The 25th Hour ~karenjcardoza.com~

…but I’m ok with that!  I’m still in catch-up mode but the relaxing is coming soon, I can see it!  I took the girls for another early morning walk at Lincoln Woods which was a great way to start today. When I got home, they napped and I set to work in the yard. My flower beds and garden are fully weeded and are looking fiiiine!

Later, I put together the two compost bins and moved my compost heap back. I’ve got a nice blister as the result of my efforts but tis ok with me. It’ll be nice to have the compost contained and easily accessible from the bottom when it’s ready rather than having to dig up entire piles to get to the good stuff.

Then I ran some errands: library, school to feed my fish, Jacob drop-off(s) and pick-up(s), etc.  We got some rain tonight which nixxed my evening walk at the Monastery with the girls but was welcome just the same. I love the green look of spring and early summer.  It totally puts me at peace and makes me smile.

This evening, I finally did a quick PatriotWorld Podcast. I’ll do another as soon as the Training Camp schedule is released and there’s more going on. Now that Pats news is focused on the future, I’ll be tuning in once again.  I haven’t turned on the NFL Network or listened to any sports talk radio all offseason. I like to focus on the positive so I steered clear of the Monday morning quarterbacking and debacle news.

Tomorrow, I plan on walking the girls, staking some plants, getting my laundry on the line early and hopefully spend a bit of time relaxing and reading by the pool.  It hasn’t happened yet, but getting things accomplished makes me very happy.

Ahhh….. I’ve got the perma-smile going now! It’s that start of summer vacation look that reflects what I’m feeling inside.

Today was a very busy day because we moved Syd to her new room and I set up mine the way I want it for next year. The custodians will take everything out over the summer to strip the floors and clean it thoroughly but I have the layout all set. It’s a great feeling knowing that I’ll have all of that space to work with and can set up some vocational stations for my students as well. I’m very excited about next year already and my wheels are spinning making plans…

Naturally, there were less than 50 kids in the entire school today but I had a full class… hehe! My kids will have a few weeks off then will all be back for the summer program on July 7th. I never work summers and am usually so burnt out by the last day of school I would never dream of going in. If I’m not busy this year when they call for subs I may head in for a few days. (I left some pretty detailed instructions for the summer teachers about my class and I’m hoping that they follow through to keep the consistency for a smooth transition back this fall.)

Tonight was spent giving lots of rides, spending time with my girls and making out my list for tomorrow. I plan on working out early, getting some yard work done, going through my mail, taking the girls for walks, and running some errands. Hopefully I’ll get some reading done and I’m going to try reverting back to something I used to do years ago.. having my morning coffee on the screen porch. It mostly depends on the girls schedule (and if they can be out there without barking at the birds and waking up the neighborhood!)

Today was a pretty uneventful day; the final day of classes for the 8th graders as they’re graduating Monday night. I finished off the last of my special education paperwork and typed out some visual aids that I want to laminate next week. The school was abuzz with all of the movement at the job fair and many teachers will be leaving my building to take elementary positions next year.  It’s going to look like a different place come September with all of the changes.  I’m still content with my decision; and it’s a good thing, because nobody bid on the PreK  job so it’s still open and they’ll be advertising and hiring outside of the district unless one of the few certified Severe/Profound teachers in my district chooses it over the summer.

I’ve got a busy weekend ahead, with yard work (we had a yard of cedar mulch delivered and it needs to be spread), my niece’s birthday party, Fathers Day, and the usual laundry, housework, weeding, etc.  I’m hoping to start off tomorrow bright and early with a nice walk with the girls before I do anything else. It’s a great way to start my day off right.

As of now,  I’m just finishing this post then opening my book to read until I fall asleep. Unfortunately, my son has friends sleeping over and those male voices echoing downstairs and on the screen porch are resulting in a symphony of barks from my girls… sigh… I can just imagine when they hit the pool.  Anyone got an extra set of earplugs?

I love it when I have a weekend without anything in my calendar. That’s not to say that it’s a weekend with nothing to do; rather, a weekend that I can get things done.  This was one such weekend. I made my list on Friday night and started it off with exercise. It was a wise choice and the girls loved our early morning walk along the bike path (and car ride too.)  Then, I set out to work in the yard and weeded the entire thing, including flower beds and garden. I cleaned the patio, washed down the pool cover and stored it away, did all of my laundry and watched a couple of movies at night, Charlie Wilson’s War and The Departed, for the second time.

Today, was pretty much the same and I got the whole pool area cleaned up. My daughter and her friend were in it all afternoon, soaking up the sun and getting some relief from the 90+ heat. I did a few errands, worked some more in the yard then spent a nice evening with our Rendezvous friends looking at the pictures and having lots of laughs…( I’ll be uploading theirs to add to the set soon.)  As of now, I just had to cave in and I’m sitting here in bed with the AC on because it was well over 90 up here on the second floor. It’s not like me, but I must admit that it is getting quite comfortable and my freshly laundered sheets won’t end up soaked with sweat tonight.

Tomorrow, the countdown continues… and my smile gets wider by the day!

TGIF! Today started out rainy and damp, which surprised me since I thought that the hot and muggy weather would hit today, but it’s actually coming tomorrow. It was a great day at school, chock full with fun things…. living up to its name: Fun Friday!

In the morning, we were treated to an assembly put on by the incredible Big Nazo troupe. The kids had a blast watching the puppeteers perform and getting involved themselves. Then, we had our cultural feast in the classroom and everyone ate to their hearts’ content. We spent time cleaning up and getting ready for the activities to come next week.

Thankfully, I have an open calendar this weekend, which is a rarity. Gameplan for me is to:

• Get pool completely opened and ready for use.
• Set up yard and patio.
• Work in the garden and flower beds.
• Take lots of walks with The Girls.
• Finish my current books.
• Sleep?!
• Work on website.
• Podcast? (The Patriots are at mini camp this weekend.)

Of course the usual stuff like laundry, housework, errands, etc. still needs to get done but I’m glad that we don’t have any formal commitments for a change.

So, in light of the post last night about what this week looks like, you can be sure that there will be no time for the things that I actually WANT to do like:

• go to the gym
• finish the book (Wicked) that I’ve been trying to get to all weekend
• start the next book in my TBR (to be read) pile
• do a post-draft podcast
• finally do another Muse
•  work on  two shawls for the Rendezvous
• continue on my decluttering and spring cleaning

The heck with needing a 25th hour… I need a clone!

It’s 10:30 and I just finished the A New Earth webcast with Oprah and Eckhart Tolle and although I need to get to bed, I need to go over my to do list first so that I can let it rest and get some sleep. I’m currently stressed out because Bella’s been barking all night and I’ve taken her out 5 times in the rain since I put her down. Since she only peed the first 2 times, I keep taking her out because I don’t know if she’s still got more business to do or if she’s just not tired. (A little birdie told me that they napped a real long time on the couch with Dad today.)

Anyway, we hit the gym after school then went to the market tonight. (It was quite the day at work because there were two shootings (resulting in dead teenagers) over the weekend so the school is on lock-down and everyone was all riled up. It’s a very sad situation and there’s rumors of retaliation so the streets at dismissal were full of police cars from our district and the neighboring communities. This is a very scary reality in the inner city…..

Tomorrow I have a faculty meeting, a special Ed meeting Wednesday before school and one after school, a hair appointment on Thursday afternoon and Jake’s wrestling banquet at night. On Friday, I have a doctors appointment first thing in the morning and the girls are getting their stitches out after school. We have plans for Saturday and then on Sunday I’ll be at the Special Olympics all day with my students.

This week I don’t have many free periods either…. lunch duty Thursday… GRRRR! and my “Lucky Day”… the day that I don’t have a single break and also have to teach the entire group falls on Friday. I haven’t planned yet for that and the ASSessment is due next week.

Right now, there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel.. and if there is, it looks to be the train coming to hit me head on. Sigh…

Wow.. I love to just be able to video blog right from here… of course, I probably should at least brush my hair before firing it off but oh well! As you can see, I have a new theme… and things to do.

Good Morning & new theme