These Two Kids

...want some kids. They're in the hoping-for-an-adoption business at the moment. And I couldn't be more excited for them! Give them a looksy here, here, or here. And, if you know of anybody who wants a loving LDS home for their bebe, I cannot recommend these two enough.

I met Shannon in a poetry class during college. We hit it off immediately because I'm pretty sure Shannon hits it off with everyone immediately (she is even more beautiful on the inside than she is on the outside--is that even possible--and furthermore, how is that fair?). I still remember sitting in freeway pile-up traffic trying to get to her wedding reception with the fella pictured above before the gig ended (I made it, thankfully). She is one of the most genuine, good, kind, beautiful people I know. If anybody would make a great mommy, it's her. She also has some mad dancin' skillz.

So, there you go. Please check them out, recommend, and send good vibes, prayers, and juju their way during this process. I know these two will grow their family. I just hope it is sooner than later!

Sol y Soul

“I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness

the astonishing LIGHT of your own being.”

- Hafiz

Today I'm digging...

A four day weekend (thank you local education association for conferencing together...and making attendance optional).

Red Mango has Pumpkin Spice frozen yogurt, kids. That is a good thing.

My house is all clean.

The fridge is totally stocked (thanks to Costco and Winco).

My laundry is (almost) done.

It is hot chocolate season.

Everything feels exactly as fall should.

They got all 33 Chilean miners out.

Missed Connections. I simply love this little spot.

That autumn is quickly becoming my favorite season. How cool is this?

It's the Little Things

The little things are what get me through winter. These simple pleasures let me know this season I spend buried beneath snow and sweaters will eventually end. 

Today I smiled because...

these:

with some of these:

and a few "choppings" of this:

mixed with a squeeze of this:

and a small dash of this:

makes me feel like winter has disappeared just a little bit, 

and I'm living like this again:

CRACKlin' for a Reason: An Ode to Breakfast Cereal

While it may look like dried cat food, this particular breakfast cereal, I'm quite certain, possesses crack-like qualities. (And apparently, based on my google image search, it can be purchased in a 4-pack from amazon.com...who knew?).




And I might be placing myself in the 80 year old with a colon problem category, but there's something about Grape Nuts that draws me in. Unlike most, I just don't equate this cereal with rocks.

That's all.

One of Many Geeky Talents Which English Teachers Possess

(With my deepest apologies to the Bard himself)

I hear iambic pentameter's out
I should leave it to that Willy Shakespeare
(if you even know what I'm talkin' about).

If you don't see any news this week, don't fear--

I shall be half a fortnight on the road

for a three act adventure with me mum.

In future blogs, great stories shall be told:

"I made it alive" or "Cyrano got some!"

Things like, "That shrew Kate, does P-troosh beat her?"

Until then I will be out, off and gone

Wait for news from the City of Cedar

and Les Miserable (whoop) at Tuacahn!

The Bard's swift words which offer fun for all

(at) The Utah Shakespearean Festival!

See you in a few days. I'm heading to the Utah Shakespearean Festival and onto the Tuacahn Amphitheater with my mom (let us all pray that I survive the ride in the car). Oh, and please forgive my lame attempts at a Shakespearean Sonnet with shady iambic pentameter at best. I simply couldn't resist.

Are You Ready to Rock?

Back when Barbie was my vicarious-living-experience of choice so many, many years ago, she had herself a Rock & Roll band (one of her many multi-faceted career choices). "Barbie and the Rockers" was a strategically launched mixture of MTV culture and the every-so-cool toy industry and I, along with several other friends on the block, had multiple members of this metallic-clad, glam-rock-haired, neon-sock-wearing musicians in my Barbie collection. This, ladies and gentlemen, was the closest I ever got to being a Rock Goddess (excluding my friggen' awesome solos whilst driving in the car, naturally).

That is until now...

Alice's dear Papa received this little baby for his Wii recently and I must say that I never knew I had such tendencies for video game addiction in me. I play a pretty mean drum set and I'm honing my guitar skills (set on EASY mode, of course--no reason to get too far ahead of myself).

I am still uncertain whether I am exponentially cooler holding a guitar or not. (Does it count if said guitar happens to be a fake?)

Writers @ Work

This past week I've been in Salt Lake City at the annual Writers at Work Conference.

Faculty writers included Steve Almond, Dean Bakopoulos, Victoria Redel, Abigail Thomas (her writing happened to be my favorite-favorite and what I would recommend first and foremost to any of you--specifically her memoir A Three Dog Life), and my poet-extraordinaire workshop leader for the past five days, Kim Addonizio. And that woman can bring down a house during a reading--blues-y rifts on the harmonica and a light joking fodder that keeps you riveted. Poetry readings are not the sterile, benign events they once were with that woman reading. The woman puts on a great show, people. So great, you may not recognize her poetic prowess and know-how. (For more information on any of these writers, click on their names.)

It was an inspiring and educational week. I am still reeling with all of the information, the entirety of the experience was intense and overwhelming. I was doing 12-13 hour days soaking in information, attending workshops and panel discussions, and meeting individually with poet and editor, Martha Rhodes, to discuss more about my poetry, fitting writing into my schedule during the school year, and how to move towards publication.

I am so appreciative for the opportunity, the expertise and pure brilliance of my instructors--each were specialists in the craft of writing. Already, I am writing poems and already I can tell that I'm growing as a writer with their supportive voices in my head. And already, I am certain I'm forgetting some of what was said. But oh, what a week!

White Trash Wednesday: La-Move

Meet my go cart.

She is a 1992 Geo Prizm better known as La-Move

(long story, or at least a rather boring one).

She features all the bells and whistles including:

*A billowing Maharaja-inspired drape ceiling bunched elegantly at the ineffective dome light.

*One dashboard confessional:

*A jimmy-rig-me-up misaligned driver's side window..."I'll go down but you will have to get halfway in and halfway out of the car with your booty shimmying as you shift me into place at the bank's drive-up window because that's not embarrassing at all."

*A CD/Radio combo with the potential to sometimes swallow CD's, other times...not so much. My current mix CD has been in for about five months now...and a tricky short in the air ducts (the a/c and defrost sometimes don't turn on until reaching a minimum of 65 mph with the setting at outside air):

*One dented side (who knows how it was dented, I woke up one morning and there you have it).

*Ever-so-atractive peeling lightning decals:

Fact: La-Move is my first car.
Fact: I've had her since 2001.
Fact: She is older than most of my students
Fact: I paid a mere $2500 cash money for this baby.
Fact: She's been in four fender benders since I've owned her, two of which were my fault (and one might have involved a group of students in the other car...because that's not embarrassing at all).
Factual Observation: I think she runs on tithing and regular oil changes.

She has been a great car but I can't help but wonder if my "No Car Payments Here!" lucky streak is coming to an end. I think I'll just drive her into the ground...or to that point where she starts to nickel and dime me.

One More Fact: I think I'm terrified of owning a new car.

Random Thoughts for a Friday

After a wretched work-filled week of teaching (same old-same old), ESL Endorsement class (gag), parent teacher conferences (snore), I have today off. I've spent the morning sleeping in and catching up on blogs from the week. Today my motors are on mellow mode but I want to post something. Here is a sampling of the randomness floating through this noggin o' mine:

1. For some odd reason I feel really awful about Leap Year babies. It all stems back to first grade when Mrs. White/Green/Black (okay, I only know it was a color...my 1st & 5th grade teachers were named after a color) made a big stink about how it wasn't ACTUALLY Joe's birthday, but we were celebrating it on the 28th nonetheless. Poor Joe, the kid born on February 29th who only saw his birthday every four years. I, with my birthday just around the corner, was devastated that he didn't REALLY get his birthday. It seemed cheap and merciless. It did then. It still does now.

2. I believe in big earrings. If you are going to wear earrings, they should be noticeable. Not gaudy. Just noticeable. I think we can attribute this to my dark, curly hair, which swallows up the simplest of studs. Perhaps big earrings are the antidote to this little problem. For example:

Oooh-la-la:

and

Oooh-la-WTF-is-on-your-ear?

3. I love fresh basil. I really do. I spent the extra $2.73 for some at my local grocer last time I went and I chopped some up on my frozen Kashi pizza I had for brunch this morning (I'm such a nutritional health nut on these days off of mine, later I'll be breaking into the chocolate, be sure). And do you pronounce basil the British way (Baaaa-Zill) or the American way (Bay-zill)?

4. Why is it that on the days I have not many pressing things to do (like, say, work), I delay showering as long as possible?

5. I recently purchased a pair of these (with corral pink piping, instead of banana) on clearance from Old Navy and I LOVE them. Surprisingly comfortable. Many compliments ensue whenever I wear them. I'm thinking of what I could wear them with today...once I shower, of course.

6. I cannot live without I Can't Believe It's Not Butter Spray. Seriously, what did I do before this stuff?

7. I'm looking for a new perfume scent for my upcoming birthday (someone's bound to gift it to me, right?) and I really feel at a loss. Echo by Davidoff has been my signature scent. I'm thinking I need something new. Any suggestions?

8. I really think this girl is great:

You should read her blog and all feel green with the jealousy of knowing that she is MY best friend (and a very loyal best friend at that).

9. And, lest I reveal my completely shallow and trivial nature: Yesterday, I heard a dreary statistic. In the United States today every 1 in 100 adults is in the prison system. We are, of course, paying more tax dollars for the prison system than for higher education now. Does anyone else think we are doing something very, very wrong in this country?

And I guess that is that. I think I give off the appearance of intelligence, but truth is I have simple, uncreative thoughts scooting through my brain ALL DAY LONG...and everybody knows it.

My Favorite Heifer

Dear Skinny Cow Mint Ice Cream Sandwich,

This is just to say I love you. Thank you for being you.

No one will ever take your place.

Always,
The Rookie