Mana Mana

Okay, so for those of you in the know, you will feel my pain. Just to play catch up for those not, this past week was like that dreaded dead week before finals. You study study study and live on late night pizza and coke. Well, for the last week I've been running on pure adrenaline. For the two weeks leading up to report cards, I spent many hours grading papers. Now keep in mind that I have approximately 57 students in all (1st-4th). It takes about 3-4 hours on average per grade level to complete their report cards. Add in additional grading, prepping for parent conferences, and our required presence at the annual open house for prospective new students...you do the math. I was ready to put a cot in my classroom. Let's just say that I didn't see my family much this week. That's alright though 'cause they know that I love them and expect this every term. They've grown accustomed to my crazy schedule and just hang in there until summer rolls around. Life is then calm once more...but I digress.

I had the option to work from home on Friday, so I took it. Slept in and watched a little TV. Then I got back to the grindstone. It was harder to concentrate at home with all of the distractions, but I was more relaxed. I managed to finish by 5:00 at least. Whille I was working on some literacy center games, K wanted to help me. Together we cut out these cardstock cookies with magic /e/ words and pictures Cookie Monster on them (this info is important for later). She was a big help and we made lots of progress. My brain was zapped, my body exhausted, and my will to keep going for the day done. So we went to bed kinda early. I'll come back to this in a minute.

So over the course of the week, my mind was overloaded with work-related worries and my focus was all about getting those pesky report cards finished. In the midst of all this, we experienced some bittersweet moments at home. We received some unsettling news that DH's inheritance from his father's estate will be fairly taxable. We had been led to believe by his brother (and executor) that it would okay and the funds had already been taxed. Well, apparently not and so Uncle Same will get his big bite. Suffice it say, we can kiss any tax refund goodbye and will in fact owe big time. I'm not mad about it so much as just frustrated. Grrrrr. It is what it is I guess.

So DH also purchased an upgrade in the amount of space to our computer's media vault. I am not well-versed in the technical lingo or how it all went down, so I'll give you the nutshell version. While DH was attempting to install the new upgrade, something happened to cause it to completely wipe our system. We lost not only all of our music and video downloads, but our *gulp* photo archive as well. We went digital right around the time K was born, so the bulk of our photo library was on the computer. Outside of a few CDs we had backed up early on, we lost nearly 90% of our pictures that I've taken over the last 5 years or so. Needless to say I went numb. Grrrrr. Since I was deep into report cards, my mind didn't have the room to deal with this. So I shoved it aside for the week. Now I am truly grieving this loss. I keep hoping a miracle will happen and DH will be able to work some computer magic and retrieve them, but I guess I shouldn've hold my breath.


In addition to all this, my kids overheard some advertisement for a casting call for a talent agent opportunity on the radio. They begged me to call. With stars in their eyes and dreams of ending up on the Disney Channel, I called and an appointment was set for today (Saturday). Well, we were asked to bring 2 recent pictures (head and full body shot). Ummm, that is no easy task when all of your pictures have been erased. As if that weren't enough, I misplaced the battery charger for our digital camera, so I couldn't even take new pictures. Then the informational email that they sent about the event went to my spam folder, and I accidentally deleted it. So I ordered some uploaded photos that I thankfully had online through Costco's website, but those wouldn't be ready in time. Grrrr. N was having second thoughts and K was still excited to go. I was too busy with work stuff to even deal with this thing and was resigned to skipping the audition entirely.

Having finished my report cards the night before, I woke up this morning and decided not to disappoint the kids. I gave N a pep talk and he agreed to give it a try (since it had been his idea to call in the first place). With renewed energy, I searched the whole house for an elusive stack of photos that I had taken the previous summer. I thought there would be some good photos in that bunch. Well, it was nowhere to be found, so I had to make do with school photos and a couple of random ones I was able to round up. Professional attire was required, no jeans or sneakers. N looked handsome and K looked ready for Easter brunch. I took time to do her hair up nicely and then she proceeds to mess it up every chance she got. Then I had a bad clothes day and couldn't figure out what to wear. Seriously bad clothes day, not that it mattered what I looked like, but you know what I mean. Then we tried to leave early enough to run a couple of errands. I get the kids into the car and begin to pull away. Three times, I have to run back into the house to retrieve something I forgot (wallet, directions, etc.). Would we ever make it to this audition? Seriously.

We first stopped by the bank to get some cash. Then we were off to the shoe store to get some matching pink shoes for K's oufit. Brown shoes just don't go well with pink tights and a blue dress. We were getting low on time, so I figured we better get to the audition in downtown Portland. With light traffic, we would just make it. I think I got behind every slow car on the road, but managed to make good time anyway. Didn't have any trouble finding the hotel it was being held in, but wow was parking a nightmare. I think the parking attendent had was on a power trip. He made me park my car in three different places, charged me $7.00, and could care less if he was making us late (I told him I needed we had an appointment to get to). Grrrrr. I wondered if the universe was conspiring to keep us from getting to this thing.

Finally, we made inside to the ball room where the auditions were being held at The Marriot. I thought it was going to be just us and a small group of people. Wow was I naive! We stood in line to get application materials and sat in a big room full of hopefuls. I chatted with a lady there with her daughters. Turned out she had had a frazzling morning as well and we had a good laugh. She ended up having to run out to feed the meter, while I looked after her girls. She asked me if I'd heard about the earthquake in Chile and I hadn't. What flashed through my mind was a conversation I had just recently had with a 4th grader that dreamed of visiting Easter Island, just off the coast of Chile. Random coincidence or strange precursor?

On a side note, I work with two teachers (they happen to be sisters) that are from there, so my heart and prayers goes out to them and their family.

Then after a long wait, they said some introductory words, played a LONG promotional video, and then we got to the audition portion. That part literally lasted just minutes. The kids were asked a few questions, did a cold read in front of a camera, and that was it. In all, it lasted about 2 hours. The audition process consisted of two different opportunities. One was to get a callback to possibly sign with the talent agent, the other was to get an invitation to an entertainment industry symposium that provides training and networking opportunities for children in Orlando, Florida. You have to get and invite AND pay a big fat fee to attend. Not exactly a scam, but not a path we want to take. I was always told if you have to pay to play, it's not worth the say.

On our way back home, we stopped at Costco to pick up some things. Then we went to McDonald's to pick up some milkshakes to treat the kids. The poor guy at the drive-up window knocked over a bunch of stuff. Was everyone having a wierd day or what? Then we stopped by the grocery store for a few more things. While inside, a clerk was passing out cookies and dressed up as none other than Cookie Monster. After the crazy-making week I'd just had, I had to laugh at this coincidence. I can't even begin to list all of the kooky things that have happened lately. The only thing I can think of that sums all this up is this little youtube gem from the muppets.

Dive in!

The sun'll come out tomorrow...

Ever have a ton of things to do and just no desire to do them? Well, report card season is upon us again and I am avoiding it like the plague! I have to have them done by next weekend, so you can imagine how much fun the coming days will be. My family dreads the long hours I end up putting in and wonder why I have to be gone so much. So I feel torn between work and home. After a rocky start to the new year with my supervisor, things have been really looking up lately and I feel as though I have found my second wind at work.

She and I have come to a happier place as we've both taken stock of ourselves and have been making many positive changes. Now I feel more peace of mind and I think has made me a better teacher. I've avoided taking on extra responsibilities there so that I can spend every spare minute at home with my own children. However, I felt some pressure to contribute more, so I've opted to donate my lunch hour once a week to help mentor the 4th graders as they produce a weekly newsletter. It's a start and won't take away from my personal life.

After this week is over, I will have parent conferences to contend with. I will attempt to balance that with our current home projects that we have begun and complete paperwork for returning to school to renew my teaching license. If my brain doesn't explode before spring break, I will consider the term a success. What I love most about the beginning of spring besides the beautiful blossoms is that fact that summer is only mere months away. Which means more time with my kids. I get to put my SAHM hat on and it is truly when I am happiest and stress is kept at bay. I realize nobody pities a teacher's workload due to the fact that we get time off every summer, but I think you have to walk a mile in our moccasins before passing judgment.

The sun was out shining today, so my husband spent the day with some friends. It was too nice to stay inside, so I took the kids shopping for books at the Goodwill (can't beat the prices) and bought some new shoes for K (for Easter and everyday). Then I treated them to lunch at one of our favorite summer haunts, a local soda fountain. N commented that it felt like one of our summer days. Oh that Annie knew what she was talking about when she sang the sun'll come out tomorrow...

Heart Day

Our Valentine's Day was fairly low key. The hearts are pretty scarce since I am still in recovery mode from all the Christmas decor. However, I recently hit some of the craft stores in search of clearance sales for Valentine stuff. K loves to decorate throughout the fall and winter, so she's been after me to spruce up our collection for the spring holidays. Hopefully by next year, I will be ready to make K proud.

Hubby and I celebrate our unofficial anniversary every January, so this holiday is often more celebrated for our children. So we treated them to breakfast at IHOP and a fun morning at the NW Family and Kids Festival at the nearby fairgrounds complex. The kids got to browse a variety of booths and participate in some hands-on crafts and other activities. N was a bit reluctant to try anything at first, but with some encouragement he let himself enjoy the day. He's been going through a phase where he feels that he is outgrowing certain things, so he needs some prodding at times to try something new.

For instance, they each got to build a birdhouse with the help a seasoned carpenter. Their Grandpa Paul would've been very proud that they managed to handle the hammer with ease and no smashed thumbs involved. They also got to meet some firefighters, a paramedic, and explore their apparatuses and vehicles. All in all, they had a great time.

Happy Heart Day


Kirsten planted some seeds

My Valentine Girl

Wii Bowling

Drumming on Rock Band

Oh how she wanted to take this home

My two budding carpenters

Building birdhouses

Filling out their building permits and drafting their design

(very official, eh?)



Local firehouse symbol

Roger that!

I'm goin in!

Some very nice volunteer firefighters

Driving the ambulance

Checking for heartbeat

Happy Valentine's Day from our family to yours!

Vancouver BC Baby!

As resident of the Pacific Northwest, I am particularly excited for the official start of the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Our Canadian neighbors are literally just about 5 1/2 hours to the north of us along the border. Some of my students are even up there enjoying the experience in person. I WISH I could've been able to witness such a once in a lifetime event, but I will have to settle for the televised version like the rest of the world. As I was watching the Opening Ceremonies this evening, I was inspired by the visual artistry of the cultural homages to Canada. So here is my small contribution to the awe and spendlor that is the Olympics. I am no Maya Angelou, so be kind...



The 21st Olympiad

Every four years
Nations gather
To celebrate
To contemplate
As the winter glistens
As the world listens
Voices in harmony
As the snow falls
As the sport calls
Athletes in ecstasy
This time we go
To the northern lights
To the frosty nights
As we celebrate
As we contemplate
The eternal flame

Most of my poetry or stories come to me in short bursts of creative energy and get written in a matter of minutes (this one took 15 or so). Having grown up in the shadow of a famous ski resort (Mt. Bachelor), I am very fond of winter sports. I began skiing when I was just 3 years old, so my memories of winter days on the mountain are long. The Games have a special place in my heart. One of my earliest and favorite memories of the Winter Olympics was of Rosalyn Sumners skating for silver in 1984. Who knows what the next two weeks will bring? I have added visiting Vancouver, BC to my travel list of must-see places. Let the games begin!!!

The Things We Do For Love

So while the rest of the world is watching the Superbowl, hubby and I watching The Truth About Cats and Dogs. I'd like to say that it was a completely chivalrous on his part as he genuinely loves the movie. However, he DVR'd the game so he could enjoy the exciting parts later (especially the commercials!). That's one of the things I really appreciate about him. He's willing to watch certain chick flicks with me, such as Erin Brockovich, Beaches, Coal Miner's Daughter, or My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Sadly, I have yet to lure him in enough to sit through Steel Magnolias or Terms of Endearment, two of my absolute faves.


That's okay though, he's grateful for how often I am willing to sit through his "guy" movies. Every weekend I am subjected to some film that I would normally never watch on my own, all in the name of love. For instance, I reluctantly sat through Clash of the Titans just yesterday. I mean I purposely avoided that one my whole life for obvious reasons. It is a painfully bad movie even worse special effects. Yet, it was fun in an odd sort of way to endure for hubby and the kids. Awww, the things we do for love.