The entrance to my humble modular home is still accessed by the same temporary set of wooden steps that were put in when the house was first pieced together 6 years ago. I believe that the expectation was for us, the first owners to actually take up residence within, to replace those temporary steps with something more permanent. A deck, perhaps, or maybe a nicely formed set of concrete steps. Unfortunately, those expectations couldn't stand up to the aggressive combination of apathy and penny-pinching that guides our home maintenance program.
Most days, firmly entrenched in the GO GO GO mentality that is so prevalent in our society, I hate those steps. Did I say hate? Hate doesn't carry enough emotion. I abhor and revile those steps, with their wobbling treads and peeling paint. I despise their penchant for impaling my fingers with splinters. I loathe the way the nails slowly work their way out of the wood, striving to snag unsuspecting shoelaces and pants seams. I detest the railings and their hidden unreliable nature. When I look at them with the eyes of a consumer, a rat racer, a participant in the one-up-man-ship of neighborhood living, I wish every day that I could replace those dilapidated steps with something that more closely resembles the elaborate dreams in my head. Occasionally, however, the scales of materialistic desire fall from my eyes, and I am reminded how comfortable my steps really are. This morning was a perfect example of this kind of clarity.
By 8:00, the sun had risen past the redshank bushes on the top of the hill and begun it's march across the sky, unseasonably enthusiastic for a January high desert morning. Under this energetic glow, the front porch warmed up quickly. The dogs, who had been baking happily on the top step until I opened the door, swirled excitedly around me as I settled my bottom on one step, feet on another. Uncontainable in the sheer joy of human company, tongues swabbed my chin and noses pushed their way under my hand.
I gazed out over the piece of land I call home. A long, green hose snaked its way from the spigot at the corner of the house, through the legs of the lawn table (lonely now that all its chairs have been banished to the garage), to the base of one of the currently dormant lilac bushes. A slight breeze danced softly through the tops of the redshank, but the air at ground level was undisturbed. A bluish haze of mountain, trustworthy and solid, stood guard in the distance.
I could smell the ground and the bushes, the dogs and the house as they all soaked in the sun. For a brief moment, there were no far off cars, no barking neighbor dogs, no planes zooming overhead. There was just the peace of being exactly where you are supposed to be, surrounded by the things that bring you joy. There was just home, and there is no place I love more.
Broken down, old steps, and all.
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sunday, January 09, 2011
Tattletale
When we were rearranging furniture a few months back, we finally decided to get rid of a couple of old living room chairs. Hand-me-downs from Mike's parents (as much of our furniture is), they are short, squat things of a indeterminate beige coloring. When we bought our first house, I purchased slipcovers for them to disguise the way the cats had shredded the backs into non-existence. Choosing the least hideous of the patterns available was a challenge, so for some time they were short, squat things covered in giant blue cabbage roses. Most recently, they have served the sole purpose of providing comfortable seating for the quatrain of cats that own us. If you, yourself are owned by even a single cat, I'm sure you will understand why it took us so long to act upon our desire to dispose of these chairs. Having experienced a full and productive existence, the chairs were finally moved to the garage, the purgatory our belongings end up in for that endless period of time before we finally load them in the trailer and take them to the dump.
But this isn't just a story about chairs. This is mostly a story about my dogs, Trooper and Wiggles. Trooper is a 7 year old black lab mix. He has a stocky build, huge paws, and a head shape that makes people ask if there is pit bull in his lineage. (Maybe? I don't know.) He has a sweetly serious temperament, taking everything I say to heart. Although he doesn't pick up commands as quickly as his sister (Mia) did, once he understands what I want of him, he does it without question or complaint. The only thing he won't do, no matter how much I command, suggest or cajole, is set foot in water. You would think a lab who experiences 100 degree temps every summer would love getting wet, but Trooper would rather roast to death than put one paw in the wading pool we provide for them.
Wiggles, on the other hand, loves the water. She not only stands in the pool, she lays down and rolls around in it. Wiggles is a black lab/retriever mix. She's probably about 3 years old. She appeared out of nowhere a couple years ago, a mostly grown, not quite starving pup who was desperate for some love and attention. She would climb over our 6 foot chain link fence (as just about any dog in the neighborhood, including my own, can apparently do) and cavort with Mia and Trooper for awhile before we noticed her, causing her to climb back over the fence and run off. This went on for several days before I finally told her that if she wanted to stay with us she had to stop reminding Mia and Trooper how easy it was to climb the fence. I put the training collar on her and did a few laps showing her what I meant. She was a quick learner, needing only the beeps and my tug on the leash to get her to understand. "She's a smart one," I told Mike. Ha! I spoke too soon.
Wiggles is well meaning and eager to please, but she's a far cry from smart. Lucky for her, she is ridiculously adorable. As soon as she sees you, her whole body starts to wag (hence the name) and she immediately starts searching the vicinity for a stick or rock or blade of grass or something to hold in her mouth. Her life would be perfect if she could spend every waking minute and most of the sleeping ones jammed up against a human being who would consent rub her chin nonstop until the end of time. Being a youngster, she is full of energy and loves to play. Her favorite game is Annoy the Hell out of Trooper. She bumps into him, bites at his legs, runs circles around him, and generally does all the things an annoying little sister would do to inspire an older brother to lose his cool and start chasing her in circles. She's very good at this game.
Although I am the Alpha of my little pack of canines, Trooper is the second in command. He eats first, he has the best territory, and he is the first to chase off the cars that occasionally drive past our house. Wiggles constantly challenged Mia's status in the pack, probably because she knew Mia was sick, but she never challenges Trooper's authority. He is the clearly established dominant. Except for one thing.
Here's where the chairs come in. During the recentrainy monsoon season at our house, we let the dogs reside in the garage for a couple of the wettest, most miserable days. During that time, Wiggles discovered The Chairs. You can tell that's how she thinks of them, with capital letters. She loved The Chairs and spent the remainder of the rainy days snuggled down in one or the other. By the time the rain stopped, she had grown so attached to The Chairs that it broke her little heart when she was once again restricted to the out of doors, chair-less. Every time I would open the garage door to fill their food bowls, she would sneak inside and hunker down on one of The Chairs, pleading with her sweet, brown eyes for me to let her stay there. Finally, I gave in and moved The Chairs out into the kennel area. She and Trooper both prefer to sleep on the chairs than in the igloos unless it is exceptionally cold and windy. Even then, Wiggles will often stay on The Chairs, causing me to fret about her well-being and cover her with a blanket. (I know... I know... )
Somewhere along the line, Trooper decided that he liked one of The Chairs better than the other. Perhaps because of the feel of the cushions. Perhaps because of the way Wiggles had gnawed an arm of the other one to destruction. Perhaps because of some doggie reasoning that I will never know or understand. Whatever the reason, Trooper only likes to sleep in His Chair. Wiggles, being the brattiest of bratty little sisters, immediately decided that she, too, preferred sleeping in His Chair. And since she is usually the first to settle in for the night while Trooper is still securing the property, she is often in His Chair when he wants to go to bed.
He's the bigger, stronger dog who has been here longer and has a higher standing in the hierarchy of our pack. You'd think he could handle this. You would be wrong. Instead of making her move, he sits next to the chair and barks. Not the 3 note bark that he uses to warn trespassing cars and animals of his presence. Not the howling bark that he uses to commune with his coyote brethren. One single, sharp bark. I have secretly observed him doing this through a window. He is sitting in front of her, but he is barking in my direction. He wants me to know that she is in His Chair. If he happens to see me moving around on the other side of the window, he runs over to the edge of the kennel, stares intently at me, and repeats his one sharp bark.
The first time this happened, I was confused. Was he hurt? Had something gotten in the yard? Had I forgotten to feed them? Then, I suddenly recognized the tone of his bark. I recognized it from my years in the classroom, my hours of playground duty, and my own personal experiences with younger siblings who liked to take my things and drive me crazy (and whom I may have, on rare occasion, tortured in return). I knew exactly what he was trying to say.
"Mooooooooooooooom! Wiggles won't get out of my chair!"
My dog, Trooper, is a tattletale.
But this isn't just a story about chairs. This is mostly a story about my dogs, Trooper and Wiggles. Trooper is a 7 year old black lab mix. He has a stocky build, huge paws, and a head shape that makes people ask if there is pit bull in his lineage. (Maybe? I don't know.) He has a sweetly serious temperament, taking everything I say to heart. Although he doesn't pick up commands as quickly as his sister (Mia) did, once he understands what I want of him, he does it without question or complaint. The only thing he won't do, no matter how much I command, suggest or cajole, is set foot in water. You would think a lab who experiences 100 degree temps every summer would love getting wet, but Trooper would rather roast to death than put one paw in the wading pool we provide for them.
Wiggles, on the other hand, loves the water. She not only stands in the pool, she lays down and rolls around in it. Wiggles is a black lab/retriever mix. She's probably about 3 years old. She appeared out of nowhere a couple years ago, a mostly grown, not quite starving pup who was desperate for some love and attention. She would climb over our 6 foot chain link fence (as just about any dog in the neighborhood, including my own, can apparently do) and cavort with Mia and Trooper for awhile before we noticed her, causing her to climb back over the fence and run off. This went on for several days before I finally told her that if she wanted to stay with us she had to stop reminding Mia and Trooper how easy it was to climb the fence. I put the training collar on her and did a few laps showing her what I meant. She was a quick learner, needing only the beeps and my tug on the leash to get her to understand. "She's a smart one," I told Mike. Ha! I spoke too soon.
Wiggles is well meaning and eager to please, but she's a far cry from smart. Lucky for her, she is ridiculously adorable. As soon as she sees you, her whole body starts to wag (hence the name) and she immediately starts searching the vicinity for a stick or rock or blade of grass or something to hold in her mouth. Her life would be perfect if she could spend every waking minute and most of the sleeping ones jammed up against a human being who would consent rub her chin nonstop until the end of time. Being a youngster, she is full of energy and loves to play. Her favorite game is Annoy the Hell out of Trooper. She bumps into him, bites at his legs, runs circles around him, and generally does all the things an annoying little sister would do to inspire an older brother to lose his cool and start chasing her in circles. She's very good at this game.
Although I am the Alpha of my little pack of canines, Trooper is the second in command. He eats first, he has the best territory, and he is the first to chase off the cars that occasionally drive past our house. Wiggles constantly challenged Mia's status in the pack, probably because she knew Mia was sick, but she never challenges Trooper's authority. He is the clearly established dominant. Except for one thing.
Here's where the chairs come in. During the recent
Somewhere along the line, Trooper decided that he liked one of The Chairs better than the other. Perhaps because of the feel of the cushions. Perhaps because of the way Wiggles had gnawed an arm of the other one to destruction. Perhaps because of some doggie reasoning that I will never know or understand. Whatever the reason, Trooper only likes to sleep in His Chair. Wiggles, being the brattiest of bratty little sisters, immediately decided that she, too, preferred sleeping in His Chair. And since she is usually the first to settle in for the night while Trooper is still securing the property, she is often in His Chair when he wants to go to bed.
He's the bigger, stronger dog who has been here longer and has a higher standing in the hierarchy of our pack. You'd think he could handle this. You would be wrong. Instead of making her move, he sits next to the chair and barks. Not the 3 note bark that he uses to warn trespassing cars and animals of his presence. Not the howling bark that he uses to commune with his coyote brethren. One single, sharp bark. I have secretly observed him doing this through a window. He is sitting in front of her, but he is barking in my direction. He wants me to know that she is in His Chair. If he happens to see me moving around on the other side of the window, he runs over to the edge of the kennel, stares intently at me, and repeats his one sharp bark.
The first time this happened, I was confused. Was he hurt? Had something gotten in the yard? Had I forgotten to feed them? Then, I suddenly recognized the tone of his bark. I recognized it from my years in the classroom, my hours of playground duty, and my own personal experiences with younger siblings who liked to take my things and drive me crazy (and whom I may have, on rare occasion, tortured in return). I knew exactly what he was trying to say.
"Mooooooooooooooom! Wiggles won't get out of my chair!"
My dog, Trooper, is a tattletale.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Good Grief
I would love to be telling you about all the emotional and spiritual growth that has happened in my brain recently, but I can't because there is no time and when there is time I am too tired to stop my sentences from running on and taking over the world.
I would also love to finish the really, really, really long post that is only about 1/3 of the way written about Mia, how she came into my life, and her recent adventures. See above excuse.
I have approximately 11 minutes before my brain turns into a pumpkin, so here's the highlights...
1. Mia is still healing wonderfully. So wonderfully, that she thinks she's all better and should be allowed to wander unsupervised all over the house in search of cats and garbage cans. These are magical Inside Things that she has never before had the pleasure of experiencing.
2. My car is STILL in the shop, although the guy swears it will be ready tomorrow. Or the next day. It has been nearly a month (honestly, I don't even remember when we started this adventure), and I blame the car (not the guy) for the on-going troubles. She's one ornery little automobile.
3. We had a rental car for a while, but it wasn't worth the $12/day insurance we were paying to make sure we weren't blamed for the mud, dog scratches, etc. I don't think I'd buy a Sebring. It had get-up-and-go, but I don't think the designers had ever had to drive a car. The blind spots were enormous.
4. Mikey had to report to the Murrieta courthouse for jury duty last week and narrowly missed being placed on a murder/child abuse case. FYI - living off two not-quite-1/2 incomes, having a sick dog at home, and ridiculously large vet bills is enough to get the judge to excuse you for financial hardship.
5. I have a cough that I can feel in my lungs, and I'm not at all surprised. After the insane couple of weeks I'm surprised I didn't get sick earlier. Let's just hope it passes quickly.
6. Mikey's business has been taking off like wildfire this month. I'm insanely proud of him. Go to Hamumu.com and check out his games. They are very good.
That's not all, but my brain turned into a pumpkin 3 minutes ago. Time for bed. 'Nighty-night.
I would also love to finish the really, really, really long post that is only about 1/3 of the way written about Mia, how she came into my life, and her recent adventures. See above excuse.
I have approximately 11 minutes before my brain turns into a pumpkin, so here's the highlights...
1. Mia is still healing wonderfully. So wonderfully, that she thinks she's all better and should be allowed to wander unsupervised all over the house in search of cats and garbage cans. These are magical Inside Things that she has never before had the pleasure of experiencing.
2. My car is STILL in the shop, although the guy swears it will be ready tomorrow. Or the next day. It has been nearly a month (honestly, I don't even remember when we started this adventure), and I blame the car (not the guy) for the on-going troubles. She's one ornery little automobile.
3. We had a rental car for a while, but it wasn't worth the $12/day insurance we were paying to make sure we weren't blamed for the mud, dog scratches, etc. I don't think I'd buy a Sebring. It had get-up-and-go, but I don't think the designers had ever had to drive a car. The blind spots were enormous.
4. Mikey had to report to the Murrieta courthouse for jury duty last week and narrowly missed being placed on a murder/child abuse case. FYI - living off two not-quite-1/2 incomes, having a sick dog at home, and ridiculously large vet bills is enough to get the judge to excuse you for financial hardship.
5. I have a cough that I can feel in my lungs, and I'm not at all surprised. After the insane couple of weeks I'm surprised I didn't get sick earlier. Let's just hope it passes quickly.
6. Mikey's business has been taking off like wildfire this month. I'm insanely proud of him. Go to Hamumu.com and check out his games. They are very good.
That's not all, but my brain turned into a pumpkin 3 minutes ago. Time for bed. 'Nighty-night.
Monday, February 01, 2010
True Story
Hubby: I'm going to go read the words of my book in order.
Me: What order? Alphabetical?
Hubby: Probably left to right following the page numbers. Alphabetical might be challenging.
Me: How boring.
Hubby: It would take a long time to get ready for that. You'd have to go through the whole book first.
Me: Yeah. The first several words woul be "A", "A", "A", "A", "a", "a", "a", "an"...
Hubby: It wouldn't go to "an". There would be words like "about". And "abate".
Me: Really? You think you'd find the word "abate"?
Hubby: I wouldn't be surprised.
Me: I don't think "abate" is in that book*.
Hubby: Now I'm going to search the whole book just to prove that "abate" is in it.
Me: I dare you.
Hubby: I will find it. I'm a master-abater.
Me: I'm so blogging that.
*He's reading Under the Dome by Stephen King, in case you were wondering. He has requested that you post the page number if you happen to find the word "abate" in that illustrious text.
**Update**
As I have been writing this, he has been reading and announcing each "a" word he finds. "Affairs." "Almighty." "Ability." "Acting." My husband amuses me so.
Me: What order? Alphabetical?
Hubby: Probably left to right following the page numbers. Alphabetical might be challenging.
Me: How boring.
Hubby: It would take a long time to get ready for that. You'd have to go through the whole book first.
Me: Yeah. The first several words woul be "A", "A", "A", "A", "a", "a", "a", "an"...
Hubby: It wouldn't go to "an". There would be words like "about". And "abate".
Me: Really? You think you'd find the word "abate"?
Hubby: I wouldn't be surprised.
Me: I don't think "abate" is in that book*.
Hubby: Now I'm going to search the whole book just to prove that "abate" is in it.
Me: I dare you.
Hubby: I will find it. I'm a master-abater.
Me: I'm so blogging that.
*He's reading Under the Dome by Stephen King, in case you were wondering. He has requested that you post the page number if you happen to find the word "abate" in that illustrious text.
**Update**
As I have been writing this, he has been reading and announcing each "a" word he finds. "Affairs." "Almighty." "Ability." "Acting." My husband amuses me so.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
All I Ever Wanted
There is no school (my 8 - 4 job) and no tutoring (my 4 - 8 job) for the next two weeks. I am on vacation, and as much as I hate being in school until the middle of June, I must say that I enjoy my long breaks. I have a large rolling crate, a big tupperware storage bin, and 3 filing baskets FULL of things that I have to deal with before January 5th. I have to revamp my math and reading programs to address the needs of myself and my students. I have a masters program that has been seriously neglected. And I have dogs who are so desperate for attention that we can't go outside without being attacked. Finally, I will have some time to address all of these things and more. I have plans to wrap presents as they come in (my overcrowded schedule kept me from Christmas shopping until about a week ago), knit a few scarves (a hobby I returned to this week during my snow-enforced free day on Thursday), and do a lot of sleeping in. It might be that I manage to do some more regular blogging, too, but I'm not making any promises. :)
Thursday, December 18, 2008
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas...
Yesterday we had a snowstorm that would have even impressed some of my MN relatives (a little, at any rate). It snowed all day, leaving a thick layer of slush/snow/water/ice mixture covering our entire yard. This morning the sun came out long enough to burn off the layer of fog covering the whole world, then went back behind the gray woolen clouds. CalTrans currently has the main road closed to anyone without chains or snowtires starting just about where we are and going up into the mountains. A friend reported seeing several cars and an ambulance in the ditch last night as she drove home. I am trying to balance my intense guilt at missing school with a healthy concern for my own safety. Luckily, I have Mikey (my voice of reason) to weight in on the side of safety. We used Mikey's new video camera (a birthday present) to take footage, and turn a tiny bit of it into a YouTube video. It can be found by clicking here. While I doubt it will stick around long enough to make Christmas white, it was certainly exciting.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
FYI
* The solar panels have been put on hold due to our inability to procure satisfactory funding. We're currently saving up as fast as we can (drat - no more eating out) and if we miss the current tax rebate window (they expire on 12/31) then we'll just wait for the bigger and better one that President Obama is going to put together. :)
* My back is at about 90%. I can still feel stiffness and my range of motion isn't what it once was, but the pain is under control. In fact, I haven't had one flare up since my appointment a week ago. I haven't been able to say that since the beginning of July.
* The new fridge is beautiful and does its job well. It was worth the wait.
Time to get to work. I have Back 2 School presentations to give this evening and I'm trying to get a PhotoStory set up so that all I have to do is press "play". :)
* My back is at about 90%. I can still feel stiffness and my range of motion isn't what it once was, but the pain is under control. In fact, I haven't had one flare up since my appointment a week ago. I haven't been able to say that since the beginning of July.
* The new fridge is beautiful and does its job well. It was worth the wait.
Time to get to work. I have Back 2 School presentations to give this evening and I'm trying to get a PhotoStory set up so that all I have to do is press "play". :)
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Solar Flares
Just for the record, I hate Bank of America. They apparently have baboons setting up their programs. I have yet to try to accomplish something beyond basic deposits and withdrawals without ending up in a blind rage.
This time it's because we spent 3 weeks jumping through hoops, faxing various bits of information, and WAITING...always waiting before they told us that we couldn't have a home equity line of credit due to the fact that our home is of the manufactured variety. When asked why it took them so long (and 3 phone conversations with us) to come to this decision, they told us that it was because they had just gotten the paperwork that stated it was a manufactured home. DUH. I could have told them that. If this is something that automatically excludes you, shouldn't it be one of the FIRST things you ask about? I would prefer not to share all my tax info with the baboons running your office just for the fun of it.
Anyway. This all means that we are starting over from step one. Although I now know to ask them if they will work with our manufactured home status right up front. Mikey and I are going around and around on how much of a financial cushion we need to have, who we should talk to next, how much money we really need to borrow, how long it will take us to pay things back, etc, etc, etc. We have several options open to us (none that make us both happy) and I guess I should consider this a learning opportunity. The thing is...I never really WANTED to learn about this crap.
The most frustrating thing about this whole process is that we are just trying to do the right thing. We aren't doing it for the money (we'll be saving a whopping $50 a month). We just want to be doing something that will have a positive effect on our world and our fellow human beings. Using the sun to power things in Southern California is just the RIGHT THING TO DO. Why does it have to be so damn hard??
This time it's because we spent 3 weeks jumping through hoops, faxing various bits of information, and WAITING...always waiting before they told us that we couldn't have a home equity line of credit due to the fact that our home is of the manufactured variety. When asked why it took them so long (and 3 phone conversations with us) to come to this decision, they told us that it was because they had just gotten the paperwork that stated it was a manufactured home. DUH. I could have told them that. If this is something that automatically excludes you, shouldn't it be one of the FIRST things you ask about? I would prefer not to share all my tax info with the baboons running your office just for the fun of it.
Anyway. This all means that we are starting over from step one. Although I now know to ask them if they will work with our manufactured home status right up front. Mikey and I are going around and around on how much of a financial cushion we need to have, who we should talk to next, how much money we really need to borrow, how long it will take us to pay things back, etc, etc, etc. We have several options open to us (none that make us both happy) and I guess I should consider this a learning opportunity. The thing is...I never really WANTED to learn about this crap.
The most frustrating thing about this whole process is that we are just trying to do the right thing. We aren't doing it for the money (we'll be saving a whopping $50 a month). We just want to be doing something that will have a positive effect on our world and our fellow human beings. Using the sun to power things in Southern California is just the RIGHT THING TO DO. Why does it have to be so damn hard??
Thursday, July 03, 2008
Going on Vacation
I'm heading home for a few days, so I won't be updating for a while. I don't really have much to say at this point, but I didn't want to leave that last bit of self-absorbed ranting at the top of my page.
I am excited about my trip because I am going to get to hang out with my sister, both brothers, and my litter of nieces and nephews all at the same time. It's going to be a good time! We've all been calling back and forth like loons on a lake for the last couple weeks as we set it all up.
Hope your 4th of July weekend is just as pleasant as I am.
I am excited about my trip because I am going to get to hang out with my sister, both brothers, and my litter of nieces and nephews all at the same time. It's going to be a good time! We've all been calling back and forth like loons on a lake for the last couple weeks as we set it all up.
Hope your 4th of July weekend is just as pleasant as I am.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Mountains in Springtime
What the desert flowers lack in stamina they make up in enthusiasm. The flowers on our hills have gone CRAZY. There are great swaths of purple and yellow all along my commute. It is so much fun to drive these days.
I have read about people having trouble going from the one environment to another because of the differences in the horizon. Cowboys who feel too confined by the mountains or those from the forests who feel that the plains are too open for safety. I enjoy all types of environments, but I am finding that the mountains are my very favorites. I have been living in CA for 8 years and I have been commuting through the mountains for 3 years now. I STILL am awed and inspired by the sight of the hills fading from blue to gray in the distance. Amazing.
I have read about people having trouble going from the one environment to another because of the differences in the horizon. Cowboys who feel too confined by the mountains or those from the forests who feel that the plains are too open for safety. I enjoy all types of environments, but I am finding that the mountains are my very favorites. I have been living in CA for 8 years and I have been commuting through the mountains for 3 years now. I STILL am awed and inspired by the sight of the hills fading from blue to gray in the distance. Amazing.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Highlights and Lowlights
Highlights
1. The apple trees we planted 2 years ago (when we first moved here) are blooming! They started out with lots of tiny, hot pink buds, and those are now bursting open into delicate white flowers. I am extremely excited at the idea of getting apples. Especially if I can convince Mikey that he should be making apple pies with them. :)
2. The weather has been perfect for me to throw on a tank top and jeans, grab my shades and a book, and sit outside for hours. I have been reading almost a book a day. The dogs are loving the company and I am reveling in the relaxation.
3. You know you have a true friend when you can get together and have a lengthy, enjoyable conversation about religion, politics, and emotional health, especially when you disagree about fundamental parts of all three. I have just such a friend and I have been able to get together with her multiple times recently.
Lowlights
1. Mikey has been sick as a dog the last 3 days. He has a fever that reminds me of a couple of my students. You know, the ones who take FOREVER to leave after the bell rings, and keep remembering one more reason why they have to come back. Mikey's fever has several times left only to return a few hours later - "I forgot my math book!" He also has a nice, juicy cough and a nose that can't decide whether to drip constantly or freeze up completely. All this courtesy of his sister and nephew who were hosts to the same bug during our Easter get-together. I have been keeping a distance and crossing my fingers like crazy in hopes that I will avoid it. I don't want to miss out on my vacation and I can't afford to take sick days afterward.
1. The apple trees we planted 2 years ago (when we first moved here) are blooming! They started out with lots of tiny, hot pink buds, and those are now bursting open into delicate white flowers. I am extremely excited at the idea of getting apples. Especially if I can convince Mikey that he should be making apple pies with them. :)
2. The weather has been perfect for me to throw on a tank top and jeans, grab my shades and a book, and sit outside for hours. I have been reading almost a book a day. The dogs are loving the company and I am reveling in the relaxation.
3. You know you have a true friend when you can get together and have a lengthy, enjoyable conversation about religion, politics, and emotional health, especially when you disagree about fundamental parts of all three. I have just such a friend and I have been able to get together with her multiple times recently.
Lowlights
1. Mikey has been sick as a dog the last 3 days. He has a fever that reminds me of a couple of my students. You know, the ones who take FOREVER to leave after the bell rings, and keep remembering one more reason why they have to come back. Mikey's fever has several times left only to return a few hours later - "I forgot my math book!" He also has a nice, juicy cough and a nose that can't decide whether to drip constantly or freeze up completely. All this courtesy of his sister and nephew who were hosts to the same bug during our Easter get-together. I have been keeping a distance and crossing my fingers like crazy in hopes that I will avoid it. I don't want to miss out on my vacation and I can't afford to take sick days afterward.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Real Life Math
being late to dinner with your in-laws
+
the XM radio game*
+
a road you drive twice a day
+
cresting a steep hill
+
a heavy car that builds momentum as it goes downhill
=
the first speeding ticket I have gotten since I was 16
*The XM Radio Game (for those who are curious)
The passenger is in charge of the XM controller, scrolling through the channels looking for a band that the driver might be able to recognize. The song doesn't matter, although the game is MUCH easier if it is a well-known song. The driver attempts to identify the musician (or group of musicians). If the driver is unable to do so, the passenger can supply hints.
Popular category hints include:
synonyms (e.g. Third Eye Blind becomes Unseeing Chakra)
word association (e.g. Good Charlotte becomes Some Pig in reference to Charlotte's Web)
factoids (e.g. Aerosmith becomes Alicia Silverstone because she once acted in a music video of theirs)
initials (e.g. Three Doors Down = TDD)
number of words (e.g. I think you can figure this one out on your own.)
personal preference (e.g. Mikey knows that if I am picking something country for him to identify it is going to be one of a select few people because he has a limited knowledge of country. Same goes for me and grunge or hair metal.)
Extra points are awarded for speed of recognition (we each have a couple of bands that we can recognize from the first riff of a song) or obscurity of the song (guessing the band from their top 40 hit is less impressive than identifying them from some B side song that you've never heard before). Of course, the fewer clues you need, the better.
Honestly, the clues are the real fun of the game. We try to make up clues with multiple layers so that the driver really has to figure them out to make their guess. One of the more convoluted clues we've created:
Santana becomes Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is a television show written by a guy named Rob Thomas who is of no relation to the Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 who once did a song with Santana.
This clue was for Mikey. I would recognize Santana right away. :)
The game is lots of fun, and it's how we spend most of our drive time when we're together. Just one warning if you become a player - be careful not to focus so much on the sound of the musician you're trying to guess that you forget to watch your speed. You'll end up like me, spending the first day of your vacation trying to get through to someone at your county court to find out how much it's going to cost you to go to traffic school.
+
the XM radio game*
+
a road you drive twice a day
+
cresting a steep hill
+
a heavy car that builds momentum as it goes downhill
=
the first speeding ticket I have gotten since I was 16
*The XM Radio Game (for those who are curious)
The passenger is in charge of the XM controller, scrolling through the channels looking for a band that the driver might be able to recognize. The song doesn't matter, although the game is MUCH easier if it is a well-known song. The driver attempts to identify the musician (or group of musicians). If the driver is unable to do so, the passenger can supply hints.
Popular category hints include:
synonyms (e.g. Third Eye Blind becomes Unseeing Chakra)
word association (e.g. Good Charlotte becomes Some Pig in reference to Charlotte's Web)
factoids (e.g. Aerosmith becomes Alicia Silverstone because she once acted in a music video of theirs)
initials (e.g. Three Doors Down = TDD)
number of words (e.g. I think you can figure this one out on your own.)
personal preference (e.g. Mikey knows that if I am picking something country for him to identify it is going to be one of a select few people because he has a limited knowledge of country. Same goes for me and grunge or hair metal.)
Extra points are awarded for speed of recognition (we each have a couple of bands that we can recognize from the first riff of a song) or obscurity of the song (guessing the band from their top 40 hit is less impressive than identifying them from some B side song that you've never heard before). Of course, the fewer clues you need, the better.
Honestly, the clues are the real fun of the game. We try to make up clues with multiple layers so that the driver really has to figure them out to make their guess. One of the more convoluted clues we've created:
Santana becomes Veronica Mars
Veronica Mars is a television show written by a guy named Rob Thomas who is of no relation to the Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20 who once did a song with Santana.
This clue was for Mikey. I would recognize Santana right away. :)
The game is lots of fun, and it's how we spend most of our drive time when we're together. Just one warning if you become a player - be careful not to focus so much on the sound of the musician you're trying to guess that you forget to watch your speed. You'll end up like me, spending the first day of your vacation trying to get through to someone at your county court to find out how much it's going to cost you to go to traffic school.
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Something New
Hi, guys! I'm on spring break, so I thought I might try to do some blogging. The question is - do I have anything interesting to say? And do I remember how to do this? Luckily, I had my password tucked away in a safe place.
To start things off, I'm going to share some of the fun things I will be doing during my break:
1. playing with my dogs and reading
The poor puppies are super lonely for me now that I am working so much. If I sit down in the kennel Mia climbs right into my lap and curls up, determined to stay there. She forgoes dinner in order to snuggle with me whenever possible. This morning, we sat in the sun together while I read an entire Sue Grafton mystery. It's possible I can make pretty good headway through the whole alphabet series with this two week vacation.
2. cleaning
It's amazing how easy it is to ignore clutter and mess when you are working a 12 hour day. Now that I am home during daylight hours I am getting to those chores that have been piling up. Today I managed to do 3 loads of laundry, wash all the dishes, straighten the kitchen, and clean out the fridge and freezer. There's plenty left to do, but it feels good to get things done.
3. tutoring
I have about 4 hours of tutoring lined up for this week. There are more hours next week, but that's Stephanie's week. We've had another big surge of sign ups recently. Hooray, Escuela!
4. master's work
There has been a final exam sitting on my counter for several weeks, and it's about time for me to get it done. I wonder how far I can get on my next class? I make no promises!
5. exercise
My long work hours have done wonders for my diet. Self-control is no longer an issue when there is NO time for eating. However, when I am on vacation, I spend the whole day stuffing my face. I'm trying to do more walking and less munching during this one.
And, of course, I am working on catching up on all the sleep I have missed since my last vacation. With that goal in mind, I am now signing off and tucking myself into bead. G'night!
To start things off, I'm going to share some of the fun things I will be doing during my break:
1. playing with my dogs and reading
The poor puppies are super lonely for me now that I am working so much. If I sit down in the kennel Mia climbs right into my lap and curls up, determined to stay there. She forgoes dinner in order to snuggle with me whenever possible. This morning, we sat in the sun together while I read an entire Sue Grafton mystery. It's possible I can make pretty good headway through the whole alphabet series with this two week vacation.
2. cleaning
It's amazing how easy it is to ignore clutter and mess when you are working a 12 hour day. Now that I am home during daylight hours I am getting to those chores that have been piling up. Today I managed to do 3 loads of laundry, wash all the dishes, straighten the kitchen, and clean out the fridge and freezer. There's plenty left to do, but it feels good to get things done.
3. tutoring
I have about 4 hours of tutoring lined up for this week. There are more hours next week, but that's Stephanie's week. We've had another big surge of sign ups recently. Hooray, Escuela!
4. master's work
There has been a final exam sitting on my counter for several weeks, and it's about time for me to get it done. I wonder how far I can get on my next class? I make no promises!
5. exercise
My long work hours have done wonders for my diet. Self-control is no longer an issue when there is NO time for eating. However, when I am on vacation, I spend the whole day stuffing my face. I'm trying to do more walking and less munching during this one.
And, of course, I am working on catching up on all the sleep I have missed since my last vacation. With that goal in mind, I am now signing off and tucking myself into bead. G'night!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
All is Well
Sorry to be in absentia during such a worrisome time. We're fine. No fires near us, just all around us: Escondido is just south, Irvine is just north, Fallbrook is just east, and Julian is just west of us. We saw smoke and some flames from our place, but they were many miles off in the distance. No real danger. Just enough to stir up that instinctual "FIRE BAD!" response in me. I'm not sure if it is related to my control-freak personality, residual caveman genes, or distant childhood memories, but my fear of larger fires borders on the irrational.
Anyway - no problems here. I wish I could say the same for everyone else in Southern California. Fortunately, as a community we have banded together and we're taking care of our own. Thanks for the concern...
I now return you to the regularly scheduled lack of posts. (Hopefully that is a joke, but with report cards and conferences just around the corner, I suspect it's not. Sorry.)
Anyway - no problems here. I wish I could say the same for everyone else in Southern California. Fortunately, as a community we have banded together and we're taking care of our own. Thanks for the concern...
I now return you to the regularly scheduled lack of posts. (Hopefully that is a joke, but with report cards and conferences just around the corner, I suspect it's not. Sorry.)
Monday, April 02, 2007
This, That, and The Other Thing
(This)
Yesterday I got a little cabin fever (not surprising since i hadn't left our 2 acres in 4 days), so we headed into town for a date. First up was a movie at the "cheap theater". If you want something hilariously funny and totally inappropriate, I recommend Reno 911: Miami. I laughed a lot. Then we grabbed some Rubio's burritos for dinner. They have an Especial that is especially good. (This, combined with the greased popcorn and mega-sized Sprite at the movies, means that I fell off the diet wagon for a while, but I am getting right back on.) It was just the right amount of getting out to make me happy to be able to stay home for another several days in a row.
(That)
Today I will work on my masters class. I have been very intently procrastinating these essays, but it is time and I will put them off no longer. I have 2 that were supposed to be done Saturday and 5 more that are supposed to be done next Saturday. Do you think I can do it? I doubt it. But I will make some progress. Here I go...
(The Other Thing)
PS - I just saw a trailer for the most adorable movie. John Cusack is the lead in Martian Child, a based-on-a-true-story film about a science fiction writer who adopts a little boy who thinks he is a visitor from Mars. The trailer made it look funny and sensitive and sweet. A powerful story about the power of love. Definitely on my Must See list. I am curious though...do you think John only signs on to movies that agree to let Joan have a roll??
(That again)
Okay. I'm going now for real. I swear...
Yesterday I got a little cabin fever (not surprising since i hadn't left our 2 acres in 4 days), so we headed into town for a date. First up was a movie at the "cheap theater". If you want something hilariously funny and totally inappropriate, I recommend Reno 911: Miami. I laughed a lot. Then we grabbed some Rubio's burritos for dinner. They have an Especial that is especially good. (This, combined with the greased popcorn and mega-sized Sprite at the movies, means that I fell off the diet wagon for a while, but I am getting right back on.) It was just the right amount of getting out to make me happy to be able to stay home for another several days in a row.
(That)
Today I will work on my masters class. I have been very intently procrastinating these essays, but it is time and I will put them off no longer. I have 2 that were supposed to be done Saturday and 5 more that are supposed to be done next Saturday. Do you think I can do it? I doubt it. But I will make some progress. Here I go...
(The Other Thing)
PS - I just saw a trailer for the most adorable movie. John Cusack is the lead in Martian Child, a based-on-a-true-story film about a science fiction writer who adopts a little boy who thinks he is a visitor from Mars. The trailer made it look funny and sensitive and sweet. A powerful story about the power of love. Definitely on my Must See list. I am curious though...do you think John only signs on to movies that agree to let Joan have a roll??
(That again)
Okay. I'm going now for real. I swear...
Friday, March 30, 2007
Vacation Events
I am on vacation, so I can't talk about my class. And I can't use my class as an excuse not to do anything else. So...what have I been up to? Let's take a peek into the life of the free-range teacher.
1. Masters coursework - I haven't actually written a single word, but I have read 2 long, boring chapters. I believe myself to be fully prepared to start writing the essays that go along with them. I'll be getting right on that. Any day now...
2. Pet Parenting - It's great fun sitting in the sun, lounging with the dogs while I read my tedious text. Almost makes it worthwhile. The dogs are loving it, and so am I.
3. Kingdom of Loathing - This is an online game that is just addictive enough to suck up several hours a day. I excuse myself by claiming that it helps me relate better to the folks on Mikey's business forum. They are all avid players, and it is really my responsibility to help make them feel welcome, right? I need to be able to participate in their conversations, right? You're totally buying this, right? Riiiiiight.
4. Dieting - Having reached a point 10 pounds over my "I can live with this" weight and 20 pounds over my "I am happy like this" weight, I have put myself on a restricted calorie diet. Not too restricted. I am not starving myself, but I am keeping track of everything that goes into my mouth in an attempt to shame myself from the habit of eating when I am bored or tired or happy or breathing. For the most part, it means that I am drinking way more water and eating way more fruits and veggies. This has to be a good thing. I am also trying to be more active (lest you think I don't understand the importance of a balanced lifestyle). We'll see what happens.
5. Hobbies - I am 1/2 way done with a purty red scarf. I started making it to put in the classroom auction I have every year, but I'm kind of liking the way it is turning out. Perhaps I will keep it. Or perhaps one of YOU will receive it unexpectedly one day. I am also about 1/2 done with a crocheted blanket. I didn't realize what an arduous project this would be when I started it, but now that I am past the 1/2 way mark, I am feeling pretty good about finishing it. It was begun about...2 years ago. At this rate, it should be done sometime in...oh...April 2009.
6. Cooking - Carrot Ginger soup is yummy. I had some the other day at a restaurant and decided to make a batch for at home. Not being very focused at the time, and forgetting that ground ginger and ginger root were not 1:1 equivalent, I ended up with more of a Ginger Carrot soup. We threw in some extra cream (shhhh...don't tell my diet) and some rice, and it mellowed out enough to be enjoyable. I will do better next time.
That's about it. I have also been watching too many hours of Veronica Mars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Law and Order, and numerous movies of varying quality. What have YOU been up to?
1. Masters coursework - I haven't actually written a single word, but I have read 2 long, boring chapters. I believe myself to be fully prepared to start writing the essays that go along with them. I'll be getting right on that. Any day now...
2. Pet Parenting - It's great fun sitting in the sun, lounging with the dogs while I read my tedious text. Almost makes it worthwhile. The dogs are loving it, and so am I.
3. Kingdom of Loathing - This is an online game that is just addictive enough to suck up several hours a day. I excuse myself by claiming that it helps me relate better to the folks on Mikey's business forum. They are all avid players, and it is really my responsibility to help make them feel welcome, right? I need to be able to participate in their conversations, right? You're totally buying this, right? Riiiiiight.
4. Dieting - Having reached a point 10 pounds over my "I can live with this" weight and 20 pounds over my "I am happy like this" weight, I have put myself on a restricted calorie diet. Not too restricted. I am not starving myself, but I am keeping track of everything that goes into my mouth in an attempt to shame myself from the habit of eating when I am bored or tired or happy or breathing. For the most part, it means that I am drinking way more water and eating way more fruits and veggies. This has to be a good thing. I am also trying to be more active (lest you think I don't understand the importance of a balanced lifestyle). We'll see what happens.
5. Hobbies - I am 1/2 way done with a purty red scarf. I started making it to put in the classroom auction I have every year, but I'm kind of liking the way it is turning out. Perhaps I will keep it. Or perhaps one of YOU will receive it unexpectedly one day. I am also about 1/2 done with a crocheted blanket. I didn't realize what an arduous project this would be when I started it, but now that I am past the 1/2 way mark, I am feeling pretty good about finishing it. It was begun about...2 years ago. At this rate, it should be done sometime in...oh...April 2009.
6. Cooking - Carrot Ginger soup is yummy. I had some the other day at a restaurant and decided to make a batch for at home. Not being very focused at the time, and forgetting that ground ginger and ginger root were not 1:1 equivalent, I ended up with more of a Ginger Carrot soup. We threw in some extra cream (shhhh...don't tell my diet) and some rice, and it mellowed out enough to be enjoyable. I will do better next time.
That's about it. I have also been watching too many hours of Veronica Mars, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Law and Order, and numerous movies of varying quality. What have YOU been up to?
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
SNOW
It has been beautiful and warm lately. Until about 10 minutes ago when it started snowing. An hour ago it was in the mid-40's. Now it's 31 degrees with near whiteout conditions outside. WTF??
Saturday, March 17, 2007
GREEN
We have green appearing on our property. There are tiny, little forest green plants growing out of the sand, topped with minuscule, violet flowers. There are friendly, green leaves bursting out of the apple trees and lilac bushes. The tree near our lawn furniture is a big, snowball of white flowers, buzzing busily with bees. Even the prickly plants that typically intersperse themselves across our yard are looking a little lusher than usual.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Wither the Weather
The weather here has been gorgeous for the last several days. It is as though summer is seriously on its way. The sun is shining, a delicious breeze blowing, and things are looking beautiful. We slept with the bedroom windows open last night and woke to the sound of birds and such stirring. Since this is the very beginning of the nice weather, the biting ants have yet to awaken, and the heat has yet to head into the range of "sweltering". All in all, it is perfect weather for sitting out and reading. The dogs are thrilled that we spent so much time outside with them this weekend. I am sad that I have to waste the next 5 days indoors.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Anza Living
This morning the wind was blowing through the Redshank bushes so enthusiastically that before I opened the blinds it sounded just like the waves crashing over rocks on the beach. Pretty nice, really.
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