Last Day With Kids

And oh, did I cry. I managed to hold off until the end of the day, when the kids were saying goodbye. One of my favorites was doing our special handshake and then he hugged me and then I started to cry. Then I cried some more when a woman I work with was all, "So, glad to be leaving?" Um, no, I'm not. I didn't want to leave. I don't want to leave these kids. I'm going to miss them, a lot.

I'm sort of exhausted and sick of crying. Have to go back tomorrow to finish grading exams, enter all of the data into the computer system. My classroom is all picked up, fortunately, just have to move boxes to my car. Perhaps tomorrow it will be less humid and I will be more likely to do so. Regardless, they will have to be moved tomorrow.

If no new job by the middle of July, I shall be moving to NH. There's a plan.

Monday, Monday

June 1st. No job yet. I'm trying to remain hopeful, applying to anything and everything that seems relevant. I'm also making contingency plans to move home to NH (can't beat free rent), substitute teach, and do something else too -- tutoring, babysitting, SAT prep, etc. Whatever it takes to pay the bills. (Ok, not quite "whatever," but close. Legal things. I do have some standards.)

In the meantime, I'm packing my life back into boxes, starting with books from school. I'll get to pack my fancy/work clothes into boxes after next Thursday/Friday, which will be nice.

On another note, there's an article in the NYT which outlines "The Waves Minority Judges Always Make." Good stuff.

The Unpredictability of Parents

My mom continues to be unpredictable. I told her that I applied for a job in Houston, Texas. Her response: "Houston?!? They have tornadoes and hurricanes!"

Then, a week or so later, I told her that I have applied for a job in Marrakech, Morocco. Her response: "Morocco is interesting."

Blessings in Disguise

I like to think that stuff in life works out the way it's "supposed" to. My version of being zen about things, I guess. Sometimes it's hard to see, but it'll be ok, or at least I hope so. The upside of quitting my job? I get to be open to new possibilities: moving someplace new, making new friends, trying something else out.

Current locations on the table: Seattle, Houston, various locales in New England. All jobs applied for involve something new in some fashion: new subject to teach, new "population," totally new job.

The permutations seem to be endless, which is both scary as all get out and liberating at the same time. One day at a time. Breathe in and out. And in the meantime, enjoy the ride.

Trying New Things

I want to try this: Couch-to-5K.

I need new sneakers. There is an associated podcast to help with the timing so you don't have to pay as much attention.

Also, work totally still blows, but hey, at least I've been observed three times in the past week, for a total of... one hour, 15 minutes.

Note to self for next week: try a chalk talk with the kids, 'cause it's something different and, apparently, innovative.

Happy for the Day

So, if nothing else, here's something:

One of my students, who applied early, GOT IN TO MOUNT HOLYOKE!

Clearly, I'm thrilled. And proud. And stuff.

Here We Go Again

So, here's my latest roundup of stuff I think is interesting:

From the NYT:
- fiction reading by adults is up!
- charter schools that emphasize culture over the American "melting pot"
- the death of the lecture at certain colleges
- emphasis on manners for children
- letters in response to the editorial which suggested cutting taxes for teachers

From Slate:
- What are the rules for giving someone the finger on TV?
- At the intersection of math and politics, an article discussing how congressional districts are formed

And, for fun: it's Fish! (not actually, but representationally...)

[End] Pity Party

So, that's over for the year. I went through the annual letter reading and all is well with the world again. (You know, except for the obvious.) Laundry? In the dryer. Bread? Rising. Schoolwork? Getting there. Music? I win at Schubert and the Porpora is coming along slowly. Counting down to the latest visit to the motherland? You bet.

Mom's birthday was on Wednesday and mom's anniversary was on Saturday. Happy happy to them.

In other news, here's the latest stuff that's been keeping me busy on the internet:
- an interesting series from Slate documenting a woman who is visiting the Holocaust archives of the International Tracing Service in Germany
- from the NYT, a staging of Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" (I love Sondheim ever since my class on him during first year J-term
- a suggestion from an editorialist in the NYT who thinks it would be a good idea to eliminate all federal income taxes on public school teachers (hey, those of us in the private schools would appreciate it too)

Also, I've been watching the news from Gaza. You should too.

Birthday

Today would have been my dad's 64th birthday. Some days, it's hard to believe that he's been gone for 17 years.

End of the Break

Oh my, here we are. It's the end of break and time for school to begin again. I'm a little reluctant to begin the deluge again, big surprise. AP class is on track and they finished Reconstruction before Christmas.

There was one second added to the space between the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. Here's an article from "Slate" on people who are official timekeepers.

Also from "Slate," an article for budding politicians on how to avoid Facebook-based embarrassment in later years.

And, my friend Katie has decided to walk in a 3-day to raise money for breast cancer research. If you can, can you help her out?

I know I've read some other interesting stuff over the past few days, but I forget what it was...

2008: Good Riddance

2008: not my favorite year ever. Lost too many people, had the cancer scare.

Trying to remember that there were good things too:
- friends got married
- friends had babies
- I got to visit friends and family
- I bought a car, perhaps becoming a grownup in the process
- Barack Obama was elected President of the United States
- I am kicking ass this year in the classroom (not to mention taking names)
- I have a wonderful group of friends who live close and far and love me no matter what
- I have a wonderful family who lives close and far and loves me no matter what
- I got to visit the motherland two times, reconnecting with a wonderful group of women who would do anything for me and for whom I would do anything

Roundup

From the NYT, several things:
- a story on the resurrection of "Scrubs," a sitcom that I love, though have only ever watched on DVD or in reruns
- a story on a psychologist's retry of the Millgram experiment, something that I have taught my students about in conjunction with our genocide unit
- a story about the concept of adding students to the parent-teacher conference mix

I made mittens over Christmas break and I love them. I should start a baby hat soon. Two baby hats, for the children of one of my bosses. (I have many.)

Trying to figure out what to do with myself next summer. The thought of doing nothing isn't fab, but I'm not sure what I want to do. Camp? Could be. It's a good fallback.

Returned, I Have

Interestingly, I made the drive to NH last Thursday in my personal best time, 10 hours and 20 minutes. However, today I made the drive back in 9 hours and 45 minutes, besting my previous record by 35 minutes. Probable cause? The new car. It doesn't rattle to let me know how fast I'm going!

Lovely holiday, although not enough time with family, including my brothers, who zipped back to their homes much earlier than anticipated. Lovely presents -- things to read, wear, enjoy.

Lovely article, from Slate, on the book Rise Up Singing, which I first encountered at Girl Scout camp. There were several counselors who seemed to own their own copies. At any rate... back home. Time to start some school work, as I have actually taken a whole week off!

One of the NPR stations in Boston broadcast a program yesterday afternoon called "The Best of Public Radio 2008." It's a last-ditch fundraising effort for stations across the US... (If you want to give: www.givetopublicradio.org) and had the funniest story about an attempt to take the things that make stories on the NPR website hit the "most popular" list -- but it's not online in consumable form for people who haven't made contributions. Trust me, it was funny. Funny enough to consider making a contribution to a station that I don't even live in range of anymore.

Quick Post

Signing off for a week of no internet access... oh boy! Pity me the 12 hour drive each way. :) Or don't, since I am fortunate enough to have a car to drive and a family to visit, even if they do live far away. Be thankful for what you've got and I'll be back just before the new year.

NYT article: private colleges concerned about smaller numbers of applicants, even though early decision applications were up in many places.

Another article, this one on lying -- I don't feel that I lie very often, except, I guess, lies of omission. I'm just bad at it.

On Being Lazy

There is truly nothing like an actual weekend, a real break from work. They are a luxury that I do not often have the time to take in my profession. I have been lazing about, finishing knitting projects and starting new ones (mittens!), reading, messing about on the internet. I actually took a nap this afternoon.

Latest things of interest from the internet:
- an article from the NYT on people who leave things between the pages of books. Best part? The closing paragraphs which describe a pair of Smith students in the early 70's who pull a trick concerning a famous alumna of their college. You have to read it for yourself.
- another from the same newspaper on small schools sharing buildings
- plus, an editorial commenting that separate is not equal when it comes to marriage

Now it's time to drink some tea.

Snow.

Apparently, I'm going to have to squeeze in the 12-ish hour drive home between weather events. However crazy it seemed when I made the decision originally, I'm glad that I'm not driving home. Between storms in the Northeast and the Northwest, I'm certain that air travel will be snarled for a while. So off I will drive on Tuesday.

Since people who are dear to me live in Seattle, I was checking out their paper and the storm news. The following story amuses me: "Road Crews Pit Chemistry Against Ice," wherein it tells of local officials using a combination of cheese whey, water, and molasses to combat road ice. Clever.

On Holiday Preparations

I like living where I do. The weather is good, less cold and snow than where I grew up. But I have this problem every year which is thus: the lack of cold means that I have difficulty preparing for the holidays. It's like my body hasn't received its proper trigger to think about Christmas.

Despite this, the holidays approach. I have bought presents and they are stacked in a pile, waiting to be put in the car. I have to think about packing clothes and finally decide about taking the cat with me.

And I have to practice my freaking music for the choral reunion. I'm still wicked excited, but I'm unable to find time to rehearse given my current cold (boo!) and just general prep for holiday.

Nothing to report from news sources. I just can't wrap my head around it right now. Looking forward to spending time with family and friends.

End of the Week!

Thank goodness, I made it. Only one more week until vacation, much needed at this point. Vacation shall last for two+ weeks and shall involve approximately one week sans internet access, as the house I grew up in doesn't have it anymore. But that will be good, to spend some time off the information grid. It's often a deluge, sometimes good and sometimes overwhelming. Ironically, I'll probably get more done while I'm off the grid and I'll get to spend some "quality time" with my brothers, given that they will also be home for a week or so and also will have no internets.

Driving home in a week and a half, on Tuesday, December 23. 10-12 hours in the car depending on when I leave and the traffic situation. Advantage: probably not taking my cat with me, which makes for a less stressful ride. Advantage: could conceivably be well-rested enough to get up at the crack of stupid (4 am?) to get through either Philly or Harrisburg pre-rush hour traffic and be home in NH before Boston rush hour. Advantage: new car with plug in for iPod = just listening to music the whole way and not being distracted by changing radio stations.

Being an Adult

Today, I went through a rite of passage. I did something that most people my age have done already, and some have done more than once.

I bought a car.

I got rid of the only car I've ever owned, the one that I've had since I was 16 years old (that's 14+ years if you're counting) and the one that drove me back and forth to high school, college, grad school, and my jobs at summer camp, Breakthrough, the Girl Scouts, and three schools. It went back and forth from New Hampshire to Connecticut when I was in a long-distance relationship.

It was registered in 3 different states, had parking permits for two different institutions of higher learning, and a non-resident student sticker from my time in Massachusetts. The Mount Holyoke sticker on the back window had been there since the day I got accepted early decision in December 1995.

I sang, laughed, cried in that car. It held dear friends and family members. The gas that I put in the car when I was in high school cost less than $1 a gallon and this summer cost over $4 a gallon. Bill Clinton was in his first term as President when I got that car and it had campaign stickers from Howard Dean and Barack Obama on it. The car had a tape deck (replaced due to premature death in summer 1999), roll-down windows, no air bags, no anti-lock brakes. I got a flat tire once in all of those years and never got into an accident apart from one minor fender-bender. 2 speeding tickets in all of those years -- seriously, I think that cops couldn't believe that the thing was going as fast as it actually was.

234,296 miles. 20+ years old. Goodbye to my trusty 1988 Volvo 240.

Thanksgiving

A little something for the holiday... a short list of things I'm thankful for:
- several coworker and families from school who invited me over to have dinner with their families
- the ability to read and write and the chance to go to college and graduate school
- the fact that I have a job that, most days, I love
- friends far and near

I have enough.