More Awesomely Bad Baby Names

Here are a few more awful names I found on my new favorite website! (Thanks, Jennifer!)

Kol Jaedyn - that's supposed to be a boy's name. I hope his mom has lots of ice for all the black eyes that kids gonna get on the play ground. And he'll never be president with a name like that.

Jumoke Elizabeth-Ann - hopefully she'll go by her middle names. I hope her siblings, Jayla and Ja'yesimi, have really normal middle names, too!

Talin Andrew - again, he'll never be president. Neither will Mitt Romney because his name is Mitt. DON'T DO THIS TO YOUR CHILDREN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


(stepping off my soap box now..................)

I can't think of a profound title for this blog

I'm feeling a little better about life today. Jennifer and I went to a great clinic yesterday at SMU and it renewed my teaching spirit some. I thought it would be a long day, but I found myself really engaged by everything that everyone was saying. I felt like a sponge that hadn't been dipped into water in months and so every part of my brain had plenty of room to fill up with new knowledge. I don't feel so stale anymore. I feel like there is a little more hope for me to survive the rest of the year. If I want to be good at my job then I have no choice but to keep immersing myself into stuff like this on a more regular basis. I'm too new at this not to. It would be ignorant of me to just coast along and be satisfied with mediocrity for the rest of my career. I'm in it to win or lets go home. I am truly amazed at how much more I demand of myself as a teacher than I ever did as a student. I guess being a student came a little easier. At any rate, I need to stay motivated and inspired so that I don't get beat down again. It's going to be hard with the group that I have this year, though.

On another note, I finished Eat Pray Love last night. I was sad that it was over. It has forced me to think a lot about myself over the past few weeks and that is a good thing. In a way, it reinforced some security in decisions I have made that have left me feeling insecure lately. Without getting into too much detail, I appreciated the rawness of her imperfections. I think that is how we grow as humans: recognizing our flaws and overcoming them. Always working to better ourselves. I know, I know - that is sooooo cliche, but I think that things would spiral out of control if we didn't recognize what we need to fix about ourselves. I have so much in my head right now that I could type for hours, but it's late and I'll save the rest of my thoughts for another day........

Operation Maintain Sanity, Day 3

It's almost time to leave. I'm really sad. I could use another 3 days here. I was really hoping that it would get really cold and the roads would freeze and I would get stuck here for a few more days, but no such luck. It's hovering just above freezing.
While I was looking through one of those tourist books in the hotel I came across an advertisement for a newly constructed Chinatown. This sounds fun to me, so Saturday night I drove out to Chinatown. I quickly learn that it is more like Vietnamtown. There are several restaurants, a few boutiques, and a large Asian market. There is an Asian market in Haltom City and I've always wanted to go, it's just in a real sketchy part of town and I've never been brave enough. This place is not sketchy at all so I decide to go in and wander around. As soon as I hit the door I was overcome with the smell of fish. It was pretty cool, though. It looked just like a Kroger only everything was Asian. They had lots of different kinds of candy laid out for the Tet. I picked up some sesame seed candy, tamarind candy, and dried mango with sugar, salt, and chili. I'm happy to report that the tamarind candy wasn't bad. It was like those gummy peaches you get at the mall, only tamarind flavor. The mango was awful. Salty dried fruit is never a good idea. I thought the sesame seed candy would have a caramel texture (it has peanuts and what I thought would be nougat), but it was gummy. The was a little weird, but it didn't taste bad. I also picked up a bottle of sesame oil and some green chopsticks.

This was my view of the capitol on Sunday morning after breakfast. I took Cristian's advice and went to the Magnolia Cafe for pancakes. It was super crowded but the pancakes were definitely worth the wait. The cafe was super quirky and they had a super quirky gift store next door. After breakfast I just drove around and then walked a lot downtown.

For lunch on Sunday I went to Mekong River and had Pho. The only other time I've had Pho was in Keller at Green Bamboo. This Pho was a million times tastier than the Pho in Keller.

After lunch I went to a place called Bead It. There were four rooms of nothing but beads on the walls from floor to ceiling. You got your beads Central Market style - pick out what you want, put them in a bag, and price it. I think I tooled around in there for an hour. It was slightly overwhelming because there was SO MUCH stuff it was hard to narrow down what it is that I wanted. I ended up with this stuff. I have a vision in my head of what this necklace will look like and if I ever finish it, I'll post a picture.

On Sunday afternoon I was laying in bed reading when the house keeping lady kept knocking on my door. I got up to tell her that I didn't need anything and while I was talking to her I see this kid out of the corner of my eye and I think, "that kid looks a lot like Bishop." (he's a kid in our beginner trumpet class). I turn around to get a better look and sure enough it's Bishop. And he's just staring at me in disbelief that I'm in Austin, too. He's there with the whole family! So I'm talking with his mom about the odds that I would run into them and then she tells me that they are in the room right next door!!!!! I mean seriously. I come all this way to run away from my life and end up right next door to a student. Luckily, he's a nice kid and his family is nice so it's more funny than anything. Later that night my old college friend Jennifer and her new husband pick me up and take me to a place called Shady Grove. (I was told them on the way there about running into a student). We took our seat at the restaurant and hadn't been there a full minute yet when Bishop pops over to say hello! They had gone to the exact same restaurant!!!!! I just couldn't believe it. I told them we needed to talk before Spring Break. Shady Grove was fun. Jennifer and I had the tortilla crusted queso catfish. Sounds weird, but it was really good. After dinner we went to the Elephant Room and listened to a band called Chicken Strut. The first song we heard was Cantaloupe Woman. My personal favorite was a song named after the band. It was really great to catch up with Jennifer and meet her husband. Maybe I'll get a vacation home in Austin and be able to hang out with them more often!

Operation Maintain Sanity, Day 2

I am so glad that I took this trip! I feel like Rachel Ray on $40 a day. I act like I've never been on a trip in my life, but I have never traveled like this. I've never been someplace all alone and I've never gone somewhere without a clear purpose. Well, there was a purpose to this weekend, just not like the usual purposes. Both times I've been to Chicago it was for a reason. I was in New York for a reason. I'm always in San Antonio for a reason. I consider myself lucky that I have the means to take off on a trip like this. I also consider myself lucky that I don't have to worry about leaving people behind to take such a self indulgent trip. I have always loved to travel. (Except for those 24 hour trips in the van to Michigan). I love getting away and staying in hotels and venturing to all sorts of new places. It's just recently that I've had the means to do more of it. And after the pure enjoyment of this trip, I have a feeling that I'll be getting away more and more often. Here's a quote from Eat Pray Love that I quite relate to:
"......traveling is the great true love of my life. I have always felt, ever since I was sixteen years old and first went to Russia with my saved-up babysitting money, that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I am loyal and constant in my love for travel, as I have not always been loyal and constant in my other loves. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless newborn baby-I just don't care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it's mine. Because it looks exactly like me. If can barf all over me if it wants to-I just don't care."

The picture above is were I ate lunch Saturday. A South American restaurant called Dona Emilia's.
This is what I had. Blackened salmon with a basil chimichurri on top of a sweet potato cake. That was the BEST piece of salmon that I've ever had.

After lunch I walked down 6th Street and found the Old Pecan Street Cafe. Their menu boasted famous pecan pie, so I had to try it. It was served with homemade whipped cream and strawberries that were quite juicy and delicious, considering it's January. That was the best piece of pecan pie I've ever had. I don't know if I'm just more aware of the taste of food when I'm not distracted by conversation or if meals I've had here are just that good! When I got up to walk back to the hotel, and I must quote Alanis Morissette, "I feel drunk but I'm sober". I felt great. I felt relaxed. I felt like I should have done this months ago. I guess buying my house and adjusting to a new school got in the way.

This cafe seemed oddly out of place on 6th street. It looked it belonged more on Main Street in Nacogdoches rather than nestled between dirty bars on a cleaner version of Bourbon Street. It was really cute inside. I was there at about 4:30 and the sun shining through the windows made it look like something out of a movie. I found it quite peaceful and relaxing.

I've got lots more to report, but I want to get out and walk around town more! I'll post more pictures later!

Operation Maintain Sanity, Day 1

After a week from hell, I decided Thursday night that I needed break. I'm having some sort of pre-midlife crisis or something. I feel some big changes coming for me. I am unsatisfied with my current job. I like it (sorta), I'm just not satisfied with it. I'm not motivated. I'm not inspired. My goal between now and June is to make it something I'm satisfied with. I need to find something to motivate me. Something to inspire me. I just don't know how to do it. I need guidance from someone wiser than myself. I'm going to take every measure I know of to make it a better situation for myself. I'm the only one that can control my destiny. I was inspired by Elizabeth Gilbert's book I'm currently reading. She said at some point, and I'm paraphrasing here, while she was living in Italy, "I just realized that I can go anywhere I want." Me, too, I thought. I put the book down and booked a room in downtown Austin, left work early on Friday, and took off on my adventure. While driving down I-35, I remember why I fly to San Antonio every year. There is no break in the traffic. It's like driving downtown for 3 1/2 hours. Once I arrived in Austin, I was immediately over the drive. I've been through Austin several times, but never spent more than a day here. The first time was right after high school graduation when a group of us caravaned to Belton to visit a friend who had just moved. We drove in to Austin one night and lit matches outside of the capitol. I think that was my first taste of freedom from my parents. It was awesome. The LMB spent a night downtown before a game in San Marcos and we got to hang out on 6th street for the evening. That is as long as I've ever spent in my state's capitol. I have no idea what I'm going to do with myself for the next few days. Probably shopping and sight seeing, and hopefully catch a meal with my friend Jennifer that lives here. Here are a few pictures from my first night in Austin:

Here is my room at the Hilton. There are five pillows on the bed and I used everyone of them last night plus the two that I brought from home.

This picture is for Cristian. (If they restock what I've already used, I'll swipe them for you!)

Here is the view from my room. If I could afford to live downtown anywhere, I would. I've always been dazzled by city lights since I was little. Maybe some day my dream will come true......

Here is the view Saturday morning. My plan was to stay inside today but it's too pretty! I'll be getting out to stroll the city.

This was my dinner last night. Room service. It is the best thing ever invented. And it was delicious. I had a cheese plate with brie and boursin cheeses (my favorites), fresh fruit, and candied walnuts. I also had a tuna nicoise salad and a glass of wine. I was so relaxed after that. I feel asleep at 8:30.

Room service woke me up this morning with this awesome breakfast. I don't know why I don't do this more often. It has been fabulous having someone bring delicious food to my room. And nothing to clean up afterwards. I've had all the room service I can afford so I guess I'll be hitting the streets for lunch today. Although, that cheese plate last night was delicious so I might be getting another one before I check out!

How To Make Your Crappy Day Better

Or in my case - your crappy week.

1. Turn off cell phone. (If there is an emergency, people know your other number).
2. Dive into a good book. (Started reading Eat, Pray, Love)
3. Treat yourself to a nice dinner. (The book I'm reading talks about Italian food A LOT so I was sorta craving it. Went to try Jason's Pizzeria and Pasta on Heritage Trace across from Central High. It was delicious!!!! I had the cappellini pomodora and that was hands down the best plate of pasta I've had in a long time! I highly recommend it.)
4. Treat yourself to some dessert. (After dinner I headed over to Cafe Dolce for some Italian ice cream. They will let you sample any flavor, but the only one I ever get is the chocolate hazelnut. It's like eating whipped frozen nutella. To die for.)
5. Tune your radio to the station that plays all of the guilty pleasure adult contemporary early 90's music that you never admit to actually liking and turn it up really loud and sing all the way home.
6. Crawl in bed under a cozy electric blanket and continue reading the good book from step 2.

The only thing that could make me more happy right now is to wake up tomorrow, find out that it actually DID get cold and rainy enough to ice the roads over and Dr. Vietenheimer calls off school tomorrow. If this doesn't happen I'll be repeating my little 6 step program again tomorrow.

Randomness

Me and Josh on New Year's Eve at Buca Di Beppo

Cristian working on his four marshmallow mallet technique

Me and Amy - Last picture of 2007

Me and Jennifer - First picture of 2008

First fire in the new house. The Alcocers and I burned our junk mail.

Happy New Year!