June Bugs and Summer Fever

Ok, to be honest, I don't know what a June bug is, but in this school, a June bug is the perpetual cold and flu that infects staff and students alike. Everyone seems to be battling some form of this; kleenex has become a de rigeur accessory. This is not to be confused with the summer fever, which is an infliction brought on by 23 degrees or higher in the sun. The days are really counting down. The theory is that if the day is 23 degrees or higher, the majority of students are skipping, and there is are many tee times available, it's a sun day. Similar to a snow day, we all go home. Wishful thinking, of course, but aren't there days where staying inside is simply torture?

I'm in the process of finding a summer job. 6 weeks or so of something that doesn't involve lesson planning or grade nines. A change is as good as a rest, so they say. Mom wants me to move home for awhile. It would be nice to be home for awhile, but I don't know if that means the whole summer or two weeks, or what. I was planning on finding something here in Swift, staying in my apartment. We'll see what happens. I don't want to leave my baby strawberry plant all by itself...

It will be good to be home this weekend. I get to spend an evening with Brandie, possibly see a movie, and hopefully have some new shorts cut out before I come back to Swift on Sunday. Maybe even a sun tan if I help Mom outside. Better pack the sunscreen!

Snowy May Day

Snow on the 13th of May...I know I've seen snow later in the year than this, but it doesn't make me like the idea any more than I did this morning when I had to scrape the ice off my windshield. It was nearly 20 degrees yesterday, and it's supposed to be up there again by Friday. What kind of plan is this?

It can be so hard to remember that there is a Master, and a plan. When nothing makes sense, when nothing goes right, when no one cares...those are the times when we grow stronger in Him. I have to remind myself that everything is in his hands, and my right isn't always correct. I count the things I do have, the people who love me. Life isn't designed to be easy, but there are sure days when it seems a lot harder than it needs to be.

It feels like I teach two separate days each day. With my older students in the morning, a prep period three and then lunch, it can be hard to get my head around coming back in the afternoon for my younger classes. It sometimes feels like I accomplish so much in the morning, and then the afternoon classes just rip that away. Really, if I wanted to be pulling teeth, I would have gone into dentistry, and be making much more money than I am now!

But it's not about the money. I can only hold out hope that some of these students will not be completely turned off of the class by the hooligans who are forced to be here. If life were easy...

Finally Friday

What an insane week. I'm not sure if there's a full moon, or it's the seasons changing, but there is something in the wind that is making normally average children into normally average monsters. I find they are either eager to be done, and so are doing well, or are eager to be done, so have decided they ARE done; school is over in their minds. I do have some wonderful students. Once I removed a few of the less than productive students this week, the rest have been lovely, and not because they are afraid of removal. They are grateful that those particular students are no longer around to bring down the class.

I'm looking forward to this weekend of nothing specific to do. Cleaning and laundry, maybe even some vacuuming; this really shouldn't be exciting, but it's my first weekend at home in nearly a month and a half. I might even get into my "office" this weekend. I hear there is an open house or two in town, so I might hit those up on Sunday. It would be nice to get rid of some of my neighbours! (And the ants. So many ants.)

The drama windup is scheduled, and it represents the last time I will have my drama kids together this year. I'll miss those grade twelves. I really hope some of the grade elevens step up next year. There is potential... I guess we'll wait and pray and see.

Two Years Later...

Hello strangers. I can and cannot believe that it has been this long since I've last written (or typed) anything here. I'm under no illusion that anyone will still be reading this, as the fad seems to have passed somewhat. Time has flown, and I seem to have flown around with it.

I'm now in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, teaching at the Comprehensive High School here. I love the students that I have; there is so much potential in each of them. I've found a church, though that wasn't dificult: the Baptist church is right across the street from my apartment. I've made a few friends, no one extremely tight but an option or two for a girls' night out. I enjoy living here, though I miss the business of Calgary on occasion, and my friends there daily. It's very nice to be closer to home, so I can spend the weekend there if I want to (or if I need my mom's cooking!)

I just returned from England, visiting family and friends. It really was an escape from reality; when I was there, work and school just did not exist. Coming back to the school Wednesday was good, though my brain still didn't believe that summer hadn't started. I may have to keep my holidaying to the summer months, just so that I don't confuse myself any further!

I've posted some pictures from my trip up under the google picasa albums, and I can send an invite to whomever, as long as I have your email address. Drop me a line if you're interested. It's not as if there is anything risque, but I'm in a profession that needs to be careful with what is publicly posted.

It's good to be back.