Little fishies

My kids just reached a milestone today...they both started their swim lessons! When N was a baby, I took a few Mommy 'n me swim classes, but he has no memory of them. Both of my kids have been in the water before at various pools and lakes, but neither have had real lessons before. It was exciting to see them splash around with purpose. K was in the Catfish 1 group, which is for beginner swimmers ages 3-5...and N was in the Dolphin 1 group, which is an accelerated intro for 6-7 year olds. Of course, I forgot to bring my camera and was jealous of all the snaphappy parents. I figure I'll just bring it on Wednesday to commerorate the moment for a scrapbook page...:) My little fishies are learning how to swim!

After we finished with their lessons, we ended up staying at the nearby park to play. A lady came up to tell us about some free crafts and games going on. So the kids got make some handmade maraccas (did I spell that right?) out of two paper bowls, beads, a popcicle stick, and tape. I made a mental note to try this activity out when I get my own classroom for a Cinco de Mayo activity. It was a lot of fun for the kids to play parachute, toss some balls, and just goof around with other kids. After about two hours at the park, I finally had to tear them away from all the fun. We all went home and had some lunch. I think we were all so tired that we all crashed for a few hours. It was a fun day and great start to the week.

Phone Home

Yesterday I had quite a series of interesting phone calls pertaining to jobs. The first one I received actually was my alarm clock. I try to sound as perky as possible (having just woke up). The lady on the other end was from a Christian school I had interviewed with over a week ago. It was a really nice, brand new school and the people were nice. However, the pay was ick, had no benefits, and the commute was pretty far. So she begins with the positive..."we really loved you and would love for you to work here...BUT we are afraid your lack of biblical knowledge could be too much for you to overcome in such a short time...but you are on your way. Please apply back down the road." Surprisingly, I wasn't hurt or upset about it. She was absolutely right. I don't know how I wouldn've done when it came to that portion. I just don't have a strong enough background to teach spiritual lessons daily.

The next call came about midday and was one I had been anticipating. After my last elementary school rejection (from McMinnville), I had almost given up home on school district jobs. Yet, that small part of me held out just enough hope to spur me on to apply to still more openings on edzapp (a national educational application system for districts). I even took it a step farther this time and personally emailed some of the principals to let them know that I had student-taught here. A lady from Human Resources had recommended that I give it a shot in order to give my resume a voice and stand out from the stack. I had avoided this tactic thus far as I had been advised early on that it can seem pushy. Well, I am in a pushy mood as the summer is winding down and I need a job. In this case, it thankfully worked in at least one instance. So the lady who called was one of the principals asking me to come in for an interview next week. Woohoo! As my hubby says, "the squeaky wheel gets the oil." (or grease as it were)

The next call I got came much later and was another job interview. It was with a youth employment program in N.E. Portland...a LONG commute from where I live. The job title isn't really that of a teacher though. It is for a Pregnant and Parenting Coordinator, a title that sounds appealing and would utilize my Healthy Start background. The pay is good and the job itself sounded interesting. I'm gonna go and see what its all about at least, but not sure I want it though. It would be one serious commute though, but I'm hoping the MAX (our local lightrail system) goes nearby it.

Anyhow, this series of phone calls got me thinking about how much time I have devoted to job hunting this summer. For the first time, I felt as though I had done enough (for the day at least). We waited for hubby to come home and ate dinner. Since it has been really hot the last couple of days, we've been staying out of the sun til evening. Well, I got the urge to run an errand, so I piled both kids in the car (hubby was too tired to go) and we drove over to the local pool. We didn't go there to swim, just check on the start date for the swimming lessons that begin next week. It will be a great way to get the day started for the month of August. They are gonna go twice a week for five weeks or until I start working. Anyhow, we stayed at the park nearby for a good while. Then I took them over to Baskin Robbins and used up the last of my leftover spending money from my recent Texas trip. The kids hadn't had any in a long time and I wanted to give them a treat. N got some funky blue and white penguin swirl concoction, K opted for rainbow sherbet, hubby selected cookie dough (to go), and I chose the staple of my ice cream cone diet since childhood...orange sherbet. Mmmmm, does a body a good.

After everyone else went to bed, I stayed up watching tv with plans to surf the net on the laptop. For whatever reason though, the internet wasn't working. The connection was intact, but nothing would appear when I typed in an http address. So after numerous stubborn attempts on my part, I accepted that the net was not an entertainment option for the night. Interesting how addictive the internet can be and how odd it feels when its suddenly not available. Just goes to show how much we can take things for granted and forget what life was like before the Information Superhighway descended upon us. What did I do to entertain myself? I broke out my season three of my Little House on the Prairie DVD set. I only have the first three seasons, but still haven't managed to watch them all. I opted for the Blizzard episode. It's a Christmas one and is very joyful and sad all at once. After a good cry, I turned in for the night.

After doing my morning rounds on the job sites and I finish this blog...I'm gonna turn off the computer (I'm on the maind desktop one). Then I'm gonna get the kids over to the park again and enjoy some sun.

Twists of Fate

First of all, the sun finally came out. It's not what you'd call hot, but the mugginess has faded and there is a cool breeze. Just right. That has made a huge difference in my overall mood and it has enabled the kids to get outside to play more. We've out and about a lot this week running endless errands and going to job interviews (well, just two so far). Last week, I went to three interviews...I'm getting pretty adept at my answers, but am running out of interview apparel. I have certain outfits set aside that I try to wear only for this purpose...about three or four variations I can put together in the event I have to launder them in between interviews...but I digress.

So I have been worrying about how this whole thing will play out when the time comes for me to accept a job. The obvious answer would be to take the first offer to come my way. A job is a job, right? Well, sort of. In order for for me to keep my license, I have to work a certain number of hours as a teacher. I also need to do so that I can gain the necessary experience that I've been told I lack. I've lost out on a couple of great jobs in recent months for this very reason. They tell me that I "almost had the job but they decided to go with the other guy who had just a couple more years of experience than me." So that is when I went on this current mission to get ANYTHING that will give me what I need and still earn enough to survive. I am still applying to various school districts as positions become available and cross my fingers. July is dead month since most administrators are on vacation, but August supposedly is when things really pick up. I am also still awaiting word on these most recent interviews.

So last week I had an interview with a really sweet group and meshed really well with them. The gal in charge turned out to be the younger sister of a guy I went to school with in my hometown. Not just any guy, but someone I had known since 1st grade and had competed with and against in various sports over the years. He wasn't a friend or foe per se, but one of those kids you grow up with and still know. He ran with a different crowd so to speak. Small world though, eh?

So I'm thinking this will either hurt me or help me. She was supposed to call me about the job on Monday, but I didn't hear from her until today (Wed.). I assumed it was another rejection call. To my utter delight, she offered me the job...first offer I've gotten all year! Here's the catch though. In the initial interview, she made her concerns known about whether I would jump ship for an elementary school job offer that might come later. She had another staff that had done this, so she was concerned about causing more upheaval for the kids. I told her I could understand why.

So when she made the offer, she asked me straight up what my intentions were regarding this matter...I just didn't have it in me to lie, given the circumstances. I had been all set to accept her offer and say whatever I needed to. Well, in this case, honesty really was the best policy. Knowing her on a more personal level made it impossible for me to be anything but truthful. I said that I had been looking into the school district jobs and was waiting to hear back on some. I also told her I understood that she had to do what was best for her center, but also would like to work for them. At this point, I couldn't say what would happen beyond that. That's when she came back with a counter offer. She said the staff really loved me and she didn't want to lose me, but instead of being the Lead Teacher, would I be interested in co-teaching the class...with the understanding that I might leave at some point...this would alleviate the disruption and still allow me to work for them in the same basic capacity. I said absolutely to that offer. She also made addendum to this offer...she'd call me back in two weeks to get my final answer and maybe keep looking for other staff. Interesting how fate can step in like that.

At first, I regretted being so open and honest. After discussing things with hubby, he made me realize I had done the right thing. He understood how badly I would've felt if I had accepted the job outright and then turn around and quit for something better. This way, she knows exactly where I stand and is still willing to offer me a position. To be brutally honest, I probably wouldn't have such a moral dilemma about jumping ship if I didn't know the people. I just couldn't do this somebody I have a history with. Doesn't necessarily earn me brownie points, but I feel like it was the right call. Who knows, I may not ever get that call from a school district, but I am not giving up hope just yet. August is right around the corner and there are still plenty of options open. Time will tell if this was a good move. I'll keep ya posted.

Stir Crazy

I feel like I am trapped inside Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. It has been overcast or raining ever since I returned from Houston a week ago. The grey, cloudy skies are depressing and preventing the kids from enjoying the great outdoors. It has begun taking a toll on me as well. The kids are underfoot and getting a little bit of cabin fever. In an effort not to go stir crazy, I have been job hunting like a maniac (hubby would enjoy that one). I can't escape it. After spending count them...6 plus hours on the computer (with a 20 minute lunchbreak with the kids) filling out an online application for Portland Public Schools. Whew! It was long and tedious, but necessary. I had avoided the task for obvious reasons, but finally buckled down and just did it.

After finishing the application, I took an hourlong TV break to watch Little House on the Prairie. Feeling like I hadn't accomplished anything all day, I decided to begin my storage unit project. We have a nook under the stairs where we store things, but it is long overdue for a spring cleaning. There is no telling how long it will take to tackle this latest project, but I intend to make a big dent before my summer freedom winds down. So far I've made it through two boxes. I've been feeling pretty good about how far through the 'to do' list I've gotten, but realize there's more to go. Three things need to happen soon though to keep me from going completely loopy...find a job, get centered, and pray that the sun'll literally come out tomorrow so we can go back outside.

Potterheads

Pottermania has struck again! The release of the final book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, has overshadowed the release of the movie's fifth installment, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. Unless you have been living under a rock, you've undoubtedly heard about the long lines waiting outside countless bookstores around the globe. All of the diehard Harry fans have been waiting for the clock to strike midnight so that they can clamor for one of the coveted must-reads. J.K. Rowling performed a midnight reading as well to help plug her book, not that it needed any more publicity. In some libraries, children were allowed to stay all night to do marathon readings to encourage youth readership. There were concerns that after this series ends, then children will lose interest in reading. While there might be a slight dip, I have faith that there will be another book waiting in the wings to become the next big thing. Harrymania has literally turned into a frenzy. It reminds me a lot of the days when Luke Skywalker and Star Wars were all the rage. Every generation has got to have its hero.

I must admit that I was a Johnny-come-lately with the whole Harry Potter series. I have yet to read a single book and waited a few years before opting to finally sit through the very first film. I had heard all of the hysteria surrounding the little wizard-in-training, but for some reason couldn't wrap my mind around all the hoopla. I am a fan of fantasy movies in general from early obscure cult faves like Hawk the Slayer and Dragonslayer, to becoming a hardcore fan of the LOTR Trilogy. However, I've never been big on fantasy books. This particular genre just has never been my cup of tea.

After much persuasion, my hubby finally convinced me to sit down and watch the films. The first one took me a couple of times to get through and thought it was okay. However, each film that followed got better and better until I was hooked. Now like the rest of the world, I am anticipating the day when I'll get to go see the latest film and enjoy watching the earlier ones. While I still don't see myself becoming a Potterhead, I plan to read the series to my children when they get a bit older. My son is almost seven, so I hope to begin a reading ritual with him beginning with his first Harry Potter book this coming Christmas. He is learning to read, so he's finally at an age where we'll get to enjoy the books together...much the way my grandmother used to read the Little House books to me as a little girl (which I'm planning to do with my daughter in the coming years, for now we read the picture book versions). Laura Ingalls was my my literary hero.

My biggest fear is that Harry's fate will be disclosed through all the unavoidable spoilers. I've rather enjoyed watching the films without knowledge of what's to come. I still haven't read the LOTR books, but I imagine my hubby will eager to share his love this genre with our children in his own way. In the meantime, I'll look forward to seeing the next three films. So if you know how it all ends...please don't tell me!

I stand corrected...on the heels of finishing this blog entry, my daughter came into the room and got excited at the graphics and says, "That's Harry Potter. He's my favorite movie." Guess, I'm gonna have to read the series to them both...:)

A convenient truth

It has been quite a summer so far. First and foremost, I have been blessed to have time to spend with my kids. We've done some fun things such as go to the park, drove to Bend to see family, and even went to the beach for a few days (hubby go to go too). It's been a great time so far and I am grateful to each and every day we have that time together. However, one of the stressors that has been plaguing me on a daily basis has been the job hunting nightmare. It consumes my every waking moment it seems. It encompasses that finanicial stresses that comes with being unemployed. It is tough on the mind and the heart. However, I was fortunate that a little fairy godfather in the form of TinkerBill, granted a wonderful wish...and that was to go see Shelley.

I got to spend five days in Houston, (well, Spring to be exact) Texas with my dearest friend in the world. I have made some fabulous friendships in my own community (they know who they are), however Shelley is the icing on the cake so to speak. She has been a part of my past, present, and will be there in the future. I've said this before, but I'll say it again...she is a gift in my life. We did a lot of amazing things that ranged from the simple to the adventurous. If you want the detailed version of our time together complete with pics, then check out her blog by clicking on the "Toadally Talking" blog link to the right. I've opted to just include some of my favorite highlights as my computer is acting funny and won't let me upload any pics from my digital camera. I'm hoping to get that problem fixed soon.

The plane ride down was a real hoot. It was a 6am flight to start. Just as I got settled into my window seat, this lady sits down next to me and begins to fret over her daughter being a couple seats away. I empathized with her as I would do the same thing if I couldn't be near my own child on a flight. So through a series of strange events, I offered to change seats with her daughter so they could be together. This put me into a middle seat across the aisle from where I had been. Let me make this point loud and clear...I. CAN'T. STAND. THE. MIDDLE. SEAT!!!! However, I didn't think about this at the time I was making the offer, it just seemed like the right thing to do. Even though I felt a little claustrophobic, I met some very colorful passengers in my new spot too. One gal was eighteen and on her way to see New York for the first time and hadn't been on a plane since the age of ten, so she was alternately giddy and frightened. In the aisle seat was an older woman with a shock of wild, grey hair. She turned out to be a career missionary that loved her Johnny Walkers early in the morning and traveled to underpriveleged areas of the world to donate vitamins, medicine, and children's books. She was a kick. I do believe in karma, so moving seats was the right thing to do.

As I got settled into Houston, I couldn't help but begin to melt from the humidity. The first and second days weren't so bad, since Shelley and I spent most of our time store-hopping for scrapbooking supplies, clothes, or anything else that tickled our fancy. Then came Friday. I think I felt like the Wicked Witch of the West as she melted into a puddle, it was that hot and sticky. What a whirlwind day though! We spent a little time in court so Shelley could finish a motion she had to appear for (part of her pro-bono work). Then we were off to NASA to play at the Johnson Space Center like a couple of kids in a candy store. We attempted to plan a Mars mission, experienced floating in space via the green screen, and even got to tour Historic Mission Control.

We were in such a great mood on this particular day that we actually entertained the wild idea of driving onto New Orleans. We were on our way to Galveston and considered what it would be like to just keep going. We thought it would be a crazy and spontaneous thing to do, something we both craved. However, fatigue soon set in and so we thought maybe we'd settle for tattoo shopping. When we reached Galveston, we looked for shells along the beach and took in the Gulf of Mexico. Windblown and drained, we felt too tired to go all the way to Lousiana, but didn't rule it out on a return trip someday.

There were many fun moments on this trip, but one of my favorites was when were walking through Old Town Spring and came across this little Amish furniture store. After oohing and aahing at the fine craftsmanship, we plopped down into two rocking chairs in this little side room. Like two old biddies on the front porch reliving their youth, we just rocked and contemplated how much fun we had had on this visit. It was relaxing and mellow, a great time to just reflect on what is. Shelley and I share a passion for creating a zen lifestyle, so this was almost a meditative moment for us, minus the incense of course. It was in this moment that I was reminded of just how lucky I am to have a friend in Shelley. I was overwhelmed by her kindness and generosity, but she knows how grateful I was. And yes, I know...I owe you a huge plate of beignets...:)

And the trip wouldn't have been complete without Shelley's Dad. He treated us to dinner at Sizzler on Saturday night. This man is the best thing since sliced bread and I can see where Shelley gets her sense of humor. So here is my little shoutout to Bill...you rock!

I have since returned to the humdrum of daily life. I am deep into the jobhunting stuff and once again am feeling the stress that I had temporarily left behind on my trip to Texas. It is odd that a northern gal from a fairly progressive state like Oregon can find solace in down south in the good 'ol boy Lonestar State. However, they do say that opposites attract and you can't beat Texas BBQ, you really can't. And it helps that it is where my best friend calls home.

On a slightly different note, I watched the documentry, An Inconvenient Truth. It was an eye-opening experience to say the least and is a film that everyone should see. In fact, it should be required that everyone see this film. In a nutshell, we are slowly cooking our planet to death by the effects of global warming. We are all accountable and all should play a small role in going green so to speak. It isn't so much for us, it is so that our children and other generations will reap the benefits of being alive on this great planet. We are fighting for our very survival at this point. It makes you rethink a lot of things. After this my trip, I got very reflective on the plane ride home about what is truly important to me.

Mark Twain once said...

"What gets us into trouble is not what we don't know.
It's what we know for sure that just ain't so."

Politics is a mind game, religion is based on faith in things we cannot see, and science is supported by what we can prove. Life however, is grounded in the here and now. When I think about my own little niche in this great big world, it all seems so much to take in. This job hunting crisis is critical in that we need to pay our bills, but the what the job will be is no longer of the utmost importance to me. Sure, I want to enjoy what I do. However, I want to start focusing my time in more meaningful ways, such as what memories can I create with my family and friends...what sort of mark will I leave on this planet...and so on. These may sound like grandiose ramblings to the cynical, but I am proud that I am finally having these thoughts. It is difficult to lift yourself out of the daily hum of your life to see what else is going on around you. Here's hoping that I can hitch this wagon to a star...

Okay, midnight ramblings done (well, 10 o'clock anyhow). Time to go back into hibernation mode. Night night for now.

Coupledom

Okay, this is one of those blogs that I've been meaning to write forever, but just never got around to doing until today. Whenever I am watching current or past shows that I love, I find myself tallying the best TV show couples of the past however many years. Now granted, this is a very subjective system that I have and so it solely reflects my opinions...one of the perks of it being my blog...:) Couples are listed in no particular order, frankly because I'm indecisive to find the toppers. So anyhow, here I present another drop in my fountain of useless knowledge:

• The Wonder Years ~ Kevin & Winnie
• Sex and the City ~ Carrie & Big
• Little House on the Prairie ~ Laura & Almanzo
• Mad About You ~ Paul & Jamie
• Friends ~ Monica & Chandler (more romantic than Ross & Rachel)
• Happy Days ~ Joannie & Chachie
• Felicity ~ Felicity and Ben
• Family Ties ~ Alex & Ellen

There are more, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment. Maybe tomorrow I'll have something more interesting to blog about...like packing for Houston! Woohoo!

Pig Pen & Mr. Clean

After lounging around for most of yesterday (recovering from a long 4th), I decided the kids and I needed to get out of the house. My MIL had invited us over to use her jacuzzi and have some lunch. She cooled the water temp down so that the kids could play in it like a miniature swimming pool. They are a little afraid of the jets though. I also spent some time showing my MIL how to use the Costco Photo Center and playing around with that a little. She felt a little overwhelmed by all the steps, but I told her just to play around with it sometime and she would eventually get used to it. We spent a few hours there and then headed home.

Just as we were on our way, my daughter announces she needs to go the bathroom. Miles to go before we get home, I called good friend, Rosalee, and asked if we could make a pit stop at their house since it was sort of on the way. We ended up staying an hour or so. My two chlorinated children were now members of the cult led by the prophet as "Pig Pen" (of Charlie Brown fame). My daughter and her little friend decided to pour dirt on each other for some reason. They enjoy this little ritual everytime we go over there. The big kids love to climb while the little ones love to dig I guess. K was literally a walking dustcloud. As soon as we got home I got in the tub and had to wash her hair twice to get her clean.

Since I was in cleaning mode anyway, I decided to finish tackling the miscellaneous drawer that has been on my 'to do' list for a year or more. I wish I'd taken a before picture to illustrate the difference, but suffice it to say it looks much better now. Then that snowballed into rearranging some of my kitchen cupboards. I ended up taking out some things to donate to the Goodwill. It was hard to part with some of the sippy cups that my kids used to drink from, but I realized it was time to let go. My kids aren't babies anymore and some other family could possibly use them. So after working on the kitchen, I got inspired to clear off the bar, which has served as the home of most our miscellaneous clutter since we moved in. I've made various attempts over the years to clean it, but only made halfway through. This time I cleared it off completely! I even got the bar stools free of clutter. I was in a cleaning frenzy and now I love how much nicer everything looks. I ran out of steam at this point and decided that I'd done enough for the evening. Needless to say, the house is slowly taking shape for the better. It really does help to focus on one area at a time, it's less overwhelming and becomes a more organic process as you move through each project. Got lots done though tonight and that always feels good.

Pleading the 4th...

So what does it take to feel really tired? A day out...all day out. So we spent the 4th of July hanging out with our friends. Their church held a picnic, so we spent several hours there, baking in the sun. It was unbelievably hot, but we had a great time. The service was patriotic and spiritual, the food was delicious, and the activities lots of fun. By the time early afternoon hit, we headed back to our friends' house for a little R & R for the kids (and adults) and to get out of the hot sun. By early evening, we headed out across town (many towns actually) to shoot off fireworks at Rosie's parent's house. We grabbed some food along the way. The kids got to play at the park, do the slip 'n slide, and light some sparklers. Lots of neighbors were out shooting off some illegal stuff, so we had a miniature fireworks display to cap off the day. It was late by the time we left to go home, but we got to watch some of the local displays as we traveled over the bridges in Portland. It was a wonderful way to celebrate America's birthday.

525, 600 Minutes

Whew! This week was a true whirlwind of events and emotions. It felt like I was on a rollercoaster. On Wednesday, the family and I packed up and headed toward the coast. However, I first had to go a job interview in McMinnville (luckily on the way). It was a bit nerve-wracking, but I felt good about it. After making a quick clothing change, we were on our way to Newport.

We spent the first day getting settled in and exploring the beach. The condo we were staying in was a two story, two bedroom condo called Schooner's Landing. It was a little bit off the beaten path and a bit weathered-looking, but it was a great place to stay. The condo was comfy and would be a cute little place to live right on the beach. In fact, we were just a hop, skip, and a jump to the beach. Or should I say a slow, steep, white-knuckle walk. To get to the sand, we had to make our way down these old, rusty stairs that looked as they could give way at any moment. Once on the beach, we had a grand time. The kids enjoyed looking at the tidepools and digging in the sand. Hubby enjoyed teaching our son all about the different creatures living on the rocks (i.e barnacles, sea stars, etc.). K was content to dig in the mud.

Later that afternoon, I received a phone call from the principal of the school and scheduled a second interview for Friday. That was flattering to have them want me back, farthest step I've taken so far in the job hunting journey. On Thursday, we had a very busy day out and about. We slept in a little and got a late start, which was fine by all of us. One of the perks of being on vacation is that it gives you the luxury of not having to be anywhere at any particular time. Anyway, we drove down the coastal highway to visit my brother. He had bought a knife specialty shop in Waldport and we wanted to see how he was doing. As it turns out, he's doing pretty well for himself and has a great little business going for himself. I hadn't seen him in more than a year, so I was glad to reconnect with him again.

After visiting with my brother, we drove back up the highway to Lincoln City. We decided to have lunch at Mo's (greatest clam chowder!) and check out a local art glass shop. They let people watch them make blown glass art pieces or for $65 a person can make a paperweight with a artisan to guide them every step of the way. It was really cool to see this process up close. After that, we headed back down the road to Depoe Bay. It had been pouring rain all day, so we only visited a handful of shops before we decided to call it a day. We bought some saltwater taffy and headed back to the condo.

We were lucky to get some sunbreaks, so I talked my mom into accompanying the kids and I for one more visit to the beach. It was still very muddy and slick from the rainfall, so we almost turned back. With great trepidation, my mom and I braved the stairs. We each took the hand of one of the kids and held onto the railing for dear life with the other. The picture here doesn't do the stairs justice, but you get the idea. In fact, it is only the second half of the stairs that you see here. They definitely need to remodel them.

On Friday, we packed up and headed back home. It was really nice to hang out with my mom and nephew. We don't get to just kick back in a setting like that very often. The coast is a soothing environment, even when the weather doesn't cooperate. Before we could go home, I had to go to the second interview first, so it was an interesting way to bookend the trip. Since I hadn't been home since the last interview, I ended up wearing the same outfit. Thankfully, the principal had a great sense of humor and was aware of the situation. I won't find out until Monday whether I got the job or not. Anyway, we made it home and basically became hermits the rest of the weekend. We had been on the go and in the car so much that we just didn't want to go anywhere.

We ended up watching lots of movies. We had a Felicity and Harry Potter marathon. After everyone was in bed on Saturday, I stayed up by myself to watch Rent. An longtime online friend of mine had been raving about this musical for years, but I had never had the chance to see it. Now I can see what all of the fuss was about. While it was a bit kooky at times, the overall movie was amazing. It is basically a rock opera about a year in the life of some bohemian tenants of a New York City apartment building. It speaks of love, loss, sexual freedom, drugs, AIDS, and living for today. In a nutshell, it was a very touching and haunting show and I hope someday to see the real Broadway version in NYC. The opening song is perhaps the best part of the whole musical. 525, 600 minutes? You gotta hope there's more. Here is a sampling of the song lyrics below:

Seasons Of Love Lyrics

525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.

525,600 minutes - how do you measure, measure a year?

In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee.

In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife.

In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?

How about love? How about love? How about love?

Measure in love. Seasons of love.