Another theft

My assistant Ramses had his wallet stolen out of his desk drawer this morning. It is rare we are both out of the library at the same time. This is our 4th theft.

I haven't seen the black cat that usually suns on my deck in a week or more. The last time he looked pretty beaten up and his whole side was abraded. Neither have I seen Brutus, the tough guy who once attacked my back. I turned the hose on him then. I've broken up cat fights between the two of them and I think Brutus is the Alpha cat of the neighborhood. They have all been spayed but we seem to have a few kittens and teenagers around. Last year I saw one of the teens smushed on the street. Someone must have shoveled him up. He lasted only less than 1 day but it was more than a little disturbing to see.

I told my principal that I need spine surgery and I may be out 3 weeks. I'd let him know when. Better sooner than in May and June. The thoracic film is accepted but I don't know if the lumbar film will be included.

I am not sure what kind of help I will need either. I'll stock up if no driving for 3 weeks. Safeway delivers too. If I have the surgery. I may need an aide. Two people have asked me if I have anyone to help me I said yes although I may not. I'm embarrased to say no.
I hate to ask my friends. I wish I had the long term care policy.

I need some communication back from the state and my comp plan facilitator.

I am getting another pair of glasses too. I allocated over $800 in deferred money this year. That should take me closer. I know I'm already over what I put in.
I wonder how that works. I know it ends when you leave.

I called the spine surgeons on the list today and the earliest appointments they have open are in June and July! If you cancel less than 11 days before, it's $350!

I stopped into Rite aid to drop off my prescription and get Lacey some liter.

Then, I planted some tomato seeds and sunflower and sweet pea seeds. It's a little late for sweet peas. Grandpa used to have them by his garage. I should have planted my sweet 100's in 6 packs first. I'll do that with the Roma and cherry tomatoes. I may not have the water.

A day of rest

I finished the book The Associate by Grisham. But first I went to the farmers market and the store for the items I missed yesterday. I even used 2 coupons. (I did have to go out to the car to get them,) it took me a month to get them from school to the car.)I have more today. I read The graveyard book. It was cute, I see why it won the Newbery award for best book.

I made butternut squash soup and the squash were on sale for .99 a lb. I laughed because a woman at the market was selling some just like what I wanted. She made hers with cilantro and vegetable stock though. I used chicken but she reminded me to put in a carrot and celery. I wish I still had my blender or one. In the food processor it wasn't creamy enough. I did add yogurt though. She didn't. She was charging 3.00 a small container and 7 for the large. I laughed. She was surprised I made it.

It's a very delicate soup. I may have put too much garlic in it. Now I can take back the two cans of it I bought that have so much sodium.

I need to start making vegie broth though. When dad was here and we did Pridikin together we made one or two soups a week and constantly had a pot of chicken stock going.

When you make everything from scratch it has a lot less salt and other stuff and it's cheaper. I want to make some bread for Easter. I did once before when I tried to make rolls for Ed's parents. He brought the Honey Baked Ham and was supposed to bring a strawberry Pie from Marie Callendar's. The ham got here. I think he was surprised how expensive they are. The pie didn't. Oh well.

I also made a good meatloaf.

My assistant is out sick today. Better now than the last days of school when it's a madhouse. Last year my assistant took one of those days off. I was furious.

I got this rolling cart as a bonus gift today and two more books for the kids. One other just came in from my December order. The cart will be a help for my back and can carry all those books and stuff. It has wheels and pulls.

I want to order some more books for the kids and spend the cash that I have in case someone wants to raid the account.

The wisteria are out and a beautiful purple, The sun is shining. I made some yummy beets. I also got strawberries and blueberries for my oatmeal and crasins. (sic) (cranberry raisins)

I applied for two more jobs one in English and the other as a librarian. There are a lot of pink slips out there.

I'm going to try beet greens again.

I want to plant some tomatoes and basil. I have a lot of sunflower seeds too. They never seem to come up though. I need some manure tea. Once, I put it straight on the beds; stinky, it needs to be integrated.

I finally watched the movie Madagascar (sic) too. It was o.k.

Today I discovered if I slice a beet in my butternut squash soup it is really good and even sweeter and it makes pretty colors orange with red swirls.

Today we had an earthquake. Then we had a duck and cover drill. I didn't feel it but it was a previous unknown fault in Morgan Hill s of San Jose. Great! :-(

The toliet in my new bathroom isn't filling. This happened once before and then it was fine. One day in the other bathroom it sounded like an explosion and gyser, I went in to look but didn't see anthing. Hate to call in the plumber.

My roses are in bloom and I cut two.

Up and at em

I got up and out of bed early. I thought I'd go swim and then to water aerobics and walk for an hour. 3 hrs proved too ambitious.

Afterwards I started the yard work, got the grass cut and the weeds pulled and have a pile 4 feet tall at the curb 8 hrs. Got a bag or so of oranges picked too. I need a new aluminum 8 ft. ladder. My wooden one is split and Armando didn't want me climbing it. It's also too heavy. My back is killing me.

The state sent me a letter telling me to go see a spine surgeon. They gave me 3. I called them. I don't know if it's another one or Dr. M, from J. Hopkin's was enough. They may only qualify the thoracic not lumbar area,

Went to the store for water and groceries. I felt a little smug watching people buy lemons and oranges. I got a new sun hat too. I need that sunscreen it's 75.

Once home, I made a meatloaf sauteed some mushrooms, roasted 2 butternut squash for soup and put the groceries away.

I also got rid of Armando's clothes and hat,goro, from the garage as well; when I got the lawn mower out.

Made my oatmeal for the week and now I need to start the soup. Do you have any idea how much sodium store bought soup has? I need to make my own stock again too.

I stopped at the library and got myself a bag of books. At their book sale I got one graphics novel for school and one for me.

Comedy of errors

I went for my interview at West Vally. I had to teach a 10 min. on line class and one to the panel. I did it but was nervous and shaking. I allowed an hour to find the library and it almost took that long.

I went in today when I discovered the first school district that would not accept faxed documents or paper and burned a disk of my word documents scanned into pdf format. They uploaded fine now. Then after I spent 18.00 I got back to school, read my email and realized,1. the job fair tomorrow was canceled due to shrinking enrollment and less people leaving and 2. I could not attach my attachments to an already sent email application. I also reprinted a letter from email because I was sure I had it but couldn't find it. Once I got back to the car I saw it had slid out of my briefcase and was on the front seat. Yesterday I tried to burn a c/d at the copy shop by my house but the lady didn't know how to do it. Today I went to Kinko's. If I waited, I would have read my email and not burned the c/d. Oh well.

My face is really bothering me.The rosea is really erupting and sun sensitive and hurting. I use the medicine too but to no avail.

While my brother Bob is in Costa Rica where I always wanted to go, I think of this. I'd be sweating and the sun would just irritate it more.

The chlorine too.

surgery

The temps are in the 70's and it's sunny.

I went over to the high school and presented Pride and Predjioce for their Teen Read Week. I reread it, all 700 pages. I hasn't read it since college. I had seen the movie 2x. Try getting them into Victorian language. Ir's good though.

I went to see the spine surgeon yesterday. He says 1/2 of the spine is blocked by a herniated disc. There is also a floating shard fragment that is floating. He wants to operate.

I would be in the hospital overnight and unable to drive for 3 weeks.

Scary

West Valley called

That 20 page application paid off and I have an interview at the college on March 20th.

My asshole of a principal said he was not going to buy a chair for the circulation desk. I'd like to sue his ass. Too much negative energy.

I may just have to go out the last 2 days of the year when all the books come in since I can't stand all day.

I have a consult to another spine Dr. The Worker's Comp Board is also reviewing the cast since there was a typo in the Dr's report that said 8 percent not 80 percent impairment.

Spring flowers

The tulip trees are in bloom. All the fruit trees are in blossom. We have a dark pink, a light, pale pink plum and a medium pink. Then I have white blossoms on my lemon and orange trees and white at Christmas on the Jade. In other parts of the country. Jade is a container plant. In my yard it is near 5 feet and that big around. I have to go and break off sections yearly so there is an aisle between the house and the fence.

The rain is making all the flowers blow away and then the tree just has red leaves. It seems like one day they are in their prime condition and the next they are dead, or gone and turning into leaves.

I prefer than to 6 inches of snow. I can go visit the snow anytime but I don't kike to commute in it or clear it off the cars. I watch neighbors throw water on their windshields in the morning and think that in the east it could shatter the glass. Not to mention the locks.

I'm working on my book purchase list for this year. I got 900. for the bookfair and I have 1000. in other funds and I'm having a hard time spending that. I guess I need to go to Barnes and Noble and make a list. Its hard to tell from Amazon

Made my presentation

The farmers market offerings



Orange trees on my patio and the (aranas) spider plants.





my new shutters and jade bush in bloom outside


Finished my book and make my presentation to 3 classes of 9th and 10th graders on

The Hunger Games

. There is a second book coming out in Sept. By Suzanne Collins. She had neat colored bookmarks with images of the covers.

I also finished Stuart Wood's book.

I have been listening to some of the kid's book tapes on my commute. I just finished Julie of the Wolves and Where the Red Fern Grows. I remember mom trying to get me to read it and I didn't. It had gotten the best book award. Now, 40 years later I finally appreciate it. Thanks Mom!

I'm starting on my purchase list now with our meager funds. No Title 5 state money this year.

Finished the Hunger Games

U;m ready for my book talk in the morning. The book was really good and it turns out from Amazon that is just Book 1.

Today I'm reading Stuart Wood's

Mounting Fears

.

Tonight I watched the Oscars and Barbara Walters. The Oscars were banal except for Sean Penn. I'll have to see Slum Dog. I have the Reader on hold at the library.

Well I thought it would go down

My glucose was 140. I'm watching my sugar in carrots not in fruit, haven't been drinking anything but water and tea but still it's high. It even went up a point. I had beets which are high in sugar. Marilyn says I'm still borderline and it takes longer than 2 weeks for your body to adjust or change.

I've been swimming every day some times it seems like all I do is go to the gym. I cut out all white flour and white rice. No potato because of the starch. My calories are low. My activity high. Time to drop more weight and increase my time in core conditioning class and on the treadmill.

This week off I thought I'd so to water aerobics every morning and swim at 6 but I slept in. I like to watch the View opening. i went swimming today amd swam 26 laps again. My legs feel it too.

Marilyn says not to consider a job so far I'd have to get an apartment. I like it where I am and there are a lot of opportunities in this area, more than any place in the country. If I were to move to Brentwood the possibilities would be much more limited.

Friday, the last of my winter break

"Life isn't about how to survive the
storm, but how to dance in the rain."

I'm off to get another fasting glucose test. I'll also do an occult blood.
The farmers market was there. I got some whole grain wheat bread. Wanted honey wheat or my regular pumpernickel rye swirl. No white flour. Got some blueberries and a raspberry to put in my oatmeal while I wanted for my number to come up in the busy lab. I stopped by the veggie stand and wanted to get some carrots and cauliflower but ended up with just an artichoke because carrots have a lot of sugar. I came back and took some pictures of the bounty available on 2/20.

There was a vendor that had honey products from candles to lotion, honey and this great Gardner's hand balm. I keep hitting the lane markers in the pool and have wounds on my r hand as I am forced over when it gets crowded.

There was a vendor that had homemade low fat natural cookies with pumpkin, lemon poppy seed,cranberry-orange and others. I almost bought some before I caught myself.

The cherry blossoms and daffodils are all in bloom. I took some pictures of them too.

I swam 25 laps tonight. My body is a little stiff.
I'm reading the Hunger Games in preparation for my presentation at S.C.H.S.

I was visualizing a move to Brentwood. A lot of work.

I'm waiting for my lab results to be posted.

My PG&E bill was 40.00 this month.

You can track and analyze your expenditure's at Mint.com.

There is also an international career fair in San Francisco. It might be interesting to work out of the country. I considered teaching English in Portugal 10 yrs. ago, Spain I would like.

I once interviewed for Japan. Wouldn't like that

I may get some stock in NetFlix.

Off to interview

I ate when i got home around 10 and at 2 had repeated bouts of blood filling the bowl, unless it was beets, while I was changing the sheets and soaking them and my nightgown I got worried. By the way, if blueberries are giving you antioxidants, why do they pass through whole? Gwen said raisins do too. I emailed my doctor.

Off to get the remote then the interview and now that I discovered I could recharge my camera battery and did, I'll take some pictures. Although snow was on the hills yesterday it was not today. I'll have to get that photo next week when it rains again.

My interview seemed to go really well. The asst. superintendent brought out a salary schedule thinking I'd be off their chart. The salary is roughly the same.

The town is really small. It took me an hour to get there. I'd go home on weekends but, I'd need to get an apt or room there. In this economy, any offers are welcome but,I didn't expect to move so quickly. Their librarian died.

That means a roommate here. Unless Lacy went with me we would miss each other. It would also start soon in March. Small towns are tough to live in. I stopped in the Chamber of Commerce in Brentwood and got a list of businesses and a map. I'll read the tiny local paper. There is one theater and a video store and 2 grocery stoees and a Walgreans. There may be 5 restaurants and I did not notice any Chinese or Thai.

I'd rather stay here. I wonder if the Mission college will call.

I got the new Stuart Woods novel Mounting Fears.

I send Gwen a box of Mom's handknit things a poncho and a hand knit suit. I also put in a sweater for Clare. She said only she got the package and thanks for sharing. Well, does the sweater fit Clare?

So much for sending her cookie cutters.

I went to this Vietnamese BBQ place tonight where you get 5 shrimp marinated and grilled on a squerer and some marinated pork over rice. It's really good. They serve it with pickled scallions, cucumber diakin, shreaded carrot and lettuce, a nice treat.

A new screen

Anais Nin:
"We do not grow absolutely, chronologically. We grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. We grow partially. We are relative. We are mature in one realm, childish in another. The past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. We are made up of layers, cells, constellations. "


I took my car into Toyota for a new multi display screen. I'm glad they wash it too. It may stop me from being pissed off the screen went out. It will be 1000 dollars.

Actually it was 800 something, but I also got my oil changed for 40 dollars and then.... I left my garage remote in the van. I got home and called the dealer. Then I called the locksmith who couldn't open the side doors but he did have a coat wire device that popped the dowel out of the sliding door. It was not fun. I haven't gotten absolute confirmation that the remote is there but I HOPE SO. At 9 while I was swimming Toyota xalled to say they have my remote. Thank Goodness.

Mike is GU. (Geographically unacceptable) He lives in Palo Alto the nice side of the tracks in a townhouse with his son 50 percent of the time. It's in the same city as Stanford but closer to Mt. View.It used to be the model so there are mirrors to make it look bigger on the walls. It's cozy. Like my townhouse in HI it had 3 levels. It is about 20 miles from my house.1/2 that from work for each of us. hum....a lot of miles.

Troy did more.

It's stopped raining for 2 days. Finally, the sun is shining again.

The kitten in the garage was one we already had fixed so we let him go.

I swm 23 laps tonight to make up for my overinduldence in egg rolls. Back to normal now and they were good.

Time to start the Oatmeal in the morning. I like it with raspberries.

A tea date

I spent 4 hrs, on a tea date with Mike. It was a nice way to spend a rainy day. He is nice and had to take his son to a LaCross game in the rain when he got out of school.
I had a cup of Earl Grey and the nice baristo went next door to get me some lemon. Starbucks doesn't carry it. That was nice. It was pouring. We were talking about personality types and I had to come home and look mine up. Ironically, I had seen it in my office this morning, I forgot I am a ENFP. extroverted, intuitive, perceptive, feeling. Routine is a problem; I have to train myself to stick to it when things become routine and uninteresting/unchallenging. I gave him a belated Vakentine.

I was starving when I got home and had the 2 leftover egg rolls for lunch/brunch.

I signed up to sponsor Emily's walk for Cancer this summer, finally.

I began to clean up the house. there is a lot to do. The kitchen and the bedroom need the most work.

I have a job interview on Thursday, a recall of Brentwood. That's the place out near Livermore in the vineyards. I need to get a battery for my camera and take some pictures this time. The kills are a beautiful Emerald green. It is cold so there was snow on Mt. Diablo and all the fruit trees are in bloom.All the vines are leafing too.

Why is postage going up again? Because Congress said they could?

Why is Obama sending more troops to Afghanistan?

My hair is so fried I swim, wash, put on conditioner then it was still so dry i could barely comb in over processed that it is. I hope it helps. No more curling iron. I need to use rollers again and electric rollers if i need more.

CA Mike

I'm talking to Michael Bret Strong of Palo Alto. He's 2x divorced, had a 17 y.o son and takes care of his 79 y.o. mother and takes her grocery shopping every Sat. morning, Ex Marine, ex-EDS and now executive headhunter and outsourcing counselor.

I am heading to Caro's to cook.

Lisa called to say she was sick so we canceled breakfast today.

I made some yummy butternut squash soup and seared scallops last night for my belated Valentine's dinner.

Time to clean house. The kitchen and bedroom need some attention and the housekeeper is out of the budget right now.

Caro and I worked on my taxes and made egg rolls with shrimp, ground pork, garlic, water chestnuts, mushrooms, carrots, celery, bean sprouts,and green onion. They were yummy. Next time, we'll do hot and sour soup.

I talked to Mike and watched the Bachelor. It was miss it or swim. I should have gone to swim and taped it.

Smile

Off to the pool

You are The High Priestess

Science, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education.

The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, instinctual, supernatural, secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information that she might, or might not reveal to you. The moon crown on her head as well as the crescent by her foot indicates her willingness to illuminate what you otherwise might not see, reveal the secrets you need to know. The High Priestess is also associated with the moon however and can also indicate change or fluxuation, particularily when it comes to your moods.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

I made scrambled eggs and cream cheese and had some fresh pineapple for breakfast.

I ran out in the rain and got gas for 10 dollars at 2.19 a gal.and returned my library book before the library opened. It was due. It's pouring.

Now I'm off to the gym. I did my laps and dogged kids they were swarming and took over the place in a birthday party. I couldn't swim the end of my laps without getting kicked or pushed out of my 1/2 lane so I hit the lane markers. My hand is gashed as a result. I had my umbrella and rain coat on top of my sweats and Uggs.

Tried to stop and get a movie but the library is closed.

I meet the library ladies again for our birthday breakfast. Then, I'm off to Caro's to cook Chinese and do taxes. I just got one 1099 on Friday.

I did the laundry and have Lacy snuggled on my lap. She becomes a snuggler in the cold. She's better than a heating pad.

I have the week off for winter break. Last year I went in. Not this year.

I bought brown rice to swap it out of my diet. Flour is next.

Mt beets are super, I cooked them in OJ from my trees.

I've committed to reading

Hunger Games

for Teen Read Week at one H S. Another is in March.

I'm going to make my sea scallops in white wne and lemon with rice and mushrooms.
Then butterbut squash soup with cellert, carrot, cumin, cloves, broth, salt,pepper sour cream or yogurt and chives.

Happy Valentine's Day !

Hugs and kisses to you all...I gave myself the gift of health and dragged this body to the gym.

A weird thing happened. As Nice gift for me. I swam 20 laps and I lost 14 lbs in one day? Marilyn says it's water.

For Valentine's Day I made Oatmeal with raspberries and strata for lunch and for dinner roasted beets, brown rice mushrooms and scallops. I had fresh pineapple for dessert. Not good for my sugar either beets or pineapple but I splurged.

I made stuffed red and yellow peppers with pork and cube steak with mushrooms and brown rice. I was tempted to get a lobster tail but got 3 scallops instead.

It's been rainy.

If the battery light is flashing do I need to get another or do they plug in? I guess I buy another.... I must have left it on.

There is snow on the hills

My new warm Uggs, ugly and I have the slippers too, my last New Year sale splurge



Me frozen in layers Monterey 12/08


green foothills 1/09

There is snow on the foothills this morning. I need to take a picture. I usually love the mustard in the fields this time of year. Napa has a mustard festival. This year with us at only 50 percent of normal rain and the season almost over, we may be in water rationing soon. No crops, no watering lawns and car washing. There was a seying in 77 something like this We don't flush for number 1 only 2. It was cuter. The restaurants are asked to reduce water too. There have long been signs on the tables saying please ask for water.

Today I go to Brentwood for my job interview. The first one up there 11/2 hrs. away came to naught. They did send me a note saying if I wanted to be in the sub pool let them know and the position was reposted.

At the librarian's meeting there was more pizza, this one much better than Roundtable from Pizza Uno, one with spinach and pine nuts and another vegetarian with tomato slices red onion and olives and spinach. I don't like olives and am not too fond of red onions.

I gave my aides their Valentine's chocolate fix, peanut butter cups,on truffles or a heart of m and m's. They are all going to be hyper not to mention it's right before our 10 days off.

One of my student TA's brought me a long stem red rose. It's beautiful.

I remember the first one I got as a sophomore in high school was delivered in a dozen rose box by a friend of Bruce. He wrote on the card a quotw drom Dorothy Parker: A single rose he sent me since we met.... "I doubt if it's perfect but I thought it appropriate" I brought it in, cut most of the stem off and put it in a bud vase. I didn't know you pay extra for the long stem. I hear roses are up to $100 a dozen this year. Still, I wouldn't mind having some. I did get a Valentine. I sent mine out in Jan. One I gave today to another teacher. Three sang songs, one to the teacher, one for Clare and one for Libby. They can drive their Mom's crazy.

Why are corn chex 10 calories less than 10 rice chex?


I left for my interview a little after 10 later that I wanted, held up by a class, I missed the turnoff and cut over near Oakland and sat on the ramp stopped in traffic for 45 minutes. I called the place and told them, or left a message and arrived none the less, while they were all out to lunch nearly an hour late. I turned around and came back through their quaint little town. It had a historic downtown and I had never been there before. I stopped to take some pictures, but I couldn't. The flash or something was amiss and the lens kept closing.

The drive once I got near Livermore and away from civilization was beautiful, lush, green, cows grazing, snow on Mt. Diablo in Contra Costa Co. and windmills and vineyards and mustard. I may get another chance next week.

I went swimming tonight. It was hard to pull myself out then I forget the 5 towels in the dryer and had to turn around to get them.

The chair

Caro in Monterey



The Book fair

I got a call back from the insurance agency saying the chair was covered. The took all my facts to the principal this morning. He argued the station was not a sitting station. I counterargued, I could not stand for 2 hrs and it was unreasonable to expect that and that all the other middle schools have similar chairs and we have made accomidations to sit by removing a shelf below the desk to accomidate feet. I gave hime the number of the claims person and I am waiting to see. She said that she had never see a school system non accomidate a worker....

I had 2 classes and a literary magazine mtg today. I found one more book fair worker and she got her pizza and am trying to track down another.