Day 293

The move is on.


The U-Haul left today, thanks to the hard work of Todd, Jill, and Kevin yesterday... (and they deserve MANY thanks!) We managed to squeeze in most of our stuff with the truck and Todd's trailer...

Now, I will live in a pretty bare apartment and find out what is really essential.

Day 291

I am filled with a gentle sadness as more and more boxes get filled and Todd and I brace for our move. This was our last week-end here together in New Lebanon... and I feel so mixed... excitement for vacation, the end of the school year, the move... and happiness that Jill and Kevin are here visiting for a fun and laugh filled extravaganza... and still, a gentle sadness that we will be on our way and saying so many good-byes.

Here are some week-end hightlights:

I spent Friday night working on report cards and saturday-day, too... but in the evening we picked up Jill and Kevin for a late night dinner at home (approximately 10:30 p.s. EST). Sunday morning we woke up for a lazy breakfast, trip to the trashy flea market where I bought some old milk bottles (to store change)...
(oh, that was another highlight too, turning in $71 dollars of change- enough to buy our groceries!)
We took Mollie for a much needed walk and swim--- and with the warm weather I couldn't help but get in, too...
and then lazying around with margaritas and bocce for the remainder of the day. Jill and I were done for by 4 p.m. and we went for indian dinner in Williamstown followed by a bad concert in North Adams. It was all good fun.

My parents came over for brunch today and we ate and played croquet. We are certainly enjoying our yard this week-end.

Now, I am back into reports, looking forward to a nice dinner out tonight to celebrate Jill and Kevin's anniversary. Happy Anniversary guys!!!

Self Portrait Tuesday... a couple days late

A gardener, I am not. I hate the feel of dirt under my fingernails.

An egocentric... maybe. I now use the self portrait challenge as an opportunity to take pictures of myself in everyday, mundane activities.

Day 287

Overwhelmed

That is the word to describe my current state as I count the days down and pack my boxes.

There are only 2 days left until Jill and Kevin arrive and will help move our world to MD.
There are only 7 and a half days of school left.
There are only 18 days until I move out and head for Colorado. (yeah)
There are only 36 days until we report for duty in MD.

Can you believe it?

Day 282

My kids crack me up.

The class spent two weeks (on their own) coming up with a play, and to honor them I agreed to let them perform it. It was "too scary" for the Pre-K class so we performed it for our middle school buddies. Turns out, the play was a mess and needed a narrator... So I got the job. I took down the dictation and the transript follows:

The Skull Fortress

Part One:

The story begins in the Skull Fortress. There are three princesses, one is a statue and two are fast asleep.

(Action)

The king and queen are out and while they are away all the ghosts, monsters, and trolls come and take the two sleeping princesses. They put the two princesses in lava chairs and when they hit the lava, they get the fire breathing powers of dragons.

The dragon princesses chase all the bad guys out- except one ghost who stays behind to haunt the castle.

The princess dragons turn back into princesses and tell their sister what happened… but the ghost then turns her into a servant.

Meanwhile, the king returns to the castle with the queen. The queen goes to sleep and the princesses begin to dance. This dancing calls the monsters and ghosts back to the castle.

They try to catch the king and when they do, they lay him down on the lava chairs. The queen wakes up to put cheese on him. When he falls into the lava he become Serberis, a three headed dog.

The grave killers and troll are given the powers to change color and the phantom is given the power to turn into anything. The grave killers give Serberis a huge heart and he begins to dig and dig under gravestones so that he can eat the dead people’s body parts.

With the king missing, the queen dies of a broken heart.

With the king and queen both gone from the castle, Skull Fortress is taken over by the monsters who rule the country!

The End.

You can't tell me it isn't just bizarre. :-) And yes, there is only "Part One".

I love my job.

Self Portrait Tuesday

Introduce Yourself.
This is me, by a camp fire. I can think if no better smell. No more relaxing place to be.
Although I must say, that my bed is up there, held in my husband's arms.
I love to cuddle.
I love to nap.
I love pajamas and hot cocoa.
I love rainy days, listening to the rain on the roof.
I love sunny days and the feel of sunlight on my back.
I love being outside.
I love skiing.
I love kayaking.
I love water.
I love watching the seasons change.
I love my work, teaching kindergarten and first grade.
I love creativity and strive to express myself.
I love photography.
I love scrapbooking.
I love quilting.
I love finishing and the sense of accomplishment upon completion.
I love projects.
I love opening gifts.
I love giving gifts.
I love to travel and see new things.
I love to stay at home and nest.
I love my family, my husband and my dog.
I love my mom, who is my best friend.
I love my dad.
I love my sister and her husband and my in-laws and all my nieces and nephews.
I love friends all over and enjoying their families and children.

I love so many things I could never list them all.

This is me.

Day 276

I am back.
I am back and feeling better.
I am back on-line after a new c-drive hiatus with the geek squad.

After a week away, I am still overly emotional, crying at everything, and feeling gloriously relieved. The parents of my class know that I am leaving and have been super supportive. My boss wrote me a magnificent recommendation letter. My class knows that I am not coming back next year and after a few tears (mostly mine) we had a great talk and I answered all their questions about why I couldn't stay and Todd go and we "could still see each other sometimes." They were too cute.

Mom and I went shopping in Hudson yesterday and I didn't buy anything, but was reaffirmed that I needed to buy some used peices of furniture that I had seen around here that I wasn't sure of. Now I know, its either cheap crap, or way too expensive nice stuff... so buy whatever you see that you like that is reasonable. We had a nice mom's day lunch and stroll and tonight she and dad are coming over for dinner.

So, not much to report... Life continues to move forward and I am just trying to hang on and enjoy the ride.

Day 268

Emotions overpouring

I confessed to the class that the hermit crab was dead. After what I thought was going to be tears, we celebrated Hermi's life with a dance party, pin the tail on the donkey, a formal good-bye and burial. We placed a tombstone on his grave and covered him with dandelions.

After being sick, I am being overwhelmed with loving a caring thoughts. Todd took such good care of me and everyone at school pitched in to help out while I was away. I missed project night which is THE event for the school... but thanks to parents and friends... I slept right through it.

Yesterday, I lost my cool and just cried. I cried and cried and cried. I cried happy tears and sad tears and anxious tears and fearful tears. I just needed a good cry. After I let it all out, I took a shower and felt ready to start anew... But sometimes, man... you just need to let it all hang out.

Day 267

Sickness and Wellness

After a few days of being laid out, out of commision, over and out, I am back in the running and finally feeling human again.
I spent three days on the couch burning up and freezing at about 103 degrees. I sweat through anything that touched my body. I finally went to the doctor to find out I had strep and after 24 hours of antibiotics, I am back and blogging.

Day 262

Camping in Jamaica...
Jamaica, VT, that is.


We arrived on Friday afternoon after finishing up some packing and a two hour drive. We set up camp and made ourselves at home. I am all about bringing the comforts of home...


And there is nothing cuter than a husband that packs a welcome mat for outside the door of your tent. It felt great to be away and I was sentimental about all of the time I have spent in the past in this tent on fun trips with fun people.

Then we had some time to relax and Todd and I lit a fire and ate almost a whole block of cream cheese appetizer while we waited for our friends to arrive. We had a yummy dinner of chicken and dumplings and then it was time for bed... and it was COLD. The temperature was about 25 that night...

Saturday we kayaked the trickier section of river and after a swim early on I had a great run after that. I had a combat roll in the "Dumplings" rapid and was feeling pretty good... and exhausted.

We hiked up later that day to look at the river. In this photo you can just barely see the kayaks on the water in this photo. What a view... and a hike to get down there (keep in mind that you are carrying your kayak as you hike down to the river from this dam).


Okay, its also pretty cute that we all wore matching shoes.

We ate dinner out that night after appetizers around a fire. It felt good to be indoors and among friends.

This is Sunday. A run on the easier section of river. Sore muscles were happy for the rest and we had a great time with good friends... I love this photo because there are 6 boats on top of the car and it looks like we have so much gear that it is spilling out the back of the car.

Fun memories. Good friends. Campfires. The week-end was everything that I hoped for.