for you to hear

Oven

2009-10-23T21:56:00.000-05:00

I used my oven for the first time.

And what did I choose for the christening meal?

A frozen pizza.

How typical.

How sad.

I promise to use my oven for good in the future!

BTW this is the first oven that I have had that has a window and a light! I find both of these features absolutely fascinating. :)

Hook-Ups

2009-10-20T22:03:00.000-05:00

...Of the washer/dryer variety.

My dad forgot to bring the hoses for my washer on moving day. This is entirely understandable because he brought me a dryer, a spare gas can, extra indoor garbage cans, two outdoor garbage cans, 4 door stoppers, a 5-gallon bucket, an entire van full of tools that he put to use all day helping me to get settled.

He assured me that hooking up a washing machine is very easy. He took me down to the basement and we had a little show-and-tell as he explained, "Attach a hose here and here...cold to cold and hot to hot." Sounds easy enough. In fact it sounds a lot like jumping a car. Positive to positive...negative to negative. As I verbally make that connection my father looks at me with a sudden doubt crossing his face... I haven't had the best of luck with jump starting my car (I've melted jumper cables twice in fact.). He tells me this it is not that difficult. We shall see.

That same night he gives me the hoses.

A few days later I brave my way down to the basement for my first DIY project as a homeowner (can I technically call myself a homeowner if I have as yet to make my first house payment?). The hoses are a little difficult to attach (here and here) because the previous owner clearly had stock in some paint company and painted everything...including the spickets in the basement. So I proudly busted out some tools that the previous owner had abandoned and found some "tightener thing" and proceeded to attach the hose as my dad had instructed.

I figured that I should test it out before I go through all the hassle of threading it onto the washer. So i turn on the water. And water sprays EVERYWHERE! Luckily the floor drain is in close proximity because I am drenched from head to toe. I keep working with my "tightener thing" but it just doesn't seem like it could get any tighter. I try the water again. More water pouring out of the spout, out of the threads, out of nearly every spot but the end of the hose where I WANT there to be water coming out. I have to just stop and laugh at this point because it really is just amazing HOW MUCH water I have on me and on the floor with just two little turns of the knob.

I try a couple more tightening turns, more water on me and the floor and decide that doing more of the same thing isn't going to give me any different results. So I sweep the excess water down the floor drain. Ring out my sopping clothes. And wait for a consult on this situation.

I told my story repeatedly at work. It got lots of laughs but few suggestions. Finally, Sue offered her husband to help (my heroes!). They were the first people that I got to show my house off to. And Steve had my washer working just fine in no time flat. I guess I was doing all the right things...just not tight enough. So in this case more of the same actually would have been a good thing, but that is a separate issue.

So now my washer works. Thanks to my dad. And Sue. And Steve. And really I didn't do much except bring all these lovely people together. :) Good times. And the adventures of home ownership continue...

I bought a house!

2009-10-15T21:31:00.000-05:00

I have moved seven times in the last seven years. Not counting the mini-moves into and out of friend's and family's basements, spare bedrooms, and storage spaces during any gaps between my "old lease" and "new lease." I can only hope that those nomadic days are behind me now.

This house is move-in ready! The seller bought the house to flip... so the appliances are all new, it has new carpet, fresh paint, and most importantly my father (who is in the construction bussiness) has declared it structurally sound.

I am going to try to move over the three day weekend, during a very busy time for me at work (report card grades are due and parent/teacher conferences are right around the corner!). I am seriously stressing that I will not have time to get everything moved, settled, and cleaned in the time allotment.

At first, I declared that I wasn't going to clean anything at the new house before I moved. But my friend Katy talked some sense into me and convinced me that I had to vaccuum and wash the windows of any space before it can be deemed accaptable. She was absolutely right! I felt so much better after I had that chore accomplished. :)

I was incredibly pleased to discover that my new house has amazing windows that easily fold in to be cleaned. Life is good and much brighter with sparkling windows. :)

I can already tell that this is going to be an adventure. I'll keep it posted here. :)

Breaking Dawn

2009-03-21T16:00:00.000-05:00

This is the best book of the series! I re-read it as soon as I finished it!

Eclipse

2009-03-15T15:58:00.000-05:00

I am completely addicted at this point.

New Moon

2009-03-12T15:53:00.000-05:00

New Moon is the second book in the series and by far the one that got me the most emotionally involved. :) I cried, often. But it was SO worth it.

This book also really develops Jacob's character and he is one of my favorites! :) It was so good to hear more of his story and to see his friendship with Bella.

Twilight

2009-03-09T15:45:00.001-05:00

I got this series for my birthday (THANKS, Jav!) and I loved, loved, loved it! In fact it pretty much consumed my life for the days (ok, weeks!) following my birthday as I devoured each one.

The first book in the series is Twilight and it introduces you to the saga that is Bella and Edward's relationship. This is a very girly vampire story. In fact most of the story is based on Bella's analyzing and reanalyzing...agonizing and re-agonizing...worrying and re-worrying. :)

It is very suspenseful but in no way would I classify it as "horror" so don't be afraid to give it a try.

Tina

2008-06-11T23:45:00.002-05:00

Tina and I are living together for the summer. I moved into my new apartment almost two weeks ago. Tina allowed her bedroom furniture to be moved at that time but remained at the old apartment because she didn't have time to move all of her clothes and stuff on my moving day.

I had really started to wonder if she ever intended to occupy my second bedroom when she called me and told me that she was planning on moving her clothes on Wednesday. Rachel was also coming back that day to help clean out the apartment. I agreed to meet them over there at one.

My sweet sister had been working for hours by the time that I arrived at one. She had SEVERELY underestimated that amount of stuff that she still had to move out of the old apartment. It was by no means "just clothes." She packed and sorted and loaded and cleaned.

We let Rachel off easy, telling her that she was responsible for cleaning out the shared bathroom and vacuuming her room and the living room. She did so. She left. She forgot to leave her keys. We called. She will mail them. Typically Rachel. But as Tina pointed out, there really wasn't much more that she could have done at the time because Tina still had so much that needed to be packed and moved.

That left us with the Kitchen. Tina had thankfully packed it all. So I wiped out cupboards and cleaned the oven, while Tina emptied and cleaned the refrigerator. It was a long, long process. The three closets also needed to be packed and sorted. It took us all day.

We also had to finish the vacuuming. But the vacuum cleaner had gotten clogged. It took some interesting manuevers with a fly swatter and a wire coat hanger to get that problem solved. But we did it.

We finished around 8:30pm. By finished I mean that the old apartment is clean and everything is out (except the futons *sigh*). Our new place is pretty much packed to the gills. Or at least Tina's room is. Poor girl.

Moving is always a long and drawn out process. My sister worked for over twelve hours today on a project that she flippantly referred to as "moving her clothes" just yesterday. :) I am just happy we finished when we did.

Tuit

2008-06-10T23:11:00.004-05:00

I have seemingly all of the time in the world right now. I have the summer off with only the occasional work day or tutoring session and for at least these first few weeks I am not too concerned about the upcoming school year. So today I have started to compile a list of things that I would like to accomplish this summer...you know, the sorts of things that you usually put off saying that you will do it...when you get around to it...ah, Procrastination, my long time friend. :)

Which got me to thinking and reading about the History of Procrastination and the Round Tuit. Some very entertaining and interesting stuff there.

And of course there are many different kinds of Tuits out there...I had always assumed the round variety to be quite rare, however, a quick search on google garnished too many to choose from...perhaps I will pick a Round Tuit tomorrow. :)

Have you hugged your colander today?

2008-06-04T09:53:00.002-05:00

The moving season is here! I have a new address, all of my old things have been pulled out of my mother's attic, I have been sifting through mountains of utensils and dishes, pots and pans, I have been so pleasantly surprised to find so many kitchen gadgets that I have been missing these past few months...like my stainless steel colander which I hugged when I unpacked. :)

Today is the tenth?

2008-05-10T21:40:00.004-05:00

It is almost surprising that today is not the 21. That is how good it has been. (coincidentally it is 21 days till June 1, my move in date, I wonder if that has some sort of contributing factor?)

It is a great day for many reasons here are a few:

perfect dreams
plenty of time to catch up on sleep
beautiful walk
adorable new goslings
I had a sense of expectation that was delightful
I conquered the dishes
I got the lease for my new apartment
It's in the building I wanted
On the side facing the sunsets
Close to the pool
It has 2 bedrooms
I am paying the studio price!
my oil change took less than 15 minutes
I found the perfect card for Mother's Day
I chatted with my brothers and sister online
I talked to Dad, Mom, and Tina on the phone
I had time to catch up with Kate

everything has just gone so exceptionally well. And then I got sick. But I am too happy about all of the rest of it to even care that sickness would normally ruin a day...today is un-ruinable...and I loved it!

The Measure of a Heart

2008-04-10T19:44:00.001-05:00

Ok, this isn't a new book. Far from it. I was trying to remember just how many times I have read this one. MANY.

It's one of my favorites. :)

Like Water for Chocolate

2008-04-07T01:39:00.002-05:00

I have read excerpts of this book before, in my Spanish classes, and I thought that I had read it in its entirety. However, I realized that I haven't read it all until this go round.

This is really a very beautiful story. It fits right in with my current "lovers separated" theme. I loved the supernatural/larger than life aspects of this particular tale paired with the ever practical/down to Earth recipes and home remedies that this plot was woven through. The unique pairing made this ever-believable/ever-a-dream.

I also found myself enjoying the generational aspect...albeit a minor angle...and spent a lot of thinking on how the lives we live mirror those who have come before us...or respond/react to those lives lived before us. As well as the concept of generational curses and blessings. Every life carries its own freedom to be as it desires...and yet every life is made from the lives of the families before them. Interesting.

I liked the ending exceptionally sweet.

I hear there is a movie and I am going to try to track it down in the somewhat near future.

Baby Proof

2008-04-03T19:46:00.004-05:00

Well, look at that! It's another Emily Giffin novel, who would have thought?

It seems as if I am on a role.

This book is entirely not what I expected it to be in many ways. The first two Giffin novels that I read were deeply intertwined. I wrongly assumed that this book was a continuation of that story in some way.

The other novels also progressed in a very typical manner. This one seemed to start at a "happily ever after...." and then proceeded to fall apart. Talk about the unexpected! (Giffin's novels all seem to rely heavily on the theme of the unexpected...)

I found myself continuously counting down the number of pages to the final chapter knowing that it was not going to end the way that I wanted it to. I was dreading every word that brought me closer to the "monster" at the end of the book which I intuitively felt to be a tragic closing to this story, strong, but tragic.

And I did greatly enjoy a brief character "cameo" from the book, Something Blue. :)

However, I have also been thinking a lot about art this week. And this thinking has reminded me that sometimes the success of a book/story is not in the warm, fuzzy afterglow and the tidy happy endings...but perhaps it can be deemed "art" or "successful" because it was the story that evoked a deep emotional response...albeit not an expected response. It dredged up a real feeling of knowing what the characters struggle through.

I liked the book. I am highly tempted to pre-order the next novel which is hitting the shelves in mid-May.

Art is a feeling

2008-04-02T21:59:00.002-05:00

I saw a painting today.

I saw many.

But one made me stop.

One that made me remember him

saying that art is a feeling.

I asked

What do I feel?

Feel it?

What?

I would have liked to have met her

That girl

in that painting

Would have liked to know what she feels

about him

painting

her

then

Would like to know what she is thinking

about him

painting

her

then

I would like to know how men come to make such images

of nudes

of women

of a feeling

does he love the image the girl the paint the product the high the low the shape the color the texture the composition the line the shadow the hue the moment the light the life the end the beginning the balance the symmetry the familiarity the difference the tone the voice the story the touch the ease the discomfort the room the quilt the time the day the place the look the posture the placement the symbolism the blush the quiet

does he even love at all?

But it is her that I want to ask

her that I want to know

she has my answers

I can feel it

Salt

2008-04-02T21:55:00.003-05:00

You know how you toss some salt over your shoulder for good luck? Does it count if your OCD self always aims for the garbage?

The saddest thing

2008-04-02T19:54:00.002-05:00

I am reading a book right now that is setting me into a funk. It's quite depressing, really. I am equally motivated to quit crying(i.e. reading) and put it out of my mind all together and to hurry up and finish it just to see if there is any hope for these poor people.

I think the very saddest circumstance is when two people love each other and they are not together. I mean unreturned love is tragic, unrecognized love is disheartening, unspoken love is dreadful...but when love is recognized, realized, and actual...yet not continued...I mourn for that.

I may never finish...I may be unable to stop.

Something Blue

2008-03-26T18:03:00.000-05:00

I enjoyed the first book so much that I decided to read the sequel. I enjoyed this book just as much, if not more, than the first.

This second book is told from the perspective of the best friend from book number one. There is a couple of overlapping chapters giving her take on some crucial scenes that were played out in the first plot line and then the story moved to another continent (literally) and branched out from the previous book's conclusion.

I think that it takes a lot of talent to take the antagonist and make her the protagonist (especially with this character set) however, this was done quite convincingly. Plus, I really enjoyed the multiple points of view on shared scenes.

I think that I liked this one enough to go off and find the third book. :)

Something Borrowed

2008-03-25T17:56:00.000-05:00

This was a fast and easy read...think along the lines of something to take to the beach or poolside...

I really found this story to be entertaining it is about a woman who finds herself in love with her best friend's fiance. It was greatly intriguing and quite a page turning (mostly because I was constantly fearful of the "getting caught" scenario).

Giffin did a wonderful job making her characters believable, flaws and all.

This book also gave pause to some interesting theories about control in relationships, the bond of friendship, competition vs. success, and the need for a secret.

I found it well written and a good escape from my non-dramatic relational life. ;)

Girl With a Pearl Earring

2008-03-24T17:49:00.000-05:00

This is a very interesting look at the life of Vermeer, his family, and his household staff. It is told from the perspective of one of his wife's maids.

I was interested to see how the story unfolded, however, this book didn't have a very quick "hook." Once the story gained momentum it was an easy read.

If you enjoy a twist on the stereotypical historical fiction then this book will be worth your time.

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

2008-03-18T17:40:00.004-05:00

We just finished reading this book together in my 5th Grade class. This is the 4th time that I have read it and I can honestly say that I enjoy it more each time.

I greatly admire Nat's ability to "sail by ash breeze" as he would say, never giving up and continuously persevering no matter what the circumstances. There is certainly a lot to be said about the depth of character that it takes to refuse to allow the life situations and personal tragedy that each of us must face to dictate the life that we live. Nat is an excellent example of accomplishing what those around him considered to be impossible.

I can recommend this book without any qualifiers...because if it is good enough to read in my particular school setting...then anyone on planet Earth can read it without any fear or trepidation. :)

The Time Traveler's Wife

2008-03-18T17:17:00.003-05:00

This book was loaned to me by a friend who has impeccable taste in all things that I love, from books, to music, to movies, to concerts, and on and on and on.

This book is the "change-my-life" kind of good. I started recommending this book to people as soon as I started reading it. I didn't need to finish it to know that it was going to be good through the end and that it was going to be a worthy expenditure of time.

I started to consider the dependability of chronological time and the possibility of that not being a factor. I even found myself buying into the idea so much that I started to consider how I could help people like Henry, how I could make the travels easier for him. The best part, is how this book forces you to consider fate and destiny as entities not to be trifled with. Do we do what we do because we want to? Or because we are meant to? Is there any way to undue the past? Or to change the future? And while the theory of time travel may sound entertaining...at what expense is such a venture made? And who has true freedom those that travel or those that don't? I am going to be thinking about this book for a while. I recommend that you do the same.

All that being said...if you are offended by language, sex, or alcohol use...then this is not the book for you. I, however, am happily rarely offended and I loved the whole thing! (So don't worry, Lauren, I didn't "edit" your copy with a black Sharpie marker as I have done to some of my books ;) )

Sing Along

2008-02-07T21:12:00.000-06:00

One of the things that I love about my job are the many "moments" I find. They are unexpected and they cause me to stop in my tracks in awe of how grateful I am to be right here, right now. I wouldn't change a thing.

My kids are so great. Sure they have their days. But today, when other teachers were complaining that their kids were squirly from the day off, my kids were radiently good. I always have some music playing at the begining of the day as they get settled in, turn in homework, mark lunch count, etc. And the students always have a daily-warm-up worksheet to finish quietly in their seat. Today, as I was taking attendance I paused as I realized that my entire class was quietly singing along with the CD. I smiled. Oh, the unabashed joy of fifth-graders singing a song they love with their friends. Today, it was good to be back. Back to a job I love. Today, I sang along.

Incredibly Stupid Phone

2008-02-06T21:40:00.000-06:00

My cell phone now only works when it is plugged in to its charger. This is most frustrating. I plan to take it to get its battery checked/fixed/replaced as soon as possible, but there is no way that I was going to do it today in our virtual blizzard. I have been missing calls, texts, and voice mails because of this stupididty. I am keeping in plugged in at all times now so hopefully that will help it out 'till I can dig myself out of the snowstorm and get to the Sprint store.

Untill then good luck trying to reach me.

I may have just voted for the Anti-Christ

2008-02-05T21:55:00.000-06:00

Isn't it interesting how everyone becomes a political activist on Super Tuesday? Monday we mumbled to hide our ignorance...we stumbled to choose a side...to stall some more, we then grumbled that there wasn't a side worth choosing. And Tuesday we vote.

Yesterday, the politics at hand were alien ideas and yet we complained that we had been inundated with political advertisement. Today we vote.

People critisize the cadidates. They critisize my choice.

I don't claim to have all the answers but I voted for a change. Call the candidate what you will. Just know that right or wrong...I think it is amazing that we the people get a voice at all.