Planks and Thanks FAIL and Birthday Hijinx

Last month I joined a 30 day plank challenge.  Each day we increased the amount of time for the planking.  My friend on facebook hosted it and would post cute little motivational photos to help us along.  I did alright for about a week or so, but then fell off the wagon.  I tried to get back into things towards the end and at least didn't give up totally.
This month, we're doing the 12 days of fitmas.  The first day starts with one exercise, then the second day a second exercise with two reps is added and so forth.  That means the last day there will be 12 exercises, the last one having 12 reps - I haven't an idea what the last one could be, maybe something simple like 12 jumping jacks.
I guess the reason I am posting about this is because I am a bit upset about my figure.  I eat well during the week but come weekend I shatter.  I am somewhat hesitant to work out rigorously because my hip starts hurting.  I'm surrounded by eating and food and parties.  I love all that stuff, but I can't seem to strike any balance.
For instance, I pigged out at a birthday dinner last month then with drinks, all those calories add up.  At least there was some dancing and that was good activity.  The whole night was hilarious, in a weird way.  Taking an uber 300 feet is comedy, for instance.
Who has suggestions for getting into shape?  Links? Videos? Programs? Suggestions?  Please post some help.  You're my only hope, obi-wan fit-nobi.

Hyperspace Week! A BLUR!

Holy cow, this week has gone by faster than Han Solo in the Falcon!  I don't know how it is already Friday.  I don't think it felt like that as it was going by, but here I am, Friday morning, wondering where the time went.  I got a lot done this week, work wise, and took care of some important errands.  I didn't really go out a ton, though, because I've got a very busy schedule coming up.  If I'm being honest, I was really just so done by 7pm that I couldn't muster the energy to do more than make dinner, take care of stuff around the house and pass out in bed.
Part of that busy schedule was a graduate course I'm taking on creating trauma sensitive schools.  The topic is more relevant than I ever realized.  I had a group presentation Thursday, which I absolutely knocked outta the park!  The large project t took up most of my time on Wednesday after work.  Tuesday was my only down day.  Monday, however, was a curve ball.  I came home, exhausted, took a bit of a power nap then woke to start dinner.  When dinner was almost ready, I noticed the sink wasn't draining.  Four hours later, one visit from my 'landlord', a trip to home depot, struggling with unhelpful service staff and then very brisk plunging and my sink is back to normal!  I didn't get to be until after 11PM, so that kicked off my week.
I'm looking forward to the next two weeks - I've got no less than seven Christmas party events.  Yikes!

I haven't skated since college!

My news feed supplied me with a very fun event: Holiday Skating Path!  Apparently, a huge area downtown is opening up as a little holiday village.  Seeing as I haven't skated since I was in college, this will be a treat of terrible horror.  I don't want to fall on my old lady hip.  Maybe I should bring a chair to push in front of me like a little toddler.  LIKE A TODDLER.

That isn't very dignified, is it?  I'm so afraid of hurting my hip with anything I do!  Despite being a vibrant 30-something, I sometimes feel like a Wookiee taking cover behind an Ewok against Storm Trooper fire; its a totally useless effort.  When will I realize that A) troopers can't hit the broad side of a Star Destroyer anyways and B) the best thing I can do is get over my hip and go back to regular life?

Ok all star wars analogies aside, I'll see you there, right?  At least there's multiple ski chalet huts in which I can nurse my wounds with a delightful beverage.  I hope they have egg nog!  (...which...by the way, I only first tried last year).  Maybe I'll have to just have some Hoth chocolate!  (Ha, see that, I got one more lame Star Wars reference in there.  Boooyah!

Netflix Rewind and Stuffed with Stuffing

Has anyone else sat down to watch a show on netflix, only to get so distracted that you find yourself restarting the show a few times?  I just did on Saturday.  I felt pathetic, and I really should have just turned on some music.  For instance, for a solid half hour, the show was playing in the background and I just couldn't pay attention so I restarted it about five times.  I blame myself, and my inattentiveness when surrounded by my cell phone and laptop.

Then again, I was very distracted all weekend, anyway.  A lot has happened lately in my life and I needed a decompressing day.  Thanksgiving was nice, but fell into the chaos category.  The day was tasty and fun, and I'm still trying to squeeze into my pants after feasting my face on pie and stuffing.

Speaking of stuffing, I tried a new recipe!  I cut up harvest bread from Nashoba Valley Bakery.  It has candied ginger, walnuts, cranberries, dates, apricots and multi-grains.  I toasted it up, then mixed it with some sauteed onions, celery, rosemary and sage.  Add some broth and a beaten egg, toss it in an oven for 30 minutes at 350 degrees and you're in for a tasty treat.

Then again, nothing beats stuffing in the bird, but my mom was doing the bird.  I was just doing backup stuffing.  I'm the backup singer of stuffing, and that's okay.

Star Wars: The Force and Destiny, Day 2

So, let's just start out with this; what I thought was going to be a couple hours after school before a much needed day off became an hours long laugh fest that ended close to midnight.  The best way to sum up my day of role playing was basically to imagine the magical opening scroll to Star Wars.  I'm still giddy thinking about how fun a time I had!

My buddies and I decided to go to one of their houses, since they live close to work.  We got cookies, drinks, dip and chips to snack on during out campaign.  They really liked the dip I made, and I've written the recipe below if you'd like to try it out - so easy, indeed!  Anyway, back to the game.  We started off on a ship trying to escape three tie fighters.  We learned flight and fighting mechanics with this opener, so that was fun, albeit a little confusing for me, as I have never played this system before.  The system is really great, it turns out, because you're not rolling really against anything, but against yourself.  Your dice pool changes each time, depending on various skills or factors like disadvantages and advantages.  Collectively, then, your dice will determine how things pan out for your character.  The interesting part, however, if that the group can actually take artistic license on what constitutes advantages or disadvantages.  The situation just determines how many of the die you roll, then you get to creatively figure out what the outcome means for the story.  That aspect adds a rich texture to the story telling process, making the whole game play very involved and creative.

So anyways, back to the story and the tie fighter dogfight.  We played a few rounds and managed to take out two of the ships.  We figured it was time to turn tail, though.  Next, we landed on planet and found a moisture farm to hide at, thus evading our enemies.  However, we lost track of our NPC team member and ran into a arms deal gone south.  We busted outta there and managed to make it to a local town.  There, we found ourselves indebted to a Hutt after taking sides on the arms deal.  Our task to pay our debts was a heist from the local Nikto crime syndicate.  The gala held at the Nikto group's palace provided us a good cover to get in and steal the computer files we were after, but unfortunately it turns out the syndicate is run by a black sun boss.  We were left in the lurch after managing to steal the plans successfully, not know what would happen until next time!  The suspense..ooh my.

Now....if you followed along to all that, congrats - you're a big nerd.

If you came down here just for the recipe and skipped over that other stuff, well, shame on you.  I'm nice, so I'll still give you the recipe:
1 cup of non-fat greek yogurt
2 Tbsp Frank's red hot
1 Tsbp Cholula Green Pepper sauce
1 Dash of sriracha
1/2 tsp of onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Mix all the ingredients in a shallow dish and let sit overnight.
Before serving, sprinkle with chedder or mexican blend cheese, then shredded lettuce. (I like baby romaine for some flavor).

Head of the Charles - you will be missed, sorry!

This time last year the start of my hip problems really escalated.  It began when I went down to the head of the Charles, which is a crew regatta.  I went with my friend, Katie, and I walked with her the whole length of the river in my heeled boots.  Bad idea.  I had just started to workout at orange theory with her and my hip had been tight, twingy and generally just felt 'wrong.'  Wearing boots for that length of time while standing and walking was a BAD idea.  It made my hip feel the worst it had ever felt before that time.  I wish I had listened to my body back last fall!
So, this fall, I'm not going.  However, it isn't because my hip.  Instead, I had a really fun weekend planned and I just don't have time to visit the regatta.  Oh well, that doesn't bother me in the least.  I typically hadn't gone and it won't be missed, really.
In other news, I'm actually getting a little brave and I want to try to return to orange theory workouts.  I have some credit at the place, since they totally charged me for two months even though I had put in a medical waiver.  It is expensive but I liked going there.  I hope I can redeem my refunded credit for a pack of classes, instead of a month of unlimited, because I can barely attend once a week.  Let's face it...I don't even know if I can go and hack it at all.  Ugh I hate my hips.

Star Wars: The Force and Destiny, Day 1

The past year or so I have been playing a table top game with two coworkers after school.  It is called Star Wars X-Wing.  It basically involves piloting a ship across the gaming area, then taking turn based actions and defensive moves to destroy your fellow players.  Think, dog fight in space moved into the miniatures world.  I started playing two A-wing fighters with pretty great maneuverability but not a ton of fire power.  Since then I've moved up to Han Solo and Chewy in the Millenium Falcon and it is pretty rockin'.  There's a defensive feature that allows me to restore one shield per defensive action from other player's attacks.  That, and the ability to re-roll for offense at least once per action really makes the Falcon pack a punch and take a lickin'.

Anywho, that game is held pretty much weekly but since I can't really always make it every week my coworker suggested we play a Flight Fantasy Games rpg that he had and was keen on trying with all of us.  We all figured that if we could make it an ongoing game we can pick and choose dates every month (or more) to make sure we can all attend.  I thought it was pretty cool of my coworker to consider my busy schedule and I appreciated that a lot!

We decided to go for it, and met the first time to build our charachters.  He brought in the game book and we took a look at all the character builds, species, careers and force abilites.  I decided to choose a Sentinel, which is basically a remnant of the Jedi Order from the Old Republic.  They used to be Jedi, in a way, in so much as they would not solely rely on Jedi skills and the Force.  They could utilize more practical skills.  In fact, I was reading a message board today on FFG's website and someone was discussing how Luke's memoirs included notes about Sentinels after Order 66.  Apparently, many of the surviving Jedi were the Sentinels, having the skills and know how to blend in with normal people and rely on practical skills instead of their Jedi powers.  Sounds plausible to me, right?

So far, I was assigned homework after the character building day.  I needed to figure out my name, backstory and why I was in the situation that my coworker has presented.  The situation was that I was on a ship soaring above what seemed to be a desert planet, with two ships being me in hot pursuit.  Also aboard the ship was a archaeologist of some sort played by the GM and my other coworker's character.  The three of us are ready to roll!   (haha see what I did there?  roll? dice? tabletop rpg?  nerds?  yeah...totes punny)

I've got some homework - how exciting!  Stay tuned for a post on what happened next.  (fyi: it was one of the most fun days of my fall, FTW!)

Next year, I'm playing Bingo.

I missed my opportunity this year to play Allston Christmas Bingo.  I did, however, assemble a long list of items to fill my bingo board.  Some examples are: a discarded matress, a street with at LEAST four moving trucks parked, a car getting towed, a discarded ikea sofa (specifically ikea), a car going the wrong way on a street, and finally the ultimate; a truck stuck on storrow drive.

Well, any other suggestions for next year's mega bingo game?  We could play in May too, when the students leave and grant peace once again to a neighborhood in yearly upheaval.

The Attack of the Anemia!

Okay, to update you all, I have been taking my iron supplements and keeping up with B12 sublingual spray doses.  Who knows if the stuff actually works in the physiological sense, because I feel better, at least.  The placebo effect has power, indeed!  I was reading that caffeine can alter your ability to absorb iron and impacts B12 levels, too, so I tried switching away from coffee in the morning.

I don't drink the average level that some Americans drink, which is about a gajillion gallons each day.  I normally drink my one 8-10oz serving in my travel mug.  Often I don't even finish it by the time I arrive to work so it sits and gets cold in my car until I dump it out that evening.  Therefore, I've concluded that I don't take in copious amounts of caffeine.  That being said, I've tried to reduce it even further this week and couple that reduction with hydration.

Verdict?  So far I am feeling better than before, with little to no withdrawal symptoms.  I'm helping allay that potential crap-storm by simply reducing, not eliminating caffeine altogether.  That, I understand, helps reduce your symptoms.  Eventually, maybe I can cut out daily caffeine, but seeing that it isn't a huge impact on my life, I know I won't totally cut it out completely.  I love coffee, especially a specialty one on the weekend as a treat while doing errands or the like.
Or, coffee ice cream.  YUM.  I had some delicious coffee ice cream this summer, as shown in my little cute picture here.

Anemia, anyone?

Last week I couldn't help feeling every day after work as if I wanted to sleep all day long.  I napped that Sunday around noon, lazed about and finally rolled into bed for the night.  I fell asleep at about 9PM with my lights on, to boot.  I awoke around 3:45AM to go to the bathroom, which has become a common occurrence.  I do not like waking up in the middle of the night, but if I do I prefer earlier so I have the feeling of having so much more time sleep.

On my way to work this morning my eyelids were so dang heavy.  So what gives?  I think my anemia is kicking in to kick my butt.  I know caffeine intake can impact it, and my lack of hydration with alcohol consumption, too.  I drank a lot of coffee that particular weekend and not too much fluids.  I also haven't eaten a lot of iron rich foods.  This is really bothersome.  I have to be better at remembering to take my supplement and get back on track.  I should also take some more B vitamin.  Until then, bring on the snoozes.  Here's a sleepy kitty who feels like I do.

Drive My Sunday Blues Away!

Normally I can rely on good ol' GoT to assemble my team and wine up for a romping time through Westeros on a Sunday.  However, with the long wait I've had to take up another Sunday night show;  The Walking Dead.
It comes out October 23rd, at 9PM and I can't wait!  I've been catching up, even though I sort of know what happens up to the nagging Negan scene.  I hope they kill coral, but I don't really care as long as it isn't Daryl.  He's the best.  I've been reading up a storm with the comics, too, and I really enjoy them for the extra insights.
I just watched the Eastman episode - one of my favorites by far because of its inspirational nature.  You know what will ultimately happen, and it doesn't veer into the sugar-sweet side of things as you may suspect.  It stays dark but gives a hint of light and hope.  I enjoyed that style for a change in the Walking Dead.
I will just keep waiting, and fend off my blues like a zombie after a goat until more episodes arrive in October.

Texting Can be Irksome, Agree/Disagree?

I go back and forth between being a 'texter' or not.  Sometimes I quite enjoy texting with friends while I am watching TV, relaxing, or winding down before bed.  However, there comes a time when I know a phone call or actually seeing the person would be so much better.  That irksome situation usually doesn't arise, but sometimes I can't avoid feeling as if I wished the person on the other end of the phone (or myself) had just pressed 'call' or said 'Hey, do you want to meet up instead?'

I would never want to totally replace every technological exchange with in person or in voice interaction, though.  I'm saying that sometimes you find, after minutes or maybe even hours of exchange, that you would have much rather just seen that person or talked or maybe even facetime/skyped.  (I've never really done facetime or skype).  I know people are very opinionated on this matter because it has come up in conversations with friends.

What are your thoughts?

Discover Weekly

I'm sorry that I haven't posted in ages.  I'm apologizing to myself, you narcissistic reader.  I tried to promise myself to post every week this year and I failed.  Maybe I can make it up and post twice a week for a while.  It is worth a shot.

Aaron Gillespie

Speaking of weekly, I have never mentioned how much I really enjoy the discover weekly function of spotify.  I find new artists constantly.  For example, I just went and saw Aaron Gillespie this past Monday.  He was fantastic live, and the opening act Vinnie Carauna.  It was pleasantly surprising how he used a simple kick drum to bring together his vocals and guitar.  Ace Enders was the last act, and I left because I didn't enjoy his style/voice.  He sounded like Dashboard Confessional, and I can't do it.

Vinnue Carauna

The "crowd"

The Middle East: A wretched hive of unicorns and folk singers.

I have only been to the Middle East in Cambridge a handful of times.  I enjoy the cantab and pheonix landing, too.  However, recently I've been going a bit more.  I saw an artist named Tim Barry.  I am not really sure how to describe his music, so the best I can say is that he tells stories really well.  He was in Avail in the 90's, a punk rock band, but now he is solo, singing folk music with a gritty tough tinge.  I had never heard of him before, so if my description of him sucks, then sue me.  Either way, he was pretty dang fun. The crowd was really behind him and by the end everyone was belting out the tunes and rocking out.

Afterwards, I ran into him while waiting for the bathroom.  He told me to go into the men's room because there was a line outside the girl's bathroom.  He was super cute and said "Well go on in, there nobody in there" with a southeastern accent.  It was a hilarious serendipity and I kinda had to just laugh at the whole absurd situation.

Once the place cleared out, "Soulelujah" started.  It is a funk dance party held almost every Saturday night.  I could tell something was up when a troupe of young college kids in glitter and unicorn costumes streamed in the outside bar.  I had a wrist band, so I got in for free and frolicked happily for the next couple hours with sparkly unicorns.  To wind down, I headed next door to the corner bar and eventually I turned into a pumpkin and had to go to home.  It was a very interesting night out in Cambridge.

(Disclaimer:  I wrote this a while ago, and never hit 'publish' - oops!)

The Summer Strikes Back

I haven't blogged for a while, and most of that is a symptom of summer break.   I often gear up to "get so much done" only to find myself pushing up against September 1 with only about one, or maybe two goals accomplished.   Let me explain.   Actually, let me first state a disclaimer: I am in no form complaining about having "summer off." And secondly, I don't really have it off,  I only get paid 9 months salary by the way...like every other teacher.

So now, let me explain the mysterious lives of summer teachers.  It's actually rather lovely but very lonely.   Without a place to arrive, work to accomplish, and deadlines to structure your day to day, it can get blurred and lonesome.  One day stretches seemingly on and on forever.  However, at the end of the day you have no idea where the time went because you barely have anything to show for it.   It's a bizarre feeling that almost borders sorrow in a strange way.   

The best way I can describe it is to imagine your year as a week.  September and October and like Monday.   The are crappy and you feel as if it is hard to get your groove established.   Tuesday would have to be November and just a dash of December, followed by hump day which would be Christmas, January and February.  The holidays and the following slag of February are definitely Wednesday because while you're week is half over, you're only really half done.  No one likes hump day, and no one likes February.  And don't give me that drivel about Valentine's Day; its a made up holiday to make you buy horrible chocolate.

Shortly after, winter starts to wind down.  This would represent Thursday because you see the end might be nigh, but you need a few drinks to tide you over.  I consider March to be that time.  You feel like repeating the mantra "just hold on, just hold on!".

So, finally Friday arrives, just like spring.  Its pretty, getting warmer, and you can see the summer around the corner!  You just coast through Friday, which, of course, would be after April break,  including May and June.  All my time as a teacher those last couple months have me feeling like I'm inside a Wilson Phillips song; I'm just holding on for one more day.   June could almost be considered my Friday night, as it is the last month of school.  Not a lot happens, and you're counting the minutes.

So, logically,  Saturday and Sunday are July and August.   August can be like Sunday because it leads to the onset of Sunday blues.  After brunch is over,  you've settled in for the night, your Netflix show is over you can just feel the impending doom. That is last week of August to the letter.   Maybe labor day weekend can pull your outta the funk,  but Monday still is coming.   And it starts all again.

That was really rambling...ugh sorry.  I need to get writing again.  My brain is fried.

Huzzah for Music!

I joined Spotify a few years ago as a free member.  About one month ago, I was convinced by some friends to pay for a full membership.  After a free month, I have come to appreciate the joy of having offline playlists and the vast music variety.  Therefore, I've decided to sign as a full REAL member!

Amazon music is what I had previously relied on, but their variety was limited.  Despite allowing for offline playlists, they just didn't have the choices I wanted.  Therefore, Spotify wins hands down!
Picture it, summer, Maine, the beach.  Cut scene to me, chilling on the beach, having any music I want and all without having to be fettered by WiFi access.  Win win win.  Now I just need to figure out a sound system for the pontoon boat my family just purchased.  But, that will have to be another post!

Summer is so close I can almost touch it...

This year has been very challenging, as usual.  Teaching is a tough profession with so many rewards and detractors.  On one hand, my time with students can be uplifting and mind bending.  There is never a lull or a dull aspect of my class time.  It can also be painfully annoying.  Altogether it is the only career I can imagine having for my life.
I get out for summer in a little less than two weeks.  The remainder is full of pretty easygoing activities like a dissection and review for final exams.  Dissections are actually pretty easy at this point in my career because I have worked out most of the kinks and routines.  I love dissections!  I even got all giddy fan girl in front of my students this morning as we started in on our first day of incisions.
After all that is said and done, I'll be driving up to Maine for Independence Day.  After that I am jet setting to  London for the Star Wars Celebration!  I am sure I will post more about those later, so I will leave it at that to tease all you readers.

Who doesn't like a good Sunday-in-Bed?

After a few weeks of gogogogogogo, I was finally afforded the opportunity for a 'plans free' Sunday and seized the day for brunch. My happiness found no boundaries that day! Not only did I sleep in past 7AM, but pushed the limit to almost 3PM!!

Before you think I'm more lazy (or scruffy) than a nerf herder, understand that I wasn't necessarily sleeping for that entire stretch of time.

 So, while I don't think I can be considered lazy, maybe I should rephrase my previous claim of 'seizing the day'.  I seized the lazy!  In latin, I could say "sopor occupare" which translates to 'SIEZE THE SLOTH" I'm gonna absolutely start saying that.  Stop trying to make fetch happen.

So what did I do before brunch, you ask?  I was really just snoozing, reading, checking my phone, that sort of thing. I may have went out to the backyard to let me dog out and I definitely made a pot of coffee. That was the extent of my productivity. See?  Not lazy at all!  Later, brunch at Devlin's was on point. Do yourself a big favor and get the tater tots with hollandaise, jalapenos and fried egg. You'll thank me. While you're there, might as well get the cinnamon french toast bites. I did - no regrets.  These are the tots you're looking for.  *waves hand*

Open the HODOR!

For a couple years now, my friends and I have gathered every Sunday to gorge on food and watch Game of Thrones.  To gain entry to my friend's apartment, we usually need to shout up to the second floor porch to ask to be let inside.  Of course, this evolved into a simple, repetitive bellowing session of the name HODOR!  As we would walk along the street, approaching the apartment, the playful bellowing would ensue and be answered with more chants of "HODOR! HODOR!  Open the HODOR!"
Well, now, despite our broken hearts, we will bravely forge on and continue our tradition.

In Memory, you big lugg.

 You can't keep a giant down, man.  Oh, and Summer is alive.  I don't care what you say.  Shaggy dog, too.

Today's My Birthday! We're Gonna Have a Good Time!

I love my birthday, for so many reasons I don't even want to try to explain.  The simple reason - I have a yearly built in excuse to get together and have fun with my friends and family!
Festivities started last night with my Glo Bocce team.  Tonight is my actual birthday and I am joining friends and family at a local beer garden to toast to my birth.  I've saved Friday evening to celebrate with my close family, leaving Saturday wide open for the main event!  I decided to go with a Star Wars themed 'little kids' birthday party.  I'm going to try to have as many little kid activities available, so my guests really FEEL like we're young again.

Sadly, not a slap bet. May the force be with me, though.

I'm not doing a slap bet.  I guess I am not as cool as Marshall and Barney.  However, I am doing a dietbet!  I have to lose 4% of my body weight by June 9th.  It was a $35 buy in, and the pot is pushing $600.  Whoever loses 4% will be eligible to split the pot equally.  That could be a bit of moola!

Who wants to be my diet bet commissioner?  Nominations welcome and encouraged.  Your job will be to make sure I don't slip up and eat my face off.

So here's my plan:  weigh in is Monday.  Saturday and Sunday I will gorge.  After Monday, I need a new plan.  I'm really only used to pigging out, so I don't really have any set intentions.  Suggestions, anyone?  Leave me a comment if you want in this chaos.

The Push I Needed

I received a heartfelt message from a parent of a senior.  The eloquence and gratitude brought me to the verge of joyous tears.  I don't really think what I do is extraordinary or amazing, but apparently some believe that to be the case.  Being reminded of that helps me continue through the tough challenges I face.

Also, about three months ago, another ex-student returned to say hello.  They were doing great at UMass Amherst (my alma mater!) and wanted to let me know.  It was a fantastic visit, and I was so proud to see them succeeding.  They had gone through a lot in the past, but now flourishing.

Lastly, I received yet ANOTHER email from a different ex-student, also at UMass.  They wanted to thank me for leading them to environmental science as a career.  Additionally, they were looking forward to their summer research internship during which they would have the opportunity to conduct their own original research!  This person is going far in life, and I helped their first steps on that path.

While I still don't think I do anything overly extraordinary, I do admit that it has its own charm and importance. Teaching is what I was placed on this planet to do.  OH....and one last thing:  I JUST GOT MY PROFESSIONAL LICENSE, WHADDUP!!!!?

SPRING BREAK or "The Teacher Strikes Back"

Spring break was very much needed for me, my students and my coworkers.  March is often a very long month as we all emerge from winter, and the week off in April provides that renewal and refreshment that sustains you until June.

During my spring break I had the opportunity to have some real fun adventures!  It started with a BANG as I hosted yet another fantastic (and I think arguably the largest) Taco Thursday.  The next day, I left for Maine early after I got off work and rocked a nap until the rest of the gang showed up at our lake house.  The rest of my weekend in Maine consisted of wine, donuts, and my snuggly neice and nephew.  So dang cute.  

Come Monday, I found myself back in Boston for the Marathon.  My friend invited us over, because she lives with her fiance on the marathon route.  We gathered then, then eventually made it to a pub in Cleveland Circle where I ran into a trainer at my gym, whose group was leaving their tables, sooooo we got a sweet spot right at the open air windows!  

SCORE!  I also promise this guy to plug his koozy product.  He makes koozies with handles and koozie backpacks.  I agreed, after wishing him luck on Shark Tank, with my friend's idea that he should focus on the backpack, but hey, dude's gotta follow his dream.  

Next, fast forward to Tuesday!  I got my nails did, my hair dyed (I LOVE IT) and then went to go see WEIRD SCIENCE at the local community theater in Cambridge.  Let's just say it was so good that my bucket list may have gained another item:  use ancient technology to bring to life my own Lisa.  

Nah, just kidding!  I did get many Halloween costume ideas.  I'll store them in the costume vault.

Wednesday was EVEN better!  I hosted my very own paint night!  I setup paints, canvases, brushes and about half a case of wine for about five or six of my close friends.  I led them through all the steps to painting a cute little Boston skyline. 

 This was all after an afternoon watching after my two-year-old niece and infant nephew.  I don't know how I survived, but I did.  Oh - yeah, they lived, too.

I don't remember what I did Thursday.  Does anyone remember what I did Thursday?  I think I cleaned up after the paint night, and then in the afternoon I visited a couple teacher friends and took it kinda easy.  My high school friend then came over for a drink to my place, and caught up on gossip.  It was a nice relaxing day. 

BOOM, Friday!  I had a whirlwind luncheon with a fellow teacher friend on break, during which we visited an amazing patio for a delicious lunch.  On a lark, we decided to go to Yi Soon bakery in Allston.  I absolutely recommend that bakery to everyone.  Additionally, we got out chocolate fix at Kiki's Kwik mart, which carries a range of delicious irish candies.

But wait, it gets better!  That evening I had a great evening at the Comedy Studio in Harvard Square.  All the comedians delivered a great show - even with having to deal with a heckler during the second act.  Once the show concluded, I wound up hanging with all the comedians at this little dive bar they all gather at to unwind.  I felt like Wayne and Garth at the Alice Cooper show.  Very cool; backstage passes.

Saturday was a much needed recovery day.  I was quickly running out of gas on my fun-o-matic machine.  I perservered, and with a chill night hanging with my brother and sister-in-law, I felt reinvigorated for the next, and arguably BEST part of my vacation:

GAME OF THRONES PREMIER NIGHT.

I'll likely need a whole second blog post to debrief on GoT, but I will leave you with at least this much:  The episode was so good, it send me back to 1995.

Lawyer's Settle. It's their Job.

Stolen Pop Rocks Cotton Candy
(holy cow, it was dark in there)

A little while ago, I was having a drink after work on a Frigsday (I'll explain frigs day in another post) with some teacher buddies.  This one co-worker of my friend cracks me up, because he keeps going on and on about weddings and who 'settles' in the marriage.  Apparently, his sister in law is a Lawyer, because she settled and that is what they do.

I guess it was funnier in person.

Hmm, let me try to save this post but admitting we grabbed pop rocks cotton candy from the table next to us, who left it after paying their bill.  It was pretty dope.  The waitress laughed at us and said it was going to be thrown away anyways.  It tasted like stolen unicorn sneezes.

And then I found a dollar.  Just kidding, that wasn't until Saturday when I put on a pair of pants I hadn't worn in a few weeks.  (I'm trying to salvage the story - always end with 'And then I found a dollar!')

Two Weeks of Chaos, Wil and R2-D2

Recently, Wil Wheaton wrote about a talk he gave at Miami University about bullying.  I felt particularly inspired after reading what he wrote in the following:

"OK, one last fundamental truth of life: you attract to yourself what you put into the world. When you are kind and gentle, you’ll find yourself surrounded by kind and gentle people, and you’ll all be like a tribe of awesome."

This quote made me reflect on the past two weeks at work, which have been very challenging.  My entire career, actually, has been challenging.  I have taught close to ten different classes, spanning every level from AP to special needs.  I've been called on the Sunday night before the first day of school to be asked to teach an all-senior, field course in which the students themselves drive around to meet me at select field sites.  Gee, nothing could EVER go wrong in that class requiring a law suit, heh, right? RIGHT?

Anyway, I survived all that and here I am with mo' teaching mo' problems.  I'm kind of like R2-D2, because he survived all the prequels.  They were harsh.  TOTALLY as harsh as high school.  I wish I could fist-bump my little bro, Artoo, right now and give him a look that says 'tight' (McLovin, anyone?)

So, back to my point; the last two weeks and Wil's inspiring words.  I've had a challenging couple weeks.  In the middle of it all, I have found some compelling power that has reinvigorated me, despite the chaos.  I've decided that I am going to think positively and send those vibes outward.  It is working, so far, because I am gaining perspective.  I am seeing the chaos for what it is, and trying to reverse it, one day at a time.  I want a tribe of awesome.  I will not lay down and give up!  If Artoo can make it to the 7th movie, so will I.  Thanks, Wil.

April Fool's First!

Better late than never, right?  I never have had the courage or the prowess to attempt a prank on April Fool's day in full blown fashion.  However, this year, I totally got a kid!  A kid went to get something from his locker, and the rest of the class and I scrambled to set ourselves up as if we were taking a quiz.  The kid returned, and I told him his quiz was waiting for him.  After a few tense moments during which I announced it was the last quiz of the quarter, he looked up to meet my eyes.  Pleadingly, he asked if this was graded.  I yelled April Fool's and he just about collapsed with relief.

Later in the day, another student in a different class got ME for the first time, too!  He left his phone behind, as if he forgot to pack it up.  I grabbed it for safe keeping on my desk, figuring he'd pick it up after school got out.  Last period rolled around, and he comes to get the phone.  It was missing!  I freaked out, with thoughts of how much money that phone was worth running through my head. As I sputtered out excuses and explanations, he just held his phone up to the rest of my students coming into the class, and laughed.  I finally caught on and called him a little stinker and shooed him out.

Fast forward to this week.  I tried to get him back and failed miserably.  Instead, I accidentally pranked his friend who sits in the next seat.  Ugh!  So guess who now has declared world war 3 on me.  What am I going to do?  I'm so nervous!

No, scratch that.  I'm going to win, and win BIG.  After all, the force is strong with me. Watch out kiddos.

This is Madness Bracket Champion: LUKE SKYWALKER!

Does anyone else smell a 'fixed' game here?  Let me explain my reasons for doubt.  I can't, for the love of Yoda, find poor old Lukey baby in the 2015 bracket.  Please, let me know if you can find him!  Now, after being totally missing in last year's bracket, he comes back to WIN the 2016 bracket?  Is that a coincidence?

Now let me add this extra onion/parfait layer; he's the big come-back-kid in TFA, so did the Star Wars marketing powers make this a fixed rig to highlight the whiny kid from Tatooine even MORE?  This reeks of suspicious activity more than the inside of a dead Tauntaun.

I've got my slanty, suspicious stink eye focused on the mouse, for sure.  One point for you, Disney.  One point for you, indeed.  Disney tricked me into voting or Luke, because Vader was obviously going to win and I felt bad.  I was duped.

Top Reasons the Brattle Theater is Amazeballs

I love the Brattle theater for the following reasons:

1. Weird Science
2. Back to the Future
3. Repo Man
4. Real Genius

These are the four films running the week of April 18th for the Cambridge Science Festival After Dark!  In reality, I have seen many, MANY other films at the Brattle, (hello crying during Aliens) so I love the theater for many more reasons, but since this is coming, I felt the need to keep my reasons current, relevant, and short.

I'm very excited to go see one or many of those films that week, as it happens to also fall on my April vacation break.  Who wants to go with me?  I'm leaning towards Weird Science and Real Genius.  However, I've never actually seen Repo Man so logically that should be my choice.  Additionally, how do I refuse Back to the Future?  Le sigh...how dooooo I choose?    

Make me your pokemon, and choose for me with your votes, below in the comments.
And for your pleasure, Val Kilmer:

Solo Baby Turns 5!

I'm so happy to have celebrated my little dog's fifth birthday!  I snuggled with him last Monday morning before work and he had no idea why he was getting so much attention.  He didn't seem to care or want the attention because he was still half-asleep.  I left him snoozing on the couch, and he had no idea what is in store for him that day.

I planned on getting some ground burger and making him a little special doggy dinner.  It was totally dorky but I don't care.  I also had high hopes of even bring him to petco for a new toy.  He is such a spoiled little pooch!  Alas, I didn't make it to Petco because I had to go to the post office to mail some documents instead.  Once I got done with that, I was pretty much ready to be in for the night.  I cooked up the ground beef, rice and veggies for the little man and he gobbled it up like a good little birthday boy.  As my friend says, 'sutchagooddog!'

In other news, I missed Anime Boston that weekend, which kind of bums me out.  I like to attend con's but when you don't have anyone to go with, it kinda dampens the fun.  I, therefore, didn't bother to go this time around.  I'll just wait until Boston Comiccon this summer.  And, of course, STAR WARS CELEBRATION in London!  That is really my go-to convention.  I've been going almost ten years, now.  It's more fun than winning a game of sabacc.
Now that I mention it, I should actually learn how to play sabacc.

FINN VS. YODA in the first round?!?!?!

Dude!!  I cannot believe the horrible match up with Finn vs. Yoda in the first round.  I would have loved to see Finn go again Ashoka, or maybe even R2-D2 to see what would happen (well, okay maybe not Artoo....he'd slaughter Finn).

So you may be wondering what the heck I am talking about.  I am talking about the other OTHER March Madness that is way better than NCAA.  Star Wars "This Is Madness" pits two brackets against one another in a FINAL SHOWDOWN between the dark and light!  That's right.  March Madness meets Star Wars.  Geek meets Greek.  It's really the final ultimate showdown.

THE ULTIMATE SHOWDOWN OF LIGHT AND DARK

I came late to the voting, so Finn was already eliminated.  He was eliminated against Yoda, which for a first round, is a heart breaker.  Finn never stood a chance.  Today's light side vote was Obi-Wan vs. R2-D2.  Sorry btchonheels, I voted Obi-Wan.  For the dark side bracket, I voted Darth Vader over Maul.  No contest, why even bother?  It is truly evil-villain laughable to consider Maul over Vader.  Muahahaha.  I can't wait until it has Vader vs. Ren, or Vader vs. Boba Fett.

For the rest of the light side, I can't even attempt to make a prediction.  I mean, Rey rules, but will she get all the loyal OT fans?  As for Yoda, he's definitely got the skills and street cred, but he wasn't one of the Millenium Falcon 'Gang' so he might not pull as many votes as Luke, etc.

Next up, I am kind of shocked that Ashoka beat out BB-8, but against Yoda either would have lost.  Meh, Ashoka needs to go away.  And I say that having never watched the clone wars series, so yeah, I have no basis other than snobbery for that judgement.  BB-8 is better.  Sue me.

Since we're on the topic of BB-8, he isn't a 'light' user, but got into the competition - so why not HAN, who also isn't considered a force user??  Is it because he died?  Well, Yoda is dead, as we all know, and he got in, so being alive can't be a requirement.  So what the dillio?  I'm gonna go call Lucasfilm now on my speed dial and complain.

Then again, maybe they didn't include Han, because they knew he would blow away the competition so badly that it is just laughable.

Oh wait, nevermind.  I just looked harder at the bracket, and Luke beat Han.  Wait, what?  Hold on. WHAT?  DUDE!  Okay.  Serenity now.  Where's my phone.  Someone will pay.

May the hip be with you...

I went to an orthopedic appointment a few weeks ago.  My mom accompanied me, and sat quietly with me as we waited for the guy to arrive.  When the doctor entered, we said our introductions and la dee dah sort of things.   Then he laid in on the situation.

Point blank, he tells me I'me going to need a hip replacement.  Uh what.  Back the old lady train up.  After a few seconds of panic, I heard him backtrack and explain he only meant down the line when I'm older.  I guess this guy is still after the gold star for bedside manner, because he obviously hasn't earned it yet.  He and I went back and forth about what to do now, physical therapy, resting and footwear.  The appointment turned out okay, but the start was a shock to the system.

I have been diagnosed with hip dysplasia.  I've always had it, apparently.  Only now, after going too hard at my new workout regime, it has surfaced as a problem.  It is a painful, grumpy problem! .  I'm still pretty bummed.  I've done some PT now, and it hurts.  I'm fearful of my future.  I don't really know what to expect.  Will I feel confident running ever again?  Will I be able to wear heels?  Will I always have a limpy walk?  I'm just so annoyed right now by all the unknowns.

Good Doggy

My dog consistently proves to be the smarter one between us.  For about two hours he was bugging me.  Pawing at me, squeaking, whining, the whole nine yards.  I hadn't the faintest why he wanted my attention, since it'd only been an hour or so since I had let him out.
Despite that, I took him out, again, and surprise, surprise, he took a huge dump.  Go figure.  We went back inside and I resumed my netflix binge.  (yay supernatural)  Next up, more whining, pawing and whimpering as I sat back down to continue my Sam and Dean fix.  I couldn't figure out, after taking him outside, what the hell he wanted.  I got up multiple times to find a toy for him, I gave him biscuits, I tried playing with him, everything!!!
Then I remembered that during his first hissy fit I had given him a bone.  I sat back down, and found his bone, lodged under my laptop.  Duh.  That is all he was trying to tell me.  What a good doggy.  As my mom says, "If he only spoke English."

Arisia and Baggage

Recently, I attended a day at Arisia in Boston.  It is a fantasy and sci-fi convention that I have never attended before.  My attendance was short; only a half day on Saturday, but I learned a lot.  I decided when I arrived to go to a panel I wouldn't normally have attend; transgender in scifi/fantasy fandom.  I sat, listened, and took in as much as possible.  However, the biggest thing that I learned was from one member of the panel who spoke to the struggles people face as they go through life.

She explained that what made her experience at the convention so amazing was that we were all essentially there to be dreaming of and experiencing worlds that are better than our present.  She explained this by saying that most people have baggage.   Once you cross 30 or so, you realize everyone has baggage at that point.  With that burden comes a tendency to drift to different worlds of fantasy in which we find solace.  I couldn't have agreed more.  Life is tough, and sometimes we need a safe place.

However, let me be clear, folks.  This inspiring explanation was not strictly referring to escapism.  It was, in a way, actually bringing to life the idea that we're not JUST trying to escape.  Rather, we are all trying to grasp at the worlds we want to see manifest in our lives today, or in the future.  There is a great difference between escapism and envisioning a better life.  Sure, I enjoy submersing myself in a fantastical story about times and places I don't know, or a great film that wraps me up in an unknown reality.  But, behind all that, is the realization that I have some scars that I can use to my advantage to bring forth a better world.  You have this capability, too.

"Let us not look back in anger, nor forward in fear, but around us in awareness."  -James Thurber

Everyone carries around baggage as if we're all walking around the airport of our lives trying to find the right gate.   I think that if we carry it with us into our future, we can use what we've packed away to help us.  We can look forward in awareness.  After all, it gets better.  Just don't forget a towel.

Hair gets longer

I don't know exactly why I saved 'Hair gets longer' as a title for a post a few weeks ago.  I often make a post title, and save it as a draft.  Then I can go back when I have time to write a full post about the idea that sprang to mind.  I've never really forgotten what any title I saved refers to, except for now.  I have NO idea what 'Hair gets longer' means.

Was I trying to reassure myself that my hair will grow longer after some jerk chopped it this summer?  I found out the hard way that 2" apparently means 8" at the salon I went to last August.  I'm still bummed because I would have donated my hair if I knew it was being hacked off.

Was I possible posting about my new dye job I got before New Year's Eve?  I love the color.  I was also a lot less traumatized because a good bit of the length had grown back since the August Attack.  The girl only trimmed my front bangs and reshaped a bit of my layers around the face.  The rest, she told me, was in good shape.

So let's see...I'm still bewildered at what 'Hair gets longer' means.  Maybe it has nothing to do with hair.  Do you have a theory?  What do you think I meant?

Mini fans at the Superbowl

I was invited over to my friend's place for the Superbowl.  Since the Patriots weren't playing, I wasn't too interested and hadn't even planned anywhere in particular for watching the game.  After my friend enticed with me with tacos, I couldn't refuse.  Wine in hand and fuzzy slippers in my bag, I soon found myself watching my friend's roommate slice and dice up a delicious guacamole and salsa verde.  After gorging on two or three tacos and about a pound of avacodo, the half time show arrived.

Coldplay came on first, and stunk.  That's all I'm going to say for him(them?).  Next, Beyonce graced us with her presence, being ever wonderful and sassy.  Or was it Sasha Fierce?  I don't know.  Third to pop up from behind his piano was little Bruno Mars.  He was undoubtedly the best performer.  He is a greater performer because you can easily watch his love of the performance shine through.  It reminds me much of Michael Jackson.  They both radiate with their joy of dancing, singing, and performing.  It is abundantly clear and visible on their faces and in the movement of their bodies, every moment!

Anyway, the performance was wrapping up and all three artists came together to belt out the last few moments of the song.  Everything seemed to fade away on the TV screen, except for one thing.  Hair.

Beyonce's hair was moving, nay, flowing.  No one else seemed to have a fan or breeze pointed at them, but here she was, locks waving away as if they were waving to a crowd from a parade float.
What the heck?  Does she have mini fans attached to her shoulders?  I can't figure it out.  Well played, Sasha Fierce.  Your hair is fierce and flowing.

"I'm heating up the wax." -Actually a good thing.

My sister posted recently that she was cranking up her ol' hand wax dipper thingamajigger.  I think its a paraffin treatment if you want to really get technical, but whatever you want to call it, just make sure you call it AWESOME.
You see, after four hours of heating, the wax inside one of these heated tubs becomes all liquidy and warm.  It is kind of similar to the warm liquid goo phase in Austin Powers, minus the naked dude and elimination.  (elimination com... com... comp... complete.)
Next, you dip your entire hand in and pull it out, completely coated in paraffin.  Repeat that, waiting between dips, until you basically have a creepy wax glove.  I snapped a photo of my friend with her paraffin hands, incase you don't get the picture.

I got a little carried away with the 'stickers' option on my phone, thinking I could make her look like a mad scientist.  I failed.

After you strip it off, your hands are soft and smooth inside.  I don't know how much it really helps my hands, but it feels good and the whole activity shouts novelty.  The only drawback, is you tend to creep out the neighbors.  Beware idle hands, and I'm not talking about Devon Sawa here, may he rest in peace.

Does anyone else old fashion blog?

Or as normal people call it, write in a diary?  I have written in one since 1996 or so, which should be when I was in 8th grade.  I had a pseudo diary before then, but it was really just a note book with the Pillsbury dough boy on the front in which I would record random quotes and funny things that happened while I was with my friends.  So, while that one doesn't really count, I would consider myself a long time diary writer.

The subject of diaries, which prompted this blog post, came up while I was at a lovely ladies night last Saturday.  I joined three of my friends at Audubon Bar in Brookline.  We settled in at a nice table and enjoyed talking to the waitress and the manager while deciding on our orders.  Our waitress arrived at some point soon after, hands full and wait staff in tow with our goodies.  (I highly recommend the butternut squach soup and gryere grilled cheese!)  After munching our meals and slurping down our drinks she checked back on us.   We couldn't help but admire her necklace.  As she explained, it turned out that it was a remolded version of her grandmother's engagement ring.  On the tail of her story about the ring, my friends and I wound up talking about relationships, love and all those amazing things that crop up while in good company.   Finally the topic of New Year's Resolutions came up.  

My friend shared that a new year's resolution she sought to accomplish was a 'joy journal'.  Apparently, this is a journal in which you write one joyful thing each day.  I shared that I have been recording my thoughts and feelings in my diaries (yes, plural) for many years.  My friends seemed rather stunned.  To be honest, I sometimes find myself surprised, too, at the time I've spent dedicated to writing in my journals.  They're nothing but my ramblings and bitching, but I think I am proud.  I am proud to have kept up with my outlet for all these years.  If I was writing a joy journal, like my friend, I think I'd have to add my diaries as today's entry of joy.

Well yeah, duh.

Star Wars: TFA broke Avatar's ticket sales record.  Like that likelihood was ever even in question, pshaw!

Anyways, that's not really what I'm here to talk about, it just finally motivated me to comment on how awesome 2016 might turn out.  Consider:  Star wars redeemed itself from the horrors of the prequels, the bachelor is crazy fun, I've got a new chrome book so I can finally do 'the internets' and 'the emails' without having to use a crank generator to fire up my old dinosaur laptop, and I'm actually ahead a bit on grading papers.  (I'm typically wicked behind, but I "dun good" this quarter in meeting up with my classes. And no, I don't really have to use a hand crank to use my old laptop, but I did come close to using duct tape to keep the battery in it's slot because it would simply fall off the back side).

Oh, before I forget, I'm going on record here and now: chicken lady is going to marry Ben Higgins, if "Lace" doesn't kill her first.  Lace shares her name with an American Gladiator, but this crazy Bachelor chick could take down any of the jacked up 1980s gladiators with just a glance.  Cold as ice, baby, and cray cray to boot.

The last jewel in the "2016 might be awesome" crown is that I'm having Taco Thursday tomorrow.  Tacos rule.  I typically have Taco Tuesday, but it worked better for everyone this way, so I'm just going to pretend Taco Tuesday has a lisp.  Thaco Thursday.  It could become a thing.

Year in review?

This year I bought a new car, moved into a bigger apartment with a back yard, got a sweet grill and joined a gym that inn actually attending regularly!  I find that to be the ground with fit a solid year. 
I also went to my fourth and BEST star war celebration where I finally dressed up. 

It was there that they announced the upcoming London celebration, for which I've already purchased tickets.  Now that only leaves airfare and hotels to figure out.  I think my sister has a hotel booked for us, so that only leaves air fare. 
I want to try and make this a bigger trip with a stop over in Ireland.  Additionally, I have a lot of family in London so I will try to be making some extra time with them.

I think this is a nice setup for 2016 so far.  Here's to another year!