Not Your Average Summer Job

Although I’ve heard rumors that teachers have the summer off, I have yet to experience such pleasure this year.  I spent my first week of summer vacation at Volunteer Houston as part of the Houston A+ Challenge externship program.  My fellow externs and I visited many different non-profit organization throughout the week.  Overall the experience was amazing and I am very excited to bring all that I learned about volunteering back to my students in August. 

The best day was when we spent Tuesday at the Houston Zoo; we were tag-alongs with the Shell Summer Intern Program.  We were allowed behind-the-scenes access to a few of the most popular exhibits (giraffes and elephants) and then set to work painting a huge construction fence.  I was able to talk to many different college students from across the country and I was amazed by their drive to be successful and their commitment to non-profit work.  My fellow externs and I left with a renewed sense of hope for the future of America.

Neema likes to lick ears while searching for food :o)

A quick photo-op before the real work begins

A group of interns is hard at work

 

 

Dude, She’ll Pop Like a Can of Pilsbury Biscuits!

This was one of the best weekends I’ve had in a looooooong time.  After months of “separation”, BJ and I have reestablished our friendship.  We have been casually communicating since early March, and I was secretly hoping that we would work our way back around to being close friends again.  My patience paid off.  Friday night I had the pleasure of hanging out with LH and MJ; BJ also showed up and we ended up closing down the bar despite the fact that L and M left at midnight.  Saturday evening B and I watched game 2 of Wings/Blue Jackets series (Go Wings!!) then went to his fave neighborhood bar.  We drank beer, made fun of the drunks singing karaoke, caught up with the key events in each other’s lives, and laughed until our sides hurt.  It was just like old times and I can’t put into words how happy I am to have on of my best friends back in my life

[To all of you wondering if I've lost my mind:  Rest assured there are no romantic feeling are involved on either side.  We both recognize we are much better off friends than lovers.  I may be a little slow at time but I'm not a complete idiot.  This is never going beyond friendship.]

MASH Revisited

S came home today eager to play a “new” game she had learned at school: MASH.  I’m sure you all remember the game that predicted every middle-school girl’s future.  Who will I marry? How many kids will we have? What kind of car will I drive? Where will we live?  Here are MY results:

I am married to Justin Timberlake but we have zero children and *only* live in a house.  I drive a Corvette and work as an astronaut.  My job pays me $0 a year.  I am having an affair with Chris Osgood and will eventually get a divorce.

Did you read that carefully?  I having an AFFAIR???  I’m getting a DIVORCE???  These 2 “Categories” were never part of the MASH game that I played in elementary and middle school.  What a sad commentary on today’s society that young girls see these 2 events are predictable outcomes in life

(By the way, S married Bozo the Clown…LOL!!)

Senior Citizens Home Now Open

I learned last week that I should be running at “retirement home.”  According to the knowledgeable people at PetCo (and my own suberb reading skills), my cats are SENIORS.  I had no clue!!  I had to purchase a new type of food for them which looks, smells, and thankfully costs exactly like their old food.  I wasn’t convinced I needed to make the upgrade but the professionals at PetCo assured it this was necessary for the health and happiness of my babies old farts.  I just hope dementia doesn’t set in any time soon

Activity Day at the old folks home is always fun

 

The exercise program here is very strenuous!

The Girls Are Together Again

This weekend S and I traveled to Lafayette in order to attend my college roommate’s baby shower.  Darla and I were as close as sisters during our time together at Northeast Louisiana University and in the years that followed; I think some people considered us one person because where one went the other was sure to follow .  In fact, she was in the delivery room when S was born and had the bruises on her hand to show for it!  After I graduated from McNeese State University in 1999, S and I  moved to Lafayette and it was a given that we would share an apartment with Darla.  Despite our many difference, I was happy in Lafayette and happy with our living arrangements. 

Eventually S and I moved to Houston and life presented circumstances that pulled Darla and me apart.  We spoke once or twice a year and exchange cards on birthdays and Christmas but the close relationship faded.   Before last weekend, she hadn’t seen S in at least 5 years. 

This visit was one of the best we’ve had in many years.  After the shower, S and I visited Darla at her home.  We sat in her living and talked for hours.  It was very much a repeat of the past but different –better – becasue S was an active part of the conversation.  She was able to connect with Aunt Darla and form her own opinions about a shadowy figure in her memory.  Darla was amazing in her ability to pull S into the conversation; if that’s any indication of the future I know she will be a wonderful and caring mom.

There was a taste of bittersweetness to the trip.  I saw Darla interacting with her “new” friends and it was clear to me that she has found new  close friends to fill my place.  I don’t know why it stung my heart — I have made close friends here in Houston, too.  I guess I just always referred to her as “my best friend” and now I see that isn’t the case.  I know we will always have a connection, but I suppose a part of me misses the way things used to be.  I have hope that this visit is the first step in reconnecting our separate lives.

Music to Reflect Moods

Too much going on both inside and outside my head for me to even attempt to write a coherent post.   Instead I present you with 2 music videos;  I’ll let you read into them what you will.

I fucking love Disturbed.  Sorry about the language but when you talk about that band the word fuckjust seems to trip off your lips so easily…weird.  Anyway, the video is some stupid anime bullshit but it’s the only unedited version on You Tube, and a censored version of this song is akin to a censored version of Eddie Murphy’s Rawor one of Sam Kinison’s stand-up routine… fucking pointless (see, there’s that word again)!

So now that you’re worried about my sanity and questioning if I have an anger problem (which I do but I control very well thank you — I haven’t hit anyone in years!) here’s the video to my newest favorite song.  I am sooooo in love with this Caleb Followill’s voice!

I Don’t Want to Be a Yo-Yo

Ugh!  I hate trying to lose weight   Monday morning I felt amazing after losing 5 pounds during the previous week.  Today I feel deflated because I have gained 2 of those pounds back.  Grrrr!  I cannot stand playing this up and down game.  So..as much as I dislike the inconvenience I guess it’s time to bite the bullet and start writing down my caloric intake.  Double grrrr!!

Total Disappointment

I just completed week 3 of my training for the Avon Walk.  This past week I walked a total of 20 miles.  My back and legs are so sore and stiff that I can barely walk.  Everyone says, “Wow!  You must be dropping weight like crazy!”  WRONG!!  I have gained 2 pounds.

I am so frustrated with this whole weight loss thing.  I hate being this overweight and I know what I need to do to fix the problem — I just can’t seem to find the will power to actually control my eating.  I am disappointed in myself….which makes me want to eat more.  Yay

I had the chance to talk with a friend over the weekend; she is a fitness instructor and she has offered her help.  I am starting a new eating plan tomorrow (no time to grocery shop yesterday).  I am going to focus on eating the bulk of my calories for breakfast and lunch instead of in the evening.  This will be a complete break from my normal routine but I am willing to try something totally different — I want to get rid of this extra weight!

I Survived Week One

I just completed my first week of training for the Avon Walk.  Friday is the only day I skipped which means I exercised 6 days in one week…this is a personal record!!  I anticipated that I my legs would be terribly sore and I would be hobbling around the apartment like a 90-year old woman but that is not the case.  Not counting some soreness and stiffness on Wednesday I haven’t had to deal with any aches and pains.  My knees bother me a little while I am walking, but I suspect that will remedy itself once I lose some of this extra weight I’m carrying.  Overall it was a hugely successful week, and I my confidence level is sky high

Day 1 is Under My Belt

I started the training for the Avon Walk today.  I plan to follow the 12 week training plan as closely as possible.  This will be a huge challenge, yet I am determined to see this thing through to completion.  I’m sure I’ll be moaning soon about my decision but for today I feel great