Blogger's Dilemma

So, here is my dilemma: When and how can I write on this blog? I'm actually amazed that I was able to post often last year. My guess is that part of it had to do with the lack of social life I had. (My life followed this pattern: Wake up, go to school, teach, work work work, come home from school, sleep. On occasion I had time for a phone call or two to friends...and I think it was just easier to blog.)

However, now here I am, a 2nd year teacher, and I thought I might have more time on my hands now...but alas, that is not the truth. Instead it's been nearly 3 months since I posted. Must be a combination of work+school+job hunting+life.

-Work: Working with amazing 1st graders (woops, I mean kindergarteners...)
-School: My last semester of grad school and the first I've felt I really had to work. This semester I am doing a project on introducing college to kindergarteners and proposing research about teacher collaboration. Fortunately this work is VERY rewarding and interesting to me!
-Job Hunting: Oh, yes, I've been pink slipped. Again. However, there was no magic 3-day later rescinding of the pink slips. Rather, it sounds like we will not be rehired until the summer, and as a result, I am job hunting, albeit I'm doing so reluctantly.
-Life: Yes! I have a life this year! It's still not super exciting, but it does exist. :)

So, then I find this blog sitting here...lacking any sort of life update...and I push it to the bottom of my lengthy to-do list. Perhaps I'll post again by June.

Lots of love from (finally) sunny San Jose and an exhausted but happy teacher.

Grace

Harry Kindergarten is my hero:


In other news, I fell down today while walking my dog. Thank goodness no one else was around to see me...and that the grass stain is only on my knee, not my pants (yay for wearing short pajamas out). I'm as graceful as always.

So lately, and by lately I mean the past year or so, I've noticed my posts have lacked the witty voice that once accompanied my emails to friends and family in college. Apparently, when not exercised enough, my wittiness fades. While I'd love to say that today will be the day that my writing voice returns, today instead will be the day I pore over GRE test prep materials to plan how I will study for this lovely exam, and so I leave you with a link to read some enjoyable education-related blogginess:
http://itsnotallflowersandsausages.blogspot.com/
Happy 2011!

24, Jewelry, Steak, Family...I'm a spoiled and lucky girl :)

Well, it's been quite a week and a half (almost!) at home. I took my first red-eye flight for a looooong day of travel on Monday the 20th. I was, as usual, the girl making weird faces as I attempted to get my ears to pop throughout my flights. I also was, as usual, the girl who passed out on each plane. One fellow passenger even complimented me on my ability to sleep--"I wish I could sleep as well as you do on planes," said the kind stranger. It was a great feat indeed given the screaming baby behind me on my way from Dallas to Fort Myers...and the six-year old kicking my seat.

When my travels ended, however, I found myself in sunny Florida, and I was aching to get out of my boots! 70 degree weather? Yes, please! So I popped on some flip-flops and my sunnies and took care of one urgent task: Doing nothing. I don't even remember what I did on that first day here...I may or may not having taken a long nap--I don't recall and don't really care; all I know is that it was amazing.

The follow day I did leave the house with quite the goal: stock the pantry and fridge. Apart from the giant bottle of vodka, some orange juice, (I know what you're thinking: screwdrivers!...but my dad only drinks vodka straight), and the biggest box of Cheez-Its imaginable, our house had little in it. So I skipped into Publix, the grocery store around here, and looking completely out of place since I was wearing a color other than beige and I'm under the age of 60, and stocked a grocery cart with all kinds of good stuff. From my favorite Triscuits to pom juice to margarita mix of course, my cart was filled to the brim with excellent finds.

...alright...I started off eager to write...now, not so much. We're watching 24...and it is getting GOOD. Jack may or may not kill Nina in the next episode. My focus is split. More to (maybe) come later.

Remember when...

What happens if you can't remember when...? I am SO excited to go home in a week to see my parents--I can't wait to be away from work, away from everything, away and ready to relax! As previous posts have explained, the past months have been absurd. I was looking through photos on my computer of past Christmases (is that how you pluralize Christmas?), and I realized I don't remember the last Christmas my mom remembers. That's just plain ol' weird. I don't have photos from it, and I don't remember it...

Now that I re-read that though, I'm aware of the fact that clearly there are no Christmases my mom currently remembers. I guess I should have clarified and said the last Christmas my mom remembered us/knew what was going on...it's been a while. I don't quite know where I'm going with this post, just thinking I guess...I miss you, Mom.

"Maybe you get Alzheimer's, maybe you do not. Just screw the odds, screw science. Let's just live. Whatever happens, happens."

In just a week, I will be sipping margaritas, poolside, in warm toasty Florida weather. I fully intend on eating carbolicious foods like Vapiano's and doing absolutely nothing. Winter break, here I come.