Halloween Celebration of Sorts

Now that I am not working as a "mom", Halloween is quite different. No trick or treating, costumes, pumpkin carving, or fall festivals with kids. So today seemed much like any other. I wore a teacheresque large pumpkin necklace with a black shirt in efforts to "celebrate Halloween"and went about my day like a normal Friday school day.

By now you are well aware of the "palm tree story", but I really hadn't told many people at work. My eye was only slightly purple and with makeup it may have passed as a sleep deprived circle for yesterday and much of today. I'm assuming it wasn't too noticable, because no one had really inquired about it, but suddenly at the end of the day today several teachers asked, "What happened to your eye!?" At first I thought it was a blunt deaf thing and that maybe other teachers hadn't asked because they were trying to be polite. But after several inquiries, I thought it must be more noticable now. As soon as I got back from walking the kids to the bus I took a pit stop at the mirror and saw this:

Uh, apparently it's more noticeable! So I stole my friend Emily's idea for a Halloween costume.

Any guesses? I should hold a contest, but only like 5 of you read this. So I'll just tell you. I'm a black-eyed pea! Get it? :) (Yeh, I know I'm a nerd.) I figured if makeup isn't going to cover it I'll embrace it before I come face to face with all of my neighbors and their children! :)

Anyway, after work I picked up some candy and headed home to carve my pumpkins and greet trick or treaters. I know it's a little late for pumpkins, but I just hadn't gotten around to it! Steph and I bought them last week, but never carved them. So I figured "better late than never." I think they turned out pretty good considering I didn't use a pattern. I didn't even draw on them first; I just started cutting! :) And I was carving in between answering the door.

What do you think? The pictures aren't great, but you get the idea. One little boy told me he liked the crosses. Aww... :)

So my favorite costume of the night...Thing 1 and 2. They were sooo cute! These little blonde twin girls had on red footed pajamas. Their mom cut out Thing 1 and 2 circles and taped them on their bellies. They were maybe 2 years old. They kept turning around and telling me "Byyyeee". So cute! :)

Now it's raining and the kids have gone to seek shelter, and I'm blogging 'cause there's nothing else for a single girl to do on Halloween. Hope you all had a wonderful time celebrating Halloween in your own way.

Keys and Palm Trees

Today started out like any other. My alarm went off at 5:40 and I hit snooze and snuggled back under my comforter. Okay so maybe that is a little abnormal, but it was in the 30s last night. That's really cold when you live in FL and don't use heat! Anyway....got up at 6, got ready, walked out the door.

Then my heart skipped a beat, I looked down at my keychain and confirmed my fears. My key (to the house) was not on the ring. (I only have one and though I've told myself to make a copy a hundred times, I never got around to it. And last night after my run, my key apparently did not find it's way back to my keyring.) Crap!

So during the day I called a few locksmiths and met one at the house at 4:30. So yeh, apparently I live in Ft. Knox! It took him an hour to get in the flippin' house! So down an hour and 120 bucks I finally got in the house. After a few phone calls, I headed out for the next adventure: palm trees.

Sure they look beautiful and tropical. But they're not all they're cracked up to be. The ones in my yard have needed a makeover for quite some time. Problema: Jen knows nothing about palm trees or how to prune them. I researched on the internet and bought a pair of special pruning shears. So today I set out on a mission to revamp these trees.


Maybe it was the fall weather inspiring me? Without leaves to rake, I opted for the next best choice: palm tree pruning. So uhm...who knew this chore could be so dangerous? After cutting down about 10 branches a branch fell and hit me square in the face. It hurt, but I was trying to be all tough. (Come on, I was doing yard work, right?) So I moved on to the next branch. Then I felt wetness on my face. Assuming, my eye was watering, I reached up to wipe away tears. Instead a quick glance at my hand revealed lots of blood. Crap! (again)


So I start towards the house when suddenly Nosy Neighbor says, "Whatcha doing over there?" I sorta blew him off and went inside for a rag. I went out and apologized and met his wife, whom I've seen before but never formally met. What a nice introduction. "Hi my name is Jen and I'm a serious klutz." They invited me over for dinner. (Poor girl she has no family and obviously can't take care of herself.) I politely declined, finished my chore, and headed inside.


Now I'm hanging around, watching TV, and icing my eye. The swelling is going down, but it's turning purple. This is going to be so fun to explain tomorrow. Ay de mi. Just one of those days.

Iggy Has a New Home

I've had my turtle since 2004. I got him during my first year teaching. Mar and I were roomates in this dump of an apartment. Across the hall was this "interesting" guy who had lots of turtles and fish. Mary let it slip one day that her roommate "just loved turtles"...and it was all downhill from there! I was invited over to meet all of his exotic wonders. He had both a salt and fresh water tank. Very cool. Anyway...long story short he got me a red eared slider from North Carolina and helped me set up an aquarium with rocks he got at the park and everything. I named him Iggy and Mary and I had fun with our new creature. He was about the size of a quarter and absolutely adorable.

Since then he's lived in 3 apartments and grown to like 15 times his size. I still love Iggy but he was getting increasingly more difficult to care for. Let's just say that when I got him, I had no idea that one day he would require a 100 gallon tank! My mom has been taking care of him since June. She was just supposed to be keeping him for the summer, but whith my fast move to FL there was really no good way to get him down here. I started looking for a home for him, but I wasn't having any luck. So the plan was to pick him up when I went home for Thanksgiving. But my mom called on Friday.

I was down at Jax Beach and the music was loud so I could hardly hear her when she said, "Would it be okay if Iggy went to a new home tomorrow?" Apparently they found a lady who has a protected pond for her 6 turtles. She was willing to adopt him so they took him to his new home in Chesapeake, Virginia on Saturday. I'm sad that I didn't get to say a real goodbye and I'll miss him. But I'm very glad that he has a better home. I know he'll really be taken care of.

This is when he was about 2 years old and still relatively easy to care for. Isn't he cute!

Bye Iggy, I'll miss you! Mommy loves you! Enjoy your new home. I know you'll love it!

Because I now know how to embed videos...

Thanks, Liv! :)

My other favorite Nickelback song.



Now if I only had the video of me signing this song. I do believe it's been my favorite song I've ever signed. (And well I do interpret, so that's alot of songs!) :) One of my students told me she cried when I performed it. I was touched, but I didn't really understand why she was moved to tears.

When I asked her why, she said, "Because I just think it's so awesome, your work...that you care enough to work with deaf kids. They are so lucky to have you. You could be doing so many other things with your life, but it's obvious your passion is for your kids. I know you are great with them." That struck me in a strange way.

Before I had thought of "caring" more in terms of the video. I loved the lyrics, but they made me think of these huge global efforts. I guess I thought teaching wasn't grand enough to make a difference or something? I don't know. But her words really made me think. It is the small stuff that makes a difference too. So kudos to all of you out there making a difference no matter how big or small your sacrifice may be. Thank you for caring.

My New Favorite Song

My friend Steph visited me this week and we had a ton of fun. I got to be a tourist and enjoy FL! We went to the beaches, restaurants, shops, and lighthouse here during the week and took a trip to Daytona today. Pictures and details to come.

But for now...here's one of my new favorite songs. Steph introduced me to it...and I love it. :) Don't think I'm getting all "sad to be single". Cause let me tell you I appreciate it wholeheartedly about 90% of the time. Plus I firmly believe that "everything is in God's timing" and "everything happens for a reason". I just like the lyrics and melody. And what can I say...I'm a girl. I'm a sucker for a love song, story, poem, book... :) And well, Nickelback is such a great band. :) (Love, love, love "If Everyone Cared")

This time I wonder what it feels like

To find the one in this life

The one we all dream of

But dreams just aren’t enough

So I’ll be waiting for the real thing

I’ll know it by the feeling

The moment when we’re meeting

We’ll play out like a scene straight off the silver screen

So I’ll be holdin’ my own breath

Right up to the end

Until that moment when

I find the one that I’ll spend forever with

‘Cause nobody wants to be the last one there

‘Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares

Someone to love with my life in their handsT

here’s gotta be somebody for me like that

‘Cause nobody wants to go it on their own

And everyone wants to know they’re not alone

Is there somebody else that feels the same somewhere

There’s gotta be somebody for me out there

Tonight out on the street out in the moonlight

And damn it this feels too right

It’s just like Déjà VuMe standin’ here with you

So I’ll be holdin’ my breath

Could this be the end?

Is it that moment when

I find the one that I’ll spend forever with?

‘Cause nobody wants to be the last one there

‘Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares

Someone to love with my life in their hands

There´s gotta be somebody for me like that

‘Cause nobody wants to go it on their own

And everyone wants to know they’re not alone

Is there somebody else that feels the same somewhere?

There’s gotta be somebody for me out there

You can’t give up!

When you’re lookin’ for that diamond in the rough

Because you never know but when it shows up

Make sure you’re holdin’ on

‘Cause it could be the one, the one you’re waiting on
‘Cause nobody wants to be the last one there

And everyone wants to feel like someone cares

Someone to love with my life in their hands

There has gotta be somebody for me

Ohhhh…

Nobody wants to go it on their own

And everyone wants to know they’re not alone

Is there somebody else that feels the same somewhere?

There’s gotta be somebody for me out there

Nobody wants to be the last one there

‘Cause everyone wants to feel like someone cares

Is there somebody else that feels the same somewhere?

There has gotta be somebody for me out there.

Lucy's Favorite Activities

1) Climbing.

So last Saturday Max and I were watching TV on the couch. Meanwhile, Lucy, in search for her daily adventure, was climbing the stairs (on the outside of the railing). She made it all the way to the top, then couldn't figure out how to go back down. She tried backing up, but it wasn't working. She she tried to turn around. Of course she slipped. But she held on for dear life with her front paws. (She looked like a little rock climber!) She successfully pulled herself back up and began her descent. At this point I snapped the picture above. A few minutes later she attempted her climb again. She again she reached the top and slipped as she tried to turn around. Only this time she wasn't quite so lucky. She couldn't hold on...and fell 10 feet to the ground! Max, the perfect gentleman, jumped up and ran to her side to make sure she was okay. She is, but she hasn't made a third attempt! :) However, she continues to run up the stairs on the inside of the railing for her daily exercize.

2. Playing with "Toys"

Pretty much everything is a toy to Lucy. Cups, papers, jewelery....anything she can get her hands on. She even dragged a shirt all the way from my closet to the living room. It was on a hanger, but had strings hanging down...so of course, she couldn't resist. So today's toy: Mommy pulled the blinds up. So naturally, the blind pull became a toy that occupied her for atleast an hour. Notice Max totally ignores her and looks out the window the entire time!

3. Watching TV

Seriously, she loves television. It's really weird. She just sits there and watches it. So of course I snapped a picture.

4. Playing with Max

She loves to wrestle, play tag, and chase with Max; it's really cute. And equally annoying when I'm trying to sleep!

5. Cuddling with Max

She loves her big brother. She hardly ever leaves his side. I'm not kidding, when Max goes in the litter box, Lucy sits outside of it waiting. She doesn't really understand the whole privacy idea. They are totally cute together. I love when they cuddle and lick each other. It makes me happy that I got Max a friend.

Mary, are you happy? I didn't write about politics for once. Only 2 more weeks and then I promise I'm done anyway! :)

And Katherine Ann, you should be happy...more Max and Lucy stories. 'Cause really they are the only interesting part of my Florida life...I gotta meet people...or I'm gonna turn into an old cat lady....maybe I'll join eHarmony and attempt to meet a guy! :P But really I'd just settle for a few Christian friends. Do they have a place to meet those? Oh wait, I think that's called church. Gotta find one of those too. :)

Really, Madeleine? You're not a Palin supporter? I'm Shocked!

http://www.americablog.com/2008/10/palin-misquotes-her-starbucks-cup.html

Uh, no. Not really. But I do think this event and prompt response contain several important lessons for us, the voters of America.

What we learn from this:

1) Sarah Palin frequents Starbucks.
(Or maybe not...what exactly is a "mocha"?)
2) Sarah Palin has trouble reading her "mocha" cup.
(Maybe she was nervous...or maybe not.)
3) Madeleine Albright doesn't like jokes.
(Or maybe she doesn't know what one is.)
4) Madeleine Albright is in fact not a supporter of Palin. In fact, she wasn't really talking about Governor Palin on cup jacket.
(Shocking! I'm so glad she cleared this up.)
5) Madeleine Albright takes herself too seriously.
(Cause really I was gonna vote McCain/Palin based on her quote.)