A New Approach to an old friend

As I sit beside friends from years ago, reminiscing about our past follies as if they only occured yesterday, I realized what a gift genuine friends truly are. Our common love is of tail gates and football... but more than about the game, the food, and the beer (oh yes, I am knocking the beer). We gather as ritual, to share our weeks; whether they be successful and enjoyable weeks, or the weeks that are only carried forth by the promise of a weekend filled with friends, food, and football. The environment surroounding our tents is drenched and dripping with heat, humidity, and basically hell but once you step foot across the threshold of the tent, the heat and hell seems bearable, replaced instead with family, love, comfort, and warmth... and do not forget the beer (redemption).

I have missed my Orlando family just as much as I miss my family left behind in Colorado; I just have not remembered to appreciate that feeling and it is my loss and mistake. Driving home, I was able to reflect on both experiences and realized on top of it all, that I miss writing. My summer in the clouds was spent "blogging" for the benefit of my friends and family here in Florida, and now transforms into a blog to include the family I have in other locales since Lord only knows how horrible I am at keeping contact with people (and you thought you were the only one that I never contacted eh?) My life in Fort Myers is dull socially, yet full of life in other aspects. Most of you know that I am gluten intolerant as well as intolerant and sensitive to many other foods, but do not know half as much as my 12 year old students who bear the burden far more than any other 7th grader should. I hope to show you my life through this and use it as my free therapy.

Soccer season is looming on the horizon. The Bishop Verot (BV) high school soccer girls have commenced their preseason training and their coaches accompanying them as well. My dad, the head coach of the Varsity team, and myself, the Head Coach of the JV team and his assistant as well, plot and plan for a successful season ahead. National Junior Honor Society (NJHS), which I am a sponsor and advisor for, will induct 15 new memebers on Wednesday and their first service project in the days preceding it. The birth of my Running Club is tomorrow and I am nervous to be starting something from scratch and openning up a relatively private sector of my world to the Saint Andrew's Catholic School community. I am certain that nightmares of arriving to the meeting in the buff are soon to ensue haha. On top of this, my 2 new subjects, Religion and Literature, seem to be following the same path as last year's new subjects Grammar, Composition, and Vocabulary did last year. Who would have thought that I would seek solace and comfort in teaching Grammar when faced with a Religion class of 17 twelve year olds. My life is an organized chaos which I love to hate and loves to torment my dismal social life here in the Fort. My months flicker of excitement comes from trips to Orlando and the memories of a summer on the trail in Colorado and the promise that both encounters are only a few weeks/months ahead.

September welcomes a new highlight to my year... pumpkin. Replacing candy corn thanks to a slight intolerance to the little buggers, pumpkin is in almost everything I eat to satisfy my insatiable sweet tooth. Pumpkin Spice Lattes and coffee, pumpkin and cocoa smoothies, pumpkin puree straight from the can are my favorite ways to savor this wonderful delicacy. Why the talk of pumpkins? As I resurrect this blog, I am slowily consuming the pure pumpkin puree for the inagural time this year and wondering why I forsake this when January comes around. That is because I eat (or try to) seasonally... ok re-word that to seasonal foods. My only staple foods that accompany from month to month, fall to winter to spring and finally summer are salad (although the lettuce may vary depending upon the season), celery and fake peanut butter (Better N Butter is my vice), Sugar Free creamsicles, mini tootsie pops although they can only be purchased in the Halloween candy aisle, and apples. I LOVE apples. But more on those later.

Fact number 107 about me... I go to sleep before 10... whether it's in my bed or with my eyes open at some event... on nights impacted by school. With a ravenous week stretched out before me, as they all are after a fun filled weekend, I must retire with the promise to update this blog as much as I can. Just like my phone conversations (or lack there of) this blog is dependant upon my energy level.. when that energy is depleted, I am useless to talk or write (sorry again and as usual to all those victims of my void). I pray this evening finds you in good spirits and health, and ado for now!