Last night I had my 3rd official tango lesson. I signed up for an 8-week course through a dance studio in Chicago, and I have been LOVING it! Amazingly enough there have been equal numbers of men and women each week, and the instructor is hilarious. All in all, a great experience. Tango makes me feel tall, strong, graceful, seductive, DIVINE.
Then I get on the train. Still on my dancing high and chattering away on my phone. I boarded the train and went for my favorite sideways facing seats (they face the interior of the train instead of front or back). As I lined myself up with the seat and bent over (while still standing) to put my bag on the floor between my feet, the train lurched forward and I was launched into the air. I effectively squashed the girl next to me and caused all the other passengers to avert their gaze awkwardly. The squashed girl didn't even look up from texting on her cell, but I'm SURE that the conversation switched to the idiotic girl she now had to sit next to. It was a great ride all the way home facing all the people who just saw me and my tango shoes eat it. I had flashbacks to my infamous train ride through France to meet Jennifer, though this time I didn't have the cover of being the Stupide Americaine.. just stupide.
BUT I read something yesterday that said: If you can't laugh at yourself, you're not doing enough stupid things.
Cheers.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Graduation!
I did it!!! I graduated! AND I didn't fall off the stage :-)
I got to wear Psi Chi and Beta Beta Beta cords with my black Harry Potter gown. Thanks everyone for coming and supporting me, I was really happy to have you all there.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
Hit the Dirt
I've been working on my bio take-home all day and there was a dinner for graduating seniors in the biology major at Cascarelli's, so I invited Halley to go with me and she asked if I wanted to go with her to the barn afterwards and ride her horse Raleigh. I said why yes, yes of course I'd love to. So we gathered up our riding clothes, went to relli's and got a free pizza. So we headed out to the barn and changed into our riding attire, Halley tacked up Raleigh and we headed into the arena. After about 20 minutes or so Halley decided he was getting tired so I should get on. It was great, he was really controlled and easy to ride, the gait changes were awesome and his canter was really nice. So I changed directions and picked up a canter going the other direction...only he picked up the wrong lead (wrong foot in front for the direction we were going) and he got confused, flustered, I don't know. Just to fill you in Raleigh is an ex-racehorse. So he takes off full gallop and I thought at first we were just going to go through the fence to the other side of the arena, but then he changed direction so we were headed for the viewing gallery that has no windows. My last thought before bailing off was "I'm going to be the first one to go through the viewing gallery." But I didn't, I landed, flat on my back against the wall (I didn't hit it) and Raleigh took off to the other side of the arena. I got a lot of dirt in my pants and a scrape on my back, but I came up laughing and I would've gotten back on, but Halley decided she would make him work a little longer. I would like to thank Don from Aerial for forcing me to learn how to fall, it has come in handy :-)
I really wanted to end my college career with a bang. Though I may still have a chance to fall into the viewing gallery on Tuesday for my last riding lesson.
GRADUMATATING!!!!
Well, I'm done with classes, FOREVER...or at least until I decide if I'm doing more school.
I will miss cum laude by .1, bummer. But I'll definitely make the Dean's list with somewhere between a 3.6-3.7 for the semester. I was also fortunate to have my only sit-down final cancelled for graduating seniors if we did well enough on our papers. So once I finish my Bio take-home I'm done!!!
I will miss cum laude by .1, bummer. But I'll definitely make the Dean's list with somewhere between a 3.6-3.7 for the semester. I was also fortunate to have my only sit-down final cancelled for graduating seniors if we did well enough on our papers. So once I finish my Bio take-home I'm done!!!
Dumpster Diving for Clipart
The title pretty much says it all.
Monday I came in to work and there was a pile of broken down boxes inside the back door. Before he left I asked our cleaning guy to take them out to the trash. A few hours later I got a call from one of our Parent Volunteers asking if we'd gotten the art projects she'd dropped off through the mail slot in the back door over the weekend.
I hadn't seen anything. Neither had Deborah, neither had Yecid or Angelica. I had the sinking feeling that they'd been tossed. Unfortunately this is also Parents' Week where everything has to be PERFECT so we have our best foot forward. Luckly we didn't need the projects she'd done until Tuesday. The day went on.
Tuesday morning comes and all the teachers are frantically looking for the clipart locomotives, wagons, and cabooses that are supposed to be cut out on red, yellow, and blue cardstock. DARN. I had forgotten. I quickly started pulling out similar colors of cardstock so we could make photocopies ourselves. Then I realized photocopying and cutting out 100 of each was going to take more time than we had and wouldn't be done for the start of class.
I took a deep breath, rolled up my sleeves, hiked up my britches, and headed out to the dumpster. Sure enough, after some pilfering, I found them.
I've hit a new low. Or maybe a new high. Is this what motherhood is like?
Monday I came in to work and there was a pile of broken down boxes inside the back door. Before he left I asked our cleaning guy to take them out to the trash. A few hours later I got a call from one of our Parent Volunteers asking if we'd gotten the art projects she'd dropped off through the mail slot in the back door over the weekend.
I hadn't seen anything. Neither had Deborah, neither had Yecid or Angelica. I had the sinking feeling that they'd been tossed. Unfortunately this is also Parents' Week where everything has to be PERFECT so we have our best foot forward. Luckly we didn't need the projects she'd done until Tuesday. The day went on.
Tuesday morning comes and all the teachers are frantically looking for the clipart locomotives, wagons, and cabooses that are supposed to be cut out on red, yellow, and blue cardstock. DARN. I had forgotten. I quickly started pulling out similar colors of cardstock so we could make photocopies ourselves. Then I realized photocopying and cutting out 100 of each was going to take more time than we had and wouldn't be done for the start of class.
I took a deep breath, rolled up my sleeves, hiked up my britches, and headed out to the dumpster. Sure enough, after some pilfering, I found them.
I've hit a new low. Or maybe a new high. Is this what motherhood is like?
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
A day in the life
I don't want to downplay the Tobe, but I've GOT to recount my day.
8:30 am arrive at work and begin looking over the day:
100 children
7 teachers
2 managers (me and a part-timer)
6 trial classes coming in (3 scheduled to arrive between 9 and 9:15)
8:45 am conduct a quick start of the day meeting with the team, and run my assistant through how to welcome and follow up with trial classes.
9:00 am enter trial class #1, Elle, 3 yrs old clinging to her mother's leg. I walk them down to the Spanish classroom, the teacher says, "hola," and Elle bursts into tears. Mom thinks she'll stop crying faster if she leaves the room, so I sit with Elle sobbing and screaming on my lap while the teacher teaches and the other children arrive.
9:15 am Bella arrives to class and immediately bursts into tears because Elle is crying. Elle's mom comes back in to sit with Elle and I sit with Bella.
9:20 am a mother of an Italian student walks into the Spanish room looking for the bathroom. (the downstairs bathroom is accesible only by walking through this classroom, so we typically don't use it) I ask her if the bathroom upstairs is in use. She tells me there's an out of order sign on it.
"Great," I think (or say, come to think of it).
I extract Bella from my lap, give the teacher a the-show-must-go-on look, and head back upstairs to find out what's wrong with the toilet.
9:25 am after serious plunging I manage to fix the toilet
9:30 am teachers go into panic mode because our copy machine is out of toner
9:45 am teachers panic because the Italian poster is missing!
9:50 am resolve to use the Spanish one since the 3 and 4 year olds can't read anyway. I call the education team to order another poster for delivery tomorrow.
10:00 am UPS man arrives with our toner!
10:05 am copy machine is back in the game
---------
And they wonder why we have so much trouble getting to follow up calls with inquiring families.
---------
Cut to the afternoon
---------
5:00 pm get bored for the first time EVER at work because the only things left on the to-do list are things I don't want to do.
5:45 pm scoot out the door to make it to an interview on time
6:30-8:30 pm sweat through a LONG group interview full of role playing and case studies surrounding being responsible for groups of high school students (birth control and diary entries included). I begin questioning whether I really want to do this...
9:00 pm arrive home, begin dinner, walk into the corner of the open microwave door that is just perfectly at forehead level. That's gonna leave a mark.
And with all of that under my belt, I'm going to bed to get ready to start over tomorrow.
Glad you're here, Tobin. Happy birthday. Maybe someday your crazy Aunt Cait will teach you a thing or two about how to remain calm in times of trial. Can't wait.
8:30 am arrive at work and begin looking over the day:
100 children
7 teachers
2 managers (me and a part-timer)
6 trial classes coming in (3 scheduled to arrive between 9 and 9:15)
8:45 am conduct a quick start of the day meeting with the team, and run my assistant through how to welcome and follow up with trial classes.
9:00 am enter trial class #1, Elle, 3 yrs old clinging to her mother's leg. I walk them down to the Spanish classroom, the teacher says, "hola," and Elle bursts into tears. Mom thinks she'll stop crying faster if she leaves the room, so I sit with Elle sobbing and screaming on my lap while the teacher teaches and the other children arrive.
9:15 am Bella arrives to class and immediately bursts into tears because Elle is crying. Elle's mom comes back in to sit with Elle and I sit with Bella.
9:20 am a mother of an Italian student walks into the Spanish room looking for the bathroom. (the downstairs bathroom is accesible only by walking through this classroom, so we typically don't use it) I ask her if the bathroom upstairs is in use. She tells me there's an out of order sign on it.
"Great," I think (or say, come to think of it).
I extract Bella from my lap, give the teacher a the-show-must-go-on look, and head back upstairs to find out what's wrong with the toilet.
9:25 am after serious plunging I manage to fix the toilet
9:30 am teachers go into panic mode because our copy machine is out of toner
9:45 am teachers panic because the Italian poster is missing!
9:50 am resolve to use the Spanish one since the 3 and 4 year olds can't read anyway. I call the education team to order another poster for delivery tomorrow.
10:00 am UPS man arrives with our toner!
10:05 am copy machine is back in the game
---------
And they wonder why we have so much trouble getting to follow up calls with inquiring families.
---------
Cut to the afternoon
---------
5:00 pm get bored for the first time EVER at work because the only things left on the to-do list are things I don't want to do.
5:45 pm scoot out the door to make it to an interview on time
6:30-8:30 pm sweat through a LONG group interview full of role playing and case studies surrounding being responsible for groups of high school students (birth control and diary entries included). I begin questioning whether I really want to do this...
9:00 pm arrive home, begin dinner, walk into the corner of the open microwave door that is just perfectly at forehead level. That's gonna leave a mark.
And with all of that under my belt, I'm going to bed to get ready to start over tomorrow.
Glad you're here, Tobin. Happy birthday. Maybe someday your crazy Aunt Cait will teach you a thing or two about how to remain calm in times of trial. Can't wait.
Tobin Peter Wolthuis
Tobin Peter
born 4:37pm April 16, 2008
8lbs 12 oz
21in long
I know the pictures aren't amazing, I'll put up better pictures tomorrow
born 4:37pm April 16, 2008
8lbs 12 oz
21in long
I know the pictures aren't amazing, I'll put up better pictures tomorrow
Monday, March 31, 2008
...
I think it is time to let you guys know that I have been self-diagnosed with a very severe case of Senioritis. The symptoms include:
Lack of focus on school work
A complete lack of desire to do anything related to my education
Slight laziness
Frustration at the future ie: not having a job
and Annoyance that I have not yet graduated
It is not clear in research whether or not this illness is contagious but oddly enough and hence the name it appears only to affect graduating seniors. If anyone has any suggestions for treatment, as none are listed, that would be greatly appreciated.
Lack of focus on school work
A complete lack of desire to do anything related to my education
Slight laziness
Frustration at the future ie: not having a job
and Annoyance that I have not yet graduated
It is not clear in research whether or not this illness is contagious but oddly enough and hence the name it appears only to affect graduating seniors. If anyone has any suggestions for treatment, as none are listed, that would be greatly appreciated.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Daddy Fell Into the Pond
This is a poem in one of Elinore's poetry books. She absolutely loves it. We read it over and over. I always want to laugh because it reminds me of the time the canoe flipped over and threw Dad (and Mom?) into the lake. We all wanted to laugh, but we were afraid we would get in trouble. I remember someone's arm held above the water holding the camera!
Anyway, here it is:
Everyone grumbled. The sky was gray.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And there seemed to be nothing beyond,
THEN
Daddy fell into the pond!
And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight,
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out of the duckweed." Click!
Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft
And it sounded as if the old drake laughed.
O, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
WHEN
Daddy fell into the pond!
by Alfred Noyes
Anyway, here it is:
Everyone grumbled. The sky was gray.
We had nothing to do and nothing to say.
We were nearing the end of a dismal day,
And there seemed to be nothing beyond,
THEN
Daddy fell into the pond!
And everyone's face grew merry and bright,
And Timothy danced for sheer delight,
"Give me the camera, quick, oh quick!
He's crawling out of the duckweed." Click!
Then the gardener suddenly slapped his knee,
And doubled up, shaking silently,
And the ducks all quacked as if they were daft
And it sounded as if the old drake laughed.
O, there wasn't a thing that didn't respond
WHEN
Daddy fell into the pond!
by Alfred Noyes
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
We took advantage of a 48* day last week to ride our bikes over to Window on the Waterfront. We took along Elinore's rain boots in hopes of their being puddles. We found a good one and Elinore had a blast splashing away. Then we walked over to the boardwalk and she threw sticks into the marshes. We saw some red-winged blackbirds (which my field guide claims mean spring is definitely here).Thought I would share something funny with you. At a playgroup a few days ago, another mom asked me, "Does your daughter like to pretend a lot?" I told her yes. She said, "Because she just told me her name was Susan, and her nametag says Elinore."
Saturday, March 15, 2008
It's Official
I'm looking for a new job.
It's actually been official since the beginning of November, but I am recently at liberty to declare it publicly. I am committed to my current job through the end of the semester, which will most likely be the beginning of June, but beyond that, who knows?
I've been working with my life advisors (aka: Mom and Dad) to articulate my personal mission statement, and thus propel me into a successful career change. As I have it:
To kindle in Americans an appreciation and enthusiasm for the world's cultures using the arts as a medium.
I love nature, the arts, and world cultures. Does anyone have any ideas about how to combine those things? I'm open to suggestion.
It's actually been official since the beginning of November, but I am recently at liberty to declare it publicly. I am committed to my current job through the end of the semester, which will most likely be the beginning of June, but beyond that, who knows?
I've been working with my life advisors (aka: Mom and Dad) to articulate my personal mission statement, and thus propel me into a successful career change. As I have it:
To kindle in Americans an appreciation and enthusiasm for the world's cultures using the arts as a medium.
I love nature, the arts, and world cultures. Does anyone have any ideas about how to combine those things? I'm open to suggestion.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Ode to Late February
The snow is blowing sideways.
When will it end?
Spring is in my heart,
But in my lungs, phlegm.
Pooped out
I haven't posted over here for a while. I don't really have much to say, but Elinore always does. So I thought I'd let you in on what she said at lunch today.
As we were getting out of the car today I said, “I’m pooped.”
When I walked around to get Elinore she asked me, “Mama, did you poop in the car?”
I explained to her about that expression meaning that someone is tired.
About a half hour later while Elinore is eating lunch she asked me if I needed to sleep. “Yes, Mama needs a nap today because Mama is tired,” I said.
“You been pooping?” she said.
As we were getting out of the car today I said, “I’m pooped.”
When I walked around to get Elinore she asked me, “Mama, did you poop in the car?”
I explained to her about that expression meaning that someone is tired.
About a half hour later while Elinore is eating lunch she asked me if I needed to sleep. “Yes, Mama needs a nap today because Mama is tired,” I said.
“You been pooping?” she said.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Birthday List
So, my birthday is coming up soon and I guess I should probably get a list out there for you guys. I don't really need anything but here goes...
The Queen DVD
Wedding Crashers DVD
Every Living Thing and The Lord God Made Them All books on CD (Amazon wishlist)
Vosges Aztec collection (I miss Argentine Dulce de Leche)
A good book
National Treasure DVD
Pirates of the Caribbean 2 DVD
Real dishes/silverware
Crockpot
some fun games
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (I'm not sure if Mom got this already)
tube socks
a massage
I'll see if I think of anything else that seems like a good start
The Queen DVD
Wedding Crashers DVD
Every Living Thing and The Lord God Made Them All books on CD (Amazon wishlist)
Vosges Aztec collection (I miss Argentine Dulce de Leche)
A good book
National Treasure DVD
Pirates of the Caribbean 2 DVD
Real dishes/silverware
Crockpot
some fun games
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray (I'm not sure if Mom got this already)
tube socks
a massage
I'll see if I think of anything else that seems like a good start
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Third Shoe
Thanks for everyone's sympathy last week. Some of you were lucky to avoid the "I'm-sick-please-feel-sorry-for-me" calls during the 2.5 days that I was home from work. Mom received multiple... per day... and into the weekend. You're a real trooper, Mom.
Well, I have news. They're not over. Whatever I had in my chest last week has moved on up to my sinuses and "taken up housekeeping," as Mom put it. Today at work while my head was pounding and my nose running furiously, I threw in the towel and scheduled myself to see a doctor tomorrow morning. So you can all call tomorrow to feel sorry for me.
On the way home from work I decided to stop at my local grocer to buy some vegetables for a soup. But as I approached, a green sign in the window read that my grocer's license has been suspended effective today by the Chicago Dept of Public Health. Great. I just bought groceries there last week.
Don't mishaps come in threes? I'm waiting for the last shoe to drop. Stay tuned...
Well, I have news. They're not over. Whatever I had in my chest last week has moved on up to my sinuses and "taken up housekeeping," as Mom put it. Today at work while my head was pounding and my nose running furiously, I threw in the towel and scheduled myself to see a doctor tomorrow morning. So you can all call tomorrow to feel sorry for me.
On the way home from work I decided to stop at my local grocer to buy some vegetables for a soup. But as I approached, a green sign in the window read that my grocer's license has been suspended effective today by the Chicago Dept of Public Health. Great. I just bought groceries there last week.
Don't mishaps come in threes? I'm waiting for the last shoe to drop. Stay tuned...
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Star-Struck
Dear Blog,
Long time, no contact. Remember me? I'm the middle sister of the Bodine crew--the one who lives life from one awkward moment to the next.
Last night some of my girlfriends and I attended an event at Vosges Chocolat (n
ormally a gourmet chocolaterie). Once a month they use their retail store to host an event that celebrates their theme of "travel the world through chocolate." Last night was their Chocolate and Henna soiree with a focus on aphrodisiacs. In addition to delicious Indian appetizers, they served kir royales of champagne and rose water, had plate after plate of exotic chocolates and carmels to sample, and arranged for gu
ests to have their hands painted by a henna artist from NYC. Mine is the one with the diagonal vine.
ormally a gourmet chocolaterie). Once a month they use their retail store to host an event that celebrates their theme of "travel the world through chocolate." Last night was their Chocolate and Henna soiree with a focus on aphrodisiacs. In addition to delicious Indian appetizers, they served kir royales of champagne and rose water, had plate after plate of exotic chocolates and carmels to sample, and arranged for gu
ests to have their hands painted by a henna artist from NYC. Mine is the one with the diagonal vine.After being painted we had to hold our hands over candles so the henna could dry. It was at that moment that I looked up and saw a woman that I recognized walk through the door. This was my first ever celebrity-spotting! Unfortunately none of you know who she is. Katrina Markoff is the owner and founder of Vosges Haut Chocolat. She is such an inspiration of a woman who has followed her passion and created a unique and succesful company doing what she loves and bettering the world in the process. She is also gorgeous with a kick-a** sense of style. I want to be her when I grow up. So anyway, after squealing and exclaiming to my friends about who she was--they all know I'm obsessed--I looked back down at my henna tattoo and realized that I had singed off all my arm hairs.
Nevertheless, as the night wore on my girlfriends encouraged me to go over and talk to Katrina to tell her what an inspiration she was and ask for a job, but I couldn't muster up the courage. Finally Colleen walked over to her to tell her what an inspiration we all thought she was. She was warm and personable and told us that you just have to not give up, and all I could do was stand there sheepishly with a stupid grin on my face.
So much for being bold and going where no woman has gone before. At least I didn't introduce myself, so if I apply for a job she won't know that I was the star-struck one.
Watch this video, and you'll understand my obsession.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)