Movement

Pictures from L’Estartit, Spain

Have to say…it was a fun time!

The Visit

What does it mean to be a woman? What does it mean to be a man? Could I be detected if I wanted to live life as a man?

Today and tomorrow, Norah Vincent is visiting my classroom to talk about her experiences as a ‘man’ for one year. I find this facinating and hope that my classes do as well. It’ll be a good feed into the chapter on developmental psychology which I’ve now chosen to do after this (instead of my usual sensation & perception topic).

It’s an interesting topic. One that has been argued for centuries…our differences, our similarities. And even more so, how we deal with these. I know that it’s been easier to be a therapist and a woman…it’s so much more expected. But to get a job as a counselor in a school, you have an advantage if you are a man.

And then there’s whether it’s better to be a man or woman. R. and I have this argument all the time. Personally, I kinda like being a woman a lot.

How to help a friend

How do you tell a friend that she ought not listen to her long distance boyfriend?

Last night we went out with my friend, A., and her boyfriend, P.. While hanging out with R., P. revealed that he doens’t think that A. is the woman for his future. They have been dating off and on for 10 years. And A. is planning on moving back to the States for him as she thinks he’s going to marry her or at least make her his lifelong partner. Why does she think that? He says things such as ’see…that’s why I haven’t given you a ring yet’ or ‘yes, I think it would be interesting to find a job in the UK’. He gives her just enough to make her think he’s into her…and she ignores the other things he says that point in a bad direction. He told R. that he doesn’t see himself married or having children. Two things A. really wants. And she’s convincing herself that she could just live with him, not getting married.

I so don’t want her to give up a job she loves in this city she loves for someone who is lying to her. To someone who just doesn’t have the balls to just break it off. To someone who wants to cheat on her (confirmed) and most likely already has (not confirmed).

If she was going to move to be closer to her family or because she truly wanted to be back in the States, then I would be all for it. I’d miss her but I’d support this. But not for a guy who won’t commit.

What do I say to her? I can’t divulge his conversation with R. But I also don’t want her to be hurt in the long run and give up her London opportunity. Sigh. Boys suck sometimes.

When a sweater saved the day

There are many reasons to love autumn in London. The nights are cooler so sleeping is very comfy, particularly under a warm duvet. People want to snuggle up a lot more so love seems to be in the air. And best of all…big sweaters.

Last night I went out with a workmate, her boyfriend and a few others. We went to Belgo Noord for the mussels and beer. Now, I haven’t been drinking beer in order to try to lose some weight (it hasn’t really helped to be honest). So…I decided to have a few last night. Belgium beers are particularly yummy as was the food. But the downside of drinking beer when you’re not used to it is found in the next morning. Beer bloat.

Now coupled with PMS and the beer bloat, finding something to wear this morning was a touch rough. The outfit I had chosen the night before just wasn’t right with my big ol’ tummy. So I found the ultimate autumn outfit…slouchy trousers and a slightly roomy cable knit sweater from the States. It’s a lovely periwinkle colour so it doesn’t look too ick. I look rather New Englandy I’d say with my clogs on the feet. And my tummy is not exposed too much…is it sweater or is it tummy?

So, autumn is good for those fat days, while still remaining warm enough not to need the big winter coat. Ah…memories of American football and hot cocoa…one of those few things I miss from the States.

The thing about scuba that is totally cool is that it’s like flying but underwater. At least once you learn how to do it.

I remember my first trip to learn scuba. I was quite nervous about it. We’re not meant to be attempting to breathe underwater…but I did. You start off with a snorkle and swim around. As someone who had never even done that, it was a bit off-putting. I’m so used to breathing through my nose, but you can’t or you end up snorting water (and yes, I did this to the kids delight). Then they get you into your gear. It’s frickin’ heavy above water. With a weight belt, strapped into a kit with a huge tank and in a wetsuit, you feel a bit claustrophobic. And we weren’t doing this in a pool like most people…no, we were in the ocean from the start. So vision was a bit touchy. You learn how to use the instruments on the gear and as you release air from your BCD (like a life jacket), you slowly sink. As you head down into the water, you have to ‘equalize’, which means you learn to get rid of that pressure building up in your ears (like the pressure you feel when you fly but worse). If you can’t do this, you can’t dive. You have to go down slowly or you WILL feel pain.

Then at bottom (about 8 meters), you do tasks…like letting water into your mask and then getting rid of it. Now who in their right mind WANTS water in their mask? It’s an awful feeling and you definitely get water up your nose. Ick! But you learn how to do it well. Then you learn how to take the entire mask off and put it back on. Even worse! But the hardest thing to do is to remove your breathing apparatus and breathe the air bubbles while letting it free flow through your regulator (the breathing ap). It’s SCARY. But I survived this last year. And got my Scuba Diver certification.

This year was a walk in the park in comparison. Yes, I had to remove my mask and put it back on. Yes, I had to remove all my gear and put it back on. But I knew how to do it. And it wasn’t as scary. I’m glad that I had this break in-between as I was able to have some time to think about it all during the year in the middle.

We got to go on dives that were amazing. At one point, I was hovering at 15 meters and a school of fish surrounded me. Tons of shiny blue & brown fish just swimming around. Orange starfish dotting the surface. An eel that seemed quite nervous. A fish that looked like the spiney coral bits below. It was SO COOL.

Never in my mind did I think that this would be something I’d want to do. But I really like it. I don’t have the money to go on lots of trips and R. doesn’t know how to do it so I’d hate to go on my own…but I may try it on my honeymoon in St Lucia. I’m just happy to have been given this amazing opportunity. I love working at this school!

Scuba

I’m baaaa-ccck!

So. Where was I and what the heck was I doing? Well…three adults (including me) took a group of 24 students scuba diving in L’Estartit, Spain. Each year our school hosts trips in both the UK and in the Continent. I did the trip last year and have to say that this year was even better.

We left VERY early a.m. from school and headed off to the airport. We finally made it to our place a few hours later and began the process of getting scuba gear. I was most excited as I was going to end up certified as an Open Water Diver and have a few dives toward my advanced certification. And I made it. As did most of our kids. We had a ton of beginners who ended up with Scuba Diver certs and a few who went on to become more advanced. Only 2 dropped out…which is not bad.

Excitingly, we had a group of kids who were good beans. They got quiet when we asked and seemingly didn’t do anything bad. Not a bad trip. And on top of it, it was warm and I got some sun. Sweet!

Spain at 6am

Going to Spain for a few days. Taking kids from work. Cross fingers I survive! Will tell stories when I get back….

A Momentus 150th Post

I met the future in-laws. Yup, R’s parents.

Sunday started off at 8am for me. I woke up on my own and just couldn’t get back to sleep. So I got up, turned on the t.v. and decided to put together a small cabinet that we just hadn’t gotten to. We needed the extra storage.

Then finally R. woke up (probably due to the hammering sound around 9am). We sat, had tea, discussed our action plan for the day and then had breakfast. The day before R had seemed like he wanted to do a lot that day to get ready for his parents, but he was a lump for a while. I think the stress of everything had hit. Finally at 11am I told him he had to get ready to run our errands…and he did.

We went to the mall, Brent Cross, to pick up a pair or two of new shoes for me for work (bad shoes from States!), to go to Boots and to pick up moisturizer at the Body Shop. I found two pairs of cute work shoes (one may have to get returned…we’ll see), found some makeup I wanted and R. got his yummy smelling moisturizer for his dry bod.

We did this in less than 1 hour and headed home to start lunch for his folks, as well as finish cleaning the house. I was a mad woman - cleaned the bathroom (again), wiped down the kitchen (again), R. vaccuumed a ton and we straightened things up. The flat looked quite lovely by the end. And then I began to make the fajitas! Yup, I was going to introduce them to a bit of Americana (the bit that I like). So sliced up some veg and chicken, poured spice all over them and stir-fried away. Before putting them in the oven for the final cook/keeping warm, I added a touch of salsa so nothing would dry out.

And then we waited.

They showed up precisely at 2pm. And I got a smile from his mum and a gruff hello from his father. We went and sat on the couch for a bit of small talk. As you can suspect, it was awkward! Finally R. suggested that we go and eat (I was starving so happy he did so)…and it got a bit less weird. Things relaxed. And they enjoyed my meal (or at least it seemed like they did). We then went and sat back on the couch and we relaxed. Phew. I actuallly was having some fun. Dad relaxed and we got into a conversation about family. Mum smiled at me a lot. I was even invited to their house this weekend to meet an aunt. They remained in our flat until about 4:30 or so. And smiled at me as they left.

Both R. & I were relieved…and exhausted…happy it went okay!