The Table

I'm kind of wishing I hadn't volunteered to sit at the "homework table" every day.  I guess it's not the worst thing in the world.  Homework isn't the happiest event in the world, tho, and I've been able to work with kids on happy events most of the time in this new gig.  I may have to be super helpful with the homework table.  I want the peeps to like me.

The Meeting

We had most excellent fun celebrating the birth of my mom.  Now it's time to get back to work.  But this day involves an all day meeting at a school not my own. Usually at the all day meetings I find out about a whole laundry list of things that are now part of my job.  But maybe that won't happen this time.
It will be good to see everyone and catch up with the literacy events at other schools.  I usually pick up a few good ideas along the way.  I'm on my way to Starby's so that I can be extra attentive during the assignments and information dispersal. Last year I forgot about a few things until it was TOO LATE.  I wasn't super impressive when that happened, let me tell you.

The Choice

The peeps love the new school.  After a week of making schedules, I'm finally getting into some classrooms to read books, sing songs, tie shoelaces. Today I read a book called Cowboy and Octopus.  I highly recommend it.  I read Cowboy's parts with a great cowboy twang.  I could tell the second graders were impressed.

The Felines

Friday was a little bit on the tough side.  I had to repeat my mantra many, many times, silently to myself. It did help.  Still, I ended up kvetching maniacally to some friends and family for a good part of Friday afternoon.  This is exactly what I want to avoid this year.  Today I was able to put all the aggravation behind me because the fam and I drove to the Exotic Feline Rescue Center.  They have over 200 lions, tigers, bobcats, mountain lions, servals, and jaguars. The big cats freaked me out a bit, but they also got me back on track in the happiness department.  Thanks, Big Cats!

P.S.  Has anyone out there read that Lemon Cake book by Bender?  Any good?

The Kinders

I spent 7 hours straight with the kinders today.  We had a plan to keep all 50 of them together for the day, work with them in small groups, observe them in a variety of settings, and then make their actual class lists this afternoon.  I volunteered to run the station in the gym.  I was pretty proud of myself.  With 6 groups of kids, we ran laps, played around with bouncy balls and ended up our time together racing around like maniacs on little scooters.  I tried to jot down anecdotal observations whenever I could.

At the end of the day, we talked about each kiddo.  Mostly I contributed comments like, "He could really kick the ball far" and "He was super fast on the scooters."  I had a few other stories to share like, "Yeah, he was the kid who took his own tooth out 2 days ago" and "Poor guy got bitten by a dog last week.  Right on his booty."  Most of my observations weren't considered relevant to the making of balanced class lists.  But they were basically all I had.  Now the Kinders are assigned to classes.  They'll have their FIRST real day of school tomorrow.  Good luck, kinders!  Maybe we can play in the gym some other time.

The Salt

We saw Salt today.  Very good.  Evelyn Salt is a badass.  Now I'm watching Nine.  We have no idea why we rented this.  I despise musicals.  But Daniel Day Lewis is a good actor and I might like bits of this.  It just started.  Dance sequence.  Don't think I'm going to make it through this.  Husbandman just said, "Oy Vey."   What were we thinking? 

The Impact

I just watched No Impact Man.  Then I cleaned up the kitchen and threw away a bunch of trash from the take out meal we consumed for dinner.  Then I started stressing out about whether or not I should get a latte in the morning from Starby's.  And I stressed out some more about No Impact Man's advice that we all join an environmental community activism group.  I can't do that, No Impact Man!  Community groups get on my last nerve.
I guess I'm glad I watched No Impact Man.  His wife Michelle is pretty neat.  And I do like to learn about people's projects that and end up turning into books and movies.  But this documentary increased my anxiety level tonight and I should have saved it for another time.

The Interruptions

It's hard to get work done at work.  I felt v. displeased with myself when another day passed and I still wasn't done with the literacy workshop for Friday morning.  I came home ticked off, but gritted my teeth and vowed to stay awake until the prezi presentation was done.  Well come to find out, my prezi won't load now.  I've got a desperate plea for help in to the prezi peeps, but who knows what will happen?  I think I went overboard with the images.  I hope my prezi comes back to me by the a.m.  This problem is pretty much out of my control at this point. So annoying, tho.

The Chimay

Had a new treat tonight over at Good Pal Menosky's house.  Chimay Blue, a fantastic Belgian beer.  You have to drink Chimay in a special Chimay glass.  This I didn't know.  Until tonight.  It was a fun visit, with many fine stories shared.  You should try Chimay sometime.  Get the right glasses, tho.  

The V's

It's v. fun to float about in a pool all afternoon, yakking with a group of good pals.  Today was my official last day of summer.  And it was v. perfect. Summer of 2010.  One for the books.

The Scramble

Our new school is not going to be ready to go for the first day of school.  I've been in denial about this for awhile, but today even I had to accept facts.   The technology hasn't arrived.  Furniture is unassembled.  Unpacked boxes fill most every classroom.   It's too bad because I wanted the first day to be a magical experience like Miracle on 42nd Street when the kid gets the new house at the end and we learn that there really is a Santa.   Now that I'm accepting facts, I am adjusting my expectations.  The kiddos will still be happy with the new compound.  And we'll all live to tell the tale.

The Movies

I just got back from watching The Kids Are Alright.  Man oh man, that movie made me S!A!D!  If you see it you will know why.

The Posters

Demolition

Destruction

More demolition and destruction

I ate lunch with the other literacy partners today.  We all expressed some anxiety about the school year.  Last year we didn't see each other very much, but this year we're going to try to stay more connected.  It's nice having one year down in this gig.  It's nice to have lunch with the other partners and discover that we've all experienced similar ups and downs.
After lunch I went in to the compound for a short while to work on some prof. dev. days we're having next week.  My new office is getting pretty spiffed up.  I may buy some new posters.  Once I get the proper posters in there, I'll be good to go.

The Trip

More Orchids

Conservatory, Orchid Room

We started the Chicago trip with a walk thru the Conservatory.  Perfect start after a long trafficky car ride.
Chicago's like a huge art museum.  Everywhere you look there's something amazing to see.  Other highlights:

1. Transformer 3's filming so we got to take some pix of the phenomenal sets.
2. Dinner at Bin 36.
3. Art Institute:  Cartier-Bresson exhibit etc.
4. The Bean
5. Orchestra Rehearsal in Gehry's Pritzker Pavilion
6. #1 Son and Husbandman heard Pharez Whitted at Jazz Showcase
7. Shopping on the Mile
8. Walking and talking for hours and hours