I am ready for the trees to look like that. There's something so refreshing about fall. I guess it's finally being able to feel a little cool air after the summer. I'm going to sit out on the deck and knit for a while. I'm still working on the green baby blanket I posted about a couple weeks ago. The pattern actually works up fairly quickly, so I know I can get done with it by January. If I don't get distracted by other projects along the way, of course.

I should be cleaning my closet and packing, but something tells me I'm not going to. Next weekend is a long one because of Labor Day, so I figure I can get a lot of house chores done then. I've already packed three boxes of books, and I can do a couple more this weekend just to feel like I've made progress. I'm looking forward to moving in with Nathan in October, but I'm also nervous about it. Some people may frown on what I'm about to say, but that's to be expected I guess. I think I want to live with him for a longer period of time than I did with my ex-husband before getting married (assuming that's what we're moving toward). The ex and I only lived together for three months before getting married, though I had known him for about five years and we'd dated for about two of those years. Something is different when you live with someone.

Forgiven

I have been forgiven, and it came with tears and relief and smiles. Four years ago I did some selfish and stupid things. My ex-husband and I planned a wedding only to elope maybe a full week before it was to have happened. Some of my friends planned showers for me, and I left a friend out of them and then the wedding itself. I did not do these things on purpose but out of carelessness. She lived in Kentucky at the time, which isn't so far away but I didn't think she would come. I thought it wasn't a big deal. I was very much mistaken.

She was hurt and angry, rightfully so. We didn't talk after that. A couple years ago we "friended" each other on MySpace, but never actually exchanged comments. A couple of weeks ago, I got a friend request from her on Facebook which I accepted, and today she sent me a message with her phone number in it. She said she had been talking about me with someone and wondered what I was doing, and that I could call her. At first I was afraid to. I called her while Nathan was here for support, but she didn't answer. She sent me a text saying she was at work but got off at 2:30, and could she call me then? And she did.

We talked for about an hour as though our past had not happened, and in the end I told her I was surprised that she sent me that message. She said that she missed me and if I wanted to be friends again we could. She said she wasn't sure if I would, but assured her that I do. I was so happy about it I started crying on the phone and was a little embarrassed until she did too. We plan on starting fresh and I invited her to our Thursday knit-togethers at the yarn shop since she crochets. I will be a better friend this time. I will not be selfish and careless with something as fragile and as valuable as this "new" friendship.

Entitlement License

Yesterday afternoon was interesting. I was in the turning lane to go to Kroger for gas, and there was a car in front of me and two behind me. The car in front of me turned, and I almost did but I decided to wait because a car was coming. I probably did have time, but I err on the side of caution and don't like pulling out in front of people. Anyhow, the second car behind me pulls out of the turn lane, around me and the other car, and whips into Kroger. We were both getting gas, so I went to talk to her. I said, "Sorry I was so slow to turn, but if what you did had caused a wreck, it would have been bad for both of us."
"Well, you were just sitting there."
"That's because a car was coming."
"It was way on down. You had plenty of time."
"All I'm saying is that I'm glad we weren't in an accident."
"That wouldn't have happened because you weren't going anywhere. I could see that."
"I'm so glad you understand what I'm saying," I said sarcastically as I walked off.
Seriously? This woman couldn't wait an extra 30 seconds so she created her own driving rules? I was so irritated. And she was so bitchy about it as if to say who was I to call her out on this when I was obviously just in the way. Anyhow, I told my mom about it yesterday and this morning when I talked to her, she said I'm just like my dad because she wouldn't have said anything. I wasn't mean about it, so I think it was okay. I was telling a coworker about it today, and she said people just feel so entitled to do whatever they want for some reason. She said even if the woman had been spotted by a cop, she would've still blamed her actions on me. We teach our middle school kids to take responsibility for their actions, and here was a middle age woman who couldn't manage to do it. Oh well.

The rest of the evening was quite nice. Nathan took me out to eat Mexican food, and then I went knitting for a little while. I started a baby blanket for my friend and coworker Lisa. It's bright green and has a tight lace pattern. I found the pattern here www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pine-forest-baby-blanket#. It will look like this when it's done.

Except mine is solid green and I used a size smaller needle that what the yarn called for, so the lace pattern isn't as open. My friend Diane said she worries about lace baby blankets because they could get their little fingers hung in the holes.

No salt, please.

This looks just like the slug I caught a little while ago. I put it in a mason jar with some grass in it and topped it off with a Ziploc bag and rubber band. I made sure to poke some air holes in the bag and I put some water in the jar, just in case. I plan to take it to school tomorrow to give it to the science teacher for the day for the kids to see, and then I'll set it free somewhere. I've never seen one this big. The picture doesn't do it justice; it's about as long as my index finger and as thick as my pinkie. It's called a tiger slug. Freaking huge!

In other news, today I gave my class the assignment of looking up eight terms dealing with genres for homework. I told them if they were certain they had access to a good dictionary or the internet at home, they didn't have to take their literature books with them (they're quite heavy, and our students can't have backpacks). This one kid raises his hand to tell me he's got a dictionary at home that has some sign language in it. He continues to say, "I only know sign language for two words. 'You' and 'suck'". Really? This was coming from a sixth grader, by the way. So I just looked at him and in my nicest voice asked if he thought that was appropriate for class. He said no, and I said that I agreed. I gave him his consequence and told him that it wasn't a very nice thing at all to have said. On the inside, I was thinking, "I know sign language too. This is the sign for I'm not concerned that you think I suck *shoulder shrug*."

I'm so glad tomorrow's Friday. Not because of stuff like that-that's pretty mild, and I really have learned not to take it personally. Some of our kids just ooze anger, frustration, and hopelessness. I don't think they're hopeless though (and no, I'm not making a bad pun). I'm just not used to the getting up early thing yet. Coffee helps motivate me though, even if it doesn't really wake me up.

I'm also sort of excited about the weekend because our ten year reunion is Saturday night. I wasn't going to go, but then I changed my mind. I hardly ever have an excuse to dress up, so that appealed to me. I found a great dress that was on sale. It's silk, and has green, yellow, purple, and some brown in it. At this point, I would go just to be able to wear that dress somewhere! Of course it'll be good to see some of the people I've lost touch with. I have most of my friends on Facebook, but it's different to actually be around a person and talk with them. I do wonder when Facebook will more or less eliminate the idea of the high school reunion.