Mid-Week
I still can’t believe it’s only Wednesday. I’m feeling so tired, and beat down, surely, it must be closer to Friday than this? In any regard, I didn’t want to post just so I could bitch and moan. I wanted to just write down some of the thoughts that greeted me upon waking this morning.
Soon, there will be a shift in my life. Soon, if all goes well, my life will become a little restructured, and though I welcome a change up of things, I’m still wondering how I’ll make the adjustment. These changes, thankfully, have been coming at me in a semi-organic way – meaning if it felt good/right, I went with it; I am rolling with it. Still, as with most changes, there is an adjustment period, and it’s that time which usually causes the most anxiety in me.
Okay, so I’m talking rather nebulously, and for that I apologize. Honestly, after this Friday, I’ll go into more detail. I mentioned I have an interview for a new second/part-time job on the podcast. I’m also preparing myself mentally for the adjustment of school. I was working on my study plan yesterday morning, and as I was going into finer detail with what I want to focus on, and what I want my writing to explore, it really hit me that this whole process is going to take a large chunk of my already-short time. I may not have time to work both jobs, and attend to my studies. I would probably need to give up a job in order to create space in my day/week for the work I’ll be doing. I only hope I can manage to figure out a way to pay my share of the bills, and still be able to give the majority of my attention to doing my best with regards to school. Still, if there’ a will, there will be a way. It will be up to me to find it, and adjust. Always adjust.
For now, I do know I’m tired of working two jobs and having little to show for it. I can recognize when I’m not using my time in the most efficient way possible, or earning money in the most efficient way I can. I’m hardly using my degree, or any of my further education that I’ve already earned, so there’s lots of potential energy stored inside me that could be put to use. I could be commanding a higher salary, and it’s that realization that keeps me moving forward, trying to find the best balance of my time, and earning potential, to match my abilities and our expenses. Eventually, I will get there. Eventually, I will be in a more fiscally comfortable spot, with a work/life balance that comes close to the ideal for me. Until then, I’m going to be in flux, and I’ve got to keep on my toes.
Right…off to get ready to go to work!
-Thom
Silly Little Video at Christmas
Hey all! This is a poorly shot video of the Christmas parade in Boston’s North End! Rather funny how these parades tend to just appear on us, and we have no warning of them at all!
I Got a Feeling
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zcOFN_VBVo[/youtube]
This lip-sync was done by the students at students at L’Université du Québec à Montréal. Production time: 2 hrs. Amazing!!
At the New England Intensity Football Game on Saturday, June 27th, 2009
I took plenty of photos at my sister-in-law’s football game last Saturday, and wanted to share the pictures here. I’ve also tweaked with the settings on my pictures that are also part of my Facebook profile! See if you can notice the difference, and Enjoy! (Click the picture for more photos!)
This Weekend
Hey All!
Just wanted to let you know that I’m taking off for Maine this weekend. It’s a combination trip to celebrate my gram’s birthday, my best friend’s birthday and anniversary, and Father’s day. There won’t be one long show from me, however, there will be small bytes from me, as I’m going to use my phone to send some lovin’ your way.
Be prepared for pictures, smiles, and hopefully good weather. It’s been so rainy in Boston for the month of June, I’d pretty much kill for a decent day with sunshine.
Anyway, stay tuned!
Memorial Day Weekend Run
So, I came real close, if not actually making, my goal of 10 miles. I really, really came so close to 10 miles of continuous running! I am finding that my body is still catching up to what my mind thinks its capable of, but truly, if I keep this up, and keep off the cigs (on my 3rd week of no smokes as we speak!), I might just be able to do something with this running thing…
Today’s Run
This is today’s run. Honestly, I didn’t run ALL of it, but a good 90% of it was spent at a jog pace. I was out for about 2 hrs total, with some time in there for stretching a couple of times, and some spates of walking, just to make sure I didn’t hurt myself. It felt pretty good, and its a good thing I did this today – the in-laws are coming over tonight to take Nate and I out for a meal 
I know there will be some overeating involved!
View
Run 9 May 2009 in a larger map
Freezing Cold in Beantown
I left the house today, wishing my husband a lovely day, and a smile on my face. The sun was shining, the walk to work is only twenty minutes, and I was in a great mood.
Then, I turned the corner onto Salem Street.
From the icy bowls of hell, I was faced with an aggressive, biting, tearing wind that took, my breath away. What had started off as a pleasant start to an average Thursay morning jaunt to work had quickly become a battle of wits between me and the elements. All the way to Government Center, a mere 15 minutes away from home, I froze. I gritted my teeth, felt the flesh on my cheeks losing the feeling of being actually part of my body, and felt the icy droplets of tears streaming out of my eyes make a horizontal trail towards my ears.
Yeah, it was that cold out today. Cold, windy, horrible.
But, I guess, the sun WAS out…that’s some comfort? Maybe??
I had a vision of wearing flip flops, a tee, and some shorts, wandering around Boston on a summer’s Saturday afternoon, with my camera, snapping pics of people and places I’d see along the way. The kids splashing in the frog pond, the fountains, the green grass…the heat of the pavement in the evening air.
I can’t wait for summer. I just can’t wait!!!!
For now, Nate and I are huddling over the heaters and enjoying a very luxurious, very sumptuous down comforter on our bed, along with a down mattress pad beneath us. It’s like sleeping inside your pillow!
-Thom
Relaxing…finally
So, as many, if not all of you, know, this week was an amazing, crazy, fraught-with-emotion, week. Finally, though, we’ve made it to the other side, and now it’s some down-time at the house, alone, to relax. Well, when I say relax, as you all can guess, that just means Nate shifts gears, but you understand I will be doing a show tomorrow, but I wanted to do a pre-release again, and say a HUGE thank you to EVERYONE who was in touch with us on Facebook and Twitter, as well as for the lovely cards, and presents we’ve received. This “simple” wedding really made the unexpected little details all that more meaningful to us, and we really, really did have a good time.
Sure, most of the Northeast was pelted with ice and rain and wind on Thursday, but it wouldn’t be our wedding without a little shake up in the world!
I’ve got tons of pictures to sort through and get up on here for you all to see, so that’s one project for tomorrow. I’m also going to be making a SoundByte, and hopefully will be getting to the Thank You’s that we’ve got to write. I also want to catch up with my Gram, and possibly my aunt, who returned from quite the excursion to see my Aunt Out West and her grandkids and all that, so tomorrow’s going to be a “busy” down-day.
Talk to you soon!
-Thom
SoundByte #9
[podcast format="video"]http://teachingthomas.net/SoundBytes/SoundByte 9 Kickoff the Holidays.m4a[/podcast]
Please note: in this podcast I actually call it #8…it’s really #9…I can’t count!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Another Crazy Week
Yikes!! It’s been a C.R.A.Z.Y.!! Week…
Where to begin? Oh, first and foremost, there will be another SoundByte tomorrow. As far as I know, I’ll have the house all quiet-like and to myself, so I can try out the new and nifty microphone that Nate got me to do the show with. And, I don’t want to spend too much time on here blathering on about what I’m going to record tomorrow, but suffice to say, lots of things have happened over the course of the last 7 days, not to mention the MOST CRAZY WORK WEEK for both Nate and I. I knew it was coming, but jeeze…
Oh, and remind me…Walpole Mall and Starbucks cups…there’s a story there and I just need to share. It’ll make your heart sing, I promise!
Today, I went into work and made up some hours I missed from the Thanksgiving Holiday, so it was me, my iPod, a cup of coffee, and a stack of books. My job: To type all of the tables of contents into a Word Document. Now, mind you, we publish well over 200 individual titles, and from the looks of the list my manager sent me to produce this file with, I’ve got my hands full. Anyway, the day was spent, for me, sitting in the office, quiet as a churchmouse, typing away without a care in the world, and earning pay to boot. Honestly, it was relaxing and rather enjoyable – although my eyes are getting that funky feeling they had when I used to work in front of a computer before I was a teacher. I need to remember to blink, and to avert my eyes from the screen as much as possible. It probably wouldn’t hurt to get an eye check up too at some point…after the insurance kicks in.
Nate’s foot is feeling better, but he’s put it through its paces this week, with the mad-capped crazy hours at the store, and all the running around to catch trains and rides and whatever. Still, he reports a lot of itching and tingly skin, which I take as a sign of healing, which is good. He’s dying to get out of the brace he has to wear, and I can’t say that I blame him. For a little guy who’s always on the fly, he’s not one to really enjoy having a clipped wing.
Nate’s Aunt and Uncle are up from New Jersey tonight, after attending a Memorial Mass for Nate’s late aunt Karen up in New Hampshire, so it’ll be nice to see them tonight. I can’t guarantee I’ll be much of a conversationalist though – today started at 5am for me – but since I’ll also be sleeping out here in the living room, on the couch, I’ll have to stay up to claim my spot after everyone goes to bed. Nate’ll be joining me in the livingroom, as well, but he’s claimed the loveseat (he is, after all, a tad bit shorter than I).
Tomorrow, it’s sleep in as much as I can, Nate’s working, and then an afternoon of NOTHING (beyond recording a show). I would like some downtime before next week. There’s still a lot of work waiting for me on my desk, and I don’t want to think about it until 8:30 Monday Morning.
I do hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving – or Last Thursday, for my friends in the UK – and I hope you’ve managed to eat your fill, hug someone, and have geared up for the Holiday Season. Finally, Nate can begin his 24/7 playing of Christmas carols, something he’s been chomping at the bit to do, but I’ve put the brakes on it until Thanksgiving. Now, I have no way of blocking it out.
Hugs, Love, and Tune In Tomorrow!
-Thom
