jennycain's Xanga

Combined Blogs...

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 22:44:46 GMT

Phil and I are trying an experiment - combining our blogs. So, Phil's blog site, formerly titled "InspiredElectrons" is now renamed to "InspiredMumblings". Posts from either one of us will be intermixed throughout the site. I also like it because it will not require a subscription/login/personal info to leave a comment.

Phil imported as much as he could from this site. Everyone should benefit - Phil's friends will see a lot more photoblogging from moi, and my friends will be enlightened to the inner workings of Linux (good luck with that!) or political rantings.

So, change your bookmark to Philip and Jenny Cain: InspiredMumblings

Walking in a Winter Wonderland...

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 16:36:26 GMT

I had the wildest of weeks. Something very bizarre happened on Sunday night. It was something that has never happened to me while living in Tucson. It was a glorious surprise, a gift from heaven.

SNOW!!! This is our neighborhood Monday morning. Isn't it awesome?? Now, you gotta realize that is so very rare for Tucson, it's almost unbelievable. Snow? On the ground? In town?? In our neighborhood?

It started snowing Sunday night. We were over at Tristan and Katie's house.

This is them.

There were other friends there too. It was a cold, rainy/sleety night in Tucson. We were grilling hamburgers and watching the football game and chatting. All of a sudden we look out and there are the HUGEST snowflakes falling! No joke, no exagerration, these flakes were 3-4 inches in diameter. But they weren't sticking to the ground, just your clothes. We were so excited to see snowflakes falling that we, of course, all ran outside and tried to catch them in our mouths.

We continue with our evening. A little later, we look out and the ground is white. NO WAY! So, we all grab our jackets and run outside. Our cars have several inches of snow on them. The ground is covered. The sidewalk is icy. The snow is still falling. Woo hoo! The snow on the cars was perfect for snowballs. We probably played outside for a couple of hours. It was the coolest thing ever.

Here is the group: Back - Jimmy, Kristie, Katie, Tristan, me, Phil
Front - Matt, Sierra, Neal

fyi - That bright spot is not a street light, it is a snowflake.

I decided to build a little snowman. Funny story - the next day, when all snow was gone everywhere, Katie came home from work and the only thing left was my snowman!!!

After hours of playing outside, we trooped inside sopping wet and had hot cocoa or coffee and watched a movie. When I got home I took some pictures of our yard, and this one came out way cool.

The next morning I wake up, shower, and check the news. There is still snow everywhere.

I was nervous about driving on icy roads. There are no fancy machines that come around and de-ice the road or snowplows when it snows, because it NEVER DOES! Come to find out, all of the schools were either starting late or shut down for the day. The roads were iced over, we had 78 bridges that were completely shut down, making it practically impossible to get anywhere (bridges over all the many washes out here). A snow day!!! Unbelievable. Now, those who deal with snow all the time - before you make fun of us for having a snow day, please re-read the previous sentences. Well, my district was opening at noon. Fun! So I changed back into my jammies, made some chai tea, and popped in another disc of Gilmore Girls, season 1. What a great morning.

Sometime mid-morning, Keeley comes over to see our snow. She did not have any at her house, as the snow decided to not stick on the ground in the northwest section of the city. The snow was well on it's way to melting by then, but still enough to take a picture.

I went to school at noon, thinking it was pointless to go in anyway. I have most of my classes in the morning on Mondays, so I was going in for 2 classes. I get there and there are probably 30 kids in the entire school there! Some classes only had 2 kids show up. I mean, if you were a parent, and your kid was already home for the day, why would you send them in for only 2 hours? It all had something to do with if the district opened the schools and served lunch it still counted as a day and they could get money from the government for that day. Stupid. So, it was just the weirdest day at school. It felt like a work day, but there were some kids there. Everyone either was watching a movie or playing on computers or doing an art project. I didn't teach any classes b/c of the small numbers.

By that afternoon, it was all melted. Yesterday was a beautiful, 65 degree day, and I kept asking myself "was the snow all a dream?"

There are a few more pics on my flickr site
and my cute hubby has a sound recording of the snow melting on his blog

Eventful Weekend

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 15:57:44 GMT

I had a blast this weekend. It was great to have an extra day off. Friday night I had dinner with my friend, Melissa. We ate at this little Italian place, and I had the best prime rib au jus sandwhich ever! Melt in your mouth good.

Saturday I slept in late, of course. Phil had to go to work early, so I went to the mall and wandered for a bit. I visited my friend, Katie, who was working her last day at Bath and Body works. Then I wen to church and enjoyed the evening with Phil

Sunday I played in the snow!! Yep, there was snow on Mt. Lemmon. The ground up there was completely covered with a whole 2 inches of snow :). Hey, it was enough to make snowballs, snow angels, and a mini snowman. I went with my brother, Serene and Belle. It was Belle's first time in the snow. We had a blast!!! Here are some pictures from that:

We had so much fun!!! There are more pics here.

Sunday night I spent some time with girlfriends and we had a Gilmore Girls fest. Fun times.

Our pipes froze Sunday night due to 20 degree overnight weather! When does it ever get that cold here??? Anyway, we were lucky, no breaks. We have only a few inches of pipe exposed where it comes out of the ground and goes into the house. We have never had the pipes freeze before, so now we know. We are very thankful there was no pipe bursting fiasco to deal with yesterday. Many people in Tucson had that happen.

Monday we slept in really late (b/c we stayed up really late!!) and just puttered around the house, finished a movie. We had our friends, Tristan and Katie, over for dinner - chili and cornbread, yum! and played some N64. I went to bed pretty early.

I had the weirdest sleeping pattern last night. I went to bed early, woke up at 2 am really thirsty (dont you hate that?) and burning hot. That was probably from the electric blanket being on high. Phil came to bed and was freezing, so I didn't adjust the blanket. And from then on I woke up every hour really hot, even though I had changed into a Tshirt. I had really weird dreams, and a nightmare. It was about this movie I saw years ago with Kim, and now they are coming out with the remake. All I have seen is the previews for the new remake of "Hitcher". It was this really cheasy 80's horror flick. But I had nightmares about it for some reason last night. It must have been the chili. Needless to say, I woke up refreshed (ironically) and ready to tackle my day.

It is super windy and cold here today, so I hope I don't get blown away!

Phase Two Begins

Tue, 09 Jan 2007 02:15:59 GMT

     New Year's Eve we spent with our two friends, Abby and Matt. I met Abby when I was out in Chicago for the summer where I was a camp counselor. Now she lives here with her hubby. Small world! Anyway, we went to Texas Roadhouse (yum!) and then went to our house to play Scene It, Friends edition. We opened the bubbly (ok, ok, it was sparkling cider), toasted and cheered the new year in, said good night, they went home, we went to sleep :) It was a fun, relaxed evening. Here is a picture of us at midnight!


   Back to work today after two glorious weeks off. Man, did I enjoy those. Especially the last week, because it went by soooo slow, and I accomplished a lot. I painted some rooms in my house, which turned out beautiful and perfect in colors. I spent a lot of quality time with friends (which sadly doesn't happen much during working months). I slept in almost every single day. I read a lot. We watched a lot of movies. We ate out a lot. I feel so relaxed and refreshed!!

    Today was a good day. It feels good to be back. I really enjoy what I do, and the start of a semester always has a freshness to it.   Everyone has a more lively step, a more ready smile, renewed commitment, a new muster of courage, and inspiration to try new ideas.

    I've always said second semester goes by extremely fast, and I hope that holds true this year. I mean, I'm always looking forward to my next break. But this is a year where I am on survival mode half the time, because that it just how the cards played out this year, and I want it over as soon as possible. Next year I will be at one school only, full time, and that is going to be fabulous. I am really, really looking forward to that.

I have had some difficult circumstances in previous months, and it has been hard to accept that this is where God wants me. I keep asking him, why couldn't you have done it differently, done it my way? God is showing me that in EVERTHING I am to give thanks. He is showing me how to forgive on His terms, and that I am to pray for those who persecute me and love them as Christ does. This is not an easy task.   Nor am I a very good listener some days. But with my submission and prayers come forgiveness, compassion and love that could not have come from doing things my way. It is a constant struggle, but when is it not?

So, I'll end with a quote from John Piper, from his book "Life as a Vapor".

"Life is short and eternity is long. Very long. It is a long time to regret a wasted life."

Happy 2007!

Tue, 02 Jan 2007 16:51:46 GMT

It always amazes me when a new year starts. I think, "how could it be the new year already?" However, leading up to it, I am impatient for it to arrive...mostly because I'm anxious for my winter break.

Anyway, I had a wonderful Christmas! We spent Christmas Eve with the Cains. Here are a few pics from that.

Our Nephew opening presents - he was quite good at it

Phil opening his favorite candy - Ferroro Rochers

After Christmas Eve with the Cains, we headed up to Matt and Serene's house for Christmas with the Harrisons. It was fun to do it this year at their new, big house. Christmas morning was a blast with little Belle and her craziness. Our new niece, Kierra Noelle, or Pumpkin Doodle as Belle named her, is adorable and precious! She is so tiny and she just slept the whole time. Anyone could hold her and she would just sleep on, waking only when she was hungry. Here are more pictures:

Big sister Belle and little sister Kierra

Tim and Meghann

There are many more photos on my flickr site - www.flickr.com/photos/jennycain/sets

Happy New Year!

I made it!!

Fri, 22 Dec 2006 16:55:48 GMT

It's the official start of my winter break - woohoo!!!! This moment always makes me incredibly joyous that I am a teacher. Two weeks off in the middle of the year!

Well, my body decided to celebrate this occasion a day early by giving me the stomach flu Thursday night. All I have to say is - UGH! I don't ever want to go through that experience again. It was the most miserable throwing up experience ever. I was up a grand total of 4 times during the night for some very violent upchuckage. So needless to say, I had to call in sick on my last day of school! I have lived off of toast and gatorade for the past 24 hours. Last night I moved on to saltines and Propel fitness water (less sugar than gatorade). I took a big long nap yesterday, slept great last night and I think I'm out of the danger zone. My ribs are sure sore, though.

I woke up at 6:30 this morning. It's going to take some time for my body to change gears. I watched "Good Morning America" and "Regis and Kelly", two shows I never watch, while wrapping christmas gifts. I also made a quick run to Walmart before it got too insane.

Phil and I are heading out into the fray today (nice rhyme, huh?) for some last minute gifts. School let out so late this year that I am struggling to get everything done!!!

And there is the ever-present pile of laundry to be done and the house to be cleaned. Just thinking about it makes me tired.

BUT I HAVE TWO WEEKS OFF!!! There, now I feel better :)

Merry Christmas!

25 Christmas Favorites

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 22:32:20 GMT

1. Eggnog or Hot Chocolate? definitely hot cocoa

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? wraps them

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Colorful!

4. Do you hang mistletoe? no, but that would be fun...

5. When do you put your decorations up? This year was a late start - very sad

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? ham

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? I loved how we were always allowed to open our stockings as soon as we got up

8. When or how did you learn the truth about Santa? I don't remember

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? This year we will open presents with Phil's family on Christmas eve. So it depends on the year

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? colored lights, all of my ornaments that were given to me each year growing up, Phil's ornaments and other misc. ones

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I couldn't say

12. Can you ice skate? I'm a little wobbly

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I always loved the outfits Aunt Tami gave me. And the huge down feather bed my parents gave me one year

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Spending time with loved ones.

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Shortbread cookies made by moi with homemade hot cocoa

16. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY TRADITION? Decorate the tree

17. WHAT TOPS YOUR TREE? A star with a picture of Phil and me in it

18. Which do you prefer giving or Receiving? Both!

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?  Walking in a Winter Wonderland

20. CANDY CANES!! YUCK OR YUM??  Yum! I love peppermint stuff...especially the peppermint hot cocoa at Starbucks

21. Gift Cards- thoughtless gift or convenient gift? I have no qualms with gift cards.

22. Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman or Charlie Brown?  Charlie Brown

23. How many Christmas Cards do you send out? so far - 0. There may be hope for some this weekend.

24. When do you start your Christmas shopping? December

25. Favorite Christmas Movie? The (original) Grinch - but only when I can watch it with Phil

After tonight is over...

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:18:16 GMT

Sorry for the lag in blog posts. I had a routine of Saturday morning blogs down, and then I don't know what happened.

Life is both relaxing and stressful at the same time right now. On one hand, I have a performance at one of my schools tonight and I cannot wait for it to be over. I mean, it's going to go great, the kids are ready, the details are taken care of, but it is just a stressful thing. I think I'll feel like a weight has been lifted after tonight.

On the other hand, planning and teaching is a breeze right now. I am able to do the same lessons at both schools, and I get to teach fun winter/holiday songs that the kids absolutely love! I don't have much going on at night, I don't have to stay late at school preparing for the next day. I come home and read, or play sudoku, or watch tv.

The past few nights I've had really bizarre dreams. I don't remember my dreams very often, so when I do it's because they are really intense or weird or scary. I call them my anxiety dreams b/c they are triggered by anxiety of some sort, even if the dream had nothing to do with what I'm worried about. I don't like them b/c I wake up feeling weirded out instead of refreshed. And I need refreshment this week. So hopefully after tonight's performance they will go away.

Eight more days until I'm out for winter break, and I am definitely looking forward to two whole weeks off!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:53:16 GMT

What a great day. It's the only day out of the year where I actually don't mind getting stuffed. I hate that feeling any other time.

We're in Tucson this year. My contribution to dinner at Grandma's was sweet potatoes and cranberries. I made cranberries from scratch for the first time, and I have to say that is how I will do it from now on. They were delicious! And it was super easy - just boil sugar water and throw the cranberries in for 10 minutes. And the sweet potatoes- wow! I found a killer recipe - normal ingredients (cinnamon, nutmeg, brown sugar, marshmallows, butter) but add in cream cheese and crushed Post's Cranberry Almond Crunch cereal and you have some pizzazz!

After the meal we watched "Cars". It was my third time seeing it, but Mater still cracks me up :)

We're home now, and I think I'm in a re-arranging mood. I need to tackle the office.

A huge answer to prayer: I have been so fatigued and just non-motivated to do ANYTHING for the last two months. Well, my blood work showed I my B-12 level (a vitamin) was really low. So I got a shot of B-12, and the next day I felt like a different person. I woke up before my alarm, I felt refreshed for the first time in a long time, I was happy to go to work, I was happy and energetic all day, I was motivated to do things around the house. WOW!! That stuff worked fast. Today was the same story - I woke up early feeling refreshed. I go in every two weeks for a while to get a shot. Who knew that one little vitamin deficiency could affect me so much?! I still don't know why I am low, but it's being worked on. We weren't even positive that was the source of my fatigue, but now I think it is. So praise the Lord :) I'm back to my old self.

Three Day Weekend!!!

Sat, 11 Nov 2006 00:16:13 GMT

Woo hoo!!! Boy, do I sure need an extra day this weekend. I had today off, and it was fabulous. I slept in until 10:30 this morning and then pretty much did nothing except laundry.

This week went by pretty fast, and I have to admit that it is almost to that time of year that I love so much. I hate being a teacher up until Thanksgiving. From then on, it time flies by so much and I get breaks more often. From the start of school to Thanksgiving, I always wonder why I am doing this. I am a short distance person, not a long distance person. Give me small breaks more often, please, and I will last longer. I have been having a really rough time this past month, and I even took a vacation! But now that it is almost to the easy point, I wonder where the time has gone.

Here are some things that I love about this time of year: The beautiful weather; planting fall/winter flowers like pansies and marigolds; baking holiday dishes and goodies; chai tea; shopping for Christmas presents; spending time with family.

I am off to Phoenix tonight. Matt and Serene are having their house warming party tomorrow. I am riding up with Keeley and Justin tonight. Phil can't go because he works on weekends :( I will be back tomorrow night.

I had ambitions about doing some more yard work this weekend, maybe some gardening. That didn't happen today, and it won't happen tomorrow. We'll see about Sunday...