Life is short.

A few months ago, a young man from the graduating class after me (and one year before my brother) died in a motorcycle accident.

A few weeks ago, one of my former students (22 years old), was killed when he wrapped his car around a tree.

And today, I found out another young man from the SAME graduating class as the motorcycle accident victim, also lost his life.  A boy I hung out with.  A boy I knew.  One of my prom date's best friends.  I am pretty sure I took him to the mall to get his ear pierced way back in the day. A jock.  The oldest of three boys.  My mom and dad were friendly with his parents, my brothers played sports with his brothers, and my mom sees his dad walk their dog on a regular basis around their neighborhood.

Life is short.  It becomes more and more apparent when I see people around me hurting because their loved ones are gone.  I consider myself to be so very lucky that I have experienced very little loss in my 31 years.  My grandmother's death is really the only one I have ever had to deal with, when I was a freshman in college.  I am being constantly reminded that we can not take life for granted and that we need to make the most of these precious moments.  We never know when they will be taken from us.

My New Time Waster

So, in the midst of what has been a pretty busy summer vacation, I have made a discovery.  This discovery has consumed Logan's nap times and some post-bedtimes as well.  Its name?

The Vampire Diaries.

I am not going to get into an explanation of what the show is about (vampires, werewolves, humans, witches, etc), because honestly?  I am pretty sure most of you just don't care and are thinking to yourselves, "Doesn't she have better things to do during her kid's naptime?"

The answer is, quite simply, yes, I do have better things to do.  But seriously?

WHERE HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE?

I don't know if it is because I saw Ian Somerhalder's name mentioned to be perfect for the part of Christian Grey (because yes, I did read 50 Shades of Grey and its sequels.  Twice.  And loved every smutty, terribly written minute of them.  Both times) or what, but it.is.awesome.

I was a huge One Tree Hill fan and I sobbed my eyes out when the show ended and (spoiler) when Dan Scott died (because I did NOT see that one coming) so I think that I needed a new teenage television show replacement and THIS IS IT.

J and I watched the first two seasons on Netflix and then I was so angry to discover that Season 3 is not available yet.  So we had to do some digging to find the episodes.

So if I don't update the blog for a few days, its because all of my free time is being spent with this guy (Team Delena ALL THE WAY).

 But I am still rooting for this Brit to be cast as my 50 Shades:

I can't wait to see Henry Cavill as The Man of Steel. But Ian Somerhalder would make a damn good 50.

Weekend Planning

In an attempt to get back into the blogging swing of things, I am back with Weekend Planning!

Friday:

• Attempt not to fall asleep because we went to a triple feature of the Dark Knight movies last night, didn't get home until 3:30 AM, and I had to get Logan from my in-law's at 7:30 AM.  No fun.
• Bake zucchini-carrot muffins
• Make pizza dough
• Grocery list
• Trader Joe's and Target

Saturday:

• Finish up grocery shopping
• Laundry
• Organize paperwork
• Powerwash patie
• Weed flower beds

Sunday:

• Work on curriculum planning
• Shop for cousin's graduation present
• Work on swing set

Garden Update

As a reminder, here is what my garden looked like a month ago:

And here it is now:

Honestly, it is a SHOCK that it has done so well. We have had very little rain and I am watering everything with my stupid watering can because we threw out our hose last fall and then the one we bought is too short.

I finally have some green tomatoes and a few tiny peppers. My jalapenos are buried beneath the zucchini vines, but I have already picked three, which I am going to use to can some apricot-jalapeno jam.

I have some zucchini ready to be picked, which I usually just shred and freeze for baking during the fall and winter, and I also have some cucumbers ready to pick, which I plan on trying to pickle. I am already making plans for next year's garden, which will be 6 times this size and I can not wait!!

No Day But Today

A few days ago, I was at Panera with another teacher from my building and the department head from one of out other high schools working on our tenth grade curriculum.  Another teacher from the department head's building (who was randomly there) came up to ask to talk to her.  One of their Family and Consumer Science teachers had just passed away from anaphylactic shock.

His daughter had just turned two a few days prior.

They were trying for their second child.

He was 33.

I did not know this man.  I have heard he was a wonderful guy and the students adored him.  He was always willing to laugh and joke around and was just an overall good person.  It is a terrible loss and he will be missed by his students, family and fellow staff members.

I also recently found out that a few days ago, a former student, who is now 22, was speeding, ran a red light and wrapped his car around a pole. 

A few years ago, while pregnant with Logan, I went to the wake of one of my honors students because he was playing the Choking Game and ended up losing his life. 

I don't mean for this to be a depressing post.  But dammit.  Life is so short. 

We just came out of a really tough school year and many of my fellow teachers were really burned out.  TBT, RTI, IEPs, a shift in our building structure, curriculum changes.  All of these things really wore us down and burned us out and summer vacation could not have come sooner, as many of us needed a rejuvination period.  But beyond that, this summer has really put things into perspective.  We can not dwell on the negative and spend our precious time on earth worrying about the inconsequential. 

I am enjoying every minute of being a Summer Stay-at-Home Mommy.  Logan is at such a fun (and extremely challenging) age, and we are spending time out with friends and on different outings.  I am taking time out of my day to improve my physical health, and with that comes an improvement to my mental health.  And this means that I am more pleasant to be around.

Hug your husbands.  Snuggle your little ones.  Enjoy each day as if it were your last.

"There's only us.
There's only this.
Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.
No other road, no other way.
No day but today.:"
~Jonathan Larson

(I apologize for the rambling post.  I have just been thinking a lot about all of this and needed a place to vent.  And hell, that is what a blog is for, isn't it?)

Menu Planning Monday

Ah, another week, which means another menu!  I am loving all of this summer produce and our CSA basket is providing us which such wonderful products.  It makes menu planning ENJOYABLE!!

Sunday: Tuna salad sandwiches, cucumbers and hummus, and I raided our pantry for the bottom of the bag chips and crackers. 
Monday: BBQ ribs, grilled veggies, pasta salad
Meatless Tuesday (usually Monday, but we are having friends over on Monday): Pasta with marinara, salad
Wednesday: BLTs,
Thursday: We have tickets to see ALL THREE BATMAN movies on Thursday, so we will be grabbing something easy and Logan is going to my in-laws' house. 
Friday: Recovery.  Pizza.
Saturday: Crock Pot Cream Cheese Chicken Pasta

What's on your menu this week?  Link up at OrgJunkie!

MPM! Woot!

Another Monday!  Hope you had a wonderful weekend!  So glad it has cooled down a little here in Cleveland and we got some rain last week...our yard is dry, dry, DRY and my garden needed a good water!

Sunday: Pizza burgers, Caesar salad
Meatless Monday: Lemony Kale Pasta
Tuesday: Thai Chicken Salad
Crock Pot Wednesday: Pulled Pork, grilled corn salad
Thursday: Grilled skirt steak, baked potatoes, green beans
Friday: Leftover night?
Saturday: Not sure yet.  Maybe Beer Butt Chicken?

Join us at OrgJunkie!