After a long day of soccer tournament games and sectional swimming, the stress of competition melted away for a time of celebration. Halloween is 2nd only to Christmas in holiday fun. Jim and I sat in Borders sipping coffee while the girls went trick or treating (Erika was working). Jessi was dressed in her Japanese dress, Monika as a nerd and Erika borrowed my stripped tights and was Alice in Wonderland.
While Jessi did not break any records, she swam well-- 9th in her individual 50 freestyle, 3rd in the 200 relay, and 7th in the 400 relay. Memorial won the meet.
Another day off!! The morning was damp after a long hard rain last night, but the humidity made it feel warm outside, it was weird but kind of wonderful. The winds picked up and the feeling of Autumn was striking as leaves fell from trees and whistled throughout.
I rode 15 miles on a bike at the gym, a good work out to start my day and then I ran errands, mostly carting kids around. Jim and I managed to get in dinner together between all the events both Jessi and Monika needed to attend. I finished my day continuing the BBC series I started last night, Bleak House (Dickens drama at it's best!). With 15 episodes to watch, I have the whole weekend covered... I'm up too late this evening already and I've only finished episode 5. Thanks Drenna!
I woke up early this morning to get Jessi to swim team and to get myself to the gym. I did a good hour sweating on the stepper. I came home, made breakfast and got ready to go. I had promised Jessi I would take her to the new Forever 21 store that opened in our mall. Jessi had a "big" party to dress up for (a girl from West invited every freshman on the west-side to her house via Facebook-- who's crazy enough to invite several hundred 15 year olds into their home??). Of course Monika and Erika jumped at the chance-- even Jim decided to tag along. It was a family event we have not had in years; all five of us at the mall. Our time was short as I had to meet the Dell repair man at 1pm and Erika had to go to school, still it was really fun to have all of us together for the morning.
After getting my computer fixed, I got the Christmas lights up, Monika's team checked in for this weekend's tournament, I picked up glass supplies for my classroom, packed up bikes for winter, swept out the garage, organized photos for scrapbooking, made dinner (chili and homemade corn chips), took Jessi to her party, and Monika and her friend to get pie. Jessi's party is over at midnight... so I have to stay up for a while. Next on my list is to look for a BBC movie of an old English romance novel. I've been a bit adicted lately... especially since seeing Bright Star last weekend with Jim. It was the most romantice movie I have ever seen. John Keats poetry now makes me cry.
It took me about 18 months to get to my first 10,000 hits on typepad and then only another 6 or 7 months to get through my second 10,000 thanks to facebook. I have been eager to switch out colors... wanting a cooler feel. I am very much missing my swimming pool days in the sunshine. So in honor of Facebook and swimming pools, my new theme is cool water blue with a splash of purple fun.
Melissa got quite poetic as "Edgar Allen Crow" while I was a bit lame, donning my ruby slippers and striped tights, as the Wicked Witch of the East (she is the one the house fell on). Some students went all out but the majority were, like Jessi, dressed as everyday high school kids, which I suppose is a costume too.
The short week is wonderful and needed by both students and teachers. I love this time of year. Halloween is so much fun and every other week is a short one until Thanksgiving!
While my ears are feeling much better, I am still having sinus headaches. Me and my new neti-pot will become good friends this winter. I heard that using a neti-pot weekly will help prevent h1n1 (as well as washing your hands hourly). I have several students out with it, so I know I have been exposed.
Tonight was a football playoff game; I had to sell tickets. The final score was close but not close enough: 34-35. The boys will all be in bad moods tomorrow. It's dress up day and party time in backyard. All the department heads will be gone all day for a meeting. I am expecting mass chaos. With no school on Thursday or Friday, Halloween on Saturday-- there will be a very wild vibe in the air.
I took today off to get my ears checked out and I don't have an ear infection, I have a sinus infection... I think. Anyway the doctor thinks it's getting better and told me to use a neti-pot. If my head doesn't clear in a couple of days then I can call her for drugs. Staying home helped. It was nice to have some time alone to rest (I did some scrap-booking).
Jessi was supposed to have her very last swim practice tonight, clear out her locker and be home early but when she still hadn't come home at 5:30pm I went looking for her at the pool. She was swimming in tights. Her coach asked her to keep swimming with varsity. She will swim the conference meet this weekend. When I took her home all she wanted was fat... chips and ice-cream. Am I such a bad mother to let her? She actually needs the calories and there are few minerals in the meal.
Today was Jessi's last swim meet and boy, did she end the swim season on a high note! She won all four of her events... I was so very proud of her. It has been so much fun for her start her freshman year with so much excitement. It was a thrilling way for her to end the season. Now she needs to practice free throws for a couple of weeks before basketball try-outs.
We have 3 cats and Marty is one of the new cats. He is kind of odd but very loving. He loves to sit in my lap or lay on my chest or back when I am lying down. While Peter likes to sit or lay at the foot of the bed, Marty needs to be touching me. It's very endearing but sometimes annoying. But after a long day, it sure is nice to have someone who wants to be around you and adore you.
I haven't swum since Monday because my ears have been hurting a lot-- I believe I have swimmer's ear. I have used hydrogen peroxide and alcohol to help, but I still have a dull pain in my inner ear. It was all the excuse I needed to go out to lunch with Joe. He coached his last volleyball game and his grandpa died -- tough night. Like me, his favorite diversion is food. But he's going on a diet soon and I really need to get back to mine. I took a break this week in order to start celebrating halloween. I've been in a funk lately and the almond joy's only make me feel better as they are going in but once their gone, I feel worse. If I don't stop, there won't be enough room for Marty on my lap...
I got a text this morning during 2nd hour from Erika asking if she could come in and use the studio to make boro beads. She's quite good and I have the stuff. It is nice to have her asking for things again. She texted me later in the day to get a ride from the bus stop because it was raining. Jim had given her a ride earlier. It is some what odd that only a year ago she wasn't even speaking to us, but all that is forgotten and we have moved on. It is almost as if that past year and half never happened- and that's good.
Melissa had to go to a funeral in Colorado so I got to watch over the Art Klub she runs. It is a very fun group of kids, each quite unique and most very talented. Mess Hall folks came in to print posters and t-shirts. It was a very good day to be in charge because I got to make sure I got my own t-shirt! The design the kids did was really great.
After Art Klub I had to run out to the football game to sell tickets. It was not a well attended game, but the weather was amazing for being out of doors. We had a high of 71 today and as I type at 11pm, it is still in the 60's. Our boys killed East HS. Jessi was there and said after a while it wasn't even fun to watch. Monika had soccer practice then homework. I got home a bit before 10pm so it was quite a long day at work.
It was my day for soccer practice car pool and Jessi had a swim meet. It was parent night so at the break, all the swimmers introduce their parents, give them a flower and then take a picture together. I gave Jessi a big kiss too! I am so very proud of her and how hard she works. I had to rush off before the end to pick up Monika and her friends and take them all home.
I got home feeling so tired and realized I needed to get to the gym... the more tired I get, the less I do and the more tired I get. The transition to colder temps, shorter days, or maybe just fighting off the swine flu has me feeling weeker, but I have to pick up the pace or suffer. I set my alarm for 5am this morning, woke Jessi up and then went back to bed. I want to get up and exercise in the morning, but every morning I don't seem to have will to do it. Maybe tomorrow!?
The day was amazing, a day anyone with any excuse at all should have taken off! I had a presentation and no good excuse! With a high of 65, I should have gone for a bike ride but instead I ran to the grocery store to get stuff for Jessi's swim team potluck then out to pick up Monika. By the time I got home is cool and I was sooo tired and my legs are still sore from yoga on Saturday!
I started my day with a blood test. I've been too tired, more than I should for someone as active I am. I wanted to check to see if my cholesterol and thyroid levels have changed since being medicated. The cholesterol results came in this evening and it's way down (lowest I've ever had @ 165), although my HDL is down too (that's the good stuff @ 40) and my triglycerides are still high @ 180. The only time I got triglycerides down was when I was running... mmm, maybe I need to bite the bullet and just run? No word on the thyroid, but the way I feel, I would guess it's low.
I spent the morning cleaning-- the floors were in desperate need of mopping and a bookshelf needed to be relieved of its piles of stuff that had built up since school had started. I had two "must-do's" on my list of things to do today; recommendations and a power-point. When Jim got home around noon we decided to go to Starbucks to get some computer work done. As I sat churning out descriptive words for students I only know in my classroom (of course they are amazing in myclassroom) I noticed Jim wasn't doing so well with his work. His 4am army wake up was showing and the venti americana did not seem to be helping him at all. I gave up on my work after only 2 letters and let Jim go home to take a nap. While Jessi and her friend watched the Notebook, I finished the other 3 and the power-point just in time to cry a bit when Allie remembers that the love story is about her.
My afternoon was then complicated by my decision to take the Jetta for a ride so that the battery would not die. Well, the battery was already in need of a jump, so then I needed to drive around for a while. But the Jetta decided that since I had forsaken it for another, it would die on me. I walked home and woke poor Jim from his nap to help get my mean green machine home. It's home, but we are officially in a fight.
Jim is at Ft. Macoy for the weekend shooting, Jessi had a swim meet up north to go to (but not swim in), Erika spent the night at a girl friends and Monika did NOT have any soccer this weekend. This weekend is a rarity-- nothing on my schedule but the normal cooking and cleaning. I woke up at 6am to get Jess to the bus and started up with laundry. By 7:30am I had decided to go back to bed. I have been fighting a cough all week and decided my body could use the rest... Monika got me up around 11am! Wow. I can't remember sleeping that late in ages. It was grand.
I wanted to go work out but the cleaning situation was a bit overwelming. Monika needed her history book and could not find it in her room. Every since Erika moved back in with her, their room has been in need of organizing. I talked Monika into removing all of her beanie babies... 3 shelves of them. I had to promise to keep them safe. While I did make a run to St. Vincet's for a donation, there were no real TY toys given, only the fake stuffed animals, old clothes and books.
By 4pm I was able to make it to a hot yoga class that completed knocked my sock off. At one point I had to sit down for fear of fainting. I came home still trembling, eager for a shower and dinner. I made a fire and watch PBS's Masterpiece Theater's Wuthering Heights. Although I am not quite done with the book, I was in the mood for a good old English era flick. The story is a bit confusing at times, I realized as I was trying to explain things to Monika. While the PBS version is pretty good, I'm still waiting for the perfact film version. It is quite a spicy novel really, if done right the movie could be amazing!
I assumed Drew Barrymore had directed before, but I was wrong (it's okay, I'm used to it). Whip It is Barrymore's debute as director, but you'd never guess as the movie is awesome- totally awesome. I guess some might say it is a typical sports movie, where everything is leading up to final game at the end. It kind of is, but how many team sports movies are there about women? Some might say it's a typical coming of age story about a girl becoming a woman; confronting her mother, having a first romance, etc. The movie is so entertaining, so fun to watch that you don't realize that any of it might be considered typical at all. Monika and I watched this together and we both give it big thumbs up! Ellen Page is even better than she was in Juno.
JMM puts on 3 performances each year that are outstanding productions. This fall it's Steal Magnolias with six shining female actresses. One of the stars is in my class and asked if I would take the cast photo. I always love taking any opportunity for a photo shoot and this was an easy one!
After school, Monika and I went to Costco grocery shopping then to Rosatis for dinner --of course Erika was our waitress. I had planned to go to the school play but Monika twisted my arm into seeing Whip It. The two of us had a lot of fun-- a great mom/daughter night out!
There is so much going on sometimes. I see my friends stressing out, my kids maxed out with school plus and yes, I am juggling a bit too much. I can look at other people's problems and rest assure I have it good. I think about what makes life wonderful and it is the fun, the dumb stuff, the silly poses and the friendships.
Jessi had a JV swim meet at LaFollette with all the Madison Area schools. Her buddy Rose from West was there and it was so neat to see the two of them interact as rivals playfully. Both of them have improved swimming so much from the ol' Shorewood pool days. While Jessi is only on JV, she is still quite a powerhouse. She came in 1st place in all of her events tonight and broke 3 event records. Swimming for the Memorial swim team is quite a commitment, but the payoff is huge.
Jessi was having so much fun, she made some cute "muscle man" gestures on the blocks that her coach reprimanded her for. Of course I think the coach is being a bit too serious, but his team makes it to the state competition and what do I know? I was telling Jessi to try to keep it fun without embarrassing her coach. She could do little poses with her fingers. I told her to put her thumb on her nose and wiggle her fingers and see how that works out... she told me she didn't think that was a good idea at all.
I'm still cooking! I haven't post much about all the cooking I have done lately. I still get my weekly CSA box of fruit and vegetables that I have to deal with. It means being creative or else being wasteful. Last night's cheese pizza from Papa Murphy's had leeks, arugula, sweet peppers and purple onion added on top of a quarter of it. Tonight Monika and I had a stir fry which is the best way to deal with random vegis! For tomorrow's staff meeting I wanted to make muffins. I have blueberries that need to be used but I wanted bran muffins. I didn't have any bran, but I did have bran cereal. So I came up with this recipe: 1C flour 1C bran cereal 1/4C flax meal 1/2C brown sugar 4t baking powder 1/2t salt 1 egg 1C milk 1/4C olive oil 1/4C cottage cheese 1C blueberries
So the final staff t-shirt is due Thursday and I am still putzing with this design. I finished the front but there was debate on the back. I think I got it now and thank goodness! I got to check two big projects off my list today! No, make it three-- Jim planted all of my daffodil bulbs, all 100 of them. His schedule has changed, so he's home a bit more, which is really nice.
Today I had the gallery opening in the morning and student government at lunch. It felt like a long day. I ran to the gym after school then picked up Jessi and pizza for dinner. Jessi is tapering off practice for swim team in order to get ready for the big end of the season meets. She is swimming JV this week and has a meet on both Thursday and Friday. There is a varsity meet on Saturday she doesn't have swim in, but will go to cheer. It feels crazy that that Fall season sports are all wrapping up this month...
Every year I need to put on (curate) two shows in our school's gallery. I am always on the look out for artists who might be willing to share. Several years ago I asked our school principals to put a show together, but only one principal got excited about doing it; Emily Comstock. I also asked a photographer from the WI State Journal last year to share his work, John Maniaci. He is now working for Unity but he was very willing to share his work. As the time drew closer I realized I could put together a show of photography. One of my old students, Pat Fowler, came by this summer with photos to develop from Japan, so I included him. I asked one of our school secretaries to share her photography and finally our school psychologist, John Rummel, is sharing his photography of the sky. Five artists, all with wonderful artwork. I have to be at school early to open the show, make sure the coffee is flowing. I finished as much of the last minute touches this afternoon, so I think I am set to go.
Sunday is typically the only day of the week our family has time in the morning to sleep in a bit and have breakfast. Monika had a soccer game in Appleton (2 1/2 hour drive), Jessi had a swim team fall fun event all afternoon and Erika had to work; so Jim had the house to himself. Luckily for me he spent time doing laundry and cleaning. I have yet to have time to plant my daffodils, so it's moving up on the priority list this week. I have a show opening on Tuesday, so my schedule should ease up afterward. I love this time of year, and as we move into Halloween, school begins to ease up. As I rode up north, the views were magnificent-- farms, deer, dried corn fields, pumpkins and coloring trees. While I don't enjoy the cold air, I love autumn beauty.
Tonight was Jessi's first high school dance. A few of the girls got ready at our house then went to another family's home to meet up with the rest of their group, take pictures and go out to eat. Erika was home working on a paper, so she volunteered to help with make-up. I though the girls all looks so pretty!
It was kind of a crazy day with an art show to hang, soccer game and homecoming but everything that needed to happen did. Other than it being freezing cold (literally), it was a beautiful day.
We had a shortened schedule today for a pep aud (school rally). I had a meeting before school and found out that the rock out in front of our school had been painted by Middleton. It said "JMM sucks" soo I took my first hour art class out side to paint over it. It's Homecoming! My class decided to spray paint "Go Green" on it and I added a heart on the back side. I screamed in horror after I got back from this little field trip and realized I had not gotten any pictures!
Today is the only time we have a pep aud all year now. There used to be one for all the sports teams at the beginning of the school year and in the winter-- but no longer. It is kind of a big production, with cheer, poms, contests and of course, the court. As a teacher, I really enjoy being a part of the school event. I am the junior class adviser so I get a bit more involved, but there are lots of teachers who get into it (and lots who disappear). After school Jessi had a swim meet and I had to sell tickets at the football game. Our team won and now it looks like we will be going to the play-offs... more school spirit to come.
I went all out in my traditional mismatch outfit! I wore striped tights, with polka dot sneekers, plaid shorts and a tie-dye t-shirt. I got tons of compliments and was finally noticed! I think there are more teachers dressing up for homecoming then students. I am always excited to see kids who have the courage to dress up, and typically they aren't the ones you might expect. I was quite dissappointed to find none of my art collegues participating, not even Melissa. Joe is dressed in Spartan Spirit clothes almost everyday, so he's ready for tomorrow! There is an air of over-involvement in our department. While we are quite connected to the school at large, I believe at times we are close to over-saturation or even perhaps closing in on being maxed at times to the point of exhaustion... something needs to give.
Today was retro day... I wore my skinny jeans (that don't make you look skinny unless you are), vans with a billabong t-shirt and a wide v-neck sweater; none of it from the 80's, but I thought it still had an 80's feel. I even tried to feather my hair, but no one thought I was dressed up and really, I wasn't. I should have gone with the 70's, then I would have been noticed.
My junior girls looked great and managed to thoroughly beat the freshman girls before being beat by the seniors. No big upsets this year. The freshman girls have a girl on the team who actually plays football on the Memorial team, so they were kind of cocky. The spirit bowl is a great way for the non-athletes to get involved. The athletes are not usually allowed to compete. Jessi was at swim team practice while the event was taking place.
After the spirit bowl was the Light of Life Walk that student council put together to raise money for cancer research. It is an annual event that is always hard for me to participate in because of soccer-mom duties. I was in charge of the food this evening and put together a "light of life gorp" that was a hit. We filled 125 cups of snacks for the walkers, then I left my helpers in charge while I left to get Monika to soccer practice. I came back to clean up then went to pick up Moni and get dinner. Long day, but a good one.
There are days that just start yucky and don't ever really pick up much. I suppose the highlight was finding 3 fellow teachers at the student government meeting eager to work with me as a team to do student government well. The low point was finding that the hawaiian shirt I wore today reeked of BO. I went home during my prep hour to change, then left my keys on my bed. I should have grabbed a photo of the Jr. class window that got painted by a bunch of different kids in my classes all afternoon. I had to turn in a project late for Jessi after school because she had swim team. I got chatting with her teacher and then I was late picking up Monika for soccer practice.
I finally made it to the gym after 9pm tonight but now I am frustrated and hungry. I have already eaten my share of calories today and I ate leftovers anyway. I have gained back weight because not only am I not following my calorieking diet, but I am sneeking in ice cream (last night) or bread & butter (tonight). It's feels so crazy that I can't keep to my subscribed calories... the only thing that gives a bit of solace is that niether can the rest of the state of Wisconsin.
Today was college apparal day, I wore an Army t-shirt. After Jessi's swim team practice I took her dress shopping at the mall. I don't like the mall, but dinner for Jessi and time picking out her first high school dance dress is definately a mall activity. We popped into the Limited to check out the sale dresses and she found lots. She is so tall and thin, she looks fabulous in everything. We checked out Express and never made it to JC Penny. We went back to the Limited to get the first dress she liked. I bought her a cute sweater wrap yesterday that she wore to school today and it looks great over the strapless cocktail dress that she found. She'll ditch the wet swim suit she's wearing under it all tonight on Saturday I'm sure. I have memories of Erika's first homecoming dance and the who's-going-with-who drama. It's kind of similar only I get a bit more details from Jess about her social life then I did with Erika and I still don't get all that much... It's all about friendships and groupings. I try not to be so nosey, but I am so happy she has her swim team girls to hang out with and we aren't at the boyfriend years yet. There aren't any freshman boys "good enough" (or tall enough!) for my baby.
Self-Portraiture My Art Education Masters Thesis on self portraiture.
Der Viator Blog Updates, essays, dark humor, scatalogical musings, music criticism, short stories, historical essays and outright lies from my highly-caffeinated melancholy husband.
