Take THAT Odds!!

Awwww, yeah. I went to karate tonight. I enjoyed it way more than I had been just before I took my break. I really needed to think about it and DECIDE...yes, this is something I want to do, rather than feeling like I needed to be doing it. I'm very happy.

And I'm gonna be one sore puppy tomorrow. Ow.

Haha...also, I get to start helping to teach kids karate again. I'm totally going to be the "K" teacher at my school. Karate, knitting club...yeah. Hee.

(thanks to Sensei for the kick in the butt/dare disguised as a comment on a previous entry)

Spring!!

Spring is probably my favourite or second favourite season. Summer can be a bit of a bitch if it gets insanely hot, and spring can be annoyingly unpredictable...but it's amazing how awesome the sun feels after the rain (and SNOW...WTF???) we'd been getting the last few months.

To me, one of the best parts of spring/summer is all the fresh fruit and vegetables that are cheap and taste SO much better than during the winter. Everything tastes so much more alive than when it's cold out. I love my carrots, potatoes and yams (boy do I love them), but it's so refreshing to get away from the starchy roots and get some juicy veggies and fruit that isn't just apples. I've been rejoicing in grapes the last few days, eating them plain, with fruit salad, on green salad with raspberry vinegarette dressing...awwwww yeahhh... I made a fruit salad yesterday with a mango, an orange, a banana and the aforementioned grapes...it was like being in Mexico. I'd planned on eating it over a couple days, but wound up devouring it in two sittings. Heh.

I'm trying to cut back on the meat I eat as well. I don't necessarily want to become a vegetarian, but I'm doing some research, and I think that it's healthier, more economical and more ecological to eat less meat. I'm also trying to make healthier choices about meat: chicken or fish instead of beef or pork (easy, since I don't like pork much).

I still like meat (a lot) and knowing that I can't have something makes me crave it like crazy. (I should tell myself I'm forbidden to eat healthy food...) It's weird. Since I've started tracking my food, I'm more aware of how much I eat and I'm less likely to crave sugar and fatty food. I'll notice that I haven't eaten much, so I'll say I can have a treat of a cookie or whatever...but I don't want any! It's like giving myself permission takes away the forbidden-ness and thus the craving. It's totally bizarre.

We bought some awesome whole grain bread at Save On called "Granary" or something. It's really good. I've been eating tomato, cucumber and tzatziki sandwiches for lunch today and yesterday. Yesterday, I had a bit of chicken on it as well, but couldn't taste it, so didn't bother today.

I'm really happy today. We looked at bikes yesterday (but we're not getting one yet...HOW DOES ONE KEEP A BIKE IN AN APARTMENT!!! SOMEONE HELP!!), the sun is shining, I got a crapload of marking done (OMG, giant pile...I marked some stuff today that the kids gave me on FEBRUARY 12th!!!), I'm more in love with Dave than ever, I'm eating all this wholesome food which gives me energy (woke up early [for me] today and yesterday...unheard of on a weekend!!) and I'm exercising, which probably is helping with all of that.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

I know it's not about the numbers...

...but yesterday I hit the lowest weight in the three months I've been tracking it with our awesome scale of doom. It is totally FitDay.com which has been doing it. Dude.

Two nights ago, I ran for a whole mile in a row, plus walked for a mile (split between 5 min before the run and 12 min after the run). I'm so freaking proud of myself. Last time I did that was junior high.

Yesterday, I walked to the store to buy brown rice, wild rice and salad dressing. It's just under a mile round trip, and it's a little hilly, but not too bad. I love it.

Knitting club is so cool. I've gotten rid of so much yarn that I'll never, ever use and I've been inspired to start knitting more myself. :D I've got eight year olds now in the club, and some even younger kids want to join. A brother of one of my students wants to join...I'm tempted. He's six, but he already knows how to knit. It'd be a hoot watching him, and he'd probably be able to teach some of the kids.

Ahhh...

It's the start of a new pay period tomorrow (today, technically. Monday.) and I've already been requested for a full day in my favourite classroom, and I should be getting requested Tuesday as well, in the same school. Maybe the same class, maybe not. Ahhhhh...this feels good. Considering that last pay period I got a grand total of 2 days over the two weeks...and the one before I got half a day? This is very much awesome.

Random Love and Happiness

I love finding random quotes in the various nooks and crannies of the internet. This makes me happy. Also that which makes me happy? Homemade pea soup. And getting to see Dave tonight. And being halfway finished my first sock. And having children call me "Mrs Awesome" after I tell them my name and say to them that if they don't remember, it's "A for Awesome". And the fact that it's sunny out, and not flurrying yet, like the radio direly warned. Hehe. I'm having a good evening. :)

"Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed."
--G.K.Chesterton

I love metaphors. :D

Things I Do When Dave Is Out Of Town

1) Drink faaaaaar too much diet Coke. (wait. I do that anyway.)
2) REALLY NEED TO TALK TO HIM...for no good reason. Just because I can't. :P
3) Move furniture around.

Let's focus on number three, shall we? As many of my loyal readers know, I rent the basement suite in my parents' house (aka I still live at home...but the other one sounds better. And it's true!) I'm VERY lucky, since I have enough stuff for a three bedroom townhouse, that I don't need to keep all of it in my room. I'm even luckier when my brother is out of town as well, because then I get to completely take over the rec room. *waves* Hi Rob! Things will be better before you're back from TO. Um...you're coming back in a few weeks still, right? Not like...tomorrow? Or Tuesday?

Anyway, I've now got a sewing/crafting area in the rec room. EEE!! It currently consists of a desk.

Oh, and craploads of fabric lying around covering a billion surface areas including, but not limited to:
-an ottoman
-a sofa
-a chair
-the floor
-the floor (twice because damn, this stuff spreads out quick)
-Rob's giant speakers that are taller than most five year olds
-a TV media holder which is holding neither TV or media
-the pool table

I also have a mini ironing board and my rotary cutter mats and cutters on the pool table. I have to dig out my iron because I'm getting sick of bringing my mom's up and down two flights of stairs every time I want to iron something. The sewing machine (and maybe even the serger...SQUEE!!) will be coming down in the next few minutes. I just need to rest up after shifting a bookcase to fit back on top of the desk. And drink some more diet Coke. After all, I've got a quota over here!

Yay!

I did it! And I didn't get eaten alive. Not afraid of teaching high school any more. In fact, I may have been somewhat converted! What an odd culture these teenagers have. I've seen it a little bit in elementary, but wow...is it ever obvious in high school. I'd either forgotten about it, or I just wasn't plugged in.

Amusing moment...getting there in the morning and realizing that my first class was going to be Sex Ed. Yep. I got to talk about herpes to a bunch of grade nines. Heh.

Subbing days/eligible days: 8.5/0
Longest stretch of time in a classroom: 5 days
Different schools: 4
Different classrooms: 4
Most students: 21
Fewest students: 10
Grades: 1(twice), 1/2 split, PE 10, Science 9, Personal Planning 9, resource room

Vanishing Act

So...hi! I've been busy...how about you? I'm now working three jobs, which leaves me only one day a week where I don't have to be anywhere (Sundays). I did two days in a row at my second job, and I haven't heard from them yet...so unless they cancel me in the morning, I'm gonna have three days in a row in the same class. Awesome. I love that, especially since I've done a really neat couple of lesson plans for tomorrow. Since I've got no free time, and a swack of fabric, today I bought a rotary cutter to help me turn out quilts etc faster. I love it. I just want to cut stuff out now. Which is why I have the cut out bits for three purses of various sizes, plus two change purses, plus a large "me" sized circle skirt, and a small child sized one (attention beverly_sutphin! It will most likely fit your munchkin! I'll let you know when it's finished.). The small one could probably fit me if I enlarged the hip/waist opening...but then it would be more of a belt. So, no.

And the colour of the first fabric I cut out with my loverly rotary cutter? Yeah...pink. But with black polka dots! And SO CUTE!!!!!11!!!ONE!!!ELEVEN!!! And it makes the most fantastic looking circle skirts. :D

I'm gonna need to open up an Etsy store if I'm not careful.

Whee!

I got another call! Rather than phone everyone I know about it (since I got it at...5:45 [in the morning...]) I figured you'd all appreciate it if I blogged instead.

You're welcome!

Hi.

In case you weren't one of the eleventy billion people that I called on my way home from my retail-ish work...

...I got my first call. I'm in a classroom tomorrow morning.

*SQUEEEE!*

I'm in.

I could be subbing in someone's classroom this time next Monday.

Whoa...I'm in a bit of shock.

Also...look at the tags. NO STRESS TAG!! WOOO!!!

Dum da DUM!!!!

Why doesn't anyone comment on my postx any more? Well, you all better comment on this one.

I'VE GOT AN INTERVIEW IN MY NUMBER ONE CHOICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT!

Hell YEAH!!!!

Happy Money.

Hm. Turns out I'm not going to be getting 10 shares cashed in at $44 USD after all.

Nope...I'm going to be getting almost 30 shares at $44 USD...that's about $1400 CND. Finally...some money heads my way. Now hopefully the thing that usually happens when I get some money doesn't happen, and since my car just got the brakes done, with any luck that's all of the repairs that will need to be done.

PISSED OFF. AND HAPPY!

SOME EXPLANATIONS OF THE PREVIOUS POST

Apparently muscle and joint pain is a potential side effect of fluticasone aka the not-purple inhaler. OW. I just about collapsed when I stood up from the table because my butt muscles and my hips were so sore. Waaaaaahhhhhh!

However, I got a letter from Michaels craft store. Apparently the place underwent new ownership and they're buying out all of their stockholders at $44 a share. I think I wound up with 12 or so shares while I was working there, so I'll be getting a cool $500 bucks or so. Ooh. That's US money too.

Next, I'm generally annoyed...I got a letter from one of my school board application people saying that I'm missing part of my application package. It's IN. DAMMIT.

BUT! I heard through the grapevine (generally a less than accurate source, but I can tell you the exact filter...but I won't, because I've got to protect my sources.[You have no idea how much restraint it took for me to not link to my source...s/he can reveal him/herself in the comments if s/he wishes]) different school board is going to be hiring a bunch of TOCs (teachers on call) which means I might get hired there. This is good.

Then, blah. I'm taking some stuff too personally...it really doesn't have anything to do with me. But I'm still irritated. And I don't want to get into it.

Hooray though! I managed to pare down my list of things I need to do some more, and I registered for Thursday night karate at Queensborough Community Centre.

Here are the details...it's a REALLY good deal and I can vouch for the quality of instruction.

Thursdays Sept 21-Oct 27 (six of 'em unless I miss my guess)
730-900 pm
Queensborough Community Centre
Call 604-525-7388 to register

Map is here.

I registered for two modules of it (another six week course starting November 10th I think) and it was only $45. That's INSANE...just to let you know. Most martial arts places charge about fifty bucks a month.

For more information, call/email the rec centre, email Adam-sensei at adamnicholson (at) shintokukai (dot) com, or email/IM/call me. My info (minus phone number) is on the sidebar.

Grrrr...and WHEE!

I am very, VERY irritated.

And really happy!

And so frustrated!!

And rather pleased with myself! :D

And every so very grumpy.

And feeling groovy...da da da da daaaa da...feeling groovy...

*grumble snarl WHEE yahoo!!*

Aaaaaand now all this mood swinging is making my dizzy. What a fun day THIS is turning out to be.

OMG.

Phantom? Was awesome.

Can't talk...exhausted. Pics of Kit and I all sexy'd up will arrive shortly.

OMG, what an incredible show.

Insert interesting title over there. ---->

WARNING: This post contains some sycophantic self congratulations, and some blowing off of steam, and lots of introspection...but no dream descriptions. I'll spare you THAT. My dreams have been WHACKED OUT lately...I kid you not.

But if anyone's interested I'll transcribe some of them later from my paper journal.

This is a very odd entry...believe me, I'm ok. Just feeling odd and needing to spill my binary guts. Please bear with me. :P

I'm in a very weird headspace right now. Maybe I'm over-blank. Over-tired, over-stimulated, over-sugared, over-media'd, over-heated. Maybe I'm under-blank. Under-stimulated, under-exercised, under-fed, under-wear *.

A big change is happening, which isn't really big, I guess...but sure seems like it sometimes. More details forthcoming.

I feel like I'm saying that a lot these days.

I am SO SICK of feeling tired all the time. Today I went without a nap because I was at my cousin Kristy's bridal shower, and then went to visit Dave. The shower was really nice. :) I'm glad I went, but it's one of those odd things when someone you grew up with gets married. I haven't really had anyone I've grown up with get married, so this is kind of new to me.

Dave and I watched "Butterfly Effect" and it. Was. SO. Good. I'm really not an Ashton Kutcher fan, but he was amazing in it...just staggeringly good. The movie was unreal. We had the choice of the director's cut and the theatrical release and we watched the former. I want to watch the theatrical release in a couple of weeks. It was so intense that I couldn't watch it again sooner.

My brain hurts...not like, actual pain ** but sort of itching...like...restless. What should I do with this itch? Currently, I'm dealing with it by writing this post...but I don't know what I'm going to do after I finish it. I'm totally exhausted. I want to create. I want to sew or paint or draw or write...this hyperactive insane urge to create is very new to me and it's kind of freaking me out a little. I've always liked making stuff...jewellery, etc. but it feels like a switch has been turned on in my brain that is making me desperately need to spew creativity out *** onto something and it doesn't matter if it's a computer screen or paper, or a sketch pad or a yard of fabric.

*Just seeing if you're paying attention.
**Which, may I say, is a very nice change from the headache I've had for the last few days.
***Apparently just because I feel creative doesn't mean I actually write creative metaphors.

I feel like I should be further ahead in some things. I see people do things that they've obviously worked very hard at for many years and I want to be able to do them NOW. Examples: martial arts, sewing, painting, writing, gymnastics. Even lifting heavy objects...I don't like the limitations that my body currently has, especially with having been sick. I guess it's because my mind was so stretched out this year, and I've never really failed at anything mentally ** that I've tried to do. I keep meaning to take the Mensa test, because I'm crazy intelligent. Obnoxiously so at times...eg: this entire paragraph. I heard variations of "not living up to her potential" a LOT throughout elementary school. Sometimes I wonder if I'm cheating the world by not becoming a doctor or a physicist or something. Other times I really honestly wonder if I'm just such an egomaniac that I believe I've got some kind of gift that sets me apart from the rest of the world.

*which I've never really done...so I don't know why I expect this
**except Chem 11, but that doesn't really count because I didn't try because I hated it...and also certain logic arguments with Dave, but that also doesn't count because either Dave's a super freakishly smart guy with super logic training (true) or he is a big cheater head and clonks me on the head any time I start to win one of those arguments (I'm pretty sure that's not true...not entirely convinced though).

HOLY CRAP I'M FINISHED SCHOOL!! I'M NOT A STUDENT ANY MORE! THIS IS A LABEL I'VE HAD FOR THE LAST 22 YEARS! I NEVER HAVE TO GO BACK TO UNIVERSITY AGAIN UNLESS I WANT TO OR ELSE I CAN'T GET A JOB!! OH MY GOD, I DON'T HAVE A JOB YET! OMG OMG OMG...

*hyperventilates and goes to sit in a corner*

I think I need some serious chocolate ice cream...or Half Baked. And chicken curry...or something like that. And alcohol. Lots and lots of alcohol.

Whoa. I feel dizzy.

They're on to me...

Dammit! Too many people are borrowing laptops for fraudulent reasons...ie: playing with them during evil lectures. In my defense, I didn't know I wasn't supposed to do that. But now! I was actually planning on doing WORK on it today during the lecture. * They're interfering with my education!

Good thing I remembered my sketch book.

* What's this you say? I could do my work on what? What is this PAY-pur of which you speak? My god. Crushed trees? How barbaric.

Anyway, I'm in the computer lab between classes. I need another diet Coke. I had a group presentation today and my partner was sick. So I had the option of either doing the presentation solo, or postponing it. Being the kick-ass attention whore keen student that I am, I elected to do it solo. It went pretty well, although I don't have the evaluation back yet. We also had a representative from GALE come in to talk to us. I now have a pretty blue button badge that says "Some girls like girls". It matches my turquoise necklace. I'm all coordinated now.

Speaking of whores, * I'm in the process of applying to the school board that I swore I would never ever ever EVER work for. I've been seduced ** by the idea of possibly getting my own classroom in the first year. Also, the idea of going where I'm needed and can make a difference is alluring. Rather than flowing along with what's been carved out for me, I might be able to help do some carving.

* I can't wait for the google hits from this post.
** Whoops, there's another one.

Today has been very productive already.

Yee haw!

The morning has been going well, although the space bar on this lab computer is wonky. :P My schedule looks something like this:

Monday 100-400
Tuesday 0830-1200, 100-400
Wednesday 0830-1200, 100-400
Thursday 0830-1200, 100-400
Friday 0830-1200

The 100-400 is a large lecture, which I've been dreading since I knew about it. I hate large lectures...ever since we started doing more hands-on stuff. 12 hours a week of lecture. *cries* Anyway, today I discovered that this lecture thingie is only for three weeks!! That means that I should get Mondays OFF, and be finished by noon the other three weeks. YES! I'm so excited, that I can't even believe it. I think I'll be playing a lot of disc golf in the afternoons at Jericho. Or going to the beach...or shopping at Granville Island and on 4th street. This is like getting one of the best gifts in the world.

Except for rose bushes. And trips to Pender. ;)