Lost/Deadwood Actors

This week's episode of Lost featured yet another Deadwood alumni: E.B. Farnum, Deadwood's hotel proprietor (William Sanderson) played Oldham, the Dharma Initiative's resident extractor of information. By my count, this brings the total of Deadwood/Lost crossover actors to 4. The first three were:


Trixie, whore with a heart of gold, played the "other" Colleen on Lost.




Joanie, another whore with a heart of gold, played Sawyer's baby momma, Cassidy.






And Calamity Jane was cast as Juliet's sister Rachel.







Just an interesting observation about my two favorite television shows ever!

Corey Wimberley

At the A's spring training game on Saturday, I was particularly intrigued by infielder Corey Wimberly. Why? Because as he walked up to the plate for his first at-bat, I was compelled to ask - aloud - whether Oakland is now drafting middle-schoolers. Corey Wimberly is tiny! He couldn't be more that 5'7". And being pretty petite myself, I always find myself drawn to the "little guy." (I also love the Chargers' Darren Sproles - but who doesn't?) It makes sense, really. Billy Beane's "Moneyball" management philosophy has long been tied to the on-base percentage and with a strike zone that small, Wimberly must draw a ton of walks. He could be the next Rickey! And Corey was even more endearing because he was sporting the old-school stirrups instead of having his damn pants dragging in the dirt like so many of the players do now.

I don't know what this guy's stats are like, and it likely doesn't matter as he probably won't be on the roster this year. But he caught my eye. Go Corey!

Phoenix Day 2

We woke up late on Saturday to glorious blue skies and temperatures in the 80's. After a delicious brunch in the morning, it was time to visit Phoenix Municipal Stadium for a spring training baseball game. It was great to be out at the ballpark, enjoying the sunshine, sights and sounds of the game, and a cold beer.The stadium has the small and intimate feel of a minor-league ballpark. The parking lot was easy to get in and out of, the concession prices were much more reasonable than Petco, and there were no annoying Jumbotron games or flashing lights. I swear, if I lived here, I'd be at spring training games probably three times a week!After the game, Jodi treated us to pizza and salad at "Humble Pie." The pizza was delicious - probably the best crust I've ever had! We spent the rest of the evening in, with some low-key girls' time.

It's been a great trip. Big thanks to Jodi for hosting!!

Phoenix Day 1

Susan, Meg, and I met at the airport around 4:30 Friday afternoon for our flight to Phoenix. Magazines, drink coupons, and girl scout cookies in hand, we were more than prepared for the short hop to Arizona. About halfway into the flight, we broke out the Tagalongs and Do-Si-Dos, completely forgetting the flight attendant's announcement up front that this was a "peanut-free flight." As the smell of peanut butter permeated the air, we suddenly remembered - oh sh*t, we're not supposed to have these out. We quickly stuffed the cookies away, hoping to avoid sending some poor person into anaphylaxis! I don't think we killed anyone - this time...

Once we landed, Jodi picked us up and the four of us headed to Tempe Marketplace, to a hoppin' Mexican restaurant called San Felipe's, where this picture was taken:We stayed for a couple of hours enjoying the drinks and appetizers as well as the conversation. Ashli even rallied and stopped by for a bit to hang out.

It's nice and warm here in Phoenix and Jodi's home is beautiful. She has a very comfy couch, too!

Looking forward to the game today!!

An Old Favorite

I just heard this on my iPod, and felt like sharing...

Lush

I am addicted to Lush.

When I mention this store to friends who've never heard of it, the typical response is something like, "Is that a store for alcoholics?" No! The definition of "lush" that applies here is luxurious, opulent, and extremely pleasing for the senses.

Lush is store that is based in the UK. Although they call themselves a cosmetics company, they don't sell any makeup. Lush specializes in organic bath and body products: bath bombs, bubble bars, powders, lotions, soaps, hair products, etc. Everything in the store is handmade, completely organic, and smells heavenly. Oh, and as you can probably imagine, it's expensive.

I first discovered Lush during my 2005 (?) girls' spa weekend in Carmel. There is no store in San Diego - the nearest is Anaheim. But it's actually more convenient for me to visit the one in Santa Clara when I'm in the Bay Area. There is a website, of course, but I don't shop it for two reasons:
1. Already expensive enough without adding on shipping charges!
2. I really like to touch and smell what I'm buying first.

I discovered in 2007 that Lush has an annual after-Christmas sale where the bath bombs, which typically sell for around $6 apiece, go for $2 instead. My favorite is the Youki-Hi bath bomb, which is a jasmine-scented dream come true.

So, taking advantage of this amazing sale, I've stocked up on a year's worth of bath bombs and bubble bars (if I use one a week). I can't wait to go take a bath now......

Just a Sec....

Back to School

I was indeed accepted this week into UCSD's Teaching and Learning Program. I am going to be working toward an Education Doctorate Degree (EdD) over the next four years. It was a lot of work just to complete the application and I really was not at all sure that I would be admitted, so just now the full meaning of this is sinking in....

I decided to apply to this program because I love to learn. Love of learning is the main reason I decided to become a teacher! In the summer of 2007, I became a fellow in the San Diego Area Writing Project. That means I spent a month reading current education research, writing about it, and discussing with like-minded colleagues. It was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my professional life, and definitely got me thinking about a doctoral program. Because while I enjoy gaining new knowledge in my field, my thinking is only really solidified when I can write and talk about what I'm learning. Studying in isolation has never been my thing - I need to be part of a learning community.

I didn't apply in 2008 - there was just too much craziness going on in my life. But, 2009 seemed to be the right time. I have the stability in place to add a new endeavour: a solid job, 6 years teaching the same grade level, a supportive boss, friends who would do anything to help, no kids of my own....it will probably never be a better time! The classes are all at night, so I'll continue teaching full time, and the research/dissertation are meant to be conducted within the context of my own classroom and school.

So, I start classes in June, right after school gets out. I am very excited, but the scope of what I'll be taking on is pretty overwhelming. I'm currently trying to do a little academic reading each evening to get myself back into the mode of studying on a regular basis. It's good to know that my colleagues, friends, and the folks who run this doctorate program all have faith that I can do this. Now I'll just have to find the faith in myself!!

Field of Dreams

March is here, the weather is turning warmer, we've set the clocks forward an hour - it's nearly time for BASEBALL!

I love the beginning of the season. Every team has the same record, most of the players are healthy and rested, and it seems like anything is possible. 162 games is plenty of time to climb to the top of the division and stay there.

Maybe Rickey making it into the Hall will bring luck and Oakland will make it to the playoffs this year, with solid veterans like Eric Chavez and Mark Ellis, the return of prodigal son/steroid junkie Jason Giambi, and the addition of aging star Nomar Garciaparra.

Meg, Susan, and I will be getting in on the preseason action with a trip to Phoenix next weekend to watch the A's in Cactus League play. Thanks Jodi for hosting us! It's been, I think, 12 years since my last spring training trip. I'm so excited for this sneak preview of the season.

And I'm thrilled that the A's will be coming to San Diego in June to play the Padres - for the second time in the past three years! I already got my tickets to all three games and will be there cheering for my team. Go green!

Oh Brother!

With my Sunday paper this week, I received a pack of bright yellow door tags, similar to the ones that FedEx leaves behind when you're not home to sign for an important package. Only these door tags are not from FedEx, they're from the Water Authority, and they are big, yellow, and totally obnoxious.

I am supposed to hang these on the doors of my neighbors when I notice they are wasting water. In theory, I should check one of the following boxes:

• Your sprinklers are watering the pavement
• Your sprinklers were on during the rain
• You have a broken sprinkler
• Your sprinklers are on every day
• Your sprinklers are on during the day

Each of these misdeeds then has further explanation about how the offender can reduce water usage with a little fix-it tip.

As I often say in my blog - don't get me wrong! I'm not opposed to water conservation in this arid metropolis known as San Diego. But I have a real problem with this "Big Brother"-style request. I don't want to go around hanging tags on my neighbors' doors, nor would I want someone to do this to me.

I thought about this long and hard, because at first I wasn't really sure why the yellow water tags bothered me so much. I mean, if I saw someone beating on his or her child or witnessed a car crash, I would try to intervene as best I could. So why wouldn't I want to come to the rescue of our water??

I finally came to the conclusion that it's the anonymity that seems so creepy and borderline Orwellian. If I have neighbors who are pouring hundreds of gallons of water down the sewer, I would hope I have the backbone to go up to them and politely ask if they've noticed that they have a broken sprinkler head!

I considered anonymously mailing the tags back to the Water Authority along with a note recommending where they shove 'em. But instead, I took the environmentally conscious route - I recycled them.