How much should you work?

I had an interesting conversation with a friend while watching the miserable Penn St. v. U of M football game. She discussed how much we work and that you can't be doing your job well if you are not doing work at home/thinking about work at home. She said that everyone she knows across many fields (non-profits, teaching, engineering, politics, medicine, law) work long hours and put in time from home. We have to be constantly working in order to be successful.

Is that true?

American's work more than any other country. Is that a good thing? How has it affected our productivity? Our economy? Our families? Our health?

Thoughts?

Cooking for one

This week is a short week with no "mandatory fun night" and a trip home packed into the weekend...so this week's menu is a bit short

Monday: Chicken Pesto Pizza

Tuesday:
I'm in a hurry ham and cheese omelet

Wednesday:
Faijitas

Thursday:
airport food

twenty-five.
pandora radio

twenty-six.
chocolate mint coffee creamer

twenty-seven.
Explaining to a kid that he will get beat up in high school if he continues to treat his classmates in the manner he does

twenty-eight.
old memories that come back unexpectedly

twenty-nine.
snail mail from people you didn't think would ever send you mail

thirty.
single digit countdowns to something you are excited about

thirty-one.
growing up twenty minutes from Lake Michigan

thirty-two.
the plant from my Grandma's funeral that keeps growing

thirty-three.
The strength and peace from God to keep going when everyone would understand if you quit

thirty-four.
ice cream for dinner

thirty-five.
Middle schooler smiles

Procrastination station

A blog trend...jumping on the band wagon

1. Where is your cell phone? in my bag
2. Your hair? Blonde
3. Your mother? far away
4. Your father? amazing
5. Your favorite food? ice cream
6. Your dream last night? didn't
7. Your favorite drink? Chardonnay
8. Your dream/goal? to run a school district
9. What room are you in? my classroom
10. Your hobby? reading
11. Your fear? failing
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? umm...plead the fifth
13. Where were you last night? Home
14. Something that you aren’t? caught up on work
15. Muffins? Blueberry
16. Wish list item? Ralph Lauren
17. Where did you grow up? Michigan
18. Last thing you did? graded papers
19. What are you wearing? cheerleading practice clothes
20. Your TV? Grey's Anatomy
21. Your pets? I wish...PUPPIES!
22. Friends? too far away but the best in the world
23. Your life? constant challenge and completely fufilling
24. Your mood? overworked
25. Missing someone? the boy
26. Vehicle? I want a black bmw
27. Something you’re not wearing? hair tie
28. Your favorite store? The Limited
29. Your favorite color? Pink
30. When was the last time you laughed? when the bird came out of the cieling in my clasroom and the boys dove under their desks
31. Last time you cried? two Sundays ago...knock on wood
32. Your best friend? Erin
33. One place that I go to over and over? Borders
34. One person who emails me regularly? my old roommates
35. Favorite place to eat? anywhere I'm not cooking or cleaning

On adult life...

I watch a lot of Grey's Anatomy...like if it's on...I will watch it. It was always the light at the end of the tunnel in college. Inorganic, organic, and physics exams were always on Tuesday nights. Thursday nights were always a bottle of white wine with the girlfriends that signified the end of the week. This habitual comfort has carried on...unfortunately, minus the white wine and girlfriends.

Anyways...I was in a funk most of the day. Pretty much until five minutes ago (read 8pm). I think its because life has a ton of distinctions and then you are dumped into adulthood and you can't figure out up from down.

I wake up some mornings...lay there for a second and think "is this my life...when did I grow up?!" If I lay there too long I actually feel my heart beat quicken and my blood pressure spike. An alarm goes off on my phone (a phone I pay for), then I step out of my bed (that I own), and walk out into the living room (of my own apartment I live in alone). I get ready by showering and putting in my contacts and brushing my teeth (which my continued health now shows that I manage Dr. appointments). Then I go to my car (that I own and insure) and drive to my full-time job (for which I get things like benefits and am responsible for the growth and education of over 100 students).

The last time I feel like life was well-paced and I had some grasp was in high school. Then I blinked and woke up here.

Now there aren't any distincitions. Before eight-teen there is infant, toddler, pre-kindergarten, kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school. That is seven distinct stages all before eighteen. Then there is adulthood...what is in adulthood? Nothing. adulthood then retirement.

I'm young, single, and childless. I have amazing independence, ample time, and I think I have found the right career field. I should feel unrestricted, adventurous, and limitless.

I think I just feel confused. Standing in the middle of a giant field and you can't see anything but field. There are infinite directions I could walk in.

There aren't any measures anymore. No grades. No semesters. One year rolls into the next.

How do you tell if you're doing life well?

I know life is about being a disciple of Jesus, but what do the details look like. I could live a hundred versions of my life doing that, but what does everything else look like?

How does this relate to Grey's Anatomy? They are adults...highly successful professionally. But...they cry all the time. I think every character on there has done something insane and cried ten times. I know its just a show, but this makes me feel so much better about crying and doing insane things and wondering if this is what life is supposed to look like.

Recent gifts

fourteen.
sweatpants

fifteen.
Cuddling on a couch watching a movie with an old friend

sixteen.
white wine

seventeen.
dinner out with a bunch of girls

eighteen.
cooking your mom's chili recipe and feeling warm inside

nineteen.
fall colors with the sun setting on them

twenty.
unexpected mail

twenty-one.
diet pop

twenty-two.
three day weekends!

twenty-three.
warm-baked goods

twenty-four.
hugs...the most underrated form of affection ever

ten.
afternoon naps while it's raining outside

eleven.
unexpected out-of-control bouts of laughter

twelve.
the anticipation of waiting to visit people you miss dearly

thirteen.
seeing pictures that make you excited for all life has to offer (the last one is my little sister...so precious):