Postplanning: That's a Wrap!

I'm now officially REALLY done. Post-planning is over; let summer begin!

(Now that I think about it, the term "post-planning" is a bit of an oxymoron, right?)

I was worried Tuesday that my week was getting off to a bad start when I went to the English Department fridge to help myself to some blueberry dessert, and this happened:

I texted this photo to my friend Jeff, who responded with, "That is the saddest photo I have ever seen." Indeed. INDEED.

(In retrospect, that might have been the universe telling me that the last thing I needed was a fattening dessert.)

Anyway, aside from dessert catastrophe, meetings, paperwork, and classroom cleanup, the week did include a couple of fun moments. Wednesday night, I went with a few friends from work to see the musical Hands on a Hardbody at Aurora Theatre. It's about a group of people who are trying to win a new truck by placing their hands on the truck; the one who can stand there the longest wins. It was entertaining and fun, but I don't know that it is one I need to see again. (Related note: This is the third production I have seen at Aurora, and all three have been top-notch.)

(See how clever we are, with our hands on the truck in the poster?)

And Thursday, I joined some friends for a "last lunch of the year." I've gotten to know Bethany, Shannon, and Jeff really well over the past six months, and I'm so grateful for their friendship. (Perhaps we even got into the habit of going to a local bakery for cupcakes on Fridays. And maybe we also called it our "cupcake club." Again, another reason why I didn't need that blueberry dessert.)

(Fun Fact: Bethany, sort of next to me/behind me in the photo, was in my advisement group when she was in high school. I feel old.)

Now, as I sit here in my PJ pants, drinking coffee and watching Good Morning America (ah, summer, how sweet you are!), I'm trying to motivate myself to go to the gym because that's the price you pay when you have been a charter member of a cupcake club.

Summer 2015: Here and Now

Well, that was an unintended, REALLY LONG break from blogging. And my last entry really was a bit of a downer, yes?

Quite a bit has happened since I last blogged (we bought a house! I began and ended my first year return to the world of high school teaching! Amelia began and finished first grade! Darryl ran races like he's Forrest Gump! Darryl and I went to the Rose Bowl! We all went to Baton Rouge for Spring Break! and more! so much more!), and the truth is, if I had taken the mindset that I needed to recap all that, then I would never blog again, because OVERWHELMING. So I am just going to start with the Here and Now.

Literally, right now, I am sitting on our screened-in back porch, drinking coffee. This is pretty much going to be my morning routine this summer.

(Dear Neighbor, it is way too early to be running your lawn mower. Thank you.)

This screened-in porch is about 85% of the reason I loved this house when we saw it (I love other things about it, too, of course), and this past weekend, I have been reading and napping on this porch like it's my job. Granted, I realize that in a few weeks (heck, maybe even as soon as next week), it is going to be too hot to be out here any time after 7 a.m., but I'm going to enjoy it while I can.

Also, at the beginning of summer, my domestic goddess-ness comes out in full force, as though I am apologizing for the lack of home-cooked meals I've produced in the last six weeks. (Don't judge unless you are a teacher who knows what the post-Spring-Break school year is like. It is both a marathon AND a sprint.) And after watching several Barefoot Contessa cooking shows yesterday, I have never been more inspired to make pesto in my life. I'll keep you posted.

Also, Here and Now, Darryl is showing off his mad carpentry skills (that I was not aware he had) by building some built-in bookcases on both sides of our fireplace. Amelia is assisting at times.

I'm looking forward to the summer days ahead. We have a few things on the agenda -- a family trip to Lake Tahoe, a trip for me to visit my parents for a few days, a possible girls' trip with my friend Rebecca -- but other than that, my plans include the pool, reading, and catching up on some TV. (I think The Good Wife is going to be my official "binge-watch" show of Summer 2015.)

(Technically, I'm not completely finished with school. I have post-planning this week. Womp womp.)

I'm hoping that my blogging mojo will continue, but if not, maybe I will at least blog again before Amelia graduates from high school. Just kidding...I think. :-)