Readings and Relaxation

While these past few days have been boring (i.e., uneventful, relaxing, and less anxiety-filled), I have been trying to cram in as much of the following four activities that I can:

(1) Organizing the house, and thus, my life
I started this little project while Jill was in Utah visiting family (she hasn't blogged about this or put the pictures up yet, but I'm sure she will...hint hint). I went about the process "from the outside, in," starting in the bedroom (laundry, sheets, clearing of the growing pile on my nightstand), the kitchen, and the front room. Eventually, I had moved most of the "junk" (i.e., stuff we probably need that deserves a better home than the kitchen counter or my nightstand) into the office and had disposed of the "other junk" (i.e., stuff we should have gotten rid of a while ago but just piled somewhere for disposal "at a later date"), and was thus prepared to tackle the project that I have been putting off pretty much ever since we moved in--my files and the office.

Soon, everything was filed away in its own folder and I began to see that I actually had a desk under my piles-o'-stuff. I've left some little things in the "to do" pile on the filing cabinet, but other than that, I have a functional desk, with a place for everything and everything in its place. I've even go so far as to organize my bookcase, my "supply drawer," my Outlook contacts, and my pens.

To me, although I may postpone the activity, there is something relaxing and therapeutic about sorting and organizing. (If I were a psychoanalyst, I'd probably interject something here about the feeling of control over the situation that one has while organizing and moving things around. This may be true. However, I'd also have to add that I find a well-organized desk more condusive to study and to productivity.)

(2) Finding a new job
Although I'm not sure if this qualifies as a "less anxiety-filled" activity--you know, picking your temporal destiny--it has occupied some time as of late... For those of you that know me, yes, I have Pro/Con sheets for the different options that I'm looking at. I'd talk about the choices I'm looking at right now, but that's enough material for another post or two...

Suffice it to say that I spent some time to day doing research on one possibility--using some connections I've made to get a Staff position with a Senator or Congressman on the Hill, and working on legislation and policy issues that interest me. I started a mini-"briefing" for myself today that lists some of the Senate Committees that I'm interested in, what they're doing, and their members (then did some research on the different members). It's somewhat of a fun project, and has kept me occupied; we shall see what becomes of it.

(3) Taking care of Jill
Jill returned from her Utah trip not feeling very well (those darn nephews! :-D ), and felt better after a few days, but then woke up one morning feeling a lot worse. Her sinuses/allergies have been really acting up, and the poor thing has gone through several (large) boxes of Kleenex--we eventually had to get some with lotion, her nose was getting so irritated.

Anyway, so I'm the mean nurse and make her take naps, drink lots of water, and (try to) go to bed early. I made matzah ball soup one evening, and several rounds of chicken noodle soup, and got lots of Jell-O and Saltine crackers. She finally convinced me that she hadn't lost her appetite and wanted something else, so we got her favorite meal from the Thai place just down the road--Mango Curry with Chicken.

(4) Reading, reading, and more reading
Amidst the rush and excitement and long hours of campaign life, I had forgotten--or, rather, had no time to remember--how much I love to read and to learn. So lately, with all this "new" time to read, I've found myself being a little ADD in my reading habits, and bouncing around from one book to another. I didn't realize how thirsty I was for knowledge -- I even tried to cram more in at once by "multi-tasking" and listening to my favorite "smart" Podcasts while reading my books. Needless to say, the Podcast feast didn't last very long, but I look forward to listening more.

Here's a peek at what I've been reading. (I noticed on someone else's blog that they have a sidebar menu that shows current books--I'll have to try to find something like that.)

(A) Scriptures
(B) Teaching, No Greater Call
I'm doing a Teacher Development lesson on Sunday. I've entitled it, "Teaching by Asking Questions"
(3) Christ and the New Covenant
(4) Uncommon Learning: Henry David Thoreau on Education
(5) "Civil Disobedience" and Other Essays
(6) The Original Illustrated Sherlock Holmes
No--I'm not reading a picture book (although I did find a copy of Goodnight, Moon in French that my mom sent me from her trip to France, and I might just read that!). This is a 600-plus page novel that reproduces the stories as they appeared in the Strand with their original illustrations by Sidney Paget. I first read Sherlock Holmes when I was in 2nd or 3rd grade--you can blame much of my interests today on the literary quest that began at this time of my life. Anyway--I just finished this, and am sad that I'm out of Sherlock Holmes stories to read!
(7) The 9/11 Commission Report
A 430-page document with approximately 150 pages of appendices and notes. Jill found it at the library and thought it looked interesting.

Anyway--I have a growing list of books to read and a little bit of discretionary time with which to do so. If you have any suggestions, let me know!

Well...my sleeping beauty has awakened. I should go see what she wants for dinner.

ta ta for now