Hot, Hot, Hot!

   We are in the middle of the yearly heat wave! It was 100+ degrees yesterday in Santa Maria, where I work. And 98* in Grover Beach, where I live. I was not prepared for the heat. I wore jeans and a black 3/4 sleeve tee with my saddle shoes. Boy, bad choice. What was I thinking? Well, we got up yesterday and our t.v. cable system was out. They had power outages and wind damage in Nipomo and all over so I suppose we were the victim of weather. So, Doug and I pulled up Sunday Morning off our DVR and listened to that while we ate breakfast. I never thought to check the temps for the day, although we have two computers and a smart phone and an iTouch within reach. It had been 73* on Friday at school and even though they said it was going to get warmer I had no idea it was going to jump 30*. My only redeeming grace is that I am in a portable classroom with air conditioning. Many parts of this school are so old (first graduating class was in 1893; there were 3 seniors!) that they were, of course, built before air conditioning and the district has not taken the time or money to update those buildings. And usually it is o.k. as we pretty much stay in the high 60's or low 70's all year round. Except for a fluke like this week. 100* yesterday and supposed to be 97* today but it doesn't feel like it will get that hot. There is a nice morning breeze happening. and just wait...next week we will be wearing our winter coats and scarves! Autumn is supposed to be cold not hot. I want my season change and I want it now!

Late Start Monday

     Every other week at school we have these late start days. they are used to get together as a staff and/or department to discuss, visit, work on projects, etc... The kids come in late on those days; for most of them the day starts at 9:55. You would think that because they come in later that they would be more rested and ready to work. But no. They know they don't have to get up as early so they tend to stay up later than normal (although I continually amazed at just how late teenagers stay up on school nights), and consequently they come in dragging. Most of the time our staff meetings run a little shorter than the prescribed time which is nice as it gives us the opportunities to get things done in our rooms.
     I had a very productive weekend. Doug and I went to Costco and did some major shopping, although I guess any trip to Costco is considered major shopping. Sometimes you see people who just pop into Costco for a bottle of wine or a box of cereal. Here they stand - in lines 6-7 people and baskets deep to get one item. Is it really that much cheaper? People don't value their time! We then took a turn around Home Depot picking up a couple of item we needed. On the way home we got sidetracked by an estate sale. Got some lamps for Doug's shop, a very nice plant hanger that stands independently and hold four plants, and of all thing we got a flamingo ceramic plate for a friend that collects flamingos. Normally I try not to encourage other's collecting but this plate was a large serving plate and very nice. For $2 how could I go wrong?
     I finished Nancy and Jerry's quilt blocks. Now they are nice and neatly piled in rows on my sewing table covered with a piece of fabric because I know Jerome will find them. and I started to put Smitty's quilt (guild President) on my design wall. Looks good. Can't wait to get it finished so I can move on to something else. I really need to work on my neighbor's bedspread. She's been sick the last 2 weeks. Every time she gets ill and lands in the hospital I feel a need to get it done for her. I am so afraid I will not get it done in time. She has been able to get well each time but they have told her it will not get better (she has COPD) and I do want her to enjoy her quilt, the longer the better.
     Bells, bells, bells. Students. Gotta run! The day has finally begun.

The Navy

     We have a Navy recruiter in our classes today. The kids are really responding to him. I hope many of them will consider the military. It is a good life for a lot of kids because so many of these kids don't or can't think about a four year college. I always encourage them to think about the military.
     Of course, I grew up in the military. My dad spent 22 years in the Navy. Some of it was difficult but now, looking back on my early life, I have been really glad I had that experience. I have seen parts of the county that many have not ever seen. That comes from traveling back and forth across the United States, by car, getting from one base of duty to another. And because my dad got paid vacations, we were able to travel every summer and during the holidays. Road trips!
     This is the last day of a career unit I added this year for my juniors. We had speakers from the Navy and the Art Institutes and we spent 3 days in the computer lab looking at career s and then seeing what type of education those careers need. We also got onto college web sites and looked around at tuition, dorms, athletics and clubs on campus. I think it was a valid lesson for 3 days extending with the speakers to a whole week. This campus doesn't have a required career unit like Righetti HS which is another school in our district. But that is changing. We have purchased a career computer program but we really need the teachers to get behind it and use it. this week has been a success and I am glad I decided to do it. And it has given the students time to finish an essay I assign during "The Crucible."
     Next week ~ Edgar Allen Poe, Poetry and Thinking-Outside-the-Box.