A pile of papers to go through, all related to teaching, so I can pack them away. *sigh*
3.28.2007
A New Generation
All about breaking the internet with her Noni and me. I love the snowy New England map as the background. Amanda's home and mine.
Woo-Woo
Awwww yeah!
I'm getting caught up on the dreaded grading.
I made dinner tonight. Granted, it was Stroganoff Hamburger Helper, but it was hot food from my stove so back off biz-natch.
I came in under my budget of $250 for the improvements I want to make to the condo. The fabulous bistro table and chairs were $85 with tax, and the three fixtures I bought at Home Depot today came in at around $110 with tax. I'm stoked.
Am drank bourbon, and I had a lovely San Giovese from Napa Valley and we hung OUT online tonight. Can't wait to be in the same time zone and region with her again.
Caught Top Design tonight too. An all-new episode. We lost Goil tonight, but the final three are good. It's inspirational, what can I say?
Woo woo!
I'm getting caught up on the dreaded grading.
I made dinner tonight. Granted, it was Stroganoff Hamburger Helper, but it was hot food from my stove so back off biz-natch.
I came in under my budget of $250 for the improvements I want to make to the condo. The fabulous bistro table and chairs were $85 with tax, and the three fixtures I bought at Home Depot today came in at around $110 with tax. I'm stoked.
Am drank bourbon, and I had a lovely San Giovese from Napa Valley and we hung OUT online tonight. Can't wait to be in the same time zone and region with her again.
Caught Top Design tonight too. An all-new episode. We lost Goil tonight, but the final three are good. It's inspirational, what can I say?
Woo woo!
3.27.2007
Mi espalda duele
Mi hermana Luisana and I were comparing notes today. She and her fiance and her daughter are moving into their first place together, and are running into the usual issues when one moves. I was telling her about how I'm packing my books and other non-essentials so I can properly stage my place for sale.
Of course, I'm doing this in Spanish, a language I have scratched and fought to learn "de la calle" for the past few years. It takes a lot of concentration and patience with myself, but talking with Luchy is great practice.
The big success of the day was hauling 11 boxes of books and several bags of clothing and kitchen stuff for donation. I've been puttering around the house today trying to put it back together a bit.
The major issue of the day though is getting caught up on grading, as always. My least favorite task, but one that must be done. The natives are getting restless, and rightly so. *sigh*
Of course, I'm doing this in Spanish, a language I have scratched and fought to learn "de la calle" for the past few years. It takes a lot of concentration and patience with myself, but talking with Luchy is great practice.
The big success of the day was hauling 11 boxes of books and several bags of clothing and kitchen stuff for donation. I've been puttering around the house today trying to put it back together a bit.
The major issue of the day though is getting caught up on grading, as always. My least favorite task, but one that must be done. The natives are getting restless, and rightly so. *sigh*
3.25.2007
Busy Weekend
Spring Cleaning is amazing.
In a Herculean effort, I packed 10 boxes of books and four bags of linens and clothes yesterday. I lifted nearly every book I own. It was ten boxes worth and there's still more. The house is trashed and the worst part is still ahead: schlepping this stuff to storage or to donate.
It feels great to clear this space, but it wore me out yesterday. I fell asleep on the couch. That never happens. By the time I lay down, I needed a two-hour nap in order to put myself to bed.
This morning I went to Home Depot to set up the storage unit I rented yesterday, bought more boxes and some newsprint while I was there. I need to pack the kitchen and my papers and get that stuff squared away in storage. Winter clothes too.
Pats called late morning and we went antiquing. I was feeling the good-shopping mojo, but the day got off to a slow start. We ended up crusing West on 72 almost to I-39, finding nothing in terms of antiques. On the way out though we stopped for a snack at the Chick 'N Dip in Hampshire, Illinois. It was in the low 80's today but windy once we got outside the suburbs. Pats had a hot dog, I had the first ice cream cone of the season: vanilla soft serve with a butterscotch dip.
After our drive we hit some antique shops in Elgin. Got some fun linens: a hand embroidered pillow case and a laundry bag, and a "new" linen dishtowel with a 1973 calendar on it. I've started to collect 70's linen dishtowels. They're cheap, abundant, and wildly varied. Oh, and useful too.
The best find of the day though was at 4pm --- when the last shop was closing right as we pulled in. Pats had seen a white bistro table with two chairs outside earlier, and I was able to grab the set! White wrought iron, and the two chairs have a red and white striped vinyl cushion and back. SO FRENCH! It's exactly what I wanted for that corner in the kitchen. They wanted a hundred, I got it for eighty. I'm keeping it forever. It's tiny, charming, and works both indoors and out. I'll get some pix to post.
So the country-drive-antiques-hunt was in fact successful, as I imagined, and the road therapy was just what I needed. I'm ready for the week.
In a Herculean effort, I packed 10 boxes of books and four bags of linens and clothes yesterday. I lifted nearly every book I own. It was ten boxes worth and there's still more. The house is trashed and the worst part is still ahead: schlepping this stuff to storage or to donate.
It feels great to clear this space, but it wore me out yesterday. I fell asleep on the couch. That never happens. By the time I lay down, I needed a two-hour nap in order to put myself to bed.
This morning I went to Home Depot to set up the storage unit I rented yesterday, bought more boxes and some newsprint while I was there. I need to pack the kitchen and my papers and get that stuff squared away in storage. Winter clothes too.
Pats called late morning and we went antiquing. I was feeling the good-shopping mojo, but the day got off to a slow start. We ended up crusing West on 72 almost to I-39, finding nothing in terms of antiques. On the way out though we stopped for a snack at the Chick 'N Dip in Hampshire, Illinois. It was in the low 80's today but windy once we got outside the suburbs. Pats had a hot dog, I had the first ice cream cone of the season: vanilla soft serve with a butterscotch dip.
After our drive we hit some antique shops in Elgin. Got some fun linens: a hand embroidered pillow case and a laundry bag, and a "new" linen dishtowel with a 1973 calendar on it. I've started to collect 70's linen dishtowels. They're cheap, abundant, and wildly varied. Oh, and useful too.
The best find of the day though was at 4pm --- when the last shop was closing right as we pulled in. Pats had seen a white bistro table with two chairs outside earlier, and I was able to grab the set! White wrought iron, and the two chairs have a red and white striped vinyl cushion and back. SO FRENCH! It's exactly what I wanted for that corner in the kitchen. They wanted a hundred, I got it for eighty. I'm keeping it forever. It's tiny, charming, and works both indoors and out. I'll get some pix to post.
So the country-drive-antiques-hunt was in fact successful, as I imagined, and the road therapy was just what I needed. I'm ready for the week.
3.23.2007
Tasks for the Week
In project manager mode, I am preparing my home. Time off from CLC and CTU next week means it's time for a plan.
Now: Check for packing supplies like tape. Drop off dry cleaning. Lunch at Los Arcos. Get boxes and pack all non-essential books. 75% be shipped to RI. Keep school-related and decorative books.
The Whole Foods and Half-Price book store around the corner should have good boxes kicking around so I'll stop there tomorrow afternoon. And get some groceries. And find out about selling books.
Saturday pm: Pack books by subject, papers by type chronologically. Prepare to ship to RI mid-week. Decide later whether to take them in shifts or go for one major drop off (talk to Dad).
SUNDAY: CTU GRADING MARATHON. Prep for Monday at OCC.
Monday: Teach.
Tuesday: Shopping: New light fixtures in kitchen and bathroom, ceiling fan (with or without light, we'll see) for the bedroom. Black knobs for the kitchen drawers and doors. Need to count how many needed. Supplies for touch-up painting. Pack/purge clothes, closets. Prep closets to use for storage during work.
Wed: Teach. Painting.
Thursday: CJ will install fixtures and ceiling fan. Scope out dishwasher and fridge situation. Go from there. New dishwasher and a bistro table definitely.
Prepare to revise plan as needed.
Now: Check for packing supplies like tape. Drop off dry cleaning. Lunch at Los Arcos. Get boxes and pack all non-essential books. 75% be shipped to RI. Keep school-related and decorative books.
The Whole Foods and Half-Price book store around the corner should have good boxes kicking around so I'll stop there tomorrow afternoon. And get some groceries. And find out about selling books.
Saturday pm: Pack books by subject, papers by type chronologically. Prepare to ship to RI mid-week. Decide later whether to take them in shifts or go for one major drop off (talk to Dad).
SUNDAY: CTU GRADING MARATHON. Prep for Monday at OCC.
Monday: Teach.
Tuesday: Shopping: New light fixtures in kitchen and bathroom, ceiling fan (with or without light, we'll see) for the bedroom. Black knobs for the kitchen drawers and doors. Need to count how many needed. Supplies for touch-up painting. Pack/purge clothes, closets. Prep closets to use for storage during work.
Wed: Teach. Painting.
Thursday: CJ will install fixtures and ceiling fan. Scope out dishwasher and fridge situation. Go from there. New dishwasher and a bistro table definitely.
Prepare to revise plan as needed.
3.22.2007
Adult Confirmation Class
Proof that the universe works in mysterious ways: I had my first meeting tonight as a small group leader for the Adult Confirmation Class at St. Edna's here in Arlington Heights. I went through the program last year, feeling all the while like the proverbial whore in church, but I finished and learned a lot and got confirmed.
I was literally thunderstruck when the director called and asked if I would volunteer this year. My parents and I joked about calling the priest with whom I tangled 15 years ago --- the final straw that led me to quit the program and not get confirmed then.
My plan is to make sure this year's candidates feel welcome. It was really odd for me to go through the process, but I felt compelled to do it. And now here I am. Volunteering in Catholic education. I can feel the mirth that this is causing in the universe.
I was literally thunderstruck when the director called and asked if I would volunteer this year. My parents and I joked about calling the priest with whom I tangled 15 years ago --- the final straw that led me to quit the program and not get confirmed then.
My plan is to make sure this year's candidates feel welcome. It was really odd for me to go through the process, but I felt compelled to do it. And now here I am. Volunteering in Catholic education. I can feel the mirth that this is causing in the universe.
3.20.2007
Interrobang Sighting
I only just learned of the Interrobang (a typographical symbol that combines the question mark and exclamation point) from Mental Floss when the darned thing turned up again. This time, it's the "P" in the logo for the Partnership for a Drug-Free America. Hmm.
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