Reminder

Write about:

-house-hunting and what we want in a house
-hair mishaps
-missing college/first students
-atmosphere changes from then to now
-old house/neighborhood and what it gave me as a child

Ah, Monday

It sure does make my Monday when I come home to chewed up feminine products all over my dining  room floor. Sadie found them while anxiously awaiting J and I's return from work. Oh boy, Monday :)

Ah, the season changes...

Ack! I have so many things to write about (ridiculous articles I've been reading about marriage, ditto about teaching), but I'm just going to say a couple of things, since I really should be getting ready for the dreaded Monday.

Starting this week, J will be gone every Tuesday and Thursday because he is starting a job as an assistant coach. This is super cool for him, but as a somewhat needy newlywed, it's going to make for some quiet evenings. I only say this because after the month of October, he will be gone every night through about February until at least 7:45 p.m. On game/match nights, he will be gone who knows how long.

So, I will take the positives out of this situation. First of all, he gets paid, and it will pay off most of our loan from one of the banks that we had to take out. Also, it will allow me to have quiet me-time every evening. I can hang out with puppy, take walks, have coffee with mom, hang out at the 'rents, etc. Once the end of November hits, I can spend much time with the new niece and her momma (the best friend).

I am also going to work out starting Tuesday on Tuesday and Thursday evenings while he's gone. We have a gym at our community, so why not use it? I have been very lazy...especially with the chillier days we have had. I think it's my disease; seasonal weight gain and lazy onset. I'm active and alive in the summer...then winter comes along. I get that warm, fuzzy feeling (at least when I'm not freezing my arse off) that makes me want to curl up with my animals in front of a fire (hey, even the fireplace app sounds work) with a pumpkin spice latte or hot chocolate. Therefore, I am happy just adding on the calories with my delusional state. I just assume nothing changes because of how I've changed, but it's oh, such the opposite.

I must stay active. I must stay warm. I must layer, and I must purchase appropriate winter wear.

I would also like to get into snowboarding, but that's another matter in itself...

Have a wonderful week!

It's almost Wednesday?

It's like I'm just watching my world from some other little world because I'm just not feeling the pressure this week! I went to bed at 8:40 p.m. last night, and I was asleep by 8:50 p.m. Seriously?? No, but really, it's probably because of library and tests and projects all happening in the same few days. I haven't had to do much lecturing or planning! It's going to kick me soon, though, because with tests means starting new unites. Off to get some schoolwork done! :)

Back and Forth

This weekend has been a little bit of everything so far. It hasn't felt like much, yet I'm really enjoying it.

On Friday after school, mom and I grabbed some Chinese and headed to my place to wait for Justin to get home. We enjoyed some silly t.v. shows and chatting. Unfortunately, though, my mood was just getting worse. I don't really know why. I'm guessing it was just the antsy feeling I had because we had just been sitting. Usually I don't mind just sitting -- it's a great feeling. However, there was something different about last night, so we got out and grabbed some coffee. Later that night, Justin decided he needed to grade, so I went to bed around 10:30, and he got in bed around 1:00 a.m. Sometimes it's good to just sleep on a night like that.

And that's what I did!

This morning was nice; we woke up and walked the dog, which I really enjoy doing on the weekend. We then went to his family reunion. It was a good time with nice, crisp weather (can't say I'm excited about it getting colder, though). I enjoyed a nice chat with my sister-in-law, and I got to see my niece. She was so silly, and I couldn't help but take tons of pictures of her.

Tonight, J and I have been grading for a few hours. It's so nice to have a husband with the same career as me. We understand the realities of teaching and grading, and we choose to make it fun. Tonight, we turned on some great tunes, sat at the dinner table, and graded side-by-side. It's nice to know someone else is right there with you. I actually enjoyed grading tonight!

Tomorrow is my niece's birthday, so we'll be heading back to have her party. We are also going to be doing school work. Maybe we'll do more, but I won't know until tomorrow.

Have a great weekend!

Feeling sentimental - lots of change lately

There have been a lot of changes around my world within the past few months, and I haven't really written about them.

First off, my old roomie and good friend Ginny has moved south -- about ten hours south -- crazy! It's really starting to hit me now that we are heading into a new chapter of our lives in which we leave the college life behind, and that's kind of difficult. I'm so proud of her for going to graduate school, and I'm proud of how far I've come as far as getting a career; however, now that it's over, I would do anything to go back to a carefree college afternoon -- either with smoothies and sushi (yes) or some good drinks or lying around on her bed talking or laughing at the cat or sitting at that weird black corner table. Seriously, the time flew by, and here we are.

Another thing on my mind is how long it's been since I've seen my friend Phil (Justin's best bud). It's been three months. That is not okay! We're planning to see him sometime in October, but it just seems way overdue. I never thought I'd go three months without seeing him, but it is yet another reminder that life is moving forward, and sometimes that means a lot of change.


Dana is about to have a baby in November -- talk about a life change for everyone! It's crazy that I've known her for over ten years, remained best friends, and now she's having a boy. He's going to be my first nephew! It's happening so fast that I don't stop to think about it, but in reality, it is a huge new adventure we are all heading into. It makes me think about when I'm going to have kids and how it will change my life. I think I'll wait just a couple of years!


My brother is in another country for an entire month. He's been traveling with a photographer checking out the scenery and taking pictures. I am extremely jealous, but I am so happy for him -- like, beyond belief. I know how happy he must be and how much he is learning. He's going to be able to plan my trip one day (Lord willing) when I feel like getting on that long plane ride. It takes guts!


Last but not least, Laurie is probably moving within the year. We were lucky to go to college together, and I was very happy to have her move back near home with us. However, once again, we are moving on, and we will have to actually travel to see each other!! What the heck? It will be weird, and I'm going to hate it -- especially on what should be pool days next summer -- but I'm also happy for her, and I know it'll take her places.


I guess what makes me think about all of these things (particularly) is looking at my wedding pictures. I hate to say it, but I'm feeling some of that post-wedding sadness. It's not that I want my wedding back (which is what most people want when they feel sad after the wedding--they just want to plan more), but I want the people all together again. I want the security of having all of my friends in one place, knowing the amount of love between all of us.


I'm so glad I got that special day to share with everyone and with family. I'm also glad that moving on doesn't mean moving on completely. It just means there are new things coming up and exciting adventures. With every change, good things come along. I'm meeting fun people at work and Justin has already hung out with work buds a couple of times. We're both near our families, which is a blessing, and we will soon meet more people in the area.


Do any of you feel this way sometimes? Does the post-college or post-wedding life affect you as it does me?


Happy Tuesday, all.

How can I complain? We should think of others today: September 11, 2011.

I always forget what it feels like to have a cold. The head pain mixed with the slightly off hearing mixed with the heavy breathing makes for quite the weekend. Justin and I both were hit with a cold Saturday morning (his started Friday). It had surely taken away from our weekend a bit -- our moods have been off, our taste-buds have been inflicted, and our bodies have been sore -- yet, we continue on our lesson-planning journey -- and we then reflect on the past.

I hate to even complain on a day such as this: 9/11. J and I watched the Home Makeover edition for a 9/11 officer who saved lives 10 years ago; needless to say, we were quite emotional. It's crazy to think that each American remembers where they were at that time -- it is a collective memory. I was in my Spanish class in 9th grade. Our teacher turned on the television, and we watched the second plane strike the building and the two towers fall. It was unreal.

However, at the time, I don't think I realized what the impact of such a loss was -- or maybe I just forget how I felt that day. I know that after it happened, anytime I heard a plane, I looked up hoping it wouldn't be anything out-of-the-ordinary. I also remember the days they kept planes out of the sky; it was so quiet. Now, however, I see everything differently. It's been ten years (hard to believe), and I look back with the mature eyes I've grown into. I see the families who have lost their husbands, wives, and children -- even pets. I see New York City in a pile of sadness covered with debris and body parts. I hear the screams from the streets that once were, and I envision myself running through the halls of the collapsing building.

It is a much darker memory now, and even though I wasn't there, and I don't really know what it was like, I still feel for the people who were part of it.

We are America, and even though it seems as though we are all living our own individual lives, we have the memory of 9/11 together, and we will never forget.

Late night ahead

Justin had to stay at school today for an open-house night, so he hasn't even left school yet! It's almost 9 p.m. I had a coffee date planned with Dana, so I went out with her, which was so nice! We also ended up walking around the mall -- again, nice -- and there happened to be an SPCA showing for kittens and cats. I loved walking around cooing at all of them, but I also couldn't help but feel really sad for them. I wish I could take them all home, but then I'd be crazy.

Anyway, I got home fairly late for a weeknight, which was worth it, but it's now the time that I'm usually packing up to get in bed. However, tonight is also Thursday, and that means Project Runway is on, so I always stay up late :)

In other news, it felt like a Monday and a Friday all in one today. I was so exhausted by fourth block, I could barely focus on what we were doing in class. I also felt like it was Friday because of how talkative the kids were and how little motivation I had for grading papers and planning. Luckily, I still have plans ready for tomorrow! However...the grading is still not finished! It never will be, I guess.

Now that I'm home, I'm sitting with Sadie and Ava and loving it. They are the sweetest companions to have next to me, and I'm so blessed.

Speaking of blessed, I'm the new Bible Club sponsor at my school. I know, right? Weird, but neat. I didn't start it, and I won't be leading it, but a student asked me to be a sponsor--basically, I have to allow them to use my room and make sure they're actually having a club. I was cool with that, so I said yes. It's funny, though, because I've been talking to Justin about finding a church now that we're back in our home area, so it's almost like church is finding me again lol. I can't complain.

I don't have much planned for this weekend, but I'm happy about that. I figure J and I will have a date-night in and maybe drive around to look at land/houses. We'll also probably take Sadie to run at mom and dad's. Life is good.

Hope you're having a great week -- TGIF!

What an awesome weekend.

..now if only I had taken pictures.

Here's what I've been up to:

Friday -
husband's high school football game! it was definitely a big event - free food for teachers and family!

Saturday -
street festival with friends and husband - great steak sandwiches and music
wine-tasting with the family
dinner at the in-laws' house with my family, too

Sunday -
relaxing morning, off to see the adorable niece and sister-in-law

Monday -
DAY OFF!!!
lots of laundry and house-cleaning
dinner with the 'rents