Attention all teachers, school has been cancelled for Wednesday August 30, 2006 due to Hurricane Ernesto's eminent landfall.

There's a Hurricane a'comin', Everybody take cover!
Yeah right. The last time I lived in Florida and we got a hurricane day it was the prettiest day of the whole month. So, I don't have to teach tomorrow. I plan to work on lesson plans and do this!

Escaping

My entire family decided to escape reality and go to the beach this weekend. So, as soon as I was able on Friday afternoon I tore out of the school parking lot, rushed home and threw my stuff in the back of my mom's car and we headed out.
When we got to the beach it was a beautiful late summer evening. The sun was just starting to sink toward the water (we went to the gulf, of course), the wind was blowing through the sea oats and on the breeze was the faint smell of dead fish. Yep, dead fish. We got down there and realized that the red tide that had been in the lower part of the state had moved north and was gracing our quaint little beachy village with its presence.
My mom and I decided that the smell wasn't really that bad, and we were determined to work on our tans this weekend. So we trekked the 50 ft. from our back door to the beach and then hopped across about 50 more feet of hot sand toward the water, only to realize that it was actually far worse than we first thought. Not only did it smell like dead fish, the shore line was covered, literally, with thousands of fish and hundreds of seagulls feasting to their heart's content.
The water was black, rather than the normal blue/green color, like in the picture at the top that I took a few years ago, and it wasn't long before my mother and I were both coughing (which is a side effect of the red tide, not the smell from the fish).
So my family stayed inside the whole weekend, playing games and not killing each other (surprisingly). We also went to Tampa to see the Bodies exhibit at MOSI. Overall a great weekend, but my tan still needs work. And, I was looking forward to a long river-filled Labor Day weekend, but since Ernesto seems to be heading this way I guess that's not likely to happen either. Oh well! The tan will have to wait.

Back In School

Well, the first week of teaching has come and gone. It's been interesting really. I am enjoying myself immensely, but it is taking every waking moment for me to keep my head above water to prepare for the next day. Everyone keeps telling me just to think of my first year as a black hole, to struggle through it and the following years will be better. It makes me wonder: If I like it, does it mean I'm not doing it right? If I don't mind all the extra work does that say something about me? (Yes, I know, I'm a nerd.)
My class is interesting too. I have 16 students - 9 girls, 7 boys. 3 of my students have been diagnosed with ADD, only one of them is on medication for it. One of the boys in the class is only about 3 inches shorter than me, and he's a 4th grader. 2 of my students are a year older than the average 4th grader, 2 are a year younger. So, my age range is 8 almost 9 to 11. Fun huh! They are a pretty great group of kids, but everyone keeps ranting and raving about how tightly knit they are to each other and I just don't see it. There are definitely little groups within the class and they are definitely mean to one another.
Well, I have about 2 hours before I leave for church. I'm going to go read my history curriculum. Hasta!

I survived!

Well, I haven't officially finished my first week, but I did survive my first day and it was great. I do have a song that everyone should learn, it's more of a cheer, like a good old fashioned football fight song:

We're Barbarians, Barbarians are we

We conquered Rome in 476 AD Rah-Rah-Rah

They turned their backs

We looted and sacked

We are Barbarians Rah-Rah

B-A-R B-A-R I-A-N-S

We're Barbarians, we're the best, Yeah!

Now, there are more verses about the Visigoths and the Vandals and Saxons, but I'll spare you the torture. If you aren't picturing how this is sung, you can call me and I'll sing it for you! Off key of course!

We Have Lift Off!

Well, I know its been a while, but the last two weeks have been insane. I've spent most of my waking hours either at school trying to get my room ready and sitting in seminars, or at home reading curriculum and trying to figure out what to teach come Monday morning. Today, in four hours I will have orientation. I'm not nervous yet, but I'm sure I will be come 10:15. Actually, I am so stressed out that my hair is starting to fall out. I know, I know, not healthy, but what am I supposed to do about it?
For those of you who know me well you will be surprised (okay, maybe surprised is an understatement) to know that I have been getting up at 5:45 for the past two weeks and I haven't bitten anyone's head off yet! We'll see how long that lasts!
Adios!