03 October 2006

Keepin' It Together

I think it was in "The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood" that Vivi talks about "trying to keep her eggs in one basket". That's how I feel these days, like I'm constantly juggling, trying to keep it all together, trying to keep any one egg from tumbling out and shattering all over the floor.

I will venture to say that now in Year 9 of full-time teaching, I may be close to actually mastering this. On a good night before I go to bed, I know exactly what I'll be having for breakfast, lunch AND dinner the next day. I have my bag of teacherly stuff packed. I have my clothes for volleyball practice or my coaching paraphernalia for a game. I have my clothes picked out to wear the next day. This is the highest level of organization I have ever attained but it's been necessitated by 1) the final acceptance of the fact that I am NOT a morning person and may never be and 2) the need to monitor my blood sugar levels so I don't morph into a total witch at some point in the middle of my teaching day.

The hardest "egg" for me to keep in my basket is always breakfast. I have two "rules": breakfast has to be high in protein and it has to be quick to make and essentially portable since I usually end up eating on the way to work.

Here are my staples:
1) oatmeal with frozen blueberries and pecans or almonds
2) granola with yogurt
3) peanut butter and banana on toast
4) ham and cheese on bagel

I get sick of all of these, so I'd love to hear more suggestions. Anyone out there in the blog-o-sphere??? Anyone? Bueller?*

(*You know you're getting old when....
You're taking attendance in class. Someone is not answering, so you say "anyone? anyone? Bueller?" and nobody laughs. Alas for the days when everyone had seen Ferris Bueller's Day Off.)

7 comments:

Nathalie said...

I got a magic bullet for my birthday so I do all varieties of smoothies. I am so busy/lazy that I use frozen fruit so I don't have to chop anything. The night before I put whatever variety of fruit into my magic bullet cup, add a dollop of yogurt then pour some milk over it and put the lid on so that in the morning all I do is grind it up and I'm good to go.

Unknown said...

I thought the old saying was "Don't put all your eggs in one basket." Maybe that's your problem!

Anonymous said...

So glad to hear that teaching does get more managable! Perhaps when I return it will only take me three years to feel good about it since I taught for six.

I keep a mental list of "you know you're old when..." I love the one you said!!

Anonymous said...

Oh, and they now are bagging dark chocolate M&M's. That's what you need in the afternoon...

Ryan L Freed said...

I still have not mastered breakfast. Maybe some day.... (I have to admit that it took me a while to get the Bueller joke. I have seen the movie, though.)

- Kris

Kris said...

Thanks for your suggestions, Deb. I struggle with breakfast now because I'm busy feeding my two little ones that by the time I get around to myself, I'm famished. I've never been big on cereal so I'm always trying to think of something that's quick, healthy, and filling.

I'm also a fan of the smoothie if I've got fresh or frozen fruit and yogurt on hand. I use to put protein powder in to give the protein burst. Another favorite of mine is a whole wheat waffle with peanut butter and walnuts on top. I also like peanut butter and bananas as a topping. If I have a little extra time, I occasionally treat myself to an egg and cheese english muffin sandwich.

Deb said...

Thanks for the suggestions, friends. Maybe I need some more baskets :) or a magic bullet! I like the idea of the make-ahead smoothie, Nathalie!

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