Summer... almost... over?

Where did it go? My summer vacation feels like it just began. Usually around this time of year, I start remembering my favorite students and looking forward to seeing them (and my favorite coworkers) again. I have been working intensely on school stuff (graduate credits, AP curriculum, my grant for online curriculum development), and have been actually going to work to get it done, so I almost feel like I'm back to work already.

Plus, I've been waking up much earlier. My motivation: SBTB reruns on TBS at 7 and 7:30 every morning. Why do I like that show so much? It's supposed to just be a joke to love it (Oh no! Jessie is addicted to caffeine pills! What will the gang do?), but I feel disappointed if I miss an episode. I also feel disappointed that they show The College Years episodes on Friday. Yick.

But here's one more thing to look forward to: A Student Teacher. Yes, I have taken the plunge and accepted my first slave laborer. It's kind of interesting: the young man who will be working with me both graduated from my high school and my college. For some reason, he's chosen to finish up down here instead of in Duluth. My former principal is in charge of the Ed. program at the St. Paul campus, so he asked if I'd want to work with this student. How could I say no? It will be so nice not to have the massive paper load from my 2 writing-intensive courses that I'll be managing. A whole semester of freedom from essays? Heaven.

I feel naked

like someone can read my innermost thoughts and feelings, perhaps more aware of my own motives that I am. How is this possible? Apparently all white people (like me) follow a predictable pattern of behavior. We like the same things and hate the same things, and we have the same hypocritical contradictions. I find it funny, disturbing, and demoralizing all at once.
Please to enjoy: Stuff White People Like
The more I read, the more I find that I am apparently just like everyone else (who is white).

Home!

Aside from a few weekend trips up north, I am through traveling for the summer. It has been realy disorienting to be away for nearly the entire month of June. My summer vacation is 1/3 over and I have done a lot, but it doesn't feel that way. It has been cool seeing how much my garden has changed every time I come home. I think I have about 60 tomatoes out there (although some are grape tomatoes), now I have some peppers growing, and the shallots are getting massive.
My week in Florida was pretty awesome. I spent the time studying Zora Neale Hurston, FL native and Harlem Renaissance author. I am excited to teach Hurston now because I have so many new ideas about how to approach her work. The conference was in Winter Park, a posh suburb of Orlando, on the campus of Rollins College, a small liberal-arts school. The campus was absolutely beautiful. I'll post some pictures soon.
I also have to share this, since I found it recently linked on Vita.mn. Many of you probably know that I worked at Circus Pizza in high school-- a Chuck E. Cheese type place. We had these robots that performed in the dining room, and now someone has programmed them to play recent hit songs. Totally hilarious.

Another funny website

I also first saw this one years ago, and it's still classic. ("Epic" as my 17-year-old brother would say). If you don't grasp the concept of satire, then skip it.

I never do this, but

I have 2 posts in one day. I just wanted to share a favorite website that I've recently rediscovered: I Am With You Always. This website makes me giggle uncontrollably-- especially the Golfer picture (where are Jesus' legs?!?). I think Erin A. may especially appreciate these *wink*wink*
If this speaks to you, please comment, since I'm trying to "witness" to y'all.
hee hee hee

Two Down, One to Go...

I have arrived home for a few days between trips 2 and 3.
As promised, here are some photos from my trips. Unfortunately, I can't share more from Jamaica since my students are in the pics, and that is a definite no-no. If I did this right, there are a couple boxes on the right side with my Flickr photos from the trip. I am new to the Flickr thing, so we'll have to see if my technical knowhow is satisfactory.

I am feeling much more tan, but I haven't seen anyone (except husband) since I got back, so I have yet to compare my bronze glory with any other pasty Minnesotans. Aside from the tanning, here are a couple points to share from my trips:
1. Cruzan Rum recently purchased Absolut vodka, so it's ridiculously cheap in the VI. Anyone want to come over for bloodys and cosmos? I have a fully-stocked bar for sure.
2. St. John is my favorite place in the Caribbean, and it was great to go back. I visited two places that I previously hadn't: Trunk Bay (which has an underwater snorkel trail through a huge reef), and the Annaberg Sugar Plantation Ruins. The snorkeling was great at Trunk, and the sand was so fine-- somewhere between sugar and flour. Annaberg was fascinating; what I find most compelling is the story of the slave revolt of 1633. The island had about 10 times more slaves than white people, so it was inevitable. Slaves held the island until 1634 when the military came in to restore order. Needless to say, it ended tragically: over 500 slaves committed suicide by jumping off the cliffs at Annaberg, rather than be taken alive.
3. In Jamaica, I loved the Bob Marley museum. It is housed in his former home; the recording studio is still used by his children.
4. When I asked my students what they would miss about Jamiaca, they said, "Everything!" I had a great group of kids with me, and the Kingston Rotarians and Interactors were incredibly hospitable. We all were homesick for Jamaica as soon as we landed in MN.

I'm going to sign out for now. My first glass of delicious homebrew is starting to get warm. It's an ESB, and although I would like it a little hoppier, it tastes pretty darn good, if I do say so...

Hello from Jamaica!

I'm currently on the first of my three June excursions. So far, Jamaica is pretty awesome. Apart from the strange silent mosquitos that are eating me alive while I sleep (and biting my inner thighs?), everything is copacetic-- I mean "irie."
Two students and I are staying with a Rotarian named Andre who is something of a local celebrity. For those of you who are from the TC, he's like the Denny Hecker of Kingston, but in his early 30's, and he also has a nightly radio show. We're staying in his house up in the Red Hills neighborhood, which we've been told is the Beverly Hills of Jamaica. The houses are beautiful, but the thing that makes Andre's house amazing is the outdoor living area. He has a huge bar/patio, pool and hot tub, and an upper lawn that provides an amazing view of the city of Kingston and the harbor. It has the same sort of flavor as the Playboy mansion, but without the debauchery.
Tomorrow is our beach day, which the girls are particularly excited about, and I can't say that I'm not eagerly anticipating a morning of tanning. We have also learned that the Rotarians have planned a night of clubbing, and my students are giddy about that, as well.
Well, I had better sign off. I'll be back to MN on Friday night, and on Tuesday, it's off to the VI. When I return home, I'll be sure to upload some photos.
Cheers!