Taking inspiration from my buddy and blog inspirer Eloise, after a long absence I've decided to get back into blogging with her regular topic of 10 things.....
Here goes......
1. 1. Listening
I am sickened by much of the modern music being played on the radio today :( It is manufactured electronic, auto-tuned crap. (Yes, I'm talking about you, Justin Beiber, Katy Perry etc, etc). I fully admit to spending my youth obsessed with Bros and NKOTB, but I was also brought up with the Beatles, U2, the Stones, the Doors and Aussie bands like Crowded House and the Hoodoo Gurus. They knew how to sing. They knew how to play. They knew how to entertain! So after many years of toying with JJJ, after 16 years being with Rob who listens to nothing else, my radio is officially tuned into 107.5 permanently. Some of the music on JJJ is crap too, don't get me wrong, but at least I get to hear more than Katy Perry 10 times a day and Adele every 20 minutes. Actually, I do like Adele......
2. Eating
Apples. Sweet, juicy red apples. I find the green ones too tart. There is nothing quite like munching away on a beautiful Royal Gala, Pink Lady or every now and then a good old fashioned Jonathan. They satisfy my sweet cravings without me turning into the Goodyear blimp and they are so convenient - no peel, no containers, just wash or wipe and go. If you're like me and you never eat the core (I always had dreams as a kid of apple trees growing in my stomach if I ate a pip!), they are fully compostable and can be discarded in the closest garden. How long will it last? Who knows! But right now, I am typing this munching on a delicious Red Delicious!
3. Drinking
Soda water. Just plain. Sometimes I lash out and put a bit of lime in it, or buy the Schweppes with a twist of lime, but for the most part I drink it ice cold, as is. I love the bubbles, I love the tinny taste. On childhood trips to Hepburn Springs, we would take empty bottles and traipse to all of the natural springs, get a bottle of each one and spend the rest of the day drinking them all, usually mixed with cordial. Me, I was the only 9 year old I knew who preferred the sulphury ones all by themselves. Soda water settles my tummy when I feel sick, it quenches my thirst and it makes me feel like I'm drinking a soft drink without the bad stuff. The most underrated drink ever!4. Wearing
3. Tracky Dacks. It's school holidays. I am not in a professional capacity. I can wear what I like. I don't live in the same town as I teach so the likelihood of running into any families is pretty low. To be fair, they are more like yoga pants - you know the ones, lycra-y, no fleece, roll top ones. They are so comfy, they can be dressed up or down....but I'd never wear them out out, if you get what I mean :) Chuck on a pair of runners and you can go to the gym (haha), or go for a run (haha!!) Put on a pair of blingy thongs and a colourful cardy and you can go shopping without the embarrassment of being in your trackies!! Mmmmmm, trackies......
5. Reading
Marian Keyes. Specifically, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married. She is my favourite chick lit author. I love the way she writes. She makes her characters so real and so relatable that I read each of her books at least twice a year. Easy to read, easy to follow, no thought involved. She tackles issues in a light, kind way and every story ends happily. My teachers from high school and Uni would be having conniptions if they knew. I was, after all, a Literature major. So why read them? I have a vivid imagination and I am very, very sensitive. Things that I read, watch and hear have a huge impact on my emotions. I don't like spending days after I've read a thought provoking story in a deep depression, crying over the events experienced by fictional characters. I tried Jodie Picoult but I couldn’t deal with the feelings. As a sufferer of major depression, a horrible black cloud is always on the sidelines, waiting for the opportunity to roll in and swallow me up again and again. Through much time, support and hard work, I am able to keep it at bay most of the time, so reading uplifting froth and bubble is, for me, self preservation.
6. Weather
I love Spring! The flowers, the warmth (but not too warm), the showers that make everything feel clean and shiny again J I am at my happiest in Spring, particularly October. With October comes daylight savings, meaning longer daylight hours, meaning more time outside in my lovely garden with my even lovelier hubby. Planting and planning. Dreaming and doing. I am a bulb freak and the last of the spring flowers are just coming in – freesias! They have the most delightful perfume that is not overwhelming. Jasmine vines are flourishing. We have a veritable snow cover of blossoms on our paths. Everything seems possible in spring J
7. Wanting
Longer holidays? My school to burn down? A million dollars? Sure, all of those things would be nice. What I really want is quite existential. I want to find me again. My depression stems from feelings of inadequacy, feeling that I am not good enough to do anything, to love. That I have to be what other people want me to be in order to be accepted. I know on an intellectual level that this is not true, that all I have to be is me…..but who IS me? Who am I really? I suspect who I am, I have been the true me before, a me that I like, a me who takes no shit from anyone, a me who met and fell in love with my Rob. I’m hiding just under the surface of my insecurities and my disease to please. I’m standing on the edge of a cliff, I can see everything I want on the other side of the crevice. I used to think all I needed was the guts to jump but now I know I have to build a bridge, then there is no fear about crossing. The bridge is ¾ finished. Fingers crossed it will be done soon.
8. Feeling
Content. Settled. Happy. Calm. Loved. Accepted. All important things for me. Things I never thought I would feel. It’s been a hard road to get here, but I am. Now to finish the bridge…….
9. Thinking
That I should get off my lazy butt and finish painting the outdoor furniture! The rain storm I thought was coming has decided to cancel it’s appointment with me so there is no excuse…..but I really can’t be fagged. And I just did a mani and I don’t want to chip it. And Judge Judy is on soon. And I’ve done 2 today. And I’m hungry. And I have to think of something for dinner, get on my blingy thongs and cute cardi and go buy food. And I have to do an airport pick up in 2 hours. So there’s a bit of a ‘not gonna happen today’ vibe about me!
10. Enjoying
The last 3 days of my holidays. I know, everyone thinks how awesome it is for teachers, getting 10 – 12 weeks of holidays a year. And true, it is one of the perks of the job. But the 10 weeks between holidays that school is on, it is full on! 8am – 5pm, half hour lunch break, 5 hours of motivating the unmotivated to learn, to work, to not annoy those students who are motivated. Refereeing playground disputes, teaching kids how to tie their shoe laces, blow their noses, clean up after themselves, play nice, speak nicely, manners, hygiene, nutrition, time management, resilience……then we have the core curriculum to cover – reading, writing, handwriting, grammar, spelling, number, space, measurement, chance & data, science, social studies, economics, environmental education, geography, history, swimming, PE, sport, (yes there IS a difference!!) music, performing arts, visual art, LOTE, computers, social education, technology, personal learning, civics & citizenship, communication and thinking. Term 4 is the busiest time of year for teachers and it’s usually the longest one – in Victoria it’s 11 weeks this year, we finish on the Thursday before Christmas. I am about to work 70 hours of unpaid overtime, writing reports, while still delivering quality education for the 22 lovelies in my class. I have spent 2 days of my holidays preparing my program for Term 4. So yes, I fu*%ing earn AND deserve my 12 weeks of holiday a year!!!! (btw – no longer feeling so calm!!)
No comments:
Post a Comment