Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas!

What a fab Christmas I am having. Everyone is together this year and it's great!


Saturday was the big family Christmas at my aunt's house. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, the whole shibang. It was so much fun to have everyone together.


The family got the news about the engagement, they are so happy. I think B is going to be fine afterall. She did well with all the family, only a few down moments.


Christmas Eve was at Mom's with just the immediate family (which included, wait for it...future step-kids). We had so much fun, presents, food and games.


This morning M and I slept late, opened presents and then went back to bed for a couple of hours. Finally got up, dressed and almost ready for the day at 12:30. He leaves for Oregon for the week today, makes me sad a bit.


Anyway, I hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas! Be merry and bright!

Friday, December 22, 2006

ex-wives, step-kids and engagements...oh my!

My engagement euphoria has been smashed to bits. I am sure I will be able to get it back, but let me tell you M's ex-wife is the biggest psycopath EVER!

She doesn't want us to tell B (M's youngest daughter) until after her birthday in....JANUARY!!!!! She says we are going to ruin the entire holiday season for her. The kid's 11, they have been divorced for 5 years. I know this is hard for her, but for goodness sake lady, help your child get over it, don't enable her to stay sad about it. She actually said that B may "never be right", now what in the world does that mean? That nobody should move on with their lives because B might not like it, she might not be "right"?

While this woman says she is doing everything in the best interest of the child, it is really about her doing what she feels is best for herself. She doesn't want to deal with the fact that we're getting married so she says it would be best for B to not have to deal with it. We have a TON of family stuff planned for this weekend, how in the world am I supposed to keep this quiet. Not to mention it really hurts that I would even be asked to (yes, I know that is selfish, I don't care). And by the way, I'm not taking that ring off!

My thoughts on this, if he doesn't tell her it looks like he either is 1. ashamed of his relationship with me or 2. he doesn't care about her enough to include her in this. She knew it was coming, he had told her that months ago. He just needs to tell her it has happened.

I think M is going to tell her today when he picks her up for us to go to Slava's Snow Show, but I'm not sure. I am really afraid of how it is all going to play out. I don't want B to be sad, I want her to be happy for her dad, that her dad is happy. But her mom has gotten the child so brainwashed that she feels that if she is happy for her dad she is betraying her mom. And mom doesn't do anything to encourage her otherwise.

If I didn't love M so much I wouldn't put myself through this mess. Sometimes I feel like it just isn't worth it. Fortunately, HE is! He is the most amazing man, but I will post all about him another time.

Parents, what are your thoughts on the subject?

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Look what I got!


Last night Michael and I went to Disneyland and he proposed next to the Castle, in Snow White's Grotto (which is actually one of my favorite places in the Park).
He was so cute. Apparently he wanted to do it during the snow after fireworks, but it was so crowded we didn't want to stick around that long, so then he wanted to do it in front of the Castle but that was closed for fireworks (2 hours later), so we were walking around and he took me to the grotto. We stopped on the little bridge and he told me he had a present for me, and that is when he took out the ring.
It's beautiful, if you ask me. I am so excited and so happy. I didn't think the thought of getting married for a second time would make me feel this giddy, but I am. It was very special. Espcially since I knew it was coming...in March. He got me, I was totally taken aback.
We are planning on a summer wedding. Anyone want to come?

Thursday, December 14, 2006

shows, shows and more shows



So, I told you I was in New York. That I love New York. Well, here is one of the big reasons why...



THEATRE!
There is so much to see. I was lucky enough to get to see four shows while I was in
town.


1. Spamalot - what a fun show. I really wish I had been able to get tickets sooner. Seeing Tim Cury as King Arthur would have just been too much. If you're a Monty Python fan this show is a must.






2. Regrets Only - this was the MTC show that we saw. It was mildly entertaining. Really reminded me of the first season of Will and Grace, you know when they just went for the really funny one-liners but the rest of the script sucked. If you have seen A Day Without A Mexican you can pretty much understand this play, only it's done with gays taking the day off. I would only recommend this if you got free tickets.



3. Suddenly Last Summer - This is probably my second favorite Tennessee Williams play (the first...Cat on a Hot Tin Roof). One of the other teachers and I were able to snag tickets to this sold out show. I am so glad I did. I always forget how powerful this show is. Not to mention Blyth Danner was amazing.



4. Evil Dead, the musical - yes, you read that right. What a fun show! For a campy, off-broadway production it was really well done. The music is fun and it had some really cool special effects. I have never seen so much stage blood in my life! The first three rows of the theatre are called the "splatter zone". This is because as the demons get killed they squirt and splatter the audience with all the blood they can. Ah, good (not s0) clean fun. If you can catch this one, do. You will laugh...alot.


So, there is the recap of my theatre adventures. I was actually surprised I saw so much. When I was making my show plans, there really wasn't anything I was needing to see...Almost four hundred dollars later, I've seen four new shows.


Man, I love theatre!

Note: I upgraded to the blogger beta, I HATE the new dashboard...TOO much stuff!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

New York!

I LOVE NEW YORK CITY!!!!!!!

I love everything about it, the crowds, the noise, the energy.

I just got back from a week long trip to the Big Apple. I have returned energized and excited to be teaching theatre (although my English classes are sapping that right out of me rather quickly).

I go every year at this time because of a class I teach. Let me tell you about it...

I have the amazing opportunity to work with an organization called Manhattan Theatre Club. They are a not-for-profit organization that produces wonderful theatre and does tons for the educationional community.

They run a project called Theatrelink. In this project students from around the world (about 18 schools in total) work in groups of 3 schools to write plays and produce theatre. I am so fortunate to have been selected to be a part of this 9 years ago and to have been asked back every year.

The kids love it. They have the opportunity to read a play and communicate with the playwright (this year's play is Brooklyn Boy by Donald Margulies). Once they have studied the life out of the play they are turned loose to write their own scripts, with guidance from myself and a professional working in New York, this year we are working with a playwright by the name of Carmen Rivera (I can't wait to read some of her work).

Once the plays are written we trade scripts and begin production. The kids do everything. Direct, design, act, they learn so much. And they have a great time as well.

I am so excited to begin the project. I learned so much during this last trip. I feel like this project helps make me a better director and a better teacher.

If you have some time check out the MTC website, they are fab!

http://www.mtc-nyc.org/

If you're in New York, check out some of their shows...amazing theatre work!

Sunday, December 03, 2006

Mom

The past year I have been consistently amazed by my mother's strength and courage.
Last October she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Last November she went through a single masectomy.

Last December she got engaged to an amazing man, Rocky.

Last January she started chemotherapy.

Last June her fiance was diagnosed with a inoperable brain tumor.

Last July her fiance passed away.

Last July she began radiation treatments.

Last September she completed radiation.

Last October her mom had open heart surgery.

Last night we had craft night and she was laughing and happy and moving on.

She and Rocky loved to dance, loved to create art, loved to enjoy the company of family and friends.

Today she will starts a dance class. A dance class she and Rocky where going to take together once she was feeling well.

With everything my mom has been through this past year I am so impressed with her ability to carry on. To still do the things she loved doing with Rocky. Yes, she has her down times, we all do. Rocky was her ideal, her soulmate. But she knows that he wouldn't want her to sit around and grieve forever. He would want her to get out there and do the things she loved to do.

Last night at craft night we talked until 2:00am about Rocky. About how we still have a hard time believing he's gone. About how sometimes she feel guilty for moving on and being happy. How some days are harder than others, and the mornings are the hardest, she misses her daily "Good Morning" call. But she is moving on.

With everything my mom has been through this past year and the fact that she can look at live and still smile, that is a strong woman to me.

She has a strength that I can only hope I have an once of.

I never really thought about looking up to someone, of having someone I want to be like. But today I think I really hope that when I "grow up" I'm like my mom. Strong, independent, and able to carry on through the toughest of times.

Note: I wanted to post pictures of my beautiful mother, but blogger wouldn't let me. I'll try again later.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

a word about sophomores...

The word sophomore means "young fool". There is a reason why 10 graders are called sophomores, they are fools! IDIOTS! Dumb asses! I hate sophomores.

I stayed at school until 7:45 pm (on Friday, I might add) so I could finally update grades. 98% of students have got to be failing.

They aren't failing because I suck (although I'm beginning to wonder), they are failing because they don't turn anything in.

I have some students where the only things they have turned in are tests. Now, I know I should have caught this sooner, called home, had the translators call home (because for most of my students the home language is not English), but with 140 English students and 60 drama students when am I supposed to call home? Like I said, I left the school at almost 8:00pm, it was me and the custodial crew, now who wants to call parents at 8:00pm on Friday, the whole dozen or so I could have actually communicated with.

Monday will end up being the what are you going to do to pass my class day. As I walk from student to student, show them their grade and ask...What are you going to do to pass this class? Do you plan on getting a diploma? Do you plan on every having a job? I don't think they think about the fact they actually have to pass classes to get out of high school with a diploma (not to mention the Exit Exam).

Our future isn't looking too bright!

On a happy note...I leave for New York on Tuesday!

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Done!

Friday was spent out with the Black Friday crowds and I can say I am offically done with my Christmas shopping! No more crowds for me. YIPPY!

Now if I could just get someone else to do the wrapping I'd be in heaven.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

whatever will I do?

I have five days off! Let me tell you I need it (there are several sophomores who are in danger of losing their lives if I didn't get this time off).

What shall I do?

1. CLEAN MY HOUSE: Show season, which happens right before holiday season, always leaves my house a huge mess. I don't spend more than 6 hours at a time at home during this time, and I usually try to spend that time sleeping, not cleaning. So, when holiday season shows up, I have to clean like a maniac to get ready.

2. SCRAP: I am dieing to get my China scrapbooks done. I am spending the day multitasking. Scrap a couple pages, clean a room, scrap some more, clean some more. So far so good. I am getting through the scrapping pretty quickly actually. It helps when you opt for uniform as opposed to very creative. Each page has the same look, the pictures and journal blocks are just in different places. Of course I have to go back and change a bunch of stuff (oh, goodness), I changed my mind on something, and it will drive me nuts to not go back and make the whole thing match.

3. DECORATE: This is my favorite part. I can't wait to pull out all the Christmas stuff and set it up. I want to be ready to do that by the time I get home from my mom's tomorrow. I need that holiday spirit to get me through the rest of the year.

4. SHOPPING: Yes, I am a Black Friday shopper. I actually finish my Christmas shopping each year on Friday. I like it that way. If I have to hit the mall again, it can be a liesurely trip, not stress, no rush. And it let's me enjoy the holiday. And actually Black Friday shopping isn't as bad as people think. Check the Black Friday website (more on this later), plan your trip and most of all start early!

5. GLASS CLASS: Some of you may know that I do glass work (in that non-existent spare time). I love to copper foiled suncatchers and stuff like that. I have even toyed with starting a website or blog just for sale of the stuff. There are only so many of them you can hang in your house. If you need a cool gift and want to see what I do let me know. I can post some pictures. Anyway, back to glass class...I am taking a fused bowl class on Saturday. I am probably most excited about this. I am a born learner. I don't like not learning something new. If all goes well I will come out of this class with a gift from my Grandmother. I'll post pictures of the finished project.

6. FAMILY: Thursday I will spend the day with family. It has been a tough year for our family and we really need this time to reconnect. While we have had some good stuff happen; one of my sisters is pregnant, my cousin had a baby. It has been a really really rough one. One I am glad is coming to a close soon. In the past 12 months, my mom was diagnosed and treated for breast cancer, my mom's fiance', who supported her through her treatment, passed away (he had been diagnosed with a brain tumor), Grandma G had open heart surgery (she's doing great). It's been hard. I am still having a hard time with much of this. I am having a hard time moving out of the angry stage of grief, probably because I was out of the country when the stuff with R really got bad and wasn't there to say goodbye. This will be the first big family gathering since R passed. It's going to be so strange not having him there. Okay, so this didn't go where I thought it was going to so I will change the subject...

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy family, friends and good food. Life is short enjoy it all you can. Tell those you love that you do, before they are gone.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

looking for a quick fix

Why does this have to happen during a super busy week for me?

I have the beginnings of a very serious UTI. I hurt, much. I should take the day off to go to the doctor, but we have a performance at 3:30 today. I'm going to try for an after hours appointment, but that will have to wait until 6:00 pm. I will have to make it through a minimum of 12 hours before I can see someone.

I am currently taking Uristat, an OTC drug that is supposed to ease the urgency and burning. I am also taking a holistic tonic that is supposed to help. But I can't remember if it only helps before the infection comes or if it will help now. On the way to school I will load up on cranberry juice.

I figure if I can keep enough fluids in my body that I have to use the rest room after every period, I shouldn't be in much pain. (the more fluid that comes out the less it burns).

Is this TMI?

Does anyone have any other suggestions to get me through the day? Am I just screwed?

If I hadn't changed insurance all I would have to do is call my doctor and she would call in the perscription (yes, I get them that often). But now I have to start all over.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

I LOVE Rock-n-Roll

Motley Crue and Aerosmith rocked! We had so much fun, despite the fact it was 49 degrees and an outdoor concert (hey, I'm from Southern California, that's cold!), and the 1 1/2 hours it took us to get out of the parking lot.

I don't get it, there are people all over the place to tell you where to park, but they don't make them hang around to help you get out. Literally we slept in the car for an hour before we even moved! I am so thankful that M decided to get us a hotel near the Pavillion

Anyway, I can't believe how hard these guys can still rock. It was freakin' awesome! I have to say I thought the Crue was WAY better than Aerosmith. I had heard different and have to totally disagree. And that's not to say that Aerosmith didn't bring it, the Crue just out played them.

Here is something else I just don't understand. M works in the event staging industry, therefore he knows people EVERY WHERE. He has a friend who had been on tour with the Crue up until about 2 months ago, but is still friends with the band and the crew (stage crew that is). So, this friend got us guest passes from the band. But low and behold anytime we tried to get anywhere other than our own seats we were told we needed to have tickets and that the ushers didn't care that we had guest passes. It just didn't make any sense.

Here are some pictures of the night. Although we had pretty good seats, the pictures didn't turn out very well, really super bright lights will do that.



You can't tell, but this is Motley Crue. Their set used a ton of fire and was very tribal looking to me. There were a couple of hanging cages, during the show a couple of girls got into them and were writhing around, it was pretty cool.








I can't tell who's playing, and I was there, so please don't ask.










This is probably the best picture. It was taken right after "Kickstart my Heart".





Okay here is a picture of Aerosmith. I didn't take as many of them. Their bright lights were on all the time, as well as the big screen. Not good for the photo taking. In fact, this one is pretty bad. My camera just doesn't take good pictures without the flash at night.









And last but not least, a piture of my Motley Crue guest pass...

Saturday, November 11, 2006

tonight is going to ROCK!

Tonight is the night I have been waiting for for MONTHS!!!! I am going to go and see


Aerosmith and Motley Crue

(note I would love to know why my "large" pictures are so small)


I love, love, LOVE both these bands. And I especially love this man...

Ahh, Tommy Lee. He's just yummy.

Tomorrow, full concert update! (and hopefully some pictures)


Friday, November 10, 2006

The Crucible has left the building...

Officially, it is all over (except of course for the mess that is left in my class). The show was a huge success. One fellow teacher even told me that another teacher told him that this was the best production of The Crucible she had ever seen. Now, I'm a bit biased, I love my kids, but the show FREAKING ROCKED!!!!!.

I have several kids who are talented beyond belief. I have a feeling I might see some of them on an awards show at some point. And I never go as far as to venture that type of compliment.

During Friday's show I had several people come up to me after the show, 2 teachers, the wife of a teacher and a student who I bumped heads with constantly when I had her in class, come up to me and tell me that the final scene made them cry. You know the one where Proctor tears his confession because it is his name and he can't have another. That his good name is more important than anything, that by signing the lie he has disgraced all those who remained silent and refused to give up the names of others just to safe their own lives. This actually happened to be my favorite scene in the whole show.

I know this scene was good when during a rehearsal all of a sudden the ensemble came quietly running into the house and sat in the front row to watch. They could feel the electricity of the scene from back stage and needed to see it. When that happens you know you have something good.

I would post pictures, but because my students are minors I really can't. You will just have to trust me...THEY ARE AMAZING!

Monday, November 06, 2006

here's a question for you...

Why doesn't the "Do Not Call" list effect the political pre-recorded messages?

Thursday, November 02, 2006

and the curtain rises

It's finally opening night.

The show is still 30 minutes too long.

Two kids don't know all their lines. Granted one of them only got the part on Monday. But that's another story.

The programs are still at the pinters.

I have no concessions.

But the show will go on.

5:00 pm call, 7:00 pm curtain. I'm excited! You?

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

WHY?

Why is it that I can't ever find the CD I am looking for?

Why is it that I finally pick out music for my show and every CD that will work is out of print?

Why is it that the crappiest movies have their CDs available (and I do mean crap) while I can't find the really good stuff?

It looks like The Crucible won't have any preshow or intermission music because I can't find anything that sounds remotely like what I want. I want the movie soundtrack by George Fenton, which is amazing. But it's out of print! I can buy it used if I can wait 6 days...oh wait the show opens in 2!

Any suggestions? I'm on the hunt!

Sunday, October 29, 2006

When?

When did cell phones become the most complicated invention on the planet?

I finally upgraded and got a new phone, Samsung, I love it...but it took me two days to figure out how to change the ringtone. That was with using the book.

While I'm at it, when did the basic ringtones start to completely suck! Suck to the point where you will spend $2.50 to have a ringtone you can stand to listen to when you get a phone call.

Okay, enough complaining...Crucible opens on Thursday. Once again, you in the area, you want to see the show, let me know, I have connections...I can hook you up.

I watched the movie this day, twice! I discovered that the commentary for this is actually worth listening to. But I will talk more about that in a later entry. All I will say is...Why didn't I think about from that angle!

Thursday, October 26, 2006

why are people dumb?

I don't understand why people are so dumb...

1. I asked students to fix our bench for Crucible. One of the side braces had come loose. I said, take a couple of screws and screw them in to the sides to hold it together.

These students decided that the entire bench needed to come apart and be fixed because the kids who had put it together before had used carpenter's glue only. I know that because I am the one who told them to do it. In theatre we use glue for everything.

Keep in mind only one brace needed to be fixed. They took the bench apart without talking to me first. They did not finish putting the bench back together by the end of the 5 hour rehearsal so they just moved all the pieces back stage (not I said back stage, implying the fact the pieces were in MY theatre).

2. During rehearsal last night I noticed the bench wasn't on stage and the kids who were working on it were sitting in the audience. I asked where the bench was which prompted an schoolwide hunt for the bench.

Apparently they had placed the bench near these huge boxes, boxes I had been asking the custodians for a month to get out of my space.

They boxes are now gone, and so is my bench. Our only assumption can be that THE CUSTODIANS THREW MY BENCH AWAY!!!!!!

I can't replace this bench. It was donated and I don't know where it was purchased. It was the perfect bench for this show. I don't have time to even look for another bench.

I am on the verg of killing someone!

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

what a day!

I continue to work through tech week as well as continue to wonder where in the world my tech crew went. I get a ton of kids who sign up and then they all disappear on me. I need to find an incentive, some motivation, some form of threat to keep them on the crew.

Yesterday was a freakin' long day. I jumped in my car at 6:00 am to hit the store before I got to school. Although for themost part I have given up caffine, I needed some yesterday - Pumpkin Latte was calling my name. I was at school by 6:30 and ready to copy the world, except BOTH copiers went down, again! I was so mad I almost shed some tears.

I explained to my drama kids that I just might have a melt down if they don't start to help with things. They want everything, great shows, competitions, festivals, talent shows, drama club, Thespian Society, but I just can't do it all. They think I am magic and can pull all the stuff we need for everything out of my butt. I hate to break it to them, I don't have magic butt, I don't pull props and scenery out of my ass!

They say they understand and are willing to help. We'll see when the next show comes up (two weeks after Crucible closes by the way).

Anyway, back to the long day. After a 4 hour rehearsal I hung around to make my copies, plus some for later. I worked a 14 hour day and am hoping to ge to school by 6:30 again today. It's department meetings today, so I won't have my morning planning time, which really sucks.

Did you notice there isn't a comlete through line in this entire entry? My brain does not have room in it for a through line! My dixie plate runneth over and bends in the middle!

Sunday, October 22, 2006

hell week is here...

It has arrived the last 8 days before a show opens and we are working like maniacs to get it ready. I am still missing a few set pieces, most of the props and the kids don't know all their lines, but hell or high water opening night will come November 2.

The kids are really excited, but I had to explain to them that I couldn't do EVERYTHING for the show and that they needed to help a bit more. I can't do all the shopping for props and such anymore, I just don't have the energy. (the English classes are killing me)

The posters go to the print shop on Monday, a week late, which is what happens when you ask a student to do the artwork. Which is wonderful, but man did it take her a long time to draw a dead tree. I'll post the picture later, she did a great job.

Costumes arrive on Monday, so that will be chaos, fun, but chaos. Then hopefully the kids will be super motivated for the final rush, at least that is the way it usually works.

On a fun note, if you live in the Fullerton area and can catch Seussical, it's great! Although I actually think it might close today.

The new Tennessee Williams opens next Friday, I think it's called Spring Storm. It's supposed to be really good. Apparently they found the play in Williams' papers in the 1990s and it's only been produced a handful of times. I know the girl playing the lead, she's great (we actually did a show together years ago). I am planning on going, I'll post an update after I see the show. But I can tell you CSUF does great work!

Have a fantabulous weekend (what's left of it), I'm off to great ready to see Sweet Charity tonight at the Pantages.

Friday, October 20, 2006

sub-what?!?

Clothing designer Nicole Miller is launching a size of clothes tentatively called "subzero". Yep, you read that right, subzero. It's designed for those teeny, tiny, waif things. I couldn't believe it when I read the article. Don't we have enough problems with body image and eating disorders in this world (especially this country).

I had a cousin who is a recovered anorexic, and know for a fact this is the LAST thing those girls need to see.

The waiste size on these plants...23 1/2 inches.

Miller stays the clothes are for naturally small women, not those way tall, way tiny, underweight model types. But you know that these clothes are going to be the status symbol of the anorexic.

It just makes me very sad that as a society we have created a sense that if you aren't a mini-sized person you are fat. I had a guy tell me once that at 5'7" 150 was too fat. I was wearing a size 8 at the time. I was devestated by that comment. I had NEVER been told I was fat.

Here is a link to the article if you want to read it. And nobody needs to be a subzero, we are all wonderful just the way we are!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15319430/site/newsweek/from/ET/

Thursday, October 12, 2006

this, that and the other...

It's been awhile. Here's a random update.

1. I feel better. The cough still lingers a bit. I'd go to the doctor, but Kaiser STILL hasn't entered me in it's system. You'd think with insurance that took effect on October 1 I would be able to see a doctor sometime around, say, OCTOBER 12!!!! But, nope, not me.

2. Herb is doing well. Although she seems a bit lathargic to me.

3. The Crucible opens in 2 1/2 weeks. Any one want to come? Should be good. Saturday is the big tech day...build, paint, build, paint...it's loads of fun. Ever try to keep 50 helium baloons off the ceiling at one time? That is what my Saturday will be like.

4. I am so overwhelmed with work and such that I feel like my head will explode! Worse than that... no one gets it! I am so overwhelmed I yelled profanities at my cast because they didn't bring my keys back to me in my classroom and I had to track them down. Now that is pretty stressed. I don't think I could appologize enough. I just snapped, and I don't like being that person. They were cute...they said everyone snaps and understood my frustration. I promised to never swear at them again (keep in mind I used to swear like a sailor).

5. On a happy note...my sweetie showed up with this bag on Wednesday...



This is what I found inside...



Yes, I ate one before I took the picture. For those of you not cupcake savey, I guess Sprinkles is like gourmet cupcakes. And let me tell you , they are pretty darn good.

What did I do to deserve these wonderful little delights....I had a birthday! I had a birthday without a cake. I mentioned I didn't get a cake to him on Saturday after we did the family birthday thing. Then on Monday I made my own cupcakes, only the box labeled "Yellow Cake" had white cake mix instead. You must understand, my FAVORITE cake is yellow cake with chocolate icing. Even making my own I didn't get what I wanted.

So, to make me feel better M went out of his way to buy me fancy cupcakes. I think he's a keeper. What do you think?

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

all I want...

is to sleep through the night. I can not continue waking up every hour coughing. Nothing is working. It is 2:00 am and I am getting dressed and heading to the pharmacy to find something that will ease my cough. I need to get some sleep. Not even the perscription cough syrup is working. I don't know how much longer I can take this.

Friday, September 29, 2006

Herb update

First, for those of you who don't know Herb is my gecko and he is sick. He has something hanging out of his butt that belongs on his inside.

Now, on with the story.

I took Herb to Dr. G (different Dr. G, the cat and dog Dr. G doesn't do reptiles).

Apparently Herb is not a "he," Herb is a "she." She will continue to be called Herb, Herb-a-licous, Lic(ous). Yes, I have always called HER those things.

Herb has been eating the sand substraight that is in the cage. This has caused a "blockage". Or at least that is what we think the problem is as of right now.

Dr. G offered to keep Herb over the weekend to monitor, adminsiter meds and to see what he could get out of her and put back in. The Dr. thinks because of the sand Herb has some hard stools and is pushing too hard to get them out, thus causing the innards to come outwards.

So, for the next 3 days I am Herb-less. It's kind of strange.

The Dr. is giving me a great deal. He had me tell him that it was a class pet, he gives teachers a deal on class pets. When I said "no" at first he told me I was supposed to lie. So, he is charging about $20 to keep her, then the med and stuff will be on top of that. Pretty cool huh?

Although I did feel really weird taking a lizard to the vet.

Keep happy thoughts coming Herb's way. I am sure she isn't going to be happy with me when she comes home on Monday.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

sick...

I hate being sick. I've been sick since Monday. Came home with a raging fever. Now it is sore throat and an ear ache. Figures it would get worse just as the insurance is changing over.

I feel like I have swallowed a can of nails.

In addition to my being sick, Herb (the gecko) needs to go to the vet. I would post a picture, but it's actually pretty gross. It looks like his insides are trying to escape through his butt. We're making an appointment tomorrow when the offices are open. Hopefully his innerds can be put back inside without too much trauma or expense.

Wish me luck.

too hot...

Will it ever cool down in Southern California? Is it going to stay hot forever?

I'm soooooo ready for some rain.

For sweaters.

For hot chocolate.

For cozy blankets.

For something other than HOT!

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

insomnia sucks

At the sound of the tone it will be...

4:53 am


(I've been up since 3:00)

Saturday, September 23, 2006

drama students are crazy

I'm probably stating the obvious here, but they are!

Let me go back a bit...

I have taught 9th grade English for 8 years. Nice little freshmen, cute freshmen, small classes of cute little freshmen.

This year I have 10th grade English. Monster size classes of nasty sophomores.

When I say nasty I mean nasty. Now, when you talk to them one-on-one they are actually nice kids. Put them in a group of 45 and they are out of control.

So needless to say I have been a raging bitch since school got underway. I can't get ahead of them, I spend too much time trying to grade papers. (Our principal ended the days of TAs to grade papers, the TAs have to be "learning" something). They don't listen to instructions, so I have to give them 45 times, once to each student. They don't want to read, they don't want to discuss, they just want to sit and stare at me.

Because I teach the Theatre classes at the end of the day they receive the wrath that is left over from the English classes. I feel bad about it, but can't seem to get into a good mood.

Now, here is where the drama students being crazy comes in...

Two students went to the store to buy supplies to ask a girl to homecoming (I don't get the having to do something creative to ask someone to a dance, but okay...).

While at Michael's they discovered there is a pet store next door. So, with the dance theme being "Under the Sea" they decide that the boy should buy the girl a fish and write the invitation to the dance on the bowl. Cute, yes.

Then they decided they needed to buy me a fish...


They named the fish "Mr. Raschal Paschal", I just call him fish.






He's a pearl fish. To me he looks a lot like a goldfish.

What in the world made them think I needed a fish?

I guess they just wanted to make me smile...It worked.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

I walked, and I walked and I walked some more...

Almost 2000 women and men walking.

100s of volunteers and crew members.

100 of people cheering.

More than 3.6 million dollars raised.

Lots of funding for a tremendous cause.

This was probably one of the most powerful experiences in my life. Yes it was hard, yes I'm sore (very sore), yes I have blisters on my feet, yes it's all worth it.

Do I plan on walking again next year...Heck yes!

And yes, that is me on the front of the Press Telegram (it's a local paper in So. Cal).


Thursday, September 14, 2006

anything for a cause

After months of fundraising, months of (not) training and lots of anticipation it's finaly here, The Avon Walk for Breast Cancer.

I will spend Saturday and Sunday walking to raise awareness of this terrible disease.

In honor of the big event I started my day looking like this...







And ended it looking like this...


If you still want to make a donation, you have until the end of Friday night to do so online.

www.avonfoundation.org

walker # 661441

I dyed my hair pink...what would you do for a good cause?

Saturday, September 09, 2006

what a week!

Completed my first almost full week of school. I am getting into the swing of things, although the kids are not happy that we are already working. What do they expect? To play games until Christmas...WRONG!

I was really worried about my Theatre 1 numbers, but got 4 new kids on Friday.

I have a student who I was told didn't speak any English (the other kids who were translating for me). That's okay, I was told they would be moving him, I said I would keep him if he wanted to stay (he doesn't). Then low-and-behold yeterday he asked me if he could go to the restroom, and then when I said I thought he couldn't speak any English he said (mind you in perfect English, no heavy accent) he couldn't. I think I've been had!

Thursday my grandma had to go in for triple by-pass surgery. That was freaking scarey. She's old. I mean if I'm old, she must be really old. Anyway, I spend Thursday evening in Los Angeles at the hospital waiting for her to come out of surgery and to make sure she was okay.

Got a phone call from my mom last night, grandma had made 6 lap around the nurse's station over the course of the day yesterday. They don't waist any time getting those cardiac patients up and moving now do they.

My mom and I are going to see her today. It should be a good visit.

My package of shirts finally arrived. Now, not only was it almost a week late, the box was all crushed and mangled. As I said before, I will NEVER use UPS again. DHL (thank you Chatty) or the US postal system from now on. If it needs to get there fast, FedEx here I come.

My sister, niece and I put the shirts on while we were at the hospital and gave my mom her's.

As well as these Paloma Picasso earrings. Notice how they look kind of like the cause ribbons?

She really liked them. It was her first "little blue box".

I'm sorry, no woman should have to wait until she is almost 60 to get a little blue box.

The best things come in that little blue box. Trust me I know. I know my Tiffany!

Speaking of the blue box. While M and I were at Tiffany to buy the earrings we were looking around the entire store. I mean you can't go to Tiffany and look at ALL of the pretty shiney stuff. We went in to the "Diamond Salon". This is where they keep the diamonds and engagement rings. M likes to have the workerbees pull out stuff for us to look at up close.

So, he has them pull out this one ring. It's kind of a bluish/gray colored diamond. The guy says we have to look at it in the viewing room because of the cost. Would you blieve I held in my hot little hands an 860,000 dollar ring! I was so scared I would lose it.

Apparently it is a blue diamond and very, very rare. If you get a chance to see a blue diamond, do. They are stunning.


So, I pretty much think that was my week in a nutshell. I hope you all had a good week.

Now it's time to do something I haven't done all week...clean my poor little house.

Friday, September 01, 2006

I hate UPS!

UPS sucks ass!

I ordered some shirts from cafepress.com, very cute cancer shirts. My sister, my niece and I were going to wear them to our end of summer bbq in honor of my mom finishing her radiation treatment.

Two days ago the shipment was set to arrive today.

Today as of 4 pm, no shipment.

Checked the tracking number, UPS rescheduled the shipment to arrive next week. Not early next week...LATE next week. How do you go from arrive on one Friday to arriving the next Friday!

I am so mad. I had all this stuff planned for the bbq to really celebrate the end of this ordeal. And now, it is all shot to shit.

We will still toast the end. I will still give her the Tiffany earrings I bought. But I won't have the shirt for her..."I beat cancer and all I got was this lousy T-shirt".

My 9-year-old niece won't have on her "my grandma kicked cancer's butt" shirt.

My sister won't have her "my mom is my hero" shirt.

While the shirt will still be cute, they won't have the punch as they would when we walked out with the chapagne wearing them.

I send UPS an angry email. And I will never use UPS again!

My new shipper of choice those guys in the yellow trucks...now if I could only remember the company name.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

I survived!

I survived the first day of school...YAY ME!

It wasn't easy at some points. I have 45 kids in each of my English 10 classes. That's a lot.

The period 4, lunch, mixed class thing was a colossal mess! Administration made an announcement that the 9th graders were to go to lunch and the uppers to go to period 4. My 9th grade period 4 students were never told to come to class. They came in after the 9th grade lunch and then got a second lunch at the end of that period because I wasn't about to give up my lunch.

It was a mess, but it should be better tomorrow. I hope!

The Advanced Drama kids were funny. And already out of control. Doing Oedipus is really going to be a shocker for them. I hope they like it.

It's going to be a great year!

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

let the chaos begin

Tomorrow morning bright and early I will begin to prepare for the rush of students who will come into my room seaking their class locator cards. Lucky for me I have the letter "D" (the "G", "L", "M", and "N" people have it rough).

I am SO not ready for school to start. But, is going to start ready or not.

The school isn't even really ready.

This year we have jumped on the Freshman Year restructuring band wagon. It is all good in theory to put 9th graders in houses. I even agree with a lot of the data, but man has our school really created a FUBAR situation.

For example, the freshman have a separate lunch(with a different bell schedule), part of which is designed to enable them to attend mandatory tutoring if they have a "D" or and "F". They will not eat with the upper classes. Now, here is the rub, I teach beginning drama period 4, I have freshmen in period 4, freshmen lunch is during period 4, my drama students need to be outside to rehearse during period 4. Do you see the problems yet? think...

If you guessed, freshmen can't go to lunch during their class, that the class can't rehearse outside because it campus is full of freshmen you have guessed correct.

I sought adminstrative guidance on how to deal with these problems. Here are the answers...

1. These freshmen will eat with the upper classes.
2. My drama class will rehearse in the theatre and the grassy area in front of the school.

I'm fine with this. But doesn't the freshmen eating lunch with the upperclassmen defeat the purpose of separating them from the upperclassmen in the first place?

I'm so confused.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

one sleepy girl...

After the incident on Sunday, and drinking way too much wine and staying up way too late I had to report to work on Monday morning.

If we taught our classes the way they ran our first staff meeting we would all be fired. It was awful. One data rich/information poor powerpoint after another. Much of it stuff that we have been told before. It really was painful.

Then I had to drag my sorry ass to the Dave Matthews Band concert at the Hollywood Bowl. I didn't even know if I liked DMB, but I apprently do. I had a great time, although I was very, very, very tired. He puts on one hell of a good show.

Now, I am up and running, ready for the next set of meetings and some classroom prep time. I can't beleive I will have students on Thursday!

YIKES!

I have a lot to do.

Where did the summer go?

Sunday, August 27, 2006

ARGH!!!

Ok, I know I have named several posts the same thing, but damn, I'm angry.

M and I got into an argument tonight.

I don't feel like I have done anything wrong.

I don't feel like he has done anything wrong.

We just don't see eye to eye.

He is complaining that I dont' want him to hang with my friends.

He is complaining about friends who I don't see very often.

Is it wrong of me to want to spend a little bit of time with them before I bring him into to the mix. Just to get the connection flowing again?

For example, I have a friend, a friend who has gone through a MAJOR life change (long story, really not my place to tell). and I have seen her 4 times in the past 2 - 3 years. He is upset because I haven't made a point of setting up a time for them to meet. Keep in mind that while we love each other, we don't make a huge effort to see each other.

My feeling is, we don't spend that much time together to begin with, if you get to meet her great. If not, she must not be that important. (d0n't get me wrong, I love this girl, but we aren't that close).

Am I making sense or has the wine taken over (the wine that I will regret tomorrow morning has I have to get up and start work after 2 months off).

It's not that I don't want him to meet her, it's that she and I don't spend that much time together to begin with. Why get upset about it?

Am I being stupid or his he being a nutty boy?

There's a second story, I'll make it short. I have a friend. A really good friend. We had a falling out and have recently gotten reconnected. I wanted the first few times (exact number - 3), we got together to be about she and I restarting our friendship. He is upset that he hasn't been invited out on these outtings. Mind out one of them was a bachelortte party for a friend of my friends, who I met once, and he was working.

The more I think about it, the more I think he just doesn't trust me when I am out with my friends, Maybe he needs a good ass kicking. Maybe I'm just crazy....

I hate feeling like this. It make me drink a lot of wine, and I mean A LOT of wine. and then I feel crapy the next day as well.

What are your humble opinions? I promis not to get mad. (at least not too mad).

Am I crazy, or is he just being very posessive.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Mother of the Year


Mother of the Year

In a zoo in California, a mother tiger gave birth to a rare set oftriplet tiger cubs. Unfortunately, due to complications in thepregnancy, the cubs were born prematurely and due to their tiny size,they died shortly after birth.The mother tiger after recovering from the delivery, suddenly startedto decline in health, although physically she was fine. Theveterinarians felt that the loss of her litter had caused the tigress to fall into adepression. The doctors decided that if the tigress could surrogateanother mother's cubs, perhaps she would improve.After checking with many other zoos across the country, the depressing news was that there were no tiger cubs of the right age to introduce tothe mourning mother. The veterinarians decided to try something tha thad never been tried in a zoo environment. Sometimes a mother of onespecies will take on the care of a different species. The only orphans"that could be found quickly, were a litter of weaner pigs. The zookeepers and vets wrapped the piglets in tiger skin and placed thebabies around the mother tiger. Would they become cubs or pork chops??Take a look........ you won't believe your eyes!!








"When you do the common things in life in an uncommon way,
You command the attention of the world"

Training

So, I have the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer coming up in 3 weeks. I was very excited about the training when it all started, but then I had the unfortunate incident with the ladder and had to stop walking. That is where my motivation train was derailed.

I haven't really trained all summer! Don't ask what I did all summer, although I know I was busy with travel and family issues, I really don't know where the summer went.

Realizing that the walk is 3 weeks away I have started training. Small for now, 2-3 miles a day. That is until today...I got less than a half mile away from the house and my ankle was screaming with pain. Not the usual shin pain that I just work through, this was my ankle and I have no wordly idea why. I turned around and figured if it still hurt really bad when I hit my street I would just go home, but hopefully it would stop and I could continue my walk in the other direction. I was hard pressed to make it to my house.

The pain is starting to ease. But I'm concerned...how the hell am I going to be able to walk 40 miles in two days with three weeks of training? Am I being delusional? Do you think it's possible that I will be able to get enough training in to make it? I think I have between 8 and 10 hours to finish the first day (26 miles), maybe longer. Or did the lack of motivation after I was released to walk again doom my efforts?

I figure I will try to walk again later today when it starts to cool down and see how the ankle feels. I was really looking forward to the 3 miles today (kind of scarey, huh?)

Hey, if you want to donate to my walk fund log on to www.avonwalk.org and look up participant number 661411. You donation would do so much to help those suffering with Breast Cancer as well as help to find a cure.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

interesting stuff

Found this through Chatty's blog and found it just too interesting not to post here.

I'd just link to the article, except I don't know how, but here is the website http://www.beloit.edu/~pubaff/mindset/


BELOIT COLLEGE'S MINDSET LIST® FOR THE CLASS OF 2010

Members of the class of 2010, entering college this fall, were mostly born in 1988. For them: Billy Carter, Lucille Ball, Gilda Radner, Billy Martin, Andy Gibb, and Secretariat have always been dead.

1. The Soviet Union has never existed and therefore is about as scary as the student union.

2. They have known only two presidents.

3. For most of their lives, major U.S. airlines have been bankrupt.

4. Manuel Noriega has always been in jail in the U.S.

5. They have grown up getting lost in "big boxes."

6. There has always been only one Germany.

7. They have never heard anyone actually "ring it up" on a cash register.

8. They are wireless, yet always connected.

9. A stained blue dress is as famous to their generation as a third-rate burglary was to their
parents'.

10. Thanks to pervasive headphones in the back seat, parents have always been able to speak freely in the front.

11. A coffee has always taken longer to make than a milkshake.

12. Smoking has never been permitted on U.S. airlines.

13. Faux fur has always been a necessary element of style.

14. The Moral Majority has never needed an organization.

15. They have never had to distinguish between the St. Louis Cardinals baseball and football
teams.

16. DNA fingerprinting has always been admissible evidence in court.

17. They grew up pushing their own miniature shopping carts in the supermarket.

18. They grew up with and have outgrown faxing as a means of communication.

19. "Google" has always been a verb.

20. Text messaging is their email.

21. Milli Vanilli has never had anything to say.

22. Mr. Rogers, not Walter Cronkite, has always been the most trusted man in America.

23. Bar codes have always been on everything, from library cards and snail mail to retail items.

24. Madden has always been a game, not a Superbowl-winning coach.

25. Phantom of the Opera has always been on Broadway.

26. "Boogers" candy has always been a favorite for grossing out parents.

27. There has never been a "skyhook" in the NBA.

28. Carbon copies are oddities found in their grandparents' attics.

29. Computerized player pianos have always been tinkling in the lobby.

30. Non-denominational mega-churches have always been the fastest growing religious
organizations in the U.S.

31. They grew up in mini-vans.

32. Reality shows have always been on television.

33. They have no idea why we needed to ask "...can we all get along?"

34. They have always known that "In the criminal justice system the people have been
represented by two separate yet equally important groups."

35. Young women's fashions have never been concerned with where the waist is.

36. They have rarely mailed anything using a stamp.

37. Brides have always worn white for a first, second, or third wedding.

38. Being techno-savvy has always been inversely proportional to age.

39. "So" as in "Sooooo New York," has always been a drawn-out adjective modifying a proper
noun, which in turn modifies something else

40. Affluent troubled teens in Southern California have always been the subjects of television
series.

41. They have always been able to watch wars and revolutions live on television.

42. Ken Burns has always been producing very long documentaries on PBS.

43. They are not aware that "flock of seagulls hair" has nothing to do with birds flying into it.

44. Retin-A has always made America look less wrinkled.

45. Green tea has always been marketed for health purposes.

46. Public school officials have always had the right to censor school newspapers.

47. Small white holiday lights have always been in style.

48. Most of them never had the chance to eat bad airline food.

49. They have always been searching for "Waldo."

50. The really rich have regularly expressed exuberance with outlandish birthday parties.

51. Michael Moore has always been showing up uninvited.

52. They never played the game of state license plates in the car.

53. They have always preferred going out in groups as opposed to dating.

54. There have always been live organ donors.

55. They have always had access to their own credit cards.

56. They have never put their money in a "Savings & Loan."

57. Sara Lee has always made underwear.

58. Bad behavior has always been getting captured on amateur videos.

59. Disneyland has always been in Europe and Asia.

60. They never saw Bernard Shaw on CNN.

61. Beach volleyball has always been a recognized sport.

62. Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti have always been luxury cars of choice.

63. Television stations have never concluded the broadcast day with the national anthem.

64. LoJack transmitters have always been finding lost cars.

65. Diane Sawyer has always been live in Prime Time.

66. Dolphin-free canned tuna has always been on sale.

67. Disposable contact lenses have always been available.

68. "Outing" has always been a threat.

69. Oh, The Places You'll Go by Dr. Seuss has always been the perfect graduation gift.

70. They have always "dissed" what they don't like.

71. The U.S. has always been studying global warming to confirm its existence.

72. Richard M. Daley has always been the Mayor of Chicago.

73. They grew up with virtual pets to feed, water, and play games with, lest they die.

74. Ringo Starr has always been clean and sober.

75. Professional athletes have always competed in the Olympics.

Cheers!



Kyle I hope you had a very happy birthday...Here's to many, many more!

Now, I'm off to have a glass of wine in your honor!

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

have you met...


Have you met Miss Abby Cadabby?


After something like 30 years Sesame Street has created a new character. She is a preschooler named Abby Cadabby, she is the daughter of a fairy godmother and is a fairy in training. She moves on to the "Street" and is filled with wonder at her new world.

I am so excited, I can't wait to catch an episode of Sesame Street and hopefully get to see her. This is so big NPR interviewed her! Now that's big!

wine


This is an area in my living room. This does not include the box in the hall closet or the wine in the two different wine racks.


Yes, I like my wine.

Friday, August 18, 2006

MEN!

The man who is doing my refinance is an idiot! Why this man thinks I will sign the title documents without knowing the following is beyond me...

1. What type of loan is it?
2. What is the interest rate?
3. What will my payment be?
4. Why the hell is it for almost twice what I owe on the house?

Now, I may be blonde, I may not understand all the finance crap, but I do know not to sign a document involving money when I don't have all the answers.

And to make it worse...this guy is a friend of mine! Some friend!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

no....I don't wanna go.....

Yikes, only one week left before I have to head back to school! Not that I don't love my job, not that I don't love my students, not that I don't love directing plays...I just don't wanna go back yet.

I feel like this summer has been a whirl-wind of a ride. Between lots of travel (not all of it fun), a death in the family, and the dentist visit from hell, it seems like I haven't done anything productive.

I still need to buy clothes to start the year, finish planning theatre for first quarter, start planning for my new 10th graders, do my background work on the two fall productions, read stuff for the musical, and my room, let's not even talk about the state of my classroom. I stuck my head in today while at a meeting...wholey cow! The custodians waxed my floor, fab! They have not put the desks/tables back down on th floor, they are still on my stage. I can't do anything! But I love my newly waxed floor!

I suppose I shouldn't be here rambling...I should be getting ready for the real estate appraiser to come on Friday. With the state my house is in, he won't get past the front door! GRRR!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Camping


We had the opportunity to go camping this week. If you have never camped at the beach I highly recommend it. M and I took his youngest daughter, B, with us to camp with my aunt, cousin, nieces and my BIL. We had a great time.

It is a sort of family tradition to camp at Carpenteria State Beach (when we can actually get a site). The beach is nice and we can walk in to town for dinner, which is what we did all three nights. I mean why cook when you can have margaritas at Cabos and pizza at Rusty's.

The kids all got along so well. Playing in the surf and sand, doing skits and singing WAY too many camp songs. I took this as a good sign. B normally doesn't go to many of my family functions, so she really doesn't know the kids. But to watch her fit in so well with my family was really nice.

After three days in the sand and dirt we came home and I immediately started getting ready for the school year. It was nice to get in one last trip before the end of summer.

What was your last adventure?