On the Ninth and Tenth Day of Christmas...

We went to see the Nutcracker! I love to see those "Lords a Leaping" and "Ladies Dancing". A ballerina feels like the epitome of feminine grace and beauty to me. Though I have no talent for ballet myself, I love to enjoy the talents that others have. It was a spectacular performance.

Thank you Tim and Lou for taking us!

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On the Fifth Day of Christmas...

Ok, it wasn't exactly the 5th day of Christmas, and it definitely wasn't 5 golden rings...

BUT. Hubby did take me to get my ring cleaned yesterday, and they re-dipped it in whatever they dip white-gold rings to make them white gold again! And she did it for free! So I have my engagement and wedding rings back, shinier, sparklier, and white-golder than ever!

They look just like they day you gave them to me, babe. :)

Christmas Miracle

This is a minor one, but still a little miracle. It starts with Thanksgiving. There was ample snow on the ground when we picked up our car from Alex's Grandparent's house (at 1:30 am). When we tried to engage the 4-wheel drive to get out of the driveway, it didn't work. The differential just blinked at us. Fast forward to two weekends ago- the differential is still blinking, and the car is acting like its in 4-wheel drive. We took it to the shop. Poor Alex waited at the dealership for three hours, and they still couldn't tell us what is wrong with it. At that time they said it could either be a simple and relatively inexpensive fix. OR, it could be a huge problem that would cost lots and lots of money.

Well, they called us today (we borrowed a car) and told us it was the relatively simple option. Merry Christmas to us!

Oh, and lets not forget that Alex scheduled his first Med School interview. Double Merry Christmas!!

This Time Last Year

I'm feeling the work-slump of the Holidays, you know how it goes. All you really want to do is lie around, eat, watch movies, spend time with family, and the LAST thing in the world you want is to have parents and students yelling at you. Right?

Though I'm feeling that slump, I'm also feeling very grateful for how far I've come in the last year. Because this time last year was... unfun. Dearest and I were getting ready to move during Christmas break, I was putting together my very first final for my students, (not to mention grading it... Babe, Jake, Jiles... I think I still owe you all for your help) and what with it being my first year teaching, it was just a very stressful year all around, and there was nothing I could do about it.

So I have alot to be grateful for this year. I made it to my second year as a teacher- Annalise, you were right, it does get better. We did move and we really like our house, and we're NOT moving this break! Finals aren't until January, and I can just enjoy the time I have until break for now. And you know what? Life is good. Still difficult, still learning and growing, but oh so good.

Merry Christmas

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PS. If anyone want to get me this ornament for Christmas, I'd be much obliged... :)

New Project??

I found something AWESOME I want to try. Some of you may not think its awesome, but I think its super cute and would just be fun to have. Its a chalkboard globe! You paint the water and continents different colors then you can write on it! I love it.

Maybe someday.

Oh, and I haven't forgotten about the other projects I finished this summer. I did indeed finish them, and I need to get some pictures up. They look awesome by the way...

Monday after Thanksgiving

It was a crazy weekend. Mostly the good kind of crazy. The drive back was not the good kind of crazy.

21 hours in the car

home at 2:30 am

driving to work at 6:45 am

2 hours of sleep


Its a good day to put in a movie. No students have protested so far.

Happy Thanksgiving!

What a wonderful snowy day. Not what you would typically expect of the Pacific Northwest, but I like it. It looks like we'll be having a small low-key thanksgiving today for a few reasons: The roads are snowy and things will melt this afternoon and freeze again tonight-always scary. That means no grandparents :( Also, my dear sister-in-law who realized she had a kidney stone last weekend had more. She spent the night in the hospital last night. Big bummer.

I like it quiet though. It suits me just fine.

Dear Mom

Mom, I don't think you read my blog regularly, so I'm confident that even though I'm making a post about your birthday present, you will still be surprised. Coming your way soon, inspired by this post.

Drat, the picture won't upload. But its some hand embroidered napkins. Mine will be Christmas themed. Happy birthday Mom!

Cold and Flu Season & Thanksgiving

Hubby had the Flu, now I have the cold. Bummer.

And now to balance out the previous post; Here are several things that I am very grateful for.

1. Hubby. I love you. Thanks for making dinner so often. You're the best.

2. Luna. Thanks for bouncing when I walk in the door every day. It makes me smile.

3. Mom. Thanks for calling for no reason. Love you.

4. Annalise. Through a series of fortunate events, you are an amazing friend. Thanks for studying with Tiff at our apartment all those years ago. You're great.

5. 4-Wheel Drive. Haven't needed you yet- which is another thing I'm grateful for. I'm sure I will soon.

6. A Job I Like. I like the kids, I like the admin, I like my co-workers. What a blessing in my life. Of course there are good and bad days. But what a blessing.

7. Education. Another blessing. By circumstance, so many people are denied or do not have access to an education. This is a blessing I can take with me wherever I go.

8. Music. No better way to lift my spirits. Here is one of my most favorite songs.

9. Down Comforters. There's just nothing like snuggling with Hubby on a cold day under a down comforter. Best thing ever.

10. Spirituality. The more I study biology and living things, the more I realize what a beautiful and elegant system of natural laws exist on earth. And the more I believe that there was a loving Creator. What a blessing to know that there is a higher power than Man.

A few things that have really been irritating me.

In a humorous way of course. I'm not really griping.

1. I have to use painter's tape to tape my cell phone charger to my phone to get it to keep charging.

2. I have to slam, hip bump, or kick my front door to get it to close. Same with the bathroom door. We have faulty hinges or something.

3. I have a gang of 4 boys in my last period class that I'm divided about. Mind you, this is the last period of "B days", so I have taught every lesson 7 times already, and I'm a bit bored. They are... disruptive to say the least. The problem is that its hilarious. I'm torn between kicking them out of class and just laughing my head off. That balance hangs on a knife blade. Its a little annoying.

4. My students don't know how to write a thesis statement.

5. My carpet is stinky and the landlord won't wash it.

There. I feel better now. And now to help make dinner...

Dear November,

I'm so glad that you're here! Its nice to see you with your pretty leaves still on the trees and sidewalk. Your friend October killed my garden, but you haven't finished off the grass yet. You're so warm and happy. You are without a doubt my favorite. You've been just right for long pants and a light jacket.

Love,

Me.

Rant

Imagine a world where everyone writes in text-speak. Books, billboards, even legal documents are full of "ikd, bff, lol" and all of the other abbreviations that are rampant today. Nonsense you say? Well, I get tests and homework (which should represent a student's best work) with idk splashed all over them. Back in the day students at least had the courtesy to leave a question blank if they had no clue. Now those three letters are enough. What will a society based on 'idk' look like? I imagine people of all ages walking around attached to their cell phones, endlessly texting. People are so used to virtual relationships through email and text, that they can't hold a conversation with a real person. They can no longer even form a sentence that is longer than 3-5 abbreviated words. Let alone tolerating a slightly irritating habit that a friend may have.

Many people in this world have no idea that there is a difference between their, they're, and there. They have no idea about parallel structure, or subject-verb agreement, or when to use a comma. Simple things, but can a person accurately and effectively communicate without these things? If one's vocabulary is limited, can one select the most accurate word to describe a situation? I think not.

Technical writing. Does it have a place to today's modern, and casual world? I've heard many students and even a few colleagues of mine say, "meh, I guess if you want to be a scientist or something" but I say that every job, every life style has a place for technical writing somewhere.

I believe there is a strong place for technical writing in the modern world. As jobs today require more education and degrees, technical or not, the rising generation will be expected to be competent and communicative.


What do you think?

Lately

1. Found a black widow hanging on the front door. Killed it with a shovel.
2. Hubby turned 25. Happy Birthday! I love you Babe!
3. Hubby got the flu and had a fever. Not fun.
4. Decided I wanted to improve my handwriting.
5. Decided I would rather improve my typing accuracy since I spend more tie typing for work.
6. Decided I would waste less time on the computer by no watching Hulu without Hubby (our leisure time together is very short)
7. Started making a draft stop thing for my kithen door out of boredome because of #6.
8. Got first pair of converse all-stars. In grey-blue. Been wondering where they've been my whole life.
9. I get to announce that I'm going to be an Aunt for the first time. I am DELIGHTED.
10. Realied that everyone is having babies but me. I'm still ok with that.
11. Had my students listen to Danse Macabre by Camille Saint- Saens. No one could guess what it was. I'm distraught.

Wasting a Life

One of my students told me today that I was wasting my life teaching. She thought that I could be doing so much more. That I could have a bigger impact.

I asked her what she would do if she didn't have teachers.

"Probably nothing" was her reply.

Some days I feel like I'm wasting my life. Some days I feel like there is nothing that I can do to affect change or help people become better.

I hope I'm not wasting my time and energy.
I hope that those I teach can make a difference.
I hope that these young people will be there to care for others when they are old and unable.
I hope tey become the doctors, lawyers, and activists that will do good.
I hope they learn to think.
I hope they learn to serve and relieve the sufferings of others.
I hope they are inspired.

But some will do great things.

That isn't up to me.

All I know is that I love what I do, that I learn and I grow each day. I'm not wasting my time.

Today

We were talking about energy, and how ultimately all of our energy (at least the edible kind) comes from the sun. We were talking about where our food gets its energy. We had a conversation like this:

"Ok french fries, what are those"

class:"Potatoes"

"alright, where do potatoes get their energy?"

class: "..."

"Well, do they make their energy or eat it?"

Class:"..."

"*heave sigh* Are they plants or animals?"

"a-ni-mals?"

"What?? You don't know if a potato is a plant or an animal???"

Kids, its time to get back to nature. You will not need to spear hunt potatoes. Get a shovel.


Yeesh.

The other day...

Someone threw up in my class. Without warning. All over himself, the table, the floor...

And here I thought I taught in a high school.

I felt really bad for the kid. He must have felt miserable.

But then I reminded everyone that in that case it is OK to run out of the room without explanation.

Really. Its ok.

Destruct-O-Doggie

I used to be somewhat prideful about my dog. She's so smart, she potty trained so quickly, she doesn't run away, she doesn't bark, no major behavioral issues. All of which are still true. BUT. She has a nasty chewing habit. It used to be no big deal, but then last week she ate the remote, and today it was my sunglasses. So we did a tally. From the time we brought her home until now:

Cell phone charger*
wall
molding around wall
part of door
first crate
second crate*
first bed*
dresser
bookcase
chair leg
bed boxspring
sweater organizer
down comforter storage case*
another wall
geology teacher's manual
more molding
Graddad's tree
LouAnn's coffee table
2 nice water bottles*
2 pairs of my flip flops*
a REALLY nice sweater*
DVD player remote*
1 pair sunglasses*
and numberless stuffed toys*.

Those listed with an asterix (*) were a total loss.

All wooden and drywall surfaces within reasonable reach have been coated with bitter apple. Also all cloth corners on the couch and bed. I have become an expert with wood filler and spackle. She is an adolescent.

When do labs grow out of this phase?

New Favorite Song

When I called Alex on Friday afternoon to let him know I was on my way home, he got really excited and told me he had a surprise for me. He wouldn't even let me guess! When I got in the door he had me sit down and played me this song. It was so sweet, and just the perfect song.

I love my sweet sweet man!

Cascade Springs

This week was long, tiring, and full of late nights, grading, and back to school night for me. It wasn't much better for Hubby, he has a couple long days each week too. So we decided that since we didn't see much of each other, we would go on a drive after cleaning the house on Saturday. So around 4:30 we headed up to Cascade Springs in the mountains. It took us almost an hour and a half to get there through some of the most beautiful twisty mountain roads. We didn't mind the time at all because we got to sit together and look at this the whole drive:

Once we got there we walked down this steep path to the springs. It was pool after pool of cool water that was trickling everywhere. So relaxing and pretty.

When we got to the back of the loop we sat on a bench for a minute just to look around, and a couple walked by to tell us what we would find around the corner...

MOOSE! Thats numbers 2 and 3 for me- never seen them in the wild before this summer. Hubby hadn't seen them before, and neither had Luna (she was a little fidgety, but didn't scare them at all). So we stood and watched mama and baby eat for a while. We probably watched for 5 or 10 minutes before they decided to take off up the path. I'd hate to be surprised by a moose in the path in front of me...

The day was cool and beautiful, and even though we weren't allowed in the stream per se, we still took some time to walk around and enjoy the sounds of the water.

We definitely enjoyed the beautiful leaves, and the sun, and the boardwalk and the water and being together. I'm sure Luna had fun too.

We drove a different way home and stopped for dinner in Midway. I like that town alot. It has a Swiss type theme, and many of the homes have that mountain-lodge appearance. We ate at this place called The Grill (across the street from The Store) and had the best milkshake ever....

It was a much needed day off for all 3 of us. :)

Let me Tell You...

A little bit about how I got my job. If I was feeling poetic it would be like the Fresh Prince rap... but no such luck.

I lost my job last May. It was a non-renewal of contract, so not as serious as getting fired, but I still don't know why it happened. Well, I do on my end... Anyway, after I got the news I frantically started pulling together my resume, updated work info, and my letters of recommendation because I was going to get the best job out there immidiately. I felt like this for a couple of days, then suddenly I didn't feel like it was the right thing to do. So I stopped. I didn't apply for that good part time position down the road. Now I generally like to follow this gut feeling when I have it because I am a firm believer in divine inspiration. And I believe it told me to stop looking. So I did that.

Fast forward to summer time: My old job at the nursery wasn't available because I finished the school year late, so I had alot of time on my hands. It could have been alot of time to work on my resume and chase jobs, but I still didn't feel like it was the right time. So I read, and biked, and ran, and gardened, and fixed furniature, but I didn't touch anything to do with work. I remember trying to explain this to hubby. I'm sure he was frustrated with me, but he was very understanding and knew I needed to follow this feeling. So I waited.

Until about mid July. Then this sense of urgency hit me. My gut kicked in, and I believe it was more divine inspiration. Within 2 days I polished my resume, got my letters together, updated info and posted it all on a 'for teacher and schools' website. I sent everything out to all the public schools in the area with listings, and searched within a 40 mile radius. Minus one. I didn't apply to this little charter school because my past experience made me wary. So they emailed me. With a few questions they'd like me to answer.

I called a good friend who knew something about every school in the area. He said he'd heard good things about it, so I figured why not. So I responded to the questions. They called me for an interview. I have never felt so comfortable in an interview before. I was nervous at first for sure, but these people put me at ease. We were laughing and talking and it was a good interview. At the end they said there were two more people who needed to meet with me.

So I waited for the call. I was nervous because it was just a week before we headed to NY for the wedding. But they called. I went to the second interview which went just as well as the first. They told me I was their top canidate (which flattered me because they said they had searched all summer long). At the end of the interview they asked me if I had other prospects. Normally I would have been a little evasive, but I was totally honest and said no. I didn't have any other prospects and if they offered me a job, I would take it. So they asked for 5 mintues to confer, then offered me a salary. It was glorious. One of them (the director) even went to say "I'm so glad [that school] canned you"! Well, me too.

I am so much happier at this job. Yeah its a long commute (40 min in the morning, 50+ in the afternoon) but I get to listen to NPR and feel sophistocated. And I'm busy, and I have alot to do, but I feel like my task is doable. I don't just feel like I'm treading water, I'm actually swimming and getting somewhere good. Yes its still a difficult job, but thats because it is a difficult job by nature, not compounded by difficult circumstances.

The day I got the job I told another good friend of mine about my position, and it just so happened that they had an opening in math which is her subject. So she was curious, she applied and got the job. It has been so fun to have a good friend here. It would have been good without her too because I've already made some other friends, but it has been that much better having her here with me. I can tell she's feeling much better too.

Needless to say, I'm glad I got 'canned' (though it was really just a non-renew), and I'm very happy to be at my new school.

Do you remember?

Do you remember where you were on this day nine years ago?

Do you remember what you were doing?

Do you remember watching them fall?

I do.

First Week of School

Well, I have successfully negotiated the first week of school so far. They have an AB block schedule, which has been nice. I thought it might get boring since I'm only teaching biology, but each class is so different that it never quite turns out the same. I like that.

The admin team at this school is excellent too. They are just good people with good ideas. Basically, if you have teenagers in my area, I would recommend this school. If you teach high school, I would recommend working here. I can't say the same for other places I've taught. So far so good. :)

Hubby goes back to school this week too. I fear I won't see much of him. He'll be a TA, EMS shift supervisor, research assistant, and he's got to get all of his secondary applications done while still getting good grades. Oh. And he just added a business minor. Can you say glutton for punishment? That's my sweetheart.

Getting Buggy

I found this beauty yesterday. It hangs in the bedroom (on my side of the bed of course) and its perfect. Well, you know me.

Welcome Back

Dear School Year,

I'm not ready for you. I need another couple days to play, and another couple days to prepare. Be a dear and do what you can for me.

No luck? Alright fine. See you tomorrow.

Love,

Me.

P- Summer, I'll miss you. Here are some pictures to remember me by.

Summer Reading

Each summer, Alex and I hit up Barnes and Noble for a few good reads. Because they're cheaper, we usually go for the 'Barnes and Noble Classics', or things from the literature section. Actually, its not just because they're cheap. Two summers ago I decided I wanted to read more literature and classics as opposed to just Harry Potter and other fantasy type books. I still love them, but I'm broadening my horizons.

Last summer I read Emma, Persuasion, The Alchemist, a couple other classics I can't remember, plus several Harry Potter books and others I'd already read. They were fabulous. Since then I've read persuasion again and thought repeatedly about the Alchemist. An Harry Potter. See? Already I feel more rounded.

This summer I picked out The Count of Monte Cristo, The Three Musketeers, and Les Miserables. Alex got Outliers (Malcolm Gladwell) and Complications (by a surgeon). I've read the Count, the Musketeers, Complications, the Percy Jackson series 1-5, Harry Potters 6 & 7, as well as some books for work. Including God's Smuggler, The Anatomy of Peace, Bonds That Make us Free, and Dumbing us Down. I still have a stack of others to get to.

I would HIGHLY recommend The Anatomy of Peace. It was eye opening and I think it will help me understand how to resolve inconsistencies or conflicts in my relationships with others. It was amazing.

Now I'm moving onto a bunch of curriculum-type books. I have a stack of about 10 to get through. The stack includes titles like; Science as a Way of Knowing; Foundations of Modern Biology, Spix Macaw, The Double Helix, Origin or Species, and something about Mendel, and another one about anatomy.

Someday I'll get to Les Mis... And I'm sure glad I got those glasses for my tired old eyes.

Anyway, I've really enjoyed all the books I've read this summer, but that fits with my basic philosophy on reading. If I am not enjoying it by about the first 50 pages, I'm done. Some I come back to later and love, some I'm done with for good. But if I finish a book, you can bet I liked it. Unless someone forced my to read it.

Back at Home

I've been out and about and traveling for the last.... 3 weeks. With only 4 days at home. So, a few updates first, then a few firsts, and eventually I'll get some pictures up!

1. I got a new job. 3 days before we left for our adventures. The timing could not have worked out better, and I'm really looking forward to working at this school. It feels good.

2. I got a new sister-in-law. I'm excited! They'll be moving close by very soon and it will be fun to have more family near by.

3. I got a bunch of tomatoes from my garden. Seriously, I don't know what I put in the soil (actually I do) but all the plants seem to like it. Especially the pumpkin vines. They are long. They are on the sidewalk. Oops.

4. Alex put in his Med school applications. To both MD and DO schools. Its scary that its finally here. But good. But now I think I really like my job...

1. First time to New York: we spent about 4 days upstate near Rochester for the wedding. It was especially fun since my Dad served an LDS mission there just over 30 years ago. I've heard him talk about it so many times it was fun to visit.

2. First firefly spotted: This one may surprise you, but I've spent most of my time too far North or West, or both for these buggies to life. Unfortunately I spotted them at the wedding reception, and Alex forbid me to chase and capture them in my dress and heels. Bummer.

3. First star show with Alex: We vacationed in Central Oregon for another4 days or so with my family and its tradition for us to go to the observatory both day and night for some solar viewing then a 'constellation tour' and telescope viewing. I've always loved these trips, and hope to get my own telescope someday. Alex had never been to a show like this so it was fun to watch him. It was even just a couple days before the spectacular Perseid Meteor Shower (peaked Aug 11-12) and we saw a giant fireball! (a baseball sized piece of comet debris that burns up as it enters the atmosphere. Most shooting stars are dust or sand-sized particles)

4. First time translating into French: This came about 6 years too late. A Quebecois couple came with our family group on a tour in New York and none of the tour guides spoke French. So I did my best. They were very kind and it was so fun to talk to them! I made a grand faux-pas and switched a couple phrases. No biggie, but we all laughed. I need to take French again. I miss it.

5. First Moose spotted: I've seen plenty of moose heads, but never one in the wild. I was on a retreat for work the past couple days (it was really good, and part of the reason I'm so excited to work there). Yesterday morning I went for a nice hike with some co-workers and on the way down the mountain, I happened to turn around and there was a cow moose munching on some tall scrub! She was HUGE. The grass was too tall around her to tell if she had a calf with her, but she may have. Yay!

How to have a sparkling clean shower and get some exersize

Step 1: Spray shower with Scrubbing Bubbles

Step 2: Wipe with damp cloth. Damp is important.

Step 3: Scream bloody murder and run to find the Mr. when a giant man-eating spider falls from who-knows-where practically on top of you.

Step 4: Hyperventilate while claiming said spider almost ate you.

Step 5: March in place while watching the Mr. flush the spider down the toilet. Pace while insisting it might not have actually been flushed. (sometimes they float... ask my bro-in-law G)

Step 6: Take deep breaths while working up the courage to finish wiping out the shower.

Step 7: Rinse of the scrubbing bubbles that have been sitting there for the last 10 minutes.

Step 8: Don't shower that day cuz you think another spider might fall on you.

Step 9: Admire beautiful sparkly shower the next day as you shower.

Last and ongoing step: Train dog to hunt spiders....

See? Now you have a sparkling clean shower and you feel like you just sprinted a mile. A good workout is important for heart health. Now about those irrational fears... Still just me? Awesome.

Tomatoes- Blossom End Rot

Today's yield:

We're still munching on the carrots I pulled out last week. Unfortunately I noticed that already my Early Girl tomatoes are plagued by blossom end rot. That means my Romas are sure to follow suit. Fortunately, it is fixable and preventable. Its not actually a fungus, its a vitamin deficiency. Calcium to be exact. the developing cells don't get enough of this essential vitamin, so each cell dies. This "disease" especially afflicts high yield tomatoes. As all the tomatoes grow so quickly it depletes the soil of nutrients. For this reason, tomatoes are known collectively as "heavy feeders" meaning they need alot of fertilizer.

Therefore, the fix for blossom end rot is going to be a high calcium fertilizer like fish bone meal or something similar. The developing tomatoes may still have the rotten spots, but the little guys and any new tomatoes after fertilizing will be just fine. Blossom end rot looks like this, but since it isn't a fungus you can cut that part out and still eat the tomato, it will just be ugly.

I hope your tomatoes fare better than mine so far! Happy gardening.

Hopeful as the Break of Day

Ever notice how sunflowers track the sun's path throughout the day before they bloom? Once they do bloom they often face east. Mine do.

Its a wonderful image of hope and expectation for a beautiful, brand new day.

I had a job interview a couple days ago with an expectation for a second soon. I'm hopeful.

My sister-in-law is attempting a new (to her) fertility treatment. I'm hopeful.

I'm filled with joy when the day dawns quietly over the roof of the sky.

From an Eskimo Song

Ugly Ducklings

Being unemployed this summer has given me ample time to work on various projects including these uglies. Alex spotted this one at a yard sale and dragged me over to see it. I've been looking for a chest like this for weeks!I love how one of the kids carved "MOM" above the ugly flower sticker thing. One of the back hinges has torn out of the wood (an easy fix with some wood glue and some longer screws) and its a little tall, but I think I'll rip off the bottom facade and give it some stubby round feet from home depot. It has a nice veneer, so I'm not sure if I'll paint it or stain it. Its also cedar lined. I'm very excited.
This ugly dresser and its taller 5-drawer mate was a freebie from our last landlord. Both are missing little from panels, and both have already been sanded, stained and painted. We also replaced the handles (already done in the pic).
I still need to seal both, but the overall is supposed to be like this dresser. Not an exact match of course, but much cheaper and still classy.

Luna vs. Beetle

Dear Luna,

You're cute when you sleep. Though I think your bed and blankets are ridiculously plush for a dog. Especially since you would rather sleep on the floor next to my side of the bed with your head on the extra pillow. I need another lint brush...

You're also cute when you find a bug to play with. I'm reminded of a cat playing with a mouse. Its especially funny when you try to stomp on the bugs. But you never manage to kill them. Pity.

Love,

Me

Earwigs

It seems I have an earwig infestation (Order Dermaptera for anyone who cares) in the garden and around the house. I see them all the time and they don't bother me because they only have 6 legs, are not hairy, and they just eat flowers. Not me.

However. Last night as I was climbing into bed with a book, I felt something on the back of my neck. I may have felt a little pinch, I'm not so sure. But since my hair was up and hubby was not in the room, it could only have been something icky. So naturally I let out a squeal (sorry neighbors) and threw my book. I even lost the page I was on. It could have been a spider which REALLY would have freaked me out, but it wasn't and that was ok. But I'd still rather not have an earwig getting all amorous. So I put the bug on the floor and Luna played with it for a while, then I think she ate it. Good puppy.

Anyway, I stumbled across this post by some unknown person about spiders, and it mirrors my feelings (though with less cussing on my side) to all things with too many legs and too many eyes. (though I don't really mind centipedes and millipedes, but all arachnids freak me out. Alot. Thanks big bro...) Even as I write this I get that little creepy crawly feeling on my arms and the back of my neck. Ew.

So, uh, does anyone else have any irrational fears? Just me? Awesome.

Today

Today smells like honeysuckle and wet pavement.

Today tastes like home made enchiladas and watermelon.

Today sounds like thunder and rainfall and Rascal Flatts and Vince Guaraldi.

Today looks like pink dahlias, orange california poppies, yellow tomato flowers, and green almost everywhere.

Today feels like a new pair of shorts, rain on my arms and a warm Luna sleeping on my feet.

Today is glorious.

Lovely Living Room

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I've been into greens and blues lately. Scratch that. Always. When I was 16 I painted my bedroom in shades of blue and still love it when i visit (though it needs a few grown up updates). Someday I wanna decorate my house like this. Or maybe like a beach house...

Happy 4th of July!

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Here in P-town its been a weekend long partay! seriously, people have been milling around all weekend in tents on main streets, its a little bizarre. Saturday morning we went to a breakfast at a nearby park with our church, and surprisingly for July, it was gloriously and comfortably cool. Not cold, just very pleasant. Later that afternoon we grilled some amazing steaks at a friends house, and since they live close to the stadium, we watched the fireworks there. Yes they did a huge show on Saturday instead of Sunday, welcome to Happy Valley. We brought Luna with us and she was a champ about the fireworks. They hardly made her nervous. What a good dog. :)

On the 4th we headed into town and had dinner with one set of Hubby's grandparents, then had dessert with the other and an Aunt and Uncle and their kids from Minnesota. We like to double book ourselves sometimes. We get to see people more often that way!

We also played this game called killer bunnies.... Have you heard of this game before? Its fairly deranged. I haven't decided yet if I love it or hate it. I guess it just depends on who else is playing. We had alot of fun with the cousins though, they kept giving us these incredulous looks and taking about how strange the game was, then they all begged their mom to buy it after we finished. It's strangely addicting. :)

Today we had grand plans to go see a parade, but we've successfully transitioned to night owls, and waking up early is no longer a forte for us. Some other time perhaps...

Sucker #1

Earlier this weekend, I noticed that my tomato leaves were starting to curl. If you're new to gardening, this is a sure sign you have some kind of sap-sucking bug. Sure enough I flip over the leaves and I've got some little green visitors- aphids. After trimming off the worst looking leaves (I can't have the whole plant getting sick now- plus it encourages new healthier growth), I made a mix of aphid repellent. A couple teaspoons of dish detergent in a large spray bottle full of water. I've also heard that Murphy's Oil Soap works well too we actually looked into getting some at Home Depot, but the detergent we had was free so...

So spray your detergent mix lightly on the under side of the leaves- lightly because you don't want to block the gas exchange that happens on the under side of most plant leaves and suffocate your plant- literally.

Checked back today and there were fewer little green guys. Better news? I saw a few of these- which happen to want aphids dead even more than I do. Lady Bug larvae eat something like 20 times their weight in aphids each day. Aren't they cute??

I'm glad I didn't buy bug napalm like I briefly considered. :)

Would you like to go for a run?

Read: Yes.

My reaction is not always the same. I have a hard time being motivated when its 90 degrees out at 10am. I'm working on it.

and yes, this little face is hard to resist.

In Other News...

Since a picture is worth a thousand words...

Mostly for driving at night... or the movie theatre, or seeing far away, or preventing headaches.

Garden

I'm pretty pleased at how my garden is coming along this year! We've made some significant improvements from last summer (ie. we have a hose instead of carrying water in a 5 gallon bucket...) which was a great learning experience. I also added several new flowers and veggies to the garden, and it has been wonderful and delicious so far.

In the ground this year we have:

Veggies-

Romaine lettuce

Baby leaf lettuce and something or other- the stuff you see in a spring mix salad form DOLE

Sugar snap peas

Nantes carrots

Danver carrots

Ft. Something strawberries

Armenian burpless cucumber

Black beauty zuchhini

Some giant pumpkin

Blue Lake Green Beans

Spicy globe basil

Beefsteak tomato

Early girl tomato

2 Roma tomatoes

All from seed this year but the Basil and Tomatoes! We'll try those when I have actual facilities... in 10 years or so....

Flowers-

California poppies

Dahlias (not sure which bulbs survived the thrashing from Luna this year, it was epic)

oodles of sunflowers of various varieties

Wildflowers from a seed packet from my Momma (I have cosmos, some other daisy, and it looks like Lupine coming up from those seeds, I'll let you know when they bloom!)

Bearded Irises

Daylillies

and other potted flowers

The Lettuce has been feeding us at least one good sized salad every day for the last 3 weeks, and its still going strong. I figure with the money we saved not buying heads of lettuce or pre-washed salad mixes we've already made up the money we spend on compost and starts and the hoe this year! That doesn't even include all the strawberries we got or the other things that aren't ready yet. (though the tomatoes are the size of grapes, and the sample carrot I picked yesterday was almost ready)

Everything seems to be growing just fine, and now that its all established, it doesn't mind the heat too much either. The biggest problem we've had so far was slugs- I had to plant my peas 3 times because the sluggies kept gnawing them all the way down. But we got some pet safe slug bait and they've done just fine.

Mosquito Nightmare

So my brother and I often go on adventures. This habit of adventures dates back to our teenage years together, and has miraculously persisted into our 20's. Well, his late 20's. Facilitated of course by our proximity. Anyway, last night I get a text from big bro that says 'Hey, lets go explore the marsh by the marina' I respond ok!

So short car drive later, Me, Bro, and Luna are at the marina, and we jump out of the car, observe that there are quite a few mosquitoes out this evening, and decide that running will get us through them faster. So we run into the greenbelt and toward the marshy part of the lake. I observe that we are dashing through some large clumps of nightshade (a poisonous plant with purple flowers), and dashing over several deer skeletons- whole deer skeletons. As I was trying to keep Lunagirl from eating these skeletons, Bro turns and observes, "you are COVERED" with mosquitoes of course. We decide that being eaten alive for adventures' sake is stupid, and beat a hasty retreat to the car.

Fast forward a couple hours...

I'm home now, and getting ready for bed, so as I turn off the lamp, I hear a high pitched whining. And I notice about 100-200 mosquitoes up in the corner by the lamp. Our air conditioner spews mosquitoes.

Moral of the story, check your AC and make sure its sealed, and sleep with the covers over your head.

Summa Time

Its funny how as a kid, you can't wait for summer vacation! Well, as an adult, I couldn't either. And now, after a full 3 days of it, I'm bored. I am currently unemployed, (though I'm working on that) Husband works, which leaves me some time to myself. As much as I love cleaning kitchens and toilets, it gets old quick.

So here are some pictures of me and hubby about two years ago in Hawaii..... *sigh*

Tumult

Things have been hard for me lately. Hard doesn't seem to be the right word, but it will have to do for now. Nothing I can say can quite sum up my feelings. In fact, I still don't think I've gotten a handle on things yet though its been a couple of weeks since I go the news. I've just wanted to wait to write until I could start to sort things out in my head.

I've been laid off from work. But then again, laid off isn't the right word either. In fact, the exact phrase is "the decision has been made not to renew [my] work agreement". So I won't be going back to my school this next fall. I was not given a reason. My school is expanding next year, adding 7th and 8th grades, so not only will they need to fill my position as a biology teacher, but they will need to add a teacher for the middle school. These circumstances make it difficult for me to understand the reason that I have "not been invited back" as I told my students.

I'm sad. I LOVE my kids. In fact, I called them my kids, my children, and my dears so often, they gave me the nickname Mama P. I love that even jokingly they call me Mama. For some reason it just suits my relationship with them. I want the best for them, I love them (though sometimes they made it hard), and I want to watch them grow up and graduate. I'm so sad that I won't be able to do this.

But I'm also mad. I'm trying not to be, and I'm trying so hard to be gracious with this decision, but I really am angry that I am being let go without warning or reason. I can't comprehend why my superiors can't see that I love my job, my students, and that I have literally put my heart, my soul, and my health into my work this year. I don't understand why my best isn't good enough right now, and now I just feel helpless.

I'm relieved. This year was alot of hard work for me that I'm not sure I would have had to deal with if I had been at a more traditional high school so to speak. We (they) are a small school with little administrative help, leaving teachers to make up the difference. I had two wonderful other members of my department, but they were so busy with other things that mentoring me, a poor first year teacher, was done in the little snippets of time that we could manage. In this way it was more hard work than I anticipated. But I loved every minute (ok, not every, but most- which is still pretty good) of teaching and working with my students.

I'm lost. Teaching was a huge sense of purpose for me. Most other schools have already hired by now, so I don't know if I'll be able to find another teaching position in the area this late into spring and summer.

There are many other feeling jumbling around right now as well. One of which is the feeling that says "thank goodness its been warm lately!!". But I'm still trying to sort things out. I'll miss my school, my friends and colleagues, and mostly my kids.

Its been cloudy and rainy and drizzly and humid here the past couple days. I love it. Its makes me miss this...

Birdies

I have a bird problem. Or more accurately, my strawberries have a bird problem. The issue is that every day for the past couple days I go outside looking forward to picking a fresh warm red strawberry that I've been patiently waiting for... and there are triangular shaped bites out of it courtesy of my neighborhood robins. I want to fix it.

Now, how shall i do it... Could I rig a shotgun with bird pellets to aim at these feathered bandits? probably not. Could I post my bird-hunting puppy outside? Probably, but she'd take a nap and they'd all flock in. I could also use chicken wire to surround my precious patch. But I think the best option may just be to distract them with some suet or something equally delicious. Sometimes I'm a peacemaker.

Phooey.

Eta Aquariid

(This looks like time lapse... it won't be quite this spectacular.)

For those of you interested, the Eta Aquariid meteor shower of May is rapidly approaching! The shower should peak at about 4 am on Friday May 7th. So if any of you are interested in the third/fourth most fantastic meteor shower in the year, have at it! I haven't decided yet if its worth coming to school on friday armed with only a half nights sleep, but it would be oh so lovely...

Dear Monday

Dear Monday,

I'm sorely tempted to say that I hate you, but it isn't really your fault. I guess I'm just used to the slow pace of weekends and then you come along and all of the sudden I have to get a move on. It just seems to be getting worse now that we're almost to the end of the school year.

I'll try to remember that its not entirely your fault, you could have landed anywhere during the week. But that doesn't mean I like you.

Cordially,

Me.

Nana

Whenever life seems heavy,

Too cumbersome to bear.

Remember that you have a friend,

Just call me I'll be there.

I may not send you flowers,

Or bake a fancy dish.

But you may have my shoulder,

To dampen if you wish.

So hurry and feel better,

I'll miss your happy face.

In all the world's creations,

No one can take your place

-B. J. M. H. (aka Nana)

July 1916- April 2010

We love you Nana, and we'll see you again.

Spring Break Thoughts: Moab Utah

For my birthday this year, my wonderful hubby suggested we spend a night in Moab, Ut and take some time to visit a few National parks. Honey, this was just the adventure I needed!

We drove there Friday afternoon, checked into our B&B (which was AMAZING), and went to Dead Horse Point State Park to watch the sunset.

Incised meanders of the Colorado River- the things you learn as a geology teacher- look it up

A-mazing views. It was gorgeous people!

Making good use of our long evening shadows!
Loverly sunset- it was nice and warm and pretty! It just never seems to translate well into digital photos...

The next morning we woke up and had breakfast at the B&B (there was a bird feeder outside the window, and the birds ate breakfast with us!), just as we finished ours, another couple sat down at our table, and we started talking and just couldn't leave! They lived in Englad, he was from Ireland, and she was from Turkey. They were both professors (in their very early 30's it looked like) and they were so interesting! He was a theoretical astronomer studying dark matter... how cool is that! Anyway, we talked for about an hour before we finally got on the road to start the day.

We grabbed some Subway in town, then headed off to Arches National Park. What a fun adventure! The drive itself was gorgeous, and the hikes were awesome too. They weren't too steep, so we ended up doing the hikes to both the Delicate Arch- on the Utah lisence plates- and the Double O Arch, seeing the Landscape Arch and a few others along the way. The sign that is at the trailhead for the Double O arch was a little ominous- it said it was not for severe acrophobics. I don't consider myself extremely afraid of heights, but I had to stare at hubby's feet for part of the journey. Just look at some pictures...

View of the Delicate Arch from inside some blessedly cool (in both ways) arch on the way- notice how HUGE the bowl is, as well as all the other proportions. Those are people by the arch!

Cute hubby framed by Delicate Arch- we're across the bowl from it at this point.

Up-the-nose shot from under the Arch

Up close with lots of random people

Landscape Arch- possibly the longest span. Its on the way to the Double O Arches.

After Landscape Arch, the way got a little sticky. This is hubby part way up one of the fins we had to ascend. This one wasn't bad at all. It got worse. Much worse.
Looking down on random hikers from above. This part was steep.

Me being all brave on another steep part. This wasn't the worst though- we had to go up and over this fin that was totally exposed with a 50 ft drop on one side, and a 100+ ft drop on the other. Thats where I stared at Alex's shoes and tried not to see how much things were moving in my peripheral vision. It would have made a great picture, but then I would have had to stop. And I may never have moved again.

Jackpot. Double O Arches.

Little ol' me in the bottom arch. Some nut was climbing on top of them. I would never ever do that.

Darling, thanks for taking me on this adventure. It was great to get out of town, and just the adventure I needed! You're wonderful.