Cranky...

That's me! I can't figure out why, exactly, but I'm a regular crankypants these days. The self-portraits went really well. The kids enjoyed the project and are already learning lots of things! Thank goodness the semester is nearly over. I think the stress is highly contributing to my overeating (ack!) and crankiness.

However, I'm on my way to bed to read more from Gervase Phinn and his experiences as a school inspector in England. Ahhh... relaxation.

Self Portraits

My students created some really great paintings today. For example, I have a student who is bald as an egg due to a skin condition. He painted himself with a huge orange afro. Another, who is usually quite uncreative, painted himself as a television with arms and legs and holding a basketball. I think he wants to be Salvador Dali when he grows up. The TV explains a lot, though. I can tell which students have fried their brains on too much of the boob tube.

Along with painting, I got quite a few grad school things accomplished today, which feels nice. I finished the first of my three take-home finals. I completed all the portions needed for the tobacco scholarship. I registered for classes and got information on student loans. Whew. It was a busy day.

On another note, I've extricated myself from the emotionally exhausting situation I described before my trip to Baltimore. I mean, the student is still on my case load and in my class. However, I am not taking anything personally and not doing anything that could be described as "above and beyond the call of duty." I don't mind the above and beyond unless it comes back to bite me in the rear end. I'm pretty happy now, thanks.

I ate well, exercised, and got a lot done. What more could I want?!?

In the last two weeks...

I had a really good trip to Baltimore, completely changed my language arts curriculum, and slept a lot. I didn't lose much weight, maybe a pound? However, I'm eating less and exercising fairly regularly.

Today the weather was absolutely gorgeous. Not only did I go running with Henry, we also walked to the Creamery to get ice cream. I got just one scoop- four points, thank you very much. That showed a lot of retraint. Troy got three scoops. Not so high on the restraint scale. I just have to keep reminding myself that he's an adult and I was pretty heavy just a few months ago myself. I didn't like Nana telling me I was fat, so I keep my opinions to myself.

Ah, school tomorrow. I think I'm going to have my students paint a mural, with each of them creating a self portrait on a section of the bulletin board paper. They stress out a lot about creating artwork, but overall they're good artists. They are terribly messy, but painting makes a good day, in my opinion. I'll let you know how it goes!