Decluttering

OK, I actually had fun today with Big Dad, putzing around the house and decluttering.  I guess it's late spring cleaning.  We just bought a dining room table, and we weren't sure how we wanted it to sit in the dining room.  So we just took everything out to move things around.  But then we thought we might as well steam clean the carpet.  So we did.  Then I started looking at the curtains and realized they could be washed, so I did.  But that's when BD saw a nick or two in the paint, so he got out the paint and touched up.  He also noticed that the curtain rod needed to be more secure, so he fixed that, too.  Then we played around with the furniture. 

I think we've got it the way we want it.  It will be perfect when I move my school stuff out of there on Monday. ;)

Air's Out

It's getting to be a yearly thing.  I guess we should just plan on it in the budget.  Our air conditioner is out again.  Almost a year to the day.

I called about getting a technician to come out, and the lady said, "Well, I see we replaced your capacitor last week...is it still not working?"  I corrected her mistake, and that's when I realized it's a repeat of last year.  Not my own memory, mind you.  That's failing quick.

I actually kind of like watching technicians come out.  I've said before, I like to watch people who are good at what they do, and air conditioner technicians fall into that category.  I learned a lot about capacitors last year and how to tell when they go bad.  Not that it will help me, really.  By the time it goes out again,  I'll have to remember that info, and I did mention that my memory is failing, right?

I also like figuring out how things work.  I used to love my kids' Beast Wars transformers, even though they'd frustrate me to no end.  But learning about mechanical things is fun, and I enjoy making the link to things I'll be teaching the kids.  That's probably the main motivating factor, not some self professed love of intricate things to give myself the appearance of intellectual superiority.  The real truth is it gives me something to use with kids that are smarter than me!  Now THAT'S smart thinking.

The technician will be here in a few.  Gotta go watch.

Missing' my peeps!

Boy, I've forgotten what it's like to be out of my element! Missin' my GT buddies at the training this week. I'm needing some outside-the-boxen right about now. ;) It's good to be around like mindeds.

We've decided...

...you guys should move here.

Long lost relatives

It's about time!  We finally got our family from Florida to come visit us here in the Lone Star state.  We've been excited for weeks, and last night reminded me why.

We all got together and it's like we've never been apart.  Lots of joking around, laughing, showing each other the latest videos we've found that are funny.  We didn't even need couches.  We just spread out in the hall and stairway, talking and tormenting the cat.

As always, they assimilated right into our house.  They make themselves at home, and we're just enjoying each other's company.

So fun.

Getting there, but not quite...

I really needed a restful Summer, and I am getting some rest, but it's still not the complete rest I was hoping for because my brain is still jumbled.  I guess it's not restful because of the projects hanging over my head:

The biggest and most pressing project is an online course I'm building for the district.  I want it to be good, because like a fellow teacher pointed out, it's kind of like putting your entire soul out there to be judged.  OK, it's not that bad, but it feels that bad.  So I want to do a really good job.  It will be on twice exceptional learners, and I want to make sure the teachers learn what they need to, and that I give them current research as well.

The next is a training I'm attending mid-July.  That's not as stressful, but I need to make sure I'm prepared to use the material later in the year.

In early August I'll be teaching three classes during our Summer Institute for the district.  It's nice to get paid, but it's one more thing hanging out there.

Lastly is our campus retreats in August.  I'm presenting a large amount of material at my main campus' retreat, and a smaller amount of material at my secondary campus' retreat.  It's new to me material, and I haven't presented it before, so it will be a little stressful presenting it in front of my peers.  However, both campuses have such a great group of teachers who like to have fun and enjoy learning, so I'm sure once I get going, it will be fine.

I do like the extra responsibility, and I'm honored to know that my administrators believe in me enough to entrust me with this.  But in each event, I get about a week to prepare before presenting again.  I think next year I'll do a little less.  I do love what I do, and I think next year will be a little less stressful because I've lived and learned about splitting two campuses this year, and I'm going into this year a bit wiser. :)

Still, I'm thankful for the restful days I'm getting now. 

Well, well, well....

It seems this is how I like to start my posts.