Saturday 9

This week’s Saturday 9…

1. In romance, have you ever been stuck in the middle with someone? I don’t think I even know what that means, so I’ll have to say no. 
2. Which current commercial is the most annoying to you on TV or radio? The nice thing about DVR…fast forwarding through the commercials.  Although being off this past week, I’ve had the afternoon news on a few times which I watched live.  The ASPCA commercials are heart-wrenching, make me burst into tears and leave the room.  It’s a wonder why I don’t have a house full of dogs and cats after watching those.
3. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning? The cleaning :)
4. What area is your expertise in? I don’t know if I’m an expert in anything.  There’s always something new to learn.
5. Have you ever bumped into a former lover and found out they were now gay or straight depending on your relationship with them? No, but I’ve known two women who’ve been married to someone who came out after the marriage.  Both women said it was so so difficult, even more so than if they were cheated on with another woman.  I find that surprising.  Being cheated on is so awful because the cheater chose to be with someone else.  Not being biologically compatible seems very different to me.  But, that’s just my take as I’ve not had the experience…as far as I know.
6. When was the last time that you got stabbed in the back? Um, yesterday as a matter of fact.  A work stab is even worse when you are on vacation.
7. For a few years in a row, you receive a nice tax refund: do you make an adjustment with your payroll deduction so they’ll take less, or do you leave it that way so that you can continue to receive the big check every spring? In my early work years my dad always said, “Don’t let the government take that money from you.  They are earning interest on your money.  You should be earning interest on your money.”  That is true in theory, but I know I would spend that small extra amount on a monthly basis, so the forced savings is wonderful.  Getting that check (or direct deposit more recently) is wonderful.  It goes right into savings as a big chunk which, for me, is harder to spend. 
8. Do you remember the most naughty night of your life? No comment
9. How would you handle yourself if you were regularly in the press and tabloids? That is a topical question as just yesterday I went to the Grove with some friends to do some shopping and see Hunger Games.  Every time I go there, I see someone famous.  Yesterday was no exception.  We saw Gordon Ramsay, who is opening up a new restaurant at the Grove, with his family.  He’s not even that famous, but the paparazzi were waiting for him.  They were inches away from him, sticking a camera in his face.  He and his family just walked along trying to ignore it.  I would probably die.  I don’t even like to have my picture taken by my family and friends.  I can’t even imagine that kind of life and having every move I made (good or bad) documented on film. 

Your turn!

This One Time I Went Out to Buy a Pair of Sneakers

The weekend rain stopped and the puppy and I went out for a walk yesterday morning.  It was a beautiful day, but there were many puddles on the ground.  After walking through a couple of them, the bottom of my foot was wet.  My left Adidas sneaker had a warn out hole at the bottom.  I’d like to think that I’ve warn them out with all the walking we do, but I think one of us has sped the process up a little more.
These sneakers are so comfortable, but since they were no longer viable, it was time to head out and find a new pair. 

The drive to and from Sherman Oaks was so pretty.  I love the sky after a rain, and everything seems so clean.

  If you look closely, you can see a little snow on the mountains.  I thought there’d be more because our temperatures fell quite a bit during the storm, but it seemed to only cover the tops. 

My favorite shoe store, DSW, has a location in Sherman Oaks and there is also an Arclight movie theatre.  Before shopping for shoes, there was time for a movie…Salmon Fishing in the Yemen. 
Have you seen it?    It leans towards a chick-flick, but it was a very nice, sweet film.  After the movie, it was on to some shoe shopping.

My plan was to head directly to the sneaker section, but I had to walk through every other section on the way.  All the summer sandals were out, the sassy wedges were out, the new flats were out.  And I have a small lack of control problem when it comes to shoes.

I left the store with three new pairs…

and none of them were sneakers!  In my defense, the sneaker selection was quite limited, and I just couldn’t help myself!  Granted, two of the pairs I can’t even wear yet since the weather is still a bit chilly, but they are so darn cute.  And I guess now I have to shop for sneakers at another shoe store.  Oh, all right if my arm is twisted! 

Let the Lazies Begin With the Most Interesting Man in the World

My spring break officially started two days ago and as usual, I spent the first two days of it doing a whole lot of nothing.  On Saturday, other than walking the dog a couple of times, running a few quick errands, and cooking dinner, I didn’t do anything of value.  Most of the day was spent lounging around, catching up on some recorded television shows, and playing games on my phone – I actually had to charge my phone battery twice because of all the “Draw Something” I played. 

Yesterday was even worse.  It poured down rain for hours so that made for a nice excuse to just lie around the house in my jammies.  I didn’t even go outside until about 6:30, when there was a slight break in the rain, to take the dog on a walk.  The walk was sorely needed as she did this right along with me all day long…

There was something different about this vacation’s laziness though…I didn’t feel the least bit guilty about it.  Usually I feel guilty and antsy because I like to keep busy.  But after dealing with work drama (not the least bit about the kids) for the last several months, it was fabulous to just be home and happy and drama free, especially yesterday when it was raining outside.  This week is busy, fun busy, but still busy.  Next week will be spent on household chores and spring cleaning, and the last week will be spent back at school getting ready and being bummed out that vacation is almost over. 

Have you seen the Dos Equis beer commercials about the most interesting man in the world?  I included a couple because they are pretty funny…

While catching up on some TV, I watched this past week’s Real Time with Bill Maher.  At the end of his show each week, he does a New Rules bit.  I know not everyone is a fan of Maher, but his Mitt Romney “Most Interesting” parody kind of hits the nail on the head, doesn’t it?

Saturday 9

Today is the first day of my three-week spring break.  I can’t believe I’m up already!  This week’s Saturday 9 is challenging?  We’ll see how it goes!

1. When was the last time that you went out dancing?  Some friends and I went dancing after dinner and a concert in September.  I love it!  I’d go every weekend if I could, but since I don’t I just dance around the house.

2. Have you ever had an argument with a teacher? 
Not really, I’ve always been a rule follower and just did what I was told in school.  Once, when I was a sophomore in high school, my chemistry teacher sent me to get an absent excusal (because I missed school to go to a funeral) from the office and then accused me of ditching class.  I was mortified.  He even called my dad!  However, I stood my ground and, with my friends behind me, convinced him that he was wrong. 

3. Do you have a tough time remembering people’s names? No, I’m pretty good with names. 
I have this friend who, while in college, had some very wealthy friends.  Every time I would go visit him at school one of them would always introduce himself to me and tell me it was nice to meet me.  Every single time!  After awhile I would look at him funny and say, “I know, I’ve met you like 20 times already dude.”  Maybe he had problem with his memory, but it always made me feel like he didn’t think I was worth remembering. 

4. Would you rather change your past or know your future? I could probably make an argument for both and for neither.  The way it is is fine with me.

5. What’s one thing you feel you must do in your life before it ends?  Live in another country.

6. How many credit cards do you have right now that have a zero balance?  I only have one credit card.  It’s a mileage card that I use for everything.  It always has a balance on it because I always use it, but I pay the bill, in full, every month.  One of these days I’m flying to Europe in business class. 

7. What is the most expensive thing you purchased this year?   I’d have to say my shutters.

8 . If you're married, this probably doesn't apply to you, but: Are you mindful about getting tested for STDs/HIV at least semi-regularly? Why/why not? Married people: Were you mindful about this type of thing when you were single? Why/why not?  Sure, but let’s just say I’m also mindful of taking measures to not catch them in the first place.

9. If you could ask the president of the United States one question, what would it be?  WHY?  (while gesturing with my hands wildly) Oh, and just to be clear, it would be a Democrat’s “why”, not a Republican’s. 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

A couple of years ago, one of the members of my book club chose The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznik as that month’s book. 
After checking it out from the library, I was stunned.  The book was giant, at 533 pages, and it was a children’s book.  The size of it concerned me because 1. I primarily read at night so can only get through a few pages before falling asleep and dropping the book on my head…that’s a heavy book.  And 2. Only getting through a few pages a night meant it would take longer to get through…time I didn’t have.  I’m always reading something, but I’m not terribly quick about it (see #1).  Also, I read so many children’s books that I look forward to the grown up books we read for book club. 

After learning a bit more about the book, I came up with a plan…I decided to use it as a read-aloud in my classroom.  Everyday, right before dismissal, I read a novel of some kind aloud to my class.  This plan let me kill two birds with one stone.   It turned out to be a brilliant plan.  My class that year loved it.  I also loved it, in fact it is at the top of my “Most Loved Children’s Books” list as well as my “Most Loved Grown Up Books” list.  The book is wonderful.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a cross between and picture book and novel.  About half of it is pictures.  Pictures is actually an understatement.  The drawings in the book are incredible and take on a big part in telling the story.
This is the only novel that has been honored with the Caldecott Medal – a picture book award.

It takes place in Paris in the early 1900s.  Based on historical facts about Georges Melies, an early filmmaker, magician, artist, inventor, and maker of automata. 
The story centers around an orphan boy named Hugo who “discovers” Georges Melies in a toy booth at the train station.
Since the first time reading it, I have made the book a yearly read-aloud in my classroom.  I very much enjoy watching the students become completely engulfed in the story.  They beg for me to start reading it earlier in the day and groan when the chapter ends, and it’s time to go home.  And after finishing the book each year, the kids ask me to “borrow” it.  This year, I even had a to make a list of who wanted to see it so everyone has a turn. 
The reading level is too difficult for most of the students – it’s written at a 4th-5th grade level - but they want to just hold it and look at the pictures.  I love that.

When the movie Hugo came out this past winter, I looked forward to seeing it.  A friend and I went to the theatre, but the projection equipment broke so we had to get our money back.  We never made it to the theatre again.  The movie came out on DVD a couple of weeks ago.  Last night I had a chance to watch it.  It was a very nice movie.  I don’t watch movies very well at home because I get distracted with other things to do, but I got through it while working on some school work and mostly paying attention.  As with most movies that come from books, I am never terribly impressed.  The books are always so much more than the movie can hope to be.  However, Hugo is a very beautiful movie, and fairly true to the story. 

A few of the students in my class have also had a chance to see the movie, but the others are dying to.  Just this week, the class earned a marble party for good behavior.  They chose to watch Hugo as their reward.  This Friday, I’ll pop them some popcorn, and we will turn the classroom into a theatre for the afternoon.  I hope they enjoy it as much as they did the book. 

Have you read the book?  Seen the movie?  If not, the book is a must read!

Another Teacher Rant

Parent/Teacher conferences were last week.  Even though they are a lot of work and make for very long days since they run into the evenings, after they are over both the parents and I part feeling accomplished and so proud of the children we met about. 

This rant came about during one of those conferences.  It is a shining example of California’s public education system…

At the beginning of every school year, over 60% of my school’s students partake in CELDT (California English Language Development Test) testing.  The majority of our students are “English Language Learners”, primarily coming from Spanish speaking homes.  This test supposedly assesses a student’s proficiency in listening, speaking, reading and writing English.  If you ask anyone actually teaching kids, we will tell you it’s a joke.  If there’s room, I’ll go into why later, or in another post. 

Instead, let me share with you the remarkable reporting of the results.  At the end of one conference last week, a conference held entirely in Spanish mind you, the parent pulled out an envelope and pulled out the report below.  The parent asked what the report was for and was worried about the “low scores”.  A quick explanation was given to the parent, but as I looked through the report (no, the teachers didn’t even know the results had been sent out) it struck me that the entire page, front and back, was in English.  So to make it clear…the parent report for the test that is given to the kids who come from a home that speaks a language OTHER than English
is sent to that home IN ENGLISH!!!!! How much sense does that make. 

Even though that is so lame and doesn’t make any sense whatsoever, in their defense, the amount of student languages in California probably makes it impossible to send a translated report  home to everyone.  But come on, let’s be honest, in California, Spanish speaking families make up a pretty large ELL population.  A translated version of the report would certainly not go to waste here.

As I wrapped my mind around the ridiculousness of the report being sent home to this family, I pulled out the letter that came from our school/school district.  “Surely it must include an explanation that this parent could have read,” was my thought. 

The letter included some information.  Considering that the report was unreadable to most of our parents, the letter probably wouldn’t have made it any clearer, but at least it included contact information in case a parent had questions.

Everything the school or teachers send home is translated in English and Spanish.  One document goes home to all the students with the English on the front and the Spanish on the back. EVERY SINGLE TIME!  Except this time, when the letter offering an explanation was sent home blank on the back – looks like someone forgot the translation.Of all letters to send home missing the translation, it’s so ironic that the one going home about English language development wasn’t in the families’ primary language. 

Alright, I’m done now.  Four more days until spring break.  Four. More. Days.

St. Pat’s Sat 9

Here are this week’s questions…and my answers!

1. Have you ever felt that you needed to just forget an ex-lover? Oh sheesh, here we go again.  Duh!
2. Spring picnics and cookouts are here! What would you want to have on your plate as you head back to the table?  I can’t wait until summer fruit is here.  Oranges are finally good right now, but the fruit selection is so limited…I feel like I’m getting scurvy.
3. It's St. Patrick's Day, March 17th! Do you celebrate? Drink Green Beer? Go out?   Yay!  I love St. Patrick’s Day!  Even better that it’s on a Saturday this year.  I host a St. Pat’s party every year.  Everyone will be here in about 10 hours!
4. Did you remember to wear green today? I’m not even out of bed yet, but I will!
5. What phrase or saying do you over use? I use “like” a lot, for example “Oh my god, I like love your shoes!”  It’s a Valley girl thing.   
6. If you could (or could have) change(d) something about your relationship with your parents, what would it be? My relationship with my parents was/is pretty good. I wish I hadn’t been such a hormonal, bratty teenager though.
7. If the NCAA Men's or Women's Final Four basketball tournament was played in your hometown arena or within easy driving distance from where you live, would you try to attend one of the games? If someone said, “Let’s go!”, I’d go, otherwise no.
8. No matter what's going on in your life, what always makes you smile? My funny friends and my puppy Rigby.
9. We've asked this before: What else is on your mind? Go ahead and rant.  Oh, that’s opening up a can of worms isn’t it…it’s too early for a rant.  My brain isn’t working at full speed yet.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  

In the Dark

One week ago today I arrived at work at 6:45 am.  This is what it looked like at that time…
 
The sun was up, and the sky was blue.

Then, on Sunday, we started Daylight Saving Time.  The clocks on the wall (and tvs and microwaves and cell phones, and computers. etc) were moved forward an hour.  Unfortunately, my internal clock was not in on the plan. 

A few years ago, our government decided to make DST start earlier and end later.  This could have been due to the Energy Policy Act of 2005 which hoped to help save energy (some say has done more harm than good) or to a couple of Midwest state representatives thinking it would be nice for kids to go trick-or-treating while it was still light - what fun is that?!?.  (On a side note, if our government is making Halloween policy, I think SOMEONE should move it to the last Friday of the month, every year.  That way teachers don’t have to deal with tired kids cranked up on candy.)

Anyways, back to my internal clock.  As I think I’ve mentioned, I am NOT a morning person.  I get up in the morning because I have to.  In fact, if I didn’t have to I wouldn’t.  I am not a fan of getting up in the middle of the night, which is basically what I am doing with this time change. 

When I arrived at school to start the new week, this is what it looked like at 6:50 am...
Just kidding, but that’s what it felt like.
It actually looked like this…
It looks lighter in the picture than it was because the nighttime lights are STILL on at that time because it’s so dark.

I’m no scientist, but it seems to me that, even though the days are getting longer, it’s still winter and so the days are still short.  With the time change it’s dark at 6:30ish PM and isn’t light out until 7:00 am.  Whether that hour is at the beginning of the day or the end, it’s not very much daylight. 

Photo from Onlineclock.net, thanks Marey for the quote.

My thoughts exactly.  

El Hambre no Encuentra Peros al Condimento

When one is hungry everything tastes good.

After fighting off the cold/flu that kicked my butt and sent me to bed by about 5:00 everyday for two weeks, I finally got my groove back last week and cooked a few yummy things. 

I popped over the Sabor Latino supermarket because after eating like a bird for two weeks I was craving Mexican food. 
I picked up some tomatillos and Serrano peppers to make salsa verde. Here’s the recipe…
Ingredients
1 lb. tomatillos, husks removed 
1 chopped white onion
1 chopped green onion
2 teaspoons Serrano peppers, minced
1 cup chicken stock
salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1.  Sauté onion in large skillet until soft.
2.  Cook tomatillos in boiling, salted water for 2-3 minutes, then puree in blender.
3.  Add green onions to skillet just before regular onions are ready.
4.  Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and simmer for 20 minutes.
Most of the salsa verde recipes call for jalapenos or Anaheims, but I like it a bit spicier.  Serranos are pretty spicy, so I removed most of the seeds, just adding a few for a kick. 

After a few nights of tacos smothered in this stuff, I had about a cup left.  I found an interesting recipe in Rachel Ray’s Everyday magazine.  I tweaked it a bit and came up with this…
Chicken with Creamy Salsa Verde
Ingredients
2  large chicken breasts (skinless/boneless)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 cup salsa verde
1/4 cup Fage Greek yogurt, 0% fat
cilantro and lime wedges for serving

Directions
1.  Butterfly cut the chicken breasts, but cut all the way through leaving 4 thin pieces.  Cover in saran wrap, and using a meat mallet pound each piece to thin.  Season both sides with salt and pepper.
2.  Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
3.  Cook chicken until golden brown, 2-3 minutes on each side.  The thinner it is, the faster it cooks.
4.  Place chicken on a plate and keep warm.
5.  Reduce heat on skillet and add salsa.  Stir constantly for about 2 minutes. 
6.  Remove from heat and stir in the Greek yogurt until thoroughly mixed.
7.  Return chicken to the pan, cover, and heat over low for 2-3 minutes before serving.
I served it with rice and black beans.  It was SOOO good.  The yogurt changed up the flavor of the salsa just a bit that it tasted new again, even after eating it for a week. 

Out of the Mouths of Babes – Enough of This Depressing Stuff!

I realized that my last few posts were downers…what a bummer!  (shakes it out!)  Time for some funny.  This year’s class is FUN-NY ya’all!  The previous two years were rough – between behavior problems and weird dynamics between some of the kids, it made for very little fun.  This year’s group is SO different.  I’ve got a few instigators, but despite them we’ve been able to have some fun, and they make me laugh out loud everyday.

Being under the weather for 2 weeks, getting out of bed and getting to work was about all I could muster up on most of the days, so worrying about “looking pretty” was the last thing on my mind.  To be honest with you, showering and putting on whatever clean clothes (usually jeans and sneakers) I could find was all I managed.  I made it to school everyday, but the kids knew full well I was not at my best. Feeling so much better this past week, I arrived at school looking more professional – hair brushed, a little make up on, taking a bit more time to get ready.  On Monday morning, one of my students asked, “Are you feeling better today, Ms. Delight?”  Before I could even answer one of my little sassies said, “Yah, she is, just look her!  She’s beautiful again!”  If that can’t make your day, what can?!?!

Later this week, the class had written their sentences for our cooperative strip paragraph on rocks.  Afterwards, we all sat on the carpet to revise and edit their writing.  Finishing this activity always makes the kids feel so accomplished, and I like that is shows them how small changes can make their writing so much better.

Once the paragraph is complete and correct, our last step is to add our name, number, date and a title to the finished piece.  Even though it’s always “Ms. Delight’s Class” there was a big discussion on the carpet about what it should be…”Room 204”, “Our Class”, and “Ms. Delight’s Classroom”.  I wrote and explained that “Ms. Delight’s Classroom” would mean the room wrote it, and while a few rolled around on the floor laughing, one boy shouted out, “Ms. Delight’s Kids!”  Immediately and completely serious, one of my girls looked at him and said, “We are not her kids, we are her life!”  Ain’t that the truth!

Just two weeks now until spring break!  I am very much looking forward to it.  Even though a break is always welcome, I enjoy seeing these kiddos everyday so I’m sure the two weeks will fly by.  Things have been exhausting at school this year, but luckily the kids have been the easiest and best part. 

Another Saturday 9

I’ve been waiting all week for a new Saturday 9 questionnaire.   How nice to be posting from under the covers on a lazy Saturday morning. Here we go…

1. Have you ever had a romantic breakup that was easy? All but one were fairly easy and amicable.  Just one was bad…very, very bad. 

2. When was the first time that you felt betrayed? Hmmm, the first time?  See above, probably not the first… but definitely the worst.

3. Do you feel religious beliefs should have a role in politics? NO FREAKING WAY!

4. Are you doing anything special this weekend? First and foremost, sleeping in!  Also have plans tonight with a wonderful friend.  Then, I’ve GOT to finish my report cards since parent/teacher conferences are this week.

5. Oreo cookies turned 100 years old this week. How do YOU eat an Oreo?  I don’t.

6. If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? After certain events (see #1) I escaped into my career and put every ounce of my being into it.  I’ve become quite good at what I do, but I often wonder if it was at the expense of other things…no, I know it was at the expense of other things.  I wish I hadn’t done that.

7. Describe a time when you should have tried harder.  Hmmm, I put a lot of effort into most things I’m involved in, I’m just wired that way. But I guess I’d have to say high school.  In classes I liked, I did well.  In classes I didn’t like, I did what I needed to do to pass.  In the big picture, those classes didn’t make or break my success, but I know it wasn’t my best work.

8. What is your favorite baseball-related movie?  Tie – “Bull Durham” and “Major League”…although saw “Moneyball” a few months ago, and it was entertaining.

9. What is one lesson you have learned in the past year?  Just keep your mouth shut!  Some battles simply get to the point where they are too hard to fight and not worth losing your sanity over.

I’m In Love…With My Shutters

I wouldn’t say my little house was a fixer-upper when I bought it about 6 years ago, but it was the victim of “Do-It-Yourself” projects by the previous owners.  Still recovering from the shock of a ginormous down payment and the moving-in costs, the first couple of years I didn’t do anything to the house other than regular maintenance.  Over the last few years I’ve done, well not me personally because I’m not a Do-It-Yourselfer, a yearly project to upgrade things.  The slatted patio cover was roofed, the fluorescent lighting was removed in the kitchen and replaced with canned lights, and this strange kitchen vent that hung down right in the middle of the kitchen was made flush with the ceiling which opened up both the kitchen and family room.  Last year, I rescreened the house and put shutters on the two front windows. 

For this year’s project, I decided to continue the shutters throughout the rest of the house.  After saving for the year and anxiously waiting for them, they were finally installed this past weekend.  They are beautiful.  I love them!

The family room has two large and two small windows which had decent window coverings, but they were older and were hard to open.  They were also off-white/yellowish in color. 

The shutters make the room look amazing…
 
My bedroom had these hideous accordion shades.  They were in pretty bad shape as is apparent by the amount of light coming through them while closed.  The one on the smaller window was holding on for dear life.  It kept falling down so it was rigged to sit on the window but could not be opened.
And now?

The last window I had done is the one right by the front door.  It has not had a covering on it since I moved in. 
At night, if the light is on inside, basically the entire downstairs is on display outside, like a spotlight.  I’ve spent the last 6 years going up and downstairs in the dark in order to pass the window inconspicuously. The worst is when I’m getting dressed upstairs and realize something I need is downstairs…I can’t tell you how many times I’ve snuck past that window, missing one or more items of clothing, trying not to be seen out on the street.Now, I can freely move past this window without notice on the outside, even naked if I wanted!

Over the last few days, I’ve wandered around aimlessly just looking at these new shutters.  I open them and close them and lower them and raise them and “ohhhh” and “ahhh” over them.  They are just so pretty.  I think they my best home improvement to date.

Fool Me Once, Shame On You. Fool me Twice, Shame On Me.

This past week “front page news” stories appeared all over with rumors that Rihanna has gotten back together with Chris Brown. 

Earlier this year, I wrote somewhere…I can’t seem to find where…about Chris Brown’s Grammy wins.
It’s hard for me to believe that someone who, just a couple of years ago, was arrested (and is still on probation) for beating up his girlfriend, Rihanna, could be nominated and win an award.  I know the Grammys aren’t a “good guy” contest, but still it doesn’t seem right. 

Normally, I couldn’t care less about what is going on in a celebrity’s life.  I don’t even listen to either of their music.  However this recent story about them reuniting makes me sad.  I’m quite sensitive to domestic abuse, and know that while this kind of relationship is messed up it is incredibly difficult to get out of.  But, my goodness, after the world basically watched this girl black and blue on television, she left him  – the hardest part.  She had cut the ties.  Everyone found out about it AND she figured a way to get out. 

So what’s she doing now?  Is it the typical, “Oh, but he’s changed”?  I doubt he has, as apparent by his recent comments to critics after his Grammy appearance. 

She has been quoted in articles saying that she doesn’t want to be a role model.  Well, that’s too bad, because she is.  It’s up to her what kind she wants to be.  All of her fans watched her leave her abuser, which was such a positive and powerful
thing to see.  Now?  They are watching her go back to that same abuser.  What a shame – for both her and the millions of girls and young women who look up to her. 

I hope for her sake that she made the right decision, and it all works out well for her.  I would imagine though that he will continue to be abusive while the world watches and thinks, “I told you so.”

My First Saturday 9

I found this weekly meme while visiting Bankerchick’s Scratchings.  I do love me a good questionnaire!  Posting answers to preset questions is blogging’s easy way out, but that’s ok…it’s Saturday.

Here’s my Saturday 9

1. How much do you worry about your future?
A lot!  Probably not the things I should be worrying about though, like finances and retirement and what not.  I think I worry about people leaving, and me being left alone more than anything.

2. Do you believe that anyone could be perfect?
Perfect for you?  Yes!  Perfect, perfect?  No way!

3. Regarding your future, what is the best thing you could hope for? I hope that the people I hold dearest to me and I stay healthy and happy for as long as possible.

4. What's the greatest extent you've gone to help a friend in need? I’ll do just about anything if someone I care about needs/asks me to.  Listing something that “I’ve” done when it comes to friendship and helping someone else, it seems kind of wrong to include that, especially if it was a rough or emotional time.  However, I will say I’ve helped A LOT of people move homes and paint their walls, and I’ll only do that if I like you!

 5. What did you do lately that was really brave?  The bravest thing I’ve ever done was picking up and moving cross country, leaving everyone I knew back home, at 17.  I used to be brave, I don’t think I am anymore. 

6. Tell us one thing you wish you hadn't let yourself do. Oh dear, just one?  There’s no way I could choose just one!

7. Who is the wisest person you know? This question is always so hard.  It goes along with “Who has been the most influential person in your life?” which I don’t know the answer to that one either.  I guess my dad was pretty wise, and our personalities were so similar that his thoughts usually stuck with me more so than others.  So with him gone, I don’t know.  I have a variety of people in my life who are wise in various ways, but probably not the same as with my dad. 

8. What's the most tasteless joke you've ever heard?  Hee hee hee!  I am such a sucker for a tasteless joke, and if it has fourth grade boy humor, you may find me rolling on the floor giggling.  The problem is I can’t ever remember them, and if I do, I’m the worst at retelling them. 

I have a friend who sends jokes via email all the time.  I went back through my deleted ones.  This one's pretty funny…
At his wife's request Michael visited a sex therapist. They chat for a while ,and the doctor showed Michael some cards.
"What is this", said the doctor holding up some ink blotches.
"Why, that's 2 dogs going balls to the wall."
"And this", said the doctor holding up some more ink blotches.
"Why, that's a man giving it to the Missus from behind."
And this.
"Well that's a threesome."
"Well", said the doctor, "I'm afraid your wife appears to be right.  You're a sex maniac".
"I'm the sex maniac?!" Said Michael indignantly, "You're the one with all the filthy pictures!"

9. What does your answering machine / voice mail message say? I don’t have an answering machine anymore, but my cell’s voicemail says, “Hi, I can’t get to the phone.  Leave a message.”  I know, it’s brilliant, right?

Hope you all are having a great weekend!

February 2012

How is it possible that March is already here?!?  I remember as a kid hoping and praying for time to move quickly and now, it is moving way too fast.

Enough of that!  It’s time to share my calendar page for this month’s Calendar Challenge over at The Kathryn Wheel. 

I enjoyed making this month’s calendar because of the doodles.  The background was painted with an acrylic wash and the rest was done in ink.

A few February collages. 

The past couple of weeks I’ve spent most of my free time in bed trying to get over this icky flu/cold, mostly bored out of my mind.  I finally got smart and brought my journal to bed with me. Here are a few doodly pages that helped me pass the time.    

I kind of go back and forth with card making.  Sometimes I’m pumped and can hammer out a bunch over the weekend.  Other times I don’t make a card for months.  This month I found time for  Valentine’s cards and some cards I needed for special occasions.   
Happy March!