Huzzah for Music!

I joined Spotify a few years ago as a free member.  About one month ago, I was convinced by some friends to pay for a full membership.  After a free month, I have come to appreciate the joy of having offline playlists and the vast music variety.  Therefore, I've decided to sign as a full REAL member!

Amazon music is what I had previously relied on, but their variety was limited.  Despite allowing for offline playlists, they just didn't have the choices I wanted.  Therefore, Spotify wins hands down!
Picture it, summer, Maine, the beach.  Cut scene to me, chilling on the beach, having any music I want and all without having to be fettered by WiFi access.  Win win win.  Now I just need to figure out a sound system for the pontoon boat my family just purchased.  But, that will have to be another post!

Summer is so close I can almost touch it...

This year has been very challenging, as usual.  Teaching is a tough profession with so many rewards and detractors.  On one hand, my time with students can be uplifting and mind bending.  There is never a lull or a dull aspect of my class time.  It can also be painfully annoying.  Altogether it is the only career I can imagine having for my life.
I get out for summer in a little less than two weeks.  The remainder is full of pretty easygoing activities like a dissection and review for final exams.  Dissections are actually pretty easy at this point in my career because I have worked out most of the kinks and routines.  I love dissections!  I even got all giddy fan girl in front of my students this morning as we started in on our first day of incisions.
After all that is said and done, I'll be driving up to Maine for Independence Day.  After that I am jet setting to  London for the Star Wars Celebration!  I am sure I will post more about those later, so I will leave it at that to tease all you readers.

Who doesn't like a good Sunday-in-Bed?

After a few weeks of gogogogogogo, I was finally afforded the opportunity for a 'plans free' Sunday and seized the day for brunch. My happiness found no boundaries that day! Not only did I sleep in past 7AM, but pushed the limit to almost 3PM!!

Before you think I'm more lazy (or scruffy) than a nerf herder, understand that I wasn't necessarily sleeping for that entire stretch of time.

 So, while I don't think I can be considered lazy, maybe I should rephrase my previous claim of 'seizing the day'.  I seized the lazy!  In latin, I could say "sopor occupare" which translates to 'SIEZE THE SLOTH" I'm gonna absolutely start saying that.  Stop trying to make fetch happen.

So what did I do before brunch, you ask?  I was really just snoozing, reading, checking my phone, that sort of thing. I may have went out to the backyard to let me dog out and I definitely made a pot of coffee. That was the extent of my productivity. See?  Not lazy at all!  Later, brunch at Devlin's was on point. Do yourself a big favor and get the tater tots with hollandaise, jalapenos and fried egg. You'll thank me. While you're there, might as well get the cinnamon french toast bites. I did - no regrets.  These are the tots you're looking for.  *waves hand*

Open the HODOR!

For a couple years now, my friends and I have gathered every Sunday to gorge on food and watch Game of Thrones.  To gain entry to my friend's apartment, we usually need to shout up to the second floor porch to ask to be let inside.  Of course, this evolved into a simple, repetitive bellowing session of the name HODOR!  As we would walk along the street, approaching the apartment, the playful bellowing would ensue and be answered with more chants of "HODOR! HODOR!  Open the HODOR!"
Well, now, despite our broken hearts, we will bravely forge on and continue our tradition.

In Memory, you big lugg.

 You can't keep a giant down, man.  Oh, and Summer is alive.  I don't care what you say.  Shaggy dog, too.

Today's My Birthday! We're Gonna Have a Good Time!

I love my birthday, for so many reasons I don't even want to try to explain.  The simple reason - I have a yearly built in excuse to get together and have fun with my friends and family!
Festivities started last night with my Glo Bocce team.  Tonight is my actual birthday and I am joining friends and family at a local beer garden to toast to my birth.  I've saved Friday evening to celebrate with my close family, leaving Saturday wide open for the main event!  I decided to go with a Star Wars themed 'little kids' birthday party.  I'm going to try to have as many little kid activities available, so my guests really FEEL like we're young again.

Sadly, not a slap bet. May the force be with me, though.

I'm not doing a slap bet.  I guess I am not as cool as Marshall and Barney.  However, I am doing a dietbet!  I have to lose 4% of my body weight by June 9th.  It was a $35 buy in, and the pot is pushing $600.  Whoever loses 4% will be eligible to split the pot equally.  That could be a bit of moola!

Who wants to be my diet bet commissioner?  Nominations welcome and encouraged.  Your job will be to make sure I don't slip up and eat my face off.

So here's my plan:  weigh in is Monday.  Saturday and Sunday I will gorge.  After Monday, I need a new plan.  I'm really only used to pigging out, so I don't really have any set intentions.  Suggestions, anyone?  Leave me a comment if you want in this chaos.

The Push I Needed

I received a heartfelt message from a parent of a senior.  The eloquence and gratitude brought me to the verge of joyous tears.  I don't really think what I do is extraordinary or amazing, but apparently some believe that to be the case.  Being reminded of that helps me continue through the tough challenges I face.

Also, about three months ago, another ex-student returned to say hello.  They were doing great at UMass Amherst (my alma mater!) and wanted to let me know.  It was a fantastic visit, and I was so proud to see them succeeding.  They had gone through a lot in the past, but now flourishing.

Lastly, I received yet ANOTHER email from a different ex-student, also at UMass.  They wanted to thank me for leading them to environmental science as a career.  Additionally, they were looking forward to their summer research internship during which they would have the opportunity to conduct their own original research!  This person is going far in life, and I helped their first steps on that path.

While I still don't think I do anything overly extraordinary, I do admit that it has its own charm and importance. Teaching is what I was placed on this planet to do.  OH....and one last thing:  I JUST GOT MY PROFESSIONAL LICENSE, WHADDUP!!!!?