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.

Insanity

Insanity has taken hold...
why when I'm dead tired and my back and feet are yelling at me am I up making raspberry jam at 12:00? (because the fruit might go bad.)

I never know for sure whether I'm doing it right or not. You have to use exact quantities. I like to use the low sugar,sure jell. Anyway, 7.5 jars are on the counter waiting for their lids to pop. If any don't pop then they are not sealed right. I can't tell if they did or not. I never know until I open the jar and hear the pop on the lid seal when I open it. I just know raspberry is my favorite. According to my cook book I got in high school that I finally read this morning, I need to write to the USDA for their brochure on canning. If sure the price is not 15cents that it was in 1972 (the year Emily and Mario were born) but I'll see. Maybe today I can even download it on the web. I just didn't have the energy to pull the book out last night. I can also read in Mom's Joy of cooking later. Nothing tastes as good as home made and in Jan. when they cost 6.00 a pint not 2 I love some on a scone.
A case of 12 was 12.00. Individually they are $2.00.

I may put up some green beans and bread and butter pickles too if I get reall ambitious.

After cleaning yesterday, the spiders and ants have all been uprooted and I just found a spider in the kitchen and in my bedroom tonight. They think all normal people are asleep and I wouldn't notice. Last week I had ants in the bedroom. I don't freak to find a spider in the tub I just remove it. They eat bugs.

When Bob came to CA, I mistakenly recommended a place in Big Sur, very rustic, in the woods. They had a spider in the shower, she freaked. The Holiday Inn is not in Big Sur or
Pacific Grove. Monterey maybe. Now I know not to recommend anywhere without a t.v.

My neighbor told me she found a black widow in the garage though and the one in the kitchen had a big body. I think daddy long legs eat black widows like the gecko we used to have living in our light fixture in the guest bathroom in HI used to eat bugs.
I like hot tubs, woods. dramatic ocean views and no phones or t.v. if I'm going away for a romantic weekend.

Different strokes....

I'm having cantaloupe, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and a nectarine with fresh squeezed o.j. for breakfast. yum!

I'm looking at the Martha's Vineyard liquid diet where you eat every 2 hrs...a detox.
Breakfast is 6 fruits. 10 am is tea with lemon and veggie, more veggies at lunch more veggies at dinner and more at dinner. 21 lbs in 21 days, all liquid. hummmmmmmm....

Allegedly it works faster cuz everything is liquidified and the body doesn't have to break it down. I'm sure it will clean you out.

This is not for Mickey who never met a veggie he liked except corn and an occasional pea buried under mashed potatoes.

The first day of school three classes, 50 kids. I overwhelmed them I'm sure. I gave them an essay to do during their study hr. and 30 min. of reading for homework and another small assignment. One mom came and told me I gave him too much.

The kids were good. A few were squirmy. When I was talking too much they looked at their watches. I passed out and introduced their books. They are reading
Night in my 9th,10th and 11th grade class, along with To Kill a Mockingbird Flowers for Algernon in 7/8 and Farewell to Manzanar and Hatchet in 6th. That class is the smallest, only 10. There was no break and I'm pooped. A few kids came afterwards to ask me to explain what the survival essay was about. had just spent 30 minutes describing it and had a handout too. That confused me. I practically wrote it for them in class. I was frustrated. But, there are some eager and interested in learning.

I need my nap now. My feet hurt and my back is going. I'll be better after that and ready to grade papers...but tonight I don't have any. The kids were supposed to turn in their essays before they left but nary a one did. I guess I didn't make that clear enough. You just can't say something once, you have to repeat and write it because at this age they daydream.

I won a pair of theater tickets, popcorn and a drink and a $5.00 coupon from my library for reading. (2 libraries):-) I want to go see the new Harry Potter movie and Ratatouille.

I really like this Indian chicken curry, tomato bhaji, made with tomatoes, raisins, onions,ginger,garlic,tumeric to put on the potato and spinach naan that I got at the farmers market. Then add tomato chutney or tamarind yum.

Then there is the roasted chicken salad of the deli with almonds that I add celery and green onion to and occasionally for a change of pace curry powder and mango chutney. I sometimes make this, but when I get busy I don't mind paying 4.00.

I like this broccoli salad too with sunflower seeds, red onion, and rasins. I make this sometimes too. The deli one puts in bacon.

Cleaning out the garage

I was up at 6 watering.

It took 3 of us almost 20 hrs to clean out the garage. It yielded treasures and 6 bags of trash and recycling. We started at 7. Fortunately, it was cool till about 10. Miriam came at 10 for 6 hours and by half past 6 we were done. One of the perils of living in the same house for nearly 27 years is accumulation. I saw things put in in 1983. I found papers I was looking for just in time for summer school and got rid of things I just didn't need but once found so important. I need to file some inside in my office filing cabinets for better access. I found my watches I had looked for 3 yrs. my carpool sticker and transponder that I was seeking for 9 mo., money, unmailed wedding cards, 2 returned cards one to Bob that were returned undeliverable, a radio, my adding machine to name a few. I save so much stuff. The garage was cleaned out right before I got Gloria and we tossed tons then. Now, I can actually put my lawnmower in it again!

I helped my friend Kim clean out her mom's garage after she died with a shed and house after they had lived there for 50 years. I guess Mom and Mary Helen did that with grandpa's house too. She said she was going to throw out incriminating things.
My friend Marilyn in Trinidad, has already tossed stuff because she was convinced she was dying and didn't want others to see stuff. I have journals I want tossed unread. Even Oprah had made her friend vow to toss her journals.

I marinated green and yellow peppers and zucchini, BBQ ed corn and marinated pork chops. YUM! It was so good. It was 2 or so though and too warm to be grilling. I got this new BBQ fork though that helped. I also used a light the bag charcoal. While I went to the farmers market for more Japanese eggplant and long beans it was ready.

I also got a case of raspberries to make jam and a peach, nectarines and apricots.

I was so tired I laid down and conked out for an hour from 7 to 8. I ws actually on the computer with my laptop on my tummy and was out. Now I'm up again and after my bath ready to make jam.

My Spanish is improving.

Summer school starts tomorrow. I start at 1:30. since I'm a creature of the night and have a hard time with mornings, I appreciate that. It will be different having kids that "pay" to come and Vietnamese on top of that.
I certainly am more prepared for these classes than ever before. I guess I may have missed teaching. (Did I say that!?)

My vacuum cleaner belt broke and the store I went to for years closed. Then I went to the grocery they only have the one I have. Now I need to find another vacuum cleaner store or maybe Sears. Who has carpet in their garage anyway? Just me.


The mornings have been gloriously cool. The breeze picks up and the fog rolls in. It had burned off my 7 but still....SUMMER IN ca IS NO HUMIdiTY WHICH i STILL AM THANKFUL FOR EvERY DAY. I THOUGHT I would roast in SC in April!

George Herman W

Born in NYC 7/7/21 to Bessie and Jacob. They owned a soda shop in the Bronx till it dies with the crash along with grandpa from a heart attack and grandma from breast cancer shortly thereafter. Older brother Leonard, and George, Florence and Harold were sent to the Hebrew Orphan Asylum. Harold was in foster care. Aunt Francis came to visit and take them out occasionally. Dad was a strong, athletic boy and a great dancer. We have a picture of him as a teenager lined up as shower monitor in the hall of the HOA. (see www. HOA.com)

Out they came one by 1 at 18, and dad followed Leonard to DC where he had married and set up a boardinghouse. Dad went to work for the government and later for Equitable insurance which took him to FL, and MI. He met mom at a dance in DC where she was a secretary. He married Jean Catherine Cavanaugh of Des Moines in DC. They lived in DC and had a rooming house for awhile. Mom cooked meals for boarders. They moved in with John Edward for awhile at 1614 22nd st. in IA. Bob was born in Chicago, IL. in 43 Mickey in Des Moines, IA in 47 and Jane in D.C. in 53.


They raised their children in DC and VA. He became a grandfather of Bob's Emily and Mickey's Gwen and Michael.

He read the same book over and over again to Gwen and walked her to the park to play.
He loved the sleep overs and babysitting.

Sadly, we lost him to a stroke in August of 1985 in Durham N.C. Bob, Mickey and I gathered to take him back to VA. His last sad drive in the beautiful green summer.


We miss you.

Feliz Cumpleanos a ti mi papi.

Today the housekeeper comes yeah!

What a difference 10 hrs of house work makes. Sadly, she just did the kitchen,family and dining room,LR,MBR so far.

The heat has eased off and this delightful breeze comes in about 7 to cool things off to about 65 until it burns off at 11 or so.

Happy Birthday Dad!

You are 86 years young tomorrow where ever you are. I'm think about you. I miss you a lot. There is no substitute for your mom and dad. They were too young gone and I had them for too short a time and didn't appreciate them enough. We were lucky they were very loving. Your granddaughter may even give birth on your birthday! Summertime and the living is easy.

Went to the farmers market today. The one downtown is bigger and better in addition to selling fresh fish, Indian food, crepes and to order Indian food including Nan right out of the tandoori oven I got corn, blueberries, raspberries, cantaloupe, nectarines, my personal favorite, apricots,tried my first fig,tomato's,organic romaine, zucchini, yellow squash, a yellow and green bell pepper and radishes. Yum! I could live the summer long on fruits and veggies. I also got potato and spinach nan and some sun dried tomato stuff to put on the samosas. I'm gonna put up some raspberry jam next week. This is the height of their season and they still are 2.00 a pt. :-(

I went to Gilroy early this morning to the outlets. I had to stock up on undies for the new school year. If you go v. buying online they take 20 percent off and there is no shipping then I found an impulse buy of pants a t and shorts that made up for not finding anything at Coldwater Creek.

I need a trip to Big Sur. Maybe I'll take Yessica or Richard.

I filled out the loan papers for my kitchen remodel today. Hum, I guess that means I have to take everything out of the cabinets since I'm getting new cabinets and counter tops. I can have a pantry built too. I have the building permit process and the remodel always takes longer than you think it will.

I don't know if I have the energy to be the general contractor on this one. My bathroom was hard enough.

I went to school today to do some copying for Monday. It took over 3 hrs. I always underestimate the time it will take. It's funny to me that they five you 5 hrs to prep. I take at least double that. Looks like I have 10 6th graders, 20 in 7/8 and 20 in 9/10/11. 6weeks, 3 hrs. a day, 4 days a week. Then, the joy of being an English teacher is I get to grade all that writing and there will be lots of essays.

I just got back from a walk to the park. Considering my feet ache from doing copying and shopping in flip flops it was a herculean effort but one I need to begin again especially after seeing myself in the wedding pictures. We three are on our way to a massive coronary. Let's amend and not do that.

Service

After another night of no sleep I took the car in at 7 for its 30k service

then at 9 I got a call to ok a hepa filter and a fuel injection tuneup and a this and a that to the tune of almost 600.

Does the car really need all that or are they jerking me around?

Then, in 97 degree temps I got a tutorial on the navigation system....sorta.
ok I concede I need to spend the 139. for the fuel injection tweaking and I will once Bob's birthday comes around on the 27th and I get my 1st summer school pay check.

I'm gonna take out a home equity loan and finish redoing the oven, counters sink, faucet and lighting in my kitchen oh yeah the new cabinets too,

I thought it would only be 10k but I'm adjusting my estimate upward to 25. 10 was approved today.

I want to be back in Trinidad where its cool and foggy till noon and then 70.

Marilyn says the weather is perfect. I'm jealous.

I ordered the prints I wanted from snapfish of m and m wedding pictures.

One of Richard's math tutor was on a motorcycle and a drunk 61 y o MD ran over him in his SUV killing him at 22. Since they are Muslim, the men took the body, washed it and wrapped it in a cotton cloth and had a direct burial.
So young. Such a waste. So stupid.

I hadn't realized the Muslim religion again like many others Jews included of course believe in simple preparation and immediate interment.

I think we're gonna have a community garage sale to raise money for his family.

Kudos to cousin Bruce on his new job. I know a lot more house can be bought in Charlottte than NY. What a difference it will bring. Fortunately you have cousins close.

Happy 4th of July

My pictures were bad I need access the wedding proofs on snapfish to order.
Then I want to learn how to upload pictures to my blog.

Off to see Michael Moore's documentary on health care and to see fireworks at 9:30 with ribs and corn and coleslaw with apricots, cantaloupe, cherries, strawberries and my personal favorite raspberries. NO WATERMELON thank you.

Happy 4th of July everyone. They are illegal here because it's so dry. We have planned public shows though.

Breakfast Club

Well after being up all night I went out to celebrate Peggy's birthday, She is one of 4 members of our breakfast club. We went to Hobees. I left an hour and a half early even though I was going over surface streets because when I took the freeway at a similar time last week it took be an hour then I got lost for nearly another hour.

Amazing I still got a job offer!

After returning fron Humbolt I am so aware of the processed food choices here v Santa Cruz. You really have to go way out of your way to find places in San Jose that serve vegetarian or natural food.

I love the coop up there I bring all my empty bottles to fill up on everything bulk from spices to laundry detergent, oil,flour,oatmeal to nuts.
So why don't they recycle in Trinidad and we do?


On the way home I stopped by the car dealer to see if they could do my 30k service to learn it takes 4 hrs.
I thought I would have them drop me at the library but 4 hrs was too long for me sleepless. I guess I could have had them take me home too but eventhough it wasn't I got it in my head that it was too far. I'll go back thurs-sun.

Summer school starts on the 9th.

Still haven't heard from Bev. regarding my letter. After my lessons from Lynn, I actually noticed today that yes we too have digital photography here at rite aide like cvs. Now all I need is a digital camera.

Everyone is heading to Columbia to be standby birth people and to watch Clare.

We may have an Independence day baby.

Maybe 2 will make it to dad's bd. Cool!

New Job

Back from Trinidad

I miss the cool sea air

I don't know how I's do living in a small town.

Traffic here is unreal.

I got a job offer for the next school year to be a librarian.

I like that better than teaching.

Summer school starts on 7/9-8/16.

I'm glad I took a break.

I may go down to Big Sur, take my car in and see about getting a new oven to complete my kitchen. Then the countertops and lighting need doing.

How exciting to have Gwen be about ready to give birth

Trinidad Fish and Jazz Festival

Grilled halibut, fish tacos, petrale sole sandwiches, clam chowder and everything in between was offered along with live jazz on the village green.

The grocery was offering grilled BBQ chicken and tritip and corn.
Yum!
Fun in the sun and cool ocean breezes, Fantastic!

In the afternoon if Marilyn can make it we try and walk over to the cafe so she can lie on the couch, read the paper and get out.

Today we took her 1st trip in 2 yrs to the azalea grove with a view of the ocean wildflowers as far as the eye could see, elk and a big growth redwood forest complete with a tinkling brook. Awesome.

Arcata Oyster Festival

Sat. was the bivalve festival and farmers market. There were every kind of grilled oyster you can imagine: tequila and lime, vodka and cranberry, watsabi and soy, BBQ, blackberry,jalapeno on and on. Marilyn eats them. I stand in tine. There is philly cheese steak, fish tacos and grilled chicken and limpia.

Then, after rocking out with the family friendly crowd a flash back to the 60's and all the kids from Humboldt State I dashed to the coop for organic everything; loaded Marilyn on her mattress in the back of her station wagon for the trip home.

Trinidad

6 hours later at 9 p.m. I watch the sunset over the Pacific as I drive by the ocean on Clam Beach and pull in exhausted, to Trinidad. This tiny coastal fishing village perches above a lovely cove and lighthouse with two rock formations, little and big head and a beach. It is exquisite. The morning is cool and the days have a breeze and temps. are perfect around 70.

San Francisco

I keep forgetting what a great city this is. Going through and across the Golden Gate Bridge I was blown away by the views. It is so beautiful. Marin is cool as is the city and green not golden. It was such a pleasure to drop into the 60's from 91 when I left San Jose to drive N at 1:30.

The last day of school was a joy only 3 8th graders called me a bitch and threw things at me.....I took their diplomas to the office.

When did we have cops on campus and 8th grade diplomas? I don't even remember a trip to King's Dominion.

Things they are a changing.

Too darn hot Heading N to Trinidad

Another day of scorching temps. I'll risk it and drive up to see friends on the ocean in Trinidad.

Even when it's warm here the ocean and the fog help a lot. I watered, planted a few black eye Susan's and some more sunflowers then went into school.

I can't believe how much prep 6 weeks of 6 classes is. I was always amazed before when a teacher came with all his handouts done for Algebra, Now I'm not done but after 2 days, I've got a close handle on the material. My books are ordered,

The dictionary order went in today.
I was going to rent a truck and drive a refrigerator up to her but for a 6 hr. drive on windy roads thru the redwoods I think I'll pass.

I'll be back on Thurs. in time for a teachers luncheon.

Summer is here

IT WAS 95 TWO DAYS SO FAR THIS WEEK. AS GWEN TOLD ME WHEN SHE WAS VISITING THE HILLS ARE BROWN NOT GOLDEN. I MISS THE GREEN. With a lot of water my garden is growing.

One the other hand the farmers market is open cherries, apricots and strawberries are in season. Jicima and Japanese and globe eggplant is out and Green Beans are ripe.

The kindergartners are practicing their graduation songs. Funny and cute. Their choreography is the best.

Today I was in 8th grade history and they were tired of movies while all their classmates went off to Great America so we did trust walks where I blink folded one and assigned a partner and had them walk around and see what it would be like with a disability then answer questions and write a paragraph.

Surprisingly for the last week of school I've gotten 3 calls.

I'm glad I don't have to do the end of the year checkout!

Then I had them list important events 2000-2007 and make a collage.

My feet are aching after standing making copies to prepare for my summer school classes.

Summer School

I am teaching 6,7,8,9,10th and 11th grade English this summer.
I have ordered my books and am now doing the lesson plans so that the 80 kids will have their syllabus and stuff mapped out against standards.

Taught 6th grade on Fri. 1st today and Kinder tomarrow. Last week I had a pre k sdc class and a 3 y.o. who ran away screamed and said no all afternoon. Magnify that by 5. (for me, without my aide) We went in from recess early had they lie down on the rug, seperate and put on soft music for time out. They are in diapers and all have special needs. There are some non verbal and some almost normal. yikes!
Today I had a first grader who said no then preceeded to empty his desk, ponds his feet against the desk and cry while sucking his thumb. We tried to ignore him until I took away his recess gave him time out and ignored his tantrum. School is out on Friday.

I'd like to carve out a week to go to Trinidad and see a friend before the marathon starts. First 30k maintenance.
I was sad to read Honda will discontinue hybrid production. I think I would have liked it better.

Come on people global warming remember!?

In the meantime, I had a huge cavity filled for $200. and hope it will not become a root canal. Ouch. It was hurting and sitting on a nerve. Get out the dental floss!

I'm reading a great mystery by John Sandford called Invisible Prey.

Memorial Day

I remember going to my brother Michael at age 26 or so and assuming I had learned all I needed to know. wrong.................

and he told me so
my epiphany wasn't all.

Since then, there have been many lessons by life and trial and error.
1. Of course we know, you can choose your friends but not your family
2. life holds dissapointments
3. happiness is illusive and fleeting
4. friends provide love and support
5. women tend to support each another despite relationships and everything else
6. I am blessed to have 4 or 5 very good friends I can always count on
7. I lost my parents too young
9. I wish I had known them better
10. We can only control ourselves and our expectations of others. How we react to their actions is our choice.

Jersey Boys

I want to see the play Jersey Boys in S.F.

My pictures are bad its a good thing there was a photographer. Mine stunk

I think I have I.B.S.

I'm still walking.

Geometry

Boy am I in over my head. I could write the problem down and copy it off the page but design a 3 dimmensional structure that incorporates at least 3 plane figures, 2 soilds and is no bigger than 5" tall and 5" wide. Then write a paragraph to explain the design. Yeah right.

I'm back in 5th grade....the same class.

This morning I walked 4 laps while the kids ran getting ready for their mile run. At least I could go the times tables to their warm up exercises.

The good thing is that I'm back eating oatmeal with raisins for breakfast. That beats English muffins or granola bars. I love raspberries and I need to get some more bannannas. They are so convenient to grab and go. I've started on canned peacheds in Splenda. A can is 90 calories, easy to grab and go and comes with a pull top opener.
This weekend we made a veggie frittata with green pepper, onion, zuchini, potatoes and mushrooms with some parmesean cheese on top. Sounded better than it was. I'm back to the bed and breakfast book. So much for low fat alternatives. I'll keep trying. I finally got it in my head that 8 0z of o.j. is too much and have cut that back.

Tomorrow I go to 1st grade not today.

Earthquake

We had an earthquake today around 4. We were reading the paper and napping. I know it's above 4 when the closet glass doors rattle or the lampshade. They barely moved.

Yesterday my housekeeper and I spent 8 hrs cleaning the bathrooms and digging out my bedroom. The piles of paper filled a whole recycle bin.
I'm off to 1st grade tom arrow. I need to collect papers to send to Abby and Ethan from k and 1st. There are some fun worksheets.

Hopefully our whales in the Sacramento River will find their way back out to the ocean under the Golden Gate Bridge. The mama needs to feed and their are few fish for her in the delta.

I got another 5 books on the Holocaust and Kristallnicht to finish Richard's paper. He lost the 1st one. Now it's overdue.
We went to see the play The Cruicible by Arthur Miller.

I'm really angry about this postage hike.

Basketball

I'm learning to coach basketball. I really remembered very little from h.s. and rarely watch on t.v. The one h.s game I went to in IN with Michey's friend was in 72.
The kids are teaching me and I remember a few things about centers, guards and fouls, traveling. Now I know there are 5 on each side and I remembered about tip offs.

I walked with the kids, we did warm up exercises and I coached basketball.

Horror! I discovered the choc. milk I was getting at school is 180 cal per 8 oz container. I'd been blidely drinking 2 without realizing 360 calories just slithered down my throat. On a 1000 calorie a day diet that is lunch.

I'm going to take my car in for service tomarrow for it's 30K service. Then on Sun., my housekeeper comes back. Since she left early last Sat. this time I hope she'll get to the bathroom and my room. I did the bathtub. It is a grand involved process with 2 tubs of water bleach and a rince tub with the whirlpool running for 20 min. on each.
I planted some roma tomatoes and white marigolds this morning.

My horoscoppe says "a relationship problem may need to be rehashed or mended"...no kidding. Well the new one overshadowed the old one in my mind and journal.

Gas is $3.33 a gallon here. In Carmel near Monterey, an hour south it's $5.00! I was meaning about gas on my trip. Now I hear that South Carolina has the cheapest gas around. Sometimes I found it at $265. Those back roads v. interstates were funky through. I was sometimes not aware with the signs even with directions that I was on the right road and then it was one lane. At night with no lights it felt really strange. The only place to stop and ask we at convenience stores which were few and far between. Even loaded with maps and tour books along with mapquest directions it was not always clear. I'm glad to be home as all the hoards get ready to hit the roads and beaches. I don't like crowds.

I investigated librarian jobs in Myrtle Beach. They don't consider it to be a professional position although the graduate program in Columbia is in place. I think the pay difference between CA and SC may be $15. an hour or more. That surprised me, Maybe the cost of living is lower.

The house I found that I liked in Beaufort would be the same at $659o,ooo. but it did have a guest apartment above the garage and a club house with a pool, liquor cabinet that you could lock and bar. I guess these are dry parts or Jim Crow laws?

The weather has been spectacular. Next week though I hear we go from perfect in the 70's to the 90's. Too hot for me.

Meanie

I made a kindergirl tear up today. I asked her to copy the word root from the board to her paper as we pointed to it.
She had not been to school for many days due to lice and other things so so had little practice developing those motor skills to print her letters or write on a line. Finally, I printed the words on her paper and she could copy it. Success.

I have a lot to learn about skills for 5 and 6 yr. olds. Some in the richer school districts have kids more advanced. Today I tried to do math and the concept one plus one was OK until you put it on paper.

After school I faxed in all my papers, resume, credential, transcripts, cbest, letters of reference and cover letter to teach summer school in the place I taught last year. Tomorrow after the same 6th grade I had on Mon., I am interviewing for an adult ed. teaching job. I used to do that in HI.

I went walking again today.

Richard came over again today. He lost his research paper. I have it on the computer. His last assignment is due typed tomorrow, He is supposed to do all his work with no accommodation and only having his aide read it to him. I understand grades have to be in but what are they going to do for the rest of the year?

Bummer

I went walking again today.

At least I reconfirmed I can do most of 4th grade math. Those acute angles et al still throw me, Fortunately some girls in class and the teachers answer book helped.

Tomorrow I go back to kinderworld.

I tried to do something nice and got myself caught up in the midst of a family feud. Hopefully I can fix things and get everything back to the way it was.

I think Jason would be ideal for this internship at San Jose Mercury News for 6 mo.
It would get him paid and to CA.

Today is Mikie's 29th birthday. Along with her graduation and wedding do you think she had enough to keep her busy this month when you add in a honeymoon and batmitzpha in NY?

I tutored Richard again tonight out of the goodness of my heart and I am about to stroke out. You can't yell because he wouldn't understand my frustration. Getting angry is useless. He is trying but needs more help. He is here to help teach me patience. Tonight we did a time time and poster of the 60's. I drug out my old Beatles album for him to copy. Boy, is he an excellent copier. He tries so hard.

I am a Pizza

Can't seem to get that song out of my head. Today I am back in the land of kinder.
I like the hours 8:30-3. I'm getting good at all these songs. Since the kids are going to a farm we did a lot of work on animals. Snack time is all important.
I finished my salad. I didcovered the salad dressing spritzers, one cal. a spray. Cool, even at 10mspras it's good. I like the balsamic vinegar one and the rasberry, poppyseed.
I prepped 42 purple folders, cut as many green papers and colored a nursery rhyme cover and laminated it for Clare. Now all I have to do is get the inners between now and Sept. or maybe July when the new baby arrives.
I am not an artist and was hard pressed to draw a horse or a chicken to introduce the letter h. I was told I didn't write on the right line. My handwriting is not great either. My Valentine was better as was my apple tree and egg.

Tomorrow moves me to 4th grade.

I interviewed for a summer school h.s. English teaching job today too. I like when my commute is a mile.

I went walking tonight with my neighbor for an hour ...yeah! That meant I put Richards tutoring off till tomorrow.

Island of the Blue Dolphin

Today finds me in 5th grade. I actually got some exercise leading warmups and free shots.

All weekend I was singing kindegarden sings..."I am a pizza...with extra cheese." scary.

Today I looked in the paper for marketing jobs for Jason, Walter's stepson. I also looked online at the LA times. He wants to go there.

In my area, there are a couple things. a 6 mo. temp. job in marketing with my at the newspaper, S.J. Mercury News. That would be good to get him some experience and give him the caance to be working in CA and look further. He could start with me and find a room or an apartment to rent from there. He's need his car, so he'd need to drive out. There are also some things in commercial sales another way in. One for Comcast and another for AT+T. check careers at attcareers.com

I took the extension cord back and found they did not have one with out a notch so I came home and cut it off with my butcher knife and then discovered that the old cord was to flayed and ended up borrowing one from my neighbor until I go back tomarrow and get another cord.

Having mowed the lawn, as tiny as it is, I remember why I have a gardner. I don't like to wow..you get all grassy.

Happy Mother's Day

to all you mother's out there. Congratulations on all your good, hard work.

As a non mom I got up put the ham and cheese strata in the oven to bake and went out into the garden.

Yesterday, I went to Orchard Supply for their non tax day and rather than give the state their 8.75% tax bought an eclectic mower and bag. It's a mulcher..is that the same as a mower? I have a tiny yard but the gas one was such a pain I've had a gardener come regularly.
I got the mover home dragged it's heavy box out of the car and tried to assemble the upper and lower handles. I think I only have one toggle bold and screw though. I can do it but I'd like a house husband or a rental, maybe a honey do.

Also, it's heavy I may have to turn the box over to get it out.

Then I realized I didn't know where in the garage my yellow and orange extension cords were so I pushed everything in the garage and came inside. It was 6 after all and I'll continue the search today.

We went out for Vietnamese BBQ of shrimp and marinated pork on rice with salad of dikon and carrot a tiny green onions.

In the garden in back I planted 2 kinds of cherry tomatoes, sweet william, impatients, violas, pansies, gerber daisies, sunflowers, hollyhocks, knee high sunflowers, gerabaldi, and in the front bed one other type of cherry tomato. I've got 4 more kinds of sunflowers to put out.

Then, the strata was ready and I cut a piece, placed it on my grandmother's china and poured a glass of freshly squeezed o.j. and mint tea with lemon from my tree and crawled back into bed with the paper and a book for breakfast in bed.
The strata made of 4 oz breadcrumbs, 5 eggs, 2.5 c milk. 3/4 c. cheese and minced ham was good...not great in addition to salt and pepper and onion powder I'll try dill. The nice thing is that you put it together the night before. Layer the crumbs, some cgeese , milk and eggs and rest of cheese and refrigerate, Then the next morning we added the ham and baked.

Next, I'll tackle the garage for the extension cord and maybe find the skateboard I know is in there for Richard.

Well we got it out of the box and the handles on. The I went to buy another 50 ft. extension corn. Found one. The issue is that the place to plug it in on the handle and the extension cord don't fit.
I'll take the 100 ft. cord I got just in case back and look at it one more time. Today it took 3 sales people to figure out the handle.

Why is it that any project needs so many trips to the hardware store?

I also got some kitty grass, cucumber, radish, plum tomato, green beans, zuchini, yellow squash,snow peas, assulum, catnip, marigold, and more sunflowers and sweet peas to plant.

I changed the sheets again after Lacey threw up...is that like a kid?

Planting

I planted my Williamsburg historical seeds today and got out anf watered my lavendar and peutinas that came back or wintered over alone with my roses and spidar plants and geraniums. The seeds were of snapdragons,larkspur, mint,tomatoe,and I will put in some small other plants.
Snapdragons here are already over a foot or 2 tall.

My housekeeper is here and she had spent 4 hrs so far just in the kitchen!

I was out picking up freefall lemons, doing my 3rd load of laundry...Lacey threw up on my just changed sheets when I went from flannel to cotton earlier this week.

I made this great scrambled egg and cheese recipe with mushrooms and green inions, milk and breadcrumbs from the bed and breakfast guide to the low country. Tomarrow a ham and cheese strata. Lots of eggs tonight I'm making a veggie fritata with 2 eggs, 4 whites, zuchini, green pepper, onion, mushrooms...we'll see I haven't been too successful in the past with my fritatas. It's the almost setting them stove stop them in the oven at 375 for 5 minutes.

The Rain Forrest

I did a play today with my 1st grade class on the Rain Forrest. This is the third day they performed. They did well all the little toucans, anteaters, sloth, macaw, monkeys, snakes, butterflies, bees, mice, frogs, porqupines, and rain forrest singers. They were so cute. A visiting school came to view.

We made flower pots that we painted and covered a pen with florest tape added some moss to the pot and stuck the pen inside. I like this better than the magnet picture frame. I would have liked the hot holder and will give this pot to RIchard for Gloria. One year we planted the pots with marigolds and pansies, another just the seeds like we planted in the egg shells for Easter.

The play last night by Francisco Lorca, Blood Wedding was good. Richard needed to go for drama. It was in Spanish with English translation. I needed Victor to explain the finner points. The story was about a bride who married then ran away with her married ex-boyfriend. Spanish scandal or one anywhere. Nothing was consumated and she returned to her other in law to overcome shame and hatred and offer comfort. The groom and boyfriend end up dead. I need to read the play.

When I first started at Biblioteca LatinAmerica 8 years ago I was weeding the collection and didn't know any of the Spanish or Latin authors.
I still don't know many. I would have discarded 1/2 of the non fiction collection because it hadn't circed. To overgeneralize, the Hispanic population are not big readers. They rent a lot of videos as does everyone else.

This weekend the cleaning lady come and we tackle cleaning the refrigerator, bathroom and my bedroon, office and garage.

I need to weed and get all the freen fall fruit picked up. The put the tops of strawberries out yesterday and somethong ate them. I think it was a possum. I saw a lot of those as road kill in the south.

What a difference a day makes

The fog rolled in and cooled us off. The windows and doors were closed, almost.

I tried the grilled chicken, honey mustard snack wrap and Mickey d's. Not bad caloricly for a quick grab and go.

I seem to be saying this for 30 years but after seeing the wedding pictures I'm determined to get out walking. Seeing the pictures of my brothers and me spoke volumes.

The apricots and cherries are in the market.l The love the fruit season. Add nectarines and cantaloupe and I'm happy. Time to get the grill out.

Today I'm back in kinder talking about the Very hungry caterpiller and butterflies again. This class had a parent who bought all the supplies for both am and pm kinger and came in to decorate them with clay rosettes in the corner of picture frames.
The last class made a picture of their mom with a face and hair and their body. in a card.

I'm heading to the Mexican Heritage Plaza with Victor and Richard tonight to see the play Bodas de Sange or Blood Wedding.

I should have checked shows on Brodway in NYC too. Alas, Shoulda, coulda...didn"t.

Wedding Proofs

I really like the Don Mears wedding proofs. I haven't been through all of them yet but so far my favorites are Mikie and her Mom before the wedding , two of Clare,Mike and Mikie at the door of the chapel and the tree shot at the entrance.
The ones at the reception of the first dance/kiss,Gwen and her toast, I never saw her so animated, or crying in the church when Clare screamed out Mommy when she was whisked out the side door; M&M were nasty cake feeders. I don't know what the foot photo was for except to show off pedicures. The tulips around their year book and the cake were nice. Michael looks dazed as the center of attention at the best party ever.It's nice they were sprinkled with rose petals.
I remember Leonard throwing almonds at Bev. Ouch!
There is a nice mix of black and white and color prints. Can't wait until they go on snapfish. My first roll were not great. Those boys "got down" as they great music at the Williamsburg Winery went on. I'm glad they had such a good time. Abby danced my feet off and the next day I could barely get out of bed or straighten my back and almost had to crab walk to the bathroom. It took an hour to straighted up.
That's the same reaction i had when I was setting up my classroom and moving books in August. Then, I got workers comp.

I taught kinder today and we made mother's day pot holders with the child's hand in paint and on the back they wrote "I love you mommy." They also did cards with Happy Mother's Day. I wanted to make one for Gwen with Clare's tiny hand print. Maybe now that she drops into the day care center they will have those shortly.

Richard came over to be tutored. I don't know how we're gonna get him through the final. Now we're making a poster of the 60's. That he can do. I had a kindergirl that was autistic today too. I do agree mainstreaming is a good thing but it does provide teacher challenges, but class empathy and understanding.

Home again

Back to the library and the weather was 90.

I turned the lawn sprinkelers while I went to the grocery store and ran a load of laundry. Boy is it hot. All my plants are fried.

I can hardly believe I had a scarf, jacket and gloves on for a night walk in Newport last week.

I needed a shawl for the bat mitzvah too. Long Island Sound is lovely, but even with a plastic windbreak on the patio the breeze was chilly.I liked that neighborhood. The summer I would melt though.

Here in the evenings it cools off to 60.In the East it stays right up there. No fog rolls in. I was always bringing a jacket anticipating the cool down.

Greenwich and Pamela's Bat Mitzvah

What a poised accomplished 13 y.o. is Pammie. She read better than many of my 10th graders.

After her amazing reading in English and Hebrew we we off to the reception. We flew. Trying to keep up with the people ahead...scary.

But we arrived...The theme was a south sea paradise complete with tiki torches and beautiful long island sound as the background at the Conleigh club in Rye. All Pam's friends got flashing jewelry, visors, a chance in the money blowing cube and kid's food.

Adults were out on the patio with the bar, HUGE shrimp, salmon, humus and flat bread and grilled veggies. They also had a carving station of corned beef and roast beef I finally got my Cosmopolitan. One of many.

We went into dinner finding out tables with shell rings around the napkin rings, beach towels on dowels on the walls and crab runners in orange on the tables. Dinner was halibut or filet of beef with potatoes and harcouts verts. We had tiny key lime pies and fruit tarts along with sorbet and strwberries and cake for dessert.
Pammie lit candles to everyone and they came up to help her light her candles.
Everyone went up but she forgot me.
I felt bad and left out.

They had these great dancers and the band was really good. The video guy got it all on tape.

All the kids got beach towels tied with raffia as a favor. Pammie did a really good job and wore a beautiful pink princess dress. Jennifer got to wear her bat mitzvad dress again too.

The next one is Stephen in 2 years.

The trip home went on forever. I came over the Tribourough Bridge , Garden State expressway and worked my way to 95 into Maryland. There I went over the tunnel, past Annapolis again, dropped stuff off at Karen's in Woodbridge and hauled down 66 to 28 and Dullus.
After a 7 hr. drive back to VA and a 5 hr flight I'm glad to be home. My friend Gloria picked me up. She had used my car and put 835 miles on it.

But, she also had my cleaning lady in to clean my kitchen, the gardener to do the lawn and checked on my darling cat Lacey. It was a pleasure to come home to a clean home. She left flowers, I didn't even realize it till this morning.

Lacey has been glued to my side. I missed her.

There is no place like home.

Newport

Newport is beautiful. After visiting with Walter, Lynn and Alexa in Md, I slugged my way through PA, NYC, CT and it's spring again.

There are these spectacular mansions everywhere or summer "cottages". They were only used for 6-8 weeks a year from the last 1890's to the start of WWI.

I just took a tour of the Breakers, the Vanderbuilt mansion. It's 10,000some sq ft. with marble and beautiful parquet floors, stand in fireplaces, 10, music room, breakfast room formal dining room,seats 34; grand hall, informal dining room,music room, library, game room and the upper floor for bed and bathrooms. It took at staff of 40 to maintain. There are over 10 to see but one was enough.

I'm going for a walk on the ocean's cliff walk that skirts the Breakers, Marble House and many other properties not open to the public.

Only one more day and I head to CT for the festivities.
I haven't decided if I can take Jimmy up on his offer to stay with him or not.

I went into Providence briefly with an error in my directions.

I thought I had every mapquest direction and map AAA had.
Off to America's Cup Drive and Ocean to see the waterfront and all the boats.

No lobster now either. I did have some lobster bisque last night. Not my favorite though.

I truely did not hit this season right. I hear they are expensive here too, even for lobster rolls.

I'm back on 6 de Mayo at midnight. I'm ready.

Ashville

The NC mountains are cool and beautiful. I can see why Vanderbuilt built a mansion here and F. Scott and Zelda F came to play and live.

I've had enough of beach life and am driving back to No. Va today.

Thanks to my wonderful nephew Mike and his beautiful new bride Mikie for letting me stay at their condo.

The boiled shrimp is good , crab is out of season and frozen and mushy as are crawdads and I must get away from everything fried.

It is so humid.

I walked off and left my purse at the library for about ten minutes a few days ago. I was fortunate and it was still there.

I'm going to see my cousin Walter and his wife Lynn and daughter in MD.

Charleston

Well I hear you have to boil that nasty ham so I did, then it's tasteless and still yucka.

Charleston is beautiful and the River plantations great. Went for a tour through town. The humidity is getting to be and even at 79 I know I wouldn't last. Michael tells me the rain is coming though.

I went to Myrtle beach last night land of the Volcanoes and Gator farms and mini Disney and gold Land and could not stand it. There are some beautiful properties and McMansions on Ocean Dr but I'm glad to be in N. Myrtle Beach land of calmer people.

The swelling of my feet may have gone down. It still hurts to put in my tennis shoes but they are new.

VA Ham

God is it salty! Yuck!

My cousin Bev said she used to see mom soaking hers and rinsing. I only remember a John Morrill.

After arriving in Myrtle Beach I look a brief look at the beach, and drove to meet a friend from Annapolis June week days who went to Sweet Brian and Married a lawyer and is also a librarian in Columbia. After lunch with Patti I dropped Clare's package off on their porch and drove back. I should have stayed at Patti's. It took close to 8 hrs round trip. I was exhaused.

The next day I got an early start and headed for Beaufort and toured. A lovely town, historic and charming.
I really liked a house on Lady islady. Screened in porch 2 car garage. Guest apt. over the garage, lovely kitchen, fireplace lovely oak floors and 3 bedrooms all with custom closets. All the homes have steps up and they kill me. Even with 6 steps it's a lot to lug groceries. This has a club house with pool, bar and so forth for 650 plus assn fees. I'd melt in the heat. Even in April it was getting on 84. It does not really cool down at night either. There was one house that backed up to a swamp down yonder...if I let Lacey out a croc could eat her! I don't think so!
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My poor feet in flip flops are all swollen up and ache. I need to elevate and ice them. Even after resting for 7 hrs they were still swollen.

I ate seafood in Port Royal, decided I don't like their crabcakes, maybe just my own and shrimp is out of season but I ate it and the she crab soup and hushpuppies and clam chowder I can pass on.

Then I drove to see Hilton Head I'll pass All clear cut and the same.

From there I went to Savannah and took a trolly tour . I likes Water street and the city market and might have taken a tour of a house or two but my feet hurt. So I headed out.

I stopped for lunch and got a shrimp salad. Finally something not fried! Thshrimp were grilled and not those tiny salad shrimp either but nice ones, an inch or so.

There I discovered the frozen daiquires in every flavor from white Russian to Cherry blast look promising at 4.50 for a small. I may try one tonight. I decided I didn't need one for my long drive back. I had to stop 2x for short naps since I was up at 4. I got in at 8 or so and was horrified to find the lower lock locked and couldn't get. I called the locksmith who sprayed a bit of gunk on it and the same key for the upper opened the lower and I was in. I gave the poor man a hug I was so relieved.

Today I'm resting, doing laundry and maybe driving on the beach. I don't sit out in the sun. I may get a few groceries and find some fish.

Virginia

I arrived and drive an hour to get to my friends house in 4:00 traffic on the back roads! Yuck. It was so good to see my friend Karen and we ordered in Chinese and crashed at 9.

The next morning up my 9 and to the library to stock up on book tapes for me.
I left by 11 or so driving towards Richmond for Williamsburg. I got in about 3:30 and got a corn beef sandwich on rye from the NY Deli NOT! After checking in I ran aroung Williamsburg a bit and found a beautiful bed and breakfast accross from campus on Jamestown Rd. and changed to that the 2nd night. I love all the wreaths on the doors and the white lights like mom used to put in the windows for Christmas on in so many windows.

The reception where I met the bride to be Mike was lovely at the hospitality house.We had dessert, wine, water with their names,date and Williamsburg Va label. then 20 or so or my realtives from MD, VA, NT, CT, NJ. It was so nice to see all the babies.

Mimi Arnold and her husband and son came down on Sat.

The wedding was lovely. The bride had a dress strapless, scrunched in the back and a veil in her hair.

Clare was the flower girl and walked down with her dad holding a basket. She saw her mom at the alter as the pregnant attedant of honour. Clare wanted to go to her and cried Mommy when her dad wisked her out.

The music was lovely the old organ and a guitar and singer and Pachabel as an entrance hym and Ode to Joy as a ressisional.

The reception was lovely and I got to meet Clare for a moment.
Gwen ran at every opportunity to talk to me although she was 3 feet away talking to my aunt for almost 10 min.

I'm heading to Columbia from lovely Myrtle beach today to drop off a present for Clare. The I will leave her alone.

Tomarrow Beauford and Port Royal.

The gardens and Colonial Williamsburg were lovely filled with tullips, azaleas of every hue and dogwood in bloom the state flower.

My grand niece Abby danced my feel off and it was good to meet her and t



Clare was the flower girl walked down the aisle by her dad.

it was good to meet her and Ethan my grand nephew.

A good time was had my all.

Hats off to all good teachers

I do not have the patience or aptitude.

I'm packing but need more time.

The sin came out this afternoon and despite a brisk breeze and despite my hat and a turtleneck I think my face may have gotten sunburned.

I was totally frustrated at a 6 y.o. today. I feel so guilty. I snapped at him. Bad teacher. I needed to motivate him while 20 others were playing.

It was still cold here tonight.

I need a digital camera.

I cleaned out the car,
Still didn't find my sunglasses.

To top things off, Richard came over for more tutoring. He is unable to look up a term in the glossary and put it on the paper and even if he knows how to spell a word he asks me 3 or 4 times. He can't tell me where his papers are either.

It drives me crazy.

I need a bath and a book and sleep. 5 will come early and we leave for the airport at 5:15.

No. Va here I come ready or not.

My suitcase weighs a ton, filled with books. I'm glad it has wheels. I still can't find one of my sandals.

Lessons

Tutoring Richard who can't find his papers or tell me where they are and is unable to provide information on when something is due is a lesson in patience. When he comes over and had left his papers at home I want to scream.

Today I learned to trace templats of clouds, butterflies. bumblebees, sunflowers and planting seeds on egg shells in kinder. Ouch, it hurts the back to run the sissors over the paper then trace the pattern.
Then I taught p.m. kindergarten.

The word of the day is patience.
I am not equiped. What do you do when a girl skips the first 4 mo. of school and now can't write her letters even wjen they are on the wall and you write the sentence for her to copy; or the boy who sits so long doing nothing drspite sitting next to him constantly prompting him?

Then I interviewed at San Jose H.S. Academy for a teaching job. They always have these panels and set questions.

My l ear is still filled w/ water. Tonight I shampooed with cotton in and a pan to dump water over my head. Hope it clears by Thurs.

My phone 5/1 in Newport is 401-369-0243.

Hope it warms up. It was freezing here today; sweater weather.

Yesterday was beautiful.

One more day of work...

Voodoo

I'm off to teach kindergarten.

Tomorrow I have an interview for a h.s. English teaching job for next year.

Picked most of the oranges off my 2 trees and squeezed most this a.m. in a try in get vitamin c in me.

The E. coast...Northeasterners...shootings yikes!


Last night I finished the papers tutoring Richard in 11th grade history. I would fail.

His mom tried a Bolivian folk remedy to clear my ears. She made a cone of newspaper, cut it to about 6 inches and had me insert it in my ear and hold it while she lit it. The idea is that the heat draws the moisture out. My l ear is still hurting but we may have helped the r one. We did this 3 times. I heat did feel good, I can still feel the fluid in my r ear though and I still can't clear it. Hopefully I will be able to to by Thursday. At least my hair didn't catch on fire.

It does smell of smoke though.

The luggage came out. Lacey is sitting on the suitcase as if to say "You can't go."

Looks like I'll be in do IAD dullus on Thurs, 3:30 drive to my friend Ksren
's for the night
The next day, 4/20 off to Williamsburg and the reception
4/21 the wedding
4/22 off to Myrtle Beach where my dear nephew Michael has offered me the use of his condo.
4/23 lunch with my friend Patti in Columbia
24th...Beufort and Port Royal and Charleston
25th Savannah
26th St Simeons
28 Va Beach for dinner with my friends Adm. Jay and Mimi Donnely who were in my wedding
hopefully in No VA to visit relatives in MD if they can make time to see me
4/30 PA Ironmasters mansion Gettysburg
5/1 Rhode Island Newport
Hamptons
5-4 Greenwich dinner and services
5/5 Greenwich Pamelas barmit... 5:45 and reception
rtn to ca 5/6

More kinder tomorrow. Jack to this once a month teaching paycheck. I thought I lost one since the city pays twice a month.

Williamsburg has lots of events listed for this weekend in the newspaper including a tour of the campus and the Farmers market.

Travelers Checks

Did you know AAA doesn't sell or issue travelers checks any more?

Apparently they aren't used much any more.

I'm starting to pack.

I got wedding wrapping paper today since my gift is extremely fragile I chose not to send it. Cash is easier.

I think I may have an ear infection now that I have my voice back.

I hope I can clear my ears to fly. Tonight I couldn't. Once before I couldn't and had to take the train overnight to Portland.

5 days to go....

My itinerary has changed and I've deleted Galax,VA.

Property taxes

are in

Easter

I taught the kids the song
here comes peter cottontail hoping down the bunny trail
they were so cute

Measure of a Man

Im reading Sidney Poitier's The Measure of a Man.

You can make money in the stock market and the tax rate on capital gains in lower than taxable income but it's still taxed. I think it should be exempt.

Maybe if you make less when you cash in stock the tax penalty would be less.

Banking

Why is it that transfering money takes a week between two banks?

Just finished my taxes wrote the checks and will mail them on sat....painful.

Spring break is here Happy Easter