Today I gave my students a journal assignment to make a list of things you want to do before you die. Here is my own list:
1 Drive the length of the Pacific Coast Highway.
2 Go to an NFL game.
3 Learn to swing dance.
4 Travel to Italy, Greece, Spain, and Costa Rica.
5 Drive Route 66 from L.A. to Chicago.
6 Visit all 50 states.
7 Go to Mardi Gras.
8 Learn to ski (better).
9 Play blackjack at Caesar's Palace.
10 Stay at the Mandalay Bay.
11 Get a tatoo (actually I have 2 in mind that I want).
12 Own a 1962 Corvette.
13 See the Eagles, Garth Brooks, and Aerosmith (again) in concert.
14 Get a master's degree in either American Literature or some sort of gender studies.
15 Go to law school.
16 Learn to quilt.
17 Speak Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country.
18 Visit every county, state park, and national park in Utah
19 Go to DisneyWorld.
20 Stay on a houseboat at Lake Powell.
That's not the end... there are a bunch more, but I wanted to stop at 20.
So let's see.... This week has been crazy. Lexi wouldn't go to sleep last night if I put her down. Sean ended up finally sleeping in a chair with her. I finally reached that "bring it on" point where you just don't care anymore. Like, I'm so bloody tired that nothing can phase me now, so just bring it on. School is just... loco. I don't even want to think about that. Sean is still working 12 hour days and then he often stops off here and there after work, so that makes things even nuttier around here with me trying to do it all. Last night I ended up taking the two littles with me to YW New Beginnings. Not smart. I ended up out in the hall for half the thing because neither Josh nor Lexi could be quiet. On a side note: You'll be happy to know that there was no gratuitous crying at YW this time. And the program presenter had an awesome Australian accent so it was very nice to listen to him.
Superbowl... Yay Giants! Yay Manning! We came within a hair... a hair I tell you... of winning $100 right before half time. If the Giants had just made that touchdown. Ah well.
Survivor... 2 thumbs up so far! I really enjoyed tonight's episode. I liked most of the fans, although we didn't get to see much of them. There were a few wackadoos, but most seemed cool. Of the favorites, I still love Jonathon and Yau. Ozzy is dead to me now that he hooked up with Amanda, and dude... are you serious? You guys haven't brushed your teeth or taken a shower in 5 days and you want to be making out? I still hate Parvati with the fire of a thousand burning nuns, and she's pushed James from "eh" to "bleh" with their little hookup. Fairplay was actually fairly normal this time, which was his plan I'm sure. He got to say he was a favorite, make over his image, and then not have to spend a couple weeks living in the dirt.
Well, I'm off to bed. Yay for the weekend!
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Snow, Survivor, Sickies, and snark
Everyone seems to be feeling better now, oh happy day. Hopefully it can last a long time. I'm keeping Josh inside for a while to see if that helps. His immune system has to work overtime because of his skin issues, so I think going out and playing in the cold may lower his immune system and make him more susceptible to getting every little thing. At least that's what I'm telling myself so that I feel like I can take some sort of control over him not getting sick.
We have had a ton of snow this winter! It's been really pretty, and hopefully the runoff will be good for the lakes this summer. I have a student who just moved here from an area in Micronesia. (Incidentally, that's where they're filming this season of Survivor, as well as at least one previous one.) She went from a tropical island to snowy, freezing Utah. That had to be a disappointment. I would love to have a conversation with her about it; however, she speaks no English and I don't speak Chuukese. I've been looking for some ESL resources on the internet to use with her, and found these pics of the area she's from. Why, oh why, would you ever want to come here?
So speaking of Survivor... Yay for a new season! It's not exactly who I would pick for the Favorites cast, but I'm really excited to see Jonathan, Yau Man, and Ozzy again. I'm just "whatever" on Cirie, James, Amanda, Eliza. I hated Ami in her season, but she'll probably make a good villain. And I never really wantd to see Johnny Fairplay or Parvati on my TV again, so hate. Hopefully it will be a good season, since China was so meh.
Joshy got a haircut today. He's such a spaz, but I think he's cute, so I'll keep him.
I'm kinda bummed about the teams that made the Superbowl this year, but the party must go on. We'll be rooting for the Giants, since they are the underdog, and because I like the Manning boys. We're going to make some yummy treats and hopefully have a good time.
I've got this huge school project that I *have to work on today. I'm collaborating on a project for cross-curriculuar reading strategies, and I'm supposed to spend 30 hours on it. I've spent, um, let me add this up, 0. I also need to do my taxes. Maybe I should go have a piece of pie, and then I'm *sure I'll feel like working on it all.
So I'm creating a new section within my blog posts. Not sure what to call it... Maybe the Maximum Spin Zone or Opinuendo (any X96 fans?) Sometimes I go to post something insanely boring (yes, more than usual) or something that I think... eh, that might offend someone who reads my blog. So I leave it out. But dangit, it's my blog, so I'm going to put what I want on it. There are times when I want to write things for my own amusement and records, or I want to ramble about politics or snark on something in an irreverant fashion. I'll just put it in this section, and no one has to read it. I have many things both snarky and boring to say, but Lexi is awake, so it'll have to wait until another day.
We have had a ton of snow this winter! It's been really pretty, and hopefully the runoff will be good for the lakes this summer. I have a student who just moved here from an area in Micronesia. (Incidentally, that's where they're filming this season of Survivor, as well as at least one previous one.) She went from a tropical island to snowy, freezing Utah. That had to be a disappointment. I would love to have a conversation with her about it; however, she speaks no English and I don't speak Chuukese. I've been looking for some ESL resources on the internet to use with her, and found these pics of the area she's from. Why, oh why, would you ever want to come here?
So speaking of Survivor... Yay for a new season! It's not exactly who I would pick for the Favorites cast, but I'm really excited to see Jonathan, Yau Man, and Ozzy again. I'm just "whatever" on Cirie, James, Amanda, Eliza. I hated Ami in her season, but she'll probably make a good villain. And I never really wantd to see Johnny Fairplay or Parvati on my TV again, so hate. Hopefully it will be a good season, since China was so meh.
Joshy got a haircut today. He's such a spaz, but I think he's cute, so I'll keep him.
I'm kinda bummed about the teams that made the Superbowl this year, but the party must go on. We'll be rooting for the Giants, since they are the underdog, and because I like the Manning boys. We're going to make some yummy treats and hopefully have a good time.
I've got this huge school project that I *have to work on today. I'm collaborating on a project for cross-curriculuar reading strategies, and I'm supposed to spend 30 hours on it. I've spent, um, let me add this up, 0. I also need to do my taxes. Maybe I should go have a piece of pie, and then I'm *sure I'll feel like working on it all.
So I'm creating a new section within my blog posts. Not sure what to call it... Maybe the Maximum Spin Zone or Opinuendo (any X96 fans?) Sometimes I go to post something insanely boring (yes, more than usual) or something that I think... eh, that might offend someone who reads my blog. So I leave it out. But dangit, it's my blog, so I'm going to put what I want on it. There are times when I want to write things for my own amusement and records, or I want to ramble about politics or snark on something in an irreverant fashion. I'll just put it in this section, and no one has to read it. I have many things both snarky and boring to say, but Lexi is awake, so it'll have to wait until another day.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
I thought I'd hurry and write something while I have 5 minutes. Courtney and Lexi fell asleep together in the chair, and Josh is asleep on the couch. Josh is sick, so I've been home with him today. I ran over to the school to assess the damages after being gone, and to get sub instructions together for tomorrow, and got back to a sleeping bunch. Very nice.
Not much going on around here over the last week. Just the same stuff, which is good, actually. I like most of the stuff I do, and also doing the same stuff means that we still have our jobs and our health and all that. I've been so exhausted. I just can't seem to recharge or catch up with myself. If I sit in front of my computer for too long at work, my head starts nodding. If I sit in front of the elementary school waiting for the kids to come out, I start falling asleep. It's crazy. Lexi hasn't been sleeping well, at all, so I haven't either. I swear I slept like an hour last night. Ok... so maybe it was 3. Oh well.
I'm so ready for spring, just so that these germs that keep circulating around will hopefully go away. Sean, Courtney, and Brittney got sick last week... now it's Josh's turn.
We went ice fishing last weekned. Well, I stayed in the car, of course, because I hate cold. Josh did pretty well. He got cold pretty quickly, but they stayed out about half an hour. That's about all he's good for most of the time. He took all his snow gear to daycare last week and they all played in the snow. It was really cute. But he only lasted about a half hour there, too.
They are the little dot in the middle. Sorry, no way was I climbing down there just to get a better picture. It was bloody cold!
Yesterday we went to my parents' house for my sister's birthday. It was nice to see them and visit for a little while.
Sean has been working 12 hour days, which of course means he's gone 13.5 with the commute. We can really use the money, so I'm thrilled about that part, but I miss him being here. Trade-offs.
I've been trying to find time all day to work on my taxes and do some school stuff, and I need to get to the library, but it's just not happening.
Well, I better go. Josh and Lexi are awake.
Not much going on around here over the last week. Just the same stuff, which is good, actually. I like most of the stuff I do, and also doing the same stuff means that we still have our jobs and our health and all that. I've been so exhausted. I just can't seem to recharge or catch up with myself. If I sit in front of my computer for too long at work, my head starts nodding. If I sit in front of the elementary school waiting for the kids to come out, I start falling asleep. It's crazy. Lexi hasn't been sleeping well, at all, so I haven't either. I swear I slept like an hour last night. Ok... so maybe it was 3. Oh well.
I'm so ready for spring, just so that these germs that keep circulating around will hopefully go away. Sean, Courtney, and Brittney got sick last week... now it's Josh's turn.
We went ice fishing last weekned. Well, I stayed in the car, of course, because I hate cold. Josh did pretty well. He got cold pretty quickly, but they stayed out about half an hour. That's about all he's good for most of the time. He took all his snow gear to daycare last week and they all played in the snow. It was really cute. But he only lasted about a half hour there, too.
They are the little dot in the middle. Sorry, no way was I climbing down there just to get a better picture. It was bloody cold!
Yesterday we went to my parents' house for my sister's birthday. It was nice to see them and visit for a little while.
Sean has been working 12 hour days, which of course means he's gone 13.5 with the commute. We can really use the money, so I'm thrilled about that part, but I miss him being here. Trade-offs.
I've been trying to find time all day to work on my taxes and do some school stuff, and I need to get to the library, but it's just not happening.
Well, I better go. Josh and Lexi are awake.
Friday, January 18, 2008
Weekend
Yay for the long weekend! So happy to have a 3 day weekend. I have so much work to do on Tuesday, though, that it's not even funny. I brought some home, so hopefully I can get some of it done. Although... I just start reading a good book, so it's doubtful.
Well, it is now the end of the semester, and I did not lose 20 lbs like I set out to do. I probably lost 2. Bleh.
Sean, Courtney, and Brittney all got sick at the beginning of the week, but somehow the rest of us avoided it. Yay! Everyone is feeling better now, and I'm hoping it will last. Lexi is teething, so she's a little bit slobbery and cranky. But cranky for Lexi is still totally mild, so no complaints.
Since my Bears didn't make it to the playoffs, we're going for Green Bay. I like football playoff season because it makes Sunday afternoons fun instead of depressing. I'm looking at ideas for the Super Bowl menu.
The new season of Survivor looks somewhat promising. I'm not too excited about most of their picks for "favorites" (Johnny Fairplay, Amanda, Eliza) and some of them I'm just meh about (Cirie, Ami, James)... but there are a few of my favorites (Yau Man, Ozzy, Jonathon) Hopefully it will be a good season. Amazing Race is shaping up for a fabulous finale. I wish the writer's strike would end so we can get some new Office episodes.
Well, it is now the end of the semester, and I did not lose 20 lbs like I set out to do. I probably lost 2. Bleh.
Sean, Courtney, and Brittney all got sick at the beginning of the week, but somehow the rest of us avoided it. Yay! Everyone is feeling better now, and I'm hoping it will last. Lexi is teething, so she's a little bit slobbery and cranky. But cranky for Lexi is still totally mild, so no complaints.
Since my Bears didn't make it to the playoffs, we're going for Green Bay. I like football playoff season because it makes Sunday afternoons fun instead of depressing. I'm looking at ideas for the Super Bowl menu.
The new season of Survivor looks somewhat promising. I'm not too excited about most of their picks for "favorites" (Johnny Fairplay, Amanda, Eliza) and some of them I'm just meh about (Cirie, Ami, James)... but there are a few of my favorites (Yau Man, Ozzy, Jonathon) Hopefully it will be a good season. Amazing Race is shaping up for a fabulous finale. I wish the writer's strike would end so we can get some new Office episodes.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Anniversary and Snow
Well, another week has come and gone. It's amazing how fast it goes. Last Saturday Courtney had a debate tournament. She and her partner took first in one of their rounds, so that was fun for them. Brittney audtitioned for a part in the 6th grade play. She didn't get the one she wanted, but she is Sophocles and she's happy with that. Courtney is reading Oedipus Rex right now, so she's like... Um, your character has a pretty twisted mind. :)
Thursday was our anniversary. We went out to the Olive Garden for dinner and Sean brought me 16 roses for 16 years. That is a crazy amount of time.
Friday night I wanted to go see the production of Les Mis that my school is putting on. I was too tired, though, and Sean really wanted to finish rebuilding his carburator, so I just stayed home and cleaned. I'm going to try to see it one night this week. Courtney went last night and said they did such a great job.
Saturday Sean went up the canyon to shovel the snow off the roof of the cabin. There's quite a bit of snow up there this year! We have had some pretty good storms.
The snow comes almost halfway up the door
This is looking at the neighbor's property. There is like a 6 foot snowdrift at the property line where the snow has been plowed up.
This is the roof-- that's how much snow he took off.
I really hated him getting up there because I worry that it will collapse. The cabin needs so much work. We need to fix the subfloor, but first the roof leak has to be fixed, and the walls needs some serious work, and then my head starts to explode thinking about it all.
And finally, my list of "The Things That Must Go":
Germs. Sean is getting sick again. If we all get it, I will... I don't know. Something drastic.
Sunday nights.
Kids who complain.
Messes, and the kids who make them.
That's about it for now. I'm off to make dinner and watch the Amazing Race. Pulling for TK and Rachel or Nick and Don.
Thursday was our anniversary. We went out to the Olive Garden for dinner and Sean brought me 16 roses for 16 years. That is a crazy amount of time.
Friday night I wanted to go see the production of Les Mis that my school is putting on. I was too tired, though, and Sean really wanted to finish rebuilding his carburator, so I just stayed home and cleaned. I'm going to try to see it one night this week. Courtney went last night and said they did such a great job.
Saturday Sean went up the canyon to shovel the snow off the roof of the cabin. There's quite a bit of snow up there this year! We have had some pretty good storms.
The snow comes almost halfway up the door
This is looking at the neighbor's property. There is like a 6 foot snowdrift at the property line where the snow has been plowed up.
This is the roof-- that's how much snow he took off.
I really hated him getting up there because I worry that it will collapse. The cabin needs so much work. We need to fix the subfloor, but first the roof leak has to be fixed, and the walls needs some serious work, and then my head starts to explode thinking about it all.
And finally, my list of "The Things That Must Go":
Germs. Sean is getting sick again. If we all get it, I will... I don't know. Something drastic.
Sunday nights.
Kids who complain.
Messes, and the kids who make them.
That's about it for now. I'm off to make dinner and watch the Amazing Race. Pulling for TK and Rachel or Nick and Don.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
New Years Resolutions
Well, it's that time of year again... The making (and soon to be breaking) of New Year's Resolutions. With that winning attitude, how could I possibly fail?
Actually, I think last year I made really realistic resolutions that I actually stuck to, like "I will eat cookies" and "I will not try to exercise" or something like that. My list this year is more like a "To Do" list than actual resolutions, but I find that works better for me anyway. Here they are:
I will lose 15 pounds.
I will get all my memory book and photo album projects done.
I will finish my house projects (paint some bedrooms, yardwork, etc).
I will revamp my writing curriculum.
I will actually make time for and schedule "family council" meetings instead of just saying, "We need to have family council and talk about this!" all the time.
OK that's all I want to commit to at this point.
So what's new around here? We got lots of pretty, pretty snow overnight. I can say that because Sean is the one who went out and snow blowed it all this morning.
My number one priority today is to get my Christmas tree taken down and my decorations put away. Why have I not done that yet and it's Jan 5th you ask? Well, partly because I'm a slacker. But mostly because Lexi has been sick. Sean and I have been taking turns staying home with her, and he's definitely better at getting stuff done than I am. I stayed home on Wed and got very little accomplished. Partly because Josh wouldn't take a nap and it took me 2 hours to take Lexi to the doctor and she cried all day and wanted to be held and had blowout diapers, etc. But then Sean stays home on Thursday and manages to do a few loads of laundry, clean the bathrooms, change the sheets, make peanut butter bars.... I love it when he stays home! Hopefully she's getting better, but now he and I are getting it. Fun, fun. Oh well, at least it's nothing too serious.
Courtney is at a debate tournament today, and she's doing a new event, so I'm curious to know how it goes. It was snowy and wet when they left at 6:30 am. Hopefully the weather is OK when they're coming back.
Well, that's about it for now. I'm going to go eat lunch and then try to wrangle Christmas back into the box.
Actually, I think last year I made really realistic resolutions that I actually stuck to, like "I will eat cookies" and "I will not try to exercise" or something like that. My list this year is more like a "To Do" list than actual resolutions, but I find that works better for me anyway. Here they are:
I will lose 15 pounds.
I will get all my memory book and photo album projects done.
I will finish my house projects (paint some bedrooms, yardwork, etc).
I will revamp my writing curriculum.
I will actually make time for and schedule "family council" meetings instead of just saying, "We need to have family council and talk about this!" all the time.
OK that's all I want to commit to at this point.
So what's new around here? We got lots of pretty, pretty snow overnight. I can say that because Sean is the one who went out and snow blowed it all this morning.
My number one priority today is to get my Christmas tree taken down and my decorations put away. Why have I not done that yet and it's Jan 5th you ask? Well, partly because I'm a slacker. But mostly because Lexi has been sick. Sean and I have been taking turns staying home with her, and he's definitely better at getting stuff done than I am. I stayed home on Wed and got very little accomplished. Partly because Josh wouldn't take a nap and it took me 2 hours to take Lexi to the doctor and she cried all day and wanted to be held and had blowout diapers, etc. But then Sean stays home on Thursday and manages to do a few loads of laundry, clean the bathrooms, change the sheets, make peanut butter bars.... I love it when he stays home! Hopefully she's getting better, but now he and I are getting it. Fun, fun. Oh well, at least it's nothing too serious.
Courtney is at a debate tournament today, and she's doing a new event, so I'm curious to know how it goes. It was snowy and wet when they left at 6:30 am. Hopefully the weather is OK when they're coming back.
Well, that's about it for now. I'm going to go eat lunch and then try to wrangle Christmas back into the box.
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