X-mas in Vermont

I've been having so much fun on my vacation and right now... it's snowing! I'm not sure why I'm so excited, since I don't want to go out and do snow activities (and now I can't go to the movies), but something about childhood snow days must be tucked away in my neural pathways somewhere, because I'm thrilled.

this picture is from a sledding trip that I didn't go on, and shows the village my parents live in from a hill above town. as you can see, it's up in the mountains and hence, no unnecessary trips down the mountain for movies or whatever during snowfalls.

the weather has actually been really mild up until now, and we've had a museum trip (I didn't go), many sledding expeditions (never went), several food and present-shopping trips (I did go), and a dinner out (I did go). I got a great picture of my dad at the meat counter, getting just the right things, don't know if I'll be able to post it. he made a great traditional Italian 7-fishes dinner on Christmas Eve (but only 3 fishes + minestrone) there were salmon cakes, cod & potatoes/fennel, and shrimp - mmmmm! then the very next day, my step-mother made a turkey dinner with all the fixings, including my two favorites: winter root vegetables and homemade cranberry sauce - mmmmm (and stuffing)!

there were 8 people on Christmas Eve and 9 on Christmas Day. my lil' nephews ages 5 and 9 had tons of presents despite several packages not arriving. older one proceeded to read his book of science facts from cover straight on, after verifying the copyright date (didn't want out-of-date facts). I learned quite a bit about absolute zero, entropy and spontaneous combustion. the littler one managed two face-plants: one in the Christmas tree (no casualties) one while sledding (mountain:1, Ezra: zero). I also introduced the boys to ninja warrior, my fav program when I can get to cable. they loved it, of course, which shows how cool they already are!

my big plans now that the rest of the family's gone is mainly to not finish the two novels I've started... ahhh, vacation! and now, maybe I'll stick my nose outside and at least get a few seconds of snow-experience. hasta la vista, amigos: I hope your x-masses were equally lovely :)

oh noes!!!

tha lorider lost her celly!!!if you needs to reach me, e-mail is best- TTFN

3!....2!....1! caffeine!!!!

christmas vacays are so close I can almost taste them - literally.... I began a tradition a couple of years ago of having a cup of coffee at the airport before I fly, so now I associate it with flying because it's about the only time I indulge anymore.

I used to be able to drink coffee normally (if a double espresso for breakfast is normal) but lately, I get all jittery if I have coffee or coca-cola, and even chocolate after lunchtime keeps me up at night - what an old lady! this especially sucks when I go to visit my dad because there's going to be coffee, really good, strong coffee available every day! hmmmm..... I can tell already that I'm going to have to make a serious choice next week between glorious coffee and sleep! oh, well there are plenty of books at dad's house......

have fun on your vacays, everybody.... don't indulge too much in - erm- caffeine!

the art haps/xmas

hey detroit ppl-
who wants to go check out the revamped DIA? who wants to go see an exhibit about Saarinen at the Cranbrook? I want to do both in the new year, so sign up for my field trip now!! I'll get you some permission slips after Christmas.

speaking of Christmas, I just got tix today to head to Vermont over Christmas! I am so psyched - a whole week! it sounds so relaxing. plus my dad and step-ma, and grandma are all great cooks, so I'm going to stuff myself :D I'll see my little nephews also, my sis and bro-in-law, and hopefully my brother and his g-friend too! fun-fun-fun. I plan to take walks (or at least one walk) in the snow, up a scenic hill with Molly the springer spaniel. (yes anon, I'll be bringing electric hand-warmers and leg-warmers, plus some aromatherapy 'just in case')

I'll see if I can get some great pix of snowy New England to show from my trip!

ps: go to this guy's blog to see a great pic of a cat in a box of assorted beer. and also, he finally started posting about tha nog. garsh, and I thought I had a nog problem!

bumpity-bump!

oops ppls- I've missed you! Happy Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving! I can't believe it's been so long that ppl are actually asking me to post haha! mostly things have been bumpy & I've been busy trying to smooth them out... but it will all be good in the long run :)

my school fi-nal-ly called back a teacher they laid off from our building, so my class size has been reduced to a normal size & we just have to figure out who's teaching what and we'll be fine.....
(also we've begun the after-school tutoring program and I'm working with the kids who were in my class last year - it's great to see them again!)

my gramma's out of the hospital and decided not to do chemo, so she's at home, doing well. I saw her at Thanksgiving and we had a great visit.....

I didn't dress up for Halloween, fell asleep after 1 trick-or-treater, and missed out on Thanksgiving dinner due to travel times.... let's hope Christmas is more successful! lols

congrats to Marie and Fernando on their new jobs!!!! (and congrats to Marie on a month in France - *thbbt!* lucky!!!!)

yikes, one of my brothers now has his official driver's license and the other one has begun driver's ed -- if you live around Ann Arbor - WATCH OUT :D

anybody else got news???

obvious blog post? check. still funny? check.

Good Lord! (<- click here)



I get cranky after only ______________!
(fill in the blank in the comments section...)

study week!

lots of serious school work going on this week: I'm starting the 1st chapter for my thesis, which I'll be writing this year, and my students are taking the MEAP exam. as the thesis affects my future pay, and the results of the MEAP determine our school funding, it's nerve-wracking for everybody, to say the least.

however, the good news this week is that I've noticed that my class has um.... congealed, for lack of a better term. we're now a cohesive whole, we act as one, know our routines, know each other, and best yet, still get along despite that :) this is a wonderful mile-stone - with so many students in one class, I didn't even know IF it would happen! hopefully this is the start of a wonderful, memorable year......

************

meanwhile my grandma is battling colon cancer. she is in the hospital now after a surgery and should be out in a few days :) she is asking for prayers... couldn't be for a nicer lady

the kindness of strangers....

a cheesy title I know, but listen to my story: I was desperately tired and hungry last night, when I stopped to pick up something to eat at the end of many errands..... et voila! I locked my keys in the car! (plus my cell phone was at home)

suddenly, like a ray of sunshine, the good folks at the Chicken Shack called on a AAA card and got my door popped open... for free!!

go visit the Chicken Shack, folks! (especially the one on 11 mile in Royal Oak!)

Tigers win!

yay! yesterday, I went to my 3rd Tigers game of this season and .... we won!!!!!! it was awesome, as any Tigers win is, however it had to be enjoyed purely on its own merits, as its now impossible for us to even earn the wild card berth....

but the craziest thing was I saw this guy there:

el rancho!

that means "the ranch" in spanish - and it's the name of one of many restaurants I can walk to for lunch, from my school in Mexicantown, Detroit...... that's right, you TGIF-regulars and Ham Shack junkies - I can actually eat a delicious and healthy hot meal any day of the week!!!!!

I ate at el rancho today and I had chile relleno, that's a big chili pepper stuffed with seasoned ground beef, breaded and deep-fried with rice n beans and soup and tortillas...... all for $6.13 after tax!!

only thing I forgot was, this restaurant uses some kind of big, huge, authentic, and slightly smelly chili pepper for its stuffed peppers. don't get me wrong, it tastes great, but there is an odor. but I had forgot. and when the waitress leaned over and set down the plate, I got a big old waft of it.... but I thought it was coming from her armpits!!!!!!! hahahahahahaha!! I was thinking "man, she has some serious BO for a woman!" hahahahahahaha!!!!!!

but seriously folks, the food is great.

ps-just now I punished one of my kids by making him write an essay - apparently, the reason not to curse in school is because you could get in chrabull. just thought I'd let you know, anon.

camping #2!

I went camping again this weekend at the same mini-cabin, this time with kda (the artist formerly known as k-beck). we had a great time in Nature! we hiked, we sat at a campfire, we sat on the beach, we went to a nature center, we.... watched a pirated copy of Superbad (hey, it was mostly a nature trip!)

plus, we ate at this place, which was very bougie, but I must be (finally) becoming my age, because I found myself thoroughly enjoying all the bougieness of it :)

thanks for a great weekend, kda!

BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK!BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK!BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! BJORK! AND HER AWESOME BAND!

(shoutout to kda!)
what can I say but: wow!

I've been waiting 10 years to see Bjork in concert and I can truly say that it was worth every moment of waiting!! how amazing is she??!!!!! she is so amazing that I had to oooh and ahh at her concepts & stage effects! she is so amazing that she had assembled an incredible band around her! she is so amazing that her unbelievable voice stayed unbelievable for 90 straight minutes of singing!!!

and then.......

and then there was the truly awesome moment. a spot light was shining from center stage directly out onto the audience and me. suddenly Bjork crossed the stage and ........
the shadow of Bjork fell upon me! praise Jesus!!!!!!!

what a night!

Bjork, the one and only!

wow!

God loves me!

yes folks, it's the second week of school, and we already have a ...... FREE DAY!!!! it's like a snow day, but in September. the electricity was out for several hours this morning, then it came back on right before the first bell, but by then all the parents had been informed to keep the little monsters sweet pupils home, so they just left it alone. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

anyways that allows me to rest up for my big week:

TUES- Bjork concert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FRI, SAT, SUN- camping!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

don't hate, players. just keep on wishing and praying you were me :)

Las Chivas!!!

I started the new school year yesterday; I have a class of bi-lingual (Mexican) fifth graders..... a TON of fifth graders!!! and they keep showing up!! yikes!!! but they seem like an intelligent, and more importantly, a cool bunch (see our chosen class name above!), so perhaps la lorider shall survive.....

stay tuned to find out.........

camping! with a photo!

here's a picture of the wonderful mini-cabin I stayed in at Metamora-Hadley state park last week! *sighz* I wish I were still there!!! I hiked everyday and read the rest of the time -- I got a whole stack of graphic novels out at the library before I went, which made for easy reading.......

however, it also made me view everything as if it were an episodic graphic with captions coming out..... my next-door campers who liked to loudly discuss the drug users of their acquaintance... the lady with two gorgeous golden retreivers who kept yelling "Stupid Dogs!" at them each time they- well, behaved like dogs..... the little girl who proudly announced "this is the 4th fish I've caught!" as she brandished a 3" bluegill that looked remarkably like the last one.... the apparantly-too-regular at the local bar engaging in the following reparte:

man: "I heard you got kicked out of XYZ bar last week."

mr. old guy who is always at the bar: "I didn't get kicked out - I walked out! and I'm not going back until I get an apology!!"

man: "did you leave your phone number?"

hahahahahaha!!!!! priceless!

PS-so HAHA anon, I got by just fine with NO spa services!!! (until the drive back)

PPS- GO TIGERS!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go Tigers!!!

Yay! I went to the game last night with K-Beck and we .... won!!!!! How fantastic, I can't remember the last time I was at a winning game. :D it must have been my lucky tigers-colored manicure that did it -- I'll "be sure" to post a picture of it "real soon".

in other news: Happy Birthday to K-Beck, and thanks again for the best reverse birthday present I ever got! sorry that I won't be able to join you tonight for your b-day bar-hop....

folks, sit tight for more news from tha lorida, I'm heading out of town for a few days to go camping (listening all the way to my new-2-me Ipod!!!!!!!!!!!), but I'll give yous lots of more news when I get back - and of course, "lots" "more" "pix"!

HOW THA LORIDER GOT HER GROOVE BACK

wells, I guess that explains what I did last night :D

apologies, apologies to my many screaming fans who have missed me... I'm happy to say that I'll finally be getting an interneck connection at home so you alls can get semi-regular updates on la lorider's la fabulous life......

the latest, in no particular order: I have a new (old) car - thanks, Gram! I'm currently enjoying my summer vacay, soon to return to (shudder) ... teach! I'm using my vacay time to write my masters thesis. I've re-entered the dating world, to the delight of every red-blooded, unattached male in SE Michigan! and the wonderfulest of all, I got a fabulous new roomie, who is an artiste such as myself, only talented. I think that her code name for my wonderful digital memoirs will be........ Becky. cause her name's Becky. gettit?

practical/philosophical question

is there anything I can actually do to help out with Iraq, or Somalia, or Darfur, or Tibet...?

I'm getting sick of hearing about situations overseas, year after year, and always thinking vaguely that there is something I could be doing. let's consider:

1. write letters to congress or somewhere. sounds very unrewarding. I doubt that would change anything, despite what activist ppls advocate....
2. donate money. sounds unrewarding too. I know that anything I can give is a literal drop in a bucket, compared to what is needed. also, there are sooooo many places that could use donations, just thinking about it is mind-boggling.
3. pray? I heard Pope John Paul used to pray for 7 hours a day. that's a serious use of his time resources - he must have thought it to be a good use of time.
4. make carepacks with a note; just let people know that someone is thinking about them...?

I think the last one speaks to wanting to personally touch the situation, which seems to be more the point than anything for me. looking at it that way, it seems like such an american thing - the exact reason why we're so unpopular anyway, thinking we're justified in poking our noses in....... yet it sounds kind to me - hmmmmmmm.... maybe I'll check out some of the yoga ppls thoughts on this....
YIKES -boring!!!

meanwhile, I've been out shopping this weekend for plants for my classroom and Valentine's gifts for my class (I'm going to bake individual heart-shaped treats with their name on it!), trying to make it a special place for all of us. many of my kids are in pretty serious poverty; maybe just trying to create a safe and nurturing place and going around trying to get better coats for them and the suchlike that I do, is my bit of helping this planet......

any thoughts....?

the expanding o' the family

two recent baby newses:

first, I've yet to mention that my good friends Ximena and Fernando welcomed their new son, Sebastian, to the world on December 29, 2006! he's super-cute and growing like a weed. congratulations to the happy family!

meanwhile, other good friends BRITEW and Anonymous have decided to adopt a lil' kitty-cat. they're thinking of getting a grown-up, reject cat to assuage their first-world, consumptionist throw-away guilt, but I really think they should get a cute lil' kitten, like so:

















awwwwwwwwwwwww!

in other family-expansion news, Marie's wedding-planning is thrilling her SO MUCH that she has begged me for some yoga lessons so she can make it through the summer without developing a permanent one-eyed squint. happy to oblige, Marie, happy to do it.....
NOW MAKE WITH THE FOIE GRAS!!!!!!

yay! going to VT in 2 weeks!

(that's Vermont to you foreigners)

my dad and I have our winter breaks at the same time this year (yeah, you wish you were a teacher... winter break and, oh yeah, I'm at home today because -boohoo- it's too COLD for our kids to go to school.... brrrrrrr!), so I'm going to visit him, my stepma, my grandma, maybe my brother-in-law will be in town too? plus, we'll be moving my grandpa from the cape (that's Cape Cod, Massachusetts to you foreigners - near Boston, you know?). he needs to go to assisted care... :( sad to see, but it's definitely time.

only thing is, nobody's told him yet! (remember - it's in 2 weeks!!) well, he has a whole memory problem and the thinking is he'll forget what the important news is, but remember to be upset.... I dunno. seems kind of strange, but my family's thought a lot about it and is getting advice from specialists.

anyway, my dad and I'll do the move, while my stepma escorts my grandpa to Verde-mont. despite having to catch a 6:45 am flight (does time actually GO that early?) and doing the hauling, driving, & hauling, I'm looking forward to it - I always like to spend time with my Dad. I'm sure I'll learn something - he's a super-smart guy.

well folks, it's grand to be on-line; I'd love to stay and chat... but I have a kitty on my feet who neds some petting....... enjoy your day at work & ciao!

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAPY BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRTTHHHHHDAAAAAAAY TOOOOOO MEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

folks, I'm 33!
yikes!

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thanks for the flowers, D.A.D.! they're gorgeous!