A Guessing Game

Me: I am thinking of something that you can eat.
Child: Chicken! A Fish! Squid!

He was close; I was thinking of a pizza.

Klamath 2004

I just returned from, as Grant called it, a "special" trip down the Klamath River. The trip really had it all...laughter, tears, no privacy when using the bathroom...here is my story.

I would have to say that the drive there, the first night of camping and really the first morning before put-in was quite possibly the worst 24 hours of my life. We did not arrive at put-in in Happy Camp, CA until 2:45 a.m. on Friday night. Since it was so late (or early, depending on how you want to look at it) we did not set up tents. Instead we slept on the ground. I for one was really excited about this part of the trip seeing as it was freaking freezing outside and the rocky ground was my mattress. Brittaney and Ryan however, slept inside the warmth and protection of their Xterra. No bitterness here. Luckily, I was so tired that falling asleep was not a problem. I just had several layers of clothes on, a beanie pulled down over my face and a mummy bag wrapped 17 times around my body...but really, it was great. And just when you thought it could not get any worse...it does (yay!) I think it was 14 degrees when we woke up on Saturday morning. Yeah that sounds about right, give or take. (This is the point of the story where the tears that I mentioned earlier work their way in.)

Although this was a very low point in the trip for me, it proved to be the only one. Even thought I did freeze my ass off for several hours that morning, the fog burnt off, the sky turned blue and the trip was awesome from then until take-out. The Klamath is one of the most beautiful places I have traveled. I saw a deer, several frogs and even two bald eagles (a very cool experience).

I learned so much on this trip as well...like how to squat and pee without taking my pants completely off...or that I actully like to sleep in a mummy bag...that "back paddle" is my favorite of all the paddles...always beware of dogs jumping out of the boat...and my favorite lesson is, of course, to always breathe in the trough! (Erica!)

So many memories were made that I will never forget and I am so lucky to have friends like Brittaney and Ryan to take Grant and I on adventures like this one.

Thank you Brittaney for your wonderful organization skills and for being sensitive to Grant's fiber needs.
Thank you Ryan for changing the "left turn, left side back" command to "left turn, Heather back!"
Thank you Julie for the PBR.
Thank you Kyla for driving us and more importantly, staying awake!
Thank you Erica for being the only one who fell in the river.
Thank you Werner and Ayla for not barking at night.
And finally thank you groover...for taking away all the feelings of privacy I once held about all my bathroom habits and for sharing the bathroom habits of others with me as well.

Goodbye Klamath...see you next year!

What can I say...they crack me up!

(It is Wednesday during small group activity time. Three children are playing office.They are having a phone conversation. The mood is "urgent")

Child 1: Can I speak to Alexa please?
Child 2: She is not here.
Child 1: Where is she?
Child 2: Well...um...she lost her company. She doesn't know where she put it.
(Alexa whispers to Child 2) Tell her I'm having a date.
Child 2: She is having a date.
Child 1: Fine. Tell her that I will see her at the prom!

Little business men and women in the making!

Kids are random

Child: Are you a mom?
Me: No.
Child: Do you have a mom?
Me: Yes.
Child: Where?
Me: She is at my house.
Child: Oh...do you like hot Cheetos?
Me: What?
Child: What?

Oooo that feels good!

My attitude going into this "Professional Development" class that I am taking was very different from the attitudes I have had about school in the past. I went into it thinking, "I don't care about this class; as long as I pass I will be happy." But, I guess for those of you who know me, this of course was not the case. On the very first day I caught it...the school bug. It is a sickness that makes me act like the best is never good enough. I would not call it contagious...repulsive is probably a better word. What can I say, I LOVE to get A's. So this class that I was "not going to give a crap about" turned into almost every other class I have had all my life. But luckily, it was a fairly easy class and I thank God for the BA in child development that I have already earned. I finished my final tonight and it was very fulfilling. I felt like I really accomplished something and it felt really good.

Then I thought, how sad. I should, at least I think I should, be accomplishing something every day. I am teaching the young children of America, low income children no less. I am hopefully increasing the likelihood that they will do better in kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school and beyond. But because somebody doesn't give me an "A" at the end of each day I don't feel a sense of accomplishment?

I know it doesn't make sense. But even though I am fully aware, I am still praying that I receive no less than an A- on the final I just finished and will be handing in tomorrow. I want to know so badly that I am providing my professor with a self-addressed stamped envelope to get it back as soon as it is graded. And for my sake, and for the sake of my loved ones, it better be an "A"

I know, there is something seriously wrong with me.

The water was turned off at my school so I have been subbing at other sites that need help. In my experience, a new face in the classroom becomes the "instant favorite" of all the students in the class. Several of the kids immediately took a liking to me. One little boy, who happens to be an exact clone of my cousin Cameron, told me I was pretty at least three times today. Everyone wants me to sit with them, everyone wants to sit on my lap and it is all very cute.

Here is a very funny conversation I had with a little girl who had three flowers in her hands.

Child: Which flower do you want teacher?
Me: I get to pick one?
Child: Uh-huh.
Me: Ok, this one.
Child: Ok, but first you have to spend the night at my house.
Me: I can't have a flower unless I spend the night at your house?
Child: Uh-huh.
(Child pauses and stares at me)
Child: So when can you come?

The happiest I have ever been about a failing grade

I only scored a 4.7% on this test making me a geek "poser." Whatever, at least I am less geeky than Grant.

And now I'd like some answers, thanks

I seem to be questioning everything these days. Well, mainly my career choice. It is not that I don't like my job; I like many things about my job. I guess I have just come to realize that it is not what I want to do for the rest of my life. And I know that this isn't a bad thing because I know that no one is forcing me to be a preschool teacher forever. But what is frustrating me is that I don't know what else I want to do. Because the thing is I like to have everything all nice and planned for me. (Just ask Grant, he loves it, especially when it involves planning things like our future.) So basically what I am asking for is for someone to hand me a nice clean worksheet that indicates what job will make me the most happy. So if someone could just get on that, it would be great.

In other news...I got business cards (yeah!). But, my name was spelled wrong (damn). They actually asked if I would use them anyway. Ummm, no. Why you ask? Because I don't think that "Heather Anderson" really wants me to hand out invalid business cards.

Jack's post

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bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbppppppppppppppppppqjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj

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Heather: What does it say, Jack?
Jack: Um, it says "Jack."

Teacher Heather's to do list for March 11, 2004

1. Bang my knee on the puppet show theater.
2. Curse at the puppet show theater.
3. Drop the water table lid and hit my shin with it.
4. Curse at the water table lid.
5. Get flipped off by a child.
6. Realize, (with great relief) that the child is not actually flipping me off but showing me his new ring.
7. Have to choke down a tuna sandwich containing way too much mayo and eat anything but "vegetable soup" to set a good example for my students. Yum!
8. Go home.
9. Thank God that tomorrow is Friday.

Oh damn.

Valeria: Teacher, you have boobies?
Heather: I'm sorry, what? (stay calm)
Valeria: (pointing up at me) You have boobies, there?
Heather: (What do I do? What do I do?) Um, honey, I don't understand what you are asking me.
Valeria: Boobies, there, on your hand? (pointing to the Band-Aid on my finger)
Heather: A boo-boo! Yes! I have a BOO-BOO! You're right. (Thank God!)

How could I not love this song?

...it’s like flowers or ladybugs
pretty weeds or red beetles with dots

Currently it is my favorite song by Nada Surf and my favorite song overall right now. All in all I enjoyed both The Long Winters and Nada Surf last night at a great venue with even better company.

Funny stuff

I didn't hear what the child said that sparked the comment by my center director, but this was her response to whatever he said:

"No! You do not have any girlfriends! You cannot have a girlfriend until you get a job!"

Yeah...because that is something a four-year-old can relate to.

Where's my prize?

So, I went to the dentist the other day. And it was not until several days later, while I was brushing my teeth with my same old toothbrush, that I realized I didn't get a free one at the end of my visit. How annoying.

It's called "community college" these days

Actually, I think that is BS. I have always called it Junior College. It is the junior high of college really. After two years, you finally get settled and then you move on to bigger and better things. But as my good friend Allie pointed out, don't buy a car while you are attending your local JC! It is a trap, I tell you! You will never leave. And NEVER see a counselor before you have done your own research and figured out the only schedule that will get you out of that hell hole in two years. Otherwise you will be sitting in the counselor's office and he/she will say, "You know, you should not feel pressured to finish community college in just two years. Take your time. Take 11 units, hell take 8 units a semester. Get a full time job! Stick around for three, four years. Have you seen all the great deals on new and used cars?" If you find yourself in that situation, run.

Well, both Grant and I managed to avoid the Junior College trap and were out and on to CSUs in just two years. But, lucky me, I am back at Junior College in all its glory, taking three units of "Professional Development ." It's fine and I know I can handle it. I just don't want to. Furthermore, I think I had every student's "first day at the JC" nightmare of an experience, something I thought I would NEVER have to deal with again.

I went to pay for my parking permit. I took myself and my two dollars to the machine. I inserted both dollars after which the machine told me "Accepted-$1.00. Parking Permits $2.00" So I proceeded to run to my car to get my only other dollar. I retrieved it, and ran back. I quickly inserted the next dollar and the same message read on the machine's screen. So I saw the button that says cancel. Well actually it said "Cancel. No change given" Then what is the point of a cancel button! Why the hell else would you cancel your transaction!?!? Because you felt like donating two dollars to the machine and wanted nothing in return?

But at least I got there early, and it was the first day of school so I figured they wouldn't be ticketing. Luckily I was right. I decide to go to the bookstore. I found my $75.00 book, no used copies, a book that cost more than the class, and stood in line for 30 minutes to buy it.

But I got through it. Now I just have to "get through it" every day for the next 15 weeks. Fantastic.

Hey, thanks

Yesterday I get to work and say "Hi" to the morning custodian. He politely says "Hello" back to me and then tells me to wait. He goes into the supply closet and brings out a can of air freshener/deodorizer and hands it to me and says, "Here, I thought you could use this."

Yeah, I am going to go ahead and take this as a "I-was-cleaning-your-class-and-noticed-you-didn't-have-any" kind of message as opposed to a "Heather smells" or "Your-classroom-stinks-to-holy-heaven" kind of message.

On Thursday I was losing my patience. One of my kids would not stay in his seat during breakfast time. He kept finding every excuse to get out to not be in his chair. After about the 27th time of telling him to sit down on his bottom he said (as his raised his back side from his seat) "But teacher, I just want to tell you something." And I actually said to the child. "Well you know what? You can talk to me from your bottom!"

Huh? Wait, I mean, sit on your bottom, then talk from it. No! Sit down before your bottom talks! What?

I was a little confused. But then, later in the day I played with a little girl and she laughed. It was the first time I had heard her laugh in 6 months.

It was a good day.

To all my friends and family...

Merry Christmas and I love you!!

Ahhh...young minds.

I was sitting in the house area today with some kids. One little boy (Prince) was playing "the Dad." This is what he told me:

Prince(with a very frustrated tone):I have to go back to work.
Me: Why?
Prince: Because some guy at my work is going to get fired on him so I have to get the fire department and I have to go use the computer and send him the internet!
Me: Sounds like fun Dad, have a good day.
Prince:Goodbye daughter...don't worry.

Oh my god!

This test is really doing wonders for my self estem.


Which O.C. Character Are You? Find out @ She's Crafty

Huh?

I think I better take the test again.


Which O.C. Character Are You? Find out @ She's Crafty

Yeah!

Grant's home!

I'm touched

One of the moms at school is pregnant. She told me today that her son (my student) has a suggestion for the name of the baby, that name being, Teacher Heather.

I think I discovered the heaven of Fremont

Some of my closest friends and family members have been known to refer to me as a "food hound." You may think the dog reference would offend me, but not really; I actually understand it and I will admit that the nickname is accurate. I love fancy grocery stores. To me, Andronico's Market or Whole Foods is not just a trip to the store, it is an experience. When I worked in Dublin last summer I went to Whole Foods Market on my lunch break probably three days out of every week to just walk around. I guess it's just fun for me to see all the cuisine options that are out there. Fancy grocery stores are, well, my happy place.

I never thought I would feel that way about a Safeway. Today, I was proven wrong.

Today I experienced the brand new Safeway that just opened in Fremont. I started my shopping trip off with a Starbucks gingerbread latte. I took a few sips and then placed the coffee into the cup holder attached to my cart. (At this point I had already been greeted by at least three Safeway employees). I walked by the huge deli section and the olive bar. I then noticed the extensive wine selection they carried. Throughout the trip, several different employees offered to help me find what I was looking for. I walked into the produce section and noticed that I was standing on hardwood flooring. Nice touch. As I made my way to checkout, I noticed a manager who had just closed down his register. He noticed me and said, "Oh! Were you ready miss? Because I can help you here." He then unlatched the chain that blocks the aisle and let me push my cart in, and then re-latched the chain behind me. He opened the lane just for me! He offered me help to my car of course, which I declined, but as I was putting the bags into my car, another employee came up to me and took my cart back to the store for me. I was the best shopping trip I have ever been on. I think I am in love.

How much fun does this sound?!?!

Picture day with 40 three and four year olds on the day that Teacher Heather is suffering the flu symptoms one oftens feels the day after getting a flu shot. Good times, good times.

Can you do me a favor?

Today, be thankful for your life and everyone in it.

Also...

...if I haven't told you lately, I am thankful to have you in my life and I love you. Just wanted you to know.

Conversations with Jessie

Phone rings. I answer...

Heather: Hello.
Jessie: Hi.
Heather: Hi.
Jessie: I got a line.
Heather: In what?
Jessie: The movie.

Holy Christ. She has a line in a freakin' Spielberg movie. Holy Christ.

Jessie and I found a 50 dollar bill on the ground today. We were on a walk and happened to look down simultaneously and see the folded bill that had apparently dropped out of someone's pocket. It was folded in a way that you couldn't see how much it was worth. I guess we just both assumed that it was a 5 and maybe a 20 if we were lucky.

We both just stood there like we didn't know what to do with the money; like we were stealing it or something. We looked around, but there was no one. (And even if there was, what are you going to do? Yell out "Excuse me sir, did you drop this 50?")

It was at this point that I looked at the building behind me. Well, it is not so much a building as it is a church. Mission San Jose to be exact. The house of God, if you will. I looked at Jessie and said, "I don't think we can spend this money."

As much as I would like to have an extra 50 dollars and as much as Jessie probably needs an extra 50 dollars, I feel like finding that money had to be a sign. Plus, it was never my money to begin with. Money I did not think I had and was only lucky to stumble upon. We have decided to spend the money on toys for needy kids at Christmas time. I feel a little selfish only because I hope the saying "What goes around comes around" holds true.

New and exciting ways to teach kids about the birth of Jesus Christ

As I was browsing through a catalog that we received at work today, I stumbled upon this.

I don't know, to me, allowing young children to essentially whack the crap out of all the attendees at the stable in Bethlehem seems a tad sacrilegious to me.

Last night, Brittaney, Ryan and I went to a Halloween party. I had two beers and 1/3 of a Mike's hard Lemonade and by 10:30 I was tired and ready for bed. I think college graduation some how shut down my ability to party mode. I'm getting old...and boring. How crappy is that?

And to top it all off...

...I looked down at my watch today...it was still set on east coast time. Very sad.

I returned from Georgia last Sunday. It was a much-needed weekend with Grant and the first time I had seen him in 5 weeks. It was also my first time on a red-eye flight. My flight left at 10:10 pm and my luck placed me in the aisle seat in the row behind the exit row. This meant that not only did I have nothing to lean my head against, I also could not recline. Needless to say, I was not really able to sleep on the plane.

However, it was all worth it when I saw Grant waiting for me at baggage claim. I realized then how much I missed him.

The weather was perfect, all except for the last day when it poured. I saw the office, we drove around Decatur, went out for a very nice dinner, drove an hour to Athens and saw a show that completely blew me away and most importantly, was reminded how much fun I have hanging out with Grant. Seeing him for a few days was great, but it also felt like one big tease. It just made me miss him more. It was hard to leave Georgia, it was hard to come home, it was even hard to unpack. I hate feeling like this.

While waiting to go through security at Atlanta International, I noticed a display case to my left. In it were items that you could not pack in your carry-on bagage. One of these items: a chainsaw. All I have to say is, thank God I forgot mine at Grant's. That would have been embarassing.

Hmmmm...

A little girl came to school today with a shirt on that had a picture of an ice-cream truck scene. In the picture, a little boy and girl are purchasing some frozen treats from the ice cream man. Innocent enough. Then, written in big, bold, red letters it says "Creamy Fun."

Um, something tells me that this shirt was not made in America and something went wrong in the traslation.

There were four little four year olds standing around me today. The first one says, "Teacher Heather! I got a hair cut!" The second one says, "Teacher Heather! I got a hair cut too!" The third one says, "Teacher, one time I went to the hair cut store." The forth one says, "My mommy makes me soup with chicken noodles!"

I don't know what is funnier: the fact that her comment was completly random OR the fact that she called them "chicken noodles."

You are not going to believe this...

...but Barbra Streisand just called me and told me to vote no on the recall. Who would have ever thought that I would be so lucky to get a call from the Ms. Streisand herself. Today is my lucky day. Maybe she knew I was sick?

What the hell?

Sick for the second time in two weeks? Not fair.

Conversations with Jessie...

As many of you know, Jessie is a recent vegan turned carnivore but is still not sure what members of the animal family she will dine on or which animals belong in what family. Well, I mean....just see below.

Jessie:I just eat fish, chicken and ham. No red meat.
Heather:Jessie, pork is red meat.
Jessie:But they call it "the other white meat."
Bunky:Yeah, but it is still a mammal.
Jessie:Yeah, but so is chicken. Hello.

She's special.

Okay fine, I'll admit it...

..today, on my way home from work, I cried when I heard the Richard Marx hit, "Right Here Waiting For You" on the radio. I miss Grant.

My supervisor kept telling me that today was my lucky day. Maybe she is right. Things did seem to work out in my favor a lot today. Like for example, the pumpkin patch had an opening available on a Friday and portrait day is actually not October 24th when I am going to be gone, rather it is November 20th. (I know what you are thinking. I currently have very serious issues in my life) So like I said, today was my "lucky day."

Well, not really.

Today, one of my students asked me "Teacher can we listen to the ladybug song?" (The one that Grant wrote). I almost started to cry during circle time and had to say no.

So after work I decided to run around the lake to work off some stress and saddness. And on the way there I thought, this was something I always did with Grant. One thing we always did was walk to a small bridge before we began our run and look at the fish that were always in the water. I did just this. I walked to the bridge, I looked down in the water, and all the fish were gone. So I start my run and realize quickly that I am not going to make it anywhere close to all the way around. I started walking less than half way around the two mile path. I guess all my motivation is in Georgia.

Allie and Julianne...this is for you...

-Tidy Whities
-Running Shoes
-Beret
-Concertina
-Harmonica head piece
-Cymbals strapped to his knees

Priceless.

Conversations with Jessie...

....Jessie enters the house and I noticed that once again, she is wearing one of my shirts.

Jessie: "Hi. Nice shirt."(sarcasticaly)
Heather:"Hi...wait....what?"
Jessie:"Oh, I was just saying what you were about to say to me."

Cute Jess, real cute.

I have to admit that I like the feeling I get when I am recieving applause. I have been sining in choirs and/or solo for the past 8 years or so and I have yet to get tired of the sound of a happy and appreciative audience at the end of a performance. Now that I have graduated and gotten a real job, I am no longer singing in a choir. Sure, I sing at church on the Sundays that I am around and sometimes the congregation with clap for me at the end of mass, but it is a rarity. I mean, church really is not supposed to be a show. Latley I have been thinking...will I ever find myself on stage in a choir or soo performance again? At this point I don't know. Will I ever get that rush again?

Today I did. Granted it was not a performance hall, it was my classroom. And it was not an audience of hundreds, rather a handful of three and four-year-olds. But today, they gave me the best round of applause I have ever been given. During circle time, I brought out my special book that was given to me by my darling nephews, "I don't want to live on the moon." (the popular sesame street hit, performed by Ernie). After sining the song, the sound of all 12 sets of hands erupted into applause that was totally child initiated!! They really liked me! After the clapping died down one little boy said "Teacher Heather, you are so pretty when you sing for us." I had to hold back a tear or two.

Can I have the veggie burger...with ham please?

Email from Jessie: recived 8/15/03

Subject: guess what I did

(my first thought..."oh my god! She got a tattoo!")

Nope, not exactly....

" I ATE HAM!!! ahhhhhhh! oh so good! ooooooohhhhhhhhyea"
j

A rather interesting form of vegitarianism.

In other news...

The latest name I was called at school instead of "Teacher Heather" was "Teacher Venus." Kinda sexy huh!

Who again?

So I started my job and I am really enjoying it; I have no huge complaints to date. Well, I have one I guess. They can't remember my name. All the kids except for a handful, only call me "Teacher" or "Hey Teacher." Now, I am not going to get into now, but I alrady have my issues with the title of "Teacher (fill in the blank)" and I find it must more appropriate and respectful to be refered to as "Miss (fill in the blank). However, my kids do not fill in the blank and as previously stated, I am left simply nameless. So I have been trying to teach them by asking "Teacher who? What is my name?" or "My name is not Hey, it is Heather, Teacher Heather." That is when I get the variations of my name. For example, one little girl call me "Teacher Feather." Then there is the ever popular "Teacher Hedder." (That "th" sound is a real bitch). And probably my least favorite of them all "Teacher Heifer" (thanks a lot kid).

So finally today, after 15 children came up to me screaming "Hey Teacher! Hey Teacher!" I said, "That is not my name. Who here can tell me what my name is?" And one proud little girls yelled "I know! I know! Teacher Lily!" Come to find out "Teacher Lily" was there subsitute teacher for one week several months ago! What the hell? But I am trying to keep it positive; at least it is a name not another synonym for a cow.

Our Lady Thatcher

My sister Jessie, Me and Maggie June 1990. More photos here.

I remember the way she smelled
When we first brought her home.
She smelled like a dog,
But it was a good smell.
It was that distinct puppy smell.

She had this run that we called
a "Maggie run." What made her do it?
Who knows...but I think she can finally do them again.
I think she was ready to do them again.

She didn't bark, she didn't bite.
She only loved us.
And everyone who knew her loved her too.
"Can I just have a dog like Maggie?"
people would ask.

She will always be remembered.
She will always be loved.
She will always live within us.
And, when it is our time,
She will come when we call.

Maggie
April 17, 1990 to August 4, 2003

Happily doing Maggie runs in heaven.

July 30....

...and on the 28th was my first day of work. More to come!

July 20....

....and still no job. Excellent.

July 10.....


...and still no job. Excellent.

Just to clarify...

To the five of you that read my website (and when I say five, I know in reality it is only three...give or take) please don't think that I will no longer answer your questions or engage in friendly conversations where questions may be asked of me. Don't let my frustration mislead you. Please keep talking to me!

And so it begins...

Now that both Grant and I have graduated college, I have heard this question approximatly 14 million times: "So, when are you guys getting married?" And its variation 4 million times: "When's the wedding?"

Okay, so maybe I am exaggerating a little, but the questions have caused me to begin to stress out about an engagment that has not even happened yet. And yes Grant, I know that most of that stress is caused by my own stressful personality. However, my point is that I love talking about my future plans with Grant but starting right now, I am not going to worry about it until something actually happens!

In high school it was, "Where do you want to go to college?"
In community college it was "So where do you really want to go to college"
At four year it was "What's your major?" then, "So what do you want to, like, do after graduation?"
At graduation it is "Have you found a job?"
And now the marriage question! Will it ever end? Probably not.

No fun

Please think good thoughts for my mom tonight! Hopefully, she at least gets some restful, painless sleep after her surgery!!!

Conversations with Jessie

Re: The "flower guy" from the market

Jessie: This guy has the calves of a god.
Heather: Hmm....really?
Jessie: I mean, I have never been this sexually attracted to calf muscles in my entire life.

a little while later...

Jessie: I wonder if he would just let me stroke them?

Oh boy.

The whole time I was in Las Vegas, my friends kept saying things like, " I never want this trip to be over because then I will have to go back to reality!" By reality, they all meant etiher school or work. I would always respond with a deep breath, a shrug of my shoulders and an equally dissapointed "I know, that sucks!" It wasn't until about the fifth time I responded that way that I realized that my "reality" as they were refering to it, hasn't formed yet. As of right now, I no longer have to go to school, I have no job and the amount of time left on my health insurance coverage is rapidly diminishing. What these three things mean is that I have to grow up. I should be so ready for this. I mean I have been preparing for this day for the past 17 years. But as stupid as it sounds, the other day I was freaking out because I had no book I had to read, I had nothing to study and no papers to write. And I felt like that was a bad thing. So while Grant was at school all day yesterday, I wrote a complaint letter to Barnes & Noble Booksellers regarding an inappropriate display located in the children's section of the store, just so I could have that samefeeling of accomplishment after completing an assignment. I got so excited that about the letter and I was thinking about the different studies and Child Development gurus I could sight in my letter to prove to the management at the book store that I had earned my degree. I was really dissapointed when I realized that all the text books I did decided to save were at home rather than readily available for me to read once again. What the hell is wrong with me? Why am I doing this? Why do I want to know what grade I would have recieved had this letter actually been an assignment?

I guess what I am trying to say is the same thing I have been saying all along. School is something that has not just been a part of my life. Rather, being in school has been part of me, part of what I know and what I view as my reality for the past 17 years of my life. Being a student is all I know. In the past, when I was not in school I was on a break and the end of that break always meant school would start again. Well come September, I will not be attending any more classes. I am sure that many students goes through some similar kind of emotion and my realizations may seem just as dramatic and over analyzed as next graduate and after this I promise to stop talking about it. But I can't help feeling sad that school is over; it's like that part of Heather is over. I think I am really going to miss that part.

You know, I am all for gender equity, but let me be the first to say that it pays to be a group of four girls in Las Vegas!

Sorry this took so long...

Goodbye Sutter Hall and the other four dorms.
Goodbye Child Development office.
Goodbye Brighten and Eureka Hall.
Goodbye chickens.
Goodbye Emerald Place.
Goodbye Mandangos and Stingers.
Goodbye University Union.
Goodbye roomies.
Goodbye Arco Arena and the Sacramento Kings.
Goodbye specifically to Jim Jackson of the Kings (yum.)
Goodbye admissions and records.
Goodbye thursday night must see tv in Davis.
Goodbye Dale Shornack.
Goodbye inefficient parking structures.
Goodbye tower cafe.
Goodbye old town.
Goodbye Captial Building.
Goodbye Sacramento...Hello future.

Right now I have too much on my plate but I am not very hungry. I am looking down and the piles of paper and crap that needs to be sorted through and the things that still need to be packed and the online final that needs to be finished and all I am doing is looking at it. Guess I can see that the end is near, nearer than it has ever been before. All this stuff that I have to do is just making me even closer to being "done." Maybe that is why I am avoiding my responsibilities right now. Because the end is not really the end, it is a huge beginning. And there are no sure things in this beginning. As exciting as it all is, it is twice as scary. School is safe and May 25th is unsure at this point. I never thought I would feel like this...it is a weird feeling. Exciting, but weird.

Holy Graduation Batman!

12 days baby....12 days.

Happiness is...

...one more week of classes left. Or, maybe it is sadness. I haven't figured it out yet.

You know spring has sprung...

...when the roosters at Sac State start gettin' horny.

A Nice and Not-so-Nice day

Nice: Having a stranger say "Bless you" after you have just sneezed.
Not-so-Nice: Having a nasty head cold.

Nice: Going to the the last meeting of a class for the entire semester which places you one step closer to graudation.
Not-so-Nice: Having that last class be choir and realizing that may have been the last chior you will ever sing in.

Nice: Realizing you don't have to rush around all day anymore.
Not-so-Nice: Realizing you don't have to rush around all day anymore because it was also your last day of volunteering, something you really enjoyed.

Nice: Your car starting today without a problem.
Not-so-Nice: Rememebering how expensive it was to accomplish that.

Nice: Just a little over two more weeks to go.
Not-so-Nice: Realizing that it is already time to start saying goodbye.

Let's hope for all "nice" tomorrow.

Who Again?

A few weeks ago, while Grant and I were have some having some good clean fun with Jason and Allie, there was a slight misunderstanding during a conversation. We were actually on our way to mass on Good Friday. However, once we arrived at the church it became very clear that when we did find parking (which seemed very unlikely) there was going to be no chance that we would have ever found a place to sit, let alone a place to stand within the church. After Jason made the executive decision to continue driving rather than look for parking, this conversation ensued:

Allison: I guess we will just have to go to Cold Stone instead.
Heather: Did you just say, "Joey Fatone"?
Allison: What?!?! No!! I said Cold Stone.
Heather:Oh. Riiight.

So yesterday, Grant and I had a very similar conversation:

Heather: Oh, Honey! Last night at the Kings game, some guy proposed to his girl friend, well now I guess, his fiancé. Isn't that cute?
Grant: Who did?
Heather: I don't know, some guy at the Kings game, proposed to his fiancé.
Grant:Beyonce?
Heather: Huh?
Grant: Beyonce Knowles?
Heather: What the hell are you saying right now?
Grant: Someone proposed to her?
Heather: What? No! Fiancé! Fee-ahn-say!

I think we all know the lesson there is to be learned from all this...remember to clean out your ears.

Quote of the day...Aye Poppy!

"Fulfill all your wishes with my taco-flavored kisses!"

So I am hooked on American Idol, and I am not ashamed to admit it. But the purpose of this post is not to try to convice you who I think shoud win (cough, cough, Ruben, cough). No, the reason I am posting about American Idol is because my roomate and I made some interesting observations the other night. We found an animal that looks like each of the remaining six (well five now i guess). Let me know what you think:

Kimberly Locke: Chipmunk
Carmen Rassumsen: Three Toed Sloth
Trenyce: Snapping Turtle
Josh Gracin: Alligator
Ruben Studdard: Bear
Clay Aiken: Praying Mantis

Look harder....you will see them too.

The Dirty Old Man
based on a true story

One day, on her way to volunteering, Heather noticed a very old man get out of the car and begin walking toward the hospital. He said something to his younger friend that had given him a ride to his doctor's visit. Heather, assuming that the comment did not involve her, thought nothing of their interaction and kept walking toward the hospital's front entrance.
"Are you going in this door, miss?" The old man said.
"What?" Heather replied
His friend stepped in to clarify, "He wanted me to hold the door for you."
"Oh! How thoughtful...but I am not going in this door," Heather said.
"You're not huh? Well ok then," the old man said with a grin.
"No, I am going in the front door over there, but thank you so much for the thought. I really appreciate it!"
Heather smiled and thought about what a sweet old man this was standing in front of her. It seemed that there were just not enough people like him in the world.
"You have a nice day sir!" Heather said as she turned to walk away.
The old man stopped her, "You want to know something?"
"What is that?" Heather asked him.
"I like to watch you walk," the dirty old man said with a devious grin.
Shocked by the comment, Heather's only reply was a nervous laugh and she quickly walked toward the hospital. Eeww!

The End.

An actual conversation with my sister

She has so much to think about now that she is out of school. Like this for example:

Jessie: When you and Grant have kids...they are going to be hairy.
Heather: Thanks
pause
Jessie: If they have a unibrow are you going to pluck it?
Heather: What?
Jessie: Because if you don't, their Auntie Jessie will! I mean I will hold them down and do it if I have to.

Wow. To my future children, I am sorry for any tweezer trauma she may cause you.

Please pray for peace.

The Psychology of My Coffee Mugs

I have noticed that I have this strange routine or pattern when choosing my coffee mug in the morning. It seems that there are distinct reasons for choosing a particular mug on a particular day. Take Thursdays and Fridays for example. I will usually opt for the big "Friends"-style mug on these days. I am assuming it is because of the anticipation for the show to air on Thursday. And on Friday, I am reminded of the large mugs that were popularized by the show nine years ago, which makes me reach for that style. I definitely have a "I am in no hurry, I am going to enjoy this coffee" mug. I also have a "Dammit, I am running late again, why do I insist on falling back asleep after the alarm goes off, now I hardly have time to drink this coffee!" mug. That mug is small, has a very nondescript shape, and doesn't make me feel warm and fuzzy inside. It should come as no surprise that I avoid this mug at all costs.

Tea is a whole other story. I always drink tea out of the same, hand thrown, ceramic mug with hand-painted stars, dark blue moon and yellow sun. The best explaination I have for this choice is that I must equate drinking tea with celestial drawings and items that look like they belong at the Renaissance Faire.

The whole process is very strange. Granted, it is not foolproof, but I definitely have a system. I have a master's thesis on the subject in the works.

Happiness is...


...homemade chocolate dipped strawberries in San Luis Obispo.

I have never been a very good runner. I have never really been that good at any kind of athletic activity to be honest. I remember in Junior High, we had to run these things called "cross-countries." Almost everyone hated cross-country day. The PE teachers had these ridiculous expectations of us and we were given a grade for the number of cross-countries we could do in a class period. I think if you streched out the number of cross-countries you needed to run in order to get an "A" for that day into one straight line, you actually would have run across the country.

Post Junior High, I have made several febele attempts at running with little success. I have just never had the stamina or the drive to keep going. But then Brittaney gets me on this "excersize plan" that she developed. It is really not that hard. Work out for four days within the week, any days you choose, for 30 minutes. If you fail to work out four days in a week, you will receive a "mark." If you get two marks, two weeks in a row, you have to run a mile without stopping and buy dinner for the other person. Well I got two marks in a row and it came my time to run my mile, without stopping. I told Brittaney there was no way I could do it. To my surprise I did it and I think I discovered the trick for all you "I can't run" people out there. Once you reach the point while you are running of total agony, (you know the one, it feels like you are about to die) run a little bit further and your adreneline kicks in or something and the pain goes away. Sure, I feel numb from the chest down, but I can keep running!

But seriously, running really is about baby steps. Little by little my body is able to take me further and further. I don't wake up sore anymore, I sleep better, and I almost feel cleansed after a nice jog. And do you know where those baby steps took me tonight? Two miles, without stopping, on a tredmil! Granted, it was no marathon, but it sure as hell was two miles of one!

P.S. I never did buy Brittaney dinner.

Heather's College Dictionary

Fun: the act of running around a three bedroom apatment with your roommates trying to find things to take pictures of because you only have three exposures left on your camera.

I have this button on my car stereo that has the letters "SCA" on the front. I am assuming that these letters stand for the word "scan" and I think it is silly that they did not just make the letters smaller so the "n" that would complete the word and make its function readily apparent would fit on it. But I digress. The reason for this post, however insignificant it may be, is that I am in love with this button. Basically, by pushing this button, the stereo scans through all the stations within listening range and pauses for a few seconds on each one. I use it all the time. In fact, sometimes, I never take it off; I just let it keep scanning. I have become so used to it that I don't even realize that I am only singing 4 seconds of all the songs because to me it just sounds like one big song. I feel like one of those infomercials for compilation CD's. You know...Hits from the 60's...70's...80's. And for at least 2/3 of the commercial, the 50 selections, found on either one compact disc or two cassette tapes, are scrolling up the television screen stopping on every third song to play a few measures. That's me in my car everyday.

Of course this button does have its downsides as well. For example, I have gotten so used to it that when I actually come to a song that I would like to listen to the whole way through, the station switches four seconds later. Then there is a mad panic to hit the tuner button and get back to the previous station before it switches again. And then there are the times when I hear a song that I like but I think maybe there is a song a few stations up that I would rather listen to. And then by the time I actually realize that I would really rather have listened to the first song, I have to wait for all the stations to rotate through before I can get back to that song. And chances are, that song is now over and I have to find something else. It's a viscious cycle, really. That is what I get for being lazy, I guess.

Damn!

So I finally have something noteworthy to post last night...and posting was unavailable. Just my luck. So even though it is a day late, it is the thought right?

HAPPY 19TH BIRTHDAY JESSIE!!!

Sorry for the delay.

Maybe tomorrow?

I feel like I have nothing notworthy happening in my life right now. And I know that no one really wants to hear me go on and on about when I am graduating again or what happened with the babies at work today so I figured I would wait until somthing exciting happens to me that other may find interesting as well. But I got nothing. I know that it was just my birthday and I got a lot of fabulous gifts from family and friends, but they all know it was my birthday and don't want to read about it again, I'm sure. So, I am sorry that I am never able to "wow" you with a enlightening or entertaining tale expereinced first hand from the streets of Sacramento. Until then, go read another website.

Sunday night in Sacramento

Daniel: I know! Let's put on my "Classic Disney" CD and sing all the songs like a duet!
Heather: Umm....Yeah, ok!

You really should have been here.

Thought of the day

Be very thankful for everything you have. I know it is not profound but for some reason, I felt it had to be said today.

Thought of the day...even though I don't want to admit it.

The new Justin Timberlake song: good
The new JC song: not good

Things I kinda missed about being at school....

-my babies at the children's center
-the melodic sounds of my roommate singing songs that he makes up as he goes along
-that fresh "I just started school and I am on top of things" feeling....which will last about one week.
-the chickens on campus...who are acting mighty frisky this time of year.
-being a senior again...graduating senior that is.
-making sure EVERYONE knows that you are, in fact, a graduating senior.
-the second floor of the union....a very radical place to study and people watch.
-midnight waffles....now, admittedly, I have not yet had one, but it is nice to know that the opportunity is there.
-being 20 minutes away from Brittaney...which brings me to....
-FRIENDS NIGHT!!!

Things I don't really miss about being back at school....

-the long distance thing...still really sucks.
-being a regular at the reserve book room at the library.
-homework
-missing the shuttle to campus
-driving to campus....and then trying to park
-getting sick from the runny noses at the children's center
-coming to grips with the fact that even though I miss Grant, didn't really like living here and always acted like I just wanted it to be over....it is actually all going to be over very soon and I just don't know if I want it to be quite yet.

DONE!

Well for now anyway. It was a busy busy semester and I am so glad it is over. I never thought I would say this, but you know that stuff that you learn in college...and you say, "why are we learning this? I am never going to use it." This semester I realized that finally I am actually going to use what I learned. It really is a great feeling. But you want to know an even greater feeling? Having a five week vacation where I can seriously sit around and do nothing. That is what I'm talking about.

The first few days of my vacation have been really tough. I did some xmas shopping, took pictures with santa, sat on the couch and watched tv and had several drinks with some really great friends. Anyway, I know you don't really care about any of this but it has been a while since I have posted and it is not like anyone reads this thing anyway so why do I have to be insightful or funny anyway. Goodnight and Merry Chirstmas.

Yeah. Like I have never heard that one before.

I used to have a best friend named Heather. Admittedly, at first it was a little wierd to be around someone all the time who had the same name as you but we got over it. We were two different people and sometimes I even forgot that our names were the same. Weird huh. We were thrilled by this similarity for about five minutes and quickly went on with our friendship and the "name thing" was really discussed again. That is, unless someone else discovered our similarity. It is amazing how ridicualous people can be with this kind of information. Like for example:

"Hey, I said Heather, and they both turned around! That's funny"....right....really funny, good one bro.

Or my favorite:

"Hey, are you guys, like, twins?" Yes, identical ones actually. You see, our parents were just that lazy...and stupid.

Help!

So, I've been up since 7 am...oh yes, that is almost 20 hours! And guess when I have to be up! At 7am! Isn't that just "spit-on-your-neck-kick- you-in-the- crotch fantastic!?!" So, goodnight.

(P.S. The quote is from Friends by the by...the one where Ross comes home from China.)

Thought of the day...

1:30 am is too late at night/early in the morning to think of something meaningful to say.

I meant to do this yesterday...

Why am I so calm when I have upwards of one million things to do? Because...

"...now I know all the wrong turns, the stumbles and falls, brought me here. Where was I before the day that I first saw your lovely face? Now I see it everyday and I know that I am the luckiest."

30 more days...5 years. I love you.

May 25th

This episode in my life that most refer to as the "real world" is now less than a year away and I am not ready. I remember my first year of college, the most common word of advice that was ever shared with me was "Don't worry; you have plenty of time to decide what you want to do." Well, guess what, I don't anymore. This keeps me from falling asleep at night. A few weeks ago, one of my former professors asked me "So, you graduate in the spring? And then what?" My answer: "Um, I don't know." Oh my god! I don't know. I always thought I did but then someone asked me and I realized I have no idea what the hell I am doing after the 24th of May.

So you are thinking: "But you have your whole life ahead of you!" Yeah, and this scares the hell out of me! School has kept me safe from the "real world" so to speak for almost my entire life and in just a few short months, it will be over. I regret all the times I acted like I knew exactly how my life was going to be after college because the truth is I have no clue. I don't know if I even want to be a teacher anymore. And this shocks me every time I think about it. But at the same time, I feel like it is something I should do because there are people in my life that might be disappointed if I don't. I know that you shouldn't live your life only trying to please the people in it, but for as long as I can remember I have been telling my friends and family “I want to teach.” And here it is, almost my last semester of senior year and all of a sudden…just kidding…I don’t think I want to teach anymore.

I think that deep down I know everything will work out. But right now, life just seems, for lack of a better word, scary. So I have two choices:

Stop thinking about my future and blindly jump into a career and hope for the best OR, embrace the fact that I have an entire world at my finger tips and look forward to all the change I am potentially capable of. Seems like an easy choice…well, easier said than done.

Thought of the day

One of the most rewarding things I have ever done: rocked a baby to sleep....I love my job.:)

Scholarship worthy? You be the judge...

My personal statement for the merit scholarship

I am a child development major.
I volunteered for Head Start Preschools through CSUS service learning.
I was a teacher for a day care program over the summer of 2002.
I am currently employed at the ASI Children’s Center.
I have sung in many choirs throughout my life and am a member of the CSUS Concert Choir.
I am fluent in American Sign Language and am very interested in the deaf community and teaching sign language to hearing children.
The purpose of this list is not to brag. Rather, these are the activities I am involved in that help define me. It is not these accomplishments that make me deserving of this award, but those I have yet to complete. I feel that my experiences in the field of child development and beyond are small tastes of what I am capable of. I remember my mindset before my first semester at CSUS: All child development majors become teachers. Admittedly, I want to teach, but the more I become involved with the field of child development, I realize that I am not limited to one career path. Child development majors can serve their community in so many other ways.
It is still unclear what experiences and challenges my future holds for me. I do know that I will be trying to make a difference in the lives of children and their families. Do I want to change the world? I wish it could be that simple. However, the knowledge I have gained through the child development department has taught me that change in the fields of education and child advocacy is necessary. I am confident I can help make that change happen.

I don't know. Too cheesy? We shall see I guess...

I had a excellent weekend, and here is why:

-went to San Luis Obispo
-got to see Grant
-got to dress up for Halloween even though the party, or should I say "party" was pretty much non-existent
-the weather was great
-spent some time with my second family
-saw one of the cutest babies on the planet...baby Drew!

After a weekend like that, how am I supposed to get back into the swing of things?

Who wants to get naked!?!?!?

My mother and I expereienced a sensation of "giddy school girl" on Saturday. Who knew it would only take a short road trip to University Ave in Palo Alto to make all our culinary dreams come true! Borders Books was hosting none other than Food Network's sexiest chef on tv...Jamie Oliver (aka: the Naked Chef).

He was 40 minutes late due to traffic on 101, but it was well worth the wait. When he finally did arrive, he said a few words....of course I was not listenng to a single one of them, rather looking at his beautiful face. Then, (sigh) the book signing. I handed him my book and he called me "darling" which is such a beautiful word when said with a dashing English accent. Don't you agree? And then it was over...and I turned with my cookbook in hand, knowing that we will probably never meet again. But I am not going to lie...there was a spark between the two of us. But I guess since he is married with a child and the fact that I have a "boyfriend" would make things difficult on our realtionship.

But in all seriousness, he is a really interesting chef who, no ladies, does not cook naked, rather used very few ingredients to make fantastic meals. And these meals range from extra fancy to "Fantastic Fishstick Buttie," in other words, a fish stick sandwich. I look forward to trying out some of Jamie Oliver's creations and I think you should too! And if you are not a "good cook" or you "can't even make toast" not to fear, because in the words of Jamie Oliver he recipies are "Easy Peasy!"

Makes you think...

We had a discussion today in cognitive development. We were touching on many topics. Education reform, assesment, testing and so on. No one really had anything positve to say about any of the issues and I was feeling discouraged. But then my professor said something that turned a light on and I had one of those watershed moments that makes you forget all the times you questioned your field of study. She said:

"It is easy to see all the weeds, but it is time to start planting flowers."

Get excited people!

Kings-91
Super Sonics-90

Let the pre-season games begin!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!

"Will that be all (fill in the blank)"

I remember when I was a pre-teen and I got so excited when store clerks would call me "Miss." Being called "Miss" is a huge milestone in an adolescent's development; finally, the general public is begining to recognize you as an adult as well. So today I am in the grocery store trying to re-stock my kitchen when the bagger, who looks to be about my age, says to me..."Would you like any help out today Ma'am?" Whoa! Back the truck up! Why was I not made aware of this transition from Miss to Ma'am? This is not an exciting milestone like being called "miss" for the first time. Do I look like a ma'am? I hope not...not yet at least.

Then again, when I went to get my car smogged, the man behind the counter says to me "What can I help you with today young lady?" Whoa! Back the truck up! Did you just call me young lady? Do I look like a five-year-old girl with pig-tail braides? Am I being scolded? So in my head I think..."Young lady! That's ma'am to you buddy!"

I don't get me.

Thought of the day...

When citrus flavored vodka starts to taste like flat seven up...it is time to stop drinking.

OMG!!!!!

If you don't know what "OMG" means because you have not masted the art of abbreviations I will tell you. The technical spelling of the word for OMG is "ohmigod!" (that's "oh my God" if you are still a little fuzzy) and is use by valley girls all across this golden state. It is most commonly used as an expression of intense surprise and excitment. Which brings me to your next inquiry. Why, Heather, are you OMG-ing? Well I will tell you. I am a SENIOR!! That's right, a senior in college which means I am graduating. It rocks. But I am not that excited...I mean it is not like I have already looked up when my commmencment ceremony will be taking place! Or looked into graudation pictures! I mean, give me a little credit, I am not that obsessed!

Gee! I sure love my job!

Can you sense the sarcasm in my voice? Ok, in all honesty, it is not that I don't like my job...it is that I don't like my job this week. The children are bonkers. It is very sad. Lately I do not feel like a teacher. Drill sergeant is probably a better description. I feel like all I do all day is yell. "Sit there!" "Don't sit there!" "Stop that!" "Do as I say!" Ahhhhhhhhh! Some of the problems these children want me to solve for them...well, here is the classic example...

"Miss Heather, I told Sean that I could make a sound like a mongoose and he told me that's not what a mongoose sounded like so I kicked his ball and then he pinched me!"

Excuse me, what? A mongoose! You had a fight about the noises that a mongoose produces! Do you even know what a mongoose is? Do I even know what a mongoose is? Do I even care?

However, this little incident pales in comparison to the darling little child who thought it would be funny to poop...yes...poop on the floor of the boys' bathroom. So, I am truly at a loss. Am I really making a positive impression on these children's lives? Am I a good teacher? Is this really the career for me? This week really has made me take a good, hard look at some of the things I thought I have always wanted, but in the end, I am always happy to be a teacher because all it takes is that one kid to say something that makes it all worth it. It was just after I had finished yelling to the class that they needed to sit down, close their lips and not move because they were on my last nerve and I was sick of it when Gary walked over to my desk and said..."You're having a bad day Miss Heather and I am sorry." And I said, "You know what Gary, you're right. I am having a really bad day, but I am still glad to be your teacher."

"...and I never even owned a blue blanket!"




Which Peanuts Character Are You Quiz

bye-bye dorms!

Signed my lease on Saturday for my new place in Sac. Nice!

How many sets of eyes does your mom have?

I just started working for a summer program for school age kids and throughout the summer I will be entertaining you all with the many exciting, interesting, cute, and funny conversations I have with the kids at my center. So, sit back, relax, and prepare to be amazed with story number one!

Jessica: Excuse me, Miss Heather, are you a mom?
me: No, I am not a mom yet. Do I look like a mom?
Jessica: No.
me:Well, how do you know what a mom looks like?
Jessica: I know you are not a mom because you don't have eyes in the back of your head. My mom does! I've seen 'em!

Kids! I love them!

What is going on here?

I have had some time to deal with the fact that on Sunday night, my Sacramento Kings lost to the Lakers in game seven of the playoffs. It was a sad, sad end to the exciting series but worth the extra time I got to spend with Grant. But I was so sure that it was in the bag! My Kings were going to win.

Which brings me to my next point...my Kings? What is that about? To be honest, I am not really a fan of the Sacramento area as a whole and yet, I love the Sacramento Kings. Strange. This newly discovered love has been doing some weird things to me and created a person that I have never met before. The only time I have ever been interested in basketball was in 5th and 6th grade when I played forward and scored a whopping zero points total both years I played. Now, it is my favorite sport.

I find myself saying strange things like: "Webber seems a little off his game today," or "Geez! Divac's in foul trouble again!" or joining in while a crowd chants, "Bibby Baby! Bibby Baby! Bibby Baby!" Why am I doing this? Furthermore, I seem to suffer from the disease that makes one think that the people inside the TV can hear you if you shout directions at them loud enough. I don't get it.

Similarly, I now hate the Lakers! I have never cared about the Lakers in my life, but now the thought of Shaq making all those free-throws despite his reputation makes me cringe. And I dont think I can ever enjoy the sweet, sweet goodness of Nutella hazelnut spread ever again because, well, see for yourself!

I am at a loss. Why I now love the game of basketball, refer to the Kings as "my" team, know all the players by name and shout orders at a screen that can't talk back is beyond me. Perhaps I feel the need to belong to something. Perhaps it is a strange phenomenon that occurs when you live in a city with its own sports team for too long. Perhaps it is none of these. Who knows the answer. Well, until I find it...GO NETS!!

Sniff...Sniff...

Too sad. Too, too sad.