French Green Beans

I Won the Wicked Lottery

2009-01-03T09:33:00.000-08:00

Last night we went to Hollywood to the Pantages theater and entered the Wicked Lottery. The wicked lottery is an opportunity to win tickets to that nights show. Two hours before the performance the theater raffles off 25 seats, winners pay only $25 for these $250 front row seats. We had entered the Lottery two other times with no luck, so to be honest I really wasn't expecting to win, about half the names had already been called, and then I heard MY NAME. Oh my goodness! I got an huge shot of adrenaline, I was shaking! jumping out and down "That's ME" I won two tickets and two green buttons that say "I won the wicked lottery"

Our seats were amazing! We were on the front row, in the middle two seats. As my husband said the saying "front and center" was coined off of our seats. The orchestra was right in front / below us. The conductor of the musical was right in front of us.

I had never been to the Pantages theater. I was really old and beautiful inside. Retro-Art Deco, sweeping stair cases, and gilded ceilings. The performance was really, really good. I smiled through most of the first half. Glinda, was hilarious, the costumes were really beautiful, the music and voices impressive. We enjoyed the performance it was so fun to be so close that the bubbles and smoke from the stage were floating on to us.

I won the Wicked lottery

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T20:44:00.000-08:00

Little Will wants to go home with us. We would gladly take him!

Me and the Willster posing in a tree. He climbed the treee with just a little help from me.

Mom's birthday tea the day after Christmas. I think this should be a yearly tradition

Beautiful and delicous

Its Turned In

2008-12-22T18:00:00.001-08:00

flowers from my grandmothers garden. She is the yellow rose of Texas with all her family around her

It is done, and I am happy. Saturday around 8pm I turned in my Masters thesis. I wrote my thesis on character education. Specifically the benefits of character eduction (which there are many) and why schools should include character education as part of their curriculum. I like what I wrote about and there is actually a lot of compelling research that shows kids who receive moral training do better academically, and exhibit more pro-social behavior (read lie and cheat less). Anyway, its been a good but busy month.

To celebrate turning in my paper my husband took me out for nachos at Baja Fresh (nacho's one of my favorite things) and then we drove around the neighborhood looking at Christmas lights. I was really fun, we drove ten miles and saw a few neighborhoods I have never seen though I've lived here all my life.

Since October, the last time I blogged there have been many good and bad things that have taken place. Good - I finished the first semester with my students. I have such great students this year. It isn't me, though I am a better teacher this year. They are just amazing. I thank God for the good attitudes and behavior of the 7th grade class. They have been so sweet and encouraging. They gave me an overwhelming amount of chocolate for Christmas and cards and a scarf..sweet kids.Grandma Clark with flower arrangement I made for her

Bad - my grandma Clark passed away in October. I went up north for the funeral. It was sad, sad to see her house look different and no grandma there. I loved my grandma, she had an overwhelmingly positive effect on my life. From her I learned everything from gardening to how to clean a toilet. Most important she was creative and loved life. She was simple, and she did a lot of good for other people. I love you Grandma!

A positive of the funeral was my sister also was at the funeral. I hadn't seen her in two years, so it was nice to catch up with her-you know share a double futon in the old blue/truck room that is now yellow and purple. It was a quick trip and hard to take a day off work. I have a complex-no one can teach my students like I can. Plus it is just hard to write a sub plan. I can teach it faster then I can explain what a sub has to do. Also on the trip my sister bought me a cute hat at Apple Farm.

my sister and my second cousin Gianna

Good - ACSI convention, that was a blast. I drove down with Pam and I had a really fun room of Lauren, Beth, and Charlotte. These ladies are the best and we had so much fun talking, playing Cranium, and attending the conference. I laughed so hard playing Cranium until it hurt. I hadn't laughed that hard in a while and it was nice. Good.

Bad - Pam's shepherd Lulu died-sad, but charlie the turtle is still kicking.

Good - Grades turned in, work Christmas brunch which is one of my favorite days of the year. School does a really good job with the omelet bar brunch singing Christmas carols, and the school board always has a fun game or entertainment. This year was family feud.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I hope Christ is in your heart this Christmas. He is the hope of the world.

Fire Season

2008-10-14T15:52:00.000-07:00

image from Nasa.gov

A video that shows what the fire is like in Granada Hills

It happens every year, the winds kick up, a spark ignites it and we have a fire storm in the hills. I have lived in Southern California all my life and I am used to the fire season-the smoke the evacuations. In California we are used to these events like people in other parts of the country are used to hurricanes or blizzards. I am home from work today, school is closed due to the fires. Yesterday, we could see the fire from the school back parking lot. It was burning up what I think is mission peak (though I don't know my Granada Hills peaks all that well). The smoke was really bad, they gave the teachers masks and we had the rainy day evacuation car line. My church Shepherd of the Hills is an official evacuation site. It was fun to see my church and people I recognized on the news, though I would prefer it to be in less tragic circumstances.

A few minutes ago I received a call notifying me that school will also be closed tomorrow. I am sure the kids are happy, it is the west coasts version of the "snow day". Our school does have many families affected by the fire. A couple of our friends live very close to the fires. I called a couple of them to see how they are doing. Yesterday, Chris and Amanda's roof was visible from the news helicopter and broadcast on channel 2.

So what did I do with my "fire day?" I was productive, I wrote my Unit 5, reflective essay two paper which is due this Sunday. It is great to have that done as we are going to Disneyland all day Sunday with my cousin Jenn, her husband and their baby Caiden. I can't wait! I love Jenn and JK and I have never been to Disneyland together.

Today, I also wrote about 80% of my final paper due on the 25th of this month. It feels great to get a jump start on that! Since I am off tomorrow, I will probably finish that up, do my discussion questions go to Trader Joe's. I am so boring, but I want to get ahead of the work so I can enjoy my weekends. Fellow teacher Pam called me today and invited me to the mall, but studios girl that I am I told her I had to write my paper. Four months. In four months I get my life back.
This months class has been one of the easiest I've taken. I have two more. I hope November is a good class, but not overwhelming.

Tomorrow, in celebration of her birthday I am taking Pam and myself to get Chinese foot massages. I made the appointment for after school, but now that we are not working I will probably call and try to make the appointment earlier. Should be fun - who wouldn't like Chinese foot massages? I will post all about it tomorrow.

OH! OH! I can't believe I didn't mention this first: I PASSED. That is right! I passed section one of the science CSET. I recieved an email informing me that I passed about an hour ago. I am so happy that I won't have to take that again. I still have section 2 and 3 to knock out, but it is just a relief that I have completed section 1. Section two is microbiology, ecology, evolution. Section three is in depth life science. I better start studying. : )

What's Up With Us

2008-10-11T08:51:00.000-07:00

Hello, it has been a fun and busy month since I last posted. I started school again, both teaching and being a student. I have a GREAT group of 7th grade students. What a blessing they are to me. So far we have just been having a great time learning Science and Bible. I love teaching both of these subjects. I think my enthusiasm spills out. I love what I do. I have 81 students this year, I see each of them twice one time for bible and one time for Science. Highlights for me have been learning the ten commandments with hand motions, and doing the popcorn lab. This week we made the incredible, edible cell out of jello and candy. The jello represented cytoplasm and the candy was organelles such as mitochondria-red hot tamales, and ribosomes-cake sprinkles, nuclues-gum ball...etc.September 13th I took part one of Science CSET (subject exam for teachers) at El Camino Real High School. I finished the five hour test in three hours. It was hard but not impossible. I know I missed some questions, but I also knew something about every question. I find out on October 14 whether I passed or not. I really, really hoped I passed. I don't want to take it again because it is expensive, plus it takes time to study and take it. Additionally, I have two other sections I have to pass. I would rather move on and start studying for those.I am moving forward on my Masters / Credential. I have five classes left, plus student teaching. This month October and November I have Masters classes and December is my thesis class. Then I take two prerequisites January and February. I want it to pass by more quickly then it is. I would like my Saturdays and evenings back, though part of me realizes that I am happy busy. I am not happy when I am not busy. I do love school, I am a school person and I like learning and teaching new things. I would like to write my thesis on character education. Hopefully, my thesis adviser will allow we to write on that topic.
We have had some fun in September and October. We went to the high school football game on September 13th, hung out with Pam. The 20th we had a birthday party for Brian in Santa Monica, September 26 Chris and Lynne invited us over for a fall dinner party. I love Chris and Lynne, I laugh so hard when we are with them. The 27th we had dinner with Twyla, Dan and Tyler. It was so great to catch up with them.Last Saturday night was fun. We went to the UCLA vs. Washington State football game at the Rose Bowl. We thought it might rain on us, but it didn't. It turned out to be a perfect night. We had good seats in the Alumni section. UCLA won! Go Bruins! After the game about 11pm we went to King Taco in Pasadena. We consumed street taco's and fruit punch. It was a fun evening out. I wish I had brought my Camera!Sunday night the 5th we had life group. I love our life group. Christin and Guy are the best. It is a good group of people. Guy was recently in some book about an OWL. His ex-girlfriend had an owl and wrote a book about it. How hilarious is that! Only Guy!This Wednesday the 8th I stayed home sick from work. It nearly killed me to stay home, but my sweet husband took care of me and MADE me stay home. Some how my generally lazy self has turned into a workaholic of late. It is seriously hard these days for me to NOT work, or stay home. I don't know how to relax anymore! I couldn't talk above a whisper, but I wanted to go to work. I hate not being with my kids, I hate missing a lesson and feeling like I am behind teaching them.
I still didn't rest when I stayed home. I graded papers half the day, recycled our bottles and cans, went to the grocery store, made pumpkin pie, made roasted acorn squash, potato, carrot and chicken for dinner, made 4 boxes of jello up in little cups for the incredible, edible cell lab. I know, this girl really knows how to party on a day off!

Today, I need to write a paper, we have church tonight, there is a football game at GHHS. Then the normal stuff, go to Walmart, laundry etc... That is all with us. Be blessed and be a blessing.

Ansel Adams

2008-08-19T08:10:00.001-07:00

When hiking in Ansel Adams National Forest, do as Ansel Adams did, take pictures. This is my black and white tribute to his amazing nature photography

He hiked and photographed the Sierras and California

I have long been a fan of his work. These are my Ansel Adams like photos of Ansel Adams Wilderness

Its a big beautiful world. This is a picture of the lake with a snake. I am so glad I didn't see that snake swimming while I was in the water!

Lillian Lake Loop Backpacking

2008-08-18T08:13:00.000-07:00

High Sierra Style Vacation at Lillian Lake Loop

The cast of characters on this trip were: Flipper, Bahamas Chris, and Energizer Bunny aka "Lost boy"Energizer Bunny, Whisker, Bangs and Boy Scout

Amanda looks like she stepped out of an REI catalogue

My favorite picture of Lillian Lake

Real Life Daily-pumping water

Bahamas Chris working on his tan

My handsome husband
Amanda, teaching us to play gin rummy
Our cutting board card table. When it comes to cards, its all clover fields and camp shovels to me.

On our way to day hike to the top of the peakAnsel Adams Wilderness, looking down on Lillian Lake

Strike a pose. Amanda my trail singing buddy.

This picture speaks for itself, what a majestic view

Lynne striking an elegant and thoughtful pose. I love this picture

The Kitchen, "did all that stuff come out of our backpacks?"
Amanda-the best pancake flipper this side of the Rockies

Perfect panckae

Umm, Umm, good!

Jenny and Weaver Lakes, Sequoia National Park

2008-08-06T15:56:00.001-07:00

July 18-20 We went backpacking with

Amanda and ChrisThe almost newlyweds

We backpacked in Jenny Lakes Wilderness area in Sequoia National Park

John and Chris, our fearless leaders took us on a cross country from Weaver where we stayed the first night, to Jenny lake where we stayed the second night

This is the beautiful view we had at weaver LakeLounge Rock- the best place in camp to eat cheese and crackers, read a book, or relax

After hiking on Sunday we visited the Grants Grove of Giant Sequoias

And of course, though I don't have a picture we had an awesome post hike lunch at Bear Mountain Pizza in Squaw Valley.

Not a bad way to spend a weekend!

The Last Month

2008-08-06T15:46:00.000-07:00

Jenny Lake, July 2008

Wow! July flew by. It was such a fun busy month with my English students my Cultural Diversity class, we went backpacking and had some good times with friends. Here are some highlights

The first week of July was record breaking. I think it was the most social week ever. Sunday we had life group, Monday we had soccer, Tuesday Kristin, Sierra and Jeremy came over for swimming and popcorn, So fun! Wednesday we went to Mindy and Eric's house for dinner. Mindy made awesome lasagna and the best Tirimisu ever. Mindy is such an awesome cook, Thursday the 3rd of July we went to the Hollywood Bowl fireworks spectacular with Chris and Lynne, Friday the 4th of July I rode bikes with dad in the morning and then we went to Chris and Lynne's for a fun barbeque dinner and good conversation, Lynne's good friend Daren was also there. Saturday at 8 am we met dad and Wendy at Panera Bread for breakfast then later in the day Dad Paris came and we went out to dinner in Santa Monica. We had a great dinner at Real Food Daily on 5th and Santa Monica. Sunday we had breakfast with Dad Paris and then headed out to the beach with Sam and Lena and the kids, We spent all day relaxing on the beach and walking around Ventura. We got home at around 6 pm and then had a nice salmon dinner with dad Paris, including some Croatian specialties it was a memorable dinner for all including a special birthday call to Yvonne. Monday the 7th we had soccer again. We had a great time, but we were pretty exhausted by our most social week ever.
Summer school is now over. All five weeks of it. I had a great group of middle school and high school students. Teaching is absolutely exhausting, and yet I am impassioned by it. I really had a great time with my 11 high school students and my 10 middle school students. Great group of kids. I think the highlight for them and me was the section on critical thinking. I also learned how to say hello in three languages: Greek, Korean, and Armenian. See what interesting students I had. I also really liked our free writes. These kids wrote such interesting things. From them I learned about skate boards, BMW's, Greece, Greek myths, several summaries of books they were reading. Really great group, I wish them all the best. I hustled the whole time keeping ahead of them. It was a lot of work, but worth it.
July 26 We volunteered at Children's Hunger Fund with Chris, We bagged pasta. It was good to see Chris and have him come out from such a long way. I love CHF! The best charity around.
My class for July was not so bad. I only had two papers. I earned a 95% in the class one of my lowest grades. But I was pretty burned out on this class. I am not taking a class in August. Yeah for me!
We went backpacking with Chris and Amanda (pictures above). Good times. Fun long weekend away.

More Blogging By Bullet Point

2008-06-20T18:36:00.000-07:00

Over the last three weeks a lot of life has happened, and as usual when I am busy, I have no time to write about all the fun or work I'm doing. So here it is again, another addition of bullet point blogging.

I finished the school year. That is not at all a minor point when considering it was my first year teaching AND I was in grad school. It was a busy, busy year, but we did it. We did it and it is over. I was pretty done with the kids that last week. In a way it is a let down because you want to have this last Kay-Serra-Serra "haven't we had a wonderful year!!" attitude, but at the end, that last week I was just really done with them and I can tell they were done with me. That last review week and then the final week everybody is just thinking the same thing "I want to be done."
The end of the school year concludes with a trip to Magic Mountain. That was a pretty good day. I hung out with my girls Pam and Sally. I went on one ride because some 6th grade girls begged me. That was enough theme park for me. I seriously had a headache the rest of the day. I used to LOVE those rides, now my life is exciting enough with out so much artificial stimulus. The girls and I walked the hill for exercise, hung out and talked and of course ate some food.
Friday the 6th of June was graduation day. The teachers attend both the middle school and the high school graduation. It is an all day event 9am to 6:30 pm. Let's suffice it to say I was "done" graduating by the end of that day. Both services were very memorable. One of the day's highlights was going to lunch with some of the teachers at one of my favorite restaurants - Stone Fire Grill. I had the Mediterranean salad.
So GREAT to have last week off. What a joy to be home. I was not bored for even one minute of it. I have stayed so so busy! I've worked on house projects and of course the ever present school work (my own cl assess). I seriously love being a house wife. I love making French toast and mending. I just love being home.
I've been exercising a bit with my buddy Pam. June 5th I went over to her house and we did this crazy extreme yoga workout, PX30 or something like that. I think the P stands for pain. I seriously hope when I am 50 I am in as great of shape as Pam is. I am 20 years younger then her and just keep up. I have to say it again because I am just so impressed with her, Pam in an amazing athlete - she is a two time Olympian in the high jump.
The 12th I went hiking with Pam and two other ladies Pam C. and Loritta. We hiked lime kiln canyon. So fun, I have a great time with this group. What an encouragement to my soul this group is! This week the 18th we did the same hike. After the hike Pam and I looked around Sport Chalet. Pam who is 6'3" was wearing this t-shirt that said "yes I'm tall", I thought that was pretty classic!
Father's day....I really need a whole post for this day. I had such a GREAT day with my dad. I love my dad. I am definitely my fathers daughter! Guess what he wanted for fathers day? He wanted to spend the day with me riding bikes! Is that not so me! Of course I thought this was a fabulous idea. We had such a special, memorable day. He picked me up at 8am. We drove out to the Palisades parking along Temescule Cyn. We started riding at Will Rogers state beach. What a beautiful day, the sun shone on the sand, the air was soft with humidity. The path was interesting and level. It was just a perfect, perfect day. After the ride (16 miles) we headed up into the Palisades. We had lunch at Kay n' Daves, this great Mexican slash breakfast spot. My dad had Cantina Potatoes, very similar to something he used to make in the bachelor years (the years when he was a single dad) and I had cinnamon swirl French toast. It really was just a wonderful day enjoying my dad. I love you dad!
I start teaching summer school on Monday. English. Last year I taught 1st grade and loved it.
I've been reading the Jan Karon, Midford books and loving those. I also read half of "Three Cups of Tea." At night John and I are reading Ishmael a Lamplighter Classic. I really like the Lamplighter books.

That concludes this edition of bullet point blogging

Prayer

2008-06-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Prayer

Rejoice Always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Thessalonians 5: 16-18

This weekend pastor Tim challenged us to pray with out ceasing and encouraged us to not give up in prayer. Praying without ceasing doesn't bother God it honors God. When we pray we are saying God is the only one who can handle the situation. Isn't it awesome to know that God never sleeps and is always looking out for us. Pastor Tim encouraged us to write down something that we need to pray without ceasing about and then pray for that ...without ceasing.

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing

Zero Carbon Foot Print Day

2008-06-16T20:08:00.001-07:00

Today, my husband and I set out on a zero carbon foot print adventure. So where can you go in LA without generating a massive carbon foot print? Well apparently a whole lot of places. We rode Bus 240 to Universal City and then the Red Line to Pershing Square. Where we ate huge bowls of steaming noodles and won ton, garnished with hot chili oil, at a 50' era counter at Grand Central Market. We were surrounded by people of every nationality. I felt like I went down in the subway tunnel in "my world" and came up in a different country. That really is how LA is - people in the same city, living in totally different realities.

We bought delicious cherries from one of the vendors of the market. The skyline of downtown LA as seen from Grand Central Market. On Bunker Hill - these apartments reminded me of apartment buildings we saw in Croatia. Bunker hill USED to have all the best mansions in the city, but that was a long time ago and nobody preserved them. Eventually they were just torn down and the square cement towers went up.

Angels Flight, to the top of Bunker Hill. Designed in the 1900's to get people from the market to their mansions on the hill, it is now defunct. We climbed the stairs and looked around, really not much to see, but a historic land mark non-the-less

Jk, fresh cherries in hand going down, down, down into the Pershing square subway tunnel.

Downtown skyline looking toward the jewelery mart

The extremely crowded Metro Red Line Station. I suppose that on weekdays they are busier.

City Walk, mainly tourist attraction but not a bad place to walk around and enjoy the day

I love all the mosaic's at City Walk. Learning to paint and learning to do mosaic work are on my list.

Indoor sky diving at Universal City Walk

Another beautiful California day! We traveled around the whole city for the cost of two $5 day passes and zero carbon emissions.

The Works of God

2008-06-16T18:33:00.000-07:00

A rather Monet photograph of the Lilies at Orange Cove

There are three stages in the work of God:
Impossible. Difficult. Done

James Hudson Tayler

What To Do In LA?

2008-06-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

This post is for San Diego Katy....

What to do in LA? Wow there is so much it depends on the area your in. Here are a few of my top picks:

1. Santa Monica, Third Street http://thirdstreetpromenade.org/

If you want the LA Beach / town experience I think Santa Monica is it. There is a shopping district adjacent to the beach and then there is the pier with Farris wheel, walking paths and of course the beach. There is lots of good food in that area. You can look up all the food options on the third street promendade website. If you want something you will NEVER have anywhere else but LA go to Real Food Daily http://www.realfood.com/. This is a organic vegetarian restaurant (very LA). In the total opposite culinary direction there is a cute British tea house called Tudor House http://www.thetudorhouse.com/ . Tea is $2.00 a pot and they also have full teas (much more expensive) a bakery and lunch items. Santa Monica is several miles North from LAX.

2. Getty Center http://www.getty.edu/visit/

Not far from Santa Monica, the Getty Museum sets on a hill overlooking LA and on a clear day the beach. Even if you are not into art I think the architecture of the Getty alone is worth a visit. This is a quintesentially "LA" experience. There is a nice cafeteria style cafe and coffee carts around and a lovely terrace to sit on and look out. This is a really great spot. It is free to get in to the museum, but there is a $8 charge for parking (so pile all your friends into one car).

3. Getty VillaI also highly recommend the original J. Paul Getty musuem, now called the Getty Villa Malibu http://www.getty.edu/visit/. It again is an LA only experience. Sitting on a bluff across from the beach, the museum is a recreated Italian villa filled with Grecko-Roman art. The Villa is also free, but does require and advance reservation. You can easily reserve your spot online. Again parking is $8. The Villa is several miles north of Santa Monica.

4. Malibu Lagoon and Beach, http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=835

Malibu is famous for a lot of reasons, but one of them is just that it is a pretty spot on the coast. Malibu Lagoon is a bird watching estuary across the street from the Malibu colony town center (where the starbucks is). There is a nice little path that leads through the wetlands out onto the beach. For an enjoyable and inexpensive time, buy yourself a starbucks and then cross the street and walk along the lagoon path and then eventually out onto the beach and if you like continue down the beach. This is just a nice spot to enjoy the beauty that God has made.

5. Malibu / Pepperdine University http://www.pepperdine.edu/welcome/locations/malibu/

This beautiful Malibu campus sits on the bluff above the ocean. From the Pepperdine campus you will see (on a clear day) spectacular views of the California Coast line. You could probably arrange to take a tour of the campus.

Katy I have some other ideas, but I'll stop there so as not to over whelm you!

Be Blessed and Be a Blessing,

Tag Your It

2008-06-08T08:47:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by Jenny Bird, so here goes, drum roll please...

My Six Unremarkable Quirks

here are the rules:

* Link the person who tagged you-Look to the right and click on McCown Family

* Mention the rules in your blog.

* Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours.

* Tag six bloggers by linking them. (They shall be "it")

My Six Unremarkable Quirks

1. I don't like it when people liter. It is a pet peeve, I just can't believe that anyone would throw trash on the ground, or stick gum under a desk-what is the world coming to?

2. I love old fashioned foods from my childhood. These include chocolate milk (just the thing after a hard day!); popcorn made in a pan, just the way dad used to make it; marshmallows, it is almost wrong how much I love marshmallows, cover them in chocolate and it is even better! And last but not least I love hot tea, another comfort food from my child hood.

3. I hate it when things are under my nails. I just imagine anything under the nails to be germmy. Yuck!

4. I'm not a reptile person Snakes really creep me out. And I have zero desire to live anywhere where there are reptiles that eat things the size of me (read crocodiles), the only exception to this is turtles which are just cute and I might add vegetarian.

5. I have a very weak stomach and I have been known to gag simply by watching an episode of Fear Factor.

6. I love spicy smells-chai, pumpkin pie, carrot cake, green tea, spicy soap. In opposite I can't stand floral smells. Really roses are good, bottled rose anything is bad.

Those are my six unremarkable quirks. Now it is YOUR turn. I'm tagging Yvonne, Ashlyn, Karen, Julianne, and Brian (not really expecting Brain to respond), What are your quirks?

Pizza Night

2008-06-01T12:51:00.000-07:00

My husband makes great pizza! Almost every Tuesday night, JK makes pizza. He had his pizza making training at the Pizza Factory, in Mariposa, CA. Our pizza is a team effort, I chop the ingredients, and heat the stone, he tosses the pizza and puts the ingredients on to perfection. Pizza night Tuesday, it is just one of the things I love about my life.

Orange Cove

2008-05-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Our new getaway in the city, 15 minutes on foot from door to the new Cal State Northridge historic orange grove pond. The pond is a new addition to the orange grove on the corner of Nordhoff and Zelzah. It is as far as I no the last grove of its kind-once the whole valley was groves.
The new landmark is officially named the "orange grove pond", However, I've decided that "pond" isn't really a good name, for me it conjures up images of slimy, deep green-mosquito infested waters; therefore I have christened our new walk to spot "Orange Cove", see they should have asked me!
Highlights are of course the turtles. The most we've seen is five. Last night I reached into the water and picked up a baby turtle. The little thing was none too happy, it hissed at me! I quickly put it back, and drenched my red hoodie sleeve.
One end of the pond has many, many tadpoles! J and I are looking forward to the day we see frogs. There are a couple of fish darting about, I am a bit curious why there aren't more? Maybe turtles eat fish? We say two cute ducks the other night, a green headed mallard, and and tan and gray one. It is rather a delightful setting and I am already planning a picnic. We walked here at least three times this week; the orange cove walk is our after dinner relaxation. One of the best part is ALL THOSE ORANGES, if you know my husband, you know that he loves oranges.
He's been climbing the tree's finding just the right tree for us to pick from. Last night we shared an orange from the grove while sitting on a stone bench overlooking our very own sanctuary.

Home Made Granola

2008-05-26T20:10:00.000-07:00

Saturday our house smelled like toasted oats and roasted almonds. If you ask me this is a wonderful smell -something close to oatmeal cookies, but we weren't making cookies we made a big batch of home made granola. We are currently on a little bit of a health kick - a kick I hope will stick and so we decided to make our own healthy breakfast granola. No trans-fats or artificial ingredients, just pure home made goodness. This was our first time making granola, though J's mom made it for them as kids. It is really so easy to make! I will most likely make this again, and seeing as we bought the Costco size Quaker Oats we are going to HAVE to.

Crunchy Granola

5 cups rolled oats
1 cup oat bran
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup raw cashews
1 cup raw chopped almonds
1/2 cup raisins or dates
1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup raw honey
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1. Mix dry ingredients in a large flat roasting pan.
2. Mix liquids and stir into dry ingredients.
3. Bake at 350' for 30 minutes, stirring twice during baking.
4. Remove and let cool. Store in an airtight container.

Yield 9 servings.

from the Nature's Kitchen Cookbook by Dr. Donald R. Whitaker and Barbara Durham Flournoy

Greek Festival 2008

2008-05-24T12:58:00.000-07:00

Saturday, we walked over to the Greek Festival at St. Nicholas. I love the Greek festival, I love the Greeks, I love Mediterranean culture, food and music. My heat beats Greek. We spent a couple hours at the festival eating some pastries and watching the dancing exhibits and the general public dancing. The Greek Festival is a fun thing to do memorial weekend!

Roger's Graduation

2008-05-11T20:01:00.000-07:00

The graduation ceremony was at Grace church. This is my home church the place where I grew up. I hadn't been back for almost ten years. It was very moving to be back in that sanctuary singing hymns. No other institution has had so great an impact on my life as Grace church.

Roger earns his Master's degree from the Master's seminary

Roger cutting the German chocolate cake. This picture reminds me of them cutting their wedding cake one year ago.

George regaled the party with stories of church in the deep south.

Roger and Lilit are a blessing!

Cletus Gets Married

2008-05-04T22:14:00.000-07:00

This evening we were blessed to attend Chris and Lynn's wedding. We just marvel how God brought these two people together. The last six months have been amazing as we have seen God work in Chris and Lynn's life. Their wedding was intimate - celebrated at Chris' house. Pastor Bill Shannon gave a beautiful ceremony, afterwards we feasted on a delicious catered Wood Ranch Dinner. We are so happy to be apart of this joyous event. Chris and Lynn we wish you guys all the best! May God richly bless your new life together.

We Do Things: Houston Museum of Natural Science

2008-05-03T19:27:00.000-07:00

While we were in Houston we took the opportunity to visit one of our country's great museums: The Houston Museum of Natural Science.

Being a Nature lover as I am, the natural science museum was a big Texas draw-forget the Creole restaurants, the ribs or the Tex-Mex - I want to see some butterflies!

The big exhibit is the butterfly habitat. A jurastic park like bio-dome enclosing a lush rain forest filled with wonderful many colored butterflies.
Of course the Houston Museum dosen't just have butterflies, they also have Madagascar hissing cockroaches-the size of twinkiesMonsters from the recent past
Underground ant tunnels.
Can you believe those things in the background are what ant tunnels look look?
They are so beautiful and orderly! I am so impressed!Brightly colored poison frogs. The yellow and blue blobs in the picture are the frogsAnd brilliant colored sea-shells, I would love, love to put these on the wall of my house. We had a a great morning, Houston Museum of Natural Science holds a few of my favorite things.

The Ballad of Two Chevy Malibu's and a Town Car

2008-05-02T20:02:00.000-07:00

It all started Saturday morning after the banquet
when we and apparently half the other guests we're trying to vacate

There was a crush at the valet stand
young men in mock military smocks ran
ferrying cars - backed up like sardines in a can

The people groaned, some were mean
and in the malay it seems-that an un-thinking teen
gave our silver Malibu to another unseen

We waited for a while,
as long as we could with style
and then my dear husband went to inquire
the reason our car hadn't been seen for a long, long while

At first they told us they had no record
of a car ever parked with that placard
and then upon second consideration

the valet manager confessed to his great tribulation
that our silver Malibu had been given away
to another driver who had a gold Chevy Malibu-so they say

This as you can imagine wasn't pretty,
and it made some poor valet boys pretty sweaty and dizzy,
but when the dust settled and tempers were cool

It was ruled that we should have a deluxe town car, as our tool
And so for the first time in my life
I was escorted with a "yes ma'am and alright"
into the lovely black town car with a driver

Those leather black seats were certainly styling
And so there we were Pedro in a black suit was driving
down the mall to the Museum
Door to door service is certainly pleasin

Two hours later, our town car was there
whisking us off to the airport with care
If you ask me, it all worked out alright
We got escorted service, direct non stop to our flight

Stellar Awards

2008-04-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

What a blessing to attend the Rotary National Awards for Space Achievement. The awards black tie dinner was this weekend at the Hyatt Regency in Downtown Houston. My smart husband was nominated for a Stellar Award. This award is given to those individuals or teams that further space progress. Captian Gene Cernan, the last man on the moon was honored at this event. There are only a handful of people who have been outside of earth's atmosphere, I found it pretty amazing to be in the same room as several astronauts and two men who have walked on the moon.

My husband received a plaque and a flag that has been into space. This honor was presented to him by Colonel Eileen Collins. I believe she was the first woman commander of the space shuttle. RNASA took us on a great VIP tour of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, this is the largest indoor swimming pool. The astronauts train for space walks in this giant pool. We saw the Mission Control Centers (JSC B30), the space shuttle control room, the International Space Station Flight Control Room, the Apollo Era Mission Operations Control Center. The Apollo Era Control room was particularily neat to see because Apollo 13 is one of my favorite movies. Because we were VIP they allowed is to acutally walk around in the room, sit on the chairs, play with the buttons. And our tour guide in that room was an actual flight director.We then toured the Space Vehicle Mockup Facility (JSC B9). This is where they have full scale models of the Space Station, and Space shuttle. The Astronauts train on this equipment. We saw the international space station trainers, the Orion Development Mockup, the Russian Soyuz, The Soyuz was my favorite. Yes, three astronauts CAN fit in that lower hatch (the top is filled with trash and burns up on re-entry), be dropped out of the sky at 400,000 feet and live to tell about it. The last Soyuz landing last week was a bit rough, The capsule came in too steep, tumbled in the sky, melted a bit, the astronauts pulled 8 G's for 10 min (Eileen Collins said she pulled 1.2 G's coming in on the shuttle and she felt like she weighed 800 pounds), and then came into an earth landing 300 miles off track in Kazakhstan. The Russians termed the entry a "ballistic descent". It is amazing the three astronauts didn't die. Once our space shuttle stops flying in two years America will be dependent on the Soyuz to get our astronauts to and from the international space station until 2015, or until our new space vehicle is built. The space shuttle trainers and the Robotic Arm Trainer. It was a very amazing weekend. I am so proud of my husband. He takes me on great space adventures!

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

2008-04-20T17:33:00.001-07:00

I've been making peanut butter rice crispy treats for our Sunday night life group. These are so good, I just had to share them with the blog-o-sphere. Somebody brought peanut butter rice crispy treats to the Rosenfeld's super bowl party. Jk and I loved them. I think I made these the next weekend. If you need a quick peanut butter and marshmallow fix this is it.

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

1/4 cup regular butter
4 cups mini marshmallows, or about 40 regular (10 oz)
1/4 cup peanut butter
5 cups rice crispy cereal

Butter 13 x 9 pan
1. Melt butter in the pan over very low heat
2. Add marshmallows stir until completely melted
3. Stir 3 min longer, stirring constantly
4. Remove from heat, stir in peanut butter
5. Stir in rice crispy cereal
6. Press mixture into buttered 13 x 9 pan, press gently

Cut into 2 x 2 squares makes 24 squares

The Big Catch Up

2008-04-18T20:14:00.000-07:00

There have been about seven things in the last two weeks I have wanted to post about. Of course when I am out doing a lot of great things I have no time to post about them. So, I am going to stoop to the lowest form of blogging. Thats right, this is going to be a built point post.

The Friday of Spring break I went to the Pacific Asian Museum and the Norton Simon with Pam. She picked me up around 12 and then we headed to Pasadena. We met Lisa at The Hat a very famous Pastrami sandwich stand where we consumed, yellow mustard and sour pickle slathered Pastrami sandwiches with enough meat on them to feed a family of five. We also split an enormous basket of fries and downed some cokes. It was the official end to my week of vegetarianism (down with vegetarianism!). From The Hat Pam and I bid farewell to Lisa and headed off to the Pacific Asian Museum to see Japanese block prints, and to the Norton Simon simply because neither of us had been there before. It was a lot of fun. I am so glad Pam invited me to go. Pam is "good people", She is a Montana girl. Just totally no fuss. She is the most generous person with her time. So when I got in a jam this month, in need of a video camera for my graduate classes. Who did I call? that's right Pam. She helped me out big time! I am so grateful for her generous Christian spirit. Her awesome attitude toward helping others makes me what to help people more. Besides being super generous Pam is just a down right interesting person. She is a two time Olympian in the high jump. She has traveled all over the world competing and coaching track and field. She's competed in Cuba! Pam has really great stories! It was a fun day.

The same day I went to the Norton Simon with Pam JK's parent's came. We had good time hanging out. We went to the Grove to watch all the pretty people and to eat some good food at the old farmers market by CBS studio's. I love that place. Before the grove we went to Encino and saw a really bad foreign film "The Band". The story of a Egyptian band stuck in a small Israeli town. I felt like I WAS STUCK IN THE SMALL TOWN. Whatever!

JK's parent's left on Sunday morning. Sunday Afternoon Sam and Lena came over. They brought some yum pastry from Ani Armenian Bakery. It was good to see them. WE Love S,L,H,T, and A. : ) You guys are the best!

First week back at school went good. My kids were better behaved after the break. Monday night we had dinner with eight friends at Olive in Sherman Oaks to celebrate our friend Mark visiting from Connecticut. (I think that is where he lives now). It was a good time.

Saturday, The fifth we had dinner with Chris and Tana in Santa Monica. Tana made this amazing salmon with avocado dill relish on top. Yum! She also served a really good bread roll ring. We had a fun time getting to know them. We play soccer with them on Monday's or I should say JK play's and I cheer.

Sunday the 6th we had a birthday party for my dad at their house. Wendy made the feast, burgers and more. I had fun playing with my niece and nephew. Those kids are fun. It was just a good casual time.

Somewhere way back I also did the LA bike Marathon. I don't remember the day, but it was fun.

My class started on the 7th, so far it hasn't been as bad as the killer class I took in February. That woman gave me an A-. I am tempted to be mad, but I learned a lot from her. She was tough!

This last weekend the 12th we tired a new Mediterranean Restaurant across from church. It is officially my new favorite restaurant. The interior decor was beautiful-modern Italian, so chic, great hummus and great prices. I love the Mediterranean. I seriously thinking about going back to Croatia every day. It was so beautiful there! I love the water! What is not to love?

Church was amazing this last week! Jesus defines who I am. Nothing else defines who I am. My hope is not in my problems going away, my hope is in Jesus and his eternal salvation. Such an encouraging message!

Monday, my professor posted the first grades. I earned all 100% and my professor asked me if he could use my paper as the example he posts for future students to follow! Wow! Of course I said yes, who would say no to that?

JK and I have been taking a lot of walks and loving that. I swam once this week and LOVED that. I am such a water baby. The weather is warm and summer like. I love Cali! I went from wanting to move out of here to thinking things like "my beloved California", who would have thought? I don't know if I could ever live far from the sun and beach. Granted I don't GO to the beach very often but it is there...right?

Five Weeks left of school. Who is counting more? the teachers or the kids? I love my kids and will miss them, but I am also excited for 1/2 day summer school, vacation, swimming more biking and maybe training for a half-marathon (more to come on that).

That is the built point round up! God Bless. Me.

Lilit's Walk

2008-03-27T20:03:00.000-07:00

This post is officially dedicated to Lilit and Roger. This is the first post I have ever dedicated to anyone...so I guess this is a historic moment.

Lilit thank you for taking me on your walk! I had a great time and I feel like I saw every street in your neighborhood. Your the best. : )

A Poem For LilitThere once was a girl named Lilit

She liked to walk down the street
She prefers streets with curbs. No side walks? Thats absurd! Her route just can't be beat.

We went down every street in the city. But boy wasn't it pretty! Bird houses galore, neighborhood disputes-no more.

All this beauty just makes me dizzy!

The End

After our walk Lilit made me a delicious strawberry smoothie. It was a perfect day...I even came home with a healthy tan!

Spring Break Day

2008-03-26T17:45:00.001-07:00

Hi y'all, (did I really just write y'all?) I'm blogging a lot this week because I am on spring break! Today, I actually had a sort of non-spring break day because I went to work at my old job Classic Woodcraft. It was interesting working there today, kind of like being in a time warp. The place looks exactly the same. My desk was exactly the same, the pictures I last put on the cork board were still their in exactly the same position. It was of funny to see my co-workers round the corner and see me at my desk-jaws dropped, eyes bugged out, their were exclamations of OMG! They thought they had stepped back in time.In a way it was creepy-like no time has passed, except I've been teaching for the last year and going to school myself. From my perspective life has changed dramatically.

After about five minutes of typing proposals I was absolutely convinced that switching over to teaching was THE RIGHT move. How did I ever survive typing propsals so long? I hate typing proposals? I hate everything about it-the detail, the silence, the boredom, I'm inside, I'm looking at a screen, I have to sit still. Needless to say I am even more convinced that teaching is for me. I love my teaching job. I love moving and talking, interacting explaining, I love to go outside, I love that I have lunch with my fun co-workers. I am working a lot harder, (CWC was pretty easy money) but I love teaching SOO MUCH MORE. Teaching is totally worth it.

Easter at Shepherd + Life

2008-03-25T10:46:00.001-07:00

The program picture from our Easter Service. Dudley preached on the historical fact that Jesus is risen. Church was under a huge circus tent set up in the parking lot. John and I volunteered on Saturday to set-up decorate parts of the tent. On Easter Sunday, I was a little distracted by the enormity of the tent. I kept looking up at those huge poles. It is nearly always windy in Porter Ranch, the wind blew the tent sides in and out like a giant lung.

After church we headed off to my dad's house to eat. Our friends Chris and Lynn came with us. Chris you will remember as the guy who played the practical joke on me last Halloween. It was good to see the family. You know it was the typical Easter: lots of food, a warm day, sitting outside under the gazebo, playing with the kids, an Easter egg hunt, Grandma Weller telling me "I need to watch Hawaii Five-O" because "Your the guy on the program only your a girl". I ate way too much of Wendy's home made macaroni and cheese. I love her macaroni and cheese. She has Kraft beat by miles.

Yesterday, was my first day of spring break. I didn't waste it. I swam for an hour! This was wonderful. I don't think I have been swimming since last summer. I love to swim. Plus swimming has to be the best exercise. My arms and legs have a nice tightness today. I love that feeling. I miss the days when I swam in the competition pool three or more days a week. Yesterday, I made a spring break resolution that I will swim for an hour each day this week. Besides swimming, I called my sister, did laundry, cleaned, read "Time line" etc. It is so nice to be home!

I got some bad news this morning from my sis. Apparently my grandma is not doing well. She is in hospice and my cousin Kathrine gave her about a month to live. Additionally, my mom's sister Aunt Diane is back in the hospital. Really sad news. Both live on the east coast in North Carolina.

Normal

2008-03-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

It is so nice to be normal again! The last two months were so killer. I thought I was just going to burst with all the facts pumped into my head. It is so nice to have normal evenings and weekends with John. We take walks, I cook dinner, we read together. So nice, so, so nice. This weekend was so delicously normal. I cleaned out cupboards, with the help of my genius husband and we went to Saturday night church.

I love my church. My pastor is speaking on Jesus. The whole year is on "who is Jesus". The last two months he has preached out of the book of John. Awesome. Jesus is our savior! After church we headed over to the mall to use up some Christmas gift cards. I have one from Ann Taylor Loft and another to Borders. You know of course FIRST we had to go to Harry and David and buy some junk food we don't need. It is a tradition. You have to respect the tradition. You know it is bad when I have a frequent buyer card. We got out of Harry David with Flax Corn Chips, and some gourmet white cheddar popcorn seasoning. We so love that store. That is one thing I love about my husband-he loves good food as much as I do. We can make a whole date of Whole Foods, and Z pizza (organic pizza place NEXT to Whole Foods).

Anyway after Harry and David we went to Borders. John bought a Cello CD. Cello has been his thing since we went to a free concert at the Library. That had to have been a year ago but it was Really amazing. It was amazing because there were four other people in the room and the cello was two feet from us. It was really impressive to see these beautiful young UCLA college girls play a ten minute cello pieces from memory. I instantly decided that should we have a daughter she should take cello lessons. It was also neat that between the sets we talked to the musicians. I asked why they chose their instrument and how long they had been playing. Most had been playing since 5 years old and that was the SECOND instrument they played. It takes a lot of work. I better start saving for my children's cello lessons.

Saturday night, I confirmed myself as a closet vegetarian by buying a yoga DVD. I am NOT a vegetarian, but it is the question I am asked most often. Maybe I should be now that I am going to do yoga. Actually, I've taken yoga for about a year. My husband's company has a recreation center, this includes a gym with free yoga classes. While he played soccer, I took yoga. I really liked the calm stretching. I think teaching 7th grade will make you want to take yoga-ANYTHING quiet is exactly what I need after 63 7th grade students. Really teach 7th grade for a day, you will take yoga too. With my Borders gift card (thank you Royce) I bought a yoga CD. I haven't tried it yet. I have no idea if it is good. I chose this particular CD because the girl on the front had pretty blond curly hair and she looked like a girl I had seen on the cover of a yoga magazine at Whole Foods. I will keep you posted on how the whole yoga thing turns out.

Right now I am going to go be "normal" and watch some "Dancing with the Stars" with my husband.

I Heart Lavendar

2008-03-18T19:14:00.000-07:00

My love for it really started in 2006 on the island of Hvar (Croatia). It was every where, growing in fields along the rode, sold as oil in bottles, made up into pretty purple sachets to tuck into your drawers. Still it sat outside my conscious mind. The next year we traveled to another lavender growing region.In August 2007 we visited the San Juan Islands in the Pacific Northwest. The lavender farm on San Juan island was so beautiful. It is here where I really started to like lavender. It has such a clean scent, and as I am not much of a girl for fancy perfume, its soft clean scent and pretty color just seemed to suit my sensibilities. In town (Friday Harbor) we visited the lavender shop , where I kid you not they sell every lavender product possible. Not one little piece of a lavender bush is wasted. If you visit, make sure you visit the bathroom and use the complimentary lavender sugar scrub. Your hands will be silky soft and smell wonderful. The lavender cafe has free wifi, a nice quiche with green salad and excellent lavender hot tea. Not to mention the great wall art. I really loved all the lavender themed art hanging on the walls. I was so inspired by the lavender fields and the lavender art that these are the colors I would like to do our bedroom in. Mostly green of course so as not to offend my manly husband. In the evenings, my husband and I love to take walks around the neighborhood. He is so sweet, he often suggests (like tonight) that we walk past a lavender bush where I break off a few stems(the are hanging on the sidewalk on the side street side of the house). These lavender stems are lovingly displayed in a Perrier bottle on the kitchen table. So pretty and sweet. I heart lavender. I heart my husband more.

Open House Traditions

2008-03-18T17:32:00.001-07:00

Each year the Kindergarten class offers up a colorful wall exhibit of their art, and sandwiched in between the art are some not so flattering pictures of administration. It is a bit of a roast by the Kindergarten teachers. The administrations faces are put on updated bodies. I think it is pretty hilarious.The administration takes it in good fun. I suppose those kindergarten students (and there teachers) are just too cute to get into serious trouble.
This Years Kinder"Garden". The students are cute little Bees and butterflies.The principle and superintendent as the "keepers". Either that or boy scouts with nets. As you can see my co-workers have a good time. You have to when working with kids. Today was comfy cozy day for the elementary students. I listened to a devotion this morning given by a woman in hair curlers and a pink robe. It is all just a part of "comfy cozy day"(aka pajama day). Don't you wish your work had that?

Bug Projects

2008-03-15T15:54:00.001-07:00

Museum Quality

A closer look at the bug projects. The students had to find 10 bugs and then label them with their common name and order.Cute Display

We completed the bug project as part of the unit on the modern classification system (kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, species). These projects were completed in October, but I didn't send them home, because I wanted to display them at Open House. Now that open house is over I'm sending the dead bugs home. : ) I think the kids did a great job. So many were outstanding. These are just a couple of examples.

Where did you find that butterfly?

They do work really hard for me and I am thankful! I have a really great group of seventh grade students. I have sixty-three all stars.

March Madness: Open House

2008-03-13T17:45:00.000-07:00

Room with a view. Looking towards the back wall. Psalms 1 Cartoons, Cell drawings, Psalm 19

A lot of good stuff has been going on! We had too really great chapel services this month, I am not taking a class in March (yeah!) and we had open house at school. Its been good times!
So lets start off with the awesome chapel services. First we had Nick from life with out limbs . Nick literally has NO arms or legs. What he lacks in these appendages he makes up for in good humor and an awesome message of repentance. He really has the spirit on him. Our students were absolutely enthralled! In the middle school chapel pretty much every student was on their knees crying. Many gave Nick hugs. There was a general feeling of God moving in our school. Students reconciled with one another and with parents as a result of this awesome chapel message. The high school chapel lasted three hours! Afternoon classes were virtually canceled as a result of this amazing chapel.

The next week Mr. Wagner came to speak to us. He is the founder of Generosity bottled water. When you buy generosity water 100% goes to create a well in Africa. Really a cool guy who has a vision to have 100 wells dug in Africa. He isn't just saying we should help people, he is doing it. Real faith in Action. Being Jesus with skin on.

So, I am almost feeling human! No class this month!!! I was really on the edge. Last months class was hard. Two observations, a lesson plan, video taping myself teaching and then writing an analysis of it, and the final 20 page paper comparing and contrasting three different ELL / ESL programs. All while teaching full time. Needless to say I almost fell lighter then air now that ALL I have to do is work full time. Praise God for the month of March.

My Room: Science Projects Galore, Student made DNA hanging from the ceiling

Open house was last Thursday and Friday night. I like meeting the parents and showing off my kids work. It was a good evening, though there are times you are just sitting in the room listening to the crickets (in between groups of parents / kids). It was good times.

View of the Pollution Brochures and Proverbs Project

I Love This Song

2008-03-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

Have you ever had a song just stick in your head? One that just loops round and round and round AGAIN? I understand! Because I have a song stuck in my head! This song-All Ye has been on my mind, filling my spirit and causing me to sing out loud. If you have a lot on your mind this is the song for you

Click Here to Hear "All Ye"

Be Blessed, and Be a Blessing

Me.

Warm Up Ride and Other Things

2008-02-03T07:14:00.000-08:00

Biking this summer on Lopez Island. THAT WAS A FUN DAY!

Yesterday, was a BEAUTIFUL day in LA. After all the rain the hills are green, the air clear and the sky blue. It was a great day to do a warm up ride at Balboa park. In about a month Dad and I are doing the Acura LA Bike Tour. We went around the park twice for a total of twelve miles. Afterwards we ate back all the calories we burned with In-N-Out Burgers, fries and root beer.

Next week, if I get my papers done we are going to do 18 miles. My class this month (the class I take not teach) is supposed to be really killer. I have to video tape myself teaching and the final paper is 3,000 words (around 16 pages). I feel like the schooling is poking me and drawing blood in any way they can. It is not so hard really -given the availability of time. What is hard is all the other things I have to do. This month February my students Science projects are due. That is a pretty serious amount of grading I will have to do to get. "And this too shall pass" God is with me, I am not going to fret. I am just going to do my best and get through it.

After church on Saturday we went out to dinner with my husbands co-worker and girl friend. Today, we are going to a super bowl party at the Rosenfelds with Twyla and Dan. I am bringing home made Hammos and pita bread. Tonight, John's dad is coming to spend the night. In between all this I need to do the laundry, do some grading and plan my lessons for next week. I better get busy!

Classroom Funnies

2008-02-03T06:47:00.001-08:00

Classroom Funnies

In 4th period I said something about Lance Armstrong. A student in the back of the class called out "who's Lance Armstrong" another student shot back "duh, he landed on the moon!"

This week in second period Science I was teaching the major bones of the body. I had Mr. Bob Bones the skeleton in class as a demonstration. As I walked by the skeleton, his sharp bone fingers caught on my sweater pulling him over on top of my back. Just them a student yells out "Bob! Your getting frisky!" The whole class burst into uproarious laughter as a couple of my big boys jumped up to rescue me from Mr. Bones.

In seventh period science, I was introducing the lesson on bones saying "we have a special guest with us this week Bob the skeleton, he is going to help us learn about our bones" a student piped up "Bob would say hi, but he just doesn't have the guts to!"

Seventh Grade Projects

2008-02-03T06:33:00.001-08:00

Only in 7th grade bible do you assign a project on the character of God and receive a project with a picture of Jessica Simpson on it. The students did a great job, thinking of and then portraying character qualities of God. The purple project below (lower left) says God is:

"is your wake up call"

"saving"

"giving"
"comfort"
"treasure"
"love"
"power"
"for everyone"
"truth"
"beautiful"

I Am

2008-02-03T06:23:00.001-08:00

My pastor is doing a really great series of messages on the identify of Jesus. In the book of John, Jesus said that he is "I Am": "I Am" the bread of life, "I Am" the gate, "I Am" the good Shepherd, "I Am" the way the truth and the life, "I Am" the living water", "I Am" the resurrection and the life. The words "I Am" was a claim of deity as it was the name God gave to Moses when Moses asked what he should say when the people of Israel asked who sent him. Either you believe Jesus is the great "I AM" or you must concluded that he was a liar or a crazy man. He claimed to be God and he claimed to be sent from heaven. He says "sent from heaven" or "God sent me" nine times in John six. I believe Jesus was and is who he said he was -God in human form, the messiah. Who do you believe Jesus is?

My World Delivered

2008-01-13T20:00:00.001-08:00

I just wanted to show of a corner of my world. My happy classroom, spacious office and pretty much where I spend most of my life. This is one important corner of my world.

Nine Hours Work = Two Minutes Grading

2008-01-13T19:48:00.001-08:00

I spent the weekend working on this 24 item concept map and the 18 pages of text surrounding it, including glossary, abstract, and reference list. For the second assignment I completed a detailed table of child development stages and the theorists that go with them. I worked on this thing nine hours. After completion, I submitted it via online drop box to my professor. Not two minutes later my professor posted my grade of 10 points (highest score possible) in the online grade book. While happy I earned a 10, I felt somewhat disappointed that after 9 hours of work my professor apparently only glanced it over. Nine hours worth of work. Two minutes of grading. Where is the justice? Would I have felt better if he looked at it for 9 minutes - one minute per hour? I don't know; probably not. For all the work I put into that concept map, I sort of expected that he would go over it with a fine tooth comb. I certainly did, over and over for the last nine hours.

Kings Game

2008-01-06T10:40:00.001-08:00

I had a great time at the Kings Game! My husband and I were invited by my family who are huge Kings fans and have season tickets. The Kings were behind, pulled ahead and then ultimately lost the game. For me all the score changes were enough to keep the game interesting. This was my first time inside the Staples Center. What a huge beautiful facility. I think I could be a hockey fan. It goes with my "I love everything Eastern European" phase. I was particularly excited that player #11: Anze was from Slovenia. Only 19 years old and very talented. We drove through Slovenia on our way to Croatia. As I remember it from the motor coach window, Slovenia was really picturesque, green hills, stone houses, beautiful red geranium flower boxes hanging out of every window, and balcony. I would love to go to the capital city Ljublijana. By the way I did spell that correctly. Don't ask me to pronounce it. I pronounced it incorrectly for a month all the way across Croatia. It became a running joke between Jk and I. He marveled that I could pronounce Ljublijana different every time, and every time pronounce it wrong. Even now we joke about my wonderful Croatia / Slovenian pronunciation. Other words that gave me trouble were Peljesac, Jadrolinija, and Orebic. There were more and worse cases. Just about any time I read a street sign or guide book I malled the Croatian language. "Idite ravno naprijed" meaning "go straight ahead" pronounced by me turned into "idiot rave no nap pre I jeed". Oh, it makes me smile. Good times in Croatia. I was just telling Jk that I wanted to go to Slovenia again. Would love to see more of that beautiful country. Until then I'll be practicing my Croatian / Slovenian. (note they are not the same language but somewhat similar)

phrase: Zeljel bih dvokrevetnu?
pronunciation: zhe-lye-la bee dvo-kre-vet-noo sobu
translation: I'd like a double/twin bedroom

Wedding Photographer

2008-01-06T10:21:00.001-08:00

My mother in law is a wedding photographer in Yosemite. Of late I've been thinking I would like to be a wedding photographer. I know, I know I am in school to be a teacher. I fully understand. This would be my "later in life career" when I "no longer want to teach middle school" career. I love taking pictures. I love weddings. I am easy going and could be calm amidst an unglued bride. I could do this. The only negative is that whole "weekend thing". The problem being weddings are on WEEKENDS and I LIKE my weekends. See the problem. Anyway. Maybe portrait photography is the way to go. I have you know like 25 more years to figure out what my second career will be. I can sleep on it.

http://www.yosemiteweddings.org

Road Rash

2008-01-05T08:29:00.001-08:00

This picture is for Christy. You can see how our vegetables went flying, smashing into the black asphalt . The veggies shifted causing the tension of the bungee cord to spring loose with a wild whip. The plastic bag was shredded, little black rocks were imbedded in the vegetable flesh, the beets oozed red beet juice. Another good time involving road rash!

Great Food Fast

2008-01-04T16:56:00.001-08:00

Dear Wendy gave me a new cookbook. This was a much needed gift as meals had slipped and slid to the slowest common denominator in the months preceding Christmas. Boy was I in need of some fresh, fast, food ideas. This cookbook was just about the perfect solution. Divided by seasons so I can cook in season is a blessing, after all I am reading "How to Pick a Peach" and getting more in touch with the eating seasonal groove. The main delight of this cookbook is a picture of every recipe. I have to see it to want to eat it. Beautiful pictures they are check out some of the inside shots:

My first dip into this cookbook saw me create the tomato chicken curry. I thought it was Easy Wow (all in one bite) The next night, I continued my Indian theme making this Tandoori Chicken. I slathered turmeric and yogurt liberally on the chicken breast then placed them in the oven (easy). My house smelled delicously spicy and warm as the chicken baked. And yum, like eating at the Village Tandoori Indian buffet in Northridge.

And this, how about a chocolate sandwich? I am undecided if I would actually like to eat a chocolate sandwich. If it would turn my stomach sick, and have me laying on the floor swearing I will never eat another chocolate sandwich again. The photo is so gorgeous I just might be lured in against my stomachs will.

This. I am definately going to make this. Spinach and mushrooms with feta. What is not to like?

Every page is so beautiful. This page is from the delightfully sunny summer section.

This picture is for my mother in law who loves chocolate and mint. I always think of her when I see this combination. Cool mint and bitter dark chocolate happens to be one of my favorite combinations as well. Mint chocolate chip was pretty much the only ice cream flavor I had as a child. This looks like my childhood ice cream all grown up.

Last night I made the Parmesan steak fries in the upper right corner to accompany or wild salmon burgers on sprouted wheat bread. They were pretty darn good. I liked that they were made with out oil.

And this, is this not one of the most beautiful food presentations you've ever seen? Gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous. I would have made this tonight had I any Dijon in the house.

I plan to in all my pre-back to work, pre-school ambitions cook through the entire winter section of the cookbook. I am aware that once things really start cooking around here - and I don't mean food, I may not have the metal or physical energy to carry off my grand scheme. What ever the state of my business I will try to nibble away at it, bit by delicious bit.

Year End Review

2008-01-01T09:31:00.001-08:00

Beautiful thistles and white roses at Roche Harbor, Washington

Happy New Year! I hope you had a good first 24 hours in 2008. As I have mentioned before, I love the New Year. I know technically it is just the next day after Jan 31st, but to me it feels fresh and spring like. I always feel potential at the start of a new year. Maybe 2008 will be just like 2007 but I always feel the potential for great things: spiritual revival in our country, personal breakthrough, a house, a baby. It is hope ruffling through the air. Hope in what may lay beyond. The only "resolution" I made was to read through the bible. I did this last year with the exception of a rough patch in March and then I fell off the wagon again in October and December. I am not really discouraged by this because I did read my bible MORE then I would have if I didn't do a bible reading program and the HOPEFUL part of me thinks that I will do even better in 2008. 2007 was just a warm up for 2008, right? : )

Our rental bikes on Lopez Island. We bought carrots and beets at this produce stand. Later our produce fell off the back of my bike suffering a serious case of road rash. We still ate them.

The big changes in 2008 was a new job for me. This job has been a breath of fresh air. I praise God for that job. We got a new little nephew in 2007, the Downs family moved to Fresno, The swan family moved to Ecco.

Besides the job and some family moves, this year was pretty static. OH there were small changes - I ate a lot of plain organic yogurt in 2007. I went from hating it, to eating it with honey, to eating it plain. I seriously do not know what got into me this year, but I turned into a plain yogurt lover. I also ate a lot of sunflower seeds this year. I discovered the Trader Joe's roasted, unsalted seeds and I never looked back. I ate my first boiled beet in 2007, and sampled purple cauliflower- all this took place on Lopez Island while camping at a sheep farm. This year also saw me like the color lavender.
Previously burgundy and red where my thing this year after seeing the Lavender fields on San Juan Island I fell in love with the color purple. I Keri-o-keed for the first time -in public. I was ridiculously bad, ridiculously is the right word, but I am not sorry I did it. You would have to agree these were pretty minor changes to a life.

Favorite Picture

2008-01-01T09:31:00.000-08:00

Lopez Island. Were we bought the beets

Happy Birthday

2007-12-30T12:56:00.000-08:00

"Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me, Happppy Birthday dear Meeee-e, Happy Birthday to me."

Today is my birthday. I praise God for another year of life! I had a spectacularly good day, all my favorite things rolled into one. My husband took me out to breakfast. This is of course one of my favorite things. Forget going out to dinner, take me out to breakfast and I am a happy girl. I like to get up and out and relish even more the pleasure of sitting in a coffee shop with a hot black tea and my bible or a good book. This morning I enjoyed Ceylon tea and an egg and cheese croissants nibbled at slowly as I digested my daily bible reading and "In an Instant" the story of Bob Woodruff a news reporter who was nearly killed by an IED while covering the US invasion of Iraq.

From the Daily Grind coffee house we moved on to the Northridge mall and Ann Taylor Loft, which is a favorite clothing store. I appreciate the classic styles that story carries, I am not one given to contemporary fashion. I like to look presentable, in a classic and sporty kind of way. My husband ducked out to walk around the mall while I spent 30 min shopping. I found three cute shirts on clearance. Even if it is my birthday I go straight to the clearance rack. I see no need to spend more then I have to.

Next stop was Claire's boutique a teen-e-bop-per accessory store at the mall. I felt awkwardly thirteen again getting my ear's pierced on my birthday. I marveled that I had to show ID as a 30 year old woman to get my ears pierced. Do I really look like I need a guardians approval? My husband joked that he was going to have to sign for me. Ha, ha. This was my third go round in the ear piercing chair. I had my ear's pierced when I was around thirteen years old and then I pierced a second hole in my early twenties, this time I was just re-piercing my first piercing that had closed. It is a bit of a messy story, involving metal allergy, my ears partially closing and then me in all my brilliance pushing and earing through myself, finally I had pity on my poor ears and let them close up to heal.

My perfect day continued with a walk, trip to Trader Joe's, visiting with my dad and W and then watching Pirates of the Caribbean with them. This is possibly the stupidest movie I have ever seen, there was no story only patched together scenes and special effects. Utterly stupid and pointless. I would have rather seen a foreign film.

The marvel of this birthday is that I didn't remember how hold I was or how old I am turning. It is irrelevant. No? The conversation I had with my husband while I cut up a pear:

Me: "Hon, how old am I"
Him: "I don't know 31..um 32"
Me: "Are you sure? I thought I was 32 this year?"
Him: "I don't know"
Me: "Hmm, I don't know maybe I'm 31"
Him: "Can I have some pear"

Age is pointless. I feel great. I look great ( I love me..he, he, he). It is all about how you feel.

Tomorrow is the last day of the year. We are meeting my dad at 8:30 for breakfast at a new bakery Panera. I am Pretty excited. This artisan bakery just opened, I love fresh bread. I would be so happy if I lived in Paris and bought my bread fresh everyday. Happy New Year to everyone out there. May you have a God focussed, prosperous and healthy new year.

Christmas Ramblings

2007-12-29T20:32:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve Fondue Dessert

We are home. Home from our travels "over the dale and through the woods". We had three stops on this years Christmas travels. We are the ones who live far so we are the ones who get to travel. I like to go, so I don't mind. That is one thing about me - I always like to go and see. It doesn't matter if my husband is going to the auto parts store. I go. I don't know whether that says I have no life or I am curious or I am a good buddy or what. I just always think I am going to miss something if I don't go. I would have made a good golden retriever or a pioneer. I do always want to see what is beyond the next hill. This quality makes me some one who would move to Romania, or take a trip to Peru, or Turkey. If it is in the world I want to see it.

Some of the girls on Christmas. My sister in law and two nieces

So we went to Fresno and Oakhurst and Mariposa. It was good to see everyone. Especially little Will. I hate to leave everyone else out, but lets be honest he is a cute little baby - my new nephew. It is beyond fun to play with him. Nine months old is just a really cute age. I love being an Aunt. Truly. It is one of the great joys of my life to be an Aunt. My job as Aunt is made ever so easy by the fact that my sister and brother in law have possibly the three nicest children you would ever hope to meet. Perfect? No. Wonderful? yes.

We played a lot of Wii on Christmas eve and Christmas day

Those kids they are a kick. Honestly, the best Christmas gift I got were hugs and kisses from the nieces and nephews. That was Christmas for me, being with them. At this point, I am not going to get all slobbery and mushy and say something dumb like "I wish they lived closer" or "I miss them" I am not going to say anything like that because I am doing so well in the last 24 hours being strong and not feeling desperately sorry for myself that all the family I love lives far. I am not going to do it. (But I just might be thinking it).

Christmas Eve 2007 the traditional opening of the new PJ's by the kids

I have big ideas that I am going to write all the nieces and nephews once a week, putting a piece of gum in the letters I write them (You have to be the Aunt who always has gum). This will be my way to stay more in contact with everyone. I really fell off the map this year. It is really hard to stay in contact with ANYONE when your working 11 hour days and going to your own school. I had some serious lapses this year. I forgot everyones birthday. I went for more then two months with out talking to my sister. My sister who previously I talked to at least once a week. I had a month that I didn't go anywhere but work the grocery store and church. I would like to think I won't be off the grid in 2008, but the reality is that I have just as many obligations in 2008 as I did in 2007. I honestly may not be back to a normal amount of work until 2009.

my sister in law and my adorable nephew Will

Christmas Eve we had a fondue dinner oh and course we HAD to have the traditional Shepherd cheese loaf, a gooey cooked concoction of cheddar cheese and cream cheese. Shepherd cheese loaf has been a tradition since my husband was a child - it just wouldn't be Christmas eve without it! Christmas eve fondue was fun we cooked little pieces of chicken, broccoli and mushrooms in hot broth. For dessert we had a chocolate fondue fountain with lots of marshmallows, oreo's, graham crackers, and cherries to dip.

Christmas Dinner Pizza and Root Beer

It is tradition for the kids to act out the Christmas story, they do it with a little less enthusiasm then when the were younger. They act it out a little more self consciously then before, but they do act out the Christmas story. Then it is gift opening and cinnamon rolls for breakfast and we barely digest this and then we eat again - delicious grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch and then we eat AGAIN (do you see a theme?) For dinner we have pizza and root beer, and then lots more to eat for dessert - peppermint ice cream and apple pie, more oreo cookies and candy. It is a day filled with food and family. A good day, a happy day, time together. The time with everyone is what I cherish. I would move all my favorite people close together if it was up to me. All my family under one roof..I am a dreamer.

The Massive Update

2007-12-05T19:05:00.000-08:00

The giant pendulum clock at the Griffith Observatory. The world spins under the pendulum knocking down blocks. My mind twists and bends to try to understand that one.

I doubt this post will be very interesting to anyone but me (don't say I didn't warn you). I have an evening alone as my DH is at a business dinner and I thought I would take this opportunity to update the blog. So much has happened in the last month. Here is the summary:

ACSI Teacher Convention-this took place the Monday and Tuesday before Thanksgiving. It was a meeting of 8,000 Christian school teachers held at the Anaheim convention center. The convention opened with a marching band. Have I mentioned how much I love marching bands? Well I do. I love them. They get my blood pumping. Marching bands are meant to fire up the warriors for battle, well it works on me. At the convention, I definitely felt that I was "among my people". I have found my tribe and they are teachers. It was awesome to be with so many like minded individuals who face the same struggles as I face and who have the same passion for education. Also nice to talk to adults. In case you hadn't figured it out teaching is a one man (or woman) show. I spend my day with 7th graders. All day, everyday with 7th graders. Don't get me wrong this is my dream job. It is just also nice to talk to adults. I felt very grown up and professional at the convention. It felt good stepping out in my professional clothes, Mocha mint Starbucks in hand, my first ever paid for business trip.

LampLighter Books-This is one of the huge reasons I was looking forward to the convention to buy Lamplighter books. One hundred to two hundred year old books that are reprinted. These books are just so cool. Amazing heart touching stories and if you don't like to read well then you can just look at the beautiful covers with original art and leather binding. Beautiful books, I bought 3: Basket of Flowers, Tom Watkins Mistake, and Ishmael. My DH and are reading Ishmael out loud a chapter a night. Great story I recommend it!

Thanksgiving- With the family. I made corn pudding or some such thing - recipe provided by Wendy. It was a pretty good time. My dad is redoing that whole house. He is making a sunken patio. etc. I had a bit of a melt down that he is paving over the tulip bed. Isn't that so weird. Why should I care? Not my house. Still I am a sentimental mush and my mom and I planted those tulips. Can't wait to have my own tulip garden. I think the whole family thinks I'm crazy. My dad announces that he is building a sunken patio and I burst into tears. They think I am a lune. They don't understand. My real sister understands. If my step family had met my mom, planted the tulips in the fall before she died and then watched the miracle of rebirth when those ugly brown bulbs resurrected into beautiful pink tulips in the spring following her death then maybe they would understand.

Cycling-I rode my bike to work everyday in November. I've decided that in fact I am a "REAL" cyclist. I mean when did the outside of something determine what it was? So I don't have a fancy cycling jersey? Who cares. I ride. I love to ride. I am not a poser (is that still a word? I don't use that word in real life, but it seems to fit). I am not fake or a flake. Real Cyclist I am. And I don't need a racing bike and a slick jersey to prove it.

I am loving riding my bike home past the Christmas lights. It is dark now. Me and my bike in the dark, but we are not alone because we have beautiful Christmas lights lighting our way home (plus the bike light). Christmas lights are more beautiful by bike. Most of you are just going to have to trust me on this one.

Masters Classes- I earned a 96% in my second class. Eleven more classes to go. It feels like a jail sentence. I just want the torture to end, but anyway I have to get through it. It is building character all that hard work. I think I am writing a book worth of words every month. It is not impossible to teach and go to school at the same time it just sucks the life out of me.

Teaching-Still loving my 7th graders. They are awesome. I have found my true calling with 7th grade life Science. I am so glad I am teaching EXACTLY what I am teaching. I love my subject I love my kids. Hardest part is being the anvil-I will explain. I knew as a teacher My job is to mold their character I just didn't realize that I am the anvil and the rough edges have to be filed down off my strength. It is so hard to be consistent and to be fair and just on every call. I hate when I hand out a detention notice and they cry. I am the most soft hearted person in the world and I just die inside to see that but I have to be strong to teach them anything. So this whole teaching thing is making me much stronger and it is also teaching me to be a leader. I am a leader of people. Suddenly I am interested in John Wooden (UCLA coach) and his leadership techniques. How to motivate people? How to lead people? That is a lot of my job as a teacher. How do you fire them up?

School ends in two weeks. Next week is the last full week and then half day finals and then 3 weeks Off. Do teachers not have the BEST work schedule? Did I mention 3 months off in summer? I love it.

Christmas-Yes nothing is done. No cards written. No lights up. No tree. I am celebrating Christmas all the same. Christmas is a lot of work and I just don't feel that I have it in me. I am fine if we don't put up a tree or anything. I am just too tired to deal with any of it. I would be fine not getting or giving presents but I think I am going to have to do that.

Griffith Observatory-So we went! Finally!! We went and saw the new show and the view and the exhibits. IT WAS AWESOME! we had a great day. I am such a space geek! Above is a picture of me at the Observatory "getting in touch with Albert Einstein"

Carpinteria - Last weekend we went to Carpinteria for our 9th anniversary. We stayed at a cute B'nB I found online (Prufrocks). The place was adorable. One block from the beach, all you can eat snacks all day. Across the street from a Thai restaurant and down the block from the Chamomile cafe a cute little Organic / vegan place. It was a good spot. The California Riviera is so beautiful. I have been around the world (at least a few places) and the central coast is one of the most beautiful places in the world. I am definitely a California girl. I love my sunshine and beach with mountains behind. The weather was unbelievably beautiful. Clear blue sky and just perfect temp. I saw soo MANY cyclists on Saturday as we drove around the mansions of Montecitio. My DH asked if we should get a tandem bike. I am so excited at that thought. I've been bugging him for far too long to get a bike. I so want to do biking with him. I would love if we did tandem. I'd be a good stoker and he a good captain.
I really liked the art above the fireplace at the Bed and Breakfast. Very typical California scene. I would hang this above my couch. I would like to get some art exactly like this.

The Mechanic's Assistent

2007-11-04T00:33:00.000-07:00

Would you trust this guy to work on your car? Yes, exactly. Now you know how I felt when I had car trouble on Wednesday. My regular mechanic was busy, so my husband arranged for our mechanics assistant to meet me after work in the staff parking and take a look at my jeep.

After work I waited by the parking lot gate for the mechanic, finally at about 6:20 the mechanic pulled up. It was all I could do to hold it together when I saw this guy coming. He had a strong southern accent, and some pretty major dental troubles. That in itself wouldn't be enough to just make me lose it but from the second he walked up this guy was just odd. He took out the dip stick, put it close to his nose and sniffed it like he was a basset hound. I just wanted to laugh, but not wanting to disrespect and laugh AT him I held it in. He was a complete disaster, couldn't figure out how to put the dip stick back into the car, I was thinking "we are in some real trouble if he can't figure this out!"Things got weirder when I handed him my car keys, he smelled those TOO! commenting that my keys smelled "real good". Oh my gosh! I started chuckling and had to look away from him to keep from laughing straight in his face. Then he told me "ya, sure are real pretty" and at this point, I'm thinking psycho! Scary! I don't want this guy knowing where I live! He is going to freaking stock me! THEN things got even weirder. He looked me straight in the face and said in his thick southern accent:

Him: "We've met before"
Me: "Umm, I don't think so" (trying not to laugh in this man's face)
Him "I'm surprised you don't remember me, we've met in a bar, you've been to my house"
Me thinking: "Oh my GOSH, this guy is a WACKO!"
Me saying: "I'm pretty sure we've never met" (mentally picturing where the mace is in my purse)
Him: "No we've met before"

As he says this, he reaches into his mouth, and pulls out fake teeth and then says again without an accent "I'm surprised you don't recognize me". And then in an instant I DO RECOGNIZE HIM, it is Chris!! I've been had!!!! I've been had!!! I fall to the asphalt in shock and horror, throwing my keys and purse as I go down. I am crying and laughing, laughing and crying. I'm just freaking out, completely freaking out that Chris is the crazy mechanic. All the laughter I've been holding in comes pouring out. I am in shock, complete shock. I can not believe it. I had been had, pranked, tricked, deceived on Halloween! My husband and Chris pulled of a huge trick, and Chris deserves an Academy award!

The Kite Runner Movie

2007-11-04T00:07:00.001-07:00

I jumped to attention on my red velvet movie theater seat when I saw the Kites Flying in the blue sky at beginning of an un-named movie trailer. I knew, I just knew 1.2 seconds in WHAT movie the trailer was advertising, only one movie could have fighting kite scenes: The Kite Runner. The book being one of the most shocking, descriptive, moving, unforgettable books I've ever read, to say the least I am looking forward to the movie. Tonight, I pulled up the Kite Runner Trailer just to see it again. I suppose to see if it is going to meet my expectations. I can't imagine making a movie of a famous book. Tough act to follow. The movie is never as good as the book. But I want to believe, I do that this movie will be as good as the book. I have hope.
There is a second book by Khaled Hosseini, A Thousand Splendid Suns, which came out this year. I am number 1,400 on the waiting list at the public library. I figure my turn MAY come up in about two years! Is that crazy or what! The demand is just so high for this second portrait of life in Afghanistan. This book will be in some ways the opposite of Kite Runner, chronicling the experience of two woman as opposed to two boys/men. Maybe by next summer I'll have my hands on a copy. I know I could buy it, but what is the point when it is FREE at the local library. I can wait...but just barely

Six Great Things

2007-10-30T18:38:00.000-07:00

Roche Harbor, San Juan Island, WA

I have this index card sitting on my computer screen. I look at it all the time. It has to be the six most important thoughts to me. At least thoughts that radically shape my universe. Following are my top six:

1. God is good and everything He does is good. God never makes mistakes

2. God loves me, I don't have to preform to earn God's love

3. God is interested in my life

4. God is enough. He is all I need

5. God's ways are the best

6. God is perfecting me with my problems. He doesn't have to fix them

September Day at the Park

2007-10-30T18:32:00.000-07:00

Last month, after a very long weekend of writing papers, my husband and I decided we just had to get out behind the computer screens. We do mostly live behind the computer screens when we are home. Me and my classes, he and his various new tech things. But sometimes you just have to get out. You know? So off we went to Balboa park. We were SUPPOSED to be going to the Japanese garden, but they have these bankers hours and apparently AREN'T open when the website says they are open. So instead, we walked around the wilderness area, which is not TOO wilderness because the 405 freeway runs alongside it, but none the less, it is an LA kind of wilderness. We saw the river, LA river flowing to the sea.

And we saw men playing cricket. Who knew there was an LA cricket league. Probably all guys from Austrialia or New Zealand or one of those other cricket playing countries. India maybe. Do they play cricket in India?

We also saw some really amazing model airplanes being flown at where else but the model airplane airport. Again, "who would've thought". It was pretty fun to watch. I am sure those airplanes are a mint and I could wreck one of those in 2.2 seconds. Those things are actually (for me) hard to fly.

We ended our outing at the fresh farm stand. Bought some fresh basil for pesto. My husband has been making a lot of fresh basil pesto. I am not complaining. He has been doing more cooking as I have been doing more school and work. This veggie stand also had goats, and who can resist goats? Not me. I love all God's creatures and the white bunnies were cute too. I think I want to have a farm. But really I think I want a farm where somebody else does all the back breaking work. I want a farm, but it is a dream kind of farm. Rolling hills, everything green and perfect, my little white farm house, an apple pie cooling in the window. I know, I do know this is a "little house on the Praire" delusion and that real farm life isn't like the TV version. Still it is a dream to file alongside my other dreams of living in an apartment in Paris. Of course the aparment is above a pastry / coffee shop, in which I sit hours on end reading and writing, pausing and sipping cafe au lait, and nibbling a pain aux chocolate. And my other dream to live on the Croatian coast in a 600 year old stone villas, eating fresh seafood, and spending hours swimming in the crystal sea. That is the beauty about dreams: you don't have to pick. They can all happily exist side by side. Dream On.

I'm a Fairy God-mother

2007-10-28T01:53:00.000-07:00

I'm a fairy god-mother. No wand, or magic little woodland creatures helping me sew. Just a lot of bi-bitty-bop-bitty-boo, patience and yards of lavender fabric. The dress is sateen, and is as mentioned lavender in color. It is two pieces with a bodice and very full skirt. The whole top trim part was made up on the spot to the specifications of a sweet girl Miss H. who needed a fairy god-mother to make her a dress for Wednesday's festivities.

I am always amazed at the results of sewing. It all starts out as such a mess and then some how it all comes together to make something nice. I totally surprised myself by not having a major freak out about this project. Some how I grew some patience since the quilt. You would think I would notice something like that growing. I expected patience to grow like a third eye. Instead it snuck up on me, and settled in quietly. I had no idea I had become a more patient, confident person. Maybe I breezed through this because it was a costume and not a "real" dress. I enjoyed this project, it didn't seem too challenging. Just fun. I've been surprising myself lately. I have to stop telling people I don't sew, and I don't "really" bead. I had a lady in Trader Joe's ask me where I bought a ring that I made. She asked me if I sell them. I should have said "yes, they are $80 a piece" instead I said "no" because I don't "really" bead. I don't even know if I am a "real" cyclist, I see all the cool cyclists on the racing bikes in the nice jersey's and I think "THEY" are real cyclists and I am?? I am "just a commuter cyclist." Ok, so I just noticed I am off on a big tangent. Too much coffee, and it is too late at night...or should I say too early in the morning.

Miss H. is coming over tomorrow to try on her dress. I probably love it more then she does having given three weekends of my life for this dress. I hope she will walk in the door and love it. She may not, that is always the risk of home made things. You never know. Whatever. Anyway, just wanted to share my joy with the blog-o-sphere.

$3.49 A Dozen

2007-10-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

Sunday, I completely blew the Food budget at Trader Joe's, which I might add is not that hard to do. Tonight, I stared down at my "FREE RANGE, BROWN, CAGE FREE, HIGH OMEGA THREE" omelet filled with avocado, tomato, and Tilamook cheese and thought "I hope I enjoy this because these "FREE RANGE, BROWN, CAGE FREE, HIGH OMEGA THREE EGGS" cost me $3.49 for a dozen". Then I went a step further and told my husband I hope he enjoyed his FREE RANGE, BROWN, CAGE FREE, HIGH OMEGA THREE EGGS. I feel like I am paying less if I keep reminding myself of how SPECIAL these eggs are.

What Do Your Eggs Say About You?

Free Range - Environmentalist
Brown - Artistic Naturalist
Cage Free - Social Conscious
High Omega Three - Health Conscience

The real truth? I thought these eggs were 99cents because they were stocked next to the wrong label

What Do These Eggs Say About Me?

Shop Conscience...this girl loves a sale! Until I discovered they weren't on sale and I paid $3.49 (I know, I know I should have been watching the register. I was filling out the ticket to win the $20 worth of free groceries)

Over Educated Brain

2007-10-15T20:58:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I've been plowing through the old college course catalog and transcripts, the goal to try to waive some of the co-requisites for my Masters degree. What I'm hit with tonight is how many classes I've taken.

College Biology
Government in the US
Swimming Skills
College Reading and Composition I
College Reading and Composition II
Principles of Economics
Western Civilization
Political Science and Social History
(take a breath )
Elementary Piano
Principles of Healthful Living
Statistics
Fundamentals of Chemistry

Individual and Family Development
Marriage and Family Relations
Foundations and Research
Health Concerns of Adolescents
Introduction to Textiles (I had to memorize by sight/touch every fabric imaginable. Brutal)
Maternal Infant and Child Nutrition
Contemporary Issues in Foods and Nutrition and LAB (had to run caloric analysis for this one)
Child Growth and Development
Parent Development
Field Study
Fundamentals of Environmental Health
Recreation and the Natural Environment

but WAIT there's more...(another big breath)

Old testament survey I
Intro to Biblical counseling
US History to 1877
Old Testament Survey II
Basic Oral Communications
Nutrition
Intro to Music and Art
Fundamentals of Clothing construction
LAB Principles of Food Prep
Clothing Selection
Home Management Theory and Analysis
Philosophical and Professional Issues
Christian Theology II
US History Since 1877
California Past and Present
Emergence of Modern America
Nineteenth Century Europe

Oh my gosh, are you bored Yet?? and I left a few out. Whew!

Where did all that information go? I mean really? I've taken classes I don't even remember taking. And I got and A. Explain that to me? I actually don't feel like the crispest animal cracker in the box. So I am kind of surprised. I think I surprised myself tonight. (picture light bulb over head)....New Deep Thought: I'm educated. Wow! stop the universe. I am so shy in intellectual conversations because I just sort of figure that everybody knows more then me. I mean don't they? It seems that way. I am not good at application, thats why I married an engineer, But seriously I have a lot of information in that brain of mine, and now I am adding MORE information, I might hurt myself!

The latest and greatest class

Foundations of Education...just found out tonight I EARNED an A. I wrote 5 essays plus charts and discussion questions in 4 weeks. It was a whirlwind.

One class down toward the Masters Degree, many more to go. Next month I think I'm taking Language development methods for adolescents. Lots of work people, lots of work.

Some of This

2007-10-14T10:58:00.001-07:00

I could really go for some of this

and some of thisI am burnt out from hours of sewing this for a sweet girl Miss. H, my friends daughter who has visions of wearing a "gone with the wind" type gown for Halloween. This dress is just arm loads of fabric. I've never made anything this big. Making this costume is definitely increasing my confidence in my sewing skills. After making this dress I feel like I could make wedding dresses. After all a wedding dress is not all that different then this dress.

Back to feeling "Burnt": Typical me: lots of effort and then a complete collapse on the other side of the hill except I have sitting next to this computer a pile of lessons to prepare, papers to grade, oh and the house....we won't even talk about the house. It is pretty unmentionable at this point. I hate mess. I hate working in a mess. All I can think about is finishing that dress, but not today, not right now.

I had a few new experiences this week I wanted to document: First off I sang karaoke for the 1st time Wednesday night. I was bad, really bad, embarrassingly bad but I am so proud of myself for getting up there and doing it! So yeah for me! There was certainly a time when I wouldn't have gotten up in front of people and embarrassed myself like that, but really "who cares". The fact that I did it makes me feel so self confident and proud of myself.

It was my turn to do the staff devotions this week. I showed the staff this video "Baby Got Book". Which is a parody of the rap song "Baby Got Back". I thought it was pretty funny. I took a risk that the staff would like it: they laughed so I take that as a good sign. That song is so stuck in my head, after showing the video to my 7th graders and then to my staff. I think I've seen the video like 10 times.

It went well, I can get up in front of any one. That is teaching: part entertainer, part animal trainer, part tour guide. The animal trainer, is not to disrespect my kids, they are not animals, but like animal training managing a class of 30, 12 year olds is similar in the sense that you have a slim margin of control and you have to ahem "go into the cage" as it were realizing that the room can turn on you quickly. Problems happen when you stop realizing that problems can happen.

Anyway, got to run back to my real life and get some stuff done, just wanted to check in with the blog-o-sphere.

First Love

2007-09-25T23:44:00.000-07:00

Watch all the way to the end! This isn't a fairy tale, it is real life. The truth will set you free

A Cyclist, a Bus, and LAPD

2007-09-25T22:09:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this bit of news. This isn't me, didn't happen to me. I just can relate.

syndicated from www.illuminatela.com

September 24, 2007

Hollywood Bus Driver Attacks Cyclist, LAPD Handcuff Cyclist (and Wife!)

A cyclist westbound on Hollywood Boulevard hears a loud horn behind him as he rides in the right side of the #2 lane, alongside a row of parked cars and dangerously close to the door zone.

The motorist with the heavy horn hand turns out to be Metro Bus Driver #XXXXX and she passes the cyclist so closely that his left hand touches the side of the bus as it speeds past him. The number #1 lane is empty and nothing serves to prevent the bus driver from changing lanes to pass the cyclist except for a failure on her part to acknowledge the cyclist’s right to ride the streets of Los Angeles without having his life threatened.

The bus proceeds down Hollywood Boulevard to a bus stop at Wilton and stops. The cyclist pulls up on the driver’s side of the bus and addresses the bus driver informing her that honking at a cyclist with no room to spare will only serve to startle the cyclist and cause a dangerous situation and that as a professional driver she should know that if the lane is too narrow to share, she should change lanes in order to pass without endangering the safety of the cyclist.

The driver screams “You were in my way. You need to get off the road!” She slams the window shut.

The cyclist, who would have accepted a “Sorry, my bad!” and called it a day, pulled in front of the bus and informed the driver that he was calling the police to report the driver for Assault with a Deadly Weapon, the bus. She screams, points at her watch, tells the cyclist to move and puts the bus in gear.

The cyclist stands his ground, all the while hearing “…all operators are busy, please continue to hold…” on the phone. The cyclist calls his wife and tells her to send the police to Hollywood & Wilton. He continues to call the local police station.

The bus driver pushes the cyclist with her bus. A witness on the south side of Hollywood screams at the bus driver. “I’m watching you! Stop it!”

The cyclist stands his ground, now with a passenger who steps out and screams at the cyclist to get out the way and then lets loose with a stream of expletives. The passenger gets back on the bus.

The bus driver backs up, turns the bus into the boulevard and comes back at the cyclist who is now standing behind his bike. She comes a bit faster and pushes the bus against the cyclist until the bike is now wedged under the right front bumper of the bus. She throws up her hands and wails at the bus drivers who drive past in the #1 lane. They yell at her to sit tight and just call the supervisor. All the while the witness on the street keeps yelling at the bus driver “He’s right! You’re wrong!”

Inside the bus, the angry passenger is stirring up the other three or four passengers for their “Let’s roll!” moment. He jumps off the bus with an elderly man backing him up, pulls the bike from under the bus, flings it up onto the sidewalk and then assumes a Karate Kid pose that causes all time to stop and all motion to be suspended as the absurdity of the moment is absorbed by the cyclist. The old man has already disappeared and the passenger jumps back onto the bus.

With the bus blocking the #2 lane of Hollywood Boulevard, traffic is now backed up for several blocks. The bus driver takes the time to explain to each motorist as they pull alongside her that the traffic congestion is due to the cyclist. “Can you believe this?” she asks.

The bus driver talks to somebody on her bus phone, gets out witness cards and proceeds to have the passengers fill them out. She collects the cards.

The Karate Kid jumps off the bus, spits on the cyclist, yells at the witness across the street and proceeds down Hollywood Boulevard.

Eventually an LAPD patrol car pulls up and two cops jump out. The cyclist naively expects to hear “What’s going on here?” but is instead greeted by “Hands behind your back!” The cyclist’s wife who is just arriving on the scene yells at the cops, “Hey, he’s the one who called you!” which apparently sounded like “Hey, put me in handcuffs too!” because Officer Hayhurst promptly placed her in handcuffs and placed her face against the wall.

Officer Swan held the cyclist, face against the wall, while he struggled with the definition of impeding traffic. The cyclist countered that he wanted to file charges against the driver for assault with a deadly weapon and battery charges against the Karate Kid.

Officer Swan gave the cyclist the first of the many lectures that are apparently free on holidays to those wearing handcuffs, this one entitled “The Metro provides a public service and you are not to interfere with it.” The cyclist responds that riding a bike in the street could hardly be construed as “interfering” with the Metro and that cyclists are guaranteed by law their place on the street and that it is his duty to protect and serve everybody, not just those in poor command of tons of steel.

The waste of time exchange continued as Sgt. Jerrett arrived on the scene and consulted with Swan and Hayhurst, Metro Deputy Sheriff Parrott, Metro Supervisor Mike Dunn and the Metro driver. Sgt. Jerrett lumbers over to the cyclist and proceeds to ask questions such as “Do you think it’s appropriate to stand in the street?” and “Do you think that yelling through the windshield is the best way to communicate with the driver?”

The cyclist responds that he was attempting to detain the driver while he waited for the LAPD to answer the phone so that he could have her arrested for threatening his life with her irresponsible and dangerous driving and, as it turns out, her stated contempt for his right to ride in the street. The cyclist again asks the police to arrest the driver for assault with a deadly weapon, pointing out that if a motorist were to move a vehicle toward a police officer in the same manner, they would not be so conflicted as to action, that they would respond quickly and effectively and there would be little debate as to any definition of assault with a deadly weapon. Jerrett listens, stares and walks away.

After much discussion, Sgt. Jarrett decides that Sheriff’s Deputy Parrott will be taking over the “incident” and that the LAPD will be moving on. Deputy Parrott gets in the cyclist’s face to state clearly that there would be no Private Persons Arrest, there would be no arrest period. There will be an investigation and there will be a citation for an infraction and it might be the cyclist!

He then allowed the Metro driver to leave the scene with the bus.

As the cyclist stood giving his report to Deputy Parrott and Metro Supervisor Dunn, the cyclist pointed out that the witness cards had just left with the Metro drive.

Deputy Parrott and Supervisor Dunn looked at each other with a synchronized “WTF” look on their humbled faces and for a moment the only sound that could be heard was the thundering roar of systemic incompetence resounding down the boulevard.
Two and a half hours after the beginning of this incident, Supervisor Mike Dunn stands on the sidewalk explaining in his most earnest manner, “But you have to understand, that’s how they are trained to drive. They are told to honk at road hazards!”

This is fuel on the fire for the cyclist who argues “Cyclists aren’t road hazards!” The cyclist’s wife calmly records Supervisor Dunn’s explanation and the cyclist wearily takes his claim form for the bent wheel and walks home.

The next day the cyclist calls the Metro and reports the incident. Within hours he receives an email from an official at the Metro contradicting Supervisor Mike Dunn and with Bus Drive Instructions in the subject line. “Bus operators are not told to honk at cyclists. As a matter of fact, the policy states that cyclists have the same rights on the road as motorists and that operators are to follow at a safe distance or pass with 3-4 l/2 feet of right side clearance.”

Unfortunately, the Metro official neglected to copy Supervisor Mike Dunn or Driver #XXXXX on that email which means that she’s still out there, sideswiping and screaming “You need to get off the road!”

As for this cyclist (yes, that's me in those pictures!), “See you on the streets!”

And My Response

2007-09-25T22:07:00.000-07:00

My response to the bike incident sent to Metro customer relations and the head of the LA commuter bike program:

To whom it may concern,

I am a citizen, a teacher, a metro bus rider and a commuter cyclist. I am absolutely outraged at the recent conduct of a Metro bus driver passing too close to a man on Hollywood Blvd. The driver refused to recognize the cyclist's right to be on the road and occupy a lane.

I know all too well from personal experience how civilian drivers and public bus drivers endanger cyclists lives through ignorance and foolishness. This is not an isolated incident; I have had bus drivers pass me extremely close on my left shoulder traveling so fast that I am certain should they make an error they would kill me.

Cyclists love the communities in which they ride, they are responsible citizens that seek to reduce traffic, reduce pollution and stay in shape. The metro bus drivers as representatives of the metro authority and the state need to be leading the community in recognizing the value of commuter cyclists.

The bus driver's actions are unacceptable and need to be addressed in an appropriate fashion. Additionally, Metro needs to engage in properly training its drivers in traffic laws and common courtesy as they pertain to cyclists. Please correct these deficiencies for the good of our whole community.

Regards,

A Pacific Northwest Story II

2007-09-21T20:11:00.000-07:00

The Pacific Northwest Vacation was...

Divine beauty at Multnomah falls

A bridge that wards off evil spirits at the Portland Japanese gardens
Sugar frosting roses at the Portland International Rose Test Garden
The Pacific Northwest was good friends (check out those good looking shoes!)
More good friends (with matching shoes)The Pacific Northwest was San Juan Island and staying at a hotel that President Roosevelt stayed at

More to come...

Fall Rain Storm or To Feel So Alive

2007-09-21T19:44:00.000-07:00

Close to six p.m. I stepped out of my classroom door onto the "eagles nest" patio- the cute name for the covered patio and sports lockers that are adjacent to my room. The world was gray with heavy clouds, looking farther left into the black asphalt parking lot I saw that it was more then gray, it was raining, and I was wearing my bike helmet; "Well", I thought to myself "It is just rain, I am not going to melt". Undaunted, I walked across the deserted patio to the teachers gate. "I am the last one" I thought, "save Henry the faithful janitor; I am always the last one". I am doing something right or I am doing something wrong, but at any rate I am nearly always the last teacher to leave the school. I haunt that place. For my part I am content, I am neither tired or burdened just happy. My hours just feel normal. Down the side of the school and crossing the street the rain just glazed me, bouncing off my navy blue fleece zip up sweat shirt, then as I rode the drops began to sink in chilling the tops of my knuckles, turning my powder blue Columbia shoes midnight blue. I began to smile, and then smile a little bigger. This is fun! I felt so alive whizzing down the bridge that crosses the 118, wind blown drops stinging my face. What would my 7th graders think if they saw me now? Mrs. ___ in the rain, drenched, smiling a silly grin! Mrs. ___ such a proper lady, except I am not a proper lady at all! There is this whole other side of me that loves to be out in the rain, on the streets, in the mud!The drops began to really collect on my glasses it was pointless to wipe them off, and droplets formed at the tip of my metallic blue helmet dropping between my eyes as I nodded my head down ward. The freshman stripe of dirty water and grease developed along my backside ( I have no fenders), minor consequences to feel so alive! The weather all around me and on me feeling real and cozy in a "hurray, fall is here !" way. I am sure the people in the cars around me, safe and protected in their metal cages couldn't understand my smile - the joy of being on two wheels in a fall rain storm. Splashed and drenched, smiling like a kid getting away with something they shouldn't I rode home. Too soon I was back at the house, but that was good, that was alive and real. The clothes are filthy, the shoes a mess, but wasn't it nice? I'd do it again.

A Pacific Northwest Story

2007-09-08T16:21:00.000-07:00

This summer it was the Pacific Northwest as viewed through the wind shield and the rear view mirror.It was the ghost ship on Crater Lake, and commando chipmunks who aren't shy about taking your lunch.

It was fishing in Crater Lake for the last salmon standing and it wasKayaking on Elk Lake, and then eating locally made cream and berry ripple ice cream and it was...More to come

See later post for more Pacific Northwest Adventure!

Discussion Question 1

2007-09-06T20:57:00.000-07:00

Stephen this is for you!

I believe the most important goal of education is to turn the heart and mind of every child into a life long learner. The goal of education isn't a way of knowing it is a way of being. The teacher imparts content and skills, but it is insufficient to say that the goal of the teacher is to impart content, and skills; I have succeeded as a teacher when each of my students has not just learned, but is a learner. I want all my students to be life long learners.

I teach 7th grade Life Science. I do my best everyday to instill in my students a love for the pursuit of truth. As a new teacher I tried to "download" facts to my students. I quickly realized this was a very ineffective method; students are not computers, they are human beings and they need to not just memorize facts, they need to seek out the most human of all questions "WHY".

I do spend a great deal of time teaching my students HOW TO LEARN I developed this method because I realized my students will forget 90% of the content I teach them, but they DO remember how I taught them to learn. They remember how to use resources to find solutions.

I also do many group assignments. I believe these assignments teach collaboration and social skills. I make them elect leaders in their groups and delegate tasks; I believe this teaches democratic principles, and encourages collaboration between diverse cultural groups.

My philosophy of education is pulled from divergent sources. I am primarily a pragmatist, emphasizing problem solving with reason (Johnson p307). I believe in the power of experiential learning. I believe students learn best who are most involved in the task.

I also pull inspiration from the Eastern or Asian school of thought which is as Johnson says "A way of achieving wisdom, maintaining family structure, establishing law and order, regularity, and patience that is proportional to and in harmony with the laws of nature" (Johnson p312), I believe the preceding list are important benefits of education.

Finally the Chinese school of education teaches children to be "persons distinguished by faithfulness, diligence and modesty" These are notable character qualities, as a teacher I aim to train my students in the importance of faithfulness, diligence and modesty for life long success. These represent core skills that in able students to be successful at multiple tasks.

Back To School

2007-08-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

Vacation over. Real life begins. Back to work. Today, I started again, in room 50, with chairs in a circle, administrators and new teachers staring down at color pages: policy handbook on blue paper, computer programs typed across golden rod, HR benefits on tan. A whole day of papers and talking to. All in an effort to give the newbies a running start. September 4th the students will buzz in and we must be prepared for the swarm.

And just a word about my room, ok rather three words but they are the same "Lovely, lovely, lovely!" somebody really loves me. The room assignment guru - whoever you are - Thank YOU! My room is in the new building, surprisingly a room I had never been in.

Today we were given our keys, after the meetings I walked over to the far side of campus where my room is, slid my key in the door, turned the silver handle pushing open the door and then my jaw dropped. My room is unbelievably nice: freshly painted white walls, new blue carpeting, really nice new blue chairs, it is large, has wonderful air conditioning, and best of all it is located at the back of the school with a door to the parking lot which will enable me to roll my bike in. This will save me walking my bike through the main park of campus. If I had looked at each room in the school and hand picked MY ROOM this is the room I would have picked. Thank You room guru!

I am going to put up some pictures of our Northwest trip. I promise. In the one whole day I've been back I had a 4 hour CPR training class (required by law for teachers) ordered my books for grad school. Oh, a word about that: I was ripped of by textbook publishers in college and now apparently I am being bilked as a grad students. Students of the world where is our outrage?? We are being extorted! My two books were respectively $113 and $56. The $113 dollar one is paper back. It is just ridiculous! The textbook companies change three things every semester call it a "New Edition" and force students to buy the new version. It is just an outrage, and nobody is doing anything. But I digress.

Got to go. Need to make dinner and I just remembered I have to go re-mail my transcripts to the University. Re-mail because the school made a mistake and sent them back to me. Thats ok. I make mistakes. My admissions adviser feels bad and has kindly apologized several times, but I still need to go re-mail them.

Things That Eat Things The Size of Me

2007-07-31T22:15:00.001-07:00

So my husband wants to go Kayaking in Washington. I am all for kayaking. At least I thought I was until I saw this picture. Seriously, my heart would stop if an Orca whale jumped in front of my kayak. I am having second thoughts. I am not sure how I feel about things bigger then me, much bigger then me, things that EAT things the size of me being in the water with me. My husband is also to blame, he likes to play tricks on my mind, saying that the Orca will probably mistake me for a seal. Um...so not funny! Your not making me feel any better. Please! We, will see, we will see about things that eat things the size of me.

Day At The Villa

2007-07-31T09:24:00.001-07:00

A lot less expensive then a trip to Greece, or at least this was my rational to convince my husband that I needed a day away at the Getty Villa. It is no secret, if you are reading this blog that I am interested in Mediterranean life and culture. Lucky for me there is the world renowned Getty Villa not far from my home.

I asked Lilit and Melissa to go with me, after all, what is a day of good art without friends to share it with? The Villa is a re-creation of a Roman Villa found near Pompeii. The beautiful pool in the courtyard would have been 12 feet deep. The Romans would have used the pool for swimming. Apparently, though Los Angeles has a rule that any pool over 3-4 feet must have a life guard. So the Getty decided that it just wouldn't go with the whole "Ancient World" theme to have a guy in red shorts sitting by the museum pool all day. Thus, this pool is only 3-ish feet deep. Lilit said she would like to be the statue laying on the rock in the pool. After all "that guy gets to lay there all day, everyday". If you look you can just see the Pacific ocean in the upper right.

My shoes meet Greco Roman marble floor. The shoes like walking on such beauty.

Inner Peristyle. I am amazed at how lovely the construction of the Villa is; very functional and livable. The Greek architects took advantage of sea breezes to build a comfortable residence sans air conditioning.

This vase tells the story of Paris and Helen of Troy. Paris choose love over war, which ironically led to war, the Trojan war (stealing a King's Queen will do that). Seated in the middle is Paris. He is in the midst of a beauty contest. Around him is all the lovely mega star woman of Greece: Athena, Hermes, and Helen of Troy, Paris is giving a "Wink, Wink"to Helen, like "don't worry baby, I'm going to pick you. Wink, Wink."
Orpheus, playing his magic (missing) instrument for the sirens (not pictured). He was able to charm the sirens and get past their luring song that called sailors to their death. He is made of clay painted white (and maybe at one time color). Doesn't he look young? He looks like a teenager; and such small little hands and ears. that thing he is holding is not a sausage. It was the tool used to play the (missing) instrument.
What do you think, is this a man or woman? I vote man; the sign says woman. I think the features seem more man. Creepy glow in the dark eyes. Tell me this wouldn't scare you if you took a late night walk in the garden? For some undefined reason I like this statue Reposing statue, as seen from the ground floor. The Pacific ocean is just beyond.Seven lovely rings. I wish you could see, really see, the level of detail on some of the stone carvings. Little miniature portraits. Really. Really. I mean, HOW did they do that? I am just not that talented. I would give up in about 5 minuets if I tried to carve my husbands head in a signet ring, I think he would end up looking like an elephant or a monkey, but certainly not a person. I understand now we program computers with lasers to carve all sorts of things, and even that - programing a computer is beyond me, but still I understand it is doable. But a person, one person. Sitting. For hours. Carving. A lot of work. What people did before TV. They had talent.

I've Been Reading

2007-07-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

Its been a summer full of reading around here. Many hours spent on the leather couches or lying in my made bed consuming stories. I can rarely put a book down and will often just stay up all night reading till there is no more to read. Stories. Good stories about people, fascinate me. Good things. Pretty little thoughts. I've been burning a hole in that red, blue and orange Library card. There has been literature, chief among these the Kite Runner. A really superb book. Incredibly descriptive book, through this book I've smelled Afghanistan, felt its dust on my skin, felt glass shards on kite string cut my palms. I learned what a Cursi is, and about the Kurds.

A week ago, one of my students as a parting gift gave me the book Dr. Sa'eed of Iran. The biography of a Kurdish Doctor who accepted Christianity despite a call for his death (an apostate). I am completely moved by this man's courage and sacrifice. In spite of the very ill treatment he received; he was a kind, humble servant to Christian, Muslim, and Jew alike. How often is the word sacrifice part of my vocabulary? Serve, yes. Sacrifice, rarely. I am pretty good at serving on my time. Sacrifice is a whole different level of humanity. Hardly, do I truly sacrifice my time or talents for others. Have I forgone a meal for another? Never. Have I gone without a shirt for another? Never.

My friend Cynthia and I meet on Friday afternoons to discuss "Lies Woman Believe and the Truth that Sets Them Free". Extremely relevant, extremely life changing book. It is written by who else but Nancy Lee DeMoss. I seriously love this woman's radio program Revive Our Hearts, and anything she puts out in book form I am apt to read. Listen to this from page 222:

We tend to look at the circumstances of life in terms of what they may do to our cherished hopes and convenience, and we shape our decisions and reactions accordingly. When a problem threatens, we rush to God, not to seek his perspective, but to ask him to deflect the trouble. Our self-concern takes priority over whatever it is that God might be trying to do through the trouble.... An escapist generation reads security, prosperity, and physical well-being as evidences of God's blessing. Thus when he puts suffering and affliction into our hands, we misread his signals and misinterpret his intentions.

And this from page 181:

The essence of true salvation is not a matter of profession or performance; rather, it is a transformation: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new is come!"

Or this from page 219:

The Truth is, our circumstances do not make us what we are. They merely reveal what we are.

Every page is a gem. We are leaving on vacation this week, and so I need again to go the library and stock up on all good things to read while we travel.

Diocletian

2007-07-30T09:32:00.001-07:00

Diocletian's Palace, Split, Croatia

People fascinate me. Young people, old people, dead people. What is in a life? And what do different people do with the same life we are all given. Diocletian is one such interesting person. I had kind of forgotten about him, though he was on my mind last September when we visited his palace in Split. Then I saw this coin at the Getty Vila and I remember again the life story of Docletian. He was of common origins a native of Dalmatia. He was a military man, an emperor at the age of 39, and in his retirement - a cabbage farmer. He is famous for splitting the Roman Empire in half creating the Western and Eastern (Byzantium) Roman Empires, persecuting Christians, and creating the Tetrarchy (rule by four). Diocletian's daughter Valeria was married to Galerius one of the four rulers of the divided empire. Diocletian's Palace. As seen by me in September

Galerius was subsequently killed in an ensuing power struggle.Upon his death, Valeria was proposed to by his nephew Maximinus Daza, when she refused his hand she was exiled to Syria. When Diocletian tried to intercede on his daughters behalf he was cold-shouldered by his heirs. Distraught, and embittered in the year 312 AD Diocletian, appears to have poisoned himself. His enemies, chiefly Licinius, latter arranged for the murder of his wife Priscia and daughter Valeria in 314. A humble beginning, a tragic end.
Elizabeth Prentiss writes:

The experience of the past winter would impress upon me the fact that place and position have next to nothing to do with happiness; that we can be wretched in a palace, radiant in a dungeon.

And so it was with Diocletian; wretched in a palace, despondent over his daughter, taking his own life. Life lessons from the man from Split.Split Croatia, The Palace is just in the left of this picture. I took this picture about 6 am from atop our ferry boat.

Bandits

2007-07-27T16:56:00.001-07:00

Who wouldn't want to party with these people?!?! Wherever my family goes we like to fly the freak flag and fly it high. So the story goes Steph, Scott and their French exchange student were attacked by bandits!!!! Yes, BANDITS on the way to the Grand Canyon. Apparently, the bandits carried them off and only this last picture of them screaming in fright remains.

Getty Villa

2007-07-22T15:39:00.001-07:00

Getty Villa Courtyard

Thursday, I am going here. To the Getty Villa in Malibu with my friend Melissa. I can't even tell you how beyond excited I am to go. I was practically shaking booking my tickets. Especially since ...drum roll please.....They have this special exhibit. "Greeks on the Black Sea". Is this so me, or what? Greeks. Greeks on the Black Sea. Even Better. It all goes along with my Western Mediterranean phase. I don't know what phase I was in before this phase. Maybe this is my first phase ever? No, that's not true. Now I remember I had that Paris / France phase during my high school years. I am still kind of in that phase. After all how can you dislike a country that gave us the Tour De France and Croissants? You can't can you. You just have to like the French (all politics aside) if nothing else but for the food.

Despite the fact that my 4th grade class went to the Getty Villa, I've never been. I was sick that day and thus my date with the Getty Villa was detoured some 20 years. All the better. No 4th grader appreciates Greek Art. In 4th grade a field trip is all about who's car you get to ride in, with which friends, and what does everyone have for their sack lunch?

Bosporan Queen

The thing that fascinates me is the singular thought that really "they are just like us". Human nature has not changed. We have more inventions, new ways to kill people, communicate, get around. But as my high school history teacher Mr. Neville so eloquently said, "folks is folks".

I am especially looking forward to seeing the Greek jewelery. The place is large, I doubt we will get to see every thing in our short afternoon at the Getty Villa. We will do what we can taking the highlights tour at 2pm.

Melissa actually used to work for the Getty, lucky duck. She is just as excited as I am. I'll give a full report after we go.

All images are from http://www.getty.edu.

The Last Week

2007-07-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

In this case, when I say last week I am referring to the week that is COMING. The week coming is my last week of summer school. Yeah! Though I have to say summer school has been fun. I am not all that ready to get into the full time job swing of things and to be going to grad school getting my Masters. Though I am really Excited to be getting my masters. I totally am. Just Busy. I am going to be busy. I do love my quiet routine-ish sort of life. My pancakes on Saturday morning, Church and dinner out Saturday night, walks in the evenings with my DH. You know, not to say all that has to stop. My life is just going to go from humming along to blast off! But not yet, not yet. I have all of August off. Got to love that. Two weeks of which we are going to do a camping, friend, hotel, car trip in the Pacific Northwest. Pretty excited. Wanted to go to the PNW for a year? Maybe longer. Really a year since I fell in some serious like with the San Juan Islands.

Spent all yesterday working on getting set up for my Masters degree courses. What is it in...don't think I've mention it? Masters Cross Cultural Education. I bubble with the thought that maybe this makes it more possible for me to live overseas. I would love to live in another country. Maybe not forever. A year? Two. I've wanted that for a long time. Ever since I read all those National Geographic Mags as a kid. My parents took that magazine FOREVER. Always had those at the house. Hardly never, ever read the articles. BUT THE PICTURES. Those dreamy, exotic pictures. I am 1/10 National Geographic Magazine. A little canoe on a dark misty river, brightly colored spices in burlap sacks, Indian woman in beautiful bright costumes. These images consumed at infancy have greatly influenced my take on the world.

There is this Indian dress shop close to my orthodontist. When I pass I just drool over the beaded sari's. The most beautiful fabric on those dresses. I would really like to have one (for a good price) But then I think I might look completely ridiculous in one of those. You know it just "works" on an Indian woman. It goes with the whole package. Me, with my white skin and curly, curly hair, I have a feeling I would end up looking? Um, hipee. That is not really the look I am going for. I already get asked enough if I am a vegetarian. Random! I was sitting in the lunch room at work eating chicken and another teacher says to me "are you a vegetarian?". Next scene: I am at the Ralph's deli counter ordering a turkey sandwich. The deli guy looks at me quizzically. "Turkey?". "Yes, Turkey" I respond. He says "Oh, I thought you were a vegetarian". Ok, people, WHAT IS GOING ON HERE? The answer is NO. I am not a vegetarian. I like a good fillet mignon, and my brother in law Scott makes an awesome T bone with rock salt! Yum.

My students ask me, my co-workers ask me. I am starting to think the vegetarian comments are all about my clothes? As over heard recently at my house: "Honey, does this outfit make me look vegetarian?" I am definitely sending the veggie vibe. I am thin, and I bike to work, and I wear a shell necklace that I bought in Hawaii last June and just love. Those are three strikes toward being viewed as a vegetarian, and then to make me look even MORE vegetarian: I wear a sport watch, and my shoes are Columbia, and I have curly hair, and I wear SOME but not a lot of make up. I rarely paint my nails and I have a year round tan. I smile a lot and to top it off I have a rattan purse. I seems obvious to me that I should just BECOME a vegetarian.

I am boiling a huge pot of potato's right now. Huge pot. A vat really. We are going to some friends for a barbecue tonight and I am bringing the potato salad. I would rather be napping as we stayed out a bit late at a "Beckham's first game" party. It was mostly JK's soccer team.

I actually need to go and mix up the potato salad. All for now. me.

Shirtage

2007-07-17T14:38:00.000-07:00

just some cuteness I saw at the Forever 21 web store. I'm in the market for some new shirts. I am in need of some fashion advice. So all you people out there. Could you let me know...do these shirts look vegetarian?

Serious Style Alert

2007-07-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

Prepare yourself for some serious style. These are pictures from a lodge on San Juan Island. I really, really like the painting above the mantle. Considering painting it myself. Save for the fact I've never painted I think it could be a success. I love this lodge look. Warm colors. Lots of stone and wood, but not yucky cowboy or country mountain. A little Asian influence, a little 20's era and craftsman. This lodge is very very beautiful as is this deluxe tent cabin

I hardly call this camping. Oh, La, La, can you imagine camping in this thing. I sort of anticipate rock hard ground, dirt under my finger nails, and a cold restless night of sleep as the "camping experience". But this? Hardly camping at all. Looks like my sherpa's came ahead of me. I think I could get Jenny to camp in this thing.

New Arrival

2007-07-13T19:11:00.000-07:00

It is here and official, The Overland Journal. Gate way to exploration. Steph and Scott you are amazing people. Who else but you could start a magazine? I could talk about starting a magazine, but I wouldn't start one. I just wouldn't. I know me. But you guys, seriously ambitious. Crazy. I know you have given up sleep and clean laundry and some sanity in this pursuit. So I just want to say it is beautiful. Stunning. The pictures are over the top National Geographic and I love you guys. Way to go on the good work. Overland Journal is a success.

Islands of Green

2007-07-13T17:39:00.000-07:00

We've been scurrying around behind the scenes over here, creating some vacation magic. Soon, very soon we will be on the San Juan Islands, Amid trees, and water and Orcas. Staying here. Booked literally the last room in the hotel. Amazing really we got any room at all. I was so scared we wouldn't booking so late, but we did. Sometimes I just need to have a little faith. When I think something is hard I just give up. If someone tells me it is impossible then I think it is. But it wasn't, we have a room. Roche Harbor we will see you soon. And Lopez Island we are coming to you next. Isn't strange to have such Spanish sounding names in the Pacific Northwest? The Island names make me believe we are going to the Caribbean. But no we are not going South, we are going North way North. Almost to Canada. Spanish explores, I think. A guess, but maybe a good guess you never know?

Orcutt Ranch, Citrus

2007-07-10T16:34:00.000-07:00

I meant to tell you about the Sunday after 4th of July, I really did. I meant to tell you, how we went fruit picking at Orcutt Ranch, in the west San Fernando Valley. We went on one of the two weekends a year they open up the former estates gates for the public to come pick from the orchard of oranges and grape fruit. If you haven't been there, Orcutt Ranch is a beautiful park estate. I hadn't been there since I took a boy / boy friend on a picnic in this lovely park. That was college. I didn't really like the boy. He liked me more then I liked him. Now I wonder why I bothered packing up all that food in the gray picnic basket that was my mothers. It seems pretty futile now. Now that I am married. But that was then. Huh. Trying to figure out who is right for who in those days. I wouldn't want to go back to the dating years. That was so much drama. So much confusion and uncertainty. Wondering. Always wondering WHO that special person would be.
We climbed up in the trees on a hot Sunday afternoon with our hats and our long sleeves, our Trader Joe's bags and our great expectations for citrus. How we worked, the sweat dripping off of us, pulling those sweet orange balls out of the tree tops. Classic Frank Sinatra music circling around us drifting over from the Rose Garden wedding. We picked and we sweated. In the end we were probably over zealous bringing home 100 pounds of fruit. Yes, that is right. Let me say it again. 100 pounds for the mere price of $8. Two bags of oranges and two bags of grapefruit. When you pick all that fruit you have to do something with it. It is just not possible for two of us to eat 100 pounds of fruit in a reasonable time frame. So...we juiced. We froze the juice in clean gallon milk jugs, and now on our North West camping adventure our ice chest will be cooled with jugs of frozen naked juice. As they melt we will drink them for breakfast with the pancakes and other wonderful things I am cooking under the trees.
Sweet like candy. My new thing is freezing a peeled orange for 20 min. I got this from the Pagoda Inn in Porter Ranch. Try it. You will love it. Tastes like an orange slushy.

Acceptable

2007-07-06T22:45:00.000-07:00

Ideal isn't it? My dear H could fish off our bedroom balcony, while I lay in bed reading a good history of Turkey book. If I were to design a bedroom I think this is what it would look like. It is all about the view. My ultimate is a house on a body of water with trees all around. I say non specifically "body of water" (to quote myself) because I have long thought to have the Pacific ocean out my front door and a redwood forest out my back door would be my ultimate. However, should my house "only" be built on a gorgeous tree lined lake, I think that would be "acceptable" don't you?

America The Beautiful

2007-07-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

The Shoes at The Hollywood Bowl

Summer, pure lovely summer. There is nothing more summer in LA then the 4th of July at the Hollywood Bowl. Falafel sandwiches, mozzarella caprese salad, German chocolate cake a few of our favorite things wrapped in the creme fleece blanket, placed inside the wooden basket that lives atop my china cabinet. All year that basket longs to get off its dusty perch. To feel the night air, hear Copeland's "The Tender Land", watch the pretty people come out in LA, sit on a PERFECT LA summer evening with a view of the Hollywood sign and the Hollywood cross.

The Los Angele's Philharmonics Summer Home

We eat and we talk about nothing in particular. A lot of laughing. Laughing at ourselves. Laughing at our good fortune to get Hollywood bowl tickets last minute. Smiling. Thankful. Thankful that it is still a free country. Still the land of opportunity. Still a land of bounty. We are blessed, and we feel blessed to be healthy, to be rich - rich enough to go to The Bowl, rich in relationships, rich in love, rich in faith, rich in hope. Blessed with ears to hear the gentleness and boldness of music. Blessed with taste buds to devour AMAZING German chocolate cake. We are happy. A settled, content kind of happy.

Hollywood Bowl apparently on fire

And then WOW!! John Philip Suza, and BOOM, gold glitter in the sky. Stars and Stripes forever. flashes and twinkles. We love the fleeting fire in the sky. We love the sparkle. We watch with our eyes wide to not miss one second of this once a year delight. Ohhhh!!! AWE! says the crowd and we say it too. How can you not. America The Beautiful, from Sea to Shinning Sea.

The Merrell

2007-07-06T20:56:00.000-07:00

The Merrell

La Mare

Merrel-licous

The Thing

The Little Rat

The Whinnier

That crazy cat

Nine lives and at least nine names; our little creature (another name for La Mare). is such a happy addition to our family. Merrell is a little rat full of love. Abandoned as he was by our neighbors, he/she/it (cats are non-gender to me) has abandonment issues-for real. Out to the trash It goes with me, under foot all the way. Crying and chatting as we walk. If I go out the side gate or to the pool It wails a sad kitty cry like I am torturing the little creature for taking a walk WITHOUT IT. IT waits for me on the planter wall and when I appear again it meows cheerfully. How sweet is that? One of the reason I love animals - Loyalty.

Merrell doesn't grasp that he is a cat. doesn't like kitty food, won't touch steak, chicken or salmon scraps (hello kitty what is wrong with you?), but loves coffee, whipped creme, peanut butter. JK and my theory on this is that his previous human parents fed him people food when he was a kitten. At least that is what we theorized for why our cat likes coffee. We've got to come up with something people.

Anyway all that to say is a happy morning is watching the Merrell laze around on our porch whilst we drink coffee on a Saturday morning.

The Perfect Summer Evening

2007-07-03T21:38:00.000-07:00

This picture is so pretty I could eat it. It is raspberry sherbet and pink lemonade. Deliciously cool and refreshing, icy and sweet. I could look at this picture all day. Dreaming about the lovely conversations and meals to be had under this beautiful arbor.

This picture suggest sunset and good conversation. The end to a perfect day at the lake. You see it don't you? The lake. It is at the edge of the lawn just beyond the picture. We Splashed all day. Sunning and running pretending we didn't want to be splashed, but we do. We dunk and run along the shore. Calling to each other about treasures found. Teasing. Always teasing. There is sand between our toes, our hair wind swept into rouge-ish styles. We are wild Indians and Island explorers.

Hunger drives us from the shore to the barbecue. Steak and chicken, Greek salad and iced tea. Full, sun kissed and contented we retire to the candle light pavilion for an evening drink, soft tickling conversation floating on the cool evening breeze. We talk for a while in the twilight as the world disappears around us, all that exists is within the glowing light, we are the only ones here, wrapped in nights comforting blanket. The dark lawn twinkles and flickers with a cheery glow. Stars surrounding our universe. The scene causes us to linger, so we sit wrapped in grandma's blankets laughing as old friends always laugh. Old jokes, old stories. Teasing and accusations of who splashed who. Remembrances from the day. We talk till there is nothing more to say. So we sit in contented silence, listening to the crickets and the gentle breeze. Listening to our hearts and to our memories. Late, the cold night air drives us inside and it has past: The perfect summer evening.

The Big Ten

2007-07-03T19:35:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking a lot about the big ten the last four weeks. What are the big ten? They are the ten commandments God wrote out that we might honor him, be happy and healthy. So far I've learned more then I think I can express about God's will for me. Mainly, that it is a good will, a kind will.

SO many people get tripped up right at the start on whether God is good or not. They don't FEEL he is good, or FEEL that He loves them, so they conclude He DOESN'T love them. Nothing could be farther from the truth. God does love every one on this planet and He is good. Very very good, and all He does is good. God does have a good will and He expresses that in the Big ten.

Just think about it. What would the world be like if everyone FOLLOWED the ten commandments. It would be awesome. Peaceful. Safe. Restful. Missing all the junk that comes with foul language, murder, stealing, adultery. Lots of problems eliminated simply by doing what God says.

So why don't we follow the ten commandments? Why does the suggestion make our collective skin crawl? Answer: We think God is too restrictive. We want to "Have it our way". Really. How's that working out for you? Any heartache? Any problems. God isn't too restrictive. Any rules He has come up with our for our good. He knows what we need. Since I started following God. I HAVE NEVER BEEN HAPPIER. Really. Peace. The kind of peace you just can't buy at the mall. My mind is at rest. Mental rest is what I never had before Jesus Christ was my Lord. My everything.

You have to believe God is good and that He has your best interest at heart. If you don't believe that then you will be pretty suspicious to follow the Big ten. The character of God, knowing WHO He is, IS the starting place.

To hear a really good, down to earth, practical explanation of the Big Ten go to http://www.callonjesus.com. My pastor has a web cast on this site. He is the real deal a UCLA fan so you know you can trust him.

A Love Letter To Croatia

2007-07-03T16:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Croatia,

Beautiful Croatia. I close my eyes and I see your aqua foaming water splashing against the rocks on Hvar island. I see your stone wall enclosed vineyards, and the dusty path we rode to Jelsa by the Sea. Did I really spend 1/12 of last year with you? Were we really together? It all seems like a beautiful dream.

I long to go back to your coast, to feel your cool Adriatic water on my skin, to lie on your warm rock beaches, to drink your house wine and to ride your dusty dirt bike paths. I miss hanging out the laundry open air as I did when I was with you. I miss your cobble streets and your beautiful outdoor cafes. I miss the life we shared together for a whole month. I want to be with you again, but alas there is so much that keeps me here. My job, my family. We don't speak the same language? How can we be together forever if we can't even speak the same language?

I am saving up my money and maybe just maybe I can come and see you again in 2008/2009. I know it is a while, but that is the best I can do. This time I will spend a whole week or more with you in Hvar. We will relax together on your perfect beach, I will stare into your beautiful aqua sea and just enjoy being with you. That is all I want, to be with you, to breath your air and to feel you all around me. Please don't change while I am gone. I will be with you as soon as I can.

All My Love,

Me

ps. I have encolsed some pictures of our time together

Orlando and Me

Real Life

2007-07-03T15:24:00.000-07:00

Today Lucas was catching Cockroaches. Cockroaches. Let me say that again so you can hear the tone in my voice, Cockroaches people. He was picking up cockroaches. When he was instructed to "go wash his hands" because as we all know "cockroaches are DIRTY." He washed them in the drinking fountain, Cockroach hand smeared firmly across the drinking mouth piece. Yuck! Just another reason I am opposed to public drinking fountains. 5 year old boys. Miracle of all miracles I finished one week and 2 days teaching 1st grade readiness. For my reward I have tomorrow off, and so does everybody else because it is Independence Day. It has been record hot. I am feeling like holding up in the house or at the pool is my best move for tomorrow. But really how wonderful is it? Work two days; a day off. Work two more days, two days off. Don't you think we should write some kind of constitutional amendment to have Wednesday off every week? I think so.

Highlights this week: Christopher asking me "Is a power plant a REAL plant?" as in GREEN plant. How can you argue with that kind of cuteness? A high/low was talking a child down from the top of the slide. I felt like one of those intervention counselors. The kind who talk jumpers off bridges. I was trying to talk a 5 year old who didn't want recess to be over to come down from the top of the slide and join the "line up". He was not impressed with my persuasion. My counting to five, my positive encouragement. After 10 minuets, I finally bribed him. The deal: If he comes down he can talk to his mother.

I've been out on the streets, pedaling in the cool air up White Oak under the shade of the pine trees, crunching the brown needles as I roll. Struggling some up the hill. All up hill to the school. Chanting to myself "your tough, your buff; your tough, your buff, you strut your stuff". Perfect in the morning. Perfect to ride and feel the wind. Only God could work out that my commute to work is up my favorite street in the whole valley and I get to do it on my bike. How good is my life? Very good.

Home bound the heat rolls of the black top in visible waves. My legs don't struggle, I just coast, breaking through wave after wave of hot air. Each assaulting me with new surprise as if I have never opened the door of an oven before. What is it out here 100? 103? It must be and it is. Standing at a light the sun attempts to cook my forearms and calves. I am happy when the light turns green and I can feel the relief of my breeze. JK had soccer last night. It was 100 degrees when they started the game at 6:30 pm, but only 97 at the end; so what was their excuse for losing? (he, he, he). After the game we went to Trader Joe's. The only unusual thing we bought was French Creme yogurt. I tried it this morning. My gosh that stuff is as thick as sour cream! I started eating yogurt in my 20's before this I had a couple decade long aversion to the stuff. I was against eating anything that had live "bugs" in it. Now, yogurt is YUM.

I was tempted to skip church after Saturday nights party with the Colombian friends. I'm glad I didn't as my pastor spoke on the 4th commandment "Remember Sunday to Keep it Holy". Off all days to miss a Sunday this WASN'T it. Awesome message. I love my church and my pastor. I highly encourage ANYONE to get a copy of this message at Call On Jesus.Com.

Sunday afternoon we had Pizza-saurus-rex. Mushroom and pepperoni-the best. I walked to get the pizza at our corner place, then we spent the whole afternoon lazing around. The pizza and the party weren't the highlight of my weekend. The highlight of the weekend was the almost two hour walk JK and I took Friday night to Marble Slab Creamery. It was just a perfect 75 degree evening to be strolling. The sky blue, the conversation good, looking at the ground looking at the flowers, digesting the week. Good times.

Summer School

2007-06-29T15:18:00.000-07:00

Painted bunnies

2+4=6

counting stacks

super books

bean bag reading center

lettering

write your numbers to 100

Listening Skills

Yard Duty

The shark attack song

What do all these have in common? They are all things I did this week with my first grade class. I am a first grade teacher to seven boys, and two girls for the summer session. We are working to improve our reading skills, addition and subtraction, writing our letters upper and lower case, and writing our numbers one to one-hundred. We also did some just because water color painting of bunnies which will decorate our bulletin board.

I couldn't sleep Sunday night. I was so nervous to teach first grade. I thought either in the first five minuets of class I was going to realize that 1st grade was a mistake or that I loved it. Well, yeah! I love it.

Summer School, not a bad gig if you can get it. Gig. I love that word. I am going to say it again GIG. Ha, that is so not a word I use, but it makes me smile. Well anyway, this summer school gig is pretty plush. Half day, nine kids, commuting by bike. I rather like summer school. In fact I kind of wish the whole year was summer school. Half day work what an amazing concept. I like to work, I do. It is not that. It is just that lets be honest. After lunch. How do you feel after lunch? Done? Sleepy? Ready to go home. Yes, I think that is how we all feel. And when you teach kids that is how they feel and that is how you feel. Done. Ready to Go Home. They are not as good as hiding these emotions. After lunch they ask? When are we going home? And "Is this Almost over?" Summer school eliminates all that yuckiness. By the time they are done. We are done.

I have been having my lunch with Nancy Lee DeMoss of Revive Our Hearts fame. A little radio program I adore. I have my ritual now. Home. Fix the salad and a tea. Or maybe a sandwich and some tea. Or if it is REALLY hot. Fix a huge strawberry smoothie and be done with it. I prepare my lunch then sneak into the office to relax on the sofa. Then munch, munch away as I listen to my web cast. What decadence summer is. I am trying to soak it all in. All its sunny, stress free, wonderfulness. Because...

It is true. I officially heard. I am staring my Masters Degree program in the fall, and teaching 7th grade science and bible full time. I am trying not to think about the mountain of work ahead of me. Only to appreciate and enjoy this present moment. The quiet afternoons reading my bible, munching my lunch, picking up the house. Put- zing. Lots of Put-zing and reading and just getting ready for the NEXT BIG THING which isn't Istanbul but is instead a trip to the Pacific Northwest and then teaching and being a student in the fall. When it rains you know it dumps on you in buckets like somebody has the hose on over your head. That is life. Good times.

I am happy though, and that is a really good thing to walk around in my class and on campus in my little teaching world and realize how really, really happy I am. I have a great job. I work at a great place with great people. I work close to my home. All these are wonderful blessings and I don't take them for granted. I try to turn their prettiness over in my mind and appreciate them everyday. Settled. I feel really settled in where I am. It is so nice to stretch out my soul like that. Oh that feels good. Stretching out the kinks and the creaks in my soul. Expanding learning growing. Working with interesting people. Feeling like I am making my contribution to little peoples lives. Making the World a Better Place Because I have been here.

Summer School. A Nice Gig If You Can Get It.

Social Norms

2007-06-29T15:04:00.000-07:00

Date: Today

Characters:
Me - the Teacher
Lucas - 5 year old boy

Scene: The ladies bathroom. Pulling a 5 year old boy OUT of the ladies room.

Me: "Lucas you can't go into the girls bathroom"
Lucas: "but my sisters in there"
Me: "Yes, your sister may be in there but you can't go in the ladies bathroom. The ladies bathroom is for GIRLS, and you are a BOY"
Lucas: "but I have to talk to her"
Me: "Your going to have to talk to her later"
Lucas: "but she's my sister"
Me: "Lucas go play"

And such are the big discipline challenges of first grade readiness. Getting them acquainted with social norms. The reality that in fact if you are a little boy you can NOT have a conversation with a girl in the ladies bathroom, even if she is your sister.

Mango Blue

2007-06-22T12:47:00.000-07:00

I'm going to hear these people play music tonight at Cal Tech in Pasadena. I know it seems like Cal Tech shouldn't have concerts after all they are the Math / Science place, churning out all those brainy engineer types, but they actually do have a excellent events schedule. Sadly much better then CSUN across the street. So for our summer music, we get in our silver car and head over to Pasadena. I love Pasadena. Who doesn't? It is old money and Europe and chic all in one.

Mango Blue is the name of the group. What that name signifies I don't know. Mango's are orange. The Blue part throws me. Like "guys, why blue?" I am so literal. Literally. I love these outdoor concerts on Beckman Mall. The music is always really random in a professional and good sort of way. The atmosphere is really nice, lazing around on soft picnic blankets and camping chairs on a pleasant summer evening. Beverages and conversation bubbling around you.

I stopped by Trader Joe's today on my way home from seeing Cynthia, picked up all the picnic supplies for tonight. Trader Joe's is another place I am obsessed with. Trader Joe's and Istanbul. Go figure. I am bubbling around today excited that I am "taking my husband" to dinner. Our fabulous picnic menu is:

Curried Chicken Salad on Panini Rustic Rolls

Red Grapes

Sparkling Blueberry Juice

Peanut Butter Cookies

I was wishing I had one of those adorable picnic sets they sell at http://www.picnicfun.com/ (as pictured above and below), As it stands I have a cute wicker picnic basket, some green tin camping plates and the never fail Tupperware. Not perfectly chic, but perfectly realistic. I have to say I would be willing to splurge for some clear plastic wine glasses. Real wine glasses just give the right ambiance, No?

Thanks for the love left by the commenter yesterday. If and when I complete a granny square purse I will post pictures. I promise. In fact I will be so over joyed at completing said project. I will probably post so many pictures that you will be sick of seeing it. I appreciate the boost of "You can do it from Portland Maine".

I don't know why I never think "I can". I am the little engine that thinks she couldn't. Despite the fact that I have been successful at school and work and hobbies; when I try something new, I am convinced "I can't". I thought everyone was this way. Maybe. Now I think a little bit more maybe this is just me. Lack of confidence. Anything new, I freak. Really, ask my nice husband. It is like no matter how successful I am I always have the mindset I will fail. Weirdo. I know. You are supposed to build on past successes or something like that. I don't. I just really do the flip out thing every time. Will this get better? I don't know. Will I keep trying new things? Of course. I doesn't stop me. Just makes me the lovable freak that I am.

Needed: Bike Book Basket

2007-06-21T14:17:00.000-07:00

Today was a beautiful sort of day. Sparkling blue sky, light ocean breeze. A beautiful day to run errands by bike. I ride my red and silver bike on most errands. To the dentist, to the library, and the post office, and the craft store too. Locking my bike around poles and trees, and real honest to goodness bike stands with my purple coil bike lock. We get around nicely. I consider myself fortunate to have a bike and the sun here in sunny California.

This afternoon, I did determine my bike is missing one thing: a basket. Having been a little too ambitious at the Library, spontaneously checking out FOUR large books, having only come to drop off some DVDS. I was struck with a quandary: "how to get home four books all in my rather flimsy 'Food Land' rattan bag".

Having no other choice, I stuffed them inside my rattan beach bag which has previously held no more weight then a beach towel. I heard the straw woven bag creek and pull and strain in a way that made my stomach twist.

To save the bag, I put the now rather awkward bag between my legs. Now awkwardly positioned I pedaled with my knees flared out. Trying to not look like as much of a big dork as I am. Thinking all the way home " I really need to get a bike basket. Like Bad. Like REALLY, REALLY bad".

Three blocks into the ride the between the knees bag pedaling grew tiresome. I adjusted to have the bag hang from my right side. Convinced with every creek that the strap was about to break, books hitting the pavement in an embarrassing cacophony. This side saddle bag arrangement wasn't much better as the heavy bag thumped and scratched against my leg with every pedal. Thwack. Scratch. Thwack. Scratch. Thwack. Scratch. I know I looked completely ridiculous, but we made it home; all of us: me, the bag, the books and the bike. However, my biking dignity was a bit battered, dragging in behind us.

Gotta Have It

2007-06-20T09:34:00.000-07:00

This is not my picture. It is a shot by the VERY talented Alicia over at Posie Gets Cozy. That girl is pure cuteness. Purely. I highly encourage you to go see her. She is a gem. This is her hallway, in her house. And what I beyond love here is her creative artwork. You know what she framed? Scrap book paper. I know, beyond cute. I want to do this. Really. Her colors are not my colors, but this. This idea. Inexpensive. Cute. Fun. That Alicia, a warehouse of good ideas.

Go see her: http://rosylittlethings.typepad.com/posie_gets_cozy/

Its Hip to Be Granny

2007-06-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

What happens when a working girl has two weeks off to be a house wife? Well, apparently she swings into full speed house wife mode making pancakes, french toast, and potato latkes for breakfast, cleans the crevices that haven't been cleaned all school year, bakes delicious smelling fresh banana bread, catches up on all her correspondence and then amazingly after being home only a week starts dreaming about a crocheting a granny square afghan. I don't know what has gotten into me, but I am actually thinking how groovy it would be to make my own granny square Afghan blanket. After all, its hip to be granny. I mean look how so cute these grannies are. I like the grannies that look like modern art paintings. I don't actually like them to look well, Ahem. Granny. Granny, though they are, I prefer them to look Portland Art Studio. Chic and avaunt guard. Too much apple pie and blue ducks and baby's breath and I flee for my life. Choked by child hood memories of all of the previous in my mothers blue duck themed country kitchen. Need I say more?I like the dark background grannies. These are from a Swedish art museum. It isn't like me at all to want to do a full length Granny blanket. I know in another 4 days when I am back at work, This granny-ish desire will have completely faded. I mean who has the time...ahem unless of course you are a house wife like I've been the last few days, then I have time to granny away. A granny square purse is a little more realistic for me, who burns out on projects 5/8th of the way through. 10 squares I think I could handle ten squares. Maybe. On a good day. I COULD finish this in at least five years. At Least. Right? For inspiration check out the official granny along website. Everybody is doing it: http://grannyalong.blogspot.com/

The Next Big Thing

2007-06-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Obsessing again, as I tend to do about foreign lands. The travel bug has bitten and this time it is Istanbul, Turkey. It was Croatia last year and I suppose moving east Istanbul is the next logical destination-assuming of course that we skip right over Athens. I am engaged in quite a serious love affair with the city of Istanbul, and by association Turkey. I am 100 pages in on my second "History of the Lands and People of Turkey" book. I devoured the first one in less then 4 days. Istanbul who wouldn't want to go to Istanbul?

Istanbul has had many, many incarnations. The current being a important city in the modern secular Republic of Turkey founded around 1923. Before this for 600 years Istanbul was the capital of the Ottoman Empire. Amazing to think that America has been a nation only 1/3 the length the Ottomans ruled. The Ottoman Empire is the longest running monarchy in history. The Ottomans were not the first to inhabit Istanbul; before the Ottomans, Istanbul was called Constantinople, named for emperor Constantine in A.D. 330. It was proclaimed the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, when to better fight off invading barbarian tribes the Roman Empire was divided into East and West. Before it was Constantinople, it was the ancient Greek city of Byzantium.

Interior of the Hagia Sophia, Istanbul

Constantinople was also the seat of the Eastern Orthodox church. The Eastern Roman Emperors called themselves "Vicars of Christ on Earth" claiming responsibility for defense of the faith and spiritual authority over all Christians. The marvelous Hagia Sophia (Church of the Holy Wisdom), was built in the sixth century A.D. by the Emperor Justinian as the finest monument the Vicar of Christ could create on earth. Its dome, soars 180 feet above the floor, seeming to float unsupported. In reality the dome suspends from hidden buttresses. The Church of the Holy Wisdom was the flagship church of the Eastern Orthodox church. Think of it as the Vatican of the east. After Istanbul was conquered by the Muslim Turks, the church became a mosque. The architecture is gorgeous. I swear its distinctive domed form was copied and put in one of the newer star wars movies. The Nabu palace? Anyone remember?Istanbul is a cross roads. It rises on the banks of two continents. The Bosporus strait divides the city and the continents of Europe and Asia. It is a political cross roads of the West and Middle east. Turkey is a land of contrasts. New and Old, East and West. Christian and Muslim.

Turkey is the land of the Whirling Dervishes, Roman Library at Ephesus, Tulips, the people that invented the cumber bun, and supposedly where the city of Troy is. What is not to like? I am ready to go.

Bedroom Drama

2007-06-11T21:46:00.000-07:00

After nine years of marriage our mattress that I brought with me into marriage is bulging in the behind, sagging in the middle, and creaking in its joints. My dad bought me this mattress when I was fifteen, making the mattress 15-ish years old, which is like 70 in mattress years. Way past the age of retirement. After some thought, we have decided to put the Old biddy away and get a new plusher model. And since we are going to be going from a Double. (Yes, I know. We sleep on a double. Way too small) to a Queen? King? We also are going to be getting a bedroom set. Yippee!

I really like the South Seas, Indian, exotic look as pictured above. The one that I think is cute is the Geneva from Cost Plus. I was all practical for a bit saying "Now WHY do we need those posts?", but then I just gave into myself and said "You like it, it doesn't matter why". I ask Why way too much. Way too much. Those big poster things make no practical sense, "but aren't they so dreamy?". This is a romantic bed, and shouldn't life have a little, scratch that out...a lot of romance in it? I can be sensible and eat whole wheat, and exercise, drink my water, look both ways, but for goodness sake "I would like a non-sensible bed please".

Cherry Pie

2007-06-08T20:42:00.001-07:00

When we were kids, my sister and I used to sing this little song. It is an old, old song. So old that I don't even know where it came from. The Pioneers? The American Settlers? The Provence I do not know, the little song I do. It goes like this:

Oh where have you gone?

Billy-boy, Billy boy

Oh where have you gone?

Charming Billy

I have gone to seek a wife!

Find the partner for my life!

She's a young thing

and can not leave her mother.

Can she make a cherry pie?

Billy-boy, Billy-boy

Can she make a cherry pie?

Charming Billy

She can make a cherry pie

quick as cats can wink their eye

She's a young thing

and can not leave her mother

This evening I pitted five cups of fresh cherries, and I can tell you, I now understand why being able to make a cherry pie is the gold standard for wife finding. "Billy-boy, if she can make a cherry pie as quick as cats can wink and eye, marry her. She is a REAL catch!". It took me a LONG time to pit five cups of cherries. Suddenly making a cherry pitter seem like a worth while investment. Even if I only make cherry pie...Um....like, never. Except for this one time.

Thursday, Albertson's had a super sale on cherries, $1.50 a pound. Cherries are normally like $4.49 a pound. Admittedly, I went a little crazy buying 4 lbs of fresh cherries. Apparently, all it takes for me to throw things into my basket is a SUPER 8 Hour Sale. I probably didn't need to buy 4lbs, 2lbs would have sufficed. But I digress.

The labor it takes to make an All-from-scratch, cherry pie makes me realize why woman have been "slaves to the kitchen" for a millennium. Apart from prepared foods, home made takes a dizzyingly long time. And this is coming from me, a woman who makes her own salad dressing. I hardly use ANY prepared foods. The ones I can think of are peanut butter and mayonnaise. Though I know how to, and have made a least mayonnaise from scratch. Oh also....I have yet to make my own Ketchup. I don't make my own cheese or yogurt either. So, I guess I DO use more prepared items then I thought. It is exhausting to think how long it would take to make a meal with NO pre-prepared food. I should try that some time....Um, when I actually HAVE some time. That would be so weirdly me to try something like that. I do like to challenge myself.

Butterflies and Books

2007-06-08T13:55:00.000-07:00

I am in a particularly good mood today. The kind of mood one would expect to be in on their last day of the school year before two glorious weeks, plus a month off. I rewarded myself today for all my hard work with a trip to the Library. After all a girl needs to stock up on her summer reading. I checked out:

Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini
The Secret Life of Bees, Sue Monk Kidd
Turkey, Creation of the Modern Middle East; Heather Lehr Wagner
The Land and People of Turkey, William Spencer
CD: The girl in the other room, Diana Krall

Pretty excited about this list of books! I went to the Library after the morning festivities, the last day of work was flagged with a all staff meeting and then the school hosted a lovely lunch for us. In the gym with round linen tables, 40's music, and three different themed food bars. I choose the oriental food bar, though in hindsight I would have gone for the submarine sandwiches, the pizza and pasta didn't tempt me. Good to sit with Beth and Melissa and Kristin. Nice Peeps I teach with.

Back to the Library apparently my favorite place. I sat for a long, long time in the Library pouring over a door stop of a History of Art picture book. Butterflies in my stomach with excitement! Completely unexpected, to feel that thrill of new facts. I am wholly unpredictable as to what will make me feel most alive-passionate. A bike ride, a new recipe, and apparently a 1970's era Art History book at the public Library! I almost can't talk at my excitement seeing all those beautiful works of art. What an amazing world we live in. How fascinating the many people and cultures are who have grown up, flourished and then died out. The brother hood of man. That sounds a little silly, but that is how I feel. We all come from these people, these mysterious civilizations who made art and built temples and castles. We aren't that different. These people and me, us, you. Ideas, and genes passed down generation by generation. A little bit of me is them. You know who really knows what civilization I come from. My husband would say "my own planet". Maybe. Does it matter? To me "which one" is beside the point. All of them. We are all human. In an abstract way each history is my own. Connection. What a serious miracle the human race is. Diocletian's Palace, Split Croatia. This Palace is so huge that today some 3,000 people live in its footprint.

I was especially excited to see a picture of Diocletian's Palace in the Book. Really hoping up and down inside, seeing that picture, because I was just there! Also, William Morris. I saw William Morris in the Art History Book, and again my stomach did the little flip of excitement. I have a William Morris purse. A prized possession, bought several years ago at the Huntington Library. If I in fact had a favorite artist, he in fact might be it. Though I don't no much at all about him, I love my purse. I think is the best description of my style of anything I own. I have often said to myself that I would like to decorate my house based on the style of that purse. All my favorite colors and all my favorite designs are in that purse.

Happiest Place On Earth

2007-06-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

I had lunch today at the Rain Forest Cafe

The Happiest Place on Earth is probably the best slogan any company has come up with at any time to sell something; after all who wouldn't want to be at the happiest place on earth? This is brilliant marketing and yet its message is contagious and sticky because it is not just cynical salesman ship; Disneyland is America's most successful Utopian society- Ever: freshly painted buildings, not a drop of trash on the ground, beautiful manicured flowers, free public transportation (read monorail), a safe family environment, a place where dreams and fantasies are nurtured, and "really do come true"; for those who can afford it, it is a day of a "perfect environment".

Yesterday, I had a heart warming time at The Happiest Place on Earth. I actually surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it. My last trip to Disneyland was more then 10 years ago. Can you believe it? I am so surprised that much time went by, but then I don't really consider myself a Disney person. The Utopian perfection of it is normally too much for me. I like things to be more real. I am OK with gritty. I am the person trying to figure out how the animation works , where the wires and power source are. I like to figure it out. That is why in part I was so surprised at what an awesome time I had yesterday.

The reason I was at Disneyland on a plain old Tuesday was I was a student chaperon. The whole high school went to Disneyland for the end of year trip. Can you believe, I was paid to go to Disneyland (teaching not bad work). I had such a great day. It really was one of the smile-e-est, laugh out loud, and scream on rides days I have had in a long time. I forgot how good that feels, to really give a good scream on a roller coaster, or just laugh really hard. The day was made great in part by my fellow staff.

my co-workers are all smiles, after all we are being paid to go to Disneyland

Shoes Baby

2007-06-03T13:19:00.000-07:00

An East Asian princess. That is what I feel like in these adorable gold, beaded slipper shoes. These shoes I bought in partial fulfillment of my new year's resolution to be more colorful in 2007. Sparkle. I needed sparkle. These shoes are so cute I also bought them in teal blue. Only downside to these shoes is that I look at them too much in public, admiring their cuteness. I assume like all great loves, this will die down as I become accustomed to their shimmer.

Bread Baby

2007-06-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

I held out on you yesterday with regards to my new-old Kitchen Aid mixer. I wanted to wait until I had some fun pictures to share. My new-old Kitchen Aid mixer is "new" because it is new to me, new to my house and my cooking; and "old" because it was my mother's Kitchen Aid. With this mixer Mom made whipped cream, pretzel bread, twice baked potatoes, Christmas cookie dough, frosting and with the special attachments grated cheese.

This is a hefty piece of kitchen equipment, 12 pounds at least. Due to the weight, and oh yeah I have NO storage, I plan to leave it on the counter. This would be a little more perfect if it wasn't shagadelic yellow. Apparently, my mother liked 70's yellow. Apparently. Man mom why couldn't you have bought this in white? Classic White. My husband thinks this machine is "pea soup yellow green" his own words. He briefly considered sanding it down for me so at least it would be "brushed metal". He also asked me if I was going to Hammer tone this. Only my sister Stephanie understands the true addictive qualities of Hammer toneing anything that is not nailed down. (read spray paint that transforms old and ugly into new and cool). I am trying not to look at the color, considering this is at least a $400 piece of equipment that I got for free. Additionally, it has HUGE sentimental value being my mothers. Growing up I always liked to grate the cheese for tacos with this thing, and when my mom made oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, lick the large triangle beater. What kid doesn't like to lick the beater? I don't have that many things of mom's. One of the reasons this mixer is so special. My dad gave me mom's wedding ring after she passed. But, I only wear this occasionally, most recently to the Armenian wedding. As sentimental as it is it also isn't really "me". I only like it because she liked it. Kind of like I only like weird 70's yellow mixer because she liked it.

Of course having just brought the Kitchen Aid home with me Friday night I had put it to good use making a batch of "Ann's No Knead Bread". What is it about the aroma of fresh baked bread wafting through the house that just makes you want to smile? Hot and soft and fresh, crisp on the outside, steaming on the inside. Bread is seductive. Calling all members of the household to the kitchen for a slice slathered with honey and butter.

This bread is light in texture, closer to a biscuit then true "knead bread". Now that I made the bread, I think I need to make some Chili to go with the bread. Happy days.

Ann's No-Knead Bread

Combine and set aside:

2 c. flour

1/4 c. sugar

1 teaspoon salt

2 pkgs. dry yeast (1/4 oz. each)

Heat until warm:

1 c. water

1 c. milk

1/4 c. vegetable oil

Have on hand:

1 egg

2 to 2 1/2 c. flour

butter

Mix egg with liquids, then stir all into flour mixture. Blend at lowest speed on mixer, then blend on medium for 3 minutes. By hand stir in another 2 to 2 1/2 c. flour. Cover, let rise 50 minutes until light and doubled in size. Stir down. Spoon into greased 6" x 9" loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes. Brush top with butter.

Meta Post

2007-06-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

Costco Flori-bundi, adorning my patio

I think, I think this is going to be a big time Meta post. It has been a Meta kind of day. Laundry, and dusting, and (yeah for me) cleaning my new, old kitchen aid mixer (more to come on that in a moment). A lazy day at home. I made myself a egg cheese bagel sandwich for breakfast. Swept the porch. Pet the cat.

Creature Merrell-bundi, adorning my inside door mat

Lots of little things to catch up on that I have been neglecting to write about. Can you believe it though. Only Monday-one day left of school! I feel like shouting HAPPY NEW YEAR! or throwing confetti in the air. I am so ecstatically happy to have two weeks off. Two weeks and then I start half day summer school for five weeks, and then a month off. Teaching: not bad work if you can get it. This summer I am teaching first grade readiness. I know, I know. HUGE change from ninth graders. Believe me I know and I am frankly excited. I was a little bit "done" with ninth grade. I love them I do. They also make me bonkers frustrated. You have to repeat yourself like 19 times, and then YOU STILL have some kid raise their hand and say "So what are we supposed to be doing right now". I hope I taught them something. I do hope. They taught me quite a lot. They did bless me a lot. Those ninth graders, they bought me a yearbook. Took a collection and presented a yearbook to me because they are just that kind. We have good kids at my school. We really do. They signed it. I completely broke into an embarrassing amount of tears when the presented it to me. I had to put the yearbook in front of my face. What a blessing. They drove me crazy, talked too much, but in the end they all have good hearts and frankly they are just kids. And that is a good thing. They have a lot of fire, as a teacher I don't want to put that out. I just want to direct it. Send their fire (read passion for living) in the right direction. Some of the kids that drove me the MOST CRAZY I also think have some of the best personalities and are going to do really well in life. You have to come out strong to face life. Have to have a fire or frankly you are NOT going to make it.

About a month ago my husband bought me this grandma Clark inspired mix of shade plants for our deck. It was the Costco special, big and beautiful. Isn't it just stupid beautiful? Slightly jungle esque as my tastes tend to run, a little wild, a little cultured botanical, a little bright, a little varied. I love this potted art. Its presence has given me endless joy as I gaze out my sliding glass window on its cheery brightness. The jungle mix potted plant inspired me to add even more color to my world. Thus was born the geranium garden. To the casual observer, this may appear to be an ordinary piece of dirt. However, do not be deceived by its appearance. It is actually the beginnings of my geranium garden. You can see on the left there an actual plant. I now have five plants. I lost three plants to the gardener who doesn't seem as in step with my "vision" of a geranium garden. I stare at it a few minutes each day after work, as if by just staring at it I can will it to grow and become the beautiful garden I know it can be. Grow, Geraniums, Grow.

Memorial Weekend in Malibu

2007-05-29T17:23:00.000-07:00

We got out this weekend, out of the city with its grey and hot and tepid climate. Out to the rolling golden hills of Calabasas dotted with huge California Oak trees; their graceful limbs curved skyward. To the creek, Malibu Creek we went to stroll among the mustard grass, and watch the families picnic along the shore, the children playing in the creek. This was Chumash Indian territory. If I were an Indian I would live here too, close to the ocean and its bounty, close to the Oak and its acorn, close to the stream and the deer, and the fox, close to shaded oaks and the golden rolling hills. Close to the jumping rock. After the Chumash lived here, the Spanish homesteaders lived here. Don Jose Tapia established a homestead here in 1776, then Don Pedro Sepulveda raised a family here in the 1863 Adobe that still stands at the Northern end of the park. They lived here with ocean and the creek and the golden oaks and the golden hills and their cattle and sheep. They had it good. Did they wake up every day and say to themselves "It is beautiful here" or did they forget how pleasant it is here? We humans are the forgetful type. We forget when it is good and complain when it is bad.

We watch the the brave and the timid take their turn atop the jumping rock, some dives, some back flips and some (as pictured) belly flops. The water is deep in some spots and perilously shallow in other spots. The lesson: Look before you leap. In the 1900's Malibu Creek was a Millionaires Country Club. A hunting ground for the rich and famous. From 1951 to 1957 the Northwest corner of the park was Reagan Ranch. Hollywood came to the park in 1927. The most memorable forgettable movie that was made here is "Planet of the Apes"; "Tarzan Escapes" was also made here. For the TV fans M*A*S*H was filmed here. You can see the helipad and the rusting jeeps. I like the nature more then I like the movie sites. Movies are every where in LA. We Angelinos aren't easily impressed with movies. Next stop Malibu Village, (Cross Creek) for some Mexican food eaten alfresco on the patio. Loads and loads of famous people hang out at the Malibu Starbucks (Scene of the Brittany baby on her lap driving incident). I people watch a little trying to determine if anyone around me is famous. I never ever can tell who is famous or who isn't. Does it matter? This shopping plaza is a silly little mix of Ralph Lauren and a pet store, Nabu restaurant (expensive) and Malibu Country Mart. It does have great art all around. I liked the metal tree with metal birds (pictured above). To me, good art is any thing I like to look at. After dinner we walk across the street to Malibu Lagoon, a marsh of sorts. Beautiful day to gaze and dream. Lots of blue nothing to look at and think
Surf Rider Beach next to the Colony, not a colony of bees but Malibu colony. Expensive homes on the beach. Apparently they have a really good 4th of July block party in the colony. Or so we are told from friends who went.

Self portrait with a uncooperative other half Days end, time to come off the beach ride the shuttle past Pepperdine up Las Virgenes to our car awaiting our return on Mulholland Road. It was a lovely day