Class

Me to class: You're not struggling with solving equations because you're stupid. You're struggling because you don't pay attention and listen to me.

Student: Did you just call us stupid?

Me: No, but thank you for proving my point.

Flush

I just fixed my toilet and I feel so good about it. I had to make a trip to the hardware store, then use several tools; and it actually works.

Cold!

School was canceled today because of the cold. The temperature was -9 when I woke up this morning, and they meteorologists are not sure if we'll get to the other side of 0. I set my thermostat to 60 degrees and that's where it's staying. Beer is cheaper than gas, so that's how I keep warm.

Sweaters

My heating bill for last month (during which I was out of my house for 2 weeks) is $238. I only live in half of a house. And I'm usually cold. I'm going shopping for more sweaters.

2008 Year in Review

January

The year began in a blur. Well, more like a blackout. The first thing I remember in 2008 is throwing up. Things could only go uphill. The weather was extremely cold. My friends and I went out pretty regularly. We established Wednesday Night Bluegrass and I realized that we had been to the German Beer Hall so often that I needed a separate picture folder on my computer just for those nights. At school, a kid fell through the ceiling.

February

Cold weather continued but so did going out with friends. I went cross-country skiing and saw The Lion King. My education continued to grow as did my teaching experience.

March

Christie and I cranked up the heat and threw a beach party. We even bought a palm tree decoration and leis. Trevor took one for the team and manned the grill in the bitter cold. We were turned away from a pancake breakfast because they thought that they “might” run out of maple syrup. Easter and Spring Break were welcome breaks to this first-year teacher.

April

The kickball season began and we actually won games! The Brewers’ season began and they didn’t so much. I could see the end to my first year in education. It would not be my last - though I tried to get a job at another school in the district. I ran in my first 8K for the season and I saw a bell choir.

May

My education class finally came to an end even if it required scrambling to get everything together for my certification. I went to several baseball games and camped with some friends in Illinois. I had my first break-in (for the year). Christie went to Guatemala for 10 days but left her grandmother here. Gram and I hung out. Riversplash! Kicked off summer.

June

I witnessed my first MPS graduation and repeatedly picked up my jaw off the floor – like when the principal quoted scripture during his address. I ran the Beer Run (3 kilometers and 4 official beer stops) in 40 minutes! School ended for the year. Visited Iowa and saw caves and Amanda’s hometown. Drove to Cincinnati for Thomas and Maureen’s wedding. Danced with my friends in a giant grape-vining circle. (I wish I could express how good that moment (and weekend) felt.)

July

Beached in New Jersey with Adina. Received such a bad sunburn that it affected the rest of July. Learned a lesson about SPF - again. Independence Day with the family was a blast. It’s such a good holiday to witness in small towns. Stormed the Bastille (5K). Worked at Bastille Days Festival. Ran to Festa Italiana (5K). Missed registration for the Sausage Race, but managed to hold back tears as I cheered Jon and Emily. Began working for the YMCA’s summer enrichment program. Lived out a favorite bluegrass tune by drinking whiskey for breakfast.

August

Jake and Katie were married. Danced. Saw an old friend from BU. Saw a demolition derby. Ran in a 10 mile race. Lindsey and Mike came to visit and we toured 3 breweries in 3 days. Convinced them that Milwaukee is a great place. Cousin Lindsey made a comment to me that she didn’t know I was so weird. We continued to grill by the lake on Sunday evenings. Mom and Dad came to visit for a night.

September

School’s back! I get my schedule a day or two before classes begin and I get an ominous feeling about how the year is going to run. Kickball started but we lose more often than last season. Bronwyn visits at the end of the month. My house is broken into again. I buy my third laptop and fourth camera for the year. I interact with the police multiple times including a frisking! and a hit-and-run. I threw a party. I saw Itzhak Perlman.

October

The Brewers made it to the playoffs! They lost to the eventual champs, Philadelphia. We spread our love for Ed Sedar, first base coach of the Milwaukee Brewers, by selling t-shirts that say, “Get to 1st Base with Ed”. The Homecoming Pep Rally led to a riot at school. My grandfather died and I made a trip home for a weekend. I ran in a 9 mile race in 1 hour and 29 minutes.

November

Obama won the election and I felt so much better about my country. Dan Goldin Day grew to include 14 people at the Lakefront Brewery. The evening ended with dancing to Billy Ocean and Journey. I began to see how my circle of friends is evolving. I attended Ann and Nick’s wedding in Madison. This was the first wedding that I attended that I knew the couple for their entire courtship.

December

Christie and I threw a successful Ugly Christmas Sweater Party with only a week to plan. Advent felt very short and I scrambled to get things together before my drive home. Temperatures and snow fell. I drove to Nashville to welcome 2009 amidst old friends.