Puppy
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Last Saturday Kristie was out for a walk with Ricky and found a stray puppy. He is a pit bull mix and is, frankly, adorable. We never had the intention of keeping him -- five animals in the house seems a bit too "Dr. Doolittle" do me. We named him Toby (after a song on the Juno soundtrack that says, "And I never met a Toby that I didn't like.").
Sunday night Kristie and I hung out and watched the Oscars at an emergency animal clinic with Toby -- he had ticks in his toes and ears and had a bad case of some worms in his tummy. This did not start my week out right.
Then, a girl from church was going to take him on Monday night at 9:30, but never showed up, and wouldn't answer my call. Awesome. Needless to say, she and her family didn't want him.
My brother came to visit (see update in next section) and he and Erin said they would take him. We were trying to figure out some system to get him home to Ohio. They ended up calling to make sure that they could have a pit bull in their apartment complex. Turns out you can't have a pit bull anywhere in Westlake. Sigh.
Long story short, there's a guy at work where Nanette's boyfriend Michael works who wants him. Toby will leave us tomorrow morning. Which is actually quite sad. We've become attached to him -- he's so adorable. And really, if Kristie or I had more time on our hands, we'd keep him. That, and if Nanette wasn't repulsed by him. It's sad that the only person in the house who has enough time on their hands to train him is the person with the least amount of patience for this poor little guy. Michael assures us that he will be going to a good home.
Sunday night Kristie and I hung out and watched the Oscars at an emergency animal clinic with Toby -- he had ticks in his toes and ears and had a bad case of some worms in his tummy. This did not start my week out right.
Then, a girl from church was going to take him on Monday night at 9:30, but never showed up, and wouldn't answer my call. Awesome. Needless to say, she and her family didn't want him.
My brother came to visit (see update in next section) and he and Erin said they would take him. We were trying to figure out some system to get him home to Ohio. They ended up calling to make sure that they could have a pit bull in their apartment complex. Turns out you can't have a pit bull anywhere in Westlake. Sigh.
Long story short, there's a guy at work where Nanette's boyfriend Michael works who wants him. Toby will leave us tomorrow morning. Which is actually quite sad. We've become attached to him -- he's so adorable. And really, if Kristie or I had more time on our hands, we'd keep him. That, and if Nanette wasn't repulsed by him. It's sad that the only person in the house who has enough time on their hands to train him is the person with the least amount of patience for this poor little guy. Michael assures us that he will be going to a good home.
Brandon
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On Tuesday and Wednesday my brother Brandon and his girlfriend, Erin were out here visiting. Well, they weren't just visiting me, they're on a 3 week road trip, and I happened to be one of the stops along the way! Having him here made me really homesick. It was so fun to hang out and talk and joke around -- because that's what we do at home. [This is not to say I didn't enjoy my time with my Dad -- I did, it's just that Dad didn't stay with me, Brandon did.]
Tuesday we went out to eat at one of my favorite local Mexican places. I was lucky enough to only have a half day on Wednesday (see post below about AIMS) so I could stay up and chat for a bit. After work on Wednesday Brandon and Erin met me at my school, we dined at In-n-Out for lunch, and then walked around downtown Phoenix for a bit. Both of them wanted to rest up for their big day on Thursday (hiking down the Grand Canyon .. eep!). I cooked a big bowl of pasta (at their request for a big carb load before said hike) and they left at about 7pm to drive to Northern Arizona. Just thinking about them here makes me really sad, and want to be home. (Which I will be in a mere 17 days!)
Tuesday we went out to eat at one of my favorite local Mexican places. I was lucky enough to only have a half day on Wednesday (see post below about AIMS) so I could stay up and chat for a bit. After work on Wednesday Brandon and Erin met me at my school, we dined at In-n-Out for lunch, and then walked around downtown Phoenix for a bit. Both of them wanted to rest up for their big day on Thursday (hiking down the Grand Canyon .. eep!). I cooked a big bowl of pasta (at their request for a big carb load before said hike) and they left at about 7pm to drive to Northern Arizona. Just thinking about them here makes me really sad, and want to be home. (Which I will be in a mere 17 days!)
AIMS
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Because of No Child Left Behind, each state must administer a state proficiency test. Ohio's is called the OGT, Arizona's the AIMS. AIMS reading and writing were Tuesday and Wednesday, hence the half days. Only sophomores and upper classmen who still need to pass AIMS take the test, but the freshman take their district English assessment. It's an expository essay that they have 6 hours to write it in. I was compltely and totally stressed out about this ordeal. I lost sleep over it, and my schedule was all out of whack because of the half days.
I now have the task of grading all of these putrid essays. Joy.
I now have the task of grading all of these putrid essays. Joy.
Camera
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On Wednesday when I was out with Brandon and Erin I was snapping some pictures, and all of a sudden my camera pooped out. I'm really miffed because I only got it in July (!@#?!). So the pathetic lack of pictures is due to no camera.
I'm in the process of looking for a new one. Incidentally, I had told myself that if I got a decent tax return back that I would use the money to buy a digital SLR camera (a really good one). Well, after doing some research I've decided to look into a dSLR-like camera. It's still a point an shoot, but a bit more advanced.
Michael, Nanette's boyfriend is a photographer and reporter for our local newspaper, and he's coming over tomorrow morning so we can "talk cameras." I have it narrowed down to two, and unless Michael tells me it's a total piece of poop, I'm probably going with the Canon PowerShot S3:
I don't really know much about photography, but I sure do like it. I'm going to be asking Michael for some lessons -- I'm really stoked!
I'm in the process of looking for a new one. Incidentally, I had told myself that if I got a decent tax return back that I would use the money to buy a digital SLR camera (a really good one). Well, after doing some research I've decided to look into a dSLR-like camera. It's still a point an shoot, but a bit more advanced.
Michael, Nanette's boyfriend is a photographer and reporter for our local newspaper, and he's coming over tomorrow morning so we can "talk cameras." I have it narrowed down to two, and unless Michael tells me it's a total piece of poop, I'm probably going with the Canon PowerShot S3:
I don't really know much about photography, but I sure do like it. I'm going to be asking Michael for some lessons -- I'm really stoked!Weather
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I realize I'm stepping on some slippery ground here when I talk about the weather. As I understand, it's freezing and snowing back in Ohio (so much so that there was no school 2 days last week). Well, here in Arizona, it's freaking summer. It's been in the 80s for the past week, and it's really strange. Frankly, it's messing with my internal clock.
To me, this type of weather occurs when school is letting out, so my body doesn't want to sleep. I feel perpetually restless and tired all of the time. I know it's because I'm completely sleep deprived (that puppy is like a freaking kid!) and feeling strangely emotional.
Some people get cyclical depression from the lack of sun, but really, I feel depressed because of all the damn sun. I'm the most happy on cloudy overcast days. Strange.
To me, this type of weather occurs when school is letting out, so my body doesn't want to sleep. I feel perpetually restless and tired all of the time. I know it's because I'm completely sleep deprived (that puppy is like a freaking kid!) and feeling strangely emotional.
Some people get cyclical depression from the lack of sun, but really, I feel depressed because of all the damn sun. I'm the most happy on cloudy overcast days. Strange.
Pandora
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Ok, I'm a few millennia behind the rest of the world technologically. I'm sure you all have discovered Pandora, but I just did and I absolutely LOVE it!
For those of you who are in the dark, like I was, it's an online radio station where you put in a song or an artist that you like and it finds other music that it similar to it. So you're listening to music that you like to listen to, and you find new artists to listen to! It's great!
Only down side, my stupid firewall at work won't allow me to listen. Alas.
For those of you who are in the dark, like I was, it's an online radio station where you put in a song or an artist that you like and it finds other music that it similar to it. So you're listening to music that you like to listen to, and you find new artists to listen to! It's great!
Only down side, my stupid firewall at work won't allow me to listen. Alas.
Books
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I've just picked up a few books I'm really exited about. First, I'm in charge of our church's book club. This is our first month underway (I just made the invites) and I've chosen Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.
As I'm sure you all have, I read it when I was in middle school. I remember liking it, and wanted to read it again. I also figured it's super inexpensive, super easy to find and can be picked up at the library.
The second book I just got is called What is the What by Dave Eggers. Eggers has edited a series of anthologies called "The Best Non-Required Reading" that I really enjoy (it's a bunch of essays, magazine articles, etc. that all people should read, but probably don't. It's great for the kids to read at school). Anyway, What is the What is the story of one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. I don't know much about the events going on in Sudan, so I won't pretend that I do, but it's really interesting so far. I have some students from Ethiopia, which boarders Sudan and was a refuge for some of the Sudanese. It's helped me to see outside of myself and our silly little country. Because really, there's more out there if you just open your eyes.
As I'm sure you all have, I read it when I was in middle school. I remember liking it, and wanted to read it again. I also figured it's super inexpensive, super easy to find and can be picked up at the library.
The second book I just got is called What is the What by Dave Eggers. Eggers has edited a series of anthologies called "The Best Non-Required Reading" that I really enjoy (it's a bunch of essays, magazine articles, etc. that all people should read, but probably don't. It's great for the kids to read at school). Anyway, What is the What is the story of one of the "Lost Boys" of Sudan. I don't know much about the events going on in Sudan, so I won't pretend that I do, but it's really interesting so far. I have some students from Ethiopia, which boarders Sudan and was a refuge for some of the Sudanese. It's helped me to see outside of myself and our silly little country. Because really, there's more out there if you just open your eyes.
Craft-a-rific
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I've been really crafty lately. I'd post these items but can't for two reasons: 1) no camera [see above] and 2) some people who read this may or may not be recipients of said projects.
It's a nice outlet for me. When these people receive their gifts, then perhaps I'll post pictures of them.
thanks for bearing with me. I'm just in a funk, and this was really quite rambly..
It's a nice outlet for me. When these people receive their gifts, then perhaps I'll post pictures of them.
thanks for bearing with me. I'm just in a funk, and this was really quite rambly..
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