Call us crazy, but...

"The best thing one can do when it's raining is to let it rain."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

FROM SATURDAY MORNING: We're out here in the rain for the second weekend in a row, hoping to catch some great deals at an REI scratch and dent sale. Maybe not my favorite way to start the day, but my husband loves it, so here I am!!

Wrath of nature

"Weather is a great metaphor for life - sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad, and there's nothing much you can do about it but carry an umbrella."

-Pepper Giardino

Mudslides and flash floods cancelled school today. But, not before I got up, got dressed, and headed to work. It was nice to have a day off, and by day off, I mean, I worked at school until noon and came home to work on lesson plans all afternoon.

And, they say it's the men who forget...

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."
-Marcel Proust

So Rob reminded me this afternoon that our wedding anniversary is quickly approaching. In fact, the conversation went like this:

R: So, did we set a price limit on our anniversary gifts for each other yet?
J: What?!?!? Anniversary... crap! I haven't even thought about that.
R: Really? I've been thinking about it for awhile and have lots of ideas!
J: Well, then you set a budget, and I'll come up with something in that range.
R: Ok, how about 1290 dollars?
J: Sure, I think I can fall below that.

And, then my preoccupation with lesson plans quickly transformed into a preoccupation with clever, sweet, romantic, useful gifts for my main man.

The second anniversary tradition is cotton, and considering the fact that my husband works at a cotton mill, it seems like I should be able to come up with something decent. But, darn, if it isn't a challenge to think up a clever gift for a man.

Any ideas? I've got two weeks!

Good thing I took swimming lessons...

"I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once."
-Jennifer Yane

from Robert Freeman Art

I feel like I'm treading water these days. Trying to grade papers, plan lessons, tutor, stay on top of the paperwork, attend meetings... not to mention... cook, clean, finish personal projects. My head is bobbing up and down, just trying to stay afloat.

The perils of cycling

"A bicycle does get you there and more.... And there is always the thin edge of danger to keep you alert and comfortably apprehensive. Dogs become dogs again and snap at your raincoat; potholes become personal. And getting there is all the fun."
-Bill Emerson

So, I've had my first road bike crash. Well... two, in fact. Luckily, I'm ok and the bike's ok. I just haven't figured out how to unclip out of the pedals yet.

Friday afternoon after a long day of coughing (sickness #2 of the school year), failed quizzes, parent conferences, and a flu shot, Rob invited me to ride with him around the neighborhood. I was doing well, pumping my legs, and climbing those hills. However, as I was rounding the last curve and slowing to come to a stop, I unclipped my left foot, but forgot to keep pedaling my right foot. And, I landed smack down in the street with the bike on top of me. Rob heard me crash and turned around to rescue me. But by the time he made it back to me, I had tears streaming down my face. I wasn't hurt too bad, but I was spooked, embarassed, and most of all, tired. All I could do was sob.

Today I wanted to get back out there though. I pulled my bike out to the curb to climb on. I was waiting for Rob, with one foot clipped in. When all of the sudden, I lost my balance, and of course, fell towards my clipped-in side. It felt like slow-motion because I had plenty of time to yell, "*!%@," as I fell into the street.

But despite my crashes, today I ventured out of the neighborhood and conquered the hills. I wasn't sure I was going to make it up the steep incline, but I kept my legs moving, and eventually I did reach the crest. And, it was all worth it when I flew back down!

From me to me

"What we are is God's gift to us. What we become is our gift to God."
-Eleanor Powell

Just bought my plane tickets for my cousin's wedding in Dallas in October. A present from me to me. It will be a nice break from school stuff. Hopefully there will be plenty of time to gab and hang out with my mommy dearest.

I also bought another present from us to me on Sunday. Much longed for, and hopefully often used.
An EXTRA SMALL Scattante road bike!! We finally found one to fit my short little legs. I'm pumped, and have my fingers crossed that I'll really enjoy riding. (Maybe not as competitively as Rob, but hopefully I, too, will find my bicycle niche!)

FYI: Now I have a SMALL Cannondale comfort bike for sale! Any takers?

Shutter School--Self-Timer

"Sometimes I do get to places just when God's ready to have somebody click the shutter."
-Ansel Adams

I'm still figuring out how to squeeze the blog in to my new school routine. Or is it not really that important these days... thinking, thinking.

But in the meantime, a new lesson is posted at Shutter School. This week it's about using the Self-Timer. Even I can find time for that!!