It's Almost Over!

Summer, that is.  Let's take a moment to mourn all the books, crafts, recipes, naps, road trips, and school work that did NOT get accomplished this summer as I had planned.

Sigh.

I'm not too sad though.  I'm very excited about a new school year with new students.  I hope that I am getting more into the swing of things this year than ever before.  We teachers are reporting back for duty this coming Tuesday.  Our students will be arriving on the 19th!  Monday I am going to the school to start assembling my room.  I spent almost two hours with a die-cut machine this afternoon.  If not for my husband, I would've been there double time!  I'm so thankful that he is willing (not so eager, but WILLING) to help me do all of my school errands.

I have to admit, even though I love teaching 6th grade, seeing all of my Facebook friends' elementary rooms makes me wish I was only going to have a set of 25 kids for the entire year.  But I enjoy getting to know so many students each year.  Hopefully I will make a positive impact on each of them in different ways.

In other news, I got a new laptop for my birthday back in February.  I have yet to move my files from my old MacBook to the new laptop, so I have spent the better part of a week doing just that.  I had to reformat my external hard drive, which caused much wailing and gnashing of teeth on my part.  I have 20 GB of pictures, which had to be moved 2 GB at a time into DropBox, from DropBox into a folder on my desktop... reformat the hard drive, and now move the files back on there.  TIME. CONSUMING.  But I am obsessive with keeping old pictures, documents, etc. so it is worth it.  I'm currently formatting my old Mac so that I can send it off to Gazelle and at least get a little spending cash out of something that's just sitting around the house.

Between now and Monday, I am going to squeeze in as much summer fun as I can!  (And I'm going to write lesson plans.  And clean the apartment well.  And do laundry. And...)

Pringles (I mean... Reading)

I have problems.

Thankfully, not the kind that they lock you up for.  Usually.

During summer, I always try to keep a rational balance between enjoying sleep, gearing up for next year's classroom, and reading.

This summer, I haven't really read much.  It's not because there aren't many books worth reading right now, because there's a ton I can't wait to sink my teeth into.  The thing is, reading is like Pringles.  Once you pop, the fun don't stop.  (Also, Pringles make a wonderful reading snack.)

I have a problem with reading a book like any rational person.  Apparently, I only know how to read in frenzied spurts.  Once I pick up a book that I am interested in, I usually only put it down to take care of essential tasks (getting more Pringles).  I don't know what it is about reading that draws me in so.  I was the kid who took library books to Pep Rallies.  I devour them. I try to limit myself to one or two chapters at a time (and 10-15 Pringles) and to go on about my day, but I always end up sprawled out at 2 in the morning, throwing a finished book down as I brush off chip crumbs and look for the empty Pringles can.

I really need to find balance in my life.  And apparently more Pringles again.

Which books capture you?