Guess what?

Yes, it's true. We are expecting our first little mini-goose. I am 18 weeks along as I write, and it's starting to feel real. I'm starting to wear maternity clothes, which I tried desperately to avoid for as long as possible, and I'm getting the comments and the stares--good ones, of course.

update

Life is busier and busier...and that's not something to boast about. It seems like one minute we slow down, the next something flies in to confuse the calmness.

The great news is that J and I got to go back to our university for a visit, which was amazing. We had the best time. It was so worth the 2.5 year wait since graduating. We had great seats the a football game, walked around campus filling our hearts with nostalgia, ate at our favorite food joint, shopped a little, and walked to our engagement location. It was so, so fun, and I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity. My aunt and uncle are amazing, and they happened to have two tickets they weren't going to use.

That was two weeks ago. Since then, things have gotten a little crazy. I started my second job a few weeks ago, which means I'm working almost every day of the week now (my bad idea, yes). We had parent-teacher conferences this week, so we had two twelve hour work days to start our week. Lastly, I helped with homecoming this past weekend, and we later found out that one of our students had died on the way. I didn't know this student, but it has been a somber week, let me tell you. I then helped with testing today, which meant I lost my planning. Needless to say, it's been exhausting!

In other news, my grandma in NY is in the hospital, and there's nothing I can do to help. I'm over twelve hours away, and all I can do is think about her and hope for the best. She's in ICU for pulmonary fibrosis, which they just diagnosed. This is one of the main reasons I don't want to move far from my mom. Knowing that my grandma, one of my favorite people in the world, is sick, and I can't even check on her is heart wrenching. It's not like I can just go see her for a day. So, with her in the back of my mind, it's been tough. She'll be in the hospital for another week at least, but I hope and pray she'll be better soon after that.

Other good, amazing, beautiful things are happening in my life, so there's not much to complain about. Sometimes, though, it's the toughest times that make me want to write--as well as the most beautiful. I also tend to write on this blog at the worst times these days, when I only have a few minutes to spare.

This is just an update that I can read later in my life when I regret not writing in a journal like I used to.

I hope all of you are finding yourselves well and wonderful.

We've had a great weekend so far.

J and I went to yard sales yesterday, coffee and breakfast included, which was tons of fun, then we visited family for dinner in the evening. We got to see most of J's family, play on "the farm," and eat some really good food!

On Friday night, we saw the NASA rocket burn itself up into the sky. It was launched at 11:28 p.m., and we got there just in time. I was exhausted, so I slept from 10:30-11:15 p.m., then we quickly jumped in the car, drove to a back road, parked in some tall grass, and waited. We had a perfectly flat, open view of the field facing east. It was awesome...a perfectly clear night. It was pretty incredible to see. The rocket was much larger than a shooting star. We could see where the flames were coming off the bottom, and we even saw the different stages. It was definitely a memorable few seconds/minutes.

Fall is always a fun time, and spring and summer always make me forget. I do appreciate the cooler weather, though, after having had hot, mosquito-filled days for a while now. I'm ready to open the windows and have fires in the fire pit again. Here are some things coming up this fall:

1. Yard sale.
2. Big family reunion
3. My first day at my second part-time job.
5. Football game -- yes, we get to go to one!!
5. Halloween! :)

...among other things!

It's going to be great.

squirrel tail

Today, during the fire drill, one of my students found a squirrel tail (just sitting in the grass), picked it up, and called out, "Look what I found!" to everyone around him.

A few minutes later, a girl brought snake skin to show that she had found around the same area.

I'm guessing the snake ate the squirrel or something, but either way, it was the strangest, goofiest fire drill I've ever had.

This is why I teach. lol. It keeps me going.

songs for this dreary Sunday

MacKenzie

Remember that little angel I photographed six months ago? Well, here we are, growing into a beautiful, wonderful little girl. Her parents are so lucky. I was so grateful to spend time with this family. One of the photos even got picked 3rd place for a local contest! I'm really happy how they turned out, and I'm thankful for another photo shoot for the summer months. Enjoy!

pre-school ramble

School is about to start, and this is my third year...well, third-and-a-half if you want to get technical. My first half year started in January after three other teachers couldn't handle a couple of tough classes, so I took over. My third year begins in my comfortable community with great kids and good classes. Overall, I can't complain.

It's been a great summer, to say the least.

But man, it's been fast.

We made two big(ger) trips this summer, and the beach was one of them! Yes. (Last year, it took us going to the Halloween 10K to make it to the beach!) On the other trip, I got to see a friggin' castle, so I'd say that's outstanding. I also got to see the people that make my heart move and beat and breathe: my family.

Other than that, we've accomplished some projects around the house. J redid an area of carpet that was ruined, and it looks fantastic. I painted our living room accent wall a golden-yellow, and the rest is a lighter off-white, yellow color.

As you can catch on, we took my summer school money and basically redid our living room. I'm completely in love. Sure, we painted, but we also got some new furniture, we added to the pillow collection, and I found an absolutely stunning floor lamp (with three shades!) to go in the corner. We got some wood-like brown blinds for the windows, which warm the place right up, and I bought a massive frame to go over the couch--once I find the perfect picture for it. The room is modern and bohemian and brilliant -- according to me.

J has also prepped the front porch for staining, which needs to be done, and I planted not one but SIX plants. YES. I planted bushes, people. They look good. Let's hope a mole doesn't destroy them like my other little plant. I don't have a green thumb, but I love seeing some green in the winter months. The more the better.

Lastly, we found an umbrella for the back deck, and that really livened it up. I will say, however, that we didn't spend enough time out there this summer--mostly due to mosquitos.

So, school is about to start. Yup! I know my classes, and funny enough, I know many of the students. Some of them are 10th graders who were in my 9th grade class last year. I'm pretty excited about it. Each year, however, comes with the bit of anxiety I'll probably get for at least eight years. It's the unknown. Will anything change in the school this year? I'm okay with change, but I want to know about it ahead of time. Will my literature stay the same? Hopefully. Little things like this hit my mind about a week before meetings start, and it's hard to think of much else.

Luckily, we've had ways to forget all summer, including fabulous hang outs with friends--new and old. Laurie just visited, and we went to IKEA--one of my favorite stores of all time. She stayed for two nights. We got to take walks together, chat about life, and escape some tornados again. Sweet! I've also had some time with some great teacher friends and their significant others. I'm loving meeting new people and getting to know them!

My only issues with this summer were things that just didn't work out due to time. First of all, I wanted to visit G this summer, just like I did last summer, but I just ran out of time. I'm hoping I can visit her this fall when (if) she moves a little closer.

I also wish I could have visited my college town. God, I miss that place so much sometimes. Every now and then, I just want to take a time machine and go back to college. I want to tell myself a few things, and relive it. For instance: be careful with student loans. Little things like that. But all in all, I'd want to see the people I miss so much sometimes. I'd want the experiences again. I'd want to sit overlooking the field late at night--without a care in the world; go to the games and jump, jump, jump; play loud music and dance; go on runs at midnight; go tubing. You know what else? I'd just like to walk campus again. It's funny. I used to despise trying to run to catch a last-minute bus, and now, if I could have five minutes there, I wouldn't mind it. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't believe that "college is the best time of your life, so live it up." Sure, college is a great, fun, adventurous time, but life is beautiful, so all of your years are awesome--but for different reasons. What's outstanding, though, is that I have stories and memories to follow me for life. I would never, ever let go of them, and it was so worth it. HENCE, why I really miss it sometimes.

Could my friends just move closer, please? Could I have a little more free-time during the year? That'd be sweet. No, I didn't make it back to college town this summer, but I plan to go to a couple of games in the fall, and I couldn't be more excited!

Other that the above, the working out is going well, and because of it, I'm eating better. Actually, when I eat poorly, my stomach is like HEY-OH-LADY, HOLD UP! --right before punishing me. I'm looking forward to being healthier and bringing out the athleticism that lives inside and underneath me.

Anyhow, here are some pictures that I didn't post previously (I don't think?), and I'll try to post more soon.

Missing you, blog readers. I hope you are doing well, and I hope to hear from you soon.

beach trip

new, awesomely cool lamp

bold living room color 

deck with candles and umbrella

surf man

aunt d and me

music > tv

Any time I sit to think how I've lived without cable for so long, music reminds me how much better it is. It's such an experience--much more than television. You live the music, and you only watch the tv. The Civil Wars has released their new album, and it's pretty awesome. One of the singers said how the songs are just vague enough to relate to. Two of my favorites on the CD are listed below--one that people will be talking about.

School stars next week, so I'm trying to enjoy my last week off in any way that I can. However, sometimes things don't always go as planned. Long story short: we were watching mom's fourteen-year-old dog while she went away, dog got sick, dog had many seizures, took dog to rescue ER at midnight, nothing could be done.

It's been a long week to say the least.

There are other things to celebrate, though. For instance, J helped me pick out a sweat-dripping workout to do in my own living room. I don't even have to run! I will, and I can, but I don't have to. I'm going to see results. I never sweat, but I sweat like heck with this one. Another thing to celebrate is Phil's recent visit. We went to the Wolverine movie, and we had fun otherwise. We even had some wine together the last night he was here. Laurie will be visiting this week! We're going to one of our favorite stores (annual trip), and we'll probably find a great restaurant. We're having lunch with my aunt in the city, which is going to be great. I'm just really looking forward to some fun, positive activities.

Before all this, however, we went to the upstate to hang. We visited a wicked-cool castle, took a boat tour, went to Canada (technically), visited a mountainous, water-filled dreamland. We also spent lots of time with our wonderful family members. I miss them so much already. Once each year is just not enough.

We also took another trip this summer, but it was a small beach trip. We camped! It was awesome. We used electricity, thanks to a tip from a friend, so I had a fan at night (thank goodness), and we had a coffee pot in the tent! I'm telling you: best camping ever. It was only two miles from the beach, so we just drove to the free parking when we went. It was SO easy! This trip was definitely a highlight of the summer. OH, and we ran into some friends at the end, so we were able to visit with them and have a campfire. Wowza. Good times were had!

Here are some photos from the trips. The lyrics I love are below.

"The One That Got Away"

I never meant to get us in this deep
I never meant for this to mean a thing
Oh, I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

I got caught up by the chase
And you got high on every little game
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

Oh, if I could go back in time
When you only held me in my mind
Just a longing gone without a trace
Oh, I wish I'd never ever seen your face
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

I miss the way you wanted me
When I was staying just out of your reach
Begging for the slightest touch
Ooh, you couldn't get enough, mmm

Oh, if I could go back in time
When you only held me in my mind
Just a longing gone without a trace
Oh, I wish I'd never ever seen your face
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away

Got away from me
Got away from me
Before anybody has to bleed

Oh, if I could go back in time
When you only held me in my mind
Just a longing gone without a trace
Oh, I wish I'd never ever seen your face
I wish you were the one
I wish you were the one
Oh, I wish you were the one
I wish you were the one that got away

"Eavesdrop"

I don’t want to talk right now
I just want your arms wrapped around
Me in this moment
Before it runs out

Oh don’t say that it’s over
Oh no say it ain’t so
Let’s let the stars watch 
Let them stare
Let the wind eavesdrop
I don’t care
For all that we’ve got, don’t let go
Just hold me

I can’t pull you closer than this
It’s just you and the moon on my skin
Oh who says it ever has to end
Oh don’t say that it’s over
Oh no say it ain’t so

Let’s let the stars watch 
Let them stare
Let the wind eavesdrop
I don’t care
For all that we’ve got, don’t let go 
Just hold me

Let’s let the stars watch 
Let them stare
Let the wind eavesdrop
I don’t care
For all that we’ve got, don’t let go

Just hold me
Just hold me
Just hold me
Just hold me
Just hold me

manual mode, thank you very much

I need to make it known that I have officially switched to the world of manual on my DSLR. It is a beautiful, wonderful, detail-oriented world. Sure, it takes much more work, but the outcome is totally worth it.

I'm already noticing a difference in my photos. You may not notice, but I do!

[I admit being crazy for not learning the mode sooner. Teaching just gets in the way, so now I finally have a little (yes, a little) time on my hands to work with my hobbies.]

summer school Monday

The Fault in Our Stars

Reading this book angered me and upset me, quite frankly. It is such a change from the suspense of the first book of the summer, and to be honest, summer is not a time to read about cancer and blindness and cancer and dying and cancer.

I'm not trying to be cold-hearted. I have a big heart, which is why a book like this affects me. I knew it would, so I basically scanned the last twenty pages. Is that wrong?

I will give it this: it was a realistic (or at least what I can imagine) exemplification of cancer and what it's like to deal with disease. It shows a love story between two young kids, and they seem to have that kid-like affection that is interrupted by disease.

However, it didn't have the affection that loses me in feeling, and that's what I want from a book. It was very easy to read, which I also don't particularly like, and some of the circumstances between the characters wasn't necessarily believable.

I read this book because it was on a list of "Books to Read Before They Become Movies," and I definitely see why it is a fad book already. It's sad, so of course everyone decides it's a great book. Sad books need to make you fall in love with all of the characters, believe their story and relationship, feel connected to all the outside parts (the connection with that author didn't really keep my attention), and leave you not wanting to finish it.

Unfortunately, I read a fad book that I was ready to leave on the bookshelf when done. After reading real-life blog entries from a woman's perspective of her husband dying with cancer just last year, this book just irritates me. Maybe it irritates me because if it were true, it would be such a sad, sad story, and I would never want it to happen to me. (?)

I do, however, understand why it would become a movie (it's a quirky, untold love story), and I'm sure it will be good.

Gone Girl

This past week, I went from being a reader of classics, love stories, and easy-going stories about life, to a reader of murder-mysteries. I am a true convert! I am excited to say that I loved the book Gone Girl by Jeannette Walls.

I'm not going to spoil the book for anyone since I've already handed it off to a friend to read, and it's possible that she could see this post. I will say this: The book kept my attention with the back and forth chapters (perspective changes), which kept me turning the pages. Throughout the entire book, I never knew who to trust. Oddly enough, that kept me going. Why would I like to read a book about the worst possible situation, along with one heck of an ending? I dont' know, but I'm definitely converted to the world of "summer reads" and suspenseful mysteries. At the end of the book, I almost felt betrayed, because I didn't know who to trust, and the ending didn't really help any of that.

But I questioned it. And that's important.

Why read a book that doesn't make you think a little bit? (besides the obvious summer reads that you read only to not think) I love a story that makes me want to talk about it, to discuss it, to share it, to see the characters as real people...to see the entire story as something that really happened, even though it didn't.

Man, that's a good book.

And I'm still thinking about it.

Off to read book #2 of this summer: The Silver Star by Jeannette Walls. It's definitely a change of pace, so I'll let you know how it goes.

great video

It seems negative at first, but it's a great video, and it gets positive.

http://www.upworthy.com/the-earth-shatteringly-amazing-speech-that-ll-change-the-way-you-think-about-adulthood-4?g=5

This video makes some of the truest remarks about everyday patterns and what you see vs. what you choose to see. I've tried to make those positive changes over the past five to seven years or so (mainly since I've known Justin). I've always been a big-hearted girl with depth of thought, but I had to work on my positive outlook--at least I think I did.

Little things...someone flying past me on the road...I've sat in my car to think, "maybe they have a wife in labor in the passenger seat." Even though this is probably not true, just thinking about a couple trying to get to the hospital makes me feel calmer.

This whole positivity thing plays a huge role in teaching. Some days, you get treated like crap all...day...long...by students, parents, people around you, etc. You can just have a bad day. Immediately, you want to assume the child is just a cold-hearted jerk, or you want to say the parent is doing the wrong thing...but if you did that each time, you wouldn't have any strength left.

time, time, time

Where has the time gone?

I don't even know where to begin. Maybe that's why I don't write much here anymore. I'll write tidbits of life below to get you caught up.

In recent news, I just saw The Great Gatsby in theaters, and it was fantastic. It was close to the book, and the parts that weren't the same were not big enough to make me dislike it. Leonardo is so hot now. I've never been attracted to him before this movie...

I received my contract today for next year, so that means I'm still officially employed! J thought about trying to get a job at my school, which had a physics opening, but they hired a math teacher within the system. He isn't going to apply to the math position that is now open; he really likes his job and school overall. The only reason he was going to try was for the physics aspect. We are both enjoying our jobs for the most part this year. It has been a long year, though! Five. weeks. left.

When you live in a neighborhood and you are married, it can be hard to meet people with similar interests as you. I've met some amazing people at work and some at church as well, which has been awesome, but it's even harder for J to meet people. The teaching field is mostly women, it seems, so that makes things tough. We are hopeful for some social opportunities soon, so I don't think it'll be too bad. It is definitely different from college, though! Things were so very easy then... :)

CICADAS are here for the first time in 17 years. I remember, specifically, walking down my street one day, touching the cicada shells on a nearby tree, pondering how the cicada escaped. It's funny how such a strange memory can be recalled and vividly remembered, just by triggering it in the present. For instance, the other day I saw a girl riding her bike past my house. It brought me back to my days of biking in my neighborhood. I felt the wind hitting my face, heard my silly card "engine" sound-maker, endured the exhaustion--all in my head, just for a moment, after I saw her.

I've been napping more recently. For once in my life, I'm okay with it. I've come to the realization that they are GOOD for me--not bad. Also, they don't necessarily waste time, but they help make me feel better for a longer amount of time. However, with that said, I seriously slept for three hours this past Sunday, which is entirely too long! I also took a nap the past two Sundays before that. I'm not sure what's going on. I must stop!

Building a family has been on my mind lately. It's such a beautiful idea, yet a difficult one, to fathom. I realize how hard and different life will be if and when we have a kid. Yet, there's still this longing to have one. It's more than just wanting a cute bundle to call my own; it's about loving something more than anything I can imagine. I'm not sure why I want to deal with the pain that will come with that love...the heartbreak, the lying, the yelling, the decision making, the crying, and especially, the worrying. Yes, I'm not sure why I want all of those possibilities that come with having children. But I do. And nothing will ever change that. I've wanted it since I was a little girl myself. There's something beautifully messy about having a family. The more I'm with my nieces, my friends, my family, the more I realize that. It's a weird feeling because I never thought I would actually feel the motherly instincts kicking in. It's not that I've lost my fun or my child-like personality. I've kept that. There are moments, though, that have changed. For instance, on the first day of school, I saw a mother waving her little kid off as they got on the bus. I felt a small tug of what the mother might be feeling, and I teared up a little. "What the heck!?" I thought to myself through my blurred vision. But I knew, and I know, what I was feeling.

There are five weeks left of the school year, which is absolutely hard to believe--yet it also seems like it should be sooner. It has been a long, long year, and it's hard to believe I am working twenty + more of them after this. I love my job, but it's also the hardest thing sometimes. It takes a huge amount of time outside of school, and it takes emotion as well. It's been one of my best years of teaching--well, it's been the best. I had an absolutely awesome first semester with ninth graders. It went way beyond what I expected. I'm finishing up with 9th and 10th now, and it's going well; I think everyone is just more annoyed overall about being in school. It's been a very busy year. I will be happy when it's over!

...except that I have seniors who are graduating this year, and I actually teared up the other day about it. I have at least five kids I'm pretty attached to. They are from the first year I taught at my school; many were in my first class there ever. I just hate to see them go. I have a group that sits in my room every morning. When I joked one day about them not doing anything for me for teacher appreciation week, they said, "We're hear every day. That should tell you something." As silly as they are, that really meant a lot to me. These kids don't even know how much they mean to me. I'm going to miss them like crazy.

In other news, J and I are hoping to take a beach trip soon. We NEED it. It'll be awesome. We might actually go camping at the beach, so I'm looking up different sites tonight.

I might finally get a tattoo this summer. I'm not going to try to explain, but it's going to have geese in it.

Lastly, photography is still going. I did a shoot two weekends ago. I'm learning more about my lens and my camera, and I hope to only better myself. I need to get my lens calibrated, which is bad news, but it should help the clarity, which is something I'm really struggling with--especially with groups or far-away pictures. Wish me luck.

I'll update again sooner rather than later.
xo

springspringspring

The good and the bad

Day 1: Fork

It's been quite the week so far. The Superbowl was on Sunday, so I got very little sleep. I also didn't get much sleep Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday, for various reasons, so here I am exhausted on Thursday. I also thought yesterday was Thursday, so it's a real bummer that I have another Thursday to get through.

Although the week has felt long, some nice things have happened. After having a bad day on Tuesday, a student from last semester came after school to chat. We got to talk about all sorts of things, and it brightened my entire day. Each time I talk to these students, I feel how important they are to me--in little ways.

Yesterday, I got the nicest e-mail from a parent I've ever received. Not only did she thank me for everything she did for her daughter (including details--she really knew how much I had done in class!), but she also copied it to the principals for them to take notice. It was one of the nicest things someone has ever said to me, and I was almost in tears. It made me realize teaching is important, but it is still a thankless job most of the time. It's when you're not expecting a thanks when it really touches you. This also happened right after I had a rough day or two, so it always feels like our Creator has a way of making life easy enough to handle--never too much.

This morning, a student came by to see me this a.m. who used to come by every day during first semester. We got to chat a while about his new semester and what he's been up to. I've mentioned this kid in the blog before; he feels like a little-brother figure, and I'm so excited to see him graduate this year. I think I might cry. His class was the first I ever taught back at my hometown.

In other topics, I'm doing a photo challenge for February. It's meant to be fun; most people just post something from their phones, but I'm trying to take really great photos. I haven't had the time to get to them each day (which is kind of the point), but I'm catching up as I go. It really forces me to get creative. So far, I've come up with some shots that I'm really proud of. It's amazing what I can learn with technique while taking a picture of a fork or an egg.

Lastly, I've finally started reading A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. So far, it's good. I really like the little girl character in the beginning, and I like to see her point of view. Stories with the child's perspective always fascinate me...and make me want to write my own book.

That's all for the update today. I have a lot to get done today, and this is only the beginning!

Tomorrow is Friday. Friday. Friday.

Snow Weekend

the last snow i can remember from a couple of years ago

our most recent snow - love that trusty coat

I struggle with what to write at this somewhat late hour, so instead I think I'll make a list or two.

Why this four-day snow weekend was great:
- extra time with family
- pizza
- Downton Abbey
- coffee dates
- baby name hunting (for future reference..we've done this for a long time now)
- the sun in the morning
- baths. baths are amazing, and so is lavender. i need to try them more often.
- ice cream and cookies

I'm thankful for:
- visual memories with songs
- journal writing
- all of my senses
- new friends
- good clean fun
- clear(ish) vision

Keep loving and hoping and seeing the brightest possible side of each situation--as often as you can.

Snow Day!

Baby

Aren't babies just the sweetest things? They are full of life and curiosity. She opened her eyes to peak at what was making that annoying little click sound (me), and she then began studying her very own hands. Such sweet moments with that little angel!

I made it!

Not only have I managed to stay healthy for at least a week, but I have also successfully completed first semester! I will really miss the students. I had a great group this year, and it really made teaching fun. I got a hug from one girl, and that meant a lot to me. I also got a letter at the end of a student's exam that was there only to thank me and tell me he only hopes to have more classes like mine. I couldn't stop smiling! I finally got to the letter after a full day of grading papers; his was the second to last one I had to read. It was so worth it.

In other news, life is really going to pick up soon. Last year was so fast-paced, and this fall has been much slower so far, which has been really nice. However, spring is going to change things quite a bit. J is going to be a track coach this year (I told him he's not allowed to do ANYTHING that could break a bone). He'll be gone every evening until practice ends, and he will be gone many nights and weekends for track meets. I plan to go with him sometimes, but it's definitely going to be a semester of alone time and time with friends and family--for me. I plan to head to mom's some evenings to get work done for school and have coffee, and I also hope to see my little family members and friends more often.

We're having friends over for fajitas tonight, so our Saturday morning has been spent cleaning, enjoying the sun, day-dreaming about the future, and eating toad-in-the-holes (made my J). Cleaning is actually fun sometimes; it makes the feel of the house so nice, and I really do appreciate everything more when I see them up close. We are really blessed with what we have, and I'm really grateful. I'm really in love with our house.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

Does anyone else want the stomach bug?

Yes, the sickness J had last week finally got me. On Friday, I woke up feeling really strange--dizzy, with a headache. Then, I had to cut my shower short because of nausea that took over. I got sick and realized I'd have to stay home from work. I continued to get sick, but I had to send in very short-notice plans for the sub, and I had to ask for a sub. I still don't know if one was found, but there was just no way I could go to work that day. It takes more work for teachers to take off than going in!

I've always wondered (and feared) the day that would happen to me...where I would catch the stomach bug on a school day. Thank goodness it wasn't AT school!

The past three days have felt rather bland. I've been sick the entire time, and all I could do was sleep and eat very small "meals" (yogurt, bread). I'm not one for naps, but I took a five hour nap yesterday afternoon. I also slept all day on Friday, and I was still able to get to sleep that night.

I guess I feel like writing because I'm trying to not get overwhelmed with what lies ahead. I have tons of grading, planning, cramming to do, among so many other things (meetings, SOLs, finals, new semester, etc). It feels like the next two weeks are just going to be a big blurry hectic mess, but I know that's not true. I take each day at a time, and it will be fine.

Off to read Julius Caesar. I just finished reading what I need to for Romeo and Juliet, and then I plan to grade until I have to go to bed.

Downton Abbey starts tonight at 9, but it'll go for two hours, and I NEVER stay up that late on a Sunday night lol. Is it worth it?

Have a happy week.