My 403(b) - which is like a 401(k) for teachers - has changed somehow and so today after school, my financial planner, Ken, came and met with me to discuss my options. He knows from prior meetings that I am a financial moron. Once I even told him that he should speak to me as if I am a retarded kindergartner. I think he thought I was kidding.
Today's meeting went something like this...
Ken: "Blah blah blah blah blah mutual funds blah blah blah blah interest rates blah blah blah?"
Me: [Nods, wondering how such an old guy can have such a thick head of hair]
Ken: "Blah blah blah blah variable annuity blah blah blah Oppenheimer blah blah"
Me: [thinks, "I'm pretty sure The Police wrote a song about Oppenheimer's deadly toy... is he talking about it?"]
Ken: "I recommend blah blah blah blah blah"
Me: "Sounds good" [wondering if it was the pear at lunch that gave her the indigestion]
I'm useless. However, it was a pretty awesome day. First day back with the kids and I just feel like I'm "home" -- and it's good. And hell, I'd love to see Ken teach a bunch of 12-year olds to play in 6/8.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
TWINS
I got my old MacBook Pro back yesterday for school. It's not really "old" -- it's actually one of the 2.4 GHz Intel Core Duo beauties. I got it brandy new when I took on the role of Media Club Advisor. When I left last June, I had to turn it back over and then was suffering from major withdrawal. So I went out and bought the exact same computer.
But now that I have TWO of these babies, the fun is endless!!! Here they are taking pictures of one another with PhotoBooth. Crazy kids...
Only in America, folks.
But now that I have TWO of these babies, the fun is endless!!! Here they are taking pictures of one another with PhotoBooth. Crazy kids...
Only in America, folks.
Monday, September 01, 2008
A NEW DAY
Tomorrow I return to life as a teacher. And I cannot wait! This "year off from my life" has taught me a lot about who I am and what I value. I know what I need for my life to function properly (a structured schedule and LOTS of intellectual stimulation) and I also know that hanging around witty middle-school kids is very good for my soul. I miss them. I miss my network of friends. Most of all, I miss feeling like I have a purpose.
Tomorrow I go back to my life and I will do so with gratitude and a greater appreciation for the little things that make up the bigger picture. I look forward to sharing stories again and breathing some new life into this blog!
Happy Labor Day!
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
CHECKING IN
So I'm officially unemployed now until September. My sabbatical job came to an end last Friday and now I can take a little breather before returning to teaching in the fall. It was a very good experience for me. I met some wonderful people and had some great adventures along the way. But most importantly, I learned what it is I need in my life - the kind of work I want to do and the kind of people I want to spend my days with. So I'm very much looking forward to returning "home."
In other news, I think I might bail out of the Marine Corps Marathon. Since my return from India in February, I have been steadily building my running back up. I don't think I've run less than four days a week in the past 5 months. I started my official marathon training on June 23 and quite frankly, I am already mentally burned out. And the mental burnout has also lead me to start feeling physically burnt as well. And I ask myself, "Can I really do fifteen more weeks of this? Do I really wanna start my job again and have to be thinking of the next 18-mile run I have to do?" Not so much.
So I've decided to take a week off from running. Fortunately, HE and I are leaving tomorrow for Sedona, AZ (HIS first trip!!) so I think it will be a good time for a break. Perhaps the healing energy of Sedona will also help me straighten out my head and find what's truly in my heart. I just kinda feel like I'm running for the wrong reasons lately and that's no good.
In other news, I think I might bail out of the Marine Corps Marathon. Since my return from India in February, I have been steadily building my running back up. I don't think I've run less than four days a week in the past 5 months. I started my official marathon training on June 23 and quite frankly, I am already mentally burned out. And the mental burnout has also lead me to start feeling physically burnt as well. And I ask myself, "Can I really do fifteen more weeks of this? Do I really wanna start my job again and have to be thinking of the next 18-mile run I have to do?" Not so much.
So I've decided to take a week off from running. Fortunately, HE and I are leaving tomorrow for Sedona, AZ (HIS first trip!!) so I think it will be a good time for a break. Perhaps the healing energy of Sedona will also help me straighten out my head and find what's truly in my heart. I just kinda feel like I'm running for the wrong reasons lately and that's no good.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
GOALS.
Yes. I need to get off my ass and start doing things. Every now and then I get into these funks where I just get bored or lazy or down (and sometimes a bit of all three) and I have to shake it off. I did some good yesterday. Got in touch with the coordinator of the community outreach program at the high school. Made some connections and also offered to get involved when I get back in September. A good goal will be to see if I can do a little good every day.
And another goal....
[drum roll]
This morning I registered for the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C.
Cuz it was time. And hell, if I'm gonna make a goal, I may as well make a BIG goal, right?
And another goal....
[drum roll]
This morning I registered for the 2008 Marine Corps Marathon in Washington D.C.
Cuz it was time. And hell, if I'm gonna make a goal, I may as well make a BIG goal, right?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Rainy Days and Tuesdays...
The India euphoria has finally worn off and I've definitely returned to my old self. This is not a good thing. Today is the worst so far. I have zero motivation to do anything productive. It's cold and rainy out. I want to crawl into bed and not deal with the world.
This morning, right before I woke up, I heard a dream/thought voice telling me that yesterday was a complete waste of a day. And it was. And that sucks. I mean, I got up and did things: took a run; made it to work (though did no actual work); and wrote and mailed a letter to my friend in India. I went to Barnes & Noble and bought the new Jennifer Weiner book. I cooked dinner. Watched some mindless television. Went to bed.
But we only get a certain number of days, right? Shouldn't each day be a little more meaningful? Just yesterday we found out that one of the customers here lost his 16-year old daughter. She died from falling off a horse at her weekly riding session. How fucked up is that? She was completely healthy and normal and now she's gone. Why?
When I came home, I was so inspired to live a different life. I wanted to focus on community service and being a better person. Yet here I am again. Stuck in my routine and feeling the familiar brain fog rolling back in. Where did my fire go? Can it last? Did it ever even have a chance?
This morning, right before I woke up, I heard a dream/thought voice telling me that yesterday was a complete waste of a day. And it was. And that sucks. I mean, I got up and did things: took a run; made it to work (though did no actual work); and wrote and mailed a letter to my friend in India. I went to Barnes & Noble and bought the new Jennifer Weiner book. I cooked dinner. Watched some mindless television. Went to bed.
But we only get a certain number of days, right? Shouldn't each day be a little more meaningful? Just yesterday we found out that one of the customers here lost his 16-year old daughter. She died from falling off a horse at her weekly riding session. How fucked up is that? She was completely healthy and normal and now she's gone. Why?
When I came home, I was so inspired to live a different life. I wanted to focus on community service and being a better person. Yet here I am again. Stuck in my routine and feeling the familiar brain fog rolling back in. Where did my fire go? Can it last? Did it ever even have a chance?
Friday, April 11, 2008
AFTER A THREE-MONTH HIATUS...
The bitch is back! Hope you've enjoyed my meanderings over at the India Blog. What a great trip. Man.
So now that I've been back for two months, I've pretty much gotten back to my old ways. A little wiser, perhaps, and a lot more relaxed about life. Still working at the sabbatical gig. Things are chugging along. I'm definitely going back to my teaching job in the fall. This was an invaluable experience. Everyone who becomes complacent at their job should have the chance to take a year away from it and reevaluate their perspective. I am so grateful for the opportunity.
Next Friday is my best friend's wedding and I get to be her Maid of Honor. I'm so excited!! Her fiancé is a great guy and she is the happiest I have ever seen her. As a wedding gift, I put together a slideshow for the reception. I hope she likes it.
I've gotten back into the running scene and feel a great new motivation about it. So much that I am considering the Marine Corps Marathon in October. Funny what a new pair of sneakers can do!
What else... well, I've been keeping vegetarian for the past three months. I've also kicked artificial sweeteners, gum and coffee. Not sure which of them was the worst culprit, but my stomach feels better than it has in years.
Last night I watched Crocodile Dundee for the first time. I think it was one I could have missed. Didn't really need to wait 22 years to see that one.
So now that I've been back for two months, I've pretty much gotten back to my old ways. A little wiser, perhaps, and a lot more relaxed about life. Still working at the sabbatical gig. Things are chugging along. I'm definitely going back to my teaching job in the fall. This was an invaluable experience. Everyone who becomes complacent at their job should have the chance to take a year away from it and reevaluate their perspective. I am so grateful for the opportunity.
Next Friday is my best friend's wedding and I get to be her Maid of Honor. I'm so excited!! Her fiancé is a great guy and she is the happiest I have ever seen her. As a wedding gift, I put together a slideshow for the reception. I hope she likes it.
I've gotten back into the running scene and feel a great new motivation about it. So much that I am considering the Marine Corps Marathon in October. Funny what a new pair of sneakers can do!What else... well, I've been keeping vegetarian for the past three months. I've also kicked artificial sweeteners, gum and coffee. Not sure which of them was the worst culprit, but my stomach feels better than it has in years.
Last night I watched Crocodile Dundee for the first time. I think it was one I could have missed. Didn't really need to wait 22 years to see that one.
Friday, January 11, 2008
T.G.I.F.
Sheesh, what a week it's been! Yes, a tree really did land on The Beetle. It happened on the very windy Wednesday while I was at work. I was on my way to give a presentation to a local Rotary club and was getting into my boss's car. I hadn't even closed the car door when I heard this giant crrrrrrrraaack . I got out and looked around and - lo and behold - there was a tree lying on my car.
(You can click on them to see the gory details close up)
The lucky bastard who owns the gray car in the middle only had a couple scratches. Mine took the brunt and the minivan got a broken windshield.
"Ow! My eye!"
So long, dome.
I figure I was pretty lucky. I had decided to ride with my boss to the meeting instead of driving myself -- a very wise decision, in retrospect. And while I was freaking the fuck out when it first happened, I calmed down very quickly. After all, it's only a car, and a car can be fixed. Needless to say, we were half an hour late to the Rotary meeting. But what a great excuse I had!
I haven't been sleeping very well the past few nights. Lots on my mind. Last night I woke up to go to the bathroom and sure enough, after being MIA for nearly two years, my monthly visitor has returned on her own. Don't get me wrong - it's a GIANT relief. I just kinda wish it waited until I was back in a country with toilet paper. And toilet seats.
So anyway, that was my week in a nutshell. Honestly, I feel very good and very ready to go on this trip. I've let go of all that is out of my control, and feel wide open and eager to experience, learn and grow.
You can follow me on my adventure at the new blog. I want to send the address to people in my professional world, so it might not be as cynical and/or graphic as I'd like it to be. I also don't really want any of those lame-o's to find this blog so I linked it from here, but am not linking back from there.
God forbid they find out what I really think of them.
(You can click on them to see the gory details close up)
The lucky bastard who owns the gray car in the middle only had a couple scratches. Mine took the brunt and the minivan got a broken windshield.
"Ow! My eye!"
So long, dome.
I figure I was pretty lucky. I had decided to ride with my boss to the meeting instead of driving myself -- a very wise decision, in retrospect. And while I was freaking the fuck out when it first happened, I calmed down very quickly. After all, it's only a car, and a car can be fixed. Needless to say, we were half an hour late to the Rotary meeting. But what a great excuse I had!
I haven't been sleeping very well the past few nights. Lots on my mind. Last night I woke up to go to the bathroom and sure enough, after being MIA for nearly two years, my monthly visitor has returned on her own. Don't get me wrong - it's a GIANT relief. I just kinda wish it waited until I was back in a country with toilet paper. And toilet seats.
So anyway, that was my week in a nutshell. Honestly, I feel very good and very ready to go on this trip. I've let go of all that is out of my control, and feel wide open and eager to experience, learn and grow.
You can follow me on my adventure at the new blog. I want to send the address to people in my professional world, so it might not be as cynical and/or graphic as I'd like it to be. I also don't really want any of those lame-o's to find this blog so I linked it from here, but am not linking back from there.
God forbid they find out what I really think of them.
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Sunday, December 30, 2007
HE's FAMOUS!
My boy has made the news! Way to go, honey! I'm so proud of you!
However, if any blonde, spiritual groupies start showing up at our door, I may have to kick some Unity Ass.
I LOVE YOU!
My boy has made the news! Way to go, honey! I'm so proud of you!
However, if any blonde, spiritual groupies start showing up at our door, I may have to kick some Unity Ass.
I LOVE YOU!
Thursday, December 27, 2007
"YOU ALL EVERYBODY"
So we finally caught up on Lost, watching the final Netflixed episode of season 3 tonight. Wow. What a cool show!
I'm not a huge TV watcher. In fact, if not for the miracle of Netflix, I would have never experienced the Sopranos or Six Feet Under. And my life would suck a whole lot more than it does. So if you've never seen Lost - a surprisingly good show for network television - please do yourself a favor and SEE IT!!
In other news...
Christmas was good. Our hot water heater sprung a leak on Christmas Eve and our living room carpet is wet and brown. But it could have been worse. At least our water was still hot, we had heat, we had food, we had a roof over our heads and presents to open. And the beauty of renting is that the day after Christmas, the maintenance guys came and installed a new hot water heater. And tomorrow morning, the carpet cleaners are coming. And it's not costing us anything.
We're having our first housewarming party tomorrow night. Yes... only five months after we moved in. Looking forward to seeing friends that I have missed since leaving the school job. HIS work friends are coming too. Psychologists + middle school teachers = one interesting evening.
T-16 days until India. Got my Hepatitis A, typhoid and flu vaccines last week. Have to go back to get tetanus, meningitis and polio next week. Got me a script for a Z-pak and anti-malaria pills - AND - they threw in some Cipro for good measure. So just in case we run out of beer & wine tomorrow night, I can break out the good stuff.
'Til we meet again...
So we finally caught up on Lost, watching the final Netflixed episode of season 3 tonight. Wow. What a cool show!
I'm not a huge TV watcher. In fact, if not for the miracle of Netflix, I would have never experienced the Sopranos or Six Feet Under. And my life would suck a whole lot more than it does. So if you've never seen Lost - a surprisingly good show for network television - please do yourself a favor and SEE IT!!
In other news...
Christmas was good. Our hot water heater sprung a leak on Christmas Eve and our living room carpet is wet and brown. But it could have been worse. At least our water was still hot, we had heat, we had food, we had a roof over our heads and presents to open. And the beauty of renting is that the day after Christmas, the maintenance guys came and installed a new hot water heater. And tomorrow morning, the carpet cleaners are coming. And it's not costing us anything.
We're having our first housewarming party tomorrow night. Yes... only five months after we moved in. Looking forward to seeing friends that I have missed since leaving the school job. HIS work friends are coming too. Psychologists + middle school teachers = one interesting evening.
T-16 days until India. Got my Hepatitis A, typhoid and flu vaccines last week. Have to go back to get tetanus, meningitis and polio next week. Got me a script for a Z-pak and anti-malaria pills - AND - they threw in some Cipro for good measure. So just in case we run out of beer & wine tomorrow night, I can break out the good stuff.
'Til we meet again...
Monday, December 24, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Thursday, December 13, 2007
HMMM
Wow it's really crappy outside. Ice is falling from the sky.
Been a crazy week. We had our first India orientation meeting on Saturday and I met the rest of the group. There are three of us team members and a team leader. The leader is a guy named Bernie. He's retired and he's been to lots of different places around the world. Very easy-going and seems like a nice guy.
The rest of the team consists of: Liz, a newly-wed 30-something YMCA program coordinator from Suburbia; Rajiv, a 25 year-old metrosexual Sri-Lankan intern at the U.N.; and Misty, a home-schooled EMT from the boonies. It's an interesting group, no doubt.
We had a list of things we needed to get done before our next meeting... getting an Indian visa; purchasing medical insurance; doctor's physical and - my favorite - VACCINATIONS! Here's a list of some of the delightful diseases I hope to contract while I'm gone.
When I tell people I'm going to India for a month, everyone's reaction is similar: "Why?" Even my stupid ass doctor literally said, "Eww! Why would you wanna go there?" Is he even allowed to say something like that? Maybe he's just pissed cause Indian doctors are smarter than he'll ever be.
I dunno. My thoughts are: how can you understand the rest of the world if you don't experience it? I guess I get it from my aunt. She was a fearless world traveler and always had great stories and photos to share. Russia, Egypt, Israel - just to name a few - she went where her heart took her, each trip adding to her fantastic mosaic of a life. I always admired that about her, and now even more as I get older.
I'm counting on her to be there with me, warding off the chikungunya next month.
Wow it's really crappy outside. Ice is falling from the sky.
Been a crazy week. We had our first India orientation meeting on Saturday and I met the rest of the group. There are three of us team members and a team leader. The leader is a guy named Bernie. He's retired and he's been to lots of different places around the world. Very easy-going and seems like a nice guy.
The rest of the team consists of: Liz, a newly-wed 30-something YMCA program coordinator from Suburbia; Rajiv, a 25 year-old metrosexual Sri-Lankan intern at the U.N.; and Misty, a home-schooled EMT from the boonies. It's an interesting group, no doubt.
We had a list of things we needed to get done before our next meeting... getting an Indian visa; purchasing medical insurance; doctor's physical and - my favorite - VACCINATIONS! Here's a list of some of the delightful diseases I hope to contract while I'm gone.
When I tell people I'm going to India for a month, everyone's reaction is similar: "Why?" Even my stupid ass doctor literally said, "Eww! Why would you wanna go there?" Is he even allowed to say something like that? Maybe he's just pissed cause Indian doctors are smarter than he'll ever be.
I dunno. My thoughts are: how can you understand the rest of the world if you don't experience it? I guess I get it from my aunt. She was a fearless world traveler and always had great stories and photos to share. Russia, Egypt, Israel - just to name a few - she went where her heart took her, each trip adding to her fantastic mosaic of a life. I always admired that about her, and now even more as I get older.
I'm counting on her to be there with me, warding off the chikungunya next month.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
HUMDRUM.
I am so bored right now. This has been the slowest day ever. I've already escaped twice to run random errands and it's not even 3:00 yet. It's crazy how some days I'm so busy that I blink and it's 5:00. And then there are days like today when I've probably visited every site on the vast internet.
I've spent a couple hours trying to find these shoes in my size -->
I bought a pair of these a couple years ago and they are still my favorite shoes on the planet. I wear them at some point every single day. And apparently they no longer make them in my size (9 or 9.5) I am deeply saddened to learn this. I will pay any price for a new pair of Rocket Dog Axles, khaki & brown.
Ate the leftover vegetable soup from Mom's. Was mighty good.
Dang. Still not even 3:00.
I am so bored right now. This has been the slowest day ever. I've already escaped twice to run random errands and it's not even 3:00 yet. It's crazy how some days I'm so busy that I blink and it's 5:00. And then there are days like today when I've probably visited every site on the vast internet.
I've spent a couple hours trying to find these shoes in my size -->I bought a pair of these a couple years ago and they are still my favorite shoes on the planet. I wear them at some point every single day. And apparently they no longer make them in my size (9 or 9.5) I am deeply saddened to learn this. I will pay any price for a new pair of Rocket Dog Axles, khaki & brown.
Ate the leftover vegetable soup from Mom's. Was mighty good.
Dang. Still not even 3:00.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Mmmm... it's soup weather. Normally I am not a big fan of soup. I tend to turn my nose up at anything that isn't chicken broth-based, but recently I've been expanding my horizons.
Yesterday I picked up a bowl of chicken rice soup from the local diner. Last night Mom made a huge pot of this tomatoey-vegetable creation with orzo and little turkey meatballs. It's FANTASTIC but gave me horrendous gas.
I brought some home with the intention of taking it for lunch today, but I didn't want to kill any Bikram classmates with my stinky ass. So I picked up a cup of pasta e fagioli at King's... not realizing that "fagioli" means "beans." This could be equally dangerous, ass-wise. But it's so tasty! And it's warming me to the core on this windy, snowy, freezing Tuesday.
Life's been very good - things have certainly gotten interesting. I'm looking forward to finding out more about what I'll actually be doing in India next month. Everyone has a lot of advice, the main piece being: "Get your shots!" But I just think it will be so cool to experience a culture so different from mine. I've been to Europe several times, but to me it just feels like a prettier, more expensive version of the US.
Work has been getting better. We now have 18 students on the New Horizons roster after a great article was published in the local newspaper. Hopefully it will keep growing. Yesterday I told my boss about India. He said, "so basically you're taking a sabbatical from your sabbatical?" But he was cool with it. Being a Rotarian, he probably felt like he had to let me go.
I hope I can bring my computer with me, although I wonder what sort of wifi they have? Then again, the computer I'm using right now was probably made in India. I'm pretty sure they're miles ahead of us in the technology department. Weird how such a techno-savvy country can still have malaria and cows wandering about.
Anyway, I'm done for now. But I'll leave you with this video in hopes that it might inspire you to learn a musical instrument. May the force be with you.
Yesterday I picked up a bowl of chicken rice soup from the local diner. Last night Mom made a huge pot of this tomatoey-vegetable creation with orzo and little turkey meatballs. It's FANTASTIC but gave me horrendous gas.
I brought some home with the intention of taking it for lunch today, but I didn't want to kill any Bikram classmates with my stinky ass. So I picked up a cup of pasta e fagioli at King's... not realizing that "fagioli" means "beans." This could be equally dangerous, ass-wise. But it's so tasty! And it's warming me to the core on this windy, snowy, freezing Tuesday.
Life's been very good - things have certainly gotten interesting. I'm looking forward to finding out more about what I'll actually be doing in India next month. Everyone has a lot of advice, the main piece being: "Get your shots!" But I just think it will be so cool to experience a culture so different from mine. I've been to Europe several times, but to me it just feels like a prettier, more expensive version of the US.
Work has been getting better. We now have 18 students on the New Horizons roster after a great article was published in the local newspaper. Hopefully it will keep growing. Yesterday I told my boss about India. He said, "so basically you're taking a sabbatical from your sabbatical?" But he was cool with it. Being a Rotarian, he probably felt like he had to let me go.
I hope I can bring my computer with me, although I wonder what sort of wifi they have? Then again, the computer I'm using right now was probably made in India. I'm pretty sure they're miles ahead of us in the technology department. Weird how such a techno-savvy country can still have malaria and cows wandering about.
Anyway, I'm done for now. But I'll leave you with this video in hopes that it might inspire you to learn a musical instrument. May the force be with you.
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