Nutcase

I forgot to post my new helmet!



Cute, right?! I love it. I wanted to get a roller derby helmet, but when I admitted why I was getting it at the Roller Derby store, they told me their helmets did not meet safety guidelines as bike helmets. :( Sad. This style was the closest I could find that was made for bikes and didn't give me "penis head".

I love that it says "Nutcase" on the front.

I don't think I ever posted it here, but I did get that bike I was talking about before. We still haven't painted her but I am really pleased with her. Once painted, I'll post pics.

Progress

I went into school today for the miniscule amount of time between the end of the seminar and the time they closed up the building, and I think I accomplished a lot. There is still LOADS to do, but I actually was able to get it looking like a functional classroom. The desks are in order, at least. Also, my rockstar boyfriend went to Home Depot and got me an 8'x4' piece of showerboard to serve as a whiteboard and delivered it to my room. I had to deal with chalk for the last 3 years and I was finally able to get a "whiteboard" so I don't have to go nuts over the incredible amount of dust that accumulates, the itchy hands, and breaking pieces of chalk as I am writing. I have wanted a dry erase board for years, but have never been lucky enough to land a classroom with one pre-installed. I researched online and it turns out shower board works. The board, 3 clamps to hold it up, and Kaboom cleaner (the recommended cleaner) ran less than $20. An actual white board, measuring 2 feet less in width, retails for $250. The only drawback is that the marker doesn't come off as well. By November, I might have fallen out of love with it because of the "ghosting" issue, but I'm hopeful this advanced cleaner he picked up will help with that effect. I won't be able to get in to my classroom again til Monday, as the school will open and close during the last day of my seminar tomorrow. I'll be there bright and early Monday morning, though, to get jumpstarted before the first Kindergartner arrives to be pre-assessed for the new year! It will be a cute day. A 5-year old meeting you for the first time as their new teacher is pretty darn priceless.

I think I found a bike for myself! I wanted a cruiser with at least 7 speeds and fenders for less than $100. I managed to do all of that, I think, except for the price. found a vintage one for $40, but it's on Whidbey Island so it requires me to pay for a ferry ticket both ways and it's been in storage for 15 years so it will need a $50-$60 tuneup, and it will need to be repainted. The paint is supposed to be in good condition, but I don't want a brown bike. I'm not sure if I'll paint it silver or hot pink, but Josh has agreed to help me. Anyway, all the updates and pick up costs are going to drive me over my $100 goal, but I don't think I can find anything cheaper. $40 is pretty darn good. I haven't found anything less than $150 that meets my criteria. The only thing I need to determine is whether or not the bike is the right size for me. I forgot to ask when I called to claim it, so I am waiting for him to return my voicemail and confirm. Just in case, here's the bike as it is now. In other words, these are the BEFORE pictures:

Gimme Gimme Gimme

Hawaii was, simply put, amazing. I had such a wonderful time basking in the warmth of the magical air. I am really lucky to have been able to go and enjoy myself as I did. Needless to say, Josh and I did not want to come back. I am especially bummed by the reality of having to dive into work early Monday morning. At least it wasn't raining when we returned! So far, the weather has been pretty kind with promises of reaching the 90's again next week.

We got in just after midnight last night and got to bed around 3 am. Josh had to rise not much after that in order to drive down to Portland for a window cleaning conference. I spoke to him on the phone a bit ago and he was really jazzed about having met a lot of the guys in the industry he talks to nation-wide online. It was like one big blind date! I am happy he feels re-energized and motivated about work. Maybe my conference next week will do the same for me??? I can only hope. As of now, I want to run away to Hawaii and hide at the beach with the sea turtles for the next year or 2.

My amazing friend Nikki, founder of the autism awareness organization, Knowledge For People, is a never ending source of fun and good ideas. Today, she called and offered me invites for things upcoming: A burlesque show put on by Rat City Roller Girls, a Labor Day camping excursion, and the opportunity to put together an all-girls' bowling league where we can showcase our ineptitude with the sport! I said yes to all 3. I also organized another trivia night at Prost! on Monday with some of my nearest and dearest. I am definitely trying my darndest to enjoy life on the mainland!

Ah, Hawaii, I miss you.

We are dogsitting Bella this weekend while Todd is up on Vancouver Island with his old flame. It's only fair in exchange for his sitting Lulu while we were gone, but I am wanting to be very selfish and not have to worry about being a good dog mommy right now. I just want to wallow in the mounds of household duties I need to attend to. Laundry and paper organization top the list. Both are taunting me and I keep staring at them, wishing I could make them disappear just by thinking it hard enough.

I spent the better part of the day scouring ads for free things for my classroom. Since it's a new classroom, I don't have any supplies coming with it. I need a play kitchen, a lego set, wooden puzzles, and wooden building blocks. I found a wooden kitchen that isn't really what I want, but it's only $50 and it retails for almost $200. I posted an ad asking for free or low-priced items to cover the rest of the wishlist. I don't know how successful I'll be, but I'm definitely not looking forward to spending tons of my own money to furnish the room. My new school has a pretty wealthy population, but that doesn't increase the funding to our school. I might just have to wait until school starts to ask for tangible donations. I hate to do that, though. I always like having everything ready from the getgo!

I also want to get a bike for myself since my school is so close and it seems silly to drive to work every day. I imagine I'll be driving most days, even with one, but I'd like to have the option. I emailed someone about a purple cruiser they had listed, but I was too late. :( There are other options available, but I really do want a cruiser. It would have to have gears for our insane hills, but I love the way they look and the seats and handlebars are more comfy than a road or mtn bike. I'll just have to keep looking...