I heart Joel...

Five years ago this week I started teaching at Hirsch. On the second day of training we met out in the ‘burbs at what was then a corporate conference center run by Arthur Anderson. (I doubt it is anymore.) So we were in our “computer training sessions” and I got paired up at a monitor with a cute red-headed English teacher. At the time, of course, I was dating someone else and thought it was pretty serious. Still, this other teacher and I had so much fun that day making fun of everything related to the corporate conference center and correcting other people’s grammar and spelling, surreptitiously, of course. We were typing messages and then quickly erasing them so our snarky comments wouldn’t be noticed by others. All of a sudden though, I think this other teacher started to have too much fun with me because he writes some comment that is a total non-sequitur about “his girlfriend”. I thought to myself, “OK buddy, wasn’t hitting on you, easy with the girlfriend comment.” So of course I write back, “My boyfriend sometimes says that too.” So it’s on at that point. This other teacher and I furiously masked our inappropriate flirting by continued discussions of how awesome our significant others were. Joel lasted with his girlfriend for two more months. I made it three. Shortly after that we went to the movies… but that’s a story for another day.

Vacation all I ever wanted...

So I am officially done with work for four days. Since I can't eat because of terrible heartburn, and I've been off the sauce for about twenty-six weeks now, I am a bit bored. Mostly I am just sitting with my feet up watching DVDs on my New Laptop. (I love it so much.) Plus occassionally I get up and do a few chores. I stole an illustration from google images so that you get an idea of how things are looking over here. So, feel free to drop me an email because I am a bit bored. (I never knew what a work-aholic I am.)

31!

This year I got to do a lot of my favorite birthday things...eat steak, see my nieces and nephews, and most importantly...stay home! Saturday our block had a party for the first time in maybe twenty years. It was low key but there was a nice turn out of neighbors. Joel had a band set up in front of our house, and then Liza, Mason and the kids stayed over.

One of my favorite things...

I love that Rory is so amenable to my sisters and me dressing her up and playing with her as if she was our very own Barbie. She even seems to enjoy it. I also love that she keeps patting my belly and saying, "hello, my cousin."

OFU...

Barb's band was great at Lincoln Square. I am a little late in posting...

Movie rant...

I used to love going to the movies; especially in the summer when it was hot. It now costs nearly $10.00 to get into the movies. It is the same cost for a small popcorn and a drink. One shouldn't have to butter their own popcorn if they are paying $10.oo for it. Crestwood theatre is a mess. The lobby and bathrooms are filthy. There were seven commercials before the movie started. Two of them were for the armed forces. Overall, rather disappointing. Thank goodness for netflix.

These are the salad days...

The title is from one of my favorite movies, Raising Arizona. Nicholas Cage says it in his deadpan voice as they show clips of the main characters basking in the sun and sipping lemonade. (Which I can no longer do, thank you heartburn.) But if I had to title this summer that would be the name of it. Joel and I are having so much fun. We really can't wait for the baby and are having the best time preparing for the arrival. But a part of me is trying to save up this memory of our life when it is easy and we have all the time in the world for each other. Something tells me things will change drastically.

I heart summer. OK, so it's been hot, but that is what popcicles and swimming is for. I have been the biggest pool whore this summer. Since being in the water makes me feel cool and weightless and relaxes my swollen little tootsies I am trying to swim as much as possible. If I know you and you have a pool, chances are I have been at your house this summer. (You're next Erin!)

Here are some of my other summer addictions...The 4400. I am usually not a sci-fi fan, but I love shows that have character studies. Crappy romance novels, especially The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives : pure trash, but fun for summer. Otherwise I have just been nesting, putting my feet up, and wishing just a little bit for a Margarita.