Summer is officially over, with school starting Tuesday. Although I hear it's supposed to be quite hot (more hot than it's been this summer! Wow, we really lucked out).
I was in Vermont last week, my yearly trip back North to visit my 'family'. I stayed with Colleen in Montpelier; that's the view from her backyard! I was also in Charlotte with Carmen, and in Richmond with Sasha and Ezra for a few days.
Activities included picnicking (uh, can that word be 'ing'd?), blue berry picking, walking, pizza making and lots of driving.
E is in LA for the weekend; kind of lonely here (never thought I'd say that!). I think I'm mostly lonely because of all the chores I have to do on my own tomorrow. Ugh.
I hate summer. Heat just makes me miserable. When I was young, I suffered pretty terrible headaches, and would cry- only to make the headaches worse. Headaches aren't as bad now, but I hate sweat behind my knees and jeans that you can't pull up because you're too sticky...and the sound of people dragging their flip flops. UGH!Today, though, I was driving home from work and the lighting was really beautiful. It made me appreciate the lighting that summer brings.My garden is producing jalapeño peppers faster than I can eat them. Awesome! I also harvested some green peppers, although we'll see how those go- it seems that 'our ant infestation' also extended to the out of doors, specifically the green peppers. I'll have to cut them open to see the full damage...
Back to school tomorrow, to teach clay animation for four weeks. YES! I really love teaching this class, and teaching summer school. It proves exceptionally interesting to see how kids are over the summer- yipes! I made a fun little video of a clay penguin tapping his foot (it's about 2 seconds long) to show the kids what we're going to be doing in the class.
I've been house sitting the last couple of days; it's nice. Kind of like a vacation from my roommate (nice guy, doesn't do dishes) and E, who is on tour with his band.
There are two chocolate labs here (so sweet!) and girls coming and going (they have two college age girls, who they didn't want to burden with taking care of the pups...enter, me!) but it's relatively quiet.
Gives me time to pine, again, over things I would like to purchase (see above) and make.
Last day of school- hooray!
The last month of school is incredibly hectic. Kids are starting to go through a sort of separation anxiety- whether they're returning hte next year and moving up a grade (they miss their teachers) or moving on to middle school (the 4th graders go to middle school, then jr. high).
This whole week was busy, but full of fun. Working in the library, we've slowly been collecting books, cd players, digital cameras, etc. that people checked out all year. It's kind of nuts. Lots of running around, making sure everyone is prepared for the summer. I also have to think about fall (that's just how I roll) so I try to keep myself organized. Rough.
At any rate, we're done and I'm exhausted. Yesterday was my absolute favorite day of the year- the Teachers vs. 4th Graders kickball game. Four innings of butt-kicking fun. And I am SO SORE. My feet (heels) feel like someone is shoving a hot knife into them (anyone else felt this? It's kind of weird...) and my back hurts. What is wrong with me?! So olde, I get an 'e'.
Desperately needing coffee, E and I headed over to Atomix. I haven't wanted coffee all week; taste buds have been affected by this cold (bronchitis!) for sure.
We stopped in at Sprout, one of my favorite stores. Things there are a bit expensive for me, but they have a great aesthetic and are incredibly nice and helpful. Every time I ask them about a plant I'm slowly killing, they stop and tell me different things I could try to save it, and alternatives (like, maybe some plastic plants? My suggestion).
Speaking of plants, my 'city garden' is slowly coming along. In an effort to cure my aforementioned brown thumb, my parents (who both enjoy gardening) gave me a birthday gift of two Earth Boxes and a bunch of seedling vegetables to plant. So far...so good. By summer's end I'll be eating tomatoes, green peppers, jalapeño peppers, boatloads of herbs (already started on those! Hello, chives in my egg salad) lots and lots of basil*, lettuce and kale. The last two are a crap shoot, as I've planted them from seed...we'll see.
*side note: Ethan is stoked about the basil, and keeps bugging me to plant more, as he recently discovered that 'yes!' he can cook. His pesto, a family recipe, is killer.
Home today, sick. This whole week has been full of colorful coughs, lozenges and lots of kleenex! Boo.
At least I get a chance, when I'm not achy and sleeping, to surf the web, finding...
On Kiosk:
You can purchase stock in Hell.
No kidding.
Beautiful clothing I can neither afford, nor do I have the ability to make myself (continually pining)...
Back to the kleenex.
