And that's not even including the weekends!
Bahahaha.

A sigh of relief!

I received a letter today from the school district stating that, "based on our recommendation and the District's anticipated needs for next year, we are notifying you of our intent to offer you a contract for the 2012-2013 school year."

All new hires, including myself, are on a year-to-year contract for the first three years of teaching. I wasn't too worried, but it sure is nice to KNOW.

P.S. I swear official letters try to sound way fancier than they need to. I would have been fine with a "Hey, you. We think you did a pretty good job. If you want, I guess we'll keep ya around."

Also.

I like Spring.

And long Sunday walks with my husband.

And looking at cute old houses and dreaming of living in them.

And nice notes from my students reminding me that I am, in fact, NOT the meanest teacher in the world.

And avocados.

Like, like, like

4 night stay in this lovely cottage nestled under the Redwoods?

Yes, please.

Keeping my mind in the present?

I'm working on it.

Do you know the way to San Jose?

I soon will!

I have had that song in my head alllll week.

Tyler got accepted to do a nuclear-chemistry internship in San Jose, California.

Congrats, husband!

He applied for a few, but this was secretly the one he really wanted so he is excited. The only downside is that he will be gone for 6 weeks.

And I am not invited. Whaaaaaa?

Did you know that 6 weeks is 42....DAYS?

Did you know that I am very used to living with this guy and I quite like it? As in, I will not like it when he is gone.

Did you know that I have suddenly become VERY grateful for modern technology so that I will be able to see and talk to that handsome face sometimes while he is gone?

Did you know that I still feel that missing him is totally worth it because I am so darn proud of him?

Did you know that he is one of the hardest workers I have ever met? It's true.

And don't worry. I am definitely meeting him out there when he is done. Because if we're apart for awhile, we only feel it fair that we get to hang out for a few days in sunny California.

Oh man. Now that we've planned that, my head has not been where it should be for last few days. Instead of work, dishes, cleaning, it's been:

....me and husband, beach, warm, ocean, boardwalks, no work, a good book, relaxing....

"Do you know the way to San Jose" is sung by a character in this video. This is the version that I have had in my head. Watch the whole video. It's very enjoyable.

Because we like each other, that's why

So husband and I have recently decided that we really like each other (ok, we decided that a while ago...) and we think we would like to be around for as long as possible. And because of that we have decided to work as a team to live a little bit healthier of a lifestyle.

We've been going to the gym together more and been a little more careful about what we're eating. So far we're feeling pretty good.

Our one dilemma is that we have realized how much our society centers social engagements around food. It's practically impossible to avoid! And let's be honest, it's rarely ever food that is good for you. And it's hard to turn down offers from people without feeling rude. Just the other day I was at a meeting and someone offered me a treat (I'm trying to limit my intake of those guys) and I turned it down. And it seems like the conversation for these situations always goes something like this:

Person: Hey, would you like a (insert treat here)?

Me: Oh, no thanks!

Person: Are you suuuuuuuuure?

Me: Yeah.

Person: Seriously, you should have one.

Me: I'm good. Thanks though.

Person: I made them myself. They're really gooood!

Me: Thanks, but no.

Person: (Realizes that I'm really not going to take one and then gets this slightly disappointed look on their face...)

Does this sound familiar?

ANYWAY.

Husband and I got thinking... Ok, we may not be able to plan or control what food is available at social engagements, but... What if we at least planned our own date nights that, instead of doing not-so-healthy things like most of our dates we did before, included doing things that benefit our bodies? So that's our new goal right now. Find date ideas that will either keep us active or help us to eat better.

So this Friday our date was to look for a new yummy and healthy recipe. We were getting REALLY bored of the same 6 or 7 recipes that we use ALL the time. Then we went to the store together, got all the ingredients, and then came home and had a fun time in the kitchen together.

May I say that it was a total success? Ok, thanks. I will.

We found a great recipe that will definitely be added to the books. We made a few of our own changes and loved it! The perfect combination of spicy and sweet (don't worry, not TOO spicy. I don't do too spicy.) It was also very easy! In fact, we only DO easy.

Here is the final product:

Spicy Salmon with Mango-Pepper Relish

Found the original recipe here:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spicy-tilapia-with-pineapple-pepper-relish-10000001599586/

INGREDIENTS

2 teaspoons of olive oil

1 teaspoon of Cajun seasoning

A dash of salt

1/4 teaspoon of ground red pepper

4 (6 ounce) salmon or tilapia fillets

1 mango chopped

1 avacado chopped

1/3 cup of chopped onion

1/3 cup if chopped tomato

1 Tablespoon of Balsamic vinegar

1 Tablespoon of chopped cilantro

1 small jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

4 lime wedges

PREPARATION

1. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Combine Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Sprinkle fish evenly with spice mixture. Add fish to pan, and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.
2. Combine mango and next 6 ingredients (through jalapeño) in a large bowl, stirring gently. Serve mango mixture with fish. Garnish with lime wedges.
3. **The original recipe called for tilapia which I'm sure is just as good. We just happened to have salmon in the house and used that instead.

CALORIES

6 ounce fillet of fish about 200 calories

Mango mixture about 320 calories

Divide the mango mixture among 4 and give each person a fillet and you've got yourself a 280 calorie meal. Woot!

We did, however, put it over rice. Because we are rice people. That's why.

So here's to more fun dates! We'll let you know if we come up with any other successful ideas.

Two years ago today

Today was a beautiful day! The sun was shining, melted snow was drip-dropping off the roof, and there were definite hints of spring in the air.

This evening I was perusing through my journal and reminiscing about old times. I came across an entry I had written exactly two years ago today:

March 4, 2010

It's funny how on a beautiful day it is so easy to see God's hand in everything. This morning was the first moment of spring that we've had this year. As I was walking to class, I could feel the sun actually warming my face- which is a definite sign of spring because when the sun shines on a winter day in Logan (very rarely does this happen anyway), but when it does, you can't feel it. In fact, most times those days are the most bitter cold ones because we don't have insulation from the clouds.

Anyway, as I was walking I was just enjoying the weather and suddenly things that normally look very ugly and drab to me started actually looking very nice. All I wanted to do was throw down my bag and just start running and just keep running! Unfortunately, I didn't have the best shoes on... Oh yeah, and that whole "I guess I'm on my way to class" thing kind of got in the way...

And the saddest part: I'm in class feeling all antsy and I can't stop glancing out the window and then I start to see dark clouds... and as each hour goes by, I watch as my moment of spring slips away and disappears and I had only gotten to enjoy fifteen minutes of it! However, when I finally got out of class it was raining and I actually really loved walking home in the rain. It was the good kind today. The rain that smells fresh... not like worms.

Husband thinks I am so weird for thinking that rain smells like worms sometimes. But it totally does!

Am I right??