Kontan.

Archive for October, 2007

Isn’t it amazing how when life is crazy busy we find the time to get the essentials done?

At the moment the amount of paperwork and the expectations are a little overwhelming. This is not uncommon. Grades are due this week and report cards come out next. We have to document our failures, and target our at risk students. On top of this, it is homecoming week which equates to chaos. The students are excited and not in the mindset to recover much needed points.

This description is not anything new. It is true I guess, we can do as much as we HAVE to do. It means sacrifices have to be made, but we somehow manage to do it. Not only does it get done…if you are determined a little personal time can be thrown in too.

Yes, this is how I feel about tomorrow.

I’m to the point.

Yes, at the beginning of the year I wasn’t, but now I am.

I like teaching- no, really…I do. [private]What I don’t like is documenting my butt off b/c some little twit is too lazy to complete assignments or take advantage of grade recovery opportunities. So, you wonder- or you don’t, whatever-what point am I to? I am ready to no longer teach at the high school level. Yes, I know it will eventually reach the college level, but it isn’t there yet. RIDICULOUS! Personal accountability is swirling down the toilet right along with education. Hours on the phone with parents, taking time away from family and things I want and need to do! Did I reach all the parents- oh no, not even close. I’m blogging now in order to relieve the immense frustration that has been building over the last 5 hours.

I’ve looked at PhD programs. I will have to complete 33 hours and read fluently in another language. I’m willing. Able? That’s another story. Our current location prevents me from embarking on that journey…well, that and the giant check I would have to write. I don’t know how much I could do correspondence. No, I’m not talking on-line university…I would love a program that let you attend classes every few weeks and operated much like an independent study. Similar to my MA program. That would work well. I haven’t given up hope. There is something out there and I intend to find it. [/private]

We tackled the trails at TVA this past weekend and had a great time. The goal was to start at the dam and end up at the picnic pavilion…about 2.7 miles…then head back to the dam. 2.7 miles is a lot longer when you are hiking up hill. We made it about 2 miles before turning back. We could have made it all the way to the pavilion but the fun factor would have disappeared and I don’t want the girls to lose that. They are excited about going back to start at the other end of the trail.

Starting out I was REALLY nervous. You hike down and around with kudzu covering most of the trees. You then gradually hike the upward slope with the river on your right, soon passing a fairly large waterfall. (Well, by Alabama standards it was large.) There is little to no barrier between you and the side over most of this portion. I really started to rethink the whole hike experience. I just knew little miss curious (the youngest) would get too close to the edge just to see how far down it was. This portions was a straight drop right to the rocks and river. YIKES! The trail is good, but a little narrow for my motherly comfort. After the trail curves away from the river it is a lot less scary. As much as I like having Tchaik (big dog) with us I am so glad I didn’t bring him. I wouldn’t have been able to handle him and keep my arm on little bit. We’ll avoid that part of the trail from now on.

There was only one other place that I was seriously nervous. First, I don’t like bridges. Second, I despise those with open sides. Just before our snack stop and turn around we had to cross a skimmer. This is a stream with a metal grate just before flowing into the river. The top of the skimmer is cement with two rails for barrier. Little bit would fit nicely between the rails. EEEK! The water was ooky there and I had no desire to find out its depth. (ooky meaning you could see the mossy weeds and gunk) We made it safely and without submersion.

I’m curious though…how was it uphill both ways? Honestly the hike back was just as rough as the first leg of the journey. Big kid ran out of steam and little bit got her second wind. Oh joy. I was a little more relaxed for the return, but still a bundle of nerves when we were on the edge.

Their first long hike and they did well. I’m just glad they like the outdoors…