Exploring Cities & Books

I really, really love where we live. And even though it's been busy, I'm so glad we've had time to go do a little exploring!

This was one of my favorite days from a couple months ago - alamo square walk day!

I loved the shoe garden.  This German woman and I were admiring it for a while, trying to find all the shoes.  Some of them are sneakily disguised!

This was when Jonathan & I got a little lost trying to find a restaurant.  We found a giant hill of stairs & decided there must be a view from the top - we were right!

In other news, we were lucky enough to have time to do a big road trip, which was really incredible.  (Maybe I'll post a few photos later).  AND we finally started a book club!  Yay!!  I give full credit to Jonathan.  Right now we're reading "Unbearable Lightness of Being."  It's definitely a different style/format than I've read before, jumping around time-wise, and a little flighty & philosophical sometimes, but overall I'm liking it!

Busy!

Incredible.  That's what the last 6 months have been - I got a new job, we got engaged (!!!!!!!) and I've never ever EVER been this busy in my whole life!  I had no clue how insane teaching would be.  It really is a 24/7 job, I'm thinking about it nonstop, and I'm not really taking care of myself, but I know that it's just the first year craziness.  It will get better -  I have to keep focusing on the positive stuff, otherwise I'll go completely insane.  It's easy to worry and fret about little things, and sometimes I get overwhelmed by it, but then sometimes (like today) I step back and just tell myself there's only so much I can do in the 24 hours I have; I'm not going to be able to please everyone; and I'm not going to win America's #1 teacher award (at least... not THIS year, haha).

My kids are awesome beyond belief, and I know that this is definitely what I want to be doing.  Over time, I know it'll get easier figuring out how to manage my time.

On a completely different note, I am completely OBSESSED with my new favorite thing - the Stieg Larsson books!!! (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc.)  I just finished the second one, and I can't remember when I've loved a series THIS MUCH.  Wow.  They are just perfect - and now I'm slowly becoming a Stieg Larsson sycophant.. I love reading about his life.  It's so sad but also so interesting.  And it's so encouraging to read that this was his first novel!  He's amazing. Sigh!

Anyway, that's all for now - other than work & "Blomkvist," Jonathan & I have just been trying to explore our neighborhood more & we're hoping to get a book club going! (Finger's crossed.)

Bye!