Alas! Erich is 30

Erich and I spent his birthday camping in Galveston. The day was a mixture of lots of things- stomach aches, salty water, ferry rides, steak dinner by the campfire, ups, downs, and in the end.... peace and quite by the beautiful fire. Someday, I too will know what it feels like to be 30. Camping in Galveston was a different kind of get-a-way. But we were on a budget. Erich just quit work to return and get his masters in Education (the idea was inspired in February) to be a high school english teacher. So... we were adjusting to this new world and Osa was adjusting the acid in her stomach with all the salt water. She really had some interesting blows out the bottom after a few swigs of the good 'ol gulf water. After our camping excursion I prepared for my third year of teaching at Carver and asisted in the training classes we host for new incoming teachers. There is something of a feeling of accomplishment in being in my third year as a teacher. I don't feel the complete oblivion and noviceness of a first year teacher, and the not-so-important sound of being a 2nd year teacher. It feels like I am legit, that I really have proved that I'm serious, I can do it, and that I will be coming back for more.

July- 2005

Viva mexico. This was such a treat from my uncle Tom.... A wonderful retreat after an exhausting month of teaching summer school. The only thing that would have made this trip sweeter would have been to have my love by my side. Erich stayed home and worked his final weeks before entering a new season of returning to school. Highlights of the trip include.... morning walk with dad, local bellydancers, reading on the beach, walking and collecting shells on the beach, making jewelry with Sierra, being awed by tyler's clay creations, hearing mom belly ache because she couldn't taste the food (what a shame- she had a cold), shopping in the mercado (talking with the Brother), treating everyone to mexican ice cream, eating in our condo, and soaking in the sun....

Trying times

Erich took the leap of faith and made plans to quite work, go back to school, and for us to live on my income...
This meant me teaching summer school. Summer school is really a different world. It is not Carver where I teach during the year and my coworkers were not very accepting of me. What a rough time I had at first. I was the teacher they would give the evil eye to! I was used to frolicking down the halls at Carver with my kids, singing, laughing, having fun while learning (isn't that what makes lifetime learners....?). This was very unappreciated my the foreboding elementary teachers. I really had to learn to find my place where they wanted me while balancing fun learning and quite hallway walking. It wouldn't have been so bad in a smaller school. The location of summer school was a HUGE school. I literally had to walk a mile to get to my class every morning. Imagine the torture of transitioning 20 five year old kids around and around this blasted big school and having to stay quite the entire time.... TORTURE! However, once again I didn't let it get the better of me, I kissed butt (not in the selling my soul kind of way) to my summer school principals, put on my mean hallway teacher face (so the other teachers knew i was "serious"), and taught my little heart out behind closed doors the way I wanted. It was worth not letting the system get the better of me. I really enjoyed bonding even more with some of my kids I had had all through the school year and learning more of life's good lessons. It's not what they throw at you.... it's what you do with it that counts.

May madness

What a busy time of the year May can be! This is when things come to a close in the school year. I decided to audition for my first musical with the theatre company for a part in the Music Man! This musical was a great one to get my foot in the door at the theatre company. The Theatre Company is Bryan's local and definitely community theatre. There is not too much in the realm of the arts, theatre, "the cultured life" if you will, here in Bryan, Texas. However, this little budding theatre is a great expression of part of what makes Bryan great and living here very bearable. There are definitely theatre folk- you know.... the crazy, weird types. I fit right in and have enjoyed making new friends, having cast parties at my house, and singing my little heart out before and audience.

March- I don't really remember you...

I must admit that I have very little in my memory bank from the month of march. I will come back to you later if I recall anything....