tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-170981612024-03-23T11:28:57.353-07:00The Picture Alive...That the powerful play goes on, and you may contribute a verse... ~ WWStargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-88141010839135127662016-05-21T00:19:00.000-07:002016-05-21T00:19:17.725-07:00Some things I need to sayOne thing that changes when you have cancer and a toddler is that a lot of parenting rules get ignored.<br />
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I found the lump on July 31, 2015. Gideon was a year and a half old. Suddenly, I didn't care too much about making sure he learned how to fall asleep in his own bed or ate at the table all the time. Every night, he falls asleep in my bed, snuggled up to me. If it makes me happy and it isn't damaging him, then I do it. He won't sleep in my bed forever and even though my sleep quality is a little bit worse because I wake up when he wiggles over to me, I love his snuggles. You know what else is bad for sleep quality? Cancer. And chemotherapy. I am all about cherishing every moment with him since I could have so easily died.<br />
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It is mid-May and I have no boobs. My hair is starting to grow back in. Darker, with a wave to it. My fingertips and nails are still cracked and disfigured. My eyebrows are thin and short and my eyelashes are just starting to grow back. Last week I had surgery to place the expanders to stretch my muscle before getting real implants. So, I hurt, and I don't have a lot of strength. I sleep when I can get it. Three days a week Gideon goes to day care at the high school so I can get things done and, if I'm lucky, get extra sleep.<br />
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I haven't spoken to my parents in nearly two years. August of 2014, during a visit to NY with Ginny and her family, we had a blow-out. Last week we all got thankfulness letters from her and I guess it was enough for Patrick and Ginny because both of them have made contact. I wasn't going to but my therapist thinks I should write my own and follow it with what I want to be thankful for (like "we can communicate" and "we are allowed to be angry") and I should be brutally honest. I wrote it but I am still sitting on it. Honestly, I just don't want to open it up again. They are incapable of admitting that anything even happened, let alone apologizing. And honestly, my letter was more sad than anything else. It was sad because she couldn't think of much to be thankful for other than that I have had relationships with other people. Sad because I am fucking awesome and she doesn't know it. Sad because she has gone my whole life with a sour look on her face whenever she thinks of me.Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-8946997537958382212012-11-17T23:16:00.000-08:002012-11-17T23:16:03.780-08:00Resurrecting the dead blogObviously I have abandoned this blog to the internet graveyard. I've been using Facebook to share all the menial (and not-so-menial) news of my life. But lately, some things have happened that I don't really want to share in that world, so for those of you that ever visit this place, you get the privilege of reading top-secret information! Just kidding, it's not really top-secret. It's kind of middle-secret though.<br />
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For over a year now I have been having a Crohn's flare-up. I've had a couple minor medical procedures, tried three new drugs (two of which are super hard-core gene therapy drugs, one of which I am allergic to and gave cause to visit the emergency room), and seen all three of my doctors a dozen times this year... to no avail. While my symptoms come and go (pain being the most bothersome), I seem to continue to slowly get worse. I am on two immunosuppressants and there is nothing else my GI doc can do but send me to my surgeon for a consult. So, I will get more news on Tuesday, although we both predict the answer will be "Sorry, you will just have to live with this indefinitely." I've been visiting forums and some people report living with it for years and years... one person waited seven years before they finally healed. Needless to say, this is causing a considerable amount of stress and sadness. Sometimes I just have "feeling sorry for myself" days. When that happens I usually feel super guilty, which then makes me feel worse, so I've been working on allowing myself one of those every now and then. I talked to my GI doc about that a few months ago... I told him, "Sometimes I feel really bad about feeling sorry for myself, because I really am lucky, most people with Crohn's go through much worse." He looked at me quizzically and said, "I don't think you realize how much you deal with; you've just gotten used to it. Most people with Crohn's don't have it worse. You're actually a pretty tough case, and your body doesn't respond to treatment. It's okay to feel sorry for yourself, you've earned it." Then I started to cry. Throughout the last 11 years, I've read tons of blogs, essays, forums, and articles written by people with this disease and every time I read them I've thought, "Wow, at least I don't have to deal with that! Needing to know every single clean public restroom within 30 miles of my house? Having my whole day planned out in relation to my eating/medicine/disease schedule? Unable to eat solid food sometimes? Having three doctors that regularly consult each other? Thank goodness that's not my life." Until, you know, it was, and I just didn't realize it. I guess that's good, though... right? That I didn't notice the temperature of the water until I was in the pool all the way?<br />
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Oh and also my job pretty much sucks this year. I will be looking for other employment in the spring, unless another position opens up in the district. Sad times.Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-3751273861033656852010-12-27T14:54:00.000-08:002010-12-27T15:22:13.837-08:002011 ResolutionsI 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. <br /><br />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:<br />*bought a house<br />*acted as principal<br />*walked on hot coals<br />*oil paint<br />*make my own household cleaners<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />This year's resolution: Give two gifts a month. <br /><br />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.Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-20507883796048608672010-11-18T18:21:00.000-08:002010-11-18T18:32:16.424-08:00Housewarming<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqokeVq1jc5opTE6OS3lXz37TfV17XOu3l5XVNi02WVcUYCb4XyuA3OxMXlO8yRo7ek4toWILU9w7K4lXRbfQOP3fwAgraPy4HGexe4Oeuq_qo3KAJ9G_fbKHkw6KtAsGJF2Wn/s1600/DSC_0007.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqokeVq1jc5opTE6OS3lXz37TfV17XOu3l5XVNi02WVcUYCb4XyuA3OxMXlO8yRo7ek4toWILU9w7K4lXRbfQOP3fwAgraPy4HGexe4Oeuq_qo3KAJ9G_fbKHkw6KtAsGJF2Wn/s320/DSC_0007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541081321685061058" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br />Also, the rocking chair is the same one that James' mom used to rock him to sleep as a baby. Awe!!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTWSomyvR3SZ5jczYNrnGLDZqkPpEkG-NT8axwqRK4sN9f4qXJTHvPyuWfYBI2SqjLsOEawjS3k6nIV6Z8M_-dbbPI8SAB3vEcV6JfupR7uQd9id0_yVAgRg5I8xXZic1YkAK/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTWSomyvR3SZ5jczYNrnGLDZqkPpEkG-NT8axwqRK4sN9f4qXJTHvPyuWfYBI2SqjLsOEawjS3k6nIV6Z8M_-dbbPI8SAB3vEcV6JfupR7uQd9id0_yVAgRg5I8xXZic1YkAK/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541081311784641842" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDyPdOBMYis6j1d1c2EoIM-VtApn8vPrg4Ml2GjA-q9-6Mtan_OsxilG91rF0FGzeJLIS-yIYCIiBkyZtEXtX7Y9_cObWODYNzKHYFQvOPM12O39aedv78iPjcROGefrTBhY6/s1600/DSC_0003.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDyPdOBMYis6j1d1c2EoIM-VtApn8vPrg4Ml2GjA-q9-6Mtan_OsxilG91rF0FGzeJLIS-yIYCIiBkyZtEXtX7Y9_cObWODYNzKHYFQvOPM12O39aedv78iPjcROGefrTBhY6/s320/DSC_0003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541081307470221602" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />We also found a baby in our house. Her name is Chucky.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3_0Di6A6s-HkrPjU5lrqv6UyNxLtPpFsQBEuSyv0I0O7lPnZzD5t_SIZd2vHaqZQzB0SeHDNcqmC4mCzh08k_ho1xHVuxeAUJOpJ04LXdAGRxW_hbBPnUMxBD0KMlpEXs4cN/s1600/2.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim3_0Di6A6s-HkrPjU5lrqv6UyNxLtPpFsQBEuSyv0I0O7lPnZzD5t_SIZd2vHaqZQzB0SeHDNcqmC4mCzh08k_ho1xHVuxeAUJOpJ04LXdAGRxW_hbBPnUMxBD0KMlpEXs4cN/s320/2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541081303675063666" border="0" /></a>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-33870810042176517832010-10-23T23:58:00.000-07:002010-10-24T00:11:26.238-07:00The BooniesI 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.<br /><br />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...Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-82551331825221618672010-09-19T09:17:00.000-07:002010-09-19T09:50:36.615-07:00Lots of changesI haven't posted in so long I don't really know where to start!<br /><br />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. <br /><br />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. <br /><br />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!<br /><br />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.Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-30411717814766563472010-06-21T22:49:00.000-07:002010-06-21T22:52:04.040-07:00Today I was officially accepted into my Admin program!Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-63515011689358814492010-06-12T21:10:00.000-07:002010-06-12T21:22:11.863-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQFbNLf7f5fXvdSAaL-T1hkLOK_FOd3Xpp0xXX5UmWo6MN3wupyczFqGMGO4p5qhugnwm3LGzU1n4Dw0rwDfNO1llYgMr12awaPdJO80QVqZ_J1shW90_V4qnS56g_ShBjS6V/s1600/hotcoals.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQFbNLf7f5fXvdSAaL-T1hkLOK_FOd3Xpp0xXX5UmWo6MN3wupyczFqGMGO4p5qhugnwm3LGzU1n4Dw0rwDfNO1llYgMr12awaPdJO80QVqZ_J1shW90_V4qnS56g_ShBjS6V/s320/hotcoals.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5482108797703540066" border="0" /></a><br />So.<br /><br />I've been MIA for a while. I'm not even sure if anyone actually visits here anymore. Hello, if you're here!<br /><br />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 <span style="font-style: italic;">always</span> have to be the silliest.<br /><br />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).<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-88909874501232232562010-04-15T10:08:00.000-07:002010-04-15T10:12:42.455-07:00With 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! <br /><br />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.)Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-46345464530491465502010-03-27T10:02:00.000-07:002010-03-27T10:11:34.921-07:00Spring Break 2010Spring 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.<br /><br />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!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FExuAoipHgeLYymL32YMVI2WYLzfTal5w3NI6wGjR8HcfEjPmljx5fhr29aT2T4CZLpI_XZXMbrYOFStRUEW5rqglJQ4pD8AAHbmZEtntnf9qgzowi8LScYcaKMHMhGM9GNP/s1600/DSC_0068.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2FExuAoipHgeLYymL32YMVI2WYLzfTal5w3NI6wGjR8HcfEjPmljx5fhr29aT2T4CZLpI_XZXMbrYOFStRUEW5rqglJQ4pD8AAHbmZEtntnf9qgzowi8LScYcaKMHMhGM9GNP/s320/DSC_0068.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453360898634590626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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 <a href="http://www.portagebaycafe.com/Portage_Bay_Cafe/Seattle_Breakfast,_Brunch,_Lunch_%26_Catering__Portage_Bay_Cafe.html">Portage Bay</a> - the smoked salmon Benedict was so good I had to have it two days in a row.<br />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:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDXDex97YRip5qozFRwU2_hC_4m4i8EOo9MkdARrLhlKKFRVViufwsFycDdgSdtTyvkG4kudd6gaIto-Qq-1bD9inBxuaVwKQGPn6t2IParOhfoR_bLATfWd6lRcgPAvREbwc/s1600/DSC_0080.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilDXDex97YRip5qozFRwU2_hC_4m4i8EOo9MkdARrLhlKKFRVViufwsFycDdgSdtTyvkG4kudd6gaIto-Qq-1bD9inBxuaVwKQGPn6t2IParOhfoR_bLATfWd6lRcgPAvREbwc/s320/DSC_0080.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453360886448500642" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK2AhLrHRJLB31uKQjrJouEaXmRK7pvBzOD3VUUk-taqCAoHcllyCGKb_NKlvGOL83MeZ0kKBTclOo6EW-tZFV3W9w-BYKq9MfJEX6-53oEKsWmZb-YYa2HvGyGYvq2UWsnjZ/s1600/katetoby.JPG"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK2AhLrHRJLB31uKQjrJouEaXmRK7pvBzOD3VUUk-taqCAoHcllyCGKb_NKlvGOL83MeZ0kKBTclOo6EW-tZFV3W9w-BYKq9MfJEX6-53oEKsWmZb-YYa2HvGyGYvq2UWsnjZ/s320/katetoby.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453360876088607506" border="0" /></a>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-89823394199957984842010-03-06T19:34:00.000-08:002010-03-06T19:56:47.039-08:00Today I finally made my way down to Beverly Beach. I've heard there are great <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concretion">concretions</a> 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!<br />It was an awesome day. Windy, like it usually is on the coast, but in the mid-60s. The water was soooo blue.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9DO1plShpQGxQX0LrQIzgMjf4kA6jDhwCboo6DL0V9O4Ogmt-0TIYapvD28AZYbf2uB8AIJZvSayN_O0adcc4y_m3XSSNDLuwrSYB-849m7KgO6qDPZzhcnfYKPLf0T8bauI/s1600-h/DSC_0005.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9DO1plShpQGxQX0LrQIzgMjf4kA6jDhwCboo6DL0V9O4Ogmt-0TIYapvD28AZYbf2uB8AIJZvSayN_O0adcc4y_m3XSSNDLuwrSYB-849m7KgO6qDPZzhcnfYKPLf0T8bauI/s320/DSC_0005.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445730496003926386" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjxSC15c3wNEcHY5n5Gq6vtk4s95KXRX7KuWfYFJ6q5puz47PjsjpT8AHmSs1YV7jpdQrD9H_kPbF9PBkPEg5Ds5NjXEve5fGj_HMZhkjCStqHue93xqbQIEt1vKOLRUxld54/s1600-h/DSC_0054.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjxSC15c3wNEcHY5n5Gq6vtk4s95KXRX7KuWfYFJ6q5puz47PjsjpT8AHmSs1YV7jpdQrD9H_kPbF9PBkPEg5Ds5NjXEve5fGj_HMZhkjCStqHue93xqbQIEt1vKOLRUxld54/s320/DSC_0054.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445730503301275170" border="0" /></a>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-46504433787513261092010-02-28T18:35:00.000-08:002010-02-28T18:40:55.127-08:00Nothing 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!<br />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.<br /><br /><a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzWghyphenhyphen54WH_wuFePIXzvSzzCKTCFn7XCTQVzCkN0HGK4GJuSkD1MLdOf-R4LxtYcX0h1DLl5-ote3M9Z0RFbcYTV1BnDBWXQSR9a-CS4yyYLzubJTXrVS-5Vulb14rHx6B_pq/s1600-h/pearls1sep.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvzWghyphenhyphen54WH_wuFePIXzvSzzCKTCFn7XCTQVzCkN0HGK4GJuSkD1MLdOf-R4LxtYcX0h1DLl5-ote3M9Z0RFbcYTV1BnDBWXQSR9a-CS4yyYLzubJTXrVS-5Vulb14rHx6B_pq/s320/pearls1sep.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443489362765647618" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzPDgnR172eO7uMCpND-ojsKYRp_KH5nKF166Waj_wMhpoPRWu5V-yI-lt2Ei57QE1h9B_cj5NGkC31YzA800ttUVUopjihnv-3Un-PnYM3mPJhrXlT6JDW68gvLI6Towq8Zq/s1600-h/road1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfzPDgnR172eO7uMCpND-ojsKYRp_KH5nKF166Waj_wMhpoPRWu5V-yI-lt2Ei57QE1h9B_cj5NGkC31YzA800ttUVUopjihnv-3Un-PnYM3mPJhrXlT6JDW68gvLI6Towq8Zq/s320/road1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443489378322562802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEY8HMWVuxGm7xEpP-abcdZ9RHlKpJb0KzzZnqT529dyxNnU57YUpm39SL5AkmMtsXNE9Ny6fVhZ3hyaCm4mtAJT9ncjKxdajuldfh-9q7-_rD_ThUX5dOjrO4r0UM9c6f3h1o/s1600-h/grass1con.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEY8HMWVuxGm7xEpP-abcdZ9RHlKpJb0KzzZnqT529dyxNnU57YUpm39SL5AkmMtsXNE9Ny6fVhZ3hyaCm4mtAJT9ncjKxdajuldfh-9q7-_rD_ThUX5dOjrO4r0UM9c6f3h1o/s320/grass1con.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443489381263945490" border="0" /></a>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-56746411433550200492010-01-26T20:59:00.000-08:002010-01-26T21:10:28.060-08:00Progress! ...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!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKuiUwRfzC3gG3puWUid21IMb6-D7yDtw2QuAh4HyhrmzaQevAgS-qjvr8PA1z4lk2rmEsVdunyHflMnEeOw1WkExjHinoKSnjhrXEHiHipCr6_NEMIWZ3a-jE_y2GlrwgJGG/s1600-h/acai_palm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYKuiUwRfzC3gG3puWUid21IMb6-D7yDtw2QuAh4HyhrmzaQevAgS-qjvr8PA1z4lk2rmEsVdunyHflMnEeOw1WkExjHinoKSnjhrXEHiHipCr6_NEMIWZ3a-jE_y2GlrwgJGG/s320/acai_palm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431281777506516882" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOEllmUDy-xCjppkA76GlNRMvlseINYdVQhFhW_AmXqGj0SAIFyqXsKBDn-tzh1W_tUnI7dwsS2xNDqvmDX2EQ7Po_RDAeokoT53-q5n_LLSCtBHEw-Un7UL5Hc6UP1U56I7K/s1600-h/Pronghorn+Antelope_jpg.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyOEllmUDy-xCjppkA76GlNRMvlseINYdVQhFhW_AmXqGj0SAIFyqXsKBDn-tzh1W_tUnI7dwsS2xNDqvmDX2EQ7Po_RDAeokoT53-q5n_LLSCtBHEw-Un7UL5Hc6UP1U56I7K/s320/Pronghorn+Antelope_jpg.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5431281787768325042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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.Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-17730067945452380372010-01-19T20:12:00.001-08:002010-01-19T20:17:33.496-08:00Woo!<br />Today I received an awesome surprise - and one that teachers rarely get.<br />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!<br /><br />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.Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-52239848898199591382010-01-17T17:52:00.000-08:002010-01-17T18:13:45.036-08:00Today 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!<br /><br /><a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35JwDc6YGxgR1VtfUXC48CKvHX4dIVsUXlZEf24UWUSLaLIwBSQaQBBsT9HADID8EbRNI7yThKP208YpuNtL0Jcz-iMd6iDP-ljtNSQ1z4c6ToMOCKdQOyD2h-Gg-pz1QRn5-/s1600-h/Ginkgo3560.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 151px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35JwDc6YGxgR1VtfUXC48CKvHX4dIVsUXlZEf24UWUSLaLIwBSQaQBBsT9HADID8EbRNI7yThKP208YpuNtL0Jcz-iMd6iDP-ljtNSQ1z4c6ToMOCKdQOyD2h-Gg-pz1QRn5-/s320/Ginkgo3560.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427897155878332466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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.<br /><br />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....Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-3555581943541740042010-01-02T19:24:00.000-08:002010-01-02T19:37:23.948-08:00I'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.<br /><br />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 <a href="http://tipnut.com/10-homemade-laundry-soap-detergent-recipes/">super easy to make</a>, but I think I'll make the liquid kind next.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkfpMoKWCe_HaAySZqBlNU91x7793B0i7d1QEhbMOlNewlx-bT-x-alyuipml4oJCdzWsK50Nz5BtmaI9pYwDtIV-x1bvPAKc9xRkx1wyD8RR8hZTzAAvzfQx-WiWle3ZnWIw/s1600-h/Goat+Curry.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjkfpMoKWCe_HaAySZqBlNU91x7793B0i7d1QEhbMOlNewlx-bT-x-alyuipml4oJCdzWsK50Nz5BtmaI9pYwDtIV-x1bvPAKc9xRkx1wyD8RR8hZTzAAvzfQx-WiWle3ZnWIw/s320/Goat+Curry.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422350749269970178" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />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. <br /><br />Future "new" things to try:<br />*Possibly an Administrative License program<br />*Again, different sushi every time I go<br />*Making my own pasta (Mom, can I have the chicken noodle soup recipe?)<br /><br />Any suggestions?Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-2305378816919231402009-12-27T20:09:00.001-08:002009-12-27T20:12:32.275-08:00Sneak previewHere's a sneak preview of what will be a very belated Christmas present to my family. It's in the works - let's hope your patience pays off. :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrToFlpyfn9_PDqwD0BSABFPy0_XPsvPVkl3ktVufXKYiRNieAe7-tXKWB8AXeBd_NfnXfyZk1MPWrXl_D3f1Af4v3Xbbj-TiEDNEXlyDcR1D77WvdN67i04JKXmvBAJRD9w6H/s1600-h/astoveholesep.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrToFlpyfn9_PDqwD0BSABFPy0_XPsvPVkl3ktVufXKYiRNieAe7-tXKWB8AXeBd_NfnXfyZk1MPWrXl_D3f1Af4v3Xbbj-TiEDNEXlyDcR1D77WvdN67i04JKXmvBAJRD9w6H/s320/astoveholesep.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420134775053354226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mq_FhvLFxjbQ5eq-R32dHDNfcDy6o1kNXKqWi_Bf9B_5Q5cDtUQt7AXzKxrBhFIy80H0iQKgb4q2IxNpsdu4whXFVtCmhSzs3RGtMjBFndims3XSm_I_G_Kp8Ch8HSoxLdkh/s1600-h/akeysep.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Mq_FhvLFxjbQ5eq-R32dHDNfcDy6o1kNXKqWi_Bf9B_5Q5cDtUQt7AXzKxrBhFIy80H0iQKgb4q2IxNpsdu4whXFVtCmhSzs3RGtMjBFndims3XSm_I_G_Kp8Ch8HSoxLdkh/s320/akeysep.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420134763179354018" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvNkCe7Q-_lQPPtod5MKp4q8ncrIXD3bI6xMdZP1g7kY_beYDLTUzQ04abI-K8rzTE4AIHFVr-yY_QoZ8NPNdKJd-rB-I6Jt0ykcnApIVpu4GcZ4W0xQ5QMxnztPf6-4DYVIv/s1600-h/abackyardsep.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVvNkCe7Q-_lQPPtod5MKp4q8ncrIXD3bI6xMdZP1g7kY_beYDLTUzQ04abI-K8rzTE4AIHFVr-yY_QoZ8NPNdKJd-rB-I6Jt0ykcnApIVpu4GcZ4W0xQ5QMxnztPf6-4DYVIv/s320/abackyardsep.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5420134759940246978" border="0" /></a>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-16961041031989646652009-12-22T14:52:00.000-08:002009-12-22T14:58:18.134-08:00Yay, holiday cheer!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAL49jwD88r3I9K2_G8H1sYi3yiQsXp-rLpb4r4bY0TLMf6R_Ae3q1yzvixtwUAwL0JsEFqbmajPVqUCJp8jalyMirmqy-Yi7k9WvuP9zBpHF8CLAI05RKVOWCmAU7fbgW5gm/s1600-h/scoredesat.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAL49jwD88r3I9K2_G8H1sYi3yiQsXp-rLpb4r4bY0TLMf6R_Ae3q1yzvixtwUAwL0JsEFqbmajPVqUCJp8jalyMirmqy-Yi7k9WvuP9zBpHF8CLAI05RKVOWCmAU7fbgW5gm/s320/scoredesat.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5418197369346259218" border="0" /></a><br />This year, James and I are doing the holidays more casually. By that, I mean that I've put up no decorations, we didn't have turkey for Thanksgiving (although Hubby cooked an awesome meal), and neither one of us has done a lick of shopping. It's liberating, I tell you.<br /><br />Thanks to Paul for hosting an awesome Thanksgiving for friends! We were packed in there, man. And I learned that Paul is frightfully talented at foosball. It's the years at NBHS. ;)<br /><br />Usually, we try to give hand-made gifts, but fail to successfully do so for everyone - I think this year we'll succeed! I've been super busy getting things ready, but they still won't make it for Christmas, unfortunately. The majority of them have been extremely time consuming. But honestly, this year, I'm more looking forward to giving presents than I am at receiving them - there's nothing I've had my eye on, which really is frustrating to Hubby, I'm sure... and I think I did an awesome job with James' present this year so the process of creating it is making me super excited for Christmas morning!Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-90722072704388432262009-12-06T20:36:00.000-08:002009-12-07T19:49:40.236-08:00Steve and Sara Wedding Preview<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8m5iSiOY4IC_UOWyl8xHiqv4q3ZsKCfZlUNtqS_RqgPfjJqpqkf2QWiBHqRLrW6Jk0-ks8MWEZ3YkqVwRXKv0umvf0I3xMuZ_l_EdRx3F-KOVpME_Vy1nRYs3uxKiy1cgDOg/s1600-h/mesteve.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412706902430599538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8m5iSiOY4IC_UOWyl8xHiqv4q3ZsKCfZlUNtqS_RqgPfjJqpqkf2QWiBHqRLrW6Jk0-ks8MWEZ3YkqVwRXKv0umvf0I3xMuZ_l_EdRx3F-KOVpME_Vy1nRYs3uxKiy1cgDOg/s400/mesteve.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8m5iSiOY4IC_UOWyl8xHiqv4q3ZsKCfZlUNtqS_RqgPfjJqpqkf2QWiBHqRLrW6Jk0-ks8MWEZ3YkqVwRXKv0umvf0I3xMuZ_l_EdRx3F-KOVpME_Vy1nRYs3uxKiy1cgDOg/s1600-h/mesteve.JPG"></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8m5iSiOY4IC_UOWyl8xHiqv4q3ZsKCfZlUNtqS_RqgPfjJqpqkf2QWiBHqRLrW6Jk0-ks8MWEZ3YkqVwRXKv0umvf0I3xMuZ_l_EdRx3F-KOVpME_Vy1nRYs3uxKiy1cgDOg/s1600-h/mesteve.JPG"></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><div>My friend Steve got married! I went to Phoenix for a few days to meet the bride and spend some quality time with my college friends. </div><div>Here are just a couple of the pics I took. I'll post the rest on flickr as soon as I have some editing time!</div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsHhe7x8mtYK_FakmptaMUi957eL-mS7kuJE_sXfXWI386mNbboJuSuI_vUvu_qqfyXsR5OCFMtgMro7InN4bVMPDNCbKQtZ86LVlfcDqT5zw16JL19QBJaZl_R20TDptQ_kb/s1600-h/sararingbw.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412706750511984242" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsHhe7x8mtYK_FakmptaMUi957eL-mS7kuJE_sXfXWI386mNbboJuSuI_vUvu_qqfyXsR5OCFMtgMro7InN4bVMPDNCbKQtZ86LVlfcDqT5zw16JL19QBJaZl_R20TDptQ_kb/s400/sararingbw.JPG" border="0" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Kb7OwYMcDxlhFCot6Yt4T9-SP7KkJFRyhaiLH_j1N0ltO0Pv5rvcDohDhMN7I3G_YMJ5xkMqFT4eJe7eA07ZxbG_UdPZ58SteX_2RWfHfC1Xi-nbZZKsCPdz1ozmJyG-QCa/s1600-h/davejaneal.JPG"></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBsHhe7x8mtYK_FakmptaMUi957eL-mS7kuJE_sXfXWI386mNbboJuSuI_vUvu_qqfyXsR5OCFMtgMro7InN4bVMPDNCbKQtZ86LVlfcDqT5zw16JL19QBJaZl_R20TDptQ_kb/s1600-h/sararingbw.JPG"></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Kb7OwYMcDxlhFCot6Yt4T9-SP7KkJFRyhaiLH_j1N0ltO0Pv5rvcDohDhMN7I3G_YMJ5xkMqFT4eJe7eA07ZxbG_UdPZ58SteX_2RWfHfC1Xi-nbZZKsCPdz1ozmJyG-QCa/s1600-h/davejaneal.JPG"></a> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK116nFUqf_ZN_PuvAOCihT3YSgDXRPzDq1EVwFyS04Yf8DLSw4XWgkjQJKCDIHhGjxBxYCCyid8vmaeSYpPHKltm3bpvC8BBOPeTESTz0fMEVS8hMOvZt8rQCxJLuE__KUjI5/s1600-h/ringssteve.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412706745880492978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 266px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK116nFUqf_ZN_PuvAOCihT3YSgDXRPzDq1EVwFyS04Yf8DLSw4XWgkjQJKCDIHhGjxBxYCCyid8vmaeSYpPHKltm3bpvC8BBOPeTESTz0fMEVS8hMOvZt8rQCxJLuE__KUjI5/s400/ringssteve.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div> </div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Kb7OwYMcDxlhFCot6Yt4T9-SP7KkJFRyhaiLH_j1N0ltO0Pv5rvcDohDhMN7I3G_YMJ5xkMqFT4eJe7eA07ZxbG_UdPZ58SteX_2RWfHfC1Xi-nbZZKsCPdz1ozmJyG-QCa/s1600-h/davejaneal.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412706911997774210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 266px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ9Kb7OwYMcDxlhFCot6Yt4T9-SP7KkJFRyhaiLH_j1N0ltO0Pv5rvcDohDhMN7I3G_YMJ5xkMqFT4eJe7eA07ZxbG_UdPZ58SteX_2RWfHfC1Xi-nbZZKsCPdz1ozmJyG-QCa/s400/davejaneal.JPG" border="0" /></a></div></div></div></div>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-47650364454880890312009-11-12T20:29:00.000-08:002009-11-12T20:31:44.017-08:00Happy 4th Anniversary!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv9bUFBq4DEonhNWvdr4-WKyvf6w0JXBAzrrwnTdNmx0z6xsSlU0YJ23K0yTlSSU0YMUcu9Oxi6TL6fiBrMPAXnXNVgMbqFnB31ZE8CtUfoCNIL4oxVTZqMvLXKqardoxGcyn/s1600-h/fuzzyus+modified2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJv9bUFBq4DEonhNWvdr4-WKyvf6w0JXBAzrrwnTdNmx0z6xsSlU0YJ23K0yTlSSU0YMUcu9Oxi6TL6fiBrMPAXnXNVgMbqFnB31ZE8CtUfoCNIL4oxVTZqMvLXKqardoxGcyn/s400/fuzzyus+modified2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403441160540886594" border="0" /></a><br />I love you, Hubby!Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-91437419450011850132009-11-11T14:02:00.000-08:002009-11-11T14:23:33.728-08:006:50 - 7:20: Drive to work. No time for coffee.<br />7:30 - 8:10: Staff meeting. Present a 20-minute lesson based on Marzano's work.<br />8:25-10:30: 1st period, then Advisory. Set up a few more conference appointments.<br />10:30 - 11:30: Write referral, contact parent(s) x 5. Attempt to work, only to get pulled into other drama. Get nothing of my own done. (Sorta my fault. Sorta.)<br />11:30 - 11:55: Get pizza for lunch meeting. Set up room.<br />11:55 - 12:27: Lunchtime "Student Voice Seminar" in my room. Chow down on pizza while leading meeting. No time to sit. Thankfully, students cleaned up so room was ready for third period.<br />12:27 - 3:20: 3rd and 4th period. Emailing back and forth with parents.<br />3:20 - 3:45: Find out I'm double-booked for conferences. Debrief with principal and student per referral from earlier. Eat one more piece of pizza. Leave the other one for my one and only scheduled break in conferences at 6:45. Cherish the thought of that one last piece of cold, cheesy Hot-n-Ready Little Caesar's. Get ready for conferences.<br />3:45: Student-led conferences start (20 minute appointments each). I had 13 scheduled; one no-show. Due to double-scheduling, extra time spent with kid who plagiarized, and talking shop with freshman parents, no break was had!<br />4:00: Realize I have to go to the bathroom.<br />4:15: Voice totally lost due to several coughing fits and fear of collapsed lung. Drinking plenty of water to help cough is not helping my need to pee.<br />6:30: Only break scheduled disappeared due to double-booking. Tried to escape to pee but crowd of parents clogged my escape route. Student finds small number of ants in middle of classroom floor; an uncommon site in my classroom. I'm surprised but think nothing of it.<br />6:45: Behind schedule. Hands dry from washing them so many times. Hope I don't give too many germs away.<br />8:15: Last family leaves. Finally can go pee. ...<br />Throat is throbbing, headache from coughing. My stomach had been growling for two hours. Oh yeah! The pizza! Turn off all lights, grab my stuff, chug some cough syrup, and make my way via cell phone glow to my back door. Grab that piece of pizza in the dark and take a bite. Doesn't taste right. Turn on back light to discover that ants beat me to it. Ah! Ants in my mouth! Now I'm almost puking AND coughing. Wash my mouth out a dozen times. Still starving but now imagining ant parts stuck in my teeth.<br /><br />Call Hubby and find out that a school that a couple friends work at halfway burned down. No one was hurt, but much of the school was lost. <br /><br />At least, at the end of the day, I can say that I'd rather have ants in my mouth.<br /><br />(Side note: still horribly sick, as many of us are. And still can't talk. Hubby has been praying for this day for years.)Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-16784140344181929232009-11-07T19:52:00.001-08:002009-11-07T19:53:58.075-08:00<a style="" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp9dkb8IGT8S9HOsXKzDN0b3xbI03q17_rbYjxBrdA3zPshXisRkpmX3exa5igzZ4rlczhCWbY7ovZE3Sn_039G6cn_9ksRdFfQlXx0PuVZryxYX-4iRqmmUE2cRwq2UT_nG3/s1600-h/carnivegan.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqp9dkb8IGT8S9HOsXKzDN0b3xbI03q17_rbYjxBrdA3zPshXisRkpmX3exa5igzZ4rlczhCWbY7ovZE3Sn_039G6cn_9ksRdFfQlXx0PuVZryxYX-4iRqmmUE2cRwq2UT_nG3/s400/carnivegan.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401575853380893986" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />No offense intended for any of my vegan or vegetarian friends. :)Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-45491770642970167972009-10-31T12:57:00.000-07:002009-10-31T13:13:58.670-07:00The past few days were spent at <a href="http://www.thegrandlodge.com/index.php?loc=59">McMenamin's</a> Grand Lodge at a <a href="http://www.e3smallschools.org/events.html">LFEE</a> conference. I won't go into details, but I will say this: it was an interesting mix of really fantastic discussion about equity (concerning race, SES, and culture) and really uncomfortable "sharing of feelings"-type group hug stuff. And yes, there really was a group hug at the end. My discomfort with personal contact alone were enough to make me cringe, but add in H1N1 and I was practically having a panic attack. However, it was very validating to see how far along <a href="http://www.msd.k12.or.us/schools/MACA/index.html">MACA </a>is, especially considering we're only in our third year. Basically, we rock. Go <a href="http://www.hellbenders.org/">Hellbenders</a>! <br /><br />In other news, and partially sparked by discussions at LFEE, I'm having issues dealing with my past culture and the culture I belong to now. And issues deciding what/who I want to leave behind and what I want to continue dealing with. Am I a coward/weak if I go one way? Do I have an obligation to make a certain choice over another? Am I part of the problem or the solution? What am I doing to better myself and other people - and is it doing any good? *sigh*Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-65120736767103595962009-10-15T17:12:00.000-07:002009-10-15T17:24:20.988-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaD8KMDlyIN3mzJ3cOIgcRH9SndDzWT3fsWPMG_3vzPFmaGOdT5-0zcO19WKVDh0AUgBjzjF_ae1DVaBcFJ615p3wG9RHB_9TtI32IZhRcayLPYZdK0TqEt47i5koJL-eM5hB/s1600-h/fence.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaD8KMDlyIN3mzJ3cOIgcRH9SndDzWT3fsWPMG_3vzPFmaGOdT5-0zcO19WKVDh0AUgBjzjF_ae1DVaBcFJ615p3wG9RHB_9TtI32IZhRcayLPYZdK0TqEt47i5koJL-eM5hB/s200/fence.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392986996599765570" border="0" /></a><br />Hi!<br />The weather has turned a little colder. I'm so happy!<br /><br />My shoulder froze up again, sadly. The in-laws have definitely come in handy yet again... I had run out of Valium.<br /><br />Total drama with some kids at school is keeping me busy. Whilst snooping this afternoon Liz and I ran into some students downtown (totally skipping) - and instead of avoiding us they came by to say hi. Sometimes, after having such a fun and kooky conversation with students outside school, I feel guilty when I turn them in later... but something tells me they knew it would happen anyway. Plus, I don't think they could hate me.<br /><br />Did a lot of talking again about condoms and sex and douching and all sorts of nastiness today. Taught the kids how to roll a condom. As one friend puts it, "You're definitely not teaching in a Utah school." No doubt, thank goodness. Studies show that kids will start having sex at the same age regardless, but that if they've had decent education about it they'll have lower pregnancy/STD rates. It's a tricky subject to teach, so I give plenty of disclaimers and I choose my words carefully... but it's nice to feel I might actually be doing a service to humanity in some small way.<br /><br />Hubby makes the best dinners!<br /><br />I'm terrified of swine flu. I need to get both the shots. There's kids at school whose family members are being diagnosed. It's totally hitting us. I'm terrified. !!!<br /><br />Last week I went to see my grandparents. I also saw my aunt and took a day trip to Yellowstone. It was such a nice trip, regardless of the 30 hours I spent in the car (hence my shoulder). Also, I saw one of my oldest friends, Ariane, in Boise. Such great times were had by all! I posted pics to my flickr account. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmcS8hScac1wFDEsRYepIkB65mxwv9_GntvXcFzLyxts2NmQxJxaNWWR79wnhDN6wwdsygXFB0PtVY2y_PILdBvwzTyyPjJ-NUeeXe5M4EoKX4ytfobpSFTihNpR47hHSQC8g/s1600-h/firehole.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbmcS8hScac1wFDEsRYepIkB65mxwv9_GntvXcFzLyxts2NmQxJxaNWWR79wnhDN6wwdsygXFB0PtVY2y_PILdBvwzTyyPjJ-NUeeXe5M4EoKX4ytfobpSFTihNpR47hHSQC8g/s200/firehole.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392987004260464338" border="0" /></a>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17098161.post-79342848163384693272009-09-29T19:17:00.000-07:002009-09-29T19:36:36.603-07:00They've begun bringing me apples. Anonymously.<br /><br />I have a cold, and I thought about calling in sick today, but the biggest thing holding me back? I <span style="font-style: italic;">wanted</span> to go to school. Because I'm enjoying it.<br /><br />This is Sex Ed week in Science. I might extend it through next week as well. My original intent was to try to embarrass them as much as possible, but not only are they unflappable, but they also ask really good questions. We spend an entire hour Monday discussing sex and sex myths. I get the feeling that they <span style="font-style: italic;">know </span>they need to know this stuff, but no one's really talking to them about it. It's kinda sad. Fortunately for me, I'm enjoying it immensely and I'm going to take the Praxis to add a Health endorsement. <br /><br />Usually I have my iPod playing music either when they're coming in the door at the start of class, during work time, or during their break. I realized that I should take note of Heather's class and have a specific song I play during class clean-up at the end of the period. Lately, especially because of the number of illnesses going around (60% of the staff are stricken), I've had them clean all the surfaces in the room. So, to make it more interesting, I brought in the Benny Hill theme, "Yakety Sax." Hilarity ensued. Not only are my students awesome enough that they immediately knew where the music was from ("This sounds like the Benny Hill theme!"), but a few of them began mock-chasing each other around the desks in appropriate style - even making it look like sped-up film. Ah, MACA kids. They're the best.<br /><br />So, for your viewing pleasure:<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0cFucXYlw94&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0cFucXYlw94&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Stargirlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02962408099213892835noreply@blogger.com0