The kids named her Ursala, after the sea witch from Little Mermaid....

RIP Ursi

A loooong time ago when my kids were in elementary school we happened to be in a pet store on Adopt a Cat Day...where lots of kitties were in cages waiting to be adopted. We already had two cats at home...but this black girl kitty looked so much like our sweet Smokie that we applied. About a week later, when Daughter #1 was home from school ill, a woman came by with the cat to check out our house and to make sure we would be a good adoptive family. The plan was to visit and if we made the cut, the cat would be ours a week later.

Arriving at our house, cat made herself at home and the other two cats met her and really didn't care that another cat was in house. The dog came by and sniffed her and he didn't have a problem either. Then the woman asked if we would like to adopt her and we of course said YES! And we were surprised that she left the cat with us that day. She told us that we were lucky because she was the only woman at the cat rescue that would adopt cats out to families who allowed their cats to go outside...we had a pet door and the cats and dog came and went so we didn't even need a liter box. Over the years, the kids grew up and went off to college....Smokie became a diabetic and we administered insulin daily...we had to close up the pet door because raccoons made nightly visits into our kitchen for meals...Mew our oldest cat reverted back to his feral ways and took to outdoor life...and Ursi? Well she went from not wanting to be petted to a friendly, cuddly cat.

We finally had to put Smokie to sleep and Ursi took over his job of meowing for breakfast to be served. She trained The Captain to feed her treats while he cooked dinner by rubbing at his feet and meowing until he got out kitty treats.
But since school began this year we noticed her slowing down. Yesterday I even looked up the mobile vet so we could have her put down after Christmas- last night she was sleeping under the Christmas tree when I petted her before going to bed. This morning, on the floor next to the packages and stuffed animals, we found her body.

I am not sure how old she was- she was about a year old when we adopted her and my guess without checking her records is that she was 16 or 17.

Thank you Ursala for allowing us all those year of your life. You brought up happiness and many lizards and birds. XXOO your family.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*LOVE YOUR KITTY*

 

I just pullled the post from A-Z Mondays from my old blog LMNOP circa 2007...

 

Ursi...Sweet, fat Ursi....

"Quick, cut the photos and FEED me breakfast!"

 

She is actually Ursala...named after the Sea B^#tch in The Little Mermaid. She's a rescue kitty who is about 12 or 13 years old...we've had her for about 10 or 11 years. She was abused at her first house...and took quite a while to realize that no one here would toss her out the door or toss her anywhere for that matter. She still freaks out if we carry her to the door to put her out. But she's a good cat who obviously loves her crunchies...and a good, long cat nap on the couch...(like a full day's worth)....that's where she can be found unless I send her outside for a sunny afternoon.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*OWN A CAT*

26 Random Acts of Kindeness- one for each of the Sandy Hook victims...

http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/17/15972814-inspired-to-act-26acts-of-kindness-to-honor-those-lost-in-newtown-conn?lite&

12/22
#1- Gave a Bed Bath and Beyond 20% off coupon to the elderly couple in line behind me.
#2- Donated $1 with my purchase to St. Jude when I checked out at Old Navy without the sales clerk asking me...they get points for each donation...plus may of our cancer buddies were treated at St. Jude.
#3- Helped load a basketball hoop and stand onto a cart for a mom in Target...there wasn't a clerk around....she didn't think I could do it myself but my weight lifting is paying off :)
#4 Returned the person's cart who was parked next to me in the lot when I returned mine...and it was raining.

4 down, 22 to go.

*livestrong*lovestronger*laugh

harder*PAY IT FORWARD*

On my first day of winter break I....

got up at 5 a.m. and went to work with my daughter....I know...it was hard to get up that early...but we had to drive to friends to the airport. We got to her classroom early and organized and set up....and talked to other teachers. It was really fun to see her classes...middle school kids are so different from my kids- it brought back memories of my middle school days 28 years ago. It was fun to watch her interact with her students and see the respect she commands.

It was a minimum day...each class was only 15 minutes long- then there was a rally and a staff vs student volleyball game. I played in the game too...and had a 3 point serve and then one really bad serve...I sent a few balls back over the net for points and Daughter #1 played awesomely.

Then we headed home where I am trying to get warm. It is raining again...and the Captain and I are going to work out.

I AM A WINTER WARRIOR and DAY 40- where I earn my t-shirt- is Christmas Eve. Thank goodness Christmas is an off day...I am really needing a break.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*YAY SCHOOL IS OUT

UNTIL NEXT YEAR*

Swimming anyone?

I wouldn't recommend the backstroke...after one lap my face, shoulders and chest were frozen so I resorted to freestyle...not so much the temp but the wind!

My last day of work for this year is tomorrow!! Decorating gingerbread men and wrapping parent gifts is what's planned.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*NOW I KNOW WHY WHALE

 BLUBBER IS NECESSARY*

Weather Forecast for the week:

Now this is the funniest forecast ever- Mayan?

Created by Matt Green

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*

THE END IS NEAR?*

Street Scramble

Today, my team ThE LaNd SHarKs, won first place in the 1st Annual San Carlos Street Scramble. (We were the only bike team in our category that showed up...) We rode 24.98 miles and got 470 points for making it to checkpoints and texting in the correct answers. But most of all, we had FUN!

We got to the running store that sponsored the ride and checked in and got our maps....and t-shirts since we were in the 1st 50 to register. There we 5 of us....and we took a while to get started but once we did it was fun....they gave us some clues on a map that was partially marked and then there was a question to answer....like, what is the last person's name listed on the plaque on the statue or what is the brand of the basketball hoop, what is the city code ordinance on the fence, etc. We were in the 3 hour division.....the weather was c-o-l-d for here....48 degrees....but when climbing a big hill it was perfect.

I will have to post a picture of the 5 of us (Today the blog allowed me to upload a photo!!) when I get around to getting a new blog....but that will be after I get a tree....can you believe it?!! We don't even have a tree yet? Probably because we haven't all been around at one time to get one....and I have been busy with important things like having fun.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RIDE A BIKE*FIND A CLUE*

....

they were just first graders...the same age as my students...how could anyone, even someone mentally ill, shoot little children?

....

as a teacher and a mother I am finding it hard not to dwell on yesterday's victims and families...those presents under the tree that will not be opened and the senselessness of the situation.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*PEACE*

I AM a WInter Warrior!

Today was day 20 of the Winter Warrior work out at the college gym. I have worked out 20 days straight and earned a mug...that you cannot see in the crappy cell phone picture...I left the phone in the car so this was taken after the swim as we ran to the car because the dressing rooms are under construction and it was cold in our bathing suits covered with towels and sweatshirts....

BUT the bonus was the sky....it was amazing....like the sky in Starry Starry Night or the Scream...

(I would post the photo here but once again Picasa says I am out of space- even though I have deleted 2 dozen photos and it did allow me to post the photo above. As soon as I get a chance I am starting anew.)

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*EARN A MUG*WORK OUT

FOR 80 DAYS*

After 15+ months out of the country....

Septmeber 2, 2011

We dropped her off at SFO bound for New Zealand where she lived, traveled and worked for a year...

When her VISA expired September 3, 2012, she headed to Singapore....then onto Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and a layover in Japan...and she arrived at SFO tonight.....

(I had an arrival photo here but Picasa says I am out of space- even though I deleted a dozen photos from the album...so it is new blog time with a new host.)


*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*TRAVEL WHILE YOU'RE YOUNG*

What's more fun than a barrel of monkeys?

Taking 25 first graders to see the Nutcracker Ballet.
Jealous huh?!

*livestrong*lovestronger*laugh harder*remember it could aways be worse*

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY Thanksgiving Eve

It was a loooooong...day. Everything went awry from the very start and stayed that way until the final conference ended. The topper was breaking a TV! I was wheeling in a 5' tall cart that had a BIG old TV on top...as I turned to go between two desks the wheel came off the cart and...CrAsH! As it was falling I had a fleeting thought to catch it....thankfully I just let it go. Those big old monster TV's have back ya know. So that is just a little insight into my day.

I swam and now it is my favorite dinner from a little Mexican restaurant and HaPPy HoUr!

I am Thankful for 4 days off :)

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*BREAK A TV*

21

My baby turned 21 yesterday...not long ago he was 3' tall and wore those little high tops....

 

Now he is 6'6" and wears those size 15 clown shoes.

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG FOOT!

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER LAUGH HARDER*OH TO BE 21 AGAIN*

Day 5

The place where we work out is having a contest...it's called WINTER WARRIORS. There are 51 days to work out...and prizes along the way...if you work out all of them you get free dues...or a few less and you get a t-shirt and a few more gets you a hoodie.

So far I am 5/5 days.

I will either be in really good shape...or I will get a mug for working out 20 days.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*BE A WINTER WARRIOR*

GO FISH!

Yesterday I taught 23 first graders how to play GO FISH. (At the same time- don't try this at home!)
I finished my 18th parent conference.
I swam 800 yards in the rain.
And I celebrated with a blended margarita with salt.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES*

Running With the Jets

It was 43 degrees this morning when Daughter #1 and I took off for the run at Coyote Point...I know that is not even close for my midwest and east coast friends, but that is cold for here....it was clear which is unusual for the bay near the San Francisco Airport- hence, Running with the jets- as they take off and land parallel to the run.

Daughter #1 realized she had left her sunglasses when we were about to the freeway and didn't want to go back...so being the nice mom that I am, I let her use mine....I was only doing the 5K and she was doing a half marathon....so she would be running into the sun for way more miles than I would be.

It was a nice, flat run along the edge of the bay and the perfect weather. I felt a little yucky but at least my back wasn't sore...I just wanted to break 30 minutes, which I did, but I would have taken 4th in my age group had I not had to stop to tie my shoes TWO TIMES! I sure wish I had felt better so I could have run faster. Then I visited with a student from my running club, a former boy I had coached in soccer years ago and then headed down the trail to run the last bit with daughter #1....I ran about 1/4 mile with her then cut across the park to get her photo at the finish line.

Now home to work on report cards and drink Tylenol sore throat cure!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN WITH THE JETS*

3 Days Off....

I am not going to get sick....I can feel it coming.....everyone at work is sick and the time change has messed with the kids inner clocks and they are out of sorts...so I am staying home, working on report cards, drinking tea and Airborne.

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*ENJOY THE LONG WEEKEND*

It's MAGIC!

So today I did 3 centers...I didn't have any parent help so I explained what we were going to do.... and my center was a reading group....and we read a Level 1 book, Picking Apples and Pumpkins. 

And every kid read!

Like magic! I have no idea how it happens...I just kinda swirl all this info around their little brains, and it gets absorbed, and ABRA-Ca-DABRA!! THEY READ!!

It is like losing teeth...it happens when they are ready...and it just happened!

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*READ A BOOK*

I have never spent $170 on shoes before. And I wouldn't have on these....even though they are really cool!

 

But I won up to $160 in Aasics shoes in last month's Road Runner Running Store's 3rd Thursday fUn RuN....for my Sponge Bob Lincecum costume. So today I went to redeem my coupon for shoes and I saw these wild Aasics...and I asked if I could pay the $10 difference and they said, "No problem, we will give them to you!!!!"

I usually run in whatever Nike is on clearance. I really don't care what color but I do use the Nike + shoe so I can put the chip in the shoe which hooks up to my iPod and lets me know how far I run...and records it on the Nike site afterwards. But I must say, I can sure tell the difference in these expensive shoes. Just the right amount of cushion and the support I need on my outer right foot where I broke it in college. I can't wait to show the kids at Running Club tomorrow morning!

 

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*RUN IN WILD SHOES*

1,000 Jack-o-lanterns and Screaming Like Wuss!

As I was rubbing my calloused hands this morning, I pondered the HGTV show I briefly caught where two towns were trying to set a Guinness Book World Records for most carved pumpkins and most carved lighted pumpkins. There were thousands and thousands and although not on my bucket list, I have had my hand in carving well over 1,000 pumpkins....at least in cutting off the tops and helping pull the toughest pulp out of the insides....and poking out the triangles and circles out of the thickest pumpkin faces.

27 years of Jack-o-lantern carving, plus 3 of my kids times 15 years....and well, there it is....A LOT of Jacks!

This morning after pondering calloused hands and Jack-o-lanterns, I headed to work. I got in before the janitor and after disarming Sonitrol, I walked into the wing where my classroom is and a GIANT RAT ran past. I was startled...then I decided, since it ran into the doorway and hid behind some big Rubbermaid tubs, that I would take one and turn it over to trap the rat. I carefully got one bin, and then moved the other bin with my foot, expecting it to run to my right. BUT the GIANT rat ran to the left... AND I SCREAMED LIKE A WUSS! SO LOUDLY THAT THE JANITOR WHO JUST ARRIVED TO WORK HEARD ME OUTSIDE THE BUILDING! Damn rat got away.

*LIVESTRONG*LOVESTRONGER*LAUGH HARDER*TRY TO

TRAP A RAT*SCREAM LIKE A WUSS*