* tiny but powerful *

The class just "surprised" me for my birthday! ;) The Kindergarteners did a better job than with Linda's surprise, at least, so there was progress. ;) I could hear a lot of whispering, and I tried not to listen, but some of it was too hard to ignore...

"T...like in Thomas?"
"Yeah, or like Tina!"
"SHHHH, you're not supposed to say that!"
"Say what?"
"TINA! You're not supposed to say Tina!"
"Why?"
"SHHHH!"

Finally Linda gave up and just said, "Hey Tina, we need you over here...it's your turn. ;)" Hahahaha. The kids were very cute -- they made me a "birthday booklet" with all their notes, mounted on blue paper. And the teachers gave me a joint gift that included scented candles, a Classic Pooh stuffed bear, and a matching Classic Pooh/Piglet plush throw. More soft and squishy things!

The best part? Linda ended up getting me a Star Wars cake, complete with orange icing flames and a plastic toy shaped like Darth Vader's mask. No, I am not kidding. Ask me to show it to you. She said it was either that or a pink cake, and she knows I don't like pink, so she decided to go with Star Wars (it had blue icing trim). So hilarious!!!

An interesting article about why math needs a new image: "Biases must be tackled to achieve gender equity in mathematics"

You all know I'm not a feminist, so I don't automatically think equity (in anything) is necessarily the ultimate goal. (This is because I don't believe that equity, or fairness, is always the same thing as justice.) But the article brings up some good food for thought, particularly about whether cultural bias is introduced in elementary school, middle school, high school, college, and/or career opportunities and choices.

(In case you're out of the loop, I want to teach math eventually. :) )

Thank you to everyone who made my birthday so special! I had a wonderful day spent with friends and family. :) Once I woke up from my post-Viennese torpor, several of us went out to dim sum and then returned to varying levels of torpor and Mario-song singing. In the evening, we met up with more people for dinner at my all-time favorite Chinese restaurant (Windy's, of course) and games back at the bop residence (which people think should be Apt. B or W, instead of K). The cake execution was funny but still surprising, so thanks! ;) I also really appreciate all the cards, e-cards, and IMs with birthday wishes and the very thoughtful gifts I received. A big THANK YOU to all of you!

I'm really thankful for being able to see and spend time with so many people on my birthday, especially considering the fact that most of us have graduated and I'm just lucky enough that everyone's still living close by. I don't take that for granted, and I thank God for every one of you! Praise Him from whom all blessings flow. :)

Viennese sneaks up on you when you're not in (or sitting for) Opening. Bop and I have been saying all week, "VBall is this Friday??" ... "in 3 days?!" ... "tomorrow!?"

It's definitely a lot less stressful this year without schoolwork or classes, but I'm not sure how much energy I'll have late at night now that I'm used to a working-person's bedtime. I'm usually pretty pooped on Fridays after work, but I guess this is a shorter week and I'm getting off a little earlier today. (Actually, it so happens that all the kids are getting picked up around the time I'll be leaving anyway, because the school is closing early for a Staff Retreat this weekend. I'm missing it because of VBall.)

This will be the first time since 2002 (the first year I went) that I won't beating Friday rush hour by getting to the hotel at 2:45. But I'm not driving, so thanks Felix. ;) I also get to have dinner at a normal hour and normal pace! Exciting times.

Danse Libre is performing at 9:40 in the Waltz Room. Come see us!

Over the 3-day weekend, Brian and I spent a day up in SF to celebrate a combination of 3 things, one of which is our 3-month today. (Heehee, I just wanted to write that sentence full of 3's...and I'm going to publish this at exactly 3:03pm! I'm so funny.)

This winter has not been kind to my hands. Apparently the extra two or so hours I spend outside during the school day have really taken a toll, and the skin all over my hands has been extremely dry and chapped. It's especially bad around my knuckles (where the skin moves the most); several places are bleeding and/or rashy. It doesn't help that I wash my hands about two dozen times a day, and our classroom sink only runs freezing cold water. Paper cuts have also been taking a long time to heal. So if you see me with bandaids all over my hands, that's why. :-P Anyone know of a good hand cream they'd recommend?

Phew...it's been a crazy day at school. I'm working 8-5 because Jaime and Maida are out, and now that Aurora's on maternity leave I also have lunch duty on Tuesdays and Fridays. But today, Linda's baby is sick with an ear infection and she had to take her to the doctor in the middle of the morning, so we had to shuffle teachers and students around in order to cover everything. During my supposed lunch break, I spent the hour prepping for the Valentine's party scheduled for 1-3pm. I had wanted to set things up earlier in the morning, but their Valentine's box art projects took way longer than expected (and even now most of their robots don't have arms). Little Stephanie slept through most of the party, but now she's awake and crying and refusing to swallow her medicine, so Linda's leaving early. Poor Stephanie. :( I'm exhausted though. It's been go-go-go since 8:00 and I don't have any breaks before I get off at 5:00. I can't even go to the bathroom unless I find someone else to come in for a couple minutes. Sheesh...I am definitely sick of planning school parties. Please just give me a normal week! =P

Oh my goodness! I just found out that Aurora's baby was born over the weekend too!!! He was three weeks early, but healthy baby Yeray was born on Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 7:30pm -- he weighed 7lbs. 3oz. and was 19 inches long. So many babies! I can't wait to meet Yeray, too!

I got to peek in at Kylie on Friday night!!! David brought her downstairs when I dropped off a casserole for them after work. She's soooo small and soooo cute, especially when David's holding her and kissing her little face. They also sent some pictures to the RUF list, and I keep looking at them because they make me so happy! I love the one where Mindi's holding her and Kylie is sticking out her tongue really far -- apparently this is the "signal" that she's ready to eat. Heehee!

David and Mindi welcomed Lauren Kylie Jones into the world on Wednesday, February 8, 2006 at 10:10am and 10 seconds (their "perfect 10" - how cute!)!!!!! Kylie weighed 6lbs. 14oz. and was 19½ inches long. David's email said, "Little Kylie has dark hair, the sweetest face, and is a good eater (just like her Daddy)." Heehee!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!! :-D I can't wait to meet her!

Praise God for little Kylie!!! :) :) :)

Kids are hilarious...

Eric: *hands Linda a paper crown*
Linda: Thanks, Eric!
Mia: Eric! That's supposed to be for the surprise!
Linda: Well, I was surprised! I really like it - thanks, Eric.
Eric: It's a birthday crown.
Mia: ERIC!! It's supposed to be a SURPRISE!
Linda: Well, I know it's my birthday.
Mia: *jaw drops* You KNEW???
Linda: Yeah - my husband called me to say happy birthday, too.
Mia: Oh, so you knew because your husband called to tell you it's your birthday?

Hahahahaha. There was more, but I can't remember it all. The Kindergarteners are so cute. :)

There are so many birthdays/holidays/celebrations/field trips this month, it's crazy! Just in the past two weeks, we've had the 100th day of school, Chinese New Year, Jaime's birthday, Aurora's baby shower, the Monterey Bay Aquarium field trip, and Linda's birthday. Then this Friday is Addie's birthday, next Monday is the "Pinocchio" field trip, next Tuesday is Valentine's Day, and the Monday after that is President's Day (yay for a day off!). Phew!

I'm also dyyyyyyyyyyying to knowwwwwwwwwww about someone else's birthday!!!!! Mindi went into labor yesterday (we found out at RUF because they weren't there), and I've been so excited that I'm having a hard time concentrating on other things!!! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh...