13 days- mind clutter abounds

Instead of my usual end of school euphoria, I am feeling like nothing is over yet.  My synapses are firing like crazy, and that led to not the most restful sleep and waking at 5 am thinking I had to go to work today....  **massive eyeroll**  If it was not raining  for the millionth time in the last 3 weeks, I would be on my way to BAYFIELD right now.  GRRRRR.  That particular trip helps me put a period onto the end of the school year sentence....  oh well.  I will go in and finish my rooms up today, use the rainy day in a useful way.

And this, boys and girls,  is what it looks like when it is not raining 

So we had some excitement in our town yesterday, and while rumors circulated wildly,  (some of the younger peeps around are sure that this only happens up here- LMAO- oh you guys will understand someday- things are exactly the same everywhere) there were a couple guys who were in some way involved in a drug bust- and wow that story has swung back and forth a few times- ran off into the woods behind the McDonalds.  One was caught by the police dogs (I bet that was not fun) and the other gave himself up after spending the day in the mosquito infested, rainy, wet glory that are the swamps of northern Wisconsin.  AND they were from Florida, so I bet he got a little cold too.  The effect of all of this is that our town was in a soft lock down for the morning, the kids at school were having a heart FAILURE over the thought of having to stay in the building even a minute longer than they had to, and it generally gave everyone a vague sense of unease.  As stupid as this sounds, (and we all know that I just don't care how stupid any of my ramblings sound) I was a little creeped out by the whole thing when I went to get the mail after the MA got home.  And then I find out way later the second guy was caught/gave up down the road from here - probably a half mile.....  All this mostly took place about 1.5 miles away.  BUT our law enforcement did a great job and seriously they are such good people.  So, a big thanks to them.

Any who, last night I did a little relaxing- perhaps had a yummy glass of adult liquid refreshment as we watched some goofy movie (crocodile dundee?? I really didn't watch much) and I read up on a bunch of Italy stuff (shocking, I know).  I am going to make up a little tiny presentation for the students on Wednesday when we have our final pre-italy meeting, so I have been searching for a good image to use  to introduce some of the architectural features that a guide may discuss  Architecture is not my gig, except I do enjoy a good Greek Doric column or a variation thereof, but I am giving it my best efforts.  I had to find myself a highlighter last night, as I can hardly not highlight the parts I find important in each section- oh that higher education stuff is always bubbling under the surface.  I believe we may not be seeing a whole lot of Gothic architecture, so I don't have to discuss flying buttresses or anything (I LOVE THAT STUFF THO) but there are lots of Renaissance things to review and some ancient-- so some basics will be fine. Post and lintel, arches, columns, domes, blah blah blah.  I'm going for the "whet your interests" sort of effect, instead of the "eyes rolling into the back of your head with drool forming on the corner of your mouth" effect.  hehe

So I was thinking about what I was going to link for my art feature of Italy for today- I can't help but think about all those equestrian statues.  I just loved learning about them back when I was in my dark sleepy art history class that was God Forbid at 9 in the am usually. What the hell were those professors thinking??  I had 2- 3 Tabs lined up in front of me on some days, depending on the night before- just to stay awake.  Wow, that is a blast from the past!  First- omg- Tab- ew. That was some nasty junk- ugh.  And second- well, I don't drink soda anymore, so that gives me sort of a moment too.... Anyway, as cliché as it may seem, even back there I was all about the horses!

My plan for the day is to finish my rooms and then see what happens.  I could be at school all day depending on how involved I get in this.  But it is all good.  I am actually really looking forward to reading my Michelangelo book this afternoon.  And I will start laying all my stuff out for the trip!!  Woo HOO  Talk about a joy!!!

So if you could just do this for me...

Good morning ridiculous brain, this is your leader speaking.

If you could just relax for a minute and a half and fall asleep and stay asleep at a decent hour, that would be great.

You have no reason to be pinging worries all night long.  Your life is going fine.  For the most part...

That is all.

Debi

PS while you are not sleepy now, you might be this weekend and we just can't have that.

And on to a pretty good week!

When last we blogged, things were looking irritating at my house, but situations were resolved and it turned out to be a pretty good week!

My High School kids are usually very fun and quite cooperative.  They are a cool bunch and my mornings with them are generally quite good.  My elementary kids, for the most part, are the same, but I have a couple classes that are so SO big.  Like 30 kids in the classroom big.  And since it is a class and a half, they are very noisy as well.  And things aren't getting any quieter as the end of the year approaches.

So, a couple of my days during the week are ones I dread a bit, as an hour is a long time with all that constant correction and reminders to not shout at the kid they are sitting right beside....  it's exhausting.  Anyway, Tuesday, these children were actually pretty productive and fun- after I read them the riot act and possibly frightened them.  Ha, like I am so scary.  Anyway, that was a surprisingly good day, followed by days of little glimmers of good news.

It has been a week of eyebrows raised in little moments of surprise- cancelled meetings- and days of warmer and dryer than expected weather...  things like that.  Today we have an inservice all day and then its Friday and then it is a weekend that is going to include some kayaking!!  YES! With a friend I haven't seen in like FOREVER!!  Double YES!

I now have a several clumps of flowering little daffodils, and a few full sized blooms have occurred just yesterday!  Woo hoo!

And back, briefly, to Monday.  The MA had to help someone late in the afternoon deal with a tax situation, and then had some business things to attend to.....  which is no different than ever, but bad timing.  The NEXT day he got home at a reasonable time, raked the lawn for a while and then we did go for a little ride.  I don't think I stopped talking literally the entire time that we were in the truck.  Lol.  I know you all find that hard to believe, right?

It has been nice getting back to spring activities- the lawn is being dealt with, I have the grill out, starting to fetch the different pots of perennials from their winter beds and getting them woken up.  Making plans for kayaking and Bayfielding and all that good stuff!

Anyway, I hate it when my blog is hanging on a downer sort of note, so I decided to do a quick update.  It really is a good week.  I like this!  :)  My camera contains some really nice daffodil shots, but I didn't get around to editing last night- I had a fun twitter thing going on, and I can't be witty and creative all at the same time I guess?  That and I had done some fast down and dirty weight lifting the last few days and I was SO tired.

Well, though it doesn't feel like it, I have to go to work today.  Inservice days - where I have to sit all day- make me just a little nutty.

But I will find some joy - I am sure of it.

Rock on all you beautiful people!!!

And fall-

Alright, I am trying to not get to work an entire HOUR before I need to be- even more than an hour.  I am ready right MEOW to leave.  It is inservice day.  I don't have to leave yet, but being a creature of habit....  yeah.

Just had a discussion about daylight savings....  that is coming QUICKLY.  I can't even.  In denial!

I just this morning turned my thermostat on to run the heating schedule.  Up until now, in spite of 30- degree lows, I have been turning it up when I'm cold....  more denial.

I just received my Yaktrax yesterday!  I ordered them the other day in anticipation of hiking- there will be no FALLing this year, dammit.  for those of you who don't know- they are nonslip attachments to the bottom of ones shoes.... so lets see if I use them.  :D  denial happens.

I am going to go HIKING up north tomorrow and Sunday!!!   ALLLLL the yeses to that- no denial in that one!!  It is nice to do something reminiscent of summer, to remind us that fall isn't all getting ready for winter, there is a lot of awesome in that season alone.

It is almost the middle of October you all!!  I can't believe it, seriously October just started and now it is the 9th???  What in the ever living heck.  I just posted week 6 of my kid's grades and that means it is very close to the end of the quarter.... that much closer to kayaking a good friend keeps telling me....

I am not a person to deny fall.  I love the change, I love the color, and I am very grateful the leaves are hanging on for dear life this year.  It makes the stark, albeit beautiful, winter a little shorter.  However, I am having a hard time letting summer go.  So bear with me, as my autumn transition will be more complete after taking some good fall color pictures has been accomplished.  And that should happen in the next few days! The MAD ENGLISH TEACHER will be in the house!!  Or at least in the area.  :)  And that is going to give me a lot of joy!

Happy Friday everyone....  xox

What's Up, Buttercup?

 So I find myself saying these kinds of random things to kids- not sure but I think I picked this one up from The Big Bang Theory the other night.  I have, of course, heard this before, many times....

What's up?  Well I have been whining to every person I know about the ROTTEN reception that I am getting in my HS art room regarding the internet.  Not sure, but I think someone left the room when I started complaining yet again..  but ya know, if you don't say something then no one will know and then how will it get fixed??  Well, it is being worked on and that is awesome.

So it wasn't a terrific few days for my internet service anywhere, except for on my phone.  Somehow AT&T manages to come through for me.  My home internet service took a dive this past Friday, which on the one hand made me SAD.  On the other hand I managed to weed out probably 4000 photos from the computer.  Yes, 4000.  Don't judge me.  Why this happens to me only on weekends (losing service) is way beyond me, why Friday night or Saturday morning..... ideas??  eh.  Whatever.  Anyway, spontaneously the internet comes back up on Sunday night, after I had made an appt. for a service call- they said Tuesday.  I didn't get a chance to reply to an email saying I didn't need a technician, which is good in retrospect, as someone came of course today.  A GREAT Centurylink guy came to the house, after calling  me at school, to check my line, and it was fine.  However when I walked by my modem when I got home, it was down again- and phone call was made to said technician, who came to my house on his way home, and wa LAH- new modem and functioning service again.  I would like to fill out a survey and see if I can get that guy a raise.  I've had him at the house before, when he worked his magic on the outside of the house and he is STELLAR.  

Now I need my kitchen light replaced (of course this involves going to pick out a new light, and I haven't done that yet) and at least 2 dripping faucets fixed.  That would be great!  But barring miracles and lottery tickets, I will have to entice someone into the house for those little tiny jobs, perhaps with cookies??  Just throwing that out there.  Call me- anyone who wants cookies.  And can do light plumbing and electrical.....  :)

I feel super sleepy tonight again, this is coming from someone who rarely gets to sleep before 11:30.  I think the children have infected me with something.  Seriously, people.  So I have been popping zinc and I rested tonight instead of walking or lifting.  I am glad I stayed home I guess, but I feel like I am slacking.  I have to find my Vit. C too, and I suppose since I am turning back into the ghostly white girl that I am (instead of my summery pale beige), I need to pull out the Vit. D as well.  I wish I was out in the sun much of the day still....  Ahhh summer

So I did get out for some walks, and best of all took some pretty good photos on the river Sunday morning.  This getting up at 6 am on Sunday thing.  WUT is up with that??  Well, until the leaves are all fallen, I anticipate going out on the Flambeau regularly.  I am now able to get into the kayak without getting my feet wet (oh the grace that I have) and more important- I can get OUT of the kayak without falling over and getting wet.  And I don't even have my kayak buddy to hold the front of the boat while I regain feeling in my - well - until I could stand again.   I love going out there in the cold mornings and go through the mists.  It was suggested by an old friend that I play the Peer Gynt Suite on my phone while paddling, but I am able to TOTALLY bring that to mind, so all the time I have that tune going through my head.  It is a hoot.

So I am doing some serious babbling and I should get ready for bed.  It is going to take a bit to download photos and finish this, so off I go!  I hope you all can find some joy this lovely Monday night....  I have some dental work tomorrow (yay me) and then I am in wait mode for another little Oswald baby to make their appearance.  I get to be Gramma for a couple days and be there for a certain adorable little Oswald boy!  And that will be a  joy for sure.

chit chatty randomness

I will not probably be posting photos in this post either, but you never know what lies I could be telling you right now.  HA!  I am too lazy to edit photos this evening, and if I am feeling energetic enough I will be kayaking again in the morning and might have more pix.  So I will see what happens in the morning.

Ok, so I lied, photo included

I may kayak Butternut Lake tomorrow morning, early.  Because I can and it is actually supposed to be sunny, unlike today where it stayed cloudy until literally 10 minutes after I got home.  Well shoot, I just checked and it might be cloudy in the am.  sigh.  Whatever.  I am going unless my arm hurts.

Next on the random list of stuff, is I am getting my piano tuned tomorrow for the first time in several years.  The piano hurts my brain and makes my eyeball roll into the back of my head it is so out of tune.  Oy. So YAY for that.

I found a bunch of drawings I did a long time ago behind said piano.....  and some of them are ones that would fit in with my previous blogpost.  So I may photograph and update.  Who knows!  :)

I am also going to try to find a new light fixture for the kitchen, as the one I have works randomly in spite of a new switch that was put in....  and with some humid weather coming it won't work.  It is an aged thing, and I need a consistent light source.  And speaking of the kitchen, I am more than a little irritated that the handle of my new refrigerator is still not tightened properly and that I had to order a new one.  I am usually pretty laid back about things like that, but this bugs me to no end.  Not positive that Sears will get any more of my business.

Today I kayaked on the river, as was hinted at before.  A fisherman, who later apologized, apparently didn't see me and took off like a rocket, which never happens on the river.  The boaters here are so considerate.  I was well behind him, fortunately. Anyway, when I paddled by him later, he offered apologies which I graciously accepted.  He said his son told him about me being there, and he was sort of mortified.  No danger and the waves weren't too bad.  So on this trip, I get down to DeMars Bridge and was really surprised to see a whole lot of floating beer cans in the water.  I managed to fish most of them out of the water and dragged them home with me.  SOMEONE was drinking under the bridge apparently.  Seriously people, throw your litter away!!!  It bugged me a lot, they could have at least just put their cans in the cardboard box they left under there.  sigh

This is a murky photo because I took it through the dry bag.  Two of the 7 or 8 beer cans I fished out of the river....  

So school is starting Tuesday and BLAM- the temperature is supposed to be in the mid to upper 80's all week.  Thank you so very much Mother Nature.  That is just awesome. At least Labor Day will give us 2 four day weeks to sort of ease back into the swing of it all.

I didn't realize that I was edgy about so many little things!  Lol.

Between cleaning out the refrigerator and clearing off the piano, I suddenly have a pile of things to do tomorrow!  But that is ok, I will kayak and enjoy myself first and then see how much I can get finished in the afternoon.  A little fun and then some clutter clearing!  I might have to make a quick trip to the local thrift shop....

Hope your Monday has a little bit of fun and then a mission accomplished. How could the day be more joyful than that?

School vs.summer Debi

There is a massive battle going on in my being right now.  My school persona is starting to intrude on the summer spirit that is me.  Of course it had to happen and of course it is beginning now....  but I am not ready for it after this amazing summer.

I have friends whose children are heading back to school today (those poor things), and virtual friends who are teachers who are headed back or have gone back already (someone send them some tequila), there are all those nasty school supplies in ALLLL the stores, and it is drawing me in.  I even had to call one of my art supply companies to confirm part of my order, as I had apparently transposed a couple numbers in my frantic ordering session the day before the requisitions were due back at the end of June- imagine that!  So all that will be waiting for me as well.

I have decided (with the smallest encouragement) to do a summer redux here soon. I think it will be a nice way to really revel in the luxury of summer days that are there for the filling with all things amazing and entertaining.

The school year coming will have it's usual challenges, but it will be uniquely odd this year.  One of my best friends and favorite colleagues has moved on to another position in a different school.  It pains me more than words can say.  I can't imagine what I am going to do.  We also have another big turnover in staff at the high school.  For a variety of reasons- and that is also hard for those of us who are remaining.

I am feeling anxious and a little sad and definitely restless.  I am trying to make plans, but need to spend a day or two at home working on a couple of projects.  This is pretty typical for me to feel this so I am not too concerned, but it makes me want to run away and hide big time.  I have to work through the sad today I think.

I have no doubt that there could be some people who think I should suck it up, buttercup, but that is not very nice now is it?  Whatcha reading my blog for then??  :)

Alright, time to start the day.  Because I never know what it will bring, and so often it is a joyful thing.  Have a good day everyone

Quick hit catchup

GOOOOD MORNING EVERYONE!!!

Yeah I am feeling obnoxious this morning, and what in the world am I doing up at 5 am- well you guessed it by now!!  IT'S ANOTHER KAYAK DAY!!!!!  WHHHHHHOOOOOOPPPPP!!

Ok, now that I got that out of my system...  so this will be a no photo post, as I have not yet developed ooops edited my photos.  When I am tired like this, that is actually the word that popped to my mind, so out it came.  A quick list of fun things, or maybe not quite as fun, since I last said hello.  Or maybe they will all be fun, who the hell knows about me.  Hmmmmmm, well let's see:

1.  I went on a KILLER kayak session the day before my birthday, like I actually got wet from the waves, windy and wavy day kayak session.  I may post more about this.

2.  I had a FANTASTIC birthday!  Began the day with Ella and Jon and Sarah, went and walked around a little downtown, relaxed, eventually had dinner out with the entire family, so finished off with Ella and little Greggy!!

3. MARGARITAS

4. I did almost nothing yesterday to recover from having company for 7 straight days.

5.  Got to Bayfield last week and got sunburned in the clouds (takes a special kind of talent and a special sort of pale!)

6. YOU GUYS!!! I cried like 4 times on my birthday from all the amazing messages, texts, phone calls, and over 150 facebook (and twitter- yes from some of my twitter friends!) Happy Birthdays!  I am a sentimental sap, I know, but I don't care. This is why I love my birthday.  And it was sunny.

7. I finally got to the gym again yesterday and I feel it today! (awesome stuff)

8. Parade on Sunday was fine, and I saw a bunch of my students...... and they are excited for school....  I am glad I have 3 weeks left.....

9.  Unfortunately, sort of, I can feel my brain start to shift.  I am beginning to feel school creeping in to my brain.

10. SOMEONE remind me to call School Specialty when I get home from kayaking- I need my order from them!  yeesh.

11. Oh yeah, we had a fire in the fire ring on my birthday, too.

12.  Well, I gave myself 15 minutes, which was only briefly interrupted for a quick coffee run.  And meow I have to get going.  I am picking up the Mad-English teacher in a half hour and I am still in my robe.  :)

Have yourself a joyful day everyone!

psssst: we are headed to a REALLY big lake today!  :D

Birthday month continues.....

Yeah, so basically I went into a mini hibernation the last few days, and didn't do a whole lot of anything.  I have been cleaning a bit and doing some outside chores and other things that didn't require a lot of mental energy.  The Mad-Art Teacher needed a reset couple of days!  I go through times like this when life just seems too much to handle, and after retreating into my own little world,  I come out ready for action again.

I did have some very nice little birthday month treats for myself, not the least of which was seeing my little grandboy!  And my Mad-Second Son and his Sarah.  In case you haven't heard, they are in the process of moving up here, since he secured a good job in the area and well....  kids, I'm gonna have a grandbaby (and another son and one of my Sarahs!!!) near me!  Exciting stuff!

Another thing I began doing over the weekend was to pull out the piano bench and start playing again.  I was very happy when the pieces I used to play the most come right back after just 2 days of practice- mostly, that is.  When I got to a piece with 3 sharps I was totally blank on what that third sharp was- but my fingers remembered.  I have more practicing to do!  My hands and arms are really tired today from the baby holding and the piano playing.  I will begin my Italian lessons again in a week or so.  That stupid elbow breaking business certainly did make my life spin out in directions I didn't expect.

I also realize I have those 2 Denver posts to do yet, and I plan to, but it might be a while.  Today I go pick up my dear friend Cheri from the Amtrak station in Columbus!  She is going to spend the rest of the week with me, and I am so very excited!  You just KNOW that Bayfielding and kayaking and other enjoyable things will be happening.  And not only that, I get to see miss Ella tonight, since we are staying with Jon and Sarah for the night.

I have a little bit more finishing up here in the house and then I need to pack an overnight bag and it occurs to me I have no idea what I am going to have for meals when Cheri is here!  Lol, well I am pretty good at punting.  That is after all, what summer is all about.  Rolling with the way the day goes.

I needed this reset.  I feel good again, not letting life's little disappointments get me down for long.  And that is a joy!

What do YOU want to do, Debi?

What do you want to do now?  

You have spent the last 9 months doing what you need to do.  You spent the day yesterday doing what was urgently called for - to allow your  brain to change gears, though that hasn't really happened yet.  What is it you want to do with your afternoon/day/summer/life?

You have made reservations to go see the mountains and fly in a plane.  You have made arrangements for a dear friend to come and visit.  You have allowed your children and spouse to do what they need to do and worry about whether everything in their world is right and good or at least tolerable.  What do you want to do now?

It is too windy to kayak and probably bike, so what is the next choice?  Playing word with friends seems like a wasteful thing to do on a sunny afternoon, so should you really?  Weeding the flower garden would accomplish something, but is that the most important thing in the world?

Walking seems like a good idea, but your phone needs to charge up.  Music is necessary because you don't necessarily want to be alone with the thoughts in your head. That is a bit too much to deal with today.....

You could bake or clean or straighten, but just who are you doing that for?  Is this the way to spend your second day of summer vacation?  Are you entitled to another day of enjoyment or should you just get to work and stop being so damn self indulgent?  Apparently you have moments of believing that you have the right to do what you want and not necessarily what you should be doing. And who is this person who determines what should be done?  Certainly not Debi.  Because she just doesn't want to be alone and doing what she is supposed to.  She has done that all her life.  She is tired of it today.

What is going to fill your afternoon, and will it fill the need you have today?  Will it give your brain a way to relax, so maybe at some point in your life you can sleep again?  Will it make you finally feel good enough for all the amazing things that are and might be happening?  I hope so, because I think you need it.  Because you look so damn tired.

And all you really want is to find some peace along with your joy.

A not sunny Saturday in May...

Well, that was a bitter disappointment!  I woke up today fully expecting to see some sunshine and BAM- clouds.  BIG SIGH.  I haven't been able to get out and do biking/walking for a few days now and I am getting antsy.  I affects everything about me. I get weird and melancholy.  But that is me- and last night,  beer didn't help AT ALL.

So interesting thing I noticed:
 I had a little party to attend for a coworker on Thursday night and it was at another coworkers house.  It was a nice little casual thing and of course - a few adult beverages were served!  They make a mean Margarita there, in fact one they made with amaretto instead of triple sec!!  OH mygoodnessyum.  So one slid down really fast and then dinner and another and life was yummy and good.  Tequila makes me happy.  Or maybe it was the sun. (It was sunny Thursday, but I didn't think a bike ride after tequila was a good idea)  But at any rate, fast forward to rainy, nasty Friday and we went to Dick and Joans resort for supper.  Because why not?  I had previously made a mental note to NEVER have a margarita there (not their strong suit) and had a very yummy dark beer.  Leinies is great. However, maybe it was the rain, maybe it was the beer, but I was not the happy Debi that Thursday found at the end of it's day.  Then we ended up with a semi engaging Western movie with Pierce Brosnan that was so sad (and frankly weird) that I can't believe I sat there and watched it until almost 10:30.  Yeesh.  Westerns- yuck.  So yeah, my sad self was wide awake for a while last night.  But I did fall asleep eventually and feel great this morning.  And not sorry for myself at all!  Lol. I think I will stay with wine and tequila.

I have only one week left of school.  I had my last Friday with the elementary students and coming this week will be "last days" again.  My Thursday can be a very challenging day, and of course that is the last one as there is only a half day on Friday.  As the Mad-English teacher said, I have time to gird my loins!  Which is a saying I enjoy and will occasionally use myself, but this needed to be attributed to him!  LOL.  so so funnily true.  Send me lots of positive vibrations on Thursday everyone!

I have begun the process of cleaning my rooms, including the cupboards and my incredibly messy desks.  I find that once the school year starts I am pulled along in such a whirlwind that I don't have time to straighten anything up.  Which is why I try not to do a lot of major rearranging because during this whirlwind time I need to be able to find things quickly and not stand there and say to myself- hmmm I think I remember putting this in a better place, now where the heck was that?? You have no idea how many things I find that I needed during the school year when I am cleaning up from said school year.  Part of this is that even though they are mostly forbidden to go into my cupboards, the (high school) students will go in and rummage through for things they think they need.  Which is why I have like 4 opened bright yellow acrylic paint bottles,  none of which are  empty.  Oy.  I need a better system, but like I said, I am operating on auto pilot when the school year is in full swing.  I just had a moment when I was thinking about how life was when I only taught elementary school art.  I thought I was so busy then.....  I had no idea.

So with the end of school upon me, I am thinking about my June - July is still being scheduled. The end of school this year is making me a little sad and it is making it hard for me to deal with anything and everything.  However,  I am thrilled to think about going to the cities and visiting my seester Rose and forgetting about EVERYTHING else for a few days!  It is my annual trip and I am so excited.  I need sister time!  And we will be spending a nice stretch together as we will be heading south to Janesville for the weekend to eventually attend a family graduation.  I'll get to see some cousins and aunties and an uncle who I haven't seen in a long long time!  YAY! Other than that, June will have a few Bayfield trips and I have to get a glass project underway.  I need to finish up the garden shed project that I want to do.  I also need to repair my throne and finish up a few flower pots.  I feel like I should have a big sculpture project in the works, but the time I will spend on scaffolding doing the mosaic on the shed will have to do.

I am assuming I will have company here from the children and otherwise, I will wing it!  I love being very flexible and able to jump in the car and go when I want.  I also will be doing the biking/walking/kayaking/hiking thing whenever I possibly can!

Writing this incredibly oddball post has really helped me pinpoint a few little glitches my brain is having these days. I am very disturbed by some staffing changes at school and it affects me so much personally and professionally.  Personally, I am going to have a dear friend with whom I spend a lot of time move away, and professionally I am losing a colleague that I depend on for many things.  It is a melancholy that is running in the background all the time.  It has made me very edgy and I am starting to realize how overreaching these feelings are.  I am much more prone to sadness, to being snappish and not confident about anything.  Hopefully by realizing this (writing is really cathartic for me) I can deal with it instead of torturing everyone around me by being needy and distracted.  And possibly begin sleeping well again.  And I really need my confidence back- I have absolutely none right now.

Yeah, so that is my little random thought process for the day.  I was looking at my stats for the year on blogger and I have only like 6 more posts to write and I will have more posts written in this half year than I did last year.  Interesting isn't it?  Part of that is the fact that during my life coaching thing I wrote all the time, just not on the blog.  :)  I still journal, but not like I did last year at this time.

So I hope that you can get a little sunshine and joy in your life today.  I am going to be looking for mine even if it is still cloudy out.  And then I'm going to go for a bike ride, or maybe a kayak!  and then I'm thinking pictures might be taken as well, and there is the joy that I am looking for.

A random Wednesday morning in May

Last night was not a very good sleep night for me.  I have to learn to shut down my brain, but that isn't always possible.  The MA suggested at 2:30 in the am when I tried a 3rd different place to sleep that maybe I need to get more exercise.....  isn't he cute??  He was kind enough to let me sleep alone the last few hours so I could actually have a couple hours of shut eye.  I used to be able to sleep like him- lay down, shut eyes, drift off....  must be nice.  I know that this is a cycle, I've gone through this before.  It is just annoying.

So, in other random news, I started riding my bike again!  YAY for nice weather.  I am way more comfortable and confident on it.  I don't feel like I am going to take a header onto the road or have a stone tip me over.  Cars coming up behind me still bug me, but I assume that is a rational fear! I am very grateful for the mirror I had installed.  Speaking of which, if you are in the Park Falls area and want a bike, I cannot recommend Lucky 13 Power Sports enough!!  They got me a new dealie for my handlebar that allows me to tilt it back so I don't lean on my hands and elbows for now, and they considered it warranty work!  First year check up/tune up free!  I was blown away and so impressed.  I will say that although my arm gets sore when I ride, it recovers quickly- so win!!

Today is our last early dismiss day, hopefully forever.  We started having early dismiss days when we had to learn new technology things back in the day.  And they have been used heavily since, but apparently the calendar committee got the message that there are better ways to hold inservices, which is really nice.  Our time is much better used with full days, so we can collaborate with our colleagues and actually get some of the things we are needing to do- done.  So much "stuff" that needs to be documented and researched and uploaded and all.  oy.

I am looking outside at some sprinkles on the window.  It is nice to see that, as the Northwoods is a bit dry.  While we had a really nice rain Sunday, it was of the scattered variety.  The next few days has rain in the forecast, so that will help the green overtake the brown.  When you live this close to forest, you can get a little nervous about the dry.  Visitors don't always take the burn bans seriously.

Mother's Day is coming up this weekend and I am thrilled to have Jon, Sarah and Ella coming!  All I want for Mother's Day is breakfast!  :)  IE: I don't want to make pancakes on Sunday I want to go somewhere.  I don't care how busy it might be.....

Well, I better get this day started.  Hope you all have a great Wednesday!  Be a joy giver today!  :)

May Day! Already?

I changed my calendar to May this morning!  HOLY smokes how did that happen??

Lovely May sunrise

It is a beautiful morning, just a few clouds that made a lovely sunrise possible.  Warmish out (who am I kidding, my feet were freezing when I was standing out there barefoot) with the promise of a lot of smiles.

May is a time of anticipation.  Students are anticipating the end of school.  Seniors are anticipating graduation.  Teachers are anticipating a rest coming in just a few weeks.  Summer always holds so much promise and thoughts of adventure and respite.

This past week has been a lovely gift in the weather department- walks have been taken and gardens have been worked in.  I know that I have to begin lifting up some heavy weights as I have aches where there should be none.  But this will start and indeed already has.

May has the promise of visitors too!  I will get to see my grandkiddos this month and my boys and my Sarahs and I am so so excited!  Speaking of excited, it seems the Mad-middle son and his lovely Sarah could be having an addition to their family coming in the fall, and I can hardly contain myself! Life is so full of lovely surprises.

May has a number of birthdays I enjoy, too, most notably my little Greggy and my seester Rose!!  Two of my favorite peeps!  (don't worry all the rest of you, you are my favorite peeps as well!)  

May is looking to start off really well- it is Friday after all!  AND I "may" have a day trip of pictures, coffee and Lake Superior planned!  And this will be good.

Hope your May Day is spectacular!  And most importantly - full of joy!

smile!

Lol, I saw this and just had to......  it's just so joyful and full of me!

Be a joy giver the best way you know how.  And do it often!

Chitty-Chatty

I have noticed that I am very talkative on this blog lately.  Interesting how an unexpected turn of events can change your patterns in life.  This might be a Captain Obvious statement, but oh well.  It was something that struck me this morning.

I found myself awake a lot last night, which isn't all that unusual, but then wide awake at 4:15 was sort of a pain.  I dozed off and on and just decided to get going a little before 5.....  Now if I actually went into work early and got something accomplished that would probably be pretty awesome, but I am sort of addicted to my coffee and quiet time here.

Tax season is done today and my life after school will take another wild swing.  Instead of having literally hours to myself, the MA will be lurking about the area.  He has put in some crazy long hours this tax season, good grief. You'd think after this many years it wouldn't be quite so much, but it was.  I don't do real well alone so much, however, it'll be an adjustment.  Lol, this happens every year- AT LEAST it will be nice outside and he can go and rake and get ready for the bees and all the things that MA likes to do.  The last 2 years that didn't really happen, as there was still snow on the ground.  There will be one happy accountant here.

Speaking of beeeeeez, they are coming to Rhinelander on Friday, so we will pick the little buggers up on Saturday.  It'll be nice to have the kids back!  We will probably be making a sugar run in the next few weeks- early May I should imagine.  Sugar run= Sam's Club for massive bags o' sugar.  That will coincide with some quality gramma time with both of my little ones.

Last thing to update: I am getting back into fighting shape so to speak.  My aerobic fitness is well on its way to being back to normal- and I am working on my weight training again.  It is all really light weight and not a lot of reps, but I am working on it.  I am, surprisingly, able to do full pushups!!  I did 10 last night. Frankly, I am shocked.  I feel weak and pathetic, but apparently there is some muscle tone still lurking about the area.  A few weeks and I will get back to the gym again.  Don't worry all of you, I promise I will take it slow, if you promise I'll get my strength back!


That is kind of all I have for now.  I need to think about lunch and what to wear and all that other morning routine things.

Hope all of you find a big ole bunch of joy in your day today!  Pass it around!

It's like that...

I'm having one of those days. Where something has spun out of control. And you're so worried and upset about it that nothing in life seems right. 

And then things that never would bother you - you would pay no attention to- suddenly make you want to climb the walls. And you are pretty sure the people around you think you are either insane or ridiculous. Which could be true I guess. 

Or more likely no one noticed at all. Sigh. And then you realize you need to pull yourself together. Fast. 

I had one of those days

New day tomorrow 

Travelin' light

I had an interesting and amusing observation this morning.  I was up at my usual time, 5 am, and the MA gets up as well, as he is on his way to the greater Eau Claire area for one of his income tax seminars.  Now this sounds somewhat dreadful to me, and I am quite sure that he is NOT indulging in the wonderful shopping opportunities, which is just unthinkable, but this is not really pertinent to the story, other than to possibly enhance the idea that this man is waaaay different than his dearest spouse.  Anyway, let's stay with the story line, he got up and got ready, had his cheerios, picked up his one single bag (small) and left for his overnight seminar.

Let's analyze this statement.  His ONE small bag.  He took a complete change of clothes, placed in my little overnight bag with his toothbrush and toothpaste, and possibly he remembered his dental floss. And likely a comb.  That is literally ALL. HE. TOOK.

I am not sure that I can even comprehend being able to pick up one small bag  for an over night stay. Because first of all, I am a pillow taker.  I take my own pillows everywhere, just because I must.  Then there is the fact that what if I want to wear something different than that one shirt and pair of pants, and what if its raining and what if I need different socks?  Not to mention, I will on a similar trip need to take my running shoes and some sort of workout clothes, and so that means I am pretty much up to a small suitcase, an extra bag with shoes, a book, my computer or iPad, phone charger, other appropriate cords, my makeup bag with a little makeup, and all the things that go with a shower in the morning.  Like my favorite soap, coconut oil, own shampoo, conditioner and then there is the advil, bandaids, hand lotion and a protein bar.  Plus a sweatshirt.  OH and my pillows.  I will have you know I could carry all that in one trip!

In one way I am a little jealous of the ease of his departure, but on the other hand, I would be entertaining myself on my computer, texting my friends with my fully charged phone and having a nice small selection of clothes to be comfy in the next day.  And who knows what treasures I would have found at the local department stores!!

Yeah, well, at any rate, I have the house to myself tonight, which might be a little lonely, but alone in the house can be a joy too!

Hope you have a good night and sleep well!  

Monday at a Dead Run

 Today was the first day I have had to myself in a while, I am not complaining- it is a fact!

Lola from a different point of view

  I've had a really good summer so far but man, I needed a day.  SO, I got up later than planned but after the MA left I .........

• Went for a 10 mile bike ride!!  YAY
• Since I was "warmed up"-  read: sweating like crazy- I went to the gym and did back day
• After lunch (with lettuce from my garden!!)  I mowed part of the lawn
• and weeded and mulched my peony beds
• and cut lettuce in the garden (and weeded there a little) 
• threw in some laundry and showered from all that outside time!
• cleaned up the kitchen (disaster yet from Sunday)
• made cold brew coffee, washed the lettuce
• made sugar water for the bees
• had a snack because I was starving again

Now I am thinking about dinner and I tell you, my hands and other various body parts from weight lifting are sore!  I did another round of "sissy squats" - Which are NOT FOR SISSIES - and so my legs and glutes are tired and basically, I'm exhausted and its only 5pm.  I think I got a lot done tho!

If you are expecting a point to this, I think you might be quite disappointed.  I think mostly I wrote this while trying to decide which blog post I should write first.  So in my typical Mad Art teacher way, I chose none of them and wrote this instead!  :)

I neeeeeeeeed to do a lot of photo editing- LOTS.  And my hands are seriously sore, so I will do it only a little at a time.  I have lots of fun things to share, so I will be getting at it.

I hope this lovely Monday has given you a lot of joy.

Ready set APRIL!! plus go away snow- enough already

I have not been doing a lot of blogging lately, it seems as soon as one thing is done, I have another thing going on.  Which is pretty typical of life, isn't it?

Actually, I have not been walking as much in the last few months (stupid winter) and I realize that I compose a lot of posts while walking.  And I would have photos to show you from my walks, or at least my ability to walk freely about the property or area or whatevah.  So, there has been a bit of silence on the blog front.

So the play went well, both of my far-flung sons have visited and I am at the dawn of the day that wants to give northern WI another blast of winter and the day that will have me getting out before this happens.  I plan to hop in the car as soon as I possibly can today, and drive south before the snow up here begins.  Watching the weather I am pretty sure that I will be fine once I get over to the freeway.  The precip in central WI is supposed to be  mostly rain or slushy snow late this afternoon, so I can deal with that.  What I can't deal with is ice......  I think I am in the clear.

This weekend is baby shower weekend!  I am hitting the road because I want and need to be there for my kiddo and his wife!  AND I desperately, and I do mean that!, need a weekend out of town.  I noticed when I was packing that the last time I used my suitcase was in December for the TIES convention.....  :( 

So, I am going to go and double check my packing job, make sure I didn't put my toothbrush away last night instead of returning it to my makeup bag, and just generally tidy up and prepare.  I feel sort of bad deserting the MA at a time when he is gone from home from 8 am until 9:30 or 10 at night, but it's only for a little while longer.  I left him lots of stuff to eat, tho.  Hopefully the elusive Mike will come over and hang out with the horse and the kitties a few times.

Everyone have yourself a good Thursday, stay safe if you are up here in the snowbelt, and even if you are not!  And don't forget to be a joy giver! 

Quick hits

QUICK hits, because I miss writing this and life has been busy and yeah....  you get it.

1.  I'm over this cold. -27 this morning, that's enough.  (EEEEEEK- I just heard on the weather that it was the 45th day this winter of below zero weather- could be more up here)

2.  I've been doing some daily Instagram pix of Lola!  It is fun, find her story on Facebook or Instagram!

3. I have such dry hands and broken nails from- the dry weather, the clay we have been working with,  winter in general....  and this is obnoxious.  I think a nice trip to a tropical island is called for, but....

4. Things at work are busy and trying and noisy, but still I love my job, but there are parts that could  be eliminated and I would not complain.

5.  I sort of smashed my finger and consequently have an interesting pinch/cut on my middle finger. This put a screeching halt on my lift today- not happy.  Someone goaded me into at least doing cardio, and I did that, plus a few other things.  I sucked it up, but there was a good deal of whining and not a little cursing.

6. We have a half day tomorrow, and of course we have an inservice..... (see number 4)

7.  I am going with my buddy Adam, the Mad- English teacher, to Ashland this Saturday night and will do the Book Across the Bay!!  WOO HOO- 6 miles across Lake Superior from Ashland to Washburn. Oh I am looking forward to that!

8. Within a month or so I will see the far flung children of mine!  One way or another!!

9.  Tax season is winding up to a fever pitch.  The MA is working Saturdays and Sunday morning, won't be long and Sunday afternoon might be on the chopping block as well.  I have been the go to carrier pigeon girl lately.  

10. I have been able to find my joy every day, but wow, somedays it is hard to find something to be joyful about.  I need some color in my life.  Is it too early for daffodil watch?  Too soon??  sigh.

Anyway, along with some cleaning, and cooking and grocery shopping, my life consists of school, gym, eat, sleep - rinse and repeat.  But guess what- Scenery painting begins next week.

And on it goes.  

ALWAYS be a joy giver, y'all!