I made it!

You see, today was payday in my district where you receive June, July and August's paychecks on June's payday.  That is a reeeaaallly long time to go without any income.  Yes, yes, I know I should just bank it and transfer the exact paycheck amount on what would be the paydays, but for some reason I don't.  So then by the first part of September I am hurtin' for certain.  It is just so easy to spend it when it is there.  And then there are all the fees and memberships that a new school year brings which leave you even more cash-strapped.  But today began the steady flow of income back into my checking account leaving me once again with the feeling that I can breathe (and not double check my account online every few hours just to be sure I didn't forget to subtract a check at some point).

I miss you, Writer's Workshop

I, for a really long time,  have kept a writer's notebook and a quotebook.  My writer's notebook is for when I hear things I like or ideas I might want to write about and the quotebook is for great quote clippings.  Aside from this little blog here, I write on paper (old fashioned, I know) at home.  All the good details are in my journals (sorry you all miss so many good stories).  I find writing one of the most enjoyable things to do (though not as fun as finding the perfect anything at JCPenney).  That's the only thing I don't love about my job.  I don't really get to teach writing as an art.  I loved finding a good Mentor Text and doing a great read aloud.  I loved brainstorming and doing a whole class writing before sending my friends to their seats for 15 minutes of silent writing before I began conferencing. I loved sharing what I wrote with the class as well as listening to their finished products.  I loved the whole growing writers process.  Even though my new position is super rewarding and absolutely perfect for me, I still find myself wishing for moments when I could pull out Shrek, break out the chart paper and brainstorm some good leads. 

I remember

ten years ago today more vividly than most days.  My class and I were in the middle of DOL when the other teacher at my grade level showed up at my door with sheer panic in her eyes.  I went out to the hall to ask what was wrong, and she just blurted, "Terrorists have attacked the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon."  I remember standing there not quite understanding the magnitude of what she was saying because I hadn't seen the news report and then asking her if her ex husband was ok (he was stationed at the Pentagon and it turned out that he was fine).  I was visibly upset when I returned to my room, and later when I read the "official statement" from the office I cried.  And today, watching the ceremony at Ground Zero I went back to my feelings that day.  It was hard, senseless, and something I won't ever forget.  Not because I can't forget it, but because I don't want to.