I feel a little ripped off, everyone seems to have this whole entire week off of school/work
As a teacher you think I would have lucked out here...not the story. Tomorrow will be the end of my week, and tonight I attempted to make pumpkin cookie type things. Seeing as I had no legit measuring tools to make them with, they should be interesting.
I love my kids a lot, and usually miss them when I am away from them.

I am really enjoying my new apartment. I look forward to coming home everyday so much. It's pretty bare bones right now, but gradually I will piece it together. I like the silence, maybe too much. It seems the more I live alone, the more I become a recluse. Anyway
It has been amazing for writing music and playing music, the acoustics are out of control

My neighborhood is pretty wonderful. There is not too much around, but there are a lot of trees and pretty old houses/churches around. I have a community garden across the street, and a preschool right next store (it has a beautiful mural on its walls)
There is a 24 hour mexican mom and pop join around the corner that is right next to the $4 Theatre.

I have been sort of seeing this dude. I am being cautious (as usual) The more I date, the more I realize how difficult of a person I am to get close to. This dude has been calling me out on it a lot. I know that I have issues with what I think I deserve, or don't deserve I guess. Most of the time I don't even realize I am being so distant from people. We have been playing music together, and going to church, talking about God, laughing a lot, all really good stuff. I dunno
I think I still need time to settle into my new life. There is a lot I need to straighten out, or get grounded in with God

oh speaking of I found the most amazing Church by my house
it's a super small community (compared to what I've been used to), small enough that they call people to respond to scripture, to stand up and speak out about what is on their heart
majority of the church is my age range, and they seem really active
It doesn't hurt that they are housed in a really old beautiful church, with a great worship band, and that they serve cookies as you walk in...pretty much everything I look for
I hope to get more connected there, and settled into a routine of attending their services

in a few weeks I will be graduating from the 2nd city improv program. I think our team might go try to set up some shows at other places, or test out other options. It has been so much fun though, and I've made some great friends along the way.

Still sewing, I am on the guest list for a concert of a musician I am designing for...apparently the manager of the band wants to meet with me.

what else? not much

soo its 8 in the morning
watchin strangers with candy
just ate a huge bowl of cereal
result: bit of a tummy ache
about to head off for some second city morning madness, i love it and I miss my friends there, i never fully remember until I get there...but I do
Just found out yesterday that I am going to be teachin some 3rd graders this summer, super excited about that!
The teaching fellows program has been really intense so far, but at the same time it is exciting and I have quickly established some good friends. My small group is pretty much the program trouble-makers (can't say I've been a good influence), laughing at inappropriate times during training...we had one girl jump ship from our group, which we found hilarious. You can't take life so seriously.
still designing clothing, honestly I wish I could do it more than I have time to right now..
I think I will be able to organize and establish where everything in my life fits better once I move out..hopin between july-september
Trying to be realistic

i should probably shower

forgot to say i have a music show today somwhere between 3-6 (probably closer to 4)
at rumble arts center 3413 W. North Ave. Chicago
I guess the whole event is people trading art and having a potluck? Not completely sure, all I know is that I have not practiced in a long time, i think it should be ok though...

ok, is it still considered stealing if you knowingly watch the cashier make a mistake ringing up your pants as Free?
I'd like to throw down with, no it's not
if an employee at the store is gonna gimme some free pants during an economic depression then I ain't gonna argue
...anyway I've felt like I've had a pretty darn good weekend ever since that pants incident
maybe my whole sabbatical will be like this

my last day of work was on thursday and I got a bunch of great cards from the kids, some more personal ones that I was "not allowed to read till after" the student left, and there were a few kids refusing me to go, one suggested that I at least stay through next week, and when i said i couldn't, he suggest at least till next wednesday
its amazing how you dont realize the people you reach in life, there were some kids who I always talked to and would try to help out but never thought I was getting through because there wasn't enough of a response from these students to know, but those were the kids that lingered after the bell and then rushed me with a suprise hug and then they ran out the door

i need to get some serious organization skills before i start teaching in fall

i officially put in my resignation for my current job
I will probably continue to do the autistic therapy for a while
beyond that I will just be on sabbath from april till june

thoughts include-
sewing a lot!
taking walks and bike rides
going on adventures, and journeys
writing, reading, painting, drawing
backpack europe? sicily? Spain? France?
take some form of a road trip, lone or with a friend
start simplifying my possessions to prepare to move to Chicago
oh, write some new songs for a new time in my life
record, maybe play a show or two
catch up with new/old friends, people i have not seen

warm weather is good
dreams while being heavily medicated are...strange

...uhh I was just informed that I was selected to be a Chicago Teaching Fellow
woah

today is mildly crazy at work, and I love it
i wish it were more crazy
or at least higher degrees of crazy more often

sometimes i think people make things too complicated
but then again sometimes i am that person

warm weather better start creepin because im really ready for a journey walk

also I have plans to go hold baby lambs next weekend
anyone who can meet at my house and fit in my car in more than invited
im just gonna sit there and hold the lamb till it falls asleep...and then maybe I will fall asleep

spring break 09 Baby!...2.5 weeks

oh, and if you didnt know already (cuz I sure did) the shamrock shake is Back!

I was asked to speak and do a workshop on sustainable clothing design at the university of chicago...I'm pretty excited about that
i feel like I keep getting signs that I should further invest my time and energies into creating my line, and developing it to serve in a greater way. Working at little city and the opportunity in Africa have been the biggest motivations for me to further pursue what I can do if I was to jump off the reality cliff into doing this full time.

As for now reality blows
..but I'm also just a coward

does anyone else want to go buy a cheap farm house somwhere, and have a community of us living in it who all bring different skills and gifts to the table?

I have my big 6 hour interview for the chicago fellowship this weekend...yikes



oh sabath you can't come soon enough

AHHHHHHH! I just found out that I passed my teacher certification test!!!! How the HECK did I doo that!?
YESSSSS!!

on that note, and in the words of bruce "i'm workin on a dreaam"

this weekend is gonna be great
God is tellin me "cool down, chill out, im working things out"
I'm so excited about the people he has surrounded me with

other than that i'm becoming a sudoku master
and i just purchased my first car

positive people just poured into my life again
they have been in just the past year. before then it seemed like a never ending search, picking up one or two along the way
and so the journey peaks its beginning

the other day one of my friends said that he feels comfortable with the people in his life and is unsure about the need to build anymore relationships, or to bring anyone else in
I used to feel that same way
but I have been enjoying more and more the opportunity to meet new people, get to know them in depth, and finding if there is anything from my experience or life that could contribute to theirs
I'm also finally feeling excited and at great peace about the re-establishment of my independence

about two weeks till the big interview

about a month till california

hopefully 2.5 months till my sabbath