Ahora

I think about life, the past, the future and the present. All of these things help make the person I was, I am and I will be. Sometimes life seems so beautiful and interesting and other times it is scary and confusing. I have come to understand that I am a person who needs both stability and excitement. Without these factors I become lost and crave more.

I sometimes wonder, but try not to dwell on, what will be next...

This weekend I:

• wrote and wrote and wrote
• spent hours on the phone talking and laughing
  
• studied Castellano
  
• saw a movie
• looked at pics
• yelled at me lawyer (long story)
  
• did laundry
• shopped a bit
• helped decorate the flat with a bit of Christmas spirit
• prepared packages to send to family
• cleaned some
  
• missed my peops
• went out with my fabulous amigas on Thursday
• said happy birthday to my darling, good fun at parties, excellent cook, pain in the ass friend, Chris!
  

On another note... Thursday I walked to the beach on my lunch break and took a bunch of funny pictures (see above). I was in such a silly, creative, punchy mood that I lost my phone... I guess one doesn't always have to have to do with the other... but, in my case it often does. I was on another planet and not paying attention to things... so I lost it and was very angry at myself... I was a bit manic... up, up, up at the beach then I crashed hard... I do that I a lot more than I ever realized.

Anywayzzzzzzzzzz.....

The other theory is that when I put the phone into my pocket it jumped out of my pocket possibly because it wanted to stay at the beach longer or maybe it was tired of hearing me talk. It's possible it didn't realize how hungry I was or maybe it just didn't care. I can't be sure. It is a very dear little, pink Motorala so it could have a mind of it's own no? Who should I blame for this, me or the phone? I am willing to accept either explanation, but, in fact, I think it is best not to blame either of us and just move on. The phone has since been returned by an incredibly sweet couple, but it is very broken and sick, I will have to replace it... again. Hopefully the next one will be more obedient or I might have to "let it fall under a car" too.

On yet another note...

Rubes... we gotta talk soon! Tell me, is there a Happy Hour, Christmas celebration on Friday?...Can I call and say hi to a few of my fabulous BOCES peops?... I miss you guys. Shhh don't tell but sometimes I really miss my job... but mostly the people: staff and kids... and not all of them heeheheheheheeeee... besos for you all!

A Funny?!?!?

This was sent to me via email from my friend Cleo, who along with her husband, Juan Jose and my roommate Klara, I enjoyed a lovely meal with on Friday night... Prior to eating we saw a film and afterward cocktails and modified Trivial Pursuit at Sinpy Jo's.

SOCIALISM You have 2 cows. You give one to your neighbor.

COMMUNISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and gives you some milk.

FASCISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and sells you some milk.

NAZISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both and shoots you.

BUREAUCRATISM You have 2 cows. The State takes both, shoots one, milks the other, and then throws the milk away...

TRADITIONAL CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull. Your herd multiplies, and the economy grows. You sell them and retire on the income.

SURREALISM You have two giraffes. The government requires you to take harmonica lessons.

AN AMERICAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You sell one, and force the other to produce the milk of four cows. Later, you hire a consultant to analyze why the cow has dropped dead.

ENRON VENTURE CAPITALISM You have two cows. You sell three of them to your publicly listed company, using letters of credit opened by your brother-in-law at the bank, then execute a debt/equity swap with an associated general offer so that you get

all four cows back, with a tax exemption for five cows. The milk rights of the six cows are transferred via an intermediary to a Cayman Island Company

secretly owned by the majority shareholder who sells the rights to all seven cows back to your listed company. The annual report says the company owns eight cows, with an option on one more. You sell one cow to buy a new president of the United States , leaving you with nine cows. No balance sheet provided with the release. The public then buys your bull.

A FRENCH CORPORATION You have two cows. You go on strike, organize a riot, and block the roads, because you want three cows.

A JAPANESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You redesign them so they are one-tenth the size of an ordinary cow and produce twenty times the milk. You then create a clever cow cartoon image called 'Cowkimon' and market it worldwide.

A GERMAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You re-engineer them so they live for 100 years, eat once a month, and milk themselves.

AN ITALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows, but you don't know where they are. You decide to have lunch.

A RUSSIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You count them and learn you have five cows. You count them again and learn you have 42 cows. You count them again and learn you have 2 cows. You stop counting cows and open another bottle of vodka.

A SWISS CORPORATION You have 5000 cows. None of them belong to you. You charge the owners for storing them.

A CHINESE CORPORATION You have two cows. You have 300 people milking them.

You claim that you have full employment, and high bovine

productivity. You arrest the newsman who reported the real situation.

AN INDIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. You worship them.

A BRITISH CORPORATION You have two cows. Both are mad.

AN IRAQI CORPORATION Everyone thinks you have lots of cows. You tell them that you have none. No-one believes you, so they bomb the shit out of you and invade your country. You still have no cows, but at least now you are part of a Democracy...

AN AUSTRALIAN CORPORATION You have two cows. Business seems pretty good. You close the office and go for a few beers to celebrate.

A NEW ZEALAND CORPORATION You have two cows. The one on the left looks very attractive...

Yo se tomato....

Jajajajaaaaaaaa This is what my google search page looks like today! In fact, this is very much what I looked like today! I am so completely exhausted I can't even write about it, but I will when the pictures get processed, needless to say I didn't bring my camera to the largest tomato fight in the world... but I did buy a disposable and I did have a hell of a time.... seriously... a hell of a time.

The title of this entry will link to a youtube video taken last year in the same place. Today I was standing right across from the church near the greased pole with the hanging jamón...

Seriously, one of the craziest days of my life!

poco a poco

Little by little.....
Photo by KMZ age 6

Another weekend spent preparing for the 'next step'. My head is spinning from one 'next step' to the 'next step'. My brother and my dad helped me with my resume this weekend. My dad helped me write and rewrite like he used to do when I was in college stressing about papers that were soon to be due. It was nice to have that kind of support from them. Two were resumes sent out yesterday and silly me was disappointed when there was nothing in my inbox today... I guess some days are like that.

This weekend I also practiced my español... sentía muy bueno... it felt very good. I've been doing a lot of reading and writing Spanish, well some anyway. This weekend I focused on listening and speaking. I was shy at first, but kept listening and repeating and then making my own little sentences... it was fun and it feels good on my mouth :)). The best part was on Saturday night, well kinda, Karen's dog got loose and it was pouring out . I was home alone responsible for the lovely, little beast. I kept walking around the neighborhood calling Chester over and over again! Each time I saw someone I asked if they had seen a black dog... one guy said yes, another no. Then I ran into two guys who,when asked, just looked at me as if I had four heads. So it hit me... I thought for a second and said, "¿Donde es un perro negro?"... "Where is a black dog?" ok... that was as the closest I could think of to "have you seen?". It was funny because I was so proud of myself, I was smiling from ear to ear... they laughed and one guy said, "Dog? No". Oh well, I tried. I even made my tongue roll a bit (perro). I am sure they walked away thinking... 'loco gringa' o...no... 'gringa loco'.... funny.

So I guess that was another little taste of what is yet to come. Hopefully though, in españa, I won't be looking for un perro negro.

PS. Chester made it home safely at around 1AM... and he is really a lovely little beast... I wasn't just saying that.

Rolleringgggggggggg

OK. I am still trying to figure out how to post the actual song that goes along with the lyrics (below) by Melanie Safka. Meanwhile here is the link to the YouTube video. Just click on the title of this post!

The lyrics will have to do for now and as soon as I figure this damn thing out I will put the song on too!!Very catchy little ditty... and I don't say that just because I bought a brand new pair of roller blades today:
¿Or do I?

I Got a Brand New Pair of Roller Skates

I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone, but you got something I need

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and try them out you see
I been looking around awhile
You got something for me
Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key

I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car
Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far
For somebody who don't drive
I been all around the world
Some people say, I done all right for a girl

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and try them out you see
I been looking around awhile
You got something for me
Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key

I asked your mother if you were at home
She said, yes .. but you weren't alone
Oh, sometimes I think that you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone, but you've got something I need

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together and try them out to see
La la la la la la la la, la la la la la la
Oh! I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key

Don't have a visa or a job, but by golly I have new skates!!!

One step at a time... breathe

Happy Friday

Although it turns out I have to go to work today, much like the rest of the world, I am going with a smile on my face... 2 hour delays ROCK!!!
Anyway why waste a precious snow day when there is no school Monday anyway...???

to snow... or not to snow

My advice to my students who want the day off tomorrow due to the possibility of an impending snowstorm is the following:
1-Put on your favorite pajamas both inside out and backwards.
2-Grab a cup with a few ice cubes.
3-Stand at your back door (front might work, but there is more of a risk of other's seeing).
4-Open the door and turn your back to the great outdoors.
5-Throw the cubes, one at a time over your shoulder and into the universe
(or yard) while asking for a giant snowfall.
6-Get some sleep just in case this doesn't work... because we will have a test in life science class if there is school.

I predict a mere 2 hour delay, but hope for the whole day. If anyone reads this before morning... help me out ok?

Light snow his evening...then snow...freezing rain and sleet after midnight. Snow and sleet accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Additional ice accumulation of up to one tenth of an inch. Near steady temperature in the lower 30s. South winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation near 100 percent.
The only way to survive these wretched winters is to get the occasional snow day off from work.... :) BTW, it's not snowing yet...

Tinsel

A simple 2 hour delay, but how it puts a smile on my face. Was feeling good about it all until I fell while carrying a mirror that belonged to my new roommate... shattered everywhere and even broke the frame. Does this mean my bad luck will begin now?... honestly, I'm in no mood for it so I think I will simply reject the entire notion and pay to replace the mirror.

Not much snow on the ground, but a lot of ice on my way to work (10AM) and the trees looked like they were glistening with Christmas tinsel. The sun is shining and it looks and feels like a beautiful day. Wishing I could take Monte to the park today instead of having to go to a meeting... seems like a good day to visit the Hudson and my pup.