just because

You know when you get sick and then you start feeling better, so you start to do things again because you haven't been able to do them for a week or so but you know deep down inside that you're not totally healed but what the hey? Yeah, I'm guilty of that. Sick as a dog last week with a cold, but there wasn't a good day to take a sick day because of finals at school so drudge through I did until the weekend when I rested, but also tried to get in some leisure. Cut to last night, up till 4am with noisy neighbors upstairs playing video games and my nose, throat, and head all playing their own version of some ridiculous video game in my head. Even though I could sleep in a bit for work today, no rest was to be had with the plans for the next day running through my head along with a bit of beer and some ringing from a concert (Yes, I went to a free concert. To my defense I was feeling better. Then I started to feel sick. So it's my own darn fault)
However, this isn't a post about being sick. This is a post about the person who always takes care of me. This person made me tea in the middle of the night (the guys upstairs kept him up too), brought me some toast, gave me some Nyquil, put in Field of Dreams (a surefire way to place me blissfully into slumber), and brought my 3:30am lesson plans into school this morning. Then he went grocery shopping, is doing the dishes right now, and will be making dinner shortly. What a swell guy. All the while to the sounds of my apologizing for being sick.....sigh. When will I ever learn with the apologizing? Anyways, thanks for taking care of me Jason. You make being sick 10 times better than before - if that makes any sense from my cold addled brain. (Did I also mention he rented a few rom-coms at the video store - he's golden!).
Now off for more resting and not worrying about what needs to be done for tomorrow!

Tea is free (sometimes)

Oooh, reading Simzgirl I saw that you can get free tea at Adagio if you post a link like this:
http://www.adagio.com/ and then you can see all the wonderfulness they have to offer. Happy tea-gazing!

this is so lame, but I know some people are with me...

So last night while watching The Office, I let out a squeal of joy (which was misinterpreted by Jason as a squeal that a spider was near and that I was in dire need of some help in killing while I prance around in fear) because Jim admitted [again] that he still has feelings for Pam. Yes, I know they're not real people, but I'm a sucker for a good love story, especially those love stories that are in their nascent stages. The time before the first kiss, the courting, the anticipation, the side glances, the over-thinking of your actions (well, that's usual for me). Oh, it all makes me giddy with joy. Not that I'm in the market for more of those feelings (aka - I like my husband and generally want to keep him around to avoid having those awkward first steps in a relationship all over again and well, he's kinda cute!), but I just love the magic of a good love story. Especially when you constantly make the same amused/bewildered look on your face toward the camera when something funny happens (Jim) or go along with a well-timed prank (which I would SO do! he had it coming). Anyways, just watch The Office and you'll understand that I'm not completely in my own wacky world of make-believe (notice I said completely....)
On another note, J and I went to go see the movie, Stranger Than Fiction the other day and it was really good. Great acting, an interesting storyline, and just overall a thinker, but not in a I want to take my fingernails off because this indie movie is so depressing kind of way. Go see it if you can...or wait till it's available for rent because that should happen in like two weeks :).
Well, time killing is over. Almost time to leave for the weekend. Ahhh, two day work weeks. You are my friend. We should keep this relationship going for a loooooong time.

in the meadow.... (or my front yard...)

I can actually build a snowman! Yes folks, as most of you already know, snow has decended upon the Portland metro area! Those special conditions were just right: freezing temps, little build-up by the news, no announcements of "maybe snow tomorrow" at school. Just good 'ol-fashioned snowfall that happens once every three years around our parts. Such happiness, especially when you are home from work for two days and the snow is still here! Hooray - let the movies and knitting and and reading and warm trinken flow! And boy have they. Although I have been walking around a lot and just savoring the beauty and splendor of it all! I just cannot get over the sounds and smells associated with snow and my neighborhood. The crunch under your feet, the sweet air, the feeling like we're all stuck in a tiny village and all we should do is drink coffee and smile.
This snow came at a good time too. January is always so dreary and school gets a wee bit stressful with finals planning and such. I'm trying hard to conquer those new year blues (aka no more holiday festivities) and trying to find ways to keep myself busy and happy. However, those ways are frequently turning to thoughts about how I need to exercise more, eat as healthy as possible and to keep enriching my mind without getting too bogged down by work and those types of thoughts. This is the time to surround yourself with friends, keep the mind sharp with lots of activities and truly place those worries aside.
Anyways, enough of my blabbing, here are some lovely pictures from the snow to enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/meggieq/

wishes expressed through art projects

Sometimes I wish that I were back in grade school and we were doing that project where you research careers you were interested in. You look up how much each career makes, the schooling involved, interview people who are actually in that particular career and make a handy dandy mobile or diorama to convey your results. However, I wish that I could research several careers at once - like a pastry chef, bread baker, bartender, program director with his/her own office (which sounds fabulous when your desk is clustered up to the gills with kids), maybe even a fashion consultant (to keep that 6th grade desire close by). I would interview people at these jobs and try to get a sense of what my career should be. Questions I could ask include: what is it like to work with adults? Can you go on a coffee break like normal people at 10am? What about having the freedom to use the bathroom when you want to instead of waiting for well-timed breaks? Do people leave you alone for the most part (in which person with office would say, duh, I just shut the door!)? Am I skilled enough to do your job?
Don't get me wrong - I'm not looking for a new job right now. But I am trying to get a feel for myself and to see if my current profession is the one for me long-term. See, the everyday pangs of my job - early mornings, non-stop madness, too many people to interact with, dreaming about content/planning, discomfort, and most of all, the outside work, sometimes just gets to me. Yes, I do get wonderful breaks and I get out early and that is wonderful...to a point. I'm just that person who wonders, what else is in store? For so many years, I was so focused on success and getting as far as I can in terms of grades and school. But now, those days are over, and part of me can't decide what to do about that.
Perhaps I should make a diorama or a hanging mobile to figure it all out. :)