Third Life

A California Parkinglot

2012-01-24T20:25:00.000-08:00

Christmas Craftiness

2012-01-16T10:56:00.000-08:00

Having three weeks off of school left lots of time for crafts.

1. Craft day with Shawna.

Elmer's glue and paint:

Necklaces from washers:

Wooden nativity:

2. Knitting

Mug cozies:

Fingerless gloves (in black):

3. Transferring pictures to canvas:

Not bad!

Hide and Seek

2012-01-04T11:46:00.000-08:00

There's Moises... Where's Stella?

Sunny

2011-12-26T10:35:00.000-08:00

As Christmas day should be...although I wouldn't have minded if it was a few degrees cooler than the 74 that was reported.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Good Morning Rancho Cucamonga!

2011-12-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

Catch the Irony?

2011-12-11T16:35:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday To Me

2011-12-01T18:04:00.001-08:00

Well...my 1/3 of a century birthday. Yes...I am that much of a math nerd.

It turns out that since the next year is leap year, there are 366 days in my 33rd year. Which makes it quite easy to divide by 3 ... 122 days ... which just so happens to be 17 weeks and 3 days ... which happens to be exactly 4 months ... which is today.

:)

Worked up a sweat

2011-11-28T16:16:00.001-08:00

walking to the library today. Could be because it was 80 degrees...

Guess I should have worn my flip-flops.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T13:25:00.000-08:00

Sweet Lindsay

2011-06-19T15:09:00.002-07:00

made me this beautiful cheesecake for my last Sunday at church.

It was delicious, thanks!

Schillingbach

2011-06-18T05:30:00.003-07:00

Last performance on Kärntner Straße.

Isn't she beautiful?

2011-06-15T00:10:00.001-07:00

Starting the Good-byes

2011-06-11T05:46:00.003-07:00

They've already started. Yesterday I was invited to tea at the house of one of my best students. His parents have been very encouraging to me this year and it was a lot of fun to see the family functioning in their own home.

Thanks for a great afternoon!

Formal 2011

2011-05-16T00:44:00.003-07:00

Mother's Day Chapel

2011-05-07T03:10:00.006-07:00

We sang together.

We listened together.

We chanted together.

Then they went to the park and I taught math. But the mamas loved it.

Hallstatt Half Marathon

2011-05-02T22:25:00.001-07:00

Vienna Marathon Relay

2011-04-28T01:54:00.000-07:00

As part of our training for the Hallstatt Half Marathon May 1st we ran the Vienna Marathon as a relay team. Here's Whitney finishing the first leg. Notice I'm still nice and fresh....not for long.

We finished and have medals to prove it: Yvonne, Nicki, Whitney and me.

Our inspirational team nail color:

I still got it

2011-04-27T08:05:00.003-07:00

Just clocked a 15ish second 100m...it's probably 2 seconds slower than my all time best (which I will grant you is far off the world record), but I'm twice as old as I was when I last ran sprints. So I think it's pretty good :)

Budapest Day Three

2011-04-26T01:45:00.000-07:00

Then to the baths and home.

Many more pictures here.

Budapest Day Two

2011-04-24T02:31:00.000-07:00

Comfortable Hovering

2011-04-23T03:37:00.000-07:00

The great thing about reading such a big book is that it never seems to end. While that might sound daunting to some, it's nice to have it to fall back on. Because when you're done you kind of wander around the house wondering what to do next...not quite ready to undertake another book but without the comfort of an automatic activity that reading it had become.

Budapest Day One

2011-04-22T02:19:00.002-07:00

These are my fingers

2011-04-18T00:54:00.002-07:00

Yeah...Whitney thought it would give us inspiration for the relay.

Strangely, it makes me feel kind of feminine to see color flashing around when I move my hands.

Journal Entry

2011-03-18T02:56:00.000-07:00

A student's journal entry:

This is me and my husband.

Hopefully she has the gift of prophecy.

Finally

2011-03-15T01:57:00.000-07:00

After five months of looking like this:

I was inspired to change my bulletin board.

We wrote sentences to fill in the blanks: _______ is big, but ________ is little.

My favorite: A person is little, but a country is big.

Didn't quite follow the example and has NO idea of how to write it, but quite an advanced thought for a six-year-old.

Another "theorem"

2011-03-12T22:44:00.000-08:00

Of course he should be learning about the similarity of triangles, but at least he's thinking about math!

Raxalpe

2011-03-10T22:32:00.000-08:00

Last weekend we headed up to Rax for our second church retreat.

We woke up to this view in the morning:

I loved the light streaming through the windows.

We saw this in the evening:

And I even got to try Melissensaft.

(It's a real thing! Melisse is a type of lemon grass. The juice was ok...but I had to try it!)

Colors

2011-03-09T22:46:00.000-08:00

These are the flowers Lindsay brought to her own birthday party to thank us for hosting.

Unnecessary...but sweet.

Professor Maxi

2011-03-07T22:28:00.003-08:00

Max loves to really understand what goes on behind the formulas and algorithms we use in Geometry. He figured out a "Position Change" formula to find the fourth point of a parallelogram if given 3 points.

We've been waiting

2011-03-02T00:15:00.004-08:00

For Jerry Jacoby!

This year we put a marker on the first day that Jerry would come for Spiritual Emphasis Week.

See...he really does have a blue guitar.

My favorite Parisian store

2011-02-25T01:54:00.000-08:00

Paris Pictures

2011-02-23T01:50:00.000-08:00

To see more pictures from Paris go here.

Paris Day Four

2011-02-21T00:42:00.001-08:00

Paris Day Three

2011-02-20T00:30:00.000-08:00

Paris Day Two

2011-02-17T22:46:00.000-08:00

100/Valentine's Day

2011-02-15T22:40:00.002-08:00

Our 100th day of school was the Thursday before we were off for Energy Break and even though I had mentioned to my kids we ought to have a celebration, I didn't pull it together and get it done. So we had a 100/Valentine's celebration instead. Each student made 6 valentines, I made 10, and voila...100 Valentines!

Paris Day One

2011-02-14T01:55:00.000-08:00

Guess what's coming to town?

2011-01-21T05:56:00.001-08:00

How to make baking biscotti take as long as possible

2011-01-13T03:23:00.000-08:00

Burn the bottom during the first baking and shave off the burnt parts without ruining the rest so you can cut the loaf for the second baking.

Christmas Break Reading Accomplishments:

2011-01-11T05:57:00.000-08:00

Finished these:

Started and finished these:

And this one Sunday:

Started this:

First Accomplishment of 2011

2011-01-09T02:17:00.000-08:00

Watch two versions of Pride and Prejudice in one day. The BBC version and the recent film.

Natural Refrigerator

2011-01-06T02:22:00.000-08:00

With the weather outside being near freezing...we use our balcony to keep things fresh. It's a nice option.

New Year's Eve

2011-01-03T01:59:00.003-08:00

First to Heldenplatz to see the fireworks.

Then some people watching.

Then dancing the night away on the streets of Vienna.

An Augury

2011-01-01T03:40:00.003-08:00

Yeah...I don't know that word either, but when I looked on a thesaurus website this word was listed as a positive version of omen.

What I'm trying to say is:

I hope this is an indication of this year...literally and figuratively.

Geo Activity

2010-12-30T03:24:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I feel like I'm barely hanging on with my Geometry kids. Proofs about killed us (don't tell them there are more to come) and tackling circumcenter, orthocenter (which I didn't actually understand enough so we skipped it - a decision made in the middle of the lesson), incenter and centroid has also been difficult. But I came up with a "fun" idea for demonstrating centroid (center of gravity of a triangle). It might be the only one all year :)

Sweet girl

2010-12-28T03:23:00.001-08:00

M was in the group that Miss Steven and I led when we went to the Christmas Markets. While we were there Miss Steven dropped a mug she had purchased and it broke. A week later, for Christmas M gave her a replacement. What a sweet thing to do. Impressive that a five year old remembered the details of the incident and then convinced her mom to help her buy a new one. I love this girl!

Christmas Markets with the Kinder

2010-12-28T02:54:00.000-08:00

The Friday before school let our we took the Primary and First grades to the Rathaus Christmas Market. It turned out to be one of the coldest days ever (for me)! The kids enjoyed walking around and making cookies and candles.

Midnight Mass

2010-12-27T03:22:00.000-08:00

The stockings

2010-12-26T03:18:00.002-08:00

were hung

by the chimney with care

Busy Day Today

2010-12-18T02:18:00.002-08:00

1. Wake up at 8:00 and get ready for the day.

2. Go to the grocery store to buy baking supplies.

3. Bake Biscotti

4. Go to the mall for some quick Christmas shopping.

5. Play 3 songs in the middle school musical.

6. Go to Christmas Markets w/ friends.

7. Go to Christmas exchange party w/ biscotti and gift.

8. ??

9. Figure out tomorrow's brunching/baking/Christmas service day.

10. Fall asleep.

Christmas Caroling on the Graben

2010-12-16T02:04:00.000-08:00

As has happened before, some of the ICSV teachers perform on the street for fun and funds.

There was a big crowd this time, despite the cold.

With some guest appearances.

Elementary Christmas Concert

2010-12-15T01:29:00.000-08:00

The staging area:

(check out the combination of spring flowers and fall stripes)

On stage smiling while parents (and teachers) take pictures.

Singing

(can you spot the 2nd/Primary sibling pair?)

I realized during the concert, that since the students sing in two groups (P-2, 3-5), that I've taught most of these kids over the course of the last 3 years.

Ending the concert with a combined elementary song.

PS. Don't you just love the fancy dress with the huge snow boots?

Christmas Market with Eli

2010-12-14T00:36:00.000-08:00

My piano student and I took a trip to one of the Christmas markets to celebrate her good practicing record.

We left "early"...the sun was still visible in the sky (at 3:45).

We went to Karlsplatz.

Drank some hot chocolate.

And ended up at my apartment, playing Bananagrams.

Fun outing with a great kid.

Snow Picturing

2010-12-13T10:37:00.000-08:00

A fun (if cold) picture taking day!

Hat trick

2010-12-12T10:32:00.001-08:00

Or perhaps shell game?

Christmas Package

2010-12-11T00:36:00.002-08:00

This year's goodies from home:

See's, M&Ms, lotion, frame....and best of all:

Homemade Chex Mix...it just tastes like Christmas to me.

Thanks Mom!

Lisbon Day 3

2010-12-10T05:40:00.000-08:00

Sintra

Moorish Castle

Palacio Nacional da Pena

Lisbon Day 2 - Part 2

2010-12-08T04:06:00.000-08:00

Down to the main walking street.

Away from the main walking street.

...and then off to Thanksgiving.

Lisbon Day 2 - Part 1

2010-12-06T01:28:00.000-08:00

Belém

Lisbon Day 1

2010-12-04T02:53:00.007-08:00

Just exploring the neighborhood.

Praça de Touros do Campo Pequeno

Running in a Winter Wonderland

2010-12-01T08:09:00.003-08:00

Our goal is to keep running in the off season to keep in shape. Some days it's difficult to be disciplined. But surprisingly the girls were excited to run in the snow. (It wasn't really this dark outside when we were running.)

And then they decided to have a little fun.

Thanksgivings

2010-11-30T10:29:00.005-08:00

First - Brandi's

Second- ours

Third - Traci's

Snow has come

2010-11-28T22:48:00.002-08:00

to Vienna, and thankfully, so have I. There's no guarantees when one is traveling to Portugal and forgets their passport in Vienna.

Heading Out

2010-11-25T03:15:00.000-08:00

to Portugal for Thanksgiving break to visit Traci and her family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whew!

2010-11-23T12:53:00.000-08:00

Received at school: Monday, November 8th.

Finished: Saturday, November 13th.

It was a whirlwind of fantasy that included a few late nights, but definitely worth it. Well I think so...the students who had to deal with a grumpy, tired teacher might not agree.

Heuriger

2010-11-21T11:39:00.000-08:00

On what was quite possibly the last over 70 degree day, we decided to head up to a heuriger outside of the city. We braved the cool night in defiance of the impending winter and sat outside.

Most heurigen make their own wine.

Vienna Sunset

2010-11-18T11:24:00.003-08:00

5:07

5:09

5:11

5:14

5:16

5:19

Martini Day

2010-11-14T05:17:00.005-08:00

No...it's not a day to drink Martinis...it's St. Martin's Day. Apparently he cut his cloak in half, gave half to a poor man, and eventually was made bishop despite hiding in a hut with lots of geese that gave him away. So...Austrians eat goose in his honor.

...and other Austrian side dishes.

Daniel and Tabea invited us over for a Martini dinner.

Cute Details

2010-11-09T08:52:00.000-08:00

I love the details that kids notice...like insuring the head of the tiger is sticking out of the rounded part of a cubby.

Now that's a face...

2010-11-08T02:34:00.000-08:00

...I don't mind seeing plastered all over newspapers, advertisements and billboards all over town.

For Luke and Levi

2010-11-05T07:05:00.003-07:00

(I'm fish sitting)

Austria's National Day

2010-11-03T02:42:00.000-07:00

To celebrate the last soldiers leaving Austria and their declaration of permanent neutrality, October 26th is a national holiday. Which meant no school, and in this case, some free museums.

We visited the National Library

The Esperanto and Globe Museums

and the Wien Museum.

But I have to say, that other than hanging out with these lovely ladies

my favorite part of the day was coming across this:

Man I miss band!

The Apple Challenge:

2010-10-31T02:00:00.010-07:00

To avoid wasting any of the fruit gathered from the Apfelhof.

The pears went to a friend, a few of the apples were saved for eating:

These two

became this:

and finally this:

I saved these Granny Smiths

for my Pièce de résistance:

Unfortunately I baked it too long and it was burnt and mushy.

With these and ten more like them

I froze in three batches

And will save for future baking adventures.

Mission accomplished! Nothing wasted!

Apfelhof - People

2010-10-29T02:07:00.000-07:00

And a dog.

Apfelhof 2010

2010-10-27T01:44:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we headed out of the city to an apple orchard.

We had a mini lesson about potatoes,

prepared some for our lunch,

then headed out to pick some apples.

Farmer Bernhardt also showed us his ghost cellar (where he keeps his potatoes).

Cross Country Photo Shoot

2010-10-25T03:25:00.000-07:00

(As mentioned before we had some difficulties with focusing...)

Our Final Race

2010-10-24T03:00:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was our last Cross Country Race of the season. It was about 45 minutes up the river in a tiny town. I'm pretty sure we ran on almost all of the streets they have, and it was only a 5k. It was a good race for our team, everyone met their individual goals, it was a pretty setting, and there was even dinner included in the entry fee. The girls enjoyed using my camera for their own mini photo shoot which I'll post at a later date. (I've posted small pictures because we had a bit of a problem remembering to use auto focus instead of manual focus.)

We got these great gift bags with granola bars, water, gatorade...and a two headed roll.

Our winners

Free dinner

Our team minus one.

The coaches (the girls insisted...it was a little weird)

Sad Puppy

2010-10-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

His mommy and daddy are in the hospital bonding with their new baby. He misses them.

Sunny Day

2010-10-21T11:58:00.005-07:00

I figured since tomorrow's a work day (no students), and the sun was out today, we could skip out of school a little early and enjoy a walk in the city. No guarantees when the next sunny day will occur, you gotta take advantage of the sun when you can.

(this might be the earliest escape for the whole year)

Finally

2010-10-20T02:38:00.000-07:00

We decorated our empty wall. Our poor lonely swirly stencil has finally been joined by pictures of Vienna.

Last Glimpse

2010-10-17T02:28:00.002-07:00

I caught this on my way to school a couple of weeks ago. What with the days getting shorter and the impending months of clouds, this might have been the last time I'll see the sun that early in the morning.

Only in Europe

2010-10-15T04:24:00.000-07:00

Would IKEA serve cola in a goblet.

Staff Retreat

2010-10-13T03:58:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago our staff was able to spend the weekend away from Vienna in Mariahilfberg. It was a great weekend of worship, teaching and relaxing together.

The leaves are beginning to turn in the hills and we took advantage of free time for a easy hike Saturday afternoon.

Aptly Named

2010-10-10T03:43:00.000-07:00

Just like my Erika. Pretty and sweet.

More Details

2010-10-03T11:44:00.004-07:00

C brought me this drawing a couple of weeks ago. She made it at home, but I was blown away by the details.

It's laid out exactly like our room! Down to the gray carpet, the door, the rainbow, the drawing table near the windows, and even the people in their own places. She even drew me in the middle of everything.

Details

2010-10-01T03:33:00.001-07:00

I usually have to prompt the little ones to include details in their pictures and stories. But this time K told me she had included the white square in her illustration.

The entire length of the U4

2010-09-29T03:30:00.000-07:00

My friends and I had planned a trip to Grinzing for the evening of the cross country race. Since the race was off the Hütteldorf stop, and Grinzing is off the Heilegenstatt stop, I traveled the U4 in one trip.

Cross Country...literally

2010-09-26T02:22:00.005-07:00

Despite excellent planning on the part of Head Coach Klein, we found ourselves late for the bus that would take us to our race. Since the bus only comes once an hour, he found one that would take us half way and then figured we could walk the remaining three stops.

Here we are, following the road.

While we could still hear the street to our left, the sidewalk ended and we followed a trail into the trees.

Walking two of the three stops ended up taking us as much time as waiting for the hourly bus. But it was a good warm-up for arriving at the race.

The first part of the race was a gradual uphill, which was tiring (I walked a bit). The second half was downhill...which was instrumental in my 30:15 time. Respectable for me in a 5k.

Here are two of the girls relaxing after the race.

And a picture of the girls team:

Getting home was another adventure which unfortunately I have no pictures for. Suffice it to say that while we didn't do any walking, there was a bit of waiting involved.

Now I remember

2010-09-23T05:55:00.000-07:00

why I always have taught kindergarten.

Thank goodness for chocolate.

Upside Down

2010-09-20T05:50:00.001-07:00

Campfire

2010-09-17T12:38:00.000-07:00

You're thinking...of course! But this is one of the few places in Austria to allow open campfires, so we were excited to take advantage of the rarity.

Farkle

2010-09-16T12:28:00.000-07:00

Lunch in the Middle of a Lake

2010-09-15T12:25:00.000-07:00

We're sitting along a dock.

You are who you teach

2010-09-14T12:16:00.000-07:00

An after breakfast swing.

The Campsite

2010-09-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

Girls on the left, boys on the right.

Never thought I'd be here again

2010-09-12T11:43:00.002-07:00

Not that it was a bad place, I just figured it was a one in a lifetime event. But we returned this past weekend to go camping. More pictures to follow.

Double Roommies

2010-09-10T11:34:00.000-07:00

Now that I'm teaching 3 secondary classes, I wanted a space to allocate to those math classes, so Whitney graciously said I could share her room...which makes us roommates twice over. One friend thought I would need extra counseling, but I'm pretty sure it will make things easier. I won't have to go traipsing all over the building to ask what's for dinner.

Chili Day

2010-09-07T03:58:00.000-07:00

There's nothing like a good pot of chili on a chilly day...except when it's August 31st!

A Sunday in Stadtpark

2010-09-05T03:54:00.000-07:00