Inspiration

My wife is such an inspiration to me.



She is living her dreams right now. She's an author, artist, soon-to-be mommy, and teacher. Amazing. Just this week she had two (and a half) author visits to schools here on the Central Coast. Well--I am living my dream too, but not all of my dreams just yet.

One dream is to be an author (is that every English Teacher's dream?).

I am currently inspired to write again. I have been dragging my feet and my thoughts on this idea I've had for quite awhile. It's funny how one day you think of it and months later you finally have enough inspiration to write. At any rate, I've just started a book about something I know quite well: Teaching.

This won't be a "how-to" guide by any means, rather it will be a novel about an insane school with a colorful group of characters. The hard thing will be making the real things I have seen and heard sound believable. Honestly, the observations and anecdotal records I've acquired over the years sound like something right out of fiction--but I assure you they are real situations.

We'll see if it goes anywhere. At this point in time I am just content to have a strong idea.

Last night we watched "Julie and Julia" which always inspires me to chase after my dreams. Then again, all I need do to be inspired is look at my AMAZING wife and her career of awesomeness.



Alas, I'm still in love.

Smarties Kick

Sigh. I just read some of my students' essays. I am thankful for some students who happen to have something in between their ears. Hooray for smarts.

Tonight I felt Westly kick. While this is somewhat common, it was especially significant since I could physically distinguish his foot. Just another reminder that he is on the way. I can only hope and pray he will come out with something in between his ears. Hooray for doodles.

More to come this weekend...

The Bucket

About three months ago I started creating a "Bucket List". Two Sunday's ago I heard a sermon on these types of lists--though I think he said not to make them. I obviously was only reminded of the one I created and missed that part of the sermon as I started to muse away at the possibilities of this world. At any rate, here is the start of my list:

1. Take a drive down the East Coast (preferably in the fall)
2. Go to Washington DC
3. Sing at a Karaoke Bar (though I did this once, I want to do it again)
4. Go to Disneyworld
5. Go to the Oscars
6. Be in a movie
7. Go on a cruise
8. Publish a book/story
9. Sell a painting I've created
10. Hear Celine sing in person (laugh all you want)
11. Go to Paris
12. Go to a presidential/gubernatorial debate
13. Serve as a STInt missionary or work at an orphanage for a month
14. Ride in a hot-air balloon
15. Stay in a penthouse suite at a 5 star hotel
16. Win the Lottery (at least on one of those scratchers--I'm looking at a jackpot of $20 or more people)
17. Meet my grandkids, and hopefully my great-grandkids
18. Go to a filming of "The Tonight Show"
19. Record a CD
20. Attend a swanky New Year's Eve Party
21. Go to a Hollywood Premiere


Those are some of the things on my list... If you can help me accomplish these things let me know. :-)

Do you have any other ideas for me? And no, I will not jump out of a plane with or without a parachute.

Grumpy Grumptertons Strike AGAIN!

For some odd reason everyone I run into wants to spoil the joys of us being new parents. I walk around excited to set up my baby's room and they say, "Well you know, this will probably be the last time you have the energy to paint a room like that."

Or if I mention I am going to have a nice evening of dinner and a movie with my wife they'll say, "Don't get too use to that. Once your son comes you'll never go out again."

On Facebook I post that I'm so thankful that my buddies brought me over 1,000 diapers for Westly and what do people say... "Hope you didn't just get [this] size or [that] size."

Or even better was the oddly trollish woman in Target who looked as if she could care less for her little tot--who may I add was playing with a DVD--when the mom looked at Fauf and said, "Enjoy them while they're in the womb. After that it's just..." To this I walked away.

People, let me tell you. I am happy to be having a baby. I am excited. I know it will be more work. I know I'll never have "my own little life". But I'll still be me, still be happy and still be excited to have this little doodle in my life.

Needless to say I am so delighted by this time of life. I love planning. I love the anticipation. I love the expectancy. It is delightful.

So the next time you see me just say, "Hooray for babies!" and I'll cheer along with you!

Love is in the air...

I was thinking about things I love, which got me thinking about things I love but I don't like to admit. Well, those are Guilty Pleasures... Luckily (or unlucky as it may be) for you I am not bashful. So here it goes...

My Guilty Pleasures:

1. Flying Monkeys

I think they are absurd and delightful all in one breath. Elphie made me realize they were just tortured animals being tested on, and The Wizard of Oz slot machine made me realize they mean bonuses are coming your way.

2. The phrase "epic"

I know it is being overused, but I love saying things are epic. It just seems to fit my view of the world.

3. "Love Actually"

I am always a little embarassed about this one. Maybe it is all of the nudity in the film--but I love this movie. Every year I watch it and every year I tear up a little bit. Stop laughing at me, you know you cry with Emma Thompson stands by her bedside while Joanie Mitchel plays in the background. It is EPIC. There, I said it.

4. Googling Farah's Book

I love checking the stats on her book and seeing who is looking up her information. Yes, I am obsessed with my own wife's success, but at least it isn't "creepy"... I think...

5. Bubble Baths

I know. I gave Parker a really hard time about this one. And then we moved into this beautiful home and I fell in love with our Jacuzzi-sized tub. There is nothing better than reading a book while bubbled up to the neck. Sorry, people. It is the warm, bubbly truth.

What are your guilty pleasures... (To out my wife, she has a love for Bieber).

My life.

Getting ready for Baby Westly is a lot of fun, and a lot of work. We've been very busy taking care of his pre-world needs and entrance in the world needs. Here is a list of a few of the things we have done:




1. Birthing Classes--in preparation to push this little bugger out we have been learning about the options available to us during the 12-48 hour time period whilst my lovely lady is in labor (say that five times fast).




2. Your Baby Week by Week--once a week we crack open the book before going to bed and read about the insane development of our little doodle. He is always growing and changing and it has been fascinating to read about him.



3. Awkward Family Photos--we have viewed these photos regularly to ensure we don't fall into the trap of taking absurdly positioned photos. Nevertheless, we do plan on taking absurd pictures of our little scoundrel doing absurd things.




4. Decorating the Nursery--I spent a lot of time painting, Farah spent a good amount of time sewing and we have both spent a lot of time organizing all the loot (woot, woot). It is a lot of work, but well worth it.



5. Praying for this little Tike--he needs all the prayer he can get having parents like he will.

Sigh...

The blog bug has bitten me and I am infected. That’s right, here’s another blog for you, just 24 hours after my last post.

Since I spent yesterday complaining about the world, today I thought I’d spend time telling you some of the reasons why I love this town…

1. Katie Marzullo--She is Santa Maria’s Sweetheart and a delightful newscaster (sorry, Arturo, we like you a lot but Katie is delightful). From her chuckles at the end of her newscast to her serious tone during intense clips—she’s awesome.

2. Small but SPEEDY--If I want to get somewhere I need only drive 10 minutes. I like things being close together and quaint. Give me 10 minutes—not to mention, traffic free—and I’m happy!

3. Small Town Excitement—Oh yes, that’s right. The news showed up (Drat, not Katie Marzullo) to cover the opening of a drive up mailbox. We televise the Elk’s Rodeo. We discuss around the water coolers the implementation of new stop signs. Small town excitement is so much better than shoot outs and riots (though soon riot worthy news may spread as I heard there are strange high schoolers in colored suits lingering around the Oak Knoll’s Center).

4. The Bump—No. Not Farah’s (though that is one of my favorite things about this city right now), I’m talking about bumping into people you know. Farah use to think I was some sort of celebrity in this town only to discover I was anything but a local celeb. The great thing is you bump into people you know all over the town. You see your old gym teacher, your neighbor’s gardener, and gasp even Katie Marzulo. The Bump is a good thing.

5. BBQ’s—Oh baby. I am so thankful Westly is going to grow up in a world filled with BBQ aromas permeating the air on a Sunday morning. Life is good in the ‘hood when you can buy some Pilipino BBQ in front of Smart n Final.

6. Lastly, I love my town because we have our very own SONG! Yes, that's right I know it by heart and will willingly sing it for anyone who wishes to hear the beautiful ragtime styled theme.

Yes, I love my town.

Grrr...

I know I often tote around my favorite things (i.e. Greg's Kindle, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, my wife) and I give them lots of shout outs, but today I am filled with gripes.

Today as I sat in the staff lounge we attempted to "fix" our bell schedule (ugh, this is a lovely little chore) and when someone said, "Let's just get out of school at 2:50 and that will be fine." To this I thought, "I hate 2:50. That is an evil time."

It got me thinking. What else do I hate? Well, here are some things I like to call my anti-guilty pleasures.

1. Fast Food Windows-- Ugh. This is the Achilles' Heal of America! We fatten up in a hurry while the window slides open. Ugh. The next time I even think of using one I am going to park my car and buy groceries at a market and fight the evils of American obesity.

2. Chocolate Covered Pretzels-- yes they are chocolatey. Yes they are salty. But together I just think they are kinda blah. It probably all goes back to an old sermon I heard from this man about a chocolate covered pretzel stick... At any rate, I don't like this beloved treat.

3. The phrase, "There's an App for that."-- While I love the whole i-movement, I am sick of people telling me about all of the absurd apps that exist. I like the apps themselves but SHUT UP about the apps for goodness sake!

4. The Superbowl-- I try to enjoy this. I like the commercials. I like the pre-show. The half-time show. Heck, I even like the coin toss. But the actual show always stinks worse than shredded Green Bay cheese.

5. Camping-- why do I want to spend my weekend--my long deserved weekend-- sleeping on a rocky floor in freezing temperatures, only to discover when I have to pee I have to shoot it off into some bush. Nope. This is why God made 5-star hotels.

There it is. I'm back.

This blog is dedicated to those who have bugged me to no end to get my blog up and running again (Yes, that means YOU!)