Making a Living

Hehe. I'm back at school, still attempting to hang as though I were still on vacation =).
*sigh* I can't complain, I took plenty of time during my oober long vacation to relax and do things I've been so meaning to get to. It was so nice =). Plus, San Francisco was a fantastic trip full of food, drinks, fun, and the Mokroopals =).
Coming back to work has been hard though...there's so much planning and grading that have piled up, I hardly know where to begin to I don't fall too far behind! It's crazy, though I think some extra planning time has paid off in the area of writing, we shall see though =). Now I've got to get my behind in gear with science...I want to have some cool stuff ready for Open House =). It's coming to quickly...and I do have to say, I'm rather excited =). While work remains just that...I still enjoy myself and am strangely glad to back =).

Lyrical Wisdom

"There's too much doubt and not enough dare
There's too much decision everywhere
There's too much talk and not enough time
Let's close our eyes and not our minds"

--Teitur, "You're the Ocean"

I guess time off from our everyday stresses does a mind good =). I've been doing a lot of exploring myself lately, trying to find things that excite me and follow through with them. There's so much confusion in life, wondering if we're making the right choices, talking about going places and doing things and never really doing them, always saying "I just don't have enough time".

Teitur voices two sides and is attempting to find that middle ground where love lurks. Yet, there seems to be more to the tale...it seems to bring forth a challenge, daring us to dream, to love, look past logic or reason and as Nike says it, "just do it".

Well, my mind is open...the execution is just a bit more difficult for me ;).
I want to go white water rafting (aha, research is being done, I might do this one!). I want to visit the Greek Isles and soak up all the beauty there. I want to run a marathon. I want to write children's books. I want to read more. I want to play jazz piano. I want to learn how to ballroom dance. I want to not be fearful of the crickets I feed to Benny and Joon. I want to be more domestic. I want to be more thoughtful of others. I want to be a teacher who excites, compels, motivates, and inspires. I want to be a kid at heart forever ;).

Ah well, that's as deep as I go ;).
You know, sometimes I'll watch these "won't ever happen in real life" romantic comedies and think about my realistic expectations in a partner...and I can't honestly expect qualities from someone that I don't possess myself, right? I think I've got some work to do ;)

Curtains! =)

Finally, I have completed a task years in the making!!! My kitchen curtains are finally done! I've had the intention of replacing the old, ugly curtains in the kitchen since I moved in. I purchased the fabric about a year and a half ago and its' been sitting the closet since. Well, today I was inspired and yanked the ladybug fabric out of the craft box, dusted off the good 'ol sewing machine, and went to work. Hooray, no more icky lace curtains in the kitchen...they are now Lisa curtains! =) hehe...

Half way done with Harry Potter 3 =).

Currently listening to: Phoenix--United and Pete Yorn (I love him everytime I pop him back in) and John Mayer--Heavier Things (finally watched the Paul Reddy show...hilarious!)

patience =)

As much as I have been anxiously awaiting Duncan's return to venues near me...I must be patient. He's been busy working on his own label to which he's already got 4 upcoming albums (1 of his own and 3 for upcoming artists). He hopes our listening ears will be filled with the great sounds of duncan soon, as do all his fans =). Yet, I will wait patiently in the interim, knowing that he's working hard to make all his goals a reality =).

I am now inspired to buy some new music to wait out this long lack of duncan spell ;). I hope they have what I'm looking for!

Currently in the player: Phoenix--Alphabetical & Phantom Planet--the guest =) (sometimes we've got to revisit the older albums)

keeping busy =)

You know, I've realized, as much as I complain about never being able to just sit and relax...it's not really all it's cut out to be! Hehe...Monday that's all I did...be a vegetable. Blah!
I wondered what it would truly be like to shut myself off from the rest of the world, just me, myself and I. Man, it's a bummer! I didn't answer the phone, I didn't leave my apartment, I just read, watched the tube, hung out with my computer...omg...I nearly went crazy!

So yesterday, I made a resolve, while I don't have to spend every minute of my vacation doing something, I do need to not let myself become a walking zombie! yikes!!!
I returned all the missed calls I had from Monday, ran a whole bunch of errands that have been on my to do list (*sigh* I finally got water from Costco!), put together my CD rack I've been talking about for ages, and cooked dinner. While I dirtied nearly every dish in the apartment (and some new ones I purchased just for last night's meal), I am quite satisfied with the new recipe.

I do believe I will be cleaning my apartment for the rest of my life, or at least until I move my butt out of here when I'll be forced to throw everything away ;). It's so hard...I've got all kinds of stuff that I can't part with b/c of that horrible clutter bug in me that says, "Lisa, you can totally use that someday!" So while that New Year's Resolution shall most likely never be accomplished, I am well ahead of my reading resolution...*hooray*. I have completed Harry Potter 1 & 2 since break began =). Hmm...well, if I can find that fabric, I may actually make those curtains for the kitchen...or...I think I'll go throw some more junk away ;)

rockin' taco

Too much fun =).

Tonight we went to Chomps for dinner...it's actually quite good there and the atmosphere is quite fun. It's like a younger version of Benihana with lively music blaring over the speakers. =) Then we made our way down the street to Rockin'Taco...now I see what everyone was talking about =) It's just like Sing Sing was except a tad bit smaller. It's soooo much fun though =) We were drinking and singing along to the songs that were recognizable...hehe...I am determined to make a return visit sometime soon =). Hooray for good times!

Matt Nathanson in SD tomorrow...w00t!

phew!

geesh...it's been quite awhile since I've posted...

I'm on vacation!! hehe...officially now =).
I was at the California Science Center with my munchkins today from 8:00-4:00. omg...I'm so glad this day is over! As much as it was a great experience...I shall have to be much more organized next year! 2 parents cancelled so we were 2 chaperones short, leaving me with 17 students in my group! argh...that made life difficult...in addition there were so many little qualms along the way...by the time my day was over, I couldn't wait to get home and lie down!

The exhibits were incredible though and I now have to make a return visit without my munchkins to really get a good look at all that's there. It's tough to look around with 17 whining kids...hehe...but overall I think they had a good time, and so did I. In retrospect though, next year, I think I'll make a scavenger hunt type activity and a very specific itinerary for the students to follow. We will have very responsible people guiding and give them information prior to the event. If I'm in charge of the reservations again, I have to be abreast of all information and have everything prepared prior to the day of the trip. Now that I am more aware of the facility, the activities, the complications, the paperwork, the procedures, and the fun...I can better plan for a smoother, more enjoyable trip next time =). *sigh*...well, I guess what they say is true, my 3rd year will prove a bit easier (but only a bit) =)

I cooked!!!!!!! =) hehe...veggie and tofu sesame stir-fry and thai coconut bananas...=) I've kicked off my break with a bang ;).