a blur

The week passed so rapidly that I feel I can hardly see straight. The Monday off always throws my entire being into confusion for a week, feeling a day behind that in which I am supposed to be existing.

It is now 2:00 a.m. Sigh. 3rd sleepless night in a row. It has been a stressful week on many levels. I wish I could compartmentalize everything that occurs in my life, allowing at the end of the day all the little Drawers of Events to close as my eyelids drop...but oh, that would be way too convenient now, wouldn't it?

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My eldest started Kindergarten this year. She is adjusting well, making new friends and really reading with enthusiasm and true enjoyment. My youngest thrives in his new Preschool class three mornings a week. It provides him with just enough time to be away from Mama Llama to still appreciate her when she comes to get him at noon. I am so proud of my babies.

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I was told to watch out not to get suckered into volunteering for too much at school, as so many opportunities would be pushed toward me. I have naturally always been a leader but prefer to do so in a quiet manner (except while teaching...HA!) and, upon noticing that the school needs a Recycling Coordinator, I jumped at the chance. Honestly I thought this would involve going a couple times a week and doing some "dirty work" by collecting the bottles and cans that are collected in the teacher's lounge or the front office and somehow arranging for them to be included on Thursday morning recycling rounds in this town. I have been given quite an education in PTA protocol, however; this effort has involved the school board, the Town Council, the various levels of school administration and the custodial staff--and I am to work to coordinate the various parts in order to initiate a not-yet-existing program.

I feel strongly about recycling, so in my opinion this is a worthwhile investment of time and energy, and is "behind-the-scenes" enough for me. This Friday will be the Grand Initiation of the recycling program, at the school's annual "Sock Hop" which I will (gulp) attend with one, if not both, of my little monkeys. I guess we shall see what becomes of this, and what exactly I will have to do. The PTA president is an amazing lady--it seems she really has everything all in place, all necessary and important parties notified and involved accordingly, and I merely work under her direction. I suppose that is good now; being such a newbie to the school and the system as a whole, I have a lot to learn, not only about protocol but also about the simple things like, say, who exactly is the vice-principal.

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The wind is blowing fiercely tonight. The weather is changing. I, the Human Barometer, can feel each gust in my sinuses. Fall is finally descending upon us, and with a sudden blast that has us tumbling from 90º temperatures on Tuesday to what are supposed to be in the 60s today. Time to put away the shorts once and for all. I am definitely going to be wearing a sweater today. And perhaps long underwear.