Four Months

Joe and I have been married now for just over four months.  It’s nearly Christmas, and it doesn’t seem like any time has gone by at all.  Is that good or bad?  I don’t have any previous frame of reference with which to gauge these things.

Joe got us Netflix for the Wii, which is pretty much the best present ever right when going on vacation.  Usually, Winter Break signals a period of manic boredom when I start to clean things with a bucket of bleach and a fresh toothbrush.  Now I can watch nature shows, A Bit of Fry and Laurie, movies, or what have you rather than resort to crawling around on my knees getting high on carpet cleaner fumes.

We had an early Christmas dinner here this evening with my mother, father, and youngest brother in attendance.  I made a duck, with stuffing, taters, green beans, and sweet potatoes, all from scratch.  I love to cook, as long as I have the time and ingredients to do it “right”.  This means that I like to cook twice a year.

Joe opened up one of his presents early – the Samsung Intercept.  He was quite happy, which makes me quite happy.  He doesn’t really need another tiny, shiny screen to stare at, but what can you do?  TOYS!

We are set to leave town for Christmas, visiting Joe’s sister, brother in law, and nephew in Minneapolis.  My MIL bought us the plane tickets for Christmas, which was very kind and thoughtful of her. The weather outside (their house) is frightful, so (hopefully) their fire (will be) so delightful.  Even if their “fire” is just baseboard heating.  I’ve lived in Seattle my whole life.  I really don’t do anything sub 20 degrees very well at all. Except complain.  I can complain at ANY temperature.

The Grind is Apt

It’s amazing how wholly consuming the basic, necessary activities of life can be.  I get up, go to work, then gym, then home, cook, clean, sleep and repeat.  Where is the fun?  Where is the spontaneity?  When do I get ME time?  I don’t have kids, just a boyfriend, a few cats and some houseplants, and somehow my life has become the most unbearable grind. I suspect work is the culprit.  It seems like all my coworkers, myself included, are being worked like never before, and are getting even less credit for our accomplishments than ever.  I am so deprived of motivation.  The only reason I feel like showing up at all is for my students, many of whom don’t get any positive reinforcement in their lives with my comments and attention being the only exception.  I am pretty sure that sounds conceited, and it would be were it not true.

I accidentally took two doses of my medication today, which caused me to tweak out right proper.  I don’t believe I actually sat down until 2PM.  This has led to a more increased level of exhaustion than I normally experience, powerful enough that now I am actually sitting, I cannot will myself to rise again, even though I have to pee.

Joe’s nephew was born yesterday, which is joyous and lovely, but makes me fear the eventual bearing of my own children.  I am barely capable of taking care of my cats.  I live paycheck to paycheck.  I often consume nothing but coffee and peanut butter on a given day.  I usually work 10-11 hours a day, and when I get home, I want nothing to do with anyone.  I love children, and I love my students, but I’m pretty sure I will want nothing to do with my own kids.

First Day Preparedness

School starts tomorrow.  I’ve spent an outrageous amount of time getting my room just right.  I completely revamped everything; moving my desk, creating a sitting area, making a special room for overstimulated students ala the Colvin Model, and have DIY’ed some light filtering curtains from sparkly shower liners and screw-in hooks.  There are also a few plants (fake ones, as I always forget to take them home over vacation), and some new supply containers for holding pencils, erasers, and various other knickknacks.  I also have an Incredible Hulk poster, and lots of pictures of Joe and I.  The room is much more relaxing now.

Now I need to dig though my madness here at home and find cool things to bring in the make my classroom even more pleasant.  I bought a boombox on which students can listen to music and talk radio. I’ll have to dig through the closet for neat things to complete the awesomeness that is my room.  Pictures will be forthcoming.