Remember When it Was 2008?

I have high hopes that the first part of 2009 will be significantly better than the last part of 2008.
My visit to the northwest affirmed that that really is just a cozier place for my heart and soul.
Snow, sideways-ish rain, grey skies... I loved it all. I spent most of my time lounging around in front of the fire, watching movies and reading for pleasure (!!!). I also had the delightful chance to spend time with my amazing friends in Seattle and Portland, not to mention the drive in the Werwie-plays-grown-up-mobile where Daft Punk and Malian pop mix like granola and honey. It was great (and wet) to be in PDX where we welcomed 2009 with baited breath (and by "baited" I mean cranberrry-mimosa-scented). We went to uber-hip breakfast spots and made inadvertant art during evening games.
Spending time with loved ones is the best medicine ever. During and after these visits, I swear that my blood pressure was lower, I was sleeping better, and my vocabulary markedly improved (turns out my friends speak somewhat differently than my slang-slinging students here who think "nu-uh" is an argument). Caitlin said I sound like a testimonial. Maybe I am.
The great news of the century is that 4 of my favorite people in the whole wide world are coming down for the fit of February revelry called Mardi Gras. There will be face paint and masks and crawfish, I'm sure.
It was hard to come back, but I have 5 months to go. And a few little lights along the way.
My next unit is poetry... one of very few things I feel semi-qualified to whip up some lessons about. And I think the kids will get a kick out of the slam/hip-hop element of some examples I have for them.

In other news supporting my thesis that Louisiana is Weird: it is seventy-something degrees outside and I am FREEZING inside of my classroom. I laid my extra jacket on my lap like a blanket and haved been forced to put on my decorative Santa-cap for warmth.

Here goes...