Time

Now that I've started my "career", summer is a weird time for me.

Gone are the days where I have to work 2 jobs, one at a summer camp and another at a seaside ice cream stand, in order to pay for college in the fall. There was more than one time where I would top out at a 70 hour work week. Needless to say, I was tired. But I was content knowing that I was making the most of my time.

As a teacher, I get paid over the summer. And with hubby's new summer job we're financially...okay. My extra paycheck helps pay down the credit card, let's us go on a date night every so often, and let's me buy gangster rap and Gaga dance tunes to listen to at the gym.

Because nothing gets a girl's veins pumpin' like an angry man yelling about "drugs and hos" followed directly by Lady Gaga singing about equality for all.

I love America.

My long drawn out point of all of this is that I am not working as much as I used to have to in previous summers. And now that I'm a teacher during the school year, it's a funny feeling for me to come home from the Frozen Custard stand and not have to think about or work on anything for my day my job. I've gotten used to putting in 8-10 hours at school and then coming home and grading until I fall asleep.

There's this odd thing that I'm not used to having: free time.

And to be honest, I don't quite know what to do with myself.

The obvious answer would be, "Uh, dummy go relax. Go to the beach, explore, have fun!" But that's just the thing. I think I'm doing a little too much of that. And not the fun kind.

It's been rainy. So outdoor activities have been a no-go. Dave is working 2nd and 3rd shifts, so when he is home during peak hours he's sleeping. All of my friends are going every which way with work, more school and pre-made plans.

And when it is sunny? Why don't I go to the beach alone? Well, the closest beach is more like a pond and scattered around it are my students. No thanks. I'm what you might call a beach snob, as I grew up in a gorgeous seaside down with beautiful beaches. I currently live in a landlocked city at least an hour from any good ocean beach.

C'est La Vie. (Sorry if I spelled that wrong. Hablo espanol.)

Moral of this story is, I need to find a way to make the most of my time, whether that's with others or by myself. I do have a brand new subject that I'm teaching next year and have absolutely no units for. I could start doing the work for that. And I'm sure plenty to do around the house if I looked for it. I need to grow up and figure out what to do when I have unstructured time other than watching My Big Gypsy Wedding, Animal Hoarders and Lifetime movies.

And by writing it here, I think I'm in a way holding myself accountable for making the most of this summer, and of the time that I so yearn for during the school year.

Here's to wasting my time wisely.