awesome amigos

I have great friends! The school playground has been likened to a prison yard until a week ago when several wonderful friends of mine joined in for a paint-party. Here are some pics of the first week of school, kids excited about the new look!

happy thought.

The farmhouse.. or at least one view. I'll post a panoramic pic later, but isn't it lovely?!

Frustrating moment this morning. As trivial as it may be in a few hours, currently I am trying to think happy thoughts because after all it only takes one to make you fly, right?

We drove all morning on not much sleep. I was smooshed back in “my hole” behind Pottsy’s seat and his outstretched 6’3” body. We drove to somewhere near Bournemouth, playing guessing games with pop music and enjoying the strange glances of folks wondering why we had a pew strapped on the truck also pulling a caravan. Jon loved the attention.

One long ferry ride later (it was less like a cruise and more similar to a greyhound or train) we landed in Cherbourg and set off for Dinan. We arrived the Wednesday before the summer solstice so the day was barely ripening at 5pm. A bit groggy still, the boys got the caravan (translation: camper van) level (during the night we realized they’re not good at leveling) and I went after the weeds. Apparently Jon hadn’t been to his farmhouse in quite a long time. We had a few days to prepare the land and house for a dozen of our friends from Rickmansworth to join us on their holiday.

After a couple hours we moved on to burning Laurel trees. Jon had hired someone to cut the branches, but with the guidance of a neighbor he ended up leveling all of jon’s trees! They had also fallen on said neighbor’s farmland and blocked the tractor path so we jumped on it. After hauling and burning till our bodies were scraped and hands raw, we sat down around 11 that night for a steak dinner, grilled nicely on the propane stove in the caravan. My legs were scraped up but I finally felt like I’d given back to Jon after he’s been so generous, both this trip and when I was renting a room from him in England. We took deep breaths and soaked in the sunset… a warm summer night at a farmhouse in France after a long day’s work. My entire body smiled at this moment.

Three tired amigos

we decided to hit the town...

my dear friend jon

quote for thought

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Calvin Coolidge, President of The United States.


thoughts on this quote? I just started my job. My legs have been achy due to lack of movement as I have returned to a desk (though i won't be in it ALL the time don't worry) after a few weeks of adventuring around and working at the restaurant. My mind is pulled several directions and the humming question of how to set myself up for success is imminent. I saw this quote yesterday and have been wondering on it. Tell me your thoughts.

ps I'll write and post pics from the amazing time in england and france in the near future:)

londontown

i get to see my wonderful friend Kristina in less than a week!!!

In the midst of my questionable depression/anxiety I cashed in my advantage miles and sublet my apt for a few weeks. I'm going to London to visit my dear friend Kristina before she pops out a cute little welsh/american girl, Eleri, next month. We haven't seen each other since I left London last year so I'm super stoked!! Between her in-laws (they're awesome) visiting and prenatal appts we will spend some time adventuring around her new area of Watford, maybe something in the city and just share space.

My old flatmate has a place in France that he does work on every few months and this trip happens to fall during my time in the UK! I'm going to head over with him for a few days to help clean up and paint a bathroom then a slew of our friends are coming over for bbq's and camping!

It will be great to see some people from my time in London as well... go out and enjoy the Summer Solstice, nice brews and the british culture... oh maybe some yummy curry! I'm getting excited!

you have no life

5th grade girls: Ms. Miller, do you have a boyfriend?
Me: no
them: an ex-boyfriend?
Me: yes
them: do you have any kids?
Me: no
them: Wow, you don't have a life.

Through the eyes of a 5th grader I have no life. Ha.

Last day at the oficina!

Crazy. It has been six months since I began work with the consulting company. The last month has been really rough… on my emotional side of things, but I’m talking about the fact that I was in my cubicle with no sign of my teammates for one full month (lots of programs across the country), and the only evidence of life was the occasional sneeze of a girl several cubes over (“bless you” was my most common phrase). Thankfully, with this being my last week here, I actually had warm bodies to say good-bye to. Two of my coworkers were in the office today and took me to lunch, which was super nice and made me sad to leave. On paper, I always say this job would be great, but in reality I have been in the office at a computer for all of six months except one week at a seminar. That’s a lot of office time for the non-office girl I am. It has been great to redeem the world of leadership development for me though. When I left the the consulting company I worked for during grad school I was burnt out and kinda beat up by one of my supervisors. I was hesitant to get back into this industry, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how much I can still nerd out about leadership.

I’m not sure how much y’all have read between the lines, but I took the job at the school. I will be the Director of Community Development and will start in July. I am hesitant in a few areas but I look forward to some of the known challenges and the guaranteed smile when I get pictures from kindergarteners telling me about a fish that for the common folk looks like a blob. I would like to integrate some of what I’ve enjoyed in leadership development into my job over there so be thinking (and praying) about that one for me.

Last day in a cube! Woot woot! I need a dance party to seal this deal.

Bluegrass in the springs tonight with some of my fave peeps down there… and my sis is coming with me (more on her move-in coming soon!).

ps I’m feeling more alive so in case anyone was getting really worried about me, I’m coming around…

nectar

nectarines. white nectarines to be exact. they were on sale last week at sunflower market AND they were ripe! I bought one, pressed it against my lips and nose and breathed in a deep nectarine breath. How delightful that scent is, so rich in sweetness and summerness.