Ice Cream Emergency

Summer! Is there a more perfect and glorious place than Seattle in the Summer? Last weekend I rode the ferry from Seattle over to Bremerton to watch a movie at the Drive-In. My sibs were coming and bringing their kids, I was so excited--I even made kettle corn the night before. But guess what? Everyone got sick or busy and I didn't know until I was already on my way. So I drove around exploring the west puget sound coast on my own. I had a great time; I'm my favorite date. Luckily the trip was not a complete waste; because the world's greatest ice cream [don't listen Parfait] is right on that side of the water.

Mora's ice cream; or as they like to brand it, rather pompously, Iced Creamery, is kind of the best thing that can happen to you on a friday night in the summertime. The pomp and circumstance implied in their name is completely deserved. [Sorry for all this shameless product placement on my blog, I promise I'm not getting paid, I just want everyone to know where to find good ice cream--consider it my own version of a PSA].

So here's how it went down: I went in. I tried like 7 flavors because you never know. Then I bought the flavor I knew I was going to buy before I even finished finding my parking spot (lemon bar). I bought a pint instead of a scoop because I was running late for the next ferry sailing. And then as I drove away I started realizing two things; I didn't have a spoon and I didn't have a freezer. Kind of a disaster and definitely an emergency.

I was still about 45 minutes away from the ferry so by the time I got there and we lifted off (do they say that? or is that just for space ships?) I was feeling sad feels about whether or not this ice cream was going to make it to my house in one piece. There's an argument to be made for eating the ice cream right there*, with a "spoon" fashion from the lid--I've seen my students eat applesauce and yogurt this way. But I was pretty full from the kettle corn and the taco truck tacos and stuff that I ate for dinner. Luckily though, this story has a hero. It's not me. It's a ferry worker who gave me two ice packs and a renewed faith in humanity.

The moral of the story is that there are good people in this world. Good people and good ice cream.

* I just want to point out that I don't condone the consumption of an entire pint of ice cream in one sitting. Spread it out a little, for crying out loud. Have some self respect people.

Wa S'up Galileo?

Well, this is amusing. Heh.

What? You say you've never heard this song before? I'm going to assume that you haven't been to a middle school pep rally this decade. My condolences.


Well, here you go.




Oh man, these lyrics are so bad. But if you're 13, I think these lyrics really speak to your soul. But even if the sentiment of the song isn't awakening your inner teenager, maybe you can still get into this beat. Happy Summer.

The End

This Spring, in addition to starting a graduate program, I had a series of ridiculously complex hoops to jump through to renew my teaching certificate. Hours of writing, collecting student work as evidence, and a lengthy editing and revising process have all led to this moment of pure freedom. As of last night, I'm done. There were moments when I seriously questioned changing careers to avoid the whole thing.

Some friends and I went out last night to celebrate with Poutine and a sad Polish movie---was too full and I cried. But I woke up this morning feeling absolutely free. FREE!!

During the school year, my work is never done, weekends and nights are never really time off from my job. If I'm not grading or lesson planning I'm feeling guilty and knowing I'm going to regret it later.  It's not an exaggeration to say that I'm always working---I just can't seem to relax. And it's gotten worse during the last 9 years I've been teaching. Once I realized how much better I was at my job when I got to school an hour before it started and left 4 hours after, it's like it became my new normal and I couldn't go back. When I get home I usually spend the hour before I fall asleep emailing parents or administrators. I'm usually thinking about how to turn cool things I see or read into innovative lessons. I scan the internet for silly science cartoons to put on my tests and pepper into my powerpoints. I'm become crazed with TED Ed videos and watch them like Saturday morning cartoons with bowls of cereal in the morning hoping to find the gems that might make learning sort-of interesting. And Sunday nights are the worst. The absolute worst.

I always forget what summer feels like---it's like no other feeling. It's three in the afternoon and I'm still in my pajamas. I know it's Saturday and maybe I could do that any Saturday, but it's different. Because I know that all the days are Saturdays now.

The Penultimate Day of School

I really don't have much to say. I'm exhausted. I'm heart broken that tomorrow I have to say goodbye to 130ish kids who've meant the world to me this year. I'm giddy with excitement. I'm grateful. I'm just a lot of conflicting feelings.

And just so, so tired.

The only thing I know for sure is there there are gonna be a lot of tears tomorrow. 8th graders are very emotional.

Roadside Geology

A few years ago my mom gave me a few really cool books about geology and volcanism of the Pacific northwest. She thought I might enjoy putting them in my classroom for the curious kids. I did take some of them, others are on my bookshelf at home, but the Roadside Geology of Washington book, the greatest treasure in the cache, lives in my glove box because you just never know. I like to drive around this state and while I'm at it, I like to know what I'm looking at. It would be cool if someone would make a roadside geology map app for my phone. I would love cruising around listening to a narration of the regional geology while navigating to my destination.

I have a couple of friends who are taking a vacation to Norway later this month and on Friday they invited me over for dinner and a geological discussion. They wanted to know a little about the geology they're gonna be seeing. I had forgotten how much I love talking about cratons, and crystalline basements and the formation and breakups of super continents. Seriously, we had a blast. After spending most of my week trying to educate largely unwilling participants, it was a delight to have such avid students.

Thanks Mom. For both the book and the love of geology. You rock!