Not too sure how it was decided that coming back from our trip to Iowa last weekend on a flight that got into LAX at midnight when both of us had to work the next day (that day) was a good idea. I am hoping that when the tickets were purchased we really didn't have a choice to come back at that time. I hope it wasn't that we thought that we were young and hip enough to not need a full 7 hours of sleep before going to work and that taking a almost red-eye would be fun.
yeah...not fun.
It is now Wednesday morning and I am still trying to get my body to function. It might also have something to do with the fact that I stayed at my Mom's who is a VERY good cook and baker, didn't get up to run once, and drank two beers while I was home.
I know...wild and crazy. My body clearly isn't used to all the chaos.
It is really hard to take a vacation these days. We have so much "routine" to try to deal with when one wants to escape for a few days. There is the dog, the mail, the laundry, and not to mention getting people to help you out at work. I thrive on guilt so I was especially worried that not matter how much I prepare for my being away from school for - two whole days - that someone might need something and I won't be able to help them.
Now add on to that the fact that my kidlets didn't come and stayed with their Dad for five days, two of them being school days. This means that I had to TRY to think of everything they might need between now and then. School uniforms, baseball gear, lunch money or tickets, assembly dress, not to mention that Bella was under the weather when I left.
ahhh...the guilt.
Now mind you they did just fine, I took Bella to the doctor the day before I left and it was just a virus, however, the pink eye came when I was away. Thankfully their Dad figured it out and took her to urgent care and the drops were administered soon enough so that no more school was missed. Phew.
The trip to Iowa was such a great time. Rich spent a lot of time with his kids, I got to kiss on my neice and nephews, and spend some time with my Mom, and of course my brothers and their wives...we just had a great time.
Rich's son graduated from the high school Rich and I graduated from so it was really nice to go to that graduation and hear the choir I sang in sing the same song we sang at graduation. Some traditions are really cool.
I will have some pictures to follow, but now I need to figure out how to lift the bags under my eyes and try to function.
It isn't pretty.
More Later
- A Ro
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Weekend Highlight Reel
Well my school year is slowly wrapping up and things are getting checked off one by one. The only performances I have left are a lunchtime concert with my Contemporary Vocal Ensemble, Middle School Graduation, and Upper School Graduation.
So this weekend was a normal and not so busy. Thank goodness...I needed some not so busy.
Friday started out as a normal day until we got an email from our principal who told us about one of our parents, Jon Krawczyk, who was going to be at school showing us a sculpture he was commissioned to create that will be placed outside of St. Peter's church in New York City next to ground zero. It is made out of some fragments of the rubble from the world trade center. He is making several stops on the way to New York and we were one of the first. He told us that the shiny surface of the cross is to reflect all the faces that look at it, so as you look at it you will see yourself as part of the tragedy and the healing of that day.
So this weekend was a normal and not so busy. Thank goodness...I needed some not so busy.
Friday started out as a normal day until we got an email from our principal who told us about one of our parents, Jon Krawczyk, who was going to be at school showing us a sculpture he was commissioned to create that will be placed outside of St. Peter's church in New York City next to ground zero. It is made out of some fragments of the rubble from the world trade center. He is making several stops on the way to New York and we were one of the first. He told us that the shiny surface of the cross is to reflect all the faces that look at it, so as you look at it you will see yourself as part of the tragedy and the healing of that day.
Some of our students are place notes into the cross. If you want more information here is an article about the cross.http://www.malibutimes.com/articles/2011/05/19/malibu_life/art1.txt It truly was a sight to see.
This year I was a mentor teacher to our film teacher and Friday night was his big film symposium and premiere of the Film IV's film. We were all excited to go and we went to our favorite sushi place before hand. The night was a success and I got to see many of my old students, and many of my students were involved with the movie too. It was a wonderful evening.
As we were driving home we were stopped at a stoplight. Our windows were rolled up but Bella noticed the the car just to our right, but slightly ahead of us had her window down and she was smoking. Now Bella hates it when people smoke so she said to me "Mom that woman should really stop her smoking"...well just as she said that the woman looked right at her and gave her a look. My girl was mortified. It cracked me up.
Saturday was the usual. Cleaning going to the market. I also got my hair cut and Bella got to swim in a lake. She was not sure she wanted to, because she is just like me and the thought of slimy water and slimy living things swimming with you just doesn't appeal to us.
Until she did.
I guess the difference between us is obvious...she is brave, I am not.
She did enjoy it. I still would not.
Sunday was a really cool day as the Amgen Tour of California was in our town, not just in our town but right in front of our street. We all went outside with our lawn chairs and watched the bicyclers. It was SO cool. Even Andrew was impressed, and you know something is cool when the teenager in the group is impressed.
I shot a video of them riding by us with my phone...It was an amazing 14 seconds.
Andrew told me that it would be cool if he could do that.
I guess he is braver than his old mom too.
More Later
- A Ro
As we were driving home we were stopped at a stoplight. Our windows were rolled up but Bella noticed the the car just to our right, but slightly ahead of us had her window down and she was smoking. Now Bella hates it when people smoke so she said to me "Mom that woman should really stop her smoking"...well just as she said that the woman looked right at her and gave her a look. My girl was mortified. It cracked me up.
Saturday was the usual. Cleaning going to the market. I also got my hair cut and Bella got to swim in a lake. She was not sure she wanted to, because she is just like me and the thought of slimy water and slimy living things swimming with you just doesn't appeal to us.
Until she did.
I guess the difference between us is obvious...she is brave, I am not.
She did enjoy it. I still would not.
Sunday was a really cool day as the Amgen Tour of California was in our town, not just in our town but right in front of our street. We all went outside with our lawn chairs and watched the bicyclers. It was SO cool. Even Andrew was impressed, and you know something is cool when the teenager in the group is impressed.
I shot a video of them riding by us with my phone...It was an amazing 14 seconds.
Andrew told me that it would be cool if he could do that.
I guess he is braver than his old mom too.
More Later
- A Ro
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Project 365 Week 21
I am joining Sara this week for Project 365.
This week was a busy week, but I got to watch and celebrate my talented kids!!
Take a look:
Sunday May 15:
My Cellist
Andrew had his big Gala Youth Orchestra concert today. I love watching him play an instrument that he says he really doesn't like to play. Let me just say...he fools me.
Monday May 16:
My New Friend
My colleague and friend Kim had her Middle School Jazz on the Terrace concert tonight. She asked me if I would sit with her little boy Josh. He was so cute and loved just being one of the kids. We made him a badge, like we all have to wear. He was so good.
Tuesday May 17:
A Love Note
I found this note on my desk at school. It took me a little while to find it because it was all folded up. My girl is just the sweetest thing.
Wednesday May 18:
Pajama Volleyball
Here is a picture of my girl's volleyball assembly, it also was pajama day. She was praised for her go getter attitude, and her fun spirit. Yep...that's my girl.
Thursday May 19:
Baseball...Again
We made it to the playoffs and had our first game tonight...which we won. I kept the book, which I am really enjoying. It was a close game with many errors on both teams part. We get to go again on Tuesday.
Friday May 20:
An Amazing Sculpture
Today at our school one of our parents brought this sculpture to show us. He was commissioned to build this cross to be hung at St. Peter's church in New York City and it was made entirely out of steel girders of the fallen World Trade Center. It was an amazing story and piece of art. Our students got to write notes and drop them into the cross. He told us that the shiny-ness was a way to reflect all the faces that look at it and to really show that this tragedy was about all of us. I was very humbled at that moment.
Saturday May 21:
Swimming??
Bella went to her friend Marcella's house today and she lives on a little lake. Bella wasn't sure if she would get in or not, but Marcella's mom sent me this picture and told me that she got in. She said it wasn't as cold as she originally thought. She is such a brave girl!!
In Summary: I was shown lots of love this week. Love that comes from my kids. Love that comes from good friends. Love of an instrument that might not be admitted. Love of playing hard and winning. And even love from tragedy. It was a very good week.
More Later
- A Ro
- A Ro
Friday, May 20, 2011
Some Facts
Fact: I have been missing in action from the blog world.
Fact: I am missing the blog world.
Fact: I am not a writer.
Fact: I am just a sort of funny, daughter, mother, wife, and sister who wishes to put her life into print.
Fact: I sometimes don't blog because I feel that my mundane life isn't very funny.
Fact: I sometimes wish I was as witty and as good of a writer as some of the blogs I read.
Fact: I am not.
Fact: I am going to try to put my blog into perspective and just do it for me and my far away family so I can share my far away life with them. If others want to read too great.
Just keep your expectations in check.
More Later
- A Ro
Fact: I am missing the blog world.
Fact: I am not a writer.
Fact: I am just a sort of funny, daughter, mother, wife, and sister who wishes to put her life into print.
Fact: I sometimes don't blog because I feel that my mundane life isn't very funny.
Fact: I sometimes wish I was as witty and as good of a writer as some of the blogs I read.
Fact: I am not.
Fact: I am going to try to put my blog into perspective and just do it for me and my far away family so I can share my far away life with them. If others want to read too great.
Just keep your expectations in check.
More Later
- A Ro
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Star Wars Day
It is Star Wars day because it is May the fourth as in May the fourth be with you...get it...get it...
I realize that you won't be reading this until May the fifth and heavy into your Cinco de Mayo celebrations, but just tuck it away until next year...or forget about it like it did until this moment late in the day.
Here at the A Ro ranch things have been trucking along. However, I seriously need to paint my toenails, because it has been in the upper 80's lower 90's and my sandals have made an apperance out of necessity. I HATE feet so really don't get pedicures, in fact the thought of getting one makes my skin crawl and I am fairly certain if I ever got one I would end up face down in that germ laden foot pool that you soak your feet in because I would totally pass out. So my toes never look as good as the rest of the ladies in CA, but I really do the best I can.
I have been gearing up for the last month of school festivites which includes a concerts, assembly performances, singing at graduation for both High School and Middle School, and a choir banquet. I am feeling overwhelmed by a lot of this but am trying to get ahead of the large boulder rolling towards me so hopefully I will make it to the end unscathed. I get a small break at the end of May to go to Iowa, but then it is hard and fast until the end...phew.
Andrew has been driving a lot lately. He is fearless and just wants to drive as much as possible. Not to make this post turn into things I hate, but I really hate driving. So I love the fact that I am not driving but talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. He really is a good driver, but man does it make me nervous when he is behind the wheel. Keep in mind that we live in Los Angeles and the freeways, and drivers for that matter, are less than tame. Ahhh...how I long for the days of the 2 am feeding and reruns of Taxi.
Seriously folks...May the fourth be with ME!!
More Later
- A Ro
I realize that you won't be reading this until May the fifth and heavy into your Cinco de Mayo celebrations, but just tuck it away until next year...or forget about it like it did until this moment late in the day.
Here at the A Ro ranch things have been trucking along. However, I seriously need to paint my toenails, because it has been in the upper 80's lower 90's and my sandals have made an apperance out of necessity. I HATE feet so really don't get pedicures, in fact the thought of getting one makes my skin crawl and I am fairly certain if I ever got one I would end up face down in that germ laden foot pool that you soak your feet in because I would totally pass out. So my toes never look as good as the rest of the ladies in CA, but I really do the best I can.
I have been gearing up for the last month of school festivites which includes a concerts, assembly performances, singing at graduation for both High School and Middle School, and a choir banquet. I am feeling overwhelmed by a lot of this but am trying to get ahead of the large boulder rolling towards me so hopefully I will make it to the end unscathed. I get a small break at the end of May to go to Iowa, but then it is hard and fast until the end...phew.
Andrew has been driving a lot lately. He is fearless and just wants to drive as much as possible. Not to make this post turn into things I hate, but I really hate driving. So I love the fact that I am not driving but talk about jumping out of the frying pan into the fire. He really is a good driver, but man does it make me nervous when he is behind the wheel. Keep in mind that we live in Los Angeles and the freeways, and drivers for that matter, are less than tame. Ahhh...how I long for the days of the 2 am feeding and reruns of Taxi.
Seriously folks...May the fourth be with ME!!
More Later
- A Ro
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Hodgepodge Has A Thinking Cap On
I really had to put on my thinking cap for this week's hodgepodge...that's OK my thinking cap fits just fine and is quite comfy...
Enjoy
1. Have you ever been served breakfast in bed? Do you enjoy that? If someone were serving you breakfast in bed this coming weekend what would you hope to see on the tray?
Honestly, I don't like lounging around in bed and eating in bed seems wrong to me as well. The bed serves its purpose and then you get up. Now I wouldn't mind a breakfast served to me at the table in the kitchen, and my favorite would be pancakes with real maple syrup. I also love cooking breakfast so I might enjoy that too.
2. What is one piece of advice you would give a new mother?
Wow. My advice really should be...ignore all advice. But really I would tell her that if you don't like a particular phase of child rearing don't worry another one will be on it's way shortly. In other words this too shall pass.
3. When was the last time you wanted to scream? Explain.
I really can't think of a particular time when I wanted to scream, but in general I really cannot stand arrogance and people not admitting when they are wrong. I like to call it...crazy making. They will go to any legnth to be right even if that means making you think that you are crazy.
4. Can you hula hoop?
Briefly.
5. What is something people do in traffic that really bothers you?
My kids and my husband would say that my answer to this one should be...everything. I would say that isn'a all that true...rude and selfish behavior behind the wheel drives me nuts.
6. What do you do when people don't admit they're wrong?
Ha Ha...see question #3
Here is the deal. If you truly feel that you are right and don't admit you are wrong then I think you are strong. If you know that you are wrong and don't admit you are wrong then I think you are weak. It takes a strong person to know they are wrong and admit it. You have to be willing to not be perfect.
7. What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word 'fun'?
The very first thing that came to my mind would be rollercoasters and board games. If I had to pick one I would say sitting around with my big extended family and playing board games. I am totally my father's daughter.
8. In Summary: Wow I feel like my 41 year old wisdom really got a workout this hodgepodge. I am certainly not a perfect mother, driver, human being, or hula hooper, but I certainly keep trying to improve. I am very forgiving when someone is strong enough to admit he or she is wrong. Thankfully, I am a lot like my father and I am married to a very strong man.
More Later
- A Ro
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Oh Weekend How You Tease
How is it that the weekend holds so much promise on Friday afternoon, on the drive home, but by Monday morning, on the drive in, you wonder where it all went.
This weekend was no different. As I am driving home with Bella in tow just back from her trip all a glow with all the fun she had, Rich at home grilling, and an entire weekend ahead of me with "not much to do", I was blissfully happy. I was especially happy because my wonderful husband had Friday off and did most of our weekly cleaning while I was at work.
This was a great for me because I would much rather teach middle schoolers all day than clean the toilets or vacuum. Truth be told he probably would rather talk to airplanes than the above mentioned chores, but alas he was off!!
Well my weekend promise bliss quickly ended when I told Bella that we would have to go to Andrew's baseball game the next morning.
Here is the deal...I LOVE baseball...I really do. Going to a baseball game, for me is just so much fun. For Bella not so much. However, here is one of the main reasons why I adore my daughter. She is visually upset because she has to go to the game but this is what she says with a very whiny voice: "I don't want to go the game tomorrow, I know that I should be appreciateive that you spent all that money so that I could go to Astro Camp and I should just not complain about going to the game, but I really don't want to go. I know that I am just grouchy and a little tired so I am just going to hope that by morning I'll be better"
Yeah...she pretty much parents herself.
By the time we got to the game on Saturday morning, after a trip to Starbucks and Western Bagel, she was just fine to be at the game. I knew she would be. It was pretty windy, but she grabbed Rich's Navy jacket from the car bundled up and worked all game on her new Ninja-corn comic strip. Before you jump to the conclusion that a Ninja-corn is super hero Ninja who's super hero costume consists of denim overalls and a pitchfork realize that my daughter's mind works more like a unicorn with Ninja powers. Now seeing her come up with and draw the idea of a Ninja and a unicorn getting married and having a baby without all the social stigma that would come with such a union warmed my heart and, quite frankly, scared me a little. But she was enjoying the comic strip process and I was enjoying a complaint free game, so all was good.
I decided that I would try to keep score at the game. I got myself a baseball score book and re-read all the ins and outs of keeping score quickly realizing that it was very different than what I remembered from my early days of keeping score. Thich consisted of going to AAA Cubs games in Iowa purchasing the score book and pencil and quickly giving it up when the cotton candy guy came around. I did pretty good, but started regretting doing it when guys started getting picked off, double plays were happening, and a ground rule double came into play. Overall, I did pretty good and had fun.
After the game Bella and Andrew went home with their dad and Rich was at work so my Saturday afternoon was a quiet one filled with grocery list making and looking forward to a quiet evening with Rich. We did dinner, grocery shopping and some couch time.
Sunday started out with a very nice long walk to our favorite breakfast place and some chores. It was such a gorgeous day that we decided to go put out a blanket and eat lunch at the park across from our house. When we first started dating we would meet for lunch at a little park in Camarillo and do the very same thing, it was nice to go back to that time once again.
Sunday evening ended with me baking cookies and watching my Phillies come back and a holler upstairs from Rich telling me I might want to switch to a news station and me whining that my Phillies are coming back to which he replied "you might want to see this".
I did want to see that.
To which Bella said "Who is Osama Bin Laden?"
Yeah...she might parent herself, but I think we might just need to fill in some gaps.
More Later
- A Ro
This weekend was no different. As I am driving home with Bella in tow just back from her trip all a glow with all the fun she had, Rich at home grilling, and an entire weekend ahead of me with "not much to do", I was blissfully happy. I was especially happy because my wonderful husband had Friday off and did most of our weekly cleaning while I was at work.
This was a great for me because I would much rather teach middle schoolers all day than clean the toilets or vacuum. Truth be told he probably would rather talk to airplanes than the above mentioned chores, but alas he was off!!
Well my weekend promise bliss quickly ended when I told Bella that we would have to go to Andrew's baseball game the next morning.
Here is the deal...I LOVE baseball...I really do. Going to a baseball game, for me is just so much fun. For Bella not so much. However, here is one of the main reasons why I adore my daughter. She is visually upset because she has to go to the game but this is what she says with a very whiny voice: "I don't want to go the game tomorrow, I know that I should be appreciateive that you spent all that money so that I could go to Astro Camp and I should just not complain about going to the game, but I really don't want to go. I know that I am just grouchy and a little tired so I am just going to hope that by morning I'll be better"
Yeah...she pretty much parents herself.
By the time we got to the game on Saturday morning, after a trip to Starbucks and Western Bagel, she was just fine to be at the game. I knew she would be. It was pretty windy, but she grabbed Rich's Navy jacket from the car bundled up and worked all game on her new Ninja-corn comic strip. Before you jump to the conclusion that a Ninja-corn is super hero Ninja who's super hero costume consists of denim overalls and a pitchfork realize that my daughter's mind works more like a unicorn with Ninja powers. Now seeing her come up with and draw the idea of a Ninja and a unicorn getting married and having a baby without all the social stigma that would come with such a union warmed my heart and, quite frankly, scared me a little. But she was enjoying the comic strip process and I was enjoying a complaint free game, so all was good.
I decided that I would try to keep score at the game. I got myself a baseball score book and re-read all the ins and outs of keeping score quickly realizing that it was very different than what I remembered from my early days of keeping score. Thich consisted of going to AAA Cubs games in Iowa purchasing the score book and pencil and quickly giving it up when the cotton candy guy came around. I did pretty good, but started regretting doing it when guys started getting picked off, double plays were happening, and a ground rule double came into play. Overall, I did pretty good and had fun.
After the game Bella and Andrew went home with their dad and Rich was at work so my Saturday afternoon was a quiet one filled with grocery list making and looking forward to a quiet evening with Rich. We did dinner, grocery shopping and some couch time.
Sunday started out with a very nice long walk to our favorite breakfast place and some chores. It was such a gorgeous day that we decided to go put out a blanket and eat lunch at the park across from our house. When we first started dating we would meet for lunch at a little park in Camarillo and do the very same thing, it was nice to go back to that time once again.
Sunday evening ended with me baking cookies and watching my Phillies come back and a holler upstairs from Rich telling me I might want to switch to a news station and me whining that my Phillies are coming back to which he replied "you might want to see this".
I did want to see that.
To which Bella said "Who is Osama Bin Laden?"
Yeah...she might parent herself, but I think we might just need to fill in some gaps.
More Later
- A Ro
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