Successful Week

This week has been amazing. Just from one end to the other.

Monday, I worked out for an hour and a half. Melissa made me do pushups to muscle failure THREE TIMES. And it hurt, but it was awesome. It left me super sore on Tuesday and especially Wednesday, but it was worth it. After the gym was the discussion group where we (folks from the gym) talk about our successes and challenges and support each other through trying to get healthier habits around food and exercise. After all that, I went home and made my weekly grocery list and meal plan, set up the crock pot for chili to use up more pantry items, and went the hell to bed.

Tuesday was exhausting, but worth it! After a full day of labs and activities, it was shopping time. Not just grocery shopping, but also buying 120 kids worth of ice cream making supplies for my and the chemistry teacher's labs for Wednesday and Thursday. In a complete coincidence, both classes were making ice cream at the same time by the same means. My lesson was on phase change; hers was one colligative properties. Worked out well!

I got groceries for meals to cook this week, although the plans have changed a bit, so I think I will shift things around a bit. The "being prepared, both professionally and at home" thing is awesome. The meal planning and shopping really aren't big chores at all. The "preparing lessons and grading papers" is a giant chore, but worth it. Oh, so very, very worth it! I'm a bit behind this week for a few reasons, but luckily this weekend is free and clear for all of packing, cooking, grading, and planning.

Wednesday was Day 1 of ice cream. It was a bit of a disaster. Whooooo, buddy! I made the mistake of grouping together two students, neither of whom have particularly strong executive functions. It was messy. But it worked out, I made additions, and it got better with every class. As soon as school was over, I updated and changed around instructions on the lab sheet to make things more clear. I think I will need to separate it out into one sheet of directions and one sheet of questions. It's too much to fit on one sheet.

After school, I took a walk/job around the block after work as part of my new plan. It hurt like all get out since I was still so sore from Monday, but I did it. And I will do it again next week. That evening we had dinner with a friend (in the plan!) and talked for a long time. It was nice to have that time talking and laughing and visiting, while also discussing some important and difficult issues. It was tough, but necessary.

Today was a successful day of ice cream (of which I had NONE), and I got some excellent news at work. Life is finally on the track I've been after for five years. I have an amazing fiancee, incredible friends, a fabulous support group and fitness coach, soon my own apartment, and the job that I've been seeking for a very long time. It's all coming together and will only get better from here. Tonight is hours of grading and prep, some planning for tomorrow, and at least one celebratory beer. Life is all right by me.