Back to Spring Break

We're in the last quarter of this year and it's busy as ever. As much as I'm enjoying this final stretch, I'm pooped and am looking forward to our next break. Spring break gave me a couple more ideas to add to my How-I-Will-Relax-And-Enjoy-This-Summer list (my first summer off, as a student and/or teacher, since 2005ish).

I like going to the City, aka 'Frisco. But it just wouldn't be the same without Pooki. He's great company and thoroughly enjoys being my Eating Buddy. When we want some yummy seafood and fresh (eclectic) air, we head out to Pier 41.



Shrimp, calamari, fish and chips are a must. We went a little happy and got (more) chips and clam:

The moment that sold one onlooking woman (She said to her co-eater, "Oh, those look good. Let's get one of those."):

Afterward, Mr. Woo took me to a garden.

Mrs. Woo: Oh, flowers! :)
Mr. Woo: They'll always be there for you. heh heh
Mrs. Woo: I can't take them home...

On another day the high wind speeds prevented us from picnic-ing outside, but this was spring break and I was determined to have my spring picnic. So I brought the outdoors to our living room:

We spread out the blanket on the carpet, and I laid out the plates and tupperware with carefully assembled yummies: bread, sandwich meat/hummus, spinach, tomatoes, avocado, chips, red pear, orange, celery, and carbonated water. There wasn't many butterflies and ladybugs in sight, but the daffodils were beautiful. The walk to the "car" to grab extra sandwiches from the "trunk" (read: kitchen) was a breeze. And it's always nice to be sheltered from watery eyes, sneezing, and other allergy attack symptoms.

Me and my Honey making it work, just like our marriage (with the Lord's help of course):

Looking forward to summer vacation!

How To Date, I mean, Train Your Dragon

I spent half of this Spring Break on finishing up grades for the quarter, but tonight Mr. Woo surprised me with a night on the town! We had a delicious dinner at Burma Superstar before heading over to watch the magical 3D movie How To Train Your Dragon.

Initially, I had qualms about the title using the words "your dragon" because I don't have one. Even after watching the movie, I prefer it to be "A Dragon," but that's any and all criticism I can give about the movie (we can talk about the literary effects in person). It was fantastic!

From the message it gives to the details of the names of the characters, which kids will get a kick out of, it was a brilliantly executed film. It was absolutely appropriate for the younger audience (pyros and non-pyros alike) and not so predictable for adults. Brightly colored, action-packed, heartwarming - How To Train A Your Dragon soars.

I also applaud DreamWorks also for their willingness to cast an actor who does not look like the animated character for the voice-over. Case in point: America Ferrera as the "blonde Viking bombshell" Astrid. They had already created the character before casting Ferrera, but they cast her anyway. I'm liking that.

I'm sure Cressida Cowell's book will sell thousands of copies just on the fact that the movie is based on it. How closely it follows the plot, I do not know as I haven't read the book (yet), but I'm sure there were many changes.

Mr. Woo and I hardly purchase movies, but we walked out of the theatres both agreeing that this will be one of our rare keeps. This movie gets an A in our book. And it seems that the general public agrees as it is currently at a 97% on Rotten Tomatoes.

One of my favorite parts of the movie, without giving away too much, is when Toothless smiles back at Hiccup. It's a charming moment - and a blast from the past for me as it reminded me of (Lilo &) Stitch. Makes me want to get a pet dragon, but only if it's a Nightfury.

Dinner and a movie? Sign me up for the next date. :)

Image credit: DreamWorks Animation

20 blooms for 20 days

Mr. Woo was kind enough to let me buy two bunches of daffodils (that's 20 stems for $3)! Since flowers are a rare treat in the Woo residence, I'm determined to make these cheery blooms last as long as possible. I present my game plan for this challenge... (feel free to add your tips in the comments!)

First, remove any plastic and rubber bands. I prefer to use scissors for this step - no need to potentially cause any accidents (ie, breakage).

You want to remove any leaves that will be submerged under water. These are the midnight trains to bacteria. Yuck. But in this case, the daffodils have uninterrupted pure stems so no removing necessary.

Then, under running cold water snip the end of the stem at an angle, a nice crisp cut.

Next, place your flowers in a vase. And by vase, I mean whatever clean object that you want to place your beauties in. I like the look of root beer bottles (and/or mason jars) with yellow blooms, a little laid-back country flair. :)

 Add a pretty ribbon to give it some kick, and watch the flowers bloom! Mine started opening up a few hours after happily sitting in water. I did add some warm water to encourage blooming at a faster rate (I like flowers; I lack patience)...

A few other tips:

• Change water often so as to keep it fresh.
• Be careful about storing flowers in the fridge. Ours at home is not set at the same temperature nor humidity. Also, the fruits and veggies emit a gas that will kill them.
• Don't have a potion packet from the florist? Many suggest sugar or dropping in an aspirin.
• Make the most of your money spent and separate your bouquet into smaller arrangements that can be placed all around the home.

Spring is in the air... and now in our kitchen too! :)

"Don't let Mrs. Woo see!"

This year, I've been stressing to my students the importance of thankfulness and why we are to help/encourage/love others. These are two areas that I am reminding myself as I teach them so it's an area I weave into any lesson I can. (Sidenote: It bothers me so when teachers give laundry lists and never explain the reason behind all our thoughts/speech/actions.)

Recently, I caught a flu bug (I know, only a week after I had the cold!) and had to stay home with my fever and jugs of water. Once my fever went down, I was back in school - we can't have people thinking I was taking an early Spring Break now could we. But it was a challenge as I couldn't use my louder "teacher voice," so everything I said was pretty much whispered. I actually do this sometimes to grab their attention. They know that if they miss what I say, that I'm not going to repeat it (if they were not paying attention), so it works wonders. 


And on Friday, I had an interesting day-long weaving of a conversation with two of my girls...

Student #1: Mrs. Woo, what's your favorite color?
Mrs. Woo: It depends. Why?
Student #1: Uh, because we're making you something...?
Mrs. Woo: It depends.

[3 hours later]

Student #2: Mrs. Woo, which sticker do you like the best? (hands me a book of stickers)
Mrs. Woo: Oh wow! ... I like this red heart and this purple heart.

[3 minutes later]

Student #1: Mrs. Woo, which color do you like the best? (hands me a pack of markers)
Mrs. Woo: Well, it depends. If it's a flower I like this color...
Student #1: It's not a flower...
Mrs. Woo: If it's a heart I like this color...
Student #1: It's not a heart...
Mrs. Woo: If it's a bunny rabbit I like this color...
Student #1: It's not a bunny rabbit...
Mrs. Woo: If it's a ...
Students #1: That's too many!
Mrs. Woo: Oh, hmm, but I like all of them!

[1 minute later]

Student #1: (Giving me all the markers that I chose earlier) Mrs. Woo, which color do you like best out of these - only one or two or three colors.
Mrs. Woo: Alright, alright...

[2 hours later]

Student #1: Are you giving it to Mrs. Woo, yet?
Student #2: No, not yet. Don't let Mrs. Woo see!
Student #1: Uh, Mrs. Woo, what did you see?
Mrs. Woo: I saw paper.
Student #1: But you don't know what's on the paper.
Mrs. Woo: No, I don't. (waiting patiently... and eagerly)

[1 hour later]

Student #2: Mrs. Woo, this is for you.
Mrs. Woo: Awww! It's beaUtiful!
Student #1: Open it now!
Mrs. Woo: I should open it now?
Students #1 and #2: Yeah!!!
Mrs. Woo: Okay!

Here it is, in it's handmade 3rd grade glory...


Envelope front:

Envelope back:

Card front:

Card inside:

How cute is that! :D Nothing makes me happier teacher than when I see my students practicing, on their own initiative, what they've been taught! Eeeee, so exciting! 

They even cut out the heart (probably because every time they ask me if they can use markers I tell them to make sure it doesn't bleed through), and were meticulous in making sure all the lines matched up to the sheet they glued it onto. 

A for details, A- for conventions, A+ for love and care. :)

Fearfully and wonderfully made

In researching some phrases for the word "pregnant" (yes, I do research like that and it's not because I'm bored), I was disturbed to find an answer given by one female. The question was asking for slang regarding the term "pregnant." I'm thinking, "bun in the oven," "pea in a pod," and learned of "wearing apron high," and "rabbit is dead." But one person's answer was this:

for the (thankfully) short time i was pregnant, i asked my boyfriend to refer to it as "in need of an abortion," lol. sorry, that's not helpful.

This made me angry, sad, and left me in shock. But after fuming for a bit I turned to a brother who speaks passionately on this topic, one whom I respect much for it - John Piper. In one of his articles he gives 10 Reasons Why It Is Wrong To Take the Life of Unborn Children.

1. God commanded, "Thou shalt not murder" (Exodus 20:13)
2. The destruction of conceived human life - whether embryonic, fetal, or viable - is an assault on the unique person-forming work of God.
3. Aborting unborn humans falls under the repeated Biblical ban against "shedding innocent blood."
4. The Bible frequently expresses the high priority God puts on the protection and provision and vindication of the weakest and most helpless and most victimized members of the community.
5. By judging difficult and even tragic human life as a worse evil than taking life, abortionists contradict the widespread Biblical teaching that God loves to show his gracous power through suffering and not just by helping people avoid suffering.
6. It is a sin of presumption to justify abortion by taking comfort in the fact that all these little children will go to heaven or even be given full adult life in the resurrection.
7. The Bible commands us to rescue our neighbor who is being unjustly led away to death.
8. Aborting unborn children falls under Jesus' rebuke of those who spurned children as inconvenient and unworthy of the Savior's attention.
9. It is the right of God the Maker to give and to take human life. It is not our individual right to make this choice.
10. Finally, saving faith in Jesus Christ brings forgiveness of sins and cleansing of conscience and help through life and hope for eternity. Surrounded by such omnipotent love, every follower of Jesus is free from the greed and fear that might lure a person to forsake these truths in order to gain money or avoid reproach.

He hits the nail square on the head. What happened to courage? To standing up for what is right, what is true? Family, let us pray fervently and love the world in another way. The abortion war is not primarily about the women, not fundamentally about the unborn child, but it has everything to do with the glory of God!

John Piper comments on the supremacy of Christ and the issue of abortion. Be encouraged.

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
          Wonderful are Your works,
          And my soul knows it very well."
                                                              -Psalm 139:14

March Madness

March Madness has begun and while that to me means grades are due soon, allergies galore from all the dust, mud from the rain showers, it seems to mean a whole other thing for sports fans.

Mr. Woo and I were sitting on the futon after dinner when he averted his attention to the CAL game against I-don't-know-who. It was a tight game (I only know because he briefed me that they were 5 points down). My interest perked when he mentioned "the super-tall Asian guy" and asked if I had seen him. I have!! In the SLC!! Everyone stared at him because he was so tall. I even remember suggesting that he play basketball (good thing I did this among friends and not to the guy directly because apparently he's on the team already...).

[Source]

Anyhoo, we're watching when I felt something vibrate on my left thigh.

Mrs. Woo: POO-KIIIII!
Mr. Woo: Sorry, Boo Boo. I couldn't hold that one in.
Mrs. Woo: Ahhh, it's stinky!!
Mr. Woo: Oh, sorry! *sniff* *sniiiiiiiiiiiiif* (turns back to the game) C'mon, close the gap!
Mrs. Woo: -_-

Teachers Appreciat[ed] at Borders

We're back from attending what was called the Educators Appreciation Reception at Borders. Aside from the skeptical looks (and comments) we received at the small table in an obscure location upstairs, we also took home FREE coffee beans as well as other goodies! We entered ourselves in the raffle drawings, one for ourselves and one for our school, for some prizes. This is definitely a time when our "one-ness" does not apply.

The second name drawn out of the fishbowl was me! Yippee! I won a loot of goodies which included a Paperchase spiral notebook, a set of pens, and a Burt's Bees gift pack, all wrapped elegantly in the plastic-white Borders unrecycled bag:

Looks like I'm officially a Woo clan member. :)

But of course that didn't stop this Asian woman (aka ahjumah) from grabbing some other freebies on my way out. Don't worry, I left some for other educators that were to come later (I'm Asian-American). Though I am regretting the fact that I didn't grab a gigantic heart shaped cookie, too...

Oh, right, the discount. All educators get 30% off most items in stores from March 19-27. These do not have to be for professional use, unlike the Classroom Discount Card.