Job Offer

Sooooo today I was offered a job at the school I am currently interning at. The pay is pretty nice and benefits are included. However I am overly qualified for the position, so I am going to give a demo lesson to  try out for an associate teacher position. There is a 3rd grade teacher who really wants me to do it and she has agreed to help. 

I have much to consider. 

Nothing is final.

I'll keep you updated.

Last Day for Pirates

    This is our last day here.  Alissa went to work, so Emily & I are on our own for the day.  A rainy, windy day I might add.  We got ourselves to Brooklyn to have pizza at Grimaldi's Coal Oven pizza place.  Rachel Ray recommended it in her mag.  It was pretty good - better than any other I've had here.  The usual NY restaurant - lots of tiny tables squeezed together with no room to move.  We really don't appreciate all the room we have in CA.  No one ever has to invade our personal space there.  Here?   No personal space at all!!!

     These are pictures of the famous Monty that Alissa is always talking about.  He is really cute & hasn't been cut for about 4 years.  Only his face gets trimmed at times.  LuLu would love to play with him.  He makes me miss her a lot.

     It is pouring rain. Em & I got drenched before we came home to Alissa's.  We leave in the morning & our luggage may be soaked.  We're going to take a taxi to the airport, but I don't want to fly in this weather!!!!' 

    Hagrid & friends made from Legos at FAO Shwartz - yes Alissa is there too.  

    I don't think I have recounted my umbrella adventures as yet.  I had my choice of several to bring to NY with me, so I chose a bright red one - easy to see.  Turns out I chose probably the only one that did nothing automatically - wouldn't open, close, NOTHING.  Best part was that I could hardly get it pushed back together it was so strong!  And here you open & close them constantly as you get on & off various vehicles.  Not only that, but every gust of wind whips the darn thing backward.  I'm leaving that umbrella here.

     Another funny item.  Emily had no idea she was out over the water on the Brooklyn Bridge.  She never looked down & thought she still had cars & streets underneath.  Turns out it was probably better that way.

Brooklyn Bridge

  I am almost caught up on our trip.  Today, Friday, we finally got to Liberty Island.  We had two drizzly, grey days when we chose not to go there.  So many people & soooo much security.  It was like the airport except for keeping on your shoes - & that was just to take the boat over.  To climb just to those windows on the base (near her feet), we had to go through a puffer machine.  I had never heard of it before, but apparently some airports have it.  You take off all jackets, belts,etc.  then you stand in this box & air puffs you all up & down.  It makes long hair fly up in the air.  Really weird. Then you can't even go in the statue for security & safety reasons.

    The Brooklyn Bridge was amazing.  Emily got all the way out over the water with no problem.  There were loads of people walking across.  I had no idea it was such a popular thing to do.  One half is for walkers & the other side of that white line by Emily is for bikes.  The bikers are not happy if you are in their way!!!!

    It was really beautiful today - warm (for NY).  That meant we only needed 1 layer of coats.  Emily has crossed almost everything off her to-do list because of our oh-so-efficient tour guide & task master.

Winnie the Pooh

These pictures are for Judi.

Finally, back at the library, the original animals from the Winnie the Pooh stories.

All the animals are very well-loved.  Pooh reminds me of the bear I had when I was very small. I think I gave mine a bath under a water faucet at my grandmother's house.

Macy's is having this amazing flower show right now.  The entire first floor is decorated with the most gorgeous flowers.  There are platforms above every cosmetics counter just loaded with flowers.  There have to 50 or so.  Each one is different & they have tours where someone points a laser dot at the flowers & tells you what is what.  The large floral gown was  by the designer of the day.  I think it's different every day.  Really amazing.

      We are walking about 5 miles a day I think.  Even Emily is getting worn out.  I was ready to get hit by a bus so I could rest in the hospital again.

    These are pictures from the chapel of patches

from all over the country.  We just happened to find this one from Calif. 

     On Tues. we went to see Martha.  We got a book by Charles Grodin, yummy cookies and a pansy plant.

On Tuesday we went to Wall Street & the World Trade Center site.  I guess work had progressed since Dec., but you couldn't really tell.  We also visited the two churches in the area that survived with very little damage - both Episcopal by the way.   I had so expected to feel utter loss and sadness at the site in Dec. or now, but there was just nothing there to see or relate to.

    St Paul's Chapel was another story however.  It was filled with pictures, stories, tragedy & joys.  They fed and housed rescuerers 24/7 for months.  There were signs & patches from towns who were there.  All the feelings I expected to have were in this chapel.  It was really hard seeing it all & not sobbing.  

      And on a much lighter note.....I talked to Bill & he said he put Joy dish soap in the dishwasher.  He was busy cleaning bubbles off the floor!!!!  Who does that????

3 in NYC

     Pirate Mom here again & having internet trouble again.  Pics are now on Alissa's Mac & I can use it.

     On Sun. we hurried back to NYC for this orchid show.  It was really different from others I've been to (Santa Barbara) because the flowers were in very natural settings on trees & tucked in with other flora.  However, there weren't as many varieties as in S.B.  It was fun.  The large vanda is for Barbara.

3 in D.C.

Arrgh!!!  It"s Pirate Mom here again with the kids in D.C.  Emily & I arrived safely on Thurs. & walked to the White House.  Wewalked all around it looking for the "first playset", but no luck.  We did, however, find a cherry tree ( I think) in full bloom.  Sadly, most of the others had already bloomed & blown away.  On Fri. Alissa arrived by bus about 2 hours late.  Em & I had gone to the Nat. History Museum where they had a mini orchid exhibit - nothing like Santa Barbara.

     Sat. arrived cold and rainy.  We were scheduled for a cherry blossom cruise on the Potomic for tea.  We already knew no blossoms but oh well.  Tea consisted of 1/4 egg salad sandwich, 1//4 cuke  & butter sandwich, 5 spoonfulls of butternut squash soup,  some store bought cookies, a mini scone & a mini brownie.  We skipped lunch for this thinking we might be too full!!!  I was seated by a bookshelf facing the girls.  We hit a bit of turbulent water.  Can you see this coming?  The books fell off onto my head and shoulder.  Natashaa Richardson anyone??  Of course this " never happens,  so sorry, are you alright?"   They were great big books too.  The picture is of Alissa outside & Emily inside the boat.  Also there are some slightly pink trees along the shore.

     The last picture is along the walkway where the trees would have been gorgeous in bloom.  In the background is the Jefferson Memorial.

    Today, Sun., we are bussing it back to NYC.