If I only had a brain

Have you ever thought about something you want to post, brilliantly write it out in your mind, stash it away only to type it up later and then discover it's not what you meant at all?. I just read through a few past posts...not exactly the errr, feeling I was hoping for (not to mention more than a few blushes over my poor writing and the million typos). I wonder if it is taboo, bad blogging to edit/scratch-out/re-write past posts? It seems the better posts (in general) are ones with more photo than verbage. I so enjoy the effort other bloggers put into taking great photographs and recording thoughtful insight or memories. Here's to better blogging!

Friday Night

I'm typing away, watching Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Jared's pick) for the first time, watching out of the corner of one eye, and feeling warm and snug with my family. Natalie is staying up late, also watching out of the corner of one eye while reading a book sitting in Isaac's swing. Jared's sitting next to me, watching, glued with both eyes, running a commentary to me out of the corner of his mouth.
Okay, so we just watched the part where Dick Van Dyke appears wearing what looks like Michaelangelo-inspired wings and firecrackers on his back. I haven't laughed so hard at a movie since the green jello raisin surprise scene in Better Off Dead.
Now Natalie's dancing about the room with a blanket...her she comes to investigate what I'm doing. Natalie writes, "mnuiol9j;kj,m.mkmmmnm,mnmjm
ij,nhnjnmmm,mmnhj,,jl;;;;;;;,kkhyjjj."

Rut Busters

Growing up, I had a list titled "Rut Busters" and I'd all but forgotten about it until this afternoon when I was thinking about standing on my head.


Here are a few things you can do to bust out of any rut you may be in; a rut being anytime you feel a lull in your life, or out-of-sorts, cabin fever, or a little on the mundane side. It's important that all of these things are free (or cheap) and quick all something you can do in 2 hours or less.

*stand on your head (try this on the couch or on your bed so you'll have some cushioning)
*find a blood drive or call 1-800-Give-Life
*flip through your cookbooks for a recipe you've forgotten about, but love and make it
*buy yourself some flowers
*go a an arcade and play a game from your childhood
*exercise hard until you are so tired and sweaty you have to bend over to catch your breath
*will yourself to laugh out loud during a movie, while reading a book, or at a joke---even if it's not that funny, you'll feel better and it will be easier to laugh the next time
*visit the library and check something out from a shelf you've never browsed before...maybe a book about astronomy, ancient roman architecture, a travel guide to Malaysia, or poetry (a note about poetry, even if you don't get it, the higher language format will sharpen your thinking)
*while you are at the library, peruse the music collection and check something out by an artist you've never heard of and listen to it on the way home
*take a nap
*get a haircut or new color
*go window shopping (not as in buying new windows, but as it looking and considering without spending a penny)
*sign up for a parks and rec class
*turn on some loud music and dance crazy (preferably without anyone watching)
*deep clean something in your house: a closet, the baseboards, your windows
*eat a zippy salad---make sure to include something cruchy (like nuts), something sweet (apple chunks), something tangy (poppyseed dressing), something chewy (craisins) and of course great green like spinach and bib lettuce.)
*wear flip flops
*write a snail mail letter to your grandma, mom, or favorite teacher
*get social---go visiting teaching, invite some friends over for a game night, set up a playgroup
*call a good friend and try not to talk about yourself but focus on her
*anonymously deliver a treat to someone you know
*decorate for the season/holiday
*write in your journal a fearless inventory of what you are feeling and thinking about
*go on a walk through nature by yourself---if you live in the city without a park nearby, find a conservatory or atrium or pretty tree-lined street---and hug a tree while you are at it (you'll be surprised how deeply you'll feel)
*put on makeup, get a make-over
*make some soup for dinner
*time travel by visiting jpeterman.com (you'll just love the descriptions as well as get a kick out of prices)
*visit a thrift store and see what treasure you can find for under $2 (while you are at it, get a box, fill it with 15 things from your house, and donate it when you go)


A thought from a more elegant writer than I, Isak Dinesen,
"The cure for anything is salt water---sweat, tears, or the sea."

the adventures of a substitute teacher

The past few weeks I've been sub-ing as much as I could since Jared's been home. With 5 canceled days of school, it wasn't as much as anticipated. A few funny anecdotes...
I walked into one class and started speaking with the teacher before he left. A student came up to us and asked, "Oh, is this your wife?" Both of us were quick to say, "Err, no." To which she responded, "Oh, I didn't think so because she's huge!" She immediately blushed and said she didn't mean it that way and I told her not to worry about it because I was secure in my size. She was an angel the entire class period most likely out of guilt.
The day before I was told by a boy I needed to wear lipstick which is actually true.
I love high school.
Once I had "study hall" listed as first period. I found my way to the cafeteria where I just about fainted when I saw a few hundred students sitting at the tables. The bell hadn't rung yet so I quickly tracked down another teacher and asked them if this was the right place and she said it was. She also clarified that I was indeed the only teacher over study hall that period. What would you have done? So my mind started racing with what I could do to manage such a herd let alone be heard. I cannot tell you the relief I felt when the bell rang and all but 25 or so student remained.
These are my favorite grades to teach: 3rd because they are young enough to think you are the most amazing person and yet old enough to be interesting to talk to and handle themselves, preschool because they are just so sweet and I glean great ideas to bring home and do with Natalie, and high school. I'm not sure why high school. Sometimes the air is so think with hormones...you can feel it. Last week I substituted for a teacher who team taught a math class. It was great! I really enjoyed learning about pi and radius and why a circle is the most efficient shape and if the 5 medium pizza deal is actually a deal over an extra large. It wasn't unless you wanted 3 different toppings and like crust...but as far as price per square inch, go with the extra large. It made me ALMOST want to go back to school. Almost.

Week(s) In Review

Eek gads! It's late. My mom called and said she could only see the back of Isaac's head and wanted some more pictures so I vowed to post TODAY and I'm barely squeezing these in.

While my camera is downloading, I'll take a minute to blab. Jared has been school free for a few weeks and we've been basking in nothing-to-do-but-whatever-we-dream-up-ness.
Which entails:
*cooking great food
I subscribe to this fantastic cooking magazine called Cooks Country which is self described as a little brother to Cook's Illustrated and if you are familiar with them you know they are QUALITY! I thought I knew how to cook before, but really I just knew how to follow a recipe. Tthese people test out a gazillion recipies/methods/ingredients/equipment and tell you which one is the "best" and why. I'm learning how to cook...all the why's and when's and "Oh! I always wanted this recipe for monkey bread" and "Oh, that's why you cream the butter first." After noticing every page of the trial issue was dog-eared and well used, I subscribed and it's been more than worth every penny. I get giddy when it comes in the mail. You should know they don't advertise in their magazine and I really, really love that.
Two things I especially am a fan of...the last page in each issue there's a fantastic cake and in each issue there is a "find the hidden rooster" contest. Fun fun fun! Plus, the magazine itself is beautiful. Glossy, clean design, crisp photos, great colors, while still maintaing the "country" feel.



*revamping "trash" to treasure and finishing up some projects. More on this later.

Ok, my camera is done downloading so everything I've been saving up to post about will have to wait. Here are some photos with a few quick notes:

He sits!

This was an art exhibit we went to where you sculpt your own sculpture and then put it on display with a few hundred other pieces. Pretty fun. Natalie named her's gabblie-gook or something like that.

Ice Skating.


This just "appeared" one day...please note a previous post about a certain college marching band...we don't own a shovel...and yes that's a frozen pond. Do not ask us questions, please.




Cute, cute.

a bunch of random photos

We've been sorting photos. Here are a few things I wanted to record.

This is Isaac's face. I think the tape is his nose, not his mouth.

This is Laura. She's amazing. We were to spend Thanksgiving together, but when we ended up sick she brought over TONS of food. We ate for days and it was soooo good. I just love this girl! Look how cute she is with her bounty. I'm so grateful for her.

A great dad shot. He was sorting dress up beads for Natalie and rocking Isaac. Sorting beads must be hard work! I love this photo, and this man.

This is truly the randomest photo. Obviously it was Christmas time when Natalie brought me the camera telling me to take a picture of her. She then walked over, stood by the tree and posed just like this. So I just snapped a few photos without really thinking, but now it's one of my favorites because it tells so much about her---her personality, that the tree was significant to her in some way enough to want to be photographed with it, how's she somewhat serious (her body language).

Can you tell this is a bed? Jared transformed our room into this amazing jungle while I was away. He painted, drilled, sewed (yes with a machine), and designed this all on his own. We had it up for a couple of weeks and had a blast hanging out in the jungle. I cried when we finally had to take it down.

We heard about this place, Thurman's Cafe, where you can get 3/4 pound burgers. Jared had been fasting the day we went and by the time we got in (after almost 2 hours of waiting), he was beyond famished. Look at the size of this thing! So, we ordered 2 appetizers and of course burgers. When the waiter came with our check, he said to Jared "I've worked here for a lot of years and I've seen a lot of eaters. But, I've never seen anyone pack it away like you just did. And that's a compliment!" Good food, fun, and cheap too! We'll have to go there again soon. :)

This makes me want spring so bad. Especially because I found frost on the door lock on the INSIDE of our house this morning. With windchill factor, I think it's supposed to be in the negative teens over the next few days.

Lately when we ask her what she's doing she replies, "Just noth'n." This was from last summer doing just noth'n and that's the way we like it.