New Life, Check!

It's been a whirlwind year. A lot has happened, a lot is still happening. The crazy thing is that I'm happier than I've possibly ever been in my life.

First, though, I must get the bad news out of the way. I will possibly write a more contemplative post on the subject at a later date, since I'm spending my time in Denialland trying to ignore the pain, but my grandmother died this Tuesday. She was a wonderful, sweet woman and even though she lived a full and happy life, it was still far too soon.

Changing the subject, I'm living in my old hometown again. I didn't stay in Chicago for long. My brief dalliance with the boy in the coffee shop landed me with mono, and I spend the majority of the time I lived there sleeping and/or miserable and homesick. The icing on the cake was that I was offered spring classes at the universities I had taught at in back home again, and had not found a teaching or any other new job in Chicago by the fall. The sprinkles on the cake, of course, was that my roommate was a little bit mean. So I headed home within 2 months, tail between my legs and happy to live with the parents and save a little money.

I got used to closing at the Starbucks in Chicago where I worked, so I asked my old boss to grant me closing shift status so I could substitute more in the day and focus on making a good impression on the local school districts. This of course, led to me once again working more hours between the two jobs than I would have liked, but I was able to save a great deal of my money (it's amazing how that happens when no one else is able to spend your money) and limit the amount of time I spent at the parents' house.

Meanwhile, I got to different people at Starbucks better, both the coworkers who usually worked evenings, and the customers who usually come in during evenings. I discovered a new shampoo and conditioner that made me feel as if I had the best hair in the world, and I bought a few tops and pants/skirts to wear to work that were in uniform code, but that were cut nicely and made me feel more attractive than the baggy polos I'd been wearing.

During this time period, I got to know a customer, an old regular the night crew knew well already, who I would flirt with on a regular basis. The flirting was mutual, and after about 6 weeks of dancing around, he asked me out. We've now been dating for about 7 months, and I'm deliriously happy with him. He pays attention to the little things, he cares about my opinions, he likes to talk with me about the things I love. Heck, he even committed to watching Buffy with me once through because I am so passionate about the show. I am so grateful that I found him!

During this time period I also moved into a duplex with a bud from Starbux. It's a beautiful little place, which of course I would love even more if it were a little cheaper and I could live here alone--not because I don't like my roomate, just because of the little annoying things about having roomates in general--but the yard is fenced for Chloe, I'm living in the city and not the suburbs again, and independent.

Meanwhile, I sent a few emails out to local community colleges telling them I am experienced and qualified and still had a few spots open in my spring schedule. About a week before Christmas, I was inundated with offers and ended up not being able to take them all. Eventually I wound up teaching a total of 8 classes at 4 different local colleges. The planning was killer, since they were all classes I hadn't taught before, and the grading sometimes took up more time than it should have, but I do love teaching college kids. I left Starbucks once my schedule became untenable, and I miss my coworkers and the comraderie, but not working holidays or nights and weekends. I'm teaching 8 classes again this fall, but only one is a class I haven't taught before and it should be a lot less time consuming.

Okay, so I think everything is now pretty much up to date. Summer school starts Monday, but I'm only teaching one class, which should provide a nice break. I'm planning on devoting time to planning the new class and adjusting some things in my old classes over the summer, as well as doing some more reading on some history topics I don't know as much about to add spice to my lectures. I've read a lot of colonial history so far while at the hospital the last two weeks.

The only other thing is that I didn't have a lot of time to run this spring, and I put on some weight. This is also connected to having a boyfriend who bakes. I'm planning on using the blog to write a little on my progress with weight loss over the summer as well. I started at 144, and I am now at 140. I would ideally like to get to 125, but anything under 135 will get me back into my tight pants, which is the more practical part of this mission. I don't want to have to buy a new wardrobe.

Nice to talk to y'all again. See you soon.