them took for their love. I mean, the media, the publicists chastising about mistakes made.... whatever... To be perfectly honest, I think their relationship is sweet and I feel badly that the picture was leaked somehow. In any case - props to that group for doing something right, for staying positive and keeping their lives real.

Back to School

Back to school,
schedule, routine...

I'm feeling pretty crummy about last year - over all, in many ways, my worst year teaching - because it was mostly self inflicted - when I was excessed, that was the worst - but I had no choice in that, but yes, that was the worst year - but last year, my personally worst as a teacher.

A learning experience. So many things that happened that I will not let happen again.

So now, here is my new year, a fresh start, a chance to try again.

Thursday morning - so nervous - as always, to start a new class - to make a good impression, to make the right impression. I think I did ok. By nine, the nerves were mostly gone, only to resurface slightly Friday morning.

I am looking forward to when I know all my kids, when I feel comfortable coming in... the first few weeks are always like putting on a new pair of shoes - and knowing that soon, they will be soft and comfortable, but for now they still feel a bit stiff and awkward.

I also have so many ideas to plan better lessons. My GOAL this next week is to really go slow and explain procedures carefully - how I want assignments done - and to really have higher expectations for my students. I really want to try to instill a sense of pride in my students regarding their work - always a week area of mine - and not accepting mediocre is something I am going to try.

So - we'll see where this year goes, right?

Perfect Cruise line

My Perfect Cruise line would have:
Carnival's food
Carnival's prices
Princess's Anytime dining
Royal Caribbean ship's layout and decor - particularly the atrium pool area.

This summer has been crazy. Not the most productive for me, and I find myself again disappointed with what I didn't manage to get done.

Including on this blog.

Its been a long run of fleeting thoughts of "I should blog about this," or "I should blog about that...." and of course, I don't blog about any of it.

Tomorrow, we leave for Disney World. I am so excited. I LOVE Disney World. And then we go on our Carnival Cruise. I am so excited. I LOVE to cruise.

So of course, I will be updating the vacation blog, hopefully with Grant's help. Check that out.

Summer Televison

I am watching Power of Ten right now - It is this new game show on CBS.

Why I love it: You get to guess what a percentage of Americans feel about certain topic. I do pretty good at it, in general - of the 6 questions that have been asked so far, I've been close (enough to win each round) on all questions but one (of course, that was the million dollar question, but whatever! )

Why I hate it: Well, you know how I just mentioned that I answered 5 of the 6 questions right? Well, the show is 46 minutes over. It is one of those drag them out game shows with lots of time between the questions discuss whether or not you should go on (a potentially gain ten times what you currently have), leave with what you have, or guess, and if you guess wrong, your current winnings are divided by ten. It is what I hate about, say, Deal or No Deal, or even the 2nd night results show of American Idol (which I fast forward through most of.)

See the problem with gameshows these days is that the stakes are so high, and so much money is given away, that they can't afford to move much faster. Unfortunately, the result is a show that is almost painfully slow for me to watch. I feel like I waste so much time - seriously - like 48 minutes of my life, for like 10 minutes worth of show.

But - I enjoy it much more then, say, Deal or No Deal, because there is a little more thought to it, then "pick a number!"

I can do some fast forwarding.... (o:

Big Brother:

I am so anxious for tonight's episode. There has been a big shake them up in the house, and it looks like Eric might be out the door. I am stressing. Eric fucked up big time by telling Dick Amber's story. On the other hand, I really don't think it is fair that his game was blown by the stupid airplane banner. Especially because, although he screwed up with telling Dick, he wouldn't have voted against his group if America hadn't told him too (Eric is America's Player - he has to do what America tells him to.)

Oh wait! (I am watching now!!!) Eric didn't TELL Dick the secret, he just told Dick that he KNEW a secret about Amber! Now, it sucks that he told Dick that (and that he sensationalized it by saying "it is such a horrible thing...." That was a dick thing to do.... but he didn't tell the secret, he didn't use it... Amber is so irrational!!!!!!!!

I really am hoping that the Eric/Dustin alliance pulls through.

Anyway here is who I hate in order right now - although I admit that this changes by the hour.

Dick. You know what? He's just a Dick.
Amber. She is whiny. She's not logical. She is a stupid player.
Danielle. She's so fruuuuuustrating. And she let's daddy do all her dirty work.

Jen and Kail are kind of annoying. If Jen keeps Eric in tonight, she will go way up on my scale of who I like.

Jessica, Jameka, Zach - Not a strong opinion, (although Jameka annoyed me last week with her religious understanding of what it meant to play POV). But again, if they keep Eric in, that will improve their likability.

Eric. Sigh. He bugs me with his verbal diareah, but he is America's player, so his votes had to be cast. That in itself isn't enough, becasue that is what he signs on for, and what he gets paid for, but I also think it is extremely unfair that the airplane banner calling Eric a lier was not fair at all.

I am pulling for Dustin. He is a good player.

Ok I have to go watch the show...

2 years!

Grant and I have been married for two years! It is so funny. I can't imagine my life without him. He has certainly been a part of my life for a large part of it - considering we first met in the summer of 1994 - Our relationship constitutes 13 years of friendship, 6 years of romance, and 2 years of marriage. Wow.

So what does all that give me? SOmeone who knows me better then sometimes I know myself. SOmeone that I trust implicitly. Someone who shares my everyday life and my exotic adventures. Someone to hold me at night and to kiss goodbye in the morning. Someone who makes me feel incredibly lucky every single day.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,,,

It is finished.

The last few days

So, our bathroom - at least the major stuff, is all done now. I think it turned out pretty well! The shower is heavenly - huge and pretty and wonderful. Unfortunately, that made the area where the toilet goes a bit narrower, but it is ok. We just need to do some last minute detail work and it will be complete once and for all.

I have been watching "Kathy Griffin - My life on the D-list." That show is so funny!

Oh - and Big Brother - Dick as HOH!!!! Yes!!!! I want Jen out...

Ok - I am off to meet the girls from work for lunch, and see Princess Brooklynn - I don't even want to think about how much she has grown...

Sometimes it works out...

I was thinking about old friends the other day. You know, friends that you've lost touch with over the years? You think, "Maybe I should get in touch with them..."

Sometimes you do, you make that step. It is actually pretty easy with email now. So you exchange a couple of emails and then things sort of just drift off again...

But sometimes, you click. Sometimes, you renew an old friendship and in many ways, it is like you never left - you're as close as ever - maybe even closer.

That is awesome when that happens.

Right, Angie?