Jim and Finchley had a snuggle before we left:
At one point a very large, pink afro walked by:
Jim walked up to Holland Park:
Some beautiful flowers in Holland Park:
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Walking in Notting Hill
After our big party, we needed to stretch our legs, so this afternoon Jim and I walked from our house to and around the Notting Hill area, and then back. It was a beautiful day!
Jim and Finchley had a snuggle before we left:
At one point a very large, pink afro walked by:
Jim walked up to Holland Park:
Some beautiful flowers in Holland Park:
Jim and Finchley had a snuggle before we left:
At one point a very large, pink afro walked by:
Jim walked up to Holland Park:
Some beautiful flowers in Holland Park:
A Very Merry Unbirthday to Jim, Vlad, Dave and Julie
Last night we had our biggest and most diverse party to celebrate four birthdays in September! Unfortunately, Dave and Carolina couldn't make it because of a sick baby, but our next door neighbor Julie came and, as it turns out, her birthday is on Thursday. So we added her to the celebration!
The theme was "unbirthday" so everyone wore hats. Meg won first prize for best hat, with Joe coming in as a close second with his improvised pinata hat and Ethna winning third for her fun straw hat.
Jim sported a fabulous Birthday Cake hat and posed with his festive table before the party. He also had some quality time with Finchley, who was banished to the spare room once things got crowded.
Simon, Ada and Aurelie were some of the first to arrive!
Most of the English people had never experienced the fun of a pinata before, so it was a great hit! Maddy tried it first:
Then Joe, Phil, Dan, and I all gave it a shot before Jim delivered the fatal hit:
We pointed Jim in the wrong direction for fun, but he peeked, so managed to eventually find his way over to the pinata.
Ethna poses with the loot:
Joe and Jim with Joe's award winning pinata hat:
Ethna and Andrew, our downstairs neighbors. THey loaned us wine glasses and Andrew set up the pinata. They rock!
Vlad models Meg's first prize hat (with Finchley) and then Jim's birthday hat. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of MEG in her hat...but will update the blog if one surfaces. Because SHE really looked the best in her hat:
Tony chills out in the corner while Homer finishes off the champagne:
A good time was had by all!
The theme was "unbirthday" so everyone wore hats. Meg won first prize for best hat, with Joe coming in as a close second with his improvised pinata hat and Ethna winning third for her fun straw hat.
Jim sported a fabulous Birthday Cake hat and posed with his festive table before the party. He also had some quality time with Finchley, who was banished to the spare room once things got crowded.
Simon, Ada and Aurelie were some of the first to arrive!
Most of the English people had never experienced the fun of a pinata before, so it was a great hit! Maddy tried it first:
Then Joe, Phil, Dan, and I all gave it a shot before Jim delivered the fatal hit:
We pointed Jim in the wrong direction for fun, but he peeked, so managed to eventually find his way over to the pinata.
Ethna poses with the loot:
Joe and Jim with Joe's award winning pinata hat:
Ethna and Andrew, our downstairs neighbors. THey loaned us wine glasses and Andrew set up the pinata. They rock!
Vlad models Meg's first prize hat (with Finchley) and then Jim's birthday hat. Unfortunately, we didn't get a picture of MEG in her hat...but will update the blog if one surfaces. Because SHE really looked the best in her hat:
Tony chills out in the corner while Homer finishes off the champagne:
A good time was had by all!
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
I'm going to remain calm
So, I'm into my second week at my new job and it all went to hell today. It's like the kids came to school and decided that they were going to be bad all at once. Especially in our class. I have definitely had my first 'real' day at school and I'm hoping that the rest of the week goes a little more smoothly. Today, a student pitched a fit TWICE and walked out of class and THEN got into a fight with another student during science. (He didn't start it, but he reacted and we had to break it up. I thought I was going to have a beaker hurled at my face at one point.) My goal is to remain calm and not to cry...man, do I ever need a drink.
I still really like it, though. I just have a lot to learn about how to "diffuse the situation."
I still really like it, though. I just have a lot to learn about how to "diffuse the situation."
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
What they say
I started a new job on Monday at a school for kids with special needs. The kids are all 14 and 15 with various cognitive issues, learning disabilities, and behavior problems (as well as raging hormones). They are pretty great, though, and I'm really enjoying my job so far. I thought it would be fun to post some of the funny comments that they have made to me and will keep posting the higlights as time goes on.
Upon hearing that I don't have a TV, one of my students was flabbergasted. As he was leaving the class on Thursday he said, "Claire, it is SO EMBARASSING that you don't have a TV." He can't fathom what one would do at home without a TV.
ANother student, waxing philosophical on his classmates, who were doing some hard core flirting in the corner and mooning over Zac Efron, star of High School Musical 1 & 2 said with a big sigh and with much longing (because he too would love to have a girlfriend), "These guys...no matter how young they are, they always want to find love." I had to really concentrate to keep from cracking up. He was SO serious. I think I said something like, "Well, I think that EVERYONE wants to be loved."
Anyway, it's a great experience and something I'm really enjoying so hopefully things will continue to go well!
Upon hearing that I don't have a TV, one of my students was flabbergasted. As he was leaving the class on Thursday he said, "Claire, it is SO EMBARASSING that you don't have a TV." He can't fathom what one would do at home without a TV.
ANother student, waxing philosophical on his classmates, who were doing some hard core flirting in the corner and mooning over Zac Efron, star of High School Musical 1 & 2 said with a big sigh and with much longing (because he too would love to have a girlfriend), "These guys...no matter how young they are, they always want to find love." I had to really concentrate to keep from cracking up. He was SO serious. I think I said something like, "Well, I think that EVERYONE wants to be loved."
Anyway, it's a great experience and something I'm really enjoying so hopefully things will continue to go well!
The Arrival of Captain Finchley!
Finchley came home with me on Thursday evening. I got to the shelter early, so we had plenty of time to bond before he had to go into the car sickness inducing cab (I got car sick. He managed just fine.)
Within a couple of hours, Finchley was settled right in:
He was purring and very curious about the house and, especially, the windows. As I type, he's sitting on the window sill with his paws hanging out of the window, watching some pigeons who are roosting in the eaves of the building next door. He has knocked all the pictures off the windowsill and claimed it as his own.
He also has a fascination with the bathroom and, in particular, the shower. He is not into water in the same way that Emma is, but he does like to watch it come out of the spout and stares intensely at the shower nozzle after I finish showering. He also likes to chill in the tub.
Finchley was so brave that he didn't even hide under the bed or in a closet, so we felt like he would be able to handle meeting Spike through the back door. Spike was NOT impressed and threw a major strop at the door, complete with high pitched yowling and failed attempts to attack (glass...what a wonderful and confusing invention.) I'm not sure that the garden is in Finchley's future.
Last night, Finchley broke into the cat food and helped himself. He also snuggled with us for a while and this morning he played with his favorite toy: a string with aluminum foil attached to each end. Finchley gets the string, then carries it back to the bedroom, where he stands over it and yowls. After a few rounds of this game, he gets so excited that he starts panting, so we have to take the string away and hide it in a drawer.
It's so fun having a cat again!
Within a couple of hours, Finchley was settled right in:
He was purring and very curious about the house and, especially, the windows. As I type, he's sitting on the window sill with his paws hanging out of the window, watching some pigeons who are roosting in the eaves of the building next door. He has knocked all the pictures off the windowsill and claimed it as his own.
He also has a fascination with the bathroom and, in particular, the shower. He is not into water in the same way that Emma is, but he does like to watch it come out of the spout and stares intensely at the shower nozzle after I finish showering. He also likes to chill in the tub.
Finchley was so brave that he didn't even hide under the bed or in a closet, so we felt like he would be able to handle meeting Spike through the back door. Spike was NOT impressed and threw a major strop at the door, complete with high pitched yowling and failed attempts to attack (glass...what a wonderful and confusing invention.) I'm not sure that the garden is in Finchley's future.
Last night, Finchley broke into the cat food and helped himself. He also snuggled with us for a while and this morning he played with his favorite toy: a string with aluminum foil attached to each end. Finchley gets the string, then carries it back to the bedroom, where he stands over it and yowls. After a few rounds of this game, he gets so excited that he starts panting, so we have to take the string away and hide it in a drawer.
It's so fun having a cat again!
Happy Birthday to Jim!!
Yesterday, Jim turned 32! Here are some pictures of his birthday celebration (a big party with me!)
First, we went for a stroll in Queen Mary's Garden in Regent's Park. The weather was beautiful and Jim looked hamdsome in front of this urban waterfall and then with the beautiful roses, which are in full bloom! There were also some very cute ducklings peeping about and causing much excitement for a small child (and us).
After the roses and ducklings, we explored a few sculpture before having a nice dinner at the Garden Cafe in the park. We could hear the outdoor theatre starting its 8:00 show nearby.
And finally: Birthday Cake! Most of the cake was eaten by my new co-workers today (I'm trying to make friends through baking), but we did enjoy a slice each last night and I saved a big chunk for Jim to eat at his leisure.
Spike came by to give Jim some birthday love. He probably isn't going to be super happy when Finchley moves in.
Happy Birthday Jim!!!!!
First, we went for a stroll in Queen Mary's Garden in Regent's Park. The weather was beautiful and Jim looked hamdsome in front of this urban waterfall and then with the beautiful roses, which are in full bloom! There were also some very cute ducklings peeping about and causing much excitement for a small child (and us).
After the roses and ducklings, we explored a few sculpture before having a nice dinner at the Garden Cafe in the park. We could hear the outdoor theatre starting its 8:00 show nearby.
And finally: Birthday Cake! Most of the cake was eaten by my new co-workers today (I'm trying to make friends through baking), but we did enjoy a slice each last night and I saved a big chunk for Jim to eat at his leisure.
Spike came by to give Jim some birthday love. He probably isn't going to be super happy when Finchley moves in.
Happy Birthday Jim!!!!!
Sunday, September 02, 2007
Captain Finchley-- Jim's Perspective
Pets are interesting. We don't really need them, but they're so damn cute.
Today I woke up happy with everything--my wife, my job, and the number of pets in my household: zero. One of those things would change today. At first, against my will, but then with my consent.
How did this start? Manipulation. Plain and simple.
I was looking forward to a day of fixing up the house. Adding some plants in the corner and framing some pictures...generally a lazy day of self-indulgence. By 10:26 this plan changed drastically. I was on my way to a kitty shelter, to humor my wife. To make her think I was even interested in adopting a cat. As we walked to the cat shelter I was already entwined around her little finger and I didn't even know it. When we entered the cat shelter, my chest puffed out in defiance, I tried to resist. But I already knew the outcome: Jim + Claire + a new fuzzball in London.
We walked down into the bowels of the building, where all the cats were living in kennels. We were let loose to explore all the homeless cats. With so many cats, you would think this would take some time. But, no...as I walked into the first kennel, the cutest orange furball appeared. It was over. That was the cat: Captain Finchley. At one point I considered pretending like we weren't going to get this cat, but I gave up. It wasn't a matter of us picking him. He picked us. (inserted by Claire: Just like EMma and Chowder before him!! It wasn't manipulation!!!)
Today I woke up happy with everything--my wife, my job, and the number of pets in my household: zero. One of those things would change today. At first, against my will, but then with my consent.
How did this start? Manipulation. Plain and simple.
I was looking forward to a day of fixing up the house. Adding some plants in the corner and framing some pictures...generally a lazy day of self-indulgence. By 10:26 this plan changed drastically. I was on my way to a kitty shelter, to humor my wife. To make her think I was even interested in adopting a cat. As we walked to the cat shelter I was already entwined around her little finger and I didn't even know it. When we entered the cat shelter, my chest puffed out in defiance, I tried to resist. But I already knew the outcome: Jim + Claire + a new fuzzball in London.
We walked down into the bowels of the building, where all the cats were living in kennels. We were let loose to explore all the homeless cats. With so many cats, you would think this would take some time. But, no...as I walked into the first kennel, the cutest orange furball appeared. It was over. That was the cat: Captain Finchley. At one point I considered pretending like we weren't going to get this cat, but I gave up. It wasn't a matter of us picking him. He picked us. (inserted by Claire: Just like EMma and Chowder before him!! It wasn't manipulation!!!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)