Year 3 - Day 111 - April 20

I went to a conference in Baltimore today with lots of media, technology, and other teachers. I helped with a group presentation in the morning and then did some learning for the rest of the day. Broken up by lunch with my former now retired supervisor and some colleagues. To get down there, I carpooled with Mike to work and then took the light rail. While waiting for the train this afternoon, I realized that the tall building in the left side of the picture is now a "Transamerica" building. That's definitely new. The Gallery/Renaissance building has a new name too. I'm so glad it was a nice day for this. I like breaking up the work week with something fun like being the learner instead of the teacher!

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.

Year 2 - Day 292 - October 20

Here we are in Ocean City! Woohoo! I'm helping run the MASL conference today and tomorrow and Mike's here to enjoy the vacation that comes afterwards. At some point today my supposed allergies turned into a nasty cold. Since I'm exhausted we went out for an early dinner and came back to the hotel.

We had dinner at a place on the water 4 years ago, the last time we were in OC for the conference. I don't remember what Mike had for dinner that night, but he has always kept the meal in his top 5 of all times. We couldn't remember the name, but a vague recollection of a bridge view and the assistance of Google Maps led us back to the same restaurant. Turns out it's called Fager's Island.

Great food, a little pricy, but worth it. The view is great, and at sunset they played (and timed perfectly with the sun going over the horizon) the 1812 Overture. Fun! Now we're sitting here watching BBT and I'm going to bed at 8:30. That's just how exciting I am.

Day 288 - October 15

Taken by my boss, but it's OF me, so that counts - right?  I got to introduce the guest author, Melanie Watt, at our conference today.  We had a great morning!

It took me just under 2 hours to drive to the conference on Wednesday night after school....today, thanks to a multitude of accidents on the beltway and 95, it took over 3 hours to get home.  Well, ok, to get to Duclaw so Mike could enjoy the firkin of the week, but it's in my town so that counts. :) 

The conference was fun, but boy am I ready to RELAX!

Day 287 - October 14

Today & tomorrow are our annual library conference.  We have been dealing with some major kinks, but most of them are out of our control and so we're trying to deal the best we can.  Very, very, frustrating, though!

Highlights today were getting to go out to dinner with friends and having a hotel room to chill in all by my lonesome.  Boy am I exhausted...