July 30th, 2006 ~ Sunday

6:31 p.m.

Catch Up!

Between Monday and Friday (4 nights), I got a pathetic total of 13 hours of sleep.  That is so sad.  The last 2 nights I have gotten a total of...23 hours of sleep.  Yay!!

The first week or two is hard for me to adjust. 

In the meantime...I went to Target, and I found a 3 pack of pens (my favorite pens) that had the 3 colors I grade in!  I was so excited, and sat in Target geeking out for a little while.  It takes so little to make me happy.

And speaking of which, I'm really looking forward to this year.  I have officially met all of my middle school classes, and everybody is so awesome.  We've come a long way in 2 years, and every single one of my classes...there are genuinely nice and good people in them.  It makes life so much more pleasant for me.  I think we're going to have a lot of fun this year (I hope!) and I hope you all keep your good natured attitudes.  Forever.  Because life is so much more fun when you have a good attitude.

Okay, well I should get back to grading reflections.  These are so fun to read.  2nd period at Plaza...you guys rock so hard.  You're so funny and opinionated and passionate...it's awesome.

July 27th, 2006 ~ Thursday

10:33 p.m.

Off With A Trot

The first half week of school is always weird for me.  There's no elementary music, so I have these strange gaps of time in the middle of my day.  And I don't start music at one school until tomorrow.  And the beginning of the year is just getting back into routines and re-training everybody about behavior and all that stuff.  I have to say, today went rather well considering it still wasn't a "normal" music day.

This year is going to be very different at both schools for various reasons.  I think there are a lot of good possibilities, though finding music that's good for us as a group will be a challenge for me this year.  But that's okay.  I'll do my best to find interesting music, and I'll do my best to convince you it's interesting.  =D

On another note (no pun intended), last night, a light bulb exploded in my hand.  I went to IKEA (yay!) and bought these lamps that you screw into the wall.  I had to get these light bulbs that are skinny where you screw them in, but bubbly for the actual bulb part.  Well, I was screwing in the light bulb when all of a sudden sparks flew out of it and the bulb went flying.  Instinctively, I ducked.  The silver screwing-in part...had torn away from the actual bulb!  I had to carefully use pliers to pull the empty silver casing out of the lamp, while the rest of the exploded bulb lay on my table.

Lame light bulb.

I need some sleep.  I'm seriously lacking.  Must get on a non-insane sleeping schedule.  Must sleep.  Sleep good...

July 24th, 2006 ~ Monday

9:56 p.m.

So Long, Farewell

Today was my last day of vacation.  Tomorrow, I wake up super early and will be at Plaza Vista for a 7:30 a.m. "Welcome Back" meeting.  7:30.  If you ask me, that's not very welcoming.  Nobody can possibly welcoming at 7:30 in the morning.

In the mean time, I've been busy today doing work related things, so it hasn't exactly been my last day of vacation.  But that's okay.  Y'all are worth it =D

I don't know about everyone else, but this was the fastest vacation ever.  Time flew by, and I can't believe it's time to go back.  However, I'm so happy that so many of you graduated 8th graders (soon to be 9th graders) want to come back and help!  That is always very much appreciated, and you guys are fabulous for being so willing to help me out.

I'm not very articulate today.  I'm rather groggy.

Okay, well I better go.  LONG day tomorrow.  Long day.

July 21st, 2006 ~ Friday

12:33 p.m.

Last Weekend!

I ended up having to get a new laptop keyboard because my spacebar was so lame.  I'm very proud of myself for installing it, though.  I thought I would be a lot more difficult than it actually was.  Anyways, as a result, I can type!  Huzzah!

So the last couple of days, I've finally been getting ready for school.  I'm a little later than normal, since moving left all my stuff in boxes.  But I'm printing out all the boring first day of school stuff.  Eugh.  I really don't like the first couple days of school, just because we aren't playing!  I think it's the only time the entire school year that I just stand up in front of you and talk the whole time.  And that's really not what I'm about.  I'm about the music, not the talking.

I got new hanging folders.  New binders (kind of).  When I was a kid, I LOVED school supply shopping.  I loved it.  I would make my dad buy me all these unnecessary things until he told me I had to make a choice.  I wanted new folders and pencils and pens and erasers and paper...it was quite an ordeal.  I wanted the locking binders but not with texture because that made my writing look funny...all these little things.  And I guess I'm still like that...to an extent.  I got very excited over my new dry erase markers.  It's a HUGE set!  (My friend made fun of my color organization, but he loses everything so I don't think he gets to mock)

And I finally have a desk at home!  Before, when I had work stuff to do, it would attack my dining table and my coffee table and my couch...but now I have a dedicated work room/music room. 

Okay, well...I guess I should go finished up some things.  This is my last weekend of nothingness, so I need to enjoy myself.  You too!

July 17th, 2006 ~ Monday

12:31 a.m.

Temporarily Working!

My spacebar is working!  For...like 15 minutes, I have had a functional space bar!  Is it sad that I'm this excited?  I'm taking this time to type as much as possible, and answer emails and post things.

I have unpacked.  Completely!  No more boxes are floating around the place.  My bruises are healing, and I'm not longer sore and achy.  Yay!  I'm really sad that I only have one week to enjoy my new place before going back to work, though.  I don't feel like I've had a real vacation since I've spent the entire time preparing for and recovering from my move.  But that's okay, I like what I do, so it's not as though I need a big long escape from it.  I just need time to sleep, really.  That's my favorite thing about vacation.

Okay, gripe time.  People...need to move faster.  I swear, people are purposely walking really slowly and blocking my way ON PURPOSE.  And then, as I get annoyed, they stop!!  Why would you stop walking right in front of the exit so that nobody can get out?  Why?!  Target...slow walkers.  Ikea, slow walkers.  And that's FINE if you want to walk slow...but don't walk with your big fat cart in the middle of the aisle so that nobody can get around you.  And then stop!!!  Grrr.

What else?  Oh, I'm taking a coat rack to Plaza Vista =D  It doesn't quite fit with my new place, and I didn't want to get rid of it.  So I'm taking it to Plaza.  Class the joint up, eh?  And that way there's a place for umbrellas and jackets.  And hats.  And...um...pineapples!  (I really did hang it up in my old place.)

Time for bed. 

July 15th, 2006 ~ Saturday

8:01 p.m.

Back In Action

WHEW!!!!

I am EXHAUSTED!  Moving is NOT fun AT ALL.  I'm completely wiped out, sweaty, hot, sore, achy, and bruised.  I have 36 cuts and bruises right now.  Stupid moving...enhances my clumsiness.  I just want to sit and eat Easy Mac and bask in air conditioning.

I went without internet for...too long.  I've had internet access FOREVER, and to go even one day completely cut off...makes me sad.  So sorry if I haven't emailed you back.  Also, my spacebar is still lame and not working easily. 

In the meantime...i have to go unpack.  Forever.

July 10th, 2006 ~ Monday

7:59 p.m.

Tomorrow's The Day!

I hurt my wrist.  At the end of last week I actually thought I had broken it, but xrays showed that I had not.  I just strained it.  Whew!  (especially since it is my left wrist)

My spacebar doesn't work.  I have to slam the bar down to get a space...and sometimes the spacebar stops working all together.  Right now is a small window of opportunity when it's actually working.  HOORAY!  Though I'm about to go without internet for awhile.  Very sad.  I'm moving on Wednesday and won't have DSL until....FRIDAY!  *gasp*

Now, the most important thing.  Tomorrow...July 11th...is my birthday!  Woo hoo!  And don't even bother asking how old I'm going to be, that's so not going to work.  =D  Don't think I don't know how you think.  Eh?  Eh?

Okay, must finish packing. 

July 6th, 2006 ~ Thursday

1:49 p.m.

Renaissance Woman

Two Christmases ago, my mom got me a sewing box.  My dad got me a toolbox.  I  use one significantly more than the other.

Today I disassembled my floating shelves, which was much more extensive than I anticipated.  One of the shelves shamelessly attacked me.  But I survived with minimal injuries.  And then I puttied the many many holes that I left behind.  I guess i will paint over that later.

I do tend to be rather handy.  All my furniture...everything I own...I put together by myself.  And let me tell ya...putting together a bookshelf or your bed by yourself requires...creativity.  And flexibility.   And a good drill.  And I also took down and installed a light fixture.  To be fair, I put in a ceiling fan by myself when I was 15, deciding I would be the first Maruko to have a ceiling fan.  Since the, the other Marukos have followed suit.  (Unlike when I decided I would be the first Maruko to get pierced  ears...and nobody followed suit).

I continue boxing.  It's never going to end.  Maybe I'll go see Pirates to break up the tedium.  Or X-Men (still haven't seen it), or...Superman.  Is that any good?  It doesn't look all that fabulous.

July 5th, 2006 ~ Wednesday

8:52 p.m.

It's America Day!

All right all right, I'm a little late.  Technically yesterday was America's birthday.  Details details.

As I prepare to move, I've noticed something.  People will take anything if it's free.  It's true!  I remember watching Oprah one time, as a child, and she did a special on what people would take for free.  People, apparently, will take a left sneaker if it's free.  I thought that was funny.  In my case, I've been putting out random things I don't want anymore.  When I put it by the dumpster, within an hour it is gone.  It doesn't matter if it's broken or random...someone will take it.

I'm watching a Polar Bear special on Animal Planet.  I have a thing for polar bears.  And manatees.  If  I were an animal, I'd be a manatee.

Going back to moving...I hate packing.  Packing one suitcase is all right, but I'm nearing 40 boxes right now.  And my place still looks all full and messy!!  But there's nothing left in any of my cabinets, so that's something I suppose.

I never moved until college.  I lived in the same house for 18 years.  My parents are still in that house.  That house was built for my parents and they've been there....for a long time.  30 something years?  Maybe that's why I hate moving.  I never had to do it as a child.

Eugh.  I don't like moving.   Someone needs to invent a transporter beam already, like in Star Trek.  WHY aren't there transporter beams?!!  WHY!!!!    =D

July 3rd, 2006 ~ Monday

7:34 p.m.

Toot Toot

HAPPY JULY EVERYBODY!!!!!!

You know why I love July?  Reason #1: Vacation.  Reason #2: My Birthday!

It is also....Anti-Boredom Month (I'm very pro anti-boredom), Blueberry Month, Fireworks Safety Month, Hot Dog Month, Ice Cream Month (YAY!!!), Peach Month, Read an Almanac Month (wha?).  And...yes.  That's all very lovely.  And today is the day Idaho became a state.  And Tom Cruise's birthday <cough>. 

Onward.  Did you know Irvine had a train station??  I've lived here (or in the general area) for 3 years now, and I had no idea there was an Irvine train station.  It has Metrolink trains and Amtrak trains.  I had no idea1

But one of my Fresno friends from back in the day came to visit me today.  Someone with whom I went to elementary school,  Yup, we really do go way back.  It's a Fresno thang.  Which brings me to another point.

I love The Cheesecake Factory.  No.  I HEART The Cheesecake Factory.  It makes me happy.

Okay.  I'm tired.  I need a nap.  And then...maybe some leftover cheesecake.  Mmmm.....cheesecake.