it all changes...

when the kids come back. Last year was chaotic at best. I was tense when the year started. We didn't know then that I had health issues that were making it hard for me to deal. I assumed it was related to a particularly rough group of kids. I cried a lot, caught every cold or infection that walked into my classroom, and missed a bunch of work. I seriously considered that my second year of teaching may be my last. Then a smart doctor caught what my own PCP had not: my gallbladder was functioning at about 14%. This may or may not seem like much of a big deal to anyone reading this...but I will tell you, when your immune system is suppressed due to ongoing inflammation and then you can't eat because of nausea, it becomes a HUGE deal. I had surgery, the year was slightly better.

This year I am focused. The kids are great. I feel peaceful in my classroom; even though I am painfully disorganized. That doesn't change from personal life to professional life, sadly. Ah well, I can live with it. I've done so for a very long time.

I'd like to post more here, but I probably won't. My days call me away to focus on other people's words. This year my eighth graders love to write...it makes me feel wonderful to type that. I also won't be writing much more here because I have already been neglecting friends, both near and far, that I love. It isn't that this blog takes time (three entries prove that)it's just that I often don't remember it exists. *sigh*

Off to play with cats, grocery shop and get ready for a birthday party for an 87 year old Grandpa.

Suddenly, school year...

As I bumbled along through my summer, I didn't realize how close it was to ending! Yet, I go back to meetings starting this Thursday. I feel as if I didn't have much down time. I guess, in reality I didn't. I participated in the National Writing Project this year: five weeks, thirty teachers, so much paper (I tried to stick with recycled paper as I felt all the trees around me cringe when we entered a room). It was fantastic. I've never written so much in a concentrated time. Sadly, I haven't written much since I left. I have a million excuses, but it comes down to laziness. We heard many authors speak, my personal favorite said, "Find fifteen minutes a day to write, if you don't have fifteen minutes to do it--change your life." No kidding. I loved that. Except, now I have to change my life. I need fifteen minutes to write and thirty minutes to exercise. Anybody out there have those two things they could spare?

I'm ready for my eighth graders this year. Last year I was sick, literally, and it made the year begin on a sour note. After surgery and patience, I was well...but the year never took off as the one before had. This year, I am excited to see their smirking faces (c'mon, if I'd said smiling and given into the cliche, you'd have thought I was being sarcastic...they're eighth graders after all...) and delighted to get them writing. You'd be amazed what eighth grade kids can come up with if you push them. And I do.

So with just a few days left, I commit myself to posting here once in a while (weekly?) and writing on my own. I am meeting with a writing group that is remnants of the one I connected with at the NWP...I wish all the participants would be there, but life intervenes. I am going to write a story for the meeting. Perhaps I'll post that here just for the heck of it.

Foray Into the Unknown

Wisdom leads me to believe that it was only a matter of time before I ended up blogging. Perhaps it will be longer before I lead anyone to my page.

I'll spill ink and share stories. Interested? Keep reading... Not interested? Thanks for stopping by...