SPRING has finally SPRUNG!

It's spring break everyone, and you know what that means... It means that I'm going to be starting my part time job today. That's what it means. BUT-- it also means I don't have to set one foot inside the D home for 10 full days in a row!!!

I've needed this, and I want to make the most of it. I will be working today and tomorrow, but it's not big deal. I'm kind of looking forward to being around some different people and learning a bit about wine. We'll see how it all goes. Then the rest of the week I can play.

I know this week is going to fly by, I just hope the weather will cooperate.

I am a wino

NO really. I am. I will be selling wine in a fancy dancy gourmet grocery store. Don't laugh. It could be my calling!

Just about there...

Not that there is much space to do things with, but here's how it's going so far. It's small, but it's mine for the moment. Things don't match, and well, that's just the way it is. Above is the living room area. The "Turkey" wall above the couch.

The living room area. Above the TV is the "Jordan" wall. Yes, I put that little bench in front of the radiator together. And it's entirely full of scarves!! The wood floors are so nice. I love them. Down the tiny hallway is the tiny bathroom, but enormous closet. That's where I hide EVERYTHING!

Here is the dining area. Not much going on there, I have a really nice table, but the chairs don't go. The book shelf is built in, but not very wide. So I don't have many books on it at the moment. And I need a plant of some sort.

The bedroom space. Not much on the walls, I have to get some things framed, so I'm not sure what's going to go on the wall yet.

The kitchen, small. But for once I have a kitchen that is fully functional!!!! YES! Just what I've always wanted.

Maybe, a little crazy

Ok, well, it must have been a much better week. It's hard to be in an unhappy routine constantly and feel like you can't come up for air. But Friday and Saturday were great!

Friday, I we didn't have school and attended a mini-conference held at another detention center. It was all teachers and principals who work in D-homes. It was great! It was a chance to see other new faces, people that do exactly what I do (although I only met one other art teacher and she was hard to talk to..hummmm). I actually had a few conversations with people at other places and they were "NORMAL"! There are "normal" people out there who do what I do. I'm so tired of the nit-picky ones I work with. All they know how to do is constantly complain and all that. Some people just don't know when to let things go. I know not everyone is perfect, but I feel like I work with so many squeaky wheels it's damaging what our goals should be as a school. There's only 8 of us, we have small classes sizes, we should be making strides with the school.

But it's ok, because I became inspired. I realize who our population is, I realize their needs. I realize who the people are that I work with, and that we're all there for different reasons. And I'm ok with that for now. I'm not sure where I'll end up next year, but I do know that I'll do my hardest to finish out the school year in the best way I know how. Do you realize that 70% of the students I get have some sort of acute or major mental illness. 70% ranging from Depression to personality disorders. Not to mention the massive changes they're going through as teenagers. Factor in their bizarre choices and lifestyles and you've got -- CRAZY!

Ok, that's enough of that. Friday I did see "Reign Over Me". The one with Don Cheadle and Adam Sandler... very sad.... very very sad. But good.

Ok- let's turn my attention to Saturday. I attended a workshop about Jasper Johns at the National Gallery of Art. I LOVED IT! I LOVE JASPER JOHNS! And I even made a work in his style. It was great! I met other art teachers, and it was great. Even sat next to this band who would be performing that day at the NGA in conjunction with the Jasper Johns show. Really nice guys. From Boston.... Fun. GREAT! (How many times can I say great?)

I didn't know anyone, but I tagged along with these two women who teach at some fancy dancy school near Great Falls (10 mins outside of DC). They were so nice, and one of the teachers is a practicing artist and she's going to give me some information on joining at art guild. She really liked the work that I made (that was funny to me because I haven't painted with acrylics in I don't know how long), and she said I should think about showing my work around here! What a compliment! Anyway.. really nice to hear from a peer that she likes what you do! It makes me want to really set up a little area in my little apartment to paint! I really should. I know I need to.

OK--- next. I applied for a part time job, and got it! I know, it seems a bit strange. How could I possibly need and have time for another job, and what the hell would I be doing! Right? Well, remember that fancy dancy gourmet food shop across the street from me? Probably not. We'll I knew they needed someone a while ago, but the announcement went away, so I figured they hired someone. But this last week, I saw a new announcement. And I thought to myself-- why not? I'm interested in food. Why not get a job with food? So I called the guy Friday, set up an appointment for Saturday and got hired. It's not really for the money. I'll only be working about 10 hours a week. I will probably be working in the wine department! NICE!! AND-- the piece de resistance----- I get 30% off of all my groceries! That right there is worth it.

So I'm taking some twists and turns.... I think I need to. So I'm a little looney. So what? Like you didn't know that before.

Don't believe the hype!

Just as my students are working on propaganda for their current project, many articles have surfaced everywhere showing that we're having a possible world crisis!!!!!!!!! CHOCOLATE SHORTAGE! What? This isn't the first I've heard of it. And maybe it's for real. I mean the earth's climate is constantly changing. And cocoa pods are grown in the tropics. Just like coffee... uh-oh... coffee is next. Anyway, maybe people are acquiring a taste for all things dark chocolate. But who cares? I eat chocolate everyday, and you know why? 'Cause I can.

So who cares if people are jumping on the bandwagon, and buying out chocolate everywhere. It gives me more of a reason to become a pastry chef. Then I can always have chocolate around. Yes folks were coming to an age where delights, pleasantries, and non-essentials will be sold to the highest bidder......

Wow, just like TV.

So eat up, enjoy chocolate, because it's only a matter of time... then comes coffee. Brace yourself, that might create a real stir...ohhh bad pun.

A couple of strange things..

It's really strange that they show "Sonic" commericals in our area. I've never seen one here. And when I mean here, I mean like the entire tri-state area. It's like a huge mystery. Where can I get that new shake? What about those tater tots? I have never ever seen one in this area. EVER. And just for the record, I've never actually eaten at one, but they were all over Albuquerque. And you would expect them to be in the southwest because they're curbside restaurants. People eat in their cars! It's always sunny in Albuquerque.

Another strange thing is when unexpected people call me sweetie, or whatever. It just surprises me. And I never know how to react. And I'm not talking about complete strangers, like waitresses for instance. I'm talking about people I know. This morning I was just typing away on my computer at work, and I hear," Hey sweetie". Ummmmmm, I'm not your sweetie, but Hey right back to you.

Today was long, the week was extra long. Tonight may be one of those special nights where I let loose... yeah, you know what I mean. I'm going over to a friend's house and she's having a small gathering, it's St. Patrick's Day... yada yada yada.

However, I do have to be in good enough shape to drive up to ghettosburg tomorrow. I want to go see my parents and the Lhotse..... sweet sweet Lhotse.... (she's going to go crazy)

Beware of the Ides of March!

Watch ya back, watch ya back!

Seriously.

Friday means nothing to me this week. I'm kind of sad about that, especially since all my grades are finished and in the computer......

Any ideas on how to waste my time at work on Saturday?

Heavy Cloud...no rain

Busted! It was supposed to rain, I felt the drops, saw the clouds... and it didn't come. Oh well. It scared me enough not to walk to Old Towne, so I didn't. I did make it to the fancy dancy grocery store and I discovered that they carried Birch Beer! YES! Birch Beer!

For people who are not familiar with Birch Beer, it's pretty much a mid-atlantic thing. It reminds me of the shore when I was a kid, because that's the only place you used to be able to get it. My family and I used to go to Ocean City, NJ every summer and there was this awesome pizza place on the boardwalk and they served Birch Beer. Now it is seen in a lot of places. It's kind of like Root Beer... kinda. It's got a different flavor, really sweet, and the color of birch.

I'm so tired today. I know it's Thursday, but I still have to go to work this Saturday! A "records" day... whatever. The weather is supposed to get bad again, so at least I won't feel like I should be outside. But I may wish I was sleeping.

Ok-

WOW!

If you're not outside right now, you better get there! It beautiful over here! I just got back from a run. It was my first run out in my new area. I decided to go on the Mount Vernon Trail today. It was really nice to be outside. There were other runners, walkers, bike riders. It felt so good to have a bit of relief. I'm hoping it will elevate my mood for tomorrow.

This morning was hilarious. I made 2 wrong turns on my way to work today. I believe that my mind is trying to tell me something. Who ever heard of taking wrong turns to a place you go everyday? Well, Obviously I wasn't paying attention, but man, I just didn't want to go today.

It's been really hard still. 3 1/2 more weeks until spring break. No plans at the moment, but I don't really care, I just want the weather to be nice. I think it's also supposed to be one of the weeks for the Cherry Blossoms, so hopefully they'll be in bloom, and I can go downtown without the crowds. I can't wait for a week off. It'll be AWESOME!

I don't care

However, entertainment news makes me forget about my own problems.

It's sad, really, but sometimes I really do need brainless information.

This week, yet again, it's no exception.

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!

All my decisions seem wrong.

Really?

Is it really a Wham! song that is being played in the new singular commercial? Really? Has it come to that? Someone remaking a Wham! song? Really? And didn't they used to put an exclamation point with their band name, or did I just imagine that?

Hummm......

Snow again!

Ok, I'm ready for it to stop now. I really want spring to come so I can really enjoy where I live. Plus, it's March. I probably shouldn't be that surprised.... my sister was born in March and there was a blizzard!

Started reading the autobiography of Ghandi. Read about him in history books (always about a paragraph long) and I thought it was time to sink into 505 pages of his own words. I like his prologue. He didn't like the idea of writing about himself, he wanted to stay humble. But he did write. Impressive, really. I'm glad he choose to do it. Because we can all benefit.

What else...... umm I miss green chili. A lot.

The breaking point

It's over. It's all going to be over on Wednesday. The queen bee...........buzz..buzz....buzz.. is leaving!

After a horrible week, the week that broke me down into a ball of tissues and a river of tears, is over. I exaggerated a bit, of course I didn't turn into those things.... but, I did use a lot of tissues and I probably could have filled a very large aquarium. But as my friend Amy says, "The universe puts out there only what you can handle." Well, obviously that's about all I can handle.

So lets get on with better and brighter, shall we? I've been ready since the beginning of the school year!