So life is a combination of good and bad right? We can't appreciate the good, if we never have the bad. So here it is...
1. Completing my mission of buying an ornament for my ornament swap hosted by
Living in Yellow. Not only is it so much fun to buy something for someone else that you don't even know, but I also got to do some good in the process. See, I was at Pier 1 searching for a cute, quirky, pretty ornament and upon checking out, I also picked up a pack of holiday cards for UNICEF. I was like, "Hey, what a good idea and helping others too!" And then, when I asked the employee, he told me not that 10% or 25% or 50% of the money I spent on the cards went to UNICEF, but 100%!!! This is not something you always hear, so I was very happy to spend my $12 on something that supports children, who are the most valuable members of society (in my opinion). I bought the watercolor deer card above, but I also liked the snow flurries one and loved the inside message: "A season that sparkles, a new year that shines." I hope that
Lindsay likes what I picked out too!
2. Getting together with friends (old and new) to celebrate Thanksgiving early! The boy and I were invited to a potluck this past weekend and it was so much fun! I was a little nervous going in because even though I've known a lot of the people since high school, they weren't close friends or anything. Once we got there, though, I had some really good conversations and realized I can connect with a lot of these people in new ways that I hadn't been able to before. My favorite part was when the host gave a toast about how they've done the potluck for five years and they are so thankful to have great people in their lives and bring everyone together (oh, and the food!!) I guess I really am becoming a grown-up now!
3. The amazing neck/back massages bf gives me almost daily. I hope he knows how much I appreciate them! For some reason, I always have a million knots in my neck, especially, so I'm one lucky girl to get free daily massages.
4. The fact that it's eggnog latte season!! Yessssss time to hit the gym to offset the holiday season. I went into Starbucks the other week and just asked when the eggnog lattes start and they said NOW! Woohoo! I don't know why they aren't advertising it though. Imagine all that eggnoggy goodness going to waste. True story-- I don't really even like egg nog (well, except when my sister mixes it up with rum), but I love these egg nog lattes. When I first tried one, I hated it, but I guess it's an acquired taste ;)
5. Anddd possibly the best thing that has happened in the last week is that I GOT A JOB!!! Yes, it's true-- I'm a real person again. For all of you who aren't related to me/FIRL (friends in real life) and don't know my professional history, let me break it down for you: I graduated UD with a BA in English (Literature)/Women's Studies. Whenever I was asked all of college if I wanted to be a teacher I said, "No, I'm an English major, not an English Education major. Duh." I thought college was to make me an educated, well-rounded citizen prepared for life and critical thinking and being articulate. This is not the common view anymore and most people see college as job-training and that college major=career path. It wasn't until senior year of college that I realized that Women's Equality (specifically in health) was my passion. Long story short, I didn't get into grad school to pursue a doctorate in this area. I then decided to get my MBA in Health Care Administration. After a year of doing that, I got a random call one day asking if I'd be interested in teaching high school English. I jumped at the opportunity, interviewed and, miraculously, got the job. Must be in the genes since my mom is a teacher too (Professor/Director, to be specific). I worked at that position dramatically imrpoving my teaching skills and then my temporary contract was up at the end of the year. Another long story short, I didn't get rehired due to district reorganization and then didn't get any other job I applied/interviewed for. Bummer. However, I was also very tired of teaching by this point and needed some life assessment...so I went for a walk...for a month. As you may know by now, I spent a little less than a month in the wilderness/backcountry/woods and hiked 221+ miles completing the John Muir Trail. I dreamt and thought about teaching many more times than I anticipated and decided I had made a path. I started the school year subbing and applying to any openings. I had two interviews and on Tuesday I got the call! Meet your new 9th and 10th grade English Language Arts Instructor for a local public high school! Cannot wait to get started and see what this year brings and try to make my classroom and classes great!
The Worst:
1. While making corn casserole for the Thanksgiving potluck and chopping up 4 jalepeno peppers, I proceeded to touch my eyeball and have the fire of hell unleashed onto my eye. I had even washed my hands already, but I guess that pepper oil hangs on. I thought quickly on my feet (literally jumping back and forth from the pain) and rinsed by eye with milk-- AMAZING! I figured that I needed milk or bread, just like when you eat spicy food, and I was right. It still had a little pain and blurriness, but it worked out pretty well to reduce the severe, debillitating burn.
2. Only to touch my other eyeball about an hour or so later (even though I washed my hands again and rinsed them with milk!!) Ugh. I never learn.
3. Getting notices in the mail that they are going to kill me (or refer me to a collection agency) for the $5 I owe for getting bloodwork done months ago. This stuff always kills me because why can't they have me pay it when I'm there?! Or have a card on file?! I always pay my copays at the time of service, yet I get billed for the bloodwork copay later. Then, I forget and forget to call up during their business hours and then I get threatening letters that say things like "FINAL NOTICE." I need to figure out a system to handle this kind of minutae.
4. Losing my debit card. Jesus. This was a mess and a half. Also, it is really embarrassing. Have you ever had this happen (come on, I know I'm not the only mess here)? It's so awkward because you are, say, paying for your coffee when you can't find it and you start to panic and then you realize it really isn't in your bag, but you put on this whole "I'm searching for my card in every single pocket" dance so that the cashier picks up the fact that you
really did lose it and aren't just a bum. Then you don't have any cash (because who carries cash?) and you try another card only for it to not work because it's, duh, expired. (Because I try to only use one card!) So then you give them your emergency AMEX and, shocker, they don't take AMEX because it is a small business that doesn't want the high fees of AMEX (how many times can you fit AMEX into one sentence? three.) Thank god there isn't a line piling up behind you, but you are pretty sure you have made a scene and drawn way too much attention to yourself anyway, so you must leave. Without your coffee. In shame. Promising you'll be right back. Only to come back 2 hours later, but, hey, at least you kept your promise. And you regain some of your pride, showing up with cash (look, I've got money!) and a working card (that you left in your other coat pocket days ago). The coffee shop people just look at you with pity and make you a new white rhino (white chocolate, raspberry) latte, since your other one is clearly cold now. What. A. Saga.
