And it’s not even June yet.

TMAO is no longer teaching, and that just makes my mind wander to dark places that are dangerous. If the good teachers (which, IMHblog-readingO, he was) don’t want to stick it out, where is our education system headed? And do I want to follow it through the sewage pipes of our society? Yikes.

FYI – This year is going much smoother than last year. But this year I’m contending with Stacy’s schedule. Grad school is a dream away.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/poeticallychallanged

Reply given 100% of the time: perfect.

It’s one of those questions that you get asked when you can’t really go into too much detail because usually you have but a few moments to talk about it. Also, it’s possible the person asking doesn’t want a detailed answer but is just trying to be polite.

The truth is, unless you were there, it’s going to be pretty damn difficult for me to explain why it was perfect. Why this day was the best day of my life. Why, now, all I can do and conjour up ways to relive those same emotions day after day.

The weather was perfect. Warm, sunny, wispy clouds.

The color was perfect: firery oranges and reds and yellows.

The people were perfect: 94 of our closest friends and family, minus a few who couldn’t make it.

The atmosphere was perfect: deeply emotional and moving, sincere, casual and lite, set by the only man who could create such a mood: Henry Brzycki.

The ceremony was perfect: spiritual, but not religious. There was laughter. Lots of laughter. A few tears. There was much joy.

The reception was perfect: elegant but not overdone.

I always despise the “if you had one word to describe…” because I never have one word for anything. I am long-winded at best. I’m challenging my students to write one-page essays, stressing the importance of being concise, when they have no idea the UN-conciseness of their own teacher.

But I can do it this time. Go ahead. Ask me.

“Gina, if you had one word to describe your wedding, what would it be.”

Perfect.

(more to come, once pictures are uploaded.)

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love trees!

Dave, from 365 Days of Trash, links to this video on Greenpeace.org, which satirizes Kimberly Clark’s pay-off to use Wall-E to sell Kleenex. KC, you’re in for a wrath of fury much stronger than any allergies can incur on a nose!

Of course, it would have been nice just to shoot some of the campus in the rainy, saturated light. I’m so envious of Stacy’s life. I wish I was teaching on campus, walking from building to building, soaking up some serious Vitamin D. I am actually excited to get back to my own teaching, in my own classroom, but there is still a gloom in my heart. I’m still scared this isn’t the job for me. My classroom is alright. It’s got a “chiller” (which I am told is almost as ancient as the history I teach and circulates very poor air quality.) I don’t have windows. Everyone I tell this to gives me the raised eyebrow look. Apparently, for all the hype about how great our district is, we can’t seem to build proper school buildings. I’m glad I am not the only one that is surprised to be in a school where there are classrooms without windows. I thought that it was protocol to build a courtyard (or two if you must) in order to give the inside classrooms fresh air. I’m actually concerned for my health, which I have expressed to my administrator. I understand she can only do so much, but I think it’s important she knows how I feel. A teacher came by the other day and told me he used to teach in my classroom. He and two other teachers who were also teaching in inside classrooms (no windows, ancient chiller) contracted cancer, which he is certain is not a coincidence. He said he informed the administration and their response was, “Oh, maybe there is a connection…”

There has been discussion for years about what to do with the building I teach in. It’s old – real old. For all the talk about 21st Century education and new fandangled schools, we are behind the times. One of the top schools in the country (that’s what they say) and we have classrooms without windows and that exceed 80 F. in September and June. Last year I taught in a room without windows or a ventilation system and it had 30 year-old (possible older) carpet. The physical plant installed thermometers in some of the classrooms to track the temperature. One day my thermometer read 84 degrees Fahrenheit. I was lecturing about the Mongol invasion of Japan. A third of my kids had their heads on the desk. The others were holding their head in one hand, taking notes with the other. I could see sweat dripping down their faces. I kept yawning and I had to hold on to the podium to stabilize myself. I stopped the lecture 15 minutes before the end of the period and turned off the lights. We all crashed.

Relaxation, maybe, but not the rest of it. We are heading out west, to go hiking in the many beautiful national and state parks there. Fancy hotel? Backpacking tent. Expensive food? Dehydrated dinners (so, yes) and dried fruit and nuts for lunch. large bedroom? Oh yeah, baby. We got the whole countryside at our disposal.

We are starting out in Glacier National Park, Montana, where my main concern since we planned this trip has been bears. Grizzly bears. A bit of advice: if you are planning on hiking in bear country, don’t see Grizzly Man. I know I am not going to get eaten. BUT, I can’t shake the fear of being attacked by one of these beasts. I’ve been reading up on bear safety, and I feel confident that if we do get charged, I’ll know what to do. (For the record, I’ve been charged by a 4,500 lb white rhino, so I think my fear of getting charged by a wild animal is a bit justified. Nicola, if you’re reading this, you know.)

This video put out by the GNP has been helpful and reassuring. Thanks to John Waller for helping ease my worries

After Montana, we hop back on the Amtrak and head out to Portland. There we will be visiting some old friends and hiking Mount St. Helens and the Columbia River Gorge.

Then back on the train and it’s off to Seattle. Might catch a little jazz, check out the city and then we’ll head to the San Juan Islands for a few days. We are staying on Lopez Island on a cute little campground. I am super excited about this part of the trip. Who knows, we may even see Shamu!

We’ll come back to Seattle, rent a car, and head out the the Olympic Peninsula to hike and camp. Then we’ll brave the wildfires and mudslides to drive down the coast and car camp along the way. Our destination: San Fransisco. Stacy’s sister lives there and so we’ll spend some time hanging around with her, taking day hikes and being tourists in the city. And I’ll recite lines from Eddie Izzard’s Dress to Kill show.

So head over to our travel blog, which I’ve set up specifically for this trip and others to come. And check flickr for picture updates!

The NRDC is trying, but they fight against people like my family (sorry, guys!) who don’t understand the need to save polar bears. They don’t understand how our eco system works, care only for material possessions and making money, and don’t see that there is more out there, much larger than us mere humans.

More on this as Stacy and I travel to Glacier National Park, among other national parks at risk.

Brood XIV cicada

Originally uploaded by poeticallychallanged

(because, we *hope*, the cicadas are finally gone and we won’t see them again for 17 years!)

Hi everyone! It’s been a while since we’ve had a bash at our place, so consider this your official invitation to our first party of 2008. Here are a few reasons to celebrate:

1. The cicadas of Brood XIV have finally finished mating – see you in 17 years!
2. Our newest batch of grapes are starting to grow! And our Fredonia baby vines are now young adults and producing fruit!
3. Gina survived her first year teaching at State College High School!
4. Stacy accepted a full time lectureship at Penn State, teaching in the English department in the Fall!
5. Stacy and Gina are getting married this October! It’s going to be a small ceremony, so come out now and celebrate with us!
6. Life is beautiful!

Have things to celebrate? Come out and celebrate life with us!

Saturday, July 5, 2:00 PM – ??

Food and drink will be provided.
Stacy will do the famous grilled Chicken Gretl, and other things.
OK to bring your kids, a date, etc. VERY casual.
A side dish would be welcome, but isn’t necessary.

Bring: A musical instrument, if you play –as usual, we might slip into live music later on.

Cheers! RSVP not necessary — come if you can!!

~ Stacy and Gina ~

So here’s one of the touchdowns that we were able to capture on film. It’s not quite as exciting on film as it is experiencing it live. Apologies for the swearing — the lightning bolt took me by surprise. It’s amusing actually — I sound angry, but I was just so shocked. I’ve never really seen anything quite like this (whole storm) before.

I miss how happy I once was.

In other news, Dan Meyer blogs about an awesome game he got himself involved in after watching one of his students fall to the ground. I wonder what the hazing period is like for this…

Tis more to come in… a month or so. Smiles all around.