Page Turners

Summer's here, and I don't have school! I am trying to keep myself busy with private clients as well as clients from Let's Talk Speech and Language Services' clinic, but I still have a lot of mornings free. Trying to be productive, work on my online courses, exercise, etc, but thanks to my dear friend Ryann Warlick, I have instead been spending most of my time reading the Twilight series. I am SO sad for when i finish it (in a couple days). These books are like 500-600 pages long, and I read them in a couple days because I get so caught up! I'm such a nerd. I should go hang out at high schools to talk to people about them. Well middle schools. I do need some page turner suggestions for when they're all done.

Mom and Dad just flew to Israel - so jealous! I am very content not really traveling this summer (Atlanta to take sis to med school, and boston w/mom for a weekend, but that doesn't really count). I won't go home until fall, but then I'll go twice, and then for winter again.

Moved into the new place w/Erica in N.Raleigh - we both love it! Our pool is so much fun and we just love this neighborhood. Also, I have a crush :-) We'll see what happens w/that. Haven't had a real crush in a while, and I'm not being cynical at all, which is when I know I actually like a guy, because that's how it was w/Grant. Usually guys sort of annoy me and I'm just cynical and want more independence than they give me, but this is exciting, so yay!

HG since you and my mom are prob the only ones reading this, call me woman, I miss you!

Diana

One of my best friends, Diana Good Smith, passed away, and she is no longer in pain and suffering. If you are reading this and you feel at all compelled, I would love it if you can have a thought or prayer or cheers or whatever at her wonderful life, even if you did not know her. She was a survivor, above all else, and I will always love her and remember her as one of my very best friends Deenie. I love you.

Mi Ra?

"Mi Ra?" means "who is bad?" in Hebrew. Passover is coming up so I am teaching them that Pharaoh was bad. They know "tov" means good, so I said "ra lo tov." "Mi Ra?" And one of my first graders raises her hands and starts talking about her housekeeper! I about died laughing in my head. The answer was Pharaoh....hahahaha.

Snapped out of my blah mood - just staying active and still working out. I ran a new running goal w/o stopping the other day which felt amazing. I'm also trying to come up with some set summer plans. Right now I'd really like to work at Meredith's autism lab, maybe even do some research for them. I'd also love to do some nannying for some of my students - parents have contacted me and I didn't know what I'd do w/o my kiddos all summer so that solves that! They seriously put me in the best mood ever. Last week Nechama baked me chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats for no reason. My first graders and Kindergarten give me hugs every single day, and I love my 4th graders (especially when they behave!). 

I'm going home next week for 10 days - I can't wait to cook. We want to make leg of lamb, and not sure what else. Seafood meatballs for sure - so delicious! Mom and I are going to drive to Utah too and I am so excited to see everyone!

I have to go plot an April Fool's trick.

blah

Lot's to write and lot's to catch up on.

The last few days I've been feeling blah. Don't know why. Not sad for any reason at all, just feeling blah for no reason. I hate it.

I'm just pushing through, staying active, and I know time will make this go away, but it's just irritating. I'm sure later tonight I'll already feel better and I'll write updates for the last month, etc.

Off to school now! I know my kids always put a smile on my face!

school projects, currently reading, and mom's in town!

We just celebrated Tu B'shvat at school. Tu B'svhat is the birthday of the trees - an Israeli arbor day. Israel has always been more environmentally conscious. You plant trees, sing songs, etc. I had my kindergarten class make "flowerpots" out of egg crates and popsicle sticks - totally stole the idea from a fine motor skill in one of my programs. They had to pick out 6 colors and cut out flowers out of construction paper, write the name of the color in Hebrew, glue it to the popsicle stick, and then "plant" it in the egg crage half! I'll post pictures when I upload them from my camera.

Mom came into town last Friday morning (ugh it's already Tuesday...time w/her flies!). She will be here until Saturday afternoon. We've been really productive but also just had fun and cooked (of course) and hung out w/Adva. Yesterday we went to Duke for several hours, and Mom watched Adva's Flamenco class while I read at the coffee shop. Adva is a second semester senior, so her course load is much lighter, and one of her courses is flamenco. The instructor has her own dance company, and takes the dancing portion really seriously! Adva is one of the only non-dancers, but she's taking it on! Very courageous (not to say I wouldn't do it, as we all know I would, but still, she's putting herself out there which is great!).

I started reading Twilight last night for book club (and fun). I'm trying to figure out how to "budget" my time since I have to take the gre's and these courses for the grad program. I'm hoping that I just whip through Twilight as everyone says you do. It's good so far!

I'm waiting to hear back from the Friday Center which is a part of UNC, and offers self paced correspondence courses. I registered on Friday, and I have to wait for approval (which I don't really get because since the courses are self paced and correspondence, how can they fill up?). I sent in a letter of appeal to try to take all my courses at once instead of having to wait 12 weeks to finish two and then start two more. They are self-paced, but have a minimum time requirement of 12 weeks. Counterintuitive? I think so. I mean I guess they have their reasons, but I need to take these before the application is due! Erin Barrow, the WONDERFUL advisor for the program, told me that as long as I'm registered for the last two before the deadline, and they are completed before Aug 2nd, that I can apply with pending status, but I just want it to be done! Wish me luck please.

Okay off to do drop Odge off to get his ears cleaned and get himself groomed, then therapy w/one of my kiddos, picking him up, school, and then spa appointment w/Mom! (Wow I'm spoiled). By the way, Odge woke us up at 4 AM Sat morning (fri night?), with a double ear infection that I really thought was bleeding, but was actually black pus stuff - so gross. Poor thing was crying all night and panting out of pain. He's better now, but I felt so bad for my poor baby.

Last thing - I went to a sports bar (Hi5) for the Duke-Unc game last Wed (we lost), and it was so much fun! I really am trying to go out more but I have no interest in going at midnight every weekend and coming home at 3 am. I wish there were more "chill" options at bars or trivia nights for a more mature atmosphere. I'm sure there is just need to convince my friends to do it! (friends - let's do it!).

Okay off to get going on the day.