FRIDAY

Now that everyone who reads this site faithfully knows exactly what I've been up to the last few months, I feel like I can be candid. The past four, five-ish weeks at work have been REALLY good. I feel like making it up to the MEA weekend in Minnesota was like crossing a sort of finish line- I had essentially survived my first quarter of teaching, I was getting into a groove of dividing up my time (lesson planning, teaching, plus trying to squeeze in having a life) and I started to feel like my rapport with the students was improving. It felt like they were starting to trust and respect me. Pair that with a couple of other milestones here and there (like re-taking my license exam for the fourth time, having two days off in two weeks, and BUYING  A NEW CAR) and I started to really feel like MAN- I'm kinda on top of the world. In fact, you might say that I was starting to develop a little bit of swagger- I use that word only for the simple fact that I hear it MULTIPLE times a day working in an alternative school setting.

Well, that being said, I guess in this roller coaster journey I've been riding since starting my new job, it all had to come crashing down. I was on this uphill battle for the months of August to September... reached October and threw my hands up in the air for the fun rush of reaching the top... and this week, I definitely am feeling myself round the corner and climb up the rickety hill again. It all started Monday when Dusty and I drove to Farmington to pick up said new car mentioned earlier, only to be told we couldn't take it home until Tuesday. Oh-kay... there goes a nice 35 mile drive out of the way, down the tubes. Disappointment #1.

Tuesday rolled around and it was actually a really great day. I was asked a couple months ago to chaperone a field trip for our junior and senior students to Mankato on a visit to the university. It went great and I thoroughly enjoyed visiting the campus and seeing my student's eyes light up learning about the possibility of attending college. However... we had a mishap on the bus on the way back, I didn't get home until 445 (unheard of for me most weeknights) and then we had to drive BACK to Farmington to pick up our new car. It was a stressful, long day. Driving to Mankato, back to the cities, BACK DOWN to Farmington made me crabby and tired.

Make a long story short- I dealt with students getting kicked out of school, loads of grading, a LOT of subbing for teachers who were out sick, plus lesson planning for the next few days up to Thanksgiving, I was beginning to feel stretched pretty thin. On top of that I don't know how, but my husband convinced me last night to go see the new Twilight movie at 10 pm.... Who else is in a marriage where the MAN of the relationship is the one convincing his wife to go see the latest installment of a popular teen rom-com vampire saga? Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

I definitely let myself get ahead of things by feeling on top of the world and thinking all was right in my universe. I was quickly brought back down to reality through a variety of events this week. I started to analyze myself and realized that sometimes, if I'm not doing anything and just sitting around, I feel antsy and kind of lazy. I feel much more succesful and overall accomplished when I'm constantly busy and doing something at all times. Whether its being with friends, planning my lessons, catching up on blogs, or cleaning the apartment, I realized today that I don't really let myself just BE.

That's why tonight, as I sit curled up with a blanket next to my parent's amazing electric fireplace, with my dog at my side snoring quietly, I am thanking God and myself for taking a time out from the busyness of life and letting myself enjoy my Friday night. I so needed this. Want to know what else I did?

That's right; I cooked myself dinner. I went to Target, I bought all the ingredients I needed, and I made Pumpkin Turkey Chili with homemade cornbread. It wouldn't be a typical night for me if I didn't occupy my time some more by shopping at Target, of course, but I literally chopped the veggies, sauteed the ingredients, and made chili for the first time in my life, all by myself. It was so wonderfully satisfying to be able to do something like that. And I highly recommend the recipe if you love autumn and love pumpkin (I found it on AllRecipes. Delicious). I am having an unexpectdly quiet night housesitting and dogsitting for my rents, who are in Chicago, and without my husband (sick at home) who I miss. But I am enjoying the time alone. It's kind of nice to just BE.

It was when I finally sat down to eat my homemade meal, prepared all by myself, that I realized I need to do things like this more often. Do things for ME when I find I have the time. I realized tonight that tonight might have been the first night I have cooked ANYTHING since I have been MARRIED! Um... what?! Five months without allowing myself to cook a meal?! Seriously!

 

I am loving a break from the busyness tonight and I had to share with others- maybe you need a break like me too. And if not? Maybe you need to just try cooking this chili, because it's amazing. And if you have any leftover turkey, give it to your dog. But I promise, he won't look this cute after licking the bowl clean, like mine did.