Spring Break... It's SOOOO close

After my dedicated post to the amazing Diana Ziser, maybe it's time to actually write about what's been going on in Houston and KHHS.

I'm giving midterms this week, but they aren't true midterms. Really they're just a unit test over SW Asia. My honors kids are taking them today, and on-level classes will take them tomorrow. While they are testing, I'm trying to tackle the grading that I let accumulate over the past few weeks. I was doing so well with grading at the beginning of the quarter, but I'm afraid I let life get in the way of keeping up. I mean, I still haven't finished grading their AIDS papers. I'm a horrible teacher. :-( Or maybe not. My kids can now talk about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict with confidence and accuracy. That's pretty awesome and impressive if I do say so myself. And soon they will be able to describe social and political issues in China and India with the same confidence.

On Thursday and Friday I'll show a documentary that I watched with Michelle, Jake and Andy about children in Israel and Palestine. It's called Promises and is AMAZING. I really hope they can make connections between what we learned in class, their own lives, and the video. That's the goal.

In other news... it's rodeo season here in Houston, and I was lucky enough to see Kenny Chesney on Thursday night, along with wagon racing, calf-chasing/wrestling and Muttin' Bustin'. Now, I've been to my fair share of rodeos, mostly in Columbia County; I've seen roping, riding and wild cow milking. But never have I seen children under the age of 6 climb on the back of a sheep and hold on for dear life as it races to the other side of the arena. That is COURAGE. Or child abuse.

I'm in full concert-going mode lately, and saw John Mayer on Saturday night. Again, he is a musical genius. I will see him as many times as I can. What other concerts will roll through Houston soon?? I'm already planning on seeing Dave this summer in the Gorge. Of course.

Hmm... other things of note:
I now have an iPhone and a new phone number. And I know that this is absolutely ridiculous, but I am really heartbroken to not have my old number anymore. I had been with T-Mobile since I got a cell phone as a sophomore in high school, and have had the same number since. That's an 8 year relationship that I built and since I was such a loyal customer, T-Mobile says I can give my number to someone else. How strange of a perk is that? I can GIFT a NUMBER. Who wants it???? Any takers?? Also, iPhones are pretty fun.

I'm REALLY excited for Wyeth. He is going to travel to Rwanda for his thesis. How awesome is that????

I guess that's all that's been going on. I miss home A LOT right now. I miss my family and my friends and really want to do nothing more than sit on the deck at home and play with the dogs and drink good coffee and eat yummy food with everyone. Hopefully I can make this happen sooner than later.

And be on the look out for for a post next week sometime about Spring Break 2010: Tour de Tejas!!!! I'm embarking on a road trip with three girlfriends to San Antonio, Freddericksburg, and Austin. I'm so excited!