Acceptable Escape

My go-to activity these days is to hunker down into my reading chair and escape into fiction of all sorts. Reading is an acceptable form of escape from the demands and complexities of my life.  Over the course of two weeks, I devour many books, reading before bed and for hours on the weekend.  

A trip to the library for replenishing complete, I relax into my chair, book bag on my lap, and I pull each book out to reread the inside cover.  Where will I start?  

• Something light and humorous - currently reading anything by Jenny Colgan for this category.  
• Romantic - possibly a historical novel from Mary Balogh.  
• Scary - am I ready for something that I can't put down while my heart remains in my throat until the last page like the most recent Kristin Hannah?  

An orderly stack develops to the left of my chair - and soon the bag sits empty on the right, ready to collect the finished books and the cycle can begin again.  Ahh...

After Action Report

I sit quietly in my chair, breathing in and out in an attempt to calm myself after the argument.  I focus on the rhythmic whooshing in my ears and veins and the trembling of my arm muscles.  I realize I'm gripping the arms of the chair and move to relax my hands, breathing in while I stretch the fingers out.  The fuzzy feeling in my head must be a post-adrenaline chemical reaction, the down after such an intense up.  Drained, I stay where I am.  

Putting Out Fires Today

 

and yet, there was joy in the chaos:

-sixth grade English writers mastered problem/solution paragraphs - awesome

-Nic Stone, author and activist, entertained and enraptured our students - amazing 

-walking field trip with the eighth grade, inspired by Leb Tav - delicious

-multiple meetings with thoughtful and dedicated staff - reassuring

-one day closer to the weekend - #thankful!

Spirit Week Woes

I've had a hard time getting into Spirit Week this week - not sure why (although I'm guessing Daylight Savings Time is a key factor!)  Today was "The Future Looks Bright" day - and all week I have been uncertain what I might wear for this day - was I going neon?  Was I going to go futuristic? Or, some sort of career?

I forgot (conveniently) Wacky Tacky day yesterday, to the chagrin of my admin colleagues who rocked the mismatched clothes.  Pawing through my clothes closet this morning, I hemmed and hawed, not wanting to disappoint - but not feeling inspired. 

And then...I got it. I greeted students this morning wearing my green graduation gown from George Mason University and that terrible hat (mortarboard?) that gives us all bad hair!  I perfected my line..."I'm dressed as you... in the future - a graduate!" I love wearing my college graduation garb - and feel especially impressive when I add the Master's hood. So, I was feeling pretty good about my clothing choice until an adorable sixth grader earnestly asked, "Ms E. Smith, are you dressed as a leprechaun today?  Isn't that Friday?"

I love middle schoolers!

A Quiet Day

Today was a little pokey - I'm not complaining.  In middle school, a pokey day means that the climate was calm and relatively relaxed.  I will admit, the dark morning accompanied by a light rain, ensured that we all were acting a little glum.  But, I do believe that the time change - springing forward and losing an hour of sleep - was the main culprit.  Students and staff alike were wiping the sleep out of their eyes as they arrived to school.  

New day tomorrow - and we know that the energy of our middle schoolers will return to Spring Forward!  

Life Lessons Learned

 No one really ever wants to go to the lab to get bloodwork - and I'm the same.  I have put off and put off reaching out to my doctor to schedule my annual tests...and now I'm down to my last pill, and I have no choice.  

This morning found me barreling around the beltway to my doctors office, throwing on a mask, and dashing into Kaiser.  While I was moving right along, I was making a list in my head of the things I would do while waiting to get called in to the phlebotomist.  

As I entered the lab, I noted optimistically that there was no line.  Checking in at the kiosk, I pulled a number - and immediately my number was called to go in to the lab.  Amazing!  I walked right in, took a seat, rolled up my sleeve, and I was back out and on the road again within 4 minutes.  

Two lessons for me to remember...first, the blood draw is never as bad as I expected; the lab techs are really skilled at doing their job.  Second, Sunday morning is the best time to go to the lab.  I've noted this in my calendar for next year!  

Breakfast Club

The hood-ied bodies swarmed to the corner of the field, antennae arms thrust into the air, cell phones waving like fans at a rock concert.  The focus of this attention, a scuffle after lunch on Wednesday, resulted in no injuries, but I wanted both young people involved to understand how quickly a wrestle can turn into a physical altercation.  Saturday School it was.  

I opened the front door for the two seventh graders who were joining me this morning. Both sheepishly followed me into the building - subdued greetings and polite "holding of the doors", they were gracious in their guilt-ridden state.  

As we walked through the darkened hallways, their heads swiveled and their affect changed. All of the sudden I was peppered with questions: are we the only ones here?  Do you have all the keys?  Can we take a secret tour?   It was kind of cool to be in the building with no other students.  And, finally, the comment "this is going to be fun!"  

This is no Breakfast Club, though.  We are going to be here for three long hours, fully supervised with no down time, and engaged in reflective activities, homework, and some community service.  No fun to be had here.  

But, it's a great opportunity for me to catch up on some blog posts!