Transitions

On the evening before this year's sprint triathlon, you might think I mean swim/bike or bike/run when I mention transitions.

Nope.  I am referring to the transition from summer vacation to work/school.

Yesterday I returned to 'active duty' with meetings all morning, and work in my classroom all afternoon.

It was a rough transition.

First of all, we had the annual "Kumbaya" meeting, as my brother-in-law has dubbed it.  You know... the annual pep rally for the teachers, telling us how wonderful we are, and aren't we excited for a new school year full of bright, happy faces?  Loud music, videos of little children stating what they want to be when they grow up, pep-pep-peppy marching bands... and cheerleaders... and tumblers... and team mascots....

You get the idea.

The problem?  We were told by some high up district muckity-muck that breakfast would be served.

No breakfast.  Unless you count being given a 2 liter of Coke (only if you jumped over it first) and being pelted by candy by the peppy cheerleaders and student council members of Westlake HS, the school our elementary feeds into.  Somehow I don't think Michelle Obama would approve.

After the rah, rah, sis-boom-bah, we all drove back to our own building for faculty meeting.  So, I stopped at McD's for some much needed calories.  However, due to the nature of McD's, they sat like a lump of lead in my stomach for the rest of the day.

Morning faculty meeting was swift and uneventful, but cold, cold, COLD!  I had forgotten how very WELL the A/C works in the building.  I didn't bring a sweater.  So, I was slightly under-dressed... and yet I felt overwhelmed by how very many clothes I actually had on!  Oh the irony!

I've spent the past 2 1/2 months running around in as few clothes as possible.  If I wasn't in workout clothes (shorts and tank tops mostly), I was in a swimsuit.  Flip flops were the shoe of choice if I absolutely had to have shoes, otherwise, I went barefoot.  So, by the end of the work day, I was freezing, and yet stifled by all the clothes.  Stepping out of the building into the 96* heat was like heaven!  As soon as I got home, I stripped back down to summer clothes and promptly dozed off on the front porch.  (I did make myself hit the gym that evening, though)

Oh, and let's not forget to mention the return to commute driving!  Morning radio stations are the spawn of Satan.  Quit talking already and give me the dang music!  I have spent the summer as a mostly non-driver.  Weekend trips to the grocery store and the occasional off peak trips to the lake or canyon constituted the entirety of my behind-the-wheel time.  When biking, I stuck to side roads where the traffic was light to non-existent.  Rush hour commuters are MANIACS.  I live 12 miles from work, and I saw every bad driver cliché acted out in those 12 miles.  If you remember, I was commuting home from work when that lady pulled in front of me and caused the crash that ended the life of my Alero.  Yes, indeed.  Utah drivers are the WORST.

***

Today went somewhat better.  I rebelled slightly, and wore my favorite jeans with a cute-but-casual tank/sweater combo that was more comfortable than professional.  We are still in pre-student meetings, though, so no one really cares.  Notice I remembered the sweater this time?  And it is a good thing, too, because today's meetings were at Oak Canyon JH, where the temperature was even MORE glacial than at my school!  That cafeteria was an ICEBOX!  However, the meeting was really very good.  My only other complaint (if I felt like going on a rant) would be the terrible layout of that school's bathrooms!  four sinks and only one soap dispenser?!?  I hate to think about the hygiene rates for their students there.  Oh, and what is it about institutional toilet paper?  Do you think they could possibly make it any thinner?!?

Anyways, the transition is always a bit rough.  I came home completely wiped out, even though all we did was sit in meetings all day.  I look forward to settling into a daily teaching routine, when I can start to feel my energy levels returning to normal...

... and feel like it is completely normal to do my hair & face & fully clothed outfit & crazy commute every single day.

Welcome 2012-2013 school year.