March 22, 2009 by samantha.

One week until Spring Break and I have come down with Spring Fever. I think it is in part to me running around and not having the stress of worrying about being pinked. Yup, March 13 rolled around and I did not receive a pink slip. I thought for sure I would get one and that it would be rescinded. I still think I am in a bit of shock. I have gotten so used to worrying about it, that I do not know how to not worry. I feel horrible for my co-workers that did get pinked. I wish I could do something for them, but what can I do? I did not have long to celebrate because the following Sunday I was off to a union workshop in Newport Beach. The workshop was okay. The highlight was driving a friend’s Prius. I have decided that the 2010 Prius will be mine. I am so excited! On Thursday I chopped off my hair. At the time I thought it was a dramatic change. Now that I am used to it, it does not feel much different.

Friday was exciting. Some friends and I went into LA to see my favorite author, Jodi Picoult. I brought about 8 books for her to sign and sign them all she did!! Of course, I picked up the Jodi Picoult’s new book. I think it save it to read over my break. After seeing the author, we went to El Coyote for dinner. I heard so much about the place and I was excited to go. It was horrible. The service was poor, the food was awful, and the drinks were so bad they had to be sent back. Thank goodness I was in good company. Of course, driving a friend’s Mercedes did not hurt either.

Yesterday was a lazy day. I did some schoolwork and read. Last night, I did head out to the movies to see Duplicity. It was horrible. I was so bored. I was playing on the Internet and sending text messages during the movie. I should have stayed home and finished my book.

Today was the highlight of my weekend. Some girlfriends and I attempted to go for a hike. It rained this morning and we thought it was over. Val was thrilled. We began our hike, up the hill, enjoying the cool air. We did not even make it a mile when the rain began to come down. We decided to turn around. Of course it was too late. We got soaked. Still the little hike we took was fun. I took a couple of pictures. Enjoy!

A wild sunflower that we saw on our hike

I love trees. This one I thought was beautiful. Too bad someone decided to tag it. And do you see Val in the corner?

This is the hill we attempted to hike up.

Posted in School, Friends, California, Val, Movies, Weekends, Rants | 1 Comment »

March 8, 2009 by samantha.

This morning started out as any normal Sunday. Val and I were up early, we went for a walk, came home to make breakfast. When my Eggos were toasting, I headed to the garage to get Val’s breakfast. This is what was waiting for me at my door.

It is a White-lined Sphinx Moth and he is huge! I have never seen a moth that was so big. He was too high up for me to put something next to him so you could get an idea of his size. He is beautiful. Of course I am a big nerd and I quickly fed Val so I could learn what type of moth he was. After I figured that out, I Googled his name. I run outside every hour so just to see if he is still there. I guess they are pretty common out here, but I have never seen one before. Maybe the time change confused him?

Posted in House, California, Val, Weekends | 2 Comments »

February 22, 2009 by samantha.

I am in a sour mood. I had a fantastic time in Portland. I would like to think that I will be moving up there in a few years. The weather in Portland was almost perfect. I visited Voodoo Doughnuts and in a moment of bravery I tried a Maple Bacon bar. Yep, I had bacon on my doughnut.

As odd as it sounds, I do not like doughnuts or bacon but the doughnut was not that bad. It was nice to spend time with my cousins. We talked about nothing and yet the trip flew by. I am hoping to maybe go up in July. I have already looked up tickets and they are cheap! How could I pass up a cheap ticket!?!?!?

Of course, the trip depends mostly on if I keep my job. Right before break I heard that the district had plans to let 66 teachers go. I am 61 on the list. Not a good place to be! I am not too worried. I think I will be okay. I know some teachers will not be asked back and some teachers are taking early retirement. School has to open in August and parents will flip if their are kids crammed into a classroom. If I do lose my job, I have a few ideas to keep me busy and the money flowing in. Getting a new job will be difficult and I do not think I can qualify for unemployment. What stinks the most is that I will most likely be pink slipped. The district is supposed to vote on the new budget with the changes this Tuesday. It may be postponed since California finally voted on a budget.

This weekend was a quiet one. I played with friends, went to the movies twice, and tried some new restaurants. Most importantly, I made sure Val was happy. She has been very lovable lately. Usually, she says hi to me when I walk in the door and checks on me throughout the day. She used to spend most of her time in the backyard or on her couch. Now she follows me around the house and wants to be in the same room with me.

I have no complaints. I like sharing the couch with her. Maybe age is catching up with her and she realizes that being in separate rooms is boring! Getting scratched behind your ears makes it all worth it! Maybe she just really likes the new couch!

Tomorrow I have to return to school. I always like getting back into the everyday routine. Too bad everything it so tense. Teachers are worried about their jobs. The students are stressed. I think they have it worse. They have the stress from their parents worries and then the stress from their teachers. No wonder behavior problems are at an all time high this year. Next year I am sure it will be worse. Parents will probably will be more stressed and classrooms will be crowded due to less teachers.

Posted in California, School, Val, Weekends, Travels, Rants | 1 Comment »

February 14, 2009 by samantha.

Since I had places to be today, I decided to get up at the usually time and follow the same routine I do on weekdays. Val and I went for our morning walk and returned to the house at the normal time of 6ish. The next step in the routine is taking a shower. Too bad I was unable to open the bathroom door! I tried and tried. My door refused to open. See, my bathroom is small and I needed to be creative in the way I stored bathroom essentials. I found a vanity that has a bottom drawer that was perfect to house the staples.

Last night when I closed it I guess I used a little too much force, so when I closed the bathroom door the drawer bounced back out. This is what made it impossible for me to open the door this morning. Back to 6 AM Saturday morning, I was in a panic. I leave for Portland today and I need to get into my bathroom!! I tried taking the screen out of the for the bathroom window. The window is too skinny to crawl through, but at least I could put something through the window so that I could push the drawer back. That did not work out since the window was locked. I tried using a spatula and a wooden spoon, through the slot under the door, to push the drawer back. Still no luck!!!! By this time I was thinking I was going to have to take an axe to the door! I decided that before I did that, I would try to pry the door open one more time. The door opened like it supposed to. And now it is just after 7 AM and I am showered and packed for my trip.

About the drawer, you found my dirty little secret. As organized as I am I cannot keep this drawer tidy. I figure everyone has at least one messy drawer. I organize it all the time and in a few days it is messed up again. Oh well! I have more important things to take care of!

And Happy Valentine’s Day!!!!

Posted in House, Holidays, Val, Weekends, Travels, Rants | No Comments »

January 28, 2009 by samantha.

I have my first cold of the year and of the school year. How I made it this long without getting a cold, I do not know. My sinuses are killing me. The pain is ridiculous, but I have had worse. My throat is sore and yet I keep talking. My nose is a little bit runny. Overall it is a mild cold at best. Since I have not had a cold in about a year, I forgot how annoying they are. It just happens to be worse at night. That makes sense. I am laying down then. I guess I am just complaining and I want some sympathy. Do I expect some? Nope! I know my friends better than that!

Who suffers most when I am not in top shape? Vallie!! She did not have her walk this morning and she was not happy. She gives me the glare and makes me feel like the worst person in the world. I try to explain to her. Still, I am in big trouble. Not that I blame her. She is stuck in the backyard all day and a walk is her daily outing to see the neighborhood. And she is such a good puppy that she deserves her daily walk. I just hope that tomorrow morning I will feel good enough to take her for a walk. If I do not, I think she may just eat me alive!

If you have not figured it out, I do not have a lot to share. I still have hot water. The new couches are still wonderful. Things at school are tense. I am hoping that I get to keep my job. I will know my job status no later than March 13. That date is looming over me. I am not too worried about my job. I think I am okay. On an ironic note, March 13 happens to be a Friday. In Europe Friday the 13 is a lucky day. People go and buy lottery tickets! I am hoping my European side brings me luck! I have been good to it!!

In closing, I have two questions that I need to ask. Why is it that if someone goes on Oprah to apologize, then all is forgiven? How do I get on Oprah so that I can be forgiven for all my sins?

Posted in Friends, School, Val, Rants | No Comments »

January 14, 2009 by samantha.

So, my morning was bad from the very beginning. I woke up at four o’clock from a horrible nightmare. Obviously, I was not anxious to get back to sleep. I turned on the light, the television, and asked Val to jump on the bed. I thought I would never back to sleep, but thankfully I was able to.

When the alarm went off at five, I had no idea that I would have to take a tepid shower. No one is happy to take a tepid shower, especially at five in the morning! I tried a few of the faucets in the house and I had no hot water. And yes, I paid my gas bill!!! I had no to choice, but to head to work and deal with the situation when I got home.

When I got home, I had my fingers crossed that I would have hot water. No such luck! First thing I thought of checking was the water heater. I could not see a pilot light and I was hoping that it would resolve the problem. My neighbor just happened to be out, so I asked him what he knew about water heaters. Thanks to him, I had hot water within an hour! I was even able to wash my dinner dishes.

At first I was not looking forward to going to sleep, for fear of another nightmare. Now I am anxious for the morning to come so I can take a hot shower!! Nothing beats a hot shower in the morning!

Posted in House, Val, Rants | 1 Comment »

January 11, 2009 by samantha.

First and most importantly, the parents are gone and far away in Florida. They left Saturday morning, very early, and I have been enjoying my solitude since then. Still, I have them to thank for a fantastic trip to France, a great Christmas, and my new couches, coffee table, end tables, and lamps!

Since I can never remember which is the family room and which is the living room, I call the two rooms the TV room and Val’s room.

Here is how Val’s room used to look.

Here is how it looks now.

Here is how the TV room used to look.

Here is how it looks now.

Here is the lamp I instantly fell in love with.

And I am sure you are worried about what happened to Val’s old, ugly couch. Here it is waiting to go to the city dump. It did a great job of serving Val’s needs and she will miss it. I am so happy to get rid of it.

Posted in House, Europe, California, Val, Travels, Family | No Comments »

January 4, 2009 by samantha.

Tomorrow I must return to work. This break has seemed to last forever and I think I forgot what my classroom looks like. I have enjoyed my vacation, but I think it is time to return to the normal routine. Of course, the routine will not get back to normal until my parents leave. It seems like they have been here forever and on Saturday they will finally head back to Florida. They decided to stay a bit longer so that one of my best Christmas, a shower door, could be installed. I am so excited and I hope to be able to use it by this weekend. Keep your fingers crossed!

Yesterday, I made a large and much needed purchase. I bought myself a new couch, loveseat, coffee table, and end tables. My current couch and loveseat have been used and abused. They will be turned over to Val and put in her room. My coffee table and end tables come from Tallahassee. I never cared for them, but they have done a great job. These too will be moved to Val’s room. The new furniture will be delivered on Thursday and I am sure you will all check back to see pictures.

Now I am going to enjoy my last few hours of freedom and digest my mom’s tacos. For a Frenchie, she makes the best damn tacos. I requested them tonight and they never disappoint!

Posted in School, House, Val, Family, Rants | 2 Comments »

January 2, 2009 by samantha.

As the second day of the new year comes to an end, I am happy to report that I have no complaints. Things are going well and hopefully it is a sign.

Yesterday, I went couch shopping. I am a great window shopper. I can window shop all day long and never spend a dime! But I think it is time to get some new couches. Since no one is buying furniture, I can get a couch, loveseat, coffee table, and end tables for a steal. And since mom and dad are still visiting, they can be here for the delivery. I think I should go back and look at the couch again tomorrow.

I did buy some much-needed bookshelves yesterday. I am anxiously awaiting them to be delivered. Again, mom will be here for the delivery. Parents can come in handy! Right now I have piles of books all over the house. There is no rhyme or reason to the piles either. In other words, organized me has my beloved books in stacks of disarray! On Tuesday, they will finally have a designated home. I am already organizing my books, on my new bookshelves, in my head.

Today was a big day for Val. She went to the vet and had her teeth cleaned. I am happy to report that she had no cavities and had to have no teeth extracted. Currently, she is asleep on her throne, gums a little sore, and trying to forget the necessary torture she had to endure. Thankfully, she will not have to go through the experience again for a year or two.

While Val was at the vet, I took my mom to get a pedicure. Both us were overdo for one and enjoy the experience very much. I now have beautiful hot pink toes. Aren’t you glad to know that? We ran a couple more errands before rescuing Val.

Today I also finished my first book of 2009.

Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World was as hokey as it sounds. And I loved every minute of it. The book is about Dewey’s life as a library cat in a small Iowa town. It chronicles how he touched people and helped a town weather it’s hard times. It is not a book for everyone. It is sappy as can be, but I found it an enjoyable read.

Posted in House, Holidays, Val, Family, Books, Rants | 1 Comment »

December 5, 2008 by samantha.

I am not ready to go home. I have had such a wonderful time here and leaving will be very hard. It was great to see my family and know that my grandmother is doing okay. I am already making plans to return this summer. When I get back to the States, I will start researching little summer jobs that I might be able to do here. I want a little job so I can meet some people and supplement my stay here. Lord knows that a rental car will cost an arm and a leg! And I am keeping my fingers crossed that when I come back I will have a washer and a dryer! If I have those two things, along with dependable Internet access, I could be very happy here for a month or so.

I am anxious to get home and see my doggie. This trip would have been perfect if Val could have joined us. She would love France. There are not many places that she cannot go… she could even ride the bus! I know that she was in good hands while I was here, but not having her around has been hard. It is amazing how lonely I am without her! I like the little routine that we have and I look forward to getting to it.

Then again, I could have her put on a plane and sent to me here. Living in Perpignan could be very easy!

Posted in Europe, Val, Travels, Family | No Comments »