summer vacation

so last week i finished my UCLA classes and student teaching. i went home to portland and saw my brother mike graduate from UO down in eugene. while i was there, i suffered the worst of allergy attacks. stupid eugene. i got back sunday, one week ago, and it's been pretty much summer vacation ever since.

early in the week, i got an e-mail from my principal and found out that i don't start teaching until mid-august! i was originally scheduled to start teaching july 5th, which is right around the corner, but stuff got shifted around. i'm also no longer teaching 5th grade, but have been bumped down one grade to 4th. i will be a 4th grade teacher for the next two years. so, from now until mid-august, all i have to do is just get ready to teach. other than that, it's vacation. already, i've gone running three times this last week. for most people, that doesn't sound like a big deal. but if you know me, you know that i've never really liked running. in fact, in the past, i've pretty much loathed it. i always try, because i know it's good and healthy. i'll even get as far as to get dressed and ready to go running, shoes and all. i'll even open the door and take a step outside. then i'll decide i'm too tired and then go back to bed or something. it's being an asymptote - you get so close but never quite make it there. wendy will be proud of me - i'm no longer an asymptote! :D and i played beach volleyball today. and we're playing tomorrow too. oh, and i got to see cars - totally funny and cleverly done.

this summer will also include:
exercise and outdoor activities
magic mountain
sweatshop labor for a wedding
going to weddings
shopping and prepping for teaching
a trip to vegas
teacher training
hanging out with people
relaxation and rest

this last week was also the last week of school for my 2nd graders. they wrote me letters and drew pictures for me. in a couple of the pictures, i'm blond. i guess the kids weren't going for accuracy. it was so much fun to just hang out with the kids since it was the end of the year and no real work was taking place, just lots of clean-up and play time. i'm really going to miss them and also the teachers i got to know while i was there. it was a great environment to student teach/intern at - i couldn't have asked for a bettet placement. i think that i'll have a hard time at the end of the year when i have my own classroom...then again, maybe i'll be glad to see them go... i suppose it'll depend.

four more days and i fly out to seattle again. seattle people - let's play :)