What a Difference Between Acrylic and Pastel Paints!

Pastel Version #1

 So about 2 1/2 years ago, I decided to leave my world of graphite pencil drawings and dabble in paints. I was ready for color but afraid to go all the way. I figured I would not have a clue as to what to do with a brush, so I decided pastel paints would be a good happy medium. I could still use my fingers because the painter really draws on the paint and then smudges it with tools or finger (the oils in my skin seemed to mix with it well and spread it better). I had a great time with pastel. I painted a silhouette of a girl rocking out to music for my friend Brianne. I painted a self-portrait during the summer when I had no one but myself to paint some days, and I painted a tree and then a picture of Mike and I the summer I was pregnant with Kanan.

acrylic version #2

But things soon changed when I painted a picture of a moon and a sun inspired by a story written by someone dear to me. I painted it in one night and I was so proud of it. But then after a few days, the colors seemed to fade and I yearned for something bolder and more detailed. I was ready for acrylics. So I when off and did it. I headed to the supply shop and bought everything I needed including canvas. I set out to duplicate that sun and moon painting but make it bolder and more detailed. Well I did. It is my first acrylic painting so for you professionals out there, don’t laugh. But I’m happy with the changes and want to show everyone the difference between the two mediums. I can get so many more layers of detail with the acrylic paint.

 

 

Baby Bird

While Kanan and I enjoyed the warm evening at dusk playing in the sandbox, a baby bird fell out of its nest and landed in the grass next to us. Kanan pointed it out to me right away– “Whats that Mama? Whats that?” he cried. And I turned and saw it. It hopped precariously along the grass, crying out for its Mama. Even Kanan noticed and said, “Is crying Mama” so empathetically. We followed it along. Kanan asked if he could touch it “nice” and I explained to him that we couldn’t touch it or its parents would reject it. As dusk grew dimmer, we videotaped the parents watching over the bird and swooping down to try and rescue it. I had to erase most of that footage to make room for the footage I was hoping to catch of the actual rescue, but unfortunately, my batteries died before I could get there. Enjoy picture and the couple of videos. 🙂

Closeup of baby bird in action and Kanan’s curiosity.

Me trying to capture the bird’s parents rescue it…never got it. And the next day bird was still there! I hope it survives all alone. 😦

Wild Animal Park Adventures

Kanan and I wanted to leave yesterday and get to the Wild Animal Park early, but every imaginable happened to get us a late start. First, just getting everything packed and ready to go for a couple of days (we had originally planned to head up to Palm Springs afterward to visit my cousin for a couple of days), then I realized I had yet finished my neighbor’s laundry which I offered to do to help her busy life out, then I had to deliver it, then we got half way there and realized I left the tickets at home. When we did finally get close, my GPS directed me to the wrong address and I had to drive around a while before I found it.

When we did arrive, it was already 11:30  and it was packed. I made the mistake of not bringing my stroller and there was a line down to the street just to get in. To top it all off, it was hot! Needless to say, our number one priority—the butterfly jungle was unattainable because the line just to see that exhibit was an hour and a half long. So Kanan and I did have a good time yesterday, but it wasn’t exactly what we had planned. We went to the petting zoo and Kanan loved the deer, gazelles, and antelope. We saw the meer cats and some exotic birds. And we had a nice lunch. But it was time to go home around 1 so I could get Kanan down for a nap. We decided we would come back the following day to make up for our lost time. And we did.

Today was awesome! We got to the park at 9am and got front row parking. The weather was cool. There were no lines. I brought a stroller, snacks, and coffee for me. Kanan was actually really easy. He stayed in his stroller most of the time. He loved the butterflies as did I. They were so many of them and they were so large and colorful. A couple of them even landed on Kanan’s cheek much to his disapproval but it was a sight.

We were not only able to see more animals, but we just enjoyed leisurely strolling through park and listening to the animals and smelling the flowers—lots of Jasmine and Lavender! Kanan loved the monkeys. He said they were “singing” when they cried out their crazy noises. He picked out a green snake to have painted on his face and actually sat still enough to get it done. He kept showing off to all the kids he passed by.

When we got home, he ran around happily and snuggled up to me for kisses and love. Yes, I loved today. I love my son. I love that I can spend days like this with him when I’m on vacation. And I must say, as much as I hope I find a teaching job for the following school year, if I don’t, I definitely won’t mind the extra time I will get to spend with my son—catching up on all the moments like this I have missed because I was working.

Lucidity as Clear as Glass

How do I get it? I’m telling you right now, I have it right now. I am experiencing the cleanest, most natural high of my life right now.

How to Feel Amazing

1. Take a two hour nap, on the couch with the blinds open so the sun shines through slightly onto you.

2. Wake up slowly

3. Drink a tall glass of “Greens First” by Doctors for Nutrition.

4. Wait about 5 minutes

5. Feel Amazing!

I’m telling you right now, the combination is key. I drink “Greens First” a few times a week, and most of the time, I don’t have time to take it after a 2 hour nap. I take it running out the door, I take it while cooking my dinner. I feel really good and energized when I do, and on that alone, I recommend the product, but it is still not to this capacity. Not with this clarity. And I take a two hour nap every Saturday afternoon. It is a ritual I have been practicing since I’ve had Kanan. And sometimes I wake up feeling good. Sometimes I wake up feeling groggy, but wake up after a while and do feel good. But not to this capacity. Not with this clarity. 🙂

Colors are more vibrant. I breathe in deeper and less shallow. My thoughts come quickly and clearly not fidgety like after a cup of coffee. I feel strong. I feel happy. I feel ready for the rest of the day! After today, I am thinking this might be a perfect replacement for a morning coffee.

I’ve had many green supplemental drinks and nothing beats this one. It tastes really good (sweet and minty)! It has less calories. It is packed with fruits and vegetables, antioxidants, live flora, and fiber. I don’t sell it, but I totally would if I had the time and the resources. 🙂 Google it; research it; buy it; see for yourself.

My Girl Friends

When I was a little girl living in Mountain Home, Idaho, I had a little girlfriend named Angelica. She was Native American and her mom still followed many of the customs of her tribe. Other than that I have no memory of her. I have only a grainy picture or two of us out on the grass or the driveway layered in jackets to and scarves to protect us from the cold—next to a 1979 Ford Pinto.   My mom said that when we moved to California, I was very sad to have lost her. I’m sorry we never kept in touch. I don’t know what she looks like or where she lives or what ever happend to her. But she was my first friend. And I will always remember her because of that. Over the next few years after that, I continued to develop short bursts of friendships that lasted only as long as I lived where I lived. I remember two sisters named Jessica and something else who I played She-ra with and who taught me how to call for the time on the telephone. I remember Devin from Kindergarten who lived in a huge house on Euclid Avenue and had a brother who loved Michael Jackson. I remember a friend with two different colored eyes in my third grade class at Valencia Elementary. And then I met Erika. After I had moved to Fontana with my mom’s new husband, I met her. She was my best friend through sixth grade. I’ve written about her before, so some may know her story. All my other freinds from that time period pale in comparison to my memories of her. But all of that seemed to change after I moved to Rancho Cucamonga. Moving during the sixth grade is a tough time for an adolecent. The girls at Carnelian Elementary were mean to me, no one understood me or appreciated me again like that until high school. And through the drama and emotions of high school, my friendships grew and fell apart with various girls, save just a couple who endured until now—I remember Melanie, Bekah, Jessica, Kelly, Lisa, and Laurel the most. They took turns being some of my closest friends during those years.

Now everyone the told me that the friends I made in college would be the ones that would last my lifetime. That isn’t really the case for me. I made many friends in college and I only keep in contact with a couple—and even those are seldom. Brianne would be the only good freind I made in college, but really I developed my freindship with her at work. We waited tables together at Dalton’s Roadhouse even though we technically met eachother before a chemistry class when I bummed a cigarette off of her. But and I have been friends since and I think we are coming on to a 10 year anniversary here soon.

And so this leads me to a point here, as long winded as my introduction may be. For the longest time over the last 9 years, Brianne and my two good friends from high school Lisa and Bekah have been the only real friends I have had. And for being such real friends, there is no way we have spent as much time together as we should have. Much of it has been my fault because up until a little over a year ago—I have put my boyfriends first in my life. When I dated Matt Rybak in my earlier college years, I spent most of my time with him and his friends. Then when I met Mike, I switched the free time to him. So through that relationship, I developed casual relationships with his friends while maintaining just enough contact with my three good friends to keep those alive. Such a pathetic friend I was. And so needless to say, when my relationship with Mike proved to be over, I knew I would have to approach my life differently and I prayed to God for help in the process. Much was a part of this makeover. And my friendships were just one of the many changes.

Well the Lord answers prayers so wonderfully. It has been one year now since Mike and I have broken up and I have made and nurtured and developed some amazing friendships! So me are on fire and I have some more in the earlystages still, but I want to pay tribute to God of course, but also to the wonderful ladies in my life.

First, there is always Lisa. She and I have been through so much together in our lives, and while she lives in Upland with her own family, I think of her often and love her dearly. She inspires me with her intense passion for her husband, her ability to work ridiculously hard to contribute to the family income, and her  judgment free respect for me even when I haven’t deserved it. She knows the girl inside me who I have tried to forget for years. She loves that girl. And she loves me. How could I ever be so blessed to have a friend like her?

Then there is Bekah. Another friend from school and someone I respect and love greatly. She gets classier and classier as she gets older. She can do 5 things at once, look gorgeous as she does it, and has endured some of the biggest trials motherhood could have. She is sensitive like me and I understand for it, as she does me. I feel safe when I am in her home and I know without a doubt that she will one of my closest friends for the rest of my life.

Of course there is Brianne. She knows some of my biggest weaknesses and loves me anyway. She has not been afraid to call me on my selfishness when I have definitely deserved it, and has taught me how to be a better woman. She has been a model of  how to be single and confident and loving. And when she met the love of her life, I couldn’t have been happier for her.

Now I have my friend Kelley—a woman who showed me Christ’s love one day with a Starbucks and check to help me out during a really financially hard time for me. A woman who invited me to church with her one day. And a woman who helped lead me back to God. She will earn a beautiful crown in heaven for her selflessness. She is my friend and a mentor. She is a model of a the kind of mother and wife I hope to be one day.

Then there is Lael. She came into my life through the internet. How odd to make a friend in an online education class last year and find out that not only is she my age, is an English teacher, and has the exact same personality as me, but she also was seeking a relationship with Jesus and rekindled her relationship with him at the same time I was rekindling mine. And she also had to end a relationship that was not giving glory to her Lord. Since then we see each other often and I don’t know how I could have made it though the last year without her ear and her understanding.

Finally, there is my other Kelley. What a suprise to meet such an amazing woman across the street from me. She is strong, passionate, artistic, and caring. She too is a Christian. She too has a 2-year-old toddler. And she too has a colorful past. She teaches me about painting, motherhood, and the continued quest of women to better themselves. I am so thankful to have her in my life.

I have so many other girlfriends who I am getting to know and hope to know more and to spend more time with, honestly, you wouldn’t be on this list if I didn’t want to spend more time with you and write a tribute to you as well–friends from work like Bethany, Colleen, Merideth, Chandra, Nancy, Sheryl, Freda, and Rachel. Friends from church like Jenn, Julie, Claire, and Amy. All such amazing women and all who I am equally thankful to know even if we don’t spend a lot of time with eachother.

Wine Tasting

If you count Boones Farm and Wild Vines, then I have started dabbling in the wines when I was 16. But anyone who really knows wine, knows that can’t count. With that, I officially started drinking wine when I was 20 years old and discovered Merlot at my first “sophisticated” party in college. My relationship with Merlot lasted about 5 years until I discovered Cabernet Sauvignon. It tasted fruitier, dryer, less oakey, and more alcoholic.   So since then, that has been my default wine. Now don’t get me wrong, I have tried many wines. I’ve tried many whites and many reds but it is difficult to determine my preference for one or another without tasting them one after the other and comparing. So one would wonder why I didn’t go wine tasting to learn more about the fine drink, but life just hasn’t worked that way for me. So it was not until 9 years into my love for wine as of last Friday that  I was able to finally compare.

My good friend Kelley turned 40 and she took her VIP crew (that included me, yipeey!) on a limo-driven, wine tasting adventure through Temecula. We all are teachers funny enough and used our “personal business” leave to take off for the day. We got to sleep in, then meet at Kelley’s for bagels with creme cheese, mimosas and bloody mary’s, and chick chat. Then our very young limo driver showed up and we were off. We went to Callaways, Longfellows, and another one whose name I don’t remember….hmmm.

But what I do know is that I determined these three things over the course of the day:

1.  I pretty much don’t like most white wines. Especially if they are sweet or oakey which pretty much leaves them all out. The only one I remember liking was the Sauvingnon Blanc.
2.  I love, Love, LOVE Zinfindale!
3.  I think it would be fabulous to be married in vineyard. In the fall would be even better. 🙂

I learned these two things:

1. Cabernet Sauvignon is a natural hybrid between Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Pretty fitting for me given my taste in white wine.
2. I do actually have the courage enough to give my phone number to tall, good looking, Christian, wine connoisseurs like the 27 year old Jared I met at winery #2.  (That is indeed a first for me. I always wait to be asked…haha).

On our way home, we danced in the car to various songs from the last 30 something years. Hilarious time. Bethany cracks me up the most. Between the dancing, the jacuzzi, and the lost purse—twas an adventure for sure.

So—to anyone who has not gone wine tasting, I do recommend it. I had a great time and would love to do it for my 30th, but hopefully then I will the love of my life on my arm—which in that case would have to make the trip co-ed.

Kanan Can Memorize Lyrics!

Here is a cute video as proof. He is singing (with Mom’s help, so excuse my annoying Mommy singing voice) “Are You Sleeping Brother John.” And in the car today, there was a song on the radio called “Good Morning Planetariuim” by Falling Up and Kanan actually sang one of the words at the right part! 🙂 I am so proud. 🙂

Kanan Turns Two!

His birthday party was awesome. Thank you so much to everyone who came and for those who couldn’t come, we missed you! Kanan loved all of his friends, jumping on the jumper, playing in the park, hitting the pinata, and of course eating his cake. He loves all of his presents too. You all spoiled him! 🙂 Thank you again, so much. I wish I could have talked more with everyone who came, but Kanan did seem to have a bad case of Mamitas on his birthday so he kept me busy. I’ve posted some pictures on my Flickr account so check it out to the right.

I heard a lot of guests commented on how divine the cake was, which is exciting because my good friend Rebekah Gusman made it. If you ever want to order cakes, cupcakes, or entrees (she is a personal chef !) from her, she offers great prices and delicious meals. As a matter of fact, when I had Kanan, she made me almost two weeks worth of amazing meals, which she she packaged and gave to me to keep in the freezer. So after having a c-section, I just had to pop the meal in the oven (she provided the temps and times too). This was such a great help and I’ll never forget her for it.  You can find her at www.cravepcs.com.

 Kanan said the cake was “yummy” and has been saying even more since then. He has developed in language and in growth since two weeks ago when I bragged about him. Within the last two weeks, he can say “mano” (animal), “oh man!”, “oh dude,” “Hailey,” “Nono” (for his friend Nolan), “Rara” (Grandma), and “C-Duck” (for his Uncle C-dog, real name Chris).  He is also starting to play a little make believe. He excitedly fed juice to his Manny doll given to him on his birthday by his Great Aunt Kathleen and Uncle Bernie. He also has these miniature father, mother, and child that he sets up and puts in his trucks. He also has them hug and kiss all the time. He calls them “Mama” “Dada” and “baby” too, so I was a little intrigued as to why he puts “Mama” in the back of the truck, while “Dada” and “baby” get to ride in the driver and passenger seats. Hmmmmmm 😛 Well, regardless, it is so cute. Especially since he hasn’t taken Mike’s and my seperation in a negative way or even shown it in his reinactment of a family with his little dolls (except for putting Mama in the back of the truck part I mean) . That makes me happy.

It is crazy to believe that a year ago my little boy who weighs now about 31 pounds was born. He is such a joy and with every milestone, he just gets better and better.

Random Things I learned Today….

I’ll start with the best and work my way to the worst. The best thing I learned today came to me via email. Remember my student Jonathan whose girlfriend up and left to Tijuana? Well he hasn’t been to class all week and I’ve been worried. But today, I opened up my email to find a message from him. It said the following: “Miss. This because I find Pricilla. You know how much I love her. So I not come back. Goodbye. Will miss you.” So the romance continues between my two students and I am so happy for him. However, the teacher/mother in me also hopes he goes back to school in Tijuana at least. I assume the novelity of their reunion will wear off after a while and the imminency of a needed education will begin to follow him. Pricilla’s family values education too, so I believe she will pressure Jonathan to go to school. So in the end, I believe this is good news. This news also helped soften the blow of the next news.

See, obviously given the fact that my student emailed me personally to let me know he will not be returning to school because he found his girlfriend in Tijuana, I have developed a good rapport with my students this year. Last year, I had that same type of rapport with my fifth period class but apparently not with my second period class. See this year, one of my students received a Valentine Gram from a previous student I had last year in my second period class. I teased my student and then told him I had his girlfriend last year and to ask her about me. I asked him today what she said. He said that she told him I was a good teacher but I was moody and I once ripped her project in half. Yikes! I don’t remember doing that? I only rip up tests if a student is caught cheating. I’m hoping that given he is learning English that something got lost in the translation, and it was a test that I ripped up because she was probably talking during the test. But to find out a student viewed me as “moody?” That is hard! I did have a rough first period last year so I wonder if my emotional state second period varied depending on what happened with my first period class. I sure hope so! I’m going to start paying closer attention to how I behave after a tough class this year and see if I notice a correlation. This year is more laid back because I have a break almost after each class—First period, teach; second period, break; third and fourth period block class, teach; lunch; fifth period, teach; sixth period, teach. But in case next year, I get a similar schedule as last year, I defintely want to prevent that from happening again. I’m not a moody person so it came as quite a shock.

But who knows, I may not have a class to teach next year. The final news I learned today is that district will have to lay off 88 staff members , 25 of which will be from the two high schools. So—if I do keep my job, it will by the hair of my chiny chin chin. I keep trying to remind myself that change, scary or not, brings color to life. I just hope the color isn’t black. So keep me in your thoughts or prayers please!

Kanan the Goofball