Progress Update: Inter-holiday Edition

Well, according to tv, the next holiday is Christmas or…shopping. Or…cooking. Anyway, it’s cold out, and I’m still a grownup, so it’s time for a Progress Update: inter-holiday edition. I’m still teaching 3rd grade, Andrew is still the greatest boy, and adulthood continues to both beckon and elude me. Here we go…

1. Write something for people to read.

I haven’t updated this blog in a while—sorry team, but teaching happens every single day. Even on weekends, you’re constantly in that headspace. I leave the apartment at 7 am and get home at 5:30. If I have great ideas, they’re about helping 8-year-olds with word problems or making transitions from desks to cubbies less loud.

2. Save a substantial amount of money.

I wish I could ignore this one, because it’s embarrassing. I don’t cook enough. Last year I cooked and couponed because I had time…this year I COULD be doing both of those things, but I’m just too tired. I know I should be doing better, and I promise I will. I never promised I’d be super-mom, thank goodness. 

Drew and I ate a 6 dollar sandwich together last week. Yes, it was expensive. But I don’t know…the memory is worth 6 bucks to me…him in his black turtleneck like it’s 1993, singing Hamilton songs with his off-key little voice, us sitting on a park bench sharing the greatest grilled-cheese in the world…if all the times we ate takeout were like that, I wouldn’t feel so guilty about not cooking.

3. Get stains out of the rug.

Nope. Stop looking at me like that.

4. Speak Spanish passably well.

The Spanish teacher speaks to my kids in mostly Spanish, and sometimes we chat while they’re working…that’s helped me a little.

5. Bake things that start out as dough.

Did I mention not cooking? I ate half a buttermilk pie in 2 days the other day…which is not the same thing.

6. Cook a steak.

Look, I said I was sorry!

7. Get through a long, boring, classic book so I understand cultural references.

I started to read Orthodoxy by G.K. Chesterton. It’s a little too hard for me, but the parts I get are really good.

8. Sit through a long, famous, classic movie so I understand references and jokes.

I watched The Madness of King George last week. Once you get past bathroom references, it’s interesting.

9. Learn how football works.

No, but ask third graders if you really have questions. They all get football.

10. Learn how finance works. Like, even a LITTLE.

I’m listening to a podcast about Bernie Madoff, and I think I get how it’s SUPPOSED to work…

11. Expand my food horizons.

I tried to eat one of those fireball candies the other day…sweated all over the place.

12. Learn to apply eyeliner.

I’ve been focusing more on my hair. This weather is doing weird things to it.

13. Travel. Internationally. Without freaking out.

No, although Arkansas and Texas are two different worlds.

14. Learn how to use a compass. Just in case. 

Why is this one still on here?

15. Drive on the highway. Without freaking out.

Some dude cut me off on the highway last week and I didn’t say anything or do anything uncool, but I was scared—I realized half a minute later that I was baring my teeth like a wolf. Hey, Drew was in the car.

Is that freaking out?

16. …really, learn ANYTHING about cars.

Cars don’t warm up as quickly as you’d like.

17. Learn how the U.S. government works. 

I have no idea what’s happening in the government right now, but I could tell you a lot about the Frankish Empire…

18. Keep a plant alive. Preferably an edible one.

Doing my best…I have one class plant and two class fish and I love them both.

19. Fix minor problems with clothes (so…sewing, I guess).

I bought a choker necklace (isn’t it great those came back?) and it was too big, so I tied a knot in it. Now I get to spend all day pulling on it because it’s kinda like not being able to breathe…for fashion.

20. Fix ANY broken thing…just fix something.

I fixed…um…nothing. I just do my best not to break stuff.

So the journey continues. Thanks for reading and thanks for all your kind words about my late grandmother. 

I also hope to have a positive update on Grace soon, so…keep praying for that.

Thanks, team 🤓