Why I Keep Him

So as any married one will tell you, there are times when you look at the person lucky enough to spend their life with you and and wonder "why oh why oh why oh why do I bother?". Not a commentary on what you think of the person as a whole, just what you think in that moment. Well, last night was one of the nights that reminds me why I bother.

Yesterday we SUPPOSED to be a big cleaning day and I had an ambitious set of plans for my day that I expected to commence just as soon as I got up noonish-closer-to-one. I began cleaning and even roped Luis into participating since he has more cleaning skill in his right pinky than I do after sleeping all morning to prepare.

We were busily cleaning in our separate parts of the house when Luis came in and said "You're going to kill me, but I invited Andres and Natalia for supper" (cue the "why do I bother" thoughts).There was so much to do and I didn't want the limit of time placed by visitors, but they're always fun so I pulled my life together and kept on scrubbing. Let me clarify that we LOVE Andres and Natalia (especially since Andres grew up with Luis and still speaks to him) and all stupid attitudes were my own inability to veer from the supposed plan de jour.

I took the comforter to the laudramat since it is too big to fit in the washer here and pretty much by the time I got back, this is what that little punk whipped up: pasta with mussles, calamari, shrimp, and mushrooms... if the food wasn't so good I would've beat him up for being such an over achiever.

So, I quit being a whiney wife for a while and thankfully ate the food my husband fixed. Hey, it it were not for his lovely efforts we would've been feasting on the local delights like Taco Bell or KFC (which are lovely in their own time). He enjoys making fancy stuff so the next time he starts dancing the marengue on my nerves (which is a big fat joke if you know how much he hates dancing to spanish music) I'll remember the time he really "rocked the mic" as my darling Che would say and fixed some pretty looking and tasting food.

Jackpot!

Every Sunday on the way to church in Burlington we pass the sign that lets us know what the current lottery jackpot is and almost everytime, Luis and I go through our lists of what we'd do if we won. Not that we've ever had a chance of winning since the only tickets we've ever bought were the time that the jackpot was like 320 million and that was Luis buying.

Since we pass it every Sunday, we have gotten pretty good at shooting through our lists, but I'm curious what your list would be. And seriously? Unless you'd really go running over to Namibia with a pile of money in your hands for water treatment programs don't put it -- I'll already very impressed with you as a person :) I'll admit that I sure haven't thought of that one time passing the sign.

So, leave me a comment telling me your list. I'm not going to let you win or anything, but maybe I'll beef up my own list or maybe I'll get a little insight into you.

Llave por la mona

A few of you might know the tale of the day I got locked out of the house in the cold with flip-flops and wet hair. Hey, just because I remember to make the kids wear their coats at school doesn't mean that I have a lick of sense in my own world!

So, I tried fruitlessly to break into the house even using the credit card trick -- nada. I tried to see if any windows were unlocked -- so much for the virtues of being responsible. I was forced to call Luis (who was working in Raleigh) and have him drive all the way home to let me in.

Lesson: I need a hidden key. Well, almost a month later it is hidden. Of course Luis (with his extensive criminal training that is standard in all elementary curriculum in Colombia) guessed right away where I put it. I don't know whether to chalk that up to me being obvious or us being married so I'm leaving it for the time being.

The good news is that I won't have to bother my dear Cheyney the next time I get locked out, the bad news is that being very aware of my absentminded characteristics (or as someone once put it "my mind being on loftier things) I'll probably forget and still have to call her. Che, remind me that I need to give you a spare because as it stands, when I call you it will be to help me break in and that can't be cheap to repair!

**Disclaimer to criminals that often read my blog as a form of recreation: don't bother to look for the key -- I'm so onto you that I've probably chickened out and brought it back inside and put it in my cobra's cage.

Raleigh Snow Days Explained to the Layman

We had a real Raleigh snow day today. For those of you who've never lived in Raleigh I have to tell you that it is a phenomonon like no other. The way is goes down is this:

1. A week out the weather reporters start mentioning the S word (no Thomas, not that S word it's the one that rhymes with Joe).

2. 5 minutes after the first mention people trek to the grocery stores to stock up on storm rations like canned foods and wood and water.

3. The snow trucks put down a few test layers of that magical snow and ice killing stuff that may or may not be salt.

4. The parents tell their kids that they probably won't have school the next day b/c of snow.

5. Everyone hunkers down to watch WRAL to see about the delays and closings.

The station uses hard-hitting graphics to be sure all viewers are aware of the potential dangers on and off of the road.

6. Wake County Public Schools makes sure that it is the absolute last place to make a decision.

7. They give us a 2 hour delay.

8. Nothing happens.

Then the whole thing repeats itself at least once or twice that season.

Oh, and referencing #8, obviously this picture was not from today... but you would know that if you were what I like to call a careful reader!

Jacked up very bad day

My favorite kids book of all time is Alexander and the Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day and this day sure had the makings. Here it goes:

7:46- Voicemail from my TA letting me know that she'd be out because she's got a migraine.

10:55- Kids act like like bafoons who've never done a math lesson in their lives... resulted in their papers being tossed in the recycling bin so that they could start over and do a good job.

7:15- Lights in the Honda start acting weird.

7:22- Car starts really getting scary... not wanting to accelerate... radio not working.

7:35- Pull into the driveway... whew... car stops... and Luis can't figure it out.

8:12- Luis was having trouble getting the arrepas to go with our yum Colombian beans separated so I tried and ended up stabbing my hand stigmata-style.

8:30- Have to go to pick up the Jeep since my Honda is not working... sucks.

I think I'll move to Australia...

Stop Dressing Your Six-Year-Old Like a Skank

I went to the library to return my 1 week loan of T is for Trespass a wonderful book by the lovely Sue Grafton (who I met once because I'm hot stuff) and I happened upon a little hardcover copy of Stop Dressing Your Six Year Old Like a Skank.

Had to check it out. I'm always up for a provocative title.

It is so freaking funny -- especially since the author observes a lot of trends about the 6 year old population that I do. If you are looking for a quickie that will make your stomach hurt (from laughing not concern), I'd go the skanky route... but that's just me.

Oh and yes my parents did pay good money for me to get my degree in English and no I don't often check out the great American classics (ok ever... I don't ever check out the great American classics).

Salud (dinero y amor)

Well, Luis and I had a nice weekend together which is rare (the weekend part not the nice part). Usually he is working or flying and I am being worthless around the house because I'm sleeping until noon and watching episodes of MTV stuff online (since we 86ed the cable).

Not this weekend. We puttered around and ate Chinese one night and Pizza the other... heaven.

There is no one that can get under my skin like my husband, but I think that is b/c there is no one that is more like half of my brain. We are just cheeseball like that.

So, here's to cute husbands to make the rare weekends fun. And here's to the dogs who mostly stayed out of our way this weekend so we could argue and laugh and just generally experience the blessing that is time together. Salud!

Ur on red.

So I have a list of favorite blogs that I like to visit and I noticed that when I checked one that had not been updated since January 1st, I was mentally chanting "update your blog, update your blog". Apparently that would be a case of the kettle and pot and some black cause guess when I updated my blog last... oh yes, it was the 1st. So, here I am updating since I am hoping my favorite bloggers will do the same.

So, what to tell... The one thing that happened today that was kind of funny was a little "love note" that I got from my right hand man Connor today. Preface this story in your mind with the fact that the behavior in my class is by colors: green- good day, yellow- a little note goes home explaining some silliness or talkative behavior, and red (which only 2 people have gotten all year long)- which means the kid him/herself has to call his/her parents and explain what the crap has happened to turn his/her life into this downward spiral of disaster during the day.

Well, Connor (or Bartchy as I like to call him since his last name is so much more punchy sounding) wrote me a note and folded it hand-arthritis-givingly-small. When I opened it is said "ur on red" translated: this little genius just put his teacher on RED for no reason! Ha - love the moxie. Wish I had it when I was 5!

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Now, my favorite bloggers (and you know who you are) update your blogs and keep my entertained -- or else you will be on RED.

Fun Friends

Oh, and here's a little shout out to our fun friends, Ryan and Cheyney. We had a great time celebrating New Years with them last night and we are so thankful that you guys are in Raleigh!!!

Tracking In

Tomorrow I return to work after a nice extended track-out. This is my second, but since Luis was in Colombia during my first track-out, this one was immeasurably more fun. Here is a list of things that I will miss when I track back into school tomorrow morning:

1. Sleeping until 10 AM, eating some breakfast, reading, then sleeping in a little more.

2. Taking a long bath when I am ready to (instead of a quick shower so that I am not even one second later than I already am).

3. Keeping our house clean and clutter-free.

4. Making (sometimes) fancy suppers for when Luis gets home from work.

5. Staying up reading WAY after Luis falls asleep.

6. Sleeping until 10 AM and repeating the previous day's rigorous schedule.

I am excited to see the kids tomorrow, though. We rearranged the classroom totally on our workdays, so I am almost giddy imagining them finding their new seats and reaquainting themselves with all of their friends. And don't even think that I've forgotten about my class-boyfriend, Jackson -- I'm ready to get back to getting his little lovenotes :)

Wish me luck!!! (Actually, I'm pretty rested up so I should be great fun this week!)