A book of poems by Billy Collins... one of my favorites.
Stroking Your Muse... I think that's the title... but it's a hilarious book on writing.
LOTR trilogy in serious hardback book form.
Cute cat pillowcases from my Aunt Karen
JC Penny's gift certificate from Grandma
Sewing stuff from Mom... lots of it. scissors, feet, machine oil, thread, organizers, spools, pins, etc. So I asked my mom, "Does this mean that I get to keep the Pfaff?" (Sewing machine that my mom lent me.)
"We'll see about that."
"You gave me sewing machine feet... ones that are specific for your sewing machine."
Anyway, guess I'll have to get HP4 PS2 on my own.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Canceled
We went directly over to the parcel of angry people arguing with the people behind the counter. They said that they had created another flight for tomorrow at 11am that we'd all be on. Because the airport was fogged in, we recieved nothing from the airline. They don't give hotels, meals or drink coupons for acts of God.
Tricia went to luggage claim to get her suitcase while Nikki and I stood in the customer service line and got on our cell phones, trying to find alternate routes up North. By this time it was 10:30 and all other flights up north had already left. This included flights into Sacramento, Chico or even San Francisco.
We got to the front of the line, and told Christie our problem, and asked for our new tickets for the new flight tomorrow, and tried to get a hotel out of them... considering we had called Mom and she said that Redding was clear and not fogged in... that she had been told that the plane was actually fogged in in Medford (Oregon).
Christie apologized, but then clearly stated that none of this was her fault, or Alaskan Airline's fault, as this was a Horizon Flight, run by Alaskan, but all the Horizon people had already gone home.
So helpful Miss Christie of the non responsible Alaskan Airlines began to check us on to the 7400 flight tomorrow. By this time the rest of the crowd from upstairs was behind us in line and Tricia and Nikki made friends with two girls traveling to Eureka (the next stop on the flight.) We gave Christie all five of our driver's licenses and she got busy typing things into her computer.
"Nicole is now booked on the flight. Jennifer is now booked on the flight." Type type type. "The flight is full. Tricia is not guaranteed a seat, but I think it's just a glitch."
Huh? Apparently the plane for tomorrow's flight was only 35 seats... when the old one had been full with 77 seats.
"So what are we supposed to do? Leave our sister at home."
"It may or may not be a computer glitch. They may have put the wrong plane in the computer... but we won't know until 5 am... so if you come back here at 5:00, we'll be able to tell you if she's on the flight or not."
We stood at the counter debating for about an hour, trying to wheedle our way into a better deal. Christie gave us some Distressed Passengers Coupons for cheap hotel rates. We figured we'd stay at a hotel and sleep for at least 5 hours before calling in at 5.
We headed over to the courtesy phones and called the Sheraton. They said they had rooms and we hopped on a shuttle to their hotel. When we got to the reception desk, suddenly they had no rooms available.
What were our options? At this point we called all the other hotels and the flyers but they were also all out of discounted rooms. So our new option? The Budget Rent a Car was across the street. Why not drive?
We crossed the street and hopped in line. After about 20 minutes in line, one of us got the brilliant idea to actually call Budget on the telephone and have a reservation before we got to the desk... which was probably still a 30 minute wait away. Unfortunately, Budget had no more one way rentals... so we headed out of line and learned from our mistake. We called Hertz and got a reservation. We hopped on the Budget shuttle and headed back to the airport so we could be picked up by the Hertz shuttle.
After about an hour in line, we got to our burgandy Pontiac Grand Prix, and made it halfway out of the parking lot before Nikki realized she couldn't find her driver's license. After 20 minutes of looking, we find it behind the driver's seat and we head out. By this time, it was 2:30am.
Tricia took the first shift and drove until 4:30. I took the second shift and Nikki took over at 6:30. After a McD's stop for brekkie, Tricia took over and drove the last hour and a half. We got in around 10am... and learned from the parents that the flight was already delayed, and it really was a 35 seat plane... so we really would have missed Christmas Eve celebrations, and would have had to leave Tricia behind.
I love making the right decision.
On top of this, I had been coming down with a cold since Friday morning. After two hours of sleep, I got in the car and we drove to the Redding airport... where our flight still had not come in. Tricia and I had been told, since we actually had paper tickets, that we had to turn them in for a refund at an airport... so why Nikki dropped off the rental car, Tricia and I headed into the terminal... which looked more like a minimall than an airport. The Horizon lady told us that since we had American Ticket stock, that she couldn't refund our tickets. We'd have to go to an airport with an American terminal.
So I pretty much slept through Christmas Eve. I woke up long enough to eat dinner, and hug a bunch of relatives, and get slobbered on by my aunt's dog. Fun.
Tricia went to luggage claim to get her suitcase while Nikki and I stood in the customer service line and got on our cell phones, trying to find alternate routes up North. By this time it was 10:30 and all other flights up north had already left. This included flights into Sacramento, Chico or even San Francisco.
We got to the front of the line, and told Christie our problem, and asked for our new tickets for the new flight tomorrow, and tried to get a hotel out of them... considering we had called Mom and she said that Redding was clear and not fogged in... that she had been told that the plane was actually fogged in in Medford (Oregon).
Christie apologized, but then clearly stated that none of this was her fault, or Alaskan Airline's fault, as this was a Horizon Flight, run by Alaskan, but all the Horizon people had already gone home.
So helpful Miss Christie of the non responsible Alaskan Airlines began to check us on to the 7400 flight tomorrow. By this time the rest of the crowd from upstairs was behind us in line and Tricia and Nikki made friends with two girls traveling to Eureka (the next stop on the flight.) We gave Christie all five of our driver's licenses and she got busy typing things into her computer.
"Nicole is now booked on the flight. Jennifer is now booked on the flight." Type type type. "The flight is full. Tricia is not guaranteed a seat, but I think it's just a glitch."
Huh? Apparently the plane for tomorrow's flight was only 35 seats... when the old one had been full with 77 seats.
"So what are we supposed to do? Leave our sister at home."
"It may or may not be a computer glitch. They may have put the wrong plane in the computer... but we won't know until 5 am... so if you come back here at 5:00, we'll be able to tell you if she's on the flight or not."
We stood at the counter debating for about an hour, trying to wheedle our way into a better deal. Christie gave us some Distressed Passengers Coupons for cheap hotel rates. We figured we'd stay at a hotel and sleep for at least 5 hours before calling in at 5.
We headed over to the courtesy phones and called the Sheraton. They said they had rooms and we hopped on a shuttle to their hotel. When we got to the reception desk, suddenly they had no rooms available.
What were our options? At this point we called all the other hotels and the flyers but they were also all out of discounted rooms. So our new option? The Budget Rent a Car was across the street. Why not drive?
We crossed the street and hopped in line. After about 20 minutes in line, one of us got the brilliant idea to actually call Budget on the telephone and have a reservation before we got to the desk... which was probably still a 30 minute wait away. Unfortunately, Budget had no more one way rentals... so we headed out of line and learned from our mistake. We called Hertz and got a reservation. We hopped on the Budget shuttle and headed back to the airport so we could be picked up by the Hertz shuttle.
After about an hour in line, we got to our burgandy Pontiac Grand Prix, and made it halfway out of the parking lot before Nikki realized she couldn't find her driver's license. After 20 minutes of looking, we find it behind the driver's seat and we head out. By this time, it was 2:30am.
Tricia took the first shift and drove until 4:30. I took the second shift and Nikki took over at 6:30. After a McD's stop for brekkie, Tricia took over and drove the last hour and a half. We got in around 10am... and learned from the parents that the flight was already delayed, and it really was a 35 seat plane... so we really would have missed Christmas Eve celebrations, and would have had to leave Tricia behind.
I love making the right decision.
On top of this, I had been coming down with a cold since Friday morning. After two hours of sleep, I got in the car and we drove to the Redding airport... where our flight still had not come in. Tricia and I had been told, since we actually had paper tickets, that we had to turn them in for a refund at an airport... so why Nikki dropped off the rental car, Tricia and I headed into the terminal... which looked more like a minimall than an airport. The Horizon lady told us that since we had American Ticket stock, that she couldn't refund our tickets. We'd have to go to an airport with an American terminal.
So I pretty much slept through Christmas Eve. I woke up long enough to eat dinner, and hug a bunch of relatives, and get slobbered on by my aunt's dog. Fun.
Christmas Adventures
So let me describe the original Christmas plan: Liz drives Nikki, Tricia, and Jenny to the airport on Friday evening. We get on Horizon's flight to Redding that leaves at 8:55 pm and arrive in Redding at 10:50 pm, get picked up by my cousin Stacy and driven the 45 minutes to Gerber. That was the plan, anyway.
The Liz to the airport part went extremely well. We even had enough time to stop at Islands for Happy Hour and two Mai Tais. We were all pleasantly alcoholated as we went through security line and got out seats somewhat close together. We even got to pull Tricia out of the long line and checked her bag through customer service.
We weren't too bothered that our flight had been delayed by an hour and half. We went into the bar, grabbed a table, more drinks, and Nikki even pulled out a bag of cookies. After an hour or so in the bar, we headed off to the terminal and played a game of hearts (which I was very close to winning,) when they announced that Flight 2304 had been canceled. Yes. Canceled.
The Liz to the airport part went extremely well. We even had enough time to stop at Islands for Happy Hour and two Mai Tais. We were all pleasantly alcoholated as we went through security line and got out seats somewhat close together. We even got to pull Tricia out of the long line and checked her bag through customer service.
We weren't too bothered that our flight had been delayed by an hour and half. We went into the bar, grabbed a table, more drinks, and Nikki even pulled out a bag of cookies. After an hour or so in the bar, we headed off to the terminal and played a game of hearts (which I was very close to winning,) when they announced that Flight 2304 had been canceled. Yes. Canceled.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Sunday, December 04, 2005
TGIO - Saturday - The Game and Singing
Let me tell you how happy I was that the USC/UCLA game was so one sided... I didn't feel cheated having to leave at halftime to make call time for my choir concert.
We arrived at USC at 7:30 and by 8 the parking structure was closed. (The game started at 1:30 pm.) We were later than some, who at 7:30 were already completely plastered. We made up the time, however with beer, mimosas and this fruit concoction of Robs. The recipe goes something like this:
1 cup of strawberries
1 cup of raspberries
1 cup of blackberries
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of chamord
1 cup of vodka
1 cup of rum
Mix it all together, let it sit in the fridge overnight, then eat the fruit (by itself or over the top of Rob's cheese blintzes) and pour off the alcohol into a pitcher and cut it with club soda. Drink liberally.
Okay, so Rob told me not to drink more than one an hour, because "it goes down like fruit punch, but packs a wallop."
Knowing I had to be suitable for choir, I had one glass, and one mimosa... which was seriously unlike the last game where Liz handed David to me on the phone and I literally had a giggle attack while rolling on the grass. And of course I got ribbed for it yesterday, but I think Annelise was more plastered than I was.
Since I was on the verge of losing my voice, I did no screaming, which was difficult, especially when we were up almost thirty points by halftime. When I heard later that the score was 66-19, I knew that Ol' Pete Carroll had put the third string defense in so UCLA could score a touchdown or two.
I was a bit frazzled before the concert. The director spent most of his time rehearsing the songs with the orchestra. We didn't even run through several of the numbers... which was a bit scary.
I got lots of compliments on my solo, which I'm glad no one knew what it was supposed to sound like. I was also glad I convinced Mom and the Rainbow Girls to help out with the refreshments and the drawing. Mom is very good at getting things done with a minimum of stress.
The concert went okay... the music could have been a bit better. I think that David the Director is choosing more and more difficult music, and so we spent a lot of time on those pieces. Either way, I'm very glad it's over. I've only got two more, and that's it!
We arrived at USC at 7:30 and by 8 the parking structure was closed. (The game started at 1:30 pm.) We were later than some, who at 7:30 were already completely plastered. We made up the time, however with beer, mimosas and this fruit concoction of Robs. The recipe goes something like this:
1 cup of strawberries
1 cup of raspberries
1 cup of blackberries
1 cup of sugar
1 cup of chamord
1 cup of vodka
1 cup of rum
Mix it all together, let it sit in the fridge overnight, then eat the fruit (by itself or over the top of Rob's cheese blintzes) and pour off the alcohol into a pitcher and cut it with club soda. Drink liberally.
Okay, so Rob told me not to drink more than one an hour, because "it goes down like fruit punch, but packs a wallop."
Knowing I had to be suitable for choir, I had one glass, and one mimosa... which was seriously unlike the last game where Liz handed David to me on the phone and I literally had a giggle attack while rolling on the grass. And of course I got ribbed for it yesterday, but I think Annelise was more plastered than I was.
Since I was on the verge of losing my voice, I did no screaming, which was difficult, especially when we were up almost thirty points by halftime. When I heard later that the score was 66-19, I knew that Ol' Pete Carroll had put the third string defense in so UCLA could score a touchdown or two.
I was a bit frazzled before the concert. The director spent most of his time rehearsing the songs with the orchestra. We didn't even run through several of the numbers... which was a bit scary.
I got lots of compliments on my solo, which I'm glad no one knew what it was supposed to sound like. I was also glad I convinced Mom and the Rainbow Girls to help out with the refreshments and the drawing. Mom is very good at getting things done with a minimum of stress.
The concert went okay... the music could have been a bit better. I think that David the Director is choosing more and more difficult music, and so we spent a lot of time on those pieces. Either way, I'm very glad it's over. I've only got two more, and that's it!
TGIO - Friday Nano Part-ay
The last time I drove up to Barbara's Brewery, which is "on the other side of downtown" near "General Hospital" (County USC), it took me 2 hours, so this time, with rain expected, I allowed myself two hours and got there in 45 minutes. The good news is that I got there at the same time as the other Municipal Liason, Elizabeth. We laid out the prizes, (Big Lots Baby) and I ordered a hamburger because I was starving! Later they laid out a spread of appetizers (with lots of cheese!)
I was a little worried at first, because not a whole lot of people replied to the thread saying they would be there... but when we counted the raffle ticket stubs, we had nearly 40 people there. It was a little loud with the music and the miniature jet engine heater. Overall, I think it was a great success. I had fun talking to everyone about their novels and matching names with faces. I felt my voice starting to go so around 9:30, so I said goodbye to Elizabeth and headed home.
I was a little worried at first, because not a whole lot of people replied to the thread saying they would be there... but when we counted the raffle ticket stubs, we had nearly 40 people there. It was a little loud with the music and the miniature jet engine heater. Overall, I think it was a great success. I had fun talking to everyone about their novels and matching names with faces. I felt my voice starting to go so around 9:30, so I said goodbye to Elizabeth and headed home.
TGIO - Thursday Bombs R Us
So I've had a Mega Packed 72 hours and plan to do completely NOTHING today to make up for it.
It all started when during the last class of the day, my ELD 1 class, an announcement came over that we had a lock down drill. My students dutifully closed the windows and blinds and I locked the door. I had to keep them from peeking out the slats in the blinds at the army of police and fire that were arriving.
In case of a lockdown, teachers are instructed to check their email, as they won't make announcements... in case the emergency is due to a gunman in the school. I get an email that says someone turned in a red backpack to the bookroom with some strange box with wires attached to it. The bookroom, in case your wondering is directly downstairs and over one from my classroom. Peachy.
The email also said that the 100 building had already been evacuated... 20 to thirty minutes before. So I sent an email back asking where we were supposed to be. About ten minutes later I get an angry phone call. "Where are you, you were supposed to be in the auditorium!"
Don't ask me how I'm supposed to be somewhere when no one told me where to go.
"Wait for your administrator to come escort you out."
I tell the students to pack up their stuff as we're leaving. They're confused, but it's a chance not to do their work... so they pack up and head off down the hall when Ms. Broadway comes to get us.
So we got to leave school 20 minutes early and I had to walk the long way around home... and I didn't get to make the copies I planned to make after school.
The bomb turned out to be a speaker with electrical tape and wire sticking out of it. I don't know what bothers me more... that they forgot to evacuate me, or they blamed me for not knowing about it. sigh.
It all started when during the last class of the day, my ELD 1 class, an announcement came over that we had a lock down drill. My students dutifully closed the windows and blinds and I locked the door. I had to keep them from peeking out the slats in the blinds at the army of police and fire that were arriving.
In case of a lockdown, teachers are instructed to check their email, as they won't make announcements... in case the emergency is due to a gunman in the school. I get an email that says someone turned in a red backpack to the bookroom with some strange box with wires attached to it. The bookroom, in case your wondering is directly downstairs and over one from my classroom. Peachy.
The email also said that the 100 building had already been evacuated... 20 to thirty minutes before. So I sent an email back asking where we were supposed to be. About ten minutes later I get an angry phone call. "Where are you, you were supposed to be in the auditorium!"
Don't ask me how I'm supposed to be somewhere when no one told me where to go.
"Wait for your administrator to come escort you out."
I tell the students to pack up their stuff as we're leaving. They're confused, but it's a chance not to do their work... so they pack up and head off down the hall when Ms. Broadway comes to get us.
So we got to leave school 20 minutes early and I had to walk the long way around home... and I didn't get to make the copies I planned to make after school.
The bomb turned out to be a speaker with electrical tape and wire sticking out of it. I don't know what bothers me more... that they forgot to evacuate me, or they blamed me for not knowing about it. sigh.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Post Nano Blues
Okay, so it's only the last day of NaNoWriMo, but I know I'm going to be sad. I'm always sad after nano. It's like saying goodbye to a friend who only comes to visit once a year. Sigh.
To cheer myself up, I thought I'd post my favorite Andy Poem, from 2002 (ooh, preBlogspot)
A Dragon Poem
by Andy Cohen (a.k.a. the spouse of Liarbyrd)
If dragons wrote modernist poetry:
Burnt down your castle,
Ate all your crunchy dwarves,
Rolled around in your gold,
Stole your daughter.
Sorry. My bad.
I could not help myself.
To cheer myself up, I thought I'd post my favorite Andy Poem, from 2002 (ooh, preBlogspot)
A Dragon Poem
by Andy Cohen (a.k.a. the spouse of Liarbyrd)
If dragons wrote modernist poetry:
Burnt down your castle,
Ate all your crunchy dwarves,
Rolled around in your gold,
Stole your daughter.
Sorry. My bad.
I could not help myself.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Hey, I'm Ba-ack
In case you've wondered where I've been, check out my nanoblog... link to right where Liarbyrd and I have been writing a book. I'm pretty much done... she's not.
So I survived Thanksgiving with little incident, though Mr. A. (Rainbow Guy) must now think the Mathises are the most materialistic family in the world. We spent most of the afternoon talking about how the rent's stuff was going to be divided after the future move.
Out of curiousity I asked Nikki if she was taking the piano or if it was going into storage. Automatically I got pounced on. "Don't even think of taking the piano!" Duh... like it would go to anyone but her. I just wondered whether she was taking it now.
Anyway, I picked Lizzie up from the airport with little fuss, and we headed over to The Bridge for Islands (Yum! Yaki Tacos!) and IMAX HP4. Coolness indeed. I'm very glad the idea struck me.
I'm sad the idea struck me to go to Wally World on Long Beach Blvd. I needed yellow yarn for the Valkerie hair. Walmart in that part of town is pretty scummy, and some of the people gave me the heebie jeebies. The woman in the tutu/green polka dotted skirt and trashy bathroom slippers was scary. The man who wandered past the cash registers was singing loudly to himself. The teenagers pawing through the DVD's looked like they were about to put them in their pockets, and the man with the black hat with the pom pom on top, looked like he was casing me. Serious skeeze.
On the blog front, I've removed my cool nano-counter, as the guy said they wanted more money for bandwidth... and I also removed the tagboard, as it was generating more spam comments than real ones.
I hate spammers. There should be a special circle of hell for those who hock viagra and credit cards on the internet.
So I survived Thanksgiving with little incident, though Mr. A. (Rainbow Guy) must now think the Mathises are the most materialistic family in the world. We spent most of the afternoon talking about how the rent's stuff was going to be divided after the future move.
Out of curiousity I asked Nikki if she was taking the piano or if it was going into storage. Automatically I got pounced on. "Don't even think of taking the piano!" Duh... like it would go to anyone but her. I just wondered whether she was taking it now.
Anyway, I picked Lizzie up from the airport with little fuss, and we headed over to The Bridge for Islands (Yum! Yaki Tacos!) and IMAX HP4. Coolness indeed. I'm very glad the idea struck me.
I'm sad the idea struck me to go to Wally World on Long Beach Blvd. I needed yellow yarn for the Valkerie hair. Walmart in that part of town is pretty scummy, and some of the people gave me the heebie jeebies. The woman in the tutu/green polka dotted skirt and trashy bathroom slippers was scary. The man who wandered past the cash registers was singing loudly to himself. The teenagers pawing through the DVD's looked like they were about to put them in their pockets, and the man with the black hat with the pom pom on top, looked like he was casing me. Serious skeeze.
On the blog front, I've removed my cool nano-counter, as the guy said they wanted more money for bandwidth... and I also removed the tagboard, as it was generating more spam comments than real ones.
I hate spammers. There should be a special circle of hell for those who hock viagra and credit cards on the internet.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Mom's No Good Very Bad Day
Mom is telling anyone who will listen about how horrible her day was.
She lost her purse... or thought she left it on the bumper of the car, until she got home and she realized it was on the living room floor.
So all while she was having "her boob squished" (her words, not mine) she was worried about the purse.
I suppose it took her mind off the mamogram... especially when it was a second one, because they thought they saw something on the first.
Sound like a fairly good day to me... no breast cancer and no lost purse.
Side Note: It's Official Nano Start Day! Whoo hoo! Not quite at my target for the day, but I'm working on it. I've got about 500 more words to go for today.
She lost her purse... or thought she left it on the bumper of the car, until she got home and she realized it was on the living room floor.
So all while she was having "her boob squished" (her words, not mine) she was worried about the purse.
I suppose it took her mind off the mamogram... especially when it was a second one, because they thought they saw something on the first.
Sound like a fairly good day to me... no breast cancer and no lost purse.
Side Note: It's Official Nano Start Day! Whoo hoo! Not quite at my target for the day, but I'm working on it. I've got about 500 more words to go for today.
Saturday, October 01, 2005
Here We Go Again
So it's October 1, and Nano is supposed to be officially opened today, but there's nothing there yet. I'm so sad.
Sometime in the second week of July, Mel and I went outside of our chateaux and began to plan our new nanonovels. This year I'm doing something different. There will be no more Seven Part 4... which was potentially about Snult finding a hord of dragon eggs.
Instead we're writing space opera. Yes, we. We're writing the same book, though 50 years apart. My main character, Ofelia Clovelly, is a New Historian on a colony ship called The Hope on a 20 year journey to a new planet. The Hope is the first of two ships (the other called The Crosby) that plans to set up a thriving colony on a distant planet. Unfortunately, The Hope Colony disappears and the only one on Earth who seems to care is Ofelia's distant relative Viola.
That's where Mel comes in. She's writing Viola's story and search for the lost colony... and I'm writing how the colony got lost...
Oh, but it gets more complex, because Natalie heard about the fun, and is joining in. She's writing the faux history perspective of Earth.
At the end of November, we should have 150,000 words and then we'll see how to weave them together and voila, a best seller.
Or that's the plan, anyway.
Things don't always go according to plan. Just ask Ofelia.
For Nano updates - just click on my Nanolink to the right.
Sometime in the second week of July, Mel and I went outside of our chateaux and began to plan our new nanonovels. This year I'm doing something different. There will be no more Seven Part 4... which was potentially about Snult finding a hord of dragon eggs.
Instead we're writing space opera. Yes, we. We're writing the same book, though 50 years apart. My main character, Ofelia Clovelly, is a New Historian on a colony ship called The Hope on a 20 year journey to a new planet. The Hope is the first of two ships (the other called The Crosby) that plans to set up a thriving colony on a distant planet. Unfortunately, The Hope Colony disappears and the only one on Earth who seems to care is Ofelia's distant relative Viola.
That's where Mel comes in. She's writing Viola's story and search for the lost colony... and I'm writing how the colony got lost...
Oh, but it gets more complex, because Natalie heard about the fun, and is joining in. She's writing the faux history perspective of Earth.
At the end of November, we should have 150,000 words and then we'll see how to weave them together and voila, a best seller.
Or that's the plan, anyway.
Things don't always go according to plan. Just ask Ofelia.
For Nano updates - just click on my Nanolink to the right.
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Too Darn Hot!
Just thought I'd let everyone know that it is really hot today. Like 100 degrees hot. Seriously. Yahoo weather said 98, but the Weather Bug program says it's 107... but was 111 about 30 minutes ago. Either way, that's aweful.
Back To School Night is tonight. I've got to go find something to eat to get my energy back up. I slept through my alarm this morning, and only woke up when it turned off a half hour later. That's scary. Need to stop going to bed around midnight.
Back To School Night is tonight. I've got to go find something to eat to get my energy back up. I slept through my alarm this morning, and only woke up when it turned off a half hour later. That's scary. Need to stop going to bed around midnight.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Quilt Shows and Football Games
This weekend I headed over to the Long Beach Jewish Community Center to "volunteer" myself to help with Mom's quilt show. She was treasurer and so most of my time was spent sitting in a chair trying to pretend that I wasn't guarding the stash of money. I did get a chance to "white glove" which means I donned white cotton gloves and volunteered to turn over the quilt edges to show the back of the quilts if anyone wanted to see. I spent a few minutes picking threads off my mom's quilts... because if I was going to show my quilts to hundreds of people, I'd have done that BEFORE they were hanging and being looked at.
After the quilt show on Saturday, Liz and I headed over to Ken and Annelisa's for the football game. They had a TV set up on the back patio... though it took a few hours for the sun to set and the glare to go away. We had some of Ken's yummy sausage and Annelisa offered her clam chowder... though I didn't take her up on the offer.
The first half of the game was pretty gut wrenching... as we were actually losing for the first time in a very very long time, but we creamed them 45 to 13.
After the quilt show on Saturday, Liz and I headed over to Ken and Annelisa's for the football game. They had a TV set up on the back patio... though it took a few hours for the sun to set and the glare to go away. We had some of Ken's yummy sausage and Annelisa offered her clam chowder... though I didn't take her up on the offer.
The first half of the game was pretty gut wrenching... as we were actually losing for the first time in a very very long time, but we creamed them 45 to 13.
Friday, September 23, 2005
I've got the oogily boogilies.
So we go into the computer lab this morning and some of my students say "Miss Mathis, there are ants on this computer."
I say "Squish them or move." So they moved. Later I went to take a look. There were a few ants trailing in under the moniter stand, so I move it, thinking maybe a kid stuck a candy wrapper or gum under the stand and that's what the ants were after. Nope. We're talking full on colony. Thousands... with tons of tiny little eggs and larvae. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh. And of course all the students want to take a look, and we've got 5 minutes until the bell rings.
So I let them out a few minutes early and called the secretary and told her. I REALLY hope they take me seriously when I said there was a MAJOR ant problem. I've been feeling phantom ants all day long today.
I say "Squish them or move." So they moved. Later I went to take a look. There were a few ants trailing in under the moniter stand, so I move it, thinking maybe a kid stuck a candy wrapper or gum under the stand and that's what the ants were after. Nope. We're talking full on colony. Thousands... with tons of tiny little eggs and larvae. Ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh ugh. And of course all the students want to take a look, and we've got 5 minutes until the bell rings.
So I let them out a few minutes early and called the secretary and told her. I REALLY hope they take me seriously when I said there was a MAJOR ant problem. I've been feeling phantom ants all day long today.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
I always new I were a genus.
| English Genius You scored 100% Beginner, 100% Intermediate, 100% Advanced, and 86% Expert! |
| You did so extremely well, even I can't find a word to describe your excellence! You have the uncommon intelligence necessary to understand things that most people don't. You have an extensive vocabulary, and you're not afraid to use it properly! Way to go! Thank you so much for taking my test. I hope you enjoyed it! For the complete Answer Key, visit my blog: http://shortredhead78.blogspot.com/. |
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Commonly Confused Words Test written by shortredhead78 on OkCupid Free Online Dating |
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Holy Thunder Batman!
In case you're not in SoCal, yesterday's weather was truly awesome... as in full of awe... as in thunder all day long. This is not typical weather for California. It was freak of nature kind of weather.
Though it did allow me to prove my theory... if Omouse carries an umbrella to school... it will not rain on her. From about 7:00 am to 7:10 am it didn't rain. And then suddenly at 2:30, the rainclouds broke up and the sun began to shine.
On a completely different topic, I didn't go to choir last night, as Liz and I got food poisoning on Monday night from Charo Chicken. Not going to get delivery from there again.
There was one moment where I told Liz that I was starting to feel oogie again(I was sick last Weds.) I said, "it's kind of like a low throbbing stomach pain, that will turn into a sharp pain for about a minute before switching back to dull throb."
Liz said, "I don't feel any sharp pain just... oooh, wait a minute. Ugh. There it is."
I started laughing, and she started laughing. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts."
Which of course made me laugh harder.
Though it did allow me to prove my theory... if Omouse carries an umbrella to school... it will not rain on her. From about 7:00 am to 7:10 am it didn't rain. And then suddenly at 2:30, the rainclouds broke up and the sun began to shine.
On a completely different topic, I didn't go to choir last night, as Liz and I got food poisoning on Monday night from Charo Chicken. Not going to get delivery from there again.
There was one moment where I told Liz that I was starting to feel oogie again(I was sick last Weds.) I said, "it's kind of like a low throbbing stomach pain, that will turn into a sharp pain for about a minute before switching back to dull throb."
Liz said, "I don't feel any sharp pain just... oooh, wait a minute. Ugh. There it is."
I started laughing, and she started laughing. "Don't make me laugh. It hurts."
Which of course made me laugh harder.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Checking In
I suppose I've been out of BlogMode lately, partly because they've blocked blogspot at school, and partly because I've been too busy to write anything. Of course that doesn't excuse my summer lapse.
Other than the facts that I have 5 preps again this year, classes are large, and I've been feeling icky, school has been going pretty well.
My schedule looks like this:
2 classes of Literacy Workshop Reading Development 1/2 - mainly 9th and 10th graders reading at a 6th grade level.
ELD 2/ELD Reading 2 - half of the kids I had last year. They're rambunctious, and slow as molasses. They need to be whipped into shape a bit.
ELD 1/ELD Reading 1 - They're talkative and the class started with 14 and is now up to 24.
It's too early to have pegged the real pains, but I have a couple that I learned names very quickly, and already have nicknames in my head.
Miss Negativity - Needs serious attitude adjustment. Has already announced that she's not going to serve any detentions for dress code violations. I've already warned my classes not to ignore Ms. Broadway's detentions... because they begin to double exponentially if they don't get served.
Mr. Band Geek - He carries his trombone with him and wants to ask questions 2 minutes before I can explain things to the class.
Other than the facts that I have 5 preps again this year, classes are large, and I've been feeling icky, school has been going pretty well.
My schedule looks like this:
2 classes of Literacy Workshop Reading Development 1/2 - mainly 9th and 10th graders reading at a 6th grade level.
ELD 2/ELD Reading 2 - half of the kids I had last year. They're rambunctious, and slow as molasses. They need to be whipped into shape a bit.
ELD 1/ELD Reading 1 - They're talkative and the class started with 14 and is now up to 24.
It's too early to have pegged the real pains, but I have a couple that I learned names very quickly, and already have nicknames in my head.
Miss Negativity - Needs serious attitude adjustment. Has already announced that she's not going to serve any detentions for dress code violations. I've already warned my classes not to ignore Ms. Broadway's detentions... because they begin to double exponentially if they don't get served.
Mr. Band Geek - He carries his trombone with him and wants to ask questions 2 minutes before I can explain things to the class.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Could I be anyone else?
| Katharine Hepburn You scored 19 grit, 23 wit, 57 flair, and 14 class! |
| You are the fabulously quirky and independent woman of character. You go your own way, follow your own drummer, take your own lead. You stand head and shoulders next to your partner, but you are perfectly willing and able to stand alone. Others might be more classically beautiful or conventionally woman-like, but you possess a more fundamental common sense and off-kilter charm, making interesting men fall at your feet. You can pick them up or leave them there as you see fit. You share the screen with the likes of Spencer Tracy and Cary Grant, thinking men who like strong women. Find out what kind of classic leading man you'd make by taking the Classic Leading Man Test. |
 |
My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:
|
| Link: The Classic Dames Test written by gidgetgoes on Ok Cupid |
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Friday, July 01, 2005
I'm Outta Here!
So don't be expecting any posts here for the next month. I'll be out and about in the United Kingdom. I will be, however, posting my travel journal here.
Be happy. World Peace and all that.
Be happy. World Peace and all that.
Monday, June 27, 2005
Mining Rights
Okay, so my sisters used to joke about mining rights. If they cleaned my room, they got to keep any money they found. I'm not done yet, but here's a total so far.
$11.90 in spendable change.
$4 in $2 bills
$4 in Susan B. Anthony dollars
$6.50 in half dollars
Then there's
3.42 in Spanish Euros
1.05 in Irish Pounds
100 Italian Lire
.50 German Marks
21 Austrian Schillings
10 Asian somethingorothers... haven't a clue, but there's a very smiley man on the front.
2.28 spendable British Pounds
3 shillings - one with George VI on it... the other with ELizabeth II
One squished penny and one quarter sized souvenir coin from the Winchester Mystery House.
AND
$20 gift certificate to Starbucks!
I have made a future promise to keep all currency in separate mugs... that way, I might be able to spend that near $12 in change and keep the rest for safe keeping.
$11.90 in spendable change.
$4 in $2 bills
$4 in Susan B. Anthony dollars
$6.50 in half dollars
Then there's
3.42 in Spanish Euros
1.05 in Irish Pounds
100 Italian Lire
.50 German Marks
21 Austrian Schillings
10 Asian somethingorothers... haven't a clue, but there's a very smiley man on the front.
2.28 spendable British Pounds
3 shillings - one with George VI on it... the other with ELizabeth II
One squished penny and one quarter sized souvenir coin from the Winchester Mystery House.
AND
$20 gift certificate to Starbucks!
I have made a future promise to keep all currency in separate mugs... that way, I might be able to spend that near $12 in change and keep the rest for safe keeping.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
Time is growing short
So far I've been spending my summer sleeping in, getting ready to leave and... doo doot, doo doot, doo doot... cleaning my room.
Yeah. Anybody who knows me knows how scary that is. So far, some of the things I've found...
Yes, that would be a new pair of shoes that I'd forgotten I bought.
The cats are suspicious at the least. More later. Gotta go pick up dinner. Chicken Sharwama. Yum!
Yeah. Anybody who knows me knows how scary that is. So far, some of the things I've found...
Yes, that would be a new pair of shoes that I'd forgotten I bought.
The cats are suspicious at the least. More later. Gotta go pick up dinner. Chicken Sharwama. Yum!
Friday, June 17, 2005
End of Days
I feel strangely unemotional about today. I just finished cleaning up my classroom and everything is packed neatly (well, neat for me). Graduation came and went, and next Monday, I don't have to go back to school. I should feel happy. Ecstatic even.
Maybe I've got to the point of a seasoned teacher that realizes the summer will be all too short... especially when I'm spending almost half of it in England.
Not that I'm complaining. Now that I'm excited about.
Maybe I've got to the point of a seasoned teacher that realizes the summer will be all too short... especially when I'm spending almost half of it in England.
Not that I'm complaining. Now that I'm excited about.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Earthquakes, Instant Messaging and Cat Puke
So I get out of bed this morning, grab some banana bread and sit down at my computer. Thought maybe I'd get some actually writing done. Then I got interrupted... by Act of God. Doesn't happen very often.
I debated about moving over to the doorway, as I could tell it was just a little roller, big enough to catch my attention, but not big enough for any damage. I went online and reported it on the USGS website, and found out it was a 5.6 near Anza... that's about 150 miles away from here. (Yeah, I looked it up on the map. Had no idea where it was before.)
The second interruption was an email from Clare, so I decided to go onto Yahoo Messenger and chat with her... which I'm still doing. So much for my resolution to finish my book before hopping off to England.
I tried to call Mel, but both of her phones were busy. A bit later I called and she explained she couldn't join Clare and I in our chat because her new cat had received vaccinations yesterday, and last night had puked in their bed, while they were still in it.
She's been cleaning all morning.
One word: Ewwwwwww.
I debated about moving over to the doorway, as I could tell it was just a little roller, big enough to catch my attention, but not big enough for any damage. I went online and reported it on the USGS website, and found out it was a 5.6 near Anza... that's about 150 miles away from here. (Yeah, I looked it up on the map. Had no idea where it was before.)
The second interruption was an email from Clare, so I decided to go onto Yahoo Messenger and chat with her... which I'm still doing. So much for my resolution to finish my book before hopping off to England.
I tried to call Mel, but both of her phones were busy. A bit later I called and she explained she couldn't join Clare and I in our chat because her new cat had received vaccinations yesterday, and last night had puked in their bed, while they were still in it.
She's been cleaning all morning.
One word: Ewwwwwww.
Friday, June 10, 2005
Finals are Here!
It's still a little surreal... but I only have to sit through another 2 hours of each one of my classes before I'm free for a whole summer!
I'm afraid summer is going to go by waaaay too quickly.
What with 26 days in England and all that.
I had my last novel writing class last night. I think I finally convinced my prof to read Chris Baty's book. I'm going to miss some of the stories that I've been reading for a year, especially this guy named Scott. He's cool and really talented... and I told him to send me an email when he gets published because somebody would have to be an idiot not to pick up his story. It's a high tech thriller set in the Silicon Valley. Scott's got a habit of writing these really horrible people that you just love!
Anyway, I'm over at the rents catching up on laundry and getting a free dinner out of the deal.
Lizzie's in Landscatter to attend her sister and brother's AA College graduation.
I'm afraid summer is going to go by waaaay too quickly.
What with 26 days in England and all that.
I had my last novel writing class last night. I think I finally convinced my prof to read Chris Baty's book. I'm going to miss some of the stories that I've been reading for a year, especially this guy named Scott. He's cool and really talented... and I told him to send me an email when he gets published because somebody would have to be an idiot not to pick up his story. It's a high tech thriller set in the Silicon Valley. Scott's got a habit of writing these really horrible people that you just love!
Anyway, I'm over at the rents catching up on laundry and getting a free dinner out of the deal.
Lizzie's in Landscatter to attend her sister and brother's AA College graduation.
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
Completely and Absolutely Furious
Some idiot has decided to block my favorite internet sites at school. These include the one you're currently reading, Wilwheaton.net, and Fark.
After I spent 90 minutes getting a class web page together on Blogger, they decide to block it. I hate the fact that they always brag about their technology and the wonderfulness of how we're preparing our students with the skills they need. Instead, they go and block any websites that I can use interactively with my class AND make posting anything directly on the school site as hard and complicated as #@%#%$&$^#.
The new school website is poorly designed as well. I really wish they'd get their act together.
After I spent 90 minutes getting a class web page together on Blogger, they decide to block it. I hate the fact that they always brag about their technology and the wonderfulness of how we're preparing our students with the skills they need. Instead, they go and block any websites that I can use interactively with my class AND make posting anything directly on the school site as hard and complicated as #@%#%$&$^#.
The new school website is poorly designed as well. I really wish they'd get their act together.
Monday, May 16, 2005
Choir Concerts and Cute Paramedics
So, never let it be said that the Westminster Chorale doesn't know how to go out with a bang.
The bang in this case would be the sound of one of the choir members hitting the floor during our last number. During When You Wish Upon a Star, somebody tugged at my sleeve and I look to my left to find one of the ladies on the ground and two of them trying to wake her up.
The show went on for the last 30 seconds and I managed to belt out a last high note before we found someone to call 911 and literally asked for a doctor in the house. Actually, the accompanist's wife was a nurse, and she was already up there.
We skipped our encore song, turned off the stage lights, and turned on the house lights. We'd been complaining all night that it was hot as blazes in that room. I'm really hoping she just fainted from heat exhaustion and not a heart attack. Apparently she had one 5 years ago.
Anyway, after all the hullaballoo, I made off with a couple of dozen cookies and headed off to Rob's grad party, which was pretty much over by the time we got there. No matter how many times I protested, Rob's mom, after finding out I hadn't eated since three, cooked a dinner for me. She was really sweet.
The next morning I went to the 3rd St. Promenade while Liz went to marathon practice. A rather annoying homeless guy decided to sit at my table in Starbucks.
"What are you writing?"
"My novel."
"Is that Arabic? What does it say."
"I can't write while someone is watching me."
He continues to stare at my notebook. I pick it up and hug it to my chest.
"Yeah right," he says. Later he picks up a paper and the Starbucks employee has to tell him firmly they are for purchase only. After one last pass, begging for change, he finally takes off.
At 9:00 I headed over to B&N and bought the new Princess Diaries book and did a bit of research for class.
Liz and I went to a place called The Daisy Cafe for lunch and then crashed at home. We watched The Last Emperor, and The Sheik. I don't get the Rudolph Valentino thing. He just seems goofy to me. The whole plot of the movie could have been ripped straight from a trashy romance novel. Independent girl traveling through the desert gets help captive by a Sheik, who's not really Arabian at all, he's actually English/Spanish. She tries to run away, but ends up falling in love with him. Just as she realizes this she gets kidnapped by the bad guy bandit and the Sheik must rescue her. See? Trashy Romance Novel.
The bang in this case would be the sound of one of the choir members hitting the floor during our last number. During When You Wish Upon a Star, somebody tugged at my sleeve and I look to my left to find one of the ladies on the ground and two of them trying to wake her up.
The show went on for the last 30 seconds and I managed to belt out a last high note before we found someone to call 911 and literally asked for a doctor in the house. Actually, the accompanist's wife was a nurse, and she was already up there.
We skipped our encore song, turned off the stage lights, and turned on the house lights. We'd been complaining all night that it was hot as blazes in that room. I'm really hoping she just fainted from heat exhaustion and not a heart attack. Apparently she had one 5 years ago.
Anyway, after all the hullaballoo, I made off with a couple of dozen cookies and headed off to Rob's grad party, which was pretty much over by the time we got there. No matter how many times I protested, Rob's mom, after finding out I hadn't eated since three, cooked a dinner for me. She was really sweet.
The next morning I went to the 3rd St. Promenade while Liz went to marathon practice. A rather annoying homeless guy decided to sit at my table in Starbucks.
"What are you writing?"
"My novel."
"Is that Arabic? What does it say."
"I can't write while someone is watching me."
He continues to stare at my notebook. I pick it up and hug it to my chest.
"Yeah right," he says. Later he picks up a paper and the Starbucks employee has to tell him firmly they are for purchase only. After one last pass, begging for change, he finally takes off.
At 9:00 I headed over to B&N and bought the new Princess Diaries book and did a bit of research for class.
Liz and I went to a place called The Daisy Cafe for lunch and then crashed at home. We watched The Last Emperor, and The Sheik. I don't get the Rudolph Valentino thing. He just seems goofy to me. The whole plot of the movie could have been ripped straight from a trashy romance novel. Independent girl traveling through the desert gets help captive by a Sheik, who's not really Arabian at all, he's actually English/Spanish. She tries to run away, but ends up falling in love with him. Just as she realizes this she gets kidnapped by the bad guy bandit and the Sheik must rescue her. See? Trashy Romance Novel.
Friday, May 13, 2005
Depression
Okay, so the having 5 preps is really starting to catch up to me. I thought I planned a really neat lesson that used technology and would really help my Period 5 regular English class start their research paper.
Students were supposed to go to my class blog and follow the directions there which include submitting their research paper question in a comment. Instead, most of them waisted their time by posting crude, rude, and nasty comments about each other. I had to pull them out of the computer lab, and drag them back to class... which is on the complete other side of school.
To top it off, they were all late getting there, because someone had torn the sign off the door that told them where to go. They were all standing outside in the hallway until I called the teacher next door to me to check on them.
Fool me twice, shame on me. For Period 2 and 4's sign today, I peeled up my window sign and put it on the inside. Ha.
Either way, still rather down today. I think I need some serious cheering up to do.
My choir concert is tomorrow. Crud. That reminds me. I gotta bake two dozen cookies tonight.
Students were supposed to go to my class blog and follow the directions there which include submitting their research paper question in a comment. Instead, most of them waisted their time by posting crude, rude, and nasty comments about each other. I had to pull them out of the computer lab, and drag them back to class... which is on the complete other side of school.
To top it off, they were all late getting there, because someone had torn the sign off the door that told them where to go. They were all standing outside in the hallway until I called the teacher next door to me to check on them.
Fool me twice, shame on me. For Period 2 and 4's sign today, I peeled up my window sign and put it on the inside. Ha.
Either way, still rather down today. I think I need some serious cheering up to do.
My choir concert is tomorrow. Crud. That reminds me. I gotta bake two dozen cookies tonight.
Tuesday, May 03, 2005
The Creepiness that was Yesterday...
So I thought I was done with Creepy Events when I left school.
On my way home from a choir board meeting (which I got us out of in less than an hour! [minor miracle]) I was driving down PCH along Bolsa Chica Beach and suddenly all cars come to a dead stop in the middle of the stretch. I looked ahead of me, and thought the trunk was open on a car two in front of me. Must have been an accident. After about two minutes, the cars on the left pull over to clear one lane. Then I realized the car with the trunk open, was actually an upsidedown car. One wheel was still spinning. Though from the shouts, it sounded like no one was seriously injured.
Creepy indeed.
On my way home from a choir board meeting (which I got us out of in less than an hour! [minor miracle]) I was driving down PCH along Bolsa Chica Beach and suddenly all cars come to a dead stop in the middle of the stretch. I looked ahead of me, and thought the trunk was open on a car two in front of me. Must have been an accident. After about two minutes, the cars on the left pull over to clear one lane. Then I realized the car with the trunk open, was actually an upsidedown car. One wheel was still spinning. Though from the shouts, it sounded like no one was seriously injured.
Creepy indeed.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Lights Out!
So I think the Ghost of Wilson's Past was having a party today. I guess since we didn't have class yesterday, he thought he'd act up today.
First of all, as I was washing my hands in the bathroom, the lights flicker out. Good thing for the skylight. 20 seconds later they flicker back on. Cool. Go back to the classroom. No lights, no clocks, no computers, no DVD player. Yes, on one of the only lessons that I have planned to use a DVD player, (I even hauled the PS2 to school for the purpose,) there's no electricity. Someone has also apparently let off a bunch of stink bombs downstairs.
So we close the door and deal. They finally get the bells working, and the speakers about an hour later. Great. Bells, and no lights. Then the fire alarm goes off. Then they make an announcement to ignore the fire alarm. Ten minutes before school gets out, Voom, light! Now that it's too late. I did manage to reboot my computer and give out grade reports to Period 7.
La.
First of all, as I was washing my hands in the bathroom, the lights flicker out. Good thing for the skylight. 20 seconds later they flicker back on. Cool. Go back to the classroom. No lights, no clocks, no computers, no DVD player. Yes, on one of the only lessons that I have planned to use a DVD player, (I even hauled the PS2 to school for the purpose,) there's no electricity. Someone has also apparently let off a bunch of stink bombs downstairs.
So we close the door and deal. They finally get the bells working, and the speakers about an hour later. Great. Bells, and no lights. Then the fire alarm goes off. Then they make an announcement to ignore the fire alarm. Ten minutes before school gets out, Voom, light! Now that it's too late. I did manage to reboot my computer and give out grade reports to Period 7.
La.
Friday, April 29, 2005
So Glad I'm Not Midwestern.
Your Linguistic Profile: |
70% General American English |
20% Upper Midwestern |
5% Dixie |
5% Yankee |
0% Midwestern |
Wednesday, April 27, 2005
Ooooh, Refreshing
It's the new and hopefully improved look!
So something was wrong with the Comment This comments... and I tried to switch over from that to Blogger comments, but somewhere along the line I was missing the code that actually erased the little "Comments" line... so I switched formats.
But when I cut and paste the tagboard and links in, the sidebar sunk down to below the main blog body. I fixed it this morning. Yeah.
What do you think of the new look?
So something was wrong with the Comment This comments... and I tried to switch over from that to Blogger comments, but somewhere along the line I was missing the code that actually erased the little "Comments" line... so I switched formats.
But when I cut and paste the tagboard and links in, the sidebar sunk down to below the main blog body. I fixed it this morning. Yeah.
What do you think of the new look?
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
IMDB is Really Cool
Was playing around on the Internet Movie Database and looked at the top 250 films, according to user votes. I was amazed at how many foreign flicks were on the list… so I decided to make a quiz.
Here’s a list of 16 foreign films that made the IMDB top 250 list. Without looking, (or cheating too much), what is the original language and English title of each movie?
The Movies I’ve seen:
1. Il Buono, il brutto, il cattivo
2. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi
3. Wo hu cang long
4. La Vita è bella
5. Det Sjunde inseglet
6. Mononoke-hime
7. Hotaru no haka
8. Hable con ella
9. Trois couleurs: Rouge
10. Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le
Movies I’d like to see:
11. Shichinin no samurai
12. Cidade de Deus
13. Untergang, Der
14. Ying xiong
15. Ladri di biciclette
16. Diarios de motocicleta
Here’s a list of 16 foreign films that made the IMDB top 250 list. Without looking, (or cheating too much), what is the original language and English title of each movie?
The Movies I’ve seen:
1. Il Buono, il brutto, il cattivo
2. Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi
3. Wo hu cang long
4. La Vita è bella
5. Det Sjunde inseglet
6. Mononoke-hime
7. Hotaru no haka
8. Hable con ella
9. Trois couleurs: Rouge
10. Fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain, Le
Movies I’d like to see:
11. Shichinin no samurai
12. Cidade de Deus
13. Untergang, Der
14. Ying xiong
15. Ladri di biciclette
16. Diarios de motocicleta
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Seriously More Exciting
Considering last week, which was the week from H. E. Double Hockey Sticks, this week has looked up. I only just got sick over the weekend and have felt gicky ever since. I missed choir because I sound like a little frog.
Liz came back from her holiday last night and brought me a picture. Of me. And Ed. For the life of me, I don't ever remember Dave being in my apartment to take the picture... but it was obviously a David photo, and it was obviously my ceiling in the photo. Not to mention the fact that Ed doesn't get out much.
I'm just glad that I've escaped Wednesday without any sunburns, arsonists, condoms, or picking of a Really Bad Parking Spot.
There's still Thursday! Tomorrow I have to drag my butt out of bed at an indecent hour to have a pre-school meeting about next week's state testing. Oh Goody.
Liz came back from her holiday last night and brought me a picture. Of me. And Ed. For the life of me, I don't ever remember Dave being in my apartment to take the picture... but it was obviously a David photo, and it was obviously my ceiling in the photo. Not to mention the fact that Ed doesn't get out much.
I'm just glad that I've escaped Wednesday without any sunburns, arsonists, condoms, or picking of a Really Bad Parking Spot.
There's still Thursday! Tomorrow I have to drag my butt out of bed at an indecent hour to have a pre-school meeting about next week's state testing. Oh Goody.
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Tattoos and Fire Alarms
So today was the Spring Fair. Theme: Treasure Island.
Argggghhh!
Anyway, we were on a minimum day schedule where we only have about an hour of class instead of 90 minutes. During first period, I helped Ars Poetica, the creative writing club, set up their temporary tattoo booth.
I had been back in my classroom for less than 5 minutes when the fire alarm went off. As we had a drill less than two weeks ago, standard procedure is for teachers to poke their heads out the door, rather than evacuate. Finally the principal comes over the intercom and says to actually evacuate. After about ten minutes outside, we learn there was an actual fire, but it's out, and, if we can stand the noise, we can go back in. They were apparently having problems turning it off.
Fast forward to 5th period. In the middle of class, a staff assistant asks one of my students to step outside with his backpack. As they retreat out the door I see 2 cops and a vice principal out in the hall waiting. Five minutes later, Student comes back into classroom and on his way in manages to loudly exclaim three (I counted them) profanities. "F--k! Somebody f---ing ratted me out. F---ing cops. I hate them."
I simply opened the door and called out the the group and had him removed from my class.
Fast forward to 12:30. Ars Poetica hawked their tattoos, eye patches, and had a relatively good time doing it. We made $46.50, which is pretty good. During the fair, Vice Principal walks up to me and says I won't be seeing my jewel of a student again. He was hauled off to Juvy for arson in the boy's locker room.
He's the second student in my 5th period to be hauled off to Juvy... though I suppose arson is better than attempted murder.
On a happier note, we had our California Distinguished Schools Visit yesterday. We've been approved! - The only high school in Long Beach with this honor.
Argggghhh!
Anyway, we were on a minimum day schedule where we only have about an hour of class instead of 90 minutes. During first period, I helped Ars Poetica, the creative writing club, set up their temporary tattoo booth.
I had been back in my classroom for less than 5 minutes when the fire alarm went off. As we had a drill less than two weeks ago, standard procedure is for teachers to poke their heads out the door, rather than evacuate. Finally the principal comes over the intercom and says to actually evacuate. After about ten minutes outside, we learn there was an actual fire, but it's out, and, if we can stand the noise, we can go back in. They were apparently having problems turning it off.
Fast forward to 5th period. In the middle of class, a staff assistant asks one of my students to step outside with his backpack. As they retreat out the door I see 2 cops and a vice principal out in the hall waiting. Five minutes later, Student comes back into classroom and on his way in manages to loudly exclaim three (I counted them) profanities. "F--k! Somebody f---ing ratted me out. F---ing cops. I hate them."
I simply opened the door and called out the the group and had him removed from my class.
Fast forward to 12:30. Ars Poetica hawked their tattoos, eye patches, and had a relatively good time doing it. We made $46.50, which is pretty good. During the fair, Vice Principal walks up to me and says I won't be seeing my jewel of a student again. He was hauled off to Juvy for arson in the boy's locker room.
He's the second student in my 5th period to be hauled off to Juvy... though I suppose arson is better than attempted murder.
On a happier note, we had our California Distinguished Schools Visit yesterday. We've been approved! - The only high school in Long Beach with this honor.
Wednesday, April 06, 2005
Finally - House of D Post
Wrote this Monday night, only to find Blogger down. Here it is:
Liz and I went to see House of D last night at a special screening at the West Side Pavilion. When I first heard about this movie, I was terribly afraid it was only going to be a vanity piece, as David Duchovny, wrote, directed and starred in it.
I was really pleasantly wrong. This really is a great story. And I might add that I think he’s more talented as a writer/director than an actor. The story, told in flashback form, revolves around a 13 year old named Thomas (Anton Yelchin) and his efforts to keep his depressed mother (Tea Leoni), his “retarded” best friend (Robin Williams), and his newfound love interest (Robin William’s daughter Zelda) in balance. When he takes up the cause of one, the rest seem to fall, and he ends up blaming himself when he can’t keep all three balls in the air. The story is wrapped by older Thomas (David Duchovny), and his need to explain the damage done to him as a teen in order to repair the relationship with his wife and son.
The movie was followed by a Q&A with Anton Yelchin and David, who was hilarious as he helped set up the really out of date microphones. The highlight of the talk was when they handed around a microphone to audience members and a guy in the back started asked questions about his brilliant work on the Larry Sanders Show. I turned around and hey, it was Gary Shandling. Apparently David and Gary have a good friendship and David often runs scripts by Gary for feedback. I wish I had Gary Shandling on a list to hand my scripts to.
Anyway, I got up the nerve to get Liz to snap a picture of me and David. How’s that for coolness?
Liz and I went to see House of D last night at a special screening at the West Side Pavilion. When I first heard about this movie, I was terribly afraid it was only going to be a vanity piece, as David Duchovny, wrote, directed and starred in it.
I was really pleasantly wrong. This really is a great story. And I might add that I think he’s more talented as a writer/director than an actor. The story, told in flashback form, revolves around a 13 year old named Thomas (Anton Yelchin) and his efforts to keep his depressed mother (Tea Leoni), his “retarded” best friend (Robin Williams), and his newfound love interest (Robin William’s daughter Zelda) in balance. When he takes up the cause of one, the rest seem to fall, and he ends up blaming himself when he can’t keep all three balls in the air. The story is wrapped by older Thomas (David Duchovny), and his need to explain the damage done to him as a teen in order to repair the relationship with his wife and son.
The movie was followed by a Q&A with Anton Yelchin and David, who was hilarious as he helped set up the really out of date microphones. The highlight of the talk was when they handed around a microphone to audience members and a guy in the back started asked questions about his brilliant work on the Larry Sanders Show. I turned around and hey, it was Gary Shandling. Apparently David and Gary have a good friendship and David often runs scripts by Gary for feedback. I wish I had Gary Shandling on a list to hand my scripts to.
Anyway, I got up the nerve to get Liz to snap a picture of me and David. How’s that for coolness?
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Look!
Blogger was down last night and I so desperately wanted to post that I couldn't wait and wrote it in a word doc... then forgot to email it to myself... so I'll include it later... but now... shall include this: Which Says It All
And Gary Shandling was there too!
And Gary Shandling was there too!
Sunday, April 03, 2005
Good News Bad News
Bad News: Spring Break is over!
Good News: Only ten more weeks of school!
I jumped online to read and update blogs, as I have been lacking in the posting department... and I have some news.
I hopped on to Mel's site and saw that David Duchovney has his own blog... which is rather X-Files strange, as I am going to see David tomorrow... on an appearance and screening that aren't on his publicity tour. Technically his movie, House of D, doesn't open until the 15th in LA and NY, but we're going to a special screening. Oh the joys of being an Angelino. Along with the drug shootings, and car chases, there are some perks.
Good News: Only ten more weeks of school!
I jumped online to read and update blogs, as I have been lacking in the posting department... and I have some news.
I hopped on to Mel's site and saw that David Duchovney has his own blog... which is rather X-Files strange, as I am going to see David tomorrow... on an appearance and screening that aren't on his publicity tour. Technically his movie, House of D, doesn't open until the 15th in LA and NY, but we're going to a special screening. Oh the joys of being an Angelino. Along with the drug shootings, and car chases, there are some perks.
Monday, March 21, 2005
Curiouser and Curiouser
I awoke from a strange dream on Sunday morning. I was in a celebrity version of The Amazing Race, where a "real" person was paired with a celebrity. Mine was some middle aged woman writer... who, I still don't know.
We had to take these horse carts and drive them through a lake, and then down a long wooded path that now reminds me of the road from Versaille to the Hamlet of Antoinette. It ended in a rather fake sort of Sleepy Hollow area where we had to open a trap door in the floor of a barn with three walls. The was a big mirror set up in the middle of the structure, and I was stymied by the fact that when Antonio Banderas looked into the mirror, he had no reflection. So I dragged Brad Pitt over to the mirror to check. I think he did have a reflection.
The problem opening the trap door was that it was sealed with paper and tape and more layers of plastic. We had a little pocket knife that we used to tear the bloody thing open, but every time we got to a layer, there was another underneath. For a moment I thought we'd turned up a clue in the paper wrappings. Instead, it turned out to be mail from my school mailbox... stupid teachery junk mail things and memos. I remember one was a notice saying that the company that runs the new software program the school spent $80,000 on was bad and that we had to stop using it. And the attendance sheets. I thought, what the crap? Someone's going to have to send this back to the school. But not now. I've got to win this race.
We finally got the trap door open, and grabbed a torch and were just about to jump in when I woke up.
Watched a great foreign movie yesterday as well - Rosenstrasse. It was about a group of Aryan women during WWII who were married to Jewish men. It was told through a modern day story of a daughter who wants to understand her mother grieving after her father died.
We had to take these horse carts and drive them through a lake, and then down a long wooded path that now reminds me of the road from Versaille to the Hamlet of Antoinette. It ended in a rather fake sort of Sleepy Hollow area where we had to open a trap door in the floor of a barn with three walls. The was a big mirror set up in the middle of the structure, and I was stymied by the fact that when Antonio Banderas looked into the mirror, he had no reflection. So I dragged Brad Pitt over to the mirror to check. I think he did have a reflection.
The problem opening the trap door was that it was sealed with paper and tape and more layers of plastic. We had a little pocket knife that we used to tear the bloody thing open, but every time we got to a layer, there was another underneath. For a moment I thought we'd turned up a clue in the paper wrappings. Instead, it turned out to be mail from my school mailbox... stupid teachery junk mail things and memos. I remember one was a notice saying that the company that runs the new software program the school spent $80,000 on was bad and that we had to stop using it. And the attendance sheets. I thought, what the crap? Someone's going to have to send this back to the school. But not now. I've got to win this race.
We finally got the trap door open, and grabbed a torch and were just about to jump in when I woke up.
Watched a great foreign movie yesterday as well - Rosenstrasse. It was about a group of Aryan women during WWII who were married to Jewish men. It was told through a modern day story of a daughter who wants to understand her mother grieving after her father died.
Wednesday, March 16, 2005
Matt Damon is My Hero
Now I really never thought I'd say it, but Matt Damon is my newest hero. I watched the first half hour of Project Greenlight last night before I had to go off to choir. I had one of those moments where I actually wanted to jump into the television and give that man a hug.
As a participant of Project Greenlight, I told myself that I would not be disappointed that my script was not one of three out of 4,000, as long as the script that won was brilliant... or perhaps even slightly shiny.
Imagine how furious I was when they picked a piece of crap... over a definitely brilliant script... the... um... The One About Time Travel With The Really Long Title. Had they picked The One About Time Travel With The Really Long Title, I could have sat back and said, okay, I can live with this.
Matt Damon said some pretty harsh words on the episode last night. To paraphrase, "I've never picked a script because of how much money I think it's going to make," and "You're sitting next to the King of Horror, Wes Craven, and he says the script is a piece of crap."
Two Words: Train Wreck
As a participant of Project Greenlight, I told myself that I would not be disappointed that my script was not one of three out of 4,000, as long as the script that won was brilliant... or perhaps even slightly shiny.
Imagine how furious I was when they picked a piece of crap... over a definitely brilliant script... the... um... The One About Time Travel With The Really Long Title. Had they picked The One About Time Travel With The Really Long Title, I could have sat back and said, okay, I can live with this.
Matt Damon said some pretty harsh words on the episode last night. To paraphrase, "I've never picked a script because of how much money I think it's going to make," and "You're sitting next to the King of Horror, Wes Craven, and he says the script is a piece of crap."
Two Words: Train Wreck
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Beware the Ides of March
So grades are done. Of course tomorrow I'll have ten kids come up to me and ask me to change their grades before the report cards. Half of their problem is that they don't listen.
Ever.
Sigh.
Now I can work on Miss Mathis's Fear Factor - St. Patrick's Day Style!
Ever.
Sigh.
Now I can work on Miss Mathis's Fear Factor - St. Patrick's Day Style!
Sunday, March 13, 2005
It's all Melissa's Fault
I created a monster.
A Japanese ball rolling monster. It all started simply enough.
Last week Liz and I went shopping at Ross... which just so happens to be next to Gamestop. We wandered in, perusing the used DVD's and I saw this game, Katamari Damacy, which Mel had mentioned earlier. I picked it up and later played it a few times.
The premise is simple. You're the son of the King of the Cosmos. On a whim your dad wiped out the stars, and it's your job to roll this ball around, picking stuff up with it. You start out with thumb tacks, caramels and dice, and progress to larger items, like sumo wrestlers and streetlights. I think I was hooked the first time it picked up a cat, and it stuck to the ball, legs out, wiggling.
I noticed it had a two player mode... so I convinced Liz that she should take a go at it. Despite her objections, I told her a five year old could play this game, so off we went.
And went.
And went.
Though not necessarily very skilled, Lizzie is very determined. I finally set her loose on the single player mode while I worked on the puzzle she started, or crocheted, or watched, almost snoozing on the couch. I think we played for about 4 hours straight.
"I think my thumbs are totally numb," she said as she finally headed to bed. Playstation finger!
I was in a bit of sensory overload last night, as all my dreams had to do with playing the game.
I got up this morning, took a nice long shower, then... you guessed it... played the game (before Lizzie came home from Marathon Practice and tried to steal the controller.)
Simple, silly, addictive.
A Japanese ball rolling monster. It all started simply enough.
Last week Liz and I went shopping at Ross... which just so happens to be next to Gamestop. We wandered in, perusing the used DVD's and I saw this game, Katamari Damacy, which Mel had mentioned earlier. I picked it up and later played it a few times.
The premise is simple. You're the son of the King of the Cosmos. On a whim your dad wiped out the stars, and it's your job to roll this ball around, picking stuff up with it. You start out with thumb tacks, caramels and dice, and progress to larger items, like sumo wrestlers and streetlights. I think I was hooked the first time it picked up a cat, and it stuck to the ball, legs out, wiggling.
I noticed it had a two player mode... so I convinced Liz that she should take a go at it. Despite her objections, I told her a five year old could play this game, so off we went.
And went.
And went.
Though not necessarily very skilled, Lizzie is very determined. I finally set her loose on the single player mode while I worked on the puzzle she started, or crocheted, or watched, almost snoozing on the couch. I think we played for about 4 hours straight.
"I think my thumbs are totally numb," she said as she finally headed to bed. Playstation finger!
I was in a bit of sensory overload last night, as all my dreams had to do with playing the game.
I got up this morning, took a nice long shower, then... you guessed it... played the game (before Lizzie came home from Marathon Practice and tried to steal the controller.)
Simple, silly, addictive.
Monday, February 28, 2005
Summer Vaca Part... Done!
So Athene came up with a cool idea that I wish I would have thought of earlier. It involved Yahoo Messenger and a whole lotta fun. Yahoo has evolved it since I've last used it, and let me tell you, it's a far cry from PINE IRC that I first learned to use in college. Bring back memories?
So we've moved our plans to July, to get an extra day of of Mel's vaca.
Bad: Miss July 4 fireworks.
Good: Get to spend my b-day in England.
Bad/Good: No summer school.
I think it balances out.
So we've moved our plans to July, to get an extra day of of Mel's vaca.
Bad: Miss July 4 fireworks.
Good: Get to spend my b-day in England.
Bad/Good: No summer school.
I think it balances out.
Friday, February 25, 2005
Summer Vaca... Part 3
So Omouse went online and did some more research. Her theory was that shopping around would be good... so I found a few more potentially (cough) cheaper (cough) places to look at.
Hey, more options are a good thing.
These are basically holiday camps/apartments similar to HavenHolidays
http://www.pontins.com/centres/index.php
http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/
http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.beachside.co.uk
I thought the Beach Side link looked cool.
And here were some links to sites that have Holiday Cottages.
http://www.powells.co.uk
http://www.hoseasons.co.uk
http://www.welcomecottages.com/welu_homepage.html
And here's one that has everything!
http://www.like2stay.co.uk/england.htm
So we've got lots of choices and I think we really need Athene input here.
Where's the best place?
What part of the country are we going to explore?
Do we want to go to a resort type place with lots of kids running about, or more of a secluded cottage close to the beach where we can set our own agenda, but may not have some of the same resources as a resort. (Long sentence... I know) I think there are ups and downs to both.
And, but not least.
The prices in August are horrendous. I could probably swing July - early July? Or should we stay with August? What's the difference in weather?
Okay... enough rambly.
Hey, more options are a good thing.
These are basically holiday camps/apartments similar to HavenHolidays
http://www.pontins.com/centres/index.php
http://www.butlinsonline.co.uk/
http://www.parkdeanholidays.co.uk/index.htm
http://www.beachside.co.uk
I thought the Beach Side link looked cool.
And here were some links to sites that have Holiday Cottages.
http://www.powells.co.uk
http://www.hoseasons.co.uk
http://www.welcomecottages.com/welu_homepage.html
And here's one that has everything!
http://www.like2stay.co.uk/england.htm
So we've got lots of choices and I think we really need Athene input here.
Where's the best place?
What part of the country are we going to explore?
Do we want to go to a resort type place with lots of kids running about, or more of a secluded cottage close to the beach where we can set our own agenda, but may not have some of the same resources as a resort. (Long sentence... I know) I think there are ups and downs to both.
And, but not least.
The prices in August are horrendous. I could probably swing July - early July? Or should we stay with August? What's the difference in weather?
Okay... enough rambly.
Rain, Rain, Went Away
It has finally stopped raining. It's overcast today, but yesterday was beautiful. I think people in CA are breathing a sigh of relief. Even the guy at the gas station seemed chipper.
A grumpy Normy came home from the vet, after a stop at Mom's while I went to class. He seems to have forgiven me. He slept beside me and let me pet him this morning until Ed got greedy and shoved his head under my fingers.
I'm tired today. It's pretty much my own fault. Last week we were watching the commentary on an episode of Homicide... where one of the actors said that Detective Munch had probably set a record by appearing on the most shows as the same character. He's been on Homicide, multiple Law and Orders, and even an episode of the X-Files. The X-Files? I went and looked up the episode and requested the disk from Netflix and it arrived yesterday.
Lizzie suggested we watch it after Without A Trace (It was 11:00) and I said "Sure. That way I can mail it back tomorrow." As soon as I turned it on, I remembered which one it was... I just didn't realize the guy was Munch. It was the one from Season 5 that explained how the Lone Gunmen were founded and their relationship with Mulder.
I love Munch. He's cool.
A grumpy Normy came home from the vet, after a stop at Mom's while I went to class. He seems to have forgiven me. He slept beside me and let me pet him this morning until Ed got greedy and shoved his head under my fingers.
I'm tired today. It's pretty much my own fault. Last week we were watching the commentary on an episode of Homicide... where one of the actors said that Detective Munch had probably set a record by appearing on the most shows as the same character. He's been on Homicide, multiple Law and Orders, and even an episode of the X-Files. The X-Files? I went and looked up the episode and requested the disk from Netflix and it arrived yesterday.
Lizzie suggested we watch it after Without A Trace (It was 11:00) and I said "Sure. That way I can mail it back tomorrow." As soon as I turned it on, I remembered which one it was... I just didn't realize the guy was Munch. It was the one from Season 5 that explained how the Lone Gunmen were founded and their relationship with Mulder.
I love Munch. He's cool.
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Summer Vaca... Part 2
So I've done some more specific research... in two different currencies even.
First, I came to the conclusion that Contiki 13 day trips were not do-able, when Mel only has 9 vacation days. Even when you add weekends, the day the trips start on all ended up going over that limit.
There is an interesting 8 day tour of Tuscany listed. So I investigated approximate costs for each person. Including airfare and assuming a $200 expense for incidentals...
Mel: $2,300
Clare: ($1,535) 815 Pounds
Me: $2,500
Other Option:
England: Assuming airfare and 50 Pounds a day living/traveling/fun money
Mel: $1,780
Clare : ($1000) 500 Pounds
Me: $1,880
So more commenty thingies! What do you think?
Other options?
First, I came to the conclusion that Contiki 13 day trips were not do-able, when Mel only has 9 vacation days. Even when you add weekends, the day the trips start on all ended up going over that limit.
There is an interesting 8 day tour of Tuscany listed. So I investigated approximate costs for each person. Including airfare and assuming a $200 expense for incidentals...
Mel: $2,300
Clare: ($1,535) 815 Pounds
Me: $2,500
Other Option:
England: Assuming airfare and 50 Pounds a day living/traveling/fun money
Mel: $1,780
Clare : ($1000) 500 Pounds
Me: $1,880
So more commenty thingies! What do you think?
Other options?
Summer Vaca Options
Okay, so we keep putting off a decision... and we need to make one. Let's get some input and ideas... so make free with the comments.
Option 1: Mediterranean:
With Contiki - multiple countries, transportation, hotel and some meals covered. Don't have to speak languages to get around.
or Without Contiki - maybe Southern France, Spain, and/or Italy, rent a car or travel by train. Have to arrange own places to stay.
Option 2: Greece:
With Contiki - transportation, hotel and some meals covered. Don't have to speak languages to get around.
Without Contiki - need to figure out own transportation, lodging and hotel. Flights to Greece are somewhat expensive from the US.
Option 3: Southern England
Don't need Contiki but:
Travel by Train - Can get a flex pass to jet about where we need to go. Must find place to stay.
Camper Van - can travel anywhere (if Clare drives hehehe) and stay inside van.
or Haggis Tours - small guided tours that stay in hostels - Cornwall - 4 days, or Scotland 6 days.
So what sounds like the best option to you?
Option 1: Mediterranean:
With Contiki - multiple countries, transportation, hotel and some meals covered. Don't have to speak languages to get around.
or Without Contiki - maybe Southern France, Spain, and/or Italy, rent a car or travel by train. Have to arrange own places to stay.
Option 2: Greece:
With Contiki - transportation, hotel and some meals covered. Don't have to speak languages to get around.
Without Contiki - need to figure out own transportation, lodging and hotel. Flights to Greece are somewhat expensive from the US.
Option 3: Southern England
Don't need Contiki but:
Travel by Train - Can get a flex pass to jet about where we need to go. Must find place to stay.
Camper Van - can travel anywhere (if Clare drives hehehe) and stay inside van.
or Haggis Tours - small guided tours that stay in hostels - Cornwall - 4 days, or Scotland 6 days.
So what sounds like the best option to you?
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
Rough Week
You see, last week my mom hexed me. She sent me the dreaded email - "Things always come in threes!"
I'm getting to the 3x3 point.
As mentioned before... someone stole my cell phone. Then later in the week my pda died. Screen just flickered and then blllphhph. Nothing. It still charges... but it won't turn on. Great.
So if I had to get a new phone and a new pda, I might as well go crazy with Ebay! I got myself a $50 Treo. It's a combo phone/pda.
Then last Tuesday night, I got into my car after choir and it happens again. Nothing. Lights go on, but no engine. Bllphhph - my new word.
I managed to catch the last three men leaving and ask to borrow a cell phone to call AAA, and as soon as I hung up, the men left me alone in the parking lot at 9:15 pm. Now I was within shouting distance of a police station, which they pointed out, but not nice.
Tow truck driver arrives. He's lost his $60 flashlight and can't see into my car, despite the street lamps directly overhead. He spends 20 minutes looking for said flashlight. I finally manage to catch the custodian on his way home and ask him if he has a flashlight. He departs and returns with one and the two spend another 20 minutes poking and prodding and general male grunting behavior trying to fix my engine.
Unsuccessful, he finally decides it must be towed and we leave the parking lot around 10:15. On the ride to my apartment, I get a lecture on how his boss is racist against whites and how his "Iranish" (his word, not mine) speaking boss was mad because the driver knew more than he did. Then tow truck man went into a lecture about tipping your tow truck driver. (Ride from hell.)
Miraculously, there were not one, but two parking spots directly outside my apartment. I left it there overnight and had it towed after work. This driver was cool and had me hooked up and there in less than 20 minutes. Then he drove me home. And when I tried to tip him, he refused. That made me even more mad at skanky tow truck man.
So $500 later, I have a pda, a phone, and a car that function.
Yeah me!
Going to buy a Mini sometime this year.
I'm getting to the 3x3 point.
As mentioned before... someone stole my cell phone. Then later in the week my pda died. Screen just flickered and then blllphhph. Nothing. It still charges... but it won't turn on. Great.
So if I had to get a new phone and a new pda, I might as well go crazy with Ebay! I got myself a $50 Treo. It's a combo phone/pda.
Then last Tuesday night, I got into my car after choir and it happens again. Nothing. Lights go on, but no engine. Bllphhph - my new word.
I managed to catch the last three men leaving and ask to borrow a cell phone to call AAA, and as soon as I hung up, the men left me alone in the parking lot at 9:15 pm. Now I was within shouting distance of a police station, which they pointed out, but not nice.
Tow truck driver arrives. He's lost his $60 flashlight and can't see into my car, despite the street lamps directly overhead. He spends 20 minutes looking for said flashlight. I finally manage to catch the custodian on his way home and ask him if he has a flashlight. He departs and returns with one and the two spend another 20 minutes poking and prodding and general male grunting behavior trying to fix my engine.
Unsuccessful, he finally decides it must be towed and we leave the parking lot around 10:15. On the ride to my apartment, I get a lecture on how his boss is racist against whites and how his "Iranish" (his word, not mine) speaking boss was mad because the driver knew more than he did. Then tow truck man went into a lecture about tipping your tow truck driver. (Ride from hell.)
Miraculously, there were not one, but two parking spots directly outside my apartment. I left it there overnight and had it towed after work. This driver was cool and had me hooked up and there in less than 20 minutes. Then he drove me home. And when I tried to tip him, he refused. That made me even more mad at skanky tow truck man.
So $500 later, I have a pda, a phone, and a car that function.
Yeah me!
Going to buy a Mini sometime this year.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Thursday, January 27, 2005
You Know You're an English Teacher When:
I have had serious urges to edit some horrendous ebay descriptions. At least get the spelling write. (That's a joke.)
Anyway, The Tech Gods must be against me this week. Not only have I had my cell stolen, but my pda died as well. The screen started flickering and then it died. I suppose that since I've had it since Dad sold the Camaro, that it served its purpose... it's still sad.
So I've been on ebay, bidding on all sorts of pda cell phones. Might as well be new fangled. If I can get one for under $75 or so, I'll get a Treo 600 which has a digital camera in it as well. If not, the 300 looks pretty spiffy too.
Anyway, The Tech Gods must be against me this week. Not only have I had my cell stolen, but my pda died as well. The screen started flickering and then it died. I suppose that since I've had it since Dad sold the Camaro, that it served its purpose... it's still sad.
So I've been on ebay, bidding on all sorts of pda cell phones. Might as well be new fangled. If I can get one for under $75 or so, I'll get a Treo 600 which has a digital camera in it as well. If not, the 300 looks pretty spiffy too.
Monday, January 24, 2005
Mostly up to snuff
The morning started off quite foggy, but has cleared up dramatically into a sort of hazy sunshine. I'm so glad I don't have to wrap up and wade through the snow to get to school. I probably didn't even need my sweater this morning, but I put it on, just in case.
So the biggest news lately is The Case of The Stolen Phone. Yes. Gone. And during 8th period on Thursday. The worst thing is that I have not yet seen my 8th period, so I was without phone for a whole weekend. Man, I remember when I thought people with phones were idiots who were too connected. Now I feel naked without mine.
And Sprint. They told me that someone used the phone at for two minutes at 3:56 p.m. on Thurs... about an hour after I discovered it missing, but they can't tell me the number called until it prints on my statement.
So someone used my phone before I canceled it, but I can't find out who they called until Feb. 3.
I plan to scare the bejeezuz out of my 8th period today. If I don't get my phone back, I'm filing a police report and when I get my statement, I'm pressing bloody charges. So I'd better get my phone back by tomorrow... or else Miss Mathis is going on The War Path.
So the biggest news lately is The Case of The Stolen Phone. Yes. Gone. And during 8th period on Thursday. The worst thing is that I have not yet seen my 8th period, so I was without phone for a whole weekend. Man, I remember when I thought people with phones were idiots who were too connected. Now I feel naked without mine.
And Sprint. They told me that someone used the phone at for two minutes at 3:56 p.m. on Thurs... about an hour after I discovered it missing, but they can't tell me the number called until it prints on my statement.
So someone used my phone before I canceled it, but I can't find out who they called until Feb. 3.
I plan to scare the bejeezuz out of my 8th period today. If I don't get my phone back, I'm filing a police report and when I get my statement, I'm pressing bloody charges. So I'd better get my phone back by tomorrow... or else Miss Mathis is going on The War Path.
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
Perpetually Carsick
So the principal walks in to my period 4. Sounds like a joke? It is.
He tells me of the new changes they're making at the semester.
They are taking Judy's 2nd period ELD writing class and folding it into my 4th period ELD 1. Then they are giving her a regular Freshman English class while I have to teach 2 classes at the same time.
Now I suppose this makes sense on paper. 16 students + 11 = 27 kids in a class. That makes it nice and full. Now I just get to worry about how to deal with those new students and how to fit an added prep into my schedule.
We're losing 4 teachers and 1 grumpy secretary at the semester. The grumpy secretary is retiring, and they aren't replacing her. After a conversation with Patti of next door, I find that we're losing one art teacher and one English... I have no idea where the other two are coming from.
Now I know that it's not their (Administration) fault, but it doesn't make the situation any less tolerable, or laughable. I wouldn't want to be them, either, having to make all the decisions and informing people about their jobs.
On top of everything, I still feel icky from this weekend where I did nothing but lay on the couch and watch movies or sleep. Everytime I move, I feel carsick. Fun huh?
He tells me of the new changes they're making at the semester.
They are taking Judy's 2nd period ELD writing class and folding it into my 4th period ELD 1. Then they are giving her a regular Freshman English class while I have to teach 2 classes at the same time.
Now I suppose this makes sense on paper. 16 students + 11 = 27 kids in a class. That makes it nice and full. Now I just get to worry about how to deal with those new students and how to fit an added prep into my schedule.
We're losing 4 teachers and 1 grumpy secretary at the semester. The grumpy secretary is retiring, and they aren't replacing her. After a conversation with Patti of next door, I find that we're losing one art teacher and one English... I have no idea where the other two are coming from.
Now I know that it's not their (Administration) fault, but it doesn't make the situation any less tolerable, or laughable. I wouldn't want to be them, either, having to make all the decisions and informing people about their jobs.
On top of everything, I still feel icky from this weekend where I did nothing but lay on the couch and watch movies or sleep. Everytime I move, I feel carsick. Fun huh?
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
On the brighter side
It's finally not raining... and hopefully will stay that way. Of course as soon as it stops raining, I get a froggy chest and feel like crap.
At least it's Wednesday. And we're almost to a three day weekend. I'm having trouble garnering any enthusiasm.
Liz is sick too... but we decided she has something different than I do. I've been sick more times in the past six months than in the past 6 years it seems.
Maybe I'm growing an allergy to teenagers. Or maybe just 10th graders.
At least it's Wednesday. And we're almost to a three day weekend. I'm having trouble garnering any enthusiasm.
Liz is sick too... but we decided she has something different than I do. I've been sick more times in the past six months than in the past 6 years it seems.
Maybe I'm growing an allergy to teenagers. Or maybe just 10th graders.
Monday, January 10, 2005
Weather Watch
It's almost 8:00 am here, and it's still dark outside. Good Morning America got preempted by Tornado Watch... not in Long Beach, but still. We've had over our average yearly rainfall and it's only the first 10 days of the year.
Yesterday Liz and I decided to be lazy. We stayed in and watched movies all day. We made enchiladas... or rather more of a cassarole thingy, because the corn tortillas weren't behaving. We played a round of Potter Crack, which Liz beat me at... Again.
On Saturday I joined my family at Papadakis's Taverna, supposedly one of the best Greek restaurants in the LA area. It's in San Pedro, and Mapquest told me to take Ocean all the way there. What it didn't tell me about was the two really scary bridges that I had to go over to get there. I'm sooo glad that it wasn't raining earlier in the evening. Otherwise I would have been screwed and scared out of my mind.
Other than being very friendly and having excellent service, I wasn't too impressed with the place, but I couldn't exactly say that to Dad. I think the Greek place that we went to in Malibu with Rob, which I believe is Tony's Taverna was more atmospheric and had better entertainment. I did manage to stick it to Tricia when the violinist came around. I had him play the USC fight song. Papadakis is a huge USC football fan. We even got a speech about it after the entertainment.
Maybe it was just the ride home that creeped me out. It was raining so hard I couldn't see the signs or the lines on the road. I couldn't find Ocean, which I wasn't too heartbroken about, because I didn't want to go over the scary bridges again. Instead I got on the freeway, thinking even if I have to go 10 miles out of my way, I'm at least not lost. Then I see an exit for PCH and think, hey that'll be a short cut.
I'm driving rather slowly along PCH, keeping an eye on the lines, and praying there's no flooding along the way when suddenly someone starts shouting out at me from a pickup truck. First impression: When loud guy rolls down window and shouts at passerby: Probably drunk. So I slow down even more to stay behind the truck. It keeps slowing down and yells at me. I refuse to look at guy, thinking he's going to do something stupid. This goes on for about 5 minutes before suddenly my phone rings. It's Nikki, so I begin to think maybe she's been in an accident in the rain. I pick up the phone, while driving and avoiding drunk guy.
"What's up? Where are you?" I ask.
"We're in the pickup truck you're refusing to look at."
"I thought you were drunk guys."
"I'm the only drunk one around here," Michael says. "You're driving awfully slow."
Duh.
Yesterday Liz and I decided to be lazy. We stayed in and watched movies all day. We made enchiladas... or rather more of a cassarole thingy, because the corn tortillas weren't behaving. We played a round of Potter Crack, which Liz beat me at... Again.
On Saturday I joined my family at Papadakis's Taverna, supposedly one of the best Greek restaurants in the LA area. It's in San Pedro, and Mapquest told me to take Ocean all the way there. What it didn't tell me about was the two really scary bridges that I had to go over to get there. I'm sooo glad that it wasn't raining earlier in the evening. Otherwise I would have been screwed and scared out of my mind.
Other than being very friendly and having excellent service, I wasn't too impressed with the place, but I couldn't exactly say that to Dad. I think the Greek place that we went to in Malibu with Rob, which I believe is Tony's Taverna was more atmospheric and had better entertainment. I did manage to stick it to Tricia when the violinist came around. I had him play the USC fight song. Papadakis is a huge USC football fan. We even got a speech about it after the entertainment.
Maybe it was just the ride home that creeped me out. It was raining so hard I couldn't see the signs or the lines on the road. I couldn't find Ocean, which I wasn't too heartbroken about, because I didn't want to go over the scary bridges again. Instead I got on the freeway, thinking even if I have to go 10 miles out of my way, I'm at least not lost. Then I see an exit for PCH and think, hey that'll be a short cut.
I'm driving rather slowly along PCH, keeping an eye on the lines, and praying there's no flooding along the way when suddenly someone starts shouting out at me from a pickup truck. First impression: When loud guy rolls down window and shouts at passerby: Probably drunk. So I slow down even more to stay behind the truck. It keeps slowing down and yells at me. I refuse to look at guy, thinking he's going to do something stupid. This goes on for about 5 minutes before suddenly my phone rings. It's Nikki, so I begin to think maybe she's been in an accident in the rain. I pick up the phone, while driving and avoiding drunk guy.
"What's up? Where are you?" I ask.
"We're in the pickup truck you're refusing to look at."
"I thought you were drunk guys."
"I'm the only drunk one around here," Michael says. "You're driving awfully slow."
Duh.
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Christmas in Review
So Christmas Eve: As I was saying, oh about two entries ago, the Mathis side was pretty much a bust, except I got a cool shortcake pan and a bottle of homemade Kalhua. We didn’t even really tuck into the Tequilla either.
Back at the Dittner’s, we ended up with 5 Mathis’s, 5 Skeltons, and 5 Dittners. Zach and Jasmine handed out the Christmas presents. Zach kept handing me Janyce presents, and everyone had to make sure they read their labels well before opening. I got a pretty good haul. I was a bit afraid when I received an obvious clothing box from Mom. Whatever it is, its usually hideous. Instead, it was a USC t-shirt. Tricia gave me all the coolio movies on my Amazon wish list, and Nikki gave me a pair of pajamas and a thermos so we wouldn’t have to use one of Grandma’s if we went to the snow. (We still think that’s what made us horribly sick last Christmas.) I got lots of random bath and lotion stuff. I also got a cordless Playstation 2 controller (So now we can stop tripping over the dang thing!) I also got some bakeware and a veggie tray. Got two books and a puzzle. (Liz and I just finished putting the puzzle together. It was a 1500 piece deal that nearly didn’t fit on the coffee table. I couldn’t go to sleep last night until we’d finished it. I think it will be displayed there for several days before we break it down.)
On Christmas Day we decided that there wasn’t going to be enough snow in the mountains to go sledding, so we hung about until it was time to head off to Uncle Chris’s new house. It sits on the edge of Red Bluff on a 10 acre lot. They’ve got a barn, a horse, a miniature horse and 2 ATV’s. Tricia and Nikki amused themselves by riding about on the ATV’s. Dad tried to amuse himself by building a bottle rocket glider powered by baking soda and vinegar. He’d given it to Zach for Christmas, but hadn’t realized how much effort went into constructing it. He was quite upset as Zach tried to “help.” Somehow, 9 year old craftsmanship didn’t please my dad, so I stepped in to help and sent Zach off on a few errands to calm Dad’s nerves.
Meanwhile, Tricia and Nikki had switched from horsepower to horse power. Nikki couldn’t get the horse to go any further away from the house than the miniature horse could follow, and since he was in a pen, that wasn’t too far. “Remember,” Cory said, as she put Tricia on the horse, “You’re the boss.”
Tricia tried to get the horse to move into the field. The horse turned and walked right into the barn. She tried to turn him, and he just turned right back around. Just as she finally got the horse cooperating, Dad decided to let off his bottle rocket in the far field. Yes, this was a good idea. Luckily, the horse didn’t seem too spooked, and the rocket flew onto the roof, further preventing any further incidents.
Dinner was Prime Rib and by that time I’d snacked too much to really be hungry. Dad began to occupy his time with other things than bottle rockets… namely bottles. Now Dad is a strange guy when he’s plastered. If you’re not careful, you get the entire global positioning system explained to you in extraordinary detail. He managed to corner Uncle Chris’s brother-in-law and talked at him for about an hour before we decided to try some Poker.
Now Poker just doesn’t work without money. Especially when you have a really annoying Uncle who keeps raising by the thousands and a drunk dad who sits and explains these really annoying rules to random card games. Give me a $5 a person poker tournament with Texas Hold’m and I’d be much happier.
Back at the Dittner’s, we ended up with 5 Mathis’s, 5 Skeltons, and 5 Dittners. Zach and Jasmine handed out the Christmas presents. Zach kept handing me Janyce presents, and everyone had to make sure they read their labels well before opening. I got a pretty good haul. I was a bit afraid when I received an obvious clothing box from Mom. Whatever it is, its usually hideous. Instead, it was a USC t-shirt. Tricia gave me all the coolio movies on my Amazon wish list, and Nikki gave me a pair of pajamas and a thermos so we wouldn’t have to use one of Grandma’s if we went to the snow. (We still think that’s what made us horribly sick last Christmas.) I got lots of random bath and lotion stuff. I also got a cordless Playstation 2 controller (So now we can stop tripping over the dang thing!) I also got some bakeware and a veggie tray. Got two books and a puzzle. (Liz and I just finished putting the puzzle together. It was a 1500 piece deal that nearly didn’t fit on the coffee table. I couldn’t go to sleep last night until we’d finished it. I think it will be displayed there for several days before we break it down.)
On Christmas Day we decided that there wasn’t going to be enough snow in the mountains to go sledding, so we hung about until it was time to head off to Uncle Chris’s new house. It sits on the edge of Red Bluff on a 10 acre lot. They’ve got a barn, a horse, a miniature horse and 2 ATV’s. Tricia and Nikki amused themselves by riding about on the ATV’s. Dad tried to amuse himself by building a bottle rocket glider powered by baking soda and vinegar. He’d given it to Zach for Christmas, but hadn’t realized how much effort went into constructing it. He was quite upset as Zach tried to “help.” Somehow, 9 year old craftsmanship didn’t please my dad, so I stepped in to help and sent Zach off on a few errands to calm Dad’s nerves.
Meanwhile, Tricia and Nikki had switched from horsepower to horse power. Nikki couldn’t get the horse to go any further away from the house than the miniature horse could follow, and since he was in a pen, that wasn’t too far. “Remember,” Cory said, as she put Tricia on the horse, “You’re the boss.”
Tricia tried to get the horse to move into the field. The horse turned and walked right into the barn. She tried to turn him, and he just turned right back around. Just as she finally got the horse cooperating, Dad decided to let off his bottle rocket in the far field. Yes, this was a good idea. Luckily, the horse didn’t seem too spooked, and the rocket flew onto the roof, further preventing any further incidents.
Dinner was Prime Rib and by that time I’d snacked too much to really be hungry. Dad began to occupy his time with other things than bottle rockets… namely bottles. Now Dad is a strange guy when he’s plastered. If you’re not careful, you get the entire global positioning system explained to you in extraordinary detail. He managed to corner Uncle Chris’s brother-in-law and talked at him for about an hour before we decided to try some Poker.
Now Poker just doesn’t work without money. Especially when you have a really annoying Uncle who keeps raising by the thousands and a drunk dad who sits and explains these really annoying rules to random card games. Give me a $5 a person poker tournament with Texas Hold’m and I’d be much happier.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Yeah, yeah
I need to update it... I never finished my Vaca stories... including a trip to Chico and another trip lost towards mountains... and Calistoga.
Just thought I'd pop in and say USC Better Rule tonight. I already explained to my Period 3, that if I'm happy tomorrow, we won. If I'm sad... they'll know why.
Just thought I'd pop in and say USC Better Rule tonight. I already explained to my Period 3, that if I'm happy tomorrow, we won. If I'm sad... they'll know why.
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