Snow is a four-letter word

When growing up in Texas, I could always count on the sweetgum trees being brilliant with color right around my birthday.

 

Now I live in Iowa, and I can usually count on snow.

 

Today, it began by raining copiously. Now it’s beginning to change to snow. The gray, bitter, pinched days of winter have begun in earnest here in the upper Midwest.

 

Part of me groans inwardly, because I crave brilliance, color and light, all of which are absent during the Iowa winter. This is the season, however, when as a natural response to my environment, I begin to spend more time creating brilliance and color for myself. The barrenness of the landscape falls away as I switch my focus from outdoors to indoors.

 

I’m seriously considering a new coat of paint on the walls in my house. Dingy yellow has never made me happy, and I don’t think it complements the beautiful oak trim anyway. I was considering a lavender or perhaps a bluish sage… in an attempt to move around the color wheel away from the yellow tones.

 

The carpet, we can’t really do much about right now. If I had my ‘druthers, I’d prefer to switch to a wood floor, but that’s not possible at present. I’d also like to re-do the way we have the TV set up, as well as switching the entrance area to the enclosed porch.

 

I also want to do an original watercolor painting for the living room; people are always asking to see my work, but I always give it away, so I never have anything I like that’s just lying around to show to people. I can’t quite decide what the theme will be, though. I guess it doesn’t matter; I can paint whatever I want, and then after it hangs for a while, give it away and start a new one.

 

Thursday, I’m being evaluated by my supervisor, one of the vice principals. I’m not really nervous about that; I usually do fine with my classes. My main problem is just keeping up with all the paperwork crap that has to be completed. I hate paperwork. My ideal teaching job would be one where I spent all my time interacting with students but no time keeping track of paperwork. I do intend to try to have my desk cleaned off when she comes in, though… at least maintain the appearance of organization, right?