Are you ready to rumble?

I talk WAY too much.

Now, for those of you who have had the fortunate pleasure of talking to me in the last several weeks, this is not a surprise. Nor is it a surprise to the rest of you, who have had the primo opportunity to get me in the mood and on the right subject. But I just realized now that I TALK way too much.

I just said goodnight to Ibeth, who was over for dinner (I made spaghetti). We talked a lot about work. We talked too much about work. Too much on a Friday evening, when we should be putting our jobs on the shelf and concentrating on ourselves.

We can't stop talking about work, we can't stop thinking about work, we can't stop WORKING. Our jobs are literally our lives right now, and despite the frustrations and silent admonishments over we can't seem to drop it for very long, in some way it's secretly satisfying. How comforting is it to know that we are so passionate about our careers that we have trouble leaving it alone?!

But still, I talk way TOO much.

I find myself on an emotional roller-coaster some days. Okay, most days. I go from wanting to pound my head against a brick wall because my students are driving me crazy, to feeling all warm and bubbly because someone has said or done something that makes my efforts worth it. There is no way to predict what kind of day I'm going to have -- and idea that's both exhilarating and unsettling at the same time.

There was a fight at school today.

I was standing outside my classroom door, greeting my students as they transitioned from one class to another, when all of a sudden there was this instant commotion at the far end of the mezzanine. Shouts of "They're fighting!" were enough to send all of us into a tailspin. Teachers came from out of nowhere and raced down into the mix to break it up (yes, we're expected to do that!). I was stunned and clueless for a few seconds and then realized that the best thing I could do at that moment was herd the crowd away from the event. Of course, a fight has this magnetic attraction -- everyone wants to see the action. Those of us along the periphery began yelling at the gawkers to go back to class, move out of the area and calm down. Easier said than done! Everyone had something to say! Who started it, who was in the mix, who did what to whom and where! The buzz was still going a half hour later when we broke for lunch, and I sat at the faculty table in the cafeteria. It was all anyone else could talk about!

The later part of the day was a little calmer, thank goodness for that!

I'm looking forward to a little rest and relaxation this weekend. No real plans, and that's a bonus. I've worked long hours this week -- and I still brought a lot of stuff home to work on. The next six-week reporting period has already commenced, and I can already sense a difference. Good different, I hope. It's all still a long way from perfect, but that's okay. Something to learn and grow from!

However, I still talk way too MUCH! Somethings will never change. :o)

For you, because you've been so patient and kind, I have some new photos to share! I took these today in the AM and in the afternoon before I left for the day (ahem -- or rather... came back after getting home and realizing I left my camera at school!) . Check them out!

The view from the parking lot when I arrive in the AM (before the sun comes up -- boo hoo!)

Our neighbors, Sampson Middle School, as seen from my parking spot.
CHS, staff parking entrance.

The view of the gathering in the atrium, from in front of my classroom, at about 7:35 AM, before the first bell rings. The view up from the atrium (opposite view from above) to the second floor (my door is the one on the right).

Classroom photos during my favorite time of day (after school). The students just mess up the photos!
The view as I leave at the end of a long day!