We're going to do it, we're moving to South Korea. Six months from now military movers will box up all our stuff, put it on a boat, and we'll pick it up in Korea.
Korea.
I sort of can't believe it. We've done nothing but talk about this move since we first learned it was a possibility late last week, but it still hasn't quite sunk in.
Korea.
I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared, but I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't really excited. I'm the type of person who would never up and move overseas on her own, but if the last five years have taught me anything it's that change is a good thing. Yes, it's frightening, and yes there are things I will desperately miss about the States, but ultimately I really believe that this will be an amazing experience we'll be grateful to have in the long run.
So, Korea.
More as we find out exactly what we need to do in preparation for the move.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Sure to be the first of many such posts
One of the best things about having a newly verbal toddler is that I now get at least a few clues as to what he's thinking about as he falls asleep at naptime. Today's Thought of the Day by Luke (overheard via baby monitor) is thus:
"Mama, Daddy, baby, towel, Elmo. Mine mine mine gahsh... kitties...(singing)...hey dat da kitties...(banging on the bars of his crib)...mine mine mine mine mine Elmo...(more banging)...no mine no mine MINE bo bo bo bo Elmo...a dis? Dis? Ahhhhhhhh...Ball, ball, BAAAAALLLLLLL...zzzzzzzz."
"Mama, Daddy, baby, towel, Elmo. Mine mine mine gahsh... kitties...(singing)...hey dat da kitties...(banging on the bars of his crib)...mine mine mine mine mine Elmo...(more banging)...no mine no mine MINE bo bo bo bo Elmo...a dis? Dis? Ahhhhhhhh...Ball, ball, BAAAAALLLLLLL...zzzzzzzz."
Friday, December 19, 2008
Too Many Thoughts in My Head
Juan didn't get the fellowship slot he'd been virtually guaranteed just a month ago by People In The Know. As a result we've spent the last 48 hours scrambling to put together a list of bases we wouldn't hate for the next year or two until he can re-apply. Staying in El Paso is a possibility, but the job he would need to take here would be 90% paperwork to 10% actual medicine. Not only would he likely be miserable if he took it, but he'd be deployable. Neither of us wants that. Most of the other positions at the top of our list (hospitals in the DC area, San Antonio, and Washington State) would be similar.
Then there's Korea.
He would be working in a hospital and practicing actual medicine, he wouldn't get deployed, Luke and I would be able to go with him. To Korea.
I don't know what I want at this point. Well, I take that back, I want our original "guaranteed" plan back. That's not going to happen, though, which leaves us with a number of less-than-ideal options. Korea is at both the top and bottom of that list. On the one hand, it would be an amazing opportunity for all of us to live overseas. On the other, we'd be gone for two years in a country so far away that coming home even once might not be financially possible. Plus I'd almost certainly have to give up teaching until we got back to the States.
So, I don't know what we're going to do. If we decide about Korea (and we need to decide soon--like before Christmas) then we'll have a set plan in place as soon as the decision is made. If not, we won't know where we'll be going until February at the earliest.
Then there's Korea.
He would be working in a hospital and practicing actual medicine, he wouldn't get deployed, Luke and I would be able to go with him. To Korea.
I don't know what I want at this point. Well, I take that back, I want our original "guaranteed" plan back. That's not going to happen, though, which leaves us with a number of less-than-ideal options. Korea is at both the top and bottom of that list. On the one hand, it would be an amazing opportunity for all of us to live overseas. On the other, we'd be gone for two years in a country so far away that coming home even once might not be financially possible. Plus I'd almost certainly have to give up teaching until we got back to the States.
So, I don't know what we're going to do. If we decide about Korea (and we need to decide soon--like before Christmas) then we'll have a set plan in place as soon as the decision is made. If not, we won't know where we'll be going until February at the earliest.
Friday, December 12, 2008
Quirk
More memes! I was tagged for this one by MJ which seems quite appropriate since I'm one of the friends who nicknamed her "Quirk" back in high school and the subject of the meme is (what else?) quirks.
In case anyone is wondering, my nickname in high school was A Loof.
Now, on with the meme!
Six of C's Quirks
1) I hate to talk on the phone. I don't know how quirky this really is since it seems like I know an increasingly large number of people who would rather drive large metal spikes into their eardrums than talk on the phone (I blame the internet) but unless you're my parents, you're twenty times more likely to receive an e-mail from me than a phone call. There's just so much pressure on the phone to find interesting things to talk about, versus e-mail where you can ramble on for paragraphs and either go back before hitting the "send" button and delete everything or send it all and rest assured that the recipient will just skim for the good stuff.
2) I have no problem discussing how Macbeth and Harvey Dent (from "The Dark Knight") are remarkably similar characters with my students. In fact, I've had lengthy discussions on the subject with my second period in the last week, and while it may seem like we're goofing off on the surface, I have elaborate character development maps all over the board by the end of those discussions to prove that not only are they both tragic heroes, but that the Batman franchise nails the archetype far more often than Shakespeare ever did. If I can talk about superhero movies and Shakespeare at the same time AND finally get my students to understand the tragic hero, I consider it a good day.
3) If I have M&Ms, I can't just eat them one at a time, I have to eat two so they're even in my mouth--one on each side as I bite down. Same thing with baby carrots, olives, and pretty much anything else bite-sized.
4) I don't like breakfast food unless it's relatively bland. Sausage? No way. Bacon? HATE. Plain toast? Now you're talking. Lunch and dinner, bring on the strong-tasting food, but leave my palate alone before noon OR ELSE.
5) I watch TV out of the corner of my eye. I've done this for the longest time (and if you've been to my house, our family room arrangement might suddenly make sense now that you know this fact about me) and while it's probably partly because I have mild astigmatism, mostly it's just because I find the TV itself is rarely engrossing enough to keep my full attention so I'm always doing something else while watching TV. I'll knit, I'll cross-stitch, I'll play online (sometimes while also knitting or cross-stitching) and watch TV at the same time, just out of the corner of my eye.
6) I don't understand the appeal of "30 Rock." I've tried, I really have, but I just find it contrived and too cute for its own good.
In case anyone is wondering, my nickname in high school was A Loof.
Now, on with the meme!
Six of C's Quirks
1) I hate to talk on the phone. I don't know how quirky this really is since it seems like I know an increasingly large number of people who would rather drive large metal spikes into their eardrums than talk on the phone (I blame the internet) but unless you're my parents, you're twenty times more likely to receive an e-mail from me than a phone call. There's just so much pressure on the phone to find interesting things to talk about, versus e-mail where you can ramble on for paragraphs and either go back before hitting the "send" button and delete everything or send it all and rest assured that the recipient will just skim for the good stuff.
2) I have no problem discussing how Macbeth and Harvey Dent (from "The Dark Knight") are remarkably similar characters with my students. In fact, I've had lengthy discussions on the subject with my second period in the last week, and while it may seem like we're goofing off on the surface, I have elaborate character development maps all over the board by the end of those discussions to prove that not only are they both tragic heroes, but that the Batman franchise nails the archetype far more often than Shakespeare ever did. If I can talk about superhero movies and Shakespeare at the same time AND finally get my students to understand the tragic hero, I consider it a good day.
3) If I have M&Ms, I can't just eat them one at a time, I have to eat two so they're even in my mouth--one on each side as I bite down. Same thing with baby carrots, olives, and pretty much anything else bite-sized.
4) I don't like breakfast food unless it's relatively bland. Sausage? No way. Bacon? HATE. Plain toast? Now you're talking. Lunch and dinner, bring on the strong-tasting food, but leave my palate alone before noon OR ELSE.
5) I watch TV out of the corner of my eye. I've done this for the longest time (and if you've been to my house, our family room arrangement might suddenly make sense now that you know this fact about me) and while it's probably partly because I have mild astigmatism, mostly it's just because I find the TV itself is rarely engrossing enough to keep my full attention so I'm always doing something else while watching TV. I'll knit, I'll cross-stitch, I'll play online (sometimes while also knitting or cross-stitching) and watch TV at the same time, just out of the corner of my eye.
6) I don't understand the appeal of "30 Rock." I've tried, I really have, but I just find it contrived and too cute for its own good.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Six Things That Make Me Happy
M tagged me for this meme and specifically asked for Luke pictures, so here goes--six things that make me happy, a photo essay.
1) This face:
Loved mostly because it's simultaneously his "yummy" face and the face he makes when you ask for a kiss. My boy gives kisses! It's really all I can do not to ask for them every five minutes.
2) This face:
Just look at him! Coloring (brief moments of marking the page in between attempts to eat the crayon) and smiling so sweetly it makes my heart melt.
3) Not Luke, but I have to brag about my AP students for a moment. They're just the best group of kids I've ever had the privilege to work with, and I'm particularly proud of the boy who transferred in halfway through the semester and has already surpassed most of his classmates in terms of writing ability. He's going to pass the big test in May, I can feel it.
4) My family:
5) Dancing!
This is unfortunately the best picture I have of Luke dancing. Anytime music comes on the radio (or from one of his toys) Luke dances by shaking his hips. It's simply adorable, and the fact that we have yet to catch it on camera is criminal.
6) January 20, 2009
Can't come soon enough, my friends.
1) This face:
Loved mostly because it's simultaneously his "yummy" face and the face he makes when you ask for a kiss. My boy gives kisses! It's really all I can do not to ask for them every five minutes.
2) This face:
Just look at him! Coloring (brief moments of marking the page in between attempts to eat the crayon) and smiling so sweetly it makes my heart melt.
3) Not Luke, but I have to brag about my AP students for a moment. They're just the best group of kids I've ever had the privilege to work with, and I'm particularly proud of the boy who transferred in halfway through the semester and has already surpassed most of his classmates in terms of writing ability. He's going to pass the big test in May, I can feel it.
4) My family:
5) Dancing!
This is unfortunately the best picture I have of Luke dancing. Anytime music comes on the radio (or from one of his toys) Luke dances by shaking his hips. It's simply adorable, and the fact that we have yet to catch it on camera is criminal.
6) January 20, 2009
Can't come soon enough, my friends.
Tuesday, December 09, 2008
Cause and Effect
So Luke decided today that he no longer hates green beans, in fact, he appears to love them so much that he's been saying "bean!" all evening.
Exhibit A:
Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's learned another word that, if nothing else, tells me that he's truly a boy. "Caca"
I won't get into Exhibit B because, well, no one wants to see that, but suffice it to say, he's using the word in the appropriate context.
Exhibit A:
Thus, it shouldn't come as a surprise that he's learned another word that, if nothing else, tells me that he's truly a boy. "Caca"
I won't get into Exhibit B because, well, no one wants to see that, but suffice it to say, he's using the word in the appropriate context.
Sunday, December 07, 2008
Language Explosion
I must say, it's one thing to read in all the baby and toddler books that at some point your child will suddenly start acquiring several new words a day, but it's another thing entirely to witness it. Since our vacation over Thanksgiving, Luke has learned more new words than I can count, and is coming up with new ones every time I turn around. There's no rhyme or reason to the ones he's learning (for example, "down" still eludes him, but "up" and "eyebrow" are current favorites) but tantrums are WAY down around here since he can communicate the basics of what he wants/needs most of the time.
I love this age, I really do.
I love this age, I really do.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Winner
I did it. I spent 30 days writing a novel and I finished it tonight, just hours before the deadline. Over 50,000 words (which translates to roughly 200 pages, give or take depending on spacing and font size) that, if nothing else, proved to me that not only could I start a novel, I could finish it. It's complete crap, of course, but with some major editing I think it could turn into something I'm really and truly proud of.
Now off to celebrate my achievement! Wine and peanut butter pretzels for everyone!
Monday, November 24, 2008
Just to be very clear about this
1993--C babysits by herself for the first time, the microwave explodes.
1997--C is left home alone over the weekend for the first time, gets in her one and only car accident.
1998--C is left home alone over the weekend for the second time, the car survives but she is evacuated by a SWAT team because the crazy neighbors started threatening one another with guns.
2005--C is left home (albeit only for the day--I debate lumping this story in with the others because Juan was just at the library studying) and the building across the street from the condo catches fire and burns almost to the ground.
2008--C is left home alone with Luke over two consecutive weekends and manages to not only have her car battery unexpectedly die in a Wal-Mart parking lot, BUT, almost loses three years worth of pictures, music, lessons, and OH YEAH THAT NANO THING when the baby dumps an entire cup of coffee all over her laptop.
Needless to say, I don't have a good track record when it comes to staying home by myself. Thankfully (for today, at least) the laptop started working again when it had been dried out and cleaned up a bit, and all the data I needed on it has now been backed up several different places just in case it's waiting until the next time I'm alone to off itself in a more permanent way.
1997--C is left home alone over the weekend for the first time, gets in her one and only car accident.
1998--C is left home alone over the weekend for the second time, the car survives but she is evacuated by a SWAT team because the crazy neighbors started threatening one another with guns.
2005--C is left home (albeit only for the day--I debate lumping this story in with the others because Juan was just at the library studying) and the building across the street from the condo catches fire and burns almost to the ground.
2008--C is left home alone with Luke over two consecutive weekends and manages to not only have her car battery unexpectedly die in a Wal-Mart parking lot, BUT, almost loses three years worth of pictures, music, lessons, and OH YEAH THAT NANO THING when the baby dumps an entire cup of coffee all over her laptop.
Needless to say, I don't have a good track record when it comes to staying home by myself. Thankfully (for today, at least) the laptop started working again when it had been dried out and cleaned up a bit, and all the data I needed on it has now been backed up several different places just in case it's waiting until the next time I'm alone to off itself in a more permanent way.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Sick Day--part eleven million
The only silver lining about being home solo this weekend with a sick and teething baby? The look of absolute joy on his face at dinner tonight when Daddy called to to talk to him. You'd have thought the room was exploding with puppies and balloons, he was so happy.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
NaNoWriMo Update
So far I'm doing fairly well with NaNoWriMo. I decided to write a murder mystery that's been kicking around my head for a few years now and it's coming along nicely. I've introduced my main characters, written far too much exposition, and just killed my first victim. Life is good. I'm also mostly keeping up with the 1667-words-a-day requirement to ensure that I make it to 50,000 words by November 30. Here's a cool widget from NaNoWriMo to show you how I'm doing--the green days are the ones where I made the daily goal, the red ones where I didn't.
So not perfect, but on track as of yesterday and today. Keep sending the writing vibes--they're working!
So not perfect, but on track as of yesterday and today. Keep sending the writing vibes--they're working!
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Yes we can!
I may be sick as a dog, hacking up a lung, and going on very little sleep after tossing and turning all last night thinking about the election today; but DAMN if I haven't done some jumping up and down tonight. Yes we CAN move this country in a more positive direction, yes we CAN let go of bitter partisan politics, yes we CAN break down the color barrier, and yes we CAN once again hold our heads up high in the world and be proud to call ourselves Americans.
Yes, we can.
Yes, we can.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Holy Crap, I'm Writing a Novel
In a burst of "Gee, C, you don't have enough on your plate right now, let's add something new" I signed up for NaNoWriMo, otherwise known as National Novel Writing Month. From November 1-30 I'll be attempting to write 1600+ words a day to make it to an eventual goal of 50,000 words and one completed book.
*gulp*
I'm also trying to get some of my more ambitious students involved by offering a full letter grade bump to anyone who manages to finish with 50,000 words. We'll see if anyone takes me up on the challenge.
So wish me luck! I'll post a few updates now and then about how it's going (hopefully well) and maybe an excerpt or two if it goes VERY well.
*gulp*
I'm also trying to get some of my more ambitious students involved by offering a full letter grade bump to anyone who manages to finish with 50,000 words. We'll see if anyone takes me up on the challenge.
So wish me luck! I'll post a few updates now and then about how it's going (hopefully well) and maybe an excerpt or two if it goes VERY well.
Monday, October 27, 2008
They put something in the water
Recently Luke decided he was completely and totally obsessed with Elmo. The child hasn't so much as seen an episode of Sesame Street (or Elmo's World) since he was last with our old nanny last spring, yet somehow he not only knows who Elmo is, but he LOVES him.
Juan and I were rather taken aback when Luke started screaming for his one Elmo doll (given to him by said nanny for Christmas last year and promptly ignored for the following 10 months) earlier this month. Where did he learn Elmo's name? We frankly couldn't figure it out since there isn't a TV in his daycare center and we have a fairly strict no TV rule when Luke is awake. They do read Elmo books once in awhile at daycare, but Luke reads a lot of books. He reads books about doggies, books about steam shovels named Mary Ann, books about pigs who sing, and yet none of these books have caused him to go around the house shouting character names at the top of his lungs. Ask him who he loves, though, and he'll be only too happy to tell you, "ELMO!"
I confess, there's part of me that really and truly dislikes this development. I don't want my toddler obsessed with branded characters. I want him to play with a variety of toys and remain blissfully unaware of the Elmo/Dora/Diego/whatever marketing machine until he's at least able to poop on the potty. Still, I can't help but smile at the look of pure joy on his face when he cuddles his Elmo dolls (yes, we bought him another one) because he just doesn't get that look on his face for anything else.
I swear to God, Sesame Street puts something in the water, because there's just no other way to explain how fascinated toddlers (particularly mine) are with Elmo.
Juan and I were rather taken aback when Luke started screaming for his one Elmo doll (given to him by said nanny for Christmas last year and promptly ignored for the following 10 months) earlier this month. Where did he learn Elmo's name? We frankly couldn't figure it out since there isn't a TV in his daycare center and we have a fairly strict no TV rule when Luke is awake. They do read Elmo books once in awhile at daycare, but Luke reads a lot of books. He reads books about doggies, books about steam shovels named Mary Ann, books about pigs who sing, and yet none of these books have caused him to go around the house shouting character names at the top of his lungs. Ask him who he loves, though, and he'll be only too happy to tell you, "ELMO!"
I confess, there's part of me that really and truly dislikes this development. I don't want my toddler obsessed with branded characters. I want him to play with a variety of toys and remain blissfully unaware of the Elmo/Dora/Diego/whatever marketing machine until he's at least able to poop on the potty. Still, I can't help but smile at the look of pure joy on his face when he cuddles his Elmo dolls (yes, we bought him another one) because he just doesn't get that look on his face for anything else.
I swear to God, Sesame Street puts something in the water, because there's just no other way to explain how fascinated toddlers (particularly mine) are with Elmo.
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
We're doing this again? Seriously?
Tonight we signed the papers to list our house for sale. Ugh.
Even though it's been three years, it still feels like we just did this and the thought of keeping the house spotlessly clean 24/7, having random realtors ring our bell at odd hours, and experiencing the frustration of showing after showing that doesn't result in an offer leaves me rather cold. I. Don't. Want. To. Sell. My. House.
It's not even that I'm resisting the move as much as I'm resisting all the crap we have to do in order to get to the place where we can move. Selling the house is really just the tip of the iceberg, and this listing means getting the ball rolling on things like quitting my job, finding a new one, renting a new house, etc...
Anyway, I'm once again soliciting good house selling thoughts. In this market, we're really going to need them.
Even though it's been three years, it still feels like we just did this and the thought of keeping the house spotlessly clean 24/7, having random realtors ring our bell at odd hours, and experiencing the frustration of showing after showing that doesn't result in an offer leaves me rather cold. I. Don't. Want. To. Sell. My. House.
It's not even that I'm resisting the move as much as I'm resisting all the crap we have to do in order to get to the place where we can move. Selling the house is really just the tip of the iceberg, and this listing means getting the ball rolling on things like quitting my job, finding a new one, renting a new house, etc...
Anyway, I'm once again soliciting good house selling thoughts. In this market, we're really going to need them.
Friday, October 03, 2008
C and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
1:00 AM: I wake up, WIDE AWAKE with a throbbing sinus headache
3:00 AM: Still awake
4:00 AM: Still awake
5:00 AM: Drift off
5:45 AM: Alarm rings, time to get up
6:00 AM: Luke starts crying, get him from his crib, somehow manage to smear poop all over one of my hands during diaper changing.
7:20 AM: Finally get out of the door, ridiculously late
7:30 AM: Drop Luke off at daycare, he screams bloody murder when I go to leave. Worst dropoff we've had in over a month, I feel horrible and worry that he's getting sick again.
8:10 AM: Finally get to work and find a line of students already forming outside my door because (of course) today is the last day for them to turn in late work before I have to hand in progress report grades.
8:20 AM: The first bell rings, I realize I forgot to put on deodorant and socks today.
8:55 AM: Finally get the students working independently so I can turn my attention to the piles of papers that have magically appeared on this, the last day to turn them in.
8:56 AM: My computer dies. Really dies. Blue Screen of Death Dies.
8:58 AM: IT says to bring it down but they aren't making any promises. Also, I can't have a loaner computer to finish my grading. Sorry.
9:00 AM: My headache returns with a vengeance.
9:15 AM: I call Juan (who's working nights and is thus home, sleeping) and beg him to bring my laptop from home to school so I can enter grades. He got no sleep the night before and doesn't think he's safe to drive. Dammit.
11:30 AM: I get my BFF to cover my study hall so I can leap in the car and race home to get the laptop
12:15 PM: Get halfway back to school with the computer before I realize I forgot the power cord on the kitchen counter. My battery can last around 30 minutes at this point without needing to be plugged in, so I've just made this trip for, essentially, nothing.
12:17 PM: My head really hurts
12:30 PM: Get back to campus, inhale some lunch, greet my next class
1:10 PM: My laptop, predictably, dies.
1:15 PM: A student asks if I'm okay. I seriously consider bursting into tears but decide against it.
2:00 PM: Dismiss my last class, run to the library (tailed by half a dozen students wanting help with late homework) to log onto one of their computers so I can finish grading. Also hoping for some leftover pot luck chocolate cake and/or Diet Coke to make myself feel better.
2:03 PM: No cake, no Coke. No librarian (who I love and wanted to vent to) since she left early. I should have left early today too.
4:00 PM: The final bell rings, I'm maybe a third of the way through my stacks of papers. Realize I'm going to have to come in over the weekend.
4:30 PM: Kick the last of my students out of the library, close up, head home.
4:35 PM: My head REALLY hurts.
5:00 PM: Get home. Luke screams and bursts into tears the second he sees me since he knows that Mama coming home = Daddy leaving soon.
5:20 PM: Luke stops tantruming.
5:23 PM: Juan gets up to leave, Luke starts crying again.
5:30 PM: My head--in case you were wondering--HURTS.
3:00 AM: Still awake
4:00 AM: Still awake
5:00 AM: Drift off
5:45 AM: Alarm rings, time to get up
6:00 AM: Luke starts crying, get him from his crib, somehow manage to smear poop all over one of my hands during diaper changing.
7:20 AM: Finally get out of the door, ridiculously late
7:30 AM: Drop Luke off at daycare, he screams bloody murder when I go to leave. Worst dropoff we've had in over a month, I feel horrible and worry that he's getting sick again.
8:10 AM: Finally get to work and find a line of students already forming outside my door because (of course) today is the last day for them to turn in late work before I have to hand in progress report grades.
8:20 AM: The first bell rings, I realize I forgot to put on deodorant and socks today.
8:55 AM: Finally get the students working independently so I can turn my attention to the piles of papers that have magically appeared on this, the last day to turn them in.
8:56 AM: My computer dies. Really dies. Blue Screen of Death Dies.
8:58 AM: IT says to bring it down but they aren't making any promises. Also, I can't have a loaner computer to finish my grading. Sorry.
9:00 AM: My headache returns with a vengeance.
9:15 AM: I call Juan (who's working nights and is thus home, sleeping) and beg him to bring my laptop from home to school so I can enter grades. He got no sleep the night before and doesn't think he's safe to drive. Dammit.
11:30 AM: I get my BFF to cover my study hall so I can leap in the car and race home to get the laptop
12:15 PM: Get halfway back to school with the computer before I realize I forgot the power cord on the kitchen counter. My battery can last around 30 minutes at this point without needing to be plugged in, so I've just made this trip for, essentially, nothing.
12:17 PM: My head really hurts
12:30 PM: Get back to campus, inhale some lunch, greet my next class
1:10 PM: My laptop, predictably, dies.
1:15 PM: A student asks if I'm okay. I seriously consider bursting into tears but decide against it.
2:00 PM: Dismiss my last class, run to the library (tailed by half a dozen students wanting help with late homework) to log onto one of their computers so I can finish grading. Also hoping for some leftover pot luck chocolate cake and/or Diet Coke to make myself feel better.
2:03 PM: No cake, no Coke. No librarian (who I love and wanted to vent to) since she left early. I should have left early today too.
4:00 PM: The final bell rings, I'm maybe a third of the way through my stacks of papers. Realize I'm going to have to come in over the weekend.
4:30 PM: Kick the last of my students out of the library, close up, head home.
4:35 PM: My head REALLY hurts.
5:00 PM: Get home. Luke screams and bursts into tears the second he sees me since he knows that Mama coming home = Daddy leaving soon.
5:20 PM: Luke stops tantruming.
5:23 PM: Juan gets up to leave, Luke starts crying again.
5:30 PM: My head--in case you were wondering--HURTS.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Six Random Things
M over at Toneybabies tagged me for a meme (and my husband kindly reminded me to actually write it) detailing six random things about myself. So, without further ado...
1) I love Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, but I will hunt down and kill anyone who reveals this fact to my students or coworkers. I have a certain amount of street cred to uphold as an English teacher, which means I live a literary double life on school days. Shhhh!
2) I will be very disappointed if my former classmates drop the ball and decide not to hold a 10 year high school reunion this summer. While I do keep in close touch with most of my good friends from high school there are a few people I've lost track of and I'd love to see them again. I'm also morbidly curious about how certain people I wasn't exactly fond of back then have turned out.
3) All of the artwork on my walls is from Target. That fact ought to embarrass me, but strangely enough it doesn't. That's how much I love Target.
4) We're planning to put our house on the market this week and (unsurprisingly) I'm pretty depressed about it.
5) Work drama is insane right now and one of the reasons I haven't been posting much is that I know I can't discuss it here. Suffice it to say, the first 5 weeks of my final year at this school have been more eventful than the last two years put together.
6) One of my worst housekeeping habits is that I leave my shoes EVERYWHERE. It's driven Juan crazy for years (generally because he tends to trip over them) but nothing has made me change my ways until now. See, lately Luke has declared himself the house shoe police, and anytime he finds a pair of my shoes lying around the living room/kitchen/TV room/any other room you can think of he picks them up and follows me around with them until I put them on. Thus, after repeatedly donning peep-toe pumps while wearing ratty sweats and ballet flats with my pajamas I've decided to be a grown up and put my shoes away in the closet every night.
1) I love Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series, but I will hunt down and kill anyone who reveals this fact to my students or coworkers. I have a certain amount of street cred to uphold as an English teacher, which means I live a literary double life on school days. Shhhh!
2) I will be very disappointed if my former classmates drop the ball and decide not to hold a 10 year high school reunion this summer. While I do keep in close touch with most of my good friends from high school there are a few people I've lost track of and I'd love to see them again. I'm also morbidly curious about how certain people I wasn't exactly fond of back then have turned out.
3) All of the artwork on my walls is from Target. That fact ought to embarrass me, but strangely enough it doesn't. That's how much I love Target.
4) We're planning to put our house on the market this week and (unsurprisingly) I'm pretty depressed about it.
5) Work drama is insane right now and one of the reasons I haven't been posting much is that I know I can't discuss it here. Suffice it to say, the first 5 weeks of my final year at this school have been more eventful than the last two years put together.
6) One of my worst housekeeping habits is that I leave my shoes EVERYWHERE. It's driven Juan crazy for years (generally because he tends to trip over them) but nothing has made me change my ways until now. See, lately Luke has declared himself the house shoe police, and anytime he finds a pair of my shoes lying around the living room/kitchen/TV room/any other room you can think of he picks them up and follows me around with them until I put them on. Thus, after repeatedly donning peep-toe pumps while wearing ratty sweats and ballet flats with my pajamas I've decided to be a grown up and put my shoes away in the closet every night.
Monday, September 08, 2008
Red letter day
Today was my weigh-in day for Weight Watchers and I honestly expected the worst. I slacked a bit on the old diet towards the end of the week (damn our school librarian and her tasty, tasty Friday pot luck luncheons!) and wouldn't have been surprised to see a weight gain. Instead? SIX POUNDS LOST. SIX.
*jaw drops*
I'm now down 20 lbs from the weight I was at when I started Weight Watchers back in July. I weigh two pounds less than I did when I got pregnant, just three pounds more than when I got married, and I'm only eight above from my high school (and target) weight. The capris I bought back in June (which were tight at the time) can now slide down while buttoned if I'm not wearing a belt. I can fit into work clothes I haven't even attempted to wear in four or five years.
Oh. My. God.
Watch out world, the new and improved C is on her way!
*jaw drops*
I'm now down 20 lbs from the weight I was at when I started Weight Watchers back in July. I weigh two pounds less than I did when I got pregnant, just three pounds more than when I got married, and I'm only eight above from my high school (and target) weight. The capris I bought back in June (which were tight at the time) can now slide down while buttoned if I'm not wearing a belt. I can fit into work clothes I haven't even attempted to wear in four or five years.
Oh. My. God.
Watch out world, the new and improved C is on her way!
Saturday, September 06, 2008
Hundreds of dollars worth of toys sitting in the living room
and all my child wants to play with are the half-empty cereal boxes we store on some open shelves in the kitchen.
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