Cool Cucumber

I’m listening to Sufjan Stevens’ new album, Songs for Christmas. Wonderful, awesome, unique Christmas songs! Even a few hymns, my favorite! So I’m all nostalgic, feeling warm and good. The weather here is very cold, and it is supposed to snow tonight. Hopefully we’ll have a late start at school tomorrow until the roads get cleared off!

Rob is gone to Italy for the rest of the week on business- what a rough job to have to go to Rome, huh? I miss him so much already. I wasn’t prepared for how empty the house would be without him. It reminds me of the Sunday evenings before we were married, when he’d just left to go back to Denver for the week and I was still full from all the joy we’d crammed into the weekend.

Thanksgiving was wonderfully relaxing last week. Rob and I went to Kansas City to visit his family. It was so nice, we even golfed with his dad and I got to run one day outside. The family celebrated Christmas early and made tiny gingerbread (graham cracker) houses. I’m kinda proud of these. Click on the photo to view all of our creative masterpieces.

I was thinking about alone time and how we use time for ourselves, versus time for relationships. I remember walking back into my dorm room in the evenings to find my roommate immersed in reflection or journaling. Candles lit, lights low, music playing, it was taken so seriously. I hated interrupting these moments. I find myself taking that time alone and pushing through it, racing to pass time and trying to forget I’m alone. I don’t enjoy it, really. Should I?

On another note- relationships with other women. This is on my mind lately because I feel like lately I’ve neglected some very important friendships. I feel a little lost about how to budget my time right now. I did decide, though, that I’m going to my church’s Women At the Well retreat Saturday with my friend Becky. It’s not your typical women’s retreat where you craft (although I would enjoy that too). It’s just peaceful, time to reflect and study Scripture with other women and enjoy each other. I think I’m looking forward to it!

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Yesterday I got the sad news that my former roommate’s cat had died unexpectedly. Melissa came home from work and found her behind a couch. She was my cat too, for a short time. In fact, she was a birthday gift to Melissa from me just 3 years ago.

We got Charlotte when Melissa mentioned that she wanted an all-black kitten. We checked the Humane Society web site until we saw an adorable photo of a 10-week black cat named Sophie. After a visit with several black cats at the humane society, Melissa chose this one because she seemed the most lively. And she was! We had a great time playing with her when she was tiny. I remember her and Cleo sniffing under the door for the first week she was enclosed in Melissa’s room.

Bringing her out to meet my cat was a challenge at first. I still think of how Cleo chased her endlessly until Charlotte finally sought refuge under my wine rack (approx. 3 inches tall). After Charlotte finally got used to submitting to Cleo, aka Queen of the House, they learned to play together. Since both cats were young, they were very rough and often could be heard at 4:00 AM running full-speed throughout the house. Other hobbies were birdwatching out the front window and grooming each other.

The funny thing was that while Cleo was my cat and Charlotte was Melissa’s, we often felt as if our cats preferred the other owner. Cleo adored Melissa and would sleep at the foot of her bed every night, while Charlotte could spend hours on my lap without stirring.

Melissa was able to teach her cat a party trick that was enjoyed by many a guest: she would throw Charlotte’s fake mouse across the living room and the cat would bound after it, returning the toy to Melissa’s feet. We liked to say that she was part dog.

One hard thing about having two cats who loved each other was the inevitable separation that would happen. When Melissa got married to John and moved out 2 years ago, Cleo would pace the house, meowing for the friend who had moved away. I’m so glad she has Ebenezer to play with now… they do many of the same things together that she and Charlotte used to.

Melissa is sad to lose such an affectionate kitty after only 3 years. No one is really sure what happened to her, but she will be missed by everyone (even John). I loved Charlotte because she was mine for a short time and I spoiled her rotten. I’ll always remember her BIG paws, huge face, her clumsiness, and the lovely pearl collar that I made for her. I miss her already.

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I’ll start with an adorable photo of our pooch Royal. I think all blog posts of mine should begin so sweetly.

Rob and I decided to carve intricate pumpkin designs for Halloween with dull kitchen knives (we love a challenge), and we had a great time. Rob even used his dremmel tool to enhance my cat carving (thanks, sweetie!):

So, hi. This is rather strange. It feels like a long time since I’ve blogged about anything other than the wedding. I’m still acutely aware that all anyone asks me these days is “How’s married life?”. I mean, it’s wonderful, but it’s life. It feels more normal than life before marriage did. It’s hard to keep answering “GREAT!” (even though it is) because I’m not sure what they want to hear. Maybe they keep asking because they expect a different answer?

I do tell them about how I’m trying out new recipes all the time. I didn’t realize when I accepted Rob’s marriage proposal last spring that I would be inheriting another person to eat all the food I make- I get to try twice as many fun recipes and I get lots and lots of compliments from him and eat yummy things every night. Last night I baked and cooked for 2 hours to relax after a busy, stressful day. Now the only problem is creating refrigerator space! We’re also updating the kitchen right now- we’re putting the final coats of paint on our cabinet doors this weekend (which can be seen behind my adorable angelic dog). Beautiful, eh?

Oh yes, and I think my dog might not be a carnivore after all. Perhaps an omnivore? He’s been crazy for the pumpkins and their remains these days. Every time we take him in the car and return to our townhouse, he lunges at the pumpkins near the steps as if reaching for a tasty snack. A fun activity during pumpkin carving was throwing the pumpkin guts at the fence to see if he could find the spot and lick it off. We even made a video to document this new hobby of ours:

Lots and lots of joy these days, though I am still getting used to a slower paced life for now. My year at school is one of my best yet. I’m not sure if it’s the fantastic group of 4th-graders I have or my laughter-filled weekends that differ from last year, but whatever it is, I want to keep it up. Most days I look forward to teaching and feel like I’m doing a good job, especially in math.

In other news: I applied for a master’s degree/principal licensure program through my school district in September. I was told over and over that the superintendent doesn’t turn people away for this group, which offers both a stipend for classes and the prospect of an assistant principal position at the completion of the program. I felt confident in my resume and leadership skills, knowing that I have worked very hard at being involved and doing those “extra” things at school. But I still didn’t get in. The hardest part was hearing that my teaching partner had been accepted, then expectantly ripping open my envelope at home to read the words, “We are sorry but we are unable to admit you at this time.” I was more disappointed than I had expected. It makes me question my career goals and the things I thought I would be good at. Why did I want to become a principal? Do I still want it? Why do I feel as if my goals have changed after being rejected?

My book club is meeting tomorrow. We read A Stolen Tongue this past month, by Sheri Holman. I confess that I didn’t have any desire to get past the first chapter- too obscure and just plain boring. I recommended the book to my group because I loved The Dress Lodger and The Mammoth Cheese, but now I wish that I hadn’t. Hmm, oh well. My book club is so smart, I feel like I don’t quite measure up sometimes. Extremely witty/talented women I get to spend breakfast with tomorrow; I always look forward to it.

I’m also in the midst of a strange musical dissatisfaction phase of life. I’ve been downloading and listening to new music like crazy and nothing really gets me going lately (I’m a notoriously fickle music collector). I do like the new Killers CD, plus the latest Gipsy Kings and Joseph Arthur albums are awesome- but I feel like I’m already sick of them. Does anyone have any new music suggestions for me?

Last- Rob and I are debating whether or not to send out Christmas cards, Christmas newsletters, or nothing at all this year. We can’t really decide what we want, only that we want to be personal if we send anything at all. I mean, what’s the point of sending plain ol’ boring cards that could have come from anyone? I have this strange feeling of “This is our one shot,” since it’s our first year of marriage, which is kinda silly. What do you think? Are newsletters boring and show-offy? Do cards communicate more personal messages? Can we personalize a newsletter by writing a note on it? Or should we sit this one out…?

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