having some extra time.

Hello, blogosphere!

I love exam time! As previously mentioned I am a teacher and as such I almost never have a lot of free time. I am currently finding myself in a period during which I actually do have some free time, but know that i have it, I DO NOT know what to do with it. 

I am so used to scurrying around like a crazy person that I am finding it hard to just relax.  I constantly feel like I am forgetting something. Not that I am complaining, not at all. I love the strangeness of it all. 

I have time to spend with my lovable godchild, even though she can drive me nuts sometime. We actually had the opportunity to grab a lovely sunny day at the beach this weekend. It was absolutely wonderful. She was like a little demon, running in and out of the water and rolling in the wet sand. She had me totally tired, just looking at her.

I also have the chance to do some of the other things that I like doing. These include reading, cyber painting as I so rarely get the opportunity to do it for real that my paints usually dry up before I get another opportunity to do it. (PS: if your wondering, I am not really any good at it, it is just something I enjoy doing. My one friend always says my paintings are flat and lacking in depth, whatever that means.)

So hear is to free time and checking things off your to do list, because the quicker you do this, the quicker you'll have free time!

Cioa

Looking forward to something.

I know all of you will be able to identify with the following: the intense longing for time to pass and wanting something so badly it hurts. These are all symptoms of looking forward to something and we've all experienced it. It is called anticipation

I am currently in a state of anticipation. In exactly 1 week it will be holiday and I'll see my adorable goddaughter for the first time in almost 6 months! To most that might not seem very long, but to me it has felt like eternity.( An awful one!) Will it help, if I tell you we've never been apart for longer than 2 and a half months since I met her?

So here I am and I should probably be working, since I have loads of marking left. My mind, however, is so numb that I just can't focus on the pack of very badly written essays in front of me. (Might be because I've been marking non-stop for 2 weeks!) I am totally looking foward to the end of term.

Looking forward to something is good for you. Am I hearing some doubtful comment coming from the blogosphere? Yes, it's true anticipation is good for you. It makes the mundane more bearable. Just think about how depressing life would be, if we never had anything to look forward to.  You know I am right...

So as much as it sucks that we have to wait for nice things to happen, there is a good reason. It makes you appreciate those wonderful moments all the more, when they finally arrive.

my animal children.

They are cute, they are cuddly and they are mine. I love my dogs! I have 2 and both are rescues. Animals are great. They love you unconditionally and are always glad to see you. I would love

a bad day.

Have you ever experienced one of thóse days? You know, the kind that makes you feel that nothing is going your way and that you should've stayed in bed. Well, today was that day!

I know people think I tend to be excessive, but venting is my thing and nothing is beter than just getting it out of your system. I just need to get things out again, and again and again! Or as many times as is needed to make me feel better. (I don't know, but I assume it's that last bit that gets people frustrated.) I am a passionate person and a sharer, so when something bothers me or makes me happy: you WILL know about it. I refuse to suffer or celebrate in silence.

The thing, that I know works for a lot of people, is crying. It unfortunately does not work for me. It actually usually just leaves me feeling bad and looking even worse. I am one of those really ugly criers. (The runny nose, red eyes, blubbering kind) In fact, I hate crying!  There is nothing worse! I think it's the control freak in me. I hate not having control over myself and my emotions, which is probably one of the reasons for why I find crying to be so utterly embarrassing. I, however, have friends who say a good cry makes the world just seem more bearable. They find  crying is a stress releaver. So who am I to argue?

Bad days are horrible to experience, so use whatever helps you get through it in one piece. Life is vicious and does not play fair, so whether it's crying, venting, eating or just climbing in bed and hoping for better days to come.  Remember all is fair in love and war, and life can be a brutal battlefield. Therefore there are no fixed rules for dealing with bad days.

Just to end off and to look on the brighter side of things and there is bright side! Awful days make you appreciate the not so awful days. Sooooo I am going to hang onto that, climb in my bed and hope "the sun will come up tomorrow..."

the finer things.

I am not spoiled, in fact my parents are dirt poor and that is how I was raised. I,  however,  love to spoil myself and those around me. I think most girls do. Whether it is nice chocolate, clothes or just a trip to the salon, we deserve it, don't we?

I know I will never have an eating disorder, I simply love food way too much. There is nothing better than a piece of nice dark chocolate when you're feeling down. Or a steaming cup of hot chocolate on a freezing cold day. Food is glorious and having a chat and a glass of wine, whilst sharing the company of good friends is one of my favourite things.

Food is definitely not my only vice. I love clothes. If I could just find what I want, when I wanted it, life would be great. Since I lost a chunk of myself two years ago(I cut down on the food a little), shopping is also much more pleasurable. I love finding a good bargain, especially if it is a good quality bargain. My biggest weakness is shoes, I LOVE shoes. I love how a pair of shoes can make you feel sexy. It's just amazing!

Then there is a good old fashioned pampering session at the salon. I don't do that nearly enough. The best part is sitting in that chair getting my hair washed and those magical fingers of the shampoo girl massaging my scalp. I tell you it's absolute heaven! If anyone can argue with that I just don't get you...

Oh, and while we're talk about the finer things... there is nothing that brings me more joy than giving to the one's I care about. I love the smile, the joy on the face of someone when you give them something. With regard to this children are the best, the smallest things can make them exuberantly happy. I just love to see their faces light up and their eyes shining with happiness. That is the finest thing of them all.

a good man.

I haven’t been a relationship in a really long time, so long in fact that I often joke that if one came across my path now, I probably wouldn’t know what to do. (Lame, I know) This, however, is what has brought about today’s topic. Good men.

Is it just me or have good men become really scarce? Not that I am currently looking, but it just seems that well-mannered men are few and far between. Do not even get me started on the fact that once you reach a certain age they are almost impossible to come by. I know this is going to seem cliché, but it seems that they are either all taken or gay, or so it seems.

Ask me, I know what I am talking about. My occupation makes it even harder. I am a teacher in a small town. To make things even worse I am also a language teacher, which means that if one takes all my extra-mural activities into account: I AM ALWAYS BUSY with work.  So as all fellow teachers will know, that makes meeting any one new extremely difficult.

Putting all my negativity aside though, good men are out there and extremely attractive. There is nothing as attractive as a man with good manners. If he takes care of himself it is even better. I can’t think of any women I know who’d say no to a man, who treats her well.

In fact on our staff there is an elderly teacher on our staff. He’s a gem.  He has the best manners. He always stands up when you speak to him. He opens the door for you and is always willing to offer a helping hand to anyone in need. If he was about twenty to thirty years younger and not married, he would totally be my idea of the perfect man.

I wish more young men would take him as an example and treat the women in their lives like ladies and not just a mere object.  And yes, I know I am probably expecting a lot from the men out there, but I know that I and all the other good women I know deserve a good man. I also know that the Mr Right is out there. Hope will prevail…