In the cat house...

The cat is in the cat house...

During the night she peed on one of my black leather boots.  And then proceeded to use her claws to knead the leather (like she would do in her catbox to the cat litter).  So, I have some minor tears in the leather now...

I didn't realize said boot was stinky until AFTER I arrived a work and I arrived late, so I did not have time to try and scrub out the smell till the afternoon.  I just hope nobody else realized the faint waft of cat pee coming from me.

I threw it in the wash and it had better be smelling fresh as a daisy if kitty wants any sort of leniency.

For the record, I have NO idea why she did such a thing.  She was pretty restless last night and just felt like going wherever she wanted. Maybe she didn't like her cat litter.  Who knows.  All I know is that kitty is not in my good graces today.  :(

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read: Cold Magic
taste: buttered, salted yellow squash, mmmm
see: my hubby watching a rather violent new show...blech
hear: kitty meowing, as per usual
smell: squash
touch: fuzzy socks within fuzzy slippers
think: that the cat is very annoying
feel:  annoyed (could you tell?)
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Happy Love Day!

Well, it has been a lovely holiday.  Today is a day to celebrate love in my mind at least.  If you don't happen to be a member of a romantic couple, than you will celebrate differently.  There are no limits to love and therefore no wrong or right way to celebrate.

Micah bought me flowers on Sunday (to beat the rush:P).  So, I've already enjoyed that gift.  Then he bought me some gorgeous amber drop earrings with silver filigree.  I'll wear them sometime and take a pic so you all can see.

I bought Micah a Calvin Klein shirt that was 80% off.  Quite proud of myself for that one.  I also bought him some underwear (he needed them) and toffee crunch chocolate (frango brand, totally addictive) and a papyrus card (those are always so classy and cute).

We had a gift card for PF Chang's, so off we went to dinner.  I dressed up and wore my handmade wedding jewelry for the second time.  We had appetizer, drinks, main meal and even a mini dessert and only paid 2 dollars.  :)  Score again!  I did my best to embarass Micah by asking for kisses in public *gasp*.  He's so funny...  We must've been a cute couple today though because all the servers kept walking by and smiling at us. 

They gave us 6 fortune cookies, so I'm sitting here now dunking them into my Earl Grey tea and munching them.  My fortunes so far are:  "You are imaginative in using your skills.  Apply this next week." and "Your efforts are budding - results will appear soon".  Can you be any more generic? Ah well, even cliché positivity is still nice now and then.

These days I've been a regular sub, meaning you just accept whatever random job pops up online.  I've taught 4 special ed. classes, 4th and 6th grade so far.  I teach science tomorrow and then math I believe the rest of the week.  I think I've been doing a pretty good job considering, since just walking in and maintaining control and getting the chilluns to learn is a challenge.  Next week is midwinter break though, so I'll be twiddling my thumbs trying to entertain myself.  Perhaps I'll blog more! :P

The only other big thing these days going on is that I've been gaining too much weight.  If I don't curb the weight gain I may have to get a whole new wardrobe, and that's just not something I can afford right now, soooooo, I'm trying to get in shape and eat more reasonable portions.  I'm notoriously sedentary, and considering all the research lately that talks about how being sedentary seriously up your chances of cancer and heart disease, this needs to change.  I spend way too much time at my computer.  I've been playing KINECT Adventures to do my cardio and have bought weights.  I'm just saving up a little more so I can buy a fitness kinect program and then I'll be getting my butt in gear.

Oh!  One last thing, either I'm going to need glasses, or my eyes are so strained from staring at a computer screen that I can't read writing on the whiteboard very well at all if I'm in the back of a classroom.  I'll have to do some research to see if its actually nearsightedness or eye strain.

Well, I'm off to bed to read and hopefully give my eyes something different to look at.

I'd love to hear how all of you spent your Love Day!



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read: Cold Mage
taste: Earl Grey tea
see:  too much of my computer screen, evidentally
hear: Micah playing Terraria
smell: Our citrus candle (smells like raspberries to me interestingly though)
touch: fortune cookies!
think: my hubby is a sweetie
feel:  reasonably content, just need to exercise and spend less time on fb/blogs/interest/pinterest
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My kids...

En lieu of having actual children right now, I have my students, well I did.  Such is the joys and trepidations of temporary teaching jobs.  Today was the last day of my contract (1st semester only) and I was quite sad to leave.  My colleagues were friendly and helpful.  I fit in easily, considering I was only there for the 1st half.  The teacher I replaced was extremely accomodating and helpful.  My students...

My students are truly a great bunch of young people.  Sure I had a very few who refused to do homework, a couple who had an "attitude" issue (which we had to deal with on a few occasions), and 2 "sleepers", but they were mine and we learned and laughed and played and ate (french food, bien sûr) and learned some more.

I only relinquished them because I had to.  So, I said my last "au revoir" to each class and watched them go, perhaps for the last time.

My first year of teaching was pretty good, but my 2nd year was 10 times better.

I have no idea what's next for me.  I'm signed up to be a regular sub, so I may end up back at my old school now and then, but there are no guarantees.  I may find another long-term sub position elsewhere as well.

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read: Cold Magic, can't remember the author atm
taste: hot chocolate
see: a computer screen I've been at for too long
hear: just the noise of electronics running right now
smell: ink from the stamps I used in my classroom (they are sitting on my desk at home now)
touch:  my hair, I constantly play with my hair...
think: getting too tired to think straight
feel: saying goodbye is so bittersweet
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An awesome blogger...

You should read this blog about rape culture.  Be informed.
http://www.parentwin.com/2012/02/advice-column-of-shame-on-perpetuating.html

Women, mothers, babies...

I read a lot of baby/mommy/pregnancy/TTC blogs.  I love reading all the perspectives and ideas that women have as they navigate a very important time in their life, the journey towards becoming a parent and then being a parent.  I also read some daddy blogs (which are awesome, wish there were more).

Anyway, one thing that is simply hard to avoid is the fact that women are in competition with each other.  We've been pitted against each other ever since birth.  This reality comes to a head when it comes to pregnancy, birth and parenting.

When a blogger posts about their desires for a natural birth, other women comment "en force" about how she probably won't get it and won't want it, and will want an epidural, and how the hospital won't agree to this or that, and how the doctors and nurses won't agree, and how they "hope" that if she doesn't get what she wants, that she has the "grace" to accept whatever is safest.

When a blogger posts about how they want a C-section, other women comment "en force" about how its major surgery and how crappy she'll feel and how she shouldn't "want" a C-section, and how she'll miss out on her kid's birth, and how she'll regret it later and on and on.

Why can't women be each other's advocates?  Why can't we support each other and help each other?  We must we be condescending and know-it-all about other people's decisions about birthing/children?  Will their children die or be seriously maimed if they're fed food at 5.5 months, or are fed formula, or are born in a house?  No.

Women, seriously, get a grip!  You are NOT an expert on pregnancy, birthing, or child-rearing EXCEPT for your own family.  When it comes to other people, no, you really don't have it all figured out.  Every person is different, responds to different things, wants different things, needs different things.  Your way is NOT the only way and you have no right to tell other women what they will respond to, want, and need.  You can only speak for yourself with any credibility.

There's nothing wrong with women wanting a hospital birth, or with women who want to formula feed, or who breastfeed in public.  What is important is that women be heard about their needs and desires and that we all support them in deciding what is best for themselves and their families.

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read: a hair magazine
taste: macaroni with peas
see:  kitty loving on her new hairbrush
hear: Micah's comments about the pro-bowl game
smell: clean laundry
touch: my neck, trying to keep my finger warm
think: people need to not tear other people down
feel:  a lil frustrated
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Whistler! (picture heavy)

It's taken me for-eeeeeva to get a post down about Whistler.  Not sure why, I guess I have several pictures and the task seemed more daunting than fun, sooooo.... yeah.

Every year my family goes to Whistler for the week that includes New Years.  This year was one of those wonderful years that I was able to go for the whole time, as it all depends on the dates and when public school starts up again.

It's such a lovely family tradition.  We ALWAYS have some sort of snow, some years better than others.  We have a time share that we stay in and have some sort of collection of relatives or family friends in the time share next door.  We laugh, play games, watch movies, play xbox, shop in town, and ski/snowboard.  We make memories...we celebrate the New Year.

This year, my husband and I were promoted!  The last time we came, we were only engaged, hence we could not share a bed.  (Traditional family for those who do not know my family/background)  Micah slept on the couch and I slept in the spare.  This year, since we were there the entire week, AND are married, got our own bedroom and bathroom.  Yay!  My sister and her husband INSISTED they sleep on the sofa-bed since they were there only 3 days.  They would not take no for an answer, despite the fact that Derek is 6'7".  He sleeps curled up, evidentally. ;)

We had quite a bit of snow this year, but the one day I could afford to go up was too warm and the snow was like trying to snowboard through frosting.  I could not make it all the way down the mountain due to being completely out of shape and that awful snow.  So, I took the Gondola down from halfway.  I still can snowboard despite a lack of practice without looking too idiotic, so that's a plus.

One evening, we went out to the 'ol Irish Pub with my cousins and their significant others.  They had a celtic duo playing, one on the fiddle, the other on the guitar.  Both sang as well.  They played everything from "celtic" Lady Gaga to "the Devil went down to Georgia".  Excellent musicians! :)

We watched the new Tintin movie, which was pretty much epic, at the little Theatre in Whistler Village, bought an ADORABLE dress from Guess (I'll post pics if I ever find an occasion to wear it), and generally just lazed around the rest of the time.

So, here's some pics to prove it all.

Twin Peaks is where we always stay.

This is Blackcomb behind us.

My adorable parents.

Whistler lighted in the evening.

Inside the Irish Pub looking at the musicians.

My cuz Bryan on the left.  (We share a birthday, we're awesome!)  Derek, the awesomely tall bro-in-law talking to Joe across the table and his wife Mel (other cuz).

Alright, from left: Bryan, Casey, Janelle, Derek, Joe, Mel.  Good times, good times. ;)

There were some improvements made for the 2010 Winter Olympics. :)

And my favorite... :)

Here's to Whistler *raises Chai* and to many more years of memories!



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read: A health magazine from mom.

taste: homemade Chai

see: kitty, sleeping in her box

hear: Micah listening to people play Terraria

smell: Pizza Hut, hubby decided to indulge

touch: warm, fuzzy bathrobe

think: about my causes atm

feel:  a slight tummy ache, who knows why, just a sensitive stomach (I could tell a story about that as kid...because you all would TOTALLY enjoy that)

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Snow, snow SNOW!!!

Well then Seattle,

We are about to get at least a half-foot of snow tomorrow.  As long as we can find tire chains, furball remedy (kitty needs it), and groceries, BRING IT ON!!!

I love snow!  And we haven't had this much since I was a kid.  We came close I think a couple years ago, it was 4-5 inches I believe.  But this will be interesting.  If there's enough, I'm going out to build a snowman on the apartment patio...

I've already resigned myself to the fact that my students will just have to cram last minute before their semester final.  There's no way I can give them any extra review days now, what with school being closed even today (and there's literally no snow on the roads).  I just hope I get one day in on Friday so I can give them all the stuff they need to do over the weekend.

But that's the only real bummer.  Here's some photos from other talented photographers to get us Pacific Northwesterners in the mood.

global-greenhouse-warming.com

To pay homage to my 2nd country:  :)

parisdailyphoto.com

Seattle with snow!

blogs.seattleweekly.com

Yesterday in Seattle:

Yeah, we actually thought that this would be the "big" storm....

lindsayfincher.com

Yesterday in Seattle area:

copystrands.com

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read: nothing much today or yesterday, just the internetz.
taste: nothing yet, probably will eat cereal.
see: snow currently melting...we'll see about later
hear: kitty's incessant meowing has finally stopped!
smell: hmmm, fresh laundry.
touch: my hair, I constantly play with my hair.
think: Soon I will be a sub, who has to somehow finagle enough jobs per month to pay the bills, ack!
feel: Anxious, excited for snow, hopes that Micah's car doesn't give him troubles...
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