Sunday, April 27, 2008

MIA Blogger

OK, dear readers. Time for a little life update. I love blogging for three reasons:
  • I can't resist a soapbox.
  • I love to write.
  • I love the friendships and connections I've made here.
But sometimes I feel guilty [I do guilt really well] because I don't visit other people's blogs often enough. And then I metaphorically beat myself up -- in a most Quakerly fashion, of course.

Anyway, I have a ridiculously busy life as I'm realizing this Sunday afternoon, when several chickens are coming home to roost. (And I don't mean Cinderbelle, although as I write this she is on her way home for the summer.)
  • I am still working to become certified as a school library media specialist. I am 140 hours of student teaching away from getting my initial license. Starting tomorrow I am taking a week's unpaid leave from my full-time job as a kindergarten teacher to go and student teach in a school library. The other 100 hours will be completed during the summer. I am very excited to finish this piece up, but it did mean that ...
  • I had to spend hours this morning making up a week's worth of lesson plans for my substitute teacher. I've taught long enough that much of what I do is in my head, and it is work to articulate it for someone else. The good thing is, my sub was my student teacher in the fall semester. She knows me, she knows the kids, and she's excellent so if need be she'll improvise.
  • I am also working on a master's degree in library science, which means I am currently taking a graduate level course in Information Architecture. I have 2 classes left in the semester, a major web design project due on 5/7 and a minor paper due this Wednesday. I hate this class, and having it be over will be a great big relief. I give the professor this though: being in his class made me realize that doing grad school in this way is not my cup of tea. There is such a disconnect between the proverbial ivory tower and the muck of real life. (And given the choice, I prefer the muck.) For all that this university makes a big deal about welcoming returning adult students, I don't see a lot of support for students like me. When I expressed my frustration to the prof one day when he was doing some finger wagging at us, he told me, "You are a disruption. If that ever happens again there will be severe consequences." I'm probably 15 years older than him, and he shamed and threatened me. No thanks. (If you recall, I was excited about this class at the beginning. The professor killed all that.)
  • My youngest child is in a play, which requires a ton of driving. Luckily we have a great carpool from our neighborhood, but it still takes time.
  • My car is dead, temporarily at least.
  • I am on the board of directors for a summer camp, which is kicking into high gear as the camping season approaches.
  • Oh yeah, we still have to eat. Although I've been doing just fine on Grape Nuts and microwave Annie's mac and cheese for the last week.
Anyway ... if it seems like I am not stopping by your blog, it's not because I don't want to. Summer's coming, and my time will be a little freer.

<3

Note to Molly, the wonder dog: When I said I preferred the muck, I meant it metaphorically, not that I wanted to scrub poop off the wall. OK?

8 comments:

QuakerDave said...

Oh, for crying out loud. Stop already. There's this thing that gets in all our ways, called life. if you spend too much time doing this, it's because you don't have one.

You have one. I have one. We're lucky: we both have rich ones.

Blogging is at best a hobby. So is reading other people's blogs. Too often I forget this myself.

It's not a way of life. It's not a calling or a leading, the way teaching is, for example.

It's a thing we do when we feel like it. That's all it should be.

poodledoc said...

What, no time for Terry Pratchett? This IS concerning me. I agree with QD. I haven't written on my blog in a couple weeks. I will when I feel like it. But still I feel...well, guilty. And, I keep reading bloggers who are much more....regular...than me, apologizing for taking a break. It's ok. Now, go pull out one of those Pratchett books and have some laughs, although Sherman Alexie is mighty good....

Suzy said...

OK, I'll put the whips away ... for now.

Jan said...

Guilt--that was pretty guilt producing to me, as I'm not doing nearly as much as you are. I'm glad you have the time to blog a little yourself, let alone visiting anyone. How great that you're student teaching in the library this week-- have fun!

Maybe it's time for that saying of Brother Lawrence--I do something good, and I give it to God. I do something wrong, and I give it to God.

Give it to God! Let go!

Ed said...

I blame it all on Bill Clinton. It works for the right wing, why not for the rest of us.

Anonymous said...

Hi Suzy

I had an anxiety attack just reading about your busy-ness. I envy the library degree, but I don't envy the stress. Comrade, I got expelled from a class in the Teachers College. I was, in fact, being obnoxious and oppositional, but the instructor was a sham with a huge attitude. You are so brave to step back into the dung-filled ivory tower after all these years.

tweetey30 said...

And I thought my life was going to get busy after tomorrow. Wow. Take a breather when you can get one... Stop by when you get a minute. There is no hurry to visit. I think we all understand how you feel.

Anonymous said...

I miss you already. Come back to me soon my little chunk of Quaker goodness.