Mawage & Twu Wuv

13 years ago I met a girl who would become one of my dearest friends. We have weathered many things together. She has seen me at my worst and my best and vice-a-versa. She has remained a constant in my life, and I am grateful for the many memories we have shared.


Nearly a year ago, she called and honored me by asking me to be part of her wedding. Yesterday, I was able to share in her special day and it was beautiful. She has truly met a wonderful man who loves her more than anything else in this world. I couldn't be happier for them!
Congratulations Jenny and Justin!! I love you!

My face in thine eye, thine in mine appears,
And true plain hearts do in the faces rest;
Where can we find two better hemispheres
Without sharp north, without declining west ?
Whatever dies, was not mixed equally;
If our two loves be one, or thou and I
Love so alike that none can slacken, none can die
-John Donne



Post Script:

Justin is a grad of MSU, and so a special guest was invited on his behalf. This next picture is sure to offend family and friends who bleed blue and maize, but I couldn't pass this up.



(Also, the post title is a shout out to Princess Bride.)

For those of you not obsessed with celebrity gossip...not that I am

I know I know...sorry excuse for a post. I apologize to my loyal reader.

But...just wanted to let you know that it's official.

Beyoncé & Jay-Z File Signed Marriage License

Big Pimpin indeed.

You Say it's Your Birthday

Today (28 years ago) the hottest man alive (title to be confirmed shortly, I'm sure, by People magazine) graced this planet with his presence. 23 years later he graced my life with his undying love, his selflessness, and his admiration of farting noises. I cannot begin to fathom my life without him, and I wish him a very, very happy birthday!



Happy Birthday, Benj! I love you!

Stupid is as Stupid Does

Today I went to an ELA (English Language Arts) professional development meeting held at the Hillsdale ISD. As I sat listening to the pontifications of fellow English teachers, I sank down in my seat and thought back to an experience in my life in which I realized my intelligence quotient was seriously lacking compared to my peers.

There was this one time during my freshman English class that our professor showed us a National Geographic cover. On the cover were two Indian women (probably a mother and daughter). The older woman was dressed in conservative Indian clothing; the younger woman was dressed in leather with dark eyeliner. The younger woman was leaning casually on her mother's shoulder. My professor showed us the picture and gave us one simple instruction: write about this picture. That's all he said, "Write about this picture." Invoking my creative muse I began to write furiously. After we finished writing, our professor asked us to share our papers with a group of our peers that were sitting near by. I was excited to share my glorious story and equally excited to hear what others wrote. After I listened to my first "peer" share her paper, I sank low in my seat longing to possess the superpower of morphing into other objects, like the floor or a desk or Britney Spears (pre-K-fed).

I listened as my peers read their dissertations on generational conflict or multi-cultural values or the history of leather in India. Every paper sounded like a submission to MENSA. I looked down at my sorry excuse for a writing assignment and considered faking a tourret's episode. It soon became my turn to share my response. I took a deep breath and began:

"It was really hard to accept the fact that my daughter was leading a double life as Cat Woman."

That's right, while everyone else was comparing and contrasting Indian family dynamics with that of Uzbekistanian families, I was writing a juvenile piece on a character from Batman. I could feel the shifting, questioning eyes of my peers. I could feel the sweat gathering on my top lip (and on my forehead, back and earlobes). After I finished, one guy said, "That was interesting." Yup, that WAS interesting. I'm sure it was the first time my peers had seen Forrest Gump personified in the form of a female.

Yup, and I'm teaching the youth of America.

Back in the Mitten

I made it home yesterday after my extended tour of O'Hare airport (and by tour, I mean forced imprisonment due to a delayed plane). I had a wonderful time! I was extremely spoiled by my grandparents (recent subscribers to "You Can Call Me Jan"...shout out!) Here are some pictures. I hope it will satiate my loyal readers' appetites until I can post something extremely hilarious (like my airplane fart story...I'm sorry--airplane flatulent story).


Me and the G-Rents


Me, Grandma, Aunt Linda and her partner Carol in Castro


Golden Gate Bridge


Me, my Aunt Dolores and Uncle Sal


Alcatraz Island


Corner of Haight and Ashbury -- Scene of the Summer of Love


Colorful Victorians


Bodega Bay (Scene of Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds)


Beyonce and Jay-Z--blissfully wedded yesterday (Note: I sadly did not see them while I was in California)