Where Did My Free-Time Go?

I have to figure out some way to teach school, and still blog.  I think I'll try a Sunday afternoon post, or two or three.  If I can figure that out, maybe I'll be able to add more.  Right now, I'm going to have to do a September catch-up.

Looong Weekend

Even as a child I remember having the first Thursday and Friday of October off for Teacher Inservice Days.  As a teacher, you don't really have the days off, but you have a couple days to go to workshops, work in your rooms or on new stuff, or at least have some time away from kids so you can catch your breath and go out to lunch.  This is the second year when we actually do have a day off.  Because of budget cuts, Thursday is an Inservice Day, but Friday we're off. 

The first weekend in October is also always General Conference for church.  We don't have prepare anything for our callings, and we don't even have to get out of our pajamas for church.  It's on TV.  I'm going to have a day off from work and a weekend off from church.  It sounds like a long, relaxing weekend.  Just what I need.

Canning Peaches

I took my turn at the church cannery.  I have to leave work right away to make it to the 4 o'clock shift.  Terry came with me.  It was our first time going together.  He was on the line, weeding out the bad peaches, and I was running the chute where they come down and fill the cans.  Every job there is wet, sticky, and monotonous.  After about 20 minutes your back and feet hurt.  It's loud and you usually end up with a headache.  You're looking at the clock constantly. 

It is rewarding though.  You're there with a 50-100 people who volunteer their time.  The cans of peaches go to those in need all over the western United States.  It makes you appreciate your education, training, and jobs.  I know we're blessed for doing this.  Best of all, last night, we ran out of peaches right before 6:00.  We cleaned up and were out of there 2 hours early.....  I think we still get the blessing.

Campaign

I don't like politics.   I hate that education reform and teacher unions are the focus of elections and the Idaho legislature lately.  I've spent one Saturday morning going door to door with information about the referendum, another Saturday going door to door talking about a pro-education candidate running for representative in our district.  I've also spent two nights at the phone bank, talking to people all over the state.  I know how important it is, so I do it.  However, I don't understand how anyone gets into politics.  I have zero passion for it.  It's controversial, argumentative, drudgery.

Fundraising

The school year is just starting, but we're getting things going for EFT.  It's will cost the kids $200 each this year, which is a bargain for four days - food, lodging, classes, swimming, zip-lining, and entertainment. We're busy fundraising already.  Order forms went home for Spirit Cups.  You can get almost any college or professional team logos.  Some kids pay for their entire trip by selling BSU cups.  This year some moms have taught all the sixth graders how to make bracelets out of parachute cord.  We're trying to sell those for $5 each.  I have one student who's parents set-up a Facebook page and sold $200 worth to friends and family.  We also sold pizza, soda, and snacks at Bingo Night.  Now we just have the Monster Mash Dance to get through.  It's a lot of work, but it's good because it's all over with by the end of October.  After that it's up to each student to babysit, rake leaves, shovel snow, or save their birthday money.

Yipee!

Finally!  Ty came home for a visit.  He spent 3 days in Boise before he went with Frisbee friends to a tournament in Missoula, then a couple more days in Boise.  It was soooo good to see him.  I think he had a great time.  Mostly he just caught up with friends, but the wall bed worked.  He spent nights here.  I'm not sure what his hi-lights were, but here's my list:

• picking up bagels at Blue Sky (Terry doesn't like bagels, so Ty's my bagel buddy.)
• an afternoon off work and Moonrise Kingdom matinee
• lunch at Mickey Rays
• dinner at Westside with Ty and Dylan (I miss Ty's friends.  It was great seeing them.)
• doing his wash for him

I just miss him being around.  A week is a good visit.  I wouldn't want it to last much longer, but I hate sharing him while he's here.  It just makes me happy.

Art in the Park

This is always my favorite weekend in Boise.  I didn't take Friday off, like I have the past two years.  I just finished things on Friday as fast as I could, and then went with Terry to walk around and get some dinner.  It was a perfect night.  Besides dinner, we finished off a big bag of kettle corn.  I can't pass that up ever.

The next morning I called to see if my usual family members were up for a walk around.  Andrea was out of town, Nan was busy, Mom wasn't feeling well, but of course, Dad was up and ready to go.  It was just the two of us.  We started before the booths were open with our traditional cinnamon roll and hot chocolate.  We covered most of the park, bought a woodpecker made of metal scraps to put on top of Millie's scratching post, a silk scarf for Mom, and a crocheted scarf for me.  It was great spending 3 hours of my favorite weekend with Dad.

I bought a big oval mirror from IKEA this summer.  I want a mosaic frame.

I've never done a mosaic, but I'm wondering if I could do one like these.