Thursday, October 30, 2008

It's So Good I Had To Check My Horoscope

What a great day it's been. It's been uplifting to say the least. This afternoon as I was on my way to lunch I ran in to a mom at school who has been fighting breast cancer. I spoke with her back in mid-September about her cancer and shared some of the things that my mother has been going through as well. I wanted to support her and let her know we are all on her side in her fight. Unfortunately, even though she's young, the prognosis for the kind of cancer she has isn't very good. However she's fighting the good fight, she looks strong and despite her illness she seems like she's doing pretty well. She underwent a double-mastectomy 3 weeks ago today.

We had a nice chat and she remembered about my mom. She asked how my mom is. I gave her the latest news I have and she asked me to tell my mom that she's in this lady's prayers as well. One of these days I want to cook a meal for their family and take it over there for them. I know when I had my surgery, that was a life saver for me.

Anyway, our conversation left me feeling highly emotional and missing my mom. I teared up and did a little crying with this mom and on my way home I just felt like crying instead of eating. As I approached the last intersection before home, there was a man and his manly dog approaching the street as well. I waved them through the intersection and like any polite person, he smiled and waved. I smiled and waved back....not before noticing he was pretty good looking. As they were crossing the street, I was admiring the scenery walking past my car. As I was getting ready to pull out, he did a full body turn, smiled a big dimply smile and waved again. I swear my heart stopped. I'm pretty used to going largely unnoticed, so I was shocked and oh so pleasantly surprised. As I drove in to the driveway at least a minute later my heart was still pumping hard. Unfortunately his dad was pooping down the block so I didn't get to take another gander at him. In just that one little moment, my day was made so much brighter. I think he was my happiness angel for the day. He was simply radiant...I can't really explain it.

Anyway, the rest of my day was pretty good. After school we went to the store and picked up pumpkins to carve tonight. We also picked up a few odds and ends groceries from the store as well. We went home, I started Gman on his homework and then a little later on I went for a walk with a friend of mine. I've been making a point to get out and work out at least 3 or 4 times a week. It's so much easier to walk for an hour with a friend and good conversation. Plus you can gauge your breath easier when you walk with a friend. We walked for a little over an hour and the endorphins were running high and increasing my happy mood.

On my way home I realized a couple of other things I needed to get at the store so I ran back, grabbed Gman, and headed to the grocery store just a couple of blocks away....also where my police officer crush works.

I haven't seen my crush since early September despite many failed attempts at going to that store to see if he was working. Tonight he was working!!!! Of course it's not the night I'm in a skirt and heels. Oh no, it's the night that I'm in my yoga pants, I haven't showered since yesterday morning and my hair is not only in a pony tail..not my most flattering style but also it's greasy and my back was damp with sweat from the brisk walk I had just taken.

I skirted around him because I was embarrassed about my appearance and probably smell. However as I came from an aisle, there he was, walking by. So I had to say hello. I was so happy to see his handsome smile and glittering eyes. He said hi and touched my elbow. Wow. That part of the store was incredibly congested so I said, "Let's move out of the way so we don't get run over." When we stopped he gave me the biggest hug. YUM! We chatted for just a bit and he was on his way to do something so he said he'd meet me at the checkout to chat more when he was done doing his errand.

I was done shopping so I picked the absolute longest grocery line I could..which at 6:15 at night isn't difficult. He came up shortly after I was finished paying and we chatted again, another hug and *sigh* I was a big ole puddle of melted butter.

We went about our merry way and went home. I fixed dinner and realized I hadn't gotten my students any Halloween treats for tomorrow. OOPS, darn I have to go back to the store where my crush works. Bummer.......ok just kidding. I was thrilled.

When I got there he was gone. How sad. I went and got treats then went to the zip loc bag aisle to get a box of bags to put treats in. Who should I run in to coming out of that aisle but the officer? It's my lucky day!

So I made some silly comment about not really being a stalker. He laughed, we chatted some more. More arm touching. *swoon* Then I decided before I lost my nerve to invite him to a singles gathering, which is really more of a friends gathering but we are all single and co-ed so I figured it was a low risk invite. He asked me when and where and immediately pulled out his Blackberry. Hehehehe. As I was telling him info he was typing it in and we were joking a little back and forth. He expressed concern about changes of plans and how disappointed he'd be if he showed up there and nobody was there. I assured him there would be no change of plans but I could give him my number...only if he wanted it. Well he didn't turn it down. He handed his phone to me, showed me how to type in the numbers and got my number that way.

It was kind of funny though. He asked if it was my real number. I couldn't resist saying, "No, it's my ex husband's phone number, I hope you don't mind." Then chuckled a little before saying it is my real number. He said it sounds like fun and he'd plan to be there. YAY!!!!

So I guess it's an unofficial date. I hope he uses my number before that night because I didn't ask for his number back. No need to feel tempted to call him if I don't have his number.

I came home, we ate dinner and carved pumpkins. It was a splendid day and tomorrow will be a fun day as well with Halloween.

I'm especially looking forward to the Halloween parade with the kids. I am lending Gman's old handmade Elvis Preseley costume from a couple of years ago to this little boy. He's hispanic and speaks very little English so for the last 2 days, we've been trying to teach him "Thank ya......thank ya verah much!!!" I think he almost has it down. :o) I can't wait until tomorrow.

Gman is going to be the spooky Grim Reaper and since he can't take his scythe to school(because it's a toy weapon) he has brilliantly thought of being the Guitar Hero Grim Reaper with a scythe shaped "guitar" that he has created. I can't even begin to tell you how much I love the creativity that little boy has!!

Well that's enough. I'm exhausted and still have greasy, grimy pumpkin guts to clean up.

Happy Halloween Everyone!!

Bliss

Lately due to incredible amounts of stress, my normally sunshiny mood has been transformed to a big black cloud. If I could erase the first half of last week from my time here on earth, I would. However, since there are no do-overs in the game of life, I decided to try to make the best out of the week that I could.

I searched myself long and hard for some good things I could pull out of the dismal days of last week that would make for good pocket tools going forward. Thursday night was the height of the stress but fortunately it was all resolved and I celebrated by meeting one of my most fun girlfriends for karaoke and some of our favorite brew. Two other friends were also there and the whole group is a riot to be around. It was just what the doctor ordered for Thursday. We ended the night earlier than we usually do when we get together and kept our promises to ourselves. That felt good.

Friday was a much needed day off from work. Earlier in the week I had decided that I needed to do some good things for myself. I used to do at least one nice thing for myself each week, but recently I've gotten away from being good to myself and it makes a huge difference in life. If you aren't good to yourself, who can you always rely on to be good to you? I think it's ok to pamper yourself once in awhile. Give yourself permission people! You only live once.

Friday I did a little cleaning, showered and then left the house for the first of my two pampering sessions of the day. I was going to a retreat Friday evening. I didn't want to have to spend my entire evening and half the morning on Saturday trying to wind down so I decided to go get a pedicure. I think the last time I got one of those was 6 or 7 years ago when I cashed in a gift certificate I had gotten. Most of the time it's hard for me to justify that kind of money for something I can do by myself. However it feels so good to have your feet soak in a bubbly tub of warm water, have crunchy exfolient rubbed in to my legs then lotion slathered all over my legs and feet. It feels good to have that caring touch when you don't get it on a regular basis. Even if you have to pay for it. (prostitutes and jiggalos don't apply in this writing segment even though they can give you that caring touch too...haha)

Anyway, when my toes were all done they were so pretty that I asked her if she had time to do my nails too. She did so I gave her the go ahead and loved the color so much that I bought myself the bottle of that color fingernail polish so I could paint my nails with that color after this. My toenails and fingernails looked so pretty when I left.

I had a massage scheduled for just the right amount of time to drive from the nails place to the massage school when I had an hour scheduled. I left the massage school feeling like a piece of rubber.

After the massage I drove home, packed my backpack with necessities for the retreat and drove out there. I have to admit that walking in to a place full of strangers was mildly anxiety producing for me, but the group was very welcoming and friendly. The dinner conversation was nice and after that we all congregated around the bonfire our host had prepared for us. After doing our thing around the fire I decided to get in the hot tub. I felt a little weird about that because I had to bring my old suit. I have no idea what I did with my new one. (*mental note to self...find new bathing suit before you go on another retreat*) I quickly ran from the inside of the house and hopped in the hot tub before anyone could notice that I had to wear a tank top under the suit so the sagginess of the old suit wouldn't expose my chest area.

I stayed in the hot tub until bedtime. Elapsed time was 3 hours turning myself in to a human raisin in a tub of hot, bubbly water. It was bliss!! When I went to bed I felt more relaxed than I have in as long as I can remember. It was just what I needed and deserved.

My roomie was a tosser and turner but she didn't keep me up too long. When I fell asleep I slept like a baby. I woke up feeling refreshed and stress pain free for the first time in a long time too. It felt good to be alive. The best part was waking up, looking out the window overlooking the crystal blue pool and wooded gully and seeing the sun glistening through the dew on the trees.

The morning was filled with organic breakfast and silence. About 2 hours of yoga and meditation(extremely relaxing and blissful...I didn't want it to end) then a ceremony to honor the goddess within each of us women at the retreat.

I left there feeling graceful, cleansed, relaxed and all around happy.

It was a little spendy to do all of this stuff for myself, however it was the best way I could have spent my money to get myself balanced and centered again so I could be my happy, fun self again. My batteries feel fully recharged now and I will definately be doing another goddess retreat when I get the first chance financially.

If you don't take the time out of your busy life to really treat yourself once in awhile, I'd highly suggest it. Your inner child and outer adult will thank you with top performance and bliss that takes a long time to wear off because your self is so happy you took care of it instead of others for once.

Single moms especially need to take time out and do this at least once a year. Maybe more.

Soon the polish will chip off my nails....oh yeah it already is. The cuticles will grow back, the knots will form between my shoulders and the wonderful things about the retreat will fade in my mind, but when I need to be reminded again, that will be when I decide to take another retreat just for me. I know I've noticed the change in my demeanor since getting home yesterday afternoon and I have a feeling people will notice that inner glow shining from the inside out to them. My flame has been fanned.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

Catching Up

My gosh, I haven't blogged in so long. It's almost embarrassing, considering that I like to blog pretty much every day. I guess I've been pre-occupied with work, Gman and life in general.

Lately I've been feeling.....hmmmmm.....centered but a little left of center. Gman is testing in school again and trying to manipulate all of his teachers, his dad and me. I busted him and figured out his game, much to his chagrin. lol I met with all 3 of his teachers this week to let them know what's going on and discuss some methods of solving the problem.

One of the meetings I was really dreading because he strikes me as a beer drinking, football loving, T.V. watching egomaniac. He has this "better than you" attitude and it's a little intimidating to me. I like to think of all my co-workers as peers but this teacher........I dunno. As a co-worker I don't have much respect for him. But that's another story. I'm just glad that we got everything fixed and are on the right track again. It will be interesting to see if this teacher follows the problem solving steps we set up at the meeting.

On a funnier note. Gman hates being boxed in because then he knows he can't lie his way out of homework and all that good stuff. It makes me laugh because every year he seems so surprised that he's gotten busted, but he's been doing this since kindergarten. He gets busted every year and we clamp it down on him then he gets in to doing what he is supposed to do. It kind of makes me laugh. He gets so mad when I say, let's see the assignment notebook and let's see the completed homework. Now I've made those things his ticket to fun at night. No assignment notebook, no friends, no going out for awhile, no T.V., desert, or gameboy. hahahaha He cracks me up. Once that happens he never forgets anything. Go figure. Selective memory.

Dating lately has been a fiasco as usual. I don't know if I'm just afraid to commit to someone or if they are really as bad as I think they are. For some reason, every guy I go out with thinks I want to have sex on the first date. Is that what women in the online dating world are doing to get attention? It's just not my style to jump in to bed with some guy I just met...no matter how attractive he is. Then, there must still be this idea of "no means yes" for guys. I met a guy a few weeks ago that I really liked but he was just too damned pushy and wouldn't take no for an answer on the first date. He did a few inappropriate things and the night ended. That in and of itself was a strike but I decided to give him more of a chance. The clincher was that he'd invite me over to his place almost every night for the next week instead of asking me out on a date. Do ya think I'm a desperate floozy dude? I gave him the boot via email. I didn't think he deserved a phone call after treating me like that.

I don't know if guys think that because I'm a big girl, I have trouble finding dates and I'm desperate. However that is very much not the case. I haven't ever really had a hard time finding guys to go out with and now that I realize that I can thumb my nose at the guys who have less than desirable character flaws.

On a brighter dating note. I've been at the grocery store almost every day looking for the hottie cop that works there sometimes. A little back history. His first job is that he's a sherriff's deputy. I met him 4 years ago or maybe even longer ago when I was a security officer for an apartment complex that was being built. Mr. Hottie Cop would come to the complex to do his morning paperwork and one morning we got talking. We became fast friends. There was some flirting but he was married and I was in a serious relationship so the flirting remained innocent.

Somewhere around a year ago we ran in to each other at his moonlighting job as an off duty officer at the grocery store a few blocks from my apartment. Yippeee. I reintroduced myself to him and he remembered me. There was lots of flirting and the chemistry was still there. I thought he was still married so I didn't do any touching back.

A few weeks ago I found out he has been divorced for 4 years. YAYYYY! He did some overt flirting which I was oblivious to until I got in my car and was driving and then did the whole DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH thing. Now, just about every day I think of something I need to buy at that grocery store and I look for him. However he hasn't been there when I have been. So after an entire month of this, I finally did what any stalker worth her salt would do. I called the store and asked when he is working again. Apparently he had worked that day....the one day I didn't go in, and she told me he's working again today. Double YAYYYY! I'm nervous and excited to see him again. A guy friend gave me a pointer of what to do to let him know I'm interested since I totally blew it with him last time. I fully intend to let him know I'm interested today. :o)

After my grocery shopping adventure, Gman and I are going to go camping overnight. He's invited a school buddy along. I like it when he brings friends because it's a great social practice experience for him. When it's still in the upper 70's in October we take advantage of it. I hope the winter is as mild. That will make recess duty so much more pleasant.

The job is going well right now. I really love my schedule this year and I really love the kids that I have in the low reading group. They are all just really great kids. It's funny...not one of them annoy me on a daily basis. They are an interesting group. They are either all angels on a particular day or they are all acting up on a particular day. It's kind of weird. Yesterday was a challenging day. They were all talkative and squirrelly. It was pretty cool though because a couple of girls in a higher reading class told me they wished they were in my reading group. awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. I always try to make them feel good that they are with their teacher by telling them I'm mean but they never believe me. lol
It feels so good that I am doing what I love and what God intended for me to do in my life. My only regret is that I've fought it for so long because of the lack of money you make. The thing I didn't realize before is that it's not all about the money. It's about loving your job and your job not seeming like work. There's no amount of money that can make up for loving what you do.

I remember being at a weekend seminar at school a few years ago and the guy saying that going to work should be like going out for a Saturday night. If you don't LOVE what you do, then why are you there? I couldn't agree with him more. When I was in the corporate world I was miserable. It wasn't for me. I'm too dang social to sit at a cubicle and work all day long. I'm much better at talking to students, helping them excel, giving compliments, talking to teachers, and socializing all day. I often find myself thinking...."I can't believe I get paid to do this!" That is the ultimate in satisfaction. (even though the pay isn't so great)

Hmmm, what else should I write about? I guess since the writing isn't flowing, I'll close for now. I need to get some laundry and dishes done anyway.