Pardon Me

Hello everyone. I'm sorry that I have dropped off of the planet. (Of course, I think Steph had me beat really.) I have been so busy with school, it's been impossible to sit down and blog. I'm doing a fun project with my 7th & 8th graders -- we're writing a newspaper together. Consequently, every bit of 'free' computer time I get is dedicated to getting the newspaper together. Even though I have enjoyed it immensely, this will have to be a limited project. We published our 2nd one on Friday, and of course, it was much better than the last. Next week we'll publish our last one. I think the kids have learned a lot.

Another reason you haven't seen any pictures is that now famous dunking of the digital camera. The pictures on the SD card did survive, but I haven't figured out how to transfer the pics onto the computer without my camera. (I know, I need a card reader, which I do not have.) So, you will just have to enjoy some much older pictures from earlier in the summer. The following post is also from this summer.

Fourth of July at the Bailey's. When my mom saw the picture, she said: This would be a great Christmas card. It may be a little bit strange to have a Christmas picture in shorts & red, white, and blue -- don't you think? Maybe we'll just restage the picture in appropriate Christmas-wear.


Early in July, we went to visit Auntie Becky & Uncle Elias in their cute 1bdroom apartment in Toccoa. It's really a clever little place, and they have it fixed up quite nicely.

Camera Talk + School Update

Alright people, I'm beginning a serious hunt for my new camera. I know that a few of you own DSLR cameras (digital single lens reflex), and I would like to know their make & models AND if any of you guys bought yours online. . . .Thanks, in advance!

By the way, this first week of school has been AWESOME! I love my new classes. Each year, I'm afraid that the dynamic will change so drastically that it will be 'bad' or 'strange' -- but so far, the chemistry in both classes has been great. My students are excited and into what we've started -- which is the BEST feeling a teacher can have. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers.

My Latest Tricks!

Hello everyone! Last week was my last week of school for this year! As the weather warms up, there's so little incentive to go to work (or school). I often wonder how people with regular jobs do it. And, how do people with regular jobs not wear shorts & tank tops to work during the summer? Especially in this Georgia heat. I started putting Kate in tank tops and shorts in 80 degree weather. :-)

This weekend was quite exciting. Jonathan, Ashley, and Brittny graduated from GCA. I've never been prouder of my "kids"! They represent the bulk of my teaching years. Up until this year, I taught them several classes each semester. It was a joy to watch them grow in faith and knowledge. We enjoyed so many good and crazy times together. Perhaps one of the highlights of our years together was our ten day trip to Washington, Pennsylvania, and Virginia in the RV. This class is the last one that I've taught such a large variety to, including Science (I think), English, Spanish I, II, and III, Rhetoric, Public Speaking, and Drama. No pictures of those bambinos, but my little girl is here in living color.

Kate had her first bit of cereal this week. She has loved it so far! It's so fun to see her learn how to eat. The swallowing action is subtlely different from drinking breast milk. Basically, I'm supplementing her afternoon meal with 1 T or so of rice cereal. Next week I believe that I will increase the times per day that we supplement with cereal. You should had seen her tonight at Jen & Ben's. She was reaching for the pizza like a big girl. Lydia really would like to feed her "big girl" food. I keep asking if we should give Kate pizza or applesauce or whatnot. She invariably answers, "yeah!" Also, two weeks ago, Kate discovered her feet. She's pictured here eating her tootsies. She thinks it is pretty hilarious when her big toe lands in her mouth. I imagine that would feel pretty funny!

Last week of blues & rain

Hello everyone! I'm sorry that this week wasn't as documented in picture format as last. It just wasn't as party full. Josh and I had a nice weekend of relaxation and good times. Last week my students managed to slink their way through exams, some more smoothly than others. Thankfully, although there were some real bombs on exams, the final averages didn't suffer tooooo greatly. For the first time in my whole life, I actually finished grading the exams and turning in grades by Friday, the last day of exams.

That evening Josh & I met the young Bailey clan. We tried out one of the up and coming restaurant choices in Winder, Fatz cafe. Wide variety & good variety. Does anyone know what a calabash is??? Well, apparently Fatz has world-reknowned calabash chicken. It was so funny once again to see little Pooks sitting at the table with us -- she even got a little snack of avocado & plums (was that it Jen?). I can't think of a more disgusting combination, personally, but apparently avocado is really good for baby. I've been putting avocado in our salads of late and Josh just can't find anything to love -- "they're just moosh."

Saturday was nice and slow. Josh & I did a sad, sad thing. We watched several hours (unmentionable) of the Fox television show, 24. We just joined netflix and started off with our new "fav" television show. The show is so intense and is filled with so many cliff hangers that it's impossible to watch only one episode. We watched one disc, then went to the mall for a little relief, but couldn't think of anything more fun than returning home with some salad fixings to watch another disc. Can we say obsession? So far, I'm a little disenchanted with netflix -- it's taken like 3 days for us to send a dvd to duluth! If you want to invite me to be your netflix friend -- go ahead.. I love taking those friend's quizzes. I get questions about Ben right every time!

Highlights: Audio books. Josh and have been using our commute times. Here's some feedback -- The Great Fire, by Shirley Hazzard -- don't read, to borrow a phrase from Annette, "It sounds like she wrote it with a thesaurus on the desk, The Piano Tuner, by Daniel Mason -- 1 1/2 thumbs up... out of two??? I just started the Kalahari Typing School for Men, by Alexander McAll Smith - he's so great. I recommend him for a nice, light read. We also did two John Grisham books, The Summons & The Broker. The Broker made me want to learn Italian.
Fav dinner idea: Huge deluxe salad with chopped up chicken... yummy & healthy.

Sam Lawrence, all grown up.

A Night on the Town

On Thursday evening, my Rhetoric class, accompanied by some of their parents, attended The Merchant of Venice at Shakespeare's Tavern. The performance was riveting. Even though I knew the outcome of that climactic courtroom scene, I was still on the edge of my seat. To see the deliberate anti-Semitism within the play enacted before my eyes was shocking, the words in action are more forceful and full of life. The comic relief was the funniest I have ever seen it interpreted. Great, great show.

I have no idea what Brittny is thinking.