Prep.

Debate is officially taking over my life! I got home from work, and then spent the past three hours prepping for our Saturday workshop tomorrow morning. Looking up old lectures, modifying them, creating a schedule for two levels of debaters... eish. I'm grateful for all of my people that are stepping up to help with everything.

One day, maybe debate will release me from its clutches. Until then, enjoy the student handouts for the intermediate track of debate.

Mail.

After a long, long time since I visited South Africa (and which shockingly went by in a heartbeat), I made the trek to the post office and dropped off all the letters that my students wrote for the students I worked with all summer/(winter). When my two worlds collide in this fashion, I feel slightly more myself and like I'm not bipolar, or two different people. All together, the letters weighed 11.5 ounces and they are officially "documents" as stamped by customs.

This is my favorite form of International Relationships.

Remember.

Tab.

On my way to the dentist back in June, I got a phone call from the SDIVSL president. Gregg asked me if I would be interested in being the VP for the SDIVSL this year. I was driving, and might have said, "I'll think about it," because this is definitely not something I really need for my life. However, I thought, sure. Someone needs to do it. And that someone can be me! So I said "sure" out loud and promptly forgot about it.

Now here I am on a beautiful Saturday day sitting inside classroom 74 at San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas. I have been here for the past 8 hours and have 3 or 4 more to go. Today I have been tabulating the results of the tournament for the Policy and LD kiddos, and have simultaneously been training and encouraging two teachers to take my place.

The good news is that I will not have to do this Saturday thing gain. The other good news is that the tab looks good for HTHCV!

Coach.

Shake (hands)

We are really back to school! Tonight we had our Family Orientation with the new and returning Team Vista parents and guardians. I was very overstimulated after 12 hours of being at school, and two specifically spent meeting people, talking about students, and shaking hands.

This is our Google Presentation!

Catch (up)

Live.

I am dissatisfied with all of my verbs for today. None of them, in themselves, are very good stories. I could talk about walking in the morning light to get coffee while I waited for my carpool. I could talk about walking in the moonlight so that Cheddar could sniff around and mark his territory up and down the street. I could talk about grocery shopping and how I picked up yogurt and pears. I could talk about doing the dishes, broiling a hot dog, picking up the last bit of mess from my room, and brushing my teeth.

But these are not verbs that make a good story. They just make for a decently productive Monday that I lived nonchalantly, as some days ask to be lived.

Hike.

Critique.

Decorate.

I went to bed early last night, and slept for a long time, and woke up early enough to check to see if school really was cancelled. It was. I don't think a power outage could have come at a better time for me, personally. I know that it was a big deal or whatever, but honestly, it seemed like everyone was blowing it way out of proportion. This happens in South Africa constantly.

I am not complaining, though. I spent the day watching TV and putting my room together. I took down the closet doors, selected fabric to serve as a curtain, sent 100 new photographs to Walgreens to be printed, framed new photos, hung them carefully, installed a curtain wire, hung up my curtain, hung up a mirror over my "vanity" table, hung up my little painted bird canvases around the mirror, and unpacked the last of the boxes. It makes me feel really productive, and happy. My wall is now covered with the places I've been.

At last, after all this, I have brought my computer to Le Stats and am attempting the long process of remembering. I had to laugh about the Saturday before last, when I could think of a dozen verbs to describe the day. Lina was right: I looked back on it all and didn't feel so bad for all the times I fell apart.

Embrace.

Share.

Purchase.

Celebrate.

Chat.

Unpack.

Listen.

Introduce.