Friday Favorites

1.  My last day working at the RV pool was Tuesday.  It was beautiful day: cooler and sunny. 

2.  I worked at school yesterday and made a dent in the list.  I'm headed back there today.

3.  It sounds like the little Lady Bug is going to be arriving early this next week.  And that is exciting news.

4.  Little sis sent the Lady Bug a package.  It had the most adorable things in it.  My favorite was a little furry vest for this winter.  I have to take a picture!  It is just too precious.  She also made a couple of "big girl" bibs like K and L had when they were little.  She has inspired me to get busy, too!  So thoughtful!  (One of them even had ribbon from Mom's sewing basket decorating it, linking 4 generations.  Sweetest thing ever!)

5. I still love walking into my classroom at Tiny Town High.  It is just beautiful.  I never tire of it. And this year will be our first full year in the new building.

The plan for the weekend?  Tiny Town is having JV Day to collect donations for my student with pediatric bone cancer and his family.  A full day of activities are planned:  a celebration of love and hope for a cure.

So, this is the last weekend of summer.  Seems like I'm always ready to get back in the routine--and this year is no different.  Bring on the sophomores.  Bring on the class of 2014!

HOT!!

It was so hot at the RV pool yesterday that I had to start a new book.  I needed something that would keep me out of the sun and keep my mind off the heat.  *sigh*

And I found it:  Tell No One by Harlan Coben.  I am so sucked into this one.  I'm not sure I can read it after dark, so reading in the bright light (and heat) of day is the only option. 

I'm only working two days this week.  I just happen to be the lucky one working the two days that are to be over 105.  (Today is to be 110.  Argh!!)  And my water raft finally died a sad death.  So much for cooling off prone in the water.  Bummer!

I can do anything for five hours.  I can do anything for five hours.

(The power of suggestion is alive and well on Easy Street!)

Pool Days

The temperature is supposed to be hot today.  Hot as in above 100 degrees.  Yes, the Midwest is smokin'!  And I'm working at the pool.

Today, I will be drinking a lot of water.  I will also be spending a lot of time in the water.  Sunscreen will be my friend.

And what will I be reading in the shade?  The Scorch Trials by James Dashner, of course.  It seems appropriate.

Youch...

I hope I can still walk tonight.

At 5:00 a.m. I will run a mile and a half.  (Easing back into it.)

At 6:00 a.m. Baxter and I will meet Khalie and K for our walk.  Two and a half miles would be a piece of cake, except for the fact that we have a 70 pound lab and a 20 pound shih-poo on the same leash.  I have about 90 pounds pulling on my arms for 40 minutes or so. I dread when we meet another walker, and especially another walker with a dog.  The goofballs are getting better with this splitter halter, but it is still work to control them.

By far the hardest part of the day will be the hour and a half I spend vacuuming the pool.  What used to be the best part of my job is now the worst.  The suction on the hose is so strong that the cleaning staff has bent the vacuum pole.  (It was brand new!)  It is all I can do to pry the vacuum off the bottom of the pool this summer.  It is nearly impossible to push it out or pull it in.  After an hour and a half of pulling and pushing with all of my strength, the pool is somewhat clean and my arm muscles are shaking like you wouldn't believe.

I'm pretty sure that I will have all of my exercise in by the end of the day.  And the Mr. better not get too smarty with me, as I'm pretty sure that I have the muscles to beat him up!   (Slim chance of that.  I'll be lucky if I can lift my arms by tonight!)

Friday At Last

Today will be the first day where I have absolutely nothing to do.  We got out of school last Thursday, and I have been busy every day since:  family reunions, funerals, and the part-time job. 

I'd play today, but I fear I must clean this pit of a house.  I'm calling today "dig out" day. 

Highlights or lowlights of this week?

*Scout put in an appearance at the RV pool this week.  She is almost three this summer and as cute as a button!  I keep trying to convince K and CT to name baby girl T--Scout.  (Yeah, I'm thinking Atticus for their first boy doesn't stand a chance either!)

*The pool got a new hose with enough suction to pick up any spare 10 year old's in the bottom of the pool.  The suction "locks" the vacuum to the bottom of the pool, and I almost rip my arms from the sockets trying to free it.  Trust me, I won't need to work out with weights this summer.  Two hours of cleaning the pool leaves my muscles shaking.  Whew! 

*I started reading the Percy Jackson series.  L is going to be teaching 5th grade, and these books are high on the list for that age group.  I thought I'd see what the younger crowd is reading.  I confess.  I am hooked, and I love all the mythology kids are exposed to in these books.

*Baxter is slowly becoming a lap dog!  I love it!  Well, I love everything except when he puts his paws on my laptop to close it or uses his paw to push my book away.  He's a bit demanding in the attention department.  Other than that, he is adorable! 

Well, I've delayed long enough.  I'm going to grab a shovel and get started on the cleaning.  (I know there is furniture somewhere under all that dust!)

Hectic Times on Easy Street

All my best intentions of getting caught up on blogging have gone by the wayside. Let's see, this is what has been happening:

1. A carload of kids, two students from Tiny Town and two students from another town, were involved in a car accident. One student from Tiny Town died and all the other boys were injured. Both of Tiny Town's kids were former students. It makes me sick.

2. I've worked quite a few days at the pool.

3. The County Fair is going on; hence, the reason for working so many days. (The other attendants want off to attend the fun.)

4. L and CG are taking a break from the long distance relationship. Well, at least for a couple of weeks. Time will tell.

5. I took a nose dive on the morning run. This time I know exactly what happened. I was pointing out a hole for L to avoid and didn't see the uneven sidewalk. I landed on hands and knees and "volleyball rolled" into the yard. L was freaked, but I got up and finished the run. (We still had a mile and a quarter to go.) I finished covered in sweat, grass, and scrapes. BUT... I finished!!  And now my knees look like a 3rd grader's!

6. My tooth is better, but still has sensitivity from time to time.  My knees have helped me forget about my tooth!

7. K's new job is keeping her busy and really taking it out of her. Besides all the beginning of school activities, they are moving into a new building.  It probably doesn't help that she has a sprained ankle. (I'm guessing you can tell where she got her gracefulness!!)

8. K and CT are going to be moving to Tiny Town. K will be thirty minutes closer to work. CT will add about 5 minutes to his drive.  I think all of us have been concerned about K being gone from home at least 12 hours a day. They are going to be moving to a cute rental home owned by K's Middle School Science teacher and his wife, who happens to be our Trailer High secretary. There is a cement pad for the boat and a huge yard with an apple tree and room for a garden.  Besides that, they couldn't ask for better landlords.  Altogether, they will shave about 50 minutes off of commute time.  It has been 11 years or so since our whole family has been living in Tiny Town. I look forward to their move.  (Just one more thing to add to K's plate right now.)

9. I went to see the Mr.'s sister and her family yesterday. Both nieces and the grandkids were also visiting at the MIL's apartment. The Mr. had to work, but I had a good time catching up. We don't get to see that side of the family often and the great niece and nephew are growing so fast!

10. AND Ta-Da: the Mr. bought a different vehicle. It is a white 2001 Ford Explorer Sport. I always forget how much work it is with test driving, purchasing, insurance, tags, and titles. He is selling the old truck to a salvage yard. The interior is still nice and it has a topper. I'm not sure how much else is salvageable.

So that has been the last five days on Easy Street. Today and tomorrow are my last two days at the pool. I have loved the quiet days for swimming and reading. I've met quite a few people, but I am ready to get back to the students of Trailer High.  I will have a few days off, three appointments, and work to get done before I report to school next Monday.  I have to enjoy these last few days of summer!

Mission Accomplished!

Yesterday's trip was a success.  The bride and her maid of honor (and only bridesmaid) both have shoes now. 

K has always been the girlie girl.  She only wanted to wear dresses to school in early elementary years.  On freezing cold days when I insisted that she wear pants, there were always tears.  She tap danced and was a cheerleader.  Pink was her signature color. 

Care to guess her choice of shoe color??  Yep.  Pink.  Hot pink.  Her maid of honor and her mother have hot pink shoes, too.  It is all about K's day! 

We also found out yesterday that K's wedding dress will arrive early next week.  It has already been shipped, so we are headed back next week for the alterations appointment.  This is about a month and a half earlier than expected, and K is relieved.  The idea of the dress arriving two weeks before the wedding had her a bit freaked.

L's bridesmaid dress is adorable: simple and sweet.  She tried it on with her pink shoes.  They are steaming out the wrinkles, and we will be bringing it home next week. 

Another mission accomplished:  I am finally back to running two and a half miles.  Ya-hoooo!  That is the distance I was running before the fall in May, followed by the doctor mandated hiatus.  Six weeks sure made me lose a lot of ground. 

Finally, Baxter pooch has mastered the look, come, sit, sit and stay, down, down and stay, and roll over commands.  Now, for the harder mission:  off and leave it.  He doesn't really care to stay off of people or leave whatever he is snooping in or trying to gnaw.  *sigh*  Obedience class.  Is it for the dog or the owners? 

I'm back at the pool today.  The girls spoiled me on Tuesday by visiting me.  Quickest shift ever!  Today is likely to seem a bit longer, but I have reading to finish and thoughts to collect.  Sometimes an empty pool and a lot of time on my hands is good for the soul!

Pool Time

I am off to the pool today, and every time I work-- it clouds over and threatens to rain.  What is with that?

There is still something so incredibly satisfying about vacuuming the pool.  Sounds weird, I know.  You'd have to be there.  When I go in every day there is a lot of dirt and debris on the bottom of the pool.  There are all kinds of bugs floating on the top.  I use a skimmer net to get rid of as many bugs as I can.  Otherwise, they will settle to the bottom after I vacuum, and then it looks like I didn't do a great job of vacuuming.

The vacuuming itself usually takes somewhere between an hour or two.  I use the net to skim off the bugs one more time and voila!  A pool that was pretty disgusting looking is clear blue and so inviting. 

Unfortunately, I can't dive in after I finish.  There are still two bathrooms to clean.  As soon as I finish with them, I can finally swim.  Unless it is cloudy, then I can finally read.  Oh yeah!  I guess I don't mind cloudy days too much either!!  Ideal conditions:  sunny to partly cloudy!

Rain or shine, this isn't a bad gig!

And for all of you bookworms out there asking what I'm reading--

I have two books in the works right now.  I'm about half through with both of them.  The first is Committed  by Elizabeth Gilbert.  (She is the author of Eat, Pray, Love.)  This is an interesting commentary on marriage throughout history, its purpose, and the implications of being married or not being married. 

The second book is the easier of the two (young adult fiction), but I am having a hard time digging my way through it.  Several students recommended it last spring, but I am beginning to doubt their choice of books.  Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater is about werewolves.  I know vampires and werewolves are all the rage.  I grow weary!!  We'll see if I can finish it.

My bag is packed with more books than sunscreen today, and I'm off to the pool!  Now just as long as there is no lightning...!

Once A Teacher...

Saturday at the pool was crazy.  There was a family reunion at the park, and most of those families were tent camping in 100 degree temperatures.  Needless to say, the kids spent the day in the pool, trying to stay cool.  In fact, I had to run them out so I could clean the pool at 9:00 in the morning.

The pool doesn't have many rules:  Stay off the rope.  No running or horse play. 

As soon as I finished cleaning, there was a group of about 10 tweens dashing in the gate.  Before they went in the water, I reminded them of two main concerns.  Leave the hose that is filling the pool alone and stay off the rope.  (The rope is anchored into the walls of the pool.  If they yank on it or mess with it too much, it pulls out of the wall and requires extensive repairs.)

Do you know how many times I repeated those directions during the course of a five hour shift?  Finally, I had four kids, who were using the rope for tightrope training, get out of the water and sit on the side for about five minutes.  Before I let them back into the pool, they had to read the rules on the sign to me.  They obviously couldn't hear, I thought I'd see if they could read!  (They were less than thrilled.) 

I also made some teenage girls throw their trash in a trash can.  (Shoving it into cracks in the cement didn't count as throwing it away.) 

*sigh*  And that's how you can tell.  Once a teacher, always a teacher.

On The Pool and Part-time Job

I worked yesterday.  I'm working again today.  We've had rainy, cool mornings so I've been able to clean and then still have the pool to myself for an hour or so.

This is the RV park campground where the pool is located. The bath house is the building you see off to the left.  If you look closely, you can see where I set up camp.

Those wooden structures function as umbrellas for shade or avoiding drizzle.  (If it rains too much, I'm out of there.)  They used to have all kinds of plastic chairs for patrons, but they have been destroyed through the years so we are down to three benches and one chair.  Since there are so few chairs for patrons, I haul my own there.  Each umbrella also has a table that encircles the center pole.

The table comes in handy for the pool attendants.  We can stow our gear while we clean the pool and bathrooms. 

That red and white stripe bag is full of all my necessities:  reading material, sunscreen, lunch bag, car keys and extra cover up.  I've always got my phone, towel, and that wide brimmed gardening hat.  (I am making a valiant effort not to get any more wrinkles or age spots! Yeah, hopeless.) 

So that is where I spend about five and a half hours on work days.  I can swim or park in the chair and read.  Yesterday, it was cloudy and rainy early, but by 10:30 or so the sun came out.  When I finished the cleaning, I spent time on my raft just watching the clouds float by  There was absolutely no one in the pool until about 1:00.  I had a lot of reading time, too.  Heaven!

Speaking of reading-- last weekend I finally read the first book in the Mortal Instruments series:  City of Bones by Cassandra Clare.  My students kept telling me I just had to read this trilogy.  It isn't my normal read, but I can see why this series has taken off in the young adult literature world.  I will probably read the next two in the trilogy and then buy the series for my classroom this fall. 

I started City of Thieves by David Benioff yesterday.  This is another book that I wouldn't have picked up, but I am totally engrossed in it.  It is set during the Nazi siege of Lenningrad.  At times it is horrifying and then at other times it is almost funny.  The Mr.'s cousin gave me quite a few books that her book club read this past year, and this was one of them.  (The Help was another one.) 

My next reads will be much more my typical summer reading.  Janet Evanovich and Jane Green always come out with a new book in June.  K and I each buy one, read it, and then exchange books.  This is our week to make our purchases!  

I'm headed to U town after work to meet up with K, so K can figure out what she wants for invitations to the wedding.  Hopefully, I will have time to squeeze in a trip to the bookstore, too! 

Happy Wednesday!  And if you've got some great book suggestions--send them my way.  At this pace, I will be out of reading material by the 4th of July!

PS.  If you haven't been by to visit LC lately, you have to read her post on lightning bugs.  You'll never be able to look at them the same again!  Oh, I love that girl and her little brother!  Stop by and visit Pudge and Zippy.  I'm still giggling!

Scout, Tortilla S'mores, and Karen Kuehn Photography

Small things irking me this week-

1. Itchy skin.  I have a few mosquito bites, but I itch all over.  I'm not sure what the story is. (Thankfully, it isn't poison ivy!)

2. The pool hose.  The vacuum hose for the pool curls up like those old telephone cords used to.  It curls up so much it kinks- and then the vacuum doesn't work.  Uncurling the phone cords was easy.  The pool hose?  Not so much.  I spent about 90 minutes vacuuming the pool yesterday, finally got the hose unkinked and uncurled, and am hoping that this is a one-time only problem.

3. Flip flops (brand new). This lovely new purchase turns the bottoms of my feet black.  The dye wears off on my heels and toes.  Lovely. *sigh*

That's the bad news.  The good news:

1. L spent the night.  She made me tortilla s'mores.  She spread peanut butter on a taco size tortilla, adds mini marshmallows, and then adds either a few chocolate chips or a little bit of hershey bar.  She nukes the whole thing in the microwave for 15 seconds.  Finally, she folds them taco style.  Yum.  I think this is her own creation for "L's Tortilla and Stuff" restaurant.  Of course, L is also planning to run a daycare, so we'll keep you updated. 

2.  K's photo shoot ended up being a lot of fun.  All of her worries were for nothing.  Here is a link to  photographer Karen Kuehn's website.  I wish I could have gone to watch.  K said she was amazing to work with, and she's pretty certain that the students who came in for the shoot will never, ever forget this experience. I can't wait to see the finished product.

3. Last night, we went to the fields to watch the little ones play T-ball.  What fun!  We got a good laugh out of watching them all chasing the same ball, writing in the dirt, or sliding in to every base.  There were even a couple who cried every time before they went out to bat.  Sooo cute.  That was the best hour of the day!

Today, I am off to the pool again. Yesterday, a darling two year old girl named Scout came for a swim.  You know I loved that!  A little cutie named after one of my favorite literary characters!  Maybe she'll be back today with Atticus or Boo Radley in tow.

Saturday List- The Week That Was

This was my week:

*I worked at the pool two days.  (It was the perfect work schedule!)

*Even with sunscreen, I have a pink glow to the legs.  I sit in the shade.  Only the fronts of my legs are pink.  Reflection off the water while I'm cleaning?!! Now, I need a bit of color on the flip side.  My legs look weird.

*I read Janet Evanovich's "Plum Spooky" and Kathryn Stockett's "The Help." And I promised the Mr. I wouldn't start a book on Friday, his day off.  I guess he'd like for me to answer questions and talk to him once in awhile.  Who knew?

*I planted my flowers out front.  Then I couldn't breathe during the night and slept in the recliner.  What is the pollen count?  *sigh*

*I ran a mile yesterday morning.  My first day back at it since the fall I took on May 6th.  All of my medical tests were fine.  I take that as a sign that I am good to go.

*After I ran, I couldn't breathe most of the morning.  Pass the Claritin.  *double sigh*

*I finally watched "The Blind Side."  It was a four kleenex movie, but all those tears emptied my sinuses.  I can breathe again. I think I'm on to something here.

*I shopped at a consignment store and found a cute dress for $6.00.  I love a bargain.  I'm not sure it has been worn before.
 
*Today is garage sale day in Tiny Town.  Travel is scary.  Most streets are full of cars parked poorly.  I'd ride my bike, but that is scary, too.  Bargain hunters don't pay much attention to driving. They are too busy looking for the next sale.

*Baxter is learning not to bite.  A squirt in the face from a spray bottle of water seems to be working.  (At least he is afraid of the bottle now.)

*Have I mentioned that Baxter discovered a new treat?  Pigs ears.  One of the cousins had one for her dog at the reunion and Baxter claimed ownership.  We bought him his own when we got home and he has spent the entire week enjoying that thing.  (Though it is rather disgusting looking.)  Is it real pig?  I don't know.  I don't want to know.  All I know is that it has kept him busy.

*Today I am headed to a funeral and a wedding.  Two former students are getting married.  They are good kids.  One of the perks of being a teacher is when two great students start a new home together.  As for the funeral-- remember me telling you about the senior boy whose Mom had died last fall?  When he was the speaker at graduation, his dad was in the hospital.  Dad died this week.  I can't imagine being 18 and losing both of your parents.  My heart breaks for him and for his big brothers.

*I'm also catching up on blogs and starting a new book.  Shhh.....don't tell the Mr.  I'll let him be surprised tonight when he gets home.  Surprised?  Yeah right!

It may be vacation, but it has been a hectic week.  I'm still waiting on the slower pace.

Blog Backlog

You'd think that I would have more time for blogs during the summer.  Nope.  I am behind on reading favorite blogs, behind on taking pictures, and behind on writing. 

There are a couple of reasons for this.  I like to be outside.  I just got the end of the flowers and vegetables in.  My planters are finally full. 

Then, there are a lot of books that I want to read.  Right now, I am totally sucked into "The Help."  Everyone said it was good.  I'm impressed.  I'm having a hard time putting it down.

Finally, I love being back at the pool.  I forgot how much I love to vacuum the pool.  There is something so satisfying about a sparkling, clean pool when I'm done.  I could probably do without cleaning the bathrooms and shower area, but even that isn't hard work.  And then, I have two or three hours bouncing between a raft in the pool and a chair in the shade with a book.  We don't have lifeguards, so parents are in charge of their kids.  I just have to make sure swimmers have a wristband indicating they've paid.  This might be the perfect summer job.

Yesterday was absolutely beautiful.  It wasn't terribly windy or hot.  The pool was fairly empty until the last hour or so.  I could read or lay on the raft enjoying the fluffy white clouds.  That peace and quiet seeps into my bones.  I'm hoping for that again today!  (And with any luck, I'll have time to catch up on blog world this weekend.)

Wednesday Work

Today is the first day of the summer job.  This is the same job I worked two years ago, the summer of the tornado.  I am going to be a pool attendant, which essentially means I clean a pool and bathhouses and then hang out at the pool checking to make sure swimmers have paid to swim. 

This job is easy and also relaxing.  I don't mind the cleaning.  I usually spend a couple of hours of my shift on the vaccuming of the pool and the scrubbing of the showers.  The rest of the time, I hang out in the pool or am parked in a chair with a book and a lot of sunscreen.  I love having time to catch up on my reading.

The drawbacks of this job?  I have to wear a swimsuit in public and I have to shave my legs.  Other than that, it is a great job.

The summer of the tornado, this job was the perfect escape.  Only seven miles away from Tiny Town, it seemed like hundreds of miles away from the devastation that summer.  And most days I felt like I needed an escape.

I'm going to miss the bookstore, but not the drive.  Sometimes the girls come hang out with me at the pool, sharing a picnic lunch and enjoying a swim .  They couldn't do that at the bookstore. The Mr. drops by once in awhile, too.  Since he works at the RV park where the pool is located, he'll bring a cold drink or swing by on his way to check on a camper.  I don't think I ever saw him when I was at the bookstore.

Anyway, I'm locating a sun hat and reading materials and beginning the summer job today.

In a side note, I heard from the Dr.'s Office yesterday.  The nurse called to say the EEG was fine.  When I asked about the 24 hour heart monitor results (done the week before the EEG) she said she was sure they were fine, too.  I told her I guess that meant I could go back to walking and running and she hemmed and hawed a bit.  Then she told me that she'd talk to the doctor and get back with me tomorrow.  My guess is that all tests were fine which means nothing conclusive and a complete waste of three weeks and who knows how much money.

Oh, and if they think I'm waiting until they call to start running again, they've got another think coming.  (And so does the Mr.) I've wasted enough of my training and my time waiting for this whole lot of nothing.  That and I'll be in a swimsuit all summer...duh!!