Aspen E Tall As A Tree

My uncle's funeral

2012-01-30T10:15:00.001-07:00

Oh blog

2011-12-03T14:45:00.001-07:00

Quite a bit has happened since my last blog post...

I turned 33. My parents celebrated their 43rd wedding anniversary. My lil "nephew" turned 2 (good luck Aya!)

Mom, Dad, Kaylee and I spent Thanksgiving at the alpaca ranch in NM, during which time I learned quite a bit....

1. I learned how to crochet some new things
2. I learned about an awesome root, Osha, not to be confused with OSHA, that has been used forever - dating back to Native American healing. It helps with fighting infection and loosening mucus. It seems to be helping with my allergies and sinus infection (going on week 5).
3. I learned cutting out dairy will also help me out
4. I learned cutting dairy out is even harder than I thought

I'm back at school now, with one week under my belt and just 2 more weeks until winter break.

Mom is getting her other knee replaced on Monday. She was going to wait until April or June, but she is in too much pain. I hope this knee does as well or better than the first.

I'll be in survival mode the next couple of weeks - in anticipation of break time, Christmas and family.

Fidgety

2011-10-27T21:42:00.001-06:00

I have a hard time watching baseball on TV... but since the Rangers are in for a second year I felt the need to watch them this go-round.

And you know what I've realized? Baseball players are as fidgety as Middle Schoolers.

Seriously. It could drive a person crazy.

2011-10-27T19:52:00.002-06:00

Crazy week. This one ranks up there with the top of the crazies....

Bomb threats. Knives (as in plural) brought to school. Red Ribbon Week = costumes every day and kids bouncing off the walls. And a fist fight at the Halloween dance tonight.

I love my job. Right?

On the positive side....

There aren't enough words to describe how excited I am about these upcoming movies:

The Avengers

Much Ado About Nothing

And I did something new.... I supported an upcoming movie through Kickstarter - because I love the cast (also from Whedon projects) - Lust for Love. I pledged to donate a small amount of money - only having to pay it if they make their $70,000 goal - and they did! In return for helping to support the movie I get an autographed DVD. Exciting!

Beware the Bowling

2011-10-26T19:00:00.001-06:00

Two Fridays ago I tweaked my knee whilst bowling. It has been bugging me since then, especially if I move it the wrong way. Today I went to the doctor to have it checked out and she said I injured my MCL (pulled or strained). That's a proper sports injury! So to all the people that say bowling isn't a real sport - my knee says " Neener - neener - neener! Is so!"

I didn't bowl last week and the doc said to take another week off and rest it up. I also need to wrap it up next week and watch my leg placement.

In other news - big snow storm last night/today. A good foot or so. Enough that the trees were feeling it.

Morning Commute

2011-10-24T22:01:00.001-06:00

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I'm still here

2011-10-19T20:53:00.001-06:00

Busy busy busy

School is almost 1/4 of the way done.

Working a second job and have bowling on Fridays.

Inservices. Parent-Teacher conferences. Trainings. Yearbook. School sporting events.

Yup.

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A room with a view

2011-10-05T18:38:00.001-06:00

Fall colors from my classroom.

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2011-10-04T21:35:00.001-06:00

This little girl's hat was madefrom my parent's yarn.

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Taos 2011

2011-10-02T21:02:00.001-06:00

Farewell 2011Taos Wool Festival! You were filled with good friends, new friends and the widest assortment of dogs found outside of a dog show.

Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures this year. Too busy manning the booth. I didn't bring any of my own things to sell. It's been a crazy year.

Next year I vow to come with fiber of my own to sell!

Until then, stay inspirational.

Love,

Aspen

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What a start to the year...

2011-09-05T10:49:00.000-06:00

Yelled at by parents...

Students who don't listen and have attitude issues...

A mouse nested in my desk over the summer so I had to disinfect it...

And now on my 3-day weekend = Food poisoning...

I hope it's like what Mom said - get all the bad stuff out of the way to begin with and then the rest of the year will be much better.

On the plus side:

The parent issue has been resolved.

The students are remembering how to listen.

My desk is now mouse-free.

I'm starting to feel like myself - and it could have been during the week where I would have had to miss school.

I did a little math - impressive since math isn't my thing - I teach 10 classes and 3 of them are giving me a hard time... that means that only 30% of them are giving me trouble... so 70% are going quite well. Trying to find the positive and focus on that.

And best of all my new principal is EXTREMELY supportive. She consults with me on things to get my feedback (since it directly impacts me) and she's on my side with upset parents and students.

Dear current and former teachers:

2011-08-23T19:18:00.000-06:00

I've got a question for you... How do you get over/deal with the following situation:

A student makes a bad decision.

You try to correct the student's behavior, implementing an appropriate punishment.

The parent attacks you - "How dare you!?! My child doesn't deserve this treatment!"

I find it extremely difficult to deal with and I wind up taking it very personally. What it says to me is that the parents see me as the bad teacher and/or think I'm out to get their kid...

How could I do my job if I didn't love my students?

How could I possibly do my job if I wasn't absolutely committed to trying to educate my students to be safe and responsible technology users and all-around good people?

I go to a Middle School 200+ days a year. I'm surrounded by almost 300 pre-teens and teens who have raging hormones, varied home lives and backgrounds, and attitudes galore.

I listen to their stories. I cry at the indignities of their lives. I see the adults they will be and I pray for their futures.

I see them in the grocery store. I see them at the post office. I see them two hours away in Denver at a Target.

They shout "Hey Ms. E!" and run up to me wherever I am.

I do a good job and I care about my students.

And then I have parents questioning my commitment to teaching, my decision making, and the way I run my classroom.

Maybe the parents are just being defensive because they know their child made a bad decision and they feel ultimately responsible.

Whatever the reason.... How do I deal with it? How do I keep it from feeling personal?

2011-08-16T15:55:00.000-06:00

Fun new discovery - a blog that finds links to a variety of free e-books. I've started using the Kindle App on my phone and the Overdrive App through my local library. I love free books!

Books on the Knob

Relief from the heat

2011-08-11T16:48:00.000-06:00

I'm back in Colorado after a month in Texas where they were having record breaking temperatures and it was over a hundred degrees every day.

Yuck.

Today's top temperature was 80 degrees and it felt gooooood.

Now back to the boxes and boxes... have to finish unpacking before I go back to work!

2011-07-11T21:15:00.000-06:00

Also... Dad and I saw a bear! My first and his third.

Moved but not settled in

2011-07-11T16:03:00.000-06:00

The last couple of months have been crazier than usual.

Then end of the school year - fellow teacher staying with me for a few days while she was in-between homes - Aya and family visiting for a week - packing up to move - Dad here for a week helping me move - the big (pain-in-my-bum) move - and today I finally turned in my key for the old place.

My new place is a MESS. It literally looks like a localized tornado broke out or that the boxes simultaneously puked their contents all over the place.

Yes. It's THAT bad.

Ugh.

This is why I waited 3 years to move - because I realllllly hate it.

I think I'll be much happier here... at least that's the hope. And I'm hoping I'll be healthier here. It's not nearly as dusty as where I lived before. They opened a gravel pit down the road from my old place last summer and it went from being annoyingly dusty to impossibly dusty. I would start at one end and by the time I was done dusting the other end of the place the first half would need dusting again. Disgusting.

I have high hopes for this place. A yard for Kaylee. A big front window for Sheba. A living room 3 times the size of my old one for me.

Yay!

Here are a few pictures from my last trip through the park:

Aya, D and Baby are here!

2011-06-17T18:44:00.000-06:00

They're here for a few days and we spent today walking around one of the local towns and we took a short drive to the park. I'm especially happy with the bull moose pictures! It's only taken me 3 years to get pictures of moose with decent-sized antlers!

Recent Pictures

2011-06-05T14:06:00.001-06:00

***You can click on any of the pictures to see a larger version.

This crazy house is located just off I-70, outside Denver. It was featured in the 1973 Woody Allen Film, "Sleeper." I like it because it reminds me of something from the Jetson's.

Momma and yearling moose.

Male moose... just starting to get his antlers!

Snip. Snip. Snip.

2011-05-23T20:47:00.001-06:00

At School Board meeting and they're making MAJOR cuts.

- one elementary closed
- two high school sports cut
- increased student, activity, and athletic fees
- third year in a row with no pay increases for faculty or staff

I figured it out and after taxes I would be making $200 more per month without three years of frozen pay. That would sure come in handy with cost of living constantly on the rise.

It is in our contract that we get paid for our increased experience until we top the scale.

I'm looking to move to a smaller/cheaper place this summer cuz I can't afford my cost of living.

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2011-05-23T14:52:00.001-06:00

Captain Jack Sparrow... You are a complicated man.

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Things you overhear on the playground...

2011-05-21T15:05:00.001-06:00

This happened a couple of weeks ago...

"Do you think guys have to shampoo and condition their beards and mustaches?"

I told them I would ask my dad.... So, Dad?

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An evening...

2011-05-21T15:03:00.001-06:00

Thursday evening I stayed late at work to finish a project. I then went to the grocery store to pick up a couple of things. As I was leaving I ran into four of my students. They took one look at my bag and one said, "Yum pizza!" And another said, "Oooo toilet paper. Are going to to somebody's house?"

Ah the mind of a middle school boy. And I had been wondering if I should be embarrassed about them seeing me buying tp.... Silly me!

When I got home I let Kaylee outside and I filled her food bowl. When I let her in Sheba was sniffing the filled bowl, as she does. Well Kaylee was whining and running back and forth between the food bowl, trying to chase Sheba off, and her kennel. Very odd behavior, even for her.

I went over to see what was up and discovered she had a bone in her mouth... some sort of rib bone. She was trying to protect her food bowl from the vicious feline AND keep her prize bone hidden and safe.

Now our "back yard" is really a small-ish, paved pattio area with a 4.5 ft wooden fence around it.

So my question was, "Where the heck did that come from?"

I checked and there wasn't a rotting corpse back there... which left two possibilities....

1. One of my neighbors threw the bone over their fence into my yard (we're all connected townhouses).

2. The second option, and I feel the most likely one, is that our little neighborhood fox has a crush on her and was trying to impress her. This explains his frequent visits, attempts at playing with Kaylee, and the bone miraculously appearing in our fortress-like back yard.

Now, unfortunately for Kaylee, I'm one of those insanely protecive moms and since I didn't know for sure where the bone came from, if it had been cooked and might shatter, I waited until she wasn't looking and threw it away. I'm a mean momma.

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2011-05-18T19:59:00.000-06:00

Received some bummer news today after a long wait.

Very disappointed.

But life goes on.

On the way home yesterday

2011-05-17T17:21:00.000-06:00

1 Element... aha ha... 2 Elements aha ha... 3 Elements aha ha.......

Hanging out in Albuquerque

2011-05-14T22:30:00.000-06:00

I'm still here....

2011-05-09T17:25:00.003-06:00

The school year is winding down, even though we still have four and a half weeks left.

This is the time of the year when we have field trips and assemblies, our last school dance and last band and choir concerts.... there's a lot going on.

In between all of that I've was bit by the "Spring Cleaning Bug." That's keeping me pretty busy on the evenings and weekends.

I donated a full trailer-load worth of old furniture and assorted items to a local church. They have a big fund-raising garage sale every year and they even sent someone to pick it up! I'm happy to be getting rid of stuff and that it's going to a good cause. They're happy because they got a bunch of free stuff to sell at their fundraiser.

I'm participating in another fund raising event this evening. This one is a Brain Bowl Competition amongst community members - we put together a teacher team - in order to raise money for our 8th grade boys to go to the National Brain Bowl Competition in Chicago this summer! Each team chipped in $50 and the money goes towards their trip.

Tomorrow night we have Portfolio night where the parents come in and check out their kids' portfolios.

And well... you get the point!

Busy days.

I'm taking a break this weekend - going back down to the Alpaca Ranch to visit with them and with my parents who will be there for a couple of days.

I like my fortune cookie from last Friday: "Over prepare, then go with the flow."

That's how I live my life.

That Time of The Year

2011-04-28T20:47:00.000-06:00

There are only 6 weeks of school left.

and

The weather is wonky - rain, snow, rain, snow, rain, sun, wind, snow, rain, snow....

You get the idea...

They're bouncing off the walls... It's the hardest time of the year for the teachers and for the students. I'm always so glad when it's over.

Just 6 more weeks.

First video from set of The Hobbit!

2011-04-14T21:28:00.000-06:00

I REALLLLLLY can't wait!

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=76430

Spring Break 2011

2011-04-14T18:04:00.000-06:00

I spent a week at Victory Ranch visiting friends, spinning, crocheting, watching critters, a trip to the hot springs, and even some yoga.

EXACTLY what I needed.

AchEEW!... SPLAT

2011-04-01T23:19:00.001-06:00

That's quite the wake up call... especially at 4 in the morning.

Now I realize that when you gotta sneeze - you gotta sneeze... but is it too much to ask for a kitty to turn her head to keep from sneezing all over my face in the middle of the night/morning? I mean really... that was a rude/gross awakening. I think Sheba is extremely lucky that my spidey-like senses kicked in BEFORE I reflexively smacked her in the face... I'm just saying...

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2011-03-30T21:02:00.000-06:00

One day of school left until Spring Break and I'm ***almost*** done with the yearbook. I'm looking forward to relaxing with the alpacas.

Also, I found out this morning I still have a job next year - as of right now. I expected to feel relieved by that, but considering:
- they're talking about adding furlough days
- we're still under a pay freeze
- my opportunities to make extra money will most likely disappear
- I'm barely making ends meet as it is and
- it doesn't look like any of this will change for the next 2-3 years...

Yeah. I wonder why I'm not more relieved?

I'm thankful.... really I am. It could be so much worse... So I'm trying to stay positive, but all the stress and worry is kind of getting in the way.

Dagnabbit.

2011-03-28T22:44:00.000-06:00

Finished up two weeks of state testing and the play last week and tonight was the last night of bowling.

I'm feeling slightly more relaxed...

Looking forward to finishing up the yearbook this week and we should be finding out who's cut from work and who's staying on this week...

So.... a couple more big things coming up this week. Just three more days... that's what I keep telling myself. Then I'll be at the alpaca ranch, chilling with friends and critters galore.

2011-03-24T21:38:00.000-06:00

I made it through the week, the day and thew play.

Thank goodness!

Time for sleep.

Two more days....

2011-03-22T21:02:00.000-06:00

Two more days until the school play....

And as of this afternoon I am extremely nervous.

I'm just hoping they pull through for us in the end - like they did last year.

My co-director and I thought we had a good idea of what we were getting ourselves into this year - since we'd done it last year - but we now see that we were a bit ambitious. We chose an unknown play, not like the familiar Wizard of Oz. We also have a larger cast and a longer play... plus a few other challenges.

I'm just hoping for the best and looking forward to having 2 evenings a week back to myself!

Bowling

2011-03-18T20:37:00.001-06:00

My Friday Night League had their end-of-the-year party tonight. I received a "Triplicate" patch for the night I bowled three games in a row with the same score. That's pretty rare and a total fluke!

I also received a "Doubles Champion" patch for winning the doubles tournament a few weekends ago. That was reallllllly awesome! I bowled with a lady from work and we both bowled over our averages and we won the tournament! We also got our names on the "bowling board" - you know the board all bowling alleys have? It's the one I always look at in awe and think "If only..." and MY name is on a "bowling board." EEEeeeeeee!

I should also have a 2-7 split pin coming my way for my first ever split!

This is added to what I won over three years in MN leagues:
- High Series patch
- 75 pins over average game patch
- 180 game patch
- 140 game patch
- 140 pins over series patch
- 500 series pin

I'm not a very good bowler, but I enjoy it and it's awesome to get prizes for something you enjoy!

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

2011-03-18T15:16:00.000-06:00

hehehe... Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter...

2011-03-11T18:14:00.000-07:00

Busy, busy.... that describes the last couple of weeks.

I've been working long hours and weekends for various reasons, including play practices and yearbook creation.

Looking forward to Spring Break!

2011-02-25T12:53:00.000-07:00

Tuesday night I was in the kitchen making dinner when I heard a loud hack sound in the living room.

I went in there to see what it as and Kaylee was looking at me really strangely. When I spoke to her she just sat there.... no tail wagging or head tilting.... so I knew something was wrong.

I got down on the floor and felt her chest and she wasn't breathing. I had just fed her dinner so I figured she was choking on a piece of food (she tends to inhale her food).

I had a moment of panic and then I did the only thing I knew to try - the heimlich maneuver. It didn't work at first.... it took several tries, but finally she spit out one piece of food. I swept her airway with my finger (eww) and then she was breathing.

The entire event lasted about 2 minutes, but it really did feel like forever. After I just hugged her and she shivered a bit and looked totally pathetic.

Stupid mutt.

She was up and around playing with Sheba half an hour later.

Enough with the flash already!

2011-02-17T20:50:00.002-07:00

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2011-02-16T20:50:00.000-07:00

Kaylee and I spent this past 4-day weekend at the Alpaca Ranch. It was a much needed break after a few rough weeks.

Kaylee wore herself out running around and sniffing the entire time. She actually snored for almost the entire 7 hour trip home and all Monday night.

I helped out a little bit with halter training the "Kindergartners," bottle fed Iggy once, and I even did a bit of mucking. I've been there quite a bit, but that's the first time I scooped the poop. It's not really so bad. Alpacas and Horses are comforting smells to me... as odd as that may sound. Cows, chickens and pigs reek. You wouldn't catch me scooping their poop!

I missed my first day of school yesterday thanks to the migraine that wouldn't end. It started Monday night and didn't go away until around 3pm yesterday. I felt better so I went ahead and worked at the high school basketball games, but had to leave early because I was feeling worse again. And today, during school, I had my ups and downs. I feel better now and I'm just hoping it is gone for GOOD this time. Not fun.

I'm trying so hard not to stress about all of the budget cuts, but our district is already needing to cut another million for next year and the community is all up in arms about the possibility of closing two elementary schools.... Then today the headlines all over Colorado are proclaiming the governor's new proposal to cut $375 million to public schools, $497 less per kid.

2011-02-04T11:14:00.000-07:00

2011-02-01T23:18:00.001-07:00

Ugh.

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2011-01-28T16:51:00.001-07:00

Just received allergy shot... first tine they've repeated a dose. I had a good-sized lump on my arm for two days after the last one... and it was quite tender.

Choosing an optimistic outlook - that means it must be working.

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A week later....

2011-01-28T12:55:00.001-07:00

A week of grief and stress and more talks of budget cuts and trying to get back to "normal."

Thursday night I went to a budget work session in which the board of education (school board) and administrators discussed all of the possibilities they have to chose from.

I almost don't have a tongue left - I spent half the time biting it so that I wouldn't burst out with what I really thought when the "audience" spoke up.

How about some positives....

I've swapped my 8th graders for 7th graders this week and when I see the 8th graders in the hallway they all tell me they miss me :)

Also, I just saw my first interview with (Sir) Anthony Hopkins and I have to say he seems like a very intelligent man (no surprise), but he also has an excellent sense of humor (a bit of a surprise). Loved it.

2011-01-19T18:15:00.000-07:00

Every teacher dreads the day when one of their students (current or former) passes away. For me... today was that day.

A student I had last year and the year before committed suicide last night. She was a perfect case of "the last person you'd ever expect."

I was greatly shocked and saddened by this news, but the worst was the student reaction. We are a very small community and something of this magnitude affects everyone. I spent first hour comforting crying/balling kids and at one point I was afraid I wouldn't be able to get the sound of their crying out of my head. My classes were eerily quiet throughout the day, but it did seem to get better as the day wore on.

Uncertainty...

2011-01-18T19:23:00.002-07:00

In a room somewhere (10 blocks away), a group of important people (the school board) is making some very important decisions that will affect an entire school district of people (and me).

Tonight's the night.... maybe.... The school board may come to a consensus tonight on how to cut $1 million out of next year's budget OR they may drag it out another 2 weeks.

Uncertainty.... gotta love it.

Can u guess what I'm doing?

2011-01-17T20:01:00.001-07:00

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2011-01-17T16:29:00.001-07:00

3rd shot down. Trying to juggle work with the clinic's hours. Don't want them to start docking my pay - in addition to what I'm paying for allergy shots. Think I've figured something out. Let's hope it works.

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My Girls

2011-01-16T22:07:00.001-07:00

Sheba shows affection by reaching out and touching those she loves... purring loudly... and smacking them with her tail.

Kaylee was getting the paw pat and I was being smacked by the tail.

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2011-01-15T10:03:00.002-07:00

1st and 2nd allergy shot down.... so far so good. I haven't had a reaction yet, though they/doctors/nurses keep telling me I will.... thanks for the encouragement people.

Yay! and Yikes!

2011-01-13T17:12:00.000-07:00

I had my very first Etsy customer purchase something on January 5th. She was the first Etsy-only customer. My other Etsy customers had all bought something at the Taos Wool Festival last October. ANNNNND she just bought another skein of yarn! Another repeat customer! Thus the "Yay!"

As for the "Yikes!" I found a bump on Kaylee's chest while we were in Texas and I took her to my vet there who said it was probably nothing, but I should keep an eye on it.

So I did.... I kept both eyes on it.... and it started bleeding and then it turned black.... and my eyes didn't like what they were seeing.

I took her to our local vet last Saturday for her vaccinations and to have the bump looked at. He said it *could* be cancerous, but the only way to find out would be to remove it and send it to a lab. After a bit of consideration and a talk with my mom I decided to have it removed and sent to the lab.... that way I'll know one way or the other. The vet removed the lump today and I just picked her up. She's a bit groggy, but doing well. She's actually sleeping with one of her favorite toys right now. I'm trying to think positive thoughts. I'll have the results in 7-10 days.

Sunrise in the Rockies

2011-01-12T16:46:00.001-07:00

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Happy Birthday Dad! =0)

2011-01-10T17:49:00.000-07:00

You would not believe the student reaction to my hair. I didn't think it was that big a deal, just fun, but it was so distracting it almost disrupted class at times. They were full of questions.
Hilarious the things they stick on to.

In other news... we've already had two students drop out of the production. Not a good start : /

And picture time :)

This is Iggy, the lil guy I bottle fed at Thanksgiving:

A couple of pictures from the end of fall/beginning of winter:

And while I was moose watching Kaylee was Aspen watching.... How adorable is she?

Yesterday I learned a couple of new crochet stitches and applied them in a pattern for fingerless mitts. It simulates cable knitting... I'm pretty happy with them :)

lol

2011-01-08T13:01:00.002-07:00

Cut. Straightened. Feathered.

2011-01-08T11:28:00.001-07:00

Woot!

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Kitty Patty Cake

2011-01-07T16:59:00.000-07:00

Pre-Holiday Madness

DUM DUM DUM

2011-01-04T20:53:00.001-07:00

Ugh. 32 years old and almost 3 years of teaching and I still get knots in my stomach when the principal calls me to his office. I wonder if that feeling ever goes away?

I'm pretty sure my fear of getting in trouble won't just suddenly disappear... so I may be stuck with the knots.

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Alpacas & Friends

2010-12-30T21:31:00.001-07:00

I had a great Christmas and I enjoyed seeing all of my family. I was able to see all of my cousins and all but one aunt.

Kaylee enjoyed playing with Kodi and Robi. She strained a muscle the other night and scared me half to death. She could barely stand up and I thought something was seriously wrong with her. The vet said it's most likely a pulled muscle and I should keep an eye on her she also gave me some anti- inflammatory medication.

Kaylee and I are at the alpaca ranch, I wanted to get out of town before New Years and it's a great excuse to visit my friends at the ranch. I even remembered my camera this time so I will post some pictures.

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Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T12:07:00.001-07:00

Trying out my new Blogger app :) Enjoying my Christmas presents this year.

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2010-12-24T23:49:00.001-07:00

Figured out how to send text messages on my new phone but now I need to figure out how to send picture messages

2010-12-24T23:37:00.001-07:00

Woot!

2010-12-14T19:10:00.002-07:00

Made it through bowling last night, but we were the last ones done. Didn't get home until almost 10:30. Yikes.

In other news.... IMDB has just posted the first trailer for the new Pirates of the Caribbean Movie:

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

2010-12-13T19:13:00.001-07:00

at bowling. just started and one of our lanes broke down... they're trying 2 fix it, but it may be a loooong night

if only i were still a child

2010-12-07T07:16:00.000-07:00

2010-12-04T09:14:00.001-07:00

LOL @ wrestling tourney and a Jesse Ventura looking guy just came over, scrithched Kaylee and spoke baby-talk 2 her. Yes, she's THAT cute!

2010-11-20T14:59:00.001-07:00

walked around downtown with dad... then i stumbled into/upon a survivalist store... unsuspecting me... their sign was so inocuous.

2010-11-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

At an alpaca ranch in New Mexico. I'm with my parents and some friends. We had a tasty dinner, followed by birthday cobbler.

I lost at Scrabble, but just bottle-fed a baby alpaca... talk about adorable! I think that more than makes up for my defeat!

I'll try to get some pictures of the critters while I'm here. I forgot my camera :(

/bangs head on desk....

But Mom and Dad both brought cameras and they're willing to share.

What a day...

2010-11-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

I'm officially 32 years old.

We had a massive staff potluck/lunch. And if that didn't do it then it must have been the 4 cakes that filled me up.

Vanilla cake with home-made chocolate icing and fondant computer mice:

Chocolate cake with home-made vanilla icing and a computer screen with the apple logo:

Another chocolate cake with vanilla icing (the kids got to it before I could get a pic of the entire cake):

There was a pumpkin cake made by another student (and his mom), but it was gone before the camera came out too....

And my first class of the day started off right....

There were also 3 balloons (one signed by staff and students), assorted candy and cards.... And the one that really made me want to cry... A student that gave me chips and sesame seeds - part of his lunch. He wouldn't take no for an answer.... he wanted to give me something and I know that's all he had.

Days like today make me think I could never do anything else...

2010-11-12T22:58:00.000-07:00

Threw a party tonight.... 10 people (including me) and 2 dogs (including Kaylee). Sheba was relegated to the upstairs bedroom... we were very cozy.

Was a good party. They even brought me a cake and flowers :)

/feels loved

Number 32 is around the corner... this coming Thursday.

2010-11-11T20:16:00.000-07:00

Well the voters of Colorado defeated the three measures which could have been detrimental to Education, Transportation and pretty much ALL public services. I'm very grateful to them.

Of course the governor just released his budget which reflects a GIANT rescission to Colorado Education. Potential cuts this year of another $500,000 and next year another $900,000.

/sigh

One more reason to love Glee...

2010-11-10T18:15:00.002-07:00

Like I needed one...

New guest star (rumored to be a 'series regular' soon-ish), Darren Criss, and his "Warblers" singing.... /sigh

Just Dance

2010-11-05T18:11:00.002-06:00

Most fun I've had in a long time.... Wii's Just Dance.

2010-11-04T17:00:00.000-06:00

Note to self:

When the smell of cooked or raw fish/seafood makes you feel nauseous do NOT - under any circumstances - go down to the 7th grade science classroom when they are dissecting sharks. No matter how "cool" your students say it is.

I can still smell it...

/shudder

2010-10-29T14:06:00.001-06:00

working vb tourney. 12 to ? looking more like 6... was hoping 2b home by 4 so i could do some grading... ah well... i guess that could wait til 2morrow morn...

2010-10-26T20:35:00.001-06:00

Glee's Rocky Horror was both awesome and msg-packed. And as for never say never... i actually agree with something Sue Sylvester said 2nite.

2010-10-23T11:16:00.001-06:00

Congrats to the Texas Rangers! For the 1st time EVER they've made it to the WORLD SERIES. Woah! Good job fellas :)

/sigh

2010-10-21T20:53:00.000-06:00

12.5 hr day = long day

And I learned something unpleasant - something work-related. Can't say anymore than that, but.... You know that saying: "What comes around goes around"?

I sure hope it does.

On the plus side... I've got my kiddos using Google SketchUp, a 3D drawing program (think beginning CAD).

When I first looked at SketchUp I felt really intimidated. I'd never used anything like it before and I wasn't sure I could learn it, much less teach it to my students.

However, I found some awesome tutorials (some of the best video tutorials I've ever seen) and I learned the basics very quickly.

When I presented it to the kids I told them of the real-world applications of programs similar to this, which they were excited about. I was also very upfront about my lack of knowledge. We watched a couple of the beginning tutorials together and I walked them through creating a very simple chair. I told them that I was still learning this program and that we could learn together. I encouraged them to teach me new things they found (and they have been).

They LOVE it and the things they're coming up with are AMAZING! The project they're working on now is a challenge: create something in 3D that really showcases the 3D aspect of this program. I've got kids working on everything from skate parks to mansions, high-rises to basketball courts, and even a spaceship.

They're so into this project... I love seeing them excited about learning and excited about technology.

Thank you Borders!

2010-10-16T19:00:00.000-06:00

Last weekend I entered a contest for "Educator Appreciation" and I received a phone call on Monday saying I had won!

I went and picked up my prize yesterday and it included all of the following:

- a clippy magnet
- an address book
- a journal
- a set of four magnetic page clips
- Crossing by Andrew Xia Fukuda
- The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver
- The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
- Fabelhaven by Brandon Mull
- How to Read Novels Like a Professor by Thomas C. Foster
- a handsome carrying tote holding all of the above items

Lucky me! I definitely feel "appreciated"

And it gets better.... They were having a $1 book sale... I grabbed 7 books for $7.58!

YAY!

I'm currently reading a $1 find - The Manual of Detection by Jedidiah Berry.... and I'm liking it!

2010-10-16T18:45:00.001-06:00

RED = awesome!

"Dog!"

2010-10-13T17:02:00.000-06:00

I was in the front office for a while during 1st hour (my planning period) and when I walked back into my locked classroom I heard a man saying something about ".... give me the dog."

And it happened again...

"No seriously, we want the dog."

And again....

Basically the head tech guy and gal can take over any computer in the district and apparently can make them say whatever they want.

I exchanged some humorous emails with the techies first hour.... It was the main guy doing it.

He did it a few times during 2nd hour and Homeroom, freaking my kids out totally. Imagine sitting there and all of a sudden your computer starts talking to you.

The techie guy came in after school and was teasing me - asking me if I was feeling alright... did I need to "Talk with someone" because I was "hearing voices."

Best part....

While he's standing there giving me a hard time every computer in my room, all 30 of them, says "Dog!" and he jumped out of his skin.

He says "That scared the crap out of me!"

Karma.

The Halloween Phantom

2010-10-12T20:43:00.000-06:00

I heard a knock on my door this evening and when I went to check it out there was a sheet of paper and a cookie on my porch.

The letter said:

Dear Neighbor,

You have been "Hit" by the Halloween Phantom!! You must now strike TWO neighbors, or the Phantom will haunt you for the rest of October! OH NO!

PS you must place a note stating you have been hit outside your door so the phantom doesn't strike again!

Love always XOXO
Your Neighborhood Phantom

Now this alone was funny.... but since I was outside I decided to let Kaylee go potty. She headed around the side yard and we both heard a sound....

Kaylee went on point and said "Woof!"

I heard hysterical giggles and Kaylee ran around behind me.... yes behind me. She is apparently an "alert dog" after all.

Around the corner of the house were two kids (one of my students and her little brother).

We were all laughing and trying to figure out who had left the original note on their door... which had prompted them to "hit" me and one other neighbor.

hehehe.... "Woof!"

2010-10-10T13:11:00.001-06:00

at theater wtg 4 social networking 2 start. i'm the youngest one here.... interesting.

First Snow

2010-10-09T11:21:00.000-06:00

Kaylee and I encountered the first snow of the season on our way to (and for a good part of) book club.

I just learned their doing a Rocky Horror themed Glee with some of the original cast...

And The Taos News posted a 4.5 min video of the Taos Wool Festival.

Dad shows up at the very beginning in a quick clip and Kaylee and I made it in around the 3 minute mark (lightning quick clip).

Check it out and see what you're missing every year!

Don't you want to attend next year?

Repeat customer... already!

2010-10-06T18:41:00.000-06:00

I just received an email from a lady who bought some handspun yarn from me at Taos and is asking for more!

My first repeat customer!

/happy

2010-10-06T18:28:00.000-06:00

Wool Festival was fun, as always.

And it was good to see the parents.

I sold some of my handspun yarn and a purse I knit. That was a first!

I also entered two skeins into the handspun yarn contest.

The first skein was the alpaca/wool blend I also entered at the Southwest Regional Spinners Retreat. It won a 1st place ribbon at SW Regional and 2nd place in the handspun yarn at Taos.

The second skein was my very first attempt at spinning mohair locks into an art yarn. It also won 2nd place in the creative yarns contest.

Pretty happy with two 2nd place ribbons. Working my way towards 1st and/or Best in Show next year!

2010-09-30T18:37:00.000-06:00

12+ hour day. Just got home from work and I still have to do.

Still need to finish packing...

And I have some work to do online this weekend. A teacher's work is never done!

2010-09-30T06:15:00.001-06:00

up b4 the sun. so much 2 do b4 i go 2 taos.

Hmm...

2010-09-28T19:28:00.002-06:00

Half the time when I tell Kaylee to "Go get your toy!" she runs and pounces at Sheba.

I think we need to redefine the word "toy."

Bowling Again!

2010-09-27T18:44:00.000-06:00

I had an offer to join a bowling team but had to pass it up because I couldn't afford to bowl every week.... but today I got a call asking me to bowl only the last 2 Mondays of every month... that's half the price - and I can afford that.

So... I'm bowling again! Yay! I was really missing it.

2010-09-21T22:27:00.001-06:00

Glee party was awesome! They even had slushies! Jealous?

Go Gleeks!

2010-09-21T18:28:00.001-06:00

OMW 2 a Glee Parrrrty!

Kaylee's big day!

2010-09-18T12:32:00.000-06:00

I worked at a couple of football games this morning, we won one and lost one.

I brought Kaylee with me and she hung out in the press box while I worked the score board. At one point one of my student's little brother came into the booth and played with Kaylee, chasing her around the booth. It was really cute.

The same kid came back later with some friends and asked if they could take her for a walk. They went to the car, got the leash, came back up and took her for a walk. I expected a short one but they were gone for 20 minutes.

When they came back they put her leash up and got her bowl from my car. The four of them each gave a little water from their own water bottles so that Kaylee could have plenty of water to drink!

I couldn't believe it! What a considerate kids! We're talking 4th maybe 5th graders.

Kaylee had a blast - A walk. People playing with her. People loving her. People telling her how cute she is.

No wonder she always wants to go with me!

She's worn out now. She crashed the second we got home.

2010-09-17T21:31:00.001-06:00

got acupunctured 2day. can breath a little, but didn't do anything 4 this sinus headache :(

Best Sleeping Bag Ever!

2010-09-17T16:07:00.000-06:00

ThinkGeek :: Tauntaun Sleeping Bag

Smarticle

2010-09-16T21:51:00.000-06:00

Do you ever have one of those moments... one of those ideas... where you go "I'm a freaking genius!"

I have one....... maybe every 5 years..... if I'm lucky.

I had one this week.

For the last two years I've felt like I was pulling teeth, begging my students to send/bring me pictures for the Yearbook.

My idea?

I started a Facebook account for me as a teacher - very restricted - very professional - and I'm inviting my kiddos to be friends. They can tag me in a photo and Facebook sends me an email with a link to the photo. I then drag that picture to my computer and - BAM - I have pictures for the yearbook!

I set everything up and gave 4 of my classes time to go onto FB and tag photos for the yearbook. (Maybe 10 minutes per class today.)

The result? From what they did in school and since they've been home I have over 80 pictures.

GREAT pictures. Pictures from in school, at recess, field trips, and best of all outside activities. Kids in my school do such a range of activities: football, basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, hockey, tennis, golf, skateboarding, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, cross country, track, rodeo, ice skating.... the list goes on and on.

In the last two years it was all I could do to get ANY pictures. Now I have a bunch of great pictures and more on the way. I even have pictures from the out-of-school activities which I never had before.

This works because FB is something the kids use all the time - it is part of their lives and part of their "social networking." They already take pictures. They already load them onto FB. Now they just have to click a few times and they can submit pictures to me. It's practical, easy and relates to what they're already doing. I'm also using it to teach responsible use.

That was my one genius idea for the next 5 years.

I think it was well spent.

2010-09-10T22:07:00.000-06:00

Thank goodness the anti-biotics seem like they *might* be working. I finally got a good night's sleep last night, which was much needed. I had an in-service today and I just got back from working at a football game. I am also working 2 games tomorrow.

Time for more sleep.

Eek gad

2010-09-09T18:48:00.000-06:00

I just went to doctor and she confirmed I should be feeling much better by now (on meds since last Sat). So she's prescribed a new anti-biotic and she wants me to take it for 4-6 weeks.... Her thinking is that maybe we're just not getting it all and that's why I keep getting sick every 2 months.

BTW... this new anti-biotic gives new meaning to the words "horse pill" - *GULP*

2010-09-05T19:06:00.000-06:00

You know what I've realized? There's a very basic thing that I've taken for granted for most of my life - the ability to breath.

The ability to take a nice deep breath any time I like is something I miss. Not just when I have a sinus infection, though that makes it much worse.

It's not the altitude, it's the allergies.

I go back to the acupuncturist on the 17th. Let's hope it works.

2010-09-04T12:17:00.001-06:00

it's pretty bad when the pharmacist meets you at the drive-thru window w your prescription in hand and says "here you go aspen"

2010-09-04T11:06:00.002-06:00

I think I'll do what I've done in the past when I'm sick and grumpy....

After I pick up my prescriptions I'm going to come home and watch something I haven't seen in a while... what will it be this time... ?

Aspen E Tall As A Tree

My uncle's funeral

Oh blog

Fidgety

Beware the Bowling

Morning Commute

I'm still here

A room with a view

Taos 2011

What a start to the year...

Dear current and former teachers:

Relief from the heat

Moved but not settled in

Aya, D and Baby are here!

Recent Pictures

Snip. Snip. Snip.

Things you overhear on the playground...

An evening...

On the way home yesterday

Hanging out in Albuquerque

I'm still here....

That Time of The Year

First video from set of The Hobbit!

Spring Break 2011

*AchEEW!*... *SPLAT*

Two more days....

Bowling

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter

Enough with the flash already!

A week later....

Uncertainty...

Can u guess what I'm doing?

My Girls

Yay! and Yikes!

Sunrise in the Rockies

Happy Birthday Dad! =0)

lol

Cut. Straightened. Feathered.

Kitty Patty Cake

DUM DUM DUM

Alpacas & Friends

Merry Christmas!

if only i were still a child

What a day...

One more reason to love Glee...

Just Dance

/sigh

Thank you Borders!

"Dog!"

The Halloween Phantom

First Snow

Repeat customer... already!

Hmm...

Bowling Again!

Kaylee's big day!

Best Sleeping Bag Ever!

Smarticle

Eek gad

AchEEW!... SPLAT