From My Sick Bed...

I have been trapped in my house for the last 6 days with the stomach flu and a minor cold. I went 15 years(!) without having the stomach flu and now I've had it three times in the last 4 months. Some of my friends keep trying to convince me that it's due to the toxic milk I've been consuming (unawares, of course) for the last 6 months but I've assured them that it's in no way related. It might have something to do with a more fragile immune system due to the scarlet fever I had a couple of years ago, but for sure NOT the toxic milk.

To pass the life-sucking-monotony of sitting on the couch for days (which might sound glorious to some of you but 1. when it's your only option and 2.your sure your body is close to locking into a permanently sitting position and 3.you can feel the bed sores coming...well, glorious it is not), I've immersed myself into the land of all things true and wonderful, political and American...

It's a little t.v. magic I like to call, "The West Wing".

Oh. My. Gosh. 

I've laughed, I've cried, I've talked back to the t.v., I've thrown a few things, I've considered running for office...and I'm only finished with Season 2. Only four more Seasons, 53 hours to go and a presidential race to begin planning.

On a completely unrelated note, school starts in two and a half weeks. 

My brain turns to mush when I'm sick. I can't read, I can't think, I can't focus. I can barely talk. I've said a very limited number of words this week. You can see, though, I haven't lost my wit....

...

I've considered cutting myself off from TWW (that's what us true fans call it) and setting my couch on fire (all in the name of health and sanity) so that I can once again return to real life. Because one must do that eventually.

I'm hoping tomorrow. Tomorrow shall be the day I return to normal life. Who cares if I can't eat? Who cares if I don't have any energy? Who cares if I have to stay within 15 feet of a bathroom at all times? 

Not me.

Not.Me.

Curse you stomach flu and all things Gatorade and toilet paper and chicken broth!!!

Playing Catch Up

I have been putting off writing because I have so many things I could write about that it seems overwhelming. The problem is that the 'putting off' only perpetuates the 'putting off' some more. In order to alleviate the pressure of trying to play catch up, I'm just going to write about the main events and pretend the rest didn't happen.

Since the last time I posted...

I starred (I wasn't THE star, or even a 'bright light' really) in a community play called "Into the Woods". I was Cinderella's evil stepmother. Yes, there have been many jokes about how 'fitting' that was. Hardy-har-har. After 6 months of practice 2-3 nights a week, it was a great feeling to complete all 4 shows. We had a cast of about 70 people (almost half of those being under the age of 15), a large plastic cow named "Milky", 2 acts, 16 scenes, a bunch of well places crowd interaction and videos, a live band (I got to sing!), crew from countries all over the world and some great memories to look back on. It was a blast. And one of the most exhausting things I've ever been involved in.

I went to Sichuan Province (western China) with about 25 9th graders. It was a 5 day trip  filled with beautiful scenery, altitude sickness (students), the stomach flu (me), long bus rides, and yaks.

School finished at the beginning of June. We had a Goodbye Dinner for the departing staff. A fancy-ish affair.

Spent a weekend in Beijing for a last hurrah with some friends. We mostly ate Western food, played cards, talked, and shopped. Oh, and watched 'Hunger Games'! Not too many adventures but a good way to say goodbye. Gone for the summer, gone for good.

I went to Thailand with my friend and her parents. I had a lovely time...rest, good food, fun animals, adventure, new friendships, sun, beautiful creation, time by the pool, kind nationals. It reminded me of how much I miss Florida too. 

Since Thailand, I have been taking 2 hours of Chinese lessons every day, reading, resting, pursuing friendships (old and new), exploring the mountains and sea near my house, watching movies and doing some school work.

Now you are caught up on my life.

You may be wondering what I’m doing next year. Here’s the scoop…

I plan to stay in my job for another year. I’ll still be teaching Model United Nations but I won’t be teaching World History any more (yes!). I’m teaching College Prep instead. Not even sure what that’s about but I’m sure I’ll figure it out over the next 4 weeks.

That’s it. You know about all the major events that have occurred over the last 3 months.