About Me

I'm the thing that's not like the others.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Photos

Okay, I've added more photos. You'll probably notice the Baseball World Cup album. I've also added a few to Random Fun and 1 to Random Things. As always, comments are highly encouraged.

The love of my life - Baseball

Fri Nov 9th
Well, yesterday was great. I’m still me (no random mood swings), the kids were good, I had superb hazelnut tea for lunch and Canada completely destroyed Thailand. Since the game was at 12pm, I couldn’t go. But that’s ok. We won! My evening, although not terribly exciting, was productive so that’s good too. I caught up on Bones, did some laundry and went grocery shopping.
I keep doing this thing, though, where I can’t tell time. I keep thinking it’s an hour later than it really is. I did it last night at the laundromat and this morning. I’m actually writing right now because I got up an hour early and didn’t realize it until after my shower.
Tonight’s parent/teacher night, so I’ll be getting that out of the way. I’m trying to make it rain super hard in Taipei, so that the Canada/Cuba game has to be postponed until Monday when I can go. Is that weird and obsessive? Katy says that baseball is like crack for me. She said she’s never seen me as keyed up as I was before the game... and I guess it’s true. When everything is new and exciting, maybe you get most excited for the familiar and comfortable things.
****
Well, I’m officially torn. I can’t decide if I love "Hairspray" (the musical, not the product) or baseball more. I guess it’s lucky that I don’t have to decide. The musical was freakin’ fabulous. Like, seriously. And if I weighed a little more and had a beehive, the lead girl could be me (personality-wise). I even don’t mind that I had to miss the game (which we lost, anyway) for stupid PTA, cuz I got to see the movie.
PTA was fine. Most of the parents wanted to know how to teach their kids English at home. And I only had to talk to 3/7 which means that I was out the door by 8:30 instead of 9, even though we didn’t actually start until 7:30.
All in all, I had a great night and there’s a baseball game looming on the horizon for tomorrow. We’re playing.... dammit! I don’t know who we’re playing, cuz my program’s all in Chinese! Either Germany or the Netherlands. Either way it’s a whole 'nother team of Western boys to oggle. Not that there isn’t plenty to oggle on the Canadian bench....mmm... ballplayers.... anyway, sweet dreams to me.

Tues Nov 13th
In spite of a brief tango with the virus that’s been going around, my week thus far has been fantastic. I’ve seen 3 more ball games (all wins), met a set of parents from the team and unleashed my inner cheerleader/coach. Daddy would be proud. So Saturday’s game was against Germany and Sunday was the Netherlands. Tonight we beat Venezuela. I’ve had baseball on the brain since last week. And I’m converting Katy too. On Sunday she was actually cheering out loud. And Michelle may come to the game tomorrow. This is very exciting, cuz she’s never seen a baseball game before.
Saturday after the game, Katy and I went to Le Rouge for dinner. Then we went into Taipei for a long walk and somehow wound up at the bookstore. I bought a book called Amanda’s Wedding, which I read when I got home.
Sunday was pretty much like being at home in Canada. I saw a ball game. Ate at a new Western style restaurant (which was full of foreigners) and went to Costco with the roommies. I even found cupcakes that are real cake, not the sponge that they call cake here.
School has been fine. Yesterday went smoothly. We read some stories, sang some songs, and I taught them math without wanting to kill someone. Today was even better, cuz we got to go to the park. Some of my sick kids are back, so I was up to 13/15 today. It’s amazing what a difference 1 kid makes to the atmosphere in class. But they all love the farm unit, so the evaluations should go well.
After work yesterday, I came straight home and spent the night watching movies. Jason bought a DVD player when he was sick, so we can watch region 3 dvds now. He also bought the complete set of Indiana Jones. I watched "Raiders" with him on Sunday and then "Temple of Doom" and "Last Crusade" last night. They’re so much fun. Then I watched "Happy Feet". It was not at all what I was expecting.
Tonight before the game, I went to dinner with Sam. Everyone else was working, so I tried to convince him to come to the game, but it was a no go. Instead, he asked me to play on his slow pitch team this weekend. To which I promptly agreed.
Tomorrow is my half day. Also, it’s the last game of the round robin part of the tournament. Canada is playing Australia, who have only lost 1 game. They’re second to Cuba in our pool. We are currently tied for 3 with the Netherlands and the top 4 teams go on to the finals. If we win tomorrow we are guaranteed a place. If we lose, it could be iffy, but only if Korea wins, which they probably will, because they’re playing Germany (with a record of 1 and 5). I’m not sure what happens if there’s a tie. Because position in the standings determines who you play in the quarter finals. I’m going to miss the finals because of playing for Sam’s team. I hope I don’t suck. It’s literally been years since I’ve played.

Sun Nov 18th
First, baseball news. Canada lost to Australia by 1 run thanks to a horrible call in the bottom of the ninth to end the game, when the correct call would have had the game tied with 2 outs. Even the Australian papers called it "questionable". This knocked us into a tie with Korea for the last playoff spot, which went to Korea, because they won the game that we played against them. I was Super Pissed. But until then, it was a really great, exciting game.
School has been fine. I’m still missing 2 kids due to illness. And because the weather was so fantastic (and will be turning crappy soon) we got to go to the park on Friday, too. I taught 2 of my girls to climb on the jungle gym, because that’s my favourite thing. They did really well, too. One of them is absolutely fearless. She’s my little princess and I love her (mostly because for some reason that I can’t determine, my boss hates her and I like to be spiteful).
This weekend has been pretty busy, although last night sucked. Yesterday, I met K in Taipei. I was looking for a cell phone and had no luck. So then we came back to see what everyone else was up to and they all had plans. Jason invited us to come with him to Ximen, so we did and that was ok. I bought a new pair of black dress shoes. They’re very grown up and nice. And I got them for just over $10 Can. But I felt like going out out and I couldn’t find anyone to go with me. K decided to go to bed early and Jason wanted to practice his Chinese with the juice guy, so I was left by myself before 10pm. On a Saturday! So I watched Kickin it Old Skool, which was pretty funny.
Today, I played slowpitch with Sam’s team. It was so much fun and I didn’t completely suck. I got to play catcher (which is a nothing job, but still fun). It was a double header. In the first game, I batted twice and both times popped out on the first pitch (I just can’t resist a high pitch and in slowpitch, they’re all high). For the second game, I made myself lay off. I actually took a walk! I also got a hit my next at bat.
After the ball game, Ben, one of the guys on the team, wanted to go to this blues festival. I had no plans so I agreed to go. Sam decided to come too, so the three of us went. Once we got there, we ran into Corrie, who was there with Andy and their friends, Erica, Isaac and Paul. It was actually pretty fun. But Sam and I left early, cuz I had a long way to go to get home, and he had other plans.

Mon. Nov 19th
School was the same as always. Nothing of note has happened since last night, except that I finally got a cell phone. I’m so excited. Things will be much more convenient now.
Apparently, after Sam and I left the Blues Festival, the cops came and told them that they had to break it up, because the neighbours were complaining about the noise. So the entire festival moved into a restaurant called Capones. Corrie said that it was much warmer and drier, but that the drinks were way more expensive. So it looks like we left just in time.

Wednesday, November 7, 2007

My mood swings are becoming legendary

Tues Oct 30th
KTV was super fun. Not everyone dressed up, but that’s ok. One of the guys bought a glowing light saber that made sound effects when you moved it. It’s my new favourite thing. I played with it for ages and I’m not the only one. The pics are really cool (Hallowe’en...). Since it was a Sunday night, I didn’t drink, but other’s did. And I had to pour Jason into his room at the end of the night. And he’s a big guy.
Yesterday was fine. School was practically empty. There’s some sort of virus going around. Tons of the kids are sick and Sam and Corrie both called in.
It was also a little weird not to have to prep after school. So I killed time at home before meeting Katy at 7 to go to the library. Of course, when we got there, the library was closed, which sucked a lot.
Today was too dreary to be a park day, but I do have dvd time scheduled for the afternoon. So instead of reading a story and watching a short video, I let my kids watch the first hour of Snow White. I forgot how freaky old Disney could be. One of my kids was terrified of the movie. Sam’s class joined us (none of them were scared) and Sandy yelled at him for always watching videos. For a different class, we played around with Red Riding Hood finger puppets. It was a good day for fairy tales. And one of my kids said "Wo ai ni", which means "I love you" when I left at the end of the day.
I have no idea what I’m going to do with my evening, since I don’t have to teach. I suppose I should eat something, but what?

Fri Nov 2nd
So, after all of the buildup, Hallowe’en itself was a bust. I went for Thai food at lunch with Katherine. I spent the afternoon at home on the internet. While I downloaded the new Bones episode, I watched the only Hallowe’en ep of Buffy that I possess. That was the only thing that was even remotely traditional. Kids here don’t trick or treat, so it was a super quiet night.
Work sucked yesterday. I felt like a harpy during the math lesson. We have to use this math program that’s designed for one on one or small group (i.e. 3 kids max) tutoring. And I teach a class of 15, where I can’t let the kids make mistakes in their books, because the books go home to the parents. Any mistakes mean I’m not teaching properly. (I’m rolling my eyes, right now). I think I will sum up the rest of the day with a little game of Fortunately/ Unfortunately:
Fortunately, I didn’t have to teach the last hour because of a meeting to discuss the new topic.
Unfortunately, the meetings are an exercise in futility and make my head hurt.
Fortunately, our next field trip is to the zoo and my class gets to go.
Unfortunately, my class has to stay in the petting zoo all day.
Fortunately, school (like everything else in life) did eventually end.
The evening was much better. Katy and I went into Taipei for dinner. Then we walked from the restaurant to the bookstore and I bought 2 new books (which together cost about $6). I’ve finished one already and wasn’t impressed. I thought it would be a cute love story, but it turned out to actually be a Romance (complete with capital R). The other one promises to be better. But I think it’s going to be freaky, so I don’t want to read it right before bed. I read a couple of pages in the bookstore and there have already been 2 ghost sightings.
Today work was better. I finished my evals (of the kids who were there) and we had birthday party. My kids are always the cutest. Everyone commented on how adorable they are. They also mauled me, which makes me remember why I love my job. It’s sad, though. Most of my kids have been off sick for at least a day or two over the last week. They’re just passing the same virus around among them. Luckily I haven’t caught it yet *knock on wood*.
After work, all 5 preschool teachers went for tea at the 24 hour place. It was really interesting. Adrienne told us about some of the Maori customs that she grew up with.
After tea Katy and I went for a walk around CKS. We ended up grabbing fries and dessert near Taipei 101 and then came home, where I watched the most recent ep of Heroes. It’s still so good. I love the way they’re introducing the new characters and reintroducing old ones!!! Otherwise, it’s been a pretty uneventful evening.

Sat Nov 3rd
Spoke to the mothership today. Things at home are pretty much the same old, same old. I forgot to ask about Aunt Susie’s cruise. I think she’s still gone, but she may be home by now. I don’t know.
Some weird things were going on with the bathroom light today. In the middle of my shower the room went dark. At first I thought my roommates were messing with me (the switch is on the outside) but none of them were home. When I accidentally tapped the ceiling (it’s really low) the light came back on. But it didn’t stay on. It went off and on a few more times, until I just finished my shower by the light coming in through the vent in the door. What is it with me and electricity related issues?
I spent the afternoon downloading and watching Zodiac and reading Ariel. The movie was really good, but not quite what I expected. I also went grocery shopping. Then this evening, Jason and I just hung out around the apartment. We went to the media store and I bought a movie called Voo Doo with Corey Feldman in it. It was SO boring. Even the Corey entertainment factor didn’t make it worth watching. When it was over I secluded myself in my room to finish my book. It was amazing. Just the right mix of creepyness and character development. Lawrence Block sure can write.

Tues Nov 6th
Yesterday at work sucked beyond sucking. I felt like crap and had very little sleep. And most of my kids seemed to feel the same way. But today I was much more me. Perkiness levels were back just slightly below normal range. But for some reason, by the time I got home, I was exhausted. Like head pounding, barely keeping my eyes open exhausted. I think I’m either getting sick, or with the overcast weather, my allergies are picking up. I’ve taken a Benadryl, so I guess we’ll see.
And sadly enough, I’m about to do my dishes and go to bed... at 8:48pm. Man, I suck.

Wed Nov 7th
Baseball World Cup!!! The three words which have put my perkiness levels at 110%. I’m so glad that I slept well (and long) last night. I had tons of energy to go watch Canada’s first game in the World Cup. We lost to Korea, but I don’t even care. I haven’t seen baseball, or so many Western boys in one place in SO long. It was a veritable feast for the eyes (like watching the Blue Jays). And on the way home, the team bus passed us while we were waiting for our bus.
Also, K really enjoyed the game, so we’re going again. I’m going to see as many games as I can. Saturday they’re playing Germany and Sunday it’s the Netherlands. I have to miss the Cuba game on Friday thanks to the stupid Parent’s Night.
The rest of my day was pretty routine. School, Thai for lunch, home to read. The kids were pretty good. And I’m just rereading one of the books that I brought with me, which I still enjoy.
Now I’m just finishing up my speech for parent’s night, because my poor CT is so nervous about translating. I’m trying to get it to her early, so she has time. This stupid event is ruining my life! (How’s that for overly dramatic?)