Summertime

One of the great perks of being a teacher is having the whole summer off. I think I have spent the entire school year contemplating what I should do with my summer. For awhile there, I had next to no ideas. What does one do with a whole summer that they are not used to having off? But throughout the school year, and especially within the last couple of months, so many opportunities and good ideas have presented themselves that I am not sure I am going to be able to fit everything I want to do into my summer! I just hope I don't ruin it by turning it into a summer that does not feel like a summer off. There are so many things you can do when you are free all day, every day, for a whole three months and still get paid. I definitely don't want to make it through my first summer feeling I have accomplished nothing. The best part is that I am going to attempt to blog about much of what I have decided to do, so be prepared for future blogs on the following topics:

1) Jobs

Okay, so I decided that in order to stay sane, I could not completely stop working for the summer. I also decided that I must still be able to consider it a summer off, so...I scheduled out only a very SMALL amount of my time to money making endeavors. But to me they seem pretty cool.

Money making endeavor #1: I am going to work at Zubs once a week. I shall never escape the place.

Money making endeavor #2: I have accepted a job with Salem Hills High School as the Credit Recovery Coordinator. Basically that entails being in charge of distributing packets that students must complete in order to receive credit for failed classes. This will only require four hours a day for the first three days of my summer and only about two hours of my time weekly thereafter.

Money making endeavor #3: Jenni, my sister-in-law, requires the services of someone willing to do odd jobs at her place of employment. These jobs would involve work like stuffing envelopes and being a receptionist for a random event. Although they seem menial, they are few and far between and pay well. Sometimes it IS just about the money...

Money making endeavor #4: I may have the opportunity to be a receptionist elsewhere for a week. Again, sometimes it is just about the money.

Money making endeavor #5: I will attend collaboration training--training with the purpose of teaching me the collaborative ways of teachers. :) I will be compensated for the time I spend sitting and listening to those who know more than I do about the subject.

The best part about these jobs is that besides jobs 2 and 5, I am not really obligated to perform any of them.

2) I am going to attend an AP training conference in Las, Vegas Nevada for a week at the end of June. It should be fairly entertaining, and if not, the nights spent exploring Vegas will be. ;) Now to move on to the more exciting endeavors and goals of the summer...

3) I am going to buy a car! I have saved, and I am ready. Be prepared for a new Ashley...an Ashley who will not be driving the same old, beat-up, sad excuse for a car that she has driven since she received her driver's license.

4) I am going to throw a bridal shower for my soon to be sister-in-law, Ramona Porter. For those of you who do not know, Devin is getting married! Despite his belief that I despise him for his choice to marry, I am actually quite excited for him. Though, to maintain my pride (I know, pathetic), I am not one to really let my excitement show.

5) I am going to make a quilt. Not the kind with a front and a back and stupid little yarn ties...I am talking about the quilt square kind of quilt. And yes, I am very very excited about it. I am going to become the crafty person I hate to admit that I am at heart.

6) I am going to make AT LEAST a couple of new recipes a week, and fill a cookbook full of the ones that are successful. Again, so excited. Nuff said.

7) I am going to work my way through the list of books found below. Yay for reading and having time to do so:

In Cold Blood, Truman Capote

Metamorphosis, Franz Kofka

Lord of the Flies, William Golding

Several other classics and nonfiction works that are escaping my mind at the moment (they are books that I will teach in AP Language)

The Brain That Changes Itself, Norman Doidge

Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut

The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom

Under the Dome, Stephen King

And NOW for the most exciting goal for the summer...

8) I am going to train for a half marathon! Exercise everyday for the summer pretty much. That's only three more weeks a day than I am doing right now. Totally going out of my comfort zone with this one, but probably the summer goal I will be the most proud of. :)