Keeping Up With Life

So is it me or does like sometimes just move to fast to keep up? Of course school goes too quick, and it always seems like when you finish one project, another is sitting right on top. This really isn't a big deal because at least I KNOW there is an end to it every year in June and a chance to start fresh in August.

But life..I've recently decided to make a conscious effort on keeping up with life..that means house, friends, self...all that good stuff..the house itself is exhausting! Just keeping it clean seems to be a huge task and spring isn't even here yet so it's really JUST the inside, vacuuming, taking care of cat hair, keeping boxes clean, keeping floors clean, blankets washed...all that jazz. I just feel like there is ALWAYS something more to be done, even when I'm putting in the extra effort..I wonder if it's worth it in the long run!! Joe and I tend to clean once a week, on weekends, and before that, the house spends the whole week just getting messed up. Things that are as simple as wiping down the counters or doing dishes after dinner, we are just not good at! Is it that we are both teachers and have exhausted all of our resources by days end? I'd like to think we aren't lazy people!

None the less..I'm about to start making tacos..grilled chicken, onions, and tomatoes..another goal of mine, more fresh eatting...for the vegetable averted one..really, I'm starting to feel weird being the only human on the earth who doesn't eat salad! but I'm getting better....I haven't breeched lettuce yet, and I don't know that I'll ever, but at least I'm eatting tomatoes and onions ;)

I am Empowered!

So last week, despite my dilligence in taking my car in for regular service, the "Check Engine" light decides to come on. You know that light..it could indicate ANY NUMBER of messed up problems...the light itself is a headache! Now, not that I would mind a small problem, but to be honest, my car has been in to Volkswagen TWICE in the last month and a half and quite frankly, I'd be urked if I had to send it in once again!

A little background, in case you don't remember, I bought this 2002 Volkswagen Golf last May when I was hit by a girl who totalled my car. I specifically hunted out the Golf, 5 speed, 4 door..and I've run into the STUPIDEST problems with it..So here I was, a little dismayed, thinking I'd truly bought a lemon..but you know..the car was running just fine! What the heck, right?!

I don't know who owned the car before me. It was probably some suped up guido from Jersey City (yea, that's where I bought the car, right in North Bergen). But he decided to supe up the car...tinted windows, mega stereo (that he dismantled most of before selling), and a performance air filter..yup! I never have to replace it!! (mind you, noone told me how to care for it either!)

So I started doing research on this "Malfunction Indicator Lamp"..Apparently it's a known VW problem..When something fails in the car 3 times, the light comes on..then it takes 3 times of working properly for it to go off..

just take the air filter off, clean it with special air filter cleaner solvent, and clean the Mass Air Flow Sensor..yes, two little wires that closely resemble the filament for a lightbulb..and you must do that without breaking them, which will amount to a 300 dollar expense to replace it!! So yesterday, I set aside the day to dismantle my air intake..Carefully, I cleaned the filter..Carefully, I removed the MAF sensor..cleaned them all up..reinstalled them..got in the car, light still on, just as expected..drove a few places last night, and WHALA! After our last stop at McGuinn's, we got in the car to find NO light!!

I did it! I fixed my car!

...and I breathe a sigh of relief!

Imagine that, how quickly a year goes! I was just talking about it, no? Today I had my third, and final, observation for the year. It was truly painless! I went into it knowing that I had two great observations behind me and even if I did my absolutely WORST, I was really entitled to one bad observation, right? Certainly not! I came out with flying colors! The snow began trickling down early this morning, setting the kids on edge before the day had even really begun. We weren't going home early. Even if we did, my observation was third period. I could easily knock it out of the way and not have to reschedule. Mrs. H walked in at the start of third period and I proceeded to perform like a champ! It was as if it hardly even mattered that she was there in my classroom! Who cared?! My kids were performing, I was working it!

She gave me my write up before the end of the day. Spectacular! Amazing! I walked out today feeling like I'm on air!! Is it June yet? I can't wait to start all over next year!

Sunapee, NH and another year gone by...



We spent the weekend in Sunapee, New Hampshire with some old friends of ours. Saying it was an amazing house is merely an understatement. We seemed prepared for anything once we got there but the drive up left a lot to be desired! At times, I was honestly convinced we were going to die. The roads were so bad in Vermont that you couldn't see the actual road for miles!! Two inches! What a big old lie! It was closer to five! After closely watching the mileage for each mile to pass, we finally made our final turn into a driveway guarded by two giant wooden owls in the middle of the night that was not plowed. Our only guidance was the car tracks down the driveway. I knew the views in the morning would make it all worth it. We awoke to a frozen snowcovered lake just waiting for us to explore. It was purely a spectacular weekend of snowmobiling and snowshoeing meshed with some old fashioned board games and Kareoke! There is nothing like doing 70 MPH on a frozen lake in 15 degree weather! Wow!

So on another note, another year has passed. People often take time around New Years to reflect on the year. I think your birthday is just as good a time as any. Last year at this time, things were looking pretty dismal at SRS. My principal had just found out that she was not being rehired, people were starting to turn sides..and it was clearly time to get out. I had high hopes as I set my self down to mail out my giant stack of resumes. Job fairs came and went..a year later, I am in a much better position in a great public school with a team that I just absolutely *love*. It's like I was meant to be there all along. It's amazing to reflect and look back and think about the position I was in a year ago and a year before that, and think of all the change one can really accomplish if one sets their mind. Really, I am proof positive that ANYTHING is possible! Who knows! Maybe next year at this time, I'll be pregnant! We'll see! (I make no promises!!)