2011 Resolutions

I didn't use to be, but I'm now a big believer in setting New Year's Resolutions (not that mine always stick). There's something magical about starting fresh, making amends with yourself, and vowing to be a better person one way or another.

Last year, my resolution was to try two new things a month. I did it! Admittedly, some of them were kind of cop-outs (little things that didn't really stretch my comfort zone or teach me much), but I forgive myself for those since it was such a busy year. What was really magical about this year was that I feel like I'm twice the person I was last year (gained weight notwithstanding). Some of my favorite things I've done include:
*bought a house
*acted as principal
*walked on hot coals
*oil paint
*make my own household cleaners

I've learned a whole new world of spirituality, gotten over many of my food qualms, and I can now spend a day in three inch heels. I learned how to give myself the space I need, when to let others stand up for me, and when and how to advocate for myself. I can also shoot a rifle and this year I hope to go hunting for my first time.

I'm not intending to brag, but I do give myself some major props. I think this is the first Resolution I've completed fully, and I might just continue it.

This year's resolution: Give two gifts a month.

The rules are: 1: the gift must be meaningful, 2: birthdays/anniversaries don't count unless the person wouldn't normally get a gift from me, and 3: avoid store-bought at all costs. I also have the option of doing it anonymously, but that's not necessary.

Housewarming

We finally had a housewarming party! Yay! Here are some shots of the living areas of the house. Considering it's only 1420 square feet and 4 bedrooms, it's not hard to tell where most of the square footage went. But our couches are huge and there is still a ton of room in there. This room is immediately to the right as you come in the door.
Also, the rocking chair is the same one that James' mom used to rock him to sleep as a baby. Awe!!














Dining/kitchen, to the left of the door. The table normally will be in the guest room/art room, and there is a pub table hiding behind James that is normally there.













We also found a baby in our house. Her name is Chucky.

The Boonies

I like living in the country. I really miss Portland, but there's a pioneer spirit in me that I know I get from my ancestors who settled Utah and Eastern Idaho. Since buying the house in Sheridan, I do feel isolated at times, but then I appreciate the quiet and the land around me. Today I got to make dinner with sage, Cuban oregano, and rosemary from my backyard. I baked bread, one loaf to go to a neighbor who gave us apples, zucchini, and corn from their yard. I get fresh eggs from a coworker. And I've been enjoying cooking homemade dinners lately, even after a long day at work. For some reason it doesn't feel like a chore when it's in my own house.

After I get through this last grocery run, I think I'll try cutting out processed foods entirely. I've been making big enough dinners to freeze leftovers or have them for lunch, so I don't think it would be more difficult in that respect. The biggest challenge I think would be canned soup or pastas. Although, I think I'll buy a pasta machine. Mmmm...

Lots of changes

I haven't posted in so long I don't really know where to start!

The last few months have been a whirlwind. I took classes all summer for my Admin program, then promptly got to work on school stuff during August.

We also bought a house! We're living in a one-stoplight town between McMinnville and the coast. It's quiet, the neighbors are ridiculously nice, and we're just 45 minutes from door to sand on my favorite beach. We're also closer to work, which was one of the purposes of the move. The house is 4 bedrooms with vaulted ceilings and a great backyard. I hope we can keep up with it.

For my Admin program, I need a certain number of hours of time spent doing administrative work. Our old principal got a new job elsewhere, so the district hired a new principal. He's really laid back, straightforward, and easy to work with. He also hasn't ever worked in a high school, so he's got lots of questions. In effect, I've already gotten a ridiculous number of those hours completed. Right now he's out of town for ten days and I've been in charge, which terrified me at first... but I've found that I really like it. Every day I'm faced with new challenges and I'm never bored. By the end of the week, I was totally exhausted - my legs hurt from wearing heels, my back hurts, and I'm sleep-deprived. But I'm really happy. Plus, I get to come home to my own house!

Tomorrow is my last day as administrator before the real principal comes back. I'll be happy to give him back his office, and I'll be happy to be teaching my classes again, but I know I'll be jealous of him too.

Today I was officially accepted into my Admin program!

So.

I've been MIA for a while. I'm not even sure if anyone actually visits here anymore. Hello, if you're here!

This year I'm taking my goals/New Year's Rez/myself a little more seriously. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't also recognize that I'm one of the silliest girls in Oregon, but I'm reminding myself that I don't always have to be the silliest.

My latest "new" things include learning how to shoot a rifle and handguns (...You know, just in case I'm being chased by a bear who is also in the Yakuza. What's the appropriate weapon of defense? One must be prepared for these things).

I also walked on hot coals. (I guess this prepares me to run through a forest fire being chased by a Yakuza bear.) Seriously though, I really did walk through a bed of hot coals with bare feet. Twice! Now I feel like I can do absolutely anything.

School's almost out. Thursday is the last day with kids, and Friday is my last day. Tomorrow through Tuesday I'll be in the woods chaperoning Junior Retreat. Actually, the location is even closer to me than the school is, which is pretty convenient since James has to deliver me the season premiere episode of True Blood as soon as he can get it. That means I'll see it Monday if at all possible. I am so addicted to that show. Then, on Wednesday, I have an all-day meeting with the superintendent of the school district, which will be... um... interesting? Scary? I'm unsure at this point. I can't be scared, because I've walked on hot coals and nothing scares me. But she is intimidating. I honestly don't know what to expect. At least there will be four of us and I don't have to do much talking. Oh! And MACA graduated its first Seniors on Wednesday. It was beautiful.

With the weather getting nice I've been spending a lot of time outdoors. Already I have my balcony looking nice with plants and I've been hiking three times this week already. I've decided that I need to schedule in some weekend (or weekday, depending on when James starts subbing) backpacking trips... let me know if you're in the area and you're interested!

Still on the diet. It's going pretty well, although I'm losing less weight than I theoretically should. At least it's still coming off. But hey! At this rate I'll be 50 lbs lighter in a year. (If I have to starve myself like this for a whole year I'll go crazy.)

Spring Break 2010

Spring Break is almost over. I realize that in the last week I've done a ridiculous amount of things (some to relieve stress and some that caused it), but it seems like it's only been a couple of days. I think I'm ready to go back to school, though.

This was before Spring Break, but close enough: Liz and Jason had a baby shower. In this picture, they are practicing holding an infant. I think they're ready!














We also sent to Seattle. I won't share all the details, but we did get to see our friends Michelle and Samantha. James and I took them to breakfast at Portage Bay - the smoked salmon Benedict was so good I had to have it two days in a row.
The skunks have also enjoyed having us around, particularly Tobias. He rarely lets me out of his sight and slept on my head last night. Aroma has been enjoying the sunny weather:



















We also had a small party a few days ago. I think we've had more people in our apartment in the last week then the entire time we've lived here put together. This is Kate holding Tobias...

Today I finally made my way down to Beverly Beach. I've heard there are great concretions there with lots of fossil shells. Indeed! I had expected them to be hard to find, but they were everywhere. Beverly Beach is now my favorite!
It was an awesome day. Windy, like it usually is on the coast, but in the mid-60s. The water was soooo blue.

This past week was pretty horrific for MACA in general and a few staff members in particular. Since James was still teaching my 1st and 2nd periods, I pretty much spent the duration of the week helping out in the office... which meant doing some student management bidniz and going through hours of film to research not one, not two, but three separate incidents. Ugh. The principal referred to it as "The Great Time Suck of 2010", but has since changed it to "Suspendapalooza." It has a nice ring to it, and you can get an idea of what her week was like. I also don't think I've ever been more angry at school. I just have to keep focusing on the really great kids we have an not dwell on the.... other ones.

Last week I piloted a new tardy and attendance policy for the school, along with a few other teachers. (Knock on wood) - it seems to be working! Woo! That, in addition to the aforementioned week events, have pretty much solidified for me our (me and Hubby) decision for me to apply to the Administrative License program. We'll see what happens.

Nothing like procrastination! It was the last day of the month before I tried my second new thing. First, I tried "Aloe" - a Japanese drink that, surprisingly, is made of aloe. With aloe bits. It was pretty good!
Then, today, for the first time I had my own portrait client! This is one of the MACAdemy's first graduates and we went out pictures taking today. She was a trooper! 250 pictures later, and I have some definite keepers. These immediately were my top favorites.

Progress! ...but a totally boring post.

The semester's coming to an end. I'll miss my classes, but at least I see all these kids all the time so it won't be like I have to wait for them to come visit me or something. I'll miss Psych, too. But I am looking forward to my World Cultures class!



















I'm also feeling pretty great about my diet/exercise program. Not like it's a "program" program; I'm just eating scantily and exercising. Today I only had 1220 calories and I went to the gym. I keep forgetting that I can't just pick up where I left off six months ago; I want to run three miles at once but my body just can't handle it, so I overdid it Sunday and had to take a break yesterday. Boo. I also bought Acai berry drink fortification stuff at Whole Foods and I've been mixing that with OJ every night.

Update on my New Year's Rez! I'm happy to announce I completed January's "two new things" last week. This month I used homemade laundry detergent and I also ate antelope for the first time. Oh man, it was good! Thanks to Laurie, who supplied the roast, and Hubby for cooking it up.




















The gym I work out at has mini personal TVs on all the treadmills. Today I (a little ironically) watched The Food Network - it made the time totally fly by. I heart Duff.

Woo!
Today I received an awesome surprise - and one that teachers rarely get.
On the master schedule, I had no class listed for my 3rd period. I figured that since my colleague is leaving before the end of the quarter, and that I was taking over her class the next quarter, that I was going to be given special assignments until she goes on maternity leave. Turns out, they really just didn't know what class to have me teach. Now there's a group of students (mostly freshman and sophomore, I guess) that need an elective. "Make it fun!", they said. So I asked my current Psych class what I should teach, and got everything from Oceanography, Astronomy and Psychology, to Home Economics. I suggested maybe a World Cultures class, and they totally jumped at that. And since I'm Social Studies endorsed, I can offer a "Cultural Anthropology" class and it will count toward their Social Studies credits! Woo!

So now I'm brainstorming all the things I can do with it. I've been tossing ideas for this class around for a couple of years, and now I get to teach it! We'll learn different cultures' dress, dance, music, food, and social norms. I know it sounds kinda boring but I'm super psyched to teach it.

Today Hubby and I went to MACA to get a little work done. He was working on his Work Sample and I got a lot of repotting done. As a Biology teacher, I find it necessary that I have fossils and live plants everywhere in my classroom. It's kind of a requirement. I even have plans next Saturday to acquire more fossils. Possibly more plants, you never know. Hint: if you ever feel like getting me a present, the nerdiest/most amazing thing I'd love is a fossilized Ginkgo leaf. My birthday's in April. Thanks in advance!











I found out a couple weeks ago that I weigh more now than I ever have ever ever ever in my whole life. So, needless to say, I'm trying to fix that... but I've got to do something different, as the last time I cut calories/killed myself exercising, I actually gained two pounds. Grr.

I'm adopting a super simple/non processed foods "diet", along with cutting calories slowly down to 1200 or 1300 a day. Next month I'll start up at the gym that's two blocks away. It should be said that I do not abhor exercise. I actually really like running, which is what I did over the summer/fall, until I injured my foot and knee and had to give it a rest - and by then, the weather had turned. I've missed it. I was up to four miles a day.

Other news: there was a plumbing emergency in the complex and they surprised us by shutting the water off to all the apartments yesterday. We spent the day at James' parents place, which was kind of nice.

It's been nice to live simply. No money = simple homemade meals and much fewer choices to make during the day. Today we splurged and went to Sushi Land. It was pure heaven. A quick trip to Whole Foods got me a wedge of some delicious Irish aged cheese which I'll have with figs and whole wheat wafers for lunch. Mmmm....

I'm really excited about this year. My New Year's Resolution is to try at least two new things a month... I wanted to do one new thing a week, but since I'm a teacher, weeks fly by and I'm super busy, and didn't want to feel like a failure if I let a week or two slip by. So, I figured two a month is reasonable.

I've already got my first one! I used my home-made laundry detergent for the first time today. Sheets are in the dryer, so I'll see in a bit how it did. It was super easy to make, but I think I'll make the liquid kind next.














This resolution stems from my enjoyment over trying new things in the last few months. I just keep stumbling upon good opportunities. Last week, for instance, I ate goat for the first time ever. Hubby and I went to our favorite Indian place for lunch (they have the world's best Indian buffet), and they had goat curry. It was super good and I kinda wish I had gotten more (it was just a little taste). Ah well.

Future "new" things to try:
*Possibly an Administrative License program
*Again, different sushi every time I go
*Making my own pasta (Mom, can I have the chicken noodle soup recipe?)

Any suggestions?