Potential hobby #41

This morning, I played a Taiko drum. It looked a lot like this:


Except, of course, I was wearing fewer clothes.

I learned about Taiko, a Japanese form of drumming, with my multi-cultural education class. We met up at the Seattle Buddhist Temple to learn a wee bit about one sect of Buddhism, and then we walked next door to the gym where we embarrassed ourselves with our lack of rhythm. It was lots of fun. Plus, a classmate's mom made the most delicious cookies I've ever had. Well, top 10, but still. I've eaten a lot of cookies. Top 10 is impressive.

I sure like graduate school.

Open letter

Dear November,

I am writing in regard to today's unpleasant weather. This morning, my lips were already crispy with dryness, but now they're even worse. Also, my toes are cold. I only have one pair of snowshoe socks, and laundry is expensive, so I had to choose between hygiene and warmth. I went with hygiene today, but I regretted it.

November, no one should have to regret choosing hygiene.

I realize that people expect you to be gross, but come on. Rise above these low standards. You're still part of fall, for goodness sakes!

Warm it up, Nov. Or else.

KJW

Been saying it all along

While I don't think that "Well, they did it in the 16th Century" is a solid support for an argument, I do agree with this: Taking the state out of the state of matrimony.

December 31 - January 6

(and other parts of the Southwest)

So nice.

On the average day, I drink three cups of tea.

Morning: English Breakfast or Earl Gray (both with milk)
Afternoon: Green, Green with pomegranate, Earl Gray, English Breakfast, or Chai (the non-greens with milk)
Evening: Licorice Spice or Peppermint (no milk!)

Today, however, I mixed it up. English Breakfast in the morning, NOTHING in the afternoon and... wait for it... English Breakfast at night! I am sooo crazy!

My reasons for drinking E.B. at 10:45 PM are twofold. First, I bought some "fat-free half-and-half" and I wanted to use it. (Note: I will definitely blog about the oxymoron Safeway calls "fat-free half-and-half." I did some research, and I regret my purchase, but it still adds a lovely texture to my drink.) Second, I am pooped. The roomie is watching Superbad later, and I want to join her, so I need a little English Breakfast magic to keep me up and at 'em.

Teeeaaa!

Thanks, Rick Anderson.

I gave a mini-lesson to my classmates on Wednesday. It was awful. I titled my reflection "The Horror."

Fortunately, I used to have a soccer coach that frequently told the team, "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at what you're doing." This is applicable to lots of things, but especially bad mini-lessons. Thanks to that coach, I can confidently say, "I don't suck. The mini-lesson I gave sucked."

And that, my darlings, is that.

I have confidence in sunshine!

Julie Andrews has everything to do with my decision to be a teacher. My passion for The Sound of Music - "I Have Confidence" in particular - required that I either be a teacher, nanny, or mother. (Remember? "All those children - heaven bless them - they will look up to me! And mind me!) Teachers gets July off. Easy choice.

(The internet demons prevent me from posting my Julie's scene, so is here is some lady name Audra. She's no Brit, but she can sing.)

Do I have anything purple?

I'm a Husky now. That means I have to care about the Apple Cup tomorrow.

WHOOOOAAA! I just googled "Apple Cup" to find a link for you and lo! A headline reads "Walden took rivalry from good to great." REPRESENT!

Although, boo. I was hoping that it would be about me - new Husky - or my dad - crazed UW fan - but no. It's about some WSU coach. Laaaame.

That's about all the excitement I can handle for the day after Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow: my very first tailgate party.

Being cold, Reminiscing

It is so chilly that I am wearing my snowshoe socks. While cozy, these precious foot-warmers remind me that my favorite (and only) snowshoe buddy is in "Bolivia." Pssssh. Who goes to Bolivia?

Here are two pictures from two of last year's snowshoeing adventures.

My feet, snowshoes, gloves, snow pants (actually... no, those were somebody else's snow pants), fluffy jacket, and snow. Just kidding. It is my not MY snow. It is Mother Nature's snow.


Here is a river. It might be the Nooksack, but what's in a name? Not much, that's what. This place was gorgeous. If it weren't 30 degrees, we would have jumped in. Maybe. Probably not. Anyway, we saw bear tracks that day. Oh, and a dog pulling a sled with toddlers on it. Aww.

I can shimmy with the best of them.

Lindsay, my former roommate, made this. Clearly, she is unemployed. And funny.

Grad School Closet

Click the picture to make the captions big and legible!

Grad School Desk