School's out for summer! School's out forever!!
Okay, well, not forever, but until September 2nd anyway, which is good enough for me. If it was out forever, I'd have to seriously reassess my education and career plans.
Our last day of before and after school care was last Thursday, and it was... strange. As I was cleaning up the stage where we have our care and watching the kids slowly trickle out the door for the last time this year, I actually felt a little sad. It's funny, as horribly as they behaved sometimes, as absolutely insane as they drove me, as completely tired as I was of conversations on an elementary school level--I still managed to form an attachment to those kids. Some of them I even really, really liked, and actively miss. It was a surprising realization. Like Stockholm Syndrome for non-captives.
Anyway, I am now a lady of leisure for the next 10 1/2 weeks, and I plan on enjoying the hell out of them while they last. Is it just me, or is that an unusually short summer? I feel like in the South our summers were a few weeks longer, but maybe that's just my imagination. It would also reinforce the stereotype of the dumb Southern hick that I hate so much, so maybe we just shouldn't discuss it any further.
I spent my first three days of freedom in mostly bliss, with a little homework thrown in just as a reminder that life is inherently not fun, and I shouldn't get too caught up in the enjoyment. On Friday, I caught up on all the sleep that I'd been missing over the past 10 months, then after a little 30 Day Shred action, got myself all gussied up for Rent at the Paramount in Seattle.
Let me tell you, as much as I ADORE Wicked (and you know I do), seeing Rent with the original Mark and Roger MIGHT have been the coolest theater experience I've ever had. It was so amazing to hear the same voices that I listen to on my soundtrack, and see the people who made those characters into real people for millions of fans. Not to mention the rest of the cast was absolutely incredible, and yes, I cried my eyes out at the end. I really wanted to haunt the stage door and wait for Adam and Anthony to come out, but Colby had to wake up to leave for a trip at 3:30 am the next morning, and the show didn't get out until 11 pm, so we headed home for some sleep.
Sunday was a pretty dull day of homework and catching up on BBC costume dramas, but Saturday, I went to support a friend who was taking part in a Crossfit challenge (um, completely insane), and she ended up not competing, but we cheered on a group of competitors nonetheless. And it was probably a good thing she didn't, because after that experience, I think she would have been dead on her feet and unable to participate in our POLE DANCING CLASS that afternoon!
Oh yes, indeedy. I am well on my way to changing my name to Bambi and installing a spinning pole in our loft. Ostensibly, pole dancing is a good workout, and I can tell you that my arms and back were feeling it yesterday, but let's be honest here, this is really just a fun way to hang out with gal pals and figure out how to feel a little sexy without busting out laughing at myself! We spent most of our time on Saturday learning the basics on the pole, but did eventually get ourselves in the air and spinning toward the end of class. Get your dollar bills ready pals, because I am once more rethinking my career goals!
I'm envious that you got to see Rent -- the timing and/or finances never seem to work in our favor when some of the shows come. Enjoy your time off...and pole dancing :) There's a reason those ladies are so toned!
Posted by: Becky | June 23, 2009 at 12:09 AM
oh man i would love to see rent on stage, i've only seen the movie and i just want to see it live now. and seriously, i'm so jealous of your long summer, i miss summers. man maybe i should just work at a school too, haha.
Posted by: katelin | June 23, 2009 at 01:40 AM
I've been wanting to take a pole dancing class for awhile. I really should look into it!
Posted by: A Super Girl | June 23, 2009 at 02:52 AM
WOO HOO summer time! So jealous you have a summer break. Want to job share with me?
Posted by: Jessica | June 23, 2009 at 06:32 AM
Homework during the summer? What are you, a masochist?!?! :)
Posted by: Becky aka StinkyLemsky | June 23, 2009 at 04:10 PM
Bambi Noelle...that has a really nice ring to it.
My best friend recently took a pole dancing class and loved it. She's been trying to get me to join her, but I just can't see myself doing it!
Posted by: Larissa | June 23, 2009 at 09:05 PM
Aren't Adam and Anthony amazing? I saw them in NYC in 2007 when they had just come back to the show. My husband earned so many points for making that happen for me!
Posted by: Heidi Renée | June 24, 2009 at 12:37 AM