just because I'm a proud aunt 

Small World

I received a phone call from my cousin Helen this week. She's my cousin on my birth mom's side who lives in southern California. She was a bit histerical on the phone because she just found out that my brother Scott (who is her cousin on her mom's side) is working with another cousin of hers on her dad's side in Oakland. Not only that but her cousin on her dad's side has asked Scott to housesit for him while he went on vacation for two weeks because he knew that Scott didn't have a place yet. He felt more at ease after finding out that Scott is distantly related to him and not just a stranger from Chicago who works with him. What a small world...

Just Blogging to Post Something New

This past week was long and frustrating.  I'm mostly moved into my new classroom.  The previous teacher still had her stuff in two of the cabinets and the file cabinet so some of my stuff is still in boxes on the floor and on my desk.  I'm almost done with unpacking but still have a lot of organizing to do.  I also had meetings after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday which I was late for because I was busy moving and cleaning up and the principal had the nerve to make a remark about it.  It really pissed me off.  When Friday finally rolled around I couldn't stand being at school anymore so I left early. 

Erik and I also babysat Li-Li from Thursday night to Saturday night.  Her parents were out of town for a job interview and asked us to take care of her.  She was pretty well behaved most of the time but sleeping with her was not restful because she would wake up several times a night and then wake up too early. 

We took her to Hermosa Beach on Saturday and she loved it.  She was running around in the sand, scooping the ocean water in her bucket, and building a sand castle.  I got to check out the AVP Beach Volleyball Tournament also. 

Then we picked up Mike and Ann, my oldest step-brother and wife, at a nearby hotel and took them to dinner at Shik-Do-Rak in Garden Grove and then to a much needed stroll along Laguna Beach.  While there I found out that Li-Li is a great dancer.  I mean she's ready to go clubbing good.  We were sitting in front of the ice cream store waiting for her to finish her chocolate ice cream with rainbow sprinkles on a cone and she started booging to the radio music.  Even strangers walking by would call out, "You go girl!" 

On Sunday I just needed to rest.  I was exhausted from the week and the weekend.  I went to church, took a nap, read magazines, and took it easy.  Hopefully I'll be ready to work hard tomorrow morning.  Good night!

Oh, my brother Scott started his new job in Oakland, CA last week.  Congrats!

Too Hot to Move
 
This past week at work was very discouraging.  My new classroom was finally coming together nicely and I was beginning to feel settled in when on Thursday afternoon the administration dropped another unexpected bomb.  The assistant principal visited me during lunch time to deliver the bad news.  I was told that I needed to move to another classroom by upcoming Wednesday.  Due to our low kindergarten enrollment, they had to close down a kindergarten class on my track and decided to open up another 4th grade classroom in my room.  I would be moved back to the bungalow because it is not big enough for a 4th grade classroom.  I was shocked with unbelief at first, then I got mad, then I got depressed because I felt like all the hard work I had put in the past two weeks were a waste.  I also did not feel like moving again in 100 degree heat which I had to endure just three weeks earlier.  I just did not feel like working anymore so I called Erik up to pick me up earlier.  He was concerned due to my depression.
 
"Do you want some ice cream at Fosselmen's?"
 
"No, I need to go to the mall." 
 
We headed out to the mall and found out that Ann Taylor had begun their semi-annual 40% off sale.  I also bought a much needed pair of sneakers at Lady's Footlocker because the other sports stores did not carry my shoe size.  I spent over $500 that day and felt much better.  Next day I went back to work in a nice new outfit.   
 

sleepy Teddy  

Awkward Meeting

Today was the first day of the new school year. I felt unsure and awkward as I greeted my new class in my new classroom with my new name. I generally dislike the first day. The students are unnaturally quiet. I don't know their names yet let alone their character and personality. The whole day is spent on going over classroom procedures so everything progresses very slowly, making me bored. I miss my old class.

my niece and nepthew 

Funny Moment

About a week ago as we were sitting at the dinner table with my niece, her mom and dad, Erik and me, we began asking my niece about her ethnicity. Her mom is chinese and her dad is caucasian.

Her mom asked her, "Li-Li what are you?"

"I'm chinese."

"What about Mama?"

"Chinese."

"What about Daddy?"

"Chinese."

To which her dad replied, "No, Li-Li, Daddy's white."

"No, Daddy, you're blue!"

We were all confused for a few seconds and then realized that he was wearing a blue t-shirt.

Made It To The Finish Line

Last Friday I ended my first full year cycle at work. I was exhausted everyday during those last two weeks of school but I felt a deep sense of satisfaction because my exhaustion was proof that I had worked hard. This was one of the things I had missed when I was unemployed, the feeling of being physically worn out at the end of the day. It was weird being so well rested all the time and never feeling tired.

Well, I will miss my students but I don't feel too sad since I know that I'll be seeing them around. In fact, most of them will be in the classroom next to my new classroom.

the girls I will miss 

the boys I will miss 

Feeding My Thought Life

"It is worthwhile, even necessary, to explore that which is underneath the surface of our daily actions, thoughts, and feelings."

Today I took some time to feed my thought life and readjust my priorities. I've been so busy with life lately that all I think about is the to do list which led me to the state of agitation. I decided that I needed to do something before I moved onto the anger stage. I felt the need to read a book so I chose a book by Henri Nouwen. As I was reading I realized that I have been neglecting my thought life in the midst of the busyness of living. No wonder I was feeling out of whack.

"I'd better start thinking a little more about my attitude toward work. If I have learned anything this week, it is that there is a contemplative way of working that is more important for me than praying, reading, or singing. Most people think that you go to the monastery to pray. Well, I prayed more this week than before but also discovered that I have not learned yet to make the work of my hands into a prayer.

I had just begun to realize how much my own life was motivated by self-glory: even going to a moastery could be a form of self-indulgence. My problem with work is obviously related to my tendency to look at manual labor as a necessary job to earn a couple of free hours to do my own work. Even when this work seems very spiritual, such a reading about prayer, I often look at it more as an opportunity to make interesting notes for future lectures or books than as a way to praise the Lord."

I wish I could make the work of my hands into a prayer. I also wish that I could make my work as a way to praise the Lord. How can I do this?

"My reading about the spirituality of the Desert has made me aware of the importance of 'nepsis'. Nepsis means mental sobriety, spiritual attention directed to God, watchfulness in keeping the bad thoughts away, and creating free space for prayer."

I think it's an interesting idea that we need to create free space for prayer. Strangely it makes sense to me.

"But the more I think about loneliness, the more I think that the wound of loneliness is like the Grand Canyon - a deep incision in the surface of our existence which has become an inexhaustible source of beauty and self-understanding."

I like this quote because I think there is nothing wrong with or shameful about loneliness.

Free at Starbucks

Yesterday Erik picked me up at school with the new Light Frappuccino from Starbuck's. He said it was free. He heard about it on the news and also checked it out on the Starbuck's website. They were doing a one day promotional for the new drink because people they surveyed said that they would only try it if it was free. Thanks to those honest people I got a free drink. Actually, we got six free drinks. We went to another Starbuck's on the way home and they already had the free drinks made and lined up on the counter. The girl at the counter told us to take as many as we want so we did and I was very happy. I usually don't order the Frappuccino because it's too sweet for my taste. The Light one was less sweet but I liked the Coffee flavor the best because it wasn't as sweet as the Caramel or the Mocha one. Hey, it's free. I tried all three flavors.