The Start of a Brand New Year

I know what you are thinking– its September, not New Years.  But to me, its NEW YEARS, because we are back in school.

Its much nicer time to have new years, because the weather is nicer.  In Crappy wet January– who wants to start new routines and try new resolutions.  But this time of year, when the temperature and the leaves are changing– its nice to change too.

My goals are to be more organized at school– never super clean, but more on the ball!!! 

I will go to bed earlier.  I have realized “What am I staying up for????”  When I’m tired–I will go to bed, even if its 8:30

I will try to do everything with joy.  Even if its dishes, homework or rehearsal.  I am so lucky to have a job, home, family and friends that I can’t let the mundane details of life weigh me down. 

I will write more.  Its a nice quiet time to centre yourself and find some peace.  Also I can hear my own “inner Wisdom” more, when I stop talking   (Imagine that!!!)

I will stop hurting myself.  (now I’m not cutting or a drug addict or anything) But I do eat crappy, I don’t always wear sunscreen or moisturizer, I don’t exercise.  So I will begin to treat myself better.  Because if I don’t do it???? Who will???????

Things that I would rather be doing……

Right now, I am trying to get my class to clean up after an explosive art project  (Surrealism!!!!  It’s not just for crazy spanish guys anymore!!!!!)

With  less than a week until March Break, I am thinking of a number of things I would rather do than be here at work….

• Be at the Gulf of Mexico (Tampa Bay area).  I know that there might be beaches that you like better, but I love the Gulf around St. Pete’s Beach. It was our “cottage” for so many years and I just love the sound of the water, and the feel of the breeze on my face.  I love the sand, and will not let the van be vacuumed out during the winter.  Just thinking about sunset on the beach helps my heart-rate to go down.
• I would rather be at my mom’s kitchen table.  Having a cup of tea with her (usually while she is busy getting a yummy dinner ready) is the greatest!!!!  It’s like being a little kid, and having a best friend who knows you so well all at the same time.
• I would rather be sleeping outside. (not today in the mud of course) but on a very warm early summer day.  Sleeping on a blanket, in the park, under a tree is AMAZING!!!  The fresh air, the sounds of the people and birds.  The rustle of the leaves in the trees–all great.  (Camping–not good, naps–great!!!)
• I would rather be in Walt Disney World.  Of course–if you know me, you know that WDW will come up sooner or later.  Today, I would like to be sitting on the TTA –riding around Tomorrowland, or on Soarin’ or sitting across from the bathrooms near Norway (in Epcot) just people watching and waiting (with my schoolbread) for Illuminations to start.
• I would rather be at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.  That place ROCKS!!!!  And last March Break, we only got to see about a third of it.    It is so amazing.  If I lived in Ottawa, I would buy a membership to the museum.
• I would rather be doing anything silly with Megan. She has a laugh that is infectious.  You can’t help but be in a good mood when she wants you too!!!  Perhaps grocery shopping with Megan and JL??????
• I would love to be at Canelli’s with Violaine and Matt.  Good food, great friends!!!!
• I would like to be at the dentist IF, (and only if) they would rock the chair back, turn up the happy gas, and leave me alone for half an hour!!!!

So, there are a couple of ideas I had, which would be better than being at school.  I love my job, and my kids are a really great group, but I would like to be so many other places!!!!!!  Take me away!!!!!!

A beautiful Day

Its supposed to be a wonderful day and a great weekend.  I can’t decide what to do with myself!!!  I want to go outside!  We have a 10K walk coming up (not that its a marathon–but anything that will get us moving!) to raise money for MS research, and we need to “train”.  If my godsons can do the walk without crying, I sure want to!

We also have friends over for dinner tonight.  So I need to find enough tableroom for everybody.  Its so nice to be busy with friends and plans and a wonderful day ahead!!!!

Gotta run….blog later!!!!!

A feeling of Winter

Winter is coming,

you can feel it in the air.

The days are dark so much earlier, and the cold weather makes you catch your breath first thing in the morning.

I hate winter.

Its cold, and dark and I HATE HATE HATE snow  (its pretty, but its wet and dangerous to drive in, and not fun to shovel, and it makes the kids at work smell like wet dogs).  Snow and I have an understanding–we don’t get along. I hate the isolating feeling of going to work in the dark and coming home in the dark.  They layers of clothes and the steamed up glasses.  The ice and freezing rain, the mess and the yuck.  I don’t ski, snowshoe or toboggon.  I hate skating and have never even petted a Husky dog–certainly not dog-sledded.  (I’ve never been on a snowmobile–but that I would try, but maybe just once— but I will then complain about being cold and wet.)

Winter sucks.  AND its coming our way!!!!!

Please stay away just a little longer, please don’t take the sun away from me, and make me bundle up.  Please let me have summer back for just one more day before I have to face the cold, dark truth of winter.

Its so hot!!!!

I have a river of sweat down my back.  The students know its the last couple of days of the year and they have turned to puddles of mush.

I am very lucky because I am not moving schools or moving classrooms, but still I have a lot of crap to dig through.  Its hard to get rid of anything (because  you MIGHT need it), but how many strawberry baskets or egg cartons can you keep????  I know if I throw it out, I will be looking for it in September.  Plus its stuff I bought at the Dollar Store or mom bought, and I hate wasting money.

Well, most of their desks are cleaned out.  (But I pull the unused paper from the middle of the notebooks to save for scrap next year—- I hate knowing that they are going to throw away good, clean paper.)  I have the walls cleaned off and most of the shelves organized. 

But there is still so much to do (like the top of my desk and the file cabinet)  and the heat in the upstairs is making me feel sick.  Blahhhhhhhhhhh

Thank God for Sunburns

I am lucky to have a sunburn. 

Despite the fact that it made me feel sick all last night, and this morning, I’m still happy that I have it.

Because a sunburn means so many good things:

A sunburn means the weather was amazing.  I hate snow, so hot weather always makes me happy.  Hot, sunny, hazy, humid days are the best feeling in the world.  They mean no school, no responsibilities, nothing to do and no where to go.  Summer days are wonderful.

A sunburn means I was outside.  This is a big deal for me.  I am a lazy person, and the couch and the TV are some of my closest friends. (Sad, but true).  Having a sunburn means that I was doing something active, outside, and probably either very needed (like gardening) or something very fun (like being at the beach, WDW, etc)

A sunburn means, I have a body that is strong and healthy.  Weeding the rose garden is not my favourite activity, but I am using the gifts and talents that I was given to make the world a better place.  And for that, I am eternally grateful.  Sure, my body isn’t in the BEST shape, but I am glad that I have the mobility and dexterity to be in the backyard.  So many people can’t physically do what I did yesterday.

A sunburn means, I was in a place that I feel safe, and that I had lots to do.  Phillip and I did work outside and then we got out the golf clubs and started to teach me how to play.  I have a beautiful home and yard, and an amazing husband to spend time with.  A sunburn is definately worth having all those things.

And yes, I know I shouldn’t HAVE a sunburn in the first place, I should be lucky  and thankful for SPF 40 and hats with brims.  But the sun on my skin grounds me in the here and now like no other feeling.  The warmth holds me and makes me feel alive. I love it, I long for it, but……… I need to be careful. 

I will enjoy my life, and the blessings I have, taking more care of my skin!!!!  Promise!

Why doesn’t it feel like June?

It can’t be June!  Because June is a lovely month, the sun shines, and everything is green and lush.  Even when it rains, the air is warm with humidity and you can almost feel summer’s abundance about to pop open for you!  Veggies are growing, gardens begin to fill–its a wonderful time of awakening, growth and life.

Not today, here on the first day of the amazing month of June, it is COLD–I want to be in sandals, but my toes are getting frostbite.  The sky is not only overcast, but it has that grey look like it does before a snowstorm.  I can’t take it.

At school, we are supposed to be hot and miserable and unable to work because the heat is making us think of long, lazy summer days.  Instead I have a class in sweatshirts, who don’t want to work because the cold is making them angry instead of leisurely-magnolia-blossom-fan-yourself-hot.

Come on warmth, I need you to recharge my spirit. I have endured the death of winter, and the wet, chill of spring with an understanding, a promise of summer’s renewing heat.   The rich, full experience of sun on my skin, and a warm breeze in the air.  We have an agreement, and you are letting me down!!!!  Come on warmth, come my way!

a little taste of summer

The weather has such a crazy effect on the students.

It seems that all the rules have changed because its sunny and warm.  They no longer need to follow the rules (don’t climb the hill, don’t hit people and don’t go in the big yard).  Their brains turned into turtles today, just because the temperature was above 20 degrees.  Slow pokey and green!!!!

We have a long way to go until June, and many more (G0d-willing) hot days.  But upstairs in a non air-conditioned school, it does get pretty bad!!!

On my two outdoor yard duties today, I must admit, my brain went into a heat induced moment of ahhhhhhhhh too.  It felt like summer.  And I love summer.  The heat, the sun, the lack of school!!!!  What could be better!!!

Hopefully, they will have their brains back by tomorrow!