Bella and Chuck

Those two things have nothing in common except that Bella also loves to watch Chuck.  Now if you don't know what Chuck is or have never watched it you can just skip to the Bella part of my post.  It will be noted by big bold letters.  You could also just close your browser and go on with your day.

I love the NBC show Chuck.  I have never missed a show.  This is odd for me because I don't usually have a "show".  The last time I think I had a "show" was when about ten of us got together every Thursday night in college and watched Knots Landing.  We watched that show religiously.  I think I was more fascinated with Donna Mills smokey eye makeup than whether Valene and Gary stayed together or not.  I tried desperately to recreate her look...to no avail I might add.

What is even odder is that I LIKE the show Chuck.  I mean, truth be told it IS a semi-action show.  There are guns, shootings, killings and people hanging perilously from roof tops.  Not a usual list of criteria for an "Amy" show.  However, I love it...like people love train wrecks.  We don't know why we look, but we look.  There are some things that do make my list of criteria...lovable characters (including nerdy but cute Chuck), romance, and comedy.  So for Zachary Levi...I watch.

Monday was the first show after a long hiatus, and all four of us were glued to the TV to see what antics the gang gets into this time.  I just hope NBC keeps it on for awhile longer or they might get bombarded with pocket protectors.

BELLA SECTION:

So I end this post with a few funny things Bella said to me the other day.

Bella says to me when I ask her what a plastic spoon is doing on her floor...to this she says "That is my purple spoon named Charlie"

of course...

I also had about a million things to sign for her from her take home folder and she hands me one and says "please sign at the bottom".  She hands me another one and says "please sign on the line initial on all the x's".  The third one gets a "please sign and date in triplicate".  The last one she says "and this one will need a DNA sample"

She cracks. me. up.

My next post will be Andrew and The Event...

...yeah I watch The Event, to quote Churchill (which I do often) I am a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma.


More Later

- A Ro

A Successful Hodgepodge

How I love the hodgepodge!!  You see I am a music teacher and pretend to be a blogger.  Most of the time I have so much to say but not quite sure how to say it that would be all that...enjoyable. 

Maybe I really need to lower my standards of enjoyable.

Anyway...Joyce does all the work for me on Tuesdays, which is why I love the hodgepodge.

Well if you have the same problem as me just answer the questions on your blog and link up over at Joyce's.

Here is my go at it:

1. Do you like your name? Were you named after someone? If you have children how did you settle on their names?
I used to not like my name because it was too short.  When Rich and I first got in touch with each other I used to sign my emails with just the letter A...when we started dating he told me how much he liked my name back in high school...I started signing all my e-mails Amy from then on.

I was not named after anyone, however, I was born in Ames Iowa so many people assume that Amy came from that.  I, for one, think that is a stretch.  My son Andrew has my maiden name as a first name.  His middle name, John, is in honor of my Granpy.  It also happens to be his Dad's name, but my first born son was always going to have the middle name of John ever since I was old enough to realize that one day I might have a son.  Isabella was a great compromise on an Italian name, her middle name, Christina, is a version of my middle name Christine.

aren't you glad you asked??

2. How do you define success?
I am going to quote Ralph Waldo Emerson...because I love, and try to live by, this definition of success.

To laugh often and much;

To earn the respect of intelligent people
and to win the affection of children;

To earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends;

To appreciate the beauty in nature and all that surrounds us;

To seek out and nurture the best in others;

To give the gift of yourself to others
without the slightest thought of return,
for it is in giving that we receive;

To have accomplished a task,
whether it be saving a lost soul,
healing a sick child,
writing a book,
or risking your life for a friend;

To have celebrated and laughed with great joy and enthusiasm
and sung with exaltation;

To have hope even in times of despair,
for as long as you have hope, you have life;

To love and be loved;

To be understood and to understand;

This is the meaning of success

That is better than anything I could have come up with.

3. Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy?
I enjoy watching Jeopardy just to see if I can answer ANY of the questions, but I also like watching Wheel of Fortune.  Now to be a contestant on one or the other is another story. I really don't feel like I am a very lucky person (I am very blessed just not too lucky)...so Wheel of Fortune would be out, and I simply do not trust myself, in a highly tense situation, to remember to form my answers into questions...guess it is Game Show Network for me.


4. If you could own any single object that you don't have now, what would that object be?

This is a very hard one...I think I would love to have a bicycle.  I know I sound like a 5 year old on Santa's lap, but I have always wanted one, but never have been able to justify buying one.

5. What is something that inspires you?

I know this is going to sound very cheesy, but my students, children and Rich inspire me everyday.  Having the privilege to be their teacher, mother and wife causes me to pause everyday.  They make me want to work harder and be a better person.

would you like some wine with that cheese??

6. Meatloaf-yea or nay? If its a yay how do you make yours?
I HATE meatloaf.  I have never liked it. My DVD of my new Cuisine Art food processor had a demo of meatloaf so I am thinking that maybe that I have outgrown my childish dislike for meatloaf, but as I watched,  I am telling you nothing looked appealing.  Smushy meat mixed with ketchup and then baked into a loaf...gross.

7. Which is more admirable-the ability to organize and be methodical or the ability to adapt and make do?
I am uber organized with regards to my house and my job everything must have a place and it must be in that place more than it isn't.  I have many lists, file folders, bins and I keep things very organized.  Having said that I believe that I am a very adapt and make do kind of girl too.  But let me tell you if I have to adapt and make do, making a list is the first thing on that adapt-and-make-do agenda.

8.  In Summary:  Every time Rich says my name I melt just a little.  I am slowly working on being a successful person and can safely say that I am well on my way and have crossed a few of those things off my organized and methodical list, thanks to the people in my life who inspire me.  I would love to own a bicycle but if I have to be on Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy to get one...I am sunk.  However, I'd trade you a bike for some meatloaf...

More Later

- A Ro

Weekend Highlight Reel

The usual Monday blahs have been averted because I am home.  I am love these kinds of days, I mean who doesn't, an extra day off...I love it.  Now I do realize that the Monday blahs will simply transfer themselves to Tuesday as it will not be a day off, however, it will all be OK because Friday will come all that quicker.

Like my logic??

This weekend was a wonderful one.  So wonderful that it calls for a blog version of a highlight reel otherwise known as a list.  I love lists, I mean who doesn't, lists rock.

1. We had Friday off too.  End of the semester break.  Four day weekend baby!!
2. Rich didn't end up going to Iowa.  Crisis averted and he wasn't needed so he stayed here.  He was a little bummed but now he can save his vacation time for when his daughter comes for Spring Break.  I loved having him around for our extended weekend. (Don't get me wrong I would have been fine if he were to have gone...in fact it was my idea for him to go...but am glad all is OK and back on track there)
3. Broke out the new Cuisine Art food processor and made some Apple Spice muffins.  This was after I watched the hour long "how to" video.  I may or may not have fallen asleep during the demo of Gazpacho, but at least I know not to slide my fingers across the blade or touch anything while it is still spinning, however, I think I figured all that out when I was about 5...so no wonder I fell asleep.
4. Rich had to work late Saturday night so Bella and I cuddled and watched the final Shrek movie that she got for Christmas and...oddly enough...neither one of us saw.  Pretty good movie, if you like predictible character actions, lots of bathroom humor, and good guys winning in the end...yep a true Amy movie.
5. Rich and I had a couple of hours alone Sunday night while Andrew was at orchestra and Bella was at her friends house.  We streamed our favorite Iowa radio station KGGO while we cooked dinner and  got a weather report of -5 degrees and snow...we ate our chicken dinner to an open window and 75 degree breeze...yep nice.
6. Bella and I got to cuddle in bed and watch TV while Rich watched a movie he Netflixed (now a new verb I am pretty sure) downstairs.  The only thing we don't have in common is a love of action movies where guns and macho men do stupid things and live to tell about it.  He always tries to tell me that some action movies are kinda funny.  Yeah funny to me is Chevy Chase falling off a roof because he staples his coat sleeve to the Christmas lights not Bruce Willis hanging off a 100 story building by his belt buckle while shooting bad guys rain bullets down.  Both just as unbelievable...one funny...one not.

Don't think the weekend was all fun and games.  Grocerys were shopped for, toliets cleaned, showers scrubbed, floors vacuumed and mopped, and laundry done.

However, we did all this in 75 degree weather...together.  I love these kinds of weekends!!

More Later

- A Ro

Project 365 Week 3

It is time once again to show you all what I have been up to this week.  If you are big fan of my Bella you are in luck...she has turned up in quite a few of the pictures this week, she must love making an apperance on my blog, or it could be that she is the only one who still allows me to take her picture, but I'll take what I can get.

So, head on over to Sara's blog and check out all of the other participants.  It is fun to take a peek.

Here's a peek into mine:

Sunday January 9 2011 :

Dancing Queens

Bella's friend had a hip hop birthday party.  They went to a dance studio and learned how to hip hop dance.  I must say Bella was holding her own and can really pop and lock.  It is very funny to watch 10 year olds do this.

Monday January 10 2011:

Oops

Well we had to wear assembly dress today, and Bella is usually very good at remembering these things.  But it was a Monday, so it isn't a wonder that we forgot.  So we rushed to the hand me down closet at school and found a couple of items that "worked".  As you can see the skirt was kinda long, the shirt kinda big, and her Arizona Wildcat socks weren't exactly up to "code".  She did, however, accent it all with her purple checked Vans...yeah it was quite an outfit.

Tuesday January 11 2011:

Soccer...Again

It was the start of soccer season at school this week.  It was cold.  It rained a little bit.  My girl was so super awesome.  I love watching her play soccer...man she is fast.

Wednesday January 12 2011:

Wow

This was much prettier in person.  I love these kinds of mornings!!

Thursday January 13 2011:

My New Toy

I got a new cookbook, not only that it was a Cooking Light cookbook, not only that it was a 30 minute meals or less Cooking Light cookbook.  It is a very cool thing.  I love cookbooks.

Friday January 14 2011:

Bella's Bagel

Yes this is a 10 year old girl eating an everything bagel.  She loves the unusual.  We didn't have school today so we started our day with a trip to Starbucks and Target...two of my most favorite places.  It was a beautiful day.

Saturday January 15 2011:

She Did it Again

Yep she did it again.  My girl loves those claw machines.  She will spend a dollar now and then and wins almost every time.  She has played about 9 times and I think she has won 7 of those times.  Andrew is the same way, as a matter of fact.  Well today we were at the market and she had a dollar in her pocket so she decided to play. Rich and I went down the other aisle and I told him that one of these days she isn't going to win and she will be sad.  He told me he had a good feeling about this one, and sure enough here comes Bella around the corner with her Tootsie Roll pillow...she won on her first $.50 try.  


In Summary:  It was a Bella and me week.  I just love my girl.  She can play soccer, bust a move, eats crazy things, (and doesn't mind when I break out a new cookbook recipe), remembers assembly dress (almost every time), and I am seriously thinking about letting her pick my lottery numbers.

More Later

- A Ro

Weekend at the End of the Tunnel

Wow...this week seems like the LONGEST week ever.

Exaggerate much? 

It could have something to do with the fact that I am looking forward to the four day weekend (we have Friday off and Martin Luther King Day off too).  It might have something to do with the fact that I have proctored two finals in which I have to sit quietly for two hours and watch students fret and worry over AP yada yada

yeah, not my strong suit

It could also have something to do with the fact that I have been doing fun stuff like filing, stamping music, and general housekeeping chores this week in preparation for the new semester

yeah, not my strong suit

It could have something to do with the fact that my Bella is feeling very blue today and I hate seeing her so sad.  Why is she so sad you ask? 

Just pretend you asked...K?

1. Two of her most favorite people are going through a very hard time right now, and she wants to help, but can't.
2. Rich is going back to Iowa and will be gone for a week and even though this means that she gets to have snuggle cuddle time with mama in bed it also means that she will be missing a guy that means a lot to her.
3. She got a bad grade on a math test today due to her inability to tackle word problems with any consistency...join the club sistah.  Now mind you she got 100% on a vocab test, 96% on a noun test, was the star player on her soccer team, and finished an exceptional oil painting.  Perspective does not come easy to a 10 year old.
4. The straw that broke the camels back was the fact that her math homework for today was having to divide fractions...yeah, not my strong suit. But we called in the Calvary (Andrew), shed a few tears, cursed the day fractions were invented, and eventually divided and conquered (ha ha get it DIVIDED and conquered).

tap...tap...tap...is this thing on??

So I think that since Rich is headed out of town this weekend Bella and I might have to go see a movie and have a girls night out.

Maybe we will work on dividing fractions with a box of Junior Mints.

Eating Junior Mints...now that's my strong suit.

More Later

- A Ro

The Blah Beating Hodgepodge

It is time once again for the weekly hodgepodge from Joyce over at From This Side of the Pond.   Answer her thought provoking questions on your blog and link up to hers.  Have some fun!!

1. Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to mis-use, over-use or just general uselessness and they receive over 1000 nominations. Here are the fourteen words/phrases they'd like to see banished in 2011-viral, epic, fail, wow factor, a-ha moment, back story, BFF, man up, refudiate, Mama Grizzlies, The American People, facebook/google when used as verbs, I'm just sayin', and Live life to the fullest.




What word or phrase would you like to see banished from our everyday vocabulary in 2011? You can choose one from the 'official list' or you can get creative and come up with your own.
Everyone around here calls each other "boss".  Hey can I help you, boss.  What do you want to order, boss.  I am not your boss...you need to cut that out.

2. Do you consider opportunity something that comes to you or something you create for yourself?
Lets just say if you sit on your couch eating bon bons and wait for opportunity to smack you in the face you will be forever sitting on your couch eating bon bons.  You need to go out and live your life.  Meet people, experience life then opportunities will find you.


3. Since we're all eating healthy this month, ahem, what's included in your favorite salad? Is there dressing?
My favorite salad is this: Good dark lettuce (no iceberg for me) goat cheese, a few wasibi wontons, red onion, and Newman's Own Low Cal Soy Ginger dressing...yum.e.


4. The fourth Monday in January is said to be Blue Monday...aka the most depressing day of the year. The date was calculated using many factors including weather, debt level, time since Christmas, time since we've failed at our new year resolutions, low motivation and feeling a need to take action. Do you get the blues this time of year and if so what is something you do to lift your spirits?
I am definitely a little blue after the holidays, but I quickly become immersed in my new semester and the next project, which at the moment does include focusing on my New Years resolutions.  I also live in sunny CA (which at the moment is rainy CA, but it does turn around quicker than most spots around)


5. Do you wear a watch? Any other everyday jewelry essentials?
I cannot function without a watch.  The only other essential jewelry is my gorgeous engagement ring and wedding band.

6. What is something useful you learned in high school?
Everything I know about teaching high school choir.  I had an amazing choral director who steal from and try to emulate daily.  He showed me how to be a compassionate teacher...all the rest is icing on the cake.


7. Do you use an accountant when completing and filing your income tax returns or do you attempt to muddle through all by yourself?
I WAS a do-it-yourself tax gal until I married Rich...now with all of our crazy stuff we are going to a pro this year.

In Summary:  I have NO time for Blue Monday, none at all, too busy hoping to catch that next opportunity, which soon will be getting busy channeling my high school choir director in how to inspire young minds.  I am a simple jewelry gal with nothing but my keeping me on time aid, and my visual reminder of my husbands love (and good taste), and if you head on over I'll prepare you one might fine salad...just don't call me boss.

More Later

- A Ro

Tell Me Why Tuesdays

I know technically I am writing this and posting it on Monday night, but Tell Me Why Mondays just doesn't have the same ring and tomorrow night, Joyce willing, I will be doing the hodgepodge...so you see.

I did the Tell Me Why posts last year in joining with the #twitterstyleposting...and I had fun...so there.

So...its back, still doesn't have any sort of cute button, or a Mr. Linky but if you have your own "tell me why twitter style" just leave it in the comments.

Here are mine:
1.  Why are there a group of about 10 students in my room during lunch today playing Sorry? #itisn'tfinalsweekaroundhereoranything.

2.  Why do I keep the game Sorry (and Apples to Apples) in my chorus classroom? #iamabigfanofcomicrelief

3.  Why do I love THE BIG YELLOW SALE at Bath and Body Works? #youcan'thavetoomuchwarmvanillasugarhandsanitizer

4.  Why had getting up early to go exercise not been so bad? #cuteworkoutpartnerwholooksGOODweariniggymshorts

5.  Why do people in the south run out to the market and buy milk and bread when there is a THREAT of snow? #musthaveahankeringforfrenchtoasthopeyougoteggs

6.  Why has my next semster middle school chorus grown from 11 students to (as of last count) 18!!! #okmaybeiamagoodteacher

7.  Why do I like proctering finals? #quiettwohoursofuninteruppedworkandfreedress

8. Why do I still have Iowa withdrawal?  #blondbluesbigbrownandred

9.  Why do you still put up with my endless pictures of my nieces and nephews? #causeyoufeelmyheartache

10.  Why am I the happiest woman on the planet? #uhduh

More Later

- A Ro