Some Kind of Wonderful

Warren and I went to an outdoor movie at the local coffee shop. "The Shop" is a converted garage with a huge parking lot and a wall with a movie screen painted on it. A few weekends ago we went to Big Trouble in Little China and this weekend we went to Some Kind of Wonderful, a John Hughes film. I had never seen it before and thoroughly enjoyed it. Warren did not enjoy it that much. I think that might have something to do with the fact that he has not seen as many 80's movies as I have and might be forgetting what it is like to be an angsty teen. Either way it was less entertaining and silly than the Kurt Russell vehicle but still satisfying.

It got me thinking about just how much I love John Hughes movies. Here is a complete list of them. I bolded movies that I have seen and starred the ones I love the most. Did you know that he wrote some movies as Edmund Dantes? I would highly recommend watching/rewatching some John Hughes. I think I might.

Delta House (1979) (TV)
National Lampoon's Class Reunion (1982)
At Ease (1983) (TV)
Mr. Mom (1983)
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983)
Nate and Hayes (with David Odell) (1983)
Sixteen Candles (1984) (also Director)*
The Breakfast Club (1985) (also Director)*
National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985)
Weird Science (1985) (also Director)
Pretty in Pink (1986)*
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) (also Director)*
Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) (also Director)*
She's Having a Baby (1988) (also Director)
The Great Outdoors (1988)
Uncle Buck (1989) (also Director)*
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Home Alone (1990)
Career Opportunities (1991)
Only the Lonely (1991) (Producer Only)
Dutch (1991)
Curly Sue (1991) (also Director)*
Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
Beethoven (with Amy Holden Jones) (1993) (as Edmund Dantes)
Dennis the Menace (1993)
Baby's Day Out (1994)
Miracle on 34th Street (1994)
101 Dalmatians (1996)
Flubber (1997)
Home Alone 3 (1997)
Reach the Rock (1998)
Just Visiting (with Christian Clavier and Jean-Marie Poire) (2001)
Maid in Manhattan (2002) (Story Only) (originally titled "The Chambermaid") (as Edmund Dantes)
Drillbit Taylor (2008) (Story Only) (as Edmund Dantes)

I also found this article about how much women in their 20s and 30s are in love with the idea of Jake Ryan from Sixteen Candles. It is pretty funny.

Jake Ryan article

August? Already?

August is the time when I have to start gearing up. I have decided that I will allow myself to think about school (I am certainly not ready for that quite yet). Warren's birthday,the beginning of 2L, and duh duh duh, my birthday. This year I will be turning 30. I will be honest I am feeling a little apprehensive about it (although I think this cupcake is being a little dramatic) but I still have most of the month prepare. My brother-in-law, Ian, suggested I celebrate by remembering my Twenties.

"The Last Twenty of my Twenties" - each day I will celebrate by doing things that remind me of being in my twenties. **Please note I did not do these things all the time just on occasion (in case my mom is reading this).

1) Listen to Dave all day (If only I hadn't gotten rid of that wall sized poster I had of him)
2) Drink Margaritas made with varying grades of tequila, cheap to expensive
3) Spend hours analyzing a phone call my friend received from a guy
4) Spend an entire day watching "Sex in the City" in my pjs
5) Spend time obsessing about my career and the state of education
6) Wander around Seattle (might have to be Spokane)
7) Spend the day in a coffee shop (There are two I really like here)
8) Pull an all-nighter stressing about something (but what should I stress about?)
9) Go for a long run (might have to walk some of it)
10) Drink a flaming drink. I love those! ( I think they bring you closer to the Gods. It is like touching the heavens and I might have referred to them as "the truth and the light" a time or two.)
11) Smoke a cigarette (So bad for me,sorry body!)
12) Buy a cd
13) Go to Mexico (I can't really do this one so I will have to put it in the bank for another time.)
14) Eat Papa John's Pizza
15)
16)
17)
18)
19)
20)
21) (Remember I can't go to Mexico so I need an extra one)

Uh oh. Not quite there? Any suggestions? I would love to hear any terrific ideas you might have, especially healthy ones, most of these seem to be things that are hard on my body/full of calories/involve me sitting around.

Nerd Tested; Nerd approved

I am a sci-fi nerd, there I said it. This is something my husband didn't even know about me until the new Star Trek came out and I was giddy. Here are my two new nerdy pursuits both combine post-apocalypse and human drama.

Battle Star Gallatica:
Yep I guess people(nerds) have known about it for quite some time but I am just now watching it. All I can say is that I love it. It is so amazing the way it connects to culture and yet has created a world all it's own. I can't even begin to tell you anything about it because I will ramble on and on and it will seem like crazy nonsense. Suffice it to say a) watch it and b)talk with me about it when you do.

Hunger Games:
Late to the party again on this one. This is supposed to be the new it book in young adult fiction, the new HP or the new Twilight. There are supposed to be making it into a movie. It is a quick read and it is so interesting. Here is the general idea: In a post apocalyptic world two kids from every district have to participate in the games which are a real life Survivor for television viewers. Do you love it all ready?

Both of these make me wonder why I don't have a creative enough brain to write and come up with amazing ideas like these.

Just Like on TV

Sad news for Kristin Cavallari, her fiance/quarterback for the Bears, just backed out of wedding plans. They were only engaged for 2 months and had just had an engagement party last week. Sadly, she also just bought her expensive designer dress. I feel bad for her. Warren also informed me that he had a questionable injury and quit on a playoff game. So he is now notorious for quitting when things get scary or tough, at least notorious to me. If only she were still on reality tv so we could hear and see her dealing with this news. Finally the push I needed to get back to blogging. At least some good has come out of this.

Paris, I want to go to there.

This week we went to Midnight in Paris, the new Woody Allen film. I loved it. Not just because I enjoy many of the actors in the movie (Rachel McAdams, Owen Wilson, Kathy Bates, etc) but because I love reading/thinking about the writers and artists who lived there in the 20s. My favorite book of all time is A Movable Feast. I love the way that Hemingway writes and enjoyed getting to see him. Although he seemed a little too dark and brooding, different than I had imagined him to be. I mean yes he was an alcoholic and depressed a lot of the time but I felt that this portrayal overdid it. I also am now really interested in reading more about the Fitzgeralds. I know they were quite an interesting pair and I want to read more about their wild lives.

This also tied nicely with the book I just finished, The Paris Wife. It was about Hadley Richardson (Hemingway's first wife) and is historical fiction. I devoured this book and could hardly do anything else besides read this book. I love the idea of what life must have been like for her (and other wive's of successful creative types). I also really enjoyed both of the books written in this style about the ladies in Frank Lloyd Wright's life, Loving Frank and The Women: A Novel. I much preferred Loving Frank but enjoyed both. It is a great way to write because you don't have to know all the facts and can make up a cool/interesting story and feelings for the people we know so little about.

These two things have made me very excited for travel in general and made me wish, again, that I could plan a trip to Paris/ time travel to the 20s.

Author, educator, politician; a legacy to leave behind

I was looking at Wikipedia, for a reason that is too complicated/stupid to tell the whole story (I will tell you that tv's Chuck is a singer and has a duet with Katherine McPhee/had a girlfriend who is an alternative songstress who performed at SXSW), and ended up looking at the page about Beverly Hills High School (made famous on Beverly Hills 90210 and the recent employer of a friend of ours) and was looking at the list of famous alumni. After each person's name there was a descriptor. Some had one or two descriptors but the one I really liked was this one "Max Rafferty, author, educator, politician." I want this listed after my age on my wikipedia page someday. A close second, in my mind, would be to have it say "rapper/actor, basketball player" which is what it says after Lil' Romeo's name. I mean I do play basketball and I like rap music but I don't think it will ever happen for me. And I am 2/3 there, educator check and author (blog I know is pushing it but close enough) check.

Have you seen...

You know that I am fascinated with the end of days so Robbie, my brother in law showed me this.



A few comments about this video. First of all I really enjoy this song and the video is interesting although I don't really get what exactly is happening during most of it. I hate Chris Brown's blonde hair (and am still mad at him). I love Justin Bieber and his swagger coach is totally worth the money. Seriously, I have a little crush on him.

Get out your dancin' shoes...

and get excited for October.


Warren just showed this to me. (Isn't he the best?) Footloose is happening again. I am so excited about this. The kids still want to dance but this time they get a little freaky and there appears to be some kind of bus fight. Also Dennis Quaid is the dad and Julianne Hough is the preacher's daughter. I can't wait.

Away we go

I absolutely love the movie Away We Go. It makes leaving everything you love and know to have an adventure seem a little less daunting. The actors in it our spectacular and it was directed by the American Beauty director. I would highly recommend it.

My All-time favorite television shows

In an effort to keep things light I will follow rant posts with happier/less serious posts. A while ago I wrote about Castle, one of my new favorite shows. It got me thinking about which shows would be on my all time favorite list. Here it is in no particular order:

Weeds

Castle

Ghost Whisperer

Seinfeld

Arrested Development

30 Rock

Honorable Mention Category :
Glee, Parenthood, Parks & Rec, The Hills (I didn't forget where I came from), Veronica Mars

Another reason to love Kate Winslet

As if Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind wasn't enough.


I found this on moveon.org.(Love this site but take it's postings with a grain of salt) It really makes you think. I love seeing untouched photos with the actual published ones. It is so disturbing. How can we encourage children to grow up and love and accept themselves when we can't do it as adults or as a culture? Downer.

But on the bright side Kate Winslet is an amazing human. I wish all celebs would take a page from her book.

A feeling of...

Do companies have a moral obligation to the places where they make most of their profits?

I was looking at moveon.org and found out that there is protest planned in Apple stores on June 4th. I have no idea what this protest would look like (how many people there will actually be) but was telling Warren about it mostly because I liked the suggested protest chants (“I can sync my iPhone with my Macbook. Why can’t I sync it with my values?” ouch! biting.) and because they knew how to spark my ire/interest linking unpaid taxes to schools and police men. (I find this to be especially interesting because there is always a Spokane Policeman sitting in the Apple Store when I walk by it.) Warren does not trust the validity of the info on move on so I did some looking around on the internet. Does Apple really want to be a part of this so called "tax holiday"?

Here is what I found.
Apple along with many other big name/big money companies (including Microsoft, Cisco, and other tech and big pharmaceutical companies) are a part of this lobbying group called Win America (sweet name!). Their mission being to influence Congress to "pass legislation to offer an immediate reduction of taxation on income earned overseas by innovative American businesses to allow that money to be brought home and invested in the United States." Now mind you there is no law stating that they can't bring the money back themselves but they are hindered by the fact that they want to make as much money as is humanly possible and not lose any money to taxes. This 60 Minutes report byLesley Stahl helps to shed some light on why the companies choose not to return to the US and keep more of their profits. I like when someone calls the tax lawyers maneuvering, "shenanigans".

Now, I am far from an investigative journalist but I am glad that I was able to find more information and educate myself. I am also left feeling a little hopeless because it all seems so crazy. Trillions of dollars, so much money that I don't really even have a concept of it, money that could really be helping people in the U.S. ( I know that one could also argue that this money would just go towards the military budget which is insanely large and towards politicians wacky agendas). But that money is just a percentage of what these companies made just last year. It is mind-boggling.

It is all so frustrating and leaves me feeling perplexed and a little mad at my iPod. Perhaps instead of protesting on June 4th I will just make a conscious effort not use my iPod. Take that Apple.

The Hills/ Laguna Beach News

Kristin Cavallari is getting married to Jay Cutler, the Chicago Bears Quarterback. Why didn't anyone tell me? I really enjoyed reading about it because after his name they wrote "quarterback" and after her name they wrote "actor?" Sadly that doesn't change the fact that she is famous. I have seen some pictures of them and I don't want to sound shallow (but I will) it seems like she might be getting less good looking by association. I mean despite my feelings about her I think she is generally pretty cute.

Have you ever noticed?

I was reading this article about how teachers are not impressed with Arne Duncan or President Obama. I really like how people are running around talking about the disconnect between one thing and another. Buzzwords are the best!

Baller

Yes, I am a nearly 30 year old woman and yes my husband and I played a two on two basketball game with High school boys in our neighborhood today. Needless to say we lost, however we hung in there for a while. It was fun. I really enjoyed the chance to play again and made quite a few jump shots of which I am quite proud. Every day since
Warren has been on break I have rushed home to hang out with him. I love being on break but warren on break is the best. He is so fun to be around these days he seems so light hearted. I love it.

Life in the Adirondack

I have recently become obsessed with Adirondack chairs. I found cute wooden ones with a matching footrest at Costplus World Market (I love this store. I frequently go there for retail therapy when I have had a bad day) but they were way too expensive. Instead I bought some cheap, plastic ones at Shopko in the same lovely turquoise color. The fit perfectly on the back porch. Now I just need the weather to be a tad warmer so that I can properly enjoy them.

Something Borrowed

My friend Kate loaned me this book and I have been devouring it. I am still in the middle of reading The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt (It was nominated for the Booker Prize, blah, blah. Let me just say that it is no Possession) but I feel that I need a small rest from these "chunkster" books that I have been reading. My thinking behind this is that you can't eat cheesecake every night after dinner (despite how much I might like to try) it is just too rich. Similarly you can't read thick (let's be honest) boring books all the time. Sometimes you need a little lighter fair, and this book is perfect for that.

Allergies

I

love spring. It is wonderful to be in the sunshine, despite the fact that it is making my Kindergarten friends a little nutty, unfortunately it also brings back my old nemesis, Pollen. I am already being bested by the outdoors. Any suggestions for fighting hay fever (a term Warren claims never to have heard before. He called it "another farm disease", which I thought was pretty funny.)? I tried the Neti pot but I hate that feeling of going swimming without actually having gone swimming. I find it to be disappointing and I worry that it is making my sinus unable to work properly by themselves (although that is kind of already the problem).

Castle

So I am not sure if you know this but I think that Castle is one of my all-time favorite television shows. I just finished watching the season 3 finale and it was amazing. I had to tell Warren a synopsis of the entire show (he doesn't care and wanted to watch basketball but he humored me) because I was so excited about all that happened. This show is witty and funny and you get to try to solve a mystery, need I say more. I just love trying to find the answers before Becket and Castle do. Did I mention that there is a love between the characters that hasn't yet come to fruition? This makes for interesting and exciting anticipation and banter. Seriously get on board. You will not regret it.

Hot Yoga

I have been enjoying Hot Yoga at the local yoga place. It is 5 minutes from my school and I love it. They have a killer introductory offer and I am so excited to try to stick with this exercise kick. I went after school one day which was great because it made me extra efficient with my time and forced me to leave school at the end of my contracted day. That was the second time that had happened all year.

Thanks Spokane for making me feel good about myself

So I am finally out of the shame spiral. I went for a run yesterday and my cosmic reward was a man yelling at me as I ran by him. "You can stop running you look good already." And this was the first time that I truly loved Spokane.

Today my cosmic reward was someone honking and waving at me like they knew me. Apparently there are not a lot of people in my area getting out and exercising but I am going to stick with it. I am extremely excited to see what happens next time I get out for some exercise. Perhaps someone will give me some money or free icecream (and I will eat it because I have been told I don't even need to exercise anymore).

Things that have been giving me a chuckle lately

The other day when I was driving around in Spokane and was behind a car with one of these

bumper stickers. The two kids in the back were beating each other mercilessly in the backseat. I really enjoyed it.

I love the little girl in this picture. She doesn't care about the wedding hoopla. It is just too noisy.

Snoop Dog's spelling song. (It is actually called If I was You but I really like all the spelling.) He is just trying to teach you some things.

Shame SpiralS

Have you ever been in a shame spiral? A shame spiral is what happens when you are feeling bad about yourself. So bad that you can't exercise and must eat/drink wine and then continue to feel bad about yourself because you didn't exercise and ate and drank wine. The worst thing is that instead of the books that I should be reading (see the picture) I am back on watching "Weeds". It is the only thing that can bring me joy. I am in a shame spiral.

Question Time

So, I was doing some editing of my blog, you know the kind where you post something and notice a typo. Oops. I was starting to notice a lot of question asking in mine. Here is a new and important question: Am I turning into a Carrie Bradshaw wannabe? You know, "I couldn't help but wonder, does the apple really not fall far from the tree?" (I don't think that is really one but it is probably close.) or "I couldn't help but wonder, are we shoulding all over ourselves?" I actually liked that one because I totally do that. I continuously feel guilty for things I think that I ought to have done. It is exhausting.

So, I couldn't help but wonder, are all these questions annoying or do they speak to my scientific/introspective nature?

While I am asking questions is blogger not hip anymore? Should I find a new place to put my blog so more friends (and by friends I mean strangers) will read it? I heard Tumblr is where it is at.

Keeping a Low Profile

I was typing in a label for a recent post and one of the little autofill ideas the computer gave me was Bromance. That got me a little nostalgic for the days where I could watch MTV whenever I wanted and think about Brody Jenner and the lucky man who would be his new best friend. It got me wondering/missing him. What is he up to now?
The answer is a little disappointing. My investigative journalism skills uncovered him keeping a mostly low profile. It looks like he is surfing and hanging around with his lady friend Avril Lavigne. Not that exciting. Oh well, at least Audrina and her fam are going to have a new reality show. I have never been more thankful for the lack of cable.

Music in My Future

My music taste is something one might call eclectic. I listen to only top 40 and the college rap station in Spokane. Luckily the internet and some billboards have reminded me of other types of music I used to enjoy.

This billboard has recently replaced the Chippendale's billboard I had grown accustomed to seeing on my route home. I think the reason they took it down was because the show had been sold out for quite some time. There was a sold out sign placed on it after a a week, two tops. This made me want to a) sing end of the road and b) go to a concert. The tickets to this show were 50 dollars per person, too expensive.

Then I found out the Old 97s were playing in Spokane. These tickets were in my price range and despite the fact that it is a Tuesday/school night I am going to see them at the Bing Crosby theater. This genre of music is perfect for me. A little country, a little rock, a little acoustic guitar. I can't wait.

Once I started thinking about concerts and planning ahead I couldn't stop. I was thinking about how much fun Warren and I had a Sasquatch last year (even though we were the oldest people there.) I made Warren interested by telling him that Guided by Voices would be there. The tickets are already sold out for this years but I had a great time looking at the website which plays musical previews of bands and introduced me to Jenny and Johnny.

I truly love Rilo Kiley and also enjoy Jenny Lewis' solo/Watson Twins music. (Basically I just love Jenny Lewis.) I was so excited to find out that she was making music again. It has been about a year's worth of music but in my defense Warren is the person who would tell me about something like this and he has been kind of busy. I started listening to Jenny and Johnny and reading more about them. It looks like they have been around on Late Night tv (too late/no cable)) and Warren said "Oh yeah, I saw them. I just didn't think they were that good." Well, despite his opinion I like it.

Stay tuned. I am looking for an outdoor music opportunity. We will see.

My Crush

I went to a happy hour on Friday after work with some girl friends. We started talking about celebrities that may induce tears. (We were talking about the kind of celebrity you love so much you might cry if you happened upon them in your daily life.) Now everyone knows how I feel about Nick Lachey(We would just be great friends) but I don't know that I have a celeb that I would cry upon meeting, no Justin Beiber if you will.

I totally loved/still enjoy Dave Matthews but at the height of my love for him when I saw him in the Barnes and Noble in Seattle. I just followed him around and looked at him. I didn't have the guts to talk to him and I certainly didn't cry when I saw him. That is not what Seattle people do. We ignore our celebrities and that is why they like it there.

My current celebrity crush is Dax. I know he is not ruggedly handsome and seems kind of goofy but that is what I like about him. Warren knows/supports how much I love him. He even told me about an Adam Corolla podcast with him (I highly recommend both him and the Adam Corolla podcast).
Get to know Dax. Did you know?
He is on one of my current favorite tv shows, Parenthood. It usually can bring tears to my eyes, sappy I know but I like it.
He is a engaged to Kristen Bell ( I love her too!)
He is a motorcycle rider.
He got his start as, and I am quoting Wikipedia here, Ashton Kutcher's minion and a vomiter.

Who is your celeb crush?

Getting Political

The letter that I sent to my state reps, senator, and the governor. Will it do any good? Who knows but I tried my best (just like in Kindergarten) to do something. I sort of believe in the political process.

Here is the gist of my letter:

"I understand the realities of the state budget and know that some tough decisions must be made this year. As a teacher who is helping to support my husband as he goes back to school I would like to see the salary schedule remain unfrozen, the National Board stipend remain intact, and my healthcare benefits not be run by a more costly state run system because these things will make my life more difficult. But I am not choosing to write to you about those things today. I am choosing to write you about class size. If you want to do what is best for students then class size should be something that you fight to protect. I believe that a continued investment in education today will have long term payoff for all in the future because kids will be getting what they need and teachers will be able to help guide them towards success. I urge you to consider keeping class sizes low and at the top of the list of your priorities. Do not suspend I-728."


Washington state public education is in a dire situation. Write to your local representatives about education or about anything. I have gotten a few responses before.

The pessimist

This week was excruciatingly long and busy. After a particularly tough Monday at work I went up North to Babies R Us. This was a trip that I totally dreaded but a necessity for me as I had a baby shower to attend. On the way home I decided to treat myself to a Costplus World Market Trip ( I love that store.) After spotting some Adirondak chairs that I am keeping in mind for the summer and buying some cute cards, a teacup with built in diffuser, and a pretty orange trivet, I stumbled upon this. The Pessimist Cabernet Sauvignon seemed to fit my mood quite nicely. "Once opened and poured, the "half empty" sensation begins." I have this feeling that once I drink the bottle I can be a optimist again. I don't know about that but I am finally starting to feel like I am in less of a funk. This can be attributed to the happy hour I just enjoyed, girl scout cookies, sweats, wine and the fact that I did survive, even just barely, this week at school.

I Want This

I love the new LL Bean Signature Clothing. I love this shirt and about a hundred other things in this line.

A Blast From the Past

Did you ever read the Sweet Valley High books? They were an important part of my childhood and they are back. I read this article in the New York Times about the return of Jessica and Elizabeth in Sweet Valley Confidential and how they are all grown up. They are ingeniously marketing these books towards the 20/30 somethings who read them as kids. I don't usually like to read smut (yes, I said smut) but who doesn't want a chance to satisfy that childhood curiosity and see what happened to some of their favorite characters as they grew up. It sounds like there are some folks who are disappointed about the way the girls turned out. Whose life didn't turn out differently than they thought it would when they were 15 or 16? Mine certainly did. The real mind blowing detail in all of this is that while looking for a picture to put with this blog post I stumbled upon photos from a television show. I am sad that I didn't know about that when I was in high school. I might end up buying the book or checking it out from the library. That would definitely complete my trip down memory lane.

The end of the world as we know it

You may or may not know that Warren loves post-apocalyptic films and books. We spend a great deal of time together and I too have developed a love. I also like to think of it as research for prolonging my life after something bad happens. If you were wanting to gather skills and knowledge about living in a post-apocalyptic world. Here is a list to get you started. *Note: A few of these are as the apocalypse is going down but there are lessons to be learned none the less.

The Stand-Steven King mini-series- Lesson: plagues bring out the worst and best in people.

Blindness- Jose Saramago novel. I don't know that this counts but I have mentally filed it into this genre. This is really about the breakdown of society when things get bad. Lesson: Don't trust anyone!

Idiocracy- it seems dumb but it makes some valid points. I think of it quite a bit when I see people who are doing stupid things--the break down of society if you will. Lesson: Read Books now!

WallE- think about it people are too lazy to care or see what is happening. Lesson: We could be our own undoing (A lot of these have that as the lesson.)

Minority Report-Lesson: Don't hang with Tom Cruise. (I don't think that is really the lesson. I just don't like him.)

The Island-good looking clones to keep you alive forever. Yes! Lesson: Make lots of money to pay for the clones.

The Day After Tomorrow- Lesson: This is what happens when we don't take care of the environment

Children of Men- The book is better than the movie. Lesson: Make friends with a cabin/home off the beaten path.

I, Robot- Lesson: Be nice to your appliances

I am Legend - Lesson: What can I say? Will Smith gets it/Zombies are mean.

Planet of the Apes- an oldy but a goody. Lesson: Don't trust animals. Also, don't watch the Mark Wahlberg version ( I love him but don't kid yourself).

The Road- I think this was going to be/is a movie but I only read the book (kind of a bummer. that is really saying something for this genre)

Zombieland-comedic look at post apocalypse. Bill Murray is in it. Need I say more. Plenty of lessons to be had.

The Happening- this time Mark Wahlberg does get it (although he seems kind of funny to me when he is trying to be serious) Lesson: Plants are not to be trusted either.

The City of Ember and subsequent books- yes, these are children books but they are amazing none the less. Lesson: When faced with darkness don't wait to die. Go out and see what you can find. What do you have to lose? Also, kids are helpful in this area.

The next apocalypse movie that I will be reading: Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank

Reinvention

I have been thinking a lot about reinvention. What if you could change a lot of things in your life? or what if you had to make a major change in your life? Stupidly enough I have been thinking about it because I have been watching television shows that have gotten me to ponder this question. My Name is Earl, he was not a very good guy, he was in an accident and learned about Karma and now is trying to make right all the things that he did that were wrong. The show is silly but I think it is a neat idea. I also just started watching Samantha Who? She was in an accident and has amnesia. She was not a very nice person either and is now trying to change/learn things about herself. This one I think poses an interesting question: Do you like everything about yourself? If you forgot everything would you like what you learned? If you were going through a big life change would you see it as an opportunity to try again to make different choices? It really has me thinking about things in my own life. What would you change in yours?

Travel wish list

As of this August, Warren and I have begun to incur a large amount of debt and busyness making travel a nice diversion but not a very real possibility. If I could go anywhere in the world here is my current list of places to go.
Africa, Kenya to be specific

Paris, Italy, and Britain

Costa Rica

Seychelles

*I know that whining about this makes me sound like an ass. I was talking to someone about this and felt a little ill when I really heard what I sounded like. So forgive me. I know this is a rich person’s problem and am trying to keep this perspective.

The Song that I can't get out of my head (in a bad way)

I am sitting in Les Swab tires getting my snow tires removed, as the deadline is looming and yet it is still cold and snow still seems it may come, and listening to the radio. They have told me that I will have to wait for at least an hour and forty five minutes so I have plenty of time to think about my dislike of one particular song. I am sorry to say that the” I Was Born This Way,” Lady Gaga song is so annoying to me. There are number of things about it that bother me including the fact that each time I hear it I sing the words to Madonna’s Express Yourself and they fit perfectly. Perhaps it is an homage to Madonna and that would please me more. It also is one of those songs that is on all the time now and is easily stuck in your head because of the pulsing and repetitive nature of the music style. I can’t help but think that this is clearly pandering to her audience. I mean, I can appreciate that she really feels that way and she wants every to feel proud and acceptant of our unique differences but is this surprising that she feels that way? Not in the least. (I also don’t want it to seem that I feel or think counter to this. I feel that way too.) I think if Toby Keith was singing this song it would be much more powerful and shocking (and probably not well received by his typical fans). As a student of the protest/political songs of the past ( I wrote a culminating paper about this senior year of high school and got into Mount Holyoke because of it. Clearly I didn’t go.) I can appreciate how music can have a profound influence on social consciousness. I just do not like this song. I will just hold my breath and wait for the country music remake.

Wedding to Watch

I am getting excited about the upcoming nuptials of Kate and William. I know it will be on very early in the morning and am wondering if it would be appropriate for me to wake up and enjoy some Champagne as I watch/stay home from school that day to celebrate. Does that sound silly or ingenious? You be the judge.

An Ode to Seattle

I miss you Seattle. I was able to travel across the state very briefly to kick off my Spring Break. Although the weather was quite rainy, gray and dull, I can’t help but miss my home. Spokane is getting it done. I mean there are restaurants and shopping but nothing can compare with the place where I spent my late teens and twenties. It doesn't help that my closest friends live there to make me miss it even more. Until next time my old friend, I will be missing you and wishing to be home.

Don't miss your chance to dance

So perhaps it is the conspiracy theorist in me, or that I have been listening to the radio more, but I am really noticing a sort of dark/ominous theme in the hits. I rather enjoy both of these songs but I get a little freaked out when I am being told that I should enjoy this dance because it could be my last. Although I will admit that it does make me want to dance a little harder. So maybe it just means that you never know what will happen and that you should dance while you can.

Usher-DJ Got Us Falling in Love Again
"Let's dance like it's the last night of your life"

Britney Spears-Till the World Ends

"Keep on dancing till the world ends"

I have really been enjoying finding things on youtube to add to my posts. I find that the medium is a little more interactive and gets my point across that much more quickly. I think I got the inspiration from a new blog that I am following called moveon.org. (thank you Ian) It is definitely a liberal place but I find at least two or three interesting things on there each time I check it out. They are absolutely pro teacher and I really like that.

But I wanted to go to the prom

So I was all excited to go to the law school prom. Unfortunately for me it is the same weekend that I have already made plans to return to Seattle for a fun filled birthday weekend (the big 3-0) for a friend. Sadly, I will just have to wait for next year's prom. I am pretty sure this clip (my favorite part from the movie Footloose) is exactly the type of hi jinx I will be missing out on. (Although I know my husband breathed a sigh of relief at not having to attend. He didn't even know it was going on, at least that is the story he is sticking to. Thank God the law school wives are on top of the school social calendar) Oh well, I will have a full year to look for a dress for Prom and to ponder the question; why does law school have a prom in the first place?

P.S. How can you not absolutely adore Footloose. They just want to dance... and when they do it is amazing. I have always had a special place in my heart for Kevin Bacon and this is why.

Super Off Task

I am in high procrastination mode since report cards are due on Thursday of this week and I have them most of but not all of the way done. I have to say that I am very excited to have an almost understanding of the new report card system but I am sick of working on them and don't want to do it anymore. I also wish that I could look this put together ever, especially when I am sitting at my desk.

Joy List

I made this list the other day when I was feeling blue. The health and wellness letter from my job suggested this as a way to improve my quality of life. These are some things that make me happy. I feel a little like Oprah if only you could find these in a bag under your seat.

Aveda hand relief

Aveda tea

That light feeling you get when you just got your hair cut (I just got a haircut. I cut off 10 inches and will be sending that hair to locks of love. Yay!)

A glass of wine - cab sav.

Arrested Development

30 Rock

Trying a new recipe-even if it doesn't turn out quite as well as I would have liked at least I tried.

Finishing a book - I will finish you Freedom. I finished the Bridge and I will finish you too.

Freshly painted nails -even better if someone else does it and not me but either way.

Finishing (not starting) a good work out - I could add just showing up at the gym.

Crossing something off of a to-do list

Laughing

A new (rap) song--with crazy slang that I have never heard of before - my current favorites are the bumble bee songs and the new Mike Posner (RandB? not rap) Bow Chicka Wow Wow. It makes me laugh just thinking about it.

Long weekends

Dancing without judgment-Such a rare occurrence for me unless it is me and Wii. I haven't found occasion to go out dancing lately.

Buying a great new stylish clothing item- lately it has been a discounted and stylish item

A clean house-even if I was the one who did all the cleaning. It is a great sense of accomplishment that I feel.

Arriving to your vacation destination - recently watched a video I made on our flip cam when we arrived in Hawaii and I sounded drunk I was so giddy from the excitement

Counting down to something fun or exciting- currently counting down to 1)Spring Break and celebrating Clare's 30th bday in Seattle. I am coming home! 2)Sorority IRD which I will be attending in Pullman with my mom. (Am I nerd or what). 3)Lacey and Kristin visiting in April.

A really good margarita and a designated driver

Restaurant chips and salsa

Not sitting in traffic or paying tolls - when I leave school it takes me 10-15 minutes tops to get home no matter when I leave. It is amazing and a perk of Spokane.

Recipe Websites I have been enjoying and learning from

I check these out almost every day in my Google reader (thank you Robbie for teaching me how).
Big Girls Small Kitchen I will say that is probably not what I would have named my own blog as it conjures images of heavy girls and fattening recipes (at least to me). However, I love the way that the recipes can be searched and am looking forward to trying a lot of the recipes. They have released a cookbook which can be ordered now. One (or both) of these ladies is friends with Robbie from College.

Keep it Skinny I love all the recipes that I have tried on this website and enjoy the pictures. Thank you to Michelle for sharing her sisters blog with me. I read it almost every day now.

Williams and Sonoma Warren has been mocking me because every time I come back from a cooking class I have bought some new little thing. It is easy to do because they use their products (which are pretty great) and they give a 10% discount after class. However, the website has a lot of great recipes and ideas.