December...THE SCRAPPING SPOT DT LOs

 

 

 

 

1. A card using TaDa scraps. 2. TaDa kit 12x12 LO 3. Basic Grey Figgy Pudding Kit 8x8 LO 4. BG Figgy Pudding kit 6x12 LO

It's not the end of December yet and I've posted. LOL! I've been bit by the scrapping bug.........such a GOOD thing. I actually passed up my daily afternoon/after work nap to make one of those layouts. The kits are selling fast...only a few more of each so get 'em while they're hot right HERE!

This was November!

 

I seem to do these once-a-month posts.......which is more than I do in my personal journal. I used to be so good about documenting my life on paper.*SIGH* November was a slim month for creativity. I had issues with the postal service. It seems like they were holding my mail hostage and then decided to one day inundate me with mail. I just got my November Scrapping Spot DT kit which was mailed in OCTOBER. I also got a CRICUT electronic cutter! It's works like a dream and I love how quickly and easily it cuts stuff out for me. Not much really going on in my life. I live a mundane existence.

We're gearing up for our World Youth Day trip to Sydney Australia in July 2008...fundraisers, catechesis, general meetings. You can read about World Youth Day 2008 here.

I did see two movies this month (a record)...Martian Child and Enchanted. Both good movies.

And now for my collage above: 1. Mini tag book I made for Maria's birthday 2, 3, and 4. 3 12x6 pages for an album I'm doing of things that I'm grateful for. 5. Christmas Tree card I made using scraps of Basic Grey paper...this card can be seen online atBasic Grey.com 6. layout of our lone trick or treater using the scrapping spot's small December kit featuring TaDa Signature. 7. a layout of my grandparents using the scrapping spot's big November kit featuring Sassafras Lass Indian Summer; pictures and a letter to the editor from LOOK magazine (not in publication) 8 and 9. layouts using the scrapping spot's small december kit featuring TaDa Signature. You can buy these amazing scrapping kits here.

caardvarks challenge

I made this card with my last scraps of paper from THE SCRAPPING SPOT'S October "Metro Chic" (AKA the big one) Kit. Papers are Luxe Hoodie, doodlebug jewel, and hero arts bling (from my stash). The die cut purse opens up...that's where I'll write something to the lucky recipient! Thanks for looking!

This was October

Yet again I ask myself, "Where did the month go?" I feel like I should write a song with that refrain! Didn't do much scrap-wise. I didn't have the motivation to scrap much in October. Then I was out of commission for a whole week with the flu and spent the week after playing catch-up with work and with life. There went two whole weeks. Not much going on around this neck of the woods. Life is status quo...that's good, right?

This was September!

The last row of this collage repeats the first row. The top two rows are projects I did with my design team October kit from The Scrapping Spot. I still have loads of stuff left to use...good thing it's the OCTOBER KIT. I still have a whole month to play with it! It has a lot of pink...... A LOT! Sometimes I feel like I'm allergic to that color because it just makes me shudder. But, this the papers are so bold, so graphic...funky, edgy, a twist of metro. We named it "Metro Chic".......a few clicks with the dictionary and the thesaurus online and BOOM! METRO CHIC appeared! This month pales in comparison to last month, but my excuse is WORK. Most of the layouts I did in August were done the first two weeks...I was still on vacation. I'm not complaining, though. Creating gives me the much needed outlet for the stress that teaching entails. Students bring SO MUCH baggage to school with them and it's hard for them to leave it at the door so I have to deal with it as well. Now I need to decompress from the weekend, not that anything much happened this weekend.

where did the month go?!

More than half the month is GONE. When did THAT happen? I can't remember half the things that happened. Sign of age or just busy-ness? My design team gig at The Scrapping Spot has officially begun. I got my kit a few days ago. It has A LOT of pink... I am not kidding when I say A LOT. I am not a fan of things pink, but this kit is amazing. I've already done two layouts and made a little notebook with this kit. Check out the picture (courtesy of The Scrapping Spot).

This was August!

Fourteen layouts. One mini album. Eleven cards. Fifty pictures. That is a RECORD for me. It helps that the women on The Scrapping Spot's message board really LOVE to scrap. We have Ari, our whip cracker to goad us into using up stash and scrapping those pictures. Do I really NEED someone to tell me what to do?!?!? NOOOOOOOOOO! However, I love a challenge any day. It's very interesting to see how several scrappers can take one sketch or Beck Fleck page map and create something vastly different. I'm almost done with my Summer 2007 vacation pictures and it's STILL 2007. Guess I better get those 2004 vacation pictures from Mark and get working!

More of my secret! :)

I spilled part of my secret last week about my friend Jill starting her own kit club and message board for scrapbooking. Here's the rest of the story............she asked me to be on her design team!!!!!!!!!!! I've kept this under wraps for the better part of a month. It was hard to be posting on the MB and not saying something. I'm on the design team with Deanna Koontz and Ari Macias! Jill's doing stuff a little differently with the DT. We're on for 4-month terms and she'll also be having guest DT spots. If you haven't already done so, check us out. While the first kit won't be out until October, we already have lots of stuff going on with the board--challenges, things to think about and discuss. Fun stuff!!!

http://www.thescrappingspot.com/phpBB2/index.php

Daily Something

I've tried to keep up with the "daily something" project. But it seems like it's turned into a weekly (or something like that) something. We had open house tonight. Of course the parents that you really want to see don't show up. I had the pleasure of chatting with some parents, but most especially with the parents of one of my reading students from last year. He's now in my second grade homeroom. His mother had said that she was so thankful to know that he was in my homeroom this year. Being his teacher for Reading last year really made a difference academically and behaviorally for their son. Nic is a very bright little boy, but he needed discipline and lots of encouragement and motivation to push just a little further than what he was capable of. His parents felt that he got that from me. Warmed my heart to hear it. It put a ray of sunshine on a very cloudy day.

Here is MY secret! I've known for a few weeks that my friend Jill is starting a new message board and scrapbook kit club. It's been so difficult not to say anything especially to my scrapbooking friends! So now we're spreading the word! Kits will actually start in October, but the message board is up and running. Boy, is it running! Look here for updates on what's going on, what's coming, what's happening! I'm so excited for Jill!!!!

daily something

It would be so like me to start something and forget about it. I meant to post on Thursday about a daily something. I was watching the opening credits of "Love Actually" and came upon this:

"Love actually is all around."

So true!

Anyway, I'll have some exciting news to share soon... NO I AM NOT GETTING MARRIED OR HAVING A BABY.

Finding the "Daily Something"

I subscribe to Ali Edwards' AEzine. It starts off with this quote:

"There is no such thing in anyone's life as an unimportant day." (Alexander Woollcott)


That quote got me thinking. But there's more! Ali goes on to say, " every single day of our lives presents us with a story to tell. Wonderful little (and sometimes big) gifts that are available for us to capture if we make it a priority and pay attention.


Now, doesn't that inspire something? My day started off BORING. Uninspiring. Uneventful. First I discovered the "new" (new to us anyway) refrigerator was not cooling again. Oh joy. I kept trying to remember how much a refrigerator cost at Ace Hardware and Town House. Good thing we still had the old one outside. Looks like junk but it sure works well. Then I made stops at the post office (yay for bills), the bank (pay a bill), the $1.50 store, Kmart to return something, and the safety inspection place. Home for lunch. Quick checks on email and message boards. Dominic came to help me move the refrigerators. Then I went to pick up Lucas. Here's where the little gift comes into my day...

Maria started back to work at Hyatt today. She asked me to pick Lucas up from school. No problem. It's quite riot to pick him up...those five-minute conversations are my favorite. He asked where his mommy was and I reminded him that mommy was at work and that daddy would come home first then mommy. He says, "Nini, will you take care of me?" as he hugs me tightly. "Of course I'll take care of you. I always do." I put him in his booster seat and off we go. So, I start off by asking him about his day.

L: I don't talk to Uncle Dominic when he picks me up.
Me: Why not?
L: He makes me a little nervous.
Me: How does he make you nervous?
L: He talks to loud. That makes me nervous.
Me: Really.
L: Can you tell him not to talk so loud?
Me: Sure, I can tell him that. So, what did you do at school today?
L: We didn't learn colors.
Me: So what did you learn about?
(He gets all silly and speechs jibberish)
Me: We have to stop and get gas.
L: Okay, Nini. I will wait for you in the car.
Me: You're going to wait in the car? Does your mommy leave you in the car?
L: Yes.
(I had no intention of letting him out of my sight and I KNOW his mom doesn't leave him in the car. The gas station attendant comes out to gas my car in the self-serve line...gotta love that! So we go into the convenience store.
L: Nini, I need candy.
Me: Were you good at school today?
L: Yeah. I was good.
Me: We'll see if they have the candy you like.
We walk up to the counter. Right below is an array of bags of candy. We like the gummies made with fruit juice. Not the healthiest thing in the world, but it's all good in small doses.
Me: Do you want the music one or the abc one?
L: The abc one. I like that.
Me: Okay, but first we're going to have a good snack when we get home.
L: Okay, Nini. I'll just hold it.

On the way home we talk about some good snacks he can have...grapes, crackers, juice, chocolate milk with sprinkles (okay not so good with the chocolate and the sprinkles but it's the one trick I discovered that works for everyone to get him to drink the stuff). IN the home stretch...we see his Mama's house then his house. In to change...oh so quietly because Jakey is sleeping. Go to Mama's house for visit, hoping that he'll want to stay. Told Uncle Dominic not to talk so loud. I say I'm going home to cook dinner. Nope, he's going to follow me. I make a quick stop in his house to get his homework (homework at 2?!?!?) and we make the short drive up to my house. His mom calls. We talk. He talks. He does his homework...big fat scribbles all over the page. Works for me! Give him some milk, which he spills all over another piece of paper.
L: I spilled my milk.
Me: It's okay.
L: I'm so sad.
Me: Luke, it's okay. We'll clean it up. Do you want some more?
L: Yes, with more sprinkles.
Me: Okay.
Drinks some milk. We go outside so I can get the clothes off the line. He spills some milk all over his shirt. I take it off. He helps me take the laundry in and drops half the stack I gave him. I see a worried look on his face so I reassure him that he can go back and pick it up. And then the phone rings. He's wanted home to go shopping with his Nana. All this happened within an hour and a half. Well worth every minute. It gave me my "daily something".

Sad News

Two days after we celebrated Auntie Ninang's birthday, she passed away. I dread calls after 9pm because I immediately think that someone has died or is sick or needs to be taken to the hospital. When I heard Auntie Patty leaving a message on the machine...she never leaves a message...I knew I had to get to the phone. We decided to go to the hospital and see her. Less than an hour later, we get there only to find out that she passed away. She would always ask, "Why doesn't God take me?" I would always tell her, "He's not ready for you. He doesn't have space there for you." So she got her birthday wish. And we're all left feeling a little bereft. I like to think that now she can see and walk without pain, even dance along a path! That she's talking to Mama every moment. I miss those days when the phone would ring and I'd answer and it would be Auntie Ninang for Mama. That hasn't happened for 7 years but I can remember telling Mama, "It's Sophie for you." How we got the name Sophie, I can't remember anymore. For a while there, Auntie Ninang used to call us at 5:30 on Sunday evening every week without fail. Then 2 weeks had gone by at one point and she called so I teased her about not calling the week before. She told me that she forgot. The calls never lasted more than 10 minutes, sometimes even shorter, but she just wanted to check in with us. Who's going to check on us now?

celebrating

Today is Auntie Ninang's 89th birthday. I couldn't help but think that if Mama were alive today, she would also be 89. 89...so many years alive. So many yet to live. We celebrated with a PARTY. Lots of food, a lot of heat, but lots of fun was had. It's been such a long time since we've gathered for something happy. Of course, we all reminisced about the Easter Egg Hunts we used to have at Auntie Ninang's house. Every year. Without fail. We spent Easter "down in the valley". I don't even remember when they stopped. Toria and Allie took most of these pictures. Neither of them had the guts to go in the house and take a picture of Auntie Ninang. If there weren't so many people in there with her, I would have done it. Just not a crowd person in a small space. Predictably, their pictures centered on our family. Interesting to see things from their perspective.

highlights

Some highlights of my vacation...left to right :) Me being me, with the bartender before Mamma Mia!, my friend Patsi and me outside of New York New York, a night view of the strip, the slot machines at the airport. Next row: BETTY, our GPS, Me, Kathy and Christine at THE STINKING ROSE, A picture inside the stinking rose, had to get that picasso in the background, Universal Studios entrance. Third row: the walkway to the studio tour, at Toon Town, in front of the screaming roller coaster, inside the sorcerer's workshop at CA Adventure, trying on Merlin's hat. Fourth Row: Trying on hats at one of the Disney Stores, Me outside of CA Adventure, Me and Kathy, Me and Christine. Fifth row: eating a crepe for breakfast, Tristan and me, Me and Olivia, Phan and Me, fireworks at Disneyland. I took over 200 pictures. These are just highlights. I did not gamble one cent in Las Vegas. The only gambling I did was buying clothes without trying them on! I did not sightsee in Hawaii...I went there to visit my friend Addie and her family. Been there, done Waikiki...don't need to do it again.

Vegas Vacation

I am in Las Vegas for the very first time! The temperature has been in the 100s for the last few days...it doesn't get cooler till really late and even then it's not that cool. I feel like someone turned on the heater to extremely high and left the door open! OR, the oven is on broil and I'm standing in front of the open door. THAT HOT. Seriously. I haven't made it to the strip yet. I've done some shopping...got stuff for all the kids already. I'm the boring auntie...got them CLOTHES. Maybe I'll find something fun in LA. Tomorrow night Patsi, Maureen and I will be seeing Mamma Mia at Mandalay Bay. That's on the strip so I'll see it at NIGHT! FUN STUFF!

It's been a while

Since I last blogged, A LOT has happened! Uncle Jimmy, Auntie Tina, Jessica, Jeremy and his family came for a ten-day visit. WE were BUSY the entire time they were here. I was so exhausted by the time they left. Did the beach thing, the drive to the southern end, and a day at PIC waterpark. Tried to line up a professional photographer to do a family picture, but had to settle for an amateur and so-so pictures.

Life as we know it is finally back to normal. It's amazing how much 8 additional people can change a routine! Got to do my regular Saturday routine errands. Got carded for buying Auntie Margaret cigarettes. A great feeling to know that when the cashiers look at me they're not sure just how old I am!

Got my hair cut today. Impulse thing really. Took my mom to get HER hair cut and just decided while I was sitting there that I needed something new. As long as I don't look 12.

Layouts inspired by June Page Maps by Becky Fleck

a five-minute conversation with Lucas

Five minutes. That's what it takes to get from his school to our neck of the woods. FIVE short minutes. Over the weekend, I got him one of those booster seats for my car. It was on sale at KMart and I was so wanting to get rid of that honkin' big car seat of his...it takes up too much space. He tested it out on Monday afternoon. Anyway, I got to pick him up from school yesterday. After waiting for him to finish his snack, we got to the car.

L: This my special chair, Nini?

Me: Yeah, your special chair for such a special boy.

(got him all settled in and strapped that seatbelt across him. I discovered the cup holder on the side so naturally he discovered it too. I get in the car and turn it on. We were ready to roll.)

Me: You okay back there?

L: Yes. I need my water to put in here.

Me: Can you reach it?

L: No, I cannot reach it. It's too far.

I reach back and hand it to him. He puts it in the cup.

L: Where are we going?

Me: Home. Why? Where do you want to go?

L: I don't know. Can we go to the store, Nini?

Me: The store? Why?

L: I need candy.

ME: Candy? What kind of candy?

L: M & Ms.

Me: M & Ms? Hmmm...I don't think they have any more at the store.

L: They ran out?

Me: Yeah, they ran out.

The conversation gets a little fuzzy in my head at this point...the light turned green.

L: {blah blah blah} otherwise....

My mind stopped on the word otherwise. Because while I don't remember everything he said, he did use the word correctly in the sentence. I know he was not talking about candy so I thought okay, scot free. NOPE.

L: Can we go to the gas station, Nini?

Me: The gas station?!?!? What for? I don't need gas.

L: So I can buy candy.

Me: Do you have money?

L: No, but you do.

Me: I do? How do you know?

L: People have money in their hands.

Me: I show him each of my hands one by one and say, "No money here or here."

L: You have money in your purse.

Me: How do you know?

L: I know you do.

Me: Naw, I don't want to go to the gas station.

L: Can we go to that store? (we passed the grocery store)

Me: What for?

L: I need candy.

Me: What kind?

L: Gummy bears.

Me: I have gummy worms at home.

L: I don't like the sugary ones.

Me: You don't? You had it before and you liked it.

L: I don't like the sugary ones. My mommy said I don't like the sugary ones.

Me: Lucas, you said you don't like the sugary ones, not your mommy.

L: No, Nini, my mommy said I don't like the sugary ones.

Me: Okay, then, if I go to the store this weekend I will get you not sugary ones.

L: Nini, can we go to the small store (that's we he calls the neighborhood MOm and Pop store)?

Me: What for?

L: I need a drink.

Me: YOu have your water.

L: I need juice.

Me: You just had juice at school.

L: But, I need juice.

Me: Lucas, you have lots of juice at home. We don't need to buy juice.

(At the stop sign in front of his grandma's house now)

L: Okay, Nini.

FIVE MINUTES. He's two. TWO!

This is super cool!

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Funny Story

Funny story... A few months ago, Ethan and I had a discussion about his birthday. He said he didn't want to celebrate at school because all the kids blow out the candles. So he said he wanted to have a party at home.

ME: Am I invited to this party?

Ethan: No. Just my mom and my dad and Toria and Allie and Nathan and Grandma and Papa.

Me: Not me?

Ethan: No, but you can make my cake.

Me: HUH!?!??! I'm not invited but I make the cake?

Ethan: Yeah.

Me under my breath: We'll see about that, small boy.


Now every time someone asked about his birthday, he would just say no party at school only at home. Fair enough. About a week before his birthday, he told his mom again that he wanted a party at home with the family. But now EVERYONE had to come or it wouldn't be a party. He told his mom he wanted hot dogs and that I was making the cake. So, his mom called everyone and told them that they were serving hot dogs and french fries, and she'd have other stuff that the adults could eat. Ethan should thank his lucky stars that we had a leaking pipe last Saturday because that had me home after the men left so I could make the cake. Otherwise, I would have been at church and no cake would have been made. There's just something about cooking/baking when dust and paint are flying around.

So then that night I get to talking with his mom and he decides that he must talk to me.

Me: I made your cake.

Ethan: What kind is it?

Me: Vanilla (it was actually white cake, but I knew he associates cake with flavors).

Ethan: When I was at your house yesterday, did I tell you I wanted a vanilla cake?

Me: You didn't say. Is it okay?

Ethan: Yeah, it's okay. What is on top?

Me: What kind of icing do you want? Chocolate or vanilla?

Ethan: What are you going to put on top of it?

Me: What do you want on top of it?

Ethan: Spider Man.

Me: Again?

Ethan: Spider Man. that's what I want.

Me: Okay. Spider Man. I'll draw a web too.

Ethan: Okay.

We did have hot dogs, meatloaf and chicken, salad, rice and french fries. He just wanted to stare at his cake until we could cut it, but the lure of the hot dogs and Lucas being there won over. Here's the much anticipated (by Ethan) cake! I made the spider out of cupcakes, Japanese biscuits and decorating gel. I found the spider man figurines at the hardware (!) store.

Note to self...

...when a student is aiming to run out of the classroom, DO NOT BLOCK THEIR WAY. Did that today and ended getting punched in the stomach and kicked on the shin. Then while dragging him towards the office, kid tried to bite me TWICE. Kid's grandma works at the school. So, after I tell her what happened and what he did, her response was, "SOOOOO SORRY! I'll have him apologize tomorrow. It's from the weekend. The anger's been building up since Friday." It comes out that he can't go on our end-of-the-year field trip because I wrote that he needed an adult to come with him if we go bowling. When one of the other 2nd grade teachers asked why he couldn't go on the field trip, grandma turns around and says, "She can't handle him." She meaning ME. Requiring adult accompaniment for an ADHD child on a field trip with 80 other students was not much to ask. I have one set of eyes and ears. I hate that she turned around and made it my fault that he was upset.

NSD Layouts

Made this slide show of the layouts and card I did in honor of National Scrapbooking Day! Most of the layouts were for challenges on Two Spotted Dogs' message board. Check them out! Two Spotted Dogs

The destruction begins!

Water blasting on the exterior of our house actually started yesterday. Today I got to hear all the noise for most of the day. It was enough to bring on a throbbing ache in my head AND my neck! The yard is a mess...the old paint lays scattered in chips on the grass. Looks like dirty snow. Ick. The contractors also put in the new windows in one of the bedrooms. Turns out I didn't measure one window opening right so they had to jackhammer a 1/2 inch off the opening. The other window was a 1/2 inch short! GRRRR!!! So frustrating, but the windows are in! I had a short reprieve from the noise, dust, and general irritation of having strangers trudge in and out of the house when I went to run errands and make an appearance at China Arts. Everything was 25% OFF in honor of National Scrapbooking Day. I took advantage of that and got some Heidi Swapp ghost flowers, a pack of different colored slick writers, a medium corner rounder, and some other necessary scrapbook goodies that elude me right now. Can you tell they were so important?!?!? They gave out goody bags of SEI paper and some other little things. Shortly after 1pm, I got a call from 76, the gas station, saying that I was one of 100 finalists to win 1 of 20 wii game systems, but you had to be present to win! I debated about going for a few hours and then just decided, "What did I have to lose?" I didn't win. But, while it would have been nicer to be in air conditioned comfort or doing something else I liked, it was nice to be out of the house BY MYSELF in a crowd of people. Know what I mean? Grabbed a Wendy's bacon and mushroom junior double melt meal on the way home...yes, I got fries with that and boy did it taste GOOD! I'll be good tomorrow...

I finally got around to taking pictures of my back bumper. From a distance, the only thing you can really see is the bent tail pipe of the muffler. But, up close, you can see the circles imprinted on the bumper from the idiot's front headlights and a bunch of scratches from his hood. His car looks far worse than mine, but the point is, the bumper would have been perfect had he not been tailing me so closely! Mr. Bautista, my favorite body shop dude, is going to be adamant about getting a new bumper. Let's hope the idiot's insurance company doesn't give me bones about it!

While I was outside snapping pictures of my car and the house, I saw this flower swaying back and forth in the slight breeze. It's planted in our flower bed. I have absolutely no idea what kind of flower it is, but it's SPRING-Y for all you spring folks around the world!

recent layouts

Saturday

I am an avid reader. I have always loved reading. I buy books at Bestseller and Kmart. Sometimes I buy books at the grocery store. I ran out of new books this week. When you're sore from the neck down, you don't feel much like shopping...at least I don't. I had to dig through some old books for one that I didn't remember the plot. Not working out this week, I had lots of time on my hands. What do I do with time on my hands? More computer time! Read a lot of stuff on the internet. Stalked blogs of "famous" scrapbookers. I came across a post from Ali Edwards about how to make a transparency book. Here's my version of Ali's book. She used pre-manufactured transparency frames, library cards, etc. I used scraps...scraps of acetate sheets, cardstock, patterned paper. I used rub ons to put designs on the acetate and post it notecards. Pretty ingenious substitutions if you ask me! I made it mine. Toria's birthday is coming up so I made her this book. I'm not going to post every page here.










The estimates came in for the work we need done on the house. One was $10,000+ and the other was $15,000+. I'm going with the 10. I eliminated some things on there that really didn't need to be done. So the cost should come down to less than $10,000. It's a lot of money, but once all the work is done, it won't need to be done again for a long time (painting), or ever again (the 2 bedroom windows and new security screen doors). I'm hoping they start this coming week!

Since I can't work out...

...I thought I'd make a layout of my workout friends. The picture was taken in January after an intense workout. Monday's workouts are always intense, but still fun. Fun, you say?!?!? WHAT?!??! Yes, fun. It was Jaysson's last class with us. He moved to LA for better and brighter things. Nette, our instructor, just happened to have her camera in her purse (dedicated grandma! That's her in the blue tank top) and someone snapped this photo. This is proof that I do actually workout, that the sweat comes from a great workout, that I can still smile at the end of the hour. A few people who frequent the gym and see and hear us during class think we're flat out nuts. I've heard people say that they are afraid to try out the group cycling class because it looks so hard. Yeah, it's hard the first couple of times. Then you get used to the bike and the intensity of the workout that you yearn for something even more. I don't like to miss workouts...everyone knows I don't like to. But, I'm giving my body a chance to heal completely from last week's accident. Next week when I go back, I'll get asked where I was. Hopefully Pete relayed the news. Anyway, I used the Two Spotted Dogs April "Far Out" kit.

Brace yourself...

Some of my friends were cracking jokes about braces on my body. First, I ended up with braces for my teeth. Now I have a neck brace courtesy of being rear-ended the other day. Roseanna, one of my co-workers, and I went to Oceanview Middle School in Agat for a textbook workshop. BORING. SO DARN BORING. Since I am not familiar with the area, I was following all the traffic laws. At a YIELD sign, I yielded and turned my head left to check for on-coming traffic. Sure enough, the light had just turned green at the base gate so lots of cars coming down the road. One big BOOM! Some idiot rear-ended me. So unapologetic. Never said sorry or asked if we were okay. He asked why I stopped when I had a whole lane. WHOLE LANE!??! It was like a few yards long and I still would have had to yield to oncoming traffic. Then he made a comment that it's why he has insurance. I have to pick up the police report next week, but the officer said the dude was in complete violation of traffic laws. I tried to blow off the pain, but it just wasn't getting any better. Went to see the doctor and came home with a neck brace and a prescription for a muscle relaxant that makes me so sleepy. I only take it at night. The brace sure is uncomfortable. Good thing it's not too hot around here or I would be one very unhappy camper. Brought my car in for regular servicing this morning and asked them to check the alignment. Just got a call a little while ago...alignment's out of whack! Plus, they gave me a list of other things that need to be done. I'll be almost $800 poorer by the end of the day. Yesterday was payday...no wonder why the money just pours out!

Got my braces today!

Got off work early today for my orthodontic appointment. Had my IPOD nano all charged up and ready to go. Got to my appointment early so they got started early. YIPEE!!! It feels so weird. I have a mouth full of metal and porcelain. Haven't tried chewing yet. Had a fruit smoothie for dinner. No pain (yet) and crossing my fingers that the pain isn't a doozy! Only two more days to endure before break. It's going to be a crazy two days...abbreviated schedule to practice for our Chamorro program tomorrow and the actual performance on Friday. We'll be eating lunch at 10:15 am! Who serves LUNCH at that time?!?!? McDonald's milkshake, here I come!

GRRRRRRRRR....

Smashed my front bumper yesterday...tried to fit in a ridiculously small parking spot at KMart. I never park in that part of the lot...don't know why I went that way. The thing is, I didn't even hit...just a brush and the bumper crumpled. It looks beautiful. NOT! Went to my favorite body shop on the way home. Got my bumper ordered.Can't fix the damaged one. The owner is going to pick it up, paint it and then call me to install it. $475 GONE. But, it's a discount price...thank goodness for being a good church-going person and that the body shop guy and his wife admire me for that. He said that the bumpers are made so different now...it's hollow. Now how is that supposed to save me in an accident?!?!? Auntie Margaret will pay for it. YAY. Gotta love her!

I'm getting my braces put in on Wednesday. I took an hour off work for the appointment. I'll be missing Math. Gosh, I'm so heartbroken! By the time Math rolls around, I'm so exhausted and not into the tricks and antics of my students. This will be my last picture with my blasted overbite and slightly crowding bottom teeth.

After a year and a half of being a member of a scrapbooking kit club, I sent a message to one of the owners for cancellation. It's a great club with a new technique to try each month, but it's pricey. I admit that I haven't tried half the techniques they have had. I'm keeping one, Two Spotted Dogs. Mindy was an amazing owner and now Diane has taken over. I love how they get input from the members (at least the active ones on the message board since we're always there!) and listen to what we want. Check them out! http://www.twospotteddogs.com/

My day started at 4 am...

Well, if we want to get technical, my day started well before 4am! The power went out. I heard the air conditioner shut off. I tossed and turned for a while; opened the bathroom and bedroom doors to get some air. I couldn't get online because my internet runs on the cable modem into my wireless router...both of which hook up to POWER. There went that idea. I tried to go back to sleep, but that didn't happen. I finally got out of bed, found the flashlight, a picture, and my Two Spotted Dogs February kit and started scrapping a layout. When I was done with that, I discovered the power had come back on so I hopped into bed. Sleep eluded me. I gave up since I was going to take Lucas to school. Lucas ended up not going to school so we hung out together. He played, watched TV, made a mess, cleaned it up, had lunch (didn't bring anything from home because "My mom ran out of food!). Stinker! Then he wanted to watch "Bob the Builder". We both fell asleep for 1 1/2 hours! Didn't wake up until the phone rang at 2pm. Then Maria brought Jacob over and we hung out for a little while more. I went to my spin class at the gym and added another bruise or two to my right leg. It's looking pretty (NOT).

Braces

I made an appointment to see an orthodontist this week. I thought for sure that I would be laughed out of the office. So I found out that if I don't get my overbite and overjet corrected, eventually my bottom teeth will be hitting the roof of my mouth and push my front teeth farther out. The downside is I can't get a full set of clear braces because of my penchant for grinding and the fact that I have big top teeth in comparison to my small bottom teeth. I wouldn't want to chip my top teeth on the porcelain brackets! So it'll probably be metal bottoms and clear tops. The upside is the ortho dude predicts only 10 months of metal mouth! Maybe my TMJ disorder will go away...one can always hope.

Catching Up (again)!

Being a responsible adult is sometimes so difficult that it is hard to remember how to have fun. Yesterday my mom and I went to the mall with Lucas, Jacob, and Maria. Julian was in class so we made these plans a few days ago. Lucas wanted to go to the candy shop to buy a piece of chocolate because Curious George goes to a candy shop and buys a piece of chocolate. We decided to go to the mall because besides the candy shop, Funtastic Park is there and that place is his favorite. I actually agreed even though I detest the mall here. I needed to get some moisturizer at the Clinique counter at Macys. We went to the candy shop and got some gummies. YUM!!!! Funtastic Park was not open yet so I had to go to the bookstore. I cannot be so close to the bookstore and not go in! I got two new books...that makes somewhere around 10 new books this month! Lucas and I went to Funtastic Park and bought tickets to ride the carousel. He chose the "JarJar" (jaguar) first. I hopped on the pony next to him. I tried to convince him to ride by himself the second time, but he said, "No, Nini, I NEED you." Then looks at me with those eyes of his. Who can resist those eyes? I put him on the elephant then sat in front of him on the bench. Great reminder of what it was like as a kid...free and without worries. Not that I will be riding the carousel more often, but it was an eye-opener to stop and smell the flowers.

I went to my first 5K run/walk last Saturday. It was in support of Read-a-thon and Anita convinced Christine and I to join her, Rosita, and Jean. Up at 4:30 am for that. YIKES! I was so tired by 11am, but didn't get a nap in until later in the afternoon.

Last Sunday was our annual parish picnic. Sort of like Fat Tuesday on Sunday since we always have it right before Ash Wednesday. It was at Ypao Beach. We sun avoiders actually went! Mark brought a few of his folding chairs and set up under a shady tree. The boys went into the water and somehow I ended up in there as well...from the thighs down anyway. Got some great pictures!



Here's to hoping that another month doesn't pass by before I update this blog!

I've been dared!

The Two Spotted Dogs club has a monthly contest. We have to make a layout using a majority of the month's kit. For January, Mindy, the awesome owner, has chosen the Effer Dares for the contest. I've been dared to do a layout based on Dare 25...I WILL NEVER... That's a tough one. I could be funny, wise, silly, introspective. I think that it will be a combination of all. Or not. I already have a list going. Gotta have that layout posted by Friday, eastern time.

On the same wavelength, I've been getting Ali Edwards's AEZine. I picked a word for 2007...RESOLVE. Resolve to be more patient. Resolve to take more time for me. Resolve to be happy. It's a good word.

It's already the 15th day of 2007. Hard to believe since it feels like just the other day I was on vacation. It's been a little difficult getting back into the swing of work. I rather liked being on vacation. Second quarter ends on Wednesday. How random that they've picked the middle of the week to end the quarter. Half the school year is already over...and I've survived thus far. It's not so bad being a teacher in a public school. I'm less stressed out and paid way more! That's a good thing!

It's been too long!

It's been a month since I've posted on my blog. Probably even longer since I wrote in my journal. After working all day and working out at the gym, I'm just too tired to do much else besides curl up in bed and sleep. We had the day off yesterday for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception and the feast of Guam's patron saint, Our Lady of Camarin. Walked for about a mile very slowly. It was more tiring to walk at a snail's pace than to do an hour of spinning. But, the frenetic pace started on Thursday. Argh! Let me start at the beginning...

After work on Thursday, Anita and I went to get pedicures and eyebrow waxes. FUN stuff. It's been so long since I got a pedicure! I've been scared to let anyone touch my feet because of my foot injury (even though it's nowhere near the bottom of my feet). But, Lora, the woman I trust most to cut my hair and wax my brows, was the perfect one to make my feet pretty! I took my time getting ready for our faculty/staff Christmas party. Then being the most obsessed person I know with new issues of magazines and books, I stopped by Bestseller to check things out. Made it to Nikko Hotel just a few minutes before Christy and Cedric. The food was all right (count on a Chamorro to metion the food first!) and I did have fun. We played some games and took pictures. Our 2nd/3rd grade group (Christy, Anita, Claudia and me) won the song and dance contest with "Jingle Bell Rock". I know Anita had fun with my camera!

I stopped by our church on the way home. The Pilgrim statue of our Lady of Fatima was on-island and at our church. It was 10pm and a lot of people were still there. The line to pray in front of the shrine went all the way down the middle aisle and curved around the left side of the church. I was not going to stand in THAT line! Lectors were scheduled to lead the rosary at 1 am, so I made it a point not to fall asleep. I didn't want to miss this opportunity.

So, we're at December 8th...my day started at 6:30 on December 7th and ended at 2:30 on December 8th. Talk about a LONG day! The phone rang at 7:45 am. Good thing Maria and I had made tentative plans to go to mass together. I knew I would get a phone call whether or not we'd be going together. Took a 5-minute nap while I was watching Jacob and then a 10-minute one right before I got ready for the procession. I was extremely tired last night, but had a hard time falling asleep. Plus, I am reading this really intriguing book, "Paradise" by Judith McNaught. I have a hard time putting it down because I want to know how i'ts going to end. That's the kind of reading I do right before falling asleep. I have not yet started Christmas shopping. Maybe it's because I've decided that Toria, Allie, and Nathan can pick out their own stuff so I'm just giving them gift cards. Maybe it's because every time I go to the store I don't see anything that screams, "Buy me for..." I've made a few gifts already. Need to work on a few more.

Adventurous Day

Today was another one of those flexible make up days. I'm not complaining because it means an extra day to sleep in and loll around. I went on an adventure today with my mom, Maria, Lucas, and Jacob. I say adventure because I've never been anywhere with those two kiddos together. Ever. Until today. I'm game for most anything, but I hoped that I wouldn't regret agreeing to this outing. Lucas was in a BAD mood while we were getting ready to leave and Jacob was CRYING. Thankfully, Jacob fell asleep and Lucas got all happy from his mini dessert of whipped cream from Maria's coffee (and a few sips of the coffee, too, but we're not crazy enough to give him the caffeinated stuff). The trek to the mall is a good 20 minute drive. Along the way, Lucas spotted a few cows (they're really fiberglass carabaos, and no one but me corrects him so cows they are). He even spotted one at the Mobil station that Maria and I would have easily missed if we hadn't looked very carefully.

Parked in the north parking garage. Wouldn't you know it--we remembered Jacob's stroller but forgot one for Lucas. Got Jacob's out and Lucas asks, "Where's my stroller?" Yikes! Guess who ended up carrying him around? First stop at the mall...KB Toys. That would spell major disaster, right? Well, Maria told Lucas that we were just there to LOOK, that mommy was looking for a gift for a birthday party they're invited to. Think a two-year-old doesn't understand that reasoning? Think again! This 2-year-old does! He wouldn't touch ANYTHING because nothing in the store was his. I even got a little scolding from him for putting my finger on a package to point something out to him! Will wonders never cease!

Lucas has this thing for balloons...what kid doesn't? He wanted one after seeing the store full of balloons across KB. Maria didn't see it so she told him they would look for the balloon store. Every store we went into, he got a little reminder about behaving so he could get the balloon. Then, what did we find at the second floor entrance to Macy's? No balloons, but another carabao. Had to whip out the camera for that one!

We didn't find the balloon store Maria knew about. So, needing another book fix, Lucas and I went to the bookstore. Two books for me and one "Backyardigans" book for him. He looked at it all the way back to my mom, Maria, and Jacob. Maria finally saw the balloon store on our way out, but by then Lucas had forgotten about it in his excitement over the book. Smart me, as I was carrying him out of the mall, I had him facing away from the balloon store.

Jacob stayed asleep the whole time we were at the mall. What a blessing! Lucas fell asleep on our way to lunch at Tony Roma's, but he woke up when we got inside the restaurant and wanted to get out of Jacob's stroller because, well, it was Jacob's. Maria managed to finish her lunch before Jacob woke up. Pulling up to their house, Lucas was asking me if we were going to my house. When I told him we were going to his house, he said, "You stay for a little bit?" Uh...I was tired. I was promptly forgotten when Julian came out of the house to greet his troop. Thank goodness for small favors!

The big day finally came!

Last Wednesday was my official last day of the doctor-ordered ban on the gym. I went to put on a pair of gym shoes and immediately took them off! My heel was still tender! Not a good thing to experience when you've waited 4 weeks for this day! With Julian in Hong Kong supervising the printing of Yellow Pages Ink's phone book, I spent a couple of hours a night with Maria, Lucas, and Jacob. That helped pull the sting out of not being 100% ready for a workout. After a long short day of sitting around waiting for parents to show up at Parent-Teacher Conference and a yummy lunch of sushi with Christy, I came home and took a very short nap (10 minutes). Maria came by with Jacob...she was on her way to get Lucas at school. I was not supposed to watch him, but we had fun anyway. I got ready very early to go to the gym. I even left early and sat around waiting for the sign-in sheet to be "released". Had a great welcome back and a grueling workout. No pain in the injured area...no busted skin. I'm good to go!

thoughts

Three day weeekend...Columbus day is not a Government of Guam holiday, but students and teachers still got the day off. It's a flexible make-up day and had we missed a day for a natural disaster before today, we would have had classes. It was a pretty yucky weekend. It RAINED all weekend long. If I could have danced, I would have today because it did not rain. No rain means only one thing these days...the perfect time to do laundry and hang it out to dry. Nothing exciting happened this weekend. I didn't do anything fun either. I'm having myself a little pity party right now. Don't mind me!