Running 8 Days Late.

I've been on a bit of a blog hiatus. . . not quite sure what happened there.

In case you were wondering, though, I did finish my "Learn Something New" for September.

My last two lessons. . .

Lesson from Day 29:
Make an old favorite into something new.

We had Greek pizza for dinner. I added some wheat flour to the pizza dough I've been making for awhile and covered with pizza with all kinds of goodness - chicken, red onions, green olives, yellow peppers, spinach, feta. Delicious!


Lesson from Day 30:
Try things even if you think you don't like them.

We had sandwiches for dinner - BLTs with shredded chicken, avocado, and garlic mayo. They were incredible - even the avocado.

Stay tuned this weekend for some fun things from the last few days.

Lesson # 29: What I'm Reading

Lesson from Day 29:
"There's a photo on my wall of a woman I've never met, its left corner torn and patched together with tape."

First line of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Illustration taken from here

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

Nothing I'm about to say is really any type of "something new" that I learned today. I guess that takes me away from the idea for the month. But, it's my blog, and I can do something different if I want to.

I've been listening to The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks since Saturday. I am completely intrigued by it. Science doesn't interest me. Non-fiction writing generally doesn't interest me, but I cannot get enough of this  book.

I'm infuriated by the challenges Henrietta faced during her life. I cannot believe that her family was never told about how her cells were being used. I'm curious about the author's research, writing, and organization process.

I am so glad I picked this book up. I encourage you to read it.

Lesson # 28

Lesson from Day 28:
I like having someone to come home to.

Our sixth anniversary was September 18. Life happened that day and since then, and we never really took a chance to celebrate.

So, I made a great dinner tonight. We ate and talked (still with no television) and just hung out for awhile. There were still plenty of chores and other things to be done after (Brad is still doing dishes), but it was nice to have some quiet time at the end of the day.

Lesson # 27: I haven't. . .

Lesson from Day 27:
There is too much to do.

It's difficult for me to get in a back-to-school routine. I'm starting the fourth full week and still really working on finding a way to get everything done. Tonight, I have a huge list of "haven't"s.

I haven't scrapbooked for weeks.
See photo above. That is the table that I'm supposed to use to make things. It's covered with bills and left-over work stuff.

I haven't stayed caught up with my photography class.
I'm feeling really guilty about this. I won a spot in Maggie Holmes's fabulous photography class. I print the lessons every week and read them. I just haven't taken any pictures or posted anything. I'm embarrassed about this one. I really want to learn and feel terrible for not using such a generous gift.

I haven't been making good choices about food or exercise.
I never make good choices about exercise, but I am capable of making good choices about food. Tonight, I had pasta, wine, and a Blizzard for dinner. Then, I wonder why I can't fit into any of my pants.


I haven't mailed Em's birthday gift yet.
I'm a slacker friend.

I haven't been reading as much as I should.
I haven't gotten any professional reading done since August. I haven't been reading much for fun, either. I did listen to the first half of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks over the weekend, though. It's super interesting.

I have been very irresponsible with money.
I blame the stress and the eating. Spending makes me feel better. Eating makes me feel better. Eating means I need clothes that fit which means I need to shop which means I need to spend. It's a vicious cycle.

I'm way behind on my Netflix.
I have had the same three disks at my house since mid-August: two disks of Psych and Avatar. I have no desire to watch any of them.

Make me feel better. What are some of your, "I haven't. . . "s?

Lesson # 25 (and a Meal Plan)

Lesson from Day 25:
It feels good to be prepared.


Why, why, why, in the name of all that is good and pure, was I awake at 7am this morning?!!?? Today was a morning where I actually could have lounged around and slept for awhile. Damn you work and responsibility. You have turned me into someone who wakes up early.

Anyway. . .
Stephanie and I are undertaking a major Julia Child-esque cooking experiment this afternoon (more on that tomorrow). So, I need to clean, grocery shop, vacuum (there is enough dog hair on my floor to actually make a coat for a dog in need) and find the source of the horrid odor emanating from my refrigerator. I embraced the need to grocery shop for today's feast as an opportunity to make a list and actually shop for the week - before I take-on the aforementioned dirty jobs.

Thus, today's lesson. It feels good to be prepared.

Sunday:
Both gone. No plan needed.

Monday:
Penna a la Betsy
with bread and salad

Tuesday:
Dinner in Paradise Menu from Cooking Light
Roasted Breast of Chicken with Pinot Noir Sauce
Rosemary Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Buttered Green Beans and Mushrooms


Wednesday:
Greek Pizza (modeled after one eaten at Roman Candle)
Salad

Thursday:
Chicken, Avocado, and Bacon Sandwich
Chicken Chili

Friday:
Frozen Pizza or left-overs (Brad is on his own)

Saturday:
Farm Aid

Lesson # 23

Lesson from Day 23:
I like being alone sometimes.

Brad is fishing. That leaves me by myself until Sunday. I'm looking forward to it - eating the things I like, sleeping in the entire bed, parking in the middle of the garage, leaving my shoes on the floor. 

It means I could watch Grey's Anatomy all by myself (with Katrina on Skype) without having to answer Brad's questions about the show.

Lesson: Day # 22

Something New from Day 22:
Conversation is nice.

We instituted a new policy at our house - no television during dinner.
Brad amended to policy - no television or reading during dinner.

Our television is almost always on, and it just seemed like time to make a change. We agreed to talk during dinner instead of watching television or paging through catalogs or magazines.

Lesson # 20

Lesson # 20:
Being tired makes me crabby.

Nothing else to say today.

A Weekend Lesson

Lesson # 19:
The best weekends leave me feeling like I need another weekend.

And, that, friends, is my 700th post. It has only taken me 700 posts worth of rambling over almost five years to learn that lesson.

I will be back tomorrow with pictures and more wisdom.

Lesson: Day # 18

New Learning for Day 18:
Adults get exhausted way easier than kids.

Today, we:
played at football class (aka Sports Bugs) at the Y
ate a healthy snack
walked to the park to swing and slide
ate lunch from Culver's (take-out eaten at home)
napped for a few hours
ate a healthy snack
picked apples at the orchard
had a gourmet dinner (hot dogs, mac and cheese, and green beans)
took a bath with extra bubbles
watched Handy Manny (I think the episode was "Long John Lopart")
read Llama Llama Mad at Mama
had two sleeping kids by 8:00 p.m.

Lessons: A few days

I missed you yesterday. A nap turned into going to bed at 4:30.

New Something from Day 15:
Make time for the people you love.

After getting home at 5:30, throwing together dinner, and finishing dishes by 6:30, Brad and I decided to drop by Nicky's with some ice cream to play with Natie and Katelyn for a few minutes before bedtime. It was rushed, and it meant I had to stay up a little later than I wanted, but it was completely worth it.

 

(Photo taken and writing done on September 17)

New Something from Day 16:

Sometimes I just need to sleep.

I layed down for just a little nap when I got home from work at 4:30. Brad woke me up at 6:30 to ask what was for dinner. I yawned at him and went back to sleep. I woke up again when Brad got home from cards just before midnight. I yawned again and went back to sleep until 5:50 a.m.. That's more than 13 hours of sleep. I, apparently, was tired.

New Something from Day 17:

I need a better morning routine.

The first weeks of work went okay. I managed to put my clothes together the night before, pick out decent things for lunch, and get up when my alarm went off. This week has been a whole different story. I've slept for at least 30 minutes later than the alarm every day and was ironing clothes this morning when I should have been on my way to work. Most mornings I ate toaster waffles on the highway. This morning, I left enough time for coffee and Starbucks.

Lesson: Day # 14

Something New for Day 14:
Any distance is worth driving when dinner with friends is the destination.

So, that is a ridiculously cheesy new thing to learn for today, but it's true. Angie made Fioke spaghetti for dinner. It sounded delicious, so I drove to Green Bay, had dinner, played with Luke, snuggled with Dottie, and drove home. It was a great night.

Weekend Lessons (#10, 11, and 12)

Something New: Day 10
Sometimes, I need someone else to be prepared for me.

I had a meeting in Stevens Point. I rushed a little to get out of Oshkosh and realized while driving that I wasn't sure where the meeting was. I tried calling a couple people who were going to the same meeting. No answers. I tried using my phone. No luck. I called Stephanie - who was in FL. She figured it out for me. Without her insane ability to Google my destination, I may have still been driving around from hotel to hotel asking, "Um, is the Reading Association meeting here?" And, I'm damn glad she did figure it out because the hotel bed and pillows were beyond comfortable.

Something New: Day 11
Winning isn't everything.

Angie hosted a BINGO party for her birthday. I didn't win any of the six games - not the Martini or the Postage Stamp or the Fly Swatter or the Birthday Cake or the Coffee Mug or the Blackout. I did have a great time, though. The food was fabulous, the drinks plentiful, and the conversation pretty hilarious. I'm lucky to have such a fabulous best friend.

Something New: Day 12
Home is where I like to be.

It was a perfect Sunday. I slept late, made soup (Pioneer Woman's Cauliflower) and sandwiches (BLTs) for lunch, read for awhile (Little Bee), slept for awhile, grocery shopped (including fresh flowers), made a nice dinner (spinach stuffed shells), and settled in for Sunday night television (True Blood, Hung, Entourage, and Mad Men).

Lesson: Day # 9

Summed up today's lesson in a super-quick and very simple digital layout.

Lesson: Day # 8

Something New from Day 8:
Chopping is a nice distraction.

I enjoy making dinner when I come home from work. Even if it's been a long day, I'm not feeling well, and I have to stop at the store for a forgotten ingredient, there is something really calming about following a recipe, chopping, and having a finished product.

Lessons: Day # 7

Something New from Day 7:

It is energizing to do important work.

 

I left for work at 6:30 a.m. and didn't get back until 8:40 p.m.. Today, I worked with some amazing teachers today who thought really long and hard to grasp ideas that were complicated but in the best interest of kids. Tonight, I had an important conversation with some uber-smart women. 

Even though it kicks my butt, demands too much of my time, and stresses me out, I am so fortunate to have the job I do. I know amazing people through my work and am a better person and a better teacher because of what I learn from them.

It's important that I wrote this down because I should really come read it next time I'm frustrated with my job.

Lessons: Day # 3

 A colleague and friend shared her most recent favorite picture book with me today. My "something new" today comes from the text.

Eleanor, Quiet No More by Doreen Rappaport

"You must do the things you cannot do."
-Eleanor Roosevelt

The words spoke to me mostly because life has been so crazy this week. I haven't had much time to do what I want to do and in some cases haven't even made time to do what I need to do. I must do the things I cannot do.

Lessons: Day # 2

I caught myself thinking about the "something new" I was learning throughout the day today. Because it was in the front of my mind, I couldn't help but notice that there seems to be advice everywhere.

On the wrapper from one of the Dove promises (milk chocolate) I ate today:
"How perfect a day can be when you think positive"

On the cover of my Sweet Leaf Iced Tea:
"The greatest statements are rarely shouted"

Lessons: Day # 1

I'm playing along with Shimelle Laine's Learn Something New.

I played the first time in 2007. I used it then as a way to look back at my day and consider something new I learned. I tried to pair that lesson with a picture. I'll use it the same way this year.

So, here are a few possibilities for today's lesson:

"You will do better in real estate than stocks."
That's what my fortune said at lunch. It was certainly news to me.

Be enthusiastic.
I thought about Natalie a lot today. She was so excited to start kindergarten. I could have used a little of that enthusiasm as I started the first day of the 2010 - 2011 school year.

Some things shouldn't be said in a text message.
Received this text today, "Major issues at home. I am not a plumber." A detailed voicemail would have been far better than a text message in this case. 100ish characters just are not enough to provide the necessary information. Is there sewage involved? Is water spewing everywhere? Are you hurt? Do I need to shower at a hotel tomorrow? What is damaged? This type of text just makes a girl's imagination go wild - and not in a good way.

Life is going to happen even if I haven't found time to plan for it.
The next three weeks contain 11 work days. I will only be in my actual offices for three of those 11 days. The remaining 8 days are reserved for planning and facilitating professional development. I have no idea how in the world everything is going to get done. No idea.

There is always reason to celebrate.
The pumpkin spice latte is back. I caught myself wondering about it today, called Starbucks to check, and picked one up after dinner. This treat (drank while reading The Help wearing my new purple and blue plaid pajama pants with pockets) almost made up for the pedicure that I canceled upon hearing about the previously mentioned plumbing disaster.