Cafe Victoria

I realized this morning that one year ago this week, was also Spring Break, and I had spent that week finishing my capstone (the portfolio section of my blog). When I think back I remember it being a lot of work! I had fun though. I had to organizing all my essays, upload examples, photos, etc. I sure learned a lot about pdf.

A year later though, I am happy to share that this Spring Break I spend the week catching up with friends and family. Here are a few high lights:

• Playing chicken foot dominoes with my sister and Grandma Grace in Tustin Ca.
• Hiking with Maria and having this amazing clear view from the top of the Sonoma Overlook trail
• Randomly playing bowling on a Wednesday afternoon with my Dad in Grass Valley
• Watching Lost with my parents and seeing them totally understanding the plot and having a blast, while I am totally “lost” (he he)
• Text messages Matthias while he is chilling at GDC (Gaming Development Conference) in S.F., feeling pretty lucky

I need to pace myself
I need to welcome in relax time
I believe we will have fun playing Rock Band at next week’s Student Affairs Professional Conference
I need to pace myself
I need to turn the computer off and read a book
I believe everything I am working will come together
I need to pace myself
I need to forgive and welcome help that is offered
I believe our Annual African American Celebration Dinner will have  great food and the live jazz will be sweet
I need to pace myself

On Tuesday, Matthias and I saw our third Oscar Best Picture nominee “Milk” at the Sebastian Theatre. As I watched the film, I realized how much I love the connection I have with San Francisco and its history. My parents met while living in South San Francisco in the 70’s. Since the film came out, my parents have been sharing with me how they can clearly remember Harvey Milk, his death and the rise of the now known “Gay” Castro. For the film, Sean Penn was amazing. He has my vote for best actor. I think this movie is going to have a future in the classroom. If I could, I would show it right now as a way to teach Gay Civil Rights history.

On Wednesday, my student government offices hosted I love the 80’s CLUB RUSH. I brought the idea of CLUB RUSH with me as awhile to create a 4 year “Rush Recruiting” experience at the two year college. Now, it has become part of campus culture. This year CLUB RUSH took on a whole new vibe. The vice president incorporated games and themes into CLUB RUSH. All I can say is my 13 year old self would have been proud with I love the 80’s theme. Now, you have to remember, most of today’s freshmen and sophomore college students were born in the 80’s or early 90’s. Over a two day period around the noon time hour, 20 student organizations rocked out to Madonna, Michael Jackson, Run DMC, recruited new club members, bonded and learned something new about the decade they were born in. I was born in the 70’s and I’m still learning about how people dressed and what music they listened to.

On Thursday, I got sucked into watching Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy. For the last 2 weeks, the producers have decided to combine the story line since Private Practice is really a spin off of Grey’s Anatomy. It’s cool. Dr. McDreamy ex-wife’s brother got worms in the brain and the only brain sergeant that could really get them out is of course McDreamy. Ironically, the ex-wife star of Private Practice called him while he was spreading roses all over this bed because he was going to propose to his girlfriend Meredith Grey right after the got off the phone. Which, did not happen because he rushed to the hospital to take care of his ex-brother in law he never got along with in the first place. Ahh…my point is now I better be ready to stay up until 11 on Thursday nights. I will have to say, the Private Practice cast has a lot of my old favorite actors such as the awesome Judge Amy from “Judging Amy”. However, the show itself has a slow story line. As for my Grey’s Anatomy, keep up the great writing! Even if that means you have to write people off the show, which I don’t agree with but that is for another Weekend Update.

• Frisbee Golf
• Reading in bed on Sunday mornings
• Shopping for budgies (small birds)
• Flowers on my desk
• Falling asleep to the rain

Reading: “Revolutionary Road” by Richard Yates

Watching: Inauguration footage and “How I Met Your Mother” Season 2.

Learning: Teaching techniques for college success counseling courses. This coming semester, I have the opportunity to observe a counseling college success course.

Loving: This warm weather we are having! High today: 70 degrees Fahrenheit in San Fransisco!

This week, I have DVR Oprah’s Best Life week. I know, I know..Oprah…but I am telling you, you will be surpised. On Monday, she shared deeply about how in 2 years she reached her weight goal and then turnred around and gained 40 pounds. What happen? She says it was a result of thinking, just like in many areas of our lives, “I don’t have to work on that any more”. From that I show, I learned from her that our life’s journey with our bodies, our spriti, our wants will be a life long journey and now is the time to realize that.

Yesterday, the show was about healthy eating habbits. From what I gain from show, Matthias and I are eating very well. The one thing I learned is the longer your food can sit on the shelf, the more likely it is not the best food for ya.

Tonight, was the third episode and it was on spirituality. Oprah said something that really stuck a cord for me. She said, “Everything you really want, you already have”. . . Wow, I think all the time, I really want a job that honors my master’s degree and my work in Student Affairs. What i have right now, is a job that honored and supported my journey to my master’s. What better way could they have honored my work in student life by letting me use my work for homework assignments and supporting new ideas I had like starting a Student Ambassador program. I want to have a baby to love. What I already have in my life to love is my husband, my parents, my sister, my friends, the list goes on, my students. What Oprah said, does make a lot of sense. What you want in your life, you already have. Think about it.

Something new: 2009
Something old: My laptop
Something worth reading: The Sonoma Sun, my local free paper that comes on Tuesdays and Friday mornings
Something exciting: The HGTV Dream home is in my town, Sonoma!
Something worth doing: Facebook
Something worth letting go: Old socks
Something worth watching: Past seasons of “How I Met Your Mother” and the current season of “Desperate Housewives”
Something worth listening to: Patty Griffin
Something worth exploring: Hiking trails
Something worth debating: The Israeli invasion into Gaza
Something worth loving: Yourself
Something surprising: The unknown

December- Essen, Germany for Christmas with Missy and Matthias and Matthias’ family.
November- Maui, for Wedding Anniversary/Mid-Semester vacation.
October- Town and County Resort in San Diego, Ca Ahh…advising my student government officers as they got falsely accused of stealing hotel future during the CCCSAA 2008 Fall Student Leadership Conference.
September-Weekend in Bodega Bay, Ca for the Annual ASB Fall Leadership retreat
August-Infineon Raceway, Sonoma CA, for the Indy Grand Prix of Sonoma.
July-New York City with Kristina and Marta.
June- Holiday Inn, downtown San Diego for the CCCSAA E-Board transitional meeting.
May- Azusa, CA where my family joined Matthias as they watched me graduate with my Master’s from Azusa Pacific University.
April-Staff Lounge, Napa Valley College, for my Graduate Portfolio Presentation, also known as my Capstone.
March- Garden Grove, CA for the CCCSAA Professional Conference.
February- San Luis Obispo, Ca President’s Day get away weekend road trip with Kristina to visit Marta and Missy who both moved within an hour of me later in the year.
January- North Shore Tahoe, CA for the end of 2007/2008 New Year’s Eve.

High today: Looking at old photos of my grandpa
Learned today: The history of Southern Louisianian food. I tasted the best corn bread I have ever had!
Enjoyed: Watching “How I Met Your Mother” after work.
Looking forward to: Driving through Matthias home town
Thankful for: Having people in my life to love and support

Going with the Saturday Night Live Theme this morning…

On Wednesday my students spent 1 hour lost in powers that be of Roberts Rules of Order, trying to appoint a new round of commissioners to their board. It resulted in three current commissioners let go (kind of like the current job market). One deserving student asked to stay, and one voted in who can’t make the meetings next semester. Thanks Roberts Rules.

On Thursday at the Inter-Club Council meeting Brandon, our college’s Cafeteria Manager did an awesome presentation updating the clubs on the status of the cafeteria, changes in menu to help with affordability and flavor, and now will offer Fundraising Fridays. The clubs loved the idea. If all goes well, the cafeteria can start moving towards the black, and clubs can make some real extra money while having fun cooking and bonding. Next task, creating a contract form that really makes this Fundraising Fridays happen. However, I can hear the students now “Not another form!”

On Friday, I learned that all the Christmas cards I sent on Monday, in the cutest red small envelope, will cost our friends an extra trip to the post office and .20 cents. Due to the fact that the card is smaller than normal and needed more postage…What?…ahh..kind of funny.

That’s weekend update, I am Victoria Worch… now off to hike Mount Tam