I've never met a bagel I didn't like....

....until today. This bagel right here was nasty. I think the cream cheese had a lot to do with us. But ugh. Nasty.
And I am wearing my new down vest in this picture. It rocks. Because it's snowing right now.

Some movie reviews

I LOVE my Netflix subscription. It's totally worth it. I've been able to watch some great (and not so great movies). Here are my recent reviews.

Watership Down- I absolutely love this book. So, so, so much. I read it a very long time ago and have reread it may times since. I love Fiver and Hazel and Bigwig and Pipkin and Hyzenthaly and all the rest. And apparently, there is a movie. I discovered it because of my John Hurt kick (more on that later). I don't remember when the movie was made but the animation was incredible. The movie follows the story of several rabbits, led by Hazel and his brother Fiver (who is a "seer") who leave their warren to find a new home. There are a lot of obstacles and of course, some die along the way but the end up victorious and are able to create a new warren at Watership Down. Again, as I said, the animation was amazing, especially at the end when Bigwig fights General Woundwort. And even though it's a story about bunny rabbits, it can be quite dark. I love that Richard Adams created a whole world for these rabbits, with their own myths and religion and stories to tell.

Highly recommended.

Iris- Pretty much just wanted to watch this movie because of the Oxford scenes (hello St. Giles, hello Magdelene Bridge, hello Bodley and Rad Cam, hello lovely Oxford!) but I ended up being blown away by both Judy Dench (oh Dame, you are marvelous) and Jim Broadbent. Kate Winslet played a young Iris Murdoch and honestly, she didn't do much for me, despite being Oscar nominated, I believe. But Dame Judy had to play a women slowly hit by Alzheimer's. She was amazing at portraying the slow loss of memory and Jim Broadbent played her husband, trying to continue to support her even when she becomes like a child who cannot remember anything. He was spot on with the old British man with high pants, a beer belly, a cute hat and vest in most of the scenes. I thought I was on a John Hurt kick but I think I may be on a Jim Broadbent kick. He made me want to cry with his patience and likewise frustration at the situation that he had to experience with his wife who was slowly becoming someone else as she forgot. On the plus side, the movie co-starred Penelope Wilton, aka. Harriet Jones, MP for Flydale North.

Also highly recommended but also very sad.

The Elephant Man- I expected by be horrified by the makeup job on John Hurt but I was mostly horrified at the treatment of the Elephant Man. You can do your own research on the true man but let's just say top of my list this summer is the London hospital to see the remains of the Elephant Man. John Hurt stars as a man who was horribly disfigured, so much so now that he cannot lie back flat or he would asphyxiate himself. He is horribly treated at several different freakshows, both in England and the continent and his saving grace was Dr. Anthony Hopkins and these other circus freaks in Europe who released him from a cage and sent him back to England. I was bawling when the Elephant Man was attacked at the train station and shouted "I am not an Elephant Man. I am a human being!" There was one scene that was honest-to-goodness emotional and bordering on physical rape of the Elephant Man. It was absolutely wretched. Especially because the Elephant Man was such a sweet man who loved his mother, musical theatre and building models of cathedrals.

Highly recommended if you can handle it- it is very emotionally draining to watch.

The Damned United- well, I'm in the middle of this write now as I write but man, does Michael Sheen/Brian Clough have a sexy accent and man, does he have balls! And the guy who plays Wormtail in Harry Potter is in it! And, oh my gosh, Jim Broadbent! You're in this too! That's it, this movie rocks no matte what happens in the next hour and ten minutes! I'll update you on this one later but honestly, let's just say it's going to be good because the cast is excellent, everyone loves a good footie movie and no one cares that much about Leeds now anyway.

And I just realized that all the movies I've been watching lately have been pretty depressing.

I guess I need a bit more humour in my life. Well, that's what I watch Glee and Modern Family for. Leave the comedy to my TV shows and the depression for my movies.

Proust Questionnaire

Since July 1993, the back page of Vanity Fair has been devoted to the Proust Questionnaire, in which a noteworthy person answers a series of personal questions. The questionnaire has its origins in a parlor game popularized (though not devised) by Marcel Proust (1871–1922), the French essayist and novelist, who believed that, in answering these questions, an individual reveals his or her true nature. I found this on a blog that I was reading earlier today and thought I'd play along.

So, here is my true nature.

1. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Being in the company of those I love and those who love me and being able to share experiences with them witout judgement and with lots of laughter. It wouldn't hurt if in that world of happiness, Liverpool was at the top of the table :)

2. What is your greatest fear?
Failure and not living up to my or others expectations

3. What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?
Snap judgements I make of others in my head while in the outside being nice to them. It screams hypocrisy.

4. What is the trait you most deplore in others?
Self-deprecation that is unjustified. Stop complaining about your A- when the rest of us are happy with C+.

5. Which living person do you most admire?
My mom, especially with all that she's put up with me throughout the years.

6. What is your greatest extravagance?
Oh man, probably books. I'm a pretty thrifty person. And honestly, I love to buy things for others so maybe that's it- things for other people.

7. What is your current state of mind?
A combination of content, worry, uncertainty, excitement of upcoming events.

8. What do you consider the most overrated virtue?
temperance

9. On what occasion do you lie?
When it makes someone feel better or it won't hurt their feelings.

10. What do you most dislike about your appearance?
I'd like to lose weight.

11. Which living person do you most despise?
I would never "out" the person that I despise the most that I know. But person I despise the most that I don't know, Cristiano Ronaldo, obviously. Didier Drogba is a close second.

12. What is the quality you most like in a man?
sense of humor and sarcasm to match mine

13. What is the quality you most like in a woman?
a listening ear and words of wisdom

14. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
"Are you kidding me?" "Let's be real." "Oh for pete's sake!"

15. What or who is the greatest love of your life?
my family, my friends, and of course, Michael Owen :) In fantasy though, of course.

16. When and where were you happiest?
when I was living in Oxford and traveling throughout England for cheap

17. Which talent would you most like to have?
I'd like to be able to apparate and disapparate so I could travel the world and not pay for hotels, flights, transportation, etc.

18. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
that I would be in better shape

19. What do you consider your greatest achievement?
graduating in three years and finding jobs despite obstacles (and thus rolling with the punches)

20. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?
hopefully a rockstar :) for real

21. Where would you most like to live?
Engerland. Anywhere in Engerland.

22. What is your most treasured possession?
my Michael Owen autograph and my photographs

23. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?
being alone and away from your support

24. What is your favorite occupation?
teaching is the only one I have ever known

25. What is your most marked characteristic?
being able to stay in touch with people over very long periods of time

26. What do you most value in your friends?
loyalty

27. Who are your favorite writers?
Harper Lee, S.E. Hinton, Madeleine L'Engle, Laurie R. King, Bill Bryson, Jasper Fforde

28. Who is your hero of fiction?
Mary Russell, Thursday Next and Ponyboy

29. Which historical figure do you most identify with?
oh geez, um, you think this would be easy- I love Eleanor of Aquitaine and her crazy family, but I'm not sure who I would identify the most with

30. Who are your heroes in real life?
My mom, my best friends and Laurie King

31. What are your favorite names?
Sam, Emma, Hailey, Sivan, Riley, Spencer

32. What is it that you most dislike?
pushy people

33. What is your greatest regret?
not always being honest with myself and letting my anxiety blind me.

34. How would you like to die?
surrounded by friends and family after a long, happy life

35. What is your motto?
You'll Never Walk Alone- in all sense of the meaning.

Out to Pasture

Saturday night I braved the snow and ice (so dramatic but it really was snowy!) to celebrate Jon's last day of being 25. Because he's sooooo old and is going to be put out to pasture soon, we had to celebrate accordingly and where else would we go? The HaPenny, of course. I got there early and drew up his lovely poster (which got more elaborate as the night went on), a bunch of people came by to celebrate Yosh's birthday, he got to write his name up on the wall, eat and cut cake, we all had a few drinks (well, I didn't I was driving back to Caldwell that night) and generally have a good old time. Happy birthday, old man!

the magnificent poster which got more elaborate as the night went on...
me and Tammi!
Yosh getting to sign the wall- it really did remind me of Dublin and all the grafitti
the whole grup
A Man and a Manhattan
Michael being selfish
Happy birthday Yosh!
Tammi, Ashley and me- all three of us have been to Israel. Not at the same time though.
I was looking at the other camera. My bad.
M2
me and the birthday man at our place

A Cool Thanksgiving Experience

On Thanksgiving Eve, I had a really cool experience of being part of the Twenty-Eighth ANnual Tahnksgiving Ecumenical and Interfaith Service. A few weeks before, Tom, the conductor from the Meridiian Symphony, announced that if anyone want to sing, they could join. I had no idea what was involved but I emailed him and ended up as part of the choir. I drove in on some pretty icy roads into Boise on Wednesday night, tea and cough drops in hand as I was still getting over a cold and coughing a lot, and picked up my music.

I had never been in St. John's Cathedral before and it was beautiful to behold. It reminded me of a less ornate and a newer version of St. Paul's in London. I didn't feel right taking overt pictures so all of these were either from my phone or covertly shot from the pew where I was sitting.
We had a short rehearsal to go over the music and then we got started. The point of this Thanksgiving service was to bring together all of the religions and denominations of the Treasure Valley and spend an evening together remind each other that even though we may believe in different ideas, we all share the idea of community and thanksgiving. The service started out with the familiar sound of a shofar being blown in his usual rhythm and then a processional of all the ministers and religious representatives while the choir sang Oh God Beyond All Praising.



Two minsters from the Catholic and Episcopal churches gave the welcome and prayer, the Mayor gave a Thanksgiving Proclamation (rather him than the governor) and then we sang "All Creatures of our God and King". We sang with the amazingly beautiful pipe organ and a brass section and when we came in, it reminded me of an old Disney movie where there were songs sung by choirs. It was just a glorious amount of sound and I wish I had recorded it so you could all hear what I was hearing.

The first reading was from a leader of the Islamic Community of Idaho and he read in Arabic and English from the Koran, all verses about gathering of the harvest and being grateful to God. We then listened to a group from Burundi, Africa, sing and worship the way that they do when they say mass in Burundi. I loved the different sounds and rhythms that they beat out and then we sang a piece called Come All You People that we sang in both English and another Burundi/African dialect. "Uyai mose, tinamate Mwari, Uyai mose Zvino- Come all you people, come and praise your maker, come let us worship the Lord."



The second reading was from an LDS leader about the importance of faith and prayer and then we sang "Deep River". I had sung that in college and because they needed three soprano soloists, I volunteer. Also because I didn't want to learn the other part. Next was the leader of the Buddhist Community who called us to meditation by reminded us to stop and listen and to be still. She struck a prayer bell that vibrated for a long time in between her words and it echoed widely throughout the quiet cathedral.
The speaker of the night was Rabbi Dan Fink from Ahavath Beth Israel, the synagogue in Boise. Now, I may be biased, but his talk was absolutely incredible. I will try and recap it as best as I can because it's really worthy of repeat. He started out by talking about what country is the less happiest. Turns out, according to a book whose name I can't remember, that country is Moldova. The fabric of that nation was destroyed through years of harsh rule and now the reaction of all the people there is distrust and despair- it's not my problem, they say to all the social ills of the country. Now compare this to the country of Liberia where, five years ago, it would have made Moldova look like the Bahamas. There was a strict dictatorship and its citizens didn't back down- a heroic band of women changed the course of the country's history. A group of women decided to "pray the devil back to hell", there was a mass action to peace that began with Christian women but later spread to Muslim women who joined hands across religious boundaries and began working towards peace and democracy.

Rabbi Fink explained that it is our reaction and response that determines our fate. We can choose to be like the Liberians or the Moldovans. The courage that we have to make that decision comes from the heart (they have the same root- couer), just like we have faith that come from the heart. When we help others, we make our community stronger. Rabbi Hillel states this quite well when he says "If I am only for myself, then who am I?" Fear sends us down the wrong path, fear keeps us from equality, it puts us at war with each other because of fear and insecurity.
This is where Rabbi Fink got a little controversial. He proclaimed that it is fear that keeps us at war with other nations, not just ourselves. It is fear that vilifies President Obama for wanting us to all have health care. It is fear that keeps our gay neighbors from serving in the military proudly or from getting married. So say things like that in the heart of conservative Boise certainly took some courage, so Rabbi Fink was definitely practicing what he was preaching. But he had a good point. We have become so pessimistic that we start to only look at helping ourselves. Golda Meir said that pessimism is a luxury a Jew cannot afford and it is now the same with Americans. We cannot afford to be pessimistic. Our optimism returns us to the path of courage. Our optimism turns us away from our problems and helps us focus on the problems of our neighbors. Out of many, we become one, as our nation's motto, e pluribum unum, says. We multiply our blessings when we share. We become stronger when we share- we become their keepers and they become ours. Rabbi Fink finished with a quote from Desmond Tutu: goodness is stronger than evil, love is stronger than hate, light is stronger than darkness, life is stronger than death."
The service ended with an offering where we sang "Come Ye Thankful People Come" and the blessing of the food and monetary gifts to be donated to the Idaho Food Bank done by a woman from Illowan's Children. We sang the Doxology, were lead in a prayer of Thanksgiving and concluded with a Song of Thanksgiving and closing prayer. A member of the synagogue blew the shofar one last time and the ministers and religious representatives marched the recessional while we sang the ever patriotic "America!"

It was certainly a new opportunity to sing and be a part of this and I am incredibly thankful that I did. In a world where people focus so much on the differences between people, it was nice to come together with many religions and denominations and realize that we really aren't so different- that even though we believe in different Gods and different doctrines and different codes of living, we all can find something to be thankful for.

NOW winter can really come

Because I got the greatest care package from my amazing mom! I got a brand new scarf that she crocheted for me- in great maroon and gray colors. Also, goldfish, my favorite kind, and Winnie the Pooh and Eeyore socks. I'm not a fan of Disneyland but you can never go wrong with new socks that I can wear to sleep or under my boots. Also in the box was some amazing delicious (I assume, I haven't had any yet) banana bread. And the best part, NUTCRACKER TEA. I was literally down to my last bag tomorrow and now I have two new boxes to hold me over until they go on sale after Christmas. Greatest mom ever! I love you!

Ten things

I've got about fifteen minutes before my next student shows up for goal meetings so here is the superficial version of ten things I cannot live without. This being the superficial version, these are mostly material items, not things of real importance like the Bible, my friends, family, etc.

10. My supernatural DVDs: My current (and for the past few years) favorite show. I love Sam and Dean. I love Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles. I love Misha Collins and Jim Beaver and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. I LOVE the Impala. I love the classic rock. I love the classic episodes. I love the Ghostfacers. I love the urban legends. I do not love the tension between Sam and Dean but more on that later. Thank goodness for DVDs.

9. Hulu/surfthechannel/megavideo/etc: Not having a TV anymore, these keep me firmly connected into the world of television. And on the plus side, no commercials or at least super minimal commercials).

8. Nutcracker tea: How I survived the winters, even in Southern California, without this blessing from heaven, I have no idea. It really is like a ballet in a cup. And you can quote me on that quote.

7. My lappy-top: I have had my Macbook for the last two and a half years and I seriously love it. It can do no wrong, usually. even when it sometimes freezes weirdly, it starts back up in about one minute. It has never failed me (hope I don't jinx anything....)

6. Public transportation: This leaves me at a bit of a disadvantage living in Idaho and Orange County. With public transportation, you tend to be safer (nobody wants to mess with a bus/train/coach/etc.), you can read, listen to music without being distracted, sleep, relax, you don't have to worry about hitting small children, etc. I hereby state that public transportation needs to be implemented in all cities.


5. My ipod: I have the most eclectic taste in music. I often crave very specific types of music/songs that the radio cannot provide. Having it all in one place on my ipod is perfect. I can overload it up and not take up room on my computer harddrive. I can listen to books or CD, I can watch movies, I can listen to Baddiel and Skinner or the RSC. I can even listen to these new Couch to 5K podcasts that I just downloaded. Who knows what will come of this but I don't know where I'd be without my ipod.

4. N.Y.C. Brand lip plumper lip gloss. I love this stuff and I love the way that my lips feel when I put on the lip gloss. Except that one time where I think I may have inadvertently swallowed some and my throat felt really weird. This also goes for my Burts Bees chapstick.

3. My Converse. Any type of converse but my favorites right now are my classic blacks and of course, my Rosie the Riveters. Always comfortable, go with everything and good soles to keep the feet warm.

2. Saint Chapelle Special Harvest wine. Only available in Idaho. Delicious and good with everything.

1. My Liverpool fleece blanket: So soft, so warm, perfect for cuddling with a book, special harvest wine, my ipod, on public transportation, with my laptop, watching Hulu or Supernatural. It makes my world a better place.

What are your ten things?

Winter is now allowed to come

Because I have received my hats! I left them all in England to be sent home with my books because as of June, I wasn't planning on being in Idaho. Roni kindly sent them over via Royal Mail and now that my hats, I can properly take on the winter. Here are the said hats, thanks to Photo booth and some boredom on my part.

One day....

...I will have cute little baskets to organize all of my stuff. But for today, I recycle and take old boxes to hold my stuff. Here for example, I have my toiletries box (toothbrushes, cotton balls, deoderant, face cream, extra loofahs, etc.), my medicine box (bandaids, neosporin, Clorox wipes, Day and Nyquil, ibuprofen, etc.) and my brand new hat box.

It really is true!

You know how your parents always say "In ten year time, will it really matter?" And of course, to you at this time, it TOTALLY will matter in ten years.

But I've really started to learn that it doesn't. The things that happen to us, good and bad, are the things that shape us into who we have become today, also for good and for bad.

I've been sick this weekend so today, when I got home from rehearsal, I did nothing but lounge in my bed, eat soup and oatmeal and homemade applesauce chocolate chip cookies, drink tea, watch the Mentalist and read Facebook. I just kept clicking "Older Posts" and because I'm recovering from illness (and a case of the over-dramatics) and I can, I got all the way down to over a year and a half ago.

The point of this isn't that I have way too much time on my hands- this is just a minor corollary. The point that I am trying to make is that most of the status posts that I had where I was stressing over something or angry about a decision made, don't mean anything to me anymore. Some of them I didn't even know at the point what was stressing me out or what I was upset about. A year and a half is not that long ago and clearly I am a perfectly normal, functioning human being. At the time, was I upset over these things? Was I annoyed at circumstances? Yes, absolutely. Were these feelings justified? Again, absolutely. Did they have the long-lasting negative effect that I assumed they would? Absolutely not.

It's always a good reminder to see the things that happen in our lives as just another chapter, just another experience, just another bruise that will fade away or just another memory to tuck away for another time.

Holy friendship batman!

I figured that while I was doing shout-outs, I better make a shout-out to this kid. I sent her an email today and realized that we have been friends for 19 year. Yes, 19 years. Mind you, we are just a mere 25-years-old. That is longer than most of my students have been alive. Just saying.

Love you, Hadasi!

Why British shows may be superior to American shows

Here are some of my favorite quotes from British comedies (Doctor Who not included because that would just be totally unfair):

The IT Crowd

Roy: Is this another one of your inventions?

Moss: Might be.

Roy: What was the last one? ...oh yes. A ladder, to help moths escape from the bath. How is that useful?!

Moss: How is that not useful?

Roy: Moths don't get stuck in baths!

Moss: Yes they do!

Roy: Even if that were true - it's just not in their nature to learn how to use a ladder! They have wings! When a moth thinks about travelling vertically upwards, a ladder is just the last thing they would think of! Moss, I don't like to be negative about it, but everything you invent is worthless!

Moss: Ah! Well, prepare to put mustard on those words, for you will soon be consuming them along with this slice of humble pie that comes direct from the oven of shame, set at gas mark 'egg on your face'! ... I sort of forget what I was talking about.

---

V Advert Narrator: [Voicing an Emergency Services advert] Has this ever happened to you? :[The old woman on the advert twists her ankle and falls down stairs, gets up and falls down second flight of stairs before picking up her phone and trying to dial 999] From today, dialing 999 won't get you the Emergency Services, and that's not the only thing that's changing! [upbeat music starts, followed by close-ups and shots of new emergency vehicles and team] Nicer ambulances, faster response times and better looking drivers mean they're not just the Emergency Services, they're your Emergency Services. So, remember the new number! :[upbeat voice singing to jingle] 0118 999! 881 999, 119 725! [short pause] 3! That's [number is repeated in similar style whilst the old woman dials the number and waits]

Old Woman: Hello? I've had a bit of a tumble.

Moss: [watching the ad] Well that's easy to remember. [singing in a similar style to the advert] 0118 999 881 999 119 725! [pauses] 3!

Roy: [listening to Moss] I don't see how they couldn't just keep the other one. I mean, how hard is it to remember 911?

Moss: You mean 999-

Roy: Yes, yes, I mean 999! Yeah, I know.

Moss: That's the American one, you berk!

---

The InBetweeners

Will: Can somebody call me an ambulance? Because I'm in trouble. Time is moving really, really slowly, and everything is flat. I need you to call me an ambulance, or failing that, my mummy. I really want my mummy because, and I'm not being dramatic, but I think I might be dead. Is that clear? Mummy or ambulance.

Neil: What's an itinerary?

Simon: It's Will's way of taking the fun out of everything.

Peep Show

Mark: You know Kerry, cancer Kerry, I need to find out, for a friend, the name of that Chinese doctor she was raving about, do you remember?

Jez: Sure. It was Doctor Ying Fu Yip... Wang Shong... Pang Fang Wang... Dang Dong Ning Po Ku.

Mark: Oh right. I see. I get it. You were lampooning me. It was a simple lampoon.

Jez: No Mark. I only told you for a laugh. You promised not to tell.

Mark: Hitler promised not to invade Czechoslovakia, Jeremy. Welcome to the real world!

Super Hans: Where might you find a diphthong?

Mark: It's an element of speech.

Super Hans: Where might you find one?

Mark: In a word?

Mark: (Note to self Re: being the Fonz - Mark, you are *not* the Fonz.)

---

Jeremy: "If you build it, they will come". That's my market research.

Mark: Your market research is Field of Dreams? I mean, a man who made a baseball pitch in his garden for ghosts? That's your role model?

---

---

Mark: [Whilst jogging] (Hey! Wow, I'm actually good at this. Maybe I'm a natural - yeah, I'm a jogger! Of course, there had to be a sport for me, I just never realised. Legs like two great steam locomotives, pumping away, I'm unstoppable - JESUS, is that a stitch -I'm gonna be sick, I need to walk. Oh, I think I'm gonna puke, I'm literally going to die, ugh, what an idiotic boob I was back ten or eleven seconds ago.)

Jez: Crunchy Nut Cornflakes are just Frosties for wankers.

Mark: Frosties are just Cornflakes for people who can't face reality.

Mark: You'd be the first to admit that you're not the most rational thinker.

Jez: No I wouldn't!

Mark: You still don't understand what happens in Ocean's Eleven.

Jez: It's a complicated film.

Mark: It really isn't.

Mark is making a list of everything that Jez can consume.]

Mark: Toilet paper, OK. Soap, OK. But not shower gel. And no razors. If you're poor, grow a beard. Tea Bags are allowed within reason.

Jez:Within Reason?

Mark:No making a Pie out of tea or anything weird

---

Why hello there! (and some shout-outs)

I bet some of you thought I had gone off the grid. Well, I kind of had. My two weeks or so since Fall Break have been epically crazy, both for good reasons and bad reasons. Some of the bad reasons:

-dealing with a massive plagiarism case. Most people that I talk to no a regular basis know what's up. But it's been a pain in my butt. I just handed over a 15 page packet of information to Mark yesterday. So now it's out of my hands. Plagiarism isn't as fun when you're not on Judicial Committee

-sicky, sicky- been in bed for the last few days (or at least dreaming about it). I even made a 12:30 am sojourn to Walmart in my orange Albertson sweatshirt, black cropped pants, black socks with pink hearts and black flats to buy Nyquil and Dayquil. Which didn't work. And I saw parents at Walmart with their little kids. I judged them harshly.

-students are sicky sicky- which means they don't come to class. Which means they have to come by later to make up their work. Or they don't and then they complain about their grade. Anyway, it's a lot hard to keep up with your grading when you never know what's going ot show up on your desk.

-busy schedule. For example, last week, I was out every single night. They were all good things but the driving back and forth in the cold and going to bed late and waking up early has made me a very cranky lady.

-my fight with the razor is only just healing. I have been having to wear flats all week and haven't been able to really work out which is probably why I'm sick. Cold feet usually leads to a bad cold with me.

- locking my keys in my car. This was kinda funny though. I was at the Henberg's Happy Hour and luckily Campus Safety was there. But those officers (Allan and Ben) were off-duty. They joked about getting me a hammer. But then they called Kristina and she got me out in no time. Thanks CS- you're the best!

But there has been some great stuff going on too. And sometimes it's the little things that really are what make me the happiest.

-my soon to be epic scar. Excuse my gross legs. As I mentioned earlier, I'm staying far far away from razors. The top half as almost healed, the bottom half is getting there. AND I can wear boots again. Hallejulah because it legitly snowed today. While driving too and from church. Fantastic.

-my Junior High Connections kids- we had a blast at the bonfire and guess who led worship? Lil old me! Crazy! Even after not touching my guitar in a month (and only really practicing a month before that!). We had such a good time, roasting hot dogs and marshmallows, drinking cocoa, singing, laughing, having a good talk. Love these kids! Especially Miss Shelby.


-Having M3 time with a little Sherman time thrown in. And of course, having the greatest dinner at Mongo and then drinks at the HaPenny with Yosh and Michael. With the creation the Triangle of Trust club. Nothing better than hanging out with the guys. I've missed that so much! Here's to epic crapfest movie marathon on Tuesday with Michael. It really don't get any better than that!
-Night out with the girls. Which involved trying to avoid two creepers on the dance floor at Tom Grainey's (sorry Kris!), seeing Charlie Conway (from Mighty Ducks! No way!), telling a guy at Mack and Charlie's that we were all sad because we had just come from a funeral, saying goodbye to Kristen (that was not fun :( ), having a great dinner at the HaPenny with Miss Ariel Foster, such a great time!

-spending the weekend with Bailie. We watched Supernatural in the media room on the bestest couch in the whole wide world, made pizza, sang Carol of the Bells, went downtown with Jess and spent an hour at the Record Exchange trying on hats (Bay bought her monster hat!), DDR, DJ Hero, etc. She is one crazy kid.


-shout out to Candice Malandice! I finally caught up with the Mentalist so my Netflix queue is now indie movies and things I've been wanting to see for a long time. Like the Prison Break: The Final Break movie. It was nice to watch Michael and Sucre and Linc and T-bag again. Brought back happy memories. And of course, I couldn't help saying "It's the guy from the West Wing!" a la Abba when Mahone came on the screen.

-this one is totally superficial but I am so so so so so so so so so (etc.) happy that my bangs are long enough to tuck behind my ears. We are one step closer to uniform hair length! Huzzah!

-libraries- I've been getting some cool books at the library, starting with the Quiet American by Graham Greene for Alumni Book Club. I got an Anastasia book (or two) for help with my critical thinking lesson and have been rereading those as well as a new E.L. Konigsburg book I had never read before. She's awesome. I also got a Groupon coupon for $10 worth of books for $5. I know that's like one book but who cares? I do not. In other good news, Jasper Fforde has a new books (shout-out Beth!) and Laurie's coming out with two Sherlock-y books in 2011. Again, huzzah!

-cool music opportunities- This Wednesday night I"m singing at St. John's Cathedral in Boise for their Ecumenical service. I have no clue what that means, I haven't gotten the music yet but I have been assured that I shall be fine. I'm very excited. Then the following weekend, I have my Meridian Symph concert on Saturday which I'm excited about (minus Sleigh Ride- shoot me in the face) and then on Sunday I'm playing with Mick and Marcy and Matt (and I"m Michal, I just noticed that!) for a concert to benefit Kyli Stark and her YWAM school program. I'm cello-ing it and singing and super excited!

-i-chatting with 3/5s of my family (Youval was in a final and Abba was at work). And I promise I didn't mean it when I said "Let's delete Mom" and Shiri, your i-chat sucks more than the rest of us. True story.

So that's a mad jumble of my life right now! Also in the throes of getting together letter of recommendation packets, applying for sub positions, applying to BSU, grading, grading, grading, thinking of new travel plans for next winter, spring and summer that won't cost too much (anyone want to come to Vancouver with me? and shout-out to Rochelle and Andrea as possible Philly/NYC hosts? and of course ORKNEY for this summer), and wrapping up the end of the year (calendar, that is). I promise it won't be this long before my next update. I'm sure there will be a bad movie review on Wednesday (as in the movie will be bad, not the review).

Cheers!