Long time, no read

I realize it's been a while since I've written, so many of you may be wondering what I've been up to... the answer is simple: I work. A lot. Here, for your entertainment (ok, it's probably not entertaining at all, but whatever) is a typical week in the life of Indy.

Monday:
1. typical school day (job #1), which consists of:

• occasional 7:30 meeting (blech!!!)
• teach at the middle school 8:30-9:45
• drive to high school, prepare for class, check email obsessively, grade papers 9:45-11:25
• teach sophomore English 11:30-3:15
• lunch from 12:30-1:00 (which, with the quarter-mile hike to the English office where I eat on the floor above, leaves roughly 25 minutes for heating soup, eating it, and b.s.-ing with colleagues)
• clean up, prepare for next day, grade 3:15-4:00

2. go for a run

3. play guitar hero or otherwise engage in some activity that requires little thought

4. hang out with friends

total hours worked so far: 8 1/2

Tuesday:

1. typical school day (8:00-4:00)

2. eat dinner/watch Oprah

3. Sometimes I do GED (job #2) on Tuesday from 5:45- 9:00, where I give the test and work on grading papers for job #1 or preparing/grading for job #3 (see Wednesday)

4. If I don't have to do job #2, then I still prepare/grade for job #3, but I get to watch TV and talk to the roommates instead of watch people take a test

total hours worked so far: 20 with GED, approximately 18-19 without

Wednesday:

1. typical school day (8:00-4:00)

2. eat dinner/watch Oprah

3. teach English class at local community college (job #3) 5:45-9:00

4. if I'm feeling ambitous, or too stressed to deal with life: karaoke with the girls 9:30-midnight

total hours worked so far: 29-32

Thursday:

1. typical school day (8:00-4:00)

2. eat dinner/fall asleep to Oprah

3. do GED testing 5:45-9:00

4. watch LOST with the roommates, friends

5. play poker with the boys 9/10:00- whenever I get tired and lose my chips

total hours worked so far: 40-43

Friday:

1. typical school day 8:30-3:30 (hey, I'm tired by Friday!)

2. go for a run

3. nap

4. dinner with friends

5. Friday evening shenanigans with friends

total hours worked so far: 47-50

Saturday:

1. run errands

2. grade papers 1-2 hours (sometimes this happens on Sunday, or not at all... sometimes for much longer...)

3. Saturday afternoon/evening tomfoolery with friends

total hours worked so far: 49-52

Sunday:

1. church 9:15-11:15

2. nap

3. go for a run

4. Beatles Anthology viewing (new Sunday activity!)

Ok, I know a lot of people work more than I do, but I think 50 hours a week is enough, and probably a fair estimate of time, although it doesn't include time thinking or talking about work without actually getting stuff accomplished.

So, how do I have time to write this blog, you may ask? Right now, I'm on spring break- so total hours of work so far: nada :)

Ode to a Poet

As I have mentioned before, I am sometimes struck by inspiration at odd times and places. So, for my adoring masses, here is a little poem that struck my brain last night. Enjoy!


I wish I could write poetry like you,
Put those phantasmagoric phrases together as you do-
The way you fit together thought and emotion so lyrically.
And though you claim not to have internal rhythm naturally,
I can hear the beat. In the crashing, sliding turbulence of words,
Images that can only be seen once they're heard.
You're gifted with a talent I can just barely touch,
Like a painter who can't seem to find the right brush.
See, that simile was awkward while yours are full of grace-
Come effortlessly to describe perfectly the right feeling, time, place.
And while this clumsy ode to your talent seems to flow so easily,
I can't help but admit that it's because you inspire unworthy me.
So maybe if I'm lucky we can spend a little time
To search each other's souls' voices and open up my mind.

Has head firmly implanted up own ass

Here is a situation familiar to every single woman: meet guy, talk to guy, exchange number/aim username/myspace info. with guy, possibly kiss/make out/hook up with guy, be promised further communication... then... nothing. An e-mail or text, possibly a phone call if lucky, followed by the great, dooming silence. Some women shrug and move on, others obsess. I would be the kind that obsesses.

So, why does this happen? What would cause a seemingly normal male to completely dismiss his chances with someone he claims is beautiful, intelligent, and fun? Here are a few possiblities I have bounced around, inspired by a recent experience:

• has scary jealous girlfriend that was momentarily forgotten in the radiance of my presence.
• was scared off by my odd choices in poetry/stuffed dinosaur in my bedroom/random sports-related texts/etc.
• was disgusted by my choice of music. (So I like Christina Aguilera? I have an equal appreciation for Johnny Cash, the Beatles, and other dude music. Actually, I have very male and mature taste in music, but "Candyman" happens to make me smile.)
• is afraid of telling me he has the clap.
• took off his champagne/martini/beer goggles and realized the princess is a frog, or alternatively that I really am too good for him. (This depends on the fluctuating state of my self-esteem.)
• lost all phone and computer access in recent floods and is desperately seeking ways to contact me to no avail.
• is dumb and absolutely clueless about when to call a girl, even when I've asked him.
• is working on perfect song with which to win me back when he finally calls (hopefully not titled "Crazy Bitch from NYE" or like.)
• has genuinely been too busy, but has thought of it often and is silently berating himself for not having found the opportunity.
• was lying and didn't really ever intend to call, but is typical male lying liar.

The moral of the story: Gentlemen, if you say you're going to call, call. Ladies, if he says he's going to call, don't believe him, and occasionally maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised.