What the Holidays Mean To Me

What The Holidays Mean to You

For you, the holidays are a very spiritual time. You have as much holiday fun as everyone else - but you never forget what you're celebrating. You celebrate the holidays in an over the top style. If something is cute, you'll buy it. People end up with a lot of gifts from you - and your house is like a holiday wonderland, full of decorations. During the holidays, you feel happily busy. There's so much do to and not a lot of time to do it. But you enjoy every minute of your holiday chores. You think the holidays should be comforting and relaxing. You don't like the holiday rush... you just like the simple pleasure of the holidays. Your best holiday memories are of childhood foods and traditions. You secretly still wish you believed in Santa Claus.

What Do the Holidays Mean to You?

Christmas Journal...let's try this again...

Well here it is already December! What a year so far. I am attempting to do a Christmas Journal again, last year I started and didn't finish. I am going to TRY and complete one for this year. Still no digital camera, but I wanted to share my Day 1 layout. You can read the journaling a bit better if you click on the picture. I am posting the picture, although not perfect, so you can get an idea, and to keep me motivated.

It's been a long time...

I've neglected my blog. It does not mean that things aren't happening, or I do not have a lot to say. I have some ideas. MAYBE I can start one idea tomorrow. Stay tuned.

It's Been a Difficult Week

Although there is only one more week of school, this week has been so fast paced for me! Not to get into all of the details, but it has been very difficult as well. Through prayer, and listening ears and hopefully wise advice, I am getting through it. My week did end with a positive meeting with a parent. I will be leaving/in Mexico in a week, and still so much to do.

As a way to unwind from a hectic week, last night Anthony and I went to Islands, a burger place. The food wasn't great, but we did have good service. As we were leaving we had a treat of seeing fireworks. They were so close! I asked Anthony to take a VIDEO of them, because I didn't think that camera phone would pick up photos of fireworks very well. I will try to upload the clip(s). To me, they were better than the ones we saw on the 4th. Although it was foggy then, so that could have been part of it.

I remembered that I could send pictures from my camera phone. So I have added a photo of the marquee from the Boyz II Men concert. There is also an added picture from my birthday. Lastly, for now, I've added a photo of the poster my kids created with the substitute for me when I came back to school from my recovery. It makes me happy! Have a great weekend!

Still Here

Has it really been that long since I posted? Wow! Sorry for those of you that check. I myself get inpatient when someone doesn't update their blog frequently. Sigh. I also like seeing PICTURES in blogs, like another blogger mentioned on her site. My camera doesn't even turn on now, so I am trying to decide rather or not to fix it, or just get a new one. So much is going on.

I'm getting ready, really more mentallly ready for Mexico, although I have a LOT THINGS I need to do before I go.

Two more weeks of school left, yeah! Still have report cards to do before Monday, I've been procrastinating.

Trying to relax and enjoy the nice SUMMER weather. The 4th of July was good, Anthony and I went to the SD County Fair.

Saw Transformers, which I liked, as well as Anthony, who was at first not impressed with the first trailer.

Have a LONG to do list, in addition in getting ready for Mexico.

Have had some scrapping mojo-I wish I could stay home and do nothing but scrap.

Wanting to do something like this: http://melodyross.typepad.com/my_weblog/2007/07/what-ive-learne.html maybe if I have time when I get back from Mexico.

Cannot believe that the Fifth Harry Potter movie is coming out in a few days, and Book 7 will be here soon as well.

Since I am not able to post any current photos, I will try to attach a Transformer trailer link/clip. Make sure to stop the music on the bottom, or let it finish before viewing the Transformers trailer. It is really worth going to. And if you decide to see the movie, be sure to get there early enough to see what is termed a "secret" movie trailer for a J.J. Abram's film-the creator of Lost.

Today is 7-7-07, which is supposed to be lucky! I am not sure how "lucky" today was/is, but I truly am blessed!

Take care.

Coming Full Circle: Boyz II Men Concert

Hello. Last night Anthony and I went to a Boyz II Men concert at Humprey's. It was fun! It was outside. Last time we went to an outside concert, Lord of the Rings Symphony, it was FREEZING. At that concert, I had dressed all cute, I think I had on a SKIRT, and we had to buy a blanket. How convienient they sold blankets and sweatshirts for "newbies" like us. At the Boyz II Men concert, we we smarter and dressed warm, I think I went overboard, I was actually a little too warm.

So I had heard on a radio station briefly about them being in town. Yesterday morning I did a search online, and asked Anthony if he wanted to go. So after work I called him, and he called me back and said he would go to see about getting tickets. He did! Years ago, lol, one of our, if not our first date was a Boyz II Men concert. So this was extra special. They were great. Michael "Bass" McCary wasn't there. Shawn explained that he was having health problems, which I looked up and apparently he has back problems, and so wasn't with the group. He was missed, but again, it was still a great show. They did many of their most popular songs, including, Motownphilly, Yesterday, End of the Road, and some songs from their new album, http://www.boyziimen.com/remedy.html.

We both wish it was longer, they sang a little over an hour. Although the venue said no cameras, recording devices, etc., there were SO many people taking pictures with digital cameras, cell phones, blackberry looking devices, etc. So again, one because I was trying to follow the rules didn't bring my disposable camera, and second because my digital camera is completely not working now, we took some pictures, or tried in my case, with our photo camera. Agggh! So we got some crappy pictures. But I will try to post some of them if I can. I really need a reliable camera, maybe I will go back to film, and NEED to carry my camera with me everyday and everywhere! I have missed opportunities where I wanted to take a photo.

Anyway, another lesson learned was that it is good to have some fun during a work week. I was a little hesistant, worried about being tired in the morning, it is early here in Cali, and so far doing okay, but I think it is important to live and have some fun and get out of the routine sometimes. A retired teacher colleage from the last school I worked with would tell other teachers this. He would say, have some fun, this, teaching, isn't a sprint it's a marathon. Go to a movie sometime-you mean in the middle of the week? He subs for me sometimes, he subs a LOT. I would say he subs almost everyday. I had asked him if he would sub for me this past Tuesday, and he was like, ohh, I can't. Turns out he went to a baseball game. Although he still subs a lot, he still practices what he says, I mean he is RETIRED. I have a feeling even if he wasn't, he would still go to baseball games in the middle of the week.

So, I was glad that we went out to a concert on a THURSDAY and had a good time. During a tiring and stressful week, it was therapeutic to get out. Everyone really should do this. It doesn't have to be big, it could be, a movie, dinner, book reading, anything that you may not normally do on a weekday. That said, have a blessed, happy, and save Memorial Day Weekend!

PS I am feeling and doing much better! Take care.

Three in a row...

Wow, what is this, three days in a row of blogging? Two things. One, I received a cute COLOR comic of Love is... Long story short. I collected these in college. I then sent them to Anthony. I "found" that he saved them, and started collecting them again, including books, figurines, etc. I stopped, and haven't really kept up with collecting Love is... comics and things for a couple of years now. Anyway, one of the people I have emailed, chatted with, Jey, sent me a color Love is...comic. As far as I know, they haven't been published in color in the states. So this was exciting for me, and made me happy.

Also, while reading Bethany's blog: http://documentingus.blogspot.com/2007/03/art-journal-week-10.html, she is doing a card challenge, and wrote, "Don't worry about what other people think." It made me stop. I took a sick day on Friday for personal reasons. On Monday when I went back to work, I felt that some coworkers may have thought my absence was due to extra celebrating of my birthday, and that I wasn't sick or not feeling well. I shared this with someone who I feel, "has my back" and she gave me the advice Bethany wrote on her card. This is something that I continue to work on. Even if I was taking extra time for me, resting, not feeling well, whatever, it really is none of their business. Plus, I shouldn't really worry about what they think. So this is also a note to myself: Don't Worry About What Others Think.

Who Has YOUR Back?

I had SO much fun yesterday, I seriously didn't want it to end. I was tired this morning. Anyway. Three things. One, my digital camera viewer is broken, so I haven't checked to see if photos will still come out or what. This means I will probably not post pictures anytime soon. Second, I took some pictures with my camera phone, all that we had on hand yesterday, so hopefully I can figure out how to post those pictures. Third, has to do with church service yesterday. It was the end of the sermon, where Pastor Miles read a scripture-I'll have to come back and edit and share that.

This is in the Book of Joshua, in the beginning, where Joshua is telling the people of Israel that they are getting ready to go into the promise land, be ready, and trust God. Their response to this was basically, "We got your back, Joshua." So my question to you is, who has YOUR back, and whose back to you have?

I thought about this briefly yesterday, but have been thinking more about it today. Isn't it a blessing, as the pastor was explaining yesterday, that God has given us "human people" who are here to help support us. Of course God and Jesus have our backs too. But isn't it great that we have people (relationships) that can help us go through life, and be a support system?

I have always been one, as long as I can remember that had a close circle of friends. I continue to try to surround myself with family and trusted friends to confide in, it's just me. Not to say that I do not talk and meet with other people, but that I do tend to stay to myself. To know that I have family, and friends who are there for me, and that there are people who are here to help me along the journey is a great feeling. I am so blessed to have people like this in my life, and I pray you do as well.

It's my BIRTHDAY!

Well it's almost over. I am trying to extend it as long as possible. It has been a great day! Anthony took me to Humphrey's by the Bay Restaurant for a brunch. A local jazz station, 98.1, broadcasts live from there on Sundays. Although we didn't hear a lot of music, we had a decent view of the yachts from our table-we weren't right next to the window. They gave me Creme Brulée since it was my birthday. It was delicious! I got some tech gifts. We went to Boot Camp-a more in depth study of our faith, and went to one of the evening services at the Rock. Whew! It has been a long day, and such a blessing. I thank God for another year, and look forward to celebrating many more birthdays! This time last year I had strep throat. This year was a beautiful day, probably the warmest day of the year so far, and was great! Okay, back to enjoying the rest of my day! Hopefully, I can post pictures later.

President's Day

Happy New Year! Wow, it's been awhile. I do have a lot to say and share. I hope to get better on blogging, seriously. For now, in honor of President's Day, I thought that I would share a video of someone who may become president in 2008: Barack Obama! Take care.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid416308493/bclid416343960/bctid494649996