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.