The Chronicles Of Nay

Good morning! How is everyone doing today? It is a much cooler day here in Texas. Or at least it is in my backyard. There is a breeze that is kinda cooling things off! It is nice! The only problem is that there are mosquitoes galore out here. Trust, if there are mosquitoes in a 5 mile radius I will get bit! I usually get bit wearing bug spray and with citronella candles burning. I read somewhere that certain blood types make you more or less appealing to mosquitoes. Isn’t it fascinating that I have had to ask my mom like a million times what blood type I am (because why would I remember that on my own?!?!) yet a mosquito flying by a crowd of people can smell or sense or whatever that my blood type is O? Nature, isn’t it amazing?

You are wondering what does the title have to do with mosquitoes and blood types. Well, I am getting there. If you know me you know that I am a pretty busy person. Monday nights I played 8 ball pool in Arlington, Tuesday evenings I got together with a couple amazing ladies and wrote about my classroom and education, Wednesday nights I played 9 ball pool in Arlington, Thursday evenings I was taking a sign language class and Friday nights I played sand volleyball. At one point I was playing Scotch doubles (I kept calling it Dutch doubles… but it is Scotch doubles!). I had something going on every evening.

At work I had also taken on a lot. Like I mentioned before I was in charge of the yearbook,  I was teaching two subjects, one of which was a state tested subject and I was also teaching inclusion math. I had never taught inclusion before so there was a lot of newness there. Inclusion brings in a whole other level of complication. There is another adult in the room, there are students with different needs and there are different tools that the students need access to. There was a learning curve for sure! 

With all that was going on in my life last school year it didn’t leave a lot of time for me or for my friendships. Those closest to me saw and understood my busy schedule. However, this year my personal life definitely struggled. During quarantine I spent a lot of time alone. I mean most of us did. Gabbana and I spent most of our days annoying each other and watching Netflix. It was very strange to go from constantly being on the go to just being at home in a  matter of days. At first it was hard, but as the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into months I realized that I was too busy. I mean I knew it while it was happening however I was in denial! So as things started to reopen I started to take a look at my life again. There are things that I know that I don’t want to do away with like if the opportunity is still available I would like to continue writing. The lady that taught sign language retired this year so I don’t know if that program will still be available. Things at school will for sure slow down I am going back to teaching 1 subject! Back to my love, back to science! So I sat back and reevaluated my extracurriculars. I love playing pool, I love the friendships, and connections that I have made; however it’s a far drive to do two days a week and I got home so late. So I made some decisions. I decided to play pool 1 day a week. I am sad to be leaving my team however, I realize this is what needs to be done for me. I am also cutting back on volleyball. I would like to continue to play but I can’t commit to every week. I know that isn’t fair to my team so I think I am going to back off of that too.  These decisions were tough to make. Right now with so much still affected by covid it isn’t that strange but as things start to open more and more than I think I will start to notice. However, I look forward to being able to go to dinner on the spur of the moment with friends instead of having to plan it out weeks in advance! I may decide months down the road that I don’t like my life being that open and free and then I will find something else to occupy my life but for now I feel good about my decision. 

During the coronacation, as I was calling it, we all had more time to think, more time at home, more time with family and more time away from normal routines. What are some realizations you came to during that time? What are some things that you want to change about your “precovid life”? What are some routines or ideas you want to take forward as we are easing restrictions and getting back to life? Tell me, I’m curious!