Made in Richmond

Ross and I got this in the mail last week:

It’s probably hard to read, but it tells us that “something good is about to happen.” And I mean, it must be true, because they wrote it in all caps and put it next to a floating Jesus. However, according to the letter, the “something good” can only happen if you write down your prayer and place that prayer, along with the prayer “handkerchief” (which was really just a piece of paper that they bought from Michael’s that *kind of* looks like it could be a handkerchief) back in the envelope to be sent back to the church BEFORE BREAKING THE SEAL OF THE LETTER. Oops…

OMG!!!!!! As you can see, the seal is most certainly broken, and I can tell you that I broke it before any prayer page or prayer “handkerchief” were place in any envelope. I wonder how the church (and Jesus) would feel if they saw what we did to their prayer “handkerchief”:

Ross used the other half to write down our grocery list. It’s possible that the word “tampons” was written on this. I hope Ross remembered to pick up some ice packs to keep us cool IN THE FIREY PITS OF HADES.

Ever since my experience with the Norovirus (or as Ross likes to call it, “The Winter Vomiting Disease”) I have become incredibly stupid. Often when I walk into a room I forget why I am there. I love Wikipedia and often go there with excitement, but by the time the page loads, I don’t remember what I want to look up. It’s starting to take a long time for me to come up with words when I’m talking. No one else has seemed to notice. Maybe my brain worked at super speed before and the Norovirus has simply put me down at everyone else’s level. Or it might be that I no longer need to know anything beyond the required intelligence of a 10 year old.

I’ve applied for 4 jobs. They are:
1. Technology Integrator
2. Media Specialist for Virginia Historical Society
3. Director for the Carver Promise
4. Donor Relationships Manager for the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fund

Looking at the requirements, I actually might be somewhat qualified for each of these, but who knows. Uncertainty is not something I do well with, as we all know. I also don’t do well with having to wait for responses. Why aren’t they all pulling their hair out and demanding, “WHY DOESN’T SHE WORK FOR US YET?!?!?!?!?!?”

I’m getting a really bad feeling that I didn’t get the integrator job. Now I am scared to death because that would mean having to actually find a job. As in, looking in the newspaper and equivalents in order to find positions that are somewhat related to my skill set. I AM NOT GOOD AT THAT. I have gotten every job I’ve ever applied for and I don’t know how I will react if I don’t get this one. I’m absolutely terrified of not having job-it’s almost crippling to the point where I don’t want to do anything about it. Teachers have job security like none other and it makes me nervous to let that go. I think I’m going to hyperventilate and throw up at the same time. It’s especially frustrating because part of me is saying, “Just forget it. Keep teaching. You like it and it’s stable.” I want to punch that part in the face.

Friday: Pretty easy day, almost wrote someone an office referral for not covering her mouth when she coughed, got hair highlighted which took 2 1/2 hours but turned out cute, dinner with in-laws, watched VT basketball game with friends.

Saturday: Gym, felt sorry for myself, shower, felt sorry for myself, tried to go shopping, felt sorry for myself, bought nothing and came home, cried some because I felt sorry for myself, watched Nip/Tuck while knitting and felt a little better, to bed late because of the time change.

Sunday: Fed people at Loaves and Fishes, came home to eat lunch, took a short nap, off to church, praying, singing, etc. etc., shaved Ross’s head, got dinner, have a headache, will grade some papers and then go to bed.

Before.

During.

After.

I made this for our friends Georgia and Benjamin. We met them at church and love them to bits. They are both in medical school right now. They were, as the put it, “hit by the baby bus on the way to school.” Their little girl is coming in two weeks. I thought if she had a cute hat she might be enticed to come out.

I felt the black cloud coming yesterday evening. I’d had a rough week at work and was feeling especially unhappy with my life and what not. I can’t explain where this desperate feeling comes from, but I can tell you that it is powerful and is capable of making you think about dark things. I don’t mean dark thoughts as in hurting myself, but rather thoughts that really aren’t worth your time thinking about.

Up until last year, my response to such a feeling would be to go to sleep. Or lie in bed trying to sleep. There would be unexplained crying, too. However, yesterday was different. As I felt the hopeless feeling coming on, I jumped up and told Ross I needed to go to the gym. Being the astute and wonderful husband he is, he knew exactly why. He kissed me and told me drive safe.

Rather than wanting to take to my bed, I’m now trained to crave physical activity when my mind has gone loopy. Obviously, this is a much healthier and more productive option. After just 10 minutes of running on the treadmill and breaking a little sweat, I felt better than I had in days – not just because I had made the healthy choice, but because I finally was understanding how to take care of myself on all levels.

Ever since I got my first tattoo, all I’ve wanted to do is get another one. A lot of people have asked me what I would get. Here’s a sneak peak:

No, I wouldn’t get the whole cover. I want to just get the bird. I chose this because this book changed my life. I seriously cry every time I read it. It showed me that it is possible to be a proud Southerner without taking on all of the stereotypes people attach to that. I think it articulates growing up in the South better than any other book I’ve ever read. It shows the beautiful and hilarious relationship that siblings have with one another, too. Since I love my siblings more than anyone else ever will (sorry Jen and Matt), I clearly connected with this aspect of the story. Also, Atticus Finch is one of my heroes and I hope to be the kind of parent he is.

As you can see, it means a lot to me. I would love to have a piece of it with me always.

P.S. Thanks to Mrs. Klein, my freshman English teacher. I read this book in her class. We would talk about it all the time and she’d cry right along with me.

Well, I don’t know if I would go *that* far, but this is pretty close.

As many of you know, teachers are on their feet all day long. When I sit down to lunch, it’s literally the first time I’ve sat down in 3 hours. Consequently, we teachers often have aching feet. Sure, we have our Dansko’s that help, but sometimes the only thing that will help is a foot massage. OR THIS:

First, it’s 100% natural which is great. For some reason I’m comforted by the fact that, if necessary – like if zombies attack and we are stranded upstairs – Ross and I could live off of my Burt’s Bees products for several days. Not only that, it works. As the tube says, “This wonderfully natural formula combines pure Peppermint oil, Parsley Leaf oil, and Menthol to soother and calm tired feet.” I was not aware that so many of those ingredients had to be capitalized – you learn something new everyday. Anyway, the tube doesn’t lie. In fact, I would even say that the tube holds back. This stuff WAKES UP YOUR FEET! Seriously, I’ve been using this consistently for a week and I’ve never known my feet to be so awake. It’s heaven. Pure, golden, delicious, Peppermint Infused Heaven.