Desk obsession

I don't know if I truly have an obsession with desks, but I'm now the owner of yet a third desk in my house. But let me explain. I bought a new desk because I wanted a work space for doing my grad school stuff and grade papers and such instead of doing it from my recliner as I've done for the past year or so. I know what you're thinking. "If you already had two desks, why did you need a third?"
The first desk that I have is now the craft desk in the extra bedroom. I bought it when I was still married and bought my first Dell desktop computer back in 2003 or so. It is large corner desk that spans 6 feet on either side. It's not in great shape, but it is still holding up and works great for my crafting sewing area. While I could certain clear off an area to do my grad school work, I don't want to be closed up in a bedroom to work. I like being in the living room - sometimes in front of the t.v. with it on. Sometimes I turn it off, but regardless, I like being in this part of the house when I work.
The other desk I have is nice dark brown desk that is against a wall in my living room. The problem with that desk is that it really only fits the specific place it is in and to work from there my back would be to the t.v. (Yes, that's a stupid reason.... but it is just also in the wrong spot for me in general which is even more of a stupid reason, but I just don't find it to be work conducive for me.) It wouldn't work for me to move it where I've now put my new third desk and even if I thought it would work, I could not physically move it myself.
So that brings me to the newest addition to my house. As I would work in the recliner, I would have to deal with usually at cat on one side, the computer on the other, a book in my lap with a drink or snack on the table next to me. I also would have difficulty motivating myself to really work in such conditions. But really this all began with shopping for a new printer. I needed to be able to print stuff for school, but my printer was 1. in a different room. 2. currently out of ink. I hated that I had to get up and take my computer into that room to hook it up in order to print something. So then I though I'd get a wireless printer and just hook it up in the living room. But then I started thinking about work space in general and how I was really going to write my upcoming research paper when I needed to really spread out. So I started looking at desks. I had one idea in mind but then I saw this desk at Office Max on Saturday. I didn't buy it right away as I wanted to think about it. So I came back home to give it thought. I made my mind up to go get it but when I went back Saturday evening, it was no longer on sale and they had no more of the little papers that you take to the register. So instead I bought a chair on sale and came home and ordered it online. I got the sale price online and it had free shipping. It turned out to be a good thing because the box would not have fit in my car. So the desk arrived yesterday and I put it together last night. It took me four hours but I got it done. I really like it. It has a lot of work space and a place for my new (wireless) printer.
The chair, however, was another nightmare that I don't wish to share at this point. Now that I have my new workspace, I guess I don't have any more excuses for putting off homework, do I?

In other news, I dealt with a fraudulent charge on my bank card today. I noticed charge for 7.96 on my account but didn't recognize the company. I do buy a lot of stuff online but I couldn't remember anything for this amount. When I checked into it, I found that several other people had noted they had be fraudulently charged on their accounts. The website in question sold screen savers and I know I didn't purchase a screen saver. I called my bank and talked to them about it and had my card canceled. I then had to go in this afternoon and write a statement about it. It isn't so much about getting the money back as it is that someone did this and the irritation of it all. So now I don't have my bank card to use which is used for just about everything. And it's a matter of principle. I don't want scum like that to get away with stealing from me. So if you see any charges from ECONTENTNOW beware.

Though I finally got last year's yearbook finished and off, life certainly hasn't slowed down. Grad school is still going fast and furious as is my teaching job. I'm really ready for Thanksgiving break. Josh will be coming home and we'll head to Albuquerque for a few days. But I need to spend time writing my research paper. Well, it's past my bed time so I'm going to head that way.

Middle Aged

Now that I'm turning 40 (Nov. 10) I guess I would be considered "middle-aged." I don't know if that is a good or bad thing but I'm not keen on the idea of turning 40. Really, I guess it's no big deal. It's just another birthday and will probably be an uneventful one. I'll go to school. People will wish me happy birthday. I'll come home. I might go eat with my friend Pam, but there will be no big celebrations. No black balloons. No "over the hill" suggestions. I don't know if all that is a relief or a disappointment. In some ways I feel much older and alone. I don't mind being independent. After all - that's what I've been for some time. It doesn't necessarily bother me that Josh has gone off to college. I don't typically mind the solitude of my evenings. But sometimes I just wish I had something more. Well, enough whining about that. We always want something more than we have, don't we?
I know - if I'm lonely, I should do something about it. Easier said than done for a melancholic introvert. I even join things so that I can broaden my horizons, but even then I'm still a loner. I guess that is just who I am and who I'll always be. I guess I try to stay busy most of the time so I don't have to think about my loneliness.
So - in other news - I was sick and now I'm getting better. I missed two days of school last week which totally sucked. Some of my students threatened my sub and that really made me mad. I'm sure they'll just get their hands slapped like always. I enjoyed the brief visit from Josh. He came home this weekend to judge a speech tournament and to see the high school's musical. We had our traditional birthday dinner at Olive Garden. It was good, but I've gained about 200 pounds now.
Work is overwhelming. I stayed at school until 6:30 grading papers. Then I came home and made a quick dinner and worked on lesson plans. There's still a million things I should be doing, but I've got to get to bed at a decent hour tonight.
Well, I guess that's all the excitement going on here.

Sick again

I started developing a cough yesterday. Today I was still coughing and feeling a little achy. No fever though, but it's a little hard to breathe. I don't know if it's worth going to the doctor or not. I don't feel horrible - just not great. I am, however, going to call it an early night. I think perhaps I just need to get some rest. (Imagine that)
Tomorrow I have to get fingerprinted. Oh joy! It is a requirement by the state that every teacher is fingerprinted. It has been a complicated process and tomorrow is the day. I just hope I'm not one of those whose fingerprints get "rejected" because they aren't clear enough. If we don't get this taken care of within the 80 days of our "window" then we are out of a job - no ifs, ands, or buts. We immediately lose our certification until it is taken care of.
I still feel overwhelmed with work, but that is normal. I also need to get the house clean before Josh comes home this weekend. It will be nice that we can go to dinner like we usually do for our birthday though it will be a little early. Can you believe that I'll be turning 40 in a week? I'm not sure how I feel about that? I guess it will just be another day like it always is.
Well, I'm going to curl up with a book (something unheard of!) and call it an early night as promised.

Procrastinating

I actually have a song on my mp3 player titled "Procrastinating." It suits me to a T these days. I put off doing my grad school stuff until the day it is due. The cataloging stuff isn't very difficult but it takes me about 3 hours to read the chapters, do a practice assessment, a lab practice, post a discussion, and take a quiz. I scored a 100 on the quiz so that is a relief. I should be editing the yearbook from last year and getting it finished, but I'm just not in the mood to do it. So instead I started doing some research on my cataloging project that is due Dec. 1. I'm thinking about making a trip down to Denton so that I can view some of the materials in the library there as well as just getting away and spending time in a motel where I can hopefully focus a little more and get some work done. It's just a thought right now.
This past week was very full. I went to the Parish Mission every evening at 7:00 from Sunday-Thursday so needless to say I didn't get much done in terms of school or anything else. On Friday after school I helped out with setting up for the Fallback festival at church for about an hour. I went to just buy a ticket and ended up helping. Then I went to Walmart to get materials for my costume. I decided to try to make another clarinet costume - this time from scratch as I didn't have a long black dress to use. So I got a black twin sheet, hula hoop, black & yellow poster board, tin foil, and silver paint. I sewed the sheet into a dress of sorts but made a separate "bell" for the bottom portion with the hula hoop inside it to make it flair out. I attached it with velcro under the main dress. I made keys out of paper plates wrapped with tin foil and painted some of the other keys on the dress itself. I made a mouthpiece "hat" from the poster board and tin foil. I thought it turned out rather amazing myself. In fact, I won the costume contest at the festival. It was by "cheering" and I tied with Marilyn Monroe but the band that was singing broke the tie by voting for me (of course they would vote for the instrument.) I got LOTS of compliments on my costume, everyone thought it was very clever. A friend from church took pictures and as soon as she emails them to me, I'll post them.
On Saturday I finished the work on the costume (mostly) and went to take my journalism test in hopes of getting my certification. I really have no idea if I passed. I really think it could go either way. I guess I'll find out in a few weeks. Then I stopped by the speech tournament that was going on and said hello to the other coaches and the students. Then I came home to finish the costume before I headed out to the festival. I went to the festival, had my steak dinner, visited with some people, put in a few silent auction bids, then was supposed to work the computer for the reverse drawing. I already mentioned winning the costume contest and then around 9:30 I did my job with the reverse drawing. I found out that I won a gift certificate to the toyota dealership (I paid $10 for a $25 certificate) that I can use when I have to get my oil changed.
Despite the time change today, I was tired and slept in. I went to church at 11:15 and played at the service. I picked up some chicken for lunch and then surfed the web. I started working on library stuff at 3:00 and finished around 6:00. I spent time doing research after that and now I've decided to blog instead of doing yearbook. I guess I'm going to go find something to eat and then put in a few hours of work on the yearbook.
Band rehearsals start back up tomorrow so I've got that going. Luckily I don't have an assignment due like I normally do for my other grad school class.
Well, I'm off to procrastinate a little longer and then I'll get to work. I promise. Maybe.

My apologies

I was trying to post with some regularity, but alas, life gets in the way again. I had a great trip to San Antonio, though it was brief. I got some great rides in on Saturday morning. Fiesta Texas was very hospitable as always. They provided lunch and dinner and all sorts of extras for us - like free drinks. I get spoiled when I go to events like this because after being able to ride a coaster five times in a row it stinks to have to wait in line for an hour for just one ride on a coaster.

I'm still behind with work and I don't think I'll ever catch up. My to-do list just keeps growing. This week we're having a mission at our church which means we have something every evening at 7:00. Of course I don't have to go, but I want to so that means that homework and everything else gets put on hold. Last night I was up until 11:00 doing an assignment. I had to get it submitted by midnight and once again, I waited until the last minute. Once again, I'm not 100% happy with the work I did on it but it will probably be o.k. The last assignment that I submitted that I did not care for I got a 100 on... so I guess perhaps I'm just too much of a perfectionist.

I had a headache at school today. Actual headaches for me are rather rare. I don't know if it is because I didn't get enough sleep or what but it started on the way to school this morning and just got worse. I left at lunch to go pick something up and I went to Walmart and got some Excedrin (and chocolate). I picked up a coke and my lunch and took two Excedrin when I got back to school. It did the trick, but I'm still wondering why I had the headache in the first place. I know they just sometimes happen, but I'm not one that gets them very often (knock on wood).

I am debating whether or not I am going to the mission tonight. Tonight's topic is confession which should be good, but part of me just wants to stay at home. But then I also think I need to work more on my relationship with God and it would be good for me. I don't really need to go to confession because I just went the weekend before last and don't have any major sins but I should probably at least hear the message and then perhaps I can just head out early. Even if I stayed home, I'm 95% sure that I wouldn't do the work I need to do. I really need to get to bed early tonight. Maybe if I go to bed early, I'll be able to get up early and get to school early tomorrow. (Yeah, right.)

Well, I'm going to scrounge around and find a quick bite to eat and then head out to church. Then I'm NOT going to grade papers or do homework - but probably just call it an early night. Oh well. Call me lazy. Mostly I'm just tired.

**Edit: I did go to church and I even went to confession again. I didn't have a lot to say - but was able to get a few things off my chest - a few venial sins - and am thankful for the continuing grace of forgiveness. I just have to say that as much as confession still makes me nervous - I appreciate its purpose and the forgiveness it provides. I still love being Catholic.**

The crazy life

Yesterday was a full day. Since I went to church on Saturday, I didn't have to go to Mass on Sunday. I slept in a little bit and then did the review and quiz for my cataloging class. Thankfully I made a perfect score on the first try. The subject is getting a little more hairy, but I'm still managing to follow it pretty well. Figuring out subject headings is a bit confusing.
After I did that, I went to Amarillo for Diocesan choir rehearsal. I did that until almost 4:00. After that I went to help my friend Pam with a computer issue and then we went to dinner at a Mexican food restaurant. I left and went to the grocery store to get things for Josh. I sent him a care package in the mail today.
After I got home I did homework for school. I stayed up until 11:00 doing that and then had to call it a night.

Today was o.k. for a Monday. I'm starting to teach Beowulf but some of my kids are falling asleep in class. I should probably do something about it but since I'm going to let them use their notes on the quizzes, I guess those that follow along will do better than the others. I left school right at 4:00 so I could get back home and to the post office before it closed at 4:30. I mailed Josh's package to him as well as a little care package for Marty as a get well wish. (Yes, we still stay in touch and remain friends. Yes, I still love him and probably always will, but accept the fact that we can never be together.)

Tonight I finished the other half of my grad school homework and got it submitted. I just spent the last hour and a half creating index card reminders of all the cataloging rules so that I could get this week's exam done before I head for San Antonio. I still have a million things on the agenda but I'm going to just do them one at a time.

Relief

Well, I tried give him the opportunity to clear things up but for me it's over. Mostly it is the realization that he wasn't "it" for me and I knew that he never would be. The way he deals with things is to not deal with them and I can't handle that. There are other things too, but I know it's just not in the cards. The fact that he's already put up a profile on match.com is another sure sign that he's moved on.

For myself, I went to confession today and while it was difficult, it was very relieving. I feel like I'm getting a fresh start. I need to quit seeking my will and focus more on God's plans for me. Being the control freak that I am makes that difficult, but I feel like I can at least try again.... or let God work on me a bit.

I played at Mass tonight which means I don't have to go in the morning. I do have things to accomplish tomorrow, however. The list is never ending. I also have diocesan choir rehearsal as well. I guess I should get a few things done tonight before I go to bed.

Plans are set

Last night I rejoined ACE. I signed up for the event at Fiesta Texas. I've reserved hotel rooms for my trip. On Friday I'm driving down to Junction, TX after school. Luckily we have an early out that day. Then I'll drive into San Antonio on Saturday morning and go directly to the park. I'll enjoy the ERT (Exclusive Ride Time) that morning on my favorite coasters and enjoy the park the rest of the day. I'll head back on Sunday morning. I know it's a quick trip down there and back, but I've made quicker ones. One year when Josh made all-state band, I drove down halfway on Friday after school, then went to his concert on Saturday, had lunch and then drove home. Of course we can't forget the trip where I went down there and had the stomach flu while driving home.

Still haven't heard from Thomas. I sent him an email tonight just asking if things are over. I just don't like to be left "hanging on" so to speak. Unless we can resolve the issue, then in my mind it is over. I just don't know if that is going to happen.

Josh is doing great in school. He absolutely loves college. It suits him perfectly. He has already had a lot of great opportunities there. His favorite band composer, Mark Camphouse, came and directed his band for a concert. He also got to sit on a master class with him. Now he's getting involved in the scoring of a movie that the university produces every year. The theater department puts it together and the composition department gets to score the music for it. He calls me at least every week to tell me what's going on. Of course he finally added me on facebook so I can keep up with him that way as well.

I think I have choir rehearsal tomorrow. I should go check my schedule. If you haven't noticed.. I'm trying to post more regularly. I think right now it is simply because I'm avoiding other stuff.

So much for a relationship

I'm thinking I no longer have a boyfriend... but I'm really not certain. I sent him a text message today to the effect that if he really isn't a chance to see each other next weekend to let me know so I could make other plans. I also mentioned that I was sorry that what I said bothered him and I hoped that he would consider it from my perspective. The response I got from him was "go ahead and make other plans." So I did. I've been wanting to get back into ACE (American Coaster Enthusiasts) and start going to events again. I haven't been in probably five years now. There is an event next weekend that I wanted to go to but I decided I couldn't if that was the weekend that Thomas could visit. And since he can't/won't and won't let me visit him, I decided to hell with it all and that I was going to head to San Antonio and go to Fiesta Fest. It is my favorite park with some of my favorite coasters and I just want to be able to take a break from everything right now and find some enjoyment. Do I really have time for this? No. But I just don't care. I'm so stressed out by everything else that I think that I really need this break.

I haven't heard from Thomas all day other than the text message he responded to. He hasn't gotten online so I'm getting the silent treatment again. But I'm not really all that upset. The fact that he doesn't want me to visit him is very disconcerting for me. It makes me wonder what he is hiding. So I'm just going to go with my instincts right now and let it go. I would love to be in a relationship with someone, but perhaps it's just not in the cards for me right now.

Just Stuff

Well, I seem to have hot and cold days with my English class. Some days I can't stand them and then other days they're perfectly fine. In truth, I really like the kids I have - it's just sometimes the mix of them make them difficult to manage. Surprisingly those that I've given detentions to have come through and served them for the most part. I still have one that hasn't which means he'll end up with an office referral and then get an ISS (in school suspension). I'm finally teaching Beowulf. Today I read the first part of it to them and now they're doing a brief writing assignment on it. I still haven't read the whole thing - I mostly stay about a day ahead of them. This year I'm once again flying by the seat of my pants. I often wish there was a time that I didn't always have so much to do. Then again, if I didn't have something pressing at every waking moment, I'm not sure I'd know what to do with myself.

I'm not sure what my relationship status with Thomas is right now. He's dealing with a lot stuff and we left some issues unresolved (in my mind at least) last night. He doesn't think he'll come to visit in on the 23rd and though I've offered to travel up there, he won't offer the invitation. He just called and I reminded him of the conversation we had because he didn't think anything between us had changed and though he apologized for being insensitive, issues still remain unresolved. I asked him about the reason why he doesn't want me to come up there and in my mind it isn't particularly valid. He went on to say that he just isn't comfortable with that yet and that sends up a red flag in my mind. I told him so and at that point he didn't want to talk any more. So I guess we'll see if he decides to "deal" again at some point.

In happy news I got the new post secret book today. I can't tell you how much I love post secret. This week I played a video of secrets for my speech class and they had to write a journal on it. Now they are working on their personal profiles which is one of my favorite projects (along with appreciative listening). It would be so nice if my schedule was that I could teach speech classes all day. I think I could do so much more with those classes if I actually had time to prepare for them.

Ok, I'm feeling guilty once again. Tonight I made myself a bloody mary and I'm watching Mythbusters instead of grading papers. But part of me really doesn't care. I am thinking of having another drink, enjoying a great show on duct tape and then going to bed early. So sue me.