Finally

We did it! We made it! Congratulations to everyone participating in NaBloPoMo who have completed their task of entertaining me.

I must say this year was more difficult than last. With family stuff going on, jobs that we work to hard at and not enough hang out and laugh time it was tougher to post everyday. I am sad it is over as now I know some friends who will go back to posting once a week, once a month etc. and I enjoy being updated on what everyone is doing and all the quirky things that are going on in their lives.

This weekend includes....

Friday: Maybe a Dollar movie

preparing for next week

Saturday: Craft fair and dinner with MIL and Mair

preparing for next week

Sunday: Movie Screening and lunch with Morgan

preparing for next week

Looks like a pretty light weekend but I am sure it will have some laughs and good times with family and friends.

At least you have something to blog about...

Trying to get in the Christmas spirit by going to Party City and buying cards, wrapping paper and bows (all buy one get one free). Then heading to get paper to print our Christmas letter on. After getting home and stepping out of the car, reaching for the bags in the passenger seat the keys decided to drop ever so quietly out of the jacket pocket and onto the drivers seat. Without realizing it, the doors get locked. Heading to the back of the car to get a flat of water from the trunk the realization hits...the keys are not where they should be. Dang. "AAA, Hi yeah the keys are locked in the car." Someone will come and break into Black Beauty in 30 minutes at precisly 6:03pm.Sitting on the ground in front of the garage and having many neighbors just walk by and try to look away so they did not have to make eye contact was sadening. Around 6:07pm Hadley Tow shows up. A very abrasive driver gets out and is muttering something about hating AAA they just sit there and rake in the money while he gets paid sweatshop wages... then looks up and says Merry Christmas and proceeds to sing Christmas Carols while breaking into Black Beauty. Suppose it is good news that the driver couldn't break into the car using the usual tools and had to use a pump thing to get the door open a bit and slid a bar down to try and get the keys which he also couldnt do. Finally he was able to hook the handle with the bar and get the door to open up.

TGTF (thank goodness tomorrows friday)

Blah

We know blogging has been weak. We still have my play by play of Thanksgiving night shopping to post, but we're not feeling very humorous right now so that will have to wait. Paul is leaving now for his parents house. Hutchie, Bradley and Paul are heading out tonight at 10pm on a flight to the east coast. They will be gone till late Monday night. We are glad that Paul will be able to spend time with his family, just sad about the circumstances. Thank you to all of you who have given words of condolance, and comfort. It is very much appreciated. Hopefully we will be able to get some of those backdated blogs finished and up for your reading enjoyment. Hope everyone has a great rest of the week, only two more days to go.

What other shenanigans can I get into?

Tonight Jeri invited us to go see a preview for Juno which is coming out in December. Also along for the fun was Ruth, Brendo, Phil, and Janelle. As we walked in we were handed a card that asked us to join the JUNOVERSE and a T-shirt.

There were a lot of laughs during the movie. Sometimes so loud that it drowned out the dialogue so I may just have to go see it again. There were many quotable moments throughout the movie. We enjoyed our evening out it was good to have some food, laughs and a good time with friends.

Dancing makes you brave

I just finished watching the episode from last week that I missed and I gotta say I love it. From the silliness to the thought provoking to the tear at your heart sadness this show has it all.

Grandpa Hutchins

I got a call tonight that my Grandpa Hutchins died today. I don't know all the details, but he has been in the hospital all week. He hasn't been himself for a while now so we knew it was coming, just not this soon. The funeral will be sometime later this week, so my dad, brother, and I are making plans to fly back to New York. I had been planning a trip back there for the spring thinking it would probably be the last time I'd see him. Luckily my dad got to see him last month when my parents went back for my grandparents 60th wedding anniversary. I have been blessed to have almost made it 31 years old with all 4 of my grandparents still living. Not many people get to say that. Anyway, please keep my family, especially my grandma and dad in your prayers.

FAIL

We need 5 consonants and a vowel: "Z, 4, Q ... another Q ... a third Q ... aaaand the Batman Symbol"

I think I like vanilla

In the morning I shower with Warm Vanilla Sugar shower gel.
Then I eat vanilla yogurt.
I use Warm Vanilla Sugar perfume spray.
After I brush my teeth with vanilla toothpaste.
I also use Warm Vanilla Sugar lotion at least twice a day.
I wonder if they have vanilla scented deodorant....

Happy Thanksgiving!

OUCH

This morning I woke up bright and early. I ate some cereal, brushed my teeth and headed over to the dentist with my new book. I made my next appointment and sat down for a moment before I was called back. Then I was given two shots to numb the area where he would be doing work, when he began to drill my tooth I winced. He said it was a hard tooth to get numb and so I got a THIRD shot to numb the area (I should have asked for a fourth). Then for the next 1 and 1/2 hours I was poked, prodded, pushed, and pulled on. And by the end of it I had an UGLY gold temporary crown to show for it. I was asked to rinse out my mouth and when I tried to swish the water I accidentaly spit some because the left half of my mouth, tounge and lips were numb. The numbness continued on from 1030am till about 5pm. I go back in about 3 weeks to have the permenant crown put on. All this because my lousy tooth broke not once but twice.
The day did get better though. I hung out at home, did some chores and read my book. Then I headed up to Poway to hang with Beth. We sat and chatted and laughed for a couple of hours. Always a delightful time. Her kiddos are absolutly darling. Then it was time to head home to pick up the mommy for dinner. I wish my mouth would have stayed numb longer. Eating dinner was a challenge, my mom gave me some vicodin which helped for awhile but now at almost midnight my mouth hurts again. Now I go to check out Black Friday ads.

Coming Up

This week

Wednesday- Dentist Appointment, Hanging out with Beth
Thursday- Thanksgiving with the family
Friday- Crazy shopping day
Saturday- Not sure whats on the docket
Sunday- Church, Baby Shower

I am sure some movies, reading and putting a puzzle together will be thrown in as well.

Google Search

Over the last month we have been compiling a list from Sitemeter on how people get to our blog when they use the Google search engine. Here are the current top ten phrases people type in that lead them to our blog.

10.temp of 101.7 (2)
9. cookie decorating ratatouille (2)
8. "fresh and easy" (2)
7. odd holidays in november/december (3)
6. june hetzel (2)
5. foo fighters storytellers (3)
4. halo brace (4)
3. four brothers movie (6)
2. john krasinski (6, this doesn't include all the fansite outclicks)
1. i am not internationally known (14)

Other notable mentions each listed once...

soulja boy mozart
robyn cause i dont look back
o'briens & morales
celebrity blogs
belgian girls
'im not internationally known' mean girls'
cherriwine drink
"when i grow old i shall wear red"
photos Oracle open world 2007 Pauk Milo

The three F's: Fresh & Easy, Food, & Fooseball

Today I took a trip over to our new market across the street Fresh and Easy. I strolled through the aisles to see what we possibly needed at home. They have people handing out samples of pumpkin pie, chocolate cake, and other bakery goodies. There's lots of good produce, and items which aren't at regular grocery stores. They have all self-checkout counters with many smiling faces to help out if you need it.

On my way out of the store I was thanked by a woman for shopping at Fresh and Easy and handed a coupon for the next time I shop for $6 off, a reusable grocery bag and a lovely bunch of roses, which cost $7 for the bouquet. Fresh and Easy won't be my main source of food buying but I will frequent the store every once in a while. Tonight I decided to make home made pizza once again. With a wheat crust, and pepperoni with some pineapple on my side. My favorite is throwing the dough around to create the crust. I think it turned out quite well. I was even able to create a crust with which to hold the slice while eating it this time. Once it was complete we sat down to enjoy our pizza dinner and watch some record breaking fooseball (Patriots/Bills).

Bad timing...

If you can watch this and not laugh, you're a better person than me.

Pupil Free Day!

Parent Conference day rocks. I had only 2 of 6 parents show up today. It was good to be able to sit down and talk to these parents and explain what has been going on and what we need to be happening. The two parents I met are doing the best they can with what they have. I am glad to understand a bit more where my students are coming from and I am glad I have the support from these parents that I need. Sadly the parents I really wanted to talk to did not show up.

I had one appointment at 8am which lasted almost an hour and an appointment at 2pm which lasted 45 min. Inbetween my two appointments I worked on getting work ready for the week after Thanksgiving. I am hoping that by next week I will have all of my work done so that I wont have to worry, or think about it on my Thanksgiving break.

Today was pleasent given the events of yesterday (if you want to know you can ask me privately). Next week I will only have 4 students during my two days which will be crazy especially if one of them doesnt show up one day or the other. But once we come back from break my class will be bumpped up to 15.

Is it that time of year already?

Once a year, there is a training I have to take at work that I hate seeing on the schedule.  Today was supposed to be that day, but luckily the trainer didn't show up so I got out of it....for now.  What training you ask?  Diversity in the Workplace!

The only way it could get good is if they decided to handle Diversity Day the Michael Scott way.

I suppose this training could be helpful to someone, somewhere, where one racial group dominates the population and there are racial issues.  But seriously....this is Los Angeles.  There is probably more of a mix of races here than anywhere else in the world.  Maybe I'm way out of the loop, but I've never heard of racial issues with staff in all my years there.  Yet this training is given more often than any other.

The first time I went to it I learned that I am a bad person.  Why?  Because not only was I born to white parents, but I had to go and be male too.  I guess I should apologize for that.  I'll never do it again, I swear!  It was kind of awkward sitting through this being one of two white males in a room of 40-50 people.  Good times.

What's moving up on my ipod playlist this week...

Hard Sun -- Eddie Vedder




Portland, Oregon -- Lorretta Lynn and Jack White

Exciting

I love November. I enjoyed my 3 day weekend. Now I have one more day in my 3 day work week. Followed by another 3 day weekend. Then it is back to work for 2 days before having 5 days off. This break couldn't have come soon enough. I need some time to re-group and re-energize myself.

Hockey Night!

Tonight I went to the Kings/Ducks game in Anaheim thanks to Brad.  He got some more of his VIP tickets through work so I went with him and a couple of his friends.  I don't usually get a chance to sit in a seat valued at $83 so of course I took him up on the offer.

I wore my Kings jersey so we were rooting for the Kings tonight.  Honestly I just like going to hockey games, so I don't have a favorite between the Kings and Ducks.  I find myself at Kings games more often though so I may have to go LA if I pick a team.  I'm sure Jeric will have some influence on that too.

The Kings and Ducks really don't like each other.  The Ducks reminded them of that fact early and often and there were numerous fights and cheap shots taken.  The Ducks scored two quick goals in the first period, although the Kings were able to tie it before all was said and done.  No one scored in overtime.  As soon as the final second of the clock ticked by in overtime, the Ducks starting attacking the Kings.  Guess there wasn't any reason to hold back at that point.  I got to see a shootout for the first time which the Ducks ended up winning.  I guess it helps to have a good, experienced goalie.

Major Posting

Going on now at www.cyndihutchins.blogspot.com check it out.

Long Weekend part deux

Sunday I woke with a headache at 8am so I decided to go back to bed for awhile longer. After I woke up I grabbed some laundry and headed down to SD for the day. I took the madre grocery shopping. Folded some of her laundry and then we went to grab a bite to eat and out to the movies (Dan in Real Life). Then it was time to switch my laundry and do a couple chores around the house. I needed to go to Wal-mart so I took my moms car to run my errands and fill it up with gas. Mom and I hung out at the house a bit more and laughed at the silliness of Meeko. Finally it was time to head home again.

Meeko (aka Little Bit) will do anything for a treat. ANYTHING

My bonus day off was used to do what would have normally been done on Saturday and Sunday. I prepared lessons for the next week of school. I watched a little TV and played some games on the internet. I feel much more relaxed and rested after my three days off.

What's This?

Friday night was date night, which was much in need. We headed over to the Block to grab some dinner, walk around some of our favorite shops and take in a movie (Fred Claus). It was a nice evening out.

Saturday was my Day of Rest as I already told you. In the evening we went up to Hollywood. We walked around some of the shops, and people watched until the gang arrived (Jeric, Brendo, Amy and Ryan). Then we waited, and waited, and waited for a table at CPK worst Hostess ever. We finally got seated, had some good pizza and headed over to the El Capitan for The Nightmare Before Christmas 3-D style.

Top 10 things I've done on vacation as an adult

10. Seeing Reba McEntire Las Vegas, NV
09. Eating a Philly Cheese Steak Philadelphia
08. Camping Idyllwild, CA
07. Seeing the sites Santa Cruz, CA

06. Walking along the Jersey Shore
05. Mini Golf, Batting Cages and Baseball Denver, CO
04. Going to the top of the Arch St. Louis
03. Monuments and Memorals Washington DC
02. Swimmin w/Dolphins Belize & Ridin ATVs in jungles Cozumel

And Number
01. Snorkeling in Kauai & Experiencing Pearl Harbor in Hawaii

I thought this would be an easy Top Ten list but as I kept remembering more and more great vacations and adventures I have had I could have had a list that kept going and going. I tried to widdle it down but even looking at these there are more I want to keep adding in.

Day of Rest

Today is the start of my three day weekend. And to celebrate we did NOTHING. I woke up took a shower, got some breakfast. Watched Survivor and CSI from last Thursday, and a little football. Played around on the internet. It has been great. I am not looking forward to having to do work, maybe I will put it off till Monday. Two days of doing nothing sounds great right about now. I am toying with the idea of going down to church tomorrow morning but I am not sure yet. Right now we are getting ready to head to Hollywood to meet up with some friends for dinner and a movie... but there will be more on that later. Have a great Saturday everyone.

Vote: Which Uncle Jesse was cooler? 80's version or 90's version?

Heart Strings

I am not a very eloquent writer, I can only say it how I see it, if that makes sense (although my mom is always told how touched people are by my thank you notes). My heart was tugged at twice today. I was reminded today what great friends I have been blessed with in my life.

This afternoon to my surprise was a "just called to say hi" message on my cell phone. I can't describe how it made me feel this afternoon to be able to hear someone wish me a great week and say they were thinking about me.

And then this evening to get a photo of these adorable smiling Askew kids, it really puts a lump in my throat that we don't get to see them and watch these wonderful babies grow. I love to see how they are flourishing in Oregon though.

10 years already?

This summer marks my 10 years of being out of H.S. and there is talk of a reunion. If you are from Serra High School class of 1998 you can click here for the offical Myspace page. I am starting to get excited about this event. I am hoping a couple of my peeps will go with me and we will have a great time hanging out and seeing all of our old classmates.

This or That

For an after school snack....

Snack Pack and a banana

-or-

home made M&M cookies and a banana

Quick before its Friday again

Last Friday I headed down to SD for Homecoming. It has now been 10 yrs. ago that I was in H.S. and attended a game as a student. It was fun to be there I just wish more friends could have joined me for the experience. The band played, the cheerleaders cheered, the football players, well ...they tried. After the massacre happened the marching band took the field and played their show which featured songs from Little Shop of Horrors. We thought it was fantastic.
Here is the sad, sad final score.
Saturday Erin, Tif and I were able to get it all together to meet up for lunch at Oscar's and had a nice time hanging out for a couple hours. I am glad it all worked out for us to meet up. Sunday mom and I went to church had a nice lunch and then after my laundry was done I had to head back home to finish up my work before the school week started again. On my way home I took a minute to stop and reflect on the fires and all the families that were affected by them.

No Time

I have come to the realization that I do not have enough hours in the day to accomplish the amount of work I am expected to complete and have ready for the next day. I am trying to not be stressed out about it but I am having difficulty accomplishing that. My class is being restructured, students added and the end of the quarter is this Friday. I found myself sitting with my head in my hands wondering where to start, how to start and how to do what I have been asked to do.

Soulja Boy better than Mozart?

Published in the Thursday, November 1, 2007 Edition of The Height
By Ryan Malone

The historical significance of Soulja Boy is not hard to divine. After the abrupt and tragic exodus of Jibbs from musical relevance, Soulja Boy selflessly filled the gaping void in our lives that only a teenage novelty rapper could. Most importantly, at a time when America's river of submissive creativity had seemingly run dry, a savior emerged to bestow his messianic wisdom upon us. Personally, I've found the only downside to these glorious revelations is that between "supermanning," "heismanning," "doin' da heizman," "spidermanning," "supersoaking," and my personal favorite, "superfanning," I've barley had time to eat, sleep, go to class, or write essays without using most or all of these terms.

At the tender age of 17, Soulja Boy has composed more songs about cranking things than Mozart did in his entire life. I'm not saying he's better than Mozart; I'm just saying he has more talent. In fact, I would go so far as to say Soulja Boy is the greatest rapper since MIMS. If he maintains his torrid pace, scholars will one day speak of him in the superlative terms once reserved for the likes of Lil' Boosie and Hurricane Chris.

The only beef I have with Soulja Boy is nomenclatural. "Soulja Boy" is an innovatively phonetic moniker that looks great painted on sunglasses, but it lacks a sorely needed element of grandiose self-description. A young DAndre Cortez Way would have been better served to proclaim himself "Mr. Cleo," because his powers of prognostication are second to none, except possibly Miss Cleo.In "Crank That," the Soulja makes it abundantly clear that he's "jocking on them haters." When we consider that before he started cranking that, Soulja Boy was not famous and therefore probably had relatively few haters on which to jock, the lyric takes on a predictive quality. For reasons laymen will never entirely understand, Soulja Boy deftly managed to anticipate haters' eventual emergence from the critical woodwork. Incredible.

We can only hope this urban oracle foresees more hits on the horizon. If not, I just don't know what we would do. Losing Sean Kingston was hard enough, and he taught us neither a dance nor a way to turn our childhood nouns into theoretically more adult verbs. Barring the triumphant return of Lil Rob, his absence would be unmistakably felt.

Here is the first of what I'm sure will be many masterpieces from the greatest musical mind the world has ever known: Soulja Boy.  It even has a shoutout to Robocop in it!

Spontaneous Dancer

Because I love this so much. Riverdance.

He randomly dances just like me.

Third Installment

The story of US continues... So we started dating Oct. 21st 1999. Said "I love you" Oct. 31st 1999. Then just 5 days or so later we began talking about getting married. I am not sure of the conversation but I do know that it felt natural as if we had been together our whole lives. Some may say that at 19 you don't know who you are or what you want but sometimes I feel as if I knew better then than I do know.

So 1 year to the day while we were taking a walk as we had done the year before we went and found our swing and sat down. We relaxed and talked awhile before Paul began to say what I can only assume he had been going over in his head since he recieved the ring from the jewlers. Once he had finished he got down on bended knee and asked me to be his wife. I almost fell out of the swing when I went to hug him and say yes. Paul then slipped the ring on my finger and we hugged, and promptly took a photo afterwards.

I was told not to admit this...

Last year I was warned not to post about my guilty pleasure that is Justin Timberlake.  I guess I didn't learn anything from that because once again I have been warned not to admit to my latest musical love and I am ignoring that advice.  Here goes:

Take a little Motley Crue....



force them to listen to Duran Duran's "Wedding Album"....



and you end up with this:



Sixx A.M. -- Life is Beautiful

Enjoy!

Three Words

Story of US (part 2)

And we mark another wonderful year of our continuing love.

What happened to Halloween?

It makes me feel old to think that Halloween passed and I barely even noticed.  I used to come home from school in my costume and have a hard time waiting for dinner to hurry up and be cooked and eaten so we could hit the streets looking for candy.  Last night I had a hard time waiting for dinner because lunch wasn't that great and I was kind of hungry.  But then I ate and that was that.

We ended up going up to Alhambra to help my mom give out candy.  I tried giving out Bradley's favorite candy first so the kind I liked best would be left over at the end.  We gave it all out anyway so it didn't matter.   Most of the kids came while I was out picking up dinner too.  Meh.

At work they had been advertising for a couple of months about how everyone was supposed to dress up for a costume contest and prizes.  Out of 300+ employees there, I only saw 5 dressed up.  And 3 of those were the committee judging the costumes.  That made me laugh.  Over at our high school the staff made a bit more of an effort to dress up.  At least enough that I got to see a near fight by some of the kids broken up by an Amish woman and Raoul Duke (Johnny Depp's character in "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas").  That was good times too.