Last Friday I had my code 3 or teacher leave day. Tracy and I took ours together and a nice girls "day out"! We went to Great Harvest as usual and had our scone and tea and then went and packed for the day. I had time to clean up the house which was nice. I hate coming home to a mess!
We drove out to Wabasha and stopped at the Lark Toy Store to do some Christmas shopping for friends and family. I actually have all of my out-of-town shopping done now! We then drove into Wabasha and had lunch with Jon at The Olde Triangle Irish Pub. What a great name! I briefly considered it a title for my autobiography but somehow I am not ready for the "Olde" part yet! Tracy ordered bangers and mash and I tried the shepard's pie. Jon had a hamburger... Tracy and I also tried a beer we had never had before which was quite good. The shepards pie was delicious and really hit the spot on such a cool, rainy Fall day. Tracy was even befriended by one of the locals! A gal sat down next to us at the bar and started showing Tracy pictures and talking nonstop. Awesome! After lunch we went across mainstreet to the Chocolate Escape and purchased a few truffles and cordials for the road. On the way out I followed main street down and sat in front of my little dream house. It is still for sale and we are still unable to buy at this time (debt must come first)It is really too bad. I would love to buy a piece of Wabasha history and fix it up nice as way of showing that community we are willing to invest in them even if we can't live there right now. I like the feel of Wabasha. It is one of the oldest river towns and has so much history and character! Finally with one last longing look at "my house" we drove north.The drive was not the clear blue sky drive of last Fall but more the overcast somewhat rainy type of Fall day. We have been without rain for almost a month so it was actually welcome. We had a nice leisurly drive to the cities and found a great hotel to stay in for the night. Last time we stayed at the Waterpark of America which had been taken over by the Radisson and not for the better.It was not a great experience... The Hilton is just off of France Ave, brand spankin' new and right on American Blvd which will take you to the Mall of America and other places worth going. After choosing our room, we headed over to the Mall of America with what was left of our day. We shopped for hours and then had a nice dinner at Tucci Benucch. We then shopped until 9:30 (when everything closed!) and headed to the hotel for a much deserved rest.The following day we had breakfast in the hotel lobby (not so great) and went to Groth music. Jon and I had just been there and had bought Rhi a french horn. Tracy and I were in total music teacher heaven for hours! I finished off some of my Christmas shopping (especially for Rhi) and got a little pumpkin shaker for Max. We went over to the Mall of America and did a little more shopping and then headed home to see Rhi's soccer game. It was a very long 24 hours but *very* fun!My spoils include a beautiful tiffany dragonfly lamp from the Lark Toy Store for our TV room, a warm top and sweater from JJill, music stuff for school and Christmas presents for people. I wanted a nice pair of brown clogs but never found any I liked. This code 3 day will have to last me until the MEA break in October. School is just brutal. I can't keep up the kind of energy needed to function there. Each year it gets harder than the last and yet I march on. I really do love it but it take *so much* out of me and lately I just feel I don't have anymore to give.Packers lost, Cowboys lost (in their new stadium!) and Vikes won! I hate to gloat but....Ah yes, it's going to be a great day!
Already feeling like I am not going to make it through this year. *Way* to much going on. I'm too old for this.
Last year I had lots of great support to help me get through the day my mom died. The complete and total opposite could be said of this year barring my best friend Tracy. Does the term "dumped on" mean anything? It was not a day to have moments of quiet reflection and time to myself. As usual I was responsible for all that was going wrong and it was my job to fix it as well. By myself. Today is will be the same. Going to work is as much peace as I ever get and that's pretty sad.
I tried to find the perfect quote or lyric but none seemed to right.
I miss my mom.
Wow! I had a great first day of school albeit very tiring! We have new office staff and a few new kids from boundary changes so there was a different feel. It kind of felt like I was dreaming. That surreal feeling. Some kind of weird disconnect. I think I am just tired. My dreams have been very vivid the past few nights so I haven't slept very well.
President O's speech went very well. We have a lot of far right wing folks where I live that are chanting "Socialist" and all the usual retoric but the day went well despite their best efforts to do their worst. This divisiveness is very scary though. People I would have never suspected are jumping on the hate talk bandwagon. People who used to be Liberal in their beliefs system are turning Conservative as they begin to make more money (common with the Docs). Those that have changed their entire values system are especially disappointing to me. Close friends who I thought I knew and now wonder if anything they ever said was honest. Greed in its finest form. *Sigh* Sometimes people really suck. I have a good quote for tonight:
We are in the "selfishness" stage.
So good to have my husband home after four days of call. That's all that matters right now. I am going to bed and hopefully will wake up with a little more clarity as well as charity of heart.
We had a nice day at Wabasha with Jon. I miss him though.It will be a long four days (on call).