on middle school, the lake district, and yet more homework

In the sixth grade hall of my middle school, now many moons ago, each of the teachers had decorated their classroom door. Some of them were clearly inspirational: 'Hang in there!' with a construction paper monkey hanging from a construction paper tree. Encouraging: 'Have a beary nice day!' With the requisite cuddly teddy with arms outspread. And then there was the door that I never understood. It wasn't inspiring. It wasn't encouraging. It wasn't even explanatory: 'Welcome to the Wonderful World of Math!' No, it was the following: 'With one foot in cold water and one foot in hot water, on the whole, you're average!' I tried to get it, I really did. But to this day its meaning (or perhaps intent is the better word) is lost on me. And because this door confused me, and because I spent every day looking at it in passing and trying to figure it out, it is permanently embedded in my memory. And random things will trigger it. Just the simple act of putting my foot in a bath of hot water now and I hear: 'On the whole, you're average!'

It's really nice.

Almost as nice as this container of extra crunchy Jif from Jenn that I am currently spooning to death. So...gooooood... * insert sound of Homer eating a donut here *

I think I like rain. But only aggressive rain--the sort of rain that streaks the window panes and makes a pattering sound and darkens the sky. This is good rain. Intentional rain. It's doing that right now, and between that and the gentle hum of the washing machine, soothing things are happening.

Though I don't need to be soothed as much as I need to write an entire research log on materials and processes in the woodmill and metal shop. The biggest problem with this task--other than lack of time and interest--is that all my note-taking while in these places happened on whatever nearby writing surface I could find--one of ten notebooks in my purse, on my hand, up the sides of handouts. So now I'm rifling through all these scraps and trying to make sense of things like 'cross-cut against grain, ripping cutting with grain, 40 mm, plinth, chamfered edge.' I don't even know if half of these are actual words.

Did you know that first year marks don't count at my school? I don't know if that's a UK thing or specific to my particular Uni, but I think it's bizarre. Also, unmotivating. Also, wonderful.

This is totally unrelated, but which of these two pictures do you like better?

 

 

I took them a couple months ago in the Lake District. Did I ever post those photos? I don't remember. This dementia is killing me. Just in case:

The best time to love the Lake District is on an early morning walk from the cabin to the village for a hot croissant and coffee at the one cafe that may or may not be open.

* sigh * To be there now. Big hugs, and back to work,
Essss

Dear chair: I hate you.

Having received no instructions, tips, or materials for model-making, two other first years and I tackled five miniature chairs this afternoon. Armed with nothing but toothpicks and some stolen wooden coffee stir-sticks from the cafeteria, we then went crazy with glue, fishing line, and tape. I'm not gonna lie when I say that what I have created is both shameful and pathetic. I won't hesitate to scrap them when this project is over (versus my usual sentimentality for all handicrafts however poor or sad), and I won't be lying when I say that I can very well see myself only designing furniture in the future than can be created with a bit of cardboard and a dowel-rod. Everything I do for the next three years will be some variation of a cardboard bench with legs. And shoot, maybe sometimes I'll leave the legs off. 'Modern functionality,' I'll say haughtily, throwing my hair over my shoulder. 'I do hope you are astute enough to understand what I've done here.' 

We have an art class this Thursday (perhaps that is where they will teach us to build these models?) and the list of supplies we need (blue tac, thin thread, and a scalpel, among other things) leads me to believe that we might be building traps for small animals or perhaps practicing some minor surgery. That would be useful given the injuries I received today using dull scissors and a thousand rubber bands.

Yes. I used rubber bands to make my chairs.

I don't want to talk about it.

I'm taking my first break of the week (I know, I know, it's only Tuesday, but I DREAMT about chairs last night, so it feels well-deserved) and heading off to book club now. I didn't finish the book, but I did flip to the end to find out how it finished. So I feel pretty prepared. 

More tomorrow, I hope!

Hugs big hugs,
Esssss

On my first week back to school

Have you ever stood on the edge of a surf and felt sure in your footing when a wave roars in and WOOSH! You're somehow fully in the water and struggling to regain your balance? That's what this week is like, and it's only Tuesday morning.

My University courses began yesterday, and so far it's CRAZY. Crazy AWESOME. But crazy-busy. Wave-crazy. I'll write more on it when I'm not racing off to dress/catch the bus/sprint late into my first class.

Big hugs love and see you soon-soon!
Essssssssss