Whoa. Time Flies When You're Working Your Ass off.

I feel like I've been riding the world's longest roller coaster. Since school began, I have been going non-stop. Then just when I feel like I'm starting to settle in, the next big hill comes up and the ride just keeps going. Now don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining at all. Anyone that knows me well can attest to my penchant for roller coaster riding enjoyment, but damn, I could really use some down time; just waiting in line following the metal corrals winding my way to the ride anticipating the ride, not finding myself in a continuous loop, buzzing through the station past all the other people waiting for their chance to hop aboard. What am I talking about? Well roller coaster analogies aside and all, I have been running full steam ahead with all of my cylinders firing; pedal to the metal (Come on, like I could really eliminate the analogy). I am really glad I decided to take the risk and switch from teaching elementary to teaching middle school. It's a LOT of work, especially considering I'm a bit of an overachiever and I have an administration with high expectations. I've been planning my ass off trying to stay one or two steps ahead of the kids with mixed results, I'm staying on top of my grading of projects and hanging of artwork because, well, let's face it--since college, I've made an artform out of procrastination. I recognize this and have been doing my best not to bury myself. However, grad school has once again started up and...ugh...we've hit the research paper segment of the course. It couldn't get more dull. And, so now has my Saturday morning Art classes at CCAD---man I wish I had started grad school a year earlier. Oh well.

I feel like I've been riding the Mean Streak at Cedar Point. Anyone who's visited Ohio's premiere amusement park and has made the mistake of riding that aptly named coaster can completely understand what I'm saying. That ride beats the hell out of you. If you don't leave your car with a bruise or a sore shoulder or hip then you didn't actually ride the coaster my friend---you must've stood on the platform and watched. That's how I feel right now. I'm riding the Mean Streak but for some damn reason it just won't let up; there's no end in sight. The only difference is. I actually am enjoying my current ride. The same cannot be said for the Mean Streak. I refuse to ride it.

I'm really gonna be looking forward to putting my first full grading period behind me. By then I will be completely comfortable in my middle school Art teaching roll and I will have gotten a much better grasp on managing my classroom, my instruction and the Art projects. And maybe also by then I'll be back into top teaching shape and no longer come home and crash the moment I enter the house.

I suppose I don't even have to tell you that my whole workout regiment has been put on hold for the time being. I've been training myself to get out of bed at 5am each morning which has taken some major adjusting of my body's internal clock let me tell you. The goal is to get accustomed to getting up early, and head to the gym for a bit before going to work. I'm making strides. I'm almost coherent by 6am. LOL. I'm really confident that eventually I will get a handle on everything and all will fall into place in due time. So, if anyone out there reading this is a close personal friend and you happen to give me a call---please forgive me if I'm groggy or incoherent. I'm sure I'd love nothing more to talk to you; you just probably caught me at a bad time. Don't give up on me, just contact me later.