Last Day of Summer School

Today was my last day of summer school. One of my students rallied the others together and made this. I had even fussed at her to get to work, not knowing what she was up to. What a plesant surprise. I have really enjoyed teaching summer school. The students are really motivated for some reason. Cards like this make teaching worthwhile.

Salt Springs Sink

This is my project for the summer.

It is the sink cabinet from the Salt Springs cabin. I know, scary, huh? My idea was to buy a new cabinet or at least a nice used one. It was Lew's great idea to sand and paint this one because it is "retro."

Lew won... for now. I knew that even though Lew said he would do the work the task would fall to me. Just in case he really wanted to do it, I let it set outside for months and months refusing to work on it. I just couldn't stand it any longer. I want to be able to use our Salt Springs cabin for a place of respite so I took on the project.

The task seemed overwhelming. I sanded the rust. I went to Lowe's to find tools or products to make sanding the rust easier. I sanded some more rust. I washed off some of the rust. I scraped off some of the rust. I sanded more of the rust.

I used the sanding time as meditation time. I thought about what color I wanted to paint it. I thought about bright colors. I thought about white. I went to Lowe's and looked at the colors. Nothing jumped out at me. I was watching Oprah yesterday and Kirstie Alley was on and she did a segment called Ding Dong Decorator. She went into a woman's home and decorated it. She painted the bathroom cabinet black and it looked so cool and crisp. I had my color!

Since this task seemed so overwhelming I had to see some completion and know that there was an end. Jensen and I went to Wal-Mart and got one can of paint. I found a Rust-o-leum that is Hammered Black. The surface doesn't have to be smooth. I read the can and all of the rust doesn't even have to be sanded off! Of course, I have to sand most of the rust because I won't be able to sleep if I know there is rust lurking under the sink.









Jensen, Lew and I got one drawer painted so I could experience success. I think it looks beautiful and I am excited for the finished product!

Bucket List

I haven't even seen the movie, "The Bucket List", but I get the gist of it. A list of things to do before you kick the bucket. I've been wanting to do this for a while, and since "Write my Personal History" is on my list then I might as well write on my blog. Here is my list. Please don't judge me. If there is anything on the list that you would like to help me to accomplish, let me know. I you would like to accompany me on any of my adventures again, let me know.

These are in no particular order.

• Take an untethered hot air balloon ride
• Ride the human slingshot at Daytona (I already have plans to do this on my next birthday with Prissy since we share the same birthday and it's on her list, too.)
• Ride the Ferris Wheel at Daytona
• Go zip lining
• Learn to macrame (that's right, I missed it the first time around in the 70"s. Now i regret it.)
• Grow a garden and eat something out of it.
• Learn to the play the piano (just basics)
• Write my personal history (I'm doing it! Now I have to do all of my retro life)
• Digitize all of my photos, from which I will write my personal history.
• Obtain a concealed weapons permit.
• Obtain a motorcycle license.
• Be debt free
• Buy and drive a scooter
• Visit a nude beach (Don't judge)
• Fix my house and yard the way I want it. (This includes my room, which I want to make into a Moroccan boudoir. I need help with this one)
• Live as a minimalist
• Get a passport and use it!
• Go on a service mission.
• Learn to kayak and go on an overnight trip.
• Walk a labyrinth
• Meditate with a Buddhist monk.
• Go on a silent meditation retreat.
• Do work at all of the temples in the world.
• Earn my master's degree
• Earn my doctorate's degree
• Go on an overnight bicycling trip and sleep in my own shelter.
• Sing karaoke with Jean at her choice of venue.
• Rent a villa in Tuscany and wear a long, white flow-y dress
• Eat granola on a gondola in Venice.
• Get a henna tattoo
• Learn how to make a rag rug.

This is it for now. As i think of more, I will add them.