My Blog

Southeast Asia

joeyelle — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 22:08:40 GMT

I'm leaving in just over a week. Here are my travel plans for anyone who would like to live vicariously through me or would like to start looking for me should I not arrive on time. June 17th: Depart SFO at 11:35 on United Flight 837 to Tokyo June 18th: Leave Tokyo for Bangkok on United flight 853 6/18-6/21: Stay at this guest house: http://www.khaosanroad.com/green_house/index.htm 6/21: Take the train to Chiang Mai. 6/24- 6/27: 3 days of trekking in Northern Thailand 6/30: Speed boat to Laos 7/2: Flight from Luang Prabang to Hanoi, Vietnam 7/6: Arrive in Cambodia 7/6 - 7/8: Phnomphenh, Angkor Wat 7/9-7/15: Stay at this village: http://www.cocohut.com/ 7/15: Depart Bangkok on United Flight 838 to Tokyo 7/15: Depart Tokyo on United Flight 852 to SFO Arrive at SFO at 11:23AM June 15 Sounds like fun, right! I'll miss you all!

How Fun is Photoshop!!

joeyelle — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 02:35:20 GMT

So I painted this then I took a picture of it and messed around for a while in photoshop elements! So fun! You should play with photoshop too! It was very satisfying.

Sushi Anyone?

joeyelle — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 02:32:24 GMT

So anyone who has known me a while knows that food is something that I am particularly skeptical about. Some classify me as "picky." Although I adamantly denounce the term. But much of that has changed since my trip last summer to Peru. I've been much more adventurous with food and have tried many new great things from all over the culinary world. Keeping with this new open-mindedness (and knowing that I'll be in Japan, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos this summer) pat took me to sushi today after our sailing lesson. Turns out - I really like Albacore Nigiri! It's fantastic! No soy sauce needed and it's better than all those other rolls we tried (we tried like 3 different kinds.) I'm excited to really like something at a sushi bar. So . . . let's go eat some sushi! Who's with me?

Painting

joeyelle — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:57:23 GMT

As some of you know, I've only lately (within the past few years) become even interested in opening up to my more creative side. Dance was my first really creative outlet, but it is relatively structured. I started painting because I saw a piece at Cost Plus World Market that I really liked but couldn't afford. I'd like to take more art history and art technique classes but for now, I'm just having fun. More fun than I ever thought it could be. My favorite is with a margarita on my left and listening to Kerouac's amazing, poetic, voice on our fantastic stereo system at all hours of the night blending colors and painting whatever flows to mind.

Just because my father said so . . .

joeyelle — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 06:28:19 GMT

Four things about me... Four jobs I have had in my life 1.) Horse Show Announcer - hooray for ponies! 2.) Carls Junior Drive Thru girl - Graveyard shift 8pm - 2am for one summer. 3.) Resident Advisor - free room and board 4.) Teacher - thats what I do now. I'm usually pretty positive about it but today was the first day after winter break - blah. Movies I've watched more than once: 1.) Princess Bride! 2.) All the Harry's! 3.) Clerks - and really all of Kevin Smiths 4.) Captain Ron - its Pat's go to movie so we watch it a lot. Four places I have lived: 1.) San Jose, CA 2.) Davis, CA 3.) Santa Cruz, CA 4.) Sacramento, CA Four T.V. Shows that I watch: I don't technically have a tv and I'm sort of against the whole thing but now that I can get them on my computer for free, I end up watching: 1) Bones 2) Chuck 3) This vampire show called Blood Ties on Lifetime - its really bad but i just can't stop watching. 4) Reruns of Buffy Four Places I have been: 1.) Peru 2.) China 3.) San Felipe 4.) Houston Airport for a few hours layover with Dad when we were going to Florida. Four of my favorite foods: 1.) Pizza 2.) Enchiladas 3.) Jamba Juice 4.) Those little bananas at that unmanned fruit stand in Maui, what road was that, I don't remember but its great. I almost got sick by eating too many of those awesome bananas. Four places I would rather be right now: 1.) On a pony! 2.) On a sailboat 3.) In a foreign country 4.) A good martini bar Four things I am looking forward to in the next year: 1.) Summer 2.) Tribal Fest 3.) Dance Classes 4.) Making fun of my sister's new boyfriend.

Away for a week . . .

joeyelle — Mon, 09 Apr 2007 04:54:41 GMT

I'm off tomorrow to spend an entire week (monday - friday) with 7 other girls camping at Limekiln State Park. I will have no computer, no phone, no mail, no contact of any kind!! It will be wonderful. Among other things, I hope to finish my third reading of Harry Potter 4 in a continuing effort to be as prepared as possible for July. Yoga on the beach every morning with some of my best friends is going to be just amazing! I've promised Kathy to keep up with my practice . . . so, I hope you all have fun - I'll check in Friday night. Over and out.

Cold Camping

joeyelle — Thu, 07 Dec 2006 18:23:04 GMT

Tonight night I'm off to upper pines in Yosemite Valley with five of my friends to go camping for the weekend. Weather.com tells me it is going to be 17 degrees at night but because of the wind, it'll feel like 1. Brrrr . . . its going to be cold. Think warm thoughts for me this weekend.

Thanksgiving Prep

joeyelle — Mon, 30 Oct 2006 06:15:37 GMT

I know I know - its not quite Halloween yet and I'm thinking of Turkey day but this year it is very exciting. As some of you may know - Pat and I are hosting Thanksgiving at our house this year! Yup - that means no running back and forth to and from various family members houses. Instead, we've told them that we're taking a break from wasting precious gas on this historical lie of a holiday. At first, that's all it was about - to just simplify the holidays. To have it in our own home. But now, I've gotten really excited about planning the dinner and the table! I've already bugged New Leaf about ordering a nice free range organic Turkey - they said I had to wait until November 1st! Tonight Pat and I tried out some of the side dishes we were thinking of serving. Here's what we tried out tonight: Apple, Celery, Sourdough Stuffing Wild Rice Leek Pilaf Butternut Squash We also tried out our turkey recipe on a chicken - just for practice. The stuffing was the overall winner. But really, how do you beat stuffing? It makes me wonder why we don't eat it throughout the year. Anyway, I made the stuffing from scratch! From bread! Me! Anyway, we'd like to invite any of our friends and loved ones to join us in celebrating this Foster Farms backed holiday by coming to our little beach bungalow, drinking some good wine, and chowing down! And for those vegetarians out there - we're making also roasting a stuffed Squash!

Bass Lines

joeyelle — Thu, 03 Aug 2006 17:22:34 GMT

Whoo hoo! Now that I'm done teaching summer school, I've finally had time to pick up my bass again. Who knew playing the bass was kinda hard?! But, after a few days of practice - I've got the bass line to Guns of Brixton which, is a big hit with the house. It's very exciting.

Hooray for Santa Cruz!

joeyelle — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 03:01:06 GMT

I am sure most of you know that I've moved to Santa Cruz even though my current job and dance is over the hill in San Jose. I thought I was going to have to get up super duper early every morning and drive all the way over the hill every single day. I thought I was going to have to sit in the 17 traffic all the time and count the number of branches on the redwoods while CalTrans closes the right lane during rush hour like they did today. I thought I was going to have to develop 8th grade science curriculum on my own as I'd be the only 8th grade science teacher at my school. I thought I was going to have to deal with 8th graders all day. I thought I was going to have to stay on that side of the hill until 7:30 when dance class is on Monday's and Wednesdays and not get home till almost 10 just to get up super duper early the next morning for work. Fortunately, I was wrong. Today I was offered an amazing job - a 5th grade position at West Lake Elementary School here in Santa Cruz. The students are high achieving, they've got an art, music, and life lab teacher and the school is beautiful. In fact, my master teacher from grad school is the new principal, and one of my good friends from grad school is the new 4th grade teacher. I'm so excited I can hardly handle it. I'm having a party on Saturday to celebrate. PM me if you want directions. I guess this means I'll be staying in SC for a while. Hooray!

Tagged.

joeyelle — Thu, 08 Jun 2006 19:52:23 GMT

I"ve been tagged by Dad aka Mr Kajira so here ya go 8 things about me: 1. I am addicted to the Gilmore Girls even though I don't own a TV. 2. Today I am teaching my students about male and female reproductive anatomy (I teach 7th grade science) 3. I only read entertaining, scientific, nonfiction books (exception: Harry to the P-O double T E-R.) If you've got any recommendations for entertaining, scientific, nonfiction please let me know. 4. I've been a vegetarian for two months now. 5. Lately I've been obessed with The Clash, The Pixies, The Shins, and the Kings of Leon. 6. I can only play one song on my bass that I've had for three years: Longview (green day) 7. I ride my bike everywhere possible. Its a specialized rockhopper. 8. I love noodles - italian, thai, japanese, anything noodley is yummy! ****rules for the game**** Once you've been tagged, you have to write a blog with 8 facts/things/habits about yourself, saying who tagged you. In the end you need to choose the 6 people to be tagged and list their names. No tag backs. I'm tagging: kathy michelle stephanie cecily k-lee christine

Jobs Jobs and More Jobs

joeyelle — Tue, 06 Jun 2006 19:16:01 GMT

Which job would you pick: A) 1 hour drive each way to a nice school with upper-middle class students, a nice principal and small district in Mountain View. or B) 15 minute drive each way to a less-nice school with more difficult students, a nice principal and a large district in Watsonville.

Walking Camel Costumes

joeyelle — Mon, 17 Apr 2006 16:38:41 GMT

Well, as my Walking Camel Costumes business is finally taking off I decided to make a tribe for it. Join if you'd like to be up to date on things like where you can buy Walking Camel products like pantaloons and arm warmers! http://tribes.tribe.net/walkingcamel

Day 3 as a Vegetarian

joeyelle — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 14:40:16 GMT

Well I'm on my third day of vegetarianism and its going really well. I bought lots of cookbooks and informational books and lots of meat substitutes. I'm feeling very happy about my decision and have even started to try some new foods (those of you who know me understand how amazing that is.) Whoo hoo! Go Veggies!

Bill Nye the Science Guy

joeyelle — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 17:37:43 GMT

I jsut got back from the National Science Teachers Annual Convention. It was really great but the highlight came Thursday night when I met Bill Nye. For the record, while at the conference I also met Sally Ride and the Myth Buster guys.

Feast or Famine

joeyelle — Sat, 01 Apr 2006 01:10:37 GMT

So I've been really conflicted lately about my job. At one point I had decided that no matter what I was going to move back to Santa Cruz. Then Pat and I got leads on jobs in Mountain View. I fell in love with this amazing middle school in Mountain View - Crittenden, I went through 3 interviews and just found out today that I got the job! So I should be elated however, one - Pat's interview isn't until next Wednesday and if he doesn't get the job he'll be commuting again all the way to SC and that is what we were trying to avoid. In addition, one of my mentor teachers from Santa Cruz "might" be getting a principalship position and he asked me if that happened, did I want to come take his current 5th grade job? So now after having no leads at all for months, I have one job and one- I wish I had that job last year- job. Job hunting is lame.

Rakkasah

joeyelle — Fri, 31 Mar 2006 05:25:11 GMT

Dancing at Rakkasah was amazing. It was great to be a part of something so big and magical. I was overwhelmed most of the time I was there and ended up spending most of my nondancing time at Judith's Head - they've got all the best stuff - including Stef :) Our performance consisted of one midtempo and one longer slow song. Wasn't choreographed of course, we did have beginning and ending moves though. Anyway, since it was just Kathy and I, it was different than troup ATS - there was no back up plan, no spin out to the chorus if you're not feeling it, and that's kind of scarey, even if you are feeling it. At any rate, our duet was really fun, I love dancing in, facing eachother, but it was also very humbling - I have lots to work on, especially before TF!!! We'll be practicing more of our duet material at the Bean Scene tomorrow night in Sunnyvale around 7ish.

Mountain Biking = Mountain Lions!

joeyelle — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 15:47:35 GMT

Pat and I went on a bike ride at Grant park on Sunday. It was quite a twisty ride up the mountain and I was glad that I was driving otherwise I would have had a hard time with it. Anyway, we got there and rode up into the beautiful rolling green hills. Our trail even led us through a cow corral! I tried to pet them but they ran away :( We were about 4 miles out and we were kind of lost so we turned right down this path that said no bicycles and then we saw it! A great big wild mountain lion! It was about 80 feet away from us and at first it was kind of walking with us but then when I saw it I yelled to pat and we stopped and watched it. It stopped too and sat down. I didn't really know to be scared until we were back on our way. But I read somewhere that if the big carnivours are flourishing in an ecosystem that means that the entire system is probably healthy so it made me happy to see it! Hooray for the outdoors!

Arm Warmer Adventure

joeyelle — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 01:57:16 GMT

So I made these arm warmers - and I think they're pretty awesome. Mom thinks its just me. So I posted them around tribe to see if anyone would actually pay me to knit arm warmers - how cool would that be?!

Life Is Beautiful

joeyelle — Fri, 02 Dec 2005 07:30:51 GMT

I've found an amazing new singer/songwriter to worship. If you're into acoustic/folky/political music check this guy out its pretty amazing: http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?bandid=111310&content=main&songid=0

Horse Shows

joeyelle — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 17:43:42 GMT

So I said that I was retired and yet I was begged to come do a one day horse show in Sacramento yesterday (Sunday.) Ponies were cute and the people were fine but it was such a long day full of unexpected problems and then the drive back to San Jose to teach today. I am exhasted - my throat hurts like its never hurt before and my students are obnoxious. I can't wait for my afternoon nap.

HARRY POTTER!

joeyelle — Fri, 18 Nov 2005 15:46:12 GMT

Hooray for Harry! Yes Pat and I saw the fourth Harry movie at 12:01 this morning. It was fantastic! True it seemed a bit rushed to get all of the information into a 2.5hr movie but still simply amazing. Getting in at 3am has already started to effect my work but it was worth it! Horray for Harry!

Dont Let My People Die

joeyelle — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 17:39:00 GMT

I was there! The benefit was super fun Cecily and I bought raffle tickets and some choice merchandise from Melodia and then on to the show! My favorite sets were from Ousseynou Kouyate who did this crazy african dancing - jumping around all free and fun. That was sooo cool. Isabella Salimpour was also super cute - she is amazing her belly rolls and isolations are insane. I wish I was as good as that nine year old. FatChance did this great arm sequence - it was really beautiful but a lot of choreography. Rachel was of course superb but her set was short (understandably given the circumstances) and we were sad when she left the stage. Suhaila was so fun she was happy and playful with her durmmer Ziad and sported the benefit t-shirt. I was sad I didn't win the raffle but alas, the benefit was super fun and I hope you all had fun too!

Holiday Wishlist

joeyelle — Mon, 07 Nov 2005 23:50:22 GMT

Oh yes, Noelle's annual holiday wishlist is now posted! For the ease of friends and family please see my website if you need help picking out my present. :) http://missellesclass.com/gpage3.html

Build a Free-Standing Tower

joeyelle — Thu, 03 Nov 2005 21:25:44 GMT

So in my class I gave each of my table groups five popsicle sticks, one piece of newspaper, and some masking tape about four feet long. I was amazed from what my students came up with. Take a look. I'm so proud.