Type A vs. Type B

So this week at school, I got my yearly (or rather quarterly) lecture from my department about how I "stress too much about the little stuff" and how there is only so much I can control (also known as the "circle of control" talk). It turns out that I am apparently the Queen Bee of Type A personalities while my department is awash with Type B personalities. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with wanting things in their place, having detailed records (which have gotten me out of messy situations before), wanting to do my best, and being slightly annoyed when I plan for situations and the administration goes and changes them without telling us. While I realize that this may come across as being "wound too tight," "one thing away from a heart attack," or being a "witch," I'm just being me. Its not that I can't relax, its just that I have over 100 students that I am in charge of and I need to bring my "A Game" every day. I figure the time to mellow out is at home, where I can let down my hair (so to speak), wear pajama pants, and listen to NPR while trying out a new recipe or two.

While I was expecting to get this talk at some point during the cycle it was quite annoying to get it this week as I feel like I've done a much better job of balancing life, work, and James this school year. So I went home to talk with James, who interestingly enough is a poster child for the Type B men of the world. And to be honest with you, just talking to him made me relax. He listens, hugs me, and we go on with our evening. So while I may come across as the Type A monster at school, I've decided that's just my work persona and if that's what gets me through a day of mostly apathetic student complaints, then so be it!

If you're interested to find out which type you are try the following website:
http://discoveryhealth.queendom.com/type_a_personality_access.html

Weekend Update - Photo Montage Style

Over the last couple of weeks things have been hopping around our duplex. I've headed back to school and started thinking about writing a proposal my first grant (though it is exceptionally small and the process doesn't seem too intimidating). In between lesson plans, grading, and complaining about the lack of academic ability of my students (or rather their level of laziness), James and I found time to make a homemade sour-dough pizza (with homemade sauce) and try a "spiky melon."

We had a VERY tired visitor from the other side of town come to visit and do some laundry...though it seemed like she was mostly interested in our couch.

We went to the Minnetrista farmers market, which I had been looking forward to for quite sometime. However, sleeping seemed more import for the first couple of weeks of school. James and I purchased this beautiful mum and the gourds by the orange candle in the next shot. Its starting to feel a bit more like fall in Indiana and so our duplex is now starting to look a bit more "autumnish."


And for the most exciting thing that has happened over the last couple of weekends...we locked ourselves out of the duplex on the way to get Chinese take-out and had to call a locksmith. Not only had we locked ourselves out, we locked all of our current ID in the duplex as well! So we had a bit of sticky situation, but fortunately the locksmith believed us and we were able to get back in (at the lovely cost of $45). The picture below shows what we found when we got in to find our keys.

They were right where we left them!

Beginning of year three

It turns out that no matter how hard you try to put off the inevitable, it always happens anyway. And so it is with school. I have to admit that during the summer there were times when I was ready to go back to school, grade papers, make tests, and yes...even deal with students who declare that "history has nothing to do with my life, so I could care less about it." (I'm paraphrasing as there may be children reading this blog.) Looking back on those few (and far between) days, I'm thinking I should have been checked for signs of insanity or I must have been EXTREMELY bored.

However, the school year has started despite my reluctance to wake up at the break of dawn...or rather the pre-dawn. And yes, I am back in the thick of papers, test, discipline, and lesson planning. While I can't say that I'm super excited to wake up early and go to bed late due to working regular 14+ hour days or completing my various "teacher duties," I am excited about getting my students to realize that history does affect their lives and that its not as "horrible" as they believe it to be. It is exciting when the students remember information we've covered, and more so when they realize the connection it has with their lives. While its a little early to tell if my students for this year will be willing to work towards that goal, I certainly hope they will be.

I'll try to keep you all updated on how the year is progressing, so be prepared for various messages with varying emotions. You may hear a positive update today, but a negative one tomorrow. And so goes the profession of teaching...

Going to hurt tomorrow

After watching the Olympics, I decided that it was time to get off the couch and start exercising. It's not that I have dreams of winning eight gold medals or competing in a decathlon, but getting back into shape (and fitting back into my favorite pair of pants) is its own healthy goal. So after school today I had a little extra time and decided to go out for a run. Of course, I planned to do it the right way with a nice warm up walk, a little stretching, and a nice slow jog. Though I was following my plan I unfortunately fell into the trap of doing what every out-of-shape hoping to be in-shape person does the first time: I over did it! While my workout consisted of rotating walking and jogging, my brain somehow talked my sluggish muscles into attempting to run more than I walked. The plan was to walk five minutes and jog three minutes, but the argument went something like this: "Come on legs! You used to run five miles a night during cross-country season, so five minutes should be nothing." I'd like to think that I'm a reasonably sensible person who's well in tune with her body....but let's just say reason went out the window in pursuit of tighter buns and shapelier thighs! Rest assured tomorrow will be a very sore and long day.

One task down

As I sit in our duplex watching the Olympics (feeling vaguely guilty about not seriously exercising in the last year or so) and making nanaimo bars (which aren't helping with being out of shape), I decided that I should at least complete a task even if it is not exercise related. Earlier this summer I started a cork board made out of wine corks. I had first seen one of these beautiful boards hanging in a house in Indianapolis a couple of years ago and decided that I should give it a try. I started collecting wine corks from family dinners and celebrations, friends, and even complete strangers thanks to James' Ebay adventures. Finally, after years of collecting corks and a summer of procrastination, I have completed the process!


I figured that if I didn't finish it soon I would become too busy with school related things. So that's one task down, perhaps next I'll tackle a fitness related task...or maybe I'll remain lazy and just finish sewing the apron I've been putting off instead.

Tennessee and some treats

James and I had one last "hurrah!" before school starts back up. We left early Thursday morning to meet up with his family in Wears Valley, TN (the same place as our honeymoon) and spent the weekend with them. For a first vacation with the in-laws, I'd say it was a success. We had a nice time eating at the "Birth place of Kentucky Fried Chicken," hiking in the Smoky Mountains (though beautiful, it is the national park with the worst air quality - mainly due to Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and Sevierville's traffic), caving at Tuckaleechee Cavern, a little shopping at a huge outlet mall, and grocery shopping at Jungle Jim's. Here are a couple pictures from our weekend trip.

Henwallow Falls and a handsome photographer

Tuchaleechee Caverns

Sunday's Dinner
Sourdough from Jungle Jim's, the first tomato from my garden,
and a tasty fruit (at the bottom).

Can anybody guess what fruit it is?
I'll even give you a second view.

Recipe for a great weekend (Almost perfect...)

This past weekend we went on our second camping trip of the summer and this time we were joined by some wonderful people - my family (minus two)! The weather was nice, the camp ground at Summit Lake was pleasant (except the bath houses left something to be desired), and the hiking was alright. We even enjoyed some canoeing on Lake Summit. For a small state park it was a nice experience. (Check out the sunset from the Sunset Shelter on the lake.)


Speaking of experiences, we definitely had a new one on Friday night - a large, ferocious thunderstorm during tent camping. While I certainly enjoy a good thunderstorm every now and then, this one was a bit close for comfort. I was certainly tempted to reenact the panic I experienced on a Smokey Mountain trail during a thunderstorm when I was around six. I remember yelling "We're all gonna die!!!!!" and truly believing it. Luckily we didn't, so we could experience this colossal one as well...minus the panicked yelling.

While camping was the highlight of the weekend, we did have an unfortunate surprise waiting for us at home. Our freezer door was open and most of our freezer items had thawed! We had water everywhere and had to pitch about $15 worth of (previously) frozen items. Fortunately, a lot of the items we had in our freezer included ice tea concentrate, juice concentrate, bread, and granola that we could save. We did lose some homemade ice cream, a little fish, spinach, and some chicken. We've had some trouble with our freezer lately, such as keeping the door shut and water dripping into our refrigerator. We've made a call and hopefully this will be fixed by tomorrow. So while the weekend was wonderful, the ending left a little to be desired.