It is about THAT time. Stores are selling out of composition
books, teachers are getting rosters and class schedules, and loving friends are
volunteered for hours of pencil sharpening. New clothes are being purchased
(although I am still not allowed to purchase any cardigans). Nights cuddling with my lesson plan book are
in my near future.
This will be year three for me – which means no more
evaluations or induction. Training wheels are off. I have some basic plans in
place. I have a feel for what works and what really REALLY didn't. I know
(most) of the people I am working with. I have my running/early morning routine
MOSTLY down. There are changes with how I’ll be spending my days (split between
more teachers/teaching more students) but basically I’ll be doing what I did
last year.
I don’t talk about students or work on my blog with any real
frequency. It is not due to a lack of love for what I do – trust me, ask me
about the state of things in education and you cannot shut me up – but for the
reason that my job and my personal life need a little (or a lot of)
separation. The summer is a glorious
time where I don’t have to juggle the two.
This week and last week I had a few meetings and emails to
prepare me for the impending ‘real world’. Then I took a little last minute
trip to the Holy City to see McLain’s family and babysit. We stopped in
Columbia to see my aunt and check in on her business ventures and new location!
The Box Lunch and The Happy Cookers/Chocolate Nirvana Bakery & Café
have moved to a new location close to Fort Jackson and should be open soon! My
cousin and I got a photo by this awesome mural they have on the outside of the
building they moved into. The kitchen is amazing and they have about 8
Kitchen Aid stand mixers.
After a visit and tour we hopped back on the highway to
Charleston. McLain booted me out of the car at MUSC to spend some time with
Mrs. G – who is working on a project about getting rats drunk and neurons or
whatever (it’s a lot fancier than that). I was in her wedding last year and she
and her hubs are super cute and super happy. She and I were roomies in college
and needed a long block of girl-time. She whisked me away to Bon Banh Mi
for lunch – which was beyond amazing. I got the five spice pork sandwich and
was blown away. Then Mrs. G and I walked around and caught up and I got the lab
tour.
One thing I love about big cities is walk-ability. I got
finished up at the lab and then walked to where McLain and I were meeting one
of HIS college buddies (now a Fancy-Pants Dr. Dude) and his wife. We got dinner
at Virginia’s on King.
The fellas both got the fried chicken and Mrs. Fancy-Pants and I got BBQ
sliders and bouillabaisse, respectively. We all split the tomato pie as a
starter. For real, authentic soul food that isn't swimming in grease with an
upscale feel, this is a good place to go. The locals know it too – the tables
were busy! Mrs. Fancy-Pants and I shared love of many things – including
desserts. We had both heard glorious reviews of Kaminsky’s and because we
had lighter dinners dessert was in order.
It was a short amble to the dessert bar, and we got a table. The menu
and bakery case are daunting. McLain got an Irish coffee with his key lime pie,
Dr. & Mrs. Fancy-Pants got the marshmallow chocolate cake, and I got (at
the recommendation of our delightful waiter) the toll house pie. I usually avoid sugar, because it makes me
spiral into sugar-craving-central for the next … forever. This pie was worth
it
It was a pecan-pie/chocolate cookie/brownie hybrid. Oh my word, y’all. Just … say
yes. And my choice was the best - even though the other choices weren't shabby.
The next day was devoted to childcare for McLain’s niece.
She is adorable! She was also in a new place without mommy or gam-ma. It was
raining and she was sad. She was my little snuggle-bug all day. I learned that
potty-training is hard, a twenty-two pound kiddo gets HEAVY after a while, and
that I am not ready for that level of responsibility on a daily basis. We
ordered awesome pie from Baroni’s Pizza – they make their Italian sausage in-house
and self-medicated with the most decadent pint available
and True Blood after the wee one was in bed. Like adults.
On the way back into Collegetown, we stopped off to visit my
grandparents in Summerville. We got lunch at Pug’s Tavern
and we got great burgers and cocktails. My grandparents are pretty peppy
for late 80’s, so they were very happy to see us. When we got home, we cooked
more crop-share veggies and I self-medicated a little with more ice-cream. What’s a four day running break without some over indulgence?
Rant of the week, using GoT (Joffery) to make a point: Preparing to be a Help Meet - The King Part 1 & Part 2
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