YES!

I can't believe I get a WHOLE WEEK OFF with tennis getting done today at 11:54 a.m. I said good job and good bye to my two senior players who played well, but were inconsistent.

As soon as I turned the corner to go to the "school van", I started sprinting and exploding in my mind that it was all over! It was a good little season, yet somewhat of chicken with head cut off ignorance and new learnings in being a varsity coach.

Glad I did it!

Glad to receive moola next month.

Found this old email in my "business" email account, from Jan. 15, 2004, 3:06 p.m.:

"Mary, did you have a Lodge pan and a brush sent to me?

Love, Mom"

That was fun.

The Brian Wilson "Smile" album is very cool. I've been rotating him, Interpol (very cool and catchy), and of course Pinback. Wish I could hit the Dec. 5 Pinback concert in S.D.

Tracey, I Macguyer'ed the other Muddy Buddy Poster! I'm going to mat and frame it beautifully one day in Alaska.

I have a whole plastic tub of things I've been waiting to display for real.

In my real home.

Once and for all.

I'm tired of temporary living. We've basically lived out of boxes here. Going on our 3rd year here, that's ridiculous. My fault, but ridiculous.

Tomorrow: haircut, back duplex remodeling with bedroom/office switch. This in order to avoid 2 - 24/7 - crying neighbor kids and some little kid "swing set noise" that's always going on as well!

Main purpose though is to get the bigger room for packing, inventory'ing, and digital picturing our belongings for the Alaska move.

7 months people! 7 MONTHS!

It is finished!

Tennis is done! Well, I have one doubles team that has advanced in what we Ohioans might acknowledge as the "State Tournament". Like track people who go on as individuals. Only, this is for the Central Valley Championship-in which the top players would advance to battle other parts of the state.

Wait why did I just go on and on about that.

Funny thing: You know "puppy chow" the dessert snack made from Chex cereal? Well the other team tonight had a big bag of it, and some girl kept referring to it over and over again as:

Muddy Buddy!

HA! HA! HA! So the several times she said it, I kept thinking they were familiar with and talking about the one true Muddy Buddy that Trace and I are a part of!

Super funny to me. Maybe not yous though!

The one true Muddy Buddy.

One time in 1040's backyard Justin and I (and I think Mike) were playing what I shall refer to as: wiffle bat and tennis ball hit around time.

Somehow I hit (or threw it?) directly back at Justin forcefully, and it nibbed his neck in that forceful manner.

He was physically hurt. And so was my bottom after the punishment.

Jammin' to Pinbacky!

Mike, those shirts (that webpage) was hilarious! So funny! Good find!

Sounds like you're on a wonderous roll with your writing Justin!

So, tennis was "postponed" to tomorrow b/c a storm threatened the afternoon and evening hours. No storm though. I want this season done :)

Basketball won't start for a good week off into Nov. 8th. That's great, so I can relax and enjoy prep on the MUDDY BUDDY outing! Woo! Too cool, too cool! (p.s I ran 1 mile Mon. and 2 today)

And you go mom and dad with the Wintergarden Lodge trails. It's been wintery weather here, and that's perfect for the vegetable soup dealio! I've been eating very well this week. Fruits, veggies, that soup, and that soup, and lotsa water.

The holiday season is upon everybody!

Surprise to our school schedule we have Nov. 11 and 12 off (BOTH!) for Veteran's Day! Yesireeyo :)

Can't think of anything else to write. Going to eat cheeseburgers and frys, with veggie soup on a chilly, chilly Chowchilla evening!

Bo says hi! The end.

"Super good feeling" - Bleach song from a long time ago!

MUDDY BUDDY WAS RESCHEDULED FOR November 6th!

There was fear and conflict that it would be this coming weekend, and I have to coach tennis! UGH!

But no worries now.

I haven't blogged recently, huh?

Well, I gabbed with Just for a bit last night, and super pumped for that convo!

Next weekend also, I am going to a "Lord of the Dance" hilarious outing with my bunco club. Too funny, way too funny!

Otherwise, Alaska is heating up! That's an oxymoron-ish. Lots of thoughts and plans and moving quotes and portfolio building commencing!

Can't wait!

Well, I'm typing this at parent teacher conferences, so I best be off and ready to receive parent blab. Only 30 mins. left of it though, and I've had 10 different parents come in. That's not too many.

Have a great mid-week of Halloween approaching!

My #1 Varsity doubles team got third place and a medal, out of 26 doubles teams.

Nice!

I'm watching Kill Bill 2, and relaxing tonight. Tomorrow is that super fun mud time! Can't wait!

p.s. super WATCH OUT for leg warmers that are coming back into style..."leg warmers...? oh yeah, I saw those, those are cute, I'm going to get some soon...Kristen Herring was wearing some yesterday..." - a 5th period English student spoke these words outloud on Thursday at 1:54 p.m.

My weekend has started!

Tomorrow I take the tennis team to Fresno for an all day League Tennis Tournament! No escuela for me! YES!

I should be completely done with tennis by next Wednesday, with a week or 2 before basketball. That's cool!

Sad to see the Astros. Clemens wasn't himself it seems, but I'm not an expert. Sorry to Dad and J especially. Wish you were headed to Houston next week.

New music: Fisher

Movie to see: "I (heart) Huckabees".

I could make a movie called: "I (heart) flossing".

Whatever happened to that musical movie with like Sting, Alanis Morrisette, Harry Connick, Jr. and others in it?

Never saw Wimbledon :)

Really thinking about Alaska today, after looking at Grampa's cruise pictures. Also, I was gabbing with another teacher who is moving to Oregon next year. I like Oregon, too. Not as much as I think I will like Alaska.

#1 thing I'm looking forward to about Alaska: a log cabin.

#2 thing: concluding my teaching career.

Would 7 years teaching qualify me for some expertise on "being a teacher"? I could so do lesson plan books, or teacher help books for colleges to teach education classes. (side note: I really want to go off about how I don't have time to write what I want to write in this life! But that's excuse making! GOTTA PRIORITIZE!)

Why do colleges choose the dumbest textbooks to teach with? Ones that lie, or say unrealistic things about the real world? Well, I guess that was just my experience - but I've heard about other "education programs" and how they don't prepare for the real teaching world!

Going to bed now! Happy weekend to you all!

Out of school at 12:39 today!

Astros at 1 p.m.

Boston at 5 p.m.

School meeting at 5:30 p.m.

What are they thinking with this school meeting thing?

Gorillas are cute!

Astros and BoSox!

Although I'm not allowed to "dishonor Bo's name" with the BoSox nickname, I've been super wrapped up in all these games. I talk about it in every class, and they go on and on with their bickerings about who'll win it all.

There's really something amazing going on with both those teams!

I agree with Matt about the excellent pitching going on too. So good!

So, I know you can't believe it! I haven't written since last Wed. That's no good!

What's been happening in my world...

Baseball watching
League Tennis meeting in Fresno
Sleeping
A little teaching (but not much ;)
A little working out for Muddy Buddy
Some organizing and packing more belongings
(yes obsessed and loving the downsizing)

Wish U2 wouldn't have put the "Spanish" counting into their new single (IPOD commerical). Still respect there, wondering what their new album is (going to be) like...

Will watch Jay Leno tonight.

Oh, I wrote this cool and fun newsletter on Microsoft Publisher last weekend and it failed to open at school to print (we need a print cartridge at home). So that made me frustrated.

I'm redoing it tonight into a "boring" Microsoft Word document and sending them out tomorrow - SNAIL MAIL YES!

Lotsa rain here, even a funnel cloud in Chowchilla. People were so whiney and dumb about the weather - which was actually bad windyness - but still, get a clue "spoiled sunshine state people"!

Bands to catch up on:
Plumb
Tammany Hall
Chantel Kreviazuk

YAHOO TO YOUR SOLO PROJECT MIKE!!!

That is so totally yesyesyesyesyesYESYES!!!

Congrats, and can't wait to get it! Can you bring me a copy to Turkey day?

---read below for previous post---should tide you over for several months!
It's a longey!

Sometimes you hear people air headedly ask what day it is, and it's all cleared up for them with a one answer deal.

Well, not for me today. I asked twice what day it was, and even worse I asked the same teacher friend of mine this at different times of the day.

Funny for a second, but crazy in the other second. Tennis, grades, and sinus drainy, has combo'ed me kookier than normal at the podium this week. It's been fun actually, in the enjoying of students and school for once.

After several bogged down notions last weekend (such as last blog), I've stepped into "clue get one" existence! YAH Savior!

I finally hit my knees in my classroom one sloppy night this week, under a pile of papers to grade, and you know...you're basics...gave up on meeeee :)

And ahhhhhhhh, now I just sit down tonight to RECONNECT with real life!

WOO! And there's my wonderful mother with superb wisdom and encouragement. Thank you Mom, and especially your reference to "be quiet and listen to Him about what you need to do today, right now, so that no part of your life is wasted".

I was thinking about whispering today b/c a short story in class had a father whispering to his son. It's so weird when people whisper. When is the time to whisper?..well never for me, let alone having to teach day in and out.

And yet me with my perpetual obnoxious heart and loud voice, grasped that concept so endearingly in 1st period sophomore English today.

Listen. My God is whispering to me. I'm tired of the noise all around. So I accept it, before it turns into a roar.

Side note to mom: I was touched by your "turning brilliant" description of the autumn in BG. And also, how you spend your time alone praying for people. Oh, MOM! Such a true and faithful warrior for His kingdom. I love your simple and direct approach to this life. May I mimic you?!

So Matt, William Shatner. A new cd. Whoa! I'll bet is actually good, just for the fact Ben Folds is involved. Similarly, like how popily Avril Lavigne's sophomore album is borderline pointful (to me and maybe dad only) with Chantel Kreviazuk helping her write lyrics and choruses.

OH NO!? Choruses? Is it chorusi, chori for plural of that?! I've gotta judge my own English-ness b/c I teach it right? I ain't no pro though! HA,ha,ha!

Believe it or not my upper arms are trembling as I type this, BECAUSE I DID PUSH UPS!?! I did 4 sets of 25 girls ones, and I'm fragile, feeble, frail...gotta get a little toning this and next week for the Muddy Buddy outing!

Might be rope or wall climbing or something crazy like that! Tracey, I still want to make sure you don't want to win...okay. It's too, too fun doing these things! Can't wait to not win at all, and fall face first into the mud pit!

J - I'll take some cd burns of that dude you know. And when will someone spill the beans on Pinback's newey? I have to get that at Tower, but must wait 2 more quick weeks till moola.

Mike, sorry I was retarded on the phone tonight---perhaps if you made it this far in my blog reading, you understand the maniacal frozen flat slab that obviously covered my brain this day and week. p.s. I was thinking about your ideas on what BG was like before settlement, and how it would have been interesting...

Teaching and studying this American Lit stuff, I so picture that uniqueness and how it might have been. Are you in any Amer. Lit classes right now?

And last but not least I'd better shout out to Dad the Bruce b/c he's a great dad, and to any of the other 2 or 3 peeps who read this! EXCELLENT!

Have a great weekend b/c unfortunadamente I do believe I am too busy until latre! Peace and British Bile Beans! (insert funny picture from England trip here)

"That flew over like a lead baloon" - a political analysis on one of Kerry's statements in the debate tonight.

"allow Jesus Christ to invade every single fiber of your being and spend your entire life diving into the infinite heart of God" - picked off Justin's blog

Today was restless.

Restless in pursuit of lesson plans and house cleaning. Pointlessness and ANGER! All geared towards 2nd Quarter of the school year blues, I presume. It's like I, my efforts at school, have hit a brick wall stand still, and no matter which way I look at it, it's frustrating, and negative, pointless, negative again, and unmotivating to me and the students.

(details behind all these statemetns aside)

Talking to dad tonight I was gleeful to hear about his Columbus Baseball Talk trip. It truly would be amazing to "go on tour" to talk about something you love. There is preparation and stress involved, but the reality of it is: talking about something you love.

It's wonderful to see how amazingly hard dad has worked to get to this point. How amazingly intelligent and wonderfully gifted God has made him and Joan to be en route to doing cross-country, cross cultural talks on quilts and guerilla families!

Yet, it's a downer to only be 27, and on track to teach 30 years. Well, NOT 30 years in my world, but you know...where else is there to go in education---either 30 years teaching with options of administrative, and/or move up and out to college education, etc.

Teach high school or lower for 30 years and you're done!? That's the only goal here?! Put your years in, then collect your measily retirement (actually commendable compared to other pension plans).

30 YEARS!??!

Whether I am victim of this generational slothfulness and indecision or not, a lot of times this job is a straight jacket to my existence, my creativity, my being! 98% of the time I ignore it, but today for some reason I choose not to ignore it, and it took over my afternoon negatively.

Choices to be layed out and choosen is what I have to pursue.

Choices huh? America? Land of the free, independance, opportunity, choices? I shall exercise my liberties from here on out.

Starting with lists of things to accomplish revamped, redirected, reinvented!

More enthusiastically toward God's usage of me and His gifts. Sixpence none the richer it is!

p.s. J wish you could have stormed the field tonight :( Are you headed to Atlanta?

"No fires allowed"

We drove up early this morning, after grabbing Bo in his duffle bag (just kidding on all that), and read the above signs everywhere.

Apparently it is still fire season, and they had several fires this summer up by Yosemite.

After exploring to confirm this no fire thing, we finally decided to go home :(

We were both looking forward to this time away! But it wouldn't be the same without a crackling campfire to sit and fall asleep by.

So, at 10 a.m. and Mary went back to sleep for a long time! I have some sinus issues, but only in the morning or at night. I am feeling better already :)

Casey worked on his last online Alaska class that he hopes to finish by Thanksgiving! YAHOO! The rest of this evening, we organized and cleaned up the whole house, and I got rid of a huge bag of stuff to sell, and packed one box.

Side comments: Tracey I am revamping my list of things to do, into one "for real" list :) I shall bore you all with highlights from that later in life.

Guitar and photography class have been on my list for years now too, it's time to get going huh!?

I'm so pumped you're taking a ceramics class. I love ceramics! One of my Evergreen friends made me this sweet one we use in our bathroom!

Michelle! I was so socially and fashionably illiterate I never got into the cool styles you and Trace did. I did peg my jeans a lot though in 7th and 8th grade, what a raging thing that was.

2 steaks, a six pack (of Pepsi), chips, ice, and lunchables graced my plastic, not paper, choice at Save Mart tonight.

Briceburg solitude on the Merced River here we come!

What I shall pack after the blog:

1)Runner's World Mag, free trial and ripped cover
2)Spin Mag: Franz Ferd cover, more in depth enjoyment than just pics
3)Pink Bible: a floppy one, love it, women's devotional style
4)Journal
5)Blank notebook paper for cabin designs, new workout and food spending/cooking plan
6)POD
7)One large pile of mags accumulated from summer absence :)
8)Camera
9)Bocifus
10)5 pens

Bo sleeps in a zipped up duffle bag the night before trips, so we can just grab the bag and go early in the morning.

"Students you will need 3 blank pieces of notebook paper today. Yes, three."

I think one day I'll say that above line in class. Then only make them use 1/2 of one piece. Just to really mess with their minds.

Politcal Debates: I've seen both presidential debates, and the one vice president debate.

I think one campaign includes a pointless rambling robot, and the other has a rambling down to earth good guy who will do more good than bad.

Puff Daddy Combs: "Choose or die." Well, I certainly don't want to die Puffy, so I shall now bow down before your ridiculous societal annoyance into the program I was watching this afternoon, and vote. Because I don't want to die.

Today on "Made" (dumb reality show on MTV), an urban girl learned how to surf and competed in a surf competition. How slow and boring it was to watch, but I realized I must get out beyond the breakers. Next time I come down Marr and Trace I shall be brave and not weaksauce.

Excited for Justin to be at the Astros game! Would like to hear about Columbus via voice. Very scared of stirup pants.

Important knowledge for all: I have a lot of "P" named bands on my POD, and "S".

"I need God, not this political church. I need fire, to melt this frozen sea inside me." --Sixpence

Saw some ultra frosted jeans on a "fashion savvy" student today.

It scared me.

Really scared me.

Will they peg jeans next?

Gross.

The week from chaos is almost over. Had to organized all the slop the substitute did NOT do while subbing Monday. That was certainly annoying.

It is homecoming week here. The children are wild. Grades are due next week.

Better topics: We're going camping on the Merced River up in the mts. Saturday. Mom, dad, it's the place we went with you last spring. Our new favorite place, and it will be cold. Nice!

Three more official tennis events. Yes! Look to get paid "early" in our Oct. check, but prob. have to wait till Nov. pay.

Meee tired. Meee feel real good about doing that triathlon still :)

"Bada, baah, baot, baot, baah..." - Stellastarr*

Triath blog recap:

Tracey and I accomplished this amazing event last weekend!

A TRIATHLON!

We went to this guru guy Saturday on our way to pick up all the necessary equipment. I loved the feeling of getting a swim cap, our helmet and bike number stickers, and our race numbers for our shirt.

The dude was a silly, energetic old man who has insanely done 257 or so triathlons. He talked all about how people think they can just show up the morning of and participate with no problems---yet we saw these people the morning of and we giggled at their stress and rushing around getting ready.

So we set up our bike Saturday and drove the course. After picking up some $8 goggles for me at Sports Chalet we headed home to pack, set up, and practiced our transitions for the morning. EXHILERATING!

That night we also packed my Beetle, and were off to relax and focus on the morning to come.

The morning of the event I got up at 4:55 a.m. (5 mins. before my alarm even went off). I was ready, even though I had only had those 4 hours and 55 mins. of rest, staying up late watching SNL with Matt.

Tracey and I were delirious with lack of sleep, but were feeling well preped by the guru, relaxed, and ready to do this.

The Beetle parked itself by our swim start and we stretched, warmed up, and observed everyone getting ready for the event. It was nice to have everything set and good, and watch all the other people slop around all nervous.

Then it was time for the first wave to start and it was a couple hundred old guys. Almost everyone wore wetsuits, and certainly everyone wore a swim cap and goggles. It was surreal waiting around and watching the swimmers prep and actual swim----like dolphins out there splashing all around.

I slewed out a bunch of scared, insecure comments about my swimming ability and all the while Tracey encouraged me :) THEN WE HOPPED IN AND Matt showed up to film/photo us getting used to the water. A few huge deep breathes, nervous brain battles, and hyperventilating, and we were on our way with a 60 second countdown.

We didn't even realize it was all about to go down, then I heard the counter guy say 5, 4, 3, 2, ...1 SPLASH, SPLASH, splish, splashy... OH MY!

The swimming was unbelievable the most intense physical workout that I've ever done in my entire life! HANDS DOWN!

I slopped all around keeping my eye on a huge orange bouy and Tracey who was so smoothly doing the backstroke. Finally the end arrived and as my hand hit the sand floor of the bay 2-3 times (like the guru taught us) I got up and was seriously out of it.

I tried to get my swim cap off quickly b/c I didn't want anymore alien pictures going down, HA! The back string of my wetsuit was all tangled and took a good 45 seconds to manuever off velcro and unzipping--all the while running to our bike station.

1, 2...4,000, 17, 64...3, and 4....ah there's Tracey and our bikes, I'm finally.adjkwewfjk ;lkadjf k lthuuuuuu....there! Bike rack 4!

Changing out of the wetsuit and swimsuit (eh-hem, Tracey no comment please) was an all thumbs mind boggling event. I loved every second of it as Matt took photos of Trace hilariously posed for photos, and patiently waiting for me to GET MOVING!!!!!!!!!!

Long story short---as I know Trace and Matt already wrote about all this...biking was long and harder than I expected b/c we didn't realize we had this whole backstretch of like 4 straight miles with no people cheering, and add on 300 people passing us on 10 speed bikes.

Like Tracey said biking transitions were super jello-leggedly fun and laughing full! We started running and both felt so smooth and in control as opposed to the fwailing bike work, and...oh yeah ...the other event ...swimming. Did that even happen, what in the world kind of athletic event is this?!

There were more hills than we would have liked to see, regardless of the guru teling us the run (especially) was "flat as a pancake"!? I guess his pancakes include 2 huge mountains to climb.

Anyways, after completing this triath I felt like I could do anything in the world. At least athletically. And so we shall try another event in two weeks called, Muddy Buddy! I LOVE THIS!

I am so happy Tracey has helped me and agreed to get involved with these events that teach me self discipline, the importance of endurance and training no matter what the task is, and the the value of working hard for something and completing it.

Side notes: gotta buncha free jamba juice smoothies, cooler cup, stress squishing things shaped like fruit (I'll ...take...the ....gree...eeen...one lady---"oh you mean the lime one?! ---just a delirious moment I had and enjoyed).

This was a long bloggy blog blog! I'm out!

'Twas the night before the triathlon and all through the mind was anxious waiting and mind preping!

Tracey and I are so excited! We practiced our transitioning several times tonight, which entailed running from the bottom floor of their condo in our wetsuits, swim caps, and goggles (very alienesque) up to our makeshift "bike station" on the 2nd floor.

You see our bikes will be in a transition area tomorrow where, after we swim 1/2 a mile, we will have to get our wetsuits off, running gear on over our regular swimsuits, running shoes and socks on, a bit of water, and off on our bikes!

SO COOL!

I love these things! Whenever I watch Survivor or Amazing Race or something, I wish I was doing the competition instead of the schmoes who do get to do them (Michelle you still going for that Amazing Race?)

I have such a competitive spirit! How fun is this event! YES!

So it's 10:30 p.m. but it feels like 2 a.m.

You know those dead silent hours of wait, whether it be for an "early leave" trip, for a word from God, for a caffeine annoyance of Pepsi to go away, or for a thoughtful writing session.

Changing gears: (to an 8 and 3 on my mt. bike for tomorrow--dumb training joke between my brain and I)

It looks like Tracey and I are going to do a Muddy Buddy competition this October 24th in San Jose! I've been wanting to do one of these for 2 years now (since I read about it when we moved out here).

You have a partner and at the starting gun one person runs, and one person bikes. There are 6 obstacles throughout the course and you must go over them, climb them, get through them, whatever they are.

Meanwhile your bike has been dropped and left for your partner who is running (slowly behind you) to pick it and bike the next mile. Sounds confusing, but AWESOME!

AND FUN!

The grand finale is a huge, HUGE MUD PIT that you and your partner have wade through with your bike and head to the finish line together!

Read about it here: http://www.muddybuddy.com.

I should get to sleep! Will update as soon as we get back here tomorrow morning 10 a.m.-ish! Our race wave starts at 7:35 a.m. so be thinking about us. We're in the 25-29 year old wave! Bright green swim caps for beginners!

Picture the hilarity! :)

Nice, slick new blog Matt!

WOW! I can't wait for one more class to get done today :) WOO!

I love driving to S.D. For real, I love driving through L.A. when there's flowing traffic, and even though it's disgusting---

And yet, I'm going the eastern mt. route b/c of quickness.

Justin! That's awesome you'll be hittin' the Stros game! I'll meet cha there for the third ticket. I wish!

You go Dad! How would you ever embarrass Jesus or Lewis! When can you send the video of this.

Mom I'm glad you're better, now Justin, Dad, and Trace! Get better! Peace out!

Earlier today I wrote...below...

My blog got messed up everybody!

Looks neat with the new colors, but I had to go all "HTML'ey" on it and figure out the links again! ARGH!

No mind to that, I'M OFF TO SAN DIEGO IN 2 and 1/2 hours!

Casey and I had a nice little breakfast together as Bo'ey Boy chipped his bark and sprinted all around like he does in the morning. Heh, I just realized he's a morning guy! Whatta cutie spazz!

(anyone please tell me how to spell spazz? I spell it 14 diff ways every time.)

Triathlon preparation and actualization reporting to come........WOOOOOO!!!!