Tuesday, May 28, 2013

camping and things

I have been subbing in the art room a lot lately on account of the current art teacher being pregnant and taking her fair share of sick days. It has been the craziest of the crazy in that art room, but I have loved every single second of it, I swear. And now that I'm back in the library it's like I don't even know what to do with myself anymore.

Quiet you say? What is this quiet you speak of? But I guess in all honesty after how dramatic my life has been recently, this quiet time in the library is probably a good thing. Good gravy.

And this school year's ending seems to have snuck right up on me. Holy buckets how did we make it to the last two weeks already? I can't even handle this. I'm pretty sure that this is the first time in my entire life that I wish the school year was just a tad longer. Just a few more days, please! I think I'll cry! But seriously, I think I'll cry. These kids. You don't even know.

I think maybe my heart is breaking. I can't really tell.

But I took a trip this long memorial day weekend to a campground we have frequented since I've been old enough to remember anything about life. We have camped there every memorial day weekend for a really long time. It was nice to escape the world of texting, snapchat, instagram, facebook, and pinterest for a while.

TheKeeper was here and so our family of six was complete for what will probably be the first and last times of the summer. Growing up is rough, guys. But we had fun! We long boarded, roasted mallows for s'mores, talked and sang by the camp fire, played cards under the gazebo in the rain, and walked the dogs down by the river.

Words just can't explain how the woods make me feel. It's like I could stay out there forever, but also Monday I was ready to come home. Mostly so I could shower and wash my hair. Which I had to shampoo twice to get clean. Oh yes.

And now I suppose it's back to reality.


my sweet little lottie dog got spayed thursday morning. we made her wear this t shirt to keep her stitches clean. she looked like a little toddler the whole weekend. too precious.


TheKeeper fly fishes like a professional. i'm serious.


my sister is cooler than me. fact.


we went for a buddy ride and almost face planted. it was awesome.

Friday, May 17, 2013

climbing mountains

So this week TheBoy had a break from school between the end of his spring semester and the beginning of his summer session and he came up to visit me. On Wednesday we decided to hike Canfield Mountain. Well actually we went to Paul Bunyan's for burgers and debated whether we should hike the mountain or run by the lake downtown and TheBoy was all "you pick! I always pick!" So I drove to the mountain because, well, I'd never been there before so what the heck?



At first we wondered if we would really go all the way to the top. The higher we climbed the steeper it got and we both already had sore legs. (But Nathan's legs were way more sore than mine, let the record show. He wins the sore muscle award!)

We would look at how steep the trail went and say "we'll just get up this last peak" and then we'd get up there and the trail would go up even higher. Two hours into it and we were seriously debating turning back. But we'd come this far! We might as well keep going. It would be foolish to turn around now!

So onward and upward we put one foot in front of the other. TheBoy even had a makeshift walking stick for a while.

And then, just when I thought my little legs could take me no further, behold! The top of the mountain! And what a view, let me just tell you.



Check out that view! 
I know right? Gorgeous. 





From the top you could see the lake and the entire town. It was breathtakingly beautiful. We just sat and stared at the city for probably half an hour. We spotted the resort and then we were trying to make out other buildings, but that proved to be a little difficult since there are really no distinguishing markers. Oh well.

It was so worth it to get to the top of that mountain, you guys. Once I was there I couldn't believe that we had even considered turning around and going back to the car.

We daydreamed about climbing Mt. Everest or McKinley and then climbing Kilimanjaro and some of the Himalayas, because now that we had conquered Canfield we were experts. I mean, clearly.




And this whole thing got me thinking, guys. Like real deep stuff even.

This whole mountain climbing thing, it's tough work. The path is rocky and in some parts it goes up at a sharp angle. You work up a sweat taking step after step, feeling like the journey is lasting forever. Sore legs and sometimes labored breathing. There are moments where you want to give up, where you feel like walking back down the mountain would be so much easier - and you're right, it totally would be. But if you turn around and give up, then you never get to experience the euphoria of making it all the way to the top. You will never get to see the glorious view and rest in knowing that you conquered the mountain.

How similar that experience is to life.

We all go through bumpy patches, where you are climbing a mountain and circumstances are rough. There have been plenty of times where I have felt like running back down my mountains and clinging to things that I know instead of feeling courageous and plunging ahead no matter what. But that's what I am trying to do. Plunge ahead.

It would be so easy for me to go back to school. I know school. I can do that student thing like it's nobody's business. It's scary to move ahead with my life and take that big girl job and become a working class citizen. There are other areas also where I am climbing mountains too, not just with my career plan. If I just keep pushing ahead though, if I just keep pressing on then eventually I will reach the top of these mountains and the view will be spectacular.

And then I will look down from the top of my life mountain and wonder how I could have ever considered running back down. I am climbing and I am building myself and I am creating who I want to be. Life is all about discovering who you are and what purpose you serve. It is really the grandest of adventures. Sometimes I am so lost and I wonder what the crap I'm doing here, you know? Like what in the world is the reason behind my existence? Is there even one? But I know I have to be alive for a reason, or else what's the point?

So I keep climbing. And even though I'm not at the top yet, my path is still beautiful too. There is something to be said for the view of a mountain side. For wildflowers. And for good company.


Monday, May 6, 2013

macklemore, the ren fair, and other some such things



This weekend was crazy, let me just tell you. First there was Macklemore and Ryan Lewis on Friday and good gravy that was a really fun concert. Oh yes. Lots of fur coats and fist pumps. 




TheBoy and I went out dancing after the concert was over and there were these three guys standing in line in front of us who were absolutely hilarious. Good gravy I do enjoy hanging out with that boy (who insists that he is a grown man, duhh) and he kissed me on lips right as we got in line to get inside the building.

"Did you two just get married?" This one guy asks. TheBoy and I look at each other and laugh, because really.

And then he says "What's the matter? She's pretty! Have you thought about it?"

"Well, I've thought about it-" TheBoy starts to answer. By this time I'm probably nine shades of red embarrassed.

"What, is he not handsome enough for you?" the guy asked, turning to me.

"Oh he's plenty handsome," I answer. If there is anything I like about that boy I'm with, he is probably the handsomest. And also one of the sweetest. I think he's just great. I kind of really like him a lot more than I had originally planned.

"Well, you two should get married," they tell us, laughing. I don't remember the rest of the dialogue that occurred between us and them, but it was funny and I've been laughing about it to myself for days. Some people's kids.



On Saturday was the Renaissance Fair where TheBoy promised the best caramel apples of my life. I was a bit skeptical, but interested. And also, I was not disappointed. Those apples were delicious! And the Renaissance Fair, while highly unauthentic to the time period, was really fun.

Tent after tent filled with everything from wheel spun pottery to handmade jewelry to knitted slouchy hats and scarves. Probably I could have walked around it all day. I felt lonesome for Art On The Green in Coeur d'Alene which is a very similar affair but on a much larger scale.

Unfortunately it seemed that before I could blink the weekend was over and it was Monday morning. Monday mornings are the worst, plain and simple. I hate leaving M-town, like, it physically hurts when the alarm goes off signaling me that it's time to get up and go.

To counteract my ever increasing case of the Mondays that literally makes me want to cry, I decided to curl my hair. I think it was worth it.



Thursday, May 2, 2013

funny things my students say

"You know what they did? They were all out of chocolate milk! I was so pissed!"

first student: Son of a biiii-
second student: That's push-ups!
((if they cuss their first warning is push-ups - if it happens again they have to leave))
first student: But I didn't finish the word!
third student: That's right cuz you have to say please after!

"Miss K, I love your laugh. It makes my day when you laugh."

"Miss K you are here everyday. Are you stalking me?"

*after a failed pass in basketball*
[name of student], I'm not Usain Bolt fast!

me: Why did you bolt when I walked over here?
student: Because you're scary!

me: Crushed it!!
student: Miss K that just made my day.

student: Miss K, we never hang out anymore.
me: That's because I only hang out with the students I like.

me: Well, you guys seem to like me well enough.
student: That's cuz you're AWESOME!

"Miss K, do you like my shorts?"
"Miss K, watch this!"
"Miss K, did you see that?"

((the first lunch kids got their open gym privileges taken away because they were eating in the locker room and not cleaning it up so i have to keep them all out of the gym by standing guard at the door))
student: Miss K can we go in there today?
me: Do you think if I'm standing out here that you can go in there?
student: Well, it was worth a shot.

((a student grabbed a granola bar off my desk as a joke like he was going to steal and eat it))
me: You can have that, if you really want it.
student: Seriously?
me: Yes, seriously. I'm not going to eat it.
((he opens the wrapper and licks the granola bar))
student: Are you sure?
me: Yes. Do you think I want it back after you licked it?

student: There are 54 states, right?
me: I'm going to pretend you didn't ask that.

***

I tell you, these kids are something else. And this isn't even half of the word vomit that leaves their lips on a daily basis. Good gravy I do love my job!
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