Get Ready for The Storm

A Gaythering Storm from Jane Lynch

Bridgies say the darndest things ...

While driving to Hy-Vee late last night to get candy for the bunch of ingrates I call my students and spotting a group lounging on the Speedee Mart curb:

Me: Oh God, there's that dude, what's his name? Roberto? Rodriguez?
Bridge: Albert. And he's sitting with those married lesbians. That one drives a car that you like, a yellow Scion or whatever.
Me: Oh God! I don't want to be a stereotype!
Bridge: Too late.

On the gigantic hybrid pigeon/doves that have been hanging out under our bird feeder:

Bridge: Look at them! They don't belong here! They're unnatural!
Me: Bridgie, some people say that about us!

On subtly admitting that she may have lost our only pair of scissors and handing me a 10 dollar bill before I head to Target with Beemer:

Bridge: Here. Buy yourself some nice scissors. She laughs and laughs.
Me: Grrr...

While thinking aloud that I should douse myself in NyQuil to get some sleep:

Bridge: Yes. Take NyQuil. Lots of it.

On the new allowance of gays and lesbians to marry in Iowa:

Bridge: Sooo ... wanna meet me in Sioux City this week? At the courthouse? Wear something nice.

A High in the 80s.

I just talked to my brother for the last time before he lands in Kuwait. Then he will be stationed in Basra. He thinks he'll be incommunicado for at least a month or so. I am sad and am trying to figure out how to look like I've not been crying. Because I have to teach soon.

Here's Michael and Sam sharing Taco John's last fall:




In other news ... I don't really have much, I guess. The light at the end of the tunnel is glowing brighter and as God as my witness, I will make it. (Yeesh, and I harp on my students for using cliches.) Overall, I've had a very satisfying teaching year. This was my first full year as a full-timer, so this is the first full year I've done the 5-5 load. I believe I rocked it. Soundly. And by "rocking it", I mean I am still standing, haven't gone completely gray, haven't told any in-class mom jokes, and haven't succumbed completely to carpal tunnel. Ha! Take that, 5-5 load!

I had my advanced comp students journal about this last week: "What is an important and significant change you have noticed about yourself in the past year or so?" Some students wrote about positive stuff; some wrote about really sucky stuff. I haven't addressed this yet, personally, but I think it's important to take stock every once in awhile.

Taking stock:
I still chew my nails.
I do not drink pop (save for the occasional whiskey diet).
I would like a baby. How? Oy oy oy.
I feel more secure and stable, in all ways, in the past year than I have the preceding 27.
I still have a mothereffer of a temper.
I am a helluva teacher.
I'm addicted to Facebook.
I left the Newman Center and now go to the other Catholic church that I'm not sold on.
I am pissed because the Newman Center I loved no longer exists.
I am an old gammy who can still dance your socks off, pal.
I want a house. I'll be in the position to buy one in two years, I think. I hope.
All in all, things is pretty good.

I know you will anyways, but please keep my bro and all other soldiers close.

Mesa, A to Z.

This past weekend, we whisked away to Arizona for the gorgeous wedding of my one of my best friends from college. We rented a condo with three other friends, got pedicured, margarita'ed, sunburned, martini'ed, and danced the night away! It was a dream vacation. Absolutely perfect.

We got back on Sunday night, and this morning, I put on snowboots and shoveled the drive. Sigh. Arizona, I love you.

The condo we stayed in.



Aloha! Or whatever you would say in Mesa. !Bienvenidos! I guess.



It's a tough life, I tell ya. A morning at the pool and margaritas, guac, chips, and salsa for lunch.



The waterfall at Val Vista Lake Resort. The koi were huge!



Doing the electric slide at the wedding!



View of Val Vista Lake from the dock:



Tall Cactus!



I love this state!



Goodbye, Arizona! I'll be retiring to you shortly: