Countdown...

3.5 weeks and counting- obviously life has caught up with me as I haven't posted since spring break. i'll do other-than-wedding items first.

Got a job- sort of. In addition to regular subbing at NTHS, I sort of fell into a "long term" sub position at new trier. (quotes on the long term because 5-6 weeks to the end of the year- this friday- isn't exactly long, but i'll take it.) I taught the unit on student congress (aka congressional debate) to freshman at NT-Northfield. it was actually a lot of fun- great kids. and it gave me the chance to sub everywhere else at northfield because i was there every day anyway. English is of course what I can do "best," but the staff and faculty there are terrific- the Dept. Assts are all fabulous and super nice. I like it when I actually get to "do" something with the kids, but the last 2 weeks or so was a lot of review (finals are this week). Otherwise, my grading is almost totally complete and I'm looking for jobs for the fall. (Sadly, NT has yet to post ANY teaching positions- I look every other day!)

Spent a chunk (2 days) of Memorial Day weekend up in Wisconsin at Fester's cottage- the dock was already in, but Tom helped the guys do more stonework (now that the septic tank is in) and Barb and I did kitchen super-clean and lighter general house cleaning (mostly because we super cleaned the house last year- but not the kitchen. so we didn't have to do the major cleaning on the rest of the house- i dusted for cobwebs and did a general dusting, and went to the laundromat for the annual sheets-and-towels washing. Helped Barb change the bed linens and she finished the vacuuming i missed as well as did bathrooms. (which kind of worked out well because i'm not a fan of bathrooms!) so the house is effectively open and ready for summer. The addition of the septic tank (instead of "field") limits our water usage, so the rules of water use change- and likely some things change (like probably new water-saver toilets by the end of summer... not an easy change, but probably necessary.)
(The reason for this update is not only to document our Mem. Day weekend activities, but also the update on our honeymoon location- at the cottage. We're ready! -mostly, anyway.)

Okay, the wedding update.

Had my first psuedo-meltdown about 2 weeks ago. source of meltdown was lack of stuff done and the advent of the 6-weeks mark. Tom, of course, has been working and has 4 preps and crazy kids and end-of-year stress- none of which I blame him for- it was all necessary and logical. but i needed to be more proactive in getting him to answer a few questions and "do" a few things and so i freaked out a little bit. and that friday when he came home we sat down for an hour and answered all questions and now things are fine.
except for the occasional "geez it's only (x time) away!" but that is getting less as i check more off the list. getting past this weekend, i think, will help.

However: Music, readings, programs, etc, for wedding are done. Okay, not exactly. programs need assembling, but that is an activity set for Saturday evening with help while boys are bachelor party-ing it up. Also will likely tie ribbons on bells. (alternative to bubbles. didn't want bubbles.) Ribbons are already cut- did that while watching Olbermann last night.

Photo sheets are in- and that was a step (8 pages!). we think we have all the photo requests, and we get to talk to Freddie (our fabulous photographer) a week before to "clarify" some of the weird intricacies of our group and ideas.

The next major for filling out stuff is DJ, and i need Tom to confirm a few things before we do that- though I'll probably call them soon.

Scheduled: hair test (tomorrow), hair color, and cake tasting (both next weekend). Need to schedule nails, and then final hair appointments (after test, of course).

In all, feeling a little better about reception as well. RSVPs due this weekend (send those suckers in!), but did a preliminary "possibles" table-setting last weekend and am less stressed about that. Better.

On top of all this (i know- as if i need more) is 4th of July. Really this organization runs itself, and i think that, and the fact that everyone knows i'm getting married the week before, helps me to know that things will work and i don't need to worry too much about it. The people on C-Team are great and know their stuff and I can "stop out" effectively after parade assembly until after the wedding and everything will still come off just fine. It will be good.

so- we keep counting down and getting stuff done! and it will be one great, big party. hooray!

February

Well, we're at the under-5-months mark, and still a fair amount to do. I'm trying to chip away at the wedding details without freaking out. I'm also trying to involve Tom in as much as possible in the least amount of time. (In other words, I do all the research and pricing and present him with options. Lesson planning (4 preps!) is rather time consuming for him right now!!

So- we're plugging along. China pattern finally agreed on. Yet to add placemats/napkins, but also not overly concerned about it yet. (Need to do pre-Friday.)
Tasting scheduled for February 24th- for dinner. Following that we meet with bakery people. (Hoping for cupcakes, variation on flavors, and at least a few gluten-free ones!!)
Have to schedule appointment with jeweler, but I now know what I'm looking for for Tom's ring. (Frankly, I think I kind of get off easy on this one!)

Bridal shower is March 13th, which is nice. I really am hoping to get certain stuff then so I can start using it, but it's silly to ask for specific priorities- just happy to get things needed and that will be used and appreciated!

Otherwise- we leave for Maui on Saturday. Kind of a "pre-honeymoon," gift from Tom's parents. (they have a time share in Maui, and are taking us this year because once we're both full time teaching, a full week in February becomes an impossibility- or at least not a great idea!!) So we're getting excited, though Tom is slightly overwhelmed by having to do a week of sub plans for four different classes! (not that I blame him!)

Looking forward to some good "beach reads" on this trip- though my beach reading is probably not standard! On the top of my list is "Liberty" by Garrison Keillor, to really get my head into parade-mode, as that will also kick up once I'm back to reality!!

Really- ready for warm weather. Though will likely not mind an escape from Chicago politics at present!

Time for Wedding Posts

Okay, we are less than t-minus 6 months from the big day. Stuff is beginning to heat up in life as a whole, and we're really attempting to stay on track with some of the planning- now that the details are in.

SO: we have to register. Some of you know that much of household is kind of "set"- we live at home (with my mom- if you know her, you totally understand why that rocks)- and therefore a lot of things we have- or, at least, have access to now and will have forever more (or until they break/die). We have some "basics" we're planning on getting- like sheets, towels (that actually match!!), and some kitchen ware that has been in existence since my parents were married and before, so well past its prime (or dead).

But, marrieds and unmarrieds with good ideas, I ask an important question:
What did you register for that turned out to be a great thing to have? What did you NOT register for that you wish you had? OR- what do you think would be really useful or fun to stick on a registry that you might use in the future, in any house/living situation?

Thanks... I think we're supposed to start this weekend. (eek!)

next up... flowers.

always time for a little nap?

Right- haven't blogged in about a month. That whole teaching thing gets to be rather consuming- for real. 5 classes is a lot- even if it's only really 2.5 preps. (this will change for my last two weeks, where i go to 3 full preps, though one will be shared with history- and that gets complicated, at least, to a point. will be interesting, anyway!!)

so this is assessment week- tests! the end of quarter is friday. grades are due next week, wednesday morning, for quarter grade reports. which means i spend my weekend GRADING ESSAYS. (ask me if i'm excited about this. no, really. seriously.)

anyway- then end is almost in sight. and so far, i'm exhausted, but not entirely dead. at least, not yet. i think the weekend may just kill me, but i'm banking on that extra hour.

FALL BACK, everyone!

soon and very soon

i start student teaching on monday. with only 1.5 working days (read:week days) left of "freedom," i begin to freak out.
i believe this is not really freaking out about school beginning and more about a new routine that is, at present, foreign to me.

i really do like change. and i typically embrace change.

it's the leading-up-t0-change that absolutely makes me nutty (and, likely by design, everyone around me).

running out to pick up a few things for dinner earlier this afternoon, i passed a staples store. and i paused to think about school supplies. i mean, i do start high school again (in a manner of speaking) on monday, after all.

and i have NO IDEA what i need. they should really make back-to-school supply lists for teachers and not just students. (remember when you had to bring a box or 2 of kleenex for the classroom so there would be enough for the school year? and when you had to bring a change of clothes to keep in your locker in elementary school?)

anyway... now that my three weeks are almost up- this should get interesting!

new things

so, major life changes happening with wedding, student teacher, etc. no biggie.

today, the person who will replace me started. this is a weird mix of emotions that causes some inner turmoil- and basic exhaustion.

i have no problem with this, knowing that she is likely qualified and i'm leaving on amicable terms, etc, but it's still weird to share 3.5 weeks with someone who will fully replace me and what i do.

i don't want things to be awkward, but i feel that's somewhat inevitable. has anyone had this? what do you do? or what suggestions might you have?

in other news- the FAFSA form is next to impossible. and that's just the end of it.

VBC, etc

this week is VBC (vacation bible CAMP) at church. Due to working downtown and the current ineffectivity of my shoulder, i am "acting" in the nightly dramas. Tonight is the last night (and therefore the potluck). I will reprise my role as Felicity Snootlithe, Foreign Correspondent for the "Heavenly Times." (we're doing St. Paul and the Early Church as the theme this year.)
Anyway... i'm kind of a snobby foreign correspondent with a sloppy British accent (though the sloppy is my own and not written into the script. effect of not having done dialogue in quite some time as well as effects of vicodin for shoulder pain- NO, i didn't drive myself!!)

Otherwise: day off tomorrow for appointment with rheumatologist which happens to fall SMACK in the middle of the day (moderately annoying!) and is the only appointment available this week. Unsure why the ER docs decided rheumatologist, but there it is. My hunch is there will a CT scan or MRI in my future- hopefully near rather than far so we can decrease drugs and ice-pack-frequency!!

Tomorrow, however, is also T-minus one year to wedding day. Sometimes, that's not a big deal. Other times, I can't believe it's only a year away and I start to worry about budget, looking for a dress, little details, and the fact that student teaching makes up my life from mid/late August until mid December, and that moderately freaks me out. Especially because I'm sure there's stuff I have to DO in preparation for wedding things somewhere in there, while i know that student teaching consumes your life and them some in process.
This *is* all going to be fine.

I just need to remind myself of that sometimes. This may require some therapy this weekend.
(therapy of this type typically means cooking in quantity. i think i need to get the refill propane tank, soak some mesquite or hickory chips, and make sure I have enough vinegar to make pickles while making everything else on the grill.)

now, if i can just get off the drugs I can enjoy all of this with a nice sangria.....