2010 Resolutions

As the year begins, I have set some resolutions for myself that hopefully will stick this year. Some are ones that I start out with every year, while others are new.

1. Lose weight - The goal is five pounds per month, but I think i can do more. Better to set it lower and excel rather than high and not meet the goal. I'm giving up all non-water drinks for a month, then drink them sparingly afterwards. My sister and I have a competition going on to see who can lose the most by the end of June. I gotta beat her.
2. Read 2 books per month (24 total) - I almost accomplished this in 2009, so it shouldn't be too difficult. I'm almost done the first for the year. Only 23 more to go.
3. Save money and pay off debt - I need to save money, as I have no savings and plan to move to the Dominican Republic in 2 and half years. I'll begin in March, with the goal of putting away 150 dollars a month. I also need to pay off my debt. 4 things will be paid off completely this year.
4. Learn Spanish - I should say work on my Spanish and use it more. I know a lot of Spanish but don't use it as much as I should, especially with a classroom full of students who all speak Spanish (and English too). I'm plan to practice everyday through reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
5. Organize and keep to a schedule - In order for all of the above to work I need to develop a schedule for myself and stick to it. I also want to get myself more organized.
6. Keep on top of school work - Don't fall behind in marking papers. It has been my downfall lately. I need to keep on top of all work from school and get papers marked ASAP.
7. Computerize schedule and calendar - I want to get my calendar onto the computer and then onto my blackberry. This way I always know when I have something planned and don't have to wait until I get home to check my little planner.

Well, that's it. It's going to be quite a task to complete all of them, but they all are reasonable and can be accomplished, as long as I stick to them.

2009 in review

One of my resolutions for the new year is to blog more often, at least once or twice a week. But to end the year, I want to look back at things I have accomplished.
2009 saw me teaching 6th grade, with a class I had for the third year in a row. This was the highlight of the year for me, and was sad to see them graduate in June. In September I started over in 4th grade, a tough transition to a new class, but one that has worked well. I like the class a lot and may get to move with them as well into 5th and 6th grade.
Over the summer I was in the Dominican Republic for 6 weeks. I taught English to some Korean students and also took Spanish lessons. I met a lot of great people and had a ton of fun. After returning from the DR I set out on a little road trip into New York and Connecticut to see Phish (always a dream I had to be able to go "on tour" with a band). I went on to see them later in the year as well in Philly.
All in all it was a good year, and I look forward to 2010.

Books Read in 2009
1. Prince Caspian - C.S. Lewis
2. The Last Lecture - Randy Pausch
3. Naked - David Sedaris
4. Sign of the Cross - Chris Kuzneski
5. The Outsiders - S.E. Hinton
6. Series of Unfortunate Events #1 - Lemony Snicket
7. Touching Spirit Bear -
8. Cirque du Freak: Living Nightmare - Darren Shan
9. Fool - Christopher Moore
10. Cemetery Dance - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
11. Motorcycle Diaries - Ernesto "Che" Guevara
12. Freedom Writers
13. Still Life With Crows - Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child
14, 15, 16, 17. Diary of a Wimpy Kid - All 4 books
18. The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown
19. Paddy's Lament - Thomas Gallagher
20. Voyage of the Dawn Treader - C.S. Lewis
21. The Silver Chair - C.S. Lewis

Concerts in 2009
1. Metallica - 1/7 - Wachovia Center
2. Soulive - 6/5 - TLA
3. Phish - 8/13 - Darien Lake, NY
4. Phish - 8/14 - Meadows Music Theater, Hartford, CT
5. Phish - 8/16 - Saratoga Performing Arts Center, NY
6. Phish - 11/24 - Wachovia Center
7. Phish - 11/25 - Wachovia Center
8. George Stanford - 11/28 - Tin Angel

St. John the Divine

St. John the Divine is the largest Gothic-style cathedral in the world. It is an Episcopal church and many people say it may be the largest cathedral, any style. The thing is, is that it is still not done.

Summer Flashback

Since I haven't posted anything in a while, I am going to start putting up pictures and whatnot from my travels over the summer. Enjoy!

DR Week One

I have been in the DR for a week now.
Samil is very full of energy and keeps me busy most of the day. He wakes up at like 7, so I kind of have to as well (we sleep in the same room).
Amely is doing well, although eating a whole lot. She sleeps a lot too.
I have been teaching three Korean students, Sua, Yoon, and Rosa, English. It's a small group and is very different from teaching in the US.
This weekend we went to a resort in Puerto Plate (or Sosua). It was beautiful and we had a lot of fun. I swam, ate a lot, went dancing, and saw some pretty entertaining shows.

In the DR

So, I have finally arrived in the DR (actually on Sunday, but we didn't have internet until last night). I will update more on Sunday with pictures and whatnot when we get back from the resort (going to the resort in Puerto Plata for three days).

Busy Week...

So, the school year is just about done and summer vacation starts in a week (a little less actually). You would think this is a nice relaxing time of year and that I could relax and just cruise right into the summer.
I wish it was that easy.
I have a project due next weekend. A Framework for Collaboration. I haven't started it yet. It won't take long once I get started (it needs to be over 5 pages), but it has to get done. I've read what I needed to read for it, but haven't started to work on it. Haven't even really thought about it.
Graduation for my students is on Tuesday. Besides practicing at school I need to figure out what I am going to say at the graduation, get all the awards filled out and ready to go, get everything organized, decorate the gym and auditorium, pick up a helium tank, fill up balloons, and probably even more. Graduation, on top of it, is going to be a trying time. My sixth graders are leaving after 3 years of being in my class.
Monday night there is a PFT meeting. Should be interesting, but it takes up my time.
Wednesday and Thursday I need to finish cleaning and packing up my classroom, along with records and whatnot.
And, to top it off, I am leaving for the Dominican Republic for six weeks on Saturday night. I need to pack sometime in there, and figure out what I am teaching when I get there.
I'm sure I missed some stuff, but you get the idea. Busy week before summer vacation.
I'm kinda looking forward to it ending (because I really need a break).