Thursday, April 30, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Bridgies say the darndest things ...
While driving to Hy-Vee late last night to get candy for the bunch of ingrates I call my students and spotting a group lounging on the Speedee Mart curb:
Me: Oh God, there's that dude, what's his name? Roberto? Rodriguez?
Bridge: Albert. And he's sitting with those married lesbians. That one drives a car that you like, a yellow Scion or whatever.
Me: Oh God! I don't want to be a stereotype!
Bridge: Too late.
On the gigantic hybrid pigeon/doves that have been hanging out under our bird feeder:
Bridge: Look at them! They don't belong here! They're unnatural!
Me: Bridgie, some people say that about us!
On subtly admitting that she may have lost our only pair of scissors and handing me a 10 dollar bill before I head to Target with Beemer:
Bridge: Here. Buy yourself some nice scissors. She laughs and laughs.
Me: Grrr...
While thinking aloud that I should douse myself in NyQuil to get some sleep:
Bridge: Yes. Take NyQuil. Lots of it.
On the new allowance of gays and lesbians to marry in Iowa:
Bridge: Sooo ... wanna meet me in Sioux City this week? At the courthouse? Wear something nice.
Me: Oh God, there's that dude, what's his name? Roberto? Rodriguez?
Bridge: Albert. And he's sitting with those married lesbians. That one drives a car that you like, a yellow Scion or whatever.
Me: Oh God! I don't want to be a stereotype!
Bridge: Too late.
On the gigantic hybrid pigeon/doves that have been hanging out under our bird feeder:
Bridge: Look at them! They don't belong here! They're unnatural!
Me: Bridgie, some people say that about us!
On subtly admitting that she may have lost our only pair of scissors and handing me a 10 dollar bill before I head to Target with Beemer:
Bridge: Here. Buy yourself some nice scissors. She laughs and laughs.
Me: Grrr...
While thinking aloud that I should douse myself in NyQuil to get some sleep:
Bridge: Yes. Take NyQuil. Lots of it.
On the new allowance of gays and lesbians to marry in Iowa:
Bridge: Sooo ... wanna meet me in Sioux City this week? At the courthouse? Wear something nice.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A High in the 80s.
I just talked to my brother for the last time before he lands in Kuwait. Then he will be stationed in Basra. He thinks he'll be incommunicado for at least a month or so. I am sad and am trying to figure out how to look like I've not been crying. Because I have to teach soon.
Here's Michael and Sam sharing Taco John's last fall:
In other news ... I don't really have much, I guess. The light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brighter and as God as my witness, I will make it. (Yeesh, and I harp on my students for using cliches.) Overall, I've had a very satisfying teaching year. This was my first full year as a full-timer, so this is the first full year I've done the 5-5 load. I believe I rocked it. Soundly. And by "rocking it", I mean I am still standing, haven't gone completely gray, haven't told any in-class mom jokes, and haven't succumbed completely to carpal tunnel. Ha! Take that, 5-5 load!
I had my advanced comp students journal about this last week: "What is an important and significant change you have noticed about yourself in the past year or so?" Some students wrote about positive stuff; some wrote about really sucky stuff. I haven't addressed this yet, personally, but I think it's important to take stock every once in awhile.
Taking stock:
I still chew my nails.
I do not drink pop (save for the occasional whiskey diet).
I would like a baby. How? Oy oy oy.
I feel more secure and stable, in all ways, in the past year than I have the preceding 27.
I still have a mothereffer of a temper.
I am a helluva teacher.
I'm addicted to Facebook.
I left the Newman Center and now go to the other Catholic church that I'm not sold on.
I am pissed because the Newman Center I loved no longer exists.
I am an old gammy who can still dance your socks off, pal.
I want a house. I'll be in the position to buy one in two years, I think. I hope.
All in all, things is pretty good.
I know you will anyways, but please keep my bro and all other soldiers close.
Here's Michael and Sam sharing Taco John's last fall:
In other news ... I don't really have much, I guess. The light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brighter and as God as my witness, I will make it. (Yeesh, and I harp on my students for using cliches.) Overall, I've had a very satisfying teaching year. This was my first full year as a full-timer, so this is the first full year I've done the 5-5 load. I believe I rocked it. Soundly. And by "rocking it", I mean I am still standing, haven't gone completely gray, haven't told any in-class mom jokes, and haven't succumbed completely to carpal tunnel. Ha! Take that, 5-5 load!
I had my advanced comp students journal about this last week: "What is an important and significant change you have noticed about yourself in the past year or so?" Some students wrote about positive stuff; some wrote about really sucky stuff. I haven't addressed this yet, personally, but I think it's important to take stock every once in awhile.
Taking stock:
I still chew my nails.
I do not drink pop (save for the occasional whiskey diet).
I would like a baby. How? Oy oy oy.
I feel more secure and stable, in all ways, in the past year than I have the preceding 27.
I still have a mothereffer of a temper.
I am a helluva teacher.
I'm addicted to Facebook.
I left the Newman Center and now go to the other Catholic church that I'm not sold on.
I am pissed because the Newman Center I loved no longer exists.
I am an old gammy who can still dance your socks off, pal.
I want a house. I'll be in the position to buy one in two years, I think. I hope.
All in all, things is pretty good.
I know you will anyways, but please keep my bro and all other soldiers close.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Mesa, A to Z.
This past weekend, we whisked away to Arizona for the gorgeous wedding of my one of my best friends from college. We rented a condo with three other friends, got pedicured, margarita'ed, sunburned, martini'ed, and danced the night away! It was a dream vacation. Absolutely perfect.
We got back on Sunday night, and this morning, I put on snowboots and shoveled the drive. Sigh. Arizona, I love you.
The condo we stayed in.
Aloha! Or whatever you would say in Mesa. !Bienvenidos! I guess.
It's a tough life, I tell ya. A morning at the pool and margaritas, guac, chips, and salsa for lunch.
The waterfall at Val Vista Lake Resort. The koi were huge!
Doing the electric slide at the wedding!
View of Val Vista Lake from the dock:
Tall Cactus!
I love this state!
Goodbye, Arizona! I'll be retiring to you shortly:
We got back on Sunday night, and this morning, I put on snowboots and shoveled the drive. Sigh. Arizona, I love you.
The condo we stayed in.
Aloha! Or whatever you would say in Mesa. !Bienvenidos! I guess.
It's a tough life, I tell ya. A morning at the pool and margaritas, guac, chips, and salsa for lunch.
The waterfall at Val Vista Lake Resort. The koi were huge!
Doing the electric slide at the wedding!
View of Val Vista Lake from the dock:
Tall Cactus!
I love this state!
Goodbye, Arizona! I'll be retiring to you shortly:
Monday, March 30, 2009
It Has Occurred To Me
that ten years ago, one of my summer jobs was working at a greenhouse/landscaping business. Mostly, I spent the days cleaning tomato plants, deadheading petunias, and hauling 50 lb. bags of manure and topsoil. Once in awhile, though, a customer would want some help planning a yard. One day, a lady came in with big plans. I helped her pick out everything from burning bushes to columbines to juniper bushes to Korean lilacs. After ten years, I would like to see her lawn.
that I will buy any hair product with the word "shine" or "glossy" in it.
that buying and/or eating a candy bar in public is completely out of the question.
that sun, chlorine, empty streets, fire parties, grilling, swilling, and biking sound like heaven to me right now, and I am not sure how much longer I can wait for it.
that I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in 7 years.
that I have house fever, baby fever, retirement fever, lawn work fever, dancing fever, food fever, grading fever, and hair fever around-the-clock.
that listening to ABBA while walking to the store on a gray April day makes the world a lot brighter, a lot happier.
that I will buy any hair product with the word "shine" or "glossy" in it.
that buying and/or eating a candy bar in public is completely out of the question.
that sun, chlorine, empty streets, fire parties, grilling, swilling, and biking sound like heaven to me right now, and I am not sure how much longer I can wait for it.
that I haven't gotten a speeding ticket in 7 years.
that I have house fever, baby fever, retirement fever, lawn work fever, dancing fever, food fever, grading fever, and hair fever around-the-clock.
that listening to ABBA while walking to the store on a gray April day makes the world a lot brighter, a lot happier.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Monday, March 16, 2009
Monday
My brother's birthday is Wednesday, and he has to spend it in damp, cold, flannel-y, Kurt Cobain playing, gray Fort Lewis near Seattle. Away from his wife, family, and friends. I put a package in the mail today filled with Chips Ahoy, pepperoni (He can eat the hell out of pepperoni), sunflower seeds, beef jerky, and a David Cross stand-up CD. I got to talk to him a bit ago, and he's doing OK. He's learning some Farsi and is tired of waiting around.
He sent me a text the other day that read, "Sodomize Intolerance!"
******
B and I returned from Spring Break-Out 2009! last evening. It was a fab trip--Madtown, Chi-town, State Street, a noodle house, dancing, Wisconsin brewed beer, local wine, my fave kids J and E, liberal bumper stickers, lesbian bookstores, new Tibetan prayer flags, the Chicago Art Institute, a meal Al Capone would be jealous of, Millennium Park, Obama fever, Michigan Ave., and a 24-hour pool. Yes, please. I'll post pictures soon.
I haven't even checked my bank account and have no desire to do so.
He sent me a text the other day that read, "Sodomize Intolerance!"
******
B and I returned from Spring Break-Out 2009! last evening. It was a fab trip--Madtown, Chi-town, State Street, a noodle house, dancing, Wisconsin brewed beer, local wine, my fave kids J and E, liberal bumper stickers, lesbian bookstores, new Tibetan prayer flags, the Chicago Art Institute, a meal Al Capone would be jealous of, Millennium Park, Obama fever, Michigan Ave., and a 24-hour pool. Yes, please. I'll post pictures soon.
I haven't even checked my bank account and have no desire to do so.
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