This is Autumn???

OK, first full day of autumn...and it hit 89 degrees, people! The dog and I have had it. Both of us are just dragging ourselves around and, luckily, I get to go into the airconditioned car! I am leaving in a few to pick up Abby from her hospital volunteer job...and at 6:12 pm, it is 84 and high humidity. I officially HATE summer!

On another note, why, oh why, do young beautiful girls in my family get tats??? I am not speaking of Kate, who has only 2, one small on her ankle and one on her back by her waist, but of a certain niece who shall remain nameless here. Actually, my other nieces also have them...I think maybe only Maggie and Abby are without...and they both share a fear of needles! Thank God for that.

Religious Education classes going well, though the building is NOT airconditioned and the kids were drooping this week. Many of the students in my evening 7th grade class I had last year as 6th graders....MAWAHAHA! Mrs. Dull strikes again...divine retribution??

Keep cool!

Religious Ed classes start!

OK, got home about an hour ago and have completed my first class...out of about 85, I figure. Nice group of 6th graders, 16 in all, so the classroom is a bit full, but we will manage. Our pastor walked in and quizzed the kids briefly, as he is wont to do, and we seem to be a great bunch! Abby is my assistant on Mondays, so she is a big help, being "old" enough for the kids to respect her, but "young" enough for them to relate to her.

Summer seems to be making a brief return, it hit 80 degrees here, but at least the nights are getting cooler. We really, really need rain, not the brief shower that passed through while I was in class. I hate water restrictions, but they really are a pain in the winter, as you seem not to be aware of a drought then! Hoping for a regular snow amount this year...last year was a bit much! We had over 3 feet in one day...

I hope to continue on the reading jag that I am on...have done quite a bit this summer, but I am too lazy to put them all on Good Reads, so just trust me, I am reading! Finished Dragonriders of Pern and associated tales, read 4 Brother Cadfael mysteries, and The Lady in the Tower and Mistress of the Monarchy, both by Alison Weir. Currently on Queen Isabella by Weir, another Cadfael and a book of SF short stories. It's great to get back to reading, after all the probs with my eyes.

School days...

Ok, tomorrow is the big day...and I don't mean just because Raymour and Flannigan are delivering my new living room set...Abby becomes a JUNIOR in High School!! She gets her ring next month, she takes the PSAT for "real" in October, and she starts her AP courses this semester. For the first semester, she has AP Chem every day, AP US History every other day, Pre-Calc and English 11 Enriched. We have 84 min. blocks in our block-scheduling. On the alternate days of APUS, she has band. In the spring, she will have AP US History every day, AP Chem every other day alternating with a study hall, French Grammar (4) every day and Gym alternating with Band. She will have one January Regents (English...please pray for no snow days!) and one June regents (Amer. History) and 2 AP tests in early May. Busy, busy year.

I sell books next week for Religious Ed and then the Catechetical Mass on the 12th with luncheon and we start classes the week of the 13th. I am doing Monday and Wednesday afternoons for 6th grade and Thursday nights for 7th grade. Remind me why I am doing this in December, when I am going nuts!

Ken has been busy doing catch-up chores from 5 1/2 yrs of school, so our LR/DR and Kitchen have been painted and the patio is nearly done. Next weekend, working on the front post and tying up my monster mums. He should hear by next week about his part-time nursing job. Fingers crossed!

So, I am now going to get Abby going, to make sure her new bookbag is packed and clothes out, etc. Good luck to all of you who have to do the same with your kids....and let's remember how lllloooonnnngggg this summer has been!