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.