I just made THE BEST stir fry EVER!!
This recipe makes excellent stir fry sauce!!
I'm a stir fry novice -- my last attempt was pretty woeful... but tonight I stir fried red & yellow bell peppers and cabbage in olive oil with garlic & onions - then the sauce, took that and put it in a separate pan that had the sauce and a bit of olive oil simmering; then stir fried broccoli, zucchini, chopped spinach and frozen veg mix with corn, asparagus & a few carrots (I took most of the carrots out since I can't stand cooked carrots - blech).
After stir frying that in olive oil and more garlic and sauce, I put that in with the cabbage mix and stir fried TOFU (!). Me -- and himself loved it!
This was my first time really cooking with tofu - I sliced and cubed it after draining it for only an hour (everything I read says a minimum of two hours, but this was 'firm' tofu so it wasn't as crucial as other types), marinated it in the sauce for 30 minutes and stir fried with the sauce, then finished it up with a bit more olive oil to kinda crisp it up just a little.
I had the peppers already chopped up, so my prep wasn't too bad -- and cooked basmati rice in the rice cooker.
And I watched "Divine Design" during all this too.
I'm just so pleased with my vegetarian meal... and that this will probably become a staple meal in our house (yay -- more veggies!!)
:D :D :D
I'm really excited -- can you tell?
Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
To Be Clear
Just because someone doesn't understand what you're saying, does not mean you are not saying it clearly.
You may not be saying it clearly enough for that person, but it does not mean you deserve attitude and pissy tone because you're "talking in half sentences."
Sometimes a simple, "I don't understand what you are talking about, (are saying, are trying to say, mean....) will let the other person know that more information is needed. All of these things are nicer and don't put the other person on the defense. After the 3rd time of asking, then you might have the right to be annoyed and pissy... perfectly understandable to then flap your arms and raise your voice and blame me for not making sense.
So we're clear then.
You may not be saying it clearly enough for that person, but it does not mean you deserve attitude and pissy tone because you're "talking in half sentences."
Sometimes a simple, "I don't understand what you are talking about, (are saying, are trying to say, mean....) will let the other person know that more information is needed. All of these things are nicer and don't put the other person on the defense. After the 3rd time of asking, then you might have the right to be annoyed and pissy... perfectly understandable to then flap your arms and raise your voice and blame me for not making sense.
So we're clear then.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
15 Years in 10 Bullet Points (Ha!)
The Rules: Think back on the last 15 years of your life. What would you tell someone that you hadn't seen or talked to for 15 years? How would you sum up your life? You get 10 bullet points. A list of 10 things to summarize you.
15 years ago = June 1993.
[1]*I finished my Boston to Florida tour in April of '92 and was working at Tucson Lifestyle Magazine (I think). I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do with my life after graduating with a degree in Public Relations except that I didn't want to work in the field of Public Relations. Or Marketing. Or Business.
[2]*I was working/playing with an independent Musical Theatre Company - the founder of which had amazing and wonderful influences on my life. This was also not always healthy. Without calling it a cult, it was, in fact, a very tight-knit and opposite-world-view group. I love them still. (When I say working, don't think we made money)
[3]*I decided to move in with SJ ~ whom I love very much but haven't heard from her in about 10 years. She and I have food issues -- she dealt with them in the anorexic/bulimic way -- I just ate and ate and ate. I could not afford to live with SJ, and was quite unhappy in our living situation. So the way I changed my situation was to go back to school for my music education degree, cuz that is what I really should have done. I moved back home and to the UA on a full vocal performance scholarship.
[4]*After one semester with a terrible voice professor, I quit. The real reason: I didn't want to work at it, and while I did have a voice prof who was not a teacher, that is just the excuse.
[5]*I worked as a Temp's Temp while wondering what in the heck I was doing (I worked in a Temp Office as the office receptionist/assistant and was sent out if/when someone flaked for a job and didn't show up). That ended badly for details I don't remember, but learned how difficult it is to work in a small office and that clear communication is critical to success.
[6]* Summer of Hell -- I worked as a karaoke waitress, a coffeeshop waitress, threw newspapers in the a.m. with my mother, worked part time in retail at Lane Bryant. I don't know when that was exactly, but it was in these years sometime -- when I was living with SJ, I think. And yeah, still doing the theatre. 5 part-time jobs... no money... and throwing newspapers with my mom... aw crap.
[7]* 1995 - quit the theatre, went back and worked at American Airlines and loved it. Went back to barbershop. Living at home. Mom moved to San Diego -- life was kinda hell, actually in many many ways.
[8]* 1997 - met himself on AOL in a random chat room and in 1998 we married and I moved to Scotland until 2004, at which time I moved back to the USA and started working for INFONXX (?) a cell phone information service. Life improves dramatically for many many reasons. After a year in Scotland I started looking for how to make myself happy, and life is a constant surprise (not all pleasant) for my endlessly patient and wonderful himself. Coming to America was sort of an ultimatum regarding how we lived our life.
[9]* 2005 - himself joins me after selling our Scotland house and we made probably $30,000 after all was said and done.... bought the van, himself adjusted for 6 months (which means he bummed around and acquired stuff) while I worked as an Activities Assistant for an independent senior retirement community. Life is fabulous.
[10]* Present - He's been working 2 years for the best call center in our town, making great money when you consider where we live and what he is doing; I'm going into my second year at a job I love (making history here), we just bought our first American House and Rascal, our four-footed fur friend completes our family. Life is life, but really great in the great scheme of things.
------------------
stolen from Life is Short ~ Partake in Happy Hour.
Now You Play :D
15 years ago = June 1993.
[1]*I finished my Boston to Florida tour in April of '92 and was working at Tucson Lifestyle Magazine (I think). I had absolutely no clue what I wanted to do with my life after graduating with a degree in Public Relations except that I didn't want to work in the field of Public Relations. Or Marketing. Or Business.
[2]*I was working/playing with an independent Musical Theatre Company - the founder of which had amazing and wonderful influences on my life. This was also not always healthy. Without calling it a cult, it was, in fact, a very tight-knit and opposite-world-view group. I love them still. (When I say working, don't think we made money)
[3]*I decided to move in with SJ ~ whom I love very much but haven't heard from her in about 10 years. She and I have food issues -- she dealt with them in the anorexic/bulimic way -- I just ate and ate and ate. I could not afford to live with SJ, and was quite unhappy in our living situation. So the way I changed my situation was to go back to school for my music education degree, cuz that is what I really should have done. I moved back home and to the UA on a full vocal performance scholarship.
[4]*After one semester with a terrible voice professor, I quit. The real reason: I didn't want to work at it, and while I did have a voice prof who was not a teacher, that is just the excuse.
[5]*I worked as a Temp's Temp while wondering what in the heck I was doing (I worked in a Temp Office as the office receptionist/assistant and was sent out if/when someone flaked for a job and didn't show up). That ended badly for details I don't remember, but learned how difficult it is to work in a small office and that clear communication is critical to success.
[6]* Summer of Hell -- I worked as a karaoke waitress, a coffeeshop waitress, threw newspapers in the a.m. with my mother, worked part time in retail at Lane Bryant. I don't know when that was exactly, but it was in these years sometime -- when I was living with SJ, I think. And yeah, still doing the theatre. 5 part-time jobs... no money... and throwing newspapers with my mom... aw crap.
[7]* 1995 - quit the theatre, went back and worked at American Airlines and loved it. Went back to barbershop. Living at home. Mom moved to San Diego -- life was kinda hell, actually in many many ways.
[8]* 1997 - met himself on AOL in a random chat room and in 1998 we married and I moved to Scotland until 2004, at which time I moved back to the USA and started working for INFONXX (?) a cell phone information service. Life improves dramatically for many many reasons. After a year in Scotland I started looking for how to make myself happy, and life is a constant surprise (not all pleasant) for my endlessly patient and wonderful himself. Coming to America was sort of an ultimatum regarding how we lived our life.
[9]* 2005 - himself joins me after selling our Scotland house and we made probably $30,000 after all was said and done.... bought the van, himself adjusted for 6 months (which means he bummed around and acquired stuff) while I worked as an Activities Assistant for an independent senior retirement community. Life is fabulous.
[10]* Present - He's been working 2 years for the best call center in our town, making great money when you consider where we live and what he is doing; I'm going into my second year at a job I love (making history here), we just bought our first American House and Rascal, our four-footed fur friend completes our family. Life is life, but really great in the great scheme of things.
------------------
stolen from Life is Short ~ Partake in Happy Hour.
Now You Play :D
Some Things Added
I've just added a couple things to the "Things Holding My Attention" list --
[1] Being Green, Frugal, Clean & Healthy
[2] Link to Natural Clean House
[3] Link to Flylady (Fly = Finally Loving Yourself; help for those living in CHAOS = Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)
Being Green is usually cheaper -- using vinegar, lemon, baking soda etc... rather than the chemicals... easier on old pipes, safer to use in general, and did I mention way cheaper? I struggle with recycling because I don't always move the item to be put in the recycling bin off the counter/surface right away, so it ends up being clutter -- then it has been there so long that I don't see it... and well -- you see the downward spiral of adding to my clutter disease.
So -- I'm not going to obsess about recycling or the green thing, it is mostly related to being frugal.
Being Frugal -- himself and I went to a financial planner a year ago last May -- and we have yet to really put it in place. Lefty (isn't that a great name for a financial planner?) gave us some great tools -- and now that we're kind of settled and making our new house a home, we need to get on the stick (or is that phrase get off the stick?) and start making some progress.
My first goal is to get my student loans paid off. No self-judgement, no beating myself up, just stand up and admit that I have not been the most responsible loan payee (cough cough sputter).
They're over $30,000.00. Yikes. Ouch. Now out there in cyber space for everyone to see. Accountability. Follow-through. Responsible. All those grown-up words. blech.
I like to spend, himself likes to save.
We'll have 3 "save to spend" accounts and himself will be in charge of the "save for the sake of saving" account.
We thought three things:
Travel (home to Scotland)
House (big items)
Hobbies (Sweet Adeline travel & events, woodworking tools, craft events/weekends, tools & supplies)
There is also the Car Account -- when my car is paid off, I'll still put that amount of car payment into an account, and while we may not be able to buy a car with cash on the next vehicle, we should be able to on the vehicle after that.
At least, that is what I think we decided -- it was over a year ago we had that conversation.
Key to the process [For ME!] is reminding ourselves what the goal is -- Lefty recommends that before going to sleep at night, we stand in a hug with each other, read over our lists of "wants"(the things we're saving for) -- to remind ourselves of the reasons we're not buying the iced coffee from McDonald's or the fun bags o' crap from Big Lots.
I'm the one that needs the reminder - the visualization of what it will be like when: -- I have no more payments to student loans; when we have a beautiful garden & Arizona Room, when I have an organized craft/music studio, when himself can build furniture for us...
Being Clean
Flylady. (she's now a link in the same area)
How it works for me:
[1] I can do anything for 15 minutes. Even if I don't want to do it, I will set the timer (!) and for 15 minutes I will clean up my sink/kitchen area. If it doesn't take 15 minutes I can quit, or, depending on my mood, I can extend my zone. I use this for everything I don't "feel" like doing -- which is a lot, I'm afraid.
[2] Soap is soap - swish & wipe the bathroom.
I've acquired probably 25 washcloths because the one I'm done using gets a squirt of generic cleaner and I wipe down the toilet & sink. The shower got sprayed before I got out. (with vinegar! -- a natural disinfectant!!)
[3] I don't have to move furniture to clean, and using a feather duster is okay.
[4] You can't organize Clutter.
There are other excellent tools she helps develop habits with... but those are the ones I try to remember all the time.
Being Healthy
I'm working out -- and now I'm feeling better and it is getting easier, so I'm more likely to keep at it -- AND I have a couple buddies who meet me there.
I'm seriously considering going to a plant-based diet. I need a plan, and my first goal is to do it for 40 days. I'll need to have my list of snack foods, and it will take making my lunch and taking it with me, and again -- having a PLAN. When I start I'll keep ya posted.
That would be huge (because plant-based means vegan, and I'm doing it for health. There are other benefits to the planet blah blah blah - yada yada yada... but I don't want to end up with a medicine cabinet full of medications in the next 10 years).
The China Study is a book that (supposedly) explains how a no-animal-protein lifestyle can reverse some serious diseases (heart, diabetes, cancer). I'm still reading -- and I may change my mind...
but let me say that 20 years ago I really really considered going veggie -- lacto-ovo. I like beef, I like chicken... but I love pasta, cheese (!), eggs (!), rice, beans & almost all vegetables (except for weird lettuci [lettuces?], sprouts (grass), tomatoes & mushrooms) -- I'm open to I think everything else!
ETA: I think Dr. Andrew Weil, author of "Eating Well for Optimum Health" is probably the most balanced viewpoint I've come across so far... and the more I research Vegan/Vegetarianism I appreciate that.
[1] Being Green, Frugal, Clean & Healthy
[2] Link to Natural Clean House
[3] Link to Flylady (Fly = Finally Loving Yourself; help for those living in CHAOS = Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome)
Being Green is usually cheaper -- using vinegar, lemon, baking soda etc... rather than the chemicals... easier on old pipes, safer to use in general, and did I mention way cheaper? I struggle with recycling because I don't always move the item to be put in the recycling bin off the counter/surface right away, so it ends up being clutter -- then it has been there so long that I don't see it... and well -- you see the downward spiral of adding to my clutter disease.
So -- I'm not going to obsess about recycling or the green thing, it is mostly related to being frugal.
Being Frugal -- himself and I went to a financial planner a year ago last May -- and we have yet to really put it in place. Lefty (isn't that a great name for a financial planner?) gave us some great tools -- and now that we're kind of settled and making our new house a home, we need to get on the stick (or is that phrase get off the stick?) and start making some progress.
My first goal is to get my student loans paid off. No self-judgement, no beating myself up, just stand up and admit that I have not been the most responsible loan payee (cough cough sputter).
They're over $30,000.00. Yikes. Ouch. Now out there in cyber space for everyone to see. Accountability. Follow-through. Responsible. All those grown-up words. blech.
I like to spend, himself likes to save.
We'll have 3 "save to spend" accounts and himself will be in charge of the "save for the sake of saving" account.
We thought three things:
Travel (home to Scotland)
House (big items)
Hobbies (Sweet Adeline travel & events, woodworking tools, craft events/weekends, tools & supplies)
There is also the Car Account -- when my car is paid off, I'll still put that amount of car payment into an account, and while we may not be able to buy a car with cash on the next vehicle, we should be able to on the vehicle after that.
At least, that is what I think we decided -- it was over a year ago we had that conversation.
Key to the process [For ME!] is reminding ourselves what the goal is -- Lefty recommends that before going to sleep at night, we stand in a hug with each other, read over our lists of "wants"(the things we're saving for) -- to remind ourselves of the reasons we're not buying the iced coffee from McDonald's or the fun bags o' crap from Big Lots.
I'm the one that needs the reminder - the visualization of what it will be like when: -- I have no more payments to student loans; when we have a beautiful garden & Arizona Room, when I have an organized craft/music studio, when himself can build furniture for us...
Being Clean
Flylady. (she's now a link in the same area)
How it works for me:
[1] I can do anything for 15 minutes. Even if I don't want to do it, I will set the timer (!) and for 15 minutes I will clean up my sink/kitchen area. If it doesn't take 15 minutes I can quit, or, depending on my mood, I can extend my zone. I use this for everything I don't "feel" like doing -- which is a lot, I'm afraid.
[2] Soap is soap - swish & wipe the bathroom.
I've acquired probably 25 washcloths because the one I'm done using gets a squirt of generic cleaner and I wipe down the toilet & sink. The shower got sprayed before I got out. (with vinegar! -- a natural disinfectant!!)
[3] I don't have to move furniture to clean, and using a feather duster is okay.
[4] You can't organize Clutter.
There are other excellent tools she helps develop habits with... but those are the ones I try to remember all the time.
Being Healthy
I'm working out -- and now I'm feeling better and it is getting easier, so I'm more likely to keep at it -- AND I have a couple buddies who meet me there.
I'm seriously considering going to a plant-based diet. I need a plan, and my first goal is to do it for 40 days. I'll need to have my list of snack foods, and it will take making my lunch and taking it with me, and again -- having a PLAN. When I start I'll keep ya posted.
That would be huge (because plant-based means vegan, and I'm doing it for health. There are other benefits to the planet blah blah blah - yada yada yada... but I don't want to end up with a medicine cabinet full of medications in the next 10 years).
The China Study is a book that (supposedly) explains how a no-animal-protein lifestyle can reverse some serious diseases (heart, diabetes, cancer). I'm still reading -- and I may change my mind...
but let me say that 20 years ago I really really considered going veggie -- lacto-ovo. I like beef, I like chicken... but I love pasta, cheese (!), eggs (!), rice, beans & almost all vegetables (except for weird lettuci [lettuces?], sprouts (grass), tomatoes & mushrooms) -- I'm open to I think everything else!
ETA: I think Dr. Andrew Weil, author of "Eating Well for Optimum Health" is probably the most balanced viewpoint I've come across so far... and the more I research Vegan/Vegetarianism I appreciate that.
Really....?!!!!
Seriously.... dumbest product ever. And I don't even have kids!
I found the link at this blog about frugality, budgeting etc...
I'm really really hot.
I hate being hot. Really hate it. I don't want to get in the pool yet because then I'll waste the day lounging in the pool... that will be my reward this afternoon...
But I'm really hot.
I found the link at this blog about frugality, budgeting etc...
I'm really really hot.
I hate being hot. Really hate it. I don't want to get in the pool yet because then I'll waste the day lounging in the pool... that will be my reward this afternoon...
But I'm really hot.
I'm Back
From my week long trip to CA -- from Tracy to Sacramento to Orange to Huntington Beach to La Verne...
Safe and Sound -- very warm, weary and full of thoughts.
I'm reading The China Study.
I'm still scrapping for my client... I made $400 for my efforts this time, AND my car got washed and practically detailed inside -- I hardly recognize it! It is bee-yew-ti-ful!!! :D
I saw my freshman year college roommate and had dinner with her at Soup Plantation aka Sweet Tomatoes 'round here....
Saw my favorite cousin -- and that was a good, needed visit.
I saw another friend from Scotland who lives in Paradise in Huntington Beach -- but it was hot for the beach -- 85 and most folks don't have A/C...
Stayed with my brother and his wife who are busy getting their house ready to rent and waiting for everything to go through on the house they're buying.
It was whirlwind, busy, and I'm tired. But so glad I went!
Safe and Sound -- very warm, weary and full of thoughts.
I'm reading The China Study.
I'm still scrapping for my client... I made $400 for my efforts this time, AND my car got washed and practically detailed inside -- I hardly recognize it! It is bee-yew-ti-ful!!! :D
I saw my freshman year college roommate and had dinner with her at Soup Plantation aka Sweet Tomatoes 'round here....
Saw my favorite cousin -- and that was a good, needed visit.
I saw another friend from Scotland who lives in Paradise in Huntington Beach -- but it was hot for the beach -- 85 and most folks don't have A/C...
Stayed with my brother and his wife who are busy getting their house ready to rent and waiting for everything to go through on the house they're buying.
It was whirlwind, busy, and I'm tired. But so glad I went!
Friday, June 13, 2008
pat pat pat
I'd like to boast a little.... 40 minutes on the elliptical at incline 4 - resistance 32.
Whoo hoo me!!
AND I was talking to my friend at. the. same. time. breathing, exercising... it just is too much ;-)
Whoo hoo me!!
AND I was talking to my friend at. the. same. time. breathing, exercising... it just is too much ;-)
Happy Birthday Dad
Today is my dad's birthday ~ and he told me a few weeks ago that he was actually born on a Friday the 13th, and 13 has always been a lucky number for him.
So - in honor of it being Friday the 13th, here are 13 things about my dad.
[1] He goes by his middle name (which my sister tried to do with her son, but is really hasn't stuck I don't think)
[2] My dad is an excellent card player (I was warned and told, but saw it for myself when we all sat and played hearts, my husband kept up pretty well, I must say)
[3] My dad sleeps naked (this is a great story, for a much later post)
[4] He tells a good story/joke/anecdote
[5] My dad is incredibly good looking, if I do say so myself!
[6] My dad is the younger of two siblings, he has an older sister, who, by all accounts for the last 30+ years has been (sometimes affectionately, sometimes not) called "Crazy Aunt C."
[7] My dad graduated from Pepperdine with a degree in history and has consistently worked in social services related to youth services/youth help since then (I'm pretty sure... skipping the forays into selling cars with his uncle; helping to run a short-order restaurant with my grandfather; trying his hand at farming -- there may be some other short-lived career adventures, but to put it in broad strokes - he's always had the heart to improve conditions of others.)
[8] My dad almost always plays devil's advocate in conversations & discussions.
[9] My dad is dyed in the blue denim liberal.
[10] When I start thinking about how much I love him I start to cry.
[11] I love it when he calls me "Blondie"
[12] In 4th grade I spent one semester living with my dad, step-mom, step-brother, half-sister & half-brother on a farm outside Alex, Oklahoma. What a change from my life as an only child of a single full-time working mom.
[13] He's got a great voice and an aptitude for music -- I wish he could/would find more joy in that in himself.
I love you dad!
So - in honor of it being Friday the 13th, here are 13 things about my dad.
[1] He goes by his middle name (which my sister tried to do with her son, but is really hasn't stuck I don't think)
[2] My dad is an excellent card player (I was warned and told, but saw it for myself when we all sat and played hearts, my husband kept up pretty well, I must say)
[3] My dad sleeps naked (this is a great story, for a much later post)
[4] He tells a good story/joke/anecdote
[5] My dad is incredibly good looking, if I do say so myself!
[6] My dad is the younger of two siblings, he has an older sister, who, by all accounts for the last 30+ years has been (sometimes affectionately, sometimes not) called "Crazy Aunt C."
[7] My dad graduated from Pepperdine with a degree in history and has consistently worked in social services related to youth services/youth help since then (I'm pretty sure... skipping the forays into selling cars with his uncle; helping to run a short-order restaurant with my grandfather; trying his hand at farming -- there may be some other short-lived career adventures, but to put it in broad strokes - he's always had the heart to improve conditions of others.)
[8] My dad almost always plays devil's advocate in conversations & discussions.
[9] My dad is dyed in the blue denim liberal.
[10] When I start thinking about how much I love him I start to cry.
[11] I love it when he calls me "Blondie"
[12] In 4th grade I spent one semester living with my dad, step-mom, step-brother, half-sister & half-brother on a farm outside Alex, Oklahoma. What a change from my life as an only child of a single full-time working mom.
[13] He's got a great voice and an aptitude for music -- I wish he could/would find more joy in that in himself.
I love you dad!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
What Teachers Do You Remember?
Bay Area California
Montessori Pre School
David
Tracy
Anderson Elementary 1st Grade
Mrs. Anderson (not sure if that is right -- same name as school? probably not)
Parkview Elementary 2nd - 6th Grades
2nd & 3rd Grade
Mrs. Lumby (my mom didn't think she had any personality, but I adored her!)
Mrs. Willis (much meaner!)
Mrs. Schubert (not the primary teacher, but in the group)
Mrs. Can't remember
4th Grade
one semester at Alex School in Alex, Oklahoma
Mrs. Dickey (yes, it was funny even back then) Her son was the replacement drummer in the Band "America." When I look back she read some funny books to us, but I think they would not be considered politically correct today...
2nd half of 4th grade - back to Parkview
Mr. Shiriyama (sp?)
Mr. Mitchell -- his reputation was as a mean teacher, but I thought he was nice (such a teacher's pet = me)
5th Grade
Mr. Higgins - great teacher, though his head was wayyyy too small for his body!
6th Grade
back to team teaching:
Mrs. Kopp (main teacher)
Mr. Shoppell (Shuh-PELL) - after lunch and recess he would read while everyone kinda calmed down -- back in 1978 he read "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" - had he not read them I wouldn't ever had known about C.S. Lewis (spring break that year I devoured the entire series in a week when I saw the books in a bookstore while on a weeklong trip with my mom, aunt M & her husband, Bob) . Yes, I was in a public school.
Mrs. don't remember didn't have much personality, as I recall. Taught the English portions of the curriculum.
MOVED to ARIZONA
7th & 8th Grade (jr. high! scary!!)
Mr. Stanton -- English Teacher - very hippie/granola/Birkenstock kinda guy. I liked him.
Ms. Foster who married my future high school algebra tutor (she later became the librarian)
Mrs. Young (easy to remember!) - Art Teacher - she had a horrible reputation as a mean teacher, but I thought she was pretty funny, actually.
Mrs. Music Teacher (would flip us off while "scratching her nose" and say, "My mama didn't raise no cross-eyed babies!" and put in our yearbooks, "Don't B #, Don't B b, Just B Natural" with the appropriate musical notations
Mrs. Schoenig - Typing Teacher (only class I ever got a D in - mom forced me to take this class under much protest from me! Glad I did now -- of course ;-) Touch typing on a manual typewriter. Egads, I must be 40!!
Mr. (Coach) Robertson - PE teacher from hell. But I still remember his name. Go Figure.
Mr. Carpenter - Science Teacher/homeroom teacher. Rumor had it he was 2nd up for the Challenger Space Shuttle mission (Disaster)
Mr. Kirshner - Never had him as a teacher, but will never forget the Halloween both he & Mr. Carpenter "dressed up" in 3-piece suits... you know, 'cuz you Dress Up for Halloween. Then they traded places for homeroom.
Mr. Math Teacher (nice, understood algebra at this time)
Ms. Math Teacher (nice, showed me that you could sometimes read the name of the person you liked whose name you'd scribbled over by turning the page over...)
Mrs. English Teacher (nice, older lady - didn't cope with this generation of hoodlums I went to school with very well)
That's all I remember right now from jr. high aka Middle School.
High School - SRHS 1981-1985
Mr. Fried (Freed) (pre-algebra) - loser -- He had a crew cut in 1981/2 -- not a buzz, not a standing up kind of hairstyle, but a 1950's crew cut. I also think he may have suffered from being colored blind, because holy cow the combinations of clothes he wore! Or just maybe he wore golf clothes to class...
Mr. Young - Algebra teacher - worse loser
Mrs. Ponchetti (Geometry) - worser yet, but at least was a nice person. Sucked on butterscotch candies all hour and talked about her red-headed grandchildren's adventures.
Mrs. Phillips - Computers, Senior year - dragon breath. More programming -- I didn't stick around long!!
Mrs. Johnson - Freshman Advanced English - read Princess Bride before it was movie - very cool
Mr. Collard - Art Teacher -- great great class. Every Friday we'd watch slides and he'd talk about artists and styles, and I loved it. I had an aptitude -- why did I listen to anyone and not major or at least spend more time in art classes....? (why is it we ask these questions at 40+?)
Mr. Fox - journalism/English Teacher
Dr. John S. Davis - Choir Teacher - influential - a great guy.
Mrs. Husted - Drama. Anyone who knows her name knows how awesome she is. Awesome. I only took the class for one semester (last semester) of my senior year... after having been directed by her as "Laurie" in the musical Oklahoma earlier in the year.
Mr. McPheeters - Southwest Literature 2nd semester Sr. Year. Best looking teacher in school.
Ms. Hiner - a class where we just brought our own books to read for an hour - I was in heaven. Technically we were supposed to give small, private reports to her after we finished a book. 1st Semester (I think) Sr. Year
Mrs. Muller - Senior English - actually read Shakespeare and wrote papers (not articles) She was the Senior Class Advisor and Student Council Advisor if I remember correctly.
Mrs. Valley -Grammar Review - thankful I took that class... lots of fun and I think I may have learned stuff ;-)
Mrs. Drudge - data processing. bs. it was easier programming, but I still wouldn't have made it through the class without Shel & RB. And if I were teaching high school, I would have changed my last name.
Mr. Bubany - Economics (sort of) teacher. I liked him - his rep was a dork, though. We had to bring a newspaper to school and read 10 minutes every day - he taught the principle that nothing is ever "Free" - you have to give up something (time, effort etc...).
Mrs. Irwin - Media something or another -- I don't remember much learning going on in the class... she was kind of wacky.
Mr. O'Donald - Chemistry. "Young sucking Face! Young's Sucking Face!" He didn't put up with hypocrisy -- now looking back I see that.... kids making out in the hallways but not wanting anyone to 'notice.' One of my favorite teachers... he was there every day after school and I was there just about every day trying to figure out the main formula and get the math right. At the end of the year he had a stamp for yearbooks, "To the best student I ever had." hee hee hee.
Mr. Kreamer ( pronounced Kramer) - coach - had him for summer school government because I'd heard horror stories about government teacher Mr. Powers (!) Kreamer was a good teacher and cool.
Ms. Piccone & Ms. Orosco - PE teachers -- Ms. Orosco was a kick in the pants, and Piccone was cool too.
Mr. Westfall - Driver's Ed. What a joke.
eta: yeah... I got out the yearbook!
Montessori Pre School
David
Tracy
Anderson Elementary 1st Grade
Mrs. Anderson (not sure if that is right -- same name as school? probably not)
Parkview Elementary 2nd - 6th Grades
2nd & 3rd Grade
Mrs. Lumby (my mom didn't think she had any personality, but I adored her!)
Mrs. Willis (much meaner!)
Mrs. Schubert (not the primary teacher, but in the group)
Mrs. Can't remember
4th Grade
one semester at Alex School in Alex, Oklahoma
Mrs. Dickey (yes, it was funny even back then) Her son was the replacement drummer in the Band "America." When I look back she read some funny books to us, but I think they would not be considered politically correct today...
2nd half of 4th grade - back to Parkview
Mr. Shiriyama (sp?)
Mr. Mitchell -- his reputation was as a mean teacher, but I thought he was nice (such a teacher's pet = me)
5th Grade
Mr. Higgins - great teacher, though his head was wayyyy too small for his body!
6th Grade
back to team teaching:
Mrs. Kopp (main teacher)
Mr. Shoppell (Shuh-PELL) - after lunch and recess he would read while everyone kinda calmed down -- back in 1978 he read "The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe" - had he not read them I wouldn't ever had known about C.S. Lewis (spring break that year I devoured the entire series in a week when I saw the books in a bookstore while on a weeklong trip with my mom, aunt M & her husband, Bob) . Yes, I was in a public school.
Mrs. don't remember didn't have much personality, as I recall. Taught the English portions of the curriculum.
MOVED to ARIZONA
7th & 8th Grade (jr. high! scary!!)
Mr. Stanton -- English Teacher - very hippie/granola/Birkenstock kinda guy. I liked him.
Ms. Foster who married my future high school algebra tutor (she later became the librarian)
Mrs. Young (easy to remember!) - Art Teacher - she had a horrible reputation as a mean teacher, but I thought she was pretty funny, actually.
Mrs. Music Teacher (would flip us off while "scratching her nose" and say, "My mama didn't raise no cross-eyed babies!" and put in our yearbooks, "Don't B #, Don't B b, Just B Natural" with the appropriate musical notations
Mrs. Schoenig - Typing Teacher (only class I ever got a D in - mom forced me to take this class under much protest from me! Glad I did now -- of course ;-) Touch typing on a manual typewriter. Egads, I must be 40!!
Mr. (Coach) Robertson - PE teacher from hell. But I still remember his name. Go Figure.
Mr. Carpenter - Science Teacher/homeroom teacher. Rumor had it he was 2nd up for the Challenger Space Shuttle mission (Disaster)
Mr. Kirshner - Never had him as a teacher, but will never forget the Halloween both he & Mr. Carpenter "dressed up" in 3-piece suits... you know, 'cuz you Dress Up for Halloween. Then they traded places for homeroom.
Mr. Math Teacher (nice, understood algebra at this time)
Ms. Math Teacher (nice, showed me that you could sometimes read the name of the person you liked whose name you'd scribbled over by turning the page over...)
Mrs. English Teacher (nice, older lady - didn't cope with this generation of hoodlums I went to school with very well)
That's all I remember right now from jr. high aka Middle School.
High School - SRHS 1981-1985
Mr. Fried (Freed) (pre-algebra) - loser -- He had a crew cut in 1981/2 -- not a buzz, not a standing up kind of hairstyle, but a 1950's crew cut. I also think he may have suffered from being colored blind, because holy cow the combinations of clothes he wore! Or just maybe he wore golf clothes to class...
Mr. Young - Algebra teacher - worse loser
Mrs. Ponchetti (Geometry) - worser yet, but at least was a nice person. Sucked on butterscotch candies all hour and talked about her red-headed grandchildren's adventures.
Mrs. Phillips - Computers, Senior year - dragon breath. More programming -- I didn't stick around long!!
Mrs. Johnson - Freshman Advanced English - read Princess Bride before it was movie - very cool
Mr. Collard - Art Teacher -- great great class. Every Friday we'd watch slides and he'd talk about artists and styles, and I loved it. I had an aptitude -- why did I listen to anyone and not major or at least spend more time in art classes....? (why is it we ask these questions at 40+?)
Mr. Fox - journalism/English Teacher
Dr. John S. Davis - Choir Teacher - influential - a great guy.
Mrs. Husted - Drama. Anyone who knows her name knows how awesome she is. Awesome. I only took the class for one semester (last semester) of my senior year... after having been directed by her as "Laurie" in the musical Oklahoma earlier in the year.
Mr. McPheeters - Southwest Literature 2nd semester Sr. Year. Best looking teacher in school.
Ms. Hiner - a class where we just brought our own books to read for an hour - I was in heaven. Technically we were supposed to give small, private reports to her after we finished a book. 1st Semester (I think) Sr. Year
Mrs. Muller - Senior English - actually read Shakespeare and wrote papers (not articles) She was the Senior Class Advisor and Student Council Advisor if I remember correctly.
Mrs. Valley -Grammar Review - thankful I took that class... lots of fun and I think I may have learned stuff ;-)
Mrs. Drudge - data processing. bs. it was easier programming, but I still wouldn't have made it through the class without Shel & RB. And if I were teaching high school, I would have changed my last name.
Mr. Bubany - Economics (sort of) teacher. I liked him - his rep was a dork, though. We had to bring a newspaper to school and read 10 minutes every day - he taught the principle that nothing is ever "Free" - you have to give up something (time, effort etc...).
Mrs. Irwin - Media something or another -- I don't remember much learning going on in the class... she was kind of wacky.
Mr. O'Donald - Chemistry. "Young sucking Face! Young's Sucking Face!" He didn't put up with hypocrisy -- now looking back I see that.... kids making out in the hallways but not wanting anyone to 'notice.' One of my favorite teachers... he was there every day after school and I was there just about every day trying to figure out the main formula and get the math right. At the end of the year he had a stamp for yearbooks, "To the best student I ever had." hee hee hee.
Mr. Kreamer ( pronounced Kramer) - coach - had him for summer school government because I'd heard horror stories about government teacher Mr. Powers (!) Kreamer was a good teacher and cool.
Ms. Piccone & Ms. Orosco - PE teachers -- Ms. Orosco was a kick in the pants, and Piccone was cool too.
Mr. Westfall - Driver's Ed. What a joke.
eta: yeah... I got out the yearbook!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Meme-ing
I found this meme from Coffeegal over at La Vida DulceIn your entire life, have you ever...
gone on a blind date? oooohhhh yes. Some of my best stories are bad blind dates! (probably a great topic for Thursday 13 some day)
skipped school? Yes
watched someone die? No
been to Canada? nope
been to Mexico? Yes
been to Florida? Yes
been on a plane? Yes
been lost? Lost as in absolutely no clue where I am or how to get out if it, no. Turned around and thinking I was going one way when in actuality I was headed the opposite direction...? That describes my first year of driving in Kilt Country!
been on the opposite side of the country? Yes
gone to Washington, DC? Yes! I love DC... got to see it with Cherry Blossoms in full bloom :D
swam in the ocean? Yes... Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and have been at the beach on the coldest, windiest day ever Atlantic Side, so didn't stick a toe in.
had your booze taken away by the cops? No!
lettered in a high school sport? I was a choir and I have a choir letter ;-)
cried yourself to sleep? Yes
played cops and robbers? Does playing Charlie's Angels count? 4th grade - I was Jill. The only episode I knew was when they were undercover in jail (episode with a not-yet-famous Kim Basinger...) and Jill fakes food poisoning to get into the infirmary. It was the only episode I knew because it was on at 9pm and my bedtime was like, 7:30 (!)
played dolls? Yes -- dolls and barbies
recently colored with crayons? No, but on choir tour in college I took a coloring book and crayons on the bus to help pass the time -- and have colored with my niece when she is here.
sang Karaoke? Yes... one of my nicknames, actually. "I've Never Been To Me" & "I Could Have Danced All Night" are the geeky songs I sing.
paid for a meal with coins only? Yes... and I was even done with college!
done something you told yourself you wouldn't? Yes
cheated on an exam? Yes. And that's all the detail you'll get.
made prank phone calls? Oh yes! Caller ID put an end to that didn't it?
laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose? Probably.
caught a snowflake on your tongue? Yes
danced in the rain? No
written a letter to Santa Claus? Of course!
been kissed under the mistletoe? Yes
watched the sunrise with someone you care about? Yes/No... kinda sorta. The sun rose, I didn't much care...
been arrested? Never
blown bubbles? Yes -- I love blowing bubbles!! I thought it was awesome when weddings had bubble blowing rather than rice/bird-seed throwing!!
gone ice-skating? Yes -- badly -- a long long long time ago.
been skinny dipping outdoors? Yes, several times. We had a spa ;-) Now we have a pool!
had a nickname? Care-Bear, Blondie, Carrie-okie (Karaoke)
been to Africa? No... but would like to help a friend at church do stuff with a school in Ghana maybe one day.
eaten cookies for dinner? Absolutely, as a side to dish to ice cream.
been on TV? I was an audience member (back to the camera) on Win, Lose or Draw game show... the only contestant I remember was Mario Van Peebles (oh babe-ee!! cutie cutie cute-ee!!).
stolen any traffic signs? Do "Blinkies" count? If not, then no.
been in a car accident? Oh yeah. Stopped traffic on the 101 heading east in the valley. Really really sucked. No one was cited at the time, but yet I was sued... but nothing happened cuz the guy on the motorcycle with wearing shorts, a wife-beater t-shirt, no helmet & Flip Flops for shoes... and and who went through 3 lawyers *after* I unknowingly spoke to the first one and told that lawyer exactly what happened (no one told me not to talk to anyone but my insurance company....) and he rejected the case... well, after 6 months of not getting more than his medical stuff paid for... you get the idea. I have always watched out for folks who ride motorcycles -- I know too many people who ride them -- this guy was sort of an idiot.
And I was a passenger in a car that got rear-ended on PCH - we were at a dead stop and were hit by a guy going probably over 30 mph... nothing serious - had our seat belts on -- car was an oldie but goodie that was solid.
And yep, some fender benders.What is your...
mother's name? Norma
favorite drink? water, raspberry lipton tea, oreo milkshake
birthplace? Chico, CA
favorite vacation spot? Northern California
favorite salad dressing? Ken's Balsamic Vinegrette
favorite pie? Cheesecake
favorite number? 20
favorite movie? Oh so many...can I have one per genre? For the moment I'll go with Notting Hill or Love Actually. On Golden Pond is always in the top.
favorite holiday? Christmas
favorite food? Macaroni & Cheese. Garlic Mashed Potatoes. Ice Cream. Cheesecake.
favorite day of the week? Any day I don't have to go or be or do!
favorite brand of body wash? Olay with Shea Butter
favorite toothpaste? Crest - original flavor (hard to find anymore!)
favorite smell? cinnamon rolls, orange blossoms, desert after the rain
Do you have any...
tattoos? no
body piercings? Ears
Do you drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4 door PT Cruiser (and mini van)
What do you do to relax? veg out - pool (huge grin!), tv; read (has been too long though); play Freecell; read blogs.
How do you see yourself in 10 years? Excellent question. Right now I just hope I'm exercising regularly :D
Play along if you'd like (and let me know please...!)
Some Perspective
I know our gas prices are way-high... I've always said I wouldn't complain about any price of gas over here until we start paying +$5 a gallon... in Scotland 4 years ago that is what we paid per gallon of petrol. And ya know what? Their gallon is smaller than our gallon. We are creeping up on that number... and I'm not saying that this is a positive thing... just consider:
1 UK Gallon = .833 US Gallon
I just did a check on what the price of petrol is going for over there now... 4.10GBP (Great British Pounds). 1 UK gallon of petrol (aka gasoline) = 4 pounds 10 pence.
Today's conversion rate (from this website) is:
4.10GBP = $8.05 USD
Dang.
Here is the article from the Scotsman newspaper... and if you read near the bottom you'll see the town I lived in (home of BP in Scotland) is mentioned.
So... just a reminder tha it can always be worse, or... get worse.
1 UK Gallon = .833 US Gallon
I just did a check on what the price of petrol is going for over there now... 4.10GBP (Great British Pounds). 1 UK gallon of petrol (aka gasoline) = 4 pounds 10 pence.
Today's conversion rate (from this website) is:
4.10GBP = $8.05 USD
Dang.
Here is the article from the Scotsman newspaper... and if you read near the bottom you'll see the town I lived in (home of BP in Scotland) is mentioned.
So... just a reminder tha it can always be worse, or... get worse.
Friday, June 06, 2008
Cardio dying... a good thing
Have I mentioned how much I hate sweating? How much I love my new pool?
I took today off from work, did some client scrapping (6 pages), ate lunch while watching tv and then had a little snooze. I'd turned DOWN the cooler (can't believe this is *ME*) and then, had to put on a little blankie for my snooze because I was cool.
un -- be -- lieve -- a -- ble
[of course, it was only 96 degrees today]
I worked out Tuesday, Wednesday & today with my trainer...
He killed me with cardio on Wednesday - but I burned 300 calories - 200 for 1/2 hour on the elliptical and 1/2 hour on the treadmill. 200 cal burned on the elliptical ... 100 cal on the treadmill. Hmmm... which one is easier on me AND burns more calories. DUH.
But today trainer did 5 minutes climbing at like, __ 13 __ (!!!) incline and 3 mph on the stinkin' treadmill... but I quickly proved that I'm a wuss and battled him... took it down to an incline of 6 (which is still hard for me) and 2.5 mph. After lifting weights we came back to the treadmill and he left me where I'd left off, for another 5 minutes... more weights then another 5 minutes on the treadmill with slightly higher numbers.
I'd much rather do longer length of exercise at a pace I can keep up with and enjoy (thereby making a lifestyle change that will last) than too much too fast that will keep the "I hate to exercise" thought in my head forever.
Make sense?
Things have been much calmer but still busy at work.
I'm going to be painting more garden art in the future...
I took today off from work, did some client scrapping (6 pages), ate lunch while watching tv and then had a little snooze. I'd turned DOWN the cooler (can't believe this is *ME*) and then, had to put on a little blankie for my snooze because I was cool.
un -- be -- lieve -- a -- ble
[of course, it was only 96 degrees today]
I worked out Tuesday, Wednesday & today with my trainer...
He killed me with cardio on Wednesday - but I burned 300 calories - 200 for 1/2 hour on the elliptical and 1/2 hour on the treadmill. 200 cal burned on the elliptical ... 100 cal on the treadmill. Hmmm... which one is easier on me AND burns more calories. DUH.
But today trainer did 5 minutes climbing at like, __ 13 __ (!!!) incline and 3 mph on the stinkin' treadmill... but I quickly proved that I'm a wuss and battled him... took it down to an incline of 6 (which is still hard for me) and 2.5 mph. After lifting weights we came back to the treadmill and he left me where I'd left off, for another 5 minutes... more weights then another 5 minutes on the treadmill with slightly higher numbers.
I'd much rather do longer length of exercise at a pace I can keep up with and enjoy (thereby making a lifestyle change that will last) than too much too fast that will keep the "I hate to exercise" thought in my head forever.
Make sense?
Things have been much calmer but still busy at work.
I'm going to be painting more garden art in the future...
Monday, June 02, 2008
Keychain I bought at the dollar store
"So much to do, so few people to do if for me."
my new favorite quote
my new favorite quote
Happy June 2nd ~ month of many birthdays in my family!
I'll post pix of the pool fun when I can get the photos off of my camera... my card reader is hiccuping.
Went to church today... third time in a row, but the first time at the church I'm a member of for at least 3 months... it was o.k.
Went to Michael's and spent $50 -- they were having a 25% off your entire purchase, even things on sale -- and I only spent $50!! Oh the self control.
I'm going to be painting more rocks soon. I know y'all are waiting with baited breath!
Talked to my dad for an hour lounging in the pool yesterday. It was great. :D
Craft class yesterday went really well -- would post pix of the very cute masculine (isn't that an oxymoron - "cute masculine") vest cards for Father's Day... if my card reader would work.
Himself's not been smoking for over 4 weeks now... I'm so proud!! He's not been grumpy -- he has been a little more irritating in ways when he thinks he's being cute and funny, but not really... ya know? But I can only imagine how hard quitting is -- and I'm really really glad for him :D And he bought AND assembled my pool. I love him very much.
Went to a memorial on Friday afternoon -- have been to what seems a lot more funerals in the past two years -- this gravesite memorial gave me the opportunity to think about what I would want at my funeral (sounds morbid, but I don't mean it to be...), and to have that talk with himself... along with setting up a will.
Will be scrapping tomorrow!
Went to church today... third time in a row, but the first time at the church I'm a member of for at least 3 months... it was o.k.
Went to Michael's and spent $50 -- they were having a 25% off your entire purchase, even things on sale -- and I only spent $50!! Oh the self control.
I'm going to be painting more rocks soon. I know y'all are waiting with baited breath!
Talked to my dad for an hour lounging in the pool yesterday. It was great. :D
Craft class yesterday went really well -- would post pix of the very cute masculine (isn't that an oxymoron - "cute masculine") vest cards for Father's Day... if my card reader would work.
Himself's not been smoking for over 4 weeks now... I'm so proud!! He's not been grumpy -- he has been a little more irritating in ways when he thinks he's being cute and funny, but not really... ya know? But I can only imagine how hard quitting is -- and I'm really really glad for him :D And he bought AND assembled my pool. I love him very much.
Went to a memorial on Friday afternoon -- have been to what seems a lot more funerals in the past two years -- this gravesite memorial gave me the opportunity to think about what I would want at my funeral (sounds morbid, but I don't mean it to be...), and to have that talk with himself... along with setting up a will.
Will be scrapping tomorrow!
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