What has been going on in Brooklyn

Now that Facebook has appeared to replace this blogging life I will make more of an effort to devote more time to my blog.

Just some thoughts..... it's finally Spring and I am so thankful for that gift.  The trees have been turning all kinds of beautiful colors.  It is no longer dark from 4:00 pm to 7:00 am and I can actually see the trees when I am going to and from work.

I have been running a lot and keeping my eyes on the prize of running the NYC marathon in November! That's right.... I am IN! November 7th people..... be there or be square. It will be so much fun. I found a new running partner in Charlie.  He upped his game and has gone for a few long distance runs with me. I am enjoying this running together thing cause any minute now he will overtake me with his tall self and I will keep my 9 min/mile pace..... way behind.

School is school. I do love my job. It has been a bit much the last couple of weeks, I know we all (teacher and students) just want to be outside and enjoy the weather but we're stuck inside reading and writing. For anyone who has a teenage student my heart goes out to you..... applying to colleges is a LOT of work! We will have our first graduating class next year and our first set of KH students off to college and man alive!!! it is a LOT of work to get them going on the college application.

Brooklyn is doing well. Just as beautiful as ever. A little lonely without some of her key players (Liz, Sarah, Millay) but BK is hanging in. She always has availability for some new comers. Specifically those who might be friends with jes kruse. (maybe a PHd program for lindsay or teaching job for KP and Sarah... just some ideas) But as for Jes Kruse she is really enjoying her life in Brooklyn.

who said fear is all bad?

I wonder what it would be like to not be scared. If you know me well, have heard some of my stories, or came to my classroom at school then probably the last word you might use to describe me would be 'scared'. For those few of you who know my secrets you are not surprised to hear that life scares me a little bit. Ok, sometimes more than a little bit.

I am scared of small spaces. I couldn't go up in the arch in St. Louis because the "pod" (the "pod" is really more like a recipe for how to be guaranteed a fast, full-on panic attack the moment you step in). I was out visiting my friends Sarah and bekah and when we bought our tickets they asked, "is anyone claustrophobic".  Being the fake tough person I am, I said no. Big mistake. My heart races just a little too fast when I am in small spaces and if I feel trapped in that small space...... step back because that is not a good state for me.

I have been learning about the art of knowing myself and learning my limitation. Realizing that limitations do not mean weakness.  I have always had a desire to be tough, to be able to take anything on and survive.  I am a survivor. I think maybe we all are.  Surviving and enjoying life do not really go hand in hand I am realizing. I think I prefer to enjoy life. 

There was a fight in the hallway of my school a few weeks away that found its way into my classroom. I tried to close the door and couldn't. I got stuck behind the door and my bookshelf. Not a good place for someone who hates small spaces AND feeling trapped. (I start to sweat just a little even thinking about it)  

And back to the lessons I am learning.  I want to be strong in a real way. I want to enjoy and be aware of all that I have and not feel pressure to prove to anyone.  I want to accept that some things do scare me but that doesn't mean I am a weak person.  I think I am over living in survival mode. 

Haven is just so much FUN!

Please give me some time till wedding #7 people!

Times that I spend alone are pretty rare these days. I am either with high schoolers, friends, roommates, or Charlie.  I go through different stages of how I feel about alone time. Right now I like it. I'm at the Charlotte Airport. I am alone and it's fun.

I am on my way to my 6th wedding since Aug. Seriously. I'm about to rock my bridesmaids duties for the 3rd time and rock the dance floor for the 6th time since Aug. Every wedding has been so special and unique. I have been honored to stand up next to good friends and watch them promise to love and support the life partner that they chose. It's been great.

I love dancing. I love planning parties and helping out.

Charlie said I should be a wedding planner when I retire.  I was talking to my old roommate Clark about all my upcoming wedding last summer and he said that parents should tell their kids to start a wedding fund for friends' weddings. Its true. I never had one of those savings accounts so don't expect Christmas presents family and friends...... sorry. I can email you some pictures of me in my dresses if you want! Does that count as a present.....I think so!

I have a ton of bridesmaid dresses....... if only I walked the red carpet or went to fancy places in NYC.

I am so thankful for the friends I have and the fun that this Fall has been. But I am ready for a wedding free Winter. So my single friends..... hold on a bit for making more wedding plans. 

Transportation in NYC

Oh the subway...... it's so consistent and is a mode of transportation that can be trusted.  For the first three years of my NYC life I used only the subway and the bus. I paid my $76 a month for my unlimited rides. I took a job out in East Flatbush during my fourth year of NYC life and out there, there aren't any of those trusted subway lines so I had to buy a car.  

I have done pretty well with the whole driving and parking life so far. I have learned to read the stack of no parking street signs. I learned that when one sign says no parking from 7AM to 10 AM and another one states no parking 4 PM to 7 PM and the third one says no parking on Tues and Thurs between 9:30-12:30 that if it happens to be a wed at 11:00 I can park there for about 6 hours before I have to move it again. I get it.

Last week I parked my car outside of my gym, just for a short hour and it happened to not be the hour of the week that permits cars. Actually according to the ticket, which I found hours later, there is NO PARKING ALL DAY EVERYDAY, except for all the other cars that were parked there and for some reason didn't get taken away. Maybe those other cars had some kind of special parking permit that you have to know someone who knows someone in order to purchase. (I would guess those permits cost more than my car is worth........so even if I knew the people who knew the people I would have to pass on the purchase)

So I walked out of my gym to get into my car so I could drive home.....and bummer..... my car is gone. My gym is in a neighborhood called Bed-stuy. Some people call it Bed-Stuy....do or die. I read an article on the neighborhood once and they called it "A troubled neighborhood". So my first thought is my car is stolen and my slip drive that has my teaching lessons on it are stolen. Bigger bummer.

Charlie and I called 311, cause thats what you do in NYC whenever something goes wrong or you want to clarify that on Sundays it is OK not to pay the muni meters.  So 311 tells us to call the Navy Yard. (Its the pound for cars in Brooklyn that get towed)  They have my car and I am so glad it didn't get stolen. Stolen by the city but at least I can get it back for some "easy" monthly payments on my credit card.

We ride our bikes to the Navy Yard and retrieve my precious little green car. It has chalk writing on the windows and a piece of chewed gum. That is the definition of violation. I'm over it though cause I got my car back!

NYC Marathon, Eagles vs. Giants, Phillies Vs. Yankees, and Halloween

This was one very fun action packed weekend! Here is some Halloween fun! I was a Gypsy and charlie was Japanese. We really just looked through our closets and found the most comfortable clothes to wear.

That was Saturday and we went to see the Halloween parade on 6th ave in the west village. So crowded but fun! In the middle of the parade about 100-150 people did the thriller dance and that was by far the BEST part of Halloween night.

Sunday was full of marathon fun. I woke up early to finish making my cheering poster and a few friends, charlie, and I cheered on the 26.2 mile runners for over 3 hours! I love marathon day!

Then..... Eagles rocked the Giants! Good day all around!

Two weddings in two days in two different states!

Here are some images from this past weekend! Amy and Bill got married on Saturday in a beautiful garden in Delaware.
Manuel and Danna were married on Sunday in NJ in a beautiful mansion with great food and fun!