I am very thankful for a long weekend. There is a ton to do around the house and I really do hope I get to it. However, I plan on resting a good bit this weekend and working on school stuff so I can get ahead of my students. AP students are a challenge to teach. They are so inquisitive and you can not go in there without arming yourself with knowledge of every possible question. Sometimes all I can do is be honest and say I don’t know. I have minimal knowledge of European history, and in American History my weakest area is the colonial period. It’s weird, one class of AP is not that difficult, but the other is so much more advanced (truly AP level students) that it is really intimidating. It’s good for me to be challenged, but right now exhausting.

The remnants of Fay moved through earlier in the week, Tuesday night into Wednesday. The girls got out for a day. We received an automated call earlier today that said they would have to make it up next Saturday. My girls are not thrilled. I did not get out for the day. Going to work I had to reroute because my preferred route was flooded. Coming home, it took an hour instead of the usual 30 minutes. We received almost 12 inches of rain in this area and the river flooded several roads. Even today, many are still closed. Getting home was a trick. I assumed that since it hadn’t rained in seven hours that my preferred route would no longer be flooded. Oh no…feet of water covered the road. I turned around and went back to the highway so I could come home the way I went that morning. Turned off on the road I needed and almost home…that road was flooded. Turned around and called Jem. I had NO idea how to get home. I haven’t learned my way around yet. He got on Google Earth and found a path. That road had also flooded but the water was down to the edges of the road so you could cross. The road had been closed earlier, and probably still was since the barriers hadn’t been taken away. (The guys were on site working on that part.) It was a little frightening with all the water on both sides of the road passing under the small bridge. Not a good situation.

I didn’t have my camera with me…will not make that mistake from now on…but I did find a few pics online:

(None of these pictures are of my immediate neighborhood. They are all at least a mile from where we are. Our neighborhood is just soggy, not flooded.)

OK, so maybe not all the time but it is SUPER-UBER cool when you find a long lost friend. Since doing the MySpace deal I have reconnected with several friends from high school. In fact, Knitterboy happens to be one of my long lost high school buddies that I found on MySpace. There are several others that I really enjoy keeping up with. During a time of tragedy when we lost a close friend, read about how wonderful he was here, it was MySpace connections that kept everyone informed.

I have had a Facebook for much longer, but I never used it until recently. MySpace is just a little too teen oriented for me, but I keep it because of the friend factor. Facebook is a little more my social network speed. It is actually Facebook that inspires my title today.

For years and year…and I mean YEARS…I have been searching for a very special friend. We were oh so close our last year of high school, spent senior summer together, and stayed in touch as we went our separate ways in life. With our children only months apart we even shared the ups and downs of pregnancy…both times. It was a friendship that meant so much to me because I felt this person could truly understand that life is not perfect and sometimes it just plain sucks. Through various circumstances that are not mine to share, we lost touch. I searched the net, joined social network sites like Classmates, Reunion, MySpace, and Facebook. When I found a phone lead, I followed it. No luck reconnecting. This past week she found me! ECSTATIC I was. It was just really, really cool. I can not wait until we have the chance to hang out and catch up. Until then, Facebook and email are wonderful things.

I certainly hope that this year will be as good as the first week indicates. It is students like my current that make me hopeful for the future of this country. In years past it has made me fearful of reaching my golden years. These students have a greater understanding of their world and the world around them. They have obviously been well taught through the years and have taken the initiative to absorb their teachings. I have known students who could tell you neither the parties of the Civil War, nor the outcome. I have known students who placed MS in the greater northeast corner of the US. They had no concept of the world around them, nor did they care. I am going to be more challenged this year than I have ever been in the past. Even if the year does not continue on the wonderful path that it has started on I will be positively challenged for my greater good.

This past week students in one class made a strong argument for lowering the voting age. They pointed out that many of them knew more about the candidates than the citizens you see on late night word on the street entertainment segments. Many adults have no idea about the politicians they are voting for and vote uninformed. Isn’t that a dangerous thing for our nation? In their opinion anyone who passed a qualification test, such as the US Citizenship test, should be allowed to vote if they took the initiative to learn about our nation and pursue the right to vote. How do you defend the rights of citizenship with students who see that so many take it for granted? Should the rights of citizenship be automatic? Would we take our citizenship for granted if we had to work for the rights of citizenship?

The fact that students are seeking to explore these questions means that they appreciate the respect one should have for the rights of citizenship. There is hope for the future.

I am so thankful it was only a half day. It was not a bad day, but you are mentally wiped out after the first day with students. Usually I come home and crash on the couch. Big bit had open house this afternoon so my nap has been postponed and I will pursue an early bedtime. It looks like tomorrow will be more of the same, except open house is for Lil bit and I will have students for a full day. Early bedtime…good plan.

I cannot believe the first week is behind me and we are looking at students Wednesday. I am overwhelmed (in a positive way) and even a little intimidated by the new school. I know that my historical knowledge and teaching ability are subject to challenge. This is a good thing; complacency is a dangerous place to be in education. Boredom and dissatisfaction is worse. No longer will instructions be to do whatever it takes to get them to pass. In fact, it is my job to teach without lowering my standards and challenge the students, pushing them to the next level. Push…not pull.

Is it a bad sign that I had to take a nap this afternoon and it is only the second day of teacher prep…no students? As Tense stated on her blog, the first week is always difficult and exhausting. It takes time to get back in the saddle and endure the long day. I actually did have students this morning for 2.5 hours. The freshman are on campus for 1/2 days this week going through orientation. I am responsible for presenting 75 minute sessions on study skills. I must say, it went well and they were very attentive.

Tense asked about the first day and I mentioned before that I had first day jitters. I know it is natural to feel nervous, but I don’t like it. There are several new teachers this year so I am not alone in my newbie status. I have been assigned a mentor to help with procedural needs. In two days I have already seen her as much as I did my mentor last year. I was even asked to go to lunch with someone today. (That didn’t happen last year.) Teachers are dropping in just to see how the day is going or if I need anything. A veteran history teacher turned counselor even filched a couple of great college level history books that were being discarded and brought them to me. He said he knew I would make use of them and it was a shame to throw barely used books away. People are helpful and friendly! They don’t avoid making eye contact or interaction with the newbies! It is so dramatically different than my last school year.

I still have to teach in two different rooms, but I have a work space to call my own…a filing cabinet AND a bookshelf! If you have ever been a floating teacher without such things you can understand my excitement. I HAVE A PLACE TO PUT STUFF! Really cool. The room and workspace thing is not a huge deal because everyone is in the same boat. It’s just the way it works there. I was really excited today when I went to the supply room and saw shelves of paper, pens, markers, staples, staplers, electric pencil sharpeners, and three hole punches. How cool! No paperwork. No beg, steal or borrow. No keeping up with a purchase card and tax ID or searching through catalogs. You go to the supply room and get your basics. If you need something else you ask. How cool is that?

So far I am very happy with the decision to move here and very happy with the new school. The drive isn’t too bad. I have decided it will be an opportunity to listen to podcasts that are accumulating in my iTunes. Gas will be an issue, but that is life.

It is a better situation and I am thankful for it.

Tomorrow is the first day at a new school. I’m nervous. I know this was the right decision. I look forward to the challenges ahead, but second guess my ability to be awesome. Yes, yes…I know it is not necessary to be awesome. I will settle for not making a fool of myself. How’s that? Teachers at a new school have the same fears as students at a new school. Will they like me? Will I make any friends here? Will I fit in? Can I handle the work?

I plan to give it 100% of my effort and if that isn’t enough then there isn’t much else I can do. Now…off to bed. Getting up early is not my forte.

We visited a local church this morning. Very casual, good music, good message and the people were friendly. They weren’t overly friendly to the point of newbie embarrassment, but they recognized that we were new, guided us the right way and made us feel welcome. It is not THE church for us here, but it is definitely a contender. In the past we have really struggled with finding a church that fits. In fact there were a couple of times where we left before the service was over b/c it was just too far out there. We’re all about contemporary, relaxed, and reaching everyone but…even we have our limits. The biggest issue for us is that we were spoiled in MS. The Orchard was an amazing place to attend. Come as you are, professional musicians with a passion for what they do, great kids program, and open arms congregation…nothing compares and I guess it isn’t supposed to. I know that we will find the right place for us. We just have to take the time to search and open ourselves to what is out there.

I won’t say the journey wasn’t exciting or uneventful. The fact that we are taking this leap makes it exciting and every step is an event to remember. I will say the move went rather smoothly. We were supposed to have help loading but when the guy said he couldn’t be there until late in the day we declined. There was only one piece of furniture giving us concern. It was difficult, but we managed to load the truck just the four of us. The girls were a tremendous help. We spent Thursday loading up and cleaning the house, camped out, then got on the road early Friday morning.

I was concerned that the dogs would not travel too well given the mileage we would cover. All three were really good. The cat on the other hand…well if she was keeping a journal:

Day 3045 of my captivity
The humans coerced me into the tent that has been my hiding place for the few days before the journey. I should have known it was a trap because once inside they sealed the entrance. Transported in a strange and loud vehicle, I chose to torment the alpha male with my cries of frustration for the first hour of the unknown journey. After stopping the humans expressed their dismay at my behavior and made me switch places with the little dog. As I curled into the larger cage I grinned at what the little dog must be enduring in the loud vehicle I had just escaped from. I had to share the back of the familiar vehicle with the larger dogs, but they are scared of me so it was not an issue. After the second stop the humans decided they could trust me enough to roam the vehicle and I was allowed out of the cage. I began to plot my escape and planned to make a run for it when we stopped for lunch. They foiled my plot by placing upon me a restraining device that was once used on the little dog. With a little effort I was able to maneuver my body out of the device, but was quickly apprehended by the adult female. Upon my second attempt at escape I was placed back into the familiar vehicle. The little dog was returned to her cage and the four of us remained together for the duration of the trip. Upon arrival I found my new surroundings to be satisfactory. They provide meals and comfortable bedding so I will remain in their company for now. It is much easier than fending for myself. Most of the time the day is peaceful. If only I could assist the little dog in her escape…

Now from the dogs perspective: We’re going on a trip…we’re going on a trip….what’s that smell? ooooooooooo we’re on a trip!

In all honesty I do not think Alli hates Tiki as much as she puts on. They were both curled in my study chair earlier. All animals traveled really well, except Alli during the first hour. She made her displeasure well known. We really believe it was simply the noise of the moving truck that bothered her because once changed to the other she was fine. Maybe she was more comfortable riding with the dogs…

We were able to rest, unload, and return the moving truck without problem. Jem has done a wonderful job unpacking and if we put the remaining boxes in the garage we could live comfortably and not miss much. I still have a significant amount of school stuff to complete, but am struggling with ignoring the house stuff and focusing on the school tasks at hand.

With the weekend rapidly approaching there is no choice but to buckle down and work.

Thank you for all the well wishes!

We’re here. We’re safe. We’re trying to get settled. Grasping for sanity, there is much to do. Love it.

More when time permits….