New Year's Eve

Happy Birthday Aunt Mary Helen 78 years young.

I had Armando's brother, wife and baby over for dinner last night. I made a pork shoulder roast with dried chili, salt, oregano and pepper in the rub then garlic, a head, more chapolte chili's dry and 3 more poblano. I cooked it for 375 in 2 c chicken stock. rico.

It took 4 adults to keep that baby fret less. She likes to hit and when I stop her she cries...too bad,,everyone but mom stops her. I got salsa lessons too. Cute baby girl though. She is walking more. She loves Lacey. Lacey isn't so enamoured; and runs away.

Today I went to breakfast with my 3 library friends to celebrate my birthday. It's nice to get together quarterly and catch up. Then I was off to physical therapy.

After holding the baby and running around all yesterday my back was killing me. They had me on a bike with my arms. then current and ice in 3 spots, my lower back, my middle back and my neck. I go back 1/2, then see the Dr.

Tonight we are going over to my friend Karen's, the immigration attorney, to celebrate and welcome the new year. We're bring crab and tidbits including hunus with pine nuts.

Lost a day

I thought yesterday was Thursday. I think I blew off a physical therapy appointment yesterday which turned out to be Friday. I couldn't figure out why the newscaster wished us a good weekend.

Armando cleaned up the yard in preparation for the rain. Haven't seen it yet.

I ran out of meds. I called Kaiser and fortunately I have one refill on record so I can pick it up tomorrow.

I'm making risotto with crab and mushrooms. You heat chicken broth, fortunately I have somemade on hand. Then you get arborio rice and saute in butter and add a cup of broth. Saute diced onion in olive oil, the oil should be warm first. This cooks for about 7 min. Add 11/2 c. rice to the pan and stir until all the grains are coated. Then add a sovion blanc of wine. Add chicken stock one half cup at a time. Stir and add a bit of salt. I like to add mushrooms too. As the rice gets thick add more broth, stir in this softens the starch. Add parmasean cheese about 1/3 c. and crab and asparagus or peas stiring constantly ,add cream. Top with cheese. This should be creamy. Add butter, stir and cover for 5 min.

I need to make a run to the store I took all my food to Marilyn. She is so infirm and in such a tiny community I want her to have stores for when the power goes out. Her roomate eats it. Marilyn has someone who cooks and delivers meals 3x a week. Armando said she eats a lot and seems hungry. She is tall and skinny and frail.

I'd like to get a tiny kitchen aide food processor.

I want Lobster for New Years. Armando probably prefers carne asada. He made it for us in Trinidad.
May do a lobster gratin with macaroni and carrot and celery, butter, cheese, basil, thyme in a bouquet garni, cubes sauteed lobster mixed with this cream sauce and topped with more. Put under the broiler and voila...heaven..

I thought my t.v. hit the dust last night but the sleep setting turned it off. I had visions of buying a new t.v. today.

I'm watching my cooking shows.

trip from hell

We walked the pier caught crabs, had clam chowder, walked in the woods to the ocean walked in cold rain to the coffee shop after taking Marilyn to shop and get a new battery.

We couldn't leave as a result until 4 ran into an accident in Eureka then it was dark. Rain, rain and more rain. I drove through the redwoods and around Lattonville it began to snow. We should have stopped there but it was 6 and I THOUGHT WE COULD GO 21 MILES. It TOOK US 2 SCARY HRS AT 10 MPH WITH PEOPLE SPINNING OUT ALL OVER. finally WE GOT TO wILLITS AND 101 WAS CLOSED N AND s. There were no hotel rooms to be had. We slept in the car for 2 hrs. then continued home stopping in Berkeley to drop off flowers etc to Marilyn's son and new wife.

Glad I had some experience driving in snow. I don't miss it though!

We got home at 7. a.m. Fortunately I didn't have to unload the car. I'm getting spoiled. I took a hot bath and crashed.

I read till 9 and then slept till noon. I had the house cleaned for 7 hrs and now laundry.

Just finished Web of Evil by J A Jance. Now I'm onto Bad Blood by Linda Fairstein.

Christmas

Well we opened gifts, had breakfast talked to Mikie, Mike and Michael, dropped gifts off for Armando's brother, let him pack and headed out of town. We got to Trinidad about 6.

Armando was going to take the next exit when a pick up truck freaked him blowing his horn because he was going too slow in the rain and instead of taking the exit he took what he thought was the exit and ran off the road.

Then I took over.

We had pasta and a fire while it rained; good company, alcohol and good feelings. I felt that warm contentment of being with loved ones that has been missing for years.

This morning we woke by 9:30 went for breakfast on the pier, walked it off on the pier watching the seals, waves and threw in crab pots.

We got some good ones. The first time for either of us. Armando has to get them out and cook them. Yum and some picked to bring home.

Christmas Eve

We had Armando's roommate Alfredo over for dinner last night. We lit a fire and sat around the tree.

Tonight were going to my friend Caro's for dinner at 6 then, to Armando's brother Carlos and sister in law, Sylvia and their baby Rosaecella for another dinner of carne asada. She doesn't talk just screams Baaaaa for everything. Pa, Ma nothing else. Give me it now. She walks and maybe understands NO!

Caro made a broccoli soufle with bechemel, a potato ring with white and sweet potatoes, pico de gallo, salad and beef.

We're going to mass at the Mission at midnight. Merry Christmas to all!

I got my oil changed and went to physical therapy.

I started the book High Noon.

The day after Christmas, we're driving up to see Marilyn in Trinidad. She's on the ocean. She unlike Carolina who is Nicaraguan, doesn't speak much Spanish.

I'm making sugar cookies, now they need the cool for 2 hrs then be rolled out baked and decorated.

Maybe I'll make a cake to bring if I have time. Well I made an apple cake and one with persimmons.

I baked one sheet of sugar cookies and hopefully I can frost them and let them dry un time to give them tonight. I hate to roll them out. It needs 2 people. My back gives out. They are all flower, butter sugar and b. powder.

Happy Winter Solstice

Armando surprised me last night with an impromptu BBQ with his brother Carlos, his wife and their baby girl. The baby is just over 1 yr. She's grown so much since this summer. They made carne asada, ribs, sausage and I made a salad, green beans, potatoes and green pepper and onion on the grill.

I wrapped up the box a wreath came in and put in some earings, a snowman pen, stickers, a coloring book and 2 christmas mugs with Teddy bear paper.

For their parents a musical Christmas thing in mickey mouse paper and some popouri. I gave Sylvia a water bottle with a bell and candy for the baby and put a bell on Lacey. They invited us over Christmas Eve and I invited them to go to church with us at the Mission at Santa Clara.

They left, I got sick, Armando fell asleep, I turned out the light and left him with the Christmas tree and I climbed in bed reading Patricia Cornwell's new book Book of the Dead. He left. It was only 9 p.m.

My stomach still is not happy. I am not used to all that meat or tortillas. I bought 50 now they are almost gone. Mexicans eat a lot of tortillas. I buy a half a lb. , he buys 5lbs of meat.

Posada

Well I had been to a Posada at the library where we walked about the block but last night I went to one with Armando, There was a large house like shrine to the Virgin decorated with flowers, wrapping paper, candles and Christmas paper. There was a bonfire and it was conducted in the front yard. We said the rosary which was a reading from the gospel and kind of a mass. There was a table and the senora cooked pozole a corn thing with chicken. There was cilantro, onion, chili and tortillas to add the hard ones. There was a punch with sugar cane and cinnamon in it and horchata.

After and hour or so everyone grabbed candles and flowers and climbed into cars and went to another persons house. We started after on one block and met in the middle with all the kids and candles and fireworks and sparklers singing to meet in front of a house carrying the virgin and Jesus and Joseph on a table and sang after knocking on the gate the kids who had gone in responded there was no room but there was room in the stable. We all entered and there was another alter on the patio. There was for mass and songs around a fire bowl. They passed out chocolate with cinnamon and coffee with cinnamon and Mexican pastry. I got nervous watching the kids throw sparklers on the roof and set the empty boxes on fire.

It was nice. I was the only grings of 50 or so.

It was all outside and cold.

I removed yhe old bathroom light box and fixture and put in another yesterdat. Today, Armando is sanding the plaster and repainting. It weems to small. I may get another one.

I'm off to see the Dr. for my back.

Ice

I am still having physical therapy with ice for 20 min and see the Dr. tomorrow. The battery stimulator helps increase the flow of blood and circulation. The the exercises are good for range of motion.
I'll stop by school while nearby. I left a few things in my rapid departure.

I got my only Christmas present yesterday from my friend Marilyn in Trinidad. I've got Armando's and all these fake things to fill the space.
Bob and Pat sent a gift basket from Tuscany, with wine, pasta, marinara, bread sticks, almonds and cashews. One day I'll get to see that part of Italy Rome, Naples, then onto Greece and Turkey.

I haven't had a tree up in years. It's nice to see the ornaments. I love the lights. I like to turn off the light and just watch the tree.

I love a fire in the fireplace when its cold outside. It makes you feel so lucky.

I got I window above the door installed last night. This guy is a disaster. He put a hole in one wall and needs to repaint the living room wall where he put the ladder before. I expect him to clean up after himself as he has glass and wood fall. It doesn't take too much effort to put a towel between the ladder and wall. Fortunately, Armando deals with him. This reinforces, never do business with friends...he is the husband of my dentists receptionist.

We mad a day when all the librarians met. Carol, my assistant, didn't want to go. I felt she should. I didn't push the point. There need to be some changes made. I spoke to my principal and told him what I was thinking. I haven't made any changes so far, but with new people some new ideas and new thoughts, We have different styles. She is very good at her job. I believe in cross training. She is meticulous, I am more flexible. She runs to tattle. I don't like that.

Some of my favorite things

I love having Lacy snuggled next to me while I read
candles
bubble baths
having someone else shampoo my hair
making my favorite Christmas cookies (mom's)
eating my favorite carrot cake
lobster
crab (tis the season here)
opening presents
wrapping gifts and giving them
midnight mass
hot chocolate
Christmas lights
ornaments collected over the ears
fireplaces
friends
mi amor
Christmas break
lavender

Physical Therapy hurts. I got a 3 foot hard Styrofoam cylinder to lie on and exercises to do. I go back tomorrow for more. I need a heading pad. Now it's ice for the inflammation and patches on my spine with an electric current for 20 min.

I'm looking forward to 2 weeks off for Christmas break.

School is out for break tomorrow.

The Aftermath

Dinner was excellent we has champagne and lobster in blur blanc with fin herbs, artichoke soup, homemade sourdough bread and a salad of romaine, cheese, avocado, croutons, blue cheese with anchovies on the side. I can't stand them. Turns out, Armando isn't a fan either. Our entrees were tornados of beef for Armando with chantrelles and a reduction, asparagus, potato fluff and carrot. I had veal in a cream reduction with brandy, asparagus, carrot, what I thought was a parsnip but was more like a white squash. Desert was a sample of all, creme brule, burnt cream, chocolate torte, berries and amaretto cheese cake but no gran marnier souffle.

I misses Michael's birthday call.

The window installer put one window in yesterday. The ladder marked the wall which is a special melon shade of cantaloupe so now he'll have to repaint the whole thing since it was specially matched and it couldn't be done a 2nd time. Armando helped negotiate the price of installationn He told me one thing. Armando said...do you want the work? He said yes and the price dropped 300 dollars. I find it difficult to be so direct. Surprises me. It's cuz I know him.

Feliz Cumpleanos a mi

Well I went to the staff Christmas party last night. The first one was better despite the white elephant gifts. One of the gifts was a live crab. They cooked it fir her too! I got mine stolen 4 times...,once a megaphone once a bottle of wine, once singing,walking penguin.

Armando made me my birthday cake carrot with cream cheese icing of course. Tonight we are going out to dinner a La Foret, a French restaurant in the forest that used to be a boarding house during the gold rush when the silver mines were operating. I haven't been there since 1983. I'm in the mood doe lobster and champagne and a Cosmopolitan.

The painting on the eves was done yesterday, just in time to repaint now that the new windows are in, Watching, It's not an easy task especially balancing and banging away while on a ladder.

I begin physical therapy 3x a week for my back.

Today I go o sleep in, stay in my new flannel nightgown, have fresh squeezed tangerine juice and Christmas cookies for breakfast, read, nap, have some birthday cake for lunch and a bath and soon I'll get ready to go out.

Ouch said the back

After moving furniture in the library after the holiday concert and cpr class I threw my back out. I went to out Workers Comp place where they took xrays, put me on ice, hooked my up on wires, acupuncture with electricity and hydrotherapy, gave me a back brace, hot and cold packs and sent me home for 2 days. Here I am back after 1 still hurting but not as much.

I figured, If I could make my birthday cake, Christmas shortbread and butter cookies, I would be ok. I burst one hot pack with all the gel gunk. Glad it was wrapped in a towel. Guess it wasn't meant to be lied upon. It's hard to put it into my back brace alone.

Armando was here. He did the dishes. He painted the eves of the house and a pannel. Today they are replacing two windows. Please let them be the right size. I want someone else to take the responsibility for the measurements. He did take them but I like to do it more than once and since they are above the front door and in the living room to the l and r of the fireplace I couldn't get up that high or let's just say didn't want to.

I still have one batch of Christmas cookies to make. These require more effort to roll them out and decorate. I got some yummy stuff from my fellow teachers and some birthday cards too. The Principal and vice principal cave me some butter cookies and a card. When I told him I was injured he didn't ask how I was just looked displeased.

Armando and I are going to La Foret, one of my favorite French restaurants for my birthday. I haven't been there since I was married.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

After climbing around in the rafters in the garage I found the decorations. We decorated the Christmas tree. One set of bubble lights hit the dust and of course I didn't test them first so it took awhile to readjust. Now we are tweaking.

I made a wreath for the front door too.Armando finished priming the garage and painted it and the hallway.

I made 2 batches of Mom's frosted Christmas Cookies. I have to figure out a way to get the cookie cooked and the bottoms not burned...maybe silpat.

We had thai food. We love this coconut chicken soup with baby corn and straw mushrooms, carrots and onions.

I made Armando's favorite chicken mole verde with cilantro,toasted pumpkin seeds, onion and chicken broth. I don't like it but he loves it. This is my second attempt to get it right. I don't have a blender and the cuisinart doesn't get it fine enough so I made it as smooth as I could and then took it over to his place and combined everything until he said it was right. Unfortunately, I had to cook it for 30 min and I put it over rice in the oven and the rice absorbed all the mole. FortunATELY, HE HAD MORE MOLE VERDE IN HIS FRIG SO MAYBE HE CAN SALVAGE IT. WHAT i SAMPLED WAS TERRIBLE.

He wanted to talk to Bob but not last night when I spoke to him. He described his
European cruise.

Hanukkah

I got out the menorah one night late and I don't have candles this year so far.

We put up the tree last night.

Actually it's a branch from my huge blue spruce in the front yard. I did this once before about 17 years ago. The tree needed trimming. It's about 60 ft tall and produces a lot of shade for the house. I can't find the decorations though.

I have a tiny tree in the bedroom too. That is decorated.

I've had a girl here in the library with me for 4 days. She had a melt down today and was on my last nerve. She has been pulled out of her classes because she is so disruptive. She does fine with me one one one and likes to help but is inappropriate in her remarks to boys and other s in a quest for attention and acceptance.
She's been transferred to another school into a special day class in the hopes she can get control of herself. She thinks that makes her retarded.

Armando got the garage sanded and primed yesterday and blinds hung in the bedroom.

He trimmed my bushes so I can make wreaths for the front doors.

Karen's Birthday

Today is Karen's birthday. We have been friends for almost 40 years. It was good to see her and stay with her and Rick this spring.

Christmas wish list

THO socks in black and white (the cushion the feet) In the summer I like the low cut ones like tennis) I have them here and got 4 pair in Williamsburg. They are expensive..over $10 a pair.

Black tights Lane Byrant

Starbucks gift card for my hot chocolate

A flannel nightgown

A green rain jacket

Today I gave the secretaries in the office a basket of this great cinnamon bread and butter for Christmas, tea, coffee, plates napkins and a card. They have cinnamon bread every morning and I have been telling them about this brand.

I got all my library student assistants little gifts in gift bags and cards.
I got my library assistant a subscription to Bon Appetit and a card. We both like to cook. She wanted to change it to Cooking Light. She gave me a Christmas card and a box of cinnamon sticks.

Tonight I made some Oatmeal raisin cookies yum...!

Started watching the moving introducing Dorothy Dandridge. It's really good so far.

I made some pumpkin soup last night . I didn't do it this year for Thanksgiving.
It has a carrot, onion, shallot, 2 c stock, 1c. so cream 1 c. cream, 1/2c 1/2 & 1/2, salt, 2 c pumpkin. It's different but rich and good.

Holiday Parade

We went downtown to the San Jose Holiday Parade last night and to see the trees in Christmas in the park. What a zoo. Roads were closed, garages full,valets overworked...

Then we had dinner and drinks again at Il Fornio. I had risotto again with peas, mushrooms, shrimp and asparagus and a Cesar salad. My tummy is queasy so no wine or Cosmopolitan this time. This time I got a calender of Italy for next year and entered in a drawing for a trip for 2 to Italy.

Everyone was dressed up in their holiday regalia and women tottered on impossibly high spike heels. I have a pair that were Mom's They are good for about 10 min 2 mh 2 min. of walking.

From shopping on line I think I have discovered that lands end followed by llbean, Eddie Bauer and rei are the cheapest. I like the free shipping and no malls.

Today we are making wreaths for the front door. The green should look nice against the red. Time to decorate the house and deck the halls.

I still have roses to pick and Armando cut them for me while he trimmed back the bushes for winter.

I have a possum that eats dropped fruit. It hollows it out with it's long nose. They are ugly. It scared me when I saw it through the door.

I ordered my 3 odd sgaped windows for the LR and over the front door. No snow...they can be put in during Dec.

a day in

Today is a day to stay in and I'm still in my flannel nightgown, bed socks and slippers.

I did some Christmas cards this morning.

The black beans cooked with the ham bone. onion, carrot and garlic are fantastic.

Breakfast was ham, scrambled eggs with cream cheese on a sourdough English muffin with fresh squeezed Tangerine juice.

I love that Odwallda juice.

My oranges and lemons are getting ripe. By January they should be ripe and sweet enough to squeeze.

I'm sneezing a bit so resting and reading is a good thing. Lacey is curled up next to me.

I've dot two movies,

Introducing Dorothy Danridge

and Road to Perdition to watch.

I'm gonna put up a branch for my blue spruce as a Christmas tree for the second time. It's unusual but looks ok and my huge tree needs a trim. One 6' branch will do it good.

The blinds are up mostly

Wee the new blinds are up in the kitchen, my office and the spare bedroom. Now to rehang those in my bedroom. The issue is finding replacement hardware,

Armando painted the remaining adjacent dining room wall today. The first color of cantaloupe and the second also specially matched to a stripe in the couch are not quite the same. I wonder if anyone will notice except us.

I'm making a pot of black beans with the ham bone from Thanksgiving. The place smells great.

Armando planted my bulbs today. finally. we BOUGHT THEM IN 1/2/ MOON BAy right before the pumpkin festival IN Oct.

He cleaned the kitchen and vacuumed for me today. It was so nice to come home to an elf that cut the grass watered the plants and everything else.

I got a new flannel nightgown for my birthday from my friend P.J. in Oregon, and a fluffy bath sheet. I soaked my aching back in the tub with my favorite Pellier honey body scrub and soaked till I felt almost normal again.

Unfortunately trying to but the remaining meat off the bone almost did me in again until Armando stepped in again. Bless the boy....

He cleaned up the kitchen afterwards too. then I passed out from 8-12.

I have discovered my principal is a micro manager and wants to know everything. Teachers run to him like nursery school to complain and he likes it like that!?

I don't.

a wedding?

"One perfect rose he sent me since we met" Dorothy Parker

I don't think so...I was surprised when Armando mentioned it last night. I have grown accustomed to my ways. It would be hard to live with a person....
Why at 21 did 9 mo. seem long enough to know and now....

I spent Thanksgiving alone and lonely and didn't go out for the 5 days I had off. I saw Armando on Wed. but he was sick. I took him medicine and soup but after hearing him hack decided I could do without the rest.

I spent 2.5 hrs with the school financial planner last night looking over my investments. I have a lot of dead wood only earning 2.5 % for my IRA and less in some mutual funds that need to be moved.

I thought I would have had more in my IRA's since I opened it in 83. It was supposed to be around 300 by now.

We all just got back from this break and I was looking forward to getting back and now we're all tired again and looking forward to the 2 weeks off at Christmas.

Mom's Birthday

Today is Mom's birthday. I never forget her, or the day. We are so lucky to have had such a warm, caring woman as our Mom. I didn't appreciate her enough. She put up with a lot of garbage and I'm sure I was more difficult than the boys.

Wesley was baptized over the weekend in Columbia.

I'm glad this week and next are short ones. I was going to do a turkey but it turns out that Armando really doesn't like it and neither do I. I like the potatoes, and stuffing and pie and cranberry sauce though.

Veterans Day

Looking forward to a 3 day weekend. The spirit is weary.

I met with the districts' retirement tax deferred person yesterday. If I can stay in the district until 2011. I'll be entitled to a chunk of retirement that has been growing. Every year beyond that it grows more.... That's a nice thing to find out it pays till I drop.

Now I know why Michael was not concerned with funding an IRA. It's interesting because schools and libraries don't pay into social security.

We had lobster and baked potato last night. Rico....delicious!

I drive in the carpool lane and this morning I couldn't see a difference between it and the others except one person was pulled over. It took a long time. Traffic is worse and only 4 lanes. I remember when it would have been great to be in the car pool lane and when gas was .29 a gal. Now it's pushing 3.20 and they say $4.00 may come soon. This is insanity.

November is still great weather

I have gotten used to having my reserve book list at the library full. I seem to always have 10 books on the list and fill it again as soon as I check some out. The public library is my favorite place. I've started going to the one next to school which is smaller but only 2 blocks away. I am looking forward to the Book of the Dead by Patricia Cornwell. I'm also a fan of Clive Clusser and am looking forward to his new book. At the moment. My list is full so I have to wait.

I am ready for a break. I'm tired of being around school. I had in easy when I was adopted as a new teacher by the teachers across the hall. It was nice to have some friendly faces. Here, I am isolated which my other new teachers tell me is a good thing. There is a lot of moaning and I'd rather not be a part of it.


I'm not sure I'm up to cooking a Thanksgiving feast either. The thought overwhelms me. If I'm in the mood, that's one thing.

I got a quote for cabinets including a new pantry. The pantry would be to the ceiling with pull out drawers. Looks like the new ovens are bigger than my existing ones so that whole cabinet will have to be redone too. Anyway the cost is over 5,000.00. He said that I need to empty everything out first and then put on new countertops in granite then the cabinets. Yikes! Too much work!I'm having the pantry built now. It should be her the 2nd week in Dec.

and the earth shook

I was brushing my teeth when the earthquake hit a little after 8, I had just arranged to meet Armando, not really wanting the company until then. Then you don't want to be alone. He couldn't get throygh to call me on my land line although his cell phone worked.
It seemed to go on forever even though it was only a 5.6. It was centered near our homes. It took about 10 min to get any information on the t.v. Nothing fell but my Lacey was freaked out.

Tody is Halloween and all the kids are excited and dressed up in their Halloween costumes and ready for the parade at lunch. Some of these kids have been up since 5 putting makeup on. The costumes range from clowns to slashers to goths. I wanted to stay home today.

Costume or not?

The first rain of the season hit yesterday. It made me want to curl up and read with a fire, a bowl of soup and a book.

The time change hasn't happened yet but getting up in the dark makes it feel like it.

This weekend it is going back up to 80.

My last chance for painting and windows. I can't believe Thanksgiving is three weeks away.

I went to see the Dr. at Kaiser yesterday. The dermatologist told he I have rosea, adult onset acne and gave me an antibiotic and cream. I had such great skin for so many years I find this really hard to deal with. After a mere 4 days my skin was better but I needed to discontinue the doxycycline. (sic) It made my tummy sick. Not to mention the GI upset and the interaction with calcium.

I'm having one of those days where I just don't want to be here. The superintendent is having a luncheon here today.

My assistant was a flapper.

red door

Emily, Scott, Abby, Ethan and Libby celebrate the season

I've got a new red door. Granted it could use a bit more sanding. The garage is next. My friend wants me to just get a new one. My thinking is that this one works just fine. It can wait.

I talked to some people who built their own cabinets this weekend and it would see, I've grossly underestimated the cost of a kitchen remodel.
I figure counters refacing cabinets, new ovens and a pantry floor to ceiling.

My new blinds came and I got 2 of 4 hung.

I decided to repaint the garage door too...terra cotta. I can't believe how much time it takes to just paint and hand stuff. prep is a lot of time.

The weather was beautiful. I love it in the 70's.

like giving birth

Having my wisdom tooth pulled was like giving birth..you want to say lets forget this, leave it in I want to go home, but you know you can't. I did say mid pull, I'll just take care of it, we can forget this idea. Oops too late.

On the positive side, He said I have strong bones.

On the negative side he had to take a wooden mallet to it eat more Wheaties and beat it out. The root was twisted so it come out in two pieces.

It turns out my pcp told me the clindanizin he proscribed and gave to me yesterday presurgery, I'm alergic to. I haven't taken any more but my choices are so limited. doxycylin but no sulfa or pencyclin drugs and I hate enythroymecin. Maybe I don't need the drugs. It's hard to smile much.

Tonight I'm going to a play Arriving from Arrivada, the story of Mexican illegals walking across the Sonoran dessert to enter Arizona. It's in English and Spanish.

The potluck yesterday was great. A good thing before an extraction. I should have had done a r upper quadrant deep cleaning too as long as I was numb but I'm sure the oral and maxillofacial and facial cosmetic surgeon might not have wanted to do that.

He did tall me that he thought the bump I have on my tongue is 99% probably not cancer but just scar tissue from a place I bit. Now I have to get some antibiotics and go back in a week. Imagine they wanted to do 3 at once. Are they crazy? 1 was traumatic enough. I have 2 out 2 in. The last one 17 years ago was not as difficult but I was surprised then too that they just yank it out. This time they did drape me like for surgery to isolate my head and keep the area as sterile as possible. It was a good thing. I was bleeding a bit. I'm still in trauma and it's the next day.

I'm aware of the stitches and the swelling but there is really no pain. I did take one ibuprofen 800 mg last night at 1. He gave me 600mg. Imagine putting my age to the year and month on the bottle! It caused me to miss my nap. I fell asleep during ER.

Wisdom lost

Time to have another wisdom tooth pulled. Two to go but I need to go one at a time. Last week I broke a tooth chewing gum and a week later it was filled and may need a crown. Theses teeth are just getting old.

It doesn't help that I like bit of honey and sticky candy and gum.

The weather here in No. CA has been spectacular. "They" call it earth quake weather.

I'm planting my bulbs and put in paper whites and yesterday picked 3 more tomato's. In the back where they don't get enough sun I've yet to get one but the basil is fine. I need to more those sweet 100's to the front and see if I can get one this year from the plants I started in May as seeds.

The primroses and violets and inpatients look great.

My 4 new sets of blinds game yesterday. Three go in the kitchen to replace the woven wood that were there when I bought the house. The other set are for my office. I need to move the one there to the spare bedroom and put mine up again from under the bed.

My cat Lacey won't be happy. She likes to "Patrol" from up on that window and that is where she goes every a.m. around 6.

I'm having one more wall in the dining room painted melon, the color of cantaloupe. I hope they managed to match what the other one was. I did the first 3 2 years ago in the heat of the summer.

I just read the new Stuart Woods, "Stone Barrington" novel,

Shoot him if he runs

. Kept me up till 1. That must be why I woke at 7:15. I've got to start setting that alarm again.

We're having a potluck at school today. I made my carrot cake with cream cheese icing.

Painting

Armando just primed the front door and then it gets painted red. The trim is black. After 4 trips to Kelly Moore and one to Orchard Supply, my Sunday was filled with the farmers market and the Thai restaurant we love for this great coco, chicken soup with lemon grass, carrots, onion, cilantro, tomato and I also like their yellow chicken curry as hot as it is.
I hit the farmers market too.
After the Mexican market where I discovered carnitas I made the rounds home.

It was a spectacular weekend. I love October in CA.

Before I left on Friday I chose the winners for the bookmark contest at school.

I need to copy and laminate them now.

Black Monday

Remember when all the stocks took a dive? I lost a lot on paper.... It was Michael's birthday then too. This time it's friday.

Happy birthday Mr. Mickey! I hope you have great plans to go and celebrate.

I've been getting in to open up at 7:30. I've been getting some kids to sign up for a drawing and I have a few bookmarks but they come in for the games. Gift cards to Jamba Juice and Starbucks only go so far. I've been giving out pencils.

I'm running out of time each day to get things done.

Tomarrow I sign papers to redo my kitchen...new oven,lights,counter and cabinets. I'm having the living room upper windows replaced too, the fireplace eplaced with marble and new carpeting. I just got blinds for the kitchen and my office.

Fall

The leaves are changing and we had our 1st major rain storm.

I opened up early yesterday so the kids could come in. They want me to open at 7:30 v 8. I tried this morning but still was 16 min off in traffic. The rain didn't help though. The principal is checking my contract to see if librarian/teachers are required to be here different hrs, than the teachers. Well, then they should pay me more. I gave book talks today. I go to another school on Monday for

Teen Read Week

.

Everyone Bob and Pat and Peggy are off to Italy and I'm envious. I'd like to see Florence and Venice again and Rome, Milan and Turkey and Greece. I need 3 weeks at least. Traveling longer than that is too hard on me.

Then there is the diving I'd like to do in Australia. This would be a nice time for that too.

I'm planning on a clown for Halloween or pulling out Mom's ,mink stole out over a dress with a hat and heels and make a cake, carry it on a stand and be a 50's lady.

I'm up at 5.

Today I'm going to made Armando's chicken mole verde and plant my onion, garlic and shallot sets.

I had to go to two markets to find pumpkin seeds unshelled. They are distributed by Guadalajara out of L.A. Then I had to toast them till they popped and grind them. It smelled like coffee. Afterwards you add a cup of stock and simmer and it turns dark then add the tomatillos you simmered with serrano and jalapenos and chopped to the mix and simmer. Already it sounds too spicy to me.

While I was in the Mexican market I got a taco for lunch. I told him to put a tiny pit of salsa verde on it. Mistake. To me that means 4 drops. He put a lot. I ended up tossing the tortillas and heating more when I got home to add with crema and black beans. I told Armando I made his favorite. I can have some left over brisket ot carne asada or leftover cube steak or chicken mole with rice if it's too hot. I dipped a tiny piece of chicken in it to test but I really couldn't tell.

Toasting the pepetas (pumpkin seeds) reminded me of toasting Indian spices, black mustard seeds particularly.

I'm going to look into going to Belize or Costa Rica over Christmas or Spring Break. The trip to Belize goes through Charlotte so maybe I could see Nancy and Mikie n Michael.

Post Office

Yesterday I went to mail a baby present to Wesley and the first p.o. had moved. Then I went to the 2nd and was so irritated that I had to use a machine. Once I got home I realized it was Columbus day and all banks were. I was lucky to get it done at all.

The biggest pumpkin weighed in at 1500 lbs.

I have mine on top of my pillar in front. At school I got a small one and some Indian corn.

Since we shut down the school's ethernet Friday and Monday there were tons to check in. I also had to re thread the laminator, a pain, but with help from my library assistant Carol we got it done.

I've been putting kids to work to pay off their fines. There were over 11k in lost books.

The tomatoes and basil are still growing.

The Beach

This weekend was beautiful and we went to the beach driving over past all the pumpkin patches in 1/2 moon bay, Pescadero, Santa Cruz and Capatola. I love the drive next to the ocean. We sat on the beach for awhile and when he got too cold with only his shirt we
moved on. Everyone was out to enjoy the splendor. The weather was beautiful.
All the pumpkin patches are full. It's so wonderful to have the company. It's been a long time. I stopped at the 1/2 Moon Bay Nursery to stock up on bulbs, tulips, paper whites, amaryllis, freesias, iris and for the first time onion and garlic sets. I got my favorite pansies, mums, jonnyjumpups and primroses. It's time for cyclamen here.


I made a beef brisket, my first, the other night. I had it with Aunt Francis. Seems good but you have to cook it in liquid, wine and stock with garlic, onion and bay leaves. I also made Armando another pot of black beans.

Life is good.

It's almost soup weather. Once I eat the brisket and potatoes and carrots I think I'll make a pot of my favorite beef veggie soup. Why is beef brisket so expensive if you have to cook it so long? The same with short ribs?

We are preparing for Teen Read week October 15-19th. I'm presenting a booktalk on Magyk by Angie Sage and have a contest of making bookmarks and drawings for the most books read and book talks every 1/2 hr. The public library is having a drawing for Barnes and Noble gift certificates, movie passes, money and a movie and pizza. I can't compete but I do have them captive. The other is at 6 p.m.

I read the new Nora Roberts mystery High Noon.

I'm so happy not to be teaching the little I do in the library is just right.

Il Fornio's

We went out to a wonderful Italian dinner last light at Postrio's I had this great risotto with tiger shrimp and believe it or not Armando had a steak. With 5 types of bread homemade in the basket, me would have prefered tortillas. He did get a side of cannaloni beans he likes and spinach and gave me his yummy fingerling potatoes and a bite or two of the filet of his 22 oz steak. With all that food we could do without salad. Still I did have a Cospopolitan. He thinks they are horrid.
To each their own. They give a free give, olive oil, or this month it was polenta,then risotto and last month cannolini beans. In Nov. there is a calendar and at year's end a drawing for a trip to Italy.

I had my first meeting yesterday of the literary magazine. It's made of mostly of older students and some that worked on it last year which helps me.

I'm in the midst of my evaluation, writing it and will have it by the 15th.

I'm off to the dentist again on Fri. to get another filling fixed and then my annual glasses.

Feels like fall is here. I have a sweater in the morning but afternoons are sunny and 70. Time for mums and apples.

I think I may have jammed the laminator trying to change the film for the first time. Now the joys of the job begin, trying to eliminate the porn. site, fix the printer, clear the server, fix the tension on the laminator and unjam the film on the roller by unscrewing the roller or heat shield. Isn't their someone I can call?

The heat is back

Armando has the flu which leaves me free to eat my Indian chicken curry.

The 1/2 hr. lunch is not long enough.

School is busy and first progress reports are due today.

The teachers have their first mixer at a house and Persian food on Fri.

I'm looking forward to getting my first pay check.

The weather is climbing back into the 80's. It had cooled off and I was going to walk the track after school.

We have an early day, then group meetings, then teacher meetings then until 6 a school site council meeting. ugh

I found someone to do my ironing and my housekeeper and gardner come Sat.

Yom Kippur

Jews believe that you fast, pray for your sins to be forgiven, make ammends to those you have hurt, then break the fast with your family and celebrate the New Year.

May be all be inscribed in the book of life for another year.

Happy 30th birthday to Michael. Proud owner of his second house...quite a step up from the starter one.

The weather is changing. It's cooler in the mornings. Today we had our first rain just when I was finally getting around to putting the drip irrigation system in last night at 10 p.m. We have one more month for the tomatoes. cucumbers and basil. My English cucumber plant produced two cucumbers.

I made some salsa verde. I'm getting used to queso fresco. (new cheese, it's white, Mexican and granular) We have taco's a lot with tortillas, guacamole, cilantro, queso, puerco (pork marinated) de res or carne asada. My days of lettuce are gone but I still put crema either the Mexican which is more liquid or American sour cream. I've made frijoles negros y pinto de olla too. (black and pinto beans) I thought I made Armando his favorite, pollo mole verde but I made salsa verde de pollo. oops..Learning curve here.

School is going well and I'm busy. I'm going to be the sponser of the literary magazine. It's extra and unpaid andI may be volunteering too soon but it looks manageable....so far. I designed a web page and links this week and had a meeting with my department heads and peers.

Just read Body of Bones by Kathy Reichs.

Today, I'm washing curtains and purging the house of Lacey's cat hair.

textbooks

I've moved and checked out thousands of textbooks in un-air conditioned 91 degree August and September.

The first two weeks of school were a miserable short wearing blur. I was drenched and lost 10 lbs.
Now I've gotten some cataloging training and I actually know what I'm doing and feel a lot better.

I have a library assistant who has been there for awhile and that helps.

I was just the chaperone at the first dance and the back to school night all in the same week.

Now I just want some down time.

I made some black beans and Armando cut up poblano chili's in them with the liquid, dipped tortilla's and acted as if they were better than lobster.

Back to school

I'm conflicted about not teaching I kinda miss getting lesson plans together and setting up my classroom,,,after watching the kids and the effort it takes to teach, I'm glad to be where I am
on the other hand there is a lot of me to learn where I am as a librarian. So far there have just been orientation days

What I know is:
there is no air conditioning
those books are heavy
I'm using more gas in my 18 mile one way commute.
I can use the car pool lane in my hybrid
the school is old
It still takes too long to get there
there is too much traffic
It starts too early and they want me there at 7:30...not my best or most favorite time...it's not fair,...other teachers don't have to be there that early or stay until 3:30.
Yes, I know, life is not fair.

Armando and I pulled an all nighter roaming the city at 2, ging out to breakfast with the bar crowd and to sleep at 5. He was up at 9 cutting the grass and working for 5 hrs.
I grilled him a steak and made salad. The grilled corn was tough and the eggplant we got at the farmers market was ok. I had about 4 bites of meat and made a baked potatato after he left and a margarita.
I discovered these individually bottled ones. Thought I was drinking frozen dacquiri's last week but they turn out to be wine coolers. Anyway, gained back 5 lbs. so enough of that. He can drink, I can't.

Stunning

I drove all night Thursday leaving at 12:30 to get to Trinidad at 6:30. I DECIDED THIS BRIEF BREAk BEFORE SCHOOL WAS BETTER THAN TRYING TO GO ANYWHERE Over LABOR Day weekend.

Marilyn's her house is spectacular. She can see the ocean out of every window including from her bed, the shower and the toilet.

We had drinks on the deck and watched the sunset grilled our fish and tritip and enjoyed watching the moon reflecting on the ocean. The weather was spectacular.

If you didn't know how bad it could get you could be lulled into thinking it was always spectacular.

On Sat. we went to the farmers market in Arcadia as the students were returning to school. The prices are higher because their growing season is shorter.

This town is a flash back to the 60's and the styles are those never seen elsewhere.

I drove home after that to have some time to myself before starting my new job tomorrow.

I went to another farmers market here today.

Summer School is over

I'm heading up to see my friend in Trinidad. She has moved to a house on the ocean. As much as I dread the 6 hr. drive I appreciate it once I'm there.

The bloom is off the rose

How long does it take to have it fade?

Emiy's 35 on the 5th

I remember living in a 4th floor un air conditioned apartment when Emily was born. I was in summer school from 7-12 then worked from 1-10. You can only do that at 18.
Look at what a beautiful family she has made.

Tonight I convinced Armando we need to eat in more so we are having taco's Americano. Mexicans use tiny corn tortillas and put carne asada and salsa on them and that's it. Americans, even though they hate the meat at Taco bell. put cheese, creama, or sour cream meat lettuce and tomato and maybe avocado if they can fir it in. Armando will probably put salsa on to since i I forgot his jalapenos. I do have some tiny chilis from Vietnamese takeout that are guaranteed to blow his head off though.

Tomorrow pork tenderloin and potatoes and salad.

Comida

I just say I'm getting tired of Mexican food. Last night we went out to eat and my enchilladas had a salsa so hot I could not eat the tortilla but only the rice and chicken. I'm just a wuz, a gringa taste buds not trained on hot chili's.

I've been trying to figure out why this relationship feels so different. In my 20's, 30's and 40's I was more blase and took it for granted. Now at this age I appreciate the attention more and the complements. It's been a long while since I've had them.

I also have to apply for a CLAD credential. Another $55. to the state. There are more hoops to jump through.

I'm going to but Marilyn's refrigerator today. Someone else is picking it up to take it to Trinidad. I'd rather go there where she has a view of the beach from her bed than teach for another 2 weeks.

What a difference a night makes

Dinner out and time together and all is better in my world. It surprises me the difference between my 29's 30's and 40's. Maybe it's because I appreciate him more.?

I got all my papers graded. Now I'm back to reading the book and making quizes. The fact that I've got this week to coast helps. I'm doing a peotry unit.

We are still trying to replace a math teacher.

Gilroy Garlic Festival

Never let it be said that there is not garlic ice cream and wine to go with the scampi. The garlic festival takes 3 days each year and the air for 30 miles is redolent of garlic. The crowds line up to buy a taste of everything garlic. My favorites are the scampi and the mushrooms. have your honey eat plenty too so when you share you don't notice the reek.

Since he was banned from the wedding I don't think I'm supposed to be so attached but I feel addicted. I've grown spoiled and accustomed to his presence. When he wants some time off I want him here. I'm angry. Yes, I do need the time to grade my papers and he said he was coming over last night and didn't. If he told me earlier I would have made other plans. I am/was ticked. I understand he was working very hard and I wasn't but do I have to be rational about the way I feel?

When I wanted to read he insisted on coming over for dinner and then stayed to be near me while I read...well what's the difference?

He also told me the other night that he didn't like left overs well duh...some are really good.

Up late

We went out were up till 2 and I slept in this morning.

I got up, cleaned the kitchen and found more ants even with the traps!:-(

I got these huge scallops and prawns at the farmers market along with picked crab. Yum. I don't think Armando wver had a scallop before.

I love it when the restaurants are open till one. My neighborhood is much quieter than his. I have neighbors but we zip into the garage and at his house it seems like everyone is watching everything, even at one a.m.

I finished correcting one set of papers last night before I saw him.

I cut up cantaloupe, nectarine and have my last apricot, some strawberries, rasberries and blueberries for breakfast.

So glad it's Friday

I needed to read my book The Numa Files but Armando insisted on not waiting but coming over with dinner. It's a good thing he did. I didn't finish the book till 4:30. Then it took another 1/2 to fall asleep. I read two other books that weren't due before that one was. an error...but Harry Potter was calling.

I'm showing Schlinder's List to my seniors. Since they had so little effect to Night I thought they needed some visual stimulus.
By Monday they should all get their books. I got Mr. Holand's Opus for my other class.

Hopefully I'll get their papers graded this weekend.

I'm meeting Caro at the Farmer's market to dissect the spices in the Indian chicken curry. Armando brought chicken mole verde. I need to make some. His is too hot and it has bones. I use only chicken breast and take the skin off. In the store they use thighs and leave the skin on.

Went to the Santa Clara District Office and signed my contract but I need a media credential and a few more papers. Hope I can get it or I'm back to teaching. Well I called the Office of Ed. and they say it should be no problem. A few more hoops to jump through and more money.

I went to get a new ss card and almost had to strip to get through the metal detector.

The Gilroy Garlic Festival and the Grand Prix is going on downtown. Time to stay home and maybe go to a concert in the park on Sun.

A night off

I was getting used to his company but tonight we both have other things to take care of.


I have an appointment at the District office to check in tomorrow.

Then I have to be fingerpinted again.

Tomarrow is vocabulary test day again and I haven't graded their papers from last week.

I have been putting off grading papers and I was behind in lesson preparation especially for my 11/12th graders.

We started a unit on poetry and yesterday and today on Poe. We read the Raven and Fall of the house of Usher then on to the Romanic poets after that. They have their research paper and I want to give each of them a new book. TheOutsiders, Nothing but the Truthand The Night is a lonely hunter. Now I have to read them too and make quizes.

Finished the latest Stephanie Plum novel. Have a Stuart Woods once waiting. This is all playing havoc on my reading!

Two of my classses have been working on business letters.

Horocruises

Finished Harry Potter at 3 a.m. Some of my students beat me to it. Now at least they can get their papers graded again.

Armando made dinner for me at his place.

At least 2 grocery stores I know have the service where they clean a fish and deep fry it. He got one for each of us. All that was left on his was the head. I left a bit more but tried to get it all. He had to show me. Then he had mole, a type of guacamole,avocado, tomatoes and cheese.

At least he made me get my "key" out of the car. I have been lazy and since my car is key less have been leaving the key in my bag while I go into the store and not setting the alarm. I set it last night. I still leave it in the car in my garage. When I got home I finished reading.

Harry Potter

I'm only about 350 pages into it but one battle had taken place. 400 pages to go. I finally have some time to read.

I haven't corrected a single paper this weekend.

Wesley has red hair too.

The carnitas are better the 2nd day and the sauce not so picante. Armando took me out to dinner. I hade sope and he chicken enchilladas. He had them play a song for me Los ojitos verdes (The green eyes). The place was crowded and louder than I'm use. to.

It's a Boy!

I won 2 gift certificates of Barnes and Noble from the library. I have to go pick up the Harry Potter book.

Gwen gave birth to Wesley Michael Pacella at 9 lb boy at 9:36 last night at home. Congratulations Gwen and Mario.

The pork roast was really good. I put in cayenne, paprika, chili powder apple cider vinegar, cumin, ketchup, vinegar, mustard and chipolte peppers and adobe sauce and 2 onions. It was very hot. I tasted the peppers and they just seemed smoky. I'm sure the cayenne added to the heat too. Armando liked it. It was too hot for me for the most part but a tiny but and lots of water helped. After 4 hrs of cooking it was delicious.

Cranberry pills

They are expensive for 100 regular is 12 dollars and for urinary 15. then there is stuff from concentrate.
I took my watch into Sears but they didn't have the belt for my vacuum. Went to Safeway go the apple cider vinegar but forgot the tortillas. Armando and I went to The Tropicana for tortillas, avocado, jalapeno peppers and beer for him and my pork roast marinade. The fajitas got a squuze of lime but the weren't as good the 22nd day.

Went to the farmers market got a cantaloupe some red and yellow sweet 100 cherry tomatoes and some Indian chicken curry, naan, eggplant and mixed veggies. I hadn't eaten all day so at 5 after my nap I had some Indian foos then ate again with Armando at 8:30.

Hopefully I scored some circus tickets for Richard. I wrote an email yesterday and that got a 5 dollar off coupon I was going to sent a letter to the hq in Vienna, VA and ask if we could have tickets for him gratis but the guy at the radio booth said he's send me some. It's all Richard can talk about.

I got a Harry Potter poster for him too and for my class and bookmarks from the library.

Slept in till some credit card co. offered me 6 percent to lower my interest rates. I don't have a balance but it's better to have that than 12 or 21 percent.

School is wearing me out

I don't know how normal people do it work a full time job then come home to deal with a family and them selves. I'm exhausted and I slept unassisted from 1:30 to 9:30. So glad today is my last day this week. I'm also glad that their essays are coming in Mon. not today. I deserve a weekend too. If I manage to gets their tests graded I'm good till Mon.

Spending 4 hrs a night with Armando is wearing me out and I can sleep in. I can't imagine how he's doing it getting up at 5. I slept from 2-9. Tonight we're taking a break. I finally get some time to read.

I thought about going to see Harry Potter but I'm too tired.

I'm making shrimp fajitas for dinner. Had 1. I'm cooking rice because I didn't have the energy to go to grocery store and the library to pick up my 2 books on hold but not to the g store to get tortillas or Sears to drop off my watch. I had 3 tortillas left over.

Armando wants me to meet his family Sunday. hummmm......carne asada?

Feeling Better

Things seem to be a bit better. Amazing how little it takes once u get on the program but apparently u can't eat yogurt or take calcium when taking the dose.
( I read the prescribing instructions.)

Armando came over for dinner impromptu at 8 last night so I got a chance to clean out the frig. and dig some in the freezer. He says he eats fruits and veggies but I haven't seen evidence of it yet.

I'm gonna cook soon but I've been lazy and frankly there have been other things to do.

He liked the tamales but I didn't have any hot salsa and he didn't want any part of the mild form. I offered Chinese hot chili oil and Indian hot chili but not close. What is hot to me isn't to him. I picked some up today.

It's muggy. Slept from 2-9. It's nice not to need a sleeping pill. The cranberry juice is almost gone. 63 oz and I got a new bottle just in case.

Breakfast is an apricot, nectarine, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries.

I made a test on Night for the kids on their reading. A lot failed their final on the book and we are going to talk about it today. A never heard quieter group of students. They were shocked at their grades and didn't seem to remember any of the book or understand it although we had been over it time and again.
Tomorrow they have spelling tests and on Mon. turn in their essays to me. The older classes have a term paper to research then.
Although I have some work left we are in the end the at 2nd week with 4 to go and I am running out of prepared material. I guarantee I am putting more work into their classes than they are.

I made Caro's enchelasagna tonight. You make a base sauce with tomatillos, garlic, onion, jack and chicken, corn tortillas and layer it like a lasagna. It was a lot of work. I also marinated chicken for the BBQ and will start on the marinade for the pork butt when Armando brings me a 12 oz can of beer. Then there is apple cider vinegar, mustard, catchup, adobo, and a few other things while its baked then you pull it apart. It looks good the recipe was on Yahoo. I figure he should have to do something besides help me clean up the kitchen. The enchelasagne was good,he put hot salsa on top. I din/t add a serano or jalepeno pepper.

We're gonna paint the garage and the front door.

I got ant traps and the creatures are disappearing...I hope...we'll see.

Weight Loss

I lost 16 lbs! Yeah! lots more to go but its a start. I knew I was eating lite but didn't expect those results.

The doctor confirmed a UTI and prescribed Cipro 2x for 3 days. I must have run out of class 10 times in 3 hrs today. It's so frustrating when there is almost nothing there then pain! I also had a stat urinalysis there to see if I need an antibiotic.

The kids are finishing their first books now and although I have a lot prepped, I am hustling to keep up. They are writing essays too due Mon. I sure want some time over the weekend. I spend a phenomenal amount of time grading and preparing papers.

Next week till the end of school they have a research paper 7-10 pgs. w/ bib. to do for me.

No wd. from the dr. so, so far so good.

Cranberry juice

I have a UTI and it hurts. I need to drink lots of water and cranberry juice and I'm going to see the Dr. tomorrow. I made a run to the store last night at 10:0 for the cranberry juice and couldn't find the capsules. I guess I'll have to look in the health food store. I hate to drink the juice because of all the sugar and calories. I sure don't have any appetite. I need to get the yogurt down though. It really hurts and the frequency is unbelievable and there is nothing to yield. crazy. I made it through my classes going 3x, drinking nothing. You have to run there is no control. miserable.

I found out the kids are paying 500. each for their two classes for 6 weeks.

I had all my papers graded and gave 3 more quizzes.

My friend Gloria came over and we are trying to win her a car entering all the numbers for the supermarket sweepstakes. I told her she would have to pay taxes on it though. Burst her bubble.

I've got to make up more quizes. I handed out this weeks essay and vocab. Next week they start their research papers.

nap time.

Beautiful Day

It's so pretty out today. The weather is in the 70's.

I was up till after 4 and slept in till 9:30 or so. I was thinking for the last hour and thought anout popping a pill but let Morpheus take me under naturally.
I made breakfast burritos for breakfast and almost forgot to put the eggs in. oops

I think my Cuisinart may have died. I hope it's just the spring. Daddy bought it for me. I've got tons of ants back in the kitchen and outside too.

I planted impatients on the deck and watered everything and Armando has been cutting trees and bushes and moving carts of leaves to the compost bin and filling pots with soil for me to transplant tomatoes. Everything is coming up. I picked my first 2 tomatoes today. None of the things I planted from seeds is vey big yet except for the sunflowers. I'm surprised how long these things take to get big. Lacey's kitty grass is tall enough for her to snack on but I thing she is used to the spider plants. I'm not sure how to introduce her to the other. I need some catnip too.He trimmed the roses, cut the grass and cut the fruit tree branches overhanging the deck off and carted it all to the street for pickup.

We're gonna paint the mailbox too.

I'm doing the laundry, grading papers and making lit. quizes. I spent 8 hrs. yesterday making them up on three books. I finished the third book and quizes today.
I bought tamales for lunch but we weren't hungry. I ate 3 later but I like the meat inside not the masa.I need to make them. The ones you buy just don't have enough inside. That leaves 3 for Armando. I send him home with a doggy bag of breakfast burritos and tamales. He likes hot salsa and unless I pick it up for him I don't have it.

I took a mini nap and bath. I started reading the book by Jeffery Deaver called The Sleeping Doll.I went to buy another pair of loppers and clippers. I sprung the other or rather my student did by forcing them. I want to trim the bushes in front too.

I did the laundry, changed the sheets, cut some agapanthas and
sprayed for ants and got rid of the 2nd wave today. I need to get some bait traps.

The flowers were so heavy the fell over in the vase so I put weights in the vase and we wiped up the water from my beautiful floor and dining room table. While getting his bag out of the fridge the bag of my clam chowder fell and blueberries were falling so I yelled for help and more hands. The I attacked a 3rd wave of ants and splashed water all over my face and front. Irritating when that happens! Good thing I had a short nap.

I like having the company.

What a beautiful day in the Neighborhood

It's cooled off this morning.

Despite the late hours we've been keeping it's nice to have company. I got used to being by myself. Armando is coming over for dinner and tomorrow we'll continue to dig into my list of stuff to do. His comments are still bothering me. I'm working on it. When my stomach growled because I had only shrimp, crab and a little soup for lunch and one spring roll for dinner he told me I had to eat more. O.k. after he left I had another spring roll! What can I say, I'm an emotional eater.

Today I've got to get rid of the ants I found in the kitchen and finish my quizzes and grade papers.

Then, for tonight we could BBQ or I've got tamales and a salad ready to go from the market which is easy. We did neither. I worked till 9:30 when he finally called. At least we got to spend some quality time together without thinking about work tomarrow. I took a nap, he worked.

I had a spring roll instead.

Think I'll have raspberries, blueberries, cantaloupe and strawberries for breakfast. I skipped them yesterday. I had 1/2 a cantaloupe.

T.G.I.F.

Armando and I were up till 1 last night. We got a late start. Poor guy had worked hard all day and then has to get up at 5 this morning too. I have the day off and I slept in till 7:30 or so. He's better than a sleeping pill. No chemicals involved either.

I thought we might take a frig up to Trinidad this weekend and get my new stove.

Marilyn needs the fridge in her beach house and then in her other house afterwards. She is also flipping out with evicting Gail. We need to move her bed (K) and then to move boxes of her bottles off the patio into the trailer court across the ally.
No one in town will help Marilyn because they don't want to alienate Gail. Marilyn feels "ready to split a gusset" as she says. Since we are strangers, we might help out. I found out we have till August. That's her moving date. So much for "Blues on the Bay" this weekend. I guess I'll just continue on my list of things to do.

My Honey do list includes him painting the mailbox,or I may, lugging some soil from the front to the back, but I have a wheelbarrow so I may be able to mix it with the compost.
He just throws them over his shoulder two at a time....not me. Clearly he's stronger.
I'm fortunate he doesn't seem to mind helping. The sooner we finish the more time we have. I cook in return.

I also was not able to completely saw through a tree limb. Maybe he can finish that too and it's time to cut the grass again and on and on. Lot's of chores.

Today at the farmers market downtown I got some chicken sausage today, tamales, spring rolls, Indian spinach and potatoes naan, parthea, this great white dipping stuff.

I love going to the market I am truely entertained. Last week they had a chef introducing eggplant.

I'm out of chicken and vegetable curry and didn't see the guy with the tandoori oven today but I might have missed him. I ate that with naan all last week. I saw that there were some Indian marinades I may try next week. Since I still have nectarines, plums, peaches, raspberries,lettuce, radishes and tomatoes from last week I only got corn, green red and yellow peppers. zucchini, yellow squash, blueberries and strawberries.

I took a nap this afterboon and then went to the grocery store. We're going to see the Harry Potter movie tonight. I like going to the late show that empties at midnight and have it be foggy when you come out. That may be because the last release was a midnight show in Dec.

I've been making quizes for the kiddies as I read Farewell to Manzanar and Hatchet again. Since I still don;t have a printer I sent it as an attachment and print it at school where I make copies.

I was making up a quiz when Armando called and talked me into another visit. I started out saying no I was working.

Later he said "you like food don't you". Well, yes I know it shows thats obvious but we don't like to hear our men tell us were fat even if it is the truth which was his next line. It didn't matter that he told me I was pretty after that, all was lost. Their are realities to face I know but even though they are there doesn't mean I wanted to hear it in quite that way. He's seen my size for 3 yrs. Why comment now? Stupid man, it's a friday the 13th thing I hope. At least I didn't need a sleeping pill. That's an improvement.

S.H.I.T. So happy it's Thursday

I used to work for a company when we first moved back to CA from HI and we worked 10 hr. days 4 days a week and had the t shirt "so happy it's thursday". I need to find itagain,

4.5 hrs. resding papers,correcting quizes, recording grsdes and to sleep by 2 with thr little of a pill. After fighting with the active brain that just won't shut up for an hr, I gave in a popped one. Up st 7 with no dreams. My 6th period didn't do as well on there quizes. The writing was not too bad. A few need help but some is really good. With no text books they are whipping through their books and hungry for more. I have about other 1/2 hr. of recording grades to do this morning.

I planted my flowers they were wilting in their 6 packs. There was some humidity here and fortunately the fog has rolled back in to cool off the Bay area in our microclimates we are usually inland and hotter than on the coast and hour away.

There are new wonders of the world and I want to see Petra in Jordon, Machu Pichu, Rio, Christ the redeemer, The Great Barrier reef in Australia to dive. I've been to Stonehenge and Chichen Itza. I'd also like to visit Belize, Costa Rica and Tulum. All I need is time, money and my health. Clearly, I need to drop weight and get in better shape. It makes me healthier and traveling easier.

Today was easier at school. I handed back all the papers and my lesson time seemed too short. I thought of another essay just for my 7/8 class and maybe 6. A trust walk and essay on disabilities to make them aware.

Glad to be done and off tomorrow.

Manic

I went to bed at a reasonable hr. after a bath and reading till I conked out. I was up again at 3:30, stayed in bed/sleep/rest mode till 5.30 and grabbed the computer.

Now it's getting light out and the birds are chirping.

The dictionary just got a new word, ginormous, meaning extremely large. I'll give it to my classes as a vocab. wd.

My mind is running replaying scenes and planning lesson plans. I can't turn it off or slow it down. It's time to align my chakras and meditate. I could water, garden or go for a walk.

I have some sleeping pills that expired 6/04 that I've been taking, they are less potent than the new ones so I'm using them first. It's only 15mg so they are real light.

I'll try reading first. I like to read the NYPost Page 6 and the Washington Post. My reading time is about to be seriously infringed upon.

Lacey just came over to snuggle next to me so that nay lull me back into sleep until the Today show and The View come on.
She rarely does, she is not a lap can and unless it's cool and Iv'e stopped all movement she stays far away. Today I got 3 more hrs. of sleep. Usually she likes to sleep in a box top on my bed or on a cushion in the hall or the top of a cushion on the couch I covered with a sheet in the living room.

I gave my tests, graded one and one set of essays. So far they are all 100 percent.
One class took too long with their presentation to have their reading test so they will have it tomorrow. I was too scattered the first two days and two girls complained so today I put the objective and agenda on the board along with the homework. I know what we are going to do but I like to wing it. Most of the writing is good with a few exceptions. One boy in 5th grade may just be sloppy, lazy and careless. So far his work is coming in late and torn out sloppily of a notebook unevenly.

They are whipping through the books so I may add another book to their reading. Many are through but didn't understand anything in Night. How is that possible?

I've even been wearing makeup.

My face has been breaking out for the last year or so on the right side yet it's dry? I think it's a symptom of menopause. I'm just about there.

I took my 2 hr nap today from 6-8.

The Fruits of Summer

The Fruits of summer yum...
For breakfast I'll have sugar in the form of cantaloupe, strawberries, raspberries, apricot and blueberries. who needs bananas? I prefer them straight but the diet says to liquefy 5-6. Who would want to ruin this bounty at its peak by blending and liquification. I'll let the colon and stomach do the work.

I'm taking my calcium. Two woman I know have osteoporosis already! One is my age. There is no cure or reversal. One patron, male, came into the library to do research on it' His spine was really curved.

My mind is so filled with lesson plans I had to take a sleeping pill at 1 to shut down and here I am up again at 6. Clearly, I'm manic. A lot gets done during these periods. I feel like I can leap tall buildings, or plant plants et al. I'm up to plant zinias, impatients and snapdragons.



I learned yesterday do it in the a.m. in the afternoon after school I'm dead till after my nap.

Well the second day was better. I was collecting money for books. Had one new student and one dropped out. I eased up on them a bit. I got most of the essays turned in but conveniently left them behind.

I go in and hr. early and that is not enough time to get everything done then I go 3 hrs straight.

I got 3 more hrs sleep this morning so I'm not so tired today. I like working only 3 hrs in the afternoon and only 4 days a week.

I went to a mystery writers pannel discussion and the library but was so tired I left after 30 minutes to come home and compaose 4 quizes for tomorrow. No nap yet.