6 posts from January 2009

The Eve of Februar'

Jan 31, 2009
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It is the Eve of Februar'; the midnight chime draws nigh,

Thinking of my many goals, I heave a heavy sigh.

I should have had some goals per month

As I think I did intend,

Instead of looking solely 'round

Each successive bend.

Ah, I'll give myself another day

In which to do what I should say

I should have done already thus

My budget, bill filing, room cleaning,

and Sabbath observation must

Have system, but I have been thinking. . .

Can I even describe to you the extreme peace and tranquility that descends upon the teacher when the teaching day ahead is to be spent on a field trip? Gone is that feeling as if a 20 pound weight were on your shoulders burdening you with questions of how you are going to make it go and how you are going to get the students to behave and how you are going to get that grading done. You sigh a deep breath as you think how your day is in the hands of other presenters and organizers--all you have to do is keep a head count and name list and get the same number and names on and off the bus two times (piece of cake). Contrast that with the usual opposing feeling, and you'd wish you had a field trip every day.

Anyhow, our field trip yesterday was a trip to Boston University for Latin Day. It was a day spent in two workshops listening to both a Harvard Professor speak about reading Vergil in poetic form and teacher from Boston Academy give some sort of rant about how church and state for us here in America is on par with the Romans. Lunch and a introduction and closing was all we had time for before we had to rush off to be back at school before the last bell. I sensed that the highlight for the High and Middle schoolers was simply the independence of leaving the shackles of school behind and being able to buy a second lunch from the university's food court, but, compared to my feelings of reckless abandon, can I blame them?

Monday Eve

Jan 11, 2009
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I wish that tomorrow were a snow day--especially since I just had to move my car to the Armory lot so the city can continue to plow the snow from yesterday even though they aren't exspecting any snow! I hate to whine, but, this means that I have an extra 12 minutes tacked onto my commute involving walking in the snow with everything I'm bringing on my shoulders. But it's Sunday, and I must write about my day. . .

Well, I certainly haven't spent the day doing anything productive or goal-worthy in terms of school or studying. I did get groceries and gas, but they are my exception because on the way back from church. I did get to a bit of reading and journaling, but the bulk of the day was spent catching up with friends at church and going bowling in celebration of Elaine's birthday. It was a blast, even though my bowling was not up to par. My next challenge is how to balance my socializing and keeping up with friends with my personal goals of reading and writing?

The Coveted Snow Day . . .

Jan 7, 2009
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Here it was, the coveted snow day. The reason that so many people use to say that teaching is a good job. Well, it is, but, let me tell you, the snow day goes by quicker than lightning. Now, I'm one of those people who constantly finds things to organize, clean, read, write, sew, eat, think about, create, and study, let along grade and prep, and I can attest that the 24 hour day that God has given us is simply not long enough. It took me four plus hours alone just to translate a chapter and a half of my Latin text book (I was trying to get through at least three) and the handful of other piddling things that I did weren't too remarkable--though I'm glad to have them done). Needless to say, I haven't touched the grading yet--but the day's not over. I also kept myself from reading anything like usual. I feel that everything I did was necessary and punctuated only by brief spells of petting the cats, and yet, the day is nearly done.

But notice, I am allowing myself to write. Writing, that well-aspired to pastime which is so often shoved into the corner due to other more pressing things sort of feels like a chore I never get to. It's is always on my "To do" list, usually at the bottom because I know I'm dreaming. However, when indulged in, it cannot help but feel like an important task and is fun and fulfilling at the same time. sigh . . .

Thank God for snow days : )

First Day Back

Jan 5, 2009
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I am remembering now why I was so dreading going back to teaching. "Why--seriously. Why?" is the thought of it so repulsive when one has some days off? Isn't this my chosen profession? Isn't this, to some extent, my vocation? Then why do I feel like a child who has found some good equipment in a playground and now is being torn from it kicking and screaming? I have always thought that I could be a "stay at home creator" and think so even more now.

The other thing I seem sometimes to forget, is how much caffeine can affect me on a school night. Now, I would never even dream of making coffee the eve of a school day, but when offered it by a friend who promises to put in only a little coffee and mostly milk, I promptly say "yes."

Tossing and turning until at least 1:30 the dread of the next day only got worse and worse as I knew I would be crashing sometime not too late into it. I was only miraculously saved an early crash by the message left on my phone after my shower that there was a 2 hour delay due to icy roads. I promptly fell back asleep for an hour, ate my breakfast and made that fated strong espresso coffee in style before heading out giving myself an hour and half for the unknown commute. It's a good thing, for I promptly fell on the thick sheet of ice that covered the ground to my car even though I had observed the teacher neighbors commenting on how slippery it was and had changed into my Uggs for the purpose. Luckily, my coffee flew elsewhere than my pristine white coat.

Back to the grind.

My Blogging Resolution

Jan 4, 2009
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It's the first Sunday of the new year, and I have decided to blog. This is not as sporadic as it may sound, for blogging is one of those activities that I have been wanting to do for some time and never feeling that I have the time for.

Another thing that has increasingly been brought to my attention is observing the Sabbath. Wouldn't it be nice to have one day a week free from duty and free from care? God did set the precedent, and I am one of those "seven-day creationists". Why not? And that Sunday afternoon dread for the coming work week, what good does it do me? Now, mind you, I am not laboring under the conviction that I am so very dutiful either to my teaching or anything else on Sundays, but I do labor under the tension of wanting to maintain the tidiness of the house and keep up with my teaching, and wanting to let my creativity soar and write (which I know from experience requires not only time, but the feeling of having time). And so, that is my plan: to spend my Sundays with God, people, books, paper, and my laptop.

And now it comes to my assessment for this first Sunday, today. I give it a 'D'. But there were extenuating circumstances! Just getting home yesterday evening, I had to go to the store and buy some groceries for food, I had to unpack my suitcases and then put all the random items crammed into it in their proper places. I had to make something for dinner, and think about all my ducks being in a row for tomorrow's lunch, breakfast, outfit, and two alarm clocks. But, even though I did not get to leisure my way through the day reading and writing, I did manage to grab lunch with a friend, feel virtually unstressed, and write this--my first blog of the new year!

The Eve of Februar'

Field Trip

Monday Eve

The Coveted Snow Day . . .

First Day Back

My Blogging Resolution

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