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!

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.

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/

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?

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.

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.

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!

insomnia sucks

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

4:53 am


(I've been up since 3:00)

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.

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).

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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.

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.

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!

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.

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!

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!

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?

and people ask why

I am tired of hearing people ask why we are fighting a war against terrorism. I am tired of people bashing our president. I am tired of hearing people bad mouth our military personnel.

Too often people forget that we have to fight for what we have. We can't take it for granted.

This was sent to me today as a reminder of how important it is to never forget. We are lucky to live in this country. With our freedoms, where we can make choices, where we can make a better life for ourselves.

Don't ever forget that there are those who would like to take those things away.

http://www.olivetreeviews.org/topics/movies/attack.html

shopping success?

Well, I found some pants. I won't post a picture of them. They are pretty standard black pants.

I also found shoes that will work. They are not the absolutely fab black strapy heals I was hoping for, but there is always tomorrow. And at least I don't have the stress.

So, picture these...

With this...

With a pair of black pants.

What do you think?

blah, blah, blah

Is it wrong to not want to give my darling BF my blog? There is something that tells me to not let him read it. Keep it (relatively) private. I don't know why it's so important to him to see it. And if I show it to him, can I still rant about him when he pisses me off?

How can one person own so much crap? As I look around my house I can not believe I have so much stuff. How did I ever live with someone? I have enough stuff to fill my two bedroom house and the garage. How does that happen?

Why am I going to my 20 year reunion? I didn't like most ot the people I went to school with. They didn't seem to like me. My real friends were in other grades. And my real friends now didn't go to high school with me. I must just really be a glutton for punishment to want to go back to those times.

Why is it noon and I am still still in my bathrobe and towel when I should be dressed and out looking for the perfect pants to wear to the reunion. I found the perfect top, just need pants and maybe a splurge on some really cool strappy black heals.

where or where has my mojo gone...

oh, where oh where could it be. I have the table set up, the tools out, pictures printed, paper selected, ebelishments available, and I can't get going. I want to get my China scrapbook done by Friday (come on, it's do-able, it will only have 300 pictures in it).

I like the way the front page turned out, but can't get it together beyond that. I started with a plan. I even went as far as punching out all the letters for the titles and running them through the sticker machine. Then I added a third color to the book, now some of the titles won't work in the color I punched. Now, I suppose I could just punch them again in the other color, but that would be wasteful. And with as much money has I have been spending I don't want to waste paper or sticker stuff. I could lay all the pages out the same, then the letters would work. But is that boring? It would make the process go by A LOT faster. But then do I look uncreative? ARGH!!!! Why do I like this hobby? It makes me crazy, it has come so far with so much "stuff" I don't feel free to create, I feel paralized by the "stuff." HELP!!!

Here is the cover page, what do you think? Excuse the quality, my scanner would work for the size, so I took a picture.

Revenge taken a step too far

About a week ago I stumbled onto a blog by a woman who was seeking revenge on her cheating husband (I am sure many of you have read her blog, if you haven't I'm not passing it on).

It started out kind of fun and entertaining, but then got down right mean and nasty. I feel for the woman. Her life was torn apart. But to seek revenge to the degree that she did is a bit unacceptable in my book. She went as far as doing a couple of things that I believe are illegal. She pulled the in-laws into the mix, that is where I started to not feel so bad for this lady. The in-laws didn't have anything to do with the husband's cheating ways. Why hurt them? She got co-workers and clients involved by sending them emails in the husband's name. Why get these innocent people involved?

She just got so carried away and hurtful that it went from funny to downright scary.

In life we all hurt our share of people we love and who love us. Sometimes it's intentional, most of the time it's not. I just hope that we are all more forgiving/understanding/willing to let it go than this woman was.

Not saying she needs to forgive him. Take him to cleaners in divorce court (I don't think she lives in a "no-fault" state). But don't drag the world into your rage. You need to take out some revenge...go ahead...but know where to draw the line.

She definitely did not know where to draw the line.

Some more on China

Okay, I know I'm giving you China in tiny bits at a time...but there's a lot to tell. Like, after visiting China I will never, and I mean NEVER, complain about a public rest room again (and that includes beach bathrooms, and those who visit the beach often know what I mean).

The public rest rooms in China have got to be the worst on the planet. If there are worse one's I don't think I want to visit there.

First off they use these funky squat toilets.

Not too big of a deal, except for the few days following the Great Wall. I had trouble getting off a chair, so squatting was out. There was usually one "western" toilet in each public "toilet" (yes, they don't have rest rooms, they gave toilets).

Second, most of the time there wasn't any paper provided. So, I spent a lot of time rolling mini-rolls in my hotel rooms (which, thankfully, had western style toilets).

Third, the sinks were usually in a little area between the men's and women's. Not that I mind sharing, but (fourth problem) the stench was enough to kill an elephant. I really don't think they ever clean them. There was one that looked nice, but the smell wafted out about 40 - 50 feet from the entrance. I thought I was going to pass out, but had no choice, the next chance would be 2-3 hours later.

This really was my only issue with China. Like I said before...I had a great time! I recommend it to anyone...In fact if your interested I could hook you up with the travel group I went with. It's a great deal, and big ole' bucket of fun.

Note: the picture was taken in a restaurant...just as this lovely Chinese woman walked in.

how rude

When I set up a meeting or appointment with someone I show up on time, and usually at least 1o minutes early. I expect to wait those 10 minutes, I don't expect to be seen early (but if you can great). I don't even expect to be seen right at the appointed time, I don't mind waiting a few minutes.

What I hate is when I show up, the receptionist has to track the person I'm supposed to meet down. When found he/she is at another meeting, away from the office and will be another 30 - 40 minutes. I especially hate this when the last time I met with the same person he was 30 minutes late.

Want to know what makes it worse...When I come back an hour later and this person still isn't in the office and hasn't bothered to call me or the receptionist to tell me I should just head home because he isn't going to make it back. All this should be happening with extreme amounts of groveling for forgiveness because I had to drive 30 minutes to get to the office and now have to fight traffic all the way home without having accomplished a thing.

It's even worse when 2 hours after the appointed meeting time, I still haven't gotten a phone call explaining to me WHY I HAD TO DRIVE ALL THE WAY TO HIS OFFICE FOR NOTHING~

Maybe I need to find someone else to do my refi?

Rock Star

Last summer I was absolutely glued to the TV for Rock Star: INXS. I mean I would get upset if M expected me to miss a night. This year...not so much. I really find the talent lacking. There are a few perks to watching, Dave Navarro and Tommy Lee, but other than that...whatever.

The Great Wall

On my first full day in China one of the many things we did was visit the Great Wall. This was one of the highlights of the trip. To walk on a structure that was built before the US existed was so amazing. And to think of the fact that they didn't have the technology available today...WOW!

The climb was a bit difficult. The steps were very rustic and did not follow a standard rise/tread pattern. So you might have several normal size steps then one huge step. This really wasn't a problem on the way up...but on the way down, whoa! The grade of the climb was also very steep, again not bad going up, very scary going down.

If given the chance I would totally climb the wall again. In fact if we would have had more time, I would have climbed higher. I may not have made it to the top, but I can say that I made it high enough to be considered a hero, according to our guide, Richard.

The views from the wall were spectacular! I could not believe how green China is. It is greatly attributed to the humidity. And let me tell you, was it humid.




The tower we climbed to is just below the one you see in the center top. They kind of blend together.







Here is a picture of the group of us who actually made it to this level. If we look drippy it's because we just climb a bucket load of stairs in 90 degree weather with at least 90% humidity. We were drippy, but it was so worth it.

in the great sceme of things

I think mom trumps daughter in the realm of funeral. Today was R's funeral and although the service was nice there were some things just plain PISSED ME OFF. First, K (R's daughter) didn't tell the minister officiating that there were two sons! Second, she didn't tell the minister there was a fiance! My family was so offended, at first M told me not to say anything to the minster (he knows how I can be when it comes to my mom), but when other people mentioned it after I had to say something. I was nice, I just walked up to him and said..."excuse me, I just wanted to let you know that R was engaged to be married...to my mom!" He didn't even know. He appoligized and then said he would recognize her at the grave side service. I am so glad I didn that because in the car, my mom said she was a little hurt that she hadn't been mentioned. She wanted everyone to know that R had plans for his future.

I talked to R's mom and sister, they are both very upset with K's behavior. So are at least one niece and nefew of R's. They think K and the boys should be giving more to my mom. In fact his mom feels they should give everything to her and let her decide who gets what. At the after reception K was already talking about how she was going to spend the money she was getting from this. Her exact words "I'm fortunate enough to have come into this money...so I'm going to law school." She was fortunate enough to have her father die! It's just sick! Here we all are grieving the loss of a great man and all she can do is talk about the money. I could go on and on about the little things that she did to make this day even harder....but I won't. But to give you an indication of her...someone stoped the minister and mentioned that R had two sons and one was there...the minister appreciated the information K and her "best friend" rolled their eyes. Keep in mind this is just one in the long line of things today that said she is only focused on the dollar signs.

Could someone please come and slap this girl!

China, part 1

This will be the first of many posts about my trip to China. Let me start with...WOW! I had such an incredible time. It was so amazing to see things that were built before the US was even a glimmer in someone's eye.

The posts won't follow any particular order of the trip, just what I feel like talking about at the time. Tonight I feel like talking about the hotels.

I had been warned that the Chinesse 4 star hotel would be very different from the US 4 star hotel. It was...it was better. The hotels where amazing, we even stayed at a Howard Johnson, and let me tell you it was WAY better than any HoJo's have have even seen.

The only problem was the beds were like rocks! Or at least I thought this was a problem until I realized my back wasn't bothering me, even after all the walking we were doing. My back has bothered me more since getting home than it did the entire trip. There must really be something to those rock hard beds.

Every hotel also had silk comforters. Those are amazing. I didn't buy any while in China, but plan to if I ever go back. I won't buy them here, they only cost about $60 there.

Here are the rooms I stayed in...

Bejing

Suzhou



Hangzhou


Shanghai

Pretty nice, huh?

!@%#^%#@

My sleep clock is completely fucked up! Between the time difference in China, R's death, the stress of the fucking theiving sons and ex-wife coming to town and hoping my mom at least gets the things she wants from his house I'm going fucking nuts.

***note the use of profanity, I must be stressed.

We weren't finished with him

Last night my mom's fiance, R, passed away. He's the one with the brain tumor discovered just a couple weeks ago. He had been in and out of the hospital for the past few weeks. And he died suddenly last night at home.

I just don't understand why this had to happen. And don't tell me that god has his reasons for everything. This was mean and hurtful! We weren't finished with him, my mom wasn't finished with him. They had so many plans for their future, they were so happy together. And now he's just gone. He was one of the best men I had ever met. He stood by mom mom when she got her cancer, he took her to treatment, sat with her in the hospital and made sure she was okay when the chemo made her sick. They didn't deserve to go through this, my mom doesn't deserve this. Everyone always says to pray to god for things...well, I did pray, alot...and he died anyway. He died too soon. We knew that things didn't look good, but it was sudden, and mean and hurtful.

To make matters worse, there isn't a power of attorney (the day mom was scheduled to take him to the lawyer he ended up in emergency), so she won't get anything. She is having to ask if certain things are found if she could have them, because maybe they were gifts she had bought for him. I know he would want to have more, he would want her taken care of. But there won't be a thing. And I know this isn't the important thing, but it matters. Thankfully, R's daughter K, wants my mom involved in the funeral plans, that's a good sign that maybe, just maybe, they will think of her as family when they start going through everything.

We all felt as though he was part of our family. We loved him and we weren't ready to let him go. I hadn't seen him in a week because I was in China. I saw him the day before I left. I visited in the hospital, but a short visit, I was in a rush to get home and finish getting ready to for the trip. I should have stayed and visited longer, he was kind of himself that day. He hadn't been himself for weeks. I should have visited longer, maybe I shouldn't have gone on my trip, I don't know. But I wasn't ready to let him go.

My mom had gone to lunch with a friend after spending the morning visiting with him. After lunch she wen't home to take a nap. When she got up she called and asked if he wanted more company, he said yes and seemed fine. When she arrived at his house a whole 5 minutes later, he was in the bathroom, and then he was gone. She didn't even get to see him again, she didn't get a kiss or to say "I love you".

My niece, J, was teaching him how to be a grandpa. She's on OR with her dad camping. She doesn't even know yet. It's going to devestate her. She was so excited to have Grandpa R.

It's devestated us all. We just weren't finished with him.

How?

How do you pack up 30 years of memories and life and move it to another state?

With a lot of pain, stress and grief.

Sunday my sister's family and I left owr homes and drove 5 hours to the middle of Nowhere, California to help our dad and his wife pack my grandmother for a move to Phoenix.

Grandma has lived in her current home for 30 years, up until 10 years ago with Grandma V (who was a gardner and carpenter). Now, this week will end an era. Almost like closing a book, at least that is the way she looks at it.

As we packed things into boxes and tried to get her to part with anything she felt as though we were ripping her life away. The smallest of items had meaning. There were empty jars, boxes and boxes of empty jars, apparently for canning, that needed to be thrown away. Tons of yard sale items that had no meaning to anyone in the family and the only meaning to her was that she could make a buck. Boxes of fabric that could not be gotten rid of.

Whether this is a by product of living in very poor times or greed we don't know. What we do know is that this is tearing her appart. She would stash things in her tiny bedroom, knowing full well we would end up in there eventually.

She bad mouthed us anytime she couldn't find something, sure we had thrown something away, something of value, only to find it in some shape or form completly different from what she had us looking for. She felt as though we were conspiring against her. This made it much harder on all of us. We were all at our wits end. We were there to help, not to hurt.

But when it really comes down to it, how do you pack up 30 years of memories and happiness? How do you let go of the "stuff" and keep what is truely important. This is hard for her. I wish there was some way to help her see that we aren't trying to tear her life from her, we are trying to tear away the clutter so the memories and precious things can shine through. That we aren't trying to close her book, but help her start her new chapter. A chapter that she can enjoy with friends and family.


*I have photos, but blogger won't let me upload them...they will come later.

dreams

I'm not talking about the kind that you have for your future or the future of your children. I'm talking about the kind that you have during that hour when you alarm clock went off and the time you actually wake up from said dream.

This morning I had a dream about anothe ex-boyfriend (yes, he too had become a very dear friend). We lost touch when he got married. I don't think it was because of his wife (if it was I wish he would have told me that), I think it was just life that caused us to forget to keep in touch.

Anyway, this dream...my friend C and I are at a party, a Disney party (I don't know why, she never worked there and I haven't for 11 years) and from across the room I recognize T's voice. I race over and receive a big hug and we proceed to lay on the floor and catch up (kinda, it's more like catching up and hearing the stuff I have always thought would be going on with his life at various times), during this catching up he tells me they are having a baby. I am very excited for him, he shows me the really cool theatrical lighting they are putting in the baby's room and then I wake up.

It's crazy. It could be because I have been thinking about tracking people down I don't know. I would want to get in touch with T again because he was one of my few grounding forces. He kept me in reality. I have such wonderful memories of dating him and being his friend (and when we were dating most of the time it was more like being friends). He introduced me to hockey and a great group of friends. He taught me that you could have fun anyplace and that spending time with friends and loved ones is important. Just enjoy them...they won't always be there.

T was there for me early on when my marriage was breaking up. We would talk on the phone for hours. He would help me see the brighter side, pointing out that even if it didn't work out it wouldn't be the end of the world. He was a wonderful friend and I would love to be in touch with him again.


*I have noticed a trend here...the last three entries have been about friends. I must be feeling a need right now. Now, to just figure out exactly what that need is.

the god of goldfish

Today I had the wonderful opportunity to spend some time with an ex-boyfriend, who had become a friend and then we lost touch. We will just call him "the god of goldfish" (it's a long story and an old nickname).

I would say it has been 10-11 years since I have seen the god of goldfish, easy. And it was like we had seen each other a few months ago. He is a great guy and is doing very well for himself.

Many people find it either hard or inapporpriate for ex's to remain friends. I disagree, I think it can be healthy, if handled as it should be...as friends. I don't like to go around not liking people (although there are a few). I don't want to best buddies with these ex's, but I do like the occassional lunch, email or phone call. The one that just lets me know how he's doing, if he's happy and what's going on. I mean these people once held a very special place in my heart, that doesn't always just go away. And with this particular person the breakup wasn't bad, it just wasn't working.

When I tracked down the god of goldfish, I was inadvertantly connected with his brother (who goes by the same name, it's his middle and the g-o-g's first name, hence the confusion by the uncle who got my letter), but I knew this brother well so it was nice to catch up.

When I finally got the real thing I was very happy to find out that he had gotten married and his wife was expecting. The only sadness came because I hadn't been in touch sooner so I could have shared in his special moment. At this time we had exchanged emails, phone numbers and spent the greater part of an hour talking. After that it became a few emails. After almost two years I nailed him down to a lunch date, only if it was going to be okay with his wife. The last thing I want to do is cause problems for him, I mean this guy is really happy with his wife. He said she would be fine with it and today was the big day.

Four hours later I finally left his office. We had an amazing visit. I got to see pictures of all of his kids (they recently had another baby, making it 4. A step daughter, twin girls and then the baby boy), the wife, trips they had taken and various siblings I had known. We had a great meal and enjoyed catching up on the happenings of the past 10 years. I hope that this friendship can continue to grow and that I will have the opportunity to meet his wife and the kids in person.

I love reconnecting with old friends. I wish I could make it happen more often. There are so many people I would love to see or just talk to. Perhaps that would be a good goal...reconnect with at least one friend each month and make a commitment to keep in touch. What do you think?

...

7 DAYS UNTIL CHINA!!!

good friends, margaritas and carnitas

Last night I had my best friend (C) and her husband (D) over for dinner with M and I. Since C an I do the exact same thing for a living we never get to see each other during the school year. Drama teachers are crazy busy that way. The last two days we have hour long phone conversations, which has been great, but considering we live less than 5 minutes from each other it doesn't make sense that we don't get together.

So, I had made my first attempt at making carnitas (which turned out very good), and knowing M and I couldn't eat all if it, I invited C and D for dinner. And much to my pleasure they were able to come.

We had a wonderful time sitting on the back patio, trying to keep Stoli out of our faces while we ate and chatted for a couple of hours. Spending this time with C & D reminded me how much I really enjoy them, as individuals and as a couple. D is the first husband of a friend were when I call to talk to her, if she isn't home he and I will talk for a good 20 minutes before I ask to have her call me.

I have know C since college. We hit it off pretty quickly and became friends right away. For the most part during that time it was a pretty casual friendship, as we got further into the direct study of Theatre Education we became closer and closer (there were only 4 Theatre Ed majors in the department). We had a lot of classes together. In fact there are a couple that I could not have passed without her help as a study buddy. And there are times where she couln't have gotten by without me knowing when all the tests and assignments were, I always had penciles and paper.

We have continued to grow our friendship over the years. She was the maid of honor in my wedding and my main support system during my divorce. She has reasured me in times of doubt regarding my decisions and helped me see how much the marriage was killing my spirit in the end. She has pointed out how much of a stronger person I am now and how I had lost myself for a long time. Through everything she hasn't pushed, but rather pointed out the facts of various situations. She is always the first person I call in a crisis and in when I have happy news.

She is passionate and insightful. She feels deeply and strongly. She is talented and artistic. She is funny, caring and understanding.

I am so thankful that I have C in my life. I can only hope that I have been as good of a friend to her as she has been to me.

and the medical chaos continues

Stoli - the new blood work came back. Apparently the antibotics are doing the trick because they didn't say anything about having the very expensive ultrasound and biopsy done. The Dr just wants to continue the first antibiotic and put him on a special perscription diet and retest in a month. That makes me feel a lot better about delaying the expensive stuff.

R - My mom's fiance has finally come home, although he has to see a nuerosurgeon this week. There still isn't really any word on what type of brain tumor he has and he is still pretty confused because of the presure being put on his brain. We are all hoping for the best and that when this is all over we get the old R back, because he really is a great guy.

Mom - her final round of the "T" chemo has really knocked her down. She is feeling more tired than ever. But the chemo is done, she will finish out 52 treatments of Herceptin and have radiation, then sometime after that we should know if they killed every last cancer cell in her body. We are all staying very positive about this.

My turn - went to have my leg checked, it was supposed to be the last time. The scab came off yesterday. Now, this was not your normal scab offing...I didn't pick at it, it hadn't been flaking off for days, I just tried putting some neosporin on it and the scab just slid right off, in one piece. So, when I went to the doctor for the appointment it looked a bit raw, but felt fine. The Dr (or should I say PA) is concerned because it should be healed by now, it's been two months. She says it doesn't matter how bad the stitches were done, it should be finshed healing by now. We took a culture of what she assumed was puss (I know kind of gross) and sent it out for testing. I got back next Monday to see why I'm not healed. My feeling on this, I'm not healed because my body isn't finished healing.

the frustrations of medicine

Last week (Wednesday or Thursday, I can't remember) my mom's fiance, R, had to be taken to the hospital. He was very disoriented and confused, almost in a coma type state. He is diabetic and his blood sugar was high, but apparently that wasn't causing the problem.

It has taken until yesterday for them to figure out that he has some kind of brain tumor. That is all the information we have. And because R and my mom aren't married yet, and there isn't any paperwork stating she should be told everything, getting information is tough. R is still very confused about everything, so when the Dr. tells him stuff, it may not get to my mom in it's full and complete form.

We are hoping for the results on the MRI tomorrow. Although we aren't sure how we will get them because by the time my mom gets off work the Dr. has gone home and the nurses can't tell her anything. ARGH!

On a lighter note...R isn't much for following rules. On Sunday my mom went to visit him and he had already had his dinner. Well, with the state of hospital food he was still hungry. He got up, got dressed and proceeded to tell my mom he was going to get something to eat. My mom told him he couldn't just walk out of the hospital (the cafeteria was closed), his only response was "you think?" He did in fact walk out of the hospital and walk over to Denny's to have dinner with my mom. Then proceeded to talk back into the hospital, return to his room and ask the nurse for a new gown because they had taken his away.

And I always wondered how hospitals could loose patients...Now we know.

Good fun

Today C and I went to the Pantages in LA to see Joseph. I really enjoyed myself. I had not had the opportunity to see this show in the past so it was all new to me.

I am not sure if this was a traditional interpretation of Webber's work, but man was it fun. I must now own the CD, because I'm a theatre lover and must own the CD to every musical I have ever seen (except Rent, that is the biggest piece of crap ever, but that's another story).

If you don't know the play is the story of Joseph (duh!), but it has a lot of fun music and interesting costumes. It was really cool, the finale' was called "Joseph Megamix" and it was a super uptempo mix of every major song in the show and highlighted all the performers doing what they did best. I high recommend seeing Joseph if you should get the chance.

The only sad part of my day...I lost one of my favorite anklets. It was on my leg when C and left from lunch and gone by intermission. We traced back our steps but it's gone. I loved this anklet, just because it was cute, it had special meaning. M bought it for me on one of our trips to Temecula. Now, those who really know me would say "everything you own is special to you" and I would have to agree. But that's why giving me presents is so much fun...I love them, I charish them, I hold them dear to my heart and when they get damaged, lost, broken...I get upset. The item was special because you thought of me and bought me the item.

I called M and told him I lost it and that I was sad. He said to not be sad, that it gave him an excuse to buy me another something special. Oh, just another reason why I love this man.

Call me petty...

So, last week I get an email from my former in-laws, they want to make a donation to my Avon walk fund. That's great, it's nice to see they still care a bit. They opt to mail me a check and have me send it to Avon as opposed to donating online. That's fine, online money dealings freak some people out, no biggie.

Well, I got the check today. It is a very small check (which is not the issue). It is just a check. Yep, just a check, no note saying "Hi, here's the check we said we would send. Love, R & S". N0, "Hi, here's the check. Hope your mom is doing well." No, "Here's your damn money. Thanks for leaving our son, you stupid bitch". Nothing. If they want to hate me that's fine, but include a note with your check. It's a nice thing to do!

The juices aren't flowin'

I feel this great urge to do something crafty, but everytime I start to take some thing out to work on...I just don't feel it.

I want to scrap, can't decide on pictures, paper, colors, embelishments...nothing.

I want to make cards, can't decide on themes, paper, colors, embelishments...nada.

I want to sew, but that's a lot of work.

I want to glass (yes, I do leaded glass), can't decided on designs, colors of glass...blank.

I want to knit, anything but a scarf...unfortunately scarves are the only thing I know how to knit.

Maybe I'll just plunk myself down in front to the TV and be a veggie.

I never thought I would be happy to say this...

I had to pick up poo!!!!!

Stoli and I went for a walk and he made a poo.

This may be TMI for some of you...but when the dog hasn't gone in 4 -5 days, it's an exciting event.