Two Years Later

If at first you don't succeed. Try, try, try again, right? We will make this a Sunday installment. Until then, where has the summer gone?

has life gotten stale? au contraire.

As I sit here with three, yes I said it THREE, days left in Indy, I have had to sit down to make a to do list: clear out closet, dry cleaner, pharmacy for prescriptions, bathroom clear out, help mom pick out cabinet pulls, lunch dates, etc etc. The list is fairly treacherous; however, I remembered, "Oh, blogging, that was a fun way to recount and recount epic, memorable events in my life." Well apparently nothing has happened to me in the past four months since the super bowl that has been note worthy. FALSE! I would say the last for months have been some of the most memorable. So here are my top 5 in no very particular order:
5) Getting to come home and spend a lovely time with my family for my sister's birthday

4)Watching my baby brother, not so baby any more, graduate from Indiana University. It was quite a short whirlwind trip, but seeing how proud my parents were was simply unforgettable.

3) Watching my 6th grade KIPPsters dominate the iLEAP then celebrate their hard work, multiple instances of me getting them back on task with gentle coaxing and firm reminders, and all the long school days by heading to Pigeon Key, FL and the most magical place on EARTH: Disney World.

4) Saying good bye to my home for the last 2 years: New Orleans and KIPP Central City Academy. Teaching there has hands down be the greatest, most taxing, most eye-opening, and brilliant thing I have ever done. I took a new job in Atlanta, to gain a little perspective for myself and figure out if teaching is my calling. Undoubtedly, I can say it has been the most rewarding job I have ever had and probably will ever have. I am very passionate about education, now so much more my kids in NOLA. It's a long road, and we are far from closing the achievement gap and making the dream of all students getting a spectacular education, but my school is taking on that charge. Additionally, it's not only the kids that make it so special, it was the teachers that I worked with. The staff at KCCA are some of the greatest, most selfless bunch of individuals people would ever come across...and man do they know how to be amazing friends and have a good time...(sorry I was getting a bit too sappy)

5) Getting to spend a wonderful weekend in Chicago with some of my best friends from good-ole BJPS. Why did we all have such an occasion to get together? Ashley is getting married (another excuse to head back to the midwest in July). It was such a great weekend filled with old and new friends and probably 10 too many cocktails, but it was such a great way to celebrate Ashley and secretly be a nice little last hoorah before my move to Atlanta. Part of my to do list that is most upsetting and daunting, changing from a licensed Indiana driver to a proud resident, driver, voter, and leaser in the great state of Georgia. Man this seems like only yesterday...

Yes those are my 5 things of the week...oh but here is a bonus find: I made this with my mom the other night...lighter on the artichoke. We flushed it out with zucchini and yellow squash a bit more, but man was that a delicious and light dinner.
This will absolutely be a go to the next few weeks as I get settled in to my place in ATL and start compiling my list of new favorite restaurants.

Superbowl Sunday

My how I wish I were in Indy...

I went on a nice 4.5 mile jog in 40 minutes 36 seconds. That will allow me the privilege to binge on rice crust pizza & beer.

GO ELI!

And We're Off to the Races

Having practiced a few times with my 7th/8th grade basketball team, I've decided it's time to get back in fighting shape. Parade season starts tonight with Krewe du Vieux which was my first parade ever last year. With all my guests coming in the next few weeks, the merriment, spirits, and work stress, I need to be working out. So, in a month I'll be running my 2nd half marathon and If I am focused maybe I'll switch to the full. But, baby steps right? So this morning I had time for a quick jaunt before basketball Playoffs: 3.5 miles down St Charles and back 28 min 9 seconds

Productivity at it's finest.

At 9 AM, I have been up for 5 hours. I chalk this up to my teacher schedule. Anyways, I've accomplished the following things:
1) answered all morning email


2) church (from the gentle reminder from my father that a week from today would be my late grandfather's 80th birthday, and my Nenaw always has a mass said in his name).

St. Stephen's Catholic Church

3) shopping at Whole Foods (let Dukan begin with the support of my lovely friends Rachel & Christina)




4) Caught up on watching my new favorite television show (Revenge on ABC)

She seems so not harmful...but...

5) Calling my dad to continue the 60th birthday surprise plans for mbZF. Yes, parade season is quickly approaching.

Although I have been crazy productive, my room is still a mess, my lesson plans for this week are not complete, and I have a laundry list of things to do. I have throughly enjoyed this morning. It's amazing what one can accomplish before the rest of the world gets up. However, there is something to be said about a lazy sunday morning with a book, the paper, or some television snuggled up in bed. That will be my post next week. Until then!

Ring in the New Year

New Years always comes with a lot of thinking. I got extra time to do so as my January 1st was longer than your usual person's as I got to relive it twice when traveling back to the US from my amazing Christmas vacation in Australia with Paige. I love how everyone in Europe and Australia call it "on holiday."

My few new years resolutions:
1) long run at least twice a week
2) call at least 2 of my friends a week that I don't get to see often
3) drink more water
4) start actively doing back rehab
5) figure out my next step by June...

This last one is the main source of my anxiety, frustration, and confusion as of recent. That is why I give myself until June. Therefore, look forward to hearing me sit the fence, be wishy-washy, and question everything I do.

On a happier note, Australia was amazing. Now that I am a "New Orleanian" I had to try this on Christmas: a champagne oyster shooter (amongst other seafood). I have never seen the allure of oysters (presumed to be an aphrodisiac)


It tasted more like champagne than anything else...so obviously I enjoyed it. Speaking of Champagne. Another part of the trip that was absolutely amazing was a vineyard tour in the Yarra Valley. Possibly one of the prettiest places I have ever been, the Yarra Valley is home to scores of small and large vineyards (including the vineyard and distribution for the ever so famous Yellow Tail). I wish I knew more about wine, but this trip was very informative and I did learn about pallets for sipping wine, how to hold your glass for different types, and the riddling process of sparkling wine (not Champagne).




I could go on and on, but I will leave with a few points. 1) I love being an American. Yes, we have our problems with debt, greed, pollution, rudeness, etc here in the USA, but, when push comes to shove, I love the red white and blue. The convenience of things is amazing, my family and friends are here, and the opportunities and diversity I just love. So after any long trip abroad, I appreciate being from the US more and more. And 2) I love my family and realize that all our stupid little holiday traditions are just that, stupid, but ever so important to me. Baking and decorating cookies with Katie is a must. Butler basketball games in copious amounts over the holidays gets my sports fix. Large family get togethers with the Fischers and Zays where I eat until I feel sick. Christmas chinese food (oh how I miss Hunan on 86th street in Indianapolis). Christmas evening movies with the neighbors I miss. So, as much as I loved this trip, it's safe to say I want to spend next Christmas in my pajamas safely in the confines of my home with my family.

My aunt said it best. She stated that in your 20s you are in that odd middle ground: grown up enough to be away from your family and starting out on your own, young enough to still be a "kid," and too young to really have a family and traditions of your own yet. So, true you may feel kind of lost, which I guess is the feeling I experienced. However, being "lost" in Australia with my best friend is a great, once in a life time lost I wouldn't change.



So happy new year to you and yours. I hope your resolutions don't falter by February like so many do. But, leaving 2011 in the past I am ready for some positive change!

thankful for the 16 hour drive home

Thanksgiving was spent at the Kate and David Fischer farm. And it was was absolutely fantastic. On top of watching Sullinger and OSU clean up courtside, I got to spend quality time with the Fischer clan eating, watching movies, and, yes, playing Salad bowl.

here is the basic idea of the game: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=28969388597

However, my cousin had us branch out to my new favorite family fun game (which got extremely NC-17): pictionary telephone. It is exactly what it sounds like. Google the rules or ask how to play.

However, now with the holidays and Christmas break quickly approaching (3 weeks), yours truly will be on a huge health kick: a) to ring in the new year b) to combat my 1 day weight gain from eating more food than I thought was humanly possible on Thanksgiving c) to fit into my new swimsuit for my trip to see paige in Sydney Australia


I will lay here on Manly Beach

In this swimsuit


With my best friend. I have been researching hostels and places to backpack and I can hardly contain my excitement. I will post again soon with my eating and workout regime as I add the final touches. However, I am in Birmingham, AL and need some major ZZZs as I was up with my cousins playing those awesome party games until 3 am, and I have quit a few miles to drive back to NOLA tomorrow.