So annoyed

1. One of my students went out of the country this week and will be dropped from my class due to the length of time she will be absent. Is it really necessary to take your child out for that long? I understand the circumstances, but I don't think that warrants over a month-long stay! Now I may get a new student.

2. Rumor has it that one of my other students is moving this weekend and no one had bothered to inform me. If this rumor is true I will be getting ANOTHER new student.

3. I just noticed that my chronically late student lives on the very street that this school is on. And why is he always late?

Parents suck sometimes.......

Registering

We spent this weekend registering at Crate and Barrel Bed, Bath, and Beyond. As fun as it was picking items that I've always wanted it was exhausting! We clocked in 5 hours yesterday and 2 hours today. We still have Macy's left! There's so much thought that needs to be put into choosing the right cookware, knives, plates, etc. We have some comments about each locations so far.



Crate Barrel:

Wonderful stemware selection. The wall 'o stemware goes on forever! Not too many choices in kitchenware. Registry experience was ok. The scanner was small and easy to use. The sales associate were non-existent. Not too personable.



BB /> Large selection of dinnerware, kitchenware, bedding, and cookware. The scanner looked ancient. My hand actually got tired from holding it! It was so big and bulky. Scanning was a whole lot harder with that mofo. That was the only drawback. Customer service was EXCELLENT. They sat us down to fill out this info sheet, offered us beverages, had nice small talk with us. Even when we were roaming the aisles and had questions the associates were very friendly and knowledgeable. One of the managers even came up and introduced himself to us and called us by our names. Very impressive!



We'll have to wait and see how Macy's does!



Overall, I enjoyed it IMMENSELY. I mean, when will we ever get to do this again?

(students are putting something away in their backpacks)

Student #1: My mom's going to be mad at you.

Student #2: No, my mom's going to be mad at you.

(Repeat conversation at least 3 times)

Teacher: If you don't stop talking I'M going to be mad at you!

I hate it when it affects me!

I can't stand your disorganization. I'm not perfect, I'm not anal (like some ppl, heheheh) but I like a bit of order and control. I try to ignore your constant mess. I try to just step over the piles of "whatevers." When I stupidly place a personal item like a pen in a "common" area and it mysteriously disappears I cope with it. When I discover my stapler from my desk next to your FIVE staplers I quietly return it to my desk. BUT, when my assessment record sheet goes missing because you decided to scoop up anything and everything that was on the "common" table and throw it in your pile of mess that PISSES ME OFF!

THE meeting

The in-laws met for the first time last night. Over a 9 (yes, 9!!) course dinner prepared by my mom Ray and I were relieved to see that there wasn't going to be any problems. Whew!

Scraping the bottom of the barrel

So I'm sittin' on my porch swing eatin' my yogurt. You know, the one with the fruit on the bottom? I'm enjoying the creaminess of the yogurt and the benefits of it. I get to the bottom of the yogurt cup and look wistfully at the remanants. I ask myself, "Is there enough goodness left for me to enjoy? Should I continue scraping the bottom?" And then I realized that I got all I could out of that yogurt cup. Unfortunately the yogurt cup didn't provide me with the endless fulfillment that I thought I would get out of it. So I have to face the fact that it needs to be recycled.

The inconvenient truth

If you could live anywhere else outside of the U.S. where would you go?

So much to do, so much to drink

Wednesday night:
Drove down to L.A. Arrived approx. 11 p.m. at the Old Historic Mayfair Hotel.

Thursday:
Had brunch at Cassell's Burgers off of Wilshire. They're very well known in L.A. Price is decent. You get to put your own condiments, lettuce and stuff. Pretty good. Not sure what factors to consider to decide if it's the "best." Went off to Burbank to watch a taping of Jay Leno. It was fun but VERY cold! I don't know why studios are so cold. Had dinner with Cristol and Joe in Monterey Park. Had some yummy korean food and excellent cream puffs at Beard Papa. Benji is so adorable.

Friday:
Checked out of the hotel. Hotel evaluation: not very good. Size of room didn't matter too much but I felt like a giant in the shower, the temp. of water in shower was very fickle, pillows were small and somewhat flat, and parking SUCKED ASS. I would NOT recommend that hotel no matter what deal you get.
Headed to Buena Park to go to Knott's Berry Farm. Had their famous fried chicken. Once again, don't know what factors would go into deciding why it's so famous. How do you decide what is the "best" or makes something famous? Knott's Berry was ok. Since it was a Fri. it was pretty dead which got us through the ride lines quick. But, that also meant that a lot of rides, restaurants, and shops were closed.
After a half-day of somewhat fun at Knott's we headed to My-Anh's place in San Marcos. Had dinner with her and Marco at Joe's Crab Shack. I had a Crab Shack sig. drink and tequila sunrise. We were planning to go bowl but there was a frickin' line that went outside the bowling alley. Craaaazy! We ended up going home, drinking some more, and watching TV.

Saturday:
Went w/ My-Anh to work at a retail store. Had a lot of fun shopping there. GREAT place! We went to see Night at the Museum. Funny movie! Got back to the apt. around 3:30. Left at 4:30 to go up to L.A. for the Clipper's game. Ray and Marco watched the game while My-Anh and I stayed in the restaurant at the lower level of the Staples Center and reminisced. Had 4 martinis and a tequila drink Marco mixed for me at his parent's house. I felt ill.

Sunday:
Headed down to S.D. to have brunch w/ Marjorie and Freddie. It was good seeing her after not seeing each other for about 6 years. Afterwards Ray and I went to Seaport Village. Really quite area with shops and restaurants by the water. Lots of musical entertainment in the different courtyards. Ended our S.D. day at the historical musuem. Saw "Inconvenient Truth."

Monday:
Heading home.

Is it wrong for your student's homework to smell like cigarette smoke? naaaaasty!

Surprise!

Yesterday Liz and I threw a surprise bday for Ray's 30th. It was held at Cicero's Pizza. Many friends and family were present. Boy was he surprised! We had lots of yummy thin-crusted pizza and a "harley" cake. Thanks to everyone who took the time to come out and celebrate this big day with him....even though his actual birthday is at the end of the month!

Are my events and activities second-rate? Do people find them dull and pointless? Have I toiled and labored over the many events I host only to have people see it as "something to do if there's nothing better that comes along?" If not, then why am I being treated as a second-rate person?

Mazel Tov!

That's what I gleefully shouted (as much as possible) at my very first Jewish wedding. Jess and Dan tied the knot on New Year's Eve on Walker Creek Ranch in Marshall, CA. Although the trip up to the ranch was quite an adventure and a bit stressful the day ended in a way that only Jess and Dan could create.



The evening began with the men and women separated as they did their own traditional activities with the bride and groom. For the men's side Dan had to read a passage and the other men had to try and distract him. According to Ray there were a lot of 80's songs being sung! For the women's side we were to whisper a wish into Jess's ear in hopes that it will go up to the heavens After that the men joined us and they read from another passage and had the marriage license signed.



The wedding continued in the barn (yes, barn) nearby. The inside of the barn was strung with lights and had a few lanterns here and there. Family members brought in the chuppa and the ceremony began. There was a lot of singing, crying (from Dan and a bit from Jess), and just a bunch of merriment.



Once the chuppa had ended we then proceeded to the dining hall for appetizers and dinner. I do have to say that this ain't no asian wedding! They immediately began dancing and only stopped for dinner before they continued again! It was the liveliest wedding reception I've ever been to. We dined on couscous, roasted veggies, and really good salmon. We ended the meal with baklava, chocolate fondue, and a spicy/cinnamon cake.



Since it was NY's Eve we opted to reserve a room there so we could be a part of the countdown. The ranch is really beautiful and peaceful. They had dorm-like rooms as well as more private rooms nearby. Ray and I chose to pay a bit more to have the private rooms, which was way better. We had actual beds (not bunk), towels, and just ourselves in the room.



Guests that were present were Marie, Winnie, Derek, and Stephanie. It was good to see Stephanie and to finally meet her son, Bento. He's so adorable! We had a lot of fun. On New Year's Day, Marie, Winnie, Derek, Ray, and I walked around the ranch a bit and had lunch at a little market off of Tomales Bay before going our separate ways.