Living The Good Life

This past week as been a complete whirlwind. I feel like D and I have been going non-stop to get ready for the overseas fair while trying to stuff in as much fun as well. It feels like we have been going a hundred miles a minute. I just hope we haven't forgotten anything. Monday we were able to go hear Al Gore speak on Global Warming. It was amazing. This seems to be such a controversial issue for some reason, but I really believe it only has the place in the political world that politicians have put it in. I don't think my stand on environmental issues has anything to do with what party I associate myself with. Instead, I think it has more to do with the responsibility I have to the world I live in. The things that we are being asked to do--using energy efficient light bulbs, limit the use of your air conditioner, carpool--are not things that are time-consuming, expensive, or that will drastically change our lifestyle. They are simple things that help to reverse the damage we ...

Things I am thrilled and thankful for today: * When asked, "What does Aunt Danielle do?" My nephew replies , "love me." * Getting a new haircut. * Those moments when your heart feels ready to explode because you love so much. * Laughing * Lazy weekends where I leave all my grading in the car (sorry kids, the tests won't be graded by Monday after all) * Going on culinary journeys (Tango's was delicious!) * Hometown parades (go Bronco's!) * Bike Rides with D * Letting things go

Okay--I only have about two more weeks until we are off to Iowa and possibly a whole new adventure. I find myself avoiding the very things I know I need to do; e-mail prospective schools, complete my portfolio, research the different cultures and societies. Instead, I am wasting as much time as possible by checking postsecrets.com, reading the various blogs I have suddenly become addicted to, and finishing up one of the many baby blankets I have to knit. And yet.... I really am optimistic about this possibility for D and me. I feel like no matter what happens, whether we go overseas or not, something wonderful is going to come out of this. Maybe it will give us the courage to go seek jobs and a life in Boston, Portland, or New York. Maybe it will give me the courage to find what I am really passionate about and go after it, knowing that where we are now, nice as it is, is not a glass box I have to spend the rest of my life in. I think whatever comes out of this exploration, will be goo...

The Christmas/New Year break flew by and I have found myself back in the trenches of the 8th grade classroom. I am surrounded by projects that I had assigned to be completed over the break (what was I thinking!!) and desperately need a grade break. We are starting the long winter stretch where school is concerned. The next two months are typically the hardest for me to get through. It is when all the optimism of the beginning of the year begins to wear off and the ol' "doubting that anything I'm doing is making a difference" thoughts creep into view. I struggle during this time because the year is officially half way over, and there is still so much I want to accomplish. I feel like I am running out of time and the kids will never have the skill set they need to move onto high school. In fact, I'm meeting with the high school English staff tomorrow, always an intimidating experience, to discuss how we can make the transition from middle school to high school a li...

My typical New Year's Resolutions usually follow the usual mold--eat less, exercise more, all the sudden become a genius. But I decided to try something different this year. I want to have resolutions that I really want to do instead of ones that I know I ought to do. We are just going to try it out this year and see what comes of it. My New Year's Resolutions for 2007: *Laugh as much as possible *Take every opportunity that comes my way *Try something that I am afraid to do *Ride a century (Reach the Beach--here I come!) *Travel to places I have only read about *Read more often *Relax *Give up at least two constant worries (yet to be decided which ones will go the wayside) *Love, Love, Love Happy New Year!