The big victory I had at work on Friday ended up being a big flop when the technology failed to cooperate. I’m back to where I was before, which is a “meh” option. Much less flashy and impressive, but technically gets the job done. Maybe I can find a way to dress it up somehow. Otherwise it’s day 2 of training. I successfully overwhelmed the entire class by trying to teach them six things at once this morning, but heard their feedback and pivoted in the second half to get us more or less back on track. I’m both teaching and learning as I go, which is an interesting combination. Tonight was class 4 of my NAMI class. I accidentally ended the class half an hour early without realizing it until 20 minutes after we rushed through the last bit and had already wrapped up. No one said anything, so either everyone else also forgot what time the class is supposed to end, or everyone was glad to finish early so purposely decided not to say anything. Either way, it was an oh well kind of moment. Now watching the Yankees game, but I think I’ll be heading to bed soon. I didn’t sleep well last night and I’m tired now. Nothing puts me to sleep faster than Dave Simms, so I should be in good shape.
Tag: flower
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May 16
Siggi and I had a great day touristing around Savannah. We took the trolley tour around town and visited Forsyth Park, St. John the Baptist church, ate at Clary’s, and took a house tour of the Owens-Thomas house. We had a rooftop dinner overlooking the river at sunset. I loved the house tour, and I’m so glad we did it. The weather is absolutely perfect – mid-80s, no humidity, perfectly sunny. I decided that Billy and I need to come here for a date weekend without the kids for my birthday. It’s way more fun without kids. No offense, kids. Trips with you are fun too, but every once in a while, it’s nice to get to just be an adult.
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May 5
Robin had a rough afternoon and called me in tears asking to be picked up from school. It may sound weird, but it was nice to see her display emotion and talk about it. I’m sure she has a different take, but in a way I’m relieved. Apparently there is someone in her class who shares little respect for the people around him and he ruined her chance to enjoy some free volleyball time during class. Knowing how much she loves volleyball, I know it was a little more than frustrating. I’m proud of her for reaching out for help, expressing her feelings, and talking about what happened. These are all steps forward. I’ll try not to get too used to it.
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April 2
My proposal went over well this morning, which was a great way to start my day. There is hope on the horizon. For some reason I am exhausted and have a headache tonight. Think I’ll go to bed early.
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March 22
I got a lot done today, starting with a much-needed run and ending with a highly admirable family effort to clean up the yard so it can be mowed tomorrow. There are three orange blossoms on Christina’s tree, and even the dead hydrangea managed one little baby cluster of leaves to give us some hope. I also did two loads of laundry, went food shopping, cleaned the kitchen, and cooked dinner. And I watched a shit-ton of college basketball. No one’s bracket is totally busted yet, but Billy’s hopes rest on Texas Tech beating Alabama later tonight. I know better than to talk shit because today has proven that you can’t predict basketball. And now it’s back to work tomorrow, which makes me kind of sad because this spring break was a bit of a letdown for me. It feels like forever until our next vacation. I am just going to have to find a way to make the most of my weekends. Mission accepted.
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February 27
Today just felt so long. I had more than five straight hours of meetings, which is just exhausting. But Robin made tacos, and I love it when Robin makes tacos. And our little boy Pinot got a haircut, so now Christina can leave me alone for a few weeks. TGIF.
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February 22
I took the kids back to Leaderboard to make up for leaving early on Friday, but holy shit, it was so crowded we could barely walk in the door. We decided not to stay, but of course this ruined Robin’s day. So instead I took her to buy a desk and chair for her now clean bedroom and we spent the afternoon assembling them. I’m not sure we did it right because the drawer doesn’t work very well. I can’t figure out how to fix it. Hopefully she can make do. Then we went out to Carmine’s Pie House for dinner, also at Robin’s request. I really hate how my moods get caught up in hers, but she was so moody and disrespectful, it really kind of ruined it for me. I crave those moments when she smiles. There aren’t enough of them. Things were going pretty well except for two moments – one when we told her volleyball was starting up and the Y and she said she didn’t want to do it, and the other when she asked for red velvet cake and Billy said no because she hadn’t finished her meal. The ups and downs of her moods are exhausting. If I feel this way, I imagine it must be horrible for her too. I wish I could make it better, and it’s so hard for me to accept that I can’t. I need to find a way to let it be.
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January 6
I was a little lethargic today. Too much cancer. A friend is facing chemo and a bleak diagnosis and Siggi found out her dear Pinchazo has a large mass in his throat. I wish I could do more than say, “I love you.” It just doesn’t feel like enough. Because it isn’t.
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November 16
Did my run on the Baldwin rail trail this morning. I had hoped to do somewhere between 2-3 miles, but after a mile I was toast. You know why? I was running way too fast. I have no idea how to get myself to run at an easy pace. But at the end of 2.7 miles, my average pace was faster than normal and I stopped to walk at least five times. It just feels so much more fun to go fast. At the very least it was beautiful. It was yet another perfect weather day. I’m just going to go with it.
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November 12
I’m always so happy when Robin’s red rose blooms. Which is twice so far. She picked it out this spring and it makes me happy to see it. I hope it survives the winter.
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November 5
Got a squeaky clean bill of health at this morning’s annual checkup. Sadly the news didn’t come with a reduction in medications, but I guess it’s good to know they’re doing what they’re supposed to. When I was checking in, I had to fill out a psychiatric evaluation and I think it’s the first time in my life that I answered “not at all” to all of the questions. It’s still weird, but I guess I’ll take it!
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October 30
I did a trail run at Julington Durbin Creek Preserve this afternoon. I figured since it’s flat and there aren’t ruts or roots to worry about, it’d be more or less just like running on the road, but the softer ground made it a lot harder. I did not succeed at an easy run, but I did have fun and then I hiked the rest of the trail for a total of about 5 1/2 miles. It was a beautiful day today, around 60 degrees and sunny, and so nice to be outside in nature. I went out for sushi with my chorus friends after Christina’s dance class and that was nice. And I hemmed a pair of pants for Christina. I’m definitely improving – both legs ended up a little short, but they were the same length and straight! Christina’s happy with them. That’s all that matters.
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October 20
I had a redemption run this morning while I watched the sun rise. Ok, I hate waking up early with a deep and sincere passion, but once I’m outside breathing fresh air and taking in the sun, I usually don’t regret doing it. That really was the best part of my day. Work has been… disappointing, I guess, but that’s not really the right word. I’m trying to make the most of things, but my heart isn’t really in it. So what do I do instead? I make octopus keychains! It is so incredibly mindless, and I have no idea if anyone will even like them enough to spend money on them, but finishing one and adding it to the growing collection is so satisfying. Even if they end up resurfacing from the bottom of the bin at every Kindermarket until the end of the school’s history, it will have done me good to make them. And so that’s that. Another Monday.
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October 5
I’m trying to turn my attitude around. I didn’t do much today, but I did do something. Got dishes and laundry done, went out for coffee, brought my photo site up to date, took Robin to the gym to play volleyball with her friend, went food shopping, made dinner. It would be easy to say I wasted the day because I didn’t do anything memorable, which is true, but I also didn’t sit around doing nothing. I feel moderately more positive than I did yesterday, and I’ll take it.
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September 15
I am reading Beloved, which I’ve never read before, and it’s beautiful. So painful but so beautifully told. We all still have so much to learn.
Year in Photos 