2 Down, 178 More to Go!

The first 2 days of the 08-09 school year are in the books and we've had a good start to the year. The good news is that after 10 classes on the first day, my student teacher came back for more today! We have some added challenges at our school this year, mostly due to the fact that our large gym had been condemned by the State Ed department last June and work is still going on to re-build the walls that were allegedly poorly constructed 5 years ago when the new gym was built. Because of this current construction, my 2 PE colleagues have to teach outside or in the hall or classrooms and the number of buses that can load and unload students at one time has been reduced by 10. In addition, one of the main entrances for students getting off the buses is closed so all 800 of our younguns go in and out 2 smaller doors. The construction project is supposed to be completed by the end of September. 

The weather guys say that today was the last 90 degree day for the year. It has been glorious weather all week, but now we expect some rain from one of the tropical storms coming up the coast. The temps are supposed to moderate to the 70's too.

I'm hoping to get a good night's sleep tonight. The section of Ridge Road near our house is getting a complete makeover and much of the paving work is being done at night. Well, 2 nights ago I think all the paving trucks were driving in reverse because the freakin' beepin' nearly drove us mad! Of course, the weather was such that we wanted the windows opened but even with them closed, the beepin' infiltrated our dreams. And then last night, the pavers took the night off so it was quiet, but at 3 AM I awoke with a cramp in my calf that brought tears to my eyes. I had to wake up Jim to help me flex my foot so I could get rid of it! I think the cramp hurt my calf muscle because today it is sore to the touch and very tight if I try to stretch it. So, I am hoping for a better nights' sleep tonight. Plus, I don't have to set an alarm for the morning-all of which means, I'll be up at 5 AM!!!

Jim will spend this weekend getting ready for his trip to see Tucker on Tuesday. He has a new backpack and new laces in his hiking boots so I guess he is almost ready to go. I think he is going to do some meal planning and make a trip to Wegmans to get some provisions. I will try to make some camping cookies for them to enjoy on their backpacking days. 

I had signed up for a dying workshop (wool dying, not the other kind!), but it got cancelled for lack of enrollment. The same workshop is being offered on October 5th, but we will be in Tennessee that weekend for Michal's wedding. Speaking of Michal's wedding, Corey found out that he won't be able to go because he has a SU cross-country commitment that weekend. He is pretty sad that he will miss the celebration and the chance to be with the extended family, but we will take our laptop along with us and hopefully be able to set up some video chats between him and his cousins. 

So I will leave you with a photo of one of my lovely first grade classes. I have taken photos of each of my classes so that I can have the classroom teacher write the kids' names next to their faces on the print. This helps me to learn all 400 of my students' names. I usually take 2 photos, one of the kids smiling nicely and the second with them making funny faces. Guess which photo this is!!

Hope all is well. 

Let the Games Begin

The gym is all set,

the bulletin board's all made.

The class lists are typed, 

the new equipment is put away.

The lesson plans are in place, 

the gym floor is all shiny.

My sneakers are new, 

my lunch is made. 

It's early September and 

we're ready to go.

Let the games begin!

Jim picked up his new car last night and he is quite pleased with it. I had my chance to drive it tonight and it was very comfortable and easy to drive. Here is a photo of Jim and his new set of wheels! 

We went out to dinner at Mr. Dominic's, down by the beach, using a gift certificate that one of my students gave me at the end of June. We had a nice meal.

Rochester has been have a great stretch of weather, beautiful blue skies and temps in the low 80's! How much longer it will continue is anybody's guess.

Last week I read in the Obituaries that my 6th grade teacher, Mr. Ed Kolb died. I have him to thank for being pretty good at my multiplication tables. He used to call each of his students into the hall, open up a math book to a page of multiplication problems, and say, "Go!" We had one minute to get through the page. If we made it, we didn't have to do it again, if we got an answer wrong, or went over the time limit, our name would be called again in the future for another chance! 

Time to get some rest before Opening Day! 

Hope all is well.

Sunday Fun

As the Gulf Coast awaits another terrible hit from a hurricane, we are fortunate enough to have enjoyed a beautiful, late summer day. It looks and sounds like people in the potential path of Gustav are getting out and relief efforts are ready and waiting as opposed to being reactionary this time around. We'll be watching the news closely in the next couple of days to see the developments with Gustav.

Our big activity today was canoeing with Bob and Sally. We put the canoe on the van, for the last time (!) and drove to their house. Bob and Jim carried the canoes to Cranberry Pond, while Sally and I followed along with the paddles and life jackets. We spent the next 2.5 hours canoeing around Cranberry Pond, into Long Pond (under a really low bridge), up the inlet of Long Pond and then back to our starting point. It was a lovely day to be on the water. We saw lots of great blue herons, some ducks, turtles, little green herons, minnows, gulls and swans, There were some pretty flowers along the narrow water trail up the inlet and our solitude was only minimally interrupted by a few motor boats on Long Pond. 

After our portage back to B & S's house we all piled in the van for a lunch trip to Schallers. As usual, we had a nice lunch. After lunch, we returned to B & S's so Sally could use my swift and ball winder to wind a bunch of her yarn from skeins into balls. Jim and Bob sat out by the lake solving the world's problems. It was a fun time all around.

For dinner, Jim grilled salmon and we ate on the patio. We hope to eat outside again tomorrow.

I finished a baby sweater I was knitting for a couple of family friends who are having a baby girl in October. I am quite please with how this sweater turned out and would use the pattern again if I wanted to knit for a baby girl. I think the lacy look is better suited for a girl. See the photo below. 

Corey sent us this photo of his new tent, set up in the living room of his apartment. He called us to tell us all about it and it seems like a great tent at a great price. We wish him many happy years of camping in it.

Hope all is well.