Such an odd turn of events. Since we went hiking in the Canyon I have left all my training behind. Between that, the holidays, classes and now tutoring after school, I simply cannot muster the energy to begin again. I am beginning to notice a change, though, mostly in the minor "aches and pains." I miss hiking and I know this is where I must begin. It calms me, it soothes me, it relaxes me. Problem #1.
Problem #2. I miss normality. I miss my sisters. I miss my friends. I miss a life of no drama. I miss my girlfriends and wine nights and movie nights and nights at The Gathering Place and Sunday morning breakfasts. I miss not worrying about bills and money and the future. I would give anything for a year of nothingness. Of no stress and no idiocy. Maybe I will move away to a city in South America and learn Spanish. Just to hide. Forever.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Strangely alone . . .
So I am in the middle of searching for a new apartment. I found out a few weeks ago that Brittany is moving out, which means I am moving down to a one bedroom. The really strange thing is, that in searching for something as simple as a new apartment, I am beginning to plan out the next year or so of my life. Which is up with the clouds. . .
I really feel that my time here is done. My friends are going different directions, the heat is starting to make me crankier than ever, when I reach my goals for the year, I feel that the school will no longer need me. The reason I am here this year is to move my kids out of ELD. End of story. No discussion. I will work with all my heart to achieve this, but them my time is over. In addition to all this, I miss my family and friends back home more than imaginable. I have never even held my new niece, and won't see her until she's over 3 months old. I am truly struggling to keep going, it's merely the thought of seeing my kids every day that makes it worth getting out of bed. Ironic how my first year, my kids were the ones making me want to stay IN bed! My how things change.
2 months in, 8 months to go.
I really feel that my time here is done. My friends are going different directions, the heat is starting to make me crankier than ever, when I reach my goals for the year, I feel that the school will no longer need me. The reason I am here this year is to move my kids out of ELD. End of story. No discussion. I will work with all my heart to achieve this, but them my time is over. In addition to all this, I miss my family and friends back home more than imaginable. I have never even held my new niece, and won't see her until she's over 3 months old. I am truly struggling to keep going, it's merely the thought of seeing my kids every day that makes it worth getting out of bed. Ironic how my first year, my kids were the ones making me want to stay IN bed! My how things change.
2 months in, 8 months to go.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Summer Reading List
I have, unfortunately, come to the conclusion that the majority of my reading must be completed in the month that I go home during the summer. The regular year is filled with lesson planning, committees, grad school and after-school tutoring. Who has time to read for pleasure? Not this over-committed teacher. With this conlusion in mind, these are the books I have decided on for my summer expansion (by the way, I am ALWAYS open to more suggestions!).
The Other Boelyn Girl
God's Middle Finger
The Diary of Anne Frank
Wicked
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
Dharma Bums
Clockwork Orange
Animal Farm
Watership Down
The Green Mile
Mother Tongue
My Sister's Keeper
The Lighthouse
Jane Eyre (again . . . if time!)
I feel that this is a relatively well-put-together mix of "popcorn" literature and classics. I have been recommended a few novels which I consider "chick" lit, and I must admit it is not my favorite type of genre. However, I am willing to put aside my biases and give them a try. I have already started on Dharma Bums and The Other Boelyn Girl, and I'm excited to spend some time this summer lying on Grand Traverse Bay beach with nothing to do but read. Does life really get any better than that??
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Good-bye Danny. You will be missed.
The day before the final day of school, in other words, 8th grade promotion. My day started a bit sentimental, as I stood watching my first year class coming into school looking like they are 18 or 19, as opposed to 14. Ties, jackets, high heels, dresses, "evening" hair, the works. Initially, I was excited for them to go (honestly, what teacher isn't excited to get rid of the 8th graders the last week of school), but I was assaulted with a feeling of nostalgia as I watched them parade by. Then, my phone rings.
It is a text from a good friend of mine back home, informing me that my jazz professor/piano teacher has died. Mind you, I only found out last night that he had been diagnosed with leukemia and had received an infection after many rounds of chemo. His blood pressure had fallen so low that he was not expected to make it through the night. He made it through the night, but that was all the strength left in him. At 8AM on May 27th, Danny Jordan went home.
My heart is so heavy, as I think back over my music education and realize just how much time I spent with this man and how very much I respected him. All told, I probably took 8 or 9 classes with him, and he was the one that taught me how to sing jazz. I would never have had the courage to attempt such a feat, if it had not been for Danny Jordan. Because of him I spent hours upon hours listening to Ella Fitzgerald, memorizing her songs, repeatedly attempting her solos. Because of him I learned to scat, I learned to get over my fears, I learned to play jazz on the piano (minimal as it may be).
He was an incredible pianist, probably one of the best I've ever heard, and he had perfect pitch like no one I've ever known! He loved to listen to Oscar Peterson and play him in class for examples. He would play Oscar over and over and over, pointing out different chord structure and sounds, then mimicing them on the piano. Danny taught me more music than anyone person had before, or has since. He made me into the musician and person I am today. I just pray that he knew how much he mattered and how much he made a difference in all of our lives.
The world has lost a musician and a teacher, and I have lost a mentor and a role model. Our lives will not be the same without you Danny. May you peacefully rest, for all eternity.
It is a text from a good friend of mine back home, informing me that my jazz professor/piano teacher has died. Mind you, I only found out last night that he had been diagnosed with leukemia and had received an infection after many rounds of chemo. His blood pressure had fallen so low that he was not expected to make it through the night. He made it through the night, but that was all the strength left in him. At 8AM on May 27th, Danny Jordan went home.
My heart is so heavy, as I think back over my music education and realize just how much time I spent with this man and how very much I respected him. All told, I probably took 8 or 9 classes with him, and he was the one that taught me how to sing jazz. I would never have had the courage to attempt such a feat, if it had not been for Danny Jordan. Because of him I spent hours upon hours listening to Ella Fitzgerald, memorizing her songs, repeatedly attempting her solos. Because of him I learned to scat, I learned to get over my fears, I learned to play jazz on the piano (minimal as it may be).
He was an incredible pianist, probably one of the best I've ever heard, and he had perfect pitch like no one I've ever known! He loved to listen to Oscar Peterson and play him in class for examples. He would play Oscar over and over and over, pointing out different chord structure and sounds, then mimicing them on the piano. Danny taught me more music than anyone person had before, or has since. He made me into the musician and person I am today. I just pray that he knew how much he mattered and how much he made a difference in all of our lives.
The world has lost a musician and a teacher, and I have lost a mentor and a role model. Our lives will not be the same without you Danny. May you peacefully rest, for all eternity.
Monday, May 25, 2009
&nbThis weekend, instead of staying around to suffer through the scorching heat of Phoenix, we took a little journey northwest to Kingman. One of our good friends, Signpost, teaches there and we often make excursions to escape our concrete jungle. Now, if you have never been to Kingman, it IS on the way to Vegas and the Hoover Dam, but that is about it's only redeeming factor. It is a relatively small city that sprung up around the mining industry and Route 66, however, once the mining industry took a nosedive, so did Kingman. It's a nice break from the big city, but I must admit, I am not sure how Jon has survived out there for two years, alone. I would claw my eyes out from boredom. I digress.
We drove out Saturday afternoon and went straight to the campground via a 12 mile road, which slowly crawls up the side of a 6000 foot mountain. The actual campground was secluded, and sat directly atop of one of the mountain peaks with stunning views on all sides. It was quite windy, thus the name "Windy Point Campground," and my new tent got a work out! However, my good ole' Sierra Design performed beautifully :-)
We also had a chance to climb a hill on the far side of our campsite, which contained these enormous mounds of boulders on the top of the hill. Eric climbed almost the entire way to the top, while I came close behind. I am definitely not quite agile enough to make it as far as he did, but with practice I'll be able to keep up. He's going to see if there are any places around here where we can do a little bouldering. I absolutely loved it. The views were incomparable, and it actually took a lot of strength and gave a pretty good work out :-)
I must admit. . . I look pretty bad ass sitting pretty on top of this mound of boulders! While we were camping, we hiked up this little peak that was covered with boulders and I had my first true experience with "bouldering." It was really incredible and definitely something that I would like to pursue further. What a rush.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Who knew?
Who knew that one could actually report sibling abuse (between a 14 and a 13 year old) to Child Protective Services?
Who knew that a mom could marry her child's grandfather?
Who knew that a couple in their 70's could take on four children, when no one else wants them, who are of absolutely no blood-relation, and raise them as their own?
Who knew that a woman, after receiving a diagnosis of severe osteoperosis and having a hip replacement, could offer the last miniscule of money that she had in the world, to help her adopted chlid go to Washington DC, just so she has a chance to do something with her life?
Who knew that a child could be born into this world, and within three days of her life beginning, have to receive open brain surgery to remove a cyst?
Who knew that these children could change the lives of so many?
Days like today leave me confused, frustrated and angry . . .yet hope. There is always that tiniest glimmer of hope that there IS good in the world and it IS worth searching for.
Who knew that a mom could marry her child's grandfather?
Who knew that a couple in their 70's could take on four children, when no one else wants them, who are of absolutely no blood-relation, and raise them as their own?
Who knew that a woman, after receiving a diagnosis of severe osteoperosis and having a hip replacement, could offer the last miniscule of money that she had in the world, to help her adopted chlid go to Washington DC, just so she has a chance to do something with her life?
Who knew that a child could be born into this world, and within three days of her life beginning, have to receive open brain surgery to remove a cyst?
Who knew that these children could change the lives of so many?
Days like today leave me confused, frustrated and angry . . .yet hope. There is always that tiniest glimmer of hope that there IS good in the world and it IS worth searching for.
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