So you know that really really bad thunderstorm that came through the area last night (Friday)? We were driving in it! The trip to my grandmother's house normally takes 3.5-4 hours... between the traffic and the storm it took us 6 hours to get to her house. We were in stop and go, bumper to bumper traffic from the Rt. 3 exit off of 97S all the way to the Potomic River Bridge. Then right after we crossed the bridge was when we got caught in torrential down pours of rain, winds up to 60 mph, and LOTS of debris. Mom had the windshield wipers at full speed, we were creeping along at 5mph, and we still couldn't see anything in front of us because the rain was soooo bad. Oh yeah, and the power was out so none of the traffic lights were working. Finally we pulled off of the road into a Wawa parking lot (which we didn't realize it was a Wawa at first because, hmmm, they didn't have power either). We sat there for 30 min., waiting for the storm to pass, and then we ventured back out into the stream of cars on Rt. 301S. Then we were back in heavy traffic from everyone else who also had to slow down for the storm. Then we stopped. And sat. For 20 min. Then we drove 500 yrds. And stopped. And sat. For 15 min. This went on for about an hour. The rain had let up, so people were getting out of their cars, walking around, talking to neighboring travelers... it was memorable to say the least. Finally we started moving again and this time kept moving. Eventually we got to an area where there was power, so everyone was stopping to get gas, use the bathrooms, and in general get out of the cars and stretch their legs. I found out from a lot of people at the place where we stopped, that trees had fallen down across the road, so that's what was causing the backup. After that, the rest of the trip went smoothly and without incident... but it definitely felt like the trip that never ends.
So I'm at my grandmother's now, and yesterday I got to visit with a lot of my family. My uncle, who lives in North Carolina, came up to visit my grandmother for a couple days, but had to leave Saturday morning. So we visited with him a little in the morning before he left, then my mom's cousin Marie dropped off her son David in the afternoon so he could be entertained by my brother. My brother, cousin David, and I all went over to the mall to get a power cord for my brother's PS2 because he forgot it at home. Then they played PS2 for the rest of the day. Marie, her daughters Erin, Amanda, and Sarah, and Marie's sister Kathy came back over later in the afternoon/early evening and we all sat around chatting and going through old stuff that my grandmother had that she didn't want anymore, trying to give it to us. They left about 7:30pm and the rest of the night was uneventful.
Today we're all just hanging around the house. Mom's doing home improvement projects for my grandmother as her mother's day gift for her. We're going over my great aunt and uncle's house later today to see my aunt (the one that was in the hospital, she's home now) and to visit some more with family. I'll write more later when I get back home to Maryland. Ciao!! ;)
Lot's to tell... my weekend was cool, especially Saturday. I went to the Winchester Apple Blossom Festival in northern Virginia... and had fun watching all the drunk people as well as the parade. ;) I drove my brother's friend Amanda down because she had to take the SAT's and couldn't go down on the bus. We were almost late because of all the traffic and the roads getting closed off in Winchester. I found a pretty good seat towards the end of the parade route. Check out the pictures of some of the highlights. I only watched about half of the parade (just long enough to get very sunburned) and then helped the marching band pack up after they were done. There was a huge field across the street where we all hung out until it was time for the buses to roll out. I ended up getting volunteered to drive one of the students, Angela, back to the school. The end of the parade was really awesome because there was an entourage of about 75-100 motorcycles and choppers. They were soooo pretty!! :) Mom and I ran (me barefoot) across the field so we could see them!
This week has been great at work. The kids have been really well behaved and I haven't been stressed, or had to use my "angry voice" at all this week. Definitely a 180 from last week, where I thought I was either going to shoot someone or lose my mind. And tomorrow is shaping up to be a promising day too. The only hitch in this week was yesterday when the retractable map that hangs over the black board in the elementary school that I subbed at fell down on me while I was trying to get it to retract back up. It fell down on my face, hitting my forehead and the bridge of my nose. Obviously, it hurt real bad, but nothing was bleeding or broken so I'm fine. I put ice on my head, and surprisingly there's no bruising yet. Just a little sore.
Tomorrow my family and I are leaving for Virginia to visit my grandmother and celebrate Mother's Day together. We'll also be visiting my aunt, who's in the hospital. She's still not doing well at all, but she has the leading pulmonary specialist on the east coast as her doctor. We're all hoping and praying that she'll pull through and get better soon.
So now I'm going to be trendy and watch the last episode of Friends, even though I've never really followed the show. Hopefully it'll be really good! ;)
Ciao!
Coffee!! This background is my subtle tribute to the tonic that keeps me going every morning. So here's the scoop on the bookstore job. Tomorrow is my last night there. Between the misunderstandings with the schedule, the exhaustion I feel from subbing 40 hours a week, and me wanting weekends off... there's just no point in hassling with it. AND I get my evenings and weekends free! Yay!! Though I will miss the people and I'll have to make the extra effort to keep in touch with them.
I've decided that God is doing some crazy things in my life right now. Everything is being changed, transitioning, turning upside down, or stopping... yet somehow it's all fine. I'm taking each day as it comes, relying on the support of prayers, friends, family, and a very wonderful boyfriend. :)
Being a substitute teacher is definitely teaching me a lot. I'm not completely sure what all of it is, but I know that I'm being forced to learn patience, I'm really having to refine my teaching skills, and I definitely know that being a teacher in primary or secondary education is NOT my calling in life. ;) I have a growing respect for the individuals that commit their lives to teaching children and teenagers. I'll stick to teaching young adults.
My mom got a call from my grandmother tonight to tell us that my great aunt (grondmother's brother's wife) is in the emergency room because of some serious ongoing health problems. We're hoping for the best but preparing for the worst. Please pray for her, she needs it.
Well, time to end this monologue... but I'll write again soon.