a quick note for now

Soon I will sit down and write out a bang-up blog about the fabulousness of having 14 three year olds a day in my life. I will tell you how cute they are, how sweet, how smart, how I love love love the little hugs and smiles and how even when they're crying for Mama my heart melts. But those little buggers are EXHAUSTING their darling teacher. And I have FANTASY FOOTBALL RESEARCH to do! ...if only I could figure out a way for the children to help me with that...

tgif

this was a really emotionally/spiritually trying week.

i cannot wait for my new babies to show up on Monday!!

best part of my week: an old student came by and when she saw me ran, arms open, to hug me around the waist.

the children: the best part of my job.

first day back...

My big accomplishment for my first day back was getting this put together:




my head was about to explode, i hope they have the same reaction!!! i love my job. we start meeting the new students tomorrow for interviews!! can't wait...

phishing and phobias

Last night we saw Phish for the first time in 9 years. It was a fabulous show. With fabulous friends. Their first song was "Sample in a Jar" -- it took me right back to Capital University. I wore my cute new sundress for the occasion, though you can't see it in this photo.


Nick and I spent the night in Batavia (i heart hampton inns) and then drove down to Watkins Glen today, hiking the 3 mile trail. Down next to the gorge and up on what is known as Indian trail. (we finally used the timer on a hike!)

I did three things that scared me today: (1)walked through a "spiral tunnel" (claustrophobia, what?)

***these were the views on the other side!!***




(2)Raced Nick up a very steep flight of stairs known as couch's staircase (as in you need a couch after you run up them)

***it felt so good at the top***


and (3)walked over a "suspension bridge"

***again, totally worth the views***



Our way home was a route suggested (and about blogged) by Karli. It was gorgeous. On the outside and inside.




I thought to myself, thanks HP for Karlton...and reflected at how she was part of this beautiful trip without even being there. Which made me reflect on how amazingly blessed I am to have a group of people in my life that are such a part of my being.

....thanks friends, i love you...

i stole from jay paterno

I totally stole this twitpic from jay paterno, yeah, that JayPaterno: QB coach for the Penn State Nittany Lion football team, Son of JoePa...JayPa. Yes I follow him on twitter.

this is besides the point really. The point is I saw this picture and almost cried. Tears sprung to my eyes and I wished that instead of waiting for Nick to come home from BCK I was waiting for him to come over after a long day in the larch studio. We would walk downtown from my apartment or his to go play darts at Zeno's. Or maybe I'm homesick for Arrelaine and our long chats at the Dark Horse over a tasty Tonto's Demise. (which only became deeper on half priced nights)

I just get homesick, sometimes, for that town. My friend, Lee, referred to it once as "oz" and I truly believe it (as in wizard of...not the prison show). There were 60,000 of us college students there but somehow you found your "people" and made your world.

Thanks, Jay Paterno, for taking this picture. I wish I was walking downtown for a beer at the Sports Cafe to watch the Yankees game today.

my summer vacation

A fun six weeks. Here are some things I learned about myself and accomplished this summer::

1) I love watching the nuns recite the Holy Rosary on the Catholic channel. The sound is slightly haunting. Having grown up in a Protestant church I didn't have much exposure to nuns so I think that's what interests me so much. If you ever get a chance you should check this out. The nuns are in full garb and SO SOLEMN. There's one nun who is in a crazy trance looking state. It's AMAZING. Its also interesting that Mother Angelica looks like she is reading it each time even though they say their Hail Mary's over and over. I'm not making fun, I seriously love this show. The nuns, though all in habits, are all so different looking and how they pray is different. Is there a difference between nuns with white head covers and black head covers??

2) I accidentally taught my cat to drink from the faucet in the 1st floor bathroom. I was hanging laundry on the line with the window wide open. I didn't want him to jump out so I distracted him with running water to sip on. oops.

3) Kevin Kinsella continues to rock my world with his music.

4) Turns out I'm an expert taper/painter. All I need is a ZenCast and cool weather.

5) Walking in the morning is fun. I truly wish I could get my "sunshine booty" (as Kami says) up before school everyday and traipse around our neighborhood...

6) Canning is fun! and tasty! and good for the soul! (Kristina documented our last gathering - to make blueberry jam and peach salsa - here)

7) If left to not work for the rest of my life I would have the cleanest house ever. It turns out I have a very hard time sitting idle for long.

8) If I don't make a detailed list of things to do for my day when I'm off I feel like I haven't accomplished anything. I feel guilty and depressed.

9) The list has to be detailed. Did I mention that? On my list of things to do this summer I included "write" -- what counts? I edited my thesis. I wrote some here. I think I intended to work on a major writing project. *sigh*

10) I have a patron! An anonymous donor gave me a laptop on which to write my first children's novel. I'm still brain storming ...

11) Becoming more aware of how I am really feeling is the key to being comfortable. Not just being aware of it, but acting on it, staying true to it. Those who actually love me for who I am will continue to love and support me.

12) I'm not much of a gardener but am thankful that my inlaws are! (yummy fresh food!!)

13) I heart Keb'Mo' !!

14) Sandwiches taste way better with 2 layers of romaine.

15) I can wear a real bikini (and did! for the first time in my life!)

16) Fruit-tea (caffeine free, all natural) iced with some flavored seltzer is DELICIOUS.

17) A house full of color makes me feel happy and comfortable

18) My life is full of blessings -- everywhere I turn I'm witness to the beauty in my world.

t-minus 10 days

I have ten days left of my summer vacation. I spent Monday of this week at the center putting up the name tags of my new loves. I can hardly wait to meet them. Summer has been a blast but I am missing the regularity of a schedule, the giggles and happiness of the children, rocking them, reading to them, singing with them... This year we are getting 18 new babes. The first few weeks are a challenge. We have to get to know the children, they are getting to know us, the room and the routine. It's still a blast, though. At least I can say it is right now from the comfort of my couch.

decade

A decade ago tonight I went to a guard party that turned into me going to a Yolk show with this guy I barely knew (accompanied by my friend, Lauren, riding in her '84 AMC Eagle woodie - i loved that car). The Yolk show turned into a walk around the West Side of Binghamton, during which Nick got lost and I got us found. (seems to remain true) That walk turned into sitting up all night talking until 5am when Nick drove me all the way back to East Windsor Rd. Dropping me off without even a smooch but a promise to call me.

I figured it was a good night of chatting, maybe some summer dating (free dinner, yeah!) but nothing more. He was a frat boy from Penn State, after all. We hung out all summer, but at the end we decided "whatever happens, happens." He was going to Italy for the spring semester, after all. Then I applied to Penn State, because another year of long distance was not an option...and hey, if we broke up there were 60,000 people on main campus, after all. I probably would never run into him and there would definitely be a big pool of eligible boys...but I never had to find out. It just kept going... with no problems... it was the weirdest thing... it still is. After all, we are the Miller-Corcorans.