DC Trips

As many of you know, for the past few years I have been taking students to Washington, D.C. along with a good friend of mine here at school. This is a great opportunity for our students to visit the nation's capital and to experience some of the things that I have been trying to teach them throughout their 8th grade year in US History. I normally don't read the comic strip Luann. (I am more inclined to read Zits or Baby Blues or one of our local favorites Stone Soup.) But for the past week Luann has been on a trip to DC and it has captured such perfect moments. I just wanted to share a few.



We have had some pretty similar experiences, but every year it is one of the highlights. I love going to the nation's capital and watching some of these students (many have never been out of Oregon) see these sights for the first time.

Here's hoping that our 35 or so students coming with us this year will have a great time, even after they realize that the only shopping that can be done at the mall is from those crazy street vendors selling the cheapest shirts imaginable.

Happy Valentine's Day

Last year, I shared my thoughts about Valentine's Day from a middle school perspective. This year, if I were to give a bad stuffed animal holding disgusting, cheap chocolate candies, I would give them to my television. I confess, I am in love with TV.

I used to have a love affair with movies. During college and before having kids, we would spend many nights at the cinema. We probably spent at least one night a week at the movies and were normally up to date with the movies that were up for awards. We had such a problem, that we even sunk as low as theater hopping--our most, 3 movies for the price of one. Now, we rarely go to the movies and if we do, it is either separately or to an animated movie with the boys and I don't think we have seen a single movie that is up for any awards.

In order to fill this void, I have resorted to a love affair with the tube. I love watching TV. I love sitting with my boys, one of them tucked under each arm, watching Ben 10: Alien Force or Star Wars: The Clone Wars. I love relaxing with Kristine and cheering on our favorite Survivor or analyzing whether we would dare do a challenge on the Amazing Race or trying to figure out what is going on during all of the flashbacks and flash-forwards on Lost.

I find it incredibly comforting to have a DVR that is full of shows that are just waiting to be watched. For example, I like watching Battlestar Galactica when I have two episodes to watch, because one just leaves me wanting more. But there are some shows, like Heroes or Friday Night Lights, that I need to watch the night that they air, because I just can't wait and I can't imagine why everyone doesn't feel the same.

I have an addiction. And for now, I am okay with it. This Valentine's Day, I declare that I am in love with my TV.