Thoughts on the end of the year...

Yes, this is a couple of weeks late... but here it is:

• I spent so much of this year gushing about the photo classes that hubby asked if this was my favourite year. Well, I can't say it was the favourite - it's like picking your fave child - but it was real nice...
• I got to meet such great, imaginative, creative and talented students.
• I think the PV community finally knows that the Photo program is one of the best things at PV. The stuff in the art show proved that. And I couldn't even put in all the great stuff!
• When people act up, it bothers me because it ruins it for the others. So, those of you in period one who suffered, I felt your pain, but I am glad it didn't ruin Photo for you. Note: period 1 art classes are always a challenge. Just ask any former period 1 inmate - I mean student;)
• I loved seeing some of you look for and find other photographers you like. Especially when it is someone young, contemporary and not familiar to me. Others may think you weren't working, but in fact, you were.
• I like that some of you want to put your work in non-school shows. That's determination!
• I can't believe that you really want a Photo 3 - and that Mr. Wallace said ok! Amazing!
• Storage taking over the darkroom? Students say no way and we win! Hooray for expressing your rights to be taught what benefits you.
• The work you do makes other people in the building want to see what goes on in 026/024. That's a compliment to you.
• Going to ICP and seeing you all have fun, take notes, take pictures, etc.. More trips next year!
• Feeling like the classes were a family. We may fight, misbehave, get on each others nerves. But we respected each other and cared about each other. Lessons people forget are part of what should be learned in school.
• Showing up the morning after graduation and having one student coming to say goodbye and thank you and three sassy students hanging out until it was time for bed.
• Finding proof that not everyone at PV is a carbon copy of the dopes on "Jersey Shore." ...I hear most of them are from Staten Island anyhoo... That the arts get the unique, different, quirky, open-minded kids from all countries, socio-economic groups, religions. Many of you are travelers, multi-lingual, driven, ambitious and just all around cool.

There's more that I will probably think of later. But that's it for now. We may put up with a lot of bs from the current governor and other stressful things but every day in the classroom is a ton of fun. Tons of work, but so much fun.

Thanks guys and gals...

Keeping the Brit spirit alive...

... with this new layout. No, I did not take the picture but I did take a few of those iconic phone booths. tee hee.... So I wanted to just click on my blog to see how the layout made me feel and I do like it. Noticed some other fabulous PV-ers changing their layouts too. Yay! Like changing the layout of the classroom...

The new arbour is being installed today. We had to swing the grapevine over about 45 degrees to clear the arbour area. Not as sensible as it sounds... if it sounds sensible at all. I just can't wait. Then we can eat at the table in privacy - or fall asleep - without wife-beater neighbour seeing me.

What are the odds that the elastic on three bathing suits will all go at once? When you are Jinx Vasa, the odds are high. So sister and I went on a shopping expedition yesterday. Understand you have one heavily pregnant gal and one who DOES NOT DO BIKINIS! I like to be active in the water and bikinis are not conducive to that. And I just don't like all that skin showing. So my odds of finding a one-piece or tankini so late in the shopping season was not good. But I did it! Found two pretty cool tankinis with good coverage. And just in time for a 98 degree day. Yeah! Now that's what summer is about! Sweat and swim...

Lessons learned...

Well, the summer is off to a typical start. Usually it involves me sliding down the pool steps - not into the pool, but getting out of the pool. But alas, this weekend has been worse.

Today, I closed the car door and caught my hair in it. Tried to pull it out - my hair is thin and greasy - but like a dip, had to open the door to get the hair out. Note: I have never had hair this long and I still need to get used to it.

Yesterday, however was the best. Note to all reading: when there are problems with a pool pump, DO NOT keep your face in direct line with the hose connection with said pump. And for god's sake, do not do it two more times after it happens the first time!!! Can you guess what happened to this dipstick yesterday?

So it starts with a hole in the hose from the filter to the pump. I take the hose off - with the pump off - and the water soaks me. I put a spare hose on and clamp it, figuring that despite the larger diameter, the clamp will keep it on. Flip the switch for the pump, and, whoops, the hose blows off and I get shot in the face with 1 horsepower pumped water. Flip the switch off. Clamp said hose in a different spot, flip the switch, and you guessed it, shot in the face again. But real bad. I swear I am the only person who can nearly drown herself while not in the pool. I sucked in water and couldn't breathe but got to the basement and somehow got the water up. Man, I wish someone video taped that one. At least sister laughed when I told the story. I never knew what it was like to be able to breathe out but not in. Now I know. So sis asks if my life flashed before my eyes. But all I saw was water. Then later in the day, in my peripheral vision, I saw ripples, like water.

Jeez, you just can't make this stuff up. Hubby says I am quite accident prone. I don't even tell him all the stupid things I do. This is going to be one heck of a summer...

Sigh...

... they have graduated... all grown up... but still short - well some of them! Mixed emotions and I want to get down to floor #1 right now where it is less sticky, so I will post my thoughts and my response to the last journal entry tomorrow morning at PV, before 7 am as usual!

Moving...

Dems and I get bored with things staying the same. So we rearranged the room. I dont' think the Photo people like it, but we have to keep things fresh for them and us. No stagnating here! However, I am really sore and tired. Napped with Millie - the cat, not Misadventure! - when I was done in the pool. Now to slather a good layer of Ben Gay on the sore limbs.

Oh, and hubby's dinner suggestion involved making a corn and bean salad. They are packaged in cans. He took the can opener to work for his tuna. My brain is tired from trying to figure that one out. Now do you see why I don't have kids? I do have one and he's 40 years old! tee hee...

Tomorrow's goal: complete the Photo III curriculum and hand it over and hope for the best.

So I am looking at all the posts and commenting a bit. Why are all you dear people so sad? It's not the end... just another thing is coming up next! I can't wait until the week starts to get the curriculum written and then say "well, the curriculum is done, so why not a Photo III?" and if not this year, then next and we do a members-only club thingy after school this year.

Can't type much though - bum middle finger on the right hand. I did A LOT of work yesterday - bought and installed new pool pump (including doing some electrical work), dead-headed and gardened at home, weeded at mom and dad's (dad can't with the broken collarbone), swam, and used the clippers to trim the grass and weeded the backyard. Somewhere in all that I did something - I have no idea what - to my middle finger. I can't bend it much. Hubby says that it will give me a chance to not use it when driving. Ha! And I am sore as all heck - back, neck, legs. But it was all worth it. Hubby says maybe I should take it easy. I say there's still more work to do!

Father's Day today is in Union at my sister's sister-in-law - two fathers for the price of one - and we are not looking forward to it. At least my dad will be there and I have the kids on Monday to look forward to.

Passing the torch...

While there was a Main Street Special Olympics torch thing past school today, another torch was being passed...

Mrs. Hall has now met the Josten's and Lifetouch representatives. Monday I distribute the yearbook. I have passed the torch to the new adviser. I love the yearbook this year and anyone who criticizes it will suffer my wrath and my anger. Most of my staff worked their tails off and it is a great one to go out on!!!

I was going to start reading and commenting on all the blog posts and write one of my own, but Millie is now yelling at me for her 9.00 pm snack. She has trouble telling time sometimes and does not understand it is only 8.11!!! So, I must tend to the baby. And the McAfee virus scan is really slowing things down. I hate McAfee....

By the way... unruly, uncooperative students really tire me out and I am directing this comment to period 1! Thank goodness mother did not meed my help after school, because I fell right asleep. Ugh!

Year end posts

I tried to read the last journal entries but realized PV is not the comfy cozy atmosphere for reading these kinds of things. I need a nice chair, with grandma's pillow cushion, with the window in front of me, with my psycho neighbour screaming, and the birds, and orange juice, and Millie on my lap. So, with that said, I will read, reply and post my own answer tonight...

Sister's alien - I mean baby - shower tomorrow.... I expect lots of cutesy-cutesy stuff. Funny that kids here think I hate kids. I don't. I just prefer those of the high school age. They do not get much respect form the public and I cherish and respect them for the unique, developing, cool people they are. That's why I teach high school not elementary anymore.

I smell the bacon from the cafe alllll the way in 026. Time to set up the darkroom and smell something better! Hooray for photo chemistry!

My fingers are stained purple-blue from picking loads of really ripe mulberries...

I finally got to swim - the first of the season...

My pool is open (but the pump sounds broken so it's not swimmable yet)...

I had a great salad for dinner in Denville...

The photos in the art show kicked you-know-what...

We ordered the new arbour for the grapevine...

I am hot and sticky and loving it...

I am drinking a Fentiman's Mandarin and Seville Orange Jigger (oh to be back in the UK)...

This is turning out to be a pretty good summer (or end of spring if you want to get specific).

Sweat...

I did not realize how much my scalp sweats until the past two days in a gymnasium with little circulation. Jeez!!! Could the windows have been opened any later?

My feelings regarding this year's shows to come later, unless of course I melt beforehand.

ART SHOW!!!

Woo Hoo!!! Art show is set up and we had enough flats to put all the photo stuff we wanted to show! As putting them up, I did some editing - you know, taking things out b/c the student is now rude/not working or taking out things that did not look good next to that person's other work. I didn't realize just how much super stuff some of the people had done! Amazing!! Looking forward to my routine of taking in all the artwork alone and in silence in the morning around 6.30.

The best part - climbing the cherry picker to the top! Yeah!

I was a hot sweaty mess and no pool to take a dip in but baby Millie doesn't mind a smelly mommy. At least I can walk to the HPC meeting tonight. Since my delightful mail man has yet to deliver all my magazines, I may have to treat myself to something on the way to Town Hall.

Thick...

So I can be fairly thick sometimes. I thought "Gee, what great weather this morning. I'll open some windows for fresh air." Dems and the kids apparently did not agree. I got the final hint when I saw a number of kids fanning themselves. So, windows closed, air conditioning on.

But at home... no air conditioner, just open windows and ceiling fans! Pure heaven. I can smell the rain and at night I can smell the night blooming jasmine from down the street - which by the way, is what the air smelled like half the ride home from New Hope Saturday night! Then, the birds are so loud, that I think I may no longer need an alarm! How much better can you get? Oh, wait, the cicadas aren't here yet. That's perfection...

The last iris - oh boy... So purple! Just amazing. As of right now, I am killing time on the computer hoping Millie will get here scaredy butt out form under the bed - her chosen locale during thunderous weather. Now you know that kitty is scared when she misses the 5.00 dinner.