My Friend Regina

My good friend, Regina, died this spring, on April 28. She was about 11 years old. It was somewhat unexpected, though she had been acting not quite up to snuff for about a week prior to passing on. My mom and I talked about maybe taking her to the vet over the weekend to see what they thought, but she didn't make it that long. We went out to feed her that morning, and she was gone. I was pretty distraught... I even called my principal to ask her to have someone cover for me for first track time, which she said would be no problem. My kids wrote me cute letters even (which I had a hard time reading through without crying!).

She was a great friend. Here are some memories:

• Regina was a good help when you were mowing the lawn or weeding in the backyard. Always moving to where you were, and even if she fell asleep while you were working (as she did often), at least she was there right with you.
• Regina loved her blankies and cushions. My mom made her some, and some where store bought. She only got to have them in the winter, and they'd be put in her dog house in the mornings, and by afternoon, they'd be out on the lawn because she loved them and slept on them all day.
• Regina was "Most Improved" in her obedience class. That's not saying much, she was almost a drop out, but she (and I) did make it!
• We got Regina at the Super Adoption event in May 2001. We noticed her because she got into a scuffle with her daughter, and when the person from her agency went in to resolve the issue, the daughter kept struggling, but Regina put her head in the lady's lap as if to say, "I didn't start it, she attacked me, didn't you see it?" Very cute and humble in her little way. We took her to the car and she jumped right in and sat with her head in my lap on the ride home.
• It was so cute when you pull into the driveway and she would be so sound asleep that she stayed asleep until you got out of the car and talked to her!
• Regina got out of the backyard a few times. Fortunately, she carried her phone number with her! My 'favorite' time that she got out, she ended up at the Chevron on 7200 South at 3:30 in the morning! They are open all night, and someone called and left us a message that our dog was there and come get her... so I got shoes on and went over. She was so happy to see me. It was just like, "Oh! There you are! I told them to call you to have you pick me up! I'm so glad you're here!" She hopped right into the car and we went home.
• When it was especially cold in the winter, we'd have sleep-overs. We'd make space in the basement next to the couch, lay out her blanket, and she'd snuggle down and sleep the night. The first few times we did this several years ago, I had to sleep on the floor with her to keep her settled. Also, she'd wake up me up to go out... The last few years, though, not only did she let me sleep on the couch and not have to go out, she could sleep in!

I'll miss my good little girl!



This is a poem one of my co-workers and parent of a girl in my class gave to me. It's a tear-jerker - and I hope it's true!

Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Sample 3: Dance Hair

For 3 years worth of high school dances (which was a lot of dances!), I was in charge of Holly's hair. She has kind of difficult hair to work with... curly and unpredictable, and often, short. But we made it work!

Here's a bun that was fashioned to go with my favorite Chinese-style dress. She went with this 'do to Jr. Prom.
This is ringlet 'do went to Senior Ball. Just her (our?) luck, it rained that night! But most of the curls stayed in tact.
So. Skilled (somewhat, anyway) at making difficult hair do what it's supposed to do (kind of)!

Sample 2: Wall Climbing Skills

Also in China and also with Joee...
Our day at the Badaling section of the Great Wall of China was actually 45 minutes!
And so we climbed the Great (Freaking!) Wall of China in 45 freaking minutes!
Joee kept me motivated. She'd been there the year before, and so knew the ups and downs of the wall and the crazy steps. She also kept me going to all 7 towers - those first few are quite the killers, and if you can get to them and past them, the last towers aren't so bad! She also told me the tale of the Great Wall, and kept my mind off how hot it was and how sticky and sweaty I was! We made it! I was a little disappointed, though, that there weren't any little China men at the top selling bottles of water for 100 yuan (about $12 when we were there - a regularly priced bottle of water would have sold for 5-10 yuan...).

Sample 1: Chop Sticking Skills!

When Joee and I were in China teaching, Mrs. Gong was our cook. She cooked us this great looking fish... but we didn't know how to eat it (all of it!) with only our chopsticks to de-bone!

So Mrs. Gong gave us some pointers... Actually, she demonstrated, then pointed at us, and took our sticks back when we (actually, only me) didn't get it. I finally did though, and...

It was so good! Some of the best fish I've ever had! And what a great skill to have - de-boning a fish with chopsticks!

Domestic Portfolio! First Post!

Welcome to a sampling of my Domestic Portfolio!
Last year, my friend and coworker, Liz, would bring yummy leftovers for lunch. She'd always joked that she took a picture to put into her Domestic Portfolio, which she was going to show to potential husbands and their mothers. I thought this was a great idea... and hence, this blog! (This must have worked for Liz - she got married last fall!)
So - enjoy some projects of mine! (and let me know if you have any potential husbands (or their mothers) to line me up with, ha ha!)

Countdown

The only one that really matters!
Days left of school: 10
Woo-hoo!

I've taken a hiatus from blogging... I know all my faithful readers have been waiting for my next entry... (I figure I'm about half of my readership, that that's okay...) Life has been moving on, and while most is not blog worthy, I'll be back with it all in about 10 days.

I think I'm gonna make it... we'll see if the kids do or not!

Boston Day 1

Monday April 13

Monday was mostly a travel day. I got to the airport super-early... not entirely by choice... it was when my ride left for work! (Thanks, Mom!) I got through security (I'm getting to be quite the airport-security pro) and went to the gate... and sat... and waited... and listened to my iPod... and read some of my book... and plugged in my phone... and sat... and waited. Okay, it wasn't that long before someone else from the group came around. But it was a while!

Everyone arrived (though the person in charge was one of the last people to the gate - yikes!) and we all got boarded. The flight was fine... I slept, read, and listened to music. I got a window seat, which was lovely. Our group of 35 teachers all sat together in two blocks of seats, each 3 rows, so that was kind of fun to be all together. Not that many people noticed... the teacher sitting next to me asked me when we got to Boston where I was from, Utah or Massachusetts. I hope that I made him feel bad when I said that I was with him and all the others. (Really? We've been going to class together once a month for the school year... True, I didn't know everyone's names, but at least I recognized people... urgh!)

We shuffled ourselves off the plane, grabbed our luggage, and got the shuttle to our hotel, Embassy Suites, right by the airport. We took a few minutes to get settled (I lost the sofa-bed game) and then headed out to the T - Boston's metro system. We looked quite the sight, I'm sure - very touristy, bags, money and camera flying everywhere, on all 35 of us. We finally got our week-long passes (7 days for $15 - what a deal!) and got on the train.

I went with a group going to the Italian quarter for dinner. Five of us ended up at a great Italian place, owned and operated by real Italians! The food was great, our waiter was cute (and Italian, of course), and we had a good time. Yum-o! We headed back to Quincy Marketplace to do some window shopping... and real shopping too! There were some stores in the Quincy Marketplace building we looked in, and later, we went to some stores around the marketplace. We caught the T and headed back to the hotel. Woo-hoo for day 1!

Old State House

Cheers - where everybody knows your name. I should have gone on this trip with those guys!