Back to Reality

Hello, everyone!

Sorry about the lack of posts this week... grades are due, and I'm trying to figure out how to use Power School. I'm back in the world of technology, after a long process of waiting for the UPS truck to come! I got a replacement phone on Tuesday, and though I lost a few photos and phone numbers in the process, I'm all set.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you stop and think about how you physically ended up in the place that you are? This was definitely me on Monday. I got to leave school early (my eighth period students were working), and I went right to the gym. It was great because I got a parking spot, and I was super stressed. I saw that there was a Tai Chi class at 5:45, which I thought sounded PERFECT for me, I needed to RELAX! I was a little early, though, and Janelle, our JVC Program Director was coming over at 6:15 to deliver some cupcakes. Hmm, there's a class at 4:45... BodyPump? It says it's for all levels.... ok, I'll give it a shot.

For those of you who are unaware, like me, BodyPump is a class that involves barbells. You can change the weights (trust me, I did), and it's self-driven but lead by an instructor. To say it nicely, the class totally kicked my butt. At one point while I was lying on a bench doing tricep extensions, I thought, "how did I end up in this situation?"

While I was definitely thinking about the physical pain I knew I would be in within a few hours, I was also thinking about the fact that I was in Texas. What?

Monday was the first time it really started to sink in that I'm in Texas. The Houston downtown Y is gorgeous, and there are really incredible views of the downtown area from the group exercise rooms as well as the workout rooms. I could see that infamous big sky, the big buildings of downtown, and I giggled as I heard the Texan accent of my BodyPump instructor. My students pretty much think that the East Coast is a different country, and a lot of the time I think they're right, and that Texas is actually its own country.

There are lots of times when I think that there is no way I could actually live here- it's been an interesting place to visit for sure, but I'm fairly positive that I will not be in Texas one year from today. I'm an East Coast girl at heart, and I miss Philadelphia, friends, and family too much to stay this far away. Sometimes I have an amazing interaction with my students and I think "how could I leave them?!" but Mom and Dad, don't worry... Fall, hot chocolate, winter, and people who move more than 5 miles an hour are calling me back home.

I am used to the heat and ridiculous humidity, but I will admit that I was thrilled this morning to get in my car when it was 66 degrees! It was actually a little bit chilly... and lovely. I'm still going Fall-crazy, and I have big plans to make many pumpkin-flavored things this weekend. Trader Joe's opens on Saturday... I'll be there!

xo

PS- Happy 80th Birthday to my amazing grandma! I love you and can't wait to see you!