Cool Cucumber

The Demise of Blogspot

2006-06-12T21:41:00.000-06:00

Yes, it's true... change all your links to me, 'cause I'm moving! My new blog is... (drumroll please) ...

Come visit me on my new WordPress blog. I'm still learning, so not everything's just the way I want it yet.

Dixie Chicks and an ode to country music

2006-06-07T21:42:00.000-06:00

I just downloaded the new Dixie Chicks album. Instantly I feel myself transported back to the days of college in Springfield, Missouri... college. Let me preface this entry by saying that I have a fond spot in my heart for country music, particularly clever lyrics and vocals. Somehow through the friends I made in college, I grew a craving for unique country. Granted, Dixie Chicks is more of a rock-country, but I also love Diamond Rio. Patty Loveless. Now, THAT's country.

I'm writing this as I listen to "The Long Way Around" for the first time. I feel an indescribable joy in hearing it- there's such familiarity and newness at the same time. It's music like this that makes me feel as if we're driving around P'Ville with straw hats on, Hadler at the wheel (a maniac driving on all those turns) and the windows all the way down. Excellent lined up harmonies, soaring fiddle, brisk strum. Makes me remember Branson too, and the hills around it. Satisfaction. There was a sense of freedom as we piled into a car and just drove....

This is why I like country music.

Now my clothes will never be clean...

2006-06-05T21:55:00.000-06:00

Fresh from our Dallas trip and after a strenuous first day of Camp Invention, I settled in at home to complete some long-overdue laundry. But in my stupor, I seem to have put the wrong things in the wrong places, and I'm stumped for a solution. Here's photo evidence: I googled "put detergent in the fabric softener spot" and "how to get detergent out of fabric softener place", but I've not found anything useful. Do you think I'm the first one to do this?

I could use a turkey baster to get the detergent out, but the problem is that I don't HAVE a turkey baster. But I hate wasting good Tide Cold Water by simply letting the machine run its course without any clothing. If I put clothes in the washing machine now, it'll release the detergent during the rinse cycle and then the soap won't be washed out completely. Right...?

I can't figure out what to do. Help me, please!

The Relief of Running

2006-05-11T20:59:00.000-06:00

Today I worked myself into a bit of a wedding fever. I don't know what came over me, really, just that I felt very panicky all of the sudden about a budget and guest list and I could honestly feel the churning in my abdomen as a result of the worry. I had also neglected running this week as a result of all this engagement happiness. I mean, why run 7 miles at night when you could be sitting at the computer, reading about wedding etiquette on The Knot?

Anyway, I made myself go run at the Santa Fe Trail, which is a 10-minute drive from my house. (I didn't take this photo, and no, there wasn't any snow on the ground today.)The exciting thing is that I ran for 50 minutes and enjoyed it! I just amazed myself and really felt like a runner, instead of the imposter I usually feel like. I couldn't have run 1 mile in January, and now I'm running 4.5 and thinking I could keep going. I was very aware of the silence, the birds, my breathing (I'm trying 2 steps inhale, 3 steps exhale these days), and most of all, the beautiful stream. The only thing that would have made the run better would be to have Rob with me. When we run together, I feel like I can go twice as far.

My knee had been hurting this week and I had dragged my feet about running. Funny thing is, once I started running the pain went away. Maybe it was computer desk induced knee pain.

How We Met

2006-05-07T16:14:00.000-06:00

I've been mentally composing this e-mail since the first date I had with Rob.

No, listen- seriously- I have! I had a feeling about this one. On our first date, when two blog-geeks went out to eat at No-No's, he said, "You know we can't blog about this date, right?". I nodded, "Of course!". I was thinking that someday I just might get an occasion to blog extensively about us, just from how well the date was going. He tried to teach me chess that night, and we couldn't stop talking long enough to play an entire game. I knew that was a good sign.

If you ask Rob, he'll tell you I hunted him down- and he's right. We both had left comments on Sexless In the City, which we both discovered reading Rolling Stone magazine (coincidentally, both of our roommates subscribed). I clicked on his blog one night while aimlessly blog-surfing and left a comment immediately. I knew he was something special. In fact, I felt all tingley inside when I read some of his archives and learned more about his beliefs. This led to many long e-mails exchanged, much thinking about who this Internet Rob was, more e-mails, lots of blog comments from both sides, and finally, a face-to-face meeting. Rob's friends James and Jules, their 4 girls, and my brother Mark were there the first time we met. The five of us ordered Chinese food and laughed until all of our cheeks ached from too much grinning. Here's a photo from that night (I was so excited when Julie suggested we take a bloggers' photo!). We look pretty darned happy! We've been occupying each other's weekends ever since. We run, we hike, we walk the dog and see plays together. We eat and laugh and watch LOST together and always are left wanting more time together. So, to the blogging world that introduced us:

we're engaged!I LOVE the ring... I'm never taking it off. :-)

Rob proposed on Friday, taking me back to N0-No's for another lovely Cajun meal. He created a CD of special music for us (there's been a lot of music swapping with this boy!) and told me all about what it meant to have met me. When he pulled out the ring I was too nervous to even touch it, so he had to! He asked me if I would marry him, I accepted, and I even got a little teary. The ring is beautiful and unique; more lovely than I could have picked out myself.

I am so incredibly happy to be marrying this man. I keep smiling when I realize I will be Mrs. Lund in 96 days. The downside? It's going to go by too slowly!
--------------------------------
UPDATE (Day 3 of engagement)
Today I told the kids in my class that I'm getting married. They all clapped for me and asked, "Is it to the guy who came on our field trip?". "Yes," I assured them. I might have annoyed my kids and co-workers at school today when I kept gazing at my ring. Must remember to not be the obnoxious bride-to-be...

The Me Album

2006-05-04T20:14:00.000-06:00

It is my sincere personal belief that every person should have a photo album full of self portraits. A home for those photos of yourself that your mom sends you or the silly shot that proves to the world that you conquered the ropes course in 8th grade. I've got a Me Album- it's modest and only holds 3 1/2 x 5's, but it represents me in all of my glory and stupidity, even dating back to 4th grade. Here's a very typical nerdy photo of me at the 7th grade science fair.
I would like to point out that this was my first perm (ack- did I just admit to having more than one?), for which I saved both my allowance and babysitting money. I was so proud of my frizzy mop.

Flowering Trees

2006-05-04T07:07:00.000-06:00

Ah, this is my most favorite time of year to be outside. It's still not hot yet, and everywhere I look I see this:
On the other hand, they're calling for snow tomorrow. It's never truly summer here 'til JULY.

Some Late Poetry

2006-04-18T21:55:00.000-06:00

A Fibonacci poem, for your enjoyment:

There's
a
slight chance
I've been now wooed
by this strange new verse;
math and words beautifully collide.

Twitching

2006-04-18T20:10:00.000-06:00

My students looked at me quizzically as my left eye fluttered involuntarily almost all day... through reading, science, math, and writing. On the bright side, I've been wanting to try a Lost-esque photo of my eye for some time.

Cat Blog Friday

2006-04-14T07:41:00.000-06:00

Cleo the Wondercat naps on the disheveled heap that is my bed.

Rob Escapes Rabid Carnivorous Reptile

2006-04-09T22:53:00.000-06:00

Last week, Rob and I drove to Arizona for my former roommate's wedding. One result of the 12-hour drive, each way, was a sort of deliriously loopy mood that developed in both of us. Rob became very excited at the idea of taking a photo alongside these dinosaur statues near Holbrook, Arizona. (I will say here that he is a very nice traveling partner and excellent tourist.) Frugal that we are, we chose not to pay the stinking overpriced admission fee to enter the park and take photos legally. Instead, we pulled off the interstate and squeezed under the barbed wire barricade, braving the thorns and burrs that would later lodge into the soles of our feet, in order to capture this lovely photo.

I'm quite proud of it.

A Narrow Focus

2006-04-08T10:18:00.000-06:00

For the record, it is impolite to greet an acquaintance with,

"You lost weight! You look great."

I Will Make Up For Lost Time

2006-04-07T21:06:00.000-06:00

Here's a neato survey I found today on The Black Girl's Guide To... It's called...

Finish the Sentence

Maybe I should: clean the kitchen.

I love: Starbucks caramel macchiatos.

I don't understand: how to make gravy.

People say I'm: loyal.

Love is: surrender.

Somewhere, someone is: flossing right now, amazingly.

I will always: be a Get It Done person.

Forever seems: incomprehensible.

I never want to: wear gaucho pants.

I think our current President is: a good charmer.

When I wake up in the morning: I stumble downstairs and feed the cat and dog.

I get annoyed when: people dominate social situations.

Parties are: good opportunities to meet people.

My dog is: full of granola bars (an entire box) right now.

Kisses are the worst when: you have to wait 'til the weekend for them. :-)

Today I: was a cranky teacher who watched the clock obsessively.

Tommorow I'm going to: attend a girls only Pride and Prejudice movie and knitting party. I'm going to make a hat.

I really want: to clean up my cluttered house.

I have low tolerance for people who: chew food and talk at the same time.

If I had a million dollars: I'd like to support my Becky's fistula home in Ethiopia.

Re-post this on your blog if you feel up to it, then let me know in my comments .

Cat Blog Friday

2006-04-07T20:59:00.000-06:00

Yep, they share the window seat now.

A Fun Bloggy Thing

2006-03-16T20:53:00.000-07:00

...or, The Post in Which I Really Want to Blog, But Can't Think of What to Say.

Anyway, I was thinking about traveling. So I decided to create the my Visited States Map. I couldn't decide if I should count the states we drove through to get to Florida for spring break in college (Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee). Does singing Walking in Memphis at 2:00 AM at the top of your lungs, outside of Graceland, count? Hmm. I made the difficult rule that to count a state, I must have spent at least one night in that state.

create your own visited states map

I had a thought: why is it that so many people I know and love have grandparents in West Virginia?

And, did anyone else here ever learn the 50 States song as a child? In 5th grade we learned the song, and it still rings in my head when I think about states... "Fifty nifty United States, from 13 original colonies..."

Not much, just mouthwatering raw fish

2006-03-08T21:22:00.000-07:00

It seems that in Rob's Lenten blogging-leave-of-absence, I have not been posting much. Oops. I'll try to do better at updating.

My schedule is full and my mind racing these days, but I'm happy and determined to have fun and not feel overwhelmed. The CSAPs (Colorado big-ol' standardized tests) start tomorrow. It's a nerve-wracking experience every year because of its formality, and I will breath a sigh of relief after our 9 days of testing are over. I'm hosting my friend's bridal shower on Saturday, and after 3 years since buying my townhouse, I realized that this will be my first party. Oh, I want to do it right! The good news (for the bride) is that everyone I invited is attending. Therein is also the bad news. 23 women in my townhome... I hope they're ready to get close to each other.

For your viewing enjoyment, here are a few photos to illustrate the fun we had last weekend.

Bought new running shoes. After all, we're runners now.

Went to the mountains to run and take some photos with Lydia's Flat Stanley (don't show her yet!). It is me, or does Rob look like a native Coloradoan to you?

Made sushi later... yum. Of course, cukes were left out of my maki zushi.

Spoonful of Sugar?

2006-02-28T22:33:00.000-07:00

Have any of my readers ever heard of the old wives' tale about curing a burnt tongue? According to legend, if you immediately douse the burnt taste buds in sugar, they will heal quickly.

I never had sugar on hand to actually try this home remedy... but any time I burnt my tongue during the last 5 or so years, I thought, 'Now where can I find me some sugar?'.

Yesterday, I sipped my Moroccan Pomegranate Red tea too early and regretted it. Immediately my tongue was seared, and I grabbed for the icing from my leftover birthday cake. The sugary substance was soothing on my tongue immediately. Miraculously, 24 hours later, my tongue feels fine.

Try this one at home, folks, and let me know if you're successful.

Sweeter Than Cake

2006-02-27T06:23:00.000-07:00

I'm back from the parents' house, where we celebrated last week's birthday. Pictured is my FAVORITE cake in the universe, homemade by mom and complete with almond bakery frosting. She even sent me home with leftovers!

The big news is that I got a domain name for my birthday! Rob was thoughtful enough to purchase the one I'd been wanting, and now it's up to me to convert everything over from here to WordPress. I have already begun playing with the templates, and can't wait to explore all that is out there! I'll keep posting here until the final switch-over.

Kansas City debrief

2006-02-20T13:35:00.000-07:00

I've been anticipating this first visit to Rob's parents for some time now. Close friends know that I've been counting down ever since he bought our tickets. Now I'm back in Colorado Springs after our fabulous visit, and it's a bit sad to come down from so many good times and laughs. During our return trip yesterday, Rob and I reminisced about all of the great family I was able to meet; all people who are such important parts of his life. We also lamented that we didn't take many photos. We were just having such a great time, I didn't remember to get the camera out when it really would have mattered. Rob's parents are wonderful and sweet and funny. I wished we could have stayed longer (so I could try my hand at Carcassonne again!). Rob's sister Melissa and her husband Jim are lots of fun and were the source of much hilarious laughter. I can't wait to see them and mispronounce tons of words with them again.

Here are three photos that we did manage to take:

Rob and the Magnificent Ceiling

Rob and I were at the KCI airport waiting for Jim and Melissa to pick us up when we started taking goofy photos. I like this one because I implies the fun we had while waiting. We sat back, propped our feet on our suitcases, and played sudoku in between giggling about THAT GUY who was cruising us and that couple where the man was grumpy.

Rob + Sarah!

This photo was taken during our visit with Julie and James and their 4 girls. Wow, I just love Jules and James! For those who don't know, James and Julie were present when I first met Rob in person. They certainly added to the great overall first impression of Rob. It was so neat to visit their home, laugh with them and their charming daughters, and eat with them. We LOVED the taco soup!

Santa Fe Egg Cups

On top of a wonderful visit and all the snack food I could ever imagine, Rob's family surprised me with birthday cake and some gifts yesterday. They gave me these beautiful egg cups, which I had been coveting on my Amazon wish list for some time now. I think my life is close to perfect now that I have egg cups (and you can see that they match my kitchen)!

It's always hard to get back to normal life after a wonderful trip such as this, but I'll try. Thank you to everyone who made this weekend outstanding.

I Love Roses

2006-02-15T21:57:00.000-07:00

For a long time, I thought it the gift of flowers was silly. Frivolous. I felt a little guilty for secretly wanting roses on Valentine's Day (or for no reason at all), as if they were an unjustified use of money.

Flowers, to me, are a gift of sweet thoughts; a delicate token of affection. A breath of garden-y freshness in the dead of Colorado winter. I love roses. (Thank you, dear!)

Some Artsy Fun

2006-02-08T19:14:00.000-07:00

I'm the maid of honor for a dear friend's upcoming wedding, so I'm hosting her bridal shower next month at my house. Never one to go out and buy something I could make myself, I created these invitations using cardstock and Publisher. I've never been a natural scrapbooker or stamper, but I had a lot of fun creating these! Tonight I finally finished gluing the invitations together and sent them all out in the mail. Here's a picture of one:Thanks to my newest download, Gimp, I was able to blur personal information for Internet viewing. Cool!

Dog Blog Monday

2006-02-06T21:55:00.000-07:00

I know it's Internet tradition to post photos of one's pets on a Friday; a light and fluffy post is typical weekend-fare. But today was a rough day back; the kids were braindead and I felt really yuck when I dragged myself home at last. On a happy and cheerful note, I give you...

Royal watching "Antarctica (IMAX)".

This was the part where there were seals videotaped underwater, barking and making general seal noises. My dog held this pose for the whole scene!

The Thrill of a Word Cloud

2006-01-31T20:37:00.000-07:00

Hey, cool! I had a word cloud made at Snapshirts. It analyzed all of the words I've used in my posts and gave emphasis to the ones I've used more often.

Now, what's up with "lexicographer"?

Numb is Good, You See

2006-01-31T18:10:00.000-07:00

I just completed another training run; 2 miles today. I feel especially proud because I didn't stop at all. As a gal who's always been a natural sprinter, I feel like it's a big achievement for me. I've been a sporadic runner since I was a kid; Mom or Dad would enter all three of us in a fun run or 5K and we'd practice running at the park a few times before the big event. Those were the days!

In the past few years, I would try to stick with running (because I wanted to run so badly) but always increased my mileage too quickly, resulting in a wacky knee pain. This time around, I'm taking it slow; increasing by .25 of a mile every week and not sweating the days when circumstances keep me from my planned jog.

Today's run felt amazing because A) my dog was happy- as evidenced by the tail that never stopped wagging- and B) my body didn't hurt at all. I used to feel pain in my legs and lungs all the time when I ran. Lately it feels neutral when I'm out there; I feel as if I could just keep going forever.

I feel as if I would be capable of anything if I could just conquer this half-marathon.

iPod go boom

2006-01-24T20:13:00.000-07:00

I have bad news about my cute pink iPod, which I've not even had for a whole year. I'm pretty sure it's dead, with no hope of recovery.

I dropped it on the pavement as I was walking out to my car Saturday... I slipped on a patch of ice and momentarily lost my grip.

I've tried resetting it and doing other variations of the remedies listed in the iPod user's manual. However, all my iPod wants to do is charge... nothing more. I can't connect it or look at music, and of course, listening to music is out of the question.

I'm so sad that it's gone... and yet, it feels incredibly silly to say it. It's just that... well, I listened to it all the time! In my car, while running, during my side job in my friend's home office.

The motto? Hold on to your mp3 players. They're obviously not made to last!

Changes to My Site + the Panda Book

2006-01-20T11:10:00.000-07:00

I've made a few changes to the site this morning on this wonderful SNOW DAY! First, I added a "subscribe to this blog" feature. I also changed the order in which my side bar items appear, and added a "recent comments" section. Let me know if you have any problems with these new features. They should make life easier for my few but faithful readers.

I'm thinking about punctuation a lot lately. One of my favorite nerd books is "Eats, Shoots & Leaves," which deals a lot with the rules of punctuation and how people break them. It was so fun the first time, I might need a refresher course soon.

Pause For a Spelling Story

2006-01-18T17:01:00.001-07:00

I recently learned that I have been misspelling "judgment" for all of my life. (I was adding an "e", like many people do.) Interestingly enough, I felt momentarily superior to the woman sitting next to me in a meeting today, who had spelled it incorrectly.

Running Steps

2006-01-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

As previously announced, Rob and I are training for a half-marathon race in June. We snapped this photo on Saturday, just before starting our very first training run together. Wow, running is so much more fun when you have good conversation to keep you going. We set out with the goal to run for a half hour, enjoyed some neat scenery on this little trail, and ended up getting back an hour later. You might want to call us "runners" from now on! The good news is that we have 21 weeks to train. The first step is the St. Patty's Day 5K, which will be pretty simple, then we up our miles over the next 13 weeks for the Run the Rockies Half-Marathon. We're using Hal Higden's training plan, thanks to the expertise of Rob's veteran half-marathoning sister, Melissa. I'm feeling surprisingly excited by the thought of running 13 miles! Having these little details scheduled in makes me feel like it's all very possible and within our grasp now.

The Daredevil that Runs in My Blood

2006-01-11T21:21:00.000-07:00

I realized that it's been a while since I last posted; I guess I just forgot to do it! I have a photo for the blogosphere, though it's a little late, which was taken on Christmas Eve with my family.

The fam was gathered in the pasture saying hello to my mom's horses. All was calm as we held out to them the traditional Christmas apples and Christmas carrots. My brother Luke, e'er the adventurous one, said, "What do you think would happen if I took a running leap onto Luca's back?" I piped up, "I'll get a picture if you do it!" (famous last words).

Now, vital information here is that these horses are living the good life out on the farm. They get ridden a few times a week, but other than that, it's all eat sleep and poop for them. Luca had just finished eagerly munching on his treats, and was not expecting an adult male to jump on his back; hence, the alarmed look in this photo.
Can you tell which direction Luca ran off in, the second after this photo was snapped? Yeah, right at me... After a moment or two when he had picked up some speed, Luke bailed and landed on his butt. After that, the horse would not come near us for fear of a second go-'round.

Hey, World!

2006-01-06T06:46:00.000-07:00

My brother has a blog now! My family has always agreed that he's a naturally good writer, with quirky ways of making the ordinary sound hilariously funny. I can't wait to read more as he continues to post. Read Mark's musings at Leapkick to judge for yourself.

Happy New Year!

2006-01-01T09:27:00.000-07:00

Goals. I'm setting two goals (because I'm not that into resolutions) this year; one for the challenge and the other for the fun.

1. I will run a half-marathon race. In addition to the health benefits, I want to be back on a running schedule that has an end goal attached. Rob has volunteered to train with me and run the race, which adds even more incentive. Sorry Rob, now I've put it on the Internet and you are officially trapped! Starting today, I'm on the plan toward a 5K, a 10K, then a 1/2 marathon in June. I'm considering the Steamboat Half Marathon or the Run the Rockies Half Marathon.

2. I will roast my own coffee beans at home. This has been a dream for quite a while now, but I'm ready to do it this year. Amazon carries the Freshroast Plus 8 Coffee Roaster and the I-Roast; not sure which model to purchase, though. As a coffee aficionado, I feel it is my duty to venture out into this uncharted territory, especially when I've heard that it will knock my socks off. As if I need another reason to stay constantly caffeinated...

Happy New Year to all!

2 Revelations Regarding Flushable Wipes

2005-12-31T13:19:00.000-07:00

A.) These babies are not intended to cleanse a filthy bathroom. If you have a beyond dirty bathroom with toothpaste caked on the sink and soap dried solid on the basin, this product just might do more harm than good. I'm just saying.

B.) I don't even think I need to explain here. Simply amazing.

A Cookie Share, For All Who Care

2005-12-27T15:35:00.000-07:00

It is an annual tradition to decorate cookies at Mom and Bill's house. Lots of cookies, and then some. My brother Mark and I were fortunate enough to arrive on the 23rd in time to decorate the whole batch with Mom. After many years, we have noticed a pattern that emerges while we are in the midst of our decorating fervor. At first, cookies are decorated with intricate artistry.
The next stage is to start "customizing" cookies. This starts with family members and significant others, then regresses into beloved pets and then, pets who are no long with us. For example:This leads to the cramping of the hand and then the factory-style, mass production of cookies.The final stage is the cynicism, in which Mark and I try to outdo each other in the "Ugly Cookie" category. I give you:

The Cookie of Unmentionable Color

The Overloaded Cookie

Lumpy Smile (a personal favorite)

Marky and I took some of photos with the cookies that had personal significance. I hope your Christmas was joyful. Mine certainly was!

Embarrassing Admission

2005-12-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

Quick post from the parents' dial-up connection. Wow, I miss high-speed Internet, but it is great to be relaxing with the family. Marky is here today and tomorrow Luke and Tori come for the day. I'm also looking forward to the famous Bill breakfast in the morning, complete with farm-fresh eggs.

Now, for the confession part. I was in the mall 2 days ago, at Gap or Old Navy, I think. Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" was playing loudly and I found myself singing along. Not silently. What is wrong with me? I mean, I hadn't heard the song since LAST December and it did seem a little like an old friend whom I hadn't seen in a while. But, goodness, listen to my excuses- what is wrong with me?

Just typing that makes me feel a little lighter in conscience, but a new problem has arisen: now the song is in my head. In fact, during the last hour, it's been playing, loop-style, in my brain. Make it stop, please!

Merry Christmas to all!

Care Package from Bean Town

2005-12-21T11:12:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Had sent me a Christmas care package that arrived yesterday! Yippee for me! Had always makes the best mix CD's (3 this time) and sends the most quirky cool gifts. Christmas is at last here. (click the images for a larger view)

Gotta love the card!

Here's the ornament that's now hanging on my tree.

Haven't you always wanted a little box that opens up to 50 other tiny nested boxes? Cleo, in the background, was elated at the chance to play with tape.

Ha ha, Had never misses a chance to label me a liberal.

I've never heard of this book but it's the sort of book I'd want to read! The best kind of gift is something you didn't even know you wanted. :-)

Thanks, Had; you rock!

Tonight, I Taught My Lab to Catch Popcorn In His Mouth

2005-12-21T00:15:00.000-07:00

I had to demonstrate how I catch popcorn in my mouth before he truly understood.

He's a genius, I know.

Fruitcake, At Last Finished

2005-12-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

It's funny, but I've been dreaming about making my own fruitcake for some time now. I have always been a closet fan of the stuff, despite public ridicule.

For this batch, I modified a recipe I found on the Internet: I used dried cherries, cranberries, and strawberries, with walnuts.

It is WONDERFUL! I'm so proud.

Do Photos Speak a Thousand Words?

2005-12-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

I couldn't quite narrow down what I want to say to the blogging world right now, but I DO have lots of great photos from my wonderful weekend. Here are a few:

Friday afternoon at the all-school Songfest, the last song required the teachers to get out in the middle of the gym floor and boogie, much to the students' delight. In the middle is Jordan and me, trying to direct the masses since we didn't have jingle bells. Notice the look of glee on the teachers' faces, with only 20 minutes 'til Winter Break!

Friday night annual Christmas Glam Night Out; pictured is me, Beth, and Ginger.

Saturday was a snowy day; Rob and I made a fire in the fireplace after we cleaned up a rather unfortunate dog-got-into-the-chocolate mess.

Sunday we tackled my new cold brewing system for coffee (AWESOME gift, Rob). The photo is actually from today's final draining stage. And wow- what a smooth cup of coffee it made!

Perfect Christmas Gifts Found!

2005-12-14T22:22:00.000-07:00

I went on a frantic shopping mission tonight: to find gifts for my dear friends Beth, Becky and Melanie. I really want to say what I got, and none of them really read this blog much. But what if they should check my blog by chance before I give them their gifts Friday night? Merry Christmas to the girls. You make my life more rich and exciting; more full of love and grace.

Amateur Photo of the Week

2005-12-11T07:40:00.000-07:00

A sweet surprise from Rob. :-)
(I know, Stainless, I'm not being very subtle...)

Still learning how to use my camera, I took this shot with all of the flowers in the picture but only focused on one. I'm very happy with the way this photo turned out.

I'm sure there's a kitty in there...

2005-12-07T13:54:00.000-07:00

Royal, outside the bathroom where Cleo eats. I found him this way, waiting for her to come out but unwilling to just barge in!

Local Readership?

2005-12-06T23:12:00.000-07:00

I checked my stats tonight and saw that two people in the last 2 days have checked my blog... from Colorado Springs. Who are you people in my fair city?

Snow + Royal = Fun

2005-12-03T20:36:00.000-07:00

It snowed a LOT today... such a pleasant surprise! My sweet dog was bouncing around, full of joy when I let him out, so I decided to join him and take a few photos.

This crazy animal made me laugh for 30 minutes straight; all from his jumping around and putting his face in the snow.

I would throw a small log from my wood pile, and the crazy guy would chase it wildly! He's not much of a fetch dog normally.

Here he is, trying unsuccessfully to pick up the log.

Royal looking pensive for the camera.

I love him so much. I never imagined the delight I would take in owning a dog.

What NOT to say to your child's teacher...

2005-12-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

after a long field trip, on which you have been a chaperone:

"Are you guys doing anything the rest of the day? I think I'm going to take little Johnny home with me now."

Nah... I know we have another hour and a half left, but I just figured we'd lie on the floor and take naps. Just kind of "veg."

Freakin' Amazing!

2005-12-01T17:43:00.000-07:00

My brother brought me this nifty little treat for our Thanksgiving road trip. Yes, you read the label correctly; the latte is self-heating! Mark opened it for me while we were driving near La Veta Pass. It was a very involved process to get the sleeve to heat the insides, involving a seal that needed to be broken by popping the bottom tab, then pushing a little button while the latte was upside down. The heating process took about 10 minutes total. The beverage was palatable; in fact, it was downright delicious!

Wow!

A Self-Guided Tour...

2005-11-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

It's done; I've put up my tree; the Christmas season can begin now. Briana, a friend's daughter whom I watch on Tuesday nights, was at my house and was very eager to help me put up my tree. She was also intrigued by the crawlspace where the tree is kept year round. (I did not tell her that mice live there year round as well!) We put up the tree and in the process had to move the entire living room around!

I have listened to about 3 hours' worth of Christmas music, put up the angel chimes, and I got out the Christmas placemat. To give you a taste of the Christmas joy that has filled my home, you are invited on a virtual tour. Go at your own pace, and most of all, enjoy.

First, my lovely tree. I set it up in a corner this year to discourage the dog from knocking it over!

I love this ornament because I made it for my very first Christmas in C/S. A friend and I literally went crazy that year and made all our own ornaments from "scratch," which really means spending lots and lots of money at Hobby Lobby. Though we are no longer friends now, I wonder every year if she thinks of me when she hangs her ornaments.

This is an example of the kind of ornaments 4th grade teachers get every year. Please don't do this to your kids' teachers- think massage gift certificates instead. :-) Picture this one, multiplied by 30 at least, and that's the Christmas loot I get to haul home every December. The curious thing about teacher ornaments is that whoever creates them usually mixes several themes at once. This one is a snowman, angel, AND a student!

Another example of a classic teacher ornament. I might have loved it, had it not said "A+ Teacher" on it. Do you really think that most teachers want to be reminded of their career on their Christmas trees?

This bear angel was given to me by a friend when I moved out to Colorado. It came from a hip little boutique downtown. I remember the wrapping paper and box so vividly because of the important time in my life. I think it's my very favorite ornament.

Last but not least, the lovely angel found at the top of my tree. It reminds me of a Cabbage Patch doll for some reason. A sweet kid gave this to me my first year of teaching, and while I'm not really into stuffed animals or even stuffed angels, I find this gal's smile irresistible.

I'm Back!

2005-11-27T01:25:00.000-07:00

Pictured is brother Mark, lovely stepmom Erica, me, dog Sally, and of course, my dog Royal. This was taken on a boat dock near their house where we took the dogs to chase bunnies. They had the time of their lives! :-) Mark and I also had a great time visiting Dad and Erica in Dolores (small, cute town in SW Colorado).

I wish we could have all been in this fantastic photo. I'll post some more photos later from our trip.

And- I just have to brag that I got my dad to create a blog, upload some photos to flickr, enroll in Blogrolling, and switch to Firefox, all in 2 days. Amazing, eh?

Cool Cuke Finishes Soup

2005-11-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Ah, I love soup weather. Except for the fact that it doesn't stay soup weathery very long in Colorado. It's 57 degrees right now, and I'm NOT teaching this week. Instead I'm making butternut squash soup and listening to music and seeing friends. Oh, the joy!

I think I'm going to take Royal to the dog park now. I can't miss a perfect day like this!

Anti-Gourd Makes Gourd Soup

2005-11-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

Yeah, I know, I hate the gourd family. No one needs to remind me. And I should not be cooking with gourds or admitting that I cook with gourds, or, God forbid, admitting on the Internet that I cook with gourds. But I have an amazing recipe for this butternut squash soup, and just had to cave to create this culinary masterpiece. To document this portion of the soup process, I used my handy Kodak EasyShare C340, a la AliThinks. I just adore her food photos and want to take pictures just like her.

I started with this recipe from the Cooking Bible (best birthday gift ever; thanks, Mom):

Then I sliced the butternut squash. As you can see, they really are quite beautiful, even though they smell like a cross between a gourd and a melon, two hated food families of mine.

After the hour of baking the squash, my house smelled magnificent and cozy. I thought I did such a great job on the baking of the gourds that I might want to wait until tomorrow to actually make the soup portion.

To be continued...

Eeeek! A mouse! (not for the squeamish)

2005-11-20T22:05:00.000-07:00

Three posts in one day- what is going on here? I suppose I just have had a very eventful day.

This morning I came downstairs to find Cleo the cat growling as I came toward her. My first thought was that she was guarding one of her fake mouse toys; not really normal behavior from her.

Yep, you guessed it: she had a real mouse in her mouth. I sort of, uh, panicked. Thought she would drop it if I commanded her to, like a dog might. She didn't. When my screaming started, she took her prey and ran with it upstairs.

By the time I reached her, she was going crazy, pawing at the small chest of drawers behind my door. I assume that the mouse ran under it and was trapped because Cleo stayed there for quite a while, persisting with vocal agitation. Now, at this point, my parents had just arrived for the day- and according to my mom, "If Cleo wants to take care of this mouse for you, you should just let her." So while we were at church, the cat stayed intently glued to this dresser....

This evening I got brave and put a mouse trap in the spot where the mouse was supposed to be, just between the wall and the back of the dresser. Several hours later, after checking the mouse trap obsessively, I got up the courage to push the dresser back and find the mouse (presumably dead). No mouse to be found. I don't know how the little guy escaped me, the cat, AND the mouse trap! I'm assuming he was mortally wounded, the way Cleo had him in her mouth... but he still managed to get away!

There were mouse droppings under the dresser... and I've never seen them before in my house, so I'm going to tell myself that this was the lone ranger who ventured out and was made an example so that the others won't follow. (Shudder... I really don't like mice... or killing them. Or thinking about mice in my house.)

On the bright side, I kind of had an "I'm an adult moment" when I chose to pull the dresser back. My impulse this morning was to ask Bill (my stepdad) to find and exterminate the mouse for me... ewww, I don't do these things. But I didn't ask. Yes, I whined and worried my way through church and lunch out with them, though. Mom gave advice and even laughed about Cleo, the mouse killer, but ultimately when the left this afternoon, I still had to deal with it. There are certain things I'd rather not do (involving dead animals lately), and I am realizing slowly that NO ONE loves to do these tasks. It's just that the truly mature, strong individuals grit their teeth and do it anyway, then move on. Sometimes these mature, composed individuals have even done the despicable tasks for me (thank you Melissa, Melinda, and Mom!). I'm ready now to be the adult here.

I'll keep you posted on the mouse hunt.

-------------------UPDATE 11/22:-------------------

Hooray!
Cleo killed the mouse last night! I shut her out of my bedroom for the night so she could do her work in private, and when I came downstairs this morning there was a little, um, present for me left on the carpet. Cleo slept peacefully above her defeated prey in the armchair, and I told her what a wonderful mouser she's become. I'm so relieved that the mouse is gone!

Is this why I don't nap?

2005-11-20T16:24:00.000-07:00

My parents left town this afternoon to return to the farm, and I decided that I really needed to... rest.........my.....................eyes. I slept for 2 hours solid on the couch.

I woke up with an odd dizzy feeling and sluggish limbs. My thoughts aren't very clear, and I feel a little like I'm still dreaming. I feel incredibly indecisive about what to do for the next 2 hours before I head off to church movie night.

I wondered long ago if I was not cut out for naps; I'm still not good at them because I don't fall asleep easily. My mind doesn't want to quiet down in the middle of a sunny day. Then it takes me too long to recover from a nap once I've taken it.

Any suggestions from napping experts out there?

Cleo At Her Best

2005-11-20T08:15:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've posted a picture of Cleo, so I thought I'd give you a photo of her acting a little off... Note: there were no flying insects above this cat as I had initially thought; however, she held this pose for a good half hour while fixated on the ceiling above. This is all the proof I need to show the world that Cleo is a little bit crazy.

What Birth Order Are You?

2005-11-17T16:26:00.000-07:00

You Are Likely a First Born

At your darkest moments, you feel guilty.
At work and school, you do best when you're researching.
When you love someone, you tend to agree with them often.

In friendship, you are considerate and compromising.
Your ideal careers are: business, research, counseling, promotion, and speaking.
You will leave your mark on the world with discoveries, new information, and teaching people to dream.

The Birth Order Predictor

So right on, it's a little scary...

What's the best snack in the world?

2005-11-16T11:13:00.000-07:00

Wasabi peas, of course.... just had to clear that up. Peace.

Which Narnia Character are you?

2005-11-15T09:32:00.000-07:00

This quiz should help some of you pass the time between now and December 9th!

"As Prince Caspian you are a noble, goodhearted but mischievous scallywag! Fun loving, you are admired for your easy going nature."

TV Tangled

2005-11-14T23:06:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking about TV and me, thanks to Barb's post called The TV Monster. I read it earlier this evening and was thinking about the best moments in my life; they've all been away from the TV, or at least engaging in other active things, mentally.

I wrote a poem in college about TV's grasp on me; on many people, I think. I won't subject my faithful and often complimentary readers to the amateur verse, but it was a favorite because it reflected a weakness in me.

See, I never grew up with a TV. Our mom wouldn't let us watch anything unless it was a movie, and even then we had to haul the 13-inch set + VCR up from the laundry room. I have other friends who grew up TV-less, and we think that our brains are less able to tune out the TV when it's on now. When we are in front of a TV, our mouths gape widely and sometimes we say things like, "What? What did you just say...?" TV entrances me, to put it bluntly.

So why do I have one today? Well, I live alone, and while I don't really WANT to watch mindless television very often, I still tend to flick it on when there's a quiet moment. Sigh. I don't know why. I think it's a bad habit, maybe?

So here's the idea I have... the TV will not come on at my house, except for movies and pre-arranged TV programs. Even when I come home from school and I want nothing more than to lie down and just veg... I'll do that without TV. I want to keep this vow until the end of 2005 to see how I feel. I know that I am happiest when I have to create... whether it's art or music or thoughts. When I sit passively, my mind feels soothed for a small period of time... and then comes the regret, later. I want to realize the time lost to television, how precious time is, and that I can never reclaim it.

Passages- A 2005 Soundtrack

2005-11-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

A lot of things have happened this season, and as I find myself heading into winter, I am struck with the urge to create a soundtrack. Yes, a soundtrack for this period in my life, where I'm reflecting and thinking often, and listening to a LOT of music. I made my first soundtrack in '01, titled Sarah's Summer CD, and, equally original, later made Sarah's Summer CD 2004.

Well... this is a good one, folks. I did repeat some artists on the disc, and while I don't really like doing that, I am in a phase where I really just love these singers/bands (esp. Ben Folds). The songs don't all have lyrical significance; some are just songs I can't get enough of right now!

Here it is:

On Your Porch- The Format
In Between Days- Ben Folds
White Shadows- Coldplay
You Speak My Language- Morphine
Laura- Scissor Sisters
The Hardest Part- Coldplay
Bruised- The Bens
Title and Registration- Death Cab for Cutie
Trouble- Ray LaMontagne
Give Judy My Notice- Ben Folds
Brand New Colony- The Postal Service
Mary- Scissor Sisters
Places- Blue Merle
Landed (Strings Version)- Ben Folds
Swallowed In The Sea- Coldplay
Leif Erikson- Interpol
Prison Food- Ben Folds
Angry Any More- Ani Difranco

What are the songs on your mental Fall 2005 Soundtrack?

No Internet... a Sad State

2005-11-12T13:17:00.000-07:00

I have returned, happily, from my math conference in Denver. It was the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, and a fantastic time. I learned a lot, walked a lot downtown, and had a lovely weekend.

My panic this weekend was that I didn't have a computer or Internet access. Seriously, the Marriott hotel wanted to charge me $5 for a 15 minute stint on their computer. What a waste!

I saw a sight that I wanted to photograph and then blog, but unfortunately I didn't have the camera with me. Instead, I'll share it using words and a photo I found on Google:

Renee and I were walking down the 16th Street Mall after a delicious meal of spicy tuna and eel rolls (plus 2-for-1 wine). We walked past one of those carriages that sit and wait for customers on high traffic corners, and noticed a dog up on the carriage, next to his book-reading master. The dog was a Shepherd; sort of small for the breed but perhaps a mix. He was sitting next to her, so proudly and distinguished, that I almost thought he was the operator. His head was high, his nose was up, and he just seemed to be king of the carriage as he waited, motionless. I wanted so badly to take that photo!

How would you respond...

2005-11-08T18:29:00.000-07:00

if a co-worker commented on your new haircut, saying, "Wow, you look SO much thinner."?

What the...???? Was that a compliment? Uh... I think she meant it as one, that's the sad thing.

It does make one a little self-conscious, though.

I'm going to not think about it now, since about 100 kids gave me props for my haircut today, and managed NOT to insult me in the process. :-)

"Before" Shot...

2005-11-07T22:08:00.000-07:00

Just minutes before making the cut.

And Here's the "After"...

2005-11-07T22:07:00.000-07:00

Any time I've made a drastic hair change, I've always hated the cut for at least a week. But this time- I really like it! I am glad that I finally took the plunge. :-)

And wow- I just have to give Ulta Salon kudos here, for their awesome, free haircut. The stylist spent a good hour on me making sure it was just what I wanted, and they even sent the hair in to Locks of Love for me. I was so grateful for her help... and tipped generously as a result.

And in case you're wondering, all you voters out there, I did choose B. Thank you for everyone who helped me make the cut!

Google Queen

2005-11-06T07:26:00.000-07:00

Why do you think I'm currently the number one link under "cucumber baking" on Google? Hmmm.

Ain't technology great?

Arright, it's time for a haircut

2005-11-04T21:07:00.000-07:00

Apparently it's haircut season... everyone I know is getting one, and I finally have 10 inches to chop for Locks of Love! I also decided to copy Rob again, so my apologies in advance for stealing his great hair-voting idea.

The question of the hour is, which haircut does Sarah get? Remember, folks, it's for the kids... so I don't want to hear that you want me to keep it long! Here are your options:

A:

B:

C:

Vote early, vote often! I make the cut (ah-ha-ha-ha...) Sunday, so get your vote in now!

Teaching Story For Ya'

2005-11-03T18:17:00.000-07:00

I have a child in my class whom I'll call Daniel. He's a fun kid; smart, charming, and very likeable.

I got a big surprise when I received a message yesterday from his mother. Here's what she said:

"Hi Sarah... We have somewhat of a mystery at our house... well, um, I guess we've solved it, but... (fumbling for words) I just wanted to let you know what was going on. I got a call from the school office today to tell me that a screw came out of Daniel's glasses, and they replaced it. Um... but, Sarah, Daniel doesn't wear glasses."

What? 'Yes he does,' I think, 'All year long, he's worn sleek, thin, black glasses!' He puts them on every day before reading class and wears them faithfully throughout the day. Why, just today during our measurement unit, he discovered that the width of his glasses is exactly one decimeter. What in the world....

As it turns out, our charming little Daniel fessed up to stealing his dad's reading glasses from home and wearing them at school... for MONTHS now. His dad has been tearing up the house looking for his favorite glasses, while his son is masquerading as a glasses wearer at school!

I laughed for 5 solid minutes with this parent on the phone. She is a good friend of mine (and, strangely enough, also an EU grad) and I had to just chuckle at the grand heist that Daniel pulled off. Not bad, I thought, although VERY, very naughty.

Read and Weep, Marky

2005-11-01T20:27:00.000-07:00

My brother Mark was in Old Navy with me a few weeks ago, and he was adamant about the idea that pet clothes are stupid. I know, and I can sympathize because I used to feel that way. But- that was before I found this tonight... I am now one of those silly pet people who does brainless things just to make their pets look cute. (But he is so darned cute in his fleece hoodie!)

I Love Nighttime

2005-10-31T23:06:00.000-07:00

...because I can only hear the clock ticking and the occasional car pass on the road.

...because I just heard a train far off, and I was so happy that I could hear a train from here if I listen really carefully. (It reminds me of my childhood friend Katie, who lived in Covington, Georgia. She had railroad tracks right behind her house in her family's woods, and the trains woke me up at night. But imagine... to have your OWN woods, full of trees to climb and leaves to crunch.)

...because the blue shadows from the windows are nostalgic to me; I don't know why. I do remember feeling very deeply for the shadows which come into nighttime windows at the age of six, though.

...because I tell myself that everyone is sleeping but me. Now; I do know that I'm not the only one up, but I love the feeling that almost everyone around me in these houses is missing out on this moment.

...because watching the lights of the city is endlessly fascinating. Imagining the lives and people associated with every tiny pin-pricked light is another longtime hobby of mine. Mountains to the west make this especially interesting.

For a Good Time...

2005-10-29T17:34:00.000-06:00

visit Wag 'N Wash! Becky and I took our new dogs to the self-serve dog wash today. It was so hilarious to wash our dogs (whom we are sure were never bathed before), and I have the pictures to prove it: Royal was terrified to even go inside the washing station- he just planted his feet until I had to coax him in with treats!. After a few minutes in the warm water, he relaxed. In this rare moment, he even looks like he's enjoying himself!
Saber was a good boy as well- he was less anxious than Royal! The only bad moment came when he tried to go for the store cat who happened to amble by.

Dinner and Some Honest Words

2005-10-27T20:36:00.000-06:00

Mmmm... Does this look good or what? The cottage cheese mixed in the angel hair pasta is courtesy of Melissa, who really likes when I use her name on the Internet. She taught me how to REALLY eat pasta- in a bowl!

I've been thinking about blogging and why I do it; why I started in July. My life has changed immensely in this short period of time, and I guess I want to be sure that I'm doing it for the right reasons. Well, the first was to have a creative outlet (though it's not always very creative... oh well). I think I'm upholding that end of it. Next, I wanted to keep in touch with some friends who are also technology addicts, and that's working too. Last, I wanted to be able to write about some things that I still need to work through in real life. It's always easier to write or type thoughts out before I speak them. This is the part I'm not actually implementing, simply because I'm afraid. I am realizing that I have friends who read this blog, and, just like real life, I don't want them to be disappointed in me. I tend to present the parts that my family or friends will approve of or pat me on the back for. So for me, this post signals that I want to be as open as I can in writing so that I can transfer it into my living, breathing, speaking to another human face, life. I don't want to hold back- and if you're reading this, and continue to read, you are choosing to, despite the disappointments I may throw your way.

I cannot write simply to be read; if I want to be genuine, I have to write my true thoughts as they come to me. (But not ALL... there are some things which must remain sacred!)

Truth: I had a hard time last weekend, and I'm worried about this one coming up. There's an incredible amount of time to be wasted feeling sorry for oneself when you are lonely. Don't get me wrong, I have friends, ones I wish I could see more of, and life has taken many of us apart for varying reasons. I understand this. I don't intend to guilt any of my friends reading this into calling me up, or asking me out for coffee. Rather, I feel like I am being stretched and challenged by this alone time, and I realize that I am finally learning to reach out to others instead of simply waiting to be reached at.

To Honor the Helping Verb

2005-10-25T21:51:00.000-06:00

By the way, have I told you of the song I have my 4th-graders sing about the different types of verbs? Yes, it's true... and the song is set to the tune of B-I-N-G-O; with 3 separate verses, even. Anyway, I'm sidetracked here... Had from Boston posted this blog game on her blog, and I of course responded to the challenge:

1) Reply with your name and I'll respond with something random about you.
2) I'll tell you what song/movie reminds me of you.
3) I'll pick a flavor/color of jello to wrestle with you in.
4) I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.
5) I'll tell you my first memory of you.
6) I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7) I'll ask you something that I've always wondered about you.
8) If I do this for you, you must post this on your journal. You MUST. It is written.

Had wrote back to me:

ok, your name... baker...
1) you're my very favorite person to converse with.
2) where the streets have no name -- it's by u2, so that's a given. but it also has the bleeding heart/sell all my possessions and save the world passion that i associate with you.
3) green. definitely lime green.
4) nu gamma lambda!!!
5) sitting across from you at the caf - you were sitting with nate sidmore and i was with jess myers. we struck up a conversation about the "cup o' joe" esga propaganda on the table.
6) a cat.
7) are you a liberal!?
8)put it on the cuke zone.

Anyone I know up for this fun blogging game? Just comment and let me know!

Ethiopia Success

2005-10-24T22:24:00.000-06:00

Becky is home again from Ethiopia, rested, and I got to spend the evening with her and Melanie. She gave me a beautiful pendant that looks like two little huts (it's an antique), and I'm going to put it on a beaded necklace. She also gave me two portraits, painted on goatskin. I think I'll take pictures of the items so I can display them here... they are beautiful and so special.

I started realizing recently that I need to go to Ethiopia next summer to help out. With my summers off as a teacher, how could I not? I spoke with Becky tonight and she was excited to hear this- I realized that I could easily save up enough to pay for my flight, then staying there would be relatively cheap. I'm so excited with possibilities!

I also thought I'd copy some of Becky's last post regarding the good news in Ethiopia. Read on:

My six year old niece, Gracie, had given me a baby doll to take with me for a girl in Ethiopia. She was a cute one with three pink outfits and a bottle. I realized that I hadn't had a chance to give her to the "right" girl. I asked Legesse if he thought Martha, our former Fistula survivor, would be willing to make sure she went to the right home. As I pulled the baby doll out, I wish you could have seen Martha's face. She had never seen a doll before and had only lost her baby about one year ago. She gasped, and spent about 45 minutes rocking the "baby", examining the toes, shushing, etc. It was such a time of mourning. Again, one more trauma that the Fistula women have encountered, the loss of a child. Needles to say, our "baby" stayed home with Martha.

On Monday morning, we had a meeting scheduled with USAID. I was hoping for about fifteen minutes to ask some basic questions. We arrived a little early and were escorted into a big conference room. Thirteen people joined our meeting including representatives from the US Embassy. They spent about one hour talking to me. Everyone gave me their card. The team leader told me that she thinks I am truly on the right path and that Congress has just earmarked money that has to be used for Fistula recovery. She said we seem right down the line they are looking for. Hmmmm....... I also had a meeting with the US Embassy. They asked for an article to put in their newsletter about our opening. Yippee!

After lunch with some friends, Legesse and I went on to the Fistula Hospital to meet with Ruth Kennedy. She had lots of great ideas and encouragement. (Dr. Catherine told her I was having some bumps, how embarrassing) She told us a story about when Dr Catherine and her husband began treating Fistula patients. They had to hide them under the stairway so the other patients wouldn't see them. These are the modern day lepers. And then on to a meeting to sign a six month contract for our compound!!!!!! I got to see it with my own eyes. Guess the color???? Yes, PINK!!!! With a big tree and water to wash with. I'll be home before we actually get to greet our first women. But..... February isn't far.
Thank you for all your prayers and letters of encouragement. I've sure been learning the lesson about sharing each others burdens. Thank you for sharing mine. See you soon!

Which State Are You?

2005-10-23T12:36:00.000-06:00

Man, I've posted a lot this weekend... I must have too much free time on my hands.

I took this quiz for fun, and the results are pretty amusing (4.5 years in Springfield must have done this to me!). Try it yourself and post your results!

You're Missouri!
An admirer of the works of Mark Twain and the steamboat lifestyle, you
are happiest when floating gently down the river. You have a strong sense of
independence, a reverence for saints, and even look up to discredited explorers. With all
these traditional influences, it's no surprise you're at the center of everyone you know,
and are even considered a gateway to the future. If only you could stop drinking the
world's worst beer, you'd be set.
Take the State Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Baking Season

2005-10-23T07:32:00.000-06:00

(Inspired by Rob's baking experience and photo...)

We are officially in the middle of baking season since we have already had one snow here in Colorado. I have been inspired to make all sorts of cozy foods this week, but the best of all was the apple crisp that I made yesterday. Here's a pic for your viewing pleasure, then I'll tell you the details:

I decided after my last crisp that I needed to try a version that was slightly healthier (a whole stick of butter in the last recipe just couldn't be good for you). So... the finished product this time had whole wheat flower instead of white, a few oats tossed in for good measure, 4 tablespoons of Smart Balance spread (all heart-healthy canola, safflower, and olive oils), applesauce for consistency, and a little Splenda for sweetness.

And it's good. I eat it and taste the goodness of the baked apples inside. However, last time the topping was luxurious and rich, with a delicate crunch when you bit into it. My topping's a little chewier this time, and doesn't have the same consistency as the last time.

Johnny

2005-10-22T23:01:00.000-06:00

I can't wait for the new Cash movie. I just saw this video for the first time... absolutely breathtaking, with the flock of birds flying toward the sky just like Johnny left this earth shortly afterward. I felt myself choking up because of the power of what he is saying in this song. The video is so reminiscent of a younger man, and yet through his accomplishments and trophy case, he still sings,

"And you can have it all; my empire of dirt...."

Play this movie for the experience:

Music Video Codes by VideoCodeZone.com

The Magdalene Sisters movie review

2005-10-22T21:35:00.000-06:00

I saw this absolutely horrifying, incredibly shocking movie tonight. It's an example of the abuses that can happen when the Church has absolute power. This movie, based on a true story, tells of the young women in Ireland who were sent to the Catholic-run Magdalen Asylums for "fallen women" in the mid-1900's. At this time in Ireland, the Church had the most power of any person or institution, especially when it concerned young women and morality. The DVD also includes a special documentary with interviews with some of the women who were incarcerated, some as young as 14.

In the Magdalen Asylums, women were made to work in silence in the laundry facilities all day with no pay, in order to pay penance for sexual immorality. The movie shows the abuse that occurred regularly at the hands of nuns (beatings, inhumane verbal abuse, and most horrifying, the shaving of long hair). Those sent to the Magdalen Asylums by their parents or priests went for having a child out of wedlock or being sexually immoral. Some were even there because they had been sexually violated and their families had abandoned them. Young women who were considered "flirtatious" or "too pretty" were also sent to the Magdalen laundries in order to prevent them from the inevitable "falling away".

The shocking thing is that the last Magdalen Asylum was closed in 1996. Nine years ago. It is thought that there were over 30,000 who stayed at the Magdalen Asylums. If you'd like to learn more, there's an excellent article here from Wikipedia.

The movie was sobering, and it made me think of the lies told to the Magdalens, as well as some of the things we sometimes tell young women today about their sexuality. The nuns told the women that sex was a sin, and that they had to work as hard as possible, avoiding all fleshly things in order to receive forgiveness from God. Sounds a little familiar...

In this movie, there was a lot of talk about living for God by the nuns, especially when they were chastising a Magdalen. They spoke of Him but lacked any evidence of love. Sadly, many former Magdalens have turned away from the church as a result of their abuse; and I can't really blame them.

One of the women's closing words from the documentary:

"I didn't see anything Godly in that church, I didn't see anything Christ-ly. All I saw was a bunch of bullies. That was all I... a bunch of bullies. And- devils dressed up in nuns' habits, that's the way I looked at it."

Royal's Bad Day

2005-10-20T23:02:00.000-06:00

Yep, this picture should explain it all.

He is recovering nicely, however.

A New Box for the Cat!

2005-10-19T20:49:00.000-06:00

This evening, I bought a giant box for the cat. Behold, Cleo inside the most expensive cat toy yet:

Oh, yeah, and it came with a great TV inside also.

Marky Mark and the Funky... Sarah?

2005-10-18T21:40:00.000-06:00

This photo of my youngest brother and I was taken this weekend at our parents' house. While we've always had a youngest/oldest child bond, I've never thought we looked much alike until this past year (and doesn't this picture say it all!). I love this picture because it represents the first evening ritual when we visit the parents... first eating a home cooked meal (always with warm homemade bread), then lingering over coffee, tea, and desserts for hours. Ahhhh...

Postal Service Teaches Metaphors

2005-10-13T22:01:00.000-06:00

I found a great new song today on the CD I got from my friend Melissa. I absolutely love Death Cab for Cutie and Postal Service (same lead singer), and I've been glued to this album nonstop for about two weeks. My new favorite song, you ask? "Brand New Colony"... Joyful, a little ethereal, and dreamy. Here's my favorite part:

I'll be the grapes fermented,
Bottled and served with the table set in my finest suit
Like a perfect gentlemen.
I'll be the fire escape that's bolted to the ancient brick
Where you will sit and contemplate your day.
I'll be the waterwings that save you if you start drowning
In an open tab when your judgement's on the brink.
I'll be the phonograph that plays your favorite
Albums back as your lying there drifting off to sleep...
I'll be the platform shoes and undo what heredity's done to you...
You won't have to strain to look into my eyes.
I'll be your winter coat buttoned and zipped straight to the throat
With the collar up so you won't catch a cold.

I want to take you far from the cynics in this town
And kiss you on the mouth.

Itch

2005-10-12T20:34:00.000-06:00

I came home from school at 8:00 PM tonight. (We had a 12-hour day due to conferences after school). I don't feel exhausted like I normally do, but I feel like I'm missing something. I checked the mailbox. Nothing but advertisements. Checked e-mails. Nothing. Checked the fridge. I'm not hungry. So the question here is, 'What am I missing?' I feel like there's an itch that I can't scratch but I don't know where it is. I don't even know why this is bothering me, but I feel strangely like my head is still "at school". I feel bad for some of my kids in my class, feel like I'm not doing enough to help them feel confident, or challenge them, or love them. I wish I could diffuse the pressure and disapproval that some of them feel from their parents. Wish I could give the anxious boy who broke down in sobs twice during his conference a hug.

Maybe I should pray?

Beautiful Procrastination

2005-10-10T21:46:00.000-06:00

Silliness- that's what this is. I'm trying to avoid grading writing assignments right now. It seems like the kids either REALLY get it or don't have a clue about writing a paragraph. Frustrating. So, instead... ta-dah!

I found this on Ali's Page-

Do a Google image search of the following and post the first (or favorite) result for each:
* The name of the town where you were born
* The name of the town where you live now
* Your name
* Your grandmother's name (just pick one)
* Your favorite food
* Your favorite drink
* Your favorite song
* Your favorite smell

Here are my results:

The town in which I was born:

The town I live in now:

(similar looking... hmm)

My name:

My maternal grandmother's name:

My favorite food:

My favorite drink:

My favorite song:

My favorite smell:

Enjoy! :-)

Two Alarm Fire?

2005-10-10T21:29:00.000-06:00

Question here for the blogging public: Does a "five-alarm fire" mean that five fire engines show up? IF SO-- there was a two-alarm fire just across the street from me this evening.

I was making myself dinner (a new and fascinating hobby- steak!) when I saw flashing red lights out of the corner of my eye. Something about the lights just struck pure terror in me; as in, 'What's wrong? Something is wrong.' I looked out the window just to see the second fire engine show up and the firefighters start talking to the guy living across the street (the unit with the light on in my previous post). Some firefighters rushed into the building, and before long, I could see them steadying a ladder against the chimney of his building and then messing around up there (flashlights, spraying stuff, fans; firefighter stuff). My dog, cat, and I all crept upstairs quietly, turned the lights off, and looked down (for a better view) at the action below. The dog and cat both "stood" looking out- putting their front legs on the window sill for a better look outside... I wish I had a picture of it. :-)

Anyway, it was a simple chimney fire and the engines left after 45 minutes. Scary, nonetheless.

They Want Me to Go to School in This?

2005-10-10T07:38:00.000-06:00

This photo really doesn't do the weather justice. It's absolutely horrible out there. The wind is blowing violently against the trees and my building resonates with these banging sounds.

The school district called a 2-hour delay, so I don't have to go in until 10:00.

But... I wanted a snow day! :-(

Another Update from Ethiopia

2005-10-08T07:52:00.000-06:00

Posted Thursday, by Becky:

Even though I've worked so hard to learn the culture, there are still times when I make big mistakes. Then the judgement of the people feels like a Religious spirit on Meth. (not that I really know what Meth does)This morning a waitress spilled a cup of coffee on a customer. I was watching as it happened. I made the mistake of gasping. In this culture ALL emotions are to be held inside. Everyone was aghast at how uncultured I am. Oops!
I wrote to Martie Sibert and told her that I was walking past an airline office. The thought crossed my mind that I could just hop on a plane and disappear. However, rather than being swallowed by a whale I would probably be swallowed by a hawk. I am holding on to the dream of how it will feel to have the home up and running.
Another obstacle we are encountering is the stigma of once having Fistula. Even though Martha is cured and doing well, if anyone finds out that she once had fistula the whole family will be ostracized from the community. It seems very cruel to me from my cultural vantage. We will need to be very careful with the women we help to keep the purpose of our home a secret.
Dr. Catherine told us a story of one woman who had lived in a dark room for NINE years. Her family threw a plate of food in at mealtimes. She had no human contact and no sanitation for NINE years. She is unable to be fully cured because of the long years with no treatment.
Another woman had been laying in bed with her legs curled underneath her for so long that she could not even move them. After her treatment and physical therapy she is fully cured.
This may be my favorite story. One woman lost five babies before birth. The sixth one caused a fistula. When she finished her treatment, Dr. Catherine told her to go find a new husband and when she could feel the movement, to come quickly to the hospital. It happened and she was able to deliver one healthy baby. Can you imagine her joy?

Dog Blog Friday

2005-10-07T21:26:00.000-06:00

Here's two new photos of Royal, with his new favorite chew treat (hard to see in the photos)... it's called the Everlasting Treat, and it also fits into a fun thing call the Everlasting Treat Ball.

Cool Product of the Week

2005-10-05T21:35:00.000-06:00

I was at a teacher meeting all day Monday when I met another teacher who had a GREAT watch on. I have decided that I NEED one now. All right, maybe I'll wait until they go on sale at the Fossil outlet.

A New Record... Oww!

2005-10-05T20:53:00.000-06:00

I am naturally clumsy. In 7th grade when I was in honor choir, I was kicked out of the elf troupe because I was never going to learn the cute elfling-dance. In high school, I didn't make it through even one day of cheerleader clinic because I couldn't keep up with the movements. (My cheerleader dreams died that very day as a result.)

Yesterday, however, was a new high in clumsiness injuries for me. To start, I was teaching science and a darling 4th-grader abruptly stood up, slamming his chair into my left kneecap. "Owwww!" I whined, tears filling my eyes as I tried to shake off the sharp pain shooting up my leg. His eyes were so big and scared as I reassured him, wincing, that I was all right.

Later, I was leaving a restaurant with friends when I decided to take a shortcut to my car in its parking spot. I leapt up onto the wooden planter separating the parking rows... and missed it barely. SLAM! My right shin hit the edge and the rest of me hit the rocks on top of the planter. Even my keychain, which I'd been holding, was broken by the impact. Owww... I edged down from the planter with the hope that no one saw it. No good- my friend's fiance popped out of his car- "Are you okay...?" (Translation: "How in the world did you do that?") "Yes," I replied sheepishly. I limped to my car where I was able to look at my scraped hands and already bruised legs.

Fair readers, there is still one injury left in my day. Last night in a strange sleeping/twitching incident, I startled my cat, who was sleeping WAY too close to me, apparently. I remember startling, but what I really remember was receiving the gash on my arm- the cat got me with her claws, probably in her sleep! Argggghh...

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

2005-10-04T21:10:00.000-06:00

I found this cool quiz on The shaping of myself towards a more grown-up form. Here is the variety of American English that I speak:

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English

10% Upper Midwestern

10% Yankee

5% Dixie

5% Midwestern

(Note to Melissa: It's pronounced "Car-mul", not "Care-a-mell".) :-)

Here's the quiz if you'd like to take it yourself: What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

Let me know how you score!

The Best Snack In the Whole World and Ethiopia

2005-10-02T21:40:00.000-06:00

Mmmm. I just bought a carton of mango sorbet and I am just sitting here enjoying the warm October night in Colorado.

Church this morning was wonderful, even though my normal church pal Becky wasn't there. She's in Ethiopia for the month working on a nonprofit home she's opened for women with fistula. She posted an update this morning on her web site, and she told me I could quote part of it here:

I am living with Legesse, Bizuneh, Tigist, Martha, and Elizabeth. Martha is the first woman with Fistula that we have helped. She looks so healthy and happy. Tigist was saved from the countryside and forced marriage. Elizabeth is our newest love. She was also saved from forced marriage. Forced marriage is quite common here in the country side. A man waits for the unwilling girl to let her guard down and be somewhere alone. Then his friends hold her down while the man has relations with her. She is then his wife until he leaves her. The house where I live is about two hours from the closest internet center so I may not be able to write as often. We have electricity but no running water. I learned how to shower with a bucket and dipper in the Philippines, so it is really not difficult. We share two bedroom between all of us. It is wonderful to see how much their lives have been improved. Our home is about a 30 minute walk from where the last taxi drops us. As I was walking up the hill after I first arrived, Elizabeth came running. She started crying she was so happy that her whole little body was shaking. You can imagine how I responded. We were a mess. Especially in a country where it is not correct to display emotion publicly.Tomorrow, we will begin our "step by step" with the government to get our home officially opened. I am sure we will have good news soon.

I am so happy for her, and want to travel with her sometime to see this wonderful home that dares to love and care for the outcasts of Ethiopia.

"Parties"

2005-10-01T20:42:00.000-06:00

I had a dilemma... and I guess technically, it's been solved. I made my decision and it's over. I'm not sure many people are even thinking about it anymore, but I thought I'd write about it anyway.

One of my closest friends had a "party" last night. I say "party" because it was one of those trying-to-sell-you-something "parties" disguised as a real party/happy hour on a Friday evening. First of all, I don't like those selling parties. I'd rather have someone invite me to come over and try a product one afternoon than try to pass it off as an opportunity to get people together for fun. She doesn't sell the product herself, but got roped into hosting for an acquaintance of hers who sells the darn stuff. And I don't want to buy this junk anyway.

I saw the party hostess today and asked how everything last night went... she is still puzzled, maybe even a little hurt that I didn't attend.

I guess I don't understand why I had to feel obligated to go in the first place.

Cat Blog Friday

2005-09-30T06:38:00.000-06:00

A Royal Update...

2005-09-29T21:57:00.000-06:00

I'm in love with my new dog. He's so sweet and I let him sleep in my bedroom last night. He calmly slept on the floor while the cat was at the foot of my bed... no fighting or anything. Maybe he's been around cats in the past?

Today I came home from school and Royal was really sluggish and slow... he had a vet appointment and I had to rush to get him in the car and take him there, and I noticed that he didn't seem to be feeling well.

As I was turning into the vet's office, I clipped the curb with the back tire of my car, and I heard this loud hissssssssssssssssssssss sound. "SHOOT!" I muttered, pulling in to the parking spot. As we were waiting in the vet's office and I was trying to locate a tow truck and tire shop that could replace my tire, I realize that my new dog was definitely sick. He lay there in the vet's office with his head on the floor, even amidst the cats and dogs walking past him... a passerby commented that he looked "gloomy."

Yep, he had a 104-degree fever, and dogs should be around 102. We've started antibiotics and I hope he starts feeling like himself soon. I'm sad that my dog feels so crummy; it's almost painful for me. It's obvious in the way that he kind of shuffles around the house without too much movement.

To solve the tire issue, I found that Pep Boys was open until 9:00. I had the car towed there, walked the dog home slowly and then had friends whom I had dinner plans with pick me up and then drop me off to get my car.

My day has not been as planned, but I feel that it was incredibly rich. I have a beautiful dog. I got to take an unplanned autumn walk this afternoon. I have loving friends who had me over for dinner, and they helped me end my day with laughter. And... tomorrow is Jeans Day at school. :-)

Meet Royal

2005-09-27T22:26:00.000-06:00

I am so giddy. My new dog is sleeping downstairs in his crate as I type this. I found him at the Humane Society today and fell in love... he's a Labrador Retriever/German Shepherd mix. He has been introduced to the cat (while on a leash) and was curious, but not aggressive.

Cleo is FREAKED out. I feel bad for her. She continues to stand at the top of the stairs to make sure that the dog is still in the crate and has not escaped.

I know it's not the right thing to say but I am just in love with Royal already. He has been affectionate and cuddly with me since I met him- and very calm. I took him to PetSmart to get some quick supplies this evening and he stayed right with me- I had strangers tell me how well-behaved and polite my dog was. (I wish I could take the credit!) So far, so good!

More dog updates later... I am exhausted.

More Photo Blogging

2005-09-26T22:32:00.000-06:00

This is Scully, a German Shepherd and I'm going to go check her out tomorrow at the Humane Society. She is beautiful, isn't she? In my heart I really want to rescue a dog from being euthanized or kept in a pen for months and months, but it's a little scary to just blindly take home a pet when you don't know its background. I called today and tried to pry some information out of a woman on the phone, but I guess you never really can tell much about an animal that's been found as a stray. I find myself praying for a strong "gut feeling" when I see her- a clue to whether she is what I want. If I do take her home tomorrow, I'll have a 2 week trial period in which I can slowly and safely introduce her to my cat... I just don't want to take chances when it comes to Cleo. I'll keep you guys updated on how the visit goes.

Anyway... you're thinking now, 'Why doesn't Sarah just go to bed?' I had a reputation back-in-the-college-day for being an insomniac... which wasn't exactly true. It sounded more cool than "girl who hates to go settle down and sleep." Was I studying? No! I would stay up until sunrise at times, talking with other like-minded folks in our lobby, doing and saying the sorts of things you couldn't get away with in the daytime. It was a grand meeting of souls and minds and there may have to be a more complex post (soon) on this secret society of night-dwellers. I sometimes feel a little like reliving that and having all the fun I can when I'm supposed to be in bed sleeping.

Letter to My First Digital Camera

2005-09-26T20:58:00.000-06:00

Dear hp photosmart 318,

You were hip, sleek, and oh-so cutting edge when I bought you for $200 in 2001. I captured so many things with you:

The Olympic flame that came through CO

My first pets on my own.

Three different class pets in 4 years

My first (town)home

My very first cat and her crazy ex-roommate.

You have served your purpose , dear hp photosmart 318, but frankly, I'm going through rubber bands and AA batteries like crazy just to keep our relationship alive. And... there's someone else. His name is Kodak EasyShare C340. I'm sorry to tell you this way, but we're very happy and I think we're in love. I wish only the best for you.

Sarah

2005-09-25T22:08:00.000-06:00

The beautiful homemade pesto and whole wheat linguine I made this weekend. Mmmm...

Blog Etiquette

2005-09-25T21:38:00.000-06:00

Tell me this-

Is it bad manners to post something on a stranger's blog? Because I don't know that many people with blogs, and I tend to discover cool ones all the time. I do have a lot of time on my hands, and I like to let people others know if I appreciate their writing, taste in music, or even pictures of their chinchilla.

This strange thing happened this weekend- I found a cool blog and I commented on it. Twice. I checked back today to see if my comment had been commented on, and both of mine had been deleted! Just like that! It makes me feel like I did something wrong by commenting. I'd like to think that it was a mistake; that maybe this blogger hit the wrong key (twice). After all, I myself deleted a post that I had made this weekend, and apparently the comment with it as well (sorry Vaughan- I did get the comment via e-mail, though!).

My impression is that if someone posts pictures and stories of their life online with comment options, they are open to the idea of strangers looking at and sharing their experiences. I hope that this is right.

Brainstorming

2005-09-24T16:44:00.000-06:00

My class earned a party by filling up their marble jar (I drop in a few every time they're being angels!). This is the list of ideas we came up with. I didn't want to lose all of these creative gems for the NEXT time they earn a party, so I simply photographed it. The class really liked the fact that I took a picture of the board.

Sidenote: Extra recess won this time by a large margin.

Cat Blog Friday

2005-09-23T17:29:00.000-06:00

All right, I love the pics of cats that I see on Ali's site, so I'm starting a Cat Blog Friday ritual myself. I'll need to get a new camera soon- you'll notice that all of my photos are old. (I'll post that sad story soon.) This picture was taken a while back of Cleo- one of my favorite photos.

Have a great weekend, everyone! I'm so relieved that it's here...

Field Day

2005-09-22T22:10:00.000-06:00

Today at school we held Field Day- the first one to occur in September instead of May. Anyone who's familiar with my part of the country knows that spring/early summer means lots and lots of afternoon rain, so they decided that fall weather would be more predictable.

So, wow- what a great day. I was expecting to not enjoy myself as much as spring Field Days, simply because the weather wasn't as warm and you don't have that 'Yea- the year's almost over!' feeling you do in May. However, I had a great time... I got to know a lot of my class better (yes, we're still bonding and learning to appreciate each other and work together as a whole) and I feel like I have some fantastic memories as a result. I also have some killer sore hamstrings, due to a few intense 50-meter dash races and an ongoing long jump rivalry.

I have always competed in Field Day alongside my class (well, not exactly competed, but more like "played along"). One of the few simple joys of teaching, though, is that when you compete against another adult in front of the kids, they really think you are the most incredible athlete in the world, and they cheer for you with vigor! One of my teaching partners last year barely squeaked by me in the 50-meter dash, so I demanded a re-match. This year- I crossed the line just ahead of her. So much fun...

Also, when we do the relays, I jumped in on a team that had a lot of slower kids- I ran one leg and ended up helping them win 2nd place ribbons... one kid who's not very athletic at all said with extreme pride, "My first red ribbon ever!"

One funny story... at the end of the day, we do a cross country run, around our school field. They dismiss one class at a time to run, then greet them with popsicles at the finish. So I started running with my class when all of the sudden I practically tripped over a kid who looked to be about 3 years old, walking on the pathway. I stopped to help him up, when he started walking the opposite direction, toward the stampede of kids behind us. What does a gal do??? I grabbed him, picked him up out the of the way, and set him on the sidelines. I felt like such a hero. I tried to find who he belonged to, but I had to run on with my class. I bet some parent on the sidelines was saying, 'Why is that teacher touching my child?'... but I just got scared and saw horrible things if he was in the pathway of 100 3rd-graders.

Awesome day today. These kids and their senses of humor make my recent breakup seem a little more distant.

Justice, Mercy, Humility

2005-09-20T22:59:00.000-06:00

For some strange reason I've been thinking of this verse tonight (as I ironed, no less):

Micah 6:8: 'He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.'

Justice, mercy, humility. Very cool.