Death Penalty

Early this morning, Crips founder Stanley "Tookie" Williams was executed in the execution chamber of the San Quentin prison. While I have no personal connection to Williams or his world, his execution does raise some interesting questions.

As a founder of the Crips street gang in Los Angeles, Williams was instrumental in creating and perpetuating an African-American gang culture in America that caused thousands, if not millions, of deaths. This gang culture has also laid the groundwork in distributing crack and other drugs throughout the country. Williams was in prison for murdering four people.

While in prison, Williams published several books encouraging kids to reject the gang lifestyle and seemed to become an activist for peace. He seems to have undergone a real change for the better.

Now the questions. What is the purpose of incarceration? Is it to punish offenders, or to rehabilitate and release? Is it to protect society from criminals? What is the purpose of the death penalty? Does it deter further violent crimes? It doesn't seem to. If an inmate shows what seems to be a real change of heart, as in the cases of Williams or Karla Faye Tucker, is death justified? Why not commute to life sentences and hope the inmates can continue to have a positive influence on those around them? What of those who are wrongly convicted? Is it okay to kill one innocent person if it means you kill a hundred guilty? Maybe there's a line of severity to be considered. Hitler, killer of millions - fry him; John Doe, killer of one - prison time? I don't know.

I do feel that criminals should have to pay for their crimes, and that a government has a duty to protect its citizens. I just don't know if killing achieves that goal.

Now: My soapbox moment.



I would rather prevent crime than punish criminals. I believe that if our government would invest in education and economic initiatives that eventually we wouldn't need to invest so heavily in prisons. We need early childhood programs, more teachers, smaller classrooms, more materials, more field trips, less standardized tests, strong vocational education programs, and adult education programs. And as much as I love my summers, I think we need to go to year-round school programs. I think we need to completely overhaul the way we do education in this country.

Anyway, as you can see, I have lots of questions, but no real answers. Feel free to chime in with your thoughts or questions as well.

Out of the Whooping Cough, Into the Fire

First of all, I am recovering from whooping cough. Did ya know that the vaccine you get as an infant wears of when you're a teenager? Yeah, neither did I. We caught it early, so I'm recovering really quickly. Thank God for antibiotics!

My first day back from being sick, I got the wonderful news that I am out of a job. I can't say more until all the legal matters are settled. I'm both relieved and upset. Oh well, whatever's next around the corner HAS to be better. Baby Joel is obviously working hard to think of a solution for me. Isn't he the cutest thing?!?

Trivia Goddess

I scored a 92. How will you do?

Enough

I quit. I give up.
Nothing's good enough for anybody else it seems
Edie Brickell Circle (Click on Play Sample)


Well, I've had it. I hate my job, and the powers that be hate me. It's time to go, but I don't have anywhere to go yet. (Anyone want to hire me?) This is SO not what I thought my life would be. I'm 31, never even had a real boyfriend, much less a husband. I hate my career. I have NO money. I'm in horrible shape.

Now I know that I have many good things in my life, and I know that the majority of the world has a much harder life than I do. However, that is cold comfort when I'm battered and bruised each day by a job situation that is toxic.

It's not like I want to be Melania Trump or anything, I just want a few simple things; loving husband, kids, comfortable home, decent job... I'm just so tired of feeling like my peers are racing ahead to the Candy Castle while I'm stuck in the Swamp. }}sigh{{

I need a hug.

He's Here!

Joel Caedmon was born yesterday at 2:42 pm. Mama Happy and baby Joel are perfect, and Daddy Happy is over the moon. Yea!!!




UPDATE: Here's another photo. So cute!!

A Humble Request

We are now within a month of my favorite day of the year - my birthday. For me, my birthday, November 20, is the only day of the year when I get to be special. Other people get anniversaries, Mothers' Day, Fathers' Day, Grandparents' Day, bosses' day, secretaries day, etc. Since there is no Teachers' Day or Singletons' Day, my birthday is the only shot I get to be special. This year, I am in desperate need of relaxation for my big day, so if you are one of the few, the proud, the gift-giving, my choice for a birthday gift is a gift certificate from the Lake Austin Spa's day spa. I really hope to be able to get a river rock massage and a river rock pedicure. With my work situation, I REALLY need a day to unwind. Thank you in advance for your overwhelming generosity. :)

I'm Gandalf, Who are you?

The Winds of Change

Well, once again I have decided that teaching is not the career for me. Last year was really bad, and this year is shaping up to be even worse. It's time for me to step out of what I know and try something new - something that is rewarding, and challenging, and decently-paid where no one yells in my ear or sneezes on me. So, knowing that looking for a job can take months, I am already putting out applications, mainly in conference planning and communications type jobs. I'm also planning on taking the foreign service exam this spring. So far, the avenues I'm most excited about pursuing are foreign service, Missions work, and communications at a university. I would like to stay in the Austin area, but for a good job I'll go anywhere. (Except, maybe, someplace like Saudi or Qatar.) I am open to any suggestions and/or job offers you feel like sending my way.

Biological and Adopted Kids

I read a story yesterday on CNN that announced that Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise are expecting a baby. Since I am not a fan of either, I just skimmed the article. One sentence grabbed my attention and really angered me.

"The child would be Cruise's first biological child. He adopted two children with actress Nicole Kidman before their marriage ended in divorce in 2001."

I have seen this before, but it never ceases to anger me when the media treats adopted children as though they don't count as much as biological children. What does the fact that Cruise's kids are adopted have to do with anything? His kids are his kids. The article should have read something like "This will be Holmes' first child and Cruise's third." I am not adopted, but I plan on adopting my own daughter from China in a few years. Does CNN think that my daughter won't be just as loved or as legitimate as any children I might give birth to?

When you let a child into your heart, they're yours. Forever. My daughter will be my daughter from day one, and I'll be the only Mommy she ever knows. I intend to love the stuffin' out of her and no one, not even CNN, will be able to weaken our bond.

Happy Serenity Day

It's finally here!!! Serenity, based on Joss Whedon and Tim Minear's Firefly is finally in theaters. Even if you're not a big sci-fi buff, which I'm not, the film is well worth seeing. Clever, funny, smart, with a beautiful cast... It's totally gonna rock. When Firefly was on TV, Fox didn't promote it, didn't play the pilot that explained everything, and played the episodes out of order. It didn't have a chance. A huge box office this weekend would show them how wrong they were. Please go see Serenity this weekend. You'll be glad you did.

Hurricanes, Hysteria, Heat, and Hope

Living in Central Texas, our focus for the past few weeks has been hurricanes. Austin is housing thousands of survivors from Katrina and Rita. Again, please continue to give every month until these people are settled. As Rita crossed the Keys and went into the gulf, Austinites went a little nuts. Across two counties, there wasn't a single bottle of water to be had. People panicked and bought weeks worth of canned food, water, batteries, candles, matches, etc. We also ran out of gas. Literally every station I passed had signs out front that said their tanks were empty, or that they only had diesel left. It was crazy. Thankfully, the Austin area felt only a few strong breezes. Ironically, we could have really used the rain. We are in a heat wave that just won't end. Yesterday, when I had car duty at school, it was a balmy 107 degrees. Today it was about the same. I'd expect temps like this in August, but it's almost October! A cold front is supposed to come in on Thursday and drop the temps into the eighties. What a relief that will be!

My second-mom, Linda, and I went to a women's conference at Shoreline this weekend. The music and the speakers were awesome! If you get a chance to see Chris Caine or Lisa Bevere in person, I highly recommend it. I really got a lot out of the conference. It's always nice to have the change to stop for a few days to take a look at you life and decide what areas need a little work. As usual, the conference stirred up my restless spirit and made me start thinking about what I want to do next in my life. Peace Corps? Missions work? Mercy Ships? writing? Who knows...when I figure it out, I'll let you know.

Rumors of my death...

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to let you know that I am indeed alive and well. The month surrounding the beginning of school is always insane! Plus I really haven't been doing that much outside of school. So, here is my last month in a nutshell.

1. Katrina - My deepest sympathies go out to all those whose lives have been devastated by Hurricane Katrina. If I could take them all into my house and clothe and feed and hug them, I would. If you haven't already, please donate to an aid organization, not only this month, but every month until the Big Easy is back on its feet. The cleanup will be toxic and dangerous and rebuilding will take a while. We should be willing to support our fellow citizens for the long haul. As for the thousands of lost souls, may God bless them.

2. Punkin - My sweet baby is growing like a weed! He goes to get fixed on Saturday, and his Mama is a little nervous.
Isn't he precious?!? ( I know, I know, it's nauseating. Moving on...)

3. Movies - Amy's 2 second movie reviews - The Island 3 stars, pretty but forgettable; Dukes of Hazzard 4 stars, great 70's nostalgia, questionable casting choices; Red Eye 3 stars, loved Rachel McAdams, but a pretty flat script. On Netflix, Spartan was surprisingly good, A Very Long Engagement was pretty, but confusing, and the Manor House series was great.

4. TV - With the fall season upon us, my new absolutely-can't-miss favorites are Lost, Veronica Mars, Survivor:Guatemala, House, and Desperate Housewives. Newcomers Prison Break, Reunion, and Commander in Chief look promising. We'll see. For great TV dish, read Kristen's column each week. I love this girl!! If stalking was legal, I would be this girl's shadow in a heartbeat. :)

5. Serenity opens September 30! - If you haven't seen Firefly, see it. It's awesome. (You can rent in on 4 discs, or just buy it. It's worth it. It's also on SciFi on Friday evenings for the next few weeks.) If you can only see a few episodes, watch "Serenity", "Ariel", "Out of Gas", "Bushwhacked", and "Objects in Space" to get the gist of the series. Serenity, the film, picks up with the Firefly crew six months after the series ends. Please give the series (and the film) a chance. It is smart and clever and worth a look.

Baby Pictures

I finally have pictures of my baby Punkin. Isn't he the cutest thing! I love him so much! I've never had a cat before, so all this mama-love is new to me. My favorite parts of the day are when I fall asleep to his purring (he sleeps on my pillow above my head) and when he gives me kisses and cuddles in the morning. It's so nice having another warm body in the apartment.

In other news, we began school on Tuesday. So far my kids are talkative, but pretty good. I really hope that this year is better than last. I wonder if I'll ever have a year where I don't spend every day thinking of how to get out and do something else. A sign of unhappiness maybe? Hmmmmm.....

A few other Random notes.....My friend Lisa is back in Austin for a while. Yea! While I wish her husband wasn't stationed in Baghdad, I'm glad to have her close by again....There exists a small possibility that my best friends, the Happys, might return to Texas before Baby Happy comes to join us. Just the thought gives me shivers of happiness and causes spontaneous giggles...My friend Laura has been wonderful in helping me settle into becoming a cat mama. She has been checking in on me, but I've been so busy I haven't called back. Sorry Vel, I love you, and I swear I'll call you soon... {{big sigh}} I love my friends :)

Sad News

My father just called to tell me that my Uncle Wayne passed away this afternoon. He was diagnosed with breast cancer about two years ago and with pancreatic cancer several months ago. My uncle was never very close with his family and had no children of his own. He and my Aunt Vivian were married for about 30 years. I'm sad for her loss, even though I barely knew them. What breaks my heart is that I know for sure that he never gave his heart to Christ, so he will spend eternity away from God. To learn more about a life with Christ, please give me a call. To learn about cancer research and survivor stories visit the Komen Foundation, LiveStrong, or the American Cancer Society.

Favorite TV Episodes

Last night I was watching television when Fresh Prince of Bel-Air came on. Always a fun show, I kept it on while I was making dinner. I soon realized that it was my favorite episode, the one where Will's father (played by the wonderful Ben Vereen) returns for a brief moment, only to disappear and disappoint again. I thought to myself, "Of all the episodes of this show, I think this one is the absolute best." I started thinking through old television shows and picking my "best" of each of them.

My next thought was The Jeffersons. I vaguely remember a Halloween show where "Weezy", who I think was dressed as Mae West, witnessed a murder and then the murderer, who I think wore a rabbit costume, came after her.

My favorite episodes of All in the Family were both sad ones. I loved the one where Edith was assaulted in her home while Archie was next door planning a party for her. I also love the one after Edith died, when Archie sits alone on their bed and talks to her about how lost he is without her. This scene remains one of the most touching in my TV memory.

Archie walks into his and Edith's bedroom. And closed two empty drawers in the dresser. Archie sits down on the bed and finds one of Edith's slippers on the floor. Sadness encompasses him. To Archie the slipper represents Edith.

ARCHIE
It wasn't supposed to be like this. I was supposed to be the first one to go. I always used to kid you about you going first. You know I never meant none of that and that morning when yous was laying there. I was shaking you and yelling at you to go down and fix my breakfast. I didn't know. You had no rite to leave me that way.
[Archie starts to cry.]

ARCHIE
Without giving me just one more chance to say I love you.

Not all my favorites were sad, though. I love the episode of The Cosby Show where Theo moves into the "real world," the early episode of Facts of Life where the school flooded, and the Maltese Falcon episode of Kate and Allie.

I'm sure there are many, many more that I'll think of later. What are your favorites?

Hot, hot, hot!

It has been even hotter than usual lately in Texas, so it is pretty uncomfortable down here. I have been uber-busy with getting ready for the next school year. I trained for two weeks in the use of Lego RoboLab in the classroom, and I did another few days on language-arts curriculum improvements. I've also been house/dog sitting, and I have a friend in town for a couple of weeks, so I've been REALLY busy.

Punkin is great, although he is growing WAY too fast. Also, we found out last week that my best friends, the Happy family, are having a boy. Yea!

Thanks in part to the One Campaign, major changes are heading to Africa. Another yea! I've been thinking a lot about preparing for foreign aid/mission work in Africa in a year or two. Please pray for me to recieve strong guidance from the Lord.

On a final note for the day, I send my very best, most peaceful, loving, healing thoughts and prayer to all those effected by the London bombing. Go in peace.

Here Kitty, Kitty...

I am finally an official Mama. I brought my new kitten home on Tuesday, and he is so cute! He is an orangey-blond with pale stripes on his back and little pale spots on his tummy. He is about eight weeks old, so he is still a baby. After a few mishaps, he is now using his litter box like an old pro. (Thank God!) He purrs like a little warm motor. I think I'm gonna like having a kitty. His name is Pumpkin, which in Texan is Punkin. When he's being good, I can coo over my little Punkin-head. When he's bad, I can call him a little Punk. As soon as I get some pictures, I'll post a pic.

In other random news, my interest of the week is Airstream trailers. The main character of one of my favorite series, Wonderfalls, lives in an Airstream that looks like the inside of Jeannie's bottle. I went to an RV dealer the other day to see what they're really like. They are awesome!! Cute, distinctive, roomy.... so cool! I could absolutely see myself hooking a trailer up to a truck and hitting the road. There is so much of America and Canada that I would LOVE to see. Ahhhh.... Maybe someday, when I can be a writer and work from anywhere.

Speaking of great writing, Wil wrote a great post called "the seat with the clearest view" on video games and his youth. He is such a good writer! Also, check out Amanda's new British roadster. Wow!

I've been using Netflix to relive some old TV shows. Right now I'm watching Popular and Freaks and Geeks. I'd forgotten how good they were. I love how many series are on DVD now.

Have a great 4th of July!!

Africa

Years ago, I read I Dreamed of Africa and The Poisonwood Bible, and I became enthralled by this vision of Africa as a hot, dangerous, beautiful land. The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series is also fabulous. For years I have been planning my future trips to Kenya and Tanzania to climb Kilamanjaro and go on safari. After watching The Endless Summer, I also want to go surfing in Jeffrey's Bay in South Africa. Africa seems beautiful, and parts of it are, but the reality of what the majority of Africans face every day is horrific.

A couple of weeks ago, I went to east Texas for a week to chaperone a group of about a hundred junior and senior high kids from my church at Student Life Camp. We had a great time, and I think I got as much from it as the kids did. One of the things that really affected me was a video we saw by an aid group called Compassion International. The video showed the work that Compassion does in Africa, and it was amazing. Not long after, I saw the Brad Pitt interview with Diane Sawyer that focused on the One campaign. The more I learn about Africa, the more my heart breaks for these people, especially the millions of children caught in the crossfire.

I can't do anything for at least a year, but I am seriously comtemplating mission or foreign aid work in Africa in the next few years. We have SO much in this nation. Even our poor are the richest poor in the world. Please visit the sites above, as well as the One campaign's partners page to see how you can help. Even small donations make a big difference.

You did what?!?!

I can understand certain mix-ups, like mistaking sugar for salt or pyrite for gold, but hydraulic fluid for surgical detergent?!?! You've GOT to be kidding me!

Spam Lady Blitzes Homes

Heather Simpson, star of that creepy teacher Spam commercial, and sister of my friend Jen, is now hosting a show on CMT called Home Blitz. Heather is really enjoying getting to work with country music stars while she gets to help families receive a home from Habitat for Humanity. She is a great girl, and the show is pretty good. Give it a look!

School's Out for Summer!!

Today is the last day of school. Yea!! It will be so good to have a break. My current teaching situation is a very poor one, and I am so excited because I have an interview in a much better district on Friday morning. I want this job SO bad!! Wish me luck! On a darker note, some sort of virus has hit our school today. About 30 kids went home today with a stomach virus, and several teachers are sick. They think it might be the Norwalk virus. Fun! :) At least I'm not sick - yet. I have to at least make it through the Lost finale tonight. I hope Sawyer doesn't die. He is so hot! I haven't mentioned that before, have I? :)

The Boys of Stand By Me

A week or two ago, I rented Rob Reiner's Stand By Me. I have seen pieces of the film several times, but I'd never really sat down to watch the whole thing. I was amazed at the way Rob Reiner took four green kids and created such a masterpiece. As I've soaked in pieces of the film over the last few weeks, I've thought of the boys of Stand By Me and the effects they've had on my life.

Corey Feldman - When I was growing up, I always was a sucker for the tortured, misunderstood bad boy. Even now, I live to see Sawyer on Lost. My favorite New Kid was Donnie, my favorite 90210 boy was Dylan, and my favorite soap hunks were Port Charles gangster Sonny Corinthos and Days of Our Lives', Steve Johnson, aka Patch. I had major crushes on Christian Slater, during his Pump Up the Volume rehab years, and Corey Feldman around the time License to Drive came out. The story of the Coreys was really a cautionary tale to my generation. The two Coreys were on top of the world one minute, and unemployable addicts the next. Showered with inappropriate attention as children, their perceptions of the world around them became so skewed that they became unable to function in normal situations. Feldman was on The Surreal Life a few years ago, and he really made me sad. How can someone with so much talent follow such a bizarre path in his life?

Jerry O'Connell - OK, the boy is just hot! Who would've thought that fat little Vern would grow into such a hunk? He's beautiful, he's talented, he's goofy, and he's single (for now). Could he be any more perfect for me? Come on, Jerry, give me a call.

Wil Wheaton - As we all know, I am a big fan of Wil's blog. He is a great writer, as well as a talented actor. He also seems to be a good husband and father, which is better than all the rest, in my book.

River Phoenix - What can you say about River? He was amazing. He was so talented! I have been watching a lot of his films, and they make me so sad. He could have been phenomenal - one of those actors whose longevity and diverse body of work become touchstones for those who follow in their footsteps. Instead he chose drugs, which ended his life at 23. I never understood how someone who was a strict vegan and nature activist could put such poison into his body. River's family has a tribute site that is pretty sweet.

Both sweet and sad, the lives of these boys, now men, in some ways reflect the tone of the film. The boys without guidance self destructed, and the others contine to live good lives. Throughout the journey, we all just want to belong somewhere. Triumphant or tragic, or somewhere in between, each of these boys are a part of my life and of our collective experience.

Summer Break

Wow! Spring has been so busy! I always forget how much work it is to close down the school year. In looking over my summer calendar, I laugh at the idea that teachers get three months a year off. Ha! We actually get two months off, and and least four of my eight weeks are filled with week long inservice institutes. Don't get me wrong, I love the time off that I will get, I just wish I didn't have to work so much (for free!) on my time "off".

I found a new blog today that I like a lot. The Evangelical Ecologist combines my love of God and love of nature. Check him out. A funny that was on his site a while back -

A new pastor was visiting in the homes of his parishioners. At one house it seemed obvious that someone was at home, but no answer came to his repeated knocks at the door. Therefore, he took out a card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it and stuck it in the door.

When the offering was processed the following Sunday, he found that his card had been returned. Added to it was this cryptic message, "Genesis 3:10." Reaching for his Bible to check out the citation, he broke up in gales of laughter.

Revelation 3:20 begins "Behold, I stand at the door and knock." Genesis 3:10 reads, "I heard your voice in the garden and I was afraid for I was naked."

***

My TV shows are finally all new again. I am LOVING Lost, of course, (Sawyer is so hot!!) but if there turns out to be an alien in the hatch, I am never watching it again! I am so happy that Desperate Housewives is starting to fill in some blanks about Dana and Dierdre, and I love the new twists. How priceless was Bree getting marriage advice from Edie?!? Too fun! My other must-sees (Survivor - Go Ian!, Crossing Jordan, Medium, ER, One Tree Hill, and Gilmore Girls) are also continuing to entertain.
I know it's a lot of TV, but when you have no kids, no pets, no significant other, and no money, it's a good way to entertain yourself. :)

In a final note, Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

UPDATE: It's here, it's here!! The trailer for Serenity is now online. Woo-hoo! Serenity is the film continuation of Firefly. The trailer looks great. I didn't see Shepherd Book, though. Anyone know why? BTW, you can catch a screening of the film on these dates. You can bet I'll be there!

UPDATE: Well, I would have been there if tickets hadn't sold out in literally 5 seconds. :(

This and That

I had a great weekend! I was house/dogsitting for Jeff and Jen this weekend, so I got some serious human/golden retriever bonding time. Their dog Bodie is SUCH a great dog. It makes me want one of my own.

Saturday, my second-mom, Linda, called to see if I wanted to shopping with her. It was Linda's husband, Robert, that we lost in December. I saw her a great deal in December, but have only seen her a few times since, so I was very excited to have a girls' day with her. She had a problem with her heart about two weeks ago, but she's doing great now. We had so much fun! I got some new clothes and we went to see Off the Map, which was a little slow, but good. It actually made me miss the desert. (I lived in El Paso, Texas, until I was 9. The thing I miss the most? The sunsets and our favorite Mexican food. Leo's is the best Mexican food restaurant on the planet!)

For the next few weeks, life will be crazy as school shuts down. It seems we have more meetings and more paperwork every day. When the sun is shining outside, the last thing I want to do is sit and do paperwork....oh well, only 19 more days.

Some random news -

Some buffalo in Maryland made quite a stir the other day.

I guess hunting is more dangerous that I thought.

Every girl wants some serious ice on her wedding day, but this is ridiculous!

Finally, please send good thoughts to Wil whose cat passed away yesterday.

Spring Fever

Hey y'all, as you can see, I'm experimenting with a new look for springtime. The wildflowers are blooming, the sun is shining, and I am definitely in the throes of Spring Fever. I LOVE the time of year when the Bluebonnets bloom. I went to a retreat this weekend, and the flowers are bursting out all over the countryside. Ahhhh....I love Texas!

Get the lead out!

As I've mentioned a few times before, I am writing a screenplay. I have been developing the characters and the story for a few months. I'm now actually writing the thing, and it's been a little overwhelming. I am one of those people who wants each line to be perfect before I move to the next, so I keep revising what I have as I go along. As a result, I've only finished the first 4-5 pages. At this rate, I'll be in a home before I'm finished. I think I need to begin a more dedicated effort. For instance, tonight my plan is to watch Survivor and then tape my other shows so I can write. Watching The Starlet(s) go through different acting classes gave me some good perspective on how actors approach playing characters, and I realized that I needed to add more depth to mine. Also, reading Wil's posts on acting have given me even more insight on how actors approach their craft. (He is SUCH a good writer!) I am going to a retreat this weekend, and I hope to use my free time to write even more. If I work every day, especially once school's out in summer, I should be finished by the time I return to school in August. So that means, what?, February 2007 for my Oscar? I'll be sure to thank my blogbuddies in my acceptance speech. :)

Surprisingly good film of the week: Confessions of an American Girl with Jena Malone and Brad Renfro. Harsh, but hopeful, tale of a trailer park girl and her messed up family. Check it out.

On a final note, some of you may not know that I am freakishly afraid of large birds. (I always think they will peck out my eyes and scratch my face off.) Although I have yet to encounter a goose, I'm glad I'm not the only one who has problems with birds.

Hidden Jewels

Another new episode of Lost tonight. Woo-hoo! What am I going to this summer when it's only re-runs?!? Also, Michellelynne is the new Starlet. Watch her on One Tree Hill in two weeks. It's so fun watching someone's dream come true!

One of the things I love about Netflix is that I can catch up on all sorts of TV shows and films that I missed the first time around. I've discovered that I am a big fan of Joss Whedon and Tim Minear. I've just ordered Firefly on DVD and soon I'll order Wonderfalls. Both are SOOOO good. I can't believe that they were both cancelled so soon! What was Fox thinking?!? One of my other favorite one-season wonders, Higher Ground, isn't available on DVD yet, but I'll snatch it up as soon as it's out.

Oddly enough, the same actress appears in all three. I first noticed Jewel Staite in a kids show called Flash Forward. Since then, I've really liked her in everything I've seen. I really hope that over the years her star continues to rise. Please visit her fan site and get to know her work.

Not the Mama

Well, it seems that I am not going to be getting my kittens after all. The lady who has them never contacted me to come get them. Instead, I think I might adopt a dog in May, when school's out. I can spend all summer training him/her, so I won't have to come home at lunch each day for potty breaks. Our standardized test pressure is insane right now, so summer is looking REALLY attractive right about now. I'm going to Las Vegas for the first time, and maybe some small road trips to some area campgrounds. Only two more months. Ahhhhhhhh............

I am SO excited that Lost is back on tonight!! I am also really liking The Starlet. I am writing my first screenplay, and the show has helped me to look at my scenes the way an actor might.

In baby news, my friend Julie had her first son, Jeffrey Connell, yesterday afternoon. Both Mama and baby are perfectly fine. Yea Julie! Also, Baby Happy is causing some commotion. Let's hope this is an isolated incident. :)

Thought for the day: Even under insane stress, life is good.

Fertility Goddess

I think I may be something of a fertility goddess. Not only do we have at least 10 confirmed pregnancies at my school, but a couple of my friends are now also pregnant, including my best friend, Mrs. Happy. Maybe it's something in the water, or maybe my own lack of action is shifting the cosmic forces of love to those around me. Or, maybe I just have a lot of happily married young friends. Whatever the case, I wish them all well. (Especially Baby Happy. Yea!!)

Wil's on CSI

Tonight is Wil Wheaton's guest spot on CSI. I read Wil's blog every day. While I don't always understand the techincal posts, I am always impressed with his writing. He has been an inspiration for me to continue blogging. Please watch CSI tonight. If you like what you see, please leave Wil a comment and let him know.

Save Our Shows

Right now the major networks are deciding which shows to renew and which to cancel. You can vote on e-online to save you favorite show. Read Kristen's article and vote today!

Almost Weekend Update

Did anyone see Lost on Wednesday. That is the best show!! I even knew that Hurley had won the lottery, but I had no idea about all the other number stuff. I can't believe that the next new episode won't be until April 13!! How will I make it?!

In other news, my best friend's husband, Curt, lost his job yesterday. They currently live on Long Island, but may decide to move back to Texas. I want Curt to find whatever job will be best for him and Elizabeth, but I'm also kinda pullin' for a return to Texas. I know it's selfish, but it would be nice to see them once in a while.

On a final note, I'm a little disturbed by a blog I read today. One of the blogs I visit daily had a reference to another blog by a woman involved in a relationship with a married man. Now, I know that my beliefs are much more conservative than many. I am a Christian, and I have very high standards for behavior. That's not to say that I don't have compassion, or that I am anywhere close to living perfectly, but there are certain areas where there are lines that just shouldn't be crossed. I believe that it is never ok to have a romantic relationship with a married person. I know there are a thousand justifications that people tell themselves to make it sound alright, but I have never seen a relationship flourish that began with lies. All the cheaters I've known have been selfish liars who are only interested in getting the best of two worlds without really committing to either. A dear friend of mine was raked over the coals more than once by a married lover, and it was torture to watch her be hurt again and again. Also, as a teacher, I have to deal daily with the intense damage that cheating and divorce inflict on the children of these relationships. I just wish people would consider the damage they might cause before beginning these relationships. Camerin Courtney had an experience with this on an airplane recently. Read her story here.

Oscars, etc.

The Oscars were pretty good last night. I liked how in some categories they brought all the nominees on stage so everyone got a moment in the sun, but I hated the awards they presented in the balconies and in the aisles. Almost everyone looked great. I especially liked Natalie Portman(my brother's wife), Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Halle Berry, Drew Barrymore (wow!)and Julia Roberts. Charlize, Scarlett, and the usually yummy Johnny Depp should have gone with a different stylist. I was pretty happy with all the major awards, although I wish Kate would've won best actress. Isn't Morgan Freeman just the coolest man alive? I love him! I haven't seen Million Dollar Baby because I know how it ends and I don't want to go there having lost someone just a few months ago, but I will see it when it comes out on DVD. On a final note, Beyonce is alright, I guess, but singing three songs!! Please. I would have rather heard Antonio Banderas for three songs. Could we please have a little more variety next time? Thank you.

My favorite part of Oscar night, though, is always my acceptance speech. Every Oscar night, as I go to sleep, I daydream about my Oscar night. In a few years, when I've written a few screenplays, and I've finally written that one that is made into an incredible film, I'll wear a classically beautiful dress. My hair will be soft and wavy, and my makeup will be perfect. I'll have a wicked handsome man by my side, and I'll win the Oscar. I'll cry as I remember my mom and my grandparents, and I'll go to the after parties and dance the night away. Ahhhh... Someday....

The Spam Lady

At the end of Dr. Phil yesterday, there was an ad for the new Spam singles. It shows a teacher having lunch in the room when the kids turn on her. The teacher is my friend Jen's sister, Heather Simpson. It was so cool to see someone I know on TV!! She also has a Lowe's commercial coming out soon, so I'll keep my eyes peeled.

I'm Gonna Be a Mommy!!

My librarian's cat had kittens and they need a home, so I am going to have two new babies. They are both orange and white striped, and I get to take them home in about three weeks. I'll post pictures as soon as I have some. I decided to get two so they can keep each other company when I'm at work. I am so excited!! The only other pets I've had have been fish, so it will be nice to have a pet that is huggable. Now I need help finding names. I don't want to do something common, like Pumpkin or Tiger, but I do want a name that has to do with their orange coloring. I was thinking maybe something fiery, like Spark, Flame, or Ember. Any ideas??

Thank God for Drugs!!

After a month of hacking like a cigar chain-smoker, I finally went to the doctor. (I know, I should have gone three weeks ago...) I got some wonderful drugs, and I am already feeling better. Within the next few days, I should be as good as new. What did people do before antibiotics?

In other news, tomorrow my kids take the big state reading test, which they have to pass in order to go to the sixth grade. Please send them good thoughts so they will all do their best.

I have a few more hours of work to do to have my room totally ready. Wish us luck!

Feed Muffin the Cereal?

There's a cereal ad on TV right now that shows a family coming downstairs to leave for the day. Each of them says that they'd fed Muffin, so now they can go. After realizing they'd all fed Muffin, they look over at their horribly overstuffed family dog. The ad then says that their cereal is a better way to start the day. So.....should we feed the cereal to Muffin, 'cause I'm pretty sure that's not good for her. No people food for puppies!! Argh! I hate when ads don't really sell the product they're selling. The ads they did on The Apprentice are a great example of that.

Anyway, I've been sick for weeks thanks to the germ sharing of my 21 kiddos, and the big state reading test is on Wednesday, so posting will be a little sparse for the time being.

Take care!

Here are two fun links: one for scary but kind of cute cat costumes (I love the frog!) and one for cute guitars.

Blog Buddies

When I first became aware of blogging, I only knew of a couple of blogs to read. My friends Curt and Jeff had blogs, and slowly I began linking to other blogs from there. Now, I've grown a happy little garden of blogs that I visit about every day. It's a little odd, because I've never met these people, but I feel something of a friendship with these bloggers. I feel sad when they're down, I celebrate with them when they're up, and I wonder where they are when they haven't posted for a while.

Lately, my blog buddies have been doing really well. Wil just got a part on CSI. Yea! (Please send healing thoughts to his cat, Sketch.) Samira seems to be settling into life in Grenada pretty well. Dana just got her new car (Finally!)and a promotion, and her sister, Sharoni, just got a job and a $500 Super Bowl win. Maybe their good fortune will rub off on me and I'll be inspired to finish my screenplay soon.

Also, thanks to Wil, I have also discovered Geocaching, which just may be my new favorite hobby. Using a GPS receiver, you follow coordinates to find a hidden Geocache. It's treasure hunting for the common man. It's so cool!!

Icky Day

Today has been one of those crazy days when everything is off kilter and I feel like I'm bugging the crap out of everyone I see. I'm also sick, which makes me cranky. (Which may be why I'm bugging the crap out of people.......)

Last night I watched two movies, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Ray. Both were really good. Eternal Sunshine was odd, as is everthing from Charlie Kaufman, but also interesting and unusual. Both Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet gave excellent performances. Ray was outstanding. Jamie Foxx deserves every bit of attention he is getting for the role. To be honest, I always thought he was just some goofy comedian. I had no idea he was such a good actor. Good for him! I highly recommend watching both.

Films, etc.

I just finished watching Firefly for the second time. Man that was a good series! I don't know what Fox was thinking when they pulled it so early. The film version, Serenity, is only a few months away. Yea!

I also recently watched Garden State. I'm going to have to watch it again to get all the details, but I really enjoyed it. Kudos to Zach Braff!

Tonight I plan to watch one of my new favorite shows - Medium. I didn't expect to like it at all, in fact I think that all of that ghost-y, spirit-y hocus pocus is a bunch of nonsense. But, it's a really good show. It's actually inspired a screenplay idea for me.

Although I have yet to finish one, I have several screenplays in different stages of development. I hope to finish my first, a story of teens in a wilderness therapy program, in the next few months. After watching Medium and The Gift, I began to wonder how a deeply Christian person, such as myself, would react if their dreams or visions suddenly began coming true. Would this ability be a gift from God or a curse from Satan? To me the desire to be true to your faith in the face of contradictory evidence is intriguing. I'll keep thinking about it while I finish my current story.

On a final note, it's Girl Scout cookie time!! As a former Girl Scout Camp program director, I can tell you that cookie money is used to give a lot of girls a summer camp experience that they wouldn't otherwise have. Please support this worthy (and yummy!)cause!!

Unexpected Therapy

For those of you who don't know me, you should know that a large part of who I am comes from an event that happened almost eleven years ago, when I was 19. My mother (a beautiful, giving, intelligent, kind woman) died from a drug interaction when she took the allergy drug Seldane, which is now off the market. She died very suddenly, but was revived by paramedics and existed in a coma for 10 days before her body quit working. In addition to major depression and an eating disorder that is still ravaging my mind and body, my relationships with my loved ones became a major source of pain. I tried to handle everything on my own for about eight years, and when I finally realized that I couldn't heal on my own, I found an outstanding therapist while I was at school in Miami who really got me on the road to recovery.

A few weeks ago, I was watching Lost, which is definitely one of my favorite shows, and I was fascinated by Boone's relationship with his step-sister Shannon. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't have any pseudo-incestual relationships or anything like that, but I did realize that I've allowed a few of my relationships to reach a level of co-dependence that isn't healthy. So, thanks to Boone, I've decided to subtly re-define the boundaries of a few of my relationships so there will be a healthy balance.

Earlier this week, I read a children's book called Ida B. . . and Her Plans to Maximize Fun, Avoid Disaster, and (Possibly) Save the World by Katherine Hannigan. It is the story of a spunky, creative little girl and the way she reacts to her mother's battle with cancer. It is funny and emotional. Now, I didn't know that Ida's problem in the book was facing her mother's mortality, or I may not have read it as a light evening read. Once I was under Ida B.'s spell, however, my heart just ached as she went through the pain of her story. After I finished the book, I sobbed and wailed for about an hour. Now, if you don't know me, you should know that I am usually not an overtly emotional person, so this was really unusual for me. For years after Mom died, I refused to even begin to feel the pain that came with the loss because I was so afraid that once I opened the floodgates I'd never be able to shut them again. I learned in therapy that I can release the pain bit by bit, but each bit is still going to hurt. I'm always surprised by how raw and sharp the pain is. It's like my heart is infused with shards of glass - sure it aches as a whole, but removing each sliver causes a sharp pain that is even harder to bear.

I never expected to make therapy breakthroughs from Lost or a kids' book, but I guess you take life's lessons wherever you can find them.

A Trampoline World

I wish the world were made of trampolines. On Sunday mornings I teach a 10th grade life group (aka Sunday school)with one of the owners of AcroTex Gymnastics. This past Sunday we had our annual Gladiator Games at AcroTex, where the 9th and 10th grade classes compete in a wide range of games. It was so fun!! I have never been athletic or coordinated, but I have always dreamt of being able to play in a big gym (or ice rink, or dance studio). My favorite part was bouncing on a long, rectangular trampoline they use to practice tumbling runs. You could bounce from one end to the other like a kangaroo. I could have bounced on it for days. So now, I wish the world was made of trampolines so I could bounce and flip my way through the world.

Support Greg

Please visit Greg's site today to raise money in memory of his wife, Cheryl. You don't need to give money, just leave a comment. Please help!

Brad & Jen, Ben & Jen, Trash & Lies

As most of the country has, I'm sure, heard, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston have separated. Last night I saw that one of those entertainment shows was doing a whole 30 minutes on the breakup. Another led with it for, I guess, about fifteen minutes or so. The major questions these "journalists" attempted to answer were things like What caused the breakup? Was it a baby? (One wants kids, the other doesn't) Was it Angelina Jolie? Was there a pre-nup? (Who cares?) Are they dating anyone else yet? (Good lord! They just broke up on Friday!!) I also caught clips in the last few weeks of celebs like Ben Affleck and Jennifer Garner. The focus on them seems to be all about if they're getting married and if she's pregnant.

Now, it must be said that I love entertainment. I love movies and television. In fact, I even have a few screenplays in progress. However, I think there is a very definite limit on what I have a right to know. I could watch a dozen shows a day on what movies are in the works, who's starring in what, and how movies are made. I also like shows like Inside the Actors' Studio. I think that when you choose a public career, that your work and talent are up for public critique.

However, some topics, like home life, marriage, children, illnesses, family members' troubles, etc. should be off limits. If someone wants to share their wedding pictures, great, I'd love to see them. If a celeb wants to show off their new baby or a new house, bring it on. Like anyone else, I hope they're happy, I pray they know Christ, and I wish them well. All other aspects of their personal lives are just that - personal, and none of our business.

The most troubling part of this whole Hollywood scene are the media. I've always known that supermarket tabloids were trash, but I used to think that magazines like People and US Weekly were alright. In the past few years, though they seem to cover pretty much the same topics the tabloids do. They all feed the paparazzi machine of lies and personal invasion.

So, in light of these events and realizations, I commit to even further scour down my entertainment sources. No more lifestyle shows and gossip shows. No more magazines that use others' pain as entertainment. I invite you all to look at your own sources of entertainment and do a similar bit of housecleaning.

Something in the Water!!

Hello everyone!

I hope you all had a great holiday break. I got a lot of sleep and saw a lot of friends and family, so I'm pretty happy. Before I left for Christmas, I knew that two of the teachers I teach with were pregnant. One is due in April and one in May. I now know of at least SIX others who are due at the end of the summer. That makes eight pregnant teachers, four of whom are on my hallway. What is in the water around here? No angels have visited me in my sleep yet, so I know I'm not next, but it will be interesting to see if any more Mommies pop up around here.

UPDATE I forgot one. There are NINE pregnant teachers in my school. Wow!