Duly Noted

The honeymoon period at the ranch is ending, and I'm beginning to feel the need to venture out into greater Marin. I need another outlet. Triatholon? Community Theater? Something... I've been antsy these last few days despite the beautiful sunshine. I can't seem to pull it together. Today, fortunately, at the Saturday family program (a toddler day...oooh my love for snot-filled two year olds! Many of you may remember my deep rooted fear of the toystore carpeting. Disgusting.), a burst of happiness filled me up and I felt like a flower bulb waiting for that first raindrop...and finally it came! I was twiddling my thumbs, counting down the hours to freedom, when the puppet parade was called to action. A blur of cotton candy pink, face-painted cheeks, and mothers with digital cameras and perfect ranch attire gathered in the garden. Kids were waving around sheep, chickens, and worms on sticks. Zia ran up to me with a drumset and before I knew what was happening...th...

A month into Summer with a capital S (cause Summer is for real for teachers), I have had a fair amount of hours to pick apart and contemplate my dependence on staying "busy."  You might just say I stayed busy stressing about my lack of busyness.  (I know this will tickle more than a few of my readers who I tease about their dependence on busyness.  Let's just say this comes from a place of understanding.)  My stress naturally led into some soul searching.  If my schedule is not full...If I am not working full time...If I don't know what the day has in store...If I don't have a plan...Well, what then?  Who am I?  What's the point?   On Sunday evening, my eye caught The New York Times headline, "The 'Busy' Trap. "  Author Tim Kreider argues that busyness is an "existential reassurance, a hedge against emptiness."  He claims that people stay busy "because of their own ambition or drive or anxiety, because they're addicted...