update

Just so you know, the lighting for project over the summer... phenomenal. :)







Well, it has been awhile since an update... and here it is....


I spent the last week at war at work. Literally knee deep in politics, petty words, and out and out turf war.


And it was utterly ridiculous.


The basic summary is that I am (as you should know by now!) planning a trip to Costa Rica. (BTW, if you know me, place a bulk order for organic coffee with me, and if you do not know me enough to ask me to get you some coffee, go to www.tortugacoffee.com and order some coffee with my school name as the beneficiary. For every bag sold, we get $4 towards our trip)

Anyway, this trip to Costa Rica apparently has ruffled many feathers around the office. Not only is everyone amazed that I have the balls to go through with this... but that I got it approved, and that I am intentionally NOT working with a certain department.

Now, no offense to that department, but I have had previous negative experiences with people in that department. And since it comes down to MY butt on the line if something goes wrong during the trip, I prefer to be the one controlling and planning the trip. Makes sense, right? If you know you are responsible for doing something right, then you do it right, you do not trust someone who has been proven untrustworthy to do it for you.

Bottom line, I want to have a fabulous trip, and I do not want to be hindered by anything or anyone.


Yet, the three p's come in to play....

politics, pettiness, power.



My goodness, get over it. I want to take a trip to Costa Rica. I want to save the turtles. I want to salsa, hike in a rainforest, and see a volcano erupt. I want to do this for my students. Why, oh why, do you keep trying to shut me down?


Well, fortunately for me, this war was brewing for awhile, and I happen to have the backing of the entire academic side of our school.

I mean sure, it feels great that everyone agrees with me... but even if they did not, the monopoly this particular department appears to have on international trips at our school is positively unjust. I understand the need to have a central clearing house for trips... but having a resource to use when you have questions or need help is very very different from what this department assumes its power is.




So, I accidentally fell into a war. Oops. And, as I said, I ruffled many feathers, but I feel strongly that it is for the best of the students and for the school. FIGHT THE MAN! :)


Actually, as of Friday, the war is out of my hands, and others have taken up my righteous cause. I am thankful because frankly, I gotta stop losing sleep over this.

You know when you have really strong feelings about something or someone... and you find yourself having conversations (okay, arguments) with them in your head? And then you are like... you stupid idiot. You are talking with yourself, stop it.

Yeah, that was me... allllllll freakin week.



It did not help me that Jon was in Trinidad. It left a large gap in my support structure... and although that was most eagerly filled by my ladies at work... it still was not the same as being able to vent to him.

Yet, again, God is gracious, and has given me some awesome friends... some even more powerful than I imagined. :)



This Sat, I organized a bit of a get-together for Jon and our friends to celebrate his birthday, which is on Wednesday. We (me, Jon, Kris, Josh, Justin, Kelly, James, Nick) went rock climbing and then we (me, Jon, Kris, Josh, James, Nick, Dave) went out to dinner at Carrabbas... then we (me, Jon, Kris, James, Nick, Dave) went back to Jon's and hung out and then they (Jon, Kris, Nick, James) had a bit of a guys night. Whew.

I was a blast, my knees are black and blue, and I am pretty sure James will never have children now due to the fact that I let him freefall for about 30 ft before stopping him about 3 ft from the ground. Oops. I feel wretched about it. I really do. I would have offered to massage him if I did not think Jon would kill me! ;)

I think I did pretty well... if I am able to get pictures, I will definitely post them.



Today I went to church for the first time in about a month. I was glad to go... they finished Revelation and have moved to Luke. I do not think I have ever read Luke, so I am looking forward to it. Hopefully I can make it more regularly now that I am less crazy.


Or am I?


Today I also took my new cell phone back and got another new one...

And then we had Reverb! YAY! First rehearsal back from break, and I have to say it went pretty well. Hopefully I will finish my arr of the wonder woman theme song so that we can start working on that too. :)




That is about all for now... I gotta go grade. I am ridiculously far behind, its shameful. :(