Random Observations/Thoughts

It's been a little while since my last post...so I have gathered a few random observations and thoughts that I have had over the past few weeks...in no order of importance. :)


1. Having a sinus infection, while not the flu, still packs quite a punch!  It's even worse when you and your husband have one at the same time. (Yes I would like cheese with my wine)

2. Sinus infection medication = Grumpiness and lethargy

3. Lack of sunlight makes a person rethink their existence...but then when the sun finally comes out, it's like you are Snow White and all of the creatures of the forest are singing to you.

4. I like sunlight...it is good for my mental health :)

5. It is funny to see all of the posts on Facebook about "southerners" that cannot drive during the snow and ice. But when I ventured out in the slushy mess I noticed that the people who were driving crazy had out-of-state license plates; some of them were from *gasp* up north.  I think the bottom line is that no one can really drive on ice. Ice levels the playing field. :)

6. Snow days aren't as fun if you don't get out of work/school.

7. I am constantly searching craigslist to find odd jobs to make a little extra money.  Craigslist can be scary...you never know what you're gonna get when you click on a job posting. The site should have a warning like "you may be utterly grossed out when you read this post" or " this post may cause nausea and upset stomach, and retinal burning".  Please click with caution!

8. My feelings about our political climate are the same as my feelings about the term "YOLO"...oi

9. Young MC's  "Bust A Move" is the best song to listen to while driving to work. Although it may not be safe listening to this song while driving on ice. :)

10.  Condo Boards are the devil.

11. Sometimes I really wish I could have the surgery that Luke Skywalker had on his hand in the "Empire Strikes Back" movie. But they only do that kind of surgery for severed hands...oh well

12. It can be hard not going out to eat with friends or not spending money on clothes or an iPad when you're on a budget, but the feeling of being debt free (something I have experienced before) will be WAY better than any crab cake or orange crush! And besides...coupon date nights are the best!

13. After reading all of these thoughts and observations...I think maybe I should add that sinus infection medication may also cause zaniness.

Mentoring

I used to be the Algebra Readiness teacher at a local high school. My students were the ones who were either failing Algebra or who had already failed the Algebra Standards of Learning test.  My job was to help them pass the test and the class...not an easy task.  A lot of my students were very bright, they just chose to not do their homework.  Or they were acting out because of problems at home.  Or they were being bullied...the list goes on.  It was a difficult job but very rewarding.  In the beginning the kids would test my limits,call me names, get sent to the office for doing things such as climbing on their desks to try to touch the ceiling during class (I am not joking). But as the year wore on, they would start to trust me...I don't know why. Some of my most disruptive and mean spirited kids would come see me during their lunch because they were having a hard time at home or one of their friends was spreading gossip about them and they wanted to ask what to do. I was always amazed at the questions they would ask me.

 "Mrs. Wright, do you think abortion is wrong?
 "Mrs. Wright, I want to drop out of school, what do you think I should do?"
"Mrs. Wright, I think my girlfriend may be pregnant."
"Mrs. Wright, I'm living at my friend's house because my mom and I had a fight and I don't know what to do."

They invited me into their lives and asked my opinion on so many things.  I really miss them and I hope and pray that the advice I gave them helped them in some way.

I still work in a school, but as a bookkeeper, so the only time that I see students is when they are paying for a lost book or they lost money in the vending machine.

So at the beginning of last summer I decided I wanted to become a mentor with a local youth shelter. The program is called Mentoring Children of Prisoners. I went through the background checks and training and was finally matched with my mentee.  She is a middle schooler and both of her parents are in prison so she lives with other family.  It has been so fun and rewarding getting to know her and doing activities together.  I was really nervous in the beginning though.  What if she thought I wasn't cool? What if she never wanted to hang out? What if...

But  the more we hang out, the more fun we have.  We both love to read so we go to Barnes and Noble and hang out in the YA section...because that is our favorite genre. I taught her to use the knifty knitter so we go to Starbucks and knit. She also likes to cook so we made dinner at my house one night and it turned out great. And of course she loves to shop...what middle school aged girl does not like to shop?

She has taught me a lot.  I am learning all of the texting abbreviations. IDK, TBH, IKR, DNFTT...etc (look it up!) Apparently when something is about to get crazy you are supposed to say "it's bout to get LIVE in here".

She asks me a lot of questions...about relationships, school, life, careers, etc. I hope I am giving helpful answers and I hope I am making a difference in this girl's life.  She sure is making a difference in mine. It is good to look outside of myself even in the midst of having my own problems. It puts things in perspective for me.

I know a lot of people have made New Years Resolutions this year about getting involved in the community; making a difference.  I highly recommend mentoring! If you have any questions about mentoring, please don't hesitate to ask me and I will try my best to answer or point you in the right direction. Here are a couple of organizations you can get involved with:

Seton Youth Shelter
Mentoring Children of Prisoners Program
http://www.setonyouthshelters.org/programs/87-programs/101-mentoring

Big Brothers Big Sisters of South Hampton Roads
929 Ventures Way, Suite 108
Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
Phone Number: 757-549-7437 ext. 10
Visit Website: http://www.bbbsofshr.org

Happy New Year!

And it's been a long December and there's reason to believe
Maybe this year will be better than the last
I can't remember all the times I tried to tell myself
To hold on to these moments as they pass

~A Long December, The Counting Crows

Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.  It's back to work today for me and I've actually been looking forward to it.  There is something nice about routine. And it helps when you like your job! :) 

Over the holidays I watched several movies, read several books (including one called A Girl's Guide to Homelessness by Brianna Karp, http://girlsguidetohomelessness.com/read-the-book/), drank a lot of coffee, and caught up on my sleep.  It was lovely! But today it's back to reality!

I can't believe it is 2013!  ( I have to remember to date my correspondence accordingly.) I really enjoy the beginning of  a new year because it seems like you are starting over again...like this year things could be different...maybe this year will be better than the last...

Something is different this year for me. In years past I was always wishing I were somewhere else, doing something else, living a life that I wasn't living, making plans for the future...but not this year.  This year I feel like my prayer has been answered...I feel content. 

There is something really beautiful about contentment.  Feeling like my feet are firmly planted in a place so I can grow.  Enjoying the world around me and appreciating where I am in this exact moment in my life.  Maybe it's because I am growing older...but I am living in the present now more than I ever have.  I am so blessed with an amazing husband, family and friends who love me, a home at the beach, a super sweet puppy dog, a job that I enjoy and feel needed in, and I still have my life ahead of me.

In the past I would get caught up in what I didn't have and would dwell on these things.  They weighed heavy on my heart and I allowed them to form and shape how I viewed the world. But when I started to enjoy the place that I am in, the present, my world became a much happier place! I am thankful for this season in my life!

I hope the best for you in the New Year and above all I hope that you can find contentment and joy in your lives just where you are.