Monday, September 24, 2007

Blessed

I know I know, it's been forever since I updated. I've been busy, and I'm most of what's going on I refuse to put out there in cyberspace, so yeah... my bad. :-)

Over the past couple of months I've started to feel really blessed. School is really great, and while I'm not seeing anyone seriously, I am realizing my life is really phenomenal. In fact, I'm pretty happy right now. I just want to take a few minutes to tell you why I'm blessed:

1. My sister, LaRae. She offered to come slap someone who made me cry (ok I know she really wouldn't but it was a nice thought!) and listened to me cry for half an hour on the phone the other day. That's love.

2. Katelyn and Joshua. What amazing little kiddos! Katelyn ran after me going into lunch the other day calling, "hey don't forget about me, little Katelyn" as she grabbed my hand to go to inside. Joshua fell asleep on my shoulder during the amazing singing at church yesterday. I might not have children of my own, but I have children I love dearly and who love me.

3. My bro-in-law, Randy. He always fields the weird calls from me: me crying (but not from being physically hurt) or me being locked out of my garage, and he always deals with it so nicely. Always willing to pick me up when the garage holds my car hostage or change a light bulb. Never had a brother until him, and I'm glad he's the one I got.

4. My parent. They listen to stories about school even when they are bored of them. They give me advice when I do and don't want it, and it's always good advice. They love me when I go insane, and they make me feel like I really can make it in life.

5. My job. It's great right now! Seriously, I'm not lying! I have a great group of kids, and I am ahead on my work most of the time. The stress levels are down, and I'm able to breath. 3rd year really is sooooo much better than the first two. Too bad the first couple of years tends to scare teachers away.

6. My friends. Work, church, website friends... they're all really cool. I can't tell you how many times I have leaned on my friends and they on me. I'm not going to name names but I love my friends and am so thankful for all of them.

7. Perspective. I think the past couple of months have marked a real change in my perspective on a lot of things, life in general included. I decided I could continue to go around looking to the negative side or I could be positive and enjoy life and what it throws at me. Granted I never want to be one of those fakely happy people (I know you've all got one you can think of right now), but I do want to truly have joy. I have been able to see the positive side of so many things lately -- even through tears, and for that I am truly grateful. It's like coming up for air when I've been drowning for so long. It changes the way my classroom feels and the way the kids respond to me. It changes my relationships. It changes how often I fall into my depression. Yes, I still have bad days, but it's so different now. If only others could see it...

8. SPRINKLES! How could I forget my baby? He's been so cuddly lately. I think he misses me while I'm at work. What a nice feeling to have someone love me and want to be with me no matter what.

So I could continue. I really could, but I've got stuff to do, so I won't. Just know my absence from my blog, from facebook, from online in general isn't because I'm stressed or unhappy or so busy I can't see straight, it's because I'm happy and I'm out enjoying life. Yes, I'm busy as I do so, but isn't that just wonderful? :-)

Monday, September 10, 2007

They're Coming!

Tonight's open house. I officially have about an hour until I have to entertain parents. I don't mind it. In fact, I really do enjoy open house -- all these lovely people coming to meet me. All these lovely people I'm making connections with so that when their kid stops doing his/her work, I have an ally. Goodness. Pure goodness. Well except for the garlic bread I ate a bit ago -- should have rethought that one....

Anyways, what a blog entry without hearing about the latest way my eye has decided to betray me? Today I noticed my vision was blurry in my right eye. That's a lie. I'm starting with a lie! I really noticed it about 2 weeks ago, but I kept taking out my contacts and washing them and trying to ignore it as I squinted through notes, so I could see the white board from the back of the room! But most recently I had my contacts out for about 4 days, and this morning I put a fresh pair in. Did NOT help. By lunch today I had a headache and was ready to scream. Finally found an eye doctor, waged war with the receptionist once I got there (she thought my blurry vision was bc my prescription changed.... nope), and got in to see a doctor. It's GPC. Allergy related gunk that will have my contacts out for a week (that's attractive, eh?) and drops in my eyes. Thankfully not Vigamox (bc we all know that burns like heck)! But drops and a follow up on Monday. My eyes hate me.

Know what else hates me? Technology. Seriously this smart board in my room is the bane of my existence right now, and in all honesty, it's really not that smart! Argh! I think my breaking point was this afternoon. It worked FINALLY this morning, and as I taught I could see the interference (which was the original issue) sort of creeping across the board until it totally took over and crashed my computer. Oh yeah CRASHED... in the middle of notes. Now you'd think the kids would take advantage of this interruption, but no I stopped all thoughts of chatting while I got the technology up by stomping my foot and literally screaming in frustration! That's right, I let out a good yell/growl and then laughed bc what else can you do??? It's now hanging by a few hooks -- ready to fall on me during my first class of parents I'm sure. That's how smart it is. It knows the best possible time to crash -- literally.

I better be off. Oh yeah the bad news from last post: Terry sold the comic book shop. So sad! Kris is staying on as manager, and the new guy, Neil, seems really nice, but it won't be the same. You could always tell it was a dream of Terry's to have this shop. The atmosphere was more fun with him in the shop. Granted he says he's now going to be around to actually buy comics, and he seems much happier now that it's sold. I know it's for his family and bc his other job is taking a lot of time... but it will always be "Terry's" to me. (Yes Paul, I stole that from you....)

Wish I had more of interest to say, but what is there to say when I'm spending 10 + hours at work daily??? I'm cutting back next week. I'm also going back to the gym next week. I'm getting all these papers and such under control finally. One more grant to write and I should be golden... for a while.

Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Death and The Office

OK what do you want to hear about first: my near-death experience last night or my thoughts on The Office? Death? OK, death it is.

I went over to Amanda and Roper's house for dinner last night (yummy by the way!) and on the way home it was dark and raining a bit. I was coming up 3040 from Flower Mound and was almost to the WalMart. That light right before WalMart (the one you turn left at to go on Business 121) has cars that turn right onto 3040 from it. Well one genius decided it would be silly to notice the person with their lights on going 45 in the right lane and turned out in front of me just as I was going through the light. I jerked the wheel to the left to avoid him, blared my horn, called out to God, and fishtailed into the middle and left lanes. Thankfully the people behind me were also paying attention, and they slowed to miss me. Needless to say, I was freaked out by the end of it. I could have died. That would not have been a pretty accident. The man who almost took me out was going way too fast to be making that right turn. I didn't see him slow at all. Thank God, literally, I am ok. That was one of the scariest almost accidents I've had in a long time.

On to more important things though, right? Last night at Amanda's John (a coworker) came over happily exclaiming that he had bought season 3 of The Office. Most of you know by now I don't watch that show, and I haven't really been interested in watching it. But to be polite and humor him and everyone else, I sat down to watch it. 5(?) episodes later I'm hooked! Soooo funny! Such good comic relief for some stuff going on in my life right now. How did I ignore Andrew and Beri all this time when they talked about how funny it is? Anyone have seasons 1 - 3 on DVD that I can borrow? I can't believe how much I laughed! By the end of the night, to much laughter, I ended up quoting one of the episodes. Now if only life at work could really be that funny....

Welp, it's time to put my nose back to the grindstone. (Isn't that the correct phrase?) My mind is split right now btwn work and elsewhere, so it's taking me longer to get some tasks done at school. I put in an 11 hour day yesterday, and today's shaping up to be a 10.5 hour one most likely. I've got to get my head back in this.`

Sunday, September 02, 2007

WAIT! Did my summer just end?!

Seriously, I've been a bit shell-shocked that my summer is over. It's not that I'm not in the swing of things again at school. It's more that I'm back in the swing of things at school, and I've made the transition shockingly well! School is going great! A+ group of kiddos to work with. First test starts on Tuesday, so we've been FLYING through material. Between all the new technology in my classroom (more is coming!), family being in town starting last Wednesday night, and the curriculum moving so fast, I haven't had a spare moment to sit down much less to write a blog entry. Things are good.

One thing is not so good, but it's not my announcement to make, so I'll address it sometime after Wednesday. Yes Paul, it has to do with comics. No Paul, not telling until we get comics on Wednesday.

Love life is slowing down (not by choice - per usual), and sleep deprivation is starting to kick in. The naps in the afternoon are helping though. Granted that means all I do is sleep, work, and eat. Not the life I love. Things are good though.

Mom, Dad, and Nana are in town. I bought curtains for my living room and bedroom at IKEA tonight, so we'll be hanging those tomorrow. I also picked out my Christmas present -- a headboard and footboard for my bed. Now if December can only get here. lol. I heart IKEA. Things are good.

Hm...what else is going on? Nothing really. I'm trying to be braver, stronger, more spiritual, more forgiving, less worrisome, less bothered. I'm trying to be better... to be good. Yep, things are good. Gonna go bask in the goodness now.