Motorin'

So I'm in the middle of Wyoming, with my first reliable internet since Thursday. I drove about 13 1/2 hours today, and listened to the first half of Middlesex. Very good. I am exhausted though. Sleep has eluded me the last few nights, and I knew it was trouble when I started yawning at 11am today.

It was also really sad to leave CA. There's not really that much to say about it, except that it doesn't really seem real. I was telling my friends that somehow it seems like they'll all just be there when I arrive tomorrow.

Speaking of friends, they helped pack the truck this weekend. It was quite a feat, and as you can see from the picture, the result is probably the best packed Uhaul on the roads. Oh, and the reflectors make it seem like it was also some sort of dance party. Which it was.

I heart minor league baseball!!!!

Ever since I started working at a summer camp and going to the Fargo Redhawks' games, I've loved minor league baseball. I'm not really that into other sports, but I looooooove a good summertime baseball game. Jen and Brian got free tickets from Target, so tonight we went to a San Jose Giants game.

The "beer batter" was struck out, so we go those Heinekens two-for-one.

Bigger Than a Breadbox...

...and more fun than a wheel of cheese.

This is the massive wheel of bubblewrap my dad sent to help me pack.

Packing and saying goodbye have been occupying most of my time. It's exhausting.

Checkouts

Some random bits tonight.

I checked out of school today. It felt a lot more final to hand in my keys than it did when the kids left yesterday. I hugged everyone goodbye, and only felt my lip quivering once, while saying goodbye to someone who probably never cries.

I also went to the grocery store and got in front of the most obnoxious man in the checkout line. He looked over my groceries, and actually touched them. He was first making small talk, then touched my shoulder and asked me to save his place in line. I was hoping the checker would be fast, but no. He came back, and actually commented about my groceries. He had something to say about everything I was buying, and what it might say about me. I just smiled, and said nothing.

A few days ago I called to have a utility shut off, and the guy was checking something, and asked if it was Holly with an "i" or an "e." Uh? Y.

The best middle school boy conversation I overheard yesterday went like this. There were three middle school boys standing around, and one said "So, are you going to play ponies this summer?" Another said "Yeah, if my mom lets me." Hilarious. I acted shocked and said "Oh my gosh, are you guys really playing with ponies this summer?" And of course, they were referring to ponies baseball.

And just now I called for pizza and the guy told me my pizza would be ready in 19 minutes. I had to ask twice, just so I could hear him say again that it would be ready in 19 minutes. 19? Almost as strange as Holly with an "i" or an "e."

Cool!

I read today that StoryCorps is in Sioux Falls! They record stories of ordinary people, or in their own words, "StoryCorps is a national project to instruct and inspire people to record one another's stories in sound.

Maybe I'll work on a story for them...or interview someone...intriguing!

Celebrating!

I am officially done teaching. Today was our last day of school, topped off with the annual skating party. I thought I might feel more joyous after school, but it wasn't the jumping up and down kind of happy, just a lot more calm. That was probably in part because the middle schoolers were all crying and carrying on about leaving one another.

I also hope this means more sleep. I looked back on my blog from last year at this time, and I was also not sleeping then. Although it always takes me a long time to get to sleep, a half hour at least, this week my mind has been thinking things out long after I want to go to sleep. Someone asked me last week where I think about stuff, and I've decided it's while I'm lying in bed, trying to sleep. It seems to be involuntary--I can't sleep until everything's worked out.

So tonight is a celebration of being done with school. It will be celebrated by going out for gyros with friends, and a bottle of my favorite pinot grigio. As I have declared, let it be so.
Perhaps the pinot grigio will inspire packing!

Days left as a teacher: 1. (that includes a skating party)

Tonight was graduation. It was a good class, and actually kind of sad to see them graduate. I got two thank you notes from kids today that were really sweet, and amusing.

One contained the line "Ms. D, thank you for all your patients with me this year."

The other said "It's unfortunate you won't be returning to our school, because I won't see you again on earth."

Aww....that does make me a little sad to quit teaching. Just a little.

adios, citibank!

Days left as a teacher: 3, including 1 workday. Amen.

And, I have a job! I think...

It all started in Feb. when I sent a resume to a company for a position I really wanted. It was via a friend of a friend, and I never heard anything, despite follow up. So, I thought hope was lost there.

Then they posted a less desirable position on the internet, and I was feeling desperate. I submitted my resume, and got an interview. During the interview I mentioned the other job, and lo and behold, I'm getting it.

At least I think so. There has been an informal, e-mail offer. I'm waiting to get something in writing, but it looks like I'll either be a curriculum designer/online teacher, or a full-time curriculum designer. Now, to choose a cat.

Dillon Beach is to good times as...

The beach weekend was the perfect activity to end my time in California. Somehow I was the only person who didn't take any pictures, but you can check out Donna's, and Jeff and Jen's. Jen and Jeff even got a photo of me and Camille. If you check it out, you can see that skeptical look on Camille's face as I'm walking her across the room. She knows the score.

The weather was cloudy and cool, and the whole thing reminded me a lot of hanging out at my parents' place in Okoboji. There was Trivial Pursuit, sleeping in, video games, and a fully-stocked bar. I also had my first Blue Curacao since Amsterdam...it's still disgusting stuff.

The weekend reminded me of how happy I have been here, with such good friends. So, if any of ya'll are reading this, you are to living in California as Jen is to gardening!

Beach!Beach!Beach!

Tomorrow the beach weekend with my friends begins, and I'm so excited! And I'm taking my personal day tomorrow, so that means no school for me. I'm co-chair of snacks for this weekend, so I've been baking. Somehow my baking never looks as good as other people's, but hey, it's an effort. Oh, and trying to find pajamas that are appropriate to wear around other people. Eek.
This weekend I'm looking forward to:

• Playing Wii with everyone. They all have "surprise" Miis waiting for them.
• Wearing a hooded sweatshirt at the beach. I don't know why, but I only like wearing them near water and outside.
  
• TRIVIAL PURSUIT AND SCRABBLE!!!!!!!
• Donna's cooking and John's drink making. If they had a Food Network show, it would kick ass.
  

The big move is getting very close, and a little frightening. When I think about it I have to take a quick deep breath. It's not like I don't know what to expect in Sioux Falls, but maybe more because I do. I'm picturing myself in my new house, and loving that, but everything else is sort of blank. Like I've said before I get pictures in my mind that go with words, and when I think of "new job" and "new friends" and "church" it's all blank. I recognize the uneasiness though, after moving so much, as a mix of excitement and anticipation. There's always the hope that the blank space will be filled by something better than you would have guessed. I can't think about it any more right now though.

I finished reading Gathering Blue a couple nights ago, and loved it. I was hesitant to pick it up because the title sounded to me like it would be a dog book, and that it would have the normal dog book plot: dog is found in a sad state, nursed to health, does something amazing to endear itself to owner, and dies. Ick.

But, there are no dogs. Well, one, named Branchie, but he doesn't really enter into the plot. Anyway, if you liked The Giver, I'd highly recommend it. If you haven't read The Giver, read that one first. I have to say though, the end of Gathering Blue disappointed me. Though Lois Lowry is of course entitled to writing her own ending, I would have done it differently. There is something just so unsatisfying with Kira staying in the Council Edifice, especially after the gruesome description of the leg braces on the singer. Has anyone read The Messenger, which supposedly completes the trilogy?

In other book related news, I had a great teaching moment today. I know I'm doing something right when the kids don't want to stop reading. We're reading Freak the Mighty in 7th grade, and at one point I decided I wanted to have the kids just listen to me read for the rest of class. They're not great readers, and so I wanted them to just hear the story for a while. I asked them to close their books, and they freaked out. Seriously, they were like "noooo!" and "It's just getting so good!"

That was great. When they finally all had them closed and I told them I was going to read to them, there was a sigh of relief. And this afternoon, after school I found a girl sneaking a book out of the box so she could read it during study hall. It was a great moment.

My kids also promised to reenact the scene where Freak and Max parade around the classroom chanting, and scare the teacher until she hides behind her desk. They said they want to do it to the new Language Arts teacher. I've made them promise to let me know how it goes.

Realism

This is so seventh grade:

We've been doing a unit on film in my 7th grade class, and we've spent the last few days doing a problem-solving activity on film piracy. Today the kids were working on their presentations, in which they're supposed to explain the best solution they came up with, and how it would work.

So I'm walking by a group, and I hear the kids discussing the death penalty. One of the kids who most challenges my patience had some insight to share. Watch the 7th grade logic here, folks.

Me: Um, so what does the death penalty have to do with piracy?
Him: If you do piracy, you should get the death penalty.
Me: Remember, the first thing you have to check is if your solution is realistic.
Him: Yeah, it is. It would stop piracy.
Me: Okay. The death penalty is not realistic.
Him: Why not?
Me: Because, in the US crimes like piracy are not punished by the death penalty. Something like that does not warrant the death penalty, if any crime does.
Him: Yeah, but in Asia they kill you for smoking.
Me: They kill you for smoking?
Him: Yeah, you can get the death penalty.
Me: (While giving teacher look) Do you live in Asia?
Him: No...
Me: Okay, then you cannot use the death penalty.

Sometimes, as a teacher, you must revert to 7th grade logic to be heard. :)

Time is a strange these last few weeks in California. As far as school goes, it can't go fast enough. Our seventh grade boys have this genetic predisposition to constantly touch one another. It might be shoving, pushing, tapping, slapping, bumping, or any other verb that involves one person touching another. It seems like something small, but it's been really irritating. I am looking forward to the all school skating party the last day though.

Time is also moving slowly when it comes to the job hunt. I am trying desperately to be patient. It's actually been going quite well the last few weeks with a great interview and a few more possibilities opening up. Nothing definite yet, but some options. It's just hard to wait.

And time is moving very quickly when it comes to spending time with friends. I can't believe I'm leaving all these amazing people in less than a month. I will definitely be back to visit soon.

Leaving California will be hard, but lately I've been getting excited about the big move. Lots of changes have been going on around my house, which I've only seen through pictures.

One of the big changes is that my parents moved the piano I practiced on for years up to my house. I'm still amazed that they're giving it to me, and I'm so excited to be able to play it again. The viola is fun, but playing songs like "Go Tell Aunt Rhodie" isn't as exciting as playing more complicated songs on the piano.

I've also been checking out the cats that are available from the humane society. Tonight I found a pair of Persians named Laverne and Shirley who are already "fixed" and declawed. This is a picture of Laverne. Ever since I saw Amanda's Persian cat shaved like a lion, I've been intrigued by them. I just read though that they have a tendency to want to skip the litter box...maybe not exactly what I'm looking for.

I'm also reconsidering cat names. I've had a short list for a while: Mr. Kittyhead, Gladys, and then an old professor's name: Kathi Bailey. But, I'm open to new possibilities. I also haven't decided if I'll get 1 cat or 2. It looks like I likely won't be having a job where I travel, so maybe my cat won't need another cat to be entertained. 2 cats also may be inching toward crazy cat lady a little sooner than I'd like.

I

am

so

done

with

school.

Rory is coming to Iowa!

Last night was the very last episode of the Gilmore Girls. Sad, sad, sad....

Comparisons

During college I took an expository writing class, and a big part of the class was commenting on the writing of others. One day a classmate was writing about life on a farm, describing the "sweet smell of silage." I raised my hand to protest the collocation of the words "sweet" and "silage." The comparison just didn't work for me.

This week I found a comparison that is much more offensive. I got a copy of Anne Lamott's Grace (Eventually) from the library, and I've been voraciously reading it, hoping to find some of the wit and gravity that I felt while reading Traveling Mercies. Sadly, it has none. And the bit I read two nights ago was just horrible. Just one particular phrase really.

She describes a cab ride from SFO to her home in Marin. I was hopeful about the section because I actually know the sections of San Francisco she's describing. Her cabbie tells her he's taking a "short cut" and she starts to freak out. He eventually gets very lost in a dark part of town, and Anne thinks she's about to be murdered or something worse, and actually contemplates jumping from the moving vehicle.

She asks him for his cell phone (she didn't have hers), and decides that if he gives it to her, she won't have to jump out of the vehicle. If he doesn't, she will have to jump out of the car. Then, this phrase: "But I just sat tight; so tight; tight as a sphincter."

That may be unforgivable. It's right up there with one of my kids comparing Martin Luther King, Jr. with a low-profile, non-violent sinner Jesus.

Today I spent somewhere between 7 and 8 hours in a van with 1 other adult and a bunch of middle school girls. For the most part the girls were a lot of fun. At one point during the early morning drive the girls began to sing the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" song, which the other teacher and I also knew by heart.

The first probably 2/3 of the day was great, including the real reason we were there--a fine arts festival.

By the last hour or two of the van ride home I wanted to sew my ears closed to stop the screeching and singing. I've complained about the guy in the gym who sings to his iPod, but 2 or 3 middle school girls singing different songs with their headphones on, while intermittently screaming and having their phones ring and yelling about boys is definitely worse.

Oh, and the only car game known to middle school girls? Guess. If you're a girl, you know. Truth or Dare. Which isn't really a game at all, as all the ladies know. But whoever invented it should be awarded a medal for legitimizing gossip and asking inappropriate questions.

Overheard

Today's lunch conversation between two seventh grade girls:

Student A: Oh my gosh, I love Abercrombie!

Student B: Yeah, it's awesome! Way better than Hollister.

Student A: Yeah, I don't like Hollister. Everything's the same...it's just the same clothes in different colors.

Student B: Yeah, Abercrombie is way better.

Nothing of Import, mostly random

Things I have to say tonight:

1. I would like to find Over the Rhine ringtones, but as of yet I have been unsuccessful.
2. I saw a car this week in the parking lot outside my apartment with a "University of Okoboji" sticker on it. I almost ran into another car, trying to see who might have that sticker. I couldn't tell, but the person was just a regular Californian with CA plates and everything. Weird.
3. I have been having the most bizarre dreams lately. First there was one about a college friend turned mobster/assassin who beat up a friend from grade school, and then a dream about hiking a snowy, icy mountain on the border between Mexico and the US. And I hate hiking. I prefer walking around, looking at things like plants and insects.
4. My kids have all been into this book "Prep" lately, so I've been reading it. It's sort of like the Sweet Valley Twins meet the Gilmore Girls at a prep school.
5. I have become a Wii Sports addict. I particularly like the tennis, although boxing can be a lot of fun too. I don't think I can get into the golf. I think the Wii appeals to me because there are some girly aspects--making your Mii (your character who plays for you), picking the outfit color, changing the face shape, accessorizing, etc. So you get that, and you get the satisfaction of beating someone in boxing.
6. I'm going to the beach with friends for a weekend before I leave. I am so excited about the trip!
7. There is a man in the workout room who wears headphones while working out, and sings. Out loud. Loudly. And off key. It's made me wonder about how your instincts know something is beyond normal and pushing into creepy. He creeps me out. It may also be the profuse sweating combined with the singing...I'm not sure. At least he doesn't want to watch sports.
   

Stalkerville

When I first moved to California, nearly five years ago now, one of the first things on my "to-do" list was to stalk Anne Lamott. More specifically, I wanted to find her at her church.

Being a devout Traveling Mercies devotee at the time, I knew that she went to St. Andrews in Marin. I'd seen her speak once, at a Festival of Faith and Writing, and so was sure I could spot her in a crowd. If not her, then her red-headed son, Sam, would be easy to find in a crowd of church-goers. Beyond that, I didn't really have a plan for what I would do when I actually saw her, but the idea of seeing her in a place she'd written so much about was fascinating.

I'm getting ready to leave California now, and listening to her speak yesterday on City Arts and Lectures, I realized that I'd nearly forgotten about stalking her. In fact, since her book Plan B, I've actively been ignoring her. I was so irritated by her whiny anger that I just didn't want to hear any more of it. I don't like the Bush administration much more than she does, but I just don't think crying about it is worth it.

Hearing her speak yesterday sort of changed that for me. She admitted she'd been whiny, and I really liked how she addressed her liberal San Francisco audience. She invited them to her church, but not just as a nonchalant suggestion. She promised they'd be welcomed, loved, and not harrassed. I thought that was touching, and although not an invitation to stalk her, at least a welcome to visit her at her church.

I don't know that I'll actually go, but hearing her read from her newest book, Grace(Eventually), brought me back to probably being a fan. She read a provocative part of it, about helping a friend with cancer die with dignity. I'm not taking a side here, but it brought her writing back around to the heartfelt, sincerely honest place I appreciated at the beginning.

Though I may not see Lamott before I leave, I will be moving to the same state as Kathleen Norris, whose book Dakota supplanted Traveling Mercies in the book pile on my nightstand. Maybe I will trek across and visit her at the little Presbyterian church in her town.

Are people just stupid?

Here is my conclusion after watching an Oprah show today on scammers: People are stupid. The Nigerian scammers have it so easy, preying on these idiots. Who gets a letter in the mail and sends thousands of dollars off to a stranger? Or gets engaged online and sends off thousands of dollars? What is wrong with these people?

Today's Stuff on My Cat entries are outstanding, particularly the first few.

I love spring break!

Spring break is a very good thing. I know, I can hear everyone...yeah, yeah, it must be nice to have 3 months off and all these breaks. Frankly, yes, it is good. I'm not sure teachers could do their jobs without the breaks.

That being said, I am so ready to give them up for a new job. One of the things I've been doing is internet job searching over the break. I've applied for one job I'm really interested in, so we'll see what comes of that. I'm pretty excited about it, but I'm not quite ready to talk about it on the blog yet. If you're interested, e-mail and I'll tell you about it.

I've also been listening to a lot of radio and reading. This morning I caught an episode of This American Life about dream jobs...very interesting. I also finished reading The Tortilla Curtain, and I'm in the middle of In Cold Blood. I've also discovered that Anne Lamott has another book out, though I'm a little leery. Her last book, Plan B, really disappointed me. Has anyone read her newest one, Grace (Eventually)?

Tonight I'm going to Monterey to see my friend Mary, a long awaited catch up session. We met each other working at desks next to each other as work study minions at the Monterey Institute, and we've kept in touch since.

My plans for this week also included some household purging, but we'll see if I get there. Just taking it easy has been awfully good, I'm not sure I want to spoil it with too much work.

More Baby Photos!

Yes, I am biased, but these are some of the cutest babies ever.

The trip home was generally uneventful, though Noah did find this seatbelt extender, and as a generally resourceful man, he fashioned Talan a belt. It reminds me of one of those handyman type belts that should have tools and things attached. The flight attendant, surprisingly, was not pleased.

We also found out that Talan loves the water, which pleases Noah greatly. Noah took him in the hot tub, which was really a luke warm tub, and Talan learned how to splash water.

This is me, Blaine, and Tracy, my uncle and aunt's sheltie. Blaine has that about to cry look on his face not because I'm holding him, but because he really detests being held. Ever. He's a kid who loves to run. In the airport he ran down at least 6 people movers. In our hotel he did at least 2 laps of the building before bed. I can see the teachers grimacing already.




He is also fearless, as you can see. He had no problem at all sticking his hands right in Tracy's mouth.

Loving on the Babies!

Happy Easter from me and Talan! The picture is blurry--sorry about that! We had a great time getting reacquainted at the airport though. And that's Blaine on the right, wearing capri pajama pants. I love it!

All the family has been good, but a little...well, exhausting. Ya'll know how it is. It's a great thing to see them, but it's also good to have my own hotel room. And with free wireless, it's awesome.

Today was a gigantic family party, probably 50 people or so. Some of them I haven't seen for 5 or 6 years, so it took a while to feel like I knew who they were again. It was at my mom's cousin's house, built in 1823. Much food was consumed, and much sitting around commenced. Afterwards more sitting and eating at my grandparents' house. Oh, and much shouting. I don't know if it's just my family, but they're terrible at listening at each other. They're also not so good at the logistics of sitting near the person you're speaking to, so the whole affair was quite loud and confusing. The babies did great though, and Blaine held a baby duck. It was actually less holding than squeezing until his mommy made him put it down before he killed it. That was fun.

Tomorrow is church and more baby watching. Have a blessed Easter, and for those of you having Easter in SJC, have a mimosa for me!

Random Bits

I get to see the babies this weekend! I'm posting this picture in the hopes that the rest of ya'll think it's as funny as I do. Somehow people think that it's not okay to laugh at babies, but I think the faux nose picking is hilarious.

The trip to PA will be the first all family trip with both babies in tow. I can't wait to see them, but I'm also glad to be traveling alone and having my own hotel room. I think it's one of the joys of being an aunt. It's almost like catch and release when you're fishing. You get the fun parts, but you always give them back in the end. Not that I really fish all that much...

People are asking about the job search, and what I would like to do when I move. Um, I'll get back to you on that. A wise friend gave some great advice, but I'm still mostly just waiting for a great job to walk up and introduce itself.

My jello birthday party was great. I made jello surprises (have I said this already?). I put them in muffin cups, and each one held different "fun" ingredients. Some people got different types of fruits, some had carrots or cucumbers, and some had all of the above. Hence the name "jello surprise." Needless to say, there were a few surprises left at the end of the night. The bigger hit was the ham buns I made, with the help of the Christian school cookbook. I know, I know, how hard can a ham bun be? Well, if you're only half Dutch, it's harder than you think. And if your completely Irish mother never made ham buns, it's quite an accomplishment.

And, a random kid story. I posted a few quotes from research papers a ways back, but the star of the bunch came at the end of the research paper pile. One of the kids described Martin Luther King, Jr. as a "non-violent, low-profile, sinner Jesus." If you say it fast, it sounds like "synerjesus," some new mega-church term for synergizing with Jesus. Another favorite from that paper was that MLK tag-teamed with Rosa Parks to put the icing on the cake. Rock on.

Jen and Brian and I took a trip to Napa this weekend, my Christmas present from them. As you can see from the picture, it was a gorgeous, sunny day. We started off with a picnic lunch, took a winetasting class at Copia, and then did tastings at 4 different wineries. The day ended with dinner in Sausalito, at a restaurant Jen thought she had visited before for brunch. It turned out she'd never been there, but it was outstanding anyway. It was a perfect day.

gems

I've been reading research papers all week, and here are some gems:

One of Steven Spielberg's most touching movies was called "Chandler's List."

The Beatles started to gain more fame and stage presents.

Jackie Robinson started to work for a company called Chock Full O' Nuts (only she had forgotten the "h" in "chock" and written it in above)

I'm sure by the end of the week there will be a few more. :)

nightmare

I had a dream last night that I was applying for a job as a pharmaceutical rep., and during my interview in the airport (?), I realized that my resume was unfinished. Actually, it was worse than unfinished...there was rambling and cursing about the interviewer at the bottom of my resume, and some jibberish about how I never wanted to work for corporate America. I tried to laugh it off, but at the end of the interview the interviewer just sighed, walked away, and took my suitcase with her.

Although I am an unashamed TV junkie, Saturdays for me almost always include This American Life, The Splendid Table, and if there is a lot of cleaning to do, Speaking of Faith. Since I was in the O.C. last weekend I listened to last weekend's This American Life episode on television.

Television has been a topic of conversation lately among my friends, and whether you love or hate television, this show had a lot to say. I have to say I never thought that I would hear David Rakoff discuss shows like My Super Sweet Sixteen and The Real Housewives of Orange County, but it was good. There's also a good Sarah Vowell article included in the episode, where she gives a nod to the Simpsons' Thanksgiving episode. Check it out.

the creation

Today was my birthday, and overall a very good day. I didn't have my usual middle school meeting this morning, so I slept in. My kids gave me a great gift, and a beautiful lily plant. Eventually I started being allergic to the plant so it had to go, but the thought was nice.

Right now I'm in the middle of creating a jello dish for my party tomorrow night. That's right, jello. John had the fabulous idea to have a jello potluck, and I'm having a great time being creative with it. My plan is that I'm making 2 different kinds of jello, molding it in muffin tins, and adding "surprise" things inside. Each one will be different. And, the best part is that I'll add cool whip to keep the ingredients secret, just like the lady at the church potluck. I'm thinking about adding meat to one as a prize--like whoever gets that one is the big winner...I'm not sure if I'll go through with it.

Anyway, that's 28--jello. hoorah!

Chuck Norris on Grammar

My kids have been doing group presentations this week on some aspect of subject/verb agreement. For the most part they have been pretty nondescript. Yesterday though was an exception. One group managed to skillfully integrate Chuck Norris into their presentation.

One of the requirements of the project was to include a visual aid, and this group chose to make a video. It was outstanding. They set up a scenario where an author (Mr. Lasagna) was bringing in a book to a publisher. When he walks up he says "I wrote a book," and for no reason that I can figure out he starts dancing to this Romanian dance song...a really good song actually. Then, he pitches the book. The "publishers" look at it and tell him that if there are any grammar errors, they won't publish it. Otherwise, they will. They read a section about the hero beating up Chuck Norris, including some sweet fight moves. Unfortunately, the subjects and verbs don't agree, and so it's rejected.

The "author" takes it back, rewrites the book (1000 pages in about 1 minute), and the "publishers" reread it. Miraculously the grammar errors are changed,and they will now publish the book. There is more dancing. I'm not sure if this comes across as funny in a blog, but it was Hilarious in class.

Oui!

This weekend I'm in Irvine, visiting Jas and Amanda. Actually, I'm posting right now from their living room. The first thing I have to say is this: I adore their Wii. Actually, I adore them more. The Wii is awesome though, and tennis is my game. I created a sweet Mii (a Nintendo version of myself), and she's got skills at tennis--500 some skill points, or whatever they're called.

Events galore have been the agenda this weekend. Yesterday we saw the Eifman Ballet's production of "The Seagull." It was stunning. I've seen a few ballets in the past few years, but this one was outstanding.

Then last night we saw Jason's show "Sunday in the Park with George." It wasn't specifically all Jason's, but it was his last show here. We celebrated by playing more Wii.

Amanda just asked me to include that we went to a fabulous paper store and she got kick-ass file folders that look like Paris. They're pretty sweet and Kitty loves them. (His real name is Cheeto, but I like Kitty better).

Today is shoe shopping at Cole Haan (whoo-hoo!!!), and then birthday martinis at Gulf Stream. I love shoes. And birthdays. And Manda and Jason. And Wii. But not in that order.

Happy Birthday, Donna!

Today

I've been trying to figure out what to say about today, but Billy Collins, former poet laureate of the US, has done it for me with his poem "Today."

If ever there were a spring day so perfect,
so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze

that it made you want to throw
open all the windows in the house

and unlatch the door to the canary's cage,
indeed, rip the little door from its jamb,

a day when the cool brick paths
and the garden bursting with peonies

seemed so etched in sunlight
that you felt like taking

a hammer to the glass paperweight
on the living room end table,

releasing the inhabitants
from their snow-covered cottage

so they could walk out,
holding hands and squinting

into this larger dome of blue and white,
well, today is just that kind of day.

void

This may be a boring post, but that's the good thing about a blog-you don't have to read it. Or, you can read it and then tell your friends how boring it was. Or just think that to yourself, or maybe say it out loud. You choose.

The past few weeks have been weird. I've been thinking a lot about leaving, and that's been difficult, especially since it's totally my choice. I've also been awful at school. I just dread going, and even thinking about tomorrow morning makes me count the hours before I have to go there again. So much patience required right now...waiting for the school year to be over, and now waiting to know if my nephew has Down's Syndrome. It just seems like parents as young as my brother and sister-in-law shouldn't have to deal with something like that.

I've also been thinking a lot about future jobs. I've sort of been going into the move with the attitude that I likely won't get a job I love, so one that is okay will have to do. In fact, that's sort of how everything has felt lately. A totally selfish attitude, particularly when things like a new job are brought about by my decisions, but hey. What is a blog if not self-absorbed?

So I came home one day this week to find an envelope from my college. They're changing how they counsel people about career searching, so they're getting rid of all the paper files, including the mounds of paper required for education majors. So I got mine, and reading it was a mistake in the midst of future uncertainty. I'm not sure how much professors exaggerate when they write letters of recommendation, but it was totally depressing to read about how high their expectations of me were. Inadequate is too small a word for how I feel about the actual accomplishments compared to the predictions.

Some ass in the workout room today added to feeling like I've accomplished nothing. In the gym at my apartment there are two TVs. I had one on MTV, and this kind of young-ish, lawyer-looking guy asked me if I was watching it. I said yes, and told him he could turn on the other one if he wanted, it wouldn't bother me. He said "Oh, I think it might distract you." I thought that was kind of weird, but I let it go.

So he turned on CSPAN. People really watch CSPAN? And he wasn't even old, crotchety, or anything...so whatever. There was an author talking about his book on the current administration. I flipped my attention back and forth between CSPAN and True Life: I'm in a Biracial Relationship. The guy interrupted me a few more times, to ask when the workout room opens (I have no idea, I just started working out this week), and something about how the bike works (again, no idea). Then, at the end, as he walked out he said "So, was CSPAN better than you thought it would be?" What an ass. I wanted to say "I can watch CSPAN too, bitch." I didn't. But maybe I should have. And he was totally watching MTV too. Jerk.

So there. A boring post? Perhaps. You didn't have to read it. But now you did and you can go tell your friends how boring it was. Don't forget to mention the CSPAN guy, and how I'm totally smart enough to watch CSPAN, I just don't choose to sometimes.

More on MSP

The trip to Minneapolis was great. You can see that Angela is pregnant if you check out her blog. It was fun to see that. And their cat was weird. It loved me, but it insisted on licking my fingers and eventually chewing on my fingernails. Some sort of strange grooming thing I suppose.

We did many fun activities. Friday night we rented The Black Dahlia, a slightly confusing movie. I kept waiting for the ScoobyDoo moment when it was all explained. Saturday we went to Ikea* for fun, and I tried to convince Angela that the new baby should have a stuffed rat. Saturday night was baked potato pizza at Pizza Luce, and Sunday we had dinner with a bunch of Dordt people. Sunday night we went to a lecture by Nicholas Wolterstorff on the love of God and the desire for learning. It was really good. People did ask asinine questions, but I guess that's to be expected in a public forum. Also to be expected at a Midwestern church function? Yummy bars.

The picture is from the new Guthrie Theater. We're standing outside the endless bridge, which Ryan insisted was a skyway during the icy walk to the theater.

Oh, and yes, CA people, it was cold. You may not be able to tell it from the picture, but it was fuh-reezing. And windy. One lesson learned--cats are good for warmth, if you can get them to quit licking your hands.

*Ryan may not have initially thought Ikea was among the fun activities, but he was a great sport. And we have similar shopping habits, so that's a good thing.

MSP

I keep wanting to post about my trip to Minneapolis, but I don't have the time. One highlight--learning new vocabulary. My favorites:

baby wearing
kangaroo care

Both real things, I promise.

After a last minute decision Wed. night, I'm writing to ya'll from the heartland, more specifically Ang and Ryan's guest bedroom. Coming home to old friends is amazing. Ang and Ryan are great, their house is beautiful, and their cat adores me. He literally licked my fingers at least 5 or 6 times today. And sprawled out on my lap while we watched The Black Dahlia. I liked the style, but found it very hard to follow. I really wanted a Scooby Doo moment at the end where everything was explained, preferably with flashbacks.

I shall have to capture a photo of the cat tomorrow, and pregnant Ang--they're both adorable!

Decades Day

Today was decades day at school. As a 7th grade homeroom teacher, I was assigned the 1970's. I think I did pretty well with it. The shopping was a lot of fun, especially since it was half price night at Goodwill.

I love the glasses, and I attempted the wing-like Farrah Fawcett hair. It didn't totally work, but the outfit was killer. The orange top is sort of a caftan, over these homemade green printed pants. I thought it would just be a dress up outfit, but I do really like it and may just wear it out.

I'm pretty sure that at some point in college, maybe in an expository writing class, I was asked to read Into the Wild, by Jon Krakauer. The proof of this is that the book is on the shelf in my living room as I write, though I'm not sure I ever cracked the cover. In fact, I have no idea what it's about, which makes me sure I've never opened it. Oops.

As a teacher I'm annoyed at myself, as a student I know that reading a book just because you're assigned to doesn't always work. My book reading strategy as an adult is that if it doesn't catch me in the first few pages, I don't continue reading. Actually, I don't even take it home from the library if I'm not interested in the first few pages. There are too many good books to read to waste time slogging through something I'm not interested in. Not to say all the good books are easy, as Anna Karenina can attest to, but sometimes I just have to pick up a book when I'm ready to read it. My library list would show that sometimes I check out a book 2-3 times before I actually read it.

So though I've left the first Jon Krakauer book on the shelf for probably 6 or 7 years now, a few others of his have kept me up reading late into the night. First I read Under the Banner of Heaven with a friend's book group. I think I've written about it before on the blog, probably mentioning how closely the actual story resembles a South Park episode.

Lately though I've been drawn in by Into Thin Air. Blame it on the Discovery Channel, but I've been on an Everest kick lately. It started with Everest: Beyond the Limit, accidentally taped by my oft befuddled TiVo. I was hooked after the climbers on the episode hiked past a dying man, leaving him to expire in the snow. I started reading more about Everest and the debates about ethics on Everest, which led me to Krakauer's book.

In 1996, Krakauer and a few other teams tried to summit Everest and ended up losing almost half of the people who started the climb. The story itself is fascinating and baffling, and I can't even begin to comprehend what would make someone want to climb Everest with the possibility of death being so close. What I like about Krakauer's book, and him as a nonfiction writer, is that he balances so well the need to keep the story moving, and the way he explains background and creates characters. Often in nonfiction I get annoyed because the writer so clunkily rambles on about one or the other, story or narration, but rarely intertwines them in a way that keeps my attention. I think Krakauer strikes a good balance. He keeps my interest with the story, but I also feel like I got to know some of the characters and moral debates he describes.

I actually have liked his books so well I'm thinking of fishing Into the Wild off the shelf for my last minute trip to Minneapolis this weekend. And maybe writing my thoughts about his other books will be penance enough for never having actually read it in college.

Speaking of libraries and reading...

I think Silicon Valley Reads is an amazing idea. Basically, a book is chosen and everyone in the Silicon Valley is encouraged to read it at the same time. The local libraries order tons of copies, and then there are all kinds of live events like book discussions and interviews with the authors. I read last year's pick, When the Emperor Was Divine, but I didn't make it to any of the events. This year's book, The Tortilla Curtain, is on my request list at the library, so hopefully I'll get my hands on it soon.

Though not quite as traumatic as last year's library field trip, this year's library field trip was equally interesting. This year we encountered a cop, having just arrested two teens for getting "too friendly" in the teen center, a couple with a baby on the light rail who appeared to be high and didn't appreciate our kids gawking, and a girl who kept trying to tell me that Leonardo di Caprio was a famous artist and painted things like the Sistine Chapel. Good times.

Superbowl

Despite knowing nothing about football and caring very little about the sport, I did watch the Super Bowl on Sunday. It was a social event. When I called my brother for his birthday Sunday around noon I asked him who was playing, so I didn't arrive at the event totally unknowledgeable.

Here's what the actual game looked like for me: friends and wine kick off blah blah blah glass of wine blah blah blah blah what's a field goal? blah blah blah more wine blah blah blah blah prince has a name again blah blah blah roughing the kicker blah blah more wine blah blah gatorade blah blah trophy blah blah drive home

It was a pretty rad afternoon. And the good thing about the Super Bowl is that no one cares if you talk through it.

jesus trumps all

A friend who teaches second grade told me that her kids have invented a new version of paper, rock, scissors. It's paper, rock, scissors, Jesus. And Jesus beats paper, rock, and scissors.

Still coping....(tear)

Check out this article about Dave and the fire. Though the fire was a tragedy, the article and the video after it are super-cheesy.

There are too many good lines in the article to really pick a favorite, but this is a good one:

"During the winter break, his friends gave him a lot of kitchen supplies in a special way, Schaap said.

“They put on a ‘fire shower’ for me, which was really nice — but there weren’t any games or anything,” he said.

But the creativity didn’t stop there — Schaap even started a wedding registry at Target to list items he needed."

Did you catch that "special way"? :)

How Long Would You Fester?

I think I've been watching too much Six Feet Under lately because I've been thinking about the possible ways I could die. Not really in a morbid, sad sort of way, but more in a practical preventative way. Like if I know about the ways (electrocution, choking, etc.), I might be able to prevent it.

This week I watched an episode where a woman, Emily Previn, chokes and dies alone in her home. She lays there, decaying while covered in ants and other small creatures, for nearly a week before someone finds her. She has no family, no friends, and no one who notices she's gone.

I was discussing with friends last night how long it would take to be found. I'm fairly confident I would be found in 2-3 days, hopefully before the skin starts to just slide off my body. I think that my school would sound the alarm, and my friends would jump in and check it out. But, you have to wonder, how long would you fester before someone would check it out?

"And so, like, well, I left civil engineering for ministry. If you don't know what civil engineering is, don't worry about it. It's boring. So yeah, like, um, I like wanted to get into ministry, full time ministry."

After an already painful display of public speaking (in)ability, our chapel speaker uttered these words, or something very similar, perhaps with more utterances of the word "like." Graciousness in these situations is not my forte, but I was really trying not to nitpick every word or theological difference we had. I couldn't let this go though.

This happened on the same day I first saw that my school was accepting resumes for my job. I had and still have been thinking a lot in the past few weeks about why it feels almost shameful to admit that I'm quitting teaching.

Somehow, teaching seems to give you sort of a badge of character. To say you're a teacher, and to be viewed as one by other people, seems to comment on your moral fiber, for better or worse. And quitting teaching...well, then, you must be backsliding or losing your faith or your nurturing qualities or something.

And now this guy in chapel, this guy who couldn't speak in complete sentences or utter a phrase without repeating like after every word, was telling all of our children that civil engineering should be poo-pooed for "ministry," whatever that means. It pissed me off, for myself and the kids. As I thought about what to do after teaching, I certainly didn't need someone else telling me that I could never do something as important as molding lives, and our kids certainly didn't need anyone telling them the math, English, and science they were studying should be abandoned for ministry.

I just needed to get that ranting off my chest. And in case people are wondering, I have absolutely no idea what I'll do after teaching. Probably rob a bank.

Check it out

I think Ruth's told me about it before, but I just rediscover Lark News, "A good source for Christian news." You have to check out their t-shirts--my favorite is "I want to be a pastor's wife." My 2nd favorite, and probably favorite for middle-school teachers is "Jesus loves you. Then again, he loves everybody."

It works!

Did you know you can call your credit card company and just ask for a lower interest rate? I saw it on Oprah, and thought it would be a big hassle. I tried it though, and in less than a minute Scott was offering me a much lower rate. That's awesome.

Today was Cadet Sunday at church, and therefore time for the annual singing of Living for Jesus. At least it's only once a year.

During the children's sermon today the pastor was using two different cups, one plastic and one handmade out of clay, to illustrate how they bear the mark of their maker. He held up the plastic one and said that it probably wasn't made by hand, but on a machine. Then he held up the ceramic and asked the kids who they thought had made it. Of course many of you who have grown up in Sunday School know what they said...the pastor's kid raised his hand and said "God!" The pastor's response was funny...he said "Well, yes, in a roundabout way."

I'm afraid that every weekend from now until I move I'll think about having to leave my friends. shit.

Giving Notice

This week I told everyone at school that I'm leaving. Boy, did that suck. At the other schools I've left people sort of said stuff like "Wow, we'll miss you. Good luck in whatever you do next!" Or something like that...

At this school, it was different. I'm not sure if that's a sign they really like me, or not. My superintendant was concerned that they had done something to make me leave. A colleague sighed and said "Oh...I thought we made such a good team."

Leaving really has nothing to do with them, but they made me feel guilty. I've never felt like that leaving any other job. Hopefully it's not a sign of things to come.

The Habitation

Here's where ya'll can come and visit me in Sioux Falls--my new home!

The News

It's official. I suppose it has always been official, but until today I've been trying to keep it quiet. Okay...the news is...I'm pregnant.

Just kidding. Though that would have been an interesting message to deliver to my school today, the one that I really told them is that I'm moving to Sioux Falls.

Wow, it's weird to write that. I've been keeping it quiet (quietish?) until now so that my school wouldn't find out through the grapevine, but now that they know, it's out. And I definitely have mixed feelings. I'll miss the Bay Area greatly, along with my friends and my church. But, being close to my family, owning a home, and finding a new job are also exciting.

So yeah. I'm pregnant and I'm moving to Sioux Falls.

My Newest Obsession

I just started watching, and loving, 6 Feet Under. I absolutely love it. And as I watch, I can't stop wondering how the idea of a family in a funeral home came up.

This weekend was great. Amanda was here, and we spent Saturday in San Francisco. The pictures were taken from our hotel room. Miraculously, it was sunny the whole time we were there.

It was great...we took the cable cars, saw the houses from the beginning of Full House (love it), and shopped. Good times.

Too Much Information

I often use the kids and their lives in our sentence examples during grammar class, just to keep it lively and keep them interested. So today I asked for a volunteer. A kid raised his hand, and I asked him to tell us something we didn't know about him, so that I could make a sentence with it.

He looked around for a while, thought, and then said "Um, I wear boxers."

Definitely more than I needed to know.

Funny Kid Moment

Today we were reading "The Call of the Wild" again, and I was trying to help the kids figure out new vocabulary. We came to the word "demonstrative," and I asked the kids to identify the rood word. I thought they would come up with "demonstrate." Not so. A kid raised his hand, and confidently said "Demon!"

Weird!

I was at the grocery store, and I saw a little girl pushing a baby carriage...with a rabbit in it. A real, live rabbit...in the grocery store. I think I actually stopped to stare. I was so surprised I found myself wondering if the rabbit was a service animal. I'm guessing not in a pink and purple baby carriage.

Normal

Things seem to be getting back to normal after the holidays. After a few hours of lugging things up and down from my apartment to storage and back, all of the Christmas decorations have been put away.

Hating the beginning of anything new, it feels good to me to get back to old routines. It was nice to be back at my own church, clean my house, practice viola, and do the boring weekend routines like laundry. Even school is feeling comfortable again, like I know what to do there.

The kids made me laugh this week. The 8th grade is reading "The Call of the Wild." It's interesting to read together, because at points throughout the year, when we're talking about books, I've told the kids how much I hate animal stories. So, when we started this one, they wondered why I liked it, even though it was about dogs. I told them I liked it because most animal stories go like this: an animal endears itself to people, something happens, the animal saves the humans, the animal dies and everyone is sad. The Call of the Wild is definitely NOT a Lassie story.

I was watching the O.C. this week, a guilty pleasure, and the Kaitlin character has to do a speech on the Call of the Wild. It's funny because she ends up saying stuff like "Buck's hair is really pretty" and stuff about how the dogs fighting and killing each other is a lot like being a teenager.

So I asked one of my 8th grade classes if they watch the O.C., and one of the kids said "Oh, you mean that show with no plot?"

Gotta love 'em.

Why Does Hitler Always Show Up?

7th graders have weird minds. Right now in my 7th grade language arts class we're studying drama. We read a play that's actually a Twilight Zone episode, and they're writing new endings which we're going to turn into iMovies.

Last year I let the kids pick a new theme for the ending...only they ended up not really having themes. When I asked what their theme was, they'd say "uh, it's funny." So this year I let them draw from some themes I made up, hoping to spur on more creativity. The groups that were happiest got "We make our own fears come true," and "We only know how to hurt each other." The other groups weren't as happy with "Sometimes we let our imaginations run away with us," and "We're always surprised at how well we can treat each other." I guess they thought the happy ones wouldn't be as much fun...

Today they're working on the scripts in class, and one group was STRUGGLING to come up with something that logically fit together. We started our new endings in the middle of the play we had read, with a dark, shadowy figure walking down the street, and the townspeople picking up a gun. So the group I'm talking to says "Yeah, the figure is an alien, he's shot by the people, and then Hitler comes up to them."

Uh, where did Hitler come from?

I'm realizing that what is logical to me, is definitely not logical to them. And I think logic is genre-specific, and dependent on how much you've read and watched. These kids thought it was totally logical that Hitler would walk into a small town and onto Maple Street. When I told them it wasn't, they just changed Hitler to a homeless man.

Another, more creative group, had their dark shadowy figure turn out to be an alien whose goal was to midgetize the whole planet. I just liked that they made up the word "midgetize." Although, after watching "Little People, Big World," I'm wondering if midgetizing is derogetory. Better than Hitler, I guess.

The Tact of Middle Schoolers

So some of my 8th graders were giggling today. I gave them a quizzical look, and one brave one said "Ms. D, you have a sunglasses tan."

True, true. Unfortunately I do have a line of demarcation at the top of my nose, and no freckles around my eyes. I also have freckles on only half of my forehead because of my bangs.

I noticed it happening too, but couldn't bear to be without my shades. Probably because my future's so bright. :)

Because of middle schoolers, all middle school teachers can be confident they will always instantly know about all flaws--physical, fashion, or otherwise. And we'll know any time we're wearing shoes exactly like those of one of our student's mothers. That really happened last year.

January is Saved!

Amanda is coming to visit. Whoo-hoo!!

January

Christmas vacation was awesome. Hawaii was beautiful, and I'm going through baby withdrawal. Maybe I do have that maternal instinct.

Oh, and I hate January. I love Christmas, and New Year's Eve, even if it means I'm just sitting around, but January is loathsome. I realized recently, while helping struggling readers picture what they're reading in their minds, that I have pictures in my mind for most words, not just stories.

When I think about "January," the picture that comes into my mind is harsh morning light after you've spent all morning cleaning. It's not the great you just got up and get to have a cup of coffee light. In my mind January is like someone pushing you out of your warm bed onto the floor an hour before you really have to get up.

A New Year?

I rang in the new year in the most boring way...doing nothing. After waiting at the baggage carousel for over an hour, I got home from the airport late and spent the minutes between then and midnight opening mail that had accumulated while I've been gone. No alcohol, no noisemakers, no fireworks. Magazines, Christmas cards, and bills instead.

I think long breaks are supposed to leave you refreshed, ready to go back to work. This is not so for me. It's left me with a sense that tomorrow will be only a continuation of the monotonous.

Cuddling with Blaine

Blaine doesn't cuddle often, but once he was in his jammies, he was ready to cuddle with me.

I found out that cuddling with him can be quite violent--he nearly ripped a hunk of hair out.

Finally, he calmed down and I got a kiss from my nephew.

Oahu's North Shore

Rainy Day

Here's what I did yesterday while it was raining on Oahu: took pictures of rainbows, and loved on my nephew. We also went to the North Shore to see the surf, and I'll post pictures later as the internet connection is freaking out. Tomorrow I go home...sad!

Christmas on Oahu

Merry Christmas, everyone! Hawaii is...well, awesome. It's not unusual for me to be away from home on Christmas day, but today was an unorthodox Christmas day for even me.

While most spent Christmas morning opening gifts near the Christmas tree, I spent mine waiting for antibiotics in a Long's drug store, after failing to will away whatever's been making me sick. Then, a few hours on the beach and in the ocean, followed by dinner at Planet Hollywood and then a funnel cake. Top it off with watching some Mythbusters in a hotel room, and that's Christmas.

I even got a gift--the hotel gave me the ornament in the picture. Whoo-hoo!

Aloha from Hawaii!

Baby on the Beach

This trip to Hawaii will be the first time I'll get to hang out with my nephew Blaine on the beach. Every time I think about him hanging out at the beach, I'm reminded of something Anne Lamott wrote. She was writing something about being on the beach near San Quentin, and her description of two babies in the sand was outstanding--she said they were lurching around like 20-pound drug addicts, rolling in the sand until they looked like little breaded veal cutlets.

The description is perfect for Blaine. I've been calling him my little crack baby ever since he was born since he's constantly shaking and waving his hands around like he needs a fix.

The other fun thing about the trip is that Blaine will be wearing this. Hilarious. Back to laundry and packing.

Yesterday I felt horrible with the flu. I didn't want to miss the ballet though, so I still went to the Nutcracker and today I feel all better. It's a Christmas miracle!

Festivities

I was home this weekend for the first Christmas with the babies. It was crazy. Having 2 new babies in a family is sort of like having students in my classroom with ADD. No one can pay attention to any 1 thing for any length of time. And the toys...I have made it my mission as an aunt to buy the noisest toys possible, along with any types of embarassing outfits.

This Christmas however, I knitted for the babies. I forgot to take pictures when I was finished, but there were blankets for both babies. I also got to hang out with Dave which was a lot of fun, especially registering at Target. Oh, and Inca! I hadn't eaten at Inca for a very long time, and it was well overdue.

Now I'm back in CA, getting ready to go to Hawaii. Actually, today I'm still trying to get over the flu I got this week on my way back from IA. Then this weekend it's off to the islands. It seems like everyone is going there this Christmas, maybe I'll see some of ya'll.

Now it's off to the fabulous library to stock up on books. And just maybe I'll finish Anna Karenina.

No snow???

First, a seventh grade moment of brilliance. Some boys decided it would be a good idea to steal matches from the school office, burn another student's sweatshirt, and then lie about it to the principal in front of the 43 other seventh-graders, of whom probably 90% actually saw it happen. Boys and their fires...

So I'm home, navigating the family holiday maze, and I'm thoroughly disappointed that there is no snow. There is a weak promise of snow today, but I'm not counting on it. I'll blame global warming, and the poor judgement of 7th graders.

Civic Duty Complete!

So only about an hour after my post about civic duty, I was called in to jury duty. I was excited about it in the same way I get excited about voting--such an interesting process. It was a lot of waiting, during which I met a dental hygienist student who said she tried to get off jury duty by saying she doesn't believe in judging people. weak.

She didn't get to go. So after the waiting we went into the court room and the judge was great. She took the time to explain things, even the history, and according to her, privelege of doing jury duty. She said that up until the late 70s women weren't guaranteed the right to serve on a jury.

Somehow my number was called in the first group to be questioned. I got dismissed ono a hardship, since I have a trip planned starting this weekend. Though I was happy not to have to miss the trip, I was a little disappointed to leave the process so early. I think the strangest thing about it though was that when asked about a hardship I had to explain myself in a microphone, to the judge, in front of 60 strangers.

My Civic Duty

This is the first time in my 9 years of being a legally-registered voter that I have been assigned jury duty. I'm more than happy to do my civic duty, but I have to say that being a teacher on jury duty sucks. Each night I can check directions for the next day, but not until after 5pm. That means that before I leave school I have to have a plan in place in case I won't be there the next day--extra "emergency" plans in case the sub. can't actually teach English, etc. Probably an extra 1/2-1 hour of work each day. Then, when I check the website, I may have to call back between 11am-12 the next day, during the school day. If I get called in, I may have to quick whip up some plans for a sub for that same afternoon. Oh, and I have to call the poor woman who arranges subs every night to let her know my status. Friday we're going on a field trip and I have to arrange extra drivers in case I'm stuck in a court room instead of ice-skating. What a lot of work!

Thanksgiving

Most of you posted about your Thanksgivings a while ago now. It took me a while to process mine. I had many, many things to be thankful for. My eagle nephew wore an outfit with a bowtie for a picture, and his cheeks are so big they hung down and covered the bowtie. I also got to pick out a Christmas tree with Ang and her little cousins (or were they nieces and nephews?) and unborn baby KV. The little people in her family all wanted to take home part of the stump of the Christmas tree, which was cute.

I also had friends and family to be thankful for. Without getting into too much grotesque (and that word SO applies to my family) detail, there was much strife. I was thankful to fly back home and leave it all after the few days I was there.

Usually, I like airports because they're an emotional no man's land. While I'm there I don't feel attached to either where I'm going or where I came from, or anyone in the airport for that matter. It's nice. Until this trip. If you're familiar with the Minneapolis airport, there are what seem like miles-long stretches of moving walkways, particularly between concourses A and C. I was walking down one, enjoying anonymity, trying to figure out what had gone on while I was home when my senses were assaulted by figures in green velvet. I have never seen it before, and never since, but it was a group of Christmas carolers, riding the moving walkway in the opposite direction. There was no where to go, and nothing to do but look at them, with their smiling, singing faces as they rode by. They made me angry.

So, the good and bad, I guess that's Thanksgiving. Or maybe just the facts of life...the facts of life. you take the good, you take the bad, you take them all and there you have the facts of life, the facts of life.

Tongue in Cheek

Congratulations to Dave, who after a devestating apartment fire in which he lost everything, has just announced his engagement to Zooey Deschanel, and subsequent Target registry.

But seriously, check out the registry. And Zooey Deschanel. She's hot.

The Right Image?

The speaker at our teacher's convention the past few days was quite compelling. He did use one metaphor I can't quite get out of my head. He said that we as teachers should reflect Christ so that when "students rub up against us they smell Jesus." Eeeewwwww.

Speaking of children, I get to babysit the nearly-named-after-an-eagle nephew next week when I'm home. whoo-hooo!

Worth the chance?

It's teaching days like today when having kids seems a lot like playing Russian roulette. There are the kids about whom I think "That is the sweetest, kindest child I've ever seen." Then there are the ones who I swear I will never, ever, in a million years, name any child after. How do people get pregnant when you have no idea what you're going to get?

Back Off!

I love shopping. I admit it, fully and openly. What I do not love is the zealots that run the mall kiosks. I've tried being nice, but it gets me nowhere. They don't take no for an answer, though I've told them endless times I'm not interested in pink straightening irons, bulghur-filled neck pillows, or (gasp!) moving printed beach scenes in a lamp/picture/keychain.

So last night I'm in the mall, trying to finish Christmas shopping so I don't have to go anywhere near the slow-walking crowds who will soon descend. I'm walking past a kiosk. Now, when I walk past kiosk, I make some deliberate "Don't talk to me!" moves and use as much body language as possible. First, I look at the person in the eyes, look down, and purposefully break eye contact. Next I visibly veer off my path toward the edge of the mall, away from the shady gift-monger. Appearantly this is not enough.

Despite my dodging the guy last night verbally accosted me: "Ma'am, can I ask you a small question?" Instead of self-proclaimed witty banter of how many letters are included in a small question, I said forcefully "No." Still, he did not relent. And this almost made me laugh out loud. He said "Ohhh" like he was sad. "It's a really good one."

Now, what might be a really good question from a man standing in front of a kiosk selling pink and white zebra-printed straightening irons? I guess I'll never know. I kept walking.

Cats + Stuff

Cats with Stuff on Them is capital "H" Hilarious! Thanks Panda!

Those Good Iowans

I was watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition tonight, and was reminded of an episode a few weeks ago. The family was from Iowa, and had moved from the city out to the farm because they thought it would help their kids to grow up "right." The reason they got a home makeover was that they had a fire and their house burnt down.

They built them a beautiful house, had a few sentimental moments, and the obligatory Iowa activity--a combine derby. Even having been a trophy girl at a tractor pull this summer, I didn't know combine derbys existed until a fellow Iowan at school told me.

Anyway, after the house was built the Extreme Makeover team kept talking about how friendly and caring the Iowans were, helping with construction, moving furniture, etc. And I couldn't disagree more.

The episode came up in the teacher's lounge the next day, and I was surprised that we all agreed--this shouldn't have happened. In the towns where we grew up, no one would have let someone's house burn down without rebuilding it. A good neighbor and a good small town pulls together to get families through those times. There are soup suppers and pancake breakfasts and change cans at Walmart to help raise money. People give money for their school tuition and donate clothing.

Elections: Whoo-hoo!

I love election day! California's proposition makes me feel like I'm really participating in democracy, though it's not quite as hopeful when you realize all the stupid people participate too. Regardless, my usual cynicism about politics seems to take a back seat to the actual process on election day. Too bad they don't give out the "I voted!" stickers to people who vote absentee.

I put up my Christmas tree tonight. Yep, skipped straight from Halloween to Christmas. Being gone for Thanksgiving though makes me feel like that's okay. There's that, and the fact that I do not own any cornucopia decorations.

I do, however, own a Christmas tree. It's one of the easy ones, already strung with lights. Managing to drag it up from the basement storage was not easy, but definitely worth it. I didn't put it up last year, so it was a surprise to open the boxes with the decorations.

I'd forgotten how many ornaments I have, and I thought I would never be taken with a sentimental, schmaltzy attachment to decorations, but I was wrong. The tree skirt my grandmother gave me and the disco ball ornaments I brought to Haiti brought back the fondest memories.

My grandmother has made stockings and tree skirts for my family as long as I can remember. She embroiders all the sequins and stitching on them, and personalizes each one with a name. Right now there are four generations in my family who all have stockings and tree skirts made by her.

The disco balls are great because they remind me of our Haitian Christmas tree: a dead tree, painted white, cemented into a paint can. I'm confident that Charity is decorating hers as I write. Anyway, the disco balls have lasted from that sad little Charlie Brown tree all the way to my grown up, already lit tree. Yea for them!

Happy Belated Halloween!

Happy belated Halloween everyone! Last year I said Reformation Day because I planned the R-day celebration at school. This year we took a field trip to a science museum. I liked Martin Luther better, personally.

And a huge THANKS! to Dave for the fabulous costume idea. Though my embroidery skills are obviously not as stellar as Hester's, it won me third place at a Halloween party last night. I think it could have been higher if the other party-goers knew who Hester Prynne was and why I was carrying a Cabbage Patch Kid around. Then again, I didn't know who the one-armed drummer from Def Leppard was. Oh well. I did win orange hot chocolate, so that makes up for it. Thanks for that, Chef Mayhem!