on a somewhat lighter note...

This website offers quite the mix of dope music: Funky 16 Corners
After tomorrow I have 9 days off in a row and I need them...that's all for now.
peace out...oh, and Topher says hi!

I drink water...

I received my Federal tax return last week. It arrived along with many well wishes and gifts...this got me thinking. I wanted some new cds really bad. Then Topher gave me 2 that I have been dying for (a badly needed new copy of illmatic by Nas and 100 days 100 nights by Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings) for my birthday.

I decided to donate $30.00 (less than the cost of 2 cds!) to The Blue Planet Run Foundation, which funds water project implementations for communities in need of water. So little money for so much! Yes, it did make me feel good, but it's more likely I'll forget this donation, because it is so little. If you are interested in doing this, check out the following foundations....
Kiva
The Humane Society
World Wildlife Fund
Heifer International

---> Hey everybody, this is Topher, I just got home late from work and H. was telling me about what she did today and then I checked out that Kiva site up there. That thing is really cool. I just loaned 25 bucks to a farmer in Ecuador!

blog-o-rama

Okay, so Heather beat me to it, but I really was going to post on the blog today, seriously.
My apologies to all our faithful readers for not blogging more, but those of you who know me know that I really stink at keeping in touch with people and I guess that not even a fancy internet blog is going to change that. Also, I havent had much to say. Not a whole lot going on in Topherville, and that's fine by me. Heather got a contract, and that's awesome (see her post below this one) and I've mostly just been working a lot. I planted a bunch of herb seeds and those all sprouted, and I'm working out how to set up an herb garden on our balcony (or is it a veranda?)

We've been going out to eat a lot lately, because it's fun, and we like good food. I think the best new restaurant we found is Txori, a brand new and very tasty Basque tapas place in the belltown neighborhood, and Matt's in the Market gets second place. Honorable mention goes to Pizza Pi in the University District and Orrapin Thai which has quickly become our favorite Thai restaurant within easy walking distance (and there's more than a few of those.)

St. Patrick's Day was on Monday, and the Irish girl I live with was kind enough to cook up a big traditional Irish dinner. I invited my old roomates Steve and Nels over and we ate Corned Beef and Champ (a mashed potato dish with peas and scallions) and boiled cabbage and cupcakes. Oh, and beer. It was really good. I'm looking forward to next St. Patrick's day, but next time we're gonna buy more beef, I was hoping to be eating leftovers this week.

Speaking of my old roomates, the annual Guys From Wisconsin and Friends Snowboarding Trip to Mt. Baker was a couple weeks ago, and I actually managed to get out of work and attend. It was my only snowboarding experience this year so it was great to have good weather and fresh snow and lots of old friends around to watch me fall down. Here's a picture of me and Craigo in the Mt. Baker parking lot:












Okay, that's it for me. Today is my day off work and I have to run some errands and get a haircut. That should be interesting. Maybe I'll post a picture of my new head tomorrow.
But probably not.

life...(33 on Friday!)

I think Topher felt pressured to blog after my last post, I don't know why....

He is catering tonight and I am left of my own devices, note that I got home at 6:00pm...

Yes! I have started working full time in West Seattle. And I love it, here's the details...

I am currently teaching Gifted Reading twice a day, doing "Alternative" Recess (those who display inappropriate behavior get to sit in my room and do math or homework instead of running around outside!) and I am easing my way into a half time position (with a contract) in the Special Ed. Department. Today I had my first one-on-one time and it was a dream...I look forward to spending that intensive time with students with the added bonus of practicing my Spanish once in awhile!
I am also doing WASL prep tutoring twice a week with a small group of 5th graders, who have also been amazing to get to know. (WASL is the WA achievement test, I can never remember what it stands for.)

I have yelled more in the past few weeks than I ever thought possible and received more hugs, compliments and pictures from students than ever before. I am also surrounded by motivated and inspired colleagues, which as we all know can make or break you. As for today...I had to be a champion for "fags" and "gays" rights once again...though sometimes I wonder if our Elementary students even know the meaning of these words.

In light of my recent experiences; I found this Savage Love excerpt inspiring tonight....

Four months ago, my mom walked in on me messing around with my boyfriend in our garage. I'm also a boy, age 15, and I hadn't gotten around to coming out to my parents yet. I felt bad that my mom had to find out by seeing what she saw. I stayed in my room crying until my father came home. They called me down to the kitchen and told me they loved me and that they were very, very sorry if they had ever done or said anything that made me feel like I couldn't be open with them about who I am.

My boyfriend is 17. He came out to his parents at Christmas, and our parents met for the first time last night. We don't have a question. We just wanted to thank you and thank all the other gay people who came out back when it was much tougher to do so. Our parents wouldn't have reacted the way they did if it weren't for all you guys that already came out.

We're Out Now

Thanks for the sweet note, WON. It's too bad that all teenagers, gay and straight, don't have parents as loving and supportive as yours.

hmmm

i keep bugging topher to write something on here. i started working full-time and our life is happening before our eyes, so hopefully someday he will have time to update this blog. cheers!