Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas! I hope everyone out there has a warm and special time with family and friends this season.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Holiday Season
This holiday season has been filled with baking, decorating and holiday parties. Busy, busy! I find that December is sometimes so busy that it is difficult to actually have joy in the season. I enjoy doing all of those things - baking cookies, cinnamin rolls, and peppermint bark, decorating the tree, and seeing friends, but sometimes it is all too much. I find myself craving simplicity and peace and ways to remind myself what this is all about.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Finding Kind
We have been showing this documentary to our students the past two weeks and we are going to have discussions about it in small groups after the break. I think it is really important to say to girls - when you are at a crossroads and have a choice to mean, or be kind, be kind. When you take a look at yourself, you want to be the best person you can be. Be kind.
This campaign to raise awareness and have a conversation amongst girls and women is vital to changing the way we treat each other as children and adults.
Watch this trailer - think about it, let me know what you think.
The Kind Campaign
This campaign to raise awareness and have a conversation amongst girls and women is vital to changing the way we treat each other as children and adults.
Watch this trailer - think about it, let me know what you think.
The Kind Campaign
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Sorry I've been absent lately!
Whew! I've barely had time to breathe, and it seems that this weekend is the first weekend that I haven't had TONS of work to do, or other obligations. It's good to just be at home! Being a bit of a home-body, I am much like Harry Potter in that I have to return home to rejuvenate!
Here's what I've been up to lately!
Rally to Restore Sanity in Washington DC October 30
The Rally was great! Mom and I drove down early in the morning and arrived about 11:15am. We got great seats - not fabulous, but at least we could hear the rally! It was amazing to be surrounded by so many people, see so many in one place there for a reason - the reason was different for everybody, but people came out to be on the Mall on a beautiful October Day.
My mom's birthday November 7
My mom's birthday November 7
Jennifer and I surprised mom by fixing brunch (spinach and leek quiche, fruit salad with sugared almonds, spiced cornbread muffins, and cranberry cocktails!) and spending the day with her and dad. She was so surprised, it was great!
Ubah's Baby Shower November 13th
Doesn't Ub look beautiful! Her whole family was wearing pink and we had delicious Indian food and cake. This was the first time many of us had seen her pregnant and glowing and it was lovely to see her so happy and in her element. She was also a trooper - barely had a chane to sit the entire time!
First time we'd met Anna! Poor girl was sick, but she is so cute - we couldn't help oogling her!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Eloise
Yesterday I had the chance to watch Eloise while her parents were moving into their new house! We had a great day together. She is sitting up by herself, reaching and grabbing for things and LOVES to stand. In fact, heaven forbid you try to lay her down! She fights sleep and wants to be part of the action. I love her to pieces and it has been such a pleasure watching her grow up. She just turned 6 months old!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
new car
So I've had a bit of excitement recently. Apologies to those of you that have heard this story.
I had no school two Tuesdays ago because of Rosh Hashana and planned to take my car to the dealer because it still wasn't right (stalling at every stop light, strange warning lights flashing at me etc.) after spending $2,000 since June. So I dropped off the car at 7:45am and planned to wait until they told me what was wrong and try to make a decision then as to whether or not I was going to invest more money. So at 5:00pm after waiting in a room the size of a cubicle and watching horrible cartoons all day, they came back and told me it would be another $1,000 to fix it. It turns out that the part that started all the money dumping was defective - joy. They of course (insert snarky tone of voice) suggested to me that I trade in the car and get rid of it as soon as possible - "would I like to see what they've got on the lot??"
So I looked around the lot, discussed my preferences, what I would use the car for etc and I test drove a 2010 Nissan Versa 4 door hatchback (silver). I really liked it but wasn't about to sign any paper that put me into more debt on the day I was going to get my car fixed - too fast. I told them this was all moving too fast and that I wanted time to think about it. They of course (snarkiness) offered to have me drive it home and bring it back the next evening. I agreed. I drove it to my parents house and my mom had dinner waiting (isn't she the best!) and my parents and I took a test drive together. I drove back home, checked the lock three time to make sure it was secure and went to bed around 10:00pm. What a day!
The next morning I got ready for work and walked out my front door, turned the corner toward the parking lot, and as I walked slowly - very slowly - toward the parking lot, I realized the car was not there - the parking space was empty. I tell you, I actually closed my eyes and took another look, hoping and praying that if I opened my eyes again, the car would be there - that this was some kind of horrible mind trick. Nope. The car that wasn't even mine, that I had practically signed my life away to, was missing in action. Shear panic came over me. My mind began to race and I ran to the Management office to see if anyone was there to report that my car had been stolen. Of course (snark) no one was there and as I repeatedly said, "Oh my God" as if I was some sort of scratchy broken record, I walked back through the parking lot. As I walked I notice a sign, " _________ Towing - strictly enforced." Oh #$%^&*. I never got the parking sticker off my old car (because I never even saw the old car before I left the dealership).
I went back inside, plugged my cell phone (which was dead) into the charger and called the towing company with a shaky voice and weak knees. Yes, they had my car - $220 dollars cash, open 24/7 for my convenience. Yeah, right (complete snarky - my convenience).
I called work, my dept. head came and rescued me and took me to work so I could teach 2nd and 3rd period. My dad drove down and picked me up, took me to the bank, and we went to get "my" car. The towing company just happens to be in the worst part of Baltimore - even in the daylight. It's the kind of place that you have to be buzzed in to, and the people (1 receptionist and 1 cop) working there are behind bullet-proof plexi-glass. I had real high hopes about the car not being damaged. Luckily it wasn't!!!
I paid (let me just say that my management company was great and helped me out), picked up the car, and drove to the Hyaundi dealership to test drive a car very similar. I didn't want to make my decision without at least doing SOME shopping.
In the end, I drove back to the Nissan dealer and bought my new car by 6:00pm. What a couple of 48 hours!! I love it and have no regrets. I feel like the car and I bonded already! We already went through a disaster - it was meant to be, and as I drove her out of that horrid towing parking lot, I felt like I was saving her! :-)
She's cute, and reliable, and safe. Now I just need to give her a proper name. Any ideas?????
I had no school two Tuesdays ago because of Rosh Hashana and planned to take my car to the dealer because it still wasn't right (stalling at every stop light, strange warning lights flashing at me etc.) after spending $2,000 since June. So I dropped off the car at 7:45am and planned to wait until they told me what was wrong and try to make a decision then as to whether or not I was going to invest more money. So at 5:00pm after waiting in a room the size of a cubicle and watching horrible cartoons all day, they came back and told me it would be another $1,000 to fix it. It turns out that the part that started all the money dumping was defective - joy. They of course (insert snarky tone of voice) suggested to me that I trade in the car and get rid of it as soon as possible - "would I like to see what they've got on the lot??"
So I looked around the lot, discussed my preferences, what I would use the car for etc and I test drove a 2010 Nissan Versa 4 door hatchback (silver). I really liked it but wasn't about to sign any paper that put me into more debt on the day I was going to get my car fixed - too fast. I told them this was all moving too fast and that I wanted time to think about it. They of course (snarkiness) offered to have me drive it home and bring it back the next evening. I agreed. I drove it to my parents house and my mom had dinner waiting (isn't she the best!) and my parents and I took a test drive together. I drove back home, checked the lock three time to make sure it was secure and went to bed around 10:00pm. What a day!
The next morning I got ready for work and walked out my front door, turned the corner toward the parking lot, and as I walked slowly - very slowly - toward the parking lot, I realized the car was not there - the parking space was empty. I tell you, I actually closed my eyes and took another look, hoping and praying that if I opened my eyes again, the car would be there - that this was some kind of horrible mind trick. Nope. The car that wasn't even mine, that I had practically signed my life away to, was missing in action. Shear panic came over me. My mind began to race and I ran to the Management office to see if anyone was there to report that my car had been stolen. Of course (snark) no one was there and as I repeatedly said, "Oh my God" as if I was some sort of scratchy broken record, I walked back through the parking lot. As I walked I notice a sign, " _________ Towing - strictly enforced." Oh #$%^&*. I never got the parking sticker off my old car (because I never even saw the old car before I left the dealership).
I went back inside, plugged my cell phone (which was dead) into the charger and called the towing company with a shaky voice and weak knees. Yes, they had my car - $220 dollars cash, open 24/7 for my convenience. Yeah, right (complete snarky - my convenience).
I called work, my dept. head came and rescued me and took me to work so I could teach 2nd and 3rd period. My dad drove down and picked me up, took me to the bank, and we went to get "my" car. The towing company just happens to be in the worst part of Baltimore - even in the daylight. It's the kind of place that you have to be buzzed in to, and the people (1 receptionist and 1 cop) working there are behind bullet-proof plexi-glass. I had real high hopes about the car not being damaged. Luckily it wasn't!!!
I paid (let me just say that my management company was great and helped me out), picked up the car, and drove to the Hyaundi dealership to test drive a car very similar. I didn't want to make my decision without at least doing SOME shopping.
In the end, I drove back to the Nissan dealer and bought my new car by 6:00pm. What a couple of 48 hours!! I love it and have no regrets. I feel like the car and I bonded already! We already went through a disaster - it was meant to be, and as I drove her out of that horrid towing parking lot, I felt like I was saving her! :-)
She's cute, and reliable, and safe. Now I just need to give her a proper name. Any ideas?????
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