Encouragement

So, after school today, I didn't have much to do and had to sit around as a kid was serving a detention. Looking at a list of names, I had a stray thought about how I was pleased with how a certain student has been doing in class (especially since he'd previously given me grief). So, I called his mom and left a message saying how he was doing good work, asking thoughtful and helpful questions, etc. And after I hung up the phone, I felt good. So I called half a dozen more, left more positive messages and talked to one grandma.

Now, hopefully, when the parent gets the message, they'll feel good, and trickling down...the kid too. But nonetheless, I left school glowing. Focusing on the good kids and spending the time to praise them sincerely really fed my soul. And I do have lots of good kids. I had a lot of apprehension about this new term that just started, but I feel like things have gotten to a good start. I've made a good impression, and the kids are doing what I need them to do, for the most part, and are happy enough doing it. It's nice to see what you're doing is working and is well received. Now, I'm not talking about their learning...we'll see about that after tomorrow's quiz! But the classroom management and positive environment foundation has been laid, so hopefully the rest will follow. :-)

PS Casey wrote me the sweetest email today, definitely an encouragement, too!
"Good for you on making a nice impression on your French 1 classes. I am looking forward to you being the mother of my children. You are a wonderful with children and do a great job. I expect to learn a lot from simply watching you." Aw...wasn't that sweet?

Slow...no, Fast!

I got a bike. It's a "Women Specific Design" bike, full carbon. It bares no resemblance to the much beloved pink banana seat of my childhood.It has the kind of pedals that you clip into, so of course, before I can even get moving, I fall and bust up my knee. That made me mad. One small expletive. Stupid pedals. But I get going, and we get stuck behind a group of riders going about 16 mph. And, I'm scared of falling. Vivid images myself falling and sliding headfirst into the metal rail on Garland road.

But after the first lap of the lake, I get into my groove. I think the combination of being a runner and having used a stationary bike for six months, makes me want to push the whole time, uphill or downhill...and so those 16 mph people who were just letting momentum push them were ticking me off. According to Casey, you're supposed to cruise sometimes...but whatever.

I knew that I would take to biking when I saw a SLOW sign,and actually said NO! aloud. Of course, I did get passed right after that...totally ate the dude's dust...but it was fast for me!

Going fast can be fun. I think it's helping my running too. Recently, we've gotten PR's on both the 9 mile White Rock loop, and the 7 miles of the Katy trail. Like 30 secs a mile faster.

I think I'm going to sign up for a triathlon. Casey's doing a Half Iron distance in April, so I can do the Sprint distance, right? Only problem is that it involves swimming. No likey. But it's only fifteen minutes...so I'll tough it out.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Because love is a sugar cookie slathered in cream cheese icing.

Today was kinda an off day for me. I just wasn't very determined in my workout...even got gently scolded by my spin instructor for my lack of focus! I skipped the dance class. And later, I bumped into some friends at a coffee shop and probably came off as a total ditz because I just felt out of it. So, my solution was to go home and clean house for two+ hours. Does tend to clear the head, yes.

The most Valentine-y thing Casey and I did today was make these cookies...of course, he did dub the above cookie-cutter "Sharkbite." We did some other cooking: spaghetti and meat sauce, put together a lasagna to bake tomorrow, but I had planned to make chicken and dumplings and roast a chicken for Casey...but I lacked the determination.

Hopefully tomorrow. :-) Next week, I will be teaching absolutely nothing, as it's the last week of the term...just review, games and testing. I am hoping that my French 3 students will rise to the occasion to do some great things with the Little Prince essays and oral presentations. It's such a beautiful book to teach, and it really feels like a culmination of three years of teaching when they can produce a real essay in French (with lots of help). Plus I just love the book.

Almost as much as I love sprinkles!

Behold!

All 36 fillings from a package of double-stuff oreos, lovingly stacked into the Uber-Oreo, courtesy of Jasongraphix.com and a cheese slicer.

Let us give pause.

Perhaps with the theme of 2001 Space Odyssey playing in the background, for proper atmosphere:

That's my kind of monolith.

The man I married.

I am continually astounded by Casey's ability to get what he wants from people. Perhaps I fall to the other extreme, hence my surprise, but I think his ability is out of the ordinary.

Generally, I won't ask people for favors, help or make any exceptional requests from anyone in the service industry. It embarrasses me just thinking that I would be turned down or overstep social graces.

Plus, I can do it myself or will make do with what I have...or die trying. I'm an only child, can you tell?

Casey, on the other hand, will ask strangers for anything, and generally, he gets what he asks for. The most recent example of this is our trip to Target last night, looking for a new belt for our vacuum. They were out of stock on the aisle, so I called for a sales person (which I considered rather persistent of myself.) So, two salespeople later, we determine that they are completely out of stock of belts, PLUS, the kind they carry of that brand doesn't fit that vacuum, even though Target sold it to us. The kind gentleman suggests we try a vacuum-specific store nearby. I wave the flag of defeat, and prepare to leave.

Casey nicely informs the gentleman that he wants the belt of the demo. And he's not going to take no for an answer. I have to walk away, overcome with embarrassment. You can't ask for that!

A few minutes later, Casey casually walks up, the belt in his pocket. "You just have to ask for things," he says, shrugging.

Now, he did not ask if he could eat all of leftovers from the lasagna my mom made (read: the best lasagna ever)...and well, asking for mercy isn't going to be enough.

25 random facts

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. There's tagging of others involved, but I feel like that's chain-mail. If people want to do the same thing, do so freely without obligation.

In no particular order:

1. Fantasy is my favorite genre.
2. I’ve gone off my morning coffee. So far so good.
3. I put salt in my oatmeal and malt-o-meal, not sugar.
4. One of my favorite hobbies is reading recipes. But I must have pictures.
5. I’m looking forward to attending my 10 year high school reunion this fall. I may not have gotten rich, but at least I’ve lost weight. I’ve got to be able to show ‘em up somehow.
6. My husband likes to hold the dogs like they’re babies. I think they like it too.
7. I used to read X-men comic books and Mad magazine.
8. Slow drivers and people that stop for no apparent reason drive me crazy.
9. My biggest project for this snow day is what I’m going to bake for lifegroup tonight. Plus, Casey made me promise not to leave the house until later.
10. I don’t like sorting. Socks, silverware, whatever. If possible, I leave it for Casey to do.
11. I could never choose between Italian and Mexican food. I love them both.
12. I have picked out the baby name for a girl: Giselle Genève. Gigi for short. Casey gets to pick the boy name.
13. Pearls are my favorite jewel.
14. Post-marathon, I’ve been doing a lot more bike riding (stationary and spinning), and I think it’s time to get a real road bike.
15. I hate spending money. Hence, I haven’t bought a bike yet. They’re pricey.
16. People that are germ-phobic make me uncomfortable. Germs, or potentially germy things, bother me less.
17. I love Europe, but don’t ever want to live there.
18. I still bite my nails, to my mother’s displeasure.
19. Real Belgium waffles, from Brussels, may be the best thing I’ve ever eaten. The first bite was magical. I think I actually heard angels sing.
20. I’d really like to go to New York, and see the Grand Canyon too.
21. My grandparents passed away more than a year and three years ago, respectively. I still miss them and get teary sometimes thinking of them. They were wonderful grandparents.
22. Grape-flavored anything is my least favorite. Cherry, probably my favorite.
23. Soup is my absolute favorite food. Lentil, split pea, tomato, potato, chili, even ramen...they're all so good.
24. I’ve typed this with a non-functional ‘n’ key. Cut ‘n Paste is my friend.
25. I think I’ll make cupcakes. But first, lunch.

Tada!

Excess can be fabulous

Why bake just once a day, when you can bake twice? Plus, the stash of leftover cookies in the freezer needed replenishing.

These are Cooking Illustrated's Thick and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

I don't know if they're all that thick or really chewy, but they're huge and tasty, and neither crispy nor cakey, so I'm not complaining.