Summer, part 1

Well, we're on day 31 of summer. It doesn't feel like it's been that long at all. David and I recently returned from a 3-week vacation with my mom - first to the North Woods of Wisconsin for lakes and woods, hiking, biking, and small woodland creatures; then to Chicago for a day (Harry Potter Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry, anyone?); then finally to the Lake.

The funny moments:
We tried to see the Chicago fireworks, but the city magazine gave the wrong time. Like, seriously wrong. We arrived when it was over.
One evening we went out to row a boat around, but the mosquitos were so aggressive and numerous, we made a very funny picture for my cousins, shrieking and slapping and spinning in circles.
Watching a mink family fight over a freshly-caught fish while rowing around the island in a wooden rowboat built for a 5 year-old ( a perfect fit for me, actually).
We were plagued with unseasonable weather for most of the three weeks. It was fairly cold and very rainy. We braved some hikes and bike rides anyway, but it made for a surreal summer break overall. Swimming is one of my favorite things to do at the lake, and it was much too cold for me to do anything but jump in and climb out immediately.

There was a lot of time for thinking, though. I thought a lot about my family - the lake has been an enormous part of my family history for four generations. My great-grandparents met there. My grandfather and father spent all summer, every summer there. My strongest and fondest memories of my grandparents and dad are at the lake. For many of those rainy afternoons, I was remembering. My grandma let me help knead bread dough with her in the kitchen, and she and I "fished" for nails off the dock with a magnet on a string (the construction workers are careless with nails, and there were many small children crawling around). She told me a story about one of her cousins slipping on a freshly-waxed floor on her hiney, and I thought she would suffocate with laughter - she laughed so hard I very seriously thought she was going to die (I was maybe 10).

And my grandfather has such a legacy up there that the folks at church talk to us just because we're related. He loved that place - I hope, for his sake, that heaven is very similar.

And my dad. Sailing, playing the cello on the boathouse roof, playing diving games with me for hours, and taking us for long boat rides up the lake. It was the happiest I remember him.

And when we leave, it's like having to say goodbye again.

Teacher Appreciation Week

Appreciate the teachers you know.

It's likely they've been given crap or a pink slip recently, and could use a thank you.

I got two cards today. They were both very sweet, and one of them even had my name spelled Mrs. Slogan. She's been my student for two years. It made me giggle, and I'll probably keep it for a long time because it makes me laugh.

Almost May

I know I've been remiss in my blogging. Our vacation was fantastic - all day every day with the man I adore and this quality time in the sunshine no less... sigh. Oh for those days.

We've had three weeks of nonstop fun, including two WASLs, three somewhat grumpy parents (Yes, Mrs. So-and-so, you child may make up those points and knows how. I don't know why he didn't tell you himself.), and a lot of crap I need to grade before 9 a.m. on Monday. Too bad I forgot it at school.

There has been quite a bit of stress on the home front, the result of which is sleepless nights and a mean old cold virus. But after a little tense bit with David, in which outside stress was seeping in to our coupledom, we remembered to talk to Jesus and subsequently I feel constantly gushy about my life partner and try to tell him so in as many ways as I can think of. That was a long sentence. Good job! You got through it!

There are two big things I am excited for (three if you count the end of school coming up in 37 school days). Excitement 1: David and I were gifted a certificate to a night at a local hotel. We are going to enjoy a mini-vacation this very night! We're having dinner with a couple we really really like, playing a game or two with them, and hopefully then playing a game or two by ourselves. It should be awesometimes.

Excitement 2: I've decided to try gardening. Yeeps! I've never grown anything before in my life, so this is scary and exciting. I've done quite a bit of research (because I = nerd + teacher), and hope things actually grow. I still have doubts. But I planted my cool crops today - two kinds of lettuce, sugar snap peas, carrots, green onions, and dill. I also started lavender, strawberries, oregano, and basil (which has started coming up).

Meanwhile, it's time to start gussying for my big date tonight. Over and out.

I definitely signed in to type a blog with something specific in mind.

The topic fled my overworked brain. Sorry.

Meanwhile, David bought me a new bike and is putting it together right now. He's so good to me.

T-Minus 9 days until Cancun.

I remember! I read a really amazing book last week. A coworker lent me The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz, and I read it in four days despite general business of teaching life. Memorable characters, hilarious and heartwrenching takes about a Dominican family, and brand new Spanish cuss words. I loved the family and every last member drove me crazy. I loved the snippets of history written throughout in a highly entertaining manner. I loved the Spanish phrases scattered throughout.

If you are a particularly sensitive reader, you may object to the cussing and occasional vulgarity (although it did add a great deal to character development).