A Month is a Long Time...

...not to post something, but life has been busy enough and seemed unexciting enough not to say much. Wednesday was checkout day at Cedar High, so while I worked yesterday and today , I am essentially finished for the year (which is also why I am doing this at 8:30 am though I have to crunch my testing scores, attendance, and grade distributions for the year...riveting). I didn't get a yearbook of my own, so my white board becomes a graffiti spot. What started as a few students just excited to use all my brightly colored dry erase markers turned into a hodgepodge of signatures and messages. While I wanted to drop kick many of my students this year, there are other students that couldn't have been any cuter. Oh, and on their course evaluations they did for me this year, I asked them to tell me what their favorite novels were that we read in class and Ender's Game was a runaway hit. Anthem and To Kill a Mockingbird tied in second.

Wednesday night I attended the graduation ceremony of a former student completing the alternative high school. She and the others graduating were beaming, and to see how excited their families were for them to complete high school was touching. It may not have been the same level as others, but it is something to finish what you start.

Last night I attend Cedar High's graduation. This was a milestone for me as this is the first group of freshmen I taught. While I haven't talked to most of them since that year besides a 'hi' in the hallway, it still brought up a lot of emotions for me, because in a way it felt like my graduation too. That first year of teaching was so emotionally draining for me, and every year I have become a little smarter, a little less weepy, and ready just a little bit earlier each year for school to end. I feel like I have arrived this year. I pushed through, did an extra novel this year, and still finished a month too early! I am planning a mass media unit for next year that I am excited about, and I just feel like I have arrived. Last Thursday evening there was a freshmen orientation for the next group of kids and their parents. This was done at my suggestion to the principal, and it was so helpful for me to meet with parents. My presentations to the parents went well, and I felt put together and in charge - if you know me, that is something that I don't often feel, but when I am at work I do. I guess that is a good sign that I am in the place I need to be. This confirmation always feels good at any age and in any endeavor.

I did finally complete Angel's Landing at the first of this month (if you don't know, to finish A.L. you have to climb that ridge that you see behind us in the picture - it was worse coming down because it is so narrow and my legs were so tired they were shaking). Not having a toddler and pregnant woman with us proved to be my downfall, in addition to the warmer temperatures. But Zion N.P. in spring is beautiful. On our way down, there were three young ladies singing Lakme (Flower Duet) by Leo Delibes (you probably don't recognize the title, but it is a very famous and EXtremely beautiful opera duet that you would know when you hear it) right as the canyon walls narrowed the most. They were below us as they were singing it, and it literally did sound like angels were singing as the melody echoed up through the canyon. I thought I might die a few times, but I finished it and now I never HAVE to do it again. After the hike I asked my friend Laura (in the middle) to be my life coach because she is the most patient and persuasive person I have ever met - the girl gets me to do things no one else can...uses those Jedi mind tricks on me all the time...I think she is still considering the offer.

My favorite show The Office is over for a few months, as is American Idol. I voted for David. 10 of those 98,000,000 votes were mine. It was entertaining to go back to school (which is my work) and see and hear all of the heartbroken girls in the hallways. I did give out a couple of hugs to some that had already incorrectly announced David Archuleta the winner in their friends' yearbooks the day before the winner was announced and were shocked and depressed when Archuleta didn't win. Poor little souls! One I could tell had been crying hard the night before as evidence by her puffy eyes. But this girl (a bigger Packer fan than me) also cried- hysterically bawled - when Brett Favre retired, so I think she makes it a habit. You know when you see the old footage of the Beatles or Elvis performing and girls are wailing and gnashing their teeth, pulling at their hair, and then passing out? I think I know one of those girls. Anyway, I hope this is enough for those of you that care. Soon I will have all sorts of things to write about - my summer is going to be AWESOME! May yours all be the same...mine starts....NOW!