If I Won the Lottery

Here's a little something I busted out during Writing Camp today after almost being late due to a heavy traffic morning...

There is a short list of things that bug me in this world, and a good portion of the items on that list have to do with driving. It's funny because as children and teenagers we are all so enamored with the idea of learning to drive and getting our licenses. I remember being 16 and feeling like driving was an adventure. Any excuse would do. Want me to go to the grocery store, Mom? Can I take that letter to the post office for you? Even driving my little brother to school was so much fun!

For me, though, driving has lost its novelty. First of all, I hate traffic. I am the calmest person I know, but if there's one sure way to send my blood pressure to glorious new heights, it's sitting in a traffic jam. This makes me pretty picky about where I live: within 10 minutes of my job is ideal.

I also can not stand speed bumps. For some reason, they just seem to rattle me in the most unpleasant way. I am one of those people you see veering way left or right just to avoid a bump in a parking lot. Even if I can get one tire to stay on flat ground, I feel a little better about the whole experience. Maybe speed bumps remind me of all of the figurative bumps in the road of life that I've encountered in my 33 years.

Maintaining the car - what a pain! It's not enough that I have to keep myself clean, fueled up, waxed, and polished, but I am expected to do this all for my car too? No wonder that stuff is considered a man's job. My apartment always seems to need straightening up, my dog needs grooming, my plants want to be watered, and my job takes a little teeny bit of time, too. Where am I supposed to find the leftover seconds to get gas, wash the car, check the oil, get a tune-up, have the tires rotated . . . .?

Certainly cars seem to bring out the worst in people. How much tailgating, cursing, gesturing road rage is committed by folks who are perfectly pleasant, polite individuals in all other aspects of their lives? It seems that being enclosed in that big hunk of metal and gears emboldens us all to turn into jackasses.

Don't get me wrong - I don't mind getting out on the open road and cruising along on a road trip. If I can get a good talk-radio podcast going and keep a bag of salty munchies by my side, I'm content to drive for hours. Long, easy drives can actually be quite meditative and soothing, I've found. Plus, my car computer tells me my average mpg, and I just love watching it climb to 29, 30, 31 or beyond! But how often do those kind of drives really happen? Once, maybe twice a year for me.

Now, I have tried to make driving more pleasant in the best way I know how - by getting a car I absolutely love. My little wagon is definitely a prized possession, and I am a little more motivated to take care of it than I would be if I had a not-so-fun or aesthetically pleasing ride. But still, if I won the lottery tomorrow, the first thing I'd do is hire a chauffeur. 

Mom is Coming!

A week from tomorrow, my mom is coming to visit. This will be her second time visiting me since I moved to San Diego nine years ago. My aunt is coming too, and it is going to interesting squeezing the three of us into my teeny tiny apartment.

This is not my main concern, however. What I'm really wondering about is where I'm going to take them! It's not that there is nothing to do in San Diego - in fact, I have the opposite problem. There are just too many choices. And since they are coming in late Thursday night and leaving on Sunday morning, we only have two days.

Since I am working at UCSD for a couple of hours on Friday morning, I think I will drop my mom and aunt off in La Jolla during that time. They can wander around, shop, harass the seals, eat breakfast, etc. For Friday afternoon, perhaps we will drive down to Cabrillo or just go to La Jolla Shores beach. Breakfast at the Original Pancake House is definitely on tap for Saturday morning. Then, I am thinking about the Zoo. It's probably the most famous San Diego tourist attraction, and I have free passes. We could spend a good portion of a day there. Oh, or what about Old Town? I know my mom would love Old Town. Of course, there's always Coronado too! Saturday night dinner... Sevilla? Pacifica? Jake's? Indigo Grill? It's going to be hard to choose!

Hopefully, whatever I pick will be interesting enough to entice Mom to come back soon, so I don't have to agonize over these decisions every five years!!

Toilet Training Carly - abandon ship!

Well, it seems that my quest to toilet-train my cat will once more come to an end. Carly has been doing her best, but has had a little trouble with staying inside the boundaries. I think the toilet seat radius is just too small of an area for her to deal with. I am getting tired of cleaning up after her and think my time and money would just be much better invested in a fancy-schmancy self-cleaning litter box. Anyone need a cat toilet training kit? It's practically new - in fact the DVD has never even been opened!

What is the What?

I am reading a book right now called What is the What. It's not a quick, easy read, so it's taking me quite some time to finish. It's an amazing book. I picked it up because it was written by Dave Eggers, who runs the very cool McSweeney's website and also wrote A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, which I loved. 

Anyway, What is the What is the true story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the "lost boys of Sudan." The country of Sudan has long been in the throes of civil war and religious infighting. Thousands of orphaned boys (and some girls) were forced during the 1980's to abandon their decimated villages and walk hundreds of miles to refugee camps in Ethiopia and Kenya. These lost boys grew up in the camps and many of them have since immigrated to the United States, where they are typically sponsored by an American family until they are comfortable with western culture. 

Deng's story is, as you can imagine, bittersweet, as he tells the details of his childhood in his home village, the long walk he endured, his time in refugee camps, and finally his adjustment to life in Atlanta. Throughout the book, you get the sense that Deng was never made bitter by his harsh existence, that he always maintains dignity, hope, and a sense of responsibility toward his fellow Sudanese. 

It's a story that needed telling, if only to remind us of the horrible things going on in other parts of the world, and the importance of having compassion for other human beings. I definitely encourage everyone to check it out.

Writing Camp

This summer I am working at a writing camp at UCSD. The camp is affiliated with the San Diego Area Writing Project (SDAWP). I participated in a very intense SDAWP institute for teachers last summer, making me eligible to be on the writing camp staff. I have been so excited about this opportunity for a few reasons. 

First, I love to teach writing. It's my favorite subject to teach! So the opportunity to focus on writing and only writing - without worrying about the 5 or 6 other subjects I normally have to cram in to a school day - was certainly welcome. 

Second, I view this camp experience as sort of a laboratory for my teaching. I get to experiment and try out different lesson ideas that I can then incorporate into my classroom practice this year. Plus, I have a teaching partner so I get the benefit of watching and pilfering her lessons, as well. 

And finally, most of the kids who are attending camp already love to write. The students are attentive, enthusiastic, and more than willing to try everything that we ask them to. It's so much fun to work on a skill with such eager participants. Of course there are a couple of exceptions -- those little boys who "hate to write" and whose parents are hoping and praying we can help them this summer! It wouldn't be any fun without a challenge . . .

Camp is four days a week from 8:30-11:30, and we have the same students for the entire three weeks. Today was the third day, and I am loving it. Writing camp is living up to all my expectations. Additionally, it's getting me out of my summer stir-crazy blues that start to set in around the end of July each year! And it's earning me a few extra bucks. 

Don't be surprised if you hear me say I'm going "back to camp" next summer!!

Cable TV??

I am thinking of cancelling my cable TV. I mean, I am seriously thinking about it. I sometimes go 3 or 4 days without even turning on my television set, and I'm paying $60 a month why?

Here are the things I like to watch:

1. Baseball - but Oakland games are rarely on television in San Diego, and Padres games are just too horrifying to watch this year on a regular basis. Plus, if there's a game I really want to see, I have Oggi's and Friday's both within walking distance.
   
2. Lost - I rarely stay awake for the television broadcast anyway, since it begins at 10 P.M. during the school year. I just end up watching it online the next day.
   
3. Friday Night Lights - I'm never home on Friday night to watch it so ditto for watching it online.
4. Weeds - I don't even get Showtime so I rent this one on DVD.
   
5. American Idol - the only weakness in my plan . . . But since it doesn't start up again until what - January? - I'm sure I'll come up with something. Surely Meg has room on her couch for me on Tuesday and Wednesday nights!

And really that's it! If nothing else, cancelling cable would be a great experiment. Even if I only last one month, that would be $60 saved - enough for at least 2 weeks worth of venti soy green tea lattes from Starbucks!

Pan's Labyrinth

After watching Hellboy II  a while back, I decided to rent a movie called Pan's Labyrinth. Guillermo del Toro was the screenwriter and director of both movies. Pan's Layrinth is couple years old and is a Spanish film, with subtitles. 

Set in the 1940's, Pan's Labyrinth is about a young girl named Ofelia who is drawn in to a fantasy realm while living at her new stepfather's estate. The stepfather is a captain in the fascist Spain army and he is cruel man, being slowly squeezed by the guerilla forces in the nearby woods.

Although it's quite graphic at times (I had to peek from behind my fingers once or twice!), it is simply a beautiful movie. I can't recommend it highly enough. The cinematography is breathtaking and the special effects are like nothing I've ever seen. Add it to your Netflix queue! I promise, you won't be sorry!

Kid Soccer

This morning I went to watch my 6 year-old nephew's soccer game. I had to drive out to eastern Escondido, which is very far away (past the Wild Animal Park!) and very hot. Is it ever not hot out there??

Anyway, organized sports for little kids are always fun to watch, and soccer I think is particularly hilarious. First of all, everybody wants to be goalie. I'm not sure why, but I suspect it has something to do with the cool jersey he gets to wear. I would never want to be goalie - it's a hard job with a lot of pressure.

Of course at the age of six, none of the kids understand that they have a position to play. Foward? Halfback? Whatever . . . they just run around in a mob chasing after the soccer ball and mostly kicking air. Whenever kids do actually make contact with the ball, they usually are so startled that they freeze in place while the ball careens off in some random direction, usually toward the opposing team's goal.

What really cracked me up, though, were the parents. Along the sidelines, faithful moms and dads were shouting out helpful hints to their kids like "push it downfield!" "run after it!" "go that way!" and my personal favorite "kick it, kick it!" The parents were way more enthused than the players, who gazed with frequent regularity over at the Gatorade bottles on the sidelines. Did I mention it was hot?

Of course there are always one or two exceptions - mini David Beckhams and Mia Hamms, usually the smallest kids on the team. Today's game was no exception. Each team had one or two players whose agility, footwork, and speed made them excellent candidates for future World Cup teams. My nephew is not one of these little guys . . . yet.

Out with the boys . . .

There is something distinctly freeing about an evening out with guy friends. Tonight I had plans which fell through, so I met up with 3 sweet, wonderful gentlemen friends for a beer.
It's always interesting when sitting across from a couple of guys and their eyes, in perfect synchronization, begin to slowly slide to the side, following the cute girls who are obviously over my left shoulder. Humbling. 

We conversed about what their love lives would (or wouldn't) look like if they received life sentences in prison, about our love for our dogs, and about what makes a girl or guy ignore your contact on an online dating website ("But pictures can be misleading!" declared one of these sweet boys) 

But toward me, they were always complimentary and protective, reassuring me that my jewelry was cute, that I did not ever look nearly as drunk as those girls over there, and that for any guy who ignored me online, "It's his loss."

I have not had such a fun, easy, hysterical night out in a long time.

Toilet Training Carly

I am once again trying to toilet train my cat. I first attempted this last summer, and gave up in frustration after about a month. I've had a year to forget why I lost patience the first time, so I'm giving it another go.

I bought a kit last summer called "Litter Kwitter." It comes with an instructional DVD which I never have watched. Perhaps that explains my failure. I should definitely watch it tomorrow.

Anyway, the kit has a specially designed toilet seat contraption with three different inserts. The first insert is a completely enclosed litter pan. The second, intermediate insert has a hole in the litter pan. And the final insert is mostly hole with just a litter "moat." The idea is to gradually transition the cat to each insert as she becomes comfortable with the last. 

Right now, Carly is on the first insert. She has no problem with jumping up on the toilet and doing her business in the completely enclosed pan. Where we ran into trouble last summer was when I moved on to the next insert and she could see/smell the water through the hole. That really freaked her out. So she pooped on the floor. Yes, I am remembering my frustration now . . . I really did not like picking up poop from the floor!

Okay, I'm going to watch that DVD tomorrow. I am determined this time. We are going to graduate from a litter box to a toilet-using cat!!

What do these people do??

So I went to Starbucks today around 10:00 this morning, thinking I would order my venti soy green tea latte and enjoy it while reading my book. Except there were no seats available, and the line was nearly to the door. 10 A.M. on a Wednesday and Starbucks is packed. What do these people do??

It is such a pleasure for me to have these lazy summer weekdays where I can stay in my pajamas until 9. Enjoy an hour-long coffee break. Maybe watch a movie or read a little. Have lunch. Nap. Wile the afternoon away . . .

But how is it that so many people can be sitting around in a Carmel Mountain Starbucks - surely they can't all be teachers on summer vacation!!?

Hellboy 2

My summer movie marathon continued today - I went to see a matinee showing of Hellboy 2. I've always loved fantasy movies such as Legend, Labyrinth, Lord of the Rings, and Big Fish. Hellboy 2 definitely fell into this genre.

Screenwriter/Director Guillermo del Toro created a rich fantasy world with a slew of interesting creatures. There was a trip to the "troll market" that reminded me so much of the classic cantina scene in Star Wars. 

I've loved Ron Perlman since he played Vincent on the television show Beauty and the Beast (remember that one? with Linda Hamilton!?). He is so great as Hellboy - even with all those prosthetics, he has perfect facial expressions and delivers the one-liners with excellent comedic timing.

Overall, I liked this one better than Iron Man!

Sarah and Jimmy

Sadly, Jimmy Kimmel and Sarah Silverman have split up. Such a shame - they seemed like a really cute couple! I think I was maybe the the last person on earth to see this video, but maybe this is the reason why they are no longer together . . .

So funny!

Tumbling Around

I had a friend for a while who believed that everything that happens to us is either the result of our choices or random coincidence. Things don't "happen for a reason" he would insist. There's no such thing as karma, fate, or guardian angels.

I have to respectfully disagree. I'm one of those people who believes in cosmic cause and effect - that your actions now can have repercussions in an hour, a day, a year, or maybe even in your next life. And I have truly, truly come to believe that that people come in and out of my life for a reason.

Yesterday I ran in to my former neighbor Diane while I was meeting with my knitting group. I was at a coffee shop about 20 miles from home and she just happened to be there at the same time. I hadn't seen Diane in maybe 8 or 10 months, and I always loved having her a

s a neighbor. She is sweet, genuine, and fun to talk to. Our dogs played together now and then, and her oldest daughter babysat my nephew once or twice. 

The first thing Diane said when she saw me was "Wow, you look beautiful!" Now since I have been feeling anything but beautiful for the last month, these words were incredibly uplifting. There have been changes in me over the past months and years. I'm a big fan of metaphors . . . I feel sometimes as if I've been bumping and bouncing around in a rock tumbler. Diane reminded me that all that uncomfortable spinning is making me shinier.

Iron Man

Today I went to see the movie Iron Man, starring Robert Downey Jr. I always enjoy the comic book/superhero movies, and this one was no exception. It was fast-moving and fun, with lots of great special effects and some pretty impressive acting. 

I was pleasantly surprised that Gwyneth Paltrow was chosen for the role of Pepper. She is not the typical glamour girl - she's more of a girl-next-door. And she was adorable in this movie. Terrence Howard and Jeff Bridges were also great, but I think Robert Downey's facial expressions and delivery of the one-liners really stole the show.

When Iron Man came out in April, I remember reading a news article about the actor who plays the Afghani "bad guy." He is a Carmel Valley resident and his son goes to school at Carmel Creek Elementary, which is in the Solana Beach school district. Kind of a cool little local connection. He was very good in Iron Man as one of the villains.

As great as the acting was, the plot itself was pretty formulaic and predictable. And the action sequences felt like they had all been done before. I guess that by now the Hollywood powers that be know what works and they stick to it - and I think that Iron Man has proven them right by making a bazillion dollars. Hopefully Iron Man 2 will be a little more creative!! 

Dream Dinners

Okay, if you've talked to me for more than 5 minutes in the last year, you know that I am hooked on Dream Dinners. Dream Dinners is a place where I go once a month and prepare or assemble meals. I bring the 12 new meals home, pop them in my freezer, and then cook them throughout the month. There are two main benefits for me:

• I am eating a healthy variety of food. When I'm just cooking for myself I tend to stick to the same three things: spaghetti, bean burritos, and cereal. Dream Dinners gets me eating way more balanced meals with actual vegetables.
• I am saving money. It costs me about $140 a month and these meals pretty much cover all my lunches and dinners. That's less than I would spend at the grocery store if I were buying all the ingredients and cooking each night.

Problem is, I currently have a backup of food in my freezer. I go to Dream Dinners with Tara each month because by splitting a big order, we are able to save a significant amount of money. I want to keep going each month so that she can keep getting her meals. But I have been eating out a lot lately and I haven't been using my 3 meals a week like I should be! So now my freezer is jammed with food. I went out with my friend Amy L. tonight to El Torito for dinner and I felt so guilty thinking about the 15 or 20 entrees in my freezer! And the leftovers from 3 more in my refrigerator! And to top it all off, I brought half my El Torito food home with me!!

I keep trying to give meals away, cook for friends, etc. But my freezer remains full. I'm scheduled to go back and make 12 new meals in just two weeks!! So I'm determined to stay home and plow through some of this food, even if I have to eat Mango Salmon or (Soy) Chicken Risotto for breakfast! Anyone care to join me??

www.dreamdinners.com

Wisteria Candy Cottage - Take II

I made the hour-long trek back out the candy cottage in Boulevard this morning. Thankfully, they were open this time, but the pickings were quite slim. All the filled/truffle type candies were gone. This was fine with me, as those are my least favorite. They still had plenty of gooey, caramelicious turtles! I swept in and shouted "Give me one of everything!" Well, okay, I didn't shout it, but I did get one of everything. Here is my haul of divinity, nut clusters, turtles, bark, chocolate-dipped fruit, and chocolate-dipped pretzels:

It's actually one turtle short, because I devoured one in the car on the way home. Absolutely delicious! Check out their store or website before they close on July 31 - they ship candy too: www.candycottage.com. And don't think you can come over and try some of mine, because I'm not sharing! ;-)

Padres Game

I took myself to a Padres game yesterday. Now, I did not expect the Padres to win this game (and they didn't) because they are having a horrible year. But I do love day games, and they are so few and far between. Plus, being a weekday game, tickets were half price so I got a pretty nice seat right behind the visitors' bullpen for only 20 bucks. Here's the view from my seat:

 

And to top it all off, for the whole month of July, the Padres are offering one dollar hot dogs and soft drinks. This includes veggie dogs with a whole wheat bun. Woo Hoo! So, I paid $20 for parking, $20 for my ticket, and $4 for concessions. $44 - Not bad for an afternoon at Petco!

Beach Day

I spent yesterday at the beach. Just sitting there all day long chatting with my friends Amy L. and Sally S. (and for a while, Emily too, until she abandoned us "old ladies"). I brought a book and my iPod with me, but I used neither. The three of us had no problem talk, talk, talking for about 5 hours straight.

At one point, the conversation turned toward how we ended up in San Diego and what we like about living here. I moved here from San Jose nine years ago this summer. There are many things I still miss, including: my family, my college friends, the San Jose Mercury News, the liberal climate, the diversity, trips to San Francisco, Hobee's restaurant, and Erik's Deli. But I don't think I would want to move back there. I've grown too accustomed to the natural beauty of San Diego, the way everyone naturally gravitates to being outdoors here because, well, how could you not?!

For a long time, I've thought that I'd like to try living in the Pacific Northwest - Seattle, or Portland maybe. It seems to me that this region of the U.S. really is the center of the low-key, outdoorsy, liberal culture that I love. 

It's so hard to think about moving though. I have made so many great friends in San Diego - a surrogate family, really. Through good times and bad, my friends make sure I never feel alone. A new city where I didn't know anyone? That would be such a difficult transition. Especially for a shy, introverted person like me. 

And my job at Sycamore Ridge is the most incredible teaching job in the universe. I don't know how I could ever be as happy at any other school.

I know if I'm going to do it, I probably should do it soon: I'm still young, single, and have no kids. A move to a different state would only get more complicated as time goes on. I don't feel ready, but would I ever be more ready? 

Wanted

I went to see the movie "Wanted" last night with my good friend Stephanie L. When we were deciding what movie to watch, I listed Wanted along with a few others as possibilities. Wanted was my first choice, but I wasn't sure that Steph would be willing to see a violent action film. Turns out Wanted was her first choice too!

And it was violent. Lots of slo-mo scenes of bullets going through people's heads and blood spraying everywhere. It was a little over the top. But I enjoyed the action sequences. There were some amazing car chases and a scene near the end with a train that blew my mind. I actually really liked the movie a lot.

The truth is, I like nearly anything with Angelina Jolie. I am insanely jealous of her. She is beautiful, talented, smart, and has such an aura of toughness. She always says it like it is and I think she really tries to use her position to make a difference in the world. Not only would I like to be her, but I think I have a girl-crush on her as well!!

Wisteria Candy Cottage

I decided to take a road trip today out to the Wisteria Candy Cottage, which is located where Highways 8 and 94 intersect in the small town of Boulevard. Imagine driving out to Viejas, and then driving for another half-hour beyond that!

Why do this? you are surely wondering. Why not just drive down to the mall and visit Sees Candy? Or better yet, go to the market and pick up some Hershey's!! Honestly, I don't even really eat candy that much. 

Well, I had read in the local news that the Wisteria Candy Cottage will soon be closing down after almost 90 years of existence. 90 years!! And I had never heard of it in the nine years I've lived in San Diego. Apparently, not many others have heard of it either since they are closing down due to a lack of business.

So, the Wisteria Candy Cottage is supposed to have amazing, hand made chocolates and candy, and I didn't want to miss out on this (sort of) local treasure before it went away.

But when I got there, they were closed!!

Yes, I had checked the days and hours online. Believe me I wasn't going to drive for an hour each way without first making sure that my destination was open on Mondays. There was a sign posted in the door which basically said that they ran out of candy this weekend and would be open again tomorrow once they've had a chance to make more. It seems that the publicity is helping the cottage get the business they've lacked for years.

Am I going to go back? Well, ya. Not tomorrow - probably some time next week. And believe me, I will call first!!