... blame me, I will wear it in the empty, hollow part of my garden ...

This is what my desk had looked like since HSAP testing. As of yesterday afternoon about 4 IEPs, 6 papers, a week's worth of lessons and what shards of my sanity that remain are hidden somewhere in that mess.

Yuck.

Well, now the desk looks better.

There were 7 actual IEPs in that mess, by the way. Now they are all on the way to the D.O. with colorful paperclips holding them together. Now I only have 7 more to do between now and the end of the school year! (Man, are there a LOT of spring babies or is it just me?)

In other news, it is generally ill-advised to break school rules. Loudly. In the hallway. Outside a classroom. When you are ALREADY in trouble. And when a teacher asks you to turn in the device that is causing problems, it is a worse idea to R-U-N-N-O-F-T (name that movie!) down the hall. And hide your ID. And then, when stopped by the same teacher to go to the office for now having a phone and not having an ID … running away again is yet another bad idea. Especially when her backup arrives. And her backup is a cop.

Just sayin’. Bad call, kiddo.

Today I am parting with some furniture that is very … well loved. Mom and Dad got it when I was in grade school, newish. Now it is far from newish and very … rumpled. Instead of new furniture, which I will likely never have, I have decided to take my grandparent’s cast-off sofa and loveseat from their beach rental. They do not match my house, but I have secret weapons – Pinterest and a slipcover. The slipcover is for the sofa, and I will be attempting to cover the loveseat with sheets as I have seen on Pinterest. Wish me luck! Craftiness is not my forte.

I think the boy is well aware of that already.

 Blogs of note:

Very cute clothes and very interesting interior design concepts - http://www.isuwannee.com/

Nerdy and adorable - check it out! No really, now! -  http://fashionablygeek.com/

... better not find you lookin' the other way. Isn't time you finally take it? Make it so good it steals your breath away?

I love buying products from small companies/local retailers. It's a little thing, but it makes me smile ALMOST as much as when I cuddle adorable puppies. Like this one!

So, of course Etsy has my PayPal and when I have presents I want to purchase I attempt to look for ways to avoid big box stores. At least when I can. My cousins adore Bath and Body Works, and there's no way I will find something from Corrin's wedding registry on Etsy. But there is something so ... fantastic about knowing that the thing you bought was made with love by the person you wrote a check to that just makes me ... filled with girlish glee. Especially when you KNOW the person you're writing the check to - they've made it and they are making their way in the world ... with their own awesome two hands.

The Cordial Churchman was started by an acquaintance from the church I attended in undergrad - Ellie. She and her hubs live in Rock Hill with their adorable children and church plant and a host of amazing bow ties. You should follow her blog - she has a great list of fashion and crafting blogs to peruse as well. From the business angle - the purchase I made arrived promptly, was wrapped beautifully, included nifty directions and was frighteningly dapper on my fella. Here's photo from the website, for general effect.

 

(Important note: Ellie only provides the TIES, not the dapper hipster dudes!)

So, if you ever find yourself in need of this particular piece of haberdashery - check out Ellie's store She even makes bowties for wedding parties.

Just sayin'.

Cufflinks are awesome - and you can get incredible custom ones from All About You Creations. Fast shipping, great craftsmanship, and exactly what I wanted. They are fairly fetching.

Just sayin'.

Yesterday I recovered from being exhausted from the boy's birthday weekend shenanigans- which included stolen wizard robes, walking the town, me getting a bit too silly, Waffle House, celebrating ANOTHER birthday at Saskatoon's (tried ostrich, 'roo, and gator)
 and a very early Monday morning. I thought that such an awesome weekend deserved an even more awesome Monday, so I got myself these flowers, which are beautiful, real, necessary and totally not on the weekly budget.

I find it interesting how many of my female students (and co-workers) find it shocking that I get myself flowers. Honestly, I have discovered that boy-creatures like giving them and I like getting them, but if I WANT FLOWERS the best way to have them is to get them for myself.

And Nancy Etcoff says they are good for me. SOLD!

Skipped the gym. Unrepentant. Will fix that today.

... love is thick and sweet and a hair wide ...

Today is a OH MY WORD JUST LET ME BE kind of day. Or I’d like it to be. I am as nervous as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs and ate a ton of pistachios just now for ABSOLUTELY no reason other than the fact they were crunchy and fun to shell. I shouldn’t be this hungry, really. At least they were also delicious. I still don’t know why I’m so nervy.

I just want to curl up and be alone and listen to rain and breathe and read. Maybe soak in the tub and drink some vino, or even just cuddle with my cat and listen to NPR.

 

None of these things will actually happen. I will go work out at 9Round, then shower or change or run some more, and get coffee with Big B and then go home and (most likely) clean and set up a guest airbed and cook and maybe get another key cut for the new cleaners that are coming this Sunday and fold laundry and get things together for my long weekend next weekend and … I am running out of steam just thinking about it because I am ALREADY TIRED JUST SITTING HERE.

I am out of words, out of sorts, out of energy, out of place, and oddly feel out of time. Not like I’m running out of time, but like I’m in the wrong spot in time.

Perhaps this is a direct result of too much Dr. Who.

Or the rain.

Thankfully Liz-tro-vert days are few and far between.

Thankfully, boxing helps.

Thankfully, this weekend will be a blast.

And tonight, I will hopefully rest.

 

Some art by Christian Jackson -

... hold yourself together like a pair of bookends ...

Yesterday the clouds were nearly purple and swirling like they were full of snakes as I flew home from school yesterday afternoon. We’ve been testing this week and my brain and body are inexplicably tired. Who knew that watching a room full of kids fill in bubbles and making sure that they aren’t cheating could be so … utterly exhausting. I can’t wait for my unplanned Friday night so I can go to bed early. I guess you know you’re an old fogey when you get excited about things like bedtime. The storm blew in – a blessing that washed all of the yellow pollen out of the air and made things clean and fresh again, if only for a little while.

My soul longs for summer.

 

I was able to see (albeit briefly) another childhood friend – all grown up. She’s changed her name and had a baby and the family is lovely and well. It is so nice to see my friends enjoying their lives and making their way in the world. Even if it means they have to leave TigerTown and go far away to achieve their dreams. Dreams that involve wedding rings and tiny socks. It was actually kind of funny to reflect on the fact that I’m not married and I had a comment on how many people I’ve dated and not I’m not ‘settled down’ yet. I’m taking it as a compliment. Life experience is a wonderful thing!

There are NO tiny socks in my dreams. But there are dogs the size of small bears, backyards, grills and hammocks. Fireplaces. PJs. Handholding. Books. Coffee. Red lipstick. Really nice furniture. Passports. Great music.

And today I will be dancing around the kitchen singing Dave Barnes and Blake Shelton in my sock-feet.

Because I can.

… I’ve been losin' sleep, I've been keepin' myself awake …

I am bad at getting out of bed. I will wake up and just … lay there. Sometimes on my iPad, sometimes just day-dreaming. Sometimes I am all snuggly and giddy and sometimes I am just really annoyed by the idea of mornings. If I actually slept like a normal person, this wouldn’t be the case.

This particular morning I was up at 5ish (trying a new alarm system, with THREE alarms in different places in the room) but still had issues getting out the door by 7 to get to work early for a meeting. I was a snail about getting my shower, packing my gym bag, grabbing my lunch (prepacked), and dressing. I just couldn’t get moving well. This seems to happen EVERY workday.

I have considered and tried several options. The multi-alarm idea gets me out of bed. The coffee-alarm gets me out of bed and caffeinated, but causes spills and messes. I can almost disable just my phone alarm while still asleep. Waking up EARLIER and going to the gym helps a little, but I am switching gyms for good in June so this will not be a viable option next year.

I really have nothing against Gold’s as far as typical gyms go. Other than the sauna they mentioned they were adding at one time but have never ACTUALLY gotten around to doing – I have no complaints over the last two years. It is a big, nice area with lots of cardio machines and some classes I like to do on occasion. The times it is open are decent. The Cardio Cinema is very lovely. And the little ‘ladies only’ area is great for me sneaking in some weights when I feel sufficiently motivated. The motivation is the issue with Gold’s and that problem is entirely MY fault. 9Round seems like a better fit for the time being. 

Not only is the workout HIIT, which I need to tone up for bathing suit season, it is social, quick, and varied. I get one-on-one attention from staff when I go in as well as throughout my workout, I can do partner sets, and I can start a ‘class’ at any time.  Sadly, there isn’t reciprocity with other 9Round gyms that I am aware of – but a travel fee of about $9 every once in a blue moon is OK to deal with. The morning hours are not work friendly. But I would NOT want to do this workout before school. The people there motivate you – hardcore. If you walk in there is NO way you will weasel out of getting the best workout you can give that day. My workout buddy and I sweat way too much and are way too tired after for it to not be a great workout. Yesterday involved at least two three-minute intervals with some form of crunches THE WHOLE TIME. And I was introduced to burpees.

I do not like burpees. Apparently no one does. Not even the trainers.

I got hand-wraps and gloves (yellow and pink respectively) and wouldn’t you know – the pink gloves are the lightest weight gloves they have. I picked them based on color. The boy has since informed me that training gloves are supposed to be heavier than that (of course he would know these things) so I am boxing with lighter-weight gloves than I perhaps should be. Also the wraps are super weird and hard to put on. Also - I failed TWICE at wrapping them around themselves when I was trying to leave the gym. Because my arms were twitchy, even with the 'diva' gloves.

Whatever.

No time to rest though, this week is jam packed –  tomorrow is coffee with Brian and trivia night, and Saturday is a blues festival right here in TigerTown, the boy’s Bday, and mini-barcrawl adventure, and maybe even another Bday adventure on Sunday for another friend! 

And workouts hopefully three more days this week. Yay?

P.S. Interested in Upstate-goings-on that involve blues music? SURE YOU ARE! 

P.P.S. Vindaloo curry is not for the faint-hearted. Or weak-stomached. But apparently my cat LOVES it!

... stall your mother, disregard your father's words ...

Wow, I have been lax in posting of late! Thanks for the nudge, Lady F.

*deep breath*

Some things have changed in my neck of the woods over this LONG break - a brief summary, for those of you who'd like one ...

1. The new job has a little shine off of it now. I enjoy working with and older set of kiddos and every day is a challenge! I enjoy ELA immensely, so this is the perfect marriage of the job I had hoped to have when I was a little girl and the job I wanted as a teen. The people I work with are fantastic, I have signed a contract for next year (WHICH IS A BIG DEAL, YOU GUYS!), and I am constantly challenged.

2. Some renters have come and gone. Most notably I have said goodbye to the angry German. Thanks, roomie, for breaking your rental agreement and refusing to pay. I am actually healthier and happier without the poisonous environment you created. Cheers!

3. I MIGHT have found my inner sarcastic sassy pants (see above).

4. Two 'major players' in my life are getting MARRIED in the same month, a week apart! Kris and Corrin have found their respective 'other halves'. I am a MOH in one and a Bridesmaid/DJ in the other. October will be busy! I am elated and also miffed that things are changing a bit. Kris has been my roomie for going on 4 years and her Lizard-monster is stealing her ... and Garr-fish is stealing my bestie from college. I expect to be visited and harassed to visit often.

5. Another major player is preggers and about to pop! This may or may not have confirmed my suspicion that I never want to procreate. I can hand babies off more easily if they aren't mine.

6. I am obsessed with a new set of TV shows, most notably Dr. Who and Misfits. I still enjoy Frasier.

Some things have also stayed the same ...

1. Still into biking, being healthy(ish), exercise, and movement. Cooking experimentally, but mostly paleo when at home.

2. My cat is still neurotic and co-dependent. Positive affirmations do NOT seem to help unless paired with bacon. Which is my roomie's fault. I will always blame the warped-ness of our mutual fur-baby on her.

3. I still have yet to shamelessly strut about in a bikini or actually get that tattoo.

4. I am shamelessly in love with Pandora One.

5. My walls at work are covered with odd sayings and random things.

6. I am still finding my way with regards to faith and knowledge. I am still a beauty-seeker and a truth-seeker. I find that mileage tends to vary with any form of thought with these types of things from person to person, and that this is part of what makes life so interesting.

In more recent times, I have been out having adventures in the lovely Upstate of SC. One example is ShalomFest. I heard a great lecture and had an awesome time with Lady F, Sarah, Lady M, and the boy. I love learning new things about cultures and religions, and let's face it - nothing beats some yummy, adventurous food!

Sarah had a baby MONSOON of tiny socks and dresses and bows and pink and bunnies. It was really fun to see friends and meet new people! This little baby will have an awesome community of baby-sitters, aunties, and snugglers.

Faithie is back from the Midwest with hubs and baby in tow - the high-school lady-gang has been reassembled (it isn't hard with just 3). Hannah, Faithie, Lady-Bate and I had a grand time playing 'pass the baby' and catching up on gossip. Lady-Bate is almost exactly WHO and HOW I want to be when I grow up - minus the kids. She is extroverted, blunt, emotionally invested and outrageous - but ALWAYS incredibly wise and kind. Maybe I'll improve with age!

I was able to get my first Contra of the year in - and there is photographic evidence that I was there. And that I danced with the boy. I love Contra and River Falls and the people and the music and there will be several trips up this summer. It will have to happen. You should join me!

 

Blues and Swing also still happen and summer will need to have a FULL HELPING. I have my eyes on some events coming up. YOU SHOULD GO TOO! The local line-up -

CHEX and HCBX are two EXCELLENT chances to get your dance on in the Holy City with some of the best folks around. Does it get any better than dancing at the beach? GVLX is local and awesome.  Summertime - a Blues event takes us to the capital city and into historic venues. Even though it is far into the future, I can't wait for The Winter Blues. AND OHMYWORD there WILL be dancing.

I saw The Avett Brothers in concert in TigerTown and it was ... so wonderful. SBS, Ma Smo, Ashwinkle, and I had a blast! Who knew you could dance with a cello?

I get to go to my first ever prom this year! I am all a twitter. And the kiddos are asking each other and it is ADORABLE to watch the interactions. AWWW!

The entire world is yellow with pollen and I want to bathe in Claritin and scrub my eyes with steel wool. Instead I run, yoga, or go to 9Round inside. I can't wait until the plants settle down.

Yesterday I was the most adorable pink lumberjack-teacher ever, thanks to Target. A surprising amount of students liked this dress. It may be a new workweek staple, simply due to how EASY it is. Easy is good.

I haven't been reading books lately, but if you love blogs - might I recommend almost EVERY blog at Pathos? My favorites are No Longer Quivering, Love, Joy, Feminism and The Friendly Atheist, but there is something for everyone. If you want to see some of the other blogs I read, let me know! I'll feature them in other posts. I follow several religion blogs as well as several paleo cooking ones.

*... exhale*

... cold is the water - it freezes your already cold mind ...

Since the beginning of my first summer as a school district employee, meaning my first summer of freedom and daring, I have done many crazy, odd things - dancing all the the time, reading relaxing books, riding my bike in 104 degree weather, last minute day trips, going to plays, drinking moonshine, jumping in mountain creeks, not having a sleep schedule, not having ANY SCHEDULE AT ALL, fireworks, hanging out downtown with old friends, drinking way too many iced teas at Starbucks, sleeping in tents, and seeing all the people I love and want to spend time with. I am looking into more real estate, am sporting a vicious tan (especially cute biking tan lines, I might add), I am watching Frasier and documentaries, and really trying to embrace the good things being thrown my way. I am using my computer less, and doing more. I am registering a team for a Mud Run (maybe! It's expensive).

As an example of how crazy my life has become, my weekend plans involve biking around 35 miles on Saturday morning, coming home, packing camping gear, driving up the mountain, setting up camp, contra dancing for around 4 hours, camping out AND THEN hiking on Sunday.

But today, I deep cleaned.

Now, most people who know me how important that phrase is - but in case you didn't - when I deep clean, it is for a reason. Why on earth would I deep clean my car, bedroom, bathroom, or various and sundry areas in my house instead of doing the more exciting things I could be doing - like laying out and reading, or the things I should be doing - like going to the gym or going through the mail?

Because I can't think straight. I Monday quarterback everything. I over think and over analyze and worry. For example - as delightful as having a summer off is, I feel like I can't plan ahead for next year and I'll be behind at something I've never tried before. And then the brain loop. And this builds and builds the nerves can't be fixed by a brew or yoga or a bike ride - and I want to avoid too much delicious food because I am happy my behind is smaller than it used to be - so I turn to Clorox wipes. 

And this is just ONE thing on my mind. There are others. And they bug me too. And they all have loops. So I clean until they all get sorted whilst I scrub or I am too tired to care. Because I don't currently have the stamina to take all this out on the treadmill and dance is on other nights.

Thank goodness for Clorox.

Since I've taken a break, I will get vino, order a pizza, make some yummy beverages (Thanks for the tips, KF!), and keep cleaning. Hey, a night in after 2.5 weeks of adventure is a good idea.

And I will have the cleanest, comfiest bedroom ever on Sunday as a reward for my crazy weekend.