Hangin' in my house by the bay...wastin' time.

It comes to this point every summer it seems. And it is probably a good indication that it is time to go back to work, but, I am finding these days that I am exceedingly good at wasting time. Now mind you, the laundry is caught up, things are fairly organized, and the house as clean as I am going to bother to make it being that we are still in the midst of constructing the upstairs bath. Food is shopped for and dinner is even ready to go in the fridge. Bills are paid. Lawn is mowed. I just, literally, have nothing I need to do, so, I have come to find myself frittering the day away doing just that. Nothing.

Granted I have spent some time today reading, and eating, and watching TV. I have done the menial cleanup of breakfast and lunch. Folded some laundry. I am helping my son clean out his closet of old toys and "stuff" his 14 year old self finally doesn't really need. I am helping my daughter in her quest to build a rather involved Lego structure. I'm keeping an eye on the dog, who is holding her tail funny and favoring her back side from some overly active chase with a now destroyed ball.

So really, is that even wasting time?

Naturally, as any skilled time waster would, I posted a status update on Facebook concerning my considerable sloth. A former teacher of mine replied to me, though, that I was just resting my brain, which is an important thing to do. That really hit me. It is exactly right. That is exactly what I am doing. I am so thankful to be in a career that allows me time to rest my brain. It is in the summer that I have the time to zone out, and with that I recharge. I ruminate on all things. I tend to come out of the summer rested, happy, adjusted, and able to face the stresses of a new school year. Goodness knows this year promises to be a crazy one too, what with Common Core standards, SLO's, new teacher evaluations, and, for me, a new role as Union VP. Phew. That on top of just old regular everyday silly stuff like teaching 22 fourth graders.

Yep, I may be wasting time today, but really, I'm resting my brain. And it's a good brain. It has served me well these 41 years. And it had better be thankful for this so called wasted time, 'cause soon enough, it will be on overdrive. When things get crazy, my brain and I will need to think back on this August day and say to each other,

"Hey, you remember when..."

Phew, has it been hot or what the last few days? Today was such a relief, paired with the fact that I had the best night sleep of the past several last night. I was back on my OWN side of the bed after all.
You see, the way our room is laid out, our window fan blows on my side of the bed. Most nights we just switch the direction of the fan to blow out and things are fine, but as hot as it was, we had to bring in some cool night air. I HATE a fan blowing on me as I sleep, but again, as hot as it was, we decided to adjust ourselves to avail the fan. Tim took my side, I took his, and all was a little bit cooler in the world.

Last night, after a line of thunderstorms came through, was much cooler, so we switched back. When I woke up in the night at one point, though, I realized that while I had reclaimed my side of the bed, I did not reclaim my pillow. We were both so wiped out when we fell asleep last night that we never even noticed, but at 3 am, I felt the single piping along the side of the pillow, where mine is double and thought, damn. Could I have woken Tim back up and had him switch with me then, sure. Did I? Nah. I just laid my head back down, listened to the drone of the fan, and fell back to sleep.

Over the course of 19 years of marriage, Tim has sometimes called me "The Princess" when it comes to bed, since I can ofttimes detect "The Pea" beneath the mattresses. I will need it cool and yet warm enough, no blowing air, I will need to have washed my face, brushed my teeth, the covers will need to be just so.

I will have to share last nights epiphany with him...seems the times they are a changing. Bending. Flexing. Growing.

Or I am just THAT tired:)

Add it to the list I guess...

Some things I have learned in 19 years of marriage...

Sometimes it is OK to go to bed mad.

You might love him/her a lot, but you won't like him/her every day.

The biggest stressor in life will be the house...well, if yours is an old house like ours.

Kids are a close second.

Kids are also the deepest joy.

Laughing together after a long day is the best medicine.

A glass of wine (or two, or three) together after a long day is a good plan too.

Shared interests are great,time alone is great too, and "alone together time" might be the best thing going. Find time for it all.

Go AWAY together...explore...adventure...be someone new, someplace new, every now and then.

And finally, realize that yes, sometimes, you can switch sides of the bed, and somehow, you will survive.

Happy 19th anniversary babe!