Thursday, December 30, 2010

An overly confessional confession

*Too much drama about this post. This is the state of my heart, people, and I feel like sharing it here. No, it's not about one person. Part of my confusion is the fact that a whole slew of things have piled into my heart in a few months. Pains, excitements, joys, heartbreaks--all as a single woman for the first time. So do not read yourself into this post, no matter who you are. It is a conglomeration of everything. 

Sometimes it's hard being a confessional person.

There are times that I'm aware of it, and I realize that I should keep more things in. I should guard my heart a little more closely. I should be careful to whom I spill my thoughts and feelings.

Part of being a confessional person, however, is that itch. If you're similar you know exactly what I'm talking about. If I haven't shared part of myself for a certain period of time I become restless. I start looking for ways to share. I seek out a person with whom I can unload.

You'd think that prayer or a private journal would be helpful for a confessional person. But those of us who long to share our hearts understand that a large part of the process is the response from another. Physical words and feedback.

I say all this because the need to write about the struggles in my heart has become unbearably strong, yet I must still watch my words and what I reveal.

The heart of a woman is a treacherous environment. I knew that it was treacherous when I was dating the Monolith. He got to experience it firsthand, poor man. Assaulted by my fears and doubts, then soothed by love and pride in him, then shunned by my misgivings and hesitations.

But you know what I'd forgotten?

The heart of a woman is also treacherous to herself. The lack of feelings. The presence of feelings. The questions about worth, about motivation, about attraction. Feelings unmet. Impossible feelings. Impossible situations. Dangerous feelings. Dangerous situations.

This treacherous heart of mine is in turmoil. It feels pulled and manipulated, soothed, pursued, confused, longing, doubtful, fearful, hesitant, nervous, excited, sorrowful, desperate, rebellious, open, and hopeful.

This wildly complicated heart of mine has only been free for a short time. Folks, she's not out of practice. She has no practice. Somehow my fluttering heart simply fell into the hands of others along the way. She's never had to weigh things, gauge words and actions, or make hard choices.

She doesn't know what to do when a man declares his feelings. She doesn't know what to do when a man won't declare any feelings. She doesn't know what to do with her intense and new feelings. She warms at the slightest pursuit by a man and shrivels at the slightest indication of disinterest. She blossoms at thoughtful gestures, grand and small, and she wilts at silence. She's young, naive, easily swayed, and entirely too romantic.

Sometimes she just really bugs me.

One thing is the same though, and it's the main reason she's shiny and new right now:

More than anything in the world, she longs to be captured by a man. She longs to be pursued like mad, pursued like nothing in the world exists except her and the knowledge of her depths. She wants to be known, held, understood, cherished, and kept safe. She wants a man to love the body, mind, and soul she beats within, and she wants him to find it a joy and a thrill to unlock her mysteries.

-

Ah, my precious heart. Someday, my love.

Monday, December 20, 2010

A birthday and a lock-in

Ah, so much to catch up on. Sorry, my gentle readers! I have left you hanging without any tasty morsels for over a week now!

Bad blogger, bad blogger.

To be honest, I've been having such a fun week I didn't have time to sit down and write it all out! Let's start from the top:

1. My Birthday
What a day! My best friend, Kristy, comes in the night before and plans on being with me all day at school. I'll admit, I'm a little nervous about this, seeing as my kids can be unpredictable sometimes, but I'm looking forward to it anyway.

I arrive at school and discover myself staring at this when I come up to my door. What the . . .?

Then I open up the door and discover that my entire room is completely decked out for my birthday. Plastic cup streamers. Messages spelled out on paper plates on my walls. Messages on my board. Tumbleweeds for decoration. My bathroom pass wrapped in tin foil (awesome!).

And who did this for me? My new bestie here in town, AB. What a great friend! My days started off so well because of her and her thoughtfulness. Later I discovered that she enlisted the help of some of my students, which made me feel even more blessed and loved. And the day was just beginning!

My students in my core classes were well-behaved and we had a good time even though it wasn't the greatest day for Kristy to see just how much fun we normally have. Monday was the day when a lot of things got piled onto them and we happened to have some hiccups with technology, too. Joy! But it all got worked out.

I loved the fact that Kristy could finally put some faces with some names, especially for a few students. She even felt comfortable enough to trade jabs with one of my more, um, colorful students, a source of great entertainment for me. And at the end of the day, AB showed up with a homemade cake just for me! Incredible! I thought the day couldn't get any better.

Kristy took me out to the local restaurant, which is great. I had my first steak in, oh, I don't know how long. Sigh. I realized just how much I missed red meat--for some reason it's really hard to cook it just for myself. Either way, my rare/medium rare ribeye hit the spot--especially because I got to gross Kristy out with how red it was in the middle. Mmm. Doesn't she realize it's not steak unless it's practically still mooing? Silly girl.

When we got home we made some special hot chocolate (double yum) and popped in a movie. Very good. Very dramatic. Notes on a Scandal. You should check it out. After that Kristy and I were feeling a little sleepy, but I suddenly got a text from a friend telling me that there's a meteor shower going on.

!

I am instantly awake and desperate to get out there and see some stars! Kristy's getting even more tired, so she tells me to head out. I pulled on as many layers as possible, grabbed my hat and a blanket, and hopped in my car. Off I go to the far NW. It's more dark and clear than anything I could have ever found in Wichita. I parked in a field, wrapped the blanket around me and laid on my back window just staring up at the sky. It was freezing and amazing. I saw some beautiful stars, got to talk to Daddy for a bit, and ended my day perfectly.

2. Youth Lock-In
Have I told you all yet how much I love my students? Because, um, I really do. We started our lock-in with some caroling at the rest home, then drove around town spreading Christmas cheer. Then back to the church for hot chocolate (yum again!) and games. Then a Bible mystery game (fun). Then a white elephant gift exchange (where my colorful student--who shall from here on out be known as Tubby--decided it would be a good time to torture Miss Martin by putting a jock strap on over his shorts and walk up to her--no lie). Then to the high school for some strobe light volleyball. That lasts for about an hour, then two more hours of regular volleyball. Then back for a game of Angels and Demons (holy cow did the kids love that game). Then chilling out with students, talking and laughing (perhaps my favorite part of the night). Then a concert by yours truly (at the students' demand). Then breakfast. Then cleanup. Then home for a two hour nap before church.

Phew!

Let's see. I had so much fun, partly because I got to spend some time with new friends, partly because I got to interact with my students outside of school, and partly because I didn't have to act like a teacher at the lock-in.

I never mind acting like a teacher. I mean, I am one, and I love the job! But really, for youth group, this was the first time the kids have had a chance to just sort of chill with Miss Martin and have fun. Of course, I still make them call me Miss Martin (some might say it's a silly rule, but it's what I've chosen), but overall it was a sort of relief to just have fun with them.

.

Hmm, I was going to give you a little more here, but I suddenly decided to wait.

So, dear reader, you'll have to wait until tomorrow or so to get a little more from me. Hope you didn't get too disgusted with such an overwhelmingly happy post. Perhaps next time I can add a few anecdotes for you from my various students. There are enough rolling around in my head to keep you laughing for quite awhile.

Friday, December 10, 2010

Ah Zooey . . .






This was on Conan last night. Instant. Love.

Watch if you know what's good for you . . .

She and Him "I Put a Spell On You"

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

A slice of the past . . .

I love Christmas. I love making music. Doesn't it make sense to put the two together?

That's exactly what two friends and I did a few years ago, and--if I do say so myself--they turned out really well.

I love to listen to them and think of that special time. We recorded in the booth from 10-2 a.m. each night over a weekend , had dance parties, mixed and mastered, and finally had Christmas presents for our families (being poor college students, you know).

If you feel so inclined to take a listen, be my guest. I'm mostly putting these here so I have an easier way to access them whenever I'm in the Christmas Spirit!

"Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" by MB
"Holy, Holy, Holy" by SW and MB
"Little Drummer Boy" by SW

Head here if you'd like to treat your ears.

Enjoy if you listen! I'm doing so right now . . .

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

But then it snowed . . .

Today was a rather lackadaisical day. Oh, if my students could see this they'd be so proud! 

I'm not sure what it was. Perhaps it's simply the nature of this week. My visits to Wichita have ceased which is saddening yet a relief at the same time. Naturally, I'm sad I can't see my friends every weekend now, but I'm so very relieved that I can finally stay at home for a day, sleep in, actually clean my house, and catch up on some reading/grading/planning, etc.

That will be this weekend, however. Now I'm in this frantic planning mode. Ah, the things that students never see, hear, or know.

I love to plan ahead. It makes me feel better about where I'm headed with the students if I know what's coming up. Now, I'm all about being spontaneous. I change things at the last minute all the time. I love to go with the flow and see what would work best for the kids (sometimes it's even a split second decision just before the words come out of my mouth!). Have plans made ahead of time, however, makes me feel better about changing them.

I'd rather spontaneously change pre-made plans than enact hurried plans, you know?

Well, because all my planning time (i.e. weekends) has been taken up lately with visits to the ICT, that's left me in a few weeks of rushed plans. And for me, rushed means coming up with it the night before.

This has slowly worn me down, and I think today was the first time it's actually affected my attitude and demeanor with my kids. I was easily annoyed and aggravated by many things that would normally slide right off my shoulders. I told two of my classes today how disappointed in them I was. That's not normal.

Even my hour that normally relaxes me and lifts my heart couldn't do it for me today.

But then it snowed.

Big, fat snowflakes that instantly turned into puddles on the ground, but I'm still counting it as snow.

And I was happy again.

Monday, December 6, 2010

In lieu of a deep post . . .

I have a lot of heavy things on my heart lately. Bet you couldn't tell, huh?

All in due time my lovelies.

Meanwhile, I wanted something to make me laugh. This, obviously, is the perfect choice.

Please enjoy. Oh, and make sure you watch to the very end.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Awesome

I want to be the house on the left of this photo. I want to be it so badly . . .


Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Short and . . . wait . . .

A quick conversation from one of my classes today:

Me:      C, you need to put your hood down.
C:        But, Miss Martin, it's cold!
Me:      I know.
C:        Will you warm me up?

Clearly it did not make it through his head that Miss Martin does not need his comments.