Sunday Salon...Gem Show Style

Gem Show Style....

Is that like Gangnam style??

Drawing by 'Andy' in my class....

Listening -- Episodes of Castle on the DVR are playing in the background. Rich is enjoying catching up on a few shows since he's still footloose and fancy free tonight. 

Eating -- This weekend it has been yummy-central! Out for breakfast, a picnic lunch and Zona 78 pizza (A Tucson-specialty!) Wow, it was worth watching what I ate all week to enjoy the weekend fun.

Loving -- My pretties from the Gem Show!! It was a blast to shop up and down every row for hours. J&K and baby Tinsley joined us. There was a bargain around every corner.

I bet you want some too.....it was a blast!! There are literally paper plates covered with precious gems just out for you to run your fingers through. You almost become overwhelmed and jaded to the amount of $$$$ around you. (You aren't really supposed to take photos there but these came off our instagram hashtags!)

Reading-- Last Writes by Sheila Lowe, Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer, Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors. Book Group is this week!! I have got to read faster. I am also re-reading Teach Like a Champion for the Book Study I am leading this week. BUSY! I wish I could read two books literally at the same time!

Feeling -- So stoked about teaching the new math methods I learned last week. It is exciting and empowering. I wish they had taught me math this way. I might not have had the math-phobia I did for so many years.

Thinking -- I can't WAIT for the Tucson Festival of the Book! My son is letting us stay at his apartment for the weekend and I intend to soak it all up!! (He will be at Disneyland for the weekend so partying will continue for both of us!) We've already scheduled lunch dates, dinner dates and patio breakfast time with my mom.Just thinking.... 

Wanting -- More time to just sit, think, ponder, read, listen and be still. Some times on Sunday night I feel that I 'pay' for enjoying my Saturday.  

This Week -- Book Group, Book Study (that I am leading for the staff), Tutoring, Valentine's Day frivolity and more....

YUM!!!!

Sunday Salon - Super Bowl Style

Sunday Salon - Super Bowl Style!!

 Yep, many of you will curl up with your good book and shun the TV and football today. While I, little ol' me, will embrace it and celebrate the day--Super Bowl Sunday! I love that pigskin. Alas, I am pretty much alone in my fetish of the said football around here so I will lay out all of my munchies, chips and dips and sandwiches and cheer by myself --- and love it!! So...until the kickoff arrives I bring you...

Listening: silence. Everyone is gone and I am amazed at how quiet the house is. 

Eating:  On the menu....guacamole and salsa, nachos, spinach dip bread bowl, chips and french onion dip, shrimp cocktail (for my husband when he passes through to watch snippets of the game to support me and because he loves me!) sub sandwiches and lots of fruit! What the heck, I may whip up some cookies and haul out the chocolates - - depending on who's winning! A girl can only eat so much. (Seriously, J&K may join me once they return from K's weekly family dinner...they're supportive like that!)

Loving:   Having roommates! J&K are so easy to live with. And who wouldn't want to see this little bug everyday?!?! Little Tinsley is adorable!!

Reading: Same as last week....May B by Caroline Starr Rose (middle grade), Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer (for Book Group) and Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors (for Book Group 2)...

Feeling: A bit worried. Shake it off....Trust! I know.

Thinking: About the memories of watching football with my dad. It was time I spent just wanting to sit with him. It was 'our' time. He taught me all about the game and it meant so much to me to have that in common with him. My dad received a football scholarship to play at the University of Texas and was the first person in his family to ever go to college. One of his best friends, growing up in his little tiny town ( we called him Uncle Don,) played college ball too and was always at our house when I was tiny. Uncle Don went on to play quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and I have fond memories of the players coming to parties at our home and seeing them all around town. My favorite Christmas was the one where there wasn't a present under the tree for me....imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang and it was my 'uncle' who brought over my very own football, signed by all the Cowboys players!! He took me down the street to teach me how to "really" throw and play that very morning!! I was the envy of EVERY boy (and girl!) Gosh I love thinking back about that!

Wanting:  A good diagnosis for my grand-kiddo!! Please! Please!

                

This Week: Rich and I are giving a presentation this Tuesday that is kind of a big deal. We are both so relaxed about it and that can be a dangerous thing! :) I have a big professional development week ahead for work too. I love l that, but it does mean I have a few days of sub plans to come up with. I don't like that so much. Finally on Saturday we are heading to Tucson and the Gem Show. Wahoo!

Sunday Salon - The Wet Version

 I think I may need an ark soon. It's been raining - pouring mostly - at my house for going on 2 days. That seems like some sort of record for us in the desert. It is cuddle-up-with-a-good-book or watch-a-movie-in-your-jammies kind of weather. It is NOT go-to-the-farmer's-market kind of weather. It is NOT help-move-your-daughter-and-her-family kind of weather. It IS be-glad-it's-raining-on-the-weekend-and-NOT-on-a-school-day-with-no-recess kind of weather!!

Listening: To the drip,drip,drip. LOVE IT! It lulled me to sleep and I truly woke up at 3:30am when it stopped! How wonky is that??? 

Eating:  Today I'm sipping herbal tea for my sore throat and laryngitis....Chicken soup may be next.

Loving: 1. Fun dates with Rich ---here's where we were at 10 am yesterday

Taking photos of each other in an empty theater.....

Why was it empty you ask?

Check out the time....

We laughed and laughed and laughed!! They had sold us tickets to a show that started at 10 pm!! The sign had stated 10 but we all assumed that it meant 10 in the morning. Well I guess you know what assume means, right??? Funny thing, no one had asked or noticed. The ticket meister just sent us to theater 21 and we were on our way. We did get a refund and the staff was so embarrassed that no one had noticed. It would have been a long wait in the theater.

              2. Washing baby clothes and socks! What a hoot. I always forget how small they are. 
              3. Rain

Reading: May B by Caroline Starr Rose (middle grade), Moonwalking with Einstein by Joshua Foer (for Book Group) and Beneath a Marble Sky by John Shors (for Book Group 2)...I really want to read another Lisa Scottoline...

Feeling: Reflective. I tend to be this way when I am under the weather. I guess having to be still will do that to you. 

Thinking: How sad it is that we have to teach our students about lock-downs. We had a lock-down drill this week.  Next week we have a drill where we practice evacuating the campus. The police came and rattled my doors, they pretended that there were people standing outside the door pleading for me to let them in, they set off fire alarms to try to trick us and get us to flee the building. It was hard for ME. The kids were pretty nonplussed. We have had long talks and conversation in class so I do believe that they know that I would do all in my power to protect them. They tell me, "You would go all mama-bear on them, right, Mrs. V?" Yes, I would! I know that drills are important and truly saved lives in Connecticut. I know that when you are prepared you don't have to fear. BUT...I  hate the  fact that we live in a day when we have to have them. It breaks my heart. 

Wanting: 1.My voice back---it's been 4 days!! Even my whisper voice is gone. Truly gone. I am mute. My husband is probably enjoying the quiet, but it sure is hard to teach this way AND it's harder still to get someone's attention in the house. Hint, hint, honey. Just come to me when you're talking to me.

                2. Some encouraging job news for Rich
                3. Something crunchy....without calories...celery??...rats! Not what I had in mind.
                4. Another Lisa Scottoline book. Any suggestions?

This Week: Much calmer! Yippe-ki-yah! Testing for all of the 4th grade kiddos, Tutoring, yoga, and I am excited to be leading our school staff on a Book Study on Wednesday. Yep, that yoga breathing is working this week.....mmmm....

Love that wet stuff...Stay dry!