Overdrive

I feel so scatterbrained at this time of year. My work-focused mind is saying,

(source: http://i.imgur.com/giOntby.gif)

At the same time, my summer-brain is kicking in, saying,

(source: http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/webdr05/2013/5/20/10/anigif_enhanced-buzz-3254-1369060826-16.gif)

And (what should come as no surprise) it's incredibly difficult to find a happy balance between the two. I want to stay late and crank out work at my desk AND go home early and have a dinner consisting of hummus and red wine. And I can't do both. So, I continue to work in overdrive, but sometimes the lazy is in overdrive, too. So what I'm left with are weird thoughts and mild obsessions that fizzle out as quickly as they arrived. Here's a sampling:

• Were we the only ones who cracked up when Peggy stabbed Abe ("The Better Half")? Because I thought it was HYSTERICAL.
• Two days after a weed-pulling marathon, I'm still in a serious amount of pain. I even dreamt about centipede grass and giant roots. This is just more proof that I need to get my lazy tail to the gym stat.
• I'm happy to not have to work on Memorial Day, but dammit, it really screwed up my work calendar for what little of the semester is left.
• I should give up thinking I'm going to grade everything that is left in my pile. I don't think anyone will care.
• I think we have four episodes of "House of Cards" to watch on Netflix before it's the end of the first season, and most of our reactions are us yelling "WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!"
• With that said, I love it, and Kevin Spacey is fantastically evil. And he's Macbeth. And therefore I love it, because apparently I have a sick mind.
• I still haven't had time to organize/edit/play with photos from California or my friend's wedding. And this makes me sad.
• A trip to Lowe's automatically means a trip to Chick-fil-A. I've had a lot of waffle fries in the past week.
• I feel lucky to be blessed with good neighbors.
• I don't recall loving a team as much as I love this year's Penguins. All of them. Even Tyler Kennedy.
• I've scared my cat with my yelling during hockey games and sent The Husband to quieter areas of the house. I'm nothing if not loud.
• My food laziness the past couple weeks has me worried that I won't complete my summer project. But I also think that feeling will pass once I have a break from work.
• I may have disassociated myself from WVU, but nothing makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside than standing in a circle with The Six, singing "Country Roads." Chills of happiness.
• Need to feel happy? She & Him, Volumes 1, 2, and 3.
• The only thing I've read for pleasure since spring break has been 2/3 of The Great Gatsby (again). I'll fix that soon.

Here's hoping I can kick it down a notch in the next couple weeks!

There is joy in...

• Discovering the bottle of wine you opened a few days ago is still drinkable. Not perfect, but drinkable.
• Seeing the groom's face after the bride's shower when he asks, "Is all of that ours?!"
• Visiting long-lost friends.
• Traveling to parts of the country previously unseen.
• Comparing giant redwoods and tiny seedlings.
• Knowing the end of the school year is almost near.
• Trying new restaurants all weekend long.
• Sleeping in really, really late.
• Knowing that Lowe's plays really good music over their speakers (and singing in the aisles).
• Returning to the Saturday morning ritual of going to the City Market.
• Being woken up by the cat, only to have her settle in on top of you.
• Buying new shoes.
• Laughing really hard at silly things.
• Snuggling.
• Winning streaks and upcoming hockey playoffs.
• Winning useful prizes at unexpected places.
• Getting away with nail polish that matches the color of Tiffany's boxes.
• Having your house smell like a bakery on Sunday mornings.

Feeling inspired...and not

For all of my five readers, my sincerest apologies for not posting since...January. But really, I haven't felt that inspired. At least not enough to write about it. Until now.

I don't know if it's because Spring Break is hours away, or all the recent and exciting Pens trades, or the happiness that comes from a manicure and a beer, but I'm giddy. I could run a marathon right now except that I hate running. I've been singing a lot (thank you, Kelly Clarkson, for being the first American Idol). And I've been getting shit done (except vacuuming). I really, really don't quite know what has come over me. So what has been inspiring me lately?

Work
I KNOW, RIGHT?! There is a thrill that comes with a new semester, new faces, and new/old colleagues. I've been blessed with the greatest collaborative teacher to walk this planet (hyperbole? no) and a new administrator to respect and who makes me feel energized. It's been really good. For as much misery I felt last semester, it could not feel more different this semester. And while I'm really glad about this, so is everyone around me.

Snow
I wandered around UVa grounds the other day after the snowfall. It felt great to just walk around (and tackle more steps than I usually do in a day) and snap some photos. I should've gone out earlier, when the snow was more pure, but how can this be a disappointing sight? I am lucky.

Food
Last week I had a discussion with the Husband about what my dream job would be. My answer? Writing about food. Whether it was blogging or restaurant reviewing or WHATEVER, I would be happiest doing just that. Why? Well, because I'm tiny and have the appetite of a dangerously obese person, and I'm going to take advantage of that until my metabolism really slows down (don't hate). I know I'll pay for this some day. But until then, I have an idea for a summer project/new blog and I'm really looking forward to June when I can get started.

Travel
Sunday we leave for the West Coast, which is apparently the best coast. I'm not so sure about that, but I'm keeping an open mind. What am I looking forward to on the trip? Visiting family and friends. Driving along the 101. Streetcars. And staying at gorgeous places from Airbnb. Plus, it's the first time that I've actually traveled somewhere fun during spring break (post-college, that is), which is pretty awesome.

Reading Material
Flight Behavior (Barbara Kingsolver) and Where'd You Go, Bernadette? (Maria Semple) are two of the best things I've read. Ever. Any book that can make the heart swell (along with the eyes) is worth it.
thugkitchen.com (If you don't like the F word, don't visit this site.)
Thomas Jefferson and wine (The Billionaire's Vinegar and Thomas Jefferson's Creme Brulee). Give me a better combination. I dare you.

Shopping
I lost control a couple weeks ago and sold my soul to White House Black Market and then JCrew Factory and then I received my very first Stitchfix. And I have been SO HAPPY and proud of myself for taking baby steps towards branching out (signing up for Stitchfix and trusting clothing choices to a complete stranger is a pretty big step, but I loved everything in my first fix. I decided to keep only one item out of the five, however, due to price and overall need. Sometimes I'm still too practical.). My AmEx is hot and my wallet is empty. Thankfully, I think I'm set for a while.

I promise I'll be better about this. I have a lot to inspire me.

Top Ten Reasons I'm Over the Moon at Hockey's Return

Hey there, NHL and NHLPA. Glad you pulled your heads out of your tails enough to come to an agreement and give us die-hards the game back (because it's going to take a little bit for those casual fans to come back. Way to screw that one up.). There is no use griping about what went on for the past 113 days. I'm just happy hockey is back and I'm not forced to watch **GASP** basketball.

In no particular order, the reasons for my joy:

10. Matt Cooke, his bad-boy good looks, and the anger that is still under the surface (even if he has pulled it together).

9. Sidney Crosby was lucky (?!) enough to have some extra time to make sure his head is on straight. Looking forward to more magic on the ice.

8. I really hate NASCAR. And the NBA. And golf.

7. We don't have to hear Pittsburgh sports broadcasters bemoaning the Pirates just quite yet.

6. The LA Kings twitter feed is the best. Every other major sport could learn a lot from them.

5. I can wear my jerseys to work and not keep them stuffed in the back of my closet anymore.

4. Because Evgeni Malkin is my favorite goofball, he's not an a-hole like Ovechkin, and he often takes photographs with cute animals:

(image source: http://thisisgettingold.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Malkin-and-a-Dolphin.jpg)

That dolphin is thinking, "I'm score!"

3. There is NOTHING else on television except New Girl and Downton Abbey. I need something to watch. And even if the Pens aren't playing, I'll still watch hockey. Real fans scope out the competition.

2. I'm not looking forward to the horrible camera angles/missed plays on ROOT Sports Pittsburgh or the inane comments out of Pierre McGuire's mouth, but they're like the annoying family member at holidays. You hate that they are there, but it wouldn't be the same without them.

1. Because this

(image source: http://www.realclearsports.com/blognetwork/rcs_sidelines/stanley-cup.jpg)

is the greatest and the players work much harder than other sports to get it. And even if the season is shortened this year, I don't care. I want to see someone raise it (preferably the Pens, but as long as it isn't the Caps or Flyers, I'll live).

#LetsGoPens