What I have been doing-teaching Clark to cook in the crock pot, watching as he garners enough scholarships to pay for 100% of his college (and gains admittance to the Honors college at Georgia Southern University), giving Tori wings to navigate her last 9 months of college and to finalize plans for her future move to Portland to work at Nike, studying for more teacher certification tests, taking said tests in the areas of Health and PE, knocking out 75% of TO-DO/BUY lists for Venezuela detailed in previous post from February, making memories with my true blue friends, cheering my sister/nieces/brother-in-law on as my brother in law completed the Iditarod dogsled race in Alaska (in spite of an erupting volcano, blinding blizzards and wind chill of up to 50 below zero), mentoring three Sr. girls who share a common life struggle I recently experienced, dreaming of this next step in my life that seems to be the one taking me through that proverbial portal into my "future"
What I have read-Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (5 stars), Elements of Health textbook (UGH), More Magazine, Travel Magazine, Timberhouse Living Magazine (designing my dream home eco-cabin) Fitness Education for Children, The Sports Rules Book, Teaching Cues for Basic Sport Skills for Elementary and Middle School Students, The Eyre Affaire (Fforde-4 stars), assorted Chelsea Handler books not fit to detail here (...but laugh out loud reads...)
What I am Reading-mcsweeneys.net (WOW-my new addiction), beginning Spanish phrase book, Good Omens (Pratchett and Neil Gaimon), Eat, Pray, Love (Gilbert-I reread it almost as much as I reread Anna Karenina-Tolstoy), GACE middle grades social science study guide (UGH), Goalfree Living (Shapiro), Yoga on the Go
What is on my mind-Which version of Rosetta Stone should I purchase in order to learn Spanish? Should I buy a new laptop? Where will I store my "stuff"? How will I see everyone before I leave? Where will Clark live for the three weeks between my departure and his move-in date at college? How can I integrate sustainable exercise into my weekly routine now (since I won't have a health club with daily classes and fitness equipment in Venezuela)? Which topic in my mind am I going to turn into my first free-lance article pitch in the next few weeks? Will my car-Karma allow my car to stay alive and reliable until I leave? Which of my friends will make the effort to sustain the relationship across a hemisphere? Yikes....I only have 16 weeks, how will I fit all this plus finishing the school year, one more teaching certification test, and mastering Spanish into these 4 short months?
Please stay in touch. Make sure I have your correct email and phone number. If you are on facebook, "friend" me at Shawn Eggers Allen. Call me if you want to meet for lunch or coffee before I go. Most of all....send your thoughts, prayers, karma my way.......this is an exciting step for me=)...yet there are many "unknowns" ahead!! PEACE**
