A Really Great Day

Today has been (as the title suggests) a really great day. I haven't done anything that is amazingly exciting or anything, but today has been probably the least stressful day in the whole month of September. (Yes, I know there were a lot of days I enjoyed in September, but with the lingering stresses of the move and going back to work, even those good days had complications.)

Today started with a phone call to my sister Hope (after I woke up at 8:45--yay sleeping in!), who suggested that we meet for breakfast at Panera before we headed for the book sale half price day. Over yummy bagels (I highly recommend the French toast bagel with honey-walnut cream cheese) and orange juice, we exchanged gossip and caught up on each others' lives. Then we went to Target to get scrapbook supplies so that she can make a scrapbook of her honeymoon pictures. From there, we found our way to Magnuson and hit the book sale, finding another stack of fun-sounding books. We stopped back by Michael's and my place to drop off the books, and Michael had finally managed to get out of bed. By then, we were hungry again, so we had a bowl of homemade chicken soup with him while we showed him our loot from the book sale. Next, Hope and I headed to the mall to print the honeymoon pictures. Hope dropped me off back here around 2:00, and Michael and I took a nap. Yes, an actual nap. In the middle of the afternoon! When we got up, we popped some leftover pizza in the microwave and settled down to watch not just one but two silly movies. Michael is now taking a soothing bedtime shower, and I'm about to curl up with a book until he gets out, then we're going to bed early. Talk about a luxurious day! Now, I just need about a week of days like this one...

Library Book Sale

Last summer, by random chance, Michael and I discovered that the Seattle Public Library holds a book sale twice a year. They fill one of the old warehouses in Magnuson Park almost entirely to the brim with books, and then sell the books for the most reasonable prices out there: 50 cents for paperbacks (75 cents for oversized paperbacks) and $1.00 for hardbacks. And those are the first day prices--the second day of the sale, everything is half price! Michael and I wandered around on the first day of the summer sale and were impressed by the selection, and ended up stocking our shelves for summer reading that weekend. We were both impressed by the turnout at this event. Seattle's record of being the best educated city in the country really shows at things like book sales. Seattle is the only place (other than a Harry Potter book release) that I've seen people line up around a block to get books.

This weekend, the library is having its fall book sale. I discovered last summer that it's best to be there when the doors open, so that I can be the first person in the line in front of the tables. I get less jostled that way. I was a bit bruised during the first-day rush last summer. The line this morning was once again around the block, but when I got inside the huge building, I managed to head straight for the mystery tables and stock up once again on silly mystery books (my fun reading). I spent $14, and walked out with 24 books, including two Stephen Kings that weren't in our collection (amazingly--we've been pretty thorough). Tomorrow, I'm planning to go to half-price day with Hope and Michael, to see if there's anything else we need. I have a hunch I'll manage to find another bag of interesting-looking books, and I'm sure Michael will find an armful. I didn't even scan the science fiction tables this morning.

And yes--I remember that a month ago I was whining about how many books we have. Now that we're not trying to move them, it hardly seems we have enough. There's nothing like curling up on a cold winter day with a mug of hot chocolate and a mystery book!

Sick Boyfriend

Poor Michael came home from work last night violently sneezing. This morning, he woke up aching all over, with a sore throat and a very stuffy nose. He's come down with the first fall cold to turn up in our house. He's in the shower right now with something called a "shower soother," which is supposed to help with the stuffiness. I hope it works, because he looks pretty wiped out. Don't worry though--I'm making chicken soup, feeding him orange juice like crazy, and doing everything I can think of to make sure he rests.

Now, if only I can think of a way to avoid getting the bug myself...

CASAS Testing

So, since Career Link is now part of the ABE (Adult Basic Education) program at NSCC, making us an "official" GED program this year, we're required to give our students the state-mandated CASAS test. This probably works fine for older students, but try explaining to a room full of 17 year olds that in addition to the five tests that make up the GED, they're also going to have to take an additional five tests every quarter for no apparent reason other than the state demanding that they do. I gave my students the first test today, I'll give another on Monday, and a third at the end of the quarter.

Already today, they were demanding to know what the point was, and I couldn't give them a really good answer. They have to take both the math and the reading tests, without taking into account that many of them have already passed the GED tests in one or both of those subjects. I ended up telling them that today's math and reading tests were just for placement purposes, to help Deanna and I figure out which reading and math groups they should be in. Still, there were many bitter complaints about how many tests they have to take. I agree with them that if they've already passed the GED tests, there really isn't any point in making them take more tests in those subjects.

We really need to reform the testing system (the whole education system) in this country, to do away with a lot of the useless crap and really educate our population!

Back to School

While Monday was the first official day of fall quarter at NSCC, Career Link didn't start until today, because yesterday was taken up with faculty meetings and last-minute student registrations. Thus, today was my first day back in the classroom this fall. Even given all the budget cuts and financial woes going on (thanks again President Bush), it felt really great to be back at Career Link. We have a fresh crop of around 40 kids, which is smaller than last year's bunch, and means I won't have 50 kids in each class I teach (whew). With 20 kids in each class, all of them are going to get a lot more individual attention, from which I think most of them will benefit a great deal. The new crew seems like a really bright group of young people. Both classes asked good questions, and since they all know this may be the last year of Career Link, they're all very motivated to pass their GED tests before the program shuts down. After talking to them today, I don't think we have a single student who I think won't be able to earn a GED. I'm anticipating a very pleasant school year.

Speaking of back to school, I don't think Michael has bragged about this anywhere yet, so I'll do it for him. When he registered for classes for fall, he finally checked his grades from spring quarter, and guess what? He got a perfect 4.0 and made the dean's list again! I knew that he'd thrive in college once he convinced himself that it was time to go back! My boy is awesome! He's taking another full load of classes this fall: anthropology, logic, and Spanish. I have full confidence that he'll get through this quarter with flying colors.

We're starting to get back into the school-year routine. Tonight was probably our last night for a while to have time to sit down together at the dining room table for a real dinner, as we're back on the schedule where Michael works until 10:00 most nights, and I don't get home until 7:00. I have to remind myself that this arrangement is only until Michael is through with school. Besides that, it makes me appreciate the little moments we get together all the more. (And I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving break!) Michael is in the office now, diligently working on his homework, and I've just finished cleaning the kitchen. I'll call Michael back to the table when I finish this post, so that we can have some dessert, and then it will be about bedtime, because tomorrow is a school day.

A Family Portrait

A Family Portrait
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown

Michael's parents were able to visit us shortly after the move was complete. We had an enjoyable couple of days visiting with them before they were off in the Turtle (their new RV), driving back to Alaska in their new toy.

Boy Relaxing in the Park

Boy Relaxing in the Park
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown

During the moving process, we did steal one gorgeous afternoon and head for Magnuson to pick some blackberries and enjoy the tail end of summer.

Moving Pictures

How Much Stuff Do We Have?
Originally uploaded by Prairie Brown

For anyone who would like to see pictures of what our apartment looked like before it was organized and beautiful, I took a few during the moving process. Michael will post the "after" pictures on his page. Trust me, it looks a million times better now! I'm so glad to be done with moving!

Welcome Back, World!

The month of September has been a really frustrating month so far, and with classes starting tomorrow, there doesn't seem much possibility that things are going to become less stressful. Coming home from a tropical island vacation to an unplanned move is not how I'd recommend anyone spend the last few weeks of summer vacation. In fact, these were going to be my only vacation time this summer that was unplanned by anyone else (not that I don't thank those of you who planned vacations for us). I was looking forward to sitting by the pool with a book, which I didn't get to do once before they closed the pool for the fall!

Yesterday we finally got the apartment up and running entirely. I think one of the hardest parts of the whole move was the incompetence of out Internet provider, who stalled and stalled on installing our service. It shouldn't have taken nearly three weeks for us to move from one building to another. Our address barely changed, for goodness sake! It felt like we were having a bad conversation on repeat.

Us (On Sept. 4th): Is there any way to speed up the process? This move was unplanned, and we couldn't call you before now to set things up.

Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out there on the 21st. How would that be?

Us: Would it be possible to have anyone out here sooner than that? You see, the move was unplanned.

Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out there on the 21st. How would that be?

Us: Yes, but could you make it sooner? We'll be without phone and Internet for a month by then.

Them: Yes, we'll have an installer out on the 21st. How would that be?

At which point we just gave up and agreed that the 21st would be lovely, and spent the next three weeks checking our email at the school when we had time (sorry to anyone whose email I didn't respond to). On the morning of the 21st, the conversation changed.

Them: Good morning. How are you today?

Me (suspiciously): Fine. Why are you calling? Why aren't you here?

Them: Well, one of our technicians called in sick this morning, and we were wondering if it would be possible to reschedule your installation.

Me: It would be impossible. I took the day off from work to stay home today in order for the installation to happen today. It has to happen today. There isn't any other option.

Them: Oh. Well, let us see what we can do. we'll call you back in a few minutes.

(Half an hour later...)

Them: We think we can give you an appointment sometime between 4:00 and 7:00 this afternoon. (Our original appointment was between 8:00 and noon, and it was now about 10:30.)

Me: That will be fine, as long as it happens today.

Them: We'll call you back once we confirm your appointment.

(45 minutes later...)

Them: It's all set. We'll have a technician there between 4:00 and 7:00.

Me: Great!

(At around 5:00...)

Technician: I'll be there in about ten minutes.

(45 minutes later...)

Technician: Hi, I'm here to install your modem.

Me: Don't we already have a modem?

Technician: Oh, yeah, it looks like you do. Well, just let me fiddle with a few wires.

Me: Okay.

(Fifteen minutes later...)

Technician: That's all I can do. It looks like you have a short in your phone wiring somewhere near the street. The phone company will be out sometime in the next couple of days to fix it. Goodbye.

Me: (Jaw dropped silence.)

At that point, Michael got on the phone and negotiated by telling them that we wanted to cancel our account, at which point they did some negotiating of their own and the problem was fixed by 10:30 yesterday morning, and now we're back online. I have to say, during our next move, we're very likely to switch Internet providers! At least everything is working now. Whew! I was starting to think it wasn't going to happen.

Getting There

We spent yet another full day packing things, moving things, and unpacking things. I'd say we're mostly moved. There's a little bit of stuff left in Michael's office, and my clothes still need to be moved over, but overall, things are mostly in the new place. NOw we just have to find places for all of them. Michael worked most today, so the crew of Dad and Hope and Peter and I were the movers. We hauled boxes until around noon, when we ran out of empty boxes to put more stuff into. Then Dad and the newlyweds headed for Hope's place for lunch, and I started the tedious chore of unpacking all of the things I'd spent the morning putting into boxes. I really hate moving! And I wish we'd been given more notice that we were going to have to move. Moving requires a certain mind-frame, I think, and it takes longer than a day or two for me to get used to the idea of uprooting everything and causing complete upheaval and chaos. I've been pretty miserable for the past few days, although I freely admit that I like the new apartment, and once everything is settled it's going to be wonderful.

This is likely the last post I'll make for a while, because our Internet service won't be transfered to the new place for a week or two, and we're planning to move my computer over tonight.