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- Happy Birthday Message from My Kids -
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Wednesday, May 25, 2005
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No matter how long you all have been reading my blog, you'll hopefully all figured that the majority of my brain damage comes from working with children 2/9 yrs - 5 yrs.
A Preschool Teacher's job is more than babysitting, which a lot of people like to try and call it. My co-teacher and I run a Mini Boot Camp at this preschool and we're teaching them pre-kindergarden skills. Some of days are great, some days I want to shoot off my left ear, but all in all the kids make everyday worth getting up in the morning to go to work.
Since today was my birthday, all my kids sang "Happy Birthday", they counted how old I am on the number board (damn, that took a while), and had a few comments of "Wow, Ms. April, you're old!", "I got tired of counting, you have a lot of numbers.", and my favorite: "Ms. April, you look great for being older..."
No joke, a 5 year old say I look good for my age.
Well, at the end of the day they all had made me cards, cut out shapes, and made collages for my special day. They all told my co-teacher what they wanted to say on their artwork and she wrote it for them. Reading some of these pieces just choked me up and I couldn't of received a better gift. Here's some samples:
A Birthday Cake, complete with my own little birthday hat and heart from Larissa.
A Chain of Birthday Hearts from Eduardo
A Birthday Message, Signature, (and I'm assuming that's me on the left) by Matthew
A Happy Birthday Heart from Brianna
My very own diva birthday cake and message from Lisa
 I just love my little ones.
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- Hotter than Hell and I don't care -
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...have I mentioned how much I loathe the weather in Sacramento?
I'm just trying to get over Hump day today and it shall be good from there. Whenever I think the weeks are long, my days are lagging, I get the Preschooler comment of the week:
4 year old boy: "Y'know what, Ms. April?"
Me: "Yes?"
4 year old boy: "Yesterday, I went poo in the toliet and it smelt like STANK!"
Me: "Thank you, sweety - I'll make a note of that."
Now, did I really have to inform you that this particular child was a boy? Seriously.
Oh yeah, everyday is a barrell of monkeys.
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- To the Woman who made it all happen -
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Monday, May 23, 2005
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 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOMMY!
This is, by far, my favorite set of pictures of me and my mom, taken while I was a junior in high school.
My mother and I have a very tight relationship and over the years, as I got older, we've come to rely on not only being mother-daughter, but being good friends. We've had to depend on each other through some really rough periods in our lives, and as much as we get on our last nerves (mostly from being so much alike), I wouldn't have it any other way.
Growing up in a bi-racial home, my trust in my mom was always huge. Being a mix of Puerto Rican and Irish/Austrian, I didn't look anything like my mother. I asked her many times when I was really young, "Am I really your daughter?", comparing the skin color of my arm to hers. Of course to that my mother replied, "April, if I didn't watch you come out of me, I wouldn't think you were mine, either!"
Mom is so young at heart, and has never looked her age, but I just want to wish her an awesome birthday today and hope that this year will bring new beginnings....
Love you,
Apey
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- How the Years have Flown by -
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Sunday, May 22, 2005
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 Happy 23rd Birthday, Apolo!
This coming Olympic year is going to be huge for him, and it's just been amazing being able to be apart of the excitement of the Speedskating world for over 3 years now. It's been some of the most wonderful moments that have happened while traveling the US to watch competitions, and I look back in awe of how far we all have come.
The crazy short track scene has really changed my life, and I mean that in the most non-cheesy way possible.
I hope nothing but blessings and the best for Apolo in this upcoming year and that his 23rd year is his best yet. (Lord knows like wine, he just gets better with age!)
So Thank You, Apolo, for all your crazy skills and for always showing your appreciation. Kill 'em in Torino, Dawg, kill 'em.
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- Sweet Son of a Bee Sting -
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Saturday, May 21, 2005
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It's too freakin' EARLY!
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- Not a Saturday to myself -
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Friday, May 20, 2005
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I'm so freakin' glad this week is finally over.
And just when you think you've made a clean break from the week, and you jump into the weekend like a carefree leap into some fresh plumerias - you get asked the question:
"Can you please _____________ for us this Saturday?"
So off I will go, starting at the bloody early hour of 6am, to Modesto, CA. to help our youth group with a company picnic. We'll be there at booths all day, but since meals and gas money are provided, it's not too bad.
Once we finish at 6pm, we should be free to roam - and roam I shall to near by Fresno, CA. to my favorite sushi house for dinner, Yoshino's. I can't be that close and not give in to the sushi voices in my head. Soooo, if anybody is in the Fresno region on Saturday, and is lookin' for some company and sushi for dinner, give me a ring...I'm all for sharing the love.
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- White Samoa Strikes Again -
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Wednesday, May 18, 2005
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 When I'm the busiest during the week is when I love to look back on some really fun weekends. Some I share with the world, others I have to keep on the supa-dupa D.L.
Why, you ask?
Well, it just so happens that I lead a double life. Yes, during the week, I'm the unbelievably white/puertorican chick you see to the left of the screen, but by the weekend, my name is changed and White Samoa makes her way to yet another polynesian festival still trying to convince the locals that I'm really from the Island - the Island of California, but that's not important.
Last weekend I was in L.A. helping Molly run the booth for her mom's company, Polynesian Creations, which was being held at the Ahola Expo at Heritage Park in Santa Fe Springs, CA. I always have a blast at these festivals and Expos - it's hard work, but it's fun to be a Palagi and still feel like you belong. I was really impressed with Heritage Park and it's definitely been the best place I've been to for a festival. As soon as I got to LA on that Friday night, I had just about enough time to say hello to Molly, make her take me to Norm's for some food, and hit the sack since we'd be getting up at 6:30am. Getting there early, we set up the booth with all the merchandise, and that's when the craziness begins.
There's a lot of different food vendors with local Island food to try, and that morning breakfast was some Moco Loco (super yummy by the way) to mirror the feeling of damn-near goin' "loco" dealing with some interesting customers to the Poly Creations booth. Although the smell of stir-fry and Hurricane Popcorn is what sticks in your mind the best, let's not forget the occasional hot polynesian male that struts by your booth like he owns the world. Each trip to an Expo has it's highlights, but I must say this time the highlight was seeing Molly finally become a winner. Uh, in the Aloha Expo raffle, that is. As we're fighting with customer's young children to not touch our nuts (kukui nuts, that is), over the loud speaker the name Molly Ah Yek carries to our booth and we all squeal. I head over to the info table with Molly to watch her claim her raffle prize, and lo and behold - there it is:
A Hawaiian-Mermaid-Porn/doorstop/paperweight/hurry-put-on-the-counter-and-see-how-much-you-can-sell-it-for Statue. I know. We could hardly contain our excitement. It's common knowledge (and tradition in 34 1/2 countries) to dream of owning a clay-molded, half-naked mer-person to show your commitment to all things cheesy in life. Molly vowed to hang the sea-thing from her bathroom wall, in honor of all living woman/sea things that are proud of their breasts and in hopes to auction it off at Sothebys's to raise money for Mermaid Breast Cancer Awareness.
Speaking of hot sale items, I want to know and understand the fascination with Sea Turtles at these Polynesian shin-digs.
No matter if the customer is the age of 5 or 105, they never fail to walk by the booth and not just say, "Aw, what cute sea turtles you have", but in a wild fit of euphoria and bewilderment they exclaim, "OOOOOOOhmyGOD, what ADORable turtles! And they have little necklaces TOO??". Exactly. Just forget that we have one-of-a-kind Poly-cotton Pareo designs or the soft-clay, hand painted plumeria hair picks...yes, let's just zero in on the plushy too-cute-for-your-Island turtles. The crowd calls them 'adorable', I call them attention-stealing bastards. We just need to have a Turtle Booth next time around, I think people will fall out dead on the pavement in a sea of sea turtle bliss. But I'm not bitter over my fellow sea buddies, just a little starved for attention is all.
Long live Polynesian Creations...and yes, those blasted turtles.
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- Go Southwest, young man -
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Friday, May 13, 2005
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I'm leavin' on a jet plane, yet again.
Although there's no shroud of mistery about this flight - I'm heading to the City of Angeles, and if by chance, by astronomical circumstance that I might stumble upon this freak show, then that would be somethin'. Aaaaaand, if that astronomical chance were doubled and multiplied by 3.45, then this entirely other freak show could be in the mix, and that fo sho would be somethin'.
Problem is: just somethin' usually gets us arrested and $500 bail.
muhahaha.
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- Snacking and Everything After -
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Wednesday, May 11, 2005
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I just finished my early morning shift at work and now for a lunch break.
Usually, I'll head down the Arden Fair area and hit up my two favorites, *shield your eyes Lupes* - Chipotle & El Pollo Loco. Both of which I can't seem to get enough of these days. And when I heard that they're building a brand new Chipotle down the street, I squealed like a pansey. While some think that Chipotle is sacrilegious, I love it...although the guacamole doesn't love my hips, especially when I'm ordering 9 troths of it.
*ahem* ok, now that I've stated gluttony at it's finest, I've come to the conclusion that in my new exercise/health routine, I'm going to have to knock down the guac troths by a....lot. Not being one that really likes big meals, I'm a notorious snacker. I'd much rather have 6 tiny meals/snacks throughout the day, which I also hear is much healthier for you anyway.
So, I've been on the hunt for some healthy *yet still yummy* things to snack on while I'm running around at work, since a teacher is on the go from the minute they hit the class until they land in their driveway. I'm a sucker for anything caramel (I like it much better than chocolate), so I came across these glorious angels:
Quakes rice snacks
 Quaker makes Quakes rice snacks. Now, despite that look on your face of "don't all rice cakes taste like packing peanuts?", I'm tellin' you that it ain't so. These things are really good and perfect for those times when you need something sweet to munch since they're only 70 calories (don't breath mints have more calories?) for 7 cakes! Maybe I'm making a mountain from a mole hill, but I suggest you book yo ass up that mountain and get some of these.
And with that...
WonderBlog Throw-back Candy of the Month
 Super Rope - Wild Cherry
The cousin to my other favorite, the Red Rope, everytime I eat one I remember pretty much living at the local skate rink as a kid. After school was the time to grab your buddies, snap on your inlines, and buy a Super Rope for each hand.
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- In the News -
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Tuesday, May 10, 2005
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Just some thoughts, while I'm at work...
+ Bodies of Missing girls found in Illinois
In the town of Zion, Ill. of all places. I believe with all my heart that there's a heaven. I also most certainly believe there will be an extra-hot place in hell for monsters that murder children.
+ The Michael Jackson Case
I LOVED Michael's music in the late 80's/early 90's. As much as I'd love to hear a new album from him, I just don't think he can moonwalk his way out of this mess. This man looks like a 80 year old woman, he needs psychotherapy, and his career is pretty much over (no matter how many Jacko fans say it's not).
+ Renee Zellwegger & Kenny Chesney Tie the Knot
I'm happy for her, but this has to be the weirdest pairing I've seen. Yeah, Kenny's a good lookin' guy, but to go from Jim Carrey, to Jack White, to him?
+ Amerie is back
Can I just say that this women is the bee's knees. I'm just lovin' her new stuff.
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- Whatever the Weather -
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Monday, May 09, 2005
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I cannot never understand, in all my years in Northern California, the weather and it's comedic wrath.
Yeah, you heard that right - pure comedy.
Well, let's put it this way...I've had my share of screaming, cursing, and wheeling damnation at the sky, but now it's just funny as hell. Heading to work with my sandals in May only to be greeted by damn near hail storms the minute I step out of my vehicle. Here in Sac-town, every weather forecaster is a liar with their pants on fire.
If you see the forecast is sunny with chance of showers, that usually means, the sun will be making it's fashionably late appearance today from 10:32am - 11:43am...if you're not going to be heading out until later, you're pretty much going to be paddling to work. I can be pretty violent when the weather flips me the finger, and I guess that I'm so numb to the rage that I have to laugh.
Even my preschoolers were pondering the sky today, asking why Mr. Sun came out 2 seconds ago, and now Mr. Frickin'HailStorm had arrived just in time to mess up recess.
I've just accepted that the Sacramento Valley has only two seasons: Winter and Convection Oven season. So that would be freezing hail balls or melt-you-to-your-car-seat weather, and what a heck of a dilemma it is to decide which one to save my whining for.
I think I'm going to work in a bubble tomorrow.
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- Bloggy Fun -
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Wednesday, May 04, 2005
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Well, that just means I'm going to have to get better with my blogging habits.
I've created a blog for Californ-I-A peoples called, Cali Cronicles. Whether you're a native of the Golden State or by way of somewhere else on the planet, this is the place to share your california
experiences, favorite places to eat, complain about the traffic, share about your favorite vacation spot.
Ever since aquiring good friends that span the entire state, I've had my share of traveling stories.
I'd love to have a lot of people from all over california to join, so please consider being a 'Cronicle Player" and I'll add you to the blogging team! ;)
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- All Bets on the Table -
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I see you, life.
I see you taunting me into rolling into something I've never done before.
I see your uncertainty, and I raise you an evil laugh, a 'talk-to-the-hand', and a whole-hearted invitation to BRING IT.
It feels good to gamble =)
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Name: April