Day 1 - Reflection on the Year

The school year wrapped up officially yesterday at noon. I am exhausted, exhilarated, and ready to relax. This was the Year of the Ego - schools and agencies offered me more work than one human being in one year should take on. Naturally, I accepted everything that came my way. This is not a smart move, but clearly, I had something to prove. From September until mid-April, I worked from 7-3 at my middle school, then came home and worked another 5-8 hours in three separate roles for an online company. I worked 3 or 4 hours on the weekend as well. This took a toll on my health, and to some degree, on my relationships as well. In April I resigned from the role that required the majority of my time in the evenings, which was very freeing! I have decided to take to the summer off, finish some projects that I have managed to avoid by working so much, reflect on why I felt the need to work incessantly, and simplify my life. I want to reflect where I am headed in the future...Stay in the public schools? Leave the schools, and explore other career opportunities? Grab my Dearly Beloved and sail around the world? These are the thoughts that I think. I have ideas for this summer, but no plan. That is what this day one goof-off day is all about!

Day Sixty - SIXTY?!?

Day Sixty - wow. I am treasuring every second of this time. Each breeze through the window, every leaf and tree branch that sways in the wind, moments to sip lemonade and read, working in the yard, random trips to the beach with Dearly Beloved - all of these things add to the fabric and joy of my days. I am truly grateful for this time.

Day ThIrty-Five - Smile

Well, it is hard to believe, but here I am at the half-way point of my summer sojourn.  I have worked a lot, but it is different from school-year school - much more relaxed (although much more humid and steamy). I have been to the Cape for a week. Sunday, we leave for our trip to Florida. I am really looking forward to getting away with DB. We haven't gone on a vacation of any distance in three years. I am going to relax, walk, swim, and chill.

What are my goals for the final four weeks after vacation? Wrap up my week of summer school. PURGE my large collection of clothes and shoes. Paint my dressing room and get some shelving installed. Maintain my dedication to my grain/gluten/wheat-free lifestyle. Ramp up my dedication to strengthening my legs and feet through my physical therapy program (Can't be a runner with weak ankles). Rejoice in the fact that I am returning to my SLP position! Sleep, friends, meditation, gratefulness....

Day Nineteen - Splendid!

Today was an absolutely lovely day - highs in the low 80s, minimal humidity, low dew point - a rare occurrence during New England summers! It was comfortable to be at work, enjoyable to do chores after school, even grocery shopping was pleasant! Personally, I would like every summer day to be this way, but I suppose I would lose my absolute joy at the loveliness of such a rare event! Salute!

Day Sixty-two - Riddance

Vacation is fabulous...laundry, not so much! There was A LOT of laundry, but it is now clean, folded and put away! I have a list of things to accomplish before this delightful period of time ends in eight days, but today it just felt good to finish the laundry, and finish my book - so that is what I did!

Day Fifty-eight - Ray

It was a lovely day. The sun danced among the clouds, the west wind gently blew, the temperature was perfect, and I enjoyed my second to last day at the beach. It has been perfect - we rested, relaxed, made a great dinner, chatted. I did some writing, we shopped, and slept. We were very lazy, and it was delightful!

Day Fifty-three - Rainfall

Nothing like a day at the beach in the rain... DB took off early to head to a grill repair job that he promised he would do - a 90 minute drive each way - and I elected to stay at the cottage. Good choice on my part! I enjoyed my coffee, read my book, chatted with my mother, and just had a great time doing not much of anything! The rain poured down torrentially, accompanied by a fierce East wind that drove it through any open window in its path.  DB was soaked when he returned, but happy that he accomplished his task. We made a great dinner together (well...in reality, he did most of the cooking - I did most of the clean-up!), which we enjoyed. All in all, a lovely vacation day!

Day Forty-six - Rambling

Rambling around today. Got tons of errands done, lots of weeding, organized photos, prepared for the evaluation I am doing with a student tomorrow, worked out a bit, and just enjoyed the day!

Day Forty - Really

Could be really difficult to be home all day with no car, but it turned out to be an opportunity to read, reflect, reframe and rest. Got the car back at 4. Really nice day!

Day Thirty-two - Romance

Sundays are meant for having coffee, reading the (online) newspaper, and relaxing together. We went out to breakfast, did a little shopping, and just enjoyed each other's company. After a steak and salad dinner, followed by two episodes of "True Blood", the evening, and the weekend, were done! I enjoyed myself very much!

Day Ten - Repeat

Yesterday was so good, I thought I'd do it again today!

Day Nine - Relax

 

Today was a relaxation day - that is, once I got back to sleep after an entirely too cheerful bird started serenading me at 4:12 a.m. He should be very thankful I did not have the capability of putting my fingers around his little feathered neck... In reality, I was more annoyed that I had left my bag with the earplugs in it downstairs. I traipsed down at 4:13 (because I am so patient), grabbed the earplugs, and hit the rack. A walk at 7:00 was out of the question.

Once I was up, with a large quantity of caffeine coursing through my veins, the day looked much brighter. I wandered along the ocean, read some of my book, monitored the Verizon guy as he installed My Precious wireless modem, then did troubleshooting later in the evening when it DID. NOT. WORK. All is good now. I am snuggled up to my own personal wireless, instead of skulking around the neighborhood searching for an unsuspecting, unsecured wifi to connect with...

Relax!

Day Four - Refresh

Nubble Light in York, Maine. We took a winding trip there today to have dinner with Brent and Jamie. We ate at a wonderful restaurant right on Long Sands Beach, at high tide, with the waves crashing on the rocks beside us, and the seagulls eying  us in hopes of a handout. It was my kind of a day - 60 degrees, overcast, a little foggy. Perfect for the woman whose tanning consists of her freckles joining together. I can think of no other place that I would rather be today: by the ocean with my Dearly Beloved.

Day One...Rest

The first of the 70 Days...Rest! My reflection in the mirror when I went to bed last night showed a woman in need of rest: glassy eyes, dark circles, brave but tired smile. Packing up, finishing my paperwork, final meetings with parents, yearbook completion, graduation...I am done in! I had planned to get up this morning at 7:30 - the extra 90 minutes of sleep seemed a treat. I woke up to grey skies and rain beating steadily against my bedroom window and decided that some extra time with my head on my pillow would be good for me. I slept until 9 am...decadent!  Having "nothing to do" isn't easy after working a full time job, two part time jobs, and teaching an evening class for 10 months. I will ease into it slowly...time to go work out!

Plans...

Here are some of the things I plan to do during The 70 Days...

ME STUFF
Relax-Refresh-Rejuvenate-Renew...
Get a pedicure every two weeks or so...
Go to the beach as often as I can...
Keep up my low-sodium eating...
Go to Eccentric Movement, and move eccentrically...
Declutter myself, my home, my brain...



HOME STUFF...
Get the ceiling in my living room fixed...
Paint my kitchen...
Paint my dressing room...

WORK STUFF...
See three private clients weekly...
Work at summer school for 5 weeks...
Work at the SNF if I feel like it...