great weekend (still going) !!!

Had a wonderful weekend! It was the perfect mix of being productive and taking time to rest and refresh.

Saw the film Persepolis at the Little and I highly recommend it. It's an autobiographical story by an Iranian woman. She wrote a graphic novel and then this film was made from it. If you go to see it, be sure to go early. We were there 20 mins. before the show time and it was very busy. Almost every seat in the theater filled up!

Went to some more open houses. I enjoy this. It's fun to be house hunting. I learn about more of what I like and dislike as we go. We've spend plenty of time searching over the past few months. I'm hoping that just the right house will turn up soon.


Got some long over due time to hang out with my Dad. Was good to chat w/ him and do some catching up. He has been into jewelry making lately and I got to see a couple of his latest silver creations from the studio where he was having them fired. Very cool. I might like to learn this skill myself. Maybe later when I have more free time. I think I would really like it.

Went to the gym, got an oil change, did some laundry, took a walk, made a yummy soup, got my registration done for a TESOL organization I'm joining.

Just found out on Wednesday that I've been chosen to attend the TESOL conference in NYC this spring. I'm very excited about this opportunity! The conference is usually held very far away and we're not allowed to go b/c of the high price of the workshops and travel, not to mention missing 3+ teaching days. Since it's in NYC this year, it's the chance of a lifetime/ESL career. There will be two of us going, one secondary and one elementary teacher. We've been given the responsibility to reteach and share what we learn when we return. I'm sooo excited!!! :)

Started watching a fabulous BBC tv series called Bleak House. It's from 2005 and we're watching the dvds. It's based on a book by Charles Dickens. It's "a suspenseful tale about the injustices of the 19th-century English legal system." I love it! Interesting characters, really good plot with lots to figure out along the way. So different from modern stories too. Was noticing how much more people respected and valued life then. Even the "bad guys" don't really want their enemies to die and show compassion for those who are near death. It's not filled with senseless killings. There's a depth of character and the way people are connected to each other is really interesting. The whole thing is 510 minutes long. We're about 1/5 of the way through it so far.

J and I finally got to go out x-c skiing. We got skis for each other for Christmas, and this was the first opportune weather day we've had. It was bitter cold on Sunday and the "trails" at Durand Eastman Park weren't as groomed as we had been told they would be. Even so, we enjoyed some time out in nature and stopped at a little diner up there too afterwards.

Church at Community of the Savior Sunday night was good. I enjoy it there - the liturgy and community feed my soul. The music is refreshing, there's good teaching, and peace in this place.

Pablo is doing well. He's trying out new foods. So far he enjoys chicken, scrambled eggs, grapes, and cheerios, but he's not too keen on bananas. He doesn't like these chilly winter days and nights either. I'm trying to keep him extra toasty with his pet disc warm and the hot water bottle next to his favorite tube. Planning on building him a maze or a play fort. Maybe I'll do that today, if I can find the right materials. Can't think of anything better to do w/ a free day off!

Yep, today I have a SNOW DAY!!!! Woo hoo!!! Nothing could make me happier than a 5:30am call on a Monday morning telling me to go back to sleep. Yippee. Today will allow me to do some wedding planning and prep. that I've been unable to tackle yet b/c of shops being open only during "work hours" when I'm in B'port. I'm sooo glad for the unexpected 3 day weekend and to be able to be mostly indoors on this frigid day. What a treat and a blessing. :) Yippee!