Roll Call!

If you read this post, please comment with your name. I want to know who my audience is and, while I can venture a guess or two about who reads my ramblings, every once in awhile someone tells me that they "saw that on [your] blog" and I never had any idea that they even knew my blog existed. Just curious. Thanks!

Happy Cesar Chavez Day!

Today was a holiday for my school district (gotta love L.A.) and I spent it putzing around the house getting things done. As I do every Cesar Chavez Day, I also took a moment to reflect on my life and count my many blessings. I set some goals for myself for the next month (before we go to Michigan), mostly to do with weight loss. Viva Cesar Chavez!

Congratulations!

Our very good friend Dave and his wife Robin welcomed their daughter, Riley Michele, into the world earlier this week and we couldn't be happier for them. She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 oz. and was 19 1/2 inches long. Mom and baby are doing well, they should be coming home today.

Getting Moving

Monday morning I rolled out of bed at 5:00, awoke a very sleepy and confused Kingy, and the two of us jogged/walked 1.7 miles. Monday during my break at school, I walked another 3/4 of a mile. Yesterday, we did it again. By this morning, I was quite sore, so we took a break. We'll be back out there again tomorrow morning though. I must say that it has given me a definite extra boost of energy and King loves it too! While I hate getting out of bed in the morning, it's nice to be out before the world has awakened. It's quiet and calm. Wish me luck in developing this new routine!

Hilarious

Mark's buddy sent him this jibjab card and I just have to share. I know most of you don't know his friends but the dancers in this video are Mark. Andy, Craig, Dave, and Dennis - all of his beloved "homies" that live in Michigan.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/uaUnIAe9MDVCrhqr

St. Patty's Day Fun!

Mark and I woke up early Tuesday morning (after Mark went to sleep at 4:30!) and headed to Arizona for a Dodgers Spring Training game against the Cubs. Unfortunately, we lost. But, we had a great time checking out the beautiful new digs in Glendale. This is the first year that the Dodgers are training in AZ. They had previously held camp in Vero Beach, Florida. Many die-hard fans were upset by the move as it meant a shift in tradition, but it's nice for us fans who can't get away for longer than a couple of days at a time to check out a game. Mark and I looked at this two-day trip as the first of many, hopefully we'll be able to make it once a year.

After the game, we went to our hotel which was not too far away at all. After checking in and greenifying ourselves for the festivities, we walked to the Westgate City Center for a night of good 'ole Irish fun!

First, we hit the quad area in the middle of all of the shops, bars, and restaurants where they were giving away free green beer and listened to some live music. Next, we were off to a place called Bar Louie for dinner and another round of beer and music. We then went to a place called Hell's Half Acre where we had more beer (shocker!) and a more live music (the band at this place was great - they played some really great covers and kicked up the energy level of the night). We were astonished when we got our bill at this place, 3 Guiness and 3 Killians for $15! In fact, the entire evening was extremely affordable for the two of us, considering one drink in L.A. runs between $10-$15 at many places. After the band finished up, we were off to a dueling piano bar called The Shout House but not before Mark snapped a couple of pictures of me on the strippers pole that beckoned to me the entire time we were at the bar - classy, I know, but these people will never see me again anyway!

The Shout House was really fun, as dueling piano bars always are and then it was back to Bar Louie for one last drink and a little more grub. Finally, we walked back to our hotel and hit the hay.

The next day, we woke up slowly, enjoyed our free hotel breakfast and then, hangover free (thank goodness!), drove from our hotel to ASU to check out how much campus has changed. It was crazy to drive past the places where I lived and worked more than 7 years ago (it's CRAZY how long I've been in L.A.!). It felt like just yesterday until we'd turn a corner to see an enormous new building. The street where the pizza guy would deliver is no longer in front of my apartment! In its place is a cable car/electric train track. Craziness. We also went by my dad's old house, which I almost passed on the street and checked out how much the surrounding area had developed. There was still a fair amount of desert when they left AZ but it is now all built up and seriously almost unrecognizable.

In all, we had a fantastic time. The weather was beautiful and we drove all the way back home with the top down on Mark's car - enjoying the desert, the sunset, and the stars. On the drive home, we talked about how our next St. Patty's Day may very well be much, much different and how our life is going to change in the next year or two. As much fun as we had, we are both so super excited for the adventures that are ahead for us on this crazy road called life.

92.6

King went to the vet today and weighed in at a whopping 92.6 lbs!!! When he was last weighed, about a year and a half ago, he weighed 81. Like owner, like dog? I suppose so. The doctor said he's still in the healthy range but shouldn't gain anymore. Looks like he and I will be exercising together more now!

Procrastination

Where is this great skill learned? I've been very slowly working on my homework assignment that is due tomorrow all evening (remember that whole "I can get it done in two hours" thing? Well, notsomuch tonight apparently!) I'm just so distractable right now - as evidenced by my need to blog at this very instant!

Hey Stranger!

Well, after I was reminded of how badly I have been neglecting my blog (thanks Karen!), I figured it's time to do some updating. The thing is, not much has changed in the month that has passed since my last entry.

Work has been a bit crazy lately. I got two new students this past month. The first ended up being misplaced in my class, as he is much more independent than my students and more capable of more rigorous academic work. My district administrator ended up switching him to a different teacher's caseload; however, that teacher is only on campus one period each day to cover the overage in the other special education classes. So, while on paper this student is off my caseload, I have still been responsible for setting up meetings, conferencing with his parents, and figuring out his schedule which totally defeats the purpose of moving him from my caseload. But, by moving this kid from my caseload, the district can get away with adding another. The second new student I got this month is 6'5"! And, unlike the first student, he is absolutely in the appropriate classroom. I'm starting to learn my lesson about being too easy to work with. It really is a shame that, by doing the right thing and being professional, I'm now getting completely taken advantage of. (sigh) But, I love my job and I love my kids and I would not want to do anything else with my life than what I am doing right now.

School's been good. This semester is much more laid back than last semester. I have more assignments to do but each one is less intensive than the work I had to do last semester. It's crazy how fast time flies. I just keep plodding along, eventually it will all pay off.

The Dodgers have started Spring Training and Mark and I have planned an overnight trip to Phoenix to see a game at their new facility. We'll be there on St. Patty's Day when they play the Cubs. It'll be our first trip to AZ together since I've moved to L.A. so we're planning on cruising through Tempe to see where I lived and went to school and going by my dad's old house as well. I love the fact that I get "personal necessity" days to take as I please. It just so happens to please me to take a road trip with my hubby!

Mark will be moving to the new BJ's, right here in Downey, in mid-May and we're getting really excited about that. The new restaurant is being built and I swing by every few days to see the progress - it's only 1.3 miles from the house! He'll be the first manager on-site, working out of a trailer in the parking lot, hiring and training new staff. For the 7 weeks that he'll be doing that, he'll be working Monday through Friday or Tuesday through Saturday with his evenings off. We, obviously, can't wait! However, once the restaurant opens, in July, I won't see him for days at a time until they work out all of the kinks of a new restaurant.

Mark's buddy, Toby, just stayed with us for a few nights before he headed to New Zealand to make wine for three months. Having him with us was interesting, especially since we live in a studio and both Toby and Mark are complete night owls! But, we're both so thrilled for the adventure that he's on.

As far as weight loss goes, I haven't lost. We've been doing a lot of socializing, which means dining out and drinking. I've found that I'll have a couple of really good days but then comes our social excursions and they set me back. I haven't gained any weight either - I'm doing a great job of maintaining where I am. Too bad where I am isn't at all where I want to be. I did got to the gym yesterday which made me feel really good. I have some homework to do tonight but am thinking of going again after I finish up.

Speaking of homework, I should go get started on it. If I stay focused, I should be able to get it done in just a couple of hours.

I hope I didn't bore you too much with the monotony of my day-to-day happenings. I will try to keep my blog updated more often this month!