Because I'm Awesome (#10)

After working out to Just Dance 2 with my Wii (because working full time, being a grad student, and trying to maintain a social life and romantic relationship have made it difficult for me to make it to the community education wellness and fitness classes I like), I decided I needed a snack. Originally, I had a craving for ice cream, but the rain all day today, which persists even now, has made my apartment rather chilly. Since I refuse to raise the heat, and I actually have milk in my refrigerator that is not two weeks past expiration, I decided to make hot chocolate on the stove.

Now, for a single 20-something, I will admit that my kitchen is fairly well stocked, as far as cooking utensils go. However, I am also an elementary ESOL teacher, and I have brought a number of my personal cooking supplies to school to use as props in teaching certain units this month. This means that I have my spaghetti pot and my le creuset available. Please keep in mind that I have a le creuset because I lusted after them insatiably at William-Sonoma for a long time, and finally snagged a black one on super clearance a couple of summers ago. I feel pretty highfalutin right now.

So I am making this hot chocolate in the le creuset using organic sugar and organic cocoa. This is not because I go to the store and only buy organic things, but because I try to avoid shopping at Hy-Vee and only shop at Trader Joe's now. When I go to Hy-Vee, I buy convenience food, most of which goes in the freezer. When I go to Trader Joe's, I plan meals, spend less money, and generally eat healthier. It seems, however, that another bonus is that there are a lot of times when organic is the only option.

And so I plan on enjoying this organic hot chocolate made in my le creuset on this rainy evening, curled up on the couch with my Cookie Monster skin blanket. I almost feel like it is necessary for me to get out the step-ladder to get down one of the fancy porcelain tea cups given to me as a gift to complete the entire activity.

Who says I can't be fancy-schmancy?

Because I'm Awesome (#9)

Last night I melted a bag of cat treats. Then, I tried to change my shower head only to realize that I myself am not strong enough to get the new part on tight enough so the water doesn't spray out in all directions. Now I have to wait for Mr. Sturm to come visit on Sunday to fix it, so I think I need to go to my parents house earlier than planned today to shower.

Finally, Squeaky has a furball on her back leg that I want to cut off before it gets any worse, so I chased my cat around for a while this morning with a scissors. Goodness only knows what an observer would have thought. Eventually I gave up, because even when I caught her, I couldn't hold her down and cut off the furball in what I felt would be a safe way. Now I have two jobs for Mr. Sturm on Sunday.

In good, less incompetent news, it is Spring Break for me! Monday and Tuesday I get to go to a bed and breakfast in Lanesboro, Minnesota. Then, I'll putz around at the cabin for a while before returning to my folks' home for Easter. Yay!

Because I'm Awesome (#8)

Earlier today I took off my jeans to take a shower. After my shower, I put the same jeans on with clean underwear and a clean top. I then proceeded to go about my business for the rest of the day.

This evening at Target while getting cat litter, face soap, and ogling the Wii, I felt something fall on my foot. My dirty underwear from that morning had been in my pant leg all day. Totally embarrassed, I scooped it up and shoved it in my coat pocket. I then spent a couple of minutes panicking, thinking other people would think I was shoplifting and how mortifying it would be to be searched by security, only to reveal a pair of dirty underwear.

I'm pretty awesome.

Because I'm Awesome (#7)

Because I am awesome, I held a first grader's chapstick hostage today. At the end of the day, all students must be lined up in their bus line on the blacktop. No students are allowed to play on the "Big Toy" (which in my day was called a "jungle gym" or "playground") even if they are with their parents. I noticed a little girl playing on the Big Toy and had to try to corral her back to the blacktop. She would not go. So I picked up her chapstick and swore not to give it back to her until she got back in her bus line and then followed the procedure for boarding the bus. For whatever reason, this worked like a charm.

Also because I am awesome, I started the day with my skirt on the right way, around my waist, with the zipper on the left side. By the time I got home this evening it was on backwards with the zipper on the right. To make matters even more interesting, the right side was much higher because somehow the hook had gotten caught up in my sweater. Needless to say, it was tricky getting it off. It should also be noted that I did not notice this even a little bit until I tried to take my skirt off so I could sit in my leggings and t-shirt on the couch to eat a whole box of macaroni and cheese by myself.

Finally, another reason I am a completely awesome person today is that I did a 20 minute yoga routine on the floor while Squeaky flitted between my legs and over me.

Because I'm Awesome (#6)

• I have had chocolate cake for breakfast every day this week. I'm single, in my twenties, and there was chocolate cake on the counter.
• At 8:15 I made the decision to get in the shower in five minutes. That way I would have time to take a leisurely shower, let my hair dry a bit before bed, not be rushed in the morning, and still get to do my bedtime calm-down routine at a reasonable hour. It is now 8:57.
• Since I was too lazy to walk to the bedroom and get a pillow, I am using the armrest to support my head and neck as I sprawl on the couch. It is not comfortable at all. In fact, I may not be able to move my neck when I finally get up, but whatever. I don't think I really use my neck, anyway.
• I talked to my mom on the phone twice today. I also talked to her yesterday.
• After school, I hid from all of my colleagues so that I could have quiet work time and sit unlady-like on a chair while I corrected tests. 
• Now that the chocolate cake is gone, I am a little worried about finding a suitable breakfast tomorrow. I will probably have to eat something like cereal or oatmeal. Who am I kidding? I'll probably have something like cheese and crackers, marshmallows, or chips and salsa. Maybe there will be cupcakes or cookies in the lounge tomorrow at work. As long as they are nut-free, I can sometimes snag a breakfast of champions while I make my copies in the morning.

Because I'm Awesome (#5)

• When I try to sleep in, I only make it to 7:30am.
• I bought a nook as a present for myself. After working all summer, and then getting a job for the fall, I thought I should reward myself with a fancy present. In my life, a nook is an exceedingly fancy gift. While a book person deep down in my heart, the nook is convenient for travelling. I spend a lot of time between Rochester and the Twin Cities, as well as Birchwood, WI, and moving books back and forth is always a pain. Unfortunately, I am mildly annoyed with myself after discovering how much I truly enjoy my new nook.
• I went to "Arti Gras" down by the river yesterday and considered buying a ceramic fish to hang on the wall.
• After patching the holes in my wall left by the previous tenant, it is now necessary that I repaint. Unfortunately, I am unable to commit to any one particular color. The living room will probably end up being "Orange Toffee".
• Last night I made myself a real, honest-to-goodness dinner. There was mashed potatoes, fresh green beans, a bacon wrapped filet, strawberries, and a rather generous glass of Moscato. Because I'm super awesome, I even lit a candle while I ate because it seemed wrong not to. Dinner was really, quite good.
• I saved all of my dishes from last night to do today. Ugh. What a mess I made!
• One big orange cat is sitting on my right, sleeping, and one fluffy cat is sitting on my left, shooting hate rays at the one on my right.
• It is almost 11:00am, and I am still not dressed.

Because I'm Awesome (#4)

After going for a five mile walk to, from, and around Quarry Hill, I returned home to eat pie and drink iced tea while enjoying the company of my cat.

But then I got hot, so I took off my jeans and put on a pair of boxers. But I was still hot, so I took off my shirt. But then it became night time and it got a little cooler outside, which means I got kind of cold. That led me to the decision that I needed to create a toga-like garment out of the blanket I keep on the couch.

But you can't sit in the couch in a bra, men's boxers, and a blanket toga and do nothing. Naturally I am watching sub-par television (specifically "27 Dresses", commercials and all). Since I work with children and my job changes gears every 30 minutes or so, I have developed some pretty heavy-duty adult onset ADD tendencies, so I can't just watch TV. I am also reading the earliest posts from Hyperbole and a Half and having a snack.

It was there, sitting in a fleece toga, watching a terrible romantic comedy on my couch with the computer in my lap, licking the inside of the Pringles container that I was reminded how awesome I am. (That's right. I was licking the salty crumbs right out the Pringles wrapper.)

Because I'm Awesome (#3)

Last night I decided to have a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats in lieu of my usual half pint of ludicrously decadent ice cream. It seems a strange choice to be made voluntarily, I know, but I was really craving those oat-bunches in the cereal. You know they're the best part!

So I go into the kitchen, singing a song to myself quietly - but mostly singing nonsense syllables since I don't know the words - and open the cupboard with the plates and bowls. I choose the orange bowl, take it out, and close the cupboard, then walk over to the shelf to get the honey bunches of oats and pour a healthy sized serving into the bowl. Then I got a tablespoon out, re-evaluated my spoon choice, and decided on a teaspoon instead. Then I went to the fridge, grabbed the milk, and set it on the counter.

This is a riveting story, I know.

I looked at the milk and panicked. Some of the milk was missing! The first thought that popped into my head was, "Who has been drinking the milk?" When I remembered a millisecond later that I live alone and my cat does not have opposable thumbs, I thought rather loudly in my head, "WHO HAS BEEN IN MY APARTMENT?" My heart was beating a little harder. I felt the panic setting in.

Then I remembered that I had had a glass of milk when I got home. I opened the milk. I drank the milk. There was no evidence that someone had been in the apartment without my knowledge, and certainly no evidence that it was a mustached man with an evil grin wearing a bowler hat (as mentioned in my post about perfectly rational, adult fears) had gotten into my home while I was gone.

This whole ordeal probably happened within one second, but it was a pretty intense emotional experience. Maybe I should have stayed with ice cream.

*Vote on the Disney Princess poll. Even if you are male, if you HAD to be a Disney Princess, which would you be?*

Because I'm Awesome (#2)

Yesterday was pajama day at school, and I promised my kiddos and the munchkins in the 3rd grade pod that I would wear my pajamas. So I did. I wore my purple flannel pajamas with the owls on them. Several other teachers also wore their pajamas, but it should be brought up that I am apparently the only female in the building that wears matching pajamas. Also, the pattern on my pajamas - owls - is not like th pattern on the other teachers' pajamas - plaid, stripes, solid, etc.

The only other teacher I saw wearing matching pajamas (and button up, just like mine!) was our EBD teacher, and that tickled me.

Then, because I am awesome, I went out to get an appetizer with a colleague after work. This means I went in public, with a potential friend (see this post by Non-Sequidurrr), to Applebee's, IN THE MALL in my pajamas. The server kind of gave me a weird look. For once, though, I don't think I saw anyone I know (other than the teacher I was there with). Also, I high school students totally complimented my pajamas, and I choose to believe he was not being sarcastic.

*Last reminder to VOTE on the tea poll!*

Because I'm Awesome (#1)

Tonight was the fourth night of Booty Burning Boot Camp, and tonight, Lawrence the Instructor tried to give us an incentive to sign up for the entire month of April. The boot camp Lisa and I are registered for ends this Friday, meaning we will have had 6 classes in two weeks, which is plenty, in my opinion. Lawrence the Instructor says that if we sign up for the entire month of April, we get the last two weeks of March for free! Still, I am not biting.

Tonight was not as bad as some as the other nights. The first night was probably the worst in aftermath pain. Monday we worked our booties off (because it is Booty Burning Boot Camp), and by Wednesday I couldn't even raise my arms to fix my crooked glasses or brush my hair. Defeatedly, when the kids asked me with as much attitude as they could muster, "Did you even ba-rush your hair today, Ms. McDougalhopper?" I had to respond, "No. No I did not. Now sit back down."

But as the class has gone by, it has gotten marginally easier, and I have almost full range of motion after workouts now, which is good. In fact, I think I might actually be getting stronger. Let's be honest - probably not - but I can let my self have the little, harmless delusions.

After class, tonight, I decided to stop by Wal-Mart since it is between the Martial Arts place and home. I needed some groceries and snacks for tomorrow night. Tomorrow night I am hosting Book Club at my house, which is probably going to be a disaster since I am the youngest one in the bunch and living in a one room apartment, but maybe not. Anyway, point is, I needed some food to feed these people, and I thought it might be pushing it if I decided to go tomorrow after work and still make it home in time to clean up the apartment and make it presentable.

Please keep in mind that I had just finished Booty Burning Boot Camp, my hair was sticking up all over the place since I had forgotten a ponytail holder, and I was in my gym clothes with my good red boots. So I had on black, kind of tight sweatpant capris, an oversized bright green shirt that encourages people to recycle, a hot pink sports bra, and bright red boots with heels. It was a truly awesome look, but I figured that the odds of me seeing anyone were pretty slim.

I need to stop cursing myself like this. Every time I think that, I run into people. This time, I ran into some of my students and their families, which really, if I had thought about it, should have been expected. I was in Wal-Mart near-ish to the school at about dinner time. Unfortunately, I apparently never miss an opportunity to humiliate myself.

On the bright side, one mother, after giving me a weird look, completely ignored me as her son bounced around me and talked to me. We've met before a few times at conferences, but with any luck she forgot or didn't recognize me. Oh! Who am I kidding! She knew exactly who I was! I was wearing my ID badge!

Once home, I dropped onto the couch where I watched the most recent episode of House on TV (kind of a disappointing episode...) and had popcorn and bacon for dinner while Squeaky sat in my lap. Now I'll have to have a snack of maybe some Green Juice and a sandwich. Mmmmm. Sandwich.