So Chris overheard me leave a message at Making Memories, about my awesome wonderful beautiful amazing Slice die-cutting machine... that is suddenly not working properly. I had received a ticket number when I contacted them via the website a few weeks ago, but when I hadn't heard anything, I went to check the status of the number, and it said the ticket number had been completed and closed.
I was sad about this.
So I called and left them a message explaining the situation. And when I got off the phone, Chris piped up with this:
"You know, I bet it would be really great to work at a scrapbooking company."
To which I replied, "RIGHT?! WOULDN'T IT?! IT'S MY DREAM!!!" Because, see, I didn't realize his statement was a) facetious, and b) leading to something else.
He continues:
"Because all day long you'd get people calling with (switch to girl voice), "Um, hi! So sorry to bother you, and I hope you're having a great day and all, but I have a problem with my scrapbooking machine, and, um, see it won't cut out my star! And really, all I want is to go back to my scrapbooking! And I really, really love your products, so hopefully you can help me fix this star problem please?"
Touche, OSF. Touche.
But, um, seriously, Making Memories? If you end up reading this, I would really love it if I could cut things out again. Pretty please?
Saturday, January 30, 2010
This and that from this week
Hung out at Jen and Justin's Sunday night. We ate homemade pizza, watched season two of the Big Bang Theory, and Jen made us some seriously amazing peanut butter cookies. Best I've ever had in my life.
Had honey tangerines for the first time on Monday. Yum. But they've got seeds.
Watched a kid at school learn an important lesson this week. I overheard him dropping a few choice words around one of my favorite kids, and he began to irk me. At lunch, I mentioned to the other teachers that I was disliking this kid, and Sandee and Anthony were shocked, as this kid is considered one of their favorites. Sandee talked to the boy after I'd gone for the day, explaining how "a colleague of hers" (me) had overheard him and gotten the idea that he didn't have very good character. Poor kid felt so bad! And I understand- it sucks when you get caught doing one thing wrong and you feel labeled for it, even when you do a million things right. But what a great lesson for that kid to learn as a high school student- that sometimes you can give off the wrong impression even when you think no one's listening.
I like it when I'm hauling twenty-two books from my car to the library drop-off box and I pass someone who smiles knowingly at me. Because I know they're on the return trip from dropping off their excessive book loans.
While on a special Saturday afternoon visit to Chris' office for some printing work:
Jordan: "Oh, look at that. You've got two monitors."
Chris: "Yeah. Want to see how it works?!"
Jordan: "I'm good."
Fun meeting this week for the charter school. This month they combined meetings for South and Central, so we got to see Brian and Alicia, who work at the North Park classroom. Talked about wedding rings, grading rigor (our own kind of rigor, that is), and walked to Office Depot to search for the optimum grading pen.
Did not find the optimum grading pen at Office Depot. Or at Target. I've got strict criteria here: good roll, comes in multiple colors (preferably some fun colors too), almost looks like a fine tip sharpie, except it does not bleed through. And is not a gel pen. So far the Bic Z4 is the only pen that measures up, but I can only find them online at Office Depot. And shipping's $10 bucks. For four pens.
8 months with Chris has officially begun. He had to work late last night, on the official day, so we stayed in and did nothing.
However, today is turning out to be quite a fun experience: sushi lunch (with best fried rice/vegetable blend I've ever had), stop at the candy store, hit up his work while he completes more of the Friday night project, and soon we'll be off to meet Ryan at Gordon Biersch (with the bill on Chris' boss, since Chris has to work so late so often), and then the National Comedy Theater, where the OSF has never been before.
I ponied up the $60 for the application fee, so I'm definitely in for the teaching credential/ Master's program at National. Good-bye, freedom!
Still working on my writing. It's been a good week, but still coming slowly. I'm hoping to have an official rough draft done for my young adult book by the end of next week. Exciting! I've been motivated by the list of recent ALA winners that just came out for 2010. I haven't read any of the Newbery winners, but I'm looking forward to adding them to my library list soon.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Poor OSF
His monitor just couldn't take it anymore and decided to collapse on him today. There he was, just minding his own business, editing pictures of his super cute girlfriend, and BAM! That monitor got taken down.
And then the poor guy had to think. How was he to make this new format work?
Could he some how fix the hinge on the back and call it a day?
Nope. For awhile he just went about his business, one hand holding the monitor up, and one hand operating the mouse as he continued his photo edits. Until I asked him how long he planned for that to continue.
Then I was rewarded with this look.
Meanwhile, as you can see, I was happily snapping away. Some day he'll think this is a funny story, and he'll be so delighted that I documented it. He'll say, "Babe, you're so amazing at keeping track of all the mundane yet comical moments of our life. And now I'm going to go out and buy you a brand new desktop computer, because you're just that amazing!"
Yep. That's what he will say.
Trust me. I know this guy.
Eventually he lay the monitor back down and just continued his work this way. He was clearly very dedicated to making this picture of me look amazing.
Poor monitor. Poor OSF. Poor me who had to search all of Fry's for the only two Samsung monitors that the sales guy said were definitely in the store, just probably in someone's cart.
But on a higher note, we did get to stop at the Corner Bakery in Mission Valley for dinner, and I discovered the amazingness of their chopped salad. So the day wasn't a complete wash.
Friday, January 15, 2010
2009 Reading List
I realized I'd forgotten to update it in the last few months of 2009, so I logged into my library account for help remembering the last few books I read. (P.S.- Isn't it nice of the library to keep a list for me? I like.)
THE LIBRARY :: 2009
A track two kind of day
I know some of you are thinking, what? Track... 2? Not track 4 or 15, as is commonly posted by those in the know?
Nope. Track 2.
Mama Who Bore Me was the appropriate song today, as I spent the hours of 3pm-4:30pm at the dentist, courtesy of a hereditarily bad relationship with my teeth. Thanks, mom!
(To be fair, I did get the super straight hair from my dad. But that doesn't quite even out now, does it?)
I'm starting to regain feeling in my cheeks and lips now. Subsequent bad news: I am beginning to feel the ache in the tooth that was drilled. :( Looks like tonight will be a quiet Friday evening in with my laptop, season two of Lost, and a cute OSF who should be getting off work right about now.
That does make things a little better.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
This year...
In 2009 I chose two words that I wanted to live my year by: FUN and FREEDOM. You can read all about that in this entry from January 1, 2009.
For my FUN, I basically wanted to get out of my cozy "I just like being at home" stage that had developed upon graduating college. All I wanted to do after a day at work was just go home, set up on the couch with my laptop and a movie or a good book, maybe have friends over, but for the most part I was getting to be quite the party pooper if it involved actually going out and doing things that didn't involve the same types of things at another friend's house.
So with FUN, I decided I would take up any offers to go out, barring any real excuse like sickness or other plans or genuine work that needed to be done at home. The very first day Brittany made me go to Julian with her, Ryan, and Aaron for a picture trip. I'm glad I was along for the ride; we got great pictures and spent a fun day trip together. Later in February, Ryan and Chris wanted me to come along on a museum/Mt. Soledad/Point Loma picture trip, which I really didn't feel like doing that day. But I did it anyway. And of course I had FUN. I've had fun all year. And spent like no time at home. :)
My other word, FREEDOM, referred to a few different things. It mostly dealt with freedom from things that weren't good in my life, i.e., my soda addiction, sleeping in super late all the time and wasting my days, and this pesky anxiety that I've carried with me for a number of years. And while I can't honestly say I've beaten my coke addiction, my job at the school has definitely helped me reverse my sleeping in, and a number of factors this year has led me to gain a pretty good step up on my anxiety. So I'm going to call FREEDOM a success, too.
My 2009 words did me some good, so I wanted to keep the whole 'word' thing going. And again I couldn't come up with just one word to sum up what I want to concentrate on this year, so two more are in order: HEALTH and FAITH.
For HEALTH: this includes eating better, which I've already gotten much better at over the last year, but would like to keep improving on with new cooking ideas. The cookbooks I got for Christmas will definitely help in this area. It also includes keeping fit, something I haven't been keeping tabs on in awhile. I'm at a point in life where I don't have a set thing (soccer, ultimate frisbee, etc.) to keep me exercising regularly, so Chris and I have begun working out to the P90X program, and just recently started something called Insanity as well. It's definitely been helping, and it feels good to know that I'm getting a good workout each week.
My second word is FAITH. Not that I don't have it, but I want to make mine stronger this year. Especially as it looks like the OSF is going to be a permanent fixture in my life, I want to work on a faith that involves him. He's already suggested we start going through devotions and spiritual books together, and tonight he ordered us Donald Miller's new book, A Million Miles in a Hundred Years. I'm excited to learn and grow alongside him as we begin these books.
I also want to get back into the habit of reading my Bible daily. For years it was something I did, ingrained in me from my days in Awana and summers spent at a camp where waking up early for devos was not just suggested, but mandatory. To do this, I plan to plant a few Bibles in the places I spend the most time, so I always have the ability to do my daily reading.
I'm always excited for the newness each January brings. Last year was brilliant, and I have no doubt this year will set the bar even higher. :)
Along with my two new word-goals, it looks like I'll be starting another new project this year: getting credentialed to teach. A few of the teachers at the charter school have been encouraging me to look into the program so they can recommend me for a teaching position at our school (which I would love- our school is rad). So really long story short, I've been researching credential programs with a joint master's program (recommended to me by everyone at school since it's less classwork over all and you start at a higher pay tier faster), and I'm pretty excited about the online program National University offers. I'm stoked that you don't actually have to go to class. We went to lunch with Chris and Mel Holz today and basically grilled Holz about his experience credentialing, and it sounds pretty reasonable. I may even be able to do my "student teaching" at the charter school, which would work out so unbelievably perfectly.
It's still in talks for now, but if all looks good after I talk to a National rep later next week, it'll probably be happening. Fortunately for me, they do one-a-month classes, instead of the semester program, so you can start at any time. I think I'll be going for the single-subject math credential, although I looked at some of the previous CSET test questions tonight, and they're pretty ridiculously hard. As in, I don't think I've even studied that type of math before. I can always fall back on English for now (it looked a lot more manageable), and then study up for the math portion later on, of course.
So many options...
For my FUN, I basically wanted to get out of my cozy "I just like being at home" stage that had developed upon graduating college. All I wanted to do after a day at work was just go home, set up on the couch with my laptop and a movie or a good book, maybe have friends over, but for the most part I was getting to be quite the party pooper if it involved actually going out and doing things that didn't involve the same types of things at another friend's house.
So with FUN, I decided I would take up any offers to go out, barring any real excuse like sickness or other plans or genuine work that needed to be done at home. The very first day Brittany made me go to Julian with her, Ryan, and Aaron for a picture trip. I'm glad I was along for the ride; we got great pictures and spent a fun day trip together. Later in February, Ryan and Chris wanted me to come along on a museum/Mt. Soledad/Point Loma picture trip, which I really didn't feel like doing that day. But I did it anyway. And of course I had FUN. I've had fun all year. And spent like no time at home. :)
My other word, FREEDOM, referred to a few different things. It mostly dealt with freedom from things that weren't good in my life, i.e., my soda addiction, sleeping in super late all the time and wasting my days, and this pesky anxiety that I've carried with me for a number of years. And while I can't honestly say I've beaten my coke addiction, my job at the school has definitely helped me reverse my sleeping in, and a number of factors this year has led me to gain a pretty good step up on my anxiety. So I'm going to call FREEDOM a success, too.
My 2009 words did me some good, so I wanted to keep the whole 'word' thing going. And again I couldn't come up with just one word to sum up what I want to concentrate on this year, so two more are in order: HEALTH and FAITH.
For HEALTH: this includes eating better, which I've already gotten much better at over the last year, but would like to keep improving on with new cooking ideas. The cookbooks I got for Christmas will definitely help in this area. It also includes keeping fit, something I haven't been keeping tabs on in awhile. I'm at a point in life where I don't have a set thing (soccer, ultimate frisbee, etc.) to keep me exercising regularly, so Chris and I have begun working out to the P90X program, and just recently started something called Insanity as well. It's definitely been helping, and it feels good to know that I'm getting a good workout each week.
My second word is FAITH. Not that I don't have it, but I want to make mine stronger this year. Especially as it looks like the OSF is going to be a permanent fixture in my life, I want to work on a faith that involves him. He's already suggested we start going through devotions and spiritual books together, and tonight he ordered us Donald Miller's new book, A Million Miles in a Hundred Years. I'm excited to learn and grow alongside him as we begin these books.
I also want to get back into the habit of reading my Bible daily. For years it was something I did, ingrained in me from my days in Awana and summers spent at a camp where waking up early for devos was not just suggested, but mandatory. To do this, I plan to plant a few Bibles in the places I spend the most time, so I always have the ability to do my daily reading.
I'm always excited for the newness each January brings. Last year was brilliant, and I have no doubt this year will set the bar even higher. :)
Along with my two new word-goals, it looks like I'll be starting another new project this year: getting credentialed to teach. A few of the teachers at the charter school have been encouraging me to look into the program so they can recommend me for a teaching position at our school (which I would love- our school is rad). So really long story short, I've been researching credential programs with a joint master's program (recommended to me by everyone at school since it's less classwork over all and you start at a higher pay tier faster), and I'm pretty excited about the online program National University offers. I'm stoked that you don't actually have to go to class. We went to lunch with Chris and Mel Holz today and basically grilled Holz about his experience credentialing, and it sounds pretty reasonable. I may even be able to do my "student teaching" at the charter school, which would work out so unbelievably perfectly.
It's still in talks for now, but if all looks good after I talk to a National rep later next week, it'll probably be happening. Fortunately for me, they do one-a-month classes, instead of the semester program, so you can start at any time. I think I'll be going for the single-subject math credential, although I looked at some of the previous CSET test questions tonight, and they're pretty ridiculously hard. As in, I don't think I've even studied that type of math before. I can always fall back on English for now (it looked a lot more manageable), and then study up for the math portion later on, of course.
So many options...
News Flash
I may be becoming a teacher. Not sure yet. Looking into it.
Details to follow.
Thanks for listening.
Details to follow.
Thanks for listening.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
What have I gotten myself into?
Um. So I decided to see about becoming a sub for the schools around here. You know, as a way to make a little more money to pay off the student loans I traded in for an education. Ironically.
So the first step is taking the CBEST, which I hear is pretty easy, and seeing how I've been immersed in high school academics for the last five months, I'm pretty refreshed in most of the subjects that will appear on the test.
(The second step, in case you're wondering, is to pay the city something like $50 to "certify" you. You don't have to do anything for this certification... except hand them $50. Weird, right? Right.)
So I go to register. And the CBEST site asks me all kinds of questions for their survey of the kind of people who are taking this thing. And I kid you not, this was on page 5:
Reason for Taking a Paper-Based Test
Which reasons best describe why you selected the paper-based test rather than the computer-based test? (Select all that apply.)
First checkbox answer: Familiarity with paper-and-pencil format
So not joking!
I showed Chris and he bust up laughing. That might be the most funny and simultaneously most ridiculous thing I've read in months.
And luckily for me, I've had experience with the paper-and-pencil format since the age of I'm-old-enough-to-draw. So that would make me, what, two? I just feel so bad for those poor post-grads who haven't been taught the paper-and-pencil method yet. It's got to be rough.
So the first step is taking the CBEST, which I hear is pretty easy, and seeing how I've been immersed in high school academics for the last five months, I'm pretty refreshed in most of the subjects that will appear on the test.
(The second step, in case you're wondering, is to pay the city something like $50 to "certify" you. You don't have to do anything for this certification... except hand them $50. Weird, right? Right.)
So I go to register. And the CBEST site asks me all kinds of questions for their survey of the kind of people who are taking this thing. And I kid you not, this was on page 5:
Reason for Taking a Paper-Based Test
Which reasons best describe why you selected the paper-based test rather than the computer-based test? (Select all that apply.)
First checkbox answer: Familiarity with paper-and-pencil format
So not joking!
I showed Chris and he bust up laughing. That might be the most funny and simultaneously most ridiculous thing I've read in months.
And luckily for me, I've had experience with the paper-and-pencil format since the age of I'm-old-enough-to-draw. So that would make me, what, two? I just feel so bad for those poor post-grads who haven't been taught the paper-and-pencil method yet. It's got to be rough.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
RIP, Kirsten
I just found out that the American Girl company has begun retiring dolls. Who do they think they are, Disney?!
So far, in a one year time span, two of the original three dolls have been locked "in the vault" along with all their accessories. In one year!
Ridiculous.
Can I just tell you, growing up, American Girl was it for me. I had my dolls, I had the books, I got a subscription every year for about seven years running... at Christmastime my grandma would give me the catalogue to go through and circle the things I wanted for the dolls.
I remember peeking under the tree one year, and carefully pulling the tape off one of my presents to see what it was-- and was delighted to find the whole boxed set of Kirsten books. Of course, I was even more delighted when Christmas actually came and I discovered that my mom had been hiding my big present elsewhere (she may have been on to me): the actual Kristen doll. Which I loved. Dearly. A doll might not sound like a big deal, but at $94 each (confirmed on the new americangirl.com; surprisingly inflation is unknown to American Girl), you just didn't get one every Christmas.
And, American Girl? I was sort of hoping on my own little girl someday finding a Kirsten doll under the tree? Yeah. You should feel bad.
In honor of Kirsten's retirement, here are some pictures I found (stole) that encapsulate the joy of the Swedish immigrant doll from 1854.
So far, in a one year time span, two of the original three dolls have been locked "in the vault" along with all their accessories. In one year!
Ridiculous.
Can I just tell you, growing up, American Girl was it for me. I had my dolls, I had the books, I got a subscription every year for about seven years running... at Christmastime my grandma would give me the catalogue to go through and circle the things I wanted for the dolls.
I remember peeking under the tree one year, and carefully pulling the tape off one of my presents to see what it was-- and was delighted to find the whole boxed set of Kirsten books. Of course, I was even more delighted when Christmas actually came and I discovered that my mom had been hiding my big present elsewhere (she may have been on to me): the actual Kristen doll. Which I loved. Dearly. A doll might not sound like a big deal, but at $94 each (confirmed on the new americangirl.com; surprisingly inflation is unknown to American Girl), you just didn't get one every Christmas.
And, American Girl? I was sort of hoping on my own little girl someday finding a Kirsten doll under the tree? Yeah. You should feel bad.
In honor of Kirsten's retirement, here are some pictures I found (stole) that encapsulate the joy of the Swedish immigrant doll from 1854.
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Mandy Anne Cordelia gets married
Mandy is one of my favorite people, and roommate from 2005-2007. She is seriously the most awesome person you could possibly hope to meet.
The 'Anne Cordelia' part is not actually her name. It's a nickname given to her by the Master of Nicknames, Sonia-Monique-Saenz-Breuninger, and is a reference to Anne of Green Gables. Because Anne always wanted to be named something romantic like Cordelia, and Mandy always wanted to be just like Anne of Green Gables. So Mandy Anne Cordelia was born.
Over the years Mandy Anne, Sonia, and I have had many discussions about boys. From all the way back in the day to the Cobblestone apartment, when we stayed up late waiting for Sonia to get home from her first date with Paul Breuninger, to the Rancho apartment, when we all received copies of Captivating, to when we were no longer roommates and we were meeting at Starbucks at 9:30pm to hear all about this David guy from Minnesota. It's been quite a ride.
Yesterday Mandy's dream came true in the form of her wedding day. And the event was pretty true to who Mandy is: orange accent sashes on the bridesmaids, Indonesidan food, a letting-the-bird-fly-out-of-a-wicker-basket-while-carrying-a-spear-for-show tradition, the father/daughter dance where both Mandy and her dad were attempting jump skips, and, after the final song, when everyone stood in a circle around them, Mandy announcing, "We did it! It's over, and it was awesome, right?"
I love Mandy.
It was hard to get a good shot at the wedding, so I've only got this one: the triumphant "We did it!" before walking down the aisle.
The 'Anne Cordelia' part is not actually her name. It's a nickname given to her by the Master of Nicknames, Sonia-Monique-Saenz-Breuninger, and is a reference to Anne of Green Gables. Because Anne always wanted to be named something romantic like Cordelia, and Mandy always wanted to be just like Anne of Green Gables. So Mandy Anne Cordelia was born.
Over the years Mandy Anne, Sonia, and I have had many discussions about boys. From all the way back in the day to the Cobblestone apartment, when we stayed up late waiting for Sonia to get home from her first date with Paul Breuninger, to the Rancho apartment, when we all received copies of Captivating, to when we were no longer roommates and we were meeting at Starbucks at 9:30pm to hear all about this David guy from Minnesota. It's been quite a ride.
Yesterday Mandy's dream came true in the form of her wedding day. And the event was pretty true to who Mandy is: orange accent sashes on the bridesmaids, Indonesidan food, a letting-the-bird-fly-out-of-a-wicker-basket-while-carrying-a-spear-for-show tradition, the father/daughter dance where both Mandy and her dad were attempting jump skips, and, after the final song, when everyone stood in a circle around them, Mandy announcing, "We did it! It's over, and it was awesome, right?"
I love Mandy.
It was hard to get a good shot at the wedding, so I've only got this one: the triumphant "We did it!" before walking down the aisle.
And I managed to catch warrior-Mandy out in the foyer, pre-bird tossing. I didn't get to ask what tradition this is, but you should all know that Mandy grew up as a MK in Indonesia. So maybe that's where they carry spears and throw birds from baskets after a wedding? Anyone Indonesian out there who can clear this up?
And then we're on to the reception. Chris and I sat at a table with Sonia and Paul, Jenna and Mallory, Dr. White (our English professor in college) and his wife, and Glen and Ashley (from camp).
And my baby sister was there! Now that she's all grown up, she keeps getting invited to the same events as me. Which will be a little weird when those events become bachelorette parties (her best friend was at Mandy's!), but for now it's just weddings and New Year's parties, so it's cool. She and the rest of the girls in Mandy's small group were helping out as servers all night. And then she got down and boogied like the fresh-faced college student she is. ;)
Mandy's wedding cake, which she described on Wednesday as, "The cutest thing you'll ever see- it's got elephants!"
I would've thought for sure that at Mandy's wedding there would be some cake smushing, but nope. Tame as always. When is someone really going to get into it at their wedding?
The garter! They played Mission Impossible while David "searched."
The girls weren't so into catching the bouquet (which Mandy threw directly to her sister! Rigged!) But the boys? They were out for blood.
And then the dancing got crazy!
One of the bridemaid's bouquets.
At the end of the night, for the last song, we were asked to gather in a circle and hold hands while David and Mandy danced. (That's my sister on the left. She's always on the lookout for me pointing my camera at her.)
Crazy Mandy running around the circle for high fives. David's just along for the ride.
The last dance. Pure joy.
And the only picture I got of Chris and me all night. Sonia snapped this while we waited for Mandy and David to make their run for the parking lot. The OSF looks so good in dress clothes.
And the final picture, what would be my picture of the day if I was continuing it in 2010 (haven't decided yet). Our official roommates-at-a-wedding picture. Three down, two to go. Who's going to be next, Jordan or Jenna? ;)
New year, new blog, new name
As you can see, I've updated the ol' blog just in time to ring in 2010, as well as updated the name. Last year it was Don't Do Sadness, which fit well in the beginning of the year (especially since it's pretty much a catch phrase around here now, thank you Spring Awakening), but this year I felt I needed to spice it up. And since I'm feeling pretty fabulous about life right now, This Fabulous Life was born.
Hurray for new years! I love the feeling of starting over fresh. :)
Check back in later tonight or tomorrow, as I'm planning on spending today updating and filing in the pictures I've taken over the last week: Bachelorette party, New Year's, Mandy's wedding... so much!
Hurray for new years! I love the feeling of starting over fresh. :)
Check back in later tonight or tomorrow, as I'm planning on spending today updating and filing in the pictures I've taken over the last week: Bachelorette party, New Year's, Mandy's wedding... so much!
Friday, January 1, 2010
It's 2010!
Top: Breanna's boyfriend, Justin, Brandon, Lily, Jesse
Bottom: Breanna, Jenafer, Jordan, Chris
Jen and Justin are all moved into their fabulous new house, and with some prodding, they decided to have New Year's at thier house... and invite a whole bunch of us over to celebrate too. We had snacks, drinks (Jesse created a new drink: the Melted Slurpee), and played Catch Phrase until we were sick with laughter (and the drinks). ("Lady who helps people... Mother Teresa!"... "It means crazy, and... and... the other word for 'it'... Wild Thing!")
Awesome. I love my old friends.
Woot! New year ahead!
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