I've succumbed

I was late on jumping on the Harry Potter bandwagon, which is probably a good thing since I only starved for the last four books. I can't imagine how people waited as patiently as they did if they started at the beginning.






I started getting wind of the Twilight series a year or so ago from students wanting to share their latest find with their favorite English teacher. I admit I blew them off since YA isn't my cup of tea. Then my co-workers started talking and then friends started talking. I put it on "the list" of books I needed to read, but the line is long and I figured I would get to it in order.


After four straight co-worker demands, countless slack jawed stares from disappointed students, a nod from Perez Hilton, and a partridge in a pear tree I went to the school library last Tuesday and checked out Twilight. I wasn't eager to start reading since I was prepping for classes, so the poor book bounced around in my school bag for the week. Then my friend Katy blogged about starting to read the book and I decided to make the plunge--if she was going to force herself to do it, then I would too.


Last night I ignored the stack of essays shrieking my name and picked up the damn book. I went to bed 130+ pages in to it, which isn't saying much since I read fast, but says enough since it was a school night. So far, I have read 230 more...yes, while I was at school. Let me explain: I am a horrible teacher who rearranged the lesson for a couple classes to read a book. Good thing I am an English teacher, huh? Actually, I was aiming to grade the essays that I ignored last night, but... No excuses.


I checked out the second book since I know I will finish the first tonight. I don't know what will happen if I finish that one this weekend. Yes, I do, I will go buy the third. I will buy all of them eventually, since books I love are like my children and deserve a place in my home.

If I can do it, you can do it. The good news is the series is finished, so you can read all the books in a row. The other good news is that they are making movies of the series, the first one coming in December. (I will be organizing a movie night if you want to go...so far, part of one.)


It isn't great writing, but the characters are truly interesting. This is seriously the best character development I have read since The Time Traveller's Wife (another must read). I almost want to stop reading now because I am afraid for what will happen. I have had my heart broken by the HP series, I don't know if I can handle any more carnage. But, then again, they are vampires.

Gross

The boys are sick, and I mean Sick. B didn't keep much down Friday thru Sunday morning. Now he has some type of cold or it could be allergies. Who knows? Jeff has some type of stomach flu or food poisoning. Who knows? I wasn't feeling well all day Sunday, but it could have been the weather or my exhaustion.

Either way it goes, B is being kept at my parent's house tonight so I can take care of Jeff. Now I have this ominous feeling that anything I touch in the house could make me ill. Of all the times to get sick, the first week of school with the kiddos is definitely not a good one.

Bleh.

Playing hooky

I went back to school today, but I would rather not talk about that. Instead, I would like to share my Monday. Jeff took the day off to hang out with his favorite wife and child. We just got back from Oregon the day before so we were still in that post vay-cay fog and I was trying to forget I had to go to work the next day. Jeff and I are not very spontaneous, so planning a day out is horrible. We always have good ideas when we aren't planning a day out. I swear I should come up with a journal of day trips, family activities, date-nights, etc. since we just end up going to Old Chicago and talk about how boring we are. Anyway, if you ever stumble across some cheap, fun outing, I will add it to the list of things we would like to do.

We decided to try a restaurant that has Jeff's name written all over it: Chicago Hamburger Company. It specializes in hot dogs and hamburgers in, you guessed it, Chicago style. Or, as Jeff says, the way it should be.
Gotta love a place with no high chairs.
B's sexy face.
Overwhelmed by the possibilities.
This place is in Phoenix, 40th and Indian School to be exact, so we wanted to do something else in that area. We almost went to the Science Center and then the Heard Museum, but it didn't seem worth it with Jeff's knee and B being so young. So after lunch we looked for a park on the GPS. As it is 105 degrees with an abundance of humidity, the park wasn't packed. We pulled up at the same time another young couple with a toddler did. We chit-chatted for awhile with Valentino and Dominque (not kidding), and admired their son, Atreyu (again, not kidding), who is a month older than B.



I think we were only there for fifteen minutes before the sweat factor was out of control. We decided to head home since B was getting grumpy.
Really grumpy: nasty face
Totally grumpy: ignoring me
He fell asleep for a bit, check out the hair
I know this isn't a super exciting post, but I don't think you understand how dedicated Jeff is to his job. It meant a lot for him to take the day off, especially after missing time to go Oregon. Even more so since he knew that I was struggling with going back to school and our day out really took my mind of things.

Flamily reunion in Oregon*

*I know family is spelled wrong, it is an inside joke. Warning: LOTS of pic.

Jeff, Bradley, and I took our one and only family vacation this weekend. We went to Oregon for a semi-formed family reunion. We were missing half the clan, but it was still a lot of fun. Lots of pictures (it's what the Japanese do best), tons of food (Jeff I still need that Mexican salad recipe), and mucho laughs.

Jeff, B, my parents, and I arrived on Friday and did a bit of sightseeing before heading over to cousin Traci's house for a BBQ. Since most of our family is out of state, B hasn't met everyone. He was able meet some new cousins and catch up with some that he met last summer when we traveld to Portland. He had fun with Hannah, who is 15 months older than him.

(trying to be tall)

B and Nanners

B and Hannah!

The next day we went to the farmer's market in Lake Oswego. I hate that we don't have a fm close to us. The veggies were so fresh and cheap! There were also beautiful flowers, fresh donuts, and great people watching.


Keiko and Dad

Eating donuts

In Lake Oswego, leaving the farmer's market

Messing with street art

After that we headed over to the Westover house to gorge ourselves on food. As a native Arizonan I am a Mexican food snob. I am highly skeptical of attempts made by those residing outside of the Southwest. Jeff W. proved me wrong in a big way. I am still drooling over his guacamole. The rest of the Hasebe family (who could make it) showed up. All the aunts and uncles (AKA the inner circle) made it and a few more cousins. Bradley was totally spoiled with toys, books, and clothes by his Auntie Lois, Yudman cousins, and Westover cousins. After lunch we visited, lounged, and napped...basically waiting for the next meal.




Jeff, Dad, and Uncle Norman

One of the coolest people ever...Jenna!

Crazy cousin Julie

And we took tons of pictures. It was pretty absurd, though standard.

Bad light, but good times

Just after waking up from a nap (B, not Jeff)

He hates grass

Auntie Lois, Hannah, Traci, and B

Bradley and Brandon...the coolest big boy cousin

Then the "formal" pictures.

Part of the "flamily"


The baby picture


The inner circle

My pictures might not be very pro, but we were very lucky to have Jenna take some pictures of us. I can't wait to see them! We did some traditional shots, but she also did some avant garde pictures, too. Jeff loved those because he didn't have to smile. More to come on that photo shoot.

Unfortunately, we had to leave early the next morning, so the fun ended there. We had such a wonderful time, from the weather to the company, it could not have gone better. Like I needed another reason to be depressed about starting school in a couple of days... There is nothing like being in 70-degree weather, with some of my favorite people, to really drive home the dread and doom. Need proof?


What you don't see is the sheen of sweat covering him.

When we got to our car, it was over a 100-degrees.

We can't wait to go back and visit. We are actually thinking of taking another trip to Portland and then driving up to Seattle. Fingers crossed...

08/08/08 is just another day

People close to me are rolling their eyes because they have heard me rant about why I am boycotting the Olympics. Whatev, it's my blog, right? Here is another reason why I am ignoring NBC starting August 8th. Basically, amongst other promises China made when they bid for the Olympics, they said they would not censor the Internet for foreign journalists. As they did with other promises, they reneged. Shocker.

I know, I know. If I was serious about my disdain I wouldn't buy Chinese products. I tried to shop like that once. It is nearly impossible. So, I've decided to ignore China's grand moment in the spotlight. Too bad, because there are some really talented atheletes I would love to watch.

Aaaahhhhhh!!!!

A beautiful day in the neighborhood

Growing up I loved me some Sesame Street and Wallace & Ladmo, but above those I adored Mr. Rogers. My mom said it was the only half hour I was totally quiet. Imagine that! I read this article today, and wanted to share it. I am cutting and pasting which is probably a blogging no-no, but I think it is important to share. The entire article elaborates on each point.

15 reasons Mr. Rogers was best neighbor ever
1. Even Koko the Gorilla loved him.
2. He made thieves think twice. (definitely read the article for this one)
3. He watched his figure to the pound.
4. He saved both public television and the VCR.
5. He might have been the most tolerant American ever.
6. He was genuinely curious about others.
7. He was color-blind.
9. He got into TV because he hated TV.
10. He was an Ivy League dropout.
11. He composed all the songs on the show, and over 200 tunes.
12. He was a perfectionist, and disliked ad libbing.
13. Michael Keaton got his start on the show as an assistant.
14. Several characters on the show are named for his family.
15. The sweaters. Every one of the cardigans he wore on the show had been hand-knit by his mother.

Free Batman

I keep reading all the stories about Christian Bale beating up his mom and sister, but I don't buy it. In my gut I think Senor Batman is not guilty. I read this article today and from my perspective it looks like someone was having a bad day and mom and sis were being pushy bitches and everyone took things a little too far.



Then I read the article a bit closer and saw this!

Jenny – who works as a part-time clown in Bournemouth – is also believed to have aggravated the star after making insulting comments about wife Sandra 'Sibi' Blazic.

The sister is a clown, which explains everything. Clowns=freaks, psychos, wackos, basically people asking to get beat down. For instance, John Wayne Gacy, the infamous serial killer was a clown.

Stop blaming my coulrophobia (clown phobia) or my intense crush on Christian Bale for my biased attitude. Don't you remember at some point in your life, in the midst of a family fight, thinking to yourself, "I wish I was just in a normal family?"

Making new friends

My adorable little B and I had the bestest day ever! We went to hang out with Renee and her super cute kiddos, Lennon and Harrison, at her totally cute house and caught up on everything that has happened in our super cool lives!!

Okay... I can't do it anymore. That small effort has me winded.

Here is the background info: Renee and I went to junior high and high school together. We spent six years in such close proximity, yet we didn't realize how cool the other was--our bad. Little did we know we were tortured by the same mean girls, have the same sense of humor, enjoy many of the same friends, and have realistic perspectives on parenting. We didn't get this far today, but I am willing to bet we are both equally in to the same type of music and literature. Through the wonderful world of the Internet (thanks Al Gore), we realized the error of our ways and had a get-together today. Over twelve years of circling the same places and people, and we finally had a conversation.

I think "a conversation" is putting it lightly...therapy would be a better way of putting it. The ears of Mesa mean girls were ringing today. Going in to details would not be appropriate, but in summary: everyone made someone's life a miserable hell and some people made everyone's lives a miserable hell (does that sound right?). Also, Erin Holliday is the nicest person ever. (Erin, if you want an explanation you have to go to lunch with Renee and I when you get back from Spain.)

This is definitely not the last time Renee and I will be getting together. This will provide Bradley many more opportunities to torture Lennon by stealing her toys. It will also save us money on diapers since Bradley and Harrison went hours without a fresh butt. Plus, we might actually get to the music and literature part, but I doubt it since talking about people is so much more entertaining.



BTW, the hokey intro to this blog is brought to you today by Seriously, So Blessed, recommended by Renee. If you read enough blogs, I'm sure this fictitious blog resembles an ex-classmate or a co-worker's. It is one of the most hysterical things I have read in a long time. Read it with an adult diaper on.

My home and my house

Okay, so the title might be a bit bizarre, but bear with me for a sec. I love our home. We bought our home almost four years ago, and just like every first time homebuyer, we went thru a lot to get it. It took six months longer to build than they promised, we were kept out of the loop with costs/dates/plans, and we became such a thorn in the builder's side were given the direct phone number for the regional VP. We were so lucky to purchase our home before the market went crazy. We would never be able to afford our home today if we went to buy it and since we were smart and firm enough we continue to afford it because we didn't bow to the pressure of the mortgage company who tried in vain to sign us to an ARM. You would not recognize this house from the inside if you saw it when we first moved in. It is crazy to think what we have done in four short years.





This house was never going to be our "forever home"--eventhough after everything it took to get in, I swore we wouldn't leave until it was paid off. The neighborhood is nice enough, but we don't like the school system and we don't know a lot of our neighbors since they are renters. A couple years back Jeff and I narrowed down where we wanted to live. Since we are not leaving Arizona, or Mesa for that matter, we knew our next house would be in northwest Mesa. I grew up there and I have always loved how the there are no cookie-cutter neighborhoods, there is lots of character, and the homes have retained value (at least where we would look). Jeff really likes the homes around Stapley and Brown because of the huge lots and good sized homes. I really like the homes in the Evergreen Historical District (Center and University).

Every so often I will mess around and look at houses for sale in our desired zip codes. The other day I found my house. It's pretty much the house I have always wanted to move in to, get old and fatter with Jeff (he would stay skinny, that jerk), and our grandkids would visit. I mortified Jeff by even going as far as emailing our realtor, who has luckily (or not) ignored my rantings.



I hate this market right now. Technically, we would make money off this house if we sold it since we bought before everything went BOOM. But we would not make all the money back we could make if we (really, I) were more patient. But but I doubt we could afford this house with the market back to normal. Oh, why can't Oprah be my BFF right now? Why can't Magic 8 Balls really work?