D.'s looking forward to a bachelor's Labor Day weekend as I pack my bags for an overnight flight to Washington D.C. tomorrow.
As most of my dozen or so faithful readers (where would i be without you? thanks for reading!) may already know, I spent a year as an exchange student beginning on Aug.25, 1991. Now that sixteen years have passed, I am still in touch with my host family.
One of my four "host" sisters is getting married on Saturday, and I'm going! I plan to meet my mom in D.C., and we also get to visit my great high school friend, E. (watchusgo.blogspot) her husband, and their two adorable kids! So excited.
Of course, I'm revving my engines (currently fueled by caffeine) but the trip means I'll be offline for the next several days.
Have a great Labor Day weekend! Fall is shifting into full swing, and with it visitors to our home. Yay!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Pizza Hut, Pizza Hut, Kentucky Fried Chicken and a Pizza Hut
D. and I drove over to the local Firestone last night to leave my trusty '99 sentra GXE for an oil change, tire rotation and alignment. The car (also named Luna if you didn't know) turns *8* years old this Monday; I still remember the trepidation I felt as I drove it off the lot on Calle Ocho in Miami on Labor Day 1999! It was to be ready today at six. I received a call around 4 that it would actually be ready at 7 (closing time). D. had dropped me at work this morning so he could bring me back to the car tonight without having to fit the bike anywhere. Since we had a little time to kill, I begged for a dinner stop at the local Pizza Hut, only a stone's throw up the road from Firestone. (Ok, maybe several stones.) In any case, whether D. agreed due to the heat (108 in the shade) or his pure, simple, amiability, we pulled into the the red-roofed faux brick family pizza pie standby at five after six.
That's when the adventure began. Pizza Hut is not a favorite of my husband's, having been raised on family owned pizza parlors. He also prefers the thin crusts (not a huge bread eater in general) Luckily this particular PH included a WingStop franchise. Wings do make him smile. We walked inside. It was mid-way between a regular sit-down PH and the new carryout only ones. A small dining room took up the front part of the building, with the familiar shuttered windows and pub glass style lamps hanging over the booths. A few video games stood in the corners. One man with a leg splint and a motorized wheelchair parked out front munched a medium pie. As soon as we ordered (medium pepperoni and pineapple pan pizza for me, 10 pack of wings for my sweetie), I headed to the ladies room. It was locked. I turned back and approached the counter, trying to determine whether today's public restroom key would be attached to an oversized soup ladle or a wire coat hanger as so many SoCal establishments opt for. Instead, this key swung from a basic brass ring. No doubt crawling with... (I'll leave it to your imagination). I chose a stall and finding no hook on the door, gingerly laid the key ring on the back of the toilet tank. As I turned away, I realized that the metallic clanging and clattering sound I heard could only be the ricochet of that key ring, falling into oblivion. Had it gone into the toilet? That would have been lucky. At least the water was clear. No. This little ring had fallen completely BEHIND the toilet into the nether regions of the stall, draped in wrinkled paper and muck.
I took a deep breath, slid the (full) wastepaper can (with no lid) away from the wall, and leaned forward. I was wearing, in case you may find this relevant, a white skirt. I managed to retrieve the key ring, made my way to the spattered sink, and slid the ring over my wrist bracelet style, as I used a paper towel to finagle my way past the questionable faucet and the doorknob.
But wait, we haven't even found our table yet!
When I exited the restroom, D. was standing across the room by a booth with red vinyl seats and a window view. This is significant, because two out of the eight or so windows in the place are blocked by a view of the cement wall next door. D. holds out a cup, and I turn to fill it with rootbeer at the soda fountain. I glance at the counter for some napkins to wipe off the table; the napkin holder is empty. I spy a small pile of 5-8 napkins on the far side of the counter and make haste. I know I will need these supplies. My second approach to the table reveals not just a few scattered crumbs, but an absolutely disgusting sticky mess of a surface to which my original 'dusting" napkins actually STICKS. I survey the room. All the tabletops are in an equal condition. Many of you who know me well know that when hungry, I am not terribly picky about my tabletops. I could not bear to set a plate on this table. Imagining the breeding droves of bacteria on the kitchen wipes, I retreat to the soda fountain for some emergency ice cubes. I proceed to wipe down the entire table with melting ice cubes and 4 paper napkins. D. and I are laughing the whole time.
After disposing of the cleaning supplies, D. and I sit down to wait for our food and begin to discuss our new budget. My first payday is Friday, and now that I am paid once a month, we figure it is a fairyly serious conversation to have. Until the quarter guys walk in. They are here, they report to the PH counter man (pizzista?) to refill the toy vending machines and collect the quarters. How interesting, I think fleetingly. Imagining their disappointment when 4 or 5 measly coins drop out of the bottoms. After all, I conclude logically. There are no children here now. Why would there be any quarters in those old Atari style games? Twenty minutes and several thousand coins later, our ears are numb. We are laughing again. "Have you ever been in a place when they were emptying the quarters?" I asked D. He shakes his head. "Me neither." I laugh.
Regardless of all this, I am happily appeased when the pizza arrives. It is just like I remember. Thick, soft, and doughy.
I will still have one every five or ten years. But it will probably come from the carryout stand.
That's when the adventure began. Pizza Hut is not a favorite of my husband's, having been raised on family owned pizza parlors. He also prefers the thin crusts (not a huge bread eater in general) Luckily this particular PH included a WingStop franchise. Wings do make him smile. We walked inside. It was mid-way between a regular sit-down PH and the new carryout only ones. A small dining room took up the front part of the building, with the familiar shuttered windows and pub glass style lamps hanging over the booths. A few video games stood in the corners. One man with a leg splint and a motorized wheelchair parked out front munched a medium pie. As soon as we ordered (medium pepperoni and pineapple pan pizza for me, 10 pack of wings for my sweetie), I headed to the ladies room. It was locked. I turned back and approached the counter, trying to determine whether today's public restroom key would be attached to an oversized soup ladle or a wire coat hanger as so many SoCal establishments opt for. Instead, this key swung from a basic brass ring. No doubt crawling with... (I'll leave it to your imagination). I chose a stall and finding no hook on the door, gingerly laid the key ring on the back of the toilet tank. As I turned away, I realized that the metallic clanging and clattering sound I heard could only be the ricochet of that key ring, falling into oblivion. Had it gone into the toilet? That would have been lucky. At least the water was clear. No. This little ring had fallen completely BEHIND the toilet into the nether regions of the stall, draped in wrinkled paper and muck.
I took a deep breath, slid the (full) wastepaper can (with no lid) away from the wall, and leaned forward. I was wearing, in case you may find this relevant, a white skirt. I managed to retrieve the key ring, made my way to the spattered sink, and slid the ring over my wrist bracelet style, as I used a paper towel to finagle my way past the questionable faucet and the doorknob.
But wait, we haven't even found our table yet!
When I exited the restroom, D. was standing across the room by a booth with red vinyl seats and a window view. This is significant, because two out of the eight or so windows in the place are blocked by a view of the cement wall next door. D. holds out a cup, and I turn to fill it with rootbeer at the soda fountain. I glance at the counter for some napkins to wipe off the table; the napkin holder is empty. I spy a small pile of 5-8 napkins on the far side of the counter and make haste. I know I will need these supplies. My second approach to the table reveals not just a few scattered crumbs, but an absolutely disgusting sticky mess of a surface to which my original 'dusting" napkins actually STICKS. I survey the room. All the tabletops are in an equal condition. Many of you who know me well know that when hungry, I am not terribly picky about my tabletops. I could not bear to set a plate on this table. Imagining the breeding droves of bacteria on the kitchen wipes, I retreat to the soda fountain for some emergency ice cubes. I proceed to wipe down the entire table with melting ice cubes and 4 paper napkins. D. and I are laughing the whole time.
After disposing of the cleaning supplies, D. and I sit down to wait for our food and begin to discuss our new budget. My first payday is Friday, and now that I am paid once a month, we figure it is a fairyly serious conversation to have. Until the quarter guys walk in. They are here, they report to the PH counter man (pizzista?) to refill the toy vending machines and collect the quarters. How interesting, I think fleetingly. Imagining their disappointment when 4 or 5 measly coins drop out of the bottoms. After all, I conclude logically. There are no children here now. Why would there be any quarters in those old Atari style games? Twenty minutes and several thousand coins later, our ears are numb. We are laughing again. "Have you ever been in a place when they were emptying the quarters?" I asked D. He shakes his head. "Me neither." I laugh.
Regardless of all this, I am happily appeased when the pizza arrives. It is just like I remember. Thick, soft, and doughy.
I will still have one every five or ten years. But it will probably come from the carryout stand.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Dukes of Hazzard etc.
Our new hometown is a mixture of small-town Americana and twenty-first century community with a side of suburbia. What I'm also realizing is that I am now living within a five mile radius of where many of my favorite shows have been filmed. In addition to Melody Ranch Studios(opened 1915), which I mentioned yesterday, Disney's Golden Oak Ranch is nearby. Parts of Dukes of Hazzard* were filmed there. It was acquired in 1959.
Other shows filmed in or around the SCV include HBO's Big Love (Mentryville), Showtime's Weeds (Stevenson Ranch), Knight Rider, Charlie's Angels, and Melrose Place!
In particular, Showtime's Weeds, which relates the experience of a pot-dealing suburban mom living in the fictional town of Agrestic, boasts a satirical viewpoint of the cookie-cutter SUV driving non-urban lifestyle of the area where it's filmed. Though I haven't seen an episode of the show, (now beginning it's third season), I was immediately taken in by it's theme song, sung along with the trailer by Elvis Costello. P.S. the fountain shown in the trailer is in front of a neighborhood where we house-hunted!
*As a child, I had a full set of Dukes of Hazzard matchbox style cars, including Boss Hog's fancy white convertible, Daisy's truck, and of course the red main event! I used to play for hours!
Other shows filmed in or around the SCV include HBO's Big Love (Mentryville), Showtime's Weeds (Stevenson Ranch), Knight Rider, Charlie's Angels, and Melrose Place!
In particular, Showtime's Weeds, which relates the experience of a pot-dealing suburban mom living in the fictional town of Agrestic, boasts a satirical viewpoint of the cookie-cutter SUV driving non-urban lifestyle of the area where it's filmed. Though I haven't seen an episode of the show, (now beginning it's third season), I was immediately taken in by it's theme song, sung along with the trailer by Elvis Costello. P.S. the fountain shown in the trailer is in front of a neighborhood where we house-hunted!
*As a child, I had a full set of Dukes of Hazzard matchbox style cars, including Boss Hog's fancy white convertible, Daisy's truck, and of course the red main event! I used to play for hours!
PARK(ing) Day
I've been reading Andrea Scher's Superhero Blog for several years. She is a Bay area artist and newish mama who has a delicious line of Superhero jewelry. I've only ever bought one piece (as a 30th bday gift for a dear friend) but I enjoy reading her journal from time to time. She is married to a creative designer type (Matthew Passmore) who comes up with amazing community projects with his art collective, REBAR. The three most memorable to me are:
the desert library
the amphitheater designed from car panels and other recycled products
and
PARK(ing) day, when folks build temporary parks in metered parking spots nationwide! What a concept! Check out the
link~this year's PARK(ing) day occurs on Sept. 21! (happy bday E!)
http://www.superherodesigns.com/journal/archives/001124.html
view REBAR trailer here:
Andrea's Superhero Jewelry/Journal:
http://www.superherodesigns.com/journal/
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Saturday afternoon
A picture to entice you into reading the post! (The catrun of Lu's dreams)
Many of you may find this *boring* (as I sometimes do when I come across these on other blogs), but I feel the need to provide a checklist of what was accomplished today:
*3 loads of laundry
*1 1/2 loads of dishwasher dishes
*new stained glass window installation by front door (D. managed this project from start to finish! He found the artist, described what we wanted in our custom window, and supervised today)
*mulched the backyard (in hopes of saving my shrubs/plantings? some leaves are turning white and then withering. my friend suggested switching to morning watering, instead of afternoon.) This after hunting down the cedar mulch at the local OSH
*vacuumed the new carpet
*washed out the litter pan and replaced with fresh crystals
*returned library books**
*cleaned all three toilets
*cleaned our master bedroom closet
*cleaned desk area/shredded/filed paperwork
*balanced checkbook and organized receipts
*printed photos of my students to hang on the "we follow the rules" board
*printed colorful signs for my learning/play centers
*started a "to do" list for my trip to Washington D.C. next weekend (one of my exchange student sisters is getting hitched on Saturday!)
*made bed with fresh linens
*hung curtain in doorway between master bed and master bath
Needless to say, it's been a busy day!
I also managed to take a quick backroad side trip to an area near us where The Masters College is located. Just a few yards away is the entrance to Melody Ranch Picture Studios, a working filming location. J.O- you might be interested in this as they film "Deadwood" there. It's about 3 miles from us. Here are the links:
www.masters.edu
www.melodyranchstudio.com
Sorry, no stained glass window pix yet; the putty has to set for two day and there are little wooden holders all over it. Soon, though! One clue: the window includes two beautiful green vines and 11 leaves!
**I have accumulated an embarrassingly large library fine of $5.90 in only 3 months of living here. (Truthfully, it should be
$7.40 but I paid $1.50 off a couple weeks ago.) I blame the lack of reminder emails like I used to get in L>A> Actually, I blame myself. Oh, well. I will try to be better about this. I guess that will have to come out of the *$ (starbucks) fund.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Can you imagine?
Teaching all morning and having lunch at home?
Tonight is back-to-school night so it was a minimum day at school, meaning all teachers can leave once their kids are gone and return later this afternoon. How about that? In addition, bus transportation is provided to parents for back to school night if needed. :)
So, I surprised lu midday (around 1 pm) and she said hi, but really couldn't care less. I had interrupted naptime, so she disappeared into the woodwork. Even the smell of my tuna melt cooking didn't tempt her.
Tonight is back-to-school night so it was a minimum day at school, meaning all teachers can leave once their kids are gone and return later this afternoon. How about that? In addition, bus transportation is provided to parents for back to school night if needed. :)
So, I surprised lu midday (around 1 pm) and she said hi, but really couldn't care less. I had interrupted naptime, so she disappeared into the woodwork. Even the smell of my tuna melt cooking didn't tempt her.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
A quiet night at home
Lu and I are hanging out tonight; D. is working late. I was reading a Young Adult novel (Briar Rose*, by Jane Yolen) out back on the patio as dusk subtly commandeered the afternoon light. Lu finally descended from her stairtop stainmaster throne and realized I had abandoned her. After a few cock-eyed looks she reached up the glass door with her two front paws and began furiously pawing at the door. I don't think it was "let me out", but rather, "how dare you go out there when I am waiting to PLAY!" So, I flipped the book haphazardly on the foot rest, pages splayed to reveal the plot-thickening meat of page 97 of Ms. Yolen's tome. I made my way inside and played. Lu's top three game choices right now:
1. chase (this means up, down, all around the house) (includes sub-game of hide and seek) she hides, you seek!
2. volleyball (ponytail holders, catnip mice, or milk bottle rings are all fodder for this game)
3. yoga (various contortions and stretches I cannot even begin to simulate with human anatomy)
*highly recommended, ages 14 and up (well, maybe 16 depending on your p.o.v)
an artful, historically meaningful novelization of the ancient tale of Sleeping Beauty
see: on the nightstand
1. chase (this means up, down, all around the house) (includes sub-game of hide and seek) she hides, you seek!
2. volleyball (ponytail holders, catnip mice, or milk bottle rings are all fodder for this game)
3. yoga (various contortions and stretches I cannot even begin to simulate with human anatomy)
*highly recommended, ages 14 and up (well, maybe 16 depending on your p.o.v)
an artful, historically meaningful novelization of the ancient tale of Sleeping Beauty
see: on the nightstand
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Robyn
Today is the birthday of my mother-in-law, Robyn. She passed away three years ago tomorrow, and I miss her. I was lucky enough to spend time with her, though. I wanted to share the ways I keep her alive. Since I have fewer memories of experiences with her to think about, most of these are symbolic objects.
* the garden bunny~ given by D's parents the first year we dated. It sits under the first hanging light in our small backyard garden; a flowered ring around it's neck. It is a sentry and guardian angel of our home.
* my fuzzy white and baby blue footie socks ~ also a gift from them the first christmas we dated; whenever I wear them I feel comforted.
*the yellow gerbera daisy flower decoration in the kitchen~ sent by D's parents the first spring we dated. (I also used Gerbera daisies on my wedding cake and in my bridesmaids' bouquets...in the wedding colors of burnt orange and cranberry, as well as a few yellows thrown in to symbolize the bright sunny yellow flower in my kitchen which reminds me of R's warm, sunny disposition.)
*up until this year, I had several small bottles of bath and bodyworks bubble bath from D's folks, which originally arrived in a ceramic bath tub container along with a small stuffed Arctic seal. When I missed her, or wished I could talk with her, I would take a bubble bath. I used the last of it just before we moved to the new house. The seal, with it's miniature baby blue scarf is waiting in the "future baby box" to be given to R's first grandchild at some point.
These are the small daily ways which help me get through the moments when R's absence hits me like a wave. I cannot even begin to imagine the depth of the feelings of her boys.
Today we will light a candle and leave it burning as we think and talk and remember RR.
* the garden bunny~ given by D's parents the first year we dated. It sits under the first hanging light in our small backyard garden; a flowered ring around it's neck. It is a sentry and guardian angel of our home.
* my fuzzy white and baby blue footie socks ~ also a gift from them the first christmas we dated; whenever I wear them I feel comforted.
*the yellow gerbera daisy flower decoration in the kitchen~ sent by D's parents the first spring we dated. (I also used Gerbera daisies on my wedding cake and in my bridesmaids' bouquets...in the wedding colors of burnt orange and cranberry, as well as a few yellows thrown in to symbolize the bright sunny yellow flower in my kitchen which reminds me of R's warm, sunny disposition.)
*up until this year, I had several small bottles of bath and bodyworks bubble bath from D's folks, which originally arrived in a ceramic bath tub container along with a small stuffed Arctic seal. When I missed her, or wished I could talk with her, I would take a bubble bath. I used the last of it just before we moved to the new house. The seal, with it's miniature baby blue scarf is waiting in the "future baby box" to be given to R's first grandchild at some point.
These are the small daily ways which help me get through the moments when R's absence hits me like a wave. I cannot even begin to imagine the depth of the feelings of her boys.
Today we will light a candle and leave it burning as we think and talk and remember RR.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Happy first day of school!
view behind the k pod...note the mountains. It's a really pretty spot, unfortunately was a bit more hazy than usual when I shot the pic. will try for better ones later in the year!
Although it's not the first day for everyone, it was ours today. What a wonderful day! I started my twelfth year of teaching and feel so organized and ready (it only took a dozen years!) Add to that a tremendously organized school and system with procedures in place and an amazingly supportive PTA (we're talking all bus tags done and first day photos taken, printed, and delivered!) I am truly in heaven!
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Test-ride
Today I timed the bike ride from home to my new school...18 minutes outgoing, 15 minutes incoming. Keep in mind that outgoing is mostly uphill...something I didn't really realize in the car. Of course, that means coming home I can pick up some speed as I feel the wind whip by~ definitely will make the rides worth it. By the way, if I try to rationalize not riding, keep reminding me of the triple whammy of positive reasons to ride:
*getting in shape- built-in cardio
*doing my little part for the environment
*avoiding car payments by conserving what's left of my little 8 yr. old car
My target departure time will be 7 am; I have to be at school at 8. So, this allows for slower riding/resting and/or on really energetic days I will arrive at school with plenty of time to spare!
In other news, D.'s cousin leaves for college tomorrow. She is the oldest of four girls, and we know it's an exciting/emotional time for the whole family! Best of luck, A! We love you!
(ps keep in mind this means she was born while we were in high school! This in turn means that the cute little buttons I've babysat through my high school and college days are now teenagers or even adults! aaack!)
*getting in shape- built-in cardio
*doing my little part for the environment
*avoiding car payments by conserving what's left of my little 8 yr. old car
My target departure time will be 7 am; I have to be at school at 8. So, this allows for slower riding/resting and/or on really energetic days I will arrive at school with plenty of time to spare!
In other news, D.'s cousin leaves for college tomorrow. She is the oldest of four girls, and we know it's an exciting/emotional time for the whole family! Best of luck, A! We love you!
(ps keep in mind this means she was born while we were in high school! This in turn means that the cute little buttons I've babysat through my high school and college days are now teenagers or even adults! aaack!)
Thursday, August 9, 2007
EARTHQUAKE!!!
A 4.5 magnitude earthquake woke us up out of bed just about 20 minutes ago. Those of you who know me well may know I heavily prefer the idea of a hurricane as it can be better prepared for than a temblor. I do have to admit there is a lot less anxiety with an earthquake. It hit at 12:58 and by 1:01 we had located both the cat and the few fallen items from a (crooked) shelf in my yoga room. No aftershocks. (as of yet anyway) but check out the size of the symbol on the USGS site: (yup, it's the big dark orangeish one.) yegads.
In other news, I am knee deep into preparing my new classroom for the upcoming school year. School begins next week. Yay!
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Golden Gate Park- Japanese Tea Garden
On Wednesday, (and I mean a week ago Wed.), we spent the afternoon with a family of four who are relatives of my Bolivian host family from 1991-92. I had met them once before; this is the same family we stayed with on Sunday night. First, we drove to Land's End, which is a view of the Golden Gate Bridge from the far side. Next, we saw The Cliff House and the beach nearby there which is also the location of the former Sutro Baths. From there, we drove to Golden Gate Park and visited the Tea Garden. Again, D. got some lovely shots!
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Alcatraz
Sorry for the lack of posting of late; we've had some wireless router issues. But, having plugged in to D.'s network upstairs I am all set for now. Tuesday morning, we arose bright and early and headed out to Pier 33 to catch the "early bird" ferry over to Alcatraz island. (unfortunately missing breakfast at the Golden Gate Hotel.) We walked a few blocks south of Union Square to Market St. and caught the historic F line streetcar. Alcatraz, meaning literally "seabird" was a very interesting place. We enjoyed our four hour visit immensely, and D. got quite a few great images.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
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