What a week it has been! We spent the first full week of August in Ocean City, MD with Billy's family. He has been really looking forward to it for months because his family used to vacation there every summer when he was young. He hasn't been back during the summer since high school, so I was really excited to go with him and experience all the things I've heard about both from him and my students. The condo his family rented was right on the beach, so we went right down to the beach each day after eating a big breakfast. The first four days were beautifully warm and sunny, and the ocean was also warm enough to enjoy. Our last two beach days weren't quite as picture perfect, but we were still able to spend some time down on the beach. We also went out to dinner a few times and went to the "White Marlin Open," a contest to catch big game fish out in the atlantic. We got to see them weigh in a whole bunch of different fish, and a big 500 lb blue marlin was laying on the sidewalk from before we arrived. It made me think of "The Old Man and the Sea" and I am looking forward to sharing the program with my students this year to help them get a visual of what the different fish look like. We were there for my birthday, as well, and Billy's family got me cake and ice cream along with cards to celebrate. When I got home I also got to pick up all the cards I received from friends and family around the country, which was exciting. Birthdays don't seem quite as exciting now that I'm older, but my favorite part is definitely getting all the cards in the mail and knowing that people remembered and were thinking about me.
All in all, the week was the perfect way to close out my summer vacation. I was glad to get to spend time at the beach with Billy and find out that going to the beach (albeit on different coasts) is a favorite memory of childhood for both of us. All week I kept noticing how the beach there was similar or different as compared to the beaches in Santa Barbara... for example, there's no kelp there but there are jellyfish, and the sandcrabs look the exact same but the ones we found here were much bigger. I missed Oscar during the week, so the only slightly exciting thing about leaving Ocean City and returning home this past Saturday was getting to pick him up at the kennel.
He made it an interesting weekend for us, however. When we picked him up at the kennel, they said he had been great all week, but we could tell immediately that something was wrong. He was very melancholy and when we got home, he didn't want to eat, which is normally his favorite part of the day. He seemed to have trouble getting comfortable and we got really worried that something was seriously wrong with him. We took him to the vet, who determined that he was very constipated, which is why he wouldn't eat and didn't feel well. He gave us some special food to feed him, helped him with the constipation a bit, and sent us home for Oscar to get better. However, he got much worse. He started throwing up repeatedly anytime he drank water, he still wouldn't eat and couldn't get comfortable, and his energy just got lower and lower until we were really worried about him. The vet isn't open on Sunday, so we had to wait until Monday morning to take him in. Oscar was dehydrated by that point, so he had to spend the day at the vet getting fluids and other procedures to try to fix his extreme constipation. He still hadn't pooped by the time we brought him home, so the vet suggested that if we couldn't get him to poop at home overnight, he would need to do an x-ray to determine if surgery was necessary. He didn't poop last night and still seemed pretty low so we were really worried that he was going to have to have surgery, which besides being dangerous would also have been very expensive. Luckily, this morning right before we were due to leave for the vet, he started taking bites of food again and then passed the obstruction in his colon. Almost immediately he started acting more like himself and continues to improve throughout the day.
So... tomorrow I go back to work. We have these 3 days for "pre-school staff meetings" and prep time in our rooms, then Monday I have freshman orientation, and Tuesday classes start for real. I am looking forward to becoming a productive member of society again and it will be interesting to see how things go with this 'freshman academy' I'm involved in this year. I will keep everyone posted and given the nature of freshmen, I'm sure I'll have plenty of funny stories to tell of their naivete. The only thing I am NOT looking forward to is again waking up to an alarm. I have prepared myself for tomorrow's commute by purchasing the new Christina Aguilera CD (which came out today) and refusing to listen to it until I'm on my way in the morning. : )
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Saturday, July 8, 2006
Ya, Mon!
A few weeks ago Billy's parents, Chuck and Patti, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. While we went out to dinner and had a family get together for them, they decided over the winter that rather than having a large party they'd like to take the family on a cruise, something none of us had ever done. Patti's friend Kathy and her husband Rich, who Patti and Chuck have known since they were young, are also celebrating their 25th anniversary this year. They have two sons that are Billy and Brian's ages, so Patti and Kathy decided to take everybody on one big cruise vacation together. That meant 6 people in each family and thus 12 people total. Our 6 were Chuck and Patti, Billy and me, and Brian and his girlfriend Casey. Kathy and Rich brought their sons Matt and Mark, along with Matt's wife Sam and Mark's girlfriend Krista. We have been planning and looking forward to the cruise since mid-way through the winter, which I realized is longer than I'd ever had any trip planned. It was also going to be one of the few real "vacations" I have ever been on. So here goes my best attempt at describing what we did and how much fun we had...
to see the first set of pictures, visit this link
Day 1: July 3
Baltimore to Miami
-Awoke early and went to the airport. Flew from Baltimore to Atlanta and then on to Miami.
-Took the shuttle to the dock, checked in, and boarded our ship: The Majesty of the Seas.
-Went to our "staterooms," which were indeed as small as everyone says. Luckily, everyone is also right when they say the only thing you do in your stateroom is sleep and shower.
-Participated in the on-board safety drill. This required putting on lifevests and standing near our lifeboats (there were plenty).
-Had our first dinner in the dining room. Met our waiter, Wanish from Thailand, and our assistant waiter, Ernesto from Panama. Most of the staff onboard the ship are from foreign countries which gives the trip an interesting international flavor. Their main objective is to make you feel relaxed and meet your every need. Over the course of the trip we grew to really like Wanish and Ernesto, who were not only good servers but also very entertaining.
-Saw our first show. The comedian started off pretty slow but was entertaining by the end.
-Traveled around the ship getting familiar with the layout. Stopped in at the various bars and lounges to drink and hear live music. Spent some time on deck watching as the ship sailed toward the bahamas.
-Went to bed. They call it a "4 day cruise" and I thought that was kind of cheating because we wouldn't get on board until about 3 or 4pm, but all in all, it did feel like a fun, full day.
Day 2: July 4
Nassau, Bahamas
-Woke up early to work out in the fitness rooms. The treadmills are positioned so that you can look out at the ocean as you're running, which was really cool at first. When the ship did a complete 360 to dock, however, it made me feel a bit queesy.
-Ate breakfast in the dining room. There is "free" food available onboard the ship at almost all times. You can order whatever you want and however much of it you want. I loved being able to order everything I wanted and not having to worry if I didn't finish it.
-Got off the ship in Nassau. Did some looking around until it was time for our first "excursion."
-Glass Bottom Boat Tour. I didn't have any idea what to expect from this activity, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. It was basically a tour of the area surrounding Nassau, narrated by an extremely enthusiastic Bahamian tour guide who punctuated each sentence with "Ya, MON!" It was cool to learn a little about the history of the Bahamas as well as see some "landmarks" like the Atlantis resort and the homes of Barry Bonds, Oprah, and Michael Jordan (all of which are practically next door to one another). Twice the boat stopped out in the ocean so we could go below deck to look out the glass panels at the bottom. There's no way to describe how clear and blue the water is there, but you could see everything perfectly. At one point it was over a coral reef, and at another it was over the wreckage of a ship from colonial times. Pretty cool.
-Food and Drinks at Senor Frogs. Chicken strips taste about the same in the Bahamas as they do in the states. They didn't have any Corona, but whatever "Sol" is tastes just about the same.
-Souvenir shopping. They are certainly happy to take your money!
-Back to the boat to rest and prepare for dinner.
-Formal Captain's Dinner. I always enjoy getting dressed up and having my picture taken, and although I may have been the only one in the group who felt that way, we all had a lot of fun. I also had a few Cosmos. Since it was the 4th there was an American style dinner (the night before had been Italian). Whatever style it was, it was good.
-Captain's introduction. We went to the theater again where the Captain talked about himself, the ship, and the staff. It was cool to see the people in charge and learn a little bit more about the boat. They were also serving free Bahama Mamas (drinks are the only thing you have to pay for on the ship... food is included).
-Swimming Pool. By this point I was a few sheets to the wind, and I may or may not have pretended to be a dolphin. Much to my surprise, the swimming pool was full of salt water. We moved to the hot tub long enough for the tips of Casey's hair to turn green... must have been a lot of chlorine.
-Watched fireworks on deck. Since a lot (probably most) of the tourists who stay at the elaborate Atlantis resort are American, they were putting on a big party for them onshore. We were able to sit on the deck of the ship and watch the fireworks display before we pulled out of port. They were actually pretty good and I was glad we were able to enjoy a bit of the 4th even in another country.
-Socialized and played games. At this point I may or may not have slipped and fell while playing ping pong and/or lost miserably at a game of horse on the basketball court.
-Went to bed shortly after the ship set sail again.
Day 3: July 5
Coco Cay, Bahamas (a private island owned by Royal Caribbean)
-Woke up.
-Rode the shuttle boat from the ship to the island. The island is too small to have a place where the ship can dock, so they drop anchor and transfer everyone on ferries to the island.
-Parasailing. This was one of the real highlights of the trip for me. Chuck, Casey, Brian, Billy, and I went out on a speedboat with a few other people. The parasail was tandem, so Billy and I got to go up together. They put you in a lifejacket and a harness and then they latch you onto this bar so you’re basically sitting in a swing beneath the big parachute. Then they reel you out and you go behind the boat and up in the air. Most of the pairs didn’t even get wet, but the driver dipped us in the water a few times and jerked the cord around so we got a wilder ride. This may or may not have been because he was smoking weed while we were on the boat. I don’t know how high up in the air we went, but we were taller than the ship and it has 14 stories above water. From up there, we looked down and the water was so clear that we could see straight to the bottom. It was amazing.
-Back to the island to relax on the beach. One thing that surprised me about the cruise was that I thought there would be a lot more time to relax at the beach, but there were so many activities that we only really did that for one afternoon in Coco Cay. The beach was strange because there were no waves and it was shallow for as far out as you could walk. But I loved it. They had an “aqua park” where they dug out the sand so it was deep and put in inflatable water toys. I climbed up this fake “rock wall” and jumped off it and slid off it a few times, which was fun. It was probably about 15 feet out of the water.
-Lunchtime BBQ on the island. Is there anything better than a good hotdog and some ice- cold lemonade on the beach? I haven’t found it if there is.
-More relaxing in the sun.
-Back to the boat to prepare for dinner.
-Dinner #3. French night or something just meant more good food.
-After dinner show: Juggling. I didn’t think I’d really be that into juggling, but this guy was really good. He is evidently the only person in the world who can juggle 7 balls at a time. He can also juggle a bowling ball along with other strangely shaped objects. And although his act was kind of cheesy, he actually was pretty funny.
-More nighttime fun on the ship. This included drinks at various locations and various forms of socialization.
-Chocolate buffet. We went down to the dining room where pretty much everything you could ever think to dip in chocolate was prepared as such. I actually managed to stop eating it before I made myself feel sick, but those were the best chocolate covered strawberries I’ve ever had.
-Into bed.
Day 4: July 6
Key West, Florida
-Slept in a bit. It’s a long way from Coco Cay to Key West, so we weren’t set to dock until about 10. Then we were going to have to wait even longer until we were allowed to clear customs, so we slept in a bit.
-Ate breakfast at the buffet.
-Watched the ship finally pull into the Key West dock an hour late, at 11am. We had to wait quite a while for our turn to get into customs and were finally off the boat around 1pm.
-Got off the ship and headed toward the southernmost point in the continental US. Along the way we saw the Key West Lighthouse and the home where Ernest Hemingway lived. It was $11 to go on the tour, so I just took a picture. Later I found out that it’s likely where he wrote “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” so that was pretty cool. Evidently Tennessee Williams also had a house on the island somewhere but we didn’t visit it.
-Reached the Southernmost point, waited in line, and took our pictures next to the marker. Evidently so many people stand on either side of it that the “SO” and the “OST” of “southernmost” were rubbed off.
-Had lunch and shopped along Duval street. As far as I could tell, Duval street is pretty much the only thing going on in Key West. There were lots of bars/restaurants (some of which I recognized from the real world), tourist shops, and regular retail stores. Otherwise Key West seemed like kind of a small tourist town rather than the southern hotspot I had imagined. I was initially disappointed that our stay there was going to be abridged, but it turned out fine.
-Returned to the ship.
-Dinner #4, our final one in the dining room. Another great tasting, entertaining meal.
-More drinking and socializing in various locations around the ship. Another dip in the pool. Packing up for the morning, etc.
Day 5: July 7
Wake up, eat breakfast, leave the ship and claim our luggage, off to a long day of traveling. Finally arrived in Baltimore at 9pm and home to Bowie about 10:30 to sleep in our own bed!
All in all, I had a really great time. The ship was rocking on a few occasions, but for the most part it was pretty stable. Initially I thought it was going to be over before I knew it, but the length of time we were there seemed good. If I were to take a longer cruise, I would like to spend like 2 days in each port so I could see the sights on one day and then spend the other day relaxing at the beach or something. There is always so much going on that you don’t want to miss anything. I was glad to be able to spend time with Billy and his family, and we all got along with each other and the other family well. I would definitely recommend taking a cruise to anyone who hasn’t done it before. The whole experience of being waited on hand and foot by really happy people was unique for me. The only thing I would suggest for those of you who have regular jobs is to plan it like we did so that you get back a few days before you have to go back to work. It was so much fun but it sure took a lot out of me!
to see the first set of pictures, visit this linkDay 1: July 3
Baltimore to Miami
-Awoke early and went to the airport. Flew from Baltimore to Atlanta and then on to Miami.
-Took the shuttle to the dock, checked in, and boarded our ship: The Majesty of the Seas.
-Went to our "staterooms," which were indeed as small as everyone says. Luckily, everyone is also right when they say the only thing you do in your stateroom is sleep and shower.
-Participated in the on-board safety drill. This required putting on lifevests and standing near our lifeboats (there were plenty).
-Had our first dinner in the dining room. Met our waiter, Wanish from Thailand, and our assistant waiter, Ernesto from Panama. Most of the staff onboard the ship are from foreign countries which gives the trip an interesting international flavor. Their main objective is to make you feel relaxed and meet your every need. Over the course of the trip we grew to really like Wanish and Ernesto, who were not only good servers but also very entertaining.
-Saw our first show. The comedian started off pretty slow but was entertaining by the end.
-Traveled around the ship getting familiar with the layout. Stopped in at the various bars and lounges to drink and hear live music. Spent some time on deck watching as the ship sailed toward the bahamas.
-Went to bed. They call it a "4 day cruise" and I thought that was kind of cheating because we wouldn't get on board until about 3 or 4pm, but all in all, it did feel like a fun, full day.
Day 2: July 4
Nassau, Bahamas
-Woke up early to work out in the fitness rooms. The treadmills are positioned so that you can look out at the ocean as you're running, which was really cool at first. When the ship did a complete 360 to dock, however, it made me feel a bit queesy.
-Ate breakfast in the dining room. There is "free" food available onboard the ship at almost all times. You can order whatever you want and however much of it you want. I loved being able to order everything I wanted and not having to worry if I didn't finish it.
-Got off the ship in Nassau. Did some looking around until it was time for our first "excursion."
-Glass Bottom Boat Tour. I didn't have any idea what to expect from this activity, but it turned out to be a lot of fun. It was basically a tour of the area surrounding Nassau, narrated by an extremely enthusiastic Bahamian tour guide who punctuated each sentence with "Ya, MON!" It was cool to learn a little about the history of the Bahamas as well as see some "landmarks" like the Atlantis resort and the homes of Barry Bonds, Oprah, and Michael Jordan (all of which are practically next door to one another). Twice the boat stopped out in the ocean so we could go below deck to look out the glass panels at the bottom. There's no way to describe how clear and blue the water is there, but you could see everything perfectly. At one point it was over a coral reef, and at another it was over the wreckage of a ship from colonial times. Pretty cool.
-Food and Drinks at Senor Frogs. Chicken strips taste about the same in the Bahamas as they do in the states. They didn't have any Corona, but whatever "Sol" is tastes just about the same.
-Souvenir shopping. They are certainly happy to take your money!
-Back to the boat to rest and prepare for dinner.
-Formal Captain's Dinner. I always enjoy getting dressed up and having my picture taken, and although I may have been the only one in the group who felt that way, we all had a lot of fun. I also had a few Cosmos. Since it was the 4th there was an American style dinner (the night before had been Italian). Whatever style it was, it was good.
-Captain's introduction. We went to the theater again where the Captain talked about himself, the ship, and the staff. It was cool to see the people in charge and learn a little bit more about the boat. They were also serving free Bahama Mamas (drinks are the only thing you have to pay for on the ship... food is included).
-Swimming Pool. By this point I was a few sheets to the wind, and I may or may not have pretended to be a dolphin. Much to my surprise, the swimming pool was full of salt water. We moved to the hot tub long enough for the tips of Casey's hair to turn green... must have been a lot of chlorine.
-Watched fireworks on deck. Since a lot (probably most) of the tourists who stay at the elaborate Atlantis resort are American, they were putting on a big party for them onshore. We were able to sit on the deck of the ship and watch the fireworks display before we pulled out of port. They were actually pretty good and I was glad we were able to enjoy a bit of the 4th even in another country.
-Socialized and played games. At this point I may or may not have slipped and fell while playing ping pong and/or lost miserably at a game of horse on the basketball court.
-Went to bed shortly after the ship set sail again.
Day 3: July 5
Coco Cay, Bahamas (a private island owned by Royal Caribbean)
-Woke up.
-Rode the shuttle boat from the ship to the island. The island is too small to have a place where the ship can dock, so they drop anchor and transfer everyone on ferries to the island.
-Parasailing. This was one of the real highlights of the trip for me. Chuck, Casey, Brian, Billy, and I went out on a speedboat with a few other people. The parasail was tandem, so Billy and I got to go up together. They put you in a lifejacket and a harness and then they latch you onto this bar so you’re basically sitting in a swing beneath the big parachute. Then they reel you out and you go behind the boat and up in the air. Most of the pairs didn’t even get wet, but the driver dipped us in the water a few times and jerked the cord around so we got a wilder ride. This may or may not have been because he was smoking weed while we were on the boat. I don’t know how high up in the air we went, but we were taller than the ship and it has 14 stories above water. From up there, we looked down and the water was so clear that we could see straight to the bottom. It was amazing.
-Back to the island to relax on the beach. One thing that surprised me about the cruise was that I thought there would be a lot more time to relax at the beach, but there were so many activities that we only really did that for one afternoon in Coco Cay. The beach was strange because there were no waves and it was shallow for as far out as you could walk. But I loved it. They had an “aqua park” where they dug out the sand so it was deep and put in inflatable water toys. I climbed up this fake “rock wall” and jumped off it and slid off it a few times, which was fun. It was probably about 15 feet out of the water.
-Lunchtime BBQ on the island. Is there anything better than a good hotdog and some ice- cold lemonade on the beach? I haven’t found it if there is.
-More relaxing in the sun.
-Back to the boat to prepare for dinner.
-Dinner #3. French night or something just meant more good food.
-After dinner show: Juggling. I didn’t think I’d really be that into juggling, but this guy was really good. He is evidently the only person in the world who can juggle 7 balls at a time. He can also juggle a bowling ball along with other strangely shaped objects. And although his act was kind of cheesy, he actually was pretty funny.
-More nighttime fun on the ship. This included drinks at various locations and various forms of socialization.
-Chocolate buffet. We went down to the dining room where pretty much everything you could ever think to dip in chocolate was prepared as such. I actually managed to stop eating it before I made myself feel sick, but those were the best chocolate covered strawberries I’ve ever had.
-Into bed.
Day 4: July 6
Key West, Florida
-Slept in a bit. It’s a long way from Coco Cay to Key West, so we weren’t set to dock until about 10. Then we were going to have to wait even longer until we were allowed to clear customs, so we slept in a bit.
-Ate breakfast at the buffet.
-Watched the ship finally pull into the Key West dock an hour late, at 11am. We had to wait quite a while for our turn to get into customs and were finally off the boat around 1pm.
-Got off the ship and headed toward the southernmost point in the continental US. Along the way we saw the Key West Lighthouse and the home where Ernest Hemingway lived. It was $11 to go on the tour, so I just took a picture. Later I found out that it’s likely where he wrote “For Whom the Bell Tolls,” so that was pretty cool. Evidently Tennessee Williams also had a house on the island somewhere but we didn’t visit it.
-Reached the Southernmost point, waited in line, and took our pictures next to the marker. Evidently so many people stand on either side of it that the “SO” and the “OST” of “southernmost” were rubbed off.
-Had lunch and shopped along Duval street. As far as I could tell, Duval street is pretty much the only thing going on in Key West. There were lots of bars/restaurants (some of which I recognized from the real world), tourist shops, and regular retail stores. Otherwise Key West seemed like kind of a small tourist town rather than the southern hotspot I had imagined. I was initially disappointed that our stay there was going to be abridged, but it turned out fine.
-Returned to the ship.
-Dinner #4, our final one in the dining room. Another great tasting, entertaining meal.
-More drinking and socializing in various locations around the ship. Another dip in the pool. Packing up for the morning, etc.
Day 5: July 7
Wake up, eat breakfast, leave the ship and claim our luggage, off to a long day of traveling. Finally arrived in Baltimore at 9pm and home to Bowie about 10:30 to sleep in our own bed!
All in all, I had a really great time. The ship was rocking on a few occasions, but for the most part it was pretty stable. Initially I thought it was going to be over before I knew it, but the length of time we were there seemed good. If I were to take a longer cruise, I would like to spend like 2 days in each port so I could see the sights on one day and then spend the other day relaxing at the beach or something. There is always so much going on that you don’t want to miss anything. I was glad to be able to spend time with Billy and his family, and we all got along with each other and the other family well. I would definitely recommend taking a cruise to anyone who hasn’t done it before. The whole experience of being waited on hand and foot by really happy people was unique for me. The only thing I would suggest for those of you who have regular jobs is to plan it like we did so that you get back a few days before you have to go back to work. It was so much fun but it sure took a lot out of me!
Friday, June 16, 2006
How My Luck Changed, or How I Almost Missed My Flight, or How My Dress Almost Got Ruined
My trip home was quite an adventure. First, I tried to sabotage the whole thing by forgetting my purse at Round Table Pizza the night before I left and didn't notice that it was missing until after they closed and all the employees were gone. This brought on a panic because my flight left at 10:10am and Round Table didn't open until 11. The airline people told me I might be able to get on the plane if I had other forms of identification, but I was still pretty stressed out about it because if I missed my flight, I wouldn't be able to get home in time for anyone to pick me up from the airport. There was obviously the chance that someone had stolen my purse, or things inside it, as well. Before we left for the airport at 8am, we stopped by Round Table and much to my surprise, the employees were already there, they had my purse, thus averting disaster.
I purchased my wedding dress while I was home, so I had to take that on the plane with me. Southwest doesn't have hanging closets, so I had to put the dress above me in the overhead compartment. After a long day of traveling I made it to Baltimore, opened up the overhead bin, and MY GARMENT BAG WAS COVERED IN COFFEE. Some dumbass put her coffee in the overhead bin. I almost started to hyperventilate, and I had to get paper towels from the stewardess so I could wipe off the garment bag before opening it to see if any of the coffee had gotten through. LUCKILY nothing got on my dress. Thank goodness I had the plastic $10 garment bag from the bridal shop rather than a real garment bag because everyone's stuff was soaked in coffee. The woman took her cup down and I know she had to see that I was wiping up all of her coffee, but she didn't offer to help. I looked at her and said "Was that your coffee?" and she just sort of nodded. I pointed to the garment bag and said "That's my wedding dress," expecting her to say something like "I'm so sorry, did anything get on it?" but all she said was "Oh." So I said "Luckily it is fine, but I'm sure whoever's coat this is probably isn't going to be very happy" (it was soaked). She said "I didn't realize it would tip over." Not a single sorry, or anything.
I believe these two near-misfortunes can be attributed to good karma. When Dad took me and Billy to starbucks, someone had left a $20 bill on the counter in front of the register and I handed it to the lady rather than pocketing it. I doubt if the original owner ever noticed that he/she was missing the $20 until after leaving starbucks, but I told the lady to put it in the tip jar if no one claimed it, so each barista probably picked up a couple of bucks, and this good deed afforded me a few lucky strokes of my own.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
To Oregon and Back
The past week has been a whirlwind of activities. After finishing up with school last Wednesday, I boarded a plane with Billy to fly out to Oregon for Vickie's high school graduation. After a delay in Las Vegas that set us back a few hours, we made it here safely before beginning a busy weekend of family activities. The graduation itself was a nice ceremony and I was glad to be able to help my mom in her preparations for Vickie's grad open house the following evening. Billy enjoyed a day of golf with Dad's side of the family despite never having walked a golf course before. Members from both sides of the family were in town, which also meant juggling back and forth to spend as much time as possible with everyone. A long weekend in Oregon never feels long enough and I inevitably end up traveling from one scheduled breakfast to lunch to dinner, but it is certainly fun to be able to see people that I don't see as often as I'd like.
It was also exciting for me to have Billy along for the trip this time around and to be seeing everyone for the first time as an "engaged couple." Everyone was full of questions about the engagement and the wedding, so I appreciated feeling firsthand the support of my family and friends. We sat down with each parent to discuss wedding plans for next summer, so a solid picture is starting to come together of what the events will look like. I also went wedding dress shopping with Mom, Vickie, and Krista, and much to my surprise found a dress, purchased it, and brought it home with me. All of these things make it more real to me that a wedding is on the way, and so thus begins the planning of the details. As usual I'm torn between my natural tendency to want to have everything planned and under control and, on the other hand, my taste for procrastination. I hope to feel a lot at ease about things once we have locked in a reception site and I can begin to focus on the smaller details over the course of the next year.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to spend time with Nate as he passes through between stints in Colorado and Las Vegas. It has been fun to observe Vickie and her friends as she passes through a significant "life moment" that I can remember quite clearly, though it was now 6 years ago that I went through it. I look forward to hearing about what her life at Valpo turns out to be like and how similar or different it is to what I experienced there. I've been glad to see that life is going smoothly for Mom and that she is looking forward to the future with excitement rather than uncertainty or worry. I feel relieved to have spent time with Dad while he is undergoing his chemotherapy and feel assured that while it is a significant inconvience, he is hanging in there and making the best of it.
I was also glad to see such a big turnout from the extended family to celebrate Vickie's graduation. The more time I spend with relatives the more it helps me understand how I have developed into the person I am. I think it is also interesting for Billy as he continues to gain more and more insight into the way our family does things and how that impacts the way I do things. His family has certainly welcomed me into the group as a new but important member, and it's fun for me to see that my family, although we're more spread out, are happy to do the same for him. I look forward to everyone getting together to celebrate our marriage whether it is in Maryland, Oregon, or both.
I return home to Maryland tomorrow and am looking forward to playing with Oscar, sleeping in my own bed, and keeping Billy company in our apartment. He correctly assessed over the past few days that it is a lonely place to be when one of us is absent. He says Oscar sometimes sits by the door waiting for me to come home, so it is good to know that little guy will be there when I get back!
It was also exciting for me to have Billy along for the trip this time around and to be seeing everyone for the first time as an "engaged couple." Everyone was full of questions about the engagement and the wedding, so I appreciated feeling firsthand the support of my family and friends. We sat down with each parent to discuss wedding plans for next summer, so a solid picture is starting to come together of what the events will look like. I also went wedding dress shopping with Mom, Vickie, and Krista, and much to my surprise found a dress, purchased it, and brought it home with me. All of these things make it more real to me that a wedding is on the way, and so thus begins the planning of the details. As usual I'm torn between my natural tendency to want to have everything planned and under control and, on the other hand, my taste for procrastination. I hope to feel a lot at ease about things once we have locked in a reception site and I can begin to focus on the smaller details over the course of the next year.
I am glad to have had the opportunity to spend time with Nate as he passes through between stints in Colorado and Las Vegas. It has been fun to observe Vickie and her friends as she passes through a significant "life moment" that I can remember quite clearly, though it was now 6 years ago that I went through it. I look forward to hearing about what her life at Valpo turns out to be like and how similar or different it is to what I experienced there. I've been glad to see that life is going smoothly for Mom and that she is looking forward to the future with excitement rather than uncertainty or worry. I feel relieved to have spent time with Dad while he is undergoing his chemotherapy and feel assured that while it is a significant inconvience, he is hanging in there and making the best of it.
I was also glad to see such a big turnout from the extended family to celebrate Vickie's graduation. The more time I spend with relatives the more it helps me understand how I have developed into the person I am. I think it is also interesting for Billy as he continues to gain more and more insight into the way our family does things and how that impacts the way I do things. His family has certainly welcomed me into the group as a new but important member, and it's fun for me to see that my family, although we're more spread out, are happy to do the same for him. I look forward to everyone getting together to celebrate our marriage whether it is in Maryland, Oregon, or both.
I return home to Maryland tomorrow and am looking forward to playing with Oscar, sleeping in my own bed, and keeping Billy company in our apartment. He correctly assessed over the past few days that it is a lonely place to be when one of us is absent. He says Oscar sometimes sits by the door waiting for me to come home, so it is good to know that little guy will be there when I get back!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Summer-itis
The warm weather has arrived, the school year is winding down, and summer-itis has hit my students. I am not counting down the days until summer like I was last year but am also looking forward to the break. I really like my students this year and am going to miss them when they're gone, so that helps me enjoy the last few weeks a little more. Yesterday was the last day for seniors which was actually kind of bittersweet for me. I have a few seniors in my 11th grade classes that are there because they've failed in the past, so they're generally a pain in my butt, and I'm rid of them now. But a lot of the kids who gave me so much trouble last year spent the week stopping by to say goodbye and tell me what they're up to after school, so that was fun. It kind of makes me sad that they'll all be gone because when I see them around the building it makes me feel like I accomplished something by getting them all through 11th grade English.
We also had our "goodbye to the seniors" barbeque for student council, which was fun. We have a lot of really good kids in there who are going on to college, so it was cool to have the chance to sit down and talk to them about that stuff. They surprised me with a card that they had somehow been passing around school and having people sign. I almost always find out about things like that ahead of time, so it was a nice surprise. We had elections for the officers next year, and we have a great group of kids lined up to run things next year. We also have two extra weeks in the fall before homecoming, so the year should go quite smoothly.
The weather has warmed up and will continue to do so, and the days are getting longer and longer. I really like living somewhere that has a distinct spring. It is beautiful out here this time of year because all of the trees are really green. Everyone always comments on how green Oregon is, and it certainly is, but out here all the green leafy trees give it a different look. It's nice to see big green trees lining the highway in daylight as a drive to work instead of the barren sticks in the dark that I see in the wintertime.
We're beginning to work on planning the wedding and sorting everything out. We are going to get married next summer, so there's no big rush, but it seems like these days you almost have to have a year to plan your wedding. The plan is to have a wedding and reception like normal out here and then to have another reception of sorts back in Oregon. I am looking forward to dress shopping while I'm home for Vickie's graduation and I think that will really make it sink in that I'm getting married! It will be fun to have the chance to see everybody at Vickie's graduation and have Billy along to spend some more time with my family.
I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the summer. The pool opens next weekend so I am excited about getting a start on my tan!
We also had our "goodbye to the seniors" barbeque for student council, which was fun. We have a lot of really good kids in there who are going on to college, so it was cool to have the chance to sit down and talk to them about that stuff. They surprised me with a card that they had somehow been passing around school and having people sign. I almost always find out about things like that ahead of time, so it was a nice surprise. We had elections for the officers next year, and we have a great group of kids lined up to run things next year. We also have two extra weeks in the fall before homecoming, so the year should go quite smoothly.
The weather has warmed up and will continue to do so, and the days are getting longer and longer. I really like living somewhere that has a distinct spring. It is beautiful out here this time of year because all of the trees are really green. Everyone always comments on how green Oregon is, and it certainly is, but out here all the green leafy trees give it a different look. It's nice to see big green trees lining the highway in daylight as a drive to work instead of the barren sticks in the dark that I see in the wintertime.
We're beginning to work on planning the wedding and sorting everything out. We are going to get married next summer, so there's no big rush, but it seems like these days you almost have to have a year to plan your wedding. The plan is to have a wedding and reception like normal out here and then to have another reception of sorts back in Oregon. I am looking forward to dress shopping while I'm home for Vickie's graduation and I think that will really make it sink in that I'm getting married! It will be fun to have the chance to see everybody at Vickie's graduation and have Billy along to spend some more time with my family.
I hope everyone is well and looking forward to the summer. The pool opens next weekend so I am excited about getting a start on my tan!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
We're getting married!
This weekend Billy took me to the park and as we were walking down by the water, he proposed to me! We are both really excited about being engaged and looking forward to getting married (although we haven't set a date yet). He picked out/designed my ring while I was in California last month visiting my family, and after it came in he called both of my parents to ask for their blessing and then let me in on the secret. I love the ring he picked out! I have included some pictures of us that we took this weekend and also some pictures of the ring so you can all see how much he spoils me.
Once we start talking about wedding plans, I'll let everyone know, but for right now we are enjoying being engaged!
Once we start talking about wedding plans, I'll let everyone know, but for right now we are enjoying being engaged!
Friday, April 28, 2006
Thanks Everybody
First, I'd just like to say thank you to everyone that read my last post and said such kind words. I know people must have been keeping the situation in their prayers because everyone, myself included, seems to be figuring out how to return to normal.
Tuesday night was Haley's funeral, which was a nice service. It was a surreal experience for me for a few reasons. First, I'd never seen an open casket before, and to have my first one be a girl that is younger than me was a bit odd. Haley's best friend, another student I have, put together a slideshow of pictures of Haley from the time she was a baby up until recent ones, which was nice. The message delivered by the pastor was pretty religious, but in my opinion he did a nice job of trying to explain why things happen that just seem so unfair. Afterwards I was able to talk to a few of my students who were really close to Haley, and that was pretty hard. It was tough for me to see kids who act so tough in my classroom breaking down and asking me for hugs. I was glad to be there for my own reasons, but it also seemed like it meant a lot to them for me to be there, so I was thankful that I was able to go.
Wednesday, Thursday, and today progressively got a little bit more "normal." Kids were laughing at my jokes again, and I felt like making jokes again. Fifth period still has an empty feeling to it, but I don't think it will ever be quite as lively as it once was... not only because people are sad, but because she was such a big part of the personality of that group. It was interesting to watch the progression the kids went through... they've all known since either Friday night or Saturday morning, so it seemed like Wednesday, while I was still pretty upset, they were starting to feel a little better. I was happy to see her best friend show up in regular clothes and with makeup on after a few days in sweatpants and a ponytail.
There were still logistical things to take care of as a classroom teacher, like trying to figure out what to do about the large research paper my juniors had due today. I knew that I wanted to give the kids who were close to Haley as much time as they needed to get it done, but it was hard to do that without opening the flood gates of excuses about why people needed extensions. I ended up just giving everyone who asked the extra weekend to work on it, because how do you decide who is grieving enough to warrant extra time? I have a student who kids were talking about a few months ago when a member of the junior class committed suicide... evidently she wasn't really friends with him but was going to guidance instead of going to class, missed school for the funeral, etc. The same girl sat near Haley in class, but I never saw the two of them have a conversation, and then the girl told me that she was so upset that she needed extra time. Things like that make me very angry; how could you take advantage of someone's death to procrastinate? And how can you pretend to be feeling the same way as kids whose hearts have broken over the loss of their friend? But I guess that type of person is going to take advantage of any situation they can. There was no way for me to tell her "No, I know you weren't really friends with her, it's due Friday," so I gave her extra time like everyone else, but I hope she has at least a little bit of trouble sleeping at night knowing what she has done.
That petty stuff aside, I think the kids are doing well. They can talk about her and remember her without crying now, and I think that is what she would want. If she can tell what we're doing down here, I think she would be glad to see that her friends were really shaken and miss her horribly, but also glad to know that they are learning to carry on with strong memories of her. Her boyfriend is apparently recovering, but I don't know if he is out of the hospital. I think he has got a very long road ahead of him, so I'll continue to pray for him and her family.
It makes me feel grateful to know that I have such caring, supportive people around me, even if you're all over the place and thousands of miles away. Knowing that I have so much support has helped me be supportive to my kids in a situation that would otherwise be nearly impossible. I feel blessed to have so many people in my life who are genuinely concerned about my students, and it helps me to understand how I developed into a person who cared about them so much that it sometimes hurts. So thank you, all of you, for being what I need.
Tuesday night was Haley's funeral, which was a nice service. It was a surreal experience for me for a few reasons. First, I'd never seen an open casket before, and to have my first one be a girl that is younger than me was a bit odd. Haley's best friend, another student I have, put together a slideshow of pictures of Haley from the time she was a baby up until recent ones, which was nice. The message delivered by the pastor was pretty religious, but in my opinion he did a nice job of trying to explain why things happen that just seem so unfair. Afterwards I was able to talk to a few of my students who were really close to Haley, and that was pretty hard. It was tough for me to see kids who act so tough in my classroom breaking down and asking me for hugs. I was glad to be there for my own reasons, but it also seemed like it meant a lot to them for me to be there, so I was thankful that I was able to go.
Wednesday, Thursday, and today progressively got a little bit more "normal." Kids were laughing at my jokes again, and I felt like making jokes again. Fifth period still has an empty feeling to it, but I don't think it will ever be quite as lively as it once was... not only because people are sad, but because she was such a big part of the personality of that group. It was interesting to watch the progression the kids went through... they've all known since either Friday night or Saturday morning, so it seemed like Wednesday, while I was still pretty upset, they were starting to feel a little better. I was happy to see her best friend show up in regular clothes and with makeup on after a few days in sweatpants and a ponytail.
There were still logistical things to take care of as a classroom teacher, like trying to figure out what to do about the large research paper my juniors had due today. I knew that I wanted to give the kids who were close to Haley as much time as they needed to get it done, but it was hard to do that without opening the flood gates of excuses about why people needed extensions. I ended up just giving everyone who asked the extra weekend to work on it, because how do you decide who is grieving enough to warrant extra time? I have a student who kids were talking about a few months ago when a member of the junior class committed suicide... evidently she wasn't really friends with him but was going to guidance instead of going to class, missed school for the funeral, etc. The same girl sat near Haley in class, but I never saw the two of them have a conversation, and then the girl told me that she was so upset that she needed extra time. Things like that make me very angry; how could you take advantage of someone's death to procrastinate? And how can you pretend to be feeling the same way as kids whose hearts have broken over the loss of their friend? But I guess that type of person is going to take advantage of any situation they can. There was no way for me to tell her "No, I know you weren't really friends with her, it's due Friday," so I gave her extra time like everyone else, but I hope she has at least a little bit of trouble sleeping at night knowing what she has done.
That petty stuff aside, I think the kids are doing well. They can talk about her and remember her without crying now, and I think that is what she would want. If she can tell what we're doing down here, I think she would be glad to see that her friends were really shaken and miss her horribly, but also glad to know that they are learning to carry on with strong memories of her. Her boyfriend is apparently recovering, but I don't know if he is out of the hospital. I think he has got a very long road ahead of him, so I'll continue to pray for him and her family.
It makes me feel grateful to know that I have such caring, supportive people around me, even if you're all over the place and thousands of miles away. Knowing that I have so much support has helped me be supportive to my kids in a situation that would otherwise be nearly impossible. I feel blessed to have so many people in my life who are genuinely concerned about my students, and it helps me to understand how I developed into a person who cared about them so much that it sometimes hurts. So thank you, all of you, for being what I need.
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