Classes Start Tomorrow

But first, an update! I DID go with the OCC college kids to Guatemala for the last week in May... it's only money, right? Very different from my last time in this country: stayed in HOTELS with hot water and swimming pools, ate mostly at restaurants, and (BIGGEST DIFFERENCE) traveled with a large group -- we were 19 people at most meals. It was crazy at times, but good, and I'm glad I got to spend the time with the young folks and Josh, one of our ministers. Most of the time was spend working on a dormitory that will make it easier for the mountain kids to attend high school -- right now the ministry there is paying for them to stay with families in the "flatlands" and the project will make a big financial difference. So our team worked on tiling four large bedrooms... except me, who got to do electrical wiring -- guess I was there for a reason. We also spent one day in Antigua to do the requisite visit to el mercado... I exercised some restraint: I only bought a machete (all the boys were buying them, mom) and a hammock (much more my speed). Maybe I'll get around to posting some photos... later.

Summer quarter '08 I've been invited to teach again at International Academy of Design Technology -- four classes, a "full" load for an adjunct: English Composition II, College Success, Speech, and tutoring students on writing and English. Thankfully I've taught EngCompII and College Success before, and the tutoring doesn't require lesson plans or grading, so I will hopefully not be as swamped as my first term here back in January.

When I last spoke with Molly of Powersystems Coaching I decided to switch to a monthly "meeting" -- she's very helpful and I'm making headway, but it's just fiscally foolish of me to keep spending like I'm earning a full-time salary. So that's it for now.

I've also joined a couple of meetups at www.meetup.com: Central Florida Messies, about dealing with clutter and organization in our lives, and Orlando Spanish Cultural Language Group, where we get together to practice our Spanish-language skills and experience some of the local arts, music, &ctera. AND I just remembered to join the Florida Kayak/Canoe Meet Up, started by my friend and neighbor, Greg, of Adventures in Florida... and, of course, while browsing I had to join the Florida FairTax Group, something I feel strongly about.

What else? My son Charles is on his way home from Dublin, Georgia right now -- took the long Fourth of July weekend to go visit his new girlfriend at her parents home. And he even called me about 1:30 this afternoon to tell me he was on the road; what a great kid!

I really should be doing more prep for the classes starting tomorrow.