3 days + my students = superduper fun times


So, 9 of my students, Chatters and I are headed off to the Bay Area in 3 days. It is our annual party to celebrare il cibo...celebrate food. We go down to SF and eat 3 meals a day, all at wonderful places...North Beach Pizza, Pakwan Indian Restaurant, Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers, Wine Spectator Restaurant...hmmm...there is more but places that are little and no name type places. That is a picture of their "North Beach Burger". Huge, just like all of the food that they serve there. AND GOOD TOO. Notice the orange in the back of the picture...c'mon, they don't serve oranges there! You would get a fat basket of curly fries and a shake at a place like that! I am most excited about Pakwan though. I went there in December and I still salivate everytime I think of the food. There is just something about Indian food...they serve so many dishes together but they all complement each other perfectly. You can't just have one dish, you need the bread, the chutneys, raitas, rice, samosas...OH, I could go on and on! SO tasty. This is a picture from their menu of a chicken dish...I have no idea what it is but I bet it's good.

The track meet went really well. We sold a buttload of sandwiches and made a killing. Now, we are going to use that money to buy chef coats and take a tour of the Round Pond Olive Oil business...it is $20 per person but I think that it would be very cool to see how it's made. And finally, I can find out why you can have Virgin OO and EVOO (as RR would say)...I mean, how can you get a virgin o.o. if it's already been pressed to make the evoo? It just seems wrong because we all know once it's pressed the first time...it is no longer a virgin...how can you be 'Extra Virgin'? It is all a marketing thing I think, it doesn't seem like something Italians would actually do but I could be totally wrong! It looks really pretty there at Round Pond though. It's almost heavenly looking, don't you think? I really hope that we get in, it may just blow the kids minds to get some special treatment.
So, this dream that I had yesterday...totally strange, but I was asked to give it a title and when I did, I really liked the sound of it. Now, Chatters knows that I have some crazy ass dreams because I try and explain them to him if I am feeling particularly talkative...and I usually am after a vivid dream...and often, he looks at me and just kinda giggles because as soon as it comes out, it really makes NO sense whatsoever...to him, and yet, I press on, thinking that he might relate to the story somehow but if you think about it, that's impossible when you are dreaming of things like I dream of things. SO anyways, I called it "the hummingbird king and his family portrait". Now, just think about this for a minute...where the hell did this come from? I have got some crazy shit buried in my subconscious...he was even wearing a white fur collar and it had those black spots in it, you know, that royal fur???? I am amazed and I only wish that I could wake up and write down everything that happened. I forced myself to remember the closing scene and I am not going to even try to explain...it's just for me I guess. Maybe that's why people always look at you crazy when you try and tell them about it, because only the dreamer really 'gets' it...huh...I will think on this awhile...dreams...crazy...
I just found this new singer, well, new to me. His name is Joe Purdy and he sings my kind of music. He is very nice sounding. I love those guy singers that are just there, with their voice and guitar and they can pull it off and they are singing about real things...I am still looking for female singers but, I don't know, they just aren't exciting. Well, unless we are talking Catpower, that girl can sing, it gives me goosebumps. So, listen to my song choice of the evening...The City by Joe Purdy. It is nice and mellow just like my mood right now.
Okay, sleep well. I am off to make a giant shopping list and then go to bed. It should be a fun 3 day week.
Have a good Monday!

9 weeks + 1 day = relaxation


I don't really have any news. I have been soooo busy it seems like that I don't have time for much when I get home.
Tomorrow night is our biggest trackmeet and we are doing cole slaw and pulled pork sandwiches. They are going to be soooooo good. I can hardly wait to eat one myself. We are also doing a Sri Lankan Chicken dish for staff lunch tomorrow. It is the first time that all of the lunches ordered wanted meat. No one went for the veg dish...not one person...that's funny. I will take pictures of both things so I can show of chatty's talents on the bbq and my student's talents in the classroom...
It however, is late right now and I need to find a Southern recipe for my little ones to make for class tomorrow so I better do that.
Jerky update: He has been limping since last Wed and it doesn't seem to be getting any better. I am taking him to the vet on Saturday, that's all there is to it! He must be so sore and tuckered out. He has been sleeping in different places too...like, he'll jump up onto the coffee table and lay there...weird. Or, he is now jumping up on the bed which he hasn't done in soo long. He still jumps a lot even with the limp...he's tough.
Kinda like my dad. This is how I like to see him...relaxed and breathing deep...he doesn't do it much. He is working himself to death and for as long as I can remember he has been doing it. I miss him and I am worried about him. I wanted to put pictures of him on here just cause. I haven't seen him since this day in 2004 and there is something wrong with that. We all three know it but still we just go on with our day to day. If he were to all of the sudden not be around, I think that I would be very sad for a long time.
On that note, I am going to go to bed and dream happy thoughts. Tomorrow should be fun.
Later taters.

11 weeks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is so hard to believe that I only have to put in 11 more weeks. I am just like the students, yearning for Friday nights, weekends, spring break, summer vacation...oh my gosh, it makes me tired just thinking about it.

Okay, well, today I did a little recuperating. You see, last night at the big birthday bash, I had a few of those mint juleps. They got better and better as the night progressed. And I think that I was trying to forget that everyone around me is getting pregnant. I know, ours can't happen just yet. I need to plan it just so...I get the last three months of school off. That would be perfect. That's if everything goes according to plan! We shall see. Still, I cannot wait.

The guys went on a 30 mile ride today. I didn't go. I have convinced myself that when ever Smith is involved, I don't want to be there because I hate being dropped. Oh well. I am going to do the 50 in the TUC...again...it's getting a little boring and predictable and that last stretch just kills me, riding into that crazy wind! I hate it. I really have no interest in doing more than 50 though. The guys are doing the century and well, that's just too much road time for me. If it were a mtn bike ride, that would be a different story. I really...REALLY want to do the 24 hour marathon! In Moab no less. That would be so hard and brutal and I would probably be reduced to a pile of goo by the 3rd lap but, damn, if I could finish it, I would be so pleased with myself.

I am trying to plan summer break. I have no idea what we are going to do. Everything sounds good. Riding in OR sounds so fun! Backpacking for about a week and a half sounds fun and I know it would be GORGEOUS, going to Hawaii with H and A would be sooooo fun yet pricey, going on a 2 week road trip with our bikes down to southern CA sounds like a blast too! UGH! I just feel like there are so many good ideas and none of them will happen. I need some assurance, something concrete like NOW! I need something to look forward to. Hell, I don't know that Italy is completely ruled out! It could happen if we could find tickets cheap enough. Who am I kidding though, tickets to Italy...in the summer...for cheap? Yeah right.
I want to go on some trips with some people too. Oh, I just have way too much time on my hands to be thinking about stuff like this!

Jerky is sitting (laying...sleeping) next to me underneath the halogen lamp. It's nice and warm. He will need me to help him down though I bet. It is a long jump from the desk to the floor. All of that body weight hitting at once has to be hard on the joints.

I made some pretty good food yesterday. It was a Mediterranean extravaganza. Well, not really an extravaganza I guess but I made four lovely spreads. Hummus (big deal, I know), Baba ghanoush (yum), spinach pate (too dry but yummy) and the best is one that I will be adding to my list of things I make...muhammara. Oh my gosh, it is sooo tasty. It was even better the second day. The flavors blended and oh lordy, it is so tasty. They all unfortunately looked a little like kitty food but once I convinced A.S.S. to stop freaking out and just try it, she got over it and realized that it was actually very tasty.

Okay, I am off to bed. I am not going to tell you what we had for dinner anymore unless it was something special. Well, tonight we had home made falafel, pita, tzatziki, hummus, feta...yum. It was special.

I am listening to Miles Davis now. He is good. Is that like saying I have brown hair? Totally obvious? Well, he's relatively new to my music collection and I am ashamed to admit it but, it's true. Better late than never! Later!

Have a good Monday.

Three hundred eighty something....................

Oh forget it! Doing it in hours is completely depressing ~ kind of like this weather we seem to be having...every day...more and more rain...and more mud...wet cat...messy yard...slippery bricks...dressing in long sleeves...carrying kleenex everywhere I go...did I mention the mud?! Woah, I got sidetracked there for a minute!

This is what it has looked like outside of our house since flippin' December! UGH, I am so tired of having muddy shoes and cold weather! Enough already. It is just too dang dreary.

When we got home tonight (it was earlier than normal) from dinner :), Jerky was perched on the porch like he heard us coming. It makes me think that maybe he doesn't really go anywhere while we are away all day. He is 10 now afterall...that's getting up there! His birthday was in February. Maybe he is so grumpy because we forgot to have a party fo him. Nah, that wouldn't explain the other nine years of grumpiness.

I finally have my iPod nano nano. Didn't Mork say that? I have soooo much music that I want to put on it and I just want to listen to music all of the time now! It is totally fun!

BUT...now as usual, it's late and I am going to bed. No planning for tomorrow, it's a teacher's best friend...GUEST SPEAKER!!!!!! Later taters.....................
Oh, go and listen to Girls by Death in Vegas, it's from Lost in Translation, my #1 most favorite movie!! And that's no exaggeration B.H.!

406 hours. work hours only that is...

hey, well, you and I both know that that is purely a formality...the 406 hours. The reason I say that is because I just got home an hour ago from working the concession stand at a track meet. We put in way more than the standard 7 hour days but so does every teacher right??
It was sort of embarassing when people would say, "What club are earning money for?" and my kids would say..."the culinary arts club" and then you look around and we are selling: hot dogs, nachos, candy bars, chili dogs/nachos, etc...what is so culinary arts about that?! So, I think for the big meet coming up, we are going to make pulled pork sandwiches and coleslaw...and sell the sandwiches for like $5! They will totally pay it too, it's amazing!
Okay, I am tired from just everything. I am going to go to bed now.

For dinner tonight, I had nothing because I ate a hot dog at the meet...can you believe it...5 points just for the dog, another 3 for the bun! Was it worth it? I don't think so.
Jerky didn't say anything tonight, he just pushed me out of the way when we got home and headed straight for his food bowl. Then he hopped up on the couch and passed out. He is so ungrateful sometimes, geez. This picture makes him look mad but really he is just squinting because the sun was shining in his eyes and well, I probably just woke him up.

Today's song is by one of my ol' favorites...The Replacements - Can't Hardly Wait...They always just sound so great.

Later!

11 weeks and 4 days...

It was so cold outside. He just needed to warm his bones a little. He didn't really know that I saw him enjoying it this much. He really does have hard days out there. This is what I wish I could do just whenever I felt like it but for some reason, I think work might have a problem with it.

Oh my gosh, tonight's work out was a rough one. I thought that Chatty next to me was going to pass out. He knows how to put the hurt on more than anyone I know. I thought that I was working hard but his bike was dripping with sweat. That is so cool in a weird kind of way.

I am hooked on French Dip sandwiches. I don't know what is so French about them, maybe it's that Au Jus...yeah, that's probably it. Anyways, they are pretty much my favorite. I made one for dinner tonight out of leftover roast beef and a salad with ranch. Not very gourmet of us...it was even low fat ranch...I did caramelize onions for my sandwich though, that made it much tastier.

We are putting the final touches on the fieldtrip. I have convinced the kiddos that Pakwan is awesome and we should go there. They were suprisingly into it! I am so stoked. Ever since we missed out on it last weekend with T and E and D...we have been craving it even more. Now, we have suckered them into going to fulfill our fantasies. The one that we are going to take them to is right in the tenderloin too...what a name...tenderloin. That should shock them into sticking close and behaving right?! I think that they will like it. This class doesn't really have many food phobias except for one girl. She doesn't like a lot of stuff. I am trying to work around it as much as possible but she doesn't like rice...that is a new one to me, I mean, who doesn't like rice? She will be just fine.

Welp, until tomorrow...go listen to Amos Lee's song called Give It Up. He is one talented guy.

Jerky says see ya later.

Still 12 Weeks...

Okay, now I am getting a little obsessed. For those of you that don't get the whole 12 week thing...that's how long it will be until school is out. I feel like I am practically shoving my students out the door! I am always just so excited for them though. Once school is out, it is such an amazing part of life that happens...that time after highschool but before real adulthood where you still don't know what the heck you are going to do. Or maybe you know and this is finally time to do it after playing the game for all of these years...man, I would love to be there again. Sounds silly and so many people would never utter those words but when I look back, I think of nothing but fun times.

I am superdiduper sore from working out tonight...which is a good thing. I have been sick so I haven't been doing much but wallowing in a pile of tissues. I despise being sick. For two days there, I lost my ability to taste and to me, there is nothing worse. I would rather have the flu.

This picture has nothing to do with anything that I am even talking about. Infact, it was taken almost three years ago. (I look a bit different now I think) Anyways, I was just going through all of our pictures and came across this one and I love it. It was such a fun day and I am with two beauties who I adore and well, we are being chauffeured by some great guys too.

Jerky says hi.
And just because I am weird...
Lets not forget:
Dinner: Roast Beef, Potatoes, Carrots
Green Salad w/ Cilantro, Corn, Kidney Beans, Red Bells and Carrots

Song o' the day: hmmm...this is hard. I would have to say Top of the World by Patty Griffin
and the movie, or show rather, Nip/Tuck.
I have just started watching this and I am still in the first season. I am hooked of course. Don't tell me what happens.

So, here he is, in all of his glory. Well, not really. He would probably prefer to have his face buried in a pile of cat food but what can ya do?
He almost fits the pot. What a cutie.

12 weeks...

It's not that I don't love the little buggers, it's just that I feel like my aging has accelerated ever since I started my teaching career...I am always so tired and grumpy.

My students are now even pointing out my grey hairs! What is that all about and who ever told them that that is an okay thing to do? Geez.
I just look forward to the long 2 month break to, well...have very little responsibility, aside from paying rent really.

Don't get me wrong, it's not like I won't be working every stinking weekend. It is a different kind of work though and it is only about 2 days out of my week...and it is by myself...and I could just say no if I wanted to...and I really love the work...

I really want to put up some pictures but for some reason, 'they' are not letting me! I guess a picture of the Jerky is going to have to wait.

Dinner tonight:
Appetizer: Crab with Lemon Garlic Butter
Main Course: Sesame Broccoli, Baked Potato, NY Steak
Dessert: Strawberry Shortcake

I wish we had a video camera tonight. Ever watched four adults try to whip 2 cups of cream by hand? It is pretty funny and well, sad at the same time. We were laughing so hard about how lame we are because it was taking so long and our arms were about to fall off but we wouldn't quit! Finally, what seemed like 10 minutes (probably more like 2) later, it was luscious and perfect. Too bad I am sick and can't really taste anything.

It is Saturday night and I am on a mission to stay up as late as possible...the sooner I go to bed, the sooner it is Monday. Makes perfect sense right? It's only 12...

Song of the day: Ray LaMontagne-Trouble, Live version...ugh, this mountain man's voice kills me!
Movie of the day: We saw Ray for the first time tonight. Amazing.

It was a day for Rays.
Until next time...

10mm
Okay, I am working on this whole 10 min/mile concept and I just cannot get my mind around how I am going to do this for 13 or so miles straight! Is this normal behavior? Can you tell I am nervous? Have I mentioned that I don't like to run? Anything for T. I guess.
Well, I am now going to start posting pictures from our awesome trip back east this summer. Where else is anyone going to see them? Most of all, it is so that L and F can see the pictures that we took when we were with them. Out of all of the places that we visited, that was the best time of the whole trip, especially since it has been somewhere in the neighborhood of six years since I have seen L!
Now, part of our trip was in New York City as well. You can imagine how stoked I was to finally make it there and to finally go to all of these places that I have only ever heard of! So, on our 'free' day, I made a list of all the places that I wanted to eat something from and my wonderful husband took a picture of me in front or inside of all of them. By the end of the day we made it to about four places. First up was taking the Staten Island Ferry as it is free. We got a lovely view of the city while riding with commuters and other cheap tourists. That's not me in the picture by the way. So, after that, we hopped off and ran to the subway (which we loved to ride) and took the next subway headed for Brooklyn. I knew that Jacques Torres has a chocolate shop there and well, he is awesome. So, we headed out that direction. When we got off of the subway, we still had quite a walk ahead of us. We walked underneath the Brooklyn Bridge and down into a cool little area that is being rejuvinated or the term I heard one too many times on this trip, regentrified. It was cool and very artsy. We made it to the shop and bought a bunch of chocolates that I said I would share and then ate all of. I also had a great almond filled pastry that was extra sticky. It was great. Maybe it was great just because I was caught up in the moment but, it was really good regardless. Next we were headed back towards the city, as if this wasn't city enough...and headed for Amy's Breads. We walked across the Brooklyn Bridge and I think that you can tell by the look on my face that I was not stoked. It was SOOOO HOT. Not just hot but humid and that is really hard on a girl from Humboldt. looks as if I am ready to pass out! Can you tell? It was like 89 degrees and who knows what the humidity was but sweat was dripping off of us like crazy! Okay, so we made it over the bridge and down into the city again. We decided to look for the bread bakery and after walking up and down the blocks and not finding it we were getting a little frustrated. We stopped into the dry cleaners because that was the address that we were supposed to find the bakery and we found that it no longer was at that address! Duh...So, luckily, just down the road a bit was Francois Payard's place and holy smokes, was it worth the wait! We walked in and completely felt self conscious but maybe that's just me all of the time. Everywhere you looked was something fantastic as far as pastries go.

Okay, I am having problems posting pictures in the right spots so this is all I am going to do for now.
I have not run for one week straight! I am going to suffer tonight. I think that it is a bad sign when I tell my family that I am going to run this half marathon and they all look at me and tell me I am crazy...is there something to that?

Well, that's all I have for now...More later!

# 1 and so very happy

We are still cleaning up after the crazy birthday party we had for the hubbie. It was a night of lovely finger foods, fancy cocktails and a mighty rambunctious group of folks.

I made it to school okay today, even though I am still recovering from the killer cold that I was given last week.

I ran today at the gym...well, I ran and walked. I am easing into this half marathon thing. I am just not a runner and for some strange reason I have agreed to run a half marathon! What was I thinking?! And the worst part is, is that I am really going to sign up! I can see it all now though, they will all be waiting at the finish line, cold from being there so long, and here I come around the corner crawling across the finish line dazed and confused the whole time just mad and swearing that I will never listen to T again! :) I am going to keep running though. I will take it seriously because there is nothing that I hate more than people waiting for me! I just can't believe they make you pay money to run...it's genius!

Well, Jerky is going through his hissy sassy phase right now just like he does every winter. Some may say that he is like that all of the time but I will have you know that 9 months...or maybe more like 5 months out of the year, he is a total sweetheart. Patsy steers clear no matter what time of year it is. Jerky is actually passed out on the couch right now, probably tired from a hard day of sleeping outside.

It is getting late and I still need to lesson plan for tomorrow.

Oh, I forgot, my students, who I will from now on refer to as 'my kids' are trying to raise money for a trip to Italy. I am all for it. We were given a little road block today by the administration but nothing is set in stone yet...keep your fingers crossed.

good night for now.