space

I don't think I have enough space.

Not space in my house - I love my house. Well, it's a condo, but it is perfect for me.

No, I mean brain space. I think I need some more space to think, to plan, to be prepared. I had a nice talk with my boss today. Last year we changed the schedule at my school, and now I have 4 pretty hellacious days, and not much on Friday. This is great when it actually happens, but for the past 2 weeks we have had either to teach on Friday, or meetings that were required. I understand that this will happen sometimes, but it's really taking a toll.

I didn't realize how much until one of my parents asked me how I was today, and my answer was that I was tired. I wasn't sure where this came from, especially considering that I got 9 hours of sleep last night. But I am thinking that I'm metaphysically tired. I don't have enough "rest" in my life.

One consequence of this is that my desk at work looks like a Kinko's exploded on it. Another is that I don't have time to plan creative lessons, and just rely on the same thing I've always done.

I hate this.

Don't hear me wrong - I love my job. The past few days have been the funnest I've had in a long time. I enjoy great relationships with my students, and as a result we have fun in class, even when we are not "doing" fun.
This morning I got the song 6th grade is doing stuck in my head for most of the morning. They caught me singing it as I was walking down the hall, and started singing it to me, really loud! It was funny.

But I don't enjoy fighting the organization, the planning, the work of doing work.

I'm ready for Spring Break.

I'm off to play some electronic Yahtzee. Maybe that will let my brain turn off for awhile.
K

This is Felix.

Felix is staying with me for awhile. I like Felix, but I do NOT like scooping the poops. Just wanted to say that.

I had 2 kittys once. Sam:

and Max:

I miss the kitty loving, like when they'd come and sit in my lap.

I miss the kitty loving when they'd look up at me and do that little cat smile, that looks like a squint.

I DO NOT miss the poo box.

Anyway, just taking a moment to remember my 2 kittys. Sam lived with me for 13 years, and Max lived with me for 8 years.

Miss you guys!

K

for today

My friend Dawn tweeted today about what she was thankful for. This nudged me to not just go about my business (which happened to be getting dinner - pretty important!) but to stop and take a moment to be thankful.

I AM thankful! I'm especially thankful for the grilled cheese and tomato soup last night, and how it warmed me up after getting home. I'm thankful for home - as my friend Debi says, "I'm thankful for a warm home on a cold night." I agree. I'm thankful for all the awesome people God has put in my life, or maybe that He's put me in theirs: my awesome youth pastor, our new pastor at church, the cool people I teach with, my "always" friends, like Beth. We don't talk all the time, but I know we are tight, no matter what. For my great family, especially in times like this.

Just wanted to unwrap some of the gifts I've been given, and remind myself what a great life I have.

Thanks God.

K

the broadmoor incident

A couple weeks ago, my whole family went out to lunch. Now to say this was just lunch does TOTALLY not do it justice. But I will explain.

My mom and dad have been married for 40 years. Pretty amazing, considering they've gone through a lot: several houses being built (not at one time), several of my grandparents living with them (not at one time, except for the 6 months of 2 grandmas), my sister's time of being really very sick, a move halfway across the country, and much more. They are awesome parents, and awesome people. Really, I can't say enough about how lucky I am to have them as parents. Garrison Keillor, in one of his books, says that when he was young he visualized how you get matched up with your parents as a big gumball machine in the sky. When your parents become pregnant, whoever is next in line in the gumball machine rolls down the chute and is assigned to them. I am glad I got assigned to them.

Anyway, I digress. 40 years. So, in celebration, my parents took the family out to The Broadmoor. There is a reason for the capitals.

The Broadmoor is a world-famous, five-star resort here in Colorado Springs. It's a beautiful place, nestled at the foot of the Rockies, and is tops in every way you could imagine. The Sunday Brunch (capitals are deserved here also) at The Broadmoor is amazing. There is a whole room of food, all of it great, and much of it not things you eat every day at home. Omelets made per your order. Bananas Foster made for you when you request them. Crepes, yes, made for you as you request. Fruit, breads, meats, desserts, and way too much more to list. My brother-in-law said he went into a food coma that afternoon.

We all had a wonderful brunch, and just an all-around great time.

Here's Mom and Dad, and the dessert that the Broadmoor made for them to celebrate:

So. Great day, great food, great company, and a good time was had by all.

After eating, we headed out toward the car, and the girls all stopped by the Ladies. We were talking and laughing about one time when I wasn't paying attention and tried to wash my hands but dispensed a big glob of lotion instead of soap. All of a sudden we heard a big crash. It sounded like someone's head hitting porcelain. Really hard.

Mom was the only one left in the restroom, and it sounded bad. All three of us gasped.



Silence.



Kerri: "Oh my gosh! (pause) Mom, are you OK?"



Silence.



Kerri, moving closer to the restroom: "Do I need to come in there?"



Silence. Then, very faint sound that might be laughter.



Then gradually getting louder, Mom laughing.



Hmmm...



When she came out of the restroom, laughing, I might add, she pointed at the commode to show us the chip that was taken out of the tank lid. Presumably this happened in the crash, but she was laughing, and couldn't say anything. At this point the other three of us realized that mom was OK, and started laughing as well. When she could breathe again, mom said that she had put her purse on the back of the commode, and when she picked it up the strap caught on the lid and picked it up , only to drop it on the tile floor.

We composed ourselves, and went out into the lobby, where Dad and brother-in-law immediately asked what had happened. Evidently they heard the crash, and then my subsequent "Oh my gosh!" and couldn't figure out what could have caused this in the restroom of The Broadmoor.

Maybe this is why we don't go to fancy places very often...

Anyway, here is a picture of me and mom holding tissues. We were holding tissues because we were laughing so hard that we had tears. Even several minutes later.

So I guess that I want to say that I am very grateful for Mom and Dad. I'm especially grateful that Mom didn't get hurt on this auspicious occasion.

And I'm glad we don't go to The Broadmoor very often, because the plumbing bills would begin to add up after awhile.

K

music geeks, unite!

Today, I got to totally embrace my inner music nerd. CMEA (Colorado Music Educators Assoc.) conference is this weekend, and today my friends and I got to be music geeks all day.

Really, this is a good thing.

Usually, on a day to day basis, I am a loner. No, not in the social sense (I can HEAR my dad laughing). But in my school, every day, there is no one who truly understands what I do. I am the only one of me. This is opposed to the High School music department, where there is a High School Choir director, 2 Junior High Choir directors, as well as 3 people in the band department.

The same is true for other teachers at my school, like the art teacher. She is the only one of her, and there's no one else there who knows what she is doing on a day-to-day basis.

Usually this is not a big deal, and I don't think about it much. But today, in a room full of hundereds of people who do the exact same thing I do, and understand exactly what I'm talking about when I say I'm going to the Kodaly session, it was nice.

The Kodaly session today was on a new kind of curriculum, based on Kodaly, but much of the presentation was on why this Kodaly method is better than the traditional Hungarian version of Kodaly's teachings. It was a LOT to take in in an hour. Kind of like trying to drink out of a firehose.

We also went to a reading session. This means we sang through about 20 pieces of music in an hour. Fun singing, not as much fun to evaluate each piece as we went through them. I did enjoy singing different parts, though. I'd switch parts in the middle of the song, just to get a wierd look from Becky. She was singing the other part next to me. Tee hee... :)

OK, that's music geek humor right there. Musical jokes. Intentionally not resolving the suspension at the end of a song. She hit me for that one.

Music geek statement of the day: "You know you're a music geek when you categorize people by their voice part."

Anyway, it was fun. To be among my own kind. To be able to burst out in song and not have anyone bat an eye.

I'm back tomorrow, for more singing, more learning, more musical jokes.

I'm going to go to the "Harmonicas in the Classroom" session. That seems like a musical joke in itself...

Musically,
K

love

This is my nephew. Just wanted you to see this lovely picture that he took him-very-self. You see, Nana got him a camera for christmas, and he has been taking pictures like crazy. I guess he wanted to see what he looks like with a funny face...it certainly made me laugh!

Ah, I love him. :)
K

one old friend and two new ones

I had such a nice time tonight.

When I used to live across the country, I had a roommate at one point. His name is Micah. We lived together for about 2 years, and aside from his inability to get his dirty dishes into the dishwasher, he really was a good roommate. Good person, nice to be around, and we got along well. Micah is a cyclist, and since I've known him has worked for either a professional cycling team, or a cycling events promoter. Several times I worked bicycle races with him and had a really good time even though I am the farthest from a cyclist than anybody.

A couple months ago, I was at a college football game watching party, and everyone was introducing each other. Sam said he worked at USA Cycling. Since Micah is into cycling, I asked if he knew Micah through his cycling connections. And Sam said..."Yeah. He's moving here next month." I was floored.

Long story short, we tried to meet up for awhile, but tonight he and his family came over. I got to meet his wife, and his 4 year-old daughter. We had a great time talking, catching up, and playing CandyLand (for the 4 year-old).

It was such fun to catch up with someone I knew 12 years ago, and to just spend time talking. I never thought that it would be so nice to gain a friend that I hadn't talked to in 12 years, but it was great. I guess we were really friends, and not just roommates.

And I won a game of CandyLand. :)
K

grow, connect, serve

I just had a fantastic weekend.

The High School group at church went on a winter retreat this weekend: High Altitude. It was GREAT!
We played: in the pool, dodge ball in the gym, card games, relay races, tubing run, and we duct taped several people to the wall. It was fun!

We ate: food was good at the camp, and one of our moms sent a TON of great snacks. We ate all weekend. The group that eats together, stays together...?

We worshiped: Jeff came up and led us in several great times of worship. It was perfect, to be able to sing and worship all together as a group.

We fellowshiped: several of us just sat around and made bracelets and talked.

We talked: our topic was Grow; Connect; Serve. Our new pastor come up and did our talks on Saturday. He talked about how important it is in you spiritual life to Grow - to be continually in the scriptures. To have a plan to do this, and to be faithful in it, otherwise your faith will founder. He talked about how important it is to connect with other believers - to have people you know and that know you. People that will support you, as well as call you on stuff. People to live life with and alongside. To have a plan to do this, otherwise your spiritual life will wither. He talked about how important it is to serve - to find people outside your usual circle of influence, find out what their needs are and meet them. Because in serving others, you have relationship. It was really good. Then, on Sunday, we all talked in a big group about how we can do this in real life after retreat is over.

We celebrated: my friend got a personal relationship with God this weekend. That was the MOST exciting part of the weekend. I'm super glad she came and that she opened her heart up to Jesus.

We loved: my friend Beth was there, and we got to spend time together and grow our friendship. I REALLY enjoy spending time with her.

We didn't sleep so much, but that's what tonight is for!

On the way to a nap,
K

the bag lady

If you are not a bag lady, like I am, then read no further.

But if you are drawn to a well made bag with beautiful fabric and great organization, the go check out my friend Karen. She makes custom bags, and they are fantastic. I personally own 5, and gave my sister one for her last birthday. Karen does beautiful work, and has an eye for what will just "work" in a bag. She makes purse-bags, messenger-bags (both for boys and girls), knitting-in-public-bags, coin-purse-bags, wallet-on-a-string-bags, and many more.

She's having a giveaway right now to celebrate 15 years of being in business, so head on over to
www.zoesbagboutique.blogspot.com
and see what she's got going on.

I may have to see about ordering another bag...
K

not so new years

Confession of the week: I really don't like New Years. Yes, I've cheerily said "Happy New Year!!" to several people this week. And I don't hold a grudge. But, I really don't feel like this time is the NEW YEAR. It still feels cold. There's no change in the weather. The school year is not even half over. I am still sneezing from packing up the fake tree and putting it back out in the garage. And, yes, I still have lights up outside.

Even though it technically is a new number I write on my checks, I don't FEEL like anything is new.

This week I was thinking about newness, and longing for the real beginning: Fall. Even though I'm not Jewish, I am totally down with the idea of Jewish new year. In Fall, there is a delicious change of seasons. In Fall, the school year is new and laid out in front of me like a blanket full of possibilities. In Fall, it's my birthday. Fall is the best part of the baseball season.

I've been on the Fall=new year schedule for my entire life: first in elementary and high school, then college and grad school, then teaching school. I think at this point that the new year is wired into my being as starting in the Fall.

As much as I love the tantalizing possibilities of the NEW YEAR, I think I will still celebrate in the fall. Maybe from now on I will do New Year's resolutions on my birthday. A new year, a new age, a new resolution to start fresh.

Happy New (middle of the) Year!
K