Yoga

At the farmers market this morning I got my veggies and ran into an Indian woman handing out invitations for an hour yoga class; I wasn't really dressed for it but I went. We didn't do a lot but I sweated a lot. I had my mat and towels in the car but I guess I took a change of clothes out.

By then it was 3. I took a nap after I went to the store. I FOUND OUT MY STORE DOES CARRY THE WHOLE WHEAT CORN TORTILLAS I GOT IN ARCATA. I never looked or found them before. I always used Mission, now I'm sold on the tortilla factory in Sonoma.

I read the Sunday paper and clipped coupons until I fell asleep. Last night I was up till 3 a.m. watching a good movie with Kevin Costner.
I never heard of it so it probably wasn't a box office rave. It was set in Mexico.

Tomorrow morning I am hoing to meet the library ladies for one of our 4x a yr.
breakfasts.

I made more and had a tad of raspberry oatmeal but didn't really eat until 8. I made a shrimp salad, and seafood salad which I added more celery and scallion (never thought I'd eat them.) Dad did.. I need to eat earlier.

I didn't however get a cinnamon roll at the farmers market which is good but that's more because they were out.

I read the ingredients of the potato salad I like. No wonder it has chemicals and high fructose. I'll try again with red potatoes or peel potatoes and try those. They price is so much less and it it much healthier. It's good to know what goes in your food.

Now to be bad:

Puff Pastry and Vols-au-Vents

The September 2009 Daring Bakers' challenge was hosted by Steph of A Whisk and a Spoon. She chose the French treat, Vols-au-Vent based on the Puff Pastry recipe by Michel Richard from the cookbook Baking With Julia by Dorie Greenspan.
Wow, was this month’s challenge ever a “challenge” . Our temps here in CA are still in the mid 90’s every single day and no A/C! Anyone who has ever worked with puff pastry knows that these are not ideal circumstances for making the dough…But I DID IT!!!! And look how pretty and puffy these turned out!!!

There was a lot of refrigerating going on though and I had butter popping through and melting all over my counter so I was shocked at how nicely these turned out. Unfortunately they took me a whole day to make and then I let them chill over night. After all of that I just ran out of time for making the wonderful lemon mousse that I had planned to fill them with. Whatever, I loved them filled with fresh blueberries and drizzled with chocolate. Isn’t that what it’s all about anyway???




For this challenge we had to make puff pastry (Michel Richard’s recipe) and form at least part of it into vols-au-vent…

The recipe and directions:

Equipment:
-food processor (will make mixing dough easy, but I imagine this can be done by hand as well)
-rolling pin
-pastry brush
-metal bench scraper (optional, but recommended)
-plastic wrap
-baking sheet
-parchment paper
-silicone baking mat (optional, but recommended)
-set of round cutters (optional, but recommended)
-sharp chef’s knife
-fork
-oven
-cooling rack

Prep Times:
-about 4-5 hours to prepare the puff pastry dough (much of this time is inactive, while you wait for the dough to chill between turns…it can be stretched out over an even longer period of time if that better suits your schedule)
-about 1.5 hours to shape, chill and bake the vols-au-vent after your puff pastry dough is complete

Refrigerate the assembled vols-au-vent on the lined baking sheet while you pre-heat the oven to 400ºF (200ºC). (You could also cover and refrigerate them for a few hours at this point.)

Once the oven is heated, remove the sheet from the refrigerator and place a silicon baking mat (preferred because of its weight) or another sheet of parchment over top of the shells. This will help them rise evenly. Bake the shells until they have risen and begin to brown, about 10-15 minutes depending on their size. Reduce the oven temperature to 350ºF (180ºC), and remove the silicon mat or parchment sheet from the top of the vols-au-vent. If the centers have risen up inside the vols-au-vent, you can gently press them down. Continue baking (with no sheet on top) until the layers are golden, about 15-20 minutes more. (If you are baking the center “caps” they will likely be finished well ahead of the shells, so keep an eye on them and remove them from the oven when browned.)

Remove to a rack to cool. Cool to room temperature for cold fillings or to warm for hot fillings.

Fill and serve.

*For additional rise on the larger-sized vols-au-vents, you can stack one or two additional ring layers on top of each other (using egg wash to "glue"). This will give higher sides to larger vols-au-vents, but is not advisable for the smaller ones, whose bases may not be large enough to support the extra weight.

*Although they are at their best filled and eaten soon after baking, baked vols-au-vent shells can be stored airtight for a day.

*Shaped, unbaked vols-au-vent can be wrapped and frozen for up to a month (bake from frozen, egg-washing them first).

Michel Richard’s Puff Pastry Dough
From: Baking with Julia by Dorie Greenspan
Yield: 2-1/2 pounds dough

Steph’s note: This recipe makes more than you will need for the quantity of vols-au-vent stated above. While I encourage you to make the full recipe of puff pastry, as extra dough freezes well, you can halve it successfully if you’d rather not have much leftover.

There is a wonderful on-line video from the PBS show “Baking with Julia” that accompanies the book. In it, Michel Richard and Julia Child demonstrate making puff pastry dough (although they go on to use it in other applications). They do seem to give slightly different ingredient measurements verbally than the ones in the book…I listed the recipe as it appears printed in the book. http://video.pbs.org/video/1174110297/search/Pastry

Ingredients:
2-1/2 cups (12.2 oz/ 354 g) unbleached all-purpose flour
1-1/4 cups (5.0 oz/ 142 g) cake flour
1 tbsp. salt (you can cut this by half for a less salty dough or for sweet preparations)
1-1/4 cups (10 fl oz/ 300 ml) ice water
1 pound (16 oz/ 454 g) very cold unsalted butter

plus extra flour for dusting work surface

Mixing the Dough:

Check the capacity of your food processor before you start. If it cannot hold the full quantity of ingredients, make the dough into two batches and combine them.

Put the all-purpose flour, cake flour, and salt in the work bowl of a food processor fitted with a metal blade and pulse a couple of times just to mix. Add the water all at once, pulsing until the dough forms a ball on the blade. The dough will be very moist and pliable and will hold together when squeezed between your fingers. (Actually, it will feel like Play-Doh.)

Remove the dough from the machine, form it into a ball, with a small sharp knife, slash the top in a tic-tac-toe pattern. Wrap the dough in a damp towel and refrigerate for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, place the butter between 2 sheets of plastic wrap and beat it with a rolling pin until it flattens into a square that's about 1" thick. Take care that the butter remains cool and firm: if it has softened or become oily, chill it before continuing.

Incorporating the Butter:

Unwrap the dough and place it on a work surface dusted with all-purpose flour (A cool piece of marble is the ideal surface for puff pastry) with your rolling pin (preferably a French rolling pin without handles), press on the dough to flatten it and then roll it into a 10" square. Keep the top and bottom of the dough well floured to prevent sticking and lift the dough and move it around frequently. Starting from the center of the square, roll out over each corner to create a thick center pad with "ears," or flaps.

Place the cold butter in the middle of the dough and fold the ears over the butter, stretching them as needed so that they overlap slightly and encase the butter completely. (If you have to stretch the dough, stretch it from all over; don't just pull the ends) you should now have a package that is 8" square.

To make great puff pastry, it is important to keep the dough cold at all times. There are specified times for chilling the dough, but if your room is warm, or you work slowly, or you find that for no particular reason the butter starts to ooze out of the pastry, cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate it . You can stop at any point in the process and continue at your convenience or when the dough is properly chilled.

Making the Turns:

Gently but firmly press the rolling pin against the top and bottom edges of the square (this will help keep it square). Then, keeping the work surface and the top of the dough well floured to prevent sticking, roll the dough into a rectangle that is three times as long as the square you started with, about 24" (don't worry about the width of the rectangle: if you get the 24", everything else will work itself out.) With this first roll, it is particularly important that the butter be rolled evenly along the length and width of the rectangle; check when you start rolling that the butter is moving along well, and roll a bit harder or more evenly, if necessary, to get a smooth, even dough-butter sandwich (use your arm-strength!).

With a pastry brush, brush off the excess flour from the top of the dough, and fold the rectangle up from the bottom and down from the top in thirds, like a business letter, brushing off the excess flour. You have completed one turn.

Rotate the dough so that the closed fold is to your left, like the spine of a book. Repeat the rolling and folding process, rolling the dough to a length of 24" and then folding it in thirds. This is the second turn.

Chilling the Dough:

If the dough is still cool and no butter is oozing out, you can give the dough another two turns now. If the condition of the dough is iffy, wrap it in plastic wrap and refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes. Each time you refrigerate the dough, mark the number of turns you've completed by indenting the dough with your fingertips. It is best to refrigerate the dough for 30 to 60 minutes between each set of two turns.

The total number of turns needed is six. If you prefer, you can give the dough just four turns now, chill it overnight, and do the last two turns the next day. Puff pastry is extremely flexible in this regard. However, no matter how you arrange your schedule, you should plan to chill the dough for at least an hour before cutting or shaping it.

Steph’s extra tips:
-While this is not included in the original recipe we are using (and I did not do this in my own trials), many puff pastry recipes use a teaspoon or two of white vinegar or lemon juice, added to the ice water, in the détrempe dough. This adds acidity, which relaxes the gluten in the dough by breaking down the proteins, making rolling easier. You are welcome to try this if you wish.

-Keep things cool by using the refrigerator as your friend! If you see any butter starting to leak through the dough during the turning process, rub a little flour on the exposed dough and chill straight away. Although you should certainly chill the dough for 30 to 60 minutes between each set of two turns, if you feel the dough getting to soft or hard to work with at any point, pop in the fridge for a rest.

-Not to sound contradictory, but if you chill your paton longer than the recommended time between turns, the butter can firm up too much. If this seems to be the case, I advise letting it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to give it a chance to soften before proceeding to roll. You don't want the hard butter to separate into chuncks or break through the dough...you want it to roll evenly, in a continuous layer.

-Roll the puff pastry gently but firmly, and don’t roll your pin over the edges, which will prevent them from rising properly. Don't roll your puff thinner than about about 1/8 to 1/4-inch (3-6 mm) thick, or you will not get the rise you are looking for.

-Try to keep “neat” edges and corners during the rolling and turning process, so the layers are properly aligned. Give the edges of the paton a scooch with your rolling pin or a bench scraper to keep straight edges and 90-degree corners.

-Brush off excess flour before turning dough and after rolling.

-Make clean cuts. Don’t drag your knife through the puff or twist your cutters too much, which can inhibit rise.

-When egg washing puff pastry, try not to let extra egg wash drip down the cut edges, which can also inhibit rise.

-Extra puff pastry dough freezes beautifully. It’s best to roll it into a sheet about 1/8 to 1/4-inch thick (similar to store-bought puff) and freeze firm on a lined baking sheet. Then you can easily wrap the sheet in plastic, then foil (and if you have a sealable plastic bag big enough, place the wrapped dough inside) and return to the freezer for up to a few months. Defrost in the refrigerator when ready to use.

-You can also freeze well-wrapped, unbaked cut and shaped puff pastry (i.e., unbaked vols-au-vent shells). Bake from frozen, without thawing first.

-Homemade puff pastry is precious stuff, so save any clean scraps. Stack or overlap them, rather than balling them up, to help keep the integrity of the layers. Then give them a singe “turn” and gently re-roll. Scrap puff can be used for applications where a super-high rise is not necessary (such as palmiers, cheese straws, napoleons, or even the bottom bases for your vols-au-vent).

Forming and Baking the Vols-au-Vent
Yield: 1/3 of the puff pastry recipe below will yield about 8-10 1.5” vols-au-vent or 4 4” vols-au-vent

In addition to the equipment listed above, you will need:
-well-chilled puff pastry dough (recipe below)
-egg wash (1 egg or yolk beaten with a small amount of water)
-your filling of choice

Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.

Using a knife or metal bench scraper, divided your chilled puff pastry dough into three equal pieces. Work with one piece of the dough, and leave the rest wrapped and chilled. (If you are looking to make more vols-au-vent than the yield stated above, you can roll and cut the remaining two pieces of dough as well…if not, then leave refrigerated for the time being or prepare it for longer-term freezer storage. See the “Tips” section below for more storage info.)

On a lightly floured surface, roll the piece of dough into a rectangle about 1/8 to 1/4-inch (3-6 mm) thick. Transfer it to the baking sheet and refrigerate for about 10 minutes before proceeding with the cutting.

(This assumes you will be using round cutters, but if you do not have them, it is possible to cut square vols-au-vents using a sharp chef’s knife.) For smaller, hors d'oeuvre sized vols-au-vent, use a 1.5” round cutter to cut out 8-10 circles. For larger sized vols-au-vent, fit for a main course or dessert, use a 4” cutter to cut out about 4 circles. Make clean, sharp cuts and try not to twist your cutters back and forth or drag your knife through the dough. Half of these rounds will be for the bases, and the other half will be for the sides. (Save any scrap by stacking—not wadding up—the pieces…they can be re-rolled and used if you need extra dough. If you do need to re-roll scrap to get enough disks, be sure to use any rounds cut from it for the bases, not the ring-shaped sides.)

Using a ¾-inch cutter for small vols-au-vent, or a 2- to 2.5-inch round cutter for large, cut centers from half of the rounds to make rings. These rings will become the sides of the vols-au-vent, while the solid disks will be the bottoms. You can either save the center cut-outs to bake off as little “caps” for you vols-au-vent, or put them in the scrap pile.

Dock the solid bottom rounds with a fork (prick them lightly, making sure not to go all the way through the pastry) and lightly brush them with egg wash. Place the rings directly on top of the bottom rounds and very lightly press them to adhere. Brush the top rings lightly with egg wash, trying not to drip any down the sides (which may inhibit rise). If you are using the little “caps,” dock and egg wash them as well.

Ghosts on the River

I'm going to see a play Oct 2nd at Mexican Heritage Plaza with Rudy. If I get a job, I'd like to see Wicked and South Pacific in San Francisco.

I am reading Wild Orchid by Stuart Woods and another by Clive Clusser.

I spent another 3 hrs trimming the front and rear bushes. Who knew they would need so much maintenance. I never used to think about it.

My sleeping may be straightening out. Yesterday I woke up at 4:30 and couldn't get back to sleep. I should have gone to swim at 5.a.m. I was exhausted by 1 a.m. I fell asleep during Carson Daily until 8:30 then was up till 1 and took another nap. Now at 5p.m. I feel good. I haven't taken a sleeping pill in a few days.

I'm going to look for my recipe for coleslaw someone gave me in Hi. I haven't made it in 10 yrs at Kim's shower, but it is really good. I need to learn how to cut recipes in half. I want to make some more fish tacos. Despite the tortillas being 70-90 calories each they still have to be low in calories especially if you heat them in the microwave not oil in a pan.

I am barely functional with fractions. When I asked what double one was at Thanksgiving dinner one time, my friend Karen, a lawyer, said scornfully 'Oh come on." Yes I was embarrassed. I know I should have better math skills but as Karen and Michael can testify it isn't that I haven't tried. I took Algebra 5 times to pass the CBEST point by point to teach.

The best effort was with a self programmed text book of 2 at NVCC. I may still have them. Conceptual or abstract mathematical concepts get lost in the function of my brain. Maybe it's neuroscience wiring. The nuns at Imaculata seemed to think I could be taught. I sure didn't benefit from my tutoring in 5th grade camp at St. Maria's in MD. Or Algebra tutoring from Michael's friend Jeff or my friend's Norm or Marilyn's attempt to help. Geometry is a whole other thing. Theorems freeze and proofs numb my mind. Differential equations were a stretch for me in business school. Calculus...please. I walk by the kids just sucking it up in awe. It seems to go in their brains so easily. It must have begun in 4th and 5th grade. I know Dad even tried to tutor me much to our frustration.

You know the bad rap girls of my generation got about math. Math causes my brain to freeze. I can add, subtract, multiply and divide. All beyond is a bonus. Only boys were good at it..not. Just look at my friends Marilyn, Karen, Carolina and apparently, the other Karen, the lawyer, who moved back E. to N.J..

Now that seems a daunting feat. A few years ago I wouldn't have blinked. somehow I've become less daring. Someone online suggested I come and teach in China. I once interviewed to teach in Japan. I contemplated Europe more seriously. The tie up was storing all my stuff. I still would travel Mexico, Belize,Costa Rica, South America, Europe and Australia alone.

It would do me good to purge house. When I contemplated moving while Dad was helping me list my house I started packing things up.
My friend Gloria helped me clean the garage once and she took it upon herself to purge things like a skateboard and a kite, other things that I took in over the years from other people like Kim purging when she or her mom's house was emptied after she died. That was sobering. They were there 4o yrs. I've been here 30 in Oct.. I cleaned out the garage once since then but it needs it again.

This guy in Las Vegas told me I was loosing hands at the black jack table because I couldn't count fast enough. When I was a cashier though I sometimes came up with the total before the machine.

trimming junipers

strange bedfellows from the fires

My neighbor called and asked me to cit the junipers that are almost encroaching on the sidewalk. He walks his dog every day and is our cul de sac patrolman. The Gardener cut the grass and started on the bushes but I couldn't find the electric hedge trimmer. He stayed working 3 hrs.

I just made heirloom tomato salsa. It's yummy and no jalapeno.

I also made fish tacos. It was easy. I'll have to calculate if my 3 were cheaper than the 8 dollars at the farmers market. I know they were bigger and healthier. I had them for lunch and dinner on whole grain organic
corn tortillas.

I faxed 2 reference letters to the V.P. this morning. I still haven't heard from him. I hope this works out. I was psyched yesterday, now I'm worried. He said they would let me know today.
I guess H,R. actually makes the offer. It would be another raise of 3-5k. I'm at step 3 a BA plus 60 credits and then there is another stipend for a master's. It is less than the 1000. a mo. that SCUSD gave but only a couple hundread.

I need the money.

I need to replace the dmn fence again on one side and maybe cut the trees more. It was standing on a prayer, now with all the plants, vines and branches cur, it's leaning. I've tried to stick in some loose boards to block the holes but it's not really effctive.

My neighbor is getting quotes. I got one guy and he took my money and disappeared. Then we had this one built and here we go again. This time it will be with a licensed contractor who will come repair or replace it if there is a problem.

My bread recipe

In the Kitchen Aide with the dough hook make a sponge...

Put 500 grams of all-purpose flour, a teaspoonful of salt, a heaping tablespoonful of gluten and a teaspoonful of dry yeast in the bowl. Give it a whirr so they mix well.

Now add 300 grams/ml of water. Mix on 6 until it clumps into a ball. See if you think it needs more water or more flour. Irritating sort of instruction, I know, but you just have to eyeball things sometimes.



Now put it on kneading position for two and a half minutes.

Turn it out into a bowl and either dust it with flour all around or give it a coating of oil. Leave it to rise, covered with a tea towel or plastic wrap. I usually make this around midday, when I remember, and leave it to rise over a few hours.



When it´s doubled in size, punch it down (that´s fun) and knead a little. Shape it and leave it to proof if you can. That just means you leave it to puff up a bit again, and then bake it as you will.



For pizza or focaccia I add a good glug of olive oil to the dough. For naans I substitute some of the water for yogurt (125 ml, since that´s the size of yogurt pots in Spain). Sometimes I make half wholewehat half white, and others I add wheat germ, and of course you can go the way of the seeds and nuts. It´s all fairly loose.



That amount makes four pizzas the size of a dinner plate, or eight naans. It can be kept in the fridge and pulled out as need be, so it´s as well to make the full amount, but the recipe can be halved easily.

checking references

Well the principal said he'd like to hire me. The V.P is checking references. 2 had retired. I gave him 5 more.

I took my car into the dealership to get the check engine light diagnosed.

They want 12 dollars for the privilege. It turned out I needed a coolant pump for the inverter for 826. dollars.

Gas is down to 3.33 from 3.35. Before I went to Trinidad it was 2.99. Why did it popup 5 cents.
You can down road Harry Conneck's song All the way on Oprah.com for 24 hrs until sat afternoon. It's great. I love his singing.

When I got the caution light I pulled over on the freeway. I freaked and had to look it up. Then I called the dealership and asked if I could drive the .5 mi. home. I thought it was a check oil light so I went and bought 5 bottles of oil, brake fluid, air and oil filters and took it in to the oil place to get done.

The light was still on so I took it into the dealership and 2.5 hrs later, or the next day I got it back.

The principal said he wants to bring me on board. The V.P. is checking references. I gave him 2 and they retired so I gave him 5 more.

I made 7 jars of raspberry jam. Looks good, I love it when the the caps pop. I don't think it set though. It looks runny. Took a lot of sugar too. I like to use the reduced sugar pectin. Measurements need to be exact and mine were kinda. It's good anyway.

interview

Well, I met w the principal, assistant principal and office manager of Newark Memorial H.S. I also got a tour of the library and textbook facility. It would be a really huge challenge, project and job. I think I did well. If not, I don't think the vp would have taken the tome to give me the tour. Unfortunately, I missed his call and email to postpone so I showed up and waited about 20 minutes. I was there for 1.5 hrs. It's not too far.

No problem, I read "

Eat this not that

" What a good book. If I ever find my Borders gift card I may but it or a used copy from Amazon. It's on my gift list.

I've let all my magazines lapse. I have a stack of unread Vegetarian Times, Gourmet<, Bon Appetite, and O Mag..

Moosewood Restaurant's Lower-Fat Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c 1% cottage cheese

1 1/2 c skim milk or buttermilk

1 t dried mustard or 1 T prepared mustard

pinch of cayenne (or more)

1/4 t nutmeg

1/2 t salt

1/4 t ground black pepper

1/4 c grated onions

1 c grated sharp cheddar (4 oz.)

1/2 lb. uncooked elbow macaroni (or other tubular pasta)

2 T finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan cheese

1/4 c bread crumbs

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375. Prepare square (9 or 10 inch) baking pan with a light spray of oil.


In a blender, combine cottage cheese, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, salt and pepper and puree until smooth. (I used my immersion blender.) In a large bowl, combine pureed mixture with the onions, cheddar and uncooked macaroni. Stir well. Pour macaroni and cheese mixture into the baking pan. Combine the grated Pecoino or Parmesan and bread crumbs and sprinkle over top.


Bake about 45 minutes, until topping is browned and the center is firm.

Serves 4.


On the way home my car light came on indication caution and I thought check oil so I went to get my oil air filter,brake fluid, oil filter changed. I pulled off the freeway 1/2 mi from home to read the manual freaked out. I reset the maintenance panel but the check engine light is still on indicating something; could be a system problem,gas cap not tight, fuse or something else. They want 133 dollars for the privilege of looking. I took the car to Speedy for the oil change and bought the oil, air and oil filters and brake fluid for them to save money. It was 40. v. 130 at the dealer. Couldn't avoid them though. Then I got another light on the way that might indicate a tire. They have my car.

I hit the farmers market after calling the dealer and asking if it was ok to drive.

Got a flat of raspberries to make jam and some canning jars. They were a dollar a basket. Cheaper than strawberries at 2. I'm trying to eat organic.

It's always something.

whole wheat pasta

Chicken Pomodoro

Ingredients:

4 chicken cutlets

2 T. vegetable oil

¼ cup vodka

½ cup low-sodium chicken broth

1 T. fresh lemon juice

½ cup tomatoes, chopped

2 T. heavy cream

⅓ cup scallions, minced

Instructions:

Season cutlets with salt and pepper then dust with flour.
Saute cutlets in oil. Transfer to a platter; pour off fat from pan

Deglaze pan with vodka (away from heat) and cook until vodka is nearly gone. Add broth and lemon juice. Return cutlets to pan and cook each side 1 minute. Transfer cutlets to a warm plate.

Finish the sauce with tomatoes and cream. Heat through, then pour over cutlets. Garnish with scallions.


I had zucchini last night w whole wheat pasta and roasted eggplant, red pepper and garlic and tomato sauce, It was the only thing that saved the w w pasta which tastes like cardboard.

I'm back on oatmeal.

I've got these bugs everywhere. Open a bad of flour they fly in, water, the drown,in my new pantry then die there. they raid anything not sealed in jars I keep killing them but I can't het rid of them. they even het in raisins. and oatmeal. they live in the frig and the microwave and come put after being nuked.

White Bean and Bacon Dip with Rosemary Pita Chips

View Larger Photo

The homemade rosemary-flecked chips are a great complement to the garlicky dip, but store-bought pitas or bagel chips are a fine stand-in.


Ingredients
Chips:
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed rosemary
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3 (6-inch) pitas, each cut into 8 wedges
Cooking spray

Dip:
2 applewood-smoked bacon slices, chopped (such as Nueske's)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/3 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 (19-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon hot sauce
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon paprika
Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare chips, combine first 4 ingredients. Arrange pita wedges in a single layer on a baking sheet. Lightly coat pita wedges with cooking spray; sprinkle evenly with rosemary mixture. Lightly recoat pita wedges with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until golden.

To prepare dip, cook bacon in a small saucepan over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan with a slotted spoon; set aside. Add garlic to drippings in pan; cook 1 minute, stirring frequently. Add broth and beans; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes.

Combine bean mixture, onions, and remaining ingredients in a food processor, and process until smooth. Spoon mixture into a bowl; stir in 1 tablespoon reserved bacon. Sprinkle dip with remaining bacon just before serving. Serve with pita chips.

interview

On Wed. I have an interview at Newark H.S. for a librarian opening.

Since school has started they are few and far between and few at any time. Especially with school budgets, this slot frequently is one of the cuts since we are not in the classroom.


I finally got my first unemployment check. sent off for my next 2.

After 39 yrs I am reading a book on bridge. Too many partners bailed. I need to refine my bidding. I got great cards last night. I am too timid to bid game or slam.
Sometimes it takes hrs to connect to games msn. used to use yahoo but it was down

I'm going to see a play in Oct. Can't believe it's almost Oct.

The weather had not cooled. If only we could transfer the flood water and surplus rain 3000 mi. to NV and CA.

We are tinder dry and on high fire danger alert. No burn permits.

I took 2 sleeping pills last night one at 11 and 1 at 2 still was awake till 5.

Vegetable Lo Mein

Add to Shopping
list: 3/4 pound lo mein noodles or whole wheat spaghetti Sesame oil (start with a small amount) 1/4 cup hoisin sauce 2 tablespoons soy sauce 2 tablespoons canola oil 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger 4 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 3 cloves) 1/3 cup sliced scallions (green onions) 1 cup julienne carrot (2 large) 1 cup thinly sliced celery (1-2 stalks) 1 cup thinly sliced red onion (1 medium) 3/4 cup fresh bean sprouts 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Serves 8
. For protein, tofu, chicken, or pork make good additions to this dish.

Ingredients
3/4 pound lo mein noodles or whole wheat spaghetti
Sesame oil (start with a small amount)
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
4 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic (about 3 cloves)
1/3 cup sliced scallions (green onions)
1 cup julienne carrot (2 large)
1 cup thinly sliced celery (1-2 stalks)
1 cup thinly sliced red onion (1 medium)
3/4 cup fresh bean sprouts
3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro

Method
Cook the lo mein noodles in boiling salted water until al dente. Cool. Toss lightly with sesame oil to prevent sticking.

Combine the hoisin and soy sauces in a small bowl and mix well.

In a wok or a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon canola oil and quickly sauté the ginger, garlic and scallions until they release aroma, then add the carrots, celery and red onions and briefly sauté before adding the bean sprouts, about 2 minutes.

In a separate medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon canola oil and sauté the noodles. When they are hot and look pan-fried or lightly browned, add them to the other sautéed ingredients in the large pan. Add the soy-hoisin mixture and stir to coat. Sprinkle with the chopped cilantro and serve.

Michael sent me the Post link.

Lacy threw up

and you stay there until you go!!

I remember Aunt Peggy pouring warm water over the nether regions of Kelly and Kerry so they would go before bed not in it. Took me a long time. I learned by watching the other kids at day care and emulating them.

Lacy used to just get the rug

my liver something is elevated

my blood pressure is 148/93

my weight is down 20 lbs.

I'm subbing

i sleep all day and stay up reading till 7 am on weekends

Trip to Trinidad was great. scenery unbelievable

like fish it was rime to go after 3 days. Ironically i took p sole, scallops and curry -yum the nan was not good frozen but whole wheat tortillas worked fine, Whole wheat pasta tastes like cardboard to me, even tortellini. The bread i can manage.

i was there 6 days sorta...

one going and one 7 hrs back

weather was spectacular

Marilyn was well enough to walk

i got tired of all her stuff she wanted me to do though.. time to go (laundry, watering, shopping 4x...

been online playing bridge

now it takes 30 mg of restoril to knock me out.

i got some more of that icky premarin.

why do i need to use it?

he intimidates me

he said there were pills but they take longer, external application wouldn't do it. I don't understand if its to cure vaginitis and atrophy then u get yeast.

i want a woman. I'll see if i can switch Dr's. some wen are fine but this one bugs me.

bought a mattress online from SC mine is 31 yrs old.

Lacy

Ms. Lacy ready to take messages after her cat nap


I bought a mattress from SC online. let's see how that goes. still haven't heard from them 2 wks. later.

I subbed in 2nd grade. Do all 2nd graders have to go to the bathroom so often or were they playing me? After 10 went I had them sign the board, then had a discussion about going at lunch and recess..oh well.

I didn't want any accidents.


I know in K they have bathrooms in the classroom.

I'm gonna get me some worms for a kitchen compost bin.

sub

I am subbing a 6th grade class tomorrow

I need to buy a new mattress.
Made a spinach mushroom crustless quiche and soon

Salsa Chicken Enchiladas


Salsa Chicken

Ingredients:

I jar of good quality salsa (or just you favorite!)
chicken (4 breast or 8 thighs-boneless skinless)

Directions:

Throw chicken and salsa into a crockpot on low and cook for 4-8 hrs depending on whether or not you had the foresight to thaw your chicken (yes, I throw frozen chicken in here).

Once the chicken is done. You need to remove it from the crockpot and the sauce and shred it. This chicken can now be used in tacos, nachos, or anything else that requires some nicely seasoned chicken!

We use it in enchiladas…



Salsa Chicken Enchiladas

Ingredients:

corn tortillas
salsa chicken (see recipe above)
shredded cheese
onions, finely diced
enchilada sauce
jalapenos, finely diced

Directions:

Heat oven to 350F.

Using Elise from Simply Recipe’s process of heating the tortillas - “Heat a small light skillet on med-high heat. Add a teaspoon of oil (high smoke point oil as indicated above, we use grapeseed oil) to coat the pan. Dip a tortilla in the sauce (I used the sauce from the crockpot that I cooked the chicken in) to coat the tortilla with sauce on both sides. Place the tortilla in the skillet and heat for a few seconds, until the tortilla begin to show some air bubbles. Use a metal spatula to flip to the other side for a few more seconds. Set aside on a plate. Repeat with remaining tortillas.”

Using these tortillas place some shredded cheese, onion and shredded chicken in them and roll. Place seam side down in a baking pan large enough to hold the amount you are making. When the pan is filled top with enchilada sauce, onions, cheese and jalapenos.

Pop these in the oven and bake for about 20 minutes or until nicely browned and the cheese is all bubbly.

50 mpg hy.

Well the milage on my trip as good. A new bmw is protyped at 90 mpg!

This car is smaller than the Accord and although neither is too comfortable sleeping in the back with the seat down, this one is possible.

tis the season the bounty of summer

Heirloom Tomato Tart in a Parmesan Crust

Inspiration:
Heirloom tomatoes from my garden
and
101 Cookbooks

Ingredients:

6 perfect, colorful, medium-sized heirloom tomatoes - washed and sliced 1/6-inch thick

1 t. fine-grain sea salt


1/2 cup unbleached all-purpose flour


1/2 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup unsalted organic butter, well chilled + cut into 1/4-inch cubes

4-ounce chunk of good fresh Parmesan, microplane-grated (you should end up with about 2 cups loosely packed grated cheese. Save any leftover grated cheese for sprinkling on the crusts when they come out of the oven.)

2 T. ice cold water


2T. best quality extra virgin olive oil


1/4 cup slivered basil


Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.

Prep the tomatoes:
To avoid a soggy crust later on, you need to rid the tomatoes of some of their liquid. Clear a space on your counter and put down a double layer of absorbent paper towels. Place the tomatoes in a single layer on the paper towels and sprinkle them with about 1 teaspoon fine-grained sea salt. Top the tomatoes with another layer of paper towels and press gently. Let the tomatoes sit here until you are ready to use them.

Make the tart crust(s):
Place both flours, butter, and Parmesan in a food processor and pulse quickly about 25 times. You are looking for a sandy textured blend, punctuated with pea-sized pieces of butter. With a few more pulses, blend in the 2T of ice water. The dough should stick together when your pinch it between two fingers. Pour the dough into the tart pan. Working quickly, press the dough uniformly into the pan by pressing across the bottom and working towards the sides and up to form a rim. Place in the refrigerator and chill for 15 minutes.

Bake the tart crust:
Pull the tarts out of the refrigerator and poke each a few times with the tongs of a fork. Cover the tart with a square of aluminum foil and fill generously with pie weights. Place on a baking sheet and slide the tart onto the middle rack in the oven. Bake for 15 minutes, pull the shell out of the oven and very gently peel back and remove the tinfoil containing the pie weights. Place the uncovered tart back in the oven, weight free, and allow to cook for another 10 minutes, or until it is a deep golden brown in color. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with a little shredded Parmesan (this will act as another barrier to the tomato liquid). Let cool to room temperature before filling.

Assembling the tart: Just before serving, arrange tomato slices in a concentric pattern inside the tart shell. Drizzle with your best quality extra-virgin olive oil, and sprinkle with the slivered basil. Serve at room temperature.

Recipe Notes:
This recipe will make one 9 or 10-inch tart OR five 4 1/2-inch tarts.

Anniversary of 9//11

9/11 was it 8 years ago?

I'm going to make coconut lime scallops

For the coconut lime broth:
1 can coconut milk
1 cup vegetable stock
2 shallots, peeled and sliced into 1/8 inch slices
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed with the side of a heavy knife
1 Tablespoon ginner, peeled and roughly chopped
1 kaffier lime leaf, rinsed and thinly sliced
1-2 tablespoons lime juice
½ teaspoon agave nectar
Sea salt to taste
For the aioli:
1/3 cup aioli
1 tablespoon cilantro leaf, finely sliced
½ teaspoon lime juice
For the orange:
1 orange
For the scallops:
1 lb day boat scallops, tough ligament from side of each discarded
PREPARATION:
For the coconut lime broth:
Heat a small sauce pan over medium heat, when hot add 1 teaspoon oil, shallots, garlic, lime leaf and ginger.


Continue to sauté stirring until they are fragrant and begin to soften.


Add the coconut milk and stock, allow the mixture to come to a simmer, lower heat to maintain a simmer and cook for 25 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool to room temperature


Pour the contents of the sauce into a blender, puree to combine the ingredients. Pour the puréed mixture through a fine strainer, press the pulp with the back of a spoon to remove as much sauce as possible.


Add the lime juice, agave and salt to the sauce. Taste and adjust as necessary.
For the aioli:
Combine the aioli, cilantro and lime juice in a small bowl, mix well
For the orange:
Peeled and supreme (cut into segments)
For the scallops:
Heat oil in a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat.


Season scallops with salt and pepper.


When oil is hot, add scallops and sear on both sides until browned, and just cooked through, about 5 minutes total


Remove from heat, blot on a paper towel to remove excess oil, keep warm.
For the dish:
Reheat the coconut-lime broth


Ladle 1/3 cup of broth into each of 4 bowls


Arrange 3-4 scallops in the center of each bowl


Top the scallops with 1-2 teaspoons of the cilantro-lime aioli and two orange segments

Before I left, I asked the gardener if he would move my file boxes into the garage. They have been out there for 2 weeks. Very heavy
I gave him a bunch of T shirts.

I got some shrimp tacos at the farmers market. I'm going to make a quiche with spinach and mushrooms and maybe tofu. That pushes my limit a bit.
I am a reluctant tofu eater. It has to be disguised.

The nectarines are on their last run but cantaloupe, strawberries and raspberries are still out. Lots of grapes and dried nectarines and peaches there along with raisins. I'm not a big fan of almonds but there were 10 flavors. I got some great strawberry sorbet. Usually I just get chocolate but today the 75 percent strawberry won out over blueberry too. There was corn, potatoes, celery, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, leeks, beets and the brussel sprouts have come in along with the okra and tomatoes. I passed on the scones and many other things.

I need to find the tie die person and get a t shirt. I got a purple dress in Trinidad. It's long and while perfect for Trinidad it was too hot here at 92.

I picked my first 3 cherry tomatoes yesterday.

Time to register for Evergreen to call me to sub. That will interfere with my reading till 4.

Home at last

Boy is that a long 7 hr drive. I stopped and took a nap under the redwoods for about an hour. Then, I drove straight through getting a bit lost at 11:30 on a deserted park road at 11:00. I couldn't wait to get home.

I finally ran on fumes into the gas station about a mile from my house at 11:30. I was so glad to be home.

I unloaded and collapsed.

I wish I was still in Trinidad and at the ocean, but it was time for Marilyn and I to part. I was tired of running her errands, changing sheets, doing laundry and watering her boxes and plants.

The COOP there in Arcata is spectacular. We have some good ones here but that one I love.

I stopped on my way out of town, filled up and zoomed out.

My blood pressure is up again. I was taking it every day at Marilyn's. Yesterday it was 129/80. Today, 148/90 again. My pulse was normal. Maybe it was because I had just rushed into the building.

Lacy missed me and I her.

I read 4 good FBI thrillers by Catherine Coulter.

time to go

We're starting to irritate one another. I can't hear what she asks. so I move closer and ask her again and she says never mind.

This morning we went on a spectacular walk on the cliffs overlooking the ocean and yesterday went to the state beach which is lovely. I've taken a lot of pictures. I took her to the Dr. on Fri.
Their are so many people in town. Now is better as they leave and it quiets down again.

I read 3 books ans still she says I talk a lot. I 've taken 2 naps and don't talk or disturb her when she is on the computer, trying to concentrate or on her many phone calls.
One day or more too long. I knew to not come Wed.

Marilyn shares an organic farm produce vasjet si we had sime freat stuff

This squash casserole : yellow summer squash cut into rounds, baked with a mix of cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken soup and a package of corn bread stuffing. Yes, it qualifies as semi-homemade but it sure is good. That said, when I picked up a few pounds of yellow squash and zucchini at the farmers market recently, I didn’t have any of these squash casserole ingredients on hand. So I knew if this squash was going to be eaten I’d just have to improvise. add some cheese

made it

What a long 7 hr. drive. A lot of traffic and road construction.

The temp went from 90 to 70 here. It's nice to visit with Marilyn.

Tonight she had my Indian food and I had the fish I brought. My tummy is upset and has been for 4 days.

My blood pressure is up 148/93


I'm going to make loaded lemon blueberry muffins in the morning

trip postponed

since I didn't get to sleep until 5 I took a sleeping pill and decided to sleep, rest, run errands, hit the farmers market, make more gazpacho and turn in an application

I should be ready to gas and go tomorrow. I was also concerned about being there so long. This should be better.

Finished unloading my summer school files from the car. those 5 boxes weigh a ton. I could drag them off the back seat and on the driveway using gravity but that's it forget about lifting them. Now I'll use and trolly.

Now I don't need to learn to type 45 wpm and take an hr exam. the perspective is half full.

Premarin

Nasty drug Causes immediate hot flashes. I can feel it spread through my body and now 11 hrs later it continues. Hormones are icky. I much prefer a natural homeopathic approach, not to mention it's over 100. a tube. Then I think it caused another problem and a need for Monistat.

I'm heading to Trinidad to visit w/ Marilyn and may be back on Tues. if I can last that long. Visitors and fish begin to smell after a few days. It will take 6 to drive up, a tank of gas, 300 miles, like to LA but N. I'll finally unload the car from all my summer school boxes, hit the farmers market, gas up and go.

I turned in my 1st unemployment form. They used to ask for 3 jobs you applied for now it's 10 in 2 wks.
Bah Humbug, another rejection for the HR job, but it was 12 mo. and lower pay. I've gotten used to 9 mo.

Kennedy

sad

Gwen showed a sonagram and they are eager to meet their cousin. Are Michael and Mikie expecting?

I know that Tina is pregnant.

hard week for the Kennedy's

Watched the funeral... very sad.

Ti Ti Ma, Placido Domingo, Obama and all the other testimonials and distinguished guests Very touching and emotionally retching.

Don't forget Mary Jp K and his philanering.

applications

Where have all the typewriters gone? Every once in a while I need one, especially when I can't fill out the application on-line.

I keep misplacing my glasses. No wonder people attach them. I lost then found them last night where they fell to the floor. Tonight I have no idea. I brought my sunglasses in to fill in while I look.
That is why I bought a 2nd pair in June. Those I stepped on and have to take them in to be straightened. I'm tough on glasses.

We are heading into the city to see the murals in The Mission and have lunch. I also want to be the Tut exhibit in Golden Gate park at the De Young Museum.

I made crepes tonight. I was tired of paying so much. I filled it with more too. I'm sure mine are richer with 4 eggs. The first was the tester, like the 1st pancake usually is. The 2nd I filled with spinach, mushrooms and feta. I've got a lot left. The recipe makes 12. I should have halved it but I think it will keep. They certainly rich. I like them with cinnamon and sugar and butter. Kind of like cinnamon toast.
Ever know there are things in the frig but you can't find them? I'm currently looking for the cilantro and feta. I know I bought them. I used the cilantro in my gazpacho and wanted to add more for the last cup.
I remember going to lunch with mom and some of her lady friends. Everyone ordered vichyssoise, a potato soup. It was the first time I had a cold one and kept waiting for someone to say something before I asked.

The fires continue. When they are managed we are going to check out 2 spots in 1/2 moon bay. One has chowder and fish. The other is a beach house open for blues and jazz. Interestingly the people at the market live near downtown. He goes to Monterey to get his fish, shrimp and scallops. He makes the tacos with rock cod.



I need to connect the printer and start practicing my typing. Maybe if I start from the start I can learn to increase my speed and not look at the keys. I certainly know where they all are.

I also need to get a human resources test book.

Crepes

Much to Lacy's horror I fostered 2 kittens and socialized them. One got adopted. Lacy is not maternal but was really good showing me where the kitten was hiding when they got loose.


I got my crepe today at the market, some BBQ sauce and a lemon and blueberry scone. I added a cantaloupe, baby spinach abed berries; and applied for 2 more jobs.
Last night I made some ribs, marinated them for 24 hours, then had a dry rub and used some BBQ sauce I brought back from Kansas City and Nashville. The sauce had too much vinegar for me I like it sweet. By the time I trimmed the 4 lbs I only had about 1/2 lb left. The rest fed the outside cat.

I'm like Jack Sprat's wife, would eat no fat.

Time to make some salsa.

I stayed up till 4 finishing

The Scarecrow

.

Where have all the car antenna's gone?

Approach people w/
happy curiosity, it will
disarm them.
-concentrate on what
you like about others.


- Don't judge
don't worry about others
& what they're doing.
-be an individual
-you shouldn't need
anyone, enjoy being by
yourself.

Don't analyze what
they're saying. if they
can't say, it's not
worth dealing with.

Found in "Visualizacion Creativa" by Shakti Gawain. Published by New World Library, 1995.


Have you noticed most cars don't have antenna's any more or they are retractable?

I guess too many were broken off or bent.

I applied to be a certification analyst at the dept of ed. Only problem is i can type 30 not 45 wpm.

I just applied for 3 more sub positions too. I found out unemployment will pay 450 a week for a year.

The air is really bad and visibility poor can't see the hills that line the valley.

I was up to 4 last night and 3 tonight. Time for naps to stop and sleep unaided to come. At 8 there was no Way I could get up. I could barely walk to the bathroom.


Need to unpack the car too from ss.

I'd like to go back around Dixie in Utah, and Canyonland in the fall. One was closed the last time I went. Maybe in Sept.-Oct. for the foliage.


I need to practice my typing. I look at the keys.

I go get my fingerprints done on Tues.

I applied for a few more teaching/sub jobs too.

Lacy had a shave

She's probably cooler but looks funny.

The SF Bay area has all these micro climates. If I went to the beach tomorrow it would be in the 50's-60''s while in San Francisco with the fog 60 and SJ 84 and further inland hotter. If you need to cool off go to SF or the coast. It's rarely hot in SF.

Dashed to the farmers market to get a cantaloupe and strawberries. no melons to be found. i hit 2 supermarkets for their specials. One was asparagus, a nice change, pencil thin. Then I went to In and Out burger for a simple hamburger with grilled onions, real lettuce and tomato and was off to Evergreen district office to update my sub file and turn in an ap for teaching and librarian.
Then they sent me to get fingerprints done for the hundreth time. Fortunately they will pick up the tab.

Now I'll search edjoin again for jobs in education in CA. My morgage is very close to being paid off.

air conditioning

Capitola Lighthouse near Santa Cruz


I think the air conditioning in my car gave up at 3 at 86 degrees. I must need to have some freon or something. I never have, It has almost 50k miles.

Turns out, somehow the temp got raised to 83. This morning I lowered it again to 70 it was fine. Thank goodness.

I was in a pay phone, in the sun for 20 min. or so and was roasting. I was going to drive over and pick up a med but decided to call first and save the gas if the prescription was not ready. It wasn't so, I should have gone home to call in cool comfort.
It gave me perspective on those who walk, take the bus,or use pay phones.

I had some gazpacho and made tacos for dinner. Beats Taco Bell.
My system is in shock at the healthy food and rebelling.

Another fire one started in the E Bay.

It's been 50 yrs. since fire burned out the Bonnydoon area. They are still figuring out how it started. Nature clears out the undergrowth one way or another.

All the officials are quiting in SF, fire, police and Bsrt.

I may have to switch to Digital, this dial up is sssoooooooooooooo slow. The price however is prohibitive.

I drove by social services today and it was filled with people with children or the disabled. These are the only ways you can get Med ical.

I got a rejection notice today for the library coordinator position. Too bad. I could visualize me there.

Next....the search goes on. Time to sign up to sub. The kids are all heading back to school bittersweet.

Lacey got most of her back clipped today to remove all the matted fur. She is 10 which is like 60 in cat years. Her grooming wasn't up to snuff. Fortunately my neighbor used to be a groomer or have 2 trucks and the business for awhile. She still had some clippers.

berries

Was up till 4 again this morning before I took a sleeping pill.

So I woke at 11 and went to the store.

I went to the farmers market this morning and bought so much I couldn't carry it all. To avoid my 3 baskets of berries from being crushed while I selected cherry and grape tomatoes, I rested the bad on the table and my heavy ones on the ground. When I picked up my bags, I forgot the berries. I went on to buy melons, corn, eggs, more pickling cuc's celery, beets, potatoes,red and green peppers and chili's for chili reanos, garlic, cilantro and beefsteak tomatoes. I could barely lift my bags. I put them in the car and went to the supermarket to get water, eggplant, cucumber,and avocado. Then, I remembered my berries and drove back. Needless to say, the berries were gone. :-( I was ticked.
I could have bought more but just left. Sometimes at the end of the market they reduce prices.

I came home and made some great gazpacho cold soup; with cilantro tomatoes,cucumber and bell pepper and onion. Then I made potato sadad. Then long beans with soy, rice vinegar and sesame oil. Now, I just need to cut the melons up.

The soup was really good for dinner along with scallops and mushrooms. Felt VERY and healthy. Quite nutricious.

Then I went to the library to pick up Michael Connelly's new book,

The Scarecrow

Just like planes, birds fly into power lines and start fires. That's how they say these fires above Santa Cruz started and they are still burning.

Lacy's back is no better so I'll try another shampoo a bit more througly.

Fire

The hills 1hr W are on fire above Santa Cruz, in Bonnydoon where wine grapes and lavender are grown and Davenport. It's tinder dry as always this time of year and golden. We have these fores that clear out vast acreage until the next time. I can smell the smoke on the wind. I kind of like the smell in a sick way...it s,ells like a wood smoke like you would have in the fall, winter and spring. Since the days have been hot, I'm sure firefighters are glad nights cool off. but the wind in up. Last year it was Big Sur, I drove down not knowing and was turned back.

I've gotten 2 invitations to join facebook...I'm not so sure I want to invite my world or give access to my yahoo address book so I registered as an alias, Jane W-Cavalli my avitar, just so you know in case it comes to get you I am finessan.

I was up till 4 and finally took another sleeping pill.Tonight I lasted till 9 and woke at 11.

Earlier this month I interviewed for a English teacher job at the alternative high school. Considering my sub experience with a10th gr. class I might have had 2nd thoughts. The questions obviously had to do with classroom control, of which I need work on. This school would be the last chance for those that didn't work out in regular schools, that may have low skills or discipline problems and need to learn a skill. It was interesting but not, I think for me. I could envision dreading each day. Not what I needed; I think there are better choices.

Lacey got her 1st semi bath today. She has mange or some kind of dandruff. She doesn't scratch it and the skin doesn't look strange just greasy and flaky. I'll see if this helps. Sure does smell. She did not like it but didn't put up too much of a fight. I dried her and she walked around shaking her rear feet. She was not too happy with me.

Tonight there is an outdoor movie in the square where the farmer's market is held.
Downtown there is a concert in the park on Thurs. evenings. I'd be more likely to go to the movie if it was one I wanted to see...take your blankey, jacket and lawn chair.. Night of the Museum 2 was not one, with all the kids, that I wanted to see. Give me Skakespeare. Or, another movie, there are a lot of cartoons I'd like to see.

I may make a blueberry nectarine cobbler. Too bad fruit has so mycg sugar. I live it but it is not on the South Beach diet only veggies.

pickles

I made my 1st batch of bread and butter pickles to day and my 2nd tomorrow. seem to be addicted to them lately so rather than get the big jar and finishing it in a day or two, i looked up the recipe.
It is a bit time consuming, but easy. All it takes is salt, an onion and pickling cuc's slices at first. After 24 hrs. the pickles are rinsed of the salt. Next, in a saucepan mix a c of sugar and 1 c of vinegar w spices & and boil for 10 min. Cool put in jars and there you are. I think it's cheaper.

The first batch I let the pickles sit on the counter until they were almost yellow. I tried the anyway and they turned out OK after their salt hydration. This latest batch is with fresh ones from the farmer's market this morning.

It's melon time. I love cantaloupe and crenshaw's. Not a watermelon or honeydew,(dad's favorite) person am I. I can still get berries and stone fruit too. I should freeze some nectarines and strawberries. Raspberries are my favorite, I need to make some more jam. I hate doing this in the hot days. The middle of the night is best. It always cools to 50 or 60 in CA. You need a jacket at night. That's why I took a jacket to Michael's wedding , after 33 years away, I forgot East coast weather.

I'll visit spring and fall and sometimes Christmas or for a family occasion.

I can't seem to get in a regular sleep period. I've been taking sleeping pills for the last week. You know if I could I'd be up all night and sleep all day. Usually I come home and fall asleep in the computer or reading in the afternoon and sleep for t20 hrs. or so. Today I forced myself to stay awake till 9:30 then I crashed and woke at 11.

I like fish tacos with a bit of cole slaw on top. Who knew. I was reluctant to buy them.

I'm looking forward for the kids returning to school. Then for the 1st time in a long time I'll go to Big Sur and enjoy the peace of one the most beautiful places on earth.

Then I'll mosey up to see Marilyn in Trinidad. I can only lat 4-6 days there.

Finally after the Mayo clinic et al they or she got an MRI on her lower spine and the found a growing cyst at the base of her spine. Everyone thought she was imagining it. There is one Dr. in Kansas city mo that does surgery. He's done 100 The ones in CA have just started with limited bad results. This tumor can push on the bone and intertwine with nerve endings. It's grown. It should have been found sooner.
Surgery is a last resort with a huge long recovery time. She would have to be on her side and only get up to pee. Beats a incontinence or cauterization

I applied for unemployment today.

Michael got a nice send off announcement from Watchovia.

last day of summer school

finally it's over. I'm glad I have a break now or I'd be going back to work next week. YIPPEE

Yesterday, while reviewing grammar for the SAT's I used the word docile and asked if my students were docile. One about to be senior piped up no, this class is so boring. I invited him to take over the vocabulary review and show me how to make it more interesting. He walked out.

2 kids dropped saying i was too hard for 7th graders and he didn't need to know how to read or write since none of his family could.

I took and hour today to interview for the library coordinator position in the district office of berryessa school district about 10 min. away no traffic. I'd like that. I'd train the elementary library aides et al.

sorry FOR Michael FOR HIS BANK JOB IN Charlotte.
congratulations ON THE NEW ONE IN Baltimore STARTING 9/8.
I'm glad Mikie can go with you. Hope the house sells or rents in Charlotte. It will work out.

It's a tight market in banking and teaching.

Things I love:
My automatic garage door opener

Books:

I just finished N.Barr's

Borderline

.

The Sound and the Fury by Faulkner was too hard a book for my high school kids and me!

My PG&E was down from last year to 28.00 Gas is inching up to 3.00 again.

Happy Birthday Bob! 66 years young

Well I started on Fri for 4 hrs to trim trees and encroaching vine, I got to Home Depot today at 6 and rented a chain saw for 6o. I had 2 guys and for 6 hours the cut up cut off and hauled branched into the street for pickup tomorrow. My neighbor's gardener quoted him 750. to trim and cut off the top. Brian wanted to go 1/2 on that. In hindsight that would have been the way to go. 40 and 60 and 90 and 70 equal 260 and a threat...not worth it.

The 2 from yesterday did not show today, The two new one's wanted more than 10.00 an hour. I said no. If they didn't want to do the job I would get someone else. So the day ends and I give one 79, and the other says since the work was so difficult he should get 90. I said no and he went on to threaten he knows where I live... He handed me back the 80 I offered as a compromise. I dropped it on the ground closed my door and drove off. I've put locks on the gates and have been gearing up to call 911. Most scary and distressing.

The trees are clear up to 12 ft. trunk only then they continue to be a tree again. The fence now needs replacing. It's been held together with spit and nails for several years now. I didn't want to have to deal with them both now.

I have had a bronchial cough. I sounds like a fog horn. I took some old medicine and I took too much or I took it with a sleeping pill and couldn't walk, weaved to the toilet. Fell asleep on the toilet and slept all day. Then my hacking would wake me. I need some lozenges.
I tried to lift the chain saw to cut some branches on my orange tree. It was too heavy for me, especially over my head. It gave me some perspective on how difficult the gob was. Glad I had a hat and goggles.

trees

My neighbor and asked me to shell out 1/2 of 750. to trim the populars in my yard that are cutting his light and mine too. There are 4 and I said let me just rent a chain saw and cut them all down. They also have a diseased bush in them that has a mildew. I may be very surprised how difficult it is to cut down a 60 ft. evergreen. It's not like you can climb it. It's as big around as 12 or 3 or 4 dads.

I have about 12 in the back and the 4 on the r side. Since both of those neighbors have pools, I'm sure that they hate the mess. I know what it does just on my deck every day in needles. I might be surprised how long it takes too.

I'm trying to limit my grocery bill to 50. for the month. That's more than half what is usually is.

I need to learn to use a scanner. I took documents to be scanned today-6, and it was 6 dollars. It can't be that hard= you scan it into the computer and name the file then copy it onto a c/d. Then I have to upload it to my ed-join profile and attach it to my application.

I'm off to visit my friend Caro on Wed. She seeks me out if I've been out of contact too long. The times 3 that I've gone by her house I was not in the place to stop for a variety of reasons.

One parent of a 7th grade boy's mom called to complain he had not done enough grammar and writing. I started him on a diagnostic test of 30 pages today to see what he knows, and gave 6 pages of grammar h/w and an essay or two one had been assigned but he says he forgot.

In had an interview

That's where they send kids that are on there last chance. I'd need much better classroom control to do that. I got a sub for an hour. I was only gone from 1/2. Classroom discipline, how do you enforce it. how do you maintain it. Many do. The answer here is to build relationships with the kids. empathy not friendship, understanding not giving in, Like parenting without the love. They push your buttons.

I think I'll research it. Obviously I didn't learn it in school.

Ironic to go from there to the lovely quiet Vietnamese kids. They do assignments and they or their parents want them to get ahead.

Well subbing will be nice for next year. There are two jobs as librarians open/posted. One in Palo Alto 80% and another. I have to learn to scan and attach documents. Mail and faxes are a thing of the past they need to be pdf attached.

Tuning out the world

I read 5 books this weekend. I also went to the Farmers Market. Conveniently I left The Sound and The Fury at school.

I'll catch up tonight.

I pulled 2 all nighters..my favorite.


I went to the Farmers market 2x. I like the Friday one downtown. They have nan and Indian food. I took back the roasted eggplant I got from them last week. It tasted like kerosene. After a verbal discussion, she replaced it with spinach. Not my favorite but I didn't think them chicken tika cost the same but it does and that's my favorite.

I roasted 2 more trays of veggies, 3 eggplant,zucchini, 2 red peppers and some carrots. I'll make some whole wheat tortillas and peel the peppers, make the eggplant into "caviar".

My mammogram and ultrasound were normal, although I have a palpable mass about the size of a dime in the r breast. My doctor feels it's a cyst. My 2 previous one's were.

Not a good teacher

It's good I am not a parent or teaching a class of 38 like yesterday that throw things at me and swear with impunity. I know I did too but they get me to the point of yelling which is when they and I know Ive lost it and need help keeping it together. I know it's normal for these teenagers to question everything and refuse to do things but it drives me crazy. After the 4th time explaining the assignment that is on the board I want to scream and walk out.
If I could have identifies the creature that called me a fucking bitch he would be out of there. As it is I sent 2 kids to the office. One came back. Security came in 3 times and the principal and I assume the vice principal came in once. Apparently their normal teacher doesn't have any problems. I wouldn't either if I had then [lay for 5 hrs. It's only that I had them reading and writing and doing vocab. that there was a problem. I expected them to do the work. My error. I even gave them a pop quiz.
I'm glad noone called today. Or they called today but only to tell me I had gotten the wrong form and I needed to come in and fill out another. I didn't get any on Tuesday.
Tomorrow I won't go either because I want to go to the farmers market. I'm out of fruit and veggies and I missed the small one trying to babysit the class from hell.

I'd slit my throat or quit before I would subject myself to that every day. At least subbing I can choose.

Estrogen

I need to use some only for a week but I don't want to hear parts are thinning! EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW... STOP IT NOW!

Today I'm subbing 10th grade. So far I've been called a fucking bitch. Sent a referral on a girl who said I can't see with all that shit on the board. I am getting hate from the whole class. I have 2 more hours to go. I was hoping I might get a 2nd class, but no same group all day.
I gave them vocabulary. We read a chapter of Lord of the Flies and reread it out loud. I made an outline for kids to do writing in preparation for an essay and they grown about anything.

They say, I already did the vocabulary, I'm not going to do it again, when there are different words.

We did a writing prompt. Now I'm going to have them write an introductory paragraph for a composition.

Teaching anything is a huge fight. The talk.... I finally got them quiet for the last part by calling security. Then they went to brunch, and as they and I both said, THANK GOODNESS!
I don't like their behavior and expect them to work. This time I'll try them in groups since sit and listen and be quiet didn't work. Once I explained what they had to do they kept asking even though it was on the board. These must be kids that flunked. There are a lot of kids that do nothing. Some are really low in reading too.

I've taught 10th grade English before. Once where I had them for 4 hrs. and once when I had 2 classes. One were kids I had before. The other was really hard. Once I let them have some flexibility they did fine. I had some drama students, one smart boy one dancer and a football player who plagerized entire essay's off the internet and then wanted to know how I knew.

ULTRASOUND

As reported I has My mammogram. in the past they just took another film when the density precluded a good view but this time they want an ultrasound too. I must have had one in the past -- xrays for I knew where the place is in the hospital. PRAY FOR BENIGN RESULTS.

Subbed today, a lot of work, as i remembered. Took my book, what a joke, not a spare minute, My feet hurt even in my crocs for standing so much.I had 3 student teachers from Stanford. My question is why go to Stanford for a teaching degree?

Went to swim tonight. Oh am i out of practice I felt it 2 laps, but swam 11.

Too many kids. I need to go early in the morning.

Over the holiday weekend I'll make 3 recipes Michael sent from the Post and S.F Chronicle for tri Asian coleslaw, grilled tacos and roasted tomatoes with feta and pasta. I love all these roasted veggies I've been making. Cherry tomatoes are finally at the farmer's market and eggplant, cherries still and apricots. I'll go tomorrow.

I remember why You don't get a perm in the summer. It's hot and when you sweat it gets funky again like you have been swimming.It holds a curl but is a mess after swimming, it will probably turn Green too.

The birthday club is meeting on Monday for Peggy's birthday.

Just finished Jeffry Deaver's the Blue Nowhere. It was a really good suspense story.

iT'S been in the 90's I've got 3 fans pointed at me. I went into school to get my stuff and classroom ready and was dripping until he finally turned on the air. Being from Vietnam he has a higher tolerance for the heat than I. I just wonder, how did I live in the E for 21 years?

Gas is 1.83

It's hot now

Yesterday and today are boiling. Yesterday, I had the open house in summer school.That was 3 hrs. of cool. I talked to a lot of parents and students to get the to shell out 580. per child to attend classes, 1 hr, 4 days a week and then math too. I had one 8th grader that was taking geometry! She wanted to skip to 9th grade. I had her last yr. as a 6th grader. She's sharp, but 2 yrs. may be too much for her. We'll see.

I have 10 6th graders, 7, 7/8th graders and 2 seniors among the 8, 9-12th graders.
I'm going to push them hard and prep the older ones on the SAT as well. I ordered 1000. of books, 2 for each class from Amazon yesterday and 24 for another teacher. I hate selling them to the kids.
They are going to read Faulkner"s, The Sound and the Fury. I read Light in August in college and they say " It is not a book to read and enjoy." I remember that. vaguely. We'll do a Shakespeare play too. Most have read Romeo and Juliet so I'll have to pick another.

Michael Jackson at 50 dies too

I can't get to sleep so I've been taking sleeping pills nightly for nearly 2 weeks and on rare occasions I take 30 not 15 mg. Last night I couldn't get to sleep till 5 so I took another one for the first time. Granted the expire in June but gee....

Last night I made these great scallops with garlic and w. wine w/ sauteed garlic and mushrooms, yum. I got the 4 lg. scallops at the farmers market on Wed.

Tonight I'm making roasted eggplant, eggplant, zucchini. yellow crookneck squash and roasted red and green peppers.The veggies look real good and caramelized. It brings the sweetness out. I was hard pressed to find a paper bag to put the peppers in to steam so I could take the skin off. I'm trying to go bag less at the market and bring my own canvas bags.

Have you heard about the garbage pile of plastic which doesn't degrade out in the Pacific the size of Rhode island. Don't use Styrofoam either.

I also made a meatloaf w/ potatoes and carrots. I've got food coming out of my ears.

I bought ground beef on sale in the economy tube and froze half, made a meatloaf of the other. Since I had no room in my freezer I took it to school to freeze. Had to bring it home on tues.made tacos and froze the other part till tonight.

Part of that 2nd meat loaf grew moldy, should have fed it to Diablo before that.

I tossed all the bread U had in the freezer and made a little space. Bread only freezes well for a couple weeks not 6 mo. or a year. I mist have had 6 partial loaves, pita, artichoke bread as so on.

I left a loaf of whole wheat in the freezer at school. What you buy in the store can't compete with the purity of stone grown fresh bread without and preservatives. It also only lasts a week so I need to stash some in the freezer for it is tough for me to get through a loaf a week.

I rescanned my channels and now I have CBS but lost ABC sorta. Found another PBS though. I may have to get an antenna booster of cable. I'll talk to radio shack.

I'm reading J Deaver's L. Rhymes novel The Blue Nowhere.I went to the farmers market downtown and finally got some nan and chicken curry that is good. Since this is the last week for blueberries I got a pint too. I saw shallots too.

I came home and made chicken w. breadcrumbs with shallots, garlic, lemon and mushrooms with white wine. I finally finished the bottle opened 2 mo. ago.

I ran by the library and school to fax a letter for a job and run off some course outlines for summer school. I mush be crazy applying for an English teacher position at the office of ed. for special day classes. I never used to accept those subbing.

Tomorrow is the open house. So far I have 10 6th graders, 4th 7,8,9 and 4 10-11th. He hopes to get more tomorrow.

He has a scanner so I hope to learn how to scan it onto a disk and load it on my applications.

Watched Skumdog Millionaire. Yikes, the slums are horrible and the people that maim kids in return for food and shelter and put them to work begging is horrible. I'll bet it happens in Mexico and other poor countries. I've seen it coming back to the US from Mexico.

Farrah Fawcett dies, unmarried to Ryan O'Neil

The big C, live long enough, someone told me, it gets you if heart failure doesn't.

I remember FL , the house but we found it it Pompano Beach across from the inter coastal and the beach. We were told it had barracudas and not to swim there. Joe and I never found the lighthouse that I thought I remembered across the street. Mom said it was totally somewhere else. Bob liked a Cuban girl down the street.

Detroit was on Woodbine Ave.

Washington was Gainsville St. in SE Washington D.c. right near the MD line. Michael used to work at Howard Johnson's. Once I walked there. I was in 5th grade and I rode my bike all over the city for miles. My best friend was Ilona.


In Alex., VA we lived on Southland Ave.

Then Fairfax on Gallows Rd.

college, marriage in Bethesda and on to FL in Orlando, CT in E. Windsor,cute town, and moved to Groton, CT then Vallejo, CA, HI in Aiea and here in San Jose.

Grandpa lived at 1614 22nd St. I addressed a letter to him John E. Grandpa. I have a great picture on my mantle of him on the beach eating a hot dog, with mom and dad in chairs under an umbrella and me, cute and blonde about two,

Memories don't work much before 6. Yet we learn the fundamentals during that time.

On rare occasion I get a scoop of potato salad at the deli add more celery at home. Last night I made some from a left over potato from my breakfast burrito prep. and made easily twice the amount for about .25.

All it takes is time.

I thought there was a cent symbol on the keyboard but I don't see it.

My friend Caro always cooks from scratch, rarely using anything packaged.

I'm hoping to make my grocery bill drop by 1/2. I have too much food. Goodness knows I don't need it. I need to clean the frig instead of tossing stuff and eat from the freezer too. It's jammed packed.

I'll try and only get fresh fruits and vegetables and staples.
My cleaning lady once cleaned out the frig and filled my outdoor trash can plus!
I have a hard time tossing things like pickles and mayo and salad dressing after their due dates.
I even eat yogurt and use milk if it doesn't smell off.

If so the outside stray cat Diablo get's first crack. If he doesn't eat it, it gets tossed.

Mom was always frugal fighting dad who was not.

He'd take me to Lord and Taylor's to get summer short PJ's and when I found one he's say but two.

He used to take me to get a dress while mom was working or to the High's store where a lady put my hair in rollers since the girls could wear them to school since their confirmation was that night and mom was in the hospital.

He took we around in a whirwind of planning my wedding. We could have improved a bit on that. The florist forgot Emily's flowers. All in all it was o.k. Everyone was busy so I ended going to check on things at the church before hand and discovered that. Called but couldn't get any.

Mom didn't even know who got what flowers. Oh well.... She was working.

Ah summer

Usually I don't like summer because of the high temps, but along with it comes fresh basil and tomato and corn for a salad.

Michael might even like the quiche I made with fresh spinach, mushrooms, onion and broccoli. Honestly Mickey, you can't taste the veggies and I put in sausage too.

I went to the farmers market again just because I could. I was out of cherries and since this is the last week in the market I got 2 baskets rather than hand pick them. Soon I'll have to get them in the store. Safeway has them on sale. I got some corm for 25 cents each.

I had lots of apricots and a nectarine for breakfast and the quiche for lunch. I had so much filling I had to made a tiny one too in a creme brule dish. Just the size they sell in the farmers market or did last year. I'm also making some broccoli salad with raisins, red onion and mayo.

The peaches are not quite ready yet and apples loose there appeal with bananas during the summer despite their potassium.

I'm sure all this sugar isn't helping my blood sugar count. It was 117 down a bit but it needs to go lower.

My legs tingle. Some times in the mirror I see what's really there. Mostly it's in photographs and I'm appalled.

Clearly I'm an emotional eater. When I'm upset I seek comfort in food and books. Now I need to channel that into walking and swimming instead. It worked in Feb.

I'm going to the big farmers market downtown on Friday. Hopefully I'll get some chicken curry and nan. The last stuff I fed to the outside stray cat.

I can't remember the name of the street we lived on in D.C. in 1963. Kaiser needs it to log me in with my password. D.C. alludes me. I remember the house and my 2 dogs and my friend Ilona...but....southland ave in Alex., gallows rd in Fairfax.(not)
Wonder what I put down. south Dakota ave? help! not?)ah yes gainsville st.!

I watched the movie Serendipity.

grilling

stages of life

or as Shakespeare said:

"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms;
Then the whining school-boy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lin'd,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well sav'd, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion;
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything."

Source: As You Like It (II, VII, 139-166)

I think I'll grill some veggies and some chicken. Doesn't grilled eggplant and peppers, summer squash and zucchini and corn sound good? I may just roast them, getting the drill out seems like too much work when it's hot.

Went for my mammogram today.

I need to take them the Rosie t shirt that says I got squished.

Watched the Movie Twilight. The book is always was better.

Stopped at the library to get some things to look at for s.s., King Lear, Midsummer night's dream, Huck Finn, The Republic by Plato, Merchant of Venice and The Sound and the fury by Faulkner.

What to choose...there is so much.

OMG a train wreck in D.C

I Found a lump in my r breast and saw the Dr. today to confirm it. Tomorrow I go for a mammogram, then another and if warranted to the surgeon.

He also told me I needed a tad of estrogen...it's a bitch getting older. But the alternative, not getting older ain't good either. Sometimes I wish I could give my life to Emily so she could be assured of seeing her kids grow up and just move on.

When I told my Dr. that she put me on medication. It makes me shake like Parkinson's.

We did a fasting glucose test too.

I'm not positive but I think I went up 26 lbs since Feb.!

Couldn't take it any more with my straight fine hair. I got it permed again but not cut. It looks bad but I came home and rolled it like I used to do in high school so the verdict is still out. When I curled it before for the last 4 yrs. it would be straight in 20 min.

stay tuned.

Today I'm gonna make some broccoli salad with raisins and red onion and some curried chicken salad.

I got called to sub on 6/30. 4 hrs., every little bit helps.

stay tuned

I got a book on trust and estate planning. I need to update my living will too. I have one and I need to do one through Kaiser.

I got a nolo press guide to workers comp claims.

I even found the Romeo and Juliet dvd I'll use for my class at the library. Such great places.

Fathers' Day

One more week for cherries.

Apricots have a while to go and then nectarines and peaches are coming into flavor.

I like the farmers market.

I need to go over to another one and get some nan and chicken curry.

I made some breakfast burritos and a strawberry pie.

The bbq of ribs and tritip smelled so good.

We evem had a beautiful day in the 70's.

S Jobs went to TN for a liver transplant because the wait list is shorter.

We need to let Emily on it.

Summer School

I went to a meeting today of all the teachers. So far there are only 16 kids signed up, so unless we get a lot more I can't see him justifying 8 teachers and 3 aides.

I stayed up all night and finished New Moon,the 4th and last book in the Twilight series. It was really good.

Then, unfortunately I couldn't get to sleep. My meeting was at 12, so I got 2 hrs sleep, so come 5 I conked out till my brother called.

Then I ran out to the store. I like that it cools off here in the evening. I can only stand the E in the spring and fall.

Gas is 2.95.

After 2 weeks of no home access from my isp I got a new one just in time. The other one never responded to my emails. This one has a tech line till 12 est.

My difital conversion didn't go too well. I have no channel 2, 4 or 5 - cbs. I need to call someone. The helpline was mo help.

Happy father's day.

Lunch out

I am taking my volunteer out for lunch today. We went to a Japanese restaurant. We had tempula and CA roll. She's a vegetarian and 79. She's been good. It's the first time I've been out since last year.

With Ramses leaving at 11:30, not too many places are open for lunch where I can get in and out in 30 min. I gave him a $10.00 gift card for a place near by

I didn't want to come in today but the money I want. Somehow, they won't pay me just because.

The froze all library funds about 4k. due to economic times, that is library money!

Me gan

The replacement librarian came in today it felt horrible. I tried to tell her as much as possible.
I felt andry at her. Then angry at Kyle when I saw her back in his office afterwards with Ramses luking nearby. Time to go.

A couple of teachers came by to say goodby and one said she didn't think I'd gotten a fair shake. I agree, It's whispered like shame.

It felt horrible on Friday and I didn't go the the bbq and today I didn't want to come in. I needed the money at the rate of pay though so I did.

To complicate matters, my computer at home hasn't connected for the last 2 weeks. I need to get a new internet ISP.

the last minute

I deleted all remaining fines for the kids and only have them on a list if they lost the book. One of my assistants is homeless and has been all year. I deleted last years book but he has one more. He can be nice but mostly he has been surly. I passed him but he has one more book one. 8th graders cannot graduate without a clear from us.

We turned in over 800.00 dollars in lost book fines and fines. We went through one receipt book last week alone. One more days of kids and a lot to do. Fortunately there is next Monday and Tues. without kids to work. I've got all these kids coming in with books out and when I ask where they are they say in my room or locker. I make them go get them if they are at school. I can't figure out what they think will happen.

Fortunately it's still cool in the 70's during the day. At night it drops to the 50's-60's when the fog rolls in. It clears about 10.

Do you-all have it's it? they are oatmeal cookies with vanilla ice cream in the center. round. They are a San Francisco treat. I had my 1st dove bar at VA Beach.

Notice of Adjudication

I got notice yesterday that a notice of application for a adjudication of my claim by the workers comp board of CA on 6/6. Took her long enough. We will get to that board exam soon but with other doctors that won't announce automatically that everything is status quo and not allow for drugs surgery etc.

This year has been o.k. I've only bee really in pain 2x. This a.m. I am a bit. I took a muscle relaxer and Motrin 800 and it seems better. I took 2 15 mg sleeping pills last night and slept. It was hard to get up at 7. As Bob says I must be a zombie.

There is to be an end of school bbq in the park on Fri at 12. when the kids are out. Last year I was burried and didn't go.

My internet at home is still not up. It's been 11 days and 3 emails now.

Going on a week

Read

Wicked Prey

by John Sandford.

Last night I went to the retirement 3-5 reception. I got announced among the other 5 and got a gift of a crystal bowl and potpourri. That was nice.

There were tacquitos, flautas, quesadias, veggies, fruit and drinks. The lagoon had ducks swimming and it was a nice day. I actually got to sit with some people I knew. That helped.

I got home to see that Lacey had thrown up her new kibble. I thought the problem was fixed. I may have have to get a blood test for her.

The yearbooks are here and the kids are all excited. I wish all my literary magazines would sell. I'd be happy just to cover expenses.

The school district froze all my sip money for fines and lost books. If I was going to be here I'd care. Should have spent more of it.

At least this year it's in the 70's not in the 90's. That helps a lot. We've been very busy and I hardly know the morning has passed until my aide has left at 11:30 and I am trying to eat my oatmeal for lunch. Today it has rasberries and blueberries in it.

Love that farmer's market.

I read another crime/detective book set in MN by

home login not working

It's been really busy at work and my back only hurt on Thurs, but my feet are throbbing. I changed from crocs to tennis shoes on Friday. Hopefully the kids will be gone and we can get more done now. I know though that the last minute panic to work off or pay off their fines so they can graduate or go on field truips will continue. On Fri. We had filled up a whole reciept book in one week. We have too much money in the till and need to make a deposit badly. Everyone has been too busy.

For some reason I can't log in from home. I've contacted the company 2x but not heard back.

Went to the farmers market this morning. I love this season of stone fruit, cherries, apricots, peaches, nectarines, tomatoes, salsa from heirloom tomatoes. fresh pea soup, planting tomatoes....and flowers

resignation

I asked the board to change my retirement to a resignation. Hope they do it tomorrow. My end date is 6/16. Ineed to be here till 6/30 to qualify for retirement.

I applied for a librarian job at another school district.

I will send some English Teacher aps too. That job is MUCH harder though!!



I'm writing a grant for 3000. for another teen read week next Nov.

I'm a little sad when I see the new 09/10 calender come out.

Can't log onto my laptop at home somehow the domain and passwork don't verify. I emailed them.

gas is 2.75.

Retirement v resignation

There is another pseudo luncheon planned next Mon. I hear this one is nicer. Whereas the first was at a banquet place famous for retirement events, this is Acapulco, a Mexican restaurant.

I went to the dentist yesterday and hopefully won't have to see her again until Nov.

I'm reading the Twilight series. I read Twilight on Sunday and am almost through New Moon on the way to Eclipse and if I can find it Breaking Dawn. It's good and a bit scary and an intense love story.

I'm planning for summer school, trying to get all my copies ready so I don't have to stand in a hot small copy room. It hurts my back. Also here there is a high speed copy machine and it collates and staples.

I think I'll have my 10th and 11th graders read either Romeo and Juliet or Merchant of Venice in addition to a book by Faulkner. They are also reading Walden and Civil Disobedience, The Gettysburg address, The Iliad and the Odyssey, some grammar and doing a lot of writing and a research paper of at least 15 pages.

I've got a lot of stuff for the 6th graders too and they will read Touching Spirit Bear 7th will read Monster and City of Ember
All books were to be in 6/1 so it is a busy time for us. All the kids are rushing to pay for lost books and fines so they can go to movies and Great America. (I hated having to go on that field trip!) I even sent Joe there alone with his brother.

I did that at Cape Kennedy too. I did go to Disney World with him since we lived next door. He loved the rides. I loved lounging in the pool and ordering drinks. Different perspective at 24.