Indianapolis

This is what a trip for me looks like in one week:


















This is the first time something like this happened, but I ended up canceling my journey to Albany due to unpredictable severe weather (which was good because they ended up missing 20% of their student population and it was hectic) so I stayed in Indianapolis instead.  I was planning on doing a turnaround and coming back to Indy tomorrow so that part is the same.

You can see that tomorrow I will be in Louisville, KY--an old college roomie lives there and I am going to hang out with her and then go to church on Sunday with her family so it will feel like a sort of normal Sunday and then head back to Indy to finish up the week through Friday.

I miss my family so please take care of them while I am gone.  Huge thanks to Katie for stealing Megs away for the mornings so Steve can read.

We Love LA

On our recent trip to Disney we saw this at the gas station off of
Hollywood and Vine.

Only in LA.

¡Mil gracias!!

Disneyland Squared

Dessert Contest Final Four tonight at 7.  Be there or be sad for yourself...

So my kids went to Disneyland for the first time in their lives last Wednesday.  They went for the second time on Thursday.

Why would someone so conscientious about education take her children out of school to go to an amusement park midweek, two times within a week?

Two visitors from out of state, two weeks in a row.  How could I turn down the opportunity to use our pass again so quickly, especially when Steve's brother was coming with their family "the cousins" who are my kids age-aligned, bfff cousins? 

So we surprised the kids and pretended like they were going to school and then just... kept on driving.  I thought it was going to be an awesome surprise but when we passed the school exit no one noticed.  Finally, 20 minutes later Casey says... "wait, where are we going?" I told him we were already late for school so why not just keep on going?

Then they said "oh are we going to LA to see the cousins?"

Yep.

No excitement.

Two hours later I pull of the freeway at Disneyland and Bridget sees the Disneyland Dr. sign and says "weird, who is Disneyland Doctor?"

Finally, we pull into the parking lot that says "Disneyland Resort" and Bridget says "WAIT!!! WHY are we at Disneyland?" 

To meet our cousins.

"Then all three kids look at me in shock and say... wait are we going IN to Disneyland?

Don't you think we should?

So then the partying ensued, it was a lovely and wonderful surprise and we were so excited that the parking lot attendant gave us a "Magical Moment" and handed us a free parking pass.

We got into the park and the magic faded for a few hours when my children discovered that traveling in a large pack of people is not nearly as fun.  Steve and I finally called it quits and demanded division and after that it was pretty fun.  My kids went to California Adventure, something that we had not done the week before, and overall we had a tremendous, tremendous time.

I have a few other things to say about Disneyland but I want to end with a note of appreciation:

Angela, nothing will ever be the same for my kids--a trip with your family was the optimum peak of fun.  I think our alignment on two key issues made it extra special:
--no buying anything in the park
--dividing and conquering in age level groups

We didn't have those things this week and while it was fun, it wasn't quite the same.  We will go back several times this year and enjoy the capitalism, but I want you to know that your trip was the most magical momentous experience that our family has enjoyed up until now.  Thanks for being such great friends. 

Personalization

My gym loves me.  Here is the proof:

Does your gym love YOU this much?

Inventory

Here is my big birthday post.

I am 35 now. 

I have great kids, a happy marriage, a great career, I own property, and I am president of something.
I drive a minivan that I still can't park, live in a two bedroom and apartment, and can't keep house.

I would like the second half of the equation to one day read:
I drive a cadillac that runs like butter, I live in a house with a guest bedroom and I have a maid.

Happy birthday to me.

For Krissie

Christmas Card Review

Off the Grid

So yesterday my phone froze right after taking this picture:

I was initially devastated that my phone stopped working--makes it difficult to split up, etc. and I planned on providing real-time updates to FB as well as taking pictures of hilarious things.  But in the end, it was wonderful!  Why?  Because I totally focused on my family.  No work, no school-related biz, just pure, unadulterated joy and roller coaster rides.

We bought annual *passes so please, come on down and we can go to the Happiest Place on Earth together. 

I love my kids.  And I love capitalism.

*passes are only good M-F, September-June

The Power of Anonymity

Anon et al,
I have long wondered at the phenomenon of the anonymous commenter.  I have twice received a comment that tugged at my heart and caused me to reflect on my words, both times from anonymous commenters.  One was a bit racist so I won't repost it here and the other was recently on my post about the food policy at school.   I am left pondering because there was no accountability for the individual.  In this recent case, I didn't actually say anything other than to post a picture of the policy so I am unsure where the anger came from...  


I want you to know that several times on this blog people have made comments I disagree with.  For example:

Maren said...

i'm not sure you can claim extreme righteousness when your kids don't even pay tithing.

OR

Landee said...

Reading for game time is lame. Just ask anyone under the age of 14. But cute of you for trying. I'll teach Casey how to sneak in his room after you've fallen asleep at 10pm (cuz I know you do) for all the free playing time he wants. He deserves to know these things. After all, he's already 4 years late getting a DS as it is.
Conversation starter: Hey Casey, Landee is on the phone for you....

OR most seriously from SRBC regarding my FAVORITE book of all time:

Memzy said...

I'm trying, really I am. But so far I can't stand it. Maybe I'm d) dead inside. ::sigh:: but I'm only on ch 11.

Even though the first comment was probably meant as a joke even if it was true, the latter two certainly were not.  But I believe in healthy, open conflict so I applaud, yea, encourage the disagreement.


Do I seem like the kind of person who will disrespect you if I know who you are?  I hope not! I hope no one feels like you can't disagree here.  And you can even say what you want without being funny.  Well, Tiff cannot, but most people can and are invited to do so.


There are two times when I understand remaining anonymous:


--Donating to a good cause to be sure that your intention is really coming from a good place
--You feel that your comment could be misconstrued by a co-worker, boss, or otherwise impact your political future


If you are someone who feels that my involvement in the school would somehow negatively impact you, I feel sad about that as well.


I would like to publicly state that I am very proud to be a member of my children's school community.  I love everything about the school and have personally sacrificed hundreds of hours to fight for its existence.  I won't even be in this town longer than one more year so there is absolutely no reason why I should bother to put all this time into it other than the fact that I truly believe in reform and I think the quality of teaching there is worth fighting for.   I openly relish the fact that our school is different even if I would like to bring some homemade cookies once in a while.


I love that I live in a crazy liberal town in which raw foodies, vegans, vegetarians, meatatarians, and omnivores all live together in peace, love, and harmony. 


And by the way, my children actually are at risk for diabetes as it runs in my family AND we have to work actively to stay in a healthy weight zone on a daily basis.

All this to say, anonymous, I am sorry that you are so powerful as you cloak your identity and I wish that you had less of a hurtful impact on my blogging state of mind but you are still welcome to come, and make your comment without any accountability because in the end, I am an estadounidense and I believe in freedom of speech.

Gracias por venir.

Travel reflections

I love to travel.  I have no issues with traveling as an experience itself.  I love to eat food (really, any food) without worrying about spending too much in my food budget.  I love to stay in a hotel in which I leave with my room a mess and come back with my bed made and my towels folded nicely.   Watching full cable has its benefits as well as a gym in the basement or 11th floor depending on the hotel.

I sometimes get a suite upgrade, sometimes a whirlpool, and frequently nicely scented soaps to stock up for home use.  (I know it seems weird, but you figure if I pick up 5 a month then I never have to buy soap for you to wash your hands when you come over.)

I like the hours on the plane in which I can watch a movie on my phone or listen to a book.  The first class upgrades are enjoyable, I won't lie, in spite of my initial distaste of being part of the bourgeoisie. 

Most of all, and here comes the guilt, I love the uninterrupted night of sleep. 

Regardless of the sense of freedom of schedule, the soft pillows, and the filet mignon, I have decided that I am finally getting burned out on the travel.  It hit me like a cement truck this evening when I was down at my church building listening to someone speak about temple attendance (ahem, looong overdue.)

Here are the reasons why I dislike travel, the real reasons mixed in with the superficial

1.  When I am home for three weeks in a row I can usually drop 3-5 lbs from going to the gym and eating right.  When I travel for one week, I gain it all back.  What a waste.

2.  I can't seem to fall asleep without Steve so I end up staying up way too late and even then can't fall asleep.  I thought it was hotels, but we traveled to the UK a few years ago and in spite of being extremely low quality hotels (thank you señor cheapness) I fell asleep with absolutely zero effort.  I guess I just am accustomed to having him by my side.

3.  I am unreliable.  No matter the place--church, kids school, community sporting events, etc. you can pretty much guarantee that I have missed something very important.  Pinewood derby three years running, Kinder graduation, dance events, and much, much more.

4.  I miss my friend Katie when I travel.

5. When in town I watch American Idol, Glee, and sometimes Project Runway.  When I go out of town I get behind and it takes me weeks, sometimes months to catch up!!

6.  When I am in home and have a commitment I feel tremendous guilt if I keep it--like a birthday party, GNO, or church activity.  Or even something non-comittal like the gym will bring about guilt. Anything that takes me away from my family is a tough decision and makes me feel like a terrible mother and wife.

7.  I get used to being on my own and then when I come back into town, I have a hard time engaging.

8.  Most hotels have soft pillows.  I like thinner, firmer pillows in which my head does not feel like it got sucked into a vacuum.

9.  Breakfast in the midwest=disgusting.  Those places have not seen a piece of fresh fruit or a container of yogurt without aspartame ever.

10.  The temptation to spend money at Target.

So my next trip isn't for a few weeks.  Hopefully by then I will have dropped a few more pounds.

School Poliza

Shake Your Salt Shaker

My pepper shaker broke this weekend.  This is a very tragic event for me as it represents yet another thing that has broken in my apartment.  It was a beautiful Le Creuset cherry red shaker set that matches my water pitcher:

The water pitcher:

But instead of despairing I have decided to celebrate and find myself a new pair for my upcoming middle age birthday.  Here are some options I found and would like your vote for what you think I should get:

#1  The hug.

 

#2  Devil and Angel

 

#3 Broken Heart

 

#4 Maracas

 

#5 Suspended Salt and Pepper

#6  Hour glass

 

#7 Ninja

 

#8 Red Peugeot

#9 Modern Twist

 

#10 Stones