December Thunderstorm?

Ok, so it's not confirmed, but I'm very nearly certain that I heard several loud and deep rolls of thunder as I was getting ready for work this morning. Regardless, it's been a nasty and strange day for weather. Indiana is supposed to be windy, but I had a dreadfully hard time walking to my car this afternoon. I was super close to walking into other cars- that had people sitting in them. That would've been embarrassing. And for those of you who are saying 'well that's not surprising, she can be a klutz', it was so windy that my car was shaking as I was simply sitting in the parking lot. So there. It was just as though I were driving down a dirt road in Michigan...

In other news...
I wrote my first letter of recommendation last month. This week the student came back to show me her acceptance letter! So incredibly proud! :)
I have more tubs of ice cream than bags of vegetables in my freezer. (I have two bags of mixed veggies.)
My Christmas tree (in my apartment) is still not decorated.
This weekend is the DMS Christmas reunion. Christmas movies, sugar cookies, and the 2nd annual ornament exchange will fill the weekend with wonderful fun and laughter.

First Snow

There were sporadic predictions of snow for the end of last week and this past weekend. Thankfully they delayed their appearance until last night and did not interfere with my Wheaton road trip weekend to see friends and family.

This morning several other teachers and I were discussing the road conditions and the dreadfully slow traffic on the way to work. I began reminiscing about the first snow we'd experience in Michigan- or at least the first true snow. Dad and I would take the Blazer out in the significantly covered subdivision roads. I would have to drive the 25 mph speed limit and then slam on the brakes when Dad instructed me to do so. It was a great time to be reminded how the vehicle handles and regain confidence in the new road conditions. Upon relaying this story to my co-workers one gal leans over and simply said "You have such a great dad. He is just amazing." Thanks dad! :)

Christmas Trees (and other somewhat related items)

After a wonderful (but all too short) visit to Michigan for Thanksgiving, I'm back in Indiana and life is back to its normal and busy pace. We have three weeks of classes left before Christmas break which means I'm winding down the last units and finalizing the review guides and exams which are approaching all too quickly. (I think my students would agree.)

Tonight I had dinner at Ivanhoe's with four spectacular gals I have/had the privilege of working with the past year and a half. It was wonderful to have the chance to spend time together outside of work and simply relax and catch up on life.

Afterwards I returned home and took part in Cyber Monday for the first time. Unfortunately the purchase was a selfish one. I 'happened upon' the TYR website and couldn't pass up the phenomenal deal on some triathlon gear for my race(s) this coming summer. Hooray for 50% off sales, an additional 25% off, and free shipping! :)

Now I'm decorating my tree while watching "You've Got Mail" and drinking coffee from a Christmas mug. (My Christmas mug 'collection' nearly doubles my number of coffee mugs. Almost but not quite. I like coffee mugs. Right Rach?) I'm also setting aside my classroom tree decorations to bring to work. A few students are staying after school tomorrow to help me set up a Christmas tree in my classroom- complete with apple ornaments. I think they would've come on their own, but I'm also shamelessly bribing them with chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered pretzels.

I love decorating for Christmas but doing so by myself is quite possibly one of the easiest ways to be reminded that I'm alone. Well, that and receiving mail addressed to the [insert last name here] Household. Sweet. Thanks. Me, myself, and I will really enjoy this letter. On the upside, my insurance agent sent me Christmas return address labels with my name and address on them... :P (I feel so official.)

Now I should probably hang a few more bows and ornaments on the tree and return to doing some schoolwork for tomorrow. Happy last day of November!

(Countdown to the Streamwood/Wheaton weekend extravaganza: 4 days!)

Cookies for Trig

My dear trig students have had a slightly stressful week. Tonight I'm baking them chocolate chip cookies. Tomorrow we'll leave technology for a day and [hopefully] get outside for just a bit to do some math with chalk in the parking lot. A change of pace can be good every so often. :)

Between the smell of the cookies baking, my favorite candle on the candle warmer, and the chance to eat some cookie dough my apartment is feeling quite cozy right now.

Spring in November

November
6:30p
pitch black
sight breeze
65 degrees

BEAUTIFUL! :)
Can it stay like this all winter? Please?

(The Christmas decorations in Wal-Mart seemed very out-of-place today.)

October

• I purchased two mums from a fundraiser at school. They serve three purposes 1) they are a true sign of fall 2) they make the deck beautiful- and I can enjoy them from my perch at the card table in the family room and 3) they make me feel like a grown-up. Don't ask me why, but owning potted plants just sounds impressive... in a very small way. :)
• I have 5 meets and two weeks left in both my jr. high and high school cross country seasons combined. I've had wonderful athletes this season which made for a marvelous team.
• Grandpa passed away two Thursdays ago. Kirstin and I got the news on Friday. It made for a difficult weekend, but we were both glad to be able to spend it together. This past week I've been blessed to have many condolences from my co-workers. I love the staff at our school!
• The family came down this weekend for TU's parents weekend. Mom brought down a marvelous supply of MI cider, apples, and cider donuts as well as some fresh bakery bread and homemade pumpkin muffins. We enjoyed dinner in the DC last night, dessert at Ivanhoe's, and then a Cracker Barrel breakfast this morning. Mom, dad, and Tim came over to my apartment for about an hour to help me hang curtains and move around some furniture to make a true home for my bike. As it was too big for my storage closet, we relocated a bookcase and dresser to open up enough space in my office. It's nice to have just a little more room in my family room now. :)
• This evening I had quite possibly the longest phone call of my life. Three solid hours with my college roommate. Marvelous.
• I've been fighting a cold on and off for the past two weeks. This afternoon I think I finally succumbed to the sickness. Hopefully it runs its course quickly.
• TU's homecoming is in two weeks. This year will be particularly special with the numerous events to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the women's cross country program! Many of the girls I ran with my freshman and sophomore years will be coming back into town for the weekend. It'll be a grand Maddawg reunion! :)

Labor Day Weekend '09

Labor Day weekend. I realized once again how much I absolutely adore 3-day weekends. Especially when they don't involve long road trips.

Saturday:

• I reorganized various things around the apartment... it needed to be done and I was trying to avoid grading and planning while still pretending to accomplish something. The wire shelving unit moved from the family room/kitchen threshold to the front closet. The office closet shelf is completely reorganized (or perhaps simply organized). I have a bookcase in the office now. This would make bookcase number three for the apartment. What can I say, I like books. And 3-ring binders. At this point I think last year's school binders and materials will find a home on those shelves so they will have their own central location (other than the little wall space beside the bookshelves in the family room).
• Kirstin came over in the afternoon for some work time with me
• Football!
• We went out to dinner at Mi Pueblo on the other side of Marion- Kirstin's first visit :)
• We stopped by Wal-Mart (naturally). It was Kirstin's first visit to the newly remodeled store. (I purchased a lettuce spinner!)
• Starbucks (Rach, I tried the Pumpkin Spice Latte. It was a hit. Thanks.)
• Kirstin's first trip to Meijer. It was wonderful.

Sunday:

• Pancake breakfast, complete with strawberries and whipped cream
• More work time
• Sanded wood for a make-shift bookcase for my classroom. Yes, I did this over a plastic tablecloth in the middle of my family room- and loved every minute of it. Oh, the memories of dad's workshop... Don't worry, I'm skilled enough to have a beautiful end product while keeping all the sawdust on the plastic mat to be easily vacuumed away. :) I've had some practice...
• Cover the ends of decorative cinder blocks with silicone to serve as supports for the bookcase without scratching the lab counter tops in my room. They look snazzy. Once again, I'm pleased with myself. (Thanks, Dad!)
• Munchies including our new favorite snack- football shaped pretzels! Kirstin and I were thrilled with that discovery at Wal-Mart last night!
• Kirstin returned to Taylor and I continued working through my massive pile of grading. It's my own fault. I let it pile up this week. However, I will make the excuse that I had two cross country meets added to my schedule.
• Grilled cheese dinner on pumpernickel bread with "Runaway Bride"

Tomorrow:

• Go in to work to enter grades for midterms (due this week)
• Iron my slacks for the week (and make sure my athletic shirts have made it through the laundry)
• Anna comes up from Indy mid-afternoon and then we shall drive over to a friend's home for a nice Labor Day BBQ party. Hooray for friends (and family)!

In other news...
Kirstin started her sophomore year at Taylor. My eldest cousin is just beginning her senior year student teaching in western PA. My younger cousin moved to Wheaton to begin his college academic and swimming career. And my brother was accepted to Taylor for the next academic year (although I'm sure he'd attend right now if they would let him skip his senior year of high school). All the cousins are growing up, and I love it! Go family!