Vacation

October 30th, 2005 ~ Sunday

9:36 a.m.

Can you tell me how to get...

Big Bird
You scored 75% Organization, 40% abstract, and 72% extroverted!

Here is why are you Big Bird.

You are both very organized. You almost always know where your belongings are and you prefer things neat. You may even enjoy cleaning and find it therapeutic. Big Bird is never sloppy and always under control... pretty good for a 6 year old bird living without a family.

You both are sometimes concrete and sometimes abstract thinkers. Big Bird can be quite dreamy at times and has no problem using his imagination. At the same time he is also practical and can be methodical in his search for answers to questions. You have a good balance in your life. You know when to be logical at times, but you also aren't afraid to explore your dreams and desires... within limits of course.

You are both extroverts. Big Bird gets along with everyone. He makes friends easily and always has a positive attitude. You definitely enjoy the company of others, and you don't have problems meeting new people... in fact you probably look forward to it. You are willing to take charge when necessary or work as part of a team.

October 26th, 2005 ~ Wednesday

9:06 p.m.

Andie Noooo!!

While unlocking the door to Plaza Vista this morning, I accidentally bumped into my cello. It was like slow motion as I watched it fall down, and said, "Noooo!!!!!!" The poor cello and case fell flat on its face.

Sad.

I quickly ushered her into the room, and checked Andie for damage. FORTUNATELY she was okay (or at least it seems like it for the time being) but it was an unfortunate incident anyway. Poor girl. But she's tough! She takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.

October 22nd, 2005 ~ Saturday

2:45 p.m.

Sleeping gluttony and serving my country

From Sunday night to Friday morning, I got a total of 16 hours of sleep. Last night, I slept from 9:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. That's right, I slept for 15 hours. And I'm still sleepy. But I'm going to be productive today and get things done instead of lie in bed all day.

And now for some sad news. I've been called in. On Monday you will all have a sub because I will be reporting for JURY DUTY. My guess is that it's not going to be as amusing as the Pauly Shore movie. I actually wish I had some grading I needed to do so that I could be productive while waiting. I guess I'll just have to take a book or some...markers or something. So Vista Verde kids, that means you don't have auditions on Monday. Plaza Vista kids, that means you don't get new music until I am back, and that Concert Orchestra doesn't get to know their seating until I come back. Hey! Maybe I'll work on that on Monday! Yay, a project!

Okay, I'm going to go grocery shopping.

I'll see y'all when I see ya!

October 17th, or 18th 2005 ~ Monday night or Tuesday morning

2:15 a.m.

It's off to work I go...

It's late. And yet I'm up. Putting grades into the computer. Because I took a 4 1/2 hour nap at 6pm. It was an accident.

Well, I hope you have all enjoyed your vacations. I hope you are well rested and in good spirits, ready to go back at it. And while you all start back in about 6 hours, I started today with a staff meeting early in the morning.

A few random things:

I discovered an interesting new band called HelloGoodbye. I'm not quite sure what I think yet, but so far they're a pretty cute band. Very quirky.

I made an attempt at cheesecake. It ended up an interesting texture due to my temperamental oven. It tastes good though...

I'm getting into The Dandy Warhols.

I think I have a DiceZ addiction.

Nice, considerate people. I love people who are selflessly kind because they are simply kind people. There are people who are nice because they want to be polite or because they want something from you and while that can be fine as well...when you meet people who are kind just because that's how they are, it makes me happy.

I really like Cheez Its. But I always eat too many and get a stomach ache.

October 10th, 2005 ~ Monday

10:45 p.m.

Back to reality, oh there goes gravity...

I'm back from Fresno!

And let me say...I've missed DSL! I've missed wireless internet! In fact, I'm going to write a haiku to describe my joy:

     Dial-up is lame
     Inconvenient and slow
     DSL is great

It's quite a talent I have.

I'm glad to be back. I've missed unlimited hot water and my bed and my cello and air conditioning and CABLE! Oh I forgot about cable. I've missed the food network. How could I live without Alton Brown or Rachael Ray? Heh.

And my dad almost ran over me with the car. But that's a story for another time.

October 8th, 2005 ~ Saturday

9:12 p.m.

Marukoisms from Mrs. Maruko

Tonight, I am in The 'No. And by that I mean...FresNO. For those of you who don't know, Fresno is a town of about 800,000 people that's basically 3 hours from anywhere good. 3 hours from LA. 3 hours from San Francisco. 3 hours from the beach. I'm visiting family, and something has definitely becoming apparent. In their old age, my parents are getting odder and odder, which means they are getting more and more like me =D

This is causing me extreme amusement, and I feel the need to share two Marukoisms (and they're not mine).

The first happened yesterday when my mother (it happens even when you're an adult) decided I couldn't go to a rather formal place with my rather informal bright orange purse. So she brought out one of hers and let me borrow it. I remarked that I liked the purse and said, "Where did you get it?"

Without missing a beat, my mother said, "The Purse Lady," as though it were obvious.

I've decided that I'm going to use this from now on for everything. "Where'd you get those shoes?" "The Shoe Lady." "Where'd you get that cake?" "The Cake Lady." It just sounds akin to "The Tooth Fairy" or "Santa Clause" to me, which amuses me greatly.

The other happened a few hours as my mother and I were attempting to make cheesecake. The kind we make has a a sort of sour cream topping, and when it came time to start making it (once the rest of the cheesecake was in the oven) she started looking in the refrigerator. And she looked. And she looked. "No! I remember getting cream cheese!" she adamantly stated. "I remember it came in 2 cups and I just needed 1 cup!"

Being the good daughter I am, I thought I would help her and I proceeded to look in the refrigerator. After a few minute I emerged and said, "Yeah...there's no sour cream."

"I guess I didn't buy it. But I touched it!" she exclaimed, as though touching it was almost the same as buying it and it being in our home.

I laughed at her.

I can't always be a good daughter ; ) I informed her that touching sour cream wasn't the same as buying the sour cream. "Oh shoot," she said, "I remember now. I saw the 2 cups and knew I had seen 1 cup somewhere else, so I didn't buy it because I was going to go to Albertsons later and buy 1 cup. And then I didn't. But I touched it!"

To me...this is now a great excuse if you ever forget anything. It won't actually WORK, but it's amusing nonetheless.

October 2nd, 2005 ~ Sunday

2:52 p.m.

Calling all Plaza Vistians...Vistaers.....Visitors?

On Friday night I saw Shia Labeouf on Late Night with Carson Daly. I'm over his novelty. I am disappointed.

All right, out of curiosity, Plaza Vista folk, is it worth me chaperoning the dance? I might actually have a rehearsal or concert, but in case I don't, I was wondering if I should bother. Will there be pie? I'm there if there's pie =D

Okay. I'm going to go play Tetris on my Super Nintendo! That's right. Old school baby!