December 31, 2010

Today, I get to... reflect on the last year while looking ahead to the new one.

Since September:
I got to finish teaching three courses (SST1 for AP/IB teachers, SST2, OAT1), which means meeting new friends, struggling with difficult participants, including those grading papers and coming unprepared.

I got to go on an Out of the Darkness walk to honor Sean and Nora's friend, Jay Coutts.  It was sad and hard, but uplifting, too.  It led me to think of Ned a lot more than usual.

I got to have shoulder surgery on 12/8.  So far, this seems to be working out.  I was very apprehensive, because Meg had such difficulties, but the PT is helping.  I never in my life thought I'd be icing myself multiple times a day. 

I got to share a very difficult day with Ann - and I hope this year is a much, much better one.

I got to have wonderful guests for the holidays - all Petraseks and Robin's boyfriend Curtis for Christmas Eve, Nora's friends Jacob and Kyle after Christmas.

I got to go to the Military Bowl with Nora and her friends.  I got to tailgate - tequila, of course!  The main reason I wish I believed in God is that I'd like someone to thank for Nora's wellness.

I got to see several really great movies this year:  The Kids are All Right, Harry Potter (I have no idea what number we're on - it's the second-to-last), The Social Network, The King's Speech.

I got to see two plays this fall:  Chess @ Signature with Pam Nehring (liked the PBS one better, but that makes sense) and Sunset Boulevard @ Signature with Nora (the lead was very strong, but it was hard not to make constant comparisons to the movie).

Kitten love: Maggie

I get to have a kitten!  We got her from Ann & Bob's farm, Talbot Run.  She's 9 weeks old, a tortoise calico.  Adorable!  Brian was reluctant, but I believe he's fallen in love.

Post-vacation 2010

I got to do everything on the list, and more!  Would have wished that the time with friends had been at the beach - it didn't work out.  Still, managed to see Betsy, Keith, Carolyn and Kevin for lunch; Meg and her family came for a few days during which we saw Sean and Jess.  Talked to Nora and Dana on the phone - a lot.  Wonderful beach days, hikes, bike rides, good times with Brian.

Vacation 2010

My Plan:
Two weeks of...

• time with Brian
• beach
• time with friends
• garden work
• house cleaning
• cooking
• eating
• time with family
• reading
• movies
• wine and tequila
• listening to and organizing my music files

It's been a long time...

Today I got to take my final flex day from the winter/spring semester. Yes, it is July 2nd. I called Sue and we went downtown to the Folk Life Festival on the mall. Not terribly interesting, but it was fun to spend a day with her. Friends are good.

March 30 - spring break - 2010

Today I got to have the kind of day I love. Sleep in, then a long walk (almost five miles!) with Jill Coutts. Home for lunch, washing the car, working in the yard, baking, making chocolate-covered strawberries. Library, phone call with Dana, bed.

Ahhh.

March 25, 2010

Today, I get to go to Gaithersburg, then Sandy Spring, then Rockville, then home by 8:00. I get to do this, and will most likely get to continue doing this, because my position was not cut yesterday in the dismantling of OOD. Who knows what it will mean for us, being a part of human resources?

Jay

No way to look at this as "I get to." Jay Coutts took his life today.

Friday, March 5

Today I get to not go to work, to make up for PM classes. We call this "flex time." The challenge - and I rise to it every semester - is to keep track of all of the evening and Saturday classes, and to take off the flex time. Supposedly we do it in the same pay period, but that's generally impossible due to mandatory meetings. Still, I am pretty serious about keeping track. Today I'm making up for two evenings in February. So...
I get to prepare for the arrival of our princess and her prince, Matt, for the weekend. Cake is cooling. Soon I'll be on my way to the grocery store for the requested dinner specialties, then back to clean. I'm sure I'll have time to rest and read, too.
La vie est bonne - even when I do have to clean the bathroom.

But really, I love my job

This was one of those weeks that I GOT TO teach Wednesday PM, Thursday PM, and all day today - Saturday. Between laundry, a haircut, groceries, and rehearsal, there goes tomorrow. When I'm this beat, I have to work hard to remind myself that this really, really is a great job. If only there weren't a mandatory meeting on Monday from 8:30-12:00. If only I hadn't had a stomach ache since yesterday morning. Still... I get to go to sleep now in my cozy bed, and not get up until I want to tomorrow!

Sean's new home on Federal Hill

Today Brian and I got to tour and help set up Sean's new home in Baltimore. He proudly showed us the area, a very cool mix of ethnic and chic, with many restaurants, bars, and shops. The house is great - historic and fixed up without being significantly changed from its original state. The stairs are a crazy spiral, one of the interior walls is brick, there are lots of tall windows, and there's a dark and creepy basement that we didn't go in - the light wasn't working. I think he, his roommate Joel, and Newton the cat will be very happy there. Hooray!

Valentine's Day 2010

Today, I get to celebrate the fact that, 32 years ago today, I began a journey with a wonderful man.

Blizzard of 2010 - Day 6 - Thursday

Because of all of this snow, I get to indulge myself while not feeling 100%. Perhaps it was something I ate; perhaps it's a virus. At any rate, since Tuesday I've really only been comfortable lying down. But, since the office is closed, I don't have to decide about going to work, and I don't have to use sick leave. We'll see about tomorrow.

Blizzard of 2010 - Day 5 - Wednesday

On the television, someone said, "A blizzard is a hurricane with snow." This makes sense.

Awoke this morning to blowing snow so thick that I could not see anything outside my bedroom window. Looking out my study window, we see... (see photo at right).

Because of this, I once again did not have to go to work. I got to read a novel ALL DAY LONG. That's right - I ate breakfast, got on the couch, and basically didn't get up until about 3:30, when I finished the book.

Life is good.

Blizzard of 2010 - Day 4 - Tuesday

School was just canceled for the rest of the week. They haven't decided yet what to do about offices; we've been out today and yesterday. So... today, I got to make beef broth, spaghetti sauce, and quiche. Brian dug out the grill, so if we lose power again, we'll be able to at least heat things up.

Why are we considering this, you ask? Aren't we shoveled out yet? Yes, we're pretty well plowed, although many roads, including main roads, are still down a lane or two. The thing is - more snow is coming; they say 10-20". As I look out my window, it's falling right... now!

Blizzard of 2010 - Day 2

Today, I get to... shovel very heavy snow! We did half of the driveway yesterday, as the 34" fell. Today, the sun is bright, and the snow is brilliant beneath a clear, blue sky. Driveways all around us are cleared, but the road remains unplowed. People out walking have created a path down the middle of the road. I will also get to lie around and read a book, since I got to the library on Friday and scooped up a few goodies. There are movies to watch, sweets to bake, soup to make... and, of course, work I could be doing. Right now - puzzled as to why Facebook won't let me upload photos.

I get to do all of this because we live in a great area with four real seasons - AND because our power came back on after 18 hours of being out.

Yes - my wrists and fingers and elbows hurt.

Snow Day - but not for offices

Today, I got to work by myself in my office. It was a snow day for schools but not for offices. While I was surprised to be the only person attending the meeting scheduled for 8:30, I was not dismayed. In fact, I passed a very productive day.

Today's biggest challenge was an opportunity for me to work on my emotional intelligence. I read a very, very poorly written OAT recertification paper, then spoke at length on the phone to its author. I used my paraphrasing skills, acknowledged emotion, but maintained my platform, speaking about the paper and not the person. This is extremely challenging for me.

Strange work day schedule

Today I get to work a very strange schedule. I had a meeting from 7:30-8:30 here at home with a colleague who is working with me to plan a new SST course for AP and IB high school teachers. I'm technically not working right now, taking flex time for an evening class for four hours. This afternoon I'm going to a meeting with a group working on a new OAT course for central office administrators, then to the office to set up for class tomorrow. And I'll still probably be home by 5:00. Ahhh.

Encore

Tonight, I get to go to Encore rehearsal. This is our first rehearsal of the spring season. We'll be preparing for performances at the April wedding of one of our members (I will be teaching that day), a May concert at a church (I think), and a Memorial Day evensong at the Washington Cathedral - my favorite place to sing. The group is composed of about 20 singers, ages 45-60 or so, of varying levels of skill. Still, when we rehearse we always have a good time.

Retainer - began 1/13/2010

Because I have great dental insurance, I get to have a retainer on my bottom teeth. Because of the retainer, I will not have to have my crowns redone every 5-10 years. (and yes - my teeth hurt just like a 13-year-old's)

Guest room

Today, I get to begin painting Sean's room, and making it into a guest room. This process isn't easy, since it involves accepting the fact that my darling baby is truly an adult. After all, he's almost 25. I get to do this job because he has become such an independent and wonderful adult. I get to do this job because I'm still strong enough to climb a ladder and to scrub walls. I get to do this because I have a solid job that allows me to buy materials, and to not have to work seven days a week. And I get to do this because Brian is my partner, ready to dive into this project, and possessing the skills of drywalling.