WitL 2012 - Thursday

I am following along with Ali Edward's week-in-the-life project.

Today was a long day at work. I stayed late, finishing notes from a meeting and discussing things with my department chair and friend Jeff. Unfortunately, I didn't get to the gym as I had planned. Since this weekend will be largely devoted to wracking up internship hours, I don't know if I will have time work out then either. This is the story of my week - overcommitment means little time to care for myself. This is a lesson that life has tried to teach me many times, and here I am - still working too much. 

 

Today I felt the toll. My stomach is nauseous. After spending an hour and a half working on my last paper for this class, I took a moment to check its length. It's 23 pages and still in progress. That and two other weekly papers, plus my internship hours - the frantic nervousness is beginning to make sense. But enough about my over-committing.

Rosalind is having great fun with no homework this week. She had a piano lesson today, but outside of that and some small chores, she had a lot of free time, which is not normal. Sawyer has been very tired in the afternoons. Since he got up at 5:15 this morning, I suspect he will be tired tonight.

 

Saying good morning

Getting up at 5:15 and taking a shower - my early bird

Waiting to go

Getting the kids out the door and holding Rosalind's music bag

Not helping with the dishes

Posing

Listening to the 80s station on Sirius

Arriving home from the store

Setting the table - for people with really long arms

Being happy about the TinTin book that arrived from Amazon today

Assessing my store items - tea for the British tea tomorrow in class, cream and blueberry muffin mix because it sounded good to my upset stomach

Washing hands before dinner

Not washing hands before dinner

Reading TinTin

Making blueberry muffins

Putting batter mix into the bowl and on the counter and even a little on the floor

Laying out ingredients

Leaving some berry juice to flavor the muffins

Stirring

Reading together

Chasing

Writing a paper on the achievement gap

WitL - Day 3 - 2012

Ready for school, Dad.

Bella and a random sock and a dog town minus its stuffing. This is our house these days.

It's a bird! It's a plane! It's a boy dressed funky for prom week!

As is tradition for prom king and queen candidates, the two in the middle had been shanghaied. Yes, he is wearing a shirt, it's just a soft rose color that makes it look like he isn't.

I love my job!

Checking out the mini TinTin frame that came in the dog food bag.

Playing with her best friend.

I thought she was sniffing the flowers, but when she lifted her head, she had a flower in her mouth.

My Chinese visa arrived today! Have visa, will travel.

Lovely dog - when she isn't chewing up my shoes or my scrapbooks.

We always eat dinner together.

Someone was grumpy and didn't want to smile for the camera.

After-dinner chores

Reading before bed.

Also reading before bed.

More reading before bed.

The main story of today is that teaching seniors this time of year is both challenging (senioritis sets in once their portfolios are turned in) and fun (it's prom week, and their laid back attitude means we laugh a lot in class). If I could handle five classes of senior project research papers, I would teach all seniors every year.

I got my hair cut after school. When I got home, Jason and I spent the next hour doing chores while the kids played. Jason cooked dinner, got the kids' lunches ready, and did the dishes. I vacuumed (two almost-full-grown dogs (one of which is a golden retriever) means lots of fur) and got a load of laundry going. Sawyer was having a rough evening. He must have been tired because he whined and complained a lot.

After dinner, the kids showered while Jason had some quiet time in his den and I did homework for my two master's classes. One of my classes will be done in a week, and I couldn't be more relieved. I am not enjoying the class at all; in fact, it's my least favorite of all the classes so far. On the other hand, the other class - my internship class - is awesome: the professor couldn't be more wonderful, couldn't be more engaging. We are skyping to do our group work and some of our discussions. It makes a big difference to be able to have a face-to-face discussion with someone rather than reading a typed name on a screen.

Roz has had a good week. Since she had her recital Monday, we let her take a break from practicing the piano, and since she has CRTs at school, she hasn't had homework. This means more free time than usual.

I can't help but think today about how grateful I am for everything in my life - my family, my friends, my sangha, my job, my students, my administrators, my new van. I don't always feel this appreciative of everything, but today I do.

Song of the day: "Jesus Walks" by Kanye West - It played on my Pandora station while I was uploading photos.

WItL - Day 2 - Spring 2012

The kids in Daddy's car. He usually takes them to school. (He usually picks them up too, but I did that today.)

Today was an uplifting day. I got word that the San Francisco doctors were not convinced that my brother's MRI results showed growth in the tumors and that they are hopeful they can manage the tumors. This is refreshing, happy news.

After work, I picked up the kids. We got drinks at Sonic and went to "the new park." On our way there, Sawyer told Rosalind - without prompting - that he thinks she is beautiful. I asked him what he said, and he said, "I don't want to tell you." He is such a sweet boy, and this moment made my day.

The big story of the day is that our good friend Adam Whatley won Teacher of the Year for the Carson City School District. This makes me very happy: He is very deserving. Before the school board meeting, I went to dinner with Sharon and Terri. It was exciting to hear his name called. Too bad he couldn't be there for the announcement; he is taking kids to the international robotics competition.

Song of the day: "Brand New Shoes" by the Lazy Eights.

Rosalind brought home a cabbage plant for a school competition.

When I picked Sawyer up from school, all the kids were outside playing.

Sawyer's flower for spring decorations.

Enjoying climbing.

A refreshing Sonic drink - $3 for all three of our drinks.

"Who's there?"

But Rozzie climbs it!

Doesn't she look like a big kid here?

The two Macy girls.

Sharon, Terri and me at my favorite restaurant - The Basil. Going to dinner with my girlfriends is one of my favorite activities. I wish I had more time to do it more often.

Adam's family waiting listening to Mr. Beck talk about Adam. Adam's dad helped him a lot with the robotics team (call Brobotics).

Adam's video saying hello.

Terri receiving her husband's award for him.

Sharon and I were thrilled to hear a previous student Julie was Classified of the Year for Student Support Services. Julie demonstrated her maturity and command over language when she accepted her award.