Sunday Chilledness

I was on my way to the gym when I got distracted by my computer. Whoops. By on the my way, obviously I mean about to leave my room, no chance of having even got down the stairs.

Today I feel good. I am still very very hot, but I feel chilled too, emotionally I mean, not skinwise. Remarkably well rested. I am pleased with my ability to keep things under control and make the right decision. It helps to make the right decision when you are practically falling asleep at the dinner table.

Ish's birthday dinner at Ruby Blue last night was really good, although alas I was only there for just over an hour, so didn't have time to catch up with lots of people. But that's ok, my conversation woulda been shocking anyway. On the plus side, my parents anniversary dinner was lovely. We went to a Chinese place in Northfields, which was strange at first since we hardly ever eat actual Chinese in a restaurant, but the food was very good. I had king prawns with green peppers in a black bean sauce, and it was super tasty, I could eat it all day today too. Quite a pricey place, and I was initially cross with the service, but I got over it after quite a bit of yummy Chilean red. They all had a good time anyway...I know this because I got home before them, hahaha.

What else is good right now? Lots of things really, mainly weekend orientated, all of which make me forget about the week. An excellent Friday night/Saturday day with X, yum. As such today I am having a non-grumbling day, especially with regards to my knee, my hangover, my tiredness, and my super-busy-panic-ness, all because none of these things apply today :) Also, Spurs won, and Keane scored his 100th goal, good stuff. I found a bag of trousers in my room. It's four weeks to half-term and I've decided not to quit until the summer, mmm, focus. I only have three things on my to-do list and they are all very manageable. Plus I am intending on having a nap in about 3 hours, woo, I love sleeping in the afternoon.

My horoscope is looking promising too...

Over the past months, there’s been talk of exciting ideas or offers, but not much has come of it. Monday’s stunning aspect between Jupiter and Saturn, which is in your sign, not only brings many of these to fruition, but ushers in several unexpected opportunities, too. Ordinarily, you’d evaluate each, then decide which to tackle first. But, with the uncompromising Pluto moving to accent these on Saturday, a lot of those decisions will be made for you. Worrying as this sounds, rarely has anybody been so well positioned to benefit from even unsettling developments, as the events of the coming weeks amply illustrate.

And here's yours, now that I know you care about them...

So, to the gym!

Update 7pm

I'm about to start lesson planning. But I don't really want to. I'm listening to a song with the line in it "If you're hot and you know it," and I am just SO hot, it's disturbing. I am thinking I may have to put shorts and a vest on, full gear is too much. Also disturbing - I couldn't sleep in my nap. I gave myself two hours, and no deep sleep. Rubbbish. On the plus side, I had an awesome session at the gym, where I caned my run even with a dodgy knee, and lifted more than usual. Plus I had a lovely reflection in the sauna, where I wondered how I had lost weight despite not being in the gym for two weeks, and still having "Christmas weight", but then I realised it must be muscle that I have lost, which is also trash. Then I went on an impromptu shopping spree, but managed to kinda control it. Hmm, anyway, putting all this together, along with my slightly nutty behaviour on Friday at school (totally nailed my observation, but was a wee bit hyper in the morning, had to be covered for a lesson, and then went nuts at my Y9 class - they have a whole class detention after school tomorrow because I just couldn't keep them under control, and I kept losing my temper - threw 7 of them out, plus kept making them stand in silence behind their chairs, weird), I am a little worried that maybe I might be getting a bit high. Hmm. But if I notice it, then I can't be, right? Or can I? It's kinda been like this all week, but there are a lot of my "warning signs" in there. Hmmm. Will try not to be worried.

Feeling Good

I am about to go and practice my piano. For some reason I decided it was more important to blog first. This is despite our hilarious lesson on Sunday night where I quite openly talked to my hands. Jade was shocked. I have since clocked that it is never ok to talk to your hands or explain how sometimes they are independent of my control.

I am feeling very chilled and mellow. I like it. Perhaps this is my normal stage? I can't remember really. David Gray is playing in the background. Not literally, though that would be awesome. It's just the CD, but I love him.

Last night I got more than seven hours sleep for the first time in ages. Long overdue and absolutely splendid. I woke 4 minutes before my alarm, just like I used to be able to do, and only spent 10 mins contemplating when I could next get into my perfect bed (whilst brushing my teeth) but after that I was zooming and ready to go. I had a good day despite not being able to fully "project" (my voice). This is probably because I have removed all the parts of my job that are really tedious i.e planning, assessment and reporting, leaving me with just class-room teaching, excellent. Obviously this isn't a long term solution, but I like it for now.

Seriously, half-days are perfect for me, coming home for lunch and having a nap then hitting the gym and giving me my evenings free is just awesome. Earlier I contemplated becoming a part-time receptionist for some doctor or something. Clearly a bit pointless with the uni degree and all, but maybe the simple life is what I should be aiming for?

Something else I contemplated today was whether I could drink a pint of tea. I am still undecided on this.

Went to boxercise for the first time in ages today, didn't really fancy running or weights. Was great, my body is properly aching, in that nice way. I get such a kick from exercise, it's bizarre. Today was extra good because the bionic Chinese lady was there. She's like 40 and tiny and the only person I know who will regularly out-work the instructor. The 50 year old blond gym bunny woman was also there. I like it when they are there because then I have some competition. Pushed myself hard, and during the warm down the chap was playing some Motown track with the refrain "it hurts everywhere", which was so true. Strangely he played a lot of samba during the session, not sure why.

We're going to the Cuckfield tomorrow, yay, Fruli! Can't wait to see you girlies!

The First Proper Day Back

I had a really good day today :)

I think I've remembered why I got into teaching. Three reasons:

• I like being in control
• I like the sound of my own voice
• I like fixing things/people
  

Today I got to do all of these things. I spent most of the day with my tutor group, where I finally got to stamp really control over them. The old adage "don't smile till Christmas" doesn't really work with me since my face acts independently of my head, but I tried to be on the top of my game and jump on all infringements. I told them that I would train them, whether they liked it or not, so they might as well get used to it. Lots of monologuing on my part got my point across I think. And I don't want to speak too soon, but after it all Eight Evil were the best that I've seen them. I think it's cos they realised that they're stuck with me now so they might as well tow the line. Whatever, they're actually pretty ok, even crazy H and J-L (the girl who hated me all of last year). E was a bit clingy and A a bit whiny, but I managed it.

My weirdo year 9s were good too, partly because most of the real nutters from my group's parallel back in Y8 seem to have dropped down a set, and all the ones that came from the set above are fairly normal. No doubt I will have trouble with them at some point, and obviously little D was his usual nutty self, but for the most part I liked that lesson.

This is all a bit weird. I guess it's cos I've forgotten what it's like to be in school. On Friday when I have a 5 period proper day of teaching I will get a bit shaky. But that's ok cos then it's the weekend and so I can have fun :) I'm surprised I guess cos last night I didn't sleep at all, very turbulent dreams, and yet I am only just feeling the fatigue. They were those lucid dreams where you feel like you're in control of what's happening but then you don't understand why you are dreaming what you are. Hope that doesn't happen tonight, it's too much like work. Should be ok though since I hit the gym at half six this morning, so might have been running off the buzz i.e. endorphins and raised metabolism, not dodgy steroids or anything. That should be enough to knacker me out tonight. Reckon I'll do that tomorrow as well.

Well that was all very rambley. Am off now to sort out seating plans and do some sociology work. Can't believe I am teaching them on Friday and I have no idea what's going on!

Day 30 + later in the evening ramblings

Day 1 of the summer term. I have called it Day 30 since this is how long my Y11s are in school for before study leave. Only 29 days with them to go, how sad! I do love that class.

Anyway, so far so good. New behaviour policy was implemented today. I don't think I fully understand it. Clearly made an error since have filled in 0 incident sheets today, whilst the more experienced and senior teachers have filled out looooooads. Obviously in two weeks when my classes are running riot, this will be why.

Strangely I feel like I have nothing pressing to do right now. I better enjoy this feeling - no doubt it will vanish rapidly in about 10 minutes when I actually let myself think about what I have to do.

Sprousey, perhaps I should submit a thesis on why ethnic people are more punctually challenged? I'm sure I read somewhere it was because the emphasis on time is much greater in Western societies, whereas in our ethnic worlds, time doesn't matter, events happen when they happen. Also, who is JM? I've forgotten, crumbs.

What else? Well, I stumbled upon this blog since it was the one that had just been updated as I signed into blogger. Haven't read it, but how cute are the babies on there? Forget mixed race babies, now I want Aryan ones.

Update - 22:23

Some things I forgot to mention/have happened since my post:

1. Sparrow had some tests done today and she'll get the results soon, but she's been feeling better. Yay!
2. I made awful fun of a Y11 girl in my group for having a lovebite. Not very professional.
3. Birds pooed all over my car bonnet while I was at piano, grrr. Still, my little car is in dire need of a wash, so I guess it's time.
4. I remembered to pick up my dry cleaning but forgot to take enough money. Whoops.
5. I realised that my "piano crazy" is back - namely being unable to control my hands independently of one another, and also completely freaking out if my hands touch each other or Jade's when we play. It is now an official syndrome.
6. I went to an amazing dance class at the gym. We are learning a routine to Entourage. At the start of the class there were about 35 people, and by the end less than 20 were left. Clearly we are the hardcore. I have limited co-ordination, but was so much fun!
7. I watched a great Horizon on intelligences, which featured Gardner's multiple intelligence theory (of SI Professional Studies fame).

What a great list of stuff I've done. How interesting for you to read.

Random things, but most importantly...

It's half-term! I am sitting here reading the papers and listening to X-FM in my pyjamas after a luxurious brunch in a completely empty house (bliss!....my folks have gone to a lunch, but not before our breakfast guests departed...who else has visitors before 11am on a Sunday?! A wonderful excuse to hide in my bed).

Hahahaha, I think I may be delirious from the knowledge that I don't have to go to school this week :) Either that or still drunk. I have become a glorious lightweight, and also a more responsible drinker i.e. no longer having to sink everything in sight. Well done me.

On the down side, I now have a bit of a cold. How annoying. I always get ill when I have a kinda slow down in life pace. Boo. Still, plenty of echinacea, vitamin C and zinc will boost me through. I think I got it from the weird lady in the sauna at the gym, who despite my clearly trying to relax (with my eyes shut and everything), insisted on attempting to make me talk to her. Some highlights of efforts to trap me in conversation included:

"what kind of fish do you eat?"
"are you worried about bird flu?"
"there's a court in Snaresbrook you know"
and, most alarmingly, "when are you coming here next?"

She creeps me out, and the fact that she is quite emaciated, has scary worm hair, and sunken eyes doesn't help. In future I won't be so polite, since clearly my downfall came from answering her questions, even if my answers were horribly blunt. Further, this will limit the chances of her committing ID fraud with all the random personal information she has gleaned from me. I think she's a witch.

In other news, I am still full from the gorgeous feast created by Noor last night. And also mightily impressed at Charlotte "Ginger" Rhead's ability to drink more than half a bottle of rum disguised as mojitos, and still be standing. Inspiring. Also inspired by Noor's beautiful house and woods to once again contemplate becoming motivated by material possessions. Luckily these thoughts were quashed by numerous debates about teaching and the marketing machine that is TF etc. I think this job has taken me over. Yeen, we missed you, but drank in your honour.

And finally, when it comes out, make sure you see Freedom Writers - I've heard it's a wonderful film, in the vein of Dangerous Minds, based on a true story about a super-teacher (Erin Gruwell, played by Hilary Swank) who changes the lives of the young monsters in her charge through a diary project. Something for all us TFs, I'm sure. Maybe we can get them to screen it for us for free?

PS Potter, congrats on finishing your exams!