Summer Reading

I've always loved to read. When I was in the 5th grade I was in the local paper for having read the most books in the town library's summer reading contest (I know - dork alert) There was always a list of books that we had to read for school each summer which I generally had finished within the first two weeks so I could go on to read whatever I wanted. Now, while I still love to read, it seems like the summer is the only time I actually read for pleasure. The school year is filled with planning, and grading, and the only books that I seem to read are the ones that I assign to my students. This summer I have decided to read the entire Harry Potter Series (something as an English teacher I should have read a long time ago) and several others. Any recommendations? What are you reading?

Here are some of mine

1. Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone J.K.Rowling

2. Where are you now? Mary Higgins Clark

3. Whatever it takes Paul Tough

4. Readicide Kelly Gallagher

The Jury's Out

I'm off to jury duty today. While I do not expect to be chosen I do anticipate a long day in court. I have decided that this summer I am going to read the Harry Potter Series (shame on this English teacher for not having already read them) and so I am armed with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Should be fun . . .

I die

She's back. Tonight at 10 on Bravo. Can. Not. Wait.

We were on a break!

* must be said in Ross Gellar's nasily obnoxious voice. obviously.

Well it's August 2 and I'm finally in the swing of summer break. According to my blog roll I haven't posted since June 14th so I have a ton to get caught up on. In the that time I had more drama at work than I thought possible, I had a new job offer that I seriously considered, my director resigned which prompted me to stay, I co-ran graduation, took 19 seniors to Disneyland overnight for grad night, flew to RI for a dear friend's wedding, had my 15 year old sister visit for two weeks, taught vacation Bible school, and worked downtown during Comic Con. I know that people think that we teachers have it so easy because we have 2 months off in the summer but unless you have worked as a teacher or lived with one, it is impossible to understand that massive amount of stress a teacher has during the year and that it takes at least one month to simply decompress from the year on top of having to get everything ready for the next year.

The past month I have taken some time to reflect on my past year. This past year was the most stressful one that I have ever experienced. Things at my work were so awful that it spilled over into every aspect of my life; I've gained weight, I've had trouble keeping a good schedule with cooking and keeping up with my house, I've had trouble with my skin and even my hair! (wow I should like a wretched old hag - one of the highlights was one of my difficult students telling me one day - "wow Ms. T I saw a picture of you from the first year here - you were hella skinny". Thanks - this is what 3 years inner city will do to you) I've spent hours crying or wanting to rip my hair out. I've had very little time to work on things that I enjoy such as my jewelry and so my little shop has suffered. I allowed my stress to affect everything in my life. The only calming factor I had was my wonderful and supportive husband. Last month I decided that never again would I allow stress to do this to me. I am in control of my life, the elements around me are not.

When my sister was here, my husband and I took her to LA for a few days. We spent a night in Malibu, exploring the Pepperdine campus and dining at the fabulous Paradise Cove. The next day (which happened to be our anniversary) we went to Universal Studios. I told my husband that even though school was out I was having trouble relaxing. I had been in such a fast gear for so long that I was having difficulty relaxing and just slowing down. That day my blackberry died. It would not charge for the remaining two days that we were in Los and guess what: no one died, my house did not burn down, not one of my students had a dire emergency, my dogs were fine, and I had no choice but to stop worrying about everyone and everything else and take a break. And. It. Was. Wonderful. Since then I have worked on relaxing and getting things in order. After a much needed break I am back on track and feeling great. Pictures to follow.

"and who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life" Matt 6:27

Mod Cloth

I bought my first dress from Mod Cloth tonight. We are heading over to the East Coast for a dear friend's wedding in two weeks. I am looking forward to time away from the craziness that has become my job, some quality time with family, and a night out celebrating my friend's love and dancing for hours with my sweetie. I have been eyeing this dress, the aptly named 'come hither dress' for awhile and bought it tonight as the time is getting really close. I'm thinking a low side bun, dark nails and either red or silver heels (or possibly red nails and dark shoes). Fingers crossed on how it will fit . . .

Rock the Vote

Today there are primaries all across the country. According to the Associated Press, only 30 % of people that are eligible to vote will actually go out today and vote. Our right to 'speak out' through voting is a great one, especially during this time when our country is in such a state of disagreement and division. My lovely state of California is a hot mess right now. I tried to go before work but ended up at the wrong station so I will have to go after and then flip anxiously between the polls and the Celtics Lakers game tonight.

Insane in the Membrane

Despite all of the 'studies' telling us that this not good, my husband and I often fall asleep with the tv on. (When he was on night rotation I was not fan of a) sleeping by myself b) being in total silence in our bedroom when I could hear every sound both inside and outside of the house so I got into the habit of sleeping with the tv on) This leads infomercials working their magic: after several weeks of waking up to Insanity commercials and hearing, while half awake, people's success stories, I bought the workout set. It is a series of 13 workout dvds that come in neat little book, a calendar that shows what workout to do on which day, and a nutrition guide. Today was day one and I had to do the fit test. I retest myself on day 15, day 36, day 50 and on day 63, the end day. I am determined to stick with this as we are going on a cruise in August and I'm far from where I'd like to be. I'll keep you posted on how it's going - anyone else out there tried this yet?