Cita says, "Hi Mom #1!!"

The girls have finally figured it out. They are sisters.

The Blind

I am worried about my little pupper Mitzie Mouse. She seems like she is having a hard time seeing. On walks she lets me lead, Zoey is always in front. This wasnt the case just a few months ago. Now, she follows, always behind, always seemingly unsure of herself. Her eyes are cloudy, so gray, not the syrupy brown eyes of her puppyhood. She flinches when you throw anything, ducks at the leash, all slightly slow, slightly off.

I am not sure why every so often this heart wrenching ache comes over me about her. I wonder how long I will get to keep her, how empty life will be without her. My whole adult life has been experienced with that dog. She has traveled the world and gotten a PhD. Is Zoey good for her? Sometimes I wonder if Zoey has taken all the attention, all the frisky time. Now, if Mitz gets frisky, Zoey cant stand it and has to try to play with her. Of course, Mouser hates it, stops and snaps. I think I need to get her checked out, just because. It must be time for my nerves to be put at ease.

She has literally slept all day, only going on a walk around the block and a trip outside this morning. She holds it all day, sleeping. She just came up to give me night-night loveys. I love her like my child. I do.

Oatmeal and Other Foods

I just don't understand why I cannot, for the life of me, get my oatmeal to taste like my friend Loretta's. I have the oats, Promise butter, brown sugar, and almonds, but no matter what I do, it tastes like cardboard feet. I just don't get it. She must be putting a lot of brown sugar in there or has a chef sneak in and make it in the morning at her house. Stupid chefs.

One of my best friends Jody (aka Jailbird) came into town on Thursday last. She actually flew into Dallas and borrowed her grandpa's car to drive down to see San Antonio, and of course my new house. I got home from work about 4, just in time for the couch to get situated. It had just arrived earlier that morning between classes. She came in about 5 and we immediately started the yacking and the laughing. We decided to go to the Riverwalk for dinner. I had a coupon for a fancy restaurant called Citrus in the Valencia Hotel. Even the $25 dollars only allowed us a bit of a taste with dishes around 55$. It was a gorgeous night though. Crisp and cool with just enough people to make one feel safe and not enough to make the river problematic. So we walked, got lost, walked and then arrived at the Hotel for dinner. After such a small meal, we decided to hit another hot spot, Acenar, for drinks. We got home about 1 and Jody slept in the following morning while I went to work registration on Friday. Got home about 2 and we immediately went to eat at this cute little diner called DeWeses Tip Top Cafe (I thought it was a dry cleaners until a friend told me it was on some Travel Channel "best cafe" list. Boy, what a hoot! It was built in 1938 and I dont think a damn thing has changed. A cheeseburger was $3.75 and was handmade! Yummyness. After feeding our faces which I do a lot around Jody) we went to see the Alamo. Oh yes, it still stands, little and desolate of true interest, other than its very shape, it stands. One picture there and more walking around, we missed Jesus Christ Superstar which was playing at the Majestic Theatre and ended up playing cards at La Fogata, drinking margaritas and once again, feeding our faces. Saturday we headed to Austin, ate with Diane at Corozon which is the new restaurant in the place of Castle Hill Cafe. It's food is still similar however. After eating we a indulged in Scrabble and wine at Cippolina near my old house on WestLynn. We shut the place down. It was such fun to play and spend time with my jailbird friend. Her case was dismissed, by the way. She left to go to her uncle's as she left for a cruise the following morning. Me? I ate Oatmeal at Loretta's, worked on my packet for my Content Area Literacy class at UT, and drove back home.

Funny, I first titled this blog Oatmeal and Jody, but now realize it is actually all about food! I swear, no wonder I am a piggie!

The Good and the Bad

The good: We have a new president who is gracious and well-spoken, who is of the people, and who is ready to tackle an America that is disjointed and egocentric.

The bad: My cousin Erin found out today that she is carrying a baby girl (Sarah) with Trisomoy 18, among other deformities. She already has a little girl, Emily, who has plentiful health problems. The world can be a cruel place.

I can't follow the bad news above with anything. There are no words, no life situation, that can possibly follow the impending and current pain Erin and her family are experiencing today with the loss of Sarah.

Back to Work

The break is over. So sad. I am back to life, back to reality. So, my goals for the holiday have sort of been accomplished. I saw everyone:

1. Austin: Saw Loretta and Diane. Went shopping and ate well.
2. Dallas: Saw my oldest friend Deanne's new little baby boy. He is a peanut! I just adore his smile and bundled little self. So sweet. His name is Allen. I, of course, saw Grandpa who looks as if he is not the same person. Grandma is feisty and Eric is loud. Mom has a lot of health complaints and Dad is, well, tired. He isn't sleeping so well lately. But, it was a great trip home. Nothing changes there, it is only me that changes I guess.
3. Houston: Saw Karen and Logan. Zoey loves Fletch, their dog, even to the point of playing tug of war with him. It was non-stop. Logan was as charming and smart as ever. We played, cleaned his toys (even giving some away!), and went to the aquarium. Such fun to have a little boy around. Then, I drove about an hour to see Eric and his new apartment on the marina in League City. We reworked his house, ate good Asian food, and watched Intervention.

I'm off for the whirlwind

tour of the metro areas in a few hours...Austin, Dallas, Houston, and lastly, San Antonio. Love to everyone and of course, Merry Christmas. May peace be unto us all.
Jen

To Do

The academic life things that must be finished before the holiday ends:
1) Kathy Griffin Commentary-sent to Experiential Education
2) Co-Teaching Article-sent to NRC
3) 4304 Binder and syllabus
4) 5314 syllabus
5) Book Club Article-sent to technology
6) WebCT up

Jody's Brilliance: Part I

She says,"At one point I thought I might get my teaching credential. But then, I came to my senses."

So I ask, "Why do you think you wouldnt be a good teacher?" She says, "No patience, awkward around kids, hate flouresent lights, school lunches suck, I cant get up early, dont like having a schedule, hate anything regimented, dont like the sweaters with little embroidered critters on them, children are yucky... yeah, I prolly shouldnt do it."

I just love her.

Have you ever felt like this wasnt the life you were supposed to have? In that thought, is it you that thinks it isnt the right life, but it is or is it that in your freewill you created a life that you werent supposed to have? Or is it that you have exactly the life you are supposed to lead, and if it is a certain way, it is supposed to be that way? Is it all my fault?

THE GAME: Can you locate me in 1994?

Dumb Ass Days...

So, Im not so good at staying put for the end of the semester...You can't keep a good teacher down. So, after hearing about my "sickness" I stayed in bed Friday night, and Saturday...well, until I went to Austin for the Trail of Lights 5K with Jackie, David and her boys. Then, Sunday, was graduation. So, of course, I had to go to that. Then last night I worked on grades until about 3am because they were due at 9am but the MA students had their final due to me at midnight. Today I worked all day on these comprehensive binders (from 10-6pm). So, there is no rest for the weary. Who cares anyway if there is no couch? It feels so open and weird in the living room and I dont like it. Tomorrow's agenda includes getting a new license. Can you believe I didnt know until NRC 2 weeks ago that mine expired on my birthday? I only knew then because they asked about it at the airport. Im such a dumb ass sometimes. So, I simply have to go do that tomorrow, which is actually hard because I never can pass the eye test and have to get a note from my doctor and all sorts of goofy things.

Oh yes, the big news. Jody is outta the big house. Yep, you guys heard me. My best buddy, the one with 2 degrees from a premiere university, was held in custody for 3 days for assault and battery when she didnt really even do it. She says it is a horrible, inhuman place and that if she ever has to go back, give her the death penalty. Scary huh? Now, the trip to Vegas looks like it is off as they set her court date for Dec. 31st. I am so let down as I have been waiting to go see Bette there for over a year, much less the fact that it was to be on New Years Eve. I cannot tell you how low I am. No Bette, no real Christmas. Bummer.

I have "walking" pneumonia...

and have been in bed all day. I think that is a stupid title for a sickness. Ive had it for 3 weeks and duh, am walking...SOME of us have to work. Here is what the others do...

Facebook & Faces near Books

Facebook:
You know, I have decided I hate facebook. It is a voyeuristic place where one accepts pseduo-friends in order to peek in their window and see what they are doing now. I mean, seriously, I wasnt friends with some of these people when I was in High School. I knew OF them, they knew OF me, but it is just the fact that you want to see what is going on. I am not accepting applications for facebook friendship. Wanna be my friend? Come have lunch, dont send me a snowball, a candy cane, or any other dumb icon. Take me to see one.

Faces Near Books (People I Work With):
I hate playing games that you dont have to play. There is no reason to hurt others or stomp their psyche. A student said to me, "Dr. Wilson, I have this student that hits another kid and then says he is sorry. But he isnt really sorry, but he says he is." That is the tag line for work. The faces near books say they want to a) play together nicely, b)make the workplace have an enticing atmosphere, c) collaborate for the common good. They want the Preamble. BUT, what they do is run a race, playing as if only one can make it, one can win. They engage in the zero-sum game, as if there is only enough for one, that there will not be enough for everyone. Then, it seems as if they look back and are mad everyone else was running too...that they are "sorry" and wish us well. Fuck that. I want work friends. I need them. So, how does one have friends, not engage in the race yet know that some have creating a race. Still, I must exist in a workplace that feigns its "sorry."

Hollah Daze

I havent blogged in awhile so I guess I better get you all caught up. I am sitting on an airplane to Austin from Orlando where I was attending (and presenting) at NRC (National Reading Conference). It was a strange conference this year as the hotel called for everyone to be out in these buildings, far away from the general area, and seemingly separated from each other…they called it “resort style.” What it meant though was that I didn’t see those that I normally do. I saw some, missed others, and had a general productive time. I am thinking now of all the pieces of writing I need to get done, to work on, to begin the arduous process of publishing somewhere.
1. My Dissertation, 2. Kathy Griffin Commentary, 3. Co-Teaching Commentary, 3. BookClub Article, 4. Professor Identity Piece, 5. My DeSoto BookClub piece, 6. Romanian Piece, 7. Co-Teaching Article, 8. Blogging Article, 9. Dowli’s Story, and 10. Learning to Read the Academy: What I have learned Article…there are more, I know. But sheesh, I don’t even like to write, much less be judged on its effectiveness! But, I digress.
I spent Thanksgiving with Loretta, eating yummy foods prepared by my personal chef. It was scrumptious. For the holidays, I am sticking around my house as much as possible. Im going to try to catch up on my work and enjoy some quiet time with my animals. As of now, Diane is coming to San Antonio on the 19th and I will head to Dallas on the 21st. I will stay there till Christmas Eve and then come back down to Austin. Ill spend Christmas with Loretta I suppose and then head home to SA where I will be until December 29th when I head to Las Vegas to see the Divine Miss M at Caesar’s Palace. Loretta, Jody, and Karen are all coming too. I just can’t wait! I want money from all my friends to buy stuff at the Bette shop there. I just know it will be expensive. Contributions can be sent directly to me: cash, checks and money orders accepted.
Zoey is growing up. She is cute as a button, sleeps on my bed, loves shoes like her mom (although I don’t normally eat them), and adores the cat. Carmencita hates Zoey, loves food, and purrs like a motorboat. Mouser dog is a tired little pupper, sleeps a lot, but has the most soulful and loving eyes. She is my baby dog. You all will see them this year on my Christmas card.
So, hidey ho neighbors, I am still around!