Hot Plastic

Over the past few weeks, my credit card has gotten quite the workout.

In no particular order:

Plane tickets to L and L's Wedding of the Century = bought and paid for. This vacation is what is getting me and B through the semester. We will be in Massachusetts for a week and hope to: spend a day in Boston visiting the aquarium and taking in the city; hang out on the beaches in Hampden; take a walk around Amherst; spend a gay, gay day in gay, gay Provincetown.

New Sony Vaio laptop = bought and paid for. I saved up all year for a Mac. I was dead set on buying a Mac. My in-laws are Mac people, and me and my crashy work PC were jealous. So, I saved. And when it came time to buy my much-desired Mac, I just couldn't think of handing over 2k for it. Listen, here is what I do on a laptop: watch Hulu and YouTube, read blogs, and make lesson plans. I researched and found that the Sony Vaio was something awesome, for about $1,200 less than the Mac. Of course the Mac is worth it, but I am not a horn-rimmed glasses hipster. The Sony is pretty sweet. It (with a super sleek apple green case) arrived a week ago, and Mama like.

Tickets to Wicked and a few nights at the Magnolia in Omaha = bought and paid for. About a month ago, I was seeing what Broadway shows were touring and saw that Wicked is in Omaha in May. I mentioned to B, "we should go to that." Then, a few days after that, my bff J. from back home e-mailed me and said, "Wicked is coming to Omaha. Me and R. want to go? Do you and B?" Perfect! So, we have a few days planned in Omaha with J and R. We will: dance all night in a gay dance club, shop and eat our way through Old Market, go to Wicked, and visit the zoo.

Now, all that is between me and these fabulous plans is the rest of the semester. That's it.

Spring Break begins for me this Friday. Praise Allah.

List-ful

Things I Am A-OK At:

1. Teaching.

2. Decorating a house. When I was younger, I thought that the true sign of adulthood was matching coffee tables, matching end tables, entertainment centers, you name it. Now, though, our house if filled with pieces of furniture meaningful to us. Stuff from our grandparents, from the quonset at the farm, from auction sales. Our house is bright and funky and hip and fun and filled with pictures of those we love/are loved by. I may quit this whole teaching gig and offer my services to the community-at-large. Matchy matchy is lame.

3. Homosexual activities.

4. Cleaning a house. I learned from the best: my mother. Growing up, Saturdays meant it was time to make the trailer sparkle. When we were really little, my sister and I would put the Footloose soundtrack on the record player and somersault our way across the living room while my mom vacuumed and dusted. As soon as we got big enough to wield vacuums and Pledge, we took over. The Footloose soundtrack still played a vital role.

5. Recommending books to read. I've got a stellar list that can be yours for one low, low price.

6. Loving up kids.

7. Knowing European and Asian capitals.


Things I Am Not So A-OK At:

1. Knowing Central and South American capitals.

2. Sleeping. My mind never shuts up.

3. Remembering the exact definition of "bemused."

4. Getting into movies that B really likes and says I will really like, too.

5. Using anything else on my hair other than a curling iron and Suave hairspray.

6. Handwriting.

7. Not being sarcastic, obnoxious, and/or judge-y.

Winter Wonderlame

Here I sit, gazing adoringly at the new 46" TV that looks so, so good in our living room.

It was the Christmas present from Ma and Pa J, and it is beautiful.

It's been a quiet start to the week. We are in the midst of The Worst Winter Storm in the History of Winter Storms Ever. Yesterday was a doozy. I was all dressed for work, had my lunch packed, and was just about to head out the door, when I thought, "you know, I should really check the road report."

And it was terrifying.

So I called people who commute, weighed the value of my life versus teaching kids about feminism, Ernest Hemingway, and sentence coordination, and decided to cancel class. Then I spent 2 hours posting notes and handouts to D2L. (Okay, most times, I kinda hate D2L, but it's super awesome for times like this.)

Then this morning, I woke at 6:30 and started checking area road reports and school closings. Road report = still terrifying. UC = classes as usual.

(Side bar: I think it is incredibly irresponsible of UC to not cancel classes. We are a 100% commuter college.)

Once again, I weighed my life versus driving home at 10 pm in high winds and dangerous windchills and icy roads. My life won out again! Score! 2 for 2! And then I spent three hours posting everything but the kitchen sink on D2L.

So, on my two heavy teaching days, I did not teach (in person). So I prepped and shoveled. Boy howdy, am I sososo tired of shoveling this freakin' driveway.

And tomorrow is my off day. So I'll do some grading and whatnot. Probably some more shoveling. And lots of instant watching Netflix. 46" of it, baby.

Well, not much other news. We are finalizing plans for our Massachusetts trip in June, so that pretty much rocks my face off. Oh, and bookclub meets at my place this Sunday.

Never a dull moment.