Love & a Steady Hand

This is what happens

when I stay away from the blog too long.

1. Everybody stops reading 'cause they figure I've run away again.

2. I get a spam bomb and have to spend more time deleting nastiness than I would have putting an entry in.

Things on the teaching front have been really good, but I don't feel like talking about it right now. I'll try to come back tomorrow. Maybe during my planning period...

Sorry it's been so long. And sorry, too, that I don't write more philosophically. Before I didn't have anything to write philosophically about. Now I don't feel like I have brain space available to write it. Next year will be better. Can you hold out until then?

Things I have forgotten to mention

• The house sold. We did not get anything like what I thought we should get for it, especially since we put so much work into it this summer, but we are not under it anymore. And, given the number of people who have had houses on the market for years -- literally -- I need to just be happy the whole thing is over.
• I don't really like the house we are renting now. The rent is too high ($1,100) for a house that I don't adore. And again, rents are high, houses are hard to come by, and I realize that I would be paying $5K or something equally ridiculous for this size house in Boston or Jersey.
• Some days I wish I was living in Boston or Jersey. I really like the job. I like my colleagues, I like the school and the philosophy behind it. I love the kids. It's good to be closer to my folks (who babysit often and it's particularly fun to be able to hang with my Mom when she isn't being mother-y -- sorry Emmie, but I am probably more fun when I am not being daughter-y [pronounced "dor-dor-ee"]). But I am not 100% thrilled about being here while my sister is in Boston. Having said that, Nashvegas is much groovier than it used to be. Perhaps this is because I can drive now. The N'ville sucks when you are carless.
• My kids are having a fabulous time at their new school. They miss their old friends and talk about them CONSTANTLY, but they are also having fun and making new friends and learning amazing things. So that's all good. That may be the best part of being here. Matthew is still having some troubles with keeping his hands to himself (he wants to squeeze everybody) and with starting and stopping tasks when he asked to do so. But he would NOT be doing this well in a "regular" school and I am so grateful for all the progress he's made. His teacher is so patient and consistent and she really does enjoy him.
• I really have no idea how to teach a whole year of 7th grade English. I swear that I was perfectly up-front about my level of teaching experience and my complete disdain for grammar, so it is not my fault they hired me even though I have not the first clue about what I'm doing.
• Yesterday I was convinced I was drowning. Today was better. I got advice (more advice) from one of the 6th grade English teachers and that helped enormously. She went to Peabody College with my most favorite English teacher from high school, so you know she's got the creds. Luckily she is also willing to share them. She also enjoys Angela Thirkell, and that's always a good sign. Oh, and we have the same birthday. That part is just weird.
• I know I said this already, but I am exhausted. So nighters for now.

That old comment roll was getting too long

So here is a new post for you to start commenting on.

I am exhausted. Things are going very very well for the most part. The kids are fabulous -- wicked and clever and wickedly clever and kind and soppy and silly and oh so immature one minute and then just like insane adults the next minute.

And really, why are so many of them taller than me? That part I did not expect.

And all of them are at such different stages of development -- physically, mentally, emotionally. There's just the whole range of everything, it's adorable.

We are reading The Giver, and they are so serious about it.

I love this job.

But have I mentioned that I am exhausted? Because I am exhausted.

How's by you?