Just Jordan

It just after noon and I need a writing break.  I am feverishly trying to get my classroom unpacked and things lined up for doing work in the summer and I am even sending a bit of photocopying to the printers for the fall.  Busy--but the more work I do today is less work I have to do during the summer. This morning I ran into a former colleague, Donna, who is also a parent of a student that Hugh taught (her son came to my school, but I didn't teach him).  She gave me a hug and the first words out of her mouth were, "I'm so sorry to hear about what happened."  I teared up--the good kind of tears--and thanked her for acknowledging my grief.  She told me a number of really nice things, but the best one was that she thinks of Hugh and I often.  As time goes on, I realize how hard it is for people to bring up Tripp. Death is uncomfortable to talk about and I know that people refrain from saying things partly because they think they are sparing my feelin...

I didn't even have students writing final exams and I am EXHAUSTED.  There is just so much to do (but its too boring to actually tell you about). If you need a laugh, you need to check out this blog that my friend, Cara, sent me.  Laugh out loud funny. Thanks, Cara.

This afternoon was graduation for the grade 12's at my high school.  It was emotional for me (as are most things these days).  My thoughts went to Tripp.  Acknowledgement that graduation is one more experience we won't have with him. I was also emotion for a few students.  I felt pride for a number of them.  Some for their incredible accomplishments (athletic and academic) and others for just getting there.   Hugh and I have the unique opportunity to teach some of the same students.  His elementary school is a feeder school for the high school I am at and many of his grade 8's choose the school down the street as the place to finish off their secondary education.  The connection I have with a great number of his students clearly stands out on days like this.  I got teary eyed when I saw a number of students and all but one were in Hugh's grade 8 class of 2007.  This group started at Aden Bowman the same time I did.  Hugh and I hav...

I should be reading chapter 2 of the book and moving on this week, but quite frankly, I don't have time.  With school winding down there are projects to finish and parties to attend.  I think it is actually fitting that I continue to work on organization this week.  I have printed off a calendar for July and August that will fit in my happiness project book.  This way, I will be able to keep track of all our our commitments and schedule any new ones in. * * * Today was a bad day.  It started just at noon.  I was listening to the radio in my classroom and the news reported a boy who, while fishing off a dock, drown.  I felt sick.  No one should lose a child.  I decided I needed to get out of the building for a few minutes, so I decided to tackle a few things off of my list.  I took my broken driver back to Golf Town (it looks like they are going to be able to do something about it) and then headed to Walmart.  It was baby centra...

I am sick of the rain. When I posted yesterday morning I was wearing shorts and a tank-top.  The sun was shining and warm.  By the time we got to the lake, I needed jeans and a bunnyhug.  We spent the day outside doing yard work (which I actually don't mind doing if the weather is half decent).  Then, I could barely eat supper on the deck it was so cold (I put a fleece blanked on my legs for added warmth).  We got home today to more cold and rain. We have 3 trees in our yard that are dying.  The leaves on one are entirely yellow and the other two have partially turned yellow.  THEY ARE DROWNING! My garden is pathetic.  I even replanted a number of rows this past Monday, because approximately half of it hadn't even come up.  I have little hope for those seeds.  The garden is a mud pit and I don't doubt the seeds have rotted or will.  This is the second year in a row.  I am sick of it. I am almost ready for a road trip to the...

A bird just hit my mom and dad's front window.  That happens on a daily basis.  They have picture windows that run from the floor to about 9 feet up. I just had to run in from outside to post this.  We are heading to the lake for the night and there is no internet there.  It is one of the perks.  No cell coverage and no computer.  It feels good to be cut off from time to time. I was walking around Mom and Dad's yard with Calder this morning.  He was cutting in and out of the bushes exploring.  I couldn't stop thinking of Tripp and what he and Calder are missing out on.  Tripp is missing out on this, serene, peaceful place where adventures are waiting to happen, and Calder is missing out on having his brother with him to explore and ultimately terrorize that peace. Being outside feels closer to Tripp.  I am going to lather 50 sunblock on and let the fresh air seep into every one of my pores.

The bottoms of my feet are going numb--in the new running shoes I bought.  I went to The Running Room and got fitted with a pair of Asics shoes about a month ago.  I tried running with them on the treadmill 3 different times and they hurt my feet so bad.  I took them back and they sent me home with a pair of Adidas.  The aren't quite as bad, but they still make them numb.  I tried them twice - the second time with the insoles from my old Asics - still numbness.  I took them back and they wanted me to try another pair, but I am tired of returning shoes and having to run on the treadmill to test them out.  I am sticking with my old ones until it is absolutely necessary.  So annoying. The good news is I am running!  This week I did 6 minutes of running, two minutes of walking.  Monday is 7 and 2.  I am pretty proud of myself!  I even got Hugh into it last week and I think he is on board for the long haul!