The Story of My Life

Mental Break ( + Book)

I've been stomping around the house this morning, griping at G and Lucyfer about having to jump back into the fray today. I really needed Spring Break to be more of a "break" than it was. A lot of work came in for the side job, which ended up taking about 2 whole days. I managed to grade projects for one of my classes (2 more days) but not the other, so now despite all my hard work, I still feel under-prepared for the week.

I hate being Type A.

The good news is that I have a draft of the Virginia Woolf syllabus for my independent study in the fall and I meet with the prof about it this afternoon!

The good news is that Lucyfer is 100% back to normal. No more tum tum issues!

The good news is that although I'm in over my head this semester, I only have to cling to the flotation device for 5 more weeks.

How was Easter? When we lived in VA, we would visit an extended branch of the family and spend the day together. G's parents still go, and I miss it a lot. This part of the fam is eccentric and fabulous. My favorite part of the Easter festivities was the lamb cake. My MIL made sure to send me a full account yesterday:

Step One: The Wet Dog Look

Step Two: Determine that the dog is a Chihuahua. Add Snickers eggs.

Step Three: Voila! I have no idea what this cake has to do with the resurrection or anything but it's the best.

I did manage to read for fun, though. Priorities. This latest book was a treat to read. I highly recommend it and also recommend that you watch the movie, "Julie and Julia."

My Life in France by Julia Child

With the help of her nephew, Julia recounts the years that she and her husband lived in France (and also other parts of Europe) while he worked for the government. She paints such a beautiful picture of the culture and the food and their daily lives, and what she calls "the generous pace of life" in France. It's enough to make you want to move there immediately. Or at least open a bottle of wine and dig into a rotisserie chicken or something.

Julia's zest for life and passionate enthusiasm for food, travel, and adventure are precious and contagious. I appreciate her tenacity. I appreciate that she found her life's passion relatively "late" - in her thirties. I appreciate that she didn't let difficulties affect her humor; she was able to take them in stride and still be her authentic self. She valued learning and never accepted that to be an expert meant there was nothing left to discover. She appreciated the differences in people (and in cultures). And man did she love food. I think I gained ten pounds just reading about it.

And with that, I must feed Loo Loo Bell and make myself put down the coffee and get ready for the day. <colossal sigh>

TGIF people!

Two at a Time

Can I just take a moment to say how utterly and completely disappointed I am that tomorrow is the Friday of Spring Break? How could it almost be over? How could I have spent so much time grading and still have so much left to do?

Two at a time, is how I have graded projects since 7:00 this morning. Most of the time, standing up either with this view:

 Or with this view:

See the furry lil photo bomb?

I'm taking a page from G's book and trying to stand more. It's short lived. When school starts up next week, I'll be a sitting machine until May. But that's OK because next semester will be different.

In between grading the sets of two-projects-at-a-time I've been doing productive things like washing the dust off my plastic house plants, doing endless loads of laundry, watching the 10+ inches of snow melt, trying to drink more water, ordering new silverware and a new bookshelf online, reading (for fun! But briefly!) and monitoring my lil teaching assistant.

She's doing so much better, by the way.

I think it's because she has reinforcements:

I gotta say, I'm usually all about Fridays. But not tomorrow.

Not tomorrow.

Spring Storm

Look who's home sweet home! She's frisky and feeling fine. Just to "keep things moving" (in her tummy) we have to give her pain meds and "force feed" her some critical care every few hours. And by "we," I mean, "G" has to do that while Loo Loo Bell and I both freak out in our own ways.

But, she's good! We're good! All is well in dawrighthouse!

A bun by street light. She hearts car rides.

It was in the seventies yesterday. So warm that I opened up the doors and windows. I snapped this while taking a walk around the neighborhood.

And today there was a blizzard. As in, highways closed. As in, cars spun out all over the roads. As in, white out conditions.

Life in Denver.

This was my "view" while grading:

Speaking of grading, that's how I've spent several hours today. Not for my classes, but for the side job. I'm officially over it. Every morning when I wake up, my brain launches into work mode and I have to spend like an hour talking myself down and reminding myself that I don't have to be anywhere. That I can make coffee and leisurely set about my day.

And now I get to do all of that with this one. So happy.

Lucy's Parents (+ Book)

Lucy is still in the animal hospital. We loved her up after I got back to Denver last night. I went to see her this morning and she was doing great. However, it depends on how her x-rays go today, as well as blood tests and her overall behavior. Maybe she'll come home today. Maybe not.

We know the schedules of all the vets. Such an awful thing to know. I much prefer to go about my life and never think about the vets or their rotations.

I would love to say that we're resting in God's grace and goodness. I'd love to say that we're radiating peace and joy.

We're not.

This is how G and I handle rabbit stress.

Source

 As productive as it would be to catch up on grading right now, it's all about diversion. Since GIRLZ WEEKEND is behind me, I have no choice but to dive head-first into books. I read this one over the weekend and recommend it:

The Sharper Your Knife, The Less You Cry by Kathleen Flinn

A few years ago, journalist and program manager Kathleen Flinn returned from a vacation to find herself laid off before she even left the airport. She decided to take a big risk. She stepped out of the rat race, withdrew her savings, moved to Paris, and enrolled in Le Cordon Bleu (arguably the world's most famous and historic cooking school). Each chapter ties life experiences (or lessons) in with cooking school lessons, and finishes with a recipe. This was such a good vacation book to read. I'll keep this one and I hope to even try some of the recipes (in the summer, of course. My days of freedom are so numbered right now.)

In some ways, this is my favorite type of book to read for fun. I enjoy reading about people stepping out of their "normal" lives and carving a brand new, often scary, path. I have always found these books fascinating and motivating. We live in a unique time and country; many of us really do have the possibility and/or opportunity to redefine ourselves and change our lives if we are willing to just do it.

She has at least one other book published; it focuses on cooking (in the regular kitchen, not gourmet style) without incorporating processed foods.

I'll sip on my large Sonic DDP and think about it. :)

Not Even a Little

And just like that, I'm waiting at the airport. I'm thinking about all the times, over all the years, that I have waited for one flight or another at either of the Washington airports. The answer: a lot.

On the way to the airport, A-peep jokingly asked if I miss Northern VA (she knows the answer).

Not even a little.

It was a good season while it lasted, but give me a snowy spring in Denver any day.

Speaking of home, this one has been in and out of the vet's office the past few days. <insert emoji eye roll here. Also emoji of girl holding her temples and stressing out.>

Remember how things move very quickly with bunnies? So quickly, that often by the time we even realize she's acting different, she's already pretty "sick"? Well, we and the vet think she has GI stasis, which basically means that her tummy is slowing down. She could have something stuck in it (very unlikely in her case) or it could just have slowed down for some mysterious reason (more likely in her case) and it makes her uncomfortable. Her already-large tum tum gets even larger and she gets uncomfortable.

As soon as G dropped me off at the airport on Friday morning, he took her to the vet, and she's been there, off and on, ever since. She's doing much better but we don't have the all-clear to take her home yet. We're hoping to go get her after I land so that she and I can enjoy Spring Break together. I had planned to split my grading with her.

Cross your fingers.

She hates the vets and the techs, but don't worry. She's not alone.  She has her main squeeze.

As for me, I'm kicking back in the airport, enjoying an adult beverage (or three), people watching, and reading for fun. For fun.

And replaying fun memories from the weekend.

Real talent.

Veggie kim chi! YUM.

Back to reading.

Quiet

Just two introverts, hanging out.

No need for words.

Day 1: Minimalist Packing

Hello from GIRLZ WEEKEND!

If we were any more militant in personality, I'd have to spell it as GRRRRLZ WEEKEND, but alas, we are a couple of lazy pookies these days.

The thought of this long weekend has been keeping me going for...about 3 months now. In order to make the 7 a.m. flight, my driver and I had to leave the house at 4:00. A.M. G loved it.  For the first time ever in my life, I decided not to pack anything so I wouldn't have to check a bag and then wait for a thousand years at baggage claim.

So, I present to you the one bag that holds four day's worth of stuff in it. And by that I mean, my laptop (priorities), some magazines and books, my pj's, and underwear. I'm relying on A-peep to provide all hygienic items unless she wants me to not shower or brush my teeth for several days. See the outfit I'm wearing in that top picture? Well, get used to it! That's all I got!

They had to de-ice the plane for about 15 minutes before we took off. That was super fun. I just go to my mental travel happy place.

Yesterday (Day 1) included a lot of talking and a lot of food. We had a lot to celebrate (one thing being we both sold houses recently, hallelujah and thank you Lord of Heaven) and fondue was basically the only thing that would suffice. Obvs.

Ok, kill me now. Dark chocolate mixed with white chocolate? That is indeed the yin and yang that balances the universe. There's some kind of spiritual truth to that and also I consider it training and research for the Japan trip. I am nothing if not studious.

Also? I slept for about 12 hours last night. The only place I am ever able to do that is A-peep's house. It's like my body readjusts or something.

Or it's a colossal food coma.

TGIF people!

Surly Photo Shoot

Do you want to see the most precious thing ever?

Look!

Loo Loo Bean hangs out on the hearth and watches TV at night. And usually I'll love her up right before I go to bed (you know, at like 8:00 p.m.). We have all gotten so used to this lovey routine that I've totally forgotten to capture it on film!

She's not exactly nice, but boy has she come a long way. She no longer runs away from us. I took this picture while I sat next to her. She is finally comfortable sharing a space with mom and dad.

 
Best night time routine in the world.

A Two-Fer!

Well, well, well. Blogging two days in a row. What is the world coming to?

Also, there's this.

Spring is the best. Even though it will continue to snow until June. Even though technically Fall is the best season ever in the world.

My students turn in major projects today and tomorrow, so as a compromise (i.e. to keep them from completely and totally wishing a brutal death upon me) I cancelled their classes today and tomorrow. Needy students and their needy needs.

Little do they know that the teacher benefits from a cancelled class as well. I slept in until the sinful hour of 7:30 and caught up on grading (and endless cups of coffee...and endless loads of laundry) for hours until I had to go to work. I'm at home so little during the week that it felt downright illicit. Even though I was being productive.

It's been so long since I've blogged on a regular basis that I have been completely (culinarily) remiss. A few weeks ago I went to the best brunch ever. This is biscuit french toast. Biscuit. French. Toast. With honey butter and syrup.

A little preview of Heaven. Right here.

Served with a side of fried chicken. A. Side. Of. Fried. Chicken. Does it get any better than this? No, it does not.

On our date night to celebrate our upcoming trip to Japan, this was my dinner. Cheesy grits and shrimp. With sauteed veggies and garlic toast wedges.

You are welcome for those beautiful images. Two days and counting until Spring Break.

Changes, Big and Small

I think about the blog a lot, but somehow I just can't seem to write much these days. That will soon change. I want to write more because this is a kooky, creative outlet for me, but also it's one of the ways I keep up with my peeps. I follow your blogs, you follow mine, everyone knows what everyone else is up to since we're spread across the globe. I bug each and every one of you when you lapse in posts, and here I am totally neglecting the virtual world.

It beez what it beez.

I want to lay around like this all day.

We are mid-semester and life has officially become too hectic. I've spent much of the last few weeks thinking about the future and deciding how to change things moving forward. My professional/academic life is great, but I'm spread too thin. It's especially rough this semester because the one class I'm taking (dang you, critical theory) is so complex and boring and stressful and relevant all at the same time. It's sucking the life out of me and I cannot wait to read actual literature again.

On the plus side, I haven't had to rewrite a paper in weeks! AND, my prof loved my latest paper and called it "wonderful." I have basically been floating around campus every since.

We had to make a whirlwind trip to Arkansas over the weekend for a funeral. While that was sad, it was a great time with family and we were able to sit and make plans with several cousins who want to visit us this summer. I had been contemplating not working at the writing consultant job over the summer, and these discussions sealed the deal for me. Lots more involved in that decision, but suffice it say I'll have a couple of months off this summer! Yard work, here we come!

Spring has arrived in the south.

Instead of boarding Loo Loo Bell, we took her with us. It was the longest road trip she's made so far and she handled it like a trooper. She may not like bipeds or festive decorations, but that bun bun loves riding in the car. Here's a shot of her hanging out in our hotel room.

Yes, she really is that fat and fluffy.

In other news, guess who is teaching two sections of a brand new (to me) course next semester?? I'm officially moving on to Comp II in order to get a few semesters of teaching that course under my belt. I'm moving on up in the world (which is to say I'm no longer at the wee bottom).

I've had convos with a couple of my key profs lately to talk about my career plans, and I'm feeling good. Which is another reason why I've decided to cut myself some slack and pull back on my writing consultant hours in the future. I still love that job and plan to work there for a really long time, but I would be a happier and more stable human being if I could focus on classroom work more, both as a student and an instructor. So, the fall will be a bit more relaxed for me. Which is not to say easy, but at least it won't feel impossible.

Die, Critical Theory. Die.

I'll end on a particularly high note.

Spring Break is next week.

There is grading and course planning and writing and research.

BUT.

There is also sleeping and running and relaxing and binge TV watching and GIRLZ WEEKEND.

More to come, peeps!