Faction

Fact? Fiction? Funny, as I "grow up" the lines become less and less clear. More and more things are becoming "faction" as Candace, the editor of my favorite podcast "Stuff You Missed in History Class", says.
Faction came to me most apparently when I read the book "Mennonite in a Little Black Dress." Many members of my larger area church community were in an uproar. "That's not how things went." said many. Even to the point of a semi rebutle book being published called "Mennonite in Blue Jeans."


After moms death and many of the events that followed, I found my self in the middle of more faction than I knew existed. On mans truth was another mans fiction. In some cases no amounts of counseling would have two parties see eye to eye.
These two events left an interesting mark. Just a few weeks ago, I bought the book "The 19th Wife." How could it not be interesting? Thing is. It's told from her exiled sons perspective. Hmm. Not so arbitrary. Its on pause right now.
But really, can anything but math be arbitrary? I so often like to think of books nicely wrapping up stories of fact, when really, it's matter if the authors presentation.
The other day my history methods professor showed us excerpts from textbooks of different places and times on the Civil War. (right up my alley as the reenactment is this weekend!!!!!) Anyway, as you can imagine the textbook General Lee's daughter wrote shortly after the civil war differs a bit from the CA text of modern day. Even Canadian and Mexican texts had different renditions. All about the same event.
Alas, I am waging an interesting battle in my head regarding what I know, what I thought I knew, and what I will be learning.

Ps. Baby blanket done! Finished in my all day science refresher.


And for my friends Jill and Lucy:


I FINALLY found a flower pattern that seemed right. You'd be amazed at how many are out there. This one is from a youTube video by a lady named Teresa.


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Celebration and Sympathy

In one of my classes I help in, the kids get celebrations for doing good or extra work. Mine is a good and extra celebration: I passed one of my two CSET tests. The other I missed by not toooo many points and I'm feeling ok with that because 1.) I woke up and got there and 2.) I thought I bombed them both. Time to study study study!
Now for Sympathy. I have lots of it for kids with ear issues or sinus issues that cause ear issues. I had three sets of tubes before I turned 5. What felt like 20 ear infections a year. The "pink stuff" was always in our fridge. 1 ruptured eardrum. 4 ear nose and throat specialists. 1 useful specialist. Etc. For reasons I now better understand they would always get worse at night. I have vivid memories of mom sitting with me, rubbing my hair and helping me fall asleep before the next morning Dr Appt. Sometimes we'd try heat packs, others a cool washcloth but really, not much helps the bad ones. Even once you have meds you still have to play the waiting game. Oooh and the waiting just stinks. If I talk, it's loud in my head, if people talk to me, or I try to watch something I can't hear. You just can't win. Anyway, though Ive gotten much more preventative I had early sign symptoms today. Regardless of my past, and familiarity with procedures and OTC meds my NP still wanted me to wait for "real meds." (totally get the push to stop over prescribing) but it was like maybe she thought it would blow over and all would be good in a few days. And maybe she's right I thought as I walked away.
I entered my class building.
Wait a minute, my ears are bugging me!! This business can be keeping me in pain and awake come 10 pm when they're closed. And then I wouldn't get drugs til the next afternoon.

I turned right around ( more or less) and marched back to the school clinic and pharmacy. I can't wait. I might heal on my own but that is not a risk I'm willing to take. I want to do EVERYTHING possible to get better and not have hurty ears/throat. I am not a martyr. I am not tough. Give me meds


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Monkeying Around

So there's a chance I may have over extended myself just a bit this weekend. I did, however enjoy it all, (minus the resulting almost sickness Sunday.) Thank goodness today was a furlough day. I still feel behind, but at least I got to sleep in. Tuesday mourning (spelled that way on purpose) will be painful.
Some more highlights from my weekend:


Jenny, Jay and I crashed Tyler's birthday party. We were the biggest kids there, take that however you want. Of course I got him Lego guys, but I stopped by my favorite bookstore Petunia's Place for some books that might go with the Lego guys. I ha totally forgotten about the special book signing that day. A local author with a story about a local zoo monkey it's zookeepers!

Perfect I tell you!

And they gift wrap!

That night Jay and I made baked apples.

Yummy! So good! They were practically applesauce when we took them out of the oven!


Jay took apart his pommagranites while he, Tanya and I watched A Walk to Remember.


That movie definitely takes me on a walk down memory lane to be sure. It takes me to a day of girls singing along to sound track CDs, walking to the movie theater several times to see that movie wAaaay more than once. It reminds me of our early co-Ed movie adventures. Boys in one row, girls in another and boys snickering behind us during the cry parts and throwing popcorn. So. Lame. And...sigh..Super duper Shane West crushes. Oh yah and movie quotes on my binder...ok...that's enough. Tomorrow I have a mid semester meeting with my master teacher and supervisor as well as an observation of a meeting. Busy day.
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Feeling Blue...but not how you think

Because I got a blue ribbon at the fair for my French Kiss quilt!!!
See here I am, pointing to my blue ribbon!


Here it is up close and personal. Only not so personal it's focused.


Here it is hanging in it's spot right inside the door!


I am pretty pleased as punch! With a touch of proud! Ok more than a touch.
And guess what!? Aunt Maggie came out with a red ribbon for her quilt (in the advanced category)


And a blue ribbon for her apron. Ok it's been gifted to Tanya but Aunt Maggie made it.


And folks, my roomie cousin Tanya took a white ribbon for her first, and giant not yellow yellow brick road quilt!!! All us alls who were entering quilts to make the show bigger and exciting not worrying about ribbons got ribbons!!! Boo yah! I'm stoked!
Jay took the bus/train in from Cal Poly and Jenny drove down from Sacramento just to come to the fair with me! It was a really special day!


We checked out produce.


Ate garlic fries, corn dogs and cotton candy.


We looked at fine art, shout out to Keith Hartman photography for a blue ribbon! Loved this griffin out front!


I resisted all urges to bring home an animal, from SPCA cats and dogs to baby pigs.


We also watched some very interesting steer(boy cows un boyed) exhibitions/showings. Sorry folks still learning the lingo.


On the way home Jay and Jenny helped me pick out some new Lego minifigs...because T's bday is tomorrow. But then they all turned out to be new ones. So I might have to go back tomorrow.


Wrap it all up with chili with Tanya and a movie! What a great day we had!
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My Take On The Rain

Yesterday was T's fer reals birthday. He was getting donuts to take to his class.


So I joined them for breakfast of my own.


T's minifigure tried to attack my maple donut. I told him I beat him to the bite.


Also, I wore my cowboy boot rain-boots. I'm not gonna lie, they were kiiiiind of a hit.


I liked em too.
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Wearable...legos?

These just in! Lego jewelry! In one of my schools colors.



By www.wear-bricks.com also on ETSY!
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Not Your Call Girl

Lately Ive been making more of an effort to look like a grown up. I think the Birkenstocks help. I've also been accessorizing.
See below, grown up beady necklace.


Yep I'm totally taking that picture in the car. That black thing above my forehead is my steering wheel. The phone is by the speedometer. In the car is when I remembered. Its also my primary in between time ie when I return calls(with my ear piece) and text messages (before departure and upon arrival.) When I got to my car after student teaching I had like 15 notifications. Unfortunately you all got put on the back burner and I called Luke. I have been MISS-ing him. A lot. After 3 more weekends I will be going to see him! But until then I will probably call...and text him first.
I talked to him while I was at Costco buying a rotisserie chicken, ground beef shrimp and a hot dog. I have been craving meat. I'm pretty sure I ate 1/3 of the chicken right after the hot dog. Just call me J-rex.
Lastly, if you're in the Fresno area you should go to the fair (starts the 5th) and see the quilt I entered. Aunt Maggie and Tanya entered quilts too. Hint for finding it, blue, green, white diamonds.
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Minifigure Mania

So remember my new appreciation for legos? Well my buddy Jon has one too and his sister has our backs so on our regular hang put night we went on a mini figure hunt. These guys come concealed in a package and work sort of like trading cards. Anyway, we got to Target and where they were supposed to be there was this tiny little girl standing there with the last 3 packs in her hands. Agh! She was so sweet and offered us one. The sales man who was apparently watching the curious scenario graciously offered to retrieve more from the back. He brought us a cart full of mini figures and didn't object to us totally manhandling each package(in hopes of feeling out of favorites) in exchange for us putting the ones we didn't want on the display hooks.
I wish I'd had a picture or video of the scene but I was definitely in the middle of it so no such luck. Once we'd made our best guesses, and payed for our prizes we headed across the parking lot for frozen yogurt and to survey our loot.


Real life person: Jon
Minifigs from l-r: Viking, Dino, woodsman, zoo keeper, short clown, British soldier, Egyptian, Egyptian, soldier, gladiator, gladiator, Sherlock Holmes.


Me with the zoo keeper and Nikki with the Egyptian princess.

Once we'd surveyed the scene and checked off the "guys" we had we opted to make one last try for the classic gangster and the boxer. We had gangster success.


I had such a fun adventure with Jon and Nikki! Who knew Legos could be this exciting?!
Also, I'd like to show off my productivity from sitting/listening moments this weekend:
A cotton chemotherapy patient hat. Warmth for cold chemotherapy room, breathability for clammy side effect. Boston Red Sox colors for a fan.



A copy cat granny square blanket. Tanya gets full credit for this one as she started her version with colors I copied and she found the tutorial and she helped me get started! Thanks Tan!



Also, I saw these lamps at Target. They match that blanket. Our shower curtain, our duvet cover, my Fresno bedspread, CSprings rug...can we get a set Luke?


I like any of the shapes!


Nikki says these ones look like nail polish. Maybe that's why I noticed them first?


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Supply Me to the Moon

Ok week recap:
Test Tuesday, project due Wednesday, Thursday: lesson presentation to history majors who definitely intimidate me by the vast amount more than me that they know and a paper on a book I definitely didn't start before quilt camp and maybe didn't start before Wednesday night. Good news: there's a kindle ap for iPhone which meant I didn't have to add a hard cover book to my load. On Friday I subbed and today I had an 8 hour workshop to prep me for my single subject science tests that I may or may not have to take again. Still waiting on results.

Things I learned:
As cute as ruffle leggings with overall shorts are...don't send little ones to school in them. Apparently it makes frequent trips to the bathroom take even longer. I seriously would never have put two and two together.

Some baristas truly know what I mean by "a lot of caramel on the bottom and a lot of caramel on the top."


Heeeeey maybe that's why I was shaky before and after my presentation.
Meet the most bomb diggity hole punch. Lots of layers, minimal effort. It was beautiful.


Someday I will own one of those and one of these bad boys. I call it dreamy.


It's a Paper Pro 25 sheet stapler with staple gun technology. I'm pretty sure every teacher needs one. Need ideas for teacher Christmas? Look no further. I'm telling you folks it's dreamy and they're for sure not paying me to say it or I would have bought one already.
More dreamy: brand new box of crayons!!! I busted it out for some idiom posters we were making.


Mine was:"I'm in over my head." it was as if someone was trying to give me a hint.
A hint just before my faaaaabulous planner arrived! Look who is on the cover! It's me! And my hottie hubby Luke Luke. Isn't he the cutest? It's the eye sparkle. Gets me every time. I'm loving doing something monotonous and then getting out my planner and there he is! Swoon.


More swoon, check out the inside of this planner! One in every color tabs, cute font, month view and week view,



Inspirational messages


Quotes


Stickers-blank and pretyped



A folder and a pocket


And bonus! Taggy sticky labels with one in every colorness!


Dreamy eh?!


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