The Highlight of My Day

So it's Thursday. No big shakes. Got up, went to work, came home, etc.

But the highlight of my day was having dinner with my friend Amanda. We had tried to set up a meet time for the past two weeks, as I had Amanda's pillow. Why, you ask? Well, there was a drunken girls' night a few weeks ago, and among many other things left behind (my dignity, some of that night's dinner, etc.) was Amanda's favorite pillow. And we all know what it's like to miss your favorite sleepy time friend.

Anyway, as Amanda & I chatted and had dinner, I really was touched by the fact that we've been friends now for 10 years. And I have 2 other friends who fall in that same category. How cool is it to have such great girlfriends that we've survived a DECADE in each other's very different lives?! I think it's pretty awesome.

I remember my grandma telling me something very important once. "Di," she said, "always keep your girlfriends as number one. Boys come and go, but girlfriends...they stick." Grandma was right.

Yay, incentives!

I love incentive pay. Many times as I work at the bank, I think, "Why do I try so hard?". And then, I get my incentive pay added to my regular check.

Ch-ching!

It's been so long...

It's been so long since I posted, but I want to start again. Stuff's been going down in my life and the lives of those closest to me, and I feel the need to vent. So here goes...

My cousin lost her husband last week to a bone marrow disease. He was 29, and so full of life. I keep replaying their wedding over and over in my head; the sun is setting over the Hawaiian beach, I'm nervously clutching Brian's wedding band as I stand up there with them, Cindy is saying her vows, my uncle Mitch is crying. It's such a juxtaposition to what the reality is only a year and half later (to this day, in fact). Brian is gone; his funeral was Monday. Cindy is a widow, and I don't know how to help her grieve this man she loved so much.

I'm filled with anger; why couldn't it have been someone else? Why did pneumonia set in like that? Why Brian?

I'm also filled with despair; despite everything everyone did, he didn't make it. What else should have been, or could have been done? If I had prayed, or if this, or if that...

But mostly, I'm just filled with sadness, that a life so well lived was cut so terribly, terribly short. You will always be loved, Brian Swanson - and you will be so very missed.

I walk the line...

Hello all,

'Tis been a great while since I last wrote; in my defense, I blame my students. Seriously. Could I be more hyper-involved at school? It's madness. Including, of course, the fact that I'm here on a Saturday morning. And also, that this is far from the first time that has happened. Sigh.

What do you do?

I had a distinctly surprising moment this week when former roommate extraordinaire GINA got in touch. Seems Miss Albanese is headin' back to Minnesota from the happy hunting grounds of NYC. To that, I say - rotscada! It was so good to hear from an old friend, which got me to thinking (a la Carrie Bradshaw pondering out loud):

Why don't I get in touch with people more often?

So, my belated New Year's resolution (yeah, yeah, so it's March - get off my back!) is to spend at least one evening a week "catching up on my correspondence." So, coming soon to a mailbox, email inbox, or voicemail near you...

Di!

Still the same, still the same...

So I'm listening to Bob Seger on a Saturday evening (hence the title). All is quiet in the school building, except for the raucous rendition of "Hello Dolly!" being performed in the auditorium. And where am I, as usual? In my classroom, trying to get my crap together for next week! Would have done it today, except I was judging debate in Champlin Park for some extra $$. Can't do it tomorrow, as I'm at a wedding shower for my cousin all day. And so it goes on...

To say it concisely, I am in hell. My alternative learning center junior highers are killing me, bit by bit. Let me ask: Do I seem like the type who enjoys immaturity? Do I like responding to asinine questions that are completely unrelated to what we are learning in class? Do I really want to work with these kids?

If you know me at all, and therefore answered "NO" in a resounding fashion to all of the above, you are so totally my people!! (Can I get a shout-out for grown up conversations, what what?)

Kill me now. Bob and I are going to try to put together a hands-on activity for the little buggers, to keep them busy and me sane. Wish me luck and patience.

This town wasn't big enough for the both of us

The town in question: St. Paul.

The "us" in question: me and a Falcon Heights police officer.

So after I dropped off my marathon-running friend at the 'Dome on Sunday, I'm driving another friend (this one hungover and without a car) to her place in Falcon Heights. As I'm telling stories (and of course, not paying close attention to my driving), my eyes are drawn into the rearview mirror.

What are these flashing red lights I see?

Oh yes, you've got it. It's the Five-Oh, the po-lice, the man.

So I pull over, not sure if I ran a red, drifted out of my lane, or had the pedal a little too far to the floor. Given my particular gift for speeding, I was betting on door #3. Officer approaches, asks if I know why I'm being pulled over, can he have my license and insurance...and yes, ma'am, you were going 45 in a 30, didn't you realize it's only a 30? So back to his car he goes, to decide my fate...

And he returns, saying he's going to give me the benefit of the doubt, as my record is clear and I'm apparently not aware of where or how badly I was speeding. Warning, have a nice day, ma'am.

And slow down.

And I will. For now...