Exposed

Stress

Christine — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:21:52 +0000

The combination of school and being back in class is finally getting to me. I am stressed. I never get stressed. I just recently weighed myself and realized I had lost about 8 lbs in 5 weeks….since school started. At first, I thought that was awesome. Then I thought about how I am actually losing it. When I’m stressed, I don’t eat. One night I actually forgot to eat dinner because I was working on Grad school stuff. Who forgets to eat? Seriously…who does that? I need to book a massage. I’m getting stress headaches. I cannot wait until the 2nd half of the year when my student teacher starts teaching. At least I’ll have a little bit of responsibility lifted off of my shoulders.

Messages that ring a bell

Christine — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:36:14 +0000

I finally made it to Mass today. It’s been awhile. After leaving the service I picked up the bulletin and the message really hit home for me. Here is some of the message…

Ezekiel has advice on how to warn the wicked to change their ways. This is a touchy subject these days. We’re not supposed to judge others.
Are we supposed to avoid making honest judgments? Can we steer between being judgmental? On any topic, including whether someone is aware of others’ sins (or is not aware enough), we are looking for sound judgement. We cannot avoid living out our values together. With every choice we make, we impact others. How we interact at school or work or home matters. How we correct our children matters. If we don’t correct our children, that matters.
In the body of Christ, we are faced with two very down to earth realizations: We are far from perfect. We are interconnected.

School

Christine — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:18:57 +0000

The second week of school is over. I am not motivated for this school year. The night before the first day of school is usually a nervous one (yes, even for teachers). This year, I slept like a rock and had the “whatever” attitude. This attitude has continued into the school year. Instead of it feeling like we have been in school for two weeks, it seems like we have been in school for two months. I contribute some of this to not really having a summer. I didn’t get to travel or visit friends do to surgery and moving. I also think I’m starting to burn out. They say that after a teacher’s fifth year of teaching they start to burnout. I thought this wouldn’t happen to me but apparently it is. Technically, this is my 6th year teaching (4th in NC). I think that I need a change. That change would be a move in grade levels.

Grad school has also started and it is a lot of work. Just added stress into my life. I have gone out every weekend and had some drinks. I NEVER went out last school year and I really didn’t go out this summer. I contribute this to Grad school. It’s not a bad thing…just expensive

Some of the teachers I work with are starting a swim team (for fun). We are renting a lap lane at the local YMCA for an hour. We are going to swim twice a week. If Michael Phelps burns 4000 calories per workout then hopefully these two workouts will do something to help shed some weight…at least get me into shape! I am sporadically still working out at Curves. I really need to get into the routine of that again.

HHmmmm

Christine — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:35:27 +0000

I’ve always been the one to do the right thing (most of the time). I’m hardly ever careless, especially with relationships. While all my other friends were off being careless in college, I really didn’t. Of course, I had one or two flings but that was it. Really, it was three. That’s not even one per year. Doesn’t everyone go through that phase in life? You’re careless and free spirited and you just have fun. I didn’t do that. Maybe I should have that phase in my life. I think it would be a good thing to get out of the way before I turn the big 30!

Twilight series

Christine — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 14:27:37 +0000

I recently started reading the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer. I only started reading the first book because it was going to be made into a movie. I like to read the books before I see the movie. I have become obsessed with these books. I have just finished the second book in the series, New Moon, and am going to get the third today. These books are about a vampire love saga between a vampire (duh) and a human girl. I highly recommend these books. I really didn’t think that I would like them. The concept was to fairy taleish for me. Stephanie Meyer is an excellent writer and really pulls you into the storyline.

Recipe

Christine — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:17:12 +0000

My favorite soup is the Baked Potato Soup at O’Charleys. Here is a recipe that is supposed to be just like it. I can’t wait to try it!

O’Charley’s Baked Potato Soup

3 lbs. red potatoes
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup flour
2 quarts half−and−half
1 pound block Velveeta cheese, melted
White pepper, to taste
Garlic powder, to taste
1 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1/2 lb. bacon, fried crisply
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Dice unpeeled red potatoes into 1/2−inch cubes. Place in a large Dutch oven,cover with water and bring to a boil. Let boil for 10 minutes or until almost cooked. In a separate large Dutch oven, combine melted margarine and flour, mixing until smooth. Place over low heat and gradually add half−and−half, stirring constantly. Continue to stir until smooth and liquid begins to thicken. Add melted Velveeta. Stir well. Drain potatoes and add to cream mixture. Stir in pepper, garlic powder and hot pepper sauce. Cover and cook over low heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Place soup into individual serving bowls and top with crumbled bacon, shredded cheese, chives and parsley.

All Moved In

Christine — Tue, 19 Aug 2008 22:11:50 +0000

I am moved into my new apartment. I like it. It’s quite and drama free The only thing that I have to get used to is that it does not have central air. I have to manually turn the air on and off or it will run 24/7…annoying but I’ll learn to deal with it. Now if I could just get all these boxes unpacked!

It’s also back to school time…for teachers anyway. Teacher workdays started this week. I moved into a new classroom and have it almost ready. I think I’ll be good to go by Sunday, which is our Open House. I’m kinda looking forward to this school year. At least the 2nd half of the year because I have a student teacher so I won’t have to do much teaching!! haha!

Visits that need to happen more often…

Christine — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 02:24:37 +0000

This past weekend I went and visited Lacey. It is always fun and nice to go visit her and Kate in SC. Lacey is one person who I have stayed close with since college. My mom always told me that I would be able to count my true friends on one hand when I died. I include Lacey in those few and far between “true friends”. I look at Lacey, Keith, and Kate as my extended family.

Whenever I visit Lacey it brings things into perspective. It makes me realize where I am in my life and where I want to go….or what I do/do not want to happen We had a talk in the car about how life doesn’t always take us where we expect. I came to realize during this talk that I am pretty content with my life right now. I’m not quite ready to have a family yet. I know that this is something that I want for the future, but just not right now. A year ago, I would have told you that I was never getting married.

On a different note, this weekend I move into my new apartment. I am excited but nervous on how I am going to be able to afford to do this. Things will work out, they always do.

School is also starting soon. I am looking forward to this summer ending. This has been the most stressful and drama filled summer since I moved to NC 3 years ago. I am looking forward to having a schedule again and being roommate drama free. Graduate classes are also starting so that will keep me busy.

I think this year (I mark my years by the school year beginning) is going to bring about some changes. I look forward to see what God has in store for me and my friends

New Presidential Canidate

Christine — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 02:47:19 +0000

I thought that McCain’s ad attack against Obama about being a celebrity was quite entertaining. Here is a new presidential canidate in response to that attack. I had to laugh….

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/4178033806

Judgement

Christine — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:23:56 +0000

Judge the sin, not the sinner. God will do the judging when the time comes.

This has been a common theme that I have been hearing the past couple of weeks in church and in our young adult group. It is a very hard thing for me to swallow my pride but I think I’m going to try.

In regards to my roommate situation I totally disagree with her lifestyle choice and that is her sin. She, disregarding that, is a person that needs all the friends that she can get. She doesn’t have many due to her own emotional issues. Today, I’m going to swallow my pride and make the first step into fixing this friendship…well, at least making it better than what it is. It will never be what it was but maybe at least, we can be civil to each other.

**I extended the olive branch and it was not returned. At least I can say that I tried.**