Love, Hate and School

Right now I'm at school getting things ready for next week. I needed a break from working and this seemed like the funnest alternative. Funny how blogging becomes a break when I'm working, but it's work during the summer. Go figure.

I have a love/hate relationship with teaching.
I love the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction I get when I'm doing something I know how to do and that I've done so much that I can actually do it well.
I hate having to be somewhere every morning at 8:15.
I love starting fresh every year with a new group of kids.
I hate having to get subplans together at 3:15 AM because I woke up with the flu. Why can't it be like other people's jobs? If they call in sick they can just call in sick. I have to call in sick, get subplans ready, find a substitute, and then clean up the aftermath when I get back.
I kind of love having every child in the school know my name.
I love getting my room together.
I love stacks of freshly made books, freshly sharpened pencils, new crayons, markers, and colored pencils, and full glue bottles. That means I'm ready.
I hate the feeling I have right before the kids come in on the first day. I don't like being nervous.
But I love the feeling that comes right after the bell rings and the kids start coming in.
I love the drive to and from school. 25 minutes each morning and afternoon to reflect, think and listen to music.
I hate driving that 25 minutes when it's snowing and the roads are icy and covered with snow.
I love love love the people I work with.
I hate that I won't have that association when I quit teaching.
I love teaching kids how to read.
I hate that I don't have enough time to prepare all the fun things I want to do with those kids.

Speaking of prepare...
I should get back to that.

How Boys Play

I used to think I knew how to play basketball. It wasn't until I married a true basketball fan that I realized that playing basketball isn't really 10 girls huddled underneath a hoop each taking turns throwing a ball into the air until, after several grueling minutes, one of them successfully manages to make it into the hoop that's been hovering elusively over their heads. Basketball is more than dribble, block, throw (e.i. shoot) the ball. It actually involves strategy. There are plays involved. Techniques. Moves. Skillz.
None of these I have.
But my hubby does. And he loves to play the game. Lucky for him he happens to know some other guys who love the game, too, and so they play every week.
I decided to tag along the last time they played and do a little playing myself.

...but I played with the camera.

I got some good action shots. Don't ask me what was going on here. I'm just taking the picture.


I just like this one.


It appears that Brad is going to try a granny shot and everyone is giving him some space to do it.


Don't mess with DAN.


But don't be scared of Dan! He's a nice guy!


Zack was popping up for the rebound on this one, but it could also be that he was attempting to dunk the ball and just fell short of the mark.


I like this because it gives a clear shot of Thomas's intimidation shirt (Who isn't intimidated by Porky Pig?) and because it shows how much fun these guys are having.

How To Make A Chipmunk.

First, you take your dogs on a long, dirty, fun hike.

Like this.

And this.

You might even throw in a meadow or two.

Next, you let them cool off however they want.




Then you take them for a ride.

Let him stick his head out the window because you know how much he loves it.


The next thing you know...


You've got yourself a chipmunk.