Boxes

Boxes. Hmm...I like boxes. Surprises come in boxes, expensive things come in boxes, treats come in boxes, doughnuts come in boxes, clothes come in boxes, forts can be made with boxes...the list goes on. Well, right now you'd think I would be the happiest person alive because I have more boxes than I know what to do with! My apartment is brimming with boxes. But there are no doughnuts, or diamonds, or vintage coats in those boxes. Just my own stuff. Everything we own is in a box now. So after this move, if I don't get another box for awhile, I'll be okay with that...at least until Christmas. Or at least until the next doughnut craving!

Dollars and Sense

Do you ever get the urge to change something in your life? Sure, plenty of things change in our lives, but we seldom have much choice over those things (ie weather, schedules, traffic lights, and pennies). But have you ever gotten the urge to change something that is not changing and never would unless you actually made it change? (ie jobs, houses, TV channels, salaries). Do we change those things? Rarely. What is it? Fear, contentment, inconvenience, lack of opportunity? I'm not sure, but sometimes, just sometimes, I wonder about changing those things. Maybe it's curiosity, maybe it's boredom, maybe it's a Divine nudging. Well, alot is changing in Fauf's life. Some changes are involuntary: the weather has changed cooler, school is ending, and I got $4 back in quarters. But there are some changes that are self-inflicted: a new Nest, American Gladiators Monday nights, a new j--
Here's the latest confession:

Changes are happening...

Native Roots

What is this, stinkin' Redlands?! Where did this infernal heat come from?! I felt like I'm back in Redlands, which otherwise can be a pleasant enough thing, but when you're stuck there in the heat, it's a hopeless feeling as well. Hopeless, you may wonder? Hopeless because the heat doesn't just last for a spell like here. No, it goes on for days and days, and once it hits, you know that you are in for the long run--several months at least. My students and I sweated through the day, for classrooms here don't have AC (Which makes sense since hot weather only lasts for that small spell). We had two fans going, which created quite a hurricane of flying papers in the room. At one point I told some boys that if they didn't stop speaking into the fan to hear their warbly voice, I'd turn the fans off. It's quite funny to watch natives here who don't know what on earth to do with themselves when Santa Maria gets roasted. Funnier yet was watching myself react like a native. I guess I have been living here for quite awhile now. And after feeling that moment of Redlands-like-hopelessness, I'm sure glad that I'm a native now!

Summer Fever

We have 3 1/2 weeks of school left. I know, it's really not that much and it's hard to believe that our school year has come to that ending already! I'm getting excited and some of my students are getting excited. But I have to keep my composure and help them keep their composure as well.

One of my little boys has been literally bouncing all over the place. He can't sit still in his chair, he keeps making background sound effect noises, and he's whispering to other students annoying little things while doing math! I finally pulled him aside and asked him why his behavior was unusually bothersome. He said, "Mrs. Shaw, I'm just really excited about summer vacation!" I told him I was too, but we still had a little ways to go and we still had lots to do. I told him I needed him to keep his self-control until the last week of school, then we can dance around and sing, "Hooray for summer vacation!" But not before! He said he'd do his best....I couldn't help laughing.

Some students are clueless as to the crunching time-frame. I'm not sure when to announce how close the end of the school year is. I don't want some of them to check out, but then I want to warn some of them who are growing quite attached to 3rd grade. Perhaps I'll tell them when we have two weeks left...

In the meantime, Mrs. Shaw is getting excited about summer too. I can't wait to stay up later, sleep in later, go where I want and do what I want without having to be somewhere at a certain time everyday. It's so glorious!

Hello, May Dear!

Happy May Day!

That's right, it's the first day of May. I've never been a huge fan of May for a few reasons (ie, it signifies the ultimate end to Fauf's celebrating her bday, it taunts Fauf with the challenge of coming up with a Mother's Day craft for her students, it means the students start checking out as they think of the end of school coming soon...)

Anyways, despite it all, May can be a lovely month. I suppose it all depends on how you start if off. I suppose my May day is some indication as to how the rest of my month will go. Let's analyze it, shall we?

Woke up wanting to sleep more...
Needed coffee this morning (not a usual thing)...
Hair got all tousled by the wind...
Ate a salad for lunch, so was hungry an hour later...
Had to stay late for our school's spring concert...

So I guess my May will be characterized by sleepiness, caffeine, windy days, hungry stomachs, and over-time--bring it on!