Welcome to vacation!

The 2007-2008 school year finally ended today and there were four things that made it a great end to a less than stellar year.

1. I co-chaperoned a trip to the University of Maryland for the 28 boys at orientation this week. It was hot and a lot of walking, so there was plenty of whining, but the boys also had a lot of fun and were legitimately excited about seeing the campus. Awesome. And a good reminder of why it is we do what we do for kids every day.
   
2. When I got home early from work, Brian was also home early (waiting for the cable man to come fix our internet). Not that we did anything more than watch some tennis and some cooking shows before we left for the night, but it's somehow more fun when you have unexpected time together.
   
3. I met my good friends Emily and Colleen for a three hour "happy hour" tonight which involved some beer, some pizza and a lot of conversation.
   
4. When leaving the bar, we walked past the new restaurant opening on Penn. It is being opened by Spike, one of the contestants on Top Chef: Chicago. He was clearly inside doing prep work and when he saw us peering through the windows, he came out and invited us in for a tour. It looks like a good space and they will serve burgers, fries, milkshakes and beer. Didn't need to say a lot more to convince Colleen, Emily and I. Plus...we got to meet him! And chat with him about food! In his restaurant! With no one else around! Pretty cool.
   

Yes, I'm a geek. It's fine. Bring on four weeks of rest, relaxation and travel!

And the "Slightly inappropriate question" award goes to...

K. for asking me how I got such big calf muscles in the middle of a class discussion on types of government. Ian nearly choked on his water while I simply moved us along. It is, after all, a question I get asked at least once a year.

Midweek review

Sorry that the last post was so cranky. It was just one of those mornings where too many dark clouds gather over your head at the same time and I had to vent to someone.

Orientation week is more than halfway finished and I'm in a much better place these days. The co-teaching thing has found its rhythm and the boys I'm working with this week are, as always, completely lovable. Today I was wearing a mostly blue dress and one of my students (who rarely initiates conversation) said, "Your eyes! They're beautiful!" Flattery gets you everywhere with me, it seems. Anyway, it's hard to square the image of these children with the image of the crazies I said good-bye to just a few weeks ago. Still, here we are. And it will be just the same next year.

Just not feelin' it

Summer orientation starts in 30 minutes and I'm in a foul mood. Here's why:

1. I got here at 7:30am to prepare. Turns out this year we're starting at 9am instead of 8am. No one to be mad at about that except myself. Read carefully, eh?
2. Since I had a bunch of extra time, I decided to make copies. Only all of the printers are out of ink so that's challenging. Okay, so I can at least copy the already-printed sheets. Nope. All the copiers got programmed with new codes that none of us know. Awesome. Good planning, everyone.
3. I have to co-teach. I like the person I am working with, but I really dislike co-teaching. I want to be responsible for my own classroom, I don't want to have to share and I want the materials to look the way I made them. For example, he printed out the homework assignments before we left last week, which is good and nice, but he didn't fix the margins so that it prints on one page and stuff like that gets to me. Also, he wants to spend the first 10 minutes of class going over social skills and expectations, but with 45 minute classes, I really just want to get to work. VERY different styles in the same room should be fun.

I really need to get over myself. I'm just so cranky and over it and nothing's even started yet. ::sigh:: Happy Monday, all.

Tough call

Benadryl for the still-itching bug bites on my legs or prescription-strength ibuprofen for the slight back pains that will certainly be heightened by the impending 2 hours of standing in heels? Right, I think I just made my decision. Off to the fundraiser then!

Completely random

1. I haven't posted in a month for no good reason. My excuse is that there is nothing to post about because life is much the same, day in and day out, but that's not really true. Things happen every day that I think about posting and then don't. So, while I kill some time before getting ready for an event tonight, I thought I'd stop being lazy and at least try to post some news.
   
2. Congratulations are in order for my freshman year college roommates Jennifer and Aaron (Jennifer was my actual roommate, but Aaron was there every weekend, so I count him too). Just after midnight this morning, they welcomed their son Gabriel into the world. All the best will certainly be given to this lucky little boy, but I'll send some best wishes of my own out to the new family in Seattle. Much love, guys!
3. The longest school year is on a short hiatus, thank goodness. I'm in the midst of my week-long break between the end of the school year and the start of new student orientation. As always, the end came at a time when I really appreciated it, but this year felt different. Instead of being thankful and excited about the end of the year, I just felt empty. This year has been such a struggle for me professionally that I was cranky and sad about it ending because that meant it could never be a success. The 2007-2008 school year is over and it was never really very good. I guess I can find solace in the fact that it is over and I am still standing. That's something.
   
4. Graduation was this past Saturday and, in many ways, it was more about the adults than the students. This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the school so there was much to celebrate, I suppose. ::sigh:: I deeply believe in the mission of my school, but sometimes the way they pat themselves on the back and spin the reality is a little gross. Plus, there was much gift giving to mark the occasion and, as such, the ceremony felt a little like the Oprah show. Fitting, I know.
   
5. This morning I spoke with my grad school admissions counselor. Starting with the 2008-2009 school year, I will be working towards a Master's in Education specializing in Literacy in the Content Area. I am really excited about the coursework and about the career path that I think this degree will put me on. The more I think about it, the more I think I will work at my school for another two years (completing my Master's and seeing my first class of students graduate high school) and then apply to be a consultant to urban schools serving underserved populations. Makes me smile just thinking about it, which is a welcome feeling regarding work these days.
   
6. My very best friend Maggie got into town on Saturday night. She is here to visit with me, meet Brian, attend her boyfriend's fundraiser (he is running for state assembly in WI) and meet his good friends who also live in the area. We haven't seen each other since last July and our trip to LA so it was good to sit and relax together. Plus, it meant a lot to me to have her meet Brian and spend time with him. And I was glad to be able to meet her boyfriend yesterday (and support his campaign by attending the fundraiser tonight). Maggie and I have one of those very comfortable friendships where you can be completely satisfied by just sitting in the same room and occasionally talking while watching tv or, in the case of this trip, lounging by the pool. Plus we did a good amount of shopping, which is always fun.
   
7. Maggie's visit and our talks got me thinking about how I have really moved into a new stage in my life. My friends are almost all in serious relationships and many are starting families. We are contemplating education and career moves that will set us up for a long-term future and we are settling down without settling. It's exciting and fun, but also a little surreal. I'm just glad that I've already had my quarter-life crisis or this could all prompt some kind of freak-out on my end. As it is, I simply think about it all at times and then get on with having my life and not analyzing it.
   
8. Brian and I are headed to the Midwest in three weeks and I am anxiously awaiting the trip. I'm also a little stressed about fitting everything in. I have not been back home since the winter and both of those trips were very short and centered around major events (Christmas; a wedding) so I want to spend time relaxing with my family and friends. Unfortunately, because I get back so infrequently, there is a lot to fit into our five days. But you all know me well enough not to worry; I'm diligently working on an itinerary to make it all work. Even if the schedule changes, it makes me feel better to have it laid out ahead of time.
   
9. A very exciting perk of our trip back to Chicago is that it coincides with my sister's visit home from China. I have not seen her since we were all in LA last summer and I am so excited to spend time with her. Plus, she and Brian have never met, which makes me sad, especially since I think that they will get along very well.
   
10. To end this very haphazard posting, I want to send a congratulations out into the cyberworld for my second cousin Marty and his partner, who will exchange vows in August after nearly 30 years of unrecognized marriage. My politics should not surprise any of you at this point, but politics aside, I am so happy for both of them and I am glad my dad will be able to attend the ceremony in CA. Much love to them and to all of you.
    

One sign that I'm getting older...

I have no weddings to attend this summer.