The weekend went by fast and it was fantastic! Byl came and we walked, and walked ALL over Boston. From North End to the South End church, and it the pouring rain! We ate not once, but twice in the North End. Dinner was a fantastic plate of Osso Bucco with Saffron Risotto! Yum-o!
Tonight is my night class at Fort Point Channel. It should be interesting.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
A Great Week
Its been a good week. Went home and spent the entire time with family. Got to see my Uncle John and Aunt Betty Lou. Uncle John is in a rehab home but doesn't seem to be doing well. I was very glad that I got to see him.
The rest of the time was hanging out with family: went to dinner and movies with my sister, spent quality time with my mom, my Aunt Linda and cousin Michael. I made dinner last night chicken in a light white wine sauce and pesto pasta.
I made a few sales on Etsy (Thanks Jan and Cari) and 1 sale to a person I didn't know! That made me very happy! So I took a leap and started running ads on Facebook. We will see what happens. If nothing comes of it, I will do it again around the holidays.
On the way home I am stopping at A&As in Lincoln Park http://www.aafinefoods.com/ to pick up a sandwich. Oh yeah. Jersey is the best.AND I just got an email and so next week I may see the girls from Watertown! That would be nice. Byl is coming to visit this weekend. It will be HOT outside so I am not sure what we will be doing but it will be fun. Two words: NORTH END. Two more words: MIKE's PASTRIES. http://www.mikespastry.com/
On Saturday, Grandma E will be remembered at her memorial. She was a great woman, and will be missed.
The rest of the time was hanging out with family: went to dinner and movies with my sister, spent quality time with my mom, my Aunt Linda and cousin Michael. I made dinner last night chicken in a light white wine sauce and pesto pasta.
I made a few sales on Etsy (Thanks Jan and Cari) and 1 sale to a person I didn't know! That made me very happy! So I took a leap and started running ads on Facebook. We will see what happens. If nothing comes of it, I will do it again around the holidays.
On the way home I am stopping at A&As in Lincoln Park http://www.aafinefoods.com/ to pick up a sandwich. Oh yeah. Jersey is the best.AND I just got an email and so next week I may see the girls from Watertown! That would be nice. Byl is coming to visit this weekend. It will be HOT outside so I am not sure what we will be doing but it will be fun. Two words: NORTH END. Two more words: MIKE's PASTRIES. http://www.mikespastry.com/
On Saturday, Grandma E will be remembered at her memorial. She was a great woman, and will be missed.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Mondays
I had a nice weekend chilling with the family. I drove back early on Sunday, so that today (Monday) I could go to my night class. I am taking a class called "Night Photography" at the New England School of Photography. It is very interesting and completely different from anything I have done before. Long exposures, like 8-10 minutes long! But I was pleased with the results.
It may not have been what the teacher wanted, but like I said, I was pleased with the results.
Saturday, I found out that a lovely woman, "Grandma E" had passed away. Grandma and Grandpa E lived across the street from us in Lincoln Park. They were great people, and even attended my beach wedding in the Bahamas. I grew up with their grandchildren, who also lived across the way, and are still friends with them to this day. Grandma E will be missed but I know that she is somewhere she is not suffering or in pain.
Mike is in Dubai this week, and my Aunt and my cousin are in town. So once tonight's class is finished I will be heading back to Jersey. Tomorrow cause the class won't get out until midnight. Then at the end of the week Lisa maybe coming with the kids, and Byl is coming for the weekend. Very exciting week for me. And of course, Bailey is by my side, my constant companion. What would I do without her?
It may not have been what the teacher wanted, but like I said, I was pleased with the results.
Saturday, I found out that a lovely woman, "Grandma E" had passed away. Grandma and Grandpa E lived across the street from us in Lincoln Park. They were great people, and even attended my beach wedding in the Bahamas. I grew up with their grandchildren, who also lived across the way, and are still friends with them to this day. Grandma E will be missed but I know that she is somewhere she is not suffering or in pain.
Mike is in Dubai this week, and my Aunt and my cousin are in town. So once tonight's class is finished I will be heading back to Jersey. Tomorrow cause the class won't get out until midnight. Then at the end of the week Lisa maybe coming with the kids, and Byl is coming for the weekend. Very exciting week for me. And of course, Bailey is by my side, my constant companion. What would I do without her?
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Lots of Things Happened Some Small, Others Not So Much
So just some updates, I see I have been neglectful on my postings. So some small things that have been going on:
On to the big things:
Small Thing #1: I changed my blog background and blog address.
Small Thing #2: I fell off the wagon and gained the weight back, after thanking Michael Thurmond. See what getting cocky gets ya? But I am climbing back on that horse. My western metaphors are finished.
Small Thing #3:Having the "town forest" a hop, jump and skip away means you can here the concert music, enjoy the concert music and stay at home.
Small Thing #4: Rediscovered Bailey is terrified of fireworks. I had forgotten.
Small Thing #5: I can view said fireworks from my apartment deck. But that did not happen as I had a spastic lab/coyote mix having a meltdown. Howling and crying ensued. Thankfully the loud fireworks masked her barking for the neighbors.
On to the big things:
Big Thing #1: Mike got me a china cabinet for my birthday/anniversary that I love. Below you can see it and see Sandy making a delicious pesto pasta salad.
Big Thing #2: Mike got me a MacBook Pro! I am in love with it.
Big Thing #3: I got said laptop because I am now jobless. Yes jobless, see next big thing.
Big Thing #4: Do not trust administration when the say, and I quote, "Sara you have nothing to worry about. The pink slip is just a formality you will get a contract in June. Besides no one would want your job" If you do trust admin, and this is said to you, I now know that you need to look for a job ASAP. I was told 2 days before school ended and it was assumed by the entire pre-school team (I was on the schedule and class list for next year) that I was coming back. Yeah that was a MAJOR thing.
Big Thing#5: I have the best husband in the world. He has been great and supportive and just the best.
Big Thing#6: I am going to try my hand at being an artist for a while. Not giving up on my career as a teacher per say, just trying to get the photography thing up and running again. When we left Alexandria in 2009 I actually turned down 3 weddings! I had a lot of great feedback recently from my current students' parents with their end of year photographs. That has motivated me to get back into it. I am also taking a class through the New England School of Photography, night photography. Also, I have had some success with my jewelry (Thank you Jan) on etsy.com and even had a custom order!
So all in all, after a long blog post, lots of small and big things have happened. Along the way some nice surprises: I sold 3 pieces of jewelry at my first craft fair that got rained out after three hours (1 piece per hour is not bad at all for first time). My brother got a new job and is moving to Prague. Which is super cool... Got a surprise visit from Neil and Cari and am looking forward to a visit from Byl in July. Ezra and Sandy came over from Germany and we "hosted" "Ezra's" party. No joke; some dude showed up, did not know who I was when I let him and and he said to me "I am here for Ezra's party". Still we had fun. We also went back to Virginia for Rolling Thunder. And we went home to Jersey for Father's Day weekend. Mike and Dad rebuilt part of the deck. See photos below to catch up on the last few months.
Byl lost his keys to his bike. So Mike drove him back
to his house get his spare set of keys.
I did face painting for work's End of Year Celebration.
Two days later, I was told the budget did not past.
Last to hire, first to fire. That said, I take comfort in
the fact it was not personal, nor a reflection on my teaching.
Mike and I @ "Ezra's" party.
My table @Board-a-palooza Craft Fair
Mike and Dad working on the deck.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Thank You Michael Thurmond!
I have now lost 10 pounds. In three weeks. If I hadn't cheated on my new diet, or my new "lifestyle plan" I would have lost more weight. Mike and I joined a gym. Yes we joined a gym and I actually go to the gym! Sometimes, twice in one day! But the big thanks is to Michael Thrumond and his 6 Week Body Makeover. I saw one of his infomercials and bought it, thinking if it didn't work I could get my money back, as is said in the infomercial. I love this plan. Its hard, no salt, no butter and very sadly no olive oil! I miss olive oil more than I miss everything else! But I am not starving, eating 5-6 times a day. And my diabetes has been really good. Very few lows and almost no highs (except for when I cheat on the plan). You follow the plan, it teaches you how and what to eat. I hear that it is similar in some ways to Weight Watchers. For when you hit your target weight you can begin to incorporate SOME foods back into your plan. But I know people who have done Weight Watchers and not had the results that I am having, or they are having now (through the 6WBMO forums). So we will see.
So THANK YOU, MIchael Thurmond!
So THANK YOU, MIchael Thurmond!
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
My Tiny @$$ Classroom
I have a small classroom. Really its the size of a bedroom. Its probably the same size of a master bedroom in a typical three bedroom house. Not a Mc Mansion but a nice sized house around 1700-2000 sq. feet. As you can tell I have given this thought.
I do love my job. And having only 5 students makes the small room bearable. I do not have a lot of room or storage. Sterilite tubs are my friends. Rubbermaid too. But I have made the classroom, that once resembled a walk in closet, mine own. I have a large classroom that we transition to in the afternoon, but its not mine.
I am in no means complaining. Maybe bemoaning that I once had the "corner suite" at New Beginnings. My last classroom in VA was pretty big, but had people constantly entering and leaving to the adjacent classroom through MY room...which given the student population I work with, was highly distracting. I feel, and I have been going to my job for only 12 school days, that this job is the perfect fit.
In the morning, I have 5 students with Autism. Which the school feels are "moderate" and some are on the "low side", I think they are geniuses. They say "hello" and "Sara, are you happy that I am here today?". Yeah that was what I was greeted with on Friday. I have always loved my students no matter what but this is just so different! The afternoon class? I have never taught "typicals" before. I also have three English Language Learners. You know what? I am not teaching the afternoon any different from the morning (minus Discrete Trial Teaching which is only 40 mins). Pam, a friend and speech therapist from VA, would be so proud of me and my language based approach that is fused with ABA. I think of her all of the time and so wish that she could be teaching with me, pushing into the class to do speech. I think of her every time I do letter of the week. The ELL students are really benefiting from the language based approach and all of the kids crave the learning and are just soaking up the knowledge!
On Friday, we made Dandy Dip (from the Mailbox book "Beginning Sounds") to finish our week with the letter D. I did not think the kids would like it. I mean its DIP. Every child (except two who are on the spectrum) TRIED the dip. Not only did they try it, they ate it with CARROTS and chips. Then the most amazing thing? They FORGOT about the cupcakes I made for a special treat at lunch, and rushed out of the classroom and told their parents to check the student "mailboxes" for their very own copy of the Dandy Dip Directions and one even said "Mommy can we pllleeeeeaaassse make Dandy Dip for Daddy? Wait, Daddy starts with D too!" I almost passed out from happiness.
So below is the Directions for Dandy Dip from "Beginning Sounds" by The Mailbox and photos of my tiny @$$ classroom that is, in its own way on the verge of being an oasis...Minus the fact that there is NO bathroom and we have to use another class' (and I have two kids in diapers) and no sink. Keep your fingers crossed I get the furniture I put on my "wish list" to the principal.
I do love my job. And having only 5 students makes the small room bearable. I do not have a lot of room or storage. Sterilite tubs are my friends. Rubbermaid too. But I have made the classroom, that once resembled a walk in closet, mine own. I have a large classroom that we transition to in the afternoon, but its not mine.
I am in no means complaining. Maybe bemoaning that I once had the "corner suite" at New Beginnings. My last classroom in VA was pretty big, but had people constantly entering and leaving to the adjacent classroom through MY room...which given the student population I work with, was highly distracting. I feel, and I have been going to my job for only 12 school days, that this job is the perfect fit.
In the morning, I have 5 students with Autism. Which the school feels are "moderate" and some are on the "low side", I think they are geniuses. They say "hello" and "Sara, are you happy that I am here today?". Yeah that was what I was greeted with on Friday. I have always loved my students no matter what but this is just so different! The afternoon class? I have never taught "typicals" before. I also have three English Language Learners. You know what? I am not teaching the afternoon any different from the morning (minus Discrete Trial Teaching which is only 40 mins). Pam, a friend and speech therapist from VA, would be so proud of me and my language based approach that is fused with ABA. I think of her all of the time and so wish that she could be teaching with me, pushing into the class to do speech. I think of her every time I do letter of the week. The ELL students are really benefiting from the language based approach and all of the kids crave the learning and are just soaking up the knowledge!
On Friday, we made Dandy Dip (from the Mailbox book "Beginning Sounds") to finish our week with the letter D. I did not think the kids would like it. I mean its DIP. Every child (except two who are on the spectrum) TRIED the dip. Not only did they try it, they ate it with CARROTS and chips. Then the most amazing thing? They FORGOT about the cupcakes I made for a special treat at lunch, and rushed out of the classroom and told their parents to check the student "mailboxes" for their very own copy of the Dandy Dip Directions and one even said "Mommy can we pllleeeeeaaassse make Dandy Dip for Daddy? Wait, Daddy starts with D too!" I almost passed out from happiness.
So below is the Directions for Dandy Dip from "Beginning Sounds" by The Mailbox and photos of my tiny @$$ classroom that is, in its own way on the verge of being an oasis...Minus the fact that there is NO bathroom and we have to use another class' (and I have two kids in diapers) and no sink. Keep your fingers crossed I get the furniture I put on my "wish list" to the principal.
From the doorway of the classroom.
Taken from the windows, the door is on the left.
Dandy Dip
1 cup of sour cream or yogurt
1 cup of mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon parsley
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder (or to taste)
1/4 teaspoon (I did three healthy shakes) minced onions
Monday, January 18, 2010
Off to a Good New Year
Things have been quite busy this year and we are only 18 days into the year! First I have to back track- get ready for a long post.
For Christmas we headed to New Jersey to hang out with the family. My Aunt Linda and cousin Michael flew in. It was a nice quiet Christmas. Then on the 26th we drove from NJ to North Carolina to the Outer Banks. We had a very long drive but we got there and the house was beautiful.
The house was beautiful and HUGE. The views were breathtaking. We went fishing, put on our coats and sat on the beach, hit the outlet mall and ate out. It was a very nice and relaxing trip. Nice and quiet.
For Christmas we headed to New Jersey to hang out with the family. My Aunt Linda and cousin Michael flew in. It was a nice quiet Christmas. Then on the 26th we drove from NJ to North Carolina to the Outer Banks. We had a very long drive but we got there and the house was beautiful.
The house was beautiful and HUGE. The views were breathtaking. We went fishing, put on our coats and sat on the beach, hit the outlet mall and ate out. It was a very nice and relaxing trip. Nice and quiet.
Mike and I left early, on the 30th. Before we left we went to go see a lighthouse and the wild horses of Carrolla. The whole family went off roading in Jeeps and we got to see a lot of the wild horses, it was very cool. We even got to see some...mating habits of the wild horses!
We then headed back to Alexandria, VA. We had a busy stay. We stayed with our friends Neil and Cari on the 30th and went bowling with them and our friend Byl. On New Year's Eve we went to Dave and Anneie's house, rang in the New Year and stayed over night. We had breakfast at the Honey Bee, if you are ever in Glen Burnie, MD I highly recommend it. Then we headed back to Neil and Cari's. We also stopped by Dave and Valerie's house and met their daughter, Leanna. Below are some pics. That is all for now. I will be posting pictures of my new classroom. Its safe to say that I ADORE my new job. I could not be happier! It is a dream come true!
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