Free At Last, But Bound By Inevitable Boredom
Michelle on May 26 2007 at 12:11 am | Filed under: The Personal
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And now what?
Sky asked me what I had planned for the summer. I told him that I had dropped the ball on getting a summer apartment at the beach, but it was just as well, since he is still on probation and is starting college this summer. I said that my plans were to work out, clean the house and take him where he needs to go. He said that he thought the house would be quite clean.
Help. I need something to do. I already feel unanchored! Usually, I am full of so many creative ideas that I can’t begin to do half of them. For the last six months or so, I haven’t felt one creative spark. What’s up with that?!?
Being at the pool reading books is not a bad thing, but I’d rather be in Mexico learning Spanish or at the beach. It is not going to happen this summer, though, except for a trip to the beach for a few days. I still don’t know how long we can afford to stay at the beach with the beach money. What I did was save every bit of change over an entire year. For example, if I went through a drive-thru, I dumped the change in my purse and did not use it at all for the next transaction. This change is in my kitty cat bank, along with any unexpected money I encountered, such as when I got a rebate I had forgotten about and other similar things. It’ll be interesting to see how much money was really disposable, because this savings plan didn’t hurt at all.
Anyway, I feel like I am a boring person. I would have liked to start the school year with exciting pictures of my summer exploits in Guadalajara or something to that effect. Next year?
At any rate, no one can say that my apartment doesn’t have a view.
ITK code for Singing The Sky:
OK Michelle. Here are some things you can try this summer:
1) Get some Spanish tapes and learn the language. That way you can take that Maxico trip next year and actually understand all of the ‘gringo insults’. I recommend an expresso in the Zona Rosa of Mexico City while listening to classical music by one of the quartets from the local music conservatory that frequent the area. Just stay away from the pepper bowl at the Zona Rosa pizza hut. Es muy caliente!
2) Get the tai chi DVD “Tai Chi daily practice” by David Dorian-Ross and practice it until you know the routine and your movements are fluid. It’s a great stress reliever. Speed up the movements if attacked and they’ll think Bruce Lee has been reincarnated.
3) Teach yourself magic tricks. It’ll drive your kids crazy.
4) Check out the YouTube videos on lock picking and practice until you are proficient. Each year I am called upon to open file cabinets, teacher desks, and other assorted locked objects where the owners lost the keys. It’s one of the most valuable skills a teacher can have in a school full of locks. Who knows, you may find a new part time occupation!
5) Write poetry and post it. People will think you are a tortured genius and leave you alone.
6) Go to the library and pick a how-to book at random for a skill you have never mastered. You may wind up being a master bonsai cultivator.
There, that’s enough to get you started. I have many more suggestions but those will probably last you several summers. Now don’t you feel a little less bored just knowing all of this awaits you?
By the way, beautiful view from the apartment! Maybe you should just sit there a few days and enjoy the peace of it.
Ken has some interesting (and great) ideas! But I know the malaise that you’re dealing with might not totally be tied to a list of potential “things-to-do”. Anyway, thank you SO much for your words of encouragement on my blog … thinking of you … xx, deb
That is not an apartment. That is a farm.
And I would offer advice but I am worse off. I have hardly even been reading. So I am not much of a role model.
That’s a great view.
And doing… it’s overrated! Just BE.
I always feel that unanchored feeling when school gets out. (NOTE: June 25th for us–UGH) I think it’s something that I look forward to so much that I feel a real let down when I have no routine. I think I’ll love it and then I don’t. I think finding out about volunteer opportunities around town would be cool. And Ken has some fabulous suggestions!
Girl, I feel exactly the same way; in fact, I’ve posted about it today! What is wrong with us? (I do like Wende’s idea, though.)
Seems weird that other people are on summer vacation when I’m only on week 5 of a new term with months until the vacation (OK, until July 27th). Isn’t it ironic how we long for holidays and then get bored when they promptly arrive!
This is going to sound totally out there, but I was getting bored being home all summer when I taught. I read a lot, but my kids were old enough that one was working, one didn’t want to be with me and the other just wanted to sleep through the day. I felt guilty if I went golfing. Now that I am not teaching, I at least only work three days a week, so I can take the youngest to the beach.
I kind of like the eavesdropping at the pool idea, look at all the inspiration that you will get for blogging. By the way, I am always looking for good books to read, any ideas? Can you read some “work” books for your portfolio?
I read your post below about the student being arrested, the force was unnecessary. Our resource officer is great at our school, even if he did stop me for speeding, oops.
What grade do you teach? Sounds like a self contained, LD? EBD? Thank you for stopping by and commenting on the inspiration post.
Give yourself some time. In a week or so, your brain will be recharged and you’ll have some ideas. I might try some Spanish language tapes too. In the meantime, just enjoy the time not at work!!