wrapping up the school year like a burrito! terrible simile.

 before i left for school this morning, i had to retire chaco's favorite toy. i replaced it with a treat, but he's the one who will go for the squeaky toy before the treat, so it was a very somber moment...but he just wreaks havoc on every toy i have ever given him. his sharp little teeth...he has a knack for finding the squeaker and incapacitating it within moments of receiving the toy. grr.

sorry buddy...you did this to yourself, and it's going to hurt me more than it hurts you (financially anyhoo because i'll have to get you another one or feel guilty for life)

 at school, (last day) i tried to work on summer school plans, and let me be completely honest...i thought i'd be able to focus, but seriously, who was i kidding?? i have been so stinkin' distracted by the mere fact that i will be in HONDURAS in oh....24 days!! WOO HOO!! are my bags partially packed sitting in my living room? yes. problem?? didn't think so!

let's see. the tomatoes have been amazing and new ones are ready every day! so i've been picking them to allow them to ripen-I cannot believe how much tastier they are than any other tomato i've ever eaten. ok, I have garden-bias. deal wit it!

today i did pull pretty much everything from the garden for my salad. the only thing i brought from home was once again, the cheese, flax, and a little bacon (left over from brkfst this morning). so i added a raspberry vinaigrette that i have at school, and from the garden: tomato, onion, fennel, basil, mint, swiss chard, red lettuce, and a couple of snow peas (which are almost non-existent...it's getting too hot for them). i helped andrea pull together some stuff for her salad as well. it was delicious!!

love!

i ate outside and enjoyed the vitamin d from the sun! as i was eating, there was a strange consistency of something in my salad, and i thought perhaps it was a bug (no big deal) but the second time, i was wondering what in the world it was, so i spit it out and it was, as a matter of fact, my bacon. i had forgotten that i had included the bacon! i'm starting my chaco tan.


being that today was the last day of school, i finished some projects that had kinda gotten started and had not been finished quite yet. for example, i finally got he last orange sticky poster from hell frame up on the brick wall. the pencil file cabinet finally got spray painted in a classy BLACK. i was able to rig a yafa block and attach it to the wall so that the books on cd in their special packaging would fit nicely, and then i worked on some of the summer school stuff.

as for the file cabinet, i had it outside to be painted and there was a slight breeze, so i picked some grass and dropped it to see which direction it was blowing so that i would know from where to spray. that's all fine and dandy(whatever dandy actually means), until the breeze changes directions. so...yes, i did come inside a little darker...from afar, it looked like perhaps i was a little more tan, from a little closer, i looked dirty, and from very close you could see the speckles of black paint. and that stuff doesn't just wash off. fortunately i had some thinner type solution here at home. yikes.

then after school, our principal walked in with one of our AFs (coach facilitators). carol had 2 little black cases in her hands, which she presented to us and i was immediately aware if what i was holding and i was so excited! i didn't take my hands off of it..i may have cradled it and caressed it like a baby...so excited to use the SWIVL during summer school!! hopefully we will be able to use the TORSH app at some point as well!

and the choir of angels sang a resounding, melodic, "AAAHHHHHHHH!!"

by the way have i mentioned that i am having a hard time focusing on anything unrelated to vacation? and the crazy thing is that i say i am distracted by all things HONDURAS, but let's look at this again-i am also going to see my brother and his fam, spending quality time with my parents, and them visiting my cousin in VA and my superhero in MD. :) umm..best summer ever-yet? i think yes! so theme songs for this summer for me? there are a few: best day of my life, good life, happy, brave...for starters...i'm certain i will be introduced to some new flavors!

THE NEXT DAY

saturday...one of the best things about going in to work today (stupid snow days) was that on the way there, i didn't have to worry about any school zones. so yes, one can even find a semblance of happiness when going to work on a saturday!

as i sat at my desk, i had the space heater on- it was 92 outside, but with the AC, my feet were like goldilocks and couldn't get it right...they were too hot or too cold. i think my feet have menopause...but only when i'm at work.

 after work we had a last get together at chuy's. it was good to sit with friends and celebrate some of those who would be leaving this year and moving to the next phase. it is hard to lose great teachers, and even harder when they have become friends.

another great thing that happened today was finding this earring that i thought had gotten lost. it must have fallen out into my clothing when i changed my shirt at school and then out of my clothing when i got into the car. i'm so glad i found it there, because i was rather worried that i'd never find it!

made by our incredible art teacher, who will also be moving on to a new phase this coming year-best wishes, renee!

NO MORE PENCILS, NO MORE BOOKS! NO MORE TEACHERS...DIRTY LOOKS! remember that one? good thing our students don't-or they might actually get dirty looks! so with summer school around the corner, i want to make sure that the students i have don't feel that way and we can make it as enjoyable as possible and have some fun! i truly believe that if we can have some fun while learning, they might not even notice that they are learning! so, that will be my goal.

alright, time for bed!
julie