My auto-maintenance skills stop at changing out head lamps (and if you have ever changed a head lamp on a mid 2000's Ford Focus, you know how damn difficult it is). However, I can clean a house, sew on a button, grow a vegetable and cook a meal, so I guess I'm ok. Oh, and I can change a diaper, so that will probably…

I am currently knitting a scarf like this. It looks so cozy.

I just wanted to share that the night Sinead ripped up the picture of the Pope, I was on one of my first late night baby-sitting jobs. I felt really excited to be up watching SNL. I also remember the shock at seeing Sinead rip the photo. I was 12.

It's pretty uncommon for a girl in the States, too. I assumed she was a boy until she showed up.

One of my 8th graders is named Eleanor. I'm new to the district, so I don't know any of the kids' nicknames. When I took role the first day and called her Eleanor, I got dagger-eye-death stare. Granted, she's 13, but she also apparently really hates her name. I quickly learned she goes by Ellie, but she's still giving…

I teach middle school in a very affluent suburb. In one class I have two Kyles, three Justins and two Dylans. Three Justins! In one class! All are boys, except for one of the Dylans.

Mmmmm.... Chocolate aid station.... Good luck!

Well, it doesn't change my texture issue.

That and the Thai New Year Songkran. I know the two festivals occur at similar times of the year, and while Songkran didn't traditionally involve colored powder, I do remember people shooting colored water from water guns in the mid '90's. I lived in Bangkok as a teen. Whatever the inspiration, it does seem to be…

I just cannot get into these themed races. This one just grosses me out, and those color runs... I'm sure it's fun, but all that powdered color. Yuck. Look, it's a texture thing for me. However, I've a done a few wine country themed half-marathons (I conveniently live in wine country) and I am all about the wine…

And it's also an awesome moniker!

I finally heard "Wrecking Ball" on the radio this morning. This girl does NOT know what a banger is.

Awwww c'mon, Placerville and Vacaville are two very different places. Actually, I grew up in the Chicago suburbs, but I always say I grew up in Chicagoland (Greater Metropolitan Chicagoland Area if I'm feelin' fancy). And I've lived in Sonoma County for 15 years, but I still claim Bay Area. I'm a pain in the ass like…

I worked for a Presbyterian summer camp in Northern California (I did marketing/social media). I can say, that among the Presbyterys of NorCal, there is much variation. Some are awesome, hippy-dippy, liberal fighters of injustice. Others, not so much.

We had a student teacher one year when I was in high school. He ran into one of my classmates 10 years later (she was also his student) and they started dating and eventually got married. Even that weirds me out a tiny bit, and there was nothing illegal or unsavory about their relationship. I teach 8th grade and 6th…

Y'all are missing out! It's all about goat yogurt. http://www.redwoodhill.com/yogurt

Is your man my husband? Because... yeah... Jelly, I'm always buying so much damn jelly.

I felt the same way when Michael Keaton dropped out and Val Kilmer took over as Batman.

I thought it was poetic. ;) We were on the locals beach in Orleans and saw a family of seals playing. I was hoping to see a shark, but no dice.

I just spent the weekend on Nauset Beach on Cape Cod. It was busy, but pretty fucking beautiful. Also, we went and saw the digitally remastered version of Jaws at the Chatham movie theater and I will never swim in the ocean again.