Thing #37: Three Day Weekends

Without explanation or apology, I am back. (thanks for the inspiration, Drew)

There is something sweet about waking up on Sunday and thinking, "What do I need to get done today before going back to the grind?" and realizing that you have two days rather than one to finish things. This three day weekend came at a particularly wonderful time, following a student calling me "unprofessional" and lying to me at the end of 3rd block on Friday. It's good to get away from those kinds of situations for a longer-than-normal amount of time.

It's also nice to think that I can go to church today, enjoy lunch with the fam as usual, hit the beach, and still hang out late and get papers graded or even grab a drink with a willing friend. I like the possibilities today affords as a result of tomorrow's freedom from the grind.

Also surprising is the weather - once calling for thunderstorms, it appears calm and sunny outside. What a fabulous way to continue the three day hiatus from reality.

Thing #36: Reading until I sleep

I have become unfortunately fond of watching TV until I fall asleep. I vowed not to move my TV into my bedroom, yet I did during the unfortunate moments of early fall without proper heat. And there the TV has stayed throughout the winter and well into the spring. However, I have vowed to actually read for my own personal growth this break, and I have finished the book I began over winter break (Beautiful Boy -a heartbreaking work about a family's struggle with an addicted son). I finished the book last night. I stayed up through tired and into exhausted. I read until 1 AM and every last word was devoured.

That is the way to fall asleep. It's like leaving the day with a bigger brain, more to think about, and the satisfaction of having completed something worthwhile instead of frivolous.

And off I am to read the second book (The Help, read for a book group at OLHS). I'm excited to be back to reading. I feel more like myself. Why do I go so long without putting down the remote and picking up a book?

Thing #35: Homemade Pesto

Ok, so clearly I failed at my Lenten discipline. I've been a bit stressed out and overwhelmed, so the blog just didn't happen. Regardless, there are always things to be happy about that go without writing/saying - just know that there have been many good things in my life. I've decided to pick up where I left off, however, and get back on this "happiness" train!

On Sunday, I saw a show where the man made his own homemade pesto, and it looked really easy - just a little garlic, some basil, pine nuts, parmesan cheese, olive oil, a little blend in the blender, and voila - pesto. Now, I need to preface this by saying I'm not inherently capable in the kitchen. I am slowly learning, but sometimes, I'm a little obtuse. First, I discovered that basil is NOT in season. Second, I learned that it's not easy to make pesto in a blender designed for making smoothies. I know now that I need a food processor. However, with those obstacles facing me, I perservered and now have the first batch of homemade pesto.

The basil was frozen in little cubes (genius move on someone's part) and the blender issue means that there are still some chunks of pine nuts in the pesto and that I made a HUGE mess that may have ended up on the ceiling of the kitchen. It was an expensive experiment (none of the ingredients are super cheap), but, with a little mayo, some italian bread, some home-marinated tomatoes (another "thing to be happy about" entry, right there), a little turkey, some swiss cheese, and a good toast on the oven, I realized that the experiment was totally worth it.

MMMMMMmmmmmm.

Thing #34: "She's In Love With the Boy"

Today was one of the first beautiful days of 2010, allowing me to glimpse into the hope that spring will soon sweep back into our lives, rendering winter a cold - yet relatively benign - memory. Anyway, on these first warm-ish days, I am tempted to do the environmentally un-friendly thing: turn up the heat and roll down the windows. Today, I did such a thing. Then, as the windows are down, I ultimately realize that I must have the PERFECT song on the radio. I searched all 12 pre-set stations in my car at least three times, and nothing on any of the stations struck me as perfect. Out came the iPod and the "All Time Favorites" playlist. Number one on that playlist is my favorite song of all time - Trisha Yearwood's "She's in love with the Boy." So I rocked it, hard, to one of my most genuinely country songs. It was a good moment in a day on which I have struggled with my inner demons of negativity and self-doubt. And whenever I hear it - through a phone call from mom, on the radio, when shuffle selects it, or like today, when I purposefully select it - I'm happier.

"What's meant to be will always find a way"

I know that's not the lasting message of a love song about two teenagers, but it seems to be the thought that leaves me with a warm feeling of hope in my chest. What's meant to be WILL always find a way... and I will take Trisha along with me each step of that journey.

Thing #33: Lessons that have gone well

Part of my lenten goals (especially after yesterday's reminder that our lenten sacrifice should be something that stands in our way of God) is an effort to come up with at least one "thing to be happy about" a day. I hope this goes well.

So, here goes my first attempt at positivity (despite my lingering hunger and exhaustion):

Today's lesson went really well. I refused to give answers for most of the lesson. Instead, I allowed my students to create their own working knowledge of personal narratives. What they came up with was better than any PowerPoint slide I could have created. Now, they not only know what good writing should have, they also know what it looks like (and what it doesn't). I feel like a good teacher, and I'm not worn out from talking all block and re-explaining the ideas. They did the work. It was fabulous.

Thing #32: The light at the end of the tunnel

As we trudge on through the middle of February (the worst month after January), I find myself in my typical late-winter, pre-spring melancholy. I feel sad for no reason; the ambitious schedule seems impossible; I want to simultaneously drink wine (which I dislike in a way reserved for spicy foods and rainy runs), cry, and watch terribly sappy romantic movies. I hate February.

Yet (and yet), I find myself looking forward to the first 60 degree day with an almost reckless hope. I can smell the sweet scent of the air from open windows. My feet feel the freedom of comfy Rainbow flip-flops. I taste the first sweet bites of watermelon. Every inch of my body aches for the springtime sensations.

So, even though it seems impossibly far away after this abysmal winter (and let's not lie - it's been icky), I have hope for sunshine soon and the brief (even if proves imaginary) break in the hectic schedule. I cling to the coming spring as if it were my only life line. It is the light to which I walk - thankfully it is the light of life.

Thing #31: Successful Art Projects

Deep down, past the obsessive-compulsive neatness tendencies, beyond the procrastination bone, far removed from the frequent-nap-taking gene is creative ability. Often, it seems incredibly distant. In fact, often, it seems as though it and I have little in common. However, on occasion, it really steps it up a notch and shines through the aforementioned personality ticks.

Yesterday, it produced an awesome art project. And there it is, lovely picture posted. The theme was "I believe that happiness is something we create," (thanks, Sugarland), and I used transparencies to overlay extra happiness onto already beautiful places. So now, Geneva has my own personal sailboat, Connecticut has my picnic table ready, and the oceanfront has a chair and peaceful umbrella waiting for me.

I guess the coolest part is not the actual artwork, but the fact that it worked according to plan, as many of my recent endeavors have. While making it, I realized that I love taking pictures, and I should get a nice camera and really learn how to do it.

It's nice to know that under the OCD, procrastination, and laziness waits this creative center that is ready to take control of an otherwise uneventful snow day (don't even get me started on VBCPS and possible make-up days).

So, whose wedding shall I be ready to photograph? I'm seriously learning to photograph. I need an alternate career path should teaching fail.