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A Banger of A Week





Nic and I celebrated Valentine's Day doing thing we love most - thinking about travel while drinking margaritas. Nic loves old school maps, so as we imagine our trips, we always like a solid visual.  We are less than 100 days away from our trip - not that I am counting. Our map is pinned on poster board awaiting our plans.

Some fun things we did this week for planning were booking a room in Obersteingberg. To make a reservation, you must call internationally. You cannot book online Do not bother emailing. You must call. The sweet little lady who eventually answers will take your first name, the date, and tell you to come with cash, and a flashlight. Nic and I may have just reserved our own abduction, but we are both pretty excited about it. 

Other developments on our Side Quest include Paddy and Catroina. Remember them? 



They are joining us for a week of our Side Quest! Hooray! Paddy jumped right on board as he does, and 
purchased tickets for us to attend the opera in Verona. (Don't worry, I have lots and lots of Romeo and Juliet lore I will need to dig into when we get there). Nic and I had just decided we needed to attend an opera in Italy, and lo and behold, Paddy read our minds. So far, our trip includes two hotels booked, and one event. We remain somewhat unclear about where else we are going and what we are doing. My laptop browser has 20 open tabs with zero commitment on our parts. I am working hard on trying to get us to commit.

Life is working hard on make sure I do not.

Things in the teaching world are not exactly easy right now, and have been made harder in recent weeks with a lot of uncertainty from District level regarding RIF and cuts across the board. I am hiding in the world where I am already in Paris/Italy/Switzerland, or Germany with the uncertainty of this entire year fall behind me and a baguette in hand - or select a respective national treat.

As I count down the days to the end of this horrendous school year, I am trying to put my students' and their amazing work in front of me. Please note, my job is hard because of the adults, not the kids. Kids are awesome. Adults are not so awesome. 

These are the last of the poetry plates we made in Creative Writing. I am working on another fun activity for Quarter 4, so hopefully that pushes me over the finish line - with or without a job, in this school or somewhere else... There is joy in creating.







This one cracks me up.



Aren't they great?

While I was attempting to pin down our trip, some fellow in his giant truck decided to pin me and Nigel (the GTI I drive) into the nearby gas station with his gigantic bumper. Nic and I are hoping with all of our hearts that Nigel is repairable. The problem with an older car is that it is not cheaper to fix it than to write a check.  The insurance company is busily determining what will happen to Nigel. Nic and I area busily determining what will happed to our pocket books. 



Truthfully, I never thought we would buy another car. The days in which I can still drive are numbered. How long will we really need two cars? But the other part of this is, where will I teach next year? Nic did not retire to become my full-time driver. He seems to think he should have a whole, full life.

So, here we are... waiting. In limbo. Wondering what will happen. In case you are wondering, car accidents definitely put a damper on planning an international vacation. 

Here's to a week of answers - or a month, or a spring of answers. I'm a little tired of all these questions.

 

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