Me chillin' at home in dark
Tribute to Rhinelander to follow
Real Tribute is to Jim, who game me this hat!Last night, as I was going to bed I had a crazy thought in my head: I feel sick, maybe I should get a sub tomorrow. I, as I often do, guilted myself into thinking that I was okay enough to teach and therefore should be going into work. This morning when the alarm went off at 6:30, I could not believe that it was already time to get up. I then thought, I could still sign up for a sub. I mulled over it for about five minutes and then turned on the computer and signed up for a sub. Within five minutes, my spot was taken for the day. I made sub plans and went to the school to quickly set up before any of the students showed up(it is weird to be there and then not be there when the students are around. This is partly because I think they then are traumatized and miss me more.)
I then went to the store and got cough drops and nasal spray(I think nasal spray is the best thing for me and being sick. The whole clogged up nose just bugs!) I saw a friend at the grocery store, it was nice to have a little chat. I then ordered some donuts for Friday's big Valentine's Day party and rented a few movies.
Seriously consider watching Nights in Rodanthe. This movie was spectacular. It made me cry. It is a winner for romance. You may be somebody who opposes Nicolas Sparks, but really he does well with the romance. (Librarian Friend, seeing you are "studying" the romance novel, you should consider picking up a Nicolas Sparks novel. I know you are morally opposed to him for some reason, but seriously he does a good job. Even if you cannot get yourself to read the novels, think about renting one of his novels that have been turned into movies.) Sorry for the personal note. I have been doing that a lot lately in posts. Anyway, it is a good chick flick and really helped me ignite my living 100% attitude which has been lost the past two weeks. I really have been down which has caused me to curl up in my living room and shut people out. This can sometimes be regular winter behavior for me, but this time it was different. I have been pretty depressed. Tears have been spilt(somewhere near "fifty thousand tears I've cried." That just came to mind from the song "Going Under" by Evanescence). This whole re-structuring of my school has taken a toll on me. It has been hard to go to work and I think it made it easier for me to get sick too. Anyway, the movie helped me take a step back and realize what was important. (Even if it also made me wish some Prince Charming would come into my life as well! :)
Now on to the pictures. The hat in the pics in one that a good friend gave me in Rhinelander a few summers ago. His name is Jim and he was somebody I used to go to my favorite bar and play trivia with. Jim passed away last Saturday. That was a little hard for me. Granted, I didn't know him very well but what I did know of him has impacted me. Jim was one of the kindest people I have met in my life. He was always so nice to everybody he came in contact with, even if he may have had issues with some people in his circle. Jim always made me feel special and smart. He was good at seeing the good in people and complimenting them. He was also brilliant and would usually kick my butt at trivia. He was also a cheerleader because even when he did lose, he would compliment whoever did win. What a great character. I know that the past years were hard for him because he really missed his wife who had died of cancer. I think losing her really took a toll on him, even though I had never known him when she was alive. You could just read some of that pain on his face. It is comforting to know that he is now able to be with her again in a place where there is no pain. Knowing Jim and then losing him has taught me much. I am again reminded that life is short and that the people you come into contact with are important. The journey is made rich by those who surround us. I was also again reminded that you should cherish the times you have with people because life truly is fragile and you never know when somebody may leave this life behind. I feel so lucky to have known Jim and have the memories to carry with me the rest of my journey.
Well, I am off to enjoy the rest of my day. It has been nice to have a little break, even if I have to have a really runny nose, a sore throat, and cough every once in a while. I think I needed a de-stressor day! Cheers.
