Life Is Rough

Sunshine sunshine sunshine flip flops.

Life in Oceanside is rough. It's 72 degrees right now.

Oh, and I'm going running here this afternoon. *Don't be jealous.*

Teacher Down Time

Did you ever wonder what your teacher was doing during their free period?

Well, most of mine actually did work, but I had a watercolor teacher in High School, Mr. Fackrell, who mostly sat at his desk and painted when he wasn't instructing.

On Thursdays I have a very long block of free time (Thursdays are the best for that very reason), and today I sat in on my husband's class, listening to crazed freshmen play bingo, and painted this little barn owl. I've been wanting to for some time, and today I was satisfied.

I painted him on a Strathmore 140 lb. postcard...these things are wonderful. If you paint, I suggest these pre-printed postcards, they are just too convenient. I've posted this little barn owl in my Etsy shop, perfect item to set off October.

On a side note, I also had a science teacher who ate chalk and drank glue...for the shock factor, I think. Did your teachers ever do anything strange? Did your art teachers ever just sit around and be creative?

Not Too Old to Party

The last concert we went to, we loved the opening bands. But when the Foo Fighters took the stage, we'd already seen them before and their performance was less than stellar, so we were secretly glad because our old bodies can't party like they used to. We left in the middle of the set.
So when we bought tix to see The Killers the other night we were determined to party like the rest of those young'uns. Ok, so we're only 28, but I feel old. I was falling asleep before we made it to the car, and the fact that we spent the earlier part of the week trying to keep up with our kids on Catalina, we were more than slightly sleep-deprived.

Isn't it funny how time goes on? I am so grateful that I am not who I was when I was 18, but aging certainly has it's benefits and it's drawbacks. I aint no old fart yet, but there are times when I quote movies, or phrases and my students look at me like I have a 3rd eye.

Then again, on the other hand, when it comes to back-to-school night, their parents kindly ask me if I know when the teacher is going to show up.

Oh! Age. Thou art a crafty devil, inconspicuous and violent, pervasive and undeniable, a friend and a foe.

Catalina: Campus by the Sea

Each year our Juniors and Seniors take a 3 day trip to Catalina Island, where they bond, are challenged spiritually and physically, and learn much about each other and their Creator. This year, Jon and I got to chaperone for the first time. I'm tellin' you, we had as much fun as the kids.
We were very excited to do this event, especially since this year's seniors were Jon's and my first class that we taught 6 years ago when they were in 7th grade. They are like our first born children, but are more like little siblings.On competition day, there was a relay race, in which students had to begin with a 9-person wheelbarrow, followed by a goldfish transport (with the mouth being the vehicle...fish must remain in tact for points; only 2 got swallowed), and ending with a spelling bee where they had to spell a word on the ground with their bodies.

They also did eating contests (baby food, sardines, cat food...), cow tongue basketball (exactly what it sounds like), and bobbing for pig's feet. Needless to say, there were a few pukers. I did NOT volunteer for those games.
There was a flag-making competition, which included clever team names and a team cheer or song. Jon's was "Pink Eye...Fear the Puss (Ya, we're contagious)!" They won extra points for following the theme of Fear Factor. Gross. Seriously.In the midst of all the fun, we had a very entertaining, very stirring chapel speaker named Jurgen Mathisias (or Gurgles Mattresses, according to spell check). Many of our students found themselves brought tearfully to their knees, moved and convicted between bouts of laughter and outrageous praise.

The competitions ended with the ultimate competition: teachers stood on the floating dock with colored flags on our waist. One person from each team had to swim to us, pull their team's flag and swim to the kayak in the distance. That's me on the dock on the right.The rest of the kids screamed and rallied their racers from the shore...I was proud of the one GIRL who competed in this one; and she placed 3rd!We had beautiful solitary times as well, campfire songs and worship under the stars, s'mores and night hikes. This was, in many senses, the best camping trip, chaperone event, or vacation I've had in a very long time.
I'm crossing my fingers to get to go with them this May on their Senior Europe trip too. Let's get those prayers rollin' now folks!

If You Wear a Hawaiian Shirt, You'll Disappear...

My husband is a precious lamb of Jesus, but when it comes to decorating we couldn't be more different. One of the first arguments we had as a married couple was over his idea of hanging a series of frames and how it conflicted with what I thought was good design. (I lost that one, but was determined to never let him hang frames again.)

So, in our garage sale pursuits this summer, Jon happened upon another purchase...but I'm a little frightened by this one. I don't hate it, but you tell me what you think. I don't know if it's good or bad, but it's a little eerily reminiscent of my childhood in Florida.And do you remember this awesome find?

Keep in mind that all our furniture resides, as we do, temporarily in the in-laws' house, but will soon find it's way back to the coast of San Diego.

I just want to know what a house looks like that is shared by two stubbornly different tastes. Scary.
I'm just learning how to hold my tongue and pick my battles.

Any ideas on how to combine these two pieces in the same room?

It's Just Not True

I'm not sure how it happens.
I never wear high heels.
But somehow people always think...
That I am taller than my husband!

TB or not TB?

I could never be a nurse, unless, of course it was for Halloween.

Jon and I had to go get our TB tests done today for school.
I DO NOT like needles, but Jon always watches.
Are you a cringer like me or a watcher like him?

On a very sad note, I left my camera in SLC and
there's NO way I'm waiting 'til Christmas to get it back.
Do I trust the US mail to get it to me safely?

On the Road Again

This week Jon and I got the travel bug and wanted to make the most of our last couple of weeks before we have to go back to work, so he surprised me with a trip to see my family in Salt Lake.
With an impromptu bag packed and a tank of gas we woke up in anticipation at 3am yesterday and couldn't wait to get on the road. Through gross old Vegas (my least favorite city in the US, a city of "more"), folded in the sheer vertical rock walls of the Virgin River Gorge of Arizona (my favorite part of the trip), and into bowl full of green broccoli that is tree city USA, aka Murray, Utah.

With most of the summer behind me, my little vacation is before me. I will keep you updated.Here I am playing with all the fun apps on my new phone. Crocheting and reading are my bestest road trip activities, but Jon can't read or sleep in a car. To keep from being bored, he is always the driver (which I don't mind one bit).

What did you do in the car on long trips as a kid?

She's Crafty & The Return of Mr. H

I've been busy this week. Doesn't it feel so good when you get to be creative and are productive and don't just let the couch potato habit define you any longer? Viva la crafting!

So while both my hair and my backside have been growing (it's amazing what a whole summer of inactivity will do to the waistline), I've been in the craft room playing with felt once again; find them here in my shop. I also found an old apron pattern that I revisited with this great retro print that I think would fit like a puzzle piece in any Thanksgiving kitchen.
On a side note, I'd like to announce the return of my husband as a teacher to my school! He and I were both hired at a private school in San Diego 5 years ago, but he soon got ants in his pants to be more involved in sports and left to become an athletic director. He quickly discovered how much he missed the classroom, and after a very messy process, was hired once again to teach 9th grade Bible and PE. Check out his somewhat cryptic take on the proceedings here on his blog.

He'll be just *2 classrooms* away in our already smallish school, and the icing on the cake is that I get to force him organize my art room once again. He's so good at it and I am so not.

Additionally, the house hunt continues. We've already placed offers on six houses and none are looking optimistic. Our difficulty as first-time home buyers is that we are up against those who can afford to buy in our price range will cash. How can we compete with that? We're trying to be patient, but with that housing credit requiring us to close December 1st, it's getting a little too close for comfort. Frustration won't get us anywhere, so we are optimistic and perseverant and will let you know when we find the perfect home.