The First Days of Summer and a Happy Father’s Day!

Barbecuing on a Saturday! (Look at the awesome table we built too!) 

Work officially ended for me for the summer last Friday. I spent the week working with a few students, and wrapping up some loose ends at campus. The first things I did once I got home are an indication of what I plan on doing this summer: eat, walk Toast, read, nap, hang out. Then, Chelsea and I spent Saturday running errands, barbecuing, and having a movie night and now I am on a train heading to Oxnard. Happy Father’s Day!

Friday Night Adventures with new friends and Professional Fairies who made us Balloon Animals! So much fun! 

I hope this Summer (or at least the next four weeks) are restful and relaxing. I have some plans to get done like read a few teaching books, read for fun, and finish my novel (yes, it is still in the works!) but other than that I am hoping for decompression time. This time last year we were figuring out our living conditions and I was applying for jobs—this is much less stressful.

Reflecting back on the school year I realize I've learned a lot about teaching, about myself, and about what I want to do in the future. I am working another year at my school but instead of teaching 10^th grade I've been moved to teach 12^th grade. I am very excited about this move. I really enjoyed my 10^th graders, but I think teaching senior’s is a better fit for me. It still will present its own challenges and its own rewards, but all in all I think it will be beneficial in the long run. I can get into material that I really enjoy (Senior year English was one of my favorite years of High School English!) and I will be working with students right before they go to college...but no more teaching talk; it’s summer time!

The San Joaquin Valley passes by the window and every time I take a train or drive through the valleys of California I am reminded at how amazing our State is. Orchards, grapevines, olive trees, and field after field stretch beyond the eye can see. Old Industrial farms sprout along the tracks, some look like rusted out carcasses, but others look corporate minimalist and so Americanly efficient.

This week will be a blast. I am excited to see my family, some old friends, and the luxurious Southern California Coast. We will see what else Oxnard may bring!

Field after field

More Valley