Yep - time is fleeting, as they say in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (which Glee will be performing this coming week - YAY!) I just never seem to have enough time to do everything I need to and this blog always comes in last place. I am in the midst of a full-fledged job search and it is taking up much of my time. Plus I have school and have been traveling the past three weekends. Okay - the traveling was for pleasure, but it still took time. I am trying to visit one more time all of my favorites in Europe - so I hit Munich for Oktoberfest, Prague for October Break and Budapest because friends of mine were in a 10k run/walk.
But I am finally writing the blog posts from the summer....and hope to get out another update before the weekend is out and this day has ended. School is going fine - busy and crazy, per normal. Although this time it has been heightened in craziness because my 7th and 8th graders are finishing up a HUGE project about Global Warming and Climate Change. It included researching and combining information on google docs as a class, writing an essay and filming a commercial with about personal opinions and ideas of those two topics. It's been some work, but things are turning out well. We will post the commercials on blogs and I will send you addresses to view them if you so choose.
Below are pictures from my trip to the States this past summer and many of the folks who are in these pictures have specifically asked if they would make it to the blog....so they did :) I was in the States to see family and friends and to attend an amazing conference in Boston. First stop in that part of the world was to my friends Flo & Bob's place. Interestingly enough there had been a fire right around the corner from their house and this is what happened to the vinyl fence across the street from the fire. It looks like melted chocolate....doncha think....
In this shot you see Flo & Bob - we were having the traditional New England foods of New England Clam Chowder, Lobster Rolls and Fried Clams.....it was tasty!
Lunch was a reunion for three of us from college days - Flo, Judy and me. We had done this last year too and if I go back for my excellent conference next summer we hope to do it again. It was a blast to catch up and hang out again with these gals....and don't forget watson the wonder dog...
During the conference I met up with a bunch of old friends for dinner and such. One delicious middle eastern dinner was with sarah and melissa....friends from seattle who live in boston (although sarah has moved on these days to philly)....
My partner in crime for this trip was judy...she wanted to experience the conference and boston as well...so she got to meet all of my old friends, and hang in one of my favorite cities....we had a blast....
i also met up with my old student and current friend anna....we went out to a delicious indian restaurant which i was sooo happy about....judy lived in india for 4 years and she said the food at this place we went to was perfect....that's a HUGE compliment....yummy!!!!
when we weren't in the conference, which was very little time, i wandered around the city remembering all of the good times i had there during school and taking some pictures....i know everyone has the picture you see below...but i love my camera and i think it took an amazing shot here of trinity church and the hancock building....love it....
and here's the reflection shot everyone takes while they are visiting copley square...because it is just beautiful....
another group of folks who got together during my visit were band folks...brothers and sisters we can say.....we went to the whiskey priest...my first time....what a fun place...plus, squeeze and cheap trick were playing just down the street....it felt like the late 80s all over again :)
my trip would not have been complete without visiting with the next couple....michael and lisa....we went to this tasty place just around the corner from our hotel....the coolest thing, besides hangin with them, was that the restaurant was filming a cooking show while we were there....we weren't on the set, but it was still cool to watch....
after the conference was over, i got to hang with vlad....we went to this beach party and i think we were the oldest people there....but fun was had by all and vlad was happy that he got to "ice" a few of his friends....it was terrific to see him and the new triplex he is the proud owner of....and to think....i met him when he was a mess of a kid.....ha....you've come a long way baby!
back in the philly area, i got to hang with my whale house sistahs, susie, lou and monique, down in manayunk....it was a tasty dinner and the first time in a few years the four of us had gotten together....
i also hung out with my science buddies from science explorers....tracy, jen and karen....we went to this place called lemoncello in west chester....and the bartender there was one of the only ones on the entire trip that could make me a capiroshka.....ciao bellas.....
one day of course was out at the pool with joan and kenny at old forge crossing....both of whom are enjoying their lives of leisure these days.....
and then i met folks out for drinks and again it was a reunion of sorts....its always so interesting to me to see who comes out and joins me and how they all get along....there were a few pleasant surprises that night....with one of them being kristen....a woman i played volleyball with one summer....it was way cool to see her and it had been a few years since we connected....
plus, joel and mary came by as well....we caught up on all of the newest things of their kids and life....it was great to see them as always....
and of course there was the great valley crew....the biggest surprise this time around was that eric came out to play....it was so great to see him....in this shot we have eric, me, debbie, karen, shannon and jimmy....
i also made it to nj while i was in the states....and one of the folks i saw was pat...my old science department head from my first teaching job....we realized we hadn't seen each other in a very long time, so it was great to catch up on everything that had happened from then to now....
i also got to hang with some folks from my first post teaching....richie, drew and sue....i hadn't seen drew since i left either...it was a trip catching up with him....and as always, it was terrific staying with sue and richie and hanging out with them....
jimmy and wendy also joined us for a yummy cuban dinner at cuban pete's in montclair....jimmy i know from croatia when he student taught here and wendy and i worked on the ice together....where she has just deployed to again....although this time its to the pole....you go girl!
one of my last nights in town was with shannon and joel.....i always have to have one night with the friend i have known the longest....i even got to see her dad while we were out....
i also met up with my friend laurie from BU....trying to find each other halfway from where she was to halfway from where i was, was a challenge.....but in the end it worked out and we had a delicious lunch together.....
and of course i hung with greg....what a guy and always a good time....smooches
the last few days were with my parents....as always it was wonderful to spend quality time with them and be close by for the unexpected....they are the reason i am who i am, and for that they are the most important....love ya and miss ya....
now, i realize this is not my normal last shot for a travel update, but one of my favorite stops along the way on this visit to the states was to my favorite pizza place in THE WHOLE WORLD!!!! mac 'n' manco's down in ocean city, new jersey.....i realize this sounds pretty crazy, but believe you me....they are the bestest!!!!! i had to take this shot to show you all how happy i was to be there....YUM!!!!!!!
okay....there you have it....my fast and furious trip to the east coast this past summer...thanks to all of those who made it possible, met me for food or drink, let me stay at their place and showed me a genuinely excellent time....YOU all make it worth it to come back and visit....so thanks....the next update i hope will be coming your way today.....it will be done in two parts and is my road trip around europe with my friend martha to visit friends from bucharest and pretty places along the way....it was a fantastic end to my summer...and i can't wait to show you the pictures....
peace out and be sure to keep it real.....
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