It’s Monday & a lot has happened since my last post

My last post was on Feb. 27 and since then the following has happened:

1. Spring break! I was on spring break from March 5-11, and I spent the week with a friend at a resort on Playa Bayahibe in the Dominican Republic. The weather was perfect, the beach was perfect, the water was perfect, the company was perfect–everything was perfect. It was so good to get away and be warm and near/in beautiful water and to do nothing but sleep, eat, read, and get in the water.

I was going to post while I was there, but I decided to unplug from all social media and just be present. Here’s a pic that encapsulates what my week was like:

a pic of me wearing sunglasses on the beach — rough life, I know

Heaven.

2. Then, I had to fly home. On the first flight, there was no wi-fi and no in-flight entertainment, which would have been fine except I finished my book with about an hour or so left in the flight and needed a break before starting my next book. On top of that–and I have no one to blame but myself–I didn’t/forgot to add movies or TV shows to my phone before the trip. I had to just stare into space for a little while because I wasn’t ready to jump into a new book and I, you know, had nothing else to do.

My second flight got delayed by about an hour or so for a mechanical issue (the inside of the plane wasn’t cooling off), which sucked but was also great because that gave me time to add stuff to ye olde cell phone. I mean, I had already added a couple things because of the layover, but the extra time meant extra time. So, of course, I didn’t watch anything at all on that flight.

By the time I landed and got to my ride, it was about 1:45 a.m. and the driver gleefully announced that it would take a half hour to get to my place, which meant I would get home after 3 a.m. because of the time change. I had forgotten about the time change but was glad he told me so I could change the time on my oven when I got home.

I got to bed–finally–at 4 a.m., which would have been fine except the next day…

3. I went to the Oscars party at the Academy Museum. My friend is a member and wanted to go, so go she and I and another friend went.

I was skeptical about going to watch a screening of the Oscars in an auditorium, but it turned out to be really fun, and even though we weren’t at the actual ceremony, it felt like we were very close to being in the actual room. Everyone got all dressed up (the invite said to wear “Hollywood glam”) and there was food and fun. We learned a lot of lessons about what to do if we go again, and we also understood fully why celebs have glam squads. Let’s just say boob tape was involved and never speak of it again.

Also, I got a pedicure before I left on my trip because I wouldn’t have time when I got back, and my nail polish chipped on the LAST DAY when I was packing up to get on the plane. I was bereft, especially since I only had open-toed shoes to wear.

4. The next day was back to work, which wasn’t so bad because (a) my sabbatical officially got approved [expected], and (b) I got nominated for a teaching award by my students [unexpected]. So, that was excellent news all around.

And to top it all off, it was light outside when I left work because of Daylight Saving Time. I have been in the best mood all week because of the time change haha.

5. I am officially back to the grind–especially because I am on the hiring committee for my department and we got over 400 applications to screen. My eyeballs are melting out of my head, but I decided to take a break and post this.

6. Also, you know between the spring break and the last time I posted, I read some books:

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It’s Monday and I have been behind for over a week

I’m blaming both the fact that my flight home last Thursday (Jan. 5) was delayed and that my stupid job had our stupid FLEX (professional development) day on January 6. (Can you tell I’m still salty about it?) Ever since I have worked at this school–this is my sixth year–the FLEX day has been in March, after school has already started. March! So when I made my travel plans, it didn’t even register that they had moved it, and I didn’t even realize it was the Friday BEFORE the semester began until the last week of class when they sent out the registration link. I have been teaching a very long time, and I would never (never) book a flight that got in the night before I had to be at work first thing in the morning. UGH.

Anyway, I missed the first session of the day because I was too exhausted to get up, the guy leading the second session went over FIFTEEN MINUTES into LUNCH TIME (like, sir, are you kidding me? I had to raise my hand and let him know because he was gearing up to keep going. I seriously do not believe he would have stopped if I hadn’t called him on it) and then had the absolute audacity to say he was going to start the second session “promptly at 1.” That barely gave us enough time to collect and eat our lunch, so I was late getting back because, of course, I had to use the restroom. Then he went over the end of the session which made me late for the next one. The only reason I didn’t just up and leave both times is that he was doing the EEO (equal employment opportunity) hiring training, so I figured whatever he was saying was important.

I spent all day Sunday rushing to get my classes planned and published (the goal was for the first two weeks for all of them to be up and running in the learning managing system). I was on time to my first class on Monday but the door was locked, and I thought I didn’t have my key (I did) so got started late. The same thing happened on Tuesday. On Wednesday, I got to therapy early but the parking garage was weirdly full so getting parking was a challenge so I wound up being late for that. I then had to rush to get to my class because of the travel time between the therapist’s office and my home and lunch and work. Thursday was fine, but I found out I had to go into work on Saturday (SATURDAY, sigh) for a job fair because I’m on the hiring committee (see above re: EEO training). I was on time to that, but late to church yesterday, so, basically, you know, who has two thumbs and needs a three-day weekend?

Sigh.

Anyway, here’s what I read since my last post:

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#AMonthofFaves This Is How I Did Christmas in 2022

MON | Dec. 19 – #AMonthofFaves This is How We Do Christmas. How do you get into the holiday spirit? Are you decorating, cooking, have certain traditions? What are you gifting this year (if anything)? Tell us all about how you plan to enjoy this holiday.
⁠
GirlXOXO

This past week was a whirlwind precisely because the holiday was very different for me and my family this year. I’ve been in Florida for the past two weeks (and will be here an additional week) to be close to my daughter who is completing an internship here and to have a do over visit with my parents since we didn’t get to hang out with them during the summer because we caught Covid. I did a combo Christmas/birthday celebration with my parents and daughter last week (my mom’s birthday is actually today). And because my mom loves me, she brought their tree for the hotel room! There was no oven in the room, so we decorated while eating gingerbread cookies from Insomnia Cookies.

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#AMonthofFaves 2022 Challenge and Goals Check-In

Prompt from Dec. 17:

FRI | Dec. 17 – #AMonthofFaves Challenges and Goals Check-In. Reading challenges, personal goals, resolutions – how did you do? Are you making any for next year … next month … next season?etc.)⁠
Girl XOXO

My personal goals for 2022 were:

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#AMonthofFaves Best Buys of 2022

Dec. 14th prompt:

These are a Few of Our Favorite Things. e.g. to wear, smell, see, do, enjoy, best purchases, most used gift received, most used purchases, something crafty you made.
GirlXOXO

Okay, last year, my best buys post was bananas. This year, I want to focus on quality over quantity–and not just because I didn’t buy nearly as much but because I want to talk about the things that have had the greatest impact on my well-being. I will note that I finally (finally!) bought a properly fitting coat and bathing suits this year, I finally replaced my laptop battery, and, I finally made my way to The Wizarding World at Universal Studios Orlando. Oh, and I bought a wick trimmer, which is very fun. However, the following greatly impacted my quality of life.

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It’s Monday and I forgot to schedule my #AMonthofFaves posts for last week

Last week was finals week and I left town mid-week, and if you think that’s why I forgot to schedule my post, that is incorrect. I just checked to see why/how I forgot, and it turns out that I wanted to add a photo to the post and didn’t, hence the lack of posts last week. So that means I’m behind on my A Month of Faves posts, which means I’ll be catching up on them this week, so things will be a little out of order as I get up to speed. The good news is that I’ve had good reason (besides finals) to miss posts: I was at Disney World!

So far I’ve managed to visit all four parks, see the Epcot fireworks show (Harmonious), watch Fantasmic, meet Mickey & Friends at a character dinner, and watch the Lion King show.

I also went to the candlelight processional service at Epcot with Neil Patrick Harris as the night’s special guest. It was amazing. He was great and all of the signing/songs were A+++.

And in between all of that I had to finish grading and submit final grades.

All grades were officially submitted on Saturday, though, which means winter break can begin in earnest. Huzzah! Yesterday, I slept a thousand sleeps. On Wednesday, I’m supposed to go back with my parents and daughter to Disney World on Wednesday, and we’re hoping to make it to the Guardians of the Galaxy and Frozen rides and also the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. While I wait for that, though, I think I’ll get to what else I’m excited about doing this break: reading!

In the meantime, here is last Monday’s A Month of Faves post.

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#AMonthofFaves Moments of 2022

It’s that time of year again. That’s right. A Month of Faves is back, baby!

Today’s prompt:

MON | Dec. 5 – #AMonthofFaves Moments of 2022. What were some of the moments this year that you are grateful for. We’re here for hearing all of it! It could be the simple things (I know that’s what I’m celebrating this year) or more epic adventures.

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It’s Monday! What are you reading?: More Five-star Books!

First things first: A Month of Faves is back for this year! Yessssssss. It is one of my favorite blogging events, and I look both for it and forward to it every year.

I did my last update post in July (!), so here are some things that happened since then:

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2022 Christmas Wish List

As my daughter keeps reminding me, next week is Black Friday, so this is as good a time as any to post my list. This year, I actually organized my list in descending order of wanting. So my most wanted gifts are at the top, moving on down.