some of you know that my biggest struggle at work has been connecting with other staff members. they're slightly clannish and don't take too kindly to whomever they perceive as outsiders. i have a couple strikes against me in that i live inside 465, in the big city, and i'm from michigan no less. they don't quite know what to do with me, since so many are born-and-raised hoosiers.
anyway, i was forcing myself to eat in the teachers' lounge because i felt like thats the only way this is going to get any better. i'd hoped and expected to be included, but apparently that's not going to happen on its own. which i don't get because i'm nice and fun and accepting of others and rather good natured. i mean come on, i'm libby. what's not to love, right?
well, plenty, apparently.
HOWEVER. breakthrough today.
i had my first fellow-staff visitor today to drop by just to say hi. such an encouragement.
and then i had good conversation in the lunchroom, even though it was about marching band. those 4 years in the lakeshore lancer marching band paid off today at 12:48pm. so did my extensive knowledge of drum corps, thanks to joe, john, and matt. i know i've made fun of you in the past (and i will continue to do so), but today i thank you. because it helped me make a friend :)
it was also 70 degrees and sunny. and i worked out right after school, and i had a most delicious cupcake. and i raked leaves with my roommate kim. lovely day indeed,
in other news, i have a counselor breakfast at the local career center and then an educator luncheon at some upscale place in fishers tomorrow. aaaand i don't have to report back to school. so i will be wined, dined, and permissed to go home early tomorrow. happy tuesday to you and yours!
i also made some yummy (and relatively low-cal) pumpkin custard tonight, which i am eating. once i wrap this up, i'm unplugging for the evening, and delving into one of the 4 books i'm currently reading. it's 8:17pm, but it feels like much later, even since we "fell back."
this is how i know i'm getting older: with each passing year, i am more and more affected by the time change. i also find myself saying," kids these days...." on an ever-more-increasing basis. things are not as they were in the 90s. and that, my friends, is a shame. just as unfortunate as my bangs in 8th grade.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
mmmmmm coffee shops on brisk fall saturday mornings. can life get more divine? i think not.
i completely forgot to record a conversation i had with my bro JT last weekend. we were doing a puzzle (puzzle-doing brings out the deep things in our hearts) at my parents' house and jeff was like, "lib, i think i want to [wait for it...you know this is going to be good...].....make a quilt."
and i of course immediately responded, "you know i'm going to put this on the blog, right?"
he smiled kind of sheepishly and said, "seriously! i have a design in mind."
i laughed a little at that, but then it got better because apparently this has been on his heart and mind for some time now, and he admitted to staying up late into the night to design this quilt.
so naturally, i had to remind him of the time in the late 90s that he made his own bellbottoms out of some tapered khaki pants he had on hand, some plaid scraps of fabric from the basement, and embroidery floss.
"embroidery floss?" you ask? well, of course.
what else would he use to stitch into the newly created flared ankled region, but his own rendition of pink floyd's iconic cover of the dark side of the moon LP? i can't believe you even had to ask.
see, this is why i love the internets and computers. i now have an evolving, and permanent, collection of jeffthoughts and jeffmemories. and you do to!! merry christmas.
i was supposed to go to a conference up in wabash for the day, but my friend who was to meet me there had to back out, i didn't want to go alone, and so i now find myself with a whole, free, saturday in front of me. and i can hardly stand how great it feels. however, because i thought i would be going to the conference, i didn't sign up for the indy monumental 1/2 marathon, and as i passed the runners on meridian, i must admit a tinge of jealousy. part of what i love about running is the "i've just conquered the world" feeling after a long race. and of course the "and i shall thus conquer this german pancake." proclamation at the post-race trip to the pancake house. mmmm pancakes.
reminds me of this...
i completely forgot to record a conversation i had with my bro JT last weekend. we were doing a puzzle (puzzle-doing brings out the deep things in our hearts) at my parents' house and jeff was like, "lib, i think i want to [wait for it...you know this is going to be good...].....make a quilt."
and i of course immediately responded, "you know i'm going to put this on the blog, right?"
he smiled kind of sheepishly and said, "seriously! i have a design in mind."
i laughed a little at that, but then it got better because apparently this has been on his heart and mind for some time now, and he admitted to staying up late into the night to design this quilt.
so naturally, i had to remind him of the time in the late 90s that he made his own bellbottoms out of some tapered khaki pants he had on hand, some plaid scraps of fabric from the basement, and embroidery floss.
"embroidery floss?" you ask? well, of course.
what else would he use to stitch into the newly created flared ankled region, but his own rendition of pink floyd's iconic cover of the dark side of the moon LP? i can't believe you even had to ask.
see, this is why i love the internets and computers. i now have an evolving, and permanent, collection of jeffthoughts and jeffmemories. and you do to!! merry christmas.
i was supposed to go to a conference up in wabash for the day, but my friend who was to meet me there had to back out, i didn't want to go alone, and so i now find myself with a whole, free, saturday in front of me. and i can hardly stand how great it feels. however, because i thought i would be going to the conference, i didn't sign up for the indy monumental 1/2 marathon, and as i passed the runners on meridian, i must admit a tinge of jealousy. part of what i love about running is the "i've just conquered the world" feeling after a long race. and of course the "and i shall thus conquer this german pancake." proclamation at the post-race trip to the pancake house. mmmm pancakes.
reminds me of this...
Monday, November 1, 2010
tryptophan.
my favorite amino acid (which, as you know, are the building blocks of PROTEIN!). and main ingredient in turkey. and turkey is the main dish of thanksgiving dinner. and thanksgiving is one of the best holidays that occurs on the 4th thursday of my favorite month.
so in honor of november, i am embarking on a little something i like to call my gratitude project.
gratitude. /n/ ...a little something my friend and trusty research tool, wikipedia, defines as thankfulness, or appreciation, a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.
if i die tonight (hey, it could happen. and if it does, i hereby will my short shorts to becca triemstra), i want to be remembered as a grateful person. oh how i fail to be thankful on a daily basis! and i have so so much to be thankful for.
like...
a job
my church
my toothbrush
mums
moms (mine, in particular)
oh my goodness, and so much more.
i want to be intentional in naming the things in life for which i am thankful. i couldn't even scratch the surface of the ways in which i've been blessed but each morning, i assure you that i will rise each morning this month (and hopefully, this will start a habit) specifically thanking the lord for the many things he's given that i do not deserve.
and on that note.
i do not want to go to the gym, but i deserve to have to go because of the insane amounts of apple crisp i've consumed in the past 2 hours.
gluttony. such a drag.
so in honor of november, i am embarking on a little something i like to call my gratitude project.
gratitude. /n/ ...a little something my friend and trusty research tool, wikipedia, defines as thankfulness, or appreciation, a positive emotion or attitude in acknowledgment of a benefit that one has received or will receive.
if i die tonight (hey, it could happen. and if it does, i hereby will my short shorts to becca triemstra), i want to be remembered as a grateful person. oh how i fail to be thankful on a daily basis! and i have so so much to be thankful for.
like...
a job
my church
my toothbrush
mums
moms (mine, in particular)
oh my goodness, and so much more.
i want to be intentional in naming the things in life for which i am thankful. i couldn't even scratch the surface of the ways in which i've been blessed but each morning, i assure you that i will rise each morning this month (and hopefully, this will start a habit) specifically thanking the lord for the many things he's given that i do not deserve.
and on that note.
i do not want to go to the gym, but i deserve to have to go because of the insane amounts of apple crisp i've consumed in the past 2 hours.
gluttony. such a drag.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
shady seedy sketchy, and my personal favorite....janky
what do these adjectives have in common?
i'm glad you asked! they all describe the motel i stayed in with my bff beth this weekend. our night at the knights inn in downtown columbus was sketchy to say the least, dangerous to say the most, but completely bearable. i can't speak for beth, but i, for one, left patting myself on the back for not being so high-maintenance as to require luxury accommodations.
that being said, the fear of bedbugs and the dirty washcloth left in the bathtub made me think that camping might be the way to go from here on out. this was definitely, definitely the second seediest motel i've ever stayed at. and if you haven't heard about the pacific sands motel in santa monica california, we must talk asap. it is a good story indeed. the experience was shared with another great girl, my dear friend jessica.
check it out here
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g33052-d119459-Reviews-Pacific_Sands_Motel-Santa_Monica_California.html
laughing out loud right now, because the "candid pictures" say it all. love love love. oh the memories!!
in other news, i now give you ten facts about my last week. you know, things that don't warrant a whole post. stream of consciousness a la viriginia woolf (see, i remember something from brit lit)
1. my grandma has precisely 11 jars of candy in her kitchen. i stopped by for a quick visit after my saturday o' bff bliss, and i promptly took up residence next to said candy jars as i warded off judgmental comments from my dad (jk, JSR!)
2. i finally called my dear friend and former roommate lydia tonight and, in keeping with tradition left an obnoxiously long voicemail message. every time we call each other and leave messages, we talk until we run out of time. it's a continual effort to outdo the last effort.
3. i dig the new fall nail polish color trends this season. currently sporting two shades of purple.
4. currently reading:
Radical
A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichal
Gripped by the Grace of God
and they all come highly recommended.
5. i recently started a new flossing regimen. riveting.
6. i have developed a delicious lower-fat and lower-calorie pumpkin pie type dessert. basically its pumpkin pie filling sans crust, made with 2% evaporated milk and half the sugar called for in the recipe. try it, you will like it.
7, have i mentioned how much i love being a school counselor? what a great gig.
8. what does it say about how i have spent my time in the past year when i've already seen all SEVEN of the dvr'd forensic files episodes? seriously?! and the worst part is, i was kind of annoyed about it.
9. i am so totally grateful for my friends and family. i don't know how to express that any other way, and i feel like a broken record, but it's true. and i'll say it again, i'm sure.
10. orange you glad we're at fact 10? speaking of citrus, i am in need of some new satsuma lotion from the body shop.
and on that not, the weigh in is over, and the voting has commenced. must focus on the biggest loser before i head upstairs for bedtime. fall break starts in approximately 16.5 hours. yay!
i'm glad you asked! they all describe the motel i stayed in with my bff beth this weekend. our night at the knights inn in downtown columbus was sketchy to say the least, dangerous to say the most, but completely bearable. i can't speak for beth, but i, for one, left patting myself on the back for not being so high-maintenance as to require luxury accommodations.
that being said, the fear of bedbugs and the dirty washcloth left in the bathtub made me think that camping might be the way to go from here on out. this was definitely, definitely the second seediest motel i've ever stayed at. and if you haven't heard about the pacific sands motel in santa monica california, we must talk asap. it is a good story indeed. the experience was shared with another great girl, my dear friend jessica.
check it out here
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g33052-d119459-Reviews-Pacific_Sands_Motel-Santa_Monica_California.html
laughing out loud right now, because the "candid pictures" say it all. love love love. oh the memories!!
in other news, i now give you ten facts about my last week. you know, things that don't warrant a whole post. stream of consciousness a la viriginia woolf (see, i remember something from brit lit)
1. my grandma has precisely 11 jars of candy in her kitchen. i stopped by for a quick visit after my saturday o' bff bliss, and i promptly took up residence next to said candy jars as i warded off judgmental comments from my dad (jk, JSR!)
2. i finally called my dear friend and former roommate lydia tonight and, in keeping with tradition left an obnoxiously long voicemail message. every time we call each other and leave messages, we talk until we run out of time. it's a continual effort to outdo the last effort.
3. i dig the new fall nail polish color trends this season. currently sporting two shades of purple.
4. currently reading:
Radical
A Chance to Die: The Life and Legacy of Amy Carmichal
Gripped by the Grace of God
and they all come highly recommended.
5. i recently started a new flossing regimen. riveting.
6. i have developed a delicious lower-fat and lower-calorie pumpkin pie type dessert. basically its pumpkin pie filling sans crust, made with 2% evaporated milk and half the sugar called for in the recipe. try it, you will like it.
7, have i mentioned how much i love being a school counselor? what a great gig.
8. what does it say about how i have spent my time in the past year when i've already seen all SEVEN of the dvr'd forensic files episodes? seriously?! and the worst part is, i was kind of annoyed about it.
9. i am so totally grateful for my friends and family. i don't know how to express that any other way, and i feel like a broken record, but it's true. and i'll say it again, i'm sure.
10. orange you glad we're at fact 10? speaking of citrus, i am in need of some new satsuma lotion from the body shop.
and on that not, the weigh in is over, and the voting has commenced. must focus on the biggest loser before i head upstairs for bedtime. fall break starts in approximately 16.5 hours. yay!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
HA-HA-Ha-liday and other miscellany
so i'd forgotten that i have to "moderate" comments on this here blog and i was feeling very much unloved (and therefore stopped writing). and then i realized that i had several comments pending my approval & yet to be published. long story short, i had lots that were just spam comments or whatever and only two good ones (from two of my favorite people and you know who you are). so with two easy clicks, they are now published.
and while i didn't publish this one, i did laugh, out loud. and i quote:
"Are you a lover of animals not? if any, to invite you to my blog my blog .on many lovely animals. http://petverylovely.blogspot.com/"
there are so many things i love about that, that i'm not even going to mention them. just take it for what it is, have a few laughs, and now give me your full attention.
ahem.
CCN 10 is just days away. and if you don't know what CCN is, you probably shouldn't be reading this because clearly you don't know me. so i ask you...what will YOU be doing october 25?
yikes, i have gotten off to quite a sarcastic start, have i not? something i'm working on not doing. but i think that's the theme of my life--making plans and not facing the music (as a wise friend once said).
and speaking of wise friends. a wise friend's brother told her that she needed to do two things (i don't remember the context). but one of them was to get enough sleep. because if you don't you'll look haggard. and i looked in the mirror just now, and haggard is the exact word i'd use.
loverly.
in other news, i get to take a miniature solo road trip to meet up with my bff beth in columbus ohio. i am so totally excited to see her. she bid on a room on hotwire and we're going to take what get, hope for the best, and get up early to drink coffee, do a crossword puzzle, and then proceed to take columbus by storm. i, for one, would like to stop by the ohio state student union, where the best-ever flash mob dance was executed and recorded. youtube it. just type in "ohio state flash mob dance." you will not regret it. and if you do, i will pay you one dollar.
why, you ask? because i am NOW EMPLOYED!
well, i have been for a while but i just transitioned into my new role as counselor. loving it, so much!
more later, my friends. for now, i've got to pack for my trip, organize my closet, brew** a giant pot of chai tea and watch project runway late into the night. tgif tomorrow! yahoozers.
**rlw4@calvin.edu has forever marred my perception of the word "brew." you know who you are. and i was not the only one so traumatized. (right, ajb5?)
love to all, merry ccn, and happy weekend!
and while i didn't publish this one, i did laugh, out loud. and i quote:
"Are you a lover of animals not? if any, to invite you to my blog my blog .on many lovely animals. http://petverylovely.blogspot.com/"
there are so many things i love about that, that i'm not even going to mention them. just take it for what it is, have a few laughs, and now give me your full attention.
ahem.
CCN 10 is just days away. and if you don't know what CCN is, you probably shouldn't be reading this because clearly you don't know me. so i ask you...what will YOU be doing october 25?
yikes, i have gotten off to quite a sarcastic start, have i not? something i'm working on not doing. but i think that's the theme of my life--making plans and not facing the music (as a wise friend once said).
and speaking of wise friends. a wise friend's brother told her that she needed to do two things (i don't remember the context). but one of them was to get enough sleep. because if you don't you'll look haggard. and i looked in the mirror just now, and haggard is the exact word i'd use.
loverly.
in other news, i get to take a miniature solo road trip to meet up with my bff beth in columbus ohio. i am so totally excited to see her. she bid on a room on hotwire and we're going to take what get, hope for the best, and get up early to drink coffee, do a crossword puzzle, and then proceed to take columbus by storm. i, for one, would like to stop by the ohio state student union, where the best-ever flash mob dance was executed and recorded. youtube it. just type in "ohio state flash mob dance." you will not regret it. and if you do, i will pay you one dollar.
why, you ask? because i am NOW EMPLOYED!
well, i have been for a while but i just transitioned into my new role as counselor. loving it, so much!
more later, my friends. for now, i've got to pack for my trip, organize my closet, brew** a giant pot of chai tea and watch project runway late into the night. tgif tomorrow! yahoozers.
**rlw4@calvin.edu has forever marred my perception of the word "brew." you know who you are. and i was not the only one so traumatized. (right, ajb5?)
love to all, merry ccn, and happy weekend!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
terrain.
talk about a slump, people.
do you ever wonder what it will take to start doing what you're not only supposed to do, but more than that, what you're meant to do? and you can take that as you willl...as deep as you desire. i could be talking about life calling or i could be talking straight up household chores. it doesn't really matter..this summer i have consistently been a disappointment to myself. and i can only imagine what kind of kick in the pants god wants to give me right now. not only are my daily routines nonexistent, but my direction is confused, and i have wasted so much time. and for all the sheer relaxing i've done, i am weary. seriously?
what gives?
i almost hate to broadcast this because my life is so easy. i have it so good. so very good. even as i write this, i am thinking of a handful of precious people in my life who are walking through true valleys in life right now. and some of them are walking that path so well.
there's a book i thumbed through a few years ago...i never read it (because i was at borders and i hadn't yet discovered the joy of staking out camp in the store and reading a book cover to cover in one sitting.) but it's called peaks and valleys, and if i remember right, the premise was that the valleys in life are important because they magnify the mountaintop experiences. we only relish those peaks because we know what the depths feel like. anyway, i'm not saying i'm in a valley right now...just a long flat road. it's like driving though central indiana. not the worst place to be, but entirely unintersting unless you like corn and soybeans.
ok i know im not even making sense. but i do have a plan. and it includes, but is not limited to:
-facebook hiatus. um, i would hate to see the number of DAYS of my life wasted checking statuses and looking at pictures of people i've not talked to in years. puh-leeese.
-intentional time spend reading the bible in the morning. 6am, no questions asked. not trying to be legalistic here, but i know the sense of peace and perspective when i make this a priority. the times in my life where i have made this a priority stand out as truly precious ones in my life, no matter the circumstances. try it. you'll like it.
-seeking others out and making things happen (fun and exciting plans in the works, stay tuned!)
-deliberate prayer regarding where i should be serving others. i tend to be selfish with my time (shocking i know!), and then i turn around and waste it.
-resolving to be the best substitute chemistry teacher/slash/counsleor mt vernon has ever seen. high fives all around.
that's all i got. off to play tennis and write to my grandma. big day, my friends. big day.
(in other news, look at my new scarf i got using my kohls cash. i didn't feel like an idiot at all for smiling big into my webcam in public.)
do you ever wonder what it will take to start doing what you're not only supposed to do, but more than that, what you're meant to do? and you can take that as you willl...as deep as you desire. i could be talking about life calling or i could be talking straight up household chores. it doesn't really matter..this summer i have consistently been a disappointment to myself. and i can only imagine what kind of kick in the pants god wants to give me right now. not only are my daily routines nonexistent, but my direction is confused, and i have wasted so much time. and for all the sheer relaxing i've done, i am weary. seriously?
what gives?
i almost hate to broadcast this because my life is so easy. i have it so good. so very good. even as i write this, i am thinking of a handful of precious people in my life who are walking through true valleys in life right now. and some of them are walking that path so well.
there's a book i thumbed through a few years ago...i never read it (because i was at borders and i hadn't yet discovered the joy of staking out camp in the store and reading a book cover to cover in one sitting.) but it's called peaks and valleys, and if i remember right, the premise was that the valleys in life are important because they magnify the mountaintop experiences. we only relish those peaks because we know what the depths feel like. anyway, i'm not saying i'm in a valley right now...just a long flat road. it's like driving though central indiana. not the worst place to be, but entirely unintersting unless you like corn and soybeans.
ok i know im not even making sense. but i do have a plan. and it includes, but is not limited to:
-facebook hiatus. um, i would hate to see the number of DAYS of my life wasted checking statuses and looking at pictures of people i've not talked to in years. puh-leeese.
-intentional time spend reading the bible in the morning. 6am, no questions asked. not trying to be legalistic here, but i know the sense of peace and perspective when i make this a priority. the times in my life where i have made this a priority stand out as truly precious ones in my life, no matter the circumstances. try it. you'll like it.
-seeking others out and making things happen (fun and exciting plans in the works, stay tuned!)
-deliberate prayer regarding where i should be serving others. i tend to be selfish with my time (shocking i know!), and then i turn around and waste it.
-resolving to be the best substitute chemistry teacher/slash/counsleor mt vernon has ever seen. high fives all around.
that's all i got. off to play tennis and write to my grandma. big day, my friends. big day.
(in other news, look at my new scarf i got using my kohls cash. i didn't feel like an idiot at all for smiling big into my webcam in public.)
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Currently Reading:
The Help (for my very first book club! it's hard to convey the excitement. and the book so far is great! you've probably heard this already.)
Judges, Book of (fascinating. frightening. and confusing.)
and I have on of Lauren Winner's books on hold at the library. so that will soon join the list.
i have been uninspired this week. my apologies. it's been a difficult one, life-wise. and on top of some just plain hard things, i have been very convicted about the ways i spend my time. taking a 1/2 day retreat this afternoon with my bible, my journal, and hopefully some good coffee. drink, pray, think. one of the things i love about being a teacher is that there are so many natural breaking seasons of the year where you can regroup, reevaluate, and make changes. i'm sad to see my "carefree" summer ending, but i am glad to not only have a job, but also to have space to change some things up, to get back on track in so many areas of life that have fallen by the wayside. little by little....
Judges, Book of (fascinating. frightening. and confusing.)
and I have on of Lauren Winner's books on hold at the library. so that will soon join the list.
i have been uninspired this week. my apologies. it's been a difficult one, life-wise. and on top of some just plain hard things, i have been very convicted about the ways i spend my time. taking a 1/2 day retreat this afternoon with my bible, my journal, and hopefully some good coffee. drink, pray, think. one of the things i love about being a teacher is that there are so many natural breaking seasons of the year where you can regroup, reevaluate, and make changes. i'm sad to see my "carefree" summer ending, but i am glad to not only have a job, but also to have space to change some things up, to get back on track in so many areas of life that have fallen by the wayside. little by little....
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