I took home a stack of research reports to correct this weekend.
My students so graciously suggested that I kick back and relax this weekend, maybe spend some time at Disneyland, and not worry about those pesky reports - I could just give them all "4"'s and spend the rest of the weekend relaxing?
Wasn't that thoughtful?
After school, Jan reminded me of their suggestion. I told her that I was thinking about using the stair method. After explaining to her what the stair method was, she looked at me thoughtfully and said, "I think that is a great method. Just be sure that" ... and she rifled through the pile..."this one reaches the "4" section of the stair case!"
Friday, May 25, 2007
Feeling kinda blue...
So.
Rosie is leaving the View early. This was her last week. I wish her departure could have been happier. More of a celebration of her year on the View.
That is why I am sad. (Edit: Looks like Rosie will be back for one more episode on Monday. The View's Website says to tune in on Monday, May 28 for Rosie's last day on the View.
I know you don't understand.
You don't have to.
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés writes:
She is a casebook example of a bright, what I would call, “extra- extrovert.” Her energy is very vital. She pounces and blurts. She says what comes to mind. Her associations are broad. She has a long memory. She is dedicated, fierce, opinionated. Funny often. Bossy girl. Big heart. Young in years no matter how old she becomes. Eccentric. Odd. Smart.
All of these traits can seem and be spun out with forethought, or brashly…or some mixture of both. All these traits, which are the traits of many BIG personalities of high energy including politicos, thinkers, teachers and entertainers… all these traits can be used as reflections of one’s gifts and bring much good in many ways.
These same traits can also bring down opprobrium from those don’t like the bigness, the loudness, the oddness, the ‘take-control-ness’ of such a soul. Those who much prefer measured things, or prefer a certain aesthetic, or who are quite introverted are often put off by those kinds of Bigness.
Rosie is leaving the View early. This was her last week. I wish her departure could have been happier. More of a celebration of her year on the View.
That is why I am sad. (Edit: Looks like Rosie will be back for one more episode on Monday. The View's Website says to tune in on Monday, May 28 for Rosie's last day on the View.
I know you don't understand.
You don't have to.
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés writes:
She is a casebook example of a bright, what I would call, “extra- extrovert.” Her energy is very vital. She pounces and blurts. She says what comes to mind. Her associations are broad. She has a long memory. She is dedicated, fierce, opinionated. Funny often. Bossy girl. Big heart. Young in years no matter how old she becomes. Eccentric. Odd. Smart.
All of these traits can seem and be spun out with forethought, or brashly…or some mixture of both. All these traits, which are the traits of many BIG personalities of high energy including politicos, thinkers, teachers and entertainers… all these traits can be used as reflections of one’s gifts and bring much good in many ways.
These same traits can also bring down opprobrium from those don’t like the bigness, the loudness, the oddness, the ‘take-control-ness’ of such a soul. Those who much prefer measured things, or prefer a certain aesthetic, or who are quite introverted are often put off by those kinds of Bigness.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Belle
Dogs TOTALLY know when they've done something wrong...
Yesterday, Belle chewed up a candy wrapper. The pieces were all over the family room floor. When I came downstairs, Belle stayed upstairs. I couldn't figure out why until I saw her mess.
That doggy stayed upstairs alone for 5 hours. When she finally came down stairs, she went straight outside. She would NOT come into the family room at all!
Sweet puppy.
Yesterday, Belle chewed up a candy wrapper. The pieces were all over the family room floor. When I came downstairs, Belle stayed upstairs. I couldn't figure out why until I saw her mess.
That doggy stayed upstairs alone for 5 hours. When she finally came down stairs, she went straight outside. She would NOT come into the family room at all!
Sweet puppy.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
So me... Ha!
| You are Betty Grable |
 The ulitmate girl next door You're the perfect girl for most guys Pretty yet approachable. Beautiful yet real. |
Becoming a weekend blogger?
I am SO on the countdown for summer. This week has seemed so hectic. My classroom is a MESS. Sigh. 4 1/2 more weeks.
So I am watching Dawson's Creek now. So not as good as Joan of Arcadia.
I am LOVING our dance festival dance - and having so much fun practicing it. We're doing a hip hop dance to hit me up from the Happy Feel sound track. So cool.
So our computer crashed - Grant's still performing surgery to see if we can get our stuff back - like my Sims information, for example. I may have to start all over again.
So I am watching Dawson's Creek now. So not as good as Joan of Arcadia.
I am LOVING our dance festival dance - and having so much fun practicing it. We're doing a hip hop dance to hit me up from the Happy Feel sound track. So cool.
So our computer crashed - Grant's still performing surgery to see if we can get our stuff back - like my Sims information, for example. I may have to start all over again.
| Your Brain is Purple |
 Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places. |
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Joan of Arcadia
Sigh. I just finished watching the last two episodes of Joan of Arcadia. What an awesome, amazing show. I am so bummed that it went off of the air. It is so infuriating that such a good show was taken off of the air, and that they had no clue, no chance to resolve it -
They were picking up momentum - there was huge potential for what they were introducing.
SO BUMMED!!!
Could it ever come back? Is it too much to hope for???
They were picking up momentum - there was huge potential for what they were introducing.
SO BUMMED!!!
Could it ever come back? Is it too much to hope for???
Friday, May 11, 2007
FRIDAY!
Hello! It is Friday! I love Fridays! I love the weekend!
My hands are all cut up - so random... like two paper cuts and an injury that involved a screw driver last week thats all infected now. Let's just say using hand sanitizer is not at the top of my list.
Oops - I left my flowers from Teacher's Day in the trunk - I'm going to go get those. I'll be right back.
smells so good!
So, hmmm, we started to learn our dance for the School Dance Festival. We're doing a hip hop dance to Happy Feet. It is pretty good!
This week was crazy. Once testing starts, it totally begins to feel like the end of the year, and I totally start to check out. Seriously, testing should be the last 3 weeks of school, literally, and then we'd just test and do fun stuff and then school would be out. I wonder why they don't do that? Things would certianly stay academic that much longer!
So Cathy and I made a pact to try to start eating healthier, so we're only going to go out once a week from now on. Wish us luck!
My Sims are starting thier fifth generation! Oliver and Lily had a baby boy named Logan, Nadia and Dylan had a baby girl named Kijana, Dalia and Dimitri had a son named Christopher and Rose and Orien are expecting their first. I think the baby might be born tonight. Hee Hee.
I'm so lazy. In case ya didn't know.
Ok buh bye
My hands are all cut up - so random... like two paper cuts and an injury that involved a screw driver last week thats all infected now. Let's just say using hand sanitizer is not at the top of my list.
Oops - I left my flowers from Teacher's Day in the trunk - I'm going to go get those. I'll be right back.
smells so good!
So, hmmm, we started to learn our dance for the School Dance Festival. We're doing a hip hop dance to Happy Feet. It is pretty good!
This week was crazy. Once testing starts, it totally begins to feel like the end of the year, and I totally start to check out. Seriously, testing should be the last 3 weeks of school, literally, and then we'd just test and do fun stuff and then school would be out. I wonder why they don't do that? Things would certianly stay academic that much longer!
So Cathy and I made a pact to try to start eating healthier, so we're only going to go out once a week from now on. Wish us luck!
My Sims are starting thier fifth generation! Oliver and Lily had a baby boy named Logan, Nadia and Dylan had a baby girl named Kijana, Dalia and Dimitri had a son named Christopher and Rose and Orien are expecting their first. I think the baby might be born tonight. Hee Hee.
I'm so lazy. In case ya didn't know.
Ok buh bye
Saturday, April 28, 2007
<3 Rent! (again???) (o:
Hee Hee. I have a slight headache.
It happens when I cry.
And who can go see Rent and not cry?
I just got back from Rent. My seventh time.
Let's recap:
London
Los Angeles
New York
Orange County
San Diego
San Diego
and now, Orange County
I saw the show with Angie, Kevin, and Cathy - none of who had seen the play.
They loved it. Kevin was blown away - it was the first time he had seen any show on stage like that - a Broadway style show.
The crowd was awesome tonight - plenty of Rentheads, but respectful ones - they cheered appropriately but quieted down so we could hear the show.
God. I love Rent. I honestly think this could be my all time favorite show.
"I've longed to discover something as true as this is...."
It happens when I cry.
And who can go see Rent and not cry?
I just got back from Rent. My seventh time.
Let's recap:
London
Los Angeles
New York
Orange County
San Diego
San Diego
and now, Orange County
I saw the show with Angie, Kevin, and Cathy - none of who had seen the play.
They loved it. Kevin was blown away - it was the first time he had seen any show on stage like that - a Broadway style show.
The crowd was awesome tonight - plenty of Rentheads, but respectful ones - they cheered appropriately but quieted down so we could hear the show.
God. I love Rent. I honestly think this could be my all time favorite show.
"I've longed to discover something as true as this is...."
Monday, April 23, 2007
its been how long?
Ok, so its been a few weeks
of
fleeting thoughts
"I should blog about that..."
but back to school,
unpacking,
catching up on tv,
laundry,
vacuuming,
and getting my generation 4 Sims through college...
well,
its time I blogged.
So - in love with Joan of Arcadia,
and so angry that I have only 8 more episodes left,
and then I know it will end,
with no real ending,
a story with a phenomenal cast,
and a great story...
canceled.
grrrrrr..........
Its so easy to gossip about someone,
when they don't seem like someone,
just a fleeting thought,
a passing person in your life,
and how much does it suck,
when that person becomes more permanent in your life,
and you have to face that they're real
multifaceted,
and you are forced to see them,
and then your opinion is changed
a bit of shame,
a bit of wondering how to have handled it differently...
screwed up
make it better
Europe was awesome. I loved it.
I can't wait to go back,
although it just reinforced
how much I wish we had a Universal Translator...
quite possibly the most useful gadget in all of star trek...
These free form blogs are kind of fun.
Sometimes I feel like talking in fragments,
instead of paragraph form
does it piss you off?
Its kind of fun,
you should try it,
seriously.
of
fleeting thoughts
"I should blog about that..."
but back to school,
unpacking,
catching up on tv,
laundry,
vacuuming,
and getting my generation 4 Sims through college...
well,
its time I blogged.
So - in love with Joan of Arcadia,
and so angry that I have only 8 more episodes left,
and then I know it will end,
with no real ending,
a story with a phenomenal cast,
and a great story...
canceled.
grrrrrr..........
Its so easy to gossip about someone,
when they don't seem like someone,
just a fleeting thought,
a passing person in your life,
and how much does it suck,
when that person becomes more permanent in your life,
and you have to face that they're real
multifaceted,
and you are forced to see them,
and then your opinion is changed
a bit of shame,
a bit of wondering how to have handled it differently...
screwed up
make it better
Europe was awesome. I loved it.
I can't wait to go back,
although it just reinforced
how much I wish we had a Universal Translator...
quite possibly the most useful gadget in all of star trek...
These free form blogs are kind of fun.
Sometimes I feel like talking in fragments,
instead of paragraph form
does it piss you off?
Its kind of fun,
you should try it,
seriously.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
To be so brave...
Holocaust survivor killed in Virginia Tech shootings trying to save students
Matti Friedman, Canadian Press
Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Article tools
JERUSALEM (AP) - Liviu Librescu survived the Nazi Holocaust. He died trying to keep a gunman from shooting his students in a killing spree at Virginia Tech - a heroic feat later recounted in e-mails from students to his wife.
Librescu, an aeronautics engineer and teacher at the school for 20 years, saved the lives of several students by using his body to barricade a classroom door before he was gunned down in Monday's massacre, which coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day. His son, Joe Librescu, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his mother received e-mails from students shortly after learning of her husband's death.
"My father blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Joe Librescu said in a telephone interview from his home outside of Tel Aviv. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."
The gunman, identified as 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui, an English major and native of South Korea, killed 32 people before committing suicide, officials said, in what was the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history.
Librescu, 76, had known hardship since his childhood.
When Romania joined forces with Nazi Germany in Second World War , he was first interned at a labour camp in Transnistria and then deported along with his family and thousands of other Jews to a ghetto in the Romanian city of Focsani, his son said.
According to a report compiled by the Romanian government in 2004, between 280,000 and 380,000 Jews were killed by Romania's Nazi-allied regime during the war.
"We were in Romania during the Second World War, and we were Jews there among the Germans, and among the anti-Semitic Romanians," Marlena Librescu told Israeli Channel 10 TV on Tuesday.
After the war, Librescu became a successful engineer under the postwar communist government and worked at Romania's aerospace agency. But his career was stymied in the 1970s because he refused to swear allegiance to dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's regime, his son said, and he was later fired when he requested permission to move to Israel.
After years of government refusal, according to his son, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin personally intervened to get the family an emigration permit. They moved to Israel in 1978.
Librescu left Israel for Virginia in 1985 for a year sabbatical, but eventually made the move permanent, said Joe Librescu, who himself studied at Virginia Tech from 1989-1994. The elder Librescu, who was an engineering and math lecturer at the school, published extensively and received numerous awards for his work.
"His work was his life in a sense," his son said.
In Romania, the academic community mourned Librescu's death.
"It is a great loss," said Ecaterina Andronescu, rector of the Polytechnic University in Bucharest, where Librescu graduated in 1953. "We have immense consideration for the way he reacted and defended his students with his life."
At the university, where Librescu received an honorary degree in 2000, his picture was placed on a table and a candle was lit. People lay flowers nearby.
Professor Nicolae Serban Tomescu described Librescu as "strong and dignified."
"He had a huge affection for his students and he sacrificed his life for them," Tomescu told AP Television News.
Matti Friedman, Canadian Press
Published: Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Article tools
JERUSALEM (AP) - Liviu Librescu survived the Nazi Holocaust. He died trying to keep a gunman from shooting his students in a killing spree at Virginia Tech - a heroic feat later recounted in e-mails from students to his wife.
Librescu, an aeronautics engineer and teacher at the school for 20 years, saved the lives of several students by using his body to barricade a classroom door before he was gunned down in Monday's massacre, which coincided with Holocaust Remembrance Day. His son, Joe Librescu, told The Associated Press on Tuesday that his mother received e-mails from students shortly after learning of her husband's death.
"My father blocked the doorway with his body and asked the students to flee," Joe Librescu said in a telephone interview from his home outside of Tel Aviv. "Students started opening windows and jumping out."
The gunman, identified as 23-year-old Cho Seung-Hui, an English major and native of South Korea, killed 32 people before committing suicide, officials said, in what was the deadliest shooting rampage in modern U.S. history.
Librescu, 76, had known hardship since his childhood.
When Romania joined forces with Nazi Germany in Second World War , he was first interned at a labour camp in Transnistria and then deported along with his family and thousands of other Jews to a ghetto in the Romanian city of Focsani, his son said.
According to a report compiled by the Romanian government in 2004, between 280,000 and 380,000 Jews were killed by Romania's Nazi-allied regime during the war.
"We were in Romania during the Second World War, and we were Jews there among the Germans, and among the anti-Semitic Romanians," Marlena Librescu told Israeli Channel 10 TV on Tuesday.
After the war, Librescu became a successful engineer under the postwar communist government and worked at Romania's aerospace agency. But his career was stymied in the 1970s because he refused to swear allegiance to dictator Nicolae Ceausescu's regime, his son said, and he was later fired when he requested permission to move to Israel.
After years of government refusal, according to his son, Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin personally intervened to get the family an emigration permit. They moved to Israel in 1978.
Librescu left Israel for Virginia in 1985 for a year sabbatical, but eventually made the move permanent, said Joe Librescu, who himself studied at Virginia Tech from 1989-1994. The elder Librescu, who was an engineering and math lecturer at the school, published extensively and received numerous awards for his work.
"His work was his life in a sense," his son said.
In Romania, the academic community mourned Librescu's death.
"It is a great loss," said Ecaterina Andronescu, rector of the Polytechnic University in Bucharest, where Librescu graduated in 1953. "We have immense consideration for the way he reacted and defended his students with his life."
At the university, where Librescu received an honorary degree in 2000, his picture was placed on a table and a candle was lit. People lay flowers nearby.
Professor Nicolae Serban Tomescu described Librescu as "strong and dignified."
"He had a huge affection for his students and he sacrificed his life for them," Tomescu told AP Television News.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Mean People Suck
Why do people have to be so mean? Seriously... I think it has a lot to do with impatience. But for whatever reason, it just sucks. One mean action can make a person feel crummy. And why would anyone want to make someone feel crummy, even if for only 5 minutes?
I am talking about random acts of meanness, of course. There may be times when you can't avoid hurting someone's feelings. Break-ups for example. Or telling someone something they don't want to hear, but need to.
No, I'm talking about those moments when a stranger goes out of his or her way to just be a jerk.
This morning, i am waiting to turn right out of my track. There is some traffic coming, so I am patiently waiting for the one last car to pass me up. This truck comes up from behind me and edges out on the left - you know, like he's going to make a left hand turn, totally blocking my view. he waits for the car to pass and then TURNS RIGHT, right in front of me.
Grrr... Just making me feel totally crummy. I could have felt angry, but more just crummy. Why does someone have to go out of there way to do that? Be a bully and take cuts.
Sigh. I think I am going to have to go out and do some random acts of kindness now, to balance out the karmic suckiness today.
I am talking about random acts of meanness, of course. There may be times when you can't avoid hurting someone's feelings. Break-ups for example. Or telling someone something they don't want to hear, but need to.
No, I'm talking about those moments when a stranger goes out of his or her way to just be a jerk.
This morning, i am waiting to turn right out of my track. There is some traffic coming, so I am patiently waiting for the one last car to pass me up. This truck comes up from behind me and edges out on the left - you know, like he's going to make a left hand turn, totally blocking my view. he waits for the car to pass and then TURNS RIGHT, right in front of me.
Grrr... Just making me feel totally crummy. I could have felt angry, but more just crummy. Why does someone have to go out of there way to do that? Be a bully and take cuts.
Sigh. I think I am going to have to go out and do some random acts of kindness now, to balance out the karmic suckiness today.
Friday, March 23, 2007
The Week
So Grant has been gone since Sunday (and having a mighty good time in Italy, if I may add...) However, my week has been totally, and for the most part, pleasantly busy.
First up, I had conferences. Not the most enjoyable part of being a teacher, but student led does make telling parents that their child has received low grades because they haven't turned in half of their assignments is made quite a bit easier when I don't actually have to tell them - their child does. Hee Hee.
On Monday, I found out that Rent is coming to Orange County at the end of April (how on earth I missed that is beyond me...) so after school I drove to the Performing Arts Center to try to get the best possible tickets for Grant, Cathy, Angie, Kevin, and myself. I ended up with Orchestra row A (which is actually like the 4th row) way over to the side. I don't think I've ever been that close. So freaking excited. I celebrated by meeting my Angie and the kids at Long John Silvers.
On Tuesday, I went to see Chita Rivera: Life of a Dancer. Damn, she's amazing. So much energy. I bet she doesn't eat Long John Silvers very much.
On Wednesday, I finally got to visit my friend and her brand new baby - who was two weeks and one day old. What an unbelievably adorable little squiggly worm. Then I went home and babysat for Andrew and Cori.
Thursday brought a crazy cool treat - I went out to dinner with some friends who invited me to tag along because they knew G was out of town and thought I'd like the company. We always talk about going out and it finally worked out! We went to Korean BBQ - fully authentic, and then sang Karaoke at one of those rent-a-room karaoke joints. So much fun!
Now here it is, Friday. My conferences are finished. I can sleep in. Do my laundry which hasn't been done since 2006. Pack. Clean the pool.... did I mention sleep in??? I have a list of stuff to be accomplished this weekend. You know, stuff I'd put off until Spring break... only, I can't... because I'll be in Paris...the most romantic city in the world... with my wonderful husband...
Sigh... in one week, I'll be on that plane...
:::squeal:::
First up, I had conferences. Not the most enjoyable part of being a teacher, but student led does make telling parents that their child has received low grades because they haven't turned in half of their assignments is made quite a bit easier when I don't actually have to tell them - their child does. Hee Hee.
On Monday, I found out that Rent is coming to Orange County at the end of April (how on earth I missed that is beyond me...) so after school I drove to the Performing Arts Center to try to get the best possible tickets for Grant, Cathy, Angie, Kevin, and myself. I ended up with Orchestra row A (which is actually like the 4th row) way over to the side. I don't think I've ever been that close. So freaking excited. I celebrated by meeting my Angie and the kids at Long John Silvers.
On Tuesday, I went to see Chita Rivera: Life of a Dancer. Damn, she's amazing. So much energy. I bet she doesn't eat Long John Silvers very much.
On Wednesday, I finally got to visit my friend and her brand new baby - who was two weeks and one day old. What an unbelievably adorable little squiggly worm. Then I went home and babysat for Andrew and Cori.
Thursday brought a crazy cool treat - I went out to dinner with some friends who invited me to tag along because they knew G was out of town and thought I'd like the company. We always talk about going out and it finally worked out! We went to Korean BBQ - fully authentic, and then sang Karaoke at one of those rent-a-room karaoke joints. So much fun!
Now here it is, Friday. My conferences are finished. I can sleep in. Do my laundry which hasn't been done since 2006. Pack. Clean the pool.... did I mention sleep in??? I have a list of stuff to be accomplished this weekend. You know, stuff I'd put off until Spring break... only, I can't... because I'll be in Paris...the most romantic city in the world... with my wonderful husband...
Sigh... in one week, I'll be on that plane...
:::squeal:::
Saturday, March 17, 2007
yucky cold
This has been a mad crazy week
started out with a sore throat,
a cough,
by Tuesday's field trip,
I was feeling pretty yucky
The Field Trip to Riley's Farm was great,
although my class was a bit rude at times.
I know I have high expectations,
and really they were not that bad...
but still.
At least the trip home was relaxing -
I had the row to myself.
I should have taken Wednesday off work,
but I didn't.
By Thursday I was starting to feel more human.
Shitty time to get sick -
with my report cards,
and conferences.
But I feel human again,
which is nice.
Grant's off this weekend.
Plus, Grant leaves for Italy tomorrow....
I am getting so excited!!! March 30 - I'm off to Paris.
A quick trip, a week, Paris, Disneyland Paris, London, and then back.
And it will be April.
started out with a sore throat,
a cough,
by Tuesday's field trip,
I was feeling pretty yucky
The Field Trip to Riley's Farm was great,
although my class was a bit rude at times.
I know I have high expectations,
and really they were not that bad...
but still.
At least the trip home was relaxing -
I had the row to myself.
I should have taken Wednesday off work,
but I didn't.
By Thursday I was starting to feel more human.
Shitty time to get sick -
with my report cards,
and conferences.
But I feel human again,
which is nice.
Grant's off this weekend.
Plus, Grant leaves for Italy tomorrow....
I am getting so excited!!! March 30 - I'm off to Paris.
A quick trip, a week, Paris, Disneyland Paris, London, and then back.
And it will be April.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Report Card Time
So - I corrected papers from 10 AM to 8 PM last night. Fun. And what do I have to look forward to today? More papers to grade. Wahoo!!!
So why am I blogging instead of correcting? I just can't start. Sigh. Its to beautiful outside. I really should take a shower. That will get me more motivated to work. Or at least make me feel less sluggish.
My class this year is pissing me off. I have so many missing assignments. I am so irritated. Conferences are going to be really eye opening. I'm bummed though - because at the beginning of the trimester, I was really good about sending home alerts with missing assignments. This last part of the trimester, I haven't been so good about it - and I have 3 students who slipped through the cracks - didn't turn in a single reading assignment for the past 3 weeks, and yet I didn't send a note home. chh.
Oh well. My pulse rate is 76 this morning.
So why am I blogging instead of correcting? I just can't start. Sigh. Its to beautiful outside. I really should take a shower. That will get me more motivated to work. Or at least make me feel less sluggish.
My class this year is pissing me off. I have so many missing assignments. I am so irritated. Conferences are going to be really eye opening. I'm bummed though - because at the beginning of the trimester, I was really good about sending home alerts with missing assignments. This last part of the trimester, I haven't been so good about it - and I have 3 students who slipped through the cracks - didn't turn in a single reading assignment for the past 3 weeks, and yet I didn't send a note home. chh.
Oh well. My pulse rate is 76 this morning.
Death and New Life
So, Amy's funeral, on March 8 was both beautiful and sad at the same time. So many people turned out for her viewing on March 7. The mass had a lot of people, as well. But the burial was probably the most significant.
There was a beautiful balloon release of pink, white, and yellow balloons that had everyone in tears with their eyes towards the clear, blue sky. The family's beautiful singing of "You are my sunshine," with Mary repeating "Please don't take my sunshine away in a beautiful and heartbreaking ode to a girl who touched so many lives. And the burial itself - the lowering of the coffin, the filling in of the dirt, new grass on top, and a blanket of flowers. I had never seen that before - the most I'd seen was the coffin lowered - but there was something soothing and complete about it being all finished when we left.
On March 6, my friend Katherine welcomed her new baby girl, Brooklynn Kate, into the world. My days of sadness were punctuated with pictures sent to my cell phone of this new life. They are both doing fine, and our home, enjoying life as a family.
Life is beautiful.
There was a beautiful balloon release of pink, white, and yellow balloons that had everyone in tears with their eyes towards the clear, blue sky. The family's beautiful singing of "You are my sunshine," with Mary repeating "Please don't take my sunshine away in a beautiful and heartbreaking ode to a girl who touched so many lives. And the burial itself - the lowering of the coffin, the filling in of the dirt, new grass on top, and a blanket of flowers. I had never seen that before - the most I'd seen was the coffin lowered - but there was something soothing and complete about it being all finished when we left.
On March 6, my friend Katherine welcomed her new baby girl, Brooklynn Kate, into the world. My days of sadness were punctuated with pictures sent to my cell phone of this new life. They are both doing fine, and our home, enjoying life as a family.
Life is beautiful.
Monday, March 05, 2007
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell...
So,
I'm upstairs in my room,
talking to dead people...
Amy? Are you watching me change my clothes?
Did you ever come by to visit me?
Betty - do you like my new blankie?
Yes, I still have a blankie -
its not the same one -
its from my husband when he was a kid -
Betty, I wish you'd met my husband,
you would have loved him,
you would have made him laugh,
he reminds me of you
in a secret way in my mind
that makes sense only to me,
Betty, do you know Amy?
Have you met her?
Amy's sense of humor isn't as sarcastic as ours,
but it used to be,
or anyway, she at least appreciated it,
before...
come to think of it,
maybe she'll appreciate it again,
check her out,
make her smile,
Hi Frankie, Hi Grandma,
why not come and join the little party in my head?
Hold on
I'm feeling like I'm headed for a
Breakdown
and I don't know why
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know, right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
Me
Talking to myself in public
Dodging glances on the train
So.
Amy died on Saturday.
Dead.
Passed away.
So strange,
her little body,
it's her,
it's not her.
I tried to donate blood today. I'm like 4 weeks overdue. They turned me down. My pulse rate was too high. 118. It was 118 ten minutes later in the car. Its at 96 now. Guess blogging calms me down.
Or not. Its 100 now.
When I was little,
I used to lay on my bed,
and feel my heart beat.
I always had a fast heart rate
86-92 is average for me.
I knew it was a little faster than normal
I used to try to will my heart to slow down.
I was afraid that my heart had a predetermined number of beats.
If it was going fast like this, it would use up my alloted heart beats faster.
If I could just slow it down, even have a normal heart rate,
them maybe I could live just a little bit longer.
Why can't death,
be as wonderful as birth?
They are both a part of life,
why so yin and yang?
so. on we go.
I'm upstairs in my room,
talking to dead people...
Amy? Are you watching me change my clothes?
Did you ever come by to visit me?
Betty - do you like my new blankie?
Yes, I still have a blankie -
its not the same one -
its from my husband when he was a kid -
Betty, I wish you'd met my husband,
you would have loved him,
you would have made him laugh,
he reminds me of you
in a secret way in my mind
that makes sense only to me,
Betty, do you know Amy?
Have you met her?
Amy's sense of humor isn't as sarcastic as ours,
but it used to be,
or anyway, she at least appreciated it,
before...
come to think of it,
maybe she'll appreciate it again,
check her out,
make her smile,
Hi Frankie, Hi Grandma,
why not come and join the little party in my head?
Hold on
I'm feeling like I'm headed for a
Breakdown
and I don't know why
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little unwell
I know, right now you can't tell
But stay awhile and maybe then you'll see
A different side of me
I'm not crazy, I'm just a little impaired
I know, right now you don't care
But soon enough you're gonna think of me
And how I used to be
Me
Talking to myself in public
Dodging glances on the train
So.
Amy died on Saturday.
Dead.
Passed away.
So strange,
her little body,
it's her,
it's not her.
I tried to donate blood today. I'm like 4 weeks overdue. They turned me down. My pulse rate was too high. 118. It was 118 ten minutes later in the car. Its at 96 now. Guess blogging calms me down.
Or not. Its 100 now.
When I was little,
I used to lay on my bed,
and feel my heart beat.
I always had a fast heart rate
86-92 is average for me.
I knew it was a little faster than normal
I used to try to will my heart to slow down.
I was afraid that my heart had a predetermined number of beats.
If it was going fast like this, it would use up my alloted heart beats faster.
If I could just slow it down, even have a normal heart rate,
them maybe I could live just a little bit longer.
Why can't death,
be as wonderful as birth?
They are both a part of life,
why so yin and yang?
so. on we go.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Please please please please
Disney-to-beach transit gets funds
OCTA awards a grant to study building a transit line
from Surf City to Disneyland.
By JENNIFER MUIR
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
An idea to build a transit line stretching from
Disneyland to Huntington Beach got a $250,000 boost
Monday from the Orange County Transportation
Authority.
The OCTA board unanimously approved doling out grants
to several cities to find ways to connect with
existing Metrolink lines, including a total of
$250,000 to study the possibility of building a
transit service connecting the two tourist
destinations along a transportation corridor that cuts
through Garden Grove, Stanton, Westminster and
Anaheim.
Huntington Beach will head the study, which will
include evaluating the possibility of a transit line
along 18 miles of Union Pacific Railroad tracks
stretching from the Metrolink station in Anaheim to
the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Gothard Street in
Huntington Beach. It will evaluate ways to move people
to the beach and into the Disneyland resort area and
also will review other possible transportation routes.
The type of transportation -- such as light rail,
monorail, bus – also has not been determined. The
study could take up to a year and a half to complete.
The proposal is among those submitted by 18 cities
vying for a share of grant money from OCTA's Go Local
program. Each of Orange County's 34 cities was
eligible for $100,000 grants, offered to encourage
cities to think of ways to connect to Metrolink lines.
The best plans will qualify for cash to fund further
study. In all, $30 million is set aside.
News of the idea has angered some residents living
near the railroad corridor in Huntington Beach, who
fear building a transit line there will decrease their
property values.
OCTA awards a grant to study building a transit line
from Surf City to Disneyland.
By JENNIFER MUIR
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
An idea to build a transit line stretching from
Disneyland to Huntington Beach got a $250,000 boost
Monday from the Orange County Transportation
Authority.
The OCTA board unanimously approved doling out grants
to several cities to find ways to connect with
existing Metrolink lines, including a total of
$250,000 to study the possibility of building a
transit service connecting the two tourist
destinations along a transportation corridor that cuts
through Garden Grove, Stanton, Westminster and
Anaheim.
Huntington Beach will head the study, which will
include evaluating the possibility of a transit line
along 18 miles of Union Pacific Railroad tracks
stretching from the Metrolink station in Anaheim to
the intersection of Ellis Avenue and Gothard Street in
Huntington Beach. It will evaluate ways to move people
to the beach and into the Disneyland resort area and
also will review other possible transportation routes.
The type of transportation -- such as light rail,
monorail, bus – also has not been determined. The
study could take up to a year and a half to complete.
The proposal is among those submitted by 18 cities
vying for a share of grant money from OCTA's Go Local
program. Each of Orange County's 34 cities was
eligible for $100,000 grants, offered to encourage
cities to think of ways to connect to Metrolink lines.
The best plans will qualify for cash to fund further
study. In all, $30 million is set aside.
News of the idea has angered some residents living
near the railroad corridor in Huntington Beach, who
fear building a transit line there will decrease their
property values.
Big Big SKy
Today,
driving home,
the sky
looked so big,
HUGE fluffy clouds
storm clouds,
rain clouds,
HUGE,
disorienting,
cloud
patches,
and yet there was still
so much sky.
Grey,
not much color,
you could touch them
crisp,
clear,
sharper than HD,
plucked
into the sky
huge,
disorienting,
in so much sky.
driving home,
the sky
looked so big,
HUGE fluffy clouds
storm clouds,
rain clouds,
HUGE,
disorienting,
cloud
patches,
and yet there was still
so much sky.
Grey,
not much color,
you could touch them
crisp,
clear,
sharper than HD,
plucked
into the sky
huge,
disorienting,
in so much sky.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Hot drinks...
I am drinking hot chocolate right now. I have this weird thing with hot drinks. They have to be the perfect temperature. So, I have to wait until the drink cools enough so that it is comfortable to drink. Then I have a very short window where I can gobble down the rest before it gets too cold.
I've seen people drink cups of coffee for long periods of time - but I can't do that, even in those insulated sup thingies. blech...
I've seen people drink cups of coffee for long periods of time - but I can't do that, even in those insulated sup thingies. blech...
Friday, February 23, 2007
Great Moments
Last night was our school's "Great moments" program. I think this is such a neat thing that we do, and I was so glad that my class participated this year.
Great Moments is based off of Laguna Beach's Pageant of the Masters. Each class that participates chooses a painting and recreates it as a "living picture" live on stage.
Our class did the painting George Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuele Leutze.
Here are the results!
The evening was fabulous - my kids did such a good job! I was very proud of them. Props also go out to my dad and Delaine for helping to create the boats and water effects. Also, thanks to Rob for helping me pick out the music - we used the last part of the fourth movement of "Pines of Rome."
Great Moments is based off of Laguna Beach's Pageant of the Masters. Each class that participates chooses a painting and recreates it as a "living picture" live on stage.
Our class did the painting George Washington Crossing the Delaware by Emanuele Leutze.
Here are the results!
The evening was fabulous - my kids did such a good job! I was very proud of them. Props also go out to my dad and Delaine for helping to create the boats and water effects. Also, thanks to Rob for helping me pick out the music - we used the last part of the fourth movement of "Pines of Rome."