Options

When I moved back home, it was rough going for awhile. I was stressed out, I lost hair, my eye lashes thinned. Mom was on me to find a job (like I’m not looking?!). She told me to meet her at a bubble tea place one afternoon. She put on her HR hat and told me to tell her anything I thought of to do for a job (or not a job). I sat there and cried some, hated doing it. Nothing sounded right. I really wanted to stay in Austin. I was pretty sure I wanted to work with kids. She told me not to filter anything and let ideas flow out.

I came across that list. I really wish there were a date on it. Here are some of the items on the list (it was titled “Options.”):

1. Don’t do anything and cry.
4. Apply for teaching jobs outside Austin.
5. Holden Village
6. Peace Corps or Americorps
7. Go back to school.
8. Go to other states for teaching jobs.
9. Anything to stay in Austin and continue to look.
11. Sell cars (no, really…that’s on the list!)
12. Crochet and sell at City Wide Garage Sale (must have been pre-etsy.)
21. Volunteer at schools.
23. Write a book
25. Go to Taize, France
28. Really pursue temp work

Some of the 32 were mine, some were from prodding from mom. Some were probably mom’s ideas. Also must have been before I really got going on the temp work that I ended up doing for a few months.

It’s amazing how things have progressed since then. My hair isn’t fallling out, I live alone, I have a job I love. I’m going on a massive cleaning haul (with a break to blog) and throwing stuff out (I actually uttered out loud “No one will know if I throw that away.” [sorry, mom]). I think I’ll keep this list, though.

I guess it’s the same no matter what

The other day I was behind a school bus.  We were at a stop, and I saw an older kid (high school age) get off. He was kinda laughing and looking into the bus. When he got towards the back, he was flipping someone else off, in that joking way we do.

I thought, well, isn’t that nice?

As I passed the bus, I noticed where the bus was from—

The School for the Deaf.

New energy

I woke up this morning very tired. That alarm sure was early. Oh, how I love the “snooze” button. i think I hit it twice. That’s eighteen extra minutes of sleep. Somehow it seems that those snooze minutes are so deep.

Last week we had staff development at school. All we did was “sit and get,” with a few group activities and few minutes here and there to have on our own. We did have Thursday and Friday to ourselves, though.  Anyway, the half week (two weeks ago) and last week, I was so freaking tired. Like couldn’t keep my eyes open tired. Like chewing gum, drinking cokes, sipping water, whatever to stay awake. I slept in later than I have the past two days.

The past two days (and the rest of my days for 9 months to come), I’ve gotten up super early. But I have a new energy. There’s a new energy of having the kids there. Even the two days I had to work on whatever I needed to work on (I really am a slacker…) seemed to drag on. And on.

But having the kids there (at least for now!) reminds me of the energy that’s there. They’re still cute. Still innocent. Still lost.

The 6th graders aren’t used to changing classes. They’re so freaked out. It’s a little bit cute.

I loved, loved, loved my summer. I did everything and I did nothing. And I claimed I didn’t want to go back. But I guess I’m glad to be back. To be doing something. To be earning those hard-earned dollars.  Course I can’t wait for the 3 day weekend, but still. It is nice to have a purpose.

Unfortunately, now I have to shop when everyone else does.

Colors

I’ve been doing better with the eating. Not great, but better. I promised I’d do better once the kids came back. And so far, I’ve done pretty well. Kinda. Haven’t had any beer or lots of fried foods yet.

“They” say you should eat veggies/fruits from each color of the rainbow.

Let’s see where I am today:

Red: tomatoes
Orange: Nothing
Yellow: banana, pineapple (twice), bits of squash (not very much)
Green: Okras, peas (not green ones…special ones from my CSA)
Blue: none
Indigo: None
Violet: Some of the okra

White: bits of onion, garlic

That’s pretty good, I suppose. Not tons of each, but enough. For now. Could be better, but it’s a start.

How’d you do today with colors of veggies/fruits?

Blech

As I’ve noted, I’ve gained weight this summer. No, not a lot, but enough that I need some new clothes. Just a few things to get me through the first weeks of school feeling nice. I’m hoping to find all I need in one fell swoop. I’m going to go to JC Penney’s in a bit (HECK NO to the mall!). Course I still need to shower. And I need to go soon since I’ve got stuff to do later on.  But the couch and pj’s and interwebs is so much more fun.

But the thought of going shopping? Blech. And, yes, I do need clothes. I want to look (and thus feel) good for meeting the childrens.  And we need “professional dress.” A few skirts and pants or some-such.

I went to JC Penney’s this summer for a wedding dress (no, not MY wedding dress). One of the dresses I got didn’t have a price tag on it, and I think she sold it to me cheaper than it was supposed to be. And the dresses I did look at were pretty inexpensive.

That’s all I’m asking for, people. Nice and inexpensive.

And to the gods of shopping, please let the crowds be thin and patient.

On coffee

I’m a coffee drinker. There’s no shame in my game. I’m a coffee drinker, and a snobby one at that.

I have an espresso machine and I make myself a latte every single morning. For one, it’s very easy to make it “for one,” rather than a whole pot; second, I use half a cup of milk, so I get half of one of my milks in; third, well, it’s just delicious.

I make it to take to school, and it’s just coffee. It’s just a means to an end. There’s the occasional really good cup, but not always. It’s more of a wake up sort of thing.

I make it on the weekends, and it’s usually good. Sometimes I get more foam than other times. Sometimes it’s much better than others. Well, today is one of those days. One of those perfect cup, perfect foam, pefect cinnamon days. And it’s just those little things that make me happy.

Freaks of Nature

Talked to Dad today. I talked a bit about being tired, but felt more rested today because I wasn’t sitting the whole day. He said he was tired, but becuase he and Cindy stay up watching Olympics.  They really get into the massive sporting events. They DVR the Tour de France. They watch all of the Olympics.

I’ve been watching the Olympics. Some. Not religiously, but some. I enjoy watching them when I’m home. I’ve watched them much more this year than any other year. (And to acknowledge another blogger, YES! I do remember when the winter and summer Olympics were held in the same year!).

I watch the Olympics because I’m fascinated by the athletes. I truly believe they are freaks of nature. They bend in ways that most people can’t. (Yes, I understand that’s why they are, but generally speaking…) They jump off huge CONCRETE platforms and flip around a bunch of times and then land in water, barely splashing. (“yeah, don’t they ever belly flop?!” dad asks.)

They run faster than fast. As I type this, they just showed (and re-played and re-played) the Cuban running hurdles. Unbelievable. Did you see that? Didn’t even look human. And he was way ahead of the others.  And hardly seemed to struggle.

Those girls that run and jump and flip on a hard surface (not the trampoline)? The gymnasts? Amazing. Even the swimmers (yeah, yeah, Michael Phelps. I know)–they were almost all ahead of the current world record. I mean, not just one or two people, but almost all of the races had swimmers ahead of that green line.

Heck, I’m even getting into watching beach volleyball. Men’s and Women’s. Badmitton? Sure!  Indoor volleyball, motercross, little dives, big dives. I’ll watch any of it.

All of it. It’s just amazing to me. Seriously. Like freaks of nature. They do things that a human should not be able to do. It’s a bit of jealousy. Well, no, not really, not that much. It’s more awe than anything.  Just that sense of, “I can’t believe he just ran that in that short of time.” “I can’t believe she just fliped 18 times on those uneven bars.”

I have to admit, I’ll kinda miss having them on. Not that I DVR them, not that I just HAVE to watch them, but it sure is fun to watch them when I can. Even if it means going to bed later than I should.

Maybe we need more desks??

Someone wrote an email to the whole staff today that said something to the effect of “I need 6 more desks…share if you have them.”

Shortly thereafter, someone else said she needed 5 desks.

Then another from someone who needed 6 desks.

Later on, another from someone who needs about 10.

Apparently, some of these people were told that “there are no desks” … that they won’t have desks. Really? Really?!! Is this for real?  I mean, we knew there’d be 200 or so bodies more than last year (and the year before that and the year before that and so on….). You think maybe, maybe on our budget list we could put desks? And even some chairs?

How is it that there are not enough desks on campus?  Are we not “ordering” more?  We’re expected to be “effective,” but how is this possible if there are not enough places for the children to sit? The rooms will be crowded. That’s fine. But apparently we’ve figured out the room situation. So how is it that we haven’t figured out the “desk situation” ??

Crafty

I finally totally finished my socks. I blocked them and everything.

I’m pretty proud.

MY socks!!

Of course *I* know a few mistakes, but whatever. … they’re pretty good for my first attempt. I was scared of the double-pointed needles (that’s DPN, for those in the know), but I’m not as intimidated by them now.

I’m really hoping that I get to continue to make stuff. Maybe I’ll even make stuff for other people! (It’s hard to make stuff for others, though, when they may not realize the labor that goes into it. … In fact, “Stitch n Bitch” says not to make things for a significant other (non-spouse) because that pretty much assures you’ll break up… Murphey’s Law and all).

Anyway, as I was saying. I really want someone else to make stuff for. Even if I have to wait a while. It’ll give me time to practice and such.

My workout today

I take my own bags when I shop. Be it the grocery store, Target, Lowe’s, whatever. i mean, assuming I remember. I usually try to have some in my car at all times.

If I only need “a few” things, I’ll put the stuff in my bag and not even get a cart. I guess this also helps me not get so much stuff.  I unload on the conveyor belt and hand the checker my empty bag.

Today I didn’t get so much stuff at Target. But, damn, it was heavy.

I’ve been wanting to get some 5-pound weights (see where this is going?) and decided I’d look today. There’s a new place called Sports Authority near here. I think it opens today. I’d rather NOT be at a grand opening today. And besides, I have a time limit today.

So I saw the weights and decided to look at them. Found some cute (yes, cute) red ones and stuck them in my bag. Yup. It’s heavy.

Shampoo and conditioner and body wash and eye liner AND 10 extra pounds adds up. My shoulders are a bit sore. Both of them. From switching back and forth. And, although there were a lot of people there (not a ton, but a lot), I had it in me to shop more. But I didn’t have it in me to go to the front to get a cart to push around. So I headed to the check-out.  I think I started to sweat.

The checker told me the bag was heavy. I said, “yeah, I got the weights too early.”

For real. My shoulder work-out for the day is done.

Oh, and I got a cute $5 Halloween (yes!! Halloween!! I couldn’t believe it, either!) shirt, too!