Last night I slept terribly: every single creek or sniffle woke me up. I thought I would be okay, but the break-in definitely affected my sense of security in my own house. I guess that's to be expected, but I didn't realize how bad it was until I got up to go to the bathroom … Continue reading November 24: still creeped out
November 23: The Blackest of Fridays
Someone broke into our house while we were sleeping last night. They came in through the window and grabbed a purse, and went through a car. They had to know we were home; there was three cars in the driveway. It was pretty bold. I am trying to stay focused on the positive: no one … Continue reading November 23: The Blackest of Fridays
November 22: Thanksgiving
I suppose I need to write what I'm grateful for this year. I'm sure I'll forget some things, but here goes: My amazing husband who puts up with my shit and bakes pumpkin pies from scratch in the morning and lets me sleep in as late as I want most days and makes sure I … Continue reading November 22: Thanksgiving
November 21: Better
If you would have told me on Monday that I would leave school on Wednesday feeling *good* about things, I would have laughed in your face. But here we are. Teaching can give me metaphorical whiplash: one day can be terrible and I leave feeling like I'm the worst teacher in the world, the next … Continue reading November 21: Better
November 20: Food and the Body
I have been really careful about what I've been eating for the past couple months. This has meant a lot of changes in how I feel, how my clothes fit, and my relationship to food. I feel better, I have more energy, I know I am being healthier. But. Today I was really hungry and … Continue reading November 20: Food and the Body
November 19: Thanks, Community
Today I made a shameless plea for encouragement or funny pictures to help me feel better about a shitty day and IT WAS SO AMAZING. Seriously, I'm thankful for my extended community right now. I left work feeling kind of defeated, like I am a shitty teacher, and wondering what kind of job I should … Continue reading November 19: Thanks, Community
November 18: running in place
That's pretty much what I feel like. I worked on grading way more than I do on a typical weekend and still I am swamped. I did get almost all my 7th grade essays done. I had 5 left and I just couldn't keep going tonight. I am distracted and tired and I know I … Continue reading November 18: running in place
November 17: time is flying
I can't believe it's almost December. It doesn't feel like it, even if it does get dark at, like, five in the afternoon now. I have been working really hard on grading this weekend and it's paying off, but I'm really burnt out. I wish I could just get a day for nothingness. I just … Continue reading November 17: time is flying
November 16: reading essays
I graded an entire class set of essays tonight after work. Here's the thing about reading personal essays: you learn a lot about the lives of hundreds of young people - how they view things, how they process, what bothers them and what they care about tremendously. I've read thousands of stories from kids at … Continue reading November 16: reading essays
November 15: the why
Lately I've been internally complaining about "having to write." It's kind of weird, because I don't actually have to write here. I'm not paid; I'm not forced. If I didn't write one day, it wouldn't be missed much. I haven't posted a few of the less interesting blogs to Facebook or other social media recently … Continue reading November 15: the why
Adventures in Distraction 