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propheticdreamer
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Name: L
Birthday: 7/22/1981
Gender: Female
Interests: reading, writing, talking, cooking, dancing, playing, eating, praying, laughing, singing, crying, spinning, making faces in the mirror, daydreaming, fantasizing, thinking really hard about important issues, having intense, intimate, open conversation, nurturing good relationships, loving God, loving people.
Expertise: ha, who am I kidding? I'm no expert. I can do a lot of things very well and when I pour myself into something, I can produce and achieve to considerable extents but to say that I'm an expert is to believe that there's something at which I can succeed EVERY time...and I don't think I'm even old enough to be so skilled at any one thing. "I know nothing." But the difference between me and the know-nothings is that I want to know. I seek answers.
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Nonprofit
Message: message meEmail: email me
Member Since:
2/6/2003
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| This foray into Education Administration is so new and such a strange experience. I feel like I work myself to death sometimes, constantly on, all the time, thinking, planning, creating, working 7 days a week. But at school, everyone just thinks you're running around outside their classrooms. "Oh what fun!" they say. I know they think that because I thought it when I was a classroom teacher. I would see the DOI and the principal standing out in the halls, laughing and conversing, while I ran to pick up my students. I know it looks like you're having fun all the time, like you have the freedom of an unlocked schedule.
Well, what actually happened in the past two weeks? Let's see, I visited all the classrooms, taught a few lessons on self-discipline, did several read-alouds, taught an investment lesson that shared the goals of growing two years in one year, held grade level meetings with K-4 teachers, introduced the trackers that will help us differentiate instruction, trained people on how to administer DIBELS, conducted model lessons, tried to put a dent in the nightmare of a curriculum closet. It needs a major cleaning. I coached and talked to teachers, called subs, interviewed a candidate for the Reading Intervention Specialist position, wrote a thank you note to all my teachers because I love them dearly. They are the hardest working people. I am amazed by them every day. And I love the kids. They have so much personality, every class is different, every child is different. It was crazy hectic but I got to see the larger picture of what was happening in the school. I like my job even though I see that it does suck my life and everyone thinks you're just running around.
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| My husband and I have been married two years and some months now. We're learning how to live the married life together. Part of that married life is chores. I have to admit, we are both lazy and we both hate to clean. I think I am worse than he by far. At least I've gradually gotten worse. We've tried splitting them by task, rotating them, agreeing on a schedule for them and it just never happens. We end up cleaning once a week in a single sitting. And the laundry is a grimy monster that looms and grows, ever spilling over the hampers and reaching into far-flung places. But yesterday we started this thing that I have fondly dubbed "Twenty Minute Cleanathons" (he doesn't know it yet).
We set the timer for twenty minutes, each took a room in the house, and cleaned the hell out of it for twenty minutes. When the timer rang, we decided to go for another twenty. In forty minutes, we had a sparkling kitchen with dishes washed, floor swept and mopped, counters and stove cleaned as well as a tidy bedroom with bed made, laundry neatly put away, floor swept. It was amazing! We will have to do this thing more often.
I love a clean house but I just hate cleaning. I blame it on my mom who didn't train me well. She let me be a slob. And now these habits I'm trying to build as a wife and one day a mother are a struggle to establish. But I mustn't give up. Plus I have a good husband who's learning with me and helping me along.
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| We started this new thing at faculty meetings called Car Washes. Being in a school environment, the work can be so emotionally exhausting that teachers get burned out. We get slimed as students, parents, and teachers alike sling mud around. Negativity spreads and there is political infighting, gossip, rumors, lying, kids being disrespectful, angry, violent. It's like the book about Andrew's Angry Words that get passed around to hurt people. So to battle against it, we gather together once a week and choose a faculty or staff member that we shower with appreciation and love. This has made such a difference in our culture and atmosphere. People go home smiling with the words of kindness, compassion, and acknowledgment still echoing in their ears. Teachers are using it in their classrooms. Some even shed tears today. I feel like our team is creating a safer space for vulnerability. We're establishing a stronger sense of community and renewing each others' hope. This is all to say, Car Washes are pretty cool. And so is my new job!
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| I think being married makes me cook more and eat better.
Let's look at this past week for example. On Monday, we had BBQ Ribs with rice and these green, leafy Chinese vegetables called you cai. On Tuesday we had BBQ Chicken Drumsticks with Shanghai Baby Bok Choy and a Tomato and Egg dish. On Wednesday, we had Baked Flounder in Teriyaki Ginger Sauce, potstickers, and you cai. On Thursday I didn't cook dinner. We had fruit, salsa, chips, popcorn, and fruity lemonade for house group. On Friday, I made Alaskan King Crab Legs, Spaghetti with Curry Chive Bechamel Sauce, and Stir-Fried Shrimp with Leek. Last weekend I made Ma Po Tofu, you cai, and Seaweed Egg Flower Soup. Tonight, we're wrapping dumplings, shrimp wontons, and Crab Rangoon. I think I will stir-fry a Bell Pepper Trio and some Spicy Mushrooms to go with it.
Looking into next week, I will probably be making some Chinese Spareribs in Black Bean Sauce, Stir-Fried Chicken with Chili and Crispy Basil, and the rest of the menu has yet to be decided. I really do like cooking.
I don't think I would like cooking as much if I wasn't married. Being married, I have someone to cook for. When I'm by myself, it's hard to be motivated to make an elaborate meal for one. Now I just recently got back into the swing of cooking in this new year. Before that, I kinda dropped off for a while. It's strange what a new year can do to you. It does bring about an actual change, even when you don't expect it.
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| Year End Review
2007 was a good year.
January
Spent New Year's with Ken at his party, did the countdown, drank some Champagne and Cava.
February
We had our one year wedding anniversary in February where B baked two cornish hens and treated me to a candlelit dinner.
March
B started his new job on March 28th after 9 months of painful searching. This really helped our financial situation.
June
I finished teaching 3rd grade in June.
July
I attended morning prayer in front of Eckhart and met a bunch of current U of C students and invited them to house group.
I flew to San Diego to be a bridesmaid for Cat's wedding in July.
I passed out water bottles on the streets of Hyde Park for our church's Summer of Service events and got to pray for people. I also had a run-in with an atheist who was extremely angry at a God he claimed did not exist.
I threw a huge birthday party for myself in which food covered every available surface.
I worked with Ru and her crazy artist lady on marketing her show Unconceal.
I had lunch with Yeli.
I got to see Toya.
I went out to eat with Alex at BBQ King, Indian Kitchen, and Spring World.
August
I started my new job as a Reading Intervention Specialist/Title 1 Coordinator.
Had to give Trust back to Jen. sniffsniff.
I went to Six Flags Great America for the first time with hubby and his old New Orleans friend Blake.
B and I walked down the aisle again on August 19th as bridesmaid and groomsman for his sister's wedding.
This month marked our 2nd year out of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.
I went to the Harvest Ball at the Chicago Botanic Garden, a black tie event/fundraiser with B in his company limo.
September
I finally replaced my looted computer from Hurricane Katrina, purchasing a Sony Vaio at 50% off at Best Buy's Labor Day Weekend sale.
B allowed me to throw a birthday party for him in September since it was his big 30th.
October
Our house group turned one years old.
We went with mom to Starved Rock.
I dressed up as GoGo from Kill Bill Vol II and Ben was a guy with dreads/black Jesus/Bob Marley for Ru's Costume/Birthday Party.
November
We went to Ajay's surprise birthday party at Matilda's.
We went to Lester and Loretta's for a Young Thanksgiving and then I threw another Thanksgiving Dinner Party at my place for house groupies. Some Youngs came.
December
We went to Marche's for an early anniversary dinner and had a great time thanks to Q and her connections.
I went to B's Company Christmas Dinner at the Saddle and Cycle Club, again in a limo, and then went to pick up Chris and Abby for a late night drink at Cuatro's.
This Christmas I got a Better Homes and Garden's Cookbook (yay!).
B got an IPOD nano.
B and I decided to wait until after Christmas to buy things for each other so we could get more bang for our buck. I got lots of clothes and a new pair of boots.
I went to see my nieces and brother in Atlanta at the end of the year, December 30th.
I ended 2007 and started 2008 with some noraebang (karaoke) with S. Baik in ATL.
God really blessed us in 2007 with way more than we could have asked for and definitely far more than we deserve. We love our friends, church, and house. And we've finally managed to recover the savings we lost in Hurricane Katrina, it took us two years but our situation is much less dire now. And now, out of this plentitude, we have been able to bless our church and our family with help when in need. We have a generous God and we can count on the strength of His character and His love for His children.
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