Hello, friends!
With summer coming to a close, this was my last month of free-floating through life. I’m wrapping up the fun and getting down to business, finally.
to create
Not much progress writing this month, but I did post a writing update vlog and two new blog posts. Slowly getting back to my habits and goals from the beginning of the year.
to work
This month, I phased out my Ubering in favor of some new work. I spent a couple weeks phone banking for a local Democratic candidate (who is actually my ex’s mother lol) until the primary election, which she won.
But more excitingly, I got a real, full-time, adult job! I’m working as an Instructional Assistant at a local school for gifted students. I started this month, and I’m already enjoying it more than I expected.
Basically, I act as classroom support for a few teachers at the school. I currently assist a fifth grade class in language arts, math, science, and project-based learning, as well as a third grade class and second grade class in language arts. All my classes are virtual, so I sign onto each teacher’s Zoom meeting and help out, whether that’s meeting with students, moderating the chats or breakout rooms, or troubleshooting tech issues.
I was worried I wouldn’t like being in a school, since I literally just graduated after 17 years of education. I never wanted to be a teacher, so I really resisted the idea of working at a school. But I’m having a lot of fun! It’s exciting to interact with the kids and get to know them while they learn. They’re such little bundles of potential and have a lot to offer each other and the world. I’ve definitely become more open to the idea of teaching than I have been in the past.
to live
August 5: Charlie moves in
At the beginning of this month, my roommate acquired a cat. The cat actually came from Ray’s mom, who rescued her a couple years ago, but has been looking to rehome her, since the dogs do not get along with her. The cat’s name is Charlie Poof (named for her poofy tail and a now-irrelevant pop artist). She is incredibly beautiful and demands nonstop attention. She wants to be pet at all times and will even rub on our dog, Pi, for physical connection. She has some behavioral issues we’re trying to improve, but here’s hoping everything works out.
August 7-9: Tallahassee trip
I took a quick trip to see my family the first weekend in August. It was the perfect time for a visit, because my cousin Thayer and her dad were driving from Virginia to Texas to drop her car off when she goes back to school, and they decided to stop in Tallahassee for a few days to see family. Incidentally, my cousin Lindsey, who now lives in Orlando, was planning on heading up that Friday-Monday and asked if I wanted to tag along. I intended to go with her, but at the last minute, I had to get a background check for my new job on that Monday morning. Since Lindsey didn’t want to leave early, I couldn’t tag along with her anymore, but I already had plans with friends and family so I didn’t want to bail. I ended up driving myself up for 2 days!
It was nice to see my parents and meet their new dog, Buddy. I also got to catch up with my best friend Sara. We got coffee and sat in the sun for 3 hours and both ended up with really weird sunburns. And I got to see my whole extended family for Sunday lunch before I went home. Overall, a very pleasant trip.
August 15: Ray’s birthday party
For Ray’s 22nd birthday, we had a small family gathering at our house. We decided to have the party before her actual birthday so we wouldn’t be meeting with at-risk family members after we both started working in schools. The extended family came over, we had baked potatoes and ice cream cake, and Ray got plenty of presents. One of the highlights was the new greenhouse her mom gave her to set up in the backyard, along with a bunch of plants, decor, and supplies to fill it with from her grandmother. Now we have a lovely little greenhouse for flowers and our home garden.
August 17: First day of school!
Because of my new job, I’m back on a school schedule. I started work in mid-August and got a full-time employee paycheck for the first time ever. I’m still adjusting to waking up at 6 am, commuting an hour total every day, working 8 hours, and actually eating 3 meals a day. It’s a whole new way of living for me.
August 27: Ray’s birthday
For Ray’s actual birthday, we had a quiet night at home with a homemade dinner and some Schitt’s Creek season 6. On the following Saturday, we went to Universal for about an hour to use an express pass we got pre-pandemic that expired at the end of the month. We used it on Dudley Do-Rights Ripsaw Falls, which I had never been on, and Ray is obsessed with. We naively didn’t bring ponchos and decided to just embrace the soaking, leaving us to spend the next few hours dripping. We went to Margaritaville for dinner, a Ray birthday tradition since her 21st, and enjoyed our meals on the Porch of Indecision.
I’m sad to see summer end, but glad to have a new routine to get into. Working freelance since graduation coupled with six months of a pandemic lockdown has left me feeling a little lost in the world, without a sense of time or place or purpose. I enjoyed having the freedom to do what I wanted and work my own hours, but it was all a little disorienting after living with a set schedule my whole life. I’m excited to work hard and establish a sense of routine and order to my life.
Tell me about your summer in the comments, and feel free to like and follow as you see fit.
That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!
Jayda Louise 
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