Vacation
I had such a crazy week at work! The tension was finally eased by tons of sugar and the promise of a week away from the screams of hyper kids. I received the most adorable and random gifts from my students:
*a purple lei
*a photo from 6th birthday in a foam frame
*some super-glitzy diamonte dangly earrings (which I'm going to rock on New Year's Eve!)
*a painted gingerbread house
*Elizabeth Arden 5th Ave. gift set, including lotion, perfume, and body wash
*huge box of Ferrero Rocher chocolates, my absolute favorite:)

I really can't believe that Christmas is in two days. I've had no preparation time, which is my favorite part. I'm going to overload myself on cheesy Christmas music all day long, when I'm not busy watching "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" (herbie wants to be a dentist!) and "The Christmas Story." There was a profile of Sufjan Steven's Christmas album on NPR yesterday, and the reviewer totally picked my favorite song as his, the one about the elf dance. Now if only my iTunes wasn't doing some weird rewriting thing that crashes my computer...does anyone know how to fix that? Maybe I'll visit the boys of the Genius Bar.

Happy Holidays, everyone! Oh, and if you're in the cities, stop by my pre-New Year's Eve party...I'm going to be making layered mixed drinks and finally, the mini-croque monsieurs! The view of the top of Chipotle is pretty sweet, too :)

Here's a pic from Joe's holiday party.

I've had an interesting week. On Tuesday, I was rudely confronted for the first time at work. A colleague, who apparently has been harboring issues with the fact that I work more, talk to the principal more, and have "good ideas," accosted me in the hall with the suggestion that we have a meeting with our boss so I can figure out my role. I'd been friends, I thought, with this person for over a year, and never realized that she had been building a list of reasons to disapprove of my work. It's probably because everyone at school is perky and nice until you're not in earshot. I actually gave up a bigger classroom to this teacher, volunteered to do almost all of the work for our team, and have always helped her, so it's like a slap in the face.

I was bothered by it for a day because I hate fighting with people, until I realized that as long as I'm doing my job- which is to teach students and be a productive member of the school- I can't let it bother me that my approach is different and possibly threatening to someone else. I my best to be supportive and nice to everyone; to fault me for a mistake in this extremely busy time (with moving, holiday, 80+ students) is a sign of some other issue. And besides, I know a of a secret challenge that she's going to face in the future at work, which will maybe permit her to see how hard I've actually been working.

My apartment is a mess: there are boxes everywhere and absolutely no place for all my kitchen stuff, so it's all on the floor. I'm having people over on Saturday night, but I'm finally resolved to the fact that my friends won't care if it's messy, as long as there's food. I'm making mini croque monsieurs! They'll be so petite and adorable:)

Top 10 signs I'm getting older:
10. I listen to NPR and like it. I get giddy when I hear the "All Things Considered" themesong!
9. I have a membership to a Yoga-specific gym.
8. I own a yoga mat.
7. I cancelled cable tv because "there's really nothing on and it wastes my time" (that's a direct quote).
6. I shop at Kowalski's and appreciate how ritzy it is compared to Lunds.
5. I saw "The Holiday" this weekend and got really mad at Nancy Myers for doing what the New York Times thought she would do, which is make a schmaltzy romantic comedy whose only asset is Jack Black (who's actually a leading man;)
4. I'm dying to go to the after-Christmas sale Ann Taylor Loft.
3. All I want for Christmas is gift certificates to IKEA. I really, really don't want more stuff!
2. I'm starting to wonder where my career is headed...and it's only my second year of work.
1. I hung out with a group of friends and new guys last night and my major focus, although I was tipsy, was cleaning up!

Top 10 signs I still have the maturity of a 14-year-old girl:
10. I love the Gilmore Girls! It's such a good show.
9. I laughed at the same joke as one of my students on Friday. I honestly sometimes can relate to their excitement about school more than any colleagues excitement about teaching. I miss school!
8. I poked a guy on facebook yesterday. Electronically poking someone is like a wink that no one can see, and probably the most "teen" thing I've done in a while:)
7. I made a can pyramid last night, too, which, while it shouldn't be something that a 14-year-old does, is something I've never done before and probably another sign I'm regressing.
6. I buy skin products that I see on infomercials.
5. I sneak candy from the treat box at our school all throughout the day and sometimes eat it during class, while my students are working!
4. I was genuinely excited to get a Snoopy Christmas sticker from one of my students.
3. I have different ringtones for different people...and one of them is a James Blunt song.
2. I've started wearing more eyeliner.
1. I had a meeting with my boss this week and I brought up the possibility that I do research on Spanish dual immersion schools, so that our school might eventually become a bilingual school. He said that it was too soon in the discussion process to do research, and then I said, "But it's so much fun!" Then he rolled his eyes at me! I can't believe I said that...could I sound more like a ditzy, teenage girl (albeit a nerd?)

I moved into my new apartment on Saturday...this weekend felt like at least seven days! I packed for all of Friday (after taking an unpaid day off from work) and picked up my mom from the airport. We went out to dinner at Fujiya with my aunts and cousins; the food there is amazing! I had a sashimi salad and miso soup, both delicious, and my mom had philly rolls, which have cream cheese inside. Their presentation is so beautiful, there, too. It's sad that I can't afford to go there when I'm not being treated.

I couldn't sleep at all on Friday night because I was so nervous about the move, so I did even more packing and took all of the light boxes out to my car. This weekend was the first absolutely freezing weather we've had in Minnesota, which made the whole move more difficult...it was 5 degrees for my poor movers :(

When the movers arrived at my new apartment, I realized that the back stairs are actually exterior and the back hallway is only about 3 feet wide. So I asked if any of the movers wanted my couch! They did (it was plaid and v. nice) but now I'm sans couch and need to save up for a futon.

On Saturday afternoon, my grandparents arrived in Edina and we all gathered to see them. Then I went home to unpack some more. I LOVE my new apartment because it's so much more homey and pretty, with its view of Uptown, hardwood floors, and 14 foot ceilings. Of course, the boxes everywhere are stressing me a bit, because I can't find much, but it's also made me realize how little I need. My cellphone is an alarm clock, my mom bought me new bedding, and popcorn is an all-the-time snack. So I actually have been putting off unpacking, which is bad, but necessary so I can focus on this week at work. I guess it will happen gradually, but I'm also going to invite friends over for an unpacking party sometime this weekend.

Lastly, there are 54 steps to get to my apartment. It's going to be such a good workout, living there:)