The week from Gehenna

So I had a rough week last week, with multiple parents in my room telling me how they could do my job better, more efficiently, more fairly, and with less effort. I have a great idea for a reality TV series where they each get a week in my classroom, filmed, with opportunities for the kids to give "confessional" moments as well as the parents. Then at the end they could show me how it should be done.

All venting aside, I had a wonderful weekend. Some old friends were in town for the Spring Barrel tasting at all the local wineries, and on Friday night I had dinner with my uncle and aunt, who were in town for a singing competition. (My aunt is a music teacher and her students were performing at Central Washington University in Ellensburg.) They took me to a fancy restaurant and we caught up on the many years since they've seen my family.

On Saturday I went to a wedding with Willie. He was a part of the wedding party, so there were a few awkward moments here and there as I didn't really know anyone. But he had made all the beer for the event and that was a huge achievement/success for him. It seemed more realistic that he might start his own microbrewery some day. And the reception was great fun. I sat with his sisters, who I know fairly well, and there was a great live band that played really fun stuff. There's something slightly magical about wearing a beautiful dress and dancing the night away with a boy that you really like.

I'm in full half-marathon training mode at this point and need sponsors desperately...if you or anyone you know can sponsor me, please try. I am running for my nieces as part of the NF team.
http://www.active.com/donate/nfseattle2010/EAppert3

Back at long last

Many of you have asked why I stopped writing this blog, and my answer is simply that I don't really know. Maybe it was because I didn't think anyone was reading it, or maybe because I didn't think I had anything to say. Maybe I just ran out of the motivation to write. Whatever the reason, I am back, and I am excited to be back to describing the many adventures of life in the wild west.

This week was my first week back after spring break, which is an interesting and stressful time to be in a seventh grade classroom. Next week we will be running some standardized tests in the mornings and teaching "Family Life/ Sex Ed" in the afternoons, so it should be an interesting and adventurous week. I am also trying to put together a professional portfolio, which is due this Friday, so that should be interesting. It's a lot more work than I thought it would be.

I had an opportunity to go to the Washington coast two weekends ago, and while it became an epic journey due to some car trouble, it was a wonderful time to be away from a stressful living situation and just relaxing. I was there with a bunch of friends, and it was a very entertaining weekend from start to finish. We drove over White Pass, and about halfway through the drive there is a stunningly beautiful vista of Mt. Rainier. If I can figure out how to be tech savvy, I'll post some pictures. The coast was wet and grey and windy, but a gorgeous place to be. There were no schedules or plans, and it was refreshing to say the least.

I have been doing a bit more writing recently, and also just found out that one of my reflections will be published in a magazine this November. I haven't had anything published in a while, and I was thrilled to be back on the market again. It has given me some much needed motivation.

This isn't the most interesting post, but I'm rusty...will attempt something more creative later.