July's Music

The Weakness in Me - Joan Armatrading
OOH Child - The Five Stairsteps
Taylor - Jack The Muppet Johnson
Where is My Mind? - Pixies
Love the Way You Lie - Eminem and Rhianna
Don't Fuck Wit Me - Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz
You Shook Me - Led Zeppelin
Bedda at Home - Jill Scott
Comin Back to Me - Jefferson Airplane
Something for Cat - Henry Mancini
Romeo and Juliet: Romeo at Friar Laurence's - Libor Pesek
You're the One - Tracey Chapman
Your Mother Should Know - The Beatles
You're Crazy- Guns N Roses
Freak Like Me - Macy Gray

July is a good month for music. Concerts outside, live music on porches, playlists traded on the kitchen radio. It's also a good month for birthdays, squash, apricots, cucumber water, fireworks, new grills, water parks, roller coasters, bike building, swimming, and fairy lands.

KJ Grand Reserve

My blog is missing my entire trip to China. Should I post my journals that I had to email to everyone because blogspot is blocked in China? perhaps. I worry about the time stamp being off, but it would be fun to reread the experience.

I have opened my first bottle of Grand Reserve post pay day. It's going to be a hard two weeks of moving and packing to 54s. I will miss the paint in the house. But it's not hard to repaint. Or is it?

Spent a lot of time sleeping the first couple of weeks back in China. I never used to be able to sleep. Now I can sleep in a short car ride, on a bus, on a plane, during Law and Order. I like sleep. And I like that my trip to China taught me how to sleep.

9 Days

This is crazy. Finishing grad school, finishing grades for my students, cleaning the house, classroom, and car. Packing up the goods and gifts and few clothes I'm taking. Mostly toilet paper, bandaids, and medicine. I've collected a few gifts to give to my host family... a bottle of Boordy wine, notecards, a book about Utah and a book about Maryland. I'm going to be living with Sally and her parents. I can't wait to meet them. The host families are having a send off dinner tomorrow night. It should be fun. Then one week until we depart for Beijing.

One of the problems already is the H1N1 virus scare. China is checking for flu symptoms as US flights arrive. Technically this means we will have to get a nose swab before entering Beijing, then go through customs, and hopefully not miss our flight to Xi'an. On a down note, if someone on our plane has flu symptoms, we will be quarantined for a week!

Preparing for the travel is what is the most interesting. I have been accumulating stuff and not officially packing. It is supposed to be extremely hot. Hot. And smoggy. I still can't decide if I'm packing an extra suitcase in my luggage or just taking two both ways. The luggage really will be a pain on the last leg of the trip because we will be on a "soft sleeper" (having a bed with a cushion) train from Xi'an to Beijing for twelve hours. That train ride will be nothing compared to the near 48 hours of real time it will take us to arrive in Xi'an (if we make our connecting flight).

We will arrive at our host school to meet our host families and the principal of Tie Yi High School (one of the top 10 schools in the country). The students we are staying with will not be participating in many of the events, dinners, and field trips because all of them will be studying for their "gaokao" (gow cow). This the Chinese college entrance exam similar to our SAT (haha, the math in the American SAT was called "elementary" by our guests in February). It is a two day test that is given the first week of June. The parents await their kids inside to read their expressions as they leave the test, After watching a student slobber on their final exam in my class because "it doesn't matter anyway I passed and am graduating and going to college" I find this an interesting comparison of cultures.


So I guess I will blog as often as I can. Facebook and email as well. The phone will be a little tricky and the iPhone as cool as it is, will cost a bundle. $1 per text and $2 per minute talking. But it will work for emergencies, as an iPod, camera, and my bff.

45 Days

The Chinese students sang this song at their going away party. The experience so far has taught me that family is family no matter what and no matter what they look like. As the exchange students got picked up at 4 am from Dulaney on their first day of arrival, they were embraced by their host families and added as new sons or daughters into their homes. They were immediately loved, loved, loved.

I'm sure it was difficult to send the students back home even knowing that they were going to see their friends soon when we go to Xi'an but the point is that the families may not be reunited. But each family described how important the experience was and how they will love their new families forever.

Not that this song isn't also about 54 other things as well but I know nuff than to go into that here. I am smiling and confident and that has been the plan I'm visualizing.

Fire in the Rain

Tomorrow is the Chinese exchange students farewell picnic. the last 4 weeks have been packed with China stuff... A few mishaps with lost papers, toothaches and hand injuries the Chinese ambassadors seem to be unscathed from their journey to Baltimore.

I should put the calendar on my blog. They have been very very busy touring the area. Our trip to New York was quite literally a life changing experience for me. Sometimes New York rolls you around, chews you up, and spits you out... This trip she welcomed us, I'm sure because we gazed at the entire city from the outside and from the top. We only saw the streets of NYC for about 45 minutes in Times Square. I felt the same way when I first see the mountains in SL,UT as I did entering the Lincoln Tunnel. Boarded the bus at 6 am with bagels and doughnuts and coffee etc. Several parents joined us so it was really helpful and fun. My favorite part was the Circle Line boat. It was fantastic to see the city from this view. Two hours later we boarded the 2 hour line to the top of the Empire state building. So we saw the top of the city and where we had just cruised around. If anyone is worried about how P is going to do in Xi'an with 15 students in exactly 56 days... well Tim and I got 32 people from the top of the Empire state building to Times square in 45 minutes. I also said for the first time in my life "I demand to see a manager (with a fist smash on the counter)" at the Hard Rock Cafe. The Chinese kids sang all the way home. all the way ;)...

Not that my March in all its Marchiness didn't have it's normal madness without all the Chiners running around. I also had two school field trips, an uncomfortable parent teacher student conference, a ping pong table elevator aerobic workout, a serial killer library project in forensics, a field walk to the school stream where we saw 3 deer run right past us, another uncomfortable teacher student classroom incident, a minor car accident (dent), broke up a fight in the hallway between two girls, accidentally said retard in front of the special educator, and a quite intimate and brutal incident with the copy machine for packets I had already handed out...

and in my real life second place in trivia, second place to an Italian, second to last person to do my taxes, second bottle of wine open from the case left on porch by neighbor, and last night's barbecue at the neighbors with friends around a campfire in the rain second only to none.

Why don't I have that cleaning addiction?

I wouldn't mind being a clean freak. I would probably actually like taking the time to be organized, clutter free, and clean. But I am woefully not. AND now with being super busy with China stuff I feel even more desire to keep the cat frat in a constant state of disorder. I wish I had a place for everything, changed the oil in the car when the sticker says to, graded assignments as they came in, and matched my socks... I would really like it. And I know my mother taught me how.

Presented to the Teacher Fellows at the Center of Marine Biotechnology Saturday. I brought with me a few yawns and a nice hangover. Then this week is full of professional sports... Plus I have a nice paper due tomorrow. Yummy. I'm going to make the coffee now and if I spill I may clean it up...

Go Wizards (Monday)
Go Capitals (Thursday)
Go Blast (Friday)

Williamsburg Virginia

Simon, Ocean, Shelly, Sally, Te, Winnie, Apple, Kiki, Patrick, Sean, Jane, Nicholas, and Note (American names they picked)arrived Wednesday early morning and our first trick was breakfast. I accidentally gave a student an entire glass of half and half instead of milk. All the students and all the parents are so wonderful.

Picture the journey beginning as if we just landed in VA for the first time in 1607. This experience is going to be awesome! We spent the day exploring Jamestown with a lovely guide Mr. Noble. We learned about the first capitalists and the dawn of the enslavement and robbery that began this good ol USA. Saw the first ship replicas, saw the glass blowing and the Chinese kids bought the only things they will buy in America that was not made in China, hand blown glass bottles from Jamestown.

What a day off needs is a nice long blog

My sisters are the best bloggers. No offense intended to the rest of you that I read. Econtrario included here for he often makes sense if you understand the robot thing. Which I fully admit I do not. But he has some good things to say on there as well, some nice play lists and songs and such. Also Vanilla-Basil has such a great knack for the food blog that I can't even start that. But it is that cooking and writing go hand in hand and my lovely similar chromosomers are both extremely gifted at both. However, I think this may be my fifth blog about this. But facebook has taken over the blogging. And I don't know why. When I turn my face from the book, something happens, when I'm staring at it nothing boils.

Otterbutt, I like the list blogs and the not list blogs. Lists are ok for blogging.

As I spend my day preparing for a meeting about China. Preparing to answer questions like, what are the intended outcomes, suggestions for students to use for journal entries, projects and assessment limits for students work there. Blah blah blah. Anyway, I really am focusing on television, cats, making the perfect hollandaise without a blender (need a third try), and writing the perfect blog. Actually attend my job? Who does that?

Peeps, keep it up. I will need to read your blogs in China.

If up is down then we're in China

The important part is that none of it really matters. That no matter is still no matter should be my new motto. So I may have to go to Iowa instead of Utah in August. Look me in the eye if you want. Double dog dare ya. Before that time, I get to have 14 Chinese Ambassadors in my town with umpteen things to do (you should really look at my calendar it is crazy), grad school, and then I will be escorting my 14 American Ambassadors to Xi'an in three short months. Yikes. Number one goal is to try to save funds for the adventures (um goodbye KJ my old friend I've come to drink Black box instead)and to find an endless supply of Xanax for the trip. Perhaps I'll change the name of my host city to Xa'nax.

Glimpse at zee calendar
Presidents Day Weekend: Williamsburg & Jamestown field trip with all ambassadors and their families for 3 days and 2 nights. (either stay in the room for free with the Chinese teacher or spend $140 for room, or just $80 for meal and tickets)

DC to china town for dinner followed by a Capitals game (that's hockey)
Baltimore Blast (that's soccer)
Washington Wizards (that's basketball)
Snowtubing
Rollerskating
Sports night
Ring dance (quite the odd tradition in the east. Maybe I missed a lot of high school but we didn't get school rings in a ceremony and then go to a dance)
New York city Day trip (on MFGD favorite holiday in Baltimore)
Aquarium & Science Center
DC Monuments
DC Museums

They leave in the middle of spring break now so my plans may change for that as well.

Global Warming (is a Hoax...)

Really? Really? A letter from a parent asking me to "educate" myself on "both" sides of the argument. Really? That perhaps maybe humans aren't causing the increase of CO2 that is trapping heat around the GLOBE! Oh yeah and we humans don't over fish, or bring invasive species to islands, or leave trash in parks, or build starbucks and parking lots where turtles used to live, or cut down trees to build said starbucks, or cut down trees to make those cups that the starbucks goes in and the little cardboard protector, or wrap our poop in plastic for centuries, or use paper plates or glass wine bottles in the land fill (yes I recycle, sometimes). The words "so called anthropogenic CO2" actually hurt me as I read them. Actually hurt me. So I've decided to write a new "Inherit the Wind" to be allowed to teach global warming to republicans. "Inherit the Hot Air".

Really? Really? People really still are republican. Really?

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