August 26, 2008 by Jen.

It was only with us for a short time. Too short. It was lazy, yet productive. Hot, yet cool. Stormy, yet sun-filled. Here are some key moments from this fleeting summer.

Key (left to right):
1. Dupont Circle with Evan and Jenny, about to enjoy some amazing Lebanese food and then some ice cream and BlackAdder
2. Driving through Cunningham Falls on a gorgeous summer day. Isn’t western Maryland beautiful?
3. Ocean City in the heat of the day
4. Our new dishes, courtesy of Daddy and Laurie, via IKEA
5. Jen driving the convertible
6. DC United v. Houston Dynamo match
7. Jason, Ansley, Tiffany, et al enjoying homemade Howe ice cream and cobbler
8. Jen at Ocean City beach
9. Jen and soccer buddies enjoying DC United

Posted in Profound | 3 Comments »

August 18, 2008 by Jen.

So, the first day of school went well. Here’s an update:

1. 120 friendly and cooperative kids = SO much more manageable than 145 (with the same number of adults!)
2. Free Chipotle is a great first-day-of-school present
3. Teaching only one class per day because of orientation is super relaxing
4. Faculty-student softball games are only fun if they’re competitive. Nobody likes a blowout (especially when it’s the adults beating the students)
5. Nobody wants to be in school in August
6. Changes to the uniform are always a big hit
7. The school will never again this year look as clean as it did at 7:25 this morning, five minutes before the doors opened
8. Walking to school on a gorgeous morning as the sun rises over the mountain and the birds are chirping is a great way to start the day
9. Taking care of an order for new Microsoft Office 2007 textbooks for a class of 32: $2500
10. Starting work again after a relaxing summer and knowing that I love my job and am following my calling: priceless

Posted in Announcement | 2 Comments »

August 14, 2008 by Jen.

This is for all my angry peeps out there who are demanding more blog feed. Just so you know, I am very busy and very important. A brief excuse: I haven’t had much regular access to our home computer lately (now that Jason works there), so I haven’t put up any pictures. This is a list of what I’ve been up to lately (and NO, I haven’t JUST been lounging on the couch and shopping, haha):

–working diligently to get my classroom ready: putting up bulletin boards, vacuuming, organizing files, etc.
–cleaning the library and teachers’ workroom, which are apparently my responsibility, even when other groups use them all summer and the lights fall down from the ceiling, leaving broken glass everywhere
–creating lesson plans and making syllabi, including for a brand-new course
–attending lengthy meetings designed to make our school year flow more smoothly
–cackling with Jesse and Stephen during interims
–becoming CPR certified
–school supply shopping for the classroom: markers, pens, pencils, construction paper, etc. (don’t you just LOVE school supplies? I sure do)
–going through my closet to weed out all of my size 4 clothing
–clothes shopping for my size 2 (and, randomly size 0) weirdness
–playing frisbee
–playing soccer and taking kids with dislocated arm/shoulder to the emergency room until all hours of the night (okay, just one kid)
–hosting mucho family members on various trips to this region
–attending my first professional soccer match (DC United vs. Houston Dynamo), in the rain, with crazy fans
–going on a picnic with the Herrs and the Ellises (Seth and Angela, new to the ‘hood)
–holding a lot of Savannah Michelle
–getting free massages from Tarah, who is practicing for her massage therapy classes
–reading Alexander McCall Smith’s Ladies Detective Agency books
–reading E. Nesbit (a must for any lovers of C.S. Lewis or Frances Hodgson Burnett–as in The Secret Garden, A Little Princess, etc.)
–reading Evelyn Waugh
–watching Friends episodes on the couch
–watching some awesome Olympic swimming and gymnastics (and staying up too late whilst doing so); by the way, did you SEE the most AMAZING relay race ever?
–going to the beach and enjoying the warmth of the sun on my eternally pale flesh
–eating as much watermelon and as many peaches as my stomach can possibly hold without bursting

So, perhaps a narrative of my soccer experience? A book review of a summer book? What would satisfy you hungry wolves?

P.S. I am grateful for your diligent reading and attention to our blog. I hope to have more regular updates for you once things get back on a regular schedule of some sort.

Posted in News | 6 Comments »