Reason #35

For some completely unknown and unexplainable reason I decided to bake yesterday. My friend Melissa and her baby were visiting and while Elizabeth quietly napped, I began my cookie making adventure. Melissa sat at the kitchen table looking through my scrapbooks as I carefully measured and mixed flour, eggs, sugars and other various ingredients. It was a rather "Good Housekeeping" moment I must admit. Once the chocolate chips were added to the mixture I carefully placed globs of dough onto my Pampered Chef baking stones, slid one of them into my pre-heated oven, set the timer and headed into the living room with Melissa to watch the classic 80's Disney cartoon, "The Fox and The Hound." As we enjoyed the start of our movie the house filled with delectible smells from the oven. Our mouths watered as I took the first tray out of the oven and replaced it with my second tray of ready to bake treats.

Several minutes into the baking process a loud cracking sound came from the kitchen. I quickly got up to investigate. This is what I found.

This appears to be a normal stove but look closer.


Can't tell what you are looking at? Let me get a little closer for you.


Yes, that's the door to my stove COMPLETELY shattered! How did this happen? I don't know. Why did it happen? No clue. All I know is that this is Reason #35 I don't cook very often!

As Promised

Here are a few pictures of the new place as promised. I didn't include all of the rooms because I haven't done any decorating in them yet. But at least you can see some of what I've been up to the last few weeks. As I get things finished I'll post more pictures.

Thanks

Thanks to all that responded to my last post. I haven't figured out exactly what I'm going to do, but I have a few ideas bouncing around in my head. I'll let you know when something concrete actually takes place.

Since I last wrote Rob and I have finally moved into our new apartment. We are really enjoying the extra space and the fact that we have no stairs to climb! (I think that's my favorite part!) I've finally made it through all of the boxes and am now beginning to actually decorate. When I get things hung I'll post some pictures.

Thanks again for all the encouragement and suggestions. Love to you all.

When I Grow Up...

A long time ago in a state far far away, I was a teacher. I went to school for many years to become a teacher, taught third grade for a while and then found myself completely burned out. While I absolutely loved my time in front of the kids actually teaching, I was completely overwhelmed with practically every other aspect of the job. Yet here I am several years, and a couple of unfulfilling jobs later wondering if I should go back to the classroom.

I miss working with kids. I miss thinking of creative ways to explain a concept so that my students walk away at the end of the day knowing more than when we started. I miss witnessing that "oh, I get it!!" moment.

So why am I still in retail? Fear. I'm afraid that teaching here would not be different enough from my experience in California and I would be just as miserable as I was there. The only thing I know with absolute certainty is that I can not continue doing what I am doing forever. I feel my gifts and talents beginning to atrophy within me.

As I continue to sort all of this out, I am open to suggestions. If you think you know what I should do with my career, please share, even if it is outlandish, even if you don't actually know me I'm open to hearing your thoughts too.

Epiphany

I recently had an epiphany that led to an apology. It all started with a trip to the fair. I accompanied my friend Judy and her family to the fair to watch the Moto X show (If you are not sure what that is watch the video below, even if you do know what it is watch the video because its cool). We enjoyed watching it so much Judy and I went back the next night to watch two more performances!

A few days after the show I had the epiphany: I am just like my mother! You see my mom loves watching NASCAR. She's traveled several hours on several occasions to watch major races. I have mocked my mother on a rather frequent basis about this (which is where the apology fits into the story). I realized that watching cars fly around a track at break neck speeds and watching motorcycles do flips in the air are really not that different. I AM just like my mother - and I'm proud of it! We both are sideline adrenaline junkies.