I'm back, back in the "normal" groove

Eight weeks in the life of moi...

Week 1: Back in the Deadline Groove

Between things picking up at work

and my oh-so-brilliant decision to take on more freelance work,

the majority of the past eight weeks have been ruled by deadlines. I did still find a little time for fun, though...

Weeks 2-4: Back in the Travel Groove

First up was Keystone, FL for a family reunion.

Since moving away,
this has become my new favorite sign.

Treaty Oak

Sporting my #teamlochte shirt
wherever I went!

And keeping up with his races.

Spending time with family.
How gorgeous are my nieces?!

And catching up with longtime friends.

Then a quick jaunt to Charleston to see a dear college friend.

Twelve hours later, I was back in the car on my way to NYC for a little fun.

Visiting my 96-year-young spitfire Gram.

Shopping among the Orthodox in Flushing (Queens).

Driving in NYC for my very first time...

...and living to brag about it (a LOT).

Next stop was New Jersey to present at a conference.

More first-time driving:
through the Lincoln Tunnel.

Back to dorm living!

Needing a good pinch, I had trouble believing
that this small-town girl grew up to
co-lead a session at a Jewish Education Conference.

Weeks 5-6: Back in the Cola Groove

Home sweet home! But being home also meant being back in the deadline groove yet again, which Mimi did not appreciate.

If I lay on your computer,
you can't use it, right?

Week 7: Back in the Family Groove

Labor Day weekend in Atlanta included a relaxing afternoon with my MIL at the Decatur Book Festival and more fun with my girlies. 

Week 8: Back in the Teaching Groove

Though it felt as though summer had just started, Religious School started back in session.

Now: Back in the Normal Groove

Now, thanks to a wonderful job-related change (which I'll tell you about later because I'm cruel like that), there are more evenings that look like this.

We'll pretend this was dinner for two.

And more weekends that look like this.

Yep, still obsessed with Words with Friends.

Game Face

I think I can get used to the normal groove.

(PS. I'm looking forward to getting back in the blogging groove soon - I've missed you all!)

It's just another manic month here

"Busy" seems to be the buzz word around here lately...

I took on a few new freelance jobs (which means Starbucks is my bestie again).



Sunday school ended this past week. My kids created a Jewish Artifacts Museum for the big culture & food festival that our Temple held at the end of April.



They finished out the year making a Jewish heritage quilt to celebrate their own personal Jewish American histories. I love, love, love being crafty with my kiddos.



Hubby has been equally busy, getting ready to take over the Academic Skills Center at his college. I'm a super proud wife! We spent yesterday moving his office (which we have gotten alarmingly good at doing).



Although I am seemingly just as busy as last month, I have surprisingly (and happily) somehow managed to make more time for myself in the last few weeks:

I have been enjoying beautiful outdoor lunches...



fun reads...

good company...



the entertainment (and I use that word loosely) of D-list comedians (yes, that's Pauly Shore)...

my friend's book festival debut...

using my kitchen again (FINALLY!)...

and blissful "me" nights, complete with wine, art, and trash TV.

Yes, life is busy, but GOOD.

Time flies...

...when you're having fun!

Do I need to reintroduce myself as I emerge from my dark, dusty corner of the blogosphere? The past two months (I seriously can't believe that much time has come and gone since last I wrote) have been quite the adventure:

Mitzvah Day
What do you get when you help organize 300 members of the Jewish community to participate in seven different service projects at the same time? A freaking awesome day.

Hubby, happy to help repair the world

This project, which took on a life of its own (as well as mine), was so worth all that went into making it happen.

An Unexpected Surprise
Lying on the couch the following Monday, trying to recover from the exhilaration (and exhaustion) that was Mitzvah Day, a pain that I had been feeling in my right breast increased in intensity. My hand absently wandered to it, and *gulp* I found a large lump that had not previously been there, at least to my recollection. Hubby confirmed that this felt new, and so I found myself as a boob panini (seriously, all I could think was "sandwich press" during the mammogram) two days later.

Thankfully, the lump was just some dense tissue that had probably always been there but that I was first feeling due to some weight loss (more on that later).

Fun in the FL Sun
Having dodged a bullet (or a tumor), I was even more grateful for the FL vacation I had planned. In Orlando, I helped celebrate my mom's birthday...

watched as my Goddaughter was Christened...

caught up with dear childhood friends...

and spent a magical day pretending I was a wizard at Hogwarts.

Can we pause to talk about how awesome Butterbeer is?!
It tastes like cream soda with butterscotch...yum-O!

I took a small break from Hogwarts to have a staring contest with the Grinch.

Later, I went to Gainesville for a girls' weekend.

with Leigh

And my trip ended with an amazing brunch in Jacksonville, where I finally reunited with a dear friend from high school, got to meet my very first online friend, and got to meet my online soul sister. Being with these beautiful women, whose lives I became privy to thanks to this blog, was a highlight of my trip and a reminder of why it's so important that I make time for blogging.

Purim
Of course, that didn't happen right away because once I got home it was time to celebrate Purim, which Hubby (somewhat accurately) describes as a cross between Halloween, the Rocky Horror Picture Show, and Mardi Gras. Hubby went as Steve Jobs and I as his hippie college groupie.

Another Curve Ball
Once I got back into my regular routine, I began to notice (and heard some subtle - and not-so-subtle - comments) that I had lost a lot of weight. Unintentionally. In a very short amount of time. Another trip to the doctor, I was tested for a thyroid problem, as well as diabetes.

The nurse butchered me while drawing blood.

The unofficial diagnosis? Stress. While undoubtedly grateful that it turned out to be nothing serious, I think part of me would have preferred an issue that could easily be fixed with a pill. (How American am I?) Instead, lifestyle changes need - and have started - to happen (but that's a topic for another day).

Westward, Ho!
After being home for only two weeks, I was on the move again. First to Las Vegas for a work conference. (Woe is me!)

the view from my room

the Venetian resort

Rachel Dratch (from SNL) spoke at our conference and was HI-larious!

The gorgeous gold-medalist, Lenny Krayzelburg, also spoke.
(Sadly, he did not take off his shirt.)

And there were, of course, fun times with colleagues and friends.

Then I was on another plane to San Diego to visit my dad and stepmom...

Alpine, CA

...and finally on a train to Los Angeles, where I spent my birthday with several friends from high school who had helped celebrate my 15th birthday 18 years earlier. Talk about feeling blessed and grateful!

view from the train

 

Home Sweet Home
Now I'm back, back in the Cola groove.

I came home to a lovely birthday dinner with my local friends, followed by a date night with Hubby to see The Hunger Games. And now, I'm putting on my "Iron Chef" hat as I get ready for Passover.

In between my bites of matzo and calculating our taxes, I look forward to making the rounds and catching up with all of you. Chag Pesach Sameach, and/or Happy Easter, and/or Happy Weekend!