Table for Four

So, I decided that one of the perks of living alone is the ability to eat straight out of the peanut butter jar. I'm sitting in the family room right now drinking chocolate milk and casually dipping my fork in the peanut butter jar to smear it over my banana- TUTF style. :) Of course, another great thing is having dinner leftovers to eat for school lunch the next day. Then again, that's only positive if dinner turned out well. :P

Last night one of the high school teachers followed me home and helped me carry up the newest addition to my apartment. She and her husband gave me their old kitchen table! It's absolutely wonderful- a 3.5 ft diameter round solid oak table with four chairs. It's been well loved, but covered with my blue table cloth no one would ever know. And let's be honest, I don't really care. I have a real kitchen table!

A long weekend lies ahead and, until a few hours ago, I had no plans but settling in a little more and continuing to organize. However, I will have a life tomorrow and go to Cedar Point with a youth group from Hartford City.

I had a chicken taco salad for dinner. It was delicious. (One meal of which I'm glad to have leftovers.) Now I'm watching Numb3rs and feeling rather nerdy. (Love the DMS!) Then it's down for a few hours of sleep before a full day tomorrow. Get excited. :)

Colored Highlights

As I was driving to school this morning (am I supposed to say 'school' or 'work'? or can I use the two terms interchangeably?) I started thinking about what the highlight of my third Wednesday of teaching could possibly be. Now, you need to know that on my drive I hit exactly one stoplight and one blinking red light. I was rather excited today when, for only the second time, I hit the stoplight on green. I thought that would be a highlight in its own rights.

However, that thinking disappeared when, before 4th period, two of my high school girls came up to talk to me and told me that they liked my outfit. In fact, they went so far as to say that they always like what I wear and they think I'm stylish. :) If that doesn't make your day, I don't know what does.

Then after cross country practice one of my sixth graders told me that it was much better than latch-key. Well, at least it's a step up, right? And I was afraid that this particular individual wouldn't enjoy himself.

And, of course, the last few highlights of the day include picking up wings from my new favorite restaurant (The Varsity Grill- family owned and operated- relatives of one of my students/athletes), had my oil changed, got a letter saying my coaching position has been approved by the board and is official, and mom calling to tell me that she found an artificial Christmas tree for my apartment (so maybe it's a few months early- but it was free!)

So here I am, sitting in my living room eating dinner and thinking about my day. And then I began categorizing the highlights of my day. Before I knew it I was thinking about them like items in my planner. Each one became color-coded according to the type of activity. You see, yellow signifies typical events/assignments that are due. Orange marks major events, like tests and exams. Pink marks social events. Blue is for meetings. Green, of course, is always used for running and other sporting events. It's been that way since the beginning of college. And I don't think it'll change any time soon.

Some old habits just never die. :P

The Invisible Baton appeared at May's Graduation Celebration

Our new Meijer has some paint on the outside now. I'm only a little excited for it to open up. :) It'll be a bit yet, but I'm working on my patience.

I left school around 6:30 this evening and, realizing that all my meat back home was in the freezer and I didn't feel like defrosting anything or cooking, I stopped by Papa Murphy's to pick up a pizza for the evening. I tried it out last week and, loving it, was quick to go back. I even had a coupon for a free container of cookie dough. So, while the pizza was cooking, that cookie dough and I had a bit of QT (no, I didn't spoil my supper).

Amy and I have a coffee/lesson planning date set for Thursday. I'm thrilled to have some Amy time to myself. It's like she's spoiling me.

And, to celebrate Vanessa's first day teaching in Maine (congratulations to my favorite middle school science teacher!), I decided to include this lovely picture from our graduation party at Taylor back in May. This would be Vanna and I 'practicing' our 4x100 blind hand-off. My steps weren't quite right. And Vanna forgot the baton. But you get the point. We love running. And we love each other.

I was walking down the hall after school this evening and it hit me. I'm a teacher. A real, live teacher. Somehow, after looking forward to this point in time for many years, I can't quite believe it has actually arrived. But I'm glad it has, accompanied by many challenges just to keep me on my toes. :)

Week 3

Week 3, day 1.
The first round of tests is over for my pre-algebra and algebra classes. Round two is actually later this week. The way the Saxon textbooks are organized there is a test every 4 lessons so we'll have a test nearly every week. Tomorrow I have a new teacher meeting in the morning and a high school math department meeting in the afternoon. Practice is going well and our team roster is still growing daily. Friday I received my marvelous coach's shirt which is really going to be the cause of some jealousy. :) I also talked to the gentleman who is making our cross country shirts so that we can finalize the design.

This weekend the family came down and helped move Kirstin into Taylor. She's as settled as one can be as a freshman after welcome weekend. Her classes start tomorrow and Tim starts within a few weeks as well.

It's hard to believe that life is happening. So much has changed within the past few months and I don't think I've quite caught up. Almost, but not quite.

I'm Alive

Yes, I'm still alive down here in central Indiana. And when the internet arrives at my apartment (hopefully sooner rather than later) that will become more aparent. As for now, be content in knowing that I'm almost completely unpacked, my classroom is becoming more decorated and organized, and I love my school, co-workers, and students.

New adventures are constantly around the corner. Tomorrow marks the beginning of middle school cross country and I'm pumped. I might have even decided on a T-shirt design already. I know- me, the indecisive one, already decided on a T-shirt? Yup. It's true. :)

It was a bit strange going to my church this morning- as a teacher and not a student this time- but it was wonderful to see those people again, to chat with the parents of the kids I had in the nursery last year. In many ways it's just wonderful to be back. I'm even learning to shop at Wal-Mart on my own without Rach (a novel idea, I know).

I think cooking for one is my largest challenge at the moment- I'm so accustomed to feeding 5 people when I make dinner. I'll figure it out sooner or later, right? ;) And besides, leftovers make for a great school lunch the next day.

Nostalgia

The Uhaul trailer is all packed and ready to go. My car is awaiting its final suitcase and pillow before its departure tomorrow. And I really am excited to have a job and be teaching this year. Yet the past several days have been full of nostalgia and intensely missing what I once had, those that once surrounded me. I know living alone will have certain benefits, but for those of you that know me at least moderately well know how much I love people. The apartment will, no doubt, feel very empty at times. And somewhere deep down that really scares me, and it hurts like all get out. The summer did not pan out as I had expected or hoped, and I can't see God's designs for me in this year as it is definitely far from what I had planned for myself. Yet a dear teammate so wonderfully reminded me yesterday to trust. Just trust God. I thought I had that lesson down earlier this summer. Apparently not. I'm a slow learner.

Dear friends, I miss you terribly. And I dreadfully wish for those times when we could simply gather on the couches in Fairlane, play Guillotine, and share laughs. I miss the craziness, the long nights after track meets, and the joy that you brought to my lives.

Although I may be hesitant at the prospects of life right now, I know it will still be okay. Life is still good. I'll get over the change soon enough. And maybe I'll even enjoy it once and a while. ;)