Hodgepodge, I suppose

Since it's been so long since my last post, I have quite a bit to post on. So today's title is pretty appropriate for the theme.

Woo! It's been hard to get into writing on this blog this summer- I've just been so into the whole vacation thing, I think I took a vacation from everything!

So, I'm kinda all over the place. Just get ready- my writing is probably gonna be pitiful.

School is quickly approaching and though I'm excited about my second year of teaching, I have to say I could use another 9 months of vacation. This is pretty different from the "old me," the workaholic who couldn't get enough on her plate. I look back now and I'm not sure what that stemmed from, except that I've always loved being busy and challenged, and when a job stopped fulfilling either one of those, I'd either go out and get an additional one or replace the first one altogether, although I really did more of the former than the latter, which explains why I never had just one job. Teaching, though, is definately more than one job, and it has been successful in keeping me way too busy and challenged to the point of pulling my own hair out. On a single day, a teacher is not just a teacher, but a nurse, a counselor, a mother, a tutor, a liasion, and a confidant- not to mention the administrative duties of the job, which, let me just say, at least equal the task of hearding blindfolded cats on rollerskates through Disneyland.

I've spent quite a bit of time this summer getting some of my lesson plans, etc., in working order and ready for the upcoming year. But mostly, I've spent time just getting my head right. My head and my body. I have spent every moment since surgery really focusing on whatever it's gonna take to get me as close as to pre-cancer/pre-Interferon me as I possibly can. And, I'll tell you, I'm pretty proud of how far I've gotten. After a total renovation of my diet since June and the ability to sleep 10 hours a night, I've got more energy than I've had since August 2005. Another thing I think that's also helped has been laying off of running and giving other stuff a chance. Running has always been a passion, but let's face it- it's rough on the old lymphadema. Instead, I've been taking boxing, "I'm-gonna-knock-you out-cause-mama-said-knock-you-out" style, and though I'm no where near ready for my first fight, I'm having a blast doing it and really feeling the benefits, too. I also bought a bike today, and I'm looking forward to really dedicating myself to that for a while, seeing where that goes. They're not running, but they are a fun alternative for now, and as I get in better shape, I'm sure I can pick up running slowly and be able to enjoy that again. And the ability to do more physically is really doing great things for my mental state, too. It's amazing what physical fatigue will do to your mental state. Having friends who look at you like Mandy is looking at me in this photo will also mess with your head. ----------->

San Diego definately helped, too. Wow, to be back in my old spot and leading my old life for a week or so- that really gives you a glimpse at how much things have changed. I love my life in Dallas, but it's been built around healing, predominantly. It's been good, and given me a chance to focus on my health. It's also given me my life with Bobby, a great place to live, stability, and my career, which I never coulda gotten so easily in San Diego. But it also gave me a glimpse at the parts of that old life that I miss and want back, and I've been working on that, too. Just having a social life and girlfriends and having a great time being irresponsible and drinking too much every once in a while- stuff that I've put on the back burner because I was too sick to leave the house or too tired after a long day of work- I'm making it a point to get to a place where they are just a normal everyday part of my life again. Because, don't we all know it- life is too damn short not to do that stuff. It's amazing the clarity that comes with psychotic jealousy, isn't it?

So, we'll see. I'm making it a serious point to put my real life first, and that means I've got to remember those priorities about making each day worth remembering.

Bobby came down the last 4 days of the trip, and we had an awesome time in Vegas. I can't wait to post the pictures!

This post seems a little all over the place... and random... but kinda fun to get you caught up on all things going on. Coming soon- photos from Vegas, baby! The mecca!

-MM

p.s. Do you know what it's like to fall in the mud and get kicked... in the head... with an iron boot? Of course you don't, no one does. It never happens. It's a dumb question... skip it.