Ouch.

I quit my job and my last day is the 25th. I start my new job on March 1st. I am excited, really excited. I am nervous, really nervous. I knew that I needed to change jobs, but I did not realize that it was going to be this hard. Especially after conversations like this:

Child 1: Why are you leaving us Miss Heather?
Me: Because I have to.
Child 2: But you are a teacher, and teachers are supposed to be with kids.
Me: I know, but I am not going to be a teacher anymore. I am going to do something different.
Child 3: But who is going to take care of us?

It was after that last question that I had to leave the table.

What a sweet guy!

I love this man!

Conversations with Jessie

Scene: Jessie has just told me a very long detailed story about how she got up really early this morning to get all dolled up for the boy who works at the coffee shop only to find out that upon her arrival, he was not in today. Action:

Jessie: My outfit was wasted!
Me: You will just have to go back tomorrow.
Jessie: Yeah. But now I need a new outfit and this one was the money outfit. I mean, anyone would have wanted to have me in this. Seriously.

My little sister ladies and gentlemen.

I'm the babe Napoleon's takin' to the dance!

Trisha


Which Napoleon Dynamite character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

AHHHHHHHH!!!

More on that later.

Heh?

What I thought I heard:

"It's a cow's weenie!"

What was actually said:

"Here's the cow, sweetie!"

Earthworms have feelings too!

As an early childhood educator I follow the belief that children have a right to their feelings and emotions...even if the emotions they are expressing are unpleasant ones. An emotions has a beginning, middle and end and it would be unfair to the child and inappropriate as a professional to try to disregard the child's emotion or distract them from it. In the case of major emotional outbursts, I do my best to deal with it in a developmentally appropriate and acknowledge their feeling by either giving them the words to use such as, "You seem to be very angry," or having the child tell me how they are feeling by asking something like, "How did that make you feel?"

Another common practice of mine is asking a lot of open-ended questions such as why? what? how? etc. This will help encourage language development and independent thinking skills.

So...

The other day, while the children were outside, they found an earthworm (or as one kid described to me "Miss Heather! We found a snake!" I freaked out slightly). Anyway, they were completely enthralled with the worm and about 10 of them were circled around the tiny little writhing thing.

During circle time, we talked about the worm. I asked the kids a few questions then I asked "How did the worm feel?" I was hoping to hear some of the following words: "wet," "slimy," "wiggly." Instead, the only little one who said anything was, "He felt mad!"

Well at least they are getting the concept....not quite the right context.

What ever did happen to predicitability?

Child: What is the name of your mom?
Me: Allison.
Child: What is the name of your dad?
Me: Roger.
Child: What is the name of your sister?
Me: Jessie.
Child: Like Uncle Jesse!
Me: Who is Uncle Jesse?
Child: That man from the funny show!

To do list

1. Church

Status: booked
Date: October 1
Time: 2:00 pm

One down, about 4 million other things left to do.

Wedding Bells

That's right peeps! I'm engaged. As of last Friday, Grant is now my fiance. It was obviously a very exciting day and despite how long we have been talking about getting engaged and should have seen it coming, I did not see it coming at all. At times, it seemed like it was never going to happen but in the end, it was well worth the wait. The ring is beautiful and I could not be happier!

I am all ready to start planning and have no idea where to begin. I am excited and overwhelmed but I am sure that is will all work itself out. And I have already decided, there will be no problems in planning this wedding, only challenges!

So get ready for an entire year of "wedding theme" website posts because I have a feeling that that is all that will be on my mind for a while!

Here is how one of my students reacted to the news:

Child: You're getting married!
Me: That's right! Isn't it exciting!?!
Child: You need a boyfriend.
Me: ????

Super Cute!

just as a cloud covers the sun a child says....

Child 1: Miss Heather, why did it get dark?
Me: I don't know! What happened?
Child 1: I don't know!
Child 2: It is just the sun playing hide-and-seek with the clouds.
Child 1: Oh yeah!

Now isn't that a much better explaination than any teacher ever would have given? I think so.

No, really, it's fine, take my $2000.00.

Yes, that's right. Someone stole my wallet and had a lot of fun spending my money. Approximatly $2000.00 dollars in fact. It looks like I am not going to be held liable for any of it, but right now, I am just waiting for the fraud departments of my bank and credit cards to review my case. So as it stands right now, I have don't really have access to money. Sure did put a damper on my weekend mood.

Luckily, I was able to forget about my misfortune on Saturday and spend a beautiful day at the beach celebrating my nephew's 2nd birthday. And to be honest, Saturday really did put this whole losing my wallet thing into perspective. Yeah, it sucks, it's a huge inconvenience, but on September 11th, I was thankful for my life and the time I spent with my family. That's all that really matters anyway.

Here's to a better week ahead.

Conversations with kids

Child: Teacher Heather, look! (pointing to the bracelet on her arm)
Me: Wow! You have a beautiful bracelet on today!
Child: No, not that. I have arm hair!

Why I need a camera phone.

I was driving to work the other day, just like any other day, and I noticed a pick-up truck in front of me. In the back of the truck there was a dog kennel. At about the same time I noticed the kennel, the strangest looking dog I had ever seen came out. I stared at the dog for about 30 seconds thinking to my self, "What in the hell kind of dog is that?" And then it hit me. This "dog" was not actually a dog at all. Nope, it was a baby cow. Of course! Why wouldn't there be a baby cow in the back of a pick-up truck headed north bound 880 during morning rush hour!

Conversations with Jessie

Scene: Driving past Cold Stone at the Fremont Hub.

Jessie: Did I ever tell you about my date fiasco at Cold Stone?
Heather: No.
Jessie: Well, the guy ordered the biggest scoop you could possibly order, in a chocolate dipped waffle bowl of course, and this was after he had eaten almost all of the pizza we ordered at dinner. And even though he kept saying "Uhhhh.....I can't eat anymore," he finished it.
Heather: Oh yeah...didn't he keep farting while he was eating his ice-cream or something.
Jessie: No, the farting happened on the second date.
Heather: Ah yes, he was a winner.

Needless to say, there was never a third date.

P.S. Happy Birthday Love!

Well this can't be good.

I am driving home from work today and the dj says "Up next, we have Ashlee Simpson's Pieces of Me." And even though it was just me, sitting alone in my car, on the drive home, out loud I said, "Oh, cool!" I then proceeded to turn the volume up and sing every word of the song from memory.

Now, it is not like I am going to run out and buy her album from Target or anything, and it is not like it is my favorite song right now, but I just can't resist the catchy lyrics. And hey, I am a self proclaimed "Newlyweds" junkie. I just can't get enough of the Nick and Jessica! However, I am really not a fan of Jessica's work. And to be honest, I will often turn the channel when a Jessica Simpson song comes on. But I feel differently about little punk rock Ash.

Don't get me wrong, I am fully aware that she only has a music career because of the huge success of her older sis. And, as my very talented musician of a boyfriend pointed out, it doesn't really say much about you as a musician when you are already a signed recording artist but you have never had a sound check because you have never performed before.

So maybe you think I am a total loser for singing along to this new radio hit and maybe I am. That's why I keep Grant around anyway; to keep my music library well rounded. But Allie, you got my back, right sista?

P.S. Check out all the "Pieces of Me" (heh heh) on my new profile!

A letter to all of my 5 readers

Dear Fans,

I know that it has been a long and agonizing wait for you because it has been so long since I have updated and for that I am truly sorry. I guess I just haven't had the time or the stories that I felt were worthy or funny enough to share with all you.

My best friends, Brittaney and Ryan, were married on June 26th. I was one of Brittaney's two maids of honor. It was, by far, the most fun I have ever had at a wedding. This could have been for one of three reasons:

1. I have never been in a wedding before.
2. It was two of my best friends.
3. I was of legal drinking age.

Most likely, it was because of reason number three. Anyway, it was beautiful and every engaged couple could have learned something from that wedding. Couldn't have been more perfect!

Other than that, nothing much new is going on. My sincerest apologies to the handful of you that check my site bi-monthly to see what's new with Heather. I will try to better meet your needs from now on. Take care and I will see you in a couple weeks (or months, whatever)

-Heather

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

bjdjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjfikrralrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrworvyrryo43r2o4r24r 8r2

bqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq
bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbppppppppppppppppppqjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjj

qqqqqqaa
23
jjgbbbbbbbbbbbbbbhhhh

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.