Bon Appetit

Okay, I must confess that I have a sweet tooth. I am one of those people who just can't say no to the things I love. I don't think I fall into the category of overdoing it, but I do have my binge days. There are so many treats out there to choose from. It's easy to identify sinful treats like the beignets and chocolate anything, but what about appetizers? Desserts are decadent for sure, but then there are the the foods that trap us into upping the caloric count for an otherwise adequate meal.

Some of the most irresistable foods that I can't say no to are chips and salsa. When the waitress brings us the basket of chips and the little cup of salsa to dip in, my mouth actually waters. The salsa should be chunky and spicy, none of that store-bought kind. Homemade is best. You can definitely tell the difference. Call me crazy, but I often judge a Mexican restaurant by how good their chips and salsa are. Mmmm, yummy stuff. Once I finish them off, there is often little room for lunch or dinner. Some other favorites include the bloomin' onion from Outback Steakhouse, mozarella sticks from wherever, BBQ pork dipped in hot mustard and sesame seeds from a Chinese restaurant, or a hot cup of clam chowder from Mo's on the Oregon coast. Okay, now I'm hungry.

Easy does it

Today I officially started at the school where I'll be doing my student teaching. The day began with the usual intros, welcome back stuff, and then covering the nuts and bolts. The meeting was set to be about 3 1/2-4 hours long. Since I was dumb enough to stay up too late the night before, I was quite tired. I wasn't quite ready to give up my last summer night. I had just received word of my placement on Friday, so things felt a bit rushed. Even though I was nervous, I felt at ease right away with the staff. It was clear from the getgo that this school was a close-knit family that felt very comfortable with one another.

Besides covering the professional and academic issues, some cute little treats were thrown in to keep us on our toes. During the sharing of summer adventures, one staff spoke about an experience she had at a Cirque de Soleil show in Las Vegas. She said she had been invited to join the cast on stage at one point in front of the audience. For ten minutes she was up there answering questions such as...
"What's your name?"
"Where are you from?"
"Are you horny?"
"Are you often horny?"

Needless to say, as her story went on my mouth dropped. I looked around and saw the surprise and amusement on several faces. The other student teacher I was sitting with had her eyes popping out of her head. We both exchanged smiles and suddenly felt our nervous energy relax a bit. After this lady finished her story, the principal was a bit flustered at first and even blushed. It was such a hilarious moment. While I doubt I would have the courage to say the word "horny" in a school setting, I found out later from this lady that she's been at that school for twenty years and felt right at home. She was very sweet to me. I liked her immediately.

There were a couple of fun activities and few more informational presentations. One of the activities was about brainstorming our core values. I enjoyed the creativity and insight of these people. Many of them think outside the box and that is so awesome. I am not so much the cookie cutter type of teacher, so at this point I'm thinking to myself "I'm gonna like it here." Then as the meeting was about to end, the principal had a great little video he wanted us to see called The Evolution of Dance. He wanted to recognize that though the staff come from many different generations, we are all still connected. I'm providing a link for your entertainment. I had actually seen this funny video months earlier when someone emailed it to me and loved that he was cool enough to show it. I love that this staff have a sense of humor about life and themselves, which is a great recipe for working with kids. Here's the link...enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg

Life's a beach

Well, it took forever and a day to get around to it, but we finally made it to the beach. I've been longing to take my kids there for last couple of years, but we just never had a chance to. Well, my mother-in-law kindly offered to take us (hubby had to work) to Cannon Beach. This little coastal town reminds me so much of the one in Mystic Pizza. We made a whole day of it and went to Haystack rock. We had hoped to explore the tidepools, but the tide was in too far for that. They had a blast anyway since they got to play in the water and sand. My almost six-year old son had to be watched carefully for he was very bold as he waded into the water. My three-year old daughter was a bit frightened of the tide and would just run away from it with a little squeal. We ate lunch at Mo's (best chowder ever!), got some ice cream cones, and got some salt water taffy of course.

I also made the mistake of thinking that the kids wouldn't need their swimsuits (or swimsoups as my daughter calls them). Well, an overcast day turned into a sunny one, which was great. Nicky was drenched. Kirsten accidentally fell in the water, so her non-water proof diaper sagged. Luckily, I had a change of clothing for each of them. All in all it was a fabulous day. They enjoyed themselves so much. Aren't they cute?

Geisha

There are many interesting books I've read over the years, but Memoirs of a Geisha has to be right up there in the top echelon. It is so rich with vivid descriptions and a roller coaster of emotions, that it is definitely a page-turner. Having spent a couple of stints in Japan as an exchange student, I can truly appreciate many of the nuances in this novel. For instance, much of the story takes place in Kyoto. Kyoto is a very old city with a lot of historical and religious monuments. When I was there, I found it to be one of the most beautiful cities I've ever seen before or since. Let's just say I have been floored by this amazing story.

The geisha of Japan have been around for centuries and have evolved over time. However, today there are less than 10,000 geisha left due to a decline in requests for their services. I think that is so sad, because they are much like an endangered species. I liken it to the decline in Native American culture since Europeans nearly drove them out of existence when the western frontier was being established. The same can be said for many of the changes in modern day Japan. Entertainment has come a long way in the westerinized country, so only a select few continue to uphold this tradition.

Geisha are known for their mystique and their artistry. Most begin their arduous journey as young girls. These girls were often orphaned or sold by their poor families to okiyas (geisha houses). Then they would attend special schools for years to come. When they have learned all about tea ceremony, playing an array of instruments, many ancient and modern forms of dance, and a myriad of other skills, then they become an apprentice geisha. These young geisha than learn from an "older sister" who teaches them how to implement their many skills. They wear kimono, elaborate hairstyles, and white make up to maintain the mystery. They turn heads everywhere they go. In a nutshell, geisha are the ultimate hostesses.

What I find interesting though is the paradox that geisha as a whole are. Tradition dictates that geisha are different from prostitutes in that they do not give it up for men for money. They are there to host, not service for sex. They are more or less escorts and entertainers. However, there are exceptions to this it seems. There was a time when apprentice geisha sold their mizuage (virginity) to the highest bidder. Also, a very successful geisha will become mistress of her danna, a wealthy man who maintains a long-term relationship with a geisha and supports her. So the question remains, are geisha really just high class whores? I don't think it's that simple. It's a gray area, but most would argue that they are not. In any case, it's a difficult life, but a presitgious one.


If you do have the chance to read this book, I also would recommend seeing the film. The movie version stays pretty true to the book overall and really does it justice in the visuals. You will be mesmerized by the cinematography. Check out the photo stills on at the imdb site, http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0397535/. I am fascinated by Japanese culture for many reasons that those who know me are aware of, but the movie and book combined will definitely turn the most casual admirer into a true fan. Alright, enough plugging. Go read it!

Street of Dreams

Going to see the Street of Dreams today. The picture above was taken last year in front of my favorite house. Now please note you can't even fit the whole house into the frame of the shot. It reminded me a huge beachhouse and I loved it! My husband and I keep planning to move into a bigger house in the next year or so. We indulge ourselves frequently by househunting not so much to buy one, but just windowshop so to speak. It's fun to plan and imagine what our dream house will look like. We watch shows like Double Agents, House Hunters, and such. It's interesting watch the journey others take in their search for that perfect home and what details go into making it so.

It is amazing how beautiful and expensive the houses in the Street of Dreams are. I can only hope that one day we can own something that is even resembles smidgeon of theses homes. For me, I am not really ambitious about it as I live in a townhome currently and just need more space. I would be satisfied with a nice big backyard and a two car garage for exterior upgrades. As for the interior, I would love a fourth bedroom, den, or bonus room. A family room would be a lovely perk too. And for the kitchen, I would love to have a breakfast nook and an island if possible. I can accept certain modifications to these desires, but one can wish for them.

Slowly but surely

Responsibilities are taking over my life! I can't seem to get away from them. Whether it is Mr. Bill stalking my mailbox or my family pulling me in ten different directions, there is just no escape route. Last night, I found myself laying wide awake in bed with a thousand thoughts running through my head. We are drowning in debt and I have felt a bit panicked. The only thing that I could focus on was the urgent need to crawl into a cave and hide. It's a bit like feeling scared of the imaginary monster under the bed, so you curl up in a ball under the covers in hopes that it won't find you. That's the sneaky thing about life, it always finds you no matter where you are.

I have been on my summer vacation for two weeks now and have managed to do a pretty good job of not thinking about anything overly stressful (with one exception). I have avoided sorting my mail and have only done a handful of the home projects that I had planned to get done. I also thought how great it would be to read some books for pleasure. Yet I am still on chapter one of a book I had been dying to read for months because I couldn't bring myself to buckle down. So instead I've become a movie addict. I've been watching at least one DVD a day as my way of escaping reality. Yes, I have become a slacker. However unflattering this title may be to some, I feel like I have earned the right to fill the role for a short while. I've been way busy and overwhelmed these past few years and needed to just step away to get some perspective. Now I realize that work and school will be resuming in the very near future and the bills need to be dealt with.

Well, after returning from a rejuvenating trip to see my family in Bend, I have been slowly getting back into the groove of things. I woke up and began to read with earnest, Memoirs of a Geisha. After getting through the hurdle of the first chapter, I decided to stop ignoring my brain. It had this desire to organize and clean. So without waking a soul, I slipped outta bed and cleaned up the kitchen some and sorted piles of mail and bills. My son woke up and I fed him and I some cereal. Sometime later we went back upstairs to relax a bit. My son played for while and I laid back down in bed and read two more chapters of my book until the rest of the family woke up. I figure I set myself a handful of goals for each day. Then I try to be proud of the tasks I actually complete, instead of scolding myself for the ones I don't. While I am not quite there yet on rushing headlong into the world of responsibilities again, I am getting there slowly but surely.

Guilty Pleasures

Okay, maybe this is just because I am on vacation and have extra time on my hands (had to have an excuse), but I have been addicted to the CBS show Big Brother for the past several weeks. It is truly addictive, even if it is pure fluff for my brain. And so what? We all have and need our guilty pleasures and this is one of mine. There is so much seriousness in the world, what's wrong with giving the brain a little idle time once in a while. This brings me to an interesting experience I had back in college.

My best friend, Shelley, and I were discussing some of the finer point of Cap'n Crunch or something very deep like that, when a mutual friend of ours made fun of our conversation. We had been decompressng from spending all day in class. Our brains were feeling overloaded and needed time to think about something trivial. So we indulged ourselves in what our mutual friend deemed "idle talk." She really had an issue with this kind of chatting and felt any conversation worth having ought to have some intellectual merit. Well, Shelley and I debated this at length with our mutual friend and came to the conclusion that it really didn't matter to us what others thought. If we wanted to dissect the characters of "Melrose Place" (yes this dates me) or delve into the mysteries of cafeteria food, so what?

And so goes my obsession with shows or books I enjoy. It's like discussing a really good movie. I recently sawTalladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby and then two nights later saw World Trade Center. The first movie was pure comedy and hilarious. Great way to spend a Saturday night with my husband and three of my nephews. As for the second film, I saw it with my 13-year old nephew and we were thoroughly moved by it. It brings you right back to 9/11 and all of the heart-wrenching feelings that go with it. That's the beauty of tv, films, and literature. You can escape into comedies, tragedies, and the like. As I write this, it is just flowing so it I may be rambling a bit, but it is a fun topic for me to articulate with "some intellectual merit" or at least chew the fat. So to those who deny indulging in a guilty pleasure now and then, I feel you are missing out or lying about having one...:) I mean come on, most of us had a teen idol plastered on our bedroom wall at some point or might confess to actually enjoying MTV's The Real World. Whatever your sin, be proud of it!

Making beautiful music

There is a delightful little scene in the movie, Stepmom, that really resonates with me. The moody daughter is pouting about something in her room and hears music blaring from somewhere in the house. She follows the sounds until she finds her mom (Susan Sarandon) and kid brother lipsyncing along to "Ain't no mountain high enough." The daughter gets sucked into the fun and they proceed to frolic around the room. Using a hairbrush, shampoo bottle, and such to use as pretend microphones, they dance throughout the house without a care in the world. It immediately cheers up the daughter and is a lovely scene.

Well, after staying up way too late the night before, I took a long time to get up this morning. My kids futile attempts to get me up just made me want to pull my pillow over my head and get back to dreamland. Eventually, I gave up and realized that it was two against one and sleep was a faraway goal at that point. I finally drag my sorry butt outta bed and fix them breakfast. My kids bug me to make muffins and beg to help. Well, I was sick of having the television on and decided I was in the mood for music. I had just watched Flashdance yesterday and needed to get my yayas out.

Well, I decided to blast the Dixie Chicks song "The Long Way Around." We had an absolute ball. My son thought I had lost it and complained about the music. My daughter however was in heaven. We bounced around the kitchen as we twirled together. We danced through the house and eventually won my son over and got him to join in on our carefree fun. We kept dancing and had a grand time making our apple cinnamon muffins. It struck me as ironic that our magical little moment was so like the one in the movie. It was spontaneous and definitely a memory to tuck away in my heart. If you've never heard the song before, check it out on my Myspace site at http://www.myspace.com/dauphyfan.

Sock it to me

After staying up too late to watch Mystic Pizza, which is an adorable film by the way, I woke up this morning with a blazing headache. I mean we're talking an anvil fell on my skull and I am already on my second dose of tylenol. I could not be motivated to do much of anything today. I managed to drag my sorry butt downstairs for breakfast and fold some laundry, but that's the best I could do this morning. To show you just how nutty my brain is today, let me share an interesting dilemma I am facing. We're talking monumental issue here folks.

Which brings me to my Nancy Drew mystery...I have a pile of socks on my bed that need to be matched with a pair. What mysterious force removes socks from the wash so that these once married garments are suddenly thrust into the single life? I'm telling you, I can't seem to find the pairs. Sometimes I'm successful and reunite long lost pairs, but there is a higher power at work here. I think every washing machine is haunted by a sock ghost. I have no idea why, it's just that I have like 50+ lonely singles that have no partner. Well, maybe if I exorcise this phantom out of my spin cycle, my sock families will no longer be ripped apart. Alrighty, time to get on with real life. Here's to wishing my horrendous headache goes away.

A drop in the bucket

Okay, I know that many out there have dealt with this nightmare in some form or another at some point in their tax-paying, bill-collecting life as an adult. I have been dealing with a fitness corporate giant and getting nothing but the runaround. I'll spare the nitty-gritty details, but the bottom line is that my meager $90 claim is a drop in the bucket to this million dollar company. They don't care about the regular joes and janes that frequent their clubs except to collect their money. I've learned this past week from various friends, family, and professionals that fitness clubs are among the worst offenders when it comes to dealing with auto withdrawal claims. It reminds me of when you call a company and need to talk to a live person, but all you get is transferred to 10 different automated options, only to get disconnected in the end and have to start all over.

Okay, changed my mind since I'm on a rant n roll here. The fitness club withdrew funds earlier than they were supposed to, therefore causing us to overdraw our account. Well, I called to speak to the manager, but was told she was at another club, but that they would give her my urgent message. To save time, I called the other club and was told she had left an hour earlier to return to the my club. Well, after waiting a couple of hours, I decided the only way I was gonna get anything accomplished was to go in person to deal with the matter. Supposedly, the manager was MIA yet again and was back at the other club. Well, I canceled my membership (couldn't afford it anyway) and proceeded to talk in circles with the club staff. I explained to them that they took payment too early and I just wanted the funds credited back to my account since I cancled membership. In a nutshell, they basically said no can do and too bad so sad.

So I haggle with my bank about the overdraft charges and they at least worked with me and compromised. My bank is made of money and they were willing to bend, the fitness club could care less. There are several minor details that I'm not filling in here because it would be too tedious to explain in writing. My advice to everyone out there would be to get everything in writing, keep important papers, and never use autopay as a payment option with fitness clubs or internet providers. I have a tendency to learn everything the hard way. It's like I have to get screwed over before I take things seriously and then I learn my lesson. It sucks the big one and hopefully I'll be smarter the next time around.