Rainy days are my favorite days for the sole fact that I can sit around in an oversized sweatshirt and sip coffee while I write and plan for the school year. However, rainy days leave a metaphorical cloud hanging over my pale form because this has been the gloomiest summer of my life to date. Basically, I’ve been feeling a little down lately, but not down enough to dismiss all the beauty and happiness in my life.

I’m just happier when I can sunbathe for a little in the morning and then kickstart the endless hours I’ve spent trying to remember works that I haven’t read in quite some time. It has been quite the process, but I’m feeling a little better about the classes I will be teaching. Once I got into the nitty gritty of reading and researching, I felt more confident about this next year.

As I sit and sip my second brew, I’m recalling the day that I signed my teaching contract … boy was that an interesting story. But before I dive on in, I must first set the scene for all you avid readers.

It was the beginning of June … the day my sister left for bootcamp. Side note: we received a letter in the mail the other day from my sister. It was so relieving to hear that she is doing so well. So well in fact, that she is in a leadership position. One thing that you all must know about her is that she writes in the same style as she speaks; therefore, her multiple letters were just the right does of comic relief in this thing we call life.

She made sure to note that the females she is stuck with are the most annoying humans she has ever met. She’s kicking butt at PT and is making her mark in this world. I could not be prouder to have such strong-willed and amazing people like my sister in my life. But, back to the regularly scheduled program for this particular tidbit …

I had packed my car the morning of my sister’s swear-in date with the intention of staying in my apartment for a few days as I signed all the necessary materials to teach in the Fall. The original plan was to spend two days in Ohio; however, on the way out of town, I decided that it would be pointless for me to spend two days in Ohio if I only needed to be in the school for a few hours one day.

Therefore, in the Dunkin Donut’s parking lot as my parents ordered coffee, my brother and I grabbed all my belongings and loaded them into my parent’s car – leaving mine parked in that lot for the entire day. A little sketchy, but I ran with it.

After my sister swore in and we took a little detour for some much-needed nourishment, we drove back to retrieve my car and proceeded homeward. Plans had now changed, and I was set to leave my house at 2:30 a.m. My arrival time would be around 8:00 a.m., and I would turn right back around and take the scenic route back home. That’s right ladies and gents, I was going to drive over 10 hours in one day by myself only to sign my teaching contract and view my classroom. Crazy, right?

Well, I went to bed early that night, cutting the traditional good night phone call short in an effort to catch a multitude of zzz’s before the horrendous caffeine-filled drive ahead of me. Of course, I slept through all 10 of my alarms because I’m paranoid that I’ll oversleep. I was so mad at myself for missing that appointment. However, at about 4:00 a.m. when my tired eyes whipped open, I sent an email to the principal informing him of my change of plans. Thank God he had originally offered two time slots and the second was still available.

Now, Plan C was to attempt the second plan once again the following morning; the bonus was the fact that I had recruited my mom and faithful yorkie Bella to make the trip with me this time around. My mom and I split the driving … well, kind of.

You see, a few days before that trip, I had fallen down my steps early in the morning, almost breaking my tailbone. It hurt so bad to walk, let alone sit in the same position for a 10-hour car ride. So, when I attempted the drive back – because my mom made the early morning commute – I could only withstand about two and a half hours. It was just short of a train wreck, and I’m so glad I had someone with me ... two someones. Bella and I snuggled in the backseat for a majority of the trip, which is a stark difference to the way she has been treating me this week.

You see, my aunt is on a 3-week deployment with the Army, and my mom is staying with my grandmother to hold down the fort until my aunt returns. Now, my mother is Bella’s human; she thrives when my mother is around to spoil her and cuddle her and treat her like the princess she thinks she is. I was now left as a replacement human for three weeks, and when I tell you that this dog has been taking advantage of me these past three days, I’m not exaggerating.

Dogs are smart, but this dog is on another level. Typically, she is not a yappy pint-sized pup; however, she basically barked in my face for three days straight. I am a patient individual, but when shrill barks ring in your ears for hours and days on end, you get irritated. One night, Bella barked so many times that the only way to keep her quiet was to feed her exactly what she wanted which were treats.

I can’t even spell the word anymore because her supersonic ears have become attuned to the broken-down syllables. All I wanted was sleep, and she has been working the system every night to receive more treats as I meander through the days like a zombie from sleep deprivation.

The other morning, I awoke to my brother lying on the floor with his head in her dog bead next to her sleeping form because it was the only way she would sleep and give the yapping a rest. I laughed so hard when I spotted him on the floor and Bella sleeping like a queen.

She’s such a funny and unique dog, and I think the real issue here is that she misses my sister. My sister was her snuggle buddy, and now she’s stuck with me. But, I’ve made sure to give “Bella Bear” – as my sister calls her – all the hugs and kisses my sister has requested in her letters. You better believe that my family will be making the trip to Chicago for bootcamp graduation come August with Bella in tow to see my sister.

As you can see, it has been as eventful as usual since the last time my fingers graced the keyboard, and I’m sure life will only get crazier as the days go on. Coffee has kept me sane, as well as the repartee with the mystery man in my life. He keeps me on my toes, especially when he drags me to trivia night and I actually enjoy it. I had so much fun watching him try and be right on every historically and politically related question. However, Mr. Know-It-All faltered, and I’m never going to let him hear the end of it. Someone has to keep him grounded, right? Until next time …