What the What?!

I'm such a terrible blogger. Even I am disgusted when I look at my blog and there's nothing new there. I just haven't been in the bloggin' kind of mood. I've been petulant lately. I've written lots of referrals and cussed out a couple of kids. Ok, not really on the cussing part, but I wanted to. Today, I spilled glass of iced tea all over my desk and pants in 5th period. Totally looked like I peed my pants. Just putting it out there just in case pictures of me with wet britches show up on the internet. These kids are stealthy with camera phones, so you never know. Is it Thanksgiving break yet?

Seriously, I've taken about 40 pictures with every intention of blogging, but I just never get around to uploading them.

But since I'm here...let's see, what's new?

I have been Christmas shopping/creating. I'll share a few things since I can't give away too many surprises.

Fun and cheap for kids (you): No Sew Fleece Throws
They are soft and cuddly, they come if really fun prints and coordinating solids. Ok. So I am a bit of a control freak and made them myself rather than gifting the kit to my nieces for them to make. That's just the crazy in me. Now I feel guilty. Great, now I have to go back and buy two more to gift as kits. I'm totally going to be the mom who does her kid's projects. Sigh. Anyways, I got two, buy-one-get-one, at Joanne for $20. Totally worth it. You better believe I appliqued those babies, too! I hope they like them!



More crafty gifts: Aprons
I got a wild hair and decided I wanted to make aprons for all the family cooks this year. I went and bought a pattern for various aprons. $15.97?!?!? Patterns are expensive, yo! Between that and the material, I was better off buying a pre-made apron and embroidering it. Unless I make like, 5 million aprons. Then it might be worth it. What was I thinking?

Since I haven't used a pattern since I was a kid, I decided the first one better be for me. Who knows what it could have ended up looking like... I picked out cute leopard print material and made a pretty decent first attempt. Then I walked into the living room (several hours later) to model my new apron for Joe, and he said it looked a bit "Wilma Flintstone." And then I said, "Oh yeah, well you have Fred Flintstone feet!" But, he was right. It is a bit Wilma, don't you think? LOL
I'm thinking the rest will be waist-tie aprons; otherwise, I won't have them done in time for the holidays.

Food gifts:
I like to gift homemade goodies. A couple of years ago, Joe and I canned our own candied jalapenos and gave them as gifts. Aside from being borderline dangerously spicy, they were pretty good. I picked up a copy of Better Homes and Gardens food gift ideas magazine as an impulse buy while waiting to checkout with my groceries. It's filled with great recipes and creative packaging ideas. There were also some nice giftable recipes in the December issue of Food and Wine. I'll let you know what I decide to make.

Speaking of magazines... I subscribe to Scientific American now, ya know, to make me seem intelligent and worldly to all the visitors to the casa. Oh wait. We never have visitors. That's it, I'm canceling it. Ok, so truth be told, taking this Astronomy class has rekindled my love for science and I want to stay current. I also got Joe a subscription to Wired magazine, as featured on The Pioneer Woman. She's the next Oprah, what can I say? Anyways, Wired seems right up Joe's alley.

One more thing. Last night I was cooking dinner in my Wilma Flintstone apron, and there was a knock at the door. It was 6:00ish, so it was dark outside. I looked out the front door and there was a package...addressed to my neighbor. A few seconds later, the UPS man came striding across my lawn, complaining about how he can't read our house numbers in the dark and that "the rookies" were starting next week. Oh great. Just in time for the holidays. Guess I need to put a lighted marquee on my house to recieve my UPS shipments here soon. You should consider it, too.

Me Gusta Mucho

If you haven't checked out Viva Terra, ya need to. It's a little granola and a whole lotta fabulous.

Here's what I'm loving in their latest catalog:

I envision this bed with that Rosa Pottery Barn bed set I've been drooling over for the past year...or even their new Carmen set.

It's kinda pricey...but an heirloom quality piece? Right? I love the grandeur of the scale. Hmm, I think I'd need a bigger house to make room for this bed, which would make it REALLY expensive. Oh well, I lurve it still.

And then there are these wreaths. I love the peace one for the holidays and the other one because succulents are one of the few plants I can keep alive.

And then there are these slippers. Those are fabulously flamboyant felted wool chrysanthemums and they make me happy. I think Oscar would destroy them though. Maybe not.

Is it too early to make my Christmas list?

Alive and Mostly Sane

My life lately has consisted of writing and grading writing, which explains why I haven't been blogging.

The writing lowdown: Two creative non-fiction 8-12 pagers and one excruciating 9 pager for Astronomy.
I learned last night that I made an A on the Astronomy paper! Yes, I am doing the happy dance. It's a good thing you can't see me. I only mention it because I worried about it so much since I was WAY out of my element discussing quantum physics and elementary particles. But now I feel a little smarter and since I got an A. It must mean I'm an expert, right? No? You don't want to hire me as a distinguished lecturer on the scientific version of Genesis? Pfft. I'm sure you'll change your mind once I receive my Nobel Prize for my groundbreaking paper. I'm practically the next Einstein. ;) My next contribution to science will be a 15-20 page paper on supermassive black holes.

Creative writing has been my refuge, my sanity, and therapy this year. I'll also be working on another creative non-fiction story about a time when my inner feelings conflicted with my public face. Um...yeah, no problem writing about that one! Being a teacher gives me pah-lenty of material for that topic.

And then there was my least favorite part of being a student and teacher...

Grading 140-150ish research papers. Saved the late ones for last (HUGE mistake). Wanted to burn the papers and quit my job. I was angry. I was frustrated. I became filled with self-doubt and despair. Note to self: Do not save the late papers for any reason, ever. For a while there, I didn't think I would make it through research season alive. Alas, here I am, in one piece. There were only brief moments when I questioned my sanity. I only drank one bottle of wine. Hey, I didn't leave my house for two whole weeks, and if you saw some of those papers, you'd need a drink, too.

It's done for another year. Hurrah and hizzah!

Now, I'm going to hibernate. I love this cool, rainy weather!