DINOSAURS

Last weekend was long but nice. CA's birthday celebration was successful and who doesn't love college football? (Okay, fine, a lot of people don't love college football... but going to a game is always fun. Especially when there's soft pretzels.) We didn't really celebrate Halloween itself, although I discovered that he would have dressed up. So, that means I need to start thinking of cool couples Halloween costumes. Antony and Cleopatra? Ketsup and Mustard? Either way, it was a fun weekend, but stressed me out for the coming week.

It's been a frustrating week at work and a historic week for our country. I'm excited about eventual changes in how our country does business (yay for changing no child left behind) but I am not so thrilled about how certain things are going down at work. It's been exciting to hear one of my students talk about his dad with such high esteem. It's been exciting, but frustrating to read tests that say "rebublic" instead of "republic" even when I gave a word bank. It's been frustrating to get asked about grades and changes and "did I really mean that?" Needless to say, in all my frustration, it was and has been a lovely weekend.

On Thursday, I got to go to Kirkwood (which I love) and hang out with EPS and KF. It was nice to have good conversation and enjoy drinks. It was nice, for a moment, to not be thinking about work... at least momentarily. On Friday, I couldn't take it anymore. I was frustrated with the feedback I was getting from others, I was flustered with the amount of work I was carrying around in my bag and the weight that I was feeling on my shoulders. I had had to reprimand one of my favorite students, a girl who I love and adore. It's hard to watch these tiny, innocent munchkins become neurotic and grade-mongering. I'm trying to fix it in whatever way I can, but sometimes, it's all a little bit too much. So, I said forget it and went to drink cider and eat grilled cheese sandwiches at F O Mahoney's with KB and her dude (since my dude was still at work after getting about 2 hours of sleep the night before.) We had a really great time and made copious Simpson's references (mainly about voting for Kodos and it being a two party system).

On Saturday, I had brunch at Nookies with S and DP. Then, we went to Target where I bought many things I didn't need and a couple things that I did. But, isn't that always the way with Target? I probably should return some of them, but will I? Answer = decisively no. After that, C and I watched the FSU game. After their crushing fumble in the end-zone loss last week, they won decisively (ooh, twice in one paragrpah) this week. Then, the best part of the weekend came: booze + dinosaurs.

The Bar Association had some kind of benefit thing at the Field Museum. We had originally believed it was fancy-dan, but it ended up being just casual. We got to hang out with the dinosaurs, and drink free booze. There was food as well, but it was not as delicious as the free drinks. We saw a fantastic exhibit on the Aztecs and then wandered through the evolution exhibit.

I love getting to do things like that with him. From going to see The Brothers Karmazov this week at the Lookinglass (which was done excellently) with him to doing things like that, it's refreshing to know that he values the things and the experiences that I, too, want to experience and value. I like that we spent time reading the cards and got excited to discover facts like whale were originally land creatures. We also got excited to reference our Dinosaur Show with our new expanded knowledge.

But moreover, it was just really neat to be in the museum like that. We missed out on the Nature Unleashed exhibit (you can't bring drinks into the exhibit so we wasted some time drinking when we should have been exhibiting) but we got to see a ton of really awesome stuff. I always love the evolution piece. I didn't know that the Field had a cast of Lucy's bones (which was also fantastic to see... I wonder where the real one is?...according to Wikipedia, the original is in Ethopia... logical).

This upcoming week should be full of exciting things--on Monday, people from work are taking me to dinner for my birthday, on Tuesday, C and I are going to see Kafka on the Shore which I have wanted to see and Wednesday is my birthday. On Thursday/Friday, there's conferences, but on Saturday ANR and I are going to get our hair cut and then we're going out to dinner with S and P. I'm thrilled about all the "culture" things that I get to do because I'm in this city, and thrilled right now, that there are people with whom to do them. Thrilled that the president elect is from this place (from Hyde Park even, where I have a connection) and thrilled that voices are being heard (even if I feel downtrodden at school.) Thrilled that I know the chief of staff and feel like he was a really solid choice. And least importantly, but very excitingly, I am thrilled that I now own a new bag from Target. Thrilled that last week, I ALSO went to the symphony with my kiddos (it was a very "cultural" week...) Exciting things are, as always, afoot. Thrilled MOST OF ALL, that on Wednesday, we will officially own our home (also scared out of my life on that point.) But, it will all get done and we will continue to be... well, let's be honest, we'll continue to be happy.