It's the strangest thing. This is officially my 3rd summer vacation since I've been teaching, but somehow, it feels like my very first.
I feel incredibly excited and burden free, and oddly that feeling seems very new to me.
I can't really figure out why? My only real explanation is that 1) This is the first summer vacation where Mike hasn't been either deployed the entire summer or about to deploy. He's here, and as far as I can tell, he's here to stay.
And
2) This is the first summer that I don't have plans right off the bat. Last year I had a conference the very first Monday after school let out, then I took a 3 week long trip filled with visiting family, then came back to SD only to have Mike deploy soon thereafter.
This year, I have no real plans for 3 whole weeks. I'm so excited, I don't even really know what to do with myself. I actually felt a little bit guilty for being lazy this weekend, but then I realized that I had nothing to feel guilty about. I have the entire week to catch up on laundry, house cleaning, grocery shopping, etc. etc. etc.
This week my plans are as follows: (in no particular order)
1. Relax by the pool with a good book
2. Do some laundry
3. Meet friends for lunch
4. Clean up the house a bit
5. Watch some daytime talk shows (a first in I don't even know how long!)
6. Go into school and tie up my loose ends there (at my leisure!)
7. Get back on a regular exercise schedule
8. Take my dogs on walks
9. Sleep In
10. Make a stop at my very favorite store in the entire world - TARGET!
And that about sums things up for me. It is really my dream week, and rather than the typical dread I normally feel on a Sunday night, I am so very excited to wake up on Monday morning and officially begin my week.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Lessons in Cleaning
This morning when Mike's alarm went off at 5:00 am, I decided to get up to make a quick stop in the restroom.
The lights were off, and I was still very groggy. A suitcase that I had yet to put back in its place after 8th Grade Camp jumped into my path to the bathroom, however, and before I knew it I was flat on my back on the floor.
It was quite a shock.
Luckily, however, the suitcase wasn't the only thing I had failed to put away. There was also a pile of clean laundry on the floor and thank God for that because it broke my fall.
The lesson in this is that you should make sure to clean up after yourself. But if you don't clean up after yourself make sure to leave lots of laundry on the floor in case you might need it to break your fall and prevent serious injury.
Lesson learned.
p.s.
In other news, today was the last day of school. Thank you God. This was one hell of a school year. Oh My Lanta was it ever.
The lights were off, and I was still very groggy. A suitcase that I had yet to put back in its place after 8th Grade Camp jumped into my path to the bathroom, however, and before I knew it I was flat on my back on the floor.
It was quite a shock.
Luckily, however, the suitcase wasn't the only thing I had failed to put away. There was also a pile of clean laundry on the floor and thank God for that because it broke my fall.
The lesson in this is that you should make sure to clean up after yourself. But if you don't clean up after yourself make sure to leave lots of laundry on the floor in case you might need it to break your fall and prevent serious injury.
Lesson learned.
p.s.
In other news, today was the last day of school. Thank you God. This was one hell of a school year. Oh My Lanta was it ever.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Peace Out 2009 School Year
I really wonder why I ended up working where I work.
It is seriously the craziest place on the planet. I just cannot wrap my mind around the oddities of this place. It is a total and complete disaster.
Mentally, I am so done with that place.
Today on our 2nd to last day of school we had a staff meeting that lasted 3.5 hours in which we planned the calendar for next school year all the way until June. I was so delirious that I just sat in the back and cracked jokes with my comrades that we might as well go ahead and plan until the year 2020. I mean, seriously. Can't plans for next year be made NEXT YEAR? Nobody wants to sit there and talk about June 2010 when all we can think about is June 2009.
Beyond that, we had a teacher walk out of the meeting crying because she didn't get a contract for next year and another teacher refuse to sign her contract because she doesn't want to teach the grades the principal has assigned her to. Of course, the reason why people were making such scenes is because instead of giving us our contracts privately or possibly even discussing the terms of them with us individually she chose just to hand them out in a meeting with everyone present. I think she was worried about damage control. She didn't want a scene. Well, she had a scene, but I suppose it was more controlled than it would have been had she had the respect to discuss these matters with these people in private as she should have done.....
I took a $2000 pay decrease (we all got a 5% deduction this year due to our financial dire straits), so the fact that I only lost 2000 a year just goes to show that I was making peas and carrots to begin with. It's the teachers who have been around for 20 years who are feeling the pain on that one. Me? I'm actually still making 4000 more than when I started working there 3 years ago, so I figure I'm sitting pretty.
I just want to be done with this school year. I am so mentally checked out that it is not even remotely humorous. At 12:00 pm tomorrow all I will be able to comprehend will be the sound of cheering in my head when school will be officially declared OVER for the year.
All I have to say to this school year is hasta las vista and don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.
Fin.
It is seriously the craziest place on the planet. I just cannot wrap my mind around the oddities of this place. It is a total and complete disaster.
Mentally, I am so done with that place.
Today on our 2nd to last day of school we had a staff meeting that lasted 3.5 hours in which we planned the calendar for next school year all the way until June. I was so delirious that I just sat in the back and cracked jokes with my comrades that we might as well go ahead and plan until the year 2020. I mean, seriously. Can't plans for next year be made NEXT YEAR? Nobody wants to sit there and talk about June 2010 when all we can think about is June 2009.
Beyond that, we had a teacher walk out of the meeting crying because she didn't get a contract for next year and another teacher refuse to sign her contract because she doesn't want to teach the grades the principal has assigned her to. Of course, the reason why people were making such scenes is because instead of giving us our contracts privately or possibly even discussing the terms of them with us individually she chose just to hand them out in a meeting with everyone present. I think she was worried about damage control. She didn't want a scene. Well, she had a scene, but I suppose it was more controlled than it would have been had she had the respect to discuss these matters with these people in private as she should have done.....
I took a $2000 pay decrease (we all got a 5% deduction this year due to our financial dire straits), so the fact that I only lost 2000 a year just goes to show that I was making peas and carrots to begin with. It's the teachers who have been around for 20 years who are feeling the pain on that one. Me? I'm actually still making 4000 more than when I started working there 3 years ago, so I figure I'm sitting pretty.
I just want to be done with this school year. I am so mentally checked out that it is not even remotely humorous. At 12:00 pm tomorrow all I will be able to comprehend will be the sound of cheering in my head when school will be officially declared OVER for the year.
All I have to say to this school year is hasta las vista and don't let the door hit you on the ass on your way out.
Fin.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Love This
I generally despise forwards, but I received this in my inbox the other day and have read it several times since. I absolutely LOVE it. My favorites are #'s
13,26, 29, & 40
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful..
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
13,26, 29, & 40
Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written."
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful..
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's,we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come.
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
Monday, June 8, 2009
Freedom
I have four more days until the school year is officially OVER.
And, seriously, it cannot be over soon enough for me.
I can almost taste my freedom... almost.
And, seriously, it cannot be over soon enough for me.
I can almost taste my freedom... almost.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
The Future?
The thing about the military is that at any given moment the only thing you can really be certain of is the present.
For example, I currently live in Southern California. That's all I really know for sure. I don't know if I will be living in Southern California a month from now. Or a year from now.
I also currently know that my husband is HOME. But, I really have no idea how long he'll be around.
Those kinds of decisions are not mine to make, which in some ways is a bit of a relief. Every now and then it feels pretty good having someone else make the decisions for you. At least, that's what I try to tell myself.
Mike returned from his 2nd deployment in February. And, though nothing is certain, all signs seem to be pointing to a return to Iraq this coming February.
You'd think I'd be all torn up about this. I suppose I should be, but the truth of the matter is that there's really no point in getting worked up over these things. Especially because it's not certain. Especially because whether I get upset and have a temper tantrum or not, if the Marine Corps says he's going to go, he's going to go. Simple as that.
So, I just go with the flow.
This possible deployment is throwing a big wrench into all of my baby making plans. But, I suppose I have to remember that phrase, "best laid plans" (not sure how it ends, but I get the gist of it) and realize that no matter how much I plan for perfect timing of these things... in the end things will happen how they're meant to happen.
What does the future hold for us? Only time will tell.
For example, I currently live in Southern California. That's all I really know for sure. I don't know if I will be living in Southern California a month from now. Or a year from now.
I also currently know that my husband is HOME. But, I really have no idea how long he'll be around.
Those kinds of decisions are not mine to make, which in some ways is a bit of a relief. Every now and then it feels pretty good having someone else make the decisions for you. At least, that's what I try to tell myself.
Mike returned from his 2nd deployment in February. And, though nothing is certain, all signs seem to be pointing to a return to Iraq this coming February.
You'd think I'd be all torn up about this. I suppose I should be, but the truth of the matter is that there's really no point in getting worked up over these things. Especially because it's not certain. Especially because whether I get upset and have a temper tantrum or not, if the Marine Corps says he's going to go, he's going to go. Simple as that.
So, I just go with the flow.
This possible deployment is throwing a big wrench into all of my baby making plans. But, I suppose I have to remember that phrase, "best laid plans" (not sure how it ends, but I get the gist of it) and realize that no matter how much I plan for perfect timing of these things... in the end things will happen how they're meant to happen.
What does the future hold for us? Only time will tell.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Filipino Food
It's a fact. I've done my fair share of complaining about my school. More days than not, I leave work feeling more defeated than victorious, mostly because of the people I work with, NOT because of the students.
But, I'm here before you today to let you know that there is at least one very incredible thing about that place.
The food.
It's been said that the key to a man's heart is through his stomach. I'm not a man, but Lately, I've begun to think that maybe the reason I've stuck around for so long at a school that clearly makes me miserable is because they feed me so darn well.
Seriously.
They feed me all the time. The parents feed me. The principal feeds me. The other teachers feed me. It seems that every time I turn around there is another meal being provided for the teachers. And it is GREAT.
They don't just feed us any food... they feed us some of the greatest food in the world... Filipino food. I'm pretty sure I know why God brought me to this school; because, if I had never worked here, I would never have learned about food like
1) lumpia
2) pancit
3)Filipino spaghetti
AND
4) salt and pepper chicken wings
I'm getting hungry just thinking about this food. mmm mmm good! My recommendation to you is to find your closest filipino restaurant and try this food stat!
Disclaimer #1: By posting recipes I am in no way saying these specific recipes are good. I posted the recipes simply to give you an idea of what these foods are all about.
Disclaimer #2: I said these foods were good. I did not say they were healthy.
But, I'm here before you today to let you know that there is at least one very incredible thing about that place.
The food.
It's been said that the key to a man's heart is through his stomach. I'm not a man, but Lately, I've begun to think that maybe the reason I've stuck around for so long at a school that clearly makes me miserable is because they feed me so darn well.
Seriously.
They feed me all the time. The parents feed me. The principal feeds me. The other teachers feed me. It seems that every time I turn around there is another meal being provided for the teachers. And it is GREAT.
They don't just feed us any food... they feed us some of the greatest food in the world... Filipino food. I'm pretty sure I know why God brought me to this school; because, if I had never worked here, I would never have learned about food like
1) lumpia
2) pancit
3)Filipino spaghetti
AND
4) salt and pepper chicken wings
I'm getting hungry just thinking about this food. mmm mmm good! My recommendation to you is to find your closest filipino restaurant and try this food stat!
Disclaimer #1: By posting recipes I am in no way saying these specific recipes are good. I posted the recipes simply to give you an idea of what these foods are all about.
Disclaimer #2: I said these foods were good. I did not say they were healthy.
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