"Gotta Get Back To Hogwarts..."

Yup. It's back to school time! And I love it. I always have. The feeling of going to school, picking up school supplies, all that good stuff. This year I didn't even really need new supplies, but I bought some anyway. I love looking forward at the end of the summer to a semester full of new books, meeting new people, studying new things, new teachers etc.

It is scary though. It feels like yesterday I was starting my Masters program, and now here I am embarking on my last year of my formal education before I get a real job.

What?

Real job? What am I talking about, I am way to young for that.Old people get jobs. Not me. Salary? What's that? You mean some people don't just get payed by the hour?!? Weird.

No, next fall I won't be buying new textbooks, re-working my class schedule a million times, and feeling that nervousness and excitement that naturally comes as you embark on a new adventure. I'll be embarking on an even scarier one. If everything goes the way I would like it to, next fall I will be facing a classroom of kiddies, my own classroom.

WOAH. Now that's scary. Exciting and scary.

It will be interesting to see what this semester has in store for me. I have some goals set, now it is time to see where it leads.

I am really excited! :-)

And scared...

"I want adventure in the great wide somewhere..."

Preface: I love my life. Absolutely love it. I live in a beautiful city. I am continuing with my education, working towards getting a job as a school teacher, something I am very excited to do for the rest of my life. I have a wonderful job, my own amazing little apartment etc. But I want more...

So. I made a mistake today. I looked at pictures from a friends trip to Italy.
 
Ever had one of those days where all you could think of was Italy? I can sympathize. I have those days all the time. No joke. Those are the days where I go to Expedia and look at prices for plane tickets. Last time I got "Italian Fever" this bad I bought a ticket to Italy. I spent a week and a half there.

 $880 folks. I could afford that, right? Just take a year off of school, rob a bank, and have another Italian adventure.

Would that I could... Would that I could.

Whenever I do get into a mood like this I always feel guilty. I fully realize how blessed I have been. I have spent almost two years in that beautiful country. I have so many friends and loved ones who have never left the United States, and I have visited Italy twice. How did I get so lucky?!? I will continue to thank the Lord every day for the Italian experiences I have had, the wonderful people I met, the amazing places I had the opportunity to visit etc.

And yet... I want an adventure... An Italian adventure.

Oh well. I'll just have to continue listening to Light In The Piazza, and day dreaming about my next trip to Italy. 

"Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine."

First thing you need to know about me (though, if you are taking the time to read this, I assume you already know this), almost half of the things my family says relate back to famous quotes. Movies, t.v. shows, books, inside jokes, you name it. We quote things a lot. I can guarantee that at least 3/4's my post titles will be quotes of one sort or another.

Movies speak to me. I know, it might seem strange, but it is true. They really do. In my advancing years (bahaha) I am starting to enjoy even more the whole experience of watching movies in theaters. I know, yet another expensive habit that I feed.  Tonight I had the chance to go see Casablanca in theaters (special event because it was just released on Blu-ray). I'll admit. I have only seen this movie once before tonight (I was probably 18 or 19 when I first saw it. I'll embrace the shame, and repent).

Couple things about this movie experience.

1. I bought two tickets. Long story. But yes. I went to see Casablanca alone with two tickets. Perfect, no?

2. Most of the audience were adorable couples who probably watched this movie for the first time when they were young lovers. It was really cool :-)

I remember liking Casablanca when I first saw it, but it was even better tonight. It is kind of like Wuthering Heights. I have loved Jane Eyre since the first time I opened it 8 years ago. No joke, I can tell you where I was when I first opened that book, it was love at first sight. Wuthering Heights? Not so much. I hated it the first time I read it. Absolutely despised it. I re-read it last year (I regularly re-read books, there are a couple that I read every summer without fail). With a few more years of experience under my belt, and having been tossed in love a couple times, I loved Wuthering Heights. Not as good as J.E., but still a good read.

Casablanca was the same way. Having had an equivalent of an "Ilsa" I was able to relate, in my own way. The movie finished an hour ago, but, I'm afraid I've been thinking. I love it that a movie produced over 70 years ago can speak to me now.   

As I watched those "seasoned couples" leaving the theater I smiled to myself, imagining when they release Casablanca in theaters again for the 100 year celebration. Hopefully I will have done what I need to so I can go see it with the love of my life. 


I don't know how many people will read this, but I think I will like blogging. My own pensieve :-) I've always wanted one of those! A place where I can empty out my brain. Now maybe I'll be able to sleep tonight instead of thinking of this experience all night long :-)