Summer Reading

 

Thinking of Teaching is having a summer reading linky! 

So, I have to admit, I have a stack of books that I want to read, but I haven’t gotten down to it yet . I am seeing people blogging about going back to school soon and seeing the back to school displays and it all makes me a wreck!  I literally started summer last week!  My school ended on the 26th and I packed through that Friday.  The I finished my college course last Tuesday.  Sooooo I just started to wind down!  I have sone a little cooking, a little sewing, a little lougning around watching YouTube and awful daytime TV.  Haven’t read a book yet.  However, here is my To Read list:

 

Yep, I’m a YA fiction and historical fiction lover.  At least, that is what I am currently into.  I am halfway through Insurgent and want to finish the series before watching the movies, but I own all three books. 

I finished City of Bones before the movie and own all the others, just haven’t gotten around to reading them.

I am halfway through Dragonfly and Amber – have been for about 2 years and just couldn’t keep up with it.  There are 8 - 800 page books in the series and a couple spinoffs – so, so, so good, just heavy! 

I have heard amazing things about The Bronze Horseman – very daunting text, but sounds amazing.

I have never read anything by John Green – oddly I usually prefer female authors. However, the movie trailer made me cry instantly and I think I need to read the book before the movie

So, what are your reading plans for the summer (that has just begun!!!!)?

Life

A few weeks ago, I was so saddened to hear of the passing of one of my teaching mentors. It was not long after the passing of my grandfather and was a complete surprise. It caught me so off guard because this gentleman was around my father's age and had just retired in June of 2013. He had barely begun to live his life as a retiree and his death was a tragic surprise to everyone. The funny thing was, I had been thinking about him and thought about giving him a call this summer. He was on Facebook and we had communicated that way.  He was one of those mentors who was not an obvious one. He wasn't assigned to me or paid by the school for his advice. He was just there - sometimes part of the crew.

What I loved most about him was his humor. He had a sarcastic whit that caught me off guard and kept me thinking (I don't really get sarcasm from others, so I did a lot of thinking). It was so unexpected in the world of primary teachers! I often told him that he reminded me of my father - at which, he would become a little riled and state that he was no where near the age of my father. The funny thing was that he was born in the same year.

When I left the district he was in, I was saddened to leave my good friends and even commenced to roast this gentleman and another teacher. I spent weeks planning what I would say and tried to keep a straight face. I will never forget the way he lounged in a school chair - as best as be can - and laughed hysterically. After a really bad year at my new school, he was the one to call me and give me advice when I spilled about my bad experience. He was there to subtlety tell me that I was making a good choice in leaving and to come home to my previous school if there were openings. I ended up finding another position before any openings became available. But often thought that I should have just returned to the school I thought of as home.

I'm not sure why I felt the need to write about this. Perhaps it was to share how short life is or how the small things can make an impact, or perhaps it was to merely write it down.  I was struck by the fact that services will be this Sunday and I anticipate, that when I go, the tears will flow and I will see many old friends. Teaching isn't about the job, it's about the people.

When I left that district, this man gave me a card and it had a picture of Eisenstein in it. I have not found it yet to retread the quote he wrote, but it was one that I kept in my journal for several years and would look at occasionally. The picture was an appropriate one because, while teaching takes intelligence and is serious business, it is also a profession where you have to remember the silly times!

So, here's to my friend. I will remember the impact he made in my life.

P.S. Another thing I learned from my friend - never be afraid to wear pastel plaid - even in a fabulous pair of dress pants!

Summer Days!!!

Holy moly, folks!!! I can't believe that I can finally say that it is summer aaaannnnddd I'm finally back to blogging.  I have rarely been here this year, so thank you for those who still have me in their subscriptions - whatever service you use (does anyone use the Google friends thing? I removed it from my blog because it didn't see to be helpful...).

Any woo, I am linking up with Farley for her July Currently Linky!

Listening…Now I know why I work – there’s NOTHING on TV during the day.  Zip! I do love the History Channel and the Travel Channel, but after a while it all just seems the same.  I used to be a soap opera girl and lived to get home and watch The Guiding Light, but now it’s gone and I can’t bear to see all the actors on different shows. Plus, they are just soooo corny!

Loving…Yep!  Summer!  My summer began yesterday. See, I had this crazy idea of taking a class in May and June so that I didn’t need to take one in July and August. Well, that was…crazy!  I did it and I am glad I will have the summer off, but I have never been so close to losing my mind.  I turned in my last little paper yesterday and am now officially off for the summer. I can’t wait for simple summer days and no work stress!

Thinking…My poor, poor neglected house.  I have barely been existing in my home.  It has been a place to grab a bite to eat and dump my stuff.  It looks it!  For some reason, I scheduled a jewelry party at the end of the month. That means I need to get cleaning! Truth be told, I actually scheduled the party because it helps motivate me to clean and organize.  But today…today…I went shopping!!!!

Wanting…Ugh!  The humidity! It is like 90 degrees and 80% humidity here in NY.  The older I get, the less I can tolerate it.  I hate the idea of air conditioning, but I would like to breath and not have a headache and actually be able to do what I wrote just above! Somehow, it is easier to sit on the couch watching YouTube than cleaning in this ughness!  I can always use some chocolate!

Needing…What a year!  It was a crazy one!  And I, of course, needed to compound it by changing grades (again), packing my room, and taking a course.  My grandfather and a teaching friend passed away in June, I hosted a graduation party, and have been putting together items for a possible change in my life (???).  I need to get away from school and deal with the crazy amount of boxes I have in my basement, because of course I had to bring all of my teaching stuff home…long story!

Plans…I have none!  I love saying that!  The 4th has never been a big thing in my family. We think it is important and respect the day, it’s just not a party day for us.  Most likely because, in a farming family, it is high season for haying. I guess you could say that we celebrate by baling hay for hours on end!  Great weather for it!

Wow!  It feels really good to be blogging again and having a place for my sarcastic humor to live!  Check out Farley’s linky and I hope to be back ASAP!