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?