A-Lister

Revised Approach to Life, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:48:00 +0000

Last year I tried to create a simple list of resolutions and for the record (there's a record, right? Somebody is scoring how well I do in life? That's important to me), I've done reasonably well at meeting ~~most~~ ~~some~~ ~~a couple~~ one of them - I have posted on my regular blog everyday. Whether or not it's been pithy and/or meaningful is debatable.

I think I've become more mindful of my everyday life, but I don't feel solid at it and look forward to improving.
No claw foot tub (Stu really tried, but they're all too strangely-shaped for our house. Plus they weigh 1,000,000 pounds) but my man did install a fabulous modern bath tub for me. I only have one candle near it, though. Will work on that.
And everything else I actually do sometimes but not as often as I'd prefer.

So I'm designing this year's resolutions list as a What Not To Do in the hopes that it will stick better that way; I much prefer avoiding what I shouldn't do rather than doing what I'm told.

In 2009 I will not:

Lie in bed listening to the radio alarm for more than 2 minutes or get up, turn it off, and return to bed.
Stay up past 10:30 on a school night no matter what. I'm serious.
Forget to choose the next day's outfit each night (just for me; Stu can fend for himself).
Skip breakfast, wherein "breakfast" refers to a decent grain - cereal, oatmeal, peanut butter toast + fruit and milk. [Bonus points for meat or egg product. Not sure what the bonus points are for but I'll think of something].
Start making dinner without lighting a few candles around the house.
Forgo a cup of tea in the morning & after school.
Scorn & avoid the Wii Fit Balance Board after the kids are in bed, and on weekend mornings.
Put off planning getaways (including babysitter) for me & my man once a month.
Miss opportunities to make cards from my photos.
Allow my classroom to smell like teen 'spirit.' (I got these for $7 at Whole Foods last night!)
Let other people's poor/thoughtless choices affect my outlook on life. I'm talking to all the dumbass drivers out there - watch me smile & wave and pray for your soon-to-be-wrecked-or-ticketed souls. Too much? I doubt they're reading my blog anyway.

*Happy, happy, delightful, magical, marvelous, enjoyable, agreeable New Year to you*

dueling TO-DOs

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:33:00 +0000

What I Want to Do During Winter Break:

Stare out the window at the snow for hours on end.
Wander around my neighborhood taking pictures of the snow.
Drink vats of tea with my best friends.
Watch every movie with a hint of Academy Award buzz.
Snuggle with my kids in blankets whenever we feel like it.
Go rollerskating with my family & best friends.
Read every magazine on my coffee table with serious intention.
Bake lots of yummy things.
Transform the spare room into something magically beautiful & useful.
Morph into the most organized woman/wife/mom/teacher known to humankind.

What I Ought to Do During Winter Break:

Send Christmas cards.
Develop concrete lesson plans for next quarter.
Oversee my children cleaning their rooms, corner to corner.
Help my man clean the garage (and by "help" I mean buy containers and label stuff).
Establish a meaningful menu/cooking system.
Commit to a regular cleaning schedule.
Visit with parents.
Fix broken ornaments before packing them back in the box after Christmas.
Read all of the professional books I brought home from my office.
Enjoy whatever comes my way.

What would Jake do?

13 words

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:00:00 +0000

Words I like the sound of, and some that just feel particularly satisfying coming out of my mouth.

jazz
kiss
yes
jackass
precarious
luscious
well
egregious
whom
freakish
hilarity
fluid
sultry

Which words make your mouth smile?

Thursday Thirteen

thank you, lord, for fridays. amen.

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:00:00 +0000

1. Oh, I can't wait until I have a clone to do all the boring and/or yucky stuff.

2. Our Brita water pitcher is the first thing I see when I open my refrigerator but I quickly train my eyes on the wine.

3. I never leave home without reading material, for everyone.

4. If I were a condiment, I would be brown mustard because I am understated yet spicy; enjoyed by many but not all.

5. Ignorant drivers is really high up on my list of pet peeves.

6. The last thing I thought of before I went to bed was I'm so bleeding tired; and Tomorrow Is Another Day.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to Camp Naughty! [I'll miss you, Bad Husband!], tomorrow my plans include haircut & napping (though not at the same time), and maybe a movie with Bad Husband, and Sunday I want to go to the Wine & Art Festival at our local winery.

Blessed be the Friday Fill-Ins; go & be at peace.

oh yes it is that day

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:07:00 +0000

1. Idle hands are not paying proper attention.

2. I love lots of good-smelling stuff in the shower.

3. My favorite time of the day is when I'm falling into bed.

4. The last tea I drank was my beloved Raffles Morning tea.

5. I like to relax some, plan some, play a lot in the Summer.

6. My mother always said many things that made me cringe (but I still love her, with plugged ears).

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to my students' Art Show & my kids' school carnival, tomorrow my plans include scoring big at the community garage sale, haircut & highlights, then friend Dave's birthday on the town, and Sunday I want to celebrate our PTA volunteers with a potluck.

Friday Fill-Ins, they're good for you.

bright side

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Tue, 27 May 2008 04:11:00 +0000

Because I'm not a complete complainer/killjoy/family-disser, I've compiled a list of stuff I loved about this past weekend (I'm starting with Friday, though, to make it more impressive):

Getting my car unloaded of all the books & pillows & games I've scored at Goodwill for my classroom
Girlfriend movie night at the luxurious [read: They serve delectable food and cocktails right to you IN YOUR SEAT] Living Room Theater.
Girlfriend bar visit at the uber-hip (I wish Blogger could do an umlaut; it makes words so much cooler) Teardrop Lounge
Sunny drive to my parents' house
Super fun time at the Go-Kart track with kids & Dad & cousins - Mason & I had to be rescued by the monitor dude after wiping out
Cheesy Oscar Meyer hot dogs for dinner. Shhhh, don't tell Whole Foods!
Starbucks run with my sister; seeing darling barista boy
Not-too-rainy drive home
Kind family who offered to jump start my dead battery at the ferry (story to follow)
Fabulous new Skechers walking shoes, on clearance with extra discount

I realize it is rather lame to have a picture of my new shoes rather than my family or friends. But aren't they really cute? I know they will help me get some actual exercise this summer, before my heart stages a major protest that will totally disrupt my trip to Europe. And my tattoo plans.

it's not just emmitt smith's birthday

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 15 May 2008 23:26:00 +0000

Other than it being our 15th anniversary, here are some more good things about today:

Stu delivered a bunch of white Gerber daisies + Dove bar to me at school this morning (a round of AWWWWWWs, please; thank you)
Leftover pepperoni & pineapple pizza for breakfast
SUNSHINE!
The cooling unit in my classroom is working like a dream
No student complaints today. I'm totally serious. (Maybe I blocked them out?)
The beloved husband of 15 years unloaded & loaded the dishwasher
Payday [also known as Grocery Shopping Day...woohoo]
Did I mention SUNSHINE?
I saw one of these dudes on the way home from school:

And it's almost Friday. Can somebody say "Amen"?

please stay till the end

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Wed, 14 May 2008 23:56:00 +0000

Ways I was blessed today:

I'm totally serious. This came on the radio as I was leaving school, and I risked complete & utter ridicule from any teenagers near my car by turning it up & rolling down the windows. LOVE these boys! See them all grown up and still adorable, too. Don't hate.

2. Leadership class actually enjoyed [begrudgingly, but I'll take it] the Survivor activity I made up.

3. Literature class worked vigorously on the pre-Gatsby-reading Internet scavenger hunt. Possibly because the principal was observing today, but still.

4. SUNSHINE! And WARMTH!

5. Real Simple & Everyday Food in the mailbox; best friend's copy of People at my door.

Surely more will come as the evening moves on...I'm looking forward to children playing merrily, husband rubbing my shoulders as I grade papers, brilliant lessons for the remaining days [20] of Leadership magically falling into my brain.

tuesday blessings

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Wed, 14 May 2008 01:51:00 +0000

Because I don't want to miss a thing (with props to Aerosmith - and today's #1 blessing).

Joe Perry is still holy-crap-hot at 57
Homemade chocolate cake from one of our marriage group members
New lights installed in my classroom (and promise secured for putting up a bulletin board)
Son kept his head through entire Conestoga wagon-making project (will post pictures soon)
New tissue box cover from daughter filled & positioned on my desk at school
Vanilla Chai yogurt for lunch
Pepperoni & pineapple pizza for dinner, ordered online
Yummy-smelling almond soap, only $1.79 at Whole Foods

Eight seems reasonable, doesn't it? I see you nodding. I think I'll go to bed early.

because you might care

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 21:37:00 +0000

This came in an e-mail from a dear friend (who is far better at keeping in touch with me than I am with her, although I did meet up with her when our family went to Disneyland a couple of years ago. That may not have been her idea of super fun though...), it seemed interesting, and my list blog has been neglected.

If you would like to consider this a super fun meme, please feel free to copy and leave a note in comments so we can visit your version.

Random stuff I've done. Discuss.

( ) Gone on a blind date
( X ) Skipped school (to finish a paper...How lame am I ?)
( X ) Been to Canada (oh, long lost Canadian kind-of-boyfriend...)
( X ) Been to Mexico
( ) Been to Florida
( X ) Been on a plane
( X ) Been lost (literally and metaphorically, as a matter of fact)
( ) Been on the opposite side of the country
( ) Gone to Washington, DC
( ) Swam in the ocean (Does having a panic attack there count?)
( X ) Cried yourself to sleep
( X ) Paid for a meal with coins only (I don't remember specifically, but surely I must have at some point...I've been that ~~tightwadded~~ thrifty)
( X ) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't (Um. Daily?)
( X ) Made prank phone calls (GASP! Don't tell my kids)
( X ) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
( X ) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
( X ) Danced in the rain
( ) Written a letter to Santa (Made lots of detailed lists - SURPRISE - but never wrote an actual letter)
( X ) Been kissed under the mistletoe
( X ) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about
( X ) Blown bubbles
( X ) Gone ice skating (It was disastrous. And cold. Not for me)
( ) Been skinny dipping outdoors (Sounds disastrous. And cold)
( X ) Gone to the movies alone (Once on Mother's Day and people kept looking at me with pity - I CHOSE to be without my kids, people!)

1. Any nickname? Well...Formerly "Frog," which spun out of control and was quickly regretted
2. Mother's name? Loraine (yes, only one R)
3. Favorite drink? Pepsi for anytime; raspberry lemon drop for grown-ups-only time
4. Tattoos? Negative. Pain = bad.
5. Body piercings? Doubles in my ears, but I rarely fill them.
6. How much do you love your job? So much it hurts. (I'm serious; it's my destiny)
7. Birthplace? Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island, Washington
8. Favorite vacation spot? Disneyland with family; Shanghai with my man
9. Ever been to Africa? Not yet...
10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Cookies, no. Cake? Yes.
11. Ever been on TV? Not on purpose.
12. Ever steal any traffic signs? That would be illegal and wrong.
13. Ever been in car accident? Sigh. Yes.
14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? Only 4-door for this suburban hipster
15. Favorite salad dressing? raspberry vinaigrette or honey mustard
16. Favorite pie? Some kind of berry, or my own chocolate chip-walnut pumpkin (Yes, I have baked)
17. Favorite number? 28
18. Favorite movie? To make me choose one, that is crazy and mean. Princess Bride, When Harry Met Sally, Terms of Endearment come to mind first
19. Favorite holiday? Christmas, and my birthday
20. Favorite dessert? Nanaimo bar followed closely by the easier-to-find Oatmeal Carmelita
21. Favorite food? See "Favorite dessert" But also pepperoni & pineapple pizza and cinnamon toast
22. Favorite day of the week? Friday is most hopeful & exciting with prospects
23. Favorite brand of body wash? I usually use bar soap - Trader Joe's Oatmeal Almond is pleasant
24. Favorite toothpaste? Tom's of Maine Cinnamint
25. Favorite scent? Coconut or nutmeg, depending on the season
26. What do you do to relax? Read, listen to quiet music (Natalie Merchant, Chris Botti, Norah Jones)
27. How do you see yourself in 10 years? As blissful as today. Maybe still teaching, or maybe running a funky bookstore.

thirteen things i should have learned by now but...whatever

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 08:01:00 +0000

Cheese melted to a molten state in the oven will be hot and probably burn my mouth. (But I really wanted brie now!)
"The Girls Next Door" is a vapid, ridiculous waste of time & brain cells. (Yet I can't turn the channel).
Teenage boys do not genuinely care about creative writing. Ever. (But they will pretend, and write excruciating, interminable stories involving marijuana).
Mornings are a complete drag, especially when there are meetings scheduled during them.
Some people truly believe that kids with "piercings, weird hair, and you know, stuff like that" are not as reliable as preppy, 4.0 Key Club members. (There was a PTA committee meeting tonight and I had a moment...Of restraint, no worries.)
Preteen boys find moms invisible. (My best friend & I went to pick up her son at youth group tonight and he actually looked directly at us in the foyer, then walked into the game room)
Mornings are horrible. (Did I already mention that?)
If I take my coat in the horrible morning, it will be sunny & delightful by afternoon. Leaving a coat or sweater at home means the day will turn into a natural disaster.
I cannot be trusted with a credit card, especially one labeled GAP or Nordstrom. I lose my mind (and paycheck) over cardigans, cosmetics, and underwear.
Counting the days until vacation makes me feel guilty but I do it anyway, in my mind.
Listening to Queen, Squeeze, or ABBA almost always improves my mood.
Breakfast is important. Skipping it causes turmoil, for everyone.
There is no shame in OCD.

More, more, more? Click.

signs

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 18:00:00 +0000

Things that indicate I'm getting better:

My eye sockets don't hurt.
The sitting up to lying down ratio is more socially acceptable.
No alternating feelings of being broiled alive & having shivering goosebumps.
Taking a shower & brushing my teeth don't seem quite so daunting.
I care deeply that instead of looking like this when I'm ill:

Unplucked eyebrows, yes. Pretty nightgown & flawless complexion? No.

...I look more like this:

Except I'm lying down, and not smiling. Plus my hair is shorter.

thirteen saptastic songs for your valentine

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 08:06:00 +0000

My 13 faves from the "lovey dovey stuff" playlist on my iPod:

This Boy ~ The Beatles (I totally wanted This Boy, to save me from That Boy who only made me cry.)

Endless Love

~Diana Ross & Lionel Richie (I used to have the 45 rpm and would listen to it daily. And cry.)

I Will Always Love You ~ Dolly Parton (More crying)

Wonderful Tonight ~ Eric Clapton (Rockers singing love songs? *sob*)

I Only Want to Be With You ~ Dusty Springfield (I love that I could actually sing along to this; if only I could dance like her.)

Hopelessly Devoted to You ~ Olivia Newton-John (I can lip sync this one like no other, friends)
Tender Love ~ The Force M.D.s (Love songs by rappers? *double sob*)
Hey There Delilah ~ Plain White Ts (Shut up, haters; it's sweet)
State of the Heart ~ Rick Springfield (There is an obsession; it's a bit embarrassing)
Babe ~ Styx (What can I say? It takes me back to 7th grade. Crying in the bathroom.)
Second Chance & Caught Up In You ~ .38 Special (Southern rockin' dudes & sweet love songs? *more sobbing*)
Hard Habit to Break ~ Chicago (How could a lovey dovey playlist be complete without Chicago?)
Endless Summer Nights ~ Richard Marx (Long dreamy story behind this one; someday I might tell)
One of Us ~ ABBA (Precious song, but the video makes no sense - maybe they didn't understand their lyrics in English?)

___________________________

One of us is crazy...See more at Thursday 13

could i possibly be any more vanilla?

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 03:55:00 +0000

This is an assignment I gave my creative writing students this week. My only real intention was to get them to think figuratively - come up with unusual comparisons that tell something about a character (in this case, themselves). As individual statements, they seem innocuous & amusing. When read all at once? It's armchair psychoanalysis. Some of the patterns that emerged with kids were such dead-on personality profiles, I felt a little guilty for revealing them so. I think everyone owes me $95 for my hour of assessment.

Feel free to call this a meme (or whatever you prefer that doesn't sound so weird) and probe the depths of your own psyche. Zenmomma did a post like this, too (something in the air?) with variations and a song.

If I were a shoe, I'd be a shiny penny loafer.

If I were a city, I'd be London.

If I were a season, I'd be fall.

If I were a car, I'd be a Volvo.

If I were a vegetable, I'd be a carrot.

If I were a fruit, I'd be a strawberry.

If I were a color, I'd be plum.

If I were furniture, I'd be a loveseat.

If I were a song, I'd be something sappy. Or a show tune (but from a tragedy).

If I were a country, I'd be England.

If I were a beverage, I'd be black tea.

If I were clothing, I'd be a cardigan sweater.

If I were weather, I'd be sunny & mild.

If I were an animal, I'd be a koala.

If I were a dessert, I'd be apple crisp.

If I were a plant, I'd be a hydrangea.

If I were a word, I'd be practical.

things that please me lately

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:03:00 +0000

Because I can't seem to make Thursday Thirteen about anything other than me, here are my [occasionally shallow] blessings during the past week:

Lunch out & pedicure with my sweetpea daughter
Watching my Cub Scout boy proudly race his Pinewood Derby car
Best friend making delicious dinner for everyone Monday night
Warmth in my classroom (at least in the vicinity of the space heaters; midroom can still be rather chilly)
32 short story students (23 male, aged 15-17) under reasonable control and actually participating in class for two days in a row
Finally cleaning up my secret hideaway/kids' playroom/Christmas gift-wrapping central
Continued awe about No Country for Old Men
Downloaded the soundtrack to Juno, an absolute delight
LOST resumes tonight! (Even though the title now refers to me and my grasp of the storyline...)
Good husband doing all of the dishes
Three new books to read
Being the Mystery Reader in my daughter's 2nd grade class
This. Sheer, hysterical brilliance:

scattergorical

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:50:00 +0000

Another fun something from e-mail (my range of resources is vast, no?). I do love the game Scattergories but most people I know hate to play with me; something about my immensely trivial brain. Haters. So I play alone. (We can call this a meme if someone else wants to run with it...Just post your participation in comments).

Use the 1st letter of your name to answer each of the following. They have to be real places, names, things and nothing made up! Don't use your own name for the boy/girl name question.

What is your name? Stephanie
4-Letter Word: SMRT (It's a Simpsons joke...)
Vehicle: Subway
City: Shanghai
Boy Name: Seth
Girl Name: Sandra
Alcoholic Drink: Singapore Sling (two points!)
Occupation: Superstar
Something you wear: slippers
Celebrity: Salma Hayek
Food: strawberries
Something found in a bathroom: soap
Reason for Being Late: slept in
Cartoon Character: Speed Racer
Something You Shout: Silencio!
Animal: salamander
Body part: shin
Word to describe you: special

blast from the past

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:08:00 +0000

I got this list of horrifying facts (the only consolation I can find is that obviously many others did these same exact things) in an e-mail entitled "If You Were A Girl in the 70s." Enjoy cringing.

You owned a bicycle with a banana seat and a plastic basket with flowers on it. That's so eerily true.
You learned to skate with actual skates (not roller blades) that had metal wheels. I had both the normal (safe) kind that were like boots and the Death in the Afternoon version that shakily buckled onto my shoes.
You thought Gopher from Love Boat was cute. Sigh, Fred Grandy.
You had either a "bowl cut" or "pixie" or the "Dorothy Hamill." People sometimes thought you were a boy. And I bought the Short & Sassy shampoo to go with it
You owned "Klick-Klacks" and smacked yourself in the face more than once! They totally rocked; I wish I still had them.
You wore a poncho, gauchos, and knickers. Possibly all in the same day.
You begged Santa for the electronic game Simon. And I got it! Then mastered it! What?
You spent hours in your backyard on your metal swing set with the trapeze. The swing set tipped over at least once. Emphasis on the "at least."
You had a pair of Doctor Scholl's sandals (the ones with hard sole & the buckle). Ugh. And I wasn't even forced to get them.
You wanted your first kiss to be at a roller rink! Alas, it was not. But I was awesome at skating backwards, just in case.
Your hairstyle was described as having "wings" or "feathers" and you kept it pretty with the comb in your back pocket. I clearly remember my little pink plastic Goody. Good times.
You know who Strawberry Shortcake is, as well as her friends, Blueberry Muffin and Huckleberry Pie. And their nemesis the evil Purple Pie Man! Which is pretty creepy when you think about it - was he trying to PUT THEM IN PIES?
You tried to do lots of arts and crafts, like yarn and Popsicle-stick God's eyes, decoupage, or those weird pot holders made on a plastic loom. Um, that would be the Loom Looper, people. And my grandma LOVED her pot holders.
You made Shrinky-Dinks and put iron-on kittens on your t-shirts. Then I ironed my name in felt letters on the back of the t-shirts...
You used to tape record songs off the radio (or tv) by holding your portable tape player up to the speaker. See these posts for documentation.
You had subscriptions to "Dynamite" and "Tiger Beat." How else would I have covered every square inch of wall space in my bedroom?
You wore friendship pins on your tennis shoes, or shoelaces with heart or rainbow designs. How about all of the above?
You wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer. Desperately.
You glopped your lips in Strawberry Roll-on lip-gloss till it almost dripped off. That was in preparation for the first kiss at the roller rink. Duh.

What is surprisingly missing: Smurfs, Happy Days, having a crush on Barbarino from Welcome Back, Kotter, my first album ("Thriller"), Hello Kitty everything, dressing like Cyndi Lauper, rainbow suspenders a la Mork from Ork (not to mention saying "Nanu Nanu" to my friends and laughing uproariously), shamelessly 'smoking' candy cigarettes, movies with intermissions (and drive-in theaters), playing marbles & jacks, and sliding across the slick vinyl backseat of my parents' car because seatbelts were not required. Ah, youth.

I'm breaking the law and posting this as my Thursday Thirteen anyway (it's only six off...).

Go see others here.

thirteen prized possessions in my immediate vicinity

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 08:01:00 +0000

#1-4 Whiteboard/bulletin board; necessary lists (surprise!) about being happy, loving yourself (it's not naughty, sorry), and things I want to do before I die; charming photo of a Hobbit-like residence in Ireland; dry erase pens for recording important notes (like "BUY MOM CHOCOLATE")

#5-8 Stuffed Velveteen Rabbit from an antique store; little stuffed girl who just makes me smile, I can't explain it; jar of pencils (even though I never use these - it's more of a visual thing); framed Susan Branch print about heaven being within me (she must not know about my bad momness)

#9 - 11 Ceramic mug with roses and vines - I bought it with my very own money at a swanky gift store while in high school and felt very grown-up about it; funky multi-colored mug handpainted by my daughter - a recent present, it makes me feel very Alice in Wonderland; more pencils - the blue & white ones in the back are vintage, one features the LA Rams and the other St. Louis Cardinals (for you non-football people, those are long gone NFL teams)

#12 - 13 Handy (and humble) journal - spiral binding a must; coaster for my cup of tea (and occasional glass of wine), from a set bought as a reminder of our whirlwind trip to London - they have cool drawings of pubs around the city

More Thursday Thirteen coolness

thirteen things i'm looking forward to this year

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 03 Jan 2008 08:14:00 +0000

With pictures! Woohoo!

1. Vegas, baby. Technically we're going for a friend's wedding, but I'm cramming as much sinful citying as possible in a weekend.

2. Loads of good books (beyond the scores I already have lying around the house & classroom). I am Legend-reader.

3. A clawfoot tub for reading all those books in bubbly luxury. Look! It comes with a magazine rack! And it's clean...

4. And the award goes to...My Oscar party! I love the movies, the dresses, the hype, the Jon Stewart and I celebrate it all with my indulgent friends. I even have a red carpet & SWAG. You should come.

5. Wii will rock you. After thumbing my nose in its general video gamer direction, I played at my parents' house and became infatuated. The fact that they're creating a fitness module that sounds like it could make exercise tolerable for me puts it on my must-have list. (Don't tell my kids).

6. My Mexican boyfriend must be coming out with a new movie soon...Ay, I miss him mucho.

7. BlogHer conference in San Francisco! I've registered and booked a room and almost booked my flight! I can almost talk about going without using exclamation points! So exciting. (Does my desperation for a girls' weekend getaway after school is out show?)

8. Speaking of BlogHer - THIS is where we're staying! (More exclamations, sorry). When I say "we," I mean whomever I beg & badger enough to attend with me. So far my cyber bff Kate and real life bff Lisa are *thisclose* to saying yes; Mrs. G. has expressed interest but I think I've scared her a tad with my enthusiasm...But this hotel has HEAVENLY BEDS it says! Even Heavenly DOG beds; I kind of want to adopt a pet for that weekend. (But does it have a Heavenly poop scooper?)

9. And speaking of scaring with enthusiasm. I keep ~~stalking~~ checking the Fountains of Wayne website to see if they've added any Portland or Seattle shows for 2008. I have to look online because they still haven't answered any of my e-mails. Weird.

10. Treehouse family vacation - I'm totally serious. These babies are in southern Oregon, and my kids will love me forever for agreeing to go sleep forty feet in the air. But someone else is driving.

11. James McAvoy, doing anything I can watch. *sigh*

12. And whatever he does, too. Hi, Paul. You look tired, weyou should lie down...

13. A kindler, gentler me in the end.

________________________

More Thursday Thirteen goodness here.

'twas a good year

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 08:10:00 +0000

More good stuff at Wordless Wednesday

resolutions, resolutions, reso LU HU tionnnnns (think "hallelujah chorus")

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Mon, 31 Dec 2007 03:53:00 +0000

[Drumroll, please]

Wake & go to bed at regular, reasonable times (i.e. more than an hour before school starts and well ahead of midnight, respectively)
Post something pithy and/or meaningful daily
Read a new blog each day
Eat a decent breakfast every morning (falling under the "Lead by example" heading)
Delight in my candles more often (hopefully while in a dreamy clawfoot tub...)
Get a clawfoot tub
Establish joyful a.m./p.m. tea rituals
Figure out some form of exercise that I can do before my heart initiates a mutiny
Schedule & maintain regular rendezvous with my man, this hottie here at the Ace Hotel:

10. Print my photos and make cards for every occasion, for everyone I know, in a timely manner

11. Breathe deeply & be mindful of the moments. Except the ones that make me say F*ck, I'll let them fade. After I blog about them.

it's winter break! tra la la!

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:08:00 +0000

Friday Fill-In time ~

1. Snow snow snow snow (it's my mantra for the next few days...).

2. I'm looking forward to sleeping in (!!!) and spending time with my kids in their classrooms.

3. My man is the best husband ever! (Sappy, I know, but it's the holidays. And I want a back rub).

4. One of my favorite old tv shows is The Dick VanDyke Show. I watched reruns every morning during the summer.

5. I'm done with feeling guilty (and perpetuating guilty feelings in others).

6. The most enjoyable thing around the holidays is egg nog & Christmas lights at night.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dressing up & going out with my man, tomorrow my plans include a haircut (possibly something new - I've got some time to work with it before going back to school), and Sunday, I want to enjoy the Christmas service at church.

thirteen blessings in a ridiculous half-week

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 08:16:00 +0000

I was Woman on the Verge this week, but I have successfully (read: sans criminal record/with teaching job) made it to Vacation Day #1! And there are many blessings that got me here relatively unscathed:

A best friend, whose Monday was comparably horrible, ready to share tea, tears, and stories right after school (Thanks, Jen!), plus all the great reader friends who propped me up, too
Enjoying a junior high orchestra concert (wherein some of the tunes sounded like the somber string quartet in Nightmare Before Christmas, yet it was just what the psychiatrist would have ordered)
Inspired poems by teenagers styled after "Stopping By the Woods On A Snowy Evening"
Witnessing the usually checked-out students in my speech class rising to participate in an assignment
Listening to the lovely (or at least earnest) voices of a local girls' choir singing carols
Watching my best friend's frequently squirrelly first grader sitting rapt during the choir performance
My 7-year old daughter coming down the stairs in her black velvet pants and black t-shirt (decorated with a heart made of bones) announcing "I feel like a shadow today."
My son calmly & coolly completing his Moon Base model after the initial "IDON'TKNOWHOWTOPUTONTHEFOIL!" freakout
Digging out the jeans I decorated with my faux-edgy quotes and pictures during my freshman year of college - and fitting into them! It's a CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!
Two classes (20+ kids each) totally excited about playing Taboo for the entire hour & a half periods
Receiving an official "Welcome to the school family" present from my principal (a stained glass star in our school colors; I will hang it in my office window with utter pride)
Cards, chocolates, cookies, and an ornament from students
The train & trestle my Advocacy class created from granola bars, pretzel sticks, marshmallows, frosting and gummi bears, complete with a jumper on the top bridge beam (Merry Morbid Christmas, everyone!)

Ah. Life is good.

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thursday thirteen ~ the naughty mom playlist

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 08:03:00 +0000

Here are 13 favorite bad mom songs from my iPod. Rock on.

Back in Black AC/DC (how could I not?)
Your Body is A Wonderland John Mayer (sigh)
She Goes Down Billy Squier (I have no idea what it's about...Someone cleaning floors?)
Shake That Eminem (I know! Only with headphones. Or an empty house. Never at school.) warning: link is the expliiiicit version.
I Get Excited Rick Springfield (Though next to Eminem, it's like listening to Barney)
Surrender Sammy Hagar (I can't resist doing anything Sammy says)
Yeah! Usher, with Ludacris (double sigh)
My Doorbell White Stripes (I'm guessing, but I think there's a double meaning here)
You're the One That I Want Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta (I realize it borders on ridiculous to include this song in the same sentence as "naughty" but it's fun)
Poundcake VanHalen (Sammy again, and the drill on the guitar...MmmMmm)
Take Me, I'm Yours Squeeze (These guys are the nerdy unexpectedly sexy boys in class)
Hot in Herre Nelly (I will forgive the misspelling and the bandage because he is hot. In here.)
Stacy's Mom Fountains of Wayne (Overplayed, sure, but still fun. And naughty.)

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eight maids a'milking

noreply@blogger.com (stephanie) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:57:00 +0000

Okay, not really but I particularly like that part of the song. This is, however, a meme about 8 things. Read on for maximum enjoyment. (Oh, and thanks to my bff Lisa for the tag - visit her!)

8 things I'm passionate about:

Family
God & all his mysterious godly parts
Teaching
Writing
Chocolate
Books
Movies
More chocolate
And the Cowboys (but chocolate really needed two spots)

8 things I want to do before I die:

Live - too vague? Fine.
Visit with grandchildren
Witness my sister's contentment
Attend the Academy Awards (no idea how I can do this rationally)
Ride dozens of awesomely terrifying rollercoasters with Stu
See various parts of all the continents (my plans, they are outrageously specific, no?)
Know the successes of former students
Spend a wintery week in NYC

8 things I say often:

Seriously.
Puh-lease.
Put a spring in your step. (These phrases seem to paint a picture of impatience...).
That's a bummer. (The standard Love & Logic response to all excuses, complaints, and pleas).
Hey, he/she/you is/are left-handed! (I don't know why I get so giddy; it's like we must band together for solidarity in an oppressive right-handed world).
Let me smell. (There may be something very wrong with me).
Can we please watch something stupid? (When I've had a long day and just want to go brain dead in front of the TV and my man is involved in cerebral Discovery channel stuff).
Love you to pieces.

8 books I've read recently (can "recently" reach back to January, when I was actually reading regularly? I say yes.):

8 songs I could listen to over & over again:

Hey There Delilah Plain White Ts
Heart & Soul The Cleftones
Everyday I Write the Book Elvis Costello
Strangers When We Meet The Smithereens
State of the Heart Rick Springfield (Remember when I said there might be something wrong with me? Exhibit B. I am totally sweaty over this video.)
This Better Be Good Fountains of Wayne
American Girl Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers
Apron Strings Everything But the Girl

8 things that attract me to my best friends:

sense of humor (well-developed & healthy)
intelligence
honesty
kind-hearted
joyful
do not pressure me to exercise
freely give chocolate
indulge my OCD tendencies without [much] mockery

You guys rock

People who would also do this meme:

Um. Whoever wants to, jump in & leave a comment saying you're on board. Please. Seriously.