Rested and slow to get going. Two Utopian coffees are working their magic though I wish I could clear the phlegm out of my body and breathe clearly again.
Today I’m grateful for:
The Ruamittr ice cream in the freezer that Amy only told me about today!
The best thing about today was:
Clean (and new) sheets!
Something I learned today?
It was interesting to read an old interview with all the members of Rancid and to hear a wild story about an exhumed baby at Gilman Street!
The future is behind me Invisible to the eye The past keeps coming Towards me until I die
Understanding is backwards Yet life is straight ahead In the end, it’s all done When it’s all been said
Today I’m feeling:
A little edgy due to lack of sleep. I kept waking up whilst having wild and unusual dreams. I forget their story but have kept the feeling as I woke. It’s a little disconcerting. Leg exercise and stomach stretching was good and easy. My shoulders are feeling a little better but not sure that they will be fully ok before next week when I’d like to get back to arm and shoulder exercises again.
Today I’m grateful for:
The teachers who helped me with some little things today, such as finding a stapler and staples in the mess of the teacher’s room and sending the student list so that I could print out the student names for my new class.
I’m also grateful to my past self for downloading lots of useful English workbooks in the past and finding something useful to use for my new class. I already have too many ideas and I haven’t even met them yet or know what their skill levels are. I’ll soon find out though – first class tomorrow.
The best thing about today was:
An interesting comment from Kru Karn when I expressed concern for one of my students that she looks after. She off-handedly said that most teachers don’t care that much about the students, implying that I do. I don’t know if she was congratulating or criticising but I took it as a matter of pride. As an average, untrained English teacher I make it a point to at least care about the students and the job that I’m employed to do.
A late update as I’ve just hopped into bed with delectable-smelling clean sheets and anticipating this, I used the expensive shower gel that smells like glitter and glamour. I’m soft and snug, smelling of champagne!
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
My grade 7 class was a little out of control, still in holiday mode. I have the feeling it will be like this until the end of the semester with this grade. I didn’t push them too hard today, just prepping them for the real work on Friday.
Something I learned today?
The Ancient Romans used to drop a piece of toast into their wine for good health, which is why we ‘raise a toast’.
Review your acts, and then for vile deeds chide yourself, for good be glad. — Discourses 3.10
After my grade 10 students had completed their work for me I helped them with a speech that they had to do for another class later today. I recorded the speech myself so that they could copy my pronunciation and I sat with them as they practiced and gave them tips.
If you knew that in one year you would die suddenly, would you change anything about the way you are now living? Why?
Somehow I wonder if I might relax a little knowing this.
Without knowing this, of course, I may die suddenly tomorrow. I should relax now!
Would I keep working? I enjoy what I’m doing right now but with a known time limit what else could I do in the meantime? Would travelling the world feel satisfactory or would it just feel meaningless? Do I even know how to enjoy myself anymore!
I think perhaps I would go travelling but on a nostalgia trip and also to catch up with old friends and have one last conversation.
I don’t think I would just fuck everything off and spend the time decadently. Maybe a little!
I took this picture because this weird little cactus at House appears to have the Christmas spirit.
Once again, I was told I was free That I could be whatever I wanted to be So I told of the things inside my head That had filled me full of existential dread
Then I found that so many people didn’t agree I was called out and threatened constantly I never thought just because of words I said Made people so upset they’d want me dead
I realised freedom does not mean free What’s freedom to you is not so for me A common line must be towed instead If you wish to lie in a settled bed
But is it possible for us to agree That opposition is the end of you and me We don’t need to succumb to lies we’re fed Together we can travel the road ahead
Productive if only for household chores. Not sure I’ll be able to stay awake this afternoon.
Today I’m grateful for:
An afternoon cappuccino to keep me awake through the day but hopefully not so much that I can’t sleep tonight. I went out to Daytripper to enjoy it and watch the Kishore Mahbubani online course videos about US-China relations.
The best thing about today was:
A sense of achievement from sweeping up leaves, cutting back some climbing vines, preparing for cleaning off the roof, washing bedclothes, cleaning Kim’s room and getting everything ready for her to spend her nights in here again. I enjoyed doing it all.
What was out of your control today and how did you handle it?
I’m here in Kim’s room writing this and I can see that the fuckin’ ants are out of control. I wonder if this is why the doesn’t like to sit directly on the floor. I sprayed ant killer in one corner of the room where I could see them coming and going but there must be many different colonies here all vying for their pieces of territory and the pull of Kim’s food bowl.
Kim is sitting watching me and wondering what the hell is going on.
Something I learned today?
The US voted no at the UN to make food a human right. They voted no to the Convention of Rights for Persons with Disabilities. No to the Convention on the Rights of the Child and against the resolution ‘combatting Nazism and contemporary forms of racism.’ The US sure likes to be different.
What emotion am I feeling right now?
Lethargy as my body winds down from the activities of the day. My mind though is still busy but that will soon wind down too. I also have a feeling of anticipation looking forward to jumping into bed with fresh clean sheets. My body is already experiencing the sensation, I’m looking forward to it that much.
I took this picture because new sheets, new sleeps. Almost summer.
I am so happy and grateful for my new clean summer sheets. Last night we changed from our winter bedding to summer bedding and the sheets and doona were so soft and smelt so nice. Combined with post-shower talc and a cool breeze coming through the window I felt so good in bed last night.
I am so happy and grateful for Cappuccino who threw up on my bed this morning which means I have to wash my sheets today, which also means I will have beautiful-smelling sheets tonight. Hooray.
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