Friday, June 02, 2006

FIVE THINGS I’M GRATEFUL FOR THIS FRIDAY

1. The kindness of strangers (And acquaintances that offer to give you a ride home when your car breaks down for the millionth time)
2. Tennessee Williams (I quote him all the time but rarely give him credit)
3. Ernest Hemmingway (I recently checked out “Old Man and the Sea” for a student and read it first before I passed it on. I’ve always loved Hemmingway, but for some reason never read this one. Better late than never!)
4. Mel Brooks (History of the World Part I was on the TV when I got home today. It still makes me laugh my butt off, even after all these years!)
5. Air conditioning (Did I mention my piece of crap car that breaks down all the time no longer has functioning air conditioning?)

MONEY, CARS AND LAUNDRY—LET’S CHUCK THEM ALL!

I’m so tired that I can barely read the blurred screen as I type. But it’s a good tired. Earned from happily burning the candle at both ends, doing what I enjoy—running around like a chicken with its head cut off.

Summer classes started this week. My summer reading program is off to a great start. I’ve gone full time at work effective this week. I’m working on a big project for one of my professors and a little project for another professor. And I’m coordinating my grandmother’s 80th birthday party that will take place in September.

Honestly, though, I like being that busy. I’ve always been that way. I need down time every now and then, but too much free time is a bad thing for me. I thrive on variety and I’m truly only happy when I’m very busy and don’t have time to ask if I’m truly happy. Hmm…I’m not sure if that’s healthy or not. But it works for me…

And while I enjoy writing this blog too, I haven’t had extra time to do it lately. I’m going to try in the future to update about once a week, probably on Fridays, but that’s the best I can do right now. So please be patient with me. I’ll be back to do some blog reading on Sunday. (Gotta’ work Saturday, too.) I promise I haven’t forgotten everybody!

But like I said, I’m enjoying all this busy craziness. I actually like going into work each day, and you can’t ask for much more than that. (Well, I could ask for more money, but I wouldn’t get it unless I wanted to go back to something else, like my previous, soul-sucking profession.)

I can’t express in words the joy I feel when I see students getting excited about books. And working with other teachers that feel the same way I do—it’s so cool. I know I’m still a newbie to all this and maybe a little zealous, but I don’t care. I’m going to enjoy all this enthusiasm while I can because it’s such a wonderful rush…

I had originally planned to do only part time jobs while I was in school. But things are so busy at work, they really need someone full time and I really need the money for tuition in the fall and to get my crappy car fixed…so there you go.

Did I mention that I hate money and I absolutely despise my car? If I could create the perfect world, the first thing I’d do is get rid of money, cars and laundry. (Oh yeah, I hate laundry, too.)

In my perfect world, money would be obsolete. Everyone would contribute to society in the ways that they were able, and in return, basic needs would be met automatically. (I don’t know how it will work, but in my world there will be smarter people than me to figure it all out.)

Cars in my perfect world would be for recreation only. Transportation would be easy, quick and accessible for everyone. (I’m planning on my think tank gang to figure this one out, too. I’m hoping for something like a transporter but I’ll leave that up to them. I don’t want to inhibit their creativity by demanding something specific.)

And while I’m at it, I’d make laundry a thing of the past. The growing Mt. Washmore in my laundry room would just disappear. All of our clothes would be disposable and recyclable. I don’t care much for fashion, I’d be happy in sweats, but for those of you that do care about that sort of thing, I’d have the think tank folks make them fashionable as well as functional.

If you were willing to join me, we could make this world a reality! So come on everybody, be brave. Take a deep breath and just do it….

Money, cars, and laundry—let’s chuck them all! Oh, and let’s throw out those dirty dishes too…

Have a great week!

- A.