Year 2 - Day 297 - October 25

This is the novel my college class is currently in the process of reading. I started it a couple times in the past but never got through it. This week though, I did read it cover to cover, and actually enjoyed it! Last week at the library conference I went to a session about using Primary Sources such as artwork to introduce research to kids. Well, we introduce things like the American Revolution to our 5th graders. It's new to them but that's a subject most adult Americans have at least some working knowledge of. The middle ages on the other hand (where Crispin is set) is a different story. So I used some of the strategies I learned tonight to get them more familiar with the middle ages and feudalism. I think it was less boring than just reading an article and less confusing than jumping right into the book. Hopefully it helped. It was definitely more interesting to TEACH than to just read the article. :)

So then I was driving home, in the dark, after 9pm, on 95, when my "check tire pressure" light came on. I was not thrilled about the event seeing as how it was dark, late, and I was in the middle of nowhere. Before I got to an exit, I got to a rest stop. I pulled into the first gas station and it was pitch black. I saw what I thought was an air hose but there was no sign so I kept driving. Luckily the second gas station had lights on, people getting gas, AND an attendant in an official outfit. I saw the air hose, pulled up, got out, and the attendant's eyes got really big all of a sudden. "Hey! You were my library teacher in elementary school!" Heh. I actually knew his first name right away, which impressed me, because I didn't have the older alumni for as long so I don't always have the ability to pull their names out of thin air. Also, they grow up when they leave us so they aren't always recognizable. He filled my tires for me (how awesome is that?!) and we talked about some challenges he's faced in the last few years. He seems to be finding his way now, so I hope he continues down that path. What a crazy evening.