New Year

Here's to laughing with friends. This new year will be a year for safe travels, for new languages and learning to stand. I'm going to dedicate the year to self reliance and confidence. That will take some work;)

"There will be no distance that can hold us back"



Blue skies

Iron Maiden Chef Battle Citrus

Yes, I wish this could happen every weekend. And again, I learned so much from my sisters about cooking (and it's all about butter).

The challenge: 2 courses per sister involving the ingredient citrus.

Halibut ceviche with coconut, jicama, and lemongrass. Served in a martini glass accompanied by a Blue Margarita shot.

A trio of Roasted red pepper soup with tangerine cream served in a grapefruit shell, Beet salad on Mache with a lemon vinagrette, and coconut spiked oranges.

Grilled shrimp served on a salad with mango, lime, and radishes.

Strawberry Sorbet
Main courses
Wild rice salad with blood oranges paired with a Tequila Citrus Chicken Wing.

Lemon capellini with caviar paired with a seared sea scallop.

Seared duck breast with lemon mashed potatoes and escarole topped with an orange glaze

Dessert
Key lime pie! Of course

Let it snow!

I am so exhilarated for Iron Chef Battle Citrus!!! Christmas Eve and Day were really quite delightful. I'm glad I'm not in Bmore for the drama fall. Speaking of I"m reading the best book about "The Falls" by Joyce Caroll Oats. It's snowing like crazy....

Facebook anonymous

I should probably join FA if there is one AND it is a funny name for a self help group. It's like the Trivia championship team named agoraphobics night out that actually go to trivia 4 nights a week and win all the time. I prefer blogging because then it is all about me, but as I have aforementioned it is a lot easier to facebook from the i phone.

The pre plane trip question as always is... should I take the laptop? Should I take the sweater, the vest, and the coat and hat (otterbutt has already mentioned I should bring the latter). I have a fear of losing everything on the plane and really hate people who bring stuff on the plane with them. It is crowded enough people. And one day very very very soon I will be on the plane for a very very very long time to go half a world away.

I finally finished my finals. I am so sick of grad school because once I start to get the hang of it, its over, and my teaching really does suffer. It has absolutely nothing to do with late nights and wine... of course not! I had three students visit me this week from last year. They were wonderful students, one is in Vermont (that mentioned me at graduation) and one is in school at Boulder. The other one could barely graduate but is working as a secretary for a lawyer so hooray! The reason I mention this is because they were very positive in a very long and very distressing week. One student complained to me to guidance, two complained to the principal, and one told me ms.soandso is the shizz and you are the jizz. I called his mom but figured I could practice saying it out loud a few times first. It doesn't matter at all and I'm supposed to be above it, but not so wonderful week.

ho ho ho

Two weeks

I have been piling books by the bed waiting to actually read. Quick snippets of Gary Snyder poems or a page or two of Catcher is all I get, because they decorate the bath. It occurred to me, that even though my house is decorated in books, I seldom read them in the last couple of years. Confirmed by a roomie mentioning he has never seen me read while he's been here. I miss it. And since my addiction to technology and movies will have to decrease while I'm in china, I will have to begin looking at these handheld book thingys not just decorate the house with them.

Aunt Kathy's blog has given me some excellent suggestions. She read's like a book a day it appears, so my goal for this winter break and all of 2009 is to read like an Aunty Kathy in training. Because today, when I turn in my 15 page paper on cancer research, it will be the last day I read an article from a scientific journal for a very very long time. hooray!

You had me at Ni hao (parenthetically)

In true P fashion, I am learning Chinese and putting the words into Beatles song lyrics. No idea why. "You say Zai jiao and I say Ni Hao" for example. I'm pretty sure I'm be able to handle Revolution number 9 from the white album as well. (Don't want to get too ahead of myself Can't wait for Rocky Racoon!)

Learning Chinese (for four days) has really taught me about learners. I have to begin planning my lessons with their questions in mind. Perhaps their questions will be less annoying if I anticipated them. Except the dreaded can i go to the bathroom or will you accept this late. UGH. But on behalf of my pre-K friends (Ice Rock and Baby Mama) at least they don't ask me to help them to the bathroom.

Also, finishing up grad school this semester has also taught me a lot about learners, especially with the interactive online class about physical science. It's sorta like blogging and cooler than a textbook because the hyperlinks, movies, and flash stuff is pretty cool. Only you need each kid to have a computer or they get bored. If you're interested go to my wiki www.walkerworld.pbwiki.com
to see my new online assignments.

As for my "big kid" science grad classes, the seminars were interesting about ant parasites and orchid's duping wasps. The cancer class is great. Still have a paper and an exam in that class so its not that wonderful. Again insight into giving an exam to my kids the same day they have them in every other class (last tuesday).

Saw Jupiter in Venus next to the moon Monday night Very cool.

http://www.astroengine.com/?p=2397

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-156473?ref=email
Also on the horizon... china meetings, conferences, the Trivia Tournament of Champions!, faculty parties, b days, holiday cheer, football, and Fridays in general. As for learners here, remember they will be tired too.

Xi'an or bust

Documenting my first google search about the China Exchange Program. I am so excited!!!

Most sacred Mountain in China



Hukou Waterfall on the Yellow River


Map of the Shaanxi Province and Xi'an



More to come
Terracotta warriors
The Silk Road
Big Goose Pagoda

8 weeks starting mid-May 2009

Two Busy Weeks

I can explain why I haven't blogged. Since the election, the last two weeks have been busy. Teaching 5 classes and Taking 4. I don't have any time to grade or think. So.... to explain dear blogger, I have been on Facebook! It is awesome and the app kicks trying to blog on the iPhone. I can upload photos straight from the iPhone.

I turned in an application to go to China on Friday and I find out tomorrow if I'm going for 8 weeks to Xi'an China May-July!!! So excited. So in preparation...
Check my status on facebook around 11 EST!!!

Facebook in China FYI

Watching the polls

Watching watching watching and wishing and hoping and praying and so glad. It's fun to root for the winning team. Re-made and served my new wild mushroom ragout to others. Even some of the kids had some!!!! This is crazy! I haven't watched the polls.

As of 8:35 pm EST Obama took PA!!!

Just have to post

A test, Halloween, friends and mussels, friends and fire, cleaning the house, end of the quarter, and football. I miss my summer of pause...

My friend the sweet potato queen called, my mom the Maestra and I talked finally, felt connected with the kids via the costume pics...

My friends my age have kids. My friends my age without kids want them or are 60. My friends with kids that don't want them are funny and don't really don't want them. My family is far away.

I sat at the school happy hour, between those that don't have them and those that do, in the corner with the weird band guy who didn't talk to me...

THE ELECTION!!!!!!! I can't even sleep

veisalgia

I am dizzy from a weekend of fun and studying. Watching the kids play football, laughing with friends, surprising phone conversations, and asian food. Also, facebook is hilarious. However, I should be focusing more on the now instead of the then.

Rehydrate!

Around the corner to New York and back again

dizzy. I am dizzy from the journey. But it was a full on riot! Despite the fact we had little time and far littler shopping (hooray for the wallet boohoo for the closet), the weekend was a hit. The observation lesson today also a hit. I just have to make it through the next couple of weeks and it will be smooth sailing.
I'm going in reverse blog order because I got confused...
Friday
Left Baltimore at 10ish, the drive was fine. Had a few experiences of having people jump out of the car in Brooklyn because they had to pee, but other than that, it was uneventful drive. Watched a couple episodes of Wife Swap (hooray) and then went to a lovely dinner at a Peruvian restaurant with Coconut infused raw tuna, and avocado and corn stuffed tamales. Then we went to the neighborhood bar, back to ms.suris for a some fun girl good times, and asleep by dawn... I won't tell you what was in my bed when I awoke (my bed was the couch ps)
Sat
Brunch (late) at French bistro, read the Book of birthdays (this was quite interesting...) the most important parts are... "You are not a football" "You shouldn't exercise" "Reality is the shadows on the wall of the cave"
Dinner in Manhattan at Butter restaurant, delicious! It was quite wonderful but I missed my sisters very much. The best lobster I have ever eaten, ever.
Drinks at the Living Room and met roomie and mayo and PFC there. It was fun. Roomie had a little skirmish with the bartender over the bill "You mean you want me to pay you?". Then we went back to Brooklyn for a bday party at a bar, where I met a man who worked with Big Daddy when he was a rocket scientist (small world). Back to apartment for champagne. Will not tell you what was in my purse when I woke up...
Sun
Woke and stumbled to the Dunkin Donuts across the street from Ms. Suri's. We ordered pizza very quickly after that. (Yes real cheese pizza, don't start) and we packed at left NYC at 12ish arriving in Baltimore at 3:30. A little nap, a quick movie, and then off to Mrs. Rock's bday bash for cake and steak. Will tell you I awoke in my own bed with clothes not in purse and no fried shrimp in my bed.
Mon
Field trip to Days Cove with my students for canoeing. Wonderful time. A bit cold in the morning. Had an excellent time, but too cold to take picture of my toes. We hiked and canoed and ate picnic lunches. It was fun.
Tue
Don' have much to say about Tuesday. Taught 6 went to 1. Homework for 2.
Wed
Observation hair lesson. In a wig, blonde ringlets while singing the Hair song. A plus. Then to a seminar about bats. Wigs and Bats.

Around the corner

Who knew that around the corner from the home I have lived in for more than a year, in a town of lived in for more than six, I had so many wonderful things around the corner. the Rocks back porch with waterfall, Harolds Vegetable stand opened 7 days a week, a seafood store that sells oysters, a Goodwill Store, and a makeup store called Ulta. It was a regular day at the OB today! Went to said porch for Bloody Mary's, Freshly shucked oysters, and some football. (Ravens lost). Very fun!

Tonight's dinner recipe: Wild Mushroom Ragout over chive lemon whole wheat couscous. The wild mushrooms were in a canister (huge!) at costco for 14 bucks or something. Chanterelles, Morels, Boletes, dehydrated in less than 30 minutes. Yummo! Tommorow I'm planning on serving the leftovers over pasta. so good!

Almost Halloween

It is very easy to just blog about the things I have to do. But in lieu of following said list, I am conspiring with my team about Halloween. It is cooling down, the leaves are sort of changing, I guess its time to hang up my flip flops and find some actual shoes and socks.

Oh how I love Halloween. Baltimore really does it right! Everyone goes to Fells Point (see Eat Bertha's Mussels below). All the college kids come decked out to the nines. One year, there was the entire A-team jumping out of the van. Also, so many fraternities and sororities painted blue as smurfs it was like smurfapalooza. Last year there was a Spartan with spear, shield, and red scarf like panties (I almost licked him right there on the street he was so delicious looking) The first year, I went as a Treasure chest with two pirates and a ghoul. By the end of that night I was a just the pirates booty, but it was an enormous and hilarious costume. The next year, was the first semblance of normalcy after my fall from grace or graceful fall (ha ha) when I put together my iPhone costume. My team mates dressed up as an old Scotsman (later named James Bond at 700) and two college guys, Mike and Ned, in sweaters and jeans.

This year, the team is reassembling (beginning at Bertha's before the college kids even get dressed and then we leave as they come flooding in and get to see it all), I was considering re-using the iPhone costume. However, in these dark times, and being an election year and all... I need to be political. Big Daddy is going to go as "Joe Six pack" and I will be the "Hockey Mom". I'm considering being a pit bull in lipstick. Have a couple of weeks to work out the details. Would love suggestions.

Crazy how "on the ropes" the reps are behaving after 2nd debate.

October

Rhymes with Sober... The list is long this month so perhaps curtailing of the vino wouldn't be the most extreme of plans. Here it is yet another blog to do list.
October To Do:
Parent Teacher Conferences 10.2
Finalize the divorce with lawyers from Iowa for (find $1000) 10.3
Proctor the LSATs at American University 10.4 (make $125)
Surprise Bday party 10.4 (shhhhhhhh its really a surprise)
Unit 3 in Forensics, APES, and ES 10.6-10.9
Enjoy Yom Kipper Off 10.9
Trip to NYC 10.17-19
Field Trip Canoeing 10.20
Begin new class in Physical Science 10.21
Observation in Forensics 10.22
Mid-term in Cancer Class 10.24
Presentation in Seminar 10 ?
Presentation in Other Seminar 10 ? (I should probably figure this out)
Field Trip to plant Trees 10.29
End of First Quarter Grades 10.31
Dress up and Enjoy Halloween 10.31

It's been so long

It is not that I haven't had anything to blog about. Its just that it isn't really flowing out of me. I would have liked to blog about the following, but now it seems a little late...

*Getting served divorce papers for dessert (perhaps how you're served should be as importantly planned as how you get engaged... "he served me in a glass of champagne at sunset" "I was served under the lamp post where we first kissed" "he put the papers in a dozen dead roses and paid a skywriter to write We're Through in the sky")

*David Letterman is hilarious (teachers don't stay up that late and when they do their students ask them if they are stoned)

*We are all packing up and planning our long dark winter walk to California with the other Okies after we lose the farm, "in these dark times"

*The government should just pay off all our house loans for 350 Billion. Then inflation won't go up and we could pay for more starbucks and walmart stuff and the globe will keep operating.

* I actually heard myself say the following quote, "well IKEA is where married people go on Saturdays if they don't have to go to Home Depot, wanna go?"

*And in response to the above I spent the weekend watching Football and Super Friends. Really, Super Friends on boomerang. Really.

It's 2008

When I was an undergrad, times were different. A democrat was in office (for most of it). We were impeaching a president for a silly willy. People smoked outside of buildings, even the pre-med buildings. Girls mostly wore sweatpants and hoodies and backpacks. Guys wore the current uniform of t's shorts and hats. Nary a cell phone, absolutely no ipods, barely even email. Emailing your paper to the prof was insane~! Blackboards were still black and had chalk. Libraries still had books not computers with these wonderful PDFs. Few took a lap top to class, and texting was absurd. I don't think anyone spoke of the election much, and t-shirts were about beer not political agendas.

Well... as a grad student eight years later, many things have changed. The girls dress to the nines with heels and bags, sunglasses and hoops. Everyone is either on a cell phone, texting while walking, or looking for their phone while walking across campus. I smile every time I see a bumper sticker or t-shirt or pin or artwork on a backpack. You know why I'm smiling? Because each and everyone one of them say vote for Obama. I'm not really seeing any Republican propaganda around. Hooray! Now this may correspond with moving from a red state to a blue state or from the beautiful west to the refinery traffic ridden east. But I think the college vote just may work in our favor this time. They (we) might actually get out and Barack the vote.

On the high school front... In my hoodlum ridden class (my favorite of the day this year) students presented symbiotic relationships in groups. I had the idea for them to act out their symbiotic relationships for the class but neglected to assign it because it was hard enough to get them to make the poster. But during the presentation 2 groups actually did a modern dance interpretation of their organisms acting symbiotically and I was totally impressed! One was of a tubeworm and a bacteria, the other of the "mafia" brown headed cowbird that lays eggs in another birds nest and then when the bird is born it kills all the other babies by pushing their eggs out of the nest.

Now, the teacher (me) thought that was the best part of the group presentations of course. But the show stopper, the item that had the entire class discussing and listening? What was that? "Backrow Boy"'s shirt that had a picture of Bush with the word EVIL written across his forehead (in sharpie pen) and the quote on the side "not my president" and in the sharpie pen "too young to vote"!!

Eat Bertha's Mussels

They even have bumper stickers for this cause, and so with a guest in town from New York, roomie and I took our usual tour of the Baltimore town with an evening in fells point where sleepless in Seattle and Homicide Life on the Streets where filmed), and the mussels were delicious! They also had a nice grilled veg platter that followed the escargot course. Because I know 'nuff I didn't wear my ozzy shorts and University of Utah t shirt that I wore to the Dulaney football game, I actually wore a real girl outfit with heals. Yes, we all know the cobble stones in Fells Point are not the best place to wear shoes like this... But I was very careful. I even had a plan squared away with Erik and Mike that if I did fall in the street they could laugh for a minute, but then they had to pick me up.

I successfully sobered up after my 2.5 glasses to walk along the cobblestones after leaving the boys to "hook up" with the girlies. I didn't fall at all. But I went to Stacey's to watch a showing of Big Daddy on the big screen projector in their beautiful back yard. Then of course, in pure Paigeness, I promptly fell off the porch. Chair and all ass over tea kettle, smashing a bush, breaking the chair, and wishing I wasn't so sober to remember the whole thing.

Moral of this story: Mussels are not vegan, and I definitely have a new favorite wine. I actually hugged the 1/2 bottle(the most action in months and it was only $20) Fess Parker Chardonnay from Santa Barbara . It was so delicious I feel as if I must tell KJ about the affair and I will be ok if he breaks up with me and I can only commit to the Parker fellow when I can afford it.

Eat Bertha's Mussels
(John Roberts)

(G) F#
Eat Bertha's mussels, they're the best there is by far
You can eat them in the dining room, you can eat them in the bar
So when you're ashore in Baltimore and you fancy a bite to eat
Just follow your nose to Bertha's, you'll be in for a rare
old treat

Now a sailor came to Bertha's with a problem most severe
His manly pride had atrophied from a voyage of forty years
A couple of plates of mussels, now he sings in a different key
His jib boom's set right, he'll be in there tonight, and he'll
never go back to sea.

CHORUS
Now a lady came to Bertha's, who wanted a daughter or a son
The doctors had said with a shake of the head that she couldn't
have either one
So she ate a plate of mussels and went home to her husband dear
She tuned up his cryth, and I'll tell you the truth, she had
triplets the very same year.
CHORUS
They will cure your diarrhea, cure your constipation, too.
Just swallow a box for the chicken pox, the measles or the flu.
Now, if you fancy a healthy life, get your daily doses straight
A plate a day of Bertha's mussels, and you'll live 'til you're 98.
CHORUS
By John Roberts about Bertha's Mussels on Fells Point in
Baltimore.

Things you shouldn't blog about

Republicans sending group emails about English Only laws
Vegan diets and the hunger therein
Cleaning the liter box or not, a theoretical framework
Gravity Boots: Palin a go-go
1980's songs... Forever young or Pretty in Pink
Price of gas and airline tickets in the pre-post Bush era
Armed robberies that occur at your neighborhood convenience store

I am ready for some

football! Crisp air followed by big rain storm yesterday is making for a great opening day. I'm excited I get to watch all the games again. It's funny the things you miss when you don't know you missed them. Team iron horse came within 5 points of first place in the trivia tournament this week. Had a nice brunch except the veggie wrap was boiling hot green beans in a tortilla. Hungry enough to eat it, but the bloody Mary's gave my sustenance yesterday. I saw a weird movie I didn't think I would like called Alpha Dog, but it was surprisingly interesting and sad. Today I'm planning on watching football, grading papers, and reading about the evolution of human behavior in mate selection... hmmm...