Friday, January 25, 2008

Out of Practice

Okay, so I'm so so so out of travel practice.  I was standing in line for security to fly out of the rain and into the sun in Arizona when i realized i didn't have my ziplock bag.  Dear god, how did i forget to put my 3oz liquids into a quart size ziplock.  Ugh.  Thankful there was guy standing there with one in hand for me to use.  I made it safe and sound to the sunny AZ.  I even needed my sunglasses when i got off the plane!

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

I might not have gotten a raise....

I didn't get my raise at The Academy, the center where I do my non-private tutoring.  Before the holidays I asked for a raise.  I got part of it but in terms of dollars per hour I didn't get shit, though I was asking for a lot more money than I'm making, 40% more.   I was also laughed at by the center manager "No one here makes that much." but she humored me and sent it along to the owner anyway. I haven't heard a thing.  
Today, I heard something... I found out the other women who does the elementary tutor program with me is leaving for the rest of the school year.  What does this mean for me? you might ask.  More money? oh not quite. not without working more thats for sure. I need to absorb all her tutor kids into my schedule.  Meaning I will now be booked from 3:30-6:30 four days a week at a minimum. Somedays I will have kids as early as 2:30 and as late as 8.  Other days I will sub from 7:45am and still tutor until 8pm.  
Oh did I mention that I also need to write reviews and  create lesson plans for ALL the elementary kids now.  Oh, yes, that raise... well I got the more responsibility part but not the money part...hmmm
So for all you Bitches who tell me I don't work hard can F-off 'cause really, the rest of this school year is going to be jam packed with kids. 

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Land In Colorado

My family has property in a subdivision, The Reserve on Elkhorn Ridge, in Fraser Colorado.  It's a small town in the Fraser Valley, home to the Winter Park ski resort. Last spring my brothers and I went out to look at the bark beetle situation.  Over the past few years the bark beetles have gotten worse and worse.  The Homeowners Association required we cut down dead and infected trees and spray to save others.  We ended up cutting down over 500 trees and spraying 250 more on out 12 acres.  My parents ended up cutting down all the trees under 6 in. in circumference, almost everyone on their lot. 
It's a mess.  If you look at the number of trees left in The Reserve it is pitiful, but the number of green trees is outstanding compared to the rest of the valley.  Google maps recently updated its image of the valley and I was floored when i saw it. I had to call my brother and have him look at it and he was floored as well.  

These are pictures are from the spring visit. 
Here, other than the juvinal moose, you can see some of the infected trees
.
This image is of The Reserve and reminds me of how green it was this past spring but you can still see a few brown trees out there.  

The link to the google maps is The Reserve at Elkhorn Ridge.  You'll be looking right at my brother and I's property (between the road and the meadow with an old jeep trail in the middle of it).  To the North is my parents property, now almost naked and treeless.  If you zoom out two and look toward the north west, into the valley, it gives a true perspective of the damage the bark beetles have done.  All that brown is dead infected trees.  Not only is it a bark beetle infection issue, but all those dead trees are basically kindling.  If there is any remote fire, the whole valley will be gone.  I sound like such a hippy but I've never had anything like this effect me so personally.  

Friday, January 18, 2008

House Pics come in instalments

New Couch in the family room

The New Bedroom

Sunday, January 13, 2008

These are the people I'm related to

This is a picture my sister-in-law took of my brothers and I at Oma's 90th birthday.  We are such total freaks.  If you call me weird at least you know I'm not the only one, and it's also probably genetic, though it could be nature as well, we'll never know.

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Sunday, January 06, 2008

Female Friends

Okay, so i've been saying this for years but never blogged about it, mostly because I know my mom reads this and I don't want to deal with the "talk" that could come with it but f-it. It's my blog, right?
Years of dating and being out of college I've notice a few things.  It is easier to meet men than it is to meet women.  Why, I don't really know? I mean, don't get me wrong, it's not easy to meet men, but you go on a date with a guy, and if it doesn't work out you don't see them again, and if it does you do.  But where is there a place to have same sex totally platonic dates? I don't need a match.com I want to friend.com.  I don't meet people though work, and who i do meet, how do I make that next step, that "hey, we should hang out?" without seeming desperate, needy, clingy.  
I've been fortunate enough to become close with several of the friends in Apple Jacks friend group.  They've slowly become both our friends and I hang out with them without Apple Jacks.  
Which is great, to have a new, different friend group than the one I had, but the one I had before has dispersed.  People have left, moved, faded away, and that's just how life goes.  So, there is a part of me that feels it's time to add more people to my posse, but how.... How do you meet new people? I'm not a go out there and do things alone type person... I don't have guts like that.  I took a writing class a few years back hoping to make some friends, but nothing came out of that.  I also had a book club with Ms. O and that faded and none of the friendships lasted from that.   Both a few years ago and with someone else recently, i also tried to rekindle a friendship with an old horse friend and both fizzled and faded rather quickly.  So.. how, i ask you, does a girl meet other girls?
So, The Ma and I are looking into doing a training thing for a half marathon and vowing to socialize with others.  I've been on Craigslist responding to people's book clubs.   
All in all, really.... how is it easier to date men than have a friend date with a girl!?!

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Oma is 90


This fine women has lived on this fine earth 90 years!

Both Abbie and Grammy had a great time celebrating.


Here is 4 generation!
Abbie, me, cousin Summer, Grammy, aunt Marbe, and Oma