liamstliam | Trying to catch up . . . (Reply)

I have become an LJ Lurker. I read other people's posts and copmment on them, but I rarely sit down and record my my own thoughts. I haven't posted in 10 days. I love having people make me their "friend," but if I never post anything, what's the worth for them?

A few random thoughts on a damp Sunday evening.

Things really came together for NHS Induction and the Empty Bowls Dinner last Tuesday and Wednesday. Induction went better than I could have imagined. A couple minor glitches, but not so as anyone would notice. As my friend Ernie once said, "These things look like a swan, gliding gracefully across the water, but underneath, people are paddling like crazy." I think the dinner raised more than $1,000 for the local homeless shelter and soup kitchen. I think we might be able to give more than we did last year.

Believe it or not, we're starting the fourth quarter at school (which I why I should be doing grades right now). A four-day week this week, a five-day week, then school vacation. It's going to end really quickly. Doing Korea in U.S. History, which means that my favorite stuff -- the Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War -- are not far away. Doing the explorers in World History, then headed for the China-India-Africa part of the 1500-1800 experience.

I love Freeport, Maine. Went shopping up there yesterday, then had dinner at Gritty's Bew Pub and stopped at the Great Lost Bear in Portland on the way back. Nice trip.

If you're in the Boston area, or traveling here, take the time to get up to Salem if you can. Sure, you can do the touristy, witchy stuff, but I strongly recommend a couple of hours at the newly renovated Peabody Essex Museum. It's gorgeous and has a wide varity of exhibits, including stuff of Chinese, Japanese, Indian, New England abd Native American origin. There are three rotating galleries, and one of them has amazing photos of an exploration trip to Mongolia in the 1920s. Ship's figureheads are a treat, and so is the Early American stuff. Oh, and I almost forgot the highlight. A Chinese house that is several hundred years old and was tranpsorted here anfd rebuilt. It's all old wood and has a cool courtyard in the middle. It's basically surrounded by the museum. There's a gallery that tarces the family back 23 generations. If you are a teacher, you get into the P-E-M free! How cool is that?

Finally, I read the Jayson Blair book, "Burning Down My Masters' House," by the reporter who was fired by the New York Times and making stuff up and plagiarizing from other people. It requires a certain suspension of disbelief, but I actually enjoyed it.

More to come,

Liam