Bocci Ball and Lightning Bugs

Last night I played bocci ball with some friends and then sat in the twilight watching the lightning bugs come out. It was incredibly peaceful. During the course of the evening I had a glimpse of the landscape from a new angle. I saw the bell tower directly against the sky with a background unobstructed by any mountains or hills. It was beautiful. A part of me was reminded that I do miss my Indiana plains. As beautiful as the mountains are, I guess I really am a midwest girl at heart.

How else do you say "I care"?

me: [before erasing the whiteboard] Speak now or forever hold your peace.
my TA: Do you know they don't say that at weddings anymore?
me: What? Why?
my TA: I don't know. Too many divorces?
me: Well, I guess it's better to voice your opinions before the actual wedding day.
my TA: But then you can't make a big scene.
student: Yeah. How else do you say "I care"?

Hil-ar-i-ous! That last line will probably find its way onto the Algebra page of the students' termbook by the end of camp. ;) And this is why I love middle schoolers.

Appalachian Mts

My NC roommate and I went hiking Saturday after teaching in the morning. This is what we saw. Pictures simply can't do the view justice. It was my first hike through the mountains, and it was entirely worth it- even if I did have to deal with my fear of heights. ;) I love my life!

NOAA online streaming audio

I have found the most comforting piece of summer home life possible. It's the NOAA Weather Radio streaming audio of coastal marine forecasts. The automated voices are familiar and strangely comforting as I listen to them here in the mountains of NC and clearly picture myself on Lake Huron. The only downfall- they have yet to use the MAFOR code so I can't practice using that forecasting system. ;)

For any of you who may appreciate this... or simply marvel at my quirks...

www.nws.noaa.gov/nwr/streamaudio.htm

Hillsong's "You'll Come"

This is my current favorite song. The first two lines are especially meaningful. I love the power behind the word "resolved". Enjoy! :)

I have decided I have resolved
To wait upon You, Lord
My Rock and Redeemer, Shield and Reward
I wait upon You, Lord

Surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
Certain as the dawn appears

You'll come. Let your glory fall as you respond to us
Spirit rain flood into our thirsty hearts again
You'll come. You'll come.

We are not shaken we are not moved
We wait upon You, Lord
The mighty Deliverer, the Triumph and Truth
We wait upon You, Lord

Surely as the sun will rise
You'll come to us
Certain as your word endures

You'll come. Let your glory fall as you respond to us
Spirit rain flood into our thirsty hearts again
You'll come. You'll come.

Chains be broken
Lives be healed
Eyes be opened
Christ is revealed

IN, OH, MI, NC, oh my!

The travels have ended... or at least paused for the next 3 weeks. I am now settled in a college apartment in the mountains of NC and the only traveling I anticipate doing is the walk up and down 390 steps on the way to and from my classroom multiple times a day. Oh, and don't worry, those steps are still separated by sufficient uphills too. Quite the difference from Indiana I dare say. I can see a windmill from my apartment window and many mountain tops from my classroom window. Beautiful. It rains quite frequently, or at least it did today. I've learned to always carry my umbrella and raincoat with me. And no, I didn't learn the hard way. I was just thankful the rain always fell while I was inside.

On a completely unrelated note... have you ever wondered what happens when you google your name? I had the sudden urge to do so this evening (while I was taking a break from lesson planning). The first link was for my blog and the second was for my facebook page. The fifth link went to my school's website and everything else on that first page was related to running- race times and such. The majority of the links on the following four pages were also for meet results. So there you are. I guess that's a pretty accurate picture of my life over the past 12 years.

While one can never truly have 'too much' planning time, I'm ready to have the students arrive tomorrow and get the ball rolling for this summer. I'm super excited to be teaching Algebra I- it's definitely a favorite of mine. Of course that may simply be because I've taught it the longest. Either way, it'll be grand. Hooray Duke TIP 2010!