Can't help it...negativity

"They" say that shit happens and I've generally agreed with that statement. I have also generally believed that when it does (and it inevitably does) you just suck it up and deal with it the best you can. Just for the record, I am really sick of all the shit that has been happening in my life the last few months or so. Not that it has been all bad, but really...there has been some monumentally unfortunate stuff happening in my world since about April and I, for one, have had about enough.

So, we move in five days. Some of you may know that I was planning to drive home in five days. Now I'm not. We'll spend Saturday and Sunday moving from our current place on 11th Street to our new place on 10th Street. We're hiring movers for a short period of time to handle the furniture and heavier things (my back puts me in no position to be moving at all, but I'll deal with it so long as I don't have to move furniture) on Sunday evening and a UHaul cargo van to help us move more efficiently on Sunday morning/afternoon. Saturday we'll move stuff with our cars, I guess.

When it's all said and done, I'll drive to Chicago on Monday morning so that I can have some time with my family before I go to Colleen & Dave's wedding and head back here to complete the final move out on the 15th (have the carpets cleaned, hand over keys, etc) and start getting settled in the new place.

How does this happen? One minute, I'm enjoying my rather relaxing summer, getting my life back in order after a few months of chaos and confusion, thinking that things are starting to turn around and the next minute, everything is in shambles again.

I'm trying to stay positive, but I'm starting to get really overwhelmed here. I don't think I'm ever going to make it to Chicago. I mean, I will b/c I have the wedding to go to and I want to see my family (especially my mom) before I start work again, but it's sure going to be a crappy vacation, I think. I'm going to be so exhausted when I get there late Monday night and then I'm going to try to cram in lots of quality time Tuesday-Friday before the wedding on Saturday. Then rest on Sunday and head back early on the morning of the 14th. So I'll be back and have a week to get the new apartment in order before I have to be back at school for a week of meetings before teaching starts.

I get the feeling that August is going to make me forget that July ever happened.

Moving on

Dear MTV,

After many years of happiness together, I am afraid I have to put an end to our relationship. I have tried and tried to maintain things, but I simply cannot get excited about another night of "The Hills" or another "Real World/Road Rules Challenge." And a girl cannot survive on "My Super Sweet 16" and "Made" alone. I know. I've tried. I suppose that this was meant to be. After all, I am now older than the women you try attract and perhaps it is best that we go our separate ways. To be honest, I have found someone else. Yes, I am now a fan of VH1 - from "World Series of Pop Culture"* to "Best Week Ever" I am hooked. I hope you understand. It's not you, it's me. But, you know, I'll still come around for marathons.

* Maggie, I blame you and Eric for this new addiction...because I don't watch enough tv already.

Also, I went into work today to download my files onto a flash drive (bc I got my technology grant, which includes a new laptop!) and when I walked into my classroom I saw that I got new tile!! This is beyond exciting, folks. No longer will I trip over the torn seams in my carpeting. No longer will I cringe as an overstimulated child doesn't quite make it to the garbgae can before vomiting. No longer will I worry about the potential mold and other creepies growing under the carpeting. PLUS no one thought I would actually get my request filled this summer - it usually takes a few years of asking. I'm telling you - it pays to make nice with the facilities crew. Now I have to rearrange my classroom (since they emptied it of furniture to lay the tile), but it's worth it. And Elizabeth said she would help (she knows she stands to get free office supplies) so yay overall!

It's Friday and I'm thinking of going to read at Jazz in the Scuplture Garden on the Mall, but it's also about 97 degrees out so I may pass on that plan. We'll see. I was hoping to get together with this guy I was chatting with online, but I think I offended him by teasing him about living in the suburbs. ::sigh:: One day I'm going to choke on the foot I continually shove down my throat. Oh well. Better luck next time.

Word.

Someone posted this as a comment on a blog I read fairly regularly and it resonated with me, so I thought I'd share:

Sometimes you just have to belly up to the bar, order a strong drink, and see what life has in store.

Word. Now, if only I could find someone to belly up to the bar with me...no one wants to go it completely alone, right?

"Pass the Dayquil"

I have a cold. An annoying, exhausting, summer cold. At first I thought it was allergies, then stress, but no, it is a full-fledged cold. I'm not sure where it came from, but I sure feel like crap 80% of the time. Feverish, headache-y, lethargic. I want to enjoy these last few days of summer vacation in DC (I leave for Chicago in just over a week and have stuff to do at work), or at least be moderately productive, but instead I find myself in bed reading and sleeping. I suppose it is nice to have the luxury to do just that. Still...this is not how I planned to spend the week.

In other news, I went to the library again yesterday. I picked up another Brad Thor book because I do love me a political thriller. I also got Queen of the Big Time by Adriana Trigiani*, which I really liked (yes, I already read it) as I thought I would since I also liked her book Lucia, Lucia. Now I'm in the middle of the newest Amy Tan book, Saving Fish From Drowning, which is good so far. To round out my selection (I check out four books at a time), I picked up When Washington Was in Vogue by Edward Christopher Williams, which looks like a good read and a unique look at DC in the Jazz Era.

* Cole, if you're still looking for summer books, check her out - she has a trilogy as well.

I wanna talk about me

Man, have I missed silly surveys like this, although it took me some time to get over the fact that the list ends at 48...who does that?! Anyway, enjoy - I'm off to the library for more books!

1. FIRST NAME? Jessica
2. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? My grandpa Jerome, who I never knew
3. LAST CRY? Last week
4. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? I'm pretty ambivalent about it - I do like my printing though
5. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? Roasted turkey
6. KIDS? Absolutely, although for now my students suffice
7. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Hard to say...I'm pretty picky :)
8. DO YOU HAVE A JOURNAL? You're looking at it (I have a personal one as well)
9. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yes
10. #10 has left the building
11. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Six months ago I would have said no, but now I think I would, although I would be scared beyond belief
12. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? Lucky Charms, but I LOVE cereal of any kind
13. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? No, but I untie them before I put them on
14. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? And only getting stronger
15. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM FLAVOR? Chocolate peanut butter or cookies and cream
16. SHOE SIZE? 11 (I'm tall - something has to keep me upright)
17. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? My moodiness
18. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My friends and family who live hundreds (thousands) of miles away
19. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? That wouldn't be fair, since I'm not sending it out
20. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? I have on jeans and no shoes (I hate shoes)
21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? The a/c and some commercial on tv
22. #22 is with #10
23. FAVORITE SMELL? Freshly cut grass, "boy" and the smell of a city after a summer rain
24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THEPHONE? Mom and Dad
25. THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE YOU AREATTRACTED TO? Eyes, height, hands
26. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Nope...I love her
27. FAVORITE DRINK? Diet Coke
28. FAVORITE SPORT? NCAA Basketball, baseball and soccer
29. EYE COLOR? Green (or blue, depending)
30. HAT SIZE? I haven't worn a real fitted hat in years...my army hat is a S/M
31. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Sometimes, but usually I'm too lazy
32. FAVORITE FOOD? Thai food and mashed potatoes
33. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDING? Usually happy endings, but sometimes you just need to be scared
34. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED AT THE MOVIE THEATER: The Devil Wears Prada
35. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Gray with red writing
36. SUMMER OR WINTER? Neither is my favorite, but I prefer winter weather to summer weather and summer vacation to winter vacation
37. HUGS OR KISSES? The hugs I get from my students sustain me, so I'll go with hugs
38. FAVORITE DESSERT? Creme brulee or brownies
39. WHO IS MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? Again, not sending this out...
40. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? See above
41. WHAT BOOKS ARE YOU READING? I just finished the last of my library books so I'm out right now (sadly)
42. WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? An eagle and the American flag (leftover from my roommate's Republican days, I think)
43. WHAT DID YOU WATCH LAST NIGHT ON TV? Birthday Girl - with Ben Chaplin & Nicole Kidman (it was on the independent film channel)
44. FAVORITE SOUNDS? Rain, silence, laughter
45. THE FURTHEST YOU'VE BEEN FROM HOME? Italy
46. WHAT'S YOUR SPECIAL TALENT? I have unending patience with kids
47. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Evanston, IL
48. WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Maggie

Cancel the shipment of one large cardboard box

Elizabeth and I found a new apartment. It is one block north of us. We are signing the lease and leaving a deposit this afternoon. I don't know when we'll move, but since I'll be out of town August 5 - August 14 (or so), I suppose I'll have to start packing soon. Neat. I don't so much mind moving (well, I do b/c I love the current place), but I hate the process. I suppose I should feel lucky since I'm off work right now. But still...ick.

Misadventures of Maggie and Jess

DC monuments: Good
DC monuments at night: Better
DC monuments at night in a thunderstorm: Best

Never a dull moment with us, folks...never a dull moment.