Category: Work (page 3 of 7)

Two Days

Two days. That is all I have left! Two days and I walk away from the cupboard. It is bittersweet. I am looking forward to my new adventure, I am ready for this challenge. I am more than ready!

But, the cupboard has been my home now for over 3 years. It will be odd to not be walking through that door again in September. But as one door closes, another one opens and those new doors hold a hell of a lot of potential!

So, here’s to new doors, going the distance and the final bell!

The Uniform Coup

Liberty Leading the People, 1830, by Eugene Delacroix

Well, it is Wednesday and what a week this has been so far! I woke up yesterday thinking, can it only be Tuesday? Certainly so much has happened since Monday we must be farther into the week, but alas, it was only Tuesday.

This week hitherto has consisted of a lot of late nights, as we put the final touches on the Art Show, get everything ready for the moderator, then get everything back to exhibition standards tomorrow before the big night. It is always a whirlwind. But, it is also very satisfying to see all of the student’s work hung up.

It is funny, as this is the time of year when you think things should be winding down in school, but they aren’t. People are almost under more pressure than normal as things begin to come to a close. As exasperating as work can be at times, I have always felt that you just deal with it as seamlessly as possible. A kind word and a smile, works wonders, don’t let anyone tell you different!

Also, laughing, because if you can’t laugh, then you’ve got nothing. My mornings normally consist of numerous last minute requests from all directions, so you prioritize, muck in and get it done. This morning was no different, just coupled with the fact the moderator is coming and ensuring everything they need is available to them.

I stopped for a brief second to check my e-mail and saw the daily exclusions and suspensions notice that is sent out. There was one student who had been listed as internally suspended today. Next to their name was written the reason given for them being in the suspension room and I quote, “plotting a uniform coup”.

Well, I don’t think I have laughed so hard first thing in the morning like that since I don’t know when. It sounded so 18th century, the smell of gunpowder and treason pungent in the air. I could just see a line of students charging the gates, Liberty holding their battle flag as it dips and sways in the breeze and not a uniform in sight!

Here’s to Wednesday, because it signals that we have almost made it to the weekend.

KICK ME!

I think there must be an invisible “Kick Me” sign on me this week or something, because this has been one heck of a week so far!

Thank goodness tomorrow is Thursday and we are that much closer to the weekend!

Its times like these where you just can’t beat a good old fashioned 80s movie, filled with teen angst, feel good music and a great dance scene, cue Footloose:

You might just be able to cure anything with dancing and an 80s anthem!

Monday, Monday

Well, I was going to share my weekend with you today. But, this Monday has just about killed me. Upon arriving to work this morning and entering the cupboard, I noticed a terribly fishy smell. Literally a fishy smell as there were fish in the fridge in my room that had been brought in to use for life drawing on Friday.

Over the weekend their lovely fish juices began to flow and that coupled with the bit of ice that was still in their bags dripped onto the fridge motor and burned it out, which tripped the fuse in my room, shut the fridge down along with everything else.

So flash forward to today and there has been fish juices and yucky water dripping onto the floor all weekend and not just to any floor, but a heated floor. I could have caught JAWS with the smell of that stuff.

So, on went the gloves, out went the fridge and hot water and bleach went everywhere. I have scrubbed, wiped, sprayed and the smell is still lingering. I even put the fan on high, just to get air moving, as there are no windows in the cupboard.

We all walked around today with our noses scrinched. So, I shall save what I was going to share with you and instead show you the photographs of the fish I took on Friday, as we were documenting them to use for future classes.

As Anne of Green Gables says, “Tomorrow is a new day, with no mistakes in it yet!”, so I’m hoping for a better tomorrow then today has been!

Harvey In The Cupboard

As many of you know, I work in a school Art Department and I am based “In The Art Cupboard“. I am never exactly sure where my day will lead me as there are always unexpected things that pop up.

One such unexpected occurrence was a very sweet pooch who stayed with me this afternoon. We had our last Life Drawing session and our model had to bring her dog, so he came to stay with me.

We went for walks, we played, I got kisses and a paw shake, he laid at my feet while I did some work, he was adorable. I think the cupboard might need a little furry creature who is a permanent resident. The cupboard was even cheerier than normal and all the kids just loved him.

Meet Harvey the very good natured labradoodle:

He just made my day!

No Snow YET!

The snow didn’t come quickly enough this morning, so off to work we go. It will apparently be coming in at 10am this morning and possibly not stopping till Sunday if you go with one report. So, I imagine that it will be absolute chaos this afternoon trying to get all the students home, albeit organized chaos.

But, it is the weekend, so we have that to look forward too, even though we don’t have a cozy snow day off!

{image from my Winter board on Pinterest by Yohji Yamamoto}

UPDATE: it is now coming down like a little blizzard out there and we will be closing the school early this afternoon. It  looks just like a little snow globe outside that someone has shaken with dizzying delight. Just before it really started to fall heavily, I caught this little seagull just observing it all from the roof:

I Made it Through

Well another date to add to the t-shirt, I/we survived the first day back to school. It was great to see my kids and my colleagues. I was tired, but a good tired.

The highlight of my day was going to Costco after work with a girlfriend. Sad, I know, but Costco brings me a measure of happiness and although we are trying to stay healthy and be good, a pack of red velvet cupcakes just jumped into my cart, I couldn’t believe it, but who am I to make them jump back out again, when they risked their lives leaping from the shelf in the first place? I just let them stay there and enjoy the ride.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, its off to work we go….

We go back to school today and after such a long break, I am not sure I am ready. I just need a few more days in my house, hanging out, reorganizing and listening to good music with my Christmas lights on.

I can’t bear to take my lights down yet, so they will be up a little while longer, it is so nice as the nights close in early to have the den filled with the twinkle and glow of lights, it makes it a happier space.

We have already completed a few reorganizing projects since we have gotten back from the States. We cleaned out the kitchen cabinets and the drawers. We bought some new storage containers to put things in. It is silly, I know, but when I open my drawers now, they just make me happy because everything is in its place. I also de-cluttered one section of my closet and have items to use as dust rags, items to be turned into a sewing project and items that are going to Oxfam.

We tried a new pizza dough recipe Sunday night and it was delicious. I found it on the Annie’s Eats blog and is definitely going in our repertoire of dough recipes. Mr. Michie liked it so much, he cut the crust off a piece, just to eat the crust, he never does that!

I have a few things planned this week, that should make it fly by, but I am already ready for Friday night again, when I can just be with Mr. Michie. I am going to have to wear my pajamas inside out and do a snow dance and pray hard for at least one snow day this term, I am going to need it! Just to have one more day, curled up under blankets with my twinkle lights, Christmas music and a hot chocolate.

{image found here}

Last Day of School

Today we are going to skate right into the Christmas Holidays. I can’t wait. It is only 1/2 a day and then we are finished for the joyous season. I don’t know who will be running for the gate faster, us or the kids!