Spring Break 09

Everyone was in such a good mood yesterday, we seemed to have less work piled in our piles this morning when we got to school than what we had left the night before. There was time to breathe. Maybe it was just the fact that we knew there was time to breathe on the horizon. Everything we had to do Friday was done with the knowing that we could make it.... there's hope. Even when I have to go take on a 1st grade class to fill in for the techer.

My principal knows I will gladly step-in for a teacher in the classroom, especially a 5th or 6th grade teacher (and of course Kindergarten, I was in Kdg for 3 years, I better be able to handle them, I still know the lesson plan.) In 5th and 6th grade I can 'teach' my favorite subject... Social Studies. I 'teach' them about the Caribbean.... it helps having a pirate for a child. We just do question and answer time.

But 1st grade? Thank goodness my lunch buddy Lourdes was there to help me. She's a 1st grade Bi-lingual Teaching Assistant... she knows the kids and the drill. I still lost my voice and was totally drained of energy after an hour and a half of yelling out directives in a gym activity (Cowboy Chase - 8 'cowboys' try to pen the remainder (two classes) of 'cows'.) to 40 some odd 6-7 year olds galloping around mooing at the top of their lungs. And then returning to class to have a story read to them (which took both Lourdes and I taking turns reading) and then singing Texas songs, which we had no music. Deep in the Heart of Texas went well, but after that they all sounded the same... horribly off key, what ever the key was. They were studying Texas this week and Friday was the Rodeo Day. I missed out on the campfire (crockpot) feast of chili and hotdogs. In the future, I'll bring 'pigging strings for the cowboys to really do it up right, and they will wear red bandanas so I can tell the cowboys from the cows. I think I need to up my exercise regime to more than just yoga. Check out the post in my other blog "that's what they said."

Like I told my Aunt Beth when she called last night to ask "Does your Spring Break start next week?" To which I replied, "No, it starts right now!" It's a lot like living the words of Pat Green's song Carry On:

"Baby's just a little bit tired of the city,
Billboards and bullshit got her down,
Seem like you need a little hill country,
A Little back roads driving, little bit of the old top down,"

It's rejuvenating to make that drive into the Texas hillcountry. I compare it to going to Mecca for a Muslim. Especially since Jolea and I went the last time and found the "golden highway" to use instead of the major Interstates. Beautiful unspoiled countryside and very little highspeed traffic despite the well maintained highway and 70mph speed limits. No one knows about it! Only the few people who live out there and maybe other backwoods travelers like us.

The best thing is the drivers are more relaxed and friendly. No one zooming up your tailpipe with their woofers booming. And they give you that Texas slow and easy salute (as if they are lazily raising their hand in a classroom to answer a question) as they ease over onto the shoulder of the road to let you have more room to pass, the salute that says "how'r ya'll doin'?" which prompts you to salute back in the same lazy way "I'm fine, thanks, see ya on down the road." Back when I was a kid this was something that we learned in Driver's Ed... the art of driving communication. My Dad was a pro at it and never resorted to using just one finger when commucating with other travelers. He made a game of it... tried to wave at oncoming traffic before they had a chance to wave at him. We'd also keep score how many travelers waved versus those who didn't. And because we took those National Lampoo type of family vacations on the road every summer, we'd also keep a running tally of which states had the friendliest drivers.... Texas always won. It's still a good place to travel.

I'll just have to stay here at home this week, doing those Spring Cleaning chores with Jody. I'll just have to wait until April to make my journey to 'mecca'. (I hope the good buys in Gruene aren't too picked over by the time I get there.) Jody has planned a trip to New Braunfels for us in April. I think I can hold out. I know the weather will be much nicer by then. We won't have to deal with Spring Break traffic either. I-35 is the main street to Spring Break in the central US if you didn't know it. I-35 goes south to the beach and South Padre Island. It's probably a parking lot right about now.

Which brings us to Jeff. He and his friend Chance had dinner with us last Sunday night and that's the last we've seen of him. They rushed through dinner to get to Princeton to look at an old 15 passenger van that they were thinking of buying for a whopping $400! They NEEDED it to drive the waverunners and motorcylces to South Padre for Spring Break this year. So if you are wondering where that "van down by the river" went, it's relocated down by the beach. That is if it makes it. They had to get a new transmission in it first. What do you expect for $400?

Jody and Chance were joking around about the sides rusting off with the first salt air that hits it. As long as there's a frame to keep from dragging the precious cargo and they have a running drivable vehicle of sorts, I don't think these boys care. They aren't the type to think they need a spiffy vehicle to pick up chics. I don't think picking up chics are why they are going to Spring Break (at least they don't seem to be thinking about that right now.) They go for the thrill of doing something you can't do in North Texas... riding a wave runner in the Gulf of Mexico or fly down a beach on a dirt bike. OK... I'm done thinking about what Jeff is going to be doing the end of next week.... I don't want to start worrying about him.

Let's change the subject, Jolea was having Spring Break this week, and last week, and will probably still have a few straglers next week. At one time (years ago) she said Spring Break was not a good time for those working in the Keys. They are bombarded by kids and kids don't tip... they hang onto every nickle and dime they can. So when you are living off tips it's not a good time of the year. But she seems to be doing well, I think she has 3 jobs. And she's got a plan for dealing with the coming hurricane season. I'm just glad she's making plans now.

As usual... this post is yammering on and on. I'll continue tomorrow on Jody's status and other news.