a little of this and that

Several things that have been running through my mind...

1. Why does B have to be such a, well...B#$@? She is only 13 and can just get under my skin. Last night we went out and I said hi when she got into the car, she ignored me. It put me in a bad mood for the rest of the night, even though I tried to fight that. I finally said something to Michael and said I was sorry for being cranky. After we dropped her off he said something was wrong with her but she wouldn't say.

2. Why does D have to be such a B@%#@? It could explain #1, but this woman is a nut job. B had a ton of stuff to do for some church activity yesterday, yet D had to squeeze in a movie before M picked up B for visitation. We are pretty sure it was because she knew we would go see Horton Hears a Who! She wanted to make sure she got to take B to see it. The woman does things like this ALL THE TIME!

3. Why do my drama students want to do all kinds of cool stuff and then flake out on me? They talk me into planning play trips, festival trips and all kinds of other stuff and then I have to fight with kids to get them to follow through. It is killing me.

4. Why does Bella want to wake up at 4:00am and then go back to sleep at 6:00am? Since I am the "pack leader" I am the one who gets up with her and fends off the puppy attack until she is ready to go back to sleep. She is sweet and lovable, but those little bitty teeth...OUCH! She is actually doing really well with the little bit of training I have been trying.

Now for something a little more fun...

Here's a list of the AFI's Top 100 Films of all Time. Highlight the movies you have seen and then at the end add 3 that you think should be on the list.

1. CITIZEN KANE(1942)
2. CASABLANCA (1941)
3. THE GODFATHER (1972)
4. GONE WITH THE WIND (1939)
5. LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962)
6. THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
7. THE GRADUATE (1967)
8. ON THE WATERFRONT (1954)
9. SCHINDLER'S LIST (1993)
10. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)
11. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
12. SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)
13. THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI (1957)
14. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959)
15. STAR WARS (1977)
16. ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)
17. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951)
18. PSYCHO (1960)
19. CHINATOWN (1974)
20. ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (1975)
21. THE GRAPES OF WRATH (1940)
22. 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY (1968)
23. THE MALTESE FALCON (1941)
24. RAGING BULL (1980)
25. E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL (1982)
26. DR. STRANGELOVE (1964)
27. BONNIE AND CLYDE (1967)
28. APOCALYPSE NOW (1979)
29. MR. SMITH GOES TO WASHINGTON (1939)
30. THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE (1948)
31. ANNIE HALL (1977)
32. THE GODFATHER PART II (1974)
33. HIGH NOON (1952)
34. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (1962)
35. IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT (1934)
36. MIDNIGHT COWBOY (1969)
37. THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946)
38. DOUBLE INDEMNITY (1944)
39. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965)
40. NORTH BY NORTHWEST (1959)
41. WEST SIDE STORY (1961)
42. REAR WINDOW (1954)
43. KING KONG (1933)
44. THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915)
45. A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE (1951)
46. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971)
47. TAXI DRIVER (1976)
48. JAWS (1975)
49. SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS (1937)
50. BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (1969)
51. THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
52. FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (1953)
53. AMADEUS (1984)
54. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT (1930)
55. THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965)
56. M*A*S*H (1970)
57. THE THIRD MAN (1949)
58. FANTASIA (1940)
59. REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE (1955)
60. RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK (1981)
61. VERTIGO (1958)
62. TOOTSIE (1982)
63. STAGECOACH (1939)
64. CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND (1977)
65. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991)
66. NETWORK (1976)
67. THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (1962)
68. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)
69. SHANE (1953)
70. THE FRENCH CONNECTION (1971)
71. FORREST GUMP (1994)
72. BEN-HUR (1959)
73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS (1939)
74. THE GOLD RUSH (1925)
75. DANCES WITH WOLVES (1990)
76. CITY LIGHTS (1931)
77. AMERICAN GRAFFITI (1973)
78. ROCKY (1976)
79. THE DEER HUNTER (1978)
80. THE WILD BUNCH (1969)
81. MODERN TIMES (1936)
82. GIANT (1956)
83. PLATOON (1986)
84. FARGO (1996)
85. DUCK SOUP (1933)
86. MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY (1935)
87. FRANKENSTEIN (1931)
88. EASY RIDER (1969)
89. PATTON (1970)
90. THE JAZZ SINGER (1927)
91. MY FAIR LADY (1964)
92. A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)
93. THE APARTMENT (1960)
94. GOODFELLAS (1990)
95. PULP FICTION (1994)
96. THE SEARCHERS (1956)
97. BRINGING UP BABY (1938)
98. UNFORGIVEN (1992)
99. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)
100. YANKEE DOODLE DANDY (1942)

My Picks:

1. Princess Bride

2. Breakfast at Tiffany

3. The English Patient (I think I might have been the only person on the planet to absolutely LOVE this movie, the book is great as well).

I'd like you to meet...

Bella

Bella is the newest addition to our happy family. She was adopted on Saturday from Friends of Orange County Homeless Animals and is just the sweetest thing EVER!


She is believed to be some sort of Pit Bull mix. We think she actually looks a bit more like a boxer mix, but what do we know. We are enjoying all the fun stuff and can't wait until she sleeps through the night. Her screaming just makes me so sad.

At about 6 weeks old we have a lot to look forward to and many years of being a happy family.


She is doing great and is actually already learning that we want her potty outside and that if she runs to the back door we will let her out (and that's after only 2 days).

Pitty Party...

Yep, that's what I'm having, a pitty party. I sat today and watch the 50 or more kids who take choir perform for our cultural arts week - choir day (my kids get Friday) and I wondered why my program is floundering. Do I expect too much of them? Do I drive them away? What is going on?

I struggle to get kids into my classes, I struggle to get kids to audition for shows, I struggle to get kids to work on tech crews. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

The kids seem to like me, but they just won't commit. It's killing me. I feel my spirit and my passion fading. I am tired of hearing the kids get excited about the things I propose and then completely blow it off when the time for action comes.

They wanted a play trip, I have done most of the leg work, everything except order the tickets. I told them I needed the money this week. No money has come in so far and I will not order tickets without money in hand. They want to go to a competition, I have gotten the request approved and even got the principal to pay for my busses, not a single kid has paid their fee or told me what material they want to perform.

Maybe I'm getting jaded. Maybe I'm just tired. But as of right now I am considering other career options. I want to be excited to come to work, I want to be excited about the next project, I don't want to worry about where I'm going to find the kids to be in the next show.

goodbye old friend...

Friday night at about 8:00pm Michael and I arrived home from dinner and grocery shopping and had the make the very difficult decision that it was Stoli's time. We rushed him to the emergency vet clinic where we said our final good-byes.

Stoli was the coolest dog ever. He loved to play "chase-me-around-the-yard", loved to go on long walks and was great with everyone he met.

I am so sad that I had to let him go, but he was ready and I am glad that it was a short time since we found out we would be losing him. I don't know what I would have done if it had taken months.

Stoli got to spend his last month going on lots of extra walks (even in the freezing cold rain), and spending time in the house (he had been previously banished because of a cat issue). And his last week he got to go for tons of car rides, just because I wanted to take him with me, he spent time at the school where he got to go after the bunnies (no harm came to any bunnies, he just wanted to check them out) and play with my drama kids. This was one loved doggie.

Final good-byes are always hard...but we all know that Stoli is in a better place. And he knows that he was well loved and will always be missed.

Stoli-Dog update...

Today Stoli went in for his 3 week checkup and another urinalisis. Unfortunately things did not go well. In the past 4-5 day Stoli has completely stopped eating (with the exception of the few things I gave him that I wasn't supposed to). Also, his eye, the one with the scratch, has turned blood red.

The vet said there is something "metabolical" going on there. He recommended that Stoli see an opthamologist. That's not all, then we moved on to the not eating and the 5lb weight loss in the last 3 weeks. The vet said it felt like there is fluid in Stoli's abdomin.

Stoli is staying at the vet tonight in order to have x-rays and such tomorrow morning. It is looking more and more like he does actually have some type of cancer. The vet even went as far as to say that if it has sread past the spleen he wouldn't recommend surgery.

I about lost it on my way home. I feel terrible because I didn't love on Stoli enough before I left the vet. He was antsy and as soon as the tech took him he was off and running, ready to explore the rest of the building.
I feel like there is something more I could have done to take better care of him.

So, needless to say I'm going to be a wreck tomorrow waiting for the vet to call me and let me know what is going on. I know he's only a dog, but keep him in your thoughts. He's my buddy and I really want him to be okay.

Update: I got the call from the vet this afternoon...it looks like he has a tumor on his spleen that has metastasized to his heart. I am getting ready to go bring him home. I will get more information then. But it's not looking good for my sweet boy. Now comes one of the hardest decisions ever, how far do we go.

Update 2: It's confirmed. The radiologist gave the same prognosis. We are going to lose our sweet thing. I have him at school with me right now and he is loving all the attention. Tomorrow he will probably stay home because I don't want to burden the Ag teacher, who was so kind as to let me bring him in for half a day today. I will probably bring him in on Tuesday since it will be a super late day. And we will go from there.

a call for help...

Each year the high school participates in the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's annual penny drive (in fact we have been the top money raising school for something like 8 of the past 10 years). This year I want my theatre department to play a larger part in the fund raising efforts. To do this we are putting together what I am calling the Cancer Project.

The Cancer Project will be a performance piece that includes poetry, scenes and monologues dealing with cancer. All of the performances will be bookended with stats and information regarding cancer that might take people by surprise.

What I am asking for is submissions. I would like for anyone who has been effected by cancer, cancer of any kind, We are choosing not to just focus on Lymphoma or Leukemia, to submit your story or your writings.

We will also be putting up pictures of survivors and those who fought the battle but did not survive in the lobby as a tribute to why we are doing the project. If you would like to submit a photo with their information (i.e. name, type of cancer, year diagnosed, years surviving or (sadly) the year they passed) let me know. I would love to share our tribute with your loved one.

By the way, all the profit from the production will be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. We are hoping to raise $2000 on this project.

poetry and such

Tonight I sit in my classroom while TMR is in it's final performance of Bye Bye Birdie. I will be glad when this is over, I just want to go home at a reasonable hour. I would much rather get nothing done at home than nothing done at school.

I sit in my room looking at my English text books knowing I should be picking out some poetry for Monday. I look at the scale drawing my tech class did and know they need to be graded for Monday. I look at the presentation board I wanted to get done 2 nights ago and still haven't started (I'm having a bit of a creativity-jam and can't come up with anything to do on it).

You would think with spending 5 nights here until 10:00 pm I would be so caught up. But no...here I sit thinking "I have to figure out what I'm doing on Monday".

Trust me I do this all the time...

I have spent the past week at school late every night and not because I'm in a production, but because the dread VD organized a local group called the Music Room into renting my theatre. I call it mine because I use it the most and really care about the space. My kids are running the lights and sound because it is my new equipment in there and I really don't anybody to screw it up.

I don't mind doing these things. What I do mind is when the director of said production group talks down to me or talks down to my kids. I also mind when the VD lets these people do whatever they want in my space with my stuff. At this time both of spot lights are down because they weren't bright enough, some strange man has patched into the back of my sound board so he can illegally videotape the show, they are using all kinds of my stuff without asking (including the blocking of some girl into standing on my sofa, now I don't come to their facility and stand on their furniture). It's just nutty!

The one advantage to all this chaos is that my kids are getting to see how another director works. They say they like be better. It was nice. It is also giving me some time to try and catch up (you can see I'm doing a good job at that one). So, in an effort to be the productive teacher/director I am here is a list of what I will get done tonight...

1. grade papers from today
2. make fliers for our first ever Thespian Inductions
3. prep for tomorrow's lesson on Dadaism (makes for a really fun poetry project)
4. update the list of students who owe me money
5. figure out what the heck I'm going to do with my tech kids tomorrow
6. design my display board for the upcoming ROP Career Fair

That should take me right up to about 10:00pm when all should be done. Then it's home to get some sleep and do it all again tomorrow night.

I know that I don't know my new equipment as well as I should but I do happen to teach 4 different preps, direct shows, run the staff club, participate on the school site council, am a union rep and cook for my husband. I'm sorry if I can't spent hours on end in the theatre just learning the equipment. And even if I don't know it as well as I should, I know a hell of a lot.

tag, you're it...

I've been tagged with a book meme so here we go...

First the rules:

1. Pick up the nearest book of at least 123 pages.
2. Open the book to page 123.
3. Find the fifth sentence.
4. Post the next three sentences.
5. Tag five people.


The nearest book is The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris

"No witnesses. The victim found in West Virginia remained unidendtified. West Virginia."

Not very interesting or thought provoking, but it was the nearest book.

Now for five people...Sophia, Chatty, Lou, Carrie and Dinkin Mess.

Have fun!

can you say procrastination...

I sure can. I should be grading papers right now. Grades are due Wednesday and I still have about 25 essays to grade. I guess if they were actually good it wouldn't be so bad...but as the essays are written by 10th graders, they stink.

Instead of grading I cooked dinner, cooked dinner for tomorrow, made lunch for tomorrow, talked to the dog (who is doing better) and looked for a good recipe for potato soup (which I didn't find).

I won't be staying up late to grade, I would like to get up early and get in work out and if I stay up past 10pm there is no way I'm getting up at 4am.

Things are really starting to ramp up again around here. I mean they were slow for a whole 4 days (which is why I couldn't grade papers, I was enjoying the not having to be at a rehearsal).

5 Upcoming events:
1. Student directed one-acts
2. Cancer project
3. Thespian Inductions
4. Massive testing
5. Auditions for the show I'm interested in doing

5 Things I have to do Tuesday
1. finish grades
2. scrub kitchen counters
3. laundry
4. start taxes
5. clean craft room


5 People I need to call or email on Tuesday
1. Grandma G
2. Mom
3. my sister K
4. my sister S
5. C

5 places I need to go
1. Target
2. Trader Joe's
3. Michael's
4.

Okay, I guess I only have 3 places to go tomorrow. And with that I'm off to grade a few papers before I head to bed.

a bit of a whine...

Why is it okay for M and B to walk in the house and immediately turn off the very fun cooking show I was listening to while balancing the checkbook (which is a whole other reason to whine) and begin to play annoying games? Why? Why is that okay!!!!! It wouldn't be okay for me to do it. And can I just say that Wii billards has the most annoying music of all, it's the same little tune, over and over and over and over...you get the picture.

Okay, enough whining, on to better things.

I am trying a new recipe, posole. M likes it, I'm a bit scared of it. To me it resembles something I have seen the cat leave on the floor. I'm not even sure if I will taste it. I'll let you know later. I might be eating PB&J.

And now for something completely positive. My dear bloggy friend Sophia put forth a challenge to list 10 things positive about myself. This will be a hard today, since most days I feel like I suck, so here we go...

1. I am a good and loyal friend.
2. I am a pretty good cook
3. I am a good director of plays
4. I have a fabulous raport with my students
5. I am responsible
6. I am creative
7. I am a wonderful Aunt
8. I am the hostest with the mostest
9. I can make pretty stained/leaded glass stuff
10. I am a strong reader (now I'm stretching)


Man that was hard! Now you do it!

On a mission to save second base...

As several of you know three years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since then I spend each year training and fundraising for the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Nothing has changed this year except for my walker number. I plan on raising $3000 this year. I know that sounds like a lot, but the funds go for such a worthy cause. Did you know that every three minutes another man or woman is diagnosed with breast cancer (yes, men can get it too). That is just astonishing to me.

When my mom was diagnosed I made the commitment to not sit back and just watch this disease destroy so many vibrant people. I made the commitment to get involved in any way I can.

So, here is my shameless plea for support... My walker number is 871001, please go to www.avonfoundation.org and check out my walker page (which is still under construction). Follow my progress and please by all means make a donation.

Things a getting better....

I just talked to Stoli's vet-tech (not the actual vet) and the blood tests are finally back and they are normal. So that is a good thing, it means most likely no tumor and since the didn't tell me he needed x-rays that tells me they think it's something else.

Today I will pick up a slew of other pills to feed him and some perscripttion dog food. Hopefully this will fix everything. The Vet told the tech that Stoli is losing protein through his kidney, this has happened to Stoli before and is apparently something Huskeys are prone to. I know it is pretty much my fault, I spoiled him over the holidays and fed him way too many table scraps and let the house guests get away with doing it as well. Normally I'm pretty good with treating table scraps and bones like special treats for him, during Christmas and New Year's I let fly and he got everything. I guess the vet bill is part of my punishment (the other part is all the worry for poor Stoli-dog).

I can say his energy is getting a bit better. He still wants to just lie down and sleep, but when he's up he enjoys his walks and today wanted to play the "chase-me-around-the-yard" game (me chase him, not the other way around). He hasn't done that in a few days. So, for that I say YIPPY!!!!!

Another thing that is getting better...the stack of papers on my desk is shrinking. With the semester coming to an end that is a very, very good thing. Now, I must get back to my grading and being productive.

Have you ever...

tried to get a "free catch" urine sample from a dog? Let me tell you it is not an easy task. In fact I was a little mortified as I walked through the park with the dog and a cup. I was pretty sure people thought I was nuts. Now that I think about it, what in the world are people, other than dog walkers, doing in the park at 7:15am. So, there I am, dog on lease, cup in hand, every time he started to lift his leg, I dove in for the catch, he would jump back and look at me like I had lost my mind. It was pretty funny to see would be my guess. It was like some sort of nutty tug-o-war.

The entire free catch experience was brought on because the vet found blood in the urine sample taken during the exam. Now, get this, they said that it could have been because of the collection process, yet we have to pay to have the tests done again. M dropped off the sample and instead of saying something he just paid it. I don't see why if the sample was bad because of their collection process I should have to pay to have the tests run AGAIN!!! We are now into this for $300 and still don't know what is wrong with Stoli.

I can say that he appears to be feeling better. When I called on Saturday for the test results they thought it might be cysts, so possibly not a tumor. So that is good. He is on antibiotics and is eating a different diet (we aren't a canned food kind of dog family and he is loving this special treat).

So, with that said, I don't have much new information other than, he seems to be feeling better, he is enjoying sleeping in the house, although it might end soon. I have encountered what appears to be pee in my library and in the hallway - and it definitely is more pee than would come out of a cat. If Stoli would just figure out how to use the dog door everything would be fine. He seems to be scared of it, big wussy dog.

poor Stoli...

I have had to take the day off work today in order to take Stoli to the vet. His is very lethargic and one of his eyes is all milky and goopy. I am so worried about him. I suppose I could have taken him to an emergency vet, but feel more comfortable taking him to his regular doctor-buddy. Not to mention that he has a history of liver disease, the regular vet has all those records.

So, I am anxiously waiting for the time to drive to the vet. I guess the only good thing coming from it is that I'm cleaning in order to stop clock-watching.

I'll post an update as soon as I get back.


Update: Stoli has a scratch on his left eye, which explains why it is so goopy. That is easily treated with ointment. The lathargic behavior, now that is another story...The vet said his tummy is "doughy" and the other vet said the same thing. This could possibly mean some type of tumor on his spleen. I am waiting for blood work to come back. If the red blood count is low then we have to do x-rays. The vet also warned that typically these type of tumors are already malignant by the time they are discovered. That was not what I wanted to hear.

Now the hard part for M and I, we have to decide where to draw the line on how much we are willing to spend. Husky's can live 12 -14 years, Stoli is about 9. He was a pound puppy so we aren't sure exactly, the pound thought we was about 3 when I adopted him and I've had him for almost 6 years. It at this point that I tell eveyone who has a pet to buy pet insurance. I always thought it was silly, and then Stoli had illness about 2 years ago and I toyed with the idea, but never got around to it. Well, I wish someone had sent me that "to-it" because I could really use it now. So for the love of your pets, spend the $30 a month. It could save a lot in the long run.

I will keep everyone posted on Stoli (I call for blood results tomorrow).

a bit of creativity...

I have had my scrapbook mojo on for the past couple of days. I have completed 2 2-page layouts to finish Christmas 2005 (yes, I'm a bit behind) and a 1-page layout. I normally don't do 1-pagers, it messes with the continuity of my album, but I have a few other pictures suited for a 1-page so I went with it.

I am not entirely happy with the way this page turned out. The swirlies just aren't working for me. When they were just in ink they needed more, and the glitter is a bit much. I wish I could have found my gold paint pen, that would be been perfect. Oh well...it is what it is and I love the picture.

The picture is of my nephew, W, on his birthday in 2005. He had just turned 1 and was just dead tired from all the family stuff that had been going on. That was the year we brought in my sister from Colorado as a surprise for my mom.

TOYS!!!!!

This year I got a couple of way cool toys. Those who know me know I hate, hate, HATE video games. I just don't find them any fun. That is until my mom managed to buy me and each of my sisters one of these...


The Wii is the best thing EVER! I never thought I would say that about a gaming system. That fact that this doesn't have to be a sit-on-your-butt-shoot-em-up game. I love playing bowling and tennis. I can't wait for our second set of controllers to come in that way M and I can box against each other.

I am completely addicted to Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix game. The controllers work as your wand and you can cast spells, solve puzzles and explore Hogwarts. So much fun. My next purchase of a game will be one that my sister rented from the video store, Marble Mania. It's like that old game where you would put the marble on the box and then control it with knobs on the four sides to get the marble through the maze. In the Wii version you go through different mazes and different levels, so much fun.

If you are looking to buy a gaming system for your family I highly recommend this one. It is so much more interactive. I don't think we have laughed as hard together as we did while playing the Marble Mania game.

Then with the eminent death of my cell phone, M and I decided we would go and look at new phones even though I wasn't eligible for an upgrade until June. AT&T store was having a big sale. So, I ended up with this...



It is way more phone than I actually need, but we figure I could grow into it. I have Internet, a camera, GPS (if I want to pay a little extra), bluetooth. I have a better phone than my techno-geek husband. It's lots of fun, and I can actually make a phone call in under 5 minutes now (yes, the first few times it did take that long for me to figure it out).

Anybody else get any cool toys this year?

Happy New Year!

With the new year I have lots to be thankful for...

1. My wonderful new husband. I know marriage is tough, I recognize that I am not really a marriage kind of gal (a little to independent I guess), but M gets it and gives me lots of space when I need it and lots of support when I need that.

2. My family. Everyone is healthy and safe, even if some of them aren't making the best decisions (or at least not dealing with them in the most appropriate way), they are working through things and are happy with their choices.

3. My new extended family. M's family has welcomed me in with open arms. Despite the fact that M's ex tried to sabotage things in the beginning (yes, tried to turn his family against him and me very early on in our relationship).

4. My health issues are serious, but manageable, and not as serious as we first thought. That really is something to be thankful for. I will take the 12 pills a day over what the alternative would have been.

I have several things that need to be meditated over (or prayed over if that is what you go in for)...

1. My B-I-L M3 is in Iraq. This is his third tour. The first two he came home with only minor injuries (of his own doing because he can be stupid, come on he's a boy). Even though I am not his biggest fan, I do want him to come home safe.

2. B and her issues. I need to disengage from the situation for my sanity. But I do hope for her's she is able to work through her issues and that her mom will help her.

I also have several goals I plan on working toward in the new year...

1. Cut our credit debt by 1/4
2. Better utilize my time
3. Read more
4. Learn to knit with more than one stitch
5. Spend more time with friends and family
6. Spend more time in the gym
7. Audition for at least one show
8. Take more pictures
9. Redesign my garden yard
10. Make our honeymoon trip to Italy happen (this is a biggie and may hamper #1)


What are you thankful for in 2008? What are your goals?

Not enough hours...

in the day to get everything done. I just realized it has been a month since I have last posted something, I haven't been keeping up with the majority of the wonderful blogs I have discovered (this is mainly because the school server has decided to block my blogroll so I can't see the blogs). So much has been going on.

The holidays have been pretty eventful around here. M and I hosted Christmas Eve dinner for his sister's family (who just relocated to CA from OR), and my family, plus we had both B and L with us this year. So, with a full house M decided he wanted to smoke a turkey (and I forgot to take pictures). I was a bit worried, something about cooking a piece of meat for 14 hours makes me nervous. IT TURNED OUT WONDERFUL!!!!!!

M's mom arrived the day after Christmas and will stay with use until 1/3. L was with us until yesterday, when she flew back to UT. B was with us until 12/29. I won't go into detail, but things aren't getting any better with B, in fact things hit an all time low during the visit. I really wish I would start to see some improvement in her relationship with M, but because of me I don't think that will ever happen. Not that I am doing anything to prevent it, I just exist and that is enough to make her so mad she lets it effect her relationship with her dad. It is very sad and made worse because her mom likes it this way. As long as B is mad at her dad, mom gets her way.

My health issues haven't improved, but I am on a ton of meds which are supposed to help. I go back in 3 months to check and see if anything has improved. I can only hope.

Now it's back to work, I have tons to do before I can even think about getting ready to go out tonight.

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve whatever your celebrations will include. Be safe! I know we will.

oh my goodness...

way too much going on.

1. Painting the great room. The room is huge and I am doing most of the work by myself. I am almost half way done. When we bought the house the first thing we wanted to do was paint but ended up in escrow hell and had to move super fast. Now, 6 months later I'm finally getting the chance to get it down. We are going from blue and pink (yuck!) to a couple really nice shades of brown. I'll post pictures as soon as it's done.

2. Decorating. I need to get it done and want it done this weekend. Enough said.

3. Medical mumbo jumbo. I have to have a medical test done on Monday. I have been having some gastrointestinal problems and the doctor wants to figure out exectly what is going on. I won't go into all the completely disgusting details, lets just say that doctor's are gross.

4. Christmas Shopping. I managed to get most of it finished. Got to love Black Friday. I finish that day every year.

5. New York. I leave for the Big Apple on Tuesday. I am very excited about the trip although a little nervous about the flight (see item 3). What is even better, the stage hand strike is over, which means the shows are running again!

6. Auditions. I was supposed to go on an audition on Sunday night. This plan has been derailed by item 3. The prep for the procedure begins Sunday afternoon. I am keeping my options open and will see how I feel at that time, but it's not looking good.

So that is my life in a nutshell. Now it's back to painting.

I survived!

It's over, done, finished, and best of all is survived and I'm not sick!

The show went off wonderfully. The audience really enjoyed the production and the kids were amazing. As wonderful as it all was I have one incident that has tainted the experience and has made it very difficult for me to ever cast a particular kid again.

Evidently there was a mild verbal altercation between him and two of the girls in the cast as they came back to the school for their call time. They started out making some slightly racial jokes back and forth (I don't really get that) and then all of a sudden he just flipped out on them. From the accounts I have heard he was participating in the joking, it wasn't like they started to include him and he was immediately offended.

They bickered back and forth for two hours and let it come to a head 2 minuted before the show was supposed to start. Literally, I was talking with audience memebers and my stage manager comes running up to me and says that I am needed immediately backstage. On the way he told me what was going on. I laid into the kids first about how this was stupid, that they had a show to do and they needed to get over it and give the audience what they came for, a great performance. Then I started calming them down. I was angry first because they needed to understand the gravity of the situation and what they were doing. This was on Friday.

Come Saturday I thought everything was fine when during intermission the SM cames to me again with a paniced look, it was starting again, only this time it was pretty much just the boy. He was getting in people's faces again and he shoved one of the freshmen girls (yes, we refer to them as a collective). I went back stage and just walked from group to group and told them the exact same thing, I didn't want to hear their side, that nobody was to be getting into anybodies face, that they needed to suck it up and get through the next hour and after that I didn't care if they ever talked to each other again.

After the show I talked with my AP who came to the performance and told her what was going on. After the Thanksgiving holiday she wants to talk to the girls who where involved and then she will meet with the boy. We are all concerned that it might escalate from him shoving someone into him actually hitting someone. And they are backstage by themselves, I may have to station a parent backstage from this point on.

This kid has pretty much sealed with fate for future productions. He is pretty much "drama" in every production he does (and not in the good way). I would rather not work with him and have a good experience then have kids quit the program because he makes them miserable and they can't work with him.

ARGH! The joy of working with teenagers.

Next on the school schedule: The Silly Project. My advanced students are creating a performance piece for the new Mentally Handicapped (MH) program kids. There are 11 MH kids now on our campus. The project is based on a project we watched a documentary about (Yellow Brick Road). We are going to get these kids on stage and see what they can do. We will be inviting a couple of classes , parents, administration and people from the district. It should prove to be a whole bunch of fun.

On the Home schedule: The rest of the day is devoted to recovering my house. It has just gone all bad with me being at school so much and M has actually had the nerve to tell me I have a lot of stuff to put away. I told him I knew and called him Mr. Obvious. So, while he is working today, I'm cleaning, doing laundry and looking for all the holiday stuff in preparation for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Now, it's time to get some work done.

change of service...

that's what I'm considering. I am developing a complete disdain for blogger. I'm not happy with an incident that occurred when I changed to a gmail account. Google automatically made that account my user name, I don't want that account linked to this blog at all. There are just some things I like to keep in separate areas of my life.

I know that sounds silly, but it's the way I like it.

So, what I would like to ask...those of you who use other blog services, what do you like? What would you recommend? Is there a service where I could just transfer my current blog content over? Or is it just gone forever?

Thanks a bunch!

drowning...

That's what I'm doing, drowning. I have come to the conclusion that I will never catch up, I will never be prepared and I will NOT feel like I am being successful this year.

I have 4 preps (for those of you who don't teach, that means I teach for different classes), one I haven't had to teach in at least 10 years. I have a student teacher, which actually makes things harder. Everyone keeps saying "but you have a student teacher to help". What they don't understand is that the word "STUDENT" means they don't know what they are doing yet. They are just that, a student and are learning and do need my attention from time to time. (I'm still trying to figure out why they would give the likes of me a student teacher).

I really feel like this might end up being the last year I teach. I am just not liking the feelings of "I suck", "I don't know what I'm doing", "I don't have any support" and the mentality that I can handle everything. I used to be able to do that, but somewhere along the line I have lost that ability. I can no longer handle it all! I'm just not that good anymore.

I am so busy I can't even find the time to get into the gym, hell, I can't find the time to work out in my living room. I try, but in the last two days I have developed a nasty cough, can't do anything even mildly related to working out when I have a coughing fit every two minutes.

So, with all that said and feeling like I truly do suck eggs in the job I used to love...I am off to get ready to head to school and have another low self-esteem filled day.

Ay me!

I live in amazment each year at how incredibly busy I am during the school year. I am smack in the middle of rehearsal for Midsummer, have a one-act opening next week, need to decide what the kids are doing second quarter and need to get my tech kids building platforms and stairs like crazy. (M has been trying to talk me into a truck for months, today I wish he had succeeded, I need to buy lumber!)

It's breast cancer awarness month! Are you aware? Some of you may remember my brief adventure with dying my hair pink for the Avon walk? Well guess what! I'm going to be pink for the entire month of October. It's been almost two weeks, I love it and never want to go back. The color is "hot hot pink" by Manic Panic. It ROCKS!!!!! (Even if it does look a bit like Lacey from Rock of Love) And in case your interested, I signed up for the walk again next year! Let the fundraising begin!!!!

M is spending most of the month in Vegas working on various shows. It's very strange to only be married 3 months and have him leave town for so long. Although, I have discovered that being married really doesn't suit my attitude. I have been pretty gumpy lately. I absolutely LOVE M. There is something about being married that just sets me off. So, we have decided that I will just pretend that we aren't married and things haven't changed that dramatically and see if my attitude gets adjusted to one we both like better.

A word on procrastination...I'm the queen! As I talk about the length of my to-do lists I sit and write a blog that nobody will read or care about, but it makes me feel better. I should be grading the bazillion papers that are on my desk waiting to be graded and returned, only I don't feel like it. I'm tired and I just don't want to do it. I guess I could grade a few and then go home and sit on the sofa and procrastinate on the stuff that needs to be done there...

theatre in review

This weekend was fab. I got to see lots of theatre, during the school year 2 plays in a weekend is a lot!

So, here's what I saw...

Saturday night M took me on a hot date to the Gala Opening of the Camino Real Playhouse's production of

It was a really fun time. Riff Raff was amazing. If you haven't had the opportunity to see the live stage version of this cult movie classic...then get off your duff and get to the theatre. It really is a lot of fun.

Then on Sunday we had tickets to

while the show was enjoyable, it just lacked the spark that live performance usually has. I am hopeful that it was because it was closing night and not that it had been a bad run.

Upcoming shows on my social calendar include...

We also have tickets to Spamalot, but I couldn't find a good graphic.

I love theatre!

remembering what it is all about...

After a 9 1/2 year battle with breast cancer a dear friend has passed. It is so very sad, we got the email on Monday. D was only 44. She is just one of the many, many reasons I am so commited to the breast cancer cause.

She and her husband, K, where the perfect couple. He even went as far as selling his share in the company he helped start when they were told they should get their affairs in order because treatment wasn't working. He wanted to spend all the time he could with D. They were fun, enjoyed not only each others company but brought so many people into that loving circle.

D offered me so much hope and support when my mom was diagnosed and going through treatment. At that point D had finished her second fight with cancer. She remained strong through all three of battles.

This last time the doctors had discovered cancer in her chest cavity. She had gone in when she just didn't feel right after one of her workouts (she was a tri-athelet). She never gave up, even when they told her treatment wasn't working. She continued treatment until it was just making her too sick to enjoy her life. At that point she decided to stop treatment and have a quality of life with her husband and two children (the youngest is a junior in college). They took wonderful trips and really enjoyed each other while they had the time.

The last time I saw D was in June at a wedding. She looked great and we talked about seeing each other at my wedding and her wanting to meet my mom because she knew her story. They missed the wedding because D wasn't doing well. I never got a chance to visit with her again.

I am sad that I didn't get to know her better. I am glad I had the opportunity to get to know her as well as I did. She really is an inspiration for me, to remember to not give up no matter how bad it gets, to love those around me with my full heart and let those people know I love them.

I guess the point I really want to get across is let those you love know that you love them. Love them like there is no tomorrow, because there might not be.

Please keep K and the kids in your thoughts and prayers as they say formal goodbyes at the funeral tomorrow. Pray that they remember the good times and put the bad behind them.

And to you, my bloggy friends, I love you and send you all good thoughts and wishes.

eggs

Have you ever noticed that organic, free-range eggs are almost three times more expensive than regular eggs? Why is that?

It is so bad that I have actually stopped buying them unless I am at the farmer's market.

I have noticed that everything organic is more expensive. I would really like to go completely organic and natural, but with it almost tripling the cost of groceries I just can't do it. Even if I really want to. How sad is that?

one week down...

We're back, we're chugging along and all is going well. So far I am loving my students, then again it's only been two days.

My classes are not so big (pretty sad when you consider under 40 not so big). I have a really big Theatre 1 class and 22 in Advanced Theatre. That is the biggest that class has been since I came to this school 4 years ago. I guess the program is growing a bit.

I have picked up a new class with the ROP program. I am teaching Theatre Tech. It is going to be so much fun.

Productions lined up so far include A Midsummer Night's Dream for the school's fall production.
Then in my Advanced class the kids will be directing one-acts while I direct The Suessifcation of Romeo and Juliet with the. That will be my modeling show for how to direct a play. After that there has been a request for a murder mystery play by the advanced students.

And here is the big news...I told the VD that I won't be working on the musical this year. I am done working with him (I didn't tell him that part). I told him it was just too much stress and I want to take care of my health this year. He seemed to understand, didn't seem upset and said he doesn't know if he's going to do one or not. Should be interesting. The Drama kids have started telling me that if I'm not doing it, they aren't doing it. I will be directing a spring play instead.

My new lighting and sound system come in starting next week. I am so excited I can hardly contain myself. Imagine doing a play with real audio, cool lighting and all kinds of fun stuff. The kids are walking on air about this.

This is going to be an awesome year. One full of positive thinking and postive happenings. I REFUSE to let anything get me down this year. I know I said that last year and actually did pretty well until we hit the musical. This year there is nothing standing in my way.

Yosemite

Although I have lived in California my entire life and my family camped for our vacations while growing up I had NEVER been to Yosemite. In fact, I'm note sure I had ever been mountain camping. We usually camped near water, lakes, rivers, beach, that type of stuff.

M on the other hand grew up going to Yosemite. It's his favorite place to go. So, that is where we spent our first vacation as a married couple.

If you have never been, get online and book a trip! It is a most amazing place.

This is the first view you get of Half Dome as you start to enter the valley. You can actually hike to the top of it. We didn't. Niether one of us is in that kind of shape. But I plan on doing it before it die. Apparently it's only 16 miles round trip, the problem comes into the nature of the trip. It's up hill, or mountain I should say, and the last bit, in which you actually climb the dome is done with pull ropes. We talked to people who did it and it sounds SO cool. That is my next big goal.

Bridalvail falls. We actually climbed in to this area. There is a vista point and from there you can climb boulders to get closer to the falls. I am so glad I did that. It was beautiful. I didn't go as far as M and the kids did. I'm a wimp like that. I had never been bouldering before. M was just happy I did it.

I got to see a bear! This was the best! There were only a couple of things I really wanted to do in Yosemite and one of them was to raft the river. Well, the river was down by the time we went so the rafting was closed. Getting to see a bear completely made up for that. She was in an apple tree in the Curry Village parking lot. Apparently she had been hanging out there all day. I watched her for about an hour. And took tons of pictures. I won't bore you will all of them. Just the one. (Unless you want more, I would be more than happy to share) I was probably only 30-40 feet away from her. The rangers did a good job keeping people a safe distance away while letting us get close enough to get some good pictures and really enjoy the actual wildlife in the park.

I also saw lots of deer and tons and tons fo squirels.

Our closest encounter with wildlife happened our second night in the park. M and I were in our cabin, M had been up late reading the final Harry Potter book. It was hot so we had left the door open until about 12:30. After M finally went to bed, door shut and everything, we hear this scratching noise. I sit up bolt straight in bed, he jumps up and turns on the light, the noise stops. Neither one of us has any idea what it might be. We did know that squirels had been trying to enter our cabin during the day when we were in there with the door open. We thought maybe one got stuck, but couldn't find it.

We turn off the light and try to go back to sleep. A few minutes later we hear the scratching again. Same thing, he turns on the light, I sit up and the noise stops. By this point I say "I'm scared" and he replys with "So am I". (that's my big strong man for you)

We turn off the light and I stay sitting up. I'm going to figure out what this monster that is stalking us really is. I listen intently, finally the scratching starts again. He turns on the light, I carefully get out of bed as to not upset the thing that seems to be scratching in the trashcan. I slowly move the can by the door, poke it with my shoe and look around like the thing could have gotten out of the can without me seeing it.

I wander around the room for a few minutes. Then take the bag out of the can, maybe the monster will be traped in the bag. I open the door to put it outside, bears be damned I wasn't walking to a trashcan with a monster in my hand, when I catch a glint in the can itself. I look closer and find a little, bitty field mouse. Some how this little guy had gotten in the trashcan, under the bag and was stuck. I put the can outside the door, tipped it over and the little guy ran for his life.

Man, we felt pretty silly about it the next day. But damn it, It could have been a bear in the cabin! Well, it could have been!

just a vent...

The weekend of my wedding I found out that my dad and his wife are splitting up. Actually I didn't find out the weekend of the wedding, I actually found out a few days after. But it all really came down right before the wedding.

My dad hasn't actually talked to me about it. My sister's husband told me what was going on. Apparently my dad has engaged in a bit of an indiscretion, to put it nicely. Pretty much the same thing he did before he left my mom. C (his wife) has told him he has to be the one to tell me and my sisters and apparently I am the only one he hasn't talked to.

He called me today to try to set up a time to come and talk to me and M about what is going on. He knows that I know bits and pieces, but not the whole story.

I am avoiding the call back for the time being. I just don't know what to say to him. I really like C and plan on keeping her in my life. In fact I like her much more than I like my dad, especially after this stunt. I know that people make mistakes, that they screw up, they make poor choices, I've done it. But to continue down the same path again and again, it just doesn't make sense.

coming to an end...

Summer is quickly coming to an end. I can't believe I go back to school in just a few weeks. I am so not ready (am I ever?).

There is so much I want to get done before that first staff day but don't think it's going to happen. This summer has just been crazy busy. With the wedding, Yosemite (pictures to come later), a trip to Oregon in a couple of weeks and then on to Colorado to see my new niece.

Thank you to those of you who wished me luck on the auditions. I ended up not going. I decided that I was just too busy. Not to metion none of the shows sounded like much fun to me. I will continue to watch the audition notices for something that sounds like fun and tackle that later.

auditions

I am thinking about auditioning for a series of one-act plays today at a local theatre. I had considered the possibility months ago when they first sent out the notice, without dates. Then the final notice was emailed and I was to be out of town, in Yosemite (more on the trip later), so I didn't even think about it again. Then Thursday when I arrived home I found another email from the theatre that they were having a round 2 of auditions. Today.

I have downloaded sides, I have read the play descriptions and still can't decided if any of them look worth my time. They are all original plays, but they also all sound dumb, with the exception of one or two.

So, with my mind not totally made up I may be heading to an audition in about 4 hours. Wish me "break a leg."

Picture Time!

Here they are...Pictures from the wedding day.

The car was completely jammed full of stuff for the wedding. M drives an Acura, so it was a challenge to get everything from Anaheim to Temecula. But with his master packing skills we were able to do it.

Because we where having a wedding at winery we decided that the centerpieces needed to be simple, in fact the tables are the only things we decorated. We pretty much let the winery shine.

Here M is filling the wine bottles that we used as vases.


I'm putting the Gerbera Daisies into the bottles with a little bit of greenery.

We were very lucky that the winery owner was willing to give me empties every time I went to the winery, otherwise I would have had to drink 30 bottles of wine to get enough for the tables and the bars.

It's hard to see but the lables on the bottles look like they are actual wine lables, they have our names and the date where the wine type and vintage would be. We scaned a Longshadow lable and then taylored it to our wedding. They turned out really well. In fact the owner kept several to put in the tasting room with flowers in them. I can't wait to go the winery and see them.



The main winery sign, this is where people entered the lawn area.

The location looked just perfect.

We didn't do a traditional wedding ceremony. Instead of having an aisle we just had everyone gather around for the ceremony. It was nice to be surrounded by family and friends instead of feeling like we were on stage.

We didn't have any attendants, but M's girls happened to pick dresses that were very similar to each other, and with the flowers we gave them, they looked like Jr. Bridesmaids.

The lady we found to officiate the ceremony was wonderful. If you are in this area looking for someone to do a wedding I would totally recommend her. She does weddings because she loves being a part of the happiest day of people's lives.

A good friend of ours took this picture while the photographer was doing pictures, I love it. Even if it is a little blurry.

The cupcakes were a hit. Frosted in Long Beach/Belmont Shores did an amazing job. Red Velvet cake with cream cheese iceing. How can you beat that.

This was taken near the end of the night, I had a mouth full of cake and they didn't let me swallow before snapping the shot.

So, there you have it. Our wedding in a nutshell. When I get the CD from the photographer I'll post some more.

The owner of the winery actually told us that this was one of his favorite weddings done at the winery, because we kept it so simple. We didn't try to go over the top with stuff and used the beauty of the winery to our advantage.

It was just amazing.

It's Official!

I'M MARRIED!!!! We are both so happy (it's almost disgusting). I will post pictures tomorrow, we just got home and now I need to change and head out to Disneyland to meet family. I would really rather stay home, open gifts and hang out, but you know how it is when family comes in from out of town.

Let me just tell you this much about the wedding....it was perfect. Absolutly nothing went wrong and everyone had a great time.

Thank you for the well wishes and happy thoughts.

final countdown...

The next time you hear from me I will be a married woman. We leave tomorrow morning at 7:00am for Temecula. We have to pick up the flowers from the wholesaler. I still have lots to do, M has already gone to bed. I spent the day shopping with my good friend, L, for her birthday. I should have stayed home and done my stuff, but I wanted to see L and I was making myself crazy trying to get everything done. Now I have the quiet of everyone either gone or sleeping to finish.

My biggest stress right now is forgetting something that should go. Followed very closely with how am I going to wear my hair and will I gain weight in the next two days and not be able to fit in my dress. Because let me tell you, it is SNUG!

Anyway, off to check my list again and look for all my cute hairbobs that have never materialized since the move. I need to find 1, just 1, dragonfly bobbypin. I know I have one in the right color, I just can't find the darn thing.

Have a good one and make sure to send me happy thoughts at 6:30pm pst on Sunday.

6 days...

Less than a week, here's the most recent "To Do" list...

1. Wine tags - they have been created and laminated. Now they just need to be cut out from the laminating stuff, punched and ribbon ties added. We bought this repositionable laminate that is supposed to fully set in 24 hours. As of hour 18 I could still pull the stuff apart. Which means when I cut them appart they won't be fully sealed. If I have to go buy the permanent stuff and redo them I am not going to be happy.

2. Programs - I am creating a program sheet. Just a one pager that tells everyone what time things are happening and gives a few directions. For example we aren't having a guest book, we are having a guest photo album, I may have mentioned this before. Anyway, I have people who will take their photo and then the guests will fill out a little message card which will go under their picture in the album. But if we don't give them the directions to do this we might miss someone.

3. Guest book - I have to mount the handmade paper on cardstock so it will hold up better when people write on it.

4. Wine lables- I still need to print these. The girl at Staples said that if we bought the giant sticker sheets she could copy onto them for us. When we went back to pick them up we were informed that we could not do that. So we took my jump drive and left, leaving the two other print jobs we had done sitting there unpaid for. (which means I have to have those done someplace else)

5. Accessories - I must decide on the jewles I will wear for the big event. I may post some pictures for opinions.

6. Hair - Decide if I am going to do my own or trust some strage person to do it the day of. I know this is something that should have been done months ago, but I really thought I could do my own up-d0. I have discovered I can't, I am up-do deficient. Any suggestions to this one?

7. Pack - I will be staying in Temecula for two days. Need to pack my clothes.

8. Organize Wedding Central - Our library is currently Wedding Central, I need to move it from there into the entry way and organize it for the trip down on Saturday.

9. Timeline - I need to finalize the timeline and get that out to everyone who needs it.

Okay, I think that is everything that needs to get done before I leave on Saturday morning. I have to be in Temecula to meet the wholesale florist who is coming in special for me to pick up my centerpiece flowers. We will then drop them off at the winery and I will assemble the centerpieces on Sunday after brunch. Other than my pamering that will happen that weekend, that is everything.

And if one more person from M's family asks me if I'm going to see Harry Potter with them I may have to slap someone. As much as I want to see the new movie I think I have some more important things going on. I can't believe that they have even had the nerve to ask.

7 days...

There are 7 days until the wedding! I can't believe it, it has come up so fast. And what I really can't believe is that today it was spung on me that M's ex-wife (D) will be staying in Temecula as well. Because she wants to be there to get B ready for the wedding. Not that there won't be TONS of family there to take care of it. My theory, she wants to be there so she can screw things up for me and M. I could not believe what I was hearing when B made the comment on wanting to take her dress home so her mom could figure out how to do her hair. When asked how that was going to happen, we were told that her mom was going to be down there anyway and wanted to get her for a couple of hours. She wants to get her so she can get B all worked up and upset right before the wedding.

I HATE THAT WOMAN

What's worse...M is going to let her get away with it. Because even if he tells her we don't want her anywhere near the wedding, she is going to fight to do it and he will give in to her, because he doesn't want to deal with her. It kills me.

I will never bond with this child because of her mother. Her mother doesn't want B to like me. She doesn't want B to get over the divorce, she wants to create a codependent disfunctional child. And there isn't anything I can do about and nothing M will do.

what another post?

Okay, I just posted, but I couldn't let this one slip by.

I just read an article on the Simpson's movie promotion being done in conjunction with 7-11. It's actually really cute, several 7-11s have been made into Kwik-E-marts for the next month, selling things such as squishies and KrustyO's. Now, here is the cool part...7-11 decided not to sell Duff Beer (Homer's favorite) because the movie is rated PG-13.

The head of marketing felt that while yes they could sell it, but why. They decided to just promote the good clean fun of it.

I thought that was pretty cool. They could have sold tons of Duff Beer, but instead decided that they would rather not because of the effect on the younger audience they will be drawing in because of the Simpson's "stuff".

This struck me so hard, that they didn't put the money first, that I sent an email to 7-11 to commend them on the decision and I have decided that I will be buying squishies and KrustyO's for the next month (the duration of the promotion).

Pretty cool, huh?

when is it enough?

I live in a beautiful new home with M. I used to live in an adorable little townhouse, which I now rent to M's former roommate, R.

It was hard for me to move because I was very close to my neighbors. D and I shared a common wall between our units, we used to hang out in V&G's garage. We were all friends.

Now, R is in the townhouse. He has met D once. She had been to his house once to complain about the volume of the music. She has emailed me twice about the volume of the music. The first time M went over and talked to him, this time I sent an email to him asking him to keep it down. To his defense I also asked D for more information regarding level of the sound and the times that it is too loud. But it shoulds like it is pretty much all thetime.

Here is my dilema...when do I tell him he may have to move because of this issue. He has lived there for 2 months and I have gotten 2 complaints and the neighbor has gone over once.

M and I actually argue more about this than anything. He defends R in the not turning down the music until he is asked and I side with D on she shouldn't have to go over everytime it's too loud, he should remember at what level it was when the complaint came. Mark it on the dial for goodness sake!

I don't know what to do. When do I start looking for a new renter? How do I get it through to M that D is in the right by contacting me and she shouldn't have to go to R's house everytime it was loud. I used to play my music pretty loud and she never complained about me or to me.

Ah! The perils of being a landlord.

kind of scarey...

Rising Seas Threaten to ...

A new study of the potential sand losses to North Carolina beaches reports that a 1-foot rise in sea level in the next 25 to 75 years (which is at the lower end of the range predicted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) would cause the coast to move inland by 2,000 to 10,000 feet and could cost an estimated $223 million in lost recreational value by 2080 to beach-goers in that state alone.

Predicting exactly how much beaches will shrink is impossible because beach erosion rates are highly variable, even between points that are only a few miles apart. The make-up of each beach's sand, the absence or presence of jetties and other man-made structures meant to retain sand, and offshore topography (which influences wave formation), all affect erosion rates. But even with all the uncertainty, scientists say the future of our beloved sandy havens doesn’t look good. “We have no way of predicting what sea level rise will do to erosion rates, except to say that they will increase,” said Duke University geologist Orrin Pilkey, who was not involved in the new study.

Forces of Erosion Hurricanes pose a particular threat to beaches because the floods of ocean water they can push onshore, called storm surge, can wash away large amounts of sand. Typically the sand returns to the beaches (so there’s plenty available to build that sandcastle or bury your dad). But if global warming intensifies hurricanes as some have predicted (either by increasing their frequency or the strength of individual storms), it may also impair beaches’ ability to recover. For North Carolina’s beaches, the report says, even if hurricanes strike with their current frequency and intensity, sea level rise will make the effects of the storms worse. Sea level rise is another ominous potential eroding force, at least for beaches that are highly developed. When seas rise, undeveloped beaches can simply shift further inland, but because roads, buildings and other man-made structures act as a barrier, the sand at developed beaches cannot migrate backward. Effectively, relentless waves will wear away the sand and these beaches will shrink until there’s simply no sand left for sunbathing or seaside strolls. “We create the [beach erosion] problem,” Pilkey said.

Frightening Forecast for Earth

In April, scientists laid out a troubling timeline of the planet's future.
In fact, Pilkey says, the building of jetties and sea walls may be doing the most damage for now, because while they preserve a small portion of the shoreline near the structure, they actually result in more coastal erosion further from the structure than would have occurred naturally. “I suspect that may be more important than sea level rise,” he told LiveScience, but that trend will eventually change later, with global warming’s forces surpassing the impact of sea walls and jetties. For West Coast U.S. beaches, erosion from sea level rise and storms is less of a threat than on the East Coast, because the "left" coastline tends to be higher and steeper, but that doesn’t mean beach-goers there are in the clear. One of the main sources of sand for these beaches is river transport, but dams built along western rivers block this sand, which causes the beaches to erode. More Crowded Beaches

With beaches slowly vanishing from the coasts, vacationers might have to find some other way to entertain themselves and soak up the sun in the summer in the coming decades. “I’m predicting that they [will take] fewer beach trips,” said lead author of the North Carolina study John Whitehead of Appalachian State University in North Carolina. The report was funded by the National Commission on Energy Policy, a bipartisan, non-profit group of energy experts. By surveying beach-goers, Whitehead found that people prefer wider beaches, which provide more room for throwing Frisbees and eating sandy sandwiches. By determining how far people will drive to these roomier beaches and calculating the cost of those drives, Whitehead estimated the millions of dollars that would be lost to vacationers. And for those for whom the allure of a vacation at the beach is simply irresistible, few options will be left, as the only beaches to survive would likely be the ones that are undeveloped now. “People would have more limited beach options,” sociologist Maureen Harrington of Griffith University in Australia said in an email interview. “[They] would have to go to beaches that are able to migrate, that are not urbanized ... so these beaches would be more crowded.”

(c) 1999-2007 Imaginova Corp. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Wedding Checklist Update

I have been franticlly working on the wedding checklist that I posted a few days ago.

Here is the update...

1. Wine tags - I bought the paper and ribbon to make them. Now I just have to schedule the wine tag making party.

2. M&Ms - Ordered! M took care of this one for me. We still need to order the bowls from the rental company.

3. Guest book - I have the paper for this, I just need to cut it down to size and find pens that will write well on the handmade paper.

5. B and L's clothes - Haven't even thought about when to do this. Hopefully next week.

6. Flowers - I talked to a wholesale florist on Wednesday. I can get real flowers for the exact same price of the silks from them. The only problem is they aren't open on the weekend and I don't have anyplace to store them for 2 days. I am waiting for a phone call to let me know if I can pick them up on Saturday morning, while the owner is in the office working on the books. If I don't hear back tomorrow then I will call them.

7. Wine Lables - Still to need to touch up the wine lable and talk to the neighbor.

Now for things I forgot I still need to do...

8. Champagne - The winery doesn't make a champagne, but said we can bring in enough for a toast, 1 bottle per table. As a tribute to my mom's fiance who passed away last July (it will be exactly a year the day before the wedding) we are ordering his favorite champagne. We aren't going to say anything about it, we are just going to do it and people who knew him will know. I am hoping this doesn't upset my mom.

9. Wine bottles - I have 20 wine bottles that I have to soak and remove lables so I can put the centerpiece lables on.

10. Final count - I have to begin to call my guests to find out if they are coming to the wedding. I thought the online RSVP would be great! And in a way it has been. I can export the guest list and find out who is coming and who isn't. The problem seems to be that people are too freakin' lazy to get on their computers and do it. Then there are the people who are too dumb to figure out how and just email me (which is actually better than those who just tell us at really random times that they are either coming or not coming, we just tell them to go to the website and do the RSVP).

11. C-listers - We are now in the process of beginning to invite our C-listers. We have to pay for 100 people anyway, so we might as well invite those who really want to come. As long as we get closer to the 100 than we are right now I'll be happy.

As we get closer to the wedding I keep thinking of things I need to get done. And I leave to go camping for a week on Monday. I won't be able to get anything done during that week. So this weekend has to be super productive for me.

Wish me luck, because I know this list of 11 things isn't everything.

running

I don't run. Anybody will tell you that my moto is that if you see me running you might want to run the same way because danger is coming.

I belong to a weightloss site and several of the girls have been talking about the Couch to 5K plan. I looked it up just so I would know what in the world they were talking about. It actually sounded like something I could do. Because as much as I say I don't run, I like the idea of running. I like the idea of being one of those people down by the beach running. (I feel the same way about cycling).

So, with this new plan, and liking the idea of running, I went to the gym, got my butt on a treadmill and did the run/walk method for week one of the Couch to 5K plan. It wasn't bad. I did it, I didn't have to stop running during any of the 60 sec segments. I think I might actually be able to stick with this one.

Now, the negative side...my ankles hurt. Not like they have been injured, but like they are asking what the hell they did to me to be punished like that.

I don't plan on giving up. Who knows, I might actually run a 5K sometime.

so much, so little

I have a "To Do" list a mile long and less than a month to get it done. Yes, I'm talking about wedding planning. Everything is coming together, slowly but surely, and with a little bite to the pocketbook.

I keep hearing about people having to take out seconds on their homes to pay for weddings. I can not imagine doing that. I am freaking out at going over my $8000 budget because he ended up having to pay for a photographer (who I get to meet on Thursday). What are some of these people thinking.

It is pretty much the small details that need to be taken care of. I need to touch base with vendors and decide on some small reception type things. Remember my wedding is pretty much a reception with a wedding tossed in the middle.

Here is just a little bit of a run down on what still needs to be done:

1. Wine tags - the wedding is at a winery so almost everyone will have a wine glass. Instead of buying the wine tags I saw online, which were shapped like wedding bells, my mom and I are going to make 200 dragonfly wine tags. For those of you who don't know, I LOVE dragonflies. I really only need about 120, but might as well make some extra. We are going to die cut them with my Sisix machine and then emboss some silver on them, punch a hole and add some black ribbon. We will have silver sharpies there for people to write their names on them.

2. M&Ms - we have to order the custome M&Ms. We decided not to do favors. No sense in giving people something that will just end up in a landfill. We are going to rent bowls and have bowls of M&Ms on each table, that way people can have a little something sweet. Oh, that reminds me, we have to rent the bowls.

3. Guest book - we are doing a photo album guest book. I have two students coming to the wedding who will be in charge of making sure they take everyone's picture. To go with the pictures we will have 4x6 handmade paper for the guests to write us a message. The message will be inserted in the album under the picture. Much more interesting than a book with everyone's signatures.

4. M's clothes - we have got to buy a suit for that man. He didn't want to do it while we were in escrow (I don't blame him, I didn't want to do anything while we were in escrow), now he wants to lose some weight. The wedding is less than a month away...he needs to get off the stick.

5. B and L's clothes - we need to find dresses for the girls. L has a backup dress, which I would like her to wear, I think it is totally cute, but she wants to shop, so that is fine with me. B will be a little harder, she can't make a decision to save her life. Her mother does everything for her. Should be interesting.

6. Flowers - at first we were going to go with silk flowers, now I am thinking I might want real ones. I do know that we are doing Gerbera Daisies (my favorite). The flowers will be for the centerpieces and on the wine bars. We are doing vases out of wine bottles.

7. Wine Lables - I have designed a wine lable for the centerpieces. I am not totally happy with it, but I know some graphic designers who I am going to ask to help me spiff it up. Then my new neighbor who works for a graphic designer said she would print them for us. I feel strange going to her house and asking her about it again, but she offered, right?

I actually think that might be all of the big stuff! WOW!!!!! I think I have it down to only 7 big things that need to be done. There are lots of small things, but not a lot of big things. This is great!

So, now I am off to get some small things done.

no more students!

I'm done! No more students for 2 months!!!!! I have finished grades now I just have to finish cleaning my classroom and sign out tomorrow morning.

Then I will be focused on nothing but the wedding for the next 31 days. Yep, you read that right. The wedding is in 31 days. I cna't believe it has come up so fast.

So much to do!!! Not enough time!!!!

I'm marrying a wise man

On Saturday M found out that his cousin will not be able to photograph our wedding. This left a huge whole that I would have had to fill. HAD I ACTUALLY KNOWN I DIDN'T HAVE PHOTOGRAPHER.

I found out last night that the cousin could not be there. M went out and found and booked a photographer all by himself. He knew that this might have been the one thing that would send me over the edge in terms of stress.

Everybody I have told this to is so impressed by that action. I am impressed by that action, since I have been the one to do everything so far.

M really is a great catch. I am so lucky to have him in my life (even if he does come with bagage for days).

Everything else for the wedding is coming together. I will get to hit it full force next week. Tomorrow is my last day with students and Friday is the last day for the summer. YAY!!!!! I think I'll make it.

it's been a long time...

It has been so long since I have checked in, so much has happened.

I have trying to finish unpacking. Those of you who have ever moved know what I'm talking about.

The musical closed. It went really well. I am very proud of the kids and pleased with the outcome. We have the MACY Awards tomorrow, so we will see what the judges thought of the performance. I do not think I will be working on the musical again next year. But those of you who read know that story.

I finally got the wedding invitations out. They only went out 3 weeks late. Lucky for me, we are doing online RSVP, so I don't have to wait for the little cards to come back in.

I still don't have a wireless card in my desktop so I am unable to check in with all of you. I miss my bloggy friends. I am hoping to get M to take care of that this weekend.

I hope you are all doing well. Up sometime soon...a full and complete wedding update (I know you are all dieing to know all the details).