Shopping Blues

I had an unexpected day free today and thought that I would do a few errands and pick up some items that I have needed for a while,  (dress socks, work pants, dressy shirts that aren't collared).  I headed out this morning armed with my (really lame) shopping allowance and a coupon for 30% off at Gap thinking that it was going to be a *great* day.  I rarely have time for myself and I have not gone shopping at all since I've moved to Connecticut.  What?  I'm on a shopping hiatus.  I'm going to give grad school a big kick in the behind when the next two years are over.  

After circling the parking lot four times and missing three spots because some damn woman ran her truck up and OVER the curb four times in a row (I'm not even kidding) while trying to back into a spot, I found a spot and headed in.  I had 8 things to try on, went into the dressing room, put the first pair of pants on and... could have cried.  They looked terrible.  My thighs looked like they were mushed in there and the size of... I don't know...Texas?  And? I looked like a midget.  Seriously.  I'm only 5'3" but still... I was so discouraged that I walked out without trying anything else on and told myself that until I lose some weight, I am *not* allowed to go shopping.

Now, having had a few hours to reflect on this experience and my decision, I do realize that I overreacted.  A little.  But it does remind me that I am no longer teaching 7 Jazzercise classes a week and yes.  My body has changed since I stopped doing that.  I eat right, I really do but I need to find time to work out.  I love working out and love how I feel when I work out regularly.  I think I'm just struggling to find a happy medium.  In Vermont my entire life was devoted to working out and finding time to work out.  Here?  My life is devoted to work, grad school and making any extra money I possibly can babysitting to pay for next semesters classes.  I know it can be done, I've just got to make it happen.

Do I live in Florida?

When I moved to Connecticut I knew that come spring I would be seeing tulips at a time where were were still getting snowstorms in Vermont. I knew that there would be 67% LESS rainy days per year than Burlington, VT. I knew that I was ready to enjoy being outside a little longer each day and year.

What I DIDN'T know? Was that it was going to be November and still be 65 degrees outside. It's fall- -it's almost PAST fall and I still haven't worn a damn sweater. Today? I'm wearing a t-shirt dress with no tights. It's WARM out. The jacket that I wore is almost unseasonal. I want COOL weather. I would even settle for 45 degrees. This? Isnotfun. Fall is my favorite season and I haven't even really been able to enjoy it yet.

A Boring Update

I do actually have some good stories for you but that would require me to think and well... that hasn't really been happening lately. We had conferences last week so I had Friday off which was fan.tas.stic. You know how you feel when you just have an extra day to get stuff done? It was like someone gifted me an extra 16 hours to deal with all of this "stuff" that really needed to be finished.

I spent all day Friday finishing my first graduate level research paper that I happily printed when I got to work this morning. I was ambitious enough to write most of it two weeks ago so I had time to hand it in early to get reviews/revisions. We'll see how it goes- - I'm totally anxious about it, but I'm hoping that it's okay. I have a couple of more larger projects to round out the semester but now that this paper is done, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Friday night I went out with a couple of my friends from work (basically the ONLY friend that I have in CT) and we were the only two in the bar without costumes on. We're lame. We know. I don't care. I haven't done Halloween in a really long time and I like it like that.

I was sort of expecting a visitor for the weekend so I wanted to keep my schedule somewhat free but those plans fell through so instead? I babysat. All weekend long. This is what my schedule looked like:
Saturday- 8am-1pm- Babysit
2-4pm- Jazzercise Birthday Party
6-12am- Babysit

Sunday:
8-12:30pm- Babysit
2:30-5pm- Babysit

My sister's boyfriend's mom called me Sunday evening and invited me to go out to dinner with the family so even though I was already in bed at 5:30 (whatever. I was TIRED.) I got up, showered and met them around 7 to head to dinner. We went to this ridiculous Italian place in Greenwich that was fantastic but the menu was... you guess it... in Italian so I ended up with something that I didn't *love*. Oh well- - it was JUST what I needed after a kid filled weekend. Adult conversation and alcohol.

I Did It

Did I tell you guys that I decided to move to house with the dog? Well, I did. It was a tough decision, but in the end I figured walking one dog, twice a day was easier than watching 3 kids for 15-20 hours/week. My first walk was Sunday night and it's been going well since then.

I wasn't supposed to move until October 15th but the new lady asked if I could come sooner so I packed up my car last Friday afternoon and moved most of my stuff over Saturday morning after I taught a jazz class. Friday afternoon was ridiculous, I felt like I was Rocky running up and down three flights of stairs to get all of my stuff out to my car- - really, I was carrying nightstands, tables, bags, clothes and a desk. I got everything packed up sooner than I was anticipating so I called "New Lady" and asked if I could run over quickly to unload some things. She. Said. No. Can you believe it? Here I was, agreeing to move in a week and a half earlier than I anticipated and she just said NO!!!! I was pissed to the point of tears and had a minor meltdown but sucked it up and mentally prepared myself to move Saturday.

Saturday comes along and I've got a bad headache from too much gin Friday night and have to teach jazz but I head over to the new house right after and unload my whole car. Into the hallway. That's right, my space wasn't "availabe" for me to move into so I just had to leave my stuff in the hallway. I was all, omigod, WTF, but I smiled and headed out to my car to get the second load of stuff. I turned the key and...nothing. I tried again. Silence. My car battery died. In. Their. DRIVEWAY. I was really ready to have another meltdown but I got the car jumped and headed to a local mechanic to test the battery. They said I needed a new one (I'm not totally convinced I did, but I was standing around in my Jazz spandex so I wasn't interested in getting into an argument) so I dropped $200 for a new battery. Totally depressing.

After I got the second load of stuff dropped off I headed to the old house to shower and get the last few things that I had before I headed North (well, East really, but here in CT they're all directionally challenged) to my Jazzercise conference. I met a few of my favorite VT instructors at one of their sister's house and we had the BEST time. It was the first time since I moved down here that I was able to just. sit. down. And relax. And have (somewhat) of adult conversations. We ordered pizza, we drank wine, we laughed, we lamented. It was perfect and EXACTLY what I needed after Friday/Saturday.

I spent all day Sunday at jazz (and took a KICK-BUTT class) then headed back to Fairfield County to move all of my stuff into my room. I'm almost all settled and feeling good about everything but I'm heading home tomorrow for the long weekend (we celebrate every Jewish Holiday 'round here) and I cannot wait. It will be four days of not tying shoes, zipping backpacks, planning lessons and family-style lunches. Four days of not babysitting, dog-walking and dishwasher unloading. My heart is beating faster at the thought of it.

Not to mention, my friends will be around, we've got happy hour planned and my favorite bar is calling my name. One day to go and I'm Homeward Bound. :)

Moving

I decided to go with the move. I told The Family about it Monday night after class and they were less than thrilled but after I explained my reasoning they were (a little) better. The move date is October 15th... I can't believe I'm moving again 6 weeks after the first move, but this one seems like it should last a while. :)

My sister's boyfriend was up in VT visiting her this past weekend so my mom sent down all of my mail and a bunch of goodies with him when he came back to CT yesterday. What a great surprise!

It's raining in CT today which means indoor recess. Greeeaaaat...

Homesick...

For the first time since I moved I'm homesick. There, I feel better now that I said it. I've been trying to deny it all day, but I simply can't. I am so stressed out about making a decision about whether to move or not move and what to do and what to say, I think it all just kind of bubbled over today. And I didn't work out today. I know I should give myself a break sometimes but I really loathe the days I don't motivate to do something (they are few and far between, BELIEVE me, but I just hate it).

I still can't decide if I'm going to move or not. It would be a whole lot easier just taking care of a dog (I think) but I'm so used to my schedule now, that I'm just nervous I'm trading one ridiculously crazy situation for another. This new place is 6 miles further away from where I work and I would have to be there EVERYDAY of the week by 3:30 which really just might be kind of tough. I'm not sure. On the other hand, it might be a lot nicer not having to babysit ALL DAY SATURDAY EVERY WEEKEND. Ack. I just wish something would work out that was mutually agreeable to everyone involved. I know that if I'm going to live somewhere rent-free I've got to do... SOMETHING. I get that. I just wish that someone would appreciate all that I have to offer and be really, well, overwhelmed by it. And that something would just. work. out.

One highlight of my night- - I arrived at a house to babysit (a family who attends the school that I teach) and the mom knew that I moved right before school started and the first thing she asked me when I walked in the door was, "Hey, how are you doing? Are you homesick?" And, for the first time, I realized that no one has asked me sincerely how I was doing since I've been here. Yes, there are people who care and I've made some great friends but it's just not the same as feeling like someone GETS where you might be coming from and how you might be feeling.

AND, knowing that I might be homesick, she made home-made chocolate chip cookies for me. How sweet is that? Sometimes, it's the little things and today, I really needed it.

Should I Stay or Should I Go Now?

Okay. I have a dilema. Things at The House have been fine (the mother is a crazy but I knew that) but I've been approached to live with another family (again, free of rent) in exchange for walking their d0g twice a day. The morning walk is fine, but the afternoon walk needs to be BY 3:30pm which means I'll be rushing home from school every day. There are a lot of other factors but basically my responsibilities would go to 15-20 hours/week of childcare to 5 hours/week of dog walking.

What do you think? If you need more info, let me know, but I REALLY can't decide!

AH!

Back to School, Back to School

Today is the first official day of school! AH! And my internet has not been working at The House so I couldn't update last night. Hopefully this afternoon I'll have some time!

Orientation

It's Kindergarten Orientation today! I (finally!) get to see what my class looks like! I can't wait! I am still in a little bit of disbelief that this is happening...

Ahhhh the life

I love long weekends. This one has been exceptionally enjoyable because it's the first Labor/Memorial Day in three years that I haven't spent traveling. I guess that comes with the territory of not being in a long distance relationship anymore...

I babysat all day Saturday for The Family so when yesterday came I headed to jazz, (yes, there's a jazz here and YES I go and YES YES I will be teaching there) ran home quickly to change and pack a lunch and headed over to my sister's boyfriend's house. His family lives in Greenwich and has extended an open invitation to stop by their house whenever I feel like it. They have a beautiful backyard so I parked myself by their pool all afternoon and got all of my reading/work done for my classes for the next two weeks. I know.

Today, the BONUS WEEKEND DAY, I woke up, headed to jazz and headed right back over to the pool. I've been sitting out here since 11:00 this morning and have since caught up on all of your blogs, painted my nails, and read a book I needed to read by the end of the semester. (It's a short one, don't be too impressed.)

My sister's boyfriend's family has invited me to stay for dinner so I'll probably just hang out here until then...this is totally the life. :)

But um... is it REALLY SEPTEMBER?!?!??!?! Whoa.

Catching Up

Well, I know that I've been a terrible blogger. :) I'm officially in CT and settling in and I. am. loving. it. It's a little bit lonely being away from home and my family and friends but I think this is a really great move for me and will certainly get me going in a better direction than I've been heading.

I've had a wonderful two years since graduating college and I've learned/experienced a lot but there was just something that was missing. I am so excited that I'm beginning a new career and in a position to meet a ton of new people. Since my blogging has been so sporadic I don't really remember what I've already told you so bear with me if I start repeating myself...

I'm living in Fairfield County, CT and teaching Kindergarten (as an assistant) in a private day school here. I'm also pursuing my Masters in Education at a nearby University. As many of you are familiar, this area isn't exactly a low-rent district and while my employers contribute a sizeable amount to my graduate coursework the salary is less-than-stellar. To combat that I searched for a creative housing option for myself and was (fairly) successful in finding it. In exchange for room and board I am babysitting for a family for fifteen hours/week. It's not a bad situation- - I have my own space (it's really great) and the location is fantastic but it definitely has it's drawbacks...

It's freakishly strange though, the woman (the mom) is from my hometown and graduated from my high school 18 years before I did. Also? Her mother was a kindergarten teacher in my elementary school and I was in the classroom next to hers. AND? This family has a lakehouse in my hometown and spends the summer there. It's crazy, I know. Things have gone smoothly so far but, we'll see. :) They have three kids (aged 4, 2, 8mos) and are expecting a fourth in January... Yea. I am one of four so I can appreciate a large family but the household management skills here leave something to be desired. They have a full-time nanny and the mom stays at home and they have a cleaning service so...anyway. :)

The people at my new job are FANTASTIC. It's so great to be in a learning-friendly environment where everyone sincerely enjoys what they do and where they are. Of course, it's the beginning of the year and I'm sure this is only the honeymoon but I have high hopes. (Go figure.) And I've already been invited to a party at one of the other TA's house which is really great because we know that I don't do so well with making new girl friends.

I'm sure this is probably WAY more information that you were hoping for so I'll end here but there is still a lot more to say!

The US Open the other night was awesome even though I didn't get home until 2am. I'm heading back there on Thursday night for the Men's quarterfinals. One of my best guy-friends from home works at a large NYC company and got front row seats from his boss- - I can't wait. He however, will be going to his apartment in NYC after while I will be taking the train back to CT. By myself. At 2 am. Ugh. I'm really not looking forward to that. I'm sure I'll be fine but it's one of those things that is going to take some getting used to. In Vermont I don't even think we have a train.

At least all of this transitioning will make for some really great blog posts. I'm sure my Kindergarteners will provide lots of stories.

I'm here

and settling in. This could be one of the craziest things I have done in a while. Don't get me wrong, it's completely exciting and I was totally ready for something new, it's just a big adjustment. Yesterday was my first day at work and my first day in class. I can't believe it's been two years since I've been in a class... whoa. There are so many things I'm dying to share with all of you about the last 6 weeks of summer and moving to CT and the new job and EVERYTHING else!

I've been spending the past few days getting moved in and getting ready for school... more to come. I promise. :)

I hope all of you are well, I've stayed up to date and have been reading all of your blogs!

-M