I said yes. Double yes.

  Tanner's favorite slogan is, "We'll see."  I'm used to this after a year and a half.   "Do you want to go to that art benefit on Friday?"  "We'll see."  "Wanna move to Colorado someday?"  "We'll see."

So my 'alert' signal went up when he said that I need to keep Saturday open last week.  Hmmm, he's planning something.  Granted, it WAS my official birthday weekend, so not too alarmed, but of course the wheels were turning a little since he a) recently took my favorite silver band & kept it in his wallet   and  b) did a little ring shopping with me.  

At first, I inquired if we could go out for my birthday on Friday.  There was a musical in town for one night only that I thought sounded fun on Saturday.  Many talented peeps I know in "Rainbow Around the Sun."

However, he said it needed to be Saturday, so I smiled & complied.   Wonder if he's gonna..... ?

He went out with my brother on Friday night, and little did I know the final plans were being hatched.

Saturday, I had to be gone from the house from 4 to 6:30.  Again, hmmm.  So, mom & I went to a little Asian culture festival on Classen as well as a trip to the gigantic Asian market.  I showed her what Pho was (yum!) and she had her first Boba (sp?) tea, which I lovingly call Bubble Tea.  It was fun to run around, yet our time got a little intense as we were driving through Mesta Park.  Mom suddenly said, "You've gotta pull over!  Everything is spinning."  This scared me half to death because the last time this happened---last Thanksgiving---my mom had her first serious onset of Vertigo and ended up in the hospital for several days.  I'd never seen anything like it.  We couldn't move her at all without her vomiting profusely.  It was a crazy couple of days almost a year ago.

Luckily this time she did not go into that mode.   She relaxed for a few minutes; I tried to talk calmly.  "Mom, OU Health Sciences is nearby if we need to head that way."  She lay still for a while and slowly felt good enough to raise her head up & request that we get back on the road.  

I called my brother:  "Mark, mom can't drive home.  I am going to drive her.  Can you take me back to the city?"

"Yea, I was going to head there later anyway.  I was going to your house."

Hmmmmm.

Now, three things blew my theory of possible proposal.  1.  Mom had said all day when I implied that this may be IT, "Don't be disappointed Lisa.  Don't get your hopes up."  Turns out she knew nothing, but I figured she did & I listened to her advice.   2.  Mark said he was just coming down to play video games with Tanner, nothing unusual there.   3.  When Mark & I arrived at the house, Lindy & Kevin's cars were there.   So, the surprise was that Tanner asked some friends over for dinner!

Ok, so I got out of "engagement mode" and decided to just kick back and enjoy my birthday dinner.  And what a feast it was!  Kenny & Kevin work serious magic in the kitchen, and there were more delicious, homemade Asian dishes than you could shake a stick at.  Fun!

The meal was fabulous, and I couldn't quit trying all the delicious foods.  Yet at one point, Tanner said, "Save room for dessert!"

He went in the kitchen & brought out a small Asian-themed tray with fortune cookies (thanks, Laura, for all the cool dishes you give me!).  He had everyone open theirs one at a time, and each message was personalized.   I was last.  My heart raced at this point.  My stomach flipped.  What would mine say?

"Will you marry me?"

It's a blur, but I know I put my hands over my face because (for once!) I was speechless and shy.   Then Tanner dropped to one knee and presented a ring.  I jumped up and said YES.  Followed by an immediate run to the kitchen because I got very flustered!  He came back & we walked in together, all grins.  Everyone toasted & for about 30 minutes, I was still trying to soak it all in.  He did it, he caught me off guard.

The rest of the evening was followed with more toasts, several phone calls to family, a little live music, and lots of celebration.

I am thrilled to know that I am spending the rest of my life with my best friend, my confidant, and my true love.  Never say never, because I didn't think it could all make so much sense and fall into place so beautifully.  It was a natural step for us, and I think we knew it pretty early on.  There's no rush when you are with the right person because you know you are on the same page, walking the same path.  

I look forward to a future with Tanner, and I thank God that we found each other.

Summer is closing...but bring on the fall!

I just love the fall.  Something about the season change seems to bring a renewed excitement in people.  And though the leaves are still green and the sun is still shining, you can begin to feel it in the air.  Why, yes, sir, I do live in football=religion region of the U.S. of A.  But it is more than just that.

With routines back in tact, families seem to shift into new patterns, friends are more consistently back in town, and projects begin to ensue.

In my lovely corner of the universe, I am excited to work with the kids I have the honor of serving daily.  There are about 330 kids in our high school, and though only 32 are officially assigned to me, I make a point to know as many names as I can.  A friendly wave in the crowded hallway, a quick, "Havin' a good day?", a silly joke exchanged.  All these little occurrences are truly important.  I know I appreciated it when I was a confused, busy teenager.  I try to put my frame of reference there-- what was it like for ME?--and the rest seems to fall in place.  

I am a special education teacher, but I feel anyone working in a school is also a counselor, a mentor, an encourager, and a friend.

You know, in Japan a teacher is held in the highest esteem, even more than a doctor.  It's true.  I don't believe it is a coincidence that they also have a 99% literacy rate, as well as an almost non-existent homeless population.

Encourage the teachers, principals, counselors, cafeteria ladies, and custodians you know.  They are doing important yet often underestimated work with your children.  With your friend's children.  Your neighbor's children.

The community you save just may be your own.

August 24th

This date is a very special date for my father. It is the birthday of his late mother, and 31 years ago, it was the day before a child was born that was probably a little more than he bargained for---me. Yes, I was not an easy child to raise, and I acknowledge that now. I was stubborn, strong-willed, and always insisted on doing things the hard way. Still do, I suppose. ;)

I had every intention of calling my dad today just to see how he was doing. My grandmother has only been gone a few years, and I suspect that this day is still difficult for him.

However, I had to make a premature call when I realized that my tire was totally flat. I normally wouldn't even worry too much, but I couldn't miss class in Edmond today. Some quick action had to be taken.

My dad totally helped me out----as well as sweet Matthew at the Autobahn on NW 37th & Western (there's my plug). With a call to my professor to say I'd be late, I still pulled off attendance to two classes tonight.

Yet the true highlight came after class ended. Without going into too much detail, my two best friends really were there for me tonight. There was something very important that I needed to do, and they were there. Nothing in this world can replace true, unconditional friendship. It is what makes life beautiful.

My birthday season is off to a good start...

An eventful weekend comes to a close.

Friday morning, I had a small victory by not humiliating myself on television. I actually had a lot of fun! It was proceeded by a very busy day at my job, including a two-hour meeting with a parent. Things are in full swing there.

Friday night, Laura and I once again had SUCH a great time playing at Full Circle. We don't have anything on the books there for now, as they are possibly revamping the entire way they do live music come September. TBA. Just hope we still get included in the line-up now & again, as that is truly my "home" when it comes to sharing songs.

Saturday, many random errands---including a vain attempt to find a car wash some of my disabled students told me they'd be putting on at Lake Hefner-- and then off to play at the Bricktown Acoustic Festival. Fun times.

Sunday was a big family day. Quality family time, that is. My brother was awesome by offering to come and mow/weed eat both my front and back lawn. He did a FANTASTIC job. It was my birthday gift, and it truly was a very good one! While he was busy with that, Tanner was inside working on the bathroom renovation. It is a big job, as it has included knocking out walls and taking up over 50 years of flooring.

Admist all that chaos, my 16 month old niece, my mom, and I got in the kiddie pool. She LOVED it! Poor baby has a bad rash covering her entire body, and my sister has deduced it down to the fragrant new diapers they have been using. This becomes obvious when you see her incredibly red-speckled little hiney. Anyway, she enjoyed not only splashing in my pool (my little slice of heaven), but she helped me water my garden. Ok, she watered herself more, but that made for really cute photo opps. (soon I will work on photos here, just not yet)

I will say that I commend all you mommies out there because it is amazing how quickly something can happen that scares you, and you must be aware of everything constantly. Aubrey slipped while she was walking around in the little pool, and she was under in no time. It's weird, I know I pulled her up fast, but the whole scenario seems like it was in slow motion. Does that make sense? I don't know if babies tend to gulp in lots of water when that happens, but for about 2 seconds she was gasping for air after I pulled her up & it about scared me to death. What am I going to do someday when I am a mom? My biggest fear is a baby choking. I will probably be getting my CPR cert. every 3 months just for good measure. :)

I forgot to mention I had good quality time with the 10-year-old today as well. We read a book she picked out called "Schooled," about a boy named Capricorn that was raised on a commune with his grandmother, Rain. He is into yoga, gardening, playing the Beatles on guitar, and communal living. However, a broken hip forces hippie-grammy Rain to send him to live with friends & he begins public school, which is quite a shocker for someone who has never watched TV or eaten processed food. I was actually enjoying this young adult read, and Ryann would look at me & smile anytime there was a "hippie-esque" reference or a Beatles song played. I started realizing that she had picked this book out because she had wanted to read & discuss it with me. Maybe, just maybe, she may think some of these ideas are cool!

Finally, I think someone in my family has the potential of sorta "getting" me. That is a really nice feeling. Previously, I didn't think there was any chance. ;)

peace. happy place.

I knew to expect this, but I am already feeling the stress of this busy week. With teacher meetings from 8:30 to 4:30 everyday, there is little time to get things in order for my first week of grad school. I went to my first two classes last night-- Psychopathology, which I lovingly call Psycho, and Intro to School Psychology. The Psycho professor (ha!) is a brilliant man, I can already tell. After class he asked me if I was a musician, guess he'd caught it in the Gazette. He, too, plays guitar and I can tell I am going to really enjoy what he has to say about the state of the psychology field (which quite frankly is screwed up in SO many ways due to insurance, diagnosis, etc....and he shared a lot of research on this).

Anyway, here it is 5:30 am & I can no longer stay in bed because the mental "to do" list in my head keeps swirling 'round.

The other thing this week is the fact that I don't want to be too worn out for Friday. I will be performing on FOX news 25 on the morning show. I have to arrive at the studio at 7 am, so Thursday night band practice must be cut short. I am truly not one to love being on camera. Yea I know I am an extrovert, but my typical female body image insecurities come surfacing. However, I am determined for that not to stand in the way of me "being myself" and doing a good job in the interview. I am more nervous about the interview than the singing part. In a way, performance is something you can kinda "hide" behind, but a Q & A is off the cuff and intimidating. I will just be promoting the Bricktown Acoustic Festival, so hopefully it shouldn't be too hard to answer the questions!

Ok, gotta get going. Doing. Emailing. Working.

I know I should savor this time in my life when I HAVE the time...Gena, I know you've probably already cooked breakfast, doctored an injured knee, and broken up a toy fight. :) I truly don't know how some of the moms I know at school take classes, hold down jobs, and still be mommys. I do, however, think the mommy part is most important. But that is far off in my future, so I will press on with the tasks at hand.

Happy Tuesday!

I need to get bloggy with it while I can.

Yea, that's right...I am writing TWO blogs today. I just have all this extra time since I haven't started writing papers & reading research journals just yet. But, alas, the first day of UCO is tomorrow and I fear the blogs will be few & far between. I am biting off a HUGE bite of academia this fall, gonna attempt to take three graduate classes while teaching at the high school. I am already prepared....if I start going too crazy & lose too much quality of life, I know which class I will drop. :)

It's just that, dang, even working fervently, I am set to graduate in 2013 and that seems...so...far....away. My program is the longest one you can go through in the psychology department, but I happen to think it's also the best. ;) Did I mention yet that I am very impressed with the profs in that department? Funny story, the chairman of school psychology came out to my Galileo gig a few weeks ago. The same gig that The Stringents & I decided it was 80s night/crimped hair night. I told her that I hope she can still take me seriously as a student. She laughed & stayed til the very last song, so I think I am good. She is truly a cool lady and half the reason that I knew I was choosing the right program to be in.

I am ranting in my blog tonight. I was pumped to try one of the new trendy eateries in Edmond that I'd been eyeing every time I drove home from night class....or Gena's house. ;) Fish City Grill. You tried it? Well, paint the sign over & call it Grease City Grill. Seriously, I had the totally wrong idea in my head as I ordered: fish tacos (yum!) and a side of sauteed spinach.

I've had some GREAT fish tacos in my life....Wahoo's is one of the best chains ever on the west coast. But, dang, these were terrible! It was grease, a mystery sauce, and a little bit of greasy GREASY fish. And I had even ordered it grilled. The "sauteed" spinach looked as if it had sat in a vat of syrup for 7 hours. I couldn't even take more than one bite, and that was hard. Being with my mom, bro, and boyfriend, I really didn't want to be THAT customer. Shoot, I've waited tables & no one likes the "send it back" person. So I didn't. But when she collected our plates & saw that both my items were barely touched....she just chose to remove the spinach off my tab.

"A bit too greasy for me," I said to her, eyes lowered.

"Oh, I should've warned you about the spinach," she giggled.

Hahaha. So funny. YES you should've warned me! If I wanted slippery, slimy green things down my throat I would've gone to the Pacific & picked up some seaweed off the sand.

All four of us thought our food was too greasy. Tanner said his breaded fish didn't even come close to par with Long John's. Really?? And you are in that snazzy little strip mall next to Orange Tree and the fancy boutiques? Not worthy, I say. And, people, I am often forgiving. One bad dish & I will write it off, still to come back for a second try. But when four entrees are bad....I would say our romance is already over.

The final tab was $57....thank you, restaurant.com for taking care of $25 of the tab or I would've felt just out right robbed.

Zagat's, I will check with you next time. I don't know if it's a chain, but if so I equate it to parents who let their children live in roach-infested homes: STOP REPRODUCING!

Ahem, ok, I feel better. My blog is my new therapy. Thank you & hope your next meal is not as "fishy" as mine.

Love, Lisa

An Uncoventional Day

Had to have my brake pads changed yesterday, and I am so lucky as a proud VW owner to have a friend that is a VW-certified mechanic. Yes, I do the big stuff at the dealer (100K mile tune up, check) but little things here and there can be done by him, and it saves me serious dough.

Tanner and I decided to save the ozone, and some gas money, and just wait together while Jason did this quickie job. We grabbed some Bueno (mmm) and just sat under a tree near his work space and had a fast food picnic. Then we both brought our books and read in the shade. I am reading something that I know I'll need for a class I start this week (already?), but I am finding it's also a pleasure book for me. It is written by physicians, and it is about the "changing course" of autism. Doctors are discovering there are many more physiological aspects to it than known before, and they now question if it should even be categorized as a mental disability. It will be 5 long (and from what I hear, hard) college courses, but I will eventually be ABA certified, which means I will be considered an "expert" in diagnosing autism. It is in addition to my School Psychology degree, but apparently if you have this certification you are very much "sought out" and paid more for your services. At the moment I know very little on autism, aside from a wonderful fiction book I read this summer written through the eyes of an autistic boy. (Gena, did you read it?) Oh, and from what everyone probably thinks of, a childhood viewing of "Rainman." :)

But I digress. I wanted to write specifically about my friends Jason (VW expert) and Nicole. They have 3 beautiful little girls and are truly one of the most unconventional little family units I know. Nicole is the most driven artist I've ever come across...the two don't always go hand in hand. Her local reputation is that of "ceramic corset girl," but there's so many more aspects to her art. She puts together several events in the OKC art community and does custom tiling for all types of things, from swimming pools to kitchen counters. Her art is truly unique and gorgeous. We were at their house last night and I always have to go look at their bathroom. From ceiling to tub to floor, the entire room is custom tile. It is as if you are sitting at the bottom of the ocean. And it glows in the dark. :) Someday I will have her tile something in my house.

Nicole and Jason "look" like artists, and if you didn't know any better, you might assume they are some of those irresponsible hippie types that hang on the Paseo and Red Cup, drinking coffee, complaining about our government, all the while never doing anything about it & never getting a job. (you know the type) But, no, these two work their butts off and truly will never "sell out" for a slice of the American pie.

What I love most is this: Despite their progressive views of the world and their fervor for living their artistry dreams, they are wonderful, wonderful parents to those little girls. Zoie, Aztrid, and Estrella (ages 9,6, and 3) are encouraged to be creative, are never spoiled with lavish material things (the girls don't even seem to care), and truly know they are loved. Nicole is more liberal than I, but when it comes to her children, she is a "momma hen" that wants them to value honesty and character. I know this because she models it well for them. She and Jason are in that "circle" of people that I trust 100%. And I guess she feels the same because she needed some emergency babysitting the other day, and she told me that she only asked me, her dad, and her aunt. "I don't trust many people with my girls," she explained. And rightfully so.

The girls attend many artistic events around town with Mom....Zoie modeled for a Latino bridal show yesterday...so I am sure Nicole comes into contact with some of the most diverse people around. Probably also some of the most liberal when we are talking about some of her more progressive events (aka Biting the Apple). Yet she knows well that when it comes to children, you must protect and nurture their well-being. I just love those little girls and it is wonderful to know that they are living the true artist way, yet they are being given a solid foundation of love and truth.

An unconventional family. I like seeing that. Somewhere in time society seemed to tell us what the perfect life is supposed to look like. I love it when people stray from it and successfully prove you don't have to do it the way it's been done before.

School is in session...for teachers.

The first day of school is August 21st in my world. Yet I've been reporting back to work since August 10. We've had some serious renovations this summer and there's lots to do. I got a brand new office, literally. They have built several new rooms in the school, this being one. Got some decorating to do, and have already begun my paperwork. I no longer call the classroom my office, a role which began last year; I coordinate all special services for our high school and often spend more time calling kids into my office for testing and tutoring or holding a parent meeting more than I am doing any group instructing. It is truly the perfect fit for me & I feel rewarded almost daily. I focus on helping "my" kids figure out their plans after high school, as well as connecting them with the right community agencies depending on disabilities and career interests. My new office is right by the principal, and across from the counselor.

We've all had the jobs where you'd rather deal with your superiors as little as possible, but I am so fortunate to not have that sentiment in the slightest at my school. I am lucky to be able to say that I absolutely love talking to my boss and feel comfortable stepping into the office to discuss any topic that needs some review. I feel valued, listened to, and respected. And not just by him, but by the other principal (whose become a dear friend) in the middle school and the other teachers.

I think when you have work relationships swinging in the right direction, it makes it easier to a) realize when you are wrong about something with little defensive stance b) try to improve your abilities c) find creative ways to approach a task and d) want to come to work even if you DO feel like crap! :)

And, yes, no one likes sitting in teacher meetings for days at a time. But it ain't so bad when you look at the big picture and see that you are amongst kindred spirits---folks who want to help shape a life, impact a child, and perhaps make the city you live in just a little bit brighter. There are good things going on at 23rd & Penn...bring on the first day o' school!

Route 66 & it's Kicks

First off, welcome to my brand spankin' new blog! I decided myspace was going to obsolete by 2010, so I am preparing for the future. ;)

I'll start by telling the tale of today. Or tailing the tell. Or taling....ok, I'll stop, but that was fun. **ahem**An unexpected delay turned into a surprise adventure.

As the way the story tends to go, in the last hour of my 10-hr journey home from Colorado, my car had a major malfunction. The surpentine belt's pulley came loose, thus killing the alternator, which begat (felt a Biblical urge here) a dying car. No, can't tell you exactly how to fix it, but do I get points for being able to spew that back on my blog? :)

So, the lovely VW spent the night in Weatherford, OK, which I spent 3 hours in while waiting for my OKC ride. This morning, my dad took me to pick it up....thank you to retired professors with lax schedules!

The traffic to get back, I-40 due east, was literally at a standstill for miles. "Well, Route 66 runs right along here," I said with relief.

See, I was actually glad to not get on the highway. After coming head to head with a semi-recent highway anxiety condition, I was quite glad to take the scenic route. (I see a future blog on the topic at hand coming up).

Though we traveled about 75 miles of it, I was inspired to perhaps someday make the grand Chicago-to-Santa Monica trip. So, here's a recap of some of the things I saw along this wide, unpainted slab of concrete that is legendary in U.S. History:

-An old Catholic mission with faded signs & a cross, and a young woman and child playing in the courtyard.

-2 Sid's Diners, and I believe one I saw on that "Diners & Dives" show, though not sure which one.

-Beautiful, luscious fields of crops. It was an overcast day and it was perfect.

-At least two "truly green" dwellers in the middle of nowhere....I recognized one funky house because I read about the man who lives off the land in his mud/undergound home in, I believe, Oklahoma Today magazine once. I kinda wanted to stop. :)

-Just outside of Hydro, crossed a large bridge that took at least 10 minutes while going 45 mph across a very dry Canadian River. Would be cool to walk, yet driving...a bit unnerving for me.

-A few signs that explained that this was the "paved" Rt. 66. They had arrows pointing to the "original" road, which I presume must be a dirt trail. Again, kinda wanted to explore, but my phone was dying & glad just to have Dad escort me home, didn't want to press him to do too much meandering.

-And on a not-so-romantic note, the route was definitely sprinkled with a few trailers/shacks that quite possibly are meth factories. Didn't want to stop there.

So there ya have it. Time is quite a luxury these days...despite all the devices that man has created to save it, doesn't it seem we have even less of it?

Take a little time out of your savings account, let the phone die (ok, keep it charged for emergencies), put the GPS aside, and get off the beaten path.

Even if I-40 is free and clear.

~That Curl Girl