Eclectic Escapades http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/ Just a married Christian girl caught up in this crazy liberal world. en Copyright 2008 Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:49:07 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=3.21 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Cool points tally ... Oliver 2 - Tara .5

So, Oliver wins some cool points this week for a new connection he found. Recently, we've become fairly close with a pretty awesome engaged couple at church. Like, dinner, games and wedding invitation assembly every weekend kind of close. It's been awesome :) Oliver went to friend Amanda (the female half of the engaged couple, that is), on facebook, and saw that they had "four friends in common". He figured it was me, her fiance and some people from church. HOWEVER, one of the four happened to be one of Oliver friends, Amber, from George Mason University's Baptist Student Union. Upon further investigation it was discovered that Amber moved to Kansas City, which is where Amanda is from. Even cooler? Amber's father, who happens to be a minister, is MARRYING Amanda and Isaac.

SCORE = 1 COOL POINT



In other news of the cool, Oliver mapped out our trip to California ... which takes place in exactly 32 days! He made it so that we could stop and see my travel buddy's brother (too bad he'll be out of town that week...) AND a friend for dinner one night. It will take us 4 days of 8-9 hours of driving (not including stops, traffic, etc). He has it down to the towns we will stop in an everything. He is so on the ball! Now if only I was packed ....

SCORE = 1 COOL POINT



Now on to MY cool point total. Oliver left for work early yesterday, so I finished getting ready and decided to bike to work. Talk about FUN! Since I was already at work, I decided to bike to Oliver's work for our daily lunch break (we eat lunch together just about EVERY day during the summer). And, of course, I had to get home.... so I biked back home again. 9.6 miles all in all. Tonight I plan to bike to church to work Nursery. Don't worry Mom, dad, Grandma Mary and Grandpa Bob -- Oliver is going to come pick me up if its dark when I leave the church :)

SCORE = .5 COOL POINTS
VS.
OLIVER'S SCORE = 2 COOL POINTS

I'm ok with him being cooler than me ... he IS after all! <"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/07/cool_points_tally_oliver_2_tar.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/07/cool_points_tally_oliver_2_tar.html Church Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:49:07 -0600 "Make a pros and cons list..."
Last week Oliver and I interviewed ALL week long in Central California. At the end of the week I had NINE job offers. I knew seven of them were not my style. Six because the school district had a poor schedule (I'd be .5 time here, .3 there, .2 there ...), plus I wasn't really interested in what they had to offer. And the other one because it was strangely reminiscent of a certain summer job I had. While touring the facility I was slammed against a wall by one student and three different staff members asked me, "Are you ok with the fact that you will be hit, pinched, bitten, etc by the students here?" I love the population there, but I like my students to be smaller than me... not twice my size.

The last two jobs? Both are AWESOME! In one I would be the sole speech therapist in a special ed preschool. The kids are there half day, staff is full day. The afternoons are spent collaborating, preparing for the next day, IEPs etc. Can anyone say, "COOL DEAL!". The second job is entirely with hearing impaired students. If anyone knows me, that is ideal. My sign language skills will need a huge boost, but the school is renowned for their education. I would be back on a SLP team (Eh... divided feelings on that one) and I don't quite know what age group I would be working with ... but I keep thinking "when would I have another opportunity like that?!"

I've talked to many people about it, and no one has been able to give me some sort of insight that makes me "see the light" on one job or the other. Everyone understands the dilemma, and tells me they know I will "make the right decision". ... but I don't know what the right one IS! .... and I have to decide by TODAY!



Excuse me while I go bang my head off of the wall....

<"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/06/make_a_pros_and_cons_list.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/06/make_a_pros_and_cons_list.html Work Fri, 20 Jun 2008 13:19:05 -0600 In response to a Target commercial ... Me: We should have a baby ... We could be sitting here, rocking it to sleep...
Oliver: While I'm eating my sucker?
Me: ... um.. yes...
Oliver: While I'm eating my sucker? I think your husband needs a little more maturing...
Me: yeah...
Oliver: WHERE'S MY BALL?! WHERE'S MY RUBIK'S CUBE?!
Me: Oh Lordy....

PLEASE note that this entire conversation was in jest ... really... I swear ...

<"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/06/in_response_to_a_target_commer.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/06/in_response_to_a_target_commer.html Married Life Tue, 17 Jun 2008 20:38:29 -0600 Struck a cord ....
June 28th, 2003
The Weekend We Met<

...We met by casual accident
                            some years ago
two strangers in a crowd when introduced
and not remembering now the words we spoke.
Perhaps unspoken words revealed our needs
and let the other know
that there were gifts of caring
wrapped and stored inside our souls
                 waiting to be given.
- Hadley Read
]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/struck_a_cord.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/struck_a_cord.html Married Life Thu, 29 May 2008 19:11:26 -0600 wadda wadda wadda?! J: Mitara,willoo udess duhkool tomar?
Me: ... will I address the school tomorrow?!
J: NOOOO ... uhdess... UH - DESS
Me: Oh! Will I wear a DRESS to school tomorrow?
J: yes! oobee sobutibul ....

I guess "beauty" is a good reason to grant the kid's wish and wear a dress tomorrow ;)

<"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/wadda_wadda_wadda.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/wadda_wadda_wadda.html Work Tue, 27 May 2008 16:38:26 -0600 What a great week!
TWO YEARS TWO FOREVER


KARA'S BABY SHOWER
In other news, we figured out the best route to Oliver's work so that he can start biking to work. 8 miles round-trip!



We also saw Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (FIVE STARS, of course!), worked at church and later today we will be at Kelli and Nate's for a Memorial Day cookout. Sadly, last week was my last FULL week at work ... four days this week, three next and then we send the kids home for the summer. It's still hard to believe that I will not be here next week to work with them. Someone else will be in my office, someone else will be hugging them ... but at least I know who is taking my place, and I know that she is AMAZING.

<"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/what_a_great_week.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/what_a_great_week.html Church Mon, 26 May 2008 09:02:27 -0600 Wait... whoa whoa whoa! Planned Parenthood president Cecile Richards wrote, "This Mother's Day, I'm honoring that legacy with a Planned Parenthood Federation of America Mother's Day gift. Join me."

Ummm... give mom the gift of helping other moms not have to be moms ... I think my brain just exploded.

<"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/wait_whoa_whoa_whoa.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/wait_whoa_whoa_whoa.html Randomness Mon, 12 May 2008 19:21:24 -0600 For the third time EVER...

Jean Skirt -- $3
Fraggle Rock DVD -- $2
Taylor Swift CD -- $2
Yarn -- 25ยข
Two Shirts -- $4
Shoes -- Free

Not Pictured
(Already dropped off ...)
End Table -- Free
10 Plates -- $1
10 Cups -- $4

I think I made out quite nicely! The only bad news of the day is that I was rear-ended on the way home. No damage to any cars, thank goodness!

<"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/for_the_third_time_ever.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/05/for_the_third_time_ever.html Randomness Sat, 10 May 2008 22:37:16 -0600 Bye Bye Hair


<"3 )~ ]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/04/bye_bye_hair.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/04/bye_bye_hair.html Randomness Wed, 30 Apr 2008 17:14:09 -0600 Many many many things
The Bay Area has so much to offer us, including being closer to my parents. It, however, does not have central Illinois. Which is really where my heart lives. But I know we are right in this decision, and I trust God will bless us in this. I just am having a very hard time letting go of this wonderful amazing town. I've been a roller coaster of emotions. One minute (and I really mean MINUTE) I am so excited about living near San Francisco/my parents/the beach and the next I am near tears t the thought of leaving my school/chuch/friends/Custard Cup/La Bambas/Illini fans. We will also be so much further away from my great-grandparents and Oliver's Toledo family. Yet, Oliver is being so strong for me in all of it. and is quite excited about the prospect of FINALLY becoming the surfer he has always wanted to be ....



Kowabunga Dudes! <"3 )~]]> http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/04/many_many_many_things.html http://www.techtrend.com/blog/taranicole/2008/04/many_many_many_things.html Moving Sun, 27 Apr 2008 22:52:13 -0600