NO CAFFEINE!

It had now been 11 days since I had caffeine of any kind, including Coke. It started as a realization that I hadn't had any for about 4 days, and maybe that was why my head refused to stop throbbing. I thought about the fact that anything that has withdrawl symptoms can't be that good for you, and it's not like my body actually NEEDS caffeine in large doses. Plus, drinking sodas is really harmful for me since I need calcium so badly and soda sucks the calcium right outta your bones. So, I'm off of it for now, I'm not sure how long I'm going to keep it up, but I'm feeling pretty good and I'm drinking more water!

I taught again last week and it went o.k. It was Homecoming at school last week, so the classes were crazy with all the kids dressing up and events after school. I also got to experience my first practice lockdown--which was interesting. Basically you lock the doors and stay that way until the prescribed measure have been completed. No one comes in or out until then, even if the principle is telling you to open up--you say no and keep the door locked. Interesting.

Yesterday was GAF--Guest Appreciated Festival--at NOC. It's the biggest gear swap on the East Coast, and it was pretty fun. Though, because it was earlier in the year this year, I feel like there weren't as many vendors. I did get a new Patagonia rain jacket (mine was pretty much useless) and a pair of pants though.

Today is a big day at our church too. We are having a picnic afterwards and a volleyball tournament anyone in town can enter. It's three-on-three and it should be pretty good. I think two of my girlfriends, Erin and Beth, are going to get the high school volleyball star to be their third (she's awesome). Hopefully I'll get some pictures of it all. Pray it doesn't rain!

Well, Dave just made an amazing breakfast of peach waffles for the both of us. I'm sad the peach season is over, I think they are my favorite fruit. I gotta get to breakfast now, see ya later!

Saturday hiking trip

A beach we found on the way home beside a beautiful lake. We stopped here and cooked dinner on the beach!

Books I am reading at the moment (and highly recommend):

1) The Last Lecture
Grandmama lent me this one after reading it on Patsy's insistence and I am just loving it! Most chapters are less than five pages and it's just easy to read and enjoy.

2) Journey of Desire
I have read this one before but not for a long time. I really loved it the first time. One of the first non-fiction books I've ever re-read!

3) Harry Potter 7
Ok, so I love Harry Potter, as you know. I just finished re-reading this one last night. They just NEVER get old! Dave actually had to tell me to quit reading some this week because I was ignoring him. One night at dinner he said, "NO Potter at the table, just me!"

4) I about to start reading "Twilight" of the Twilight series.
B let me borrow them from her. They are REALLY popular right now and I wanted to know what all the fuss is about. The movie of the first book comes out in November, the same day that the Harry Potter 5 movie was originally supposed to come out, so it better be good.

5) Lord Change My Attitude: Before It's Too Late
So, there's a back story to this one. A previous Christian boss gave me this several years ago, a book I still insist is not gift material because of the title, and I have not read it because I am stubborn...and I like to hold grudges. But, I decided that needs to stop, so I picked it up the other day. I have just read a bit of it, but I figure it couldn't hurt right? I mean, the Eddy women do have a history of big attitudes right? Maybe it's just me then. ;-)

Books I have and will read soon:
1, 2, & 3) The rest of the Twilight series
4) "Teacher Man" (same guy that wrote "Angela's Ashes")
5) "The Shack" (don't have yet)
6) "Three Cups of Tea" (don't have yet)

Gosh I just love reading. I really think I could do it all day! Is there a job in which I can read all the books I want to read and get paid for it? That would be lovely.

Reflection on the week behind...

I feel rather mellow. I am sitting here with an excellent glass of wine and a full stomach as a long week is drawing to a close. I came home Sunday afternoon from visiting my family for a wonderfully long four days. I got to spend time with each of my siblings, not something I get to do very often. I even saw a movie with David--which REALLY doesn't happen very often considering how busy he always is with one thing or another. It was great to get a day with Shannon without the boys. I told her I probably hadn't done that since middle school :). Sunday evening I got to spend a few precious minutes with my Sophie (my B.C. adopted sis) in Black Mountain. She made me pasta and we had coffee at the nearby coffee shop (awesome place).

Monday I awoke to Sleep going absolutely crazy with itching--flees. I had to go to the vet to get a pill for him and gave him some Benedril just to stop the scratching (it didn't even put him to sleep). With that, and going to the laundry, my morning disappeared pretty quickly. All afternoon I worked on the homework I effectively put off on my visit home :). Beth and Erin came over that evening and we happily played Settlers.
Tuesday I was at the high school all day and then off to class in the evening. Dave came with me to do some rock climbing in the gym there. Wednesday I went to work at NOC with a great group of kids from an international private school in Atlanta. Awesome group really. Thoroughly enjoyed them. One of the teachers asked me if I would like to teach at a school like theirs and I said "in a heartbeat." Today I worked with the group again and again had a great time. The cool weather has been perfect for working outside the last couple of days. The high yesterday was 72--love it! Tomorrow I'm off to the high school again, the first time I will have been there on a Friday and will get to dress more casually. Saturday I may be raft guiding, but if not Dave and I are going for a walk somewhere. I'm actually hoping they don't need me because we haven't been on a good hike in quite awhile!

Well, that's really all I had to say. Just thought I would update you on my day-to-day. Hope you are all having a great week!

First teaching day

Today was my first day I actually got to teach...and it went really well! We had a short day though, only hour long classes. I was originally going to teach yesterday, which would have given me a full 90 minutes, but today they had student council elections which threw everything off. So, I had to cut down my lesson plan, but I still think it went well. I had this little squishy nerf ball thing which I threw to the students if they wanted to answer or ask a question or give input of any kind. I have two regular senior English classes and two honors English classes, so they are generally pretty talkative (sometimes at the wrong time, which is where the ball comes in). It worked well until third period when my ball went missing (aka someone stole it). Oh well, it was free anyway. All in all a good teaching day and SOOOO much better than observing. I'm tired of handing out papers and moving the projector around--it was good to do some real teaching. I feel like they actually learned something today too, and that makes me feel quite nice.

A single girl and her ferret (I know right? weird, but hey, at least it's not a German Shepherd) just stopped by and I think they are going to rent the apartment next door. It will be great to get someone back in there so quickly! Our last tenant just left 2 days ago!

Well, that's all the updates I have for now. I got tons of lesson planning to do, see ya!