More Vacay Pics (Because It's Been Like 3 Seconds Since the Last Round)

The Real Reason I Like Tutoring

OK, let's be honest.  My students are adorbs and I like helping them and making a difference in their lives, blah blah, but the real reason I like tutoring is all those pets!  To love on!  You know what they say - what you don't get at home, you will seek elsewhere.  I've tried telling Lucy this but she actually prefers it this way.

Then yesterday, there was this.

One of my new students has four hairless cats.  After I got over the...surprise of it, I immediately thought of two peeps I had to text (you know who you are).  One hates cats and the other adores them, and I was equally looking forward to both their reactions.  I wasn't disappointed.  It was my stress relief for the day.

G says they look like the stuff of nightmares.  But here's the kicker: they are the lovey dovey-est little things ever.  I plan to pet them during each and every break we have.  And although their skin feels too loose and they're as hot as baked potatoes and a little fur would go a long way...I like them!  That's how deprived I am of pet lovin's. 

I figured that would put it in perspective for you.

They look crotchety but are really sweet.

Meanwhile this one looks sweet but is really crotchety.

 

Life's not fair.

Paralysis

This is basically what I feel like doing at all times.

Not only am I trying to finish up my final project by this weekend - and by "finish up" I mean procrastinate for hours at a time and then freak out and down half a bottle of wine and work for hours at a time.  Repeat. - but I got a few emails yesterday about lesson plans and themes and additional readings expected for my fall class at a TA Orientation coming up soon.  I scrolled through the emails, then put my phone down and stared into space forever.  Deep in my heart, I know I can do this, but I also know it won't be easy, and the anxiety is taking over.

God bless Panera and their iced cookies.

I have to say, though, that the tutoring is going really well.  Really, really, well.  If you ever want to sit and chat about grammar or literature or writing or typing or study skills, give me a call!  I'll give you the Friends & Family Discount.

I rolled around on the living room floor last night (procrastination) trying to get an action shot of Lucifer.  This is all I got.  Yes, her rump is that large.

And I planned a Ladies' Happy Hour at my house shortly before classes start and I lose the rest of my mind.  Those of you reading from far away - I wish you could come!!!

Ok, time to down the rest of my coffee and go for a run (yes, you read that right) before tutoring for the rest of the day.  For some odd reason, ever since Croatia, none of my clothes fit...?

When All Else Fails, Blog About Books

I'm not going to lie or sugarcoat.  I'm having a really hard time sticking it out this last week of class.  I'm working on a project that is never-ending and is worth almost as many points - by itself - as all the work, combined, that I have done this summer.

So, no pressure or anything.

I am at the end of my rope and don't have two brain cells to whack together.  I am also not encouraged by the "helpful" comments my prof is making on my work thus far.  Why must work only lead to more work?  Why can't someone virtually pat me on the back and send me some wine?  Me thinks I'm more of a perfectionist than I give myself credit for.  But me also thinks the energy cup is empty.  Me thinks I'm in trouble, procrastinating too much, and it's making me...unpleasant to be around.  Me thinks I might be too old for school.

G escaped to the game store today and I'm not entirely sure he'll ever come back.

To be clear, this is a first world problem, and not even a very serious one.  Two good friends of mine just had babies and are up to their ears in child rearing.  Another friend - and I'm not exaggerating here - has a hole in her back.  A hole!  It's healing but um, it's a hole.  Another friend is struggling with the death of her grandfather, right around the time mine died as well, and must repeatedly come to terms with this void in her life.  We talk about this and get teary and it makes me feel not as alone in my grief that sometimes dulls but never actually goes away.  And let's not forget a friend who's forging a new life in a foreign country, young kids in tow, and managing not to kill anyone or flee back to the U.S. (yet).

So, at the end of the day, what's a little homework stress?

Exhibit A: Me before a double shot of tequila

Exhibit B: B afterwards

(To be clear, I sip, I don't shoot it.  Although the prospect is tempting at times.)

So let's do another book review, shall we?

Bossypants by Tina Fey

About 1,000,000 people have told me that this is a must-read, and they were right!  Fey jumps around a bit from some of her experiences growing up, to getting her comedic path figured out after college, to being a minority (female) in a man's world of comedy.  The book gets off to a slow start and I was nervous about that since, besides homework (blechhhhhhh) it was the only book I had in my backpack during the first part of our trip.  But!  It got really entertaining really fast and before I knew it I was snorting guffawing in the Munich airport and G was moving to another seat so people wouldn't think we were together.

You have to read this one.  You just have to.  It's easy to pick up and put down whenevs, it has a good and healthy perspective about life and how to balance problems and opportunities, and I really hope Fey writes another one.  (Side note: Amy Poehler's new book is out).

Enjoy!

TGIF, people!

(They're not ours.)

(I didn't think there would be any confusion about that.  But G thought I should specify.)

Ready for some Random?

It has come to this.  Pictures of my bathroom trashcan on my blog.  But it's a heart!  And I thought it was cool.

* I have scheduled, designated office hours at the university for the fall.  If anyone needs me, I'll be in the corner breathing into a paper bag.

* We have been back from vacation for a week and a half.  How is this possible?  Where is my gelato?  And my rooftop terrace?  I need to lounge by the Adriatic for a while and ponder this.

* On the other hand, I am in my final week and a half of summer class.  Halle-frikkin-lujah for that, is all I'm sayin'.  The good news is that I'm done with papers!  The bad news is that I'm working on a final curriculum project that is about to do me in.  I have something due every day.  Remember how demoralizing it was in school, when you finished a huge paper or final, only to immediately start on the next one?  That is my daily life.

Doing homework in the airport.  On vacation.  Cue the violins.

* I have developed a heat rash and stress blisters (that's a thing).  It's very random and extremely annoying.  It's also killing any possible thought of working out.  Sweating?  With a heat rash?  Are you insane??

* My summer student count has gone up.  I'm thankful for the "good" stress.  My new attitude these days (Lord, I hope it's here to stay) is to have some perspective and be thankful for good problems.  Good stress is still stress, and I'm feeling it, but I'm all about the mind over matter.

* And I'm all about the white wine in the fridge. #copingmechanism

* We have been in the "new" Denver house for a whole year!  Can you believe it?

 * We are starting to gear up to sell our VA house next year.  So, if you're sitting on your couch with a cup of coffee, mulling over what to pray for?  Pray for that!

 * Would anyone like a complimentary rabbit?  Free shipping to a good any home!

Must apply Benadryl to the heat rash and get crackin' on my homework.  Never a dull moment over here.

The Son of God, In My Opinion

Have you ever seen the episodes of The Good Wife when the lawyers get the "In My Opinion" judge?

Source

They are hysterical.  No matter what the lawyers present or how they present it, she always asks snootily, "Is that...your opinion?" and they have to stop in their tracks, lose all their momentum, and mumble, "Yes, your honor.  That's...my opinion."

So let me tell you about the latest Jesus movie.  In my opinion.

The Son of God

I should let you know what, as a Christian, drives me crazy about Christian movies: they make each and every scene so heartfelt.  The Velveeta flows out of the screen regardless of whether Jesus is healing someone, rebuking someone, turning over the tables in the temple...it's like everyone goes too far in trying to imbue everything with so much passion and meaning.  Jesus was a person.  He interacted with other people.  Truthfully?  I don't think the day-to-day business was that remarkable.  It was probably normal.  Maybe even boring at times.  Because that's human life.

But I also think Jesus was all kinds of fun to hang around because he attracted the sinners.  The fun was not with the religious folk then, and a lot of times, it's not now either.  I don't think he attracted the full attention of prostitutes and tax collectors and liars and thieves by being cheesy and heartfelt.  He was loving, sure, and he performed miracles.  But I'm sure what tugged on their little sinner heartstrings was that he treated them with dignity.  He dealt with their flaws and let them see his frustration, and in the end, his fear, and in the very end, his submission, and in the new beginning, his Godliness.

And that didn't make them cheesy, either.  It made them powerful.

So why portray him this way on film?  Grrrr.  Son of God is a pretty good movie, and I'll tell you the actor who did the best job: the guy who plays Pilate.

Pilate

I like how Pilate is portrayed in the different gospels.  Sometimes he strikes me as brutal and political, other times, as confused and weak-minded, a puppet.  In this movie, though, he is fed up.  He is done with the Jews and their squabbles and really just wants to wash his hands of them.  He doesn't care about Jesus enough to kill him, and is somewhat affected by his wife who has had a telling dream that he kills an innocent man, a good man.  You can see in his every movement, without a hint of humor or overacting, just how done he is with these people.  

Pilate's reactions, and the occasional snarky-ness of Jesus, was worth watching.  The effects of the movie are well done and the acting is, too.  Just be ready for the cheese.

A Good One From the Summer Reading List

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver

Ok, peeps, I really recommend this one.  Kingsolver is one of my fave authors, ever, and I love the balance she achieves in this book.  Dellarobia Turnbow, a twenty-something native of Appalachia, wife, and mother of two, decides she just might ruin her life.  As she heads up into the mountains behind her small house, she sees what she believes is an enormous lake of fire in the trees.

And then everything changes.

The book presents all different views of climate change, and an entertaining and thought-provoking array of characters.  I was about one hour into a transatlantic flight when I realized the book was going to be (intensely) about climate change and began to second guess my vacation reading skillz.  But the book is very entertaining and, more importantly, isn't preachy.  This is a biggie.  Most of us agree that climate change is bad and we want to leave this world a better place than we found it, but no one wants their life under a microscope.  Kingsolver bounces the issue back and forth across the net in a really intriguing way.  And she ties in struggles with family, identity, and our own hopes for the future.

This one is going back on the shelf for a future read.  Try it!

I've Replaced the Antlers

Some of you will be happy to know (cough A-peep cough) that I have now replaced the antler candle holder in the library.

It's a Croatian vase but I call it my "Ode on a Grecian Urn" because I'm an English major and am allowed to let it out and be all nerdy every now and again.  Keats gets it.  It's all good.

This thing is made from Istrian rock (even the rose) and is as heavy as a small child.  Of course, I found it during a day trip to another island, so we got the added pleasure of carting it around with us for a while.  Other than walking and eating like a Sumo wrestler, this weight training was my only form of exercise, so perhaps I shouldn't complain.

The antlers haven't gone far, though.  They are currently sitting on my dining room table awaiting their transfer.  I have been preoccupied writing TWO PAPERS and haven't been able to think much about house decorations.  School continually cramps my style.

Lucy also cramps my style.  We have once again started up our Bunny Youth Propaganda Program in which we love on her every day in her cage to remind her that we are not, in fact, going to throw her to the wolves and perhaps she should give peace a chance and love on her dear parents.  She begrudgingly takes it.  She has a new buddy.  We tell her she's such a snot that we have to buy her friends.

The color patterns are not accidental.

I have been stressing out so badly about all these papers and the nonstop reading that I have forced myself to take 2-hour breaks every day to watch a movie.  I'm not kidding.  I now have three movies I want to tell you about.

Blurry pic of wine in one of my new Venetian glasses!

I need to start up the exercise again.  I was such a pro right before we left and now the thought of moving rapidly to break a sweat sends me running for the wine bottle.

Is it really almost August?  Because life as I know it really starts to change in August and me thinks I'm not quite ready.

TGIF, people!

Sometimes you just need a cigarette.

Gladiator

I want to tell you more about Pula (POOH luh), especially the Colosseum, because it was unlike anything I have ever seen before.

And also because it fulfilled G's lifelong dream of being a gladiator (Russell Crowe).

As I was roaming around the outside ring of the amphitheater, looking at the steps that went down to the tunnels underneath, I would turn around and see this.

And this.

If I made the slightest comment about being a teensy bit hot, or hungry, he would turn to me and in a cold, harsh voice, say, "Are you NOT entertained?????"

**sigh**

Then this happened.

I didn't even see it coming.  I was running my hand over the columns and the next thing I knew, G was dragging me along with one arm, and digging into his pocket for some money with the other.  Then there were guys in fake armor and someone handed me a sword.  That's all I remember.

I wouldn't make a very good gladiator.  G, on the other hand, was in some kind of Hollywood/video game Heaven.

Then we took an open-top bus tour of the city.  As I looked out at the scenery, I occasionally heard G mumble things like, "Proximo.  Are you in danger of becoming a good man?" 

I just ignored him.

Good Enough to Eat

While we were high-tailing it through Venice for those 6 hours, we passed a candy shop.  Their stuff was so beautiful I just had to stop and take pictures while we caught our breath.

Just look at the eye candy!  I thought this marzipan display was lovely.

See the pile of watermelon in he back?  It's so colorful.

Octopi!

Don't these look like real oranges?

Look at the mussels!

Why I Gained 55 Pounds on Vacay

The food basically rocked, peeps.

I pretty much expected the bread in Croatia - like in other parts of Europe - to be out of this world.  And I was right.  We all know they nail the espresso and the gelato.  I have to say that there were no big surprises, food-wise, except there were a lot more fruits and vegetables than I expected.  Which is probably the only thing that kept my heart beating amidst the butter infusion in my diet.

Feast your eyes!