My laugh of the day: 

Richard Cheese's jazzy version of "Baby Got Back." Please, I urge you to check it out. I'm buying the darn thing tonight and will probably listen to it obsessively over the weekend.


As you can see, today has been very quiet. I'm actually getting a lot of work done, some of which has piled up on me. Although I'm taking more work home for the three day weekend (yay!!!!), I feel justified in taking breaks today. Although one of my kids called me out on playing a computer game in my office a little while ago. Oh well, c'est la vie.

I am happy to report that I'm now 90% better, and Shan no longer looks like death incarnate (as he did on Saturday). He's probably around 65% better. Due to illness, the weekend was an extremely quiet one. On Saturday,

elizabif

Please note: I have lots of time on my hands today. I'm watching a student in In-school suspension which I wasn't planning on, so of course didn't bring my book!

Yesterday I made a drink I'd been fantasizing about for 2 weeks: Giada DeLaurentis' Spicy Mocha. And boy, was it worth it. Here's the basic recipe, although I recommend looking up the official one on Food Network:
Simmer reduced fat milk with cinnamon sticks and a couple of dried red chiles (I used some chiles de arbol that I had). Once it comes to a boil, cover and let it steep off the heat for a while. Then whisk in sugar, cocoa powder, and espresso. Re-heat until the chocolatey mixture comes to a simmer, then serve topped with homemade chocolate whipped cream. Yummmmmmmmm. What a rich drink/dessert. And anyone who questions chiles and chocolate should just try it. It has just a hint of spice in the background that makes the drink interesting and enhances the chocolatey goodness. I have some in my fridge at home waiting for me tonight, and I can't wait.  

• Christmas with my family, including my Gram for the first time in years. My parents are waaaaaay too generous, but it was a nice day and I was happy that everyone liked their gifts.
  
• Travelled up to Redding and visited with the P clan. SEP's younger sister brought her boyfriend for Christmas. He's waay too nice. Had fun beating up on the nephews who had just received Guitar Hero 3 for the Wii! Played 2 games with my neice of what I call the "Barbie Brainwashing Board Game" where we have to get steady boyfriends, a prom dress, and become a club president before we can become prom queen (gag!!!!!!-- worse was some of the spaces, i.e. "Snack Shop-- Pay $1 if without boyfriend"). Went bowling with the family and enjoyed beating everyone the first game despite being assigned to the "girl" lane with bumpers.  Found it amusing that our eldest nephew 's voice is changing.
• Saw Spamalot at the National Theater - really awesome show. Laughed through the whole thing, and really enjoyed some of the new songs.
• Reading my way through the Golden Compass Trilogy - on book 2 currently.

• No Diet Cokes in January. (2 days done! 29 1/2 more to go-- this will be reassessed in February to decide if i will continue the ban or go to some more moderate approach)
  
• By the time I turn 30, I want to be back to my goal weight. Along with that, my resolution to stick to a healthy diet and exercise plan.
  
• Stay in more regular contact with friends.
• Read more.

From cerridwynn:The deal is that I write seven facts about myself and then tag seven people down below and they write seven things about themselves. Because obviously we don’t talk enough about ourselves on our blogs.

1. I love traveling, and have as of this year traveled to 21 different countries, many of them just for a day or two, but others for a longer amount of time. The current list is: Canada, Newfoundland, Labrador, Mexico, England, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Russia, Norway, Sweden, Latvia, Poland, Estonia, Greece, Turkey, Bermuda, and the Dominican Republic.

2. Obvious fact: I drink waaaay too many Diet Cokes. The longest I've ever gone without caffeine or Diet Cokes is 3 months. I was very proud of myself but was quietly and quickly lured back to the Dark Side. There have been many days when I have drunk more than a 2-liter, and I can think of 2 days when I’ve finished a 12 pack (scary, I know).

3. I have read every book written by Jane Austen, and have watched most film versions of her works. 

4. I’ve always wanted to play the guitar, however for now, even though I own an acoustic, I’m filling the need by playing Guitar Hero. I’ve beaten Guitar Hero 1 and 2, working slowly on Guitar Hero 3.  ("Real guitars are for old people." - South Park)

5. My first memory is of sifting flour for bread with my grandfather.

6. I secretly admire Martha Stewart.

7. Most nights I can't fall asleep without the sound of voices. I used to listen to story tapes to go to sleep when I was young. That seems to have carried over to my adult life, unfortunately. When I really can't sleep, I put on podcasts or audiobooks (usuall Harry Potter), or sometimes a "comfort move" defined as a usually lighthearted movie that I have seen so many times I can fall asleep to: Officespace, Ocean's 11, Mallrats, and Zoolander are some of my go-tos.

I have chosen not to tag anyone because everyone I would tag has already been tagged.

I was listening to NPR on the ride home yesterday, and on it was reader's descriptions of four famous voices: Janis Joplin, Katherine Hepburn, Fred Astaire, and Joe Cocker.

A view from battlements on Rhodes (June 2007)

I'm feeling pretty blue right now. Today I had meetings for 4 of my kids that have missed an excess of days at school this year. Three of them got dropped from our roles. All three I have worked with for a little more than 3 years. Two of which were seniors. It makes me very sad, and very frustrated. I can't help it--even though they were bad asses, and even though they deserve to be dropped based on their choices this year, they were still my little (or not so little) bad asses. And it makes me depressed to see so many kids get to their senior year and then mess up--every year I have one who tries to sabotage their graduation. I'm trying to hope that one will be back with us--hopefully his mom will call PG and beg on his behalf. The kids make me mad, but I've never lost a senior before, and I'm very attached to the two this year. They make me mad, because they have so much potential if they could only see it and take ownership of their actions.