Minute Math

Some days I wish I could go back in time to my second grade classroom. I would find my second grade self, with pigtail braids and gapped front teeth, and I would tap her on the shoulder. She would look up at me from a thirty-problem multiplication worksheet, frustrated. Wordlessly I'd take her pencil, smile reassuringly, and I would write:

Dear Mrs. Sharp, principal, and board;

I will tolerate this no longer. Not only am I failing to learn anything as you force me to complete this ridiculous sheet of problems, but you are giving me a math anxiety from which I am likely to suffer the duration of my years as a student, and quite possibly the rest of my life. As the rest of my classmates succumb to this torture, I will sit here in quiet defiance, and refuse to participate.

I dare you to stop me.


Your diligent future English major,
Ashley


My shy, second grade self would stare wide eyed in fear. But maybe I would have the ability to sit here tonight and confidently say, I did well in math. Maybe I would have learned how to multiply square roots, or gotten higher than a 140 on my GRE Analytics test (the scale is from 130-170). Or maybe when my boss asks me to use an algebra formula to place a new pastry order, my stomach wouldn't knot up.

Eh, I rather edit books anyway.

Leaves Are Changing

From the middle of the study in our house, I can see out six different windows. The trees out all of them tell me its fall. The air in the morning is crisp and my kettle whistles away at me often these days.

There is a stack of books and a pile of assignments on my table due each week. Lately the days blend together and suddenly its Tuesday class again. I've promised myself that this week all my assignments will be done on time. Usually that isn't a problem, but for some reason this semester with extra hours spent at work, and a little traveling, I'm struggling a bit. But only a bit.

In my Editing course we're working with writers from another class, helping them and editing their papers through the semester. I'm enjoying it greatly so far. The grammar lessons are good for me and they go well with the Copyediting course I am also loving.

Dig in, work hard, that's what I have to do this week.

Thank goodness for coffee.

This Bunch

I spent time getting to know my  family last weekend. What an incredibly unique, creative, silly, and wonderful bunch. 

The eldest, so engaging when she tells a story--full of life and passionate about what is right and true. The second, an artist. She is courageous, caring, and gentle. My husband falls third, in him I'm beginning to see a tender strength. He works hard, cares deeply for each sibling, and has a tendency to sing silliness to make them laugh. The pianist, quite possibly the funniest of the bunch, values good conversation, relationships, and striving for the best in all circumstances. Also, he adores his wife. Next is the littlest sister, who finds beauty in everything, no matter how small. She values people for who they really are and has a quiet way of anticipating needs of those around her. Finally, the kid brother, who is growing into an incredibly smart man. He has a contagious smile, loyal to the end, and it seems that everything he touches turns to gold. 

In each of them I see pieces of their dad. 

My wedding photos reveal they each have his smile. 

I'm proud to call them mine. 

Another Perfect Day

Breakfast, books, wandering, pouring rain, coffee shops, a new dress, good conversation, and a dinner with naan and curry. 

Be still my heart. 

In a Flower Field: A Beautiful Day

Coffee, a picnic lunch, sunshine, a swim at Walden Pond, ice cream, fields of flowers, calls to California, and a great night sleep.

First Day at Emerson...Again!

It's official, with the sunlight making its way into our living room this morning, the air is still brisk and school has begun. Fall is here.

The signs are everywhere, and I'm slowly resigning myself to the change of season. I enjoyed summer so thoroughly, and the warmth finally healed me of the long dark winter. New Englanders have this attitude though, that fall is really just the beginning of winter. I resist that.

My first class, called The Editor/Writer Relationship, went well. I'm also taking a Copyediting course, the two pair well together I think. I'm slowly easing out of work life and back into school life.
September is packed with events at work, assignments for school, and a whole group of visitors who will start to arrive this week.

I love visitors.

First Day of School

James begins teaching Math and Bible today at New Covenant School in Arlington, MA. I am so proud of him. He has worked hard in the last few years and today he begins the dream job, using his degree, all of his experience, and the passions God has given him. This is no small thing. I can hardly wait to see what this year holds.

Arizona in Color

          

     

  

Our trip to Arizona was incredible.

When I married James, I married into a tradition of traveling to Phoenix to visit his best friend, often as a surprise. Last time I arranged a trip for AJ to San Antonio and hid him in the bathroom closet. James returned home and went right in there to use it. You can imagine the yell. 

This time when we got to the house AJ was taking a shower, and James went in to hand him a towel. They giggled a lot. 

There was a lot of laughter while we were there. We mostly hung out inside, as Phoenix in the summer is about 110 degrees hot. But we played a lot, ate delicious food, drank gallons of iced coffee, did crafts, swam in the pool, and had a lot of good time together. 

Can't wait to go back.

Vacation Starts Now

I'm currently in a packed car headed to the White Mountains in New Hampshire. 

On the agenda for the next week there is reading, hiking, star gazing, campfires, good meals, kayaking, swimming and sleeping in a cabin. It's so green at Cragged, the camp where we're spending the weekend. After that we're flying away to spend the rest of the week with some good friends, in a warm place. But that's as specific as I can be because some of them don't know we're coming. I love surprises. 

Please don't be disappointed if we fail to show up on your doorstep Tuesday. One hint, it's not California. 

Yesterday at work I finally began to feel how weary I really am in my shoes there. Our last vacation was in April, and since then I've accomplished a lot at work. This will be a much needed break, and with any luck I'll return rejuvenated for the business of the fall season. 

Until then I'm going to revel in summer.

Gardening in My Window

Last fall we visited the botanical gardens in Wellesley, and since then I have vowed to create my own.

In my living room.

The succulent bottom left is a California native. The ivy bottom right was a clipping from another plant, and has gone crazy this summer.

I love plants, and I love when they grow. The windows in our house face to the southwest and they fill with glowy light in the afternoons. My plants can not get enough of this light. I went yesterday to Home Depot, and today to a local greenhouse to pick up these lovely succulents and ferns. They make me happy.

I repotted them on our dining room table, and pretty much made a huge mess but it was worth it. I'm trying to make the most of what is left of the summer, because fall means winter is around the corner. So we went swimming in Walden Pond a few nights ago, we eat outside whenever possible, and today we're going to see a baseball game with some friends.


Summer has given me extra time to spend with friends this year. I love the freedom to pop over to Chris and Cecilia's or have guests for dinner. It overwhelms me while I'm doing school. Our house is a bit quiet now that the Moore's have their own place. It was lovely to have them stay off and on this summer, and their adorable new house was well worth the wait I think.

My goal for August is to enjoy each moment of the remaining month and make the most of every day.