"Live the Fourth"

I just reread my Kairos speech. Wow. I was really smart when I was a senior in high school. What happened?

I leave to head back to San Jose tomorrow. Saturday I'll drive down to LA, and Monday I'll have on-boarding for KIPP. I guess it's all really here! It's exciting...and scary...and well, crazy! I cannot believe I'm moving back to LA, that I'm working for a charter school (seriously did not see that coming), that I'm 24, that I'm done with TFA.

I'm supposed to be packing right now, and my suitcase is packed, almost, but I'm distracted by all the "memories" in our house. I feel silly saying that, but seeing as I already had to sort through all my stuff from the house in Lake Forest, all I brought to Florida are things I wanted to keep and to save from high school and college...and I found my Kairos speech. Actually, I found a giant binder filled with my speeches from the Junior Retreat and Kairos, reflections from the Ignatian Retreat (can't  believe I didn't talk for 3 days!), and journal entries from college.

...and seriously, I was a wise 17-year old. Wow. So again, I ask, what happened? :)

Time to get back to packing...

What is there to do in Southwest Florida?

You may wonder what fun lies around Estero, Florida, which my family currently calls home. So, let me enlighten you about what has been occupying my time since my arrival on Tuesday.

Top Ten Things Alex Likes To Do in Fort Myers, Florida

1. Shop--Beware of Miromar Outlet Malls. The stores will take your money, and you will not feel any guilt...or maybe a little guilt which you will easily brush off by saying, "But I saved [fill-in-exorbitant-amount-of-money here]!"

2. Workout--I'm not so sure I like this...but Chris has me doing p90x. Each day a different part of my body hurts. Today, my arms feel ridiculously sore. I would like to look like Sydney Bristow, however, at some point in my life (even if briefly), and perhaps p90x will help with said goal.

3. Read--Financial responsibility begins in August. Really. I bought a Kindle, and I am loving finishing up The Hunger Games trilogy. I read the first book when I was home in Chicago in April, and now I'm addicted.

4. Watch Frasier--Can't help it. When I'm home with my brother and dad, we put Frasier on tv. Often.

"She's managed to have her urinal cake and eat it too!"

5. Eat popcorn--my dad has a popcorn maker...and popcorn salt. Done.

6. Complain about how sore I am--stupid p90x.

7. Play Scrabble--I finally was able to use all my letters for one word yesterday! Sadly, I still haven't won a game.

8. Marvel at how slow people move here--Subway and Starbucks? Disastrous places to stop. The other day at Starbucks a woman bought biscotti for her strawberry banana shake. The barista said they went well together...really?

9. Sleep--Yay!

10. Drink margaritas--Sometimes out at the pool. Sometimes inside. Yum. I've actually only had two since I've been home so I should probably get drinking now...and read my book! Gosh, I love being home.

Note the change...

A in LA

...yes, in less than 3 weeks,  I'll be in LA so I figured it was time to update the blog title.

In the meantime...

Yes, same exact post as on my lovely teacher blog. Listen to some great music. Happiness in a song. I've had Andy Grammer's album playing for a week now, and I can't get enough of it.

Optimistic, much?

"I am feeling so good--I already have one week down, and the doctors are REALLY optimistic. ... I really am doing well, I have no doubt I'm going to be fine after all the chemo is over..."


Who says "I am feeling so good" after one week of chemo? Apparently I do.


Thank goodness that was over 4 years ago!


...in other news, I need something to do. I fail during summer break. My sleep is thrown off, I watch lots of TV, and I do absolutely nothing (or I attempt to clear out my email and organize everything on my computer--I try not to clutter, but my secret Monica clutter closet is my computer. I move too much to clutter anywhere else.). Seeing as I'm moving down to LA pretty soon, I probably should start being a little more productive, but oh well. If I was paid to procrastinate, I'd be the richest person ever.


Time for more time wasting...
love,
me