Around the beginning of each school year, it takes the Labor Day Holiday to bring some sanity to a teacher's nerve-racking, fast-paced, quick start. School is in session and summer has not ended. It was not suppose to end so abruptly at the beginning of August. The days have still been very hot and the grass is growing at neck-break speed.
Today is Saturday and I am once again in my usual summer morning fashion, sitting at my computer in my houserobe at 10:30 in the morning. That is something I've come to enjoy very much about summers without children at home. The opportunity to do nothing if I choose. Some younger parents might say, "I wish I could sit around on a Saturday morning." Well, I say to them, "You will in about 25 years." Hey, I feel no guilt. I paid my time to do this sitting around.
However, this school start has been busier than most because we have another family in our house temporally. My son's family has recently moved from Michigan to start a job in Houston. While they were looking for a house, they and their 2 children have lived with us. It has been nice to be able to see our grandchildren each day. They are so cute and smart. But even though I want to be with them, I have schoolwork to complete most evenings. Instead of working at my school the week before we had to return, I worked at home to prepare a suitable place for our company. I was happy to do that. I was in no hurry to get back to school. But I lost that week and it put me behind.
I wish I had the time during the day to be working around the house in preparation for everyone's return in the evening. I'm not very good at the whole planning meals for a week thing anymore. I am out of that habit and besides, after standing on my feet all day at school, I just want to sit down. So, our daughter in law, who is very good at planning and cooking, prepares her family's meals. We pretty much just take care of ourselves around here in the evenings. It seems to work, but I feel guilty not doing more for them.
This is our Labor Day Holiday and we will be off from work on Monday. An extra day to catch up on work around the house and also the work we brought home in our bookbags. Labor day is supposed to be a holiday from work. It is in reality a holiday for me to catch up on work. I like having this time to work alone and plan the next 3 weeks for my classes. I needed this break in our hectic beginning.
It is my understanding that next year our school district won't begin as early in August. I'll believe it when I see it. In the meantime, I have to clean house, wash clothes, plan lessons and grade papers. Labor Day, 2006...a sunny Saturday for my sanity.
September 2, 2006
August 26, 2006
Another Day Older and Deeper in Debt
If you recognize the title of this blog and even more if you have heard of Tenneesse Ernie Ford, then you must be around my age.
I celebrated my 54th birthday yesterday. I was expecting a normal day with the occasional "Happy Birthday" my family. I work in an elementary school and teach 3 classes of third grade students. I was tired when I arrived at school yesterday morning because it is the end of a long first two weeks of school starting. I have had early morning bus duty for the entire two weeks and my body is still rebelling at having to get up so early.
From across the hallway, a longtime friend and colleague, gave me a card and cute little M&M magnets. She knows I collect M&M things. One of the new partners I teach with this year, is a woman I've actually known for a long time, but never worked with. She stapled a cute little banner outside of my door in the hallway that read, "Happy Birthday Mrs. Martin!" I thought it was very sweet and on my way to do my bus duty, I told her so. She then told me to go back to my classroom and relax that she would do my duty. Wow! I was so surprised, but I let her. How nice of her! In about 15 minutes the students were due in my classroom, but another teacher came to the door and told me I was needed in the Reading computer lab. It was strange, but I figured someone had a problem so I went. Upon arrival, the darkened room seemed odd. I opened the door and the lights came on and 69 third grade children hopped up from their places and yelled, "Surprise!"
I was certainly surprised and had to tell myself not to cry as they sang "Happy Birthday" with those kid voices. As they filed past me out the door to go to class, they proceeded to each give me a hug and say "happy birthday". What a treat!
The birthday greetings didn't stop there. All day long the banner announced my big day and teachers and staff were tapping on my hallway window and mouthing "happy birthday" to me. My teacher friend that began all of this fun, got each of our students to create a birthday card for me which they proudly presented to me as they came into my classroom. At my conference, my team all met in my friend's classroom where we had birthday cake. It was a good time.
At home my husband cooked a lovely dinner with wine. He brought home a sweet pot of miniature roses that hopfully I won't kill and can replant in the yard somewhere. Then my middle son came by with birthday greetings from he and his wife. I loved visiting with him so much, it would have been gift enough. To my surprise his wife and he gave me an iPod nano. I just love it and I'm already feeling younger for just having it. :-) A few days ago, my sweet in-laws brought over a hummingbird feeder which I hope to hang in my backyard and watch the little creatures in flight.
I also received cards both "snail" and "e" from friends. So many people just acknowledging my birth made me realize how blessed that I am. Sometimes I don't feel worth a whole lot. On my birthday, even at 54, I miss hearing Happy Birthday from my mother. But each greeting and act of kindness shown to me yesterday was God's message to me and perhaps my mom as well. Being in this world was no accident.
Thank you to everyone for reminding me that I'm someone of worth in this world. I am grateful to everyone that made this 54 year old feel loved.
I celebrated my 54th birthday yesterday. I was expecting a normal day with the occasional "Happy Birthday" my family. I work in an elementary school and teach 3 classes of third grade students. I was tired when I arrived at school yesterday morning because it is the end of a long first two weeks of school starting. I have had early morning bus duty for the entire two weeks and my body is still rebelling at having to get up so early.
From across the hallway, a longtime friend and colleague, gave me a card and cute little M&M magnets. She knows I collect M&M things. One of the new partners I teach with this year, is a woman I've actually known for a long time, but never worked with. She stapled a cute little banner outside of my door in the hallway that read, "Happy Birthday Mrs. Martin!" I thought it was very sweet and on my way to do my bus duty, I told her so. She then told me to go back to my classroom and relax that she would do my duty. Wow! I was so surprised, but I let her. How nice of her! In about 15 minutes the students were due in my classroom, but another teacher came to the door and told me I was needed in the Reading computer lab. It was strange, but I figured someone had a problem so I went. Upon arrival, the darkened room seemed odd. I opened the door and the lights came on and 69 third grade children hopped up from their places and yelled, "Surprise!"
I was certainly surprised and had to tell myself not to cry as they sang "Happy Birthday" with those kid voices. As they filed past me out the door to go to class, they proceeded to each give me a hug and say "happy birthday". What a treat!
The birthday greetings didn't stop there. All day long the banner announced my big day and teachers and staff were tapping on my hallway window and mouthing "happy birthday" to me. My teacher friend that began all of this fun, got each of our students to create a birthday card for me which they proudly presented to me as they came into my classroom. At my conference, my team all met in my friend's classroom where we had birthday cake. It was a good time.
At home my husband cooked a lovely dinner with wine. He brought home a sweet pot of miniature roses that hopfully I won't kill and can replant in the yard somewhere. Then my middle son came by with birthday greetings from he and his wife. I loved visiting with him so much, it would have been gift enough. To my surprise his wife and he gave me an iPod nano. I just love it and I'm already feeling younger for just having it. :-) A few days ago, my sweet in-laws brought over a hummingbird feeder which I hope to hang in my backyard and watch the little creatures in flight.
I also received cards both "snail" and "e" from friends. So many people just acknowledging my birth made me realize how blessed that I am. Sometimes I don't feel worth a whole lot. On my birthday, even at 54, I miss hearing Happy Birthday from my mother. But each greeting and act of kindness shown to me yesterday was God's message to me and perhaps my mom as well. Being in this world was no accident.
Thank you to everyone for reminding me that I'm someone of worth in this world. I am grateful to everyone that made this 54 year old feel loved.
July 20, 2006
The Duke City
Albuquerque has been nicknamed "Duke City" because one of the old Spanish governors named the city "Albuquerque" after a Spanish Duke.
Kim and I just returned from a trip to Duke City to visit our son, Ryan and his wife, Amy. They moved out there a couple of months ago to help some college theater friends renovate and open a theater. Not the movie type, but a live theater with all it takes to put on a play to entertain the people of Albuquerque. We thought it was quite a risky undertaking at first, but having seen their building and heard about all of their plans, I'm excited too. I can't wait to return to see the finished product. For the before pictures, click on my Flickr link from this page.
While Ryan and Amy went to work to earn a living, Kim and I took a look around the dry, hot land outside of the main city. The mountains are filled with ancient markings of people that inhabited Albuquerque long before any Duke ever lived. We walked around ancient petroglyphs in Boca Negra Canyon. That's where I am in the picture posted here. We took several pictures of the drawings as we thought about the people that once lived there and etched their bit of history on the boulders so we could find them today.
While driving back to Texas, we came to Malpais Valley where lava once spewed out of volcanic vents in the earth thousands of years ago. The black oozing stretched over 17 miles. It was most evident that the flowing of hot sticky lava onto a valley floor would forever showcase this bit of history for all to see and learn. I thought this was an extraordinary piece of earth to view.
New Mexico certainly has a lot to teach us about our country's history. Home one day to repack, we will journey to places that will teach us about a different time more closely related to our own. Friday we leave to see New York, Connecticut, and a bit of Massachusetts.
Check back next week when I hope to blog about the last excursion of our summer vacation.
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