.
On Friday I was standing by my classroom and I saw two of my students, who are also boyfriend and girlfriend, playing and pushing each other like every good 9th grade couple do. The boy's little brother and the girl's little sister were standing by.
"Are you guys bored waiting for those two?" I asked them. The boy smiled and nodded vigorously, while the girl, who is a 3rd grader, nodded towards them and said, cool and with a serious face:
"Just give them a couple of days."
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Productive Day in Church
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I don't know what that last one means, but I thought it was funny anyway...
I don't know what that last one means, but I thought it was funny anyway...
Fun, Fun
I guess the house project season is over. Megan is really good at still watering the grass, though. But we've been watering the garden a little too much, and so our tomatoes started cracking. But they're delicious. I can't believe we even have watermelons, even though they are the size of my fist. I was worried the garden wouldn't work very well, since we've never had one before and we didn't really know what we were doing, but those boxes worked really well, and we would actually like to cover our backyard with those. It's just a huge empty space anyway.
Some fuzzy garden pics:
School is really cool. The kids are awesome and extremely smart. We had a class debate on capital punishment vs. life imprisonment after we read Chekhov's "The Bet," and I was amazed at these kids' responses. A few were silly (especially those who were in favor of capital punishment and suggested some ways to get rid of prisoners when they did very terrible things. I had to step in a couple of times there), but they were mostly really well thought and founded. These kids are so good they even turn in their homework! I know. Shocking.
Some fuzzy garden pics:
School is really cool. The kids are awesome and extremely smart. We had a class debate on capital punishment vs. life imprisonment after we read Chekhov's "The Bet," and I was amazed at these kids' responses. A few were silly (especially those who were in favor of capital punishment and suggested some ways to get rid of prisoners when they did very terrible things. I had to step in a couple of times there), but they were mostly really well thought and founded. These kids are so good they even turn in their homework! I know. Shocking.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
New Job + Vacations
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Narcissism alert: This post is all about me, and me alone.
NEW JOB: I didn't find a job at XYZ School after all (names were changed to protect the innocent, namely ME). It was a really weird situation. After a long and really nice interview (the principal and I talked for over an hour), I was told that I would be let know by the following Thursday if I got the job, that I was a very strong candidate, yada, yada, yada. Thursday came and went, and i didn't hear anything from them. The next Tuesday I called because the waiting was killing me. The principal said that she had talked to someone at my old school, and that they had told her that I was not a very good disciplinarian (that was a horrible sounding sentence, isn't it? Too many T's I think). She then proceeded to interview me for 30 more minutes on the phone. "Thank you." She said. "I feel much better after talking to you. I'll let you know by next Monday." That was like four weeks ago. She never called, emailed, or even texted me. I think it was for the better. Who wants to work for someone so unprofessional anyway? Besides, it was a 4th grade position, which would have meant going back to school for a couple of years just so I could get my elementary certification. Now, instead, I can finish the one class I need for my English endorsement, and then I can start my masters.
I found a job, though. I don't want to write the name of the school in the same post as where I wrote that stuff about XYZ. I don't want to sound all bickering and what not, although that was my precise intention.
VACATIONS: We are in California with my parents, Jonatan, Brea and Megan right now. They came to renew their passport, and we came along for the trip. Last week we had a super amazing 4th of July weekend with Brea's parents. We have tons of pictures from the parade, which I might just upload to my Facebook pretty soon. The weekend was so awesome that the jet ski collision incident doesn't even seem to have been so terrible, although it did kinda ruin half the day, especially for me because I felt so guilty for damaging Bob's nice jet ski, and for hitting Jonatan in the butt. All I got was a quarter size bruise in my leg. It doesn't seem fair!
Narcissism alert: This post is all about me, and me alone.
NEW JOB: I didn't find a job at XYZ School after all (names were changed to protect the innocent, namely ME). It was a really weird situation. After a long and really nice interview (the principal and I talked for over an hour), I was told that I would be let know by the following Thursday if I got the job, that I was a very strong candidate, yada, yada, yada. Thursday came and went, and i didn't hear anything from them. The next Tuesday I called because the waiting was killing me. The principal said that she had talked to someone at my old school, and that they had told her that I was not a very good disciplinarian (that was a horrible sounding sentence, isn't it? Too many T's I think). She then proceeded to interview me for 30 more minutes on the phone. "Thank you." She said. "I feel much better after talking to you. I'll let you know by next Monday." That was like four weeks ago. She never called, emailed, or even texted me. I think it was for the better. Who wants to work for someone so unprofessional anyway? Besides, it was a 4th grade position, which would have meant going back to school for a couple of years just so I could get my elementary certification. Now, instead, I can finish the one class I need for my English endorsement, and then I can start my masters.
I found a job, though. I don't want to write the name of the school in the same post as where I wrote that stuff about XYZ. I don't want to sound all bickering and what not, although that was my precise intention.
VACATIONS: We are in California with my parents, Jonatan, Brea and Megan right now. They came to renew their passport, and we came along for the trip. Last week we had a super amazing 4th of July weekend with Brea's parents. We have tons of pictures from the parade, which I might just upload to my Facebook pretty soon. The weekend was so awesome that the jet ski collision incident doesn't even seem to have been so terrible, although it did kinda ruin half the day, especially for me because I felt so guilty for damaging Bob's nice jet ski, and for hitting Jonatan in the butt. All I got was a quarter size bruise in my leg. It doesn't seem fair!
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Siding + Some Random Stuff
I finished the siding in our garage. Actually, I finished like a week ago. And before that, I finished a second fence, but I keep forgetting to take a picture of it.
Anyway, before and after, blah, blah, blah:
When I finished putting up the first 6 panels, I just couldn't stand that groove on the two on the left were a little bit off from the rest, so I unscrewed them and put them back a little higher this time.
Megan painted the office and living/dinning room gray. I took a picture before she finished so both colors can be seen. She says that she wants to emasculate the house, because it feels too feminine. I like the gray. Now we need to put up some crown molding, because it looks really nice against the white door frames, so the crown molding might make a create nice effect too.
__________
Also, I walked by the corner of 300th and 300th street this week. You might wander what's the big deal, right? Well, they were 300th east and 300th east. Bet you don't have one of those in your neighborhood.
Anyway, before and after, blah, blah, blah:
When I finished putting up the first 6 panels, I just couldn't stand that groove on the two on the left were a little bit off from the rest, so I unscrewed them and put them back a little higher this time.
Megan painted the office and living/dinning room gray. I took a picture before she finished so both colors can be seen. She says that she wants to emasculate the house, because it feels too feminine. I like the gray. Now we need to put up some crown molding, because it looks really nice against the white door frames, so the crown molding might make a create nice effect too.
__________
Also, I walked by the corner of 300th and 300th street this week. You might wander what's the big deal, right? Well, they were 300th east and 300th east. Bet you don't have one of those in your neighborhood.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Shrunk Fence + Painted Garage
Our fence, two weeks ago:
Our new, Washington Terrace compliant fence:
We're not cutting the rest. It's far enough from the curb, and I think it looks alright.
Also, Meg painted the garage, which hadn't been painted in yeeeeears. I made such a difference!
Next: I'm fixing the side of the garage and surrounding our patio with a fence, a very, very tall fence.
Our new, Washington Terrace compliant fence:
We're not cutting the rest. It's far enough from the curb, and I think it looks alright.
Also, Meg painted the garage, which hadn't been painted in yeeeeears. I made such a difference!
Next: I'm fixing the side of the garage and surrounding our patio with a fence, a very, very tall fence.
Top Ten of Being in Church During Mother's or Father's Day + What We've Learned
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10. Meg's back from her relay
9. No super early morning meetings
8. When I say "Happy father's day," people start saying it back to me and suddenly stop, with a confused look in their eyes.
7. Meg still gets flowers and chocolate during mother's day
6. Brother S's daughter reminds us why we're probably better off childless
5. Barbara Bush quoted at the pulpit
4. Top 5 of Good Parents according to Bro. H's 6 year old daughter includes: "Plays video games"
3. Bro. B. (app. 70 years old) days we can be his parents
2. There's no license for being parents (unless, like us, you can't have your own children)
1. "Being parents is the best calling you can possibly have" (ouch)
10. Meg's back from her relay
9. No super early morning meetings
8. When I say "Happy father's day," people start saying it back to me and suddenly stop, with a confused look in their eyes.
7. Meg still gets flowers and chocolate during mother's day
6. Brother S's daughter reminds us why we're probably better off childless
5. Barbara Bush quoted at the pulpit
4. Top 5 of Good Parents according to Bro. H's 6 year old daughter includes: "Plays video games"
3. Bro. B. (app. 70 years old) days we can be his parents
2. There's no license for being parents (unless, like us, you can't have your own children)
1. "Being parents is the best calling you can possibly have" (ouch)
Friday, June 05, 2009
100 Posts! + Fence
I hit 100 posts! And it only took two years!
Anyway.
Our house's south-west side has always been notorious for its hideousness (dat a word?)
That's our house's view on Google Maps. The hedge was trimmed (It was way worse), but not yet cut.
Last summer we cut the bushes (they were very thorny, so it hurt a lot), and we lost all privacy! We decided that eventually we would put up a fence, or something. Our friend Jose helped us level the dirt that was left over, and to get rid of some stubburn roots.
This summer we finally decided to go ahead and put up the thing. As part of the preparations we had to get rid of the old chain link fence's posts. Some were easy to remove, but one of them was ridiculously hard. This is why:
Once we were ready, I dug the post holes, put up the posts, and cemented them down.
The next day I put the beams across. It took me a couple of days, because I had to make sure that they were straight (leveled), and the distance between each post was different, so I had to measure the beams and cut them individually.
Meg then helped me put the pickets, so that went pretty fast. We finished in less than a day.
My problem with the fence is that, although it looks nice (especially from inside), it looks kind of boxy and somewhat boring. Fortunately (sarcasm alert), the city inspector finally decided to drive by the house and gave us a citation telling us that the fence is not up to the city code, because if it is by the sidewalk, it can't be higher than 4 feet. If we want it to be 6 feet, we need to set it back 6 feet. But it makes sense that, living in the bussiest corner of the city, the inspector would never see the fence as we were building it, but only ONE DAY AFTER we finished it.
Of course.
So now we have to go to the city, talk to the inspector, and set the fence back, or cut it down to 4 feet.
And there goes our new found privacy.
Anyway.
Our house's south-west side has always been notorious for its hideousness (dat a word?)
That's our house's view on Google Maps. The hedge was trimmed (It was way worse), but not yet cut.
Last summer we cut the bushes (they were very thorny, so it hurt a lot), and we lost all privacy! We decided that eventually we would put up a fence, or something. Our friend Jose helped us level the dirt that was left over, and to get rid of some stubburn roots.
This summer we finally decided to go ahead and put up the thing. As part of the preparations we had to get rid of the old chain link fence's posts. Some were easy to remove, but one of them was ridiculously hard. This is why:
Once we were ready, I dug the post holes, put up the posts, and cemented them down.
The next day I put the beams across. It took me a couple of days, because I had to make sure that they were straight (leveled), and the distance between each post was different, so I had to measure the beams and cut them individually.
Meg then helped me put the pickets, so that went pretty fast. We finished in less than a day.
My problem with the fence is that, although it looks nice (especially from inside), it looks kind of boxy and somewhat boring. Fortunately (sarcasm alert), the city inspector finally decided to drive by the house and gave us a citation telling us that the fence is not up to the city code, because if it is by the sidewalk, it can't be higher than 4 feet. If we want it to be 6 feet, we need to set it back 6 feet. But it makes sense that, living in the bussiest corner of the city, the inspector would never see the fence as we were building it, but only ONE DAY AFTER we finished it.
Of course.
So now we have to go to the city, talk to the inspector, and set the fence back, or cut it down to 4 feet.
And there goes our new found privacy.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Stuff Around the House
I finished my humongous fence. I'll post pics soon.
I put up a new mailbox post (yes, another one). I sort of ran into the old one with a UHaul truck and it's never been the same since. I like the new one. It's all wooden and mighty looking.
Our little garden is bearing fruit. Even the raspberries, which we haven't really planted yet. Awesome. Those carrots are going to be microscopic.
I'm developing my fence making skills, post digging skills, drumming skills. My new den used to smell like sheetrock, not it smells like flood. Yes, it flooded.
What else? Too many bands want to make use of my drumming skills. Gosh, it's late. I have to get up really early tomorrow.
Mighty looking new mailbox post.
That weedy grass really needs to go.
I put up a new mailbox post (yes, another one). I sort of ran into the old one with a UHaul truck and it's never been the same since. I like the new one. It's all wooden and mighty looking.
Our little garden is bearing fruit. Even the raspberries, which we haven't really planted yet. Awesome. Those carrots are going to be microscopic.
I'm developing my fence making skills, post digging skills, drumming skills. My new den used to smell like sheetrock, not it smells like flood. Yes, it flooded.
What else? Too many bands want to make use of my drumming skills. Gosh, it's late. I have to get up really early tomorrow.
Mighty looking new mailbox post.
That weedy grass really needs to go.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Living Traditions
Living Traditions Festival last night! It was pretty cool. We got there after 6:00, and the featured artists started playing at 7:00. First, they had this cool brass band from Luisiana (Rebirth Brass Band). During their show, some girls started fighting right next to us. First, Curly Hair Girl grabbed Very Fat Girl's hair, and some guy grabbed Curly Hair Girl and carried her away. Very Fat Girl then stuck her tongue to the other girl and shook her hips giving her attitude. It wasn't a pretty picture. Curly Hair Girl then came with Mildly Fat Girl (went to get reinforcements, I guess) and tried to get Very Fat Girl, but the little guy who carried Curly Hair Girl before tried to carry Mildly Fat Girl, and was doing pretty well until the girl fell over him. She then started yelling at him and sput on his head. Ten minutes after that, security came.
The band was great, though, and most people were up and dancing. After them they had a hip-hop band called Lifesavas. They were awesome too. Even the old ladies in front of us were up and shaking their arms in the air.
Lifesavas. Sorry the video's crappiness doesn't give the band credit. The rappers were good, but the rest of the band was just amazing.
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The band was great, though, and most people were up and dancing. After them they had a hip-hop band called Lifesavas. They were awesome too. Even the old ladies in front of us were up and shaking their arms in the air.
Lifesavas. Sorry the video's crappiness doesn't give the band credit. The rappers were good, but the rest of the band was just amazing.
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Oh No! Jehovah Witnesses!
We had a returned missionary speak at church today. His talk was really good, but he was pretty nervous and laughed at some really weird moments.
He told us about a member of the ward (let's call him "Pierre") who got baptized and did the temple work for his wife who had passed away. When he went back to the area and asked for the guy, they told him that he had died, so he said "Oh, no! Haha, what happened to Pierre!"
Then he told us about this other guy who was praying to receive inspiration to be able to join a good church, and half an hour later the Jehovah Witnesses knocked on his door and he said "Oh, no! What a horrible answer to my prayers!" Luckily, the sister missionaries came half an hour after that and saved the day.
Nobody laughed, but everyone was pretty paying careful attention after that.
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He told us about a member of the ward (let's call him "Pierre") who got baptized and did the temple work for his wife who had passed away. When he went back to the area and asked for the guy, they told him that he had died, so he said "Oh, no! Haha, what happened to Pierre!"
Then he told us about this other guy who was praying to receive inspiration to be able to join a good church, and half an hour later the Jehovah Witnesses knocked on his door and he said "Oh, no! What a horrible answer to my prayers!" Luckily, the sister missionaries came half an hour after that and saved the day.
Nobody laughed, but everyone was pretty paying careful attention after that.
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Taking It Easy
We've been having a little problem with our mailman: in two years we've lived here, he never closed our mailbox's door. It doesn't seem to be a big deal, but our mailbox is in the sidewalk, we have two schools less than half a block away, and hundreds of K-9 kids walk through by our house every day.
Scary.
Anyway, I called to report this issue, since I never see the guy, and leaving a note would be just as crappy. Since I reported it, the door has remained closed, but the day right after the call, we didn't get any mail, which was weird, since we get mail everyday (mostly junk, of course). I was worried that our mailman was mad at us and that he had kept our mail. I ordered a cable on eBay a while ago and have been expecting it, so I was thinking that the cable was in my mailman's garbage by then (I mean, how many people have use for an IDE to SATA HD adaptor?). I decided to doble check by e-mailing the guys who sold me the cable, and that's when I realized that they are located in Hong Kong. Nothing against Hong Kong, it just takes SO LONG to get stuff from there. Anyway, the guys were very kind and prompt in their response, and this is what they told me:
Wise words if I ever heard any. I'm taking it easy now.
And I feel really bad for doubting our amazing mailman. I'm leaving some cookies for him next time.
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Scary.
Anyway, I called to report this issue, since I never see the guy, and leaving a note would be just as crappy. Since I reported it, the door has remained closed, but the day right after the call, we didn't get any mail, which was weird, since we get mail everyday (mostly junk, of course). I was worried that our mailman was mad at us and that he had kept our mail. I ordered a cable on eBay a while ago and have been expecting it, so I was thinking that the cable was in my mailman's garbage by then (I mean, how many people have use for an IDE to SATA HD adaptor?). I decided to doble check by e-mailing the guys who sold me the cable, and that's when I realized that they are located in Hong Kong. Nothing against Hong Kong, it just takes SO LONG to get stuff from there. Anyway, the guys were very kind and prompt in their response, and this is what they told me:
Hi,dear friend.
Many thanks for your letter.
According to our record, since we have received your payment confirmed by Paypal, and item was sent out on 2009-04-29 18:37.
And it normally takes 7-15 business days for delivery(Not include the Sat & Sun).
So please take it easy and wait with patience.
If there is any other inquiry,please feel free to contact us.And I will try my best to help you.
Good luck.
Best Regards,
Wise words if I ever heard any. I'm taking it easy now.
And I feel really bad for doubting our amazing mailman. I'm leaving some cookies for him next time.
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Monday, May 04, 2009
My Invisible Bookshelf
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I finally did it!
I finally did it!
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Cool New Book
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I just finished reading "What Obama Means," by Jabari Asim. And before you start rolling your eyes... well, the book is not so much about Obama as it is about the journey that African Americans had gone from the times of slavery to the present, and all the cultural and social steps that allowed a black man to be the president of the United States.
The section on black athletes, musicians, and other artists that paved the way for African Americans to be widely popular and even seen as models of what's cool is very revealing and very well done, as well as the chapter on the "Magic Negro," which explained not only what a Magic Negro is but also all that controversy with that song played in the Rush Limbaugh show.
Some random quotes I really liked:
I just finished reading "What Obama Means," by Jabari Asim. And before you start rolling your eyes... well, the book is not so much about Obama as it is about the journey that African Americans had gone from the times of slavery to the present, and all the cultural and social steps that allowed a black man to be the president of the United States.
The section on black athletes, musicians, and other artists that paved the way for African Americans to be widely popular and even seen as models of what's cool is very revealing and very well done, as well as the chapter on the "Magic Negro," which explained not only what a Magic Negro is but also all that controversy with that song played in the Rush Limbaugh show.
Some random quotes I really liked:
As Maureen Dowd noted in the New York Times, "The people who want English to be the official language of the United States are uncomfortable with their leaders being fluent in it." (Page 124)
As DuBois and other have put forth, casting excessive blamo on the less educated and economically disadvantaged allows successful blacks to hide their obligations to their brethren behind by-the-bootstrap myths of self-propelled ascent. In a speech delivered in 1934 on the day he resigned from the NAACP, DuBois outlined the consequences of such mythmaking in apocalyptic terms. "If the leading Negro classes cannot assume and bear the uplift of their own proletariat," he said, "they are doomed for all time." (Page 139)
Friday, May 01, 2009
This Is Just Too Much
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I just got one of those massive emails from a friend who was actually commenting how messed up the email's content is. Anyway, it is in Spanish, and it says something like this: "Mexico's economy wasn't doing well, and neither did the pharmaceutical companies, so why not make up a fake disease? That way the whole world will freak out, buy the vaccine, and just like that the world's economy will improve. We hear of all these people that are sick, but we don't know any, they haven't been on tv, we haven't seen pictures of any of them, blah, blah, blah."
It's funny, because a guy at lunch yesterday said "I am amazed that they still haven't blamed this one on Bush," but conservative pundits are going crazy blaming democrats for it. "Close the borders and get those illegal immigrants away," said Glen Beck (I'm paraphrasing. I really don't feel like listening to the actual sound bite again), not stopping to think that the cases that erupted in the USA are a consequence of Americans traveling to Mexico.
Here's the text in Spanish (I don't feel like translating, but just for the record, it's full of misspellings and grammatical errors).
I just got one of those massive emails from a friend who was actually commenting how messed up the email's content is. Anyway, it is in Spanish, and it says something like this: "Mexico's economy wasn't doing well, and neither did the pharmaceutical companies, so why not make up a fake disease? That way the whole world will freak out, buy the vaccine, and just like that the world's economy will improve. We hear of all these people that are sick, but we don't know any, they haven't been on tv, we haven't seen pictures of any of them, blah, blah, blah."
It's funny, because a guy at lunch yesterday said "I am amazed that they still haven't blamed this one on Bush," but conservative pundits are going crazy blaming democrats for it. "Close the borders and get those illegal immigrants away," said Glen Beck (I'm paraphrasing. I really don't feel like listening to the actual sound bite again), not stopping to think that the cases that erupted in the USA are a consequence of Americans traveling to Mexico.
Here's the text in Spanish (I don't feel like translating, but just for the record, it's full of misspellings and grammatical errors).
Thursday, April 30, 2009
It's Alive!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Travis at the Depot, April 14, 2009
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As I've mentioned before, this is probably the best concert I've ever been at. The guys were awesome, the music was incredible, and the place was so small that we were really, really close. In fact, Fran, the singer, came down and sang one song among the people, and he even danced with a girl in the audience.
This was the very last song, an acoustic, "microphoneless" version of "Flowers in the Window." My memory card was full by now, but luckily someone posted it on YouTube.
When we went to the concert, Megan and I saw a bunch of girls in tiny mini skits and high heels were heading to the Energy Solutions Arena, and we wondered who could be playing to atract such a crowd. After they finished their first set, Fran and the bass player came out and told us that the real reason why many of us were there is because we couldn't get a ticket "for the Britny Spears gig." That made sense. They then started their version of "Baby Hit Me One More Time," which was the very first Travis song I heard like ten years ago. I absolutely love Fran's "sorry" after he totally messes up (1:54).
As I've mentioned before, this is probably the best concert I've ever been at. The guys were awesome, the music was incredible, and the place was so small that we were really, really close. In fact, Fran, the singer, came down and sang one song among the people, and he even danced with a girl in the audience.
This was the very last song, an acoustic, "microphoneless" version of "Flowers in the Window." My memory card was full by now, but luckily someone posted it on YouTube.
When we went to the concert, Megan and I saw a bunch of girls in tiny mini skits and high heels were heading to the Energy Solutions Arena, and we wondered who could be playing to atract such a crowd. After they finished their first set, Fran and the bass player came out and told us that the real reason why many of us were there is because we couldn't get a ticket "for the Britny Spears gig." That made sense. They then started their version of "Baby Hit Me One More Time," which was the very first Travis song I heard like ten years ago. I absolutely love Fran's "sorry" after he totally messes up (1:54).
Friday, April 24, 2009
Tape Sculptures
After reading a couple of tutorials, I tried my first sculpture: a clear cast of my hand. It didn't turn out very good thought. That one is my hallpass now.
I wanted to try it again, but I didn't have any clear plastic bags, which is what you tape on (otherwise I would have taped my hand, and I would still be scraping it out), so I tried with one of those white plastic bags with "thank you" in red letters, and since I didn't have any wide tape, I tried the regular thin scotch tape, and it worked great, because it gave the "sculpture" much greater detail, and the red letters gave it a creepy bloody effect.
It was pretty easy and fast to make. It took longer to write this than to make the hand.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
We Are Gardeners!
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We finally decided to start our garden, and since we kill everything that passes through our hands, we decided to go with the square foot garden. If we can't grow anything in it, we're joining Costco.
We finally decided to start our garden, and since we kill everything that passes through our hands, we decided to go with the square foot garden. If we can't grow anything in it, we're joining Costco.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Grape Lady Copyrighted?
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I wanted to watch the Grape Lady for the 250th time today, and in one of the links I found this message:
What? How can they do that? The Grape Lady belongs to us, the humanity!
Also, checking out the Grape Lady groups in Facebook, I found one with no administrator, so I became it and I'm the boss there now!
I wanted to watch the Grape Lady for the 250th time today, and in one of the links I found this message:
What? How can they do that? The Grape Lady belongs to us, the humanity!
Also, checking out the Grape Lady groups in Facebook, I found one with no administrator, so I became it and I'm the boss there now!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
The Truth about Our "Almost Adoption"
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This is going to be long, but I'm royally pissed, so I'll just indulge.
Last year, right around my birthday, our neighbor C. came and told us that her friend Debbie was pregnant and that she wanted to give her baby for adoption. She was 8 months along and a family from New York that was going to adopt the baby just got cold feet, so she was desperately looking for a family for her baby. C. brought Debbie home and introduced us to her, and things got rolling. We took Debbie to the agency, and after we offered to help her with anything she needed, she told us that she just needed help with the deposit for her new apartment, because she really wanted to move closer to her dad. We didn't end up helping her with that, but we said that we would help her with whatever she needed through the agency. So she finally went to LDS Family Services and filled up the paperwork.
Everything was way fast after that. One Saturday night we were told that Debbie was on labor, so we got there and the baby came pretty late at night. Debbie wanted us to be in the room, and she even asked me to cut the umbilical cord. It was awkward as heck, but I figured that we might as well humor her, since she was giving us her baby!
The morning after the baby was born we went to the hospital to finish all the paperwork, and Bobby's (the birth father) mom came and gave us the evilest look I've ever seen and closed the room's door, leaving us outside. Geoff was with us, and when we entered the room to get our bags, Geoff said to her "nice to meet you," and she replied "well, it's not nice to meet you." After that everything went down. Our neighbor C. sent us a text message that afternoon telling us that Debbie had changed her mind and that she didn't want us to hate her, that she wanted to give our presents back (which were worth over $300, and which she never did give back!).
We felt bad, we cried, cursed, felt better, and eventually got over it. We saw Debbie at Walmart once, and it was tough. We walked the other way, fast, and I felt pretty crappy for a little while. We though, "well, she's the mom, and it must be dang hard to depart with a child. If it was hard for us, imagine how hard it must have been for her."
Well, that was six months ago, and it seems that Debbie is pregnant again. Our case worker sent us an email today, and this is what it says:
In part, it did bring closure, because now I don't feel so guilty for hating her guts, and now I know that we never had a chance of having that baby. Her purpose all along was to scam us. She was good though. There were some weird things going on, but we never suspected anything. For instance, I never understood why Bobby's mom waited until after the baby was born to come and talk them out of giving away the baby. I never understood how it could be that while Debbie was in labor, and Bobby knew that she was going to give his baby away, he was just sitting all relaxed playing with his PSP. That's why she was asking for money even before we took her to the agency. Fortunately, we told her that we would give her the money through the agency, because that was the right procedure, and that saved us hundreds. Maybe the New York adopting couple never actually existed. Or if it did, she scammed them too and went on to the next suckers.
The crappiest thing about this whole deal was that, when Debbie changed her mind, she didn't even tell us, but she made her friend C. text us with the news. There was a lot of back and forth messages between the family, and this is something I compiled from my cell phone back then and that Meg never felt comfortable with me sharing, mostly because she was concerned about Debbie, even though I wasn't going to post her name. Now who cares, right? I called it "A Text Message Ordeal," after that classic "An Ordeal by Check."
.
We met Debbie through our neighbour C*. Debbie came home the same day that C* told us about it, and we had a great time talking to her. She told us that she wanted to place her baby for adoption since she learned that she was pregnant, because with a baby already, it was very hard for her to go to school and to hopefully get a job. Her boyfriend works at the air bag factory and they can't even afford to pay the rent. He has an amazing PSP collection though. She found a family in New York that was going to adopt her baby, but when they found out that her family had history of depresion, they decided that they didn't want the baby after all. One month before giving birth, she felt very stressed and almost desperate thinking what she could do with her baby. After meeting us, she told our neighbor C* that she really liked us, and that with us, the baby would have oportunities that he would never have otherwise. (In other words: she came to us and basically told us that she needed us to take her baby). Last Thursday Debbie called and said that the baby was coming two weeks early, either Thursday night or Friday morning. This is the series of messages between us, C* and our friends and family.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Debbie: The birth mother who was going to let us adopt her baby.
C*: The neighbor who introduced us to Debbie
F*: Friends
Martha, Heather, Matias, Jonatan, Cory: Family
M&M: Us
_____________________
F1: Is your baby being born? (8:30pm 9/18/18)
M&M: Any moment now.
F1: Really? :) Are you happy? (8:41pm 9/18/18)
M&M: Well Yeah!
F1: Is everything arranged with the adoption? (8:42pm 9/18/18)
M&M: Yes, everything's ready.
Heather: Got baby? (4:17am 9/19/18)
M&M: Not yet
Martha: I have the crib at home. As soon as you tell us to, we'll take it there. (4:42pm 9/19/18)
M&M: Thanks. My sister in law will loan us a bassinet for now, so we could wait a week.
Martha: Ok
______
M&M: No news yet.
Matias: Shoot! Keep me posted. (12:24pm 9/20/18)
M&M: He's coming!!!
Matias: Coming out of the belly, or coming home? (9:30pm 9/20/18)
M&M: Out of the belly
Jonatan: Really?????? Yeeeeeeeeeeeah, man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (9:31pm 9/20/18)
Matias: Way to go! Are you in the hospital now? (9:32pm 9/20/18)
M&M: Yes, the family of the girl is here as well.
Jonatan: You have to tell me when it's a good moment to call you!!! Or to go to your house to greet little Anthony!!! :) (9:34pm 9/20/18)
M&M: Sure thing
Matias: Are you going to cut the cord? Will they let you? I didn't dare! (10:11pm 9/20/18)
M&M: We are still waiting. The nurse says that he might come before 1am. About the cord, I have no idea. The girl's boyfriend is here, so it would be weird... (She eventually asked me to please cut the cord, so I did. It was awkward as heck.)
Matias: Yes, it would be weird. Well, whenever Anthony comes call me so we can talk. We are very happy for you. (11:09pm 9/20/18)
______
Manuel: He was born! He's beautiful! Like the adoptive dad! (In Spanish)
Megan: We are mommy and daddy now. He is beautiful and happy and healthy!
Martha: Congratulations! And welcome Anthony. What time was he borh? How much did he weigh? (1:59am 9/21/18)
F1: Yay! (2:08am 9/21/18)
F2: I have been praying for you all including Anthony! When do you get him? (2:09am 9/21/18)
Jonatan: I'm sure!!!!!!!! Congratulations, man, we love you a lot and you'll always be in our hearts!!! At what time was he born? (2:13am 9/21/18)
M&M: At 1:30. He weighs 1.91 kg and he's 17 inches long.
F1: Give him a good squish for me!! Haha. (3:07am 9/21/18)
M&M: Will do!
Heather: Congrats! (3:20am 9/21/18)
Matias: Congratulations. Did they confirm that you will get him? Can we go visit you today? Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but my text messages don't make a sound. (7:27am 9/21/18)
M&M: So far, the girl seems pretty set into giving the baby for adoption, but until she doesn't sign the papers I won't be able to breathe calmly... We don't get the baby until Monday, so if you want you could come Wednesday when mom and dad come. I'll call you later and I'll explain more.
Matias: Ok, I'll wait for your call. (7:32am 9/21/18)
Jonatan: Send me a picture :o) (9:42am 9/21/18)
F2: When do you get to bring him home? (10:29am 9/21/18)
M&M: Probably on Monday. He has to stay at the hospital for a couple of days.
Cory: Congratulations..! (11:15am 9/21/18)
F2: How exciting a new baby and citizenship tomorrow! (11:29am 9/21/18)
F2: I cannot believe you are a mom and dad now! CONGRATS! That little boy is the luckiest ever and I have never been happier for new parents (11:42am 9/21/18)
M&M: Thanks so much you're so sweet believe me we're both in a daze!
(We sent a cell picture of the baby to some friends and relatives.)
F1: He has a perfect little head! When does he go home with mom and dad? (1:05pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Tomorrow morning!
F1: Yay!!! (1:07pm 9/21/18)
Jonatan: You're right. He looks just like you! So you say that the best day to visit you is Wednesday? (1:09pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Yes, because the baby won't come home until tomorrow or Tuesday.
Cory: What a bundle of joy! (1:09pm 9/21/18)
______
C*: Debbie is having second thoughts. (2:54pm 9/21/18)
M&M: The boyfriend's mother's doing?
C*: Family came in and I think is pushing her to keep. I am so sorry. (2:56pm 9/21/18)
C*: I truly think so. She is in tears she is so worried about hurting you guys. She has called b* (her case worker). (2:58pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Did she just tell you that?
C*: Yes, I am here now (2:58pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Should we step back for now? I knew that woman was up to no good. We felt a horrible feeling when she showed up. (We didn't get a reply from C* for the longest time.)
M&M: The boyfriend's mother came and started putting things in her head.
Martha: Didn't the case worker visit her? (3:09pm 9/21/18)
M&M: She called her, but she can't do anything if the girl changes her mind.
Martha: What did she tell you? (3:11pm 9/21/18)
M&M: She hasn't told us anything yet. We'll try to visit her later and see what happens.
Matias: Didn't she sign yet? What happens if she changes her mind? (3:29pm 9/21/18)
M&M: If she does we have to find another baby and start all over again.
M&M (To everybody): Just a heads up. Debbie is having second thoughts.
C*: Debbie wants me to bring the gift basket back to you. She is so sick to her stomach. And so afraid you will hate her. (3:46pm 9/21/18)
M&M: I don't care about the gifts and we don't hate her. Does this mean that she changed her mind for sure?
C*: Yes she has and her family is now rushing around to find her stuff for the baby. (2:55pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Ok
C*: I am so sorry. (3:57pm 9/21/18)
Megan: This is really their decision to make and although we are heartbroken we trust in what is meant to be.
C*: I feel the same. (4:01pm 9/21/18)
C*: Part of the decision came from her seeing how hard boyfriend was trying to be brave. He was only giving up the baby because that is what he thought she wanted. (4:04pm 9/21/18)
Megan: We could definitely tell how hard it was for him and admire how brave he was.
____
M&M: Debbie changed her mind but we feel okay about it.
F1: What? (4:13pm 9/21/18)
F1: She is keeping the baby? (4:15pm 9/21/18)
M&M: She is. Can you believe it? That's ok though. Nothing we can do about it. We're hurt but we'll survive :). Thanks for all you've done. You're so awesome!
F1: I am so sorry. Your baby will come soon! (4:35pm 9/21/18)
Manuel: The girl changed her mind and she will keep the baby. It seems that in half an hour she realized of a lot of things that she didn't in ninth months of pregnancy... We're ok. Just a little mad, but we'll be ok.
Martha: God knows why... (4:38pm 9/21/18)
F1: Maybe u could talk to her. she seemed set on the idea. (4:48pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Yes, the agency is still dealing with her, but there's not much hope. She's pretty set on keeping him.
F2: Oh wow I do not know what to say. I am praying for you and Megan. What is meant to be will always find its way. All my love is with you both. (5:56pm 9/21/18)
F2: We are here for you and I know heavenly father will bless you both. I love you both so very much. We will come to Ogden this weekend and celebrate Megan's birthday and your citizenship! Xoxo hugs and kisses! (6:42pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thank u, we really believe that too but what can i say. This really sucks. It's been a roller coaster experience, we just hope we can gain the faith to try it again sometime. This whole thing was just so rushed and it felt weird too. We are forever grateful for your support.
Jonatan: I love you both. I'm so sorry for what happened! I guess our Lord has plans for each one of us. He loves you so much that He probably has something better for you. I love you and you're in my prayers. (6:48pm 9/21/18)
M&M: True. Someday it will happen for us...
F4: I'm so sorry. Is there something I can do? (6:57pm 9/21/18)
F4: Sure thing. Hang in there we love you! (7:31pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thanks. We are incredibly disappointed but this is God's will for us now. Just pray for us. Thanks.
F1: How is your night going? Do u need anything? (7:35pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thank you. We're ok, thanks for thinking of us. We have an outpouring of support and we really believe that things will eventually work out
Martha: My heart aches because I can't calm this pain. But know that we are praying as a family for you. May God give you the consolation and the strength. We love you. (7:59pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thank you. After crying for a couple of hours we feel better. We have options, and I know that things will be ok eventually, but this was a huge pain. Thanks for being with us and for worrying so much. We love you too.
C*: How are you doing? (9:50pm 9/22/18)
Megan: We are ok, really. Our only concern is for Debbie and the baby. We hope both are okay, but we hope we never have to go through anything like that again. But really, we will be fine, and we're going to keep trying
C*: Ok. Debbie is doing better and the baby is fine. I hope you never go though it either. I kinds feel responsible. I am so sorry. (10:06pm 9/22/18)
Manuel: C*, this is Manuel. I'm glad Debbie is fine and the baby too, but I really don't want to hear anymore about this. I feel that what we've been through was extremely cruel, and I don't blame anybody, it just had to happen I guess, and we were supposed to learn something from this, but right now I'm trying not to think about it anymore. Thanks for your concern though, you've been nothing but supportive and I appreciate and will never forget that.
C*: K
This is going to be long, but I'm royally pissed, so I'll just indulge.
Last year, right around my birthday, our neighbor C. came and told us that her friend Debbie was pregnant and that she wanted to give her baby for adoption. She was 8 months along and a family from New York that was going to adopt the baby just got cold feet, so she was desperately looking for a family for her baby. C. brought Debbie home and introduced us to her, and things got rolling. We took Debbie to the agency, and after we offered to help her with anything she needed, she told us that she just needed help with the deposit for her new apartment, because she really wanted to move closer to her dad. We didn't end up helping her with that, but we said that we would help her with whatever she needed through the agency. So she finally went to LDS Family Services and filled up the paperwork.
Everything was way fast after that. One Saturday night we were told that Debbie was on labor, so we got there and the baby came pretty late at night. Debbie wanted us to be in the room, and she even asked me to cut the umbilical cord. It was awkward as heck, but I figured that we might as well humor her, since she was giving us her baby!
The morning after the baby was born we went to the hospital to finish all the paperwork, and Bobby's (the birth father) mom came and gave us the evilest look I've ever seen and closed the room's door, leaving us outside. Geoff was with us, and when we entered the room to get our bags, Geoff said to her "nice to meet you," and she replied "well, it's not nice to meet you." After that everything went down. Our neighbor C. sent us a text message that afternoon telling us that Debbie had changed her mind and that she didn't want us to hate her, that she wanted to give our presents back (which were worth over $300, and which she never did give back!).
We felt bad, we cried, cursed, felt better, and eventually got over it. We saw Debbie at Walmart once, and it was tough. We walked the other way, fast, and I felt pretty crappy for a little while. We though, "well, she's the mom, and it must be dang hard to depart with a child. If it was hard for us, imagine how hard it must have been for her."
Well, that was six months ago, and it seems that Debbie is pregnant again. Our case worker sent us an email today, and this is what it says:
Dear Manuel and Megan,
I received an interesting email from the Salt Lake agency that might hold some interest for you two. It seems that Debbie is pregnant again and going through a Salt Lake agency to place her baby for adoption. I guess she confided in her landlord that she pretends that she is going to place her baby for adoption so that she can get her rent paid and other money and she told her landlord that she has done this twice before. Her landlord then contacted the Salt Lake agency to let them know that Debbie was scamming them and another adoptive couple. The Salt Lake agency sent out an email to all of the agencies along the Wasatch front to warn them of her in case she tries to go to another agency once they confront her. I thought I'd let you know for your own piece of mind that there was nothing you could have done because it looks like she was seeking out someone she could con in order to get money and rent. I know that knowing that doesn't take the pain away, but maybe knowing what her motives were from the beginning can give you some closure.
I hope you're doing well.
In part, it did bring closure, because now I don't feel so guilty for hating her guts, and now I know that we never had a chance of having that baby. Her purpose all along was to scam us. She was good though. There were some weird things going on, but we never suspected anything. For instance, I never understood why Bobby's mom waited until after the baby was born to come and talk them out of giving away the baby. I never understood how it could be that while Debbie was in labor, and Bobby knew that she was going to give his baby away, he was just sitting all relaxed playing with his PSP. That's why she was asking for money even before we took her to the agency. Fortunately, we told her that we would give her the money through the agency, because that was the right procedure, and that saved us hundreds. Maybe the New York adopting couple never actually existed. Or if it did, she scammed them too and went on to the next suckers.
The crappiest thing about this whole deal was that, when Debbie changed her mind, she didn't even tell us, but she made her friend C. text us with the news. There was a lot of back and forth messages between the family, and this is something I compiled from my cell phone back then and that Meg never felt comfortable with me sharing, mostly because she was concerned about Debbie, even though I wasn't going to post her name. Now who cares, right? I called it "A Text Message Ordeal," after that classic "An Ordeal by Check."
.
We met Debbie through our neighbour C*. Debbie came home the same day that C* told us about it, and we had a great time talking to her. She told us that she wanted to place her baby for adoption since she learned that she was pregnant, because with a baby already, it was very hard for her to go to school and to hopefully get a job. Her boyfriend works at the air bag factory and they can't even afford to pay the rent. He has an amazing PSP collection though. She found a family in New York that was going to adopt her baby, but when they found out that her family had history of depresion, they decided that they didn't want the baby after all. One month before giving birth, she felt very stressed and almost desperate thinking what she could do with her baby. After meeting us, she told our neighbor C* that she really liked us, and that with us, the baby would have oportunities that he would never have otherwise. (In other words: she came to us and basically told us that she needed us to take her baby). Last Thursday Debbie called and said that the baby was coming two weeks early, either Thursday night or Friday morning. This is the series of messages between us, C* and our friends and family.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE:
Debbie: The birth mother who was going to let us adopt her baby.
C*: The neighbor who introduced us to Debbie
F*: Friends
Martha, Heather, Matias, Jonatan, Cory: Family
M&M: Us
_____________________
F1: Is your baby being born? (8:30pm 9/18/18)
M&M: Any moment now.
F1: Really? :) Are you happy? (8:41pm 9/18/18)
M&M: Well Yeah!
F1: Is everything arranged with the adoption? (8:42pm 9/18/18)
M&M: Yes, everything's ready.
Heather: Got baby? (4:17am 9/19/18)
M&M: Not yet
Martha: I have the crib at home. As soon as you tell us to, we'll take it there. (4:42pm 9/19/18)
M&M: Thanks. My sister in law will loan us a bassinet for now, so we could wait a week.
Martha: Ok
______
M&M: No news yet.
Matias: Shoot! Keep me posted. (12:24pm 9/20/18)
M&M: He's coming!!!
Matias: Coming out of the belly, or coming home? (9:30pm 9/20/18)
M&M: Out of the belly
Jonatan: Really?????? Yeeeeeeeeeeeah, man !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (9:31pm 9/20/18)
Matias: Way to go! Are you in the hospital now? (9:32pm 9/20/18)
M&M: Yes, the family of the girl is here as well.
Jonatan: You have to tell me when it's a good moment to call you!!! Or to go to your house to greet little Anthony!!! :) (9:34pm 9/20/18)
M&M: Sure thing
Matias: Are you going to cut the cord? Will they let you? I didn't dare! (10:11pm 9/20/18)
M&M: We are still waiting. The nurse says that he might come before 1am. About the cord, I have no idea. The girl's boyfriend is here, so it would be weird... (She eventually asked me to please cut the cord, so I did. It was awkward as heck.)
Matias: Yes, it would be weird. Well, whenever Anthony comes call me so we can talk. We are very happy for you. (11:09pm 9/20/18)
______
Manuel: He was born! He's beautiful! Like the adoptive dad! (In Spanish)
Megan: We are mommy and daddy now. He is beautiful and happy and healthy!
Martha: Congratulations! And welcome Anthony. What time was he borh? How much did he weigh? (1:59am 9/21/18)
F1: Yay! (2:08am 9/21/18)
F2: I have been praying for you all including Anthony! When do you get him? (2:09am 9/21/18)
Jonatan: I'm sure!!!!!!!! Congratulations, man, we love you a lot and you'll always be in our hearts!!! At what time was he born? (2:13am 9/21/18)
M&M: At 1:30. He weighs 1.91 kg and he's 17 inches long.
F1: Give him a good squish for me!! Haha. (3:07am 9/21/18)
M&M: Will do!
Heather: Congrats! (3:20am 9/21/18)
Matias: Congratulations. Did they confirm that you will get him? Can we go visit you today? Sorry I didn't reply sooner, but my text messages don't make a sound. (7:27am 9/21/18)
M&M: So far, the girl seems pretty set into giving the baby for adoption, but until she doesn't sign the papers I won't be able to breathe calmly... We don't get the baby until Monday, so if you want you could come Wednesday when mom and dad come. I'll call you later and I'll explain more.
Matias: Ok, I'll wait for your call. (7:32am 9/21/18)
Jonatan: Send me a picture :o) (9:42am 9/21/18)
F2: When do you get to bring him home? (10:29am 9/21/18)
M&M: Probably on Monday. He has to stay at the hospital for a couple of days.
Cory: Congratulations..! (11:15am 9/21/18)
F2: How exciting a new baby and citizenship tomorrow! (11:29am 9/21/18)
F2: I cannot believe you are a mom and dad now! CONGRATS! That little boy is the luckiest ever and I have never been happier for new parents (11:42am 9/21/18)
M&M: Thanks so much you're so sweet believe me we're both in a daze!
(We sent a cell picture of the baby to some friends and relatives.)
F1: He has a perfect little head! When does he go home with mom and dad? (1:05pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Tomorrow morning!
F1: Yay!!! (1:07pm 9/21/18)
Jonatan: You're right. He looks just like you! So you say that the best day to visit you is Wednesday? (1:09pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Yes, because the baby won't come home until tomorrow or Tuesday.
Cory: What a bundle of joy! (1:09pm 9/21/18)
______
C*: Debbie is having second thoughts. (2:54pm 9/21/18)
M&M: The boyfriend's mother's doing?
C*: Family came in and I think is pushing her to keep. I am so sorry. (2:56pm 9/21/18)
C*: I truly think so. She is in tears she is so worried about hurting you guys. She has called b* (her case worker). (2:58pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Did she just tell you that?
C*: Yes, I am here now (2:58pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Should we step back for now? I knew that woman was up to no good. We felt a horrible feeling when she showed up. (We didn't get a reply from C* for the longest time.)
M&M: The boyfriend's mother came and started putting things in her head.
Martha: Didn't the case worker visit her? (3:09pm 9/21/18)
M&M: She called her, but she can't do anything if the girl changes her mind.
Martha: What did she tell you? (3:11pm 9/21/18)
M&M: She hasn't told us anything yet. We'll try to visit her later and see what happens.
Matias: Didn't she sign yet? What happens if she changes her mind? (3:29pm 9/21/18)
M&M: If she does we have to find another baby and start all over again.
M&M (To everybody): Just a heads up. Debbie is having second thoughts.
C*: Debbie wants me to bring the gift basket back to you. She is so sick to her stomach. And so afraid you will hate her. (3:46pm 9/21/18)
M&M: I don't care about the gifts and we don't hate her. Does this mean that she changed her mind for sure?
C*: Yes she has and her family is now rushing around to find her stuff for the baby. (2:55pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Ok
C*: I am so sorry. (3:57pm 9/21/18)
Megan: This is really their decision to make and although we are heartbroken we trust in what is meant to be.
C*: I feel the same. (4:01pm 9/21/18)
C*: Part of the decision came from her seeing how hard boyfriend was trying to be brave. He was only giving up the baby because that is what he thought she wanted. (4:04pm 9/21/18)
Megan: We could definitely tell how hard it was for him and admire how brave he was.
____
M&M: Debbie changed her mind but we feel okay about it.
F1: What? (4:13pm 9/21/18)
F1: She is keeping the baby? (4:15pm 9/21/18)
M&M: She is. Can you believe it? That's ok though. Nothing we can do about it. We're hurt but we'll survive :). Thanks for all you've done. You're so awesome!
F1: I am so sorry. Your baby will come soon! (4:35pm 9/21/18)
Manuel: The girl changed her mind and she will keep the baby. It seems that in half an hour she realized of a lot of things that she didn't in ninth months of pregnancy... We're ok. Just a little mad, but we'll be ok.
Martha: God knows why... (4:38pm 9/21/18)
F1: Maybe u could talk to her. she seemed set on the idea. (4:48pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Yes, the agency is still dealing with her, but there's not much hope. She's pretty set on keeping him.
F2: Oh wow I do not know what to say. I am praying for you and Megan. What is meant to be will always find its way. All my love is with you both. (5:56pm 9/21/18)
F2: We are here for you and I know heavenly father will bless you both. I love you both so very much. We will come to Ogden this weekend and celebrate Megan's birthday and your citizenship! Xoxo hugs and kisses! (6:42pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thank u, we really believe that too but what can i say. This really sucks. It's been a roller coaster experience, we just hope we can gain the faith to try it again sometime. This whole thing was just so rushed and it felt weird too. We are forever grateful for your support.
Jonatan: I love you both. I'm so sorry for what happened! I guess our Lord has plans for each one of us. He loves you so much that He probably has something better for you. I love you and you're in my prayers. (6:48pm 9/21/18)
M&M: True. Someday it will happen for us...
F4: I'm so sorry. Is there something I can do? (6:57pm 9/21/18)
F4: Sure thing. Hang in there we love you! (7:31pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thanks. We are incredibly disappointed but this is God's will for us now. Just pray for us. Thanks.
F1: How is your night going? Do u need anything? (7:35pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thank you. We're ok, thanks for thinking of us. We have an outpouring of support and we really believe that things will eventually work out
Martha: My heart aches because I can't calm this pain. But know that we are praying as a family for you. May God give you the consolation and the strength. We love you. (7:59pm 9/21/18)
M&M: Thank you. After crying for a couple of hours we feel better. We have options, and I know that things will be ok eventually, but this was a huge pain. Thanks for being with us and for worrying so much. We love you too.
C*: How are you doing? (9:50pm 9/22/18)
Megan: We are ok, really. Our only concern is for Debbie and the baby. We hope both are okay, but we hope we never have to go through anything like that again. But really, we will be fine, and we're going to keep trying
C*: Ok. Debbie is doing better and the baby is fine. I hope you never go though it either. I kinds feel responsible. I am so sorry. (10:06pm 9/22/18)
Manuel: C*, this is Manuel. I'm glad Debbie is fine and the baby too, but I really don't want to hear anymore about this. I feel that what we've been through was extremely cruel, and I don't blame anybody, it just had to happen I guess, and we were supposed to learn something from this, but right now I'm trying not to think about it anymore. Thanks for your concern though, you've been nothing but supportive and I appreciate and will never forget that.
C*: K
Friday, March 20, 2009
My Office Is Done!!
.
It took forever. Most of the work was done in the winter, which is not a cool time to do work outside. But I finished. Not it smells like sheetrock, which is not as pleasant as you may thing.
This is a before and after video. I had tons of before pictures and even a couple of videos, but I can't find them anywhere!
It took forever. Most of the work was done in the winter, which is not a cool time to do work outside. But I finished. Not it smells like sheetrock, which is not as pleasant as you may thing.
This is a before and after video. I had tons of before pictures and even a couple of videos, but I can't find them anywhere!
Sunday, March 08, 2009
Back from Phoenix
Last week my principal took me to a best teaching practices conference in Phoenix, along with all the new Language Arts teachers, which consist of a bunch of ladies, and me.
Anyway, Phonenix was awesome. We actually stayed in a town called Scottsdale, and the hotel was some 8 miles from the airport, which didn't stop the taxi drivers from charging us $50 for the ride!!! At least the taxi drivers who robbed me in Buenos Aires before coming to the States were honest about their intentions! Scottsdale is a really neat town, very ritzy and touristy. But the best part was that the weather never went below 80 degrees during the day!
We were there Wednesday night, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. Some of the presentations were awesome, but it was hit and miss: some were way crappy and boring. Some guys from a school district came and told us their story of how their schools improved, and it was so boring that their sessions finished with less than half the people they started with. I felt bad because you could tell they put a lot of effort on it, but it was just soooo boring.
The hotel was pretty cool: it was more like a fancy appartment complex than a hotel, and I got my own room. There were four guys, so they could have placed two in each room, but the other three decided to bunk together, because "I didn't know one of them so it would have been awkward for me to put him in my room." It didn't matter that I knew the other two perfectly well, so they could have come to my room. Oh well. Being unpopular has its benefits: having a doble room all for yourself is just awesome!
I know this has nothing to do, but one night, while hanging out with my principal, he told me that a huge percentage of our ninth graders are on probation. And I mean, real probation. I had a student who was a felon, and midway through the first semester I never saw him again. According to him, next year we won't have nearly as many, which probably won't make any difference, but it's nice to think about...
So, I heard that if you drive to Phoenix, you'll hate it. We flew, which was quick, but scarier than any Lagoon ride with the crazy winds we've been having. I thought that the flight was rough, but I didn't want to say anything about it for fear of souding like a wimp, but when everyone else said that it had been their roughest flight ever I didn't feel as bad. The BYU softball team was there, so we were discussing who should play our roles if we fell and they were to make a movie about it. I know it's been years since anybody told me that I looked like Enrique Iglesias, but I insisted that he should play me! People don't have to remember me fat and balding, right?
This is the only picture anyone took where I look sort of decent:
What can I say? I just don't photograph well!
Anyway, Phonenix was awesome. We actually stayed in a town called Scottsdale, and the hotel was some 8 miles from the airport, which didn't stop the taxi drivers from charging us $50 for the ride!!! At least the taxi drivers who robbed me in Buenos Aires before coming to the States were honest about their intentions! Scottsdale is a really neat town, very ritzy and touristy. But the best part was that the weather never went below 80 degrees during the day!
We were there Wednesday night, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday morning. Some of the presentations were awesome, but it was hit and miss: some were way crappy and boring. Some guys from a school district came and told us their story of how their schools improved, and it was so boring that their sessions finished with less than half the people they started with. I felt bad because you could tell they put a lot of effort on it, but it was just soooo boring.
The hotel was pretty cool: it was more like a fancy appartment complex than a hotel, and I got my own room. There were four guys, so they could have placed two in each room, but the other three decided to bunk together, because "I didn't know one of them so it would have been awkward for me to put him in my room." It didn't matter that I knew the other two perfectly well, so they could have come to my room. Oh well. Being unpopular has its benefits: having a doble room all for yourself is just awesome!
I know this has nothing to do, but one night, while hanging out with my principal, he told me that a huge percentage of our ninth graders are on probation. And I mean, real probation. I had a student who was a felon, and midway through the first semester I never saw him again. According to him, next year we won't have nearly as many, which probably won't make any difference, but it's nice to think about...
So, I heard that if you drive to Phoenix, you'll hate it. We flew, which was quick, but scarier than any Lagoon ride with the crazy winds we've been having. I thought that the flight was rough, but I didn't want to say anything about it for fear of souding like a wimp, but when everyone else said that it had been their roughest flight ever I didn't feel as bad. The BYU softball team was there, so we were discussing who should play our roles if we fell and they were to make a movie about it. I know it's been years since anybody told me that I looked like Enrique Iglesias, but I insisted that he should play me! People don't have to remember me fat and balding, right?
This is the only picture anyone took where I look sort of decent:
What can I say? I just don't photograph well!
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Gratuitous Insult to Teachers
.
I love my job. I work my butt off, but I do get abused by students at a daily rate, I'm overworked, and viewed basically as their employee by my students. But that's not enough, though, so Ann Coulter decided to go a little further in her insults. In her latest article she wrote:
What a bastard.
But then, I guess that when you're a sore loser you tend to get nasty like that.
I love my job. I work my butt off, but I do get abused by students at a daily rate, I'm overworked, and viewed basically as their employee by my students. But that's not enough, though, so Ann Coulter decided to go a little further in her insults. In her latest article she wrote:
(Obama) was suspiciously verbose about saving the jobs of public schoolteachers. Because nothing says "economic stimulus" better than saving the jobs of lethargic incompetents who kick off at 2 p.m. every day and get summers off. Actually, that's not fair: Some teachers spend long hours after school having sex with their students.It is true that teachers do have the summer off, but we don't get paid for it, so we usually have to end up getting a summer job to make ends meet. Besides, I have to stay in school until 3:15, by contract, each day. That's an 8 hour shift, but I stay long after 4:00 every day, and we don't get paid overtime, so that's hours we put in for free. I get 30 paid prep. minutes a day, but there's no way I can grade papers and tests, prepare my next day lesson, tutor kids who need help, and fill up all the paperwork that stupid programs like the Queen B.'s dear Mr. Bush's No Child Left Behind imposed on us. But what does she care? She writes two pages a week and rambles about stuff she's not even prepared to talk about in public forums (fora?), and she thinks she has the moral authority to say anything about teachers?
What a bastard.
But then, I guess that when you're a sore loser you tend to get nasty like that.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Not Very Productive Blogging Year...
.
This doesn't seem to be a very productive year for my blogging enterprises. I think that mostly has to do with Facebook: I just write whatever's in my head there, just as well and in fewer words. I even get more comments anyway.
Second, it seems that nothing happens. But then, that's what you feel when you're so busy that you don't even realize that things are just crazy: I'm not just working in my lesson plans and grading, I'm also preparing to take my Praxis test (well, at least I'm going to the review classes once a month...), I'm teaching a class once a week with Megan, I'm taking a class once a week (which is requiring me like I've never read before!), I'm scheduling appointments for the bishop, and, even I'm not working on it yet, I'm stressing out about the extra crap that goes on in school (on Friday our vice principal told me that I have to give my Language Arts students this huge test by the end of this week), and about finishing my portfolio for my EYE (Entry Year Enhancement) thingy, some stupid requirement for new teachers who apparently don't have enough hoops to jump through.
So, nothing's going on. What I guess it happens is that nothing interesting to the general public happens. I mean, I haven't climbed some impressive mountain, I didn't go to some cool place worth mentioning, and nothing particularly funny happened to me. So, nothing's going on.
In conclusion: sorry about that.
This doesn't seem to be a very productive year for my blogging enterprises. I think that mostly has to do with Facebook: I just write whatever's in my head there, just as well and in fewer words. I even get more comments anyway.
Second, it seems that nothing happens. But then, that's what you feel when you're so busy that you don't even realize that things are just crazy: I'm not just working in my lesson plans and grading, I'm also preparing to take my Praxis test (well, at least I'm going to the review classes once a month...), I'm teaching a class once a week with Megan, I'm taking a class once a week (which is requiring me like I've never read before!), I'm scheduling appointments for the bishop, and, even I'm not working on it yet, I'm stressing out about the extra crap that goes on in school (on Friday our vice principal told me that I have to give my Language Arts students this huge test by the end of this week), and about finishing my portfolio for my EYE (Entry Year Enhancement) thingy, some stupid requirement for new teachers who apparently don't have enough hoops to jump through.
So, nothing's going on. What I guess it happens is that nothing interesting to the general public happens. I mean, I haven't climbed some impressive mountain, I didn't go to some cool place worth mentioning, and nothing particularly funny happened to me. So, nothing's going on.
In conclusion: sorry about that.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
I can't complain, really, but sometimes I wish I could...
.
This semester I have to read 20 books for my Young Adult literature class. I read 10 already, and each time I finished a book, I wrote a report, so I wouldn't have to worry about it at the end of the semester. I opened the file I have on my flash drive with my reports today at school, and Word gave me some weird error. I closed the file, and when I opened it again, instead of my reports, I had 115 pages of little squares.
After that we go to Auto Zone to get a windshield wiper, and my new phone falls in a puddle of water. Fortunately, before I do, I get to take this picture:
So it wasn't all bad.
By the way, this new phone was meant to replace some of the things I could do with my iPod Touch, which was like the nicest thing I owned, and which was stolen from my last week, the same day that I got a fever.
Again, I really can't complain, but sometimes I wish I could...
This semester I have to read 20 books for my Young Adult literature class. I read 10 already, and each time I finished a book, I wrote a report, so I wouldn't have to worry about it at the end of the semester. I opened the file I have on my flash drive with my reports today at school, and Word gave me some weird error. I closed the file, and when I opened it again, instead of my reports, I had 115 pages of little squares.
After that we go to Auto Zone to get a windshield wiper, and my new phone falls in a puddle of water. Fortunately, before I do, I get to take this picture:
So it wasn't all bad.
By the way, this new phone was meant to replace some of the things I could do with my iPod Touch, which was like the nicest thing I owned, and which was stolen from my last week, the same day that I got a fever.
Again, I really can't complain, but sometimes I wish I could...
Monday, February 02, 2009
Selling on Craigslist
.
This week I wanted to get rid of a phone I had, and to make sure that it would sell, I posted it on eBay, Craigslist, and KSL, and I have to tell you, KSL is the bomb! Not only because more people check it out, but because you don't have as many scammers as in Craigslist.
For example, this is the email that someone sent me about the phone, from Craigslist:
This kind of threw me off. What did she mean if it was for sale? What would it be, for rent? Of course it was for sale! And what's up with the three quotation marks??? But I didn't want to be fecicious to a potential buyer, so I replied with a neutral "yes, it is." She then replied:
That was just too good to be true. Now I have golden material for my blog, and I could be fecicious! My reply:
I haven't received a reply to that yet.
This week I wanted to get rid of a phone I had, and to make sure that it would sell, I posted it on eBay, Craigslist, and KSL, and I have to tell you, KSL is the bomb! Not only because more people check it out, but because you don't have as many scammers as in Craigslist.
For example, this is the email that someone sent me about the phone, from Craigslist:
"Is your item for sale???"
This kind of threw me off. What did she mean if it was for sale? What would it be, for rent? Of course it was for sale! And what's up with the three quotation marks??? But I didn't want to be fecicious to a potential buyer, so I replied with a neutral "yes, it is." She then replied:
"Thanks for your respond to my mail.........and i will have love to pick up the item myself....but due to some reasons..........let me know the postage to my brother in West Africa(Nigeria)who is in need of this item for a project in a couple of days time........and i want it send to him through Parcel force or royal mail international signed for,as a gift to him........please get back to me with the total cost,your pay pal email and name for the payment to me made as soon as possible."
That was just too good to be true. Now I have golden material for my blog, and I could be fecicious! My reply:
"Nigeria? Sure thing! I'll also send him a few hundred bucks, just because I'm stupid like that!"
I haven't received a reply to that yet.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Website
.
Got a new design for the website: http://sainesburyproject.com. It's not that great, but it's different, so........ (I absolutely hate when people finish their sentences with "so." It doesn't make any sense!!) That's an idea for a Facebook group, I guess.
Got a new design for the website: http://sainesburyproject.com. It's not that great, but it's different, so........ (I absolutely hate when people finish their sentences with "so." It doesn't make any sense!!) That's an idea for a Facebook group, I guess.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Blogger Hates Me
.
I don't know why, but Blogger hates me. Just look at those pictures from my last entry. Why? Oh why? I tried everything, hitting enter between pictures, and I even tried re uploading the pictures, and nothing. I'm sad.
Anyway, this last weekend we went to Jonatan's wedding, which was like the fanciest wedding I've been to. I had to wear a tux! First time in my life. I felt like a Batman character. The pictures are awesome, though. Here's one I stole from my mom's facebook.
Jonatan was very gracious and said very nice things about me and Matias, and about his friend Said, who was grabbing his head with a suffering face while Jonatan spoke. Said is cool though. Brea was totally in control. I mean, she knew what she was doing! Even Megan had a part: she played the piano at the beginning and during the sand ceremony. She was going to play Ave Maria with some girl doing a singing solo, but the girl never came, so that part was inconspicuously rubbed off the program.
I don't know why, but Blogger hates me. Just look at those pictures from my last entry. Why? Oh why? I tried everything, hitting enter between pictures, and I even tried re uploading the pictures, and nothing. I'm sad.
Anyway, this last weekend we went to Jonatan's wedding, which was like the fanciest wedding I've been to. I had to wear a tux! First time in my life. I felt like a Batman character. The pictures are awesome, though. Here's one I stole from my mom's facebook.
Jonatan was very gracious and said very nice things about me and Matias, and about his friend Said, who was grabbing his head with a suffering face while Jonatan spoke. Said is cool though. Brea was totally in control. I mean, she knew what she was doing! Even Megan had a part: she played the piano at the beginning and during the sand ceremony. She was going to play Ave Maria with some girl doing a singing solo, but the girl never came, so that part was inconspicuously rubbed off the program.
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