Salted Stress

Salt and stress.

Stress and salt.

Vacation is in 5 days.
Skip the chips.
Go nuts with the nuts (pistachios, that is).

2 cups later...
Shells.

And still stressed.

Ahh!

FYI: Pistachios are just as unhealthy as chips.
Now they tell me.

Perceptrain

As I tried to overcome my sugar hangover on the train ride home this evening, I closed my eyes. As I sat there, I listened to the noises around me. The rattling of the wheels on the track, the creaking as the train rocked side to side, the shrieking of young children and the moans of St. Paddy's celebrators.

When my eyes opened, I stared out the window into the gray landscape of the Hudson. The sky: gray. The water: gray. The bare trees and charcoal rocks jutting out of the shore were all incredibly eerie. I couldn't help but think how this would be the perfect setting of a horror film.

As I pondered all of this, I wondered how I could blog about it. I use this space to write about the sweet take on things, so surely writing about horrifying sights and sounds would not do.

And then I began to wonder, if I had my iPod with me and was listening to soothing music, would this view still seem so ghostly?

This link will show you how changing the music can change your perceptions of a visual experience. Watch the first 30 seconds or so and then fast forward to 3:15. What do you think?

Proof That Music Changes Everything is a bit different. It takes scenes you have probably seen before and plays a Coheed and Cambria song that can make even the Teletubbies seem epic (and terrifying).

It's interesting that what we hear so drastically affects how we perceive things. I wonder how my take on things would be altered if I listened to various music genres at different points in the day? Have you ever noticed this phenomenon?

The Sweetest Things

Sweetest Thing #1: Girlfriends

What you should know: The Corps 4 (ballet reference) have been best friends since about 2nd grade.

What made today sweet:

a) This: 

Sweetest Thing #2: Desserts

What you should know: A 2 hour, $20 Living Social deal for a cupcake tour in NYC came our way. 

What made today sweet:

a) Mango gelato from Amorino

b) Cookies n' Cream cupcake from Crumbs Bake Shop

c) Chocolate cupcake with brown butter frosting from Molly's Cupcakes (p.s.- the inspiration for the store was the owner's 3rd grade teacher who always made cupcakes. The tables are desktops and the walls are adorned with lunch boxes from the 60s. There's even a bookshelf with children's books. Heaven!)

d) Milk and Cookies' Salted White Chocolate Oatmeal cookie

e) Magnolia's Red Velvet cupcake

A Counted Thought

As I strolled through the $1 bins in Target, I came across packs of these charming greeting cards. Never one to say no to a sensible deal, I scooped them up. 

Two days ago, I entered the bathroom at 5:30 AM to begin my daily routine. There, waiting for me on the counter, was a bottle of Argon oil. I had briefly mentioned to my mom weeks before that I had wanted to try this miracle oil out on my hair. My whole morning was brightened now that I had this new product to try. 

I decided to share this feeling with her in a note. "Just a note," to be exact. I expressed my gratitude and awe at all she managed to do for my family. I left it leaning on the coffee maker- something for HER to discover in her morning routine. 

Yesterday, I was required to observe a second grade classroom as part of my new teacher training. Now, it was mandatory, but I still felt it was kind of that teacher to take me in and show me the ways of a second grade Language Arts class. When I got home, I reached for that pack of $1 cards to say "thank you!" to the woman who, on top of teaching eight squirming children, found the time to explain her lessons to me. When she receives the card on Monday, I hope it lightens her day the way small gestures sometimes can. 

The moral of the story: You really can find happiness in a good deal- or something like that :)

The Real "To Do" List

Days like this
remind me that it is not good to stress.
There are far better things
than checking everything
off your 'to do' list.

Today, I heard my students
speak French
for the first time.
Bon jour sounded like banjo.
It was amazing.

Tonight, I sat in bed
with my mom
watching HGTV.
We drank
tea
and downloaded apps
to our phones.

Right now, I am writing
on my blog
When I should
be lesson planning.
Oh well. I'm
content.

Day 10: Just the Beginning...

This will not be my last post in March. 

Yes, I've reached the end of the Great Grad Writing Project, but I have not reached the end of my writerly experience (I never will)! In fact, this is only the beginning...

I've mentioned (in one forum or another) that writing has become an escape for me; something to free my mind of the day's chaos and just reflect, relax. I don't think I could ever give that up now. 

I've also so enjoyed getting to know my peers through their own posts. Everyone has such different writing styles (Amanda, so honest, Kristen, straight and to the point, Jessica R.,whose limited words offer deep insight, Megan, whose posts can get anyone to nod their head in agreement, Katie, whose words get you thinking, Jessica B., whose blog is filled with optimism, and, of course, Dr. Ferreri, whose posts inspired us all to be writers this month) through which I've grown to know them on a different level. And through which, I hope, they have gotten to see a different side of me. 

At this point, I may not be able to write EVERY day. But, a few times a week, it would be nice to sit down and write something to share with others. Who knows, maybe I will even become part of a professional network of bloggers?!

Until that time comes, though, I will be thankful that (through moans and groans) Dr. Ferreri insisted we engage in this activity. I really have seen myself grow as a writer (less writer's block) and begin to actually ENJOY the act of writing. 

So, to end this 10-day journey, I leave you with a haiku (my new favorite form of poetry, thanks to 6004 & this blog):

Write your hearts out, kids

Your thoughts: Worth their weight in gold

It's never too late

Day 9: The Substitute Dance

You get the call in the morning.
A tap dance emerges as you pitter-patter through the house getting reading.
This is your happy dance.
Today, it is your day to teach.

On the way to school
It's the jitterbug.
Will they listen to me?
Can I do it?

During homeroom
It's the cha-cha.
Chirping "Good Morning (cha, cha, cha)"and
"Have a great day! (cha, cha, cha)"

In reading
It's the tango.
Legs stretched out to walk to the next desk
As your eyes linger over the reading of another.

Math. Math.
The charleston is a song and dance routine.
Are you listening? (hands are waving back and forth)
Isn't this so EASY? (low leg kick) You can do it! (high leg kick)

In Social Studies
We do a waltz.
Gliding from row to row to read from the textbook.
It's slow. So slow.

It's all a dance. And I perform, gladly.