Digging Myself Out

We have a lot of snow. We also have a lot of snow on the way (they're threatening up to 2 feet). People are digging themselves out of snowbanks and skids. I'm digging myself out of my livingroom and lack of sleep. I think I'm using a sand box shovel. At least there is a little progress.

Here's to a snow day tomorrow!

Ahead of Myself

So technically, Northwest was planning to fly me home today. I'm ahead of myself. It's a weird feeling. My problem is that I'm a talker (if you've met me, you know this). I can't seem to shut up and go to bed early or unpack or whatever. I just want to tell stories about my trip and catch up with people.

This is not helping the state of my clutter or my mental clarity at work (at least until about noon). Oh well. I figure I'll catch up eventually.

I was hoping to write a detailed post of my journey home. It was pretty dramatic and a good story, so I'll keep it on my "need to write about" list.

For now, I'm home. That's all that really matters.

I'm Back, Such As I Am

Okay, we finally got home!!!! The trip was an ordeal that I'll share with you later tonight or tomorrow.

For now:
1) We are home.
2) My luggage is not.
3) I was awake for 38 hours straight.
4) We have a ton of snow AND school today.
5) I didn't have time to buy groceries.
6) There are gonna be a lot of people gone today (trapped somewhere like I was).
7) My trip was awesome!!!

Au Revoir & Cheers!

Bon Jour Day 10

Bon Jour!

I'm sitting in Nate and Claire's apartment, listening to Scooby Doo and trying to memorize the theme song so I can sing it for Zane and Theo. It's completely different from our song in the US. Funny!

Yesterday, we went to the Musee 'd Orsay which was free because the workers were still on strike! That was awesome. I contributed a bit to their cause and walked right it! I love Monet and Renoir! Had fun in the shop too. (Then had to lug the bag around the rest of the day (bad idea)).

Next, we went to The Louvre. Now, I would not recommend this as a course of action because I was kind of art-ed out by the time we got to the Louvre. However, we saw Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, which were the main attractions for us. We also wandered these HUGE halls and we lost just a little bit. By this time, I was overheating and exhausted to we went outside and sat by a circlular pond that had kids playing with sailboats. It was a bit too chilly, so we ended up walking back to the station and heading back to the apartment.

Then, Claire made AMAZING quiche (vegetarian for me, ham for the others). We also had these potato things that tasted like donuts. Seriously. Good, but weird. After that, we each had a bit of four different desserts! Very yummy.

Today, our last day, we are going to the Catacombs and out to shop before going to a movie. I would like to brave a French movie called I Think I Love Her (might be I Think I Love Him). However, since Jean and I don't know enough French, it's probably a silly idea. (I'd still go, but Jean doesn't want to).

Au Revoir! I'll be back Stateside Saturday Night!

Bon Jour Day 9

Greetings from Paris!

My friend Jean and I have finally acclimated to the Paris time schedule and are now waking up naturally around 8:30 am. Just in time to get ready to go home on Saturday! Oy.

Tuesday night, we went to Spamalot and had nearly the worst seats in the house. Still, it was awesome! I laughed and laughed.

Yesterday, we went to The British Museum and Kensington Palace (where Princess Di lived). Both were impressive. We walked through Kensington Park afterwards, had dinner in a pub, a little gelato for the road and took the tube to Heathrow. The flight back was pretty uneventful, except for a woman who got into an arguement with an airport worker at the gate. That was interesting. I haven't seen anyone lose their cool all trip! Drama!

Today, we are off to the Louvre and the Musee d'Orsay (we hope the strike is over). Cross your fingers!

Au Revoir!

`Allo

Greetings from the UK! I am sitting in an internet cafe, looking out on Kensington Park and having a little downtime before we head back into the West End to see Spamalot. I am so psyched to see this show! I am also wiped.

Two days in London so far:
Flight from Charles De Gaulle airport to Heathrow. Everything went fine.
Helped some fellow travelers. (An act of compassion?)
Lunch in airport.
Speed train into town.
Walked a mile to hotel.
Underground to Picadilly Circus to buy theater tickets.
Walked to Westminster Abbey.
Said a prayer and lit a candle for my covenant group.
Saw where Queen Elizabeth I is buried.
Walked past Parliament and 10 Downing Street.
Eat dinner in an Italian restaurant.
Saw "Les Miserables" in the Queens Theatre.
"Home" in the rain.

This morning (yes, that was just one day):

Slept until 8:30.
Took tube to the Tower of London.
Amazing tour.
Took pictures of the London Bridge.
Took tube to Buckingham Palace.
Took so-so pictures (now raining).

We're doing a TON of walking and I'm sick of climbing stairs, but we're having a great time! We head back to Paris tomorrow evening!

Cheers!

Bon Jour Day 3

Bon Jour! Well, more walking today!!! We started the day with croisants, juice, and bread. Then, we headed to the Arab Institute as recommended by a friend for its interesting contracting eye-like windows. The line was really long though, so we ended up walking around a garden (see Nate's blog) and going to the Musee d'History Natural and the Musee d'Geologic (geology) instead. I'm way more into minerals and gems than animals. Then we had sandwiches and crepes for lunch and hopped the Metro and headed to Montmart. I bought a painting. We also walked up the steps to Sacre Couere and walked around inside WHILE a mass was going on. Imagine having tourists walking through church during a service!!!

After ice cream, we headed across town to a movie: Babel. It was good, but subtitled in French. Not the easiest to understand, but we got the jist of it. Then, dinner at Hippopotomus and home to prepare for our trip to London tomorrow morning! I might not have internet access, but I'll try to find a place to blog!

Au Revoir!

Bon Jour Day 2

Well, it's midnight on this side of the Atlantic and I'm going to have to blog quickly. Today was a big, big day. We started off by sleeping until 10 (unintended) and then eating croisants from a local bakery (which Nate picked up for us). Then, it was off to the Musee d' Rodin. Think "The Thinker." Nate's blog has some nifty pictures.

Next, we headed to the Eiffel Tower, stopping for sandwiches & quiche for lunch on the way. The walk up the tower was grueling (sense a theme??), but thrilling too. I keep getting vertigo walking down the steps!!! I don't know what my deal is. Oh well. We requested more grueling stair climbing for tomorrow, so we'll see what happens.

After that, we saw the Eiffel Tower sparkle from a tour boat on the Seine. Then, we had dinner at a restaurant named Indiana. It was nothing like the state.

Now, I must get to sleep so I don't waste half of the morning tomorrow!!!

Au Revoir!

Bon Jour

Bon Jour!

I'm in Paris!!! It's pretty surreal that I'm actually here. I'm sitting in Nate and Claire's apartment, listening to "7th Heaven" in French, which is just as dramatic.

It's been a long day, though it's only 6 PM our time. Jean and I both slept in (can I blame jetlag?) and took the metro to Notre Dame. I should have been practicing for my trip by climbing a stairmaster! Pouf! (What they say here instead of Uff). The view was amazing and inside the cathedral was stunning!!!

Then we walked along the Seine, with its street vendors and murky waters, to the Musee d'Orsay. Turns out, it was closed due to a workers' strike. Drat. I'd rather see that than the Louvre (I know, I'm horrible.) Any way, we ended up walking around a marketplace and buying some Coca-Cola Light (diet Coke) and bottled water at the MonoPrix (like Cub). Now we are waiting for our hosts to return from work and then we'll probably head out for dinner.

I'm having a blast! I'm also checking for comments, so write away!

Movie of the Day: Man of the Year. Saw it on the plane. Better than I expected!

Big Day

Well, I'm off to Paris. I had fun saying that casually yesterday. "Oh, I won't be here." "Where are you going?" "Paris." Ha! It's so surreal!

I feel like my house should be clean, my dishes done, my homework corrected (not going to happen), and all of the loose ends of my life neatly wrapped up. Not sure why. I think it's so I can come home and avoid "unfinished business". Hmmmmm...

Any way, I plan to blog while I'm gone. If you want extra bloggage of the trip, my friend Nate and his wife are hosting us (my friend Jean and me). Nate is one of the links to your right.

Au revoir!

:)Becca
P.S. Movie of the Day: French Kiss.
P.P.S. Happy Valentine's Day!

Lil' Bro

Today is my brother's birthday. He's 26, which makes me feel old. I remember when he was born! I was in first grade and the principal called me out of gym (Thanks Mr. Olson!) to tell me that I had a brother. My friend Jeanne and one of her friends talked to me after school and asked if the baby was a boy or girl. I said "A boy" with disappointment. I think it was just because I didn't really know much about boys except that they chased girls at recess. He's a good kid, though. I don't get to see him enough because he lives out of town.

Happy Birthday, Matt!

Movie of the Day: O Brother, Where Art Thou? tee hee.

What?

I am so distractable right now. I leave for Paris on Wednesday and I'm not ready. I mean, I've been ready for a vacation for months, but I'm not packed, organized, mentally ready for a long flight. I also have done a horrible job of learning French. Horrible. So, I shall do a bit of cramming on the plane and rely on Nate and Claire a lot. Oy. Not how I like to function.

Other than that, I'm trying to learn all of the new gadgets that I've purchased for the trip and do the usual laundry, lesson planning, and church stuff.

It'll come together. Eventually.

Movie of the Day: Frantic. I don't think I've seen this one, but it sounds appropriate.

Blogger Fairy

Dear Blogger Fairy,

I keep trying to post and it just isn't working. Please let this one go through. I have an awesome picture that I want to show people. It's of a memorial at St. Olaf that has beautiful chimes tuned to the key of D, matching the key of Beautiful Savior. If you could make that magic happen, that would be awesome!

Thanks,

Becca

Movie of the Day: Cinderella. (And The Sound of Music).

Counselor On-Call

One of my classes had some kids who are living a rough life and it spills over into our class. I wish I could build a little addition to my room and had a counselor right there, ready to help. They could talk about substance abuse, parental abuse, racism, relationships, or work ethic. It's really hard to get a kid to care about square roots when they're faced with any or all of the above.

TGIF.

Movie of the Day: When a Man Loves a Woman. Sad.

Hoods

Kids aren't allowed to wear hoods at school because we can't tell who they are if they are doing something wrong in the halls, etc. I have a couple sweatshirts and sweaters that have hoods and I try to sympathize with my students who compulsively put up their hood. I don't scream and yell, I just try to make eye contact and then swoop my hand in a "shove the hood back" motion. If it's a well-behaved kid, they follow suit right away. If it's a kid who likes to argue every last thing (you know a teenager like this, I'm sure), it takes me saying "_______. Hood." Sometimes it takes me going to the kid. Sometimes it takes 3 reminders in an hour. It's annoying.

It's cold out. I understand that. I just don't think I should have to be written up for not enforcing a rule because a kid keeps putting up their hood. (No, I haven't been written up, but it could easily happen one of these days if I'm not completely, 100% on top of every hood-lum, when an administrator walks in. Pressure!

Any way, if you have hoodies, wear them at home, but beware in my classroom. Swoop!

Movie of the Day: Boyz in the Hood. Ha ha ha ha ha!!!

Can't I Just Hibernate?

The bad thing about having a job that might be "cancelled" for the day is that you start to get your hopes up when you hear about pending weather. You start to plan what you would do with a "found" day. I had a really good plan for today and it appears it'll have to wait. Drat.

Also, I know I'm being lazy, but it's hard to wake up at 4:45 and walk on my treadmill when I don't know if I'll have to go to work that day. By the time I find out, my "routine" has moved on and I'm left without walking. The dedicated person would walk and then find out if there is school, but then it would be really hard to go back to sleep again like I did on Monday (for 5 hours!). Choices!

Any way, it's off the school I go. Hi, Ho. Hi, Ho.

Movie of the Day: Eight Below (which I haven't seen). Subtract 32 and that's out windchill today.

Button Maker

Sara wants a button maker and I'm starting to like the idea too. You can write whatever you want and wear it around! How cool!

Some ideas:

Back off! I'm crabby!

got Peace?

Math is Awe-Sum!

What Would Charlie Do? (from Numb3rs)

How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

Suggestions?

Movie of the Day: Sense & Sensibility. Hugh Laurie cracks me up.

Oh Boy

Okay, so I'm not good with change. Not at all. I'm a "let this sink in" kind of gal and the past 24 hours have had a lot of change in them. No, nothing crazy wild like getting engaged or anything. Just moderate things that I've been holding off on: digital camera, iPod, switching my blog to the new format (that one was forced upon me). So, here I am with a new gmail account, too!

The only change today that I was comfortable with was the cancellation of school because of the windchill factor outside (-45). Yep, I'm cool with that. (Ha ha).

Movie of the Day: The Big Chill. Another that I've never seen. Did see The Last Kiss last night, which was really good.

Open

Today is open. No plans. No homework. Just me with my house, finally focusing on things that I've meant to do for a long time. In some cases, things I haven't done in years (like wash the catch trays on my stove). I love getting organized. I also love helping people get organized. I've actually asked students if they need help cleaning their lockers. I know, I'm sick.

Movie of the Day: Because I Said So. Saw this last night. I know the reviews weren't great, but if you like chick flicks and enjoy Mandy Moore, Diane Keaton, or cute guys, you'll like this film.

Stock Up

It's cold. Gonna get colder. It's one of those stay inside, don't go anywhere kind of weekends and I am out of diet Coke. Yes, that is bad. I'm also out of chocolate. So before I shuffle myself home from work, I better stop at a store and stock up. If not, it could get ugly. Luckily, I live alone so there won't be any casualties.

Any suggestions for movies to rent or things to do when it's super cold?

Movie of the Day: Chocolat.

Early Morning Glory

I leave my house around 7 AM every school day. I walk out my door and look towards the lake. I can't really see it, but I know it's there behind the other houses and trees. The sky is just starting to lighten and the sun is just starting to create hues of red and gold. They're murky colors mixed with the cold air to make them look like pink cotton balls.

I squeak my way through the snowcover I haven't shoveled and slip a bit on my garage floor.

I sit, hunched up in my cold car, and after three tries, the garage door opener (and closer) finally works.

I drive to work, mentally commenting on the other drivers, or, if it's a good mood day, singing along to my stereo. I always compare the gas prices from one station to the other four that I pass on my way.

I sometimes see the lady, holding a cigarette while she lets out her HUGE dog. I almost always see the woman walking to her bus stop, her location depending on how early or late I am to work.

I park in the lot next to all of the SUVs and trucks, trying to figure out which one belongs to which teacher. I notice whether or not my boss is there yet, which determines whether or not I can get into the office to pick up my mail.

I watch the parking lot pavement and notice where it's slippery and how the frost glistens in the light. It looks like diamonds on the ground. Free diamonds for everyone.

Movie of the Day: Working Girl.