Ten things to do!

Ten things I’m going to do this weekend in order to feel like a real human being again.

1. Paint my toe nails
2. Finish a book
3. Visit the library 
4. Bake cookies 
5. Bake a yogurt cake and serve with fresh strawberries 
6. Watch back episodes of Grey's Anatomy
7. Start a knitting project
8. Take down velentine's decorations
9. Put up birthday month decorations
10. Remember that tomorrow is the first day of the best month of the year.  

2013 in review

I know that 2013 is not yet at a close, but it is getting quite close.  As with every year I did not accomplish everything that I had planned, but life is more than things we plan on a list.  And while I did not get to see the Mutter Museum I did get to visit New Orleans.  I did not cook as much, but I earned a master's degree in education and started a teaching job.

Another Random Book List

This is something I've seen on FaceBook lately. 

15 Books:"Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you, for whatever reasons. This isn't your top 15 canon or even books you'd necessarily recommend, just books that have made their mark on you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes."

I wonder how truthful people can be when I see lists with Tolkien and Dante on them.  Not that these books are not wonderful, but can a person really be honest about something like this.  If they can be honest does the fact that the answers are being put on display for the world or at least that person's world alter the answers in any way.  Unfortunately, this is not something that can be answered in any objectionable way.  So alas I will present to you my friends my list of books.

1. Daughters of the Grail by Elizabeth Chadwick.  This book has stuck with my for many reasons.  It was purchased by my grandmother for me to read while we were on vacation in Reno visiting my cousin.  I read it while I was still young and impressionable (before high school). I believe this book led me to love fantasy.  I thank this book for allowing my to love Tolkien.
   
2. Girl Interrupted by Suzanna Kayson.  This book is on this list not for it's own merits, because I read it long after I had abandoned my teenage drama queen self, but for the fact that this is the only book that I have enjoyed the movie more than the book.  I found the book to be too fragmented between flashbacks and the present, I could not follow in the book format.  This is an easy thing for filmmakers to make clear to the audience.
   
3. The Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.  To tell you the truth I do not remember much about this book now.  I read it thirteen years ago, but I do remember that this is the first book that I had read and had BIG thoughts about.  During the discussion we had in my English class I had wonderful, enlightened things to say about this book.  It was the first time I realized that I wasn't stupid.  That I was actually someone who had opinions and could disseminate information.  This was a turning point in my education.
   
4. The Bone Lady by Mary H. Manhein.  Many years ago, after I had my educational turning point, I wanted to become a doctor.  A medical doctor.  During this time in my life I read this book.  It was my first introduction to Forensic Anthropology.  And while I fully admit that I decided to major in Anthropology after watching the show "Bones" this book is the reason I was even interested in the show in the first place.  
   
5. Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Raoch.  This list would not be complete without my favorite book.  The book that my friends when I recommend it to them never really look at me the same way again (maybe that's why I've stopped recommending it).  This book I read near the same time as the bone lady and further cemented the fact that I am a bit morbid.  That I am fascinated with the process of death.  On a side note I'm still holding out hope for a freeze-dried funeral and a tree to fertilize when I'm dead, but I don't think my husband would be able to carry out my wishes.  
   

Wow, this is hard.  I really cannot think of more books.  I could get a little meta an start extolling my love of Tolkien (which I do!), or how much Harry Potter changed me (while I do love me some Potters I don't feel their place on this list).  I could tell a lovely story about Dante's Inferno and how my husband was enjoying the book until he discovered that it rhymed.  I could put Lolita on this list and tell how horrified I was after I read it that it is the one book in my entire life I've thrown away in the garbage, hidden in a bag so no one would find it. This would also be the case with the last Twilight book, where I stopped reading it when Jacob imprinted on the baby and  had to wait a whole year to calm down before I could continue.  I could also tell a story about Black Beauty and how it was the book that led me to discover how books can transport you to another place.  A place where nothing from your real life intrudes. To this day I can always tell how stressed out I am in life by the amount of books I devour. I guess everyone has a coping mechanism and my just includes a giant stack of books.  In general, books change my life.  From the bodice rippers that are easily devourable to food memoirs I do not want to consider a life without books.  Here is my newest haul from the Library.  I have already finished the three Hunger Games books and I only picked the books up on Saturday.  

Thanksgiving Recap

My friends I had not meant to be away from this space for so long.  I've been so busy with work and not really doing anything else that I haven't had anything to share with all of you.  Here are some of pictures from our feast yesterday.

Finishing up the last of the meal!

Fall Reading List

Today is the first day since early September that I feel like I can breath.  I feel like I'm able to get back into my own skin.  Today, I cleaned my pantry, kitchen, and dinning room.

Getting back to normal

The apartment is almost done.  Just a few little things still need to be taken care of, but for the most part everything has a place and it feels like a home.  Even the kitties are getting back to their normal selves.

Mamasita exploring her new favorite place to sit

Tulsa, OK or the day Alex hung out with Boomer the Cat

We made it to...

Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Early in the morning we left New Orleans.

Just a Day in New Orleans

Here Comes the Rain... Again

We left Durham, North Carolina early in the morning.

Here we go again...

Back, back to the west coast. 

 Back to our home.  

Back to our friends and family.  

But first we must traverse this country.

Here are some packing photos, from yesterday.

Graduation

Well my friends I'm officially a Montessori teacher.  

Here are some photos from the diploma ceremony yesterday.  

Hanging out before the ceremony



Getting seated



Listening intently to the speakers.

Diploma in hand

Alex and I after it was all said and done!

New Yogurt Cake!

Tomorrow, is my last day of practice teaching.  It has been a long hard ride, but the end of this year of Montessori training is in sight.  Today has been a good day.  We were able to get a special dispensation from the California DMV to have our car smogged when we return in July and Alex was able to get a YEAR extension for renewing his driver's licence.  I was worried that I would have to drive all the 3,000 miles home to Cali in July, but now I do not have to.  Happy Day!

Wordless Wednesday

Cherry Buds

On Wednesday, I took the day off from studying and material making to go see the famous D.C. cherry blossoms.  And guess what?  There were no blossoms.  

Today

Today...

Benefit Cosmetics

I don't wear makeup that often, but I'm also very obsessed with it.  

Happy Christmas

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day.   Since Alex and I are thousands of miles away from our normal celebrations we spent today doing something a little different.

Today:

Poem

I love poetry.  When I was in high school I wrote lots and lots of poems.  I believed I was deep, that no other human could have ever felt the way I was feeling.  Alas that is not true.  However, this obsession with poetry has left me with a life long appreciation of poems.  The emotions that they can evoke.

This past week in school we have been talking about poems and the importance of young children hearing poetry   So, I'd like to share with you one of my favorite poems.

Do not go gentle into that good night

Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Though wise man at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night
Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless, me now with your fierce tears,
I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

~Dylan Thomas

Thankfulness: Week One

Friends it's that time of the year again.  It's time to think upon what we are thankful for. 

 I will attempt to write a thankful post every week and I encourage you to do the same.  If you do post the link in the comments section so everyone can see what you are thankful for.

Here we go...

This week I'm thankful for...

My teas that finally arrived from California

and my scarves that made the trip with them.

I am also thankful that Hurricane Sandy did not cause our basement apartment to flood and that we have power to feed our internet addictions!

Happy Friday friends.

Monday I start another two week observation in a different school (much further away).  Wish me good thoughts.