UP

I laughed when I saw the preview, and thought, would be a good movie to see. Then Anthony said later that he heard on the radio that it has a good review-I think he was listening to KPRZ (Christian station) on the radio. For some reason, we didn't go that day. Then today, I read on one of the scrappy blogs I read how it was a great movie to see. So I search and decide to "surprise" Anthony with it. I thought it was a GREAT movie, and really enjoyed it. Anthony said it was cheesy, but liked the movie. RUN and see this movie. If you see it in 3D, we didn't, let me know how it was. To me, this is definitely a hidden gem, one that I don't think got a lot of positive buzz. This is a GOOD movie. I would probably put this on my top movie list. For movies that we've seen this year, I would probably give this movie a slight number one edge over Star Trek, which I also LOVED!

Go watch it NOW.

Here's a link for a sneak peek.

Up Trailer

Summer List

Inspired by reading another blog about a list of things to do for the summer, and going to the listography website, I am re energized to do my listing again. Here are some things that I would LOVE/want to do this summer:

Movies, movies, and more movies
Go to the Drive In
Go to the Redwoods
Go to a Family Reunion
Go to Legoland
Bike Ride
Go to the Beach
Go to the county fair
Eat a funnel cake-at the county fair
Go Camping
Relax/Do nothing
Attend and have fun at Comic Con-tickets already bought for this one
Watch Fireworks
Scrapbook
Read Twilight (New Moon) and maybe some other books on my list-need to write the books down that I want to read
Stay at a beach cottage for a week
Ride the train
Yoga
Walk
Finish classes/work for Reading Certificate

I may not get to do all of these things, but again, would LOVE to be able to do many, if not all of them. So now, I am feeling like maybe I can make a scrapbook about the things I want to do, and leave a space for if I do and put a picture there. That way, but the end of the summer, I have a summer highlight scrapbook album. Hmmmmm. Even if it's blank, I'll just keep it there, and maybe get an opportunity next summer, or not.

Something to check off my bucket list...

I think I had remember seeing it, then forgot. I am currently writing 30 things to do while I am 30. I am using some current goals/wants, and pulled up my "bucket list" to include some of those things as well. Well, as I was going through it, I just realized I did one of the things on my list. It is #61, Stay at the Marriott at Coronado again. Anthony and I did this a few weeks ago. The first time we stayed there was for our night of our wedding. There are some BEAUTIFUL views from this property. The first time we stayed, Anthony surprised me, we had a suite with great views! The second time, we got a decent deal, and we didn't really have a view, but we still had a great time. So, #61 is officially, and noted, checked off my "bucket list." Here is one picture from our wedding where we arrived at the hotel. I want to try and find a picture of the view we had and post it. I also want to try and post a recent picture of us at Coronado during this time.

Update...What's Up With Me?

I got over having a high, up to 103 degree fever-thank the Lord. Fever and body aches, no sore throat, stuffy nose or anything. I did develop a dry cough towards the end, it is mostly, 99% gone.

Except for time off to get well, teaching, and getting ready my students ready for State Testing.

Walking. I started two weeks or so ago, until I got sick. I hope to get back to it when I feel totally well again. Ant and I went on a short walk a few days ago in Seaport Village-first time for me, fun.

Watching movies. Those who know me/us know I/we LOVE movies. Most recently, we've seen, Termintator, I liked it, Anthony didn't. Star Trek, I LOVED it, it would probably be in my top 20, 100, whatever, Anthony thought it was okay. Before that, we did see the Fighting movie, I think we both thought it was better than we thought it would be. It was okay. We also saw the Fast and Furious movie. We liked it, we thought it was "fun!" The best of all to me was the Star Trek movie. I seriously LOVED IT. Probably my favorite movie this year.

Caught up on some other movies at home such as, Bride Wars-didn't think Ant would want to see that, I liked it. I also, por fin, saw Twilight. Yeah, I know I am late, but I REALLY wanted to read the book first, which usually I don't do. So when I went to visit my Dad, I finished the book, and as a treat, watched the movie on dvd. I thought it was okay. Don't flame me or anything. I REALLY enjoyed the book however. I started the second book, so hopefully I will finish that one before the second movie comes out.

I watched Legacy during the Memorial Day weekend. This was one of those one season shows that was on UPN, I think. I LOVED this show. Long story short, I was able to buy the masters, on VHS-I need to get the episodes transferred. Anyway, I enjoyed watching the episodes. I watched them ALL. I didn't remember them all, or even watching them on VHS, so it was a real treat to watch.

Not scrappin really. I did take a class at a local scrapbook store a month and a half ago or so. I shopped during the National Scrapbooking Day weekend, I think, and finally got my Bind It All-it was a preorder deal. I did watch the dvd that came with it, and binded a little book to try it out. I do WANT to scrap, but being ill, teaching, busy, tired, etc., not being organized, it is a lot to get started. Hopefully, soon, and definitely during summer break.

So that, is pretty much what's been up with me.

Hello...from Florida

Warning: A LONG photoless blog entry. Proceed with caution. ETA: I posted a photo.

Well I made it safe to Florida Sunday night. It is good to visit my Dad and his wife, Sharon. They have an awesome home, with a great view of a golf course and ponds/lakes.



Saturday: I was supposed to leave this day and get into Florida close to midnight. I missed my flight. I thought I had a bit more time then I did, Anthony and I went to get something to eat. By the time I realized, it's getting later it was too late. I was already cutting it close, but thinking I had a little more time then I did, which really wasn't much, it was not a change to get checked in, security, and on the flight. Anyway, I spent another day home.

Sunday: Basically got up, lounged around, got ready, did a couple of things, and Ant took me to the airport to make sure that I got on the rescheduled flight. I forgot to mention that the airline representative was kind, and hooked me up to get on the earliest flight, there were several before the one I took, including a red eye for Saturday, which I am glad was full because I didn't want to take a red eye, all for no fee or cost. I was happy about that because when I had called the airline earlier to see, ironically, if I could go on an earlier flight Saturday as stand by, I was told there wasn't a stand by, but some other program where I would have to pay a fee, or pay even more for a ticket change. I also asked about luggage, and was told there was a fee, but when I checked in online Sunday, saw that for luggage there was NO fee, and that I could in fact check in TWO pieces of luggage for free.

Anyway, I got to the airport on time. Anthony and I were going to initially try and have breakfast before my flight, but time was starting to get late. Then Ant said that he thought that there would be a place before the security check in that we could eat at, there wasn't. So I got my suitcase checked in, and got in a long security line. Ant waited with me until I got to the security place. We said our goodbyes, and I was on my way.

I ended up getting Jamba Juice. I got to the gate as people were already starting to board. It was a full, tight flight. What I liked about it was there was a media center type thing where you could watch t.v. and listen to music for free in front of you, and an option to buy HBO movies. This is something similar to Virgin Airline Entertainment Center. So that kept me occupied the trip, although I had brought magazines, and work with me.

I changed planes in ATL, and didn't have to go too far. My connecting flight was in the same wing/terminal as my previous flight. I had to hustle. I grabbed a pizza, I was hungry even with my Lunchable snack I brought. By the time I got to the gate, people were already starting to board. I ate in line. I would be sitting in an Emergency Exit. This flight didn't have the Entertainment Center, probably because it would be a very short flight. I was sitting to a man and his wife. The man ended up talking to me the WHOLE way to Florida. He was nice, I did chat with him as well, but I was expecting a nice quiet flight. Some of the hightlights of what we talked about:

He volunteers in intercity schools and teaches kids how to play chess.

Him and his wife were coming back from a New Orleans Jazz Festival-I think it was called The French Quarter Jazz Festival. It is every April, free, for the locals, lots of stages, and actually held IN the French Quarter, he recommends that Ant and I go for vacation.

Bare Naked granola is something he eats, that is healthy and tastes good. My Dad had some at the house, I think Sharon eats it, and I tried it, and its good.

He gave some a recommendation on what to do in the place I am visiting.

His wife was reading a manuscript for a children's author who has written about a horse, Barbaro, I think. I need to look that up.

Night shuttle launches are life changing-his wife showed me a photo of one they saw.

That is all that I can recall right now. But for a flight that was maybe an hour, probably less, it was a full conversation.

So I get in, talk to my Dad, who meets me in baggage claim. It is good to see him. We get to the house, I get settled. We eat dinner, greet Sharon-who was resting, and I think we watch some t.v. I stay up late, still on West Coast time, and finally go to bed.

Monday: I sleep in late. My Dad and I go to lunch. We come back and do some sight seeing in the community he lives in. I take a nap, a long one, still jet lagged, wake up, and my Dad cooks. I miss home cooked meals.

Some of the things I learn about my Dad that I want to remember:

He worked on a horse farm when he was in his teens.
He took cooking lessons when he was in the military.

So far I am having a good time. We are planning to go Downtown in a little bit.

If you actually read all that and are still with me, wow! I am writing this out as a suggestion from a small group member, Hi Lisa! Sorry no pictures. I've only taken a couple. Hopefully later. I am also writing as a way to document the trip. I had brought a mini scrapbook, journaling blocks and book, and gluestick in hopes of scrapbooking on the road. I may use some of those things, but I think I am just going to blog it instead, and then maybe cut and paste entries and do a scrapbook when I get home.

Later.

Easter Review

Anthony and I had a lot of time to relax on Easter. Late afternoon, we went for a short stroll to our neighborhood park, where an event with families, and kids with Easter baskets was just ended. ETA: We saw a view of the freeway and another community below. Then, we went to an evening church service. It was a great message of Hope in Christ. There was a moment after the church service was over, we were still standing up-after clapping for those that were saved and recommiting their lives to Christ and they walked to the altar call room, and many members of the church were already leaving, our pastor looked up, saw us, and we all (pastor, Anthony and I) smiled and waved. Cool, because we attend a mega church and not able to have personal connections necessarily with the same people-minus small group, and pastors. After, we went to a soul food restaurant. Finally, we came back home, called our dads, and unwind. I only took ONE photo of the day of something funny/cute from one of Anthony's friends on Facebook. I will try and post a saved image-not the photo. I hope you and your family and friends had a happy and blessed Easter.

Looking Forward...

ETA: I decided not to stress out trying to post EVERY photo. One, just because it can get stressful in general, and then having to worrying about trying to post daily photos of the week is not good-read below for my word of the year. Also, some of the photos I've noticed are very specific about location, and this is a public blog. So I am going to delete some of the journaling and pictures from the original post. I've decided instead to TRY and post a, meaning ONE "Photo of the Week." I got this idea from another blog. Of course, I might add other photos, but I am going to try and post my favorite or a photo (in case the favorite one is too personal as to location, etc.) of the week. Hopefully, this makes sense. Photo of last week to be posted later. I am doing my 365 different, in that January 1-3 is my first "week" on the first page (of the scrapbook I am doing), and then I start a full week from January 4-10. Hopefully that makes sense. So I will have ONE photo from January 1-3, and another from January 4-10.

Happy New Year! So much to say.
First, Anthony and I spent New Year's Eve relaxing. I was tired early, so I went to sleep maybe a little after new year's on the east coast. Then at 11:58pm I immediately woke up-no kidding, and Anthony (who was still up) and I rang in 2009 together-both awake.


Second, I have chosen a new word for 2009. I got this idea from Ali Edwards . Basically you chose a word that you want to focus on for that year. I did this last year. I actually chose two, "Trust God." I tend to worry, and I wanted to relax and just Trust in God. I am not so sure I let go and let God as much as I wanted last year, so my word for this year is "Serenity." Here is the definition I looked up online.

Noun 1. serenity - a disposition free from stress or emotion
tranquility, placidity, tranquillity, repose, quiet
calm, calmness, composure, equanimity - steadiness of mind under stress; "he accepted their problems with composure and she with equanimity"
ataraxia - peace of mind
2. serenity - the absence of mental stress or anxiety
ataraxis, peace of mind, peacefulness, repose, peace, heartsease
quietude, quietness, tranquillity, tranquility - a state of peace and quiet

I am not sure if I thought of the Serenity Prayer first, or second, but I looked that up, and apparently found the ENTIRE Serenity Prayer by the person who presumably wrote the poem: Reinhold Niebuhr.

The Serenity Prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,
Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.


And here is the "traditional prayer" that I hope to remember/say as encouragement throughout the year:


God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

On this site I saw a scripture that also goes with this prayer.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will direct your paths.

Proverbs 3, 5-6


I think for me, this is perfect. I hope to find serenity in letting go, letting God and trusting in HIM.

I also want to live more in the present, in the here and NOW. I love how the longer version of the prayer talks about living a day, enjoying a MOMENT at a time (I wrote about this the other day when explaining my word of the year to focus on and didn't even realize that this was also in the Serenity Prayer).


One way that I can reach this intention is through Project 365. I am still not so sure if I will be able to take a photo EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR 2009, but I have started. You can learn more about this here: . This is a "scrapper's 365 project" ALTHOUGH as the person who put the kit together says, anyone can do it. Taking a picture 365 days is not a new idea with this kit. Here is a place where this idea possibly started, although of course there probably have been others who have had this idea, just where it started to take off again.

Again, I do not know if I will be able to actually take a photo EVERDAY this year, but I have started, and we will see. It will be a good way to help me stay present and in the moment, and document everyday life. I also thought, my blog is "Snapshots of Everyday Life" and I don't have a lot of snapshots, so this would be a good way have more photos up. That said, I will try to upload photos. I am thinking of doing it weekly, instead of daily. ETA: I am going to TRY and do a "Photo of the Week" which means I'll post ONE photo from the week. Read above for more details.

If you are still reading this far, I can't believe it. I do have "goals" or intentions. I am still prioritizing, and thinking about it, so I may share at a later time.
In the meantime, here is the photo for January 1-3 2009:




Wow, that has to be my longest post ever! Take care.

Looking back...2008

Real quick, before the New Year on the East Coast. :) 2008 has been a very blessed year. Here is a list of some of the things that were most memorable to me, in no particular order, although I will leave my top 3 for last.

Concert on the Beach
Etta James Concert
Robin Thicke Concert
Thanksgiving in the Bay Area-good time with family and seeing and feeling "Fall"
3rd Anniversary/Comic Con





First first Christmas tree
Vacation (quality) time with Anthony-still in progress

And my top 3 memorable events
Dawn's Wedding/Niagara Falls



Bellagio Water Show in Vegas



Senator Barack Obama Elected as the next President

Busy...but not...

So much to do, but yet relaxing. Luckily, I am all done with my Christmas shopping. Most of the shopping was for colleagues at work. Which means that had to be done before winter vacation (December 19). The family was the EASY part this year for me. I basically knew right away what to get them. I used the net for most of it, and had it shipped directly. Unfortunately, I had a wrong address for one, yeah I know, and so it went somewhere else. Hopefully, it will work out.

I still want to post a picture of the tree. We have taken some, but I am not sure where the camera is, etc. Still to come.

We were going to visit my dad and his wife for Christmas, but it was expensive. We saw Anthony's side of the family for Thanksgiving. Although they are closer, we decided to celebrate at home. So, I had been thinking about the meal. I decided to cook a stew via crock pot. I LOVE using the crock pot, although it has been awhile. I was going to do my maybe once a year go sort of all out cooking. Anthony is sick (although it HASN'T affected his appetite), and it is supposed to rain, so I thought the stew would be easy, inexpensive, and perfect. So I think tomorrow, Christmas Eve, I will pick up everything for the stew for Christmas, and a pollito-already cooked chicken, to have with vegetables for Christmas Eve. Keeping it simple.

My Grocery List
Natural beef stew meat
2 Cans of tomatoes with Jalapenos
2 Cans of northern beans
Rice

I first wash the meat and mix with seasonings I already have: Seasoned salt, pepper, a dash of cayenne and cinnamon. I put it along with the cans of tomato in the crock pot. I let simmer on low for about 8-10 hours.

The last 30 minutes of the cooking I put in the beans-should put in last. I cook the rice separately in the rice cooker. :)

We already have the sparkling cider.

Pollito
Green beans or mixed vegetables-maybe I'll make greens?

Orange Juice

3 Photos I LOVE

Vegas

Anthony and I went to Vegas a couple of weeks ago. Yes, it probably contributed to the illness, but we still had a good time. The Bellagio was THE hightlight for me. If I could have only seen one thing, well maybe this would be the top 2 or three, it would be the Bellagio.

More photos from Comic-Con

The Con...Comic-Con that is...

Anthony and I went to our first day of the Comic Con yesterday. It is a five day event where many come from all over to get sneak peeks of t.v. shows, movies, comics and products related to all three. It so much more than that, but that is a quick summary. People dress up, score swag (a term I just used yesterday but have read about a lot this morning that means free stuff), stand in long lines, go to panels to see writers, producers of shows, movies, and comics, as well as actors and voice actors that are sometimes at the panels. I guess you can say it is organized chaos.
Anthony and I went two years ago, you can read a little but more about it from one of my first posts. That year, we were crazy and stood in line (for tickets) for a couple of hours at least, on what I think was the hottest day of the year here, 106 degrees I believe, and it was worth it. LOL. See, crazy.

So we thought we try it again this year. I am happy to report that this year, fans had to buy tickets online, and pick badges up at the Con, went VERY smooth for us. The hard part, at least for me, was all the crowded people in the exhibit hall, we could hardly move at many times. The line for the "Prison Break" panel was VERY long-due to the fact that many fans got savvy to go to the program before the one you want to see if it is in the same room. So there were "Avatar" fans in line as well to make sure they got a seat. I talked to a woman named "Sierra" who was in line waiting for "Prison Break" and she, like me was excited to see "Wentworth Miller," one of the stars of the show. She was also "upset" that potentially one of the "Avatar" fans would take a spot away from her from seeing Wentworth. Well we DID get seats, but Wentworth wasn't there-as said by one of the producers or writers, he was working. Sigh. It was still a good, but short, panel.

After, we met up with my friend Bertina from the Bay Area-who came to the Con with her sisters, volunteering, for dinner. Everywhere was so crowded, that we ended up at the mall with La Salsa. We were happy to have food, and a place to sit down. Then we caught a Pedicab back to the Convention Center. Bertina caught her shuttle, we caught a trolley and a bus. Today, we do most of it all over again.

I was/am very tired. My feet hurt so much yesterday. My legs are sore. I was cranky yesterday. I am planning on bringing lunch and many snacks today, and staying in one place, sitting down on panels for most of the morning, and then move to other rooms for more panels. Although I am tired, I'm having fun.

I am posting some photos from the Comic Con. One of the highlights yesterday was seeing Kitt from the new "Knight Rider" t.v. show.

Here is a link to some news photos of the event: Washington Post Comic Con Photos

3 years ago today...

I became Mrs. Haile. Happy Anniversary Anthony, love you!

Hello

I hope everyone had a happy 4th! Anthony and I did, we mostly relaxed. I have a lot I want to say, but for now, I will say that I was just thinking of the blog, and thinking there should be more snapshots, especially of "everyday life." I think I wanted the web address of the blog to be "Scraps of Life," but think it is already taken. I wanted this to be both the web address and name because of the scrapping of course, and to be a place of bits and pieces of my/our life. Anyway, I want to try and post some more snapshots of everyday life. However, I may not always have this as a goal of the blog-as just dedicated to snapshots. Right now, I am into taking mini clips with our camera, or having clips from Anthony's camera phone. Like that one I am going to share. It is a super short clip of fireworks we saw last year and NOT from the 4th of July. We were leaving, Islands, a burger place, and next thing you know we saw the best fireworks I've seen in person so far. We were SO close.

Real quick, more photos

Edit: These pictures didn't post like I would have liked them to, but I will just leave them, for now. This is what the Tram looks like. The second picture is a little squirrel that decided to come inside the lounge area at the top of the mountain.

Pictures from Palm Springs Tram

This past weekend, Anthony and I went to the Palm Springs area for a marriage retreat with our church. During our free time, we went with another couple, who are also our leaders for our small group, on an excursion on the Palm Springs Tram. I was scared at first, and even during-I got over it, and am SOOOO glad that we went, and that I got over my fear. Here are some photos. Aaren, are you reading? LOL I have more photos, but I don't have time right now. Also, I am still learning how to get everything all aligned, so for now, this is going to have to work. I hope to post more pics soon.

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.

We have a COUCH!

And a chair! I am so excited! When I walked in, I was like, "WOW," it looks like a living room! LOL.

Strides to fight Breast Cancer

On Sunday, Anthony and I did a 4mile walk to help raise money and awareness against breast cancer. This is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information about Strides Against Breast Cancer go here: http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/PageServer?pagename=MS_homepage
or here: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/par/PAR_2_Making_Strides_Against_Breast_Cancer.asp
You can go to this site (daily) where all you have to do is CLICK to help women obtain FREE Mammograms: http://www.thebreastcancersite.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CTDSites