Thank you to everyone who left messages when they learned of Athena’s passing.
This has been another week of solo parenting, working, plus luteal phase that was over at the end of the week. I wouldn’t call it a bad week but it was tough. It was tinged with sadness since my cat’s passing is still fresh but in this post I want to look for some positive things I did last week.
Booking a visit to Lancaster county. One of T’s destinations this week was Lancaster County, PA. Home to the Pennsylvania Dutch, the area is full of farms and rolling hills. He sent me pictures, brought home some fresh whoopee pies and honey, and I was like, wow, yes, please!!
I have a long weekend off in November for NJ teacher convention so the kids and I are going to visit Lancaster County for two nights and three days (2.5 hours away by car). We will stay on a farm that is also a bed and breakfast. They have morning chores for the kids – feed the goats, gather the eggs, etc. Maybe even milk a cow. Personally, I want to learn more about the Amish and Mennonite cultures in that area, visit farm stores, maybe get a ride in a buggy. Oh, and there is Strasburg Railroad and a Toy Train museum.
Teeth cleaning. I am anxious each time I go to the dentist due to prior childhood trauma (drilling machines in the Soviet Union still had cables). Regardless of my anxiety, I get my butt into that chair every 6 months. My dentist , Dr. Xiao, is very calm and gentle and gives me topical analgesic for the teeth cleaning. I have some receding gums so my teeth are very sensitive. Pair that with anxiety, and you have your favorite patient: I am a stone statue that sits in a pool of sweat and takes it.
Reiki session. Last Sunday I went to a Reiki workshop at the yoga studio. A two hour workshop had yoga, hands-on Reiki, invocations and elements of meditation. I am not sure I felt whatever I was supposed to feel with Reiki. The teacher circled around and placed his hands on our backs, cheeks, and heads. Overall, it was a pleasant experience.
Yoga on Wednesday and Saturday. I also was ready on Tuesday but the Zoom link did not work.
I treated myself to a new Halloween costume this year- a red gothic woman. Also, ordered my first ever Halloween sweater (can you believe I don’t own one?) with glitter pumpkins.
I also spent an hour or so booking some theater. I mainly enjoy dance and plays and try my best to bring the kids on the regular. We have three theaters in our vicinity: NJPAC in Newark, the State Theater in New Brunswick, and MPAC in Morristown. I combed through their calendars and saw a lot of things that I (or, the kids) may interested in. Some events were already sold out: Blippi (!!).
In October, it’s Malevo, an Argentinian dance troop that uses traditional gaucho dance in conjunction with drums. Seeing it with my sister-friend H. Then it’s Mutts Gone Nuts with one of the kids and Grinch the musical with another in November. In December it’s Cirque Musica Holiday variety show with one kid.
In total, I spent about $600 on the four events with two tickets each. Ah. It’s a lot but I am very near sighted and I like to sit in the orchestra section. And those tickets are usually expensive. Whatever, it’s done. In January, February and March, there are a few shows that I have my eye on: a dance from from India, Kodo (Japanese drums), Irish dance, and Alvin Ailey. There is also Pincalicious the musical, Frog and Toad play for the kids, and Captain Underpants the musical (how are they gonna pull that one off lol).
Acupressure mat. This torture device was introduced to me by my friend Joanna who lives in Poland. One year I went to visit and she had this spiky looking mat that she placed herself on, with her bare back, every night. I tried it and felt kind of calm. Fast forward three years, I got one for myself this past week. I was a ball of anxious energy so I figured: why not. The first minute that you lie on it with your bare back, it feels awful. You breathe through pain. Then after a minute or so, the endorphins kick in, your back goes kind of numb, and a pleasant, relaxing sensation spreads through your back. It’s bloody weird but it works.
My students. Most of my students are just so wonderful, with their ears and eyes open, smiling and laughing at my jokes, doing their work, asking questions, speaking in **their** best (not perfect) Spanish. Of course, there are some whose maturity level is lower so they need more consistency and more discipline but they will get there.
I discovered a new musician! I love piano (hence L taking piano lessons). Tony Ann is a Canadian piano player and a composer whose music is just so light, creative and ethereal. Find him on Spotify: Icarus, Lost, Pulse, Rain, and other songs by him are amazing.
And now we proceed to the photo section of the week.
Mom of Children 