GERMANY

Summer. 

One of the reasons I became a teacher.  Not the most important reason (liar), but in the top 5.  Well, here's the problem... 7 years ago I taught an online math class over the summer and the experience was REALLY good (the extra money wasn't too shabby either).  NOW this position is a coveted one, and I know if I take time off I'll never be able to get back in.  So here I am - 7 summers later - teaching online geometry, algebra, precalculus... and still LOVING it.

I'm teaching 6 classes this summer.  3 first semester and 3 second semester all happening at the same time.  The first semester students are usually trying to get ahead in school, and the second semester are usually recovering credit.  What that means is --- the 1st semester students work really hard during the first 3 weeks so that they can finish the course early, add the second semester, and finish an entire credit over 6 weeks.  The second semester students usually EASE into the class and get started in early August.  Which means I have a little extra... time... during the first half.  During the second half - I have to disappear from the world and spend 12 hours a day online.

So here is what I'm doing with my extra TIME.  In addition to making it to level 114 in CANDY CRUSH SAGA, I'm working on the details of an August trip to Germany!  So far I have the journey planned, most of the hotels booked, and my Rick Steves suitcase ordered.  Rick and I have become very close during the past few weeks - he just doesn't know it yet.

Here's a screenshot of my spreadsheet.  Yes.  Spreadsheet.  Because I rock.

STAN

My cat Stan.  Just Stan.  It isn't short for anything cool (like Constantinople.  Which I then changed to Istanbul at the request of the Turkish government in the 1920's).
I adopted Stan in November 2010.  Do you remember that month?  We had record cold temperatures.  Stan was a feral cat living under my friend's porch.  He had a horrible wound on his neck and foot that wouldn't heal, and my friend was pretty sure Stan wouldn't make it through the 18 degree night.  SO he came to live with me.  I took him to the vet and got him all fixed up.  We found out that the reason he wasn't healing was because he has feline HIV.  He can transmit it to other cats - but everyone else is safe.  You can share a coke with him, shake his hand, even give him a kiss - without fear of infection.  Poor Stan.
Anyway - Stan and I recently moved to Ballard - which is a REALLY cool part of Seattle.  Everything was going ok until last week when he threw up a hairball the size of a small child's leg.  Gross.
SO... Stan needed to get a haircut.
I've attached a before and after picture.  What do you think?
I think he looks DAPPER!

Vacation

Wannagetaway?

I took a 3 year break from posting on this blog.

That's normal - right?