In a nutshell

Believe it or not, Mike and I are on our one year anniversary. Well it is already passed. I have been looking at the extra 10 lbs I gained and wondering how I can eat chocolate cake and lose weight. Part of the weight loss plan is to cook at home more. I wanted to cook my way through the Asian Grandma's Cookbook.

Day 1: Chicken Adobo
Meat falls of the bone, who knew you had to pan fry after it stews in all its glorious chicken fat.

Merry Christmas

Where we are...

So after layoffs, confusions, and some hustling. I am back at LAUSD. I am now the Response to Instruction and Intervention Expert. Well the title is mucho misleading because I am no expert. Its been a really interesting learning experience working at the Local District level. The biggest adjustment is working with adults. First job I ever had that actually requires me to depend on another person. Its not so fun. Who knows how long this is going to last. With another terrible budget year, I am on the chopping block again. I just need to make it to the first day of my third year.

Another exciting part of my job is that some of the neighborhoods the schools are in are pretty tough. My favorite is getting chased by small dogs.

Baby Lets Wait Program for Adults

We really love our dogs, to the point that we have to control our urge to talk incessantly about them. mean look at them, how can you not? Because we feel we are so successful as dog owners (minus the pooh eating) we often feel we are ready for children. And then we went to one of these:


Our friend's daughter's 6th bday party. They were having so much fun, but my god, the noise and the chaos! There were just so many of them and so few of us! It really made us realize how unprepared we were for parenthood.

Compton

No matter what people think or say about "ghettos" there are still human beings living there full of life and dreams.

Been working as a lead teacher at a literacy program out in Compton. When I drive through the neighborhood there are parts that fits every stereotype about Compton and then there are truths; teachers committed to teach struggling students to succeed. Teachers who care, reflect and love their jobs. Families who only want the best for their children. Its been really refreshing.

Hit and Run Nonsense

To say my life flashed before my eyes would be an exaggeration especially since it would of been blurry because the air bag blew my glasses off my face into the backseat. Thursday morning I was was tboned by a green Saturn or Pontiac and lost control and hit a telephone poll. Not a small one, but the big brown ones that people post Lost Pet Flyers. And the fool who hit me left! There were lots of good Samaritans around leaving me their numbers telling me that I was not at fault. The car looked pretty wrecked, my 2007 Honda Accord. The fireman was pretty impressed that I walked away with bruises. BUT to top off my moment one of the witnesses asked me if I spoke english...sigh....

Got the news yesterday from the insurance company that my car is total loss and we only have three days of rental left. And to top if off, because they couldn't catch the person who hit me, my uninsured motorist insurance doesn't work because there is no proof that she didn't have insurance. Really..no....really....

Because of the above reality I have been stalking Piedmont and Ave 59 everyday. Walking by looking at every dark green car for visible bumper damage. Curse you hit and run driver! So if you live in the HP neighborhood...keep an eye out for a dark green Saturn or Pontiac or Gram Am (I didn't have my glasses on, see above explaination) right bumper light and paint completely gone. They left that behind on Thursday. Okay enough ranting..

Jordan a future grafitti artitst?

It was a chilly morning at the LA Book Festival. But always worth the long drive (well especially because my sister drives and I snooze in the back) They had a wall where you could write the book you are currently reading. What a great way to share the love of books.