whoops

I always put this on my lists of things to do, but never get around to it.

Let's see.
Student teacher is getting better. I have another half-written post about her first lesson ready to post... when I get to it.
We went to D.C. this past weekend and I got to see one of my oldest friends. It was a much-needed visit. It's so nice to see friends you've had for FOREVER, especially when you've had years of moving and trying to make new friends. I'm SO looking forward to seeing other friends of ours that finally moved back to the east side of the U.S. during Thanksgiving weekend and of course--seeing my family in December.
This year, I feel more and more respected by students and staff. It's nice.
I have a lot going on: Literary magazine, student teacher, 3 preps (9, 10, and 11), new schedule, grad classes, mentor program for our on-time graduation committee, technology go-to person for the English department, conferences my principal volunteered me for, study hall duty... and I'm probably forgetting one or two things.

I'm still trying to figure out what I want to do with this blog. Student stories? Lesson ideas? School politics? Day-to-day updates about my boring life? Not sure.
I do have a few posts that I've started and never finished on various topics. I might get around to taking care of them at some point in time. Or I might not.

quickie

-Budget still isn't set. We had a whole meeting about how the higher-ups have no clue about what they're going to do to balance the budget. So, we're all waiting for the state to finish waiting for the federal government to make decisions.
-I wore my Shakespeare shirt today because a) it was Friday, b) I finished reading Macbeth with my 12th graders today and c) I'm starting A Midsummer Night's Dream with my 10th graders. (YAAAAAY! NO JULUS CASESAR THIS YEAR! You have no idea how happy I am!) Some of them laughed, some of them didn't get it.
-We just finished our taxes because my W-2 from NPS finally arrived. It was originally sent to my parents' house because when I left there I couldn't remember our new zip code, but it was returned to sender, but the postal system caught it and forwarded it to us.
-I did a really fun and funny activity with my 10th graders to introduce a theme from Midsummer. I don't like to tell my students we're going to do something "fun" cause they're definition of fun is way different from mine. So, I told them "I don't want to say it's fun, let's just say it's more interesting than usual." One kid leaned toward me later and asked, "I thought this wasn't supposed to be fun?"
-I promised myself that starting Feb. 1st, I'd write something every day. It may not be here, but in a written journal I keep. Either way, I'll try and write more here.
-We made sweet potato stew today! Most of you don't care, but I love it (and those of you that have made/ate the stew, you understand) and I've been looking forward to it all day.