One of those days...

It's been one of those days.  I feel like Alexander in the book, "Alexander's Very Bad, Horrible Day".  Since the moment I opened my eyes this morning.  Things that have contributed:
1.  Stress about the upcoming school year.  I'm in top stressed form.
2.  Stress about my practicum project and Ministry of Education grant funded project--which are intertwined and getting too big and OMG!  (although did get about $10 000 more funding to expand the project to new school).
3.  Stress over my teenagers.  Need I say more?
4.  Today is my last paycheque for a month because my role has changed and the pay schedule is different.  All will be well, but it means watching what I spend.  And I'm not overly good at that.  (good at all actually)
5.  Had an appointment to FINALLY get my hair cut.  Sat at the salon for half and hour waiting for my stylist (who is very fickle, but I have followed her from salon to salon for YEARS).  I love how she understands my very baby fine yet wacko curly hair.  I am terrified to try to find someone else.  TERRIFIED!  I have hair issues.  Anyway, after driving the half hour into town, waiting half an hour, I get a text from her that she's had something come up and can't do my hair.  Which is absolutely wild.  And I go back to work Monday and need to look like a professional, not like a madwoman who combs her hair with a weedwhacker.
6.  Huffily proceeded to Starbucks to drown my sorrows in a venti Earl Grey latte made with soy, only to be informed they didn't have any soy (AGAIN!), but could make it with milk.  Hello?  People who order soy want frigging soy, not dairy.  I have an allergy! 
7.  Utterly incensed, make my way back to van, and cry in parking lot over hair and tea.  Puhleeeze!
8.  Drive half hour back home with disastrous hair, no tea latte and a bad attitude.  Drink lime Perrier as a substitute and consider killing the bottle of Sauv Blanc in the fridge, only realize will result in wine hangover and another horrid day tomorrow.  And will still have to face hair tomorrow anyway.
9.  Wish I was at Summerfolk, Blue Rodeo or Havelock for the weekend instead of obsessing over tea, hair and work.  Not necessarily in that order.
10.  Am resigned to crappy day, looking forward to a fresh start tomorrow.  And desperately trying to find the humour in my day today.

random ramblings....

I've been enjoying the peace of the first morning I didn't have to be somewhere this week.  Nice!  Drinking coffee, chat on fb with Julie, reading blogs.  Found another design blog that I love, quirky stuff, just how I like it.  Also clicked on another blog only to have flipping music start playing.  I need to remember to turn the sound on the laptop off while surfing blogland, I know lots of people love it, but I am not a fan of music playing on blogs.  It's usually some happy music that kind of makes me gag.  Not very nice, but there it is. 

I've been reading a few blogs in which the writer has concerns about offending someone.  And deciding to not worry so much about it.  As  you can see above, that doesn't concern me so much.  I don't wish to offend, but really, if you don't like the way I write, then don't read my blog.  I'm not making anyone read it, right?  And I don't think I'm very controversial anyway.  I'm just me in all my outspoken glory :)

In other news, it's been a very busy week.  Not the way I wanted to spend my last week of relative freedom before heading back to school.  But it is what it is.  I'm just glad to get to take it easy this morning and only go to an appointment later this afternoon.  Which brings me to Dr. Adam and his office of pain (kidding!  It feels great after).  I've been working on healing my back, which is supposed to be the cause of all my hip problems.  Guess what?!  It's not all my back (I knew it!).  I actually have something wrong with my psoas too.  It was all I could do not to say I told you so to him when I was there last week.  But since he was working very hard to make it feel better, I restrained myself.  He broke a sweat.  I'm going again today, and he's going to work on it again.  My personal favourite?  The part where he puts a strap around his torso and around my leg (he looked like he might die of embarrassment when he asked me to adjust it so that it was as close to my hip joint as possible, after almost touching my crotch trying to adjust it.....maybe it was my smirk? lol), and then pulls my thigh bone slightly out of joint to relieve the pressure.  That's when he broke a sweat.  He had to work very hard.  And although I was skeptical at first, it did relieve the pressure and felt fantastic.  I had my doubts.  But although it's disheartening in that it's been almost a year that's it's really been giving me trouble, it's heartening in that if it's not L1 and L2, then I will be able to go to yoga!!!  And do forward folds!  Not just the half-assed practice I've been trying to do (admittedly, very sporadically).  I will still need to be careful (no plough pose!), but I gives me hope.  The best my stupid hip has ever felt is when I was going to vinyasa 2x a week for a year.  I'm going to try to build up to 2 vinyasa practices a week, with some restorative and gentle hatha in between for good measure.  Happiness!

On the chelation/thyroid front, things seem to be improving.  But I've started having hot flashes.  Big time.  Which tells me my hormones are adjusting to something, maybe my estrogen dominance is finally fading?  I don't know for sure, but I do know that I feel like ripping off all of my clothes and running naked through a sprinkler or jumping into Georgian Bay once or twice a day.  Definitely something to consult with my ND about.  It could be that my thyroid is swinging to overactive--something that happens with Hashimoto's.  The logical part of me knows that's not healthy either, but it would be nice to drop the weight that having an underactive thyroid has caused to creep on.  The human hormonal body is a precarious thing!

The other big news in my life is that the course I was going to take in France next summer is being offered in London instead.  And I have no desire to go to England.  In the least.  Very disappointing, so much so I couldn't even write about it.  It would seem that every time I'm planning a summer (or part thereof) in France it falls through.  All through no fault of my own.  It's just not meant to be.  So I'm now considering taking said course during the school year and spending the trip money on a trip with my family.  Like to Nova Scotia or my personal favourite, PEI.  Or maybe I should just spend it on a saltwater pool in my backyard.  Or a trailer.  We'll see.  But I won't be in Europe :(  However I work it, it will require some juggling of my work life to take the course.  Which is required for work.  Quite a coincidence, wouldn't you say?  I have to request the time from the director of education, in order to miss work.  Which I was totally willing to do to go to France, but not so much to do it here in Ontario.  What a dilemma!

Time for me to get my butt in gear and actually do something other than write or play on the computer.  I have a few house projects planned (not necessarily for today), and I really need to clean my closet.  I have to be able to find my nice work clothes for next week.  Have I mentioned I'm not ready for summer to be over?  Or to dress like a professional grown-up and not a professional beach/yoga bum?  I'm trying to figure out a way to wear yoga pants to work everyday and still look like a vice-principal.  I haven't worked it out yet, but if there's a way, I will find it.  I'll keep you posted :)  In the meantime, I guess professional clothes it is.

Getting by...

Well, hello.  It's been a while, I know.  Life has been a whirlwind of busy-ness lately, all of the craziness that the approaching end of the school year brings to a teacher's life.  Trying to teach those last few piles of stuff that haven't been taught, assess children who would rather be outside playing because it's so beautiful--and let's face it, I'd rather be outside playing too!

Amidst the busy-ness, I'm almost finished my last Special Education course.  Yeehaw!  I will be a Spec Ed Specialist in a couple of weeks.  A nice feeling to be sure.  I am taking a course in the summer, but more on that once school is over.

My nemesis Hashimoto has been working very hard to be debilitating, but I will not give in.  I get out of bed every morning, put on my best face, and plod on.  I will not be beaten by this little old autoimmune disease.  Not happening.

I am seeing a chiropractor/kinesiologist/sports specialist today so I can find out exactly what's up with this darned injury, and hopefully get some help.  Because I need to exercise.  And that's not happening.  And my "friend" Hashi needs me to exercise, or I'm going to weigh 400 pounds.  That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but really.  At least when I'm able to run my arse off, I don't gain weight.  And I feel better.  A real kick in the butt for Hashi.  But as I said above, I will not be beaten by this.  Slightly trampled and worn maybe.  But not beaten.

I am saddened that my family is concerned by my lack of energy for anything outside of work and getting by.  I have planted 2 pots of flowers.  That's it.  And it's possible that's all there will be.  I just don't have the steam.  But my wonderful daughter weeded my flowerbed in the back and offered to help me plant more flowers and pots.  Very sweet surprise to come home to one day this week, especially since her summer job is building cars, very physical and she's exhausted at the end of the day.

I had wanted to plant some veggies, and some more beds, and a butterfly garden.  Maybe a couple of tomato plants, a zuchinni and peppers.  That will be enough.

And I have some very exciting news that I can't share for another week or so.  Actually a couple of things.  I can't wait.

**update after appointment**

Um, so it's not a hip injury at all, it's actually a back injury in which the pain is not in my back, but showing up further along the nerve, and ending up in my hip/inside of my leg area.  Created by a disc pinching the nerves.  Accupuncture, exercises and an adjustment were the order of the day.  Along with strict instructions of how to sit, sleep, and move.  And absolutely, emphatically NO running, NO yoga, NO walking long distances and NO sitting for extended periods of time.  Prognosis guarded, future of running and yoga in question.  I almost cried when he said that yoga is not the right thing for me, that it risks the integrity of my back too much.  I can swim for exercise.  That's about it.  Well, that and I can try recumbent bike, but I have to be very careful. 

A lecture about listening to my back and seeking help right away and not after an extended period of time, as well as repeated comments about my "high threshold for pain."  Which I think is code for "no sense, no feeling" perhaps.  I'm supposed to email or text him if I have any sharp pains, and he kind of intimated that given that I just keep going through pain, I could be really injuring myself.

So there you have it.  I am getting old, and my body although apparently fairly immune to pain, is falling apart at the seams.  Good times let me tell you, good times.  Oh yeah, did I mention I'm supposed to stand at the counter for computer work?  Yep, and during an online course, and report cards.  I'm going to go have an ibuprofen and a Mike's Hard lemonade.  And then lay down and ponder my good news that I'll be sharing next week.

December musings...

It has been a trying month, to say the least.  I won't bore you with the gory details, but let's just say I feel like I've been through an emotional ringer.  And we're only just getting to half way through!  December is often such a difficult month for so many people.  Not usually myself, but then again, it`s been particularly trying.

But, the good news is that Christmas is coming!  Went to 2 different Christmas celebrations yesterday, one at a friend's beautifully decorated house and another at my fav pub-style Irish place--Fionn MacCool's.  Going to my friend's house made me think about digging out some Christmasy stuff, even though we're going to be away.  Lights and candles and decorations are magical, even if you don't put up a tree.  Since we are having a Christmas celebration here tomorrow, perhaps I should dig out a few things so it doesn't resemble the Grinch's house around here.  I am starting to get into the Christmas spirit :)

I used to spend alot of time crafting for Christmas, making ornaments, baking, knitting, sewing.  I have to say I miss it.  I don't have time anymore (working full-time and not being at home with little kids), but I'd still like to do it.  Hubs mentioned that this has been a crazy busy week.  Yes it has, but then again, welcome to my world.  It's important to make it basketball games and practices to watch and cheer.  It's important to make time for friends.  And once I've done all that, worked a full week and worked on assignments for the blasted course (3 more and I'm done!!) there's not much time left for crafting.  Or to be honest energy.

Alas, I must go and work on the course.  I must do laundry today (or go buy some new gitch, 'cause I'm officially out), tidying must be accomplished.  But this weekend should be it for the course, the house will be tidy enough, and then I can start packing for our trip.  Have I mentioned that I'm beside myself with excitement?  Dreams of sand and sun are filling my head.  Christmas on a ship will be different, but maybe that's just what we need this year.

I might even work in a run and a little yoga this weekend!

late August ponderings

It is getting to be very late in August.  Which leaves me wishing that summer could just go on a little longer.  And on the other hand, knowing that the restless, grumpy, out of sorts feeling that seems to be with me all day, every day will disappear once school starts again.  The anticipation kills me every year.  As I've said before, I love my job, but it means the beginning of the rat race again.  If I can't fit it all in now, how on earth do I when I'm teaching?  But it all works out in the end.

I mentioned in a post last week that I wanted to make a lavender eye pillow to help to deepen savasana.  Lo and behold, my friend and colleague Leone has lavender in her garden, and when I went to school on Monday to set up my room she brought me a lovely bunch.  It's hanging to dry in my classroom, and I have to say it lent a lovely smell to that corner of the room!  Once it's dry I will be making an eye pillow for myself, and of course I will be making one for Leone too.  Thank you Leone for once again sharing the bounty of your garden!  (Leone is my source for delicious rhubarb too!)  I planted 2 rhubarb plants by the fence this year, and I will be planting some lavender too, in the spring.  But in the meantime it's lovely to have a friend that shares.

We have been having quite the monarch adventures chez Bolyea.  Allistair Cookie (the kitty) is finding the caterpillars so intriguing.  And keeps knocking them over.  Over, and over, and over again.  And I keep cleaning up the water, the wilting milkweed and the frass (which is just a cool word for caterpillar poop!)  Believe me, there's an abundance of frass!  Yesterday when I got up one of the caterpillars was hanging in a `J` which is the first indication that it is ready to pupate.  I checked on it repeatedly yesterday, and when I got up this morning it had formed its beautiful chrysalis!  So exciting!  (remember, I am a teacher, and easily amused)  So soon we will have an adult monarch to release for its journey to Mexico.  I decided to hold off on collecting anymore eggs, larvae or anything monarch until just before school begins again, Allistair is just too curious.

On a more serious note, yesterday and into the evening our part of the world was under a tornado watch, which was upgraded to a warning around 7:15.  We kept an eye on the weather and headed to the basement for about 1/2 an hour, dog and cats in tow.  I felt guilty for leaving the caged critters upstairs, but really we could have been blown to Oz by the time we got the whole zoo to the safe basement.  We woke Jess up (she's on midnights) to come down with us.  I have never taken the kids to the basement before.  But the sky was green and the rain was blowing completely sideways.  I really didn't know if we would be safe or not.  The dog was very antsy, and pacing before we headed downstairs, and if you're smart you follow your dog's instincts (including whether or not people can be trusted, but that's another story).  She calmed down once we were all safe downstairs.  Is that not an indication that the basement was the right place to be???  Our neighbourhood didn't sustain any damage, and we didn't even lose hydro.  I don't know about the rest of the area yet, there was a reported touchdown in the neighbouring town.  I pray that there was no loss of life or serious damage.

On a much happier note, I put a deposit on a cruise for our family for Christmas!  I am so excited I'm beside myself!  This is the first trip we've ever taken together.  It's only been 20 years.  We either haven't had the money or the time off together.  I'm trying very hard not to think of the eco impact, and heartened that we will be driving to Baltimore for departure which at least helps a bit (no airplane impact).  Realistically this may be our only family trip ever, my kids are growing up very quickly.  We need to do this now!  And we are.  We will be spending Christmas on the ship.  Merry Christmas to us!  Of course the obsessive worrying about our pets, who will care for them, etc has already started.  But I'm sure it will all work out. 

I have decided that I need to start putting pictures on this blog.  It's very vanilla.  I read all of these other blogs (which I'm sad I won't have time for in another couple of weeks), and the photos that are uploaded really make difference.  Of course that means getting better at taking pictures.  Or getting my kids to take pictures for me.  Hello--Jess?!  So I will work on figuring it out.  In the meantime, I will be maybe add some internet freebie images.





Lavender before







The after (or something that will resemble this!)

(lavender images taken from http://www.everythinglavender.com/)

Have a wonderful late August day everyone :)