Some people run marathon races - 26 grueling kilometers. Some people bicycle 50 + miles - avoiding cars, pot holes, and other road dangers. I, on the other hand, am a marathon AP teacher. The AP test is coming up on May 10th. Last weekend (and the next one) I went to school both Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 5 in the afternoon and hosted a practice session for my students. Going to school throughout the weekend can be quite peculiar. Today, Monday, for example, I really had trouble deciding WHAT day it was.
What added to the oddness of the weekend was Charlie's field trips to the desert for his Earthquakes class. He decided to get both field trips in on one weekend. This meant that he left the house at 7 am both mornings to drive to USC.
To sum it up, he and I have been getting up at dawn non-stop for two weeks straight and going off to work. Although I have the practices next weekend too, we won't have the early morning wake up calls for desert trips. After that week end, things really calm down. I'll be ready.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
It'll be so quiet around here
The past week we've had lots of company. First Glenn, Krysty, and Kayley came to visit. Kayley, who's eight months old, crawls around like a commando and finds things that are dangerous. Our job is to turn her around. They stayed Sunday through Wednesday. Kayley wasn't so sure about strangers picking her up. All my explanations about being her grandma didn't get me very far. She's fun to watch anyhow. Fortunately, it was my spring break so I had time to watch Kayley and take little trips about. We went to Old Town Pasadena by the Gold Line. We went to Target and Costco.
On Thursday, the Vancouver Sammises went to the other grandparents house, and Thursday night, very late, the Hayward Sammises showed up. Ian, Sarah, Sean and Harriet came to visit. We hung around on Friday morning. Friday afternoon we all went to see "How to Train Your Dragon". Since Harriet is only three, we didn't try the 3-D version of the movie - the glasses just don't fit. I think she liked it - I'm sure the rest of us did.
Saturday everybody came by. We had lunch for all the grown children their wives, and all the grandkids. Harriet and Sean had a chance to meet Kayley. It was very sweet. After lunch, Ian, Glenn, Krysty, and I (with Glenn toting Kayley in a front carrier) went for a walk to Union Bakery for sweets. My brother Gary and his wife showed up a little later - so sweets and coffee - and, of course, chats.
Sunday Ian, Sarah, Sean and Harriet drove back up to Hayward. Monday evening Glenn, Krysty and Kayley came for a good bye supper. This evening Kayley had her dinner here, then off they went. They'll be driving back - slowly - to Vancouver starting tomorrow.
This evening just Charlie and me. After Glenn, Krysty, and Kayley left this evening it seemed exceptionally quiet even though we've had quiet evenings during the last week. Just knowing everyone is back to their respective home (or on the way at least) made it seem quieter.
On Thursday, the Vancouver Sammises went to the other grandparents house, and Thursday night, very late, the Hayward Sammises showed up. Ian, Sarah, Sean and Harriet came to visit. We hung around on Friday morning. Friday afternoon we all went to see "How to Train Your Dragon". Since Harriet is only three, we didn't try the 3-D version of the movie - the glasses just don't fit. I think she liked it - I'm sure the rest of us did.
Saturday everybody came by. We had lunch for all the grown children their wives, and all the grandkids. Harriet and Sean had a chance to meet Kayley. It was very sweet. After lunch, Ian, Glenn, Krysty, and I (with Glenn toting Kayley in a front carrier) went for a walk to Union Bakery for sweets. My brother Gary and his wife showed up a little later - so sweets and coffee - and, of course, chats.
Sunday Ian, Sarah, Sean and Harriet drove back up to Hayward. Monday evening Glenn, Krysty and Kayley came for a good bye supper. This evening Kayley had her dinner here, then off they went. They'll be driving back - slowly - to Vancouver starting tomorrow.
This evening just Charlie and me. After Glenn, Krysty, and Kayley left this evening it seemed exceptionally quiet even though we've had quiet evenings during the last week. Just knowing everyone is back to their respective home (or on the way at least) made it seem quieter.
Monday, April 5, 2010
being a grandma
Glenn, Krysty, and Kayley have been staying here for the past few nights. Kayley is eight months old and is adorable. She crawls around checking things out. We put toys on the floor that are nice and safe. She checks them out for a few seconds, then goes on to much more interesting things - like electric cords and fireplace pokers. The human race is fascinating. It's amazing anyone grows up beyond a few months.
Glenn and Krysty feed her, bathe her, and try to get her to try to go to sleep. She really likes their company and isn't so sure about sleeping in a room alone. As I sit and write this note, she's downstairs, sleeping away on Glenn's chest. She had been in the room upstairs, but woke to discover no one was about. So, she's now downstairs with company. When you can't talk to someone and have any sort of conversation about how "big girls" would go to sleep, you just have to make do.
As a grandma, (grandpas get equal privileges) we get to buy her toys, ooh and aah, and best of all find her parents when things go awry. Sean and Harriet provided equal memories of life with babies. Sigh. They are awfully cute though.
Glenn and Krysty feed her, bathe her, and try to get her to try to go to sleep. She really likes their company and isn't so sure about sleeping in a room alone. As I sit and write this note, she's downstairs, sleeping away on Glenn's chest. She had been in the room upstairs, but woke to discover no one was about. So, she's now downstairs with company. When you can't talk to someone and have any sort of conversation about how "big girls" would go to sleep, you just have to make do.
As a grandma, (grandpas get equal privileges) we get to buy her toys, ooh and aah, and best of all find her parents when things go awry. Sean and Harriet provided equal memories of life with babies. Sigh. They are awfully cute though.
Friday, April 2, 2010
It's a holiday!!
Today was the last day of school before our spring break. There is something very exciting on the eve of the first day of a vacation. The week will go by so quickly, I'm sure I won't have a chance to revel in just being home. The one nice thing about working, even, possibly, past my prime, is the excitement a week off can bring. If I were retired, it'd just be another week home.
Glenn, Krysty, and Kayley are coming down from Vancouver, Canada! This is the first spring break where Charlie and I haven't made a flight to where ever Glenn and Krysty were living - Boston, Princeton, Vancouver.... They're going to be coming here.
Thursday evening, Ian, Sarah, Sean, and Harriet are coming down too! Then Saturday we can get everybody together. I'm very enthusiastic about all the cousins meeting each other for the first time! I know Sean and Harriet will think it's nifty - I suppose Kayley will just view it as another crowd of strangers. But they will be enthusiastic strangers, none the less.
Glenn, Krysty, and Kayley are coming down from Vancouver, Canada! This is the first spring break where Charlie and I haven't made a flight to where ever Glenn and Krysty were living - Boston, Princeton, Vancouver.... They're going to be coming here.
Thursday evening, Ian, Sarah, Sean, and Harriet are coming down too! Then Saturday we can get everybody together. I'm very enthusiastic about all the cousins meeting each other for the first time! I know Sean and Harriet will think it's nifty - I suppose Kayley will just view it as another crowd of strangers. But they will be enthusiastic strangers, none the less.
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