I'm Official!

My Georgia nurse practitioner license was approved on Friday and I just received this fantastic news today! Yay! One step closer to new beginnings!

Pesky ants

This week I am grateful for pest control. Strange, I know, but I was welcomed home by carpenter ants this past Monday. I can deal with most bugs, but not ants. We tried several home remedies, but carpenter ants are pretty resilient, and huge! I think Annabelle will be thankful not to share her bowl with these unwelcome visitors.

Sunsets

This is not tonight's sunset (its cloudy tonight) but I came across it while looking at my pictures. Its from when I first moved to Wilmington. I love sunsets; dusk is my favorite time of day. I'm never willingly up early enough to see the sunrise at the beach but I'm sure it is quite beautiful too. 

Although solitude becomes lonely after long stretches of time, peaceful introspection provides me with a delightful respite from the pressures of every-day life. I generally keep my responsibilities tightly coiled and constant, but these last two weeks have overwhelmed me despite my close personal acquaintance with chaos. Since my last blog I have acquired a new degree and condo and shed a live-in boyfriend and hour-long commute. I miss daily companionship and the rambling craftsman bungalow, but I am perfectly content without the arguments and automobile congestion. Despite the melancholy that always consumes me after periods of change, I am happy to be in close proximity to my Dad and Aunt, thrilled that I can walk to coffee, public transit, and dog parks, and delighted to spend some stress-free time in quiet introspection. I am at a crossroads in life I suppose. Missing my Mom and brother still hurts daily, but I am truly thankful for the career freedom I finally have, my small but loving family, which includes those subscribed to this blog, and the chance to breathe and think in a small condo in the City of Decatur.    

A humbling dose of creativity.

I have experienced an incredibly blessed life so far, and am reminded all too often through my students' personal challenges and experiences to keep things in perspective. In addition to the humbling doses of harsh life experiences that several of my students use as building blocks for moving their futures in more positive directions, I also have ample opportunities to observe and coach my students through their teen angst periods. This afternoon I stayed after school to be a guest in the Creative Writing class end of the year showcase. The students created their personal stories using an approach called Digital Storytelling. The theme was challenges. 

Several of the stories entailed heartbreaking topics including substance abuse, struggles with depression, suicide attempts, and sick parents. These stories were touching, of course. Two of the stories stood out over the rest. Both were fairly simple stories. One story was told by a male student who explained that visiting prisons as part of his church ministry programs was one of his biggest life challenges. His poignant story explained how time pauses for inmates, how he could tell the time period that the inmates who had been incarcerated for longer periods of time had entered into the prison system by their hair styles and experience with current technologies, and how his perception of the "type" of person that he would find in prison shifted. 

The second story was told by my student who invited me to the event. She started by sharing comments that a group of girls berated her with during her middle school years. A few of the comments were "Why is your butt so small; why are your eyes so big and head so small; how could you be black with a body like that" My eyes filled with tears as she shared these hateful words that I am sure she heard more than just once. Her voice did not quiver, nor did she fall into a cycle of despair. Instead, she responded by coming to the conclusion that she could do nothing to control the body type she had inherited, nor could she help that her features did not fit the standard of beauty that these girls expected. Her mature perspective uplifted her, and gave her the strength to stand-up to the thoughtless words that her peers threw at her. I felt touched truly touched by her story. Although she came out of the experience on the positive side, it made me sad that she had to hear so many unfair judgements. 

Strawberries

These are beautiful strawberries from Goldsboro that were picked on Saturday. My uncle purchased a flat of strawberries and split them up between my aunt's family members and myself. I have been enjoying these beauties in my morning juice (spinach, banana, strawberries, almond milk) and throughout the day. I love strawberries because they are absolutely delicious but also because their local arrival signifies the beginning of my favorite time of year--summer!

Appreciation Week

Teacher appreciation week always sneaks up on me at the end of each year, and every year, it seems like a nice way to start to conclude another year in the classroom. Some years teacher appreciation week at the high school gets lost in the hustle and bustle of the end of the year testing, stress, and after-hours activities. This year in particular, I felt that administrators, parents, and even students shared their thanks. The PTA was kind enough to donate small gifts including gift cards, care packages, first edition books, and baked goods so that our principal could do a daily morning drawing. Each teacher will get a gift. I was so excited to get a $20 Kroger gift card on Monday! Today a student brought a fresh rose to each of her teachers. Since I co-teach with two other teachers throughout the day, we have three beautiful roses brightening up our space. The kind comments and simple thanks that I have heard from many of my students have brightened my week, and helped to ease the very stressful last few weeks of the school year.

This has also been an interesting week because I have thought about how thankful I am for the care that Ru's teachers have given him over the last seven months. I cannot imagine caring for so many babies at the same time. They do such a great job, and do so with ease. They also work hard to help Ru build his physical skills, as well as encourage his curiosity and play.

Friends!

I'm so grateful for all my friends. From my "Decatur Girls" to friends from my hometown to college friends spread near and far . . . I am so thankful for each of them. As you know, I've been dealing with a bump in the road called "unemployment" and the bump has been ugly, ego-crushing and longer than I had planned. However, the support I have received from my friends has enabled me to maintain a positive attitude. Kind words, a home cooked meal, flowers, a drink, a friendly ear -- all these gestures have meant so much.  Thank you, friends! I love each and every one of you! 

-Meredith 

Nurses Day

Today is Nurses Day and this week is Nurses Week. Today I am taking a moment to be thankful for nurses. After being a patient I have a new appreciation for nurses. I spent a lot of time with nurses during my recent hospitalization. In fact, a nurse was in my room every hour for five days (!) draining 10 ml of cerebrospinal fluid out of my body. I got to know my nurses quite well and had a few nurses for several shifts during that time. We discussed their hobbies, upcoming weddings, families. More importantly, they provided compassionate, competent care, and helped me return to health!

I am also extremely thankful that I am a nurse myself! I would much rather be on the nurse side of healthcare than on the patient side. I have learned so much from my patients. I consider it an honor that I have been able to care for them and their families during one of the most joyful (occasionally heartbreaking) times of their lives. 

The picture below is of classmates and me washing the feet of migrant workers in Moultrie, GA during June 2011. As you all know, I have a slight aversion to feet. However, give me a pair of gloves and I am game for just about anything! 

A Sappy Ode to Friendship

I complain about my fair city a lot, but I think that sitting in hours and hours of gridlock because of every concert, sporting event, or marathon as well as enduring people who drive 50 MPH in the fast lane or turn left off of Ponce during rush hour for thirty plus years entitles me to this Atlanta rite of passage. While some aspects of this city are positively maddening, I will always love this booming metropolis and my small suburb to the east, but by far my favorite thing about Atlanta/Decatur is the friendships I have made here. I love each of you girls, and am so glad to have have funny, smart, and supportive women in my life for 26, 23, 22, 20, and 7 years respectively. I enjoy birthday dinners, school memories, and celebrating life milestones, but I also appreciate shoulders to cry on in extreme crisis, friendly ears for blowing off emotional steam, and uplifting and loving thoughts whenever they are needed. As we all know, Cathy is having her second surgery on Tuesday, and I think there is no better time than now to say how grateful I am for her strength, health, and friendship.  We will all be praying for you and loving you, Kitty Kat!

Freelance at Last

I am thoroughly grateful for my very first freelance writing assignment today. My cousin is a sustainable artist in California, and she offered me the task of writing a short bio for her upcoming art show in Asheville, North Carolina. I have been bogged down with monotonous, technical writing for my upcoming English degree, and I welcomed this refreshing change that allowed me to be creative instead of merely accurate. Julie takes plastic bags, now illegal in her San Francisco suburb, and turns the trash into glass sculptures and eerie photographic images.  While she is talented and creative in her mediums of choice, Julie needed help putting her ideas into paragraph form, and I have never enjoyed anything more than taking her rough information and transforming it into words that capture the essence and importance of her art.  I cannot wait to see what this new avenue has in store for me, and I think, at the tender age of 31, that I have finally figured out what I want to be when I grow up.  

NPR: Not Prozac Related

At one point I believed NPR to be a radio station where perpetually depressed people went to hear other perpetually depressed people speak in hushed tones over the strains of classical music; however, as with my philosophy on puppies and sunshine, I have had a change of heart in recent years, and I've come to welcome NPR into my life with gusto. I began listening to 90.1 WABE Atlanta in response to a lack of cable news in my house and quality music during my commute.  As I am somewhat old fashioned, I have a disdain for listening to phone music while driving, and I prefer a little something on a more traditional digital tuner. After a few months of listening to morning news with a blissful tinge of liberal bias, I even branched out and tuned in on my evening commute! Not only does NPR broadcast informative news with few capitalistic commercial interruptions, but they also have game shows, essayists, and even an interview with the infamous rappers, Eightball and MJG! Call me a nerd, but my new favorite thing to do on Fridays after work is listen to a ridiculously geeky show, "Ask Me Another," in my car. They play music, puzzles, and word games in front of a live audience, and it reminds me of watching Lawrence Welk with my parents and Grandmother in the eighties. Lastly, I credit all of my deep conversations with strangers to my new-found love of NPR, and I have gained at least ten IQ points under it's tutelage.  Y'all give it a listen: you'll be grateful!  

These New Balances Were Made For Walking

I must admit I love gifts, but I especially appreciate presents when they are spontaneous and uncalled for.  Today I went to my Dad's house to wait for his housekeeper as April is his busy work season and he doesn't have his usual Wednesday morning off. To my extreme delight, I was greeted by a shiny, flourecsent pair of New Balances. I mentioned my need of new running/walking shoes to Walt, and when he saw the ones I'd looked at on his computer he ordered them for me without my knowledge. After the maids left and I worked on my other blog for a while, I wanted to test out my new kicks, so I laced up and moseyed on down to the Decatur square. I also took my phone with me so I could test out my new pedometer app that is inspired my Cathy's use of FitBit! I had a great walk, and got to notice all the beauty of Decatur flora and fauna. My Mom always used to say how Decatur looks like a fairyland in the Spring and she was right.  Yellow daffodils (or jonquils!), fluffy dogwoods, and sprays of whatever tiny, purple flower grow close to the ground were everywhere, making my walk that much more fun. While I don't actually live in Decatur (yet), I am grateful to be in a beautiful place with fabulous new shoes and a Dad I love who stills spoils me at the tender age of 31.    

Pomp and Circumstance

Well, after all the teasing I have committed about lovely ladies not blogging on the regular, I seem to have missed the first two days of my week, which has so far been more hectic than most! Occasionally, when I am not sleeping at night, missing my Mama, and in need of five extra hours in my days, I can be a bit crabby and ungrateful. I had a perfect weekend seeing Cathy before her surgery (as well as all you girls) and celebrating Emily's daughter-in-the-making, but Monday seemed to kick my proverbial tail. Having said that, I think a sub par beginning to a week calls for extra gratitude, so I shall make my remaining four blog posts count!

Today I am grateful for my newly acquired cap and gown! I cannot wait to finally have a tassel to accompany all this hassle. I started my college journey thirteen years ago (gosh I feel old), and I am thrilled but a little apprehensive to finally matriculate. After five whole years of wasting college time and resources and five years of working hard for the money and an Associate's degree, I was able to fully devote my time to learning and finishing these past few years, and I've enjoyed nothing more.  Although I have been busier than ever and fended off some very hard emotional times during my tenure at CSU I hold a soft place in my heart for the Southern Crescent and all its suburban, country charm.

Family & Friends

Sorry I have been slacking on my blog posts this week.  It has been a rough week - on Tuesday, some things happened at work and I do not work there anymore (i.e., I don't have a job anymore).  It was devastating at first, but I am trying to view this as a fresh start, as an opportunity to go to the next level in my career.  

When something like this happens, the first people you reach out to are your family and your friends.  I am so incredibly blessed to have such a wonderful support system.  Kind words, prayers, hugs, wine and a yummy dinner (thanks, Marian!) from family and friends has had an immeasurable effect on my attitude and motivation.

It's times like these that lead you to count your blessings and focus on the things in life that really matter.  

Have a blessed day!

MARCH MADNESS, BABY!!!!

I am grateful for college basketball today!!  This is just about my favorite time of the year!  

During my lunch break, I have been reading sports blogs, filling out my bracket and listening to sports radio. Kentucky (my home state team and alma mater) has a rough go of it this year - our region is probably the most stacked of all the regions (we always get a raw deal in tournament selection).  Check out the history contained in our region:

• Duke - the shot heard 'round the world!!!  Christian Laettner makes the game winning shot in overtime during the 1992 Final Four.  He still won't stop for gas or to use the facilities if traveling by car through the state of Kentucky.  SMART MAN.  the shot heard round the world
• Louisville - our in-state rival and the defending national champion.  We beat them on our home court back in December. We also beat them in the tournament on our way to win the 2012 National Championship.
• Michigan - Met last in the 1993 Final Four, Michigan wins in overtime.  Michigan goes on to lose to UNC in the championship game and later had all its victories for that season vacated.
• UMASS - Met last in the 1996 Final Four, UK went on to win the championship that year.  Also formerly coached by our current coach, John Calipari.

The Cats take the court against Kansas State in St. Louis at 9:40pm on Friday - make sure you tune in!  

I'm off to study my bracket some more . . . gotta win that $1,000,000,000 Warren Buffet is giving away.

GO CATS!!!  

Bachelorette Fun!

In Asheville celebrating the union of Diane and Jay! Had a lovely spa afternoon with the bride to be and the other maid of honor--my sisters! Picture to come!!

Leftovers!

I love coming home from a long day to delicious leftovers!

Cooked this the other evening--added some kale. So good when I got home after 8 tonight!

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/potato-and-cauliflower-burritos/

Faith and Prayer

This is a bit of a serious blog entry for me but it definitely reflects what I am grateful for today and every day.

As some of you know, I have made the decision to have surgery to remove my acoustic neuroma. I am scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, which means that at this time in 4 weeks you should all be receiving an email or text update that I am out of surgery and I will be partying in the ICU for the evening!

My journey with my acoustic neuroma probably started many years ago. I lost my balance and fell off my horse in 2008. I was super dizzy at Claire's wedding in 2009. I went home from work early because I was so dizzy one day in later in 2009 and had a workup with a ENT physician and a totally normal hearing test. The dizziness came and went and for a while I felt pretty good and attributed it to anxiety. I fell while out for a run and broke my arm in 2012. On my birthday in 2012 my co-workers decorated my desk with bandaids, caution tape, and a walker because that summer and fall I kept coming to work with cuts and bruises from falling off my bike (they still apologize for this but I say it was quite funny--we all thought I was clumsy, not that I had a brain tumor!).

But my journey really started a year ago on St Patrick's Day when I ended up in the ER after a half marathon with the migraine of my life. My symptoms of headaches and dizziness had gotten much worse about six months before and I knew that if any else happened I was going back to the doctor about these symptoms to see if anyone could figure out why I was feeling so lousy.

I had a normal CT scan and I went home from the ER with a diagnosis of dehydration.

I followed up with my primary care physician the next day. He had the genius idea to refer me to a neurologist. I had an eye exam and tried a couple of different things for my headaches before my neurologist ordered an MRI. We were both expecting it to be normal and a huge waste of resources. I got the call on June 7 at 6:30 pm after my MRI, a Valium to relax during the procedure, and a glass of wine at dinner, that I had what was suspected to be an acoustic neuroma and that I needed another MRI. I was quite relaxed at that point (Valium and wine will do that to you!) and I still did not get too concerned.

I had the repeat MRI on June 17. I happened to read over the MRI tech's shoulder that my first MRI showed a 3 cm growth in my head. That was probably the first time that it really hit me that whatever was going on was not good. I had follow up with my neurologist that Friday, at which point she told me that I had an acoustic neuroma or vestibular schwannoma (I actually sat in her office and asked her to spell it), called her neurosurgeon friend in town, and arranged for me to see him that same morning. On the way out of the office she said "good luck."

By the grace of God the neurosurgeon in Wilmington referred me to my future neurosurgeon and otolaryngologist (ear/throat dr) at Chapel Hill. After a pretty anxiety provoking summer I had surgery and a very healthy recovery.

I was really contemplating about all of my blessings and all that I am grateful for in regards to surgery during my run today. I am thankful that I can work out and essentially "train" for surgery. I am thankful that I am young and healthy. I am thankful that this was diagnosed while I was in North Carolina because my providers at UNC are an ace team. I am forever grateful for the support of my family and friends (especially y'all!!) and all of the prayers that are coming to me from around the country and the world.

Today on my run though I started to think about how grateful I am for my own faith. The events of the past year have really deepened my faith and my relationship with God. Although I have periods of feeling anxious, I am actually at peace with my decision to proceed with surgery. By relying on my faith I am able to hand over some of my anxieties to a great God who has provided for every blessing that I have had and that I do have and every blessing in life that I have to look forward to.

Please keep me in your thoughts, prayers, and meditations during this next month and during my recovery. Please pray for my overall safety during surgery, for preservation of my facial nerve (I want to be able to move my face when all of this is done!), for removal of most if not all of the tumor during this surgery. Please pray for my healthcare team, my family, and my friends (especially y'all!).

Me three days after surgery in August 2013 on the day I went home from the hospital. 

UNC Hospital's food service rocked! Note all of the Carolina blue in the picture.

Great workout!

I had a fantastic workout today. I hopefully will be sore tomorrow (the sure sign of a great workout!). I have gotten into somewhat of a routine of working out several times a week but not challenging myself. I was inspired by the spring-like weather to add some weight to my bar at Body Pump tonight. It was a tough class but it felt great! Looking forward to an awesome run tomorrow!

My four legged friend

I have so much to be thankful for, especially at the end of an absolutely gorgeous Sunday!

Today I am especially grateful for my sweet horse Belle.

Belle has been a part of my life for the past 13 years! She and I have been through a lot together. We have had our ups and downs and her horseshoe and hay habits keep me perpetually broke.

She brings me such joy. She is a real sweetheart and a fun horse to be around. She has a lot of personality. Everyone at the barn loves her. Since my surgery I have been able to ride more without being dizzy and it is great!

We had a quick ride this afternoon. She was acting silly (i.e. spooking at the monsters that surely live in the trees by the ring) so I did not ride for too long. But we so enjoyed each other's company and she definitely enjoyed the carrots I brought for her!

A time to honor

I am a little late in my last post for the week, but wanted to share my thoughts.

This coming Friday, March 14th, marks one year from the death of my Grand-mom. She lived a full and wonderful life. Saturday, her birthday, we will have a family gathering to celebrate and honor her life. Even my Uncle Jim who moved to Portland when I was in 7th grade is making the trip! I don't get to see him often, and am really excited to visit with him, and introduce him to Russell.

I am also really happy that my Granddad is up for a weekend full on family time. As expected, he has had a tough year. He has been working through deep sadness and loneliness. It has been emotional, but I am so thankful that he has not tried to keep his sadness hidden.

Eyes wide open

As I drove home after a very long day, full of students making some unfortunate and troublesome choices, I reflected about one of the biggest take-aways that I have learned in my eight years of teaching. Keep the blinders off and ears ready to listen. In my experiences, I have seen parents struggle to accept the decisions, as well as academic uncertainties of their student. They have the blinders on, blocking their ability to recognize that the problem that their child is facing is one that they need help overcoming.

I am grateful to have experienced the perspective from the other side before Russell arrived. I hope that I can hold this perspective close to me, so that when struggles come up, I have my eyes wide open.

Animal memes..."pun" times

I know that some consider puns the lowest form of humor, but I just can't get enough of them. When I need a good belly-ache inducing laugh, I find some animal themed memes, which, often include puns. I enjoy the animal themed ones the most because of the hilarious facial expressions.  Today I needed a good laugh to relieve some of the stress from my week, so I found my favorite meme (see the top left picture), as well as a new meme (see Hawkward).

Paul also knows how easily tickled I am by these sorts of memes, so he often sends me texts with a few. He does this especially when he knows that I am having a stressful day or week at work. I am grateful that he knows how to make me laugh... or to be totally honest, guffaw. I am even more grateful that he knows that laughter is probably my favorite remedy to feelings of stress, and that even though he doesn't get as much of a kick out of the animal memes, he searches new ones out for me.

Paul sent me the perm meme last Spring sometime. It is still my favorite. I know it may sound strange, but I think about this meme at least every other week, and have a little chuckle. I think it's the cats face that gets me.

Snuggle Time!!

Today I am feeling grateful for my bed. I know that may sound a bit lame, but this was one of those days that I woke up looking forward to the time that I would be able to lay back down again tonight. I feel fortunate to have a bed that is comfortable and warm. I love that it is a place where I can snuggle with the two big snugglers in the McCarty crew, Annabelle and Ru.

Open lines of communication

Yesterday I had a conversation with one of my colleagues about an online school called Georgia Cyber Academy. He worked there before coming to DHS this year. As some of you know, I am beginning to look at some new directions for work. Even considering looking for some alternative work options put a knot in my stomach, but I feel that it may be time for a change. I love my job at DHS, and do not really want to leave, but also know that I need to start considering ways to work closer to home. I have been looking at lots of online jobs, and finally decided that I should get some information for teaching online. 

My colleague gave me clear details about job expectations, as well as pros and cons for working at an online school. He shared with me areas that he felt would be a strength for me, as also explained the rather steep initial learning curve. I am grateful for his honesty about the job that I applied for. Although I have decided to continue with the application process, he helped prepare me with some questions if the company decides they are interested in interviewing. 

Mmmmmmmm

Today I am grateful for the delicious meal that I had waiting for me when I got home tonight. It was BBQ pulled pork with sauteed golden beet greens, roasted golden beets, and yummy apple sauce. BBQ is one of my comfort foods for certain, and for whatever reason, I find meals even more comforting when I haven't cooked them.

Looking forward to my lunch tomorrow!

Technology Tools

I can't believe that we have gone through our first grateful cycle! I have really enjoyed reading all of your daily gratitudes over the past six weeks. 

Today I am grateful for educational technology tools that allow me to build student specific math assistance. Over the past two weeks, I have been working to try to figure out a way to help one of my senior students re-learn the topics in the first three unit of her senior math class. She is currently failing, but her teacher and I agreed on a way for her to recover some credit. I would never be able to keep up with the demands of supporting students on such vastly different levels without the help of online programs that allow you to individualize subject specific videos and practice. Some of these programs also allow you to create discussions and give feedback on the assigned student work as well. 

For the senior student in question, I learned a new online tool called "Mybigcampus" that allows me to create classes and assignments. More importantly, it allows me to load videos from Khan Academy so that my students can watch and re-watch topics that they are struggling in. Khan Academy uses YouTube for its videos, and YouTube is blocked at school, so I had to figure out a way to overcome that issue. In addition to creating assignments, I can see her progress and keep data about her work Compiling data to show how you are addressing individual student needs is a must for teachers these days. 

Genius

Today's high is a whopping 12 degrees and tonight's low is -9. Why many of you may think this is terribly cold, this has been the norm for most of the past three months here in Michigan. This winter is abnormally cold with record breaking temperatures. I have seen a snow covered ground going on four months now and our back yard has at least a foot and a half of snow/ice that seems to never want to leave. While it is nearly impossible for me to get any exercise outside due to the ice and snow, I have still been able to go to my workout classes. My dog on the other hand, is not able to run around in the yard, go for walks, or go to the field to release some energy due to this iceland. She instead would be stuck inside only to go out when she needs to go potty and constantly at my side begging for me to play with her in an enclosed space much smaller than a yard or field. This is why I believe whoever thought of the wonderful idea of dog day care is a genius! Instead of keeping her cooped up all day, I can take her to a place where she can socialize with other pups and release all that built up energy. On days when I take her I usually drop her off on my way to work and pick her up on my way home. When we get home, she runs right to her food bowl, begs for me to feed her, eats, and then passes out. Doggie day care is not only good for her but it helps me relax knowing I will have a chance to unwind after a long day instead of chasing my dog around the house with her toys in hopes to wear her down before bed. While I greatly appreciate dog day care I would really prefer a snow/ice free field with bearable temperatures to run my dog in. Hurry up warm weather!

Solitude

Often throughout my day today I contiplated as to what my blog should be about. I am grateful for much throughout each day but was not at all sold on any of my ideas. Due to a stressful day at work, I decided to leave early. After arriving home and stepping into my house, it dawned on me...complete and utter silence. No sounds of the TV playing Sports Center, rattling of pots & pans as my husband makes dinner, and absolutely no voices...just complete and utter silence. As I made my way in the door I sat on my couch (pet Amber) and just sat there. I then realized that I could not recall the last time I heard the sound of absolutely nothing. I cannot recall the last time I was able to just sit in peace. After a few busy weeks of being nonstop on the go this feeling simply struck me as odd. Over the past few weeks my work days have consisted of me getting up at 6am, going to work, going to kickboxing after work, arriving home around 8pm (typically to my husband cooking dinner and Sports Center blasting on the television), taking a shower, then doing laundry (or what ever chores needed to be done), doing dishes after dinner, conversating with my husband about our day, and finally making it to bed around 11:00 every night. My weekends have been just as hectic with me having to work, chores, errands needing to be ran, but tonight... tonight was different. I did not go to kickboxing as I canceled early in the day due to not feeling well, left work early, and came home to my husband being out of town. As I sit here writing this blog in a world of silence, no distractions, no one to answer to, I appreciate this time alone. I do not get this opportunity often but I appreciate the solitude. When I finish this blog I will probably go pour myself a cocktail and do some laundry, maybe listen to some music but throughly enjoy the peace.

Post-it notes

My work day started just as any other... I arrive at the office, check my email, and then my voicemails. As I am checking my last message my supervising attorney comes to my desk and realized I was on the phone. He picked up my post-it note pad and began to write. As I hang up my phone he hands me the post-it and says "I mean it". I'm truely grateful to have such a great boss that appreciates and acknowledges the work I do. It is always good to know you are appreciated even if it is written on a post-it.

Call Me Crazy....

The morning commute.

I am thankful for my morning commute. Each day I go to work at an offensive hour, in doing so I don't have to fight any traffic and am only on the road with serious go-get 'em drivers. I don't run into the common a-hole riding in the left lane going 55 mph on 285 and there are hardly any big rigs.

This is only one of the many reasons while I've grown to enjoy my commute. In my profession there is no such thing as down time. None. Zilch. Zero. Even when I give an exam I'm running around like a headless chicken answering questions or easing concerns of sub-par grades.  The twenty to thirty minute commute gives me time for quiet reflection, time to myself, listen to my iPod, or talk radio; basically whatever I want.

I also use this time to figure out what the hell I'm doing with any given day when I've made lackluster lessons or what I thought would work doesn't. I'm sure there will be a time when I hope to work for a school right in my backyard or eventually move closer to my school, but for now this commute is just perfect for me. Becky swears given my both of my "serious" jobs have been in Dunwoody I'm destined to live there....I think not, we'll see. 

One.  More.  Day. 

Since we just experienced snowcation part two and I have not been back to work since last Monday I am anxious to get back into the swing of things.  I thoroughly enjoyed my snow days (Wednesday and Thursday) and am slightly peeved we didn’t have school Tuesday and Friday.  Too much idle time isn’t good for this busy bee, I accomplished nothing other than consuming too many libations, watching countless hours of the same (weather) news, and over 30 hours of House of Cards on Netflix(I’m late I just started season one in the past few days).  After all that being said; I am so thankful for my one more day off, Presidents day.  That gives me time to prepare for everything that I need to accomplish next week, a little more time for relaxation (as if I haven’t had enough), one more day to run outside in the sunlight vs. the gym and time to wrap my mind around the final stretch of the school year.  The next six weeks are the longest stretch of the school year without any three day weekends, whoa is me, these short rewards in small bursts always give me motivation and something to look forward to so wrapping my mind around 6 weeks of working 5 days a week is overwhelming, yet I will persevere spring break is just beyond the river bend and summer vacation is so close (provided we don’t have any more snow) I can practically smell the ocean and feel the sun on my face! 

I am also beyond thankful that I found my handy grade book.  I had a brief moment of panic when I thought it was missing.  I could only imagine having to dig up 90 fifth grader’s grades from the entire semester that have to be posted online by the end of the week!  SIGH of relief!

 

 

 

Vacay!!!

A little late on my last post for the week, but here we go! Tonight I am grateful for vacations.  In the morning I will be heading to Miami and then Mexico for a much needed mental break.  I am already trying to relax myself, as I can be a bit of a worrier.  Over the past few days, with Atlanta showing how infrastructurally fragile it can be, I have mulled over several crazy scenarios about what could go wrong on my trip. I had myself convinced that the earthquake in Augusta was a precursor to some catastrophic, metropolis-ending event that would forever separate me from my family and friends, I wondered if someone would steal my dog from daycare, I stupidly read a few recent news items about cruise ship disasters, and I (in reality) had my bank account frozen because of a Target debit card issue.  I have also been a bit worried about leaving my Dad behind because we haven't been apart since my Mom died, and I even had to leave all my electronics in Decatur because I live in a break-in-prone neighborhood. Despite all these ridiculous and irritating could-be and actual events, I have decided to let go and be thoroughly excited about rest, relaxation, and fun. I will send y'all some pictures, say a little prayer for the crew and captain before I leave, and be thankful for the ability to vacation. Blog away, Marian!

Rainbow of Delight

After having many weather-based days off in quiet reflection recently, I felt a little overwhelmed today when I had to be surrounded by other people (again, I swear I am not a misanthrope), traffic, noise, and children who hadn't been to school for far too long. Fortunately, I got to spend most of my day in Decatur, and that fabulous place eased my tension.  I ran into one of my dear friend's fathers (Pat Crenshaw), got an oil change, dropped Sugar Mama off at school, and was even able to drink several cups of iced coffee! While all of these activities were either enjoyable or necessary the best and most self-indulgent part of my day came when I treated myself to Valentine's lunch at Rainbow Grocery.  I have a supreme love for this organic food store, which doubles as a restaurant with excellent to-go and buffet options, and I eat food from there in my car at least twice weekly.  Today, however, I paid for my bean burritos, salad, and vegan carrot cake and sat down to a leisurely repast in their tiny, back-of-store dining room.  I was already having the time of my life when, lo and behold, my Dad walked in from the shoe store next door to refill his coffee (I guess the coffee gene runs in the family). I had a delightful time chatting with him on his break and was grateful to be in Decatur, to have a parent whom I love, and to be in a store that makes being healthy delicious. Happy Valentine's Day, friends!

Thank you, Al Gore...

Today I am grateful for the Internet.  Not only is this genius invention the sole reason we are all able to co-create a blog together, but it is also an extremely useful tool for accomplishing work, school, and entertainment tasks from the comfort of one's own pajamas. I have utilized the Internet in many useful capacities just today! I woke up this morning and checked on the Atlanta ice storm apocalypse that turned out not to be a big deal, tweeted for my internship, emailed my family members, and am now writing this blog post. By far the most convenient and time-consuming Internet activity in which I participated was creating a group presentation for school without leaving my home. I researched, created drafts, contacted my team members, and revised all afternoon without having to visit someone's smelly apartment or make small talk with anyone's irritating boyfriend. While I wish I had just been playing in the snow, I was so thankful to be off the roads and in my living room for all these magical Internet missions!

Home

For five years as a teenager and two years as an adult I spent a week each summer making homes "warmer, safer, and drier" for low income families in the Appalachian Mountains. The people were always kind, if a little down on their luck, and the houses were inadequate. Compared to my comfy Decatur abode with the nuclear family in tact, these broken homes were often depressing, and I was confused my these families' good nature during my first trip; however, I soon realized that home is truly where the heart is. Today I sit in a medium sized, warm house typing, watching movies, and drinking coffee (of course), and I am again feeling empathy for the less fortunate. I daily pass a tent village on the side of 75/85 in downtown Atlanta: on a warm day the village looks almost cozy and I am happy that these particular homeless people seem to have a sense of camaraderie; however, when icy, cold, or rainy conditions arise, I cannot help but feel extremely compassionate for their lives without homes and extremely grateful for all the shelter I have had in mine. Glad all my friends are warm, safe, and dry today!  

Coffee, coffee, everywhere and not a drop to drink.

I'm a fan of coffee.  I'll drink it most ways as long as it's not McDonald's, Dunkin' Donuts, or Quik Trip brand, but I generally buy it iced from Starbucks, Dancing Goats, Java Monkey, or Revolution Doughnuts and add a shot of espresso and very, very light cream or almond milk. I put absolutely no sweetener in my drink of choice, because that addition would detract from the flavor of fully roasted goodness. Being an avid and dedicated coffee drinker may not be surprising, but what may set me apart from the crowd is how far I will go for coffee when I'm out of beans and there is an impending ice storm. I went to the Farmer's Market to eat lunch and grab some organic bread and chocolate before I was snowed in again, and, while its aisles were congested, I am used to a throng of exuberant shoppers there, so I plowed on and purchased my items.  Because of my previously mentioned affinity for Starbucks coffee, I decided I should also stop by Kroger for my afternoon fix and a bag to take home; however, I was greeted by a line that wrapped around all the way around the frozen food section and to the back of the store, ending basically a half a mile from the checkout lanes. Needless to say, I dropped by basket and went on my merry way.  I was thinking I had enough grounds at home to make one more pot of coffee, and I would just savor it and be okay.  WRONG! After a long evening carting adolescents and navigating the formidable streets of Atlanta during rush hour, I picked up my dog from daycare and drove the twenty minutes home only to find that I had about one teaspoon of coffee left over in my freezer.  This would obviously not do, so I packed up my wallet and drove about a mile to the Kroger on Metropolitan Parkway.  On a good day, this store is sleepy and filled with Ramen Noodles and Tahitian Treat but has a great organic section and Starbucks coffee, generally on sale. Last night the store was so packed I could hardly walk through the aisles sans cart, and I was bumped and pushed repeatedly within the first five seconds. The lines were snaked behind every register and led down each aisle to the back of the store: much worse that the afternoon Kroger trip. I  quickly grabbed my Espresso Roast and prepared to survive a 45-minute line behind families buying gobs of genetically-modified Frankenfood. Oodles of self control was exerted when a woman rung up $400 worth of groceries and had to put them back because she forgot her debit card pin. A cashier had to leave her line to take a bathroom break which nearly incited a riot, but I left the store surprisingly unscathed and surprised at how many shenanigans I will tolerate to drink a cup of coffee in the morning. Despite the drama of procuring my bag of coffee I was grateful to wake up this morning in my warm house and make a balanced breakfast, with coffee as the anchor.  Cheers!

 

Saved by the "bull"

A good friend once semi-facetiously told me, "congratulations for letting sunshine and puppies into your life!" While this may make me seem like a wholehearted miser I swear I'm just a little cynical and set in my ways. I admit, there was a time when I hated the beach and I time when puppies disgusted and frightened me.  The beach is still a little too hot and sandy for my comfort, but I have recently become the most dog-tolerant and one of the most dog-loving people on the planet. I happily wear spiky, white hairs on all of my mostly-black clothing, I frequently welcome a 60-pound, furry creature into my bed, and I regularly speak in baby talk to animals of all sorts! I found Sugar Mama on the side of the road one month after my brother died and a few months before one of the worst imaginable relationships ended, a time when I really needed something to love.  In learning to take care of Mama, I learned to take care of myself again, and while having a feisty, enormous, pit-bully dog is a huge responsibility and chore, I am grateful everyday that I can see her happy face and be reminded of how far I have come.

If you'd like to watch her at daycare before 6:30, here you go!

How "The Help" Helped Me

I have a little cold and had a very rough week with attempted dog attacks and car thefts, so I decided to watch one of my go-to, feel-good movies last night: "The Help." Each time I see Skeeter's radical ways, Hilly's spite, Abilene's stoic resilience, and all the Southern charm and turmoil of 1960s Jackson, Mississippi I know I've chosen the right time occupant for the next two hours. During this viewing I paid close attention to the relationship between Skeeter and her mother, Charlotte. Having recently lost a wonderful mother, I was more angered than usual by Charlotte's antagonizing of her daughter's social choices, supposed sexual preferences, and career objectives. I kept thinking how grateful I was to have such a wonderful Mom for thirty years.  She would never have criticized me for being too liberal, she always gave me gentle and timely advice, and every day of my life until last November she told me I was "lovable and capable." While my Mom was 100 percent my biggest fan there were days when I rejected that support, and there were years when we fought, a lot. Sometime I rolled my eyes at the triteness of her catch phrase, and some days I simply told her she was lovable and capable too. Towards the end of the movie last night I found myself wiping away more than a few tears when Charlotte says to Skeeter that she's never been more proud of her, she wishes her well in New York with her new career, and thanks her for bringing courage back to their family. I missed my Mom terribly, and I was touched by how strong the bond between mother and daughter can be. Despite the discrepancies between the two women throughout the film Skeeter forgave her mom. That's the great thing about mothers and daughters: they can always reconcile and their love is unshakable.  Even though my Mom is gone from this world her repeated support and love are almost enough to "help" me through hard weeks and tough situations, or even sappy movies.      

snowpocalypse 2014

I was pondering what I am grateful for, and my list is very long. So, first I am grateful for being so grateful and having a life that creates a long grateful list.

But I wanted my first post to be a timely post about something that has recently happen. And the first thing that popped into my mind was Atlanta Snowpocalypse 2014. Which brings me to the grateful part.

I am grateful that I have a job that allows me to make adult decisions leaving work early or working from home. I've had jobs in the past that are so serious about the 9-5 work hours, that if the Snowpocalypse happened while I was there, they would not  have let anyone leave early. My current job allowed us to make our own choice about when to leave, and I am 100% positive that if I had left work even 1 hour later than I did, I would have been caught in that horrible, horrible traffic.

And, I am grateful to have cable and internet. If I didn't have the internet, then working from home would be impossible. And if I didn't have cable than working from home would be incredibly boring.

I am also grateful that I live in a place that is walking distance to restaurants and shops. Seriously, our food stash was in a sad state. If we didn't live near a market or a pub, we would have been eating frozen berries and rice for 2.5 days.

Which leads me to being extremely grateful to have a roof over my head. Side story - we had Book of Mormon tickets for the same evening of the Snowpocalypse. We decided to brave the weather, since we live about 1 mile from a Marta station. Getting to the Fox was super easy. BUT they cancelled the show after we got there! Sad face. So, we proceeded to take Marta back. Marta was a bit majorly delayed at the Five Points stop. We waited for a train for about 30 minutes. In that time, everyone started to get really, really cold. And it wasn't like the temperature was super low, BUT standing outside with no heat for an extended period made it really cold. To the point where my toes were literally numb. I was so uncomfortable, I wanted to cry and complain the whole time. What stopped me was the realization that many people have no way to escape the cold. And this was only 30 minutes for me! Imagine nights filled with such cold. It made me sad. So, in conclusion, I am grateful to be in the position to know that I will always have a roof over my head, heat, and food. Oh and the internet and cable. And a job.

xoxo.

Visit with Mom

My mom is on town after a year and a half hiatus from visiting. I'm looking forward to spending some quality time together!

Snow Day Part Deux

Snow days always make me relive my childhood - no school, hot chocolate, sleeping in (except hot chocolate is replaced with wine in the adult snow day).

You may have heard about the SuperBowl commercial that will reunite Danny Tanner, Joey and Uncle Jesse from Full House. Apparently the three amigos are doing a full- out press tour to promote the ad. I'm particularly thankful for this reunion that happened on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - Full House Guys Reunion

Enjoy your snow day!

SNOW DAY!!!!!

Today, I'm thankful for a snow day!!! I've been nursing an intense wine headache and generally lounging, catching up on Downton Abbey episodes. It's been glorious!

I'm even more grateful that I made it home safely (in a speedy 4 hours).  I'm so happy that my friends in the city were safe and had shelter for the night if they didn't make it home. 

Enjoy the snow day! I'm back to Downton!

Orange Slices = Love?

This morning I was slicing a navel orange to eat for breakfast at work.  I love oranges - the sweet-sour citrus flavor coupled with the juiciness of the fruit makes them one of my favorite things.  The best navel oranges are available in the winter.  Although winter is probably one of my least favorite things, fresh and delicious oranges can provide a bright spot on a bleak wintry day like today. 

When I was growing up, the best fruit oranges came direct from Florida.  If you were lucky, a traveling friend or relative could bring you some Florida oranges direct from the grove.  As a secondary option, we could purchase oranges and grapefruit from the Indian River Fruit Company.  Of course, oranges are normally available at the grocery store, but oranges brought or shipped to us direct from Florida were always superior.  

My grandmother, whom I will refer to as "Nanny" for the rest of the entry, loves oranges as much or more than I do.  When I was a child, there was nothing better than spending the night with Nanny and Pa.  Not only did I have a huge, fluffy bed with a canopy (pretty much the ultimate for an 8-year old) to sleep in, there was always a special breakfast.  I wasn't left to fix my own cold cereal or oatmeal at Nanny's - no siree, Bob!  At Nanny's it was always French toast.  Slabs of bread (if you were lucky, homemade sourdough) dredged in egg, sugar and cinnamon then cooked to perfection and served with butter and maple syrup.  Nanny, a former home economics teacher, is obsessed with nutrition and makes it her business to ensure everyone gets their recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables (this is a woman, who at 82, has a better bone density than most 35-year olds, so it really has paid off). So, this delicious French toast was often served with a fresh orange.  

If you have ever eaten an orange, you know that everyone like theirs sliced differently.  My mother always sliced oranges in quarters, my father always sliced his in "pinwheel" slices, and Nanny always cut hers in eighths, often cutting off the edge if there was a lot of membrane.  THIS IS MY FAVORITE WAY TO CUT AN ORANGE.  It is the way, in my book, they taste the best.  After an overnight adventure at Nanny's, I would return home and request that my parents cut their oranges like Nanny's.  Of course, they rolled their eyes and cut the oranges how they wanted to cut them.  I firmly believe if they would have cut their oranges like Nanny cuts hers, they probably would have enjoyed their oranges much more.  

When I became old enough to wield a sharp knife and cut my own oranges, I exclusively follow Nanny's technique.  This morning as I was slicing my orange, I couldn't help but think of Nanny and her French toast breakfasts accompanied by exquisitely cut oranges.  To many people, food is love - it has always been Nanny's particular brand of love.  From breakfast foods to chicken and dumplings and from green beans to chocolate cake, Nanny stirs, kneads, snaps and mixes every dish she creates with a tremendous amount of tenderness and sentiment.  And it shows - Nanny's orange slices always tast better than anyone else's (even the ones I cut myself), the savoriness of her green beans can't be matched and don't even get me started on her cornbread dressing.  I (as well as my mother and sister) have tried to recreate many of Nanny's dishes, and while they are tasty, they never quite taste the same.  The missing ingredient won't ever be found or replicated - because it is Nanny's love.  And they don't sell that at Trader Joe's.  

From left to right:  My mom, Edna, me, Nanny, and my sister, Sara