Slippin' and slidin'!

ICE!! Fun fun fun. Roads are covered with ice and water. Grass is covered with ice and water. Sidewalks are covered with ice and water. Trees are covered with ice and water. Catchin' on yet? That's right...a winter storm that has basically consisted of sleet and freezing rain for the last day and a half. I've not ventured out in my Rodeo yet. I was planning on driving around the corner to bring a load of chairs and a computer to my mom's place, but I walked out on the alley behind my townhouse, and it was too slippery...'bout busted butt a couple times. hehe. 4-wheel drive may help me go, but won't help me stop. And I don't want to send my truck to the shop after a wreck for the 3rd time! Roads should clear up tomorrow. That'll be soon enough.

Now that the scene has been set, let me tell ya how this ice storm entertains me so. My sister is here with her German Shepherd, Wendy. Wendy and Titan are good playmates. My sister and I love to go with our dogs out to this little park across the street from my home to play fetch with a frisbee. Titan and Wendy can be quite competitive at being the first one to the frisbee. Well, imagine a german shepherd and a weimaraner running full speed across a park covered with solid ice after a frisbee in the air. Quite entertaining. And you know they won't stop fetching if a frisbee is still being thrown...determined little buggers. My sister and I almost felt cruel for taking them out there to play, but it was just so funny that we couldn't resist. Of course, an other very entertaining moment would have been for anyone watching my sister and I slipping and sliding our way to and from the park.

Mudslide

Yum...I've stared at those things on the Drinks & Desserts menu at Applebee's long enough. I finally got one today, and it was really good. It was basically a milkshake form of a White Russian. I'm gonna have to attempt to make 'em at home. The tricky part is to get it to look as pretty. I'll have fun with it. Anyone want to tastetest?

Titan got a beatin'

It's the first beatin' since he's been back with me. Only took him 5 days. I hadn't taken the time to set up the kennel for him mainly because I can't decide where to put it. I've decided the garage now. It's gotta go up somewhere. Mom and I ran to Staples to copy papers and then to dinner. I left Titan in the garage loose hoping that there wouldn't be anything in there that he could damage. Well, he didn't damage anything IN the garage, but he did find a way to damage the garage itself. He is a very determined dog, apparantly. In the 3 hours that we were gone, he tore to shreads the weatherstripping to the door into the house, gouged the doorframe with his claws, and somehow managed to open the door. (it's a round doorknob, I haven't a clue how he managed that one.) No other damage was found in the house, thank you, Lord! Thankfully it's all stuff that can be repaired for the most part. I've relearned my lesson that Titan is not to be left out of his kennel while I'm gone.

...even though I almost killed him, I am glad that he's back with me. I think I'm just gonna have to resort to what I had to do with my students in Colombia. The behavior finally got so bad (kids biting other kids) that I stopped all lessons for the most part, and focused on behavior almost completely for about 3-4 weeks. In the end, aside from the twins, I had the best behaved class in the Preschool section. And of the twins, mine was the one that was adapting the best and good days more often. The way I did it was I didn't let them get away with even the slightest thing. I got really strict, made them follow rules, and didn't make exceptions often. I guess Titan is about to experience some times strict training and behavior modification.

This is good for us anyway. It will get both Titan and me back into the proper relationship we should have. I don't need to spoil him as much as he's being spoiled now, and he's young enough to adapt to this change. I'm excited about it really. It'll be fun.

TITAN!!!!

I got my doggy with me!! I'm so excited. As soon as my laptop will cooporate by starting up Windows, I'll try to get online and post a picture of him. I'm so glad to have him here. It's nice to have a good excuse to get outside the house now that I work at home.

Well, it's now 3am, and I just finished working. An 18-hour day...not fun. Mom's got some serious deadlines to meet this week, so we're working hard to not be late. Good thing is that as soon as these deadlines over the next 3-4 weeks are over, it will all be quiet until the Fall when the new edition to her book gets started up again.

I really need to go pick up some rawhides and a bed for Titan's comfort and entertainment while I'm working. He's such a good dog; he was no bother this entire day. He was well behaved. It's funny though, he goes bizzerk when he sees another dog outside. Don't know why, but for some reason he thinks he should be out there playing with them...hehe...in due time.

My place is still in boxes. My mirror isn't yet attached to my dresser. I need to do some serious shoppin'. My sister is coming up this weekend to help me do some of said shoppin'. That's what sisters are for.

Well, I'm really pooped...Mountain Dew keeps my body moving, but not my brain. I should go wind down with some readin' and maybe a little mindless TV if I can find anything on at this hour...doubt it. Do you think a White Russian would counter the affects of the Mountain Dew? hrmm... I'm an amature when it comes to alcohol, I've never even been drunk before. Oh well. Ok, well my fingers keep going, but my brain has stopped. I'm going. Goodnight, err...Good Morning.

Eye candy

I'm really enjoyin' this new subdivision. Not even half of the houses are finished being built yet. So what good news does this imply for a gal? This means that I'm constantly seeing big pickups driving in and out...which is hot. And I get to see bulldozers and backhoes at work...which is hot. And I get to watch the manly builders at work...which is hot, too. Granted there are a considerable amount of Hispanic workers, but my eye is caught with the supervisors and contractors that come and go in there big pickups. Also, there are various companies delivering Mom's new furniture, which I have the job of being at the house to receive the loads...no complaints here. I have a little over another year of this joy. I tell ya...it's good to be home.

Woo Hoo!!

I got my own place to live in!! Today was moving day. Mom moved her things to her new house. I moved my things into the townhouse, and now I have the fun of finding a new home in new rooms for all my stuff. I'm going shopping with my sister for fun new home stuff when she comes to visit in two weeks. I got way more space than I had before so I got lots of potential in every room. It's very exciting.

Now accepting applications:

In the year 2005 I resolve to: Get knocked up...twice. Get your resolution here.

I'm so excited, I just cain't hide it!

I'm getting Titan back!! I had given him to a couple that were the leaders of my church home group. When I returned, they talked it over and decided to offer him back to me. This couple are great people. I don't know what I would have done if they had not been there to take him in. I felt very comfortable leaving him with them because I knew that they would keep up his training and thoroughly enjoy having him in their household. Thank you C & C. I look forward to seeing you in a few days.

Something to think about

I stumbled upon this article. Kinda makes even me mad...

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0101Comic01.html

This is why I need a man...

I have an Isuzu Rodeo that is in dire need of a grille guard. It's got a chrome package and will look sweet with a chrome grille guard. So I start making phone calls and searching the web for prices and locations that sell, you know, general research. So everywhere I call they tell me no one makes a chrome grille guard for a 2002 Isuzu Rodeo. I find this hard to believe, but it seems to be the general consensus. I finally got a hold of someone that was willing to help me rather than just chime "sorry, no one makes those" "sorry, no one makes those" "sorry, no one makes those" GAH! It was SO annoying.

Anyway. This is why I need a man...no girl should have to worry about her truck having a grille guard.

So, any of you single guys out there care to carry this torch?

My Dad rules!

I got an early inheritance this Christmas. My father loves hobbies. When he chooses a hobby, he goes all out. When he got into scuba diving, he bought all the equipment, BCs, tanks, depth gauges, everything. He even got certified as an instructor. Unfortunately, that equipment slipped out from beneath my sisters and me before we could lay claim. Despite that loss, here comes the good part...

I just brought home with me from my dad's place his Nikon F5. It is freakin' sweet! If you don't know much about film cameras other than the point-and-shoot kind, then this won't impress you much. This is a professional caliber SLR film camera. It has remained at the top of the market for the last 9 years, and with the growing popularity of digital cameras it's likely to remain there.

He also sent home with me a Speedlight SB 28 strobe flash, a 35-70mm zoom lens, three professional studio lights (you know, the kind at the Sears Photo Studio with the white umbrellas), a tripod, a monopod, a daylight film loader, and a black tent so I can work with exposed film at home. Thankfully he also sent 2 boxes full of books to teach me how to use this stuff. Dad bought me my first SLR when I was a freshman in college. It is a Nikon N60. I have two lenses with that which are compatible with the F5 body.

I'm so looking forward to learning how to use all this. I'm so glad I decided to come home and stay.

Ok, things will be settling soon

Hey y'all! Sorry for my long absence. I flew home and immediately turned around and visited 5 different homes. So I finally am in the place that will be my home, but not until January 17th when mom moves out.

I've had 5 job opportunities. Two I'm not really interested in, translating/traveling for the FBI and aiding a mortgage company expand into the Hispanic community. The other three were considered. One was to return to teaching. My former boss in Chattanooga called my cell phone when she heard I was back and asked me to apply for a teaching position she wants me to fill. The other is working with a UMC pastor in an outreach to the Hispanic families in Chattanooga, mostly families of my former students there. The last is being a PA for my mom.

I chose the last. This is the best deal for me. I'm excited at the kind of work I'll be doing. Also this job will leave time for me to visit friends and family, which is currently my heart's desire, and time to play...hiking, camping, shopping, traveling, and developing my skills in things I enjoy. I'll also help my mom with interpreting and translating, and this will allow me to keep my Spanish. She also travels a lot and usually invites me to come along.

I still don't have a place to set up my computer yet, so my internet access is a bit limited because my mom's DSL is constantly being interrupted. We'll be switching to cable soon enough.

Well, I hope all had wonderful Christmas and New Year celebrations!

P.S. by the way, I picked up my gun Monday. This makes me a happy camper again. :)

Big News

I have a confession to make. I've been leavin' y'all in the dark about a lot of things simply because I couldn't put it online until I was safely home. But here is the biggest most important news: I'm not going back in January; I'm staying home. I've already arranged a place to live and work. But since people have found out that I'm not going back and am available, I now have several job opportunities, including the FBI. We'll have to see. Some actually sound good, but I just got home, I need to enjoy this time for now, at least a couple weeks.

Ok, so now you know. I'll be changing all the settings in here to reflect this decision soon enough.

I'M HOME!!

The moment the wheels of the plane touched ground I thanked God for contact with American soil. The trip itself is an annoying tale, but for now I believe I will just be thankful that I'm home. I'm sure everyone has been over to Nate's and seen that I've been home now for a few days. Sorry I didn't get on here sooner; I've been busy, you know. Anyhow, I'm traveling visiting family until after Christmas. So I'll catch y'all up on some doings then.

This is the hard life...

Let me tell you just how horrible it is down here. I got off of work 2 hours early. Call a taxi and go home. I take an hour nap. Then a lady arrived, and I got a manicure and a pedicure in my apartment for guess how much total...$5.38. Yeah, there will definitly be at least a handful of pleasant memories.

Yeah, I know, I'm a wuss.

When it comes to scary movies I'm the biggest wuss you will ever know. I made Nate tell me the whole story, beginning, middle, and ending, before I would watch the Mothman Prophecies. He practically had to hold my hand.

That being said, I just watched one of the fakest movies ever made, Sleepy Hollow. I was bored so I turned on the movie channel here. It was on, my roommate was here, so I thought I'd give it a try. It was scary. Then my roomie left. It was still scary, 'cept now I'm home alone.

Guys, I'm not kiddin' you when I say it was scary! I had to keep reminding myself, "It's just Hollywood. It's just Hollywood!" I get so involved in the stupidest of movies I end up scaring myself with even the most trivial things. People's heads were getting chopped off! A stupid tree was bleeding. There was witchcraft, skeletons, and crap. I know it looked fake, but even the idea was enough to get me.

I have to say, that for me, scary movies are to be reserved for when there is a cute and protective man there to protect me from the bugie man. Like I said, I know that I'm a wuss.

Traditions

What is your favorite Christmas tradition? Stockings? Opening one gift on Christmas Eve? Singing carols? Decorating the Christmas tree? Day away from work?

Mine would have to be mistletoe. I remember watching Dr. Who climbing up a tree on the side of I-24 to get mistletoe. In high school I would always search out a good climbing tree with mistletoe and tie ribbons around clumps and give them away at school. I remember seeing lots of guys having fun harrassing cute girls with it. I was entertained. (One of my guyfriends from high school said that years later he still had that mistletoe hanging on the wall in his bedroom.)

Even though mistletoe has always been a favorite tradition, I've yet to ever be kissed under the mistletoe. Guess I've just never been caught standing there.

The "Purification" of Christmas

Okay, I mentioned in the previous post about how the winter scene on the Christmas gifts was irking, and indeed it is. Here goes...

This year is the first year the school is officially a Christ-centered school. So with Christmas, all things must be and can only be thematically centered on the birth of Christ. When I inquired of other things, like Snowmen, that weren't contradictory to Christianity, they said 'no' because it wasn't a part of the culture here. Okay, so we're not supposed to use non-Christian nor non-cultural things for Christmas. That would be fine if it weren't for...

The school posting Santa Claus pictures everywhere even after specifically telling teachers we were NOT allowed to use him in decoration. Snowmen aren't cultural? Okay, fine, people here have never touched snow...BUT there are snowmen in every store now for sell or to decorate for Christmas. Stockings aren't cultural? Then why are they sold in stores? Not supposed to use non-nativity decorations? Then what's with all the garlands, wreaths, and Christmas trees all over the school grounds? It's like they're begging teachers to go exactly against what they say.

If you're gonna purify Christmas to make a statement, then do it! Don't do it half-assed. It sends a mixed message when you're shouting "No Santa Claus", but then you see a huge Santa and reindeer on display first thing when you drive onto school property. Frustrating. So as we are told to not have snowmen, we're allowed to use a winter scene with PINE TREES and snow! Pine trees don't grow here. Snow doesn't fall here. And even though we're told to not use non-cultural decorations, our project was approved and "aww"ed over even with the winter scene.

Did I mention that snowmen are one of my favorite parts of Christmas decorating?

Blue fingernails

So, if you ever see a chick with a blue hint to her fingernails, or any other color for that matter, chances are she's either a painter or a preschool teacher. I would fall under the category of preschool teacher. Yes, we have been doing art project after art project this last week and will continue doing them until Christmas celebrating is over. It's all fun though. I'm glad that I'm getting a chance to go home with a nice taste in my mouth about the school. The students have been so much fun to have now that we're not 'learning' anything new and are basically just playing.

We have our Christmas play this Friday. We have half day rehearsals every day now. My students are learning the song "Open the Eyes of My Heart" sung by Michael W. Smith...not my choice, I just do as I'm told. They are playing the part of little angels, hehe, that's entertaining to me. So while we're not sitting in rehearsal we are eating/playing and doing our art projects. We're making a Christmas gift for all the parents, Christmas card to go with the gift, and lanterns for their Virgin Mary celebration down here. The gift is a doorknob hanger, a winter scene with a pine tree. There's a story of irking behind this that I can explain later. The card is a manger scene made out of popcicle sticks and paper and paint; it will have writing on the inside to be done in Spanish class. The lanterns are made of thick paper with images punched out with plastic paper for the glow of the candle to shine through. (They have these sticks with a thumbtacklike thing coming out one end that they use to punch holes in paper...a weapon if ya ask me.)

Well, it's all fun.

Birthday wishes

This is just to say Happy Birthday to you, mom. I love you!