First and foremost--big shout-out to She-Ra, Princess of ?? for what turned into quite the Labor of Love today, for babysitting me and watching me pace, eat, etc. endlessly all stressed out. Thank you.
Okay...here is what I understand from my lawyer, as of this morning, to be The Scoop:
There was a major turn of events yesterday that, in normal circumstances, would really be beneficial to my case. I initially testified to a "large white SUV" running me off the road. All other witness reports said that it was an "unidentified vehicle." One described it as a "beefed-up street car"...and I have no idea what that exactly means. However, as of yesterday the other witness remembered something, talked to her husband and changed her initial testimony--saying that a white SUV ran me off the road.
The person suing me for negligence and for damages to her car was driving a--white SUV.
This makes it appear that she might have actually caused the accident in the first place. I thought, when lying on the side of the road awaiting the ambulance, I heard someone say that the car just "fled the scene" but I am not certain--it's all a bit of a fog. I had a really strong case before this came about and here's the clincher, according to my lawyer: this will either make my already strong case even stronger or break what had been my strong case due to the fact that this witness changed her testimony...which means that she, not I, is going to be ripped up by cross ex tomorrow...but all for me, the poor woman.
In the light of this "new evidence" suggesting that she was the cause of this accident in the first place, my lawyer is trying to see if we can't settle, still, out of court today; if that is proven at least at 50% of doubt in the state of Tennessee, they will lose the entire case. So today, every time the phone rings I jump...hoping that it's been settled and that I don't, in fact, have to fly out at 6 a.m. tomorrow morning...
--sigh--
So that is The Scoop.
Please, phone, ring.
jueves, 10 de abril de 2008
miércoles, 9 de abril de 2008
the week thus far
All things considered, lack of sleep inclusive, this week has not been bad so far. The weather brightened immensely this afternoon, skies opening to allow rays of sunlight to warm the atmosphere and touch my kwanzaa cherry tree, about to burst into full bloom. The warmth is tickling my tulips, teasing their buds, enticing them to open to show their glory. My baby maple has new baby leaf buds, and my lilacs and rhododendrons are getting ready for a nice Mama Llama birthday bloom at the beginning of May, customary and, in my book, required blooms for my birthday to be considered complete.
My high degree of stress-induced energy, coupled with two extremely dreary, chilly and damp days this week, has permitted me to whirlwind-clean my home, organize my classroom, fix a broken bicycle chain, organize various to-dos, make necessary phone calls and still have time to play with my children in the afternoons. I am not sleepy when I ought to be due to not having slept more than a few hours in the past few nights. My new class went very well tonight; I can still teach up to past my normal bedtime hours (surprise, surprise!). Last night's honors were very nice and the nominating councilwoman made a beautiful statement on my and the PTA president's behalf regarding our nominations. The hard part was how alone I felt there amid a roomful of people who had family around; I really didn't know anybody, I sat by myself in a row quite literally to myself, nobody to take a picture of me for a memory sake--but perhaps it is best that way, as a memory that only I will have and will tuck away for my own safe-keeping. I didn't stick around for the reception.
I am taking most of the day for myself tomorrow as the temperatures are supposed to be considerably warmer (although today I was down to --gasp!--one layer of clothing and sandals!!!) and only teach one student tomorrow night. I must then prep my things for my flight, which leaves at 6:00 in the morning (meaning taxi to the airport at 4 a.m....good God that is early for a flight that is NOT for vacation purposes). I should be back by 11 p.m. Friday night, but will be bringing my laptop with if I can get a moment to check in while awaiting flights...or in case I get stuck somewhere I really do not want to be.
Deep breaths. I am ready. I even have buttons sewed on (all thanks to She-ra), for goodness sake.
Better not forget my lipstick...Lipstick IS Power.
My high degree of stress-induced energy, coupled with two extremely dreary, chilly and damp days this week, has permitted me to whirlwind-clean my home, organize my classroom, fix a broken bicycle chain, organize various to-dos, make necessary phone calls and still have time to play with my children in the afternoons. I am not sleepy when I ought to be due to not having slept more than a few hours in the past few nights. My new class went very well tonight; I can still teach up to past my normal bedtime hours (surprise, surprise!). Last night's honors were very nice and the nominating councilwoman made a beautiful statement on my and the PTA president's behalf regarding our nominations. The hard part was how alone I felt there amid a roomful of people who had family around; I really didn't know anybody, I sat by myself in a row quite literally to myself, nobody to take a picture of me for a memory sake--but perhaps it is best that way, as a memory that only I will have and will tuck away for my own safe-keeping. I didn't stick around for the reception.
I am taking most of the day for myself tomorrow as the temperatures are supposed to be considerably warmer (although today I was down to --gasp!--one layer of clothing and sandals!!!) and only teach one student tomorrow night. I must then prep my things for my flight, which leaves at 6:00 in the morning (meaning taxi to the airport at 4 a.m....good God that is early for a flight that is NOT for vacation purposes). I should be back by 11 p.m. Friday night, but will be bringing my laptop with if I can get a moment to check in while awaiting flights...or in case I get stuck somewhere I really do not want to be.
Deep breaths. I am ready. I even have buttons sewed on (all thanks to She-ra), for goodness sake.
Better not forget my lipstick...Lipstick IS Power.
sábado, 5 de abril de 2008
linky love!
Val tagged me for this one. Hmmm...have to think about My Five Links for a few minutes...oh I have soooo many to share, but these are my toppies:
1. Language Latitudes LLC.
This is Mama Llama in the flesh. My business site (oh I am so proud of myself!).
2. Earthquake Watch!
I am such a nerd. I love to find out where the Earth is rockin' and rollin'.
3. Mah Jong
I have to waste time somehow. It's just natural. So this is one way I choose to do so. Like I said, I'm such a nerd. I used to Tetris all the time, but I got way too out of control on that...plus, it could really stress me out! jajaja
4. Quote of the Day
I love quotes. Since I do calligraphy, I have often calligraphized famous quotes as gifts. And there is so much humor and truth, often, in something so simply stated. I can learn so much from using less words...
5. The Daily Show
I do have various links to news sites all over the world, so as to have a relatively balanced view of things, not just a North American view. However, this is the site that keeps my perspective healthy, I think. I love Jon Stewart's satiric, sarcastic style and I need to laugh more, anyway!
The Small Print (the rules, cut-and-pasted from Val's site) is as follows:
I thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen!
They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…
There are some rules, as usual:
1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.
2. Only FIVE links.
3. MUST tell 5 people.
4. A link back to the person who tagged you
1. Language Latitudes LLC.
This is Mama Llama in the flesh. My business site (oh I am so proud of myself!).
2. Earthquake Watch!
I am such a nerd. I love to find out where the Earth is rockin' and rollin'.
3. Mah Jong
I have to waste time somehow. It's just natural. So this is one way I choose to do so. Like I said, I'm such a nerd. I used to Tetris all the time, but I got way too out of control on that...plus, it could really stress me out! jajaja
4. Quote of the Day
I love quotes. Since I do calligraphy, I have often calligraphized famous quotes as gifts. And there is so much humor and truth, often, in something so simply stated. I can learn so much from using less words...
5. The Daily Show
I do have various links to news sites all over the world, so as to have a relatively balanced view of things, not just a North American view. However, this is the site that keeps my perspective healthy, I think. I love Jon Stewart's satiric, sarcastic style and I need to laugh more, anyway!
The Small Print (the rules, cut-and-pasted from Val's site) is as follows:
I thought it would be cool to have a meme where we post links. We can post up to five. Then we tell five more people to share their links. If we all share who tagged us, our links are sure to be seen!
They can be business links, favorite sites, affiliate links, whatever you want…
There are some rules, as usual:
1. MUST be clean. No R rated sites.
2. Only FIVE links.
3. MUST tell 5 people.
4. A link back to the person who tagged you
viernes, 4 de abril de 2008
Life's little ironies
In one week, one of the strangest weeks of my life will--or rather, should--be over.
1. On Friday I must fly to Nashville for the court hearing regarding this lawsuit and finally, hopefully, put this all behind me. I am being charged with negligence by the insurance company behind the mask of the individual who went out with my car when we spun out and flipped when we were forced off the road by a "phantom vehicle" that fled the scene. My car never hit hers; she swerved to miss me and she is suing for damages to her Bronco. Her basis is negligence. All three witnesses have been found and subpoenaed to court for next Friday, and all three state that she has no case and that I did the only thing I could in the situation to avoid being hit into oncoming traffic (coming at us at least at 65 mph) and keep my family alive. It is difficult to not take this personally because it is personal; her insurance company is making her sue me (whether or not she wants to) because they feel my decision-making was erroneous.
I have to fly through Detroit to get to Nashville. I wonder what will happen if 1. flights are delayed and I don't arrive on time, or 2. flights are cancelled and I don't get there at all and am stuck instead in Detroit. Why I wasn't purchased a direct flight from my very-major local international airport is only cost--and since my insurance company so strongly believes that I am going to be saving them over $20,000.00 in not having to pay out liability with my testimony, you would think that they would go ahead and spring for a direct-flight ticket that would guarantee my arrival, no matter what the cost.
But no...that is too easy.
2. I have a new night class that starts on Wednesday night. That will be fun, and I have the texts printed and ready to go. One less task to have to complete this weekend!
3. While having my judgment put on trial on Friday, I am being honored by my Town Mayor on Tuesday night.
I was one of a handful of individuals in my Town to be nominated by a Town Council member for a Mayorial Award for Outstanding Volunteerism.
Sounds impressive, ¿no?
All it comes from was putting into action the dream of the PTA President at La Princesita's elementary school by forming a recycling committee and starting a full-blown recycling program at that school, the first of its kind in the Town's public schools. Whereas before only paper was recycled, we have now started recycling cans and plastic, and just this week batteries. I publish a Recycling Tip of the Week in the school newsletter, the PTA newsletter and in over the school's morning "news program" which is broadcast by the upper-classes to all the students of the school in order to edcuate the entire school community about all the different things we can do every day to use less or recycle that which we have finished using. We also formed a neighborhood clean-up and this year will formally join in the Town's Clean-Up Day in November as a school team.
But I'm a native Oregonian. That is what we do. Recycle. Take care of our Mother. It's not anything that out of the ordinary--it is just who I am, it's in my blood. The real hero is the PTA President/Goddess. She is an amazing woman. She is, likewise, to be honored that night.
Funny, how in four days' time next week I am to be both richly honored for the integrity of my decisions and on trial for supposed negligence in my decisions.
1. On Friday I must fly to Nashville for the court hearing regarding this lawsuit and finally, hopefully, put this all behind me. I am being charged with negligence by the insurance company behind the mask of the individual who went out with my car when we spun out and flipped when we were forced off the road by a "phantom vehicle" that fled the scene. My car never hit hers; she swerved to miss me and she is suing for damages to her Bronco. Her basis is negligence. All three witnesses have been found and subpoenaed to court for next Friday, and all three state that she has no case and that I did the only thing I could in the situation to avoid being hit into oncoming traffic (coming at us at least at 65 mph) and keep my family alive. It is difficult to not take this personally because it is personal; her insurance company is making her sue me (whether or not she wants to) because they feel my decision-making was erroneous.
I have to fly through Detroit to get to Nashville. I wonder what will happen if 1. flights are delayed and I don't arrive on time, or 2. flights are cancelled and I don't get there at all and am stuck instead in Detroit. Why I wasn't purchased a direct flight from my very-major local international airport is only cost--and since my insurance company so strongly believes that I am going to be saving them over $20,000.00 in not having to pay out liability with my testimony, you would think that they would go ahead and spring for a direct-flight ticket that would guarantee my arrival, no matter what the cost.
But no...that is too easy.
2. I have a new night class that starts on Wednesday night. That will be fun, and I have the texts printed and ready to go. One less task to have to complete this weekend!
3. While having my judgment put on trial on Friday, I am being honored by my Town Mayor on Tuesday night.
I was one of a handful of individuals in my Town to be nominated by a Town Council member for a Mayorial Award for Outstanding Volunteerism.
Sounds impressive, ¿no?
All it comes from was putting into action the dream of the PTA President at La Princesita's elementary school by forming a recycling committee and starting a full-blown recycling program at that school, the first of its kind in the Town's public schools. Whereas before only paper was recycled, we have now started recycling cans and plastic, and just this week batteries. I publish a Recycling Tip of the Week in the school newsletter, the PTA newsletter and in over the school's morning "news program" which is broadcast by the upper-classes to all the students of the school in order to edcuate the entire school community about all the different things we can do every day to use less or recycle that which we have finished using. We also formed a neighborhood clean-up and this year will formally join in the Town's Clean-Up Day in November as a school team.
But I'm a native Oregonian. That is what we do. Recycle. Take care of our Mother. It's not anything that out of the ordinary--it is just who I am, it's in my blood. The real hero is the PTA President/Goddess. She is an amazing woman. She is, likewise, to be honored that night.
Funny, how in four days' time next week I am to be both richly honored for the integrity of my decisions and on trial for supposed negligence in my decisions.
miércoles, 2 de abril de 2008
Why not?
Okay...the One Word Meme--from Annabel. Biggest challenge? Trying to fit wordy-ME into one-word only answers!
1. Where is your mobile phone? nightstand
2. Your significant other? kids
3. Your hair? permed
4. Your mother? far
5. Your father? dead
6. Your favorite thing? music
7. Your dream last night? Princesita
8. Your favorite drink? margarita
9. Your dream/goal? spy
10. The room you're in? bedroom
11. Your ex? still...
12. Your fear? disappointment
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? teaching
14. Where were you last night? teaching
15. What you're not? homemaker
16. Muffins? ick
17. One of your wish list items? windows
18. Where you grew up? Oregon
19. The last thing you did? answered
20. What are you wearing? jammies
21. Your TV? Univisión
22. Your pets? Tigre
23. Your computer? lifeline
24. Your life? fulfilling
25. Your mood? headachy
26. Missing someone? yep
27. Your car? Outback
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29. Favorite Store? toy
30. Your summer? HOT
31. Like someone? sure
32. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? now
34. Last time you cried? today
35. Who will/would re-post this? anyone
Have fun! I'm still waiting for a few of your six-word memoirs...You Know Who You Are!!
1. Where is your mobile phone? nightstand
2. Your significant other? kids
3. Your hair? permed
4. Your mother? far
5. Your father? dead
6. Your favorite thing? music
7. Your dream last night? Princesita
8. Your favorite drink? margarita
9. Your dream/goal? spy
10. The room you're in? bedroom
11. Your ex? still...
12. Your fear? disappointment
13. Where do you want to be in 6 years? teaching
14. Where were you last night? teaching
15. What you're not? homemaker
16. Muffins? ick
17. One of your wish list items? windows
18. Where you grew up? Oregon
19. The last thing you did? answered
20. What are you wearing? jammies
21. Your TV? Univisión
22. Your pets? Tigre
23. Your computer? lifeline
24. Your life? fulfilling
25. Your mood? headachy
26. Missing someone? yep
27. Your car? Outback
28. Something you're not wearing? bra
29. Favorite Store? toy
30. Your summer? HOT
31. Like someone? sure
32. Your favorite color? purple
33. When is the last time you laughed? now
34. Last time you cried? today
35. Who will/would re-post this? anyone
Have fun! I'm still waiting for a few of your six-word memoirs...You Know Who You Are!!
martes, 1 de abril de 2008
no buttons
...and no April Foolin' here.
I soooo do NOT do buttons.
Anyhow, you get my drift. Don't do them. Can't sew them on, and whenever I try they end up too tightly on so I can't get the dang buttonhole around them, and if I try to make them looser they end up falling off by the end of the day.
Can you tell who was given a Very Generous Grade in 7th grade HomeEc? Helped that Dad taught math right across the hall...my pancakes were called very "geometric"...it was the best compliment she could come up with. ...another story.
Okay...so why do I need to sew on a button?
Make that three.
I have to appear in court next Friday to finally put behind me the Nightmare That Just Will NOT End (aka Accident of 2006) and I am being flown down to Nashville by my insurance company for the proceedings. I suppose I ought to wear a suit. And the only suit I have...well, the jacket is missing three buttons.
So now to scrounge up three black buttons that actually match (this IS a Ralph Lauren suit...maybe 11 years old, but Lauren doesn't go out of style--does he???). Hmmm...one,....two.....three. Good. Found three in the kids' toys (they like to sort buttons...Nerd Training 101 starts weeeee early, you see....)
Now to find a needle and thread.
That may take some time.
Good thing I didn't put this off until next Thursday night at 10.
I soooo do NOT do buttons.
Perhaps "sew" would have made a better pun...
Anyhow, you get my drift. Don't do them. Can't sew them on, and whenever I try they end up too tightly on so I can't get the dang buttonhole around them, and if I try to make them looser they end up falling off by the end of the day.
Can you tell who was given a Very Generous Grade in 7th grade HomeEc? Helped that Dad taught math right across the hall...my pancakes were called very "geometric"...it was the best compliment she could come up with. ...another story.
Okay...so why do I need to sew on a button?
Make that three.
I have to appear in court next Friday to finally put behind me the Nightmare That Just Will NOT End (aka Accident of 2006) and I am being flown down to Nashville by my insurance company for the proceedings. I suppose I ought to wear a suit. And the only suit I have...well, the jacket is missing three buttons.
So now to scrounge up three black buttons that actually match (this IS a Ralph Lauren suit...maybe 11 years old, but Lauren doesn't go out of style--does he???). Hmmm...one,....two.....three. Good. Found three in the kids' toys (they like to sort buttons...Nerd Training 101 starts weeeee early, you see....)
Now to find a needle and thread.
That may take some time.
Good thing I didn't put this off until next Thursday night at 10.
thrilled!!!
I didn't tell anyone I was going to do this, but I applied to a Quechua language school in Cusco, Perú for a month-long immersion course for this summer (lasts from 21 July to 22 August) so that I could work up my knowledge of this language. It is one of the official languages (along with Spanish - duh! - and Aymará) of the country, and I have very basic understanding, mainly vocab, from my time spent both in Perú and Ecuador.
Not only that, as I am an educator and can potentially incite others to go and study there, they will pay my plane ticket! YIPPEEEE! I still have to pay the school price, but I get to live with a family for the month and completely immerse myself, which will maximize my exposure. The school has a pretty well-developed program and a great website--check it out!
Not only that, as I am an educator and can potentially incite others to go and study there, they will pay my plane ticket! YIPPEEEE! I still have to pay the school price, but I get to live with a family for the month and completely immerse myself, which will maximize my exposure. The school has a pretty well-developed program and a great website--check it out!
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